XxEmber_MIstxX

Name: Rosalenn
Age: 19
Appearance:


Silver Sky

Name: Darren
Age: 30
Appearance:

Rosaleen stood in front of the giant window that over looked the kingdom where the people were gathering below with pitch fork, torches, and one or two guns. A single tear fell from her golden brown eyes. She thought back to a few months ago, her father had raised taxes to pay off war debts, that didn’t help, it only caused more problems, now they were in a new war with their own people.

She watched as even their own servants joined the rebels below. She wanted to run outside and yell at them, Had their king not saved them from a true tyrant not even twenty years ago? Had he not given them what they ask for, he had enriched this kingdom so much, and now they stood ready to kill him because of a measly extra 200 shillings?

She heard footsteps behind her and turned, half expecting it to be her father. She wished her mother were still alive, she would know what to do, another stream of tears fell as she thought of her mother who had died last fall. She had always had a gentle tounge, and a kind word to say, even as the parasites started in on her brain, she still sat strong beside her husband’s views and opinions as a wife should.

It was odd for her, his princess, to leave the door to her chambers opened at all, let alone leave a small crack for those who passed to peer in at her. On any normal occasion he stood just outside the door during the darkness hours, he had felt it an unspoken cutesy she desired but had never verbally asked for. He was first and foremost her personal guard, her protector, but tonight the sadness he felt in his heart at the sound of her tears insisted she need him as a friend.

With feet as silent as a phantom's footsteps he turned and softly pushed the door open. "I hope that you will will forgive me my lady." He began as he pushed the door together, "it is not my place to intrude without your permission....but I feel now more than ever you need some one who will listen."He lifted the plate to his helmet and came to stand behind her, observing the site she now beheld. He said nothing for a moment but raised his hand to rest gently on her slender shoulder. "My Lady." He said solemnly, ".....they are but...simple people. They do not understand."

“Do not understand that they are trying to kill the one who is trying to better this country?” She asked looking at their guard and friend, Darren. He had been watching and guarding her since she was born, she blushed slightly at all the times this man had had to lace her dresses when she was in a rush. But she quickly brushed away her nervousness at how serious the current situation truly was.

“Have you seen or heard from my father?” She asked hoping that the coach she had seen leave from behind the crowd had not in fact been her father as she suspected it had. Regardless, she would stay and watch her beloved home burn to the ground before she abandoned her home and allowed these animals the glory of knowing the kings daughter had ran.

She sighed and with out realizing it she had wrapped her arms around Darren and was now sobbing into the chest of his armor. It was cold and uncomfortable, but she needed someone to cry on right now, and this man was someone who had comforted her plenty times before, she had never thought of him as more then a hired guard until now, now he seemed like a friend she had never realized was there.

"Yes." He replied as she wrapped her arms around him. It was moments like this she never truly saw. When his silvery eyes gazed upon her with such tenderness and love that a passerby might see them as lovers instead of what reality titled them: Royalty and guardian. With one hand he removed the cold metallic shield that was his helmet, allowing him to better observe her. "If time would allow it...they would see...and when all is said and done they will see." He dropped his head and closed his eyes as he inhaled the scent of her hair, "As for your father....he will stay. He is much too proud of a man to leave his people and his home in fear."

He pondered as she cried, his arms wrapped around her, he pondered how he could save her. He knew the ending was inevitable. Should the rebels not attack the castle and kill everyone inside their warring rival would surely take the opportunity to raid the country. "Come away with me." He faintly whispered into the strands of her hair, "what comes tomorrow is suffering. Much suffering. They will not know of your sacrifice..." Darren knew what he asked of her would be quickly objected for his princess was one who deeply loved her people and would see death before she abandoned the very souls that sought the blood of her father, their king, but he felt he must try. He must.

“And leave my father? I cannot.” She replayed looking up at his silver eyes. She had also noted how beautiful he was, but she knew regardless of how she felt for this man, he was at least twice her senior, and not royalty. Her body and heart were telling her to in fact run with him, then they could be together, but her pride and stubbornness told her to stay.

She bit her lip and stepped away from Darren and looked out at her fathers people once again, they had now grown and some men were carrying a large wooden battering ram up the drive. “No. I will stay and honor my father, and the memory of my mother.” She sighed picking up her tiara from the nightstand and placing it on top of her honey brown hair. It was silver, with diamonds and matched her purple dress which had silver silk along the bust line and the hem of the skirt. “I am sorry, you may go and save yourself, thank you for your services as my guard, you have saved my life countless times and I am thankful of that Sir Darren.” She said turning back around. She stood on the tips of her heels and kissed his cheek then turned and started out the room.

