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[color=LightPink][h2]The Pride Lands ~ Fairy Tale World[/h2]
[sup]Flashback Collab ~ Swan Lake ~ Ft. Scar Lionhart[/sup][/color][/center]

[color=LightPink]The now familiar smell of must, dust and parchment, while a comfort on most days was now pressing on her patience as the history lesson she had almost been done with was doubled; the King’s reasoning for doing so unknown, though his orders carried out as yet another book was placed down in front of her, the monotone voice of the scholar drowning into the background, and causing her to wish that she were somewhere… no, [i]anywhere[/i] else other than sitting at the desk within the castle’s library. Why was it that she needed to know of the past, when the future is what was lain out before them..?

Sighing softly, and almost inaudibly, she stood herself up from where she had been seated for Gods knew how long, the legs of the seat scraping over the ground as she began to move, the book she had been reading held open within her arms as she slowly made her way around the desk and over to the settee that was stood in front of the roaring fireplace, the flame dancing lightly over the logs and the light glowing over the pages as she lowered herself down, her legs lifting up so that she could lounge in comfort as she continued to read the words as best as she could- to say that it still wasn’t a challenge would be a lie… the actions of both reading and writing oftentimes causing frustration and becoming nothing more than a chore to the young woman now she had no other choice but to learn the skills of being a Princess…

What means did this skill have to help her in any way..? She had spent majority of her life sleeping under the stars, and by the bank of the lake; her only company that of the animals which she could commune with thanks to the curse that had been placed on her all those years prior… by the Gods, had it truly been two months since she had been taken from her prison, and brought to the comfort of the Pride Lands..? It seemed like a lifetime ago that she had last flown through the sky; dreaming of the day when she could break free, and explore the vast world that spanned out around her… it was only thanks to the faithful night she had met him, that her dream to do just that had come true…

[hr]

[i][b]Two Months Prior...[/b]

The gentle orange glow of the sunset clipped her wings, ruffling her feathers ever so slightly as she closed her bright sky-blue eyes, the almost beautifully rhythmic beating over the breeze carrying her back towards the lake which she had now called her home for the last thirteen years of her life, the vast and slightly ruined castle grounds spanning out beneath catching her attention as she slowly opened he eyes once more, her small and rather lithe frame tilting to the side as she slowed her descent; the strikingly graceful and white swan easing itself down over the air current until she had almost completely touched down, the very tips of her wings disturbing the lakes surface as she pulled her upper body back, her webbed feet dipping down into the water before eventually, she slowly lowered her body, coming to a graceful rest- thirteen years spent as a swan… this life was all she knew; and while it had taught her a thing or two when it came to flying and swimming, the curse Rothbart had placed upon her all those years ago was most definitely beginning to wear thin upon her patience.

The time was nearing… the sun setting in the midst of her flight back to the lake, leaving only a few minutes more for her to do what it was that she wished. Lifting her gaze up from the waters below, she turned her head, her eyes fixated upon the beautiful orb of the moon as it slowly lifted itself up over the trees and into the sky; the young Princess (now swan) watching on in anticipation as the light streamed down upon her, its rays hitting the lakes surface. Once more returning her gaze to the surface of the lake, she shut her eyes tightly, her wings lifting lightly from her sides as small delicate strands of water began to lift, circling her body until she was no longer within sight; her stomach twisting with the all too familiar nausea as she felt herself beginning to change- yet another thing that the young girl had grown to accept about herself over the past years of her life.

This had been her world for as long as she could remember- a normalcy that had been forced upon her by the man who had gone out of his way to personally lead her life to the ruins that it was in this moment, though it no longer hurt… The pain of knowing she could never again be considered a normal girl; that she was different… different to all those other girls she saw running about the near-by village during the day…

Opening her bright eyes slowly just as the threads of water and light engulfed her entire being, she finally once again stood herself tall, her head lifting up to the moon above her as the water returned back to the lake in which she stood; the young woman taking but a moment to shake out her long and wavy blonde locks, once again happy to feel them brushing lightly over her back.

Bringing her attention back down from the glowing moon hanging in the sky, Odette brought her hands together in front of her body, her hands gently taking a hold of her gown as she slowly though surely began to walk herself out of the lake, and back to the bank where she spent her nights sat in the company of her friends, happy that for once her time as a young woman would not again be tainted by the presence of the sorcerer holding her captive. Pulling herself up onto the bank, she let the material of her dress slip through her fingers, her eyes closing as she brought her hands up, running her slender fingers back through her long blonde locks of hair as she turned her mind back to the night… and to how she would now spend her peaceful evening…

"Do that often, do you?"

