A Midnight Stroll ((open))

[belindaclarke]

Belinda decided to take a stroll late at night, she couldn't sleep for some reason and walking about helped her a lot most of the time. Going out into the woods isn't really a good idea but she wasn't sure where else she should walk around. She had on a a hooded cloak to keep the chill from her just so she won't catch a cold or anything. Camelot was always chilly at night, and full of creatures that she has never seen, and because of that she decided to go to the forest to see what kind of creatures lurk out at night. Knowing that most of them are dangerous predators and some of them quite harmless. Even though she didn't want to encounter those dangerous nocturnal animals she brought out a sword from the armory just in case. Yes she had to sneak around the guards of the castle, most of them were knights of Camelot. The cool night air really calmed her down as she walked into the dark forest without a torch, she knew she should have brought one but she didn't. She was just going to trust her instincts.

Then she just started to think about her parents and what they went through just to keep her safe from danger or anything, now she's walking right into danger. It's right in front of her face getting ready to take her as its prey. Fear to Belinda is just an obstacle she has to overcome to be brave enough to fight whatever she will encounter in this forest. The sting of that night caused her tear up as she found a soft spot to sit on, she wiped away her tears furiously as she tried to remember who had killed her parents but she couldn't. It was like her brain wasn't allowing her to see that part of the memory or she was just too young to even remember the face. If she can remember what happened, why can't she remember the faces of the murders? Belinda has always questioned that. She has to avenge her parents, but she needs to find out who killed her parents first, and to track down this person and let him or her feel the pain that she has been feeling for years.

She gripped her sword even tighter as she felt the tears just start streaming down her face. The seventeen year old pulled her knees to her chest and she covered her face as she let the tears just stain her face, while holding the sword. After a few seconds she told herself to get it together. She can't cry now, it's been years since her parents' death, and that raid on Camelot. Belinda breathed in and out to calm herself down as she looked out into the darkness. She squinted and a saw a figure of something or someone coming towards her. Belinda got to her feet quickly as she had her sword unsheathed and ready to defend herself if necessary. She watched as the figure came closer, she stood the ready and waiting for what she was about to encounter tonight.

[selena102]

The pitch black of darkness covered the distant lands within its eerie night as the evening drew on. Castle Camelot stood tall and proud as its mighty walls surrendered themselves to the ever lasting shadows of the night, torches were light at different sections of the castle. Their soothing but powerful heat and light of the flames sliced threw the darkness like a sharp knife cutting some freshly baked bread, freezing winds blew with great agility and dexterity across all of Camelot as its chilly embraced mixed itself into the shadowy darkness of night. Beyond the protection of the courageous stone walls and deep within the castle itself a large room stood as silent as a newly awakened lake, the servants that watch over the confident castle were sleeping soundly and peacefully. However one was not so lucky, this was young Selena Fireheart the Princess of Mercia.

A teenage girl with a huge responsibility on her shoulders. But her mind refused to conjure up some peaceful dreams. Instead the evil and cruel nightmares invaded her mind and preyed on her confidence, however it was her eyes that saved her and immediately she sat bolt up right in her bed breathing heavily and panicky. Tiny drops of sweat formed downwards from her face as she looked around at walls of the servants quarters. Though her confidence took a mighty blow from the nightmare Selena refused to give into it, wearing a white night gown Selena pulled herself away from the bed linen and sat on the edge of her bed.

There she tried to regain her composure. The nightmare she had was of Mercia as its one beautiful city and castle were caught in a sea of flames, buildings were destroyed and its peoples were slaughtered, even women and children laid still in pools of their own blood. She even saw her brother being attacked by a griffin, Selena tried her best to help him but it was too late. Gently she breathed in and slowly out regaining her confidence and determination once again. Slowly she looked upwards and scanned her room which was fit for royalty, but she soon looked downwards while a smirk slowly crept up on her face.

