Born to Run-- Fane

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7518/nina1z.png][atrb=height,500,bTable][atrb=width,450,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] They rode hard, and they rode fast. Honestly, Rosaria was not sure how long she could keep up at this pace. Of course she was a good rider, but she was use to stopping to catch her breath every now and again. Since the princess had escaped the city of Ascalon with Fane, the hardy horses had not broken their gallop, not once, and they had been running all night. The captured Princess of Etrias glanced behind her only to see a vacant dirt road, barely visible, masked by the ever growing foliage of the Ibya Forest. How did Fane even navigate these woods? Roza could not make heads or tails of any path they took. He seemed to instinctively know where to go. Then again, she had not really been paying attention to their course as they were fleeing the city. The rush of adrenaline brought on by the obscurity of their pursuer and the fact that she had already been kidnapped once cleared her mind of any rational thought and she was left to follow her intuition that chose to follow Fane. Facing forward in her saddle, Rosaria noticed the light of the early morning sun pouring down from slits in the leafy canopy above. ‘Is it morning already?’ thought the princess, her grasp on time still not truly firm. Surely they had to be stopping to rest soon. Rosaria knew that she could not handle a full day of riding on what limited sleep she acquired. Looking between her horse’s pointed ears, Roza saw that Fane did not seem the least bit winded. ‘He got less rest than I did! How is he still even in the saddle?’ The fugitive pair kept on riding for a few more hours. The rouge led them on conceal paths, ones that no one would notice unless one was looking for them. When they came upon a wide stream in the middle of the forest, he led them to a spot where the horses could easily ford the running waters. After crossing various smaller creeks, he brought them to the base of the start of a mountain. To the eye it looked like a steep, high hill. The horses would have to run up the side just to make it to the top. “No. Oh no!” exclaimed Rosaria stubbornly when her mind registered the slope. The princess wheeled her horse around and head back towards the woods. Halting the steed near a strong oak tree, she stated defiantly, “Fane, I am not going any further until I’ve caught my breath!” To show that she was resolute in her decision, the princess dismounted her horse. When her feet hit the ground, her legs felt like jelly. Her slender body quivered with over excursion, with tiny tremors in her hands and knees. Her breathing was forced and labored; she was having difficulty regulating it. With the reins in her hand, Rosaria leaned against the trunk of the oak. However her shaking legs would not hold her long, and she soon felt herself sliding towards the ground. The Princess then found herself in the one place she thought she would never be: sitting in the dirt lost in the godforsaken forest. What had she been reduced to? ( outfit )

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK The ride was long and hard. The ruins near the river were too conspicuous. He’d learned that when the noblewoman and her group travelled there. No, he needed to take the princess somewhere even more remote. The only place to guaruntee that they would be unfound was the forest. It was far too expansive for them to be found. There was such a small window of chance that he thought it unlikely that they would be disturbed. No soldiers or rebels would find them there. Game would be plentiful and there was no shortage of streams for them to drink from. Fuel for a fire would be no problem and there had to be some empty caves at the edges of the mountain range. Now, he had a destination in mind. He glanced back occasionally, but the heavy tread of her mount’s strides was enough to assure him that she was following him. The rush of adrenaline that he was so addicted to had been enough to fuel his weary body through the flight to the asylum of the woods. He didn’t allow the horses to break stride until they reached a wide but shallow stream, and even then it was only to a canter. The steed was reluctant to resume its hard pace as soon as they cleared the stream, but he did manage to coax it into a slow gallop. When the princess’s horse didn’t attempt to speed up to a gallop again, Fane sighed and allowed his mount to drop back to a canter. While part of him was frustrated about the slower pace, he had to admit—if only to himself—that the woods were growing too thick to maintain the hard gallop that they’d been using. Once they reached the base of the first major hill, Rosaria pulled her horse to a halt and doubled back to a massive oak. “No. Oh no! Fane, I am not going any farther until I’ve caught my breath!” To emphasize this, the princess dismounted and landed on wobbly legs. With reins in one hand, Fane leaned forward, arms resting on the front of the saddle. He sighed. “Would you consider going just a little farther, prinţesă? There should be caves not too far from here. Then you can get rest.” They both could. Adrenaline would only get him so far and he was running on fumes. When Rosaria sunk to the ground, he sighed again and slid from the back of his own horse. Neither of the beasts looked as though they were planning on going anywhere after their long ride so they were safe to leave untethered. When he reached the princess, he held out a hand. “Come on,” he said almost gently. “We’re almost there.” 