ROLEPLAY HQ - high-priestess-and-her-fallen-angel

A fallen angel is a graceful title, given to those who defy the righteous hand of God. Sometimes even the burning fiery depths of hell do not have room for such beings. Being casted out from both heaven and hell, the mortal realm is all that is left for them. They roam the surface of the earth, stripped from everything once given to them. Not having much left they are born into this world like all the others, some being lucky enough to forget about what they once were, a powerful being at the Gods right hand. Now a child born from a mere mortal. In the Levine kingdom, the church made sure these beings came nowhere near them. Even blessing the kings daughter as a child, to be protected from these creatures. The king had faith in the church as that's what kept their conscious clean. Did the king believe in such things? of course not. Having the churches favor was all he wanted, it made the kingdom feel secure that they were protected from such things. Even naming their child after a celestial being, a seraphim. After being blessed by the church at a young age the king disconnected from the church, it was only to satisfy the towns people and nothing more. She had never been involved in the church since that day. The church warned him of his mistake, turning his back on God was the last thing he wanted to do. Without God who knows what foul things would enter their kingdom without his protection? Unknowingly the king ignored their warnings, continuing his path. As his daughter grew in age he realized without the church's blessing she needed protection, someone he could trust her with while he was away. Although he trusted his guards, it was time for a fresh start. Someone who could grow up beside her, their sole purpose to protect her no matter the cost.

4:00 AM

He had sent out a party to look, of course this meant separating the child from their family but it was for the kings service. Most family's saw this as an opportunity. As the party searched families practically threw their children at the kings royal guard, begging to be chosen. Their desperate attempts were rather unappealing as it was inhumane. In the search a child was finally chosen, a rather underprivileged boy who seemed to have nothing. He was clueless of the world around him, like a stray cat waiting for a meal. His body dirty and tarnished, it was obvious this child had been abandoned and was fending for itself somehow. The child was taken in and made new, bathed, fed, clothed. Now all that was left was training....

4:00 AM

@Al the Killer

Where am I? It was the first thought the boy remembered having when he woke up, but many other questions may have followed, if the pain hadn't silenced them. Every joint screamed in protest as he pulled himself to his feet. He swayed, as though unaccustomed to having legs. Yet he found the strength to move them forward, one then the other. His golden brown skin was interrupted by scrapes leaving streaks of red across his face in some spots, or tarnished by dirt in others. His black curls had been left matted against his head, the water from the ocean port doing it no favours. Although clothes covered his body, they were little more than rags, and his feet had been left bare. Puzzled, he looked out at his surroundings with eyes that were themselves nearly black. The backs of his shoulder blades burned, but there was nothing he could do about that. The sky above was bright, and beneath his feet wooden boards creaked across a sparkling blue expanse. The boards rose and fell in minute movements with the flowing blue, and the shadows of strange tall structures bobbed nearby, large wooden things with poles from which pristine white cloth rippled in the breeze. "Go on! Get out of here!" came a gruff voice from the edge of the docks. As the boy looked toward that sound, a small stone pelted against his chest. He didn't flinch, but simply looked down as the pebble dropped between the boards. "I said get!" the voice carried on, then grumbled, more quietly, "damn street rats." With the vague impression that he was not welcome here, the boy turned away and carried on toward more solid footing, a grey stone path dotted with hints of green nature. Stone rose up on either side, like small mountains that people walked in and out of, but the roofs were thatched. Here, the noise was different, the chaos of daily life. He was still wandering, wide-eyed and clueless, when he bumped into a man-sized wall of iron.

8:19 AM

"Careful." The word from the man - and it was a man beneath all that cold metal - lacked the aggression of the sailor earlier. Still, the boy stopped in his tracks and looked up at him. The larger man knelt down until they were at eye level, removing his metal head covering. "What are you doing out here?" The boy shrugged, for he did not know. The man sighed and asked another question. "Can you speak?" It took a moment to consider the movements the man made when he spoke, and to imitate them. "Yes." To his relief, the sound came out as intended. "And what is your name?" The man on the docks had called him 'Damn Street Rats', but he was sure that wasn't it. The word Arioch came to mind, but something told him not to utter that name. "Ari," he said instead, and decided that suited him fine. "Where are your parents, Ari?" Again, Ari shrugged. Again, he did not know. The older man straightened up, muttered something to his companion that Ari could not quite catch. In a matter of moments, he was guided away, and his life's work began. ~ The years had been kind to him. A bath, fresh clothes, and time to heal had certainly helped, but so had a supply of good food and rigorous training. Ari's physical form had filled out, lean muscle taking over where he had first been skin and bone. His features had grown more defined, and he kept his hair neatly groomed, tied back in an array of carefully-arranged curls and braids. In the early years, he'd been reckless in his training, leaving a scar across his right jaw and a few more over his arms. Though he remained quiet, he could speak confidently, where he had previously only managed one or two words at a time.

