Sudden Rescue [Dawn]

[william]

It was early morning in Seiod, Capitol of the land of Hebride. William looked out of the window at the Castle in the distance nestled in the center of the town yet still a good ways from the rest of the city. The ride here had been...well, eventful to say the least and he had only had a small amount of rest because of how late he had arrived. He thought back to everything that had happened. Meeting a fairy who was by far the oldest being he had ever met, and yet the youngest at heart, the thieves they had fought off together, and lastly a surprise traveler who had decided not to join with them for the journey. He hoped that Diana would do alright with whatever came her way, even though he still didn't know who had been after her.


He spent a few more moments gazing out through the window then gathered up his belongings and left his room, he payed the inn keep and went to the stables to load his saddlebag on Stormfall. He was here on business for his family to contract an agreement of trade for the wood work the land laborers produced. The quality of their craftsmanship was something William knew well, having recently started to work along with them, and he felt that the meeting with the trader wouldn't take too long and he wanted to be on his way home as soon as possible, his thoughts dwelling on the daughter of a certain Constable.


A smile came to his face as he thought that he might even be back in time to call upon her. Then the smile faded.....what would she think when she saw him for who he was? When she realized that he was not a farmer? His greatest hope was that she would not hold it against him. Afterall...she had never actually asked him who he was. But he knew that she had assumed he was just a lowly farmer. He shook his head and made his way through the crowded city roads, getting his mind back in to the meeting ahead.

:::After the Meeting:::

The meeting had gone well, great even, at the meeting and William was enjoying a short meal after the he and the trader had finished signing the trade contracts. This one contract would open up even greater opportunities to trade even more in Saor. Possibly even obtaining armory trade. William was hurrying to finish his food when he noticed a man hurry in to the inn's main room and joined three other men.


”I've received word...we won't have to take the girl tonight...” the man said in a hurried and hushed tone that William was barely able to understand before the man began talking more quietly and he was only able to pick out a few more of the words. Within a half minute time the men had finished listening and taken leave of the inn.


William wasted no time and bolted up from his table as soon as the door had closed. Barging through the door out into the busy road the men had seemingly disappeared. He immediately ran for the stables where Stormfall was. The two words he had heard were 'rose garden', and the only thing he could figure was that someone was about to be kidnapped. Who they were he didn't know but he would not stand by and wonder if he could help. He would act.


His Father had once told him,”There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth, William: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of others....”


And right now he knew that somewhere there was a person who would need his commitment, even if they didn't know it. He only hoped that he would be able to find the would be kidnappers before they were able to slip away. Short of breath from his sprint he finally arrived at the stable and Stromfall's ears perked up obviously seeing something was out of order. William nodded to his steed and swung up into the saddle. Stormfall needed no prompting and flew from the stable and he had to call ahead of him to warn others of his flight until he finally reached the rose garden. The only problem though was that he didn't know which way to go. Then came the scream. He turned towards the sound and urged Stormfall on heading towards the sound...

:::The kidnappers:::

The four men crouched low, their clothing blending in with the dark soil and green of the rose bushes. This was to be the biggest payday they would ever have. And probably the last. Retirement would be within grasp if they wanted it if all went well. Their inside informant had let them know that the princess had left the castle....and even better yet...without an escort. The man who had contracted had wanted the whole thing to be undetectable and so the princesses strong will was playing to their favor. Neither of the four of them had wanted to take the princess from the Castle.


Of course...they only knew the direction that the princess had left in, and they had had to act fast as they had no idea if she would return to the Castle before they could find her. If that happened they would have to go with their original plan. Fortunately for them- they would have to.


Gilgath heard the voice of a young woman, ranting about something and he looked back to the three others and nodded as he pulled out two lengths of rope with two weights on either end. He waited until she was just a ways off when he whistled and the three others began to come around her to close in of the sides. With two calculated spins of the rope he let the first bolas fly then another. They whirled through the air and grappled around her arms and body, the second around her ankles. She let out a scream as she tumbled to the ground and before the three other men could converge on her. It was good they were a good ways from the Castle, there was no way her voice would have carried far enough for any one to respond. She was theirs now.


