'Guard work? Well, as long as it pays it's fine. Plus I'll have Brienna close by incase I need her help,' he reasoned in his head with a smile. His thoughts though were cut off as Brienna came to a stop by a window. Jason was about to ask why they stopped, but he was cut off by several bright lights from outside. He followed her gaze and was met with the breath taking sight of fireworks lighting up the sky. He stared at the sight with amazement before hearing Brienna whisper her question of his time into his ear with her smooth soft voice. Jason felt his smile grow as he stared at the sight. Memories of his childhood flooded his mind and he began to think of his hometowns famous firework festival. He always went with his family and enjoyed the show with joy and laughter.

Jason slowly nodded and replied while still staring at the breath taking sight. "Yeah, we sure do. Ours were more advanced then these seeing as how we could form images, or spell out words with well placed fireworks, but even in the past they're still amazing," he explained with a soft smile as a certain memory of his mother drifted into his head. He chuckled and shook his head. "Ya know, my mom actually loved fireworks. She said they lit up the soul even in the darkest of times. She'd even give us a sparkler, a small stick that had sparks fly from the end you lit it from, and told us that the sparks were like the human heart. They may go out, but with a small flame they would reignite and keep going on," he said and rubbed the back of his head with red cheeks and an embarrassed chuckle. "She also get on my case when I used them to dual other boys in a sparkler war," he laughed at the memories, but stopped once he realized his rambling. He scratched his cheek and gave a sheepish smile. "A-anyways, they're basically the same as they are back home." he said as he looked back to Brienna, only to freeze. The fireworks lit up her face and gave her a beautiful image, almost as if she was a rare jewel that has been untouched for ages and kept its natural beauty. He cleared his throat and looked back to the show.

@Wick

Brienna caught his eyes as he turned to look at her and she smiled. She saw the interest there and it made her feel a little excited. When he mentioned his mother though she stopped and her smile faded just a little. He had lost his entire family when he landed in that tree. She wondered if he had someone, a wife or children. This thought made her feel awful. "Jason, did you have a wife and children back home?" She whispered close to his ear. She fervently hoped he would say no but kept her expression controlled just in case.

Remembering his stitches she inspected them and frowned. They were a little deeper than necessary. That had to have hurt. She made a mental note to speak to William about that. She hissed slightly as she touched the spot softly. "I'll speak to William about this." She promised him.

To anyone looking at the pair they would look to be in an intimate conversation. Her face was close to his ear and they were looking out the window together. This is what Elizabeth saw when she left the party.

@Joker892

Jason looked to Brienna with amused smile and chuckled. "No, I've been to busy with my families farm to focus on relationships," he said with a shrug. "Though I admit the thought of finding that certain someone has crossed my mind. A loving wife, happy kids and a good piece of land for us all to live on," he said as he pictured the image. It seemed like a very good life and reminded him of his parents. That's basically how they started out and life for them was good. "What about you, ever think about that stuff?" he asked with curiosity.

@Wick

Brienna smiled. "Of course I do. I'm just glad that you left no one behind. I meant that would be horrible if you had." She said softly not wanting others to hear them. When she finished inspecting his wound she let her hand slide down his arm to his elbow and let it rest there. She couldn't help the feelings he had arisen in her and she didn't want them to stop just yet. "The party is nearly over would you like to go in if the crowds have died down? Samuel won't be available for a little while yet."

She shivered slightly as the cool wind entered the castle window and she stepped back a little and allowed her hand to slide into his. She smiled up at him not caring if he could see her blush or not.

@Joker892

Jason felt his heart skip a beat as her hand entered his and couldn't help but smile. This day had started out as one of the worst possible days in Jason's life, but seeing her smile and holding her soft hands within his seemed to throw all of the worry and pain out the window. He gently held her hand and gave a small shrug. "Never been one for parties, but having a lovely young women by my side will change that up fast!" he chuckled and felt his cheeks grow warm from what he had just said. He kept his smile, but he mentally screamed at himself for saying such an embarrassing sentence. He cleared his throat and walked close to Brienna before wrapping his cloak around her to help with the chilly wind. "Though, just walking and talking never hurt anyone," he smiled. Either way they spend time together and Jason would enjoy every second of it.

