Tri Tri
Wicked Fan
The Ship's Navigator
Posts: 66
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Post by Tri Tri on Feb 26, 2010 23:16:28 GMT -5
----------------- “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome!” A booming voice soared over the throng of people, silencing them instantly. Neil sighed at the interruption once again and turned to look at who was speaking. In a way, it could have been helpful that he was cut off before finishing the sentence. Thinking through it all, Neil still wasn’t sure what he was going to say. His heart was speaking for him, not his head. That was one path Neil had never traveled on before. Annie had no idea what Neil was about to say and she too felt let down by the disruption. She was still staring at Neil though, seeing his face not quite as happy and lively as before. Dropping her arms to her side, she stood next to Neil, awaiting the announcement. “Thank you all for coming to our annual festival this evening. I shall make this short as to not keep you all from the celebrations, so we will announce the winner of the costume contest.” The man stepped to his side, allowing another to take his place for the announcement. Once again, Keith had surprised Annie and Neil seeing as he was to announce the winner. Standing in front of the crowd, Keith looked much smaller than before, though his ruffled blonde hair stood out as it emerged from his hat and giant feather. “Throughout the evening, we have been thoroughly searching for the best outfit and mask.” Keith began, his unique voice piercing the night air. “After much discussion, we have found a winner!” He paused, eyeing the multitude of people, searching. “Annie, in the red velvet dress and matching mask! Please come up here.” A roar of clapping erupted from the crowd as heads turned every direction, seeking out said “Annie”. Annie hadn’t even realized she had been called until Neil turned to her, both very shocked and happy. “It’s you, Annie” Neil said giving her a gentle nudge forward. Annie was still speechless and also quite confused. She had seen dresses that were more striking and elegant than hers. She then began wondering if Keith had chosen the winner. He did, after all, show a strong liking toward Annie. Could he have been up to something? Neil was pondering the same thing as he watched Annie conversing with Keith. He couldn’t tell what they were saying, though he saw Annie nod then retreat back into the horde of people. Before long, Annie appeared in front of Neil again, grinning. There was a soft tint of red on her cheeks which, to Neil, make her even more beautiful. “Well that was unexpected.” Annie scoffed playfully. “Indeed it was.” Neil said simply. Annie sensed something not quite right about Neil’s response. He seemed so pleased earlier, yet now, Annie felt, that there was something holding him back. She tilted her head to the side ever so faintly with the bright expression on her face fading. “I’m just glad you weren’t recognized.” Neil understood Annie’s motions. Her face became even more austere as she realized Neil posed an excellent point. “You’re right…” Annie said, trailing off quietly. “I completely forgot about that.” She truly HAD forgotten who she was and the precautions she had to take. When she was with Neil, she could be truly herself, not the princess. Neil didn’t treat her as the princess either. He cared for her as another person, a friend, a close friend. “We just need to be more careful. And don’t remove your mask all evening.” Neil was quite serious now, more than before. Annie knew he had the right to be, after all, she had gotten caught up in the festivities and disregarded why they were there. “That mask is the only façade veiling your identity as royalty, Annie. You must remember that.” Neil finished. He was exceptionally thankful she wasn’t identified as the princess. That would have been a nightmare. “I will,” Annie said softly. “I’m sorry Neil.” She concluded. Neil hated seeing her upset, though it was crucial for her to be wary of her surroundings. He took her hands in his, grasping them tightly and looked deep into her eyes. “Just be careful, please.” He said. “I care way too much about you and—” “Annie?”
“Paul?” Annie said surprised as she turned her gaze away from Neil. Once again, Neil sighed at the interrupted and let go of Annie’s hands. She took a few steps toward Prince Paul who was just as shocked to see Annie, as she was to encounter him. If it wasn’t for his distinctive hair, Annie would have never recognized the Prince. He himself had acquired new clothing, looking more like a commoner or merchant than a prince. He was in a forest green doublet with a loose white tunic underneath. The long sleeves were not sewn together completely though, leaving sections of his white shirt visible and airy. It was nice and simple, though a golden seam embellished with large gold buttons ran down the center of his outfit. He wore basic black pants which fit him nicely, with high black boots rising to his knees. Annie couldn’t help but admire the new look for the prince. But she was still stunned to see him at the festival. Neil knew instantly who the man was and what his relations to Annie were. She had told Neil all about the prince during their travels. Prince Paul was the man Annie was to marry and the thought of that alone tortured Neil. He remained where he was though, not wanting to talk to the prince. “What are you doing here?” Annie asked, confused. “I could ask you the same thing.” Paul replied, reversing the question. “Oh I’m here with—” She paused, searching for a reasonable excuse. “—with a distant relative of mine.” Annie finished, hoping she sounded convincing. Paul looked skeptically over Annie’s shoulder at Neil who was watching the two like a hawk. “Oh I don’t believe I’ve met him before,” Paul mentioned. “May I?” Through a timid nod, Annie called to Neil, beckoning him to join her and the prince. “Paul, this is Neil. Neil,” she almost choked on her words. She knew this situation was even worse for Neil though. “Neil, this is the Prince, Prince Paul.” She finished, her voice cracking on the last word. “Pleasure to meet you, Neil.” Paul stated simply. “I assure you, the pleasure’s all mine.” Neil responded with a slight bow of his head. Not wanting to chat with the Paul any longer, Neil turned to Annie. “Would you care for a drink, milady? I’m quite parched myself.” “That’d be lovely, thank you Neil.” Annie responded, playing along with Neil’s “royal” character. She didn’t want Neil to leave, though, but he did, leaving Annie and Paul to catch up. ---------------------