Smiling he flew towards her stealthily out of habit and reached his three man and the bound princess after they had already gagged her. Her innocent eyes took him in full of shock and sudden fear. His face had a long disfiguring scar which started off center at his hair line and ran down across what was left nose and his mouth, making even his smile look like some tormented soul.


His sword was a very thin long sword of folded steel creating a menacing ripple effect on the metal.
Drawing it in the blink of an eye, he held it to her throat and spoke with in his thick raspy voice, ”Not a word...me lady...” he said, adding a mocking tone on the last part, ”..it will do you no good and....I am not disinclined to cut out your tongue should you continue to make a fuss.”


Fowl breath filled the air and he scowled after letting the threat sink in, then leaning in close to her he asked in a dangerous and demanding voice, ”Do you understand?” emphasizing each word deliberately and waiting for her to nod in agreement....

[Dawn Hunter]

"NO!" the loud screech echoed through the halls of the castle. Servants who had heard what was happening made haste to warn others not to get near the location of the commotion. Hurried whispers could be heard all through the halls.

"Did you hear?"

"It's the princess!"

"The King told her that she must attend the ball next week!"

Meanwhile, in the room where it had all started, Dawn Hunter stared at her father in disbelief. He had just finished calmly explaining to her what the servants were currently talking about, and the anger expressed on the young princess's face was undeniable. She was furious.

"No, Father! I won't attend! You can't make me," Dawn spoke through gritted teeth. Glaring at her father, she made sure every word she spoke was supported by as much air as possible in order to accentuate her anger. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to faze the king, and he simply stared back at her. Dawn frowned and tossed her head. Her golden locks of hair fell easily back into place as she resumed her furious expression.

"Fine. I'm going out," she snapped, turning on her heels and sweeping out of the room, her dress flowing behind her. She didn't notice the look of exasperation on her father's face.

Storming down the hall of the castle, Dawn muttered furiously, shooting dark looks at whomever tried to stop her. Finally, she reached a side door, and shooting fleeting glances in both ways, slipped out into the gardens. She made her way as far from the castle as she could guess would be adequet that no one would hear her rambling, and started to rant out loud.

"I can't believe him! He knows I dislike dancing; this is in spite! He probably wants to 'teach me a lesson'," she ranted, tossing her head every which way and moving her hands in elaborate patterns that would have shocked her mother had the woman seen the gestures that the young princess was making. Caught in her own anger, she failed to notice the whistle, and when she was caught by two bolas, one binding her arms to her sides, and the other wrapping tightly around her ankles, she let out a loud scream. Toppling over onto the ground, she wasn't even allowed to question the men who surrounded her before the gagged her tightly. Her eyes flashed in fear and indignence as a large man with a horribly disfiguring scar approached her.

Dawn felt a bead of sweat drip down her forehead as the man quickly drew a sword and held it to her throat. His voice added to her discomfort.

”Not a word...me lady...it will do you no good and....I am not disinclined to cut out your tongue should you continue to make a fuss.”

Dawn's eyes opened wide and she wrinkled her nose, that being the only way she could show her discomfort, being bound and gagged as she was. When he leaned even closer, the poor young woman cringed in disgust at the smell of the man's breath. When he spoke the second time, she gave a quick jerk of her neck that constituted as a nod. There was no douting it...

She was being kidnapped.

[william]

Her fear was short lived even as two of the men hefted her up. The man with the scarred face spun on his heal to a crouch as the sound of thundering hoofs warned of someone coming, and coming in fact. There was the distinct wisping sound of an object twirling through the air. Dawn could feel the thud of an object colliding with man who had her by the arms. His arms went rigid straight away and he grip on her faltered causing her back to hit hard against the ground.


