The sun was still rising over the trees as the kingdom of Soir was busy as ever, filled with life from a few villagers throwing the finishing touches on their shops. The black smiths were busy feeding their fires and polishing the metals on swords, arrows, throwing knives, shields, and other weapons. The bakers were busying themselves baking fresh bread, pastries, cakes, and cookies. The jewelers were polishing their rings, bracelets, necklaces, gems, and other jewels. The stable hands were busy cleaning the stalls and laying new bedding down, cleaning all the tack and even bathing the horses - making sure they didn't so much as have a single speck of dirt on them before they tacked up the knights and guards horses who were set to patrol.

As for the knights of the kingdom of Soir, they were sound asleep in bed while their squires took to waking early to shine all their weapons and their armor since their horses were already being taken care of by the stable hands. The guards were busy dressing in the royal colors of royal blue, gold, and black - keeping their clothing crisp as possible before they would leave their rooms and make their way to the stables to collect their mounts that also wore the kingdoms colors. Their mounts manes and tails were carefully braided into tight neat braids that were held together by ribbons of the kingdoms colors, some horses even had the ribbons braided into their tails and manes. The kingdom wasn't trying to show off for their guests, but show that they were a united people.

One race didn't reside inside the kingdom walls, multiple races had learned how to live together - especially since their king and queen were married and in love even though their races were once at war with one another. Those people were all preparing for the festival and tournament in their own ways depending on what their job was, even children were happy to help their parents out with the early morning chores because they knew the sooner the chores were completed the sooner they would be allowed to go play with their friends and watch the tournament. Many rumors had spread throughout the kingdom as to why this festival was being held, some said it was to find the princess a husband while others said it was to hide a treaty signing to prevent a war.

Speaking of the princess, even in the early morning she was awake and active - already dressed with her brunette hair pulled back into a french braid that her long bangs had already fallen free from. Her personal guard, Damon was already standing outside awaiting her since she had managed to convince him into riding around the kingdom grounds with her before the festival got underway and she was to be at her fathers side. Only moments passed before the young woman was slipping out of her room, pulling the door closed behind her before flashing her guard a smile. He was trialing behind her as she moved down the hall, making their way to the stables to collect their mounts for their ride - it would give them a chance to relax before the stress of everything fell onto their shoulders.

It was a short time to the stable and they spent a short period of time there before they mounted up and began toward the front of the kingdom gates, their ride was quiet beside the few morning greetings they exchanged with some of the villagers and shop owners. Soon enough, competitors began to arrive - meaning soon their ride would need to end. But there was still time and the princess wasn't too willing to return to her room just yet, only a few kingdoms had arrived and there was at least five more to come - only two had arrived so far. The kingdom that was really the talk of the village, that had been heard in most of the rumors was the kingdom of Keratia and their prince. However, the princess wasn't willing to feed into these rumors of the prince until she met him face to face.

The pair had managed to slip past the castle guards, before they entered into the woods. The young princess was the one who decided to pick the pace up, urging her horse faster as she began to weave through the trees. The wind in her hair felt amazing as the horse eagerly moved beneath her, listening to the hooves fill the air. Ali glanced over her shoulder to check on the whereabouts of her personal guard, but all that was around her was empty woods. Her guard was no where to be found, leaving her to scan the area around her as she pushed her horse forward at a slow pace. "Damon?" She called out, voice holding a hopeful tone for an answer. They couldn't be that far from one another could they? She had only allowed her horse the freedom to run for such a short period of time and she thought Damon was behind her the entire time.

Ali sighed a moment, leaning forward and stroking her horses neck as he moved them carefully between the trees - clearly choosing his footing carefully. She raised her hand to brush her long bangs out of her face, pausing a moment as she heard the sound of horses in the distance - making their way toward her. She hoped that it was Damon, moving her horse toward the trail and watching her surrounding carefully. Who else would be out here this early besides her guard and herself? Maybe a few kingdoms traveling to her kingdom for the tournament, but would they be traveling in such a small group? Ali sighed a moment, pulling her horse to a stop as they entered the trail, glancing in the direction that the hoove sounds were coming from as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

The young princess knew that feeling all too well, her ice blue eyes narrowing as she heard a man chuckle before it was followed by whispering. She could sense someone moving up behind her, holding her horse steady for a split second before her focus was drawn elsewhere. It could have been some sort of wild animal, but it wouldn't give her the same feeling that she was having right now. Silence filled the forest around her for a moment before there was a sudden burst of movement as five men charged on horseback from five different directions, tossing the horse beneath her to jump forward - clearly wanting to run but that would allow her father to find out the trouble she had gotten herself into and lead these bandits right back into the kingdom to cause all sorts of chaos.

