The Courting Games by Missx Freedom (best book club books for discussion .txt) 📖

sister wouldn't look at me, either angry that I had agreed to leave or angry that there was nothing we could do. I wasn't sure. I kissed her on the head and pushed a thick blonde strand behind her pointed ear. Her eyes were teary, but she didn't wipe them. 

"Try to win," was all she said, glancing at me and then turning away to rest her head back on the pillow.

I was trying my hardest to not get emotional, but it was hard. I closed my eyes for a second, taking a slow breath in. "I'll try."

There were three guards waiting for me by the door. My mother sat helplessly at the table, biting the skin around her nails. Her eyes were heavy, but she was able to bring an empty smile to her lips. We both knew what it meant.

I bent down and gave Obi a stroke, ruffling his ears gently and he snuggled close to me. "I'll see you soon, Obi." I didn't know if it was true, but telling myself I was going to be okay helped, a lot.

"Here." One guard placed a long shawl across my shoulders. I wasn't very tall, so it came down to almost my feet. "We have a long journey ahead." 

We rode in a berline carriage, a black horse pulled us along, and we were moving fast. The snow was heavy, and I had to say; it was a fairly unpleasant ride. I counted two hours that it took to get to the palace. It sat guarded behind wrought-iron gates and two guards stood on either side of it. They wore black tunics and bearskin hats with force pikes resting on their shoulders. 

"We're almost here." A guard said. 

I nodded.

The gates were opened and we were in. The grounds were huge and filled with luscious grass and masses of trees and shrubs. It was crawling with servants, some carried buckets of milk from the farm area, while others with woven baskets of eggs.

We followed a crushed gravel path for a few minutes and stopped just before the doors to the palace. There were nine women standing in a perfect straight line at the foot of the steps. They watched as I was removed from the carriage, beside them, Prince Bronn and some other people who looked expensive were waiting. 

"Aldwyn." Prince Bronn comes over, beaming. "It's so lovely to have you here, how was your journey? Pleasant I hope?"

"Yes, thank you," I lied. 

"Do come and meet my mother and father, I've told them wonderful things about you." Prince Bronn guided me to them, there expressions didn't look welcoming, I assumed they knew I was half-elf. 

"Hello." I said.

His mother nodded and replied in a mocking tone: "Goodluck, my dear."

"These are the rest of the participants." Prince Bronn guided me towards the line of women. They looked over at me, all with faces like his parents, except one girl, who offered a polite smile. "You will be sharing your time with them for the weeks to come. There will be two beds per room, I'd like to offer you the chance to pick your own partners now." 

The girls instantly formed into a formation of two's; beside the girl who had smiled at me. She looked over and nodded in encouragement for me to join.

Prince Bronn directed us to follow him, shouting as though we were sheep in a sharp tone: "This way!"

Me and the girl were the last to reach our room, it was on the highest level of the castle. I looked past one of the windows and noticed how far we were from the ground. I turned away immediately; I was quite terrified of heights. 

"The best room in my opinion, you can see endless views of the gardens" Prince Bronn laughed as he pushed open the door and we were taken into a dimly-litted room with two single beds. "Now, supper will be at seven-thirty sharp. It is on the ground floor, if you get lost just ask one of the maids. I will also be explaining, in detail, the Courting Games and the rules, you're training will start tomorrow."

We nodded, and he left us to settle in. 

I placed myself down on the bed furthest from the window. I watched as the girl pulled a pin out of her red hair and it flowed loosely down her back, she ruffled it and then twisted it into a tight knot.

"What's your name?" She asked. 

"Aldwyn." I replied. 

"I heard you're half-elf."

I feel my stomach knot. 

"Yes," I said nervously. 

She looked over at me. "I don't mind, I think they're cool."

I was surprised, and I think she noticed because she giggled softly. "Yeah. I was with a half-elf, his name was Galudriel."

"What happened to him?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Nothing, I was brought here." 

She knew she would never see him again, regardless of if she won or not. Her fate was sealed to either death or marriage. 

"What's your name?" I asked, changing the subject as I could see her sorrowful expression in the dressing mirror.

"Lavendar." 

"Did you wish to come here?" I asked, and felt fairly silly for even considering such a thing when she gave me a look.

"No. I was forced to, most of us were - beside Rina. Her family requested that she be put in the Games." Lavendar looked out the window for a moment. "Prince Bronn had taken a trip down to Pletinia, a small city on the outskirts of Menagreve. I was with Galudriel and we had decided to take a trip to the meadows," she said, a smile of the memory appeared across her face. "Prince Bronn was in his carriage and stopped just beside us. We were forced back home and told that I was to join the Courting Games." Lavendar's eyes faced the floor. "I didn't even get to say goodbye to him properly."

"I'm sorry." Was all I could say. 

"It doesn't matter now." Lavendar said, offering a gentle smile then turned to lie on the bed, curling herself into a ball. "We're here and that's all that matters."

