Eternal Flame (Medieval)

[Snowfeather]

Katherine sat inside the carriage, looking out of the window as she traveled down the path towards Freigh. She thought of her mother, of her brother, what were they doing now? Her thoughts were interrupted by her father's harsh tone. "Katherine! Are you even listening to me?" he asked. She shook her head. "Forgive me, father," she said, dipping her head. He smiled.


"What I said was to behave. You need to act like a lady, this is not Dual. Not everyone will respect your decisions and opinions like your mother," he explained. "You will act like the Princess of Dual. If this mission fails, then I have no option but to accept Eros' proposal," he continued, his face hardening.


Katherine frowned. "Yes, father," she replied, looking out the window. They approached the gates to the castle grounds, and a voice called, "Presenting, the King Serbion and Princess Katherine of Dual!" Katherine tensed as the carriage stopped outside the castle. This is it...

 

[Thewarsword]

Abelard was very excited. He heard this lady would be gorgeous, and he saw ambivalent almost upset, proposed marriage upset his older brother Reirruc. Although he was an adopted brother(to reirruc anyway), he looked to take upon some of reirruc duties, and pleasantries(unpleasatires to reir)


Abelard was determined to help his brother through this situation, and he suspected that the proper approach was to marry this lady. He didn't want to think about the anger reir would have at hearing him agree with father...


As the carriage pulled up he went straight to the gate, and he approached the pair.


"Hello, I am the prince's servant Abelard, and he has requested my deepest hospitality for you, and asked for me to guide you. Will you be seeing the king as well? What are you, hungry, thirsty perhaps? Is rest in order your quarters have been prepared."


As his eyes locked with ladies, the little bit of knightship taught to him took over. He did just as practiced, he took off his mask, and lifted his scarf to expose his lips and he took her hand and kissed it.


"I also double as your guard while you stay at the castle, and I will lead you to the prince"


They passed a very large garden with lots of deep red roses growing, and they walked around a pond with many exotic fish.


Finally they made it to the building back behind the castle.


***


There was old servants house towards the back of the castle. It went unused since the last renovation of the castle, and Reirruc had it gutted and prepared for him. He also had it fortified and made into his own mini castle.


He sat in his meeting room, waiting for his guests to arrive. The room was quite large, with ceilings upwards of 40 feet in some parts, and the flooring was a black and white checkered pattern with lights hanging down low. At the north end of the room there was a huge bookcase that stretched from floor to ceiling, and wall to wall, some tables had maps, and others had empty books with Reirruc's hand writing covering some of the pages in them. A few with books Reirruc was studying.


On the east side of the room there was a very large collection of swords on the wall, and crests, shields, suits of armor of all kinds(some foreign and exotic), flags, and other assorted decorations. Even some of Abelard's monkish decorations were there.


He sat at a small, round, oak table at the heart of the room.


Although, he told father he disapproved of the idea, and his father would support his decision, he was eager to meet the young lady. If she was acceptable as a bride, perhaps he would not be as lonely as before. Perhaps finally he could be happy.


He stood from the table the moment he heard the front door open and approached his guests.


"Abe, brother, poise yourself, and then make sure our finest tea is prepared for our guests."


He looked at the princess, and she looked stunning. But his training ran deeper then any impression she could make.


He got down on one knee and kissed her hand. A higher sign of respect then that of Abe's kiss, and he had planned it this way.


He stood up and addressed the king.


"So, what is it we should discuss first? Come to my table I have prepared for you in my home. So you know this is my castle, and not my fathers. If you have business with him you will need to go talk to him there. Your quarters are here in my home, not his, and he has left all of the decisions at least those discussed in the letters, to me."

