Sword, Knight and Duke

"My Archduke, what are you doing with her?" That's strange, it's the first time I've heard her calling me that.

"I found her near your family pond, she fainted for some reason." I say to Catherine but she doesn't come closer to help me, she shouldn't have known I feel better.

"Please put her down she's dangerous." Catherine says with a face but I look at her and smiles.

"Is it due to the fact she can absorb magic?" She puts on a shocked face for a moment then nods.

"That won't be an issue anymore." I approach Catherine who backs off for a moment but stops then allows me to reach near her.

"See, she's no longer a problem." Catherine then smiles and tears begin to run down her face.

"Our family lost so much when she awoke that evil power, our mother died trying to take care of her, father begin to lose his mind and everyone else begins to drift away from the family." She begins to unload all her sorrows on me while trying to wipe away her tears. This is how my family probably felt too. 

"Come on, let's go inside she's getting quite heavy." Catherine smiles at my comment that tries to change the subject. 

"Let's give a bath and some clean clothes." Catherine suggests and I nod.

"She probably hasn't had a proper bath in years now." Catharine says scrubbing away dirt from the now awake girl.

"So how long has she been out there?" I ask Catherine and she looks up sad.

"For ten years now but we built a home for her to stay in. It's just recently our family financial situation has decreased and we aren't able to feed ourselves." That's just the consequence of having such a large family without a backup, maybe he did have one but he spent it on alcohol.

"I'm finished bathing her, now it's time to clothe her." Oh, the reason I'm in here is because Catherine is too scared to be alone with her and I'm not sure it's appropriate for a stranger to bathe her.

Catherine begins to put on a pink short dress on the girl which looks adorable and blue slippers. Overall she looks beautiful. 

Then for some reason, she runs towards me and hugs me. This feels weird, her power to absorb magic hasn't returned yet.

"You. Feel. Nice. Hungry." She says trying to put her words together. I pay her head and she looks on confused. 

"Alright then let's eat." She smiles at my words and Catherine go prepare lunch.

I then take the girl with me . . . I should ask Catherine her name. We go back to my room, I love to show her a book I've found.

"This is the story of Peter Beowulf, your ancestors and the possessor of the ability magic absorption. He used power to make his family a knight family, sadly he died at last battle between the King of En and the King of Fren." I say flipping through the book showing it to her. She looks on disinterested only saying hungry.

"The power you possess right now was passed on to you. It's much more power seeing that you can kill people with it." Plus more versatile since she can absorb my magic. 

"More. Powerful." Oh, so she's interested in that.

"Yes, so much so that if you were in that battle you would have easily won the war for En." That's if she could control her powers that is.

"I've brought some cake and other pastries, oh and my father." Saying so the old man enters and the girl begins to hiss.

"Stephanie, I know you're angry with me but I did what I had to. You were a treat to everyone here and our livelihood." The old man says bowing.

"I hate you!" Stephanie says going behind me and squeezing my back while shaking.

"I understand completely, I'm your father but I abandoned you. Duke William, I ask you to take my daughter with you when you return. Not for free obviously." He says placing in front of me a shiny almost translucent sword with its hit made of wood and wrapped in fine leather and the guard made of fine steel.

"This sword is called Hrunting, it was used to slay Beowulf and earn our family nobility." It's a fine sword and all but I'm no swordsman it's been years since I lasted wield a sword. 

"Sword. Sword. Sword." Stephanie says pointing towards the sword and tugging me. 

"You really want that sword don't you." I say to her and she licks my face . . . Let's ignore that. 

"I can't just take your family heirloom, I will pay for it." He stands up angry and Stephanie begins to hiss.

"I may have never fought in a war but I have a knight's pride. Take the sword duke." His stubborn personality is beginning to show.

"I Duke William Eirwen command you Knight Peter Beowulf III to take my gift." He back away at my words then bow with a defeated look.

"I will listen to your command duke." He says bowing and I place to have one of my guards hand him a chest filled with coins.

"This is 500 gold coin take is has payment for the sword and your daughter. I will be returning home tomorrow." I have to return and tell my teacher that I'm well and my younger brother too. My parents, would probably try and place me into an arranged marriage.

"I will accept it but not as a Knight but a father." He says taking the money and single handle taking away all that coin on his own.

"Will he be okay?" I ask Catherine and she just nods.