Day 9: Of Blood and Honor

A/N: Writing prompt from

Day 9: Of Blood and Honor

It had been a late night in the palace. The guards were tranquilly pacing the castle's doors as the wind blew the trees to a dance.

In the distance, invisible to the guards, was a quick shifting movement on the trees, followed by a soft giggle. Then more precise jumps pursued, until, finally, the guards began to take notice.

The nearest three guards gathered close to each other and decided to follow a code, to catch the movement.

The movement, with his main companion, took her off his piggyback and placed her on a tree branch. He turned to her and gave her a smirk.

"Wait here. I'll be back." He jumped into the shrubbery once again, as the girl felt her flush spread through her face. This had to have been one of the most thrilling nights so far. And it was all because of this amazing boy.

Meanwhile, as the guards paced the castle grounds in a new rhythm, the movement was heard.

They got creative today, he thought with another smirk.

Quickly, he jumped to a branch closest to him and waited. There were three guards on this platform. The platform below was a long staircase away, and he knew that would give him enough time. But he still had to get these guards alone, and not let them call one of the other two.

This required ninja type qualities. And he was sure he'd be able to comply.

When one of the guards got closest to him, with lightning speed agility, the boy covered his mouth and gave him a quick sleeper hold.

One down, two to go, he thought as he hid the guard in the shadows.

The other two noticed one of their companions was gone and stayed close to each other, moving around back to back.

They really DID get creative, the boy thought with an eye roll as he pulled out a gray ball. With a light toss, the guards heard it roll towards them. Curious, they picked it up and were soon covered by smoke.

Why do we keep falling for this trick? The guards thought as they tried to squint through the gray clouds.

"Show your face 33! Stop being a coward!" They yelled amidst the cough. But soon, one of the guards found themselves alone.

"I'm not afraid of you! Stop hiding and fight like a man!" The last guard yelled, until he, too, was finally in 33's sleeper hold.

33 clapped his hands together and dusted off his dark suit. "That took a lot longer than it was supposed to."

With a surprising speed, 33 headed back to the tree for his giggling companion.

We're finally home free, he thought with a smile.

"Princess? Where are you?" he whispered in the tree.

"Here," he heard, followed by a giggle.

He climbed to the lower branch and found her. In her royal blue dress with her family crest embroidered in gold on the skirt.

She looked beautiful, as always.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready," she said, as she climbed back on his back.

33 jumped back to the platform where the guards were quietly snoring, and gently lowered himself to the floor.

She reluctantly found her footing and got on the ground. She turned to him and found him kneeling in front of her.

"Sorry I took long today. Your father is teaching the guards to be creative, and I was a bit unprepared for it. It won't happen again Princess," he said, in a noble tone.

She giggled into her pale-blue gloved hand. "Oh you," she said as she shoved him slightly.

He smiled back to her. "Goodnight Princess Phoebe," he bowed.

Phoebe blushed. He was such a gentleman! "Goodnight '33'," She said as she knelt beside him to place a kiss on his cheek.

33 froze in place, but eventually concluded he had to get off the castle grounds soon.

With that, he ran to the end of the platform and jumped into a tree. She heard rustling come from his jumps and sighed.

"I see he's still as clever as ever," she heard her father say. With a jump, she turned to face her father.

"I…I don't know what you mean," she said, feigning innocence.

Her father merely went to the platform and slid his index finger on the floor. He looked at the gray residue that was now there.

"33," he said.

Phoebe bit her lip. She knew her father didn't approve of '33'. She was a Princess after all! She had to find an appropriate suitor to marry; and he would become King of the Fair City of Hillwood. But, 33 was not at the desired social level to marry. Technically, 33 wasn't even close enough in class to be acquaintances. And his past career wasn't making her father any less lenient either.

"How many times have I forbid you from seeing him?" he asked her, as he stood and patted his clothing.

She smiled. "33 times."

He shook his head, not at all in the mood for a joke of hers. "But there isn't going to be a 34th. Tomorrow morning, you will leave this city and begin your training as a lady."

"As a lady? Father! I finished that training when I was of 16 years! That was at least two years ago!" Phoebe said, incapable of believing what her father was saying.

