[IC] The gladiator and the princess

[Xion Demente]

Robert sighed, he watched as his grandfathers men dragged the prince away. Grabbing his abandoned armor on the floor, strapping his sword to his back. He put his hands on lauralye's shoulders, "listen to me princess you did the best you could and everything you will be a great leader don't let doubt get to you you have me by your side."

He looked to the former slaves smiling at them, he waved to one of his grandfathers men to come forward. "Get a good meal into them they'll need it along with a good nights sleep for tomorrow there training will begin by then." He looked back to lauralye, "you need your sleep too princess come on we need to turn in for the night." He held his hand out toward her.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye nodded when Robert told her she needed sleep. She took his hand and sniffled, rubbing under her eyes with her free hand. Once they were alone in her room she turned into him, resting her head on his chest and sobbed. She hated what her father had made her do. Her mother was taken from her but she sent her father away and that seemed to hurt all the more. She didn't look up at Robert when her crying seemed to quiet, "Will you stay with me?" She asked as though he had not been sleeping on the floor or couch in her room and even sometimes in the hall outside since they left the palace, "Will... you... sleep in my bed with me?" She asked quietly, "I don't want to be alone..."

[Xion Demente]

Robert had his arms around her, as she sobbed into him he didn't mind it. He didn't mind when she made him her life line sometimes, he had gotten used to it in fact. He looked down at her as she spoke, nodding slightly to her words, for now though she could hold onto him he wasn't really that tired but he could sleep if he wanted to. "I will say with you princess don't worry about it." He gave her a small smile, taking this all in this was a lot for a man even a person of his stature to take in.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye nodded her head and rubbed her eyes before she walked to the bed with him. The last time he had laid in bed with her had been when she was sick and freezing. Although, she didn't have the feelings she had for him now then... And she was a little delirious... She took over her shoes and climbed into the bed, not bothering to change into a nightgown. She looked around her room as Robert climbed into bed. It was weird being back here after so long... She could see that nothing had changed, no dust had even piled up on the surfaces. Someone had be caring for her room in her absence. When Robert was lying down to moved and curled up against him. She let one of her legs slip between his as she rested her head on his chest. She placed her hands on his torso and played with his shirt, "Do......... do you love me, Robert?"

[Xion Demente]

Robert smiled to that, "of course I do lauralye why do you bring it up?" He watched her hands play with his shirt. He kicked off his boots, he didn't mind he was sleeping in the same clothes his boots though would bother him if he did fall asleep. He looked at her, it had been awhile since he had been this close to her. He was either making sure she was alright or he was doing something for her.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye looked up at him when he asked her why she asked. She smiled at little, "Just checking..."

She leaned into him and gave him a soft kiss before resting her head back on her pillow, "Because I love you too..."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Thank you, Robert... for everything," With that, she slowly faded to sleep.

[Xion Demente]

Robert smiled to that, kissing the top of her head. "Your welcome princess," he settled back down into his spot. Watching a lauralye slept beside him, finally he let sleep take him. He didn't realize how tired he was till he laid on the bed which was a surprise to him he never expected himself to be so drained.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye woke up sometime later lying in her bed and smiled when she found herself still curled up against Robert. She lay there for a short time, listening to his quiet snoring and his heart beat. She allowed his chest to rock her head up and down as he breathed. Slowly, and careful not to wake him up, Lauralye slipped out of her bed and walked over to her closet. She pulled out a simple blue dress, which had been on of her favourites and took to the task of putting it on. She'd have to tell her people that she was taking over from her father and David... for that she had to look like a queen.

[Xion Demente]

After a few more minutes, Robert woke up. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he looked around. Lauralye must've woken up before him, grabbed the duffel that held the rest of his armor and the extra clothes. He went to the bathroom to change, once he had gotten his armor on he moved to the room his hands moving strapping his sword around his waist.

