The Guarded Princess

XXXVII

The servants and soldiers hurriedly boarded off the ship and began preparing to assemble the royal palanquin that Sinbad, Kouen, and the others had ordered for Lucy to be carried in for there was no way that they were going to let her be accidentally seen by the eyes of such people.

Sinbad had changed his clothes into ones more suitable of his position, his metal vessels still adorning his body as he hopped onto his horse. Kouen, too, boarded his horse, his cape billowing behind him with his metal vessels by his side. Koumei, Kouha, and Kougyoku boarded their horses as well as Ja'far, Sharrkan, and Spartos did the same. Alibaba and Morgiana rode one together as well, following close behind Sinbad and the others. Yamraiha rode upon her staff while Pisti, who had brought her bird along, rode on that. Hinahoho and Drakon walked at the sides and Masrur walked side by side to the palanquin, keeping Lucy company. Aladdin rode with Lucy inside the palanquin for he wished to pay Lucy company. Moreover, unlike the others, he didn't know how to ride a horse and his magic turban would only be bothersome.

White semi-transparent laced curtains hung from the sides of the palanquin, bordering it as Lucy stepped in onto the large white bed-like cushion. Her white dress and white laced veil flowed behind her as the golden and ruby tear-dropped accessories dangled against one another as she stepped in, laying against the white and gold cushions that had been laid out. The only thing that was visible through the grandly decorated palanquin was her silhouette and seeing her there, they knew that she would be protected there.

"Lucy-neesan," Aladdin also climbed in with a joyous smile.

Yamraiha had ordered for formal clothes to be made for Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana since it was a diplomatic mission. His clothes were in a similar fashion to his previous ones with the exception being that it was white with a white sash tied around his waist as tear-drop shaped rubies and golden accessories made way around his waist. He still had his white magic turban upon his head, the ruby jewel still situated there.

"Aladdin," Lucy smiled, glad to have someone pay her company in the large palanquin.

"I get to be with Lucy-neesan!" he laid on her lap and rolled around before looking her in the eye, a rather solemn gaze in his eyes. "How does it feel like to see Fiore again?"

Lucy smiled. "Are you worried about me?"

He remained silent before speaking up again. "It's because I don't want you to make that face again. That face when you first came to us," he said, reminded of that grieving look she constantly held. "That's why I want to know how Lucy-neesan truly feels about seeing Fiore again."

She softened her eyes and patted him gently on the head. "Thank you, Aladdin," she thanked him. "For worrying about me."

Aladdin looked at her as she gazed around. The band of soldiers had picked up the palanquin and their company began moving towards their destination which was a few distances away from the harbor. The people watched on in both fear and respect, revering the two countries and as they saw the palanquin, they further lowered their heads, not daring to look up for they knew what people it carried inside. Sinbad, Kouen, and the others were intimidating enough and seeing how closely they guarded that palanquin, they didn't dare pick their faces up.

"In the seven years that I had been gone, nothing has really changed," she remarked with a nonchalant face. "This place used to be my country, my home, but now...I just don't feel anything towards it."

Hearing those words, that was more than enough for Aladdin. "That's because Lucy-neesan's new home is with us!" he grinned happily.

Lucy chuckled. "Yes, you're right, Aladdin," she stroked his head. "To me, the place that I belong is with everyone. You're here, Masrur's here, Kouen, Sinbad, and everyone's here...I wouldn't leave you guys for anything."