Selena knew that her brother Alan was too stubborn to be killed. Still she couldn't help but worry about her older brother, looking other towards the window the young teenage princess stood up letting her gown flow freely and slowly walked over towards the window. With a sigh of relief she unlocked the window and opened it, her face felt the cold but chilly winds on her skin. But she ignored the chill and looked out into the starry sky, she saw the sparkles of the stars that decorated the heavens with their gentle lights.

She thought about her brother Alan and her home of Mercia. But her eyes refused to be sleepy once more, Selena decided that a midnight walk would help her sleep better. Besides the chilly night air would help as well, closing the window and locking it Selena got herself dressed her travelling garments where were a chalk white tunic shirt, charcoal black trousers, soft boots and finally grabbed her long hooded cloak. Slowly she headed northwards towards the front door and ever so gently opened it until there was enough room for her to squeeze past. There she did just that and closed it as softly as she could

Just as she quietly closed the bronze iron door of her chambers Selena was soon met by a knight who was on duty patrolling the castle. Realising who Selena was he bowed in complete respect, with a worried look on the knight's face he said in total respect to Selena"My Lady is something troubling you at this night?” The young princess of Mercia knew that he was just a soldier who was following his duty to patrol the castle and protect everyone inside alongside his fellow knights. With a gentle smile she shook her head and spoke gently from her heart and soul which was a pure as snow." Everything is fine I am just finding it hard to sleep so I am just going to take a walk for a short while you have my word I will return shortly".

The knight simply bowed in total respect and stood to one side allowing Selena to pass freely threw the halls of Castle Camelot. Selena immediately headed west while gently she took hold of her long hooded cloak and gently placed around her shoulders and tied it up as tightly as she could. As the bitterness of the chill and the graceful cold of the night air battered her, the young teenage princess huddled herself deep within its gentle warmth of her long hooded cloak as it closed itself around her completely. Soon she headed southwards but immediately stood still.

Her gaze turned towards the stable where her best friend Amity was housed. She could have taken him out but Amity was always nervous about the darkness due to the beasts and bandits out there, shaking her head Selena wrapped herself deeper into the folds of her cloak and continued moving towards the city gates. Without saying any words the knights stood to attention as Selena passed them and quickly left the safe walls of Camelot her temporary home.

Underneath the folds of her long hooded cloak her right hand was placed near the hilt of her sword. The darkness of the night was home to wild creatures and even bandits who would prey on their victims using the cover of night, but Selena didn’t feel scared at all. Still it was better to be well prepared just incase, she soon walked towards the forest which luckily wasn't far from Camelot itself. Still was quite dangerous to be inside a forest in the pitch-blackness, who knows what lived in the forests at night. But Selena never faulted and bravely pushed onwards threw the forest.

As she walked deeper into the forest she soon heard the sword of metal but withdrawn from its sheath. Quickly using her reflexes Selena moved her right hand, grabbed the hilt of her sword and pulled it outwards making her cloak to open completely, but its warmth still gripped Selena with ease. Slowly but steady she headed towards the noise that she heard, her eyes finally saw the outline of someone holding a long sword. Selena didn't know who it was but she soon headed towards the stranger, why would someone else be in the forest late at night besides Selena? Was it a bandit? A thief? Or just a warrior?

Still she held her tightly but her eyes saw the outline shape a girl. Trusting her instincts Selena placed her sword back into its scabbard and pulled her long hooded cloak back around herself tightly. Carefully she walked towards the young girl and as she walked towards talking distance she said,"I mean you no harm". She said talking as gently and as softly as she could towards Belinda.

[belindaclarke]

When Belinda saw that it was the Princess of Mercia she sheathed her sword back into the scabbard and gave her a curtsy. "Greetings My lady." Belinda said as she stood up right again, and left the weapon she took with her in her right hand; sheathed so it won't cut anyone or anything by accident. She doesn't believe in provoking anyone or any animal without a reason. Of course if the animal or person tried to attack her she would definitely use the sword she has with her to defend herself. She wouldn't be stupid enough not to use something that she can and knows how to use quite well. Of course this is a big secret of her's everyone in the Castle of Camelot, especially the knights. They always thinks she needs to be saved whenever she's in trouble, but she is definitely not a damsel in distress.