A sound much like a hiss escaped the scarred man's mouth and he dove out of sight as a large gray blur vaulted over Dawn knocking the third man on his back as he tried in vain to run away, only to have his chest crack with a sickening crunch beneath the hoofs of an light gray Irish Draft. A man swung out of his saddle his sword ringing free of it's scabbard before his feet hit ground.


William held his hand up as a muffled sounds came from Dawn who still lied on the ground. He knew there was one more. He just couldn't see or hear him. That was when he was attacked from behind.


:::From Gilgath's Eye's:::


Silently and hard as a battering ram, Gilgath slammed into the would be rescuer with his shoulder and rolled to a crouch his thin, curved blade already held in reverse across his forearm in front of him. He waited for only a moment right before William's chest would be exposed as he rose to defend himself. He flew at the man the tip of his sword tilting it's way to find death for the man so eager to help.


Resistance was not what he had expected, yet that was what he got. Not the sigh and sudden loss of breath as his penetrated through the mans heart and out through his back- but the solid jaw breaking resistance of steel against steel and the even, clam gaze as he faced the man he would kill. There was none who had been able to live from his blade. All he needed was for his sword to bite into the skin. Yes of course- it would take longer than his original method. But would only lead to man's eventual and inevitable death.


Of course that was if he succeeded in getting his blade that close. Even he was beginning to doubt himself as they started attacking and blocking and parrying each others moves. Both not getting any closer to the other. Sweat began to sting at his eyes but he ignored the sting and fought back. The man was good and he found himself wondering who he was. He didn't dress like anyone of extreme importance...and yet there was an air of authority in the calm of the mans face and even eyes. He scowled and bared his teeth at the man, a growl coming from the pit of his stomach.

Then in one brief moment the man left a whole in his defense and he knew that this would be then end. He launched himself at the man in what he pierced a fault in the man's defense only to have a sudden sharp pain rocket through him as his enemies sword pierced through the his stomach, the growl becoming a hoarse laugh as he looked the man in the eyes...and then let his blade bite through the sleeve of the man's gambeson and could feel with the last few moments of consciousness his poisonous steel cut into flesh.


Gilgath held the man's face in his sight and knew that he would soon too be dead. Then his end came and he gurgled out the last of his fowl breath...


:::Help from the Rescued:::


William cursed at himself for letting his guard down just because he knew he had won. When faced with death...one would always fight back even at their end. He let the limp body slide off his sword and tore off a strip of cloth from his under tunic and tied off his arm above where the man had cut as he walked over to the fallen young woman.


”It's alright now...you are safe. My name is William. I will not harm you.” He said as he came near her, her face shining with fearing wide eyes and her cheeks drained of color. He didn't blame her. After all she had just witnessed three men killed in the matter of a few minutes. One killed in the back, another's chest crushed, and lastly the third stabbed through his midsection. He guessed that would be more than enough to throw he into shock and easily mistake him for one who would do her harm.


He retrieved his dagger from the man's back, identical to his sword -both a brilliant white steel- and cut and loosened the gondolas from her ankles and around her arms and chest. Her breathing was still coming out in what sounded like gasps though she seemed to have calmed down a little. Slowly he removed the gag from her mouth and then backed away easily, trying not to move too fast.


”Everything will be alright now...,” He said with such sincerity and an almost caressing tone, it would do nothing but calm her emotions after the harsh visions she had just been made to endure, ”Did they hurt you, me Lady?...” he asked holding out his hand.


He knew who she was....though he doubted that she would know him. As well known as his family was- he knew that it was not her responsibility to know all of the Families like his. He waited patiently for her to respond, and that was when he started feeling a little buzzing feeling. It was so small...he counted it for aftermath of the heat of the battle. And forced himself to focus on helping her.

