Of Shadows and Swords (Chiarra)

She fell asleep on the ride, leaning back against him and only waking when she felt the horse stop moving. When it did and he got off, she got off as well and laid on the blanket he set up for her. She yawned and laid down, going to sleep quickly once more. "Night," she yawned out before actually falling back asleep.
 
When the princess was sound asleep, Lucius took a seat nearby, where he could see both her and the horse, and stayed up a while. When no one followed, he laid down and closed his eyes, determined to sleep. He did manage a few hours before he woke again, and found someone standing over him. He shoved his bottom half up, meaning to kick the person over his own head, but the figure darted away and just laughed at him. Lucius came up into a crouch, but stopped short when he saw who it was and glared. "You -!?"


Archer grinned at him. "You're so cute when you're sleeping!"
 
She slept soundly, only waking just as Archer made his comment. She stretched and sat up, her mouth and throat dry. She looked over and noticed that the "messenger" was there. She cocked her head to the side. "What's the messenger doing here?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly from her dry throat." Then her eyes widened and said, "He's not going to tell on us is he?"
 
Well, they were out of the kingdom now and all hope was lost, so Lucius thought he could stop lying about it now. He brushed himself off as he stood, shaking his head. "He's not a messenger."


Archer gave her a sly smile, reaching into the satchel at his side to pull out a necklace that had been on display inside the castle, waving it around for her to see. "I most certainly am not."


Lucius glared at him. "Archer! I told you not to take from there!"


Archer just gave him a sidelong look, an innocent expression on his face. "What does it matter? It's not like you're going back - and we can sell it for funds!" . . . We? 
((gtg to work in 15))
 
((Okay then ^_^ see you when you get back. Sorry for not replying earlier))


"Not a mess..." she started but then saw the necklace he pulled out. "Hey, that's my mothers! He's a...thief? What was he doing in the library then?" she was angry now and she moved to take that Necklace from him. "We are not selling it," she said and if she successfully took it from him, she'd move to put it around her own neck.
 
Archer danced away from her when she tried to take the necklace from him, laughing and doing a quick step like a matador before throwing his hands in the air. "Ole!"


Lucius rolled his eyes, slapped Archer across the back of the head because dodging Melody had put the thief closer to him, and snatched the necklace from the taller boy's hand in the moment of shock that followed. "I told you." He groused, then just took a step away and held the necklace out to Melody. "You can have it, but no wearing it around. Having something that expensive on display is just begging to be robbed."


Archer gave a big sigh and just rolled his eyes, draping his arms over Lucius' shoulders and resting his chin on top of Lucius' head. "You're no fun."


Lucius stayed still and just fought the urge to elbow him in the ribs. "You're a troublemaker."


"You're a good headrest, though."


Lucius could feel him laughing. "You're too bony for this."


"But it's com~fy!"
 
Archer danced away from her and she wasn't amused by that or the "Ole". She just crossed her arms over her chest and glared softly at him. She smiled a bit when Lucius slapped him across the back of the head and gave her mother's necklace back to her. She nodded when he said no wearing it and she got up to the horses and put it in her bag along with her other things. She chuckled a bit at the exchange they were having before sitting down again, her tummy rumbling. Why didn't she think to bring food? Hopefully Lucius would've remembered. She was too afraid to ask though.
 
Archer picked his head up before Lucius could, looking over at Melody and then just grinned. "Somebody's hungry!"


Lucius rolled his eyes, pulled Archer's arms off of him finally, and walked over to the horse and opened his bag. He pulled out just an apple for now and handed it to her. "We'll get more along the way, but I've got a little." Once they hit the next town they would be fine.


Archer strolled over and pulled something from his satchel, grinning at Lucius and holding out a small, jade lion. "It's from all the way back east," He announced, happy with himself, and plopped it into Lucius' hand. "Remember? I told you I was going to see the palace again. Didn't get even close to inside, but the outside is plenty pretty."


"I told you to stop bringing me gifts if they're stolen." Lucius said, half-heartedly because he knew he'd never stop his friend from doing it, and curled his fingers around the lion, making a guilty face. "I had to leave them with Aaric."
 
She blushed a bit when Archer pointed out she was hungry, though she didn't understand why since it was a normal thing. Lucius handed her an apple though and she took it. "Thank you," she said softly before biting into it. She then paid attention to Lucius and Archer as she ate her apple and after swallowing, asked, "From the East? You mean...you went over seas?" she asked him.
 
Archer looked at her as if he'd forgotten she was there, then just smiled again like always. "All the way east, yes. I don't particularly love working on ships, but if labor gets me free passage, why not?" He shrugged and wandered around Lucius, taking the jade figure back for safe keeping since Lucius didn't want to leave it with their supplies and lose it somehow. "I've been to a lot of places, deary, so it's best to just stop being surprised right away or you'll never stop."


Lucius rolled his eyes. "You do like to make yourself sound like a long-winded starik, don't you?"


Archer frowned at that, though it was more of a pout than anything, and planted his hands on his hips. "I am not old! I'm only 20 years old, thank you!"
 
She listened to him, amazed that he had traveled to a lot of places. Then she giggled when Lucius called him old. "How old are you Lucius?" she asked and after he answered, she turned to Archer. "Can you tell me about some of the places you've been?" she asked, wanting to hear more. "I've always wanted to go to different places and explore." Alas, she couldn't, though...she guessed now was her opportunity if Lucius did want to travel around everywhere instead of just settle in one place together.
 
Archer looked at her, struck silent for only a few seconds, then cheered and did a few quick hops up and down. "You've finally found someone I can brag to, Luca!"


