Runaway

This one is for Protector of Dreams and I

Aunika was hastilly packing her bags. There was no way she was gonna marry some stuck-up prince she didn't even know. One of her sisters can marry him. She had stolen some sable boy clothes and put them on so she could run away.

(Are we starting this one over?)

I guess so.

(Ok good, I don't really like how I started it off.)

Abaddon walked through the crowded streets of the market. He was on the run from his kingdom. His father, Lord Godric ruled the kingdom with an iron fist. His people feared him. Abaddon did not like this, and decided to flee. His fathers dark hunters were after Abaddon. He fled to the farthest town he could and took refuge there. All he had was his faithful steed, Cielo and the clothes on his back along with a few provisions.

Aunkia had made it into town successfully. She purchased a dress and changed into it. She continued to walk through out town looking for a place to stay.

Abaddon was strolling through the market getting some food for him and his horse when he bumped into a young lady that was walking by and knocked her to the ground. He did not know his own strength apparently.
"Oh excuse me. Are you alright?" He looked down and noticed a carrot had fallen from his bag so he bent down to pick it up and to help her up as well.

She smiled, "Yes I'm fine. Thank you." She took his hand.

Her hands were so soft and delicate he was afraid of cradling them in his for fear of breaking them. He clasped her hand and helped her up while also picking up the carrot for Cielo. He looked up and met her eyes. She was gorgeous. The hood on Abaddon's head concealed most of his face in shadow. He was still trying to lie low for the time being.
"I am very sorry madame. I didn't see you."

She smiled, "Thats quite all right." She tried to peer into his hood. "Why do you hide your face?"

Abaddon has to think of a quick lie to cover for his royal identity.
"I have a scar on my face. I don't want to scare children in the marketplace. It is quite gruesome. I was burned by accident as a child." He stood up straight and made sure to keep his face concealed. He returned her hand to her and put his carrot back into his pack.
"Are you sure you are alright?"

She smiled, "I don't care about scars or such nonsense every one is beautiful." She tried once again to see his face, "Yes I am fine thank you, but I really would like to meet you. And I can't do that until I see your face."

Abaddon was in a bind here. He had no scar to reveal to her.
"I would, but I am very self conscious about my scar. I keep it hidden when I am in public." He made sure to keep a hold of his hood in case she quickly tried to push it off.
"Well, if there isn't anything else I can do for you then I will be on my way."

She pursed her lips, "Come on it cannot be that bad." She tried to peer into his hood. "The only thing I request is to see your face." She was getting a bit irritated she wasn't used to people telling her no.

Abaddon could tell that she was getting irritated. He didn't really have time for her pettiness.
"I wish we could talk more, but my horse is famished and is waiting for me to return with him some food. So I bid you adieu my dear." He turned and walked away back toward the edge of town near the forest where he had a temporary camp set up.

She sighed and left him be, "He's really that self conscious about himself." Later that day she was looking for a place to stay. A guy came up behind her and cornered her, "Well, hello pretty lady. You look lost."
"I'm just fine thank you. I can take care of myself." She tried to get past him.
He grabbed her arm, "Are you sure cause I know a nice little place where we can go."
She yanked her arm out of his grip, "I said I was fine."
He grabbed her arm once more, "You testing my patience." He raised his hand to slap her. She closed her eyes and looked away waiting for the blow.

Abaddon waited a while before he went back into town. This time he had his horse Cielo with him. He was a dark brown, almost black color with a just as dark mane. Cielo had a full belly and was very happy and well rested. They had both been journeying for a couple of days straight without rest and little food or water. Cielo's ears twitched and he stopped looking down a small alleyway.
"What is it boy?" Cielo's nostrils flared. Abaddon tied him to a post and went to investigate. He heard a female voice and a husky male voice. He went in further and found them in a small struggle. He kept his hood up; this was no time to play hero, but he would rather not watch this woman get raped or worse.

He reached out and grabbed the mans arm at the wrist before his hand connected with her pale cheek. "Is there a problem here sir?" He said in a very cold and cruel tone.
The man was very angered by Abaddon's presence.
"This is none of your business! Get lost!"
"I don't think so." Abaddon took the mans wrist and twisted it in a bone shattering manner.

The mans grip on her arm loosened and he ran off knocking her to the ground. She looked up, "It's YOU!" She felt relived that it was some one she was acquainted with, "Thank you for saving me." She said.

Abaddon watched the man run off and made sure that he was gone.
"You just can't stay out of trouble can you?" He lent his hand to her and helped her up.
"Did he hurt you?"

She blushed, "Thankfully he didn't hurt me." She took his hand.

