Change and Stasis (Candy_demon21 & Greeneyed23)

He nodded. "I am afraid so my princess. i want you to fight expertly and brutally when needs be. This attack in your own halls worries me. until we are wed and you do have our children i will not be sure of your safety and until I hunt down these conspirators I cannot be sure of mine or our children's. So both you and they will be trained to fight like me."

He smiled stroking her wrist. "I do apologize my love but I will not be cautious with your life or those of our children."

Before she could argue he began to show her unarmed methods of deflecting and escaping grips and holds and how to use these to gain pressure holds, joint locks, finger and thumb twists, and how to draw her attacker closer and where and how to attack with her fingers, nails, knuckles, the edge of her hand and her elbows. He also showed her how to use her dagger in far more brutal ways slicing tendons, arteries, and even nerve bundles throughout the body. he also provided her with two new slip daggers, one for her shoes, and the other to be hidden as necessary and possible in her dress.

He went over each technique carefully and slowly making sure she could perform it flawlessly before moving on his powerful calloused hands moving over her arms, shoulders and even her neck and face gently and tenderly never squeezing her painfully even when showing her a pressure point. His history of violence was clearly quite lengthy but he was a true knight. He would not nor had he ever harmed a Lady and his beloved princess had never been safer in all of her years.

Fear was all that crossed her mind; how exactly did he want her to be able to fight like him in such a short amount of him? To her it felt impossible, perhaps she could learn what she could from the local guards? Dress as a man, or perhaps order them to teach her what she could? "I will learn what I can from you." Though her heart was pounding wildly in her chest as she thought about learning to fight.

Beth shook her head at his apology, "No, I need to learn the only way that I can, as well as any children that we may sire."

However, before she could even say another word, she was up on her feet. He was showing her so many things: how to deflect and escape an attackers grasp, pressure points, anything that could be used to get away or at least gain a little distance. He had even showed her more brutal attacks to the human body with her dagger, things that she hoped she would never have to learn. When he had handed her two more daggers, she looked up at him with wide eyes; did he really think that she was going to be attacked?

Throughout the training though, the princess felt herself grow excited from his hands. The way they ran up her arms, over her small shoulders; even her neck and face were not exempt from his rough hands. When they finally stood still, Elizabeth had found herself gasping for air, regardless of the fact that they had done nothing to taxing.

Why? Because she had never wanted a man like she did Sir Issac, "Perhaps I should ask the guards to teach me what they know as well?" She question, her cheeks turning crimson as she adjusted her dress and hair, finding that she felt rather exposed again.

He shook his head. "Your guards are fine loyal men but they are trained to restrain. If you are attacked you are to maim or kill my love. Not restrain. If anyone gets to you it is not time to hold back. And remember anyone who will attacking you will also be trying to kill our children." He reached up and brushed some of her hair back over her ear his thumb running along her cheek.

He smiled as he cupped her head his thumb gently stroking her cheek and temple. "Your external beauty is rivaled on by that inside you my love."

His eyes flashed and in that moment he let her see that he wanted her just as badly but he would also not allow himself to dishonor his master by breaking the mourning period by making love in any way including kissing. She was not truly held by those traditions though her father and mother were obeying the old ways because of their friendship with Sir Timothy, while as his heir, apprentice, and adoptive son Isaac could not take true possession of his master's holdings until he was buried and until that day, a week from now, he could not make love, kiss save in greeting and even that chastely, partake of spirits, nor could he deny any request by anyone not proven an enemy. It was strict but as he did not drink, he was not allowed to kiss or make love to Elizabeth because she was the princess anyway, and he planned on hiding in the castle studying until the funeral he had no worries.

Still the kissing part was a huge temptation and he so wanted her right there and then but with a sigh he hauled his desire for her back under his control letting it keep his eyes lit for her but no more not wanting to tempt the desire he saw in her as well.

He did not pull his hand away from her face though. "I am going to teach you one more thing. Something very very dangerous for you and your attacker. So you will learn it right. And then you will make any attacker dead."

He continued stroking her face and slowed his breath until it seemed gone somehow this made her pupils widen until the irises were all but gone. Then he moved with a sudden explosive speed that made him into a living blur. His hand dragged along her neck tenderly as ever but so fast that the results had he been intending to harm her or even worse had held a knife her throat would have been slashed to the bone if not her whole head taken off.

He stepped away from her and took a deep breath his pupils shrinking to little more than pinholes as he did so. He looked at her and smiled. "You have just seen the Humcao." This in part explained his skills and abilities, and as well of that of his master and the entire line of knights both were descended from. The Humcao was a fighting art of the Old People. The people that had eventually produced Verha the Beautiful and through her Bernat and his beautiful daughter had been masters of magic, science, and several of arcane arts. Their warriors had formed the basis for the noble knights of the land and had also studied the arts of war and were reputed to be able to defeat whole armies alone.

