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♕ The Lost Princess and the Found Prince ♛; Active | Mature | Closed
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Topic Started: Dec 15 2011, 02:07 AM (490 Views)
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Gipity
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Dec 15 2011, 02:07 AM
Post #1
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[dohtml]<img src="http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee368/Gipity88/mj05g9.png" align="right">
- Once upon a time, there lived a prince.
<br><br>This wasn't just any prince however. No. This prince, not so very long ago, wasn't a prince at all. In fact, he had merely been an innkeeper's son.
<br><br>Hale Alexander Gunther was the son of an innkeeper and his doting wife. They were not the richest of people, but they got by, their inn one of the few in the town, and the first building you came by on the way out of the Elmbone Forests. It wasn't the biggest, but it was made comfortable and quaint by his mother, Eleanor. She kept it clean, she cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all of their guests, and also listened to their stories, who they were and where they were coming from. She was one of the most beautiful people you could meet, inside and out.
<br><br>Unfortunately, his father, Victor, was not of the same disposition. He was a greedy man, one who took people for every cent they were worth. He was the type to water down a traveler's wine and charged them far too much, raise the price of food when one seemed particularly famished, and the inns' rates went up about fifty percent after the sun had done down. Not only that, but his treatment towards his family left something to be desired. He was a verbally abusive, and sometimes even physically abusive man towards his wife and his son. Despite Hale growing older, there was nothing that could be done. He would take it, in order to protect his mother, for he'd rather he got the brunt of it while she stayed safe,, and he knew defying the man would lead to no food and no place to live. Victor demanded respect, and if he didn't get it, you were merely treated like the scum at the bottom of his boots.
<br><br>Hale always dreamt of more. He wanted adventure for himself, and safety and security for his mother. His father he couldn't care less about honestly. Though he was the man that had helped to create his existence, he was merely a monster in his story. While he worked at the inn, he daydreamed of being like the few knights who had come through the place. They were brave and honorable men who protected entire kingdoms. They were heroes. They were the type of men Hale strived to be.
<br><br>In his free time, he could be caught with a wooden sword he had crafted himself at a young age, practicing his fighting skills. He had grown very good at it over the years. Eventually, he had saved up enough tips to buy a real sword, and fortunately, he had managed to never hurt himself. While his mother saw it as a fine hobby that worried her a bit due to the safety of it all, his father saw it as a money maker. Actually, at first he had seen it as a waste of time, for he didn't believe his son would ever be a knight, but then came a tournament, a tournament that would end up changing Hale's life forever.
<br><br>The King of their realm, King Henrik, had posted an announcement, calling for all young men who deemed themselves capable to partake in a challenge. They would have to complete a task, and if they did so, they would be rewarded handsomely with fifty pounds of gold. What was said task, might you ask? Why, it was to slay the gruesome and deadly chimera, who had become far too comfortable in their land, destroying the kingdom's crops and killing many innocents. Victor saw this as a great opportunity. Hale had become quite skilled indeed when it came to that sword, and he was a stubborn boy. There was a chance he could win, and if not, well, Victor could deal with the loss.
<br><br>Of course, he had told his wife and son of the challenge, and Eleanor refused for Hale to do such a thing, as there was a horrid chance he wouldn't come out alive, and fifty pounds of gold just wasn't worth it. No money was worth her son's life, she believed. Hale soon interrupted his parents' budding argument, to say that he would do it, for it was an opportunity of a lifetime. He could show what he was made of, and in the end, hopefully, he would emerge alive and with the reward money, which his family surely needed. His father celebrated with grog, and Hale spent the rest of the evening assuring his mother that everything would turn out just fine.
<br><br>Soon, it was time for the tournament. There were many men, some even a little younger than the nineteen year old. In simple and sleek armor he had spent his last scrimp of gold on, and sword in hand, he bid his goodbyes to his parents, and with the rest of the contenders, he made his way off to the valley where the chimera had made it's home.
<br><br>Our young hero couldn't remember his heart ever being lodged so high up into his throat.
<br><br>The chimera was not a shy creature. As soon as it knew of a disturbance on what it believed to be it's property, it made itself known. There were several man dead in just moments. Everything was happening so fast, all Hale knew was to keep moving. Considering the creature had two heads and a tail that happened to be a serpent, it was ready to attack you from all sides. That was one of the problems when it came to killing it. It had three heads. Even if you cut off one, it'd still be alive. You had to get right into it's heart, but getting there without it's razor sharp teeth, horns, or claws tearing you to shreds was on the difficult side of things.
<br><br>As Hale both avoided the creature and tried to devise a way to end it's life, he found himself saving those who were about to meet their end. Those too scared to move were pushed out of the way, or he called attention away from those who were being stalked and were too immersed in their fear to slash at the mighty beast. You thought you were brave, until the gnashing teeth and the three pairs of blood thirsty eyes came at you.
<br><br>Hale wasn't sure if he was brave, or just crazy.
<br><br>The number of men dwindled down significantly in very little time at all. They had either perished, or ran off, not believing the reward was worth it. Hale preceded on, for he wasn't one to give up. He hadn't been hit yet. That was until he was one of the few left. The monster merely swiped him off to the side, one of it's claws striking right through his armor and into his side, enough to make it eventually scar, but not enough for it to be fatal. He winced as he clenched his torso, looking up to keep track of the creature, only to see that it had made it's way to one of the last competitors, ripping him apart right in front of Hale's eyes. He had to move. He had to get somewhere safe where he could formulate some sort of plan.
<br><br>He got to his feet, clenching his sword with one hand as the other held onto his side, and he jogged over to a wide rock that was around seven feet tall, slipping behind it and resting his back against the cool stone. All of a sudden, time seemed to lag to a crawl. The world had gone quiet. He no longer heard the treacherous screeching cries the chimera made, nor the eerily sharp rustling of it's feathers. All there was was his slow and steady breath and pounding heartbeat, a faint odd ringing filling in the silence in between. It was nearly silent, yet it was screaming at him at the same time. Where was the creature? Was he the only one left? Did he stand a chance?
<br><br>He did. He could do this. He could be the hero. He wouldn't be a nobody anymore. He had to make sure no other innocent lives were taken.
<br><br>As he moved to stand, the sun seemed to abruptly disappear, when in all actuality, the chimera had leaped over the rock, gliding to the ground on the opposite side. Hale knew what it was doing. It was ready to attack him. It knew where he was, and he knew he was the last invader.
<br><br>What it didn't know was that Hale wasn't going to let fear hold him back. He was all in.
<br><br>Our hero ran forward, sword held like a spear in his hand, and just as the monster turned around to face him, he was right in front of it. The creature's large lion head swooped down, mouth wide open, ready to take off his head. Hale went right up to the chest of the beast without qualm, and plummeted his blade into it's heart. He could smell the scent of a thousand deaths on the former nuisance's breath before it collapsed the side with a large thud, suddenly not so scary anymore.
<br><br>All of a sudden, Hale heard the cheers of his opponents whom were still alive and had been hiding, and they came forward, many injured but on their feet. They congratulated and thanked him, and soon Hale had all three heads of the creature in hand, strung together like garlic cloves, and he brought them back to King Henrik.
<br><br>The King was impressed, to say the least, especially as other informed him of Hale doing his best to save others in the process of killing the beast. The man came to admit that the point of the tournament was actually to find a suitable heir, one who was strong, courageous, and chivalrous. He saw that in Hale, and offered for him to become prince of their kingdom, and in return, his family would be taken care of lavishly for the rest of their days.
