[center][img]http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o620/Vicier/Vicier%20-%20OUAT%20RP%20-%20Characters/Viciers%20Character%20Gifs/Colab-Post%20Gifs/Dominic%20Greyjoy%20-%20Gif_zpsdtk3fedr.gif[/img][img]http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o620/Vicier/Vicier%20-%20OUAT%20RP%20-%20Characters/Viciers%20Character%20Gifs/Colab-Post%20Gifs/Odette%20Swan%20-%20Gif_zpsgql3elgd.gif[/img]
[h1][color=OliveDrab]Dominic Greyjoy[/color] and [color=MistyRose]Odette Swan[/color][/h1]
[h2]Flashback - Swan Lake[/h2][/center]

[b][i]A few days ago...[/i][/b]

[i]Closing her eyes she lifted her head letting the gentle breeze blow past her brushing lightly over her skin that was visible under the buffalo-skinned travelling cloak all the while sending little tickles through her body, lifting her arms if only just a bit she dropped her head back her shoulders raising while she let her fingers lazily trail over the terrain that surrounded her the rough and smooth textures of the trees and plants she allowed her touch to pass over embedding themselves into her memory as she tried to teach herself as much as she could while she journeyed on foot, the weight seeming to lift from her chest making each step easier to take as she moved further away from Swan Lake and into the unknown world around her.

There was no denying herself that she would need to come back to what she could only guess would be one of the harshest punishments she were to receive from Rothbart, but that would be a matter that she would deal with later once she had returned to his care and charge however for now her heart ached to get away from her prison, and with the open invitation to see another kingdom extended to her, she was all but willing to oblige and satisfy her curiosity for the world around her.

Opening her eyes slowly she glanced around her person her light blue orbs searching around for any sign of some sort of a trail that would lead her to the closest village where from there she could ask for directions, sighing softly she pressed on finding it a lot harder for herself to navigate the land than it was for her to navigate through the air, the young swan finding the feeling of the wind against her wings and the view a much more enjoyable than that of aching feet and loss of her sense of direction.

Watching Odette from afar, perched in tall trees scattered about Swan Lake was a great horned owl, its piercing orange eyes fixated on the young girl. The owl itself did not appear out of the ordinary, except for the fact it was larger-than-average, if only by a few inches difference. The fowl seemed to have a strange attraction to the Swan Princess, as wherever she walked, the owl would respond by flying towards a different tree to keep its gaze upon her. 

As she stopped, her eyes darting around as if looking for directions, the owl then decided to speak. "Pardon me, but it appears as though you've lost your way." The Owl said in a cordial tone, its words clear and understandable. This bird was not speaking through any magical means, and to any other listener, would have simply appeared to be hooting most vexatiously. 

Hearing a voice reaching her ears she turned her eyes searching for the source before coming to rest on the only other figure that was within her immediate area, the regal looking owl keeping its eyes fixated upon her from its perch within the nearby tree, "Oh, yes, well..." She lowered her head her hands coming together in front of her her fingers playing with one another as she tried to explain where she wanted to go unsure of whether or not he would know how she could go about getting herself there, "I'm trying to make my way to the Pride Lands... If you could point me in the right direction, that would be most helpful sir."

"The Pride Lands, eh? Sad to say I have not traveled there myself...the climate is...most uncomfortable. However, I do know a small settlement merely a few miles from here that you may find the information you seek. Though...I fear your master may be less than agreeable at your wandering." The Owl replied, lowering his head to ruffle some of his feathers before looking up once again. 

"What do you call yourself?" The Owl asked curiously, switching topics. 

"I shall deal with whatever punishment is sent my way on my return back to Swan Lake by that monster, but I will not allow my fear of him to control my each and every action in this world." Lifting her head once more as she realized that she had not yet introduced herself she took hold of her gown holding it out slightly as she curtsied towards him her head bowing out of both respect and politeness, "Forgive my rudeness. My name is Odette, it is such a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine. You may call me Greyjoy. At one point I went by the name of Dominic...but such time has passed. You are courageous, Lady Odette. I respect courage, especially when it comes to one such as Rothbart. Allow me to accompany you to the village? I have made the flight many times." Greyjoy offered, the complacency in his tone offset by the piercing, ever-angry look in his face. 

Her smile once more returned to her lips as she heard him introduce himself her hands lowering to her gown in front of her, "Dominic... Would you mind terribly if I was to call you by that name?" Turning her head down so that she could look over the ground as she stepped forward closing the gap between her and the tree in which he sat watching her, her head lifting so that she once more held his gaze, "It would be a pleasure to have your company. If you do not mind that is."

"Well, to answer your question it would not offend me to use that name, no. Ruins the mystery a little bit, though." Greyjoy responded amicably, amusement prevalent in his tone. 

"But let us save further conversation for when we are down the road...I would hate for Rothbart to catch you out here speaking to me." Greyjoy added on in a more serious manner before taking to the sky. 

Lingering in place for moment she watched him spread his wings before lifting himself up into the sky his movements deliberate and purposeful with each flap of his wings, taking his lead she picked up the front of her gown her foot steps following in the same direction that he was leading her in, "Thank you for your concern, it's very sweet of you sir."

