Protecting the Princess ((closed for DormantEvil))

[esmeraldaflame]

There were rumors the elves were stirring in the mountains. Adelle's father, the king, was understandably distressed. There had been peace with the elves for many years - since before Adelle was born - and it was not like them to start causing trouble after so long. But the reports were quite clear: homesteads and farms in the foot hills were being burned, flocks were disappearing, and patrols were bringing back tall, slender bodies with pointed ears, lashed to their saddles. There was a general air of fear that another elvish invasion was eminant. It was only a matter of time until a whole village was attacked.

Adelle was aware of this as she suited up for her morning ride. Normally, her parents were perfectly content with letting her ride on her own. They never stopped her, not even from riding all the way to the outer foothills of the mountains. Once, she'd even taken her younger brother, who was still a small child at the time, all the way up to the ridgeline of the front range of the mountains, and looked out over the forbidden valleys and ridges of the elves. But ever since the elves had become active again, everyone had become paranoid. Now, Adelle was strictly forbidden to ride out of sight of the city walls, where she could be well within the boundries of the royal guards' patrols. But even that wasn't enough to calm her father. The king had assigned a knight to escort her at all times beyond the city walls. In an attempt to make her feel more comfortable, he'd chosen a female knight, hoping a female presence wouldn't chaff too much on his headstrong daughter. Adelle hated it.

At 18 years old, the oldest child and heir to the throne, she was used to being able to do whatever she wanted it. If she wanted to ride alone to the very base of the mountains, by the goddesses, she could. Let her younger sisters and brother be stifled by her parents and thier paranoid advisors. They weren't in line for the throne anyway.

It was just after sunset when Adelle slipped out the emergency tunnel leading from the castle keep to the river bottoms outside the city. She just had to get out of the castle, and the capital. Everyone was just too tense. Even her siblings were on edge, with her brother and littlest sisters asking her if she thought the elves would really come pouring out of the mountains like in days of old. It was as if everyone thought an elvish army was on the move at this very minute, just days away from besieging the city. She hadn't been able to go anywhere during the day without her shadow following her. But now, she was alone, just the way she liked it.

The countryside looked different in the moonlight. Perhaps, Adelle thought, she could go up to one of the knolls overlooking the river valley and just look at the stars for a while. That would take her mind off the whole state of panic gripping the palace. She started up the slope towards the levees along the river bank. Her soft skirts swished in the breeze. She was all dressed in dark colors, to better blend in with the shadows. Even the ribbon holding her hair in a high ponytail was dark, blending in with her jet black locks. Only her flesh was pale white. It stood out in stark contrast to the rest of her, especially where the neckline of her dress plunged to bare her massive cleavage. Her dress was too tight for her, just the way she liked it. It hugged her curves to bring out her flat stomach, sleek frame, and massive breasts ((if there were bras in this world, Adelle would be an E-cup)). Her cold blue eyes seemed to glisten in the starlight as she strode purposefully up the hill. She'd prudently left her tiara behind in her bed chamber. Better not to be identified as the crown princess, just in case. The gold and jewels in it brought too much attention. Reaching her destination, Adelle collapsed onto the ground, settled onto a patch of soft earth, and reclined into the grass. Her maids wouldn't complain if her clothes came back all dusty. With a contented sigh, she settled to admire the view.

 

[DormantEvil]

Chevalière Gene Patrice

Having been born to a neighboring land, Gene Patrice had grown up in her fathers footsteps and become a palace guard. It was not common for women to be Knighted, but it did occur for those who showed the necessary skills and dedication. And such skill had been evident during Gene's trials, with much of her fathers spirit showing through. It wasn't until she fell pray to the eyes of her previous employers son, a Prince, that she was fired. And, considering that no station below royal guard was enough for her, she traveled in search of more distinguished employ.

Adelle's father, the King, had excepted her into his Kingdom and she had spent many years gaining his trust through dutiful and unmarred service. The last two years had seen her as personal guard for the Queen, after the King saw fit to promote her to such an important station. The Queen seemed less than pleased with the sending off of her long time male guard. But such rumors did not concern Gene.

However, with the increase in hostility from the elves in the mountains, the King had become more concerned for his daughters safety and reassigned Gene as her personal bodyguard.

And, as she inspected the Princess' room after dark, it seemed the King had been correct in assuming his daughter would fight constantly against having an onlooker, male or female.

Weeks had passed of tracking the spoiled child down, and ruining premade plans of escape. But sometimes no matter how much Gene planned not to be out smarted, the girl surprised her. Now, inspecting the tiara left on a bedside table, she sighed and turned to call for her mount to be prepared. A capable servant running off to make sure the task was done promptly.

Looking over the clothing left behind by the Princess, Gene found that a rather plain dark colored dress was missing, and that the jewelry often worn had been left behind. From this she deduced the Princess didn't want to be picked out of a crowd. And since everyone in the castle and much of the town within the walls of the King's city knew what she looked like without question, Gene surmised she had slipped outside the walls.

But how?