459 WORDS , ROZA , OUTFIT , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7518/nina1z.png][atrb=height,500,bTable][atrb=width,450,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] “Come on… We’re almost there.” Almost there. What did that even mean? Up the hill and through more woods? Who did he think she was? Some nobody farmer’s daughter that was used to working herself to the bone. Didn’t he know that princesses, such as herself, were not conditioned for such laborious pursuits like gallivanting through the forest. Yet she had to get up. Roza was sure that if she did not get off the ground now, then she would be stuck there for a better part of the day. Firmly placing her hand in his, the princess allowed Fane to lift her from her seat in the dirt. Thankfully, her breath had become more even due to the very brief respite. Even her legs were more sound; she actually felt like she could move without fear of falling on her face. Moving back to her borrowed horse, the princess inquired in an authoritative tone, “Fane, will you at least tell me how much farther? Are we just riding up that hill, or are we going to have to cross whatever is on the other side of it?” Oddly, Rosaria noticed how the forest seemed to quiet. In the eerie silence, the horses began to knicker and snort, their ears twitching and their strong hooves pawing damp soil. As she held still, her dark eyes darted around, searching for whatever was causing the equines’ tension. “Well, well… What we got ‘ere?” A gruff and grimy voice sounded as two brusque looking men emerge from the heavy brush. “Looks like we got us here some poor lost travelers,” remarked the second bandit to the first.” In any normal circumstances, Rosaria would have been surrounded by mounted guards that would have chased the ruffians. However, these were not normal circumstances. Actually it was the farthest thing from normal. With her horse’s reins securely tightly in her hand, Roza glanced worried at Fane, who would be her only defense if the situation turned violent. She did not know how to fight, and she would only get herself more lost if she ran away. At the moment, the princess of just a little more than useless. ( outfit )

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK When he urged her to continue onward, she leveled a disbelieving look in his direction. He was finding it difficult to remember that she was a spoiled princess—literally—and that she was not accustomed to physical exertion. Regardless, she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to pull her to her feet. The few minutes that she’d been given to sit seemed to make all the difference; she was able to stand more steadily than she had after dismounting her borrowed—stolen—steed. “Fane, will you at least tell me how much farther? Are we just riding up that hill, or are we going to have to cross whatever is on the other side of it?” she asked after pulling her hand free and taking control of her mount once more. Before he could respond, the horses began to exhibit signs of anxiety. The rest of the forest was eerily silent—no birds, no squirrels scurrying through the brush, even the wind seemed to have ceased. Fane tensed, expecting there to be some predator or another lurking nearby that would spook the weary horses to this degree. His hands drifted instinctually to the hilts of the blades strapped to his waist. He had been expecting a predator, but when the two bandits stepped into their small clearing, he was far from surprised. “Well, well… What we got ‘ere?” the first of the two sad as he took in the sight of two exhausted horses and weary people seeking refuge in the woods. “Looks like we got us here some poor lost travelers,” the second replied. Fane figured this banter between the two was meant to unsettle their victims, but it would not be so easy for them to throw the young Crymean man off of his skills, exhausted or not. In fact, the prospect of a fight was the instigation for a renewed flood of adrenaline. “You’re in over your head. Leave,” Fane directed them somberly as he stepped in front of Rosaria. He might have kidnapped her but that didn’t mean he wanted to see her get harmed. He considered using the throwing knives at his disposal, but they were too close for him to take them both out and still have time to draw his other blades to defend himself and the helpless, exhausted lady behind him. He would have to settle with facing both of them, blade-to-blade, at the same time. Let them underestimate him, let them think that he was outnumbered and hopeless. He would destroy them both. The two bandits exchanged glances and laughed. “Because of you? You’re just a pretty boy.” The other man nodded in agreement, his grin revealing a few missing teeth. “Pretty boys never know how to fight.” Fane shrugged, controlling his excitement at the inevitable fight. “Why don’t you just hand over the horses and the girl and save yourself the trouble, eh?” The young man’s response was to draw his blades from their respective sheaths. They weren’t going to take the princess away from him without a fight. And that fight wasn’t going to be easy. The bandits drew their blades—sorry excuses for swords—and advanced. He already saw that their ploy would be to try to overwhelm him quickly to take him down. Any real swordsman wouldn’t make the first move on an unknown opponent. The fight didn’t last long, but it was hard and bloody. Fane was running on empty and facing two opponents all while protecting a woman who was less than useless in a fight. The first of the two went down quickly with a few gashes and a clean cut across his throat. That left him