She refused to let these men harm any of her people, she would much rather them have a stand here. She quickly settled the horse before she slipped off his back, grabbing the bow and quiver of arrows just before the horse bolted in the direction she had been riding in. In one fluent motion she had the arrow pulled back and aimed at one of the larger men, letting go quickly to send the arrow into the unarmored man's chest. "You choose the wrong girl to mess with, now this is what you get for messing with the princess from Soir." She whispered, reloading her bow and sending another arrow into another mans shoulder, followed by another arrow to the stomach. Two down and only three more to go if they happened to stick around and they seemed to not be bothered that two of their friends were now dead.

She glared over her shoulder, reaching into a small leather bag that held small silver throwing knives - launching one into the mans neck, only two more. She bit her lip, listening to the sound of a pair of horses coming as the two remaining men took off on their mounts - leaving the three dead men's horses trailing behind them. She took a deep slow breath as she tried to calm herself, looking around her to notice she was suddenly alone without her horse or her guard surrounded by three dead men. She sighed, running her hand carefully down her braid so her tiara wouldn't have to be messed with. This was a fine mess she had found herself in, now she would need to find Damon and hope whoever was now riding toward her wasn't a threat.

The young princess jumped at the sudden sound of a male voice, thinking one of the bandits had returned. But instead there stood a man in full armor, asking if she had killed the three men who laid around her. She bit her lip a moment, unable to see any of the features of whoever was in the armor. Neither her arrows or throwing knives would so much as scratch his armor and her sword was still attached to her stallions saddle, if this man wanted to injure her, rob her, or kill her - she had no way to defend herself. Damon was no where to be found, she didn't even hear him. She watched the man carefully as she sighed softly, "And if I did?" She muttered, lowering her bow but not removing her hand from the arrow.

Her ice blue eyes scanned the area rather quickly before her eyes locked back onto the man in front of her, making sure that he kept his distant from her until Damon or her mount returned. What was he doing all the way out here in the middle of the forest without a horse? How could anyone walk this far in that type of armor? She gave him a questionable look, listening carefully to make sure he wasn't a distraction while someone was sneaking up behind her. "Princess?!" She could faintly hear Damon's voice off in the distance, "Alison?! Come on! Your father will kill me! Come on, Alison! Your the princess, your supposed to be at this tournament!" His voice seemed closer now, hearing two horses at about the same distance.

His next words caused the young princess to roll her eyes and sigh softly, she knew what her duties were but she still wanted to be able to enjoy her life and being able to escape the kingdom walls was of her enjoyable things. "Why should it matter who killed them? Everyone has a right to defend themselves if they are attacked for the purpose of being robbed or worse, they got what was coming to them." She muttered, glancing over her shoulder as a man on a white horse, leading a black one behind him came into view. The black stallion pranced behind him, bobbing his head as he did so. The poor horse had probably run until Damon had been able to catch up to him and calm him down enough to lead him in search of the princess.

"Alison! There you are! My god! Princess you nee-" Damon's voice stopped short when his eyes landed on the three dead men laying around the clearing before his eyes traveled to the man the princess was once again keeping her eyes on. He held the horses steady, eyes narrowing slightly. Damon was a human, he normally would rely on the princess to say whether someone could mean them any harm. But now, the princess wasn't within his reach for him to hear what her elvish instincts were telling her. They were possibly sitting ducks if this man wanted to kill them, "May I be of any help to you, sir?" Damon's voice now carried a respectful tone since he wasn't sure to what ranking he was speaking to.