"That's good." He helped her up and looked her over casually for any signs of foul play. She looked fine.
"Come with me. This is no place for a lady such as yourself." He made sure she stayed close as he guided her out of the alleyway. He walked her over toward Cielo who had calmed down now.
"If it weren't for Cielo here, I wouldn't have known what was going on."

She smiled and pet the horse, "Well I guess it is you I should be thanking." She teased. She looked back at Abaddon. "I really am greatfull you saved me. If you hadn't I don't know what would have happened to me." she blushed tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Cielo leaned into her hand and nuzzled it. Abaddon knew that this girl was a good person, otherwise Cielo would not have warmed up to her so quickly.
"I am thankful as well. Too much crime goes on in these streets. You should be more careful, and not travel alone."

She nodded, "I didn't know there was so much crime. I've been through here before but nothing has ever happened to me before." She continued to pet the horse. "Sadly I have no escort. I'm on my own. I was looking for a place to stay when that guy came."

Abaddon felt guilty knowing that he may have to leave her. Something like that would more than likely happen again.
"If you want, I can stay with you until you find a place to stay. You will be much safer if I am around to look after you."

Her face brightened, "Really? You would do that for me?"

"It is better than you getting raped or killed. A pretty girl like you is easy pickings on these streets." He put his weapon back in his pouch on his saddle. "You can ride on Cielo and I will guide you wherever you want to go." He kept his hood up and close to prevent it from falling back just in case some of his fathers hidden agents were around.

She smiled, "I would very much like that." Her face fell a bit, "Except I don't know where to go."

Abaddon had a rather annoyed, but still confused look on his face.
"You don't know where you want to go?" He put his hand to his forehead and shook his head.
"How about a fresh start then?"

She sighed and shook her head, "I'm sorry. I'm becoming a nuisance to you. I'll be fine on my own."

He put his hands around her waist and lifted her onto Cielo and sat her down in a side saddle position.
"No, you aren't. It is not very often I am in the company of a lovely lady such as yourself. You are in no way a nuisance to me. Cielo enjoys your company as well." Cielo neighed happily in response.

She blushed at the compliment, "Thank you. I really wish I could see how handsome you are." Trying once more to peer into his hood.

"Maybe some day soon you will." He grabbed a hold of the reigns and pulled Cielo along.
"So, have you eaten at all today?"

She blushed as her stomach replied for her, "I haven't eaten since early this morning."

"Well then, I will take you back to my camp and we can have lunch." He pulled Cielo along back toward the outskirts of the town near the forests edge.

"Wow," She gasped, "I had no clue the forest around here was to beautiful."

"You don't get out very much do you?" He took Cielo to his usual spot and helped Aunika off. He took his reigns off and threw them over his shoulder and walked over to his tent that was pitched beneath a tree.
"What would you like? I have plenty of fruit and a little bit of dried meat."

She blushed, "Not really." She noticed they were alone. She grinned, "Well since were alone can I see your face?"

"You are quite determined aren't you?" He smirked a bit. He put both his hands on the hood and pulled it back to reveal his ivory skin. His eyes were dark and mysterious, but there was no scar.
"Yeah I know. . .there is no scar." He got a pot out of his tent and stood up. "I am going to get some water. Want to come along?"

"Where is that scar you were so self conscious about?" She teased him, She actually found him quite handsome, "Sure I'll go with you."

"So why didn't you want to reveal your face earlier?"

"It is kinda complicated. I am also sure you wouldn't want to hear it." The came to a small stream on the inside of the forest line. He dumped the pale in and filled it with water.

She smiled at him, "I have nothing, but time."

"Hmm, that's true." Abaddon lifted the heavy pale and began walking back.
"I had to lie about having a scar because, I do not want to reveal my face in public due to the fact that I am on the run and I don't want to risk anyone recognizing me."

"Hmm... On the run from what? You don't seem like a thief, because if you were you would have just left me with that guy back there."

"No, I am not a thief. I am actually an aristocrat." He tried to avoid her gaze.

"Really? So you um... ran away from home?"

"Yes, I did not agree with my fathers ways and he wanted to me take his place when he died and rule just as he did. I did not want to be like him so I ran away. I know I may look evil, but I am not."

She frowned and pursed her lips, "You don't look evil."

"Thank you." He was grateful to finally hear that from someone.

She smiled, "Your welcome. But I am curious, why would you think you're scary looking?"

"Look at me. My dark complexion. My ebony black hair, dark eyes. I look just like my father, and he is a merciless monster. He even chose a dark name for me. Abaddon, ruin, destruction." He chuckled. "Here I am spilling my guts to a total stranger. I must be more lonely than I thought. I don't even know your name."