[M] In Search of Honour {Naraness X Juni} IC

[Froggy]

Rated M for the following: Violence, language, alcohol consumption, romantic encounters, and just about everything else under the mature rating description.

Life at the palace was...difficult to say the least. Every day there was a routine to be followed, a procedure for this and for that, something new added to appease the comforts of nobility and royalty. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays- changing sheets and doing laundry. Tuesdays and Thursdays- house keeping for every room in the palace, save for those of which only the supervisors were allowed to visit. Every day was generic cleaning, making sure that every inch of the palace was spotless and reflected perfection. Genevera, unlike most of the servants, was fortunate enough to have Saturdays and Sundays off every week.

It came from nearly a lifetime of service within the palace, one by choice and not from some criminal act or debt. Compared to the life she had lived before entering the palace...well, it was easy to see which one she preferred. It was Friday evening at about six o'clock, and she was due off over the next hour. She was finishing the last of the dining room, preparing it for the royal dinner that evening. She would also be helping to serve the food, something that she did not do that often but excelled at when she did. Whenever there was a grand occasion or ball of some sorts being held at the palace, her supervisors had her work extra and on her days off to ensure that everything went smoothly.

Tonight there would be a variety of proteins, roasted, broiled, baked...just about any form or fashion of protein imaginable. There would also be the freshest of fruits and vegetables within the kingdom, all prepared by the chefs within the kitchens beneath them. It was quite the task bringing up all of the dinner items one flight of stairs and down the halls, but somehow or another it was done every night to ensure the comfort of the royal family. At that very moment, however, she was setting the table in a manner that was appropriate for the occasion, using the proper utensils and placing things where they belonged on the tables. She also worked to set the center pieces, clear glass vases filled with the most beautiful flowers. Genevera smiled at the work she had done, even she had to admit that it looked rather gorgeous and hoped that the family liked it. It was now six forty in the evening and the family would begin trickling in within a few minutes, so loyal to her duty she made her way to the kitchens below and began to gather the fruits and vegetables, using serving trays to carry more than she could with her own two hands alone.

Together, along with a few of the other servants, she made her way up the stairs and they began to place the plates in their appropriate spaces, making sure that the table was pleasant to look at. Once that had been done, they quickly left and hurried back to the kitchens, knowing that the royal family would be there soon. The protein came next, and the royal family began to trickle in just as she was setting down the last of the protein. Herself, along with the rest of the servants in the room stepped back and bowed their heads gracefully, hands clasped behind their backs, waiting for the rest of the family to enter the room in order to see if they should require anything else.

[Naraness]

The smell of dinner wafted through the hallways, reaching Castiel even from his private chambers. It was hard not to admire his life, really. Every day was spent in pleasant company, within the borders of a beautiful kingdom. Three meals were served every day, each one a work of art in itself. Sometimes it was a wonder that he didn't know more people who were struggling to manage their weight, for even he had trouble restraining himself from second and third helpings. Of course, the prince's true weakness was for dessert. Sweet puddings, delicate souffles, nutty pecan breads... He had an undeniable sweet tooth.

Castiel smiled at himself in his mirror, making sure that he was presentable for the evening. His shoulder-length white hair had been taken back in thin braids, entwined at the back of his head in a net-like fashion. A thin silver circlet was laid over his head; a modest but elegant symbol of his status. He briefly straightened out his pristine white clothing, wishing that he could change into something more comfortable. Though he understood the need for formalities, he was fairly annoyed with them at times. For one, it was immensely difficult to hide stains on white garments. Thus, he had to be extremely careful while eating... Which, was painstaking, to be honest. However, Castiel knew that even if he did have the opportunity to eat without risk of spills being seen, his manners were too deeply engrained to allow for such things.

A tiny silver bell rang next to his door, telling him that dinner was about to be served. With a smile that lit up his earthy eyes, he left his room, greeting his family warmly. While the other elves began to make light conversation, he remained quiet, just walking with them as they began towards the dining hall. They passed grand marble hallways, and arched windows. Through the glassless portals he could see towering elm trees which spun into the sky like dancers frozen in time. Castiel smiled, admiring the bright emerald canopy far above the castle.

The closer they got, the stronger the scents of food grew. Castiel was fairly certain that he could smell lime and cilantro, some of his favorite seasonings. I do wonder at times if the chefs have a soft spot for me. He thought, for there was never a lack of things he enjoyed at the table. The chefs had, after all, known him since before he could even walk. How quickly the decades pass... He thought, feeling a small nostalgic pang.

Upon entering the dinner hall (Which was definitely his favorite place in the castle, save for the library) he couldn't help but smile, nodding with appreciation to the servants. Castiel found his chair, only a few seats away from his father, but remained standing. It was custom to wait for the king to take his place at the head of the table before sitting, and so he waited, looking around. The prince marveled at the work that the servants and chefs put into dinner every day. Breakfast and lunch were excellent, yes, but supper was always something marvelous.

[Froggy]

As the royal family began to trickle into the dining room, Genevera stayed quiet and respectful. When the Prince nodded to them all in appreciation, the servants nodded back and offered smiles in return. The majority of the family had arrived and the King was the last to enter. A few of the servants glanced at each other, though Genevera remained stiff and motionless as he took his seat. The royal family followed, and they began to pour drinks for the royal family. Teas, milks, whatever beverages each member requested of them was served, even alcoholic. She was due to be off any moment and found herself smiling at the thought as she made her way over to the Prince.

"And for you, your majesty?" she asked, her voice soft, melodic, and quiet as she waited on a response from him. In front of him was a variety of pitchers, filled with milk, water, ale, green, black, and jasmine teas and even one with coffee in the event he wished to drink it this late. She remained at a respectful distance, not to close and not far away enough that he would have to wait for her to reach over when he decided. It was customary for them to pour the beverages and to depart, and many of the servants were already filtering out of the room.

'No...don't leave me in here alone...' she thought nervously to herself. She was unaccustomed to being around royalty much, especially by herself.

[Naraness]

A sweet voice, almost like silk, reached Castiel's ears. He looked up from his seat to see the face of a shining young maiden, and for a moment he doubted that her beauty could grace someone who was less than royalty. His bright eyes softened, and he almost felt ashamed to ask anything of her. The prince had to force his eyes away, lest he be caught staring. Castiel took a look at the drinks there were to offer, making sure that his favorites were among them. He didn't want to request something that wasn't on the table, that would simply be rude.

"Ah, thank you." He said with a charming smile. "A light glass of strawberry juice if you would, Miss." He didn't prefer the proper teas or even fine wines crafted by his people. The natural sweetness of fresh fruit was usually all he craved on a normal day.

Not too far away the delicate sound of a harp floated in the air. A few moments later a serene flute accompanied it, and only a pair of seconds later the strumming of a lute joined in as well. The sound felt as light as air, and Castiel thought that perhaps the song was meant to describe the clouds. Elven melodies were often so complicated that they could convey words and meanings without a single voice singing.

Castiel's eyes trailed to a large window, paned with blue glass. Outside, the forest could be seen rolling away. In the distance, ridged mountains cut through the horizon. Those mountain ranges separated the elven kingdom from the rest of the world. They were completely surrounded by treacherous passes on all sides, save for the ocean in front of the kingdom, which was their one true outlet to the rest of the world. Turning his head to the opposite side of the room, an identical window showed that very same sea, glistening in the evening light.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled kindly when he requested a glass of strawberry juice. "Of course, your majesty," Genevera said, her voice still soft and quiet. She poured him a glass as requested and placed the pitcher back on the table, standing up straight and moving aside towards the wall again. The sound of music began to reach her ears and she couldn't help but to be instantaneously more relaxed by it. She looked around the table, checking to make sure that the royal family didn't need anything else. She bowed her head in respect and politely excused herself, making her way to the door to leave the family in peace.

Just as she was turning to leave the Prince's side, she heard the unmistakable sound of coughing coming from the table. "Kekeani?" the Queen asked, her voice soft as the coughing grew louder, forcing Genevera to turn and look in fright. "Princess?" she asked, unable to control her concern. The princess was nonresponsive, her cheeks flushing a light, red color that was much unnatural for their race. The king rose from his seat and came to his daughter's side at once, asking her what was wrong but getting no answer. "I can heal..." Genevera said, rushing over to the princess's side at once and looking for permission to touch her. The princess was beginning to turn a shade of blue and the coughing was turning to gasping, gasping for breath. "Do whatever you can!" the queen shouted in fright, and Genevera placed her hands upon the princess's chest, a soft, green glowing emanated from her hands and began to pour into the Princess's body, and she was looking into the woman's eyes as the healing took place, trying to get her to focus on something other than her discomfort. The king sniffed the princess's glass and Genevera couldn't help but to notice the venomous glare on his face. "This glass has been poisoned," he declared, looking instantly to Genevera.

"I can't heal poison!" Genevera gasped in fright, though the queen wouldn't have it. "Heal her now!" she shouted at Genevera, standing from her chair and looking at Genevera angrily. Genevera sighed and tried to focus, she'd never healed a poison case before. "Do. Whatever. It. Takes," the king commanded of her, and Genevera could see the Princess losing focus, causing her hands to shake nervously. Her own vibrant green eyes began to dull dramatically, turning into that of a mossy color as she began to release further healing magic into the woman, and suddenly a gasp could be heard. The princess began breathing again, and her face seemed to reclaim the natural beauty of the elven race. Genevera was shaking to her very core from the strain, her legs shaking so much that she stumbled into the nearest wall, bumping her elbow into it with a harsh thud.

"Guards!" the King shouted, and Genevera was too busy focusing on regaining her own breath. Princess Kekeiana and the Queen were holding each other, sobbing into each other's arms. "Find the servants who set the table tonight, and bring them to the interrogation rooms at once. Interrogate without restraint!" the King ordered, turning to look at Genevera as a guard grabbed her arm and held her firmly. "What are you-" she began, struggling in fright. "I didn't do it! Why would I use poison and then heal her?!" Genevera begged, looking at the King pleadingly. "You had no choice but to heal," the King said stubbornly, looking at Genevera with cold eyes.

"I didn't even serve her drink though!" Genevera pleaded as the guard began to drag her away, and she looked at the King with tears coming down her eyes. "D...daddy...pl...please not her...she...didn't serve me..." the Princess said shakily, and the King sighed, rubbing his temples. "Castiel... interrogate her for information as you see fit," the King said, looking to his daughter. "You're going to the infirmary, daughter," the King said, his voice soft and caring. The princess just looked to her father and stood up wearily, holding onto her mother for support. "Thank you..." was all Genevera heard as the princess was rushed off toward the infirmary. Genevera was crying as she looked to the Prince, tears running down her face as she looked at him with fear. "I didn't do it..." she repeated, her voice sad and quiet as the tears continued to run down her face.

[Naraness]

Castiel stood up, panic flashing through his eyes. His sister was choking, her face turning pale... "Kekeani!" He shouted, immediately rushing to her side. A million thoughts ran through his mind as his heart pounded in fear. Seeing his beloved sister in such peril made his stomach twist in terribly painful ways. He heard someone shout that they had healing abilities, and relief filled him. However, the chaos did not end as he expected it to. His parents were shouting, and the poor girl who was trying her best to save his sister was struggling with her abilities.

Castiel stumbled back, horror filling him as tears lit in his eyes. He wasn't extremely close to any of his family members but his sister... They had grown up together. They had been as close as two people could ever be. "Kekeani..." The word came out in a weak whisper. He looked at the servant trying her best to save the elven princess. "Please... Save her." He whispered, stepping closer. The seconds felt like years, dragging on painstakingly.

When Kekeani started to breathe again, Castiel had never felt such relief in his century of life. Needless to say he pushed and shoved to reach his sister's side. Gently he held her hand, cupping her face to ensure that she was alright. He watched the princess smile weakly, and whispered thanks to the gods for her life. Castiel barely realized what was going on around him, but knew that his father was shouting orders. He wished that the yelling could cease for just one moment so that they could celebrate Kekeani's life.

He heard the king speak his name, telling him to interrogate the servant who had healed his sister. "Why, father? She saved Kekeani, she should be proclaimed a hero!" Castiel heard his sister weakly agreeing. It was not a good day to challenge his father. The frustrated prince just shook his head, sighing softly. He kissed his sister's temple, and stood slowly. He knew that Kekeani would be in good hands, and would recover fully within a few hours.

With that, the prince turned to Genevera. He knew her name vaguely, simply because he made a point of knowing the names of those who served him. He frowned deeply, the corners of his mouth creasing in concern. "Please, come with me. I don't believe you did this, but I must obey the king. It will make things look better for you if you don't resist." He touched her elbow, looking around as guards took other servants to interrogation. "Come." With that, he guided her out of the dining hall.

Castiel had lived in the castle for years upon years, and still he got lost at times. Somehow though, he found his way to a small, quiet room. It was pleasant looking, with a small jade table and two simple white chairs on each side. A large window let light shine into the room, and showed a beautiful sunset shining over the mountains. Despite the beautiful decor, it was still an interrogation room- something that was rarely used in the kingdom. Crimes were few, since elves were such a peaceful and prosperous race. Most of their kind knew better than to cause trouble, seeing the gains in working together.

"Please have a seat." Castiel said simply. He walked and stood by the window, putting a hand on his head. It had all been a little bit too much to take in at once.

[Froggy]

Genevera was barely breathing as the Prince questioned the King, stating that she should have been proclaimed a hero instead. She was numb on the inside, unable to believe what had just occurred. Despite the numbness that she felt radiating throughout her body, she felt a sharp pain in her elbow where she had hit it against the wall and felt it with her other hand, wincing from the sting. There was blood, a small amount, she had successfully managed to scrape it against the wall resulting in a few cuts and probably some amount of bruising given how fragile her skin was. She gasped in pain and did her best to breathe normally, still frightened over what was happening around her...so much chaos and distress for one room!

She then noticed the Prince turning to her after the King had ordered him to interrogate her and looked at him fearfully, her body tensing up from it. He requested her to come with him and she looked down in defeat, wincing and pulling back briefly as he touched her elbow. A guard moved and she looked at him in fear. "I'm not resisting....I won't...my elbow hurts is all..." she said, and the guard gave her a look before stepping back again. She sighed in relief and closed her eyes, a tear running down her flushed cheeks. Her eyes had returned to their normal, vibrant hue but she was still exhausted and felt as though she had spent much of her energy.

With that being said, the Prince commanded her to come and guided her out of the room. She was quiet, looking down at the ground and walking with her body tensed up as she awaited what was to come. She was positively frightened, never having been in this situation before, and her body language reflected her emotions. Soon enough they reached a room within the palace, one that she had never been to before, and all she saw was a table with two chairs and a window. An interrogation room. The Prince requested that she have a seat and she did so, holding her arms to her stomach and appearing as though she wanted nothing more than to disappear. She couldn't even look at him, she didn't even notice him hold his hand to his head. She knew to keep quiet though, she would not speak anymore than necessary and she doubted that she could properly answer his questions without crying again at some point. She was not use to this in the slightest bit and it showed, along with her fear and sorrow.

[Naraness]

Castiel ran a hand over his head, breathing deeply. Only ten minutes ago he'd been concerned about dinner. Now, he'd come within inches of losing his precious sister. It took a few moments to calm down enough to speak to the servant. He slowly stepped away from the window, and rounded the table to take his seat across from her. Only at that moment did he realize that she had been the same woman who served him at dinner; the same one who so surprisingly had stolen his breath.

Castiel cleared his throat, "I'll try not to take up much of your time." He said, his voice gentle. "My father, I mean... The King, he may want to keep you here for some time just to be safe." The prince sighed. "Your name is... Genevera, correct? I can see that you're hurt." The blood was very apparent on her white clothing. Castiel reached under the table, retrieving a small wooden box of bandages and ointments. He opened it and handed it to her. "If you feel able, you may tend to yourself." The prince paused, and then looked in the servants eyes. "Thank you for saving my sister." He said gently. "She's my whole world. I can't even begin to say how appreciative I am. When this is over, I'll see to it that you're rewarded."

"Still though, I need to ask you a few questions. Please take your time with them. To start, have there been any new faces or strange activities going on among the other servants?" Castiel highly doubted that this woman was guilty. He knew though that many wrongdoers were good at turning around to make themselves appear innocent, so he didn't dismiss the possibility that she could be responsible. "Did you serve Princess Kekeani in any way this evening?"

[Froggy]

Genevera was anxious as the Prince took time to gather his thoughts, her own mind constantly running over what she imagined would happen next. Finally though, after what seemed like hours, the Prince turned from the window and moved slowly to sit across from her. Her hands were shaking and she did her best to stop them, but her nerves were far too out of control for such a thing.

She finally looked directly at him as he began speaking, stating that he would try not to take up much of her time, but that the King might want to keep her there for safety precautions. He sighed and she nodded her head weakly, but otherwise said nothing. She did look surprised when he knew her name and swallowed before answering. "Y...yes. I am...Genevera," she answer shakily as she looked to him. He then noticed that she was hurt and reached under the table for something, pulling out a small wooden box and opening it. He slid it over to her and she looked from it to her with confusion, though her look softened a bit when he said she could heal herself. He paused briefly, then looked into her eyes and thanked her for saving his sister. "You are...welcome," she said, not wanting to display her own doubt about even being able to heal her. It had taken so much out of her that she did not feel herself. "N..no reward... just...let me go..." was all she could say, looking away from him sadly. She hadn't even reached for the supply box yet, her hands far too shaky to make much use of them anyway.

Genevera sighed as he began asking her questions, staring at one particular spot on the table rather than focusing her attention on him. "There's always...strange behaviors amongst servants. Bickering, gossiping, the occasional fight... but nothing exceedingly strange lately, no. There are...three new servants. Started duty about two weeks ago..." she answered, doing her best to remember their names. One of them had helped serve the dinner that night, they were hired for meal servings. "One of them...served dinner tonight. Lorich...I think is his name. The other two weren't there," Genevera said, feeling her stomach twist into knots. She knew that he was likewise being questioned and would be questioned even more due to this information.

Genevera looked up when he asked if she had served the princess in any way that evening. "Not...directly. I was responsible for...setting up the table and helping to deliver food and drinks to the table...but that was it. I only served you..." was her answer, doing her best to keep herself from crying. She inhaled a deep breath and looked back down to the table, closing her eyes. "I am...sorry. I am not used to this..." she said, still not looking up at him for fear of seeing the look on his face. She didn't want to look up and ever see an angry look on his face.

[Naraness]

Castiel realized that the interrogations were almost completely useless. Any one of the servants could have slipped the poison in Kekeani's glass before anything was poured in it. It could have been poisoned even before it left the kitchens, perhaps by someone who didn't even work for the royal family. They would have needed access into the kitchens, but that gave them little to work with. There were few restrictions given to those who were trusted in the kingdom, and the kitchen was not one of them. Anyone could have poisoned Kekeani's personal glass. No one would have been the wiser.

Frowning, the prince nodded and made notes of the things Genevera told him. He made sure to remember the name of the new servant, Lorich. He knew that his father would want him to give a full report on the interrogation, but Castiel was doubtful that he would have anything to offer. With how busy each of the servants were, he didn't think any of them would have been paying attention to something that didn't include their current task at hand.

Castiel could see that Genevera was close to tears, and couldn't bring himself to take the interrogation any farther. She'd been through a traumatizing evening, and had been drained by her efforts. He couldn't believe that she had refused reward... Anyone he'd ever met would have accepted in a heart beat. Perhaps he could return the favor by easing the situation.

Castiel could see that she was too shaky to wrap her wound, so he stood quietly. "Here, let me help you with that." He knew that she would be apprehensive, but hoped to win enough of her trust to bind the injury. Gently and slowly, so he wouldn't startle her, the prince lifted her arm so he could see the scrape. It pained him to see such fair skin broken. He tenderly dabbed away the blood, glad to see that the scrape wasn't as large as it had appeared. With a steady, skilled hand, he wrapped her elbow in bandaging. The pattern he used kept the cloth tight enough to help stop the bleeding, but also allowed her enough flexibility to bend her elbow. Castiel tied the binding in a neat knot, smiling a bit as he surveyed his work. "There we are. Not so bad, yes?"

He paused thoughtfully. "I think you need to go home and get some rest. You can come back and talk to me tomorrow." He nodded politely. "If anyone questions you, you can tell them that you're under my responsibility and that I gave you permission to leave the castle."

[Froggy]

After Genevera had told the Prince what she knew, the answers that he had requested, the Prince said nothing to her. She looked to him, waiting for more questions as he took notes of what she said. He then looked up at her and stood quietly, offering to help her with her wound. "It's...nothing...it'll be healed...in a few hours," she assured him, knowing that was a lie. It depended on how long she would be kept here, answering questions. He didn't seem interested in this however, and she watched as he tenderly dabbed ointment to her wound, looking at him with soft and curious eyes as he bound it in a manner that would stop the bleeding soon enough.

"Thank you," she said, gently holding her bandaged elbow with her other hand and looking at him in surprise.

The prince paused and for a moment she believed that he would be asking her more questions, but instead he suggested that she return to her home. She was weary, the sun had already gone down and she did not like traveling alone at night. Not to mention the fact that she was scheduled off for the next two days and would have to come back on her time off, but she understood the need for it. "Are you...sure your majesty?" she asked him curiously, looking at him with confusion. It was then that the doors to the room flew open and a guard fell to his knees, looking up to the Prince. "We've gotten a confession...three of them!" the guard announced, remaining respectfully on his knees.

Genevera just looked to the prince in shock, wondering what his next course of action would be and what he would do with her with this newfound information. She just wanted to go home.

[Naraness]

Castiel's relief was obvious. He bowed politely to the guards. "Thank you, your efforts are well appreciated in the good of the kingdom." He smiled, dismissing them kindly. Relief flooded him. Later, he would have to learn of their motive. He still couldn't fathom why anyone would want to harm his sweet sister.

The prince turned to Genevera, smiling brightly. "See now? I knew that the truth would be found." He took a step towards her. "Good should never be uprooted in the pursuit to bring evil to justice." He glanced momentarily out the window, seeing that the time had grown quite late. Far across the kingdom, faint lights had begun to shine through the night. He looked back at Genevera. "I Know you don't want any reward, but... Let me walk you home." He offered gently. "It's the least I could do, you've had a long day, and you saved my little sister." His smile shone with honesty. "Beside that, no fair maiden should be walking alone in the dark. It would simply be wrong for me to let you do so." He gracefully offered her his arm, hoping that she would accept.

[Froggy]

Genevera could see the relief that seemed to wash over the Prince, and she was feeling it as well. The confessions meant that she could go home, so she assumed, and she was dreadfully tired. She had never interacted much with the Prince, and she was surprised with how kind he had been all evening. She wasn't use to this sort of treatment and it made her question her opinions of the royal family.

The prince then turned to her and spoke, and for the first time since she had served him she offered him a genuine smile. "Thank you. You have been very kind," Genevera said, her voice soft, quiet and above all respectful. She too looked out the window and noticed the faint glow of lights resonating throughout the city and sighed softly. She lived roughly a half hour into the city outskirts and began considering staying the night again and taking the journey in the morning. It was then that the Prince turned to look at her at she was surprised by his offer.

"Are you sure your majesty?" she asked him as he came over to her, gracefully offering his arm. "I must warn you...my home is a half hour's walk into the outskirts. You haven't even had dinner yet, and what of on your journey back? Who will walk with you?" she asked him with concern as she rose gracefully from the chair, a greater feeling of relief washing over her as she pushed it in. She offered him a small smile and couldn't help but to be concerned for his safety, hoping that he would at least request a guard to accompany them so that he would have protection on his journey back.

[Naraness]

The prince found himself surprised and dazzled by the maiden's smile. For a while, he'd been sure he'd never seen happiness on her face. Secretly he stowed a vow in his mind to make her smile as often as he could. Seeing the beautiful curve of her lips was reward enough in itself.

"Oh now don't worry, Miss." He said assuredly. "I'll take a horse, and get you back in time for dinner. There are many who I know and trust in the city, so I'm most certain that should trouble befall me, I'll be aided by an ally. As for dinner, well... Missing a meal won't hurt. I can always sneak into the kitchen when I get back." He grinned. "Thank you for your concern, however."

With complete gentlemanliness and politeness, Castiel led Genevera out of the interrogation room. They walked through a long corridor made completely of glass, and the distant sunset could be seen with immaculate clarity. Castiel smiled a little. Dawn and dusk were his favorite times of day. Eventually, they arrived outside of the castle near a small stable. A graceful bay horse waited there for him. "Have you ridden before?" He asked Genevera.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled when he compromised by taking a horse. They were much faster than going on foot, providing him a quick escape in the event that anything should happen to him. She was also comforted when he said not to worry for his safety, for he had allies that would surely come to his aid. "Very well then..." Genevera said, gently and gracefully accepting his offered arm. He was graceful in his movements and showed an air of politeness that she was not use to, especially from the royal family. Her day was filled with people who were very busy and as a result did not display gracefulness as often as they should have, and bumping into each other was more of a common thing than it should have been. On the inside she was terrified, she had never so much as brushed against a member of the royal family and had always stood in a more than respectful manner when in their presence, and now the prince was guiding her through the castle, one of her hands wrapped gracefully around his arm. It made her nervous.

As they made their way through the corridor made of glass, Genevera's pace seemed to slow. She was always rushing here or there, never taking the time to examine the beauty around her, but she knew that she had never been in this part of the castle before. It was beautiful, and the adjoining sunset made her smile grow larger. "I've never been here before," Genevera whispered to him, as though speaking any louder would be considered rude and ruin the grace and beauty of the corridor.

Soon enough however they were leaving the castle behind altogether, and what waited for them was a stall with a handsome stallion. The horse was tall, taller than she had expected and she stopped in fright...she didn't handle heights well and she gulped when he asked if she had ever ridden before. "I'm afraid...not..." she answered softly, taking a small step back as her mind began to register the true size of the stallion. How was she going to get on the creature, let alone ride it with a prince? 'Just don't humiliate yourself...' was all she thought to herself, her cheeks flushing as a number of thoughts ran through her head.

[Naraness]

The prince chuckled, a little bit amused by her hesitation. "Now don't be scared." He gently put an arm behind her back, leading her closer. He slipped a hand onto the stallion's strong neck, and the creature nickered in appreciation. "He looks frightening, but Briar wouldn't hurt a thing. Especially not a lady like yourself." Castiel put a hand up to the side of his mouth, as if to block the horse from hearing. "Between you and me, he likes women more than men. I think he must be confused about me." His lips curved into mirthful smile.

Castiel looked admiringly at the beast and gently scratched between his ears. The horse leaned into him, as if asking for more. He swished his tail and blew a breath out his nose, dipping his head so that his master could reach more easily. "You see? He's just a big puppy." The prince grinned. "Not only that, but he's the strongest, and one of the fastest, horses I know. He'll get us to your home in ten minutes, no, eight!" He smiled proudly. "And you have my word that I won't let you fall." Castiel's eyes gleamed with honesty. "Here, see for yourself." He gently took Genevera's hand and laid it on the horse's strong shoulder, with his overlapping hers.

Truth be told, Castiel was enjoying her company more than he realized. The chance to be himself was a nice break. So often he got cooped up with his family... It was just so listless. So even though he had promised to take her home as quickly as possible, he intended to enjoy every moment out of the castle.

[Froggy]

Genevera blushed as he chuckled at her hesitation, and the blush deepened as he placed an arm behind her back and led her closer towards the stallion. She watched as he placed a hand upon the horse's neck and began to pet it, watching him in awe. All of this was so new to her that she was feeling rather out of place. She smiled when the prince said the horse's name, watching the man interact with the horse. It almost reminded her of interacting with an overly large dog.

She chuckled and grinned at the prince's statement about liking women more than men and that the steed must be confused about him. "You are very much a gentleman, I cannot see how he would be confused of that," Genevera said, her voice of normal tone for the first time that evening. It was not quiet, nor frightful, but soft and strong and most importantly her own. Still melodic in every way, but most unmistakably that of her natural tones and she blushed when she realized this, turning her attention towards the horse.

"He does remind me a bit of a big puppy," Genevera said, smiling once more towards the prince, finding that a great weight seemed to be lifting by each passing second that she spent with the young man. It was strange, speaking to the prince without formalities and instead as two elves conversing under no special circumstances. She was almost ashamed of it, having spoken to the royal family with the utmost of formalities every time she spoke with one of them, which was rare enough on it's own.

The prince then took her hand in his own, gently placing her hand upon the horse's shoulder and allowing her to pet him. The horse breathed on her, leaning closer as he had before with the prince, wanting for her to keep rubbing him. "He's beautiful," Genevera whispered in awe, looking to the prince with admiration on her features. "But how am I to ride him? He's so tall..." Genevera said, her voice still whispered from awe.

[Naraness]

The horse (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Clydesdale-busch-gardens.jpg) was indeed quite tall. The animal's withers reached higher than Castiel's shoulders, and when it's head was lifted it towered over both of them. Briar had a white stripe from forehead to nose, and his plate-sized hooves were feathered with white. "Well I wouldn't make you try to get up on your own, I'll help of course." Castiel liked to ride bareback. Though he was sure that on her own, Genevera wouldn't be able to hold on, he knew that she'd be fine with his help.

"Here, it'll be easy." Castiel clasped his fingers together, forming a step. "Just put your foot here and stand up, then you'll be high enough to swing your leg over." The prince often helped his sister this way, as Kekeani also had trouble mounting as dismounting. They went riding together often enough that he didn't even question helping Genevera this way. "I'll jump up behind you just after you're up. Briar will stay nice and still for you." He smiled, his eyes shining even in the dark.

[Froggy]

Genevera looked over the horse in awe, still a little hesitant about riding on his back. She was also quite shy, she'd never had anything like this happen before and could only wonder if she and the prince would cross paths again. She looked to him as he formed a step with his hands, telling for her to use his hands as a step to get on the horse. She nodded her head, still looking a little hesitant, placing her foot on his hand and pushing herself up.

Her shoe would be soft enough, the soles had long been worn out and had no tread to them, so they wouldn't scrape against his skin in any manner. The minute she swung her leg over and sat on the horse, she wrapped her hands around his neck in order to keep balance, her face lighting up in fright and she closed her eyes to keep calm. It was all so embarrassing, but she'd never been on a horse before and had only watched nobles ride them...they made it look so easy!

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled, his eyes sparkling a little bit. "He's very steady, don't worry about falling." The prince gently took one of the maiden's hands, and placed it at the base of Briar's short, thick mane. "You can hold onto his mane here if you like. It won't hurt him." He gently wrapped her fingers around a handful of the black tresses.

With that, Castiel leaped lightly onto the horse's back, behind Genevera. One of his strong arms encircled her waist, and the other clasped onto Briar's mane, halfway up his neck. "There we are, do you feel secure?" The prince tightened his arm, to ensure that she wouldn't fall. Gently, he turned his heels and nudged the horse's sides. Briar took to a steady walk. Castiel could feel the power of the horse under him, smiling to himself. His favorite memories had been made on horseback. He and Briar knew each other well enough that they could communicate almost effortlessly. It was almost like they shared their thoughts.

Soon Briar's stride lengthened, and they raced through the trees. The night air was cool and damp. Owls swooped through the air, claiming the forest as their own as darkness settled. Stars dusted the sky far above, peaking down through the tree canopy, and a brilliant moon shone above distant mountains. Steady hooves carried them effortlessly through the trees.

"Remind me where you live?" Castiel called gently, his voice carrying easily over the rhythmic hoof beats.

[Froggy]

"I'm not worried about his balance...I'm worried about mine," she confessed, laughing lightly at the irony of her words. She was an elf, full of grace and beauty...on the ground. Up there, so high and experiencing something she had never experienced before, she lacked the same amount of grace that she held in the dining room, and it was noticeable. She was slowly becoming use to being on the horse's back, at least until the prince climbed up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist. She was thankful that she was facing in front of him, and that he couldn't see her face for she was blushing a deep red color from shyness.

"I do," she replied, her voice soft and quiet, melodic like before. She was having a difficult time believing that he would be so casual around someone with her status, a peasant turned servant who had even served him a beverage that evening. Now he was taking her home, on his personal horse, with his arm wrapped around her. These were the reasons for her blushing, she couldn't believe what a night she'd had and was looking forward to her weekend off.

The horse began to move and her body tensed for balance, taking a moment to get use to the movements. The prince wrapped his arm around her more securely and she simply continued to look forward, not wanting him to see her blushing cheeks. As the horse picked up speed she found herself sitting in a more upright position, closer to the prince and feeling the air rush past her. Before long she found that it was rather exhilarating, something she didn't think she would feel. The prince asked her where she lived and pointed ahead. "About ten blocks ahead, to the left. The old N'ordoire place," she replied, turning to face him as she spoke to make certain he would hear her.

[Naraness]

The prince smiled, his eyes momentarily dropping to Genevera's face. "Ah yes, I've seen that building before." He'd passed it many times while traveling through the city for day-supplies when he needed something during a hunting trip. Since the city was closer than the castle, it was a lot easier to go and resupply at a shop, rather than make the trip back to his home. So in the long run, he knew the city pretty well, even though his expertise was focused on the forest.

Soon enough, Briar slowed to a halt. "This is the place, yes?" Castiel asked. He lithely slide off the horse's back, looking around. By his calculations, they had indeed made it. "Lovely place." He remarked. Though one might think he was, the prince was not lying. He really did appreciate the beauty in any structure, even if it was common, or old. No elven building lacked grace, or skillful architecture.

The prince gave his horse a grateful pat on this neck, and quietly told him to stay still. The horse looked at him briefly and snorted, his muzzle falling to the ground in search of vegetation. Castiel smiled and offered Genevera his hand. He politely helped her down, knowing that the ground was a bit too far away for her liking. "There we are, home sweet home." He smiled proudly. "I hope I didn't delay your trip to much, please do have a pleasant evening Ms. Genevera."

[Froggy]

Before long the two came to a halt, and Genevera let out a small sigh of relief. "Yes, this is the place," she said, looking all too relieved to be home at last. The prince made a comment about the place being lovely and she smiled softly at him. "Thank you," she said softly, watching as he slid gracefully off the horse. She was wondering how un-graceful she would appear when it was her turn to get off the horse. She did hold on tighter to the horse when the prince told the horse to stay still, and the horse's nuzzle went to the ground in search of food. The sudden change had startled her a little, she still wasn't completely use to riding the animal.

The prince then offered her his hand and assisted her in getting down, and much to her surprise she was more graceful than she had expected. She was all quite humiliated about the events that had occurred this evening, she was less than graceful in the interrogation room and in the dining room, and even more uncoordinated when she found out how they would be traveling. The prince made a comment about hoping to not delay her trip much, though judging by the position of the sun she would've only just been arriving anyway had she walked by foot when the dinner had started. "Oh not by much, thank you for taking me home your majesty," Genevera said, curtseying gracefully and bowing her head in respect.

"Do you still require my presence at the palace tomorrow?" Genevera asked quietly, looking at him curiously. She hoped that he wouldn't, but would be willing to make the trip back up in the event that he did.

[Naraness]

Castiel politely shook his head. "No, tomorrow is yours." He smiled. "I hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to seeing you again, Genevera." He bowed politely.

The time was growing late, and Castiel knew that his parents would wonder where he was soon. Besides that, he could hear dinner and dessert calling, waiting for him at home. "Goodbye, Miss. And thank you again." With a particularly handsome smile, he jumped onto Briar's broad shoulders. "Oh and, before I go, I'd like to tell you should you call upon me, I will be there. I have not forgotten what you've gone for me, and for my family." He dipped his head in another bow.

With that, he gave his horse a gentle pat, and urged him into a gallop. The two quickly vanished into the night.

[Froggy]

Genevera nodded and waved as the prince took off, making the journey back to the palace on his trusty steed. Genevera couldn't help but to smile, surprised by the way that things had turned out. She had gotten to see just a glimpse of who the prince was, and it was making her change her way of thinking about the royal family. Still, as she turned the key to enter her home, she was exhausted and hungry. She made her way through the home and out the back door, her eyes gazing over the garden that she had crafted using her own magic and gardening techniques.

It truly was something special, providing her with lettuces, grapes, potatoes, corns, tomatoes, cucumbers... nearly any vegetable and several fruits that one could ask for. This was something for a servant to come up with, but she had spent many hard months working extra hours and saving to be able to afford the seeds, the equipment, and the space needed for such a garden. In her own quest for self-completion, she had done what most have not been capable of... made a life for herself that reached the thin line of poverty and middle class, and while she still remained in poverty she was not as poor as many of those around her. If it came to it, she could survive an entire month off of nothing but her garden and use those funds for other necessities.

That evening she chose to have a serving of fire roasted vegetables served with a potato medley, along with some herbs and spices that she'd grown. It was a delicious meal, one that made the stresses of her evening seem to melt away into relaxation. It was her time to be off, and she intended to enjoy every moment of it.

~~~~~~

The weekend had been exactly as Genevera had hoped, one of bliss and comfort that had been much needed. She'd gotten up early on Saturday morning, making her way to the tallest of trees in the forest to watch the beautiful elegance of the sunrise as it rose above the graceful horizon. This was one of her favorite activities, watching the sun rise and fall. It was how she began every weekend and it brought about particular relaxation to her, something that she needed after a long week of work and staying at the palace.

Sunday she had spent the day reading, practicing her healing abilities, and gardening. Her arm was healed by this time, showing no signs that there had been so much as a scrape two days prior. It was now Monday morning, and Genevera was up before the sunrise when it was still rather dark out. It was a little after five thirty in the morning and a majority of the town was asleep, save for the guards who patrolled and the occasional night shift worker coming home from work. Peasants were out in the street, and Genevera was making her way back to the palace to begin her shift at six in the morning. She'd been up for roughly two hours then, and was looking forward to starting off her week on a good note. She couldn't help but to wonder how the princess was recovering, and hoped that she was well.

Some streets were more well lit than others, and unfortunately more patrolled than others as well. The older parts of town, parts where peasants roamed and begged and prostitutes stood at the corner were the least patrolled areas in the city. It upset her every Monday having to walk through the crime-ridden area, and every Friday evening when she went home. During the daytime hours the neighborhood had a nice appearance, and oddly enough more guards, but when it was dark out the streets and alleys told a different story. Such was the case as she ventured through the long, cobblestone corridors, about another fifteen minutes away from the palace. Another five minutes and she would be out of the slums altogether, and in her mind she couldn't wait to get out- it reminded her all too much of her past life and growing up.

She heard heavy footsteps upon the cobblestones not far behind her, which surprised her as elves were typically more graceful and also the only ones who roamed the particular area. She didn't show any signs of acknowledgement, knowing from experience that it was best to avoid contact whenever possible, and instead picked up her pace the slightest bit. Up in the distance she could see the streets becoming more well lit, and could even see a guard passing up ahead. She sighed in relief, nearly breaking out into a dash of fate to reach the light ahead. Just as she had broke into a sprint, she felt someone grab her arm and screamed in fright as they pulled her around. Instantly she began to struggle, looking in horror as she stared upon what appeared to be a half-giant of sorts. He was much taller than her, appearing to have similar features as a human, though much, much taller at about seven and a half feet high. "Let go of me!" she shouted, trying to shout as loud as she could, hoping that a guard in the distance would hear her cry for help.

"You shouldn't have got involved..." the being said, holding firmly onto her wrist with a force that was strong enough to crush bones in her wrist. She cried out in pain, doing her best to fight him off and hit him, but to no avail as he was just too strong. She was a servant, and in her servant clothes, and therefore didn't carry any weapons on her. She didn't know how to use them if she did anyway. The man took out a rather large dagger, with special carvings and a pure golden hand-grip. She screamed out in fright and attempted to run, but it was of no use. "Please...don't!" Genevera begged, her voice loud as she struggled and pleaded. It was then that the man struck her with the blade, piercing it straight into her chest. The blade was large enough and sharp enough to tear straight through her body, exiting through her shoulder blade. She gasped in pain as the man took the blade out of her, dropping to her knees as water came out of her eyes, gurgling could also be heard as she struggled for breath. "You shouldn't have gotten involved...war is not suitable for maidens..." the being said, taking off in the opposite direction and disappearing through the streets.

Genevera fell upon her back, laying there motionless and gasping for air, her body shaking. Someone came from a home, having heard the cries for help and saw her lying there. "Help!" they shouted, running towards the well-lit street and leaving her there on the cobblestones, blood oozing out of her chest and down her back. Before long her breathing was weakening and she heard footsteps, followed by more and what appeared to be those of a horse. "Miss, miss, what happened?!" someone shouted, and she could see a guard standing over her. A stretcher was laid out next to her and they carefully moved her onto it, but she was losing strength rapidly, her eyes opening and closing against her will. "Take her to the nearest hospital!" the guard shouted, taking off in the direction of the palace as she was lifted from the ground. The nearest hospital was about three blocks away, in the poorer section of town, but the elves there were capable of healing. It was nothing compared to the glory of the hospital wing of the palace, but they were more concerned with keeping her alive long enough to get her there.

~~~~~~

It was now sometime after eight in the morning, and there was much commotion in the servants quarters. Genevera still hadn't shown up for work, and they all knew what had happened on Friday evening. She was usually prompt, fifteen minutes early in fact, and now here it was, two hours into her shift after a weekend and Genevera was still not present. The charge servant was growing nervous, wondering where her worker could be. She'd checked the hospital wing but she was not in there, and she had sent someone to Genevera's home but it was empty, locked up tight. The only thing she had left to do was to inform the royal family of her absence and hope that they would be able to locate her.

The family would just be ending their breakfast, and Isabella waited politely outside the doors with one of the guards. It was then that a guard came running down the halls, looking exhausted and distressed. She stood back, knowing that it was not her place to interrupt, though much to her surprise he came running directly to her. "Miss, are you missing one of your servants?" the guard asked her, trying to regain his breath. She looked up at him in surprise and nodded. "I am... Genevera BlaecThorne, she was scheduled to begin her shift at six this morning. I've checked the hospital wing and her home, but we cannot find her...what has happened?" she asked, and the same guard that had taken off to the palace earlier relayed the events to her from this morning. She gasped in fright and stumbled back, her breathing increasing. "Where is she now?" Isabella asked, but the guard shook his head. "I'm afraid her whereabouts are being kept a secret for now...but I must inform the royal family," he said, and she stood back to let him through.

Nori was the guard's name, and he knocked on the door of the dining room in a signature pattern, indicating that it was a guard. Two soft knocks, then a third louder. "Come in," he heard, and he entered the room, dipping gracefully to one knee and looking up at the royal family. "What is it?" the King asked, clearly not looking too pleased with being interrupted. "There has been an attempted murder on one of your servants, my lord," he announced, looking only to the King. "She was stabbed in an alleyway early this morning and keeps saying something about a giant attacking her and war," he said, and the King then asked who it was and where she was.

"Genevera BlaecThorne. She's in a hospital about five minutes away by horse," the guard announced, and the royal family looked stunned, looking immediately to the guard. The hospital was, in other words, about fifteen minutes away by foot. They all knew her the name. The King sighed and stood. "And what do you think, of what she says?" he asked the guard, and the guard looked around at the family, breathing heavily.

"The dagger used to stab her was thick, and large. It was large enough to make an inch and a half opening in her chest, strong enough to pierce through her scapula, and long enough to pierce through her entire body. We know it was not a sword, the wound would have been different. I find it difficult to believe that the average elf could have held something that heavy and used it with such force," the guard said, and the King sighed, rubbing his temples. "Castiel...go and see her at the hospital. Ask her for whatever information she can provide," his father told him, knowing full well that he had spoken with the servant more, and she would likely feel more comfortable speaking to him. "I want a full report," the King said, nodding to his son.

The guard coughed, looking at the king. "She's still in surgery..." he said, and the King's eyes softened, looking to Castiel. "Go and wait for her to awaken, my son. Call upon me if you should need anything," he said, sighing softly.

[Naraness]

It had been a long weekend. Castiel wanted more than anything to go out and ride, hunt, and explore the valley... He wanted to feel the sun on his skin, and the wind in his lungs. In fact, his heart so greatly longed for some time in the forest that it ached painfully. But to his dismay, the entire weekend had been spent with his very worst enemy: Paper. Oh he hated it. He hated writing on it, he hated reading from it, he hated the feeling of squinting down at the tiny words. But low and behold, his parents had dumped a cartload of work in his lap, and it had taken every hour of his free time to complete it.

He'd been replying to requests from the kingdom's people, managing the pay and delivery to the people in their employ, editing laws that required revision, calculating taxes, and every other meticulous chore he'd been given. His shoulders ached and his eyes stung when he had finished.

And yet, through all the ink blots, paper cuts, and misfilings, his mind kept wandering back to Genevera. Though he hadn't realized it before, the girl had become something of an enigma to him. While trying to puzzle out all the issues of his kingdom, his mind constantly wound up trying to figure her out. It was really a bit frustrating at times. While he was trying to finish his work, she kept distracting his thoughts and delaying him. To be truthful, it was annoying.

Currently, he was sitting with his parents in the throne room. He was done with his chores, and Monday morning had never had so much potential in his eyes. He only needed to wait for the right opportunity, and he would be free to bask in the outside air. While plotting his escape, he hardly noticed when a guard entered the room. In fact, he wasn't even listening until the name 'Genevera' was mentioned. Castiel was on his feet even before his father released him to go.

His heart pounded, and his legs begged him to run and find the girl. She had been hurt... Someone had tried to kill her. He couldn't think of why anyone would want to hurt such a pure, innocent person. The moment the King told him to find her, Castiel was gone. He had never ran in the hallways, he knew better... But at that moment he threw caution to the wind, dashing through the corridors. He propelled himself over the marble hallways, and raced into the stable. Only seconds later, he burst out atop his mountainous steed, Briar.

The horse's thundering hooves struck the ground rhythmically. Briar could feel his master's need for urgency, and denied him no effort.

Arriving at the hospital, many gasps and shouts rang out. The prince's sudden arrival shattered the peaceful environment. Briar slid to a halt, his hooves digging up the soft earth. The prince dismounted, quickly straightening his posture. Castiel composed himself upon entering. As much as he wanted to ensure that Genevera was safe, he still needed to uphold the royal figure his people expected.

The prince asked around, and was soon taken to a waiting room outside of where the girl was being cared for. Castiel realized that despite his dire efforts to get here quickly, he could do nothing for her. In the back of his mind, he wished that he could find the person who had done this. He wanted to punish the monster responsible.

[Froggy]

The pain was tremendous, unbearable. Despite her many scars and injuries in the past, she had never been inflicted a wound so serious, so large. The nurses and doctors worked feverishly to stop the bleeding, to heal her shoulder blade and to reshape the bones in her wrist. The substandard hospital was not able to provide pain medication however, as they could not afford it and a majority of the patients were unable to afford it themselves. It was saddening, to see the woman in such pain.

Genevera was unconscious from the wound, but she could feel it as they worked and it was nauseating, almost to the point of waking her up in the middle of the surgery. She could feel herself fading in and out, on the verge of giving up altogether...was life worth facing this much pain? She wasn't sure, but soon enough she felt the air even out around her, and she could sense that the amount of people in the room were declining. Before long, her eyes began to flutter open and she gasped out in pain, one hand reaching out to her injured shoulder.

