The Princess and her Knight

[Saint Nhoj]

A roleplay between @Aelin Ashryver and @Saint Nhoj

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

Farryn woke giddy with the excitement of the day. It was the day before her wedding and all the guests had arrived. She could hardly wait to greet them at the feast they were holding that very night! She was restless as her handmaidens dressed her and did her hair. In a Queendom where people usually were born with brown or black hair, dark in color, Farryn's was the lightest in her country. She hated it, and envied her mother's beautiful black hair. The younger noble girls had made fun of her for it in her childhood, before they knew how to treat a princess.


Still, what'd they'd said stuck with her until one day when her cousin, Lawrence complimented her hair, saying he liked it as he held the ends in his hand and kissed them. From that day on, she'd never minded her hair color again.


Stepping out onto her balcony, she found her guard and smiled up at him. "Isn't today beautiful, Sidney?" she asked him cheerfully. He'd been with her for ages, and she'd dropped all pretenses with him, allowing him to address her by her given name in private. Well, she'd said it was okay in public too, but the court could hardly let someone of his standing address her so informally.

 

[Saint Nhoj]

"I am inclined to agree princess." He said with a nod, his face expressionless as he had been lost in thought. The recent engament of the princess worried him. Her cousin Lawerence whom she was betrothed to was an odd fellow, a constant smile plastered on his face at all times whilst around the princess. Yet the few times he spotted him away from the princess his whole demeanor changed to that of someone who was scheming on the shadows.


He dared not make his opinion known to the princess as she was a sensitive soul who was completely enamored with the boy. She was happier than he had ever seen her at the news of her betrothal so Sidney decided to stay quite on the matter. Besides he would have to be insane to harbor any malicious intent towards someone of royalty in line to the crown. If it ever came to that he would end the mans life as quickly as it began.

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

"Oh, don't be such a spoiled sport!" she exclaimed, pushing on his armored from lightly. "It's my wedding day tomorrow!" Farryn sighed and pouted. "You're always so distant, and I've told you repeatedly for years to call me Farryn. Come on, at least when it's just us. No need to be so stiff all the time."


"Princess, it's time for your breakfast," one of her handmaidens said from inside.


"Coming," Farryn called back to her. Taking Sidney's hand, she tugged him inside. He was the only male allowed in her bedchamber. He'd only been waiting outside because she had to change.


She sat down at the small table in her room and smiled at the delicious food which had been prepared.


"These came for you earlier, princess." Another young woman handed her a bouquet of her favorite flowers. "They'er from your fiancé, Prince Lawrence."


She smiled at the flowers as she smelled them. Then she had them placed in some water so they could last a little longer.

 

[Saint Nhoj]

"You know that I feel considerably more comfortable calling your Princess. Those formalities are my shield against me getting complacent with my post." He followed the princess to her table standing close and observing the items on her plate. "The Prince seems to be a reasonable enough young man. It is good to see you this happy at your engagement. Most royalty that go though arranged marriages are matched with those they do not care for so yours is something special not often seen within a kingdom. It has all of the common folk talking as all are excited for your grand wedding."

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

"And you know that I could just order you by royal decree to just call me Farryn when it's not a formal occasion, like my breakfast." She blew out a sigh. "But I won't because you'll probably die from pure happiness of saying my name," she said teasingly.


After her breakfast, Farryn walked out of her room, only Sidney accompanying her. She left her ladies to their other duties, insisting that they make themselves more useful than they'd ever be just trailing after her.


"I know that I'm lucky to be marrying Lawrence. He's a great man and a good one too. What about you though, Sidney? I haven't seen you ever date anyone." Whether she'd seen him date and whether he actually had were two different things, so Farryn was naturally curious. "So, is there anyone special? What about from your home town? Oh, what about a childhood crush?" She laughed lightly as they walked out into the gardens. "Lawrence was mine, but you already know that."

