Father said the little lass was Lady Karianna’s daughter. Time has gone by fast. She was merely a newborn babe, and I was a lad who had only lived through five winters the first time I laid eyes on her. I remember how my arms trembled as Lady Karianna entrusted me to hold the wee babe swaddled in blankets. I well recall how her dark brown eyes stared at me and she gave me a smile. How could I have forgotten that I promised her mother to care for her daughter until the end of my life.
Whether I was a child then or not it does not matter. I am a man of honor, and a promise I made is a promise I will keep. Fate has ensured this stubborn lass and I cross paths once more, it is my duty to see her go unscathed and unharmed or at least try to do so.
I stared at her in silence as she rode next to her father until the company came to a stop. Unsure of where we were or how much longer we had before reaching our destination we followed along and set up our tents. 
“She doesn’t need your protection, Dorian,” I muttered, as I paced the ground. “She said it herself. It would be to no avail to try to change her mind.” I continued to argue with myself, kicking a few stones outside our tent.  “Although she is wrong,” I came to a stop and continued talking to myself while staring into nothingness. “Despite her overconfident attitude and the bravery displayed during the attack, and her impeccable skill with the sword she is still just a child… just a child. And I promised Lady Karianna I would protect her.” My hands clenched and unclenched in nervousness, but why? Why was I so afraid to speak my mind? “A knight is courageous at all times,” I reminded myself, taking a deep breath in an attempt to ease my mind. “And although I have never been one to meddle in other people's business, these roads are treacherous, and I must do what I can to protect this little lass.”
I made my way to General Luna’s tent, every step deepening my determination to have a word with him in regards to the well being of his daughter. But when I arrived at his campsite, I stopped there, hands stretched forth to part the tent flap but hesitating to go further. 
Fear was not common ground to me. Valor was the narrow path that separated fear from desperation and I refused to fall to either side of it and turn back around like a coward. 
I fastened my belt as if that offered more courage and pulled the flaps aside but instead of walking in I froze in place yet again, silenced by the sight before me; mesmerized by the smooth moves of General Luna’s daughter practicing the art of war, taking down invisible foes with unbreakable concentration. 
I hoped she wouldn’t notice me there, watching her every move in the privacy of her tent, admiring her skill. There was no fear in her gaze as she grasped the sword, only determination, but the fact that she didn’t acknowledge my presence was a lethal flaw, minding one’s surroundings was a matter of life in death in the midst of battle.
“May I be of service, Master Dorian?” The sound of the General’s voice coming from behind me made me cringe. Without bothering to look in my direction, she smiled mischievously; happy even that I had been caught. She knew… she knew I was watching her, yet I had fallen prey to my own words allowing her to distract me once again from my surroundings.
Letting go of the flaps I turned to face General Luna and took a couple of steps back clearing my throat nervously as I did. My mind raced with endless apologies until the words came together and finally escaped my mouth.
“Please, Sir, allow me to explain. This is not what it looks like, General.”
“Oh, and what exactly would that be, Son?” Father’s words filled me with shame. I had expected to have this conversation alone with General Luna. I certainly didn’t expect Father to be with him. But I had put myself along with my family name in a tight rope I was not prepared to walk on. The wrong words could get me flogged or cause my father and our men to be dismissed without honor. “Well, Dorian, what do you need to tell the General, we do not have all night.”
“First of all, Sir, I want to assure you I was not spying on your daughter.” His face was unreadable, I couldn’t tell if he simply didn’t believe me or if he was allowing me the chance to elaborate further on my apology before announcing my punishment. I put extra effort into articulating each word with respect and confidence at the same time. “Sir,” I took a deep breath, “I believe you have made a mistake bringing your daughter along.” He seemed taken back by my statement. “I mean no disrespect, thief trodden roads are no place for a maiden, especially one as young as her.” I paused for a moment. “I am only concerned for her safety, My Lord.”
“Do you think my daughter’s well-being is of no importance to me, Master Dorian?” The general asked me. His gaze was beyond intimidating, it demanded of me to submit to his command without the use of words, causing my own thoughts to become blurry in my head.
“Of course not, Manuel. I apologize for my son’s bluntness. He seems to momentarily have forgotten his place.” Father laid his heavy hand over my shoulder, a sign of warning should I dare to speak another word.
“Leave the young man be, Darius. I appreciate a man who speaks his mind without regard to titles and hierarchy. And regardless of that, I believe your son’s concerns are genuine. I too would be questioning the sanity of a father who brings his defenseless offspring along, but I am confident that there is no need to worry, my young Lord, you do not yet know my daughter but believe me when I tell you that that miniature of a lady,” the General said pulling the flaps to the side and allowing the image of his daughter come into view. “That fragile looking creature is not that easy to break.” He smiled pleased with her display of skills. “She may not have the strength of a bear yet but she is just as fierce as one. Give my daughter a couple more years, My Young Master, and then, even you would think twice before crossing blades with my little lady.”