with the more skilled of the two bandits. It wasn’t until he took a quick step back—right into the princess’s horse—barely avoiding what could have been a fatal scenario. The bandit’s blade sliced through his shirt, leaving a long but fairly shallow gash across his chest from shoulder to the bottom of his opposite ribs. When the bandit attempted to trap Fane between the horse and his blade, the young man took that opportunity to run his sword clean through the bandit’s heart, ending the duel. Finally breathless, the tips of his blades dipped to the ground and he leaned against Roza’s horse to catch his breath and attempt to bottle the pain that burned across his chest. He only allowed himself a couple of minutes before he straightened, sheathed his blades, and gathered his horse’s reigns. “We’re not going over the hill, prinţesă.” He left it at that as he started to walk along the base of the mountain and to the mouth of one of the closest caverns. 787 WORDS , ROZA , OUTFIT , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7518/nina1z.png][atrb=height,500,bTable][atrb=width,450,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] “You’re in over your head. Leave.” Oh how she prayed that Fane’s statement was true and not just some bluff to scare away the brigands. Rosaria knew that the Crymean carried weapons, but she did not know how well he could use him. Was he skilled or just decent? The princess did not know. Yet, as he moved in front of her shielding her, Fane seemed more than confident that he could take them. “Because of you? You’re just a pretty boy.” “Pretty boys never know how to fight.” Rosaria was starting to believe that these bandits were all bark and no bite for they seemed awful chatty. Though, honestly, she didn’t know why they were bothering. To the princess, it did not seem like either she or Fane possessed anything of value. Yet she was royalty. She had everything delivered to her on a silver platter. Roza had no knowledge of the needs of the destitute and outlaws, so she was startled like a skittish deer when the bandits voiced their demands. “Why don’t you just hand over the horses and the girl and save yourself the trouble, eh?” ‘If you let them take me, I will haunt you until your dying day,’ threatened the princess mentally, having no particular desire to be spirited away by more unknown men. Her grip on her horse tightened, knowing that if the confontation ended badly she could at the very least ride away from the menace. Thankfully it looked like Fane was not going to let them have her without a fight. To her surprised and secret delight, her kidnapper was not just a decent swordsman, he was actual rather skilled. She should know; she’s watched her eldest brother spar with his men too many times to know the difference between a novice and a master. As Rosaria looked on admirably as Fane battle the outlaws, one by one, she could not help but compare him to the crown prince. ‘He could rival Josc with a sword,’ mused Roza, as a feeling of security began to take hold of her. Now unlike most women of court, the princess was not fazed when Fane slit the first bandit’s throat. She actually smirked triumphantly as if she has been the one that delivered the mortal blow. In truth, Rosaria was no stranger to blood and battle wounds. Such things were common in the tournaments held by her family. Competitors were bloodied, bruised, and some even died on the field from their opponents blows. Even for all his talent, Joscelin would even return to his chambers with a gash or two, and Roza would pamper him while they recounted his victories. Just as she was sure that her dearest brother could best any one that crossed his path, Rosaria was confident that Fane could defeat the last man with a few quick blows. The last moments of the battle seemed almost surreal to her. Her heart pounded like a war drum, and nearly skipped a beat when her defender was pinned against her steed. Then it all but stopped as she watched, helplessly, as their attacker’s blade sliced Fane’s chest. An audible gasp escaped her lips. It could not end like this! Rosaria didn’t breath again until Fane’s sword ran the bandit through. As the triumphant rouge supported himself against her horse, Roza quickly rounded the equine concerned about the severity of Fane’s wound. ‘He risked his life to save mine. The least I can do is make sure he won’t die because of it.’ She rationalized. However before the princess could even make a fuss, he uprighted himself, sheathed his swords, and took hold of his horse. “We’re not going over the hill, prinţesă.” As if that was even an option anymore! Rosaria might be the captive in this situation, but she was not going to allow him to ride any further in his condition. Honestly, unsure of the reason why, the princess was relieved that he was not severely injured. She watched Fane closely as he led her to the cavern, examining him for any falter in his footing or contortion in his composure. Roza saw none, but she knew most men were too proud to appear weakened in the presence of a lady, a fact she knew all to well from experience with her brother. Well she would not have him die on her because he was too proud to ask for help. As soon as they were in the cavern, Rosaria ordered in a stern, no nonsense tone, “Take off your shirt, and lay down.” Hoping that he would do as he was told, the princess began to rummage through the saddlebag. They had to have packed some sort of medicine and bandages. It was not long before she found what she was looking for. With a canteen of clean water, a bottle of salve, a soft square of cotton fabric, and strips of dressing, Roza went over to Fane with a determined stride. Silently, the princess began to clean the young man’s battle wound, drenching the cotton cloth and wiping away the dried blood. Her fingers trailed over his upper body, the only thing separating their skin from making contact being the scrap of fabric. She exhaled sharply as she got an eyeful of his criminally well-sculpted body. Aside from his lifestyle and the fact that he kidnapped her, the man was practically perfection incarnate. Poets and bards would surely dub him the new Adonis. In the back of her mind, Roza wanted to take him home and— ‘No! Do not even go there. He’s going to get his ransom, return me to the castle, and I’m never going to see him again.’ Her rational self scolded. ‘You could convince him to return with you. He fit in at the banquet; he could fit in at court. Think how envious every lady would be,’ tempted her shallow self. ‘No! Absolutely not!’ The rational voice shouted. ‘But he’s so pretty!’ whined the shallow one. “So,” piped Roza, desperately needing to get out of her head. Dipping the soft tips of her fingers into the jar of salve, she began applying the balm to the shallow laceration. The aroma of cloves, saffron, and rosemary assailed her sense of smell. As her fingers gently massaged the salve on to wound, she asked, “We’re those the men that were chasing us?” ( outfit )

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK From the glimpse he’d caught of her highness’s expression, he was taken by a bit of surprise at the emotion he found there after the fight. The young man would have sworn that she was, at the very least, displaying a mixture of concern, pride, and admiration following the skewering of the last bandit. Was she happy that he defeated the brigands? The princess that he kidnapped less than a day ago was pleased that he’d won the fight? The same princess that threatened him with being hanged, drawn, and quartered? Interesting. Although, looking at the situation from her perspective, other than the fact that he’d removed her from the palace against her will, he had done nothing to harm her. In fact, he seemed to be doing all that he could to protect her—such as from their “unknown” assailants and the outlaws who died attempting to take her and the horses. It was hardly a wonder why she would choose him, someone who at least looks like he could step into a role as a nobleman and who had taken care of her, over the two filthy bandits who used weapons to get what they wanted. Well, those two wouldn’t be bothering any more kidnappers and their victims anymore. She followed him without complaint as he led her through the woods to a cavern not far from where they had been stopped. The cave was deep enough to protect them from the elements but shallow enough to see that there were no other residents in it without much investigation. It was large enough for both human and equine to seek shelter. For the night or two they would be there, the cave suited their needs just fine. During the walk, Fane was far from comfortable; the gash across his chest was the source of burning pain and between that and his exhaustion, he was using his horse to support himself far more than he would ever admit. The thrill of the flight and fight were fading; his lack of sleep was catching up to him. They hadn’t been in the cavern for more than a minute before the princess was settling into her usual role of barking out orders. “Take off your shirt and lay down.” Fane chuckled quietly. She was supposed to be the kidnapped princess and yet she was acting as though he was one of her servants and they were back at the castle. She assumed a role of authority even though she was supposed to have none. The time he was about to spend with her would be interesting to say the least. In a matter of moments, he’d uncinched his horse’s saddle and pulled it off before he shed his cloak and peeled off his shirt, revealing his well-toned torso, and then removing his belt and laying the sheathed blades beside him. It wasn’t until then that he followed the order she had given. Fane settled down to one side of their shelter, his cloak bunched behind his head. Roza didn’t take much longer to locate her first aid supplies and approach. She knelt down beside him and began to gently clean the laceration silently. And then she gasped quietly. His glacial gaze drifted to her face and noted that her attention was absolutely focused on his chest. Honestly? He didn’t blame her. The cool water felt good against his skin as she wiped the cut with the soft cotton. With a sigh, Fane relaxed, not worried at all that she would try to harm him or run. She already proved that she had no intention of fighting if she were to come across trouble—and there was certainly more than just bandits lurking in the woods—and if she wanted to run away from him, she had her chance when he was walking to the cavern. He doubted she even knew how to navigate the labyrinth of trees and brush. Now was as good a time as any to rest. “So,” she began, breaking both the silence and his thought process. “Were those the men that were chasing us?” The real answer? No. A man who was supposed to be his friend and brother was marching on their home with soldiers in tow. But there was a slim possibility that the two outlaws had followed them from the city. “It’s possible,” he said, voicing his thoughts. “If so, I don’t think they were the only ones.” Bandits were like hyenas; they traveled in large groups and stole their sustenance from others. It was hardly a lie to say that the bandits probably weren’t alone, but he figured they