"What brings you out here My Lady?" Belinda asked the Princess. She is really beautiful far more beautiful than herself and any other lady in Camelot. She has heard many rumors about her but ignored them, she was never a gossiper inside of the Castle walls and outside of the walls. She hated the gossip that goes around Camelot. One thing she doesn't like about Camelot and the castle full of gossiping maids who always talk about Arthur and the guests that come and go from the castle. It's not that she hates the people she just hates the fact that they do such a thing. She didn't even want to think about the rumors she heard about her. She doesn't believe in rumors at all, she has to see for herself to make sure it's true of course.

[selena102]

The eyes of the young princess caught the form of a young girl who also wore a hooded cloak. Judging from the clothes she appeared to be a servant girl who carried a sword by her side, although she looked young appearances can be decieving and as she sheathed her sword it seemed that she knew how to handle the sword well. It was the first time seeing Belinda but somehow she seemed like a good person with a kind heart, with a smile she bowed and spoke gently towards Belinda" Greetings to you as well ". She said as softly and as politely as they could.

Even though it was nice to see a friendly face the area around them looked bad. The forest was home to many kinds of creatures gentle and feirce and even they she didn't know Belinda that well she trusted her and her skills incase they were attacked. But the question remained was Belinda walking in pure darkness in a forest? was it the same reason as Selena? did the horror of nightmares plague her mind? with a gentle smile Selena replied to Belinda's question in total honesty"A horrific nightmare plagued my mind. I dreamt about my home of Mercia burning in a sea of flames and my brother being slaughtered by a griffon. It was horrible. I thought I take a walk to shake off that nightmare ".

Despite it being only a dream it was still really horrible. Mercia was the home she loved dearly but to watched that and her dear brother being slaughtered was horrible, but she quickly got over it knowing that her brother was too stubborn to be killed like that. Soon her focus turned quickly to Belinda, not once did she question about her sword but in the situation they were in they had to work and stick together as a team until they were safely back in Camelot. With a smile towards Belinda she said" But are you alright? what brings you here in the middle of the night?". She spoke in a concerned tone instead of a questionable tone, Selena felt worried about Belinda but again not once did she question the sword she held.

[belindaclarke]

Belinda listened to the Princess's story. She sympathized with her because she has had nightmares about when her parents died, but Belinda is sure that her family is okay. She didn't have it tonight because she didn't even sleep yet, or she tried to but it just didn't seem to work at all. She doesn't know the reason why she can't sleep, the night is cool as usual and not unusually warm. Belinda can't sleep when the night is warm. "Yes I'm alright, My Lady." Belinda replied to her. "I just couldn't sleep." Belinda added with a smile surely she probably didn't see it through this darkness around them.

Belinda usually comes out here when she couldn't sleep even though the dangers out in the forest are very high. At least she isn't alone right now, she probably couldn't defend herself if more than one monster found her and started to attack her. She definitely would need someone's assistance to make it leave them or at least give it an injury to cause it to go back from where it came from.

[selena102]

The darkness is not only the very element that makes the night but it can also be the source of all evil. Those with corrupted hearts filled to the brim with greed rely on the darkness to give them strength and courage, this is the case for many animals within the forests. To some magical creatures use the darkness as a way to find their prey easily and overcome them using their cunning and might, it is very rare for a person or a group of people to wonder the forest in the midst of the night.

It didn't matter if they knew each other or they were common strangers. In the forest it was the survival of the fittest and and strongest will survive, for Selena all she could do was remain by Belinda's side and help her with everything she had. But it was hard to see due to the thickness of the forest night, however she remembered her brothers training and said"I am so glad. But perhaps we should stick together at least until we decide to return to Camelot".

She said gently to Belinda while keeping an eye and ear out for any sudden movement around them. All the while she held onto the hilt of her sword and slowly breathed in and out not once showing her fear but rather revealed her determination to help Belinda while at the same time talking to her.