The general walked inside the tent and left me and father standing there, pondering the certainty of his words. Father and I walked in silence towards our own tent but I was struggling to take every step, I felt as if nothing I said was actually heard but dismissed instead. 
Much to my father’s dismay I turned back around and burst into General Luna’s tent ignoring my father’s calls. 
“How can you be certain, my Lord, that your daughter is and will be safe?” I asked. 
“Why wouldn’t I be, young master? Did your father not make the same choice and brought you along instead of leaving you behind?” I shook my head and had full intention to reply back but the young lass beat me at that. 
“All of this nonsense because I am a woman?” she asked with fire in her eyes. General Luna smiled as if pleased with her reaction. “Allow me to show him, father -”
“No, Elle. The lad just needs some time.” General Luna said to her.
“Sire, I must insist -” 
“Enough, Dorian!” Father commanded entering the tent.
“Darius, please, no need to be angry at your son. Allow me to elaborate, Young Master, what seems hard for you to understand. My daughter is destined for greater things than you and I can imagine. The moment she took her first step, her training began.” I looked at her, she was beaming, like a pillar of light, glowing brighter with each word her father spoke. “She is, and has been taught by only the best teachers, myself included. She is young, but I can assure you she can handle whatever comes her way.” Her eyes met mine, daring me to utter one more word, gleaming with pride like a peacock displaying its feathers for the world to admire them. “Elleanora is fierce in battle and kind-hearted at the same time. There is nobody I know that can match her courage, not even myself.” Did he know the effect his pompous words had on his daughter? She was only ten and her ego was already the size of The Everlands and being nourished to a greater size with every sentence. 
I knew his last statement to be untrue. The stories of General Luna’s battles were too many to tell on a single night but they were always full of teachings of honor and courage that Sir Humle passed unto us.
“With all due respect, but courage or not her arms cannot reach far.” She cringed at my words and glared in my direction.
“Dorian!” Father reprimanded me. “You have brought enough insult -”
“I see that my words seemed like an exaggeration to you,” said the General calmly.
“I’ll show you what my short stumpy arms can do! I’m going to make you eat your words, you foolish lad!”
General Luna looked at her not with admiration but with an edge of annoyance in his eyes, as if for the first time in his life he witnessed the arrogance she emanated. He turned around to face me again.“
“If you are so concerned about my daughter’s safety do us all a favor, young master, and watch over Elleanora until our time to depart is at hand.”
I was speechless, that was not at all what I hoped to hear.
“Father, I must object!” Elleanora blurted out. “You know well I need no protection. My place is right beside you, not along some lad who sees my presence as a threat to his mere existence.” 
“That’s not true. I’m as threatened by a child in armor as much as I am threatened by…by…a rabbit…” I spat. 
“Enough!” General Luna commanded. “I have had enough of both of you, there are more important things at hand than to deal with the lot of you.”
“Apologies, Sire,” I said, humbly as I regained my calmness. “I meant no disrespect -”
“Didn’t you really? Do you really mean not to disrespect me and yet you burst uninvited into my tent and ask what of me?” he got closer to me as he spoke. “For me to send my daughter back home? Just how much safer would she be traveling back, she will still be ten years old, she will still be just a little lass,” he paused. “Or do you mean not to disrespect me as you insinuate that whatever tasks you have been entrusted on this journey is more important than to watch over my own fragile little blossom?” The sarcasm in his words caused me to shudder. 
“Father!” Elleanora cried but a single glance from the general silenced her as well. She glared at me one moment, hid her gaze the next. 
She too knew we had gone too far and there was no going back. This was wrong, everything was wrong, I had lost all reason. That child, that spoiled girl caused me to lose my temper so easily, I vomited words I should have choked on instead.
I was ready to argue further but the words of my own father sealed my fate with deep betrayal. “What an excellent idea, Manuel. My son will spend every moment of the day ensuring my young lady’s safety. I think they both could benefit from being in the presence of one another.”
“So be it.” The general said. “Master Dorian, I suggest you get a good night of sleep. My daughter is an early riser,” he said looking at his daughter whose eyes resumed glaring at me. “And I have a feeling that tomorrow might be an extremely long day for all of us.”
“I think you might be right, Father,” Elleanora said coldly. She walked closer to me. “Do you believe in Hell?” she asked me. I nodded reluctantly. Curtsying, but not looking away for a single moment, her dark eyes pierced me through like vengeful daggers as she pressed her lips thigh into a devilish smile. “Prepare to burn, My Lord.”