 

[Noyeh]

Kuroha in Freigh, sitting on a building, he looks down on them. "Royals?" Kuroha hates the idea of just saying royal, but he had to live through it. "If only I could sabotage the carriage. But, I have to wait until midnight." Kuroha jumps from building to house, following the carriage until it pulled up. Taking cover behind on the building, his eyes suddenly light Crimson Red. His eyesight changes, focusing on the Servant and the Princess. "Wait a minute, can't I activate Stealing Eyes when I have Focusing Eyes active?" Kuroha asked himself in a whisper, looking up at the Castle, teleporting onto one of the towers.


A pulsating sound emitted when he teleported up, Kuroha really didn't care, the sound may have been loud, but he hoped nothing might've happened. Using Focusing Eyes again, he estimates they're position. "You know what! I'm not taking on my own Mission Impossible!" Kuroha said, mad at his own choices. Using Focusing Eyes, he just spies them, still on one of the towers of the Castle; Freigh.

 

[Snowfeather]

Katherine was surprised as Abelard kissed her hand but smiled, her eyes shining bright. "Thank you," she replied. As they walked past the roses, she couldn't help but breathe in the sweet scent. Her hair was tied up in a bun and she was wearing her light blue dress. She walked next to her father who kept her close, his gaze following Abelard's movements.


"Stay close to me Katherine," he warned her, and Katherine only nodded as she looked down into the pond. She saw a rare one, different to the others, it's scales almost glowing. She looked to her left and smiled as she saw her two spirits guarding over her.


--


As they entered, she let her gaze sweep the room. The spirits vanished and her eyes stopped glowing. She returned her attention to her father and then to the prince. As he bent down on one knee and kissed her hand, she smiled and curtsied. She glanced up at her father who nodded, approving of her behavior. He turned to the prince.


"Well firstly, I need a guarantee that my daughter will be kept safe and under guard at all times. She will not be left alone at any cost," he ordered. Katherine crossed her arms over her chest. "I know how to defend myself," she whispered to herself, unnoticeable. The king walked over to the prince and circled him. "I understand you will do anything necessary to make that request met," he added.


Katherine unfolded her arms and looked around the room, straightening her dress slightly. Her eyes reflected the sunlight as she walked over to a window, moving without a sound. She smiled up at the sun as she saw the silhouette of Argot, the spirit of the sun. He blinked, and then vanished.

 

[Thewarsword]

A feeling of discord swept through Reirruc's being as he realized someone was using a power on him, or attempting to anyway. He and his person were safe from such attempts from scrying magics to telepathy to things of other sort. He felt upset, either the king brought spies, or they were trying to spy on him, or someone unrelated was here. Either way it was a dismay.


Then Abe appeared out of no where as he tended to do. "Brother, we have a situation..."


"Oh?"


"Something has shifted I suggest treating it as a snake my brother."


"I prefer a turtle method however."


"Brother, let me take care of it, you can't afford to make a mistake..."


Whatever upset Reirruc, Abe sensed, and they had no idea what was happening. Abe would deal with it though, he had only focus on his diplomacy, the boring part...


He gaze cut through the tension "My king, this is Abelard my advisor, friend, and many other things. I have assigned him to be her guard when she is not in my presence, and my anti-magic has her blanketed covered. My fortress is set. What do you require of me in terms of your security?"


Reirruc watched her walk over to a very large window and began to stare outside.


"How much do you know about me? Surely you know I was a knight before becoming a prince? My training should be transparent to you, I will die before my guests are harmed."


His honor depended on it.

 

[Noyeh]

"Well.. I guess Anti-Magic is a actual thing. It'll be harder to get in and out of this place if it's coated with it." Kuroha unsheathes his two daggers, sheathing them again to see if they are able to do it smoothly. He uses Focusing Eyes on something more visible, the oak, very unpredictable. Kuroha unsheathes his Dagger and twirls it a bit, until stopping it to teleport. Kuroha walks into a alleyway, using Deceiving Eyes.


But after, he knows it won't work. Canceling it, he walked out of the alley, looking at the Castle he was next to, he out his hands into the stone walls, holes that were available. If I can't teleport, may as well climb. Climbing up to the tower he was in before, making it quickly, he layed down, his arms under him as he closed his eyes, but his senses still perked up. "Focusing Eyes." Kuroha commands, now his eyesight was set on the small oak table again.

