The Prince's Plight

[Lox]

In the mid morning light on the elite side of the capital city of Ceidina a rare sight could be witnessed as nobles from the rich estates lining the road towards the castle could be seen standing with their house servants and other lesser workers in awe at the procession passing them. It was unheard of for the high blooded society to be seen in a crowd with their low born servants, but the heavily guarded prison wagon that was making it's way towards the castle made them forget their place as the scene drew everyone's attention. For one, a continuous triad of the most vicious, cruel, vile, and destructively creative stream of insults flowed from a single male voice that was both loud and powerful enough that the people along the streets could easily hear it made most pail at even hearing a short bit. Secondly was the ashen appearance of all the guards who's faces were contorted with rage, disgust, or downright fear at some of the blasphemies being uttered by the very angry person within. But most disturbing and frightening to both the bystanders and possibly the reason why all the guards were ashen was the body jolting crash from within that made the whole wagon wobble and force the driver to stop and try to calm the already extremely skittish horses.

The prison wagon was a solid wooden construction that couldn't be opened from within, but it didn't spare the bystanders or the guards their nerves when the man within seemed to sporadically slam into different parts of his prison with all of his might. It made the servants gossip about a brutal murder that might have been caught, but the nobles gossiped more about the possibility of this being the prince. It was common knowledge that the kingdom had been at war with Corovia for longer than anyone could remember, and recently at a victory over the enemy kingdom a prince had supposedly been captured... but this beast couldn't be he could it? As the procession finally continued and left the bystanders to their jabbering the wary guards at last got through the main castle gates and were met by a group of eight spearman. They had been forewarned that this prisoner could not be taken along civilly, and paid the price of one guards life and three more injured when they had attempted to drag the prisoner where they wanted him to go. That fiasco prompted them to let him walk freely without being led by chains (considering last time he used them to kill the guard) and compose a half circle of spears to greet him when they opened the back of the wagon and stepped back to let him out.

The common idea of a prince was a man of mild build, handsome to a fault, tall and elegant, and most of all a gentleman above all else. But this prince was such by blood alone, and failed almost ever expectation as easily as a rock fails to be a flower. This man wasn't of mild build, he was as heavily muscled as any would expect a heavy infantry man to be and stood a tall six feet four inches with a glare that could curdle milk. He could be called handsome by more than a few, but at the moment with his entire body bunched up and the hateful glare he bored into each of the fresh guards made him look nothing less than a savage. And while his hands weren't manacled as normal he seemed ready to snatch one of the spears away from the guards and wreak havoc with these fresh guards. His old keepers had been very specific on the selection of men who would take over as his guards, and colorfully detailed on what happened every single time they misjudged him as far as what the others had suffered... and what one never recovered from. So these men were well prepared as all eight men shifted in a way to allow him to walk where they wanted him and well enough away so he couldn't grab a spear haft and possibly kill one of them in the insuring struggle. They led him away warily, and his old guards breathed a sigh of relief as they too departed further into the courtyard.

Today Prince Lox would find out what was to be of him in the days to come, and how his father who wasn't very proud of an unprincely offspring would do if anything to get him back.

 

[Devxx]

A soft sigh passed through hidden lips as the the helmeted head turned back towards the commotion. People were lining the streets as the procession passed through the middle of town on their way to the castle. It seemed as if the entire city had turned out to see its brave warriors return from battle with what appeared to be some sort of prize in their wagon. The curses could clearly be heard even from the beginning of the precession where the knight was situated on a black steed. Some of the more noble ladies looked as if they were going to faint from the stream of profanities and the governesses quickly covered the ears of their charges who were giggling from hearing such bad words. Everyone looked worse for the wear as the soldiers grumbled and moaned just wanting to get the hell away from the wagon and its' contents. They might have won the battle but the prize was something they would have all rather dropped off at the bottom of the pit and never seen again. Unfortunately that wasn't an option no matter how much they wished and while the rest of the soldiers would get their break from the beast this particular knight would have no such luck. In fact, it would be up to them to present the prize to the king as well as the spoils of war from the battle.

Dismounting, the knight handed the reigns over to one of the stable hands before turning back at the circle of soldiers with their spears pointed at the man. Well, if you could even call him a man that is. Princes were supposed to be stoic and composed yet the man from the wagon seemed to be more animal then human. The guards looked a bit shaken as they tried their damnedest to keep him under control while not letting their anger or fear take over. It was like watching a wounded and cornered animal lash out as the hunters tried to close in. The sight would have been almost pathetic if it wasn't for the fact that the knight held absolutely no compassion for the man. With what he had done with the other guards the whole lot of them would have liked to cut him from nose to naval and let the vultures rip him to bits. Of course Corovia wouldn't stand to have their prince killed in such a way and there was no point giving the kingdom incentive to fight even harder. With the prince as a captive they might be able to negotiate enough of a ransom to cripple the kingdom and finally end this god forsaken war once and for all. It had gone on for far too long and no doubt both sides were tired of it all.

Leading the way, the knight in black walked through the main doors into the throne room where the King sat on his throne in all his regal bearing. The prison was pushed before him where archers from the balconies steadied their aim in case he tried to attack their King. No one trusted this beast of a man to behave like royalty should and they weren't going to take any chances when the life of their ruler was on the line. Putting a gloved hand to the helmet the knight carefully lifted it up letting black hair spill out from underneath before placing the metal under her arm and going down on one knee in a bow. The face behind the helmet could have belonged to a number of paintings about princesses or elves in a far away land. Soft smooth skin and pink lips marred by a bright red scratch going down the side of her cheek. A souvenir from the battle that had yet to heal and was still an annoyance to her. There were other scratches and bruises under the armor that she would have to take care of as soon as this bit of business was done with. "Your highness, I present the Prince Lox to you." The woman said as she looked up and got out of her bow. Cold blue eyes turned to the man as she stretched out a hand as if presenting a prized pig to him.

"Very good Reina. You have done well." The King's voice boomed through the throne room as he looked down at the fallen prince with amusement. Reina was his greatest knight and time and time again she had proven herself to be able to undertake any task. He would have to reward her for what she had brought him though first he should at least trade some greeting with the beast prince. "Well Prince Lox, I welcome you to my castle and my kingdom. I trust that your stay here will be...interesting to say the least." A smirk pulled on the corners of the old man's lips as his brown eyes stared at the sight before him. He had heard many rumors about Lox and no doubt Corovia would be eager to have him back.

 

[Lox]

Lox wasn't pleased in the least, and it showed in the form of hot blood rising in his face to darken his tanned skin. Everything about the man made him easy to spot from his stature to the way he carried himself but the most startling feature was his eyes and hair. It was one thing for a monarch to give birth to an oddity as far as looks went and another entirely on how the son acted on his own accord, but his father hadn't liked him from his youth because of what was counted as defects of birth. Lox was an albino of sorts in the fact that his thick messy hair was as stark white as snow, and his eyes had a crimson hue that made it difficult not to look him in the eye when he spoke. But by some whimsy of the gods he had the semi dark tan of his mother, who was native to the middle region of endless sands and took from his father his large build. Though he could think of many heated replies to the pompous bastard king in front of him because he was still gripped by rage at the woman in the black armor who had captured him in the field. Lox didn't fight from horse back as nobles did, he fought on foot in heavy armor, shield, and mace or warhammer as he believed men of equal merit deserved to face each other. With the battle fresh in his mind his eyes drilled into the back of the fine headed woman who had taken him alive.

He remembered the battle for the most part, remembered his bothers in arms closer than any noble family member fighting and dying for each other and the disgraceful way he had been captured. In the heaving masses of bodies Lox own forces around him had been pushed back when the enemies had massed and surged forward as one, but he was dug in and was soon crushed in and unable to move his arms until they shifted once more. Two of the enemies died in rightful combat, but a third man had caught him in the back of the head with a blade hilt and died for it. Yet even as his mace ended that mans life a full shield followed to the side of his head and he was brought to a knee. He heard his own men rallying and trying to come to his aid but Lox knew his death would have been assured if he faced a man in combat. Low and behold though it was the black knight that had brought him to his knee and it was this whore who chose to smash her shield into his head once more to knock him unconscious to be dragged away and captured. Even a coward or an underhanded bastard would have the decency of dispatching a downed man in combat to spare him the disgrace of being taken away as a captive, and his hatred and rage built until he heard the creaking of bows and let go of the breath he was holding.

Lox had lost himself in rage and realized now that he was shaking that everyone was staring at him and the bowman were getting edgy. Looking down at his hands he opened them to find his palms pooling blood and watched it dribble to the floor in front of him as he turned his gaze back to the king he had ignored almost entirely up until that point. It was only then that the nobles in the court watching off to both sides began murmuring about a savage animal that was better dead than anywhere near the king, but Lox stayed stoic through it all. Like it or not, be it fair or not he was captured by this whore instead of being given the honor of dying on the field, and he had nothing to say to defend himself on the matter even if he did fight with honor and felled more than his share of the enemy during that battle. He hated the idea that he was a prisoner but beyond what he had shown these soft bastards of his viciousness, hatred, and hostility his sense of honor as odd and obtuse as it is was unshakable in certain aspects. If this hadn't been bad enough of a shock as it was, when he heard the main doors open and turned back to see a royal messenger from his own kingdom walk through he wasn't sure how much more his nerves and temper could stand.

