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((Aɴ ᴏᴜᴛᴅᴏᴏʀ ᴀʀᴇɴᴀ ᴜsᴇᴅ ʙʏ ɴᴏʙʟᴇs ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ʀᴏʏᴀʟᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʀᴀɪɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴs ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛ))

Endellion's shoes flattened down the forest green grass as she walked her way to the combat area of the training field. The grass itself still had some dew from the early morning, slickening the bottoms of her boots. The day was still quite new, with the sun not too high in the sky just yet. The smell of the fresh wet grass and moistened dirt surrounded Endellion, wrapping her up in a familiar smell that she enjoyed quite a bit. She had not visited the training field in quite some time, so she was a bit rusty in her technique. However, she wrapped her hands effortlessly, as if she had done it everyday of her life. Matter of factly, for most of her life she did. Everyday since she was ten, her father would train her for a couple of hours, molding her into what she was today. Endellion's face held no emotion, her eyes only focused on her target, which was the practice dummy. She prepared her stance, the opposite foot to her dominant hand in front of her other and facing sideways, before raising her leg and jumping up, kicking the dummy. Endellion's form wasn't too shabby, but it needed some work. She repeated this process, kicking the dummy a few times before moving on to her punches.

((Do not expect me to write that much, just saying))
Jordan observed the guards trained and noticed one in particular was doing well and he started to watch her to see her technique

(( couldn't you try a bit harder? Replying to one sentence posts isn't easy to do. It'd be much more interesting if I had something to reply to))
Endellion's hair was cut quite short, because she preferred not having her hair in her face whilst fighting. She used a dark piece of cloth as a makeshift headband, tying it in the back so that it didn't fall out. This way her hair was out of her face, and wouldn't budge. Ellie's clothing was predominantly black, not because she needed to always wear black but because Endellion thought that it looked much neater. Her leather boots were also black, a gift from her father when she was accepted as a royal guard. As a few more guards filled the area, Endellion offered to practice with one, and they nodded in agreement. The guards drew a sword from the array offered, and they assumed they rightful positions, about five feet away from each other, before beginning the fight. Endellion was light on her feet, moving forwards and back, not being too offensive or defensive, but rather neutral. She would attack the fellow guard, and then move back because she knew he would follow suit. They did this for about ten minutes, before Endellion defeated the other guard. However she acknowledged the other guard as quite a good one at that, he held up a strong battle.

((I will, just, well at most expect 5 lines))
Jordan looked at the battle with a critical eye and smiled at the battle, Endellion's who he now recognised as he knew almost everyone in the castle, from maids to kings there isn't that many people he hasn't heard of and couldn't name, he watched the battle, she was good but too predictable, he couldn't beat her but he knew people could if he told them how, he watched the battle and started to walk towards her to talk to her

(( I'm not trying to be rude but how am I supposed to reply to this? I've been technically rping alone, and I'm running out of things to say. I'm not saying that I'm in any way better than you but if you're not going to write something that I can remotely reply to then I'm going to have to say I cannot continue this rp.))

((Okay, sorry but I don't write much in this sort of stuff, in truth that is a lot of writing to me, I can't write a lot of stuff, I write short things that are straight to the point, sorry your the first person to complain of this))

(( I'm sorry I'm not trying to be mean but I'm very used to even longer posts and replying to long posts, so it's very hard for me to reply to something so short))

((I understand, some groups have this as a average, I try to avoid those group because I find a lot of it fluff and filler, I am sorry, so ummm end, sorry, I can't write that long))

(( yeah sorry again I'm just accustomed to writing longer))

((I know, I am sorry))

Selena walked towards the weapons rack in a tight fitted bodice and light skirt, eying a long sword and a crossbow. Pulling a Intricately shaped sword off the rack she stood over next to a tree and began stretching. Finishing her stretches, she began practicing lunges, parries, and counters, her sword gleaming in the sun. "Why does my life need to be so complicated?", she wondered, frustration evident on her face.