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Tri Tri
Wicked Fan
The Ship's Navigator
Posts: 66
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Post by Tri Tri on Mar 19, 2010 23:09:33 GMT -5
---------- George, Ruth, and Joyce sat mutely in the darkness of the Dark Destroyer’s gypsy caravan. They hadn’t done much during their imprisonment in the camp, nothing more than walking around and the occasional clean up. The initial fear of it all was no longer present, and now the three were simply bored. The other gypsies were fairly nice, surprisingly, though there was little time to actually speak with them. It was another uneventful day in the camp, especially spending the majority of it inside the caravan. It was getting late in the afternoon and the sun was hovering over the horizon. Quickening footsteps approached the caravan and George, Joyce, and Ruth new instantly who it was. The door swung open quickly and there stood the infamous Dark Destroyer. He was dressed differently though—more formal. Before they could speak, the Dark Destroyer read the three’s thoughts, and answered them. “There’s a festival tonight,” he began, still with an evil tone in his unforgettable voice. “I and another fellow gypsy will be attending. As for you three, you are to keep guard tonight. Also, make sure to have everything packed up; we might be leaving in a hurry.” He opened the door wider, allowing the captives to stumble out. With the remainder of daylight, the Dark Destroyer’s attire was more perceptible. He didn’t look TOO different, for everything was still black. The only variation was a very thin line of red thread, stitched along the seams of his top. They were only noticeable, however, when angled perfectly in the light. His arm rested at his side, though in his grasp hung a sleek black mask. The reddish tint was on the mask as well, only more evident. Overall, his dark, mysterious appearance was no different than usual, just more proper. The three prisoners said nothing nor asked questions. They realized that they would never receive a decent or direct answer, so it was not worth it. The Dark Destroyer waved over another gypsy to lead George and the girls to the edge of the camp. He knew how they were feeling, being trapped in the camp all day; though he didn’t care. After all, they were not his biggest priority. After gathering a few items for his venture, the Dark Destroyer mounted his fine black horse to ride to the festival.
“Throughout the evening, we have been thoroughly searching for the best outfit and mask. After much discussion, we have found a winner! Annie, in the red velvet dress and matching mask! Please come up here.” The Dark Destroyer watched as this tall blonde man announced the winner of the costume contest. He was standing in the back of the crowd though, and had to squint to be able to see the petite figure off in the distance. Although he wasn’t close, he could see the shimmering of Annie’s red gown in the light. Without blinking, he stood staring intently at the situation, remembering every little detail about her. As she returned to weaving through the crowd, the Dark Destroyer had to shift positions, looking past all the peoples’ heads in front of him. He was glad his identity was hidden by the mask, not like he was scared of being discovered, though. Nothing scared the Dark Destroyer anything. He’d seen it all. With this experience came cunning tactics of protection and perspicacity. After all, he WAS the leader of the gypsies. He did catch a glimpse, though, of this so-called Annie, but she was with someone else—a man. No one the Dark Destroyer had ever seen before, that’s for sure. He became curious, thinking hard about the situation. Annie and the man had mingled toward the edge of the crowd, deep in conversation. That conversation, however, ended abruptly when Annie’s attention was stolen away from her. Another man? Without even noticing, the Dark Destroyer had, too, made his way closer to Annie, still leaving a good distance between them. He struggled to see through the mass of people, and his mask was hindering his sight as well. But yes, she was indeed speaking with another man. This one looked familiar, though. Very familiar. The Dark Destroyer was able to recognize Prince Paul no matter what he wore. The Dark Destroyer became somewhat angrier just looking at the Prince, too. Nothing good would come about with Paul being there. And where did the first man from earlier go? The Dark Destroyer was utterly confused with what was happening. It hardly mattered to him, however, as long as he got his chance to speak with Annie. -------------
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Tri Tri
Wicked Fan
The Ship's Navigator
Posts: 66
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Post by Tri Tri on Mar 20, 2010 21:30:25 GMT -5
