A Girl Of Two Realms (Vergil1989 and NightRose)

((Probably my last post of the night my friend.))

Alessa nodded her understanding since it could be safely said that Rose was indeed the future queen of Celestial since her mother had the same attitude. Once a course of action was chosen, then she never wavered from it, and Alessa could see the same strong will within the Princess. It touched her to the core and gave her hope for the future, even if at that moment the future was uncertain. "I shall return with what you desire as soon as I can, m'lady." Alessa replied, happy for once to serve someone higher than herself. The castle indeed had a large library, full of books from every corner of the world, all of which were treasured and taken care of since it was hard to make copies, the only means of doing so was to write it out by hand or use spells to copy each page by itself. Either way it was time consuming and grueling work. But, it wasn't impossible.

In any event, it wasn't long that Rose had to wait as another knock on the door was heard before the Prince's voice was heard. "Um, excuse me, Lady Rose? You sent Alessa to find me. May I come in?" He asked, a little nervous since he hadn't been able to think of anything else but her beautiful face, unaware of her heritage or her royal blood. But, if he did know, he would have kept her identity a secret as much as Alessa planned to do already since despite his unawareness on how the throne had been forcibly taken by his father, Jason was no fool and hated how 'King' Leon ran things. So, any chance he could get to undermine his father's rule without getting caught, Jason took it.

(Alright then I'll be on pretty much all day tomorrow though tomorrow night I might be worn out by work)

Rose took her time eating only as she heard the knock on the door she gave a soft smile. She had seen how the prince had a soft heart it was kind and endearing to her as she stood. "Yes please do" she said to him as she messed with her hair a little bit. Making sure that her neck wasn't exposed was important to her now. Thankful that she had let her hair grow out as much as she did. Though as he opened the door she still felt a little uneasy being in his presence since he was the prince of this castle and now she knew he was suppose to be her enemy thanks to his father. "I wanted to ask if Alessa could stay with me. I don't know if its to much to ask but I rather have one person to help me adjust behind closed doors that would make me feel worse than I already do" she said as she hinted that ladies of the court would most likely stick up their noses at teaching the young woman how to behave. "It would truly help having her already she's made me feel better along with how she is I really like her" she stated as she gave him a soft smile. Her brown eyes almost giving off a glow with the lighting as it was. "If its not possible I guess I could understand" she said as she tried to play it off as not so much of a big thing so not to raise too much attention to it.

The prince smiled warmly, feeling strangely easy around this woman that had come from another realm of existence. Why that was he wasn't sure, but he wasn't about to argue with the feeling as he smelled the good food laid out on the table. "I thank you, madam Rose." He said, sitting down in the spare seat across from Rose, nodding for her to sit down if she chose. If she didn't, it wouldn't bother him since she was a stranger and besides, she looked quite beautiful in the red dress Alessa had gotten out for her, but he blushed before he could get that compliment out. Her request didn't surprise Jason much, and he nodded his approval. "Of course, I don't see why that couldn't be arranged. I'll have to let my father know but we have plenty of other....servants to tend to things that Alessa normally did. Anyway, sure, I don't mind, and you needn't fear asking such things Rose." He said, smiling warmly despite the fact he hated the fact that they had to make them slaves at all.

He wasn't aware she knew that much already, but if he did Jason would have explained that he hated the practice, which he honestly did, and it was clear in his eyes he found the whole thing disgusting, to say the least, if she noticed of course. He was good at hiding his true feelings from his dad, but...Rose he felt like he couldn't successfully lie to her even if he wanted to, and he felt no reason to around her, safety be damned.

Watching him as he moved to take a seat she did the same. Giving a soft smile she was happy to he would let her keep Alessa close to her. "I'm sorry if I can't get this realm down right away some of the things here I rather not see so please excuse me if I decide I rather stay in my room from time to time" she said as she knew there would be days where she would rather kill than watch what might happens when slavery is involved. "i'm sorry but from what I've been told I don't know just how well I'll adjust here" she said to him as she started to get back to her food. "Its strange those this world is like from the story books of my world" she said to him as she shook her head. "you know elves and magic all but make believe there. Half the world was destroyed just to build tall buildings and cities over the land" she said as she shook her head.

"thank you for granting Alessa as my maid" she said to him with a soft smile as she really did enjoy how things were for herself as she just seemed to relax as she spoke with him. "I think she'll be a big help with learning the customs here" she said to him as she took another bite of her food.

