Ronan McDougall entered the mountain spring welcoming the cool water against his sore muscles. When he was waist deep into the water, he plugged his nose and dove his head underwater until he was fully submerged. Slowly counting to ten before he resurfaced, Ronan came up for air feeling refreshed. He rubbed his face to remove excess water from his eyes. He was grateful for the quiet moment to process the night’s results. Ronan found smoothed stones at the outskirts of the pond for him to rest on. Even the bathing spots near the castle were posh compared to the dirty ponds back home.

Soaking in the cool water, Ronan had a perfect vantage point to watch the sunrise break on the horizon. The bloodthirsty vampires should be inside by now as they hid from the daylight. Ronan continually questioned if vampires were creatures of mother nature, why did they burn to a crisp in the daylight? Ronan believed sunlight as the essence of all life on the planet. It gives life to the fauna and flora of his valued woodlands and grasslands. He believed in a careful balance between dark and light, and currently the dark was prevailing. Mainly Ronan wanted to stop the extermination of his fellow witches and warlocks.

Cracking branches alerted him as Ronan dove through the water to the edge of the bank where his sword rested. With his hand on the hilt, he saw the palace guard he fought walk towards him. The bruised guard stated. “Relax, I am here to lead you into the castle.” Ronan answered him. “Then turn around.” The guard rolled his eyes as he turned his back to him. He came out of the water holding his sword up in case he needed to protect himself. Stabbing it into the ground, Ronan pulled his slacks on as he spoke. “I am surprised you were sent to collect me.” The palace guard must have been furious when he received his orders.

“The King has quite a sense of humour.” The palace guard stated. “Hurry up.” Ronan pulled his shirt over his head and pulled his boots onto his feet. “Ready.” He answered as he still fidgeted with his coat and leather sheath. The palace guard turned around watching him as he spoke with remorse. “The sword will frighten her.” Ronan simply explained. “She will get used to it.” His previous competitor turned and started walking. Ronan followed him still toying with his appearance. Twigs snapped under their feet as they strode out of the woods toward the castle courtyard. Ronan still had time to convince a fellow Warlock about their plight.

“Don’t you just got to hate this. Bed her. King Nathanial said that, her husband.” He saw the palace guard shoulders tense in front of him. He knew he struck a nerve as he continued. “I meant what I said on the battlefield. You know full well our own kind is under attack. Mothers, wives, daughters and sisters are being murdered.” The palace guard spun around and angrily stated. “What do you think I am doing here? I am protecting Isabella.” Ronan matched the guard’s height as he came closer. “How are you protecting her? Did you see how hard he smacked her on that stage?”

The palace guard closed his eyes and brought a hand up to rub his neck as he answered. “Yes, I know. I am trying to figure all this out.” Ronan decided to ease up on pestering the palace guard. “God, she is powerful as well. No need for rituals, she can summon magic like that.” Ronan snapped his fingers for emphasis. “Do not worry. I am not going to touch her. But if I had my way with her, I would be throwing her onto a horse and leaving this place.” The palace guard sighed stating. “You and me both.” Ronan realized he did not know the palace guard’s name and attempted a late introduction. He held out his hand. “Ronan.” The palace guard hesitated and then shook his hand. “Samuel.”

“I had better get you into the castle before I am skewered.” Samuel sighed as he spoke. “And my jaw still hurts, damn you can throw a good right hook.” Ronan laughed and the two men started their stride back towards the castle. He was pleased that out of the horrendous competitions meant to turn the Warlocks against each other that he could instead create a couple allies. Travelling through the courtyard, Ronan noticed carpenters dismantling the stage and the enclosure used only a few hours previously. Once inside the castle, he gawked at the extravagance filling the hallways.

When Samuel and Ronan reached the Queen’s bedroom, the two men were laughing and jovial together. Both men expressed how exhausted they felt from being awake through two full nights. As Samuel knocked on Isabella’s door, she called out for them to come in. Ronan followed the palace guard and automatically noticed all the blue décor. He gazed at the black- haired beauty in her revealing black / blue dress and mainly noticed the terrified expression on her face. Ronan could hear Samuel trying to ease her mind that he was safe and unhurt. He heard the palace guard state to the Queen. “Isabella, he is kind. He will not hurt you. I am sorry I can not stay. I need to go.”