@Wick

Jason had let go of her hand and wrapped his cloak around her as well. His arm around her shoulders made her feel warm and secure and a little electrified. She could not have foretold that a man would fall out of the sky and drop literally into her life and that the day would end like this. The party was winding down. The queen had already retired to her chambers and there were only a few couples left. Some were servants and only a drunken lord or two were left dancing with a couple of local ladies looking for husbands.

Once they entered the room Brienna slid out from under the cloak and took one of his hands in hers and placed his other on her hip and started to dance with him to the ballad. "Do you know how to dance?"

@Joker892

Jason gulped with nervousness as he began to attempt to copy Briennas moves and chuckled. "Well not entirely, but I took lessons with my sister as a favor. I managed to pass, but that was after a bunch of literal slip ups," he said with a smile. He began to carefully follow his partners steps and soon enough he was able to keep up without looking like a complete idiot. As they danced on he unknowingly grew closer to her and by the time he realized it he was close enough to see the beautiful sparkles within her eyes. His cheeks grew red, but he didn't pull back, he simply smiled and stared into her almost hypnotizing eyes. "Brienna, this has been the strangest day of my life, but I want to thank you for getting me out of that tree and helping me when I was alone. You never had to do any of this, but yet you did. You're truly an angel," he said softly as he continued to dance with her.

@Wick

She returned his smile and her eyes cast downwards slightly at the praise he was heaping on her. "I do assure you, I am not an angel." She noticed the looks they were getting and she blushed slightly. "I'm just glad you didn't lose more than you did."

When the next song came a drunken lord approached them. Brienna recoiled from the man when he reached for her. "M'lady I want the next dance with you." He stumbled and Brienna moved out of his way and grabbed Jason's hand and pulled him out to the balcony as one of the guards stopped the drunken man from following them.

Brienna was a little shaken.

@Joker892

Anger filled Jason's mind as some drunk bastard attempted to reach out and grab Brienna. As he was ready to defend her he was pulled away from the drunk and onto a balcony. He looked back with a glare fixed on the man, but sighed with a hint of relief as a guard stopped him from getting any further to the two. After a few more seconds of glaring he shook his head. "Damn drunk, who the hell does he think he is? If I stayed in there any longer I would have-" he stopped as he noticed Briennas current state and figured he wasn't helping. He cleared his throat and rested his hand on the shaken Briennas shoulder with a comforting smile. "Hey, you're alright. That bastard ain't gonna touch ya as long as I'm here," he said and stepped back a bit before getting into a boxers stance. He threw couple of quick jabs and an uppercut to finish it off. "I'll give him the old one, two buckaroo!" he stated with a smile.

@Wick

Brienna chuckled at his attempt to cheer her up. The guard at the balcony entrance gave Brienna a thumb's up and she smiled and mouthed a simple thank you. It was windy outside and as soon as the drunken lord had left the vicinity the guard gave Brienna a wave and she pulled Jason back inside and down the hallway. Sneaking into her room so they might speak in private she closed the door and she motioned for him to sit on the couch in the guest/living area.

The fire was roaring in the fireplace and her room was very cozy. "As a guard you will be able to protect castle patrons like the guard you saw tonight. His name is Tom." Brienna kicked off her shoes and sat on the couch, tucking her feet under herself. She was still chilled so she hugged herself hoping that he would sit with her.

"I also am thankful to have found you today. I would hate to have heard you existed only after you were killed. I couldn't allow that to happen. I-" She stopped as she looked into his eyes and remembered the first feelings for him that she had had.

@Joker892

Jason rubbed the back of his head with a smile as he sat down next to Brienna, maybe a bit to close, but he hadn't notices as he laid back on the couch with a sigh. "Well, I'm very thankful you feel that way. You really are a very kind person and I'm more then lucky to have woken up in your caring hands," he said and let his smile grow. "Also, I'm gonna have to thank Tom personally for taking care of that drunk," he chuckled before noticing that Brienna still looked a bit cold. He scratched the side of his cheek before raising his left arm up as an invitation. "If you're cold ya can sit a bit closer to me. The least I could do after all you've done for me," he stated with red cheeks.

