(open) Exploring on my own

[Helena Castus]

Helena had woken up before everyone else in the castle had. Actually she'd woken from a bad dream and no one was there to console her. Pandra had only been here for a day or two and was probably asleep in her own chambers right now. Which meant no one was sleeping in her room that would know how scared the little girl would get after a bad nights dream. Her guard had fallen asleep on the job or at least that's what it looked like to her as she had snuck out of her room and down the halls. They were scary at night and she kept talking softly to herself like Auntie Pandra had told her too the last time she had seen the young girl. She walked out of the castle and how she got that far was beyond her. There were supposed to be guards watching every inch of the castle as well as every inch of the city late at night. Where were they all? Helena started to get scared until she came across a guard that was fully awake and not very happy that the princess had made her away out of the castle.

Now that she was sure that everyone was alive she took off at a run making the guard follow her. She wasn't supposed to do that but she wanted to explore an it was hard to see the young one in the dark. She had a dark cloak on in the first place. As the sun came up over the horizon the young four year old was outside the stables at the Inn hiding so that the stable hand didn't see her. A few minutes later the city came alive as people greeted the morning and everyone started work for the day. The guard was still trying to find her knowing he'd be in big trouble for letting the four year old out of the castle without the proper protection. She wandered the streets making sure not to be spotted by anyone that might tell where she was.

She continued to explore and stopped to lean in an alley way and yawn. She was getting tired again and it was cold. She pulled her cloak around her tighter and watched the city people from the alley way with droopy eyes.

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[Gharvyd Varick]

A loud grunt and a painful groan broke the dead silence of the small room at the inn, as the man slowly started making his way out of the bed. He rubbed his stiff and sore muscles trying to wake them up to prepare for the days tasks ahead of him. He let out a yawn that would put even the largest lions to shame as he stood up and stretch every tendon and ligament he could.

Smacking his lips he walked over to the small window trying to get his life blood flowing, and peered out into the grayish murky day. A touch of sun warmed his shirtless body, as he lifted the latch holding the window closed and opened it to let in the brisk morning breeze. Gharvyd let out a shudder in reaction to the cool air upon his flesh and let out another yawn.

Just as he closed his mouth from yawning he saw a rather small figure scrambling about in the streets below. Of course people were waking up and starting their day, but something about this figure kept his interest peaked. Sure enough his interest turned into realization as to the identity of the figure when he saw shortly after the figure went by, a castle guard looking frantic appeared to be looking for something he had lost.

Cursing under his breath for the lack of sense on the guard’s behalf, Gharvyd raced over to the chair where his shirt was laid and hurriedly pulled it over him, there was no time to fully don his entire regalia. He had to move quickly so he could intercept the Princess. Gharvyd grabbed his boots and threw them on his feet, hastily lacing them up and ensuring he had his boot knives sheathed, should trouble come as he left to get the Princess. Before heading out the door he grabbed his hand axe, his weapon of choice when it came to close combat in a fight and pushed it into his belt as a makeshift holster.

Gharvyd was now outside, the morning sun now fully out and fighting an ongoing battle with the clouds for dominance in the sky. His breath slightly fogging up in front of him. It was still quite chilly out and he did not think to bring a cloak. He had hoped the Princess is was well suited in this chilled air. As a habit he looked all ways to make sure there were no dangers around such as a potential tracker or assassin that was trailing the Princess.

Gharvyd had expressed his concerns of the Princess being in possible danger without having enough guards looking after her to the captain of the guard only to be dismissed rather rudely. Of course Gharvyd really did not have the pull or respect to demand anything since he was still considered one of the newest soldiers, but he had been given a sort of “free roam” card from the King. Meaning he was on retainer with the King and his knights to serve them however they needed him to, reporting only to them instead of a regular soldier under command of a battalion officer. Perhaps this incident would be enough to put the rude captain of the guard in his place.

Satisfied that no danger loomed overhead, Gharvyd took off at a quick pace in the direction of where he had seen the Princess head. Shortly he saw the guard that had passed by his window and noticed he was still unsuccessful in his attempt at finding the Princess. “Only one guard to search for the princess? He must not have told his superiors.”[/color] Gharvyd thought to himself as he let out another curse. A nearby street vendor looked at Gharvyd as if he was possessed, Gharvyd could only meekly smile as he let out an apology and continued on his search.

