Hey everyone! I'd like to thank dbzgtfan2004, Special Agent Black Storm, Hakajin, love-is-in-the-air, Jade, Sumi, Julie(who's not a member) lol, Sam, Samy and MidnightApparition. Thanks for the reviews. I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. Ok I can't think of anything else to say right now so let's get on with the story.
Chapter eight
"Ashton son, those are my daughters. Daisy, Violate and Lilly." They all bowed in respect. Just as I expected. She didn't make it out of the forest. Damn it.
"Why isn't your fourth daughter present?" Asked Ash before he realized his mistake.
"How did you know about the fourth one?"
"I thought I heard some villagers on my way to the palace say something about 'The four princesses' or so I remember, so I have assumed you have four daughters your majesty." Smooth escape Ash...
"Aha so that is how you found out… Well Ashton you have heard right only you missed one thing." Ash looked at him expectantly. "My eldest daughter is already married." Ash's eyes narrowed into slits.
Eldest? Misty's even younger than me! She's probably the youngest of the four! Why does he lie? "Well your majesty, you know as well as everyone here that this is a very important day for both of our kingdoms. Married or not, she should still be present. If she does not make her arrival soon, then I'm afraid we cannot end this night with what you've been hoping for." Stated Ash as calmly as he could manage, and noticed the king's amusing reaction. He tried as best he could to restrain his smirk and keep a cool coverage.
"Hehe. Ashton, stop making such unnecessary jokes." Laughed the king nervously but slowly stopped as he saw Ashton's serious look.
"This isn't a joke."
"Then is it a threat, boy?!"
"Call it as you please. What I said is the truth and my father has the same opinion. If she does not make her arrival tonight, the peace treaty will not be signed… And your majesty?" Ash paused for a while watching the king's every reaction. "I do not believe 'boy' is a very appropriate way to address a high respected prince such as myself, therefore I suggest you watch your language whilst conversing with royalty that are higher in level of strength and prosperity." With that said he turned around disappearing through the crowd, leaving the king and his daughters fuming with rage and humiliation.
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That idiot! I should have known better than to leave her case unsolved. Once this night is over, I will seek her personally. And that king! How can he enjoy himself while his own flesh and blood is still lost out there in the woods and above all, how can he lie so casually about her? Such impudence! No wonder she ran away! That must be the cause! He's the one behind it all! Though I must be absolutely certain…he reached a balcony and leaned his elbows on the railing directing his gaze to the star-crystallized navy blue sky. He breathed in the fresh air of the night and sighed finally releasing his anger and letting the breeze carry it away. He sighed again and replaced his anger with determination. Tonight Misty… I will find you… be safe. His thoughts were cut short as he saw a shadow of someone approaching from behind. He didn't bother to turn around.
"What do you want?" his inquiry came blunt and abrupt causing the person to slightly flinch.
"Prince Ashton. It is I, Lillian. I was hoping to spend some time with you this evening, if you don't mind that is." Her answer never came. Her nervousness gradually turned to annoyance. "Do you not wish to know me?" she waited for an answer once again and just when she thought he wasn't going to say anything, he responded.
"With all do respects Lady Lillian, but I have no interest in you what so ever. I am truly sorry." His voice came as calm as a breeze, but she felt herself get blown away as if she was a mere useless ant. She instinctively rushed to where he was standing and yanked his right arm as hard as she could. But it didn't do much because his arm was yanked back. His expression remaining impassive, though inside he cursed as he felt the searing pain of the old wound in his upper arm.
"Ashton! Do not tell me you have already chosen your bride!" She felt a mixture of emotions surging through her, pain, rage, jealousy and apprehension. She got even angrier at his silence, but somehow wished he would stay that way for she dreaded the words that would follow.
"…I have." The answer she wished would never come finally came and her jealousy started to take over.
"Who?" silence once again, but this time he turned around and walked past her in the direction of the ball.
"I believe the night is over. If you would be kind as to inform his majesty of my departure, I would truly appreciate it." He stated before he entered the ball room.
"Why are you running away from the question?!" she shouted and he stopped momentarily tilting his head in her direction.
"I believe I have made it clear earlier this evening. If the last member of the family does not come, there will be no peace treaty. And if you hadn't known my lady, my supposed marriage should be the main part of the treaty. Which means the marriage should happen because of it. But since there's no treaty to begin with, then why should I force myself to marry into your family?" he started to walk away as soon as he finished his speech leaving a crushed Lilly behind.
