Family curse.

Emerald frowned, “It has too many- but the knights I’m looking for are different. I need their help. They’re-“ Emerald bit her lip, debating whether she should go on, “magical.” Emerald had been asking around in taverns the past few nights, under disguise of course, trying to find a trace of the fairytales she hoped to be true.

"Magical knights?" If Zero knew correctly, that was a fairytale. Something simply made up to make sure children didn't have nightmares. "You're chasing fairytales." He simply said, obviously not buying into her story.

They stood there for a few moments talking, and Fay rolled her eyes. Once they were done the butler led them off to the meeting room. "Now." She whispered and lifting up her dress a bit she ran up the stairs. Fay prayed that no maid was just walking around. Looking back she made sure Ren was following her. Today was the day she was going to have a little freedom and what kind of princess would she be if she didn't show her guest around the kingdom. "My room is just right up here."

Prince Ren followed closely behind her, trying to keep his feet as silent as possible. He couldn’t help the excited feeling springing up in his chest, like the sense of freedom he felt whenever sailing with the merchants. His older two brothers were much more geared to be kings, so they never ran off and had fun with Ren these days.

Emerald crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s not like I have a choice,” She scoffed quietly, turning away and beginning to walk further into the alleyway. Emerald still had her dagger ready in the case the stranger tried to attack her for whatever reason.

(Full name: Giles Wick
Nickname: Wick
Age: 18
Shipping: Sure!
Powers: A bow and arrow with ice capabilities, the bow and the arrows turns into glowy ice when it's being used and the arrows can have a variety of abilities when shot but some are much harder to harness than others. When not in use it simply looks like a regular bow and arrow but if someone else tries to use the bow they will turn to ice.
Personality: Kind, Very understanding, soft spoken, likes cracking jokes, can get pretty anxious at times but hes good at pushing it aside, forgetful, he was never taught how to read.
Appearance: Medium/light brown hair that is usually a mess and falls in front of his face often, grey eyes, soft features but a sharper jawline, athletic body build but more on the skinny than bulky side. https://pin.it/x63yricpdeqkin
Eye color: Grey
Weight: 165
Height: 5'10"
Skin tone: Light tan
Distinguishing marks: He has a few light freckles across his nose
Other:
Usual outfit: https://pin.it/b3hukgcjd3u7rn he sometimes has a good as well
Weapon: A bow and arrow
Backstory: He grew up poor, raised by his dad since his mom died when he was young. He had a pretty average childhood, his dad tried to give him everything he needed despite living in poverty. He has always been close to his dad and loves spending time with him when he can. He has one older sister but no one other than him and his dad really knows about her and they don't talk about her at all.
Other:
Hobbies?: Widdling things usually to make arrows, working with his hands, drawing/art sometimes although he used to do this more not so much anymore, archery.
Likes: Stars, animals, music, his friends, outdoors, adventures.
Dislikes: Majority kinds of meat, when he has to tell people he can't read, arguing.
Fears: Drowning, people getting hurt because of him, entrapment, anything happening to his dad.
Weakness: Not being able to read could be considered one, he isn't very good in anything hand to hand combat, his dad.
Talents: Archery, he has a very good shot.
Deepest secret:)

(Sorry I took so long!)

Emerald crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s not like I have a choice,” She scoffed quietly, turning away and beginning to walk further into the alleyway. Emerald still had her dagger ready in the case the stranger tried to attack her for whatever reason.

Zero should have just let her go. Heck he should have forgotten he'd ever even met her. "If they're real," he started, "what do you even need them for?" Maybe he could get them to help him too. Taking down the king wouldn't be easy. Especially with out help.

Emerald was going to just keep walking, but she stopped and turned back to the stranger. “You have to promise not to tell anyone,” She said quietly, watching the stranger for any kind of trickery. Any talk like this could lead to being arrested for treason.

"You have my word." Zero hadn't expected her to trust her. To actually stop. He'd been ready to continue on his own quest. Kill the king, avenge his family.

Emerald took a deep breath before replying, “The king plans to start a war. I intend to make sure that doesn’t happen, and I’m not strong enough to fight off his army alone.” She turned away again, her feet going into motion, “So I can’t waste any more time.” Idiot. Emerald was an idiot for trying to explain herself to the stranger, to take that risk.

