Easing the pain [Dante]

[Sophia Devonshire]

Sophia slipped out of the palace gracefully, headed towards the stables. She felt a terrible gripping in her chest, anger and pain from hearing the recent news of another town being attacked. The fact that her father was doing nothing about the attacks made her so upset...

She heard a soft nicker as she entered the stables, and a grin crossed her face. She knew this would make her feel better, most definitely. Ardal and Macy were with her, like almost always. The two dogs took their place at the door of the stables, watching over their mistress.

Sophia slipped into the first pen, a grin crossing her face as the horse moved forward to greet her. "Hey Quinn!" She smiled as she petted the neck of the horse, leaning against him as she stroked his neck. She moved away and he bumped her with his nose. She giggled softly, and turned to him again.

"Chill out boy, I'm just getting a brush!" She grinned as she grabbed the brush that was sitting there and began brushing his neck. This made her feel so much better. Being surrounded by her very best friends, in both the dogs and the horse. She sighed slightly as she leaned against him and he nickered again. "Is it OK if I stay here for a while Quinn?" He made another noise and she laughed softly, continuing to brush him.

[Dante Blackrat]

Dante laughed as he jumped in the water. He wore his pants, but his tunic, leather armor, sword, and everything else was near a tree. He was swimming in a pond that was right next to the stables. He swam back to the surface, needing air. As his head popped up over the smooth water, he heard a few nickers. He opened his eyes to see his black horse, Battle-scar, trotting towards him.

Dante smiled and went to the edge of the pond. He wadded through the crystal clear water until he stood hip deep. He felt the light waves of the water hit him as his horse trotted towards him. He hugged the horse, pressing his bare chest up against the horse's cheek. He looked into one of Battle-scar's big brown eyes. He smiled again. "You're quite a strong steed, Battle-scar. The grooms take care of you quite well when I am not around," he stated.

Battle-scar gave a small snort in response. Then his ears turned back as he heard something. Dante looked around his large black horse and saw the princess walking towards the stables. He smiled, but the quickly hid behind Battle-scar. He couldn't be seen like this in front of her!

He glanced at his tunic and stuff that was scattered under the tree. He stayed behind his steed and began to head towards his stuff. He tried to get Battle-scar to move, but the horse wouldn't budge. "Battle-scar, don't do this," he said through bared teeth. Hopefully Sophia wouldn't look out the window that was inside the barn. He knew if she looked out, she would see him.

After a minute, he gave up on moving his steed and wadded through the water quickly and loudly. His heart pounded. He finally reached his stuff, but Battle-scar ran over and picked up his tunic, galloping away playfully. "This is not the time to be playing! Give that back! Hey! Don't step on that," he yelled, running after the black horse as it ran over his armor and coin pouch. They continued to run around the field.

[Sophia Devonshire]

Sophia continued brushing Quinn in silence, her thoughts drifting as she did so. Sometimes, she wished that this was her life. Taking care of horses, or... just being a normal person. Some days she was so frustrated with being a princess, having to be watched all the time... she kind of wanted a normal life.

She shook her head at the thought - that would never happen. She would not give up her country for some silly fantasy like that. A sigh escaped her lips, and she felt Quinn bump her with his nose. She realized she had stopped brushing him and laughed gently, patting him on the nose. "I am sorry Quinn. I guess I'm just in a strange mood today."

She paused when she heard noise outside of the stables, patting Quinn and moving to the window of the stall she was in. Glancing around, her eyes came to rest on Dante and the horse that he was with. He was.. wet? She tilted her head slightly as she watched him rush over to the tree and try to grab his things, before the horse took the tunic and trotted off, a gentle laugh escaping her lips as she watched their antics.

She wasn't sure if he knew she was there, so she just continued to watch him in silence. He looked good, she had to admit to herself... of course, she wouldn't let him know that. No, not at all. But she didn't mind watching him at all. A smile was still on her face, though she made ready to disappear into the stall if he spotted her. He really did look very good though.

[Dante Blackrat]

Dante growled and leaped on the back of his horse. He reached forward, over the horse's neck, grabbing the tunic. Battle-scar playfully bucked the whole time, but when Dante grabbed it, he let go. The boy leaned up until he sat straight up on the horse. He sat there for a moment before looking towards the stalls.

A blush crept up onto his face as he caught a glimpse of the princess looking at him. He put his tunic on and slid off of the large black horse. He headed towards the rest of his stuff and put it on. Finally, he was dressed in his leather armor with his sword at his waist. He sighed a bit, deciding he might as well talk to the princess.

