No Redemption

KING TORRAN

I stared at the mirror for a few moments before continuing. "I've failed him miserably. Four birthdays. Four!" I was surprised when more tears came, I thought I had gotten rid of them all. "He doesn't understand how much I love him... and I just can't figure out how to show him." I rested my head in my hands.

Adola was rubbing my back soothingly. "He knows you love him."

"It doesn't seem that way. You should have seen the way he looked at me..." I shook my head, letting two tears drip onto my lap.

MARROE

I pruned the roses carefully, cutting away at a few dead leaves to leave room for the new ones to grow. I didn't know tons, but I hey, I knew quite a bit. For a guy, and a theif.

Bobo jumped onto Shadows shoulder and went for her earings. I dropped the clippers and grabbed at him, yanking him back before he could wrap his scrawny little fingers aroun them. "You stupid little beast," I muttered. "Could you please not pickpocket?" I glanced up at Shadow. "Sorry about that. The thing's relentless."

Adola

"You know Garrett. Its just..." I sighed. "He's young, he doesn't realize what responsibilities you have and how you have to perform your duty...."

"But maybe I shouldn't have let the country get in the way...." he said, a few more tears falling. "Am I really sacrificing that for my son?"

"Of course you aren't..."

~Princess Shadow~

I really didn't know what, but there was something about him.He knew more about my roses than I thought. I touched my earring, the one Bobo was after, smiling.

"It's fine. You would do the same thing if I wasn't watching," I said, not caring. I shrugged, looking down. I could feel my face go a little pink, and I knew he would notice. It didn't bother me. I wasn't used to talking to strangers, so this would be a first. He smiled, glancing down at Sophie for a moment, who was asleep at my feet.

Raven
I dug desperatly into the bag I carried around with me searching for something with Naela's scent on it. I found a shirt she had given me to try and make the spells more effective I whispered a quick prayer of thanks to Isis. I whistled to Fang and he ran over to me. "Find her." I said sticking the shirt in front of him he sniffed it and then immediately placed his nose to the ground and started to sniff around. He caught the scent and growled briefly out of triumph and we followed him. "We will just get caught." Clare said quietly. "I don't give a fuck. Naela has saved my sorry ass more then once now it's my turn to return the favor." I said my voice just as quiet. She didn't say anything just followed Fang and I. Fang led us to the castle and I cursed once under my breath. I bit my lip drawing blood. Fang whimpered knowing that Naela and Shanti were near and I petted him and he whimpered again trying desperatly not to howl. I bit my lip again. I sighed and looked at Fang. "Fang howl." I ordered quietly praying that Naela would recognize his howl. He tilted his head back and let a defiant sounding howl rip from between his teeth and I heard Shanti's returning growl. I smiled and then we ran back into the forest. "Naela we will be back." I shouted as we ran.

Garrett~

Where were they?

Garrett stormed threw the castle, maids and butlers scurrying out of his way. Where did they go? Better yet, where was Naela? Jaykob rounded the corner swiftly, slamming into Garrett, who suddenly had him pinned down with his shoe against his throat and his sword beside his head. "Where. Are. They?" Garrett snarled in Jaykob's face. The guard, older but not as experience as Garrett, shuddered visiably.

"Wh-who?"

"You damn well know who." Garrett growled, pressing down with his boot until a satisfying choke came from Jaykob.

"Forest!" Jaykob gurgled, Garrett grabbing his sword and running into the forest.

Jaykob~

Jaykob stood from his spot on the ground, whiping himself off. He turned, with a grin, and strode towards the dungeon. The second he walked in, Shanaela's stupid cat growled. "Oh shut up," Jaykob barked, walking to Shanaela's cell.

The girl looked up. Whoo, if looks could kill he'd be dead ten times over.

"Well aren't you a fiesty one?" He teased, rather mockingly.

