Disclaimer: I don't own any Sly Cooper characters; they belong to Sucker Punch Productions/Sanzaru Games.
Claimer: I own all of my original characters.
Well here's chapter 5! But other than that, please read, review and let me know what you think! Thanks!
Chapter 5: Royal Skunks and Ferocious Beasts
Nottinghamshire, England 1453 A.D.
"My lady I do implore you to see reason!" I begged the princess from the opposite side of the door to her bed chambers, trying to coax her out of her sleeping quarters and into the great hall where her father was giving her an engagement ceremony.
"Then I implore you to tell my father that I shall not be joining him this evening!" Katherine's voice shouted from behind the door. I sighed, resting my forehead on the wooden entrance. Tonight was Katherine's engagement ceremony to the prince of Camelot and the princess was refusing to leave her bedroom. I couldn't blame the raccoon; she didn't want to marry a stranger just for a political alliance or under the threat of execution.
"Your Majesty, I beg of you to please let yourself at least be seen at your ceremony. If you were to not show up, then your father will be sure to have my head upon the chop block by daybreak!" I fell forward slightly as Katherine yanked the door open, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Well then, Sir Galleth, if you too wish to take my choice of whom I wish to marry away from me, just like my father, then allow them to take off thy head. For I wish not to associate with those who would wish to take away my happiness." Katherine stormed away from the door, leaving it open slightly. I sighed, straightening my poster before pushing it open a little bit more with my fingertips.
"Lady Katherine?" I called to the flustered raccoon, who had made her way to the opposite side of the room, and waited for a response. Katherine stood by the window, peering out while biting at her nails. The raccoon turned to me, her ears drooping, before motioned for me to follow her inside. I surveyed my surroundings before ducking inside the room and closing the door behind me, because I knew if I was caught entering the room of the princess, then the repercussions would be worse than a beheading. I slowly made my way up to Katherine, not wanting to anger her more. I stopped within a foot of her, bowing my head in her presence.
"Oh, do forgive me Sir Galleth," she said after turning to me and removing her paw from her mouth, "Thou hast done nothing to scorn me or need to hear my ranting. I just do not wish to go through with this ceremony or this soon to be marriage. And I shall pray that thou shall accept my apology." I smiled at the princess, bowing my head to her again.
"There was no apology needed, my lady. Thou dost deserve to marry the man of your choosing; someone who treats you like a proper lady, who can bring a blush to thy cheeks, and can make your beautiful smile appear across thy face." she smiled, a blush coming to her cheeks as she tucked her hair behind her ears.
"I do thank thee Galleth, but thou dost flatter me too much." I chuckled at the princess, still hoping that she would make haste and get to her ceremony. However, her smile quickly faded as she peered back outside the window. She shook her head before strolling past me and to her bed, picking up the dress that was sprawled across the top. The princess was still in her night gown, her hair in a single braid tossed across her shoulder and her crown somewhere other than the top of her head. She sighed again, picking up the dress and walking behind her changing board. With that, I decided to leave to allow her to change in privacy…until she decided to start a conversation.
"Sir Galleth, dost thou know if my father's choice for my husband is actually at this event?" I strolled next to her changing board, clearing my throat as I did.
"I don't know for sure, my lady, but I should assume that he would be here to meet you." She scoffed a laugh, followed by the ruffling of her dress.
"One would think. But in the world I do dwell in…husbands do not care for their wives, their futures wives, or for the welfare of a woman in general. I should be surprised if the man dost show." With another ruffle of her dress, her night gown was slung over the top of the changing boards, pieces of the loose lace touching the top of my head.
"You Majesty, if you do wish for a bit of privacy…" I tried to leave the room to allow her a chance to get changed without my presence inside her bed chambers.
"Oh Galleth, how I do wish to not be royalty. I would much rather live the life of a peasant than the life of royalty." I chuckled again at the raccoon, swatting the dress ruffles from my head.
"Then I am surprise that thou hast not considered running away." She giggled from behind her changing boards.
"I certainly have, Sir Galleth. But I hast come to the conclusion that if I were to escape," she paused briefly, coming from behind her changing tent and fixing the front of her party gown, "the I would need someone to come along with me." she smiled at me winking slightly as she did so.
"And who would you insist would follow you on your journey, my lady?" she walked to her mirror, sitting in front of it and turning her attention to her hair.
"I was considering that you, my brave Sir Knight, should accompany me, but if thou art too nervous to hold down a simple conversation while I change my gown…" she turned to me, a playful smirk across her lips as she ran her brush through her hair.
"My dear princess," I chuckled as I stepped next to her, resting my back against the edge of her mirror, "I am simply keeping to my knightly duties." She gave another smile and placed her brush down.
"Tis true, Sir Galleth, tis true. Then I suppose I would have no hesitation to ask if thee shall accompany me."
"T'would be my pleasure, my lady," I chuckled again, knowing she was merely making a joke, "When shall my lovely princess wish to leave?" she finished pulling her hair upon her head and looked to me.
"Oh, sometime before my wedding, I suppose." I smiled, taking her family necklace from the counter and stepping behind her.