She began to sob from the pain, tears visibly falling from her cheeks as the remaining nurse rushed to her side, holding her hand and trying to gently force her back down in a laying position. "Shhh dear, shhh... you'll be alright, you just need to take in deep breaths," the woman said, doing her best to calm Genevera. "It...hurts so much," Genevera said, her entire body shaking from the pain and the fear. "I know deary...as soon as your vitals stabilize, we're transferring you to the hospital wing at the palace for better care. But first you have to calm yourself," the nurse assured her, and Genevera was limp on the bed, tears pouring down her cheeks continuously as she tried to calm down, but the pain was so intense.

"Prince Castiel is waiting for you in the room next door dear, are you well enough to answer a few questions?" she asked Genevera, and Genevera looked stunned that the prince was there so quick, at all. "I'll...try..." Genevera breathed, her voice shaky from despair. The nurse nodded and stood, walking to the door and leaving her for a moment.

"Your majesty...she's awakened," the nurse announced, bowing her head in respect.

[Naraness]

Castiel looked up to see a nurse walk in. "Your majesty...she's awakened," the nurse announced, bowing her head in respect. The prince stood, smiling politely.

"Thank you." He ran a hand over his hair, trying to clear his thoughts. What worried him the most was... What he might have to see. Would he be able to stay composed, should Genevera be injured more badly than he imagined? The prince steeled himself for whatever he was going to see, and entered the room. The walls were all made of pale wood, and though all the equipment was simple at best, everything was immaculately clean.

Castiel smiled upon seeing the girl. He could see the pain in her eyes, and knew that she'd suffered greatly over the past few hours, but... It was good to see her again. "Genev- I mean, Ms. BlaecThorne." He moved swiftly to the side of the bed. He took in her condition. The bleeding had stopped, and it appeared that any broken bones were in their proper places... However, she needed more prestigious care. It angered him that she had been in such pain that day.

"Do you feel well enough to speak?" He asked gently. "Just shake your head if you don't, I don't want you to strain yourself." Castiel looked around, and caught a Nurse's arm. In a low voice he instructed the woman to ready transportation for Genevera, to the medical wing at the castle. He wanted to get her there as soon as possible.

[Froggy]

Shortly after the nurse left, the door opened again and Genevera took a weak breath, opening her eyes again to see the prince entering. She looked at him sadly, her cheeks were flushed from embarrassment. She smiled softly when he almost called her by her first name, fighting the urge to chuckle. "I think...at this point...you can call me Genevera, if you please..." she said, wincing in pain as she adjusted her position. He was now at the side of her bed, observing her. Her chest was rising and falling slowly, nothing in comparison to normal breathing, rather more of a shallow, labored breath.

He asked if she was well enough to speak, and she nodded her head. "I will...do my best," she said, her voice soft and quiet. The prince caught the attention of one of the nurses and she heard whispering, something of transportation to the palace. She gulped, looking around the room for the first time since she woke up. She could see all of the equipment, all of the supplies being used to keep her stay alive. She felt a sickening sensation and knew that she couldn't afford it, she would be paying this bill for months, maybe even years. "Please...no..." she begged, feeling ashamed that she couldn't afford the proper medical care. "I...can't... afford it," she whispered quietly, looking away from him as a small tear ran down her cheeks. It was the life she lived as a servant, though it was certainly better than her roots...on the streets, no money and having to beg for food. At least she would be able to survive off of her garden in order to help pay her quickly accumulating medical debt.

[Naraness]

"Oh please, that's nonsense." Castiel shook his head. "This attack was not only on you, but against the honor of the royal family." He had put the pieces together. This was a warning, and it worried him immensely. There were others who wished to hurt his family, and he would not stand for it. "You'll be taken under the care of the royal medical center, and no payment will be necessary." Castiel had always thought it ridiculous that someone should need to pay for healing in the first place. Why should someone suffer or die simply because they couldn't pay the bill?

"Should anything come up, I will speak about the matter with the King." The prince assured her. "Dear, you really must know, I believe you're in danger. Someone has tried to attack the royal house, and you got in their way. You've made yourself an enemy." Castiel thought that perhaps it would be wise to put her under protection, but did not voice the thought.

When he realized that no one had gone to get transportation, he assured one of the nurses that the charge would be paid for, and sent her on her way.

Castiel took a deep breath, and sat on a stool next to the bed. It was hard to see what someone would have to gain from attacking the royal family... They gave the kingdom protection, wealth, beauty... Why would anyone want to usurp the authority that had guided them for hundreds of years? His father was as old as the trees themselves... He was wise, and well respected. No one whom Castiel had ever met could match him. Anyone who thought they could take his place was a fool.

"We will get to the bottom of this, I assure you." He said, turning to Genevera.

[Froggy]

Genevera looked to the prince as he called her worries nonsense, stating that she would be cared for at the royal medical center without charge. She smiled at him, a look of surprise and disbelief as well as so many other emotions showing on her face. "Thank...you," she said softly, her breath shaky and low. He assured her that she would be taken care of, that if anything happened he would speak to the king. What he said next filled her with fear, and her heart began to beat faster as her mind raced to process the information.

"But...but...but..." she stammered, her chest rising and falling as she tried to control her breathing. She'd only been trying to help. She gripped the sheets and tried to keep herself from panicking. "The person who...attacked me was not... An elf. He was...much taller. Almost seven and a...half feet tall. He looked like a... Half-giant. He...said that...I shouldn't have gotten...involved...that war was not...for maidens..." she said, looking at him fearfully as her breathing became more irregular. The pain hurt so much that it was difficult to bare.

"It...hurts... So much," she said, her voice somber and quiet as she looked at him sadly.

[Naraness]

A small, invisible dart pierced the prince's heart. He stood and gently laid his hands on Genevera's arms, trying to calm her. "You need to be still, Genevera." His voice was gentle, but strong. "Please, I beg you, don't cause yourself more pain." He looked around the room, wishing that the nurses would hurry so they could transport her to the castle. Seeing her in panic and pain was hard to stand... Castiel found himself wishing that he could take her troubles upon himself.

He was quiet, and slowly took his hands away. "I can see you're frightened." Castiel said in a whisper. "You needn't be. No harm will come to you, you have my word." He hesitated, then took her hand in his to comfort her. "Whatever is going on, it... It will be stopped. You'll be under constant protection. I believe my father may lock down the castle as well. From what you describe... The kingdom has been infiltrated."

At that moment he heard the nurses rushing in. They had a gurney, padded with off-white cushions. "Your Majesty, if we may?" One of the nurses asked, bowing politely.

"Yes, of course." Castiel squeezed Genevera's hand and then released it. "She's to be given your best care, not jostled about, good?" The women were quick to agree; they weren't about to question his judgement. "Do be quick." HE stepped back, giving them room to lift the elven woman onto the bed.

[Froggy]

As she began to panic, she watched as the prince placed his hands on her arms. She was doing her best to calm down as he requested, but the pain made this task all the more difficult. She had so many things swirling around in her mind: the palace being on lockdown, how long it would take her to heal, how long she would be out of work, if she would still have a position when she came back.

"H...how will... This be stopped?" she asked him fearfully, a light sweat beginning to break on her forehead. She took in deep breaths and tried her best to control her breathing. She wondered how the princess was doing, how her recovery had gone. "Please...tell me how...your sister is doing?" Genevera asked, trying to find something else to focus on other than the pain. It was ironic, how she had been able to heal his sister and was having such a difficult time healing herself. The fact that she had been so gravely wounded took a lot of energy out of her, and she found herself focusing that energy instead on surviving and staying alive.

So in a sense, even though she had healing abilities, she wasn't able to do anything for herself in this state. It was then that the nurses rushed in, asking the prince politely to step out of the way. Her hand shook when he released it, stretching back out for his hand. She gasped in pain and winced as they lifted her to the gurney, carrying her over and gently laying her on it. Her heart monitor began to go off and the nurses just looked at each other as the sweat began to build further on her forehead. Her breathing was shallow, slowing down with each passing second, almost to non-existent.

"Stand clear!" one of the nurses shouted as they brought in the electrical cuffs, ripping her gown apart and shocking her chest. Genevera gasped for breath and the nurse shocked her again, and her heart monitor began to quiet back down to normal. "Please your Majesty, you do not need to see this," a nurse begged him, trying to gently lead him to the door. Genevera's eyes began to open and close again, and she was rushed out of the room, taken immediately to the nearest transportation carriage.

[Naraness]

"I... I don't know." the prince whispered, wishing that he had an answer for the maiden. "But we will find a way. Such things have happened before, I'm sure that the King will know what to do." Castiel took a deep breath, trying to fit all the pieces in his head into an orderly fashion. If he could just rearrange all the information he had, maybe he would see a clear picture.

He heard Genevera ask about his sister, but had no time to respond before she was being moved onto the gurney. "Please, be careful with her!" His voice was taut and authoritative. He watched in horror as the girl's breathing continued to grow more shallow and finally become almost nonexistent. He knew little about medicine, and was shocked when the nurses brought in items that seemed to crackle with electricity. "What? What are you doing?" He tried to move to her side, but was guided away as one of the nurses begged him to leave the scene. "But..." The prince swallowed a growing lump in his throat. There was nothing he could do. He knew nothing about healing.

"Call on me when you're about to leave, I wish to accompany the carriage on horse back, and ensure that she arrives at the castle safely." Castiel looked off in thought, then turned back to the nurse, who seemed to be waiting to be dismissed.

"Go, tend to her. Now!" His voice bordered on harshness. Gritting his teeth, he left the room. It was hard to explain the emotions coursing through him. He felt angry, helpless, and ashamed. They were all things that he was unaccustomed to. He was used to having control, peace, and order. This took him out of the environment he knew so well, and left him with little direction.

So much had happened... His sister had nearly died. He'd gained an unhealthy fondness of Genevera. She'd been hurt by a monster, and now... She was in pain, on the verge of survival. All Castiel could do was make promises and stand aside while others worked. He wasn't good at these things... He was good at hunting, riding and the royal duties of his family. He didn't know how to save a life! The best he could do was bandage, as he had in the interrogation room.

[Froggy]

Over the course of the next few minutes, Genevera had been taken to the transportation carriage and rushed to the medical wing of the palace. The prince had been notified by a nurse of her departure, and the nurses in the hospital wing began to work on her immediately. First they worked to stabilize her breathing, giving her a shot of pain medication to ease her nerves and to help the pain. They provided her with an oxygen tube to help restore her breathing to normal, and hooked her up to another heart monitor.

One of the nurses came out of the hospital wing and into the waiting area to see the prince. "Your majesty," she said, bowing her head gently. "She's stable, and will make a full recovery. We're predicting that it'll take four days to a week for her to reach full recovery, depending on how quickly her bone mends and if it mends properly. She should be awake again by morning," the nurse said, giving him the full report with everything that she could think of. "It's... probably best that you wait until morning to see her again," she suggested, knowing all the machines she was hooked up to would likely upset him.

[Naraness]

"Ah, yes..." Castiel frowned. He breathed deeply, and looked out the window. "I will inform the king of what's happened, and come back in the morning." He nodded swiftly. "Thank you, your services are greatly appreciated." The prince turned from the nurse and walked out of the hospital wing. He was now certain that things would be alright for a time, but there were a million thoughts still racing through his head, and it was difficult to think clearly.

It was a quick ride back to the castle. Briar had gone almost the entire day without eating, and Castiel saw to the horse's needs. His loyal steed had never been one to complain, always remaining steadfast. He was glad for the animal's place in his life, as it was currently one of the only things he had to lean on.

After feeding and grooming his horse, he made his way into the castle. Castiel could feel the wear of the day on his bones. Though he had done little other than wait and worry, it seemed that his thoughts alone could exhaust him. He longed to rest, but he dragged himself into the throne room with his shoulders back and his head high. "Your majesty?" He bowed, and entered the room. "I've come back with a report of Ms. BlaecThorne's condition."

[Froggy]

As soon as the prince entered the throne room, one of the guards that had been in discussion with the king stopped talking immediately. The king simply nodded his head, and the guard bowed before taking off. "Come in my prince," the king spoke, his voice soft as he took in his son's appearance. "How is she?" he asked, feeling concern for the woman who had saved his daughter's life. He was piecing the puzzle together and hoped that this new report would tie in the remaining answers.

He could see that despite his son's firm, professional posture he was tired. "And how are you, my son?" he asked, a look of concern on his face. Castiel hadn't been exposed to this sort of violence before, nothing like this ever affected those within the palace.

[Naraness]

Castiel took a deep breath, and slowly slumped into a nearby chair. His head fell into his hands, and a sigh slipped through his lips. "It... It has been a long day, father." He looked up with a small smile. "I am well, thank you for asking. Merely exhausted and concerned. Genevera, er, Ms. BlaecThorne, is in a much more dire condition than mine. According to her memory, she was attacked by a man who was not of our people. He warned her, something like... She something like... It was punishment for saving Kekeani. She described him as tall and brutish. " Castiel shook his head. "Like... A giant, or perhaps an ogre. I can't imagine how such a person would gain entry to the city, or stay hidden for that matter."

He stood, though his bones ached in protest. "I've had her moved to our medical wing here at the palace. I will take any fees upon myself of course, she is unable to afford such prestigious care. She's in good hands though, and I believe she'll recover fully within the week. Our clerics are wise and our herbalists are experts." He folded his arms behind his back. "Still, this worries me terribly. I'm afraid I... I don't know what to do." The prince's eyes fell to the floor.

[Froggy]

The king looked at his son, a soft and concerned expression on his face. He could see Castiel's expression, it was one of exhaustion and worry that was much unusual for his son. He listened to his son's report and the corners of his mouth turned into a delicate frown, his eyebrows furrowing as he began to put the rest of the pieces together. When Castiel mentioned a creature not of their race inside the city, his ears twitched lightly and perked up a little more. He could see the concern Castiel felt for the young servant girl and it confused him, wondering if perhaps Castiel was becoming attached to her.

"You needn't worry about the expenses dear son, the royal family as a whole will take care of them. I am pleased to hear that she will make a full recovery from the attack, and grateful for your swift actions. I am afraid however, that life is about to become very difficult for all of us..." he sighed audibly, looking as though a great weight had been placed upon his chest and shoulders. "As a father, I wish for nothing but the best for my children. I wish to shelter you from the dangers of this world, while doing my best to teach you the necessary skills to defend yourself from them if the circumstances should ever arise. As a king...I must do what is best for my people, as a whole. It is because of our status as royalty that it is our duty to protect the people, to bare the weight of the world on our shoulders until all is well and peace has come once again. Unfortunately my son, that weight will come down on your shoulders," the king said, standing from his throne and looking regrettably at his son.

"The interrogations this weekend revealed that the newest servants had obtained positions within the palace in order to learn the layout, to learn of our routines and personnel, to do recon if you will. Unfortunately this was relayed to rebellious enemies of our neighboring kingdom, Ra'uliz. The group itself is not a part of either kingdom, rather instead a nuisance to both. They attacked Kekeani in hopes to frame the rulers of Ra'uliz, to spark us to start war with them. I fear they may also be trying to frame us in the eyes of the royal family of Ra'uliz. Our city has been compromised by this group, and the palace will be shut down immediately. I must maintain my watch over our kingdom, but I am sending you straight into the heart of Ra'uliz to begin a peace treaty with their royal family, to inform them of the events in hopes of stopping this war. You will be given only the necessary supplies, as you must travel light. Briar will take care of your transportation needs, and you will need a guide. Someone with healing abilities is preferable, in the event that you should become injured in the field," he paused to take a breath and continued.

"We shall begin drafting a peace treaty immediately, along with trying to forge some sort of alliance with the city of Ra'uliz. Take this time to prepare yourself Castiel, for I can shelter you no longer. Please understand where I stand in this, both as the king of this nation and your father. If there were another solution to this...problem, I would pursue it. However, there isn't..." he looked at Castiel, sorrow filling his expression as he awaited what Castiel would say, to see how he would react, how this would take a toll on him. To see if Castiel would despise him for this decision, or if he would make him proud as both his king and father and step up to his birthright responsibilities.

[Naraness]

Castiel looked up. At first, he was confused by the king's words, listening but only becoming more befuddled as he spoke. Then, the prince started to catch onto his father's meaning, and his suspicions were confirmed. He was being asked to leave the kingdom, and venture into dangerous territory. The prince had never once left the forest, and the outside world was foreign and strange to him... Castiel had no experience there. For all he knew, he could step out into a barren wasteland, unaware that his home was the only beautiful place left in the world. Or, he could find that the rest of the world was far more fascinating than he could ever imagine. It was frightening and exciting.

The kingdom needed him, and he would answer the call.

"I will go." Castiel stood, nodding strongly. "When do you wish for me to leave?" He already knew who he wanted to bring with him. What could he say? She wasn't safe in the kingdom anyway. Genevera might even be safer leaving with him than she would be under guard. For all he knew, someone could attack her again. Besides that, she had skills that he lacked, such as healing, mending, and cooking... They were all things that the prince been taught. It seemed like the obvious decision to take her along.

"I have a healer in mind to accompany me. Though... I may need to summon a priest in order to leave within the next couple of days. She... Will not be ready before then. I assume that you know who I speak of, father... Ms. BlaecThorne. She's certainly proved herself to us, and I believe she may be safer if she leaves the kingdom. She doesn't look like a healer, so little will be suspected. I think that... It would be wise to take her along. I shall get all the other preparations in order immediately. Tomorrow. Respectfully, I believe I'll need a full night's sleep to properly rest myself before beginning."

[Froggy]

Yulsif looked down upon his son, smiling proudly at his answer. "In two days," was his response, knowing that it was short notice but he felt as though they could delay the task no longer. His expression turned into one of shock as he named his accompanying healer, he hadn't expected Castiel to know so soon, nor had he been expecting him to choose Ms. Blaecthorne. Her condition was not of the best at that moment, but hopefully she would be able to heal in time despite the doctor's predictions.

"I...trust your judgment in this Castiel. Just know that while she may have many useful qualities, she is no warrior like you. You will ultimately be responsible for her safety during this journey," Yulsif told his son, offering him a smile. He nodded his head at Castiel's plan to organize tomorrow. "Take the night for yourself, to ready yourself. Dinner will be prepared soon enough, you should relax before then," Yulsif moved towards his son and opened his arms wide, pulling him into a loving embrace, a means of affection that was rarely shown between the two.

"I am proud of you, Castiel. Your mother and I have raised a fine man," he said, pulling back and patting Castiel on the shoulder as he continued smiling.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled. He was unaccustomed to his father displaying affection towards him, but the gesture was welcome and he warmly hugged the king. When he pulled away, the prince could only smile, and answer gently; "And it's only thanks to you and Mom that I did." He chuckled, and stepped back. "I believe I shall retire to my room for the night. Don't worry, I'll stop by the kitchen and grab something to eat. Goodnight, Father." He bowed politely, trying not to yawn as he left the hall.

Just as he had said, the prince took a detour to the kitchen, where he very 'politely' stole a small loaf of olive bread and some chocolate pudding. He'd been taking from the kitchen since he was a small child, and his old habits had stuck with him through the decades. It had become an art over the years, almost like a game between he and the chefs. Though they sometimes acted like he was a pest, he knew they had a soft spot for him. They had watched him grow up, and he was still a child in their eyes.

Upon entering his room, Castiel sighed and sat on the edge of his bed. The light had already faded behind the mountains, and only a faint glow could be seen from his window. He lit a candle, and sat next to it as he ate his stolen dinner. Though he'd chosen a few of his favorite foods, he barely tasted them, as his mind was somewhere else. By the time he realized that he'd eaten everything, he couldn't even remember consuming them. It was strange, considering that he normally took great care in enjoying and savoring every bite of food he had.

With a small shrug, he brushed the crumbs off his lap and stood. Castiel dressed, and then slipped quietly into bed. His eyes burned holes into the ceiling for hours before he finally fell asleep.

[Froggy]

As night turned to day, the sun rose over the horizon casting a beautiful light across the city. The average citizen was unaware of the events that had occurred over the weekend, let alone the day before. Only a select few within the palace knew what was going on. Genevera was making a steady recovery, one that was quicker than had been expected. The pain medication that had been given to her allowed her to focus mot on the pain she experienced, but rather instead on healing herself. The internal bleeding had long since stopped, and the only issue was that of her fractured shoulder blade and shattered wrist bones.

Her vitals were still on the low side, but not dangerously so as they had been the day before. She had a fair sized scar on her chest where the blade had stuck through, and it appeared to be even more gruesome after the surgery. She couldn't believe this had happened, she had only done the duties required of her as a citizen of this kingdom, and more specifically a servant of the royal family.

Her eyes began to open, slowly but surely as she awoke and gasped for air. She was shivering, a cold sweat on her forehead as she came to and began to grasp what had happened to her. "Here dear, have some water," a nurse said next to her, startling her a bit. She took in deep breaths and nodded her head, reaching for the glass with her good hand and sipping at the water. She still felt discomfort and minor pain, but at least it was more bareable than the day before. "Thank you," Genevera said, offering the smallest of smiles as she handed the glass back, breathing deeply and closing her eyes again to rest.

[Naraness]

Birds. Always, it was the sound of birds that woke him in the morning. Ever since Castiel had been young, this soft melody had reminded him that a new day was dawning, with new beginnings... But today, the events of yesterday were weighing on him. It wasn't a new day, it was simply... Another day, with strains of the past tied to his shoulders. He wished that he could go back to sleep. Sadly, he could feel that his duty to the kingdom was calling him, and he forced himself to rise.

As soon as he was up, the day wouldn't slow down. His path criss-crossed through the kingdom as he made all the arrangements for the coming day. The prince had Briar's tack oiled and repaired, put in orders for two week's supply of traveling rations, had his sword and bow cleaned, ordered arrows from the blacksmith, arranged for enough gold to barter, had the herbalist ready a few medicines for healing, and most importantly, found a map of the continent.

At that point, Castiel decided that he could take care of any other necessities when he thought of them. In the mean time, he was to visit Genevera and tell her of his plans. He could only hope that she would take the news well... Castiel didn't want to upset her. He wished the best for her... The last thing he wanted was to turn her world upside down. The prince was afraid that he would have to do just that.

And so he traveled to the medical wing. It was a short trip, almost too short. By the time he got there, Castiel had no idea what he was going say... It was still morning, probably only ten o'clock... She was probably resting. Just when he thought to leave and come back at a better time, a nurse came out, smiling politely.

"Your majesty." She bowed politely. "I assume that you are here to see Ms. BlaecThorne."

Castiel cleared his throat. "Yes, thank you." He smiled, and followed the elven woman down a small hallway. There were several rooms there, one of which contained Genevera. "She... She looks much better." He smiled.

"Yes... She is doing exceptionally. Do you wish for me to wake her?"

"No, thank you. I'll wait." Castiel smiled, and the nurse left the room. With a deep breath, the prince sat by Genevera's bed side, and just... watched her. It seemed awfully rude, but he felt very concerned for her. Seeing her regular breathing and the color returned to her face calmed him.

[Froggy]

Shortly after the prince entered her room, Genevera's eyes began to flutter open again. It hadn't been more than ten minutes later, yet she had not heard a thing exchanged between Castiel and the nurse. She yawned softly, stretching as much as she could without causing herself further pain. Only then did she look around the room, half expecting to see someone there with water and half expecting an empty room. She was however, startled when she saw the prince sitting in a chair next to her.

"Your majesty!" she said, her voice betraying her shock and surprised. He was the last person she expected to be in the room, and she couldn't help but to wonder how long he had been sitting there, watching her. "H...how long have you been here?" she asked quietly, blushing slightly as she looked at him with confusion. He seemed lost in thought, as though he were somewhere else.

[Naraness]

The prince's eyes widened in shock, startled as he realized that he must have shocked the girl. "Oh- My apologies!" Castiel cleared his throat, blushing in embarrassment. "I didn't mean to wake you, I wished to let you sleep while I... Mulled things over in my head." He gestured vaguely with his hand, and smiled comfortingly. "Please, don't feel that you need to act properly, or with formalities. I'm here as... As a friend." That wasn't entirely true of course.

The prince realized that his cheeks were sore from frowning; something he'd never felt before. "Do relax, Genevera. I don't wish to cause you any more pain or strife." He settled back into his chair, letting his eyes fall to the window. Outside, the world seemed to be in peace. The sun shone as brightly as ever, a breeze playfully tickled the trees... He could hear children laughing, and imagined them playing. None of them knew the danger that might come upon them.

"Things... Things have changed." Castiel's face fell, and a sigh escaped his lips. "For the worse."

[Froggy]

Genevera just smiled softly as he seemed to think that he had woken her. "No...you didn't. I didn't even hear you come in," she said truthfully, smiling just that little bit more at him. It was her turn to blush however, when he said that she needn't feel obligated to use formalities around him, that he was there as a friend. She just looked at him, a bit confused by his words...she was a servant, and he the prince...could there ever truly be some sort of friendship between them, or was he just saying that to make her feel comfortable? "Oh...I see..." she said quietly, inhaling deeply before exhaling softly.

"You sir, have not caused me any pain or strife..." Genevera assured him, looking at him questioningly. Even in discussion he still seemed as though he were somewhere else, as though his mind was long since lost in thought. It was then that he confirmed her thoughts, telling her that things had changed, and for the worst. "What has happened, prince?" she asked, scooting into as much of a sitting position as she could muster, wincing only slightly. She hated laying down for long periods of time, let alone trying to have a conversation with someone (especially someone as important as the prince) while laying down.

"Is it the princess? Is she alright?" Genevera asked, creasing her brow with concern as a million things raced through her head, trying to decipher what he meant that things had changed for the worst.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled warmly. Her concern for his sister touched him. "Thank you for asking. Kekeani is well, don't worry. She has recovered swiftly, thanks to you." In fact, he'd seen her that day.

"No... This problem is a lot bigger than any one member of my family. The kingdom may be... Under attack." He shook his head, and tried not to frown despite the urge. "The king has asked me to leave the kingdom and seek a treaty with our attackers. I'm to leave the day after tomorrow at the latest, and... The outside world is foreign to me." Worry creased his brow. "I won't bore you with my concerns though, they are far too many." The prince chuckled.

"There is... Something I need to inform you of." Castiel paused. He thought to tell her right away, but then considered waiting. "But that can wait. Please tell me, how do you feel?" He asked simply. Before taxing her with the idea of travel, he wanted to know if she was truly healing as quickly as the nurse had said.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled warmly when he said that his sister had made a full recovery and she breathed a sigh of relief. "I am glad that I was able to help," she said, and in truth she was. Despite the consequences that had befallen upon her because of that action, she would have been much more worse off had she not tried to help, knowing that she had the ability to do so. Or well, she'd had the confidence to help before she realized that it had been poison, and then it had been sheer luck and determination that she had actually managed to heal the woman.

She frowned when he said that the Kingdom may have come under attack. She was about to ask him more questions, but he began to speak of orders relayed to him by the king. She was confused, why was he telling her this? She was a servant, it was not her place to know the orders of the prince. He then said that there was something he needed to inform her of, and her heart began to beat just that much quicker in anticipation. Had she done something wrong? Was she in trouble of some sorts? Her breathing seemed to increase and it was clear by the expressions on her face that a million things were racing through her mind, but she tried to calm herself as he asked how she was feeling.

"I am...making progress, and I have you to thank for that. I feel it would take me much longer to heal at the city hospital, but they have been very good to me here...it has allowed me to focus on healing myself," Genevera said, smiling softly. She wasn't about to mention her scars or the pain she still experienced from time to time, that was not of his concern. "My bones are mending, but I feel as though those will take the longest to heal," she admitted, shaking her head softly in irritation.

"H...have I done something wrong, your Majesty?" she asked, allowing the concern to show on her expressions. "What is it you need to inform me of?" she asked, clarifying her question so there was no confusion.

[Naraness]

Castiel listened as she spoke, nodding slightly at regular intervals. He was glad to hear that she was healing efficiently, and that she had been able to turn some of her energies on herself. He was hopeful, thinking that perhaps she would be able to travel in time after all. It concerned him that her bones were taking longer to mend, but he tried not to express the feeling.

When she asked if she was in trouble, he held a hand up reassuringly. "No, no you're not." He chuckled and shook his head. "It's not that at all. I suppose it would be better if I told you, yes?" The prince was convinced that she would be able to make the trip in time, and could find no other reasons to withhold the information. "I told you that I was leaving the kingdom. Yes? My father told me that I was to take another person along with me. Preferably someone with healing abilities... Someone with the skills that I lack."

Castiel looked directly at Genevera. "It's not safe for you in the kingdom anymore. I believe that you're still a target. If you're willing to accompany me, we'll snare two rabbits with one rope. You'll be safer out there, and you fit the needs for the journey. It's... It's entirely up to you, of course." He told her. "Anything could happen out there, I wouldn't blame you if you wished to stay."

[Froggy]

She sighed a sigh of relief when he assured her she wasn't in trouble. She couldn't imagine having done anything wrong in the first place, but she couldn't be sure when he said he would tell her later. Her ears perked up and she listened to him keenly as he spoke, slowly putting the pieces together. She would nod her head as she followed with what he said, and the more he spoke the more her face seemed to once again mirror that of shock.

He then looked directly at her and she was speechless, he was asking her to accompany him outside the kingdom! It had been several years since she'd left! Genevera was quiet for a moment and could see that he sincerely needed her, and that he wanted to keep her safe. She sighed and took a deep breath. "I...I will go, but first I have a few questions," she said, looking at him curiously. "Have you spoken with my supervisor about this? She is expecting me back in a week, and journeys to other kingdoms and back can take up to a month depending on where we're going. I would be...disappointed if I should come back and find my position replaced," Genevera said, biting her lip nervously. She clearly knew her way around the kingdoms, having been there multiple times in her life of poverty. Even now she would venture out every so few years to visit the friends she had made, but it had still been three years since her last visit. She'd been rather busy working for her home and found that two days wasn't enough time.

"Where exactly are we going?" she asked, needing to know that before asking any further questions.

[Naraness]

"Don't worry, Miss." Castiel shook his head. "I'll take care of all the arrangements. I'm not positive that your position will still be available, but I can assure you that you will have no trouble finding work when you return. I'll make sure of that. If not with the servants, then.. As a healer. An advisor, I don't know. But I'm sure that by that time... Your worth will be far greater than that of a mere servant." He meant no offense by this, of course. The prince simply meant that he saw great potential in Genevera. The ability to heal alone was extremely valuable.

"Where we're going? Oh, well... That." He cleared his throat. "We're going directly into the kingdom of Ra'uliz. They're not the ones who are attacking us, not directly. The king said that he believed these miscreants who hurt you and poisoned my sister may be trying to frame the Ra'uliz family, to promt our attack. They might be doing the same things on the other side, trying to frame us. Illegal merchants and thieves thrive during war. They're probably trying to create a chaotic and profitable business environment." Sadness darkened the prince's eyes. It pained him to think that these monsters would let thousands of innocents die; just for the sake of money.

"It will be dangerous, I won't lie. We're going to plunge into enemy territory. But... I can promise you that I will protect you to the greatest of my abilities. And... You'll be a hero. You already should be, after saving my sister. However, there will be no way to escape it after this. If you don't want to be celebrated, then... You'll be out of luck. The people love having someone to look up to... Someone who gives them hope." He smiled.

[Froggy]

Genevera seemed to deflate a little as he spoke, her mind racing with thoughts and possibilities. "It...will take us some time to get to the kingdom of Ra'uliz," Genevera said. Yes, she knew how to get there and she knew the difficulties that awaited. She wasn't sure what would wait for her upon her return, she doubted very much that she would retain her servant status and was slightly disappointed- she enjoyed having a set schedule with nights and weekends off and the opportunity for overtime whenever she wanted. Still, he needed her and she wasn't sure what would happen if she stayed. She wasn't ready to be a hero, she didn't want the attention...but she would cross that path if it came.

"I will accompany you. I know a path there faster than what is on the map," she said, knowing that he was likely intending to use the map. "You may wish to inform the King that we'll be gone for at least three weeks, depending upon how long negotiations take," she said, smiling knowingly at him. She breathed in a deep sigh and let it out slowly, her eyes opening and closing softly. Her stomach growled softly and she rolled her eyes, she wasn't in the mood to eat. She was mentally preparing herself for what was to come, the journey would be difficult at best for them, but she knew that they would make it work. They had to.

She just looked at him, a hint of worry on her face as she imagined what was to come for them.

[Naraness]

Castiel nodded, the frown returning to his face. "I'm sorry... I can see that I've troubled you." He paused, and then continued. "I'll do my best to ensure that things return to normal when this is all over. I can promise nothing, though." He sighed. "However, if you truly wish for it, I shall try to keep this quiet, so that you can continue to live your life in peace." With that, he stood, thinking that he had taken up enough of Genevera's time. "I'm very thankful for this." The prince offered a small smile. "I'm glad that I won't be making the trip alone."

He hoped that he would be able to keep her safe, as he had said. And strangely enough... He hoped that somehow, after he dragged her out of the comfort of the kingdom, that she wouldn't hate him for doing so. Genevera was still a mystery to him, in ways he couldn't explain. Castiel couldn't figure out why is mind was so consumed with her at times, or why he felt the need to protect her. No person had affected him this way. Maybe he was ill... Or perhaps her magic was playing with him. Whatever the cause, he intended to get to the bottom of these feelings.

"I should go, and let you rest."

[Froggy]

Upon seeing the frown upon her face, Genevera looked at him sadly. "No...none of this is your fault. We can only do what we can to stop this from going any further," Genevera said, frowning as well and sighing softly. She offered him a small smile when he said that he would try to keep things quiet so that she may continue living her life in peace. "Servants are not accustomed to attention, but we shall cross that bridge if it comes," she said softly, offering him the smallest of smiles.

"I am happy to be able to help, your Majesty," she said, nodding when he thanked her. "You should go and see your family," she said, offering him a smile. "Afterall, this will be quite the journey," she said, chuckling a bit and immediately regretting having done so, for the laughter hurt her wound just that little bit. She didn't let it show on her face though, she just smiled at him softly and laid back down, resting her head against the pillow.

[Naraness]

Castiel nodded, smiling. "Yes, I should. There are many other preparations to make as well. Rest." His eyes were warm as he spoke, but tinged with uncertainty. "Goodbye." He stepped out the door, and closed in gently behind him. Castiel paused for a moment, waiting in the doorway, and then left.

It was a huge relief that Genevera had agreed to go with him. He knew now that at he'd have company on the way, and someone who had actually left the kingdom before. It made him feel like a green leaf to think that he knew nothing of the real world... He decided then to spend the evening studying the map of the continent, so that he wouldn't be completely clueless when they left. The situation had become very real... And he needed to face it.

[Froggy]

That evening, Genevera had spent a majority of it resting and healing herself. Having been told to prepare her for a lengthy journey, the nurse had brought her a plentiful dinner that her eyes alone had a hard time consuming. Chicken, bread, rice, corn, vegetables and fruits...she wasn't sure that she could eat half of it, but the nurses told her that she needed to stock up, and that the protein would help her healing process.

So she ate until she could not anymore. She had to admit, the protein was a nice addition to the vegetable dinner as she usually survived off of her garden and only ate protein a couple of nights of the week. The rice was a treat, that was typically a luxury that she could not afford. Either way she did not question it, and it made for a restful sleep that night.

The morning came and she was woken early, and she had to admit that she certainly felt much better than she had on the day of her attack. Her bones were still sore, but she was finally able to move her wrist again and that made her smile. She was dressed, not in her typical servant robes but instead in travel robes (http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/1c/59/e3/1c59e383c40eb9fa88bae97e7e3318eb.jpg). Her robes were simple enough to display her servant status, that she was accompanying royalty as his servant during travels. They were also fashioned in the colours of their nation, the royal blue colour with white instead of silver lining. The robes covered a majority of her skin as was appropriate for the nature of her status, leaving only a small portion of her neck and her face exposed. Her hands were free to allow her freedom to perform her duties, and the robes cut off at an appropriate length for horseback riding and running. Still...they were much prettier than her usual servant clothes and in a way she felt strange wearing the nicer robes, or well, what she considered nicer robes. She also had a hat on her head to protect her scalp from the sun, of which she was grateful for.

Breakfast came and went, and after having had her full of fruits and eggs she was looked over once again by a doctor. "How are you feeling?" he asked her, taking hold of her wrist gently. "I'm still experiencing some discomfort...but much better," she answered honestly, smiling at him. He smiled in return and took a look at her scar, noting that it was closing up a bit more. "Try not to put too much strain on it, or you'll risk opening it up again," the doctor warned. He wasn't too happy with her leaving to take part in a journey of this magnitude, but he understood the necessity. "Keep the bandages changed every eight to twelve hours, or when it begins to soil or you'll risk infections. Keep it dry at all times, and don't lift anything heavy," the doctor said, and she made mental note of his instructions and nodded at each one.

At that point the door opened and a nurse came in, telling her that the prince was there for her. She sighed and stood from the bed, stepping into her simple shoes and looking to the doctor. "Thank you... for everything," she said, smiling at him again. "You are very welcome. Stay safe," he said, and she looked to the nurses and thanked each of them, heading off towards the door and pausing to take a breath as she steadied herself for what was to come. The nurse opened the door for her and she stepped out into the infirmary, her eyes scanning for the prince.

[Naraness]

The prince had already said goodbye to his family. It had been a sweet, but sorrowful parting. His sister had been particularly hesitant to let him go. Castiel left quickly in an attempt to lessen the pain, but it hardly helped. The moment he left the throne room, he felt like he was a hundred miles away. Inside, the strings that tied him to the castle had been cut.

Everything was ready. Briar was saddled with sturdy packs strapped to his strong haunches. A swift, black mare had been readied for Genevera. However, Castiel knew that the maiden couldn't ride, and had decided that until she got used to the feeling of a horse beneath her, she would ride with him while the other horse carried supplies. Then when she was ready, he would let her take the horse on her own and they would split the supplies.

He had thought of everything they could possibly need, and then... he had to downsize. If Castiel had had his way, he would have strapped the castle to his back and taken it with him. But instead, he would need to survive without all the luxuries he was used to. Necessary items were all he had brought... Besides a few snacks he just couldn't live without.

By mid morning, he had arrived at the medical wing with the horses, and waited outside. It was only ten minutes later when Genevera came out, looking fresh and bright. Castiel couldn't help but smile. She looked beautiful in blue, rather than white. It made her glow, instead of making her appear as pale as the moon. He never considered how plain he must've looked. The prince had decided that this adventure was an excellent excuse to lose his royal attire and don something more comfortable. The colors of the forest covered him from head to toe. Supple leather boots, brown pants, a green tunic, and hat complete with a long pheasant feather. It was all simple, but made with fine materials and crafted by skilled hands.

"You look ready for an adventure!" Castiel flashed a dashing smile. At times, his personality changed with his clothing. Now that he didn't have to uphold the image of a prince... He felt more free to express himself. "Are you ready, Miss Genevera?" He took off his hat and bowed with a flamboyant flourish.

[Froggy]

Upon exiting the castle, Genevera smiled softly when she saw the prince. He was dressed in colours of the forest and she couldn't help but to notice the change in attire. Despite the fact that his clothing was crafted by the best, it still looked simple in comparison to his royal robes. She couldn't help but to giggle at his ambition and flamboyance, he was taking everything much better than she had expected him to. "I am ready, your Majesty," she said, curtseying in response to his bow.

She made her way over to him and noticed that there were two horses and eyed him suspiciously. She made no accusations, knowing full well that at some point in the journey he would expect her to ride the mare. "What is her name?" she asked softly, smiling gently as she went to him, looking at the horse behind him but not moving to go any closer. She was beautiful, that much was certain, but horses were still so strange to her.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled. "Her name is Raven. She has an even temper, and her gait is very smooth. You'll like her, I'm sure. But I won't make you ride on your own yet, we still need to work on you balance." Castiel kidded. He laughed softly, and then continued. "There'll be plenty of time of you to get to know her before then." He looked over at the sleek ebony mare. She and Genevera would make a good pair with time.

"But first, we need to get a head start on the day. The day is still young, and I think we can reach the edge of the kingdom before nightfall." Castiel looked up, past the trees where his eyes fell on the mountain. The sun was shining, still rising higher into the sky. Somewhere, beyond those mountains... His world was about to become much bigger. His gaze came back to the earth, and he turned to Genevera. The prince held out a hand, offering it to her. "Shall we depart?" He asked, his eyes gleaming.

[Froggy]

Genevera just crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at him, continuing to look at him with suspicion. "You laugh but that is very true," she said, chuckling a bit and relaxing as she knew she needed to work on her balance while ridding. "She is beautiful," Genevera said, walking around him and slowly making her way to the horse. The horse raised her head, and Genevera just smiled at the horse. "Easy girl," she said, her voice melodic and soothing, almost like singing. The horse whinnied and sniffed, causing Genevera's hair to blow behind her. Genevera just chuckled a bit and patted the mare softly on her snout, stroking in downward motions.

She frowned lightly when he asked if she was ready to depart, stating that if they left now they might well reach the edge of this kingdom by nightfall. Raven noticed her frowning and bumped her snout to the side of Genevera's face, and Genevera laughed as the horse licked the side of her face. "Aww c'mon Raven!" Genevera said, wiping her face with her hand and smirking lightly. She turned to the prince and gripped his hand with the hand she had just used. "If you are, your Majesty," she said playfully, knowing he would find some way or another to pay her back for that.

[Naraness]

At first, Castiel thought to recoil in disgust. But then... He found himself grinning. He realized that this was just the kindling of friendship. So instead of shrieking like a little girl, he gripped her hand tighter and pulled her close. "You know... I think we're going to get along really well." His eyes shined with a mischievous gleam. "Milady?" He helped her onto Briar just as he had done before, and then climbed on behind her with the agility of a fox.

The tall horse nickered, and turned his head to nuzzle Genevera's leg, as if saying 'Hello again.' Castiel reached around her, and took the reins in his hands. "Do hold on, Gen." The nickname slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it.

Hoping she wouldn't notice is slip up, he urged Briar into a steady trot which carried them swiftly between the trees. Familiar scenery passed by, like flashes of his life vanishing. Castiel tried to memorize it all. He breathed in the earthy forest air, and his eyes soaked up the vivid colors. He wanted to be able to recall this place with clarity... The prince had no idea how long they would be gone. It could be a long time before he saw his home again.

[Froggy]

When the prince began grinning at her little prank, she just grinned right back at him and chuckled a little. Her eyes opened when he gripped her hand tighter, almost fearful of what the prince could come up with as payback, and looked at him with that same mischievous glint in her eyes as he held in his. She was surprised that she could get away with something like that, that he hadn't shrieked and thrown a fit on her. Still...he was use to horses, and he did kind of deserve it, so he should have seen it coming.

She smiled softly when he said he believed they would get along quite well. She squealed in fright when he suddenly decided it was time for her to get on Briar again, and she gripped onto the horse without hesitation as the prince climbed up after her. She pat the horse's neck as he nuzzled against her leg and said "hello Briar," smiling down at the horse. The prince reached around her and she smirked ever so softly at his nickname, though said nothing as he lightly kicked Briar and the horse took off.

She too was quiet as the horse rode through the city, passing by others as they looked at them questioningly, but Genevera paid them no attention, rather instead looking at the city itself. She too wanted to remember the city, for she knew not if she would return from this journey. The prince was only capable of doing so much to protect her, and she knew there were elements beyond his control that she would have to be prepared for. Out of respect for their journey, she said nothing and instead held onto Briar, looking a bit tired as they rode through the forest and towards the edge of the kingdom. He knew how to get that far, and she would have to take over navigation once they reached the edge.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled, loving the familiar breeze on his face. This place was more than his home, it was his kingdom... It was where he belonged.

And I will return to it. He thought to himself. I'll come back, and so will Genevera. This isn't the beginning of the end, it's the beginning of an adventure. With those words in mind, a smile displayed itself on his face. Leaving wasn't something bad, it was just... New.

It was a slow, but steady journey. Castiel stopped once or twice to eat, but spent most of the time on horseback. As he had mentioned before, he wanted to make the most of their time and reach the mountains before the sun hit them. The kingdom was huge, spanning across hundreds of miles which were closed off by the mountain range. Still, the distance between the kingdom and the mountains was much shorter, only a couple dozen miles at the most. The space was closed just in time, as he predicted, and they reached a small, hidden mountain pass a few hours before night.

"Well... We've made it." He smiled, gently slowing Briar's gait to a slow walk. "I think we'll be able to stop and make camp soon."

This area, on the border of the land, wasn't as lush as the rest of the forests. Where the mountain began, rocky outcroppings began to form. The trees were still plentiful, but the ground seemed... Drier. There were less oak trees and more soft woods such as pines. Castiel looked around, curious. "What's it like beyond the mountains?" He half asked Genevera and half wondered aloud.

[Froggy]

As predicted, the two had reached the mountains by nightfall. They had a few hours left to prepare and make shelter, and to make a fire. There were wild predators in this region of the forest, those that would hunt elves without hesitation. She knew the methods to keep them safe, to keep those predators away. The first was the presence of a fire, but considering that it was still daylight they would be okay for a couple of hours. There was no telling if there would be rain that evening or not, so they needed to work to build shelters.

Genevera raised her arms and whispered a song of the old elvish language, watching as vines dropped from the trees themselves, forming something of a fair sized teepee roof. The whispering changed and bamboo rose from the forest floor, intertwining with the vines above to make a solid, comfortable shelter. Inside there was a bamboo platform that with some padding, would be comfortable enough. Yes, she was tired, but he had brought her there to perform duties that he was not capable of, that he did not know how to. She had a job to do and was going to prove her worth to him.

He asked something, what it was like beyond the mountains. Genevera smiled softly and turned to face him. "You do not sense it?" she asked him curiously. She had been down this part many of times and could sense the large river on the other side. If one listened carefully enough, they could hear it to. If they breathed in the air and focused, they would smell it. "Focus on your senses. Listen, smell. Tell me what you sense," Genevera said, visually sweeping the area for things that would be of use for making shelter and fire. She remained silent, giving him time to focus on his senses.

"So tell me Majesty...what is it that you sensed?" she asked him curiously, only then moving to gather wood for fire. After assembling the shelter and starting the fire, she would make them dinner over the fire and re-dress her bandages. Then she would clean up, check on the horses and see if he needed anything before heading to bed herself. It was going to be a long night.

[Naraness]

Castiel found himself fascinated by the structure she made with the help of local vegetation. In fact, his jaw almost dropped and his eyes went wide for a moment. It wasn't that he had never seen acts of magic before, but... He hadn't thought that Genevera was capable of such feats. It stunned him that she was. "Wow, um..." He cleared his throat. "That was amazing." He said, smiling as he tied the horses. Castiel took to caring for them while Gen talked, asking if he could sense what was beyond the mountains.

