The Third Rejected Kingdom of the Order of the Noob - Jay's Story

Last edited by Whatsername on 2011-03-13, 7:20 pm; edited 2 times in total

Lol Renaissance adventure type thing. ^-^
I'll have the first chapter up in a second 8D;

NOTE: Characters are all very loosely based off the noob rejects.
Don't expect your character to match you perfectly.
+ Please take age completely out of the equation, pretend they're all adults lol otherwise this won't make ANY sense.

A couple character bios just because I'm bored like that and am procrastinating; I'll put them up as I go along.
And because the characters are

Whatsername wrote:: loosely based

these are the personalities I assume them to have.

If you haven't read any of it yet, may contain spoilers, but if you're caught up it won't.

Jay
A very determined, hard-working knight who, after a strange and unexpected turn of events, fell in love with the castle's princess.

Tommy
A guard in the castle's dungeon. Since he's been living with the gruesome torture of many of the dungeon's occupants, over the years Tommy has become virtually fearless and unable to be grossed out.

Bryan
The court jester; enjoys causing havoc and making people laugh. However, he's actually much more intelligent than people assume from his erratic antics.

Sola
An arrogant young prince from the kingdom of Channenblossom. Is obsessed with money and power. Wants to rule the throne, but is 4th in line to inherit the throne of his own kingdom; therefore, he plans on marrying the Third Rejected Kingdom's princess.

Ryan
The kingdom's scribe. Not much is known about his personality; no one has ever recorded hearing him speak. He talks through the quote he records on his scrolls, never giving out any personal information. No one is sure of what side he's on in the battle between Sola and Jay, even if the king placed him on Sola's side against his will.

Bella
The castle's princess. Bella hates having grown up among royalty, wanting to be a mere peasant girl instead so she can choose her own path in life.

Emily
A young girl much wiser than her age suggests. Confined for three years in a dank prison cell, Emily has brilliant ideas in store for the kingdom... If only anyone were willing to listen.

Kathy
Tommy's shy younger sister. She aspires to become a dungeon guard, just like her brother, but is apparently too squeamish and peaceful.

Chapter One

"So did you hear about the threat?"

Jay looked up. He didn't usually take the time to fraternize with the other knights, sitting along in the mess hall; he believed the others were too stupid to bother with. Even if the king's entire army sat at the same long table, Jay would always sit at the end, eating quietly and listening to the others talk.

But what was this about a threat? The Rejected Kingdom had more fighting within its own walls than with other monarchies; it was a surprise this news hasn't spread throughout the entire castle by now.

The other side of the knight's table was raucous with laughter and shouting, men gesturing with their utensils and letting the food fly off their forks. Jay continued to pick at his meal, pretending not to listen in as another knight spoke with a mouth full of pork.

"Aye, somethin' about the princess gettin' kidnapped?"

The whole table's volume suddenly lowered a notch, somehow hearing one knight through all the others' shouts. All heads turned up to the head table where the king and queen sat, eating a much finer dinner than the others could possibly afford. Next to them sat the princess, her long blonde hair cascading down over her shoulders and to the floor.

One of the knights broke the silence. "She doesn't seem gone."

"It was a threat, ya buffoon." one said. "Someone sent a telegram threatening they'd grab her under our very noses."

"I heard they said they'd beat her once they have her!"

"Someone told me they'd burn 'er at the stake!"

"No, no, it wasn't violent or nothin'!" the knight at the very end of the table-- Jay remembered his name, it was Stephen-- stood up and lowered his voice. "It was simpler than that, barely a threat, really."

Everyone turned and stared.

"And how do you think I know that?" He grinned. "I just so happened to have been with the king at the time!"

Everyone gasped. "Oh, what'd it say?"

"Not tellin'." He smiled smugly down at the others.

"Oh, come on!" Everyone began to complain, then suddenly stopped, remembering the food left on their plates. Everyone forgot all the previous drama and went back to eating as if nothing ever happened.

Idiots. Jay stood up, making his way over to the other side of the table. Steve looked up once Jay reached his chair.

"Uhh, s'cuse me?"

"Yeah?" Steve looked at Jay suspiciously, probably trying to remember if he knows him or not.

"You... Saw the threat, right?"

He smiled. "In fact, I have it with me. King Cal crumpled it up and threw it behind him after reading it, I picked it up on my way back."

Jay's eyes widened as he watched Steve pull the wrinkled paper out of his pocket. "May I... see what it says?"

Steve glanced around; no one was looking.

"Well, you seem like a respectable fellow!" Steve pressed the paper into Jay's hand. "Just don't show it to the other imbeciles."

"Aye." Jay walked back to his seat, opening the telegram as he went.

The people of the Third Rejected Kingdom
best keep an eye on their young heir.
Never know when she may disappear.

Princess Bella... This probably meant one of the knights would be put on guard. Jay hoped it would be anyone but him; the princess has been spoiled since the day she was conceived. Having to watch over her and cater to her every whim would probably end up a nightmare.

He glanced up at the royal table, wondering if the princess even knew she was in danger. She seemed just as composed as usual; either all that makeup was hiding her true expression or she honestly wasn't concerned in the slightest. Jay grew up in the poor village below the castle, working his way up to finally serving for the monarchy. He knew how hard life could be at times. The princess had never stepped out of the castle unless it was for a parade about the town; she lived such a sheltered life she probably wasn't even told about the telegram, and if she was she probably thought her father could stop any danger that was to come her way.

Jay sat down and got back to his food, wondering how long it'll take for the news to spread throughout the entire castle.

.... lol the Aye. f3
Awesomeness. Very Happy

.

Last edited by Whatsername on 2011-02-22, 4:59 pm; edited 1 time in total

Ohey!
Aren't you in school right now? Get back to work young man. -f3-

Chapter Two {Oh God so many historical inaccuracies}

The young knight was walking down a well-lit corridor when he heard a pair of footsteps padding along the maroon paisley carpet behind him.

"Sir Jay?"

Jay spun around, suddenly face to face with the King himself.

"King Cal!" Jay bowed to him, as was the custom for all the castle's inhabitants.

"At ease, soldier." the King nodded to him. "I've come to inform you that you have been taken off your patrol duties for the next month or so. I have a special task for you."

"An entire month?" Jay perked up. "Why, what's come up?"

"I'm sure you've heard of the recent er, telegram to reach the castle?"

Oh, no. "Why, yes."

"I need someone to keep an eye on Princess Isabella for me."

What?

"Err, yes, your highness." Jay bowed again to hide his mortified expression.

"You're quite all right with the sudden change?"

"Oh! Well." Jay stammered. "I'm a bit more of a loner, I... I'm not sure if I... Well, maybe someone else is... I'd hate to defy orders, sir--"

"Oh, don't you worry about it!" King Cal clapped his hand onto the knight's shoulder. "You won't have to do much at all. If anyone with bad intentions happens to reach the princess's part of the castle, just blow this whistle." Cal pulled an old, carved bone whistle from under his shirt and lifted the string back over his head, settling it in Jay's palm. "The rest of the army will take it from there. Understood?"

"Yes your highness."

"Simple as that."

"Yes your highness."

"I'll have Ryan escort you to the princess's room. I need to get back to Queen Nikki."

"Yes, your... highness..." Jay watched the King walk back down the corridor, and when he was finally out of sight, he let out a long sigh.

"Just my luck."

Suddenly, a figure formed, stepping out of the shadows.

"Who--?" Jay jumped, then peered closer at the form, realizing he recognized the boy from many court orders he's attended.

"You're... Ryan, right?" Jay had seen the orange-haired boy staring back at him following the King around everywhere, always scribbling away, recording everything said and done on a weathered scroll. "The royal scribe."

Ryan nodded stiffly, still staring warily at the knight.

Jay raised an eyebrow. "Relax, sir, I don't bite."

After a couple seconds Ryan finally moved, turning and walking at a fast pace up one end of the corridor.

"What? Wait!" Jay hurried to keep up with the royal scribe's pace. "You're supposed to escort me somewhere, aren't you?"

Ryan led Jay up several flights of stairs, walking down corridors that all looked alike, turning the occasional corner. His movements were almost robotic, as if the destination had been programmed into his brain.

Finally Ryan stopped abruptly in front of a heavy-looking door, almost causing Jay to bump into him. The door was a pale sky blue, trimmed in white and engraved with intricate flowers and vines, with silver doorknobs that shone like the Queen's best jewelry.

The door by itself probably cost more than Jay's entire old home back in the village.

"You don't talk very much, do you?" Jay gave Ryan a suspicious look.

Ryan knocked on the door once, the painted wood making a satisfying echo, then folded his hands and waited.

After a moment, Jay heard a muffled thump, and the door slowly creaked open. The princess peeked out from the other side.

"Hmm..?" Princess Bella stood on the other side of the door, dressed down in a starched white nightgown with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. "Oh! Hello, Ryan, what brings you here?"

She glanced over, her eyes resting on Jay. "Ah. Who's this?"

"Uh, I'm... Sir Jay, I've been placed here to watch over you after th--"

Suddenly, Ryan pulled the knight aside. Angling his body so the princess couldn't see his face, he took his scroll from out of his pocket and ripped out a section, holding it up in front of his mouth.

Jay read it quietly to himself. It was a bit of dialogue, something the King himself said to the scribe the other day.