As he tossed his helmet to the hard stone floor it clanged with a noise that could have woken the dead. "No." He firmly replied as he reached out and took hold of her fleeting hand, "For half my life I've watched you grow into the woman you are today. A rarest and most precious treasure. My Lady, I mean no disrespect, but I will not run for my own life and leave you here to die." It was now he took the time to step in front of her and firmly place both of his hands on her shoulders, "You would not dishonor your mother or father by leaving....no mother would wish her only child to die in her memory....nor a father for his own honor."

He stared long and deep into her eyes, he knew of her stubborn nature but even that was not enough to weaken the determination in his own. Though his eyes read clearly of determination her words had been hurtful, her dismissal, and he only prayed it did not show. "I'll not leave you. Not after we've been through so much together. Please Rose...." His voice faded but his gaze held, "Please...let me save you...it will not be in vain. I promise you we shall return..."

"I...I...Darren, the only way I can leave here is if forced." She said finally, she dropped her head and sighed. She couldn't bare to look into his eyes after he had complemented her so. She blinked back more tears fearing that he would in fact leave her, she would never admit it to him, or anyone else, but even though she continuously told herself that she felt nothing more for this man then that of Guard....She secretly loved him.

She had grown up admiring him, when she was younger she would trick him into letting her sit on his lap while cross-stitching, or she's make him tell her bed time stories instead of her mother, she wanted to laugh, remembering now all the hell she had put this man through all her life, and yet he had stayed by her side, Longer then any of the maids of personal servants, of course most of them she had ran off when she noticed them flirting with Darren.

For a moment all the man could do is stare at the woman before him in complete aw and adoration. He, much like her, had spent most of his life in the castle though he knew what kind of people lay both within and beyond its mighty doors. He knew most people in her situation would have run. Would have sacrificed everything they they cherished or held dear to them as long as they kept their life. She really was a rare treasure to forfeit her own life in the name of the very people who now rioted outside her very walls. Finally he sighed heavily and softly shook his head. "Let me take you away." He began again after he had gathered his thoughts,"Some will fall tonight. Even an innocent. If you let them take you the lives that have been lost will have been all for not." Darren paused and cast his eyes where his lady's gaze fell, "Indeed they will be ruled by a tyrant. For a time. They know of you and your father and when we return to challenge the demon they must call king they will stand behind you with honor and bravery in hopes of overthrowing him and restoring the throne with your father's blood. To some who would once again see them as nothing but respected human beings." It was here Darren allowed soft chuckled to pass from his lips, "...but my dearest Lady, I will not force you to do anything you do not wish, nor will I leave you to be eaten by the wolves alone."

"I could not ask you to stay Darren, surely you have a wife who would want you home with her during this terrible time. I shall leave the castle, but I do not think there is a way out. You are right, my mother would not want me to die in vain. But where will we go? I'm sure the entire kingdom is outside trying to kill us." She said tears brimming in her golden eyes. She had decided as he spoke that she should in fact leave, only to return as soon as everything calmed down.
She jumped as the sound of the Battering Ram hitting the palace doors. She quickly grabbed a small trunk and packed it with a few dresses, stockings and corsets. Then she threw some shoes into it and her makeup and hair brush then turned to Darren. "Are do you Purpose we get out of here?" She asked tossing it to him.

"No dear lady. There is no woman sharing my name." Though there had once been. Many many years before, half his lifetime ago, there had been a man who raised a beautiful daughter and sought only the best looking man to trade her to for, of course, the finest of goods. Shortly after the men had made their deal he met his betrothed, and through the time they spent together he had felt them grow so close as to say they fell in love. It was he who had fallen for her it seemed, for they were never married for reasons far beyond his control. That was many many moons ago though and he had kept it silent to all who cared to listen to the tales of his life.

It was only when the weight of something being held within his own hands did his mind return from its rocky drifting; despite his thoughts he had barely managed to hear the words that left the lips of the woman before him. "We'll need to change clothing, dear princess, once this is completed it will most likely be quite easy for us to slip out through the servants' quarters at any part of the castle. I believe it would not be difficult to pick out a princess and her guard in the garb we now wear. Do you not agree?"