Gharvyd passed the guard thinking he was too slow. The princess was a very nimble and energetic little girl. She could easily outrun them without any problem and he feared she may have outran her guard too far today. He stopped in the middle of a small street intersection and gathered his thoughts, “If I were the princess where would I go? The guard is after me and I want to hide so I can have fun.”[/color] Then it dawned on him, there was a small vendor across the street and over another street level that carried toys and candies. If the princess went that way and saw the toys, surely she would stop at that vendor to look at things. So Gharvyd quickly made his way to the vendor dodging the increasing number of people that were starting to join the early morning crowd. “I must find her and quickly before the streets become too crowded, else I'll lose the trail and any chance of finding the Princess.”[/color] he growled to himself.

[Helena Castus]

Helena yawned and moved out of the alley way having caught a second wind. Her guard spotted her but she ran faster than she had been running. The day had started and there were many people walking through the town already. It wasn't as busy as it could get she knew that but she was not about to go back into the palace again because she wanted to explore. That was just the way that this young girl was. Exploring and learning about things were what kept her from getting bored but as the day had started with a bad dream and some running she was more inclined if someone she liked found her to go back to the castle and be scolded by Pandra who she was sure would scold her for not running to her room instead of outside. Still the young princess didn't much care.

She walked slowed to a walk as she came upon a street vender that was carrying toys and candies. One of the little dolls caught her eye and she stopped admiring it. Of course the vender wasn't sure who the little one was and she was rather glad of that. There was a cart next to him selling bread and other candies that he wasn't selling. There were so many people in the market place selling so many different things that she could get lost for day simply jus looking at everything. Of course she was four and looking at things would start to bore her at one point and that was never a good thing. She was wondering why her guard had actually not caught up with her now that she had finally stopped running. Of course her guard had lost sight of her sometime ago and was still frantically searching for her.

Well it served them all right for not paying attention to what they were doing. Now she knew she was in the wrong as well but at the momet it didn't matter. She picked up a little doll and was admiring it. The vender smiled at her looking around for her parents but stopped when a few older children came up begging for him to do a puppet show or something like that. Helena watched the older group gather around a small little box and she watched the man disappear behind it. She moved her way closer to the group but far enough out of it that she could move at any given second to somewhere else. She watched as the man started the show and she went back and put the dolly she had in her hand down. She didn't go back to the show though but moved two stalls over to look at the pretty shiny jewelry that was sparkling now in the sun.

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[Gharvyd Varick]

It was getting crowded, much too crowded for his liking. Especially since he knew the princess was out and about with no one watching her. Dodging a few people that seemed blind to his dashing about and others merely oblivious or possibly just still waking up in the early morning, he finally reached the other side of the street. He could see the vendor he was looking for thinking and hoping that the princess would be there.

As he got closer he could see a group of children around something that appeared to be a box of sorts. Feeling for his axe in his belt for assurance and also to be ready in case something should happen, he walked slowly to the group of children, realizing they were watching a puppet show.

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a cloak that matched the same color as the one the princess wore when she had been running in the street under the window where Gharvyd luckily chanced at peering out of at the same time. He looked at the wares the vendor was selling and chuckled to himself. “I should have known. Jewelry trumps toys.”[/color] he muttered as he scanned his surroundings before walking up behind the little girl.

He nodded a greeting to the vendor and appeared interested in the baubles laid out upon the cart and his eyes came to rest on a particular one. He picked it up and held it high up in the air to catch as much light as possible, “Hmm, I think this might be quite suitable.”[/color] as he continued to admire the deep rich emerald gem encased in a silver basket with a sturdy silver chain that held identical charms on either side of the gem in the silhouette of a stag. He quickly glanced down to the little girl to see if she had at all noticed him, and brought the gem down into his hand where he was overturning it to see the entire surface while keeping the girl in his line of sight.

[Helena Castus]

Helena was watching the pretty gems sparkling in the sun. She had a short attention span and was easily distracted by shiny objects. She's been looking at a pretty light green gem wondering what it was called but to shy in a sense to ask the vendor what it was. She also didn't want the vender to ask about her parents so she stayed mute. There were more people out in the streets now and she actually started to get only slightly nervous about the fact that she had no one she knew with her. She was also sure that everyone in the castle was awake now and that she was going to get scolded badly when she went back. She shrugged it off though as she was too curious and interested in the things around her. She'd take a lecture any day to just be able to roam free for just a little bit. A wild spirit could not be couped up inside all the time. However she did know that it was likely not a good idea for her to do the things that other children did because if by chance some bad people came within the walls it wouldn't be good for her.

