Have a Heart

Ellona picked out the other rod. "Well, its only fair if I beat you with the weapon you choose" She stated

Daniel merely nodded, taking his place in the arena.

Ellona stepped forward as well, twirling the rod expertly in her hand. "Ladies first" She stated, glaring at him

Ignoring the taunt, Daniel came forward with a series of jabs with his rod.

Ellona slapped the blows aside with ease and struck him with a sharp strike to the shin when she spotted an opening.

Daniel hissed and cursed himself for letting himself be struck so easily. He tried a sweeping strike, wary of any possible kicks to the face that might follow.

Ellona jumped the sweep and struck him again, in the knee this time.

Daniel yelped and staggered a bit, and then switched to a defensive stance.

"Taking the defensive already?" Ellona taunted. She threw a few feints at him.

Daniel did not answer. He needed to learn more about how she fought before he could effectively retaliate.

Ellona smirked. "Better keep your guard up then" She taunted, throwing more feints and mixing in some quick strikes to his shins and sides. She knew that she couldn't beat him by over powering him, he was a trained hero that was twice her size, and she was sure she would lose if he landed a good hit.

Daniel continued to block, waiting for the opportunity to strike. Her attack was fast and left few openings, but it was not overly powerful.

Ellona suddenly struck with the butt of the rod. She hit him square in the gut, as hard as she could manage. The idea was to get him to double over and give her a shot at his back.

It worked. Daniel bent over holding his stomach.

Ellona stepped to the side and raised the rod over her head only to slamm it down over his shoulders (across his back) as hard as she could.

Daniel got knocked down to one knee, only to take his rod and aim it for her lower legs.

Ellona's legs were swept out from under her and she fell to the ground with a small cry. She retained her grip on her rod.

Daniel swung his rod down, only to stop it just short of her neck. "Enough?"

Ellona glared at him without a word. Her grip on her rod tightened until her knuckles were white.

Daniel lowered his rod and then bowed to her.

"That was a good match. I'm impressed."

Ellona continued to glare. She climbed to her feet and stormed off, pausing only to shove the rod into the arms or one of the trainees.

Gregory whistled. "Day-yum. You really just pissed her off. Beautiful."

"Well, I didn't expect her to like me for it. No one likes being beaten," Daniel replied. "But maybe we'll see things a little more eye-to-eye once she cools off. Or maybe she'll just stay pissed at me."

"What is there to see? I mean what do you mean exactly" Gregory asked

(Wanna skip ahead a week or two after this bit?)

(yeah)

"I mean either she's going to like me better, or she's going to hate me worse," Daniel clarified.

"Oh... yeah, it'll probably be the latter." Gregory shrugged.

Two weeks passed quickly without a single word from Ellona directed to or about Daniel. She was acting largely as if he didn't exist, only glaring at him silently when ever she was in his prescience.

Finally the king had had enough. He called them both to the throne hall for a talk. "What am I to do if you cannot get along?" He grumbled as he paced in front of the two of them.

Ellona shrugged.

King Tornell stopped. "Daniel, are you right or left handed?" he asked