The young princess watched the man carefully as he set his weapon down, she was no threat to him - probably even without his armor if he managed to get close enough he would easily be able to overpower her. It was rather nice when Damon showed himself, riding close enough for her to take her mounts reins and reattach her bow and arrows to the saddle. It normally threw men off when they saw a normal saddle for the princess instead of a side saddle, but she didn't find it comfortable nor did she see the point in using it if she was able to ride in a normal saddle. She was able to, he dress usually was long enough to be draped over her horses hind end. She took her eyes off the armored man only long enough to pull herself into the saddle and settle herself, glancing back in his direction.

The man was only there long enough to mention something of the tournament and hoping that the princess would be there before he was gone, there was no sign that he had ever been there - not even a sound. The princess sighed a moment, already feeling the look Damon was giving her - knowing the ride back was going to be filled with a lecture from her guard who was practically her brother. Damon was a few years older than she was, but they still had grown up with one another - when Damon's parents were killed, her father was more than willing to take Damon in and treat him as his own son. Damon had been much more interested in fighting than leading, with how protective Damon had grown over the princess - her father choose him as her personal guard because of the fact he thought of her as a sister.

The ride felt much longer than it had been going out as Damon and the princess cantered next to one another, Damon taking the ride back to the kingdom to tear into the princess about what could have happened if the bandits were able to outnumber her or the man in the armor had dark ideas. The princess could see his point but at the small time all that had already crossed her mind, what did he prefer she do? Would he have rather she didn't defend herself and let them do whatever and take whatever they wanted like normal royalty? The kingdom never really had this problem on their land but they were on what her kingdom considered 'no mans land' because no kingdom laid claim to it and her father nor her uncle saw no point in claiming the land as there's at this point.

Once the pair arrived back to the kingdom, they were met by two men dressed in royal clothing. It was the princess' father and her uncle, the pair was surprised to see the princess' father out of bed since he had fallen ill to the point he was surely going to die. However, they believed that he was holding on long enough to see it that his daughter was married and well taken care of before he did pass on. So the princess' uncle took over the kingdom until the princess could get married, but soon he became power-hungry - not caring about the people nor the princess. He charged the people into war whenever he wanted a fight, it was the princess who cared for their well being and safety. The princess sighed softly, running her hand through her hair a moment.

Her uncle didn't seem pleased to see her but her father seemed extremely pleased, the princess however wasn't pleased to see her uncle. She stood in his way to become king of the kingdom, he would either need to marry her or kill her and her father in order to become the king. As soon as the young princess was married, her husband would take over the rule of the kingdom - overthrowing her uncle. She believed that her uncle had poisoned and was still continuing to poison her father, she believed that as soon as her father was gone her uncle would turn his attention on the princess. She didn't trust him nor did she plan on allowing him to continue to be such a cruel ruler of her people, she was determined to get him off the throne one way or the other.

The princess glared at her uncle, watching the older man carefully as he seemed to make sure he stood rather square with his shoulder back. He did seem rather shocked about the fact that the young women just gave him the look she did, knowing perfectly well what she said next would not make her uncle any happier. But he would have no other options than to listen to her, after all - the people who called this kingdom home would follow the princess more than the stand-in king her uncle was. The man was merely standing in until the princess was married, then he would be stepping down - whether the man would willingly step down or the young woman’s new husband would need to make the man step down.

“You can not host a tournament and then decide the day of the event that you will not allow our people to compete! They will be competing today by my word and you have no say, uncle! These are not your people, nor does the throne belong to you! These people will not follow you and as soon as I marry, you better be prepared to step down from that throne - this is not ever be your kingdom if I have anything to do about it!” The princess snapped, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched the two men in front of her. One was her father who seemed unfazed by her actions and the other was her uncle who seemed horrified that the princess had spoken to him like she had, but she had and there was no taking what she said back.

The older of the two men - the princess’ uncle, his face slowly reddened with anger - taking a step toward the young woman only to have her guard step between the two of them. “Listen to me and listen good, you will never talk to me like that again, am I clear? I will have you locked away so fast and none of you can do anything about it, this is my kingdom and these are my people - you have no power here until I give you the right to take over the kingdom. And that will be a cold day in hell, you hear me? This will never be your kingdom if I have anything to do with it!” Her uncle snapped, shooting the princess and Damon a cold warning glare before his emotionless glaze moved toward his younger brother - the princess’ father.