"It is of no consequence, my dear. Merely glad to assist." Greyjoy replied, his voice still coming in clear despite his high altitude, no doubt a side-effect of her ability to speak to animals. 

"Be sure to stay close, and call to me if I fly too fast!" Greyjoy advised before taking off down a twisting dirt trail. 

Curling her hands over the material tighter she picked up the pace letting her concentration slip from keeping track of where her feet were being placed and more on following his lead, "I will be sure to keep up as best that I can... Please do not feel obliged to slow your pace just for me."

Lifting her gaze back up to him she smiled brightly showing him that she was being honest with her words, "Besides, you have been so kind to me already, I could not ask anymore of you."

"I sympathize for those held against their will." Greyjoy replied simply before flying down the path, keeping his pace just slow enough for Odette to keep him within her eyesight. It was true, one could see a fair distance away was a small but bustling village, teeming with life. 

Lifting one hand from the front of her gown she lifted it up running her fingers through her long blonde locks ruffling them out slightly before she dropped her hand down to the cloak she wore, "I am merely a prisoner because I still wish to be able to walk upon two legs, the hope that one day I will wake to the morn and not have wings in which to fly."

Taking hold of each side of the cloak she pulled it further around her body keeping it closely around her, the warmth causing a soft smile to show upon her lips, "I am scared to spend the rest of my days as a swan..."

"Well, being an owl isn't so bad...I doubt being a swan could be worse." Greyjoy commented casually, stopping once more to perch atop a tall tree, looking down at Odette with his unblinking eyes. 

"The swan is a graceful creature, and while it might not be seem such a bad thing for you... I do not believe that I would be able to make the choice of staying one forever." Slowing down as she caught up she came to a stop in front of the tree her gaze resting upon him with a gentle smile playing over her lips, "Another reason behind my actions of staying, is if I stay away for too long, I would hate to think about what that monster would do to the people of this Kingdom."

"I'm afraid you know not the half of it." Greyjoy replied in a somber tone. "Rothbart may simply appear to be a great sorcerer to you...but he is something else...something [i]worse[/i]: A Great Beast. It was he who cursed me into this form, and killed my comrades in battle." Greyjoy informed, his tone still serious in manner. 

Her smile faltered slightly before it fell from her face her eyes never leaving his figure as she listened to him speak his words sinking in causing her stomach to churn with nerves at what exactly it was that Rothbart could really do to her is she angered him greatly, "A beast... I never knew... After all this time under his care, all this time stuck as his ward... How could I never have seen how much of a monster he truly is..."

Gripping hold of the cloak tighter she shook her head her voice softening slightly as she tried not to think about just how much blood and heartache the man had on his hands, "I am truly sorry about your friends, I am sure that they were wonderful people... And I can tell you with certainty that we are not the only two to suffer at the hands of his curse. My journey to the Pride Lands, it so I can actually visit with another man who was thrown into a similar situation as the both of us."

"I truly do question the mental state of a man whose affinity for transforming humans into animals is borderline-obsessive." Greyjoy remarked dryly. "As for my friends...your condolences have been noted. We rooted out Dark Wizards; as such it was only a matter of time before we met our match." Greyjoy added nonchalantly before taking to the skies once again with a few strong beats of his wings. 

"Come, we mustn't dilly-dally until we get to the village. You should be moderately safe there until we get a move on once again." Greyjoy informed before taking off down the trail. 

"I can see where you are coming from... A swan, an owl... All I know is that he is cursed, though with what animal form I am certainly unsure of. It seems as though you are correct in your assumption that he might indeed have a slight obsession with nature and the creatures that call it their home." She once more turned and followed his lead her hands no longer bothering to hold up the hem of her gown all thoughts of it getting ruined or dirty pushed from her mind.

"Truly I can never thank you enough for your help, it must not be easy putting yourself on the line for someone who's company could get you into a lot of trouble." Lifting her hand up she placed it on the trunk of the closest tree her fingers brushing over it gently as she passed it by.

"No apologies necessary. I don't fear Rothbart, not any longer. When a man has his opponent injured and vulnerable before him, then chooses to brush his ego by turning said opponent into an animal...my respect for that man has dropped considerably." Greyjoy replied as he flew by. If he had any regrets or negativity towards his current state, he sure didn't appear to act like he did. 

"He never once tried to earn my respect..." Her eyes dropped slightly to the ground watching where she stepped as she continued to follow along her pace matching the beating of his wings as he showed her the way, "But even if he had, all would have been lost the moment he stole my freedom."

"Well, we best be on our way. Little point complaining of the man if he's going to simply look out his window and find us escaping. We'll speak more under cover." Greyjoy said lastly before hurrying ahead, now intent on reaching the village. 

"Of course, you are right." Turning her head back she looked over her shoulder at the large castle that stood tall casting a shadow in the moonlight over the grounds below, biting her lower lip she nibbled on it softly her eyes fixated on it for a brief moment before she quickly turned on her heel following behind him intent on reaching the village before he had even noticed she was gone.[/i]