Ill Met By Moonlight (Starfire and Io)

[Lunoh]

Gustav/ Kaine

Gustav stood when the king did, out of respect, and nodded. "Of course your majesty. It is my duty to serve." He bowed as the king left. Once the door was closed, he sat back in his seat with a heavy sigh. He leaned his head back and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to relieve himself of the slight headache this whole escapade had given him. After a few moments, he dropped his hand and glanced sidelong at a stack of blank papers. Those papers were his reminder that he still needed to fill out an official, written report, and the sooner he got that done, the sooner he would be able to leave and relax in the comfort of his own home. He sat up straight again and reached for the stack of papers, bringing a quill and inkwell closer and began to write his report.

The healers bathed Kaine in cool, herb and lye treated water, bringing the burning fever down a bit, and giving comfort, however slight, to the ailing thief. Once cooler and clean, they gently dried him and put him in a clean set of loose, white cotton pants, leaving him shirtless to better ventilate and keep cool. Back in his bed, Kaine relaxed, the pain subdued by the bath and tonic administered by the healers. As he slept, he dreamed.

Kaine awoke, and at first, his surroundings were unfamiliar, foreign. The longer he took it in, the more he recognized. The stone walls, the velvet carpet, the sconces that lined the corridors. He was home. In his family's castle, untouched by the destruction of time. He slowly walked through the halls, taking it all in. His hand came to his chest as his heart ached with years of homesickness, and he looked down in surprise. He was not in his tunic and leather breeches, hand made from the forest. He was in the finest silk and stitching, slim fitting pants, lined with the most beautiful embroidery he had ever seen, and a light, red cape fluttered behind him as he walked. He was royalty, as he had been.

A light ahead caught his attention and he came into a small, circular room. There was but one door ahead of him, and in front of that door stood a tall, well groomed man, a woman at his side, and a small boy, no older than four, stood in front of the woman, her hands on the lad's shoulders. They smiled fondly at him, and he felt his heart stop. "F-father? Mother? Shane?" Tears stung and the corners of his eyes and blurred his vision.

A shout from one of the healers sounded as they checked Kaine's vitals. Despite what they had done, he seemed to be fading.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

Code:

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀Curiosity drew the king to see the ailing thief inside the healer's room. Knocking once, he entered without any hesitation. He was sure there was nothing he could catch inside the room that would require him to wait. Shouts and the sounds of scurrying feet subsided for a few moments once he entered. Not uncommon. After acknowledging his presence, the healers went back to their duties. It seemed they were doing everything in their power for the stranger on the table.

The king watched Kaine on the table, trying to figure him out. Or more specifically, what his daughter could see to care for someone such as him. Beyond the overall unhealthy look he seemed to be sporting, he didn't seem to be anything extraordinary. Though he seemed a bit familiar in a way. Perhaps he had lived in the city before taking refuge in the forest? He couldn't put his finger on it.

Still lost in his thoughts, the king found the nearest chair and sat, watching the healers buzz about the room.

...............

Cassie's footsteps slowed as she neared the wall surrounding her home again. Her breaths came in heaves, causing her to haunch over as she tried to catch her breath again. Running such long distances at one time was certainly something she wasn't used to. And the heavy dress, with all it's layers and restraining corset-like top, however loose, didn't make matters any better. Thankfully, she'd abandoned her heels halfway through her first run after getting caught in the mud. Her stockings felt wet and dirty, but she knew it wasn't a top priority.

Her hand shot up and felt around her head, letting out a breath of relief when she felt the flower was still fastened in it. Unsure what to do next, Cassie scanned the area for a way back inside the castle. Spotting a tree with a large enough branch to be able to jump onto the wall, she decided to climb. Surprisingly it was easier to climb than the trees the night before.

