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

Maddie reached out of her window and plucked an apple from a nearby tree.

“Did you sleep well, Highness?” Andion asked, still not looking at Maddie.

"As well as I can considering my parents are now made of stone and I've lost my kingdom."

“Sorry, stupid question.” He muttered, slipping back into silence. He was unusually quiete that morning, more reserved and alert then normal.

"There is no such thing as a stupid question. Silly, yes. But not stupid."

“There is, Highness. You just haven’t had any directed towards yourself.” He said, not looking at her.

"I'm just saying what my dad told me," Maddie said softly, huffing slightly.

“I know,” Andion sighed, “I’m going out and no, n-no you can’t come.” He stuttered, he never stuttered.

"Fine. I didn't want to go out with you this time anyway."

Andion sighed, “I’m not hunting if that’s what you’re wondering but you still can’t come. I’ll be back shortly.” He said, leaving the tree house.

Maddie watched Andion leaving from the railing of the tree house. Why doesn't he get it?

Andion flipped his hood up, the cloak behind him rustling in the slight breeze and headed west, hoping Maddie wasn’t following.

Maddie had a sudden idea. "I'll go into town as Odette!" She said out loud.

Andion didn’t go into town but passed just outside of it, heading towards a grave yard.

She magically changed into peasant clothes and started to head out the tree house before the she remembered something. She quickly put her glamour on and then climber out via a vine.

Once Andion arrived at the grave yard, he walked over to a set of three graves. Two larger ones and a smaller one in the middle. He knelt down in front of them, lowering his daggers and sword.

Maddie walked through town, looking around. "Hi Odette!" "Good morning Odette!" "Hope you're well Odette!"

Andion muttered some prayers towards the graves before standing and heading into town. Because his hood was flipped over, Andion received some wary glances in his direction and snarls. A few children threw rotten food but he didn’t care, not today.

Maddie collected many ingredients for some food she was planning to make that night. She wanted to apologise to Andion so she was going to make a special recipe that the cook had taught her in the castle.

Andion was used to the names that was thrown in his direction, ”Killer.” “Death incarnate.” And fouler ones. He knew what they were talking about, knew the instance they referred to. He ignored them but they grew the longer he walked.

Maddie started the walk back to the tree house.

Andion stayed out until nightfall, and when he came back to the tree house, he had acquired a black eye, split lip and many others cuts and bruises. He climbed up and placed his weapons on the table, breathing hard.

"Oh, Andion, you're back," Maddie said from the 'kitchen'. "I made dinner," She said, poking her head towards the 'dining area'. "Oh my Malvaron! (idk it sounded right) What happened to you?"

“I got into a fight, nothing to worry about, Highness.” He said, wiping his face.

Maddie walked over to him. "Less like a a fight and more like a death match. Here. Let me heal you." Her hands glowed a soft gold and she started to reach towards his face.

“No, Maddie, not this time.” He said, taking her hands in his and lowering them, shaking his head slightly, “Not this time.” He repeated a little quieter.

"Please, Andion, I can't live without you. I don't know how to survive properly, I can't look after myself that much, I can't hunt for myself. I'm a princess, Andion! I haven't grown up with those skills! Everything was done for me!"

“Hey, hey, it’s just a scratch. It’ll heal by itself in a few days, trust me, I’ve gone through the same injuries countless times,” He looked her straight in the eyes, “I’m not going anywhere because of a scratch.”

Maddie looked Andion in the eyes for a few seconds and then looked away, going into the kitchen both to get dinner and hide her blush. "I made dinner," She said to him. Before she brought it in, she put a little bit of healing essence into his bowl, then walked in and placed it in front of him.

“Thank you, but you didn’t have too.” He said, taking the bowl and eating it in a matter of minutes as he hadn’t eaten all day.