Rough Around the Edges (Valkeryiefirestorm x Angel123)

Kallen stood at the corner off the throne room of his kings palace, waiting. His armor helping him blend into the shadows of the corner where he stood at. He was the kings General of his army, he only answered to one the king himself. Though instead of showing off his status preferred the none seen approach. This day was different however as he stood there, today he would learn whom the king arranged for him to be married to.

Several days back he was told this by the king himself, as a way to sort of thank him for his servitude even though they where at war and losing. Kallen had protested but the king would here none of it. "It would be a honor to you Kallen" the king had said, That phrase echoed in Kallens mind as he stood there arms folded behind his back his feet firmly on the ground. 'another marriage?' he thought to himself as he stood there 'great just what I need another break and another ex wife to the life' he thought to himself yet again. His amber eyes where the only thing visible from the dark corner he stood at, kind of a freaky type thing but he preferred that way, rather put fear in your opponents then make them joyous.

Lana's heart beat quickly as she approached the palace throne room. It was only a week ago that her father had told her she was to be wed to the General of the his army. The marriage was not of her doing but her fathers and she had no choice in the matter. Her father cared not for her or what she did, only saw her as part of his property to give and take as he pleased. But today was the day that Lana was to meet her future husband, the thought made her stomach churn with fear for everyone knew Kallen was not a kind man. And rightly so, he was the General of the kings army, he needed to be horrible and fierce but that was not the sort of man that Lana had ever dreamed of sharing a home with.

As the doors to the throne room were opened Lana took a large fortifying breath and stepped in. On her right was her brother escorting her into the room, although lesser in age he was a full head taller than her. Half way through the long hall of the throne room her brother paused, her name was announced and she was expected to continue the rest of the way alone. Logan kissed her cheek and gave her a reassuring smile before letting her go. Holding her head high she approached the kings throne, stopping a few yards in front of her father as she was taught to do since she was a child. Once there she dropped into a low curtsy, her head bowed in respect waiting for her father to release her for this position.

Kallen heard the announcement and his amber eyes flicked over to the entrance. He watched her as she walked, the way she held herself screamed every bit royalty. 'don't tell me this is her..the princess? his daughter, I am to marry his daughter.....well if I have to marry her then im screwed" he thought to himself. He watched her get kissed by the prince on the cheek 'logan prince thought not so hardheaded and stubborn as his dad' he thought again. He watched as she walked up to the throne the rest off the way and curtsy. he watched the kings response.

The king could only smile as he saw his two children enter, his eyes trained on his young daughter. He watched as the prince gave her a kiss in the cheek, he knew that the siblings where close. as he saw her curtsy he made a gesture of his hand for her to stand up. he then looked at the dark corner "Kallen forth now General"

Kallen took a step into the light then another step revealing the black armor of a general rank. He walked in front of the kings throne and sight. His left hand balled into a fist and was placed where his heart should be as he kneeled on one knew and bowed his body so that his forearms touched the top of his right knee. He then looked up at the king "you summoned?" he asked as his amber irises watched the man that sat on the throne.

The king stood up making the same gesture to Kallen as he did to Lana, his robe of black flowed behind him as his regal clothes of black and gold hugged his frame. years of sitting in a throne and not seeing battle had added a bit of weight onto the mans frame, where once he was fit and muscular now was large with fat but not enough you can call him obese. He walked up to Kalen "General met you wife my daughter Princess Lana" placing a hand on his shoulder he patted the shoulder before looking at his daughter and gave her a smile before going over to her.

Kallen blinked and looked at them and and reached up lowering the cloth mask he held over his mouth. "Sire not to insult or ensue your judgment is hazy, but her? your own flesh and blood I would deem it unwise to do such..I mean you can marry her to a prince off a neighboring kingdom to from a alliance with this war not to me whom I shall surely die on the field with sword and crest of your kingdom in hand...then to suffer a heartbreak because ones such other is slain when the union barley starts"

The king looked at Kallen " Hush General I know what I m doing and I choose you for what you have done for my kingdom and I know that I can trust you and not some son of another kingdom" "but..." kallen tried to protest a bit "Enough Kallen as you king your tounge shall hold on this matter it is settled" the king looked back at his daughter "fuck to hell" Kallen mumbled out loud

Lana drew herself up as her father had gestured her eyes following her fathers gesture to the corner of the room where out of the shadows came a man in full armor, his face hidden from her by a black cloth. Her face showed no emotion as she watched her husband to be come out of the shadows.

As the king introduced her as he bride it became clear that he knew nothing of the matter. But what surprised her the most was that the general protested the arrangement. She felt as if she had been slapped, was she not to his liking? Lana struggled to keep the offense from showing on her face as he opening fought against the union. She knew not what to say, her fathers word was law, she wanted to be wed just as much as he did but at least she did not say it to his face.