Jason shook his head as a smile crept to his handsome face again. It was not a big issue, and besides, despite what his father might think of the arrangement, it was understandable to Jason, and he said as much. "Do not worry yourself Rose. If I was in your position, I'd probably feel the same way about all this. We might be considered fairytale stories where you come from, but I can assure you that despite this kingdom's faults, there are many good things to see as well and experience for yourself should you ever decide to leave this castle to explore. I'd recommend taking an escort of course, just to be sure of your safety, but beyond that feel free to stay here as much as you need to Rose. However, I will ask that you at least take a look around the castle grounds so you don't become a shut in. It's not healthy to stay cooped up all the time. I'm sure they say the same thing back where you come from, am I right?" He asked, having a strong desire to see her among the gardens and the flowers with the afternoon sun lightening her skin.

Mentally shaking the thought away, Jason's piercing blue eyes seemed to sparkle a bit as he listened to her talk. They didn't dare destroy half of their own home because the elves that lived in the wilder places of the world would surely go to war against the humans if they did. Now, that wasn't to say that deforestation wasn't an issue in some parts of their world, but it was a very small issue, and would likely continue to be a small issue until a long time in their future. "It is not a problem Rose. Alessa has been around for fifty years....and I wish that she and others like her didn't have to be slaves to the royal family, but....nothing can be done for it, at least, not yet. If I survive long enough to replace my father, then I do hope that that can be changed. For now, it is all I can do not to break someone's nose when I see one of the servants being abused through the use of those cursed collars."

Hearing what he said about how she should still wonder out and about. "Well that is one reason why I want to make sure only I can order Alessa. Where I come from Slavery is against the law and have been for over hundreds of years now" she said to him as she knew it was the truth it had been almost two hundred years in her realm. "I don't want to see her hurt and I badly need someone in my corner that is a female that I can feel on the same level as. I'm not a lady of the court by any means I would rather have her as my friend" she said to him as she ran her hand through her hair as she did that when she was unhappy with what was going on. "Though one other thing is I would like for her to staying close to me maybe a room near me? that might be too much but I have . . . issues with nights" she said to him as she admitted she's always had nightmares it was something that drove her crazy. "I understand that maybe another bed in my room would be better but please I want her as close to me as possible" she stated to him.

Jason shrugged and nodded since it wouldn't bug him one way or the other. It was surprising to hear that slavery was against the law where she came from, and had been for a long time now. Here, it was unfortunately still common practice, and had been for a long time, even before his father had taken the throne. Scratching the back of his head a little, Jason's blue eyes focused intently upon Rose's face as he hand moved to the table and rested there, his other on his lap as he replied to her in turn. "I understand, Rose. While it does surprise me to hear that your world did away with slavery, I am glad that it did. I will see what I can do for you so that you feel as comfortable as possible here. My father might not like it, but I'll make him see reason on this one, I promise." Jason replied, hoping he'd be able to keep that promise since he had given his word without hesitation, something he rarely did. It was...strange. The moment Rose had appeared, Jason had felt like he would do anything to win her favor, even if that meant throwing himself on his own sword.

He'd never actually do that, even if she DID ask, which was about as likely as the sky falling on their heads he figured, but there it was. It did intrigue him to ask about her nightmares, but Jason held his tongue, figuring it wouldn't be kind or good manners to pry into that part of her life....not yet anyway. "You might not be a lady of the court, but you are well on your way to becoming one. Not all of the courtly ladies are cruel and brainless women. Some are wise, kind, and compassionate, much like yourself Rose. The rest, we'll work on as needed." He grinned, rising slowly before preparing to head out the door. "I will say, you certainly look like one in that beautiful red dress, Madam Rose. At any rate, I shall make the arrangements for you and report back what has been worked out." With a respectful bow, Jason departed, hoping that he'd be able to do half of what he had promised her.

As she heard him say that he would make it happen for her she gave a soft smile. "I'm sorry but in truth it would mean a great deal to me if it worked out." she said to him only as he said that she looked good she blushed. "Thank you for thinking such a thing" she said to him as she gave a soft bow of her head as he left. She suddenly felt a little more at ease after that talk she knew that things could be taken care of she just wanted to make sure the one person she cared about here so far was taken care of. Though it was strange for her to grow attached to someone so quickly. She hoped that things would level out quickly for her and Alessa now as she took a seat once more taking a sip at the wine once more as she knew that things might get a little rocky.