He... Really didn't know what she meant. The elves were very deeply engrained to believe that they were one with nature, able to feel and sense the energy around them. But... There was no way he could just magic up an image of the rest of the world by listening. He turned his eyes up to Genevera, and shook his head. "No, not really. I hear birds, wind, and you. That's all. What I feel is hunger gnawing at my stomach." The prince dusted off his hands and chuckled.

The horses were cared for, and he was starving. Castiel set to making a fire, asking Genevera to pull the food out. He didn't want her to feel like she needed to serve him, because she didn't. She wasn't there to serve him, she was there to be his partner and fill in the gaps of his knowledge and expertise. Soon the fire sparked to life, and he nurtured it until it was strong and warm. "Aha... I think we're set for the night. I'll need to set up my tent of course." He assumed that the tent Genevera made was for her, and for her alone. Of course, he'd brought shelters for both of them. He knew that he'd' over prepared.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled and chuckled a bit at the Prince's response. "There is a river on the other side of this mountain. When your hunger subsides, try to listen for it. Smell the salt in the air," she said, nodding knowingly. Perhaps she had been down this path too many times, perhaps it was because he was too new at this. She didn't know, but turned around again as he began to collect firewood. He then asked her to pull the food out and she nodded, knowing that she could make her own shelter after she changed her bandages.

"There is no need to pull your shelter out here, if you are not opposed you will find that bamboo and leaves makes for a more comfortable bed than the ground. I constructed that shelter for you, to keep you off the ground," she said, nodding as she began to pull out various vegetables and utensils. "I will make mine after dinner," she said, smiling at him softly. She began to cut the vegetables and make chich-cabobs out of them, and did the same thing with a couple of apples to roast them over the fire.

It was warm, and she knew that in order to keep the predators away it would have to stay big and warm. "I will inform you that there are predators out here. Some will leave us alone by choice, others are more...curious about us. We need to keep the fire big and warm," she said, mostly for his own benefit. "They will leave us alone with the light of a large fire," she said, smiling softly at him as she pulled the first of the skewers off, putting them on a plate and passing it to him. "I hope you like it," she said, pulling a few more off the fire for herself and turning the others.

[Naraness]

Castiel knew much about the forest. He knew the patterns of the wind, and every living force in the kingdom. He could spot a tree out of place. But here, at the end of his realm... he didn't know what to expect. His home was memorized by heart. But trying to sense what was on the other side of a mountain? mountain he'd never crossed before? Even he couldn't do that. He had to assume that it was Genevera's magic that allowed her to do so. Or perhaps her own experience outside the kingdom. He couldn't imagine that she was naturally as skilled as he was in nature... He was a ranger. In fact, it flustered him.

"Oh, um... Thank you. I suppose I'll just put this away." He smiled a little, and put the tent back. The prince found a seat on a nearby boulder, and sat still while she cooked. It surprised him how at home Genevera was in nature. He hadn't taken her for the outdoor type... Perhaps that was because that they'd had few interactions outside the castle. Who knew what he didn't know abut her? Castiel wasn't prince of the world anymore, and he'd have to face that. He had to learn to be a team with Genevera.

"That smells wonderful." Castiel smiled and swallowed his pride. "I'm very thankful that you're travelling with me."

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled when he said the dinner smelled wonderful. "Thank you," she said, taking a bite into her skewer and smiling. It was wonderful. She looked up and nodded when he said he was thankful she was traveling with him. "I'm glad to be able to help," she said sincerely, smiling still. He seemed to be a bit confused, and she could only wonder what was going through his mind. She sighed and thought it best to be as honest as possible as early as possible.

"I grew up as a wandering peasant," she said suddenly, looking at him to gauge his reaction. "When my parents felt as though this kingdom could no longer provide for us, they took us outside the kingdom. They taught me how to cook, how to navigate, how to build shelters, how to keep the prey away and how to maintain fire. When they found that I had healing abilities they encouraged me to practice. It is because of them that you see me so calm today...so at peace within nature," Genevera explained, sighing softly and looking down at her food. It was the life of a peasant, one that he was not familiar with and one that she did not intend to trouble him with.

"Hopefully I can pass some of these skills on to you, to aid you the next time you find yourself needing to travel... If you're willing to learn that is," she said, looking at him curiously. She was a bit uncomfortable with this topic of discussion, but she figured that the more he knew about her and the sooner the better. Plus, she hoped that he would be willing to learn how to perform these skills, she highly doubted that she would be with him on his next journey. Tomorrow she would teach him to fish and to cook the fish.

[Naraness]

"Ah... That explains much." Castiel nodded. "Travelling and surviving are excellent ways to learn skills." He smiled. "When I was young my father took me into the woods to prove that I had grown to a man." He sat up, happy to tell this story as he always was.

"You see... Those who wish to become rangers or druids undergo a test at a young age. When I was forty, my father found a boulder in the middle of the woods. He gave me no weapons, just a cloak and a blindfold. I was to stay there and be silent, no matter what sounds I heard in the night, or what how scared I was. If I ran back to the village or took off the blindfold, I was not a man yet." He chuckled, and shook his head. "It was the most terrifying night of my life. I heard wolves, and wind, it was cold and bitter... But I didn't dare move, even when it sounded like there were things near me, ready to pounce and take my life."

Castiel smiled. "But then... When the sun rose, and I could feel it on my skin, I took off my blindfold. When I opened my eyes, I saw my father sitting a few feet away. He had sat there, protecting me the whole night when I thought I was alone." The prince took a few vegetables and ate them, thinking back to the memory. "It was the best feeling in the world."

"The point of this is that I think we'll both have some things to teach each other. You clearly have many skills that I do not, and I'm sure there's something that I can teach you. I have never gone fishing, I don't really enjoy eating them. So many bones... But I am willing to learn. Father always said that fishing was for boys and women. He taught me to hunt with the bow, saying that it was more fair to the creatures than snares." He laughed softly. "I think that he thought t was like 'tricking' the creatures. I have a feeling that it would be a valuable skill to learn, though." Castiel smiled.

[Froggy]

Genevera seemed to relax a little as he smiled at her, grateful that he didn't seem to think any less of her given his new knowledge of her past. She listened in awe to the story he told and smiled softly when he finished it, nodding her head. "That would have been very frightening. I don't believe I would have been able to do that at that age," she said, shaking her head softly. Still, she was a woman and had no fighting skills whatsoever. Because of that alone, she would never be subject to that sort of test. It was interesting how the two genders were treated, and she had never heard that perspective before.

She smiled when he said that they would both be educating each other. "Well...you've already taught me how to ride on a horse. Next you'll be teaching me how to do so by myself," she said, smiling at him a little and looking over to the horses. They were standing there resting and she smiled a little before looking back at him. "Believe me... there are no nets or snares the way peasants fish. We have to do things the hard way, and unfortunately that's how you're going to learn," she said, chuckling a little. "Fishing this way is about as fair to the creature as it gets."

Genevera took the remaining skewers off the fire and handed him a few more. She wasn't hungry anymore, having consumed four of them, and began to clean up the supplies she had used to cook the dinner. She gathered a bit more wood and put it next to the fire, and began to construct her own shelter near his. It wasn't as fancy as his, for she didn't care about having a lot of space to sleep, just enough of an opening to get out in the event something tried to get in.

When she was finished with that, she went back over to him and smiled softly. "Is there anything else I can do for you before we retire for the evening?" she asked him politely, knowing that it was growing late and that they should probably start heading toward bed.

[Naraness]

Castiel was happy to clean up the rest of the food. "Well... I have a feeling that this is going to be a very interesting journey." He smiled, standing to clean up. As he did so, he heard Genevera asking if there was anything else she could do. He shook his head. "You don't serve me anymore, we're a team, that means we work together, not for each other." He smiled, and nodded politely. It felt good to be on the same level with someone, instead of having a specific pecking order.

The sun was setting, casting the world in a soft glow. "I think we shall retire indeed." He chuckled, and nodded, stepping towards his 'tent'. Castiel waved a polite hand to Genevera. "Thank you for the shelter," He gestured to the structure. "And dinner. It was excellent. Sleep soundly, Gen." He smiled warmly.

[Froggy]

Genevera looked up to the prince in confusion when he said that she didn't serve him anymore, not on the journey, and that they were a team. "Thank you, but I will do my best to make this as comfortable as possible for you," she said, smiling gratefully at him. He truly was changing her previous opinions about the royal family altogether. She had never interacted with them much, and had always been afraid to do so because of her status as a servant and their status as royalty. He was proving that the gap wasn't as far as she thought, or at least by means of treating each other with respect.

"My pleasure, and you sleep well Prince," she said, smiling at him. She stoked the fire and tossed in some more logs as he made his way to the tent, and only then did she take a seat and let out a soft sigh, watching the sun set. How she longed to be in the trees as she had been just a few nights ago, but for the time being her shoulder would not allow for such adventures. She began to unwrap her bandages and threw the dirty ones in the fire, applying medication to the scarred area and re-bandaging the wound. Only then did she stoke the fire once more, check on the horses, and pack up what she could so that they would have little to pack in the morning. She made her way to the bed, yawning as she climbed in, falling asleep almost instantly.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled and nodded. He quietly closed the hut's door, and breathed deeply. The space smelled of moss and rain... The prince smiled. It was nice. Gently he laid his hands on the bed, testing it's strength. It looked simple, and frail... but it held strong, and he was satisfied that it would support him.

With a tired sigh, he crawled onto the cot and laid on his side. Just as he'd been told, it was very comfortable. Before falling asleep, he listened to Genevera moving around and caring for herself before bed. It was oddly comforting knowing that someone else was there. Castiel smiled to himself, and fell soon asleep.

_____________

The next morning rose bright and early. As he was accustomed to, Castiel woke as soon as he heard birdsong. The prince stretched his arms, hearing his shoulders pop. "Mm..." He sat up, and ran a hand through his pale hair. Small streams of light peaked through his shelter, hinting to a warm morning outside. Ready for the day, he stood and stepped outside. The air was crisp and clean, still cool from the night. Warmth dappled the ground through thick tree canopies. He smiled, and decided to start on breakfast early. As far as he could tell, Genevera wasn't awake yet.

He hummed a simple song as he worked. Castiel stirred the fire to life, and warmed some meet, cheese, and vegetables in a simple fry. It was the only thing he really knew how to cook. In fact, the only way he knew to make food was to heat some things in a pan and put it on bread. But it worked, and he enjoyed it enough. Still, it was nothing like tender lamb or steamed vegetables... Those things were a lost art as far as he was concerned.

Soon enough though, he could hear his stomach growling as the smell of breakfast filled the air.

[Froggy]

Genevera had slept soundly through the night, not waking up so much as once. It was nice in a way, being back out in nature. She was grateful that they had avoided any contact with predators and rose feeling refreshed and peaceful. And to the smell of food, which greatly surprised her as she hadn't remembered there being any leftovers for breakfast. She rose from her slumber and gently stretched her arms, yawning as she did so and stepping out, looking instantly towards the fire.

"Good morning prince, I didn't know you could cook," she said, looking at him with an impressed expression on her face. "It smells wonderful," she said, making her way over to check on the horses. They were grazing the vegetation and both nuzzled against her, and she smiled, petting both of them. "Good morning you two," she said, glad that they seemed to be getting along nicely. She returned her attention towards her bag, taking out the bandages and medication.

She made her way back over to her tent, choosing to change her bandages inside rather than outside, as she didn't want to disrupt the prince as he cooked. It only took her a few minutes to change them and she re-emerged, making her way over to the fire. "How did you sleep?" she asked, her voice soft and melodic as usual, a bit of a happier note in it.

[Naraness]

Castiel looked over to see the maiden. "Good morning." He smiled. "Oh, and... I can't cook." He chuckled softly. "This is just a trick that I and some of the other hunters use. A mess of fried food on bread usually makes a good breakfast. I'm glad you like the smell. This.. Doesn't always turn out well. I usually just use whatever is on hand. It's a bit of a gamble sometimes." He stirred the pan with an oak stick, causing the contents to sizzle happily. With a smooth motion, he lifted the pan and dumped the contents on two pieces of sunflower seed bread, each on a wooden plate. He hadn't brought any utensils other than the plates and a containers to cook in. The prince didn't believe in forks, spoons, or any other silverware in the wilderness. It seemed too proper. Besides, why eat with a fork when he could get away with eating with his hands?

"I hope you enjoy it, it's.. All I can make. You'll probably be sick of it by the end of our journey." Castiel smiled, moving one of the plates so that it was near enough for her to reach it. Then he took to eating his portion, smiling in satisfaction as he did. The prince leaned back against a tree, closing his eyes as he chewed the simple bite of food. "Well I have to say that this one did turn out pretty well." He smiled, and sat his plate down.

He moved to feed the horses, realizing that he'd forgotten to tend to their needs before his own. Though Briar and Raven would be able to stay full on natural vegetation, he knew that a couple cups of grain would help to fuel them on their trek. Before leaving hte kingdom he would need to find a stream so they could drink. Castiel looked up as he worked, hearing Genevera ask him if he had slept well. "Oh I rested just fine, thank you. And how are your injuries healing? I hope they haven't been disturbed by travelling."

[Froggy]

Genevera chuckled lightly when he admitted to not being able to cook. "Hey, as far as I'm concerned you always have a backup meal, so that's a plus. You'll learn how to cook plenty while we're out on this trip," she said, smiling at him softly. "I'm sure it'll be delicious," she said when he expressed his concerns about that particular meal being a bit of a gamble. She just chuckled as she took her seat on a small boulder, leaning against it comfortably.

"Thank you," she said, leaning forward to take the plate and leaning back against the boulder again. She took a bite of the bread and toppings and smiled softly, nodding in acknowledgement. "Don't worry about the gamble- it paid off," she complimented, smiling at him as she took another bite. She watched him as he fed the horses some grain and made note of how much he fed them, that way she would be able to do so later. She was almost finished with her bread when he came back and said that he slept just fine. "I'm glad. And my injuries are healing fine...hopefully over the next couple of days they will be fully healed," she said, taking the last bite of bread and smiling. Now she was tired again after having consumed a filling breakfast, but she was certain she would wake up fully once they started packing up to continue their journey.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled and returned to finish his meal. "I'm glad... I'd hate to have you travel hurt. Let me know if you need to rest or stop while we're riding, We can always break and get a bite to eat." He smiled at Genevera as he ate the rest of his food, then put the dishes away as well as packed his things. "When you're ready, we should leave. Within the hour we'll reach the end of the kingdom. I'm eager to see new lands." For a moment his gaze drifted into the distance, away and towards the mountains. "In fact, I can't wait. I've always been curious."

The prince rested his bow over his shoulder and strapped his quiver to his back. Though he was quite excited to see the new world, he was also cautious. There could be all manner of vicious creatures there, and... He wouldn't be unprepared.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled when he said that they could always take a break if she needed one. "Thank you...so far I'm doing well enough, so we'll see how it goes," she said, still smiling at him. She stood up and stretched gently when he began packing things away, forcing herself to do the same. By the time they had everything packed she was fully awake, as predicted. "I'm leaving the shelters up- they will be useful to us on the journey home, if they are still there. If not someone else can make use of them," she said, looking at the shelters and hoping that they would still be up when they returned.

As the prince had predicted, they had managed to cross the mountain and reach the edge of their kingdom within the hour. The journey across the mountain had been interesting to say the least, watching all the wildlife that they passed and avoiding various kinds of snakes on the trail. They finally came upon the river that Genevera had mentioned, the marker that signaled the end of the kingdom and the beginning of the neutral territory between kingdoms. Genevera looked back to him and signaled for him to slow the horses as it was a prime place to fish along these paths.

"We'll fish here," she said, hopping off the horse gently when he came to a stop, grabbing her bag and pulling out a separate change of clothes. She wasn't about to get in the river in her travel robes and freeze when it was time to get out. "I recommend that you change as well- the water is relatively cold," she said, making her way to the tree line again. "Shout for me when you've dressed," she called, knowing that she would not step out from behind the trees until he was ready for her. She took care of her travel robes, folding them up and then rolling them neatly, putting them in her travel bag. She then dressed in a regular, brown skirt that only went down to her knees, something that was specifically designed for crossing shallow waters. Her shirt was also simple and brown with short sleeves. It was nothing fancy, just something that was more appropriate for wading in the waters.

[Naraness]

The journey over the mountain was indeed interesting. Though it wasn't at all challenging, it was still fascinating and intriguing. Just a few miles into the journey, Castiel was already spotting varieties of shrubs that didn't grow in the kingdom. Just a mere margin out of the elven woods, things were already different and new.

Once they arrived at the river, Genevera said that they would fish there, and told him to change into clothes he could bare getting wet. Castiel nodded in agreement, and dismounted. He knew Briar wouldn't run off, so he tied Raven's lead to the pommel of his saddle. The two started grazing, wandering a little but not too far. Then the prince grabbed a pair of simple clothes, and tried to find a place to change. Of course... He was extremely embarrassed. The prince had never changed outdoors. It felt so open, and exposed... His eyes darted around for a place that was concealed enough to do so.

With a little bit of searching, he found a place behind a large tree which was covered by small shrubs. If he crouched down, he was completely out of sight. "Aha." He smiled. Though Castiel was certain that he was safe, he didn't take his time changing. He wasn't going to risk being caught in his underwear! So in a minute flat, he was changed into a pair of rugged clothes. They weren't the most comfortable, or even convenient, but at least he didn't have to worry about soiling a good outfit.

The prince emerged from his hiding place, ready to try this method of fishing that Genevera had spoken of. "Alright it's safe to come out!" He called.

[Froggy]

When Genevera heard the all clear, she smiled and stepped out from behind the tree, carrying her bag in her arm and smiling at him. He looked a little uncomfortable in the clothing and she just kept smiling at him. "You ready for some fishing?" she asked, gently setting down her bag near where they had stopped. She picked up an empty back and looked at him. "Then follow me if you are," she said, making her way over to the river and scanning it for depth. She crossed her arms and looked at the water, a smile forming on her face.

"The river is shallow enough for wading, and there are plenty of fish," she said, nodding as she took off her shoes and tested out the water. "It's a little cold, but not too much," she said as she went out further into the river, looking back over to him and smirking a bit...this was bound to be interesting and she hoped that he retained his good sense of humor during this. "No snares or tricks here...like I said last night, this is about as fair as it can get to the fish," she said, wondering if by now he knew what she was talking about...fishing by hand.

[Naraness]

"Don't you need any tools?" Castiel asked, folding up his other clothes. He set them down in a neat pile, and then tugged his shoes off. He hadn't brought another pair, and he didn't want them to get soggy. Once completely ready, he waded into the shallow river. It was cold, goose bumps ran up his arms.. His pants clung to him from the knee-down, and every step was awkward and... Wet. The prince felt like a fish out of water, except... He was an elf in water.

"No snares or tricks you say? What do you mean I'm supposed to grab them with my hands?"

He went pale. That was exactly what she meant, wasn't it? "M-maybe you should do it first, to show me." Castiel cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure as a fish slid by his leg. It's slimy scales gave him the urge to scream like a girl. He resisted the urge, of course.

His eyes delved under the water. At first, it was hard to see anything. The water distorted the surface, making it almost impossible to see anything underneath. Castiel could tell that there were rocks of different sizes and colors, but they all swam around with the motion of the water, and he couldn't keep track of anything. How would he catch a fish, something that moved on it's own?

[Froggy]

Genevera couldn't hold it in anymore, his complete and utter confusion was amusing for her. She just began to grin wider as he finally snapped to their method of fishing, and she nodded when he said she should show him first. He then did something she wasn't expecting and stuck his head in the water as though looking for the fish, and she cracked up laughing.

She waded gently over to him and tapped on his shoulder lightly, indicating for him to come up. "It's hands on your majesty, not face first," she teased, giggling a little as she smiled at him. "Watch," she said, standing still and looking down at the water. "There is a trick to it...the fish are usually a little further up than they seem, so aim further ahead when you shoot your hand down...you have to calculate the flow of the river in your aim," she said, sending her hand down into the chilly water and grabbing hold of a fish.

The fish squirmed and she yanked her hand out of the water, nearly losing the fish due to the slime, but managing to regain her grasp at the last minute and gently drop the fish into her bag. "You'll get use to it, but that's how peasants fish- no fancy equipment, just intuition," she said, grinning a little at him. She reached down again as though to grab a fish, but instead splashed him gently with the water and took off running a little further down the river. "And a good sense of humor!" she shouted when she felt as though she were a fair distance away.

[Naraness]

Castiel pulled his head up, confused. "But... How am I to catch them if I can't see where they are?" He coughed up some of the river water. He listened as Genevera explained, and frowned. "This is more of that 'sensing' stuff, isn't it?" She was awfully good at that type of thing. Still, as strange as it seemed, he would try.

He watched as she demonstrated. Genevera appeared to have the technique down to an art! Though she had a little trouble, it seemed relatively effortless. She reached down again and he expected to see another fish magically appear in her hands, so he leaned closer to get a better look. Instead of seeing a fish appear, his vision was muddled by a splash of water. "Hey!" He stumbled back, smiling through it. Castiel wiped the water out of his eyes and laughed, sending a splash of water after her.

"Alright, I see how this is." He pushed up his sleeves. "How hard could it be? I'm going to catch a fish." He rubbed is hands together, and readied his stance as if to pounce. He looked into the water, searching for movement. He saw a sleek gray form moving slowly through the water and knew that his target was sighted in. He did just as he'd been told, aiming slightly above where his eyes told him the fish was.

To his surprise, his hands closed around the scaly creature. He held it up triumphantly. "Look! Wait, agh!" The creature wriggled and slipped right out of his hands. He reached out, catching it only to have it shoot out of his grasp again and again. "Wait, I've almost got this!" The prince stepped back to catch it and his foot slipped on an algae covered rock. He splashed into the water and the fish landed on top of him, flopping back and forth. "Come back here, you!" Castiels hands seemed useless.

Then, as it again escaped his hands, it flopped under the collar of his tunic. "Oh my- Agh! It's in my shirt!" He flailed and tried helplessly to still the creature. A shriek filled the air when the cold, wet fish squirmed its way into his trousers. Castiel stumbled to his feet, slapping to try and free the frantic creature from the folds of his pants. "I just want to eat you! Hold still!"

[Froggy]

"It's not the sensing stuff again...if you look carefully enough, you can see the shine of their scales when the light reflects across them," she explained, smiling at him a little. He seemed to be trying to figure out how exactly he was supposed to do this, and she smiled softly as she watched. She couldn't stop the grin from appearing on her face though as he leaned ever closer to her, providing her the perfect opportunity to splash him. She laughed when he splashed her back, a wide smile on her face.

She watched in anticipation as he aimed for the fish, appearing to have caught it at first, but just when he pulled it out of the water he couldn't keep his grip. She rushed forward to catch the fish so they wouldn't lose it, but he seemed to be struggling with the poor creature. Finally she just stood there in awe, looking at him as he struggled to maintain his grip. Her eyes opened wide when the fish went down his shirt and she couldn't help it- she burst out laughing and almost stumbled backwards into the river, only stopping to check on him when a shriek filled the air. She then realized that the fish had managed to slip into his trousers and she nearly doubled over in laughter as she made her way over to him as quickly as she could.

"Hold...still..." she said between laughter, opening her bag wide and lifting the bottom of his trousers up in order to let the fish fall into the bag. She stumbled back and fell to her knees, a look of amusement on her face. "You caught it!" she said, giggling hysterically as the water moved past her. "Please do not take offense for laughing...you'll get your turn to laugh at me when I learn how to ride horses by myself," she said, looking up at him apologetically.

"Are you alright?" she finally asked, standing up as she tried to catch her breath, looking at him with genuine concern.

[Naraness]

Castiel was relieved. He doubled over with his hands on his knees, catching his breath. "Oh... My..." He stood up straight, and then laughed. "I'm never going to forget that!" Mirth filled his eyes. "My first fish, oh wow..." He wiped water off his face. "I've never really liked fish, but I'm going to eat that thing. Just to say I did." The prince pointed at the bag of fish and grinned widely, smiling at Genevera. He stepped over to Genevera and helped her to her feet.

Castiel was covered from head to toe in water and sand, and he was sure that he would smell like fish for hours. The least he could do was get her sandy and fishy too. To accomplish that goal, he decided a friendly hug would do the trick. "Thank you for an experience I will always remember." He said, stifling a laugh. The prince pulled away from her and waddled out of the water.

He tried to brush some of the sand and grit off of him, but clung terribly. "Aw man... I think these are going to be my permanent fishing clothes.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled and giggled as he laughed at himself, and she had to admit that she was somewhat surprised to see him taking it so well. She laughed again when he said that he never really liked fish, but that he was certainly going to eat that fish. "Yes you are...it went down your trousers after all," she said, laughing even harder and smiling widely at him in amusement. She didn't know that he had such a good sense of humor and actually found it to be relaxing, enjoyable, and made his company in general desirable. Of course not that sort of desirable, but desirable in that he was a good person to be around.

She tensed a little when he gave her a friendly hug, squirming as she smelled the fish smell on him and felt the grit rub off on her. "Hey now!" she teased, giggling a bit and bending over to splash him some more. She followed suit after him and trotted out of the water, bending down to wash some of the sand gently off her, taking great care in keeping her bandages as dry as possible. She was able to get most of the grit off and stuck her tongue out at him teasingly.

"So you had so much fun that you intend to go fishing again?" she questioned, smirking smugly at him as she found a relatively smooth rock and took out a sharp knife from their bag. "Good. Because now you get to learn how to clean them properly," she said, smiling a little. She took the knife to the fish and began to remove the scales by sliding the knife against them in the opposite direction, getting as close to the skin as possible without removing it. "In order to remove the scales, you begin from the tip of the neck region and slide down, going against the grain of the scales," she explained, showing him as she removed the scales on her side. She turned the knife toward her and handed the handle to him, flipping the fish over.

"Your turn."

[Naraness]

Castiel watched her preparing the fish, and grimaced. "Do I... Have to?" He bit his lip. "You're so much better at it than I am, wouldn't it be faster if you did it?" He frowned as he realized how selfish that sounded. After skinning deer, pheasants, and wolves, he was complaining about a fish? It sounded terribly pathetic. The prince cleared his throat, and picked up a fish. He turned the cold body over in his hands, inspecting the scaly creature. I already caught it, this should be the easy part.

He held the fish the way he'd been shown and took his knife to remove the scales with relative ease. Though the task in itself was simple, the scales stuck to the knife and his hands, as if the were covered by glue. Castiel tried to ignore it, but if there was one thing in the world he couldn't stand.. It was the feeling of things sticking to him. With sandy grit covering him, and fish slime all over his hands, he was... Uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. "Um... I think I need to go wash up." He cleared his throat, and walked to the river.

The water did good work cleaning his hands. But the prince was still experiencing discomfort in regions where sand was never meant to go. He was out of his element, and it showed clearly on his face. "I believe I should go change back into my better clothes." He forced a smile and nodded, putting the fish down. "I'll help wrap up here when I get back, I'll only be a moment."

[Froggy]

Genevera looked at him as he grimaced, clearly not comfortable with the idea of cleaning the fish. It was at that point that no matter how much they goofed off, how much they played in the water, he was still...the prince of her kingdom, and clearly not comfortable with certain things as he had not grown up with these things. She smiled softly at him as he took the fish and tried his best, though the more she watched it was clear that he was still uncomfortable with the slime and scales in general. She supposed that fishing was quite a bit different than hunting, but she had never been so she couldn't make that assumption.

Before long he said that he needed to go wash up and she looked at him sympathetically, feeling bad and as though she may have tried to force too much on him at once. When he came back though, she was surprised to see him taking on the task again. Still, he seemed to be even more uncomfortable this time and she looked at him sadly, not saying a word and only nodding as he went to go change. She sighed and took the fish, finishing scaling that one and the other one they had caught. Figuring that the mere idea of cleaning and gutting it alone would bring him discomfort, she cut the heads off of both fish and cleaned out the intestines, making sure there weren't any organs left inside.

She then began to cut the fish pieces off the spine, removing nearly all of the bones just by getting the halves off the spine. It was then that he came back and she looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to put too much on you...I was only trying to teach, in the event that you need this skill in the future," she said, looking down at the fish that she had successfully scaled and cleaned, taking in a deep breath and releasing it slowly, softly sighing.

[Naraness]

Castiel left to clean up, and found it was a bit of a task get all the sand off of his skin. He couldn't figure out why tiny things liked sticking to him. Of course, he could only blame that meddlesome fish, which had taken a dive down his clothes. Still, through the discomfort, the memory made him smile. He knew it would be one of the stories he told to his children and grandchildren one day. The prince couldn't help but wonder what other adventures would turn into stories. His journey with Genevera had only just begun, and already it was unforgettable.

He emerged from the forest, feeling much better. Just as he was about to help finish with the fish, he saw that Genevera had already cleaned them. Where there had once been two fish, there were now four neat fillets. Just then, she started to apologize for overwhelming him. Castiel held a hand out, shaking his head. "No, I understand and I don't blame you at all. I was just out of my element, that's all. But I've been told that that's the best way to learn, and I am happy to do so." He nodded politely. "I will ready the horses and pack up our gear while you change, if you like." He smiled.

A strong horse muzzle nuzzled his back, startling the prince. Briar neighing loudly, as if laughing. Beside him, Raven tossed her mane, perhaps joining in on the joke. Castiel laughed, and scratched the space between Briar's ears. The horse gratefully lowered his head so that his master didn't have to reach so high. "Silly boy..." Castiel gave him a strong pat on the neck. These were the kinds of things that he was comfortable doing. He could spend an entire day with his horse, riding, walking, grooming, teaching him signals... It was what he understood. That was what he was going to be teaching Genevera about when it was her turn to learn.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled as he understood where she was coming from and explained where he was coming from. "Good... I'm glad you're willing to learn, and unfortunately there will be many things along this journey that you will be uncomfortable with, but I will do my best to make it as easy as possible for you," she said, smiling gratefully at him. "Thank you...I'll be quick enough," Genevera said as she picked up her bag with her travel robe in it again, walking gracefully towards the tree line.

It didn't take her long to change, she used the wet portion of her skirt to wipe away any unwanted grime that had developed on her skin and changed into her travel robes once more, gently placing her fishing clothes in her bag. She smiled as she returned back to the prince, noting that everything was ready to go. "Thank you for that. We'll cook the fish when it's time for lunch," she said, smiling happily at him as she made her way over to the horses, noting that they looked rather playful. "Hey you two," she said, gently petting each of them on their long necks. "You both ready to cross a river?" she asked, laughing as they both raised their head and looked to the river. "I'd take that as a yes," she said, laughing a little more and turning to the prince. "Are you ready?" she asked him, securing her bag on Raven with the other equipment.

[Naraness]

While she was gone, Castiel set to securing everything in Raven's pack. The sleek mare stayed still for him, cooperating perfectly. Apparently, she and Briar were done trying to make him look like a fool. He didn't know what had gotten into them, but it seemed like they were trying to make fun of him in front of Genevera... Almost like they were trying to make her laugh! Castiel chuckled at the thought of the two equines plotting behind his back.

A few moments later he saw Genevera emerge from the greenery. She moved over and spoke to the horses a little, and then asked if Castiel was ready to go.

The prince smiled brightly. "But of course, milady." He bowed in a way that was mostly just polite, but also had a hint of teasing behind it. Briar nudged him again, and the prince almost fell flat on his face. Raven let out a long whiney which sounded much like laughter. It seemed that they had been waiting for the right opportunity to make fun of him. "You two are out to get me today." Castiel chuckled, giving Briar a playful push. The horse was as solid as rock though, and barely even swayed.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Castiel held out a hand for Genevera, so he could help her onto the horse.

[Froggy]

Whenever Briar nudged the prince, she was surprised to see that he almost fell on his face. "I thought horses were your comfort zone, prince? They seem to be the ones giving you orders," she said, laughing and looking at the horses, shaking her head a little. She smiled when he held his hand out and stood on it, wrapping her leg around and sitting comfortably on the horse. Briar reached his long head back and nudged her foot, and she pet his nose. The horse licked her hand and she shivered a little at it, offering that same hand out to help the prince up. "C'mon prince," she teased, laughing a little. Raven seemed to be whinnying a little, almost as though chuckling.

"They just love teasing us...I hope this isn't a regular thing," she said, chuckling a little and looking at him curiously.

[Naraness]

The prince was truly flabbergasted by their behavior. "I assure you, they aren't like this normally." He said, swinging his leg over the saddle. "Usually they're so collected... Affectionate, yes, but not pushy." Castiel shrugged with a small smile. "I don't know, maybe they're just as eager to explore as I am." He smiled and gathered the reins in his hands. For the first time, he realized that he had to put his arms around Genevera to do so. He blushed, and hoped that she didn't notice.

Soon enough, they were off again. While they rode, the horses seemed to return to their normal patterns. Castiel was going to keep an eye on them, though.

The scenery was beautiful. Though nothing was quite as vibrant as it was at home, there was still immense beauty in the world around them. As they passed through a forest of cotton trees, pieces of fluff floated through the air. A tiny stream seemed to be giggling as it's water passed over and around large stones. Animals chittered in the trees, swooping from branch to branch. Most beautiful of all were the wild flowers... These seemed to grow everywhere, just waiting be seen, peeking out from their hiding places.

In fact, Castiel was so taken with the landscape that he didn't realize his stomach was growling for nearly an hour.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled at his confusion, and when he assured her that the horses were not usually like this. "I cannot help but to wonder if they are acting this way because of my presence?" she asked him, chuckling softly as Briar whinnied a little, touching his head to her leg. She looked down at the prince and smirked at him. "I suppose that answers that. You must not have women accompany you with the horses too often?" she questioned, raising a teasing eyebrow at him and giggling a bit.

She remained still as he got on the horse, putting his arms around her to hold the reigns. She thought nothing of it and had learned that this was custom when riding with two people, and assumed that if he was in the front she would have to hold onto him for support- she would rather it this way, as the other option would have been far too awkward for her anyway. Still, her thoughts began to drift as they passed by scenery, beautiful scenery that she had not seen for some three odd years but still remembered as though it were yesterday.

The pair had been traveling all afternoon and she found herself growing tired, almost slumping over Briar as they continued relentlessly. The horse seemed to notice this change and raised his head higher, as though allowing her a place to rest. She gave him a pat and rest her arms on him, doing her best to hold herself up. She soon began to hear the prince's stomach growling and noticed that hers was as well. "We should take a rest," she suggested, turning back to look at the prince. "We are both hungry, and it is best to cook the fish with no predators around," she explained, stifling a yawn with her hand.

[Naraness]

He hadn't realized it as both he and Genevera grew weary. Castiel cleared his throat, and then apologized. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize how long we had been riding." He gently pulled on Briar's reins, slowing the horse to a stop. "We'll stop here to rest, and then continue after lunch."

Castiel dismounted, his feet settling firmly on the ground. Slowly, so Genevera wouldn't feel unsteady, he lead the horses to a nearby stream, which they'd been following. He watched as the horses stared at tiny bits of cotton in the air, trying to keep track of them. Luckily, there weren't so many now that they weren't in the heart of the cottonwood forest. The prince laughed a little, and went to help Genevera down.

"I'll start a fire." He smiled. "You go ahead and rest, Gen, I'll tell you when it's ready for your cooking expertise." Castiel grinned.

[Froggy]

"No biggie, we both need to rest," she said, smiling gently at him before yawning yet again. The prince slowed Briar down to a walk, and soon to a stop. He dismounted, leaving her atop the horse alone, and her heart began to pick up a bit though not too much. She clung tightly onto Briar's mane and the horse just nudged her foot with his muzzle. "Sorry boy...you know I'm not use to riding solo," she said, shaking her head softly and patting the horse on his neck. The prince led them to the stream and gently helped her down. She yawned again and stretched, leaning comfortably against Briar, her eyes opening and closing softly.

She perked up a bit when he said that he would start a fire and for her to go ahead and rest. "You sure?" she asked him, her expression clearly exhausted. She offered him a weak smile and grabbed a couple of blankets from her bag. "Thank you. Wake me if you need anything," she said, making her way over to a large boulder and curling up next to it, wrapping herself up in the blankets. She was out within minutes, her body still and peaceful as she rest.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled, watching how quickly she fell asleep. A warm spot grew in his chest to see her so peaceful, it made him wish he wouldn't have to wake her up. The prince decided he would delay it as long as possible. He set to caring for the horses, grooming them and checking their tack, as well as giving them a little grain for energy. Then he completely reorganized his pack, ensuring that everything was neatly folded and in place. Once that was done, he'd burned a total of ten minutes. Castiel frowned in frustration.

He looked at Genevera. He just couldn't wake her... Maybe I can try cooking the fish. He thought to himself. Couldn't be too hard, could it? Wishful thinking wasn't going to help him though. If he attempted to cook a real meal, it would end in disaster. He could burn it, burn himself, set something on fire... Who knew what kind of trouble he would get himself into? But.... Maybe it was worth it to give Gen the rest she needed. After all, she was exhausted, and still healing from the attack.

Castiel paused thoughtfully, and started making the fire. Within a few minutes, it had kindled to life. Then he got out the fish fillets, and looked at them in his hands. Was it worth the risk? He looked back and forth between the fish and Genevera. "To cook or not to cook..."

[Froggy]

Genevera had been asleep for a good half hour, not moving so much as an inch during that time. She had her entire body wrapped up in the blankets and was snuggled tightly against the rock, looking about as comfortable as one could while sleeping on rocks. Soon enough though she could smell the smoke wafting over to her and she began to stir, stretching her arms out and yawning a bit.

"You 'ere supposed to wake me up..." she said, her speech a bit jumbled from her sleep. She opened her eyes a bit and looked towards the direction of the smoke and saw him holding the filets, clearly debating whether or not to cook them. She blushed, realizing that he was probably trying to let her sleep some more. She slowly pulled herself out of the mess of blankets and put them back in her bag, stretching some as she walked. Blushing, she gave him a hug and backed up a bit. "Thank you for letting me sleep," she said, smiling at him.

"Don't be afraid to cook- go ahead and put the fish on the fire, I'll show you what to look for," she said, smiling happily at him.

[Naraness]

Castiel was relieved when Genevera woke. "Well, I just..." He cleared his throat. "You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn't want to wake you up..." He smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck. "I felt kinda guilty for exhausting you in the first place-" He stopped dead when she hugged him, finding that his cheeks had tinged pink. He'd hugged her earlier that day, but only in an attempt to get her wet. Still, he found the brief embrace quite warm and shyly returned it.

"You're welcome." He smiled, feeling oddly... Accomplished. "Yes, right, the fish." He held up the fillets, which he had forgotten he was holding. "We can cook it together, that's a good plan." He fumbled with the slippery fish meat, and laid them on the pan. Once they came in contact with the cast iron, it started sizzling and popping. "Is that supposed to happen?" He asked sitting down near the fire. "Out of all the things I've learned over the years... I can't believe I never learned how to cook." He ran a hand through his hair, and watched the pan. "How long does it usually take?" He asked curiously.

In about a day he'd turned from a composed, collected prince, to... A fresh spring leaf.

[Froggy]

Genevera blushed slightly when the prince returned her hug. It wasn't the hug in itself that had made her blush, rather the slight ting of pink on his face after she had hugged him. She blinked when he brought up the fish, shaking her head as she snapped out of her own thoughts and looked at the fish in his hands, smiling a bit as he fumbled with it. "That sound just means that the fish is cooking, that's all," she answered, smiling and nodding her head at him in assurance.

She sat down next to him and pointed at the fish. "It usually cooks for about two minutes on each side," she said, pointing at the bottom layer of the fish. "You see how the color is changing from a bright-pink to a soft white?" she asked, her finger moving up as the color began to rise. "Once the fish has completely changed color, then you know it's done. It's ready to flip when the first half has changed, and then we watch the second half change," she said, smiling at him.

She took two of the filets and flipped them, causing the skillet to pop and sizzle even louder. "See how easy? You try with the other two, and be careful not to touch the skillet in the process," she said, handing him the stick she'd used.

[Naraness]

Castiel sat down, listening to her words carefully. The instructions seemed simple enough; perhaps cooking wasn't as hard as he thought. "That sounds... Pretty easy.." He smiled lightly, and folded his hands in his lap. His eyes fell on the pan. The fillet sizzled and hissed, but the sound died down after the initial burst of activity. It seemed so strange and intriguing to him... Castiel leaned forward, watching carefully as the raw fish slowly but surely turned white.

"This isn't too hard." He smiled, adding a pair of fillets to the pan. They too began to crack and pop, coming to life on the fire. "I think I may learn to enjoy this. As a hobby, of course." Castiel grinned a little as he turned his eyes up to Genevera. In the light, she was really very beautiful. The prince's grin faded to a smile. With some difficulty, he looked away and tended to their meal. The first two fillets were nearly ready, from what he could see.

"I never imagined that I would learn so much from you." He admitted quietly. "To be honest, I thought that I knew every skill worth learning."

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled when he spoke, it was interesting watching him as he took in the things she taught him. He was learning quick enough, that much she could see as he flipped the fillets in the pan, no longer seeming nervous about the sizzling and popping that came from it. "Unfortunately we don't have any seasonings out here, so you'll have to enjoy the natural flavorings of the fish...though perhaps you'll like it better as there aren't any bones in it," she said, looking back to the fish. The first two that she'd flipped were finished and she took them off the skillet to rest. "Next you take them off the skillet for a few minutes to rest and stop cooking. Even though they're off the heat, they still retain the heat from when we cooked them. They should be ready when the others are," she explained, setting them aside on a smooth rock with a surface underneath them.

She turned back around and met his eyes with her own, blushing slightly as she noticed his grin turn to a regular smile, wondering what was on his mind. She frowned when he admitted that he didn't think he would learn much from her. "There are many skills a peasant and servant are capable of. Life is simpler, and a little harder at the same time. We live by the basics, whereas you may be able to skip a few steps due to having more resources available. You would be surprised what I can teach you, if you are willing to learn," she said, blushing a bit more and looking back to the fish.

The second batch was done, and so was the first one. "They're ready," she said, passing him the first batch of fish to eat and setting the others on another clean surface atop the same rock to cool. "I hope you enjoy it," she said, looking at him curiously.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled, and accepted his portion of the meal. It smelled fresh, warm, and fulfilling. That was all that his growling stomach required. "Thank you." He smiled genuinely at Genevera. "I don't think I will ever look at fish the same way... ever again." The prince chuckled, mirthful light filling his eyes. He started to eat, taking a large bite. The meal turned out to be moist and warm, despite being a little bland. Castiel made sure to consume every bite.

Once he was done, he smiled and wiped his hands off. Despite his normal disliking for fish, he had enjoyed the lunch. "We'll have to do this again, sometime. Perhaps I will let you catch the fish, though." A few feet away, Briar snorted, seemingly in disbelief. Castiel cast a wary eye on the horses, and shook his head. "You know, I think they like you more than me." He grinned wryly.

Within twenty minutes, they were on the road again. Castiel kept their pace at a steady walk, so they wouldn't be exhausted by the end of the day. This way, he was able to spend a lot of time letting his eyes explore the landscape. A few miles of travel took them out of the cotton forest, and into a land that was more sparse and brambly. Here, there were less trees and more thorny bushes- some of which grew berries. Though the vegetation seemed harsher, everything was still beautiful. There was color, and scattered wildflowers... Bright green grass sprouted below other foliage, stretching up towards the light.

But soon that light began to dim and they came to a halt. Castiel stopped at a small meadow, where there were less bushes and more soft grasses. There weren't any trees, save for a pair that stood roughly in the center of the open space. The meadow was pushed up against a rocky crevice, where he intended to stay the night. There, it seemed like they'd be the most protected from animals while still being in an area with less vegetation. Regrettably, he didn't think that Genevera would be able to make her plant structures here. However with all the tough bramble bushes, he doubted she would have anything good to work with in this area anyway.

"How does this look?" He asked, surveying the area for any signs of animals living in the rocks.

[Froggy]

As the prince began to eat, Genevera took her own portion of fish and began her meal as well. She couldn't help but to glance at him from the corner of her eyes, watching him eat as she ate her own. She was surprised to see him finish the entire portion, knowing that there were no special seasonings to add flavor to the fish, only the natural flavors from within the fish. She finished her own portion not much later and looked at him curiously, remaining quiet.