<br><br>Without even speaking to his mother, Hale accepted the offer, and shook hands on it. He was no longer just an innkeeper's son. He was a prince. He was a man of importance, and his family would be claiming the profits.
<br><br>His father was ecstatic, but his mother wasn't as thrilled, for she would be losing her son, but she was oh so proud of him for accomplishing what he had, and in the process, had become what he was meant to become. She blessed him with her best wishes, wished him love in this new life, and entrusted him with her mother's ring, to present to the woman he deemed worthy, princess or otherwise. Once he bestowed bags of gold to his father and hugged his mother goodbye, Hale was off to his new existence as a prince.
<br><br>Though the world of royalty was luxurious, it was restrictive and full of rules and etiquette. He felt worth it though. He was significant now. He was a warrior and the 'son' of the king. It was all demanding and unyielding, yet at the same time it was exciting and had many a great moment.
<br><br>Unfortunately, all of it had to turn sour, for Hale was forced into an arranged marriage within just a few weeks.
<br><br>The King wanted to unite two of the realms without bloodshed, and after informing the other King of Hale's bravery and success, the man agreed he would be the one to marry his daughter. King Julian did not care that Hale was not of noble blood as long as he was respectable and strong, and that he was. The deal was made without Hale nor his soon to be bride's consent, but the bride didn't care, for she had no idea Hale was not of noble blood. For all she knew, she was marrying a pure blood prince and warrior, and that was all she cared about.
<br><br>Hale wanted to give her a chance. After all, he couldn't dismiss someone he had never met. She could be the love of his life and he could just not know it yet. However, when he met Princess Analiese, such hopes were crushed. He had met her before, though she couldn't recall it, when she and her father had stayed at their inn due to an unexpected storm. She had been extremely rude, vain, bratty and spoiled the entire time, and he had nearly hated her.
<br><br>Now, he had to marry her.
<br><br>Analiese had stayed at King Henrik's palace for just a few days, and then they were off by carriage to her father's castle. It wasn't a terribly long journey, but it felt agonizingly longer with her sitting across from him, whining about this and saying how she wanted that. To be honest, he could barely pay attention. He peered out the window, the day's dying sunlight nearly turning his cerulean eyes into a purple shade. They were almost there. The driver had said so not long ago, and he couldn't wait. He would be able to have some sort of escape from her yapping.
<br><br>Just as Analiese was in the middle of asking if he was even listening to her, which he indeed wasn't, a unexpected disturbance came in the form of a small band of thieves. The carriage had come to an abrupt stop, and you heard a sickening clunk of their driver falling to the ground after being slaughtered. Hale had just enough time to get out his sword before the thieves opened the carriage doors. Our hero stabbed the one on his side, killing him, but the one at the other side had stolen Analiese right out of the vessel.
<br><br>Despite not being all too fond of her, Hale was not about to let anyone harm her in any way, shape, or form, and he didn't hold back as he jumped out of that carriage and stalked towards the thieves, fighting each one of them off. They were poorly equipped with just daggers, and had the disadvantage of their stolen goods being in their other hand. Half of them simply ran off, not seeing a need to continue when they had gotten something valuable for themselves, while a couple others just kept coming. Hale stabbed one in the heart, and just as he was about to kill the other, he was stabbed, the blade going deep in between his shoulder and clavicle. He gasped as he lifted his sword in his opposite hand and slashed it across the man's neck, before he dropped to his knees, the dagger sticking out of him. He clumsily sheathed his sword and removed the knife before he clenched his shoulder, immediately feeling the gushing warmth of his blood. It didn't take long at all to feel light headed, and he attempted to breath through it. He knew Analiese would be no help with this, but he was in desperate need of assistance.
<br><br>As his visions blurred a little, he looked up, only to see his salvation coming in the form of a beautiful girl with the sunset seemingly igniting the trees behind her. [/SIZE]
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Vidia
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Dec 15 2011, 02:56 PM
Post #2
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[dohtml]<img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x364/vidiabell/different.jpg" align="right">
- Long ago, there lived a king and queen who wanted nothing more than a son who would be fit to rule their kingdom, a child who would make them proud and their realm well-renown. Unfortunately, the queen was barren, and they had no choice but to turn to outside forces of magic if they wanted a healthy child. In exchange for a substantial amount of gold, the queen was soon with child, and she and her husband were overjoyed. However, they had been misled, for the child was no prince, but a princess.
<br><br>Disappointed beyond description, the king ordered for the man who had made this happened to be captured and killed, but he was never found. The queen was determined to make her daughter to be worthy of some use, and dedicated most of her time making sure the child was brought up well, that she would be highly educated, skilled in many arts, and so on and so forth.
<br><br>So begins our story.
<br><br>A caged bird was more free than Princess Lillian, who loved nothing more than running until her legs felt as if they were going to fly off, or reading in the gardens, or hiding from her governess. She was raised with such meticulous care that there was no room for love, but being a warm-hearted child, she loved her parents nonetheless, although they never really saw her more as anything other than a puppet to be used to advance their kingdom. Princess Lillian had few friends. She liked spending time with the servants' child, who knew that she liked to be called Lily, and just Lily, but when her mother found out that she was playing with children far beneath her, she threatened to have the parents of Lily's friends removed from the castle. Thus, Lily was ignored from that day onwards, growing up to be terribly lonely for she despised most noble children immensely. They were always trying to see who was higher or lower in station.
<br><br>When Lily grew to be of marrying age, she was offered many proposals, though she had absolutely no say in her future. Her mother and father turned down every single one, waiting for the right chance. Lily felt thankful for this, for she did not wish to marry, feeling that the romance in the books she read only existed in script, and not real life. She had observed life as such from the interactions between her own parents. Unfortunately, one day, her parents received an offer from a king whose son was of great prestige, and their kingdom quite well-off. A union between this prince and their daughter would surely secure their own kingdom's future, so within a few days, Lily set off in a carriage loaded with fine dresses and jewelry to meet her so-called "beloved".
<br><br>But, with her mother being as clever as she was, Lily did not even know where she was truly heading. She thought she was going to spend a month in another kingdom that belonged to her father's friend, because her mother had said she wanted her to learn certain graces from the realm's court. She thought the idea was preposterous, but she liked the idea of traveling and being able to explore life beyond her own castle walls.
<br><br>Her mother had not counted on Lily striking up a conversation with the coachman, who did not know of the queen's deception, only that the princess was soon to be married. Lily hadn't even known of her engagement until the coachman asked if she had any little worries about life as a married woman. She was speechless when she found out, but masked her horror and managed to answer the man with adequate replies as she grappled with her emotions, struggling not to cry as the carriage pulled on in the road. She felt an immense amount of betrayal on her mother's part, and an immense amount of betrayal in herself for falling for the act so easily.
<br><br>Suddenly, the carriage jolted forward and came to a rough halt, and the coachman told Lily that the wheel had gotten stuck in small crevice in the road. They would have to stop for a while, and since they refused to let her help and because Lily did not really care to arrive at the palace any earlier than she had to, she went for a walk around the area to stretch out her legs. She stopped by a babbling brook to quench her thirst, known that her mother would have been furious if she found out she had drank directly from a stream, but pushing the thought aside. After she was finished drinking, she rose to her feet and stared at her reflection in the water, adorned in the richest material known to man, and heavy jewelry pressing against her skin. It was like looking into a crystal ball and seeing her future. This was all there was to her life, and this was all there would ever be. Lily was stuck in this cycle of rules and restrictions.
<br><br>Or…was she?
