Thread: Spoils of War (Decay&Maria)

As Maria was knocked to the ground, she had the chance to look around and check out her surroundings. To her sides, soldiers from both kingdoms fought tooth and nail. She was certain it was to live another day, to kiss their wives one more time, and to be able to raise their children to be brave like themselves. Of course she was aware that not only were they fighting for themselves but herself as they left area for her and Tristan to combat. The realization was like a kick to the gut. It only made her feel worse as she was failing them, laying on her knees with a sword in her hand in a last ditch effort. Their inspiration in their eyes trickled away as they knew she would be killed only moments later. The Cardonian unknown warrior had lost her battle, which was probably her last one. The impact that one person could do to a doomed army was so shocking to the young princess. Her heart ached as she saw them begin to retreat away from her, knowing it was the best move to save their lives. She wanted to call holler at her men to never give up, that she was just about to raise herself off her knees to continue to fight. Ultimately that notion thought by the Princess was squashed by Tristan. Her sword went flying from her hands and onto the cold, hard ground a couple feet away from her in an unattainable reach. The anger in his piercing green eyes locked onto her as he snarled at her his two options he was giving her. The look caused her breath to be caught in throat. His eyes were something she first noticed when the opposing prince and princess first met. Of course, his physical appearance was something girls swooned over. She was a victim of his charming looks, but she knew going into the marriage arrangement that his looks were going to be the only thing that had to win her over. She barely knew him and was never given the opportunity as the two were always ushered off to prepare for the wedding. Something inside told her if they had gotten the chance to know each other that maybe they would be husband and wife today. That this was would never be taking place. And that she would not be on her knees in front of the skilled Ranoc general weapons was with his men slowly encroaching around her. Maria clenched her fist together as he snapped at her with his two choices that were also insults. He was just being an asshole to the opponent he beat in front of him. At the same time, Maria questioned why he was even giving the privilege of life or death. Why didn't he just end her short life right here in front of his Ranoc men, only boosting their morale even more. The thought crossed her mind that he wanted her for a specific reason, not because be was a nice general. In her mind, he was miles away from being considered nice. She had seen from his words and the way he murdered her men that he was an rapacious man. The realization dawned on her he wanted her to uncover the Cardon army's plans. She had to give it to him, he was a tactical genius. What a shame for him because Maria was oblivious of her kingdom's strategies. She had to bite down on her tongue to not shoot back a remark to him. He had already heard her voice once and it clearly caught him off guard as he recognized it to belong to a woman. If his soldiers heard her voiced, they would take advantage of her gender. She had heard horror stories of lonely soldiers grabbing innocent women and having their way with her. It would only be worse if they discovered she was in fact the Cardon princess. Everyone would want to claim they had a piece of her as if she was an award. Swallowing her pride, she rose from her feet, kicking away her sword towards the Ranoc men, causing some of them to jump in their armor. She smirked beneath her helmet but then looked back up at Tristan. She inched close to him, only being in his hearing distance. Fine. Take me. But leave me with my honor and do not tell your pig men that I am a women. Though she was giving herself in to the enemy, her voice to had a commanding tone to it. If a single one of their grubby hands touch me, especially yours, I will make this imprisonment complete hell for you. Got it?