Whoot! Another update! -------------------- Neil stood unaccompanied at the edge of the village square, watching the people as they danced before him. He was keeping a close eye on Annie and the Prince , however. More so, he was just stalling, reluctant to talk with Paul again. As he was observing the conversation, Neil’s thoughts were interrupted as he was suddenly knocked from the side. Trying not to fall, Neil staggered awkwardly, catching himself carefully. He turned fairly agitated to see a shockingly tall man stumble over himself as well. Apparently he wasn’t watching where he was heading. Seeing that Neil was alright, he quickly began apologizing, dusting the dirt off his top. Neil realized it was an accident and forgave the tall, lanky man. Turning back to where Annie had been standing, Neil’s heart sank. His breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened immensely. Annie was no longer in sight. Neither she nor Paul were there. Neil began to panic, but then remembered to relax and calm down. She couldn’t have gone far. Plus, Paul was with her. There were only several other people around, so they obviously hadn’t blended in with the crowd. Neil hurried over to where Annie had just been. He paused, attempting to form a plan. Keith. Maybe she was with Keith. Neil swiveled on his heels and took off into the mass of people once again. This time he didn’t care if he shoved anyone out of the way. That was the least of his worries. Finally he reached the spot where Keith had previously announced Annie as the winner. He searched frantically, until at last, a shaggy mass of blonde hair emerged further in the crowd. Neil headed in that direction, elbowing people as he went by. The first sight of Keith didn’t improve the situation at all though, for Annie was not with him. “Keith!” Neil shouted. Keith turned at the sound of his name, but seemed a little let down to see only Neil and not Annie. Neil didn’t look too great either. He was breathing quite heavily, and his good posture was hunched slightly from tension. “Oh, hello Neil. Are you enjoying th—” “Have you seen Annie?” Neil paid no attention to the fact that he cut Keith off. Surely Keith wouldn’t mind in this situation though. “Not recently. She’s been with you this entire evening.” Keith’s smile was fading as he began to understand what Neil was getting at. Neil turned pale, more so than before. Responding to Neil’s silence, Keith took a step toward him. “She’s not with you then.” Keith said more as a statement than a question. Neil tried to speak but couldn’t. His heart was beating so vigorously in his ears that he could hardly hear. Where could she be? “Will you help me search for her?” Neil’s voice was quivering. The entire voyage had gone by quite smoothly thus far. “Absolutely! C’mon.” Keith began making his way out of the multitude of people. Luckily for Neil, Keith had less trouble getting through the horde due to his height. Neil led Keith to where he last saw Annie. They looked around briefly, though there was no sign of her. Not even Prince Paul was to be found. Paul wasn’t the type to just take off either. Despite the fact that Annie was to marry Paul, Neil had not other problem with the Prince. He was a great guy after all, with a grand sense of humor. Any woman would be lucky to marry him; Neil just wished it didn’t have to be Annie. Still, they would not just leave without warning. Neil knew this, which is why he feared the worst. “Why don’t we split up?” Keith suggested. “You go that way and out into the castle garden and I’ll go back through the village. We’ll cover more area that way.” Neil hesitated momentarily, thinking about Keith’s plan. He finally nodded though, because he realized he had not come up with a plan if his own. Without saying another word, Keith turned and hurried off in the opposite direction of Neil. Trying no to think of what could have happened, Neil bowed around and darted off toward the castle gardens.
The thing that killed Neil the most about losing Annie was the fact that he made a promise to protect her. He had broken that promise and possibly even lost her trust. Neil shook that thought out of his head and tried to focus on his surroundings. He could still hear the faint sounds of music and laughter behind him in the distant village. Strangely enough, the garden was lit up with lights, despite the lack of attendants actually there. Neil stood alone, searching the maze of a garden. Fortunately, the hedges were trimmed short so he could see clearly over them. But still, there was no one in sight. Neil began pacing back and forth on the small stone path, struggling to contain his chaotic thoughts. Every possible option came to mind, some of which caused Neil more grief than reality. After a few more minutes of pacing, he decided to go back into the village, seeing as Annie was obviously not in the garden. He began to run through the maze-like formation, still not thinking clearly. Suddenly though, Neil heard hustled footsteps off to his side and before he knew it, everything went black as he fell abruptly to the ground. ---------------
*hides*
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Tri Tri
Wicked Fan
The Ship's Navigator
Posts: 66
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Post by Tri Tri on Mar 23, 2010 17:40:17 GMT -5
^_^ ----------------------- Neil regained consciousness with a throbbing pain on the back of his head. He let out a soft groan as he placed one hand lightly on the wound. He slowly opened his eyes, blinking rapidly to clear away the blurriness. There wasn’t much to see though, for everything was dark. A tiny candle flickered dimly in an opposite corner, giving off only a minimal amount of light. It took Neil a few moments realize where he was or what had happened. Everything suddenly rushed back to him, hitting him like a bolt of lightning. The festival. Annie’s disappearance. Keith. The garden. Neil put together all the pieces of what happened, ending with an aching tenderness in his head. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Neil was able to see his surroundings somewhat more clearly. He was in some sort of undersized room, a prison cell, maybe. He had been sitting on the floor in a corner of the room, though the floor was nothing more than dirt and a few strands of hay. It had a low ceiling without windows and the only way out was through an even smaller door. Neil couldn’t tell whether it was night or day either, or even how long he was lifeless. He was so confused as to where he was and even why he was there. He still didn’t know Annie’s whereabouts, or if she was unharmed. Neil tried to stand up, but it was an uneasy process. He finally managed to stand upright, though the instant blood flow to his sore head caused him to lean dizzily against the wall. Once he was able to, Neil carefully swayed over to the little door. To his surprise, Neil found the door to be unlocked. It swung open slowly, creaking on the old, rusty hinges. Neil remained where he was, though. Could it be a trap? He was baffled as to what to do, but anything would be better than sitting in the small prison-like room. He cautiously exited, preparing for anything that could lie ahead. He walked down a long, narrow corridor which was weakly lit by several candle fixtures on the walls. Toward the end of the corridor, Neil could hear muffled voices in an adjacent room. He rounded the corner to see a large banquet hall with an equally large table in the center. Neil finally realized that he was in the castle of the village. He must have been in the old dungeon cells by whoever knocked him out. Only one wing of the castle was in use currently and this was not it. A great arrangement of food was set out on the table with two people sitting around it. At the head of the table sat a man, a man completely dressed in black with evenly as dark hair. From what Neil could see, there was a black mask resting on the table in front of the man. He was in a large thrown, obviously acting as if he was supposed to be there. He, apparently, was doing all the talking too. Neil glanced at the other person in the great hall and his heartbeat halted temporarily. He could recognize Annie anywhere, even at great distances. Her head was bowed, staring at her hands in her lap. She seemed to be unscathed, which gave Neil a moment’s relief. He decided to give up on forming plans, too. Nothing ever went according to plan anyway. Besides, he had no other option but to walk right into the grand hall. The man sitting at the table looked up and an evil grin slid across his face. “Well, well, well, look who decided to join us!” He teased. Annie shot her eyes over at Neil which showed signs of relief and safety at the sight of him. “Did you sleep well?” The man cocked his head back and laughed; a laugh that echoed through the vast room. It finally occurred to Neil who this man was. The dark, mysterious appearance, wicked snickering and laughter, kidnapping people left, right, and center. Neil had only heard stories of the Dark Destroyer and he definitely never thought he’d be in the same room with him. Neil turned paler, connecting the dots of everything that’s happened, in his head. Neil opened his mouth to speak, even though he had nothing to say. How on earth could he encounter the Dark Destroyer and get away? Before he could actually form words, though, another sound resonated through the room. It was another laugh, not quite as evil as the Dark Destroyer’s, but definitely still chilling. A uniquely familiar voice followed as well, adding on to the awful situation. “Man, I sure hope you got him! I’ve done my part of our agreement, how ‘bout— ” Keith stopped abruptly as soon as he entered the room fully. His face lost all color at the sight of Neil and his expression showed signs of true astonishment. He quickly glanced back and forth between Neil, Annie, and the Dark Destroyer. He had no idea what to do in that sort of situation. Paralyzed, Keith stood, mouth agape, staring silently. “Ah, I take it you three have met before.” The Dark Destroyer mentioned, breaking the quiet tension. “Keith?” Annie squeaked out. She couldn’t believe her eyes. What was he doing here? “Annie, Neil,” Keith began, sounding as sincere as possible. “I-I’m sorry. I h-had to—” “Allow me to clear up this mess of misunderstanding.” The Dark Destroyer had risen from his seat, still smirking and glancing at each person. “Keith has been working for me.” He said fairly slowly. “He helped me capture Queen Carolyn. And then your sisters and father, Annie.” Annie was holding back tears. Everything was so overwhelming to her now. She wished she had never gone on this quest in the first place. “And how did you find out about the festival this evening?” The Dark Destroyer said rhetorically. “What about your masks? Who gave those to you? You thought your identity would be safe and hidden beneath those measly scraps of cloth. I gave Keith those masks to give to you so I could recognize you during the festivities. And as for your gown, Annie, there were plenty of others which were nicer, though of course, you won the contest. I had to see what you were wearing, after all. So I finally knew what you looked like. But then you just HAD to put a damper in my plan and converse with the Prince! But don’t worry, he’s safe. Besides, I couldn’t have him lurking around here anyway. Then, while my fellow gypsy distracted Neil, I swooped in to get you.” Neil remembered the man who had knocked him over. He now realized that was no accident. “I knew that you would run to Keith, Neil.” The Dark Destroyer continued, enjoying ever minute of his speech. “So I had him send you off to the garden, where again, another clan member was there waiting for you. And now we’re all here, thanks to Keith. He’s truly wonderful at deceiving people.” A finally laugh concluded the Dark Destroyer’s explanation. Once again, Neil was speechless. He had trusted Keith completely. And for what? To only be played and lured right into his trap! Neil was more angry than upset, now. But before he could speak, Annie rose from her seat and proceeded slowly over to Keith. Keith could hardly look at her. He was fiddling with his hands in front of him, feeling awkward in the situation. “Is this true, Keith?” Annie said sternly. She glared deep into his eyes, though no longer felt the frivolity which was once there. It was a bare look now, filled more with confusion and hatred than anything. “I had no idea it would go this far.” Keith said almost in a whisper. “I had no idea I could feel this way about you, Annie. And I hoped it wouldn’t come to this. But yes, it is true.” Annie couldn’t hold back any longer and tears flooded her eyes. “We trusted you, Keith. And for what?” She paused, swallowing the massive lump in her throat. “I hope he pays you well.” She turned and walked back toward her seat, though passed it and stood next to Neil. Neil felt Annie’s pain and clasped his hand tightly in hers. They were in this together, they had been deceived together, and now they were captured together. Annie’s words stabbed Keith right in the heart. He never thought this sort of outcome could affect him so much. But now there was nothing he could do. “Well I hate to break up this lively conversation, but it’s time to leave.” The Dark Destroyer had cued other gypsies to enter. They went up and grabbed Annie and Neil by their arms, leading them out of the hall. Keith remained where he was, watching helplessly as Annie and Neil were taken away again, this time knowing their trust in him was gone forever. --------------------
