The young prince shifted uncomfortably on the ground. His hands bound, and a piece of fabric covering his mouth to keep him quiet. The bandits in front of him laughed, talking about what they would do with the money they got when the queen paid the ransom money to get her precious son back.
"I say once we get the money, we kill Queen Sparrow and her son!" a bandit laughed.
"You're dead meat kid!" Another laughed,three scars running across his face.
"Why can't you boys just play nice?" A calm voice asked. The bandits all pulled out their swords and guns, looking around for the owner of the voice. "See what I mean? Violence. Such a shame, I was hoping I wouldn't have to hurt anyone." Alice suddenly dropped out of a tree, pulling both of her daggers from the sheaths on either side of her thighs.
One of the Bandits laughed, his dirty blond hair falling over his left eye, "Look at that, it's just a little girl."
"Well I seem to be taller than Baldie over there," she said, nodding towards a short, bald bandit. The man scowled at her, before he and the rest of the bandits charged at her.
She brought her left dagger up, blocking the dirty blonds strike and stabbing his stomach with her right dagger.
The bandit with the scars shot at her, which she deflected with her blade, punching another in the face before slicing across his stomach, driving the same blade into the abdomen of Baldie when he charged at her.
She threw her unoccupied dagger at a twig-like bandit who was about to shoot at her, the blade lodging itself into his forehead before he dropped to the ground.
She pulled her current blade out of Baldies stomach before throwing it at a broken nosed marauder. A bandit behind her began charging at her, she turned just in time, pulling out her Master Flintlock Pistol and pulling the hammer back, shooting the bandit right in between the eyes.
Alice looked around her, making sure no more of the horrible bandits remained, before looking at the young Prince, whose eyes were wide in shock. She went over to him, even when he flinched.
"Hey kiddo, it's ok. I won't hurt you," she assure softly, kneeling in front of him. She untied the fabric around his mouth. "Wait here ok?"
He nodded, watching has his saviour retrieved her daggers from two of the dead bandits. She came back over to him, using one of the blade to cut off the rope binding his wrists, before putting both of her daggers back into their sheaths.
"Are you alright?" she asked him softly, still kneeling in front of him. He nodded, still unsure whether to trust her, even though she did just save the ten year old prince.
Alice smiled kindly, "Let's get you back to your parents."
She stood up, holding out her hands to him. He eyed them uneasily before taking her offered hands, allowing her to pull him up. She began leading him away from the bandit camp in Westcliff, heading back to Bowerstone.
"I thought your parents would have sent the Palace guards or something by now," Alice mumbled.
"M-mother would have come for me…if she wasn't pregnant," the boy replied quietly.
"Oh yeah, the Hero Queen right?"
He nodded. "Who are you?"
"Alice," she answered simply, helping him through the forest.
"Are you a Hero of Skill?"
Alice smirked, "What gave you that impression?"
"The way you were fighting. I've never seen anything like it," he said, slightly in awe.
She chuckled, "Just a simple mercenary.
"M-mercenary?"
"Relax, I'm good."
"Mother!" The prince exclaimed, running straight into the arms of his waiting mother. Alice had brought him back to the palace, his mother giving some palace guards some instructions. About to send them off to Avo knows where get her son back.
"Logan!" Her Majesty breathed in relief, holding her son tightly. "My dear boy, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Alice saved me," he said, looking back at Alice.
"Your Majesty," Alice bowed.
Queen Sparrow smiled at Alice, walking over to her. "Please don't bow to me. Thank you for saving Logan. I would have sent someone sooner, had I actually known where the bandits were."
"Isn't the idea of holding someone for ransom is to tell you where they want to money sent?" Alice frowned.
"It's bandits," Sparrow chuckled. "Need I say more? How did you find Logan anyway?"
"I was walking nearby when I heard bandits talking about what they were going to do with the money they were expecting. I got curious then saw Logan."
"Alice is a mercenary, but she's good mum, just like you told me," Logan said happily, smiling up at the two women who laughed.
"Well, I best be off," Alice said with a soft smile.
"Oh, at least allow me to reward you," Sparrow said.
"Oh no Your Majesty. Just as long as he's safe, that's reward enough."
"A-are you sure?" Sparrow asked, quite stunned by the mercenary's actions.
"I am."
"Might I ask, is there somewhere I may contact you? In case I need your assistance again."
"Well I don't actually have a permanent place at the moment. But I spend most of my time around Oakfield, Silverpines and Brightwood. I mostly stay in the forest. But if you really need me you can ask at the Temple of Light, I normally do jobs for them."
"Alright. Be sure to write to me when you do find somewhere permanent," Sparrow smiled.
"Of course Your Majesty. Good day," Alice bowed once more before leaving.
It didn't take long for Alice, Rhydian and Rose to get a new home. A small cottage in the small forest near the Temple of Light. As promised, Alice wrote to the Queen to let her know where she now lives. Little that she know she'd be getting a reply so soon. Rose had handed Alice a letter that the Courier had brought whilst Alice was asleep. Alice opened the letter, reading the neat cursive writing.
"I've been summoned by the Queen," Alice said quietly, reading over the words once more.
"I didn't think she'd be requesting assistance so soon," Rose said as she cut up some vegetables.
"Hm," was Alice's response. "Well, better not keep her Majesty waiting."
Alice gathered her usual weapons, her Master Flintlock Pistol, her two daggers and her Master Katana. She bid Rose and Rhydian farewell, and left. She walked to the local stable, saddling her new horse that she had recently found in the woods. The dark brown mare, now named Shade, had followed Alice all the way back home, and hadn't left. Alice mounted Shade, and rode to the Castle.
Alice was lead through the Palace by a middle-aged butler named Jasper. He stopped in front of a big set of doors and knocked on them.
"Enter," came the Queen's voice from inside.
Jasper opened the doors, standing to the side. "Miss Alice is here Your Majesty."
"Alice," Sparrow smiled from her study desk.
"Your Majesty," Alice greeted with a bow, before walking in.
"Please, take a seat," Sparrow signaled to the chair in front of her desk. Alice sat, hearing the door close. "Let's get right down to business. After the events of Logan's kidnapping, I can't help but feel a little on edge. I'm not always going to be able to protect Logan, and the baby I am currently carrying. What I'm offering you is a job. As a somewhat guardian of my children. Their protector. Just so I feel a little more assured."
"A-are you sure you want me?" Alice asked, slightly in disbelief.
"I don't see why not," Sparrow chuckled, before going serious again. "I'm getting old now. I'm not as strong as I once was. I need to know they'll be safe…even after I'm gone."
"If you don't mind me saying. But you don't look it."
"You are to kind." Sparrow sighed, "I'm well over 50 now. Hero blood slows my aging, yes, but it doesn't stop it."
Alice thought it over for a second. "I'd be honored to serve you any way I can my Queen."
Sparrow smiled, "Thank you."
A/N: Hey! Now we have more recognizable characters! I really hope the fight scene was somewhat ok, I am trying I really am, and sorry if it was terrible. If any of you know how to write fights scenes I will be forever grateful if you can give me some tips.