A Warrior's Heart

Chapter 22; The warrior's plan

With large, heavy strides Taehyun ran down the hallways of the fort. Warrior Yoongi had been right when he said they could bite through the ropes in less than a few minutes, and even though he hadn't believed his words at first, he was glad he still followed the action. Now he was in a hurry to find the prince, running past all the rooms and desperately trying to find the one he could be in. He noticed a door, different looking from the rest and reached for it, yanking it open wide and wanting to step inside, but he stopped when the head of two soldier's turned towards him.

"Hey guys, uhh.. I'm looking for the prince," He started, not confident they would tell him but it was always worth a shot. "Do you guys maybe know where he is?"

The two soldiers narrowed their eyes before they glanced at each other. Then they hurriedly pushed their bowls of soup away and jumped out of their seats, pulling their weapons out as well. Taehyun's eyes widened and he quickly stepped back, darting back down the hallway. He turned a corner and slowed to a stop, smiling when he heard the soldiers falling to the ground.

"I told you it would work." He said as he turned to face the man still standing. "I never said it wouldn't." Yoongi huffed as he rubbed his wrists before bending down and grabbed the hat of a soldier, throwing it towards him after. "I just said it was a stupid plan."

"You waiting for me to bait them is more of a stupid plan for me, not for you."

They undressed the men of their armour and put it on themselves, looking like the soldiers here now and hoping they would blend in so they could look for the prince in peace. They walked towards the winding staircase that led to the next floor. The warrior had told him they probably kept the prince in the highest tower, to which Taehyun had laughed because it all sounded so cliché to him. All of this could be just a story in a book, and if he didn't know any better he would believe that it actually was.

"So what do we do now?" He asked the older in a hushed voice. He didn't want to die today so he had to make sure none of the many soldiers inside the fortress found out about them. "Just do what I taught you. The circle, remember?" The man replied. Taehyun's brows furrowed and he shook his head. "I'm not ready!" He hissed.

"Of course you are!" Yoongi said and reached out to push at his shoulder lightly. "You're the Black Knight! You have the skills."

Taehyun blinked. "Okay I don't- I don't get it because first I'm worthless and after a few lessons you say I have skills? It just doesn't add up." He said, lowering the weapon he held clutched to his chest and softening his voice. "It's not just me who thinks you're not worthless, Tae," The older said and the brunette's eyes widened slightly at the nickname. "The way the prince looks at you.. he believes in you."

Taehyun blinked again, a bubbling feeling settling in his stomach. "He does?" He asked with a small smile. Yoongi nodded and nudged his arm. "Yes! Now go rescue him!" He said and pushed him towards the staircase as he heard yelling coming from just around the corner. He whipped his head towards the sound, black hair falling into his eyes and he tightened his hold on the sword, walking towards it. Three soldiers came running towards him, but he knew he could take them with ease. He already saw some weak points. The first man lifted his sword, but he easily smacked his own blade against it, effectively pushing the man aside long enough to kick the second one in the stomach.

—x—

With a soft smile playing on his lips the younger hurried up the steps, the warrior's words ringing in his head. Did the prince really believe in him? He hoped so.

Once the curling of the stairs started he got across a solider who was patrolling and he stopped walking immediately. Their gazes locked together and the soldier narrowed his eyes. "What's up?" Taehyun asked, swallowing the lump in his throat because this would be the first time he had to take a man down on his own, the older not there to protect or help him. The man huffed and stepped forward, lifting the sword he was holding and preparing for battle.