Post #2703547 in The Prince and the Shieldmaiden, a roleplay on RPG

Evangelina sat in the garden, enjoying the sweet fragrances that came from each of the unique and foreign flowers of this land. Of course, they were only foreign to her. As she whispered her fingers over the velvety petals of the red rose, she wondered how long before this place felt like home. She'd been in this part of the world for a year or so now, but the place never felt like home. Even when she had her own little cottage in the small town where the king had found her selling her wares. She'd thought at once, that it was because of her coloring, she would go months without seeing anyone with her shade but that wasn't it, perhaps it had something to do with the fact that her accent was still as strong as it had been when she'd first arrived. She didn't want to give it up nor did she try so that couldn't be it either.

Then she thought back to these last few days in the palace. The place was filled with intrigue and danger, making her feel even more out of place. She had no idea who did what to whose family which caused the feud and why the tension was so high between the families. She made a few friends though, The Prince was kind, though she rarely saw him or his wife, the fearsome Lady Ingrid, who she noted wore her bracelets, as if to say she did have a friend in this place, considering she was just as much of a stranger to this place as she was. She really ought to speak to her more. Then she thought of the sweet Brother Beorn. His interest in her was not in the least bit subtle but it was sweet nonetheless. She had enough to deal with, with the king.

Something stirred within her at the thought of him. She felt a twinge of fear and excitement every time she made her way to his chambers. It was incredibly foolish of her to put herself in danger like that but, and she hated to admit it, it was fun. She could understand why he enjoyed her company, because as far as she could tell, she gave him a similar rush. Surely, not the same, since he wasn't in any danger, but she could see without looking how the women and even some men walked around him like he'd order their death for sneezing. He didn't have anyone to defy him in a way that was just enough that it wasn't disrespectful. She didn't show that she was afraid of him and she wasn't about to.

Just before her thoughts began to drift toward their last encounter and his asking for a kiss and odd smell touched her senses. She had been seated on of the stone plant boxes and stood and sniffed. She frowned. "What is that?" She asked no one before a sharp crack echoed out and flames erupted before her eyes. She jumped back as smoke filled the gardens, the smell of burning wood, and flowers invaded her nostrils. Covering her mouth with a hand, she started for an exit. Wood cracked and embers leaped from all directions and it didn't take long before the entire place was in flames and she was trapped within a wall of fire. She rounded back, hoping to find another way out, but only found flames encroaching on her. Choking on smoke, she watched as a tree snapped, the sound echoing in her ears, She leaped back, her back hitting a wall and to her horror, she found herself pinned in the corner. Flames licked at her skin as they grew closer, so hot it felt like needles.

Smoke-induced tears stung her eyes and stole her breath, as she tried to find a way to get around the burning tree.

"What are you doing here?" called a familiar voice. Evangelina blinked a few times to see Brynjar barreling toward her, anger as hot as the flames themselves, and by the gods was she happy to see him so much so that she started toward the burning tree, toward him in a sprint as he hefted a part of the heavy limb, allowing her to duck under, which she did, the momentum of her sprint caused her to almost run right passed him, before she had time to turn around to thank him,

Another crack sounded, she whipped around as another tree cracked and toppled to the ground, pinning Brynjar beneath it. Evangelina wasted no time, she slid to her knees, and tried to pull his legs from where they'd been trapped, and when that didn't work, she decided the tree would be easier to move, so she anchored herself at his side, and used her shoulder and arms to push the tree that had fallen on his chest. She had to ignore his cries of pain, knowing that this was going to hurt but it was either that or he burned to death trying to save her.

Like an echo, the thought bounced around her head. He was trying to save her. He ran into the fire, to save her.

Strength anew, she dug her feet into the ground, the flames on the tree, curling around her shoulder and arm as she pushed, cried out with the effort, and sure enough the tree moved. Her muscles burned, but she didn't let that stop her, as she bent down, hooking her arms under his and pulling him with great effort backward, freeing his legs as well. She dropped to the ground, her body racked with coughs. "I thought... you were supposed... to be rescuing... me," She offered between breaths. "C'mon, up, I won't let you die for me," She said as she turned, trying to help him up, if his legs were as ruined as her arms, they weren't going to make it out of here alive

Snippet #2703547

located in Europa, a part of The Prince and the Shieldmaiden, one of the many universes on RPG.

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