The three seemed shocked, king or not he still had no right to speak to a women of royalty like that but there was no one here to stop him or even correct him. Damon could only defend the princess against any physical attacks, but nothing verbal such as this one. He could try to convince the princess to leave, but he doubted she would unless it was on her own terms. And with Alison, there was no making her think his idea was her own - she would definitely be her husbands challenge everyday. She wanted what was best for her people and even if it meant going to war, she would see to it that her kingdom was well protected while they went to war - she wouldn’t just bow down to someone who was threatening her people.

Damon knew even if it meant marrying someone to keep her kingdom safe, Ali would do so - she would do what her kingdom needed of her without a second thought. At the same time, that’s what scared him - what his best friend, what the princess he was sworn to protect would do for her kingdom. He was sure that even if she had to marry that man from the forest to keep her kingdom safe, she would - he wouldn’t put it past her. The princess ran her hand through her hair as she watched the man she called her uncle seem t uneasily shift on his feet, the young women’s ice blue eyes didn’t falter the slightest bit - seeming to make her uncle uncomfortable to the point that he mumbled something under his breath for moving away from them.

Her father was in tow of his brother with his own personal guard in tow, the guard that the princess had personally asked to keep an eye on her father to make sure her uncle didn’t do anything. “Come on, let’s go see what all is going on and enjoy some of the tournament energy.” Ali was the one to speak up, surprising Damon who flashed her a smile - only nodding in response. He couldn’t help but wonder what had happened in the forest before he rode upon her and the other man, but he didn’t dare ask - Ali wouldn’t tell him even if he asked her. “I want to let our people know anyone who wants to take part in the tournament is more than welcome by my word and not going to be restricted by what my uncle says.” Ali explained.

It left Damon rather quickly in tow of the young women, following after her and staying by her side as the moved through the village. The people were lively and it wasn’t long before Damon noticed the man from earlier, he wasn’t far off from the kingdoms men who were wanting to take part. Ali merely smiled, pausing a moment as she noticed the man before returning her focus to the men. “I don’t care what my uncle says, you all are more than welcome to compete! My kingdom will not become some outcast that doesn’t have connections with anyone on the outside of our lands! Fight or don’t fight - it is your wish, not my uncles!” She made it clear that though her uncle sat on the throne, he was not the true king.

The young princess heard the same voice from the forest from earlier, she turned to notice a man in familiar armor. She sighed softly, running her free hand through her hair as she flashed him a small smile. “And so we do.” She said in a soft voice, feeling Damon watching her from a distance - doing his job on her terms instead of her fathers. She hated to feel like she was being suffocated by guards, she much preferred her freedom to do as she wished with who she wished. “Well, I have to - you see my father fell ill and my uncle took over for a short period. And my uncle isn’t exactly…the kindest man to rule a kingdom, nor does he like the fact that my people like to be social. He would much rather shut us out from everyone because he knows what happens if everything goes right.” The young women explained, watching the man as he bowed to her - noticing that he crossed his arms across his chest.

The young women slowly returned his bow, though the bow she returned him was more of one for royalty than a warrior. “But, yes. I am doing quite well to be honest, we had no issues on the way back to our kingdom and none of my people have raised any concerns of bandits coming too close to our kingdom. But I suppose it’s because the guards normally refuse to listen to my uncle over me, though I won’t be able to rule over the kingdom anytime soon. Though I can only hope that the day will come soon that my uncle will no longer be in power, but a girl can hope - can’t she?” She asked softly with a quick smile as she ran her eyes over the man’s armor, brushing her long bangs. Even with her uncle in power, the streets of her kingdom were still full of life and her people seemed to forget about the problems they had with their ruler and it allowed the princess to forget about the problems she had with him as well.

Her uncle was not always cruel to the people, he was particularly cruel to the women and children - using whomever he wished for sex even if the women was married or even pregnant. And if you dared stand close to him and mouth off to him, there was no doubt that he would lay his hands on you - he had even gotten a few good recent blows in on the young women in front of the armored man. The poor women was still sore from when her uncle had managed to get a hold of her for telling the guards to do just the opposite of what her uncle had wanted, she did her best to keep the children away from him. It was at that moment that a young boy ran between the two of them, pausing a moment when he realized exactly who he had passed without any sort of greeting. “Sorry, princess!” He muttered, giving her a quick bow and an apologetic smile, waiting to see if he managed to get himself into trouble with his kingdom’s princess.

