regency au } { of sword training and boys being dumb

[fadingspark]

Stiles: [and yes, this was happening. Not that training girls in fighting wasn't already a thing at Hale Manor, but this was his little girl and he knew how hard this was going to be. But if she wanted to learn, he wasn't going to say no. However, all the knights start with the wooden swords, and so would she] Here we go, this will be your weapon while we train.

Dina: [takes it in her hand with a firm grip, before looking up at him with bright eyes. she's so excited. so so excited] Okay.

Stiles: Now today, we're going to just get your body used to the basic movements. You need to build up the muscle strength and memory to be able to learn the fighting. It'll be a bit boring, and you're going to be sore, but you've watched us so you know it's important right?

Dina: [she nods again, because she has been watching Stiles and Ben and she just wants in on the dad time]

Stiles: [and he is going to show her the proper stance, which has bent knees, a straight back, arms out and holding the heavy wooden sword in front of her with elbows bent] Alright, now hold that as long as you can.

Dina: [and because she's nine and rolled a 2, she tries very hard, but after a few minutes, she starts to squirm a bit. She's trying not to be obvious but she's nine]

Stiles: [smiles] It's okay, once you feel your arms hurting, you can stop. We do this every morning and the point is to see you hold it longer each day.

Dina: [huffs and lets the sword drop] I don't like standing still.

Stiles: I am quite aware of that. But sword fighting is a lot of standing still and waiting for the right moment. You need to learn to relax in those moments. Find piece. IN the midst of battle, that's when you can catch your breath, but you have to keep your guard up so you don't give others the opportunity to attack.

Dina: [she wrinkles her nose a bit before nodding] Okay.

Stiles: Now, show me the stance again. I want to see how well you remember it. I won't make you hold it long.

Dina: [and she rolled a nine so it's not perfect, but it's also not bad? About middle of the road]

Stiles: [and he will give her reminders on how to stand, but as promised he won't make her hold it long. That will come a few lessons down the road. Instead, they will put the sword down and work on footwork, teaching her how to properly advance and retreat]

Dina: [this is much easier for her, as she doesn't have to stand still and her werewolf grace allows her to keep up with her father pretty well]

Stiles: [but then comes the rough part where he does do the steps with her, just says "advance" or "retreat" for her to react... and there is no pattern]

Dina: [and that is a 1 so she gets tripped up pretty easily when he stops moving, getting frustrated with herself when she doesn't remember it properly]

Stiles: [and he takes a deep breath and then stops her, crouching down to look her in the eyes] You ok?

Dina: I knew how to do it before! [and there is totally a wibble but she's a big girl and doesn't cry. get it together, Claudia] I didn't mean to mess it up.

Stiles: I know. But knowing and doing are always two different things. It took me years to learn to swordfight with your Uncle Derek.

Claudia: [she huffs a bit before looking down at her hands] I just don't want to be bad at it.

Stiles: You won't be bad at it, sweetie. But this is something you earn with a lot of hard work, sweat and tears. You won't be able to do it overnight, but you'll learn it. I promise.

Dina: [she looks back at him for a moment, before taking a deep breath and nodding] Okay.

Stiles: Good. [smiles, proud of her] Now are you feeling sore, or do you want to practice some more?

Dina: [thinks for a moment then wrinkles her nose] I'm hungry.

Stiles: Okay, then let's go eat. Maybe we can find your mother and tell her how well you did today.

Dina: Okay! [and she'll take his hand and follow his lead]

Stiles: [and off they go into the kitchen first to see if Cora is around waiting on them]

Dina: [she's actually with Ben working on his lessons, so no not yet]

Stiles: She and Ben must still be studying. I guess it shall just be the two of us.

Dina: Sounds good to me. [pleased daughter is pleased]

Stiles: [and since the cook and staff are off doing their thing, he'll just look around and make plates for them of meat, cheese, carrots and bread] There we go. Let's eat by the fire.

