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.
Here's chapter 9! It's a bit longer than the last chapter, but still a bit short for my likes. Anyway, the only thing I have to add is to please read, review, and let me know what you think! Thanks!
Chapter 9: Between the Dragon's Teeth
Nottinghamshire, England 1453 A.D.
"Galleth," Sir Henry growled to me as I pulled the belt on my horse, "I believe that thou hast gone bloody bonkers! Running away with the princess on the very day of her wedding? If thou art caught then it shall be both of thy heads and the king would not wait until the morning due hast grazed the blade of the axe before thou art to be executed!" I had told Sir Henry of the plan Katherine and I had created and it was apparent that he was not too fond of it. I shook my head at my friend as I continued to tighten the belts on my horse and make sure that the supplies I had packed would stay in place. Katherine and I had agreed to escape during the ceremony before her wedding, which would be starting soon. I would gather the supplies we would need and get them secured upon a horse away from the festivities. Then, once she was alone inside her tent, I was to sneak her out and we could escape the king and his tyrant rule. We had decided to move north, away from her fathers' kingdom and far from that of Maxwell's.
"Taking the princess away from the kingdom would be considered treason, Galleth!" he continued, "And hast thou thought of what Katherine's mother and father shall say once they realize she has been taken? They will send out the royal knights to find her and whoever took her. Thou dost not stand a chance! And to consider that Katherine is engaged to be married in only a few short hours!" I sighed, becoming tired of Henry's rant.
"I thought that thou would have understood our plans, Henry. Katherine and I are in love…much like thou are with the queen." Henry scoffed, attempting to have surprise in his voice.
"The queen?" he repeated, "Thou hast gone bonkers, Galleth. I am simply protecting our queen and nothing more." I shook my head, slapping him on the arm.
"Indeed thou art in love with our queen! Katherine and I have both gazed upon thy both! Running around the castle, sneaking a kiss and a laugh every chance that should arise and may I remind thee that the queen is already married…and to the king! Tis adultery, Sir Henry, adultery!" I replied harshly, trying to get the man to realize that he had no right to criticize.
"The king dost not treat Queen Isabel as if she is a woman. He dost not deserve a gracious lady such as herself!" he growled back, becoming defensive, "And for the record, Galleth, tis only adultery if the relationship hast been consummated, which nothing of the sort hast happened between the queen and myself!" I barked a laugh, patting the sides of my horse as I did so.
"Oh Henry I must say otherwise. Katherine hast told me many-a-stories of the sounds she hast heard coming from thou and her mother." A deep blush formed on Henry's face as I spoke, admitting the truth behind his affair with the queen.
"If thou were to mutter a word to anyone…" he growled, pointing a finger in my direction. I simply chuckled, shaking my head as I did so.
"Thy secret shall not pass my lips, my old friend." he seemed to ease, his normal temper returning with a bow of his head.
"I do understand, my friend, about thy situation and I shall tell thee why. I am much older than thee, Galleth, and the queen is only a year or so younger than I. When the queen was only a princess, I was the one in charge of taking care of the young female. We fell in love at our young age, dreaming of running off together to prevent her from marrying Henry so we may wed one day, much like what thou and Katherine are planning to do. But, I decided that if I were to take her away from Henry then the consequences would be severe," he took a deep breath, regaining his composure before continuing, "I allowed my beloved Isabel to marry Henry…and I regret it each day I breathe. I was still stationed to watch over the queen…knowing that she was married to another. So, I pass my wisdom onto thee, Galleth. Take Katherine…do not hesitate such as I. For the pain of seeing her married to Maxwell will tear thee apart. And I do not wish to see thee committing adultery with the princess if she were to marry the Frenchman. For Katherine was just barely over the age of seven when my affair with her mother started…and the pain is still there Galleth. Thou art doing the right thing by preventing their marriage if both of you are truly in love with one another." I nodded, feeling great sympathy for my dear, old friend. We shook paws, parting ways soon after so he may return to the festivities and I may steal the greatest treasure I ever would.
Scampering though the thickets and trees of the forest behind the ceremony, I silently made my way towards Katherine's tent, trying not to be caught. In my quest for her tent, I glanced around the ceremony, noticing everything that was displayed for the bride-to-be. Jesters, minstrels, circus performers, dancers, hundreds of guests, everything to make a princess happy. I stuck to the shadows, staying still once I noticed the groom of the wedding whispering quietly a group of other skunks. Finding his behavior to be quite shady, I listened in, trying to hear anything of importance.
"Maxwell my son," an older skunked laughed, "thou art quite the sneak! Thou hast managed to fool everyone in the castle! They actually do believe that thou art royalty!" Maxwell laughed as well, fixing his robes as he spoke.
"Indeed I have. That brainless old drunken raccoon is about to marry his daughter off to a thief! Once we are wed I am locking Katherine in that bloody tower until she gives her final breath. Once her mother and father are locked in the dungeon, their fortune will be ours…the Le Paradox family shall be the wealthiest family, not the Bandicoots." The older skunk laughed again, giving a sly smile to his son.
"And thy marriage?" Maxwell smiled, wiggling his eyebrows in the process.