"Oh. Yeah Of course Darren. But I don't own anything but dresses and my horse riding outfit." She said opening drawers and digging through them. She finally found a pair of gray slacks and a long undershirt that belonged to her father. She pulled them out and ran into the bathroom, then quickly changed and pulled her hair back then returned looking like one of the cooks boys.

"Okay, I'm ready. Hurry." She said as they heard the loud pounding of the battering ram against the front doors again. She looked around one last time at the room she had grown up in. She almost laughed at how comical it seemed that this room had never changed since she was a child, while the little girl who once played with rag dolls with her mother, was now a woman, and about to run for her life.

A small smirk of amusement began to play across his lips as his princess re-entered the room looking like she had just stepped out of the kitchen. "My my my dearest princess, even when you take on the appearance of a servant you're still as beautiful and radiant as any." Darren said playfully allowing his smile to widened until a glimpse of the white of his teeth flashed before her.

He had practically grown up with her, this woman that now stood before him, he was only ten when she was born but was already taking full shifts with his father guarding the queen during her rest after the birth and the princess's nursery soon after. The king felt it would be easier having a younger man as a guard at the age of fifteen he had been given the position of royal body guard to the princess and had remained with her all her life; after all these years he felt quite comfortable around her. The servants uniforms were usually kept in a room a few halls away from the very one they now branched off of and seeing as how it was of great importance he retrieve the uniform quickly, with ease Darren removed the suit of armor until he the only clothing that remained covered his midsection. "I'll return." He simply stated as he took off at the speed of a fox out of the room and down the hall.

When he returned no more than ten minutes later the only thing that would have separated him from the others was the sword and sheath that hung very cleverly disguised on his back. "If you see it fit, I propose that we depart."

"Okay. I suppose now is as good as any time to abandon all hope. But again, how will we get away? Surely there is no carraige or coach that we can get away on, and the only way I can think of is the forest behind the castle. We could go out the garden come on." She said taking charge. She took his hand and her knapsack then ran down the hall and the stairs and out the back, already there were men inside taking her things.

She wanted to stop them, but instead grabbed a porcelain doll her grandmother had given her and stuffed it inside her bag, then pulled Darren out into the garden and out the gate. She didn't stop until they were next to the lake that was about a quarter of a way in, then she collapsed onto her knees and buried her face in her hands crying.

He weight his heart to see her cry but he understood. When she woke that morning all was as well as it could have been, and she had most expected things would continue going on as so. In a matter of only minutes she had made the decision to live her beloved father to die and all that she had ever known. At first he merely stood behind her, he felt maybe she appreciate a moment alone.

When he could no longer bear to hear her tears he crouched down next to her and placed his hand gently on her shoulder, "It will hurt for some time...this I can sadly guarantee but, my lady, you will not go through this entirely alone." It was now he wrapped his arms around the woman and held her close to him, "I will be always be here for you. No matter what." With these words he spoke no more only attempted to console her by softly stroking her hair.

Turning to look up at him she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Why? Why have you always stayed, no matter how bad I've treated you?" She asked, thankful that he was there now to comfort her. If she were alone, she would surely not make it out on her own. She had been spoiled her whole life, and she wasn't used to being alone.

Thinking back she remembered when she had gotten her heart broken, by another prince she had met from a different kingdom. She had gone through a vow of silence, never to speak again, Darren had convinced her to speak to him, she had been 12. It's funny what one remembers when looking into the eyes of someone you secretly love she thought as she indeed looked into his eyes.

"It was my duty." He lied looking deep into her eyes. He hated having to lie to her, it wasn't for the sake of his honor that he did so, he was not of royalty and thus it would have been frowned upon. Even so, after all these years he had failed to see himself that she loved him just the same. "You've never treated me badly my dearest Rose, not that I'm aware of anyhow." He smiled down at her and playfully rubbed the top of her head before getting to his feet once more. "Stay here for now. I feel it may rain soon." With this said he began to scout out a place for them to keep dry.

An hour or so after he had left her alone Darren stepped out into the open once more. "You'll be pleased to know I found a small cavern I believe you will find quite favorable." He reported when she was only but a stone's throw away.

"Thank god, And don't you dare leave me alone again." She said standing up and running to him. She stopped when she was in front of him then smiled. "So, lead the way." She said smiling at him. She had been scared sitting by herself in the forest, at least, she had reasoned with herself, she could not hear them attacking her home, although she could smell the fires.