She smiled when he thanked her and said that they would have to do this again. "Oh no m'lord, practice makes perfect. One bad experience does not excuse you from trying again," she teased him, looking to the horses as Briar seemed to snort. "Nonsense, I think he's just enjoying extra company. You must not ride with others very often," she said, her voice in a questioning tone.

~~~~~~

When the two came upon a clearing in the later portion of the day, she noticed that he had slowed the horses down. By that time she had become rather tired and hadn't noticed the time of day, only the amount of travel they had done. She surveyed the ground and nodded when the prince asked how the area was. "This will work, the ground is flat enough and the grass is tall enough," she said, gently sliding off Briar as he came to a halt. She noticed berry bushes as the end of the clearing and went to examine them, returning to the prince with a few in her hands. "Don't eat the berries, they're poisonous," she said, pointing at the bushes that seemed to line the clearing. "Not to the touch, but the insides of them are. Let's just say that they'll give you more than a bad case of gas in the middle of the night," Genevera said, shaking her head and shuddering at a few memories as she tossed the berries to the other side of the clearing.

"Not many predators around here, mostly just snakes and spiders," she said, smiling at him a bit as she turned towards the two trees in the middle. She began to chant and to move her arms gently, as much as she could, and began to change the position of the grass. More spread from the ground, and the tops snapped into a solid, flat surface. It was round in shape and the dead grass seemed to be thatched together. She smiled and walked over to the small structure that hovered about a foot off the ground, placing one of her feet atop it and standing on the structure to check for support. Much to her pleasure it stood and she jumped, pleased to see that it was still standing. "I'll make another one and we can set the tents up on these," she said, getting to work immediately on making the other shelter. This one was a bit higher off the ground, and larger, clearly indicating that it would be his for the night.

[Naraness]

Again, Castiel was astonished by her abilities. "Truly, Gen. You never cease to amaze me." He smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement and honesty. "These surfaces will be perfect for the tents." The prince stepped forward and laid his hands on the table. Though it was made of materials which had been scattered about only moments before, it seemed to be almost perfectly smooth. He tested his weight on it, seeing that it held true despite it's appearances. "How is it that they are so strong?" He murmured in wonder. There was no way that the materials had so much strength on their own...

Castiel shrugged, and set his pack down. He removed two folded tents, and set each on top of the raised platform. Swiftly, the prince hopped up onto the shorter surface and started preparing a tent. "It won't be much like what you made before... But it'll keep the cold and wind off of us." He looked up at Genevera and smiled. "If you'd like, you can help yourself to some of the rations. You're probably tired after travelling for so long." Castiel was used to riding for hours at a time... He was quite sure that his companion was not.

Soon, he'd set up two neat tents, both made of soft, oiled cloth that was wind and water proof. Castiel rested his hand on one of the olive-colored structures, testing the support rods. "Alright... Everything is in order." He looked around the meadow, surveying for any sort of movement. It seemed that the world was going to sleep... Satisfied that the area was secure, he hopped down from the platform and dusted his hands off.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled warmly when he called her Gen again, her entire demeanor brightening. "You would be surprised what a life of travel will teach you," she said, chuckling a little. In a way it was sad to her, these were basic and fundamental skills that had aided her throughout her entire life, and yet here he was amazed by them. His upbringing was so different than hers, and in a way it made her appreciate her upbringing that much more.

As he prepared the tents, she took to the rations. A mixed variety of vegetables that she cleaned and peeled where necessary, but otherwise left them as is and started gathering firewood. She heard him mumble something, wondering how the structures were so solid. "The grass is weaved together in a tight thatch pattern. Beneath that thatch work is several concise layers of thickened grass to support it, and our weight," she explained as she gathered some fire wood and began working to build the fire.

Soon enough she had the fire going and the sound of it crackling made her smile. She stood from her spot, stretching and yawning as she walked over to the horses. They instantly lifted their heads from the grass and came over to her, nuzzling their snouts against her. "Hey you two. I'll bet you are enjoying all this grass, huh?" she asked, and they both snorted a bit. She smiled and pet their snouts before providing them with grains as she had seen the prince do the night before. "Enjoy your dinner," she said, smiling at them as they nuzzled her again before going to the real food. She went back to the fire and checked the coals, pulling some aside to cook the vegetables over and humming softly as she did so. She skewered the vegetables, placing them over the fire to roast slowly before yawning softly.

[Naraness]

The horses' heads fell to the grass once Genevera returned to her task. The two were completely at ease, gathering bits of food in their strong muzzles. They stood near one another, whisking their tails now and then to chase mosquitoes from each other's hides. Seeing them this way told Castiel that there were no predators in the area. Briar and Raven would be uneasy if they sensed anything, even a snake.

The one thing that did worry him was dark clouds in the distance. Though he doubted rain would fall, the increase of biting insects made him think that thunder might roll in. Castiel doubted it would affect their journey, though. If they were lucky, the storm would pass by morning.

The prince took a seat by the fire. He held his palms up to the flames, feeling the warmth flicker against his skin. The smell of roasted vegetables was becoming most welcoming, as well. Genevera's cooking skills alone made her a worthwhile companion. "It smells excellent, as always." Castiel stood, so he could better observe how she cooked. "I believe there might be thunder tonight." He mentioned his earlier deduction. "The clouds don't look like they're heavy with moisture, but the air has shifted dramatically..." He glanced up at the sky again. "We might have a light sprinkle of rain, but not much more than that, I hope." He waved a hand dismissively. "It will pass before we start our journey again tomorrow." Castiel smiled reassuringly.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled as the prince sat at the fire, complimenting the smell of her food. "Thank you," she said, nodding at him happily. She turned to look back when he mentioned that there would be thunder that evening and looked at the skies before them. "Indeed we shall," she said, sighing softly. They were past the river and the storms rarely crossed to the mountains, rather resided in the grassy plains that they were in. Whether the storm would rain or not was a mystery to her, sometimes the rain reached that area and sometimes it didn't.

Genevera smirked lightly when he spoke of the rain passing before they continued the next day. "Is the mighty prince worried about traveling in a little rain?" she teased, bowing her head teasingly at him and laughing. She looked at him and smiled to show that she was only teasing. "That storm is small at best, they can grow far worse in these regions," she said, grinning at him.

She turned the vegetables on the fire and handed him the first batch while the rest finished. Potatoes, Zucchini, roasted bell peppers and some herbs from their rations made for a rather nice roasted vegetable medley. "Enjoy," she said, smiling at him as she threw another log on the fire.

[Naraness]

"Afraid of the rain?" The prince chuckled, nudging her playfully in acknowledgement of her teasing tone. "Well if you must insist on knowing all my secrets, yes. At least I'll have you here to protect me." He laughed. "No, no... Actually, I love the rain." Castiel told her, taking his portion of the meal with a grateful smile. "However, Briar does not. That horses is as solid as a rock until a drop of water touches his hide. Trust me... I've given him enough baths to know."

At the word 'bath' the horse's head lifted. He took a few steps away from Castiel, snorting before returning to his grazing patterns. "You see? He doesn't even like the word!" The prince chuckled softly. He shook his head, turning an eye on the horse, and then back to Genevera. Castiel simply smiled, and then started eating.


_______________

That night the prince's predictions were fulfilled. The sky rolled with gentle thunder, and occasional flashes of lightning lit up the sky. Wind whistled through the trees and pushed against the sides of the tents. The horses stood next to each other, sheltered under a tree with their sides pressed into each other for warmth. Everything was calm and peaceful, until the sky sent down curtains of mist. Briar let out a loud, defiant whinny. His large hooves pawed at the ground, digging a small trench in the earth.

Castiel woke at the sound of his horse's complaint. He sighed, knowing the cause of the horse's distress. There was simply nothing he could do, though. He rolled over and closed his eyes, listening to the distant sound of thunder.

[Froggy]

After the two had retired for the evening the storm began its onslaught. Howling wind, light rain, thunder and lightening striking across the skies. The prince's predictions had come true, though it was a bit more rain than he had bargained for. Genevera had expected something of the sort, though she had honestly expected worse. She woke up to the sound of a long, defiant whinny from Briar and felt rather sorry for the horses. So, begrudgingly she stretched and sat up in her makeshift bed, staring out at the weather. It wasn't the torrential pours that she was use to but she could see how it would make a royal horse feel uncomfortable.

Either way she stood, knowing that the fire should be stoked and figuring that her presence might help to calm the horses a little. As she exited her shelter she smiled lightly as she felt the mist caress her cheeks and slowly wet her hair. Briar made to move to her but decided against moving from the confines of the tree, and instead took to snorting and stomping at the earth. "Now, now silly boy it's just a little storm," she said as she made her way over to the horses, raising her hands and petting both his and Raven's nuzzle. They both snorted and looked at her in the eyes as she stepped back, raising her hands again and whispering a few enchantments.

Vines began to fall from the tree as they had before within the forest, it was the best she could do to keep the horses dry. She made to leave their side but they both let out loud protests and Briar stuck his neck out, biting at her sleeve. "Hey now you two, I have to stoke the fire or it'll go out," she said, rubbing his neck and gently pushing him off her. The horses pawed at the ground and continued to make loud noises as she made her way to the fire, throwing a couple more logs into it in order to provide fuel again. It was then that she looked up and saw what had caused the horses such great alarm and let out a shrilling shriek of fear.

In front of her stood a rather large, heavy black bear less than three feet from her and looking as though he was preparing to charge her. She picked up a log with embers on the end and waved it at the bear, making herself known to it. "GET BACK!" she shouted, trying her best to not only scare it but to get the Prince's attention before it was too late. The horses were protesting loudly and lightning crashed overhead. Genevera slowly began to back up, but the bear didn't seem intimidated the slightest bit and slowly crept towards her. "GET BACK I SAY!" she shouted again, louder this time as she kept waving the stick uselessly.

[Naraness]

The horse's complaints kept Castiel up. Though he tried to block out the sound, Briar's concerned whinnies pierced the air like sharp knives. Flashes of lightning clashed with the dark sky, and thunder erupted across the mountains. Wind tore at the sides of the prince's tent, tugging it back and forth as blades of grass whipped the ground. Another plea of distress struck the air, causing Castiel to sit up in frustration. "That horse..." He muttered, attempting to block out the sound with his hands. It was to no avail, though. "I swear if he keeps this up-"

A shriek of fear split the air, cutting through the sounds of wind and rain. "Gen?" Castiel bolted up, suddenly afraid for his friend's life. He listened carefully, afraid that he had mistaken his horse's cry for Genevera's, but when he heard a deep roar and more shouts, he knew that there was trouble. "Oh Gods I should have known." He whispered, frantically reaching for his sword. Castiel tossed the sheath aside, plunging out of the tent. "Genevera?" The prince squinted through the darkness, pushing his hair back as the wind tossed it over his face. In front of him he saw a large form closing in on one that was dwarfed by it's towering stature. Sparks flew through the air as the elven maiden tried to fend the creature off with a half-burned log. As she swept her arm back and forth, the embers glowed in deep red arches. The bear was not fazed, however.

Castiel leapt forward, putting himself between Genevera and the beast. "Back!" He swiped his sword in warning, striking an offensive stance. Castiel put his arm in front of Genevera in a protective gesture. "It'll be alright." He said gently, glancing back at her. He then turned his eyes back to the bear, and his expression turned hard once more. "There's nothing for you here!" He shouted strongly, stomping his foot in a display of dominance. The prince refused to be seen as prey. If he held his ground, perhaps the bear would leave at the sight of another 'predator'. However, he did not want to hurt the creature... It was probably just hungry, lured here by the smell of food... I should have been more careful. He thought, mentally berating himself.

It was time to think of a plan to rid themselves of the creature. If only he could lure it away safely... Though it might have been an easier task to finish the beast with his sword, Castiel would not do so until there was no other choice. No, he would find away to turn it's attention away from them. Perhaps it wasn't even there for the food... Maybe the storm had surprised it, and it believed it was being threatened or chased. "Gen, I think we might need to get out of here, come back in the morning..." If he could get them to the horses, then they could take off and leave their belongings behind. There would be wreckage the next day, but at least no blood would be spilled...

[Froggy]

As Genevera took several steps back, the bear followed her slowly. The burning log in front of her did nothing to phase the bear, nor did her shouting. Instead it only seemed to annoy the creature and soon it reared up on its hind legs, roaring once more as it raised a paw to swipe at her. She dropped the log and screamed once more in fear, crouching down and covering her face with her arms. She could only peak through her eyes as she waited for the bear to strike, but suddenly there was another figure between her and the bear and she could only watch in shock, her entire body trembling in fear as she did so.

The prince shouted for the bear to get back, swinging his sword fiercely at the beast in an attempt to force it back. The bear roared at the prince but fell back to all fours, taking a few steps back. The prince then turned to her and assured her that everything would be alright, and all she could do was look at him as tears fell down her eyes. The prince then did something that she never expected, stomping his foot in dominance and telling the creature that there was nothing for it here. The act was so brave that she was having difficulty believing he would do that for her, that he had done it for her.

The bear roared at the prince, and suddenly she heard galloping behind her. She opened her eyes in shock when she saw both Briar and Raven racing towards them, leaping over them both and landing between them and the bear. Both horses reared up on their hind legs, kicking their front hooves at the bear. Briar actually managed to strike the bear, much to her surprise, and the bear roared in anger before turning and fleeing. By this time Genevera was able to stand and the prince suggested that they leave the area for the evening. She threw her arms around him and embraced him firmly, sobbing into his shoulder. "Thank you," she said between sobs, her body still shaking from head to toe.

Briar and Raven came over to inspect both her and Castiel, and Briar nuzzled both of them. "And thank you two," Genevera said, and both horses snorted, prancing back to the cover that she had provided for them earlier. She took in a few deep breaths and blushed when she realized that she was still hugging the prince, shifting her gaze towards the ground and backing up a few steps. She coughed lightly before answering him. "Ahem...yes...it couldn't hurt to leave until morning," she said, holding her right arm with her left hand as she shivered from the cold.

[Naraness]

Castiel couldn't help but shake in fear, standing as the only barrier between the bear and Genevera. He felt as thin as paper about to be crumpled and tossed aside. The bear's roar shook the air even more violently than thunder, and he swallowed his terror, standing his ground. The prince glanced back at Gen, seeing tears glisten on her cheeks. His heart clenched painfully at the sight. Words couldn't describe how much he wanted to gather her in his arms and comfort her, just to see those tears vanish.

While his attention was distracted, the bear pawed at him with it's claws, tearing through his sleeve and scratching the surface of his skin. He gasped in surprise, swiping his sword skillfully but without the intent to do more than the bear had done to him. He couldn't afford to divert his attention again.

A loud whinny accompanied the sound of a branch snapping. Ground-shaking hoof beats struck the ground, and Castiel had to step back in the horses' wake. His eyes widened at the sheer ferocity in Briar's eyes as he led Raven to take the bear head-on. The beast was no match for their hooves and teeth. When Briar delivered a sharp strike to it's shoulder, the battle was won. Raven bucked, sending her rear hooves into the creature's side as it fled. Castiel gasped for breath as he watched the massive creature lope away. The horses screamed furiously, pawing the ground. The prince had never been so proud.

"Gen?" He swallowed, turning around to see her standing. Castiel stumbled back in surprise as the maiden clung to him, sobbing. He dropped his sword, and it fell to the ground with a dull clatter. He wrapped his arms around her, struggling to keep from falling to his knees. "It's safe... It's safe." He whispered, closing his eyes in relief. Droplets of rain fell all around them, covering them in a sheet of water. A moment later, the horses nuzzled them, making sure that the two were alright. Castiel smiled, reaching out to stroke their muzzles with trembling fingers. "We're alive thanks to you two..."

He felt Genevera draw in a deep breath, and she moved away, apparently embarrassed. "Wait, wait," He said, gently slipping his fingers around her wrist. "Are you alright?" Castiel looked in her eyes. "Did it hurt you? Are you injured?" He was genuinely concerned, afraid that he'd come too late and failed to protect her. Without thinking he put his hand on her cheek, looking at her as if her eyes would reveal the answer.

[Froggy]

After it was over and the bear had left, Genevera couldn't help but to notice that the bear had managed to strike Castiel. She smiled softly when he held her, whispering to her that it was safe. He was shaking as was she, and she felt absolutely terrible that he had gotten injured on her behalf. When she backed up he gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist, almost forcing her to look up. A soft blush graced her cheeks, though she did her best to hide it. Water was falling all around them, and on them, and she was soaking wet by this time.

"I...I am fine," Genevera said, the corners of her lips falling slightly when he asked if she was alright, if the bear had managed to hurt her. She felt his fingers lift off of her wrist, and oddly she found herself wishing that they had stayed. Where they went next surprised her, and she did her best not to widen her eyes as he placed his hand upon her cheek and stared into her eyes. Her breaths shortened, became softer as she looked at him.

In the back of her mind she was aware that they were standing so close, so very close to each other and that water was falling on them. "I am...fine. Thanks to you," she said finally, glancing down and remembering that he had been hurt in the course of his brave action. "Here...let me heal you," she said, placing her hand gently on his as it rest on her cheek. "This may sting a bit," she warned him, sighing as she focused and placed her other hand upon the injured area.

She squeezed his hand as she pressed her fingers around the injury and began to sing a soft, ancient song. She looked into his eyes and held him there, doing her best to keep his mind off his injury and off the stinging sensation she knew that he would feel. Her voice was soft, melodic and whimsical. A soft glow soon emitted from her hand and light poured into Castiel's skin, sending both healing magic and warmth into him. Before long the bleeding had stopped, and even sooner the wound was closed and his skin fresh, as though nothing had happened to him. Her voice trailed off to a whisper before she became silent, her eyes closing and her body shaking as she continued to hold onto him, more for balance now than to heal him. "We should seek shelter once more," she suggested, taking in deep breaths as she struggled to control her shivering.

[Naraness]

Relief washed over him, knowing that she was alright. The scratch on his arm was well worth the fact that Genevera was safe from harm. He looked down at his sleeve as she mentioned the claw marks. "Oh it's nothing..." Truth be told, Castiel had barely realized that he'd been hurt. It was only a moment later that the maiden insisted she heal him, and warned him that the process would sting. He shifted his feet nervously, but held out his arm for her. Her soft, melodic voice washed over him like warm mulled cider. He watched as a small stream of light flowed into his wound. It burned like a red coal, but somehow he didn't flinch. Something about the sting was beautiful and pure... A moment later there was no trace of his wound left. Only the tear in his sleeve proved that it had been there at all.

"Thank you." He whispered softly, supporting Genevera as she held onto him. It occurred to him that using her abilities to heal had probably drained her strength. "Come on, we'll return in the morning." Briar and Raven were nearby. Though they weren't tied together, Castiel had little fear that Raven would run off. The ebony horse had already bonded to them, and she would follow loyally. Gently, the prince guided Gen to Briar's side and helped her into the saddle. Rain continued to pour down on them as if it's only desire was to make them both miserable. Though Briar was clearly displeased, he remained steady, knowing that he was needed.

Castiel got up into the saddle behind Genevera, putting an arm around her to help keep her steady. In his other had he found Briar's reins and gathered them up. So close to her, he could feel her shivering and struggling to keep warm. It was an impossible task in the rain. He needed to find shelter, fast. "Hold on." Lightning flashed above them, and Briar stumbled nervously. Castiel put his hand on the horse's neck to calm the creature. "It's alright boy, settle down." It made the prince nervous, knowing that his unshakable horse had been stirred up by the event.

Soon enough, they were on the move again. The world was dark, like black and white painted in cold rain. Everything was bitter and chilly, and mud clung to the horses' hooves. The rain simply refused to give up. Now and then, a distant roar told them that the bear was still out there... however, they never saw it again that night.

After travelling for a slow, cold twenty minutes, Briar came to a stop in front of a tight grove of aspen trees. They were so close together that very little rain was able to penetrate the leaf canopy, and the grove was pressed up against an earthy hillside. There, tucked away against the side of the hill there was no wind. Finally, they were safe from the piercing, violent gales. None of them had been spared by the clouds, though. Horse and elf alike were soaked to the skin. Castiel shivered violently, barely able to keep his hands from going numb. He slid off of his horse, reaching up to help Gen down. He needed to find a way to get her warm, but how? He would never be able to make a fire in this storm.

[Froggy]

Genevera groaned internally when the prince egged her on to Briar's side, forcing her to walk. At that point the only thing she wanted to do was to collapse to the ground and sleep for the rest of the evening, and wake up in the morning to sunshine. Never mind the rain, she was already soaking wet...so what harm would it do to sleep in the rain? "Just...let me...sleep..." she begged as he helped her onto Briar, and she reluctantly swung her leg over the horse's side.

She felt rather sorry for Briar, he seemed to be more shaken by the storm than by the bear attack. Still, as they traveled Genevera was having a difficult time riding the horse, primarily due to her exhaustion and shivering. Finally she settled for laying against the horse's neck, her arms hanging down the side. She was shivering desperately at this point, wanting nothing more than for them to stop moving and for sleep to take over her.

Soon though the horse came to a stop and she lifted her head just enough to see that it had quit raining...or rather, that they had found shelter from the rain. She felt Castiel shift off the horse and stumbled a bit, almost falling off but managing to grip onto the horse and stay atop. She saw the prince's hand outstretched for her and took it, sliding gently off Briar and immediately falling into Castiel's arms. She was shivering from the cold and wet and hoped that her own wound had healed enough that this would not be an issue, as her bandages were soaked through.

"H...hold me steady..." Genevera pleaded with him as she turned around, wobbling a little due to a lack of balance. "Briar...Raven...come closer..." she whispered, and thankfully the horses did so. Soon though she was singing again, her arms outstretched towards the tree tops. This time she sung words that Castiel would be able to understand.


“Life…let is sprout, let it grow, let it shine and show,
Life…let it emerge, let it tremble on the verge,
Rain forth down from the skies and grow,
Life…let it grow, let it shine and show,”

As she sang vines began to come forth from the trees, intertwining with each other and only leaving the occasional hole for air to pass through. It was the best that she could do for them to provide warmth, though it was slowly draining the last of her strength and by this time she was leaning against Castiel completely for support as she continued to sing.


“May your vines come down to the ground,
May your vines protect us from the rain,
May your vines keep us safe and sound,
May your vines hold strong against the strain,

“Let the beauty of your nature shine forth,
Let there be no impenetrable cracks,
Let the moss on your trees that face north,
Come down and cover what space the vines lack,

Most of all…let the beauty of your aspen trees show,”

And at the end of her song they were covered in a little canopy of their own, strong vines wrapped around them and the holes covered by thick layers of moss. There was no way in or out of the fortress, not until she woke up in the morning. By this time Genevera had turned around and had her arms wrapped around him, holding him for warmth. “Castiel…” she whispered softly as her eyes closed, her body becoming limp as she slowly fell to her knees, then to the ground unconscious from exhaustion.

[Naraness]

Castiel caught her as she practically fell from atop the horse. "Gen..." He whispered, somehow feeling that this was his fault. The prince couldn't help but think that if he had gotten up to tend to the fire before she felt the need to, then she might have been safe in her tent all along... He heard her small voice pleading with him, telling him to hold her steady. "Wait, what are you doing?" He asked, watching as she beckoned the horses closer. "Please do no more, you're exhausted, you... You may hurt yourself if you continue!" Castiel tried to reason with her, but Genevera's mind was made up.

Soon her beautiful voice cut through the rain and thunder. For the first time, Castiel was able to understand every word that she spoke... He watched as vines and aspen branches began to weave together and stretch towards the ground. They entwined in tight, strong patterns which no droplet of rain could penetrate. It covered all four of them, fending off the rain as well as stone. Genevera's strength was dwindling, and the prince swiftly moved forward to help her stay on her feet. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her just enough that her feet were touching the ground, but she was no longer standing on her own. "Please." He whispered. "Don't strain yourself, you have done enough." But her song did not cease. The vines reached all the way to the ground, sealing them inside a cocoon of safety. There was no way in or out, and only air passed through the tightly woven canopy.

Her song ended, and Castiel drew her closer, trying to preserve the warmth in her body. He feared for the briefest of moments that she had used the very last of her energy, but her voice, saying his name, told him that it was not so. Her body soon went limp and her eyes closed. Castiel moved to the ground as she did, but kept her close to him. He was afraid that letting her go meant losing her, and so he kept his arms wrapped protectively around her thin frame. "Rest." He whispered, cradling her in his tired arms. "Just rest." His limbs felt like lead, begging him to go to sleep. The prince laid his head close to hers, comforted by the sound of her breathing. It was a gentle reminder that they'd gotten out alive...

Both horses were completely unconcerned with the strange shelter they were in. They looked down at the two elven forms entwined at the floor, and stepped forward just long enough to make sure that their masters were still alive. After ensuring the fact, they too went to sleep, safe from the dangers of the world.

[Froggy]

The four slept soundly through the night, protected by the elements around them. The storm had been far worse than either of them had predicted and had taken a lot of strength from them. Genevera slept soundly, not even aware that the two had cuddled through the entire night. His arms were around her, and hers around his as they cuddled for warmth, struggling to regain their strength.

When morning came the light shone through the holes and gracefully tickled her pale cheeks, reaching the lids of her eyes. She winced lightly as she felt the rays against her skin, a soft smile gracing her features. She was dry now, no longer shivering and the sun warming her up quickly. She was surprised to find another heat source so close to her, and covering her so fully...surely the prince hadn't been able to build a fire during the night? She yawned lightly as she woke, stretching her arms and finding that something was wrapped softly around them.

Opening her eyes she was very surprised to see the prince so close to her, and her eyes widened in shock when her mind began to come to and realize what had happened. They had...cuddled...the entire night. She had...slept with the prince...

"Shit," she breathed, cursing the first time in decades when she realized the grave situation that she suddenly found herself in. Slowly, ever so slowly she tried to break free of his grip, trying not to wake him as she attempted to scoot away before he woke up and realized what had happened. There was a fierce blush on her cheeks as she dipped her head, holding her hair with her hands to avoid it brushing against his face and bumping straight into Raven. The horse let out a loud protest and likewise woke Briar up, who also protested. The two horses saw them and started snorting, showing their teeth as though laughing.

Great. She was being laughed at by a couple of horses. "Oh shut up," she said, having completely given up on escaping without notice, choosing instead to sit up abruptly and cover her face as she blushed furiously.

[Naraness]

"Mmmnble... Mrffn." The warm lump that was Genevera started to move, and it felt like a part of the prince was being pulled out of him. Little did he know that one of his arms, the one that had been under her, was completely asleep. The blood flow had been cut off overnight, and it was as good as dead at the current moment. Horses snorting and whinnying with apparent amusement made him very confused. It sounded like they were close... Close enough to reach out and touch them. When Briar snorted, a small spritz of snot struck the side of his face. Castiel made a strangled noise and slapped a hand on his face. "Briar..." This seemed to amuse the horse even further.

He saw Genevera just a few feet away, and couldn't explain to urge to pull her close and go back to sleep. He shook his head in confusion and tried to sit up, propping himself up with his arm. Since it was still asleep, he had absolutely no control over it. His elbow buckled and he crumbled back to the ground. As he lay with his face in the dirt, he pondered as to why he felt considerably colder than he had only moments ago. "That was not one of my best landings." Castiel used his better arm to help him sit up, and wiped some dirt from his face. "Um..." The unease and general awkwardness in the air was undeniable.

He suddenly remembered the previous night, and the way they had fallen asleep. Castiel's face drained of color, and then turned red. He hadn't meant to fall asleep with her that way, and certainly did not mean to disrespect her at all. No doubt that she was extremely embarrassed by the fact that she'd been cuddled in his arms all night. Strangely though, he hadn't thought anything of it until this point. Perhaps he could get away with it by using the excuse that he was trying to keep her warm. "I'm sorry, I mean, how do you feel? Er..." There was simply no way to understand his sudden loss for words. The prince scratched the back of his neck, smiling nervously. "Well um... At least the rain stopped." He offered pathetically.

[Froggy]

Genevera couldn't help but to glance up as the prince slowly woke up, his body clearly protesting it. She did smirk a little when his arm buckled, feeling a bit bad as she figured that was probably the arm she had slept on. Still, it was his fault. She was asleep before he had fallen asleep, even if it was just moments before. Those thoughts made her blush even more, especially as the color drained from her face her frame shrunk and she wrapped her arms around herself, waiting on his reaction. Back at home...this surely would have been a crime, had anyone found out.

Here, though? When the two were so close to death...she could only wonder what he would say, given the nature of the circumstances. Oh spirits...he was blushing, and more over he was asking her how she felt...what could she say? That she was embarrassed for sleeping with him, that aside from that she was perfectly fine now?

She coughed lightly when she realized that they were still wrapped in her cocoon and raised her arm, spreading them apart midway in the air and watching as the vines separated just enough to allow them an exit. "Better...thank you..." she said, her voice a respectful whisper. "How is your arm?" she asked, remembering how the bear had struck him the night before.

[Naraness]

Castiel cleared his throat, happy to get off of the awkward topic which they had never actually spoken about. He brushed himself off and smiled, running a hand through his hair to help himself wake up. "Good, good... I was worried about you last night." He admitted, looking up at her. "It was such a terrible night." He thought back to the bear, and the lightning, the wind and the cold. It had been like a nightmare, only... There was a chance of actually losing the people he cared about.

Dismissing the thoughts, he stood up. The vines were retreating now, going back to their natural places. Castiel hadn't realized what a beautiful place they were in. the air still smelled of rain, but there was not a cloud in the sky. Beautiful, pure light shone down on the nearby aspen leaves, lighting them up from above. He was awestruck for a few moments, simply looking around. "I guess sometimes there's so much rain that you don't realize it's a beautiful world." He murmured to himself, smiling thoughtfully.

"Oh my arm?" He asked, looked down at it. "Just fine, thanks to you." A small blood stain on his sleeve was all that remained of the injury. His skin was completely unmarred, as if nothing had ever happened. He noticed that it was soft and completely hairless though, like a newborn's skin... Castiel had never been able to understand magic. "Should we go back to the tents? Hopefully things will be as we left them." The prince was confident that the night's terrors were over.

[Froggy]

Genevera blushed as the prince said that he was worried about her the night before. She looked down when he brought up the bear attack and couldn't help but to glance at his arm, just to be sure that it was okay. "There are many dangers when traveling that we have to adjust to and overcome," she said, sighing softly and looking at him kindly. She knew that he was not accustomed to travel and these were things she had been exposed to before, it was her responsibility to make this as easy of a journey as she could for him. There wasn't much she could do in lieu of a bear attack though and was grateful for his bravery.

"Thank you...you were very brave last night," she said, looking at him and smiling softly. "I'm glad that your arm is better," she said, looking then at the tear in his sleeve. She glanced up when the vines lifted, revealing to them the world around them. It was a shame that they hadn't traveled another twenty minutes the night before, otherwise they would have slept here for the night without having to encounter the bear.

He then mentioned that they should go back to the tents and she sighed reluctantly. "Hopefully..." she whispered, making her way over to the horses. She looked at Briar and he lifted his head down as though to make it easier for her to get on, but instead she pat his neck gently and he looked back up at her. "Sorry boy, not today," she said, walking straight to Raven and rubbing her neck gently. The horse looked at her with confusion and she smiled at the mare. "Your turn girl," she said, patting her neck and looking to the prince. "I think I'm ready," she said, smiling softly at him. After the bravery that both Briar and Raven had displayed the night before it had given her the courage to try riding on her own and to spend more time bonding with Raven.

[Naraness]

Confusion plastered itself on the prince's face. At first, he thought that perhaps Genevera wished to walk instead, but the pieces quickly came together when she approached Raven. He couldn't help himself but smile brightly, and step closer. "If you're completely sure." He smiled. "For the most part, Raven will probably follow Briar. You won't have to worry about guiding her very much. However, I believe you two should start communicating to strengthen your bond.” Castiel couldn’t help but actually feel quite proud of her. “Raven is also a good deal shorter than Briar. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble getting up on your own, but I’d be happy to help if you need it.”

Castiel spent a few minutes explaining simple commands, such as guiding Raven with the reins, and combining these motions with gentle nudges from her heels. “The more time you spend together, the more easily you’ll be able to communicate. It’ll be as easy as breathing.” He had experienced this with Briar. At times, it was like his horse was an extension of himself. "Raven's gait will be much different than Briar's. You'll have to spend some time getting used to it, but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time."

At this point he stepped back and gestured for Genevera to go ahead. "We can take it slow back to the tents, if you'd like. Or spend a few moments riding around this clearing until you have a better feel for things." Castiel was confident that she was capable of taking care of herself, but he wanted to be careful... A bad fall was the last thing he wanted for her, especially since she was still healing. He remembered his experience fishing, an could only hope that Genevera would be more successful than he had been.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled at Castiel's enthusiasm towards her riding Raven and pulled lightly, mounting the horse with as much grace as she could. He then spent a few minutes explaining the basic communications with Raven, how to steer her with the reigns as she had watched him do with Briar so many times before, and how to further that communication with the back of her heels.

"I see no reason why we can't make it straight to the tents- I'm a little anxious to see the shape of our camp," she admitted finally, patting Raven on the side of her neck. Raven lifted her head and took off, and Genevera startled at the horse's actions. "Raven!" she shouted as the horse took off through the woods, doing her best to hold onto the mere's reins and to keep her balance. The horse seemed elated that she was being ridden, by her nonetheless, and determined to show Genevera just what she was capable of. The two came across a fallen tree that was about half as wide as Raven was tall and her eyes opened, staring at Raven in fear. She tried to pull back on her reins but it was too late, the horse was in mid-air jumping over the fallen tree as though it were nothing. "Back to camp girl!" Genevera said, her heart racing and thudding in her chest as she watched the mere double Briar's time from the night before. Though, granted it had been raining so she had to give Briar a little slack.

Finally, after ten minutes of riding ferociously through the woods the two came upon their clearing and much to her surprise it was left in pretty decent condition. The tents were still standing, and the only thing that had been disturbed was their food bags. Raven came to a sudden halt in front of where the camp fire had been and Genevera finally lost her balance, sliding clear off the horse and landing on her good arm, sliding a few feet up. Raven let out a whinny as though to mock her and Genevera stood, crossing her arms and glaring at the horse. "Patting your neck does not mean to take off like a raving lunatic...does it?" she asked the horse, which seemed to make Raven snort several times.

Genevera stretched to loosen her muscles, she was covered in dirt and knew that the prince would be worried about her by the time that he got there. "You're lucky I only fell once," Genevera said, smirking at the mere and gently rubbing her neck, waiting by her side until Castiel came back. She didn't want him having a fit on the horse, nor did she want Briar to get angry with Raven.

[Naraness]

"I'm sure you be just fine." Castiel assured her, smiling as he moved towards Briar. The tall horse looked a little concerned, but the prince was sure that he was simply worried for Genevera, since she'd been riding with him ever since they began their journey. "You'll have the hang of it in no time-" Raven whinnied excitedly behind him, and the sound of rapid hoof beats nearly made his heart stop. "Genevera?" He whirled around to see that the ebony mare had taken off. "No! Oh gods."

As quickly as he could, Castiel got into his saddle and urged Briar into a gallop. They made much better time than they had in the rain the previous night. The lithe black mare dashed through the woods like an elegant fawn, and he was quite sure that Genevera would have been having the time of her life if not for the fact that this was her very first ride alone. Try as he might, Briar couldn't catch them. The much larger horse wasn't nearly as agile as Raven was, and he couldn't weave through the trees the way she could.

"Curse it." He muttered under his breath. He guided Briar to a clearer area in the woods where they could move more efficiently. "Genevera!" He called, hearing his voice echo through the woods. At this point he couldn't see them any longer. The sound of Raven's hoof beats were his only guide. Luckily for him, Castiel was pretty sure he knew where Raven was going. The mare was smart, and she wouldn't run wild. She had a destination.

"Come on boy, back to the camp!" Castiel nudged Briar's sides with his heels, and they took off again. The prince could only pray that Gen wouldn't get hurt...

When they arrived, he saw that both Raven and Genevera were standing there, intact. "Thank heaven, are you alright?" He practically leaped off of his horse, and moved ran to the two of them. "Now Raven why did you do that?" He asked with an accusing edge to his voice. "You could have hurt her." Castiel spoke directly to the horse, knowing that the creature had somewhat of an understanding to what he as saying. Elven horses were more intelligent than normal horses, which made them great companions and friends. But they could also be crafty...

"Listen to me now, Genevera is under your protection and you need to take care of her, do you understand me? No more of this nonsense." He probably looked very comical, scolding the horse as he was. But Raven's head sunk a bit. Even though she didn't know what he was saying, she could tell that she'd done wrong. "Good. There will be plenty of time to run once she is more experienced." He turned back to the maiden with a small smile. "Are you alright? Did you fall?" He asked, worried.

[Froggy]

Genevera had been dusting herself off when Castiel arrived back to camp. She clutched the hair on Raven's neck as the prince scolded the horse, though she did admit that it was hard not to smile to see him talking so sternly to a horse. "I did, but I am fine. Just a little dusty," she said, brushing some dust off of her front side in his direction to lighten things up a bit. Raven decided that was a good time to go over towards Briar, but Briar snorted and almost seemed to be glaring at her.

"The camp seems to be in fair condition- though I can't say the same for our rations. We'll want to stick close to the river for fishing until we reach town," Genevera said, making her way over towards the tents and hoping that her bandages were still there. Opening the flap she saw that everything was, surprisingly enough just as she had left it. She grabbed her bag and sighed when she saw the bandages, wishing desperately that she was healed but knowing it was not so. She was much better than she had been just days prior when the attack had happened, but alas... it was still painful every now and then when she turned the wrong way or lifted something too heavy, and it still needed tending to.

"I'll just be a moment..." Genevera said as she popped her head out of the flap, and then back in. She lifted her sleeve down to remove the old bandages and winced when she saw her wound was beginning to redden around it. "Oh no..." she whispered, lightly brushing her fingers around the edge of the blade mark. It was still red and swollen around the edges, but the redness was beginning to spread more than before. She took a deep breath and took special care when cleaning it, wincing when she had to wipe over the mark. Perhaps she had decided to ride the mare too early, but how could she take that back now after seeing the pride in his face?

She quickly wrapped up cleaning and bandaging, exiting the tent and looking a little worried. "The nearest town is roughly...another day away. We should reach it by tomorrow evening," Genevera informed him, looking away from him as she began to pack up camp...doing her best to keep from looking at him. She didn't want him to see her stress.

[Naraness]

His heart beat slowed down once he realized that she was just fine, and safe. She didn't even seem very worried. The prince had been concerned that this experience would make Genevera uneasy about being on horses, but she didn't seem shaken at all... Castiel couldn't help but admire her strength. It made him wonder just how many things she'd gone through in her past that made this such an easy thing to get past.

"Take your time." He told her, smiling as she went to her tent. In the mean time, he gathered what little of their rations had survived. Most of it had been torn through and ravaged, but he was able to find a small, untouched bag of dried fruits, and a few crackers. "Better than nothing, I suppose." He smiled. "Sounds like we'll be having fish a lot for a while." Castiel chuckled at the thought, knowing that he was likely to have a few more awkward moments in the water. No doubt he would become more skilled at the task, though. Genevera was a good teacher, and he was pretty good at picking up skills... When he wanted to, that is. The prince could be stubborn as a mule at times.

After packing the small amount of food away, he found Raven (Who was sulking near Briar.) "Come here girl, let's see what went wrong." It occurred to him that he should have warmed the mare up before letting Genevera ride her. Raven hadn't been ridden in at least a few weeks now, and she needed to know that she was no longer a pack horse. So for a few minutes, Castiel rode her around the clearing. It took a few moments, but soon she was turning, stopping, and picking up her speed as soon as she was told. "That's a good girl." He smiled, and leaned down to pat her neck. At this motion, she tossed her head and started trotting. "Now, now wait, I didn't tell you to go..." Castiel remembered that Gen had rubbed her neck before Raven took off before. "Hmm..." He stopped her, dismounted, and lifted the mare's mane. There on the right side of her neck was a thin scar. It was then that he remembered Raven had come from a very... unorthodox, trainer. "Mystery solved." He murmured to himself.

Genevera emerged from her tent, and told him that the next town was about a day away. "Sounds good to me." Castiel answered her. "I found some food that was untouched, but it's not much. Sounds like we'll be doing some more fishing." He laughed lightly. "Are you ready? Raven is ready for you, but if you don't feel comfortable there's always room on Briar." He assured her. The prince noticed that she seemed a little off. Perhaps the event with Raven had shaken her more than it originally seemed.

[Froggy]

When Castiel asked if she was ready she reluctantly turned to look at him and nodded her head. She grabbed the last of their things and brought them over to the horses, wondering how they would distribute everything amongst the horses. "I am...though perhaps we should take it slow, give me time to get use to riding alone," she suggested, looking at him hopefully. At that point Raven came over to her and nuzzled her snout against her lightly, and Genevera smiled a little at the horse.

"Alright, alright. Just don't go fast again," Genevera said, taking in a deep breath. It was clear that she was nervous, though not for the reason that Castiel might expect. She was worried about her wound and the progress it was making... it wasn't good enough, not what she was expecting. She needed to see the doctor in town in order to collect some healing herbs and perhaps a bit of advice.

Raven lowered her head to allow Genevera to mount, and she did so with just a little difficulty. She was still getting use to it after all. "We should stop by the doctor while in town...I need to collect some healing herbs for my wound," Genevera said nonchalantly, keeping her voice soft and melodical as to not concern Castiel. Or well, so she hoped.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled when Raven nuzzled her, apparently asking for forgiveness. He was sure that the mare was ready to be the faithful stead she was meant to be. "We'll take it slow." He assured Genevera as he took down their tents, folding them up so they could be packed away. "I took some time to revaluate Raven's behavior, and I remembered that she had a bit of a rough start as a filly. Be careful of touching the right side of her neck, I think it might remind her of being hurt."

Castiel picked up their things, and packed the away onto the saddle bags which had now been strapped to Briar's broad haunches. Raven's load had been considerably lessened, and since the food had been torn apart there was even less to carry. He smiled at Genevera, wondering again at the strange, worried tone that was carried in everything she did. It felt almost like she was hiding something. The prince couldn't imagine what... Of course, that was none of his business.

"Right, of course. The local doctor will be our first stop once we get there." He looked over at her, making sure that she looked steady. He hadn't realized it at first, but he was very curious as to what an ordinary town looked like. After all, he'd only ever been in the elven city, and few nearby farming communities within the elven valley. What was a human tavern like? Did they have taverns? This new spark of curiosity made him want to hurry there as quickly as he could. But that would be not only ridiculous and rash, but irresponsible. He needed to go slowly for Gen's sake.

[Froggy]

The two had traveled relentlessly throughout the day, only stopping once for food and once more for a bathroom break. Raven seemed to be more than pleased to no longer be just a pack horse, and that she was riding her. Genevera on the other hand was exhausted by the time the sun began going down and it showed in the way her upper frame slumped. Raven seemed to notice her exhaustion and lifted her head up, turning her snout and bumping against Genevera's leg. Genevera smiled and pat Raven's neck, though towards the top and avoiding her sensitive area.

The two came upon a clearing in the woods that was surrounded by rocks on two sides and bushes on the other side. It was roughly fifteen feet wide, just large enough for two horses and a couple of tents with a fire in the middle. "This will be good," Genevera said, pulling gently against Raven's reigns to stop. "Good girl," she said, dismounting the mare and rubbing her snout. Raven snorted and pranced over to Briar's side. Genevera followed and grabbed Castiel's tent off of Briar and began to set it up, knowing that there wasn't much more she could do to make it comfortable due to the rocky ground. Still...it was better to camp here than somewhere more comfortable or closer to the river as bears would be least likely to traverse through there.

"If you want to gather firewood I'll start setting up camp," she said as she began to set up his tent. She was looking forward to a full night's sleep, even if it wasn't on the most comfortable of surfaces they could make due. Within no time she had his tent up and ready, blankets and all, and began to set up her own tent. She wasn't worried about dinner as they still had some leftover Trout that they had cooked for lunch, all they had to do was to heat it up over the fire when he got it going.

"Shouldn't be much longer before we reach the next town," Genevera said, knowing that he likely had several questions about the town. He may have been a prince in their kingdom, but this was outside of their kingdom and she highly doubted that he would get anymore special treatment than a noble. After she finished putting their tents up she retrieved her medical bag and sighed reluctantly, disappearing into her tent for a while to change bandages. When she removed the old ones from this morning she was pleased to see that the wound seemed to be closing more, but at the same token it seemed to be growing redder. "Great," she mumbled as she dabbled some ointment on it, placing fresh bandages on it and wrapping it up tightly.

"I should warn you," Genevera said, her voice soft and gentle as she stepped out of her tent and looked at him gently, her head bowed lightly in respect. "Since this town is not within our kingdom and is predominately composed of humans, I doubt they will treat you with little more entitlement than nobility. You may be a prince in our kingdom, but do not expect for them to treat you the same in their kingdom. Humans are strange people whom keep to their own traditions. While they do have great respect for the elven kind, I do not expect any formalities from them tomorrow evening," she looked at him softly and apologetically, hoping that she hadn't spoken too far out of line. "I just thought it fair to warn you," she said quietly, making her way over to the rations and taking out the leftover trout. She sat down in front of the fire and began to stoke it, waiting on the flames to die down a bit before she would put the fish on. She avoided looking at him at that point, afraid that he might take what she had said the wrong way. She almost seemed to wrap up into herself, the way her arms were wrapped around each other and her knees were crouched together against her chest, and the way her head rested upon her knees showed this, as well as her exhaustion.

[Naraness]

The clearing was perfect, other than the stones which were scattered about. The prince was relatively sure the night wouldn't be comfortable, but he could deal with that. After all he'd spent many nights in the woods while hunting, and sleeping on rocks was nothing new to him. He watched as Gen started to put up his tent, and he started to protest... But decided that he'd tend to the horses instead. He took a rope, and he tied between two strong trees. From there, he tied Briar and Raven. With the rope, they could wander between the trees and graze.

Castiel glanced at Gen, noticing she seemed to be deep in thought. "Oh yeah, I'll go get some firewood..." He nodded to himself, and left to gather. It didn't take very long for him to find enough wood, twigs, and tinder to last them the night.

When he came back, Gen had just left her tent. Both structures had been set up very nicely, and he smiled with appreciation. "Thank you for readying the tents." Castiel put the wood down. "The town? What do you mean, would they not know that I'm prince of the elven lands?" He frowned slightly. It wasn't as if he had expected any special treatment... only an air of respect. He listened as Genevera continued to explain, and nodded. "Well I believe that will be... good. Perhaps we should travel discreetly anyway, without letting others know who I am. I wouldn't want those who hurt you before to track us down."

Truth be told, he'd been looking forward to perhaps a royal greeting, a feast of warm foods... A nice night in a downy bed. He'd wanted a brief break from the wilds to rest and sink into his royal birthrights again. It was disappointing that they'd have to carry on, on their own. Still, some time in a warm inn would be nice.

"It will be just fine." He smiled, and began to make the fire.

[Froggy]

As Genevera had prepared the tents, she could hardly notice that Castiel had left to collect firewood. She was in a world of her own at this point, thinking of the next day and hoping that this night was uneventful. She was also making mental notes as to what supplies they would need to collect in food, where to go to restore lost rations and what herbs she would need for her wound. It was bothersome, and it itched a little...but she could only focus on pouring as much healing magic into it as she could without becoming exhausted. So much so, that she almost appeared to be glowing...almost.

As she left her tents, her wound bandaged up and preparing the fire, the Prince questioned her as to what she meant. "I doubt they would...it has been a few years since my last visit, and even then they only had respect for my kind more so than any title or lack thereof. Things may have changed since then, but I am not expecting anything more than for it to be a pit stop to restore supplies and gather herbs. And for a bed," she said, smiling at the thought of sleeping on something other than the ground for a change.

She shifted uncomfortably when he decided that it would be a good idea and mentioned the one whom had hurt her before, bringing back the memories that she had been trying to cloud since it happened. She was nervous about riding Raven the next day, knowing that she was already exhausted. It wasn't that she hadn't bonded with the horse yet, for even despite her taking off rapidly earlier that morning, she had come to love the horse and was beginning to feel more comfortable with her.

She was just so tired and exhausted, both physically and mentally. Traveling required much more effort than working as a servant, and given the nature of her injury it was beginning to take its toll on her. She didn't want to voice these thoughts though, she didn't want him to worry and she didn't want to seem as though she couldn't handle it. She was accustomed to traveling, but the wound made it more difficult than usual. She curled her legs up to her chest, resting her head upon her knees and sighing lightly as her eyes closed for a moment. She was content to rest there until the fire was ready for cooking.

[Naraness]

It was obvious. In the way her eyes drooped, and how her shoulders sagged... She was exhausted. This whole trip had taken a toll on her. The environment wasn't right for her to heal, he was dragging her across the countryside for hours on end... How could he be so thoughtless and cruel? Why had he insisted on forcing her to come, again? As much as Castiel enjoyed her company and found himself more and more intrigued by her very nature... He was beginning to think that he had made a mistake.

His mind was made up almost instantly. Once they made it to the town, they would stop for at least two nights. Castiel knew that she would be able to see a healer once they arrived, but that wasn't good enough... She needed rest. He couldn't stand seeing her like this every evening. The prince knew she would refuse it if he spoke up, so he decided not to. Instead... He stepped away from his task and moved around the fire.

Castiel sat beside her, hesitating at first, but then... Resting his hand on her arm. "You're in pain." He didn't ask, for he already knew. "And you're exhausted." He swallowed, knowing that she was trying to hide it. Just the way she was curled up, with her knees pulled to her chest and her eyes closed... It screamed that she was trying to protect herself and disappear. "I am so sorry that you've been put through all of this. For... For me." Castiel swallowed a small lump in his throat.

"Please, let me see it. I want to help you." His voice was soft and concerned; genuinely concerned.

There was a slight glow coming off of her skin. She was trying to heal herself. That effort was probably doing as much damage through exhausting her as it was helping her to heal. "Gen... You don't have to hide it. I know you're strong, I've seen that clearly ever since I first met you." The prince's voice ached with honesty. "You're safe right now. I'll protect you." Castiel had no idea where the words came from, but... He meant it.

[Froggy]

She was almost there...almost asleep when he spoke. His voice was barely audible, but she understood him clearly. She just wrapped her arms around herself even closer and buried her face in her knees, not moving. A tear fell from her eyes as he called her out, she had been made...she knew it was obvious, she was just hoping that he wouldn't notice... hoping that he wouldn't care. She looked up when he said that she was doing this for him, and when he seemed to think it was his fault. "It isn't your fault," she said, her voice stern despite the tear streak down her cheek. "It was bound to happen to someone...it just happened to be me," she said, chuckling dryly at the thought.

"Don't apologize...you've been so good to me..." she said, looking at him sadly. This is what she didn't want. She didn't want him to feel regret, to think of her as weak or to be worried for her wellbeing. She seemed to tense a little as he sat next to her, barely able to bring herself to look at him...she was nervous. His voice was so soft, he seemed so genuinely concerned that it shocked her for a moment. She still wasn't use to it, given the nature of her past. She wanted to keep it to herself...but she would not disobey him. It was too late, he knew. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, her hands and breath shaky as she uncurled herself and reached to grasp her clothing. She removed just enough of it for him to glimpse the bandages, and, knowing that would not suffice, removed a portion of her bandages.

This revealed the deep gash held together by stitches, slowly crusting over as it healed. It revealed the redness around the injury that was beginning to spread, and it also revealed other scars that she had obtained in her past. She closed her eyes in shame, tears falling freely down her cheeks now. These were wounds of a maiden servant with a peasant's past... wounds that were not meant for royalty to see, wounds that were not meant to burden him.

[Naraness]

With every word she spoke it seemed that her resolve crumpled a little bit further. Every syllable hung in the air, wavered, and seemed to shatter in fragile vulnerability. The desire to draw her into his arms grew stronger by the moment, and it was only by some unknown strength (or fear) that he did not. He watched in tentative, fearful anticipation while she unwrapped the tender injury. Even as it revealed uncut portions of her flesh, he could see that a deadly red tinge had spread through her skin. It seemed to crawl through her veins, like a death threat telling him to make his move.

"No." Castiel whispered, seeing the wound in it's grisly reality, and the tears on Genevera's face. "Do not be ashamed." He could see it in her eyes- the fear that he would recoil, that he wouldn't be able to handle the truth about her. He'd been raised in a sheltered world and he had not a single scar on his body. Now... He saw more than the wounds that ailed her now. He could see the thin lines which told the true stories of her past. "You said your past was rough." He whispered. "I did not think you had been hurt like this."

The prince put his hand under her arm, where it didn't touch her injury, but supported it. "I will not lie to you. This shocks me. I've never seen things like this before." Though his words were true and his voice wavered, he made no move to get away or shy from the gruesome scene. "You're going to be alright." He whispered quietly, knowing that it was no consolation for everything that had already happened to her. Did she wake up with nightmares? Did those memories cause her to shake even now? That thought sent cold shards into his heart.

"No one is ever going to hurt you again." With gentle, tender hands he wrapped her wound. Not because he was afraid to look at it any longer- but because he was afraid that exposing it for too long might make the infection worse. Castiel looked back up into her eyes. "No one. I won't let them." It seemed like these words bolted straight from his heart out of his mouth. There was no stopping them or hesitating, it was just the truth and he wanted her to know it. "Not as long as I'm there to put myself in front of you." He secured the bandage and offered the most caring smile he possibly could.

[Froggy]

She couldn't bare it...the softness of his voice as he whispered in denial, when he told her not to be ashamed...it broke her stubborn resolve even more as tears continued to flow down her cheeks. "You are not meant to see the pains of a peasant," Genevera said, not even using the word servant at this point. A servant had been a boost up in her status, anything was better than a peasant...but now, as she was once again reminded of her past...she seemed to be taken by the same fear that had haunted her for these many years past. She flinched visibly as he placed a hand under her arm to support it, though not from fear or pain but something much deeper...guilt and shame.

All her life she had been taught that the pains of her kind were not to concern the royal family, that they had other concerns, that they needn't know of their turmoil's...that she had to be strong. Now, here she was...breaking into tears in front of the royal prince, where he could so visibly see the scars of her past. "You are not supposed to see this," she said, quivering in her shame and guilt. She seemed to curl up again when he said that she was going to be alright... she wasn't so certain of that. She looked at him softly, tears falling slowly down her face as he said that no one would hurt her again. That he wouldn't let them.

"No. You needn't be concerned with the well-being of a peasant...these are not your burdens to bare, but mine. We are responsible for ourselves, if we cannot take care of ourselves then we do not survive...those laws are absolute in society and ring true every day. My scars are not your burden to carry," she said as forcefully as she could, her voice weak due to her exhaustion. The glowing that lit her skin stopped and she seemed to deflate further as he secured the bandage once more. She slumped softly, her shoulders sagging as she leaned against him, her head resting against his shoulder. She was exhausted and fighting to stay awake, her breathing soft and her eyes opening and closing weakly. "I...I'm...so...rry..." she said weakly, gasping suddenly for air as she tried to stay awake, unable to move.

[Naraness]

Castiel slipped an arm around her, gently supporting her as she leaned against him. He didn't realize that this was because she was growing weaker by the moment, thinking instead that she was just leaning on him for comfort. "No..." He whispered. He gently shushed her words of denial and shook his head. "You're no commoner. Nothing about you is common. You... You're worth protecting and fighting for and-" Castiel went silent when she whispered the words 'I'm sorry'. Her head was heavy on his shoulder, as if she no longer had the strength to lift it herself. "Genevera?" He gasped, fear piercing him like an arrow. "Gen? Gen." Panic flitted through him. He lifted her face to see that she was struggling even to breathe. "Oh Gods. Hold on."

The prince didn't hesitate. He knew that there was no time to be spared. Why he had been so blind that he didn't see her pain before- he did not know. Castiel cursed himself for allowing this to happen. "Hang on, hang on." He chanted these words like a meaningless mantra, scooping the maiden into his arms and lifting her from the ground. "I've got you, just hold on." He whispered. "I'll get you to a healer, you'll be fine." These words were just as much to comfort him as they were to comfort her. Perhaps more so. The fear pounding in his chest was incredible, like a hammer trying to break through his ribcage.

He untied the horses, and quickly lifted Genevera onto Raven's back. Briar snorted in confusion when Castiel jumped up behind her. Raven was faster, smaller... She would save them time. He knew that Briar wouldn't lose his way. "Go, Raven!" Castiel held Genevera tightly against him. His arm ached from the effort but he refused to let her go. There was simply no way he could bear fail. After he'd promised to protect her... He would not give up. He was going to prove to her that she was just as important; just as valuable as any princess. Even more, to him.

Cold night air clashed with the hot fear in his head. Fear that he wouldn't make it, fear that he would make a mistake... Fear that the healers wouldn't be able to do anything for her. Castiel prayed with all his might that they would get there on time. He wouldn't make it without Genevera... If he lost her, his guilt would consume him, he'd be lost... Alone, having lost the person who made him feel whole, real, and genuine. The one he wanted to protect, guide, and care for. Her life was in his hands. As Raven's hooves thunder in the night, he continued to whisper the words that he only hoped were true. That she would make it. He begged her to hold on, pleading that she wouldn't leave him.

[Froggy]

She could feel the ground pounding beneath them, underneath Briar's hooves...no, Raven's. Briar was much larger and she was certain that they were going very fast. Once, she was able to open her eyes and could see herself draped around his shoulders...knowing that this was exhausting him, guilt consuming her. The speed of the scenery passing by dizzying her. Faintly she could hear whispering, though she couldn't make out his words. She could feel the beat of his heart as he raced towards the nearest town.

Soon, she could feel the warm rays of sunlight filtering against her skin. She could feel the wind whipping past them as they raced. She didn't know how long they had been riding, but she could see another horse struggling to keep up with them...Briar?

Not much longer she could hear voices again, but these voices were not whispers of fear.

"Hault!" a man shouted upon their arrival to the city gates, noticing the speed of the horse and two figures upon it. "Who goes there?!" he shouted, several men standing in the way with weapons raised in defense. They saw Castiel's elven heritage and lowered their weapons, seeing the colors of royalty displayed in their attire. "Come this way to the healer!" one of the men shouted as he hopped on a horse, dashing through the gates as they were opened and racing for the aged elven healer whom resided within their city walls.

[Naraness]

Minutes dragged on into hours.. The night just wouldn't end. Castiel could feel Raven tiring, and knew that the poor mare would be exhausted. He silently begged that they'd be fast enough.

At first he thought it was his imagination. The sky began to glow with light, casting deceptively calm rays into the sky. Soon the sun showed it's face above the hills, and the prince knew they weren't far. In the distance thin trails of smoke filtered into the sky. "We're almost there." He whispered, barely recognizing his own dry, weak voice. Castiel looked down at Genevera. Her face was pale... But he could still feel her breathing. Lingering fear pounded in his chest, almost as loud as Raven's hoof beats.

His dry, exhausted eyes began to water as light shined into them. He blinked away the moisture, and urged Raven on. The mare whinnied in distress when they came to the city gates. The sight of the guards with their weapons made her uneasy, and Castiel couldn't help but think back to the mare's past. Which.. was surprisingly similar to Genevera's. "I am Castiel Ethmeiar, prince of the Elven Kingdom!" The guards took a glance at his clothing, and saw that it was true. One of them swiftly leaped onto a horse and galloped into the city, towards the healer. "We've made it, Gen. We're here." He whispered, tightening his arm around her precious form. Raven, as exhausted as she was, mustered the energy to speed through the city in a chase after the guard. Luckily the morning was still young, and the street was clear of people.

The guard stopped suddenly in front of a building, and Castiel recognized the symbol for 'healer' painted on the doorway. He swung his legs over Raven's side, holding Genevera as tightly as he dared to. His arms shook, but he wouldn't risk letting her go. The guard was knocking urgently on the door, and it was all Castiel could do to stop himself from barging right through. "Please! I need help!"

[Froggy]

The man who answered the door was not the figure Castiel was expecting. An older elf (http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/arethane/pics/SThongvilay4.jpg) by the name of Jesson Gontarek. His stature was tall, sophisticated, and full of the grace of the elven heritage. He had a large scar running diagonally across his face, that had long since been healed...

And when he heard the cry for help, he had expected it to be something from the human kind as it usually was. When he opened the door, his eyes widened when he saw just who was at his doorstep. "Come in, quickly!" he said, clearing the table in one swift motion of his hand and not even flinching at the sound of objects crashing to the floor. "Lie her here," Jesson said, his voice full of fear. 'Genevera...' he thought to himself, noting the way she seemed so... lifeless. So pale, so unusually pale. It was as though she couldn't move on her own, as though he had ridden through the night to get her there.

Jesson left the back door for a moment to gather herbs as quickly as he could. Lemon grass...cocoa leaves...vanilla beans...miscellaneous herbs that he knew would help her. "Undress her affected area, I will prepare the solution," he ordered, not even noting his royal heritage at first. There were far more important matters to attend to, and he seemed to be in agreement with that assumption...what with the haste in which she had been brought. He brought a cauldron to a steady boil and grabbed another pot and mortar to break the herbs down. "What happened to her?" he asked as he worked, not for a moment hesitating in his speed.

[Naraness]

Castiel was so rushed to get inside that he barely noticed the healer's heritage. Those thoughts didn't linger long though, and he swiftly carried Genevera inside. Her body seemed even more pale and limp than it had before... She hadn't spoken at all in hours. The prince laid her down as gently as he could, where the other elf had instructed. He cupped her tiny, cold hand between both of his and tried to focus. Vaguely he heard the healer leave through the back door, and forced himself to take a deep breath, releasing it slowly. "We're here, Gen." He whispered, hoping that she could hear him. "You're safe, it's going to be okay." The prince was horrified when his voice broke, and was glad that no one had been in the room to hear it.

The back door swung open suddenly, which made him jump. The healer had returned with herbs, some that Castiel recognized and others that he didn't. When told to start undressing her wound, the prince didn't hesitate. His royal heritage was of no concern to him at the moment. All he cared about was saving Genevera. As quickly as he could with his hands trembling, he removed the bandages. Through the night the wound had gotten even worse, and now a sickly sweet smell rose from the wound. Seeing it horrified him- simply because he couldn't bear the thought of the maiden being in such pain. "Please do whatever you can." He pleaded, turning his gaze on the healer. Castiel found himself glad that the man was an elf- since the prince hadn't spoken a word of the common language since he'd arrived. A human would never have understood him.