[Dawn Hunter]

The men lifted her up, and only the gag prevented the scared princess from screeching out loud. Even still, she reached with her bound hands, trying to find a bare patch of skin on one of the two men in order to scratch. Her search ended in vain. Suddenly, she heard the approaching hoof beats, and braced herself for another associate of these filthy kidnappers. She could not have been any more wrong. When the man who held her fell, Dawn slipped from his grasp and landed hard on the ground, a slight grunt exiting her gagged mouth. As her head slammed against the hard dirt, she saw stars for a brief second, but quickly recovered in time to see the horse show up. Her eyes widened in fear once again as she made a failed attempt to roll out of the way. She closed her eyes as she heard the definite crunch of bones as the draft horse landed on the second of her two attackers.

Upon opening them, she blinked just once and started to try to mumble something from behind the accursed gag. However, she couldn’t and the young man held up his hand. Furious thoughts rang through Dawn’s head; most had to do with the fact that she was a warrior as well. However, she quickly remembered that her ever-faithful sword was back at the castle in her chamber where she had left it. It was then that she saw the third attacker creeping up behind her rescuer. Trying to warn him, all she could muster was a muffled cry. However, the man didn’t hear her, and was attacked from behind. All seemed lost, as Dawn predicted that the stranger would not be good at close quarter combat. She was wrong again. Once the men began to parry, Dawn noted with cold jealousy that her rescuer seemed adept with a sword.

Once the battle was over and the final would-be kidnapper killed, Dawn wrinkled her nose as she watched the body slip from the young man’s sword. Keeping a wary eye on him, she stared to struggle against her bonds, still fairly scared from her close call. It almost disgusted her, how unprepared she had been. Then, the stranger spoke to her. From the way he moved slowly towards her, the silent princess guessed that he wasn’t sure if she was scared of him or not. To her, it was the latter. This man had saved her, and at the moment, she felt obliged to thank him.

Her obligation turned to a heartfelt promise in her heart as the stranger… William… retrieved a dagger and began to loose the bolas and her gag. Once she could speak and move freely, Dawn shakily got to her feet and turned an almost steady gaze on her rescuer.

“Th—thank you…” she whispered, shocked at how thin her voice sounded. The sights that she had witnessed must have had more effect on her than she had initially thought. Her hands instinctively went to her hair, smoothing it down and attempting to finger comb out the dirt and dust. Next, she started to work on smoothing her dress, which, to any normal girl’s dismay, was ripped where the bola had wrapped around her arms. To Dawn, however, it meant a tool for her to spite her father.

It took Dawn a few moments to register William’s statement.

“They didn’t hurt me. They just roughed me up a bit,” the teen princess answered, hardly reacting to his title for her. When he held out his hand, Dawn glanced towards the ground and sighed. She knew that she was well known throughout the country, but she wasn’t sure which side of her that this ‘William’ knew. While most knew and believed the stories of a sweet, kind young princess, she knew that there was a select few who knew the real Dawn, and she was worried that this might be one of those who knew her true colours.

Lost in thought, Dawn didn’t notice a slight discomfort tremor through William. She had quickly regained most of her composure, but the fear that he was one of the select few who knew about her rebellious nature still kept her cautious.

[william]

“They didn’t hurt me. They just roughed me up a bit,” Dawn replied.


Roughed me up a bit?...odd choice of wording for the princess.. William thought to himself but nodded, smiling inwardly as he looked to Stormfall and gave a soft single toned whistle. His steed came to him immediately, Whinning softly as it sniffed at William's wounded arm, shaking his head in disdain afterwards.


Having dropped his hand that Dawn had not taken. He patted Stormfall's neck reassuringly, “I'll be alright boy...you've seen me take worse than this.”


The horse gave a small grunt in retort and William swung himself in the saddle, now looking down at the princess watching her eyes. There were only rumors of course- very tight rumors even at that- that Dawn Hunter was more fierce warrior than she was a pampered princess of the Royal Hunter family. Reading people had always been one of his stronger natural talents. There was definitely something she was trying to hide, another part of who she was she didn't want to show him. So the very quiet rumors he had heard were true. He wondered....but he wouldn't think that. Perhaps someday he might allow himself to think of it- but not today.