The things that crossed other peoples minds crossed hers in a sense. Though she never really feared much about them. The thought of being taken from her parents came in the form of them dying in some sort of battle and not someone picking her up because she wasn't with her guards or someone that she knew. She moved on to a pretty little blue sapphire that would actually match what she was wearing at the moment. She smiled as it glistened in the sun then she heard a male's voice come up a bit to the side of her. She'd heard the voice before and she looked up at the man who seemed to be looking at a dark green gem. It glistened in the morning sun and caught the young girl's attention which was almost a rare thing to do indeed. Then it dawned on the little girl that it was one of her father's men and that he was likely upset that she was not with her guards.

"Morning Ghar...Gharwyd" She had trouble pronouncing his name correctly and giggled slightly at him. Her eyes were even glistening in the morning sun as she stared up at him with a rather innocent look. She knew he'd probably take her back to the castle but she hoped that he'd let her look around just a little longer.

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[Gharvyd Varick]

The dark rich emerald glinted in his hand from the sunlight that struggled to peek through the clouds. He loved green, course he loved brown too. Anything that resembled nature brought him close to home in his thoughts. Gharvyd heard his name, although it was a touch mispronounced, but he could not blame the little princess for his name was not a usual name in these parts. It was Germanic in origin.

Gharvyd smiled at the greeting and responded, “Oh well hello there little one!” [/color]as he laid the emerald back on the velvet covered table then turning his attention to the princess. He dared not mention her title in front of public without having at least a few more guards or people that would protect her. “Are you shopping too?” [/color] Gharvyd smiled at her while kneeling down to see her eye to eye.

“Are you having trouble picking something out like I am?” [/color] as he tilted his head in the direction of the gems and jewels glittering in front of them both. He laid a hand on his axe that was snug in his belt, reassuring himself that it was there should he need it in a moments notice. Gharvyd became paranoid when he was in situations he had no control of, and it made him on edge that he could not do anything to remedy the situation at hand, at least not as immediate as he would like.

“Come, let us look some more and perhaps we can help each other pick something nice eh?” [/color] as he offered the hand not resting on the axe to the little girl as an invitation, while he quickly scanned around him hoping to see the guard that was supposed to have found the princess by now.

[Helena Castus]

Helena watched as Gharvyd still held up the pretty dark green gem. She didn't know what most of the gems were called. The pretty blue one she had been looking at Pandra had told her what it was but she couldn't say that name of it yet it still confused the young child. She waited slightly patiently for Gharvyd to answer her and then her eyes fell on a pretty purple gemstone and she was off in her own little world. The young Princess could have a very short attention span. Only a few people knew how to deal with it. She smiled back a Gharvyd after she heard him starting to speak. She shook her head at his comment about shopping. "Just looking." She knew it was bad to be out without her guard but it was his fault for falling asleep and it was the fault of the guard that had not been able to stop her from running through the castle gates and out into the street. She was having fun though and she didn't want to go back just yet. However she wanted to bring her Daddy out here so he could buy the pretty little blue gem that was shaped as a raindrop for her mother.

"I see one Mommy would like." She moved closer to him because she trusted him. It was mostly because Auntie Pandra seemed to like the guy a lot and if she liked and trusted him so would Helena. However, Helena was fascinated in most of the people that worked for her father in the first place. That was not including her guards. Her guards were just fun to play with and to make run amuk. She nodded to his last comment and then out of the corner of her eye saw her own personal guard coming up to her. He looked rather upset and she hid behind Gharvyd. "He's angry." The small girl didn't like it when people had angry faces on. He personal guard had not been any of the two that had actually lost her so to speak. She was sure the guard at her door had gotten an ear full and that the other one had gone to find him after not being able to find her.

The man walked up to the two of them. "Helena, you know better. Come back with me." "No" She was still hiding behind Gharvyd and not facing her guard who had a scary look on his face at the moment. At least it was scary for the little girl. "He can take me home." She peeked out from behind Gharvyd with her best not so happy look. "Helena your father will have my head if you don't." "not my fault" She held up her arms so that Gharvyd could pick her up. She gave off a yawn getting sleepy yet again.

[Gharvyd Varick]

Gharvyd smiled at the little girl, princess or not she was still a little girl and had the same hopes and dreams most girls her age had. He loved the fact that she was so innocent and curious, what a child truly should be. However the world made it so that both those traits were rather dangerous. A shame really, for the world could use a bit more child like approach to things rather than all the things that encompassed in evil such as war.

He saw her eyeing the one blue gem in particular, it appeared to be a sapphire, but he was quite limited on his knowledge of gems and jewels and what they were known as. He did not hold them in high value, for they were just like any rock he would find on the ground. Yes, they were prettier to look at, but for what most people would kill for these, rocks, they were never more valuable than a person’s life be it serf or king, in Gharvyd’s eyes.

