The Empress and the Knight

[Nimue Stormson]

As she fought she listened to [member="Asterion"] tell of not moving her body with her attacks. Too little too late as he caught her with his sword and brought her arms up. A sharp jab to the ribs made her grit her teeth before backing away.​

​

She tried sucking it up before he attacked, she raising her sword and trying to block. It was basic moves but given his footing it was hard to fully know what was coming. One, two, three, HIT! One, two, HIT! One, two, three, fo-HIT! Nimue was doing her best to defend but hits had managed to make their mark, hitting her shoulder of legs or sides. At the very least the good thing she could say was that Asterion gave her the curtesy and called her "Empress". ​

​

As she fought Nimue was more and more agitated. She tried using that to her advantage, letting her feels help to fuel her force. As she did she began to picture the Sith as someone else. Someone she’d wanted to kill so many times for the pain he’d brought her. She saw her twin brother, Hannibal.​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Impressed that she missed a blow to leave a nasty mark across her face, Asterion could feel the irritation bubbling away and decided to use it.

"Ok - now don't stop and think about what you do next. Just DO it and feel the Force enhance your body and become an extension of it, not a burden to it. Go!"

Pushing into her with a shoulder barge to get her away for a split second, the Sith moved to attack her torso and hips, forcing her stance to be light and nimble and to watch her footing so she could defend without leaving herself open.

"Your thoughts are veering to family - don't let them distract you and make you weak!"

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Given how some strikes were closer than others Nimue was glad that she’d blocked what she could. Enough hits to certain areas and she might not have been able to move after this was done. Still that irritating feeling and picturing her brother, the man who’d caused her so much pain in her life, was still lingering.​

​

The sudden push from [member="Asterion"] manages to snap her back to who her opponent really was; a skilled Sith warrior. Nothing like her brother at all. Given his advice Nimue took a moment to breath in, feeling the force extend through her body, before seeing him make an advance towards her and attack.​

​

As he struck against her Nimue began to let the force help guide her. She could tell when some moves were coming while using her senses to help indicate others. He footing stayed a loose and nimble enough to where she managed to keep switching one foot in front of the other, one rounding the next and so forth.​

​

When she saw an opportunity she tried going from defensive to offensive. She lashed back with a strike against Asterion’s blade before following up with over-shoulder sweeps, trying to hit at his limbs.​

​

As they fought the sun was coming up now, lighting the rest of the area in clear daylight. They’d been at this for some time.​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion chuckled as they danced a strange bout of aggressive and passive blade work, often painful but always helpful.

She was showing signs of fatigue, but Asterion had been involved in far worse and simply learned to adapt and overcome the situation.

"Feeling the burn? Want to stop for a while?"

Holding out his hand, he lowered his sword and rested on the hilt.


[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

It was true Nimue was starting to get tired. Sweat coating her brow and her lungs starting to feel the burn. She didn’t stop at first, her mind too in the moment of combat to fully calm down and realize she was pushing herself. It wasn’t until [member="Asterion"] had stopped that she did mid-attack. Her blade had be pointed right at his face when he’d called for a moment’s rest. Nimue, breathing heavily, dropped her weapon and nodded before walking over to one of the stools set nearby.​

​

Picking up a cantina of water she drank down a good portion while taking some in her hand and soaking her back with it. She was half drenched in sweat and the gear she wore was obviously part of it. The other was her constant training with the Sith. It was enough for anyone to start feeling fatigue.​

​

As she sat there, recovering, she looked to him and said “Sorry….about…the outburst from before.” While panting. “You’ve….proven to be…a skilled…warrior, Sir Asterion.” ​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Just as he thought. Asterion dropped the sword and walked around Nimue slowly as she dowsed herself, sat and caught her breathing. And behind her, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her arm back with his free hand, dragging her from the stool.

"And as soon as you drop your guard because you're tired, hot and sore the enemy will see it in your eyes and KILL YOU."

He pulled tighter enough to cause discomfort and apply pressure to her chest.

"You aren't worthy to fight for your people if you can't fight your own body's weaknesses."