<br><br>Lily looked back, up the short dirty, weedy hill, and the men were still toiling over the wheel. She hitched up her skirts a little and started running, her heels bringing up clumps of dirt as she went, feeling a little lighter with each step.
<br><br>She kept on running until her legs couldn't stand it anymore, and the princess ended up spending the night, sleeping on the mossy ground beneath a tree, never feeling more terrified and wonderful in her life. The next morning, Lily eventually found her way into a nearby town. She was able to pawn off her possessions to amass enough money to buy traveler's wear and a few provisions. She kept nothing but a necklace her mother's father had given to her when she was born. Lily had never been allowed to meet him. Her mother had conjured terrible stories about him, but Lily learned the truth from the servants, that his only crime was that he was a common man, and that he had always been gracious and kind. She had always longed to meet him, but she had never had the chance. Instead, Lily clung to the necklace. It was something that others would have deemed worthless, the stone unrecognizable, but to Lily, it was the most precious thing she ever owned.
<br><br>Lily was anxious in the shops the entire time, but once she was in commoner's clothing, it appeared that no one really recognized her, thankfully. She didn't want to risk anything, however, and tried to not linger around in the town, no matter how much she wanted to. Lily wanted to get as far away from home as possible, and she spent days just walking. Normally, she would have been too frightened to sleep, afraid of wild animals or outlaws, but she was so tired at the end of the day that she fell asleep as soon as she laid down on the ground, always far from the road. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before Lily ran out of food. She had never starved before…well, not like this, at least. Her mother sometimes told the cooks to take extra care with her daughter's meals, wanting Lily to look her best at all times, but that little bit of lingering hunger was nothing compared to the pain in her stomach now.
<br><br>Before night fell, Lily was able to find her way to a small inn, which was a relief until she discovered she didn't have enough money for lodgings, or even a decent meal. The concept of being poor was just as new to her as starving, but Lily didn't really care to enjoy the moment. The innkeeper was a shrewd and callous man and turned her away from the door immediately. But just as Lily was about to pass the short wooden gate in the front, the innkeeper's wife stopped her, and offered her a place to stay and warm food. Lily didn't want to take charity, but she felt she couldn't refuse, both because it felt like her stomach was screaming at her, and because the lady was so kind that it seemed like it would almost be a crime to reject her offer.
<br><br>Lily insisted on doing work to earn her keep, however, and the woman, named Eleanor, accepted her help…though it was not very much, for Lily was not very skilled in tasks that went beyond simple ones that she had learned in the castle, like sewing and a bit of painting, but those sort of "talents" were not needed out here in the woods. However, Eleanor was patient with Lily, and she taught her how to do things and even gave her useful tips for one living with poverty, such as how to make a hearty, filling broth out of the simplest ingredients. Lily ended up staying at the inn for a week, not because of the fine living conditions, but because she truly enjoyed spending time with Eleanor. She had noticed her benefactor seemed a little disheartened as well, and Lily soon learned that the woman had recently lost her son, not from death, but through a deal. Circumstances made it so that Lily couldn't know the details of it, but from what she heard, her son had left because he wanted to give his parents a better a life. The story made pangs of guilt sting in Lily, wondering how her own parents were coping with her absence. How could she have done that to them?
<br><br>The princess finally decided it was time she went back. Maybe she would find a way to convince her mother and father not to force her to marry some man she was certain she would not love. She thanked Eleanor, swearing to pay her back in the full one day although the kind lady said she had done more than that already. But Lily knew she would certainly return some day. She started heading back towards her kingdom, but the journey would require more money. She began to work doing various jobs, picking up a few different skills on the way that were vital for survival. Most people were very kind and accepting, and when people weren't, Lily did not bother to waste her time trying to vie for their sympathy.
<br><br>One day, Lily had finished assisting in a hunt with a butcher who was nearly as accepting as Eleanor, finding no qualms with having a woman help him in his work. He told her that if she was in need of obtaining wealth quickly, she should try her hand at finding the missing royal. There was a noblewoman who had been lost for a certain amount of days. Not many people knew about it, but he had heard two of his customers discussing it earlier. He instructed Lily on how to find the men, and she searched for them in the village. As fate would have it, Lily stumbled upon them accosting a brunette maiden. They did not see her, and she watched as they realized they had made a mistake, and it was not the woman they were looking for. They unrolled a piece of parchment, and Lily was shocked when she saw what was on it.
<br><br>What was even more startling, however, was what she overhead the men say. They had been especially appointed for their job by her mother and father. Lily learned that her parents did not want anyone to know that their daughter was missing. Only a select few could be aware, and majority of them did not even know that it was the princess that was missing, only someone of importance. Her parents were afraid that should the man Lily was intended to marry found out she had gone missing, he would call off the engagement. They had informed him that they were busy with preparations and the meeting would have to be postponed for a while.
<br><br>In the end, all Lily really learned was that her parents were more concerned with keeping their reputation than finding their daughter. If they really cared, they would have issued out a proclamation a long time ago, a public one, so that she could be found much quicker and easier. She could have been kidnapped, for all they knew, and yet, they still…they still…
<br><br>From then on, Lily decided she would never return to her former life as a princess. She was going to start anew, like she originally planned. One day, she would have enough money to buy a house in a kingdom far away from her own, and she would live a life she chose for her own. She would no longer be a pawn.
<br><br>One day, Lily was returning to her present lodgings in the woods near a village, after working all day to help leatherworker in preparing hides and treating them with certain oils and softeners, for apparently belts and saddles and such were in high demand from the king all of a sudden, because a wedding was soon to take place. She was exhausted and ready to finish cooking her meal, when Lily heard an ear piercing scream sound through the forest.
<br><br>Someone was being attacked! Lily knew that many undesirables ventured through these woods and that it could be precarious for people to wander about unprepared. She hesitated for but a moment, and hurriedly grabbed her bow and arrows before leaving her home, the hilt of her dagger beating against her as she took off, not wanting to waste any time. Lily knew that it would be undoubtedly dangerous, and yet she knew that her conscience would weigh heavier against her if she did not help. She reached the scene of the fracas in a short amount of time, and immediately realized that aristocrats of some sort were being attacked, judging from the extravagant clothing the shrieking woman was wearing. Lily didn't take time to really let the situation sink in, however, for she soon realized that the noble man had been injured, and she swiftly reached back, nocked her arrow onto the bowstring, curled her fingers around twine and shot at the thief closest to the noble, hitting him right under the breast bone.
<br><br>She didn't delay with the next shot, getting the man several more times before she shot at the other criminal who was seizing the lady, one of her arrows soon jutting out of his neck. The noble woman screamed even louder, sparking Lily's nerves, but she did the best to ignore the wails as a man came running after her with a blade. Lily ducked, but he kicked her in the stomach, knocking her to the ground. He thrust his sword into her cape, pinning her to the floor like nailing a fly to the wall by its wings. Lily struggled to pull it out as the thief was about to slam his fists into her. But once the villain caught sight of Lily's face, he paused for a second in shock. He recognized her.
<br><br>"You're--"
<br><br>He started, but he did not finish, for by that time, Lily had unfastened the clasp of her cloak and rammed her knee into him. She unsheathed her dagger and plunged it deep into his chest and he fell like a stuck pig. She pulled her dagger out and cleaned it on his shirt before returning it to its scabbard. The once-princess turned and saw the noble was in great pain and danger--fortunately, the other men were either gone from presence or life.
