Love Knows Its Way Back

And That's How They Met

 Violence has no part to play in bringing about peace. Love and kindness can achieve better results than a sword and spear. Or, so I believed. Has a rabid dog ever listened to reason or reacted to your kindness? Never!
                       - Diary Of Ophelia

Celosia was talking with the villagers about the incident and seeing to the solution to their troubles when she heard a few raised voices from not so far away. She went on to find the source of those voices and found a few of her soldiers in a heated battle with a stranger. Three against one and the young man was faring well.

The young man had the height of about 6 feet and a well-defined body with a head full of raven coloured hair. He was well dressed giving off an air of someone wealthy. She, her curiosity piqued, listened in to their conversation.

"Why can't you answer my simple questions?" He was heard asking impatiently while slashing his sword ruthlessly and a deep wound was formed on the arm of a soldier.

"We are not obliged to answer you," one of the soldiers said in an enraged voice.

" They are the finest soldiers of the Falcon army. Their monarch doesn't stand for men with unruly behaviour. The one whom you've tied up on that tree over there is the Crown Prince's trusted Captain. I suggest you let them all free and explain to His Majesty the reason why you have captured them." He said while evading their attack and moving back.

"Well then, I suggest you bring your Crown Prince here so that we can let him know about the atrocities committed by his trusted soldiers." Celosia said with in a dark tone.

The man paused and turned around on hearing a voice better suited for a teenager. But the authority it seemed to carry didn't escape his notice.

"And who are you, young lad?"

'Young lad!? Was he addressing her!!??'
She stood there like a statue, motionless. 'Those eyes.... they look so familiar. Those brown eyes, that black hair....but the beard looked not so rough. It seemed as if it was kept short. But his face except for that beard, look so familiar. It's him!! The one in my dream!! Isn't it??'

Well, truth be told the young man was not to be blamed. Celosia did look like a teenage boy with her 5' 3'' long elfin stature. To top it, she was in male clothings. Even if females being that short was common, males were of much better height. And she was wearing a piece of cloth around her face, successfully covering the lower part of her face.

" Lieutenant Perseus." the soldiers bowed.

Celosia was brought back from her thoughts by their voice.

'Lieutenant!!' To say that the young man was surprised would be the understatement of the century. 'And what a pair of mesmerizing eyes. Huh, Jason, are you now getting attracted by a pair of eyes of a young lad? Get a grip on yourself.'

"So you are the one in charge here, I presume?"

"You could say that." She replied. Her confusion about the identity of the man caused her voice to be rough.

"Then I'm sure you will be willing to let them go."

"You have so much confidence in them, it seems. Care to explain why you were exchanging blows with my soldiers?"

"You are not in a position to question me!"

" Lieutenant, we were just following your orders. This man wanted to let those rogues escape. We couldn't stand by and let him do it." A soldier said in a righteous tone. They knew the dire results of inviting the wrath of Lieutenant Perseus on themselves. They would rather blame the stranger.