A war, people would die. And it would be at the kings hand. He couldn't let this happen. He couldn't see children with out parents running around looking for their next meal. "Let me help you then." Zero said as he started following her. "I have a personal Vendetta against the king anyway, I'd love to help ruin his plans."

It took a second for Emerald to process the words, and she found herself turning back towards the stranger again. “That’s treason,” She pointed out, even though she was going against the king anyways. “And I don’t even know your name.”

Zero barked out a laugh. "Not if he doesn't find out. And even if he does what's he gonna do 'bout it?" He raised an eye brow challengingly. Though he did have to find a way to tell her his name. Most people said it was weird to be named after a number. But his parents saw it as luck, and so far that seemed to hold true. "Zero Audric Six, at your service."

Emerald looked him over. It didn’t seem like he was lying, and she did need help… “Okay,” She finally said, taking a deep breath. Zero. An odd name, not unlike her own. Emerald looked back towards the crowded streets. She needed to get to a tavern, but she dreaded going back into the busy streets. Emerald looked deeper into the alleyway, “Do you know how to get to The Bluebird’s Tavern from here?”

Zero grinned. Of course he knew a way. Though he didn't know if she'd like it. "The roofs. They tend to make a good path." Not to mention hardly anyone used them, and guards whereby nimble enough to follow.

Fay opened her door and pulled Ren in. "We made it." Sitting on the floor she wanted to rest for a bit before putting her life in danger again. "That was fun." She giggled. This was some of the most fun she's had in a while. Ren wasn't so bad, at least he was better than the others she's met. After a few minutes she stood and went to her closest. She pulled out a pair of beige pants and a white blouse, then grabbed her boots. "I'm going to change really quick." It was weird having a boy in her room, no one besides Ellie has been in here. Walking to the bathroom she locked the door behind her and changed.

“The roofs?” Emerald raised her eyebrows, “There are thousands of things that could go wrong,” She pointed out. The biggest thing being she could be spotted. She looked back to the crowded streets, then deeper into the alleyway. Emerald didn’t even know if the alleys led to the tavern, and the streets were much less than ideal… She sighed, and begrudgingly asked, “Is it easy to get up onto the roofs?”

Ren nodded to her, and once she went into the wash closet he looked around the room, then chuckled to himself about how ‘improper’ it was just to be here. “What have I gotten myself into?” He muttered to himself, but his eyes crinkled at the edges with joy.

“The roofs?” Emerald raised her eyebrows, “There are thousands of things that could go wrong,” She pointed out. The biggest thing being she could be spotted. She looked back to the crowded streets, then deeper into the alleyway. Emerald didn’t even know if the alleys led to the tavern, and the streets were much less than ideal… She sighed, and begrudgingly asked, “Is it easy to get up onto the roofs?”

"Easier then using those streets." Zero looked upwards. "Not here though." He shot a glance towards the streets. They weren't close, but they weren't far either. "This way." He said as he pushed his way pass the princess and to where he knew it'd be easier.

Emerald hesitated, once again weighing how much she really needed Zero, but ended up following him anyways. She tugged her hood down a bit further as she followed him, hoping she wasn’t being led into a trap of some kind.

Ren nodded to her, and once she went into the wash closet he looked around the room, then chuckled to himself about how ‘improper’ it was just to be here. “What have I gotten myself into?” He muttered to himself, but his eyes crinkled at the edges with joy.

"I'm ready!" The door slammed open and Fay was in a Peter pan pose. Her hair was now down and a bit tangled due to the braid. She hated having her hair up. "Now, there is a spot at the back of the castle with not many guards, so we might be able to slip by. Oh, by the way, we are sneaking out of the castle, if you didn't figure that out by now." If he didn't then, he might be a bit slow. "You are now my accomplice." She had a smirk on her face as she looked at him.
(He definitely got himself caught up with someone that's trouble, haha.)

(Haha lol)
Prince Ren jumped back in surprise at first, but almost immediately after another laugh escaped him. Accomplice indeed, he thought with a smile creeping onto his face. Prince Ren found himself starting to like more and more of the princess, not just her looks. She was definitely different, someone who respected a need for adventure. “Wonderful,” Ren said as he smiled from ear to ear.

