The Fated Trio

In The Garden

"Is Commander Nathan here?", Isabella asked once she approached the warrior quarters. That was just a diversion. She knew commander Nathan won't be there by that time of the morning.

"My lady, he is in the arena", a warrior replied. She walked up to him. He is dark with brown curly hair. Average in height with a well built physique. He seemed in his early twenties.

"Where does the lady that visited with saviar stay?", Isabella asked.

"You mean Lady Stone Cold?",The warrior asked.

"What?", Isabella asked more out of astonishment. "Lady Stone Cold?", Isabella asked confused.

"Yes my Lady. That's what we call her. She's so cold to everyone and sticks to herself. She hasn't spoken to any of the warriors since her arrival", The warrior narrated.

'Why won't she be that way when she obviously wants me and who knows the next person dead?', Isabella thought to herself.

"Where does she stay?", Isabella asked.

"Two blocks away. The last room by your left. My lady", He replied. Isabella noticed the warriors leaving the quarters.

"Where are they heading to?",she asked pointing at the warriors leaving the place.

"There's going to be a duel at the Arena. Strictly for the warriors my Lady and no female is allowed to attend", He replied. The last sentence wasn't a surprise to Isabella. She already knew the tradition.

"Alright then. You should get going .Thank you ", Isabella replied and the warrior turned to leave.

" What's your name?", Isabella asked stopping him on his track.

"My name is Henry,my Lady",He replied.

"Alright. Nice to meet you Henry", she replied with a genuine smile.

"I am delighted my Lady", Henry replied returning the smile. He excused himself and joined the other warriors.

As she walked towards the building Henry told her, Isabella also noticed that warriors from kesterea were also among those moving to the arena. That moment she knew she can't miss that duel. One way or the other,she must attend the duel.

Due to the coarse,non of the soldiers were able to recognize her presence. Once she arrived at Alissa's room,she sneaked into the room without knocking

'How unladylike!', She thought. But she knew Alissa wouldn't mind. Sneaking into people's room to assassinate them and doing unladylike things seems to be her specialization.

The whole room was neatly arranged. But Alissa wasn't there.

"Where could she have gone?", Isabella thought out loud.

There weren't much properties in the room. Moving her eyes from left to right, Isabella scanned the room for weapons and the assassin uniform or anything that could be suspicious. But she found nothing. Walking over to the drawer chest,she searched it too. She searched through her bags but couldn't find any weapon.

'Maybe she hid them', Isabella thought.

She turned to move away from there when a shiny object caught her sight behind a curtain. Moving the curtain aside, Isabella saw A bow hanging behind the curtain. She took the bow and studying it. That must be Alissa's bow. She raised the curtain searching for any more weapons but there was non.

"Why didn't you tell me you attended the ball yesterday?", Isabella heard from outside. She didn't need anyone to tell her who it was or who the question was directed to. She replaced the bow to its original position. Putting other things in place, she looked bolted for the window that to the back.

"I didn't attend the ball yesterday", She heard Alissa say as just right before the house.

"Damn!", Isabella exclaimed. She could imagine how disappointed Saviar would be and she hoped she won't tell him where they met.

"You did", was all she heard before moving away from the window. Inasmuch as she wanted to listen to their discussion,she didn't want to get caught sneaking around and eavesdropping on the king of kesterea.

She walked out of the place feeling disappointed that she couldn't find any daggers or the assassin uniform . She thought to herself that Alissa must have hidden them so well.

From the warrior quarters,she headed for the Arena but she didn't go through the main entrance which was the closest.

She scoffed when she remembered Henry's words, "Strictly for warriors and ladies are not allowed",

"Sorry warriors, Isabella is allowed to watch and will", She said. Heading towards the garden.

On reaching the garden,she moved towards the Arena hiding behind huge shrubs and flowers. She could smell its fragrance on her nose but she wasn't interested now. She is currently in a suicide mission by merely venturing towards the Arena in broad daylight not to talk of watching the duel.

She became tensed as she moved deeper into the garden. Just then she heard some sounds in the garden. Who could possibly be making that noise in the garden?

