AN: here's the second chapter I'm going to update pretty regularly hope you enjoy please review! Thank you
Chapter 2: First impressions
Carrying the princess in his arms Theodoric Lineback gave her to one of his men to hold as he mounted his horse. Once on top he took the princes tightly rapping his arms around her slim waist her head lolling back into his neck. He kicked the side of the horse as it galloped off towards Silverwood forest where their camp was. On arrival the princess was given to the only man with any medical knowledge Samuel Bakewell.
"Who is she Theo?" inquired the slender dark haired man standing over Emeralda in her wedding dress.
"A princess", replied Theo innocently pretending not to hear the gasp of disbelief or the look of shock directed at him.
"You...kidnapped a princess", asked Sam his voice cracking.
"Unintentionally" replied Theo looking down at Emeralda.
"Kidnapping is kidnapping intentional or unintentional" said the know flustered Samuel Bakewell.
"Well she'll be a dead kidnapped princess if you don't help her Sam "replied Theo as he walked out of the small medical tent leaving Sam to work. Stitching up her stomach wound and cleaning up the cuts on her hands. After cutting away her dress he covered her shivering body, wondering what kind of trauma had befallen the young princess. Leaving her to rest he went out to continue questioning his friend.
Opening her eyes Emeralda stared up at the tent she looked down to see her self-wrapped in a cloth her wedding dress draped over the end of the bed looking to the side she saw the frame of a man. She looked around desperately for a weapon and saw a small knife on a side table rising slowly, ignoring the pain in her abdomen she walked to the figure leaning the knife into his back.
"You're awake" stuttered Sam.
"Who are you what did you to me", she asked her voice weak.
"I'm Samuel bake well err you can call me Sam if you want all I did was stich up your wounds".
"How can I trust you..." before she could finish her sentence a large arm wrapped around her neck from behind as the other twisted her wrists making the small knife fall to the ground. The figure pulled her back keeping his hold tight.
"You alright Sam", inquired Theo bemused
"Fine thank you" Sam turned and faced them his face contorting with worry.
"Let her go you can't hold her like that you brute her stitches will come undone" bewildered Theo unclasped his hold. Letting the princess catch her breath as she tried to keep the cloth around her body from falling.
"She tried to kill you bit of barbarian for a princess", said Theo.
"She's scared"
"She's here", interrupted the princess, both men turned to look at her. Theo stood up and walked towards her she took a step back, he ventured closer his face centimetres away and in a low voice said.
"Are you a friend or foe Princess Emeralda Morgoth ruler of Windhelm?" her eyes widened in surprise as she stared into the pools of emerald green, her brain flashed as she recalled their first meeting.
"The stranger on the hill", she murmured, Theo smile and leaned back extending his hand out.
"Theodoric Lineback" slowly and cautiously she reached out to shake his hand her cold slim fingers entwining with his warm larger slender fingers. Suddenly she was jolted forward as he pulled her in close holding tightly.
"You never answered", he said a slight smirk tugging at the edges of his mouth.
"Neither did you", she replied sternly unfazed his slight smirk bloomed into a full grin he let go and took a step back again.
"Give her something to wear Sam then bring her over to my tent we have things to discuss", Theo exited leaving the princess and the medic.
"You really should sit down or your stiches might come undone" looking at the man standing, his brown curls framing a small face sprinkled with concern she relented and sat down.
"Thank you Sam was it "she said aware how ungrateful she must have seemed. He turned and smiled.
"No thank you necessary princess it's what I do", he turned and started rummaging for clothes.
"You can call me Emeralda"
"that I will here you go it's not much but it's better than walking around in a bloodied wedding dress", Sam said handing her some brown slack-like trousers and brown shirt, he then exited giving her a chance to get changed . Sam then led her to Theo's tent where he sat at a table, upon seeing her he patted the seat next to him, ignoring this she sat opposite.
"I'll take my leave don't do anything silly or lewd Theo" Theo feigned offense, Sam smiled at Emeralda as he left.
"Are you a silly and lewd man Theodoric Lineback", Theo leaned forward and stared into a pair of swirling grey eyes and sighed.
"Only to you ...Em", he smirked. It took a few seconds for Emeralda to realise what she'd been called
"I'm Princess Emeralda Morgoth of Windhelm and..."
"Windhelm has fallen , these woods belong to no kingdom so you have no title here, Emeralda is pretty but too long it's easier to call you Em, you can call me Theo Em",interrupted Theo. Emeralda sat still for a moment as one by one the reality behind his words started resonate.
"You're right I wish you weren't but you are I'm nothing"
"All is not lost my dear em" Theo reached over running his hand through her auburn locks, pulling away he stared at her again clearing his throat to get her attention. She looked back at him.
"I need your help Theo", she said leaning back the playful look in his eyes suddenly changed and became calculating and serious, it slightly unnerved her but she kept her composure.
"How much is my help worth "he enquired the way a mercenary would.
"My kingdom has reserves all over the land only my father... now only I know where they are depending on your degree of help I'm willing to part with more than one reserve" Theo contemplated her offer.
"What are your words worth Princess" he quizzed
"My life" she replied without hesitation, he smiled at her response his playful ways returning.
"Okay" he replied.
"Okay… What does that mean", she enquired unsure.
"It means my dear Em that I'm all yours", he stared at her and waited she smiled a small tired smile, she offered him her hands, he entwined his fingers around her slender ones holding tightly pulling her forward .
"What now" he asked.
"We need to go on a little journey" she replied trying and failing to unclasp her hands.
"To do what", he enquired tilting his head to the side.
"Find an army".