<br><br>"We have to hurry. Others could come, and night will be falling soon,"[/SIZE] she murmured quickly as she wrenched the sword out of her cape and fastened the cloak around her neck again. Normally, Lily would take the spoils of the battle back with her, but she knew she would not be able to carry much and help these people at the same time, so she left them there for now. "You two can hide with me till morning." She moved to help the man onto his feet.
<br><br>The woman seemed aghast at this news.
<br><br>"We can't stop now, we have to make it back to the palace! Surely, if we make haste, we can reach the gates before sundown," she remarked. When Lily glanced back at her, she instantly recognized her. It was Princess Analiese, King Julian's only child. She had met her when they were children long ago, and her personality had not changed at all. She didn't appear to recognize Lily, and though that was almost insulting, it worked greatly to the situation. Lily could not give a wit what she thought right now, not when a life was at stake.
<br><br>"His wound needs to be treated immediately," Lily nearly snapped. She did not have time to negotiate matters with the princess. "You have to help him walk." She would do so herself, but she had to scope ahead and guide them on the pathway back to her shelter, moving branches aside and what not, and she would not be able to be gentle in her movements in doing such so she didn't want to open his wound any further. Analiese did not seem pleased with these arrangements, but thankfully, she begrudgingly accepted for now…as long as Lily agreed to carry a small trunk of her prized jewelry, for she refused to leave it behind. The trio journeyed on a twisting course through the forest until they reached a thick grove of shrubbery and vines. There was a narrow pathway through that which led to her current whereabouts in a dry cave.
<br><br>The cave was simply yet cozily adorned, and it was the best lodgings Lily had made for herself thus far, and she dreaded the day when she would have to be on the move again, for she knew she could never stay too long in one spot. The cave was fairly brightly lit with lanterns and a fire in the center. Weapons and animal traps were stowed in the corner, and there was a crate for wild nuts, fruits, and vegetables off to the side.
<br><br>"Set him down over there," Lily instructed the princess, who had been complaining the entire way, as she pointed to a bed made of animal skins and stuffed straw. "You'll need to take off your tunic and jacket," Lily remarked to the man before she began to rummage about in the cave, wasting no time. She took a pan and began filling it with water so that she could clean the wound. She also collected a jar of special salve she had acquired from a medicine woman she had helped in the woods. It had special, nearly magical healing properties. Lily knelt by the man and dipped a clean cloth in the water, starting to dab the area around his wound gently with an apologetic face on her features, but this act proved to be far too intimate for Analiese to watch. Despite that fact that (she believed) this wild woman was inferior on many levels, she wouldn't stand by and watch.
<br><br>"Let me do that," Analiese commanded in a flat voice, holding her hand out to Lily. Lily was surprised at this, but saw no reason to decline, and she allowed for the princess to trade places with her while she readied the salve. Analiese made a face as she attempted to sluice the injury, unable to even look at it as she did and as a result, made a rather poor job at it. Her lip curled with distaste at the sight of blood. "Sickening," her tongue clicked under her breath. Repulsive. She took the fact that her fiancé had received this blow from trying to protect her into no account. Analiese did not keep the cleaning up for long, dropping the rag into the pan after a short amount of time and announcing that she was finished.
<br><br>Lily pulled the cork out of the jar. The medicine was of immeasurable value and she knew she couldn't afford to waste any of it, but she knew that this was not a case in which it would be wasted at all. "This is going to sting a little," she warned ahead of time, having used a pinch before. But it was a small price to pay for working so well. Without further ado, she dipped a new clean rag into the jar, scooping up a majority of the balm, and then pressed it against his gash. Serum already began to leak out from the wound, his body beginning to secrete the fluid to cleanse the laceration itself. The edges of the wound began to pull together, the new vessels and tissues forming beneath. By the time Lily removed the cloth, the wound looked as if it had been a few weeks on the mend.
<br><br>"There," she murmured, glancing up at the noble, whose name she had yet to learn. Even through the unnatural lights of the cave, she could see the color in his eyes. It was a familiar one, one that filled her with warmth and comfort when she gazed at it despite it being such a cool color. It was like being enveloped in the calm of a gentle sea.
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Gipity
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Dec 16 2011, 04:43 PM
Post #3
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- The woman who had come to the bloody scene, the prince realized, was no ordinary woman. She was strong and ruthless, the complete opposite of his supposed fiance, and it was refreshing to see such a thing. She killed those men and defended herself like it was no problem. He found her to be incredible, in every sense of the word, but then again, he was losing blood fast, and his head felt as faint as a feather.
<br><br>Soon, all of the dastardly thieves were dead or gone, and he could feel the hands of the woman as she moved to pull him to his feet. He let a sharp breath out through his teeth as he pushed passed the pain and lifted himself up into a standing position. He stumbled, catching onto the woman's shoulder tightly to steady himself before he drank in another breath like it was the sweetest wine, for truly, breaths like these were the only thing that satiated him, even if it was just for a moment. It helped to keep him from falling over in his dazed state. The woman of the woods proposed having them hide with her until morning, and it was an extremely generous offer, and one that was entirely needed for she was right. It wasn't safe, and the sun was dropping at a rapid pace.
<br><br>It didn't really surprise him when Analiese argued, thinking in that spoiled mind of hers that they could magically get to the gates before the day's light was gone. She didn't seem to realize the fact that he had blood seeping from him and dripping down his clothes. Fortunately, the woman recognized this, and that was that. They were going to stay with her. The woman told Analiese to assist him, and reluctantly it seemed, she did, keeping him upright while his rescuer led them to where she was living. The journey was far from a peaceful one, as his fiance's voice ringed in his ears, but eventually, they arrived.
<br><br>It turned out to be a cave, one which looked more inviting than most rooms in King Henrik's palace. They were never very warm, yet this place, this cave, seemed like a home. It reminded him of his mother, for he could imagine the positive woman taking something as drab and gray as this den and making into something pleasant and welcoming. Hale was directed to her makeshift bed, and without a single protest, for he was extremely happy to sit, he lowered himself down with the nearly useless help of his fiance. The woman informed him that she needed him to take his upper clothing off, and with a simple nod, he peeled the garments off, each movement making it feel like a thousand arrows, one after the other, were hitting the same spot. Soon, the clothes were off, and he dropped them onto the floor beside him before he laid himself down, his broad chest rising and falling as he continued his deep breathing.
<br><br>The woman started to clean the bloody injury, but Analiese was far too prideful for that, and offered to do it instead. Of course, she could barely look at him as she did so, and as a result, did not do a very desirable job. The prince was tempted to roll his eyes, but he knew that would just make him feel as if the cave was spinning and that no floor was beneath him, so he refrained. The golden haired princess gave up before long, and soon the other woman was back, with something in her hand that looked like some sort of medicine. The look of it reminded him of a salve his mother made that she used to give him when he was ill to help him breathe. What this sort would do, he was not yet sure, but somehow, he trusted the woman entirely, and braced himself when she told him that it was going to hurt a bit.
<br><br>The balm created an obscure pain, one which made him suck in an acute breath as he clenched his teeth. It burned like a scolding hot fire poker was sealing it from the inside out, yet felt as cold as if he was holding his shoulder against a wall of ice. It all soon died away however, and as he glanced upon his shoulder, he was shocked to see that it was almost like it had never happened, the mark that was there now nearly matching the long scar along his side. A smile, one of exhaustion as he had still lost a decent amount of blood, though nothing that couldn't be replenished in a few hours, crawled upon his lips as he brought his azure eyes up to his rescuer. "My hero."[/SIZE] He murmured in his deep resonance, the first words he had spoken in her presence besides a grunt or a gasp of pain. "Thank you."