This messenger carried the counter offer made by his father... and it would determine his fate or his death right after the king read the note and it wouldn't satisfy his honor.

 

[Devxx]

Reina grit her teeth as she turned back to look at the man. Small drops of blood were pooling by his feet as they flowed out of the cuts in his hand. There was something very wild about him and she wouldn't turn her back to him for a second. No, the sooner they killed him or locked him up in a dungeon somewhere the better it would be for all of them. Even his appearance was somewhat frightening and she could see some of the noble ladies talking behind their fans, murmuring about his strange coloring. The king himself actually seemed to find this whole show amusing even as all the guards and archers tensed up, ready to strike if he even made the slightest move towards the king. Reina could feel his eyes dig into her skin as if he thought his mere gaze would be enough to strike her dead. Lifting her head slightly she met his glare with her own one and for a second it seemed like fire would start from the intensity between the two. There was obvious hatred there as they both had blood on their hands belonging to the enemy. Time and time again she had seen him strike down her own men in cold blood making the moment she brought that shield down on his head all that much sweet. An animal like him didn't deserve a heroes death and should have spent the rest of his days rotting in the dungeon, forgotten by the world. Of course that was the king's choice to make and it all depended on how the prince's father would react to the news of his capture.

Their little staring match was cut short as a messenger walked in with a note in hand. Walking over to the king, the small man handed him the piece of parchment with the royal seal before stepping off to the sidelines. As the king broke the seal and his eyes scanned over the words it seemed as if the whole room was holding its breath waiting to see what would happen. Would the wild prince meet the guillotine or had his father secured his safety? The old man's eyes roamed over the paper as a strange smile seemed to spread on his lips. Whether this was good news or bad news was still up in the air as the silence deafened the room and all those who waited for his reaction. "Well dear boy, it seems you are of some use after all. Your father is eager to have you back and has even offered up Esimee in exchange." Whispers filled the room as people started talking back and forth about the news. Esimee was a city on the border of the two kingdoms and had long since been disputed over. They must really want him back if they were willing to concede that land.

"Of course it will take a bit for the actual discussion and paperwork to be drawn up so what should we do with you until then?" The king placed a finger to his lips as if he was deep in thought. "I'm sure Corovia wouldn't be happy to hear that their prince was locked away in our dungeon somewhere. No, I think I have a much better idea then that." The grin on his face made Reina narrow her eyes in suspicion. She had seen that smile countless times before and it never meant anything good. "Reina, I know you lost your handmaid two weeks ago when she got married and haven't had time to find a replacement. For everything that you've done lately I believe a reward is in order. For the time that he is here I think the Prince would make a fitting slave for you. Don't you agree?" The old man had a bemused expression on his face like a child who had a new toy to play with. Sure he was rewarding his knight but this would also be the ultimate humiliation for the prince and Corovia. For him to serve under the very person who had captured him and killed so many of his men would only add salt to the wounds.

As for Reina, her head was spinning as she tried to think up ways to get out of this. If this was the king's idea of a reward she would like no part of it. They had been on the battle campaign for a long time and she had been looking forward to actually getting some rest while back home. Having that beast anywhere near her would only put her on edge and make her uneasy. Yet he was her king and she couldn't refuse this so called gift. "Yes sir, thank you." Reina said simply as she bowed to him. Maybe she could just keep Lox locked up in a room somewhere and not have to deal with him until their little deal was reached.

 

[Lox]

Lox was stunned... He hadn't expected his father to even care if he died, let alone negotiate the turning over of an entire city in his safe return but what might have been a peaceful end spiraled into a grim mess with the fool kings words on what was to be done to him. For the man to blatantly insult the country of a captured prince when he obviously had an upper hand and attempt to enslave the prince to add further insult would ruin Lox's credibility as a political asset. He was known as wild, fierce, and above all an extremely dangerous individual to the point where few would trade insults with him for fear of him challenging them to a duel, but he was respected by his men, and this king was asking him to besmirch the names of the men who died under him by not only submitting to slavery but to this filthy whore was beyond him. Weather his father wanted him returned safely or if he was simply trying to find a fast way out of the war he would make him proud in his own way as his right hand snapped up faster than what a man of his size ought of been capable of and grabbed just under the blade of the young spear man who had inched too close to him during the entirety of his stay. It was obvious he was some sort of nobles son by his inexperience, but it didn't stop Lox from yanking the surprised fool forward, bringing him between him and the archers, and stepping back away from the king and past the spear of the man to his left.

The circle of spears had gotten to tight with his initial shaking and rage at finding this Reina to be his captor, and this fool beside the youth had the sense to wear a helmet but not the sense to put the visor down as Lox continued dragging the youth about by the spear haft and shattered this guards nose with his forehead. Then there was chaos, guards started roaring, sergeants screamed for archers to hold their fire and unknook their arrows, royal guards from behind the king in heavy armor streamed forward and Lox roared as he had managed to yank the man with a now shattered nose's helmet off and was laying into the other spearman with the improvised weapon. They wouldn't kill him he knew, everyone wanted the war to end and if he died that dream shattered with him but gods if he wasn't going to express himself for the sentence that was passed down on him. It took a lot of shields, mailed gauntlets, and bodies to finally bring Lox down to the marble floor that was liberally smeared with more blood than there should be. There was a lot of groaning from several of the guards, two with broken arms and one with a shattered knee being the most pronounced as well as the man he had procured the helmet from but eventually they had brought enough rope and learned the first time Lox kicked someones face in to hold him down properly and tie him up securely before lifting him up between six men and bodily carrying him away.

His jaw had to have been cracked, and there was probably a few broken rips and a few more cracked ones along with a gash at his temple but the bastards had been smart enough not to completely destroy his face as he had hoped. With his head dangling back and looking at the king with a mad smile he turned a hateful glare that Reina and spat a large glob of bloody saliva in her direction before winking in a way that promised her if this ignorant sentience stood he was going to give her utter hell.

 

[Devxx]

What happened next sent the entire court in shock as the prince seemed to be possessed by a demon as he went on a rampage and started swinging and attacking the guards who had been surrounding him. The entire scene was little more then a bloody mess with limbs flying and curses being shouted in the air as the nobles ran off to find safety. Reina had drawn her own sword and was standing in front of the king in case this madman tried to attack the monarch himself. It seemed that even through all this fighting the guards had finally managed to take down the barbarian without anyone losing their lives. Her men were bloodied and no doubt quite a few of their bones had been broken by the prince's outburst. He didn't look too good himself and would no doubt requite medical attention. Pft, like they would be able to find a doctor who would be willing to go anywhere near him without fear of being dismembered. Even as the guards secured his bindings and started dragging him away the bastard had the gall to throw them a mad grin before spitting at her. Her grip tightened on her sword as the glob of saliva hit her armor with a squelching noise. As the guards finally managed to drag him out of the throne room and towards his confines she had a chance to really examine the damage that he had caused.

"No way. No fucking way." Reina barked as she turned to face the king. Even through all of this the old man still had that same amused smile on his face as if he had just watched a theater performance instead of a madman who had damaged at least half the royal guard. "Lock him in the dungeon and don't let him see the light of day. You could even put him with the rest of the wild animals in the zoo but there is no way in hell I am going anywhere near that beast." Surely after this show the king would think twice about his plan and just put Lox somewhere in the dungeons where they wouldn't have to deal with him until negotiations were reached. That was what any rational man would do but Reina had learned early on that her king didn't always think like a rational person. "Are you refusing your king's gift?" The man asked with a glint in his eyes. Her protests had fallen on deaf ears and it didn't seem like she was going to change his mind. No, he was set on his little plan on bringing as much humiliation to the prince and his kingdom as he could, even if that meant that some bones were going to have to be broken to do that.

Sighing, Reina mumbled her apologies before being dismissed from the throne room. Climbing the main staircase she made her way to her own room and slowly started peeling off the armor that was weighing her down. Under all the heavy metal she seemed more a girl then a warrior with a slight frame and being barely 5'5" tall. Yet there could be no mistaking the hard muscles on her arms or the various scars on her body as anything other then someone who had trained in warfare. After taking off the armor she changed into a pair of comfortable leather trousers and a dark blue tunic. Sighing, she had been pushing this off for too long and it was time to meet the devil. Rubbing her fingers against her temples she exited her own room and went to the one at the end of the hall where at least ten guards stood, armed to the teeth. Lox may be a madman but he was still a prince so they'd given him a small room. All it held was a bed and a small chest with a window at least a good twenty feet off the floor.

Turning the handle she stepped into the room and cast her eyes over to where the man was still bound with his hands tied behind his back. "That was quite some entrance." Reina said with little humor as she closed the door behind her. After seeing what he did to her men most others would have been scared to be in the same building as him let alone the same room. However she just looked bored as she leaned up against the wall. His hands were tied and despite appearances she was more then capable of holding her own against him.

