[IC] The gladiator and the princess

[Xion Demente]

Robert only smiled, coming willingly. He couldn't say no, even if he would want to. His wings retracted into his back, as he still walked hand in hand with lauralye. He knew he needed the break anyway, his legs were sore, but he ignored it and followed.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye smiled happily when Robert came without a word. She walked next to him, her hand in his as they walked out of the pen and then towards the gardens. He was covered in dirt, while Lauralye stuck to more clean activities. The Princess in her insisted on avoiding dirt whenever possible. She didn't want to avoid him though and leaned against his arm as they walked, her head on his shoulder. She looked up at him, "I like being here... It is like home. It makes not being there... a little easier."

She rose to her toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek, "Thank you for bringing me here."

[Xion Demente]

Robert smiled to that, "I am glad that you think so princess." He knew they would have to leave by tonight, the training his uncle gave her would have to be enough. He would bring some of his friends that were now knights with them, he hoped the demons wouldn't attack tonight but that seemed unlikely though.

They would have to travel with speed, he hoped that his uncle had gotten what he had seen as a child only once before Pegasus though he would ask tonight.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye rested against his arm as they made it to the garden. She looked around them and released his hand. She walked over to a hydrangea bush and took one of the blooms into her hand, "I'm going to miss this place," She looked at Robert over her shoulder, "But I suppose I do have to go home," She smiled at the thought of home. Although, it was going to be far different when she got there. She didn't know how they were going to deal with her father or David... She didn't even know if they were going to survive the war.

She returned her attention to the flower and started to play with her tiara, that still hung around her neck, "Do you... think everything is going to be okay?"

[Xion Demente]

To that Robert shrugged, "I hope so I really hope so that's all I can really do for now is hope princess." Rolled his shoulders back, getting some of the soreness out of his body. He guessed he was ready for a fight, since he could keep up in a fight with a sorcerer.

He didn't really know, if they had more people there at lauralye's home. He rather be safe than sorry, he thought for a moment. His uncle had informed him he had got the Pegasi, "I want to show you something.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye released the flower and turned to looked at Robert when he told her he had something to show it. She gave him a slightly puzzled look before taking his hand and allowing him to guide her where it was that he wanted. She looked up at him, "What?" She asked him, her curiosity getting the better of her.

[Xion Demente]

Robert looked at her, "it's a surprise." He got to the stables with her opening the door slowly revealing five maybe six Pegasus, "I had seen one when I was only a kid and my uncle has been searching for them ever since there pretty cool beasts." He walked up to a pure black one, petting it, it relaxed under his touch.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye looked up at him, "But I want to know now!" She giggled and let him take her to the stables. She followed in behind him as he opened the door to see six winged horses. Her eyes widened as she looked at them all, "Oh...."

She couldn't think of any words to describe what it was that she was looking at but she was amazed. She walked over to one of the horses and held out her hand. It placed its nose against her and allowed her to pet it. She laughed a little and looked over her shoulder at Robert, "They are kind of like you... Winged and all that."

[Xion Demente]

Robert chuckled to that a little, "there called Pegasus though a group of them is pagasi. Though they don't have my good looks," he heard a snort. He looked to the Pegasus he was petting, "you know it's true shadow." Though he couldn't understand them he knew they understood human talk easily.

[tsubasa]

((I am so sorry I've been gone so long!!))

Lauralye tentatively pet the pegasus' s nose and smiled. She looked at him as he joked with the pegasi and laughed, "I feel as though he doesn't agree."

She looked at the creature, "Shadow is it? Nice to meet you... all of you."

She leaned against Robert and fingered the crown she wore around her neck, she sighed and straightened before taking it off her neck and laying it on her head. She looked up at Robert, "Shall we head home?"

[Xion Demente]

Robert nodded to that, scratching behind shadows ears. "You ready for flying again boy?" The Pegasus gave a furious nod. Calling over the other knights. They started settling them up, while Robert got the rest of his armor on. Putting his sword at his hip,"I can fly there you ride it's faster this way I'll be in front of you guys. Keeping an eye out for other troops that are not ours," sighing slightly.

"Let's hope this goes well," he saddled shadow. "Princess your the first person to touch him without going into a whinnying fit besides me of course though he knows I was born in the sky he's not afraid of me he's a good horse and he will be loyal to you even though shadow disapproves sometimes I don't need help flying through the sky so he's now yours."

[tsubasa]

Lauralye stared at Robert in shock as he told her that the Pegasus was her's. She then looked to Shadow and touched his nose, "Thank you," She said quietly although she wasn't sure if she was thanking the steed or Robert. She looked at the saddle that Robert had placed on for her and adjusted the stirrups to fit her. Then she walked around the side of Shadow and carefully lifted herself onto him, not used to climbing on a horse with wings. When she was comfortably seated Shadow flapped his wings and the two of them moved out of the barn. When the knights that Robert had gathered were ready they joined her and surrounded the two of them in a circle. There was no angle that anyone could get to her without meeting resistance. She looked at Robert and held out her hand to him, silently asking him to come to her.