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue didn’t expect anything once he came behind her. She was still too busy trying to regain herself. The sudden feel of being pulled from the stool. Before she knew it one arm was around her waist and squeezing hard while the other pulled her arm back and kept it from being of any use to her.​

​

She groaned as he told her not to have dropped her guard, she hissing “B-Bastard… Should’ve known…” as she struggled.​

​

She closed her eyes and tried to think of something. Without her arms free enough she wasn’t going to be able to reach for him or hit him somewhere he’d be able to let go. Instead she tried using the Force to send a pulse that would push him back and away from her. Failing that she would try stomping her heel down on his foot to force him off her.​

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[member="Asterion"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Holding tight, he felt the Force surge inside her trapped body and it shot outwards with a great strength, calling on all life around them both - it showed her desperation and focus, which was impressive.

Letting go and stumbling back, Asterion clapped his hands and moved forward.

"Ok, ok, you get the idea. You NEVER trust your opponent until they've stopped breathing."

Picking up the stool, he indicated for her to sit.

"To be honest, never trust anyone but yourself. That's the greatest lesson I can tell you to remember."

He moved to get some water and drank a fair amount and sucked in the fresh air.

"Tell me Nimue, what does a Sith need to do to get some food around here? I could eat a Ronto."

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Once he was off of her Nimue stumbled away and turned, looking ready to attack him again. He showed he was willing to stop for now, clapping and telling her how to not trust an opponent until he was done breathing, but she wasn’t convinced as of yet. Even when he gestured to her stool and told her not to trust anyone, something she already knew, she still stood where she was. She needed to be sure this wasn’t more of his ploy.​

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When he asked about eating she relaxed a little before saying “I can see to it you have a well-cooked lunch. Unless you plan to throw a fork at my eye during the meal, Sir [member="Asterion"] .” After that she walked over and reclaimed her cantina, sipping more water but not sitting just yet. “And I know enough about trusting and not trusting to know who can and can’t be. But…sometimes mistakes can be made, I guess.”​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion turned and rested on the table, tossing a vial of water between his hands and breathing steadily.

"All I'm saying is just be careful who calls you a friend, especially when you have such power."

He took a long drink and tapped his blade on the stone floor.

"Are you expecting some trouble? Is that why you called me here, to help prepare you for a brewing storm?"

He looked at her and shrugged.

"You need help crushing a few skulls, I can be of service to an Empress like you."

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

After his remark about friends it was all too clear to Nimue what betrayal was like. She’d been on both ends of that rope in her life. When she had been the one to betray it obviously lead to deaths, some of her own family in the process. When it was her turn to have a dagger in her back it was more devastating than she could realize. And, again, this had been due to ones she’d called family. Because of that the Empress was clear in knowing what true trust was like.​

​

When his question about trouble came up, followed by him offering his services to her, Nimue looked at him a little oddly. It was almost as if he’d senses it on her. Perhaps some other aspect of the Force she wasn’t aware of yet.​

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“I…I don’t know.” She answered before looking away. “Part of it is for my own sake, Sir [member="Asterion"] . If I’m going to be as strong a ruler as I intend I need to know the ways of the sword as much as the force. And yet…I can’t help but feel part of it is in preparation for something else.” After that she turned back to him and told her story, starting with “Sometime ago I had sought the teachings of meditation from a Jedi. I’d been told their form had opened more possibilities of seeing into the future, something I was obviously interested in. And sure enough with enough practice I’d been able to peer into days to come. And in them I’d seen war. With who, I cannot say. But I did see me, admits the fire and smoke and death I stood on the field of battle and lead my army into the fray. So you see, Sir, I’m preparing for if that day should come.”​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Listening, but not looking at her, Asterion drank another container of water and stood, flexing his hands and fingers over the hilt of the sword and stretching his muscles. The word “Jedi” spoke volumes.

”Well letting the Jedi in was your first mistake.”

He looked at her for a second.