Watching her suddenly move to stand behind him while clutching him and her face change from happy and inquisitive to frightened and stubbornness flash in her eyes he could only assume one thing and the princess confirmed it with her comment of someone being angry. His eyes found the reason for the change in the princess and merely laid a hand on her head as he stood up from kneeling next to her, one to show her he was not leaving her and also to be sure he knew where she was.

Watching the guard try to coax the princess into going with her and seeing the princess reacting in some fear and wanting him to take her, he only saw one solution and that was for him to escort her. He also did not want to make more of a scene in the middle of the busy intersection that had now become significantly crowded since Gharvyd had found the princess at the vendor’s booth.

“How about we all head back to the castle? It seems the only real solution at this point.” [/color] Addressing the guard himself, “You want her to go back, she wants me to take her, and I am not about to disobey her highness’ wishes.”[/color] He watched the guard closely. Gharvyd was no fool and was not about to be made one. If he really was one of the guard that cared only for the princess’ protection, then he would not disagree to his suggestion, however if he even hesitated or tried to bandy words with him, that would be an indicator that not all was as it appeared to be.

Call him paranoid, but Gharvyd had seen all manners of betrayal and deceit and he was privy to many of them, though one would not have thought that about a simple man who appeared to have significant knowledge and training in the arts of war and battle and who took pleasures in the simple things of life such as raising horses and hounds. Gharvyd gently pat the princess on the head, while resting his other hand on his axe awaiting the guard’s reply.

[Helena Castus]

Helena rather liked her personal guard because he at least played with her. He'd been assigned as her guard only a few months back really. However she didn't like it when he was angry. He was scary when he was angry and she was sure that Gharvyd and the others would be too but no one rose their voice or carried and angry face when they talked to her if they wanted her to obey or learn a lesson. There was no need for those sorts of things because the young Princess wasn't unintelligent. She was rather smart for her age even if she was curious and naive to what could actually happen to her should she not be doing as she needed to be doing. She loved adventures.

She didn't unattach herself from Gharvyd's and the jewels she had been looking at were far away from her head at the moment. She only changed positions because of the fact that Gharvyd has stood back up. They were calling attention to themselves but as the crowd grew larger less people seemed to care to look at the small group. She was still hesitant with her personal guard even if she liked him. She didn't know him well enough but then again she didn't know Gharvyd all that well either. She just knew that her father trusted the man with some very important things and that Auntie Pan liked him too. Pandra didn't seem to like her personal guard however. She wasn't sure why but Helena could tell that she didn't.

She giggled as Gharvyd called her highness. Most people just called her little angel or princess. Her guard looked ready to murder the man in front of him for even remotely thinking that said man had basically insulted him. However her guard was listening to every word that Gharvyd said. He didn't have the Princess's well being in mind but he showed only a bit of hesitation in saything anything at all. Before he could open his mouth a female came through the crowd her bright red hair setting her apart from the crowd in the area. Pandra walked up to the small group with a look of death in her eyes. "How could you all be so stupid." she looked at the guard not realizing Gharvyd for a second. "Morning Gharvyd " she said sweetly and with a less stern voices as what was used before.

"Auntie Pandra he's being scary." she pointed to the guard. Pandra shook her head and moved around to pick up the little girl. "If you want to keep your job you will never allow someone else to watch her." The guard looked like he was about ready to blow and he did in a sense. "How dare you implicate I do not know how to do my job. And young lady you have no right over me." Pandra put Helena down who ran behind Gharvyd yet again. "you no not your place guard. I could have you fired at any second. I could even have your head if I so choose. However I do not and choose not to fight with you right now. what needs to be done is taking the Princess home and you getting and earful from her father." Helena reached up for Pandra again who lifted her with ease and then looked at Gharvyd. "Uncie Gharvyd come with us please." Helena looked at him with sweet innocent pleading eyes. It wasn't that she was scared or anything. Pandra angry didn't scare her it made her feel safe cause she knew that Pan loved her very much.

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(controlling pandra for this post)

[Gharvyd Varick]

His grip tightened around the axe, as the hairs on the nape of his neck stood on end. There was just something wrong about this whole situation. Gharvyd was about to take a step back moving the princess along with him when he saw Pandra approach and greet him, fury raged in her usually calm eyes not for him but for the guard, thankfully.

He never relaxed his grip, it made him feel comfortable knowing it was there. He watched as Pandra reasonably scolded the guard as well as threatened him. He was afraid he was going to have to step in when the guard looked as if he would retaliate against Pandra for her words. At least the guard showed some self control for it would be his last mistake had he lashed out at her.

