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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 14, 2008 21:05:04 GMT -5
Ever since Afine' was a child, her dreams clouded her mind. Throughout etiquette (SP?) lessons, manner lessons, etc. Sailing the seas, battling creatures, and meeting mythological monsters crowded her every thought. Her parents rejected every idea taht came to her head, "You are quite the foolish girl Afine', how will you ever rule a kingdom?" or "Pish posh, stop wasting your time on such childish ideas." Her whole life, she has felt like an outsider. Trapped in a cage, but wanting to be set free. As the years passed she lost hope, and began feeling less, and less emotions. She thought that if she couldn't make a difference on her life, how could she change the world ? But she never lost her stubborn and opinionated side. A spark of hope still seeping through her heart to this day, at the age of nineteen, a week before her coronation .
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 14, 2008 21:27:33 GMT -5
Caleb was following the general of the elite guard. He had finally gotten to a place that would have made his father really proud. His mother had raised him throughout her life while his father protected the kingdom and their king. His father was nothing more than a guest who would visit their house regularly, probably once in a year. His mother always wanted him to show his excitement about these short visits where his father would remind him how he wanted to follow on his "legacy" and serve the kingdom so much so that as he grew up. There wasn't much choice for him in that matter anyway.
He went through the training where he was a completely different person, fast, a ruthless opponent and as it turned out by the end, a highly skilled fighter. He never let himself get used to the life and manners of the soldiers knowing he could reach a better position if only he tried to act a bit more civil. And he had been right, here he was walking with the most powerful man in the army, besides the royal family of course.
"I have seen you Caleb, you have potential, to reach where I am now, if only you can withstand the acid that is the politics at this level." He paused for a while before continuing. "Now I know you might have some problem getting along with the other veterans but I am sure you can handle it, take it as a test. You would be assigned a job that frankly, the rest of the guards are finding it hard to do. You would be guarding princess Afine' Re'nad....", he left it at that and looked towards the young man and smiled. "So you know of her, and why we might be having trouble then... good. Thats all and good luck Dismissed."
Caleb only smiled and nodded in reply at the mention of the princess. Of course the whole of the elite guard knew of her. This would be tougher on both ends now, tackling the expectations and probably resentment of the veterans and the princess.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 14, 2008 21:41:43 GMT -5
Afine' Sat in her bedroom, tired and oblivious to everything around her, she was day dreaming again, this time of faeries and nymphs, prancing around in a lush, green field, with the silky, blue sky above. Wind flying, and pulling her hair into the sky, while the faeries and nymphs giggled in delight.
"Afine'! Afine'! AFINE' !" Her mother's bellowing brought her out of her day dream. A forced smile crossed her lips. "Yes mother dearest?" She replied coldly. "Don't use that tone with me, how many times must I tell you?" Her mother scowled, " Now, since you scared off the last guard, I suggest you be on your best behavior for your newest one, Caleb Voss." She gave a strict nod, and walked out of the room, 'best behavior eh? hmmm, what can i do this time?'
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 14, 2008 22:00:10 GMT -5
On his way to the armory he kept thinking of how to handle everything. He then realized he should enjoy his new achievement, while he could anyway. He wondered if his father's service had anything to do with him getting a place so soon here. He would have thanked his father for this one thing he had manage to do for him, if he could. He had passed away on the front line somewhere and thats all they were told.
He shook these thoughts away as he entered the armory and was given the tradional elite guard armor. He looked it over like any soldier would before he wore a new armor. He realized it was not as strong as he had thought when he could glance upon one earlier. It "looked" sturdy and majestic but he had been right in guessing that that was probably just for show to those that interacted with the royal family. He wore the light silver armor with tings of red decorating the chest pieces and the legs. He put on his helmet which now hid his identity within and made him equal to the rest of the guard.
The elite guards were given the luxury of choosing their own weapons, of the style they had come to prefer over the years. He hadn't had that kind of time but had asked for two light blades and now they were handed it to them. At the the army had not compromised on the weapons for the decorations and he smiled as he set them on his back securely.
His eyes darted around the halls memorizing and spotting everything possible, both in terms of their significance, beauty or importance during an attack, if such a thing happened in the palace. The guard escorting him to the princess personal quarters smiled, with a hint of pity, he thought, and left. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door and waited.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 14, 2008 22:11:51 GMT -5
Afine' in another day dream, gasped out of fright as she heard a knock at her door. "why can i not be left slone just one day? Would it hurt to be confined in a room by myself without intrudence ?" She rambled to herself as she made her way across her wooden floors. 'Always look presentable before inviting a guest inside.' Her mothers words ran through her head.
Switching directions, she crossed over to the other side of the room. Gazing into her gold-framed wall mirror, forest green orbs of curiousity looked back at her. The forest green orbs spotted chesnut strands of silk, messily framing her face. 'how I wish I looked more like grandmother.' She sighed as she ran a brush through her silken hair. Finishing up, she headed for the door once again.