8:19 AM

And now, he walked the halls of the palace alongside Ludovic, the guard who had found him so long ago. "Now, if there is one man I trust to take my place after my upcoming retirement..." Ludovic trailed off and looked over at Ari. The two of them had at one point been very nearly the same height, slightly taller than average, but not necessarily enough to stand out in a crowd on that basis alone. Then the years had wasted away at the old guard's back, and he now hunched lower than Ari. "My duty is to Her Highness alone," Ari reminded him. His voice was low, nearly monotone. His loyalties had been decided for him years ago and, from the moment he had met Seraphina, he'd found he hadn't minded. "...And I am afraid I lack the social graces to work among the rest of the royal guard." Ludovic laughed. "Well, so do lots of my fellow guardsmen! At least you're aware of it," he joked. Ari gave a low hum in response, but no words came to mind. He paused to look out of one of the arched windows, into the courtyard. The sun was beginning to rise, but lately, dreams had eaten away at his sleeping hours. Visions from other worlds. Of heaven and hell, he might have said if he was religious, yet at times he could not tell which was meant to be which. He didn't know what these dreams meant, nor did he speak to anyone else about them. Yet Ludovic had not asked questions. His old mentor had simply kept him company on unplanned patrols when sleep failed, his own insomnia making the agreement perfectly amiable. "Speaking of Seraphina, she will be awake soon." He turned on his heel to walk toward her chambers, to keep his post by her side. Ludovic offered a too-knowing grin. "So informal when talking about the princess..." (edited)

8:19 AM

Ari looked back over his shoulder. "Don't even start," he said, but couldn't help the smallest smile at his old mentor's lighthearted teasing. Perhaps in another world, his implications could have been right. But he knew the rules, and there were boundaries never to be breached. @Purr ♡beloved♡

As they spoke the princesses ladies in waiting had flocked to her room, their eyes glaring upon the men before the entered her room. They had also had dedicated their lives to the princess, they had followed her almost everywhere, as they woke her, dressed her and accompanied her everywhere she went. They did not much greet the men nor speak to them as they entered her room, preparing her for her day. As uptight as they were they got the princess ready rather quickly without fail everyday. Minutes passed before the doors to her room opened once more, the sound of the women chatting filled the hall. The ladies perfectly lined up at the princesses side. "Why are you telling me this now?" Seraphina spoke to one of them, her tone more concerned then upset. The princess stood at a below average height, barley keeping up with the women who surrounded her as she was about five-two. She had looked more like a child compared to them. "He's going to kill me..." the princess spoke, slight fear in her eyes as they walked past the men. "M-My lady....Im sure the king would not do such a thing..." another said, worried at the signs of the princesses distress. She began to walk with haste, the group of ladies trailing behind the stressed princess. The eldest turning and signaling the guards to follow. This wasn't anything new to them as they were familiar with the princesses behavior. Seraphina had a history of upsetting her father, not that she wanted to, she felt that she forgot things often even though she was reminded daily. "Well if the church has anything to do with this he will..."