were attracted more by her shouting that she would go no farther than by their flight from the city. His eyes drifted half shut but his attention remained on her as she began to massage salve—which stung at first but then began to soothe—into his wound. The sharp smell of spices assaulted his nose and the natural quiet that settled around them was a comfortable one, not the unnerving one preceding the bandits’ appearance. “I did not lie to you, Roza,” he said after a long silence. “My father was boier.” He paused briefly, allowing the corner of his mouth to curve upward slightly. “I saw the way you looked at me after you realized what was going on.” He was far from angry, merely making an observation. Fane certainly was perceptive. “You saw me as what? A peasant reaching too far above him? No, I am noble by birth if not in title.” Let her consider that. 936 WORDS , ROZA , OUTFIT , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7518/nina1z.png][atrb=height,500,bTable][atrb=width,450,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] Rosaria was grateful that Fane did as he was bid. In all honesty, she did not want to rustle any more feathers by screaming and yelling. That would not do them any good. In her gut, Roza knew that it was her shouting in the first place that drew the bandits to them, and she knew it was imperative not to draw any more fiends and foes to their location. She was already to blame for his current injury, and the princess had no desire to arouse any scenario that would inflict more. “It’s possible. If so, I don’t think they were the only ones.” Wonderful… There were still more people after her… them. The captive princess hoped that they were deep enough in the forest and that their trail was lost to their pursuers. ‘If they find us soon, we’ll have to run,’ thought Rosaria, attempting to think up a contingency plan. As she finished applying the salve, she had just coupled herself to her kidnapper… But she did not take it back. Even though she very well could, Rosaria would not abandon him if faced with the situation. She had no reason to. So far, aside from the original kidnapping, he had been nothing but kind and honorable, and on top of that, he saved her life… twice. His character was far more gallant than at least half of the men in her father’s court. As a soft, content smile fell upon her face, Roza resealed the jar of wound ointment and rolled the long strip of white bandage. A tranquil peace overcame the cave as neither of them spoke. ‘One would never get this kind of quiet in the castle,’ mused the princess as she continued to prep the bandages. Moving closer to Fane, the princess placed a firm hand on his shoulder and wrapped her other arm around his back as she helped his rise from his recumbent position. When he was stable, with the roll of linen in one hand Roza began to wrap the bandage around his body. Starting from below his pectorals, she gradually wound the wound dressing down his torso until she reached the area just above his hipbones. The princess made sure to wrap the bandage tight enough so it would not fall off but not so tight that it would cause him discomfort. After laying Fane back down, Rosaria removed her dark cloak and covered him with it like a blanket since she had no need for it anymore. As she watched his bright blue eyes slowly drift to a close, Roza got up from her kneeling position, picking up the spare bandages and salve as she did. In the long moment of silence, the princess went over to her horse and placed the first aid items back into her saddlebag, if only so she’d know where they were when Fane’s injury needed to be redressed. Then she looked at Fane’s horse that was comfortably munch on the sparse blade of grass near the mouth of the cave and then turned to her own steed that was still fully tacked. Right… She could untack a horse. How hard could it be? Lifting the saddle flap out of the way, Rosaria pulled on the girth straps in an attempt to loosen them from the saddle. Well clearly she was doing something wrong because no sooner had she pulled on the straps had the horse reached its head back and took a nip at her sleeve. “Alright, Alright!” cried the princess to the equine in a loud whisper. “Sorry… I’ve never done this before.” Eventually Rosaria was able to remove the girth from the saddle, with way too much thinking on her part on how to properly detach the strap of leather. Then, carefully, she pulled the saddle and saddle pad off the horse’s back. It was a bit of a struggle to lift the bulky tack. Once again it was a new experience. The princess normally had servants to do all this for her. As the horse’s sweat from the pad dampened the sleeves of her shirt, Roza realized that untacking a horse was most definitely not her favorite task in the world. As she propped the saddle next to Fane’s against the wall of the cavern, she heard Fane say, “I did not lie to you, Roza. My father was boier. I saw the way you looked at me after you realized what was going on. You saw me as what? A peasant reaching too far above him? No, I am noble by birth if not in title.” She didn't move. She didn’t speak. The princess just stood in her spot near the saddles, his words swimming around in her head few a moments. Fane had said this before, not in so much detail, but he had admitted that he did not lie to her, recalling their brief conversation in his room back in the city. Rosaria, in her fury and anger, had not believed him then, thinking him just another charlatan. Yet this time, something inside her chose to trust his word. Physically at her limit, Roza felt a wave of fatigue wash