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Post by knightc3 on Jun 15, 2008 21:39:57 GMT -5
He shook his head and smiled, "You have missed your chance to persuade me princess Afine. I am the only one would who would be allowed to accompany you through the trek. If I leave now, you would have to go alone... and I would be executed without a trial...", he added. He was actually looking forward to this trip. The trip itself was not a challenge for him but he had an additional duty, he had one week to motivate her to take the throne, willingly. Now that would be a challenge.
He turned down the hall that led to the stairs to the royal stables. He beckoned the two guards after she had passed between them and they started walking with him. He gave them both different instructions and then ran off together down the opposite way. One was to inform the king and queen that their daughter had decided to leave early and the other was to get his own sack and meet him at the stables.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 16, 2008 19:51:54 GMT -5
Afine' headed towards the stables and got her horse, named Midnight. A black stalion. She set a large blanket on it's back and put her sack atop of it. The horses mane seemed to shine even while no light was around. Afine's hair seemed to get messier by the minute.Her complexion seemed to shine, as she moved out of teh stables to wait for Caleb.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 16, 2008 20:37:42 GMT -5
((Wow, no reaction, no response to Caleb... )) As it turned out the guard with his sack reached the stables before him and the kind and queen were strolling the grounds nearby and were already there on getting news that their daughter was leaving early. He prepared his horse which had accompanied him on quiet a few missions before this and he was called Zypher. He walked out of the stables with the reins in his hand but stopped a few feet away from where Afine stood. Her parents were approaching her and no doubt, he would give them some room to talk to their daughter before this important journey. ((Take it away Ducky... ))
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 16, 2008 21:25:06 GMT -5
(Sorry, was I suppose to be the.. two peoples or whatever? XD *sighs* I haven't gotten any sleep lately, pardon me.)
"Good morning Caleb," The kings nods his head towards Caleb with a smile,"Now Afine', I am really depressed but happy about this journey. It is suppose to show your worthiness , although i would like not to send you out there, it is of tradition so we must." He steps aside as the queen begins hugging her daughter to death, "sweetie, please, I beg of you, come out of that forest alive," She begins to cry,"I don't want my baby gone." Afine' squirms in her mothers choke hold. "Please mom let go, I'll be fine, I can take care of myself." Her mother lets go.
"Now, please keep going north, if you do that, you'll end up at the ceremonial cottage. If you don't, you'll still end up on our property, so keep trying, if you are not there by a week, we will send a search party after you both." The king told Caleb and Afine'. He gave a bow and left, "Affy, please, just promise me not to get hurt." Her mother gave her one last hug, and ran for the king.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 16, 2008 21:51:34 GMT -5
(( Nah, I corrected that, those were just soldiers. I meant to say Afine didn't react at all to what Caleb said. Dont worry about it, and get some sleep. ))
"Good morning your highness", he replied immediately, followed by a bow. He gave another bow to the queen before going back to repositioning the items again even though they didn't need to. The king's mood has improved which was good. He was handed another sack full of food provision for the journey and one container each of them to store water. He kept everything with him for now thinking he was would split it up once they entered the forest.
He nodded without a word when the kind told him of the directions. His face didn't show the suspicion that was now growing in his mind. From what he had imagined, the path he had been briefed on went north but turned east as they got to the end of the journey. So who was mistaken, or worse, who was lying, the king or the general? Both choices seemed immpossible. He corrected himself, both seemed possible now.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 17, 2008 20:51:45 GMT -5
Afine' sighed, 'What parents I have, plastering on a smile for their lovely daughter,' Afine rolled her eyes, 'what dimwits.' She went into the stable and brought out Midnight. His mane seemed brighter out here. "So, we got everything?" Afine asked, her mood changing drastically. She looked to the ground and waited upon an answer. She felt foolish for even agreeing to go on this journey.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 17, 2008 22:05:32 GMT -5
He showed a tinge of surprise at the sudden change of tone from the young princess. He gave a pause as he went through a mental checklist. Once he was satisfied, he spoke, "Yes, princess Afine. Lets reach the forest before the day gets any hotter." She seemed a bit uncomfortable with the whole idea now or maybe it was just because of her parting with her parents whom, he was beginning to believe, she didn't have good relations with. But he knew, once they got out of this cage, she would get cheered up.
