Sonadow - King and his slave

Part 2

Shadow looked around with stunned look on his face. Everything was so beautiful and clean. He had seen during his life many great mansions and wonderful houses but king Sonic's castle was something completely different. It could not even comparable to other places, where Shadow had been a slave. The castle was absolutely gorgeous and wonderful. Shadow admired golden chandeliers which were hanging on the ceiling, and soft, wine-red carpets on the floor. Every hallway, where he went with Tails, he saw great statues, armors, and smiling and happy servants. When the servants saw a new entrant, their gaze turned curious. The servants looked at the hedgehog, who was wearing dirty rags and who was walking with king's lackey. Some of them began to whisper something to each other and others started to look at Shadow with despised looks on their faces. Shadow walked past a few handmaiden with Tails and he heard how one of them, a beautiful woman, whispered something to another woman.

"Look how awful that slave looks like! How our lovable king can buy someone like him?!" she hissed.

"I agree! He looks just awful!" another handmaiden whispered back to her friend. Shadow dropped his look on the floor and followed Tails with a little sad look on his face. Shadow had his eyes on the floor all the way. His faith in the new, non-hazardous life had begun to crack. He knew very well how the nobles treated slaves. And also servants believes that the slaves were scum of the earth. Now, Shadow really thought why king Sonic had bought him. Shadow lifted his gaze a little and saw how the servants looked at him still. He felt very uncertain now. He would not have wanted to be the center of attention. Especially now, when he was just arrived at the castle. Suddenly, Tails stopped walking and Shadow almost crushed him. Shadow was just about to ask why he stopped when he suddenly saw in front of him a beautiful woman, who was wearing a stunning dress. The woman was dressed too well to be a maid or handmaiden. Shadow was so confused about the situation, that he didn't notice how all the other servants bowed or curtsey to her. Woman looked at Shadow a little fiercely.

"Tails..." woman began to talk. Tails looked up and looked at a woman.

"Yes my queen?" Shadow startled and embarrassed blush rose to his face. Only now Shadow noticed a crown on woman's head. Shadow dropped his look down quickly. He was so ashamed. How was it possible that he had not identified a queen even if she had been standing right in front of his eyes?

"Why doesn't this arrogant slave bow to his queen?" she asked and looked at Shadow.

"Forgive him queen Amy. He's new in here." Tails explained. Shadow looked up slowly and looked at the queen apologetically. He bowed to her and spoke loudly and clearly.

"Forgive me my rudeness my queen," he said. Queen Amy looked at Shadow still a little angrily and then she turned to look at Tails.

"He's new? Has my king bought a new slave?" Queen Amy asked with a little angry voice. Tails looked at her and nodded slowly. He knew what was going to happen next...

"How dare he?!" Amy shouted and all the servants in the hallway startled hard and took a few steps back. Shadow was the one who got scared the most. He had already learned that when someone yells, it knows troubles. Tails smiled gently and tried to calm down the queen.

"My queen please, calm down. King Sonic was forced to make decision of buying really quickly so he didn't had time to discuss with you. Try to understand him before you judge him." Tails said calmly. Amy turned to look at Shadow again angrily. Shadow looked down again. He really didn't wanted to met angry queen's eyes.

"Dear Tails, could you tell me, what is the name of this slave?" Shadow heard Amy asking.

"His name is Shadow my queen," Tails answered.

"Thank you Tails..." Amy nodded to Tails and looked Shadow one more time before she walked away. Shadow lifted his look up and looked after her. He was a little confused.

"Why she got so angry...?" Shadow asked quietly.

"You mean queen Amy?" Tails asked. Shadow turned to look at him and nodded.

"You don't need to worry. Queen Amy is really nice and loving person. It's just that, the king and the queen has had a lot of disagreement recently," Tails told.

"Disagreements?"

"Yes. I don't know exactly what kind of disagreements, but something that relates to servants. But luckily we don't need to interfere in their disputes. Let's continue, shall we?" Tails smiled friendly. Shadow nodded and and started to follow Tails again. His and queen Amy's first meeting was bothering him. He had a feeling that the queen would never like him. Shadow sighed and looked around. They had arrived in the big hall. Shadow followed Tails to the one door. Tails knocked on the door and soon they heard a quiet voices and a few rapid steps behind the door. After a while, the door came open a beautiful, white bat, who was wearing a lavender colored dress. Bat looked a little surprised and nervous.

"Tails? What are you doing here?" she asked quickly. Tails chuckled and tried to peek in the room.

"Is he here again Rouge?" Tails asked with a little mischievous smile on his lips. Shadow looked at the woman, who Tails had called Rouge and saw how blush rose on her face. Tails obviously knew something that others didn't knew.

"Or are you going to hide him again?" Tails smiled.

"I am not hiding anyone! Alright then, come on in," Rouge sighed and stepped aside so that Tails and Shadow could step into the room. Tails walked into the room with Shadow. The first thing what Shadow saw when he stepped in the room was a red echidna, who was standing in front of a large bed with his arms akimbo and he looked at them a little irritably.

"Tails," echidna growled and looked at the young lackey. Tails just smiled and looked at the echidna.

"Sir Knuckles, I'm not surprised that you are here," he said. Echidna looked at him a bit angrily.

"What are you going here?" he asked.

"Actually I have job to Rouge," Tails said and turned to look at Rouge, who was standing now next to Knuckles.

"How can I help you Tails?" she asked.

"This is Shadow. He's king's new slave," Tails said with a smile. Rouge and Knuckles turned to look at Shadow who has been quiet pretty long time. Rouge smiled friendly to Shadow.

"My name is miss Rouge the Bat. But you can call me Rouge," she said. Shadow smiled a little.

"Nice to meet you miss," he said a little shyly.

"And this little tough guy over here is Knuckles the Echidna," Rouge introduced with a little grin on her lips and looked at Knuckles, who snarled quietly.

"SIR Knuckles the Echidna," he corrected harshly. Rouge only rolled her eyes and turned to look at Shadow again.

"He's the king's most faithful and most powerful knight," Tails whispered to Shadow. Shadow nodded quietly.

"Rouge, king Sonic asked me to tell you that you have to put a bath ready for Shadow and find new clothes to him. He also said that you could show places to him," Tails said. Rouge nodded.

"Of course. I will do it right away."

"Good. And you..." Tails said and turned to look at Knuckles.

"I thought that you were supposed to be practicing with other knights?" Knuckles growled again. He grabbed Rouge's hand and went out of the room with her. The door was closed, and Tails and Shadow stayed alone in the room. Shadow turned to look at Tails with a little confused look. Tails only smiled to him.

"She will come back soon. Just wait her here. I have to go now. I have lot of works to do today."

"Alright... Thank you Tails," Shadow said quietly. Tails only smiled to him before he went out of the room and closed the door. Shadow looked around curiously. Rouge's room was really clean and beautiful. Shadow sat on the bed and smiled. The bed was so soft. Shadow decided to go lie down on the bed just for a moment. He sighed happily and with pleasure. The bed was like soft heaven to him. He didn't even remember the last time he had slept in good bed. Or general in bed! Nobody would get angry if he would rest there for a while. Just a little while... Shadow closed his eyes slowly and breathed calmly. There was really good to lie...