"Should thee wish to leave by foot? Or should I order horses for the journey?" I reached in front of her, placing her necklace against her skin before fastening it.
"I would greatly enjoy a horse, Sir Galleth." We laughed at our ludicrous and fairy tale plan as I took her crown from her table as well.
"Then where should we dwell, Your Majesty?" I placed her crown on the top of her head and waited for her answer.
"I know not, Sir Galleth. I suppose we could figure that out while we are on our way." I laughed, giving another bow of my head to the princess. She stood from her seat, straightening her dress in the process. She glanced back to her table, staring at the engagement that had been given to her, more like sent to her, by her future husband. I took the ring from the table and took her paw in my own.
"Shall thee join thy father in the dining hall now?" I asked after slipping the ring onto her finger. She sighed and nodded her head, glancing to her ring.
"I suppose I shall." I smiled, offering my arm to the raccoon, who took it graciously. I escorted her to her door, opening it and allowed her to exit. I followed the raccoon, allowing her to keep her arms upon my own. I escorted the princess down the hall to the dining hall, talking to her quietly as we did. We had only made it halfway to the dining hall when we could hear talking close to us…and the voices were surprisingly familiar.
"My lady," I whispered to the raccoon, not wanting to alert the voices to our presence, "dost thou hear thy mother's voice?" she smiled, nodding in the process.
"I do, and I hear Sir Henry's voice as well." We snuck around the corner, following the voices, and eventually found my friend and Katherine's mother talking to each other secretly in the hallway. I watched as my friend softly took the queen's chin in his fingers before giving the woman a smile, which she graciously returned, and leaning into her lips, kissing them gently. I was taken back by their actions, but not surprised. It was no secret to me that my friend cared for the queen; I just wasn't expecting them to show their affections out in the open halls.
"We should leave them," Katherine tugged my arm and I followed with a bow of my head.
"My lady, I do apologize for Sir Henry's actions…" Katherine giggled, shaking her head as she readjusted her grip on my arm.
"No need to apologize. For I greatly approve of their secret courtship. Sir Henry makes my mother happy…happier than I have seen her in many moons." I chuckled, leading the princess to the dining hall. I opened the door to the room and allowed the princess to talk with her father, who was chatting with the soon-to-be husband. I stayed against the wall, keeping out of the way from the other party goers and watching carefully. I felt my fur start to bristle as I watched Katherine talk to the prince of Camelot. The prince was nothing more than a skunk…literally. His striped tail stood proudly in the air and his nose was held just as high. He took Katherine's paw in his own, planting a sloppy kiss on the top. Katherine was just as impressed with him as I was, gladly pulling her paw away one his lips were lifted from it. He held out his paw to Katherine, who took it hesitantly, and the couple strolled around the room.
I continued to watch the celebration unfold, people dancing, minstrels singing and fools dancing around. I noticed Henry enter the room with the queen a few moments later, each with a slight blush on their cheeks. I chuckled to myself, having never seen the man blush. He allowed the queen to return to her husband before he made his way to the wall as well, standing next to me as he did.
"It seems that you have succeeded in getting the princess from her chambers." I nodded, placing a paw on the handle of my sword before speaking.
"Indeed it does. And it seems that you have taken a great fancy to the queen." I nudged his elbow with my own, laughing in the process. His blush grew, making the wolf uncomfortable.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Sir Galleth. I'm simply doing my duties and taking care of our queen."
"Taking care of her in more ways than one, good Sir." The wolf gave me a sideways glare and I laughed in response. He opened his mouth to respond, only to be cut off by the doors to the dining hall opening suddenly, two other knights bursting through the doors.
"My king, my king!" they shouted as they came running forth, "It's horrible, absolutely horrible!" the crown went absolutely silent, everyone turning in the direction of the knights.
"Dear Lord!" the king shouted as he stood from his throne, "What has happened?"
"It's the beast! It's been spotted!" there were gasps in the crowd, people huddling together at the thought of the beast. I glanced to Katherine, only to see her fiancé leave her side to cower behind his personal guards. I shook my head and growled at the skunk, quickly making my way to her side. She gripped my arm tightly, listening to the commotion that was taking place.
"Well good lord man, don't keep us in suspense! Where was it spotted?"
"In the forest!" one of the knights shouted, "It came forth from the cave and took one of the milkmaids from the stables! The beast took the poor lass back to its lair!"
"Then secure the castle!" the king shouted as he made his way down from his throne and into the crowd, "I want this beast slayed! I want all three of its heads delivered to me!" the king looked around the crowd, eventually stetting his drunken eyes on me.
"Galleth!" he barked, "I am instilling my trust in thee. Go forth and slay this beast. Rid my country of this monster!" I heard Katherine gasp, her grip tightening on my arm as she looked up to me.
"Sir Galleth," she whispered, fear spreading across her face. I patted her paw, attempting to comfort the female. I knew I couldn't refuse my king's orders. I had to slay this beast.
"Yes, Your Majesty," I bowed my head to the king, glancing up again before finishing my statement, "I shall slay the beast."