@Wick

@Joker892



Brienna moved into his side and laid her head on his chest as his arm wrapped itself around her. She shivered a little but this time it wasn't from the cold. She laced her fingers through his and grasped his hand with hers. The glow of the fireplace made his hands look larger than they were, dwarfing hers and she chuckled softly. The shadows hid her blushes as she looked into his eyes. She was hoping to find that he was as interested in her as she was in him.

Keeping her voice low she asked him if his head hurt and she moved a little to see the stitches. "Does your head still ache?"

@Joker892

Heart pounding and nervousness slowly spreading through him, Jason simply enjoyed Brienna's presence and tried his best not to do something embarrassing. As they sat together in silence Brienna soon asked about his stitches and Jason gently shirted himself to feel it. He quickly regretted it and winced from the sharp pain. He chuckled and looked down to Brienna with a smirk. "Still a little sensitive, but I'll live," he assured her as he lowered his head for her to get a closer look. "Good story to tell my folks when I get home..." he trailed off as the thought came to him. Home. A bit of worry slipped into his mind as he began to think of how he was suppose to get back. His arm wrapped around Brienna grew a bit tighter, bring her closer to him without him realizing. His face now held slight fear and dread as he floated through his mind, trying to find a way to get home. "I... I just gotta find a way home," he mumbled with dread drifting in his voice.

@Wick

@Joker892



Wrapping her arms around him as he pulled her closer she knew he was worried that he would not ever get home. Never see his family again. She felt like she was being selfish because in her mind she was wondering what would happen to her if he did. Would he take her with him if he could? What happened if it happened like it did today and he just vanished and reappeared somewhere else. She had never felt such excitement with anyone before and she was afraid to lose that, to lose him.

"I'm so sorry, I don't want you to go but I would never want you to lose your family. Do you have any idea how you got here or how to get back?" She maneuvered herself to see him better and found herself staring into his pained eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I know you must be hurting and miss your family."

@Joker892 (EDITED)

Jason was a bit taken back by Briennas hug, but he smiled and gently returned it with much appreciation. He held her tight, feeling his worry and sadness melt away like before and shook his head. "I'm not even sure how I got here, all I can remember is showing my youngest sister a large boulder I had found when I was young and then it began to glow green. Next thing I know I'm being sucked into some portal and end up here, with you," he said with a happy tone towards the end. He slightly pulled back from the hug and rested his forehead onto hers with a grin. "My guardian angel," he chuckled as he spoke with a broken British accent. He felt his heart pound harder as he once again became trapped within her breath taking eyes. He felt her kindness fill his soul and couldn't help but feel as if he was meant to be here with her. Maybe it was fate. He laughed mentally. 'Wish fate could be more gentle when it comes to getting me here,' he joked to himself within his mind.

@Wick

Brienna heard a knock at her door and scrambled to her feet, sliding her shoes back on. She answered the door and nodded murmuring something to the person on the other side. Brienna came back to him a moment later. "Tom says that Samuel will be going back to the quarters in a few minutes. He is waiting outside to take you to him." Brienna smiled softly. "In a few days I'll be going to the country home with the queen for a few weeks. I'll ask for you to be assigned to go with us. I would like it if you did."

Brienna took his hand in hers, again noticing the size difference she chuckled. Her eyes fell back to his and she blushed a little. "Come on, let's get you to Samuel."

---

Over the next few days Brienna was so busy getting the queen ready and packed for her trip she barely got to see Jason from across the room once in awhile. She did get him assigned to the trip so at least she knew they would get some time to see each other then. The thought of spending time with Jason made her smile so much so that Elizabeth noticed and asked her about it.

"So are you smiling so much because of that man I saw you with the other night?" Elizabeth inquired teasingly.

Blushing at the unexpected question Brienna nodded. "Yes, I really like this man. I care about him a lot."

"Shall I make it a match for the two of you?" Horrified at the thought of being forced to marry someone no matter who it was, sent tremors of fear down her spine.

