p style="text-align: center;"The Stranger
p style="text-align: center;" /p
p style="text-align: left;"After the victorious battles with Shiriki, Elena of Avalor was enjoying her time of peace to rule her kingdom. Still she proved to be a very hands on style of royalty in spite of advice contrary from her royal council. While she made sure there were no threats approaching the country she only did so from the distance of the sky on one of her Jackqulyn's Skylar. Normally the only trouble were minor in nature, a child who had gotten separated from their parents and unable to find them. Occasionally a coach that had broken down. That is when she would report her findings to the guards who would take the corrective measures in regards to the matter at hand./p
p style="text-align: left;"This day however started less than ordinary. Gliding through the sky Elena noticed a prone figure on the ground who wasn't moving. The figure had on dark pants with rips at the calves and a shirt with rips and where the rips did not appear the sight of blood was everywhere. Without thinking Elena swooped down to the figure first calling out if he was all right. With no response she approached the prone figure. Barely touching him the figure flinched indicating though unconscious he was still alive but still in very bad shape. Ordering Skylar to find one of the guards and to bring them the Jacklyn did as instructed. In the meantime Elena remained close to the body trying to figure out how to help but the damage done looked so bad she didn't even know where to start helping. Each second seemed like minute and every minute seemed like an hour before Skylar returned/p

Eventually Skylar did return with one of the guards riding a different Jacklyn. The soldier helped in the binding of some of the deeper looking wounds to diminish if not stop the flow of blood before they tried moving him. Together the guard and Elena was able to drape him over the front shoulders of Skylar where Elena could keep him balanced for the trek back to the castle. There was more gliding than flying by the Jacqulyn since every flap of his wings made the load slightly unbalanced. Eventually they glided down to the castle where Elena began screaming for help. The rest of her family ran out quickly upon hearing her screams fearing that she was hurt. However coming through the door Elena explained the situation and all were quick to respond. Together they moved the still unconscious figure to a spare bedroom where after Elena and her sister had been escorted out the others undressed the figure, starting applying first aid to his wounds, bandaged him, and finally put him into the bed. They left a pitcher of water and a glass nearby in case he woke up and needed refreshment. Because he never stirred during his time they wonder how long he'd be unconcious or even if he would ever wake up.

It was two full days before the figure woke up. As his eyes started to adjust to his surroundings he bolted upright in surprise. Right away he realized that this was not the place where he collapsed and that it wasn't a dream. He started to pull the covers away and saw his undressed body while at the same time the door opened up to reveal Princess Elena. The lad yelled, quickly covering himself up again.

"Oh good you are finally awake. We were starting to get concerned. Welcome to Avalor stranger. So who are you?"

At first the figure wouldn't talk, his eyes showed uncertainty and maybe a little fear as well.

"Do you understand what I am saying?" Elena asked to which the figure simply nodded his head.

"My name is Chris", finally spoke the figure.

Elena began to move towards the side of the bed where the figure coward a bit. Grabbing his hand she held it in both of hers to try and offer comfort

Well Chris you are safe here in the castle. Your clothes were so ripped up that they couldn't be saved so we threw them out. However we think we got your size right and have brought you a uniform from the military. They should work until we can get you other items to wear. I'll let you get changed then come downstairs. We are about to have dinner and we'd love to have you.

Leaving the figure so he could clothe himself properly Elena went downstair to the dining area to await both their dinner and their guest. Chris arrived just as the meal was being served. In the military uniform it almost looked like he was born to wear it. The only thing missing from the outfit was a sword and scabbard. In spite of herself Elena eyes opened wide while her jaw dropped. It was hard for anybody else in the family to notice this reaction.

Running his hands over the front of his uniform Chris spoke.

"Must admit this is a pretty good fit. Thank you all so much for what you did for me. I don't know how I can repay all of you for your kindness. I don't even know who you are."

Realizing that introductions had never been made Princess Elena provided the introductions. When she introduced herself as Princess Elena and her sister as Princess Isabel the young man's jaw dropped and with only a moment of hesitation because of shock dropped to one knee.

"Please forgive me for not bowing earlier Princesses. I did not know who you two were.

Elena touched his shoulder and aided him in standing up.

"It's all right. You had no idea I was. Besides we aren't the type of familia who ask people to bow in homage to them.

"So where are your parents, the king and queen?"

The smile of Princess Elena disappeared as she mentioned the fact they had been killed by Shariki and she herself had been imprisoned in an amulet for many years. Again Chris apologized not meaning to bring up a subject that was apparently still a tender spot in her psyche. She absolved him of guilt because how could he have known. When Elena asked where his parents were it was the young man who started becoming most uncomfortable.

"It would appear we have one thing in common. My parents were also killed. The difference is you know who there murderer was. I never did. They were killed along with my older brother who I idolized. Why he didn't kill me I'll never know but it seems like since my banishment from the country he has been after me perhaps to try and finish the job.

In that moment Elena realized she had met a kindred spirit. An individual who understood the meaning of a personal loss. The pair looked at each other with empathy but there was something in the look of the young man that indicated he wasn't telling the whole story of what he knew. Perhaps the pain was still too fresh to be revealed and she understood. It took her a while to come to grips with the reality of the situation. If he wanted to reveal his secret she would wait until he was ready to do so.

Soon the dinner was brought forth and the gathering began eating. At first Chris ate rather fast like he hadn't eaten in a while and was afraid the food would be taken from him before he had finished it. Between two of the bites he looked up to see how the others wer e becoming uncomfortable with his lack of manners. Sheepishly smiling he grabbed his knife and fork and began eating at a more leisurely pace. Questions were asked back and forth. The guest wanting to know more about his host and the royal family about their new friend. In most cases he was willing to tell them what he could but other areas he either didn't know or wouldn't share at that time.

After the meal everybody went into the parlor for an evening of folk singing. Chris was enjoying the singing and instruments being played. He regularly clapped with rhythm to the beats. It was obvious he didn't know a single song they were singing but that never prevented him from enjoying it. Through the night Elena couldn't help but feel like Mark was looking her in a different way from the other members of her family. At first she wasn't sure what was going on but kept the thoughts to herself until it became late and everybody needed to get some shut-eye. Elena escorted Chris back to his room making sure he had everything he needed for the night. However before she left him for the night he made a strange request.

"If you must wake me up during the night do so from a distance. Maybe using a stick or your scepter to do so. All this time in the forest made me a light sleeper and it doesn't take much to wake me up. Only problem is I'm so use to waking to defend myself that I'm not sure I'd realize where I am and who you are until its too late."

"I'll leave a note on the door so the servants or family wind up making that mistake.", was her response.

Over the course of the next several days the young man slowly seemed to fit into the royal family quite nicely. To help get his health back to where it needed to be besides eating much healthier meals thanks to the cooking staff he unofficially joined the royal guard going through the daily workouts. While his legs were strong enough to keep up the pace with any running the guards had to do his arms most likely from lack being used regularly needed to be strengthen up. Gabe wouldn't let Chris participate in any event that required the use of a weapon but in all other ways he was treated no different than any other man. At first he got a bit of hazing from the other guards when Gabe wasn't around however later on when it was apparent he was hazed he refused to testify against the other guards.

The rest of the time he spent in the castle where he was fast becoming a friend of the entire family. Sometimes they'd walk past a room and see Chris singing while Princess Isabel accompanied him of her instrument. He sometimes offered to help the cooks with their meals or the staff to bring the food out to the royal family. Though he was happy to be around all of them he seemed to show special attention and attraction to Elena. The grandparents started becoming concerned that the boy was falling in love with their grand daughter and more importantly the feeling seemed be very, very mutual.