My Beloved Knight

Ch.3: I Do Care For You

After planning their brief escape, they picked up a basket with their breakfast and under hoods, they took advantage of everyone's busy early morning routines to escape without being noticed, neither by the guards nor by the pokemon that lived in the gardens or around the castle. They arrived soon to the forest but went deeper in it so they would not be found. It felt so good to be free at last, to run around knowing no wall will get in your way, breathing some pure and fresh air. The Princess felt relieved and curious to see what she could find on the forest. She had noticed some pokemon looking at her curiously, so she expected to make a new friend.

They had settle a blanket on a glade with a refreshing breeze. They had brought some tea, scones, a small cake and a pair of berry muffins. It did not took much time for the delicious smell of the pastries to lure some pokemon. The Princess happily crumbled a scone to feed some bird pokemon, like Starly and Fetchling, that had approached while Gallade ate up a muffin and glared distantly at nowhere, deep in thought. "I've never really seen this kind of pokemon near the castle. Aren't they cute?" The Princess asked with gentle voice. "Yes..." Gallade replied with a distant voice, making the Princess worried. "Gallade... is there something going on..? You have been really quiet lately..." She approached him slowly, her worry was recognizable in her voice. Gallade seemed surprised for a second but he smiled before looking at her, still, it was somehow useless, in that smile, there was some worry reflected and his voice still sounded somehow distant. "I'm alright, Princess... You do not need to worry about me..."

There was a lie in Gallade's words, there was actually something on his head that has been bothering him lately. He just could not tell the Princess that since it was something about her. She was about to become a grown up, be crowned queen, probably get married and begin her own life. Gallade was afraid that if she got married, maybe she would rather to have companion from her new love and even him to become her new guardian as well. Gallade knew it was a selfish thought and tried hard to get it out of his head but at times it was inevitable. The Princess was his everything, he just would not be able to stand losing her. Just by thinking in it, made him feel empty. "But I do worry, Gallade... You always care for me in such a sweet way... I know you just want me to not worry but I just cannot be ignorant and pretend I do not notice something in you... I know you well, Gallade... If there is something wrong, you can say it to me..." The Princess smiled so sweet and gently, she just wanted to make him know that she cared for him as well and was open to help him in any way possible.

Gallade sighed, he just could not bear it at all. He could talk about it butthere was no solution, maybe even could get things worst and just for hisselfish worries, so he decided to lie again. He smiled as brightly as he couldand grabbed the Princess' hand gently. "I swear to you, my lovely lady... Thateverything is alright." It was not the answer the Princess was expecting butstill she trusted him. If he was hiding something it has to be for her sake."Ok, Gallade... If you say everything is alright, then I believe in you." Shestill was worried for what could be happening with Gallade but did as him andsmiled to not make him worry.

They continued their breakfast and talked as they normally would about thebeauty of the forest and the feeling of freedom. With some time left, theydecided to explore the forest, without knowing that a dark evil presence waslurking on them from the shadows of the forest trees... "I've heard that in thisforest there is a magic pond that can grant wishes! It is said that it lies inthe heart of the green maze where no one can find it..." The Princess said with amysterious tone while she walked along with Gallade and hide behind some treesto give it more mystery, but at the end she just ran into him and innocentlyasked. "Can we look for it?" Gallade giggled and blushed a bit. The Princesswas so cute when she acted innocently to get the answer she desired. "Do youthink we can find it?" He answered like if it was a joke. After all, wasnot the pond located where no one could find it? "We won't know unless wetry!" She said with some excitement and continued guiding the way. Gallade tookthose chances the Princess was not looking at all to take a quick glance at thesurroundings. He had that feeling they were being followed.