It wasn't long that, despite a few heated arguments between father and son, that Alessa was moved into a room next to Rose's own before the sun had gone down over the horizon. In that time, Rose had returned with the books that she had requested, having to wheel in a cart since there was so many books on the subjects she had asked for. History of the realms, a couple of different romance books, as well as instruction manuals on how to behave as a lady of the court as well. All in all, if nothing else, Alessa was thorough in her job as the day progressed. "I thank you for letting me stay closer at hand, m'lady Rose. I...didn't expect it to happen, to tell the truth, but Prince Jason seems to have taken a liking to you. I...can understand why. You and him are so much alike, despite your difference of where you came from, in a sense. You lived in a world where things like me don't exist, yet you have taken to this one quite fast. I just hope that....things are as peaceful as they are now, for I don't want anything to happen to you, Rose." Alessa said, tending to the room in general, preparing for when they'd each go to bed before too long.

As looked up seeing the books she gave a smile. "thank you this will help" she said to her as she moved to the books picking up the history one first. "Go eat I'm full" she said to her as it was the truth. She didn't want anymore food as she started to her studies as she opened a book and went to the window as she started to read along her eyes moving quickly over the page as she knew that she would be able to get a good amount of this studying up with. As the night got late she made sure her mind and body along with her emotions were fully drained before she allowed herself to sleep. Doing so kept such nightmares away for at least this night as she moved to get changed. Taking of the dress was still a task for her as she needed Alessa to do a lot of the work as she moved to get into the nightgown it was much better to her as she went and braided her hair all the way down though she had to be careful of who saw her like this as her mark was clearly visible.

Alessa was glad to have served so well her new mistress who she actually liked as well, which was a plus in Rose's favor. She didn't know her real name, but there was one that did who was on her way here. Bowing respectfully as she found her own meal and took care of what was left of Rose's own, Alessa turned in as well after having helped the Princess into a night gown before turning in for the night herself. Three days of this, of a bit of a routine with the Prince coming by from time to time to talk with Rose and the two getting to know each other a bit more, became the norm, but it didn't go unnoticed. Nothing that was shared left the woman's room, but the fact that the Prince was hanging about Rose's chambers did spread a few curious rumors about the castle, mostly that the Prince was falling in love. Perhaps that was true? He wasn't about to argue as he came again that day, knocking first as he always did. "Rose?"

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Outside the castle walls, having finally reached her destination, Giselle Do'Urden whistled to herself as she got her first look on the Four Thunders Kingdom castle since her last visit here many years ago. It looked more impressive in person, but Celestial was much more than this place would ever be. The tricky part would be trying to get inside the walls without being detected. Well, it wouldn't be the first time she'd snuck into a place like this, but that was usually in the dead of night when she did. She didn't have the luxury of waiting anymore though. Giselle wasn't about to let the Princess stay here a moment longer if she could help it. Ripping open a dimensional door, the half Drow warrior found herself on the castle wall itself, right behind a guard who never saw the pommel of her blade slam into his head, rendering him out cold long before he hit the ground. A rope was dangling over the other side of the wall, part of a pulley system that allowed water and other things of the same to be raised up without using the stairs in case of an emergency.

Putting her sword away, Giselle slipped down the rope after making sure it was securely tied down and used the shadows to her advantage, hoping she'd find a way to wherever they were keeping the Princess without being detected. As soon as they found the guard though, alarms would be going off. She would have to move quickly then.

As the days went by she gave a smile each time the prince came. She would speak about what she was learning from the books on how much reminded her of the history of the other world. Only each time she found something more and more that she agreed with him on. With each passing visit she found herself looking forward to his visits. Her heart would race each time she heard a knock on her door. "Come in" she said to him with a soft smile as she looked over to Alessa happy that he was there. It was a little later than he usually came yet she was sure that there was a reason for it. In truth today she was feeling like she could handle leaving the room to explore a little of the castle. "How are you today?" she asked as she sat there with a book in hand.