9:48 PM

Walking Seraphina made it to the royal hall where her father had been waiting for her, her mother beside him. From the kings expression and body language it was obvious he was upset. He was known for his temper but that's what kept the kingdom in order. His cheeks red and his hands slightly balled up. "You know how long we've been waiting?. . ." He huffed lowly at her. Her mother gently nudged him, gesturing him to calm down. A scene was not something they needed. Beside them was a priest, in an all black cassock as well as a few witnesses. He had held a tiny glass of oil in his left hand and a bible in the other. The princess stayed silent, she knew her father did not want a response nor did she want to anger him further. She had practiced for this, not that she had to do much but let the pastor anoint her. She gradually made her way to the priest, her ladies in waiting stopped, keeping their distance from her. before she bowed her head before him with her eyes closed. Seraphina knew her father only wanted to do this for the sake of pleasing the church as they had no spiritual connections. As she bowed the priest handed his bible to a witness before opening up the bottle, twisting off the cap and pouring a drop into his palm. He began to say a prayer as he delicately raised a hand towards her, his fingers covered in the oil grazing her forehead. As humans disconnected from God they could not feel the spiritual atmosphere around them, but to a being born again or casted away it was strong aura. Not the kind that filled you with a heavenly presence, but one that irritated the spirit as the church was nothing but corrupt and unforgiving. As he finished his prayer she slowly leaned back up, opening her eyes and faking a warm smile to the priest.

9:48 PM

@Al the Killer

Ari knew well enough to stay outside of her room and, as the ladies in waiting arrived, he dipped his head respectfully toward him and stepped aside. He had not missed their apparent irritation, but he had not cared, either; he had grown accustomed to it, though they seemed particularly on edge today. He silently racked his memory, trying to remember why that may be the case as he waited. Ludovic took his leave, and Ari remained alone. Then there was a bustle of activity as they walked out again, and he stepped aside once more to let them pass by, pretending not to listen to their conversation. It was a bad habit, he knew, but he had a very specific set of tasks; anything else, he would need to simply... overhear if he wished to know about them. So he did. Seraphina was the only one he trusted to be candid with him, and less so with her ladies surrounding her. He trailed behind once he was given the cue, keeping a concerned watch over Seraphina. Her concern was his as well, though he was sure the king would rather die than let anything happen to her. He himself was a living testament to that. As they made it to the royal hall, he stood to the side with the ladies in waiting. Then that bottle opened. His stomach lurched at the dizzying scent, and every instinct said to get Seraphina out of there. Something was wrong, and nobody else seemed to notice. He didn't realize his hand was on the pommel of his sword until the bottle was closed again. The aura faded, and he blinked, looking around with a clear head. He let out a slow breath and relaxed, hoping nobody had been paying that much attention to him. Something lingered though, some burning animosity toward the clergy in front of him. But this was not something he could interrupt, and he knew better than to speak out against such a powerful institution. He was one man, and hardly seen as that much.

3:29 PM

He glanced down briefly at his hands. The metal of his gauntlets had grown inexplicably hot, and now nearly glowed with the most subtle hint of gold. Yet he blinked, and it was gone. This was not the first time. A trick of the candlelight, every time; the windows did not grant the royal hall nearly enough sun on their own, after all. Convincing himself that everything was... fine, tampering down that swirling ascension, his eyes fell once more on Seraphina. The sight of her, of those dark curls, of her fair features and ever-familiar eyes - like a brewing storm one couldn't help but long to watch for the beauty of nature - should have brought him a sense of ease. Normally, her mere presence did. This time, it seemed he would have to wait it out and hoped nobody noticed his tension.

3:29 PM

@Purr ♡beloved♡

She bowed to her parents before she was dismissed, this was all she was needed for as she didn't have much else to do besides be a religion pawn for her parents until she was to be wed to another prince. Turning away she began to leave the room, her eyes meeting with his. She felt something off, she cared for all her court so seeing the slightest discomfort. She flashed him a warm smile, in reality she was scanning his body language in the second their eyes met. The princess sense the knight was uneasy, his body tense and his face troubled. He was distressed. It wasn't uncommon for a knight to be this way, but he was supposed to be the best in his rank. She could not have a solider of hers under that condition. Her mouth opened for the slightest second as if she were to begin speaking to him before her ladies in waiting quickly scurried around her again and began to worry about the oil on her delicate skin. They began to banter with her as she was obviously worried about something else, but as she was outnumbered she was escorted out of the room. The King waved his palm in a shooing motion, gesturing the guards to leave as business was done here. "W-Wait...Please let me for just one second talk to them..." Seraphina asked the ladies surrounding her, all of them shaking their heads. "They have no other purpose than to protect you my highness..." One spoke. "You know better than that...they are mere guard dogs to you...." Another spoke.