 

[Lox]

For all of Lox's ferocity he remained frighteningly still as they carried him away and finally deposited him onto the bed where he sat up and caused his guards to tense terribly before glaring at them until they left him alone in the small room. With his rage spent for the moment a strange peace and calm fell over him for the few moments he was alone until the very whore herself showed up in his room and rekindled the rage that was close to madness. Her soft voice wormed it's way far to easily into his skull than he would have preferred, and though he spat at the woman again she was smart enough to foresee it and step aside only to lean back against the wall with a smugness that induced pure hatred. "And you are quite the cowardly whore, but we both know of that truth. I guess your kinsman aren't worth much more than a viewing when a man would have been the first to step in." The hatred in his crimson seemed to seethe and he wanted nothing more than to break that delicate little neck of her's but at that moment there was a very quite knock at the door as a healer had stepped in carrying a massive basket of herbs and fresh bandages. The delicate looking man was extremely pail and Lox spared him only the slightest glare before looking back to the whore against the wall.

The man stepped forward and stated the obvious, and as he moved cautiously towards Lox's side and pulled a small knife from the basket Lox turned to look at it as he cut away at the bindings that held his arms and legs so he could properly treat him. Lox had viciously beaten the kings royal guards, killed one of his former ones, and basically gave the rest a taste of utter hell with his keeping, and yet when his arms were free he was silent and still as he rolled his right shoulder. Leaning forward he placed his limp left arm over his left knee and held his arm down with his right hand at the elbow before leaning forward hard with his full weight and popped the dislocated shoulder back into place with a grimace and a look of anger. With a deep sigh he sat perfectly still as the awed healer went about his work cutting away the now destroyed shirt and treating his injuries as he found them. It was infinitely difficult to comprehend how a man who blatantly threw himself at armed guards in rage could appear so perfectly calm and composed as the small man moved about him, and as he waited with his eyes closed he only opened them and looked at the doctor when he used his small knife to cut bandages and closed them once more when it was put away. He was constantly aware of threats, but it seemed that with no obvious threat present he was completely placid even if his mind still churned over the events that had taken place.

He could think of a thousand different insults to hurl at the whore, and yet he could not do so from the agony of being captured by the tramp and the thought of the sentence that had been given. It was a fault of his own for being captured, even if fate had cast him a horrible hand and still his strange sense of honor prevented him from voicing his hatred further. The small man working on him did his work well and quickly, but he seemed to marvel at the collection of scars that crossed his frame and in open at awe at some that should have killed him outright. With his ribs wrapped securely and an improvised sling to keep his left arm stable while it healed the doctor collect his things and promised to check in on him every day until he was fully recovered. Though Lox didn't know the man, he didn't want to be left alone with the whore still leaning quietly against the wall but knowing he couldn't voice such a request. The man departed unscathed to the astonishment of the guards outside, and with a quick peak inside and another hate filled glare from the prince the door was soon closed again to leave the two of them in anxious silence. He wanted nothing more than to rest and sleep, and though hunger gnawed gently at this stomach the ache in his jaw staved of any desire to eat. Not that he'd ask this filthy whore for anything asides from a direct challenge when his freedom was assured and his wounded pride could be healed at last. Scratching at the bandage wrapping around his head very lightly and wincing at the stabbing pain that would soon develop into a massive throbbing headache he glared once more with hatred at the whore.

Even as anger and hate clouded his thoughts, his mind was forever agile and inquisitive of everything around him and registered the innate beauty of the woman regardless of his feelings. It was obvious by her build she was a warrior if not a dishonorable wench but there was also great beauty in her figure as well, something that only added to his hatred of her. She was short, and yet she seemed to have long legs that his overactive mind questioned as to weather or not they were silken to the touch. And while her attire did nothing to aid her it was obvious even in the plain cloths she possessed a finely curved body that demanded attention. Though he looked her over he didn't see her as a lecherous man might, but more of an object to be examined and accredited with what it possessed and nothing more. Once done he turned away from her and sat on the other side of the bed looking up longingly at the window so far up and depriving him of even a minuscule view. His anger though strong wore him out in a way he couldn't explain, and being here he couldn't indulge in the methods he usually pursued to calm himself down. Those of which were carefully guarded against anyone who might use them against him, and here everyone of these bastards could easily be counted as his enemies who wished him dead.

 

[Devxx]

Reina merely rolled her eyes as he barked at her after spitting in her direction. She knew he was little more then a barbarian but if that spitting thing was going to become a habit they might just have to gag him. As for what he said, well she honestly didn't care. Reina had heard much worse as she was rising in the ranks and anything he said would run off her skin. Frankly, he could call her whatever he wanted and she couldn't care less. He was a prisoner now and she had already shown who was superior of the two on the battlefield. After all, it wasn't her who was being held captive in the enemy capital. "I understand your people are barbarians but when you're within these walls it wouldn't hurt you be a bit more polite. Though maybe you lack the ability to actually act like a civil human." Reina shot back with her own glare. Her hands were crossed tightly over her chest as her own blue eyes bore into his crimson ones. There was nothing but contempt in the room as two enemies stared off against each other. What she wouldn't give to be able to go to her own room and finally relax without having to deal with brute who was now her so called slave. The king's word may be law but that didn't mean she couldn't have another word with him in private. Maybe tonight she might actually be able to convince him just how horrible of an idea this was and the Prince would find himself at the hand's of their dungeon master instead.

When the doctor came in and cut away the bindings she half expected him to start attacking and running around like a wild man. Needless to say she was surprised at just how calm he was taking this and how he wasn't putting up much of a fight against the frailer man. Maybe he did have some sense of self preservation or maybe he was just biding his time until he had a better chance of escape. Ha, Reina snorted at the idea that he could possibly be smart enough to come up with a plan that involved anything other then flailing his fists and trying to hit anything within twenty feet of himself. Maybe he had just calmed down and realized that fighting against the man who was healing him would have been pointless and extremely unproductive. Well with his arm in a sling and with the countless bruises he had at least he wouldn't be as much of a problem for now. Even someone like him had to realize that in this state the guards would be more then happy to get their revenge and take some of their anger out on him. Dammit, that was just another headache for her. She'd have to make sure that no one in the castle actually did enough damage to kill him which would cause the war to go on even longer.

Her eyes roamed over his body as the doctor worked more with curiosity then anything else. He had a whole mesh of scars marking his life as a warrior instead of a pampered prince that many might assume. Hard muscle of a fighter born of hours and hours of training with swords as well as general fighting. She had already seen him standing up and he easily towered over her by at least a good foot or so. One of the things that did annoy her about being a woman was that most of the soldiers under her were quite a bit taller then her. It made it difficult to bark orders at them when she actually had to crane her head to do it. Of course his coloration was what shocked most people with that head of white hair and stark red eyes contrasting with the tanned skin. No doubt that had given him a bit of difficulty growing up. Reina could feel his eyes on her but she didn't really think much of it. They were two enemies who were sizing each other up to get any idea of a weakness that might be easily exploited in this ever changing chess game.

"You do realize that the more agreeable you are the less problems you'll have. To be frank, the less I have to see you the better but that doesn't seem like it's going to happen. So why don't you just be a good little prince and not attack people and maybe the guards won't try to kill you when your back is turned." The woman didn't make any move to move any closer to him but shifted a bit so her arms were hanging lazily by her side. Maybe she'd get lucky and he'd be too tired to act like the asshole he had shown himself to be.

 

[Lox]

Oh Lox put every ounce of contempt and viciousness into the smile he gave her that it appeared as nothing more than the insane snarl of a wolf about to bite somethings neck. "Why don't you find a spine and try for my life as I am whore? I'd be more amicable if I had my armor and weapons once more. Sure I'd die eventually, but then I could take you and a few score of those oh so frightening men with me in single combat before dying myself." He hated her outright, despised the fact that she was treating him as an inferior when any man would have reservation at such an underhanded way of taking another prisoner. And still he couldn't bring himself to rising and dashing her against the stone wall until nothing but a mangled sack of meat remained. He wanted to meet her in single combat, an honorable death match to prove beyond a doubt that if she hadn't caught him already downed then she wouldn't stand a chance against him fairly. But with the way things were going even he couldn't maintain the towering rage that had fueled him up unto this point and simply turned back to look up longingly again at the window so very far away. If given the chance he could escape without too much difficulty but gods knew he wouldn't be given that opportunity during his stay, not after breaking so many heads and wreaking havoc still half chained and surrounded unarmed by full armored guards.

"Go away whore. Every single moment I spend with you here or in public will be a display of my utmost hate and disdain for the swine bred cowards that make up this country. I would sooner murder you in disgrace and renounce my family and country before I serve as your slave." Already his mind was turning to ways he could tear apart the frame of the small bed in his room and use the stones to grind them into stakes to use against the guards. It wouldn't take much to kill a few of them, and then once he had their weapons he'd be able to survive for a while before his injuries brought him down or a lucky shot by an armored opponent which made everything even more dreary. He slid easily off the bed and sat directly on the floor with his legs crossed carefully underneath him as he removed his sling and allowed his hands to gently rest in his lap as his head bowed gently. It was difficult to clear his mind when so much anger still seethed within him, and the fact that as his mind emptied he became starkly aware of the soft even breathing of his hated enemy still so very close at hand. Again he thought of killing her and for a few moments he struggled to surppress those feelings until his mind was clear of all but her breathing... which disturbed him to no end.