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Misty wandered around the village observing every activity she passed by. People selling cloths, others cooking food and some drinking and singing and having a good time. Even though it was night, laughter and voices of joy filled the air. The lively scenes brought a smile to her innocent face. She had never been to a village before, so this was new to her.
"Oh that's grandpa Oak over there! Let's go see him Misty!" chirped the little girl, who appeared to be accompanying Misty on her village stroll, excitedly as she ran off to an old man standing at what appeared to be a store. Misty followed her as quickly as she could trying not to lose sight of her.
"Marry wait!" she eventually caught up to her. There was an old man with grey hair and light colored eyes, standing right in front of her. he was wearing the typical brown and off white clothes that most of the villagers wore.
"Grandpa, look I have a big sister now! Isn't she pretty?!"
"My my child, you haven't changed at all." He remarked on Marry's behavior. He then looked at Misty and slightly bowed. "You are the maiden from the forest correct?" Misty nodded. "How do you like the village child?"
"It's very lovely. I am truly grateful to have been brought here." Her smile broadened.
"Yes I believe so myself too. Ah that forest… you certainly do not want to get captured there. I lost my grandson in that forest three years ago."
"Oh I am terribly sorry" she said as she furrowed her eyebrows.
"Do not concern yourself child. It has been so long I have forgotten about it. I consider myself blessed to have Rudy and little Marry here by my side." Misty smiled once again and as she did, a boy popped from out of nowhere surprising the group.
"Hey old man! What have you been saying about me? Don't try to deny it! I know you said some bad things about me! You always do!"
"Oh I did not as much as mention your name."
"I'm taking Misty away before you corrupt her mind with your blabbering."
"Rudy that's not very nice…" said Misty as Rudy grabbed her free left hand ready to dash off away form his grandfather's store. Oak noticed and chuckled.
"Does this mean that you have finally agreed?" asked the old man smiling broadly at his grandson. Rudy just smiled and turned around to leave dragging a confused Misty and a super happy sister along with him.
What was that all about?
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There was a whole army of them. There's no possible way of survival in that case. He can't face this many men on his own. But he had to take the risk in order to know. He slowly made his way out from behind some bushes to their camp-village-like sight. The men turned towards the stranger slightly confused. They all stood up in defense.
"What do you want boy?" Ash stopped walking. He kept quiet for a while before replying.
"I wish to speak with your leader." They all started laughing as if he had just said a stupid thing. Ash narrowed his eyes in agitation. If there's one thing he disliked, it's people laughing in his presence not to mention that those guys were actually laughing at him. He smirked subconsciously as he remembered what he used to do to whoever dared doing it. They stopped laughing after they saw his evil smirk. That's when some of them thought that this man was not a good person. A gruff voice suddenly broke the dense atmosphere.
"What are ye all standing about for?"
"It's a boy! He says he has something to say to you!" exclaimed one of the bandits. They cleared the path as their leader stepped out of the shadows, his face slightly familiar. Ash's smirk quickly turned to a scowl. He gritted his teeth and his eyebrows knitted as some unwelcome memories came back to him.
"You!" he glared at Ash in pure anger, remembering his encounter with the boy. It was the same boy who sent him to his knees nearly three weeks ago only this time, something seemed different about him. His clothes weren't the dirty ugly colored clothes. This time he looked more like a royal. "I see you have joined the royal family of Goldenrod. Or were you in fact already a royal when I last saw you?" he received nothing but glares. "I don't remember you being that quiet boy." Ash still said nothing. The leader started to scowl at Ashes behavior. Just when he was about to throw another remark, Ashes lips started to form some words.
"Do you have her?"
"Have who?" silence again. "You must mean that woman! Why? Did she abandon you?" He stated as an unusual laugh escaped his white lips. Ash kept glaring at him unfazed. "God must be on my side. I believe I've been given another chance." Ashes anger rose to its limit, but he concealed it.
There's no need to waste my time over the likes of him. I got the answer I was seeking. His Anger didn't subside though he was a little relieved to know that she didn't fall into their hands. if she was not here, then where is she? This man could be fooling me though I doubt it since there is no need to conceal the truth from a dead man in any case. Could she have left the forest? If so then I believe there are only two possible places…
"You have just stepped in your tomb boy. Once you leave this earth, I will persuade my second chance and this time I will be satisfied." Ash shot him a death glare, this time he thoroughly lost his temper. He drew his sword skillfully dashing toward his opponent in an incredible speed slashing effortlessly at him. The other man was taken by surprise but was able to defend himself with his spear. His men stepped away from the two watching the battle in amusement. Ashes quick strikes impressed them.