Dina: [nods and follows his lead again, settling comfortably in front of the fireplace]

Stiles: So what does momma have you learning today?

Dina: Reading and writing.

Stiles: What are you reading? [because books are a family thing]

Dina: Fairy tales. Patience gave it to me.

Stiles: I wonder if that's the same book I used to read to her when she was a baby.

Dina: Maybe. She didn't tell me where she got it.

Stiles: I don't think your Uncle Derek remembers where most of his library comes from.

Dina: I think some of it is from Aunt Elena's library too.

Stiles: I'm sure it is.

Dina: They have so many books.

Stiles: I know. I think they could build their own castle with them.

Dina: That wouldn't be a very good castle.

Stiles: Why not?

Dina: Not all books would be the same size. There would be leaks.

Stiles: Or we use them to make windows.

Dina: Still. I tried building one out of Mama's books once and it didn't work.

Stiles: I guess we'll have to stick to mud and stone then.

Dina: It's a much better building material.

Stiles: Yes it is. And it keeps the books dry for reading too.

Dina: Which is very important. They're much harder to read when they're wet.

Stiles: [ laughs] That is very true.

Dina: What books do you like to read?

Stiles: I love stories about knights on quests, and magic.

Dina: Like fairy tales?

Stiles: Pretty much.

Dina: What's your favorite?

Stiles: I'm very fond of the sleeping princess.

Dina: Sleeping Beauty?

Stiles: Yes, that's it.

Dina: Why?

Stiles: Because of the dragon.

Dina: But the dragon is the bad guy.

Stiles: I know, but the knight only met the princess once before she fell asleep, and yet he was so in love with her that he would fight a dragon just to rescue her and save the kingdom.

Dina: Does love really happen that fast?

Stiles: It can. It happened with your Aunt Laura and Uncle Jordan.

Dina: One of the knights says that she married him because anything was better than Aunt Kate's brother.

Stiles: [laughs] Well, that is true. But they were betrothed to each other.

Dina: Why was she betrothed to him if he was terrible?

Stiles: Because there was a war, and to have peace in the country, they were to have a marriage between the Argents and Hales.

Dina: If we get into a war, am I going to have to marry someone terrible?

Stiles: No. We'll marry your brother off first. [smiles]

Dina: [exhales with relief] Good.

Stiles: That's the one good thing in that your Aunt Olivia's son is the heir in Austria, and not your brother. You don't have to worry about anything like that - you can marry whoever you fall in love with.

Dina: Is that hard?

Stiles: No, it's not. But you have to be careful, because sometimes boys will say they love you, but they don't know what love really is and they can hurt you.

Dina: If they don't know what it is, why do they say it?

Stiles: Because a lot of boys are dumb.

Dina: Does that include Ben?

Stiles: At times, yes. Myself as well.

Dina: [she doesn't believe that about you dad, but when it comes to her brother, her response is certain] I knew it.

Stiles: [and one eyebrow will go up] Oh?

Dina: About Ben. I knew it. [that she was smarter than he is basically]

Stiles: Well, we are talking about love, sweetheart. Not everything.

Dina: [and then she looks up, confused] But he does such silly things sometimes.

Stiles: As do you, and everyone else in the manor.

Dina: Yes, but I do silly things because I want to be silly. His silly things make no sense.

Stiles: To you.

Dina: Do they make sense to you?

Stiles: Actually, yes.

Dina: [and she gives him a look like "are you just saying that so that I stop thinking he's dumb or is that an actual answer?" her hale genes are showing]

Stiles: He's trying to show off. Or he's doing it to get the attention and knows what he's doing will get it from someone.

Dina: That still sounds dumb.

Stiles: [chuckles] You do realize you do the same thing, right?

Dina: No I don't.

Stiles: So you don't do things specifically to get momma's or my attention?

Dina: [nervous face because she doesn't think she does] No ...