It was obvious he wasn't willing to speak further, and he cared little for what the slut wanted to say anyways so instead he calmed his mind and let the subtle sounds outside the thick room and those made by the woman to be only fleeting sensations. When Lox was home, it was advently forbidden to disturb him when he meditated for any reason other than one direly important, and many times in the early dawn hours before battle he chose to meditate in the middle of camp where many of his men joined him in silent contemplation of the battle to come. It made him and his men resolute, and it was the buffer for his sometimes overwhelming rage and anger but he wouldn't have chosen to meditate here if his fatigue and rage wasn't clouding his mind so much. It would only require a little more for him to throw himself into deaths arms and drag a few to hell with him as his anger had no release and his injuries slowly built, so with the same determination he used in his studies of war so to did he wipe away everything and truly rest for a few moments without going into the dangerous realm of sleep where his enemies might wish to catch him and do him harm. And yet his mind was constantly brushed by the delicate breathing of this woman and the soft sounds of her clothes rustling as she moved...

 

[Devxx]

The tips of her fingers drummed against the wall behind her as he tried her patience. There would be no way she could possibly be in the same room as this man for more then a few minutes before she felt the urge to put something very sharp through him. "Do you really believe you would be able to take me and my men? In case you haven't realized this, the whole reason you are here in the first place is because we beat you and I personally knocked you out." There was an obvious venom in her tone as she shot back at him. Apparently he still lived in some delusion where he hadn't been completely bested on the battlefield and taken prisoner like some novice. Her eyes shifted as she stared longingly at the door willing it to open and for the king to come in and tell her he had changed his mind. All she really wanted now was to lay down and relax from such a hard battle but it didn't seem like that was going to happen anytime soon. Lox was obviously pissed off and with what had just happened less then an hour ago she didn't trust him enough to leave him alone for even a second. Sure it might seem like the room would be almost escape proof with the guards posted outside and the only window far too high and small for him to get through but she wasn't about to take that chance. After that whole battle they had gone through to capture him it would be ridiculous to let him slip through their fingers.

"Let my assure you that the feeling is completely mutual you ill bred bastard. I would much rather take my chances up against an entire mongrel hoard then allow you anywhere near close enough to attack me like the coward you are." If he thought she was happy with this little arrangement then he was even dumber then she had first thought. Before she could say anything else it seemed like he had decided she wasn't worth his attention and instead sat on the floor with his hands on his lap and his head bowed slightly. For a moment she was completely silent and merely watched him like a trainer would a wild animal. With all the manic energy he had shown she would have never pegged him as the type who would even know how to spell mediate let alone practice it. From that absolute rage and energy it seemed he shifted to a more calmed down state which was very peculiar. It was so peculiar just watching the personality shift that she honestly wouldn't believe it herself. Lord knows that Corovia wasn't known for their great intelligence which the prince was an obvious example of and yet he actually practiced meditation. Funny, she would have thought that to calm down he'd hunt small bunnies and throw rocks at them while cackling like a madman.

As much fun as it was watching him do absolutely nothing she didn't like the feeling of being ignored either. Reina let out a heavy sigh as her drumming became progressively louder in an attempt to disturb the quiet in the room. He obviously had no respect for her as a warrior even though she had beaten him on the battlefield. It was annoying when he talked back to her but the fact that he was now outright annoying her pissed her off more then ever. With her eye set in a glare she pushed off the wall and walked closer to him so she was now just a foot away. Close enough that he'd definitely know she was there but if he actually tried to attack she'd have enough distance to be able to react and fight back accordingly. "First you scream like crazy through the town center, you attack the royal guards in the throne room, then you insist on insulting me and now you're actually going to mediate? I might not like this situation but there is now way I will allow some beast like you to disrespect me in my own kingdom." Her voice was low and cold as her hands clenched into fists as if she was holding back from striking him right now. His whole attitude had annoyed her to no end and the fact that he attacked her men made her blood boil. Right now Reina was just another one of his little comments away from connecting her fist with his jaw and sending his head flying.

 

[Lox]

For all her venom and hatred she would not pull Lox out of the now deep trance he had fallen into after only a few moments of waiting patiently in limbo. Even in this state it was possible for Lox to hear and understand knowledge of the outside world even in his state of peace, and looking at this woman in another perspective altogether it was strange to see how her rage nearly bubbled over with his lack of words instead of him insulting her directly. If he was capable of smiling while in the heavy trance he might have done so considering how vain the whore was and now wishing he hadn't spared her a single word he let her angry voice drift into the back ground of his mind as he thought of calmer woods and old dusty temples that dotted his homeland. She might very well strike him in her rage but at the moment Lox's calm was all the defense he needed and served as an advantage in this situation considering his injuries. She'd have to get close to harm him, and in the back drop of his senses she had indeed closed the distance between the two of them to maybe a foot and while he might not have been able to physically beat her as much as he hated admitting his size counted for quite a bit in such close proximity.

With so much building in his mind it was difficult to stay in the deep trance of meditation for long, and even as he slowly slipped back into himself and became distinctly aware of the insistent soft breathing that had quickened with the woman's rage Lox had to fight hard now to keep still and all trace of emotion off of his face. For all the nasty things he had said to her it was hilarious how just ignoring the bitch had made her throw caution to the wind and nearly jump him while he meditated. He'd savor the act of killing her even if it meant his own death but at that particular moment a very strange thought crept into his mind that made him almost lose his bearing and laugh hysterically. The whore was pissed beyond all measure and needed only the tiniest bit of needling to really get her going but instead of simply insulting her birth, or her pathetic men, or her questionable honor and battle field tactics Lox did something that might very well ensure both of them probably wouldn't make it out of the room alive in the next few moments. Instead of all the nasty things he could say, Lox proved once more that he was faster than he had any right being even while he was injured and his left hand shot out to give the final insult in the form of nothing more than a flick to the shin.

On his way in on being incarcerated Lox noticed that these particular people had an odd way of training their animals that while seemingly strange was extremely effective and he mimicked the gesture they used to punish a dog when it wasn't doing what it was told. Most dogs he saw would cringe away from the little flick or hop back to avoid it altogether but it would get the master's point across. Lox was infinitely glad he had glanced over at her when he did almost casually flick her, because she was so wound up and expecting him to attack that the moment he touched her she hopped back and half crouched in a ready stance to fight only to find Lox's left arm extended and looking at her with nothing but amusement in it eyes. She was apparently smart enough to understand his words, and while her instincts were wrestling with her mind as to what he was doing Lox made a single low choking sound deep within his chest that was a laugh dying early when he murmured "Bad dog." just low enough for her to hear him. If she wasn't pissed off before, she was most likely insane with rage now and that actually made Lox laugh was his entire frame shook from the strain of keeping it it.

His chest and ribs hurt like hell and his left arm was in agony at that sudden movement but it only made watching her jump back and seeing that confused sort of look he could imagine her head tilting to the side in the exact manner of a dog as the laughing only added more pain to his injuries. Oh gods it hurt but it was worth it even if she did pounce him and try to kill him.

 

[Devxx]

In a split second as soon as his hand shot out her hands balled up into fists and she was ready to counter any attack he could throw at her. From her crouched position her hand was on the hilt of her dagger that hung from her belt as she prepared to have to fight him off and knock him out if need be. Yet the attack never came and instead of a fist flying at her she felt him flick her shin. The confusion was evident in her eyes as she looked up at him wondering just what on earth that was supposed to accomplish. There was obvious amusement in his eyes and the confusion continued to mount considering she couldn't figure out just what he was playing out. This whole time he had called her names and insulted everyone and everything in this kingdom while subsequently trying to kill everyone who had stepped anywhere near him. Now when he had the chance to actually make good on his word of fighting against her he decided to just flick her shin. Of course when she heard him speak next everything suddenly connected and the confusion quickly turned into burning rage greater then what she'd felt before. He was treating her like a dog and punishing her like one would a puppy who had disobeyed. The insults had been bad, the ignoring had been even worse but this was the straw that broke the camels back. No, he was going to pay like hell for this.

With one quick motion she crossed the distance between the two of them and now stood directly in front of him. That bastard was actually laughing on the floor as if he had done something so incredibly hysterical. Her hands were balled into fists as she looked down at him with complete fury in her eyes as her breathing got deeper as the gears in her mind turned. He was a hostage right now and she couldn't risk killing him or else this whole deal would go to hell. However, there was also no way she was going to allow that little comment to pass without there being some sort of retribution for it. The mere fact that he had actually touched her pissed her off to no end but that bad dog comment had just cemented it. Before he could even react her hand reached out and grabbed onto his hair before giving it a hard yank. Then with one sharp movement her fist came swinging down in contact with his jaw sending his head spinning. Reina could feel the pain shoot through her fist as it met bone but even the pain was welcomed if it meant shutting him up for just a bit.

There was an almost sinister smirk on her face as she got in a defensive position in case he decided to attack. No doubt he wouldn't take that little punch lightly and even with all the wounds he had suffered recently he'd fight back like a cornered animal. Right now there was little chance that either one of them would be leaving this room without a few extra bruises and broken bones. The battle might be over but it looked like there was a new one brewing in this very room and Lox would get his chance at a rematch soon enough. "You wanted a battle right? Well here's your chance if you're man enough to take it." Right now she was taunting a wild beast and who knew just how that would end up. His temper was terrifying and there was no doubt that physically he was stronger then her but he had also suffered a lot more damage and she had the added benefit of having a weapon on her.