 

[Saint Nhoj]

Following the princess closely in toe he let out a small chuckle at her question. "I was raised in my families villa until the age of ten when I was selected and taken to the castle to be trained as a royal knight. I was then trained in the art of war, bred to be your personal knight and protect you from any harm that may come to you. Needless to say that lifestyle did not allow for such distractions." A smile playing its way across his rugged face. "I suppose once you are wed I will have time to consider such things as I will only be your personal guard when you are not in company of your husband."

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

"What? You mean you've never looked at someone and thought that maybe you'd like to get to know them better? And sure first looks aren't everything. People could end up jerks, but never? Not one Noble woman, or man, I'm not judging, has caught your eye?" She felt almost guilty that she'd been the cause for his extremely single. After all, she and Lawrence had been betrothed since she was born, though she hadn't been told until later, after she'd already fallen in love with him.


Some of the servants' children were running about, as her mother, the Queen let them do until they were old enough to start minor duties. They rushed past Farryn, one crashing into her shins while the other tripped and fell over the first one. Who knew a game of tag could be so fierce. Farryn chuckled and picked one up after the other before brushing them off. "Careful you two. It's nice to play with friends, but you have to remember to watch where you're going, all right? Are you two hurt any where?"


Both of the children shook their heads before they smiled at her. "You look beautiful princess," one said. "Are you excited to be getting married?" asked the other.


"Thank you, and of course!" she said enthusiastically. "Now, run along. You have a game afoot, do you not?" They both grinned and went off chasing each other again.

 

[Saint Nhoj]

"Do not get me wrong princess there are women I do find attractive. However it goes no farther than that, I refuse to compromise my duty to the crown to go skirt chasing. Being a royal was a great honor bestowed upon my family and I. I could never betray the trust of those who gave me this station." He grinned at the princess who was helping the children that had fallen get up sending them off with a minor scolding. "I do not regret my choice either. I quite enjoyed watching you grow up to be the woman you are today. I just hope you always stay true to yourself no matter the circumstances."

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

She didn't hear anything after he said that such women existed. Standing up from helping the children, Farryn grinned at him. "Do I know them? Maybe one of my handmaidens?" She inquired. "Come on, Sidney, spill!"


Taking his hand, she tugged him to the swing in the garden. She say down and turned to look at him, a smile on her lips. "I'm glad you're here too. Now," she said pointing forward, "push me!" The swing was her favorite thing next to reading, and she had often made him push her as a child and well into her adulthood.

 

[Saint Nhoj]

He scoffed at the princess as she continued to dig into his personal affairs. "Enough of the interogation princess. I liked it much better when you saw me as a stoic figure who needn't romance in his life." He watched as the princess go on the swing a usually occurrence when she had something on her mind. He gave her a gentle push his armor clanking at the motion. "As a boy I always wanted to be a knight and on my tenth birthday that wish was granted. Other than my education and training I have lived a rather plain lifestyle since coming to the castle. That of course changed whenever I became your knight, you kept things interesting." He paused at the last part before giving a hearty laugh. "Interesting as in you were constantly dragging me about. Accompanying you on your adventures to discover more about the world around you. Whilst making sure you stayed out of trouble of course."

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

"It's not an interrogation, Sidney. It's leveling the playing field. You know everything about me. You know who I love and what I hold dear and how I grew up. I don't, even after all these years even know if you liked the forest when you were a boy," she said, throwing out an example.


"I hardly got into trouble, Sidney. I have stayed within these palace walls for my entire life. What could I have possibly gotten up to that would have troubled you? Hmm? Nothing too terrible, I'm sure. Push me higher, Sidney. I want to touch the sky with my toes." She used to say that all the time when she was little and would push her on the swing. Farryn chuckled lightly. "Now, tell me what your first impression was of me when we met all those years ago."

 

[Saint Nhoj]

He pushed the princess higher as requested "Princess I know everything about you because that is my duty. I am a tool created solely for your protection. You do not ask common garden equipment how it grew up you simply use it." He knew he was being critical and that the princess meant no harm with her questions, but he wanted their relationship to stay professional. As a knight he would be put in life or death situations that he might not walk away from. As long as he kept a certian personal distance he hoped that in the event of his death he would not cause her uneeded sorrow.