Not on horseback, and not via the streets. No, too many guards and people would have seen her leave that way. Perhaps by some other secret passage. It mattered not, she had a few places to look that were within the Princess' walking distance.

Storming down the steps of the castle, she expertly swung herself into the saddle and turned the steed towards the city gates. Kicking it into a gallop that sent dirt flying from its back hooves. It wasn't out of worry for the Princess, but more our of fear of what the King might decree if something happened to his eldest daughter on her watch.

It took her half an hour to check the countryside, avoiding places where there were lots of people, or where terrain was too difficult to walk through. Or anywhere over the bridges were guards stood constant watch. Then she slowed to a trot as a shape in the grass near the rivers levee bank caught her eye, a lucky find as she checked in with bridge guards just down river.

Approaching, she dismounted and walked up to stand a few meters off to one side of the Princess.

"A beautiful moon, no doubt."

 

[esmeraldaflame]

Adelle uttered a silent gasp when she heard the sound of a voice in the darkness. She quickly sat up, her powerful stomach muscles hauling her into a seated position on the ground. She tensed as she prepared to make a mad dash for the security of the river bottoms. "Who's there?" she gasped. She was afraid to find out. For all she knew, it could be an elf that really had made it this far into her father's kingdom. For a moment, she regretted slipping out. Perhaps it was the goddess' way of punishing her for her disobedience. She didn't know what was worse: dying at the hands of an elvish blade, or the fact that now her seventeen year old sister, Priscilla, would grow up to become queen instead of her.

 

[DormantEvil]

Chevalière Gene Patrice

Walking forwards so that the Princess could see who she was, Gene was inwardly amused at the girl's reaction. Perhaps one of these days it would pay to have her scared a little. But not today, not with so much going on within the castle. If the King heard of the Princess getting roughed up or intimidated, no matter Gene's reasons for letting it happen, it would result in serious punishment.

The King should pay someone to do it, just to put some sense of reality into the girls head.

But pushing such thoughts from her mind, the female Knight stepped forward, keeping her expression blank. The moonlight shone off her armor and a breeze kicked up her long light brown, almost dark blonde, hair. In this light it was difficult to notice that her eyes looked serious, even if her stance was relaxed. Many years in the service of often pompous and arrogant people had helped her forge such self control. Most royals wouldn't think twice about punishing someone for a glance they deemed inappropriate.

"I did not mean to startle you, Princess."

Being five years older than the Princess, at 23 years of age, Gene sometimes couldn't help but think of Adelle as a younger sister. She was starting to worry about her as if she was one. And even now, standing in the open with nothing but the moonlight, she glanced around casually to make sure nobody with sneaking up on them.

If Adelle was to one day become Queen, Gene hoped that she would begin to act like one in training.

"But the moon in beautiful tonight. I would not stop you from coming out to look upon it, if only you allowed me to stand guard a few yards away." She looked up at the white glowing sphere as she said this.

 

[esmeraldaflame]

Adelle relaxed and sank back into the grass. "Oh. It's just you." She took a deep breath, her breasts heaving up and down. As usual, her shadow had found her. So much for an evening to myself. I'd have had more luck if I'd have stayed indoors - only to have Sylvia and Vanessa come barging in to demand a story. Let Priscilla or Diana deal with them, for a good long while...

She glanced over at the moon as Lady Patrice noted its beauty. "Yes, I suppose it is beautiful," she sighed. She gave a snort at the Lady's request to stand guard. "Like I have a choice? Though I suppose I'm lucky Father hasn't authorized you to haul me back to the keep by my ponytail." She was sure her father would give the okay, if he knew what Adelle was getting up to. Fortunately, Lady Patrice was not the type of woman to go tattle tale on Adelle.

Adelle tried to relax again and look at the stars, but it was rather difficult to. The towering shadow of gleaming armor off to the side was distracting. It reminded Adelle she was no longer as free as she once had been as a girl. Mentally, she cursed the elves. If they had just remained quiet and out of the way, she could come and go freely as she pleased. She wouldn't have to have this shadow constantly perched on her shoulder.

 

[DormantEvil]

Not saying another word, Gene moved away so that the Princess was still visible (if only a black silhouette) and stood guard. She didn't feel like trying to talk to the Princess about how dangerous her actions were, the girl would just roll her eyes again. It was becoming obvious that words were not enough.

If only the Princess could see the terrors the land had to offer. Gene had served in her homelands war for one year, and it had felt like an eternity. She had slain many men, defeated the occasional beast, and seen villages burned to the ground. It had also been devastating to see the aftermath when the barbarians had been through.

Women and children killed, among other sorts of brutality.

But this child acted as if a slap on the wrist by her father was the worse that could happen.

Did she know what would happen to her Kingdom if invaded? What awaited the King and her sisters if the throne was ever stolen? What would befall the citizens she was there to protect if the castle was under siege?

Had she even see what a simple plague could do? Or a rabid wolf among livestock?

This child would do well observing a battlefield, and to work within the medical tent to see exactly what price her people paid for her safety, and for the expensive jewels and finery she usually wore.

It annoyed Gene to no end, but she could say nothing about it. It was not her place.