Alessa could only shake her head in amusement, never rising from her chair as she continued with her knitting, having taken it upon herself to make a dress for Rose to wear as soon as it was completed. It was time consuming work, but with nothing but free time now that she was Rose's own personal maid, Alessa didn't mind at all since it kept her busy and gave her an excuse to dote on her new mistress. Jason bowed respectively as he always did when he slipped into the room, although he was sure one of the other servants had seen him come here. It didn't matter to him though. "You look radiant as always Rose. Alessa, you look far happier than I've ever remember seeing you as well." Alessa could only blush as she slowly looked up into Jason's face, smiling warmly since she did indeed feel far happier here than she had ever felt in her fifty years of forced servitude.

Returning back to her little project, Jason nodded once before sitting down across from Rose, out of his heavy armor for once, instead dressed in a well tailored linen outfit of brown with gold thread embellishing the whole thing. There had been reports of five soldiers that had deserted from the battle three days ago, and it was apparent that they had been slain by a single warrior. The shocking thing was that the cuts they all bore, single and precise, going for vital spots without hesitation. There were only a handful of people that could do such damage, and one of them had been the bodyguard to the former Princess, thought dead by everyone in both kingdoms...or so Jason had heard from his father anyway. If she was abroad....

Shaking the thought away, Jason realized he had been sitting there this whole time, lost in thought. "Sorry, there's a lot on my mind today. I am well, except for a few things that have happened of late. It is not important however. How goes your studies?"

Rose gave a soft smile to him as she noticed the dress change for him and she was sure he was happy for it. Only as she stood there in her own dress she was actually starting to get use to such things. She had already read about over three fourths of what Alessa had brought her as she knew how she was suppose to act now it just took training to act like that without thought. Only as he bowed she curtsied low in her gold and red sashed dress. As she stood she had to keep her balance as she practiced each day still she was uneasy with it yet she gave a bright smile that she didn't almost trip herself up like she had the first few days she had curtsied to him. "Anything you wish to discus? Oh the studies I have a few more how to be a lady books and table manners to go through the history is pretty much finish and I'm in the middle of a good romance book right now" she said to him with a laugh.

"What about you anything interesting going on within the war?" she asked him as she wanted to know more as she asked each day just saying she wanted to know just how serious things were as it wasn't going to be in any book she read so far he had told her a few things but nothing serious yet. She knew she would be the next queen of her country and while he might not know that she had to take this on herself to understand all she could.

((Very beautiful dress NightRose.))

Again he was impressed by this woman's beauty and grace, even if she was unused to wearing such an outfit. It was clear to the Prince's blue piercing eyes that she had been practicing a lot of late as he watched her curtsy to him after he had bowed to her. When asked if there was anything he wished to discuss, Jason hesitated but shook his head no. When asked about the war after she had told him how well she had been doing, again he hesitated but he couldn't deny her enthusiasm if nothing else. "Other than the fact that shortly after you had gotten settled in three days ago, our troops came home today with reports of five of their men being slain not too far off the field. They had tried to cut and run, but they had ran into someone that was far more skilled than they, and were subsequently dealt with by this mysterious warrior that no one saw moving through the forest in this general direction. Beyond that, the rebel force that had been aligned against the King was completely crushed.....much to my personal dismay."

That got Alessa's attention as she looked up from her knitting, startled, to say the least. "What do you mean my lord Jason? Surely....you didn't hope that the rebels would win?" Jason sighed but shrugged, neither confirming or denying his hopes...at least not right away.

"Let us say that I would have hoped that my father would have gone out there with the army only to be slain in battle. His heavy handed rule is what causes the people to rebel in the first place, a fact he cannot seem to grasp. Eventually, there won't be anyone left to keep everyone here fed and in riches should this continue. He takes and takes and takes without giving anything back in return....and it has to stop." Jason commented, knowing such talk would probably get them all killed, unaware there was someone listening in on them at that very moment, but she was busy hanging out of the bedroom window, having scaled the wall up to Rose's bedchambers. It had been pure luck to say the least, picking the right one the first time around, but Giselle had managed it.

Jason sighed, shaking his head sadly as he rose. "I hate to cut this short Madam Rose, but I have much to do today yet. Take care of yourself, and you as well Alessa. I'll shall see you at the evening meal perhaps?" No matter the answer, Jason bowed once again at the waist before heading out the door, just as Giselle slipped through the window and immediately went to the door before anyone could stop her and locked it firmly before turning to the two women in the room, her brown eyes positively glowing as she took a knee and lowered her head, addressing Rose solely.

