*Elyse*

After Gabriel had died, I just didn't care. Captain threw me over his shoulder with the boys whooping and high-fiving for the better part of five miles. It took me maybe five seconds to unintentionally learn all of their names.

Adalgar was the red haired one with bright green eyes. From what I could tell he preferred to use a hammer and had a knife in his belt. I could also see Adalgar had more scars than any of the other men combined and had a veteran look about him.

Dolphus had nearly black hair and brown eyes. Dolphus had a devilish looking sword that had one serrated side and one curved side that was wicked sharp. He and Adalgar obviously didn't like one another from the dagger-eyed looks they were sending each other.

Hildbrand, the short stocky man with mouse brown hair and blue-green eyes, had a spear, broadsword, and a crossbow. Everyone gave him his space as if one little misbehavior would set him off on a killing spree.

Reginald was in the middle height-wise and had stringy muscles like a cat. He had a crossbow and a longbow slung over his back with his quiver at his side. His straw colored hair and ice blue eyes looked out of place in the group. His eyes, despite their color, were soft and gentle when they met mine. He seemed to feel… sorry for me.

They were all uniform. Walking with the same cautious gate, hair cropped short, ready to draw their weapons if necessary. All of them had, in varying degrees, dislike or even hate for me. But it felt like someone was missing from the group and it set everyone off balance.

"She's a pretty one for a thief," Dolphus whispered to Reginald, smiling in a way that made my skin crawl, "I guess that's the allure our little friend Gabriel fell for, eh? He always did have a weak spot for this pretty little Flower."

Reginald smiled at me too, but not creepy or stalkerish like Dolphus, "No."

"No?"

"She loves him too."

Dolphus let loose a few expletives in admiration, "How did Gabriel manage that? She's a minx— there one moment gone the next."

Reginald shrugged, "Why do I care? With him dead does it matter?"

*Gabriel Before The Attack*

Elyse was sitting next to me with her fingers entwined with mine, looking so vulnerable that I almost felt I should avert my eyes. The emotions there were so complicated just flickering across her face that I had no hope of ever deciphering them. So I sat with her, knowing it was all my fault that she was even here in the first place, and stroked the back of her hand with my thumb.

Thirty minutes later she looked me in the face and the love I saw there was more than anything anyone had ever felt for me except for my own family. It may have even exceeded that.

How was I supposed to tell her now?

How could I tell Elyse, the one girl who knew the me behind the unwilling soldier, that the man who was hunting her was my uncle?

I loved her.

We probably sat there for the better part of another half an hour before I finally made my decision. I had to tell her everything, from the reasons behind my father's death, to why my uncle wanted Elyse dead so badly. She had to know everything. I opened my mouth to speak but a drunken man stumbled into our meadow.

He looked vaguely familiar, but he looked completely harmless, so I stood up to show him back to the Festival. I could hear Elyse stand up behind me to help me.

That's when it struck me. The drunken man probably wasn't even buzzed— he was one of the mercenaries that my uncle would hire from time to time, I think his name was Damien— and he had a short spear hidden next to him.

Four of my former comrades attacked me and pinned me to the ground. My uncle had Elyse pinned in his arms with a large curved blade against her soft throat. Bellowing like a mad man, I thrashed around, using my knowledge of my comrades to my advantage to find their weak spots. I nearly landed Reginald— who had been the closest thing to a friend to me during my service— in the fire.

I could hear Damien saunter over to me. I could practically feel smugness rolling off of him in waves as he raised his spear over his head. Looking into Elyse's eyes I could feel panic burning through everything I was trying to convey to her with my eyes.

It's okay.

I'll be fine.

Stay safe.

Don't ever doubt that I love you.

Time slowed down and I could hear the slight whistle of Damien's spear as it plunged down. A sharp, burning, flash of agony ripped through me and I screamed. Somewhere I could hear Elyse screaming too and I prayed she wasn't hurt.

Darkness crept in on me and I knew I would probably die tonight. I shouldn't have left the party with her; I should have told her about Captain wanting me to get her alone, should have told her everything.

Now it was too late.

I was dying.

In the blackness I could feel something warm and slightly heaving on my chest. The warm thing was removed and I felt cold and alone, slipping farther into the blackness slowly, feeling like I was drowning.

After what felt like eternity I felt something hot. Really hot. It was burning me it was so hot. I could feel it pulling me out of the blackness and the farther it pulled me out the more the hot thing hurt. By the time I could open my eyes again the hot thing was scorching.

When I saw what was burning me I was surprised. A red hot curved knife was searing the spear wound closed. Attached to the knife was a large hand, and attached to that was large muscles bigger than my own, and attached to that was a tall man with hazel eyes and brownish hair.

"Raffaello?"

I told you guys from the get go that Gabriel survives the whole story, honest!

zukofan2005: he's fine, he's fine. no worries.

ArishaSmile: No I just liked the name Gabriel... sorry but no intentional foreshadowing...

sheep1215: He lives because of his worst enemy... DUN DUN DUN!