Runaway Princess (closed for Jekyll)

Charles had hoped that she would go in first. It'd give him a chance to prepare a fire and set up camp. And he wanted her to have a fire to dry off to.

" No Lily. I don't mind at all. Take your time. I'll get the camp set up. "

He couldn't help but glance at her curvaceous form hidden beneath the torn dress before turning around to let her take her clothes off.
 
Genevieve waited for Charles walk away then pulled off her ripped dress, corset, and matching underwear. She pulled her clothes in the water so that she could at the very least wash them.

Ahh, it felt so nice to be in water, to clean herself. Gen was in pure bliss at the moment, but knew she couldn't take too long. She would also have to put on her wet clothes for she hadn't brought any extra clothes plus, he couldn't see her corset or else she would be discovered.
 
Charles meanwhile was busy setting up the tent. He made a stone fireplace as the night before and filled it with the firewood he could find nearby. He soon had a fire going.

Unpacking the meat from the boar he had killed, he warmed it on the fire. He wanted so much to just go and look at her bathing in the lake, but he restrained himself, waiting till she came to fetch him.
 
Genevieve stepped out of the lake pulling her clothes out with her. She rung the water out as she'd seen her servants do time and time before trying to put the corset back on. It was harder without servants to help tie the back.

She sighed, she would have to throw it out. It was better that way though, she wouldn't have to worry about trying to hide it everytime they found a place to bathe.

Genevieve pulled her underwear on then her dress and hid her corset in the bushes, then walked back towards smoke coming from in the forest and sat down. "Alright, I'm finished." She said
 
Charles looked up at her. She looked so.....fresh. Her wet hair clung to her damp skin beautifully. And her wet dress clung to her curves. The dress had become a little transparent, and Charles could clearly see that she wore nothing underneath it. He averted his eyes and rose up. He had already got an extra set of clothes ready and he grabbed them and walked towards the lake. But he turned towards her hunched form once,

" You know, it's not .....right...to wear those wet clothes. You might catch pneumonia. You can take them off and dry them on the fire. I promise not to come before you call me. Or I'll pick out something for you when i get back. But don't go through my stuff when I'm gone. Please. "

He didn't want her to find the royal seal and his armor among his things. He also had a few valuables tucked away for emergencies, which would surely make him quite a lot richer than a poor peasant.
 
Gen nodded, "Alright." She said as she rung the water out of her hair, making her clothes even more wet. Then frowned as he walked towards the lake. He told her not to go through his stuff, but why?

She was but a 'poor peasant girl'. She mentally smacked herself. She was a peasant, but then again so was he. What would he need to keep secret? She pulled her clothes off and set them by the fire. She shivered somewhat. Would she get pnuemonia if she sat there naked as well?

She sighed, and waited for her clothes to dry, as curiosity slowly started to creep inside of her.
 
Charles took off his shirt and breeches and got down into the water. It was cold and relaxing, and he spent a lot longer in there than he would have. His muscles loosened and he floated on the water naked, not caring if Lily looked.

He didn't know what to think of the girl. He was starting to care for her, and he was sure she would be an asset to his mission as she had lived in the castle. But he felt bad for deceiving her, and his new feelings were hindering him in looking at the situation objectively.
 
Gen shivered and leaned over to feel her clothes. They were still soaking wet. She glanced over at his bag. She really shouldn't, he had told her not to go through her bag, but since he had neglected to give her something to cover herself...well it would only serve as his fault wouldn't it.

Genevieve stood up and walked inside the tent. There was a blanket on the ground. She could have easily picked it up and walked out but that curiosity nagged her. She sighed, just to calm herself, to tell herself he wasn't hiding anything.

She unzipped his bag and frowned as she pulled out the sword which was wrapped in some kind of covering. She traced her fingers over the insignia. It belonged to a knight, but why would he have it?

Her eyes widened, was she traveling with a thief or...was he a knight? But she had never seen him before. He had said he came from another place though, hadn't he? She had told him all that stuff about her father and who knew who he truly was!