 

By seven-thirty, we had made it downstairs. The girls were already there and had found a seat around the table. Lavendar and I took the last two empty seats and a servant came round to fill our cups with water. Prince Bronn brushed through the door, taking his place at the head of the table. His parents were there too, alongside a younger boy and girl who I assumed were Prince Bronns' siblings.

"Good eve." Prince Bronns' father, the king spoke. Instantly the subtle murmuring of the girls died down. "I hope you've taken the time to settle in well." He paused, none of us responded. "I thought it would be a pleasant idea to sit down and get to know one another, and your husband, of course. Tomorrow, you will start training. We have excellent grounds filled with professional elf trainers which means you will be expected to use both your magic and combat skills for the Courting Games." 

I swallowed. As I was only half-elf here, I knew that my magic was a lot less effective and strong as those who were full elf. There was little I could do, but knowing I was heading into a battle that I was going to lose terrified me.

Prince Bronn had probably put me in the Games because he knew I was going to die, and it would be another excuse to kill off a half-elf.  

"Your training will last exactly five days. On the sixth day, the Courting Games will commence. The Games will last for a maximum of three days. It could be shorter depending on the circumstance." The King continued, taking a sip from his brass cup and wiping at his beard with a handkerchief. "So eat well, and get ready for tomorrow, it will be intense, but this will be for the priviledge of becoming a royal. You must show your power and that you are a worthy princess."

I looked over at Lavendar, her eyes were on the table, she didn't carry an expression but from what she had told me earlier, I knew she was deeply unhappy. 

"Now, let's eat, and celebrate." The King boomed, before taking his fork and knife and dug into the crispy breast of a rosemary-coated duck. 

 

 

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It was six in the morning when we were woken by one of the servants. She poked her head round the door and spoke loudly. "Time to wake up, training will begin in 30 minutes." 

I looked over and was surprised to see Lavendar on the end of her bed, training clothes on and her nightgown lay deflated on the duvet covers. 

"You're up." I say. 

She nods. "I live on a farm, I have to wake up earlier than this."

It takes me fifteen minutes to have a shower and get ready. I pull my hair into a tight knot. I don't feel ready for today but I wanted to at least look presentable.

Once I'm done, Lavendar and I head to the dining room, scoff down our breakfast and are sent to the grounds. We find the eight women lined up on the grass. Prince Bronn is already there, as is the King and other three men.

"Aldwyn, Lavendar. Welcome. Do join us." Prince Bronn says, coaching us to come over and line up. "I've rounded up three of our most experienced trainers. They are part of the Nyloia bloodline. This is Balin, Elrand and Theadon. Most of their family have worked as trainers for the royal family for decades. You ladies will get only the best training. Now, why don't we share our names with one another." 

Each girl took turns: 

"Missalder."

"Ornelia."

"Pamelia."

"Estel."

"Lia."

"Rina."

"Melian."

"Rey."

"Lavendar."

"Aldwyn."

"Excellent." Prince Bronn clasps his hands together in excitement. "Now that we know one another a litte better, let's get to it, shall we?" 

We were split up into groups of five. Me, Estel, Melian, Lavendar and Ornelia were taken to one side while the others were taken somewhere else. Prince Bronn would alternate between groups, watching intently as the trainers would teach us the proper ways to dodge, punch and kick. I'd never really learned how to fight, most poor people in Menagreve didn't have that priviledge, and even with abilities, our schools focused more on learning out of books than anything physical. 

I was partnered with Rina. She was beautiful, with long swaying hair, most of it was brown with specks of blonde and her eyes were a piercing cold blue. She looked wealthy.

"Aldwyn, I want you to try and dodge Rina's attack," spoke one of the trainers, and moved back. "Rememeber, move your shoulder downward and then inward across your chest. Go."

Rine came at me fast, raising a fist and I quickly tried to move out the way, but she was fast and her knuckles slammed into my jaw, sending me flying backwards. The girls, beside Lavendar, all let out a small laugh. 

"That's enough." The trainer said, sending a warning glance to the group. "Here." The trainer offered me a hand and I took it, moving my jaw around to ease the pain. "Just make sure you're faster next time, you'll get the hang of it."

"Will she?" Rina scoffed, hand on hip. "She's a half-elf, no matter how hard she trains she'll never be faster than full elves."

"Rina," I heard Prince Bronn gasp, and came over to us. "That's not a very nice thing to say is it? Say sorry to Aldwyn, now."

Rina rolled her eyes and didn't say anything. Prince Bronn's face suddenly changed; he looked immensely displeased. He raised a hand, and clenched his gloved fist. Rina suddenly began to look very red, and quickly put a hand to her throat as if unable to breathe.

"Say sorry, Rina," Prince Bronn said again through gritted teeth. 

Rina gasped for air, eyes wide and