tsubasa

The gladiator and the princess

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?"

The gladiator and the princess

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.

Avatar: Trusting your enemy

Jaya smiled at him and picked up her own hand, "I figured we'd play a game of Crazy Eights... The game can be really quick or take for hours. I think it will be a good game to pass the time."

She started to refresh his memory with the games rules before they jumped on it.
~
Some days later, Jaya was wrapped up in her new coat and hat as she leaned against the railing of the ship. It was freezing out and she was shivering. Her gloves were stuffed in her pocket as she held her hands to her face. She blew fire into them discretely now and again. They still hadn't told anyone on the ship where she was from and she didn't feel like facing the possibility of being tossed overboard without being able to get a word out. When her hands warmed up a little she stuffed them into her gloves and held them close to her as she stepped away from the railing.

Avatar: Trusting your enemy

Jaya nestled into Senge's fur hiding from the slightly cool breeze. It was still far too warm for the winter gear and she knew it was probably too warm for even her light jacket. Lucky for her, Senge was very warm and so was his fur. She pursed her lips when he mentioned that the trip from the North had been shorter than the trip they would be taking and he spent it eating and sleeping. She reached into her bag and pulled out a deck of cards. She looked at him, "Well, I suppose we should kill sometime in other ways than as well."

She leaned against Senge and started to deal the cards.

The gladiator and the princess

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?"

Avatar: Trusting your enemy

Jaya smiled at him and nodded, "Southern Water Tribe here we come," she climbed onto Senge and started him forward when Nikko joined her. She didn't know what was going to happen in the Water Tribe if they were really going to accept her. She supposed she could only hope and pray that they would because she felt if they didn't there wasn't going to be anywhere for her to run.

When they got to the boat, she pulled out her pouch again, the pouch that held the money that she and Nikko had pooled together, and paid the man who was going to take them South. She patted Senge's side and smiled at him, "You're going to fine boy. You've been a boat, haven't you."

Senge lumbered onto the ship and Jaya could already feel the cold in the wind coming off the ocean. She had Senge lie down and sat down leaning into his warm fur. She looked at Nikko, "Know of anyways to pass the time of these boats?"

Avatar: Trusting your enemy

Jaya grabbed a few things that Nikko deemed as warm enough to get to the South and brought them to the counter. As she did, she looked out the window and waved to Senge, who seemed to be holding up well enough outside alone. She returned her attention to Nikko and nodded, "Ya, I am."

She placed her things on the counter and pulled out her pouch of money, "This isn't coming out of your money... Just mine," She pulled out what was necessary and then doubled it. She gave half of it to the man behind the counter and the other half to Nikko, "That way we don't spend more of your money because of this."

She tied the pouch back to her belt and gathered her things, "And don't try and give it back to me."

She walked out of the store and stuff the winter clothes into a pouch of Senge's before untying him. She then looked at Nikko, "Shall we try and convince these people or just head South?"

The gladiator and the princess

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...

Avatar: Trusting your enemy

Jaya watched as Nikko looked over the clothing and watched him as he went about deciding what would keep her warm in the South. She stood behind him with her hands behind her back and trying not to get in the way. It was quite obvious that winter clothing what not something she knew about. If it weren't for the fact that they had to know that the clothing fit, she probably wouldn't have been needed. She grabbed a pair of gloves with fur in them and pulled them on, "Like you said... The Southern Water Tribe should have something for me to wear... I only need something to keep me warm from here to there... And it doesn't have to be super warm... I can use my bending too..."

She liked it though, how much he was looking into each piece. He wanted to make sure that she wasn't going to die of frostbite. She was sure that a lot of people in a lot of places would be just fine with that. She knew she had found something true in Nikko and that made her very happy.

The gladiator and the princess

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."