[She gasped again and jerked away from his grasp. How dare his TOUCH her! She was about to say something when he spoke. Eye growing wide she nodded and slinked back further into the corner.]
[Look, it's his job to keep her alive. If he rumples silk in the process there's no rules against that. He makes another shushing motion, before cracking the door open and slipping out. There's no room for fighting back in the carriage, and he wants to make sure there's no fire arrows.]
[Scowling at him she stayed behind and huddled at the door. She barely peeked out the window as she watched him. She was afraid of what she might see.]
[There's not much to be seen from her position, but there's plenty to be heard. The death cries and shrieks of her hand maidens, shouts, the clash of swords...and then fire arrows. Always fire arrows. The carriage is so small it's engulfed almost immediately, and filled with smoke.
There's a few tense moments where the fire rages too loudly and too intense to escape or hear anything...and then the door of the carriage is wrenched free, and he's back, taking her hand--he pauses a moment, startled as if suffering some acute deja vu--and yanking her out, dragging her away from the carnage of the road.]
[Just as the screams started she began to cry and tremble in fear. And as the carriage caught on fire she started to scream and sob. Surely she was going to die here~
But SUDDENLY! The door was ripped opened and he stood there, sunlight haloing him and he was like an angel. Abet a dirty lowly human angel. As he grasped her hand she stumbled out and started running, her skirts lifted so she might not trip.]
[He actually feels sympathy for her, seeing her traumatized look. She's never seen war like he has, she's never watched friends and loved ones die before. She's pampered and sheltered...and now she's running through the forest--wait. He pulls her to a stop behind a tree.] Take off your shoes, Princess, or you'll break your ankle. I didn't sign up to carry you the whole way.
B-but my feet! They will get hurt! [Looking up at him she did see the logic in what he said so she sighed and slipped her heels off. Those beautiful silk covered pink heels. She almost wanted say that she loved them, her mum had them specially made for her. Well, with that she looked back at him before running forward once again.]
[He directs a dubious look at those shoes...but for now he can't reasonably demand she throw them out. Besides, that way they won't have a trail of her things to follow.]
They shouldn't have known we were on that road, should they? Your father used all the stealth available to your kingdom, didn't he?
That's not what I meant, Princess. [He's firmly keeping one hand on hers whether she likes it or not. There might be more danger in the woods and he doesn't want anyone snatching away his reward.] If no one knew you'd moved up your transport, who in the seven hells were those men?
[He shakes his head.] They carried nothing to collect with, and made no offers to collect. Highway brigands only kill when they must. They risk injury and death any time their intimidation tactics don't work.
[She shuddered then but as her bare foot stepped on a stick she cried out and tripped forward, her dress getting caught on something and ripped loudly. Which made her wail at the injustice of it all.]
[He startles at her wail and makes a shushing sound.] Be quiet for once in your life, Princess. There may be more around and I do not intend to lose my reward. [He frowns at her a moment...and then draws his dagger, slicing at her over skirt--undeterred by protests.] You're going to need something you can move in and this is a very sharp blade, so stand still. Complain to your father when you arrive alive and in an improved dress.
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There's a few tense moments where the fire rages too loudly and too intense to escape or hear anything...and then the door of the carriage is wrenched free, and he's back, taking her hand--he pauses a moment, startled as if suffering some acute deja vu--and yanking her out, dragging her away from the carnage of the road.]
Run, Princess!
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But SUDDENLY! The door was ripped opened and he stood there, sunlight haloing him and he was like an angel. Abet a dirty lowly human angel. As he grasped her hand she stumbled out and started running, her skirts lifted so she might not trip.]
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They shouldn't have known we were on that road, should they? Your father used all the stealth available to your kingdom, didn't he?
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What do you think he did? Send a message to all the land letting them know I was on the road?
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Maybe they were just highway robbers?
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I-I dunno! My foot...my DRESS!
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Is that all I am to you, a reward?
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