A Knight's Honor

Name: Sir Keenan D'arc
Age: 23
Role: Knight, and personal guardian to the royals.
Appearance:
Other: His squire is a young woman named, Rena.



A Rebel's Cause

Name: Lars
Age: 25
Role: Leader of the rebels
Appearance:

A Masked Nature

Name: Charis Beaufort
Age: 17 (just before marring age)
Role: Twisted Princess
Appearance:


An Ignored Heart

Name: Bea
Age: 24
Role: Rebel Supported
Appearance:

Other: Unrequited love with Lars for years

Keenan stood before Charis's chambers, debating on whether or not he should enter. He knew the princess was angry with him, since it was he that suggested to the King that she be confined to her chambers for now. It was for her own safety, of course, but she seemed to not see it that way. Her confinement would not be needed if Keenan didn't believe that the Rebels would soon be making a move against the crown. It was his duty to protect the royal family, and he took it seriously. So when he had caught a warning that the Rebels were on the move, he went on the defensive.

His squire, Rena, stood a little ways down the hall, currently conversing with a young boy whom looked worriedly at the knight. With a sigh, Keenan finally turned from the door and came to stand behind Rena. "What is it?" He inquired, looking from his squire to the boy. "He says that you are wanted in the throne room, mylord." She answers, as the messanger nods in aggreement. Keenan's brows furrow in thought. What could it be this time? He takes one last glance at Charis's door before giving the boy a nod.

"Rena, stay here with the guards and make sure no one enters her room, and that she doesn't try to make another escape." He orders, before waving the boy off. He waits for his squire to murmur in aggreement before taking off for the throne room. Rena watches him leave, before opening the princess's door and entering without hesitation.

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Lars moved through the tunnel system quickly, a small group of rebels following in his wake. He was silent, the torch in his hand illuminating the grim look on his handsome face. The long forgotten tunnels were incredible old, and snaked beneath the castle; making them a perfect way to infiltrate the castle while remaining undetected. He led the way, until he finally reached a ladder that led into the castle. It was one of many within in the tunnel system, but this one was special.

He adruptly turned to face his group, motioning for them to wait here while he continued up the ladder by himself. He only had to move a little ways, before he stopped and waited.

OOC: Feel free to insert Bea into the group

With a slight giggle, Charis Beaufort observed the squire now entering her room with amusement as she leaned back on the cushioned velvet couch on her luxurious room. "Just what are you doing, squire, entering the room of a princess? I thought that was the sole duty of her knight in shining armor." Charis's voice was sickeningly sweet, as if it was hiding an incredible amount of poison within it. Her whole face was smiling, even if you could only tell because of her eyes; her face was hidden by a lacy fan.

Smiling as she was, Charis couldn't wait to escape the encasement that was now her room. This beautiful girl was too used to parties, galas, riding horseback and drinking tea by the lake. Being stuck in a cage like a cute little bird with caged wings? No, that certainly wasn't her. First chance she got, she would escape. Then the knight would get the punishment he deserved.

*~*~*

"Be safe Lars" The voice, barely a whisper, came from Bea, the oldest member of the rebel group and Lars oldest friend. However, she was sometimes considered weak of spirit in the group, all because she was a woman. The rebels considered her frail and powerless, but she didn't care as long as she got to be by Lars's side. She was always only five steps away from her Leader, close enough to protect, but not enough to overbear him. Watching him climb up the ladder was painful, knowing that with each step he took, he was one more step further from her.

This was the part Rena hated about being Keenan's squire: the royals. She owed her life to Keenan though, and after many years she had perfected her composure around them but that didn't mean it was easy. It was especially hard around the princess. "Sir Keenan's orders." She replied, her young face stoic. She was about the princess's age, but worlds apart. She had no respect for the princess, and could not fathom why Keenan was so protective of who she considered to be a spoiled brat.