"And also, Ryan, tell whatever young fellow I choose as a guard that he is to hide his reasons for being there at all costs! I wouldn't want my daughter fretting over something as simple and stupid as a threat some anonymous spastics sent to the castle."

"Well, that's a bit ... Wouldn't she want to be aware she's in danger?"

Ryan shrugged.

"King's orders. Right."

"Umm, boys?" The two turned their heads back to the princess, staring questioningly. She looked so different somehow...

"Err, nothing, your majesty!" Jay stepped back toward the princess and bowed. "I'm only here to keep you company and stay on guard for confidential reasons, order of the King."

Still bowed low, Jay hoped that Princess Bella wouldn't try and question his reasoning. To his surprise, when he straightened out, she was grinning.

"Well, come on in, then! I'd like to get to know you."

Chapter Three {fffing historical innacuracies. trying to be somewhat historically accurate {{lolankles}}. i wanted so bad to make the princess say "totally" like 7 different times but the goddamn Renaissance...}

The princess's room was decked from the carpeted floor to the steeply domed ceiling in sky blue and white, just as the door was. It was much too large a room for just one person to live in; the space around the queen-sized bed, placed in the center of the room and covered with a ridiculous amount of pillows, was enough room for a whole family to live and sleep in. A burnished mahogany grandfather clock sat in the corner by the door, and there were little framed paintings and portraits all along the walls. On one side, the room branched off into a walk-in closet lined with fancy silk dresses, and behind the bed a huge bay window opened up into a balcony, overlooking the entire kingdom. Hanging from the ceiling, just above the bed, was an odd-looking line of string.

"That Ryan is an odd fellow, isn't he?" Jay glanced around, taking in the lavish room.

"Oh, but he's so nice!" Princess Bella crossed the room and plopped down on the bed, rustling the covers. "Never says a word, I can just talk and talk to him, and he doesn't interrupt, only listens! Not a good guy to have a conversation with, I daresay, but hey, he's like a human diary!"

"Human diary?" Jay chuckled.

"Yep!" Bella kicked her feet up on one of the bedposts, her skirt falling back a little bit. "Oh, right, and sorry for the overdose of light blue. I wanted it all shades of blue and green, a bit darker, but the Queen said it wouldn't be "ladylike", so we had to settle on baby hues." she rolled her eyes. "God, what's so bad about my room being a little boyish? Is anyone actually gonna come up and inspect it? I think not."

Jay was already appalled at how unladylike the princess was being-- showing her ankles in front of a total stranger! He turned toward the huge window and looked out. "Yeah, I doubt any peasants could see it from here.."

"Ugh, my parents act like there are people staring at me every moment of the day! They won't even let me wear pants when I'm lounging about in the castle. It's like it's some kind of blasphemy." Bella realized her mistake and put her feet down, pulling the hem of her skirt back in place. "I mean, they look so comfortable! Are pants comfortable?"

"Err... I suppose?"

"Well, not like I can ask you of your opinion, considering you don't know what a skirt is like in comparison..." she peered sideways at him. "Or do you?"

"Wha--? Uhh no ma'am I do not."

"Right. But it's not like any girl in this whole bloody kingdom has the guts to try and wear both, so there's no one to ask!"

Jay stood stiffly by the window, looking out at the village. "I've... seen other women wear pants, back when I lived in the village."

"Oh, really? You lived down in the village before?" she turned her head toward him. "Ooh, what's it like?"

"Huh? Uhh..."

"Jesus, why are you so tense? Come, have a seat! I love hearing stories about the world below this wretchedly pale room." she patted the very end of the queen-sized bed and smiled.

Jay allowed himself to relax a bit, taking a seat. He sank right into the mattress and covers; it was probably the most comfortable thing he'd ever encountered. This whole room was probably more expensive than the entire village below them.

Now he began to realize why the princess looked so different up close; she wasn't wearing any of the makeup she did for public outings. Without all the lipstick and white powder, she looked... rather pretty.

He took a deep breath. "Growing up, my father was the village blacksmith. Mother was never around, she died in childbirth..."

"Oh, that's awful!" The princess's wide green eyes filled with sympathy.

"Yeah. We were pretty poor at the time, affording meals was hard. Every now and then I had to go out and steal from the markets just to have enough food for the two of us." Jay stared down at his feet as he spoke. "My father always told me we should be living in that castle, and one day gave me a weapon he'd fashioned himself, telling me he'd teach me how to fight so I could serve for the monarchy."

"Seems he did a pretty good job?"

"I'd say so. I mean, I already had the basics down from neighborhood brawls." he laughed. "Father fashioned me my own swords to practice with, and once I volunteered to serve, the two of us were given our own room in the castle."

"So he's here now?"

"Aye, I return to him every day. Won't get to see him as much now that I'm supposed to be watching you at all times."

"Wow." the princess stared off into the distance for a moment. "I have to wonder what it'd be like, being a peasant..."

"Certainly not as good as life here."

"Oh, don't be so sure," she said with a bitter laugh.

"What!" Jay turned around, outraged. "You have the life here, you get everything you want!"

"You think so?"

"Yes, I think so!" Jay got up and paced about the room. "You've got everything a girl your age could ever dream of! You've got a room the size of a mess hall, tons of the fanciest dresses imaginable, lavish meals whenever you'd like them--"

"All right, all right, I get it!" she rolled her eyes. "I just wish... sometimes..."

She lost focus again, staring at a painting on the wall. Jay recognized the location between the silver frame as the village square.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand. It's all right."

Jay almost questioned her more, but decided to drop the issue, looking up at the drawstring hanging off the ceiling.

"What does that do?"

"That?" The princess glanced up. "Well... if I tell you, promise not to call me completely spoiled?"

"You are completely spoiled."

"Oh, be quiet! I just won't tell you, then."

"Okay, okay, I promise."

Bella chewed on her bottom lip. "It's... Well, you call servants with it. If you need something. Whenever. Like food or water or an extra blanket."

Jay raised an eyebrow. "You are completely spoiled."

"Hey!" The princess sat up, frowning. "You promised!"

"And what would you like from me now, your majestyyy?"

Bella glared at Jay, forming her thumb and index finger into a pretend-gun and pointing it at him.

"Ka-pow!" Jay did an exaggerated backwards fall, sprawling out on the carpet. Landing on the sky blue stuff lining the floors here was like having five pillows comfort you.

The princess giggled. "You know what, soldier? You're quite all right."

Jay got up, grinning. "I have a name, you know."

"Not like you ever told me it."

He dusted himself off and put out his hand. "Just call me Jay."

"Cool name." The princess took his hand and shook it. "And just so you know, don't bother with any of that your highness business. Just call me Bella."

"Will do."

Bella glanced back at the grandfather clock in the corner. "Aw crap, it's past my bedtime by now!"

Did the princess really just swear? "Wow, you actually have a bedtime?"

"Ma says I need my beauty sleep or something." she rolled her eyes again. "But uh... if I stay up a liiiiittle longer than usual, you're not gonna tell, riiight, Jay?" Bella clasped her hands in front of her, looking innocent enough to grow a halo out of her head.

Jay thought a moment. "Well, securing your bedtime isn't the reason I'm here, so I suppose I won't."

She grinned. "Yay! I'm going to take a quick walk in the forest, I'll be back shortly." Bella got up and ducked into her closet, pulling out a pair of silk (and again, light blue) slippers.

"Be careful!" Jay shouted as she ran out of the door.

"Careful of what, exactly? Nothing dangerous lives in those woods!"

"Careful of your father catching you, of course!"

"Oh! Right, don't worry!" Princess Bella yelled behind her shoulder as she disappeared down the hallway, the door sliding shut.

Posts : 11 Babies : 0 Join date : 2011-02-13

O: I can't wait for the rest >w< Good job, Bella!

Last edited by Whatsername on 2011-02-23, 6:36 pm; edited 1 time in total

Chapter Four {kind of started typing in proper english by the end of the chapter. amidoinitrite?}

The next couple of days were, admittedly, some of the best of the young knight's life. The princess was nothing like Jay expected her to be; she was very open-minded and considerate. The idea of the royal monarchy receiving special treatment had always been part of daily life for Jay, but after hearing Princess Bella herself question it, he had to wonder what other ways of living there could be.

And even if he spent most of the night on guard, the few hours of sleep he could get were grand; though he had been instructed to sleep on the floor, that plush blue carpet was better than any mattress he had ever slept on. Back in the village he only had a bushel of hay as padding, and even in the castle the knights' beds were never washed and always had a spring broken somewhere.

But of course, something had to come up and ruin Jay's good mood eventually.

On that particular day, Jay stood on the balcony, looking over the kingdom as the princess brushed her long golden hair in the other room. Suddenly he heard a short rap on the door.

"I'll get that." Jay closed the glass door sectioning off the balcony and crossed the room. As he was reaching for the knob, the door swung open on its own.

"Why, bonjour, Princess Isa...!" the boy on the other side of the door, about Jay's age, suddenly looked up at him, displeased. "Oh, so she has company?"

Jay raised an eyebrow. "I'm her royal guard, sir. And who may you be?"

Despite his snarky tone, Jay had the sudden impulse to bow to this stranger. He was clad in intricate silk clothing Jay had only seen kings wearing, with a feathered hat atop his head that looked rather expensive (if not absolutely ridiculous).

The boy looked smug as Jay asked him for his identity. He took his feathered hat and swept into a bow, his black hair streaked with red shining in the corridor's light.

