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Reunion of the Forgotten (Cam&Nac)
"CAMMI"
Nac jumped to her feet, throwing the maple leaves she had been toying with to the ground. Without a second glance, she took off at full speed, colliding with the tall man she had screamed to. She held him in a tight embrace, ignoring the dirty looks from the castle's help who stood nearby emptying the remnants of the morning's feast. |
The weary wanderer couldn't help but smile when his princess gave him such a warm welcome home.
"I'm home, Nacara darling." He purred, kissing the girl's forehead and sweeping her off her feet into the classic pose of the prince carrying the fair lady cradled to his chest. "Did you miss me?" |
"Of course!" She cried, giggling as the gaggle of plump white geese hurried out of their way, quacking as they went.
In the time Cam had been gone, much about the castle had changed. The once dreary looking grounds were transformed by the hands of the new help and the castle adopted a look far more flattering than any of the neighboring kingdoms. Nacara was proud of the work she had done in Cam's absence; she embraced her duty as a princess warmly and looked forward to the possibility of one day reigning in the place of her mother. |
Raising his eyes from the stunning young woman that had been his only solace in his endless travels over the past years, Cameron the Nephilim couldn't help but feel impressed. "At least you have kept yourself from falling into ennui these years that we have been apart. The entire palace has become a reflection of it's Lady's beauty."
Though he was no Noble, nor had any right to speak so fondly to his princess, propriety had never been this chevalier's strong suit. Any man couldn't help but find a fondess for Nacara, but Cameron risked banishment for keeping her so close to his heart. "Mayhap your humblest servant will be allowed to stay by your side this time?" |
Naca's heart beat wildly when she caught the eye of the knight she had so often dreamt of. She looked upon his face and found that although his appearance was slightly older and rugged, it still held that gentle look she was so fond of.
"Cam-" she began. "NACARA," a sharp voice rang out across the grounds. Nac sucked in her breath sharply and slid out of her knight's arms to face the source of the voice. A look of pure resentment crossed her sweet face as she turned away from the source of her sanity to face her mother's cruel friend. |
Stiffening slightly at the sudden interruption, the knight genuflected instinctively despite his revulsion upon seeing a familiar face. "Your ladyship." He murmured, drawing his tattered riding cloak over his shoulder to cover one of his hands as a rather rude gesture was made.
This old wench again? Does even the devil himself despise this crone to the point that he will not take her? The thoughts rang out beneath the shock of snowy hair that had to struggle to contain the venom if his disdain, lest it fly out and poison the air around him. |
Nacara curtsied to the woman, although the latter had dropped giving a proper bow to the princess many years ago. She struggled to tame the tongue that threatened to curse the old woman shamelessly as she studied Madam Trixine. "Trixie," as her mother so fondly called this woman, was no more a beauty than she was a saint. She stood on two hams for legs and the bustier on her torso threatened to burst at the seams. The ridiculous makeup plastered on her face did little to mask Father Time's mockery. Thick silver hair hung in posed ringlets about her chubby face and a painfully thin eyebrow poised high upon her forehead, obviously judging the site of the princess and what Madam Trixine considered a "ragged man in metal."
In the painfully fake voice that she favored when speaking to commoners, Trixine addressed Cameron with a curt "How d'you do," although her eyes never left Nacara's face. |
"I am well, Madam Trixine, and your ladyship?" He responded in monotone.
After the required time was spent bent on one knee, Cameron's pride could not bear to be lowered to the pompous cow any longer and he rose to his feet, now towering a full six inches over the woman who so ironically looked down her nose at him. It was this motion that seemed to be the cue for a hidden guest to make himself known. Darting out of the knight's saddlebag, a small furry flash leaped across the gap of several yards and lodged itself in the older woman's cavernous cleavage, chittering angrily at the woman whom the little creature deemed a threat to it's 'parent'. |
Nacara fought to stifle the laughter that bubbled up in her throat. Before long, she was rolling on the grass, clutching her ribs and laughing at the woman's failing attempt to battle off the small creature. Madam Trixine had no sooner scoffed at the knight when she suddenly found herself batting in vain at her bosom. "HELP ME YOU FOOL," she screamed at Nacara, clawing at the bustier now ripping from her struggle. Rising from a fit of laughter and tears, Nacara stepped forward and held out her hand, whistling a short and gentle melody.