over her as well. With no ceremony whatsoever, the princess went back over to Fane laid down next to him, placing her hands beneath her head for support and gazing up at the arched ceiling of the cavern. “I know.” She sighed, turning over on her side to face him, finally giving him a response. With an amused grin, she added, teasingly, “You’re far too… symmetrical to be a person of common birth.” Then the playful glisten in her eyes became serious. In fact Roza hesitated even to ask it, wondering if her question would be too insensitive. Slowly, testing the waters, the princess asked, “What happened… if I may ask?” Her fingers found the edge of the cloak, and she began fiddling with the unfinished fabric… Whether it was out of boredom or anxiety, she did not know, nor did she care to dwell on it. Then she clarified, with a bit more bravado, “You know, why did you leave Crymea and your family?” ( outfit )

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK “Alright, alright! Sorry… I’ve never done this before.” Fane looked in the direction of the princess’s voice only to find her struggling with the beast’s saddle. His usual faint smirk appeared and he settled in to watch the young woman figure out how to remove the girth so that she could take the saddle of her horse’s back. The display of her attempting to puzzle out how to do so was amusing. Maybe if he was feeling a little less inclined to watch her struggles he would have helped her at the risk of her yelling at him to rest. But just watching was worth it. After what was long enough to bring on much mental cursing, she managed to wrest the leather strap off. He watched as she gingerly lifted the sweat-drenched saddle pad and saddle from the equine’s back. The sour look on her face? Priceless. If she didn’t have the strength left to carry the mass of leather to the side of the cavern, he might have taken pity on her—maybe—but she seemed to manage well enough on her own after the saddle was removed. His icy gaze followed her as she crossed the cave to the space beside him and just about collapsed to the ground beside him. Fane watched her profile as she gazed up at the ceiling from her recumbent position. She seemed thoughtful and content if not happy. It seemed strange that those emotions would be present on a spoiled princess’s face in the presence of the man who’d kidnapped her and in the heart of the wilderness after watching two men die violently, but he didn’t think that he was wrong. “I know,” she said as she sighed and turned onto her side to face him, her abysmal eyes sparkling with mischief and amusement. “You’re far too… symmetrical to be a person of common birth.” He chuckled at that. At least she recognized good looks when she saw them. Rosaria hesitated before she haltingly broached her question. “What happened… if I may ask? You know, why did you leave Crymea and your family?” While he considered his response, he lifted his head and moved his bunched up cloak toward her, exchanging it with his arm as his pillow. “You are asking a very complex question,” he started, not shaken in the least by her question. Had he learned that she had some unusual past, he would be asking the same line of questions. “I did not leave my family; I had no family to leave. My home was burned to the ground with both of my parents inside. No one ever figured out who caused the fire.” He could still see the charred skeleton that was once his home in his mind. That wasn’t something that was easily forgotten. “Before that happened, I was associating with friends who were bad influences. Rather than attempt to step into a role of responsibility at fourteen, I chose to continue down the path least recommended. I convinced my friends, who had taken me in after the fire, to leave Crymea.” A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “The people were catching onto our activities so we moved on to Ascalon.” 540 WORDS , ROZA , OUTFIT , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7518/nina1z.png][atrb=height,500,bTable][atrb=width,450,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] “You are asking a very complex question. I did not leave my family; I had no family to leave. My home was burned to the ground with both of my parents inside. No one ever figured out who caused the fire. Before that happened, I was associating with friends who were bad influences. Rather than attempt to step into a role of responsibility at fourteen, I chose to continue down the path least recommended. I convinced my friends, who had taken me in after the fire, to leave Crymea. The people were catching onto our activities so we moved on to Ascalon.” As Rosaria listened, captivated by his story, she took his bundled cloak and positioned it under her head. It was no feather pillow, but it was so much better than the hard ground or her hands. Then as she breathed, she inhaled his scent that lingered on the fabric. It was deep and woodsy, like a forest of pine that stood beneath a looming mountain. A part of her, way down deep, liked it. It was so much more natural than the scents of the foppish men who used colognes of amber and musk. “I’m sorry… for your family,” responded the princess sympathetically. She, of all people, knew how important family was. They were your rock and your guiding star when times were dark and seemingly hopeless. If Roza lost her entire family, her little sister included, she had not the faintest idea what she would do. The thought was so utterly terrifying that she had banned it from her mind a long time ago. But she was curious if Fane had abandoned the idea of living the high life altogether. Inquisitively she questioned, “Would you return to a life of nobility if given the means and opportunity?” ( outfit )