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Lars found himself within the castle walls after climbing the ladder. There was barely enough room to fit his broad shoulders between the walls, so if he was followed, he would be in trouble unless he could get back down to the main tunnel. Luckily, he didn't have to walk far until he came to the secret panel. He carefully fitted his torch into a bracket before running his rough hands over the wall. He was looking for a latch, or something that opened the door. It took a moment before his hand brushed one, and he heard a faint click as the door opened.

With a smug little smile on her face, Charis commented: "Like his word has any power against mine. Run along, there's no need for someone like you here, darling." Her wicked words were always uttered in a tone so sweet you mind almost needed help deciphering her spite. "Its not like I would really risk jumping off a window here, so many yards off the ground. Tell your dear Keenan that only he may visit me in my prison, or more so, remind him of it. For all he knows, you're a traitor to the crown."

Fanning herself ever so delicately, Charis looked like a doll in that huge room, a complete contrast to Rena. With the bittersweet tension in the air, you could tell the two didn't get along at all.

Rena gritted her teeth, but the princess was right. A mere squire could not disobey a direct order from one of the royal family. "Yes, princess." She said in a bland voice, before nodding her head and turning Rena was actually glad that she had been ordered from the princess's chambers. Sometimes the girl was in the mood to toy with Keenan's squire, but luckily not today. It was obvious to Rena that Charis was going to attempt an excape, and hopefully Keenan was right about the rebel's making a move. Let the rebels get her. She thought, shutting the door as she joined the guards outside Charis's room.

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Lars paused as he heard a feminine voice speak. Another one responded, and after a brief moment, he heard a door open and close. He crouched behind the secret opening, and dug within the pouch at his side. His fingers wrapped around the vial inside, and he quickly pulled it out. With his other hand, he drew out a slender dagger. He pulled the stopper off the vial and dipped the dagger into the liquid. The old witch had better be right.. He thought, as he put the vial away. It was filled with a paralyzing drought that would be powerful enough to keep the princess paralyzed until they reached their camp within the forest.

He had to move quickly now, while Charis was alone. After a deep breath to help calm his nerves, he swung the door open and peered into the room. Luck was diffinetly on his side today, as he found himself just a few feet from the princess. She had his back turned to him, and he didn't hesitate before leaping forward and grabbing her. He pinned one of her arms, as he cupped his hand over her mouth and roughly pulled her flush against him.

Charis's eyes widened in fear as her body was now pressed against that of a handsome, silver-haired man she had never laid eyes upon. Could this be one of the rebels Sir Keenan had be so adamant in warning her about? With her free hand, she tried to pull the rebel's hand away, to scream so her knight could come into her rescue. Her small, frail, untrained hand stood no chance against his.

Her smug little smile twisted into a snarl, glowering at this newcomer. How she wished she could tell him off, display her authority. Never had she been humiliated such, or been pulled so closely to someone, not even horse riding. However, after the fist instance of surprise, the princess showed no fear, only irritation. He could do nothing to her, not without her permitting him to, so her father had always taught her.

Seeing her hands were unable to push his away, she immediately discarded the idea and tried a more beastly strategy: she decided to bite him. No matter where he took her, so long as it was him doing it, she wouldn't be truly free, not in life or in death. She wanted freedom, but, as always, it would be on her terms.

Lars gritted his teeth against the pain of Charis's bite. "Now, now. Play nice princess." He growled, as he raised the dagger to her throat. The thin blade nicked the smooth skin of her neck just below her jawline. He continued to hold her tight, until he felt her muscles seize up against him. When her body went limp, he had to change his hold on her. Lars quickly sheathed the dagger and turned the princess to face him.

His lips turned down in a frown as he got his first look at the princess. How could a man of such evil make something so.. beautiful? His handsome face grew angry, as he hefted the princess over his shoulder and turned back to the secret opening in her wall. He stepped back into the tunnel and carefully closed the portrait behind him. He shifted the girl on his shoulder as he picked up his torch again and headed for the ladder.