Gharvyd watched as Pandra picked up the princess ready to go and heard the princess requesting he come along. He did not want to overstep his bounds and cause more problems than what was already occurring. Gharvyd looked to Pandra to see what she would want him to do, though he wanted more than anything to escort them personally for peace of mind. That and he could use some company to start his day, even though it was becoming more of a hazard at this point, at least he was not alone.

He turned his attention to the guard, seeing his very red face from being angry at the situation that he unfortunately put himself in and quite possibly from being threatened by a woman. Most men did not take it well when women talked that way to them, unless it happened to be their wife. He immediately thought of one couple that seemed to be in some constant bickering or feud every time he saw them. They also had a huge following of kids around them as they would banter back and forth about whatever the topic of the fight for the day was. It was rather amusing but he could tell even in the constant fighting between the couple, their love for each other knew no bounds. Gharvyd could only dream of having a love so deep and profound as what they had.

Returning back to the situation at hand, he awaited for a signal or command from Pandra to tell him whether or not he was allowed to escort them back, all the while keeping a constant eye on the guard, his hand still upon the haft of his axe.

[Helena Castus]

Helena sat in Pandra's arms looking over her shoulder at Gharvyd and the guard. The guard on the other hand was so upset that it was taking everything out of him to not lash out at the lady that had threatened him. Pandra looked over her other shoulder at Gharvyd. "come, if Helena wants you too you are allowed." She was speaking of course of the fact that she as much as Helena would love his escort back to the palace. It would be too lonely for the both of them if they went alone. Helena smiled brightly as Gharvyd and whispered into Pandra's ear which turned Pandra's manner into a light and airy all was well type manner. A small giggle left her lips. "So do you think daddy with get it for her." "We shall have to see little one. But first we need to get you home and in proper clothes."

Helena giggled and snuggled more into Pandra as they began to walk away from the vendor's booth and the guard in serious trouble for not being with the Princess in the first place. Some people just did not take their jobs as seriously as they should have been taking them. The guard reached out and pulled Pandra's arm that was not holding on to Helena and spun her around. Pandra let Helena down who ran to the other street vendor and hid behind his cart poking her head out from the side at which she was hiding. Pandra glared at the guard.

"You have no right. You are not royalty or even a guard in higher standings. You are nothing but a maid that would get in just as much trouble as I would if you let the Princess out of you site." Pandra's eyes flashed as she wrenched her arm out of his grip. It would probably leave a bruise but it wouldn't matter. "This is not the time and place. You are scaring Helena and that's grounds for termination and what you are doing now could be grounds for you own death for treason against the King." She was speaking calmly but there was a deathly tone in her voice something that even the street vendors were afraid of. The crowd grew silent. "There is a time and place for everything but If you touch me again I will not hesitate to kill you." She turned back around and composed herself before collecting Helena who stuck her tongue out at the guard. He was being disrespectful and he was lower then her Auntie Pandra anyways.

The guard was now furious and made an attempt to go after her again but she dodged out of the way spinning around with Helena in her arms. "Stop it stop it NOW! Helena was now upset and that wasn't a good thing. Pandra let the little girl down as she was becoming to hard to handle. Helena ran up to her personal guard and kicked him and stepped on his foot. It didn't do much damage but its stopped his advances. "I don't like you anymore. Daddy will punish you badly when I tell him what you did to my Auntie Pan.. I hate you I hate you I hate you." She screamed the last part before running off. Pandra close in pursuit of her. It would not be a good thing if they lost her yet again as she was not upset and an upset Helena was not a good thing. It meant that this day was going to only get a little bit worse.

"Gharvyd quickly."

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[Gharvyd Varick]

Gharvyd moved to join Pandra and Helena to escort them back to the castle. He had been scanning ahead of them to ensure that there would be no obstacles on their way when he saw the guard grab Pandra by the arm and spun her around. If it were not for Pandra, the princess, and everyone else out and about Gharvyd would have had his axe out and already letting it fly into the arm that grabbed Pandra. But he was in the city limits and also this was one of the guards assigned to the princess. Gharvyd allowed Pandra the room she needed, he knew she would ask for help when she needed it. She was far from the helpless lady that most women her age would be like. She had wisdom far beyond her years, and saw it the instant he met her at the gates of Hadrian his first day. She had saved him and a group of ostentatious guards from certain injury that had giving him trouble.