"I am Prince Sola, 4th in line to the inheritance of the Channenblossom Kingdom." he lowered his voice for Jay. "I would like to court this kingdom's princess!"

Jay stared at the young prince as he straightened, placing his cap back on his head.

"Court her? Have you even met her yet?"

Sola gave him a look as if there wasn't something quite right about his head. "That's exactly why I'm here. I'm about to."

The prince strode past Jay and walked up to the princess, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Err... hello, who may you be?"

The prince reached down and kissed Princess Bella's hand. "I am Prince Sola, 4th inheritance to the Kingdom of Channenblossom. A pleasure to meet you."

Jay looked up, finding himself glaring daggers into the back of Sola's head. Who does this stupid boy think he is, barging straight up to Bella like this and...

Jay's shoulders slumped. Oh right, he's a prince. Princes probably came all the time to see Bella.

Suddenly the knight heard a fingernail tap at the doorframe. He spun around to see Ryan, still as a Christmas ghost.

Jay supposed he was the one who brought Sola up here. Walking up to the door, he watched Ryan unroll the weathered scroll he carried and hold a section in front of his face, just as he had to show Jay the king's order.

It was written like a play, almost as if Ryan knew someone else would be reading it.

Prince
Excuse me, sir, do you know where Princess Isabella's room is stationed?

Servant
Oh, hello there. Why, yes, but I'm afraid that's confidential information at the moment. You see, there's been some recent activity against the princess of late. Maybe if you visit back in a month or so there won't be any--

Prince
Oh, my good sir! (chuckles) I'm quite sure your kingdom can afford a little secret between you and I? (slipped gold coin in servant's pocket)

Servant
Oh, right, of course, young master! I figure you have good intentions, why, what's so wrong with a prince visiting a princess now and then? Right this way.

"That bastard!" Jay exclaimed.

After thinking a moment, the knight realized: if the servant was the one who led Prince Sola up here... why, Ryan must have been spying on them from the shadows! Jay found himself respecting the young scribe a bit more now.

"Good work, scribe."

Ryan nodded and folded the scroll back up, then unrolled the bottom, revealing more dialogue.

Servant
Are you quite familiar with the princess? Who sent you here?

Prince
Oh, I came here on my own account, good sir. You see, I am going to get to know the princess better so I may ask for her hand in marriage.

Servant
Ah! To be young and in love!

Prince
In love? Ehh, not quite. Honestly, I could care less for her.

Servant
Then why on Earth are you marrying her?

Prince
I'm 4th in line to inheriting the throne to my current kingdom, Channenblossom. I'd much rather not wait my turn, so I figure if I marry a distant princess I will be able to rule her kingdom instead! Quite brilliant, aren't I?

Jay pulled away from the scroll, outraged.

"Does he honestly believe she will say yes? What a fool that man is!"

Ryan put a finger to his lips, nodding over to the prince and princess. Bella looked as if she were beginning to think about jumping off the balcony to get away from this man.

Sola still had one of Princess Bella's dainty hands clasped in his. Jay glared at him, not completely sure why he was so angry over this, before focusing on their conversation.

"...And isn't the kingdom of Channenblossom filled with rude imbeciles?"

"Where on Earth did you--" Sola straightened up, then coughed, obviously trying not to get defensive. "Well, that's all a matter of opinion, is it not?"

Jay stepped forward, clearing his throat. "I believe your time here is up, Prince Sola. The princess has other matters to attend to."

"Time?" Sola's gaze remained on the princess, his expression becoming smug. "Why, I wasn't aware I had a time limit with this lovely young lady--"

"Yes, well, I'm afraid you do."

Sola glanced up, surprised. He probably wasn't used to people talking back to him; at his kingdom he was probably even more spoiled than Bella.

The prince got up from his seat and stepped over to Jay, holding his stare.

"And what concern of yours is my time limit, young soldier?"

The prince really wasn't that threatening; he was much shorter, as well as weak from all his years of being pampered. However, his social status did seem like a bit of an advantage...

"Uhm, Sir Jay?"

The two broke their staring contest, glancing back at the princess.

"Shouldn't we be getting to my father's by now?"

"Your father's?" Jay glanced toward the clock. Since when did she address me as 'sir'?

"Are you telling me you forgot?" she frowned. "Worthless soldier! You're supposed to be bringing me to my father's private study in about three minutes!"

Worthless? Jay stood there, confused, letting the pieces fall into place...

"Oh! Aye, I remember ma'am, my apologies your highness!" Jay saluted. "Yes, we'd best be on our way around now!"

The prince glanced from one face to the other. "What in blazes are you two speaking of?"

"I have a private meeting with my father at around five PM today." Bella nodded to the clock. "I'm sorry I didn't inform you about it earlier."

The grandfather clock chimed, the sound echoing about the room.

"Oh, you see? I'm going to be late!" Bella hopped off the bed and pulled on a pair of yellow silk slippers. "Ryan will escort you out, Prince... Soda, right." pulling a stunned knight out the door, she called over her shoulder, "I'm sorry for the abrupt end!"

Sola glanced about the now empty room, then looked back to Ryan.

"Don't you worry, young scribe. I have a plan that will woo the princess right off her feet... and then I shall be running your kingdom."

The scribe scribbled more dialogue onto his scroll.

Bella, are you a god or something?

princess isabella. lol i was bored:

Chapter Five {OMFG THIS IS SO CORNY D8 OH THE CORNINESS IS KILLING ME NO ONE LAUGH OH GOD WHAT AM I DOING}

"You're a really good liar, you know that?"

"When I want to be." Night had fallen on the castle, and the princess was curled up in her bed, under the covers. It was an awfully cold night for the middle of spring.

"I really thought you were calling me worthless a moment there." Jay, meanwhile, was curled up on the floor, wishing he had a bit more of a blanket but too afraid to ask.

"Oh, don't be silly, I'd never say such a thing!" Bella turned to smile at him. "You're not worthless. And you really shouldn't be sleeping on the floor like a common dog, either."

"It's quite all right, it's comfortable enough for me down here."

"Are you sure? The bed is enormous, I could just sleep on the other end--"

"Err, no, no, it's fine, honestly."

"Well... all right."

Earlier that day, Bella and Jay had no idea where to go to get away from Prince Sola, so they simply walked about the corridors chatting. All the nobles and knights that passed gave them odd looks, some remembering to bow to the princess, but no one bothered to ask why they were out and about.

And here they were, tired and awaiting the next day's arrival.

Just as Jay was beginning to drift off to sleep, she spoke.

"Jay?"

"Yes Bella?"

"Why are you here?"

Jay sat up, surprised. Bella had never questioned her father's order until now.

"I know something bad is happening out there, Jay..." suddenly the princess sounded decades older and frailer than she really was. "No one ever tells me about the castle's affairs. An entire war could be going on and I would still be as ignorant as a squirrel living in the East Forest."

Jay chose his words carefully.

"I have once heard that ignorance is bliss."

"For some, maybe." Bella smiled weakly. "For some. But not for someone who knows one day she will have to help run an entire kingdom."

Jay hadn't even thought about Bella's future when he met her. She may have been kind and smart and fair, but she was never meant to be a queen. A girl like her would break down from all the pressure.

"I'm not stupid, Jay."

Did she really expect him to disobey the king's order? A knight would never dream of such a thing!

"Please?"

And yet, Bella looked so earnest to know, her sad green eyes turned on him like a starving puppy.

Jay sighed, turning to stare out the balcony window. he could only see two stars from where he sat, like two bits of glitter embedded in black velvet. They sparkled at him like a set of eyes peering down from the heavens, waiting to see what happened next.

"An anonymous telegram came to the castle four days ago," the knight said slowly. "It was a threat."

Bella stayed silent.

"A threat?"

"For your kidnapping, my princess."

She exhaled slowly, taking in the news. "Someone wants me gone?"

"I presume so, that's why I've been watching you."

The princess sat up, staring at the village square painting again.

"Look closely at that a moment."

Jay got up and crossed the room, peering at the painting in the dark. There were people and horses flooding the streets, walking in and out of shops and talking amongst themselves.

"What about it?"

"Look at the girl in the middle," she instructed. "Next to the pastry shop."

Jay's eyes found the stone pastry store, and in front of it stood a young girl with long blonde hair. Her face was smeared with dirt, and she wore tattered brown peasant's clothing. She held a big straw basket of fruits over her head, on her way to deliver it someplace.

"I imagine she works for her father's business, taking goods from place to place..." the princess was staring off into the distance, an odd look in her eye. "She gets to be the free-spirited young girl she'd like to be. She gets to flirt and make friends with anyone she'd like. There is no social ladder in a poor village; she doesn't have to pretend to be anyone other than herself."

The knight stayed silent.

"I could be her right now."

"But you're not. You should be happy you're not."

"Jay, I have to literally hide myself every day, hide my face under all that makeup. Be 'courteous' and 'ladylike' and 'regal'. I have no friends, no true friends, and every boy who will ever want to marry me will only want to for an opportunity at the throne." her lip quavered. "And oh, if that stupid Sola boy proposes I'm going to have to say yes!"

Bella pitched forwards, covering her face with both her hands.

Jay's eyes widened; maybe she didn't have the perfect life after all.

Crossing the room, Jay sat down on the edge of the bed and put an arm around Bella. "But aren't I a good friend?"