"Alright let's go." In her room was two glass doors the led to a balcony, one she had used many times to sneak out. Although this would be her first time sneaking out of the kingdom since she came here. Walking out in a basket to the right was a rope. She tied on end to a pillar. She grabbed a pair of gloves and tossed them to Ren. "Wouldn't want my partner to get rope burn." She then put some on herself. "Adventure here we come." Climbing over the edge she gripped the rope and slid down the rope with ease.

Ren raised his eyebrows, cautiously putting on the gloves and approaching the rope. The consequences would be tremendous if he fell and got hurt, but… Injuries were for the weak. Ren’s eyes lit up with excitement, and he grabbed hold of the rope before sliding down, almost falling but he managed to hold on tightly.

"Now, we need to get around the back. Back there is a bush that covers the gate. It's an escape route in case something happens in the castle." Fay has read all about the history of this place, since she was kind forced too. But, in the end she was a bit happy to know more about the place she lives. "It's this way." Fay gestured to the right and casually started walking hoping no one would really pay attention to her or Ren. She's dressed like this before, so maybe they will think she is just playing.

Ren followed her, a smile still on his lips. Freya certainly wasn’t bad—she was just a princess. She was a person, who clearly didn’t care too much for being proper and perfect. Now, the idea of a possibility of an arranged marriage didn’t seem as terrible as it used to be. Sure, he wouldn’t be able to say he outright loved Freya, but he certainly didn’t hate her.

Fay walked around the building making sure to stay away from the garden, assuming the Queen would be there. "Princess Freya, good morning." One of the guards said, as she walked by. Fay just nodded with a smile on her face. "It should be around here." The closer they got to the back of the building the less guards there were. Then in the distance she saw it. A part of the gate was covered by bushes. "Here it is." Excitement started to fill her up, the feeling of finally getting out of here for a bit was amazing. Fay pushed some of the brush aside, but there was more. "It's a lot thicker than I imagined."

“Huh,” Ren began helping push the brush away, “Are you sure this is correct?” He asked, eyebrows raised as he pushed some twigs away. It felt kinda funny to sneak away with Freya. He supposed she didn’t have as much freedom as he did in his palace.

"I-I thought it was." She pulled more back clearly getting a but frustrated. Let me out, Let me out, Damn it! She looked to the ground to see if she could find anything sharp. "Do you have a sword?" One way or another, she was going to get out of here, for the sake of her sanity. "Damn." I read about it, it has to be here. foot steps, many of them, could be heard heard there way. "Oh, no." Fay took Ren and pushed him in the hole they made in the bush and she got in after. Moving the bush back to where it was they were hidden for now. The space was small, but she was glad they had somewhere to hide for now. "Sorry." Fay apologized. If he got caught with her who knows what might happen. I'm being selfish. "If they find us, put the blame on me."

“Nonsense,” Ren told her. He was definitely not going to put the blame on her. “You need not be sorry,” He added, already plotting an excuse if they got caught. Though he doubted Freya would like it—she might actually hate him for it—he’d rather risk his neck than hers. They could only punish him so much since he was from the Southern Isles, and if Xena wanted good relations with them they would let Ren off the hook, probably. He didn’t know if he could say the same for Freya. “You must act scared though, please.”

"Why?" Her voice came out low and quiet. He had something up his sleeve, but she wasn't sure what it is. The clatter of armor was heard when the guards got on one knee. Fay could slightly see through the vines. Red heels appeared and she knew exactly who it was, it was the Queen. "Did you find her?" The Queen questioned the guards. Fay shrank back, she wasn't going to let the Queen find her. Fay didn't want to admit it, but she was a but afraid of the Queen and her punishments. "We have to get out of here."

“Please trust me,” He whispered, sorrow in his eyes. He knew they’d be found out in a matter of seconds. So he did what he had to do, despite how much he hated it. Ren grabbed a fistful of Freya hair and yanked her towards him, forcing a kiss on her. He grabbed her roughly by the waist, pressing her against him. Because it would be easier if he played it off like he took the princess by force with ill intent, none of the blame would be put on her. It was his fault for even suggesting to go to the port.