"Oh no! Please don't do that. If it is meant to be that way then it will on it's own. I don't want either of us forced into a marriage that we aren't completely certain of. It's only been a few days and I've barely seen him. I'm hoping for some time with him in the country."

"You are right. I won't force the issue." Elizabeth had gotten a rise out of Brienna and that made her giggle just a little bit.

@Joker892

A tired sigh escaped Jason as he rested in the guards training grounds. He rubbed his bruised cheek and shook his head as he rested his against the barracks outer walls. He rested his shield and practice sword to his side and watched as other recruits sparred with their rough trainers. He wiped the sweat from his forehead before feeling someone tap on his shoulder with the dull spear. He glanced up and felt a tired smile spread across his face to see a fellow recruit named Lucas standing above him with a wooden cup with fresh cool water. Lucas was an alright man, he was a bit more experienced than Jason seeing as how he has a week or two on him for training. In just a few days of settling in Lucas and Jason seemed to hit off after nearly getting in trouble with sneaking a bit of wine into the barracks.

He chuckled and handed the cup to Jason before sitting down next to him. As he made himself comfortable he noticed Jason's bruises and felt his smile grow longer. "Looks like the captain was your partner today, eh?" he chuckled and patted him on the back. Jason frowned and gulped down his water greedily before shaking his head.

"Man had me looking like a damn ragdoll. I think he has something against me," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. Lucas chuckled and shook his head.

"Nah, the captain does that to all new guards. Says it's his way to 'welcome' the future guards of the castle," he scoffed with a grin. "In all honesty, I think he just likes to beat people," Jason smirked.

"Yeah, I noticed," he chuckled while rubbing his sore arm. Lucas sighed and looked towards the sparing guards.

"So I heard you've been picked to accompany Elizabeth on her upcoming trip. How in god names did you ever get picked, you just started," he stated with a frown. Jason gave a sheepish smile and scratched the side of his cheek with a nervous smile. Best to not let people know about Briennas help, it may give him a bit to much attention.

"Just lucky I guess," he said. Lucas scoffed and looked to Jason with a concerned look.

"You're not very worried are you? You'll be protecting royalty, anything can happen," Jason simply shrugged.

"Meh, I think I'll be fine. Besides, I may be a recruit, but I think I can handle myself," he chuckled while flexing his right arm.

"Oi, you two welps!" both Jason and Lucas froze as a hard voice echoed throughout the training grounds. They slowly looked towards the voice and gulped as the captain pointed his dull training sword at the two. "Break times over, get ready to learn how to fight properly!" he laughed with a sick grin. Both the recruits sighed and dragged themselves to a world of hurt.

"Here we go again mate," Lucas mumbled.

"Bury me with dignity," Jason mumbled back.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jason groaned and cracked his back as he stood to the Queens carragie. His sword was sheathed and he held onto his sheild tightly as he awaited for Elizabeth and Brienna to arrive. Veteran gaurds surrounded the carragie and looked much more qualifiyed to handle this job. Jason just looked out of place. "Alright men listen up!" Jason's attention was taken by the loud voice of the sargent of his hunit. "Before we head out I want to inform you all of a small bandit party that has been reported to be near our route. We will stay on our route, but I want eyes peeled for any signs of those dirty bastards. Our mission is to protect the Queen at any cost, understood?" Jason and the rest of the guards gave a quick saulte. After a few more minutes Elizabeth and Brienna arrived and the guards quickly stood at attention. Jason tried to look professinal, but he couldn't help but flash Brienna a smile.

@Wick

Brienna followed Elizabeth and she rode in the carriage with her majesty. The others rode in another carriage following behind them. Behind those there were carriages full of clothes and money and other such commodities. There were six in total and Elizabeth's carriage was the second one. As always Brienna and the queen had several knives conveniently placed on them just in case.

There had been only one time the royal carriage had been breached and it was the only time Brienna had ever had to pull one of her knives on someone. In the end it saved them and since then Elizabeth took her everywhere. Brienna had seen Jason and she was having trouble stopping her blushing as she thought about him. They hadn't gotten very far down the road when Elizabeth began teasing her about him.

