It was 1574 and war had started again. This was the third year in a row that war had broken out in Northern Scotland, and I was lucky enough to be born into the family best known for their great skills in battle. I was their only heir, and would have to continue their legacy one day. My father was the great Kale, built like a Scotsman should be, strong and tuff as nails. He was also the leader of our troop, he was always front line in battle. He was a respected man and well known throughout Scotland. My mother,Veronica, on the other hand was the peace maker of the village, but she was always there next to my father, no matter what. They always stuck together. The people in my village were family in many ways. You could always count on one of us to be there for you when times were tuff. We were all connected, and nothing could break that bond. I woke up to the smell of my mother cooking in the kitchen, and the sound of my fathers hammer. "Good morning Mother." I said as I walked down the stairs. "Good morning love, I hope you slept well." "Yes, thank you." I said and walked to the table to my father. "Good morning Elizabeth, I hope my hammering did not wake you." "No Sir, I was so tired I did not hear a thing. It was the smell of Mothers cooking that woke me ha-ha." My parents smiled. At the same time, there was a knock against our door. "Come in." Yelled my father. "Good morning everybody! I don't mean to disrupt you in any way, but Sir Edward has set up a meeting and you two must be present." My father looked at the man who, nodded in response to what his eyes were saying. "Okay then, Veronica lets go." Said my father. My mother looked at me with worried eyes. "Will you be okay here by yourself Lizzie?" "For Pete's sake Veronica, my niece is strong! She is one of us, she can handle herself." Said my uncle John. "I'll be okay Mother, after I finish my breakfast I'll come meet you and Father." I smiled at my worry some mother. "Good girl." She put her hand against my cheek and left with my father and uncle. When I finally reached the Meeting hall my mother was in an argument with one of the members of Sir Edward's team. ".... But how can you expect us to win when we stand divided!? If we go to battle with Southern Scotland, that shall not resolve anything! And one more attack from England and we're finished! Why am I the only one that sees it?!" She stormed out of the room saying words I could not understand. "Sir Kale I advise that you teach your wife to keep her mouth closed in subjects that do not concern her." Said the man who had upset my mother. "Sir Arnold my wife is a proud member of this team like you and me and every other man in this place! Because of her we have three new alliances. Why would she be wrong this time? Your father knew the power that she holds. And it's sad that you cannot see it yourself." He yelled at the man and walked out after my mother, passing me on his way out. "There is no need for you to stay. Go and enjoy yourself." I walked down the bumpy road to reach back to my cottage. I stood outside examining it. Not wanting to go in, knowing that my parents needed a moment to themselves. This house was old. It was the house my father grew up in, and lived in ever since. The walls were filled with precious memories and moments of laughter. I loved it with all my heart. Enough time had passed and I decided to enter the house. My mother was by the sink and my father was standing in front of her, holding her hands. "Sir Arnold e og, nach bhfuil a fhios aige. Ni mor duinn iarracht a dheanamh agus a intinn a athru. Mbeidh gach rud a ceart go leor." He only spoke our language to her when something was wrong, or just on occasion. It made her feel special. It was a language used mostly by the older generation, but I knew it. They said it would be an asset to me one day."Maith go leor, beidh me ag fanacht. Beidh me a urramu. Mas rud e nach bhfuil an obair. Beidh me ag dul i gcomhairle leis na daoine eile." She turned away from him and continued to wash her dishes. "Is everything okay?" I asked. Both of then stared at me. They had no idea I was in the room with them. " Ta, ta gach rud fineail- I mean, yes. Everything is fine. Will you be a dear and get me some Fever grass from outside?" She was flustered. "The sky is setting for a nasty storm." I protested, knowing they would continue their conversation when I left the room. "Yes, that gives you more reason to leave now. Please go." I stared at them for a moment and left without a further complaint. Outside the wind had picked up and made the trees dance around. I grabbed onto a nearby branch to keep my balance. I picked the grass from our patch behind the house and sat underneath the window, trying to hear what they were saying. "If we are going into battle, I think we should be prepared. She is of age to join the others. It is her time to join the fight. We knew this day would come, and we know that she is ready. She might be the BEST one out there! Nothing can go wrong when your parents are who