Romance RP

(Take your time. ^^)

Lycoris shivered for a moment as Alex mentioned the kidnapper but she nodded and quietly replied, "Yeah, I'm all right."

She took a moment then continued, "Thanks for inviting me but it's ok. I want to have dinner here."

**********************

Irene nodded with a smile and after both of them had taken their breaks, she said,

"Well then, if you are all rested, we should continue and don't hold back anything."

(Back now. I'll be multi-tasking but here until I turn in for the night. XD)

Alex noticed how frightened Lycoris was and he wrapped his right arm around her shoulders protectively. Gently, he replied,

"I'll protect you, Lycoris. After what happened, I don't trust the chancellor's soldiers so I asked Rosaline if she would be your bodyguard and she's happy to help.

And hey, you should come with us to dinner. Avi would be happy to see you again and I'm sure he'll want to see for himself that you're all right."

*************

Ryan nodded and replied, "I'm ready."

He stood up and after he and Irene had taken fighting positions, the two of them resumed attacks at one another.

(Welcome back. ^^)

Lycoris was surprised to hear that Alex had asked Rosaline to protect her. After a moment of silence, she shook her head and replied,

"I-I don't want anyone to protect me. Tell Rosaline that I appreciate it...but I am not going to endanger anyone else with me."

*********************

Irene would do her best to avoid Ryan's attacks and to attack him with small but quick attacks, hoping she'd be able to get him.

(Thanks. ^^)

Alex sighed and after a moment of silence, he replied,

"Hey, don't be so stubborn on this. Rosaline has no problem watching over you. She was Nerine's personal bodyguard, remember?

And we care about you. If we didn't, we'd leave you alone."

**********

Although the attacks were quick, Ryan's reflexes were quick as well and he was able to avoid most of them although a few did hit him. He'd cast small magical dark spells towards Irene but only those that would disarm at the most.

Lycoris shook her head defiantly and replied,

"Just do that. But if you care about me, I care about you, too, and I won't let anyone endanger themselves for me. You-You saw that man and how he was willing to kill anyone who'd come into his way. I don't want anyone hurt to protect me. I am not worth it."

************************

Irene was impressed by Ryan's quick reflexes and how he was able to avoid most of her attacks and to attack her back at the same time. She would avoid most of his attacks, too, although she'd get hit by a couple, temporarily disarming her. But she'd get back into the fight, giving him her best.

Alex removed his arm from Lycoris' shoulders and then he quickly wrapped both of his arms around Lycoris' waist. He was upset and tears were forming in his eyes. He replied,

"How can you say that? You're valuable-you're valuable to me. I won't let anyone hurt you. I'll protect you with everything that I am."

**********

Ryan was impressed by how well Irene would avoid most of his attacks and he did his best to keep going, casting the same level of powerful spells towards her.

Lycoris could hear the sadness in Alex's voice and she was doing her best to contain her own feelings and not break down. She wrapped her arms around Alex and replied,

"I don't want you hurt. I don't want anyone hurt, Alex. Please. I am not more valuable than anyone else. I am not worth having someone else get hurt for me. I am not worth having you hurt for me."

**************************

Irene continued doing her best to avoid Ryan's attacks although she was getting a little tired and her level of resistance was backing down, and seeing how she wasn't able to move as quickly as before, she began using defensive spells to dodge his attacks or reflect them.

Alex frantically shook his head and replied, "No, that's not true. I don't want you to be selfless. That-that kidnapper could come back and hurt you or worse and I won't let him do that. I don't care if I get hurt. As long as you are safe and happy, that's all that matters."

He held on tighter to Lycoris, as though she were a life preserver.

***********

Ryan noticed that Irene began to use more defensive spells so he had to make himself react quicker to avoid his own attacks being directed back at him. The pair continued like so, getting tired as they continued.

Lycoris shook her head immediately and replied,

"Please don't say that. No, that's not all that matters. You matter to me, too. Everyone else matters. If that kidnapper hurts me but the others are safe, I am ok with that. I can't just let someone get in danger so I can be safe. Please understand, Alex. You'd do the same if you were in my shoes."

***********************

After a while of fighting, Irene was too tired to continue, and gave Ryan a sign to stop. As she took her breathes, she smiled to him and said,

"Wonderful, Ryan. Great work."

Alex continued to shake his head and replied, "How can you say you don't matter? What would happen if that kidnapper got you and he did something terrible and you were gone forever? Don't you get it? I-I still love you. I couldn't live if I lost you."

************

Ryan returned the smile and replied, "Thank you, Duchess Irene. You were great, too. I sure got a challenge dodging your attacks. Why don't we get some water? I'm a little thirsty."

Lycoris sighed and became silent. She wanted to convince Alex that she cared about all of them too. That she loved them all, especially him, and wouldn't want someone else to be hurt just for them.

Reaching out to rub Alex's back, she took a breath and trying to talk calmly, she replied,

"Alex, please. I couldn't live if I lost you either, or anyone else. How do you think I would feel if someone got hurt in order to protect me? Wouldn't you do the same? If-If I were gone forever, that wouldn't be the end of the world but if someone else got hurt for me, I could never forgive myself."

***********************

Irene nodded and replied, "Sounds good to me, too. Let's go."

She went to the part of the camp where the food and water were kept, and asked a soldier for a couple of bottles of water. He handed them to her and she handed a bottle to Ryan.