"It doesn't matter. I want you to brush up on your skills as a seamstress a bit more. As well as mannerisms," he said, referencing her heightening tone from a few moments ago.

"But father-"

"But nothing. You were such a perfect Princess a few years ago, right after coming back from the covenant the first time. But obviously, 33 has been having an ill effect on you. I'm sorry Phoebe, but I'm thinking about the future of you and my kingdom, both of which are intertwined to your destiny."

"Father, please! Don't make me go! Training lasts a year, at least, for proper mannerisms and sewing. I can't leave for an entire year," she said, as she felt tears sting at her eyes.

Her father came over to her side and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "If you keep sneaking around with that…peasant, for lack of nicer words…you will dishonor not only yourself, but your family and Hillwood. Do you want that to happen?"

Angrily, she shook her head in compliance.

He pulled her into an embrace; one she did not respond to.

"There, you see. Maybe your time at the covenant will be cut shorter, if you remember your mannerisms. Now, come inside dear. You must rest for the long journey that awaits you tomorrow."

There were footsteps on the platform, heading inside the room which was hers. 33 didn't like the fact that Phoebe was re-assigned 'Lady learning'; especially because she was plenty of a 'Lady' without the help of any lessons.

Just as he was about to jump away for real, this time, and leave to ponder this a bit longer, he heard shuffling on the platform and some irritated moans from the guards. He smirked and then heard Phoebe's father approaching.

"Guards," he said, as he waited for them to stand.

"Yes sir!" they all said (and at 33's guess, probably saluted too) at the King.

"You will have an important mission. One I will give you a year to complete. The guard who accomplishes this mission will have one wish granted by myself," the King said, as he began to pace.
"Yes sir?" they all asked, again, most likely with a salute.

"I want 33. I want him captured and in my prison. Alive preferably, but dead is also accepted," he said.

The guards spoke amongst themselves.

"Sir, do you realize what you're asking? 33 may not be connected to any of the royal families here, but, he is considered by many the 'King of Assasins'."

"Former 'King of Assasin's'. I heard he stopped killing people, for unknown reasons."

"Did you know the number '33', his nickname, stands for the people he's killed so far."

"I heard, he's been called that name so long, that no one, not even himself knows his real name."

"Enough!" the King yelled softly, but in a firm tone.

For once, King, I agree with you. I totally know my name! 33 thought as he waited for the next words

"All of those statements may be true-"

So much for agreeing with the King, 33 thought.

"-But I can't risk him having more contact with my daughter. The last thing my kingdom needs is an assassin as King. Or worse, he could not marry her but leave her deflowered before she is wed. I can't risk it anymore. He must be stopped." The King said, in a strange voice the guards had never heard.

"My King, do you realize this would mean bloodshed?"

The King turned around. "Then let there be blood."
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A/N: I have to admit...so far in these challenges, this is my favorite one! The idea from this came from a few sources, but the main source is No she didn't technically give me the idea, but her prompt for Spellbound reminded me of this book series, Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce, which THEN reminded me of other books set in times of Knights and Castles and such. Today, when I saw the prompt, I was going to do a total fluff piece. Yup I was inspired to do a fluff piece for the prompt "Of Blood and Honor". Because I'm that dang twisted

But, (and I'm being completely honest when I say this) this story (majority of it, minus a few things) popped into my head while washing dishes. I couldn't resist and just...went with it. And I LOVE it!

Meaning, this will not be the last time you see this story (especially you )

I know Phoebe's dad is OOC, as well as Phoebe (but she doesn't stray too much from her character, at least I think...) But I think Gerald is the most in-canon here, regardless. But trust me...there are REASONS these characters are OOC. I just didn't want to explain them, because then this story would get WAYYYYYY too long. Sure, it currently stands at a wimpy 4 pages, but with the explanations...I'm betting it would be more. Besides, this was just supposed to be a scene

LOL So please give me feedback (and no, I don't want this to be CurlyxRhonda, ArnoldxHelga, etc. This story works best with this pairing because of reasons that matter later on in the story.)