Instead Gharvyd chose to kneel down near where Helena had run to to ensure she was alright and as well to reach into his boot using his concern for the princess as a diversion and reason to pull out the dagger sheathed there. He freed the small dagger from the sheath and slid it up his sleeve to hide it from wandering eyes. Gharvyd knew this guard was out of line and would need some extra, if not unorthodox, encouraging to stop while he was ahead.

Before he could stand back up and regain the princess into his custody, Pandra came swiftly by to collect her and started off again. In just a moments time, the guard had grabbed at her again only to be dodged by Pandra. This was enough, this guard needed a serious lesson and he was afraid it was going to have to be done in public. He had no desire to hurt the guard, but his attitude and lack of respect for Pandra was unacceptable even if she were naught but a commoner.

Taking a step closer to the guard after being warned by Pandra that he will be killed without question if he continued his antics, he felt Helena push through and attack the guard while yelling at him, then just when she attacked she ran off.

Pandra called after Gharvyd, a note of concern in her voice as she trailed after the princess. Gharvyd noted the guard try to pursue as well, whether it was Pandra or the princess he knew not, but he could guess who he was wanting to handle first, and Gharvyd was not going to allow that.

Quickly closing the distance between himself and the guard and stopping his pursuit cold, Gharvyd by sleight of hand had managed to bring his hand up to the guard’s throat. The dagger in Gharvyd’s hand was pressed against the guard’s throat and Gharvyd knew now, he had his undivided attention as the guard’s eyes flashed in recognizing the cold steel against his flesh. Gharvyd saw the guard try to unsheathe his sword, therefore he jerked the dagger slightly putting more pressure against the guard’s neck. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You better think about that before you commit to fully removing the sword.”[/color] Gharvyd whispered menacingly, “I have no doubt you are fast, but I can promise you, you are not fast enough.”[/color]

”I believe you have done all you can to help us considering the situation we are now in. It is in your best interest to report back to your commanding officer and explain that you will be suspending yourself from your duties until you are requested to be brought before the King or one of his Knights.”[/color] Gharvyd pushed the dagger firmly into the guard's neck as if to emphasize his point. Noticing the eyes of the guard widen in terror as the dagger bit into his skin, Gharvyd hoped the guard would now see that he was no longer needed and would do what was suggested. Gharvyd removed the dagger from the guards neck and glared at the guard one last time before heading after Pandra in a quick sprint, with dagger still in hand.

((OOC: I left it open for you if you want to control the guard some more. I'm very ready to fight him if you'd like, or if I made him wet his loin cloth then that is fine too.))

[Helena Castus]

Helena ran down the street. Tears were streaming down the little girl's face. All she had wanted to do was have an adventure and get away from the nightmare that he had had. However she had a feeling she'd seen all this happening before. She wasn't sure what that feeling was called but she didn't like it. She didn't like any of this. She was protective of her Auntie and she knew that Pandra was extremely protective of her. She knew the other would do anything for her and that meant keeping her out of the line of sight of anything that might scare her. However at the moment she was too upset to care. She hated her guard and he'd been one that at least would play sometimes. He had no right to talk to Pandra the way he did. Pandra wasn't your mere servant. She was a big sister to the little Princess and she hated the man for trying to hurt her.

Helena skidded into an alley way and fell skinning her knee and letting out a scream. Pandra thankfully quick enough of the running slid into the alley behind the young princess right after she's screamed. Pandra pulled the sobbing Helena into her. "Shhh little one. Here let me fix you all up nice and better." Pandra knew that little kids fell all the time and the Princess was just like any other. She pulled out a bandage and wrapped it around Helena's knee. Helena winced a bit but smiled right afterwards as it didn't hurt anymore. Pandra ruffled her hair a bit. "You stay right here put you hood up. I'll be right back I'm gonna go make sure that Uncle Gharvyd is coming okay." "Auntie Pan becareful." Pandra smiled at the young Princess and disappeared again. Helena waited patiently doing exactly as shee was told.

The guard had been merely going after the small group because of the insults he'd been dealt by Pandra. He was surprised that the man that had been with the Princess before he arrived was so quick at the draw. A dagger was at his neck and he was going for his sword. He listened to the man but even through his own terror he was not going to fall pray to the likes of mere commoners. The man was not a Knight he was but a mere page traveler for the King or at least that was what the guard had come to see. Pandra was a maid a servant to all things including the gods that her people believed in. She had made herself that way through her own will. She was lower than a commoner in his mind for she believed in the old gods. He moved and headed Gharvyd off at the pass. His sword was drawn and he'd taken the dagger as somewhat of a challenge despite better judgement.