11:03 PM

She huffed at their rather degrading words, she's known most of them since she was a child. She looked up to them for throwing their lives away for her. The princess was going to find a way to speak to him, whether she'd have to sneak out after dark or drag him into her quarters. It pestered her to not be able to know how he was feeling. Guided to her room the doors were shut again, having enough of their care she ordered them out of her room. The day was almost over, she'd figure out a way to speak to him no matter what. All she would have to do is avoid being seen with him. As he ladies in waiting left her head peaked out the door for a quick second before she shut it, now all she would have to do is plan out how she was going to do such a strange thing. She didn't have a clue of if he'd be posted at her door as he probably change shifts, all she could do was hope that he'd be the knight who'd be by her door this night. @Al the Killer

In the hours that passed after leaving the hall, the moment lingered in Ari's mind. Seraphina had been about to say something to him, and he was resolved to find out what. When they were children, this would have been easy; the king had pretended he simply didn't know of their friendship, but truly they'd been permitted to spend time together, as it was normal for a child regardless of rank to want to be around someone their own age. It had even been secretly encouraged for him by older knights, presumably because forming a personal bond of some sort provided greater motivation to give a higher standard of protection. Then they had grown, and he'd needed to keep his distance. Status mattered more, as did ensuring that they were not alone together as they reached an age where he was expected to have what the church described vaguely as 'impure thoughts'. Granted, he certainly knew what they had meant by that phrase, but disagreed both with their value judgment and with the implication that a man could not control himself. Now, if they wanted to have a word with each other, they needed to scheme, to plot, to sneak around. Contrary to the wishes of those who told them to keep their distance, this only served to make the prospect of speaking with the princess more interesting. As the sun set, he took advantage of his recent sleeplessness and informed the guard assigned to her night watch that he would be taking this shift. Having been raised by the soon-to-be-retired knight captain, Ari had some influence among his rank, and his word was not questioned. That, and guard duty was profoundly dull; there would be no complaints from someone about to be relieved of it.

7:41 AM

He waited until the sounds of the castle had settled for the night. His habit of eavesdropping was admittedly egged on by the fact that his hearing was rather sensitive. When he was sure it was safe to do so, he gently knocked on Seraphina's door, hoping she was not already asleep and unaware that she was making plans of her own. "Your Highness," he said softly, leaning toward the wooden barrier between them. "Is all well in there?" It was not such an unusual question for a knight to ask while on guard duty, a brief check-in as though he may have heard something. Still, the halls had grown quiet and empty. He could choose bolder words. "Did you wish to speak with me earlier, or should I retrieve another knight for you?"

7:41 AM

@Purr ♡beloved♡

The princess had made rather blunt plans. it was all based on luck. If she right knight she had wanted would be there. It was a gamble, a dangerous one at that. Dragging in the wrong knight would have its consequences, so she hoped it was him. She worried about the right time to do it, how she would do it. Having someone see them was the last thing she needed. A knight caught in her room alone at this time of knight, it was obvious what people would think. She did not want people thinking such polluted thoughts of her, and with a knight? These men were here to protect her, and she thought highly of them. She would never ruin their status for something like that. She heard a soft knock at her door along with a mellow voice, now was time for her plan. She took a few seconds to think about how to execute this. "its him.." she thought as he recalled their occurrence. It was the right person, but the factor of someone seeing them still lingered. She got up from her bed and walked towards the door, knowing he was standing right outside of it. She took a deep breath before she slowly and carefully opened her door. Knowing one loud creak would echo through the halls. The princess looked up at him before peeking to see if anyone was around to see them, once she knew no one was looking she quickly tugged the knight close to her. It took some strength but after she managed to move his rather large frame into her quarters she closed the door behind him. "it is you..." she smiled softly at him, not realizing their close proximity. Her nurturing instincts kicked in as she remembered why she wanted to speak with him.