"Richard? Are you ready?" He whispered down at his group. A man large with muscles, and a steely gaze came up to the ladder and looked up at Lars with a nod of his shaven head. Thank god she can't make a sound. He thought grimly, as he manuevered her in his arms and let her drop down and into the waiting arms of Richard. Lars quickly followed down the ladder, and found himself facing his group again. He gave them a charming smile before taking up the front and heading for the exit.

As the younger girl was lowered into the tunnels, Bea wrinkled her nose. She knew that, since she as one of the few girls in the rebel group, it would be her job to take care of the brat. She had been against this maneuver the entire time: she just wanted to kill the king and be over with it. However, she valued Lars's opinion too highly to go against his will, often wondering what it would take to please him. Quickly closing the doorway after Lars, she also returned to the front of the group, glaring at the paralyzed princess on her way there. With her eye for detail, she noticed the slight bite marks in his hand.

"Lars," she whispered in concern, grabbing his wounded hand with the gentlest of touches. "Did the princess brat do this to you? I have to heal it before it catches an infection, remember to see me when we come to the base."

Paralyzed, her mind racing but her body never responding, Charis didn't like her current odds. These men seemed to know what they were doing a bit too well, and she couldn't estimate how many were in the group. Not even being able to move her eyeballs, she had a really poor perception of where they were taking her, and she shuddered to think what the bald idiot that carried her might drop her on the way to wherever their hideout was.

Keenan stepped from the throne room and headed back to the princess's quarters. He frowned as he approached her door and saw Rena standing with the guard. "I thought I told you to keep an eye on her." He observed, as he came to stand before the group. The guards shuffled nervously, and Rena immediately looked meek. "She ordered me from the room, mylord.." He scowled as he pushed through the group and pulled open the door. He wasn't stupid, if Charis ordered Rena away then she was planning on escaping. "I cannot disobey a direct order." His squire finished, following Keenan into the bedroom.

"Princess?" He called, walking further into the room. His bright blue eyes turned stormy as anger marred his handsome features. Rena hesitated several feet from her knight, as she watched him stop; his hands clenched at his sides. The guards peered into the chambers from the doorway, as Keenan adruptly turned on his heel to face them. "Alert everyone that Charis is missing, and begin a complete search of the castlegrounds." He growled. The guards nodded and scattered to do as they were ordered.

"She wasn't alone for but a few minutes, mylord! She couldn't have escaped so easily by herself, she had-" "Of course she didn't." Keenan inturrupted, anger leaking into his voice. He stalked over to the chamber's balcony, and unlatched the doors before throwing them wide open. A cold wind blew into the room as the knight looked out at the castlegrounds; his stormy eyes scanning for Charis.

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The group huddled behind Lars as he paused at the tunnel entrance. He looked down at his hand in Bea's before giving her a slight nod. He then climbed from the tunnel, the wind biting at his face as his eyes sought their escape. "Come on.." He said when he poked his head back into the tunnel. The group followed him out into the open; Richard following close behind their leader as he approached a large black stallion. The second group of rebels had been waiting for them, already seated on their horses.

Lars easily mounted the stallion and waved Richard over as the rest of his group moved to their horses. Richard easily lifted the princess up and helped Lars lay her over the saddle before him. "Alright, you guys remember what to do. Bea, Richard, follow me. Everyone meet back up at the camp as soon as you can."The plan was for the rebels to stick together in small groups and scatter. As soon as they could cover their trail, then they were all to meet back at the main camp within the forest.

This was humiliating. No, humiliating didn't even begin to cover it. This was mortifying, demeaning, degrading... every word that indicated shame she could think of. Charis was being treated luggage, and now she was even laying like a mere bag on the rebel leader's front. When she finally could move, she would give this leader a piece of her mind. He would make sure she regretted putting a finger on her.

Bea quickly followed suit and mounted a steed of her own, knowing that she'll probably be joined by Richard. Once more, being the woman of the group was a hassle. How she wished she could ride with Lars instead, but heaving a sigh she took tight hold of the reigns, ready to dash at a moment's notice. Soon enough, Richard was mounting behind her and all three of them were riding away.

