Prince Charming

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"Sir Steven! Sir Steven!" Dame Margaret calls more than once before finally whistling to Steve's horse to get it to stop and turn around. Steve is bewildered and seems almost angry when he speaks to her. "What? What is it? Why are we stopping?" After a half second's pause he adds. "Dame Margaret." In a calmer tone. "Why are we stopping?"

"I'm sorry, I know you must be worried about your charge but the sun is setting, we have to stop for the night, Sir Steven."

For a minute Steve considers acting like a child, considers saying 'I don't wanna stop!' and riding off as fast as he can. But he knows he has to. He knows riding through the night will leave him exhausted and he wants to be ready for beating the shit out of Pierce.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just..." He takes a deep breath and Dame Margaret gives him an understanding look before dismounting and lifting out the supplies to make camp.

Steve is pretty useless in setting up their place to sleep, he tries to help but he's distracted enough that even one of Becca's guard's notices.

Eventually they are all circled around a campfire and for a brief moment Steve finds relief in the people that came with him.

He doesn't know Dame Margaret very well but there is something about her that seems reliable, a sort of fire in her that isn't so much destructive, but warm. She seems lively, though well contained. Steve likes her.

Right after Steve volunteered, Becca did too, which brought a little outrage, unsurprisingly, on her father's part. He was quieted though, when she pointed out she wasn't supposed to be there in the first place and that she actually should head back home as soon as possible. Her guards, Sir Charles and Sir Erik had followed of course, though Steve suspects they might've come anyway, Sir Erik seems to have a particular vendetta against Chief Pierce.

At first, the campfire is very grave and quiet, as is fitting for their current predicament, but Becca, being the darling she is, tries to make some small talk which is ill received mostly, but after several subject changes causes Sir Erik to make a vulgar joke about a past girlfriend, which makes Sir Charles spit up his drink, which makes the rest of them burst into hearty laughter. It is wonderful and relieving, as every laugh so desperately needed must be.

Steve is grounded in that slightly, it brings him some comfort to see his companions laugh in such a very sad time and together, they manage to keep the darkness at bay, until they all part to get some sleep.

Steve doesn't really sleep at all, he just jitters and wishes he could teleport.

Steve is much more useful in breaking down their camp than he was setting it up, packing everything away so fast the others are a little shocked, but he can't seem to care, he just climbs on to his horse and announces he is ready.

They ride for hours and Steve knows that the others feel their fatigue more than he feels his own.

All of them lighten up however, when they finally see the city walls and at last, ride up to the castle gates.

Steve wants to get Bucky out then set the whole place on fire but he controls himself, turning to the others.

"Chief Pierce will be hiding somewhere safe, he doesn't like getting his hands dirty. We need a distraction to scatter their ranks and draw Pierce out."

Steve is a little surprised when all four of the others let him lead with no argument, despite him being the lowest ranking amongst them.
"What do you suggest, Sir?" Dame Margaret says.
Steve pauses and bites his lip. Then finds himself offering a small smile. "Your highness, can we borrow your cloak?"