The wagon's wheels bumped and clattered against the uneven surface of the disrepair Night Road. Carlough had set out three days prior from the trading port of Bulwyrch, a guard on a caravan going south to sell grain to Drow rebels in the night kingdom. Hey, elven terrorists have to eat.

That was how he found himself sitting lazily on the roof of the middle wagon, humming a happy tune as he re-strung his new crossbow for the fifth time. Their leader was a very paranoid man and would lose his shit if their best shot didn't have his weapon ready.

As the wagon rolled quite heavily over another crack in the road he heard a slightly surprised yelp from within its depths, well then guess that is my cue. He thought as he climbed down from the roof and the entered the wagon through the left side's window.

Inside the carriage, it was dim, just like the occupants asked for, as this was the other cargo they were transporting for the rebels, for inside this carriage was the captured drow princess.

If you saw her today you wouldn't think royalty or prisoner for that matter. No, she looked like a normal albeit beautiful drow girl of around twenty, dressed in fine but not extravagant clothes while traveling with her family. That was what you were meant to think.

For this girl was actually the Crown Princess of the Night Empire and the two men she was traveling with were her jailors, members of the rebellion's army.

Carlough slipped in through the window and was met with the sight of the girl delicately wiping the sleep from her bright white eyes. She had a beautiful heart shaped face and flawless skin, with the high cheekbones of the nobility and the dark gray skin characteristic of the drow upper class and as she pushed some wayward strands of snow-white hair behind her ear you could see their telltale elven points.

"Ah, so the young man has returned." She said politely in a refined but soft voice, everything about her spoke of frailty, her features, her voice, but Carlough would not be fooled, he knew she was dangerous, she wouldn't trick him no sir. The only reason he kept returning to her carriage was good business, yes customer service is important after all.

Both of the princesses guards watched him carefully as he sat down opposite them, they were used to his presence by now, didn't mean they had to like it.

"Hey princess, how are you doing on this fine morning." Said Carlough enthusiastically trying to bring some levity into the situation. He hated it when she was sad, and she had the most amazing smile.

"I am as good as one could expect of a person going to their own funeral." She said sadly, for that was the reason she was being transported, the rebels had begun to win the war, and executing her in front of the public was to be the final stroke for the drow to renounce their Queens and turn to the rebels for support. For if a ruler can't even protect their own children, how can they protect the people?

He looked at her smile one more time and then resolved himself to the decision he had been making this entire journey, he would break her out, run away with her, she was the love of his life and he would damned if he lost her.

Carlough was beginning to draw the dagger he kept at the small of his back when the caravan came to an abrupt stop, sending him sprawling onto the princess.

Red as a beetroot he stood up and dusted himself off before sitting back down, that was when the screaming started.

It was quiet at first, probably coming from the front of the wagon train, then it got louder and louder until the death screams and laments of people filled his reality.

The guards stood up suddenly and lent out the window to see what was going on, this was his chance. He lunged forward as he drew his knife, slashing the throat of one of the guards before they could even flinch, the next was harder, as Carlough went for the man's face with the knife he managed to get his shoulder up saving himself from certain death.

Carlough then tackled him to the ground, smashing the drow's head against the floor repeatedly, then, panting for breath he took their keys and freed the princess.

"My god, Carlough what are you doing?!" She said in a panic as the man walked toward her covered in blood.

"Freeing you my dear Altraria." He spoke with a reverence as he unlocked the door to the carriage and ushered her out behind him.

"But why?" She said softly in disbelief.

He turned to look her in the eyes before speaking, "because I love you." He said causing her to smile slightly, god that smile could drive a man insane.

They began to sneak through the battlefield, the fighting was going on between the caravan guards and a party of men in mismatched armor and swords, they were unshaven and looked like crazed barbarians, throwing themselves into the fray with a viciousness Carlough had never before seen from bandits.

They managed to get halfway to the treeline unnoticed before they were both grabbed from behind and dragged toward the front of the wagon train.

"Let go of me you brute!" Said the princess angrily as she tried to struggle out of the man's grasp.

"Hu Hu Hu, Bolg gonna have fun with the grey one, yes Bolg will." Said the largest man Carlough had ever seen as he began to fondle the drow's chest. He was then slapped over the head by the man holding Carlough.

"Damn Bolg you lumbering fool, we have to bring them to the boss first, then we can play with them." Said the other man frustratedly, it seemed he had had the conversation many times before.

They were carried the rest of the way in silence, right to the front of the wagon train where they threw in front of a large looming figure.

It was an orc, the tusks were the telling feature, he stood at a height usually only reached by the Half-Giants, with bulging muscles covered by thick black skin, and he was covered nearly from head to toe in blood.

"Boss Takarn sir, you said you wanted to talk to the prisoners, so Bolg brought them to you, Bolg do good?" Said the lumbering man in broken English as he threw them to the floor in front of the massive orc.

"Yes, Bolg did very well." He said while looking hungrily at the drow.

"Alright you two, I shall give you the same options that I have everyone else today, either both of you die," he said tossing a small dagger in front of them. "Or one of you take that knife, kill the other, and then join me. You choose." He said while crossing his arms and watching with disinterest at what followed.

"You vile beast we would never kill each other, we are in love!" Spoke Carlough in defiance, they were the last words he ever spoke before choking on his own blood.

He turned to find the princess clutching the dagger calmly in her hands, its bloodstained edge glistening pleasantly in the sunlight.

"Well then, now that I have your attention I have a proposition to make." She said smiling viciously at the orc.

That was all Carlough saw before his vision faded to black, the last thought he had was of her smile if he could just see it one more time this would all be worth it.

Just.

One.

More.

Time.