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"On some old beat up ship no doubt." he thought. "With some idiot as the Captain of course." The call of the Princess' voice jolted the young Commander from his thoughts.
"William, would you come here a moment?" William eyes quickly focused on the silhouette of the young monarch's frame.
"Of course your highness, is there something I may assist you in?" he replied promptly, making his way towards the owner of the voice.
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"Well your highness," he began "Where shall I begin?" the young man began pacing the room. "I must say that it's been rather...gloomy. Nothing you would be interested in. Overcast most of the time, sometimes raining, pouring every now and then. With occasional breaks of sunshine of course. But then again, also quite scary honestly. Recently there have been reports of pirates ransacking merchant ships. Of course, that's nothing that I should worry your majesty with." he finished with a sigh.
William took a look around and admired the wonderful room. It looked as if it would have took...more than he would ever posses to remodel just the single room. The young officer recalled his own quarters within his vessel. "Small un-decorated...basic."
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"Was it something that I had said? Maybe my body language? Possibly she took something as offensive?" the thoughts ran through his mind at a rapid pace. And yes, he new for certain that something wasn't right, the younger female seemed to be...clutching her clothing? "Oh my, have I angered her?" Things seemed to be getting off on the wrong foot here. He was supposed to be gaining the princess's favor here, not driving it farther away.
William met Elvira's gaze through the reflection of the glass and gave the "sympathetic/helpless" sort of look. As if to apologize. "If my lady would excuse my asking. Is there something that is perhaps...being of a bother to her? Of course, I would not be as rude to ask of what it could be..."
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"Your highness! Is everything alright?" That was when William caught a glimpse of the princess leaning over the balcony. Then it clicked. "Ah, that's it of course. She wants out, to see what it's like outside." And that thought triggered another. "...Your majesty? I feel that I may have a way to get you outside...that is, if you'd like."
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"What is going on? What is this? Do I do something?" Then it hit him, the first priority would be to get the princess to safety. Currently she was almost on top of a miniature tornado of sorts. Not safe. The naval officer grabbed the princess's hand without a seconds notice and most un-gentlemanly yanked her out of the room.
"What next? What next?" The guards stared at him as if the man was insane, and he did look so. "You" William pointed at one of the guards. "Let someone important know that there's a tornado forming under the balcony over there." The guard hesitated for a moment, but after glancing at the medals and ribbons William wore, the soldier took off.
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"What a fool I've been. All I have to do is avoid the threat all together!" William took a look at the princess, she looked calm, collected, and most of all much more mature than he. What an embarrassment. He offered her his hand. "If I may, my lady?" "All I have to do is lead her out, and all will be well."
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With that, William was back inside the castle. "Now...where was his majesties quarters? The residence of the commander of the guards? I need a map..."
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The young commander's footsteps echoed in the empty hall. After the strange episode of the balcony, the residents must have realized that something was up. "Now where was it? A left here? William turned the corner at a brisk pace, almost colliding with a servant carrying a few garments of clothes. The servant looked at the commander wide-eyed, but before she could continue on her way, William stopped her. He must've surprised her, as she jumped quite noticeable when he acknowledged her.
"Excuse me, do you by chance know where His Majesty resides?" The servant quickly stuttered out a response.
"Um, his majesty may be found just left at the end of this corridor my lord."
"Thank you" The two walked away from each other at a brisk pace. William followed the path that the servant had designated and turning the corner, found the enormous doors towering above him. This was it, that was definite. But how would he find a way to speak with the king? He couldn't just barge in, no that may end in a horrid outcome.
Luckily for the young man, there was a guard standing just outside of the grand doors. William cleared his throat. "May I speak with the King please?" The guard seemed to be in his mid-fourties, a veteran no doubt. The man eyed William's many ribbons and medals, but remained oblivious.
"And you sir, would be?" the guard tried his best to keep the "I am a part of the Royal Guard" sort of haughty manner. But it would be deflated soon. William took of his hat and bowed as he spoke.
"Commander William Andrews of the Royal Navy at your service." The guard jumped with astonishment, his name was quite well known, even to those in the ground forces.
"Oh! Of course sir! Please excuse me." The guard cracked open the door and spoke a few words. And in a matter of moments, he was walking down the aisle towards his greatness.
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Yes, your majesty. His voice was rather deep and she realized that she had never heard any of the guard actually speak before to her directly. It was always in hushed tones to the commander or themselves. They were people too though, and she had to take that into account as well.
Elvira glanced up at the man's face, then out the window, then back at the unnamed man. "There re very serious matters at hand and I am wary of seeing for myself what it might be. Could you perhaps check outside for me?" Her gaze suddenly shifted so that her eyes were on the first guard, the one she hadn't seen much of. When he didn't move, she said, "That's an order!"
His gaze met hers briefly and then a smirk spread across his face. He stepped out of line and took a few steps towards the balcony doors. Then he quickly turned around and, looking directly at the queen, shot a white-hot ball of fire. It hit the back wall of her room and suddenly the room exploded into action and chaos. Her guard didn't know what to do as they didn't suspect a traitor among their midst. Note to self to give them more training in traitor detection.
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"So we should stay at one of our more powerful forts then?" the King asked.
"Well that is what I would suggest. But of course your majesty along with your personal advisers will make the decision." That was when a runner came in. It was one of the guards William had left with the princess. To the young man's horror, the guard's armor was singed and blackened in various places.
"My apologies for interrupting his majesty's council, but it is of the utmost importance!"
"Oh no..." Grabbing a few random guards, the naval officer shot out of the room. The group of men sprinted, full speed to where the princess was left. William drew his saber and pistol, pulling the hammer to full cock. "Do not worry my lady, I will arrive shortly."
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The guards had reacted poorly, most still remained frozen in fear. Luckily the one who had some sense had alerted them so quickly. "Looks like the Royal Guard will need some additional training exercises. Or maybe their training needs to be re-written..." William thought. That was when the thought hit him. "The princess!" The young officer rushed to her side. "Oh my...do you feel alright? Someone get some ice!"
It was all his fault, he should've found somewhere safer to keep the princess. Now she was injure because of his ignorance.
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Luckily, no one pinned any criticism on William yet. Everyone was still submerged in shock, but sooner or later there will be opposition. Some will say he made an incompetent decision to leave the princess outside with nothing but a few guards. But for William, that seemed to be one of the only choices at hand, with the castle under attack and all.
At least the doctor said her injuries were only minor, and that she is perfectly fine aside from some psychological trauma. William snapped himself back to the present as he supervised the lower ranking Royal Guard officers making their damage assessments along with a few notes.
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