I tipped my mug over the bar counter, hoping to salvage a small drop. To my avail, nothing seemed to be left, so with a sigh, I rested my head upon the dry bar. It seemed like years had past since I finally finished the school, but because of Zevran's incapability to actually pass a single class, I was forced to wait here, in a crappy inn.

Sometimes I attempted to take simple jobs from the request board, but every time I reached up for one, a big, burly man snatched it away and sneered, "Leave this for the true explorers, whelp"

I could handle that, easily, but with the lack of funds and my stay at the inn increasing... I needed money more then I ever did before. I slouched lower to the floor, wallowing in my pathetic predicament. I was certain I was about to fall to the floor when I felt a light, but persistent tapping on my shoulder. I figured it was Zevran, "Not now Zevran. Shouldn't you be in a class? PASSING? So I can leave?"

"I don't know who Zevran is, but I'm hoping to figure out who this might be" the person returned, his dignified voice ringing out.

I couldn't help but flush with color, for I might of been a tid-bit embarrassed with my brass behavior. I whipped around trying to make up for my last statement and stuttered out, "Oh! My apologies, I just thought you'd be my friend, 'cause usually people just leave me alone..."

He chuckled at me and I flushed again. His hair was unusually blonde, sort of tan if you give. It was extremely long, almost in competition with mine, but no one could really compete with me when it came to hair. His hair fell short, stopping at his mid-back and flared out a bit. His bangs, I could tell, that morning had been brushed over a thousand times or so, but it seemed to still pop-up, sort of like a down-ward cowlick. His side-burns were overly long and fell down to his shoulders in great heaps of golden-ness. His chocolate brown eyes glittered with youthfulness and pride, but it still seemed to control power over everything. That was all nice and all, but the thing I noticed most about him, was his outfit. It was regal. More regal then I had ever laid eyes upon. It must have cost a fortune to actually afford an outfit like that, with it's decorated jewels, and long crimson cape. "Yes well... You seemed capable enough to handle what I want to be done" he continued as I watched him.

I nodded back and he took it as an offering and he took a seat next to me, "You see... As you can tell, I'm a Prince. As for my family... well that's not important, but what is, is I lost my family crest. I had kept it on me, because my father gave it to me and with his death... Well, I just couldn't let it out of my sights. Ironic that I'm sitting here asking for help to find it! Anyways, I was hoping I could employ you to help me find it- it's really important! I'll make sure you get a reward when I return home" he explained.

I nodded slowly, compiling the data. His outfit suggested he was a rather wealthy Prince, which would diffidently would pay well, but with his hesitation with telling me his family but asking me to find his family crest it rather weird... "How am I suppose to find the crest if I don't even know which one I should be looking for?" I asked back, suspicious of his character.

"How many royal crests do you see lying around in the labyrinth? Seriously?" he replied.

"Point taken. Alright, I'll do it. When I get back though, you'd better thank me for this" I stood up, ready to leave.

"Great! Let me go get my bag and we can head out" he jumped up and was ready to leave before I caught his cape, "Wait, 'we'?" I asked to his dismay.

"Yes, WE. Why else would I go to a loner instead of a guild? Usually guilds are like this also, not allowing the client to go with, but I really need to go with! Just being there helping find it makes me feel better, since I did lose it. My father told me, 'Own up to your responsibility!' and I intend to!" he replied back, looking proud as he told his father's part.

"If you need to find it yourself, why ask me?"

"Well... Two people IS better then one. Besides, you seem like a trustworthy person.."

I smiled, "Flattered. But seriously now, let's head out before it turns night- easiest time to look for something IS the morning"

As we neared the labyrinth, I felt my heart speed up. I had been in the labyrinth 5 times, but for some reason I felt more anxious to get out of there as soon as possible. I didn't show any sign of my anxiety, for I figured if I was to allow Alistair to see that I was nervous, perhaps he might also get nervous and wouldn't want to proceed with the search. I really wanted that money, and having him spooked into leaving would not do either of us any good. "So... Where are we going to look first?" I asked, roaming around the open field.

"Hmm... Me and my farmer didn't get quiet far... I think we should look around here first" he asked, already looking around.

"Farmer? Why didn't you bring them with now? Wouldn't that be suffice compared to a random stranger?" I asked, pulling some vines out of an opening.

"She had a meeting to attend today, I couldn't possible force her to come with... Plus she has been saying how I've been so anti-social..." he trailed off.

I stopped searching and looked back at him, a frown clear on my face. I didn't have any empathy for him, but it wasn't as if I didn't know how it felt, but because I wasn't a very empathic person. Instead, all I did was ask the simple question, "So... You were lonely often?"

"Not really. I just never wanted to talk to anyone else besides those in the castle. Hell, it took me forever to convince myself to speak to you."

Any empathy I might of had for him before was all gone for him. He didn't seem in the least bit grateful for the gift of having a friend, just as if they were some trivial object to be thrown around. I returned to the search, lapsing us into silence.

As we dug around for a bit, I wondered what Alistair was thinking right now. Maybe he was thinking about me, since I was one of the first people he has talked to for awhile... Or was he worrying over his crest? To me he was a mystery, but prying right now would seem uncalled for, beside- "Hey! I think I found it!" I heard him yell out across to me in excitement, taking me out of thought.

I glanced over to him and rushed over to see what he was talking about. To my surprise he was right, with a glint in some lush, dark green grass far ahead. I smiled at him, "Good job! Now, let's get it!" I rushed across the grass, a smile on my face.

As I neared it, I thought I heard some growls of some sort, but I blew it off as nothing and snatched up the coin-like crest and rushed back to the waiting Alistair, his face smiling happily. Out of the tall grass and back with Alistair, I looked down at the crest when he erupted, "No!"