The very moment that the sound of a males voice drifted towards her over the breeze, her body freezing in place as her head turned and her attention began to wander over the area, her soft pink lips parting ever so slightly as she scanned the tree line surrounding the lake, her eyes finally managing to settle upon the strong and towering figure of a man she had never before seen- it was clear he wasn’t from the area; his skin too dark… his dress too foreign… The air of the Kingdom held far too much of a chill for the simple traveling coat and pants that he wore; his rather extensive collection of belts covering parts of his masculine chest, and holding the various weapons he kept close on his person… his appearance screamed for her to flee from the area; though there was just something about him… something that made her want to stay and learn more about the stranger wandering her lands.

“..unfortunately…” Keeping her gaze fixated upon the man that stood leant against a nearby tree, she lowered her hands back down to the folds of her dress, her shoulders relaxing in both a physical show that she was not going to flee into the night and away from his company, and in a show of relief that the man standing before her was not the sorcerer of whom insisted on keeping her captive.

Lowering her light gaze down from his own, she turned her head, gesturing up to the moon with her attention and hand as she began to explain just that little bit more, “..I must be on the lakes surface when the moonlight touches the water; only then may I return to being a human… Once the light leaves, I have no choice but to turn back into the swan you saw not moments before… no matter where I am, this my curse…”

Turning her attention back over to his own, she smiled softly, a slight sadness flickering across her features as she brought her hands together in front of her stomach, her fingers lightly playing with one another as she hesitated a moment, her head soon lowering out of respect as she reached out to take up the sides of her dress, her eyes once more closing as she curtsied in his direction, both out of respect and politeness, “..apologies; I beg you to forgive me my rudeness… My name is Odette; welcome, sir, to Swan Lake…”

For a moment the man said nothing, just letting his dark eyes look the girl up and down; not at all in an alluring way, but that of observation. After what seemed like hours, the large man dropped his arms from their crossed position and put his right foot that had been resting on the truck of a tree, back down on the soft grass and turned his head so that he was no longer looking at her, but at the reflection of the moon on the lake.

"Cursed into being a swan." he said, repeating the information she gave him and then shook his head a bit, a light, breathy chuckle coming from his throat though it held no humor behind it. "I can think of worse." There was no sense in frightening the girl, so he said no more on the meaning behind his words. "You live here, kid?" he then asked, sweeping his thick arms around in a gesture towards the clearing they were in and then jerked his thumb so that it was pointing back towards the castle. "Or does [i]The Great Animal[/i] bring you to break words?"

“I would sooner give my life, than to willingly break civil words with such a monster.”

Her sudden outburst didn't seem to preterb the man at all. He simply stood there, looking amused if anything, and quietly listened. 

Her normally soft and love-filled eyes hardened slightly, showing resentment towards the man that stood before her- as the sun rose to break the morn, at least he would be able to leave. Allowing her gaze to linger upon his body a few moments longer, she fell silent; it wasn’t particularly often that she was able to speak within the company of another, to relax in the company of one who was not trying to force her hand… to say that it wasn’t comforting in one way or another would have been a lie, even if he were a stranger.

“Live..?” The word was simple, but laughable when compared to the situation that she had been forced into for the last thirteen years. Letting the beautiful material of her dress slip from her fingers, she brought both of her hands together in front of her stomach, allowing them to rest against the front of her skirt as her head tilted to the side, shaking lightly from side to side as she explained the answer to his question, “I would not call what I do living… Being held captive, and as nothing more than a prisoner in the grounds of my own home, by a man trying to force my hand in marriage does not give the impression that I am able to live my life, nor does it bode well for the opinion I hold of the sorcerer either.”

"You don't care for him, then?" the man asked, though his tone gave way that he already knew the answer. He took a moment to look upon her almost thoughtfully, seeming to consider something, consider [/i]her[i]. "Another thing we have in common."

“I have no need, nor intention to like my captor… and I very much doubt that any force in existence will ever lay cause to change my mind upon the matter.”

The man then began to walk towards her, through the long grass and began to remove the fastening on the buffalo-skinned cloak he had clasped around his neck. 

"The winds grow heavy. If  you're to remain out here, it is better to do so while warm." the man offered, gesturing with his free hand towards the damp condition of her dress. Tensing her body slightly, Odette kept her gaze locked with his as he extended his hand out, offering it to her. The young girl showed obvious reluctance before taking the cloak, her stunning light blue eyes slowly dropping down and a small though thankful smile playing over her soft pink lips as she drew it closer into her body in a sign of acceptance of the gift given.

With the removal of his cloak, it left the man completely bare in his chest, arms and torso save for the belts around his waist and chest where he kept a multitude of weapons  holstered that had been otherwise hidden before. But it didn't look as though he'd be bothered by the lack of clothing in the slightest. Clearly, he was no man of Swan Lake.