Endellion had heard a pair of feet walking towards her direction, but she chose to keep focused on her training. She walked back towards the sword rack, carefully placing the weapon back where it was. Endellion re-tied her wraps, wrapping them around her palm much tighter this time. Although she was a fighter, and her body was built to withstand high amounts of impact, Endellion believed it was much more presentable to approach royals with clean and intact skin. Furthermore, she thought it signified power, because not even large amounts of physical impact can scathe her. From a small distance away, she could hear a mutter coming from a being. Endellion told herself to not mind it, she didn't have any place in other peoples problems. She kept her eyes forward, jaw set, lips in a line. Endellion practiced her combat, aiming for the upper body and abdomen. Whenever she made contact with the dummy, a small audible tss Sound escaped her lips. Her father taught her this technique, which she used to imagine the impact in her head, and the 'enemy' being hurt. These sounds, to sum up, signified the pain of the enemy.

Noticing the female warrior beating the heck out of the a dummy, Selena paused to watch the warrior with interest. "Hmm...Uses a defense technique for impact...Hits in the Street Fight style...I will say taught by an related Male figure.", she thought out loud, watching the fighter with an intense gaze, and thoughtful expression. "I wish Ashter was here...", she thought, her stance becoming ridged.

Endellion could hear the person, who seemed to be quite near her now. She could feel their presence, even in such a big field. Endellion heard their remarks, and her body tensed slightly. She never let things get to her, but it was quite strange that this person was so analytical or her. Endellion wondered how she could figure out so much about her without knowing her. The grass under her feet was still a bit slick, so Endellion had to shift her weight in ways that she wasn't used to in order to keep her balance. Her feet however moved lightly under her, and her arms were positioned correctly. Elli's arms were very toned, her biceps and forearms flexing and unflexing as she moved them to attack the dummy. Her legs were long, but also very toned. Endellion would have had quite a willowy build if she wasn't so muscular. Of course, her job preoccupied her much more than how her body looked, so she built up as much muscle as she could. Endellion's job was to protect the royals, and she would do that to her best capabilities. The sun began to rise higher in the sky, and the suns rays beat down on her skin, and illuminated her dark hair. Her clothing luckily wad made out of linen, a very light fabric that not only let her move easily but also allowed her to not heat up as often. Endellion heard another set of words come out of the persons mouth, and they mentioned a name that seemed familiar to her. Endellion recognized it as one of the fellow guards, but she soon stopped herself from thinking of it any further. Focus Endellion. That is none of your business. It is not your job to meddle in peoples business.

Walking behind the dummy on the other side of the guard, Selena took stance and released a flurry of strikes to the dummy, the dummies pieces falling away quickly. "I can't help but notice that you have a very defensive technique. I would like to know how you learned it.", she asked as she chopped off the last pieces of dummy, not having broken a sweat, looking at the woman across from her.

((I gtg be back in a few))

((ok))

Endellion wasn't surprised when the figure appeared at the other side of the dummy, however, she was surprised to see who the person was. Recognizing the face immediately, she ducked her head and bowed, giving the young princess the respect that she rightfully deserved. Endellion pulled the piece of fabric out of her hair which fell to the sides of her face, framing it nicely. Endellion smoothed out her hair before speaking.
"My father, a former guard, taught me all that I know so that I can protect you and your family, Your Highness." Endellion spoke in a very flat voice, almost resembling someone who was in the kings army. Endellion did not dare make eye contact with the princess, and she kept her head ducked slightly. Endellion stood with her shoulders back, her posture almost impeccable. To anyone who wasn't a royal, Endellion wouldn't have been so submissive, however, this girl was someone powerful. Endellion was told countless times by her father that she needed to respect these people, and think of them as gods. It may seem very weird or overly devoted to some people, but Endellion honored her fathers words, so she followed his instructions.

((Sorry my wifi was turned off))

"Thank you for the respect but out here in the field we are only equals.", she chimed smiling at the guard genuinely. "What was your fathers name?", she questioned, curiosity and respect shone in her eyes for the well trained warrior, while she leaned against what was left of the dummy, planting her sword into the ground next to her, and crossed her arms over her chest.

((No problem :) ))

Although the Princess asked her to act as an equal towards her, Endellion could not fathom something so disrespectful. Furthermore, it went against her morals, and Endellion refused to act as an equal towards someone who was obviously not the same class as her. Endellion believed in the classes, and she did not agree with people who hopped from one class to another. You were born in a caste for a reason, and you must stay there. Still bowing her head down, her eyes cast to the floor, Endellion responded.
" My Fathers name is Aldwin Henry Bigge, he was second guard before he had me, Your Highness."
Although her hair covered most of her face when her head was ducked down, you could see a slim, heart shaped face underneath the mask and hair. Her chin was slim and ended in a point, and her cheekbones were high. Her jaw was soft, without any harsh edges that made it seem like it was molded out of clay, delicate fingers smoothing out the edges to make an overall smooth shape. Endellion's lips were a pale pink, matching her equally pale skin.Looking through the holes in the mask allowing her to see, one could see an array of lashes of all sizes, lined up neatly on her eyelid. Even with the frightening horned mask on, the girl was a beautiful sight.