"Princess Crystal, daughter to the Queen of Celestial, Arya Celestial, it is good to see you again. I am sorry I couldn't have gotten here sooner, but I ran into some trouble shortly after you disappeared on Earth. I followed you as best as I could, using the same magic that had brought you here to begin with....but I was transported in the fields three days away. I am sure you have many questions, speak them but be quick for I was assigned to protect you, and I have failed once already. I don't plan to fail again." Giselle slowly rose and stood before her, dressed for war but also stealth. Black, mithril chainmail armor, two beautiful but deadly scimitar blades resting on her hips, and a heavy longbow with a full quiver of arrows on her back were the obvious weapons she had on her person. Long silver lustrious hair fell down her back, much as Rose's own did, and her ageless dark skinned face set with her beautiful brown eyes were but a few of Giselle's distinguishing features. The rest were just harder to see....at least at the moment since she was fully clothed. "My name is Giselle Do'Urden, and I was....am your bodyguard, Princess Crystal, assigned to follow you and keep you safe in the shadows while you were on Earth. Do you...not remember anything?"



((Example of chainmail armor, made up of hundreds of interlocking rings that form a shirt of sorts, sometimes with a hood attached to it. A full body suit like cloth shirt is worn underneath most armors to prevent shaving of the skin. Just some useless information lol.))



((Example of a scimitar blade.))

As Rose took her seat once more with the prince she noted how he was uneasy with telling her such things of the war. Only hearing that he was hoping his father would lose the throne she gave a smile. "Knowing what is best for your people is a very wise trait that you never lose" she stated to him as she truly did hope that he would rise to power and soon. His people needed it as did her own she was sure. While she still had no memory the nightmares had came back the night before. Only she was starting to recall the details now when she was awake. It seemed more like her watching someone get murdered before her eyes as she told Alessa this yet neither one had realized it was her remembering her own fathers death that had happened before her eyes. Just moments before she had been sent away.

Only as Jason spoke of having to leave she stood giving a soft smile. "I believe that it would be a nice change for tonight to join you instead of you joining us" she said to him with another curtsied as he left only as she saw the woman slip in while wearing such clothing she moved quickly to Alessa as she didn't know what to think. However, the moment she heard her speak she felt something spark. "I'm sorry but no I don't remember . . . not a single thing" she said to Giselle as she relaxed a little. "I've been told I'm the princess yet I still have no memory before i was found on the streets of New York" she spoke as it was the truth. "Alessa I believe you called something like this happening but now what do we do?' she asked the one person that had become like a best friend to her. As she moved to the chair to take a seat. She felt like her head was swirling in so many directions some from fear and others from confusion. She knew that she was needed in her own kingdom but she was feeling torn. Her heart didn't want to leave the castle and she knew she couldn't leave without Alessa coming with her. She would never be able to bring herself to leave the woman behind.

Jason wasn't aware of the trouble that had followed him to the door, the fact he had left just in time probably saving his life as Rose's words echoed in his ears. He never heard the door being locked, and thus had no idea the woman that had killed five of his father's men was in the castle until a few minutes later when the alarms starting going off with the discovery of one man groaning from a possible head concussion from being hit by the hilt of a sword. Before that though, Giselle listened to Crystal's explanation and sighed heavily since she had been hoping she'd remember SOMETHING by now. Heck, Giselle had been a part of Crystal's life since day one just about, always watching over the young charge from the shadows for the most part, only coming out when her life was in danger in some form or another unless Crystal herself asked for her presence. Many happy days had been had between them despite the uneasy peace until the day Leon murdered his own family for the throne.

That was when everything changed. For now, Giselle focused on the present. Alessa, a slave had more power here than her? This was going to get hard since it was clear that Crystal felt a deep emotional attachment to the elven servant. Her job just got more problematic. Well....maybe not. Alessa meanwhile sadly shook her head, knowing what must be done here. "You would have me come with you Crystal....but I cannot leave, not so long as I wear this collar. They can trace it, no matter where I go. Besides, the cruel magic weaved into the band can also be activated at will, no matter where I might hide, making me a far greater risk to your escape if I were to come along than if I stayed here." She said sadly, and Giselle wished there was something she could do to help, but without the keys there was nothing.