they are. So smile. This is what we have been waiting for." I couldn't believe my ears. It was MY turn to be apart of the fight. Was I ready? My mother laughed. "Let's hope that she didn't just get her red hair and freckles from you." The two laughed and sat at the table. "She will be great! I could see it since she was a little girl." Said my father. " Ha, I think we should get her out of the rain then ha-ha." Said my mother. I was already on my way when she opened the door. "Sorry love." She said as I walked in. "It's quite fine. I think I shall retire early tonight if you do not mind." I needed to be alone. "Goodnight, darling." Said my father. I smiled politely and shuffled up the stairs. When I woke up the sky was still dark from the thunder storm that plagued our village the night before. The wind howled in anger and rattled our small house. I got out of my bed and walked to my mirror. I stood there staring at myself, trying to find out who I really was. Twenty-five percent Norwegian, on my mothers side, and seventy percent Scottish on my fathers. It was a pretty good match. It was comforting to know I was more than just freckles and red hair. Red hair that went everywhere, it was untamable, but luscious and curly. I walked down the stairs with my winter coat in hand and greeted my mother as usual. "Good morning Mother." I said but she wasn't paying attention to me. She kept on with her sewing and occasionally muttered something under her breath. I stepped towards her. "Good morning, Mother." She finally looked up at me, confused, and nodded. "Hello dearie, how are you this morning." "I'm fine. Other than this depressing weather. I am okay." She still wasn't paying attention to me. "Um, I was wondering if you could sew my coat for me." I asked, acknowledging the jacket in my arms. "Ahh you've noticed the weather changing. Yes, the seasons are changing fast. Hm." She took the jacket from me and added it to her pile. "Why are you doing the villages sewing?" I asked. She sighed heavily. "The men have to be prepared for battle." "I thought there we weren't going into battle?" I asked and grabbed an apple off of the table. "I don't know. But we should be ready nonetheless." As she explained I could tell something was wrong. "But-" She cut me off before i could finish. "Please, no more questions. As you can see I have lots of work to do, and your father wants you to meet him in the horse stable. So hurry on now." I didn't protest and got up from the small table and left the house. I decided to hold off my father and go sit underneath the big Willow tree that sat on the far end of our property. I sat with my legs curled up and my face in my knees. "What am I going to do with myself." I grumbled, my life always went this way when war broke out. "Well you can start by first getting off the ground." Said someone from in front of me. "Oh hello Peter." "Hello, may I ask why you're sitting on the floor talking to yourself?" He sat down next to me. "I don't know, I- I just have no idea what to do with myself." I threw my hands on the floor and played with a small plant. "Well aren't you suppose to be with your father in the stable?" He asked. "Yes, but I mean in general. Every time there's war my life turns upside down. And even worse now that it's my turn to join the fight. I know somewhere deep down that I can do this, but I'm scared." I turned toward Peter and tapped my chest. "Ah, I see. I was scared too when I first joined but you'll be fine. Trust me they don't expect as much from you when you're new." He tried to comfort me but it didn't work. "Yes, but I'm the only child of Kale and Veronica McArthright. My parents live on that little fact. People expect great things from me because of that. It's a lot to handle." He nodded his head in agreement. "Yes that's true. But you know I'll be there every step of the way." He grabbed my hand. "Thanks Peter. I can always count on you." He stood up and brought me with him. "Come Lizzie, lets go to your father before he gets worried." We walked the way to my family stable, passing our neighbors as they said hello. We walked into the stable to find my father brushing our horse Kelly. "Well nice for you to finally show up." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm sorry Sir for occupying all of her time. I guess we just lost track of time." Said Peter. Saving me from explaining. My father looked down at us before he spoke. "Well as long as she was with you, and not wondering around aimlessly." He said. "Yes Sir, I completely agree." I jabbed my elbow into his ribs when my father turned away. "So are you ready to start? You may be half an hour late, but this is important so we must start now." Said my father. "Yes Father, but can I say goodbye to Peter first? He did come all this way." I begged. "Hurry along now Elizabeth, tell your parents I say good day Peter." Answered my father. "Yes Sir, I shall." We walked to the front of the stable and stood there talking. "Well I guess I have to go now, thanks again Peter for