3:21 PM

She laid a gentle hand upon his face, her eyes observing his, her own filled with worry and concern. "are you alright...?" she purred softly up to the knight. She remembered her concern for him at the hall, just looking to his eyes she sensed something had been burdening him. @Al the Killer

The door began to open and Ari stepped back, glancing around to ensure he was still alone in the hall. Then the moment she reached for him, he took his cue, slipping into her chambers and stepping aside to let the door shut quietly. His breath caught in his throat for the barest moment, the thought crossing his mind that he shouldn't be here. Yet he couldn't help but return that smile, a sight as soothing as the moon itself. His eyes still scanned the room for a second, a brief overview of the space they were in. It was instinct by now, noting possible escape routes, weak points in their security that any threats could come through. But more than that, he couldn't resist some curiosity of what her room looked like now. What parts of her life he had been shut out from over the years. His gaze settled once more on hers, his expression calmer than it had been earlier. He'd had time to mull it over but, though he had failed to invent a logical explanation for earlier, he had managed to convince himself that it was nothing of urgency. Still, he understood that that was what she meant to ask about. "I am... recovered now," he assured her. "Thank you for your concern." Something tugged at his heart, the desire to lean into that touch, to enjoy her warmth fully. Instead, he stepped back before bowing his head respectfully, as though even a gentle brush of stubble against her soft skin would tear open some unseen wound between them. As it was, he knew his assurance would amount to little in her eyes, so he attempted an explanation. "I don't fully know what came over me," he confessed. "Maybe I simply don't trust the church officials trouncing in here, using you for their power plays..." He trailed off, as speaking against the church so openly was... not quite a crime perhaps, but certainly punishable. "What I mean to say is, they are controversial lately; by granting you religious status in the eyes of any onlookers, they may risk painting a target on you."

4:44 PM

It made sense. There were always whispers of mistrust toward the clergy, especially with the more recent rumours that a demon had made its way into the kingdom despite its alleged holy protection. And it was normal for him to express concern toward her. It was better to say all of that than to confess the rage that had awakened in him when that bottle had opened, or to say something unrelated and completely stupid, like- "I've missed you." Realizing he had said it out loud when this was rather poorly timed, he bowed low as an excuse to not look directly at her. "I... my apologies for the impertinence," he managed to say. "I meant simply that..." There was no good excuse for that, was there? He sighed and straightened back up. "It is good to speak with you again, Seraphina. If only for a moment." It was wrong to speak so boldly to her, he knew. But he liked to think he still knew her; the girl he had been such close friends with in their youth would not have minded.

4:44 PM

@Purr ♡beloved♡

She wasn't satisfied with his response, still knowing a part of him wasn't being completely honest with her. Her eyes never broke eye contact with his, she was determined to find out what was wrong with him. She frowned slightly as he pulled away from her touch. As he explained his own concerns she understood his reasons as she wasn't too fond of the church either. "I know....but its for the peace of our kingdom, without it who knows what the church officials would do.." "If I did not do ask they asked chaos is bound to erupt from them....lies...rumors...there's not a day that goes by where they do not threaten my family..." She spoke, not understanding that maybe her words would upset the knight. "b-but its okay!" she quickly redirected her words. "we're okay, I promise you. . . the kingdom has never been in such a good shape.." a reassuring smiled tugged at her lips. She could feel the knight was avoiding her touch but she was not the one to shy away from providing affection to those who needed it. "I've missed you" rang through her ears, a small chuckle escaping her mouth as he tried to rephrase it. She slowly reached out to the knight, lifting his chin as her other hand gently grasped his. Making sure to take in any hesitation from him incase she was crossing a boundary of his before interlocking their fingers "do not be afraid. . .you are safe with me..." her voice purred again, trying to comfort him. The princess did not like how formal he was being they were behind closed doors, there was no need for it. @Al the Killer

Ari did not find himself particularly reassured. Was prosperity worth the corruption? The constant grabbing for power? Still, his manner softened as she reached out toward him again. He looked down at her and pulled his hand away, though this time not out of avoidance. He just didn't want her fingers to get pinched between the plating on his gauntlets, so he removed one first, then took her hand gently in his. "I am not afraid," he said, though the bluster sounded so empty even to himself that he couldn't help but give a small, amused smile of his own. "...But this is probably the worst place for us to be right now. You know the rules. So do I." He longed to spend more time with her, to talk to her as they used to. Just not in a place everyone knew, where they were most likely to jump to the wrong conclusion. His own fleeting happiness was not worth the price of her reputation. He spent a moment considering where they could go. There were places they wouldn't be found; old castles held many secrets, and he had always been prone to exploring, to find quiet spots to sneak away and think to himself, undisturbed. He remembered those places well. "But... if you were to have trouble sleeping, and you wanted to walk somewhere to ease your mind, then it would be my duty as your knight to accompany you on that walk." He had long ago accepted his lot in life. The rules were the rules, and they were set in stone. But so were the ways they could be circumvented - if a rule had a loophole, that was the rule maker's error, not his. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he let go of her hand. The feeling of her touch lingered on his skin for a moment, but faded all too quickly. "If you wanted to keep talking, I can wait outside for you," he offered. She had every choice, a way out if she wished. He didn't want to mistake her kindness for anything more, despite that small spark of hope that he still meant something to her.