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Tri Tri
Wicked Fan
The Ship's Navigator
Posts: 66
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Post by Tri Tri on Mar 26, 2010 23:58:53 GMT -5
-------------- Annie and Neil were escorted away in a rather rough manner, leaving the Dark Destroyer and their former friend behind. Neil was not looking forward to being in a prison again, though at the moment he had no choice. The unforgettable walk down the long passage way seemed all too familiar to Neil, making his failure even more prominent. “In.” The gypsy stated firmly, shoving Neil and Annie into the small room and slamming the door behind them. Neil heard the clanging of the lock and knew this time he would not be getting out so easily. Annie and Neil both felt completely helpless and tricked. Annie slumped onto the floor as a tear trickled down her soft check. She felt like a disappointment. Her family was still missing, kidnapped, and now, so was she. Neil couldn’t see Annie in the darkness, but he was able to hear a gentle sob as it escaped her mouth. He knelt down presumably in front of her and placed his hands on her folded knees. “Annie,” He began softly. “I’m so sorry. All I wanted to do was to help you, but that was obviously too big of a challenge. If only I were more cautious or even— ” “Don’t blame yourself, Neil.” Annie interrupted. Her tears flowed more freely as she attempted to speak. “This is not your fault. You could not have predicted this outcome. And besides, I’m the one the Dark Destroyer wants, not you. I dragged you into this.” More tears poured out and it was all Neil could do to hold himself together. No matter what Annie said, Neil still felt responsible and it was breaking his heart. He remained silent, not wanting to hurt her any further. Instead, he sat down next to her leaning on the wall and wrapped his secure arms around her. Annie responded and buried herself deeper into Neil, crying against his chest. Despite their location and situation, Neil felt a sense of comfort. He and Annie remained where they were in silence, their bodies meshing together perfectly. For that moment, Annie felt safe again; safe in the protective embrace of Neil’s warm arms. She could feel his heartbeat against her cheek, which made her smile. They both forgot about their troubles, then, focusing only on each other. After what seemed like ages, Annie had cried out all the tears in her body, allowing her to resume a constant breathing rhythm. She shifted slightly in Neil’s arms, wanting to remain as close as possible to him. Neil tightened his grasp around Annie and gazed down at her. His eyes were accustomed to the darkness now and he could faintly make out the beautiful features of Annie’s face. She was looking up at him as well and Neil knew she was smiling. He hunched down and placed a sweet, gentle kiss ever so lightly on her forehead. He could feel Annie relax even more, which gave him comfort. They were both still staring at each other despite the lack of light, until a hushed voice disturbed their peaceful aura. “Annie? Neil?” A whisper floated into the prison cell. Annie and Neil could see the delicate glow of a candle seeping under the thick door. Reluctantly, they separated and crawled over to the door, feeling no urge to stand up. Through the tiny, bared gap in the door, Annie and Neil could see the distinct features of the man on the other side. “Keith?” Neil whispered back. At this point he had no interest in speaking to the person who betrayed them. “There isn’t much time.” Keith said quickly. “I need you to listen to me. I know you have no trust in me, but I’m here to help you.” With that, Keith slipped a key into the lock and swung the prison door open. The three cringed as the door squeaked open. Luckily the prison cell was at the end of the dungeon. Keith glanced back down the long corridor, making sure no one heard the noise. “You must get out of here - now.” Keith whispered, nudging both Neil and Annie towards the end of the corridor. “There’s a veiled door at the end. Go through that and down the stairs. You’ll be out of here in no time.” “How do we know you’re not leading us into another trap?” Neil asked harshly. “You can’t.” Keith said with a sigh. “But if you stay here, worse things could happen. I’m not looking for forgiveness. Just please, go.” Keith locked the prison door again, creating the illusion that the prisoners were still inside. Neil grabbed Annie’s hand and hurried off in the direction Keith pointed to. He felt Annie resist, though, as her hand slipped out of his. She ran back to Keith. She still couldn’t bring herself to trust him, but her abhorrence toward him was somewhat less. “Where is my family?” She whispered firmly. “There’s a small hut at the edge of the castle; outside. Once out of the castle, follow the path; it’ll lead you to them.” Footsteps at the other end of the corridor signaled the time to leave. “Thank you, Keith.” Annie mentioned and placed a kiss on his cheek. It was basically meaningless – nothing more than a sign of farewell. Annie hurried back to Neil but before they departed, Keith’s voice echoed toward them again. “Follow your heart, Annie. That’s the key.” Annie nodded, though she knew Keith couldn’t see. Neil took her hand again and squeezed through the door, descending down the twisting stairs. They escaped as quietly as possible and ran through the darkness on the stone path. Neither one said a word – there wasn’t much to be