 

[Lox]

Lox's head exploded with pain at the impact of the woman's fist into his jaw, and though it pained him almost to tears his eyes instantly narrowed as she hopped back and got out just a few words before he was on top of her. There wasn't a lot Lox could do in his condition but long ago he had learned the terrible lesson of sacrificing parts of his body and even in his life if it meant taking down your enemy. "Dura lex sed lex" Lox intoned as he rushed her with open arms, and to the whores credit she managed to snatch her knife up and jam it into his already weak shoulder before his arms curled around her. The agony didn't blur his vision but sharpened it instead as his mind turned over why he had to have been taken by such a filthy whore and not simply killed on the battlefield while driving her back and dropping his shoulder at the last moment to smash her between the wall and his entire body weight. Everything blurred at the knife still clutched in her hand ground against the joint and bone of his shoulder, and he was satisfied to feel from her body something pop and give way underneath but it all was pointless in the end. She couldn't kill him as much as he would have loved dying in combat, and even though she was still in her prime and armed there was no honor in killing the whore inside his prison cell.

"Your time will come little puppy, I will have you in proper combat and you will regret not killing me when you had the chance... twice." Lox made sure she understood she should have ended his life then and there with that dagger, and from the way his right hand reached down to snatch the waist of her breeches and physically yank her away from the wall before tossing her into the group of guards rushing into the door he made it clear that even if she did deliver a death stroke he would have life enough left in him to take her as well. The guard captain who had been put in charge of the ten men to keep the wild prince roared at his men, who for all their worth were having difficulty constraining the smaller enraged knight as they dragged her away from the tiny cell to leave Lox alone with the a single guard. Breathing heavily Lox evened a look at the lone guard and heaved a sigh before switching to his native Corovian tongue as he recognized a far cousin, a term commonly used for those who chose to fight for the enemy but were still respected due to their prowess and the solidity of their resolve. There was an extremely cunning mind within the castle to know enough about his society to send him a far cousin to speak with, someone who also knew every man under their command and trusted this one enough with speaking to royalty of their old home.

"How have I sinned cousin?" Lox asked almost pleadingly as he sat down heavily on the bed and leaned forward with a bone weary sigh. "What have I done to be given such a hand by fate? Did I not fight for my country as all men must? Have I not ruled the men under me with a fair hand? Did I not trade my horse for the heavy armor so I could fight at the shoulders of my brothers? Is there no justice, or am I bereft of it because I refuse to give up the one thing that I built and hold dearly..." The guard bowed his head in quite respect, and Lox was surprised to see the sorrow in his face as he looked up and spoke gently. "Forgive me lord, I wouldn't allow such a travesty to occur of my honor didn't bind me. I was sent to speak to you daily and to deliver requests. My name is Finwhick, and I will try to make your stay as comfortable as possible..." The man was quiet then as he looked uncertainly at Lox's still bleeding wound and the dagger protruding from his shoulder, but Lox ignored it and spoke so softly he almost wasn't heard. "I will cooperate with you Finwhick if my honor allows and I have but two things. A room with a window to allow me a view and a grand piano within." The guard bowed and left promptly were the same tiny healer who had treated Lox no more than half an hour stepped back in to treat him again.

Finwhick wasn't really a guard per say, as he was trained in combat but he served instead as an advisory to the king. He knew that for the kings plan to humiliate the prince to work without the knight Reina or Lox killing each other there had to be some kind of intermission between the two, and the trick to doing this was playing on the kings humor. It didn't take long for him to secure a visit with the monarch while he sat at a large feast to celebrate their victory and the capture of the prince. More than a few heads turned when he was asked to report, and there was murmuring throughout the entire hall at the news that the prince and the knight were already at each others throats but everyone stopped dead when Finwhick made Lox's request. The king blinked owlishly, and there was twittering laughter that soon exploded into full merriment as the king laughed and nodded, gesturing towards one of his servants to make the arrangements. It was unthinkable that a beast could be taught to play a piano, and though he knew it might get destroyed it could be replaced if only to hear the wild prince going insane and breaking it. It would also be prudent to move the prince and the knight away from each other for a time... and while he fully expected them to fight he hadn't thought they would attempt each others life on the same day as the sentence. They both needed time to cool off...

 

[Devxx]

"You do realize that you did something extremely stupid right?" A cheery voice called out in the room as the bed sunk slightly with the added weight of another person on the edge. Blue eyes narrowed as her mouth was set in a grimace while looking over at the woman who was currently grinning from ear to ear like this was some funny joke and not an attempt on her life. Serena didn't even bat an eyelash at the glare that was currently cast towards here and instead let out a small giggle to tease her friend. The girl was quick though as she gave a yelp and quickly ducked her head to avoid the pillow being thrown at her head. "Hey, don't take your anger out on me just because you couldn't deal with the beast prince." Reina merely rolled her eyes and leaned back onto the bed as her hair splayed out over the pillows. The two women had known each other for a long time and had spent the better part of their lives growing up together. Serena lived at the castle as one of the daughter of one of the minor noblemen when Reina had come here to begin her training. Being two young girls in a big castle surrounded by adults had created a friendship between the two of them that still lasted all these years. As Reina had risen through the ranks and become a formidable warrior Serena was the only one who could calm her down and make her forget about the battlefield for even just a moment. She was also the only one who could talk to Reina that way without having to run double training rounds.

"He started it. He actually had the gall to treat me like some damned dog." There was still anger in her voice though it faded a bit since their initial fight. Her body was still terribly sore and he had managed to sprain her wrist on her left hand. There were now new bruises on her body from their altercation but at least she knew she'd gotten a good couple of cuts on him as well. If the guards hadn't stepped in there would have been a lot more blood on the floor and probably two dead bodies as well. No way either of them could be left alone in the same room without bones being broken and heads getting cracked. At least the king had seen it fit to separate them for some time even if she completely disagreed with his complying with the prince's request. He was supposed to be a captive dammit, not a guest. It would have been better off if they kept him locked up in a dark dungeon not a room with a view and a piano. What the hell he would do with a piano besides break it was beyond her. Hell, she was surprised he even knew what a piano was in the first place. "Oh like you haven't been called worse. Face it, what you have against him is a lot more personal then any other opponents you've faced." Serena countered back as she tilted her head and green eyes met blue in a minor staring contest. Reina really hated it when the other woman used that annoying reasoning of her's. There was something very personal about her rage towards him and he got under her skin unlike anyone had before. If given the chance right now she would have broken his damn neck at this very moment.

"Stop mopping around and help me get some of the flowers from the garden. Mom wanted some roses for the centerpieces she's making." That was more of an order then a request as Serena pulled Reina out of bed and dragged her out of her room and towards the garden. The groundskeeper took great care of the gardens and all season long it was filled with life and beauty. The two women spent the next twenty minutes giggling and poking through the fields as they tried to find the best roses for Serena's mother. Out in the sunshine Reina felt a lot better then she had while in Lox's cell. The further away she got from that man the less angry she seemed to feel and the more at peace she was. This was a time to celebrate their victory over the enemy and the impending end to the war that had plagued their lands for far too long. Lox's presence had only managed to spoil that but out in the gardens with Serena she could at least enjoy this down time a bit before having to go into battle once again. It would be up to her to lead her men to victory and protect them as well as the kingdom. Thoughts like that kept her awake at night as she tossed and turned trying to figure out the best way to win as well as keep everyone safe. It was a heavy burden for someone so young to have but she was the king's champion and it was her duty to lead the kingdom to victory.

Of course that mood was quickly sullen as she caught sight of a shadow moving in one of the rooms near the garden. That was the one they had moved Lox to after the king accepted his ridiculous request. Her body tensed up as her glare was directed at the window and the figure inside. Dammit, the very idea that he was even still on the grounds made her skin crawl and made her wish that he would leave here as soon as possible. There was no way she could rest easy knowing that this man was in the same castle as her only a couple of floors down. With any luck the king would have completely taken back his whole idea of humiliation and she'd never have to see him again until they traded him for the land. "Reina! Stop daydreaming and help me with this." Serena called out as she jarred the woman out of her thoughts. Looking away from the window Reina bent down and helped Serena gather the rest of the roses they would need.

 

[Lox]

When Lox was once more patched up and moved into his nicer room he was surprised to find a bath awaiting him with fresh cloths and something to eat for lunch. Stripping out of the grimy, bloody, and hole filled clothes he was currently wearing Lox bathed quickly while the water was still hot, and changed over into the clean cloths they had provided while devouring a hunk of cheese and a large loaf of still warm bread. There was passable wine with the food, and though Lox left his chicken and the rest of his meal at the small table beside the window he sighed with satisfaction and sat down at the piano. The thought of how pissed off the whore would be knowing he was being treated thus might very well start another fight between the two, with with practiced fingers Lox began playing the piano softly and letting the music calm him for a moment. For a time the guards standing outside of his room seemed disturbed and terribly frightened by such delicate and beautiful music being played by the beast prince, for they thought of it as a manner of his to lull them into complacency until he had the chance to attack. And worse for them when the king had finished his lunch he had decided to come up and check on weather not the piano had been destroyed yet only to look in confusion at the music being played.