<br><br>He reached over and placed his large hand, far more calloused than you'd believe any noble's to be, upon hers, giving it an appreciative squeeze before he pulled back, resting it along his side. He was entirely grateful to her, and the sincerity of that shined in his amiable gaze. "We will have to repay you somehow. This was very kind of you." In those moments, as he looked upon her, he wholly admired the woman who had saved him, and he paid no mind to his fiance, not in the slightest.
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Vidia
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Dec 16 2011, 10:30 PM
Post #4
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[dohtml]<img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x364/vidiabell/different.jpg" align="right">
- Months ago, the thought of killing a man would have never crossed Lily's mind. It seemed so inhuman, so cruel and unnecessary. But after living on her own…after living a life with no reputation or knights to protect her, Lily soon learned that such morals and ideals were things she could no longer afford to have, as simply as how she couldn't afford shoes of gold. Neither would help her when living in the forest. There had been a time when Lily had almost been vilely abused, and she had been forced to resort to murder. Fear and anger drove her knife deep into the man's chest, and when it was over and done, that was that. She was safe, and she knew now that holding back would accomplish nothing. Occasionally Lily came across people in the woods who thought they could do or take whatever they wanted from a young woman on her own, and she had no choice but to prove them otherwise.
<br><br>So fighting the band of thieves wasn't anything new for Lily. If she wasn't quick to injure or kill, there were lives at stake, not only her own but the injured man and Analiese. Though she had never cared for the spoiled princess, she was not coldheated enough to forsake her to Sir Death, so she did what was unavoidable under such circumstances and did not look back.
<br><br>Lily had never let anyone see her dwelling before, not only because she believed it was safer to keep more secrets than to share them, but because there had never been a need. And it was not as if she had any friends to invite, so her home remained a solitary sanctuary for the most part. It was different now, however, because there was no closer place out of harm's way than her cave for the noble and Analiese. The man dealt with the pain almost astonishingly well, for Lily could not even imagine what the medicine would feel like on so great a wound. She smiled a bit when she saw his reaction to its treatment, however, relishing the look of amazement. It was truly a miraculous salve, the gaping gash now replaced by new skin that was smooth with an almost pearly sheen to it. There was no need for a bandage. Before Lily pulled away, however, the man surprised her by speaking up, and calling her his hero.
<br><br>Most men would have never dared to call a woman such a word. They would think it would signify lost masculinity…relying on a female, heaven forbid. Yet, he was different…honest, and he seemed unconcerned with matters like that. Lily liked that. She smiled back at him and he even placed his hand, surprisingly rough, over hers and clasped it gently for a moment. She hadn't expected so much gratitude in return for what she did, and now he even spoke of paying her back.
<br><br>"There's no need for that,"[/SIZE] Lily responded, the smile still on her face, though it felt as if something inside her was squeezing tighter with each breath for some reason she could not fathom. "You were in trouble, so I helped." It was as simple as that. She lifted and lowered her shoulders, brushing the matter off, for she truly did not hope to receive anything in return for what she did. Lily wanted to help those in need, the way the lady Eleanor had. Although the woman had not been of nobility or high ranking, Lily felt as if she resembled everything a true lady should be.
<br><br>Analiese, on the other hand, did not have the same mindset.
<br><br>She felt it was vastly improper for Hale to be lounging about, exposed like this, in some other woman's "house"--if it could be called that. She picked up his tunic and doublet off the ground and handed it to Hale. This wasn't a brothel. "Put your clothes back on," Analiese instructed nearly through gritted teeth, despising the fact that she was feeling ignored. Lily heard her and chuckled, because a shirtless man was the least of her troubles. She didn't believe it was a good idea to have him wear his bloodied clothing again, however, so as Lily moved to put the jar of salve back in its proper place, she reached into a burlap sack on the ground and pulled out a man's linen shirt she had once worn before she was able to obtain other sleeping garments. It had been donated from one of the first people to give her work.
<br><br>"You can wear this." Lily tossed it over to him before turning back to put the jar on a shelf with a bunch of other pots and containers. Analiese glared. Seeing her future husband and a peasant act so kindly to one another displeased her, and she wanted to put the commoner in her place. She didn't appear to know who she was talking to. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I am Princess Analiese of Maudrivale, and this is Prince Hale--" she spoke suddenly with a great amount of bravado. Her stony, polite gaze lingered on Lily before she continued. "--my fiancé." It was as if she was marking her territory, or trying to take things and place them in a box she believed out of Lily's reach. Lily had already known who Analiese was, so her introduction was of no shock, but Lily was a little surprised to hear that this man was a prince. Maybe it was because all the princes she had ever known were hardly so chivalrous. She had almost mistaken him for a knight of Analiese's. She felt sorry for him, for she could imagine that having Analiese as a fiancée would not be easy, but Lily also felt a little sorry for herself, for a reason she couldn't explain.
<br><br>"Well, it is an honor and privilege to meet both of you. I'm Lily," Lily remarked, bowing her head with respect, but not enough for Analiese, who appeared to be inwardly fuming at this ruffian's behavior. Lily's tone and a hint of a smirk indicated that she had not been crushed into subservience, for titles were never a way to impress someone who had been born with one of her own. "I'm sorry I can't offer you better accommodations, Your Majesties," Lily continued as she moved to crouch by a pot at the edge of the fire, leaning over the flat stones arranged to make a hearth. "But at the very least, I can promise you will not sleep hungry." She lifted the lid of the pot and began to stir the thick stew around. She had left it to simmer when she had gone to help them, and luckily, it hadn't burnt in the process. It was a recipe Lily had learned from her time at the Gunthers' inn.
<br><br>At first, Lily hadn't been used to eating only one thing for a meal. Back in the castle, they had courses. But she found that such a practice wasn't needed, and that the food in the palace had started tasting bland anyway, her tastebuds having grown accustomed to the same type of cooking. This thick broth had become one of her favorites, the mixtures of vegetables complimenting the meat just right. After she added a few herbs, it seemed to be ready, so Lily wrapped her hand with her cloak to take the pot off the fire. She was quiet as she worked, because although Lily didn't know it, she enjoyed working and using her hands, feeling those small pangs of self-sufficiency. It had taken her a while to adjust to this life, but now it was as if she had nestled herself into a comfortable nook of it, and she hoped never to leave. Lily ladled the pottage into three wooden bowls and handed one to each royal, setting hers aside for now. She placed a trencher of wood with a few slices of cocket bread on it for dipping into the broth, a commoner's habit Lily had picked up. It was a cheap sort of bread, not at all like the type Analiese had probably been expecting, the sort that a baker painstakingly sifted the flour for several times, but it was at least better than the mixed grains of horsebread.
<br><br>Lily was hungry, but she still waited to eat after they started, manners from her previous life persisting. Analiese, however, sat holding the bowl. She considered it peasant's pottage, although it was nothing like the thin gruel of vegetables that people of poverty ate. Her mind was possessed with ideas of the soup being dirty and containing weevils swimming about, and she did not want to drink it. "No thank you," she said finally. "I'm not hungry." She then lifted the bowl and dumped the contents back into the cauldron, a cold and crass movement that was fairly insulting. Lily couldn't recall Analiese being this scornful before, but then again, Lily was just another a peasant to her now.
<br><br>Her lips pressed together. She was more amused than hurt by Analiese's gesture, wondering if the princess was actually famished. Either way, she held her head high, however, as if that heavy jewel-encrusted crown was weightless. "As you wish," Lily remarked with a slow nod, not at all sorry that there would be more food. Though somehow, she didn't like the idea of Eleanor's recipe being under-appreciated, or even disrespected. Her eyes flickered over to Hale's, wondering for a moment if he would follow suit.