"She's right Princess. If you think I will risk your safety for a woman you've only known for three days, then you are sadly mistaken. I've watched you grow up from the day you were born to the day you were sent to New York by your mother's order by my own brother's hand. I won't risk losing you now. I am sorry, I truly am, but she cannot come with us." She was prepared to force Crystal to follow her, even if she had to knock the woman out, carry her on her shoulder, and escape using another dimensional door, but Giselle wouldn't do that if she could help it. Gaining her trust again was paramount if she truly couldn't recall anything, a fail safe so she'd easily integrate into human society, an idea that Seth, Giselle's brother, (one of two), had implemented. It had worked....too well now that she was in this situation. "If you truly care for her, you'll leave now. I'll make it look like that there was a struggle and you were taken against your will if that makes you feel better so as to protect Alessa from any retribution." Of course, she wasn't about to tell Crystal she didn't plan to leave any witnesses alive either to tell their tale under torture.

Looking to Alessa she gave a sigh as she moved and gave the woman a hug. "I'll come back for you if I can" she said to her. "Promise me you'll be okay" she said to her as she truly wanted her friend to be okay. Just the thought of the way Alessa was she couldn't help it. "I'm so sorry for this" she said as she felt tears coming. She was a very loving person she was sure that things would work out for the better as she looked to Giselle. "I'm trying hard to remember I just can't" she said to her as she felt horrible for not remembering her guard. It was obvious to her that Giselle had cared for her for a long time now. "Lets do what we must to stop this" she said as she looked to both of them. She wasn't sure how she was to feel though the thought of leaving Jason brought pain to her as she looked to the door it felt like her heart was breaking. "We should go" she said her voice shaky as her resolve was growing weaker. She was sure she would never see Jason so long as the war was going on.

Giselle opened another dimensional door, watching the two hug, and she hated what she was about to do as she nodded for Crystal to go ahead. "I'll take care of the scene, Princess. You just step through that door, it'll take you beyond the castle walls and in the forest. Wait for me there." When she had left, the door disappeared and Giselle was left alone with Alessa, sadness clear in her brown eyes. "I thank you for what you've done for her.....but...."

Alessa didn't need to be told. She was a danger, so long as she was alive. She was honestly happy that Giselle was here since it meant that things might change soon, for the better hopefully. "I know....I can't be allowed to live for fear of giving away what has happened here." Giselle wasn't happy about this, but Alessa wanted to be free, and if it meant her death so that Crystal could live, then she was happy for the sacrifice.

"I'm sorry." Before Alessa or Giselle could change their minds about this, Giselle pulled her left blade free and plunged it into Alessa's chest, ending her life quickly out of mercy and compassion for her fifty years as a slave to a tyrant and for protecting Crystal as she had. Pulling her sword free, Alessa fell back and wore a contented smile on her face as she breathed her last. Kneeling beside the elven maiden, Giselle closed her eyes, praying for her soul to finally find peace in death before tending to the room at large, making it appear that there had been a struggle between the woman and the unknown assassin, and now kidnapper by all rights. Cleaning her sword on Alessa's clothing, Giselle sighed heavily as she sheathed the blade and stepped into another dimensional door and appeared beside Crystal. "It is done. Let us go while the guards have no idea of what's going on." She replied, leading the way deeper into the forest, setting a brisk pace that she hoped the Princess would be able to keep up with.

Moving to the door that Giselle opened she nodded her head before moving through it. As she stepped out into the forest shadows she looked back to the castle. "Goodbye" she said both to Alessa and Jason. Tears slowly moved down her face as she couldn't believe she was having to give them both up yet as she turned to look at Giselle she nodded her head. "Thank you I'm sure she'll be happy where she is now" she said as she knew the moment she was through that door Alessa was to be killed she just hadn't wanted to hear it as she moved away from the castle quickly with her. Her eyes still dark with emotions as she wished heavily that things weren't like this. She knew jason would feel the pain of her leaving yet even worse later when he finds out that she had actually left willingly. Though she knew he would be happy to find out she was at least safe she only hoped he would accept her being his sworn enemy.