The soft melody of the piano drifted down into the garden, and since gossip spread like lightning in the castle many of the servants began whispering excitedly at the idea that the beast could do tricks. But for Lox his troubled mind could not be lulled for long, and while his thoughts turned dark once more the intensity of his playing increased until it seemed that three were playing the same piano with the speed of the play. The songs passed and some were playful and happy, others sorrowful and intense, and still more reflecting his anxiety and feelings of being trapped until everyone within hearing stopped to turn and look towards where the playing was coming from. For all of his intensity and the mastery of the instrument being played when he ceased total silence followed not just in his room but from everyone who had been listening and staring in that direction. Then all at once more rumors began flying around where people questioned what mad beast had been locked up in their castle, and why hadn't someone so apparently insane been left anywhere but the dungeon? A man could not be that savage and still yet command such a mastery over an instrument and still be sane. There was something terribly wrong with the beast prince they kept in the castle but none could question the king.

And the king him still still standing outside the door of the prince's room with the guards stared as all his men did in silence at the door wondering. The king was at first amused by the savage prince, infinitely entertained at how the man lashed out even when death was assured with impunity and rage, yet for the life of him he didn't think the man had the ability to do anything with an instrument besides break it... Was this why Corovia wanted their prince back so desperately? It was one thing to be respected out of fear and the pure savagery you expressed towards your enemies but another thing entirely to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were capable of patience, artistry, and mastery as if it had always been there and was simply expressed. The king felt that the prince was once again a stranger to him that he knew nothing about, and smiled at the prospect of seeing just what the beast prince was truly capable of and weather or not he couldn't squeeze more out of Corovia for his return. If he proved to be more valuable it might even be prudent to marry one of the lesser nobles off to the beast to cement their relations and prevent future war but that was for another time. For now he'd enjoy the escapades provided by his new favorite prisoner as he stepped away and wandered out of the hall to leave the guards still looking suspiciously at the door.

 

[Devxx]

Hearing the music filter out through the window it seemed like everyone in the castle froze as the notes floated through the air. Reina stood up straight and turned her head towards the window without saying a word and merely listened as it changed and flowed as if taking on a life of its own. Some moments the music seemed almost whimsical like children playing and then it would turn heartbreaking and tearful. There was nothing static about the notes as they changed and evolved with each passing minute building their own story as they dug into the thoughts of all who listened. The speed and intensity increased as if there were multiple people playing instead of just Lox and Reina found herself holding her breath waiting to hear what would happen next. It was like some glorious epic where each note was a new chapter telling the story to whoever would stop and listen. There was something eerily haunting about it and the mastery behind it must have taken years and years of practice to achieve. Yet there was something about the notes that spoke of him having a talent that one was born with and couldn't achieve through mere practice alone. Whatever he played felt like a reflection of himself and Reina was disturbed to find that she identified with some of the notes that were piercing the quiet air. How could she possibly share any common emotion with a man who functioned like a wild animal ready to strike at any moment?

"That was beautiful." Serena said quietly as the last note was played and silence still hung in the air. Reina merely shrugged before leaning back down and cutting the stem off a rose and placing it in their basket. "I mean, that was true talent right there. Even the court musicians aren't able to play so wonderfully." Serena was still in awe as she stared at the window with disappointment clearly evident in her eyes as no more notes came. Reina's mouth was set in a grim frown as she busied herself with the flowers instead of agreeing with anything her friend had to say. "Even a beast that can play music is a beast. Given enough time, even a monkey can be trained to play." There would be no way she would ever admit any kind of awe towards the man's talents. In her mind there was no way she could connect the very man who had taken down so many of her men and called her a whore with the same one who had managed to play such beautiful music. He was a wild animal who was better suited to be behind bars, not to be playing a piano with the castle as his audience. This was something very unexpected and she didn't like it one bit. Thinking of him as a beast who functioned on a two-dimensional level made it easy to predict his actions and counter whatever he would do. Yet if there was more depth to him then that would make him more complicated to deal with which would just give her headaches.

"Come on, let's go. Your mom will get mad if we take too long." Gathering the basket Reina walked away from the garden and back towards the castle. With a heavy sigh Serena gathered what was left and followed her back inside away from where Lox was. No way the king would allow the two anywhere near each other now and hopefully she'd be let free of his stupid little arrangement and allowed to relax without having to even acknowledge Lox's existence for the rest of the time. Hell, right now she would have happily gone back onto the battlefield if it meant getting away from that beast. After dropping the roses off with Serena's mother the two girls bid goodbye as they went off on their own paths. Right now Reina should be resting but after all that happened she was far too antsy to sit still for very long. Maybe she could just wander the halls or hang out in the library just to clear her thoughts and come up with a plan. Being around Lox clouded her judgment and if she was going to handle this in any way she would need to come up with some sort of plan. Not to mention have a chat with the king and get out of this mess as soon as possible.

 

[Lox]

Lox sat staring at the piano for a while without moving, his left arm aching terribly from the speed at which he had to move to play as intently as he wanted to, and yet for all his effort and intensity he felt simply drained after. Rising slowly, Lox moved to the bed and laid down with a deep sigh as he looked out into the afternoon sky with longing. He loved the view of the garden, but it made him ache to be back home in his own villa and tend to his beloved gardens. Already he missed being able to take his leisure in his home and tend the delicate herbal plants and flowers, then moving out to the fields where he would break his back with the rest of his servants to care for the crops. It was considered obscene for a nobleman to do such a thing as heavy labor, but Lox could see the contentment that farmers had after a long day and when the crops were brought in. But more so than anything was the way they looked out at the growing field and knew without a doubt that with their sweat, blood, tears, and the toil of their hands made everything growing possible. It was that pride that drove Lox to learn so many different trades even though it seemed strange for a prince to indulge in.

His father gave him nothing to be proud of, only insult after insult as his first memories were of his father leading him to a piano surrounded by little noble girls and telling him to learn how to play, that way he could teach his better sons a mans skills and not worry about him. Looking back at the piano he remembered playing for the first time in his own court and showing his people a fervor they didn't believe existed outside of combat. And so it went his father would throw other instruments at his feet and bade him learn, he had no time to teach him a mans way. It continued until there weren't any instruments in the castle left he couldn't play. In a blind rage his father ordered him viciously beaten, but as he recovered he remembered his first touch of rage and madness as he learned from the guards, mercenaries, and visiting soldiers of dignitaries every art of war he could master. There came a day when he played before the court again and was called an inbred by one of the court noble's son and good for nothing else than playing music for entertainment. This was when Lox first challenged and beaten a man to death with his bear fists against an armed opponent, being known forever in his own kingdom as the mad prince after the manner he fought.

Everyday since though it seemed he did nothing but fight for every ounce of pride he owned, destroyed every single opponent who ever stood against him to prove his superiority, and made sure no one would ever think to insult him again yet here he was suffering an insult that he didn't think he could recover from. Why had his father cared enough to try and get him back? It would have been so much easier if he had simply died but looking back at his life he had to fight so hard for that pride only to have all of it snatched away by some filthy whore in a fluke of fate. What did his father want with him? To humiliate him again in court at how he was always right? At long last fatigue claimed Lox as he fell asleep into uneasy dreams, and all the while he slept his body stirred and strange words in his own language floated from his lips as he cursed, grunted, and squirmed in the grip of his nightmares. Even rest held no peace for him.

 

[Devxx]

Blue eyes blinked wearily as sunshine filtered in through the curtains and illuminated the room in the early morning glow. A small yawn could be heard coming from the blankets as Reina squirmed under them. Pushing herself up on her hands she ran a hand through her hair and looked around confusedly. The last thing she remembered was her head hitting the pillow before she drifted off into a dreamless sleep. For a moment she was actually happy until the events of yesterday flooded back and hit her like a brick. Him. Those angry crimson eyes and that stupid sneer on his face. What had once been a peaceful state only moments before was now shattered as she remembered that he was still in this castle. Throwing the covers off in disgust she walked over to one of the tables and splashed water on her face from the basin on the table before wiping it off with a towel. Still grumbling to herself she looked up as a soft knock came from the door telling her of the presence of another. "What?" Reina barked as she opened the door only to reveal a very scared looking chamber maid. Her tone was harsher then she had intended it to be but right now her temper was flaring and she'd need to calm down. "Um, his highness wanted me to give you a message miss. Lord Darron will be returning tonight and the king thought you might like to know." The poor maid stammered out as she stepped back from the angry looking knight. With just that one sentence it seemed as if her whole demeanor had changed as a small smile spread on her face. Reina thanked the woman before closing the door and returning back to her room.

If Lord Darron was returning that meant that tonight would be a special occasion. No doubt the king would host some sort of banquet for the man and his forces. While she was excited about that idea it also meant that she'd have to wear a dress for the day. A visible shudder passed through the woman as she cast a wary glance at her wardrobe. While most of her clothes consisted of tunics and trousers off in the dark corners were an array of colorful dresses. Reina was probably the only woman in the entire castle who could get away with wearing men's clothing considering she used an excuse that she always had to be on guard at all times and a dress would make it more difficult for her to protect the king or fight off an enemy. Yet with a special occasion such as this no doubt the king would expect for her to dress the part. Sighing again, she walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out the navy blue dress in the back. It was by far one of the least decorative ones she owned but it was simple and light which would make it less annoying. Slipping it on she let her hair hang loosely down her back before finishing the look off with a simple necklace. Frowning in the mirror she had to admit she looked more the part of a lady then a warrior when dressed like this. Whether that was a good thing or not had yet to be seen.

