5 Years After The Prologue...
"Come on, Rythian!" Zoey shouted back at him as the two rode their horses through the forest. Rythian was lagging along behind Zoey as she raced along the path, giggling and laughing at the adrenaline rush it gave her. Rythian could've easily caught up with her, but chose to watch her chesnut-colored horse gallop about, it's passenger a flash of red hair and blue skirts.
Finally she slowed her horse down to walk beside his, pouting. "Why won't you race me?" She whined, her arms crossed. He chuckled.
"Because, Zoey," he said "I'll win, and I don't want to break your good mood." At this she scoffed. "You'll win, huh?" She asked incredulously.
He only nodded, keeping his eyes on the path ahead of him, smirking beneath the mask he wore. She smiled. "I guess we'll have to prove that, won't we?" He looked at her.
"If that's what you want..." He said, trailing off to make it sound like he was hesitant. She nodded enthusiastically, and he replied "Alright, if you say so..."
Zoey beamed up at him. "Last one back to the castle is a rotten egg!" She screamed, and instantly, the two were off, Rythian saving his horses energy for the final stretch, lagging behind her slightly again. Zoey laughed and giggled as she looked back and saw Rythian and his grey horse behind her.
She was sure she was going to win when the castle came into view. However, she soon saw a streak of grey shoot past her and looked up to see Rythian at least ten meters ahead of her. She scowled and pushed her horse harder, but the horse wouldn't go. She had used up all it's energy in the first stretch of the race!
She heard Rythian's laugh as he hopped the fence into the castle's private pasture, pulling his horse to a stop as he waited for Zoey. A few seconds later her horse jumped the fence and came to a stop beside him. Her arms were crossed as she mumbled "You're a jerk." Rythian laughed.
"Hey," he said, holding up his hands "I warned you, didn't I?" Again the princess pouted, and Rythian hopped down from his horse. He offered his hand to Zoey. "Come on, your parents will want to know where we've been."
After only another moment of scowling at him, she took his hand and was helped down from her horse. "That," he added, gesturing to her horse "And I think Willow needs a break." Zoey couldn't help but smile, and grabbed her horse's reigns. The two led the horses to the stables, removing bridles and saddles and putting them back in their stalls.
They stayed there for a bit longer, Zoey braiding Willow's mane for some unknown reason, and Rythian petting his horse, Ghost. Zoey chattered on about seemingly whatever came to her mind, and Rythian listened. They stayed like this until a messenger came to them, bowing as he said "You're requested in the king's court, Princess, Guardian."
Rythian nodded and thanked him, and he left, rushing off to do whatever other business he was assigned. Zoey looked at Rythian as he sized her up."You may want to change that dress, Zoey" he said, frowning. "That one's filthy."
She sighed. "Fine, but we'll have to hurry. Mother and Father will get impatient." She looked expectantly at Rythian.
He knew what she wanted, and rolled his eyes. She used every excuse she could get to do this... "Fine, we'll fly..." He grumbled, tossing Zoeya her flying ring he kept for her.
She squealed in excitement and caught the ring, sliding it on her finger and following Rythian out of the stable. Rythian looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then took Zoey's hand, flying upwards. He lead her to her always open bedroom window and the two flew in, landing softly on the stone floor. He waited at the window while she went into the other room, picking out another dress and changing into that.
When she emerged, she wore a nearly identical blue dress, the only thing changing being the sleeve length. Her last dress had mid-length sleeves, but these were long. Rythian nodded in approval, and the two flew back out the window and into the main courtyard. Zoey gave Rythian back the flying ring, and the two entered the great hall, Rythian at Zoeya's left shoulder as always.
Upon entering, they found King Xephos was pacing the floor in front of his throne, the queen rolling her eyes at him. When Xephos noticed them, he went into a brief lecture about how much Zoeya had worried him by sneaking off all the time, blah, blah, blah... After this, he sat in his throne and sighed. Zoey rolled her eyes.
"Seriously, dad, you know I wouldn't do anything bad!" She said defensively, pointing out "Rythian wouldn't let me anyways!" At this he laughed a bit, agreeing "No, I suppose he wouldn't."
Rythian then jumped into the discussion. "The princess is quite safe with me, Your Majesty. No need to worry yourself." The queen smiled.
Xephos nodded, and moved on to the original topic of the meeting. "Now then, Zoey, I know you're not going to like this, but..." He took a deep breath. "Prince Lalna has requested your hand in marriage. Again."
At this Zoey crossed her arms. "Dad, I've told him before and I'll tell him now. No!" Xephos nodded. "Yes dear, but this time-"
Zoey's temper flared and she shouted "I don't care what he's offered us this time! I won't marry him!" The room went dead silent.
The queen spoke now, saying gently "Zoey, let your father finish, please." Zoey huffed and crossed her arms. Xephos sighed and began again. "This time Lalna has pointed out that your marriage would mean the merge of both of our kingdoms, and for the good of both of our kingdom's people, I think you should consider it."
Zoeya was shocked that her own father could request such a thing. Queen Lomadia instantly saw her husbands error as Zoey's lip began to quiver. "How can you even suggest that, dad?!" She wailed, her emotional state crumbling.
"You know he's only interested in power! Do you really want a power-hungry fool ruling that many people? A-And sleeping in the same bed as me?!" Her father stood still and silent.
"You should know that I won't marry him by now! My answer will stay the same, no matter what! You just want to get rid of me!" At this, Xephos grew angry.
