Thread: The Conquest by The People (darkest_fate and google)

RE The Conquest by The People The enemy has breached our walls, you must escape, Princess! yelled the head of the palace guard. The man was a grizzled veteran with several hard years of experience to back up his esteemed position. He had been among the first to combat the monstrosities, the first to learn about their miraculous magical powers, and among the first to insist that the armies of the kingdom rally to defense. The very princess he shouted at, the beautiful Princess Emmalee had been among the few to heartily support him. Both she and the captain had insisted that the defense of the people be put first, that it was better to be cautious, especially with all the new of these creatures destroying and enslaving entire populations. The Councils had listened politely, and then almost as politely dismissed the words of the foolish young royal and the jingoistic veteran desperate for another war. They needed funds and services for their own coffers, not for some silly war. I am not leaving! Princess Emmalee yelled in response, twisting her head to look back at the guard. Several finely tone curls of light brown bobbed before her beautiful face, partially obscuring the sharp brown eyes. The constant pressure of her work, of maintaining a magical defense, had shown its marks upon the young princess. Strain pulled at her eyes, and her dress and garb showed what a lack of rest could do to a person. The flowing gown of a royal hung limply along her body, looking still marvelously but somehow... less than it had. The girl's slim frame trembled with exertion, every muscle straining outward to where her splayed hands channeled the magical energy. This particular princess had been the inheritor of the family's magical gifts, but even that had not proven enough. Both princess and guardsman winced as a sudden burst of energy hammered another blow against the shield. They knew that it would not hold much longer the Enemy had won. Yet they were not fighting to win, not any more. The longer I hold them at bay, the more of our people escape, insisted Emmalee. She turned back to her task. It is the duty of a princess to sacrifice herself for her kingdom. I shall do so gladly. The royal guard stood stock still for several seconds, watching the straining royal. He nodded, turning to look. Shouts echoed throughout the palace the enemy had breached the walls. Emmalee's efforts were for naught they had merely circumvented her impressive shield. The guardsman cursed, drawing his weapon. He turned to warn the princess, but no sooner had his mouth opened than a tendril spiked through his chest. Blood instead of words burbled from his chest, and the impressive guardsman fell to the ground. The princess heard the falling and turned. Her hands finally lowered as she beheld the invading force. It appeared that a very small contingent had made its way to where she channeled the magics, very small indeed. For only a single Enemy stood in the chamber, his long cloak covering most of his frame. What appeared to be a foreign girl stood behind him, her head bowed. Even with the short time Emmalee had to see, she could tell that the girl was a striking beauty, the type of delicate flower that so many men of Emmalee's own kingdom longed to have. Something in the way the porcelain beauty stood, the way she carried herself, communicated royalty. Though one wouldn't have hesitated to apply such a high label upon a beauty of this quality. Though now, much of her skin laid bare to the air, and several symbols appeared to have been etched into her pale flesh. This beauty caught Emmalee's eyes for a bare instant before looking down, softly trembling. You have won, creature, announced Emmalee, her voice still possessing the royal intonation and class. She swayed slightly as she stepped toward him, but still managed to keep herself upright and proud. You have defeated me and mine this day, she didn't bother to pass herself off as anything less than the princess. The Enemy should know they always knew the royalty. What Emmalee hoped the creature didn't know is that she wasn't the only member of the royal family, and that at least one of her brothers had been shipped to a nearby kingdom. The princess swallowed hard, struggling to meet the creature's alien gaze. I--I assume you will be taking me as your prisoner? asked Emmalee, she spared a glance at the captive at the creature's side, already figuring that vision to be an indication of Emmalee's own fate...