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK “I’m sorry… for your family,” she said with a genuine look of sympathy in her eyes. Fane nodded in acknowledgement. Family was important to anyone—he loved his parents growing up—and just because they were gone didn’t mean he loved them any less. He loved Costel, Nico, and Andrei as though they were truly his family at least until the former two stabbed him in the back. Costel would come to regret his decision to betray him. The young rogue was certain of that. Rosaria broke into his thoughts. “Would you return to a life of nobility if given the means and opportunity?” A life of nobility… It meant money, wealth, privilege, anything he could dream up to ask for. That was certainly a dream to try to achieve. But, as with anything else, there was another side to that coin. Along with all the benefits came the betrayal of friends, intrigue, obligations and responsibility, impossible expectations, and, as his parents learned the hard way, death. He didn’t know for certain if his family was slaughtered by someone from the Crymean court, but he figured it was as good a theory as any. While the idea had some appeal, there was that darker side to consider. “I honestly do not know the answer to that.” He still had the notion that if he were to return to Crymea and possibly explain what happened—the modified version, certainly—he could merely step into his title and go on with his life. As he already told Costel, he would be turning them over to the government. Before the ex-guard brought soldiers to their home, Fane would not have considered the option no matter how often he argued with the older man. Now, though… now it was just a matter of did he want to try to live up to the expectations of court and forgo his adrenaline-fueled life doing things that many would look down upon. Such decisions. 327 WORDS , ROZA , OUTFIT , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7518/nina1z.png][atrb=height,500,bTable][atrb=width,450,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] “I honestly do not know how to answer that.” Rosaria shot him a perplexed look. The mere idea of someone not wanting to advance their position in life was just preposterous to the princess. It was only natural to better one’s self... within reason of course. Then again, Roza knew no other way of life. She had been born into a world of political intrigue and social climbing courtiers, and, as the eldest princess, she has become accustomed to the daily flux of the courtly life. However, so had Fane... the only difference was that he had been pulled from that his noble life before he could be completely immersed in it. “Hmmm... Well you wouldn’t necessarily have to return to Crymea... If you wanted to return to the life you had before...” remarked Rosaria, thinking outloud. Amused by her own cleverness, she added, “I could likely get Father to ennoble you... A marquess or a duke... a prince! I think there is still a principality free.” The Princess of Etrias had a feeling she would enjoy Fane’s company at court, more than for just his good looks and obvious charm. She speculated that he would not meet anyone’s expectations no matter the circumstance. No, he was the type to live by his own rules. Fane proved that already. He would be a surprise, a challenge. However another oddity sparked Rosaria interest. “Yet, I’m am curious. Why did you choose ‘the path less recommended?’” She inquired, in an attempt to understand his mind. “You could have come to Ascalon, trained, joined the guard or calvary. You’re more than skilled enough to do so.” ( outfit )

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK “Hmmm... Well you wouldn’t necessarily have to return to Crymea... If you wanted to return to the life you had before... I could likely get Father to ennoble you... A marquess or a duke... a prince! I think there is still a principality free.” A genuine smile graced his lips as she spoke of dreams that would never become reality for many people. They were within his reach, perhaps, but he wasn’t sure that he wanted to simply extend his hand and take it. “It has nothing to do with title or location and everything to do with freedom. Without a title, you have a choice for just about anything. I can choose where I go, what I do, and who I’m with. After watching my father for so many years, being a noble seems…” Fane sought the right word to convey his thoughts. “Exhausting. Anywhere you go, you have guards. Anything you do is watched by them, by the peasantry looking up to you, fellow nobles looking down on you. Your moves are not your own. Despite the general opinion, nobles are no freer than the men and women they command.” He paused a moment, allowing his sly smile to return. “Without a title, I can get away with so much more.” “Yet, I am curious. Why did you choose ‘the path less recommended? You could have come to Ascalon, trained, joined the guard or cavalry. You’re more than skilled enough to do so.” “Other than for freedom? What I do… it’s a rush. An addiction.” He paused, trying to think of some way to make the idea less abstract and more concrete so that she would understand. Though it wasn’t perfect, the only thing he could come up with off of the top of his head was horseback riding. “You seem skilled enough on horseback.” Minus the tacking and untacking part, perhaps. “Have you ever just let the horse gallop? One part of you might think that it is dangerous, that the horse might trip or spook and you could get hurt… but the other part of you might revel in the freedom and danger and excitement. That is nearly the same. There is danger from the guards and perhaps even the person you steal from but avoiding that danger to achieve a goal is more rewarding than you might realize.” 