Lucius rolled his eyes and walked back over to the horse to be sure everything was ready for travel. They would walk from here, since there were three of them now, and perhaps Melody would have to ride and let Lucius walk the horse so she wouldn't tire. ". . . I'm 19." He said finally, in response to her query. He wasn't sure why it mattered how old he was, but he supposed some people were just curious. Archer always told him he looked older than he was, because he had a stern face much too often and 'if he held it too long it would stick that way', or some such nonsense.


((I just realized I'd named him Luciano in the bio, but had called him Lucius through the entire RP xD I'm just gonna change it in the bio and keep him Lucius


Also, starik is Russian for old man. If I ever use slang for Lucius or Archer again, I'll probably use Russian lol 'Cause Russian's cool-sounding))
 
((Lol ^_^ and I was wondering what that word was lol))


She smiled at Archer, he was so much looser than Lucius was, he had to be so serious all the time. She awaited his answer, but just noticed he went to check on the horse and it was a bit before he actually did answer her. She just bit her lip softly and looked down. She stood up then though, thinking it was close to time when they were going to be leaving and she wasn't wanting to slow them down any.
 
When the horse was ready, Lucius led her over to Melody and helped her up, then just started walking. Archer prattled on as they went, telling stories of his time spent in the deserts of the more southern regions. Archer really had been a lot of places, and Lucius knew he would have as much fun telling his stories as Melody was going to have listening. Despite all the arguing, Archer was one of Lucius' only two precious people, and he liked hearing Archer's stories too. He just didn't like hearing the dangerous parts.
 
Melody thanked Lucius for his help on getting her on the horse and then intently listened to Archer's stories. She gasped when he got to some dangerous parts and stopped him occasionally to ask him about a few things. "Why would you do some of the dangerous jobs?" she asked. "When they could get you killed or arrested?"


((Sorry, though I replied lol))
 
Lucius was doing his best not to make faces, but Archer just rolled his eyes and scoffed. Lucius couldn't see him, both boys standing on opposite sides of the horse, but he knew Archer and that was just what Archer did.


"Well what fun is there if it's not exciting?" Archer shrugged, holding his hands up as if helpless. "There has to be something to make it a challenge for me." He gave Melody a look. "Case in point: I snatched that necklace without even Lu noticing."


Lucius heaved a sigh. "Don't drag me into this."


((It's cool. I've done that enough times lol))
 
((Lol ^_^ ))


"It's reckless," she said simply. "And you wouldn't think it was fun if you got caught and in trouble." She was blunt with her words, but...she was telling the truth. Then he brought her mothers necklace up again and she asked, "How many other things have you stolen from us?" She was a bit worried about what he might say.
 
Archer held his hands up a little more, indicating innocence. "Nothing at all, actually. I've been following rules like a good boy every time I visit." He shrugged. "But you were hauling ass out of there so why not grab something on the way out, right?" He grinned to himself. "I happen to like being reckless. And I have been caught before, actually. Still alive to tell the tale."


And show the scars. Lucius thought, but kept that part to himself. Sometimes he felt equal parts like punching Archer in the face and like wrapping him up in a safe, secure little bubble.
 
She just smiled and chuckled softly at him and then said, "Well, that may be true, but you still didn't answer my last question. How many times have you stolen from my home." She didn't sound like she would get mad, and she wouldn't really, but it would be nice to know since she had a mission for him. After he answered, she asked, "Do you think you can do it once more and not only take something but leave something behind?"
 
She'd peaked his interest, Lucius knew, as Archer had stopped walking and was just looking at her. ". . . What do you have in mind?"


Lucius frowned. "They'll be on high alert, Archer, you can't -"


Archer held up a hand for silence. "High alert for everything outside the castle. Everything inside will be lax. All of their forces will be searching for this pretty little flower, now won't they?" Lucius didn't want to admit he had a point.
 
When Lucius spoke up, she about changed her mind and said no, but Archer seemed really intrigued in the job. "It's more like I want to leave something than you take something, but a few gold coins wouldn't hurt and you can keep half of what you take for yourself for doing this job. I'm wanting you to leave a note. I'll write it down later when I can and then I want you to take it and leave it somewhere that will most certainly be found by my parents. Are you up for it?" she asked. She hoped he could pull it off.
 
"Up for it?" Archer asked, his tone almost but not quite offended, and Lucius fought the urge to smack his own forehead. There was a challenge and a doubt to Archer's abilities out there in the air, and now he would never stop. "I'll have you know I've done much harder jobs with much more security. Your castle is really very poor a out their patrols. They never look up."


Lucius shook his head. "He means he'll do it. And he'd best be careful." Archer only stuck his tongue out when Lucius glared at him, but they both knew the thief would be careful. He always was.


((Must sleep -_- night!))
 
((Night ^_^ ))


"I'm sorry," she said when she heard the offended tone on his voice. "I didn't mean it like that, I was just curious if you would do so is all. I meant no offense. But yes, please be careful." She rode in silence then and then thought of an idea. Music could brighten the mood up. She pulled her tiny harp out and played as she rode. It was a soft, playful melody and very cheery.
 
Lucius looked up when she pulled out an instrument, and smiled faintly to himself. Was this why she'd asked if he liked music? Archer clapped along with her, quietly, to make things more lively, and for a little while danced around them as they walked. He made her laugh that way, and Lucius was grateful to him for being with them and for making the mood light. If Archer hadn't been here, Lucius doubted either he or Melody would've said a word to each other.
 
She giggled and laughed as Archer clapped along and danced to the music. This really helped and the trip wasn't as quiet then. She wondered just how quiet it would be if Archer wasn't here. Would Lucius even talk to her unless she spoke to him? Soon, the song was over and she asked, "Any requests?" She played what was asked of her, until she herself got tired of playing, or they got tired of listening, whichever came first and she put the harp away.
 
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