“And if I don't want to return?”

Farah barely kept herself from wincing. “I’m sorry,” she apologized, biting off the ‘Your Highness’ at the end of her apology. “I’m still getting use to things here. My family is nothing like them. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Gwen shook her head. “It's not that you were rude but I know they're going to be concerned about you as long as you act like that.” she explained. “My father didn't treat me the way they do either and I won't deny that it took some time to get used to it. In the end, they are very caring people and will want to help you, you just need to relax and either help them understand or let them do what they can.”

Farah nodded at the explanation. It made sense, but it was also easier said than done. Still, she swallowed the lump in her throat and replied, “I apologize again. I’ve been in the wilderness for days on end now searching for you. The time away from them has indeed helped, but…”

She struggled to find words as she reminded herself that she was speaking to a princess. A princess that currently disowned her title, but a princess nonetheless. “Time doesn’t heal all wounds,” she finished quietly.

Gwen nodded with a slight hum at the mention of how long Farah had been looking for her, feeling just a little bit of guilt for that. “Farah, you can talk to me the same way you would to another knight. But I think I understand what you mean.” she admitted. The time she spent here, away from Olerian and her father, had been wonderful and freeing but she wasn't sure how much that would actually help Farah.

But I can’t, Farah thought privately. Instead she nodded and tried a smile. “I appreciate that, Your— uhm… Gwen.” She’d been getting better at calling the princes by her name rather than her title, but with the two of them alone, Farah seemed to revert back temporarily.

She needed a blade. She needed a release. A small, genuine smile appeared on her face. “Would you care to spar with me?” she asked shyly.

Gwen cast a small smile back, appreciating the effort she was putting into using just her name and not her title.

“I was hoping to ask you.” she chuckled as they neared the training grounds. “Weapon of choice?” she asked, her grin matching Farah’s.

Farah noticed the smile, and it calmed her down, as did Gwen's acceptance of her offer. She pursed her lips in thought at the question. "Honestly, I prefer a bow," she answered. Her smile grew as she glanced over at Gwen. "Though a sword would be my second choice. Yours?"

“A little archery contest?” Gwen smiled, already heading over to the weapons. “Personally, I have spent a lot of time training with a bow to become a hunter. But I do need to work on my swordplay. I've been told that I leave my sides too open.” she admitted.

Farah's eyes lit up at the challenge. "Alright," she agreed, following Gwen's lead. "An archery contest, then a spar." She nodded at the princess's remarks. "All you need is stronger arms to build up more speed with the sword's movement," she suggested. "That and anticipation. But that comes with practice."

Gwen smiled at the more casual attitude Farah had and picked up two bows. “Yeah, that sounds like what everyone keeps telling me about swords but I have been working on my arms too.” she admitted, handing a bow to Farah. “You want to go for distance or accuracy?” she asked.

Farah nodded. "It's a fine technique to perfect your swordplay," she said simply. "But it takes work, which I'm guessing is nothing you wouldn't be capable of. If you want, I could teach you."

The offer left her lips, and she tried not to look surprised at her own words. To cover it, she took the bow and draw back the string to get herself accustomed to the feel of the new weapon. "Whichever you prefer."

“Really?” Gwen asked eagerly in surprise at the offer. “I would love for you to teach me how to use a sword.” she smiled.

“Umm, let’s do accuracy.” she nodded, looking around before pointing at a tree a good distance away. “Think you can hit that?”

Farah's demeanor softened at the princess' eagerness. "Yes," she replied simply. "I could teach you."

The knight grinned as Gwen selected a test of accuracy. She followed Gwen's finger to the tree she was indicating and nodded. "Yes," she answered, stringing an arrow and drawing it back. The bow she had now was drawn looser than her normal bow, and she dropped her stance for a moment. She swore quietly and eyed the bowstring. After a moment, she set herself again, accommodating for the extra give, and let an arrow fly. It stuck in the tree, though it was a bit lower than Farah had anticipated.

“Thank you, Farah.” the former princess smiled excitedly at the idea of someone else teaching her. Corvin had tried and she had learned the basics but was still in need of improvement.

Gwen stood calmly and quietly as she waited for the knight to familiarize herself with the bow. Though she smiled at the shot. “Nicely done.” she complimented before taking aim at the same tree. She may have had a slight advantage since she had been using these weapons once she made the decision to be a warrior here.

Her arrow also stuck in the tree and was just slightly higher than Farah’s.

As much as Farah was attempting to remain emotionless, Gwen’s excited smile stirred something in her stomach. She couldn’t help but smile back. “You’re welcome, Gwen,” she replied quietly.

The only bit of disappointment the knight showed if the arrow slightly missing its mark was a swift exhale before she stepped aside to let the princess take her turn. “I suppose,” Farah murmured. Perfection had been drilled into her, so even the slightest mistakes made her stomach turn.

But the disapproval and fear she couldn’t shake off faded at the princess’s shot. Farah looked at Gwen. “Impressive,” the knight praised.

Gwen couldn't stop smiling at the fact that she was going to learn sword fighting from a trained knight. Especially another woman.

“Thank you.” she nodded at the compliment. “Do you want to take another shot? I’ve been using these bows for a while so I might have an advantage.” she admitted, holding the bow back out to her.

Farah glanced over at Gwen again, and the smile on the girl's face made her do a double take. No one had ever been that excited before to take advice from her. Even though she was the top soldier and spymaster in the king's army, many still looked to her father over her. It was nice to have someone actually want to listen to her.

The knight took the bow back without hesitation and strung up a second arrow. "I have my own with the rest of my things," she murmured, drawing the string back and taking aim. "But I can manage with this one."

A few seconds after she finished speaking, Farah exhaled and fired. This arrow was more in line with Gwen's. There was certainly something to be said about Farah being a quick learner. She relaxed with satisfaction in her eyes.

Due to the fact that she had been away from her father’s kingdom for so long, a lot of knowledge about it, the castle, and the people who worked directly with her father had been pushed aside in favor of her new life. Including how skilled and important Farah actually was. But given enough time, it was likely to come back.

Gwen smiled as the knight took the bow and tried again. “You are good.” she praised at how quickly she adapted. “I'm glad you have your own though.”

Farah smiled shyly at the praise. She looked over her shoulder at Gwen and offered her the bow back. “Thank you,” she answered. Given the time Gwen had been away, Farah didn’t really expect the princess to remember her. And she didn’t offer to remind her either. Memories would come with time, or they wouldn’t. Simple as that.

“As am I. It’s rather loosely drawn compared to mine,” she remarked. Her eyes widened suddenly. “Not to say that it’s wrong,” the knight quickly corrected herself. “I just prefer a tighter strung bow. That… that’s all.”

Gwen chuckled a little, holding up her hands at Farah’s quick backtracking. “It's alright. It's just how the tribe makes bows compared to what you’re used to.” she assured as she accepted the bow back. “I think I remember there was a reason for it or what the difference does but… I’ll have to ask.” she shrugged.

Farah offered a shy smile. "I'm glad you understand. I didn't mean any offense by it. Just that… I know some people who might." She curled her fingers into a fist at her side for a moment before relaxing and nodding in response to Gwen's shrug. "Most little designs incorporated into a bow have an impact on how the arrow shoots. The string is only a small piece of it all. But I'm probably boring you. Would you like to do something else?"

“Oh no. No offense taken.” Gwen assured, though she raised a brow at who could possibly be offended by someone's choice or preferance on weapon. Her smile grew interested as Farah started to share her knowledge on the topic. “Not at all. You’re not boring me. Remember, I’m training to be a warrior here. I feel that learning about weapons should be part of that.”