"I hate to admit it, but the boy is really good." said one of the bandit admiring Ashes moves and critical strikes. His friend heard him and nodded his head in agreement. The battle took on less than five minutes and ended with Ash standing over the leader with his sword directed to the man's throat. The spear was knocked out of his hands and laid 20 feet away from him. The whole army of bandits stared at the scene in shock.
"If you value your life, I suggest you take back every word you said and I will pretend I didn't hear anything from you." The man stared at him frustrated but scared all the same thinking of what to do. Whispers could be heard through the crowd.
"Did you see that?"
"He defeated him with only a couple of strikes!"
"The boss didn't even put a scratch on him."
"How can a little boy overpower a man as huge and strong as Gary?" one of the men looked more scared than the others and whispered to the gang something.
"That's him! The knight who killed our comrades!" more whispers could be heard as Ash withdrew his sword and turned towards the gang.
"I have no time to waste with the likes of you." He said in a calm monotonous voice before leaving the scene without having to have to fight anyone else. His cold eyes sent the men shivering even when they knew they could defeat him if they outnumbered him. But the shock of having their boss almost killed in a blink of an eye still lingered over them that they couldn't think straight as to not let him go.
"I hate to break it to you Gary, but that boy is even scarier than you."
"I think if he were to be our leader, every human being would bow at our feet!"
"What did you say?!" he couldn't believe they'd abandon him and put a boy in his place. He glared daggers at them as they backed away from him.
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"Like how long are you going to keep sulking like that?" since her conversation with Ash a week ago, Lilly has not been herself. She stayed most of the time in her room and whenever her sisters quarreled she didn't butt in as she usually did. Her mind was always occupied with Ash and how he made a fool out of her.
"He's so obnoxious!" but soooo handsome! Regardless of the insults she's directing at the prince, Daisy had other thoughts on her mind. Though she did not wish to reveal them to her sisters who happened to be her greatest rivals.
"Like forget about him Lilly! You think if he took you for his wife you'd be happy? He would probably treat you like the dirt he steps on! Just thank god none of us was chosen. Sure he's handsome but he has the eyes of a cold blooded killer. Think Lilly! Do you really want to spend the rest of your god damn life with such a man?!"
"Those words… they hurt more than any slap I can ever get… he was so cruel! How dare he say such things!"
"Father is still trying to solve the problem and knowing him, he wouldn't want to start a loosing war. The goldenrod army is known to be the strongest army in the world, so we like totally need their alliance. By now, father is probably trying to convince King Arthur to reconsider the matter." Stated Daisy wisely.
"You mean there's still a chance?"
"Like what's with you Lilly? First you keep complaining about his attitude and the next thing you forgot everything he's said to you!" Violet sighed in frustration at her sister's dumb hope of marrying Ash.
"I can't believe you still want to marry him!" stated Daisy bluntly as she busied herself with her nails.
"Like totally!"
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The journey through the village was perfect to Misty. She smiled as she thought about the new friends she made in the village. She felt this place was her home. In this village, she felt loved. A love she'd never experienced back in her kingdom.The three reached a small house that happened to be Rudy's and Marry's home. She smiled to herself in happiness and content, wishing that this was her home as well. Rudy opened the door for both girls to go in. they entered the house smelling the pleasant aroma of supper. Misty thought she could help Rudy's mother out in the kitchen, so she started making her way toward it, before she felt a rough hand grab her wrist. She turned her head towards the boy, a quizzical expression plastering her features as she looked at his serious face.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked out of concern as she searched his eyes for some kind of hint of what he was thinking of.
"Not at all… though, there is something I wish to talk to you about." His reply made Misty's concern grow, so she faced him completely, thinking that he was bothered with something.
"What is it?" Rudy thought that her voice seemed silkier than ever when worry showed in her tone. He took her hand and dragged her up the squeaky stairs and into his room. Misty started to feel awkward and anxiety began to take over.
"R-Rudy" She stuttered when she noticed him closing the door, but her fear slowly subsided when she felt him lose his grip on her wrist and walk towards his bed. She stood close to the door not moving, carefully watching him as he sat on his bed. He sighed and kept quiet for a while then he lifted his head and looked at her. She flinched.
"Why don't you sit down?" he inquired as he patted the space beside himself. Then he noticed her eyes were cast down at her fingers, which started fumbling with the hem of her upper garment. "Don't be afraid, I would never harm you."