She wrapped the sword back up and put it in his bag, she grabbed the blanket and sat down by the fire.

And to think I was starting to actually like him she thought
 
Charles scrubbed off all the dirt his body had accumulated on the journey. He was amazed at how dirty he had gotten. He longed for a warm bath in a tub, with scented water being poured on him by the beautiful maids. His mind reeled back to the luxury he usually enjoyed.

Shaking his head, he cleared his thoughts. It would not do to dwell on those. He had been on enough battlefields that he should be glad that he even had a chance to bathe, and thinking about warm water would only make it harder to function in enemy territory.

He got out and started washing his dirty clothes. Normally he would never do this. And in the given circumstances, he was amazed that Lily wasn't helping him out. It was her duty to cook and clean, that was how it was. It was the law of nature and she being a main, should be familiar with it. But he didn't mind it much. She needed rest after her ordeal.

He slid back into the lake when he heard her footsteps approaching.
 
Gen was still in shock as she put her halfway clothes dry on. Though this stranger, thief or knight. Whatever he was had lied to her, she wasn't really any better.

She tied her hair back in a bun and started walking down the path. It made perfect send for her to lie though, she was a princess. She couldn't just go blabbing that to everyone in the world. There were people who actually took torturing a princess as a pleasure or some kind of foreplay of sorts.


No, she was completely and utterly in the right here and he was wrong! She just hoped that she put his sword back correctly. What if he noticed? Who cared if he noticed? What need did he have to lie to her since she was supposedly a peasant.

Satisfied with her own answers, she made a right turn, arriving at the lake and let her gaze slide over his chest.

Liar or not, that doesn't change how handsome he is...She blushed and looked away, "Um, you can come out now...not now....I mean yes now but um...when i leave.." She said stumbling over her words.
 
Charles didn't duck into the lake when she mumbled. He slightly enjoyed her discomfort as her eyes travelling across his chest. He waited for her to leave and then got out of the water. A pair of leather breeches were all he wore, preferring to let his naked torso dry out beside the fire before he put on a shirt.

As he walked into camp he noticed something odd in her demeanor. She wasn't meeting his eye, and she seemed to have a guilty look in her round eyes. Charles immediately rushed inside the tent, and his suspicions were confirmed when he saw that his sword had been disturbed. It looked like everything else was as it is though.

He came out slowly, his sword in his hand. He was thinking what to tell her. She wouldn't mind the truth , rather she might be glad of it as she hated king Phillip too.
 
Genevieve kept her eyes lowered unwilling to look at Charles as he walked back from the lake. She was starting to feel guilty about going through his personal items, not too guilty but somewhat. She gulped back fear though as he rushed to the tent and she closed her eyes, waiting to be chatised.

It didn't happen though, she opened her mouth to apologize. Tears streamed down her cheeks involuntarily. It might've been because she didn't know who he truly was. Was he a knight or a thief? If he were a thief and found out who she really was, he'd probably use her as ransom.

If he were a knight, he might send her back from whence she came from. She didn't want to go home! She wanted to stay there...with him!!! So caught up in crying because of the guilt she felt, Gen was unable to apologize.
 
He noticed her crying, and he forgot all about the sword. He leaped beside her in two long strides and wiped away her ears with the back of his hand.
" Don't cry Lily. I won't take you back to him. I'm not one of his knights you see. I'm from the neighboring kingdom. I'm just visiting the countryside here, doing a little spywork, that kinda thing. I wouldn't let him touch you again, I promise. "

Charles could never stand to see women crying. Especially women he cared about. He was sure that she would be glad about hearing that he wasn't one of King Phillip's men. But it looked like it wasn't news to her.
 
Genevieve froze and stopped crying. The neighboring kingdom? The one whom her father had always told her would go down in smokes once his army was through with them? Bloody hell, and she had told him her father was a possible rapist!