Pulling on his reinforced boots, he held the helmet under his arm. It had been a couple of years since he had worn the old thing but it hadn't changed a bit. Setting the helmet down on the bed he waited for lauralye, he was more comfortable knowing that he wouldn't get killed easily.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye could hear movement outside of her closet and assumed it was Robert getting up. She tightened the corset of her dress behind her back before quickly tying it at the bottom. She didn't have a mirror in her closet to see how she looked, so she merely looked down at the blue dress and brushed her hands over her many skirts. She grabbed a long brown cloak off a hanger and pulled it over her shoulders before tying it at her neck. Finally, off a pedestal she took a golden crown. She looked at it for a moment, it had been in mother's all those years ago. She had asked her father if she could keep it in her room rather than in some crown room. She placed the crown in her dark hair before she left her closet and walked back into her room. She looked at Robert and smiled, "Don't you look dashing."

[Xion Demente]

Robert got to his feet, the metal and leather not making a sound as he moved except for his boots. "You look....wow just wow I have no words that can explain your beauty." The helmet was back under his arm, he set it down once more. Walking forward toward her he gave her a small smile. "Alright then I'm ready when you are princess." The crest of his grandfather was on the breastplate it was faded from the years of use

[tsubasa]

Lauralye blushed a little as Robert complimented her on how she looked. When he finished, she rose to her toes and gave him a small kiss on his lips before she pulled away, "I want to go into the city... Tell the people there what is happening here and maybe some of them will spread the word to those in the rest of the country...."

She took Robert's hand and picked up his helmet for him before walking out the door of her room, "I also want to try and get those who have lost their homes to this war in the palace... It is just the servants, guards, and I... and you.... But that leaves plenty of room for those in need. And with you staying in my room with me... I won't have to worry about anyone trying to hurt me because I know you can stop them."

They walked to the barn and Lauralye released Robert's hand and took hold of her horse's reins, "I feel like we should ride in... I don't think anyone in the city knows of your wings and I haven't a clue how they would handle seeing them... especially right now."

[Xion Demente]

Robert nodded following her, he took his helmet back from her. Putting it on it didn't cover his face, but it protected his head. He got on a horse himself, "then we have a long day ahead of us princess let's get moving then." With that both went into a trot, his horse staying by hers so then just in case he could stop anyone from hurting her.

Looking at the town he barely knew, when he first came here. Taking in his surroundings as he rode, keeping his helmet on it wasn't covering his face except for that pice of metal that went down the bridge of his nose to the end and metal covering his cheeks to where on his mouth was visible.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye nodded to Robert and pulled herself onto her horse and rode side saddle. She fixed her cloak to sit on the horse's back before they took to trotting. She looked as the city came into view. It wasn't a long way from the palace, a mere few minute ride but it was strange all the same. It had been years since she rode down this path. The last memory she had of it was her mother getting killed. She urged her horse into a gallop, not wanting to deal with the memories.

When she arrived in the city, people immediately started circling them. None of them would really recognize her... But they could see the crown on her head and assume. She looked down at them all, "The King is gone," She said in a loud but gentle voice, "He is not dead... but I have asked for him to leave our country... For the last twelve years, he has not been treating you as he should. I know many of you don't know me and the few who might probably don't remember me... I was your Princess and now I am your Queen and I hope you will let me protect you... I wish to serve you as you have me.... And I wish to start by inviting anyone who has lost their home to this war or any other to my home in the palace."

[Xion Demente]

Watched as lauralye got her horse into a gallop, he followed behind her till he stopped by her side. Listening to her speak, he had to fight the urge to smile he was a warrior outside those walls his face was in a mask of seriousness. He listened, he heard voices among them he knew only a few recognized him as the slave that had gotten sold but now they looked up at him and knew he was of no such thing.

He looked around the people that stepped forward, that had lost there homes. Brows creased slightly, he got off his horse keeping the reigns in his hands. Looking to them they didn't have much, but he would rather walk than ride if they were walking back with them.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye watched as people stepped forward. It was easy to tell that these people had nothing by the look of them. Their clothes were tattered and torn, their faces dirty, the clothes that they did have hung from their thin and frail bodies. She couldn't wait to get these people back to the palace and get some food in them.