He watched her as she slowly lifted her head, nervousness apparent in her eyes. He felt a little disappointed that she feared him, but then he thought any girl in her place would have felt the same way. He patted the bed again reassuring her that it was alright. He watched as she slowly approached him and sat next to him, her eyes still on her hands. He sighed and thought about what he was about to say.
"You know Misty… before you appeared in our lives, my mother would always force me to see other girls, so that I could finally get married and create a new life of my own. For three long years, I would always keep hearing this annoying statement: I want to see your children before I die. Hehe she would repeat it more than three times a day." Misty smiled, picturing Amelia nagging at Rudy's personal life.
"If my brother, Gary was still around, he would have been the one suffering instead of me." He laughed again and paused for a while. Misty remembered hearing something about this Gary person from Rudy's grandfather.
"So… where is Gary now?"
"No idea, he has disappeared three years ago in that same forest you came out from." He sighed as memories of his brother came back to him.
"Forgive me… I shouldn't have asked this question." Misty didn't expect what came next. She turned her head towards him and watched him in confusion as he laughed.
"Please, do not apologize. To tell you the truth, a part of me was glad he was gone." Misty just stared at him as he sat there pouring his life out to her. "I have always been jealous of him. He took everything away from me. Mother cared for him most and father would always train him and take him out for hunting. Whenever I asked father to take me with them, he'd say that I'm not as strong as Gary. Everything he wanted was at his feet. I always was second in place." Misty felt sympathy build up inside of her. She felt that he was similar to her in some way. Even though she felt sorry for him, she was glad to have found someone… she could understand, and in return, could understand her. Her short trance was interrupted by his voice.
"A couple of years passed with our situation being the same until that day… the villagers, who had left along with my father and brother, hunting, came back without them, saying that my brother had been kidnapped by men who dwelled in the forests. My father told the villagers to head back here, but he didn't come with them. He went off in search for my brother and since that day, they have never appeared in our lives again. My mother… well, she suffered the most. So it was up to me to take care of the family in my father's place." Misty looked at her hands not knowing what to say. She waited for him to say something.
"Sometimes I think, this wouldn't have happened if we still remained civilians of the Kingdom of thunder." Misty looked at his profile curiously as he continued, "I swore to get my revenge on that prince once I got back to the kingdom someday. If it wasn't for him, my father and brother would still be around, but now, I'm glad we were cast to this village," Misty stared at him expectantly. He turned his head to look at her and smiled. "Because, I got to meet you." Misty returned his smile with sincere joy. Never in her life had she heard anyone say such a beautiful thing to her. Suddenly, her cheeks grew red as she realized his hands were holding hers.
"Listen Misty, I know it's been only two week for you in the village and you and I, we have little knowledge about each other, but amongst all the girls I've met, you were the only one who succeeded in capturing my heart. So I have finally decided to fulfill my mother's wish." Misty's cheeks couldn't get redder. She couldn't believe her ears. She stared directly in Rudy's serious eyes and waited for the inevitable request. "Misty… will you be my wife?" zillions of thoughts swirled in her head. Am I dreaming? Rudy is asking me to marry him? What will happen to my reputation? What will father think? What will happen to my position? Now that I think about it, marrying Rudy is the only way to get rid of my past. To escape it and never be forced to return. She thought this could be a great opportunity. To live here and forget the palace and everything along with it, is what she thought would save her. She gave him a genuine smile and opened her mouth to answer.
"I'd be-" an image shot through her head just before she could continue her sentence. She couldn't believe it! Ever since she woke up to find herself in this village, she forgot all about what happened in the forest. She forgot all about the mysterious knight who saved her life twice back then. Misty no longer had her graceful smile as she stared at Rudy's face in a dangerous trance. He waved his hand in front of her to shake her out of it. She suddenly blinked.
"Where did you go?" he asked with a smile. She stared at him, her heart beating fast as she considered what she was about to say. She stood up quickly before saying the best thing she came up with for the moment.
"Rudy I am truly happy that you consider me worthy of your life companionship, however, I don't think I'm going to be able to give you an answer right now. I… have to think about it first." She said.
"Take your time; I'm not in a hurry." That's when she closed her eyes and more images of her recent past rushed through her mind.
"Thank you." She answered in gratitude before heading towards the door and walking out of the room.
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To Be Continued…
So what do you guys think? If you have any comments, suggestions, even if you have nothing to say at all, review! Hehehe oh and if you guys haven't seen it yet, my friend had posted a drawing based on later chapters of this story. Maybe chapter 10 or 11.Tthe website is on my user page, so be sure to check it out.