Fear radiated in her tone as Samuel said his goodbyes and exited the room. Ronan figured he would need to reassure her that he would not lay a finger on her. Hearing the door close behind him, he decided to introduce himself. “Please to meet you my Queen, my name is Ronan McDougall.” He expected the young woman to be nervous even scared, but he was not prepared to be met with hostility. She answered him with an irritated tone. “My name is Isabella you gruesome cretin. You may have fooled Samuel with your manly comrade, but you will not sell me any snake oil you rancid oaf. You cannot win me over with your handsomeness, you sweaty jerk.” Ronan just stared at her.

“I did not expect to be greeted with such vile words. If my mother were still alive, she would be washing your mouth out with soap.” Ronan answered shocked at the vocabulary of such an attractive woman. Her brown eyes shone with anger. “I saw it, you were going to kill Samuel if I did not intervene.” Ronan slowly approached her. “I was only going to stab him. Small little wound. It would of have been fine.” He could see dark bags under her eyes and imagined her little fit was a mixture of tiredness and anxiety. And then he noticed the dark splotch on her face. “Geez, that is one hell of a bruise you have there.”

Tears collected at her eyes as she lightly whispered. “I am fine.” Ronan wanted to hold her and take away her pain. He was furious that somebody could hurt such a vulnerable woman. He approached her even closer thinking about how he could comfort her when he noticed the marks on her neck. His anger peaked as he shouted. “You let him bite you!” Isabella moved away from him and closer to her bedroom window. “You would not understand.” She answered as she fidgeted with the curtains in her hands. “Nathanial needs my powers to help keep the kingdom safe.” Ronan tried to calm down as he rubbed his forehead. “Do not defend this vampire to me.”

Isabella blustered when she spoke. “I was all alone, and I had nobody to count on. Nathanial found me.” Grouchy that she was still defending this bloodsucker, he stated. “Princess, with your powers, he hunted you down. And this leads me to a question I held since I arrived here. You wanted Samuel to win instead of me, but what are you two planning?” Ronan approached her as she huddled in the corner. “Within the castle you and Samuel act as you two are married. With kids roaming the hallways?” Isabella shook her head. “Why not? It may not be conventional to you, but it could work.”

She began pulling her black hair out of her braids straightening out her hair. Ronan noticed the purple wildflower stuck above her ear. He knew she had been placed in an impossible situation which she attempted to justified. A bird that had given up and began to adjust to her cage. Ronan knew there would be another time and place where he could convince her she was in a prison. He calmed his voice as he spoke to her. “Princess, I think you are tired. Why don’t you lay down and have a nap?” Isabella bolted from the corner. “Take a nap so you can place your hands on me?” Ronan wanted to reassure her. “Princess, I promise that is not the case.”

Ronan took Isabella by the hand leading her to her bed as he stated. “Princess, I will not lay a hand on you, but I think you need to nap. You have had a long day.” He could see the black under her eyes that began matching the nasty bruise on her cheek. The poor creature had experienced so many twists and turns this evening, she was probably confused and lost. Ronan swore to himself that he would do everything in his power to protect this pretty little dove. The black-haired beauty followed him and still in her gown, she crawled into her bed resting her head on her pillow. She let out a sigh and closed her eyes.

Ronan pulled her covers aside and tucked them in around her. He ran his hand over her head in a gentle caress as he heard her breathing start to deepen. Isabella was already fast asleep as he gazed at her beautiful face for one more moment. He straightened up stretching his back as his exhaustion began to set in. Ronan knew it would frighten the young lass if he crawled into the empty side of her bed; therefore, he crossed the room to an empty chair and settled in. He sat down resting his hands on his stomach and stretched out his legs. Resting within the castle, he was slightly reassured no one would sneak in and slit his throat. Ronan closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.