Once over, she raced back inside, hearing a yell of protest from the earlier guard at the door. Within another minute she was back to the healer's room. To her surprise, her father was there. The king's eyes scanned her daughters disheveled appearance, his face showing disapproval. Before he could speak, she turned her back on him and addressed the nearest healer. "Could you please take this flower? It'll help him. I know it will." She said, handing the flower off after she untangled it from her hair. Afterwards she sat in the chair near the bed Kaine was resting in. She felt her father's stare from behind her, but refused to look. Instead she focused on Kaine. "You'll be okay now. I found the flower. You'll be healed soon." She said soothingly. Although she wasn't sure if he could even hear her. Perhaps she was just speaking to calm herself.

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

The healers took the flower, inspecting it. They had never seen a flower such as this before, but as the princess had ordered it be put to use in saving the boy, they had no time to study it further. Quickly, they gathered a mortar and pestle and ground the petals up into a paste, which they then mixed with water to create something drinkable. Lifting the patient's head, a gentle healer tipped the glass to his lips.

Kaine ran to his family, embracing them with tears no longer held back. They held each other for a long while before Kaine's father cleared his throat. Kaine looked up at his father, releasing them all from his arms. "Father, it's so good to see you all. I-i've missed you so much."

"Yes, my son. As have we, but it not yet time for you to rejoin us. You still have much more to do." The regal man told his son, who looked confused. "I don't understand. We are finally back together. What must I do? What more must I endure? I am ready to come home!" He looked at his mother, hoping she would be on his side, but from her grim expression, he knew she would support her husband. "Dear, you may think you are ready, but you have so much more waiting for you. You cannot end it now. We will always be here to welcome you back when you time has truly come. Just be patient, and live you life to the fullest."

A whisper of a voice drifted from the bright windows on the ceiling. He looked up, blinded by the growing light that reached down at him. He raised a hand to shield his vision, looking at his family once more. "I love you!" He called to them. "We love you too!" Called the tiny voice of his baby brother.

Kaine took a deep breath, as if he hadn't been breathing before. His lungs ached from the mist and felt like they needed a good stretch. After a few more heavy breaths, they felt better and his breathing slowed to a slow, but steady rise and fall of his chest. The healer began checking his vitals again, and relief flooded her face. He was coming back.

After a few minutes, Kaine's eyes fluttered, peeking open groggily and blinking. He looked around drowsily, not recognizing where he was, then his eyes fell on Cassie. His cloudy gaze stared at her for a long moment, before smiling and fluttering closed again.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀Cassie watched intently as the healers ground up the flower and used it to make a medicine of sorts. It was fascinating to watch, in her opinion. Such things wouldn't be something a princess would learn. After one of the healers had him drink the remedy, her eyes never left Kaine. She watched the barely visible rise and fall of his chest. Thoughts of death and dying entered her mind, but she banished them as quickly as they formed.

It seemed like hours later when she heard a deep breath from the bed. The obvious relief on the healers' faces made her relax and feel more at ease. He was returning! She watched him intently as he breathed, happy to see a more defined rise and fall of his chest. Something blue caught her attention and her mossy eyes met his. Seeing him smile before shutting his eyes once more confirmed her thoughts. He would be alright. Cassie relaxed in her chair, feeling less on edge.

The king watched everything from his chair in the corner. The boy pulled through. The king got up and stretched, feeling achy from the simple hard wooden chair. It wasn't his ideal seat of choice, that was for sure. Standing up straight once more, he looked between the sleeping Kaine and his own daughter. "Once your friend is able, I'd like the two of you to meet with me in the counsel room." He said simply before leaving the room. Cassie watched him leave, but made no moves to join him. She wanted to wait and watch over Kaine while he recovered.

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

As the last of the day passed, Kaine looked steadily better. Now and then, a healer would come and check on him, keep him hydrated, but for the most part, they left the Princess alone with him and busied themselves with other things. At one point, a woman entered, speaking of a head injury she had received when her horse had thrown her. They gave her some tonic to sooth the pain and sent her on her way. The woman's gaze lingered on the princess and Kaine for a moment, her silver hair glinting in the candle light, then rushed off.