"You're only here because the king ordered you."

"That's why I came here, but honestly, I wouldn't want to leave you if I could."

"Really?"

"Yes."

The princess sighed. "Maybe I have one good friend, then..."

"And well, honestly..."

"Hmm?" The princess looked up, staring Jay in the eye.

He blushed. "Err, honestly, I.. wouldn't mind marrying you."

The princess seemed to stop breathing a moment.

"I mean, well... I don't care about your money, or..."

The princess slowly looked back down. "Do you honestly think my parents would permit that?"

"Err, well--"

"And the rest of the castle! Oh, look who the princess's fiance is, BLASPHEMY!" Bella turned away. "I'm sorry, Sir Jay, you're only a knight. Princesses are only meant for princes."

Jay sat still for a moment, then nodded slowly. He got up and curled back up on the floor, pulling his thin blanket back over him.

Sir Jay.

Bella lay back down in her bed, and the room went utterly silent.

Only a knight.

Jay drifted off to sleep.

--

The knight roused himself half an hour earlier than usual, feeling something wasn't quite right.

"Princess Bella?"

There was no answer from above him. Maybe she was still asleep; or maybe just wary to talk to him after Jay's blunder the night before.

The knight rose up, looking around the room. Something seemed so out of place... maybe it was the sudden draft he felt? Why would there even be a draft--

Jay turned around to see the glass doors to the balcony wide open.

"What in blazes...?" Jay turned to the princess's bed, already aware what he was about to see; the covers on the bed were thrown aside. Bella was gone.

"Princess Bella?! How could I have slept through this?!" Jay panicked, taking the bone whistle from around his neck and blowing three short notes on it.

"The princess has been taken! Oh, what have I done?!"

Nice story so far! *anticipates for myself to appear*

MORE PLEASE. ADVENTURE TIME 8D;;

Posts : 32 Babies : 0 Join date : 2011-02-13

-cue dramatic music-
DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNN

Chapter Six {YESS! WRITER'S BLOCK, BEGONEE}

Jay had only been to the royal courtroom a few times, and even then he hadn't gotten a good look at the place, stuffed into wooden pews with the other knights and nobles. when breaking news would reach the castle and someone was to blame, this was where everyone ended up, whether it was to listen to the king speak or to watch a conviction.

However, instead of being stuck in the mahogany pews extending to the back of the room, Jay was up toward the front in the middle of two aisles, held back by the monarchy's glares. From there he could see the entire room, with the gold wall paint and paisley carpet. In the very front were a few steps leading up to a platform, and on that platform sat the king and queen.

King Cal and Queen Nikki looked as regal as always, sitting in enormous red thrones with armrests gilded in gold rope and tassels. Beside them sat Ryan, his quill poised at his scroll, ready to write down anything that happens.

"Let me get this straight," Cal began, closing his eyes and sighing. "The princess is nowhere to be found?"

"I checked everywhere, your highness." Jay bowed slightly. "I fell asleep for just a moment, you see, and the moment I woke up I realized she was missing."

"And when was this?"

"Err, about 6:30 in the morning, your highness."

The king nodded, sitting still for a moment and taking in the information. The queen turned her head toward him, her head tilted slightly.

Cal's eyes shot open. "You have neglected your duties!" he shouted.

"Neglected? Wh-what, your highness, I swear I--"

"You've been watching her for only four days and somehow you managed to lose her already? Sir Jay, there is no excuse. I sentence you--"

"Sentence?! What? B-but your highness I only fell asleep for a couple hours, it's not my--"

"SILENCE."

Not only the room, but it seemed the whole kingdom, went silent.

"You don't dare interrupt the king. Bring him to the dungeon." Cal waved a hand at a red-haired boy standing off to the side.

"W-wait, no!"

"No more waiting! Do you have any idea what they could be doing to her right now?!"

"Trust me, yes I do your highness..."

"I don't think you do! Take him away, right now."

"Let the boy speak, Cal."

All eyes turned to the queen, speaking up for the first time. She sat primly in her red chair, her curly brown hair set in a bun toward the side of her head.

"We might as well let the boy argue his case."

Her soft brown eyes fixed on Jay.

"Go on. Impress me."

"I would like to rescue the princess myself," Jay said, staring back.

"Fah! We have someone for that already."

"What!? Who could you possibly--"

Suddenly the two wide wooden doors in the back of the room burst open.

"I was waiting for my cue." Prince Sola bowed to the courtroom, sweeping his hat off his head in the process.

"Him?!"

"He was still around this morning when the news hit the castle," the queen explained. "He volunteered his time to finding our princess, saying he had a good idea of where she was."

"I noticed a couple peculiar clues while I was in the princess's room a couple hours ago." Sola smiled to the courtroom, walking up the aisle and standing beside Jay.

Jay raised an eyebrow. "Why were you in the princess's room when you knew she was already gone?"

"Because I felt like it!" Sola snapped, then resumed his cool composition. "While I was there, I noticed that heavy footprints had tracked sand into the room! This obviously proves the culprit came straight from the Kayun Desert, laying to the south of the castle, in case anyone has forgotten their geography."

"The Kayun Desert? The entire area is completely devoid of life! Whoever it was must have crossed through the desert, on their way from a distant kingdom of some sort."

"Not necessarily." Sola was glaring at Jay like if he tried hard enough, he'd make him disappear. "My kingdom is across the desert, and on my way here I saw plenty of.. sand villages."

"So whoever it was is from the desert. That doesn't prove anything, the Kayun is colossal!"

"Ah, but that's not the only clue! A note was dropped during the kidnapping, I found it under the princess's bed!"

"What were you doing under Princess Bella's bed?!"

"SHUT UP!" Sola's glare intensified. "Do you want me to read the note or not?"

"Might as well."

Sola took a wrinkled paper from his pocket, smoothing it out. In a clear voice he read:

"Brune, 7 AM."

The court sat still, staring at Sola to see if there was more to the note. Finally, Jay spoke.

"The hell does that mean?"

"If you happened to get a proper education like I did, you'd know." The prince smiled smugly at Jay. "Anyone ever teach you any history, boy?"

Jay's hands balled up into fists at his sides. "Don't call me 'boy', I'm just as old as you. And I couldn't afford a tutor, I had to start my life from scratch, unlike some lucky individuals."

Sola rolled his eyes. "In the midst of the Kayun Desert are the Ruins of Brune, an old dilapidated castle that was once a powerful monarchy. The castle's completely abandoned, but the structure is still in fairly good shape."

"And that's where she is?"

"I assume so. And that time is close to when she was taken, is it not?"

"So everything is set?" The queen nodded at Sola. "You may exit the court for now, we'll see you off tomorrow afternoon."

"But... but wait! I have to save her, your highness, you have to at least let me go along!" the knight pleaded, turning back to the two thrones.

"And why is that?" The king stared down at him. "Is it so you can make your wrongdoings right again? Or are you simply trying to avoid going to prison?"

"Making things right is definitely part of the reason, yes."

"Then why is it?"

Jay took a deep breath.

"Because I'm in love with her."

The whole courtroom erupted.

"Blasphemy!" the king yelled. "You're just trying to avoid prison! TAKE HIM AWAY!"

"What? No! No, I'm not lying, I would never lie!" The red-haired boy came up toward the center of the aisle and took Jay's arm, dragging him off to a side door. "Your highness, please!"

Fighting back was no use; Jay was pulled out of the room and into the castle's main corridor. Once the courtroom door shut, the long expanse of space was eerily quiet.

The two boys walked down the hall, their footsteps echoing around them.

"Nice one, mate. Because you're in love with her? Brilliant excuse." The prison guard glanced around, watching the candles hanging on the walls every few feet with interest.

Jay glared at the guard, dressed in the plain black robes all jail guards wear. "It wasn't a lie."

"Well hey, don't get all defensive on me! I don't believe you deserve a sentence like that either, all ye' did was fall asleep."

Jay sighed, casting his glance to the floor. "Fell asleep at just the wrong time. Maybe I deserve to rot in the brig."

"Oh, don't be like that, man, it's really not that bad."

"The dungeon? The dungeon isn't that bad? Oh, how reassuring."

"No, really! Only the true baddies get the torture treatment, I swear to you. You seem like a nice fellow, so I'll be taking you to the cell with all my buddies!"

"Your buddies...?"

"Yeah, my buddies! You'll see. The name's Tommy, and don't worry, I'm not gonna make this any harder on you than it is already!"

this is how my notebook looks. don't even try reading it, man.:

Chapter Seven {didn't have time to proofread it, if you see any typos don't laugh at me ;~;}

Tommy pulled a lever, and suddenly, two panels on the wall swung open.

"How come I never noticed it did that before?" Jay peered down into the darkness, trying to see what was at the bottom.

"Not many have, they made it so those who didn't need to see it, couldn't. Didn't want anyone going on any rescue expeditions or anything." Tommy took a fresh candlestick from the pocket of his robes and lit it with the flame of one of the candles mounted on the wall. Pointing it into the darkness, a narrow gray stone stairwell came into view.

The two boys stared down into the blackness.

"Not so bad, eh?"

"Shut up."

Descending down the stairs single-file, the only sounds in the stairwell were their footsteps and a faraway dripping noise. The air smelled damp, and every now and then a bit of melted wax would spill from the tip of Tommy's candle and land on the cold gray steps below.

A faint light glowed from the bottom of the steps, and once they reached its source, Jay gagged.