 

[Snowfeather]

Katherine listened to the Prince and his advisor as they talked, and she tensed slightly. She knew it was no good if she was discovered.


"Oh no need to-" King Serbion started, but was interrupted as a man rushed in.


"My king! You have received a letter from the queen!" He said. The king took the letter from his hand and read it. He nodded and the man rushed off again.


"I have to leave back to Dual, at once," he explained, his voice rushed.


Katherine turned her gaze from the window and hurried up to her father. "What? Why?" She asked. He just shook his head and kissed her forehead. She thought about screaming, but it was no use.


"You need to stay here, Katherine," he told her before turning to the prince. "Take care of my daughter," her ordered before walking out. Katherine lowered her gaze to the ground and sighed. She then glanced over at the prince. "What is there to do around here then?" she asked, a bit nervous. She didn't think she was going to be alone with him, she didn't want to. Wonder if Aragorn is still here or if father took him.

 

[Thewarsword]

"My lady, i am sorry for making you uncomfortable. This is a truly awkward situation, and you may do as you like. Abelard will watch over you. There are many female and male attendents our age around, there is my library if interested. My garden has a abundence of nature to enjoy. There are a few things here. If you wish to spend time with me please inform me. Ill be off my studies if you do not need me. I ask that you be back for dinner and refrain from leaveing after that point. The three of us will retire to the safety room down stairs this night." With that reir kicked his feet up onto the table and pulled out a small book and began to read.


***


"My lady, here is your tea, dear brother, would you like the kings tea?"


Reirruc suddenly had an idea "my lady perhaps you and I could go for a walk by the pond while we drink our tea? We could get aquinted. "


Abe felt kind of uncomfortable. He realized reir had feelings for the girl, although he knew better then anyone that didnt mean he was interested in her. He was such a intellectual and so much more picky about women then abe was.


Reir retained his full innovence, while abe 6 his years junior gave himself to the first pretty girl he found in this castle.


Perhaps he and elaine would be dating soon? Maybe it was fortunate for him that his brother was removing the distraction?


"Brother i must train... you know how i hate it..."


Abe walked away.

 

[Noyeh]

Kuroha sees how a opportunity was what he needed. He opens his eyes, still being Crimson Red. "I may as well take out the Servant. What if he's the one that have been using Anti-Magic. I'll be cautious than." Kuroha asks himself in a whisper, while activating Concealing Eyes, teleporting into the inside of the castle. Being invisible, he climbs the ceiling, following the Servant into his 'training spot'.


He climbs the ceiling having his hands hold onto it as he switches to his feet, than back to his hands. I really hate this kind of climbing. The sound of him climbing wasn't present, as the him being invisible muffled out the sound he was making.

 

[Snowfeather]

Katherine nodded and sat down on the opposite side of the prince. "Thank you," she said as she was handed her tea. She listened to the prince and smiled.


"Sure, why not?" She replied. She got up from her seat. She looked after Abe as he walked out and raised an eyebrow.


Nether the less, she smiled at the prince. "Shall we?" She asked, her eyes bright. She felt the presence of Argot and Cory, her spirits, and glanced down to the see their faint silhouettes.

 

[Thewarsword]

Abe could feel something get very close, and hearing Taris mutter something to rier proved his intuition.... oh well, he opened the door to his dojo room where his private guards adorned in the armor waited him. They granned their shields and swords and awaited commands.


"Time to train boys, were going no magic, full contact, so leave that fancy armor on"


A guard rushed Abe and in response he moved to the side of the sword. He grabbed the guards wrist and elbow and bent the angle of the blade down, using his foot he pushed the blade down perpendicular to the ground and used the momentum to push the sword into the guards gut. It clanged harmlessly against the armor. Guards took turns against abe as he outmanuvered them, sometimes taking on two or three at a time. He began to sense the snake was about to strike.