"My impression of you when you were a young lass was that you were very strong willed. The kindness and generosity that you showed others was unparreled by anyone I had ever encountered in my life and I respected then as I do know. I was privileged to watch you grow into the woman you are today and I hope I get to see the day you become queen and take this kingdom into a new era of prosperity." As he said those words he believed them wholeheartedly.

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

Farryn jumped off the swing at it's highest point, landed awkwardly, and spun to face him, a sharpness to her usually kind eyes. "Don't say that, Sidney," she said, marching over to him. "You aren't a tool to me. You're a living, breathing human being that happens to be my friend." She poked her finger into his breast plate. "I will not think you as disposable as a common garden trowel!"


She crossed her arms, and frowned at him. By the time she'd jumped off, he'd already told her what his first impressions of her were, but she didn't give it a second thought. "I don't care how you see yourself, Sidney. To me, you are a dear friend and I care about you and I will continue to care about you for a long time." Farryn blew out a sigh and started walking away from him. Of course the trouble with personal body guards was the fact that they went everywhere with you and that did mean everywhere.

 

[Saint Nhoj]

As the princess stormed off Sidney couldn't help but give a smile at her words. Silently trailing behind her to give her some semblance of a dramatic exit. She was unique among the royalty in the sense that she seemed to value all life. Most nobility thought themselves too good for the common folk. Yet the princess would value the life of a commoner as much as the life of anyone else. Such a trait was something of true beauty but it gained her many enemies among the court. It would cause her much hardship in the future as queen because many of the nobility refused to see eye to eye on such matters.

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

As the day passed, Farryn's anger at him ebbed like the tide and was soon all but gone. By the time the banquet had come, she had completely forgotten the matter. She greeted her mother, both of them dressed beautifully, and walked with her down to the banquet hall. Once there, Farryn and her mother, the queen greeted their guests. Her father was there, too, of course, but he wasn't the ruler. That wasn't how it worked. Her mother had been the heir apparent, so the right to rule had gone to her. Farryn was the new heir apparent. Should she become queen, it would not be her husband making the decisions.


When Lawrence came down from his chambers, she went to greet him. "Lawrence!" Farryn embraced him tightly as he picked her up and spun her before setting her back on the ground. "Good evening, my princess. Are you nervous for tomorrow?" he asked her, kindness shining in his eyes.


"No, of course not. You know I love you." He smiled at her and leaned down, placing a chaste kiss on her lips, as was appropriate for the public's eye. They had never gone past that, but Farryn's cheeks always flushed. Lawrence's smile widened and he took her hand. "Would you allow me to steal your daughter away, my queen?"


"Of course, Lawrence. You two are to be wed tomorrow. I wouldn't have it any other way." He nodded to his aunt and took her out on the floor for a dance.

 

[Saint Nhoj]

Sidney took up a statuesque position at the back of the banquet hall. He was close enough to the princess to be at her side in a moments notice and far enough away that he was not a burden to her activities. Such things were the mark of a professional knight, he knew that on a night like this an attack on the princesses life was unlikely but he has to remain vigilant for the off chance something did occur. He watched the princess dance with her betrothed, her face flush with the bright scarlet of a love struck maiden. The look in her fiancés eyes told a different story however. He had a certian air about him that gave the impression he was playing a game and it began to unnerve Sidney. He fought off his instincts not wanting to embarrass the princess but he would took note to have a word with the young man at a later date.

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

As the evening came to a close, Farryn was escorted back to her room by her knight and her betrothed. She smiled and leaned against Lawrence, her head resting on his arm. "Tomorrow. We are going to be wed tomorrow." She giggled and squeezed his hand.


Lawrence smiled and turned his head to press a kiss into her silky hair.