"She... She was attacked a little while ago. A terrible, evil brute-" He stopped himself, swallowing. "No doubt the blade was unclean. I thought it would continue to heal, she had already seen a doctor... But it continued to fester." Castiel found himself staring at her face, mentally pleading that the color would return to her alabaster cheeks. "She didn't want me to know it was getting worse." He said quietly. His only comfort was the slow, wispy breaths trailing in and out of her lungs.

[Froggy]

Several hours had passed and Jesson was still with Genevera. She was coated in a thick, blue salve that lined her scar and where the infection had spread. It had two functions...to seal up the wound, and to drain the infection out of her body. He knew the pain she felt would be intense, for she had been the one to show him the trick...but it worked. After only a few hours after her arrival, Genevera was beginning to show signs of color in her pale cheeks. That color soon traveled to her limbs, and eventually throughout her body.

Jesson could feel a sigh of relief wash over him as he watched the color return to her body. He had already offered them both lodging for their stay, as well as fresh meals. This was before he found out who he was...a prince of his kind. At first he felt ashamed for being so hasty upon his arrival, hardly paying him any attention at all. But they had one common goal and he didn't feel so ashamed after remembering this. "You must care a great deal for her," he commented, glancing up from Genevera to the prince.

"How long did you travel to get here?" he asked curiously, wondering what they had been doing so close to town and so far away from their own.

[Naraness]

Once color began to seep back into her cheeks, Castiel allowed himself to relax for the first time in hours. Her breathing grew stronger, and she seemed to be sleeping peacefully... It was well deserved rest. He sank into a chair by her side, letting out a shaky breath. She was going to be okay... He wasn't going to lose her. "I can't possibly repay you." He said, looking up at the healer. The prince smiled, but it was tinged with exhaustion. "I was afraid that I might lose her."

Castiel started to close his eyes, but they snapped open when he was spoken to. "Well..." He chuckled softly, smiling at Genevera's still face. "It's hard not to care about her." He reached out, touching her hand. The simple feeling of her warm fingers was comforting. He smiled tenderly, and then let his hand fall away. A blush crept up his cheeks.

He cleared his throat, and decided to answer the healer's second question. "I travelled through the night to bring her here. But we've been riding for days before that." His face sunk. "I was so foolish not to see it." He said quietly, to himself. How could he have been so stupid? "It was my fault. She needed to rest and I kept us moving for hours at a time." He sighed, and changed the subject. "I'm sorry, I have not taken the time to thank you. I am eternally grateful. What may I call you?"

[Froggy]

Jesson smiled when the prince said that he couldn't repay him. "You don't have to. I owed her a great debt of my own," he said, pointing to the scar on his face and chuckling a little. "She was the one who taught me this trick in the first place," he said, shifting uncomfortably. He didn't want to mention how much it hurt, all that mattered was that it was effective and that it worked. The prince seemed exhausted and he couldn't blame him, what he did for Genevera was very...noble. "She'll be fine now..." he said reassuringly, glancing once more at Genevera.

He chuckled a little when the prince said that it was hard not to care about her. "I know what you mean. Don't be afraid of getting attached," he said, smiling at the prince. His smile turned to a frown when he saw the ache over Genevera's condition. "Do not blame yourself. People like us...are very reserved. We do not call for help unless we are on the verge of death. We are solitary by the nature of our past, and given the nature of your upbringing I imagine she was more stubborn than ever. There is no one else to blame for our resolves," he said, doing his best to comfort the prince.

And then the part he knew would come that he dreaded. The prince asked him what his name was, and he knew that the prince would know his identity instantly. He couldn't lie, it wasn't in his nature. "Jesson Gontarek," he said, standing up and turning away from the prince. There was a reason as to why he was the only elf in a human kingdom. The very same war that had taken Genevera's father had nearly taken him as well. It had given him the scar on his face. After receiving the scar on his face, he was able to slip away from the battle and traveled for hours until he came across this very city. It was here that he met Genevera, whom fortunately had been traveling at the time with her mother. The people of the town had come to her for help, as they were the only elves currently around.

The two had acted swiftly, but as the mother did not have healing abilities it was left to Genevera. She had spent painstaking hours developing the salve, closing the wound...cleaning him up and nursing him back to health. He owed her his life, and he had been happy to repay that favor. The people of this town had enchanted him, and he could see that they lacked proper medical treatment and had decided to stay. The people of his own kingdom likely believed him to have died in the war, and he had never sent word to the royal family for fear that they would come after him and take away his peace of mind that had developed here. Now, here was a prince...with Genevera. Learning that he was alive, learning that he had survived the war. He took a deep breath and faced the man before him, taking just a few steps back.

Then she gasped for breath and her body seemed to flinch, and Jesson was by her side instantly. "Ca...stiel," Genevera whispered, shivering as her eyes began to open slowly...ever so slowly. "Castiel..." she whispered again, her voice growing stronger as her hand moved, looking for him.

[Naraness]

It was such a great relief just to know that she would be alright. Almost like iron bands had been removed from his chest, and he could finally breathe again. It only occurred to him while sitting down how sore his limbs were. Especially the arm he'd held Genevera with so tightly. The pain was the most rewarding thing he'd ever felt. It was a reminder that he'd done what he promised. She was safe. Hearing the healer's words of assurance only further reinforced his faith that the maiden would be just fine.

He chuckled as the man began to talk about elves' solitary nature, and their resilience against showing weakness. He was right, Genevera was even more so... Not just because he was a prince, but because of all she'd had to work through to get where she was. Her past had made her stronger, on the outside. But from what he had seen, the wounds inside of her had been festering a lot, lot longer. Her parents had died... She had no family left. Who was there to confide it? Castiel couldn't stop wondering about her. She was a beautiful enigma wrapped up in a past that should never have been hers.

Castiel almost didn't notice when the healer started speaking again, this time introducing himself. "But... Jesson Gontarak is dead." He said quietly, looking up at the man he could barely believe was standing in front of him. "There was a funeral for those who were lost in battle, your name was on it." The prince might not have remembered this name out of a hundred, but... This one had stuck out. Because he remembered the man's family. When others brought symbols of remembrance, and roses, they brought something entirely different. A bright, orange flower which did not say 'goodbye' but 'until we meet again'.

Movement from the bed caught his immediate attention. Castiel bolted up, reaching the bed almost as quickly as Jesson did. It was a miracle that they hadn't run into each other. Something stirred inside him when he heard Genevera whispering his name, and he swiftly took her searching hand. "Gen?" A smile bloomed on his face. "Ginny?" Once again a nickname simply slipped through his lips. He shook it off and examined her face, searching for any traces of pain, a need for water- anything.

[Froggy]

When she felt a hand within her own, she squeezed knowing that it was Castiel's. A soft smile graced her face and she finally opened her eyes. Ginny. She laughed lightly at the nickname and tried to sit up, but was once more reminded of her pain with a quick throb. She gasped lightly and laid back down quickly, wincing. "Castiel..." she said, her voice stronger as she smiled at him.

He looked as though he had been to hell and back. "You shouldn't have put yourself through this for me," she said, her voice soft and melodic as she looked at him sadly. She did smile ever so softly when a thought popped into her head. "This is twice now that you have saved my life," she said, looking at him with the same doting expression he was looking at her with.

Another thought popped into her head as she realized once again that Castiel did not have healing abilities. "Jesson?" She asked, now realizing where she was and looking for the elf. He was on her other side and she looked quickly to Castiel. A little too quickly, as she had a brief dizzy spell and had to close her eyes.

No one in their kingdom knew that he was still alive but her, and now the prince. Her heart began pounding and she winced, trying to calm herself down. "I can explain..." she said, looking to Castiel nervously, still holding his hand in her own.

[Naraness]

Castiel just shook his head. "No... Your life was worth every second." He said gently, squeezing her hand back. The expression on her face created a strange warmth in his chest which was rather nice. It felt like a fluttering insect had been caught inside his lungs, and the dumbest smile he'd ever smiled wandered onto his face.

The moment broke when they both realized that they were not alone, and Castiel remembered that... The man who had saved her was supposed to be dead. It wasn't that he wanted him dead, but... Why hadn't he returned? How could he have left a city, and his family behind? Confusion blanketed his other features and he looked up at Jesson questioningly. "No, no... You don't need to explain." He rested his hand gently on Genevera's arm. "In fact, I don't know why you seem so frightened at the idea that I will misunderstand." He looked between both of them. Was there more beneath this story than he thought? What were they hiding from him?

"However, I am here and I am rather curious. What in the world would cause you to leave your family behind, thinking that you were dead?" He thought back to the orange flower, and the sadness on their faces on the day of the funeral. Had they known he was alive? "You could have returned to the kingdom as a hero of war." Clearly the two knew each other... Which made sense, considering that Genevera had come through the town before. But why keep it a secret?

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled softly at him as he told her that her life was worth everything he had been through. "Thank you," she said genuinely. She looked down when Castiel placed a hand on her arm, saying that she didn't have to explain. "I just...It was never my secret to tell, and that is why I have kept it from you for so long..." Genevera said, blushing a little and looking towards Jesson.

Jesson sighed as the prince quedtionned him. "It took me a full year to recover from my many injuries. By that time I had been informed of my funeral and I couldn't put my family through the distress again. You do not know what it is like to lose family...if I had come back, alive and healthy... I would have been thrown right back into the war. I couldn't do that to them again," Jesson said, looking at the prince sadly.

"So the two of us stayed here for a while. Genevera was still a peasant, and by then her mother had passed. I was able to bring peace to these people through healing them. It quickly became my passion to help them. It was all I could do to keep from running back home, destroying whatever peace of mind my family had since developed," Jesson said, looking away from both of them.

"I'm sorry, Castiel. He begged me to promise I wouldn't tell anyone. After experiencing the same grief of losing my parents, I could understand why. Though I didn't agree with him I felt obliged to honor my promise," she said, sighing softly.

"I'll accept whatever decision you come to, my lord," Jesson said, turning once again to face Castiel. He was a veteran and technically at this point should be sent back to the kingdom to rejoin the army, to finish his term. He would accept whatever decision the prince made, now that his secret had been exposed he could not expect a member of the royal family to uphold it, given the nature of their own obligations.

[Naraness]

Slowly the mystery began to unfurl, and Castiel saw the truth. His baffled expression became one of understanding, and he nodded slowly while the two spoke. It was all making sense now. If he'd been in a war like that, and barely survived, only to find that he'd been proclaimed dead... Well, it would've been hard for him to return home as well. It would've scared him to see the faces of his family, as if they were looking at a ghost. And perhaps... Perhaps he would be worried that they were carrying on just fine without him. It was a fear that anyone could relate too.

"I... I understand." He said quietly, looking at them both. "I would have done the same in that situation." He shook his head. Castiel knew that there was still an issue at hand. Jesson had betrayed his loyalties to the kingdom. He had not returned when there was still danger and war to be waged. He looked out the window, deep in thought. It wasn't as if the man had fled in cowardice. He had stayed out, away from the kingdom and continued to do good. The humans had been caught in many of the elves' wars, and he'd probably cared for many, many innocents who had been injured. He was a hero in his own ways.

Castiel knew that that would never be good enough for his father, though. Aiding another kingdom, another race... It would not account for the years of service not paid for. "There is little I can do, I believe. There is no doubt that questions would be raised in the kingdom." He looked at Genevera and back to Jesson. "You do understand... It's treason." His voice was tinged with sadness. "Now I can see why it is even harder to return." Castiel wracked his mind for a solution, a way out... There had to be a loophole. There always was one. He had learned that when dealing with issues throughout the kingdom with his father. If one was clever enough... They could beat the law.

"I... I think I might know a way. My loyalty to my kingdom will not allow me to carry on as if we'd never spoken. It's wrong. But if you paid your debt... Then my conscience would be clear whether or not you decided to return to the kingdom." The prince smiled. "I'm on a very important mission, for our people. If you took part in saving the kingdom... Then that's more than your debt paid. Come with us."

[Froggy]

Genevera had been watching Castiel the entire time. Reading his expressions, hoping for leniency. Hoping that this wouldn't change what she feared was slowly forming between them. Her expression softened when he said that he understood and she squeezed his hand, sighing in relief. Her head snapped up when he spoke again of being able to do so little. That questions would be asked, mentioning his royal obligations to the kingdom.

She understood, but her heart ached for Jesson. She hadn't saved him to have him rot for treason, or worse. Still... these were royal matters and she herself was implicated in this treason, having kept his location a secret for so long. How could this not change things between them?

Jesson just swallowed as he spoke of treason, as he spoke of understanding why it was so difficult to return. "I couldn't put my family through that again," Jesson said, his own voice weak and breaking. His hand reached up and he slowly ran a finger over the scar that etched diagonally down his face, looking at the prince and holding his breath. What the prince said next shocked him and caused a look of confusion to cross his face. A way around treason? A way to return to his family, without being sent back to war? Jesson sighed and looked to Genevera, knowing that she too was somehow a part of the prince's mission.

He took a look around his home and out the windows, smiling softly as he did so. "I will come, if only to make things easier for the two of you and to keep you both safe," Jesson said, sitting for the first time since they had arrived and closing his eyes. That was when Genevera spoke, and his face and heart sunk in agony.

"And what of me, for keeping the secret?" Genevera asked softly, loosening her grip on his hand and looking at him sadly. She had been a part of the treason by not informing them of his whereabouts, and knew this when she had made the promise. She could not expect any special treatment from Castiel simply because the two had grown close, closer than she had to anyone since her parents had died. She too had been a part of the crime, and the secret was out.

[Naraness]

Castiel froze when Genevera asked what would become of her. He hadn't even thought about the fact that she'd collaborated in treason as well. It all seemed so wrong, and suddenly he was forced to be the enforcer, the bad guy... It was painful just to look at her. Not because he was ashamed or upset by what she'd done, but because that he was obligated to do something about it. "Gen..." The prince just shook his head, and then squeezed her hand once again. "You've done more than I could ever repay you for. You... You were just protecting a friend."

But he knew the laws. He knew that technically, they should both have gone to prison. But how could he allow that when there was simply so much injustice in it? The laws of war seemed so unfair and cruel... "No." He stood up. "I won't allow it. You two, both of you... I owe you for all you've done and I have no doubt that you will save me countless times in the future. That is payment enough. If my father won't have it, then I'll fight his opinion." Castiel knew that his emotions were 'clouding his judgment', but at the moment he didn't care.

He sighed. "We needn't worry now though. Genevera, you need your rest. So do I." His mind was muddled and the new discovery was hard to think about. He could barely keep his eyes open, let alone think about a way to save his friend. The back of his mind felt like it was covered in cobwebs, making it impossible for his mind to work at all. "We will find a way. I promise you." He'd been making a lot of promises lately. Once again, he squeezed her hand in reassurance, and then turned to Jesson. "Take care of her." He said quietly, with a tired smile. "Please come and wake me around noon." With that, he reluctantly released Genevera's hand and retreated into one of the back rooms where he'd been given a place to sleep for the night.

Castiel simply laid down on top of the blankets, and closed his eyes. For several minutes his mind buzzed with panic that he wouldn't be able to fix the situation. But soon even that could not keep him from sleep.

[Froggy]

Of course this was bound to change things between them. She knew that however close he had grown to her these past few days, he was even more obligated to his kingdom. She knew this and smiled softly at his denial. "Do not argue with your father on my behalf. I am not worth the trouble that will cause," Genevera said softly.

"I know you are first obligated to your kingdom, and I can accept that," Genevera said, looking as Jesson stood and walked over to them. "I'm sorry I asked you to ever keep the secret, Genevera," he said, looking at her sadly. She just smiled softly at him.

"You needn't bind yourself through promises. You have higher obligations than your care for me, and those come first," she said, sighing softly and closing her eyes for a moment. When he stood to leave the room she looked at him longingly. "Sleep well..." she said, before glancing at Jesson.

"Get that smirk off your face," she grumbled at him, smirking as well. "It would never work and you know it. I am nothing more than a peasant and you know this," Genevera grumbled again, shifting uncomfortably. "If you say so, madame healer," he retorted, chuckling as he went to the kitchen to get her some water.

[Naraness]

It had been a day and a half, now. Being in the human town had been a strange experience. Things were not like they were in the Elven city. People acted differently, they were.... Brighter. If elves were steady lights, burning on and on like a candle, then humans were like fireworks. They were brilliant, enigmatic, and they quickly faded away. Castiel found himself a little fascinated, actually.

He'd spent some time gathering the supplies. Since most of their food had been torn apart by the bear, he needed to replenish a lot sooner than he had originally planned... The prince had scheduled for them to continue for at least another week without needing to stop and buy supplies. However, fate had deemed that his plans would not turn out the way he wished. It gave him something to do while Genevera was healing, though. For some reason, Castiel couldn't sit still when he was in the same room as her. The fact that he hadn't come up with a solution to their current predicament made it even harder to look her in the eyes.

What if he couldn't find an answer? Would she hate him if he couldn't save her from this? The more he thought about it, the more he realized how terrible things would be if he failed her. This wasn't something he could ask his father to take care of for him, as he'd often done when something came up at home which he didn't know how to handle.

He found himself standing in front of Jesson's house, about to step in but instead just staring at the oak door. How long had he been standing there, wondering what would happen when he stepped inside? In his hands was a burlap sack full of travel rations. Dry cheese, meats, bread, candied fruits... It had occurred to him that he'd never before gone out for groceries before. Even when he originally left the castle, he'd drawn a list and sent a servant out to buy supplies for him. The real world was so much different than everything he'd known before.

Castiel took a deep breath, and stepped inside, being quiet in case Gen was sleeping. He stepped carefully, trying to avoid making sudden noises. The prince dropped the sack off in his room, and then paused. He crept over to the room where Genevera had been moved and peeked in. Castiel didn't think he could dump his worries on her at this point, but... He needed to talk to someone, and she was all he had. If she was sleeping, he decided he would sit by her for a little while and talk about what was troubling him. If she was awake, then he wouldn't bother her with his concerns.

[Froggy]

Genevera hadn't gone outside of Jesson's house since they had arrived. She had spent the entire time on the couch in the living room, resting and healing as much as she could. Jesson continued to apply salves to the wound and she never let them know how much it hurt, she was just grateful to be alive. The infection was gone now and at this point they were trying to get the wound to close completely now and to finish the healing process. She hadn't been too happy when the prince said that they would be staying for two nights instead of one, that hadn't been what she had wanted.

She knew that every moment they spent here, rather than traveling, was a longer moment that could have been spent completing this mission. The fact that this was at her expense drove her mad, and if she had been well she would have been pacing back and forth. She just hoped that he wasn't too uncomfortable, given the nature of their situation and residing within a different kingdom filled with a different race entirely.

She had been awake for a majority of the morning, catching up with Jesson as the prince went out to gather supplies. Jesson had gone back to retrieve their campsite after it had been abandoned the day before in an attempt to get here. The supplies resided in the living area as well, not too far from where she slept. The two had discussed Jesson's well-being, what he had been doing, what new tricks he had learned and who he had met since she last visited. They avoided the topic of treason altogether, as well as Genevera's future and any potential feelings she fostered for the prince, or whether or not the prince held feelings towards her. Those were either too depressing to discuss, or too unrealistic to worry about. At that moment however, she had been sleeping when the prince returned from his errands.

She didn't even hear when he sat in the chair beside her. He had hardly looked at her at all since he discovered Jesson was alive and she couldn't blame him. She knew at that point that she had to act like the peasant that she was and simply do her best to make his mission easier, to heal him if or when that time came. She had to make things as easy as possible for him and enjoy life as much as she could during this trip, for she didn't know what awaited her upon their return...or even if she would return.

[Naraness]

Castiel let out a slow breath. She was asleep. The tension in his shoulders was eased, and he walked into the room. Something about her presence was calming, even though she didn't know he was there. Luckily, Jesson was currently out, so the prince didn't need to worry about being overheard.

With a shaky sigh, he sat beside Genevera and waited silently. She seemed so peaceful, it seemed wrong to ask anything of her, even if she wouldn't hear a word he said. To be honest, he didn't know how to start... For a moment, he began to reach out for the maiden's hand, but then stopped. It had seemed so easy before. Just the day before, when she'd woken, it had seemed so natural. Now it was so hard just to speak to her... "Gen..." He said quietly, folding his hands in his laps. "I'm so sorry." It was a pathetic attempt at an apology, and he knew it.

"This is my fault, you know. I made you come with me." He sighed, putting his head in his hands. "And if I had paid more attention, maybe you wouldn't have gotten sick. We wouldn't have come for Jesson's help. I wouldn't have found out..." Castiel went silent for a little while, then spoke quietly. "I'm trying so hard to think of a way around this. I promised I'd protect you, and look what I've done. Now I'm the biggest threat to your wellbeing. I can't stop thinking about it, I can't bear the thought of what will happen to you if I fail." He looked down at his shoes. "Some friend I turned out to be." Castiel whispered.

After a few moments of silence he spoke once more. "I hope you can forgive me."

[Froggy]

Something inside her stirred when he whispered her name, his voice soft and sad. She slowly woke up, but she remained laying there. He was under the impression that she was asleep, and she was content to let him think that. Except...he seemed to be in such distress over their current situation, and she ached knowing that he thought it was his fault. In truth, none of it was his fault. She had gotten herself involved in royal matters and had faced the consequences just a few days prior. As a result, she had ended up in one of the worst hospitals in the city...where he had found her and sent her straight to the best hospital in the city.

She should have died then, but by the miracle and grace of modern day medicine, she had survived thanks to his generosity. Not only that, but the bear should have killed her just three nights ago...and would have had it not been for his bravery that he'd shown. Even more so, her time was yet again limited just two nights before with her infection...he had abandoned camp and pushed the poor horses to the limits in a mad attempt at saving her, again. It was thrice now that she owed him her life, and she couldn't stand seeing him like this.

Especially since she had known the consequences when she had agreed not to tell anyone of Jesson's whereabouts. Her father had passed in the war, and Jesson had come on the brink of death...she had been able to heal him, and during the time that he spent healing...her mother had passed away from illness. Jesson had been the only one she had left to confide in and she had worked harder than ever to keep him alive, to have a confident. She knew what would happen if their secret was ever exposed, and was willing to accept whatever consequences came upon their return. If she returned at this rate. He had saved her life multiple times now and she couldn't stand him feeling this way over her decision she had made a century ago. She just hoped, that whatever the consequence...they wouldn't lock her away in the prisons. She couldn't stand the thought of being taken away from nature, from sunlight...

A few moments of silence passed and he asked for her forgiveness. She so desperately wanted to answer him, but she didn't want him to be embarrassed that she had heard everything...so she stayed there, wanting to answer him but being silenced by her compassion for him.

[Naraness]

Silence filled the small room for a little while, and the weight on Castiel's shoulders increased by the moment. He knew that it was unwise to stay here, to continue talking, but... Where would he go? He couldn't go out again, since he was trying to keep a relatively low profile. The problem was that staying here risked waking Genevera. It risked her finding out that he didn't have things under control. But could he really bear sitting in his room for however long it took Jesson to return?

One thing, he knew for sure: if he stayed, he would just keep talking. The prince was torn. Finally, he reached out and gently took her hand. Castiel's eyes searched her face, looking for any signs of consciousness. He saw none... Surely it was safe to stay just a little longer. Maybe it would make him feel better.

"I don't know what I was thinking, really." He said quietly, almost to himself. "I can't believe I thought I could do this." He chuckled dryly. "Clearly I'm more full of myself than I ever realized." Castiel was beginning to wish that somehow he could actually tell her all this. He wished that she'd shake her head and tell him he was wrong. Who was he kidding? He wasn't the person he thought he was, and they... they could never have the future he'd began to hope for. "I can't imagine that we'll talk the way we used to." This sentence cut him deeply. "You won't think of us the same way anymore... Gods. You're my closest friend and I'm losing you." With a hard lump in his throat, Castiel decided that he needed to stop talking.

He took a long few moments to just sit there and think. He knew he was just delaying the inevitable. Soon enough he would have to leave her side or risk spilling the rest of his secrets. "I should go." Castiel said quietly, squeezing her hand gently. "Bye Ginny." He got up, but didn't move away. The thought of releasing her hand just seemed... Painful.

[Froggy]

When he reached out and held her hand, she wanted to pull it away. She wanted to flinch, but only because she knew that it was unwise for them to grow any closer than they already had. Her breathing was steady as he continued to speak, but she was certain that he could feel her pulse rate increase. Then...her heart couldn't take it any longer when he said that she was his closest friend and seemed genuinely distressed, as though he was losing her.

She was a servant and he was the prince. At this point, she was nothing more than a peasant as she highly doubted her position would be there for her upon their return. If anything, she was a criminal by the means of her treason and would face punishment. She couldn't stand it anymore, the torment she knew that they were both feeling. She heard him stand, and then he called her Ginny again. Spirits...she was beginning to fall in love with that name, but she had to put a stop to it as much as she didn't want to.

She squeezed his hand and held him there for just a moment, looking at him sadly. "I'm sorry...I didn't speak up because I wanted to give you your privacy. But you're wrong, on every detail. None of this is your fault. I knew the consequences when I agreed not to tell anyone of Jesson's whereabouts, and I was willing to accept them. You... you have saved my life more times than I deserve. Please do not feel as though you've failed me, for without you I should have died over a week ago and many times since, and for that I thank you," she said, holding his hand in her own and looking at him with a pain stricken expression.

She took a deep breath and looked at him, her expression hardening just a bit as she prepared herself for her next words. That was the easy part.

"You are the prince of our kingdom, and I am here to serve you. You brought me here to keep me safe, and as a result I will do my best to make your journey easier. I am a servant and nothing more...a peasant at this point... a criminal for my treason. Please do not feel the need to protect me any longer, you have higher responsibilities to your kingdom. I will continue to serve you for the duration of this journey and I will accept whatever consequences lie ahead upon our return..." she took in a deep breath once again and looked at him, her expression stoic at this point. "All I ask...is not to be locked behind bars. I would rather face execution than to be taken from nature, from sunlight..."

She knew it was wrong to ask him, it hurt her so to ask him...but she refused to lie to him, to hide the truth from him. And everything she said had been completely true, no matter what it cost her. It would never work, it could never work...no matter how much she desired it to. She wouldn't let him sacrifice anymore for her than he already had. But she was selfish, she needed to speak that one request...she would lose herself entirely if taken away from the two most beautiful aspects of life. At least if she was executed...she would be herself entirely.

[Naraness]

His heart stopped when he felt her fingers tighten around his. A sudden cold filled the prince's mind, and he wanted nothing more than to take it all back. Those words hadn't been meant to burden her,, they hadn't been meant to be heard... He only needed to say them for his own sake. Castiel's heart ached, and he found that he couldn't bear to look at her as she spoke. It simply hurt too much to hear her explain. With every word, it seemed that his heart clenched and twisted into a tighter knot. He didn't move, simply standing and listening with his face turned away, so she wouldn't see the pain etched there.

Once she had finished speaking, he let her fingers slip through his, and his hand fell to his side. Castiel almost looked back. Almost. "How can you ask that of me?" He whispered, quietly. "Don't you know how that would break me?" The prince swallowed, feeling a cold bead roll down his cheek. Just being there was agonizing. "I thought you knew me better."

The words fell out of his mouth like stones, and the following silence was unbearable. At that point, it was all he could do to flee from the room. His shoulder clipped the doorway in his rush, and he could barely compose himself enough to make it back to his bedroom. He wasn't angry, he wasn't sad... It was unexplainable, the way he felt. He didn't feel confused or scared. Or perhaps he felt all of these things at once. But as far as Castiel could tell, it just... Hurt. It hurt in ways he'd never felt before.

Even his room was no comfort. He paced back and forth, his mind buzzing with the encounter. If he could do it over again, he'd never have entered her room. It had been a mistake. Now Genevera knew his weakness, now that she knew he was falling apart at the seams... It was over. To top it off, she would rather that she was executed than that he try to save her with a prison sentence. How could she ask that? What kind of person did he seem like, that she thought he could ever sentence her to death? Was he that cruel and careless on the outside? Did he seem like the kind of person who could do that?

Through all his miserable thoughts, one remained. They would never have a future together.

[Froggy]

He couldn't even look at her as she spoke. This was why she had remained in the sleeping position, to avoid hurting him as much as possible. But she couldn't allow things to continue the way they were, it would never work and the two would only end up even more heartbroken in the end. She couldn't do that to him, but she had to ask that one request of him...and it had been too much for him to bare.

Her face was pale, her breathing was slow as he questioned her. Yes, she did know him better than that. At the same token, surely he should have known that she would never, ever choose to be kept from the two most precious aspects of life itself...it would change her completely. Now, though...as the prince released her hand she could feel where his fingers had held her, and she longed to be held again.

Ginny. She thought as he left the room, unable to even look at her further. His shoulders clashed with the doorframe in his haste out, away from her. A tear fell from her cheek as she realized that she would never again hear that name come from him. Another tear fell as she realized that things could never, ever be the way they wanted between them. She curled up in the bed, her knees pulled to her chest as close as she could bring them. Her arms were wrapped around her knees, and her chin was resting upon them as she laid down, tears falling silently down her cheeks.

The one thing she had ever truly wanted...to be cared for, for someone to love her for who she was... who was she kidding? Would a life with an abusive husband truly been worse than this emotional pain? Would things had been better, had she said yes to one of the many men who had asked her before? To the ones who had given her scars when she said no? Perhaps she would have been better off...but she wouldn't have been happy. Yet, she still wasn't happy. She had no one, and she had lost the one person who could have given her that happiness had he not been royalty. Had she not committed a crime.

She couldn't stand it anymore. Against the wishes of her nearly healed body, she rose from the bed and left her room. She knew it was foolish, but she had to make him see reason. She knew she was pushing her luck, but she had to let him know that she did know him better. When she arrived at his door he was pacing back and forth, unable to sit down. She still had tear streaks on her cheeks.

"I do know you better, but I expect for you to know me better as well. Which fate would you rather me endure? To be taken from nature, from sunlight...the two things that are at the core of every elven heart, and locked away in the darkness...or would it truly be worse to die as a whole?" she asked him, looking at him sadly. "I regret asking it, and I am sorry for having done so...but which would you prefer?"

She took a deep breath and leaned against the wall, closing her eyes and doing her best to keep it together. "I knew the consequences when I made the vow...and I am willing to accept them, whatever they are. I think...at this point..." she took another deep breath and looked at him with a heart broken expression on her face. "That we should both stop pretending anything good will come from this," she said, sinking against the wall and leaning her head against it, closing her eyes and allowing a tear to fall down her cheek. She wanted to run, to flee...the emotional pain was more frightening than the prospect of death. She didn't know what to expect from him at this point, how he would react to her words. Would he be understanding of where she was coming from? Would he oblige her request, and treat her as the peasant she was in order to distance himself as much as possible before the inevitable fulfillment of said request? Had she crossed the line one too many times, this time?

[Naraness]

Castiel tensed when he heard the floorboards creak. Her sniffles made his heart ache, and he could hear the pain he'd caused her. Maybe he was a terrible person. Terrible enough to condemn someone to death, anyway. Her footsteps grew closer, and he longed for a place he could run to. But there was nowhere. What was he going to do, hide in the corner until she went away? He was a coward, and he had to face her. It wasn't enough to drop a stinging question in her lap and then walk away.

He stopped pacing, freezing with his eyes turned on the wall. After a moment, as she spoke, he forced himself to look at her. Tears ran down her cheeks, and her eyes were red with tears. Her body was still weak as it had not yet healed. "You shouldn't be up." He whispered quietly. "You're still healing." Castiel knew that this simple statement may as well have been a slap to her face. She was earnestly asking him for mercy and he had refused to even speak on the same subject. He didn't want to be the one who cast judgment. He didn't want to live in a world where people had to decide if it was better to die than to be locked away.

"I don't want you to endure a fate, Genevera." He said, trying to calm the inevitable edge in his voice. "Alright? I don't want either one. I don't want them to even be options!" He turned away from her, taking a few steps towards the corner. His hands clenched into fists, and he rested them against the wall. "What about the things that matter to me?" His voice rose despite his best efforts. "You want to see the sunlight, and the trees, well damn it, what about my sunlight!?" Castiel looked back at her, his eyes flashing. His throat suddenly felt dry and cracked. He hoped that that question hadn't seemed terribly obvious. You're my sunlight.

He was being selfish, and jealous. Everything had seemed so perfect before. They laughed, they made fun of each other... It was friendship, it was something beautiful and wonderful... Then he found out she'd commit treason. Why? Why did this girl have to be so complicated and enigmatic?

"Stop pretending?" He asked quietly. Castiel pulled away from the wall and shook his head. "Who was pretending? Was that what you were doing, because it felt pretty real to me. I'm sorry, I didn't realize." The world suddenly seemed much colder. The color and beauty had been drained away. "My mistake." His voice was low, and yet just on the verge of breaking apart. "But sure, whatever you'd like. Lets stop pretending." He smiled mirthlessly and stepped just close enough that he could see the tears on her cheeks. "You need to rest, Ms. BlaecThorne." It no longer seemed right to call her by her first name. "Come, let me help you back to your bed."

He held out his hand, his fingers trembling as he attempted to keep what little composition he had left.

[Froggy]

Genevera chuckled dryly as he first scolded her for being up. Had it been easier to avoid her presence by scolding her for being up? To avoid the one topic that he knew she was here to discuss? He stopped pacing, she could see the anger building within him the more he processed her words. And she feared it. She feared what he would say, she feared his acceptance of what she had said. She wanted to be called Ginny, every time he saw her. She wanted him to hold her hand...she wanted to be by his side consistently, to laugh and to joke as they had done before. She wanted to be surrounded by his perfection.

He stepped towards the corner...and his hands clenched into fists. He spoke of his sunlight. Then...his eyes flashed as he looked back at her and she looked at him in fear. She could see the same desire in him that she had inside her... and it pained her to know that she had put him through this. That things would have turned out different had she told him before she had allowed them to grow so close.

Then he spoke of pretending. His voice turned cold, colder than she had ever heard it before. He stepped away from the wall and her fingers began to tremble at his disposition. He was so close at this point, but that closeness did not bring her any relief.

Ms. Blaecthorne.

The name made her frame visibly shiver. She gulped, seeing the look in his eyes. She knew that she had pushed him too far. She reached a shaky hand out to meet his trembling hand, standing up slowly and looking at him with fear. "Yes...my lord," she said, answering his command with a respectable answer of her own. His touch felt different and brought her no joy. As they walked slowly to her room, not speaking a word...one thought raced through her mind. When she sat on her bed she looked at him, wondering if she should dare to speak another word. "It was real. Every minute. But we both knew it couldn't have gone any further," she said quietly, her voice soft as she pulled the covers over her, hiding every inch of her skin up to her chin. She was curled up underneath the blankets, fighting back the tears.

She sighed and took a deep breath. "Awaken me when you require my assistance, my lord," she said, turning over and closing her eyes. She wasn't asleep, though her body had relaxed considerably in a feeble attempt at fooling him to believe she was.

[Naraness]

Their trembling hands seemed terribly broken, and suddenly unfitting of each other. Castiel flinched visibly, hearing his title. It didn't make sense how much it hurt to hear her call him that... 'My lord' had once been a title that he was proud of. It was something that gave him a little rush; made him feel like the prince he was. Now it felt like he'd been tossed back to ground one. It was incredible how much he just wanted to go back to how things were before. He wanted to hear her laugh, he wanted to see that funny smile and the way her cheeks dimpled. All he had wanted was to make her happy.

Through every painful step towards her bed, there were no tears on his cheeks. It hurt too much to cry. His mind, his heart... Castiel was in shock, and he didn't know if he'd ever get out of it. This was the end, this was the day he'd look back to and wish he could redo every second. They'd lost every shred of their relationship. Their friendship, their joys, the simple relation from one person to another that both of them had longed for... It was torn, tattered, and laying on the ground in a forgotten heap of misery.

Castiel gently helped her into the bed, careful not to meet her eyes. He stopped when she spoke to him. He closed his eyes, again unable to do anything other than stand still as her words pierced his heart. It would never have worked between them. "Of course not." Castiel's voice was completely void of emotion. "We were fools to ever think it could have." He paused, "Real?" He shook his head, sinking. "If this is reality, I don't want any part of it." That simple truth crushed his heart just enough that a tiny, crystalline tear trailed down his cheek. "I never asked for this reality." His voice broke into a million pieces.

He didn't even hear her last sentence. The prince's world was numb. White noise surrounded his head like a cloud. The world was dim and unreal... But through the silence, he could hear it. He could hear all the pieces of his glass world falling to the ground in shattered fractals.

The prince was directionless, suddenly stumbling away, needing a place where he was hidden from the eyes of the world. Out the back door, through the herbal garden, past the fence... He found the forest. The pine needles littering the ground bit into his skin, but they were more comforting than the pins in his chest. Castiel's world became a dark, twisted abyss that he couldn't seem to crawl out of. If he could manage crying, it might have been easier... But he couldn't even do that at this point. It hurt too much. He could only pray that no one would find him. He didn't want to be found, he didn't want comfort. He wanted Gen, he wanted his Ginny...

But she wasn't coming.

[Froggy]

Fools. The word etched into her memory like a seed burried in the ground. They were fools, for putting each other through this. She shouldn't have allowed them to get close. She should have been nothing more than a servant.

Then he said that he didn't want any part of this reality. He doesn't want me. Was all she got from that statement. Those words crushed her heart more than she could have imagined. She knew that he didn't ask for any of this. She wished that she had acted as a servant should have acted, that she hadn't allowed them to laugh and to joke so much. It hadn't been her place.

Then, with the same haste as before, he fled from her room. What confused her the most was when she heard the back door open. She too, wanted to run. But she was bound by the law to stay. She wanted to run and hide as Jesson had, and to never look back on this misery that caused tears to run down her cheeks.

But she couldn't, and she knew that she would never again hear Ginny from his lips again. She would never again feel the warmth of his hand clutching hers in such a beautiful manner, the warmth his smile brought her.

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks and she sobbed openly, allowing the pain to escape. She could feel it in her chest, the pain from her pounding heart as her breath became heavy and frequent.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning hadn't been any better for them. Jesson had been forbade not to inquire, not by the Prince but instead by Genevera. He was more confused than ever. The two had hardly spoken to each other, nor did they glance at each other when in the same room. Genevera hadn't eaten the night before and he had to force her to eat somethng for breakfast. He'd already gotten their things packed and spread evenly amongst the three horses. His mare, a soft brown and white paint, Laura, would be able to carry him as well as a few extra supplies as she was use to traveling.

Jesson had put it off as long as possible, Genevera was fully healed now. He had gathered as many herbs from his garden as he could, as well as whatever healing supllies he could. He was dressed in casual soldier clothing from his old war days and had his sword strapped to Laura's side. He was ready, the horses were fully prepared and had been well fed and groomed.

But he feared bringing this up with either of them. He left the horses at the post and went to the front door, pausing for a moment before entering. Genevera was gathering the last of her medicine and nodded, her expression blank. "The horses are ready," he said, watching as she stood gracefully and made her exit. Jesson sighed and shook his head, hoping that whatever was going on would be over soon.

He quietly made his way to the Prince's room, afraid of making more noise than necessary. He took in a deep breath before knocking on his door. "The horses are ready, my lord," Jesson announced, stepping back immediately and waiting patiently for an answer. He looked down the halls again, smiling softly at the many memories that he had accumulated in this dwelling. Smiling sadly as he knew that he would never again grace these halls.

[Naraness]

Misery. It was the only word that accurately described what Castiel felt. Returning from the woods hadn't been easy. He almost expected Jesson to shut him out and say that he no longer deserved to travel with Genevera. As far as the prince was concerned, he would have been right to do so. For as much pain as he felt... It was surely nothing close to that which he had inflicted upon Gen. It only made him sink farther into despair at the thought of her sorrows, and perhaps even her bitterness towards him.

He'd carried on, of course. But only on the outside. His hands, feet and words continued without him. They lived his life for him and went through the motions while his insides remained cold and lifeless. He was objective, he was emotionless, and nothing more. Castiel only communicated when he had to, and otherwise kept to himself, preparing for their journey without so much as a word to Genevera. It hurt not to hear her voice, not to see her smile... It hurt even more to see the redness in her eyes from all the tears she'd shed. Distancing himself made it a little bit easier.

Castiel tightened the cinch on Raven's saddle, and the horse nickered in annoyance. "Sorry, girl." He sighed, adjusting her equipment. He had already saddled and unsaddled her twice, wanting to make sure that nothing went wrong when Gen rode her. After she'd fallen before... He wanted to do everything he could to at least make sure she was safe in the saddle. The prince could never bear the thought of her being hurt... And yet, that's exactly what you've done. Hurt her. He accused himself. For a moment he just sat there, admiring the painful truth behind this thought.

With that, he returned to his room to gather his things. He'd already packed and repacked his bag several times. It seemed like, perhaps, if he could do these simple things right then he would be able to do the things that mattered right as well. Like keeping his friends safe.

Jesson's voice startled him, and Castiel looked up in surprise. "Yes, yes right. I've just seen them myself. Thank you." He managed a smile, but it was utterly devoid of any happiness whatsoever. "We should leave soon, then." He nodded, and slung his bag over his shoulder. With that he left the room, freezing when he saw Gen just up ahead, leaving the house. He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, trying to stop his heart from twisting. He steeled himself, and left as well. The prince would do his best not to let his emotions slip through... No, he would be completely stoic, distant... Just like he should have been all along.

[Froggy]

Genevera was stubborn. She had been able to get on Raven herself without Jesson's help, and she was certain that Castiel would have been proud of this feat just days before. Now, though...she was determined to do things on her own, without any help. When Jesson gracefully climbed on Laura, Genevera skillfully lead Raven and put Jesson in between her and the prince.

She knew that Raven liked to ride next to Briar, and this was reinstated with a soft whinnie of protest, but she rode far too close for her own personal comfort. Genevera sighed and started the journey as neither Jesson nor the prince knew the way. Jesson hadn't gone further than these city walls after tge war.

It was about a good twenty minute ride before they reached the other edge of the city. The gates were opened and the guards waved them off, sad smiles of their faces to see them leaving. Genevera wondered if she would ever see the city again, but it was a small wonder in the tidal pool of thoughts swirling amidst her mind. "Our destination is about a week away. We're at the halway point, one more town to cross through and then it'll be open terrain," Genevera said, her voice soft and melodic as it first had been when she had servedhim dinner that fateful evening.

Another two hours later and they were passing through a vast wooded area. "If anybody needs a bathroom break, now would be the time. Open desert after these woods," she said, haulting Raven and hoping off. She wasn't going to waste the opportunity and veered off to the right, just far enough out of their sight to do what she had to in private.

[Naraness]

The trip seemed to take five times longer than it usually would have. Castiel could imagine riding next to Genevera, talking to her about all the things he'd seen. He could almost see the smile that would be on her face, and the playful light in her eyes as she made fun of him. But instead, there was silence. Utter, unbreakable silence. He hadn't even spoken up when Gen got up on Raven on her own. No, instead he swallowed the pride rising in his chest and realized that it was no longer his place to be proud of her.

It seemed like days later when they stopped. Castiel tried hard not to respond in an emotional way when Genevera spoke. Instead he just nodded his agreement, and stepped to the ground. Briar snorted at him, and started to walk towards Raven. The prince sighed and stopped him, holding the horse's reins. "Not right now. Sorry." He murmured. The horse looked at him and snorted, then whinnied longingly at the mare. It reminded Castiel of his own longing to be near Gen. Castiel cleared his thoughts, knowing they'd only lead him into a poor mindset.

With that he took a trip into the woods, in the opposite direction. He wasn't looking forward to being in the desert, as he'd heard it was dry and hot... Everything his home had not been. It was best to go relieve himself once more before he had to resort to hiding behind scraggly bushes.

Back in the clearing, Briar pawed uncomfortably at the ground. His strong hoof dug somewhat of a small trench in the earth. He could sense something was wrong, and his calls to Raven were not entirely out of longing... But out of concern. The horse tossed his mane, his nostrils flaring.

[Froggy]

With his bathroom break out of the way, Jesson made his way back to the horses and saw that they were wanting to be near each other. Briar, the prince's horse, seemed to be distressed by his sudden separation from Raven. He couldn't blame the poor stallion, but there was nothing that he could do about their current situation. "It's okay boy," Jesson said, making his way over to the horses and placing a soothing hand on his mane. Briar just gave him a look and snorted snot in his face, clearly annoyed.

"And that's the last time I'll try to comfort you two," Jesson said, shaking his own head and wiping the snot from his face. He looked around for Genevera but saw that she was still out. "Genevera?" he asked, looking around the clearing. The prince hadn't returned yet, but he'd only just left and Genevera had been gone for several minutes. There was nothing, no sounds from her. He took a piece of loose paper and scribbled that he was going to look for Genevera, that way the prince wouldn't think they had run off or anything.

Genevera had finished her bathroom break several minutes prior, but had steeled herself for a few moments to allow her breath to regain regularity. She was fighting everything inside her to keep her composure, knowing that this next week would be rather harsh. As she stood from behind the tree and made to return to the horses, she heard some twigs snapping not far behind her. She picked up her pace and didn't look back, breaking into a run as soon as she cleared the tree. At least until a warning arrow flew an inch past her ear and a rough voice spoke from behind. "Don't take another step," he spoke, and Genevera halted, raising her hands up and standing there, her heart beating furiously from fright. "Scream and the next one won't miss," he said, and she could hear footsteps coming from behind on both sides of her. There wasn't much that she could say or do to prevent what was happening to her, nor was there anything to describe the feeling of fear as each footstep neared her. "Please...just leave me be," Genevera begged, thinking back to the prince and knowing that he would assume she had run away. Who were these people, and what did they want?

Jesson was watching the entire thing from a tree above, but he was unable to act as there were too many of them to defeat on his own. Especially when one of the larger ones grabbed Genevera's wrist roughly and spun her around, slapping her face the minute she saw them. Anger swelled up inside him and he gently raised his hands to his lips, whistling in a manner that sounded like an exotic bird that had dwelled in their native lands. The bird only dwelled there, and when Jesson had been in the military it had been used as a call for help in times of distress. He could only hope that the prince knew of the call, that he remembered the days of war.

He whistled again, causing a bit of confusion amongst the faces of the men. "What was that?" the man with the gravelly voice asked Genevera. "I...I don't...know," she answered truthfully, but they didn't seem to believe her. They seemed...uncomfortable, unfamiliar with the terrain...which might prove to her advantage in escape. "Let's take her and get out of here," the man said, and Jesson wanted to smack his face as the men tied rope around Genevera's wrists, and he couldn't stand it. The men tied another rope around her ankles to prevent escape and lifted her atop a horse, and Genevera seemed more frightened than he had seen her in a while.

"What are you doing? Take me where?" Genevera asked fearfully as another man climbed on behind her, and he slapped her face again. "Don't speak," he commanded her, and she gasped from the pain of the sting. The horses took off in a dash, and she heard the noise again that had caused so much confusion before. Little did she realize that Jesson was with her, following them in the treetops above. She remained silent as commanded, not wanting to hint that the prince of her kingdom was just yards away. She wanted to keep him safe, to keep these men from hurting him. A twinge of pain swelled inside her stomach, her emotions twisting as she could think of one thing: he'll believe I ran away. That he wouldn't come for her.

[Naraness]

A strange bird call floated through the air. Castiel lifted his head as he was tightening his belt. The bird's sound brought him back to a time many years ago. He'd been young, frightened for his kingdom... It had been during the war. Of course he'd been sheltered within the castle, still too young to take part in the fight. Despite this, it had been a dark time and the fear and concern of his parents weighed heavily on him. Why did this bird remind him of the war? The prince shrugged lightly, and started walking back to the horses.

Briar's distressed whinnying had not ceased, and he could hear the stallion from there. Castiel sighed, and stepped into the clearing. "It's alright boy, really. It'll only be for a little while. I'm sure this... This thing, between Ginny and I will pass." He spoke quietly, in case one of the other elves were nearby. "At least... I, I think it will." His voice was empty of hope, though. It wasn't even a remote possibility.

On Briar's saddle, a scrap of paper had been tucked in the folds of leather. Castiel frowned curiously and removed it. He turned it over in his hands and then unfolded it, reading the words inside. 'I've gone to look for Genevera.' It said in a hasty scrawl. No doubt Jesson had written it. Looking about, he realized very quickly that neither of them had returned. Worry crept into his chest. Was this a stage for an escape? It wasn't unreasonable to think that they had left, knowing their best chances were far away from him. The thought sent a shard of ice into his heart.

No, I can't assume the worst. I must go look for them. He decided. Just that moment, the bird call pierced the air again. It was farther away this time, and he could hear a sent of... urgency? Moments later he heard the sound of hoof beats, and voices. Human voices. His previous thoughts were banished. This was no attempt to run away. With the panic of the moment, his memories were jolted. The bird call... It was a call of distress, often used by elves in the war. It was Jesson.

If Cass had a shred of common sense in him, he would have grabbed Raven and dashed into the forest. Instead, he ran on foot. By the time it occurred to him that he should take a horse, it was too late to waste time going back. Rather than return to the clearing he simply pushed himself harder, and ran with all of his might. By the time he arrived they were gone, riding through the forest. He would never be able to catch them. Only the lingering sounds of their hoof beats proved that they had been there at all. Looking at the ground, he could see Gen's delicate footprints surrounded by much larger ones. "No, no." He whispered, gasping for breath. His mind scrambled for purchase as he tried to make sense of the situation.

She was gone, she'd been taken... He had failed once again. "Jesson." The call was weak and pleading. The healer had to be nearby. He might have seen what happened.

In all the confusion and fear that Castiel felt, one thought was the solid foundation that kept him from collapsing. I'm going to get her back. The sentence was so loud in his mind that it felt like he'd yelled it. He would find her, if it was the last thing he ever did. If it killed him, he'd rescue her.

[Froggy]

As soon as the prince spoke, a hand wrapped around his mouth tightly and he was hoisted hastily into the air. Jesson shoved him as gently as he could into the back of a tree, holding a finger to his own mouth in a motion to quiet the prince. "They're coming," he said, hiding behind the tree and keeping his hand around the prince's mouth. Luckily, the group of kidnappers hadn't gone in the direction of the horses, but instead traveled through the clearing in the direction of the desert. His eyes narrowed as he saw Genevera atop one of the horses, tied at her wrists and ankles. She now had a cloth gag around her mouth and her shoulders were slumped.

He kept the prince against the tree, knowing that he would jump out in an instant to get to Genevera. Not but moments later, another ten men armed with swords and bows passed through the clearing. He gave the prince a knowing look and shook his head, signaling the prince that now was not the time to go after Genevera. Follow, yes...but to go after Genevera with fifteen armed men surrounding her...it would be suicide at best.

At the same time, he knew that the prince would have a few choice words for him when the kidnappers left. They surveyed the area, listening for the call that had pierced the air earlier, looking for any other sign of life. Good thing they were too stupid to look in the trees. The horse that held Genevera halted, and she lost her balance and fell forward off the horse. "Stupid girl!" one of the men shouted, and Jesson could feel his face heat up in anger. At the same time all of this was happening, he could only think of one thing...

Please, please don't let him do anything stupid...

The prince had been sheltered, had never fought in the war. He didn't know how difficult it was to fight one man in a battle for the death, let alone fifteen heavily armed men with a valuable hostage. He tore his eyes away from Genevera and bore them into the prince's eyes, pleading with him through his expression not to make a sound.

[Naraness]

The prince's heroic thoughts were interrupted by his own girlish shriek. The forest floor disappeared from under his feet, and surprisingly strong arms hauled him into the tree above. Upon seeing Jesson's face, he knew that the element of stealth was needed at the moment. Castiel had no idea who 'they' were. His mind buzzed with anger at the thought of a harmful hand on Genevera.

Below them, the horsemen appeared. Rage surged through him at the sight of her, bound and gagged, on one of the horses. He tried to lunge forward, to get to her, but the hands holding him kept him there. Castiel's eyes flashed vehemently and he looked at Jesson in frustration. How could he just sit there when she was right in front of them? The two of them could surely take on five men. For Genevera, he'd take them all on his own. His fingers curled around the hilt of his sword, but from here, it was useless. He strained to free himself, and his knuckles turned white.

Moments later, more men followed. They could have defeated five men... Fifteen was too much. Even through his blinding emotions, Castiel knew that. For a moment, he stopped struggling. They were all equipped with armor and weapons, and they looked ready to use them. He and Jesson were quick, but even from the trees they'd be spotted before they could take them all out. He watched as Genevera fell from her horse, and he lurched forward, straining to get to her. His bright eyes became glossy with tears as he was forced to watch her in pain, in fear... The prince's body was tense and taught. If Jesson let him go even for a moment, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from going down there.

"No one is ever going to hurt you again. Not as long as I'm there to put myself in front of you." His own words echoed back to him with painful clarity. Did she think that it had been a lie? Did she think he wouldn't come for her?

The men roughly hoisted her back onto the horse, and continued in the direction of the desert. Castiel's expression was pain stricken as he watched them go, taking her with them. Please, please Gen just look up for a moment. So you can see that we're here, that we're not going to leave you... He remained frozen, unable to save the person he loved. A cold, betraying tear ran down the side of his cheek and fell to the ground below them.

[Froggy]

Jesson hated every moment of this. He hated having to hold the prince still, while Genevera was hoisted harshly back atop the horse. He hated seeing the look of fear on her face. He wanted to let the prince go, but he knew that if he did...either all three of them would be dead, or captured. That was not something he was willing to do though, no matter how much he cared for Genevera. Them jumping out just then was not her best chance at survival.

Finally the men on the horses left and he stood there, his own breathing rough as he too felt the pain of fear for Genevera. He stayed still, just another three minutes longer. He wanted to make sure they were far enough away in case the prince started shouting at him.

Finally, though, he let his commanding officer go. "You may very well hate me for what I just did, and there may be consequences later. But right now Genevera's best hope is for us to return to the horses and to follow them through the desert into the next town," Jesson said, putting some distance between himself and the prince in the event that those words did not make him see reason.

"Follow me back," he said, jumping gracefully and quickly onto the next tree branch, looking back to the prince to make sure he would follow.

[Naraness]

For three minutes he sat there, unable to move, knowing that Genevera grew farther away with every heartbeat. It was excruciating. When Jesson finally let him go, it was a wise decision to put some distance between them. Castiel shot a burning glare at him, and gritted his teeth. "I have no words for you." The sentence was simple but his voice was dripping with irritation. He knew that the healer had done what he did to protect him, and yet he hated him for it. He knew that in the long run, what he had done was for Genevera's good, yet he still wanted to take a swing at his jaw. His conflictions, added to the situation which he hated himself for, made him feel sick.

"I'll find my own way back." He shot the words at Jesson like a knife, and hopped down from the trees. He knew it was more dangerous to be on foot, but he didn't care. They were heading away from the horsemen anyway, he rationalized. Away from Gen, too. For just a moment he stopped and looked at the hoof and boot prints on the ground. His stomach lurched at the thought of her in their hands. It took all of his strength not to fall to his knees right there.

With that he made his way back to the horses, trying to ignore the sound of Jesson, whether it was his voice, or the sound of him leaping through the trees like some kind of bird monkey.

Raven's distressed whinnying met his ears, and he knew that she could sense Genevera had been taken. Briar had joined in, perhaps worried that the prince had been taken as well. The horses' empathy was amazing at times, but in that moment Castiel really wished they would stop. "I know, I know." He said, stepping into the clearing. "She's gone," Castiel gestured to towards the woods. "It's my fault." He gestured towards himself. "So you can be quiet now, because I know." He started roughly untying Briar's reins, trying to ignore his horse's nervous side stepping. "Please stop, I understand." There was an unavoidable edge to his voice, and through his frustration he couldn't even manage to untie the knot.

With a sharp exhale of exasperation, he moved away and kicked a pinecone with all his fury, sending it spiraling into the forest.

[Froggy]

Jesson watched the prince closely after putting some distance between them. The glossy eyes hadn't escaped his own notice, nor did the tear that had escaped. He could only imagine what the prince was going through, but he knew better than to speak just yet.

As much as he hated to say it, the prince was still a boy in many ways. He had never tasted what it was like to kill. To fight another man for your life, to wonder if you'll ever see your family again. He knew that it must have been maddenng to the prince, to watch Genevera be taken from them.

Jesson wouldn't throw any of this in his face, no. He would do his best to keep him safe, to keep him from doing something stupid. So even as he dropped to the ground Jesson was following closely behind him and kept a keen eye on him. When they reached the horses Jesson hung back, letting the prince vent to his loyal companions. By now he was on the ground, watching as he struggled with the knot.

Jesson sighed and rubbed his temples in annoyance. The prince would have to learn not to allow his emotions to control his focus as it could only result in disaster. A pinecone flew into the forest and hit him square on the forehead and he grunted in annoyance, wiping the dirt off him and shooting the prince a glare as he walked over to the horses.

He gently took Briar's reigns, doing his best to ignore the glares coming from the horse, and untied them. Briar walked over to the prince and nudged him with his snout as Jesson untied Raven next. Raven was more accepting of his touch, looking straight ibto his eyes. "We'll get her back," he whispered softly, for both the mare's benefit and the prince's. Finally he untied Laura's reigns and climbed atop her. "Let you take your aggressions out on me another time. Let you release your emotions after we have her back. Until then, let us focus entirely on getting her back," Jesson said, leading Laura to Raven's side.

[Naraness]

It was a wise decision. Castiel wanted to be mad, yes... He did. But at this time, it wouldn't get him any closer to Gen. In fact, it would hurt her even further, and she deserved better than that. He took a few deep breaths, and sighed quietly. "Yes, I agree." His voice was tight, and strained. Speaking was actually painful due to the knots in his throat.

It was annoying. Nothing in particular, nothing that the prince could directly point out... But the whole world seemed so... Irritating. He didn't like the lack of control, he couldn't believe that something like this could actually happen to him.

Again, he found himself gritting his teeth. It was a habit he had broken years ago. If his mother was there... She'd have a fit. She'd scold him over the way he was acting, she'd yell at him for being so cruel to Genevera, and then she'd probably grab him by his pointed ear and drag him back home.

Castiel stepped over to Briar, quickly swinging his leg over the stallions broad back. "Ginn-" The prince choked on his words. "Genevera. She's our priority." He took a deep breath and nodded firmly, waiting until the healer was ready to go. When he was, the prince didn't hesitate to take the lead towards the desert. Briar's hoof beats relaxed him a little bit, and knowing that they were on the pursuit to get Gen back made him feel just a little bit less mad at the world.

[Froggy]

The two were able to pass through the woods with a relative amount of haste in their travel. The only issue was realizing that as they followed the path the snatchers had taken, they followed them directly into a sandstorm. After the trees began to dwindle down, Jesson could hear the sound of intense wind pulsating all around them...and his fears had been confirmed. "Sand storm!" he shouted in warning to the prince, just before they reached the edge of the forest.

He hated those men for forcing Genevera to travel through this, after all the had been through recently. "Laura will lead the way- she is much more use to these conditions than Briar or Raven," Jesson shouted, holding a hand on his head as his hat threatened to fly away. He stuffed that part of his uniform in a pocket to prevent losing it altogether. Now, though...he trekked through the desert on Laura's backside, the horse skillfully tilting her head to avoid complications from the sand.

They had traveled for what seemed like an entire day before they reached a break in the grueling storm, and the sand began to let up. Finally it all died down and he could see more than three feet in front of him. The sky was still blue, and the sun was just overhead. It appeared as though they hadn't made as much progress as he'd thought, and he couldn't help but to wonder what Genevera was going through...

[Naraness]

The sand was the worst part. Castiel could deal with the wind, the heat, and even the sucking dryness... But with every gust of wind, a million bits of sand stung his face. They peppered every bit of exposed skin. Soon enough, he'd found that wrapping some cloth around his face helped considerably. It didn't prevent him from having to squint constantly, but at least he wasn't breathing sand.

Briar was equally uncomfortable. For the first half of the journey, he and Raven were struggling even to step forward. They hated the sand storm as much as Castiel did. But over time, they were able to copy Laura and fight against the wind tactically.

It seemed like hours before they broke through. He'd never appreciated being able to see the sky so much until then. It was beautiful and freeing to see the world for miles. Castiel unwrapped the cloth around his face. It felt good to breathe again.

As he looked around, the prince realized one terrible, awful factor... The storm had stirred the entire desert. Any footprints left by Genevera's capturers were completely washed away. Fresh, untouched sand spanned in every direction. "How are we to find them?" He asked, looking to Jesson expectantly. "The sandstorm took every trace of them." Castiel expected the healer to have some kind of an answer. He couldn't wander this desert without knowing where they were going. What if they wasted precious time while the horsemen took Genevera farther and farther away?

[Froggy]

Jesson took in a deep breath when the prince asked him of their course of action. He knew that the prince would not like his answer, but they were the only options left at this point. "We have two options," Jesson began, walking Laura just a little bit further away from Briar. "The first options is to push forth in the same direction we've been going in- but I'm sure you're familiar with the risks involved. We could get lost far worse if we do that," Jesson paused and looked at him, knowing that neither of them would like this next option.

"Or...we could admit that we made a mistake in chasing after her so suddenly. We need a guide to cross the desert, and the only place to get one is back in town. We also need more support, we do not know what we are up against in terms of numbers or their cause," Jesson said, introducing his military state of mind once again. At this point he was several feet away from the prince and was prepared to take off at a moment's notice, in the event that he turned against him. "I'll leave the choice up to you," Jesson said tactfully, knowing that the prince was, in the grand scheme of things, his commanding officer.