They weren't but two hours away when it happened.

Jason sighed as he held onto the Queen's carriage. It was a rather boring few hours as they travelled down the empty dirt roads and Jason began to think this was all he had to do. "This is the lamest job I've ever had in my life," he mumbled to himself. He held on tight to the carriage while keeping his shield close to his side and watched the land slowly go by. He thought back to the sergeant informing them about the bandits and scoffed. "Like they'll actually attack a freaking Queen. What dumb bastard would even think about doing tha-" he was cut off as a howl of pain echoed throughout the air and a nearby guard fell off his mount. He landed like a sack of rocks as he crashed into the ground head first. Jason was confused at the man's fall, but his eyes widened with shock to see a bolt buried within his chest.

Brienna was on alert as she was everytime they travelled. Elizabeth had a lot of enemies and she refused to marry so it made her a larger target. When Brienna heard the first scream she stuck her head to the window on that side of the carriage and she saw the first guard fall. Looking at Elizabeth she told her, "Remove your jewels and put them in the cubby." There were several hiding spots in the carriage for just such emergencies. Brienna put her crown in her own pocket.

"Ambush!" the sargent roared as he raised his sword to halt the carriages. Before Jason knew it several ragged, bloodthirsty men charged form the brushes with a horrid war cry. Jason jumped from the carriage and unsheathed his sword as the first bandit clashed swords with a mounted guard. Jason felt his heart pound and his breath become heavy as a lone bandit broke from the main charge and directed himself towards the Queens carriage. He just had to cut down Jason to get there. Jason tightened his grip on his sword and raised his sheild up to ready for his enemy's attack.

Brienna saw Jason between the carriage and the enemy. Normally they didn't stop if attacked so that must mean that there was something in the road blocking them. "Put my cloak on we are getting out." Elizabeth pulled her hair out of it's updo and Brienna put hers up in a higher fashion. Brienna took the royal cloak and Elizabeth took the coffee grounds and put them into her hair darkening it. Leaving her hair down and letting it dry that way she just looked like a noblewoman. Brienna glanced out the side of the carriage that the fighting was not on and she and Elizabeth got out quietly and took off into the woods.

"Show me what ya got!" he barked before blocking the bandits dull sword with a grunt. He pushed the attack off with gritted teeth and felt his body move for him as he sent his word under his sheild and towards the bandits gut. He felt his sword enter the bandits flesh and felt a wave of realization wash over him. He lowered his sheild and watched as the bandit fell to the ground, void of any signs of life. He just killed a man. Jason only stared at the body with shock and a hint of guilt, but he was brought back to the battle as a bloodied guard ran to his side.

"Oi, help me with a few bastards on my tail!" he shouted. Jason turned around to see three more bandits charging towards the two. He gritted his teeth and raised his shield with his sword resting on top. The two guards let out a roar before charging forward towards their enemies. He had to protect the Queen. He had to protect his angel.

Brienna and the queen heard the fighting and the screams and it was all Brienna could do to keep Elizabeth safe. She kept her hidden and eventually someone must have gotten to the carriage or seen them leave because she heard men running in the woods looking for them and they were not the good guys.

Jasons sword plunged into the bandits chest and he stumbled back as his sword slipped from the corpse. He winced from a blow to his ribs, but could tell nothing was broken. He would be sore for days. He looked to the guard who had asked for his help and felt his anger rise as a bandit finished him off by slitting his throat with a dagger. "Bastard!" he shouted and charged forward with his sword held high, but before he could get close he was knocked off his feet and landed on his back with a heavy thud. He gasped for breath as the air had been emptied from his lungs and attempted to pick himself up, but was halted as a bandit placed his boot onto his chest and forced him back to the ground. The bandit sneered at Jason as he raised his hammer high into the air, ready to smash his skull in, but before he could bring it down a spear plunged through his chest. He let out a wail before collapsing to the ground in a bloody heap.