everything. You're a great friend." "Anytime Lizzie, you know I'll always be here. And I wouldn't hang around me for too long if I were you. One day you won't be able to get ride of me." He laughed. "But that's not until a few years, I'd like to know you first before I go any further." I threw my arms in front of me and laughed. "If you wish," he held my hand,"will you able to come see me tonight? In the field by the lake?" He questioned, with a pleading look in his eyes. "If I can get away from my parents then yes." We smiled at the possibility. "Well until then." He bowed lightly and walked away. I stood there for a moment and realized I wasn't alone. "He's gone Elizabeth, come now." "Lizzie, I understand that you are betrothed to Peter, but you know the rules." He looked worried. "Yes Father, but I have not broken any rules. This is the first I have seen Peter since his arrival last week. I understand the rules and I would never go behind you and Mother and break them." Kale stared down at his only child and gave her a big hug knowing he could trust her. "Alright then, let us start your lesson." "Okay let's see, since you already know how to ride I think it's best you learn how to ride with a sword and weapons on your hip." He demonstrated by mounting Kelly and with drew his sword. "When in battle you must always use your strongest arm in battle. In your case, your right, but by the end of your training you'll be able to use both so well you will be unstoppable on the battle field!" He exclaimed happily. Once he was finished demonstrating I hopped on to take a turn. Being on top of her was as natural to me as standing on my own two feet, holding the sword at the time was another story. "I don't understand how you and the rest of the soldiers last on here very long." "And that is why you must learn dearie. Hold on now, I'm gonna walk her out onto the field, steady now." Proclaimed her father. "But I can't, I'm slipping!" She screamed. "Them try and rebalance yourself." He laughed. "I CAN'T." She screamed and threw the sword on the floor and fell off the horse, who ran off startled, and fell in her fathers arms. She clung on to him fervently. "Hahah, I'd prefer you not throw your sword at me but at least you knew to let go." He joked. "Ok so let's start working on you riding the horse with a bow and arrow. It's a lot lighter and your mother uses them too." There was no room to complain so I went and fetched the horse. By the time we finished my training the sun had already gone down and the village was already preparing for the celebration of the return of the troops from Sweden. "Go wash up and then help you mother set up for the celebration." He ordered. I rushed up the stairs to the bathroom to freshen up, when I realized I had grass and dirt in my hair and clothes. I immediately grabbed my wash cloth and scrubbed away, until there was no trace of what had gone on in that stable. I hoped mother wouldn't be upset for my lateness but I knew she would be happy I cleaned up first before the celebration. By the time I arrived my mother was almost finished setting up."I'm sorry for being late Mother, I lost track of time." I explained. "It's fine, just finish putting the rest of the food out and you are done. I must meet with your father so I will see when the ceremony begins." She promised, and walked away towards my father and the rest of the team. I finished setting out the meat just in time for the celebration to start. The crowd had gone quiet when Sir Edward stood to inform us. "My people," he started,"I am happy to announce that Sweden has agreed to join our team of allies!" The crowd rejoiced with happiness, at the sound of the good news."This all wouldn't be possible with out our very own Veronica McArthright." the crowd cheered even louder for my mother. Everyone believed in her skills, all except Sir Arnold. Everyone sang our victory song to show their appreciation and respect. "Congratulations Mother, I knew things would turn out right."I beamed."Thank you so much, I really appreciate it." My mother glowed knowing she did a job well done. As the celebration went on the more fun everyone had, and the less noticeable I became. I made my way to the lake by the light of the full moon and found Peter laying on the grass. "Do you mind if I sit here?" I joked. "Oh, sorry didn't see you there. I was distracted. Congratulate your mother for me, she must be very proud of what she's done for our little village." "She is. She's willing to do anything for the sake of the sake of her people." I explained. "But I want to hear about your long trip."I pleaded, and grabbed his giant hands in one of mine. "What would you like to know." He smiled. "Everything! What was Sweden like? What did it look like? How did the people sound?" I got on my knees with excitement. "I bet it was the most magnificent place next our own of course."
* The part that looks like giberish is actually written in Greek Or Italian I can't remember.
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