When they reached her room Lawrence embraced his princess and caught the eye of her knight watching them. He smirked, tipped her chin up, and kissed her fully. Farryn had never received a kiss such as this. His lips were warm and she gasped in surprise when his tongue slid along her bottom lip. Lawrence took that opportunity to slid his tongue into her mouth, holding her to him with one hand at the base of her neck, the other at her lower back. He may be planning to kill her mother, but that didn't mean he couldn't get at least some enjoyment from his bride to be before her world changed. It only made the kiss all the more worth it that the ever-dutiful knight was watching. Lawrence knew he had his suspicions, but what could he do to stop him? Nothing. He slid his hand down to her hip, tugging her closer, possessively. This was his Farryn. She had been his intended since her birth. It was really too bad he would have to kill her, especially when she made him desire her like this.


Lawrence had tried to get the council to reconsider her death, but if she were left alive even after he took over, she would be a challenge to the throne. No, they'd wanted her gone, so this was his last chance to taste her sweet lips.

 

[Saint Nhoj]

Sidney cleared his throat signaling the display of affection to end. There was something unnerving about the way Lawerence glared at him before his passionate kiss with the princess. It was a look filled with apparent spite, as if he were showing off his conquering of the princess. It filled Sidney with disgust but his face stayed emotionless, watching the events with cold eyes. He knew better than to speak against royalty but to have the audacity to do something like that to the future queen in the eye of the public was unforgivable.


Giving a curt bow as Lawerence left, making sure he was gone he quickly guided the princess into her chambers before closing the door behind them. "Princess I would like your permission to speak my mind. What I am about to say may be displeasing for you to hear and I will accept any punishment you deem fit for my words" his voice was harsh with a hint of anger but not enough to overwhelm his calm demeanor.

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

Farryn flinched when she heard Sidney and stepped back from Lawrence. Her fiancé smiled at her and leaned down, kissing her lips one more time. "Until tomorrow, my princess," he said as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.


She wanted to watch Lawrence leave, but Sudney ushered her into her rooms before promptly closing the door behind him. "Sidney, what-" but he had beaten her to it. " . . . What is it?" she asked him, now slightly nervous about what he was going to say. Sure, the kiss had been unexpected, but they had been just outside her rooms and they were getting married tomorrow. It was okay to kiss her betrothed, wasn't it?

 

[Saint Nhoj]

"There is something off about Lawrence, there are daggers behind that mans smile. I have no evidence except for the feeling it my gut that tells me he is plotting something." He took a breath trying to gage the princesses reaction. "When he is away from your his personality changes drastically to something unrecognizable. I am concerned for your safety princess please understand."

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

"You are seeing conspiracy where there is none, Sidney," she said to him, dismissing his accusation completely. "Lawrence is my cousin and my fiancé. He is loyal to the realm. Please do not think ill thoughts of him. I love him, Sidney. He is someone I care deeply for, just as you are. I would never things such horrid thoughts of either of you."


She called her maidens to her, quieting Sidney's protests concerning Lawrence. They helped her prepare for bed and left her when they were finished.


Farryn woke suddenly in the night, sweat beading her forehead. She got out of bed and pulled a robe over her nightgown. Sliding her slippers on, she made her way to her mother's room. She had had an awful dream of Lawrence brining her mother harm somehow, most likely a result of Sidney's unfounded worries.


When she reached the hallway, however, something was very wrong. The two guards stationed outside her room were dead, and the door was cracked. "Mother?" she called softly peering around the door. She saw Lawrence there, standing with his back to her. At first it looked like he was talking with her mother, but then her body fell to the floor, blood seeping from the fatal wound that had been inflicted on her by the sword in Lawrence's hand. "W-What have you done!? W-Why?" Farryn fell to her knees, blood from her mother soaking into her gown. Her vision burred with hot tears as she looked at the body. "Why, Lawrence?"


"Why?" he repeated. "Why, Farryn? Because she was too weak. She doesn't have what it takes to rule this kingdom, and neither do you," he said, raising his sword over her crumpled body. Farryn stared at him, terrified. As he swung downward, she threw up her arms as if that would stop his sword from killing her like he had done to her mother.