Finally content she walked out of her room and to the armory so she could go over the weaponry they would need. After about five blissful hours spent in the peace of the armory with the weapons master she was once again interrupted by the chamber maid who had spoken to her earlier. "Um, miss. The king suggested that you go and check up on our guest. His highness said that the prince was still your responsibility and that maybe now that you had some time apart you might actually be able to act rationally. Also...um...the king said to play nice." The poor chambermaid all but squeaked out that last bit as she blushed profusely. Reina let out a stream of curses as she slammed down the sword she was holding before stalking out towards the beast's room. No doubt the king was bored again and that he thought this would provide him some amusement. Her monarch had a truly twisted sense of humor. Finally getting to his room she stood outside of it for a good ten minutes before taking a deep breath and walking in.

 

[Lox]

Lox was always sensitive to his surroundings even if the particular task he was engaging in took quite a bit of his concentration and a better part of his dexterity and fortitude as his left shoulder wound was still fresh and bothersome. He was actually in the middle of a smooth, soft, song that seemed perfect for the view provided out of his window, and with a wistful thought he had the sudden desire to be with a lady friend in his own gardens where a piano sat in the center under gazebo. At first he thought the soft steps were from his healer, who had visited him earlier that day to change his bandages and also brought him his food, seeing as Lox bore the small man neither anger or hatred but his ears were suddenly assailed by a now very familiar soft breathing. Even with him still playing he could just make out the sound of the whores breathing, something that insistently drilled into his head while he attempted to meditate during their last encounter and refused to be shaken away but he ignored her for the moment. When he felt the urge to play, he wouldn't allow even this inbred cretin to disturb the flow and melody of the sonnet, in which a few very long minuets passed until the last affectionate notes drifted around the room and out into the gardens.

It was so very strange that he had decided to play one of his favorite songs and have the whore here listening to it. The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth and he knew deep down that he would never again be able to play the lovely sonnet again without connecting it to this bitch and tainting the beauty of the music. Every time she was near, no matter how peaceful and pure an endeavor Lox attempted to pursue either to calm his rage or simply to be at ease in his hated prison, this woman tainted all with a heavy blanket of savage rage and hatred. Even after playing a song that could put lovers to sleep in each others arms or lull a fussy baby into blissfulness Lox felt the entirety of his frame bunch up and closed his eyes as his back curled forward to give him the look of an animal filled with aggression. And just as soon as it came over him, Lox felt that same rage die away to leave only numbness in it's wake. Nothing lay before him but humiliation and rage with no sign of release, and he didn't think it was in him to endure such animosity for so very long without any release. With her present, the prospect of throwing himself at the guards again and making damn well sure they fought to kill him was a blissful escape to this wreaked existence.

"Go away Reina. Your presence has ensured I'll never play that song again. I can't bring myself to ruining any more sonnets with you here to taint them." Shockingly, all the anger, spitefulness, and hatred that had always colored his voice was gone and replaced by a tone that was until now unthinkable from him. He spoke with general sorrow and fatigue, he didn't want to spar or trade insults he simply wanted to be left alone. Yet he knew this whore would never give him peace, and his hate began bubbling up once more at his momentary lapse in self control. She would never give him peace, and he should be delving into his vast reservoir of rage and madness until it killed him.

 

[Devxx]

She stood against the wall in silence to allow him to finish his song without any interruptions. What she thought of the song she chose to keep to herself and for the moment was merely content with being a silent observer as his own little world consumed him. It was like watching an animal in its natural environment and seeing it shift and react to the world around it. For a moment she actually toyed with the idea that they might be able to stay in the same room for longer then five minutes without an attempt on one another's lives. Yesterday they had managed to push it to about half enough before blood was spilled, maybe today they would get lucky and get to forty-five minutes before threats of death echoed through the air and the guards had to rush in and pull them off each other once more. The dress would prove to be an annoyance if a fight should break out but with the wounds he suffered from yesterday she'd still have an advantage. Of course all thoughts of actual peace were shattered once he opened his mouth again only to make her blood boil. Even with his first words he had managed to annoy her and make her see red. A retort was on her lips and ready to fire back but instead she dug her nails into the palm of her hand in an attempt to calm herself down before talking back to him. As the nails broke her skin she could feel the pain taking away from her immediate anger and allowing her to think more clearly before she answered him. The fact that this barbarian could get under her skin with just a few words annoyed her to no end.

"Why do you continue to assume that I want to be anywhere near you?" Her voice was as emotionless as she could make it without giving way to the anger that boiled underneath. "Every moment I spend with you only makes me wish to be back in the battle fields where I would sooner fight an entire hoard then be here. Unfortunately the king seems to have a very twisted sense of humor and actually finds this to be amusing. Why I must suffer in your punishment still alludes me but his highness's word is law." She cast her eyes up to the ceiling for a moment as if willing some bolt of lighting to fall from the sky and strike her dead now. At least then she wouldn't have to deal with this infuriating man one moment more. "I wish to be around you about as much as you wish to be around me yet for the time being we're stuck together." The edge crept back in her voice as she said the last part through grit teeth. She really should have killed him back when she had the chance and saved herself from having to suffer through this intolerable hell. Yet the fates were cruel and instead she felt as if she was being punished instead of him.

"Today is a busy day and I do have other things I'd much rather be doing. I realize that civility isn't something you're very good at but why don't we try not going at each others throats and see how that works." Reina felt as if she was talking to a small child instead of a grown man. Lord knows he acted like a brat who got his favorite toy taken away and now wanted to make everyone else miserable. He would go back home soon enough and even had a pleasant room instead of being confined to the dungeon. So why he was giving her such an attitude was still beyond her. Besides, she didn't want to get in a fight before Lord Darron arrived. They hadn't seen each other in so long and she wanted everything to be perfect for then.

 

[Lox]

"Is it really beyond you not to sound condescending? Even when your asking another for something? How long will you have me assume that there isn't some form of a decent human being in you?" Lox had a very strange set of emotions in the oddity that if his mind could figure out a way to express his feelings to the same effect as his rage, all his previously vicious insults and open hostility would vanish to leave the person he was speaking with even more livid than before. The fact that Lox had no anger in his voice was disturbing enough considered his title as the wild prince as he had heard the guards and handmaids referred to him as. But when he did finally turn to look at her directly there wasn't a hint of yesterday's snarl, the burning hatred in his eyes, or any other hostility that could be noticed. It was as if he had come out of a long and terrible madness only to suddenly resurface with no hint of his previous ailment. "I'm not assuming you want to be here Reina, I'm only stating the fact that you keep coming back. I am not mistaken in the fact that you are the kings champion, and that every soldier to include the kings own body guards defer to you by rank. You could have easily ordered them to tell the king you visited me, and I would have no qualms with such an arrangement on top of the fact your men would breath easier knowing we wouldn't be in the same room and close enough to kill each other. Any person could have thought this up to benefit everyone, but why do you keep coming here?"

An enraging aspect Lox had was his ability to shift his moods and the perception others had of him so deftly that it left most who knew him instantly question either their judgment or his sanity. Both of which put him on a foot ahead of his opposition but why was he engaging her in these mind games that might very well just lead them to killing each other again. Maybe it was his own physical wariness or the humiliation of what his punishment was going to be but if she was expecting to get a hateful insult or a direct assault she would be disappointed today. The fact that he knew their customs made it that much easier to pick their train of thought apart but it disturbed him how someone who had to be at least somewhat intelligent to completely disregard an obviously superior solution to a miserably tedious and very dangerous waiting game until someone else fixed the problem for them. She might just be too much of a coward to displease an ignorant monarch but something about her visits just left him confused and not a little bit frustrated. A knock sounded on the door as the little healer who served as his messenger and servant shuffled in with set of fine cloths and boots and a simple message that he would be attending the ball tonight as a guest of the king before leaving the two quickly seeing the looks they were giving each other.

Lox sighed and turned around to the piano once more, picking a few of the keys idly before flipping through the pages of notes and reading a few other songs included. After closing the book and setting it beside him on the bench he turned back and regarded the knight with a curiosity and calm that seemed impossible for him to produce.

 

[Devxx]

He was so infuriating. As he spoke she could just feel herself getting angrier and angrier with each passing second. This calm tone was decidedly unnerving and she found herself missing the blatant rage from yesterday. At least rage she knew how to deal with but this was something very different. When people were angry they were easier to read and could slip up and make mistakes on a moments notice. Yet this was the calm before the storm and she had no idea just what was going on inside that twisted mind of his. "I could have ordered them but I'm not a liar and I won't have my men lie to their king." Her tone was harsh as if he hit on something she would rather not discuss. Reina wouldn't tolerate a liar and she most decidedly wouldn't take part in it herself. There was no honor in lying to someone even if it would be easier then telling the truth. No doubt her men probably would find it easier if their captain and the prince were as far away from one another but she wouldn't set a bad example for them. "I keep coming here because I was ordered to and because I really don't trust you. I might not want to be around you but you hurt my men and I won't give you a chance to hurt them again." If she kept an eye on him that meant there would be less of a chance of him attacking the guards again.