A huge room opened up to them, red torches lining the stone walls. Men hung from the walls in chains, battered and starved in shredded rags as clothing. The whole room smelled of blood and brimstone.

Tommy laughed at Jay's expression. "That's not where you're going, mate!"

He took the knight by the shoulders and steered him to his right.The room branched off into a narrow hallway, silver barred jail cells lining the walls. When Jay tilted his head, he could peer through some of them; the people inside looked bored and tired, lying on beds of thin straw.

"You'll just be stayin' in the Concrete Suite for a while, my friend."

"Oh." Jay frowned. "Not too bad."

"See, that's what I've been tellin' you!" Tommy grinned, starting toward the cells.

"But wait... What poor saps get stuck over there?" Jay's eyes were fixed on the more gruesome end of the dungeon.

"Poor saps? Not really..." Tommy glanced back at the carnage with a bored expression, as if he was used to it and didn't care to see it any more than he had to. "Traitors... Murderers... Rapists. Y'know, the guys who really deserve it."

"I'm not sure if anyone deserves a fate like that..."

"Trust me, man. There are people." Tommy reached into his pocket again and drew out a jangling set of keys. "You remember that awful serial killing a while back? The guy who cut off peoples' limbs and let them bleed to death?"

"I had a neighbor from the village who was murdered... What about it?"

Tommy waved a hand at the corner of the room. A crumpled heap was curled up on the ground, a mass of long, gray-streaked hair. His entire midsection was cut up, scars criss-crossing along his chest and stomach.

"Gross... Is he dead?"

"Who can tell?" Tommy shrugged. "And really, who cares? I think one of his guards' sister was one of the killed, apparently, they've made sure his life's been nothing but hell since then."

Jay gulped. "And the people in cells are?"

"Meh, petty thieves, public disturbances. Basically only those in need of a bit of punishment." Tommy led Jay to the first cell on the left side of the hall, pushing a weathered black key into the lock and clicking it open.

"And what did your err, buddies do?"

"Ask 'em yourself!" Suddenly Jay was shoved into the cell, the barred door slamming shut behind him. He stumbled forward, tipping over before righting himself in the middle of the cell.

"Sorry mate, had to do that. Castle protocol and all that." Tommy locked the door and reached through the bars, snapping his fingers. "'Ey, guys, come on, wake up! Emily! Bryan!"

Jay blinked. Even with the light from the candles outside the cell, the darkness was blinding. On one side was the barred part looking out toward the hallway, the other three walls cold gray stone. No windows, no candles. Jay was afraid to find out what would happen when Tommy's candle was snuffed out.

His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. The first thing that came into view was the straw on the ground, probably remnants from old bedding. In the two corners of the room the straw was built up and layered, probably Tommy's two friends' beds.

However, they were nowhere to be found. The only thing on the first bed was what seemed like a set of white gloves, and on the other was the most peculiar thing Jay had ever seen.

It seemed like a sort of felt starfish shape, each leg a different bright color. On the tips of each leg were little gold balls, glinting dully in the candle's light.

Suddenly the white gloves moved, and out of nowhere a face appeared in the darkness. "Why, Tommy, who's this fellow?"

Jay jumped back. What seemed like white gloves were actually the hands of a girl, cloaked in a black robe that blended with the darkness. Her short black hair had been covering her face, disguising her completely. Once she picked her head up Jay could see her face, vampire-pale.

"Call him Jay. He's a knight!"

Emily tilted her head at Jay. "A knight? Why, what's happened?"

"I told you 'bout that threat a few days back, right?"

Emily nodded. "I'm assuming the princess was taken?"

"From under that boy's very nose!" Tommy slumped against the bars of the cell, nodding to a fellow guard passing down the hallway.

"Ah, so the king put you there to guard her?" Emily got up and walked closer to Jay, peering straight at him. She was the size of a child, though her voice sounded wizened and wise.

"This must be an awful turn of events for you," Emily said, her eyes filled with sympathy.

"It is." Jay slumped against the wall, sliding all the way to the floor.

"Nothing is worse than failing your duties as a knight of the Rejected Kingdom."

"Nothing in the world." He shook his head.

"You shouldn't be too hard on yourself. We all make mistakes."

"Right..." Jay turned his head toward the odd colored starfish in the corner of the room. "Excuse me, but what is that?"

"That's just Bryan." Emily turned a skeptical glance toward the thing.

"That thing is alive?"

"Surprising, is it not?"

"But it doesn't even-- Ackk!"

The hay under the starfish suddenly shifted, and a boy dressed in a jester's outfit burst out, standing up and then falling flat on his face.

"Woo! Dynamic entrance eh?" Bryan stood back up and bowed, sweeping his jesters hat off his head. The bells on the ends jingled, and suddenly Jay realized the "starfish" was actually the boy's hat, faced toward him.

"The court jester!" Jay's eyes widened. He remembered a time a couple months back when the court jester was replaced. No one was told why, so everyone forgot about it and moved on with their lives.

"Aye, I was." Bryan said, plopping back down on the floor and turning a tired gaze toward Jay. "Whozzat?"

"The princess was kidnapped, you fool! Pay attention next time." Emily rolled her eyes.

"Don't get snippy with me, young lady!" Bryan rolled around on the floor, bursting into hysterics.

Jay watched him for a moment, then turned to Emily. "Is he quite right in the head?"

"He's been in here a bit too long for his liking," Emily explained apologetically.

"Ah, you haven't the slightest idea!" Bryan jumped back up, bouncing around the room. "I was free as a bird a few months back, y'see, and oh, the king loved me all too well! The would castle would laugh at my crazy antics, but then..." Bryan did an exaggerated fall backwards, landing on his arse. "But when one prank got a bit too destructive, oh, throw 'im in the brig!" He laid back, waving his hands in the air.

Jay had to laugh. "Destructive?"

"Destructive is an understatement." Emily folded her arms. "He set the main corridor's carpet aflame."

"It was an aaaccident!"

"Shut up, jester."

Jay frowned at Emily. "So how did you end up here?"

Everyone went quiet for a moment.

"For having ideas of my own, apparently..." Emily closed her eyes and sighed. "It's quite a long story."

Jay looked around and shrugged. "Well, it's not like we're short on time. Seems like a story worth hearing."

"She's a bloody genius, that's the story!" Bryan announced, still sprawled out on the floor.

"Jay, I have a small question. How long have you lived in this castle?" Emily asked.

"What? About a year and a half or so, maybe."

She nodded slowly. "You don't have the same stuck-up air that people born in this castle tend to own."

"Err... Thank you?"

Emily crossed the cell, facing a section of the back wall, opposite to the bars. She rested her hand against one of the stones.

"Do you remember the rebellion three years back?"

"Yes, back when the old monarchy was in power. They denied rights to the lower class, so the people started rebelling, correct?"

"Yes. That's when the McCoy monarchy settled into power."

"Why are you bringing this up?"

"One of the rebel groups weren't looking for a new monarchy, they wanted monarchies in general to be gone from the Rejected Kingdom." She smiled weakly, turning back to Jay. "I was their leader."

Jay looked dumbstruck. "You've been in here for three years?

"Three years is a small price for how humble this cell has made me... Back then I was just a girl; a rash young girl, running about the castle and screaming for our freedom..." she sighed and turned back to the wall, sliding her hand up the stone. Something in the wall shifted, and the panel that appeared to be stone slid up, revealing a barred window behind it.

Jay cringed, the fresh new light burning his eyes. Once they adjusted, he could see things much clearer in the cell; he noticed Emily's face was as pale as January snow, with small red scars and scratches here and there. Her honey-brown eyes glinted with hidden wisdom.

"This is all the daylight I've gotten for three years." The window was evenly ground-level, the grass coming up at the bottom. Moss grew through the bar slats and around the window's edge.

"I showed her it," Tommy piped up from outside the room. "Felt bad after a while, she seemed like she was getting paler and paler every day."

Emily smiled at him, then turned back to the window, looking up at the cloudy sky. "This cell has humbled me beyond words. Seclusion such as this has given me much-needed time to think things over. I believe that... If I were queen, a lot of things would be changed for the better."

"She's been here ever since I was assigned to this cell," Tommy explained. "The old monarchy threw her in here, but once King Cal and Queen Nikki settled in, they didn't even know she was still here. Actually, I think they still aren't aware." He shrugged. "So I've been smuggling her paper and quills and ink, as well as whatever books she wants from the castle's grand library."

"Us three, we're like a family!" Bryan flung his arms up into the air.

"Take a look at this," Tommy said, handing Jay a handful of scrolls. "She's bloody brilliant."

"Huh..?" Jay opened one, skimming through its contents.

"I would have a different way of ruling this kingdom..." Emily stared through the bars of the window, folding her arms behind her back. "I've read up on past philosophers, those with different ways of thinking. With me in power, I would give equality to the lower class, saving some of the castle's money to give to the poor. Also, I've been thinking of ways to remove the idea of a monarchy... Maybe I can find a way to get everyone in the kingdom to say who they believe should rule once the former king and queen die, instead of letting their children take over."

Jay frowned at the scroll. "Emily, this is brilliant, but I don't think you'll ever get anyone to listen."

Jay couldn't help but think of Bella as he read through the list of ideas, written in a neat cursive scrawl. She would think this was absolutely revolutionary.