When he did she took his hand and leaned down to kiss his cheek, "I know this isn't your fight... But... Thank you."

[Xion Demente]

Nodding his head, Robert gave her a smile. "Not a problem princess and shadow take care of her out there will you my friend?" Putting a hand to the steeds nose,before he sighed, getting to the front of the group. Turning slightly back to the group, "keep at ready we don't know what were going to be facing once we get there." Looking to the sky taking a breath, before he took a running start knowing the Pegasi would follow.

Jumping, wings unfolding lifting him higher. Looking at the ground passing beneath him. Robert called back, "were going to be there in a few hours make sure your ready when we get there." Looking to the sun that was dipping further and further beneath the ground, they would make it there by night fall or later.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye gasped a little when Shadow took flight. It was strange and completely different to be flying on Shadow over flying with Robert. She looked up at him ahead of them and smiled. She looked around as they flew enjoying the view. Hopefully, they would run into no problems that would make the next few hours more than just sightseeing. She looked into the distance from this height she could see the castle. A sad smile spread across her face as she looked at it. She didn't know what it was anymore was her father and David had done... What they would do upon her return and what she might have to do...

[Xion Demente]

Seeing the castle in the distance, keeping his hand on the hilt of the sword. The crest on the chest plate glowing slightly in the moon light, had two swords crossed over a shield. His grandad had said the crest meant to protect what was around him and the people he cherished in his life. Stopping slightly, looking over the castle he saw a demon army.

"Were going to have to take this place back before they make it to the walls or this will all fall apart." With that he dove cutting any arrows that were fired in half making a path clear for lauralye and his men. Keeping silent, as he made it to the walls, dodging a sword that would have cut into his wings. He kicked the first over the wall then the second in the head.

Waving for them I come down, he moved the second man into a place where the guards would not see him.

[tsubasa]

When Shadow touched down on the wall Lauralye was quick to climb down from him. She knew that she'd be a pretty easy target atop the horse and she felt like between the demons that kidnapped her, David, and her father, she could very well be target number one. The guards kept close to her as she looked at Shadow, "Thank you... But I don't want you getting hurt and you've already done so much.... Go find somewhere safe to hide for now. You are too big a target right now and I don't want you getting hurt."

She smiled at Shadow before moving to Robert. She looked up at him and whispered, "What now?"

[Xion Demente]

Robert spun his sword in his grasp, "you know this place better than I do can you lead the way to the throne room without us getting seen by more guards? I rather not have a blood bath on our hands when, a demon army is slowly marching this way." He looked to the courtyard, seeing that no one had been alerted he nodded to that. Before looking back at lauralye, seeing his other men shift waiting for them to move his gaze went back to lauralye.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye was a little surprised to have this all suddenly in her hands. Yes, she had spent the last seventeen years of her life holed up in the palace and she knew it far better than anyone here but she wasn't allowed onto the wall... She wasn't even sure where it led her or how they were going to avoid guards, she didn't sneak around in this place. She took a deep breath and looked at Robert before nodding and then she was off. She didn't run but she definitely was walking with purpose. With her in the lead, the guards would see her and it might take them a moment to realize she wasn't supposed to be here. However, that all relied on her looking like she did. She moved into the guard tower and was relieved to find it empty. Although, if the demons were coming this needed to be protected. She looked at Robert, "We need someone to stay in here..."

Then she continued on, leaving the decision up to him. At the moment that was her biggest fear so long as they cleared the way for themselves to the throne room the demons would have the same easy access. She peaked her head around the corner to see two guards walking down with their swords safely away in their pockets. Lauralye started mumbling to herself before she stepped out and held her hands out in front of her. The guards stopped mid stride as though time froze. She looked at Robert, "It won't last long... Let's move."

She raced down the hall and into one of the first hidden corridors.

[Xion Demente]

Robert and he other six men followed, when she said one needed to stay there to guard the place he nodded. Pointing to one of the men then giving him the orders, the rest followed Robert. Seeing the guards freeze mid step he and his men followed behind quietly. Following, Robert was sure either David or her father would be in the main throne room why not surprise them instead of making a bloody fight to where they would know they were coming for them.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye brought them through corridor after corridor. She didn't know the outside world but she most definitely did know the insides of these walls. She stopped at a hall that lead back to the main hall and a short ways from the Throne Room. She looked at Robert, "This is the closest we can get... We'll have to run from here," She bit her lip, "What... what if David is in there?" She whispered to quietly for the other knights to hear, "What if he tries to hurt you again?"