It seemed that the calmer Lox appeared the more on edge it made Reina. What had happened to the man who had tried to break her neck just the day before? Yet before she could continue on that thought the healer from the previous day arrived with clothes and a message. As soon as she heard what the small man had to say she let out a curse before lifting her head to the heavens in panic. "Really? You really hate me that much? What on Earth have I done to deserve this?" Her comments were directed to an unseen entity instead of Lox as she waited for some sign to tell her why the gods had deemed it necessary to make her life a living hell. Whatever ideas she had of enjoying the banquet were thrown to the wind at the news of Lox being there too. There could be no way that the king would expect her to keep an eye on him even during that time. She had other plans of what to do during the banquet and she wasn't going to let the prince ruin them for her.

"Get up." Reina said simply as she looked back down at him. "I might need to keep an eye on you but I do still have work that needs to be seen to." There was always work to do and yesterday's incident had put her back quite a bit. She still needed to go over the records for the armory and run a check of the castle. Admittedly she was anxious about letting Lox out of this room but she couldn't sit here all day.

 

[Lox]

Lox rose, but he didn't move to follow her as he walked to his bed and examined the cloths he had been given with his back turned before nodding and straightening. Instead of moving to join the still fuming woman at the door, Lox undid the buttons of his shirt and discarded it before working on the lace of his slacks and dropping them to leave him nearly naked with only a pair of under shorts on. "Go and work if you must, but there are guards enough here to keep me company until the evening and I need to bathe. Unless you want to force me I don't think I'll be going anywhere naked." Lox didn't think twice about dropping his last remaining garments to leave him stark naked as he looked out the window. By the distinct patter of feet and the door slamming he assumed the knight wasn't going to attempt to drag him through the castle as he was and for the first time in a while he actually smiled. What made him grin more was the fact that out in the flower garden a maiden was staring up into his window and gawking at him, and he was glad he was still turned slightly towards the door so she wouldn't see his front, but he waved at the woman who dropped the many roses she had been picking to cover her face.

The day seemed to be looking up as Lox washed and found his wounds to be healing nicely under the small man's care, and as he dried and inspected the cloths once more he couldn't help but smile at the humor. His attire was finely cut to compliment his size and yet appear regal and noble, but only in cut. The king must have had it made specially this very day or yesterday evening, because a wild tiger was depicted on the front tearing and clawing at a wall of spears, and from its neck dangled a wicked spiked collar with a chain that circled the whole shirt and ended at the neck line directly behind his neck. Even it Lox had been captured and disgraced, his own people would have quietly nodded their approval of this particular dress he had been given, and with a sigh Lox slipped the cloths on and found that they fit him perfectly and concealed his bandages completely. He made a mental point to find this tailor before he left the kingdom but for now he fitted on the soft leather black boots that had also been provided for the occasion. Looking about for his sword, he kicked himself mentally for falling back into a routine that this place didn't warrant now or ever. With another heavy sigh Lox looked out the window again and enjoyed the view until the guards at long last knocked polietly and opened the door to usher him to the celebration between a two columns of four men on either side.

 

[Devxx]

"Ow! That hurts you know."

"Of course it hurts. Now will you stop moving around so much or else it's going to hurt even more." Reina frowned as she tried to remain as still as possible while Serena tightened the strings of the corset. They were both getting ready for the banquet and somehow Serena had managed to talk the other woman into wearing something a bit more festive. The dress had been an ill advised gift from the king's mother who thought she could use a bit more color and glitter in her wardrobe. It was a pale cream colored dress with flecks of gold embroidered in it in intricate patterns. Her black hair was piled on top of her head making her head hurt but apparently it was appropriate for the dress. "Anyway, I can't believe he actually did that." As hard as she tried, Serena couldn't stop a small giggle from escaping as she thought back to the story Reina had told her of the beast prince. Reina merely groaned and closed her eyes as she thought back to what had happened hours ago. After years in battle she was used to seeing men walk around naked but she'd never actually had someone just strip down in front of her like that. It was like he had absolutely no sense of decency what so ever. Why should he anyway? Animals don't have a sense of shame so why should Lox?

After another hour of getting ready they finally managed to leave their rooms and head towards the banquet hall. It was already crowded with people spilling around and dancing and talking. It seemed like all the major and minor nobles had gathered together to welcome back Lord Darron as well as to get a sneak peak of the the wild prince. Reina caught sight of herself in one of the armor plates and had to do a double take. It had been a long time since she'd actually bothered to get dressed up and put on makeup that she didn't recognize herself for a moment. "Guess whose here~" Without even having to look Reina knew she was talking about Lox. People were crowded around him trying to get a better look at him while the king was smiling like a Cheshire cat at all the commotion. Reina gave him a sideways glance before looking around the room for someone else who she had been expecting. A movement of black hair caught her eyes as she moved towards a figure who was hanging out towards the side of the room.

"Long time no see kid." The man looked up as Reina approached him with a smile on her face. He was in his mid forties with black hair and pale gray eyes that gave way to a life spent on the battlefield. "So that's him huh?" Lord Darron asked as he nodded his head over to Lox. Her cheery mood turned sour as she turned away from Lox with a grunt. This was a happy occasion and she wasn't about to let him spoil it for her.

 

[Lox]

People were everywhere, and that made Lox more uncomfortable than being flanked by sixteen armed enemies on either side of him. To his dismay, the king wouldn't have the bulky guards blocking the peoples view of Lox and ordered all of them save two away so everyone who crowded about could get a really good look. Even though most chatted and openly stared at him they appeared only to have a good time with their friends without actually approaching him, and the fact that they were all so close and it was obvious that they were either talking about him or smiling at his attire made the whole act an expression of ignorance. Having extremely little tolerance for such things Lox walked away, and this seemed to shock the people as a notably vicious prisoner was given free leave to walk about without all the guards. Where ever he went though, most chatted excitedly and pointed, laughing at his attire and repeating hundreds of different stories about his savagery and viciousness but none were brave enough to approach. passing by the banquet table, he plucked a ripe strawberry up and popped it into his mouth before he approached a few artist diligently sketching scenes from the party to paint into portraits later.

He chewed reflectively as the artist stopped immediately and looked up at him nervously, all turning pail as he approached and a particularly paint smeared woman looked ready to bolt as Lox stood right beside her and looked into those big scared brown eyes. Turning to see her sketch, he wasn't surprised to see himself just a moment before looking calmly into a crowd of people pointing and laughing amongst themselves and smiled at her proficiency. She had drawn it exactly as it had appeared, something rare amongst artist who only god paid for painting what people wanted to see, but he wouldn't be surprised if she made a pretty coin off of this original sketch. What really made her blanch though was when he leaned down and picked up a clean canvas and looking her dead in the eye once more, plucked the stick of coal out of her hand before moving away once more with his prize tucked under his left arm. The general babble of the crowd increased significantly at the act, both the questionable way he had terrified the poor artist and why he had taken a canvas when it was obvious he was a brutal animal and incapable of finer arts. But there were servants among the nobles, and they offered accounts of his piano playing that made the rumors fly every which way with new intensity at what had to be an outright lie.

But all things in the hall ceased when an adorable little girl who was obviously some nobles child came running by giggling, not knowing why all the adults kept their a good distance cleared out of fear of him attacking. Mostly everyone there were eying him, and a shocked gasp echoed as Lox scooped the child up in his right arm with the little one shrieking in delight. The guards to his left clanked as they took a step, and froze when he jerked his head around and glared with every ounce of hatred and viciousness he could muster, which in turn gave the people a taste of why they called him such, but the look vanished as he turned back to the child sitting easily on his forearm who was looking in confusion at the crowd and murmured something so low none could hear. The little girl turned back to him as he smiled with soft affection, murmured to her once more and smiled all the more warmly as the little one nodded her head and smiled back at him. Setting her gently on the ground Lox patted her head before placing his hand on her shoulder and whispered one last time before she giggled again and darted off to the table along the wall and fortunately for him away from the crowd who would snatch her away. Climbing up on a chair the little one took the flowers out of the vase as Lox moved off to sit in a lone chair along the same wall, and after a moment she came running back up and stood in front of him with an adorable smile one her innocent face.

Instantly Lox's right hand streaked along the canvas he had taken, and though the little child's face changed as he looked at him with anticipation Lox's eyes flicked back to her every now and then as his hand moved with furious speed along the taunt canvas. For as long as every one was standing around looking at the two of them with no small amount of fear and confusion in their eyes it hadn't taken Lox longer than five minuets before he sighed and smiled at the little one and turned the drawing around to show her. Once more Lox heard gasps and then a sudden flurry of murmuring as the little girl smiled and leaned forward to look closer at the sketch. He had captured her the moment she had came up with the flowers and smiled happily up at him, and he had spared no detail on either her face, cloths, or the flowers she clutched to her chest in the span of only a few minuets. For the people, this was unthinkable that the animal that had looked like he was about to kill the guards could preform such a feat, and the other artists had all moved to examine the work from the crowd at different angles nodding and murmuring excitedly to each other. Leaning forward Lox murmured one last time to the little girl who smiled and put the flowers back on the table but not before picking out a single rose from the bunch and bringing it back to him. She offered it to him with a happy smile, and Lox leaned down to take it then gave her the portrait. With one last look of wonder at the sketch the little girl threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, and after returning it with an affectionate smile she ran back to the crowd to find her parents and show it to them.