Emily sighed. "Who would listen to a prisoner? Good question. Unless a miracle occurs, I'm afraid my ideas will stay ideas."

Jay nodded. After handing the scrolls back to Tommy through the prison bars, he turned to Emily. "No matter what, I'll help you get your ideas heard. I'm sure there's someone out there who will listen."

Emily smiled. "Thank you, Sir Jay."

Bryan got up and grinned. "And don't you worry, mate, I'll help you find that princess of yours!"

"Will you really? I suppose I could use all the help I can get."

"You really are in love with her, aren't you?" Tommy smirked.

"He is." Emily took a step toward Jay. "I see it in his eyes, whenever someone mentions her. He loves her."

Tommy grinned. "Well, then, I might as well help you too!" He stuck his hand out through the bars. "That Prince Sola is a bastard, anyway."

Jay shook his outstretched hand, smiling. "Thanks, guys."

Emily tilted her head at the two. "Prince Sola? Who may that be?"

"Oh, there's plenty we haven't explained yet, believe me! Hold on, lemme get Jay some straw for his bedding. Jay, fill them in on the basics while I'm gone."

As Tommy disappeared back down the hallway, Jay turned toward his two new friends, starting the story from the beginning.

Last edited by Whatsername on 2011-03-04, 11:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

Chapter Eight {the adventure begins!}

Jay’s eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. Even with the hay under him, the concrete floor was freezing cold, chilling him to the bone in his sleep.

He glanced around the cell. Tommy had gone off to bed and wasn’t back yet. Bryan was snoring quite loudly in the corner of the cell, and Emily sat against the wall, scribbling away at a fresh scroll. Jay wondered if she ever got any sleep.

A light appeared from behind the bars, the glow getting stronger every echoing step the figure took. Jay squinted up at it, assuming it was Tommy.

“Um, hello?”

It wasn’t him at all; the voice that came out was high and girlish. When Jay’s eyes adjusted to the candle’s light, he saw a young girl nervously peering through the bars.

“Is this the correct cell? With, er… Emily, Bryan, and… Jay? Right? Hello?”

Jay picked his head up. “And who may you be?”

The girl almost dropped her candle. “Oh, you scared me! Err, I’m Tommy’s little sister. You know who he is right?”

Jay got up and walked closer to the cell. The girl did look a bit like Tommy, with short red hair that stuck straight down, arcing toward her neck.

“I’m supposed to bring you all up to the South court, sir. Which one are you?”

“Uh, Jay. Wait, did you say all of us?”

“Yes sir.” The girl bowed her head. “Tommy said the girl would be very pleased, or something of the sort.”

Jay turned back to Emily and realized she was listening the whole time. Her eyes were stretched as wide as they could go.

“Up in the courtyard, you say…?”

“Erm, yes. The queen said some sort of contest would be held, and you needed to report there immediately.”

“Someone say test, whaaaa?” Bryan stirred in his sleep.

“Get up, you fool! We get to go outside!” Emily sprang up to the cell door, grabbing onto the bars.

“What, really?” Bryan jumped up, still half-asleep, and tipped over onto his face.

“Just a moment.” The girl took out a key and unlocked the cell door, holding it open for the three prisoners. She eyed them warily, as if she was afraid they’d jump up and slit her throat. She probably saw what happened in the other side of the dungeon and got frightened.

“I think Tommy mentioned you before,” Emily said with a smile. “Your name is Kathy, correct?”

“Y-yes, I’m training to become a prison guard, just like my brother.”

The four of them walked around the corner and up the narrow stairs to the main hall of the castle. Jay remembered to turn his gaze away from the carnage on the other side of the dungeon; he noticed Kathy did as well.

“They don’t often give those jobs to girls, do they?”

“Well, no, not ordinarily, ma’am. Since they know my brother, though, I think they’re making me an exception.”

As they walked through the castle, Emily’s eyes were wide with wonder, sweeping over every detail and recording what had changed since she walked through those walls three years before. Bryan was practically skipping, ecstatic at the chance to be able to take a walk and stretch his legs.

“So, Kathy, what was that you said about a contest?”

“The queen didn’t say much, really. Something that had to do with the desert, and that prince from a faraway kingdom.”

“Prince Sola?” Jay had assumed he’d left by now, off on his journey to find Bella, and rescue her from some evil dragon, and propose, and—

“You all right, Jay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. So that’s all the queen said?”

“She was very secretive about it. She didn’t seem like she wanted me knowing…” Kathy frowned as they reached the south door to the castle and burst out into the open air.

Emily took a breath of fresh air. “I’d almost forgotten what the trees looked like.”

The south courtyard was a large circle laid with gray stone, brightly colored flowers sprouting from the center and berry bushes lining it. The four walked across the court, stepping off the stone and onto soft green grass. Bryan took a couple blueberries off one of the bushes as they passed and stuffing them in his mouth before anyone noticed.

The rejected Kingdom’s castle rested on a hill, overlooking the village to the north, a desert to the south and a forest to the east. At the base of the hill, where the grass thinned out into barren ground, Jay could see the large collection of people. He picked out Sola’s red-and-black streaked hair from where he stood; he also noticed King Cal and Queen Nikki, the queen’s usual neat curly bun messy and falling out. The entire monarchy still looked a bit frazzled since their daughter disappeared.

The four descended the hill. King Cal noticed them walking down toward them once they reached the hill’s base.

“Sir Jay.”

Jay bowed. “Your highness.”

The queen gave Jay’s companions a sideways glance, and they all scattered to the sides of the crowd. Jay realized he was stuck in the middle of a circle of onlookers, the only other people the king, the queen and the prince. Tommy waved from the crowd.

“Prince Sola Anthony of the distant Kingdom of Channenblossom, I instructed you to leave around this time yesterday afternoon.” The queen turned her gaze to Sola, looking like she needed a bit more sleep than she’d been getting.

“And I’d very much like to get going, your majesty, but what did you call this boy over for?” Sola looked impatient, sitting on a white horse with a pack of luggage strapped to the back.

“The king has considered Sir Jay’s offer yesterday to save the princess, and the two of us have decided to make her rescue… a bit of a contest.”

“A contest?” the crowd around them stirred.

“Prince Sola shall look through the east side of the desert for the Ruins of Brune,” the king announced, “and Sir Jay will search through the left. Whoever successfully rescues the princess and brings her back safely will have her hand in marriage.”

The crowd erupted in cries of surprise and outrage.

“Prince Sola is already ready for his departure; Sir Jay will have an hour to get his horse and his luggage prepared.”

“Excuse me, your highness, but would I be able to bring companions with me?”
“Travelling companions?” The queen looked confused.

“I’d like to bring Tommy and Bryan on the journey with me.”

“Well… I suppose that’s quite all right.”

Bryan and Tommy cheered, racing up from the crowd and stopping on either side of Jay.

“Wait… what? He gets help?” Sola glared at the knight. “If he gets companions, I request them too.”

“Well, all right. Who would you like to accompany you?”

“I’d like your scribe.”

King Cal glanced nervously at Ryan. His quill stopped moving, and he looked up in surprise.

“Well, I may need my scribe, you see, to write down events and—“

“Oh, please, your highness, I’m sure nothing of importance will go down while I’m gone.” Prince Sola gave him a sarcastic smile. “Also, I’d like three of your nobles.”

“Three?!” The king looked relieved he had something legitimate to snap at the prince for after he interrupted him. “That’s much too many. Jay only requested two people; you are requesting four.”

“Three nobles, or I refuse to compete. Good luck losing one of your best knights to the burning sun of the Kayun Desert.” Sola waved a hand dismissively and turned away.

“Fah! Fine.” The king rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers at the crowd. “Richard, Tom, Paul!”

Three black-haired nobles stepped out from the crowd, all of differing heights.

“You will accompany Prince Sola on his journey to find the princess.”

The three nodded, moving to Prince Sola’s side, next to Ryan.

“As I said earlier, you all have one hour to be completely ready. You will start your journey then.” The queen nodded to them all, walking back up toward the hill. The crowd began to disperse, all chatting amongst themselves.

The king followed the queen for a moment, then turned to Jay. “I’d like to wish you luck on your journey.”

“Err, thank you, your highness.” Jay was so surprised he almost forgot to bow his head.

“To be frank, that Prince Sola boy is a pain in the ass. As much as I’d like a prince marrying my daughter, I believe you’ll do just fine at the throne.”

Jay grinned. “Thank you, your highness. Don’t worry, I’ll get her back, safe and sound.”

“Yeah, don’t you worry!” Bryan hopped up next to Jay and slipped on a spare leaf, falling backwards. “Oop! Don’t worry, I’m err, I’m a lot less clumsy on a horse, your majesty!”

King Cal stared down at Bryan. “Spastic,” he muttered, turning and following the queen up to the castle.

Posts : 32 Babies : 0 Join date : 2011-02-13

moar pls. o3o

Oh come on. I wanna hurry up and save you.

Posts : 11 Babies : 0 Join date : 2011-02-13

8D AWESOMENESSSS. Adventurreee tiemmmmmm!~ c:<

Chapter Nine

The afternoon sun was beginning to set over the horizon, streaking brilliant pinks and purples across the sky as it departed. The weather in the desert changed so fast it could make a man’s head spin; earlier in the day, when the three travellers had first left the castle, the sun beat down on them like a candle held close to their skin. However, now that evening was approaching the air chilled to an almost impossible temperature. Jay worried what would happen when it finally set.