"My marriage shall be official, father. Tis going to be consummated this evening…whether Katherine is willing to or not." The skunks walked away, smiling in the process. I felt my heart drop upon hearing this. Not only would Katherine be marrying a con…but he was planning to steal her family's fortune!
I quickly ran from my position, bolting to Katherine's tent as quickly as I could. I had to tell Katherine what Maxwell was planning before we left; I may not be able to allow her to marry Maxwell, but I couldn't allow him to steal from her family. I pressed against the back of her tent, listening for anyone besides her on the inside. Unfortunately, I could hear two voices insides…Katherine and her mother's.
"Oh Katherine," Isabel cooed happily, "thou art one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen. I hast been planning this day since thou were a mere babe," the queen sighed, her voice becoming soft, "I only wish that thou could be marrying the man of thy dreams instead of one whom your father wishes thee to marry."
"My dearest mother," Katherine's soft voice spoke to her mother, "I promise thee, everything shall turn out in the end. Do trust me, please mother." I wasn't sure, but I could imagine Isabel smiling at her daughter, giving her another hug before I heard the front flaps of the tent open and the inside become silent.
"My lady?" I whispered into the fabric of the tent, praying that the raccoon inside could hear me.
"Sir Galleth?" Katherine's hopeful voice sounded from inside and I opened the flap of the tent, stepping inside. I spotted Katherine sitting inside the tent next to a table, staring at the opening. I closed the flap inside and stopped in my tracks, my eyes stuck on the woman I was about to run away with. Katherine was beautiful in her wedding gown and I caught her blushing.
"Lady Katherine," I finally sputtered out, "thou art beautiful in thy gown." Her blush grew and she stood, stepping towards me and taking my paws in own.
"I thank thee, Sir Galleth. But I must admit that I was becoming worried. I feared that thou would not appear and that I would have to marry another man." I smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears.
"Why would I not have shown, my lady? Thou art one of the most beautiful women I hast ever laid eyes upon. I would never leave thee standing alone to marry another. For I love thee, my lady." She smiled softly, her paws resting on my chest.
"And I love thee as well, Sir Galleth." She brushed her nose against mine and smiled again. I returned her smile and gripped her waist softly, feeling the fabric of her dress underneath. I found my smile fading quickly as I remembered the important news I had to tell the lovely Katherine.
"Sir Galleth," she said worriedly, "art thou alright? Have I said something to offend thee?" I snapped from my thoughts and returned to the princess.
"Thou hast done nothing wrong, my lady. But before we depart, I must tell thee something. I heard your fiancé talking as I approached…he is not who he says he is. The skunk is a con and he is planning something most terrible."
"Oh do tell me, Sir Galleth. I must know!" her grip tightened on my shirt as I spoke.
"He is not royalty, not in the least bit. My lady he is planning to imprison thee and thy parents. He wishes to steal thy fortune and take it for his own." She gasped pulling away before cupping her paws over her mouth and pacing around the room.
"We must warn my mother or father, Galleth. I will not marry him but he cannot have my family's wealth!" I nodded and Katherine gripped my paw tightly, "We must tell them now Sir Galleth!" I nodded, leading my beloved princess from her tent. I led her firmly by the paw, not wanting to loose her in the crowd of people, searching for her mother or father.
"I see her not, my lady." I told Katherine after we had walked a good portion of the ground. Katherine was worried, afraid of what Maxwell was planning.
"I do not either. Oh, Galleth, I have a horrid feeling!" I turned, gripping her chin softly, speaking to her gently.
"Worry not, my lady, everything will be all right." She nodded and we continued walking.
"Dost thou believe that-" Katherine could not finish, for she was silenced by a horrid, ear piercing shriek. I pulled her to me, already knowing what had caused it. More shrieks came from the crowd as the source of the noise appeared; the fist time I'd seen the beast in my life…the dragon. The three headed beast burst through the woods, stomping on tents and releasing its ear shattering shrieks. The crowd ran from the monster, not wanting to become captured by the metal beast. I felt someone run between Katherine and myself, separating us.
"Katherine!" I shouted through the crowd, trying to see if Katherine could hear me.
"Sir Galleth!" Katherine shouted her reply, her paw stretched out in front of her in an attempt to grab mine. Our fingertips brushed against each others, only to have more people swarm through and separate us even further.
I pushed though the crowd, trying to get back to Katherine who was being pushed back even further. With another shriek from the dragon and a scream from a female, I felt my heart pound, fearing it was my beloved Katherine. One of the three heads of the dragons came up, holding someone in its teeth. With a closer look, I realized who it was. The queen was screaming and flailing between the teeth of the dragon, afraid for her dear life. Sir Henry had made his way next to me, his eyes glued on the beast and the queen within its grasp. With his sword drawn, he was ready to strike. Before he could, however, the dragon took one more person in a second head.
"Katherine!" I yelled as loud as I could at the woman inside the teeth of the monster, only to have a blood curdling scream become my response. The third head of the dragon, the only one not carrying a person, gave a final roar, sending chills through the crowd before giving a flap of its wings and ascending into the sky…taking the Queen Isabel and Katherine with it.
Of course the Le Paradox family is after money! And I mentioned the dragon earlier in the story for a reason. ;)