Princess Juliana awoke in her silk covered bed, sitting up she stretched her arms high above her head, letting out a large yawn, her long red hair flowed down across her body. After getting out of bed, she scooted over to the only window in her room, high atop the Rose Tower. Looking out over the Sea of Swords, she could see large ships in the distance, traveling to far away lands, lower on the battlements of the castle, many skulls stood piked upon large wooden spears. Idly twirling a strand of red hair in one hand, she thought of her own fate, married off without consent to an old man halfway across the world, her eyes began to water a bit.
Then her personal keeper, Rukia, entered the room quietly. Rukia was part of a long line of personal servants to the kingdom of Yuwang, she herself had been fated to serve as Princess Juliana's personal keeper, her life had been devoted soley to this task. With her large brown elfen eyes, she drank in the sight of the beautiful princess, dressed scantily in a short red silk slip, matching the princess's hair. Rukia could feel her heart beat grow faster, and her eyes begin to glaze over.
"It's not fair!" Juliana yelled as she turned to her only friend, her face a mask of emotions from anger to bitter sorrow.
Rukia approached her, reaching out to take the princess in a warm embrace, whispering "It'll be okay, sometimes you don't always get what you want..."
but Juliana squirmed away from her friend's grip, not wanting to be comforted, "Leave now!" she shouted.
Rukia, quickly ran from the room, hoping to hide her tears from the princess.
Both then sadly begun preparing for the voyage to Kenyo that would be leaving shortly.
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Juliana was stuck below deck as the ship left port, sitting in her small cabin room inside the Gray Shark. It used to be the captain's cabin, but for this trip it would house her and her keeper, Rukia. The Princess lay forlorn on the captain's bed, across the room Rukia was pacing back and forth, she too was only wearing a short red silk slip. She had seem preoccupied this trip, not her normal self. Also the close confines seemed to have had another effect on her, and she often caught her keeper with a flushed face and embarrassed look on her face, especially right after she changed clothes. To Juliana the trip was exciting, the feel of the waves, looking out and seeing large mysterious creatures occasionally pop above the surface for air, it was the most adventure she had ever had in her life. That did not keep her from crying every night though, thinking of being wed to a fat old Minister she could never love. Sleeping in the same bed as her best friend brought her little comfort.
"What's the matter?" Juliana asked her pacing keeper.
Rukia stopped pacing and came towards Juliana with a determined look in her eyes, she came close, pulling Juliana's head next to hers and softly whispered in her ear "I have a plan to free us from fate... it will be tough and very brutal, but it is the only way I could come up with, just trust me". She slowly pulled her head back, keeping her hands entwined behind the Princess's red hair. "Don't worry" Rukia said before embracing the taller princess closely.
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Rukia strolled around the deck, it was just past sunset, and she was allowed on deck. Juliana would have to stay in the confines of her room. She kept watch to the south, the direction the pirate ship was arranged to come from. she expected to spot it on the horizon tonight if things went as arranged.
Later that night, as it got colder and her body became goose bumped, she saw in the distance the first sign of the ship. It must be the pirates she had arranged to intercept this ship. Deftly, using her arcane powers, she sent a magical flare, invisible to anyone on this ship, but clearly visible to the pirates. The magical flare would mark this ship as the correct one.
Then she begun radiating magic, down into the water, the water turned murky, thicker, and would slow the ship down enough for the pirates to catch up. Quietly having done her deeds, she returned to the cabin, and Juliana. Her arms where shaking slightly from the cold air, and she quickly dived in bed beside the Princess, laying a hand on her friends forehead, "Don't worry, things are going according to plan, soon we will be free", she softly spoke.
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Quarter Master Runiper
Lulia
