"I have her Francis! And if you ever wish to see her alive at least once you'll have to turn yourself in!" Arthur yelled at the top of his lungs. Francis shook his head as he ran. He wouldn't let Jeanne be harmed and he most certainly would not be giving himself up. He tripped over something in the underbrush of the forest and landed flat on his face.
Francis Bonnefoy was the king of a small, simple county and yet he was running for his life. His castle had been overrun by Arthur Kirkland, ruler of a much larger neighboring country. He simply wanted more land and was willing to kill for it. He had stormed Francis' castle and now had his queen.
Francis stood up and started forming a plan in his head. First things first, he had to sneak into Arthur's castle and save his wife. He knew the man would bring Jeanne back to his own castle to show her off. He sighed to himself and started walking.
Hours later, after much running and stumbling, he eventually made his way to Arthur's castle just as the sun was setting. Francis sat for an hour or so, watching the guards and trying to think of where Jeanne would be held. As dark settled on the large palace, Francis snuck up to it, trying to stay out of sight. After falling numerous times, his clothes and skin were covered in a nice layer of mud so he wasn't going to be easily spotted. The man slipped past the guards easily and began his search.
After much searching and sneaking around, he came across a room with soft singing emanating from it. He peeked his head in and his eyes widened. A woman was sitting in front of a large mirror brushing her light auburn hair.
"Jeanne!" he said, hurrying into the room. The lady turned and gasped, dropping the silver brush she was holding.
"Francis!" she cried, standing up and running into her husband's arms. He picked her up and spun her around. "What is the world are you doing here?" she asked as Francis set her down, and why are you so filthy?" He smiled and kissed Jeanne's forehead.
"I'm here to save you of course. Arthur is going to pay for this, but for now let's get home so we can form a plan of attack," he replied. He grabbed his wife's wrist and pulled her out of the large room. They made their way through the castle, getting lost and having to double back, before stumbling upon the stables.
"What luck! Now we won't have to walk home!" Jeanne said happily, looking back to her husband. Francis nodded and began searching around the stable and found a bridle.
"We'll have to ride bare back," Francis informed her. She nodded and clambered onto one of the horses backs. As Francis was bridling the animal, shouts and commands could be heard from the large castle. "Seems Arthur's realized you're gone dear. We'd best hurry," Francis said, handing the reins to Jeanne and climbing up behind her. He led the horse out of the stable and into forest as the soldiers crashed through the door. They were well on their way, barely able to see through the dark woods, before Arthur's men could follow. Jeanne fell asleep to the gentle rocking of the horse, leaning back against her husband. As the sun was coming up over the horizon and turning the sky a light purple, Francis' castle came into view. He sighed with relief, startling his wife awake.
"We're home, dear," he said, planting a kiss on top of her head. She smiled and turned to look at him.
"Thank you, love. I didn't think I was going to get out of there," she told him, leaning up to kiss him gently. He smiled and urged the horse forward into a quick trot as Jeanne turned back around.
"You're very welcome dear. Now to get back at Arthur for threatening my home, my people, and most importantly, my wife."