The young princess gave the young child a small smile, studying him a moment. The young boy looked rather thin and the princess knew why, her uncle made it almost impossible for their people to be able to afford food for their families. “James, what have I said about watching where you are going - especially when the kingdom is busy. Here, take this to your father and make sure my uncle doesn’t find out about it - our secret, okay?” The young women explained, offering the young boy a small sack that clearly had a bit of money in it. The young boy seemed to brighten up just a bit, glancing warily over at the armored man before he moved toward the princess, gently taking the bag from her as he then flashed a bright smile in her direction. “Now go straight home and give that to your father and stay out of trouble, do I make myself clear??” She asked softly, smiling down at the young boy.

“Yes princess! I will! I won’t tell a soul! Thank you so very much, princess!” The young boy exclaimed before he took off in the direction of his home, watching him dodge between people. The princess sighed softly and glanced over toward the man, “So you traveled all the way here just to take part in my kingdom’s tournament?” She asked softly, cocking her head slightly to the side.

The young women gave him a small smile and nodded, “I do, yes. His father was once a royal guard while my father was king, as soon as my uncle took over - he threw everyone out who wouldn’t bow down and listen to his every word and replaced them with people he could easily brainwash. Which is why my uncle and I don’t get along at all, kind of like fire and water. You can have both of them together without one killing the other.” She commented, watching the young boy once more as he finally disappeared. “But his father was not only a guard I grew up around, but a long-time friend of my fathers. He was able to stay employed as a guard for a short period.” She added, sighing softly.

He had gotten himself fired because of her, she had gotten into a huge argument with her uncle and her uncle had gone to hit her - James father, Anthony had put himself in between the two royalty to protect the princess. When he had refused to move out of the way, my uncle sent him away - warning him never to step foot in the castle again if he valued his son’s life. The princess glanced toward the man a moment, recognizing the name of the kingdom - remembering her father telling her if she ever ran into men from there to get away as quickly as she could. He made her promise never to lead them back to her own kingdom, knowing he wouldn’t stand a chance if a war broke out.

“Well, maybe someone can knock my uncle down a few pegs like he deserves - it’s much too long overdue.” She pointed out, aware that her uncle would never turn down a challenge if someone happened to challenge him. Yet no one from her kingdom would dare challenge him, they feared he would seek vengeance on them after the tournament concluded. Only moments passed before she heard the voice she didn’t want to hear until it was time for the tournament, looking over her shoulder to notice her uncle moving toward them - a guard on each his left and right, along with two guards following along behind him. It didn’t surprise Alison in the slightest bit that her uncle was trying to make himself look good.

:Why don’t you go back to the throne room? That’s what you need to learn, to be seen - not heard, Alison.” His voice was rather deep, but it was cold and emotionless. Damon had flinched, knowing this always caused fights between the King and Princess, but he didn’t dare speak up or move toward the two of them. He stayed where he was, no planning on getting between them. The young woman shot him a warning look, hating them ‘I’m better then you’ look on his face, thinking he could order whoever around whenever he wanted. Like normal, Ali was not going to have it - her uncle might have been the king, but that didn’t mean he could control her life or what she did. She was her own person with her own life.

“No, that’s exactly what you are good for - but you don’t really deserve the throne. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were the one to poison my father so you could get the throne while he lay sick in his bed, I would never put killing your own blood past you to get what you want.” She muttered, keeping his eyes on her uncle as his face slowly began to redden with anger. “Not to mention during this tournament you’ll do nothing beside sick there stuffing your face and trying to figure out how to steal the next man’s wife you want to sleep with because you know as well as I do if you face anyone - they will have you on the ground begging for mercy like the coward you are.” She added, watching his face suddenly turn bright red.

She was prepared for what was coming, yet she didn’t flinch or move away. She stayed where she was as the guards glanced questionably toward their king, unsure of what to do. They surely couldn’t arrest the princess could they? The young women watched her uncle, waiting to see what he would do - aware that he wouldn’t so much as try to lay a hand on her in public. It was just fun on her part to get him like this in public, to let her people know she was on their side - that she wouldn’t be pushed around by him. “You can’t do a thing until you marry, you’ll never rule - no man would want to deal with a women who can’t keep her mouth shut.” He uncle warned, voice filling with anger.