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Gipity
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Dec 19 2011, 12:57 PM
Post #5
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- The woman refused his offer to repay her, finding there to be no need. He smiled at her, his eyes brighter this time, and he simply nodded once as his response. He wasn't letting it go though. He wouldn't leave without repaying her, or at least swearing to repay her in some way. It could be any way she wanted. It could be with money, jewels, hard labor, or ending the life of a monster, man or literal, who was bothering her... Though he had a feeling she could take care of that last thing herself just fine after what he saw. He'd figure out a proper way to compensate her good deed, even if it meant he would have to come back to these woods to see her again.
<br><br>Analiese looked so terribly sour, it was if she had just sucked on a lemon, and a bad one at that. She gave his clothes to him with a look of horrid distaste, demanding he put them back on. A simper seeped onto his lips as he sat up and took the soiled garments, though he hesitated putting them on. They were cover in sweat and blood now, but he supposed he didn't have a choice. Though he didn't mind, and he was pretty positive the woman didn't either, it was deemed highly inappropriate for him to be shirtless in front of two females. As he moved to put the clothing on however, their kind host tossed him a fresh blouse that was just his size. He smiled over at her, "Thank you."[/SIZE] He slipped the garment on over his head, not bothering to tuck it in or tie it up at the neck, letting it hang loosely and comfortably. It was much better than those clothes he had been wearing. He placed those back on the floor, though they wouldn't be staying there since he would have them washed when they left in the morning and got to King Julian's palace.
<br><br>Analiese introduced the both of them like she was the most important princess on this Earth, and like he was her property. This marriage was certainly going to be enchanting, wasn't it? The woman soon introduced herself, refreshingly not as impressed as most were when royals were to introduce themselves, and told them that her name was Lily. It was a beautiful name. It was a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. His mouthed it to himself, allowing each strong and majestic syllable to dance across his tongue. He liked this Lily, and he hoped their future journeys would grant them more meetings such as this. "These accommodations are perfect. Thank you." He appreciated it for the both of them, because Analiese was never going to thank her. She thought such gratitude was beneath her.
<br><br>She mentioned they wouldn't go hungry, and that was when Hale's stomach rumbled loudly, nearly echoing against the walls. He smiled sheepishly as he watched her take off the lid to the pot, and that was when he smelt something so familiar, it nearly made him feel faint. It was as if suddenly he wasn't in a cave anymore, but sitting in the kitchen of the inn, surrounded by the heart and belly warming smell of carrots, potatoes, chicken, and many other savory and delicious things cooking to their best potential in a creamy broth.
<br><br>Hale's attention laid solely upon her, nearly mesmerized as she concentrated on the food, ladling it into the three bowls silently. She handed him one, and he delivered a quiet thank you in response before he brought his gaze down to the pottage. It looked just like his mother's recipe. Now, all he had to do was taste it, to see if it truly was hers. He waited for Lily to finish cutting the bread, his stomach, awkwardly enough, grumbling louder as it heard the crunch of the bread being cut. He missed cocket bread. The pandemain was rich and delicious indeed, but nothing was like the giving crunch of the cheaper bread, or the way it soaked up in your soup or stew. He didn't hesitate to take two pieces once he got the chance.
<br><br>He was about to eat, to dig in to what he believed would be his taste of home, for he had allowed the bread to drown itself in the stew and soaked up all the flavors it had to offer, when Analiese did something appalling. She dumped it back, as if Lily had just given her sewage instead of a hearty meal. She was lying, and being horribly rude. She had mentioned being peckish during their journey, so he couldn't imagine her hunger now. It didn't matter whether she was hungry or not however. She had been insulting and cruel, and it caused Hale's eyebrows to furrow, "Ana, that was not called for. You didn't even dare to try it." He shortened her name, which to most would be considered sweet, but he knew Analiese hated it for she found that just 'Ana' was too much like that of a peasant. Hale didn't care. He wouldn't spend the rest of his days calling his wife 'Analiese'. What was personal about that? Nothing.
<br><br>With those words, he picked up the bread, not caring if he got his hands a little dirty, and took a bite. It was it. It was the same strapping stew that his mother concocted back at the inn, something she had made for him whenever the days were gray and rainy. He had come to love those days, and far preferred them over sunny days. It made him miss his mother in the worst way. He missed eating her dinners and helping her clean up, confiding in her and listening to her advice, or just meeting up with her in the middle of the night to have some hot chocolate and sit quietly by themselves, in peace. He missed those days. He missed the small things that had made such a big impact on his life, and here he was, being served his mother's stew, by a woman he had just met.
<br><br>"Where did you get this recipe?" Hale inquired as soon as he swallowed, lifting his gaze to look upon Lily with intense curiosity. Even if she had gone to the inn and had eaten the stew, that didn't mean she could duplicate it so easily. His mother must have taught her, and he wondered why. He wanted to hear about it. "My m-" He stopped himself, taking a glance at Analiese before he cleared his throat and looked back at Lily. He couldn't say it was his mother, because for all Analiese knew, he was a pure blood prince, and why would a royal know how to make a stew such as this? "A friend I used to often see would make this. Who did you learn it from?" The fact that this woman had some sort of connection to his mother only intrigued him more. Who was this girl?
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Vidia
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Dec 20 2011, 10:02 PM
Post #6
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[dohtml]<img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x364/vidiabell/different.jpg" align="right">
- Lily noted the prince's immense amount of gratitude, and she could easily see that he was trying to make up for his future wife's ineptitude when it came to the matter. She appreciated his efforts, glad to see that there was a noble who wasn't ashamed to thank a commoner. A smile of amusement touched her features when he referred to her cave as "perfect", as she imagined that Analiese thought otherwise--and further thought on that was not needed, as the princess's quiet scoff on his words confirmed it.
<br><br>"I'm glad you think so,"[/SIZE] she responded, and at first, Lily had only said it out of returned politeness, but she felt herself feeling as if she really was glad to hear Hale approved of it. It was a curious idea. She shouldn't be too concerned on the subject, for it was only a temporary shelter before the morning, and yet his honest appreciation affected her. Lily chuckled a little when she heard his stomach growling as if on signal. At least she knew that he would at least like the pottage a little bit regardless of the taste, for hunger was the best spice, after all.
<br><br>To her astonishment, Hale actually spoke up on Analiese's refusal, calling her by a nickname. Lily knew that Analiese was not fond of such a label for she could recall that in their youth, Lily had attempted to persuade Analiese to call her Lily instead of Lillian. Lily had actually tried to make it a notion of friendship, saying that she could call Analiese Ana instead, but the fact was, the princess only consented to the bargain if Lily would never call her Ana. But despite the agreement, Analiese constantly forgot to refer to Lily by her preferred name. Lily would have found it humorous now to see the prince call Analiese her hated nickname, if she wasn't so occupied feeling almost…moved that he was, in a way, defending her, a simple woman he had met only moments ago. Analiese did not appreciate this.
<br><br>"I said I'm not hungry," she repeated, so firmly that each word almost seemed to be its own sentence, and her eyes narrowed. She wouldn't mention how she abhorred that name; he knew it. Analiese didn't want her power to seemed lessened in the eyes of this common woman by getting heated over a small thing.