Lana let out a small sigh as her father hushed him once more, only to hear him curse under his breath. Her eyes narrowed as she zeroed in on him. "I understand your surprise at the union, but I must beg that you keep your disappointment to yourself." Her tone was low and filled with a restrained anger and seemed ready to spill out at any moment. Turning to her father she gave a low curtsy as she made up some excuse to leave the room. Lifting her skirts she hurried out the door not waiting for her brother to accompany her and not stopping until she was deep into the palace gardens. Lana knew she would probably hear from her father later about running out so rudely but she also knew she would have made him much angrier if she had stayed for her temper would not have stayed under control.

Lana's steps slowed as her anger dissipated and turned into hurt. Hurt at Kallen's words, hurt at being forced into a loveless marriage, and hurt because her father had thought nothing of her wants in making this decision. She sighed and kicked a stone down the path until it got lost in a bush. She knew not what to do about this man she was to marry. Why couldn't her father have arranged her to marry one of the old noble men instead.

Kallen looked at her when she spoke her words and looked away 'crap' he thought to himself. He watched her curtsy and run out. the king only sighed 'Kallen I trust you with my daughter for I trust you with my life. I fear that any other man would only hurt her, it may at the moment no feelings for each other but it was the same way me and her mother where as well when we first said our vows but int time we had those feelings" The king turned and went back to sitting in his throne. He then waved for Kallen to leave "I suggest you go and try to talk to my daughter if I know her she is probably in the palace gardens, talk to her she may be angry and hurt at first and may not listen but keep talking to her explain why you said those things" The king told hi.

Kallen nodded and fisted his left hand and placed it over his heart and bowed. He walked by the prince and nodded to him in anowledgement. He walked out completely out of the castle and into its gardens. His footsteps where light and quick, he looked and saw her silhouette soon herself. "Princess?" he asked the cloth covering his mouth as he stepped to be within her line of sight.

Lana heard hard quick footsteps coming down the path and knew her father must have sent Kallen after her. She sighed and turned around as he came into her sight. She looked him up and down, her eyes falling on the black cloth that was once again covering his mouth. "Do you always wear that?" she asked drying as she stared straight into his eyes. "the black cloth over your mouth" She specified before turning her back to him and facing a small rose bush. "Please be honest with me." She spoke in a strong stately voice she used to cover her hurt. "Am I not to your liking? Am I really so detestable that you would protest our marriage?" Lana asked in a monotone voice her hand reached out and fingering one of the flowers. Gesturing for him to come closer, she asked him if he had a knife and would cut it for her. She needed something to distract her from the answers she knew she was to hear.

"yes I do Princess but if you wish I will take it off" he reached up and pulled the black cloth hiding his mouth off ,revealing several scars that mamed his tan skin. He looked at her and blinked at her question and then saw her wanting the rose. He reached down on his right boot and pulled out a dagger and cut the vine from the flower detaching it from the bush. He then placed the dagger back into his boot. "As for your question no I do not fine you detestable Princess I think your are a beautiful women with a kind heart it just well.... I have a troubled past and don't want you involved to where you get hurt"

Lana's eyebrows raised in surprise as she saw the scars on his skin. "Thank you." She murmured as she watched him reach into his boot and pulled out the dagger. "You know you can use my name." She told him quietly as she heard him call her Princess for the second time. Lana took the flower from his hand, she was careful not to prick herself with any of the thorns. She thought about his answer as she fingered the petals. "My father would not put me in a situation which would be harmful to me." She said thoughtfully, "Are these troubles from your past things that my father does not know about or merely doesn't consider them as harmful as you do?" She asked as she looked up at his face really looking at it for the first time. He was a very handsome man even with the scars, if anything they added to his look.

"you father know not off the past that haunts me so, he only knows off the years that I served him which is 15 of my years' he said to her. He stood back up his hands automatically going behind his back in a warrior stance, like a statue. he just looked at her back "I just don't want it to be the same fate is all princessa"

Lana frowned as he called her princess again but let it go. Thinking about what he had said she walked over to an open plot of grass and gracefully sat down with her legs tucked beneath her. She debated for a moment more before asking the question that was on her mind, "Would it be too forward to ask what haunts you..." She then justified it by saying, "my father is not one to retract a decision and so I would... I would like to know what I'm getting into with his marriage." Her eyes never left the rose in her hand, she felt her question was much too personal and didn't dare look at him while asking it.