Once it was announced the party of three would leave the castle, a huge mental to-do list dropped on each of their minds. They had people to say good-bye to, luggage to pack, strategies to consider, all under an hour. Neither Tommy nor Bryan owned a horse of their own, so they had to borrow them from a couple of generous nobles (neither horse seemed to like its new rider).

Over all of that was the knowledge that they may get lost on the journey and never come back.

But now that they were on the road, destined for the Ruins of Brune, each traveller had an eerie sense of calm about them, knowing now that they’ve been travelling for so long there was no turning back until they accomplished their goal.

“Let’s stop for a moment.” Jay peered over his shoulder, shielding the sun from his eyes with his hand. The castle was getting smaller and smaller behind them. Soon, the entire kingdom would disappear, and the three would feel even more alone.

Tommy, Bryan and Jay’s horses plopped down on their stomachs the second their riders stepped off, tired from walking in one direction for hours. Jay reached into one of the brown canvas packs of luggage and pulled out a small pouch of diced carrots, feeding them to each horse.

“Are we sleeping here tonight?” Bryan plopped down on the ground, his jester’s hat jingling.

“Might as well. Evening’s upon us already.” Tommy gestured up at the sky, the streaks of salmon and lavender all blending into a dusty blue above them.

“Aye, I’ll get a tent set up.” Jay searched through the canvas bag again and pulled out a sheet of fabric with a handful of wooden stakes and poles.

“I’ll try and get a fire started, then! ‘Ey, Bryan, help me out.”

The three of them got to work, setting up camp. As they worked, the sun drifted lower and lower in the sky, the desert getting darker and darker.

Once the fire finally sparked to life and the tent looked good enough to live in (if not a little dilapidated), all three travellers settled around the fire, warming their hands and faces.

“How long do you think this journey’s going to take?” Bryan stared into the fire with a faraway expression.

“Not sure.” Jay frowned. “I’m not even sure which way to go after this.”

“I guess if we just keep going we’ll find it eventually.” Tommy took some diced carrots from the horse’s feed bag and nommed on them.

“But what if it turns out Brune is to the east?”

“Then after we search through the west we’ll travel over to the east and check.” Tommy shrugged. “If Sola finds her first we’ll just track him down and steal her back.”

“Ugh, that’ll take weeks!” Jay dropped his head into his hands.

“We’ll keep searching as long as we need to. Even if we all have people waiting at home, right? They can wait.” Bryan said.

They all nodded in agreement.

“I hope my father does okay without me.”

“With me gone, Kathy won’t have anyone to look up to.”

“My poor wife-to-be is going to miss me…”

Tommy and Jay both turned their heads toward Bryan.

“You have a girlfriend…?”

“Why do you seem so surprised? Girls like guys who make them laugh!” Bryan put a hand behind his head.

Jay remembered all the times he made the princess laugh throughout the time they were together.

“Bryan, you never told me you had a girl! Why didn’t you mention it before?” Tommy grinned at him.

“Never asked.”

“Well what’s her name?” Jay asked.

“Lady Lily.” Bryan smiled up at the starry sky.

“Must be very patient, waiting for you after months in the brig… ‘Ey Tommy, anyone you’re not telling us about?”

“Naah.” Tommy popped another cubed carrot into his mouth. “I’m happy with my family and friends, don’t need to be chasing any girls around.”

“Wish I had an attitude like that.” Jay frowned at the fire. “That way I never would’ve gotten into this mess.”

Both his companions went silent a moment. When Jay glanced up, he noticed Bryan staring over his shoulder with wide eyes.

“…All right, what’s behind me...”

Bryan pointed, and Jay reluctantly looked over his shoulder.

A small red-brown lizard stood behind him, tilting its slimy little head at Jay. Its huge amber eyes blinked up at him with curiosity, pawing at the ground with long-toed feet.

Tommy burst out laughing. “That tiny beastie? Bryan, you wimp!”

“No no no you don’t understand." Bryan sounded rushed, getting up off the ground and starting toward the tent. "I’ve seen those things before they can—“

Suddenly the lizard got up on its hind legs, opening its mouth wide. Two long, blood-colored fangs extended out of its upper lip with a hiss, dripping with venom.

“Yikes!” Jay ducked out of the way as the lizard lunged for him. The three got up and ran into the makeshift tent, shutting the front flap closed and cowering in the corners.

“This desert is a lot more dangerous than I expected.”

“Well they can’t get in here, right?... I bet it left already.” Bryan, the one closest to the tent’s flap, peeked outside.

Five other lizards peered back at him.

Bryan quickly shut it again, jumping back into the corner. “Or not.”

“Oh, great, it has cousins.” Tommy shivered. “We can’t build a fire in here, the smoke’ll suffocate us!”

“I guess we just have to make do.” Jay pulled three blankets out of the brown canvas bag he hastily grabbed so the lizards didn't get to it, handing them out to each of his companions.

Each boy took his own blanket and wrapped himself in it like a cocoon.

“Another day awaits, eh guys?”

Chapter Ten {boring though necessary backstory, sorry D8}

Though Tommy and Bryan fell asleep right away, Jay stayed awake, recalling the conversations he’d had before he left for the open road.

After the contest had been announced and the crowd dispersed completely, Emily stayed behind.

--

“It seems you’ve forgotten about me.” Emily looked up at him, tilting her head.

“Quite the contrary.” Jay smiled. “I just want to make sure you stay safe.”

“But you don’t mind endangering Tommy and Bryan? They have families and friends.” Emily stared past Jay’s shoulder with a distant expression. “Why does it matter if I’m safe? No one will remember me, no one will miss me but you three. Everyone in my past life is gone.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I’m saying if the three of you died I’d very much like to die with you. In fact, if I don't go and you all die, I will simply kill myself," she said bluntly, blinking up at Jay.

“But Emily, I need to keep you safe to keep your ideas alive. You’re the only person on the planet that can fix this mess of a monarchy!”

She cast her eyes to the ground. “Oh, let them rot in the ground. No one will listen to me anyway."

Jay sighed. “Even if we don’t come back, Emily, you need to survive. You can meet new people and find other things to live for. There must be someone out there like us, willing to give your plans a chance. Now that you’re out of that cell you once called home you’re completely free to do whatever you wish; all you had to do before was wait. Now, your wait is over. You can fix this kingdom once and for all.”

Emily looked up, reluctantly nodding.

“I’ll try the best I can.”

--

Jay turned over onto his side. Besides slight rustling sounds coming from outside the tents, probably from the wind, complete silence filled the desert.

He closed his eyes again, remembering seeing his father for what may be the last time.

--

“So you only have about half an hour left?” Jay’s father sat down on his bed, raking his fingers through his jet black hair. He looked an awful lot like his son, except old and wizened.

Jay nodded as he packed a canvas bag with supplies, facing away from his father. Saying goodbye would be too hard; he’d actually hoped, as he walked into their room, that his dad was away.

“Do you remember that old story I’d tell you when you were a boy?”

Jay reluctantly turned around. “Which one? You told me an awful lot of stories back in the village.”

“With the boy getting lost in the forest, then meeting a kingdom of witches and wizards that help him get home?”

“Aye… I remember. The witches and wizards, they called themselves Magiks, correct?”

“Jay, whenever you need help along your journey, use this.”

Jay held out his hand. His father placed a single, sapphire-blue coin in his palm.

The knight peered at it closely. Both sides had patterns of intertwining vines and oak leaves covering them, a small raised symbol with sharp edges on one side. It looked as if it could belong to another language.

“If you ever find any Magiks in a time of need, give them that coin, and they will help you with whatever you wish.”

“Dad, everyone knows those stories aren’t true.”

“Sometimes, everyone is wrong.” Jay’s dad clapped a wrinkled hand on the knight’s shoulder. “Everyone said we’d never make it up to this castle. Everyone says a princess marrying a knight is blasphemous.”

“But those actually happened! The Magiks were just stories you created to help me sleep when I was little, you admitted it yourself.”

“Don’t be so sure.” There was a twinkle in the old man’s eyes. He closed Jay’s fingers around the coin and walked out of the room without a single goodbye.

--

Jay reached into his pocket and took out the very same coin. He turned it in his hand, wondering what the little symbol could mean. Magiks, being real?

He suddenly remembered asking his father who the little boy was. He'd only said it was a young boy, who grew into an old man, and went a long way in life. His father always had a way of avoiding questions, making them seem like they'd been answered.

Jay was about to ask him to tell the story again just as he walked out, just to make sure he had it right. Was it foolish of him to believe his father's stories?

...

Was that a voice I just heard?

Yes, it definitely was; male voices could be heard directly outside the tent, shouting orders to each other.

He tried to surpress the urge to smile. Were these the Magiks, trying to find him and his crew? Trying to save them and take them to the Ruins of Brune? Did this coin have some sort of magical power that attracts them?

Suddenly he heard a particular familiar shout among the others.

"HURRY UP!"

That was Sola.

Jay quickly looked to the other two for support; they were still out cold. Figuring there was no other choice, Jay grabbed his sword, and with pure courage and determination, pulled the tent’s flap open.

I hope the wait for my character is worth it. :O

Chapter Eleven

The prince’s crew didn’t notice Jay at first.