She looked in the direction of her home. and sure enough, a cloud of thick black smoke floated amongst the rain clouds. She wondered if her father was all right, She shook her head then turned back to Darren. "Ready?" She asked holding her knapsack.

"It was for your safety that I left you here unattended." He replied lightly, "I could have run into a bear or a wolf and then where would we be?" He had saw her eyes move behind them and followed her gaze to the thick heavy smoke that bellowed from the castle as a low rumbled of thunder rolled across the sky. "I suggest we hurry...we're in for a long night I fear." And with that he turned and began the trip to their shelter.

Twenty minutes later they stood in front of a hole just wide enough for a human to fit through but required the being duck to get inside. Despite the small appearance of it's entrance the cave itself was able to comfortably provide for the two of them. "The flooring is stone and should the air become too cool we should be able to build a fire." He now looked back at her and stepped aside should she wish to enter first.

Ducking down Rosaleen entered the cave and sat down against the far wall. He was right, it was pretty cozy in here, almost as if it had been built just for this purpose, The floor was smoothed stone, just like inside the castle, and she noticed a small bag in the other corner with the emblem of her fathers army on it. Crawling over she pulled it open.

Inside was a loaf of bread, a pitcher of Malt, some grapes, and a few bandanna's. It seemed someone had created this place as a perfect hiding place in case it were needed. She found a sleeping mat, and a blanket inside the bag also. She took those out but left them against the well, except for the blanket, that she took with her and wrapped herself in it. she sighed as it in fact started raining. She hoped they had something to make a fire with, but was also thankful this this cave was slanted so no rain would pour in.

Darren sat at the far back of the cave, his head rested against the cool smooth stone of the wall, and his eyes closed. He had been concerned for his princess's safety and so he had stood outside her door for a full seventy two hours straight and only now did he notice the wave of exhaustion that began to creep over him. He lazily opened just one of his eyes to see she had found a blanket and had wrapped herself tightly in. He was silent for a moment as he listened to the rain that now beat against the fallen leaves outside before standing once more. "I found this place fairly quickly." He stated, "But rain always means cold air this time of year." After piddling around the middle of the cavern a small flame began to lick at the materials around it until it glowed a bright orange. "The dead tree limbs serve quite well for fires." He smiled at her before taking his spot again, the heat of the fire extending even there.

Rosalenn smiled at him and watched the fire crackle. She was exhausted from running, but to scared to sleep. She screamed loudly as thunder went off in the sky. Flushing she reached into her knapsack and pulled out her locket that had her mothers picture in it. "Oh mother, if only you were here, You'd hold me until the storm passed. Just like when I was younger." She said running a finger along the picture. Sighing she placed the locket around her neck and leaned back, trying to get comfy.

Not even the loud roar of thunder that seemed to echo off the caves walls was enough to make him open his eyes to the rest of the world. When he would return home with his father as a child there were many times the thunder yelled much louder and with much more rage, back then there was a roof that barely kept out the rain between him and the sky. This time what kept him away from sleep was the soft sound of the princess's voice, Darren was unable to make out all of what she had said but the sound of her scream and the fear seemingly etched in her face made it clear the thunder had frightened her a great deal. With slowly exaggeration he stood to his feet and replaced himself beside her, he didn't speak, there was no need to. He merely wrapped his long strong arms around and pulled her closer to him, resting his cheek against the top of her head. "You should try to rest...when the sky hints of day it is quite common for me to rouse...and I will want to get you as far from harm as humanly possible." He said after a long while.

Rosaleen melted into his warmth and rested her head on his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for saving me." She whispered in a sleepy voice. She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep. Her dreams were full of fire and broken dreams. She saw her father fall dead in front of her, then her mother began calling her name, and she ran towards it, only to be speared by a farmer.

She sat up screaming, her face covered in cold sweat. She was shaking, but the sun was shining and the rain had stopped. She looked over at Darren and found him still asleep. She decided not to wake him and grabbed the bag and pulled out a piece of bread. She broke it in half and left it in the bag.

Rosaleen melted into his warmth and rested her head on his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for saving me." She whispered in a sleepy voice. She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep. Her dreams were full of fire and broken dreams. She saw her father fall dead in front of her, then her mother began calling her name, and she ran towards it, only to be speared by a farmer.

She sat up screaming, her face covered in cold sweat. She was shaking, but the sun was shining and the rain had stopped. She looked over at Darren and found him still asleep. She decided not to wake him and grabbed the bag and pulled out a piece of bread. She broke it in half and left it in the bag.