SHANAELA MARZ

I had hear the howl, and it meant that Raven knew I was down here. How long had I been sleeping? Not long by the looks of things. A few minutes maybe? Well, if it took that long for Raven to notice I had disapeared... Everything'll be okay. I told myself this over and over again, but my hope was fading fast. The king never killed his prisoners, but that didn't mean the general didn't.

The soldier from earlier came bounding down the stairs. Shanti was growling beside me, an the idiot told her to shut up. His name was Jaykob if I wasn't mistaken, the guards had been talking about him.

I glared hard at him, almost snarling. Raven had always said that my glares could strike fear into the hearts of giants... Which for some reason made me proud.

"Well aren't you a fiesty one?" His voice was mocking, which only made me angrier.

Why yes, yes I am. I felt for my daggar, but it wasn't there. Now where the heck has that gotten to? My notebook was there, which was a releif. Go burn in hell Jaykob. Go burn.

MARROE

The dog was still sort of freaking me out, but she was sleeping now, which was a relief. I was sitting here with a princess who had bright pink hair, a monkey who seemed to like her earings a little too much and a few unwanted guests that came and went. Spectators. Here to witness the strange site of princess and criminal. Idiots in other words. Of course Shadow greeted every one of them, I only flinched. If it was one of the elites, she wouldn't be able to get rid of them. Sure, she was princess, but that made her father the king. The king had more power than she did, and he had ordered them to find us and bring us to justice.

"You're an odd one, princess," I muttered, scratching Bobo's head.

KING TORRAN

I sighed and looked up, wiping at my tears. "I had made his father a promise. Seems like I've broken that promise."

Adola opened her mouth to speak, but we were interupted by a knock at the door. "Enter," my wife called just as I was about to ask for a second. Oh well, I would just look away.

"You said to come fetch you when she awoke your majesty?" It was the messenger again.

"Yes, thankyou." I stood up and looked to my wife. "Would you care to join me on a trip to see Shanaela Marz?" I waved my hand at the messenger, a signal that he was dismissed.

~Princess Shadow~

I smiled again, glancing down at Sophie. "Thank you," I said, looking at Bobo instead of him. I sighed. I had no clue what to say to next. I reached up, and pulled off my earring, holding them out to the monkey. He snatched them from my hand, holding them out for Marroe to see. He looked at them, then at me.

"Why--" He began. I held up a hand, shaking my head.

"If you come into a palace a thief, you must leave with something, right?" I asked. "Consider it a gift of my kindness." He looked stunned by my gift, but my question was, would he take them, or hand them back to me. I wouldn't worry about it until I knew.

MARROE

Bobo dangled the earings in my face for a few more minutes before jumping onto my shoulder to examine them. I rolled my eyes and stared at the bizzare princess. "Kindness to a thief like me? Ah, well that's a new one." I chuckled.

"Like I said, you can't come to a palace a theif and leave empty handed."

I shrugged. "Depends on your intentions I guess."

~Princess Shadow~

"Hm, I suppose so," I said, thinking for a moment. Didn't matter all that much to me. He was kind, and so was I.

"I still don't get it," he said, looking at me, his face puzzled. I turned my head to the side. "Why are being so nice to a thief like me?" I shrugged, looking at Sophie again.

"I really don't know. I just..." I trailed off. There was just something about him that amused me. Just looking at him made me happy. But I wasn't going to say that to a stranger. I sighed, shrugging again. A few drops of water landed on the rose in my hand, and I looked up. Water flooded from the sky, soaking Marroe and me. Sophie jumped up, running to the cover of the palace. I didn't want to move. I loved the rain. It was...well, romantic for some reason. I stood from the bench I was sitting on, smiling up at the dark grey sky as lightning stuck across the clouds. Thunder pierced the garden after that. I could feel Marroe's eyes on my as I turned back to face him, clothes soaked, a smile on my face. I was an awkward princess. But that's what made me who I was.

MARROE

Bobo lifted my vest over his head, schreeching. I shook my head, laughing and stood up on the bench next to Shadow. "You know, I'm rarely this nice." I gave her a lopsided grin.

