Paper Flowers

Jude

I sighed as the bird flew across the street. For half a second, I prayed for Jurian's safety, and shook my head. Who was I? Jude North would not stop and waste good time over a guy she had known for all of fifteen minutes. I cocked an eyebrow and flopped onto the couch, letting my cloak drop over the arm. I wouldn't be cold.

I smiled as the Jude aura I knew wrapped around me, bright and sharp and fun. I closed my eyes, folding my arms, smiling almost smugly. Take that, weird mood swings.

"What, you're not going to wait to chain me to the chair?"

"Go rescue the damsel in distress. And tell him that if he needs help, just ask Miss Rosa where I am. Got it?"

"Yeah, bu-"

"Good."

Smirking now, I flung an arm over my eyes, rejuvenated with my rediscovered self. I could feel Luke's confused look on my arms, and it made me break into a grin, then slowly, soft chuckling.

I may be going insane. But I was taking anyone I could with me.

And it was going to be blasted fun.

Jurian|Tavern Room:

The bird flew in the open window and landed on my shoulder. I glanced at it. Bandit, Lukas' hawk. Oh great, now he was going to show up. I brushed it off my shoulder, returning my attention to the soldiers before me. The leader had narrowed his gaze at me.

"You're coming with us," he said and two of the soldiers grabbed me, one arm each. "No excuses."

Oh god, I thoguht, slowly panicking. They didn't find out about my real father, did they?

Bandit flew off out the window and the two soldiers dragged me towards the door. Drake got up and stepped between me and the leader.

"Sir, what's his crime?" he asked, hands out and fingers spread--non-threatening. Oh, no. The idiot, he had to ask.

"He's a thief," was the only reply. I swallowed, glancing back towards the window. Lukas had to get here soon, or I'd be a dead man...

Lukas~

Lukas raised an eyebrow and ran to the window, slipping smoothly down the side of the inn. He ran over the the place Jurian and the others were staying at, and silently, darkly, climbed up to the second floor, peeking past bandit and into the room. "Blow the lamps out." He whispered to the bird. It took flight and passed wind by the candles. Their wicks flickered, and went out, the room soaking in darkness.

Lukas smirked and grabbed his dagger, tiptoeing behind the gruff, huge man. He leapt on his shoulders, and pressed the blade to his throat. "I suggest, my friend, if you want to live, you'll release this man. He is no friend of mine, nor a thief, simply a bystander I'd asked directions from." The guard pushed Jurian away and spun around, his hands wildly trying to reach Lukas. Lukas smirked and slid the blade across his throat, blood oozing out and all over his hands.

Still in the dark, so they couldn't see him, Lukas locked the door so no more guards could come in, and started to the window. "Straight across, to that inn. Go there and find Jude." He could smell the blood. "Oh, and here," he tossed his recent payment to Lukas, receiving a soft oww in reply. Oh right, they couldn't adjust their eyes that well. Lukas smirked back at them, and sat on the window. "So, are we ready to go?"

Cale Ersaid

"Thief, you're being charged with attempted thievery, kidnapping, as well as threats to a high royal's life. Your trial is to be held tomorrow, unless someone of higher power that the elite guard's commanders, myself and Torin Ersaid, say otherwise."

Cale allowed a wide smirk to spread on his face. He glanced over toward Torin, waiting for he words he knew were coming.

Torin was concentrating on undoing some straps on his pack. He didn't even so much as glance up at Cale, but instead kept his back stubbornly towards Cale. Anger bubbled up in Cale. So Torin thought he could just ignore Cale, did he? Cale opened his mouth to say something decidedly impolite to Torin.

"Take him away," said the other commander disapprovingly. Soldiers approached Cale on either side and roughly "escorted" Cale down to the dungeons of the castle. Cale felt the sinking feeling in his stomach as they descended down flight after flight of stairs. Finally, Cale was shoved roughly into a small, dank cell. The guards leered as they turned the key in the lock to the door. Cale pushed back his panic by pressing his face to the bars of his prison and leering back at them.

Torin Ersaid

Torin was shaking badly as he struggled to unhook his pack from the horse's saddle. He couldn't speak up in Cale's behalf. Not yet. Not if Torin had any hope of keeping their relation a secret. Even if Torin wanted to say something, he wasn't sure his vocal cords would work.

So Cale was dragged off to the prison. Torin finally managed to unhook his pack. He shouldered it, and turned to Cael.

"We'll have to stay here for the night, with this setback in mind."

Cael nodded, but he looked unconvinced. "Are you all right, Torin? You look ill."

"Fine!" said Torin, his voice crackling. "I'm just - Just going to go check on the thief."

Micayla~

Micayla stood up after hearing Torin's words, and smiled at him. "I'll come with you, Torin." She smiled softly, not listening to his protests as she skipped down to the dungeon. She didn't even plan to make Cale stay the night in the castle. All he'd have to do is apologize for leading her on, and she'd decree his freedom. Easy as pie.

"Are you sure you want to come, Princess?" Torin asked, his brow furrowed. She smiled softly and nodded.

"I'm sure. He was absolutely dreadful, honestly he was. He had acted all nice, and then decided he'd steal my money, practically out of nowhere. It was terrorfying." Ah, playing the damsel card. Never failed.