“Women are meant to be seen, not heard…you are seen and heard and I have finally had enough of it!” He uncle snapped, taking a quick step toward the princess - she still refused to move, keeping her eyes on him.

The young woman was rather shocked as the armored man moved between herself and her uncle, not that her uncle was stupid enough to lay his hands on her in public. It was easy to anger him and he did not settle down as time passed, his anger usually only seemed to grow the longer he waited to punish whoever he could take his anger out on. Her uncle didn’t at all seem pleased that the man was standing up for him, slowly straightening his shoulders as he quickly tried to puff his chest up. The princess rolled her eyes, watching her uncle as he attempted to make himself look tougher than he actual was.

It was rather amusing for the princess to watch, aware that her uncle stood no chance against the younger man that had moved in front of her. Her uncle however paused a moment as the man declared himself royalty before he carefully removed his helmet, the princess moved herself to stand next to him - glancing over at him with a raised eyebrow a moment before her eyes moved back to land on her uncle. The man now seemed like he’d seen a ghost when he studied the man, clearly knowing who he was and the mistake he just made. “Oh, the Prince of Keratia has come to visit - I’m guessing for the tournament?” He muttered.

“I certainly hope not to just see my rebellious niece.” He muttered, not seeming at all happy with the fact that his niece found the prince before he himself had. The princess however wasn’t very fazed by it, she knew a bit about the kingdom of Keratia - but clearly not as much as her uncle apparently had. She was however surprised to see that her uncle wasn’t doing his best to try to marry her off to this prince, but maybe her uncle figured out that if she were to marry someone else - she could turn around and have her then husband attack him and take over her old kingdom, which wouldn’t really be too bad of an idea.

But if that was what he was trying to prevent, the young princess knew what his plan was - he would do his best to force her to marry him so he could become the rightful ruler. Her uncle didn’t seem the least bit pleased when the man next to her pointed out that he wanted to keep her in his sight before he asked if it would be a problem, her uncle cleared his throat - flashing a rather quick smile. “I’m afraid that the princess’ fiance would not be too happy about that, maybe even to the point of calling the wedding off in fear that his future bride isn’t pure as she should be.” He commented, watching the two of them.

The princess couldn’t stop the smile on her lips as she held in a chuckle, glaring over at her uncle. “Oh, now don’t you dare start any of that! I am not engaged nor even being courted, I would watch exactly what lies you throw out. Your not really the best at keep track of them all, there is no problem whatsoever with it.” She pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest as her uncle only grew in anger. He didn't seem to like his niece talking back to him the way she just had, he never liked it.

The princess paused a moment as the prince practically asked her uncle to meet this fiance of hers, her uncle seemed to get rather annoyed as he seemed to try to think on his feet of who would dare to marry his niece. “I’m afraid that he is not currently here, I believe he went to get something’s for their wedding.” He pointed out, seeming rather unsure of his own words. The princess rolled her eyes, wanting to get as far from his uncle as possible as quickly as possible. Why did he have to do this? From what she knew of Keratia, they could easily defeat her kingdoms army and take over the ruling.

The princess glared at her uncle, he was such a liar - he was no ruler of hers or her kingdom. “And if he does not meet your standards? What business is this of yours? It’s not like you are going to marry her yourself, are you?” Her uncle muttered, his tone rather cold as someone suddenly called for him. It was another man, a lot larger than her uncle that made his way toward the group - placing himself between the prince and princess and the king. She felt the prince reach out and take her hand in his own as he pulled her along to follow beside him, unaware of where she was being led.

She followed the man, curious as to where he was leading her and why. She looked over at him, studying him a moment at his question of her uncle. At this point she noticed his red eyes, remembering her father mentioning something about only the royal family having red eyes when it came to Keratia. “To be quite honest that is a rather large understatement about him. He is much more than a mess, and in all honestly - the sooner he is no longer king…the better.” She commented, brushing her bangs out of her face with her free hand. She didn’t see why she couldn’t speak the truth around this man, he wanted the truth after all.