"Ah yes. Aldwin was a great fighter, and a equally great man. He used to watch over me when I went to train on horseback back in my younger years.", she said with admiration and respect for the man she spoken fondly of. Selena flipped her hair over her shoulder with a swift movement, then looked straight at the girl with an intense stone grey gaze. "How many years have you trained for? It must have taken at least a few years to master the same technique your father used.", she said with a smile, her eyes still watching the girl carefully.

Asher walked through the gardens, his eyes falling to the ground as he kicked loose pebbles with the toe of his shoe like a bored little boy. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flood of golden blond hair, the strings of his heart pulled, looking up he confirmed what he had already thought.
Princess Serena, again.
"Oh great" he mumbled under his breath "Now she'll think im following her"

Hearing a mumble behind her, Selena turned around, her blonde hair swishing in the breeze, flowing over her shoulder down to her hip, seeing none other than Asher Green staring at her, her heart instantly dropped onto the floor and spasmed violently. "Hello Asher.", she said firmly, no hint of emotion in her voice.

Asher took a uniformly low bow "Good day, your highness. I'm sorry, i was not aware you were out here, i mean... i assumed... you've always been fond of... well, swords and weaponry... but... i.." Ash awkwardly spoke, willing his lips to stop moving, his face turned a bright red, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
He gave a small laugh "I seem to be at a loss for words" he said adding his dashing smile.

(( So sorry! I was out all day and just got home :( It's short because I'm rushing, so sorry for that too.))

Endellion, still in her respectful state, nodded slightly. However, she did not verbally agree for the Princess never addressed her. When the princess asked her how many years she trained for, Endellion responded, " Ten years, Your Highness." Her voice was calm, quiet even. Endellion remembered all her years of hard training. She would wake up at dawn, and train until midday. Then, she would help her mother with the housework, and again train in the afternoon. It was a rough time, and Endellion doesn't remember a time her body didn't ache during those years. However, it has made her into a great fighter, and a great guard. As another pair of feet approached them, the princess turned bitter, and her voice became sour. She addressed the man, and Endellion recognized it as the name she mentioned earlier, as well as it being one of her fellow guards. The two addressed each other, and the guard seemed to be quite flustered, tripping over his words. He didn't seem to able to materialize anything, and it seemed like he was reading gibberish out of word soup.

"I suppose you are at a loss...A great one.", she taunted, giving a sarcastic smile to Asher, her eyes showing slight anger, and her face showing painful the events of the past.

Ash threw his head back in laughter
"I wouldn't say great, princess, but yes" He turned towards the guard he hadn't noticed before. He stomped one foot down and gave a nod of his head to the guard, a common salute used by soliders "Ten years? Impressive, very few people understand true dedication, but i can tell you are one of the few who do" he gave his fellow guard a small smile.

Selena realized he had not gotten the hint when she said 'A great one', she had meant his rejection of her years ago. "Yes, this guard should be higher in the ranks. She denied to comply with her Princess and become her equal, and she uses a certain technique that almost always works in battle, very , very few times it fails in battle.", she said boldly watching the guard in a firm admiring stare.

((should we have some sort of order since it's now three of us?))

Endellion turned her head to face the guard who had now addressed her personally. She straightened her back, no longer holding the submissive stance she once did. This guard was her equal, so she didn't have the need to act respectfully towards him. He was tall, holding quite a bit of height over her. Although small, she did know that she was older than this guard, so she held her chin high, pursing her lips in distaste. Endellion's hands rested on her hips and she glared slightly at this guard.
"Shouldn't you be treating the princess with respect? How dare you address her as if she's your equal. If anything, you should be thanking her for your position as a guard. If she wasn't alive you wouldn't have a damn job!" Endellion snapped slightly. She was always one to dislike people who didn't know their place. As the princess addressed her, Endellion turned back to her and bowed.
"Thank you princess. I am heavily honored by your kind words. I will not take them lightly." Endellion replied, in a calm and collected manner.