"Pain is what haunt me Princessa enough that I wish not to discuss it, it is enough that I am weary of the future" he said to her. His right arm went behind his back and rested at the crook of his back his left arm hung at his side as he watched her. "as far as what you are getting into your father planned this, all of this he only told me that this marriage would be a reward for my service to him, his trust general and guard, I know that he has set up other things for this marriage a place to live and all" he said to her honestly

Lana shook her head, "That is good, but not what I meant." She said as briefly glanced up at him, "I would like to know what I am getting into with you." The fingers delicately plucked one of the outer petals and rolled it between her thumb and forefinger until it was crushed the its scent permeated the air and stained her fingers. "I know nothing about you, only what I have heard however I find rumors to be false more often than not." She tossed the crushed petal to the side looking up at him with a slight smile, "and I really hope they are false in your case, seeing as most of the rumors include you eating newborns." She let out a breathy laugh, one that said she was under a great deal of stress but was trying to lighten the mood. "But I do wish to get to know you, I don't think this is too much to ask of you." She said as she ducked her head once more, "You don't have to tell me your deepest darkest secrets, just that you take your meals with me... when ever possible... I understand that you do have other duties and I do not wish to become a hindrance to you. So when you cannot come, send me a message so I am not waiting for someone who is not coming." She finished her request as she nervously began fingering the petals on the rose once again.

He listened to her talking and watched as her fingers plucked at the petals. He rolled his eyes about the rumor of him eating newborns "rumors are of hatred and fear." He sighed "I know how that rumor was started it was started by my ex wife. The witch she bore me a son and well after that strange things started happening I rember coming home from a battle to find my son in her arms with a bite mark on him, she told me a animal did it. The bite was to human, my son fell ill after that I lost him to whatever poision she put in him. I left her after that, after as well I found out she was not true to me nor faithfull. Rumors you have heard are from her vile mouth" he said to her "as far as meals with you I will do as such I beileve in being with your fami;y as much as possiable living moments like they are your last" he told her

Lana frowned as he told her about his ex wife, "I'm sorry." She whispered, "I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "Is she still alive?" She asked a little hesitantly, "My only fear is that she will not be pleased about our marriage and will come after me." Lana looked down at the flower in her hand. "good, I will look foreword to dining with you then and do not worry about coming straight from a drill, it is better that you are there then that you are clean." She told him with a small smile before holding her hand out for him to help her up, she slipped her small soft hand into his but even after she was in her feet she did not let go.

"yes she is still very much alive but do not worry I am many days away from my homeland where she resisdes in the mountains so if she was to get word off the marriage it would be to late for her to try to stop the union " he grabbed her hand with his left black gloved hand and held onto to her hand to help her up. He did not let go though as she did not either. He stood there looking at her his ace showing no emotion his green eyes looked at her.

Lana stood silently in front of him, her eyes trailing up and down his face, from his strong jaw over his scared lips to his emotionless eyes. "You know they don't look bad." She said as her fingers lifted up towards his face touching the edge of a scar along his jaw. "Their not bad at all actually." her voice was thoughtful before a cheeky smile worked its way onto her lips, "They give you a rugged look, it suits you." Taking her hand away from his face she rested it on his chest, using it a leverage she stood on her toes and very gently kissed his cheek. "One day you will have to tell me how you got them." She said as he pulled way from him, her hand still in his as she began to walk back to the palace. "Tell me, will you soon be leaving again?" She asked trying to gauge how much time she had with him before he was sent back to the front. "do you know if my father has a date set for a wedding yet?"

"one day I will" he said to her as he stood there, h did not even flinch when she touched one of the scar with her fingers then kissed his cheek. He followed her as she walked back his hand still with her hand "For now I do not think I will be leaving anytime soon your father probably feels that we should spend some time together as married before I go off to fight at all as far as a date you would have to ask him princessa' he told her honestly

"I'll hold you to that." She said with a nod as the entered the palace. "My father wants grand children." She told him with a sigh, "I knew this was coming." She told him, her voice holding a hint of frustration, "However I expected to be betrothed to an old nobleman, never did I think he would choose you. Nothing against you, but I've had princes' asking for my hand, so I just thought it would be someone of high birth." She looked up at him as the walked down the hall to a large dining room where she was to eat with her father. "However, I am quite elated that he did not chose one of my suitors, none of them would have made good kings." She said as she with effort pushed open the heavy doors to the dinning hall.

As she stepped in her eyes grew wide with the number of people that occupied the hall. She had only been expecting to be dining with her father and Kallen not all the noble men and knights. That's when she realized her father planned on making the announcement tonight. Her face paled at the thought and her gripped on his hand tightened, she didn't feel ready for this. This announcement brought her one step closer to having the crown on her head, a kingdoms lives in her hands. The thought made her heart pound against her chest and her hands shake. Taking a deep breath she took a small step closer towards her father.