He walked over towards the stables, Battle-scar right behind him. He entered the stables and leaned against Quinn's stall, looking at the princess and her horse. "Sorry you had to see that, My lady. Battle-scar, here, still seems to have some foal left in him," he stated, watching her brush her horse.

Battle-scar gave a nicker in response, his ears turning to listening to the conversation.

[Sophia Devonshire]

Sophia watched with wide eyes as Dante continued attempting to get the tunic back fro the horse, a smile across her face. She like this, if only she could do something like that.. She'd be scolded so thoroughly if she attempted something like that.

She let out a slight squeak as he turned and looked towards the stables, a faint blush crossing her cheeks before she pushed it down and disappeared back into the stable stall. She kind of hoped he'd just go away, but she also wanted to talk to him... so she was glad when he entered the stable and moved to stand in front of the stall that she was in.

When he apologized, she shook her head gently, looking at him as she stood next to Quinn, a gentle laugh escaping her. "It's fine, Dante. I understand. They can be difficult sometimes." Quinn bumped her with his nose, and she stuck her tongue out at him, and then turned back to Dante. "But they are so much fun! This is Quinn." She patted the horse gently, and looked at his horse, then back at him, smiling still. "What made you decide to come out here and go swimming anyway?"

[Dante Blackrat]

Dante let out a small chuckle as he watched the princess stick her tongue out at her horse. He rested a hand on his own horse and said, "This is Battle-scar." He lightly scratched the horses cheek a bit before he heard her question. A small smile came up to his face.

"Well, I haven't spent time with Battle-scar in a while. So I thought that I would come down here. The grooms were taking a long time to bring out Battle-scar and It was hot, so I just decided to go for a swim," he explained. He looked at her for a moment.

"What brings you down to the stables, Princess?" he asked as grabbed a brush. He began to brush down Battle-scar, deciding he would do a bit of riding. He hadn't been on a horse in quite a while and it was time to get Battle-scar back in shape. You never know when an attack might happen or when they might need to go to war.

[Sophia Devonshire]

Sophia nodded gently towards the horse as Dante spoke his name, smiling slightly before looking back at Dante when he spoke again. She nodded as he spoke the reasons for his swim, grinning slightly. "I wish I could do that... but I'm sure I would get in huge trouble if I attempted something like that." She laughed softly. She welcomed trouble most times, she liked to push her father... because he would actually do something if she got in trouble, when normally he did nothing.

She shrugged slightly at his question, looking back at him. She was trying to gauge just what she could say. "I just needed to get away from the castle..." She figured that he would understand just what she meant. It was very difficult to be watched all the time, and if she could kind of get away it was a blessing.

She shrugged slightly, debating on saying something more. She still really didn't want it getting out how much she disliked her father at the moment... "And I wanted to see Quinn, I haven't been out here too often and I'm sure he missed me." She grinned and patted the horse on the nose again.

[Dante Blackrat]

Dante listened and gave a small nod. He understood perfectly. "I know what you mean. Its hard to stay up in that castle all the time," he stated, as he went to get the reins for Battle-scar. He came back with black leather reins. He began to put it on battle-scar. He easily got the bit into the steed's mouth.

"Would you like to go riding for a bit? It'll be fun," he said, looking at the girl again. He would of course help her saddle her horse and everything. It was only proper for a man to help a lady with her horse. Or so he thought, at least.

He grabbed a black saddle and put it over Battle-scar's back. He began to buckle it up, waiting for the Princess to reply.

[Sophia Devonshire]

Sophia smiled slightly when Dante agreed that it was hard to stay in the castle at all times, nodding her head in agreement. She watched as he began getting Battle-scar ready to go riding, hoping he would ask her to come along.

She grinned as he asked, nodding her head after the question. "Yes, Dante. That would be wonderful." She turned towards Quinn and paused, sighing softly. She'd have to call for someone to help her, as she really did not know how to get the horse ready to ride. She never had to before, so..

Well, maybe Dante would help. She turned to look at him, blushing slightly. "Um, do you mind helping me? I've never gotten a horse ready to ride before.." She felt kind of goofy admitting that, but she figured Dante would probably already know that. It wasn't like he didn't know she was the princess, and she would undoubtedly not have to do many things for herself.

[Dante Blackrat]

Dante smiled when she said that she would ride with him. He finally had a chance to be alone with the princess. Of course, he wouldn't try anything. He wasn't sure how she felt about him and he didn't want her to freak out. If anything, he wanted to stay at least a friend. Heck, they weren't that close, or at least he didn't think they were.

