Pocket Stories: Burdened
Prompt: Her skin was carved with scars that someone else earned.
The crowd watched breathlessly. The princess held the sword easily in her grip. The worthy soldier kneeling before her bowed his head respectfully. With only a slight hesitation she began to speak the words of the ritual.
"With this sword and with my power I proclaim thee a Guardian of the realm." Her voice grew louder and the sword began to glow a fierce white. "From this day hence you shall protect our royal person, til death takes us both." A hint of orange began to color the light from the sword. "Should you betray the trust bestowed upon you," the sword's light change to an impenetrable darkness, "the only life that shall be forfeit is your own." As she tapped the sword to both of his shoulders, the sword ceased glowing, and the princess' voice returned to her normal volume. "Rise my Guardian and take your rightful place at my side."
The new Guardian raised his head, looking directly into the princess' eyes before rising to his feet to the thunderous applause from the crowd. The princess returned his stare, tears glistening in her eyes. She held out her hand for his. He took it, marveling at the softness of her palm. She turned his hand face up and carefully placed the sword in his grasp.
"Keep this with you at all times, you will need no other weapon from henceforth." She said for his ears alone. "Wield the blade with honor."
Out of the corner of his eye, the new Guardian saw a bowman rise from behind the balcony banister, fully loaded bow aimed straight for the princess. He yelled, thrusting himself in front of the princess, covering her body with his own. His large frame easily concealing her small body from the enemy.
The arrow flew with remarkable speed. The Guardian, with inhuman speed, swiped at the arrow with his sword, splitting the projectile in two. The fletching fell harmless to the ground while the arrowhead, spun off-target, grazed his arm. Pain traced the mark it left.
The sentries took quick care of the intruder, his cry of martyrdom cut off mid-word.
When the Guardian turned to inspect his arm he found no evidence of the wound he received. Confused he inspected his charge. A thin line of red stained her gown around her arm, at the exact place he had been wounded. She covered it gingerly, with only the tiniest wince to indicate that it hurt.
"Princess, how did this happen?" the Guardian asked.
"This is how it is, and how it has always been, my Guardian. We are tied together, you and I. Wield the blade with honor, and as a last resort. Any injury you sustain will be passed on to me so that you may continue to protect the Realm unhindered from mortal wounds. But beware, a death blow will kill us both, as I can only survive what this body can normally withstand."
"Why would you let this happen? Isn't there another way?" He asked, stunned at the revelation.
"There is no other way," she said sadly. "I cannot ascend the throne with a Guardian, the bond is sacred. Together we shall create a Realm of peace and honor," her eyes grew hard and determined, "but our enemies will know the taste of blood should they cross us."
"But if I use this sword-"
The princess interrupted, "If you use any other weapon we will both perish. You must guard the sword as you guard me, with the utmost care and concern. Worry not my Guardian, I do not intend to be a weak ruler. We will train together you and I, until we can act as one, think as one, and rule as one."
He lifted the sword hilt to his heart, "It will be my honor, your Majesty."
The crowd watched breathlessly. The princess held the sword easily in her grip. The worthy soldier kneeling before her bowed his head respectfully. With only a slight hesitation she began to speak the words of the ritual.
"With this sword and with my power I proclaim thee a Guardian of the realm." Her voice grew louder and the sword began to glow a fierce white. "From this day hence you shall protect our royal person, til death takes us both." A hint of orange began to color the light from the sword. "Should you betray the trust bestowed upon you," the sword's light change to an impenetrable darkness, "the only life that shall be forfeit is your own." As she tapped the sword to both of his shoulders, the sword ceased glowing, and the princess' voice returned to her normal volume. "Rise my Guardian and take your rightful place at my side."
The new Guardian raised his head, looking directly into the princess' eyes before rising to his feet to the thunderous applause from the crowd. The princess returned his stare, tears glistening in her eyes. She held out her hand for his. He took it, marveling at the softness of her palm. She turned his hand face up and carefully placed the sword in his grasp.
"Keep this with you at all times, you will need no other weapon from henceforth." She said for his ears alone. "Wield the blade with honor."
Out of the corner of his eye, the new Guardian saw a bowman rise from behind the balcony banister, fully loaded bow aimed straight for the princess. He yelled, thrusting himself in front of the princess, covering her body with his own. His large frame easily concealing her small body from the enemy.
The arrow flew with remarkable speed. The Guardian, with inhuman speed, swiped at the arrow with his sword, splitting the projectile in two. The fletching fell harmless to the ground while the arrowhead, spun off-target, grazed his arm. Pain traced the mark it left.
The sentries took quick care of the intruder, his cry of martyrdom cut off mid-word.
When the Guardian turned to inspect his arm he found no evidence of the wound he received. Confused he inspected his charge. A thin line of red stained her gown around her arm, at the exact place he had been wounded. She covered it gingerly, with only the tiniest wince to indicate that it hurt.
"Princess, how did this happen?" the Guardian asked.
"This is how it is, and how it has always been, my Guardian. We are tied together, you and I. Wield the blade with honor, and as a last resort. Any injury you sustain will be passed on to me so that you may continue to protect the Realm unhindered from mortal wounds. But beware, a death blow will kill us both, as I can only survive what this body can normally withstand."
"Why would you let this happen? Isn't there another way?" He asked, stunned at the revelation.
"There is no other way," she said sadly. "I cannot ascend the throne with a Guardian, the bond is sacred. Together we shall create a Realm of peace and honor," her eyes grew hard and determined, "but our enemies will know the taste of blood should they cross us."
"But if I use this sword-"
The princess interrupted, "If you use any other weapon we will both perish. You must guard the sword as you guard me, with the utmost care and concern. Worry not my Guardian, I do not intend to be a weak ruler. We will train together you and I, until we can act as one, think as one, and rule as one."
He lifted the sword hilt to his heart, "It will be my honor, your Majesty."
I absolutely love this vision and idea. I would not be disappointed in the least to see follow up posts of this story.
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