Making sure that the Princess wouldn't fall too far behind, Giselle kept glancing back behind her right shoulder, knowing that pursuit would eventually come, so the further they got the better their chances were of making it to Celestial, a month of hard travel on foot. Even getting horses wouldn't make the journey much shorter, since most of the way was over mountainous terrain. It was behind the Four Thunders Kingdom that made Giselle worry since it was rumored King Leon had hired outside help....once, and an entire castle fell over the course of a single night. All that was left were the bodies of the brutally slain by the time morning came again. Whatever it had been, Giselle had no idea, but she had no intention of finding out if Leon ever found out the truth of Crystal's identity. He would most likely send that same evil force after them if he did, and she doubted she had the power to hold it back. She'd died trying of course. "Crystal, how are you holding up?" It was the first words she had spoken since their escape from the castle, and that had been an hour ago of traveling south east through the forest, a place that Giselle felt quite at home in since it was so easy to lose most pursuers within its depths. Being a ranger helped as well since she knew all of the local plants and flowers, what were safe to eat, what cured poisons, among what was hazardous to touch, among other things. She had seen Crystal's tears and felt sorry for tearing her away from all she had come to know in this world, but Giselle had had no choice in the matter.

If there had been another way, she would have gladly taken it, but this was war, and there was no time to stop moving for fear of being captured and worse besides. "I'm sorry, but there was no other choice....Princess Crystal. I wish that there had been, but time and circumstances wouldn't have allowed for anything less. If it's....any consolation, I made it quick and painless." She whispered, stopping for a moment to turn and look at her charge. "If...you need to stop, to rest or to talk, I will permit it, but we can't stop for too long."

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Sitting on a throne of black stone, far beyond the borders of the Four Thunders Kingdom, the Queen of Shadows, ruler of a dark sect of assassins and demonic soldiers, smirked into the scrying mirror that she held before her face. Only one other time had the 'King' had called upon her and her Shadow Warriors, and an entire castle had fallen in that same blood filled night. That had been shortly after he had usurped the throne, an enemy baron that had been loyal to the true king planning to take his entire army and send them against Leon and his own troops. King Leon had called upon Ophelia first, and the screams from the baron and his entire castle of men, women, and children was heard by those in the Four Thunders. Hell had visited its wrath, and now she was being called again. "I had thought after our last meeting you had agreed to never call upon me again unless your kingdom was threatened by the Princess herself?"

King Leon swallowed nervously as he met the eyes of the woman, if she could even be called that, before replying with a tremor in his voice. "She has appeared again, and I housed the little wench for three days without realizing it! She appeared in my dungeon out of the blue, apparently in a blinding flash of light, and I didn't think anything of it at the time. Now, not an hour ago, an assassin has come and taken her, probably back to her cursed homeland. I want you to find them, Queen Ophelia. Find them, and kill them both. In payment, I offer my usual fee." The usual fee being the soul of twenty newborn infants for the Shadow Queen's demonic assassins which were taken as human babies from their mothers, practically fresh out of their mothers' wombs, and trained from then on to be heartless, merciless monsters that know nothing else but pain and death.

"I accept, little pretender King Leon. Have them ready when I arrive in four days time. I'll see to this matter myself." He gasped in shock, earning a menacing chuckle as the connection was severed. It had never been heard of the Queen herself coming out of her castle unless she suspected that there was great promise of bloodshed and death in mass amounts. Leon was suddenly very afraid of where all that destruction would start since she was a force that couldn't be controlled, and she was just as likely to send him and his entire kingdom to the darkest reaches of Hell than Celestial. She'd take her payment first, that he knew for sure, but beyond that it was up to the fates to decide. He needn't have worried though. Ophelia liked Leon since he had betrayed his own family for power, something she could relate to herself, long ago. "Run on little girl, your time will end quickly when I catch up with you."

Rose looked up as she kept hearing her true name. "Rose please just say rose I can't answer to that just yet" she stated as she felt like she didn't deserve to be a princess. As she had ran through the forest her mind clouded with emotions that just wouldn't leave her. "I have no memory of this place and just had the only friend I've met her killed and left the only man I've ever loved how is that right for me to do that and turn around to call myself a princess" she stated to her as she stopped tears still stream as her eyes went wide the moment she realized she had just stated she loved Prince Jason. She couldn't believe it yet as she repeated the words in her head she knew they were true. "I love him" she repeated to herself as she just couldn't' believe it. How could she had fallen for him yet at the same time she asked herself how she couldn't have. To her there was no better person.