When the sun was long down, and the moon rising, Kaine stirred and opened his eyes. It was dim in the room, but soothingly warm. A quick couple of sniffs told him he was clean, laying in fresh linens. It was very comfortable, but where was he? He slowly sat up, his aching body protesting, but not strongly enough to make him stop. Once up, he leaned back against the head board and caught his breath, the action of simply sitting up made him dizzy. After a moment, he looked over to see Cassandra, and he began to remember the last few moments of consciousness before his turning the night before. "Cassie, are you alright?" He asked urgently, even though by looking at her he would be able to tell she was rather fine. Looking around his surroundings, a lump gathered in his gut. "Where are we?" He asked, afraid of the answer.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀Cassie spent her time until Kaine awoke in the same spot. The healers didn't seem to mind her presence, even going so far as to bring her a few books from the library to occupy her time and a small plush blanket to wrap herself in if she found herself nodding off. Beyond watching Kaine and reading, she found watching the healers work interesting. Herbs, both strange and familiar lined the shelves, along with bandages and gauze. Mysterious ready made medicines were held in a sealed glass cabinet.

The sound of rustling sheets awoke her from an unexpected light slumber. Opening her eyes, she was surprised to find Kaine awake and no longer looking sickly. She stood quickly as he moved to sit up in the bed, ready to help just in case he needed it. Once he seemed to be fine, she sat back down and retrieved her blanket that had fallen on the floor by her feet when she got up.

A tiny laugh escaped her hearing his question about her. "Yes, yes, I'm fine. How are you feeling?" She asked. Hearing his next question, she looked at him a bit sheepishly. "Well.... We're at the castle. The healers have been looking after you. They made medicine out of the flower you had said about to heal you..... What do you remember?" She asked curiously willing to fill in as much as she could. A part of her hoped he wouldn't be angry for being in the castle.

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine's breath caught in his throat when he head Cassie's words. He was in the castle? It was dangerous for him to be here! He was a wanted criminal. The fear was prevalent in his glossy blue eyes as he stared at his blankets. What were they going to do to him now? What was to point of healing him if he was going to die a prisoner here anyway? Were they going to torture him? Is that why? Did they want him fit and healthy before they sentenced him? These thoughts, and many others like it, flew through his mind.

He looked up at Cassie, realizing she had been speaking. He tried to calm himself, but he did not succeed as well as he would have liked. "I-i... I rememb-ber..." He frowned, "We were caught, and I was b-bound. Then the moon..." He closed his eyes, shuddering at the thought. Every full moon was hell for him, but this one was the worst he had endured. He slumped back, feeling exhausted. "That's... that's all I remember." he said, eyes still closed, brows furrowed in fear and pain.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀"Don't worry, you're alright being here. I don't think my father intends to send you to the prison." Cassie said quickly, seeing the fear in his eyes. It made sense. Thievery wasn't something to be taken lightly there, or any crime for that matter, no matter how petty. But he had helped and saved a member of the royal family. Surely that would sit well with the king and help sway his decision on the matter. She hoped so, anyway.

She thought carefully on her words to tell Kaine what had happened following his last memory. A part of her didn't want to tell him. After all, he did come after her. But he didn't hurt her. She supposed that justified something, although he had no control over it. Cassie glanced around the room, making sure there was no one around, and listened for footsteps anywhere outside the room before speaking. "Well..... You had changed. The mist rolled in, and I had been able to climb a tree to safety, along with the rest of my father's men. But..... you couldn't climb. I guess that's when the mist started to poison your body. She gave him a sympathetic smile thinking of how he seemed to be just hours before because of the mist. She felt sorry for him. He seemed to go through quite a lot already with the transformations.

"You.... I led you to water. So you were out of the mist. You stayed there until morning, and sir Gustav brought you here, to the healers. It took a while, but they were able to heal you. Thanks to a flower you were able to tell me about before drifting out of consciousness again, anyway. And I believe that's everything." She finished. Speaking so much made her a bit thirsty. She got up and moved to the sink to fill up two disposable cups for the both of them. She supposed it would be a good idea for him to drink some as well. Beyond the medicine the healers had made for him earlier, she assumed he hadn't had much to drink. She offered him his cup after she settled down in her chair again.