"Let the snake leap with its fangs, and catch behind its head, before it realizes what is going on chop off it head" he heard the wisdom of his sensei echo.


"Do you guards know of any reliable spies, assassins, that kinds of thing? I need to hire one pretty bad."


***


Suddenly the floor opened up and Taris and his clan stepped put from beneth the complex.


"So captain, ill leave it to you, we shall return when you give us the signal"


He and the lady walked out to the pond drinking their tea.


"So, what do you want to talk about m'lady?"


****


All Taris knew, was that Reirrucs anti magic runes detected something going on in the castle.


He watched the runes glow long after the girl left.


But he and his few other ninjas gathered themselves into their squads and began clearing the building, room by room.

 

[Noyeh]

Kuroha teleports into a room, still being invisible, he waits for his squads to find him. As such, one sqaud did, but not noticing him due to Kuroha being invisible. Soon after, he a echoing, pulsating sound is heard inside the room, the squad hitting the wall hard enough that they fell unconscious. Kuroha proceeds to teleport into another room, waiting another squad to take out. He continuously does this, the sound hurting ears nearby.


Using different methods every time, as blowing them into a wall, squishing them against a wall. The methods worked better than he expected, not thinking on how it would've worked. Don't think, just do.

 

[Snowfeather]

Katherine shrugged, trying her best to match his strides. "That depends. Do you have any animal companions? Any hobbies?" She asked, drinking her tea.


Katherine's bow that was fastening her bun fell as the wind ruffled her hair. Her hair flowed down her shoulders like a waterfall of liquid gold and she stopped walking.


"My bow!" She exclaimed. "We have to find it," she said, her voice filled with anxiety.

 

[Thewarsword]

He saw her hair fall, and he totally lost his comppsure, he couldnt help but stare like an idiot for a brief second. Then a wolf appeared "Trust her, i am cory the moon spirit"... he looked down and picked up her bow and gave it to her, and it started to glow. As she put back in her hair the wolf disappeared....


"Um the wolf that over there was yours no? Your a supernatural then? I am very excitied if thats the case. As for my animal, his name is veldek the horse. He likes it when i play flute for him. And i do a lot of reading and combat practice, and i write. I like to write... what are you interested in?"


***


" I AM NOT AMUSED! GET OUT THERE AND STOP THIS GUY NOW!!!!!!!!!"


The dragon and phoenix appeared next to abelard. He was furious. At least these guards were immune to magic thanks to reirruc's runes he scribed on their armor and weapons for hours.


"We can fix this rogue. We dont have to bring this to a dog eat dog battle, and i know the prince will forgive you, all you have to do is let us pay you to work for us."

 

[Noyeh]

Kuroha teleports in the area where all the anti-magic guards were. pulsating sound was made again, echoing throughout the castle. "And, how am I sure that your not gonna kill me on the spot?" Kuroha asks the man, his eyes Crimson Red as he speaks to him. "Snake Eyes of Clearing." Another pulsating sound echoed again, a rift opening behind Kuroha, as a black snake comes out of it, crimson eyes are visible. "And why would I work for a Royal?" Kuroha asks.


He was sure that he wouldn't, he's always hated Royals of how greedy and selfish they are. He had no means of working with one. The Snake of Clearing Eyes would sure enough bite off the man's head.

 

[Snowfeather]

Katherine heard Cory speak to the prince, but what he said, she couldn't hear. She smiled as he gave her her bow and put her hair back up.


"Thank you," she said, smiling brightly. Her smile the faded. "I..." She stuttered.


She sighed. "Yes, I'm a supernatural.." She whispered, her eyes glowing slightly as Argot appeared, his fiery pelt blazing, growling at the prince. Katherine raised her hand and he stopped growling.

 

[Thewarsword]

He wanted to walk away. He felt uncomfortable, he was exposed to her...and his gut knew that his powers didnt work on her because he didnt want them to. This was verh dangerous. He found himself instead gently taking her hand in his.


