The shot of hope

8

Roselyn

Watching the women as she rode beside me as she had her hood up but not her mask while I wore my scarf, a thick vest, black pants and boots with gloves and my white robe that was thick and had fur lining its edges and hood so I was warm for once. I knew were getting close as we had past two people already and you could actually see the trail from the amount of use though we still couldn't see it ahead due to the forest. Yawning as I rubbed my eyes before I looked back ahead to see the kingdom in the distance as we approached the village leading Kim to pulling her mask up as they all changed from walking in pairs to me having Jake on one side and Kim on the other as Sam lead and Jess was in the back and I was silently glad. Walking into the town and some people gave them wary looks as assassins were easy to identify due to the fact they wore masks and hoods and with there group they wore a shoulder pad that had a talon symbol across it in gold.

I truly realised just how lucky I was that they happened to come across me, I had a group of assassins that were known without anyone even knowing what they looked like under there masks. Glancing over at Kim as she looked around carefully as we headed towards the grand castle as I admired the village as the markets smelled things from food to flowers. Getting up the gates to the palace as Sam dismounted as a guard approached in as they had a hushed conversation before the guards signal to another who opened the gate as we walked out and we got off the horses as the stablemen took them away for us as I leaned onto Kim for balance as we walked up the steps and into the grand castle as the guard walk ahead as he led us. Two guards step forwards from the sides of a set of grand doors and pull them open revealing the throne room as tall windows on each side brought in light as my mother and father stood on a platform while talking to the head guard and when she saw me her whole face lit up in pure relief as took my hood off as she rushed to me and took me into a tight hold, she looked closely similar and was only half a head taller while my father was tall and had gotten more grey hairs until my mother who still looked youthful.

"Oh my dear angel" she cried as she cradled my head to her chest.

"It's alright mum... they saved me..." I whispered as I hugged her just as tightly and it took a while for her to pull away as I gave my father a shorter hug but I could tell how relieved he was that I was here, when he turned back to the group they all bowed in a short bend.

"Who did this?" My father questioned.

"Fools I'm afraid... they have been exposed of" Sam stated, "we kept her safe and made sure she refrained from any injuries though does have a injured ankle after she fell while walking since Kim had to take her away as people had tried to ambush us... Kim had unfortunately sustained a shot to the wing and they were unable to get to us for nearly two days"

"Thank you... I know you aren't exactly fond of us due to past actions..." my father sighed as he offered a handshake while she took.

"Us avians do not abandon anyone there loyal to... I'd happily have to sustain another shot if it meant she didn't have to" she reassured.

"I'm sure your all hungry from your journey, guard could you show them to rooms and take my daughter to the infirmary to be treated, dinner will be server soon" my mother stated and I sent Kim a small smile before they all left leaving me with my parents.

"They didn't do anything did they?" My father questioned.

"No, not at all... they always made sure I was fed and warm and Kim even showed me how she was taunt to hunt fish" I beamed, "where is James?"

"He is currently with Mia, you seem to quite like Kim is she your friend?" My mother smiled.

"Yeah... she is nice though it took a bit for her to warm up to me but I could understand with what people have done to her..." I muttered, "she would sometimes let me hide under her wing when it got cold too"

"Do you... like this girl?" My father asked, he had slowly gotten used to the idea after I came out to the two but made it clear I wasn't allowed to date regardless until he approved of them and seeing as my brother was married to Mia now they didn't have to worry about a heir.

"Yeah... we did Uh kiss but nothing else I promise" I reassured him.

"Well. If you do you have my approval" he stated, "I won't mention it though don't worry... and I suppose she can rest in your room but no funny business"

"We won't dad!" I burned up.

"My sweet Angel... growing up" my mother whispered while brushing her hand through my hair as I felt my face burn.

Time skip

Using crutches as Kim followed me as we made our way to my room after having dinner and she insisted that she could easily carry me but I wanted to be independent and show her that I could to it myself. Walking into my door as she shut the double doors behind me, there was a grand canopy bed in front which was the middle of the room as there were two tall windows on each side that soft dark navy curtains covers as my room was mainly the navy, a inbuilt bookshelf to the right and a cluttered desk to the left that had a door on each side with one leading to a bathroom and the other my closet.

"Fancy" she hummed, there was a lot of small details from navy painted patterns on the doors and the bedside tables each had identical lamps though one had a book on it that I was reading that last time I was here, wooden floor boards like the rest of the castle though I had a rug under my bed that meant it poked out around it.

"Gus's that what royalty gets you" I smiled as I rested my boots by the door before going into my wardrobe, "do you need any clothes!" I called out while changing into loose black pants and a sweater before walking out and she eyed me.

"No, plus I doubt yours would work due to my wings and our height differences" she hummed as she walked into the bathroom to change as I felt almost giddy at the fact that I got to share a bed with her and not have to hide my feelings so much.

"I'm not that short" I laughed as she came out as she wore black pants like me but they weren't so baggy and a normal grey shirt and had removed her mask and other gear which she hung on a set of hooks by the door where my boots were beside hers.

"Yes you are... would you like me to brush you hair?" She asked as she held up the brush and I sat onto the bed before sitting cross legged as I nodded immediately.

"I would very much like that" I beamed as she walked over, sliding in behind me before she took out my messy bun as she carefully brushed out the knots before simply just brushing it as I melted into it.

"Would your like me to plate it so it stays nice?" She whispered and I nodded as she abandoned the brush and started separating the hair before starting to plate it as I was practically half asleep due to the feeling and she moved closer after tying it off as she pressed a soft kiss the middle of my neck as I felt my body warm with the feeling.

"I promised I wouldn't leave you and I intend to keep that promise dear..."