~~~~~~~

The sand storm had been the worst storm she had ever had to suffer through. As a traveling peasant, she had been subjected to sand storms in the past...but they had been nothing like what she had experienced before. Finally, though...the men seemed to come upon a little shack that she didn't remember the last time she came. One man wrapped a blind fold around her and she squirmed against the act, only to receive a stinging slap to the face in turn. She was hoisted off the horse and lifted upon a man's shoulder, before soon she felt a shift in the atmosphere. She knew by the cooler temperature and the lack of sunlight upon her skin that they were in the cabin.

The fact that she couldn't see, couldn't speak frightened her. She felt a hand against the back of her head, and seconds later the gag around her mouth had been removed. "Who are you?" one of the men asked, and Genevera was hesitant to answer. "Ginny Blaec," she answered, lying about her name in the event that these people were somehow connected to those whom had stabbed her just a week before. "What were you doing in the woods?" the man asked her, and Genevera froze for a moment...she hadn't thought of a lie yet, and her clothing was too sophisticated to be marked by a peasant's name. She felt another stinging slap against her skin and winced in pain, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

"I was...traveling to the next town. I just finished a serving assignment at LeikiaWillows. When work runs out in one city I move on to the next," she lied, hoping that the ruse would be enough. "What was an elf doing, serving in a human kingdom?" the man questioned her, and she hung her head as though genuinely embarrassed. "I'm a peasant in my native lands. Work was difficult, so I made way to the human kingdom and found employment there," she answered, her body still as though to not betray her true nature.

There was silence, and then he asked yet another question. "And did you have an assignment in Yuniheightta?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation. 'In other words, is anyone expecting you'? she thought to herself, resisting the urge to smirk. "I was due there in three days. I left early because I knew the desert could be treacherous," she answered, allowing her body to shiver. More silence filled the air, and soon the sounds of footsteps could be heard. "Please...what do you want with me?" she asked, fear filling her voice.

"You're a working girl...you'll make somebody a fine slave," the man said, and laughter could be heard around the room. She made to scream but the gag was placed around her mouth again, and she was once again hoisted upon a shoulder and carried back to the horses. She was roughly placed atop one of the horses and a man slapped her again when she tried to struggle, when she whimpered. By now her cheek was growing tender from the repetition of the violence against it, and she was certain there would be a mark there by the end of the evening. She wondered then what Castiel was doing, if he noticed her absence yet, and what he thought of her absence.

'I haven't run away,' she thought sadly, her shoulders slumping as another man climbed on behind her. He wrapped his arms around her chest in a none too appropriate manner, resting his hands atop her breasts as he held the reigns. She attempted to struggle against his hold on her, but he bade her to stop and tightened his grip on her. She did as commanded, but whimpered at his touch....wishing nothing more than for Castiel to be there, to protect her.

[Naraness]

Castiel was quiet for a long, smoldering moment. Then he spoke in a dangerous voice. "Do you mean to tell me that you just dragged me through a sandstorm for hours, only to decide that we need to go back?" His voice rose. "That we just wasted precious time that we could have spent finding Genevera?" The prince's hands had clenched around Briar's reins, and the horse side stepped nervously. "Do you even know what you're doing, Jesson?" His face was filled with rage, though he tried to hold it in.

"It'll take a whole day to return to town and get back here, maybe more! Do you know how far someone can travel in a day? Have you any idea what they could do to her in that time!" The thought frightened and angered him. How could he live with himself, travelling in the opposite direction from her? In the mean time, she would be at the thieves' mercy.

They could neglect her, starve her, abuse her... And he wouldn't be able to stop them. They could have done horrible things to her already, and she was powerless. The thought made him sick. Images of her scars flashed before his eyes, made the edges of his vision darken. Would those men inflict new ones upon her? Would they break her spirit, as terrible men had in the past? He had absolutely no ability to save her, at this point. Castiel closed his eyes, trying to grasp come sense of control.

It was his choice. Jesson said so. There was no denying the fact that he thought a guide would be useless at this point. No one could track a group of men through the desert after a sand storm... But on the other hand, they would know how to survive crossing the desert. And they might have knowledge about the local bandits and mercenaries. They could tell them who the capturers were.

"Fine." Castiel said, his voice taught and spiteful. "But we waste no time. We'll eat on horseback, and make stops only when absolutely necessary." He turned Briar around. Please hold on, Ginny. I promise I will come. I will not abandon you.

[Froggy]

Jesson watched the prince, studying his expression and the tone of his voice as the prince realized what the options were. Laura, like Briar, side stepped nervously, further away from the shouting elf. "M'lord, there is a reason that Genevera was leading our path," he said quietly, looking back towards the direction they had came. "I haven't ventured outside of those city walls since the war," Jesson admitted, knowing that this is not what the prince wanted to hear...but he would not lie to him.

"Very well," Jesson said quietly at the prince's decision, looking back in the opposite direction as he turned Laura as well. Raven whinnied in protest, seeming to be annoyed at the idea of heading back. Just then, a small pillow of smoke rising in the air caught his attention. "Wait a minute..." Jesson said, squinting his eyes a little to be sure. "Smoke! Up ahead!" he said, pulling Laura back in that direction and pointing at it. "It could be the bandits...or they could have seen them pass by..." Jesson said, looking to the prince and leaving the decision up to him...

[Naraness]

Castiel looked up, his eyes widening at the sight of smoke in the distance. There was a tug in his heart, as if... He would be leaving Gen behind by pursuing something else. But she would want him to make sure that no one was hurt, she would want him to ensure that innocents weren't being punished. Even if it was just a small fire... She would want him to make sure that it didn't consume the forests she loved so dearly.

Her words echoed back to him, telling her of her love for sunlight and nature... How cruel he had been to dismiss it, putting his own desires first.

"Hurry." It was a simple and effective reply. The prince would not waste time. No he would not waste a single second until he knew that Genevera was safe... But that would never stop him from doing what was right. Castiel urged Briar into a canter, and soon they were hurrying back across the desert. The sun blazed at his back like a furnace, pushing him onward.

The closer he got, the more it looked like a camp fire. Castiel wondered at first if it was nothing more than travelers... He didn't want to waste time, but he got the feeling that something wasn't right. The prince doubted his suspicions, though. If it was under control, he'd want to continue toward the town as soon as possible. In the back of his mind, he couldn't stop thinking that every moment took Gen farther and farther away.

[Froggy]

Jesson didn't need to be told twice. He and Laura were speeding towards the smoke column, and at the same time he would check to make sure that the prince was okay, and that Raven was still following them. They soon, much to his surprise, came across what looked like an old desert cabin with a large cooking cauldron outside.

Jesson skidded Laura to a hault and pulled on Raven's reigns to stop her as well. "Something isn't right," Jesson said, looking at the prince and furrowing his brows. The outside was litered with horse dung but there were no horses, nor was anyone tending to the fire. "Allow me to go in...stay here, it could be dangerous," Jesson said, giving the prince a hard stare.

He walked Laura steadily to the post dedicated for horses, making sure to stay towards the cleaner side. "Sorry girl...it'll only be for a few minutes," he said as he hopped off the horse, patting her side gently. She snorted on him and stomped her front hooves, not looking too happy.

Jesson went to the door, avoiding windows at any cost, and knocked on the door. It took a few moments for Jesson to speak up. "Is anyone home? The fire outside is growing dangerously large," he said as a ruse to get them to open the door. Finally it opened and a stubby, heafty man answered the door. He was human, had short, graying hair and a bald spot in the middle of his head... yet, he couldn't have been older than forty. He had little stubbs of hair all over his chin and sides, and it was clear that he didn't groom himself much.

It was also clear that he had a small gash on his right temple and appeared to be in a sour mood. "Who are you?" He asked, and Jesson raised an eyebrow. "A soldier passing through, I noticed your fire was growing dangerously hot," Jesson said, leaving any mention of the prince.

"What happened to your head, do you need medical attention?" Jesson asked, peering around in hopes of looking in the cabin while pretending to focus on the wound...but the door was only open enough for the man's head to fit through. "Leave me be, soldier. I am fine," the man said, moving to close the door. Jesson stopped him by grabbing it just in time.

"Then I'm sure you won't mind me taking a look inside, will you? You see, my healer girl was taken just a few hours ago by a group of unidentified men, several of which were on horseback. You seem to have had a fair bit of horse travel come through here recently," Jesson said, and the man seemed to tense and get angry. "You're waisting your time then, she isn't here," the man said, which causedJesson to raise his brow at the man. "Knock yourself out, have a look if you must," the man said, allowing Jesson entry.

The cabin was small, with one main room including a couch, a bunch of chairs, some tape and rope laid out on the only table, a kitchen area, and two internal doors. He assumed one was a pantry and the other a bathroom. Jesson kept his hand on the hilt of his sword, keeping his attention on the man as he went to open the bathroom door.

Nothing.

Jesson sighed and shut the door, shaking his head. He'd hoped that she would be there...but there was no one other than the creepy man. Suddenly, though, there was a noise coming from the kitchen area. "What was that?" Jesson asked, his voice stern as he made his way over. "Just varmin," the man said, tensing as Jesson got closer. The sound of pots falling could be heard and Jesson hurried, thinking only of Genevera.

Before he could make it to the door though, he saw something silver miss him by a half an inch and fly down the side of his arm, brushing against his armor. "What are you doing?!" Jesson asked, turning around and pulling out his sword just in time to block the next attack. For a grubby human, he was pretty strong. The sound of squealing could be heard from the pantry, but it wasn't that of an animal...more of a human woman or an elven woman. Jesson's eyes hardened and he swung his sword at the man, trying to disarm him. "Stop now!" Jesson commanded, but the man would not stop. The man swung to slice through Jesson's torso, but Jesson ducked and beat the man in his stomach with the hilt of his sword. The man dropped his own sword and Jesson felt sticky, wet liquid that smelled like bad vomit pour down his head. Jesson grit his teeth together and tackled the man, and the next thing he knew the door to the pantry burst open.

He looked back, expecting to see Genevera, but was thouroughly surprised when he saw another elven woman bound and gagged instead, scurrying out of the pantry as mice came out of it. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" Jesson roared, holding the man down and hoping that the prince had heard all the commotion.

[Naraness]

This prince followed with much haste, and urgency in his every breath. He could sense the healer's worry, and as they arrived, he took in the same facts that Jesson had. Briar's large, strong hooves dug into the earth as he grinded to a halt. Castiel looked around. The evidence of horses was enough to make him suspicious. The dung was just fresh enough that it could belong to the horses they'd see earlier. Briar snorted, his nostrils flaring at the scent. "It's alright, boy." He patted the stallion's strong, red neck.

"What? Stay here?" Castiel was flabbergasted at Jesson's order. He was just supposed to sit there? The prince had no time to retort before Jesson had already gone inside. He backed up, staying hidden within the trees as he did so. It was hard to see from his position, but he could hear most of their conversation. Almost instantly, he could sense dishonesty in the human's voice. There was something going on here, and Castiel didn't like it.

He got off of Briar, and gently told him to stay put. The prince crept forward, attempting to watch the two interacting through the windows. From his position, he could only see the human. Their voices were muffled now, and he couldn't make out a word. But he could see as the balding man fingered a knife at his side, which was conveniently hidden from Jesson's view. Castiel froze, knowing that they'd hit the criminal jackpot.

He dashed towards the structure, hearing metal clang on the floor and shouts of anger and exclamation. Castiel kicked through the door with one strong strike. The old, flimsy frame splintered apart, and the door smacked the wall loudly. He drew his sword, feeling it ring in his hand. The prince's eyes flicked across the room. There was vomit all over Jesson and the human, and a sour smell had filled the air. In the corner, a very frightened elven woman stood in the doorway of the bathroom. For a fraction of a second, Castiel was sure that she was Genevera. But that faded as he realized that... She was an entirely different victim, and Gen was miles and miles away by now.

"I hope you realize the graveness of your crimes." He growled, looking down at the human who was now pinned to the ground. "You will not escape punishment for this." Castiel grabbed the rope on the table, and stepped over to the man. He grabbed him by the arm, roughly pulling him to his feet. "Get up." Castiel quickly bound his hands behind his back, giving the man not a moment to fight back or argue. "You are under arrest, under the authority of the kingdom of Bellanar for the crimes of slave trading and attempted murder to a soldier of the kingdom." His voice was utterly serious, and gave no room for protest. "If you speak, or in any way make me regret keeping you alive, I will personally gag you with your own wiping cloth, are we understood?" He pulled the bindings much tighter than he needed to, and dropped him on his rear end in his own pool of vomit.

With that, he stood up and helped Jesson to his feet. "Next time, let me come too, would you? I'm not entirely useless-" The prince gagged when the stench covering the healer hit him. "Oh, dear Gods... You need a bath." Castiel stepped around him, now turning his attention to the elven maiden who had just been rescued.

"I can assure you, under the name of my father, that you are now in safe hands and I will return you to your home." He held out his hand, "If it's alright, I'll cut the ropes binding you." Something about her looked familiar, though he couldn't quite place it. Her skin was fairer than that of an ordinary woman, even an ordinary elven woman, and even though she was bound and dirty, she held herself with a certain grace... "Are you alright?"

[Froggy]

Jesson's head went immediately to the door when it flew open and relief was visible on his face. The prince came straight to him, hoksting the man up and bounding his hands behind his back. "Thanks," Jesson said, trying to avoid the topic of the stench. His eyes narrowed when the prince told him he needed a bath. "Thanks for stating the obvious," Jesson said, glaring at the other elf. "As far as your assistance is concerned, I would like to keep you alive. I'd rather know that you're safe than put you in danger, though I would like to thank you for your assistance with a hug," Jesson said, smirking at him.

The prince focused his attention on the woman near the bathroom who was bound and gagged. She seemed to loosen her muscles a bit when the prince came over, telling her that they would return her.

Anabeth looked at the man, confusion and fear on her face. Who was he, to have the authority to arrest a slave trader? To have a soldier with him, wandering the desert? To make promises under the name of his father? She stepped forward when he said that he would cut the ropes binding her, holding out her own hands for him to do so. When he did, she took out the gag and glared at the man who had purchased her.

Her attention was brought back to the man when he asked of her well-being. She offered him a small smile. "I am now, thanks to both you and your soldier..." Anabeth said, her voice filled with grace and sophistication. "I am Anabeth Guinevere Langstene, Princess of Junipara," she introduced herself, giving the human another glare.

"Damn them. They didn't tell me I was buying a princess," he said, shutting his mouth instantly when Jesson popped his head with his hand. "Might I know the names of my rescuers?" she asked, looking at both of the two elven men. "Jesson Gontarek," Jesson said quietly, staying quiet in the presence of royalty. He knew his place.

Anabeth's face softened. "But...I thought Jesson Gontarek was dead," Anabeth questionned, looking to the other elf curiously. She could see the scar on Jesson's face...it should have been enough to kill anyone. "And who might you be, kind sir?" She asked the prince, stepping forward and smiling at him.

[Naraness]

"I can take care of myself just fine." He retorted. "As a matter of fact- What? You want me to hug you? What makes you think I would ever do that?" The prince looked at Jesson, eyeing him up and down. He was covered in bile and half-digested alcohol. The idea of a hug was positively disgusting. "No thank you. With all due respect, don't touch me." There was a hint of mirth in his voice, but for the most part he was downright serious as he cautiously stepped away from the healer.

Castiel watched him out of the corner of his eye as he cut the bindings on the woman's wrists. He smiled, glad to hear that she was alright, and then... Was a bit shocked when he learned her name. They had not rescued an ordinary woman. He now understood why she was so familiar looking, why she held herself with elegancy and etiquette. "My Lady." He knelt out of respect. Castiel stood, listening to Jesson's introduction with a small chuckle. "I thought he was dead as well... The world is full of surprises."

When she asked his name, he bowed with a small flourish. "Castiel Ethmeiar, Prince of Bellanar, at your service." He lifted his head with a smile. "It's a surprise to see you this far from your kingdom, Princess. As fate would have it, I came to meet with your family and establish peace, while a violent third party seeks to create hate between our kingdoms." But they were still far from the Junipara lands, and... Castiel would not resume his original quest until they had found Genevera.

"But we cannot continue there yet. I am sorry, Princess Anabeth. But I cannot return you home until I have found my friend. She was taken by the same people who held you captive, and is even now being taken farther away. Until she is safe, I cannot go elsewhere." His face expressed sadness, but also honesty. His first priority was Gen. It would always be Gen.

He sent a glare at the slave trader, scowling at his pathetic form on the ground. "To my great displeasure, we must first take this scoundrel to a town where they can exact a punishment worthy of his crimes. We will do this quickly, and then continue searching for Genevera. We must also find a guide to take us across the desert, and... Wait a moment." He cast his eyes back on the slave trader. This man, as low as his life was, had information about the organization. He knew their routes, how to travel the desert, and where the bandits would have taken Genevera. Castiel grinned to himself. "Actually... I have a much better plan. That is, if you'd like me to spare your life. You can cooperate and live, or refuse, and be hung by dawn. Which is your choice?" Castiel stepped forward.

"Allow me to warn you. If you lead us astray and lose us even one second of time in our search, I will kill you myself."

[Froggy]

Jesson smirked at the prince's confusion at the idea of a hug. He would have, perhaps, pressed the matter further had a lady not been in their presence. Jesson too, by this time was kneeling out of respect as the prince took control of the conversation.

"Prince of Bellanar?" Anabeth asked curiously, wondering what fate had brought them together. She curtseyed in response to his bow, smiling at him still yet. "What are you doing this long distance from your homeland?" She asked him kindly, placing a gentle hand upon his shoulder. He soon answered her question and chuckled a little. "Ah, so that is why I had been captured," she said, chuckling a little more.

"My father should be more than pleased with my safe return," Anabeth said, smiling softly at the prince and the soldier. She listened as he spoke of his friend being captured by the same people who had captured her and her smile, her posture deflated. She looked to the ceiling, issuing a prayer for the woman and wrapping her arms around herself protectively.

"Was that the same woman whom had crossed through here hours earlier?" Anabeth asked, returning to the corner and quivering as she looked at the man on the floor. "Silence!" He roared at her, aiming to stand but Jesson had already roughly placed him back on the ground. "You'll not speak to a lady in such manners," he growled dangerously. He looked to the prince, knots forming in his stomach that were not associated with the smell.

"I think she said her name was...Ginny," Anabeth said, taking in a deep breath as she too relived her own experienced of being captured. A small tear ran down her cheek and she closed her eyes, turning away for a moment. Her head snapped back as the prince offered this man his life and she scowled.

"They will kill me in much more painful methods than hanging if I were to lead you there," the human said, spitting at Castiel's feet. "I can lead us through the desert...they are heading to the next town," Anabeth said, glaring at the man as she shivered in fear. Her skin had never been broken in her seventy years on the earth until she had been captured. It was a traumatizing experience that would leave more than physical scars to haunt her.

[Naraness]

Ginny. She said her name was Ginny. His heart ached as he learned this fact. It was almost like a sign she'd left for him, begging him to come, to make things right with her. "I will come for you." He whispered, his voice just a quiet breath.

As the man's blatant refusal, Castiel was quick to carry out his earlier threat. It wasn't hard to find a cloth suitable for the job.

"Anabeth..." He stepped back from the man, repulsed by his entire being. "Are you sure you're alright?" Castiel knew she wasn't. For he could see the same fear in her eyes that he'd seen in Genevera. But hers was fresh, more vivid... Gen had learned to cover it up over the years. "It will be alright. I'll not let them harm you again." The prince feared he would fail to keep this promise as he had failed before. As always, though... He would try. He would give it his every effort. Perhaps if he continued on and tried hard enough, one day he would succeed, and be able to protect the people he cared for.