Even as he said that, I had already seen enough. The golden eagle with it's wings spread open to the world's embrace. He snatched it away, looking concerned towards me, hoping I hadn't seen too much probably. I stood stunned for a bit, awestruck at what I had discovered about Alistair, and I turned towards him, "You're... The royal prince... next in line..." I said, hesitantly.

He grimaced, "Great... Yeah, I'm the royal prince. Not next in line, but my brother, Calin," he looked away and continued the story, "I needed someone to help me, and most people wouldn't put the royal prince in danger. You see, they're to concerned that they might be thrown into prison if a single hair gets cut. I was hoping you wouldn't know so I could still be myself, but obviousl-"

Finishing his speech a loud groan erupted through the forest and Alistair shivered from it. I was still too awestruck to know to be wary, but instead still held my position staring at him in amazement. I saw he was sweating and he wiped it away, "We should get out of here before something big comes..." he said glancing everywhere now.

I nodded hesitantly and walked towards the exit, he was following in tow. As we neared the exit we heard the groan again and we stopped to look back. Ironic since the noise came from ahead of us, and before we could recollect ourselves, there it was. The Lizard King. It's mouth puked of poison gas, engulfing everything around it with it's putrid smell. It's body sparkled with it's envy green scales, parts of it's back held poison spikes in it's back. Everything about it was terrifying- from it's hideous turtle-like mouth, all the way down to it's elongated tail covered in toxic spikes, lastly to it's hoove-like feet. I gulped down a wad of spit that had formed in my mouth from fear. Glancing at Alistair didn't help me for sure, I could see him mentally frightened. I couldn't allow this. This is my quest, and I must protect him, with my life!

As I watched the Lizard's lumbering body, I took note of the parts that happened to be covered with more scales then others. The Lizard neared us with it's intimidating presence when I stroke out. Right under his chin was a heavily covered patch of skin, and I figured it was a weak spot underneath those scale. Thank the Maker I was reading about common traits among monsters! As I scrapped across the scales down to the soft center, I could feel the monster panic and flail about. Sweat rolled down my face as I clung onto the beast with one hand and used the other to thrust my sword into it's neck. A blood curdling scream erupted from the beast and it thrashed harder, I clung to my sword for dear life. The Lizard jumped about, whipping it's tail to and the fro, knocking down multiple trees on the way. "Pull it out!" I heard Alistair scream from behind.

I pulled my head towards him in fear, to see him with a rapier pulled out and him in a fighting stance. I smirked, but it vanished as I was jolted once more by the monster. Letting go now would be suicide, there was no way I was going to get killed yet, "YOU'RE A CRAZY ASSHOLE, I'M NOT PULLING IT OUT!" I yelled back, gritting my teeth.

I watched as he shook his head and ran towards me, "You have to trust me and pull it out!"

"FUCK THAT!"

He grimaced and muttered something I couldn't hear, then he started a chant. It started out slowly and he seemed to remember it more, so it got paced faster. Finally he yelled out the finally word when a bright light exploded from him, and I felt myself engulfed with warmth. Any fatigue I might of have before disappeared and I smiled triumphantly, "Thanks! Just what I needed!" I yelled at him.

Thrashing about was getting boring anyways, so I did the logical thing. I grabbed onto the monster's scales again, pulled out my sword, and thrust it back in. The monster screamed out in pain, it's blood splattering onto my face. It was vile enough, I almost puked, but I held it in for another cut. Slowly the monster's life force faded, it's breath becoming more labored and it's thrashing calming down into a wobble. I too, was tiring out, but I was so close to finishing, just one more thrust. Alas, I could no longer hold on, and I slipped from the monster onto the ground. Given the opportunity, I saw the monster glance down towards me, and almost give me a smirk before it's mighty foot lumbered over me. I figured I would take some major damage, but not death. Not yet. Hopefully. As the monster slammed it's foot upon me, blood spurted from my lips from the pressure. I coughed, and laid limply on the ground as the monster went in for the last hit. I smiled. Well, if I was going to die, I might of done so while being awesome. This seems like a reasonable death, right?

I closed my eyes, waiting for the quick death I was to receive, but felt none. I clinched my eyes tighter. Perhaps the monster finds it funny to toy with me before it kills me. I can stand that, I think... But I couldn't. I could already feel my power slowly growing back, as if I could strike again. My eyes fluttered open to find the foot levitating over me and Alistair standing above me, his face strained from the blow he had taken. As I looked at him he gave me a smile and a thumbs up, and I knew what must be down. I rolled from underneath the monster's foot, grabbed my sword and glared at the monster with great intensity. A scream bubbled from inside of me, from I don't know where and I charged. My sword was lifted into the air and I was ready, besides the crying pain in my thighs and arms. Last hit! and I struck it. The monster wobbled, it's foot lifted from Alistair. I was panting hard, almost expecting it to attack again, but it did not. It fell to it's side, finished.

I fell to my knees, completely drained. I glanced over towards to Alistair to see he was lying on his back, staring up into the sky. I crawled over towards him and laid next to him, staring into the now starry sky. It was so quaint, but I'm not one for sleeping in the forest unattended, "What was a monster like that doing down here?" I panted.

Alistair didn't even attempt words but simply shook his head in confusion. I sighed and sat up. I rubbed my face before forcing myself unto my feet and limped towards the exit. "Where are you going?" I heard Alistair ask from behind me.

"Back. We found your crest, that was the mission. Found it, I'm out." I replied back and limped on.

I don't believe he tried to stop me, but I didn't look back to see if he did. I was too tired to actually think about anything then getting to the inn and resting. Man, Zevran would freak out if he saw me now... I smiled in amusement. Then it turned into a frown, as I remembered I didn't ask for a reward. Damnit! He doesn't even know my name! Whatever, I'm not in the mood to go back...