Pandra noticed this as Gharvyd thankfully was close enough that she could still keep the eye on the alleyway the princess was in. She knew Helena would not look out and would stay hidden the four year old knew when Pandra meant business. Pandra jumped between that guard and Gharvyd as the guard charged with his sword at the two of them. Thankfully this part of the city was void of many people. She took a glancing blow from the guard for Gharvyd's sake. "Always watch your back with a guard." She got out not even looking at her own wound. It hurt it hurt really bad but she's live. A dagger of her own was out and it hit it's mark. The guard lay on the ground for a second a dagger sticking out of his shoulder. Pandra had missed anything vital period. "I..I warned you not to come after me again. This is not the time and the place. If you want to die then by all means continue." She moved to the wall holding herself up for a second and then falling to the ground hand going to her left side which now was oozing out blood making it visible that she was indeed hit by the guards blow that had been meant for Gharvyd.

"Pagan gods can't save you now child." He turned to Gharvyd and went on for the attack yet again. "Gharvyd do not kill him. Not the time not the place." She closed her eyes holding her hand against her side. The guard laid to much claim into his attack. Nothing vital was hit it was just that the cut had been deep. The guard swung at Gharvyd sure he'd get the guy this time. He was ignoring the fact that when he swung Pandra's dagger had gone into his body a little more. He stopped for a second pulled the dagger out of himself throwing down towards Pandra who grabbed it and got ready to aim at him should he injure Gharvyd in anyway. She wasn't out for the count yet.

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(ooc: I couldn't help myself I want to see Gharvyd fight. Plus the guard is a little hotheaded and a traitor. *snickers* cause that's what i made him. Oh and pandra will be fine.)

[Gharvyd Varick]

Gharvyd was upset. No, he was more than upset, he was livid. The situation could have been contained and taken care of in half a heartbeat, but the harebrained guard kept egging things on and just would not leave well enough alone.

Making his way through the streets trying to catch up to Pandra, he finally saw her slip into an alleyway. Cursing the guard for all he could, he sped up to try and make sure he would not lose Pandra. Without warning he heard Pandra’s voice behind him warning him about the guard and abruptly turned around, and saw blood. Pandra’s blood from a laceration upon her arm. Gharvyd saw red and was ready to react like a bull sees red. No one injures a woman, much less a lady that happens to be his friend, at least Gharvyd considered her to be one, he did after all like her company and enjoyed her conversations. It was said back at his father’s barracks where Gharvyd trained, that when Gharvyd was furious, the world was afraid, and Gharvyd rarely lost his temper.

Gharvyd jumped back, avoiding the sword thanking his luck that Pandra’s dagger took away from most of his mobility and his reach, giving him time to reach for his axe and pull it free from his belt. He was now armed with an axe in his right hand and his boot dagger in his left hand, that he continued carrying from when he tried to make the guard see sense with his threat of the dagger upon his throat.

At Pandra’s mentioning of not killing the guard, Gharvyd grew irate. This guard deserved to perish, but instead he would honor Pandra’s wishes. He circled the guard watching his body language as well as his eyes. Sometimes an untrained person could betray his or her actions with a look of their eye such as telling you where they were going to attack. Gharvyd had flipped the axe around in his hand to where the back of the blade was now facing out so he could, if he had an opening club the guard unconscious rather than slicing or causing any bleeding damage. The guard needed to be incapacitated if he and Pandra were to escort the princess home safely.

All the focus was on the guard, as Gharvyd continued to circle. “You better go in for the kill, for you will not win this fight. You have caused enough grief for all here, its time you had some grief of your own.” [/color]Gharvyd said through gritted teeth as he tried to keep reign on his anger.

With that invitation, the guard lunged swinging his sword wildly in a rage with no skill. Gharvyd parried the lunge with his dagger as he was able to reach over with his axe and snag the helmet of the guard and rip it off of his head, leaving the guard’s head bare and exposed to the elements and also to Gharvyd’s axe.

The guard spun around to face Gharvyd again after missing his first strike, “You will die today you son of a goat, I do not take threats while I live and those that threaten me live but a moment longer. Die!”[/color] and with the a loud roar of rage he raised his sword above his head to strike at Gharvyd in a downward motion aimed at Gharvyd’s face that if he were to succeed would end up slashing into his throat.

Gharvyd crossed the axe and dagger in front of him catching the downward stroke of the sword in between the haft of his axe and the blade of the dagger. The guard tried to muscle the sword down further hoping Gharvyd was weaker than him, but there was no budging him. Taking one hand off the sword the guard reared his hand back and aimed a punch square into Gharvyd’s ribcage with a solid thunk. Gharvyd grunted as he felt the wind leave him making him drop his block a touch but still held firmly enough that the guard could not penetrate his defense.