Castiel swallowed, remembering the way Genevera tried to hide her pain, to stay strong... He didn't want that same pain for Anabeth. No woman deserved to fear a man's touch. "It's alright." He said gently. "You don't always have to be strong. Ginny..." He cleared his throat when a knot constricted his voice. "Ginny had to cover it up for years upon years, and I don't want the same for you. If ever you need something, do no hesitate to ask." He could see the tear stains on her eyes She had lived a sheltered life, just like he had... Violence and wickedness like this were not found in the halls of a kingdom.

The prince held out his hand, an offer of protection and freedom from this place.

[Froggy]

Anabeth watched Castiel carry out his earlier threat to the man, and it did make her feel a little better about the situation...to know that he wouldn't be able to speak to her anymore, to touch her anymore...She offered him a small smile when he asked if she was alright, another tear falling down her cheek.

"Physically, yes," she answered, still in the corner with her arms wrapped around herself. She looked at him when he said that he wouldn't let them harm her again. She believed that he would do everything he could to keep that from happening, but she wondered if it would be enough. She turned away when he said that she didn't always have to be strong.

But she did, she was a figure of royalty and as such she was expected to maintain a certain grace, sophistication about her composure. She looked back, tears staining her eyes when he spoke of Ginny. When he had to clear his throat to continue.

She looked at his outstretched hand for a moment, glancing at the man that had held her captive as he glared at her. Was she truly safe, so long as he was in their company? Then she looked back to the outstretched hand, reaching a shaky hand of her own to take it. She clutched it and clung to him, sobbing as she burried her face into his shoulder.

"Thank you," she said, over and over again. She just stood there, one hand holding his and the other wrapped around his arm, holding him as though she depended upon him for her life. "I hope we find Ginny...before it's too late. Before they do the things to her that they did to me," she said between sobs, her entire body shaking at this point. The man tried to stand, tried to go after her, but Jesson was quick to land a heavy foot against his chest. "You'll stay down until we say," Jesson growled, crossing his arms and not looking the slightest bit pleased. He just wanted a bath and to find Genevera.

Anabeth tensed at the man's actions, hiding behind Castiel in fear. "Please...let us get out of here," she begged him, her small frame still shaking.

[Naraness]

The emotions behind her eyes changed slowly, evolving from shaky determination to shattered confidence. Just as the prince had suspected, she was covering up her pain with a mask of strength. He had no doubt that she truly was strong, for she had acted so stoically. She was brave. But no woman could go through such a traumatizing experience without being shaken to the core. Castiel watched as she looked around, unsure and afraid. "You're safe now." He whispered as she reached for his hand.

It seemed like the moment their fingertips touched, she melted, clinging to him with every bit of strength she had left. Her slight frame shook with delicate sobs, and the prince's heart broke for the pain she was experiencing. "It's alright." He murmured, protectively wrapping his arm around her. "We're here, you're free. You needn't be afraid now." He guided her out of the building, away from the awful man who had done unspeakable things to her. Castiel could only pray that Genevera would be safe from such barbaric acts. But if these men had had the indecency to harm and abuse a princess... They would surely do the same to a commoner. His heart wept openly, and every beat was excruciating.

His only comfort was that they had rescued Anabeth. They had freed one prisoner, and they could free another. Hopefully, before it was too late.

Castiel led Anabeth to the horses, where she could attain some measure of safety. He spent a few minutes comforting her, holding her, and speaking softly to her. He cupped her dirty, smudged face in his hands and told her honestly that things would be okay. "I will do everything in my power to protect you and bring you home. I promise you." Castiel took her hand and placed it on Briar's mane. "Stay here, with Briar. You'll be safe with him, and he'll support you if you need to lean on him. Alright? I'm going to help Jesson secure our prisoner." He smiled comfortingly and squeezed her hand.

[Froggy]

Anabeth believed him when he told her everything would be alright. She felt comforted when he wrapped his arm around her and she couldn't help but to lean into him as she shook. She stayed clung to his side as he lead her out of the shabby cabin, the place where she had spent the past few weeks. She didn't look back, not wanting to add to the memories.

She felt safe with Castiel as he held her, comforted her, and whispered softly to her. She just stood there, shaking as she looked at him...her stare blank, stained only by her tears. She blinked when he cupped her cheeks in his hands, they were warm and comforting...something she had longed for since being captured.

She held his arms with her hands, just holding him as he promised to protect her. "Thank you," she said, her voice soft and quiet.She looked at her hand when he placed it against Briar's mane, looking back at him quickly when he told her to stay there. "Don't leave me," she whispered, clinging now to the horse as she stared at him with fear. Fear of his departure.

At that time Jesson came out of the cabin with the human looking rather angry. "Don't say anything about needing a bath," he said, his voice as sour as the pungent smell. The man was still struggling with him and finally Jesson had enough. "Enough," Jesson growled, but the man did not stop. The man suddenly kicked Jesson's leg and elbowed his arm immediately after, but Jesson was wise and threw him to the ground along with himself.

The man squirmed and groaned, trying to get away but Jesson had him pinned to the ground. The man glared at him and brought his knee to Jesson's groin roughly and Jesson stiffened, gasping in pain and barely managing to stay in place. "You...bastard..." he said, his voice small and tight.

[Naraness]

"Don't leave me."

The request was desperate, fearful. Castiel looked into her bright eyes, brimming with tears. As he did he could hear Jesson fighting the prisoner, wrestling him on the ground... His friend needed help. He could only assume that he'd been struck unpleasantly when he heard the healer's miserably tight voice. It pained him to leave Anabeth's side, but he had to. Just for a moment. "You must be strong, Anabeth." He murmured, holding her hand in his. "I'll be back, it'll only be a moment." He smiled as Briar turned his head, almost wrapping the princess in a hug.

Castiel knew she was in good hands. Or... Good hooves. He squeezed her hand once more, and quickly moved to Jesson's side to aid him. He looked at the healer, in pain, and saw the malice in the human swine. The prince's eyes narrowed, and he hoisted the pathetic, disgusting man up. He was done with this nonsense, this... disrespect. It would end there. Castiel drew his dagger, and brought the rounded hilt down upon the human's skull. It was lights out instantly. The prince took a moment to throw him over Raven's back, making sure that the pommel of the saddle was conveniently jabbed into his ribs.

"Are you alright, friend?" Castiel offered a hand to Jesson. "You are in much pain, I can see. Take a moment to rest. Perhaps.. Get out some food and replenish. We'll leave soon, but the princess is still in shock." He nodded, trying not to breathe too deeply while he was near him. The prince returned to Raven and secured her repulsive cargo to the saddle. The man's hands and feet were both tied down, so there was nowhere he could go and no way to escape. Even if he managed to untie his hands, he'd be dragged by his ankles. Castiel also took a minute to make sure there were no weapons on him. He confiscated what he found, and then made his way back to Anabeth.

He smiled, moving close enough that she was welcome to hide in his arms if she wished. "Are you feeling any better? Perhaps you're hungry?"

[Froggy]

Anabeth frowned when she heard Jesson wrestling with the man. He was a cruel man, one who resorted to trickery and manipulation to get what he wanted. When that didn't work, violence. She didn't want to be anywhere near him but knew that she had to travel with him, at least long enough to drop him in the other town for execution.

Anabeth reached out when Castiel left to aid Jesson, turning immediately to Briar for support. It was amazing, how the horse kept his head wrapped around her, and how that one ac alone was gentler than anything she had endured as a slave. She couldn't watch them, so instead she let her hand rub against Briar's neck, her fingers occassionally running down his snout. The horse looked into her eyes and she smiled at him.

Finally she heard Castiel talking and knew that it was over. She looked, only to see Jesson on the ground in a contracted state and clearly in pain. A small tear ran down her cheek, hating that the man had caused him pain.

"No...food...I'll...be...fine," Jesson said, closing his eyes and keeping himself as tight as he could. "Just...need...to...get...up...must...leave...for.. .Gen..." he grunted, knowing that he wasn't helping them on time any. He bit his bottom lip and forced himself into a sitting position, trying not to breath too hard. He wanted a bath.

When Castiel returned, Anabeth went straight back to him. Her stomach growled loudly at the mention of food and she blinked in surprise. When had she eaten last, again? "Food?" she asked, looking immediately to the man that had purchased her. He had very rarely allowed her to eat...

Her stomach growled again at the mere thought of food. "Please...I am very hungry...do you have any water to spare?" She asked curiously, doing her best to focus on him and not look towards the man or the cabin again.

[Naraness]

It was like he was a magnet to her. The moment he came close enough, Anabeth made a beeline for his side. Castiel didn't hesitate to resume holding her, knowing that her world was unstable and she needed someone to make it stop trembling.

"Of course." He murmured quietly. "All that we have, you are welcome to." Castiel gently led her to a place where she could it down and rest. He never once left her side, knowing that doing so could spark fear in her eyes. "Here, have as much as you'd like." He held a water skein up, which he helped her to drink from. "Take it slow, if you drink too much at once you may have stomach pains." That was probably the least of her concerns at this point, but he tried to keep her from overwhelming her stomach. If she hadn't eaten properly in days (weeks, maybe,) then she might not be able to keep food down very well.

He dug through his pack for a moment, emerging triumphant with a piece of bread. "Here, take this, eat it slowly." It would be easily digestible, but also filling. "We'll stop before we get to town, and eat there. When we reach the city we'll stop and have a real meal, alright?" The prince's original plan to eat on horseback had failed. Perhaps when Anabeth was stronger, they'd be able to stop less often. Until then, he couldn't risk wearing her out. Castiel had already made that mistake before, with Genevera.

He glanced over at Jesson, watching the healer work out his pain. He then cast his eyes on the unconcsious lump draped over Raven's saddle. The prince regretted ever giving their captive a chance in the first place. He should have rendered him unconscious the moment he was bound. Lesson learned. He thought to himself. I'll never give these people a second chance again. They had proved to be evil, cruel, and unworthy of mercy. When Gen was safe, and they had restored peace between the kingdoms... He would make it his mission to vanquish them from the lands.

"Do you feel strong enough to ride?" He asked the princess. "You can stay with me, on Briar. I would offer to let your ride with Jesson if you wanted to, but... He's in need of a bath." Castiel smiled, hoping that this little jest might brighten her mood ever so slightly.

[Froggy]

Anabeth was grateful for his kindness, for giving her the comfort that she so desperately needed. She couldn't, didn't want to, imagine what more would have happened to her if he hadn't come. She drank the water slowly, savoring the taste, the freshness...smiling afterwards, happy to have a drink in her system again.

Her expression seemed to lift considerably when he presented her with a piece of bread, and when she held it in her hands she could smell the aroma. "Thank you," she said, smiling as she ate at the bread. She wanted to eat slice after slice but she knew that he was right, that she had to take it slow.

"I don't want to make us keep stopping...we need to find Ginny..." Anabeth said, looking truly worried and concerned for her wellbeing. She nodded her head when he asked if she was well enough to ride."I may need help up, but I can ride..." she said, finishing her piece of bread. She chuckled a little when he mentioned the soldier's need of a bath. "No, I think I'll ride with you," she said, smiling at him softly.

Jesson had finally managed to pull himself off the ground, leaning against Laura for support. He had an unhappy scowl on his face, it had been a long while since he had been disrespected in such a manner. "Are we ready then, m'lord?" Jesson asked, still holding onto Laura.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled in appreciation. "Thank you for your willingness to help us find Ginny." His worry for her had been tempered in his concern for Anabeth, but it came back in full force when the princess mentioned her. "It means the world. You've been so strong, so brave... I admire that." He smiled, glad to see amusement flickering through her eyes. The prince knew she would be alright.

Jesson called, asking if he was ready. Castiel nodded, and confirmed. "Yes, I believe we should leave with haste." He stood and helped Anabeth to her feet. "Come, I'll help you up. Briar is a tall horse, but he's steady." The prince's heart panged as he remembered telling Genevera such things when she first rode with him. How had he been so careless so as to lose her?

With a gently, steady hand Castiel lifted the young princess into the saddle. Briar softly nuzzled her leg with his muzzle, a gesture of acceptance and care. "Look, he's already taken to you." The prince smiled as he swung into the saddle behind Anabeth. Castiel gathered the reins in one hand and wrapped his other arm securely around her. "Do you feel steady?" He asked, glancing over at Jesson and Laura. The poor healer was still in a lot of pain, but he appeared to be recovering.

"Whenever you're ready, friend." He chuckled softly, guiding Briar towards the path.

[Froggy]

"Of course...I know what those people are capable of and I don't want to see that happening to her," Anabeth said, frowning a little. It would take her a long while to come to terms with what had happened, but at the same time Castiel was easing the process for her.

She smiled when he lifted her atop Briar ever so gently, he was treating her as the princess she was and for that she was grateful. Her smile widened when Briar nuzzled against her leg and she patted him on his side in turn. "He is a special horse," Anabeth said, leaving her hand on Briar and rubbing him gently. He winnied in pleasure and licked her leg, causing her to chuckle. Anabeth had a certain way with animals, an ability to communicate feelings by touch.

She seemed to be happier sitting atop Briar as Castiel climbed on behind her, wrapping an arm around her. "I am," Anabeth said, the tone of her voice lifting. She was enjoying being treated like a princess and was ever grateful to Castiel for doing so. "I cannot thank you enough for your kindness," she said, smiling at Castiel.

Jesson managed to climb atop Laura and get her started, making her way to the path with ease. The prince was in front, with the princess Anabeth. Jesson had Raven following to his side with the repulsive cargo on top, that way Jesson could keep his eye on him when he eventually woke up.

~~~~~~~

By nightfall several hours later, the weather was coming to a chill and they could see the gates ahead. When they arrived the guards looked at them questioningly, no longer raising their weapons as they knew who the prince was, and they knew Jesson as well. They were more curious about Raven's cargo, whom had been forced into silence by the gag the entire ride back. They were also shocked to see princess Anabeth with them, and they were quickly let into the city.

"My prince, welcome...what misfortunes have turned your travels around?" the supervisor asked as he looked at the bound man, curious as to what crimes he had committed.

~~~~

As the others had reached the city, Genevera was still miles away in the desert with the slave traders. She had been kept bound and gagged the entire journey. They had finally come to a stop for rest that evening and Genevera could only dream that Castiel was close, that he would catch up to her...but she knew those were but dreams.

The men dismounted the horses and one man hoisted her roughly off the horse, dropping her on her rear end in the sand. That same man tied her feet restraints to her hand restraints to prevent any hopes of escape and stood watch over her while the others set up a small camp. Genevera sat there, her eyes closed in disbelief that this was happening to her. She opened her eyes not long after, counting the amount of tents they had set up. There were sixteen in the camp including her, and only five tents. Spirits help her. Either she would be forced to sleep in the same tent as five men for the next few nights, or they would leave her to sleep on the desert floor in which any manner of creature could get her. Neither was an appealing option.

Finally, the men brought food portions out and her stomach grumbled as she watched them prepare it- it had been since early morning that she had eaten and she was hungry after a long day of uncomfortable travel. The man guarding her left to join the others, keeping his eye on her occassionally as they ate rhe meal. It soon became very clear to her that they had no intentions of feeding her that evening and her stomach groaned miserably, and she seemed to deflate in sadness as she thought of Castiel.

Castiel, her prince that could never be...especially now that she had been taken from him.

[Naraness]

It was unpleasant, dealing with the process of handing the slave trader over to the authorities. At this point, the slimy criminal had woken up and he had not become any more pleasant after his nap. As a matter of fact, it seemed like he was trying to take out little acts of revenge on them every step of the way. Whether it was fighting against them like a rabid dog, spitting in their faces, or attempting to curse through his soiled gag... It was surprising how much fight was left in him.

In Bellanar, when a criminal was convicted their attitude was ordinarily subdued and defeated. They knew it was over. Castiel wondered if all humans were this way. Perhaps their short life spans gave them more reason to fight. He thought it strange that the man, who wasn't even half his age, was much more elderly than he. How much chaos, pain, and misery had he caused in the forty or fifty years he'd been alive? It was a comfort on the prince's behalf that the man would never be able to cause more.

It didn't take long before the trader was out of their hands. Castiel gave the constable all the information he had, telling him where the cabin was, and the direction where the other traders had gone just earlier that day. Everyone there agreed that death was the best sentence for the evil hearted man. According to them, they'd been looking for him for many years.

It was hard to believe that just that morning, the prince had left town with Genevera. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

Though he was anxious to get back on the road, Castiel recognized the fact that they all needed rest, and baths would do them good. Some, more than others. Jesson particularly. He knew Anabeth would appreciate a new set of clothes, and some time to relax and scrub the dirt and memories from her skin. So he bought her a of good pair of clothes. They weren't entirely fancy, but they were made of good material and would allow her to run, ride, and if need be, fight. Once that was done he found the three of them an inn and purchased lodging and meals for the evening. With any luck, they'd be back in the desert by noon the next day.

[Froggy]

The journey was long and exhausting, but Anabeth's expressions lifted when the prince had purchased her a new pair of clothes. Anything was better than the rags shehad been wearing, she couldn't imagine the last time they had been washed.

She was looking forward to a real, comfortable bed to sleep on rather than the floor. She knew not to get too comfortable as they still had a bit of traveling to do, but it would make her happy for that evening. When Castiel purchased them rooms at an Inn, she was elated. "A bed. A bath...food," she said happily, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him in thanks. "I'll be back after a bath," Anabeth said, squealing excitedly before running up the stairs with as much speed as she could muster.

Jesson just chuckled a little and pat the prince's shoulder. "She seems happier already," Jesson commented, chuckling a bit more. "Thanks boss...now I don't have to listen to your jokes about needing a bath," Jesson said, bowing politely and likewise going up the stairs. He needed a bath and was thoroughly relieved when he saw the tub and some soap. "Oh yes," he said, immediately turning the water on.

~~~~~

After the men had finished their meals, the same man that had been guarding her earlier returned to her side. "Don't scream, don't say or do anything...otherwise you won't get water until we arrive," he said seriously, and Genevera looked at him with fearful eyes, nodding her head.

The man grunted and removed the rag from her mouth, giving her a few drinks of water. Her mouth had gotten dry with the rag in her mouth all day and she had hoped that they would at least give her some water, and for that much she was grateful. Her stomach growled and the man just shoved the rag back in her mouth, and Genevera closed her eyes sadly.

Castiel.

She wanted him now more than ever, wishing that things had turned out differently for them. Wishing that somehow they would have been able to make things work...but now it was too late. A small tear ran down her cheek and she opened her eyes, looking up as the men began to enter the tents.

That same man returned to her side moments later, smirking. "You'd better be real good to me, sweet thing. I decide when and how much food and water you get," he said, and Genevera whimpered as he picked her up from the ground and carried her into the tent. He laid her down on an empty blanket, removing the gag from her mouth but leaving her arms and legs bound. There were other men in the tent laughing at her.

"You better take care of her Theo...she'll fetch a good price," one man said, and the others laughed. One man extinguished a candle and Genevera was shaking in fear, hoping that they wouldn't hurt her. Her eyes were wide open when Theo laid down on the blankets next to her and she whimpered in fear, goosebumps forming on her skin. "Oh quiet down, I just have to make sure you don't go anywhere," he said, his voice sour as he wrapped his arms around her, pressing his body close to hers. He was a heavy man, and this was solidified when he rest his head on her arm.

Tears ran down her cheeks and she bit her botton lip to keep from sobbing, thinking only of Castiel. Wishing he would find her, but not knowing how. She heard snoring in her ear and cloed her eyes, knowing that sleep would not come to her that evening.

[Naraness]

The prince laughed as he listened to Jesson's words. It was quite a relief that they were all safe, and he was incredibly thankful that the healer would be clean by morning. Having seen the happiness on Anabeth's face also brought him a lot of joy and gladness. She would be okay... The all would.

While his companions were upstairs bathing, Castiel found that he was restless. He couldn't sit down, or stay still... It was hard to even stand in the same place for very long. His room brought him no comfort, and he had no desire to remain in the common halls of the inn. In fact, the only thing that helped him calm down at least a little bit was the night air. Standing in his room, with the windows wide open, he felt a measure of peace settle over him.

Below in the city, the streets were dark and empty. He sighed, leaning out so he could breathe deeply. The crisp atmosphere was relaxing. Castiel turned his eyes towards the heavens, looking at the star strewn sky. It was beautiful, stunning, actually. High up, brighter than them all, the moon floated in the sky. Could Gen see the same moon, which also gazed down at him? Or was she trapped, unable to look to the stars for comfort?

A single tear leaked down his cheek as he stared at the white globe of light. "I promise you I will come." He whispered, wishing that somehow she could hear him. "Oh please, please hold on Ginny. I love you, and I will find you." He gripped the window sill, his knuckles turning white. There would be no sleep for him tonight, he knew that much. Exhaustion was of no consequence, for his energy was no longer fueling him. No, it was a burning, smoldering desire to seek her out which propelled him forward, and wouldn't let him rest.

It was going to be a long night.

~*~

In the end, the prince did manage to get a few hours of sleep. But that was only after many more hours of pacing his room, talking to the moon, and replaying every single thing he ever said to Gen a hundred times. It was a humbling experience. When he did fall asleep, it seemed like moments later when he woke again. It was still dark, probably four o'clock, but the sun was glowing behind distant mountain peaks. Castiel wouldn't waste any time trying to get more rest, for he knew it would never come. As soon as his eyes opened, he was up.

He got dressed, packed his things, and went to the stables to clean the horses. Knowing that they would be riding for most of the day, it was essential that all three of the equines were well fed and comfortable. If there was any grit between them and their saddles, it would start to rub after several hours of riding. Castiel wanted this day to be executed flawlessly so that they could cover as much ground as possible. Time was of the essence.

Next, he ordered three meals for breakfast and carried them up to the rooms. The prince woke Jesson first, knowing that it was a terribly early hour, but also finding himself very amused with the fact that he could disturb him at that time. "Eat up, friend. We'll be leaving before seven, six if I can help it." He ducked out of the room, grinning to himself as he reached Anabeth's room.

He knocked on her door, something he hadn't done for Jesson, smiling to himself. "My Lady? I've brought breakfast and plans for the day."

[Froggy]

Jesson had been woken up rather abruptly, and much to his surprise it was still dark out. Despite the fact that the prince hadn't bothered knocking, he had found it amusing that he had brought him his meal...he wasn't use to having room service and breakfast in bed. Still yet, he knew that time was of the essence. He knew the necessity in finding Genevera, he longed to find her as well...so he ate quickly and grabbed his bag, putting on a suitable pair of riding trousers and a light weight shirt. He wrapped a rag around his head and grabbed two others to help with the sun later that morning. He also placed one over his shoulder and headed out the room, towards the princess's room.

~~~~~~

Anabeth woke to the sound of knocking on the door. She had slept like a rock that night, and her skin was clean again. She had spent hours in the bath, redrawing it after she had rubbed all the dirt off her...just to relax, enjoy the time she had while she had it. It had helped her, and though she felt uncomfortable being alone for the evening she knew that she was safe...that Castiel would be by her side if anything happened.

She stretched in the bed and made her way quickly over to the door, opening it and smiling at Castiel. "Come in,
she said, her smile growing as she stepped back. She noticed Jesson rounding the corner and kept the door open wider. "Seems as though we have company," she said, chuckling a bit. Her smile was brighter that morning, her skin was clean and smooth with no signs of blemishes...her eyes were wide and bright, something much different from that of the day before.

[Naraness]

Castiel chuckled, looking back to see Jesson. He stepped inside Anabeth's room, presenting the meal and putting it down on the corner of her bed. He straightened up and looked at her with a smile. Her face was clean, glowing, bright... She'd rested and washed, and looked like a completely new person. The fragile, crushed girl he'd cradled against him just yesterday was gone, and left was the strong, courageous princess he'd heard about. "You look beautiful." He said.

"Did you sleep well? I hope so, because... Today is going to be long, and hard. We should all have a hearty breakfast to fuel us through the day. Of course we'll eat as we go, but hopefully we can avoid stopping too often. I want to gain as much ground as possible today. But um, of course... If you ever need to rest, then just say the word." He assured Anabeth. "I don't want to exhaust you on our trip." He held up his hands, chuckling softy.

Castiel took an apple from his own breakfast, taking a crisp bite out of it. "I think that by tonight, we can gain ground on them. They think they're safe, they'll be off guard... We can catch up to them." He took another bite, nodding thoughtfully. "It's going to be a good day." He was hopeful, energetic... He couldn't wait to get out there and start moving closer. Just being closer to Genevera would feel so wonderful... To know that he was going after her, and that he would find her... That he was getting closer to the moment when he could finally hold her and tell her everything.

[Froggy]

After they had finished their meals, the trio had set off. Jesson had given his royal companions rags, one to protect scalps from the blazing heat, one to cover their mouths and noses to keep the sand out, and one as a sweat rag against their necks.

The constable from the evening before had been generous enough to spare five extra men, supplied with their own equipment. He had said that it was the least he could do for bringing them the criminal the night before. He was just as willing to help stop the ring of slave traders as they had been.

They had traveled all day, though luckily there was no sand storm. By nightfall, Jesson and the soldiers were setting up tents. Anabeth would take Genevera's for the night, and eventually share it with her. Anabeth seemed to be doing much better, and she was actually leading the way to the auction house as she knew it.

It hadn't taken them much time to set up camp. Unfortnately there would be no fire that evening as kindling was scarce in the desert.

"We should be at the city by early evening tomorrow," Anabeth said, looking at Castiel. The two had grown close, as close as two could in such a short period of time. "The auctions usually take place during the early morning hours, during shift change for the guards," Anabeth said, her stare blank as she remembered what it was like for her..the horror of being sold to another as property.

~~~~~~

Genevera, meanwhile, had been slumped on the horse and exhausted. She had slept little the night before and had traveled much during the day. Theo had not let her out of his site and she had traveled far too close to him for comfort. He had finally allowed her to eat, but it had been a small meal and she was still weak with exhaustion and hunger.

Just before nightfall the band had made town, and taken Genevera to some shabby little building in the center. She could smell the dust when they entered and remained silent, having given up any hope of escape. Often she thought of Castiel to bring her comfort, hoping that he was continuing his mission with success. Hoping that he didn't think she had abandoned him.

She was placed in a chair and tied to it, her head drooping in sadness. Theo came in the room with a plate of bread and a glass of water, untying her hands but leaving her elbows tied to the chair. "Enjoy sweetness," he said, smirking as he placed the plate on her lap. She sighed and began to eat, keeping her eyes on the plate and doing her best not to look at him. She hadn't said a thing since the day before, knowing that doing so could spur violence from them.

It hadn't taken her too long to eat, and much to her displeasure Theo took the plate away from her. He untied her from the chair, standing her up and holding onto her wrists tightly. "You aren't quite ready for auction yet...perhaps the day after tomorrow," he taunted her, and Genevera kept quiet, saying nothing.

They came upon a wooden door with a large, silver door knob and a lock upon it. It was a key lock and it looked sturdy. "At least you don't have to sleep in a tent anymore," he said, chuckling a bit as he opened the door. It was a dirt room that smelled like old dirt. He led her to the back wall, turning her around to face him. "Get on your knees," he growled, and she did so sadly. Then, much to her surprise she felt rope being tied to one of her wrists. "What are you doing?" She asked, speaking for the first time all day. "Making sure you don't go anywhere," he grunted, tying her other hand as well. She was tied to the wall, her arms behind her and she was sitting on her knees. She felt rope being tied around her ankles and a tear fell from her cheek.

"Please...I don't deserve this," she begged, more tears falling down her cheek. "You're right. You're much to beautiful to be a maiden. Someone should have treated you better long ago, sweet thing," he said, grabbing her cheeks with one hand and squeezing her face roughly. Genevera was now crying freely, her eyes closed so she wouldn't have to look at him.

She then felt his lips against hers, the smell of alcohol in his breath. She squealed and began to struggle, the ropes preventing her from moving. He kissed her up and down her jaw and she was sobbing openly now, wishing that Castiel was there. He slapped her face and began to kiss her neck, griping at her breasts again. The door opened and he looked up as he continued to kiss all over her.

"Enough Theo, she has to be ready for auction by the day after tomorrow," the man said, and Theo glared at her. She was sobbing and limp, looking up at the man in the doorway. "Please let me go, please," she pleaded, but Theo silenced her with another kiss on her lips. "I'll be back for you later," he said, looking at her lustfully. The two men left, leaving her in darkness. She was sobbing, wanting nothing more than Castiel.

[Naraness]

He wanted nothing more than Genevera. To hold her, protect her. Everything he learned from the others were just stepping stones towards find her. The information and aid were greatly appreciated, and Castiel used everything offered to him to his advantage. As soon as they were able, he had the party riding towards the desert. He was determined, and appeared confident, but... Had very little confidence in himself. On his own, he would never be able to find her. It was only thanks to the people supporting him that he had any hope at all of finding the one he loved.

The day passed by painstakingly slow. By the time noon rolled around, he hadn't once thought about food or rest. He just continued on, pushing the group harder and harder throughout the day. The sun was relentless, and so was he. By the time they reached the desert, the heat was awful. He was very relieved for the cloths which Jesson had gotten to wrap around their heads, for without it his skin would surely have burned to a crisp.

Though Castiel could carry on for hours on end, the horses couldn't. Luckily he and the others had scheduled a stop at an oasis in the desert, where people commonly rested while travelling through. It was small, with very little plant life, but there was a large pond. Water was precious, here. "Ten minutes!" He called quickly. "Refuel, and water the horses, we leave immediately afterward." Castiel dismounted and stood at Briar's side. The horse sighed, panting from the heat and thirst. "Sorry, boy." He murmured quietly, leading the horse to the water's edge so he could drink. The prince hastily filled his water container, and got a bite to eat.

Castiel didn't even taste the food as it went down his throat. But he knew it would give him the energy to keep going.

Five minutes. Five more minutes... It killed him to stand still. In fact, it took almost all of his control not to shout at the others to hurry. The prince knew that tempers wouldn't help anything, in fact... It would display poor leadership. He needed to stay in control, for Gen. So while he was waiting he took some water, splashed it around his face, and then told the others that there were two minutes left. Just as soon as he was able, he was driving the group through the desert once again.

[Froggy]

Anabeth woke the next morning to the sound of camp being packed up. "My lady," came the sound of Jesson's voice. "Yes, Jesson?" She asked, rising from her blankets and dressing once again in her travel clothes and desert rags. "We'll be leaving shortly, after breakfast," he said, staying respectfully out of the tent.

"Thank you, Jesson. I am already packing and will be out shortly," she said, hearing confirmation from Jesson before he left. She wrapped her blankets up tightly and exited the tent, another soldier taking the load for her as the rest began to disassemble her tent. "Thank you," she said, looking around for signs of Castiel.

She saw him and smiled happily, making her way over to him and curtseying. "Good morning, Castiel," she said, smiling at him happily. "What would you like for breakfast?" She asked him, looking rather happy. They would reach the next town that evening, and after their goal...they would be headed to her home. She couldn't stop smiling at him, happy with those thoughts.

[Naraness]

Castiel had gotten little sleep, again. He felt shaky, nervous, worried... The prince wasn't even sure if he could eat. In fact, he hadn't planned on it until Anabeth approached him that morning. He tried his best to smile for her, and shrugged dismissively. "It doesn't matter to me, really." He said quietly. He shrugged, and looked at her with a more honest smile. "How are you feeling this morning?" He asked, feeling both antsy and.. sick.

He looked around, watching everyone get ready. It was hard to describe how much he just wanted to see Genevera. Just to know that she was still alive, and had eaten... It felt wrong to help himself when he couldn't do a single thing for her. "You know, actually... I'm not hungry." He put his hand on Anabeth's shoulder. "You can have my portion, if you like. I just want to leave as soon as possible."

_________

And he did. As soon as everyone was fed, they were back on the road. Of course, there wasn't really a 'road' to follow. Frequent sand storms erased any trace of what might have been a road long ago. Only the sun and the point of a compass directed them, but Castiel was confident that they were on the right path.

Once again, he carried on restlessly. Time passed by agonizingly, and yet, very quickly. The sun moved across the sky in a slow, scorching arc, and eventually it began to settle in the distant mountains. As it did, a city became visible in the horizon. Without a word, Castiel spurred Briar into a gallop towards the city. He knew he was driving both himself and the horse too hard, but Briar seemed to understand his urgency. Perhaps the stallion hoped Gen was there just as much as the prince did... Perhaps the horse could sense her presence, her pain, her fear... For he seemed to run faster of his own will.

Sand flew out from under each hoof beat.

[Froggy]

They had traveled all day again, stopping little. Anabeth was tired, staying to Castiel's side as much as possible. She could sense his pain and knew that Ginny meant more to him than she had initially realized. She hoped they found the woman, before it was too late. Before Castiel lost the one he loved.

She looked at him and smiled sadly as the sun began to fall. "Almost there," she said, her voice soft and quiet. When they finally saw the city, Castiel and Briar took off into a dash. Anabeth and Jesson followed, and the other men were right behind them. There were no gates, no guards...just an assortment of houses and buildings stuck in the desert.

Anabeth skidding Raven to a hault, quivering in fear. "I...I..." she stuttered, her cheeks heating up and tears swelling in her eyes. She had to, for Ginny and Castiel. She swallowed and looked at the prince. "What's the plan?" She asked, looking at him fearfully.

~~~~~

Genevera had no idea how long she had been locked in the cellar. It had beenconsistently dark, and she couldn't see the room around her. Theo had fed her a couple of times, touching her as much as he could each time. She hated it and wished for escape. He had never been able to take things more than initial contact, but she knew it was only a matter of time. She was due to be sold in the morning and he would lose his chance forever.

The door opened, allowing light in. Theo was there, a platein his hand and a glass of water in the other. "It'll be a good meal tonight," he said, bringing the plate to where she could see it. Grapes. Bread, meat. Cheese. In the glass was milk. She looked shocked, almost as though she had forgotten all about those foods.

Theo set the plate aside and stared at her, pushing her against the wall suddenly and with force. Genevera screamed in fright, but he held his hand over her mouth, pressing himself tightly against her and griping her rear end with his free hand. "I'll treat you right," he whispered in her ear, kissing her neck and breathing against it. Tears fell down her cheek and he cleared them up with his finger, removing his hand from her mouth and replacing it with his lips. His hands began to rub along her body, slipping under her clothing. She was squealing, struggling against him.

He was rocking his body against hers, grabbing her tightly wherever he could. She was crying again, knowing that the clothing wouldn't be in his way for long.

[Naraness]

Castiel reached out to Anabeth. "Just show me where the building is, Ana. You don't have to go in if you don't want to. I'm sure Jesson would stay with you and keep you safe, but right now, I need you to be strong, and show me the way." He looked around, knowing that somewhere in this dusty town Genevera was scared and helpless. He reached down and held her hand, nodding encouragingly. "Please hurry." Worry and fear were evident in his eyes.

He walked briskly at her side, his eyes searching the town, his hand twitching nervously at his side. The prince's fingers curled around his sword hilt, and his knuckles popped as he gripped the leather wrapping. "I swear, if they've touched her..." A sudden anger burned in him. This part of town... It was a bad place. He could see it in the people... A nearby inn was filled with fighting, drinking, and rambunctious laughter. The air smelled of cheap whiskey and bile. Wanted posters were posted, forgotten on nearby buildings, and women sauntered past in colorful, risqué silks. A scowl etched itself on his face, and his eyes narrowed.

"Don't be afraid." He said quietly, to Anabeth. "You are not a prisoner, not any longer. This isn't a return to your past, this is proving that they were never above you. That you were never weaker than them. You are stronger, and more capable, and far more precious. You deserve better than what they've done, and we will prove that. Together. We'll save Ginny, and show them that they cannot hurt innocent people and get away with it. Not now..." Castiel's voice dropped to a low, seething growl. "Not ever. Not to my Gen."

They arrived a few moments later. It was just as he'd imagined it. Dirty, falling apart... Gravelly laughter resided within, and he could smell the alcohol coming off the foundation. He wondered for a moment how many lives had been sold away... How many women had stood, shaking as people bid on them like cattle? How many had been tossed down to the highest bidder, and dragged away to whatever fates those monsters deemed for them? "Stay close to me." He said, releasing Anabeth's hand. Castiel took a deep breath.

He stepped forward and opened the door. Putrid smells wafted out. Liquor, vomit, urine... And the distinct smell that lingered around brothels. It disgusted him.

The prince moved inside, entering a small hallway. To the right, a door led to a small room where he could hear several voices laughing. He could poker tiles sliding, and people cheering in victory. A glass bottle flew and shattered against the wall, followed by an eruption of laughter. The door was closed halfway, luckily, and they were all far too drunk to pay any attentions to the shadows sliding past. Castiel continued down the hallway, quietly drawing his sword as he peered around a corner. There were several rooms, and then a hallways leading to a large auditorium, which appeared to be the auctioning hall. "They keep the captives down here?" He gestured down the first hallway, and looked to Anabeth for confirmation.

Castiel moved slowly down the hallway. Movement could he heard behind the room at the end. Shuffling on the floor, whimpers... It was too much for him. He moved across the oak floors and kicked the door open with on loud, shattering blow. The door splintered and swung open, hitting the door with a ground shaking smack. Fragments of wood flew across the room, and then with a pathetic groan the door fell off of it's hinges and collapsed by the wall.

The scene before him tinged his vision red. It was Genevera, he'd found her... And he'd found the scum bag trying to force himself on her. That moment didn't seem real, it was too horrifying to comprehend. The next few seconds were blur of his own furious scream, the man's terrified face, and then blood on his hands. All of the sudden the human was impaled against the wall, Castiel's sword stuck through his chest. But that wasn't enough. He adjusted his grip on the blade and twisted it, watching the pain level change on his face. "Welcome to your death sentence." He'd played judge, jury, and executioner, and if he could do it over again... He wouldn't change a thing.

Castiel pulled the sword out and dropped the filthy, worthless man at his feet. He always thought he'd be horrified when he first killed someone... But he didn't feel a drop of remorse.

"Gen. Gen, Darling, my love." He dropped to the floor, gathering her broken form in his arms. She was nothing like when he'd last seen her... Her eyes were bloodshot, her face dirty and pale. Fear had written across every inch of her skin "Gen... Ginny." He whispered, cupping her face in his hands. Castiel gently cut the ropes binding her, then cradled her against his chest. "It's okay. I'm here, I've got you... They won't touch you again. Gods, I love you so much."

He looked up at Anabeth, and cast a worried glance down the hall. "Hang on, we're going to get out of here, okay?" He looked down into Gen's eyes, trying to find that woman who was so strong, so confident...

[Froggy]

The man was forced off of her in a flash, but she could barely see what was happening. She was sobbing uncontrollably as she heard the man being killed next to her, but then...a voice. The voice sounded so familiar, but it couldn't be...could it? He was miles away.

Gen. "Cas...tiel?" she asked, her voice weak and filled with sobs. "Castiel?" She asked again, her voice filled with disbelief. He took her in his arms and she knew it was him. He called her Ginny. "Castiel," she said, her voice stronger despite the sobs. She flinched when he cupped her face in his hands and whimpered. Immediately after though, he cut the ropes from her. Her wrists and ankles were red with burns, her wrists the slightest bit bloody.

She just sobbed into Castiel as he cradled her against him, her sobs hysterical and uncontrollable as her body shook, trembled. "Theo enough!" A voice shouted from down the hall, and Anabeth was quivering- she wanted to be out of here, for them all to be out. The sound of metal clashing against metal could be heard and a figure came into the room. Genevera and Anabeth both screamed in fright, Genevera clinging to Castiel while Anabeth backed into the wall.

"Theo!" the man exclaimed, seeing Theo dead on the ground. Suddenly a blade pierced his chest and he fell to the ground, Jesson standing in place. "This way! We've already freed the others," he said, looking at the three in the room.

Genevera couldn't move, her limbs were too sore and her leg collapsed when she tried to stand. "Come with me Anabeth," Jesson said, and Anabeth did so, looking at Castiel and Ginny. "You'll have to carry her," she said, looking sadly at Ginny as Jesson gently pulled for her to come with him.

[Naraness]

He had never been so happy to see Jesson's face. Castiel nodded, and put his sword away. With that, he scooped Ginny up in his arms and stood to his feet. "Lets hurry." He said, urgency in his voice. Hopefully they'd be able to get out before too many people realized that they were freeing the prisoners. His heart started beating faster, and he glanced back at the bloody man in the corner. Had he really killed someone?

His thoughts were blown out of his mind as he ran down the hallway, holding Gen tightly. Luckily Jesson was leading sword first, and the prince could focus on keeping his precious cargo safe. "Hang on, I've got you..." His eyes traced the halls, and he could hear staggering footsteps and shouts, now from more directions. "Go, hurry!" He shouted, keeping right on his companions' heels. Outside, the guards were fighting off a small group of the slave traders.

"We've got this, get the women to safety!" One called. Castiel nodded and shouted his thanks.

"This way." He stared running down the road, hearing shouts of confusion and swords clattering behind him.

As he ran, one of their men grabbed a nearby torch and tossed it on top of the building. The tar roof alit in fire, and flames crawled across the shingles. It might not destroy the entire auction house, but it was a distraction, and it would give them time to escape into the night. Castiel looked back, satisfied with the fact that they'd stirred the nest, at the least. He remembered his vow to eventually seek out every member of the slave organization and rid the trade from existence... When the time was right, he would. None of them would escape judgment.

He made it to the edge of the city, where the horses were waiting. It was time to flee into the night, free, together... He looked down at the treasured woman in his arms, and knew that everything would be alright. Castiel climbed atop Briar's back, holding her securely as he had many times. "Lets get out of here, Ginny."

[Froggy]

It was all a blur. The fire, the shouting...the sound of metal clashing with metal. She tried not to pay attention to any of it, keeping her eyes closed as tears fell freely from them. Genevera wrapped her arms around him when she felt the cool night air, her body shaking.

She was vaguely aware that there were others following them, but had not the energy to care. She could barely think, her exhaustion winning over as they reached the horses. Briar, the wonderful horse that she never thought she would see again.

She looked up at Castiel when he said they were getting out of there. She was free? She couldn't believe it...it had seemed like an eternity since she had seen him...the thought caused her to hold him tightly as she cried into his shoulder, sobbing. "I never thought I would see you again," she said, her body shaking and her breath irregular. "I'm sorry...I didn't run...I would have never left on my own," she said, still crying. It was uncontrollable at this point.

"Castiel...Castiel," she said, holding onto him as though to make sure this wasn't a dream. "Is this a dream?" She finally asked, her body going limp as she leaned against him. "It must be...it has to be...things have never been how I wanted them to be..." she said, her voice soft as her head rest against his shoulder, her eyes closing as sleep took over.

[Naraness]

"Shh..." Castiel pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'm here, it's real. You're safe..." He looked back at the town, watching the others run towards them, and seeing the glow of fire grow in the distance. "Hurry!" He shouted, waving them onward and taking account of every person. He would not leave a single man or woman behind. Briar side stepped nervously under him, and tossed his mane in distress.

In his arms, he could feel Genevera's body grow heavy as sleep took over. She was exhausted... "It's alright, Darling." He murmured quietly, watching as the last of the prisoners were taken onto horses with the guards. Jesson and Anabeth were safe as well, with Laura and Raven. Behind them, chaos grew with the crackling of fire, and black smoke rose into the air.


Briar lifted his front hooves, rearing in a display of victory and strength. Castiel cast his eyes on the town one last time. I'll be back. The prince promised, as the stallion's hooves touched the earth. "Onward!" He declared. It seemed that the wind carried them as they galloped through the cool desert. They left the town behind, embracing the stars as they raced towards the horizon. Towards freedom.

___________

They stopped for the night under the cover of a few dead trees, and scraggly bushes. It was one of the few places in the desert where they would have shelter from the elements, and be a little bit safer from the sunlight when morning came. The horses were glad to graze on bits of dry grass, and tiny desert plants that lived under the sparse shade of the trees.

Castiel slowly, carefully carried Gen down from Briar. He laid her on his own blanket, watching her face as she slept. He could only hope that she was as peaceful as she looked. There was a longing in his heart to care for her, protect her.. While the others began to set up camp, he took a small piece of cloth and dampened it. As gently and tenderly as he could, he took each of her hands and slowly cleaned the dirt away. As he did, he was careful not to disturb her and tried his best not to wake her.

He moved up her arms, careful of the places on her wrists where her skin had been rubbed raw. It felt so right to take care of her. Why had he ever pushed her away? Why had he been so callused and cruel? She deserved so much better than that. "I'm sorry, Ginny." He whispered quietly. "I've failed you in so many ways."

[Froggy]

Genevera had slept soundly through the majority of the night, sleeping a deep, dreamless sleep. She woke up to the feel of cold wind against her skin and shivered, wrapping herself up in the blankets and laying her head back down. Wait a minute...she was sleeping on blankets, not her knees. She could feel the elements in all their glory, and even though the sun wasn't out yet she could see light all around her...starlight and moonlight.

She wasn't in the cellar anymore? She checked her hands and gasped in pain when she accidentally touched a raw portion of skin. She looked down and saw Castiel asleep next to her, her eyes widening in disbelief as she realized that the events had not been a dream. That everything had happened, and that he had rescued her...that he had come for her.

She couldn't believe it as she laid down, running a smooth hand through his hair...feeling it between her fingers, cupping his cheek softly. He had come back for a reason...and she couldn't believe it. "Have I gone mad, Castiel?" She asked him, her voice soft and full of bewilderment. How was it that he had found her, that he was there? That she was there?

She chuckled dryly and rest her head against the pillow, yawning comfortably. "I must have gone mad...things have never been as I have longed for them to be," she sighed and watched him sleep. "If this is madness, then so be it...at least I am finally happy," Genevera said, feeling at this point that she was either dreaming or talking to a hallucination. Or both.

She smiled again, scooting closer to him and falling asleep comfortably, the smile still on her face. She knew it would be a difficult morning, so she was determined t enjoy the delirium while it lasted.

[Naraness]

It was early the next morning when Castiel's consciousness stirred. The air held a familiar chill, but he could feel warmth emanating beside him. It was the warmth of another person, near him. He could feel strands of her hair touching his arm, and found comfort in the fact that... It had not been a dream. When he opened his eyes, he saw the beautiful face of the person he'd missed so deeply over the past few days.

Seeing her face stirred other memories. Memories of the nightmares that had haunted him in the dead of night. His heart lurched at the image his mind had created of her, hurt, crying... All the while he couldn't get to her. He'd tried to reach for her, tried to speak to her... But it was like he didn't even exist. Now, here she was, real and alive. She was safe, close enough that he could hear her breath in the still of the morning.

Genevera looked so elegant, so peaceful... The glowing sky lit her up from behind, framing her pale face with gold. His eyes traced her face, taking in every detail. The curve of her eyelashes, the way her nose was tilted just so... Even the occasional strand of hair across her face was perfect, like woven silver. Castiel wondered if she'd ever been told how lovely she was. Had any man ever stopped to tell her that she was beautiful? Did she know how precious she was? That she was a rare jewel in his eyes?

He reached out ever so slowly, touching her cheek with the tips of his fingers. With a swift, tender motion he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

It's so strange. He thought, gazing at her. I don't feel like royalty when I'm around her. Castiel closed his eyes for a moment. It feels like I'm the commoner, privileged to be near her... She is so much more a princess than I ever was a prince.