“..thank you… truly this gift means much to me; there are not many who are as kind as you are sir…” Taking but another moment to look over the cloak in her hands, not taking any notice of the scoff that came from the man at the word "kind." She lifted her arms up before swinging them round, pulling the cloak around her body and fastening the clasp, her fingers lingering upon the material before she took a gentle hold of it, her shoulders hunching forwards ever so slightly as she revelled in the warmth that was still lingering within the cloak from when the man before her had been wearing it himself.

"You despise The Great Animal as I do, therefore, we have a common enemy. That makes us allies." he explained, an air of confidence in his face as the muscles in his jaw seemed to tighten as he inclined his head a fraction.

“..I wish not to pry; and please do not feel obligated to answer, however…”

Furrowing her brows in slight confusion, she once more lowered her hands back to the front of her dress, her fingers curling lightly and tangling up in the material as she tried to think of what reasoning he had for coming to Swan Lake- the man had made it perfectly clear that he was an enemy of Rothbart… it was that very fact that had the both of them stood together in pleasant conversation, and with the knowledge that they were allies in their plight to get away from his wrath… so then, what could possibly be his reasoning, “If you, much like myself, do not care for Rothbart and his ways… why sir are you here..?”

"The Great Animal took claim upon my life. My presence here is to have answer of transgressions past. Thirteen years ago, the pitiful Royal War General had not the means, nor knowledge to do so. I stand before him now as a King. A King with knowledge and cursed strength. He will give answer and atone for his wrongdoings... one way or another..."

“I… understand the pain in which you feel, your Majesty; however, I fear that Rothbart will not pay mind as to whether or not you are a King.” Taking a moment to let the words hang in the air, Odette slowly lowered her gaze from his own, her fingers toying lightly with the folds of her dress as her long and wavy blonde tresses fell down and over her shoulders, framing her face sweetly under the light of the moon which continued to stream down over the area around the lake.

The King, in turn, reached his hand over his broad shoulder and to his back, finding the hilt of his sword and pulled it from the sheath. The sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air as he brought it around and over the top of his shoulder, then holding it out in front of him. He tested the edges with the pad of his thumb, eyes on the blade as he continued to listen to the her.

“He is not one who listens well to what others have to say… nor is he one to care much for titles when there is something on the line that he wishes to poses.” Closing her eyes as a slight pain seemed to rise within her chest, she lowered her head even further, her bright blue eyes opening slowly and focusing instead on the soft patterns embroidered into her dress rather than on the memories that began to flood her mind, “Thirteen years ago he took my life from me… took my father from me- slaughtered him right before his three-year-old daughter’s eyes… A King, much like yourself, cut down within his prime. Such a title did not stop him then; forgive me for saying this, your Highness, but I do not think it will stop him this night…”

The King's lip curled into a snicker of amusement, still keeping his eyes on the blade.

"That may be. Though I give very little choice. The great animal [/i]will[i] end this curse..." The King dropped the hand that had been testing the edges and swung his sword around, as though attacking an imaginary being. "or he will face his." The King lowered his weapon down to his side, letting his dark, black eyes fall back upon Odette.

"I've no complication with sliding a sword between his ribs, watching for that precise moment when life leaves body to join the souls of the Underworld." The King raised the sword once more, examining the edges now with his own eyes. "It would be a great burden off my shoulders should I have the pleasure."

Moving for the first time since she had left the calm waters of the lake, she turned her head away and to the side, the young Princess weary of the blade that had been drawn as she made her way back down to the lakes edge, her soft gaze lifting to take in the castle which towered above them, the soft glint of metal shining under the moonlight catching the corner of her eye, causing her to turn her profile to him, her attention taking its time to once more return to the imposing figure she had been conversing to for quite some time.

“He has given me a night free from his constant persistence; and as such, shall not be making an appearance down by the lakes side that I am aware of. Should you wish to face him in battle, he will be within the castle walls… there is an entrance just past the tree line; it will take you directly to the main hall.”

Lifting her hand up from where it had been rested against the front of her dress, she motioned in the direction that she spoke of, showing him the path that he needed to take before she once more allowed her arm to drop, her hands both coming back together in front of her stomach, “Though I still do not know you name; I wish you luck, your Highness, and I pray for your safe return.”

"You're too kind, Princess." The King said, declining his head to her a fraction but not a muscle more. Though whether or not he used the sublte gesture and her title was genuine or condescending, it was near impossible to tell. He righted his posture and headed in the direction of the castle to which Odette had pointed out to him, though near fifteen feet out, he halted his steps and turned his body, giving her his profile. "Hey, kid..." He paused, taking a moment to look her over once more. "You can call me Scar."[/i]

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