 

[Saint Nhoj]

Sidney followed the princess quietly as she made her way down the hall. He did not want to alert her to his presence because of his disgraceful actions of questioning her future husband. Realizing that the princess was making her way to her mothers room Sidney realized something strange. There were no guards patrolling the halls, that couldn't be right security would never blunder this badly. The two finally arriving at the Queens room happening upon two dead guards at the entrance. The princess then entered the room as Sidney heard a voice of who he believed to be Lawrence. Fearing the worst Sidney drew his blade and charged into the room to see Lawrence standing of the dead queen sword in hand about to strike down the princess. The sound of steel clashing rang out through the room and Sidney blocked the blade. "What have you done boy?" Rage seeping though his words, his eyes alight with fire at his attempt to harm the princess.

 

[Aelin Ashryver]

Farryn was still crying as the two clashed swords above her head. Soon, the sound of guards sounded in the hall, but when they arrived, they pointed their weapons at Sidney and their princess instead of at the murder in their midst.


"I've taken was it rightfully mine. I am the ruler of this kingdom, not some peace-loving Queen or her daughter, no matter how much I may care for the latter." He didn't have problems killing the Queen, but Farryn was a necessary killing. He had to dispose of her. Still, it was a tad late to try and redeem himself in her eyes.


"Get up, Princess!" one of the guards snarled at her. "Face your death with dignity for this country!"


She cowered on the floor, clinging to her dead mother. But something inside of her pushed her, propelled her to stand. Her legs were shaking. They were surrounded in the back, and faced Lawrence in the front. There was a window behind him. If they jumped they would land in the pool. But when she tried to move toward it, Farryn's legs gave out, forcing her to the ground. She didn't have the strength, not for this, not for the betrayal and heartache she felt deep in her soul. Sidney was her only chance. If he didn't save her, her life would end that night just as the council wanted.

 

[Saint Nhoj]

Sidney counted five soldiers guarding the only door to the bedroom. He heard the shuffle of footsteps as more guards came to subdue them. "I knew he was plotting something but a coup? This was a ridiculous feat that he could not have pulled off alone, some other major characters were pulling the stings within the shadows." Now however was not the time to think about such things as he had to think of a way to save the princess.


He held his long sword in an aggressive stance to ward off any who dare touch his princess. Where could they go from there? At that moment he noticed the princess try to move in the direction of the window before collapsing. "Why was she mov-" he immediately realized that particular room was right above the pool and they could jump saftey down. He mentally applauded the princess ability to think through her current situation and find a solution. Now it was time for him to do the rest. He cared for the princess with all of his being and as long as he drew breathe she would be unharmed.


A vicious grin appeared on Sidney's face. The men around her were nervous he could smell their fear. They all knew his reputation as a royal knight and tales of his prowess was known throughout the kingdom. At an instant Sidney feigned a strike at the guards approaching his princess baiting them to put up a guard. He swiftly advanced swinging his sword in a wide arc slitting the throat of the nearest guard. Another guard tried to take advantage and strike him from the side but the blow was easily parried and Sidney brough his sword down on the mans left arm dismembering him. The guard screamed in pain and Sidney grabbed him by the throat with his free hand tossing him like a ragdoll at the remaining guards causin them to topple.


In the confusion Lawrence slowly made his way to the princess to finish her while he was occupied. Sidney had expected as such as he quickly steped back and blocked his blow with ease. Quickly pushing him back with ease, while Lawrence tried to recover Sidney lashed out with a blow to decapitate him. The blow fell short and only slashed the young man across the face causing him to scream in pain and crumple to the floor.


Taking the opening that he had created Sidney sheathed his sword and grabbed the princess, picking her up with reitive ease. Protecting her body with his armor he charged at the window in an all or nothing attempt at escape. As the glass broke the two fell three stories and were then submerged in water. Once under water it was do or die. Sidney had very little time to undo his armor before he drowned his quickly struggled undoing all the straps trying to keep focus.