It was hard for any of them to see anything; Jay wasn’t even sure what they were trying to do. The three nobles were all crouched down near the horses, Prince Sola yelling for them to hurry along with their business, and to do it quietly, saying they don’t want to wake up their competition.

Jay found it slightly hypocritical that Sola was louder than the other three combined.

But where was the scribe? Jay swept the area, starting from his right. The horses stared warily at the intruders, tied to stakes on the ground. One poor horse was slumped to its side; Jay hoped the lizards hadn’t gotten to it.

Behind Sola was a large, box-shaped silhouette with canvas billowing off of it. Jay squinted at it, trying to figure out what it—

A fire suddenly flickered, and Sola lit the lantern he had been holding, lifting it in front of his smirking face.

He was staring right at Jay.

“Well, well, well! It’s a fancy seeing you here.”

Jay glared at the young prince. Somehow throughout their journey his clothes remained perfectly clean and proper, unlike Jay and his friends. The air had been so hot earlier that Jay had ditched his knight's armor in the sand, and the plain brown clothing underneath was covered in sand and grit.

"What do you want, Sola?"

"That's Prince Sola to you."

"I don't care about titles." Jay rested a hand on the handle of his sword. "We aren't in some prissy castle anymore, Sola, we're in the middle of a desert with lizards that will bite off your hand."

Sola's eyes tracked Jay's movement. "Yes, well... I don't have to worry about that, now do I?"

Sola gestured behind him at the large box-like silhouette. Jay squinted his eyes, finally realizing it was an old horse-drawn wagon, covered with an off-white canvas with strange black symbols doodled along its sides.

"Been stealing from gypsies, now have we?"

"All's fair in a contest such as this." Sola pulled out his sword, glinting in the light of the lantern. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes. I'm here to erase my competition."

"So you are here to fight me? Haha, very funny, Sola, you'd never do such a thing. Wouldn't want to dirty up your clothes." Jay pulled his own sword out, raising it slightly. "You're more of a princess than a prince, are you aware?"

Sola's eyes flashed with anger. "Actually, I'm not here for a simpleton's swordfight."

Jay blinked. "Then... What are you going to do?"

"Ey, you nobles! Are you quite done yet?" Sola called over his shoulder.

The shortest one stood, casting an apologetic glance toward the knight. Jay doubted any three of them would want to be doing Sola's bidding."Err, yes, Prince Sola."

The other two rose, and suddenly Jay realized what they had been doing; untying their horses.

The two horses that were still standing took a moment to realize they were free, then dashed off in opposite directions, away from the campsite.

"Hey!" Jay tried to run after them, soon figuring out that it was useless to try.

"Whazzgoin' on...?"Bryan stumbled sleepily out of the tent, followed by Tommy. Jay presumed the horse's hooves awakened them.

Sola glanced back at the tent. "Oh, great, he has backup."

While the prince was distracted, Jay ran toward him, swinging his sword at Sola's side. Sola countered, and suddenly, Jay felt someone slam into him.

The knight fell to the ground, and when he looked up, he saw Ryan crouching over him, holding a knife at his chest.

"Ryan? Ryan, please!"

"Whaa?... oh... HEY!" Bryan and Tommy's eyes finally adjusted to the darkness. They pulled out their own swords and dashed toward Sola.

"Shit! Uhm... Uhh..." Sola glanced around, looking for someone to help him, but no one was there; the nobles had gone back into the wagon, trying to get away from all the violence.

In a desperate attempt, Sola chucked his lantern at them both and dashed back toward the wagon. Ryan got off of Jay and did the same.

The horses leading the wagon suddenly broke into a run, somebody screamed, and as the lantern broke, the entire desert was plunged into complete darkness.

Dang, a bit short, but awesome. Smile

Chapter Twelve

“There’s no way some chick is worth all of this trouble…”

Having walked through the desert for hours, the boys were taking a breather, lounging on the barren ground. Their problems were many, and all three were beginning to lose any sense of hope.

For one, the boys quickly found out who the scream belonged to; when Sola threw the lit lantern, it broke on Tommy’s arm, sending shards of glass flying. Once another fire was lit as a light source they laid Tommy down and inspected the damage – the skin on his arm was charred black, cut up by the glass shards.

“Holy shit!”

“Ehh, doesn’t hurt.”

“Doesn’t hurt? Tommy, you’re wrecked!”

“No, really.” Tommy shook his arm. “The fire burned off all the nerve endings, I’m completely numb.”

“Goddamn… Well what’re we going to do? We don’t have any horses to transport you.”

“Ahh, just go on without me.” Tommy waved his good hand dismissively.

“What? Really?”

“Hell no, you numskull! Help me up, I can deal.”

Though Tommy didn’t mind travelling with a burnt arm, there was no way he could carry a sword with it, which he’d need to do if Prince Sola’s crew came around again. With Tommy indisposed, the group was even more outnumbered.

Not only that, but their horses were gone for good. The only way either horse could survive the blaring heat of the desert alone was if they ran far enough to reach the East Forest, laden with plentiful greens and flowers.

Jay brought up travelling to the east earlier on, only as a backup supply of food and shelter, but his idea was immediately shot down.

“No way! Who knows what creepy beasts could cross our path?” Bryan shuddered.

“Animals we can handle, it’s Sola’s gang we’re worried about,” Tommy said. “They’re looking through the east, so there’s a good chance we’ll run into him.”

“That’s what I just said, Tommy.”

“Eh?”

“Sola counts as a creepy beast.”

That debate aside, the three boys had to find some sort of sustenance, and fast. Not all of their luggage had been unpacked when they set up camp, so when the horse ran off, bags and bags of supplies had been carried off. All they had left for food were those carrot cubes and some horse meat from one of the runaway horses, found dead around noon. Tommy cut out some of its meat and they all cooked some over a fire; it was rough and oddly-colored, but didn’t taste as bad as they expected. All three figured that anything would taste good at a time like that.

But that was earlier that day; the air was heating up as the afternoon rolled on, and all three boys were tired and hungry, wanting to save the last of their carrots. Lounging on the dry ground, Jay spotted something on the horizon.

“What’s that over there?”

“What’s what over where?” Tommy and Bryan peered back in the direction Jay was staring.

A white and brown blur rose up from the heat waves, getting closer and closer. The boys shielded their eyes from the sun, waiting for it to come close enough to discern.

“It’s… an eagle!”

“If it were a bird it’d be flying, you dimwit!”

“All right, brainiac, what do you suppose it is?”

“Maybe it’s Brune.”

“Yes, obviously it turns out that Brune is a castlemobile."

“Wait, wait…” Bryan’s eyes lit up. “Oh, it’s a wagon!”

“Oh, no, don’t tell me Sola’s coming back for us!” Jay grabbed his bag and got up.

“No, look, the markings on the canvas are different.” Tommy grinned. “Guys, they’re gypsies! Come on, we can probably trade with them for food and supplies. Look for something valuable and put it in this bag.”

Jay, Bryan and Tommy all sifted through their bags for any spare cloth or precious metals.

“I’ve got… A square of silk, and… Yeah that’s it.”

“Found a short gold chain, must’ve been Kathy’s.”

Jay came up with nothing. He hesitated before taking out the coin his father gave him.

If this is going to get us any help, it’s going to be now. Jay put the coin in the trading bag without even looking at it. I was a fool to believe him, even for a minute.

“I’ve got a metal coin.”

“All right, come on, guys.”

The boys grabbed their bags and walked up toward the wagon, now standing stationary only yards away. The mark on the side looked familiar to Jay; it looked a bit like a lowercase “n”, with jagged curves and sharp edges.

Suddenly Bryan dropped his bag. “One second.”

“Huh?” Jay glanced over at the jester; it seemed as if he’d recognized the symbol as well.

“What’re they doing out so far west?” Bryan tilted his head at the wagon.

“Who?”

“The Magiks.”

Jay frowned, reaching back into the bag and taking out the coin. The coin’s symbol was somewhat eroded, and the wagon’s symbol was smudged in parts, but they were definitely the same.

“Have you lost your head?” Tommy rolled his eyes, grabbing Bryan’s bag off the ground.
“The Magical Kingdom is a bloody children’s story.”

“No, really, they’re real!”

“Ugh, let’s just go get some food before they drive off.”

Jay lowered the coin. “No, he’s right.”

Tommy turned his head, looking at Jay. “The hell are you two talking about?”

“The Magical Kingdom! It’s located in the core of the East forest,” Bryan said.

“And how do you know this?” Tommy glanced back at the wagon, still skeptical.

“Well, I used to live there,” Bryan admitted. “I was a sort of village idiot when I was younger, so I ran away to get the respect I wanted. I bumped into one of their wagons, and they took me in and accepted me.”

“Why’d you come back, then?”

“Figured my family missed me. Found my way back and got the perfect job for myself; the court jester!”

Tommy peered at the wagon, taking it all in. “So you’re telling me…”

He suddenly went quiet, staring at the front of the wagon.

“What?” Jay walked around the wagon to get a better view of the front. It took him a moment to realize what was wrong.

“Where are their horses?”

“They don’t use them,” Bryan said.

“Then how the hell do they move?”

“They’re the Magiks! They can do anything.”

“Damn straight we can.”

All three boys jumped at the female voice behind them. A young girl with short black hair and a strange blue hat with ear flaps and goggles stood where the others just were.

“Are you gentlemen planning on introducing yourselves, or are you just going to stand there?”

DAMN STRAIGHT WE CAN

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