Jason looked towards his savior and saw that it was the sergeant. The sergeant ran over to Jason and yanked him onto his feet while pulling the spear from the dead bandit. "No time to waste boy, return to the Queen and protect-" he was cut off as several high pitched screams filled the battlefield. They both looked towards the screams and spotted the servants and maids that had been brought along attempting to keep the bandits at bay with whatever they had. The sergeant growled in frustration and pulled Jason in close. "Protect the Queen at all cost, let not one bastard touch a single strand of hair on her head. Understood!?" Jason quickly nodded with a stern look and both the guards broke away from each other. Jason towards the Queen's carriage and the sargent towards the endangered servants and maids.

Jason soon returned to the carriage, but felt his heart sink as he saw a few bandits climbing in. "Brienna!" he roared and charged towards the carriage with an enraged war cry. A bandit looked over his shoulder in time to meet Jasons sword tearing into his chest. He gasped from shock, but fell without any words. His allies saw his fate and yelled with anger as they jumped from the carriage. They never attacked though as a bandit shouted and motioned for them to follow him into the woods. The others seemed upset by his orders, but followed them and retreated into the woods. Any remaining guards cheered in victory and watched with pride at their fleeing foes. Though Jason just watched with shock. He felt... numb. It was like he had changed realities. He slowly looked himself over and shook his head at the blood that stained his armor and weapons. His eyes soon floated along the battlefield and felt sorrow at the lifeless bodies that covered the bloody ground. He then caught the sight of the carriage and sprung into action. He climbed up the carriage with dread and looked inside to see no one. He quickly jumped out and began to look around the battlefield in desperation.

@Joker892

As he scanned for the two missing women a thought had hit him and he slowly looked towards the direction the bandits had fled to. "No, no they didn't," he mumbled and began to march towards the woods. The sergeant spotted him.

"Boy, where are ya going!?" he shouted. Jason looked over to the sergeant with fear and pointed his sword in the direction the bandits had fled to.

"The Queen and Brienna! They fled into the woods and now the bastards are after them!" he shouted back before sprinting off to find the two women. The sergeants eyes widened with shock before he pointed his spear to five guards.

"You lot, follow me!" he ordered and began to tail Jason with gritted teeth. "It always has to be the young ones that charge in alone," he mumbled with annoyance.

Brienna heard the men getting closer and she shoved the queen into the side of a rotten tree that was extraordinarily mossy and provided the kind of protection that she needed. As soon as she was covered she got away from there and used herself as a diversion to protect Elizabeth. She knew she would stay there until Samuel or one of the others came for her. She slid the crown into place atop her own head and prayed that Jason was still alive.

Brienna could hear them getting closer to her and they were taunting her. When a large beefy arm lifted her off of the ground she screamed and kicked him in the knee. When he set her down while swearing she gave him a very angry but superior look of arrogance. She crossed her arms and stomped like a pissed off queen.

The men looked at her as a few more of them approached. The one she kicked reached for her arm and she smacked his hand away from her. "Don't you touch me again! I am your queen and as such I'll not be manhandled like a common prostitute!" A couple of the men chuckled at her command.

The man that was obviously the leader was watching the young woman. Brienna played the queen perfectly and with the natural red in her hair that became more obvious in the sunlight she would fit Elizabeth's description easily.

"We insist that you will reinstate Mary Stuart as the real queen of England." Brienna's eyes became menacing and she denied him an answer for a moment. With her eyes piercing and her voice commanding loudly she exclaimed,

"I, Elizabeth Tudor am the rightful heir and I'll not be denied my birthright by you nor anyone!" Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of movement. Unsure who it was she kept her cool and said, "My lady ran off ahead of me when I turned my ankle. Can you run ahead and see if she is alright? Do not hurt her please. Brienna has been my personal maid for a long time."

She watched as a few of the men went deeper into the woods to look for her maid. She figured if the movement were her own people then they would know she was pretending to be the queen and not call her out as her own self. She leaned against the nearest tree and bent down to rub at her ankle to further her ruse. Her theatrics were truly believable and tears that threatened to fall she wiped away quickly. The leader believed it was her ankle causing the tears. He came over and bent over and lifted her up into his arms. Brienna immediately started to hit him and fight. There was too many of them around her to pull out one of her knives. "Put me down! Take your hands off of me right now!"

