A Prince's Harem

Protect

While Acho had made it safely back into the ballroom with great ease, Will and Graecie decided to take a slight detour with their pinkies interlocked, swaying between each other.

Together they wandered the halls of the castle side by side, talking about everything and nothing at the same time, like no one else mattered.

Will stopped suddenly in the middle of the hall, facing Graecie, "Dance with me," he spoke, "Here, just us, like we used to when we were kids when we visited Marnie."

Graecie considered it for a moment before curtseying teasingly in acceptance, "Royal Highness."

Will bowed deeply in return, beaming happily, "Lady Caravel," he addressed as he took Graecie's gloved hand into his own, "An honour."

Graecie started stepping in time with their favourite song, she didn't need to think about the figures or the steps anymore, she simply moved through the dance like it was a second nature to her.

"How are you feeling, Grace? Today has been a lot for all of us and I want to know that you are alright," Will asked as they danced in the empty hall, spinning her gently under his arm with a smile.

"I feel..." Graecie trailed off for a moment, her head turning slightly to the side as she halted the dance suddenly, quickly she shushed Will with a sense of urgency about her.

Around the corner at the end of the empty hall, not too far away, an argument could be faintly heard, the voices seemed familiar but neither party could put a finger on it exactly.

Graecie slipped off her heeled shoes so she could slip silently down the hall, listening into the conversation as she got as close as she could.

Will, following Graecie's lead, slid off his own dress shoes, and quietly snuck up behind her, his hand resting protectively on the hilt of his sword.

"We need to kill him, Sir," one of the voices muttered, the words were very muffled but the duo just managed to make the threat out.

"But getting that close to him is dangerous even without his most precious guards protecting him. Prince or not, he is protected by those 'Nightingales'. You forget that Gatlin trained them all well, being his godmother and all," the second voice replied, hissing quietly.

Graecie, before she realised what she was about to do, gasped at the revelation that someone wanted Will dead, she quickly covered her mouth the second the noise left her.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" One of the cloaked figures called as he walked quickly around the corner, coming face to face with Will and Graecie.

As the second figure joined his colleague in the duo's line of sight, he drew his sword, "Well look who it is, the traitor and his pathetic little friend. Quite foolish you two are, walking around with no guards, even your mother wasn't that stupid when she visited her father."

"Merton!" Will quickly drew his sword, pulling Graecie back with him in order to protect her if nothing else, "Jack!"

Jack Russel, a trusted and valued member of Merton's crew, jumped forward with his sword drawn, aiming to duck past Will and attack Graecie with the knowledge that Merton had dibs on the prince.

As important as Will was, Jack knew that Graecie was just as valuable to the Crowned Prince, being his cousin.

Will immediately assumed a defensive stance with his own sword held out, "Do whatever you want with me, but leave Grace out of it! She is innocent! Whatever issues Merton and I may have are between me and him, not her."

Merton hissed out a command to his co-conspirator, "Jack, back off. The brat is smart to know that he is mine and you will not harm the Caravel brat."

Begrudgingly, Jack backed up to give way to his captain, scowling at Will as he moved.

Merton stepped forward with no hesitation and immediately lunged directly towards Will, attacking as quickly as he could muster with the intention to kill.

Will, with his scarily fast reflexes, sidestepped the attack with great ease, "I am not the weak thing I let myself be around you, I will not lose to you again, Elyas, not when it means danger to my friend."

Merton jabbed his weapon forward in retaliation and it barely managed to hit Will's arm, slicing his sleeve and grazing his arm.

Will swore under his breath in his Fae Latin as the realisation hit him that no member of Merton's Luscinia crew would ever consider playing fair with their choice of weapon against a faerie.

"Awe, has the stupid little traitor figured it out yet?" Merton taunted, pushing Will further down the hall, closer to Graecie, "Took him long enough."

"Grace!" The half born tried to gain his closest friend's attention, "That sword is made of iron!" Will called back to her once more, tripping slightly as he made a misstep as his focus was diverted to informing his friend.

As Will's knees hit the marble floor, he dropped his sword before himself, hoping to have some sliver of mercy shown on him even if he knew that even letting the thought cross his mind was laughable.

The pain from the sword above him never came, however, much to his utter confusion.

However, in lieu of the burning pain he expected against his body, he did hear Graecie scream and collapse next to him, grasping her left eye.

"Captain!" Jack called quickly as the sound of footsteps grew closer, "Royal guards incoming!"

Merton dropped his sword on Will's leg, letting out an evil laugh at the prince's agonising scream as he made a run for it.

What Will was yet to notice through his fuzzy thoughts, let alone even register in his scattered mind, was the blood he himself seemed to be losing as he shoved the sword off of him, "Grace?" he turned his concerns away from the escapees and back to his cousin-in-law.

Graecie turned to face him, but in the place where her left eye should have been, there was a large, burned gash gracing her tear-soaked face.

Will immediately started to panic, ripping off part of his undershirt that had been sliced in his duel to hold against the injury, "Grace, it will be okay. Stay with me, yeah? You will be alright, we both will."

Whether or not Will was trying to reassure Graecie, himself or both of them was entirely lost to him but he hoped it was helping somehow.

Graecie was shell shocked, but despite all else, she knew was that no matter what, no matter the circumstances, she would jump in front of that sword for Will again, one thousand times over.

In her heart she knew that, had the roles been reversed, Will would have done the exact same for her, as would have any Nightingale because a Nightingale would do anything for their true family.

Will barely registered the fuss around him as Pix rallied a group of guards to chase after Merton and Jack, his only concern was with Graecie, so much so that he ignored the lady attempting to nurse his leg and arm, in turn he commanded she attend to Graecie and leave him be.

Scott quickly knelt beside his husband with worry lining his face, "My love, you must let us check you over. I swear to you that Graecie will be treated as well but you must let us help you, that sword looked like it was iron. Worry not about your attackers, Pix and Tango are after them."

Will shook his head slowly as he settled his thoughts and outlined a plan, "I am fine, it barely caught me and I've basically lived in iron my whole childhood, one scratch is nothing. Besides, I have something I must attend to first."

"As headstrong as ever," Scott could only sigh as he stood and offered a hand to help his husband, "Lady Antoine, please attend to Her Ladyship, I will see to Prince Will and his injuries once his business is settled."

Will grasped his husband's hand and hissed as he pulled himself up as gracefully as he could muster, turning to face one of the gathered servants of the court, "Lady Anderson?" he addressed politely.

The chosen lady stepped forward and curtsied deeply to show her respect, "How may I serve you, Your Royal Highness?"

As not to cause a scene, Will gestured for Lady Anderson to approach privately before giving her her task, "Bring me Lord Shep."