"Xa-Xa-Xander!" Derae heard Levi shout, wide eyed. He rushed over to try and help the poor fellow up. She blinked for a moment, looking at him. Yep... Definitely royalty.

[color=gray]-You've seriously done it this time, Derae.-[/color] Kou spoke to her, bemused by the entire situation. He knew she was in no real harm. 

[color=cyan]-Oh, hush...-[/color] She returned, still staring at the prince. [color=cyan]"Ahh... So... You're the brat that ran away from home, eh?"[/color] She teased him, a hand on her hip. [color=cyan]"You know, everyone's talking about it. Foolish Prince runs away. Queen Zelda left in tears."[/color] She continued, a smirk on her lips.

[color=gray]-I wouldn't do that, Derae.-[/color] Kou chided, brushing his nose against her leg. She knew... 

She let out a small sigh before continuing, [color=cyan]"But ah... Thanks for trying to save me, I suppose."[/color] Her eyes stayed towards the ground, now suddenly unable to look at him. 

"I'm very sorry, your highness! We were taking this prisoner to Hyrule Castle. Would you like to join us back to the castle?" Levi asked the prince, bowing towards him. Derae simply stared at him, unaccustomed to royalty of any kind. She first raised a brow at Levi and then at Xander. 

But... This was Queen Zelda's son? He looked a lot like her father... a bit too much like him in fact. Her eyes narrowed at him, a bit of a glare. She did not like him, not at all. 

"Prince Xander!" the Commander shouted as he rounded the corner of the encampment. "Your Highness, please forgive the rude treatment! She'll be tied shortly, even if I have to do it myself!" He explained, already headed for the rope. Derae raised her brow as he grabbed her arms rather roughly and began tying her up. Black hair fell out of it's ponytail, causing her further irritation. 

[color=cyan]"You know, the least you could do is let a girl tie her hair up before you subdue her, yeah?"[/color] Derae spoke, rolling her eyes. The Commander, who was now done with tying her turned to look her in the eyes. 

"I can help with that." He told her. Something in his voice sent her nerves on end. W-What?! She turned sharply to watch him as he reached for his sword. She screamed and turned away as he snatched her hair and quickly sliced it off, leaving her with short jagged hair. 

[color=cyan]"N-Nooo!"[/color] She screeched, staring down in disbelief at her hair on the ground. 

[color=gray]-Derae...-[/color]

[color=cyan]-Leave me alone! You could have stopped him!-[/color]

[color=gray]-And what, endanger both of our lives? Your hair will grow back.-[/color] 

It was a harsh truth, but still Derae couldn't shake the feeling in the pit of her stomach. The entire situation had left her drained and she didn't speak a word as Levi led her to her tent for the night. She sent one last glance towards Xander as she was ushered inside her tent. 

Kou stared at the Prince as well, before huffing and walking into the tent as well to sleep by Derae's side.