She had to find a way away from him, for if he ever found out who she was...
It was obvious that they couldn't be together now, no matter how much she wished for it. He was her enemy, her rival. Bloody hell, this was like Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet.

Would she die before she ever got to experience life? No, she wouldn't allow it. She pulled away from and forced herself to stutter, "Y-you lied to me? W-were you using me as well? To find information on King Phillip?"

Please say yes... She knew that no matter what, her servants were always faithful and loyal, especially since her father had never once tried to rape any of them. Therefore, she was acting accordingly.
 
He was surprised by her reaction to say the least. He had imagined that she would be filled with hatred towards her king, the evil monster who had tried to claim her body by force. But instead she was angry with him. He was sorry now that he had lied to her. If he had told her the truth when they first met she would have probably helped him of her own accord. She had more of an enmity with King Phillip than he had. There was only one thing left to do now.

He took a step towards her and pulled out the sword from the scabbard. He saw her cowering away in fear, and in one swift motion he turned the blade and offered her the ruby studded hilt. The blade was pointed directly at his own naked stomach.

" You need not fear me Lily. I'm sorry I lied to you. But I never used you. I should have told you the truth sooner. I apologize. Take the sword and push it in. I cannot bear the shame of deceit and treachery, especially to a maiden. "

Charles remembered his oath as a knight to be just and fair. And to uphold a woman's honor. He held onto the blade and closed his eyes, awaiting his inevitable death.
 
Genevieve held the sword in her hands, feeling slightly fearful. He wanted her to stab him. She couldn't stab him, that would be somewhat hypocritical after she too had lied to him, but he was after her father. She couldn't very well tell him that she was King Phillip's beloved and 'spoiled' daughter.

She dropped the sword and looked away. "I-I couldn't possibly...as you have shown me I have nothing to fear from you, mi lord." She whispered, lowering her head. "Besides, it is King Phillip I have to fear more than you. I suppose I was just shocked."

Oh dear, that sounded wrong, almost like an insult if one thought on it too long. "Not that you couldn't be a knight, because...obviously you are. It just wasn't something I expected." She said quickly.
 
Charles was confused by her words. For the hundredth time he had the feeling she was hiding something. But he didn't want to intrude on her, especially after he had lied to her and she had caught him. He was somewhat glad too, for he wouldn't have to deceive her any longer.

He picked up the sword and placed it back inside the tent. Then he made his way over to the fire so he could dry himself. His shirt was beside the fire too, and he was feeling a bit naked under Lily's gaze.

He started some small talk so that he would know more about her and to dispel the awkward silence that seem to have descended between them , " Tell me more about yourself Lily ? Were you at the castle since you were born ? "
 
Genevieve had to keep from biting her lip and showing any sign of nervousness. She could tell the truth, well part of the truth. "Yes, I was born in the castle, in fact I was born a few weeks after the princess." She said then paused trying to think of more to add to her story. "We were friends when we were younger but as she got older her father forbid her to play with me any longer. Though I may have exaggerated a bit about her temperment. She isn't as spoiled as I made her out to be." Genevieve couldn't very well make herself look bad in front of Charles, whether he knew she was talking about herself or not.

She twirled her hair around her finger. "I suppose, I was just upset because before I ran away, she tried her hardest to keep me in the castle. She didn't know about what her father had tried to do to me and she has him on a pedestal." Genevieve explained. "What else would you like to know?"
 
Charles had known from the beginning something was off about her. She could be one of King Phillip's men, here to find out his secrets or assassinate him. But he doubted she would goof up the princess's age if she was trained. And she had not killed him earlier when she had a golden chance.

He thought about what he wanted to do with the information. She had clearly still not realized that he was on to her. Maybe he could use it to his advantage. He continued as if nothing had happened.

" Tell me more about the princess. Is she as beautiful as ....they say?"
He hadn't heard anything about her beauty. But all princesses were beautiful as a rule. He waited for her to realize her mistake, but it didn't look like she would.
 