Alex tried to calm down and was able to a little. He replied,

"But we know the risks and we want to look after you. Lycoris, if you don't agree to have Rosaline be your bodyguard-at least until Avi is free-then I won't have a choice but to tell the chancellor to have new soldiers assigned to you. I don't want to do that but I want you protected and safe."

************

Ryan took a bottle of water from Irene and thanked her. He then opened the cap and drank happily. As they rested, Ryan commented,

"I wonder how my beautiful is doing but I bet she's doing well."

Figuring that this was the best option for now, Lycoris nodded and replied,

"Alright. That's better. The soldiers know how to deal with these situations and they are trained to protect others, right?"

************************

Irene smiled and as she drank and rested, she replied, "We can check her after we're done. She's probably still training. You might convince her to take a break."

Alex sighed and replied, "Are you sure? I mean, I feel that having Rosaline look after you would be the safer option but..."

He felt hesitant about asking the chancellor to place soldiers to guard Lycoris, considering what happened before.

**********

Ryan nodded and replied, "Sure, I can do that. Does Sia tend to overwork herself? Rest is important, too, for a victory."

Lycoris gave Alex a small smile and replied,

"Please, Alex. I'll feel better this way. I don't want to endanger anyone I care about with me, and I am sure the chancellor will choose trustworthy, strong soldiers this time."

**********************

Irene nodded and replied, "At times. She thinks she would be doing her best to overcome all obstacles and impress everyone. But check her; she'd be happy to have you see some of her skills."

Alex gently stroked Lycoris' hair and after taking a deep breath and calming down, he replied,

"Ok, I'll talk to the chancellor tonight and arrange for the soldiers but on one condition. You must have dinner with us. Avi definitely wants to see you."

************

Ryan nodded and replied, "Sure. I'm curious to see how my beautiful fights so I'll find her now."

He got up and taking his bottle with him, he looked around for Lisianthus.

Lycoris sighed and replied, "No, please, Alex. Really, I'll just have dinner here. I'll see Avi tomorrow, promise."

She wanted to avoid hanging around the others especially when Nerine was around, as she knew how her presence angered her and made things tense.

********************

Irene followed Ryan to where Lisianthus was and indeed, they found her in the middle of the camp where she was training with the rest of the soldiers. She was training with the strong captain, giving him her best as she moved quickly and swiftly, attacking him with the greatest force.

Alex sighed, as Lycoris seemed persistent in eating alone. Realizing the problem, he replied,

"Is this because of Nerine? I saw what she did earlier. It wasn't nice but most likely my fault. I mean, I did run off to rescue you and she didn't want me to endanger myself. But all I cared about was you and making sure you were safe."

**************

Ryan found Lisianthus engaged in a training battle with the captain and he watched on in fascination as the two of them fought. He could see how determined and strong Lisianthus was, giving all of her effort into the fight.

Lycoris was a little surprised as Alex figured it was because of Nerine but she didn't reply immediately. What Nerine did earlier wasn't the only thing she did, and Lycoris wasn't going to take chances to anger her even more.

She replied, "Please, Alex. I am not going to change my mind about this. Remaining out of the way seems to be the better option for me."

********************

Lisianthus and the captain continued fighting each other, both giving each other their best, especially Lisianthus, who put her soul into the fight. At a point, she was able to push the captain's sword out of his hand, beating him.

The other soldiers cheered and Lisianthus grinned proudly.

Alex sighed and replied, "You can't avoid her forever. I know how my darling can be. It'll be slow to get her to understand but with time, she'll treat you better."

He got up and said, "I shouldn't keep the others waiting so I'll go. Avi will be disappointed that you can't join us but I'll talk to him and I'll make the arrangements with the chancellor."

************

Ryan cheered proudly as well as he witnessed Lisianthus' victory and he said,

"Way to go, beautiful!"

Lycoris nodded and giving Alex a small, grateful smile, she replied,

"Alright. Thank you, Alex, and send my regards to everyone else."

********************

Lisianthus grinned happily as she saw Ryan and approaching him excitedly, she said,

"Hey, cutie, you're here!"

Alex nodded and replied, "I will and remember, I do care about you so very much."

He gave Lycoris a warm hug and a kiss on each cheek. Then he left her room, heading back to Avi and Bryan's room to have dinner with the others.

*************

Ryan nodded and replied, "Of course. I wouldn't miss your training. You were wonderful just now but I wouldn't expect anything less from my beautiful."

The soldiers standing on Bryan's and Avi's room saw Alex returning and allowed him to enter. Avi saw Alex return although without Lycoris. Looking disappointed, he said,

"She didn't want to come?"

*****************

Lisianthus grinned happily and replied, "Thanks, cutie. If I knew you were watching, I would have done even better than that to impress you, you know."

She saw Irene as well then continued, "So tell me, how was training with Irene, huh?"

Alex shook his head and looking disappointed as well, he replied,

"She was quite persistent in wanting to eat alone although I told her that you wanted to see her. She feels like she's being a nuisance to us although I keep telling her that's not true. I don't know what to do."

***********

Ryan replied, "Duchess Irene is a very powerful and talented sorceress. Our training went well, I believe. We're taking a break now. You should do the same and get some water."

Avi sighed and replied, "I'll talk to her tomorrow. I am pretty sure no one minds her presence here, right?"

Just then, there was a knock on the door and a couple of maids entered with dinner for everyone. They set everything on the tables then took their leave.

********************

Lisianthus nodded and replied, "Ok, if you two are going to stay here."

She asked a nearby soldier for a bottle of water and he brought her one to drink from.