Wild Flowers

An Unlikely Saviour

Music was playing loudly from the stage, a man and women both played a fiddle while singing of love and it's importance. Sophia snorted and tipped her head back, emptying her cup of ale of it's last for dregs and getting to her unsteady feet to purchase another. She had a large hood over her face, and a cloak that trailed the ground in an attempt to hide her identity. Many couples danced in front of the stage, holding each other by the waist and moving awkwardly with drunken happiness gleaming from their eyes.

She edge around the outside of the room to the bar in an attempt to not draw attention to herself. She tapped her cup against the bar twice and it was filled from a large jug by a round beefy man with the thick dirty beard and stains on his apron.

"Your Highness, I thought you'd left," He said happily, wiping up a spill with a dirty rag.

"Highness? I don't know what you're referring to," They both smirked at each other and Sophia sighed, taking a seat next to the bar.

"You seem more troubled that usual," He remarked, filling someone else's cup and sliding their payment into the pocket of his apron.

The Princess emptied her glass in a few gulps, "It's been a long day Peter."

The bartender raised an eyebrow and filled the empty cup again, "Must have been."

"I don't come here to hear your remarks at my drinking habits," she tilted her cup in his direction and took a sip.

"Then why do you come here?" Peter asked curiously.

Sophia paused for a moment and gave him a shrug, "Closest bar to the Castle, I suppose."

It was also small and tucked away down an alley where not many people visited.

"Aw and here's me thinking you liked me," Peter smirked and gave her a small wink.

Sophia smiled in spite of herself and let out another sigh, slumping with her head rested in the palm of her hand, "I should get going."

"Whatever you wish, your Highness."

Sophia hushed him, but only half heartedly. She was aware that most people in the bar knew who she was, they were either fine with her or too scared to make a comment in case she ordered them to the dungeons. She almost laughed at the thought. If anyone was to end up in the dungeons after her visit it would be her.

"How much do I owe you?" She asked, fumbling in her pockets for a couple gold coins. Her hood slipped down, revealing her pale face and brown hair piled messily on top of her hair.

She heard a few gasps behind her, perhaps not everyone had been aware of her identity she had first thought. She handed Peter more than enough to cover her beverages and headed quickly towards the door.

"Excuse me?"

A deep voice sounded behind her that reverberated down her spine and made her shudder, she turned to see a large man much older than herself standing with a toothless grin.

"Your Highness, would you like to dance?" He stood far too close to her and his breath reeked of raw onions.

"No, thank you, I must be going," Sophia replied quietly. She turned to leave again, eager to get away.

"What's wrong Princess? Aren't we good enough for you?" She felt a damp hand grab her wrist and a few people gasped in disbelief, panic bubbled up in her chest.

"Please-" She began to twist herself out of the mans grasp but she was interrupted.

"Let her go Robert," The voice was firm, yet delicate and Sophia felt an arm wrap around her waist and pull her free, "Or do I need to kick your arse again?"

The man turned red and mumbled an apology before heading back towards the bar with slumped shoulders.

Sophia turned to thank her rescuer. A girl, shorter than herself stood with a number of knifes and daggers tucked into a belt along her waist. She had a sympathetic smile on her face, which was covered in freckles and partly covered by a deep blue cloak; links of frizzy blonde hair poked out either side to cover her ears.

"Your Highness, are you okay?"

Sophia could feel her cheeks burning, she cleared her throat, "Um, yes...yes I'm fine, thank you very much for ...," she trailed off and cleared her throat again.

"May I buy you a drink your highness?"

Sophia was baffled, "Me?"

The girl let out a musical laugh, "Yes, you."

Sophia later found herself dancing. Her partner held her hand and spun her around until she was dizzy before pulling her close again. The girl smelt of soap and hay, and her hair was soft against Sophia's cheek.

"I don't know your name," She realised.

"So you don't," The girl smirked, her hand was on the small of Sophia's back, holding her securely as though she would wonder off like a small child.

"Well that's hardly fair, everyone knows my name."

"I don't envy you," The girl replied.

Sophia was surprised at her reply. Most people assumed being royalty resulted in a perfect life of glamour and relaxation.

"So?"

"So what?"

"What is your name?" Sophia pressed, staring the girl directly into her pale grey eyes.

"Harper."

Sophia repeated the name back to her, letting the word play on her lips, "Thank you for saving me, Harper."

"It was my honour your highness," Harper paused and took a shiny sliver knife from her belt. It was engraved at the base with flowers and it's handle was strong and wooden, "Take this. I might not be here next time."

Sophia shook her head, "Oh no, I couldn't."

"Please?" Harper requested, giving the Princess a smile.

"O-Okay," She took the blade, it felt bulky and awkward in her hand.

Sophia must have drifted into an uneasy slumber, for one moment she was looking out at the Forest and the next she was being disturbed by a pair of monstrous sharp claws at her window. She jumped back for a moment, startled and still half asleep, but quickly regained her composer and knelt to look out between the bars. Askook removed his claw, slumping back to the ground and growling low in his throat. It was now mid-afternoon and ground was damp and muddy with rain, chilled droplets still tumbling determinedly from the sky.

At first glance, it seemed as though nothing had changed, the Forest still remained stationary and no towers of smoke gave away an intruder's position. Askook gave another rumbling huff through his nostrils, and movement caught Sophia's eyes. The tree's began to shake a few hundred meters from the tree line, she swallowed heavily around the lump in her throat and picked up her trusty silver knife that had clattered to the floor below. Her mind raced for a moment, who would bother to attack her? She was unwanted, a tyrant, a 'disgrace to her family and royalty.' It was unlikely her father would pay a ransom for her return, if fact he would be glad for the opportunity to dispose of her.

The entire forest began to vibrate, it's leaves rustling and a number of rodents scuttling out of the darkness in search of a place without disturbance. Sophia was in awe of what could be marching towards her, what could possibly be of such a size to cause such mayhem. If she weren't so overcome with terror, she would be filled with fascination and excitement. Instead she felt her stomach twist uneasily, almost scared to blink in case she missed the entrance of her attacker. Her mouth felt dry and her palms began to sweat, she wiped them on her shirt and took a large breath. She didn't need to be so unnerved, she had a dragon on herself after all, but his uneasiness made it difficult not to worry. She gripped the cold metal bars of the window, wondering if they'd be enough to protect her.