Soon, it was a shouting match, Zoey accusing her parents of not loving her, while Xephos grew more and more impatient with her unwillingness to negotiate. Soon, he became fed up enough to say he'd make her marry him if he had to. The room fell dead silent, Zoey only able to shake her head and back away. Even Rythian, who normally didn't involve himself in these arguments, glared at the king.
"I'm leaving." Zoey said, her voice small as she turned and walked out of the great hall, Rythian directly behind her. After the doors slammed, Xephos' anger subsided, and he realized what he'd done. The queen was even displeased with him, and she just shook her head and left him to think about what he'd just said to his daughter.
Meanwhile, Zoey was storming through her room, grabbing whatever she could and throwing it in the alchemical bag Rythian had made for her. Rythian watched her, knowing what she intended to do. "Zoey, I know what your father said was wrong, but is running really the answer?" He asked gently, watching as she stuffed another dress into her bag.
"If he really intends to do what he said, then yes." She said, still huffing as she threw her hairbrush into the bag. He stepped in her way, and when she tried to step around him, he went with her. She glared up at him, growling "Move, Rythian!" He looked down at her calmly.
This only made her angrier. How could he be so calm? "Zoey, calm down." He said, using the same tone her mother had used a few minutes before.
She grew still angrier. He continued "Think for minute. While what your father said was wrong, he did make a good point; Maybe-"
She stopped him there. "You're just like them!" she said accusingly, stepping back from him as she had her father. Everyone was betraying her, even Rythian!
"Zoey..." He said gently, stepping towards her. She shook her head, tears blurring her vision as she stepped back again. "I thought you were my friend!"
He stepped closer again. She stepped back, but tripped over one if the dresses she'd thrown on the floor in her blind rage. Rythian caught her before she hit the ground, but she struggled against his grip, whining "Let me go!" Over and over again.
She didn't realize what she was doing until she did it. She slapped him as hard as she could. In the face. Most men would have gone into a blind rage and hit her back, twice or three times as hard.
But not Rythian. He had sworn on his own life to protect her from harm, and he wasn't about to hurt her. He grabbed her wrists, whispering "Stop, Zoey." repeatedly in her ear until she stopped struggling.
She sank to the floor, and Rythian went with her, holding her steady as she broke down in tears. He consoled her, whispering reassurances in her ear as she cried into his chest. After awhile, she began to calm down, and Rythian held her at arms length to look her over. She looked up at him, her face tear-streaked and her eyes bloodshot.
"I'm sorry I hit you." She squeaked, and Rythian smiled. "It's okay. You didn't hurt me at all."
She smiled too, and he said "Now, are you still running away, or are you going to stay where you have a warm bed?" She shook her head. "I'm staying, but I don't know for how long. If dad really intends to force me to marry Lalna, then..."
Rythian nodded. "I understand. Now then, I think you'll have to unpack your things again... And probably clean up a bit."
Zoey shoved him playfully, sensing the joke he made. "Oh, shut up, Ryth." She grumbled, and he laughed. After Zoey put all her stuff back, she glanced out the window.
"It's late, isn't it?" Rythian said, following her gaze. Zoey nodded. Her thoughts wondered back to her father.
"Rythian?" She asked, looking up at her Guardian. "Hm?" She looked back out the window for a second.
"If dad really did try and make me marry Lalna, and I decided to run, would you go with me?" She asked, looking back up at him. He looked out the window, up at the stars. Then he looked down at her, and she could tell by the glint in his eyes that he was smiling.
"Of course I'd go with you!" He said, and she smiled. "As long as it wasn't a huge mistake, and it was our only option..." He added, leaning against the windowsill so that he was closer to her height.
The two watched the stars for awhile, and Rythian noticed a familiar constellation in the sky. He pointed it out to Zoey. "You see those 6 stars there?" he asked, pointing to a cluster of stars.
Zoey nodded. "Look how they connect." She looked at them for a minute, and noticed they formed what looked like... "A flame!"
Rythian smiled. "Yep. It's called the Blaze, after the monster made out of flames." Zoey became excited.
"I read about those! They live in the Nether and can fly and shoot fire! I thought they were the coolest thing when I was younger." Rythian nodded and chuckled.
"Yes, Zoey, I know. I was there, remember?" Zoey giggled. "Yeah, I know."
Rythian noticed the moon's placement in the sky. "It's really late now, Zoey. You need sleep." He said, standing straight again.
At the mention of sleep, Zoey yawned. "Sleep does sound pretty good right now. I'm exhausted!" Rythian chuckled.
"I'd imagine! You've had a rough day, after all." She nodded. "Goodnight, Ryth, see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Zoey." He said, turning and leaving Zoey's room, entering his own directly across the hall. Upon entering, he lit the torches on the walls with a snap of his fingers, and walked over to his cluttered desk. On it there were books full of magic spells and incantations, several quills and bottles of ink, and right on top, his journal.
Sure, it seemed dumb to keep a journal, and kind of girly, but it helped him keep his thoughts straight. He sat down in the chair, grabbed a pen and ink, and began to write. He must've stayed up half the night writing, at first documenting the day, but then slipping into just writing stories about whatever came to his mind. He was better at writing than speaking, and often wrote short stories or even entire books on a whim.
When he finally settled down to sleep, it was almost dawn. He slept deeply for what was left of the night, hoping that the king would see reason when the morning came. He didn't want to have to run away with Zoey, but if he needed to, he would. It was his duty as her Guardian to keep her safe, and if that meant running away, then so be it.