Training Sessions || A Drabble for themacgregorgirl
Gwen brought up her arm to block the strike. Wood hit leather and skidded off as Emily stumbled, having put too much momentum into her swing with the stake. "Careful there," Gwen chuckled, catching the young princess. "There was still a little too much oomph in that one. Here, let me show you." She turned to the training dummy behind her, pulling her own wooden stake from its holster on her thigh, and brought her arm around in a wide arc. The point dug into the dummy's 'chest'. "Like that, see?" Of course, Emily was only just starting in her basic training. The girl was only twelve, and she was going to be Queen of Thisby when she came of age. Gwen, however, was seventeen, and she had known of her destiny as the Slayer--had been the Slayer--since she was the same age. When the previous Slayer had died, the duty had fallen to Gwen, and she'd been training and fighting off vampires and some other creatures ever since. Emily tried again, this time at the dummy instead of at her teacher, and hit her target, but the training stake skidded off again. Too little strength behind the blow. Gwen returned her own weapon to its holster and came up behind the princess, gently taking the girl's hand and arm and positioning her so her strike would be the most effective. At this distance from her, Gwen could easily catch Emily's scent. The younger girl smelled of perfumed soap and apples and horses. And of course sweat from exertion. It was an alluring scent, and Gwen found herself tensing to keep from doing something that would be considered improper. She stepped away and let Emily attack the training dummy one more time. Unlike the last times, the stake found its mark and didn't skid. Emily didn't stumble, either. "Very good, milady. Try it again." And again, Emily struck the dummy. And again. Five more times, then Gwen took the weapon from her princess's hand. "That's enough for today, milady. The sun is beginning to set, and you should be inside where it is safe." Emily pouted, but she nodded understandingly. Gwen could see that the girl was tired, so she simply smiled and jerked her head in the direction of the castle. "Go. Your parents will be waiting for you to join them at supper." Emily started off, then seemed to think about something and stopped. The younger girl rose up on her toes and gave Gwen a quick peck on the cheek, then whirled and ran inside. For a moment, Gwen was stunned, her fingers gingerly touched her cheek as if expecting to find a burning brand, but there was nothing except the lingering warmth of Emily's lips. Gwen shook her head to clear it of the fog that seemed to have gathered within her brain and began her sunset patrol around the castle.