said, anyway. The path rounded a corner and Neil could see a small stone structure covered in overgrown vines. There was no light on inside or out, for only the moonlight lit the area. “There!” Annie said quietly, pointing at the little hut. Neil held her still though, breathing heavily. “Wait, Annie. We can’t just rush in there. We don’t know if Keith is setting us up again.” Annie paused, allowing her heartbeat to subside. Neil was right. It would be foolish to parade right into the hut without vigilance. “What are we to do then?” She responded. “Let’s just make sure no one is patrolling outside. Then we can enter.” Neil and Annie approached the somber hut, glancing around for any sign of movement. They seemed to be alone – no trap, no gypsies. They proceeded up to the little door and Annie peered through a dirty, cracked window on the door. It was all she could do to contain her excitement and delight. “Ruth! Joyce! Father!” Annie tried to remain as quiet as possible, though she could hardly believe her eyes. “Annie?” She heard in response, followed by muffled sounds of people moving inside. “Annie, is that you?” “Yes, yes I’m here!” Annie pressed herself against the door, though unfortunately it was locked. Neil stood behind Annie, still scoping out the forest around them. “Annie dearest!” “Mother?” Annie started to cry again, though this time due to happiness. Her whole family was there, seemingly unharmed as well. “Annie, what are you doing here? How did you find us?” She heard the Queen ask. Neil placed a hand on Annie’s shoulder. “We can explain later, Annie. Let’s just get them to safety now.” Annie nodded, centering herself again. “Whose voice is that?” Annie heard Joyce ask quietly. “Who is with you?” “Don’t worry, he’s here to help. This is Neil. We’re going to get you out of there now.” “How? The door is locked, windows barred. We’ve tried everything.” King George mentioned dismally. Annie paused in deep thought. “We need a key, Annie.” Neil insisted, stating the obvious. ~”Follow your heart, Annie. That’s the key.”~ Keith’s words floated through Annie’s mind. Heart. Key. Annie jumped up with excitement. “Of course!” She exclaimed to Neil. “The key!” Neil was thoroughly confused, however he waited for Annie to elaborate. She spoke no more, though, and reached to grab something hanging around her neck. She drew out the chain of a necklace which was hidden beneath her gown, resting on her chest. On the end of the chain hung a small key- an older-looking one. She slid it over her head and held it out to Neil. “Where did you get that?” Neil asked, shocked. Annie sighed, remembering her lie she once told to Neil. “Keith gave it to me; back before the festival. It had no meaning then. I don’t even know why I kept it.” She hoped Neil would understand. “But you hadn’t met Keith before I—” He stopped suddenly, not knowing how to react. “I encountered him in the forest the night before…” Annie wished she had told Neil about her late night meeting with Keith earlier. “I guess he knew this would happen all along then.” Neil said bleakly. “Listen, Neil.” Annie took his hands in hers and held them tightly. “I still don’t trust Keith. Sure, he’s helped us along the way, but you have stayed by my side this entire voyage. I could not ask for more.” Her gaze was locked on Neil’s stunning eyes as she spoke truthfully from her heart. “But we’re running out of time.” Neil shook away the uneasy feeling of jealousy and nodded plainly. She had a point. “C’mon. Let’s get your family out of here.” ---------------
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Tri Tri
Wicked Fan
The Ship's Navigator
Posts: 66
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Post by Tri Tri on Apr 12, 2010 21:51:26 GMT -5
Sorry for the long wait....again. XD ------------------ Instinctually, he froze, though he knew he, the Dark Destroyer, would never be captured or killed without a fight. Neil stared up from where he was kneeling on the ground to see someone quite unexpected. His lips parted in a quiet sigh, both from relief and fear. The rest of the group seemed to have the same response, leading the gypsies to follow their gaze as well. “Drop your sword.” The mysterious voice demanded sternly. He seemed to know what he was doing. “Do you realize what you’re doing?” The Dark Destroyer firmly asked as he slowly lowered his sword away from Neil’s throat. “Do you KNOW who I am?” He continued. His only advantage and strength at this point was his intimidation, which almost never failed. “I said, drop your sword.” The voice repeated, playing no part in the ill-famed mind games. The Dark Destroyer’s sword rested at his side now, though before he dropped it completely, he swung around and clashed swords with a rather tall person. Each motion happened at the blink of an eye, though luckily the other individual was prepared. “Please don’t do this, Damian.” Neil pleaded weakly. He turned pale at the sight of his younger brother crossing swords with the Dark Destroyer. “Well look at that! It’s merely a young boy!” The Dark Destroyer turned to look at the rest of the gypsies who had all burst out laughing. “I’ll make sure to go EXTRA easy on you then.” He snickered as he took a more proper stance, preparing to fight. The Dark Destroyer’s comment aggravated Damian, increasing his disgust toward him. Instead, he lashed out at the villain, their swords clashing together. As if by second nature, the Dark Destroyer responded to the attack, feeling no mercy for the young man. The last thing Neil wanted to do was watch the fight, though his eyes were completely fixed on each motion. He wanted to run right up to Damian and help, but another gypsy was holding him back. The clanging of metal, intense breathing, and shuffling of feet only went on for several seconds, though it felt like several years. Damian was actually doing surprisingly well, especially for fighting the infamous Dark Destroyer. As quickly as it began, it ended. “I’m 18.” Damian mumbled through clenched teeth. The Dark Destroyer had fallen, and Damian’s sword was now at his neck. The Dark Destroyer, however, seemed