Giselle nodded solemnly, and stood before Rose, gently wiping her tears away before embracing her against her chest, just as she had done many times before in the past. "Sssshhhhh, it'll come back to you in time, Rose. My brother, one of them, wanted to be sure you'd live a normal life, and so on your mother's consent wiped away your memory before you were sent on to Earth. His spell worked a little too well, I fear, but I do promise I'll be damn sure to make him reverse it as soon as we return. Have faith. As for....Prince Jason, he's a good man. If he feels the same way, then once his father is removed from power once and for all, maybe there will be a way for you two to be together." Such a marriage would benefit both people from the two kingdoms, and if they truly felt as deeply as she suspected they did about each other, then it would be all the better for everyone.

Brushing her fingers through Rose's long raven black hair, Giselle thought of an idea, more of a song she had sung to the Princess while she had been growing up. They were safe for now, so a small pause to calm her down wouldn't hurt. Besides, it tore Giselle's heart in two to see the woman she had taken care of since she had been born, along with her mother, in such obvious distress. Opening her mouth, Giselle's voice took on a hauntingly beautiful quality as Crystal's own lullaby escaped her lips. Once it was over, Giselle slowly let Rose go, hoping she was feeling better as she spoke again. "I used to listen to your mother sing that song when you were a babe, Rose. She does a far better job than me at it, but...I picked up on it rather quickly....back then."

((Actual lyrics and translation if you're interested.))

--- Lyrics ---

Hahren na melana sahlin
Emma ir abelas
Souver'inan isala hamin
Vhenan him dor'felas
In uthenera na revas

Vir sulahn'nehn
Vir dirthera
Vir samahl la numin
Vir lath sa'vunin

-- Translation --

Elder your time is come
Now I am filled with sorrow
Weary eyes need resting
Heart has become grey and slow
In waking sleep of freedom

We sing, rejoice
We tell the tales
We laugh and cry
We love one more day

"Crystal's Lullaby." Closest I could think for it anyway lol.

Feeling Giselle pull her into her arms she closed her eyes trying to stop such emotions only listening to what was done to protect her both from the world she was to be placed in and here she felt new emotions appear as she tried to understand everything. Hearing how thing could be brought back to her even the love she has for Jason could become possible if they just keep the faith as she nodded her head as she still held onto her guardian. In truth as she started to hear the song her eyes closed and slowly she hummed it with her like she remembered it yet she couldn't put an image to it just yet. "I think I remember the song" she said as she rubbed her eyes a little to try and get the tears to stop. In truth she was happy that maybe with time and effort things would settle into what was right and best for everyone. "Is my mother okay?" she asked wondering if she knew any news of her kingdom it was hard to hear anything but lies and rumors in the four thunders castle.

((Backage! "Does happy dance." Lol.))

It was a start, but regardless, Giselle still planned to kick her brother's ass for his work since now would have been quite a good time for the girl to remember who she once was. Even so, Giselle wasn't about to rush this delicate time as she solemnly shook her head. "I don't know about the state of things back in Celestial, having been silently watching you during your time on Earth until you disappeared, Rose. I didn't have time to find out any news, and I doubt anyone knows we're here besides Leon and Jason, provided they put two and two together by now of course." Giselle stated sadly, wishing she did know more than what she did to offer Rose some small comfort. "Even so, there's ways to find out once we hit a friendly town in the next couple of days after clearing these forests. I wouldn't expect you to know this place because you have never been here. Once we cross the mountains however, that'll be when you will have returned to Celestial officially. Come, we have many miles to go yet, and the more we put behind us, the safer I'll feel." Giselle stated, leading the way again as she had before.

Walking along the forest floor, among the pines, oaks, cedars, and other trees of the same towering high above them, Giselle did try to keep a conversation going. "I am curious if you ever remember seeing me following you. Maybe more of a feeling of being watched more than anything since I made it a point to always be near at hand, but not so close that you would have easily picked up on me, or so I hope anyway. I would be rather ashamed to know if I had gotten sloppy." She joked, hoping the humor, ill formed as it was perhaps, would at least make Rose smile if nothing else. "At any event, my first couple of years of being your silent guardian weren't easy for both of us. I had the strong urge to make my presence known to you, but before we had left, I was told to be a shadow, nothing more. A silent protector, always just out of reach so you wouldn't remember before it was time. I hated it, but I kept my promise to your mother and kept you safe as best as I could.....until very recently." Almost losing her in that alleyway had shaken Giselle up considerably, and then to add to her was to find Rose in the enemy castle. They were lucky that she hadn't decided to blast the front door down.