<br><br>"It's fine," Lily said, making light of the situation and not wanting the food to be wasted on a thankless princess as it was, but her eyes, focused on the prince, spoke of her recognition of the consideration in his words. Lily was surprised when Hale asked her where she obtained the recipe. He immediately knew she hadn't concocted the pottage from her own preferences and such. She stared back at him as he began to say something, but cut himself off and corrected himself once he glanced back at his fiancée. Her surprised was furthered when Hale claimed to have a friend who would cook the same sort of broth. Lily couldn't imagine a nobleman, much less a prince, closely associating with someone who knew how to prepare a stew. As far as Lily could recall, princes were always surrounded by the people of the court. Only the lords and ladies. Analiese seemed to be surprised as well, yet she was more appalled than amazed, her forehead creasing. Yet, she said nothing on it, and neither did Lily, for she of all people knew that making assumptions about a person was a poor practice.
<br><br>"A few month's ago, I was a bit…worse for wear," Lily started, softening the story just a bit for she did not want to delve into her pathetic tale of weariness and starvation. Her eyes grew unfocused as she continued on, remembering all that had happened, how indebted she was to Eleanor. "An innkeeper's wife took me in for a while." A smile started on her lips, thinking of her kindness. "She taught me a few crafts and trades." Lily glanced back at Hale, and that was when she suddenly realized why his eyes had looked so familiar. They were the very same hue of Eleanor's! Even through the filters of light from the flames of fire, Lily could tell. It was that chromatic sky-blue that seemed to hold luminescence behind a film of glass…it was a color that was light, but without the feeling of being weak or faded. It was as if bricks of sapphire had been ignited, burned, and melted into a brighter, clearer azure. How strange it was, that Lily would enchanted this color again through royal blood. It almost seemed ludicrous, yet staring into those irises caused Lily to say one last thing. "She was the gentlest lady I ever chanced to meet." She held the gaze for but a moment, before she turned back to her bowl, fishing her piece of bread out and eating to fill the strange sensation that was searing a hole in her.
<br><br>Following that moment, there was suddenly the sound of the boughs and branches of the bramble thicket rustling. Analiese shrank back towards Hale, but Lily wasn't alarmed, for she recognized that very specific sound, and she knew who had just returned from his nightly trip to the watering hole. It was Cillan, her little fox friend. His paws trotted almost soundlessly on the dry dirt ground, his entrance causing Analiese to call out in fright. "Hale, ge--" she began to command something of her fiancé, as she snatched up a brass ewer where Lily stored some ale. Lily quickly interjected, not wanting the princess to get rash and start throwing things.
<br><br>"It's all right, it's all right!" Lily exclaimed, holding her hands up to stop her. She moved over to Cillan, who was not accustomed to visitors, his muscles tensing. He continued to look back at Lily's face, as if he was waiting for a cue from her, waiting to see if they were friends or foe. Once he determined she was in no danger, his bones relaxed. Lily crouched down by his side, running her fingers through his fur like a comb, and he leaned up against her, enjoying the sensation. "He won't hurt you," she chuckled as if it was a preposterous idea, because Lily trusted that Cillan wouldn't cause them any harm. Analiese, on the other hand, wasn't so sure…but she placed the ewer on the ground again. Naturally, they had pets back in the castle as well, but those were hounds…hounds trained to hunt the very sort of beast across from her. Fox were good for fur-lined collars, not friends. This woman was savage and mad!
<br><br>A while back, Lily would have never imagined having a fox for a comrade. The most exotic animals they had in the palace were peacocks, and those were occasionally plucked naked and cooked as a special meal during certain festivities. Lily had seen plenty of foxes before she ran away from home, but those were usually ones that had been freshly killed after her father and his men went hunting. The first time Lily had seen a live one had been when she shot a fowl with an arrow when trying to find food for supper in the forest. She ran to where she saw the bird fall, only to discover a fox having found it first, tearing it open and already feasting on its meat. Lily had been irritated by the sight, but knowing that there would be no merit in attempting to scare the fox off and salvage what was left, she walked away.
<br><br>Not two weeks had passed when Lily saw the same fox again, this time in her own shelter, and it had dug into her supply of eggs, nuts, and berries. Lily recognized the pattern of his fur, remembering that the left front paw had been a dark ebony color while the rest of his paws extending far up his leg, while his other limbs were only lightly touched with that inky chroma. She chased him off in fury, but his crimes didn't stop there. He was like her personal bandit, stealing fruits and grains and anything he could from her when Lily's guard was lowered, and she eventually decided to put an end to it. Lily set a trap by using a purse net--refusing to use anything as inhuman as a needle trap or jaw trap, for she wasn't heartless enough to make an animal suffer while he waited for death. Three days passed, and Lily's snare was empty, but on the fourth day, the fox ran into the net and it tightened around him, encasing him in the rope, and the princess-turned-peasant finally had her thief. She hadn't had meat for weeks and yet, after Lily at long at last captured the fox, she could not bring herself to kill him. Maybe it was because it was the way he looked at her, or because Lily could understand what it was like to have to survive on your wits alone. Or perhaps it was because he was the one living being that had grown familiar to her in this unexplored world. Regardless, she set him free before she could change her mind about it.
<br><br>And then one night, Lily was preparing a thin stew made of leeks, garlic, and turnips, when the fox entered her camping site. He lay a rabbit he had caught at her feet. It was a measly catch, a frail-looking coney that a royal would have regarded as inedible, and yet Lily was touched beyond words at the gesture. The tawny, streamlined creature nestled next to her and the two former adversaries shared a meal, and from that day forth, Lily wasn't so alone anymore. It was the first time someone had been so selflessly kind to her since she had left the inn. Lily named the fox Cillan, after a squire in an old fable who had journeyed and battled through a realm of fire to obtain a chalice carved from the largest, reddest ruby. No one had believed he could do it, but he brought it back for the queen of the kingdom nonetheless, and was knighted and married to the princess. The story of fire reminded Lily of the fox's fur, and his black left paw was like the charred left glove of Cillan the squire. It was a befitting name, and yet Lily felt no one would ever know, not only because there were few who ever saw her fox, but because most villagers were too busy working to read such tales, and most nobles considered it a futile pastime.
<br><br>Lily picked up the bowl Analiese had put aside after pouring the pottage back into the cauldron. Thick cream still layered the bottom, and there were vegetables and meat that clung to the edges. She placed it in front of the fox. "Here, Cil," she murmured, and he immediately began to lick at porringer. She always felt lucky that foxes were not picky with food, that they usually just took whatever they could get. Analiese was repulsed by the idea of an animal eating from a human's (no matter how poor quality) bowl, and although she had been the one to refuse food, she was angry that Lily didn't ask before giving the bowl to the fox. Lily didn't notice Analiese's reaction, however, to occupied with her friend as she lightly scratched his fur and fed him some blackberries. She never had to feed him too much because he liked to hunt on his own for the most part, but Lily always made sure to at least offer some food to Cillan, because she couldn't imagine what life would be without her sole friend in this new life.
<br><br>"Beg pardon for asking, but--you have a fox for a pet?" Analiese asked, incredulous as she arched a brow.The dark shade in her voice was clearly not asking for any sort of pardon, asserting that one was never needed when you were a lady of authority.
<br><br>"Oh, no," Lily laughed, shaking her head, and Analiese seemed comforted for a moment, before she continued. "He's more of my partner." They relied on each other, and stood by each other's side, after all. Lily would never think of her as owning Cillan the way one did a basset hound. Analiese was not entertained by this quip, however. When Cillan was finished with his share, Lily returned to her own food, drinking the remaining broth swiftly as she had already gleaned the bits of meat and vegetables from her bowl earlier. When her bowl was empty, she put it aside and stood up. "I'm just going to survey the outside for a moment and make sure everything's all right," Lily said, her hand shifting the dagger on her belt subconsciously. "Go ahead and have a second-helping if you'd like. I'll only be a moment," she smiled a nearly secretive smile at the prince, that foreign feeling still pressing against her chest. She turned and gave a two-tone whistle to Cillan, who followed her on the way out of the cave and into the coppice once more. Once Analiese was certain the woman was out of earshot, she turned to her fiancé.
