Prologue
The sun was shining on our faces and our hair was blowing in the wind as we danced around the kingdom center. Lady Agatha had just finished painting our faces with paints made from berries and leaves when Azrael grabbed my hand and pulled me up a flight of stairs above the bakery. "Where are we going?" I whisper, trying to be as quiet as possible but giggling too much to be discreet. He puts a finger to his lips and points towards the baker's freshly baked bread. I understood the plan before he even had to put it into words. I throw myself into a cannonball motion down the stairs, faking my cries. I pretend that my knee hurts, then my elbow, my neck, my shoulder, and my ankle. Just enough tears to distract the unsuspecting man, but not enough to warrant the concern of the knights around the corner. All so that Azrael can sneak behind us to swipe two rolls of fresh bread and dash back up the stairs. Seeing him make his escape I fain a miracle healing and run up the stairs behind him, leaving the baker to find 2 left goods than before.
Azrael and I laugh so hard that breathing becomes difficult and eating is borderline impossible. "We really fooled him!" I shout, trying to contain my laughter. "Do you think he really falls for that every single time? At this point, you have fallen down those stairs so many times, I wouldn't be surprised to find brain damage, or at least a few too many bolts loose" He says, giggling and poking the side of my head. I slap his hand away, appalled by the suggestion. "I have impeccable acting skills! Plus, I am the one doing all of the heavy lifting in this arrangement! All you have to do is hide some bread under your coat for a few moments!" I state, offended by the very doubt of my intelligence.
We scarf down our bread and then join the festivities down below, dancing around the painted crown on the ground and singing along to the faerie song. Our hands clasp together as we dance off beat and sing off key. There is no one that I would rather be with at this moment.
"Ordilia!" I hear faintly. "Ordilia!" The voice is getting closer. I turn to see my father running towards me at full speed. Honey- We need to leave!" I pull away from him, feeling Azrael's arms wrap around me protectively. He pushes me behind him, bringing his wooden practice sword out from its sheathe and pointing it at my father. I am suddenly pushed to the ground by someone much larger, an orc guard. I fall to the ground, tasting dirt. I see Azrael being swept off his feet into the guards arms and carrying him away, kicking and screaming. "Azrael! Wait- Please! Where are you taking him?!" I attempt to chase after him, but my fathers firm hands around my shoulders prevent me from doing so. I pull away from him with all my might but the guard keeps walking away. My voice grows hoarse from the screaming and the begging, my legs grow weary from the resistance, and after what feels like hours of fighting, I give into the exhaustion and the tears.
