Thread: Lonely Lies the Crown (Annabeth & Khaos)

Rennes lead Seraphine through the palace, staying a couple feet ahead of her he checked every intersection and blind spot. The servants all stopped dead in their tracks if his dark gaze managed to fall on them. Getting her safely to the audience chamber he was the first to enter and then waited for Seraphine to join him inside. Rennes stood and meet his King and Queens eyes levelly before scanning the faces of the Emissaries meet each of their gazes with his hard dark stare. His Lord and Lady understood that he meant no disrespect by not bowing. He was in fact showing his utmost respect to them in keeping his vows no matter the situation. Rennes stayed within a half step of being between her and anyone else as she was greeted by and greeted the assembly. A swell of pride in his chest at how well she held to her lessons and carried herself. The sense of pride was laced with a much warmer twinge of emotion. Love. An undefined, unquestioned, unrelenting love for the woman who with her presence alone conquered the room. The shifty nature of foreigners with the exception of Da'oud quickly put them all in immediate danger. Rennes stationed himself to the left of and directly beside the Princess watching. He noted how two in particular were slowly and in their credit, discreetly closer to the Royal Family. Like a whisp Rennes moved himself forward. The moment Seraphine's angelic voice sounded Rennes snapped into motion. In a single swift motion Rennes had the daggers from his sleeves in his palms and thrown each at the men standing of opposite outsides of the group. Twin thunks sounded as the knives found their marks and buried themselves in the middle of either man's face to the hilt taking them off their feet and to the ground. Three men outside of Da'oud stood living. The two with the swords drawn rushed forward screaming. They were enraged, thus distracted, which was equivalent to death in a situation such as this. Drawing his long dagger he was already across the room meeting the first of the would be assassins. The parrying dagger Rennes wielded so easily was of a sword breaker fashion. Catching the first blade of the assailant closest he ran his dagger down the blade to the hilt and with a flick of his wrist, followed by a loud snap and clanging metal, Rennes had cleanly destroyed the sword. In the same twisting motion of breaking the sword Rennes drove the skyward pointing blade clean through the bottom of the man's chin driving it deep into his skull. Abandoning the dagger he quickly jumped to the side as the second swordsman swung. With Rennes's body out of the way of the swings the instead connected in the firsts man chest and torso. Drawing his sword in a clean, practiced motion Rennes didn't waist a second in lunging forward fencing style, driving the pointed blade between the ribs of the second man delivering a second clean kill strike. Drawing the sword from the standing corpse he made a four step dash to the final victim who stood in horror at what was conspiring around him. M-mercy! H-have mercy! The man stammered in utter fear. Mercy is given by God, I am not so pretentious as to attempt to do his work for him. Rennes replied with cold intent. It was clear in his last look he wasn't expecting for things to go this way. With a swift upwards strike he was beheaded, his expression of disbelief still on his face. Turning in a half circle while swinging his sword swiftly down and to the side to removed most of the blood from it. Taking the two steps that separated himself from Da'oud he stood just slightly behind him. Seraphine, this is the only honest one in the room. I suggest questioning him before I put him down like a dog, but that is only a light suggestion. He said addressing his Princess instead of either the King or Queen. What is this madness?! Da'oud finally spoke just now being able to react. How do you allow such disrespect? This murderer bastard killed my people and now threatens my own life. I demand an explanation! Rennes. Who do you serve? The Queen asked. I serve Seraphine. He answered coolly. What is your purpose? To ensure the safety of Seraphine. What measures will you take to do such? All of them. What if my Husband or I were the source of danger to her life? I would do to you as I have all threats before. I will remove you both as risks to her life. He answered without a moments hesitation. The Queen actually smiled at his response and lack of pause. Turning her attention from Rennes back to Da'oud she addressed him. We came together today with the hopes of peace in our hearts. I can see clearly that you held no ill will towards us. These negotiations will hopefully end with MY only daughter, the sole heir to the thrown making her pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Jerusalem as an envoy of peace and good will to your people. With her is a man that is a force of nature in his own, who holds no loyalties outside of her. This goes as a warning to you, not a threat. If we do agree on this treaty, he will be accompanying her everywhere. It was more a warning to any prying ears than to the sole survivor of the visiting party. Dear, could you please ask Rennes to stand down. I would very much like to continue negotiations. At her sign Rennes cleaned his sword on the shirt of on of the men before sheathing it. Collecting his dagger he repeated the process, and did the same for his throwing knives. Once he collected everything he walked across the room and resumed his post beside Seraphine not looking at her. He had never spoken just how deep his vows to her went before and now she knew. He was hers and hers alone.