393 WORDS , ROZA , OUTFIT , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/7518/nina1z.png][atrb=height,500,bTable][atrb=width,450,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] “Other than for freedom? What I do… it’s a rush. An addiction. You seem skilled enough on horseback. Have you ever just let the horse gallop? One part of you might think that it is dangerous, that the horse might trip or spook and you could get hurt… but the other part of you might revel in the freedom and danger and excitement. That is nearly the same. There is danger from the guards and perhaps even the person you steal from but avoiding that danger to achieve a goal is more rewarding than you might realize.” For some reason, Roza understood every word he meant. However she found it in the form of the political games at court. As royalty, she was able to play both sides, lulling the opposing sides into a false sense of security before she either lifted them high or pulled the rug out from beneath their feet. I guess playing with people’s lives was her addiction. “I’ve never ridden a horse that fast… but I know what you mean,” replied the princess, absentmindedly curling up next to him. “But enough talk for now.” She said as she closed her eyes. “You need to sleep because, quite frankly, I am not going out to catch us dinner.” Then in very little time, Rosaria drifted off to sleep on the hard ground next to the man that had only hours ago stole her away from the only life she had ever known. ( outfit )

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK “I’ve never ridden a horse that fast… but I know what you mean. You need to sleep because, quite frankly, I am not going out to catch us dinner.” As if on cue, the young rogue yawned. With the adrenaline gone from his body, he was exhausted. It felt like days since he’d last slept and the time since he’d awoken last was blurred. He knew that he’d come this far by riding one adrenaline high after another. If it hadn’t been for his kidnapping the princess, the flight, or the swordplay with the bandits, he would have been ready for sleep much sooner. Her suggestion was very welcome—she was the one who had been perpetuating conversation, though his long-winded answers hadn’t assisted in those matters any. “I didn’t expect you to, prinţesă,” he replied through a sigh that released the remaining tension from his muscles. “I would rather not miss a meal,” he jokingly murmured with a faint smile, his eyes already closed. Sleep was coming for him with quite a vengeance. In fact, her reply—if there was one—was swallowed up by the oblivion that overtook him. ~ It wasn’t often that the young man dreamt, especially when he had such little energy. Sure, he had a dream every now and then, but he rarely remembered them and on the uncommon occasion that he remembered anything at all, only the most general details survived his waking. Somehow, the vision that enveloped him in the cavern was much more real and vivid. “Fane, urca prin fereastra.” Nico was annoyed and Fane knew it. The elder boy hadn’t been able to pick the lock to the home the group of boys had chosen as their target and he was trying hard not to take his ire out on the thirteen year old Fane. Stubborn as ever, the boy who’d barely begun his teenage years almost rebelled against the demand. There were kinder ways to ask something of a comrade, but he turned the challenging stare toward the window. ” Ajută-mă la margine.” Nico and Andrei both boosted him to the window where the younger boy was able to slide the lock out of place with a nearly expert level of skill by simply sliding the thin blade of a knife under the frame of the window and disengaging the lock. When he climed through the window, however, it was not the room he’d been expecting, but his own in the Crymean manor in which he grew up. His confused scowl was brief before he realized that something was wrong. A glance out of his window told him that Nico and Andrei were gone and that the scenery had changed to that familiar one of pine trees. Snow dusted the boughs and grass, but the ground around the base of the manor was black and bare. Scowling, he ventured through his bedroom door and into the hall where he was met with walls of flame. It didn’t bother him that the fire gave off no heat. What did bother him, however, was the ear-shattering scream that emerged from one of the rooms down the corridor. It wasn’t familiar, but he could nevertheless place it. „Roza?” What was she doing in Crymea? Then part of him realized it didn’t matter. He needed to get her to safety as he always did. As soon as he stepped into the room, the heat hit him. Before he could reach the lady in distress, he found himself feeling restless and weak, unable to take the few steps across the room to reach her. Confused and panting, the young man turned about desparately trying to find something to help, something to assuage the rush of heat that suddenly sapped energy from his limbs and attempted to suffocate him. His breaths were heavy and deep as he attempted to fill his deprived lungs and cool himself from the inside out... Where had all this heat come from? 662 WORDS , ROZA , OUTFIT , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

translations:
Fane, urca prin fereastra: Fane, climb through the window.
Ajută-mă la margine: Help me to the edge.