”It is alright, Dawn....” using her own name, and hoped he didn't offend her, ”You don't have to hide who you are...” He added with a soft, small and knowing smile. Even though he hadn't come right out and said that he could see right through her facade, he hoped she caught the what he meant all the same.


His tone was soft and completely assuring. If anyone knew anything about being themselves and not being tied down by titles- it was William. He had heard other Noblemen scoff at his not-so-subtle way of handling the affairs of the Connor Family Estate. There were names for him, he knew, meant to be hurtful and condescending. But the truth of the matter was William didn't care what other people thought of him in that way. He did what did well. And he also felt the workers resented him less than the workers of the other nobleman did their own Masters.


William reached out his hand once more, offering to pull her up beside him- once again hoping that she would drop her act. Of course, once they got nearer to the castle he would get down to lead the horse with her still riding so that she could put on her show if she so desired. But while she was with him- he wanted her to know that it wasn't necessary. If she wished it to be a secret, there were few it would be safer with than this son of the Connor family.

[Dawn Hunter]

“It is alright, Dawn… you don’t have to hide who you are…”

Dawn blinked at William’s statement in shock. So he did see past her outward appearance. Thinking back, she tried to remember if she had said or done anything that would have given it away. Her thoughts landed on her last statement.

~Roughed me up a bit… those aren’t the words of a well-mannered princess!~ she reproached herself silently, staring at the ground. Glancing up at the young man seated atop the horse, she surprised herself by marvelling at how comfortable he seemed in the saddle. It was the same ease that she had observed while he had been fighting her would-be kidnappers. Blinking again, the headstrong princess noticed that her rescuer was once again offering his hand to her, this time to pull her onto the horse. However, Dawn had a sinking feeling in her stomach that William intended to take her back to the castle. Back to immaculate dresses and violin lessons. She gave a very noticeable shiver and instead of taking William’s hand, she raised her head and looked him in the eye.

“Just where do you intend on taking me, my lord?” she asked cautiously, gazing deeply into his eyes and keeping her tone formal. She didn’t want to go home. On the contrary, she would rather travel in the opposite direction, see the countryside. While these thoughts were running through her head, another kept nagging at her. She thought that she had heard the name William before. She wasn't sure where, but she knew that she had heard it. Focusing on that thought, she seemed to forget about the man sitting on a horse in front of her.

~Where have I heard that name?~ she thought furiously, trying to remember. Was it a servant? A lord? Her brother’s sparring partner? She just couldn’t remember. Pushing those thoughts aside, she once again focused on the main issue before her. She didn’t want to go back to the castle, that much was assured in her head. But how would she be able to convince this William to take her somewhere else? He knew she was the princess, so he probably would want to take her to the castle, not knowing what she was doing outside the walls. There was only one option for her.

“Before you answer, I would like you to know, I do not plan on returning to the castle in the near future,” she spoke up again, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

((Sorry for the low word count. I'm really tired))

[william]

There was a slight change of wind that blew across his face as he studied Dawn's face more than his gaze would tell, leaning an elbow on the horn of his saddle. Stormfall sniffed the wind, and William knew that he was also keeping his ears open for any more possible threats in the area. Always on the look out... William thought, allowing himself a slight grin, still watching as Dawn went through her thoughts. The eyes were always the best indicators...but body movements as well. He could tell that she was determined. Of that he was sure. What was she determined of? Now that was an answer he did not have.


“Just where do you intend on taking me, my lord?” She finally asked him, it wasn't a question he had expected, but he wasn't surprised, “Before you answer, I would like you to know, I do not plan on returning to the castle in the near future.”


He nodded as she fiddled with a lock of her hair, sitting up straight and glancing back towards the Castle. Because of the stealthy and sudden attack, and with no sign of any regiment being dispatched, he guessed that the incident had not been noticed. With that knowledge...for all her family knew she was just off on her own. Which....to most Fathers, he knew that would be a discomfort...so it wouldn't be long before he sent someone after her. However, that time was not now.