"Your father seems cruel, he wants you to marry me, but i cant imagine you'd want to marry a stranger? I am enchanted by you, this is obvious now. But im composed, and i will not let my feelings rush me. Do you want to get to know me better? Should i send for a escort back to your home? I am being selfless and focused on your needs not mine" he whispered this to her, and his tone was warm and gentle.


***


Reirruc isnt a normal royal, he gave double the amount of tea this house drinks in a year to the people, he has given quadruple the amount of living to orphans then what he resides in. He works to bring his research into magic to save soldiers lives. He donates more books then he owns...


He isnt your average royal. He is the hope of the people and the people know it. And now you threaten his life and his people?! I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT! The dragon attacked the snake sending it away from abe, and the phoenix stayed close to him.


"We cant put you to work for the people if we kill you, and i would not betray the trust my lord placed in me to betray my word."

 

[Noyeh]

The Snake of Clearing Eyes teleports back near Kuroha. "You know I made this thing." Kuroha points to the snake, the ground under us cracks, a pulsating sound followed it. "Damn Royals. It's always about trust isn't it? Maybe there's something behind that mask of your trust? Something more dangerous, I presume?" The stone walls now crack. "Why don't you tell me something? Why can't you use your own will, betray the kingdom, do your own things?"


Kuroha was definitely not working for a Royal, not even be an Assassin for one. One thing that Royals do is betray others, that's will, and Kuroha knew it. Kuroha's eyes glow Crimson Red still, but now having a pentagon visible inside.

 

[Snowfeather]

Katherine stood there, almost paralyzed as he took her hand in his. She glanced down at their hands and listened to him as he whispered in her ear.


It sent a shiver down her spine and her eyes shone. "I... I'd like to get to know you better. You seem like the kind of person I would be proud to call.. A friend," she replied, smiling up at him.


She straightened her composure, her long lashes framing her glowing blue eyes. "As for me, I also have a horse, Aragorn. I enjoy reading, riding, archery, and at times, I enjoy hunting." She said.


Katherine knew he'd probably think she was crazy. Archery and hunting was a bit extreme for a princess.

 

[BlueFox3411]

Aiyo walks along the road to freigh, seeming almost fragile in a overlarge black coat. She skips slightly, and a small black fox like creature follows behind her, yipping occasionally


. She talks to it and laughs often, excited that she'll see this city for the first time. "I heard they've got good food here!! I wonder if we could sneak into the castle, they must have a treasure chamber somewhere!"


The fox yips, wagging it's two tails. One tail is tipped in silver, the other in blue. Aiyo laughs and says to it, "We'll find you a friend to stay with if you get too scared to come with me, I'll find a stray cat or something!"

 

[Thewarsword]

Before he could reply he saw an imagine of abelard impaled on a wall... he felt something wasnt right.


"Up until now ive treated you like a princess, you have no need a prince, so let me be candid my lady, something damgerous is in my castle...and i want to hunt it. My instict is telling me, your wolf was telling me, we should take this moment to get better acquinted!"


He grabbed her hand, forgetting about the tea, and pulled her towards the castle. He kept his inner beast from getting reckless, (he tries ok?) And stayed focus on defendijg his home.


****


Abelard started singing as wings of flame appeared on his back, a claws of a dragon were adorned on his wrist, the fiery wraith of the dragon connected to the young monk. He began to sing.(i didnt write the song)


" Do you remember love


Love from a tormented heart


Not fleeting, as with music at night


But an eternal love


Now tainted


Now tainted


Go now and reclaim it


Go now and love


Recall the times


when you were happy.


Recall the times


when you laughed.


Life is wonderful


Do you have faith in it?


Turn your face to life,


To eternal joy.


What happened to those days?


What happened to those nights?


Do you remember


How you turned to grief? Do you remember


How you turned to sorrow?