Their greatest secret had been a heightened state of abilities known as the Jenru. This state was constant once learned but took years of training to attain and was difficult to master. Humcao on the other hand was state of focus that eliminated all distractions and other restrictions thus making the human body capable of incredible feats such as what she had just seen.

"You cannot reveal this to anyone else my love. I must have your word upon that."

He smiled knowing he would get it and began to teach. The art was to begin taking rapid breathes until one's heartbeat was so rapid it made one's eyes throb then expel all breath let the rapid heartbeat rip the air from one's body and heighten the senses exponentially and once one could no longer sustain their body without more air the reaction desired was triggered. It would take practice but in time Elizabeth would be able to move quicker, further, faster, harder, and more violently than ever before.

"You can do this my love. Try please?"

She didn't like the idea of having to kill or injure someone so badly that they could not move, but she was the princess and the future queen. He was right however, she knew that any person that got to her would mean they were there to use her to ransom. "If we have children that is Sir Knight."She murmured shyly, realizing just what it would require for them to produce and heir.

The gentle caress of his thumb over her cheek and temple made her lean her head into his touch, "You are too kind my love." The princess' eyes continue to wander towards her fiancee's lips. She knew that she could not kiss him, and that he could not return the favor, not for another week. That thought alone made her heart sigh.

There was a flicker in his eyes, a look that she had not seen yet from him. It was desire. The fire in his eyes made her body go rigid. She could not deny that she wanted to have him there, right where they stood, but they were not married under god yet, nor was his master's mourning period over yet. She had to wait, as did he.

When he did mention he could teach her one more thing, she watched him. The way he moved was beyond anything she had ever seen. He was like the lightening that flashing across the sky, "I shall not say anything." She murmured, but froze when he mentioned she try it, "I-I can try my love." Elizabeth began to take long deep breaths as he had done, but then began to take in shorter, faster breathes. Sadly she was simply getting dizzy, and it wasn't until her gaze began to grow dim and she swayed on her feet.

He caught her gently. "The key is not the breathing my love. It is to force your heart rate to increase while maintaining your correct breathing. Do not worry my love. I will work to make sure you attain it."

He helped her to a chair and made sure she was seated then sat across from her watching her closely. "Are you well my love?"

He bit his lip. "Perhaps i overdid it? Forgive me?"

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A number of people had gathered in the city below to mourn the loss of their great knight and the wailers were well paid tonight as they sounded their wild keening calls that filled the city with sorrow.

The sound echoed all over the city, reverberating off the walls and up and down the palace the windows doing nothing to halt the sound.

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Isaac looked up as the sound penetrated even to the library and bit his lip. "My master..." He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully his eyes glazing as he allowed himself to think back on their history.

The princess hadn't expected to fall, hadn't even thought she would, but when her soon to be husbands encircled her form. His voice from the haze made her smile weakly, " I imagine that it will come with time and I shall be able to." Leaning into him, she sighed softly when he placed her gently in a chair, letting her relax and collect her breath.

His question made her smile again and nod, she didn't want to worry him, "Yes, I am fine my dear. I just have never been trained in such a manner is all." She cooed, reaching out for him, "I am fine. If something truly was wrong, I would tell thee."

He moved into her arms nodding, his fingers moving up to cup her face. "All that matters is that you are well Elizabeth....but the hour is late and i would have some time to say my own farewell to my master. Allow me to take you to your rooms?"

He smiled lightly but it faded quickly. He simply could not keep the sadness out of his eyes. Tomorrow she would be all he thought of, and for every day after, but tonight he would mourn the fallen along with the rest of the city.

Having him so close to her again, taking in his masculine scent fill her nose and make her wish to reach out and press her mouth to his, she sighed. Those strong callused hands that cupped her silky cheeks instantly made her blush, "I am fine my beloved, and you are correct. The hour is late and I need my rest, I would be honored to have you escort me back to my chambers."

But the warmth and happiness faded as quickly as it had come; gods she wished she could do something for him. His master had died, and she could not imagine what that pain felt like, surly it must have felt like losing his father. Gently she reached out and touched his face gently, "I could never know the pain you suffer my love. Go, mourn your loss, no one in this city expects you to turn your heart to stone."

He smiled and kissed her again then lead her to her rooms. AT the door he kissed her once again, bowed to her kissing her hand, "Sleep well Your Grace."

Once she had been ushered away by her maidens he turned walking off down the hall until he reached a door then after locking the door went out onto the wall, locked the far access door, and making sure he was fully alone he knelt and closing his eyes began to weep and silently mourn for his master. This is how he spent the entire night, not sleeping, but mourning the loss of a brilliant hero and mentor.

His silence and his posture ensured that not only was he was alone he was left alone throughout the night and he had also made sure he had not told anyone where he was so he would not be disturbed.