Jason gritted his teeth with rage as the bandit lifted Brienna up from the ground. He tightened his grip on his sword and readied himself to charge in, but he froze as a low chuckle came from behind him. He spun around with his sword raised, but was met with only the edge of a round sheild. He stumbled from his hiding spot and entered the open while falling onto his back with a heavy thud. He tried to pick himself up, but other near by bandits quickly restrained him and threw his sword and sheild to the side. They kicked and battered him all the while cackling in joy at their helpless victim. After what felt like hours of constant blows the bandits ceased their attack and dragged him up to his knees. Jason's head hung low before a bandit grabbed him by the hair and yanked him up to make sure he could make eye contact with the bandits leader. He glared at the leader with rage, but quickly cast a glance towards Brienna to make sure she was alright. Though, he should have been more worried about himself as bandit leader gave a cocky smirk.

It took all of the self control that Brienna possessed not to start screaming at them for beating on Jason. She stopped fighting the leader and went limp in his arms so she would cause him more issues. "Put me down!" She cast a look at Jason and let her gaze drop to the ground. If they figured out that she had feelings for him they would slit his throat. When she was unceremoniously dumped onto the ground she moved one of her knives to her wrist inside her sleeve before getting up. She got to her knees and heard the teasing from the lower ranked bandits. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Samuel in one of the bushes. Rising from her knees she dusted herself off. "You are nothing but cowards and scoundrels!"

She raised her arm and pointed it right at the leader and she slid the knife out and stabbed him in the shoulder that she had seen him holding his sword. She hoped it would lessen his ability to fight. He screamed and hit her across the face and she fell in a heap on the ground near Jason.

A snarl escaped Jason as Brienna landed next to him and he attempted to lung at the leader, but the bandits holding him where to much for him. "Bastard!" he shouted with utter rage. "Your dead! Ya hear me, dead!" he roared. The leader glared at the Queen and looked to one of his men while running his thumb across his throat. The bandit smiled and pulled out a dagger as he marched towards Jason. His eyes widened with realization and began to struggle even more. Was he really going to die here? Was he really going to leave Brienna alone with these murderers? No, he had to protect her. He had to be with her! The bandit now stood over him and placed his dagger against Jason's throat.

"Say good night lad," he chuckled, but before he could end Jasons life an arrow found its way into his eye socket. He fell to the ground and several war cries filled the air.

"To the Queen!" Jasons fellow guards charged from the brushes and clashed with the remaining bandit party. Jason was able to escape his captors and looked to Brienna as she pushed herself up from the ground, but Jason quickly caught a glimpse of a knife strapped to her thigh. He gritted his teeth and shot towards her while grabbing the blade from her thigh.

"Gotta borrow this, thanks!" he shouted and shot towards the bandit leader with his knife at the ready. He gave a cry of anger as he plunged the knife into his gut and snarled as he twisted the knife. The leader howled in pain and fell to his knees. Jason glared down into the bandits eyes and gripped the knife that was still buried in his shoulder. He ripped it from his shoulder and with a swift motion plunged the knife into his throat. The bandits eyes widened with shock as blood trickled from his mouth. Jason just stared at him with an emotionless look and pushed him to the side as he continued to choke on his own blood. He looked around him to see the guards finishing off the remaining bandits and let a heavy sigh escape him. It was over, but a scar was deep within his mind as a blank look remained on his face. Only one thing mattered. His angel was safe.

Elizabeth had emerged from her hiding spot and stayed in the bushes where Samuel put her and she smiled when she saw Brienna stand and walk over to Jason and put her arms around his waist and her head on his chest. "Let's get everyone back to the carriages and get to the house. I'll send people back to collect those that did not survive."

Brienna looked up to see her majesty and she smiled. Looking up at Jason she walked with him back up the hill through the woods to the carriages. The other guards glanced at each other knowingly, smiling at the couple. When they got back up there Elizabeth was put into the carriage with Brienna and Jason and Samuel were both on either side of the carriage and once the road was unblocked the horses were jolted into a flatout run to the house.