All these thoughts happened within a few moments and William looked back down at Dawn again, ”I can't say that I think your Father would approve....” he mused, then smiled, ”But I am sure that he would not approve of me letting you go adventuring out on your own.” letting her know he would not take her back to the Castle if that was not what she wanted.


Extending his arm to her once more, he gestured for her come with him. Now William wasn't sure what she would do, or if she would really believe him. After all, the world was full of distrustful and deceitful people, as she had just experienced. But there was something about William that bespoke of nobleness and honor. And the depth of it was something that could practically be felt right down to the core of anyone who met him. The only question was...would Dawn see it?


(no worries. =])

[Dawn Hunter]

William could not possibly know how right he was. Dawn was determined, all right. Determined to not return to the castle, determined to figure this young man out, determined to… so there wasn’t a third thing. However, she knew that the first two were imperative at the moment. Staring up at William, she observed him, as he seemed to glance towards the castle after her previous statements.

“I am positive that my father will not learn that I have left the castle at least until his dinner. I left without his knowledge,” she spoke stealthily, with a slight toss of the head as if to say ‘so there’. It was then that William spoke to her.

”I can't say that I think your Father would approve.... But I am sure that he would not approve of me letting you go adventuring out on your own.”

With that, Dawn looked up at the man seated on the horse in surprise. So he wasn’t going to take her back? That was something new. Usually when she attempted to run away, the first common folk she met ended up having to force her back home. But here this young man was, practically breaking unwritten laws by not returning the princess to her parents.

~What is with this guy?~ she thought, confused. Sighing inwardly, she decided that all she could do at the moment was trust this young man. As he extended him hand to her once again, she took it this time and allowed him to lift her up onto the horse behind him. Sitting sidesaddle was no stranger to the princess, as despite her rebellious nature now, she had once embraced the ways of royalty and womanhood. It was a matter of keeping up her false pretence when she was in the presence of other nobles. Sure, she enjoyed her act of rebellion when she was around just her family, but around other people, she was the image of a slightly blemished young lady with a fondness for harsh language. As she thought of this, Dawn suddenly had a thought.

“Do you speak Gaelic?” she asked in the language of nobles, wondering if he would understand her. While she waited for his answer, she looked around at the clearing where only a few minutes before she had been attacked, and probably would have left in chains had William not come and interfered. Truthfully, although she would never admit it to anyone, she knew that she would always feel indebted to this young man for saving her. She had been so afraid when the men had attacked her; it had felt like she would never see the light of day again. Turning her head to look at the back of William’s head again, she grinned, although she knew he wouldn’t see her.

[william]

A half smile teased at corner of his mouth at her question. He wondered if she had figured out who he was. Of course, if she had known who he was- she have had to ask that. The Connor Family, although kind and fair to their subjects- mostly due to the fact that they weren’t subjects but freemen who had chosen to stay and work- adhered strictly a high level of education for their children. On this they were not easy. It made him grin that much to his loving Mother’s chagrin, William had never given himself as much to the language of her homeland and was not as of yet fluent in French.


It was a different story altogether with Gaelic. William was very fluent in the language spoken of by the nobles of both old and more current times. The young princess sitting behind him had shown a strong, if willful, heart and he found himself not being able to turn away the feeling that this was only the beginning of a life-long friendship destined to lead both of them in different paths and possible ventures than they had previously ever thought possible until now. It was an intriguing thought and the half smile grew as he spoke gently to Stormfall.


”Let’s not waste the day shall we.” he said to his horse. "And not waste any more time here" he thought to himself, with the bodies of the three dead men laying on the ground forming an awkward triangle, then answered her question simply in Gaelic, ”I do.” right before Stormfall without any spurring or snap of the reins bound forward in a gentle run.