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine opened his eyes slightly, looking over the folds of his blanket as Cassie filled in the blanks in his memory. The mist. He had survived the mist. This would be the second time. That was how he knew to use the flower. He had been dying in the garden on his first night alone, and in his vision, all he could see was a spot of blue nearby. He reached for it, and in his delirious state, began to nibble on the petals. He had survived the night, and thus discovered the cure. He had managed to save the flower and replant it, despite the missing petals.

His eyes flicked up when Cassie left the bedside, watching as she poured herself some water. He took his cup and smiled at her in thanks. His throat was rather dry. He sipped the water, still uneasy at being in the castle. He wanted to recover and slip back out into the forest before anyone had the chance to confront him about anything. He may have saved thee King's daughter. but he knew the punishments for theft in the kingdom, and whats worse, he knew the men had seen him transform. Word would soon be out that there was a monster in the city. People would know the secret of Sapphire eyes, and he would not be able to show his face for fear he would be attacked on sight. It had happened before at a different seaside kingdom many miles south of here. He sighed and leaned back, holding the cup loosely in his lap. He wanted to leave now.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀Cassie sat in silence and sipped her water as she listened to the sounds outside the window. Sounds of people and the clacks of horses on the streets outside. The sounds of the forest seemed more calming in her opinion. "My father may grant you pardon. I know a way back into the forest. You could probably use it to leave. It's how I left to get the flower." She offered after a few moments. She wondered if he felt strange inside the castle. He seemed more accustomed to living in the forest than in a city ruled by a king. Not that she could blame him. It must be nice to be free, without any rules or expectations. She wondered if she would be able to leave as well. Would her father have his guards as constant escorts or something of the sort? She shivered in displeasure at the thought of restrictions on her already limited freedom.

{o.o.c. Sorry for the small post! }

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine remained silent for a long while, thinking. He took sips of his water, wincing when he moved his shoulder too far. "Thank you... by the way. For saving my life." He said finally, looking up from his blank stare at the blankets to look at Cassie. "Your father... the king..." He remembered the shock he felt when he discovered she was the princess. He hadn't been able to respond then, but now the fact sunk in. He shook his head, confused, "Why... What... Why didn't you tell me you were the princess? That info would have helped. I would have covered my tracks better, I wouldn't have backtracked..." He stopped. Truth be told, if he had known, he would have ditched her. If he had known, he would have known it would be certain death to have her tag along. He felt anger, betrayal, but at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to blame her. He had enjoyed their time together in the forest, but what was to happen now? Even with a pardon, surely the king would not let his daughter back out into the forest. There would be no way, and that brought a sadness to him. It had been so long since he had had anyone to talk to. HE had gotten used to the solitude, but now, with a taste of companionship, it ached to think he would have to return to his lonely life as a hermit in the forest.

Japanesestarfire

It's totally fine.

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀Cassie gave him a tiny smile. "You don't need to thank me. I would have never just let you die." She fell silent after he had finished speaking, thinking about her answer. It wasn't as if she wanted him to be caught by her father's men. She didn't want to be caught by them either. And yet, there the two of them were. With enough begging and string pulling, she was sure she could have Kaine free to go where he pleased. Back to the forest, most likely. While she stayed confined in the castle, auctioned off to be wed to some stranger. All for the title of queen and her father could renounce his role as king and retire. Although it was normal for royalty to do so, she hated it. It wasn't like she asked to be a princess.

"I didn't tell you I was the princess because if I had you may have forced me back to the castle. I wanted to leave. I have no freedom here, no choice on anything." She said, her grip on her flimsy cup tightening a bit as she spoke. Just thinking about her proposed future made her a bit angry. She hated feeling like her fate was out of her control. "I was being forced into a life I didn't necessarily want. And that's why I left. Or tried to, anyway. I didn't mean for you to get caught up into my mess, or for you to get caught at all. I'm sorry."