The guard, with a sinister sneer on his face, thinking he was winning reared back again for another punch. Letting his fist fly again at the same previous spot, Gharvyd twisted around at the last minute allowing the guard’s fist to fly harmlessly by him, as now had the guard’s arm over his shoulder and with a push of his axe and dagger against the sword he disarmed the guard. Dropping his own dagger to grab the guard’s arm, he twisted it making the guard yell out in pain as he was forced to now stand in front of Gharvyd without being able to fight back. Gharvyd backhanded the guard in the face with the back of his hand that still held the axe giving his fist a bit more of a heavier hit than if it were without a weapon. The guard screamed and looked back at Gharvyd with eyes glaring at him as he spat at Gharvyd.

“At least I am not the one that smells like a goat.” [/color] as Gharvyd raised his axe and let it fly, hitting the guard in the back of his head with the non-bladed side rendering him unconscious as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and with a low groan, he fell face first into the wet dirt, leaving Gharvyd standing over him, trying to catch his breath and rubbing the area where the guard had hit him.

Gharvyd stared at the unmoving body of the guard wanting nothing more than to bury the blade of his axe into him. Tremors racked his body as he fought for control against his anger and his deep desire to render the guard incapable of causing any further harm to anyone ever again.

[Helena Castus]

Helena stayed hidden in the alleyway. She covered her ears and but her hood up making sure no one saw her and she didn't hear anything that was going on outside of the alleyway. She closed her eyes so that she wouldn't move to see what was going on. She knew that her Auntie Pandra trusted her not to move and she wasn't going to disobey. She didn't like it when Pandra was mad at her and she knew when Auntie Pan was upset. She waited for a long time just wondering but not moving and making herself invisible which was something that she could do which was surprising to otherst that knew her. She was into everything and had been from the time that she could crawl. However when thigns were not right she was invisible because she had been told to be and thanks to Pandra and her Grandfather Merlin she could be.

Pandra lay against the wall holding her side and noticing now that not only had the sword glanced her side but a big of her arm as well. She'd live though it was nothing too serious. She ripped a piece of her skirt and with her teeth and other hand tied it as a bandage around her arm. There was not much she could do for her side at the moment but hold it to try and stop the bleeding though that wasn't exactly helping much she ripped another piece of her shirt and held that to her wound on her left site hoping that the lose of blood would not get to her before Gharvyd dispatched or made the guard unconscious. She didn't want the guard to die but she wanted him to at least realize the pain and annoyance he had put them all threw. All that needed to be done was getting Helena back to the castle and it should have been easy but he was not making it so.

She heard the guards words to Gharvyd and she wanted to go after the guard for the insult but knew better and made sure her dagger was in proper girp so that she could again throw it at the man. Gharvyd blocked the guard with relative ease and she thought about taking to Arthur about making the man Helena's personal guard but she knew very well that Arthur needed Gharvyd for other things. Still it would be nice to have someone that protective looking out for Helena. She watched as the guard struck out at Gharvyd hitting him in the side. She threw her dagger seconds later it landing in the middle of the guards back. He was disarmed by Gharvyd seconds later. It was all done in a matter of seconds.

She stood up retreaving her dagger and wiping it on a cloth that she had attacked to her belt and then sheathing it next to the other three that she had. She did not pack light in the weapons area. She was trained by Danick how to fight and by those that knew Danick well after her passed. on top of that she was born of a grand warrior in her tribe so fighting and the knowledge of what to do was almost inbred into her. She was more than just a druidess of death. She walked up to Gharvyd. "come its time to go back to the palace." She took him by the hand gently and led him away from the guard. she knew he was angry but she would not allow him to kill anyone not inside the city walls. Arthur would take care of the guard. She led him to the alleyway.

Helena looked up having opened her eyes as the things on the street went silent. She had not heard the insults flying but she knew when someone was walking towards her. She looked up and her eyes went wide seeing Pandra wounded. She reached up for Gharvyd to pick her up cause she knew that Pandra could not. "I want to go home and I want to see daddy right now!" "As you wish Helena." Pandra led the way walking a bit slower than usual and trying to keep everything from bleeding even more. The loss of blood was starting to make her dizzy and she needed to get to her kit in her room so she could saw herself up.

Helena watched her worried and held tightly onto Gharvyd not even wanting to know what had happened to the man that she now hated for hurting her Auntie and Uncle Gharvyd. She had not meant for her little adventure to end up with anyone getting hurt. Though she didn't cry she'd do that when she saw her mommy and daddy and told them what happened.

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