The bodies would have been something that concerned William if he knew the truth was something to be afraid of. He wasn’t so that mattered little. What did bother him, and nagged at the back of his mind, was the torment the King would have to endure with wondering of what exactly had happened to his daughter once the slain bodies had been found. He wondered if she was upset enough to really give thought to that, not seeing how she couldn’t at least in some small way. He was he Father, and William believed that no matter how much she was mad at him she still loved him. And perhaps it would be better to return to the castle sooner than she was thinking, even if it wasn’t at this exact moment. To let Dawn know of those thoughts, he spoke again after they had run a good ways away from the site of the confrontation, continuing to speak in Gaelic.


”Your Father will worry…” he said in subdued and soft manner, the tone sounding eloquent when spoken with Gaelic words, ”And he does love you…even when his actions seem to not speak so to you.


How could any father not?” He said ever so quietly, a whisper and a question to himself only. His older brother had already been married and had a daughter of his own. The love he had for his little girl was something William could never see that love leaving the man he had seen his brother become.
”And no, I haven’t changed my mind. I just wanted to know that I believe he does. I know it’s odd when a son asks a daughter to be patient with her Father…but I know it would go a long way to soften his heart and even his actions if you were to be” and assumed that her strong minded rebuttal would be coming. However, the tone of his voice was not one of argument or debate- but sounded more like advice that would be given from one dear friend to another.


They had since entered a small wooded piece of land and the sunlight shown down on them, the rays broken by the branches and softened at times for the clouds and branches above. Stormfall walked at a gentle easy pace and William couldn’t remember how many hours and days he had traveled like this with his horse, one of his very closest and truest friends. His comfort in the saddle was easy to tell, as it took him little thought to move with the motions of his horse almost as if they shared thoughts.


Dawn was silent for a time and he wondered if he had offended her. He hoped that she was not, and that she was only deep in thought. William bit back from saying her name to ask if she was alright and let her speak when she was ready.

[Dawn Hunter]

Dawn was pleasantly surprised that William understood her. It wasn’t too often outside the castle that she met someone who spoke Gaelic. It wasn’t to say that she enjoyed the language so much as she enjoyed confusing people. The young princess had a very spiteful attitude towards anything that identified her as royalty. She would much rather live her own life, free of lessons, lords and losers (in the case of her brother).

As the wind blew her long brown locks of hair around, Dawn gazed at her surroundings from her perch behind William on the draught horse. The wilderness was so beautiful, and she was cooped up all day like a chicken in the castle. The only time she ever saw beyond the castle walls was with an escort, and that usually meant that she wasn’t able to do what she wanted. Caught up in her thoughts, she simply stared at the passing trees. When they slowed down, the young man sitting in front of her spoke.

Dawn bit back her feelings of indignance at William's words, partly because she was tired and didn't feel like arguing at the moment and partly because there was a little nagging voice in the back of her head that was telling her that perhaps he was right about her father. She was shocked that she felt this way; normally, she would have scoffed it off and ignored the speaker, but she felt compelled to listen. When William had finished, she simply sat as still as she could behind him, lost in thoughts. Although before, she had marvelled at his apparent abundance of skill, now she was simply numb to everything around her. She hardly noticed the sunlight bathing the two of them on Stormfall, nor the beauty of the flora around them. She was casting her mind around for any memory that would identify that her father loved her. Certainly, it wasn’t any time in the recent past, as the two of them were well beyond mutual disdain with each other. Try as she could, she couldn’t remember.

Shaking herself out of her stupor, she glanced around, finally seeing where they were. William seemed to be waiting for her response, but she wasn’t ready to speak yet. She simply gazed around at the trees, the flowers nestled safely at the bases of the trees, and the abundance of small wildlife granting them with their presence. A tiny squirrel darted up a tree, and Dawn stifled a giggle as a sparrow rose from the tree in alarm as the squirrel came close by. Finally, she managed to collect her scattered thoughts and spoke quietly, in English this time.

“I understand,” she murmured, her eyes falling to the ground although he could not possibly see the motion of defeat.