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine was silent yet again. He knew what she said was true, he would have left her or forced her to go back. He really hoped Cassie would be able to talk to her father and let him go free. But what about her? He told himself he could leave her behind, he could forget about her, and that it would probably do him good in the end, but somehow, he couldn't bring himself to accept that. If he got out, and she was trapped here, he knew he would not be able to leave her. She had worked so hard to prove herself, and after all he had done, he had grown attached to her.

He looked at her, thinking. He knew all of the secrets in the forest. He could take her and they could never be found. But then again, the guards would constantly be on their trail, and they would be constantly on the run. He sighed. He didn't know what to do. All he knew was he was tired, and it was taking more and more energy to remain sitting up. He leaned back against the wall, his eyes drooping.

Japanesestarfire

I think nows a good time to time skip to morning

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀Cassie fell silent for a while as she slowly finished her water. No matter what, she was determined to have Kaine leave freely back to the forest. What would happen to her didn't matter as much, at least in her thoughts. Her fate as a princess was already sealed. There wasn't too much she could really do. Shaking her thoughts away, she glanced up at Kaine and saw his eyes seem to droop. A tiny smile formed on her face and she stood up, adjusting her skirts as she did so. "I'll leave you to sleep now. I'll be back in the morning." She said before leaving the room, tossing her empty cup away in the trash can by the door on her way.

A few guards looked at her questionably as to why she was wandering the halls so late, but she ignored them. On the way back to her room, she concentrated on figuring out what to say to her father the next day. How could she convince him? Once she got back to her room, she dismissed her maids who had followed her into the room. She was fully capable of dressing herself. Cassie slipped on her nightgown and crawled into bed. She may miss the forest, but she had to admit her bed felt ten times better than leaves and animal skins. But that was a luxury she could afford to lose. Her intention was to stay awake until she thought of something to tell her father, but her drooping eyes had other plans. Within minutes, she was asleep.

............

When morning arose, the king was already up and pacing around the counsel room. It was where he frequently went to think. A single guard watched him, otherwise the room was empty. What was he going to do about this Sapphire Eyes? Especially after seeing his daughter was still in one piece after spending so long in the forest. She was a fragile girl, surely she wouldn't have lasted a day out there. Eventually the king's pacing began to slow. Perhaps the care he had given to the princess was enough to forgive his thievery. This time. However, he wasn't entirely sure.

The king changed course and left the counsel room, his thoughts still heavy in his mind. Passerby in the halls stood out of the way as he passed, all mumbling good mornings and bowing in respect. He paid them no mind, seemingly not even noticing them. Eventually he found his way to the healer's room. Knocking once, he let himself inside. He was surprised to not see Cassandra still sitting by the boy's bedside. The king cleared his throat before speaking "Are you up, lad? How are you feeling?"

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine slept through the whole night, not stirring or waking once. His body needed to recuperate, and an uninterrupted sleep was the best way to do it. He dreamed of many things as he slept. He dreamed of chasing deer, he dreamed of sitting in his garden, catching fish in the pond, he dreamed of his meeting with his parents and brother, but that dream was far too short. As the sun began to rise, a presence came to be by his sleeping for. Kaine sensed it, and even before it spoke, he began to wake up. When his eyes focused, he saw the king standing before his his bedside, and Kaine sat up quickly, scooting back as far as he could until his back met the headboard. What was the King doing here? No, it made perfect sense that the king would be here. Kaine kept his gem like eyes on the king, but remained silent. He did not want to answer any questions. Kaine was sure the king was here to take him into prison.

But where were the guards? Surely the King would have brought backup if he was going to take Kaine into custody. Maybe he thought he was still weak. Well, he was, but Kaine felt strong enough to take an old man in heavy, royal robes. Or maybe... Maybe the king was just here to talk. Kaine remained apprehensive, but he didn't move or try to escape. He merely watched the man.

Japanesestarfire