flummoxed by Damian’s remark. “I am NOT a young boy.” Damian finished with hatred seeping off his face. The Dark Destroyer’s expression changed; not in fear, just not nearly as confident. Responding to their leader’s defeat, another gypsy ran toward Damian, sword in hand. Before he drew close, though, someone else interrupted him. Damian and Neil both glanced over to see Keith fighting off the violent gypsy. The gypsy hesitated momentarily as he noticed who he was fighting. Keith seized that moment to disarm the gypsy and flash a weak, forgiving smile back at Neil. As if on cue, a whole arsenal of people rushed out of the forest behind Keith. Out in front, Phil and Prince Paul led the group consisting of the entire castle army as well as some villagers. The clan of gypsies was caught completely off guard as they were bowled over by castle inhabitants. King George, Queen Carolyn, Joyce, Ruth, and Neil were all released from the gypsies who soon became prisoners themselves. Each royal family member was handed a sword for protection and watched as the gypsies were finally captured. Some of the gypsies resisted, entering into a sword duel with a knight—which they soon lost. The castle fleet had no intension of harming any of the gypsies, though. Neil had proceeded over to Damian and the Dark Destroyer to do the job of tying up the murderous, deceitful villain. The three said nothing beyond the cold, bitter exchange of glances, which to Neil and Damian, didn’t matter. They were content. The band of gypsies was loaded into carriage on the nearby road, heading to the castle. Although the majority of gypsies were still roaming free in the forest, the key, important ones were now captured. “You’re a complete fool, ya know that Damo?” Neil said, mussing up Damian’s hair. “If that wasn’t the case, then my plan would have never worked.” Damian joked. He was glad to see Neil again. Life in the old, small village was boring, anyhow. “We told you to stay in the village.” Neil added as Annie joined their conversation. “C’mon, Neily, I just saved your life. You should be happy about that.” Damian said through an exasperated laugh. “How did you find us anyway?” Annie asked. Damian waved to a girl further down the road who walked up and stood next to Damian as he explained. “Hayley-Jo helped me.” Damian said proudly. Annie recognized the girl instantly. Her young appearance and long brown hair was familiar to Annie as the girl who sold her the gown for the festival. “That dress is stunning!” Hayley-Jo giggled as she remembered Annie as well. “Thank you! I got it from the best!” Annie said joining in the laughing. Neil and Damian stood blankly as apparently Neil did not remember Hayley-Jo. After the girls finished their silly laughter, Damian continued with his story. “I got tired of waiting in the village during the festival, so I walked over and looked for you, but couldn’t find you. So that’s when I ran into Hayley-Jo. She knew her way around the town better than me, so she helped me look about the place. Before I knew it, the entire castle came marching in. I overheard them all talking and decided to investigate the forest myself. Hayley-Jo stayed in the village and if I wasn’t back in a short time, she would tell the castle army where to look. While I was searching, though, I heard a voice; someone singing; a man singing. I knew I shouldn’t go near it, you even told me not to, Neil, but I couldn’t help myself. I drew nearer and nearer, but then the singing stopped. I kept going the same direction once I heard voices, and you know what happened after that.” Damian took a deep breath. He was quite proud of himself, especially since he found a girl in the process. Deep down, Neil was truly proud of Damian and amazed at how smart he was. But on the outside, his brotherly, protective side took over. “You still should have listened to me, Damian. You could have been killed!” “You’re constantly treating me like a child, Neil! I’m 18 years old! Please respect me and treat me like everyone else!” Damian was fed up but at least he expressed how he felt. Neil sighed. Damian was right; he WAS all grown up, for the most part. He just grew so quickly, Neil couldn’t keep up. “You’re right, Damo, I’m sorry. You acted way beyond your age today, which shows your maturity.” Neil paused to see Damian’s face soften. “Oh, one last question. Where’d you learn to fight like that?” Damian burst out laughing. He was glad Neil was his brother. Especially in times like this. “From you, of course.” Damian snickered. Neil nodded in agreement and led him, Hayley-Jo, and Annie over to the carriages. Damian and Hayley-Jo went off to a different carriage, which Neil couldn’t help but smile at. Neil could also see the Dark Destroyer being shoved into a carriage with a couple other gypsies. He most certainly did not look thrilled about that. Neil didn’t care, though. Neil turned and saw Keith conversing with another man a few carriages away. He realized that Keith had saved Damian’s life, who was saving Neil’s life, so in a way, Keith saved Neil’s life—again. Neil decided to put the past behind him and forgive Keith. He turned out to be a good man after all. Keith’s discussion ended and he swiftly mounted his horse. Before he was off, he turned and met Neil’s gaze. He simply smiled and held up is hand in a friendly gesture. Neil could feel himself smiling as well and did the same motion in return. He knew that he and Keith were in good terms now. With a kick of his feet, Keith’s large horse took off down the road with Keith disappearing with it. Neil, Annie, King George, and Phil decided to ride in the same carriage to discuss in detail their adventure. After a long, bumpy ride, Neil and Annie felt like they could talk no more. The four were completely exhausted, especially from being up all night, though before they could even exit they carriage, they were abruptly notified of greater news. One of the knights who had been part of the battle hurried up to Phil, but before he could properly excuse himself, he blurted out the devastating news. “The Dark Destroyer! He’s gone!”