Turning to face the direction of the sound, she came face to face with Philip and Becky. Philip was looking her straight in the eye with deep red eyes. His expression was unreadable but the darkness in his eyes made Isabella to take a step backwards. She has never seen anything like it before.

Becky's head was bent to the ground. So it was hard for Isabella to read her expression but she was full of concern for her. Isabella studied them taking in their appearance. They looked really messed up and tattered. They seemed to be running out of breath which made Isabella a little bit skeptical since it was still morning. Becky was still putting on her long sleeved dress which some of its part were now torn. Isabella didn't know what to think. She didn't want to accept the Idea coming into her head. She didn't know what to feel,anger or concern for Becky? If people saw them like this,Becky would be risking her honor as a lady and being a respectable warrior, same goes to Philip.

What in the world were these two doing there? Not to talk of, they were alone.

They stood that way for some seconds before she composed herself.

"What's going on here?", She asked. She has to know at least. She needed to prove herself wrong because she doesn't want to believe the ideas forming in her head.

"My la la la dy", Becky stammered . Isabella walked close to her gradually.

" I asked a question and you should feel free to tell me what happened. Did he hurt you?", She asked looking at Philip who burst into laughter.

"Nothing is happening here Princess", That was Philip. He was trying to arrange his hair and dust his clothes. Becky was still looking on the floor.

"You better be quiet.", Isabella said not looking at him. She tried to control her anger. Looking him straight in the eye. There was something about his eyeball that sent cold shiver down Isabella's spine.

"Becky", Isabella called again. "As the Princess,I demand an explanation this minute", She commanded. She was done playing games.

"Hello princess!, Shouldn't you be inside the castle attending to your princess duties?",

'Says a warrior that's supposed to be in the Arena', Isabella wanted to throw back at him but kept quiet. She won't exchange words with him as though he didn't just insult her dignity. Not minding she's the princess. The anger in her rose but she managed to compose herself. Thanks to Courtney for that. At least she always has the element of surprise whenever she wants to react.

"Its too early to be wandering in the garden and prying into people's privacy. Or is our spoilt little princess running away from her duties?", He paused smirking.

'Little? Did he just call her a spoilt little princess?', She became furious but he still continued as though he had said nothing.

"Stop being unnecessarily inquisitive. Whatever happened here is non of your business and its private. So stop sticking your nose into people's privacy. We have a right to our privacy okay. Wait, don't tell me that Lady Isabella Goergette of Daxteria is a gossip", Philip snapped at her again. Isabella clenched her fist.

'That arrogant son of a ... How dare he?', before Philip knew it,She already punched him hard on the face making sure she hit him on his nose. A broken nose would be a very good lesson for him. Becky jerked away from him raising her head for the first time in pure astonishment.

"What?", It was Philip's turn to be furious but his anger was mixed with surprise. He raised his hands to his nose cleaning the red fluid that was then running down his nostrils.

"That!", Isabella said pointing at his face. "Is for calling me a spoilt little princess and this !", Isabella Punched him even harder taking him unawares for the second time. "Is for calling me a gossip",

Philip stepped backwards, covering his face with both hands. Isabella watched as his eyes turned from deep red to forest green color. Noting the color change,she was a bit scared but didn't let it show.

'This guy isn't ordinary.'she thought. But he can't insult her and go Scot free. To hell with what a lady should and shouldn't do.

"Huh?, A punch?, not even a slap?, isn't that what ladies do?", He managed to ask still covering part of his face where the Punch landed. That was on his nose. Isabella hoped he had a broken nose so he could learn some respect.

"Sorry to disappoint you", Isabella replied a bit shocked that he was merely concerned in the fact that he was Punched instead of being slapped.

'How much of a jerk could this guy be?', She wondered.

"Look here Mr. Arrogant. Anymore insulting words from you, and I will do that again.", She replied trying to control her anger. This guy is really annoying.

"Excuse me,Lady Isabella.", Someone said from behind her behind. She turned around to see Commander Nathan standing behind her. He bowed as Soon as Isabella faced him.