Sighing as she stood infront of the door, she reached for the golden door knob, twisted, and let the door fall open.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 14, 2008 22:28:56 GMT -5
Caleb had never seen the princess and was sure not expecting her to open the door herself. He could tell this was not a maid but the princess herself. He keep staring at the youngest of the royal family for a while then realized what he was doing and quickly averted his eyes from the beautiful young lady in front of him and bowed. He straighten up and after a while looked straight in her eyes, something the guards were not supposed to do. He spoke, "Caleb Voss, your highness, reporting for service."
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 14, 2008 22:34:50 GMT -5
Afine' smiled, cheerful and secretive at the same time. Her eyes staring at his, the words came out of her mouth as smooth as honey, "Pleasure to meet you Caleb, I am Afine' Re'nad," A curtsey,"What an honour it is to have you as my guard." She smiled that same smile again, dimples showing amoungest her face. Her forest green orbs searching his. "Please, do come in." She stepped aside, waiting for her guest to enter.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 14, 2008 22:41:51 GMT -5
He suppressed a smile, she was ready for this and seemed to have something in store for him when he wouldn't expect it. She was just being too nice and there was something hidden in that smile. He came in and stood facing the princess. His eyes quickly darted around the room. He had a very limited window of opportunity to throw her off and maybe give himself a bit more time than be thrown out as quickly as he had come into the elite force. "The honour is mine, to be able to serve you princess Afine...", he said deliberately using her name.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 14, 2008 22:48:27 GMT -5
Afine' smirked, and walked towards a small couch infront of her bed, "I'll let you know now, that I really don't plan to have you as my guard for any amount of time,"Her smirk faded as she sat down on the satin pad. "If you would much rather resign from your position, it'll be easier that way, less emotional damage towards yourself, if you know what I mean." A sickly sweet smile plastered her face. "Have a seat if you must, but don't make yourself too comfortable." She searched his eyes for any chance of fear, and found none.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 14, 2008 23:26:02 GMT -5
Great that she made it clear, though he would have guessed that was the case. But there was a reason he was assigned to her and he knew why that was. He smiled finally as she talked about emotional damage. He figured the more experienced guards were unnerved easily by her behaviour especially if they had an attitude of superiority and thought that they deserved more respect after such a long and distinguished service. He imagined she gave them no such thing and that was the wrong attitude by the guards anyway.
He didn't say anything for a while but kept looking at her for a while as he thought. He didn't move to take a seat but looked towards the window and asked, "It must be boring for you to stay in this room for long durations. Would you like to go for a walk?" He looked back at her waiting for an answer, not smiling anymore.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 14, 2008 23:35:20 GMT -5
She stared hard at him for a couple seconds, and decided, "Why not?" She shrugged her shoulders, and got up without a word, silently walking towards her closet. Walking into her furnished closet, she went through her jackets and camosals, and picked out a emerald green camosal, put it on, and went over to the shoes "section". Her eyes fell upon tiny, black flats. She slipped them on, and headed out of teh closet and towards her door. "Come on now, life's a wasting." She smiled and slipped out of the door.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 14, 2008 23:42:38 GMT -5
He smiled as he saw her walk out of the closet, dressed a bit differently but just as well as before. He nodded and opened the door for her waiting for her to walk out, closing it behind him quietly after walking out himself. As they started walking he picked up his pace to come beside her and asked, "As I will not be resigning for this position, you will have to bear me for a long while, at least till they assign me somewhere else. Oh and one more thing, you always walk beside me, not in front of me, not behind me, with me...So how would you like me to address you?"
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 14, 2008 23:49:11 GMT -5
Afine' smirked, "You can address me however you like, I will not force a name upon myself, you call me, as you feel right, " She glared,"As for the walking rule, it's not like I'm going to get jumped, I think you can walk a foot ahead before anyone comes into distance of me." She rose an eyebrow at him, as she sauntered farther ahead.
Her hair going back to its messy state, she looked behidn her, waiting for a response from her guard, 'pardon, soon to-be-x-guard' She smirked.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 14, 2008 23:54:39 GMT -5
He nodded and said, "As you wish Princess Afine..." and gave her a courteous nod. This wasn't working but then he hadn't expected it to, just yet. More time, thats what he needed with her which she probably wasn't planning on giving it to him. He kept walking a step behind her, letting her get "a win" as she might like to see it. He asked after they had walked through the corridors for a while. "Where is it that you wish to go?", he asked in a quiet tone.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 14, 2008 23:58:19 GMT -5
"I wish to be free from everyone's reach," She looked back at him," but I suppose the courtyard garden will have to do, won't you agree?" She looked forward again, as she kept passing many closed doors, empty silence filled the halls, as per usual. She was use to this silence and coem to admire it after all her years of life, never needing a companion to fill her ears with such boring and unnerving topics, 'all she needed was herself.' the thougth passed her head as they kept walking, waiting to reach the back door.
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