Elizabeth looked at her friend with pride and awe. "You are truly amazing. You know you could have been killed in my stead. Weren't you scared?"

Brienna smiled only a little. She was too tired to do more. "All I could think was to keep you safe and hope that Jason and Samuel found us before they killed me. I can't think of myself in those situations. I'm too busy playing a part and trying to keep them looking at me so the guards can surprise them." Brienna slid the crown back to the queen.

The ride towards their destination was silent one for Jason. He was happy Brienna and the Queen survived, but he glanced down to see the blood still covering his body and felt a sickness wash over him. He kept himself composed, but inside he want to vomit. Such death, and brutality that was recieved on both sides hit Jason like a train and he was having a hard time trying to piece together his hazy memory of the battle. With a trembling hand he gripped the hilt of his sword and scanned their surroundings with paranoia. He would continue this until they had finally reached their destination. Jason hopped off the carriage, but stumbled from his shaking knees. He shook his head and looked towards Brienna and Elizabeth. He smiled towards Brienna, but sadness and exhaustion was clear on his bloodied face.

Brienna felt the carriage shift slightly when Jason hopped to the ground. Elizabeth saw the worry in her eyes and put her hand on her friend's. "Go take care of him. Lillian will tend to me the rest of the evening and tomorrow. I'm just going to rest and let Samuel handle all of this. Go." Brienna nodded and her smile was enough for the queen.

Brienna jumped down from the carriage and walked to where Jason was sitting in the road. She knelt down and hugged him tightly. She knew he must be dealing with having killed for the first time. She remembered her first time and how wrecked she had been. "Jason. come with me. Let's get you cleaned up." She urged him to his feet and pulled him to the lake behind the house. Once she got him there she started pulling off his armor and she pulled him into the cool water of the lake.

As she washed the blood off of him she kept murmuring to him. "You had no choice, it was them or us. It had to be done. Please don't let it tear you up. If you let it, it will destroy you. This is a brutal place to be. Maybe I should have gotten you a job on a farm. That would certainly have been safer." Her nerves finally got the better of her and she began to cry. The stress of the day finally was just too much. She leaned against his chest and wrapped her arms around his body. "Please don't hate me for putting you on the guard."

Jason listened to every word Brienna spoke and felt tears threaten the corners of his eyes. He clenched his fist as she began to cry and hold him close. He gave a sad, but thankful smile as he gently pushed her back before clearing her cheeks of her tears with his thumbs. His own tears began to escape him as he shook his head. "I could never and will never hate you. No matter what you do I will always be on your side. I'm yours," he said and rested his forehead onto hers. "My guardian angel," he choked out.

Brienna listened to him and her heart began to flip when he said he was never going to hate her. When he declared himself hers she raised her arms around his neck and after his last words she tilted her chin up and kissed him deeply.
@joker892

Brienna had stayed up late unpacking. After washing the blood off and talking about the attack over dinner Brienna had retired to get organized. She knew that Jason had to as well. She couldn't get the words he'd said and the feelings that he had aroused out of her mind. He was the last thing at night and the first thing in the morning that she thought of and that was a new thing for her.

Leaving her room she headed to the kitchen and she looked out of the window and she noticed that there were several graves dug already. Her heart felt so heavy that her mood darkened. They had lost five men. She was just thankful it hadn't been more and that none of them had been Jason. She hugged the cook and stole a few pieces of bacon. She decided to collect flowers for the graves.

Once outside she saw Samuel overseeing everything and she nodded to him and he did the same. She touched the knives that were tucked onto her thigh and her waist just in case. When she had returned to her room the night before she had found them cleaned and on her table. It had made her feel safe to know that the guards knew she was as prepared as they were to protect her majesty. They didn't look at her as a silly girl with no value. She stopped and turned to Samuel. "I'm going to go find some flowers for the graves."

Samuel tilted his head and smiled softly. "I think that would be nice." Brienna walked over to him and gave him a piece of bacon and grinned at his hungry expression. She had yet to meet a man who didn't love bacon. She chuckled and went into the garden.

@joker892