"I'm glad you made it to us in time. He certainly would have hurt you." A bit of uncertaintly twinkled in Torin's voice, and Micayla sighed distressively.

"I know, I'm glad all of you brave soldiers were there when I needed you. I was terrorfied when he'd demanded my money, absolutely terrorfied." She smirked a hidden smirk over at the thief when the walked into the dungeon. "You're all dismissed." She smiled at the nearest guard, who blushed and nodded, all five guards marching up the stairs.

Cale Ersaid

Cale raised his eyebrows at Micayla as she descended the stairs. Torin followed her down closely, looking at his feet.

"I admit," said Cale, amused. "I am surprised to see you here, Micayla. Come to gloat?"

"Hardly," scoffed Micayla. "I have a proposal for you." Cale noticed Torin look up sharply at Micayla's statement, bewildered.

"I see," replied Cale, smirking. "How much did Torin bribe you for my freedom?" Cale's smirk widened at his brother's minor panic attack behind Micayla's back. "Ah-ha!" Cale laughed softly, adressing Torin directly now. "So you haven't told her, then? I don't know whether to be flattered or indignant."

"What are you talking about?" said Micayla quickly, confused. She glanced back at Torin. "Torin - ?"

Cale toyed with the idea of spilling all. But he held his tongue. For now, anyways, Torin's secret would be Cale's own. "Never mind that, then," he said quickly. "I am all the more interested into your proposition, Micayla. Enlighten me."

Micayla blinked coyly at Cale. "Do you have any regrets?" she asked him in mocking innocence. Cale let out a bark of laughter.

"What's this?" Cale laughed heartily. "You want an apology? My dear princess! If you expect that of me, then you'd best go back to weaving daisy chains and eating bits of candy."

Micayla looked unperturbed at the insult. "Very well, then, Cale," she said calmly. "Go through with your trial tomorrow. I can promise you a quick hanging."

Cale stopped laughing. He met Micayla's cool gaze and held it. Slowly, a new smile spread across Cale's face. "You make a - ah - compelling argument, milady," commented Cale. Cale looked Micayla over before raising his eyebrows in resignment. "Very well. But I will say this: I have never told a lie to you, Micayla. Did I leave out some truths? Yes. But did I lie? Absolutely not. I meant everything I ever said to you. Nevertheless, I underestimated you, Micayla. You have proven to be a worthy opponent, and possibly the only person of noble blood whom I have any respect for. Does that serve as enough of an apology for you?"

Micayla~

Micayla plopped down on a stack of hay. Why there was hay in the dungeon, she'd never know. Probably to mask the scent of death though. She let out a soft, "Hmm," and tapped her chin while bringing her legs up and wrapping her arms around them. "I suppose..." She smirked a short, quick smirk. She was honestly flattered he held even a bit of respect for her. However, it was understandable. It wasn't like she was royal from this kingdom anyway.

But a royal nonetheless.

With a sigh, Micayla decided to move on. "You can leave tomorrow morning. I'll inform the guards tonight... Torin," she turned to him with a small grin. "Cale is to be let go tomorrow at the crack of dawn." She turned back to Cale. "There, I informed the guards." She laughed softly, and looked back to Torin, then back to Cale.

"What is it?" Cale asked, his face plastered to the bars.

"Are you two..." They couldn't be, could they. "Are you two, you know... related?" It was a stupid question. Of course a soldier of the Elite Guard bore no relation to a thief, did he?

Cale Ersaid

Cale laughed at the ashen-colored pallor that his brother's face took on at Micayla's statement. Cale nodded toward his brother.

"Do you want to tell her, or shall I?" drawled Cale. Micayla turned to look at Torin.

"Then it's true?" she asked, shocked. Torin bounced on his heels hesitantly. Cale rolled his eyes.

"Yes, we are. Brothers, in fact."

"Your Majesty," interjected Torin quickly, stepping forward. "You have to understand that I had my reasons for not making his existance known. I - I wasn't sure he was alive. I thought he had gotten himself caught up in this thieving business. He's family, Princess. I couldn't very well turn him in. I - "

"But you had no problem arresting me today?" said Cale indignantly. Torin looked at Cale and swallowed.

"Cale," said Torin earnestly. "I couldn't - I was going to - " Cale raised his eyebrows. Torin broke off suddenly, with a panicked glanced toward Micayla. Torin stepped back, his hand drifting upward to massage his neck worriedly. Cale watched him for a second, then let his gaze drift back to Micayla.

"I'm sure Torin had his reasons - as did I - for not mentioning it before. But, Micayla: We still have wont for keeping our relation quiet. You aren't from this country, and from what I understand you have very little loyalty to it. Can we trust you to keep our secrets our own?"

Maddie

A few days had passed and i stayed in the alley thinking of what I was to do to help save the princess,I walked out and all of a sudden a few people started looking at me so I thought to myself,"run..run while you can." So then I took of running and jumped up on a ledge of a building...I thought I was about to cry because I almost fell but I caught myself and continued to climb until I reached the top.
This guy and a girl were looking at me so I flipped them off and ran,I jumped off the back of the building where noone could see me and i ran to a restraunt,it turns out it was the same one i left from 3 days ago so I ran and sat in the booth i sat in a few days ago. Everyone was still lookin at me so I turned re color.