”Why is it you want to see into the future and thus make every moment in the present irrelevant by focusing on what may never happen. You don’t know the circumstances surrounding you on that battlefield, and especially with your tentative control of the Force, you could have been stood on a pile of your soldiers bodies, surrounded by the enemy about to face your death. How do you know that you were leading YOUR army into battle from what the Force tells you?”

Holding his sword, he gently paces back and forth in front of her, looking at his steps on the ground.

”I never favour using my ability to see the future. Who says it’s something that can be trusted or read properly? You see what could be, but take it as what WILL be, and that is dangerous. Don’t sacrifice your thoughts and worries at the expense of the moment. Keep your concentration and focus on the here and now – feel the danger around you and the life bristling thought the Force.”

Walking past Nimue, Asterion turned his sword up and moved it towards her naval.

”Make yourself strong now, and your future will write itself.”


[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

His comment about letting the Jedi in being a mistake made Nimue roll her eyes. She could have explained that it was her choice and that she wanted to know as many aspects of the force as possible, be it from Sith, Jedi and Witch alike, but instead she decided to just let [member="Asterion"] talk. No point waiting her breath arguing when she needed it to recover from all the exercise.​

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Instead she listened to his speech about the future not being what it seemed. What the Empress could have seen in her vision might not have been exactly what she thought. It was true even for her. She wasn’t sure what had happened or what was going to happen. How she got from wherever she was to the moment of battle. And again it was all a possible future. The Jedi who taught her this trick had told her that. Everything the force could see was only possibility, not destiny. Even as he talked about not using the future sight to affect him now, Asterion had proven to be wiser than Nimue thought. But, again, she could somewhat sense that about him to begin with. It was a matter of making herself strong now for whatever the future may hold.​

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After he’d finished she looked him square in the eye, serious as she could be, and said “I intend to do just that.”​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

With a slight nod of his head, Asterion let her comment stand.

”Fair enough.”

He turned and laid the heavy sword down on the table and wiped the remaining sweat from his brow.

”Ok. You want to move to hand-to-hand combat, or focus on the centre of your Force ability?”

He closed his eyes for a second and chuckled, ”Or, pardon me Empress, are you too tired today to exert yourself some more with me?”

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Given the options before her it wasn’t too hard for the Empress to choose. As effective as hand-to-hand might be she wanted to focus on where the real power came from. Not to mention she didn’t foresee too many battle where she’d be without her weapons or her access to the force. And as tired as she might have been she wasn’t going to let that stop her with how to fully master as much as she could in one day.​

​

Standing she said “You’ve proven how you are with a blade. Now let me see the skills of the Force at work.” To [member="Asterion"] .​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Half-expecting her to opt for showing him around, eating a rewarding meal and drinking to numb the bruises, Asterion was evidently surprised when she wanted to carry on. He lay down his sword and nodded.

”As you wish. We’ll go easy for now, your physical state and mental fatigue need resting for you to really embrace what you have, but we can start now. Come.”

Leading her back to the centre of the yard, again distracted by the mighty view behind the palace, Asterion left her standing a few years behind him as he turned to face her.

”What you need to get your head around first is what the Force actually IS.”

He loosened his neck slightly and rocked on his boot heels gently as he spoke.

”It is a binding and metaphysical power that derives from life itself, ok? It is an extension of your mind and body, and can be used to break a man’s mind, to heal broken bone, to pull down a starship and simple enhance your physical strength beyond that of mortal beings.”

Asterion held his hands out.

”Jedi use the Force for their policing of the galaxy, the Sith use it for theirs. There is no right and wrong Force; it’s the person controlling it who can be labelled right or wrong.”

Slowly, he wrapped the Force from him around Nimue, lifting her gently of the ground a few feet in the air.

”The limit of how you can control the Force exists only in your mind. If you doubt yourself, you will not succeed.”

