Ascendant Moon

Chapter Ten: Prelude to a Match

Gideon paused. She wanted to fight him? He wasn't completely opposed to the idea. After all, it would be a good opportunity for him to do the same. His wolves had all said the woman sitting opposite him was a demon, a beast on the battlefield. The urge to see her skills for himself swelled within him. It had been a while since he'd met his match and his heart was already pounding at the idea of another worthy fight. And it would get his wolves the training they needed. There were no cons to the proposition as far as he could see. "Alright. I'll fight." 

     The moment the words left his lips, the fae practically buzzed with excitement. Were all unseelie fae this eager to spar or was it just her?

"Excellent. Would sunrise on the morrow be suitable for you? Then your wolves can arrive after." 

     He wondered whether the time of sunrise was a way to put him off guard, though from what he'd read so far, he imagined unseelie fae were always up at the c***k of dawn to begin training. "That's fine. I'll send word around the pack shortly. They'll attend, I can assure you of that." He promised. 

"Then you should rest. I do not want to face an opponent who is not in perfect fighting condition." The Fae picked up the dinner plate and held her hand out waiting for him to take it. Gideon almost smirked. Her actions were very clearly a dismissal. No one had ever dared to try and dismiss him since he had become the Alpha. It was almost refreshing to have someone act so blasé to his position and title. 

      He reached out and took the plate from her and as he had expected, she waited for him to move. "Oh I'm not going quite yet. I have something to ask first." Gideon enjoyed the momentary confusion that spread across the fae's expression before she quickly concealed it.

"What would you like to know?" She prompted, c*****g her head to the side, as if she was a predator observing the prey. The books were right; these creatures are definitely intimidating in everything they do.

"I know you won't tell me your story. Yet. But if we're going to be training together, then I'd at least settle for your name." 

"True names are sacred things amongst fae. You cannot have it." The woman was very direct, leaving no room for argument.

      "Alright, I can't have your true name, but you must be called something. What do other fae call you? Or what do you prefer to go by?" Gideon pressed. He could only imagine standing in front of his wolves and calling her "the Fae woman." It wouldn't be respectful and if there was one thing he prided himself on, it was a sense of dignity.

"Oh, you wish for my common name?" The Fae answered, as though seeking confirmation. 

     Gideon had no clue what a common name was, or even what a true name was, but if this was the one she was willing to give he'd take it. Who knew asking for a name would be so complicated? "Er, yes." He nodded, as if he knew what he was talking about. 

"It's Marwen. What's yours Alpha?"

Marwen. It suited her. Strong, precise, but with a touch of femininity. Much like the Fae herself. "Gideon." He responded. 

      "Well then, Gideon, I will see you when the sun rises." Marwen smiled, this time crossing her arms over her chest and sliding her gaze over to the door. Message received loud and clear. Gideon stood, plate in hand and stepped towards the door, trying to ignore how her voice had wrapped around his name. He stopped in the doorframe, turning his head to look at her. She still hadn't moved from her almost alert position on the bed. "If you need anything at all throughout the night, any help at all, do not hesitate to ask." Fenris only knew what devices she'd find and cause havoc with. He'd rather offer, lest he be greeted by a destroyed room in the morning. Marwen nodded and then turned away, leaving him to walk out and close the door behind him. 

     A wolf was already stationed by the door. Presumably, Dex was still wallowing in embarrassment and had sent someone else in his place. "She is to be escorted to the training ground at sunrise. Should she wish for any help at all throughout the night, she has been informed she can ask, hence why the door is currently unlocked. Is that clear?" 

The wolf nodded at his instructions.

"Oh and for Fenris's sake, if she needs help with anything complicated or technical, shift into human form and tell her. She doesn't give two hoots about nudity." 

      He hastened towards the kitchen, leaving the rather bewildered wolf behind. 

                                                                                          ***

The constant beeping of the alarm roused him reluctantly from sleep and blearily, he slapped his hand on the button, hoping to stop the incessant noise. The red digits flashed a disconcerting "5.00am" in the darkness. Ugh, sunrise would be in an hour. Enough time to get ready and eat breakfast before heading out to receive some hits from an unseelie fae. 

     Forcing himself to peel back the covers, Gideon hauled himself upright and yawned. Marwen expected a fighting fit opponent and he was going to give her one. His mind wandered idly as he shuffled over to the en suite shower. Maybe it was custom for unseelie fae to fight the leaders of people or races as soon as they could. After all, to be leader they had to be the most skilled warrior. From what little he knew of unseelie training, he could easily picture them getting bored fast with underlings not up to their standards. Maybe unseelie fae only wanted to face leaders whose people put up a strong fight. That was a comforting thought. 

     He hurried through the shower and pulled on some plain loose clothes before scarfing down bacon, sausages, hash browns, beans, egg and washing it down with tea and pure orange juice. He dumped the plate in the sink and jogged out the door as the sky became a shade lighter.

      He would show Marwen he was a worthy opponent. He would make his pack proud. No matter if he won or lost, it would be all about the skills he possessed and displayed. He was going in blind, after all, he didn't really know the basics of Marwen's capabilities, let alone the full extent. But he knew she was dangerous and she certainly wasn't going to hold back on him. That was enough. 

     The cool, crisp morning air felt good against his skin, invigorating his body as he ran. He was almost there. The training ground wasn't anything fancy, just a clearing in the woodlands that made up the pack territory. They maintained the grass there so that it wasn't overgrown and over time had built some little stands so wolves could have a break or sit and observe the session. 

      As he broke through the treeline, his gaze locked on the figure already there. Marwen was in the centre of the clearing, performing complex sequences with perfect motion. Her head shot up and met his stare as he stepped forward, ensuring confidence laced every footstep and he held himself tall.

      He stopped a few paces in front of her, just as the sky became brighter. A hint of sunlight broke through the surrounding leaves.   

      Let's see just how much of a match you are, Marwen of the unseelie fae.