She slid off her own horse when a pregnant woman stepped forward. She held out her hand to the woman, who seemed a little confused. Lauralye smiled and took her hand before guiding her to her horse, "You shouldn't walk all that way."

"But your highness," The woman began.

Lauralye shook her head, "I have two perfectly good feet to walk me back."

She turned away as the woman climbed on and spoke to some of the subjects, "If you need anything or have complaints, come to the palace and I will do my best to help," She informed one group of people.

She enjoyed talking to her subjects. She was finally doing something that had been denied to her all these years. When she finished, she asked for those who would remain to write anyone they could think of about the news so that the country would now. Then she turned and walked back to the palace as close to Robert as possible without anyone seeing the relationship under their professional facade. After all, they both had images to uphold.

[Xion Demente]

A small smile made it to his lips, but it disappeared once lauralye saw it. He saw a small boy come up, he walked forward kneeling down before the boy. Taking off his helmet, "come forward." The boys eyes widened, before he came forward following Robert back to his horse. Helping the boy on the horse.

"But knight commander-" Robert held his hand up, silencing the boy. "You have no shoes and you look about to collapse I rather you ride." The boy nodded in understanding, "what's your name?" The boy looked to the man in all armor that looked ready for a battle. "Joseph sir." Robert smiled, "well Joseph my names Robert I don't want the formality when your talking to me it makes me feel weird."

He looked back to the other people, sighing nodding his head toward the palace before he looked over his shoulder at lauralye his lips twitched slightly.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye smiled as she watched Robert with the little boy before looking around. When it seemed that everyone was ready she took hold of her horse's reins and guided it back to the palace. She only wished that they had enough horses for those that followed on foot. She had never expected this many people to be without a home. She wondered how long they all were suffering.... How many of them her father had ignored.

When they arrived back at the palace she told a guard to tell the chef to start cooking. She walked over to Robert's horse while a knight helped the pregnant woman down. She reached up and pulled the boy down and he was grinning at her, "Hello, your majesty."

"Why hello, Joseph was it?"

The boy nodded his head vigorously, causing Robert's helmet to rock wildly on his head. Lauralye smiled and placed him on the ground, "And where are your parents, Joseph?"

"... Not here, ma'am," Joseph saying, his face falling a little.

Lauralye gave him a soft smile, "Mine neither," She took his hand and looked over her shoulder and Robert, grinning. She nodded her head toward the palace before she walked in with Joseph.

[Xion Demente]

Robert laughed, taking his helmet from the kids head. He smiled to him, tucking it under his arm. Walking with lauralye back into the palace, before he stopped. Looking over toward his grandfathers men, waving one over "find some open rooms get them fresh clothing." Sighing running his hand through his hair, looking around at the faces.

He took the clothing the knight gave to him handing them out, each person mumbling a piece of gratitude to him. Smiling to that, he didn't know if he was going to be much more help. He felt small hands gripping his leg, looking down to see Joseph. He knelt down to the boys level.

Just to have him wrap his arms around his neck, "thank you Robert for everything." He smiled wrapping his arms around the small frame of the kid, "it's not a problem Joseph you need anything at all you come and tell me and take good care of this." He took his helmet from the floor handing it to Joseph. "Are you sure?" Robert smiled, nodding. "Take good care of it it's important to me." The boy nodded to that clutching it to his chest.

[tsubasa]

Lauralye stood idly by as the guards started to hand out clothing and find people rooms. She felt a little useless but knew that her being there was a lot more than her father or David had ever done for these people. She watched Joseph and Robert and smiled as the man gave the younger his helmet. She walked over to the two and took the last of the clothing Robert held. She handed them out before she instructed a knight take people to the dining hall to eat.

Finally, she walked back to Robert and Joseph, "You should go eat, Joseph," She said ushering him along, the boy grinning from ear to ear. When everyone was gone from the hall, Lauralye turned and kissed Robert, "I love you," She whispered.