As they enter the palace Kallen reached up with is free hand and place the black cloth over his mouth again hiding his face yet again to the world. He blinked once as she saw all the people in the hall, a small light growl sounded from his lips but was muffle slightly by the cloth only loud enough that she could hear. He hated party's absoulty hated them, to him it seemed like they where just there to judge, just there to poke at you. He liked being alone most of the time and had even turned down jobs from the king to by his personal guard at social gathering. He knew there was a rumor that went around about why he never came to social gatherings, the rumor being that he was a vampire of sorts and that he never came around cause of the stench ones blood would give off would make him go into a feeding frenzy. which was absolute ridiculous in his mind. he felt her grip tighten around his hand a nd he gave her a reassuring squeeze back to try and comfort her.

Lana glanced up at Kallen as he squeezed her hand, giving him a tight smile before leading him over the the table her father sat at. There were two empty seats to his right, the first and closest to the king was Lana's and the second Kallen's. Lana sat down as one of the servants pulled her chair out for her only letting go of his hand at the last moment. On the other side of her father her brother gave her a sympathetic smile as he talked with one of the noble men. As apposed to Lana, he actually enjoyed these dinners, while Lana hated them, she hated the noise and the commotion. She hated the drunken men starring at her like she was a piece of meat and making lewd jokes. Lana sighed and poked at her food, loosing all desire to eat as the Lord whats-his-face began drunkenly eating and talking, spraying bits of food across the table, hitting her face. Lana pursed her lips and angrily wiped his spit away. Bits of fire flashed in Lana's eyes as she turned to Kallen, her mouth opened to spit out some excuse about being tired so she could leave, but the look on his face made her stop. He looked about as happy to be here as she was. Sighing she folded her hands into her lap, she couldn't leave him here to take the announcement alone but as soon as it was made she promised herself she would be gone.

((I wasn't sure if it was ok for me to play the king a bit, so I just left that to you))

((Go ahead and play him))

Kallen kept his right hand on hi lap balled in a fist with a small silver object in hand. His gloved thumb rubbed over the silver object. He moved his hand a bit revealing a small moon pendant fit for a child with the initails S.O. carved into them.. he glanced over at her then back over to a couple of drunks acting like assholes. Kallen let out a growl that seemed to reverbrate in the room when he saw one druken male slap a female servant. Kaleen instantly stood up and with speed that was unatural he was over at the drunk and had himm pinned against the wall but yet there was aform of kallen almost white and invisiable I nthe chair next to her. ((Think lord marshell in the chronicals of riddick movie)). He lifted up a corner of his lip. The witeish kallen disappered so that a full figured kallen was there at the drunk. "Do it again and underverse will have a new toy got it?!" The man nodded and ran off as kallen realsed the mans shirt collar. Kallen stood there for a couple moments and jerked his neck both directions and it sounded each time with a pop.

Lana watched wide eyed and opened mouth as Kallen threw the man up against the wall, however a slow smile worked its way onto her face as she realized what had happened. Lana glanced from Kallen's face to her fathers, who did not look very happy about what had just happened. Never the less, he merely called Kallen back to his seat as he stood up and ordered everyone to be silent. "I have an announcement to make." He proclaimed after clearing his voice. "It has been decide that my beautiful Daughter, heir to the throne will be wed to Kallen, my most trusted servant and commanding general of the kings army." As he finished a cheer when up, although Lana did notice many of the Lords did not look at all happy about this proclamation. If looks could kill Kallen would have been murdered by half the room. Lana sighed as drunken men came up to her chair to express their congratulations. At first this was ok, but soon she was overwhelmed by the drunken hoard that surrounded her.

Kallen went back to his chair when the king gave him the look so to speak. He winced slightly when the noise level went up after the king made the announcment. He then saw lana get suuronded by druken men and how quickly it escalated o her being uncomfortable. Another low growl came from him again, a warning growl. Several of kallens soilders went forward knowing that he was getting uneasy about the drunken men surronding the princess.

Lana sighed and pushed her way through the crowd of drunken men, she could hear her fathers loud laugh through the crowd. She rolled her eyes before standing on her toes, catching a glimpse of her brother as she did so. Making her way in his direction she ended up tumbling into his arms. Logan chuckled as he smiled down at her while Lana gave him a irritated glare. Her gown was disheveled and her hair a mess from having to push through the hoard but she was thankful for his presence as he shielded her from the crowd. "Do you think you could get me out of here?" She shouted as he bent his ear to hear what she said. Logan made a face as he glanced at the door across the room. "I can try." He responded with a shrug as he slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her close as he pushed through the lot of men.

Kallen stood seeing lana go to leave. He made his depart by side entrance leaving the 'idiots' he protected to there stubborn ways. He made his way back to his post the one highest point of the castle. He stood on the roof of the highest tower watching almost waiting, with the sun going down he seemed like he was a part of the shadows that grew to cover the place in its empending darkness.