Sophia's little secret

"Everything alright at the village?" I ask grandpa when he gets back.

"Rox has your brother so he should be fine." Replies grandpa stroking his white beard.

"Thank you for taking care of him." I bow my head to him.

"Yea, yea. That was enough of a break. Now fix your stance." Grandpa informs me while he shifts to a similar size as me. 

I step a little to the side so my feet are under my shoulders. My left hand on my scabbard and my right on the hilt of my sword. I bend my knees a little so I can move freely. Then I observe grandpa's movements. 

I'm not sure how many days it's been but grandpa found me the morning after I ran away. Every day since then he has been teaching me swordwork. As much as I want to run to Rox, I can't. Grandpa won't let me into the village until I beat him in a fight. So for now I'm confined to living in a secluded part of the forest hidden by cliffs. None of the villagers come this way due to the rocky terrain with little to forage.

I explained my situation to grandpa that morning he found me. That's when he told me. "You can run or you can fight. From the sounds of things this Charles fell'r won't stop til he has yer head. Where you walk you will leave a trail of misery behind you if you don't deal with this problem. I do not want misery in my village so I will stand to keep you out. If you defeat me in a fight you may enter but know those who defeat me will become chief. So I ask again will you stand to fight or will you run?"

I told him I will fight for everyone I hold dear, especially for Rox. If I have to become the chief then so be it. That's the moment we started training. My everything is less shaky. The days swinging that broom around helped along with my new found conviction.

Grandpa takes the first strike. Drawing my sword I'm able to block the swing. He isn't holding back on his power. He bounds back to come in for another swing but is it a swing? No it's a feint, I lean hard to avoid his jab. I step to the side and swing. He deflects it with ease. Quickly I brace for his swing. I'm able to guide his sword to the side. 

Enough of this. I kick him back and take the lead attacking. He deflects my moves but I keep my grip firm yet my sword fluid. I keep the attacks coming. My stamina has grown a lot but I'm starting to feel the strain from my earlier lesson. I swing and flick my sword sending grandpa's sword flying then rest my sword against his neck. Grandpa cracks a smile.

That's when the shaking took hold of me. The mix of adrenaline and exhaustion overcome me. I fall to my knees onto the cold leaf covered ground.

"I did it." I say in shock staring at my hands and sword on the ground.

"Ha! You just barely beat me but that's all that matters in a fight." Grandpa laughs loudly then shifts to his 3ft normal size.

He goes and gets his sword. Then he unties the scabbard from his belt. Standing in front of me he motions for me to stand. I sheath my sword before standing with my shaky knees.

"Sophia, are you ready to be the chief of this village?"  He asks while holding his light brown sword infront of him. It's smooth, if not for the thin slit it would look like a curved thin plank.

"I'm not sure. I barely beat you." I say standing there looking at the sword.

"What matters is you kept trying. Yes you may fall in battle later but you can keep training to be stronger to push the day you do fall in battle back." He says handing me the sword. "You are ready to be chief. You're smarter then most of us and you defeated me in a fight. This sword will show the rest that you are the new chief."

"But what about you? What are you going to do? You're not leaving are you?" I ask scared of his answers. Yet his eyes look back at me with pride and joy.

"I will still be around. Your form and swordwork still need a LOT of work. Along with I need to teach you everything that comes with the title of chief." He stands tall folding his arms as a firm teacher would. I look down at the sword which is starting to feel heavier. 

"Since you're the new chief I will have more time to prank my daughter's lover. Also I need to teach Kiaha and Jeana some of my secret pranks before I die." He throws his head back laughing.

"Did you purposely loose to get out of the boring paperwork and delegation talks?" I look up to were grandpa should be but he is missing.

"Meet me here in the mornings for training!" I hear his yell bouncing off the trees so I have no idea where he is.

And he's gone. Like always after dropping information onto me. I look at the sword then towards the village. 

"Rox." I whisper before sprinting to the village. Do I go to his place? Would he be home? Maybe I should just ask someone.

I make it to the clearing at the edge of the village. Looking around I don't see anyone. They are probably out hunting or gathering. Rogue is following me so I walk around the edge of the village til I spot a goblin.

"Excuse me!" I call out to the guy. He looks at me funny but then his face lights up. Is this one of Rox's friends I met? If not he probably recognizes me from that night of the celebration.

"Sophia! Rox just left with fancy pants guy looking for you!" Says the goblin then he looks at the sword to my side. "Why do you have the chief's sword? Did you really beat him in a fight?!"

"Yes I beat him." I say and then the goblin kneels infront of me before I can say much more.

"I will do anything you ask chief Sophia. Just say the word. Let the name Gob be known as one of your most trusted and loyal followers." Gob says with his head bowed.

"Uh! Um! That's alright, please stand up." I'm not use to having authority. "You said Rox isn't here?"

Gob rises. "That's right he left in a hurry. If you wish I could go get him."

"Yes! Please!" I beg the man. 

"Say no more, I will bring him home!" Gob says before whistling for his wolf and takes off into the forest.

"Sophie!" Yells Jeana and Kiaha. The small girls come running and hug both of my legs. "You're here! A complete mess but you're here!" 

"I've missed you all so much!" I bend over the best I could with my legs restrained by their arms to hug them.

"Sohpia dear!" Mama Rose cries coming in for a hug too. "Have you been united with Rox yet?"

"No I have not. Gob is going to get him." I say.

"Then let's get you cleaned up! Oh what a surprise this will be!" She eyes the sword. "Girls spread the word we have a new chief and we are all celebrating tonight!"

Jeana and Kiaha take off giggling through town and the forest spreading the word of the new chief. Mama Rose drags me home and starts cleaning me up. The woman in town find fabric and start sewing me new clothes while I get my cuts and bruises cleaned up. Rogue did his best to keep me warm at night but bathing never really happened. Grandpa got me some clothes to replace the ripped dress I did have but they were on the smaller side. 

Now that I'm cleaned up I feel like a new person. I have a long sleeved white shirt with a black leather mid section that can be tied around my stomach. Then brown leather pants. Even the new brown leather boots I have fit me. I thank everyone so many times while Mama Rose braids my hair. Kiaha and Jeana giggle with excitement as I'm ready to head out the door.

The girls lead the way to the village center. Everyone in the village bows as I pass. Then I see Dot bounding towards us.

"Sophie!" A small sized Rox yells and leaps from Dots back.

"Rox!" I yell back and sprint for him.

I don't care if I'm two feet taller than him right now, I'm going to squish him in a hug because I've missed him! The moment we are arms length apart I dive at the same moment he chose to shift into his bigger form so I end up taking him out at the legs. Everyone is laughing at us sprawled out on the ground. We both sit up and I'm laughing. I'm so happy to be with him right now that I don't care that I'm a mess. Rox pulls me in for a tight hug and begins kissing all over my face since I can't seem to stop laughing. 

"I've missed you so much." He whispers between kisses.

"I've missed you too." I say giving him a kiss.