"Good day, Commander Nathan", Isabella replied smiling. Commander Nathan looked at them puzzled but didn't say anything.

"The duel is about to start and you need to get ready.", He directed to Philip who was still massaging his face with his hand.

"Yes commander!", Philip replied with a salute causing Isabella to scoff at obviously faked respect.

'It's either he respects commander Nathan, or he values his position as a warrior', Isabella thought. She chose the later. Because to her, that would be the only reason, why, someone who just displayed such arrogance and disrespect before a royal would all of a sudden be humble and respectful.

"What in the world happened to the two of you?", He asked taking in the appearance of Philip and Becky.

"Nothing Commander. Just a little accident.", Philip replied faking a smile. She also noticed the familiarity between the two of them and it reminded her of the day she watched them fight. It proved to her that they were more like friends.

"Whatever, you need to get ready for the duel. We will talk about it later.", He replied Philip.

"If you would excuse me Lady Isabella. Please Philip's attention is needed at the Arena", He directed back to Isabella with a bow.

"Okay Commander Nathan", Isabella replied smiling. Philip made to move away towards the commander.

"Not so fast Warrior, you owe me an apology and you are rendering it right here and now", Isabella said with an aura of authority folding her hands as she maintained eye contact with Philip. All these while, Becky has been watching them silently. She has managed to arrange her hair and appearance but her torn dress still gave her away.

Commander Nathan just looked at them more in anticipation than surprise. When Isabella saw the look on his face,she concluded that commander Nathan knew Philip very well. A mere look on his face, one would know he doubted if Philip would ever render this apology. Which made Isabella began to wonder how many other people Philip owed some apologies. She can't believe this guy has been in her kingdom and she never noticed him.

***

Commander Nathan took in the position of the three people standing before him. He noticed the tense atmosphere and hoped Philip hasn't insulted Isabella in anyway. Deep down he knew how arrogant Philip could be. He was relieved when the princess permitted Philip to leave without any complain. Turning to leave with Philip,his reliev vanished when he heard Isabella say,

"Not so fast Warrior, you owe me an apology and you are rendering it right here and now." He turned to face them both angry and shocked. He was angry at Philip for displaying his arrogance to a Royal. He is going to deal with him later but for the moment,he was shocked at the last part of the statement.

Knowing Philip,he doubted if he was ever going to apologize to Lady Isabella. He would never apologize to a woman ,be it a princess or whatsoever. He doesn't even apologize to his fellow warriors. And Lady Isabella didn't look like she was going to go back on her words.

"But you already got your revenge.", Philip blurted out visibly angry. But Isabella kept quiet.

Revenge? Nathan wondered what might have transpired between the two.

He watched as Isabella stood before Philip looking unfazed by the hateful glares he was throwing at her. It was a surprise and also a good sight for Nathan to see someone that isn't afraid of Philip.

Knowing Philip would never apologize to the Lady Isabella, and in order to stop them from standing there glaring at eachother for who knows how long, Nathan thought of how to save the situation to avoid Philip insulting the princess any further and to prevent whatever he had done to her from getting to the king or the council.

"Lady Isabella", He called when to his astonishment Philip said,

"Sorry!", Storming out of the place in pure rage. Nathan made to stop him from walking out on the princess.

"Let him go", Isabella said to him with a satisfactory smile on her face.

"Lady Isabella,I am sorry for his insolence. I promise to deal with him later", He apologized on Philip's behalf.

"Its okay Commander. You don't have to punish him, he doesn't look like he needs it anymore ", She replied with a smirk. Nathan understood what Isabella meant. Saying sorry,is already too much toture for Philip.

But wait, how did Isabella know that?

Excusing himself, he walked towards the Arena not believing what just happened. 'Philip said sorry to a lady. That's unbelievable!'

"You can go too", Isabella dismissed Becky having decided not to bother about what happened either to her or the both of they anymore.

"Thank you Lady Isabella",Becky replied with a courtesy before leaving.

Ensuring she was alone, Isabella continued her movement towards the Arena careful not to get caught.