As they rode with the wind, Bea couldn't help but stealing glances at Lars every once in a while. He was handsome, smart, and kindhearted, strong-willed and a good leader. But being who she was, a tomboy, an assassin, an incredibly shy woman who couldn't even speak her feelings, she knew she wasn't worthy of him, not if he didn't want her to be. They rode off into the main road, cutting back into a smaller trail through grass once their prints were gone.

It took quite awhile before Lars was finally satisfied that their trail was adecuately covered. Every once-in-awhile he would glance down at Charis with a grimace. He knew that she must be extremely uncomfortable, and couldn't help but feel alittle guilty even if she might deserve some of it. He nearly sighed with relief as his stallion took its first steps beneath the forest canopy. The sun was already starting to sink beneath the horizon, and the forest was darkening quickly.

The horses made quick progress through the forest, Lars only stopping to light some torches. To an untrained eye, the rebel camp was hard to pick out. It was actually more accurate to call it a village. Wooded buildings melded perfectly into the forest without disturbing the nature around them. Rebels were gathered around a covered firepit, many looking up at the sound of aproaching horses. In mere minutes, the group was surrounded by the people; men, women, and children. They all looked up at Lars with smiling faces, and they shouted in celebration of a successful mission.

Lars couldn't help but smile back at his people as his horse waded through the mob and towards a large log building. Once there, he easily slipped from the saddle and faced the rebels. "Tonight, we celebrate!" He yelled, raising his fist into the air. He was immediately hit with the sound of cheers. Lars had to wave the people back with a grin, so he could lift the princess from his saddle and carry her into his home. By now the potion would be wearing off, and he could only imagine how sore the princess would be from their horrowing escape.

As they made too many an attempt to avoid being caught, slight movement returned to Charis's body. She was blinking again, her eyes able to move and focus, and her hands began twitching slightly. By the time she was at the village, she could already almost close her hands and move her elbows a bit. Her tongue was moving softly, and her jaw was still a bit slackened but slowly but surely she began feeling again. When Lars got himself off the horse, she could already voice "Uff," which surprised even her.

"Lars, we should get her bound and gagged as soon as possible," said Bea, dismounting her horse with ease, her voice strong and tense. "She'll be moving soon enough, and we don't want her to attempt an escape." With a glowering stare at the princess, she added, "Richard can bind her while I treat your hand." Looking into Lars's eyes, she couldn't help the slight smile growing on her lips and the light tint on her cheeks.

"I wont... be treat...ed... like this..." Forcing her lips and tongue to move as she wanted, Charis managed to speak, the slight control over her facial muscles allowing a hint of a glare. "I dem...and.... re...lease..." The situation didn't scare or dispair the girl at all, it'd only made her quite annoyed, the only thing truly shattered being her pride.

Oh, how Bea wanted to tell her off, how she wanted to tell her that she would never see her family again, even the light of day again, and maybe smack her down a peg or two. Her hands, tightened into fists, were shaking because of so hard an urge she had to fight. However, not before Lars; he was the leader, so he should be the one telling her off.

Lars moved through his home easily, his steps light even while burdened by the princess's extra weight. He was a little taken aback that Charis was already begining to speak, but his steps didn't falter as he climbed the stairs to his second floor. "There won't be a need for that Bea." He replied, ignoring the princess for now as he entered a small room that was across from his own bedroom. It was a windowless room that was bare except for a small bed with plain sheets and a thick quilt to shield from the cold.

He approached the bed, and dropped Charis onto the feathered mattress. Lars knew that Bea would not approve of this arrangement, but he would not treat a woman like an animal. "Now princess," He began, his voice like silk. He leaned over the bed, looking her in the eyes as he continued. "If you behave, you will not be treated unkindly. Now I suggest you try to get some sleep." With those parting words, he turned from the room and closed the door, sliding the lock in place before facing Bea.

