The Princess and her Bodyguard // One-On-One // CLOSED

"Yes!" Maddie giggled in glee, and gave Andion a hug. "I'll just get changed."

Andion awkwardly hugged Maddie back and after she let go, walked outside and crouched on the wooden fencing that surrounded the tree house, waiting for her.

Maddie thought about what could be suitable for hunting, and when she had the idea, she magically changed. She walked out (https://pre00.deviantart.net/ff29/th/pre/f/2016/038/7/e/7e68a0c7c7535753756e8a3a0d3fb41b-d9qve0j.jpg). "Is this suitable for hunting?"

Andion glanced over his shoulder and looked Maddie up and down a few times, “That’ll do.” He eventually said, leaping off the railing and landing with a quiet thump on the ground bellow.

Maddie looked down to the ground. Yeah, no, she thought, and lowered herself down with a vine.

Andion waited for Maddie and sent a tendril of his magic to survey the area, making sure it was safe to go. The slither of darkness came back a few moments later, letting him know it was safe, “It’s safe, this way.”

Maddie followed Andion, feeling a rush of adrenaline.

They walked pretty much in silence, Andion not bothering to make conversation. He preferred the silence anyway. Eventually they came to a clearing were a few deer grazed peacefully. He drew his dagger.

Maddie grabbed his hand. "Don't hurt it! Look at it. It's so peaceful. Why must you disturb it?"

“Would you rather starve to death?” He said, his voice harsher then usual and his gaze colder as well.

"You don't always need to eat meat, you know," Maddie answered, letting go of his hand. She grew a strawberry in her palm. "Fruit and vegetables are always good options."

“You need protein as well.” He flung the dagger without a second thought and it hit its mark. Once the other deer had fled, Andion walked over to the now dead deer.

Maddie glared angrily at Andion. "I shan't stay if you're going to kill innocent animals."

Andion didn’t look back, nor respond to his princess. He only picked the deer up and flung it over his shoulders.

Maddie huffed angrily, then caught herself on an air current and allowed herself to be carried back to the tree house.

Andion watched as Maddie was carried away and his eyes softened a little. No, he couldn’t go soft now. He walked back and set up a fire at the base of the tree while he skinned and carved the meat.

Maddie landed in the tree house and magically changed into what she had grown accustomed to away from the castle, taking off her glamour (https://78.media.tumblr.com/a47b27feaa2f1504a1f94283755f326c/tumblr_p9ni0bHCQt1qktoi0o1_1280.png). Not knowing that Andion was at the base of the tree, she started to sing.
"When I look at my life
Wanna see myself shine on the dance floor
But I won't get it right until I stop asking why
And just let it go," She sang, walking around her little portion of the tree house. She took her tiara out and looked at herself in front of the mirror.
"Sometimes I take a look at my life
I take a look at my life
And say oh, oh
Wanna get it, yeah
Gotta get it, don't need a pot of gold" She placed in on her head, tried to look like the princess she was, but just couldn't feel it, so placed the tiara back.

Andion listened to Maddie sing. She did have a talent for it but probably didn’t know he was at the bottom of the tree and that was the only reason she was now.
Andion stayed at the bottom of the tree until nightfall, only then bringing up the meat he had dried and the pieces he had cooked, “Here.” He said, giving Maddie a portion and placing the rest on the table. Not wanting to anger her further with his actions, walked out and climbed on top of the roof, forming a small, baby dragon with his powers.

Maddie didn't enjoy eating the meat, as it had previously been an innocent deer, but she admitted to herself that she was starving so ate it anyway.

Andion didn’t eat that night, he stayed on the roof, giving Maddie some space. He continued to make small creatures that flew or crawled around him and smiled softly to himself as they did so.

Maddie sat on her bed, crying slightly. She stared at her mother's crown which she was twirling in her hands (https://www.dhresource.com/0x0s/f2-albu-g2-M01-E5-9D-rBVaGlYfb1KAb_UpAAIzndaezvw576.jpg/bridal-wedding-jewelry-queen-crowns-tiaras.jpg). She remembered back to before they ran away.

"Run, Madelina," Arkayna whispered, slowly turning to stone.
"But Mother!" Maddie cried, looking over at Malvaron who had already been turned to stone.
"Take my crown. Remember me always. Know that I love you." Maddie did what her mother said. Almost immediately she was swept off her feet by Andion, who was trying to get her out of the castle.

Tears ran down Maddie's cheeks.

Andion could sense something was wrong with Maddie but not wanting to go down there himself, sent a baby dragon down instead. It cautiously crept into the cabin and walked around Maddie’s feet.

Maddie wiped her tears as a smile appeared on her face. "Hi there little buddy," She said softly.

Andion smiled to himself and made the dragon jump up onto Maddie’s lap, a look in it’s eyes to indicate an apology from Andion about today.

Maddie giggled as the dragon jumped into her lap, mistaking the apology in it's eyes for just being adorable. She made a small fire in her palm.

The dragon spread its wings, making a small sound as it did so. It then breathed a huff of smoke and the smoke formed the words, I’m sorry about today, A. Then the dragon settled down and went to sleep.

Maddie cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered something. She then sent it up to Andion and tried to get to sleep. The words whispered into Andion's ear, Me too, M.

Andion smiled softly and kept watch that night, staying on the roof and making sure nothing disturbed them.

Maddie woke up with the sun shining through the window of her part of the tree house.

Andion jumped down from the roof and walked inside, placing his sword across the table.