<br><br>"Hale, you cannot possibly expect for us to trust this woman," the princess spoke quickly. Despite the fact that her tone was lowered, her voice still managed to whip around with that sharp intonation of displeasure. She was not even going to touch on the detail that he had actually consumed her food, at least not now. "She's practically primitive! Lord knows how she obtained the clothes you are wearing. I suspect she's a thief who plans to knife us while we're sleeping and make off with our valuables. What sort of peasant keeps a fox for a companion?" The princess jeered. "I say we return to the carriage. You're well enough now with her…witch remedy." Analiese disliked anything having to do with magic very much, finding it unholy and against all righteous principles. She had heard far too many tales of lowly commoners paving their pathways by using magic. "I'm certain we could find our way back to the palace--if not, at least a respectable inn." Not some dank, disgusting chamber of stone.
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Gipity
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Feb 16 2012, 03:47 PM
Post #7
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- <br><br>She had known his mother. He was jealous, for she had seen his mother not too long ago he could gather. She had seen her and he hadn't. He wasn't sure if he'd ever see her again at this point. This hurt, but he tried not to let that shine through. Instead, a warm smile reached his lips, merely growing when she mentioned she was the gentlest lady she had ever met. He wanted to tear at that, feeling a strong ache in his chest. It was pathetic really, but he missed his mother. She had been all he really had. "You learned well."[/SIZE] He managed to choke out, fearing that saying anything else might come out wrong. He didn't need to be questioned by his fiance.
<br><br>Soon, he found himself bombarded by the presence of a sly fox. He didn't feel threatened despite Analiese's panicked voice. The fox obviously felt comfortable here, and Lily quickly came to speak and inform them that the fox was indeed a friend of her's. Not a pet, but a companion. Hale could relate to that. In fact, back during his training to be a proper royal, he had taken a walk in the woods, trying to escape for awhile. He had heard a battle between two seemingly vicious animals, and out of his deep curiosity, moved towards the noise. He came to the horrific sight of a badger finishing off what looked to be a clan of wolf cubs. Hale felt sick, but preceded to watch as the young mother wolf tried to seek her revenge on the animal she had discovered killing her young. The badger only got away with a few scratches, while leaving the mother limping fiercely and crying in a way you'd think only a human mother could.
<br><br>Hale had grown completely silent, the warm forest breeze licking at his face and hair as he watched the wolf nudge the bloody torn up carcasses of her young, whimpering and yelping out, pained howls sounding through the area. She must have been so distracted and overwhelmed she paid no mind to his scent. Something compelled Hale forward, and cautiously, he stepped through where he had been hiding, showcasing himself to the mother wolf. A weak growl sounded through her as she spotted him, but it was so halfhearted, Hale could hardly feel frightened. "It's okay, girl. I don't want to harm you." He soothed as he had walked forward carefully, and despite the rumbling growls she didn't move forward to attack. He had managed to get in front of her, allowing her to stay between him and the cubs, before he ripped off the end of his tunic.
<br><br>He found himself murmuring some old lullaby his mother used to sing to him. He wasn't much for singing, but the soft muttering seemed to calm the animal as he wrapped her bleeding leg, making sure it was tight in order to act as some sort of brace. He got a little overly confident as he had pet her head, but she had allowed it, "You'll be all right, girl." He had whispered, before standing up to leave. He had hated leaving, abandoning her. Honestly, he would have lived in the woods with her if he could, but that wouldn't be doing anyone much good, would it?
<br><br>However, it turned out the lone wolf was following him. Constantly, he found himself turning around to meet her shocking blue gaze, telling her to go back, but she didn't dare to listen. Limping all the way, she followed him back to the palace. It was a bit of the stretch getting the King to allow him the pet, but he agreed he could as long as the wolf caused no trouble. With that, Hale had dubbed the wolf Asiza, named after the forest spirit that appeared in a story his mother had told him when he was little. They nearly become inseparable, taking care of one another, something they both needed after what they had lost.
<br><br>Analiese had no idea about his wolf yet. He figured he'd break to her after Asiza arrived at their new palace. She unfortunately had to be put with the 'extra' luggage that would taking the longer scenic road, and was suppose to arrive a few days after them. At this rate, Hale wondered if they'd get there around the same time. He hated being apart from her for this long. He was already missing her more than he probably should, and he knew she was more than likely depressed without him there.
<br><br>He had become distracted by his reminiscing, and almost didn't catch that smile Lily threw at him, one that nearly seemed like it was just for him. Could it be? He swallowed back the lump in his throat, watching her fondly as she exited the cave with the sprightly fox. Even though he already knew she was capable of taking care of herself, he felt this odd need to join her, to protect her from the forest's many dangers... But why? Why would he want to protect her, a woman who he only just met who couldn't mean a thing to him, and yet... Somehow she could. He felt this sort of connection with her, the type that he had only wished to have with Analiese. There was something special about her, and he desired spending more time with her. He'd make it possible... Someway, somehow.
<br><br>Unfortunately, Analiese disrupted his thoughts, only to further complain about his rescuer now that she wasn't in hearing range. The more he was around her, the more she spoke, the more he found his fiance to be the most despicable woman. No, she didn't go around with an axe, murdering all those she felt beneath her, but maybe if she was queen, that's exactly the type she would be. One who is threatened by what is different, by what isn't encased in jewels and riches, and only has one way she knows how to deal with that, and that's to shun or kill them. What had he gotten himself into? He felt the desperate need to ask his advisers for another royal maiden, but he knew it couldn't be. The disgrace such a thing would bring Analiese's kingdom would bring war amongst what was now his. Marrying the snotty and spoiled princess meant peace among the lands, and peace was something Hale could not deny these deserving places. He would not bring on something so horrendous for his own selfish reasons.
<br><br>Despite these thoughts, a glare much akin to that of a viper surfaced over his gaze, coating his cerulean orbs. "Analiese!" His dark tone with her seemed to make her lips seal closed, at least long enough to allow me to speak. "She's a person, just like you and me. In fact, she's probably a better person. She doesn't rely on good fortune to get by. She makes something with what she has. She's probably smarter and stronger than either of us." Hale knew this wasn't entirely true. He hadn't lost himself yet, not completely. He could adapt to live in the woods if he had to. It seemed like a sweet sugary dream actually. The freedom of this place, of doing things on your own terms. It made him almost envy the woman. She had all that he didn't.
<br><br>He stood up, making his way over to the pot of thick stew and bread. Of course he'd take a second helping. It was the best meal he'd had since he'd become a royal. "And we're not going anywhere. It's pitch black out there and I don't know these woods." If this was back home, by the inn, he could navigate the woods at night no problem, but he was a stranger to this part of the kingdom. "Besides, the carriage is probably the least safest place for us right now. It's a prime target for people like the ones that had attacked us and worse. For your safety, Analiese," Making it seem about her would probably make her argue about it less, he gathered. "We should stay here. My instincts tell me that girl means us no harm or she would have left me to die and taken the rest of our things back at the carriage." With that, he filled his bowl and grabbed another piece of bread before sitting down where he had been before, his fiance obviously not putting him in the friendliest of moods, but that would change once Lily returned.
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