((How about me, serena, finny?? Oh and Ash is second in command :P So not exactly her equal but closer then the commander :P))

((Yah. You, Asher, then Me. Hows that?))

(( I know :P Just a lot closer than the princess :) and I agree with the order !))

((Whos turn then?))

((Lol yeah it work :P))

Ash raised an eyebrow in shock "Hm.. quiet the mouth for a little mouse" He took another low bow towards the princess
"Is this better?" He asked the guard with a crooked grin "I am deeply honoured by this position you have granted me" he tried not to laugh as he spoke the words. He knew Selena hated him, he knew she'd fire him if she could, probably make him a slave for her father if she could.
"But I believe she is alive because i have this job" as he spoke not once did he break eye contact with the princess

At that moment her heart turned ice cold, frozen. "When have you saved me? Huh! I was on my balcony ready to jump off because of you! I was ready to kill myself because you had already killed me!", she shouted, her faced tormented and pained. Others were beginning to stare at the small group. "Im still here in the Ivory City because I was not brave enough to jump! I give you credit for being able to kill a Princess with just a few words.", she said boldly, her voice cracking, tears forming in her eyes, her sword at the ready. "I could kill him now...End this torture...", she thought. "But you love him...", her heart whispered in her head.

After seeing how the guard reacted, Endellion was just about ready to choke him. Not only was he being undeniably rude to her, he was being rude to the princess. That, was something she would not except. Endellion opened her mouth to say something else to the guard, but the princess beat her to it. Princess Selena yelled and screamed at him, her voice cracking ever so often due to the tears welling up inside of her. Endellion closed her mouth and pursed her lips once again, quite bitter from this melodramatic incident, when she remembered her golden rule. Do not meddle in other peoples business. Endellion scolded herself, for getting so caught up in business that wasn't hers. However, she could sense the princess' agony, and the side of her that wanted to help the princess could not resist but to meddle. Letting go of the side of herself that was hot-headed and impulsive, Endellion decided that yelling would do nothing more than elevate the tension in the conversation. Not even thinking about how she was just yelling at him in a bitter fashion, Endellion bowed in front of the guard, her hair concealing the dark eyes behind her mask.
" It seems you have upset the princess. I'd like to ask that you apologize to her, because it isn't your job to make her anything but feel safe. Not to be harsh, but sir you have neglected your job in being just a guard. You have surpassed those boundaries, and done harm to the princess. I beg you to apologize to her, sir." Endellion could taste the bitterness in her mouth when she spoke such words to the man. She wanted nothing more than to yell at him and punch him in the face, but that would only make her as bad as him. If it would make the princess happy to hear an apology, Endellion would even kneel in front of him and beg. It was her job to keep the princess happy and safe, and she would do just that.

Ashers mouth hung open in shock. He knew he had hurt the princess, each time she had ran to him and asked him if he loved her he had denied it, told her away and said it was foolish to think he ever would. What she did not know was that each time he sent her away a little piece broke inside him. Ash fell to one knee. The light drained from his eyes, his face pale, his hands shaking. Her words stung, they burned, they dig their way into his heart like a million tinny daggers only to be pulled back out.
He bowed his head and closed his eyes, there were tears but Ash hadn't cried since before his father was alive.
"Look what you've done Ash. Look what you're stupid words have done again, this is why you don't talk to her. You aren't a child anymore Ash, you aren't friends anymore, you can't speak to her like you used to" he thought to himself. Even his own conscious betraying him.
On his knee he spoke in a flat tone, his stern, deep, commanding voice breaking through "Deepest apologies, your highness. My actions were bold and wildly irrational, what i said was harsh and cruel and if you see fit i will seek my resignation from this position immediately, i am not worthy. I hope you will accept my apology. This will not happen again" his last words were final.

Crying now she leaned against the 'ripped to shreds' dummy for support. She saw a tear on his face. "Could it be he actually?...No...He doesnt anymore...", She thought.
"Why? Why did you leave me?", she cried as she began to loose her strength, dropping her sword and sliding down the pole that held the dummies remains. "Please dont leave me again...", she whispered, her aquamarine eyes shiny with tears pleading him to stay, her hair tangled and wild, she was on her knees and hugging the post at the same time.