Then she asked a question. He smiled again. "Of course I will help," he stated, before grabbing the saddle and reins that he had seen Quinn in many times before. He Put the saddle on first and made sure it was securely on. He then put the reins on the steed.

"There you are, Madame. I can also help you up, if you would like," he stated, looking at the Princess. His hair and pants were still dripping with water.

[Sophia Devonshire]

Sophia really didn't know where they stood either. Romance was really not at the front of her mind right now. She was actually rather surprised that she wasn't already married off, as a diplomatic gesture to another nation. She was definitely glad she wasn't, as she really would fight her father if he said anything like that.

She grinned as he said he would help, and then watched as he put the saddle and reins on Quinn. "Thank you, Dante."

She nodded as he offered to help her up as well, taking his arm and getting up on the horse with his help. She looked around atop the horse, and then looked down at him. "Where shall we go?" She would love to get out of the castle, but she wasn't sure that Dante would want to push that far. She didn't fear her father, as he probably wouldn't say anything anyway to her about leaving, it was usually servants or guards that chewed her out for leaving.

However... she was with a guard, so maybe they could actually leave the castle. She'd wait to see what Dante had in mind.

[Dante Blackrat]

Dante helped her onto the saddle and the climbed into Battle-scar's saddle. He began to think. Where could they go. Well, he was a guard here to protect the royal family, so they could go anywhere. Well, almost anywhere.

"We can go to town, if you would like," he stated, but hesitated for a moment. "Will your father allow that? I don't want to get on his bad side and end up being hanged," he said, clearly not knowing about her and her father.

He lightly touched his heels to Battle-scar's sides, making the horse go forward. They went at a slow walk, just enjoying the day. He knew the princess would be following and would catch up to him. He kept one of his hands on his sword, ready to use it at a moments notice.

He knew how the town could be. Especially with royalty around. Thieves and Pirates would be watching them, waiting for an opening or when the guard was distracted.

[Sophia Devonshire]

Sophia was glad that he had helped her, and she turned to look at him as he climbed into his horses saddle.

When he suggested the town, she nodded her head quickly. She'd love to see the town again, and perhaps seeing her would boost people's spirits. A frown crossed her face as he spoke of her father, shaking her head gently. "I doubt he will even notice, honestly. It will be fine."

As he started moving forward, she followed suit and Quinn started walking as well, she looked down at the two dogs and motioned for them to follow as well. They were very protective of their mistress, so having them with would be a great help as well. "It's been a while since I've been in town, since all these recent attacks anyway..." She sighed and shook her head, looking back at Dante as Quinn trotted alongside Battle-scar. "It makes me a little nervous."

[Dante Blackrat]

Dante looked around the palace, clearly enjoying all the sites. He made a small smile as a few servant girls giggled and waved at him. He waved back, being friendly. He got that reaction a lot from the lower ranked women. Its not like some of them weren't pretty its just..... he had someone else on mind.

He was so distracted, he almost didn't catch her question. A small frown appeared on his face. He turned to face her. "If you're scared, my lady, then the rest of us should be cowering like stray dogs," he stated, stopping his horse at the gates. He told the guard to open the gates.

After a minute or two, the gates began to open. He tapped the sides of Battle-scar with his heels once again. "When was the last time you were in town, My Lady?" he asked, as he followed the path. He didn't look at the princess as he asked the question. Instead, he looked straight ahead.

Ever since they left the gates, his muscles were tense. He was waiting for any odd movement. Of course, there weren't many people around this path, just other guards or young men recruiting themselves. There were very little of those men. Of course, besides those, there could be assassins or others hidden among the surrounding trees.

[Sophia Devonshire]

Sophia loved the castle, but she was definitely glad to be leaving it as well. She could only take so much of being locked up in here. She was so lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the servant girls openly flirting with Dante.

She turned and looked at him as he spoke, and she sighed gently, nodding her head. She hated the fact that he was absolutely right. She wished that Methon would be safe again, she wanted her father back so he could take care of the pirates as he had before. Things had been amazing under his rule, or so she had heard.

She watched the gates as the opened, eager to be leaving the palace, but definitely nervous as well. His next question had her thinking, and it took a moment for her to respond. "I believe it was two months ago. I kind of.. slipped out of the palace on my own. So I wasnt dressed nicely like this. The people did not even notice me, I had a cloak on with it's hood up." She had wanted to see how the town was doing at the time. There had been another major attack, and she had hoped morale was decent.. but of course, it really wasn't.

She noticed Dante was not looking at her, and figured he was focusing on protecting her now. She appreciated that. She would definitely try not to distract him too much.