~THE END~ ---------------------
*hides* Don't worry, I have an epilogue! But this is the end of the main part of the story. I'll try to write up the last post quickly!
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Tri Tri
Wicked Fan
The Ship's Navigator
Posts: 66
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Post by Tri Tri on Apr 24, 2010 22:47:45 GMT -5
So this is the epilogue. Sorry I took so long to post it. Crazy couple of weeks! Enjoy!
---------------- Everything seemed serene in the castle with the return of the royal family. The Dark Destroyer had indeed managed to escape, though no one had seen him since. Rumors told of his death; however others reported thievery and mysterious singing in their villages. Wherever the Dark Destroyer fled to however, he was no longer causing trouble. Suspicion arose within the castle walls about Keith and how it was possible that he aided in the Dark Destroyer’s escape. Neil and Annie knew that wasn’t the case, though. Keith had finally shown whose side he was on. Nevertheless he remained distant from the castle and everyone inside, with the exception of casual, passing-through visits. He seemed pleased with the routine simplicity of his life. No more involvement with evil villains, that’s for sure. Within the castle, much was to be done to prepare for the big royal wedding. Annie stood staring at herself in a beautiful dress before the ceremony, yet couldn’t help but think of Neil. She sighed and entered the church; her thoughts lingering behind her like a shadow. A while later, Annie sat smiling from ear to ear as she watched Prince Paul and his new wife join hands in marriage. Annie, in fact, had Neil’s hand in hers as they both attended the wedding. They knew this was the best outcome that could possibly happen. After their journey, Neil and Annie were inseparable. King George could see the love between the two and couldn’t bring himself to force Annie into marrying Prince Paul. The King wasn’t able to imagine being denied the right to his true love, Carolyn, which aided his decision. It was torture enough living without her for four years. The Queen thoroughly enjoyed being back in her castle as well after so many years. Her daughters had grown so much during her absence, so she spent her days making up for those lost times with them. As far as the Annie and Paul relationship went, they both agreed that they weren’t meant for each other, and Paul realized that Annie was just not the one. He happily found his true love though, as did Annie. Rules still applied toward Neil’s and Annie’s affiliation too, which brought about another change in Neil’s life. Annie could only marry Princes or Knights, which turned out well for Neil. He was already very skilled with a sword, and so he was knighted by the church in the presence of the royal family. Since Damian was not technically Neil’s brother by blood, Damian was to be knighted as well in order to live in the castle. To everyone’s wonderful surprise, Hayley-Jo left her village to be with Damian and continue her clothing shop in the castle town. Damian found much more enjoyment in the knight training than in blacksmithing, which was understandable given his age. Neil trained as a knight as well, balancing both his lifestyles at once. Each day, Neil would look back on that final day of his quest, and smile about the outcome. After the shock from the Dark Destroyer’s disappearance, Neil finally was able to tell Annie how he felt. He remembered that moment perfectly. He and Annie were strolling along the castle border late one afternoon. The only thing he was certain of at that time was how in love with Annie he was. He recollected the feeling of not being able to contain his love anymore, and how he needed to explain everything to Annie. Looking back on it, Neil couldn’t recall exactly what he said to Annie, though he knew it worked. He remembered the way that Annie stopped him in the middle of his speech, took his hand in hers, and said gently, “I love you too, Neil.” He immediately enveloped her up into a warm embrace, followed by the most loving, deep, passionate kiss. Neil smiled every time he evoked that memory, which was quite often. The drastic change in his life still amazed Neil, reminding him that even the most unlikely scenarios could end up being the only scenario. Sitting at Paul’s wedding, Annie and Neil realized they would be the ones at the altar next, which was a truly wonderful thought. Neil was so filled with love and devotion for Annie and he was thankful she felt the same. He never expected that a simple quest, a blacksmith’s quest, could be so significant in leading him to a long, memorable future with the woman he loved. ~THE END~ ---------------
Thank you all soooo much for reading and commenting!!! Everything and everyone helped!! Thanks to all the people who influenced my ideas and gave me suggestions when I was stuck. 'Twas great craic writing it!
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