Oh Bloody hell, it was at that moment when he asked about the princess' beauty that mentally told herself, ew why would he be interested in an...she had to keep a calm face about her. It was because she had told him the princess was 8.

She bit her lip, "As pretty, um yes I would say so." she said, twirling her hair about, trying to think of a way out of this. There was no way, not in the slightest bit, still she couldn't very well say she was the princess. He was her fathers enemy.

"Alright, I lied!" She said softly, "I was never the princess' servant, nor was I nearly raped by the king."

Why would she lie? And who was she? She knew those were the questions she was to be asked.

"I too, am from a neighboring country. Not yours of course or we might have probably met." Gen said "There was absolutely no reason for me to lie and I feel like such a hypocrite for yelling at you when I too, had done the same thing."

Most of that was true, excluding the part about her being from a neighboring country. "You see, my brother is to marry the princess and he wanted me to go in disguise and see her, just to see what she was like. "
 
Charles was still not entirely convinced. For one, she had seemed genuinely frightened about the prospect of going into town. She had also been miserable when they had to travel in the darkness, when there was absolutely no reason to.

He looked at her sharply, and grabbed the shirt of the nearby rock.
" Well, then we are even it seems. Now as no one's looking for you, and no one knows my name here, we can safely go into town. Where would you like me to leave you ? You should probably be going back to your brother, shouldn't you ?"

He was certain she was still lying. There were too many loopholes in her story. For one she wore a torn dress and was traveling in the jungle. For another, if she WAS nobility, as her brother's betrothal suggested, she would never be allowed to travel alone.
 
No!! She wanted to cry, that meant she would have to survive with no money because she had forgotten to bring money with her. She bit her lip for a second showing just a slight bit of nervousness. "I couldn't very well go there by myself."

She would still stick with her story. "You see, my brothers soldiers were with me but.. I lost them along the way."

All she needed was to get to the next town and all would be well.

"I just need to go to the next town, I forget what its called but... we were to meet there. If you could just take me there and we would never have to see each other again."

As she said the words, she had to force herself not to think about never seeing him again. It hurt too much.
 
Charles wanted to believe her, but there was still something missing. He however was more concerned by the fact that he would have to leave her at the next town, whatever her story.

He let the subject go. It was no use asking her about herself since she clearly didn't trust him. But he was also bothered now that she knew his identity. He had told her in hopes that she would help him, but now, as she was soon to be a relative of the king by her own account, wouldn't she get him arrested as soon as they reached town ?

He put on his shirt and saw her looking at him weird.
" I'll accompany you till the next town then. A beautiful maiden like you should not be without a bodyguard. We can travel now, since there is no need for the secrecy of the night now. "
 
She nodded, still upset that she had been so careless in her deceit. Not that she was used to lying or anything but still...she would have given anything to be a peasant girl at the moment. Though even if she were, it wouldn't have mattered because knights normally married ladies of the court..or princesses.

Of course if she told the truth then....no, it was impossible. He would hate her! It wasn't that she didn't trust him, she just knew that he would want to see her safely back to the castle.

Oh, how could she have been so foolish as to think that she could have a normal life. The odds of that happening were highly unlikely and unreasonably low.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered again, still feeling bad about her lies. "You don't have to worry about my telling my f......my brother or his wife. You have my word."
 
He relaxed a little after she gave him his word that she would keep his identity to herself. But it didn't ease the knot that had formed in his stomach at the thought of parting with her. He hid it well though, not meeting her eyes and instead looking at how her wet dress clung to her curves. He drank her in with his gaze, not sure if he would ever see her again.

Charles began to pack up their tent. They should reach the town by nightfall if they started now. He hoped they wouldn't meet any patrols on the way and would be able to get into the town gates before they closed for the night.

" Thank you Lily. We'll leave then. Your brother would be waiting for you there then ? I wouldn't leave you unescorted in a strange town."
 
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