Thread: The Princess's Escort (Dark Saint x AlluringEnigma)

Melanie Auer was in shock. Her downfall was quite sudden, and quite unexpected. With a war being waged against the Fraichian Empire, she has been tucked away at one of the more fortified cities on the border of her empire, the eldest princess being quite the prize for her enemies. However, no one had quite expected the advent of gunpowder as a weapon. What had once been fuel for joyous creations that lit up the skies was now a weapon of war that shredded through fortified walls with ease. The city had collapsed to its knees in mere hours, the Fraichian flag now waving over the burning city. Of course, had Princess Melanie been captured, she would have been paraded as a prize before being executed merely for the origin of her blood. However, such places always had entrances outside of the city, a last resort for defeated rulers, and she had been escorted out of the citys boundaries by the meager company of a priest and a wounded guard. At the time, she had been more concerned with her next move, the notion of immediate danger not even a possibility in her head. Princess Melanie exited the tunnel, behind the priest and guard, hiking up her long, flowing dress above the mud stained cobblestone below her. Despite the desperate nature of her situation, a lack of decorum was not acceptable from a dignified lady such as herself. They had been deposited a good distance outside of the city, about a weeks journey from the Fraichin borders, and only a few days journey from one of her own fortresses. She looked over at the priest with a regal authority that had been quite well-preserved, despite her situation, and effortlessly commanded. We head North, to the nearest friendly town and regroup. I shall not be left out here in the wild like some common peasant she added, hints of German and Russian in her dialect seeping through as she spoke. The priest nodded, and began to gather his things, the soldier following in order. However, there was quite the distinct problem with such a plan, and it did not show itself until the very instant their journey began. Stepping out of the forest line, a man clad in armor, sword drawn, began to take quick steps towards the trio. Whether he had known of the escape route, or had simply lucked upon his quarry, Melanie hadnt the faintest idea. All she could do was watch and scream in horror as the man sliced through the wounded guard with ease, effortlessly parrying his weakened blow before cutting his head clean off in one fell swoop. The monk met a similar fate, his hands clasped in prayer as cold steel was pushed into his gut. Melanie could barely speak. Words seemed to fail her as she stumbled over her own feet, clumsily and desperately backpedaling backwards, yelling out illegible curses and prayers. Yet, her words fell on deaf ears as she felt herself hit the rock of the cliff face, the young Princess of 19 years now quite literally between a rock and a hard place. Her heart sunk, and her eyes seemed to contort into a defiant stare as she accepted her likely fate. The mysterious man, who seemed vaguely familiar, now had his sword pointed right at her, any route of escape easily blocked off for the young princess, though her hawkish gaze continued to search for an opportunity to run. For the moment, however, she was at the mercy of a man who had just killed her last two allies. All she could muster was a rather pathetic W-Who a-are you? all royal authority now lacking in her tone, instead replaced with a primal fear that gripped every part of her being.