[Froggy]

The first thing that she noticed that morning was the feel of sunlight against her skin. The cool, crisp breeze gently caressing every inch of her skin not protected by the blankets. She couldn't believe it...she hadn't gone mad afterall, and Castiel really was there with her.

She opened her eyes at the feel of fingertips against her cheek, looking at him in shock when she saw him. "How..." she asked him, her voice a mere whisper. "I was...so afraid that I would never see you again," she said, a tear running down her cheek as she reached for his hand, holding it against her. It was warm, comforting...impossible.

"Why me?" she asked, still looking as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Out of everyone else...why me? I'm nothing more than a commoner, a peasant. A criminal for my treason...why me?" She asked him, more tears falling down her cheeks. It was clear that she wanted him, just as much as he wanted her...

Yet, she couldn't believe he was there for her. It was too far outside the scope of the norm.

She took his hand in hers and smiled at him, balling it up and gently kissing the top of it. "Things have never turned out as I have longed for them too..." she whispered, looking sad and wanting nothing more than for him to tell her it was real...that he wanted her for who she was underneath, not just her beauty as had every man before

She held his hand, more tears flowing freely as she sobbed quietly into it. "Everything hurts...so much," she said, expressing her pains to him openly for the first time. "I'd hoped you would come..."

[Naraness]

The sight of her eyes, staring back at him, almost gave him a heart attack. How was it possible for one girl to have so much emotion hiding behind those colors? So much sadness, and yet… Now he saw traces of confusion, (love?) uncertainty… All he wanted to do was hold her close and erase every doubt, every fear… He wanted her to feel safe and treasured, as she had deserved her whole life.

Castiel watched the tears flow down her cheeks, and his heart ached seeing her sadness so clearly. He moved closer, wiping the tears from her eyes. “You are so much more than that, Ginny.” He whispered. “Words like ‘commoner’, do not befit you. There is nothing common about you. You are kind, noble, brave… Steadfast, loyal, and honest. I don’t see a woman who commit treason. I see someone who cared more for her friend than for herself. Someone who risked everything for another.” His voice was soft, and earnest.

He paused for a moment, cupping her hand inside both of his. “And you are beautiful. Not just on the outside, though. What resides in your heart shines so much brighter. You’ve made me laugh on days when you couldn’t bring yourself to smile… You’re compassionate and humble, though the world has tossed you back and forth. Gen… I want to stand with you through that storm. I want to hold you tight so the winds can’t knock you down.” Castiel was quiet for a few seconds. "I promise you, I will find a way for us to be together. I won't let any expectations from my parents stop us. If... If that's what you want."

The prince looked in her eyes, knowing that there was only one thing left in their way. "Before you answer, there's one more thing I need to say. I was wrong before." His voice cracked, and his eyes turned down to their hands. He gently rubbed his thumb against her palm, and took a deep breath. "I never should have yelled at you. Never should have been so harsh when we were both in pain. I understand now that I was just afraid... But that's no excuse for how I treated you. I should have supported you. Carried you through the storm. Out of all the people in the world, I would have thought I wouldn't hurt the one I loved. But I did..." A tear leaked down his cheek. "Please forgive me."

[Froggy]

Genevera looked up at him as he wiped the tears from her eyes, telling her that she was so much more than anything she had said. "All my life...that is the only thing people have ever told me," Genevera said, looking sad and closing her eyes in shame. He told her that there was nothing common about her, and she looked back at him. What had she done to deserve him?

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks when he told her that she was beautiful, and not just on the outside. She had longed for someone to see her as more than a trinket to tote around on their arm. She smiled softly when he spoke of them being together, of him fighting for acceptance from his parents. She was about to say yes when he stopped her, and she watched him...curious.

Then she saw it...the pain inside him. The pain he felt as his voice cracked in sadness, and as a tear fell down his cheek. She took her other hand and gently wiped it away, smiling at him. "I forgive you. I too, was afraid. I feared what I was feeling for you, believing that we would never be allowed to be together. I pushed you away to keep you from growing any closer, to protect you when my judgment for treason came. I... didn't think this was possible, and for that I am sorry," she said, looking at him sadly.

She scooted closer to him, there was very little space separating them now. "I love you, Castiel. I have for some time now..." she confessed, kissing his hand. "You were always kind to me...you did not treat me as beneath you, rather as an equal. I had never seen that before and it opened my eyes. You were willing to learn from a commoner...to get dirty and to work to survive. You helped me as much as I helped you...I admired and loved that," she said, smiling at him still. She rest her forehead against his and leaned forward, kissing him softly. A light blush crept upon her cheeks, but she was happy.

And then there was cheering, cheering that startled her and made her jump. The members of their caravan had been watching, waiting for that moment. Genevera blushed and looked at Castiel, smirking a little. "Apparently that was long over due," she said, cupping his cheek in her hand and chuckling.

[Naraness]

"I love you too, Ginny." He whispered, listening as she continued to speak. Her words were so perfect, so loving... The prince chuckled when she spoke of teaching him, and he remembered their misadventure with the trout. "Every moment with you is precious. I'll never forget the time we spent together."

As she leaned closer, he slowly slipped an arm around her. Then his heart stopped as her lips touched his. It was their first kiss, and it was perfect...

Then the air erupted with cheering. They both jumped up, startled, and Castiel held her protectively beside him as he tried to figure out what was going on. It only took a couple moments to see what had happened. The faces of the soldiers, of Jesson, Anabeth... They'd been awake for a few minutes, at least. His cheeks turned the color of a tomato. The prince found himself smiling, despite the fact that their kiss had been interrupted so quickly. He looked at Genevera, smiling. "I guess it was... You know, since it makes them so happy and we clearly weren't finished..."

He gently held her in his arms, and kissed her. The loving gesture was tender, sweet... It was filled with every emotion he'd wanted to share with her for so long. Some of the soldiers whistled and other laughed. The women giggled among themselves and blushed. Castiel was pretty sure he heard Jesson groan, but he couldn't be sure. It made him so happy to be surrounded by friends, comrades... And most importantly, to be there with the woman he loved more than life itself.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled when he said he loved her...she felt so fortunate, that for once in her life things were finally going the way she wanted them to go. That she finally had a partner in life, someone to confide in, someone to protect and to love her. And he was perfect in every way.

"I look forward to a lifetime of moments with you," she said, smiling as he held her close. She wished the others would have left them in peace, but regardless...they were together and that's what mattered.

She leaned into his embrace, his kiss and ignored the noises coming from behind. The kiss felt so...right. As though there was nothing to worry about anymore, that things would be perfectly fine. Her hand cupped his cheek again and she smiled into the kiss, clearly the happiest she had ever been.

She could hear the sound of camp breaking down, and then her stomach growled...reminding her that she hadn't eaten properly since the morning she had been taken. "Let's eat," she said, pulling back and wrapping him in a loving embrace, just holding him for a moment before she sat up. She took the blankets off her and winced as they rubbed against her ankles, looking down at them sadly. They too, had been rubbed raw like her wrists. She sighed and gripped his hand in hers...he was all she had for comfort, but he would be more than enough to get her through this.

[Naraness]

Castiel held her hand protectively in his. When she moved, he could see that she was in pain. Her ankles and wrists were more chafed than he'd realized. He had cleaned her arms the night before, but her wounds still needed to be properly bandaged.

By this time, the camp was up and about. People were eating and getting ready to leave. He was glad for their urgency, but wanted to make sure Genevera was completely, 100% ready before they took a single step.

With a gentle smile, Castiel helped her to her feet, keeping her close so she could lean on him if she needed to. "Come, lets get you something to eat. Then I'll wrap your ankles so they can heal properly, alright?" His only thoughts were of her, of taking care of her, and keeping her from harm. Castiel had never before loved someone so deeply. It was incredible how much he wanted to shelter her, provide for her... The emotions he held were indescribable.

Breakfast was made up of vegetables and rabbit meat which the men had hunted the previous evening. Castiel made sure that Gen had a hearty portion, and while she ate he took time to wash her ankles, then cover the raw skin with clean wrappings. Around them, he could hear some of the soldiers chuckling to themselves, watching how he doted on her. Castiel found that he didn't mind, however. He wanted them to see that he loved her.

Soon enough everyone was ready. The cool of morning was fading fast, replaced with harsh desert heat.

[Froggy]

Genevera leaned against him every chance she got. Now that they were reunited, and that their feelings for each other had finally been expressed, she found herself wanting to be around him as much as she possibly could. He was sweet, and kind...kinder than she had ever seen before.

The meal was delicious, though she ate it slowly as to not upset her stomach. It was the best food she had had in some time, since the trout. She couldn't believe that Castiel was caring for her...it had been so long since she had someone to look after her, to protect her...to love her for her. When the camp was packed and breakfast consuned, Genevera found herself leaning against Castiel lovingly.

"I love you, Castiel...you are the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me," she said, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him. She was glad to be with him again, glad to be moving...glad to have food and company.

[Naraness]

It was hard not to love being near her, not to love the feeling of her leaning against his shoulder. Every moment, he was there like a solid foundation she could stand on.

Castiel imagined that Gen hadn't had someone like that in a long time. Of course she had known Jesson for quite some time, and he was always kind to her... But the price's heart ached to know that this woman, more precious than gold to him, had been treated with abuse most of her life. She had been stepped on, pushed around, and scarred... Rather than treasured, as she deserved to be.

He looked looked at her, at his side, and couldn't help but smile. When she told him he was the best thing to have ever happened to her, his smile only grew. "I love you too, Ginny. I love you with all my heart." Castiel's words were completely honest. He gently drew her close, wrapping her in a tender yet secure embrace. "I won't ever change. Neither will my love for you." He pressed a kiss to her temple, sighing softly as he listened to the camp pack up. They would need to go soon.

Castiel drew his face away, looking around. It was nearly time to leave. "Do you mind riding with me, like we used to?" He smiled. "I'm not sure I can let go of you."

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled when he told her that he loved her, wrapping her in an embrace after. She wrapped her arms around him and held him against her. She sighed when he kissed her temple and she gently kissed his cheek, leaning against him lovingly.

She looked at him happily when he asked if she would ride with him, that he wasn't sure he could let go of her. "I would love to...I feel the same way. Anabeth can ride Raven," she said, just standing there with her arms around him.

She was taking in everything she could about him...his scent, his appearance, the feel of him against him. Her head felt clouded, as though she didn't care about anything but him.

Jesson came up at that point, smiling at both of them. "We're ready, your majesty," he said, smiling at both the prince and Genevera. It was nice to see them so happy, especially Genevera. All they had to do was take the soldiers back to their home and make sure that the women were taken to safety. Then they could make way to Junipara and bring Anabeth home, make peace with the kingdom and return to their own. He was looking forward to it, as he knew they all were.

[Naraness]

It was wonderful. Being able to hold each other close, to speak quietly to one another... Castiel had never been so happy. At the same time, he'd never been so afraid to lose her. Several times now, people had tried to hurt her, capture her, kill her... What if he was unable to keep her safe one day? How would he get through the day without her? Would he be able to go on without Gen at his side? The prince doubted he'd have any will left to live.

Jesson approached, and Castiel smiled warmly at the sight of his friend. It was strange to think that not too long ago he'd been annoyed and frustrated with the healer. Now, he trusted him with his life. "I think we're ready as well." He looked at Genevera for a moment, finding himself dazzled by her beauty as he was every time he gazed upon her face. The prince found himself smiling before he could help himself.

"Shall we, Dearest?" He smiled and led her to Briar's side. Most of the men had already saddled up, and were ready to ride out. They paired up with some of the women, since they didn't have enough horses for everyone. Castiel helped Gen into the saddle, as he always had, and then swung into the seat behind her. With an arm wrapped protectively around her, he felt that... He was complete. With a swift twitch of the reins, Briar snorted and started walking towards the town they'd come from.

[Froggy]

They had traveled all day, the sun scorching their backs no matter what they did to relieve themselves of it. Genevera was grateful when the sun began to descend upon the horizon, chilling the air almost immediately. She felt as though she could simply take the time to be with Castiel, rather than having to lead the way or worry about this or that...someone else was able to cook, they had plenty of men willing to set up camp...and they also knew the way back to the town. For that, Genevera was ever grateful. Several times she had fallen asleep against Castiel, her body resting and healing slowly but surely...and it was peaceful to her, to be able to lean against him.

When the sun finally went down, they had set up camp. A fire was dancing in the moonlight and she felt at peace, wrapping her arms around Castiel lovingly. "I've never felt at such peace before," she admitted, her voice a soft whisper. It was strange to take a break, to not work...to not fret over whether or not something would get done. She liked it. "It's so strange...all my life I've had to cook, clean...do everything I could to help myself and those around me survive. Especially when my family and I traveled in my earlier years as peasants...now, though... it seems so much easier..." she said, finding that she didn't want to let him go if she had a choice.

She was grateful that the men didn't seem to mind their affections towards each other, it was something that she had longed so desperately for and was still having a difficult time believing was possible. "Before...when the traders had me...all I could think of was you. I was distressed, fearing that you would believe I'd run. I feared that I would never get to see you again, that I would always feel regret for that...but you came for me, and I feel at such peace. It's strange...finally having someone to confide in, to love...but it's wonderful," she said, just leaning against him lovingly and squeezing him gently. She kissed his lips gently and tenderly, smiling at him. "I'm glad to have you in my life," she said, leaning her head back against his shoulder comfortably.

[Naraness]

Castiel spent the day gently watching over her. As they rode through the heat of the desert there wasn't a moment that went by in which she didn't look down to make sure she was okay. He checked on her every few seconds, ensuring that she was still peaceful and safe. When she fell asleep, he made sure to ride smoothly so she could rest. It was like he was carrying a priceless treasure, to be handled with care and gentleness. Throughout the journey, he never once let her go.

When they stopped that evening, it seemed their romance continued right where they'd left off. A part of Castiel, deep inside, wished to take her somewhere safe, far away where they could just hold each other and enjoy the moments of love by themselves. He wanted to sweep her off her feet and spend every waking moment in her arms, away from the cruelty of the world, away from the memories. To show her the love meant to be behind every kiss, to tell her every detail of the affection he felt for her. Just them. He promised himself that one day they would do just that.

"I love you... So much." He whispered, holding her close as she kissed him. Castiel could hold her close enough. He felt he just couldn't get enough of her nearness. "You will always have me here, with you. When they had you, you were all I could think of. All I wanted was to find you, keep you from them... I was terrified for you. I just wanted to know you were okay, I wanted to keep you safe, show you what love is supposed to be." Castiel held her close, remembering how fearful he had been before. The nightmares that kept him up at night. Images of her bruised and beaten... It was too much to bear.

Soon he would have to let her go, he knew. It wouldn't be right to hold her through the night. As much as he wanted to, it just wasn't the gentlemanly thing to do. The thought of parting with her was painful...

[Froggy]

Genevera was hungry and tired, but all she could think of was Castiel. How he held her, the tenderness and love behind his touch. The words he spoke helped soothe her soul. She slowly, gently reached a hand up and held it against his cheek, looking into his eyes.

"I never imagined that any of this was possible," she whispered, leaning her head into his chest now. "To feel this way...to have someone share those feelings...and when I started feeling them for you, I was so scared...I didn't think we stood a chance. But now that we do...I can't stop thinking about you. I love you, and I love being around you," she said, squeezing him getnly once more.

She could smell food wafting through the air and her stomach growled longingly. "Food...it smells wonderful. All they gave me was some sort of gray, squished mush that tasted horrible," she said, shaking her head. She didn't even want to think about what they had forced her to eat. "Last night, when you came for me...I had almost given up hope. I was suspicious when I saw the meats and cheeses...I was to be sold this morning. It was soon clear why he finally brought me real food..." she said, tears welling up in her eyes. She wrapped both arms around him and pressed her face into his chest, tears coming down her cheeks as her body shook. "Thank you, Castiel...thank you," she said between sobs, her voice soft.

[Naraness]

Her words broke his heart, as they often did when she spoke of her past. He remembered all the fury and hate he felt when he'd come into the room where Genevera was pinned to the ground under the human scum. He wondered how many had been before him. Castiel wasn't there to save her back then. It made him want to break down and cry with her. He gently cradled her against his chest, whispering sweet nothings in her ear to calm her down. "Shh... It's alright, Ginny. You're safe now. You're here, with me. I've got you." His voice was sweet and soothing. "I love you. More than any other man could ever claim to."

His fingers stroked her hair, and he gently guided her to a place where they could sit near the fire. "Easy." He murmured. "They won't ever touch you again. Never." Castiel put his face close to hers, so she could look and see that he wasn't lying. "Gen, look here. In my eyes, Love. You are safe. I'm right here." He held her face in his hands and tenderly kissed her forehead. After a long moment, he drew her closer and held her head against his chest.

"Lets have something to eat, alright? You'll feel better." One of the nearby soldiers offered them some food and Castiel gratefully accepted.

[Froggy]

It was wonderful...to have someone there to comfort her, to love her. He was so kind to her, holding her against him and making her feel safe. She just stood there, letting it all out. She knew that she was safe, but that did not change the fear that she felt, the fear and sadness left behind by the memories.

She looked in his eyes as he said and found herself smiling ever so slightly, she knew he was telling the truth. She could see that he loved her, genuinely so as he said. Her body had stopped shaking and her tears had subsided, but she didn't want to let him go. She felt safe and loved with him holding her, something that she hadn't felt since her parents had died.

Her stomach growled again when a soldier offered them food, her eyes widening at the site of bread, vegetables...cheeses and even some meat. There was even a couple of potatoes and she smiled at the thought of food. "Oh how lovely," she said, reaching for some of the vegetables and smiling as she bit into them. "Reminds me of home, cooking vegetables on the fire from my garden," she said, sitting there comfortably against him and smiling. She was trying to cleanse herself of her former thoughts by thinking happy ones, and food fit in that category. "So have you gotten use to these fireside meals yet?" she asked, teasing him just a bit.

[Naraness]

Castiel smiled as she spoke of her garden. It made him think of the future, of a home... With her. Somehow, he didn't see them living in the castle together. No instead he envisioned a cabin in the woods, where they were safe and sheltered from the world. It would have a garden like the one she described, and a perhaps there would be a lake in the back. But perhaps he was getting a bit ahead of himself. How was it that he was already thinking about their future?

He smiled and started eating with her, enjoying the feeling of a good meal in his stomach. The prince chuckled as Gen asked him if he'd gotten used to fireside meals yet. "I must say... They're rather enjoyable. Much less formal, much less... Proper. I like the smell of the fire, and the company." Castiel nuzzled her teasingly. "As a matter of fact... I think I like it much more than the meals I had in the castle. The one thing we don't have out here is a good pudding. Or cake..." The prince had an undeniable sweet tooth.

Throughout the evening he held her, for the benefit of both of them... Again he wondered what they would do when it was time to rest for the night. No doubt she would go and sleep in a tent with Anabeth. The two seemed to get along well, and they understood each others' fears. As that hour drew nearer, Castiel simply had to come to come to grips with the fact that he would have to let her go... And so he held her a little more tightly, while she was still there with him.

[Froggy]

Genevera chuckled at his response, a bit surprised. "I'll make you a pudding when we get to Anabeth's town, after peace is made. And I'll make you a cake when we get home," she said, smiling at him happily.

She couldn't describe how wonderful it felt, for him to be holding her close. For her to be the center of his attention, for her to have his company. It was a feeling that brought about a sense of peace, of security...something that she so desperately needed. Then, dinner was finished and the sun had set. She sighed, knowing that they had to part for bed.

She was to sleep in her tent with Anabeth, and Castiel his own tent. She stood and wrapped her arms lovingly around him, kissing his cheek gently. "Sleep well, my love. I eagerly await dawn, in which I can hold you again," she said, smiling sadly at him. She didn't want to go, but they weren't wedded yet...it wouldn't be proper.

So with one last glance, she let him go and made her way over to the tent, her arms wrapped around herself. She smiled softly at Anabeth, and Anabeth smiled softly at her. "You'll be alright. It takes time...but you'll be alright," Anabeth said, coming over to give her a hug.

Genevera just sighed, all feelings of security having washed away when she left Castiel's side. "I can't do this on my own...I've never depended on someone so much as I do for Castiel," she whispered, a few tears running down her cheek as she curled up in the blankets. "He was a great help to me when he rescued me...I don't know what I would have done without him," Anabeth said, looking sad. She didn't want to remember these things, but it was hard not to after the events from the night before... being back down in that cellar...

"Did...did Theo touch you too?" Genevera asked, and Anabeth visibly shivered at his name. "He tried to...the others wouldn't let him. They said I was more valuble as a maiden princess than otherwise," she said, shaking her head as a tear ran down her cheek. Genevera sighed and held herself protectively. "He...almost got me. Castiel came before it was too late," Genevera said, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her hands around them.

"Hey...we're safe now. Just know that," Anabeth said, offering a small smile to her. "Get some sleep, there's going to be a lot of traveling tomorrow," Anabeth said, and Genevera nodded her head. She sighed and turned over, her eyes wide open. It took her a long time to get to sleep, and it wasn't the most peaceful of sleeps. She dreamed of Theo, of the ropes that binded her to the wall. She dreamed of the mush called food, the smell of whiskey and vomit. She was whimpering in her sleep as her dreams became darker, of the plate Theo brought her. She could hear whimpering around her, the sound of another woman.

"Please...no..." she said, her own voice a whimper as she talked in her sleep. Theo was upon her, pushing her against the wall. She knew what would happen, but was powerless to stop it. "No...stop..." she begged, the whimpering now turning into sobbing. "Get off...please..." she begged as he gripped her breasts, and she curled up even tighter around herself. Her shirt was raised above her head, and she screamed out in fright, her body shooting up.

Anabeth screamed as well, and Genevera looked around...it was a nightmare. Anabeth was sobbing in the corner, having been woken by both Genevera's scream as well as her own. "It was just a dream...just a dream..." Genevera said to herself, tears falling down her cheek as the two women held each other for comfort. The tent flap flew open and they both screamed, only to see Jesson and a few soldiers standing there. Jesson's face softened and he reached for them, Anabeth clinging to him and sobbing. They couldn't handle it, the fear they both felt. It was too much and Genevera was still sobbing, clinging the pillow in her arms and crying into it.

[Naraness]

It was hard, just to let her go. To know that for the next eight hours, he wouldn't be holding her. As the left each other's sides, Castiel held her hand until they were too far to touch any longer. Then he let his fingers brush hers until she was too far even for that. It seemed like there was a cold spot in his side, where she was supposed to be... An empty place inside him where her presence resided. Once she vanished from view within her tent, he turned and entered his own.

It wasn't too hard for Castiel to fall asleep. After laying in his tent, thinking about Gen for about fifteen minutes, his mind found peace. He turned his body so he was facing the direction of Gen's tent, and he smiled knowing that she was over there... Safe. Things were going to be okay.

With those comforting thoughts in mind, he closed his eyes and soon drifted off. There was no denying that he dreamed of her. The prince's mind wandered into a land of fantasy and hopes. It was a bit of a blur, but he knew she was there... He knew that they were both safe, together, somewhere in the future. Flashes of sunlight and fresh spring leaves flashed before his eyes, and children's laughter floated through the air. One image stayed true and vivid in his mind: Gen's glowing face, and her hand in his.

A pair of screams pierced the air, waking him with a startling shock. The cold of the night woke him instantly, and he burst out of the tent in a scrambled panic. "Gen!" She was the first thing on his mind. Were they being attacked? Had the traders returned? Castiel's eyes darted around the camp, searching for signs of a fire, an intruder, a bear... But the only movement was that of the guards, and a familiar form who he recognized as Jesson. They were at the mouth of Gen and Ana's tent.

Castiel rushed forward, relaxing now that he had an idea of what was going on. Upon entering the tent, he immediately wished he had never left Gen's side. She and Ana were both crying, Ana in Jesson's arms but Gen on her own, clinging to her pillow as sobs shook her shoulders. "Oh Ginny." He whispered, moving to her side. "Shh..." He gently gathered her into his arms, whispering soothing words as he cradled her against his chest. "It's okay... I'm here. It's gone, it wasn't real." Castiel shushed her gently, tenderly wiping the tears from her cheeks. "You're safe now, it was just a dream."

There was no way he was going to leave her by herself again. It made him want to kill Theo a second time, even though it was just his memory causing her this pain. Castiel leaned down so he could speak softly to her. "If you feel comfortable with it, I'll hold you tonight." His voice was soft and caring. "I know it isn't right but I... I just can't stand the thought of this happening again. I want you to feel safe." He whispered.

[Froggy]

Genevera just leaned against him, her eyes closed as her body shook from the fear. Tears leaked down her cheeks and she couldn't stop the shaking, even as he cradled her in his arms. Castiel said the one word possible that could make her look up, open her eyes and actually look at him. That she was safe. She knew it had just been a dream, but still...it felt so real, the images were so vivid...she hadn't realized it before, but it had been Anabeth whimpering in the background from her own nightmares. She could only imagine what the poor woman had been through, having actually been sold to a slave owner.

Genevera leaned against him when he leaned down, whispering softly in her ear about holding her tonight. "I...I can't do this alone...I tried...it's so hard," she said, whimpering as she closed her eyes again, gripping his shirt in her hand. "As soon as I let go of you...I was frightened. I'm sorry...I tried," she said, her body still shaking as she sniffled, doing her best to calm herself down. She didn't want to seem needy...the dependent type, the clingy girl. She loved him more than he could ever imagine, and he brought about a sense of security that she greatly needed at that time. "What of Anabeth though? I can't leave her alone," she said, looking softly to the princess who was being cradled by Jesson. The other soldiers were gone, having returned to their tents after being assured that there was no physical danger.

[Naraness]

Castiel looked up at Anabeth who was as distraught as Genevera was. "She'll be alright." He reassured her. "I'll have Jesson watch over her." The prince turned his eyes back to Gen, and kissed her forehead. He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling softly. It was good to know that he wouldn't have to let her go tonight. He could just hold her, protect her...

After telling Jesson he wished for him to stay nearby enough that Ana would feel safe, Castiel lifted Gen in his arms and carried her to his tent. Every one of his movements was loving and genuine. He didn't want to remind her of her time in the cell for even a moment, so he was cautious of where he placed his hands and gentle in every action. He wanted her to know what love was, what is was meant to be... respectful and caring.

The prince simply held her sitting up for several minutes, unsure how to proceed with laying down. He pulled his blanket over her shoulders, tucking it around her so she was warm. "How's that?" Castiel murmured, gazing down at her.

[Froggy]

Genevera felt a sense of love and belonging as he kissed her forehead, wondering how she had been lucky enough to deserve love in the first place...more specifically, his. Regardless of what she had done...it was a wonderful feeling, to be gently lifted up in his arms and carried to his tent. She found herself clinging to him, her arms wrapped around him.

It was a strange, yet peaceful to have someone treat her with respect and care. These feelings were certainly not something that she was use to, and it was taking her a bit of time to understand them. He held her there, sitting up with her for a few moments and making sure that she felt safe. "I love you, Cass...so, so much," she said as he finally wrapped the blankets around her shoulders. She yawned and laid down, her head resting gently atop the pillow.

"Perfect," she said, her voice soft and quiet. "Sleep well my love...I'm sorry I woke you," she said, looking down sadly.

[Naraness]

Once she was wrapped warmly, Castiel laid his head next to hers and drew her close, listening to her voice. "Goodnight, Dearest." He whispered. A moment later she apologized for having woken him. "It was no trouble... I'd run through fire for you." He spoke quietly, but with earnest emotion. With a sigh, he kissed her a final time, and murmured one last sentence.

"I love you."

____________________________

The next morning rose with soft golden light spilling through the tent walls. It felt like a dream. Warm, rosy... Not too warm nor too cold. No one had risen from their tents yet, as the morning was still fairly early and the sun was only just rising.

A soft yawn rose from the prince's throat. He felt strangely complete, laying there. Like a part of him was finally there, warm and soft, pressed to his chest. He'd never realized how empty he felt before. Now that he wasn't alone, it was like nothing he'd ever felt before. His eyes opened slowly, to see the beautiful face of his one and only. How had he become so fortunate to gain her love? This beautiful, wonderful person was here with him... And he'd never felt so lucky before.

It seemed so perfect to wake up with her. To feel her closeness, to hear her breathing softly... Castiel smiled, wondering if he should wake her or simply enjoy these moments in the quiet of morning.

[Froggy]

After having been tucked in, Genevera had slept peacefully. After those nights in the cellar, it was wonderful to have someone there with her, keeping her safe. Her dreams were peaceful, filled with images of her and Castiel strolling through the garden. What surprised her was that her stomach had been rather round in this dream.

When she woke up though, her hand reached to her stomach and it was flat again. She yawned, opening her eyes and seeing Castiel there, watching her lovingly. Her face softened and she scooted closer to him, leaning forward to gently kiss his lips. "Thank you, Cass...I hope you slept as well as I did," she said, smiling at him lovingly. She leaned her forehead against his and looked into his eyes, wanting nothing more than to just lay there with him.

"Do you mind me riding with you again today? I love being close to you," she admitted, blushing a little as she grinned at him, kissing him again. She sighed, notwanting to part from him, but knowing that at some point during the day she would have to.

[Naraness]

It was beautiful, watching her wake up. Like watching a rose bloom. The way her eyelashes lifted, revealing perfect green eyes... The way she gazed at the world during the first moments of consciousness. He could get lost in it. She was perfect, elegant, sweet... Everything he could ever hope for.

His stomach did a little flip when she called him 'Cass'. It reminded him of the affection he felt when he called her Ginny, or Gen, and made him think that perhaps she felt that same affection for him. "I slept perfectly." He whispered, smiling lovingly. "I'm glad you did too..." It was a huge relief to him that she hadn't been tormented by the nightmares again. Castiel could barely stand the thought of her mind entrapped in that terrible place.

"Of course you can ride with me." He murmured. "There's nowhere I'd rather be than with you." After these words left his mouth, her lips met his and the prince's eyes fluttered closed. He knew that she had most likely intended for the kiss to be brief and sweet, but instead he gently pulled her closer, lengthening the moment with a longing embrace. Castiel tenderly ran his fingers through her hair, undoing the tangles as he went along.

It seemed unreal. The two of them, tucked away in a secret place where it felt like no one could reach them. If only the day didn't have to start so soon...

[Froggy]

"I'm glad you slept well too...and I have you to thank, forholding me close and keeping me safe last night," she whispered, scooting just a little closer to him and smiling at him. She smiled even wider when he said that she could ride with him again. "I just love being near you...I don't think that will ever change," she said, blushing just the slightest bit.

When their lips met, she was surprised and fluttered when he pulled her close, lengthening their kiss. Her eyes closed and she felt his hand running through her hair, smoothing out the tangles as he did so. She kissed him deeper, wrapping her arms around him and smiling into the kiss. It was perfect, being there with him...she felt loved, cared for...safe and above all, happy in his arms.

Finally she broke the kiss for air, looking at him longingly. "I had a dream about you last night, Cass," she admitted, smiling at him andblushing a little. "We were strolling together through a garden filled with flowers and nature...holding hands. My stomach was round and we looked so happy together," she said, blushing just that little bit more. She smiled, kissing his lips one more time before sitting up, stretching as the sun broke through the horizon. "I find myself always happy, when I am with you," she admitted, reaching her hand to his and squeezing it. "Thank you...I've never felt like this before," she said, pulling his hand to her lips and kissing it, holding it in her own after and gently rubbng the back of it with her thumb. "I love you," she whispered, wishing that they could finish the mission. She knew that the quicker they finished the mission, the quicker she would be judged by his parents...and she was okay with that. As long as she would be with him in the end, she was okay with it.

[Naraness]

It occurred to Castiel how often Gen thanked him. He was reminded of a time many years ago in which he and a group of the King's soldiers went out to rescue a small elven village being held captive. Afterwards, it had seemed like the villagers only knew two words. 'Thank you'. It was like a mantra, repeated again and again... They'd been saved, and they were eternally grateful towards them. Did Gen feel the same way? That he had rescued her from her former life and given her a new one? It made Castiel, again, wonder just what she'd gone through...

He held her just a little tighter because of this, wanting her to feel welcome, at home... With him.

Their kiss broke, and Gen began to tell him about her dream. It was uncanny how similar to his own dream it had been... She told him that they had been walking together, in a garden, and that her stomach had been round... Had she been with child? Was this a glimpse into their future? Castiel could see it if he closed his eyes. The two of them with an armful of children. He could already see their eyes (bright green like hers) sparkling with innocence and excitement. They would be beautiful and perfect. Just as she was.

"I had a similar dream last night, before I woke. We were walking hand in hand, just as we were in your dream. I think we were in our home, and... I could hear children laughing." It made his heart warm to think that this could actually become his future. This fantasy could become real. Castiel's voice dropped to a whisper. "It will become real. You and I... We're meant to be together. I believe that with all my heart." It occurred to him that there was still the matter of her treason... However, now that he knew how deeply he loved her, he knew that nothing would stand in the way of saving her.

"I love you." He whispered, blushing lightly when she kissed his hand. The prince gently took her hand and did the same, lightly pressing his lips to her knuckles. "We're going to make it." Cass murmured gently. "You and I."

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled when he held her closer and found her leaning against him, enjoying his embrace and the love he showed her. She kissed his cheek again, her touch gentle and loving. She listened as he too spoke of his dream, hearing the sound of children's laughter. "We'll be happy together...I just know it," she said, leaning her forehead against his shoulder and nuzzling against him,

"I believe it too...nobody else has made me feel this way, it is an amazing feeling...I want it to last," she said, yawning softly. She just wanted to go back to sleep with him and curl up against him, but the sun was rising.

She looked at him when he kissed her habd, telling her that they would make it. "I hope so. I love you so much," she said, smiling softly at him. Quiet suddenly she heard a scream, it sounded like Anabeth. "Ana?" she asked, wondering if the princess had woken from another nightmare. She looked at Castiel and jumped up, bolting out of bed and opening the tent flap.

Ana was curled up on the ground, a large snake in front of her with a rattle at the end of its tail. "No..." Gen breathed, bolting after her friend. Suddenly Jesson was there, his sword over the snakes head just as it made to strike Anabeth again. Genevera dropped to the ground, looking at the wound on her leg as it oozed blood. Anabeth was breathing heavily, her face pale and tears in her eyes. "Breathe, relax...just breathe and look at me," she said to the princess, exposing just enough of her leg to heal.

"Get me the serum and some bandages Jesson," she commanded, and the soldier took off. Genevera placed her hands around the wound, sending healing magic into the woman. She kept her eyes locked with Anabeth's as she slowly began to chant, the elegant elvish words flowing from her lips. They were older than the two women put together, and a soft glow could be seen from Genevera's hands. Anabeth was growing limp and her breathing was slowing, her eyes closing. 'No...' Genevera thought, pouring more healing magic into the younger woman. It was a replay of princess Kekiani being poisonned, except without the blue cheeks.

She could feel her own self growing weak as the wound began to release venom, the venom pouring out of the leg. Jesson handed her a towel and Genevera soaked it up, drying the leg. Anabeth was breathing normally again, her upper body shaking and sweaty. Jesson handed her the serum, and Genevera slathered it over the wound, the mixture thick on her leg. Anabeth winced in pain but Genevera bandaged the wound, wrapping it in a cloth. "It's okay Ana...you're going to be fine," Genevera said, standing up shakily and breathing heavily. Jesson caught her as she stumbled, and she looked down at her hands to see Ana's blood all over them. Genevera sighed and wiped them on a cloth, drying it up. "Just rest up while breakfast is prepared and camp is packed up," she said, glancing at Jesson. He smiled at her and she nodded, looking around for Castiel. She hoped that he was never placed in the same situation, she never wanted harm to come to him.

[Naraness]

That perfect, warm, quiet moment shattered with a scream.

Genevera burst out of the tent, rushing to Anabeth's side. Castiel caught up after a moment, seeing the snake writhing on the ground as it died. The princess had been struck... Immediately Castiel was back in the palace, watching his sister choke to death on a poison of her own. It struck fear in his heart. Anabeth could not die, not here, not when he had promised her safety. He watched, again, as Genevera fought for a princess's life. Ancient words under her breath, a glow beneath her hands... All that the prince could do was stand there and pray.

He could see her growing pale and limp, while Genevera shook from the effort it took to sustain her life. All around, people watched, unable to do anything other than stand there in support. As the battle ended, color flooded back into Anabeth's face and it seemed that she could breathe again. Castiel was immensely relieved, kneeling by the women's sides. He put his hand on Gen's shoulder, smiling gratefully, and then turned to Ana. "It's alright." He reassured her. "Close your eyes, rest. You need to heal now."

What would they have done without Gen there? She had saved two royal lives, now. Three, if he counted all that she had done for him. He stood with her, and took a deep breath. Castiel briefly instructed a couple of the women to help Ana to a place where she could sit down.

"Are you alright?" He gently placed his hands on Gen's shoulders to steady her. She was shaky and fatigued. Healing was certainly no easy task... It seemed that it was her own energy flowing out to repair and mend... No wonder the task was so taxing. "I don't know what we'd do without you, Gen. You've saved so many people. Including my sister, and myself... Now Anabeth, too." Her magic had often kept him safe, and her wisdom was never failing... He smiled softly. "I'd never make it without you." It was shockingly true.

[Froggy]

Genevera offered a weak smile when Castiel knelt down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling at her. She found herself leaning against him, still shaking from exhaustion. She was inexperienced when it came to poisons and they took a lot more out of her than the average wound.

"I'm fine...I just need to sit a moment," she said, making her way to a nearby rock and sitting down slowly. She looked up when he said that he didn't know what they would do without her. "Don't be silly. I haven't...saved your life..." she said, looking at him in confusion. He had saved her from far worse fates than she had helped him.

"Oh you would have...I have faith. It might have taken you longer, but you would have made it," she said, smiling softly at him. Once she had regained her breath, she stood and went to his side. She could smell the breakfast cooking, the aroma filling her nostrils and penetrating her lungs and stomach. She found herself wrapping her arms around him, leaning her chest against his and sighing happily.

[Naraness]

Castiel sat next to her, chuckling softly. "Alright, maybe you didn't save my life... But you know what you did do?" He looked at her with a warm smile. "You saved me from a life without you, and that's just as important to me. There's a big difference between surviving and living."

Once she had rested and caught her breath, he stood with her. As she leaned into him, he put his arm around her. The smell of breakfast was tantalizing and appetizing... Castiel blushed as his stomach growled. It did smell very good. He couldn't quite help it. The events of the past twelve hours had made him quite hungry.

He kept his arm around her as they waited, and watched the soldiers move about, taking down tents and getting ready. It was strange, having things done for him. People had done things for him almost his entire life. But recently, while he'd been with Gen, he'd grown more accustomed to taking care of himself and others. It didn't seem right to sit around and have others do things for him.

However, when breakfast came around there was nothing tearing him away from it. For this last day, he would let others finish the work while he sat with his beloved and ate breakfast.

[Froggy]

Genevera smirked when he said that there was a big difference between surviving and living. "You're telling this to someone who lived as a peasant for forty years?" She teased, sticking her tongue out at him and kissing his cheek lovingly. "I've never lived like this before...and I hope I live like this forever," she said, smiling happily at him.

She squeezed him gently when he wrapped his arm around her, enjoying the closeness. When breakfast came, Genevera stayed with him and gave him the first bite. She took one as well, making noises of approval. "Mmmmm so good. I could get spoiled on this food," she said, grinning a bit. Even at home she rarely ate meat as it was often too expensive and only at it once or twice a month.

After breakfast, Anabeth was feeling better. There was still pain in her leg, but she was able to walk again. She had been eternally grateful to Genevera for what she had done. When the meal was finished, Jesson helped her atop Laura and she rode with him. He kept her hydrated throughout the day, allowing her to rest against him as they traveled.

The pain was incredible, more than anything she had felt before. A few times she woke from the pain, tears quietly falling down her cheeks.

Jesson was always there, an arm wrapped protectively around her and his hand wiping away her tears. He would keep her company, whispering soothing words to her. He too knew of the pain, telling her how he had first crossed paths with the serum. It had been Genevera's creation that she had taught him, and she had used it to save his life after the war. His stories brought her comfort, and she too told him stories of her homeland.

By the end of the day, they had reached the city gates. "Thank you, all of you," Genevera said, looking to the soldiers whom had helped rescue her and the other women. Genevera smiled at the women, making rounds to hug each of them. For the most part they were slowly building confidence back, but she knew they would have long roads to walk before they got there. "I know it's hard...but it will get easier. Live each day as if it was your last, and do everything in your power to better tomorrow. The past can't hurt you any more than you let it," she said, smiling as they too hugged her.

Genevera sighed as she returned to Castiel's side, wrapping him in a loving embrace. "I can't wait for a bath," she said, looking happy at the thought. "Me too..." Anabeth said, smiling at them. "Where to, your majesty?" Genevera teased, grinning at him a little.

[Naraness]

Their parting with the soldiers and women was rather joyful. It was good to see all of them returning to their lives, to safety... Castiel was glad that they were returned to freedom. In addition, he shook each man's hand, telling them that if they were ever in need, they could come to Bellanar and seek the help of the kingdom.

It warmed his heart when he saw Genevera go around and hug each woman. Her words were wise, warm, comforting.. And they were true. It amazed him that she was so kind, so loving... Despite all that she'd been through, her heart wasn't bitter or mean. Gen really was a jewel.

Castiel stood by her side, holding her close as they bid the last of their companions goodbye. Only he, Gen, Anabeth and Jesson remained. "A bath? I'd move a mountain just for a hot bath." He smiled and kissed her hair, then turned to their group of four. He thought it strange that when he first left his kingdom, there had only been two of them. Since then, their group had doubled.

"Well... Next stop, Junipara." He turned away from the city, finally ready to trek across the desert and settle this once and for all. He could only hope that there hadn't been any more attacks on his homeland in the mean time. After what had happened to Kekeani and Genevera, he couldn't stand to think what havoc could be waged in the mean time. What if buildings were being burned? More assassination attempts made on the royal family? It was painful just to think about it.

The prince broke himself out of his thoughts and smiled down at Gen. "Well, I think if we get started soon, we could make considerable ground in that direction. Shall we, love?" He gently nuzzled her, then seemed to remember that they weren't alone and cleared his throat, addressing the other two. "Ready?"

[Froggy]

Genevera found herself smiling as he held her close and kissed her hair. He truly did love her, her hair was a knotted and dirty mess and yet he still kissed it. She kissed his cheek in turn, enjoying his company. "I think at this point, we all would move mountains for a bath," Genevera said, chuckling a little.

Genevera frowned when he said he was ready to make way to the next city- the sun was already lowering, and she knew Anabeth needed to rest and to wash her wound. "Um, love...why don't we stay here the night?" She asked, looking at Anabeth. "I'm sure Ana needs a good night's sleep, and I know I'm willing to move mountains for a bath..." she said, blushing a little.

She felt bad, knowing that he wanted to make progress but also recognizing that they needed their rest. Jesson did as well, and she was sure that Castiel could use it too. "Believe me Castiel...I am ready to return home, but I would like one more night of rest if ppssible," Anabeth said, and Jesson just raised an eyebrow. It wasn't his place, he was just a soldier.

[Naraness]

Time had definitely slipped his notice. Castiel looked distressed as he realized the truth in their words. He glanced back at the city, almost hating the sight of it. This was the third time they'd been there. He felt like they hadn't even moved in days... like time was wasted because of his mistakes. Just a mile or two in the right direction would have given him peace. Any ground at all would have been satisfying.

This wasn't about his needs, though. The others had needs as well. After a moment of torn silence, he nodded in agreement and gestured back towards the town. "Yes, of course. Lets find an inn." He managed a smile and tore himself away from thoughts of continuing. It was true, he was antsy... But apparently he was also lacking in sleep, since he hadn't even noticed the time of day.

It didn't take long for him to relax and embrace the idea of a calm evening. Thoughts of a warm bath and a soft bed were rather alluring. Once he reached the inn, he ordered warm meals for the evening, and lodging for the horses. But when it came to asking for the number of rooms they would need, he hesitated, looking at Gen.

He had assumed that they would sleep together while they were camping in the outdoors, but... An actual bed was a much different environment than a tent. People would think they were either married or... He didn't even know how to properly phrase the question.

[Froggy]

Genevera felt bad...she could see that he was ready to make progress, but at the same time she recognized that they all needed a night to fully recover. Jesson was a true soldier, despite having fought during the rescue and all the travel, he had not shown any signs of exhaustion- he was as good at keeping it in as she was. She did however smile when he agreed to find an Inn for the night. She found herself leaning against him as they walked, coming upon a charming little Inn. It would do her a lot of good, having a bath and a warm bed to sleep in. She wasn't sure about parting from Castiel though, if the dreams would plague her mind again or not...

When they approached the innkeeper she remained at his side, happy as ever to be with him. She was somewhat surprised when Cass looked at her for an answer as to the number of rooms, blushing a bit. "Three...if we can have a room with two beds please?" she asked the innkeeper, who smiled warmly at her. "Of course," he said, smiling at all of them. She just looked to Castiel, a love drunk expression on her face as he was handed the keys. She snatched the key for their room out of his hand and grinned at him. "Dibs on the bathtub!" she said, jabbing him playfully in the arm before she took off running, heading up the stairs and making way to the room. She was looking for it, hoping to find it before he could snatch the key from her.

Anabeth just laughed, shaking her head at Castiel. "You two are so cute," she said, grinning playfully at the prince. Even Jesson found himself chuckling a bit. "C'mon boss, you really going to take that from Gen?" he asked, winking slightly and egging the prince on.

[Naraness]

Oh she's clever. Castiel couldn't help but grin when she asked for a room with two beds. As the innkeeper handed the keys over, he glanced at Gen and caught glance of a positively heart racing expression on her face. Staying at the inn was seeming like a great idea, now. He grinned when she claimed dibs on the bathtub and poked him in the arm, then dashed up the stairs. The prince smiled uncontrollably and chased after her.

Of course he had no idea which door they were looking for. But the door was the least of his concerns. Castiel ran up the stairs and caught up to Gen halfway down the hallway. "Now now, Ginny." The prince lovingly wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek. "Would you really take my chance to go first?" He teasingly took the keys and looked at the door number. A mischievous smile leaped across his face as he said his next words.

"Go first and open the door for you, of course." Cass took her hand and kissed it dramatically, bowing with a small flourish. He looked up at her and winked, loving this playfulness dancing back and forth between them.

Castiel then hurried off down the hallway in a similar fashion to how she had before, searching for the room door. Once he located it he swiftly unlocked it and opened it wide so Gen could go inside. "My Lady?" He gestured for her to go first.

The prince had never felt so happy in his life. These flirtatious looks, the playfulness... It made his heart do funny things and turned his stomach to mush. He loved it. He loved her. He loved every moment he spent with her. Castiel wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, just like this. Like two love struck teenagers, finally given the chance to be alone... Like love was their only emotion.