Holding her up for a few minutes, letting her feel weightless but also in control, he lowered her to the ground.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

It was true Nimue was sore, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. This was, after all, [member="Asterion"] who was teaching her. She figured him a man who endured enough to known how hard it is to deal with pain in one sense or another. She, however, wanted to show she wasn’t just a prissy Empress as he’d likely thought.​

​

His explanation of the Force was both enlightening and yet confusing at times. Obviously there was some spiritual sense to it, but the idea of it being around everything had made her wonder if that meant anything and everything could be affected. Apparently, given his mention of ripping starships from the sky, had made that more clear. The idea of that happening had caused Nimue’s heart to almost skip a beat. One person to hold that sort of power alone would be formidable.​

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Suddenly she’d felt as her feet left the ground and she, looking down, gasped at the sight of her own body being up in the air. She’d originally felt an odd twinge, the Force from Asterion reaching around her like a hand, before being picked up. Scared at first eventually she eased into it and starting laughing a little, enjoying the idea of almost being like a bird.​

​

When she was brought back down she looked to him and said “I think I understand. As Force users we’re granted with the ability to manipulate it. But depending on how it’s done determines what sort of Force users we are. Sith, Jedi, anything in-between.”​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

He gave a half-smile at her innocence to the Force manipulating her. It really proved that how it was controlled was something of a God-like power – to make people smile, or make people choke to death. Whichever you chose, depending on your mood.

”Well, yes.” Asterion gave an honest answer.

”You know I am without a Master, but I have experienced training under one. It’s all about the line blurring good and bad. You want to know that line? Talk to someone else – to me it’s just survival. I chose a path to use the Force for any means necessary; to take what I needed in order to survive, to fight those who tried to kill me in order to survive.”

He folded his arms and thought for a second.

”The Jedi strike last, to clear themselves of guilt, in a conflict. They goad you to strike first so they can try and cut you down with a reason. They use the Force to do this, to manipulate others into thinking that the Jedi are out to help others, when they just want to help themselves. The Sith at least aren’t afraid to do what they need to do, to get what they want and live how they need. Jedi will not use the Force as a weapon unless they have to, instead they use to to enhance their natural ability and senses. Sith, well, you get the idea.”

The Sith gave a small shrug.

”It’s all about perception and what you believe the Force can be used for, and why. But then you think using the Force in battle is done for peace, does that make you good or bad? You use it to twist the mind of others to get what you want for the good of a city or world – does that make you good or bad. Perception.”

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Hearing him out Nimue had nodded with everything he explained. The Force was not good or evil, only power. And power is only power no matter how it’s used. Survival, control, order, justice. All of these things have been used with power behind it, making them ideas made real. Depending on where it lied, who had the power, determined how it was used. Given all he’s said it was clear to Nimue that [member="Asterion"] wasn’t a Sith who wanted to rule or control or destroy, as she’d been lead to believe by the tales from the Jedi. He was just a survivor.​

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Nodding she looked down to the blade he’d dropped and reached out. Trying to show that she understood what it meant to hold that sort of power Nimue imagined the blade in her hand, it slowly reacting. It twitched for a moment before finally lifting up and making its way into her hand. She looked to the knight and smiled, showing she knew that at least. ​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion rolled his eyes as she called the blade hilt to her hand – it was smooth after a moment of deliberation. He walked a few steps forward and held his hands up in surrender.

”Nice – an extension of your body, seeing the blade in your hand and you called it exactly where you wanted it.”

He walked a few steps forward and held his hands up in surrender.

”Remember, it’s not always physical displays of power. The mind is a fragile thing and can be exploited.”

His eyes shifted up slightly to focus on her brow, and he reached out to probe the outer rim of her mind; feeling her connection and attention focused purely on him which made it easier for him to slip around her brain stem and infuse it with a vision that he was connected to.

”I told you trust was a weakness. My army is ready.”

From behind Asterion he drew up an image of dozens of figures emerging from the shadows, moulding from the sunlight cast onto the ground all dressed in black. A sea of crimson lightsabers erupted in unison and the figures started to charge forward.

Feet thundered across the stone as the sky lost all natural light, and the hulking warriors shouted out with cries of battle, blades outwards swarming past Asterion, straight for the Empress they were here to slaughter.

Asterion, of course, was stood alone with Nimue in the evening light, and hoped his vision would have a nice effect on her.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]