"I suppose you should take a look at this bite now before I join the others in their drinking." He observed, with a mischievous smirk. Tonight he was going to enjoy himself, and he knew his men were going to keep the drinks coming in his direction. "I have some supplies you can use downstairs." He explained, waving for her to follow as he took the stairs down and headed for the kitchen. Lars opened one of his cabinets which held an assortment of medical supplies. He then pulled out one of his chairs at the large wooden table and waited for Bea to bandage him up.

Immediately after being placed in the bed, Charis tried to resist. Still barely able to move, she tried to get off the bed and tell the rebel leader a piece of his mind before he closed the door behind him, but her tongue and lips couldn't manage anything in time. Trying as hard as she could, she only got to lift herself two inches from the mattress. Sighing in disappointment at herelf, she would listen to the rebel's words, if only this once. A good night of sleep might help her recover her movement better, recover her strength for the upcoming war between her and that worthless leader.

˜*˜

"Really, Lars, you shouldn't consent that little princess so much, she's not going the be taking us seriously." With her hands at her hips, Bea shook her head at how gentle Lars could be. She usually considered it a good thing, but when he took it for his enemies too, it got to be a bit too much. "Now let me see that..."

Bea carefully rummaged through the medical supplies, making sure to not get even a single object away from its place. "I'm sorry, but this may sting a bit..." She opened a bottle of rum, since no other antiseptic was truly at hand and while holding Lars's hand with a handkerchief, not daring to capture it between her own, she poured some of it over his hand. With gentle care, she used a napkin to wipe away the excess of wine, a slight smile on her face at the thought of nearly touching him. She quickly put a bit of ointment, to minimize scarring, and wrapped it tightly with a cloth. "If it gets loosened or dirty, please come see me. And have fun tonight, you deserve it!"

Lars gave her a small smile as she berated him. "Don't worry bout that.." He murmured as he watched her rumage through his supplies. He gritted his teeth at the sting of the rum on his hand, his steel grey eyes following her movements as she finished bandaging his hand. When she was done, Lars flexed his hand as he nodded his head. "Thank you Bea." He stood, and then gave her a once over with one pale eyebrow raised in question. "I will see you out there, won't I?" Bea was somewhat of a mystery to Lars. He knew that, for being a woman, she was quite skilled in combat, but he knew little else about the woman that always seemed to be standing in his shadow.

Was Lars actually inviting her for some drinks? Of course, it wasn't as a woman, it was only as a mere teammate, but it certainly brought a smile to her face.

"Thank you for the offer, but are you sure we can be completely relaxed about this? Don't you think it might be better for me to keep watch on the princess?" she said, trying to make excuses. She wasn't too fond of most men, of how dominating they tried to be around her with no true strength to back up their words, specially when drunk. Because she was a woman, they held no regard for her strength, fawning over her like bugs to a fire. Like bugs, they were turned down and trampled, but that didn't make the usual situation any more enjoyable. "I'll do whatever you ask of me..."

"I don't think we have to worry about that." He responded, walking back to his front door. "Even if she gets out of that room, there is no way she can make it out of the forest. Remember, she's a spoiled princess, Bea." Lars pulls open the door, and motions for her to accompany him as he steps out into the night. Some cheers break out when the people catch sight of their leader as he joins their ranks around the huge fire pit. Several logs were set around the fire, and soon after Lars took a seat, he was handed a mug full with foaming ale.

His lips twitch into a smile as he raises the mug up with a cheer.

With a slight giggle, she couldn't help herself from following her leader out the door, a light skip to her step. Yes, she had no real excuse to ditch, except hating drunk misogynists of course, so she couldn’t really say no to a direct invitation from him. Of course, she joined the cheers as he entered the room, she sat in a place where he would be in full view, but never too close.

She also took a keg of ale, pressing it to her lips and drinking it as fast as any man there. She couldn’t drink as much as most men, her liver wouldn’t be able to handle it as well as theirs could, but boy was she good pretending. The manlier and more intimidating she was, the less men would dare to get near her, even though many more would be sexually interested in her. Bea’s eyes, just slightly intoxicated, couldn’t help but wonder in Lars’s direction. Would he ever approach a witch like her, she wondered.