4:53 AM

@Purr ♡beloved♡

She smiled as his hand gently caressed hers, she could care less about the rules but knew that if they were to break them it'd cost them both. Hearing him she smiled, enjoying how crafty he was. Technically the wouldn't be breaking any rules. It would just be a night accompanying her like usual. As his hand let go of hers she nodded, she needed to know more about him even if it meant strolling around the forgotten parts of the kingdom afterhours. There was no time to waste though, she wanted as much time as she could get with him. She grabbed a satchel that rested by her bed, she was already dressed so there was no need to change into something formal fitting. The princess walked pasted him and out her bedroom door. "Lead me, my knight." She commanded him as she waited, a small ball of excitement forming in the pit of her stomach. This was something she'd never done before, nonetheless think of. @Al the Killer

Ari waited as promised, until she left her room. Despite her words, it seemed that she was the one leading. He caught up to her in a couple of long strides, falling into step beside her. There were plenty of places to go, though staying on castle grounds would be best. If they were spotted and recognized further away, that would be suspicious. That would get people talking, beyond what they could explain away with a late-night stroll. "Do you wish to stay indoors, Your Highness?" he asked. "Or were you hoping for some fresh air?" There were plenty of secrets in old castles indeed. Particularly secret passageways. Or more accurately, hidden doors and halls previously used by servants or nobles seeking to avoid their servants, which had long since been closed off and forgotten by all but the most curious. Whichever answer she gave, he stopped by a large tapestry that hung from a wall. Its cloth, carefully embroidered, proudly displayed a scene of a biblical battle, of the holy defeating an army of the fallen. Something had always felt wrong about it and, in a fit of anxiety following a particularly bad day of training when he'd been a child, he'd nearly torn it down. He had only succeeded in pulling it aside to reveal a door set into the wall, one that wouldn't even be noticed without close inspection. He pulled the tapestry aside now. "Have you been here before?" he whispered. The corridor behind the door would break off into two paths: one leading out of the castle and one to room adjacent to the library, but only accessible through this pathway. @Purr ♡beloved♡

Seraphina paused, feeling a thrill of excitement coursing through her as she contemplated the adventure ahead. She turned to him, her heart racing at the thought of exploring the hidden corners of the castle together. A smile broke across her face, brightening the dim corridor. “Fresh air sounds perfect,” she replied, her voice a melodic whisper to the knight. The walls of the castle felt like they were closing in on her, and the allure of the night outside called to her spirit of adventure. She took a step closer to the tapestry he had pulled aside, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. When he asked if she had been here before, she shook her head, her expression playful. “I can’t say I have..." She knew about these passageways but was forbidden to ever travel through them. The idea of exploring them crossed her mind but never acted on it, now having her knight by her side made it all more tempting to her. @Al the Killer

Just to be extra safe, Ari cast one last glance over his shoulder. He was not supposed to know of this passageway, so he doubted he could get away with it if he was caught escorting the princess through it. But she had already agreed, and he knew he would gladly risk his life in exchange for that smile of hers. He pushed the door open gently. Its hinges had been properly attended to in the interest of stealth when he needed to sneak away for some peace and quiet, and the door's movement inward was only the barest whisper through the air. The corridor itself was wide enough for two small children perhaps, but only one fully grown adult, especially given the fact that he was not a small man. In recent years, he'd needed to duck his head to make it through the doorway, which was lower than most. He gestured with one hand, almost gallantly despite the fact that they were circumventing a number of palace rules right now. "After you," he whispered softly, leaning close to her ear so his voice would not need to carry far. "I will be right behind you. It's straight ahead, then right until you see moonlight through a grate in the ceiling." Luckily, there would also be an ordinary door that would lead out straight ahead, through the side of a hill and into the ruins of what had once been an old chapel, but had long since been abandoned for grander structures. @Purr ♡beloved♡