Endellion was surprised to see the reaction he had to her words. He was no longer the cocky guard who had once disrespected the princess, but a respectful and very much regretful being. Endellion could slightly see tears falling to his cheeks, and she felt a pang of guilt in her chest but cleared her throat, not paying attention to it. At his words, the princess fell to her knees and cried out, asking questions that made no sense to her. Endellion's main priority was to know that the princess was safe, so seeing her react in such ways put Endellion on edge. She quickly knelt down in front of the princess, speaking very softly.
"Princess are you okay? Is he of any threat to you at all?" she asked, not addressing the situation between them at all. If the princess said she was safe, then Endellion would leave the matter between them alone. She would pick up the sword next to the princess, put it back, and be on her way. Endellion had no reason to be there anymore, because it seemed like they had a lot to speak about and she didn't want to be there to hear it. Endellion was a worker at the palace, and the first thing she was told when she was contracted was to not listen to any of the conversations between the royals and anyone that wasn't themselves. Obviously the princess wouldn't be talking to her, so she would have to leave.

Ash stayed grounded, his knee digging into the dirt, his hands clenched in fists at his side. He did not speak did not move. He heard his fellow guard ask the princess a question.
"Was she okay? Was she safe?" Ash wondered. "No" he thought to himself, no she is not, he had done this to her, and he could not fix his mistake.
He did not need words. Instead, Asher reached into his uniform and pulled a think piece of paper from his side pocket. It was folded and worn, it was clear that it had been with him for years. Around the castle, it had seen the heart of battle and it had always been with him.
Ash placed it neatly in font of the princess, and stood up, regaining his firm posture.
Written in a child's handwriting was a small, and horribly spelt poem. The last poem, the one that Ash never had a chance to give her.

"Rᴏsᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ʀᴇᴅ
Vɪᴏʟᴇᴛs ᴀʀᴇ ʙʟᴜᴇ
Mʏ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ɪs Asʜᴇʀ Gʀᴇᴇɴ
Aɴᴅ ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ"

Seeing the poem, she let go of the post her hands shaking violently as she looked down at the paper, she had many like it but never had they said those words...'I love you'. Delicately picking up the small weathered paper she held it to her chest, her eyes clenched close and her face bent toward the ground.
"Why did you leave me?...", she asked quietly, turning her face up to Asher, her eyes locking with Asher's and shining with amazement. "Why did you say no?", she whispered standing up wearily, her aquamarine gaze still locked with Asher's grey/green eyes.
"I missed you..."

((This is intense!))

Endellion,sensing it was no longer her place to be there, picked up the sword. She set the sword back on the rack, in its rightful place. She nodded towards the princess, placing one hand on her chest and bowing, signifying her retreat. It seemed like she was no longer needed, and that they both had some things to say to each other. So, she took her leave. Endellion didn't want to hear anything more than what regarded her.

((LOL i know! I was thinking they were all gonna play fight and the girls would totally kick his cocky ass but geez this escalated quickly :P Sorry Finny if your kind of lost outside the drama :P ))

(( No it's fine :D Go ahead ))

Ash looked at her, a small smile on his pale lips.
He took a deep breath in and said "When i was still young, my father told me to stop with the love notes" he couldn't help but laugh at the memory. The memory of a scrawny boy picking thorny roses from the garden and knocking on the princess' door, leaving them and running away giggling.
"He said it was a foolish fantasy and that i was to stop immediately and continue my training. Of course i didnt listen"
He let out his breath
"And then... then father" He remained silent, knowing she knew of the Commanders death. There had been a larger ceremony and he had watched Selena stand by her fathers side as they burned the headless body.
"It was what he wanted. And i couldn't live knowing I had shamed the man who had saved my life and raised me. So instead i abandoned the one girl i have and will always love" He let out a small, dark laugh "I still don't know which is the biggest betrayal.

Selena heart had stopped when he talked of his father. The man had every right to do so. Otherwise Asher wouldnt look the way he does now Mentally and Physically. "Thats why...I wish you would have told me...", she sighed in relief, the relief she had been waiting to hear for so long. Selena walked up in front of Asher, only a few inches away, her eyes and hair wild and flying. "Close your eyes.", she said in a stone cold, firm voice, her face chiseled from stone.

((I gtg be back in a bit.))

Ash was shocked to see her so calm with the news. He had always feared that it wouldn't have been enough. That she wouldn't except that as an answer.
He closed his eyes, unsure about what she was going to do