Is the blame mine or ours?


Our feelings grew faint


What caused our grief and fighting?


Can there be beauty in life?


If you seek it out.


Can there be happiness in life?


Let's seek it"


This was abelard ways of answering the asassin. As he sung his balad his fists and feet began to swing blows.


They were evenly matched.

 

[Snowfeather]

Katherine was caught slightly off guard but ran with him, keeping at a slower pace than she was used to so she wouldn't pull ahead. She heard the commotion now when she focused her senses. She bit her lower lip.


"I'll see you there," she called before she turned into a slender sliver wolf. She pelted ahead at double speed and reached the scene. Her eyes widened and she growled. She bunched her hindlegs and sprang, knocking the assassin over. She crouched low and followed the assassin's every movement.


She was soon flanked by her spirits who were now visible to anyone and everyone. The three growled and lashed their tails in sync, as if they were one wolf. Katherine stepped forward slightly so that she was in between the fiery and icy pelts. She yowled and the two spirits backed a bit, closer to Abe in case something happened.


@Noyeh

 

[BlueFox3411]

There was a sudden rattle of a cart, and the snort of a horse. Cart pulled up beside where Aiyo was walking, and a dirty looking man gave her a yellow toothed grin. He didn't look like he quite knew what he was doing, so it Probably wasn't his cart. He's a thief, and has the smell of alcohol on his breath.


He slows down and say to Aiyo, "what's a littl' lass like ya'self doin' out 'ere all by her lonesome?"


Aiyo tries not to gag at the stench, and instead say sweetly. "I'm visiting my relatives in Freigh."


The man gives a fake laugh and slaps his knee, "Well waddya know! That's just where im headed also! Get in the back, I'll give ya a lift!"


She gets in, and keeps a wary eye on the man. She's seen this before, he steals a horse and cart and picks up travellers outside of cities. Afterwards he either kills them, robs them, sells them on the black market or keeps them as slaves. None of the thoughts were very pleasant, but she has a plan ready. Quite simple actually.


He chatters all the way, not even caring whether she answered or not. Just outside of the city he stops and turns to her with a cold smile, and a murderous look in his eye. "This is where I stop, and you'll do what I say." He pulls out a knife. Aiyo doesn't move or say anything. She looks at him calmly, "Oh no, I think you'll be the one taking orders." She looks at him with her inhumanly blue eyes, and his own eyes glaze over. There's a moment of silence, and it seems almost like the man explodes. A large jagged black blade hit him in the chest and came out his back, spraying everything with blood as it rips him in half.


Aiyo calmly jumps from the scene. She pulls up her hood and ties a grey bandana across her mouth, and continues into the city with the black fox trailing behind her.

 

[Thewarsword]

Reirruc turned the corner and saw the wolves and the assassin, and heard abelard's singing.


Dark memories stirred in reirrucs mind and he funneled them into chanting of a ancient language. He pushed the negitive energy out of him through a cloud, and blanket the castle. Preventing magic from occuring. He knew abe's magic would cease, and the assassin he presumed would be stopped as he didnt trigger any outside alarms per se.


The huntress? He wasnt sure about her. He knew she would be ok because abe was better with average combat.


As he pushed himself into helpless concentration he noticed a appreciation for the princess risking her life for his brother. He was honored, humbled, and privledged to have such a guest in his home.


***


"Wolf i presume you guys are with ruc, ill cover him while you guys do your thing. I cam throw a fireball from the back if your sure."


With that abe crouched down next to his brother who was 20 feet behind the battle.


He wished his brother had prepared and studied better techniques.

 

[Snowfeather]

Katherine lashed her tail and growled at the assassin, her fangs bared. Argot and Cory were about to attack again, but she flicked her tail and they instead surrounded the assassin. Since they could not be harmed, being spirits, they could take the risk.


Katherine turned back to her human form and rose, wearing a different outfit. She glared down at the assassin and Argot and Cory glanced over at her, ready for her orders.