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Perking it's ears at the soothing sound of the Princess' song, the culprit that had so scandalized the lady of the court popped it's head up from the now thoroughly-harassed Trixine's girdle and, with a graceful leap, glided to Nacara's waiting hand. Now that he was behaving more calmly, the form of the diminutive flying squirrel that Cameron had affectionately named Alexander was easier to identify.
Fighting for all he was worth not to roll on the ground in laughter, Cameron gave his constant companion a small salute. "Well played, Alexander. You are a braver man than I." |
Nacara giggled and ran a finger over the squirrel's head and down to its rump. "Ooh Alexander, my little love; how I have missed you," she cooed. Harsh huffing pulled her attention away from her furry little friend and on to the wreck of a woman that stood in front of her. Madam Trixine stood mangled and absolutely furious. Without a word, she inspected the damage done to the outfit she had fussed over for over an hour. Her eyes traveled up to her three enemies and shot a look that would have caused any commoner to scramble for safety. When her fury was met with two smirks and a twitching nose, she let out a squeal of rage and stomped off toward the castle. "Uh oh," Nacara muttered under her breath, "the demon has been angered." She looked at Cameron, and burst out laughing again. Her voice carried out across the grounds and was lost over the dark green hills that surrounded the property.
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"Fear not, my love. Be it rogues, dragons, or even the ladies of your mother's court, your brave knights shall protect you!" Cameron declared dramatically, puffing out his chest and laying one hand on the pommel of his sword, the very image of the dutiful guardian. "Though, to be honest, I would sooner face off against a dragon." He added with a sly wink, to which Alexander chittered his agreement.
Once they were alone again, the knight offered his love an arm. "Now, would my lady be so kind as to show her knight what has become of the palace since his last visit home?" He asked brightly, not letting anyone put a damper on the joy of reuniting with his dearest one. |
Blushing slightly, Nacara gingerly entwined her arm in his, guiding him toward the back of the castle that faced Nepraim. The lake's glass surface reflected the many hills that separated the castle from the neighboring kingdom. An assortment of colorful birds were perched on the tall trees that Nacara and Cameron played under when they were still young and naive. Since the treaty with Nepraim had been signed half a decade ago, peace had settled over the kingdom of Aive as well as Nacara's heart. Many a night she had lain awake, distressed by the possibility of war and famine befalling her kingdom, or worse yet, an enemy's hand risen against her knight.
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In his travels on behalf of Aive's Royal family Cameron had seen many wondrous things in many exotic lands, but nothing could compare to the familiar sights of home with his beloved's arm around his own. While they strolled beneath the trees beside the lake that surrounded the Palace, a nostalgic sight softened the warrior's expression. Etched into the bark of a willow that leaned over the water's edge were the two's initials circumscribed by a heart. Years before, a young squire to the court had made his first vow to his childhood companion and the pair had sealed their promise with a first kiss beneath the curtain of these very boughs. No matter how many years or how many leagues separated the two, the squire would always come to his lady fair when she called for him and would lift her spirits when ever she was in distress.
"I'm sorry it's taken so long to come back and keep this promise." Cameron said quietly, tracing the etching with his fingers with a far-away look in his eye. |
Naca settled on the grass, leaning against the base of the trees and closed her eyes. This was her sanctuary when her heart ached the most. She felt bundled and cozy in the warmth of the sun and the lullaby of the birds above gave her an incomparable peace. "It's alright," she said softly, running her fingers over the lines on his palm. She had done this countless times before he had left, memorizing the feel of his hands. Time crawled past in happy silence before she spoke again, this time turning to face him.
"Mother is attending a royal social in Becking and demands that I accompany her. She hopes that I will open friendly relations with our neighbors early so that when I take the throne, I will be seen as diplomatic and strong. She has been strict about my growth as a princess and requires that my behavior outside the castle walls be nothing less of perfect. I am told that Sir Sarius will accompany us, as well as her beloved Trixie and her adviser Advara. Now that you are safely home, I want you to come with us, but I fear mother would not allow it; especially since we have not heard what that she-devil has whispered in mother's ear." |
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