He moved closer to her and her horse to help her, not aware how skillful she was in riding. He looked around as he waited for her. Everyone had stopped what she was doing and was now watching them eagerly. He spotted the general watching as well. He would be riding with the king and the queen later to reach the cottage by an easier road.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 17, 2008 22:14:32 GMT -5
"Caleb, you can rest assured, I am no ditzy girl, I think I'm quite capable of getting on Midnight myself, "She said while looking towards the back of the horse. With that said she gave a determined snort and grabbed the horses back, while heaving a leg over. As soon as she thought it was over and she had triumphed, her balence gave way, and she fell off.
"Umph," she landed right on her butt, and laughed a little, sitting in the same spot. She looked up towards Caleb, knowing he'd have a smart aleck comment about it, and she smiled, a sincere smile.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 17, 2008 22:30:55 GMT -5
He had nodded and was retreating back when she lost her balance and so couldn't get to her before she landed on the ground. His concerns dissapeared about her being hurt when she laughed a little and smiled at him, a different smile, he could tell. He could hear the people around them trying to supress their laughs only till the king started laughing himself. That was all the others needed to join in. The queen just looked at her husband though, not even smiling.
Caleb just smiled back at her and extended his hand towards her, not wanting to make a comment to embarrass her even more in front of so many, some of those, who already had doubts in her abilities. He spoke after looking at the well secured saddle, "I think advancing your plans to leave didn't give the stablehands enough time to secure the saddle properly, princess Afine. I will check it for you if you permit me..."
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 18, 2008 12:02:23 GMT -5
"Go on check it," She laughed again, pulling herself up,"That'll leave a bruise." She brushed her clothes off, and picked up her bow and arrow. Midnight whinnied, Afine' could tell the horse was getting impatient. She secured her bow and arrow again, and checked for anything else that might've fallen. She gave one last laugh, and stood, awaiting Claeb to fastened her saddle.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 18, 2008 20:32:30 GMT -5
He looked around and saw that the laughter had died down. He couldn't tell Afine was laughing just because everybody else was because she had to be embarrassed. He moved towards the horse and re-fastened the saddle and turned to Afine and nodded. He backed up again and would only help her if she asked for it.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 20, 2008 21:17:59 GMT -5
(taking a break budd, i'll continue the minute my "busy-ness" is over. )
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 24, 2008 10:37:19 GMT -5
"Merci Caleb, " She studied the horse before she grabbed a hold of it again, fastening her foot atop its back, she pushed herself up. Once on teh horses back she gave a look of triumph, and then smiled. "Our adventure awaits us, Hurry Caleb." She laughed at herself again. Then looked towards the castle and gave, momentarily, a sad look, brushed it off, and smiled towards her parents.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 24, 2008 11:20:36 GMT -5
He gave a final bow to the king and queen, then mounted Zypher and readjusted the sacks to make sure they won't fall. He trotted the horse forward and smiled at Afine and spoke, "Try to keep up princess..."
With that Zypher broke into a sprint as the crowd that had gathered watched the next heir to the thrown about to leave on the most important journey of her life. The smile dissapeared as he started forming a plan to find out what exactly was going on here. He wondered if their early departure had thrown off the plans of conspirators, if there were any to begin with, enough to catch them off guard once they reached the forest. He guessed that would be the best place for an ambush to be set up if that was the plan.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 25, 2008 12:39:22 GMT -5
Afine took off with Midnight, smirking at Caleb's back. Midnight trotting along as if to say, "We do not care." She strolled along slowly behind Caleb. Taking in all the scenery, she hadn't felt so free in her life. The beautiful forest before them seemed to taunt them, 'Come in, we ahve a surprise for you.' Her face brightened at her thoughts.
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