"Is that so?" she asked, giggling slightly.

I stared up at the sky and held out my hands. Been a while since I had been out in the rain, felt nice. "Very much. You're strange though, bring out my soft side." I looked back at her and winked. She was a strange girl, this one. Usually it took a bit to get me to go all soft on a person, but she had done something nobody else had for me. Not only had she been kind, but she had invited me into the palace of all places. Strange girl indeed.

~Princess Shadow~

This was strange. I liked him, he was kind, sweet. I was shaking now, it was cold, and the wind didn't help, but I didn't wasn't to go in.

"Are you cold?" he asked, smiling widely. I nodded, wrapping my arms around my self, shaking more. "Do you want to go inside?" he asked, reading my mind sort of.

"Not if your not comfortable," I said, smiling and looking back up, water falling on my face. I let go of myself, enjoying it while I could. Two things I had always wanted to do. One, dance in the rain, two...well, that wouldn't happen, I was sure. So I went for the first one, Taking off my shoes, lifting up my dress, and twirling. I let go of my dress, and help my arms out to the side, happy for this moment. Marroe laughed, looking at me exquisitely. I was something else, wasn't I.

I laughed, still holding my arms out, and turning my face up to the sky again. I loved the rain, I think that was obvious.

MARROE

I watched her for a few minutes before jumping from the bench. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was doing it. My left hand was on her waist, my right holding hers up. She looked as surprised as I felt, but at least she didn't pull away. Bobo had retreated to under the bench, so he wasn't being much of a bother. I wasn't too worried about the wolf, Bobo was quick enough.

"I'm perfectly comfortable, thanks," I murmered, giving her a lop-sided grin. Dancing around in the rain with a pink-haired princess.... What a day, what a day.

~Princess Shadow~

It was a little surprising for him to do such a thing, but I smiled back, and we danced. This was one day I was sure I wouldn't forget. I leaned into him, putting my head on his chest, and closing my eyes, my smile still there. Sophie wasn't mush of a bother anymore, but she watched. I could have sworn there was a smile on her face, but she was a wolf, so that was impossible...wasn't it?

The rain stopped hours later, and so did we, sitting on the ground and watching as the sun went down. I was tired, but I didn't want to go to sleep. I didn't want this day to end, but it did, all too soon. The guards returned, and I felt it was time to go back inside the palace. He stood up and helped me up. I dusted my clothes off, but it was mud rather than dirt, so it didn't really help much.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" I asked before we parted. He shrugged, Bobo hopping on his shoulder. Sophie was next to me, sitting like a dog and looking up at him. Even she seemed hopeful. I hoped I would see him tomorrow.

MARROE

I sighed and stuffed my hands into my pockets. I really didn't want to leave, but it was about that time. "Hope so. I've got to take a little trip to the city tonight." We both knew what I would do there, but I didn't dare say it out loud. I needed cash to pay off a bit of a debt I had...and stealing was the only option at this point.

"Okay," she murmered.

I put my hands on her shoulder and kissed her forehead lightly before turning and running back to the forest, grinning to myself the whole way. Strange how she had me opened up so quickly. Usually that took time.

Bobo dangled her earings in front of my face again and I snatched them from his hands, earning me a monkeyish shriek. "Hush. I'm just looking," I muttered, examining them.

~Princess Shadow~

I was frozen for a moment. Had he really just done that? Wow. Sophie looked up at me, then, a smile spread across my face, and I could feel my cheeks turn crimson, not just the light pink from earlier. I turned, and headed back inside the palace. The guards seemed uneasy, but I was simply smiling at the ground.

I seemed dazed as I walked back to my room, still smiling. I knew Sophie stunk, and we both needed to bathe, but I fell back on the bed, letting her climb up and sleep next to me. I hoped Marroe would be okay, and he got everything he needed. We both knew what he would be doing tonight, and we both knew it was dangerous. I closed my eyes, curling up, and whispering a silent prayer.