Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Uncovering Lies (1x1)

Only two guards had been left and they had promised to keep the secret, to guard Phoenix as if she really was the princess. But the thing was, she wasn't. Not at all.

With her chin up, she rode in front of her guards to the front gate of Uther's castle. The letter tucked in her belt should be enough to allow her to stay there and be under his protection. She was guided to the throne room; the powerful figure of the king analyzing he visitors, trying to figure out what they had come there for. After a brief summary of the attack to her city, she handed the letter from her 'father' to the king.

"My father was an old friend of yours. He hoped you would help his daughter in this time of need." Her voice nearly broke at the last part. It was okay because it sounded like a princess in grief.

"Very well." Uther nodded, looking lost for a moment. "My condolences for your loss, and yours too." He said looking at her guards. "Bohtimbhar, scort the princess and her guards safely to the guest rooms."

"...Yes.. My lord.." Muttered Bohtimbhar. In his past, he was never keen on visitors. He always hid his scowls within the confines his Gothic helmet.

Bohtimbar kept to himself as he approached the princess and her guards. "Follow me... my lady." His voice, though seemingly young, was hoarse and had a constant grizzled touch to it. He would choose to lead them through the dining hall, then into the guest chambers. As he walked, his boots made a steel clank until he lead them into the dining hall, stopping for a moment. He had felt it be necessary to alert the princess the importance of this room.

"This is the dining hall. Within here, his majesty and his vassals flock for both feasts, and plans of action, depending on the current situation of events..."

He would allow the princess and her guards to survey the hall until Bohtimbhar decided it would be best to move on.

Phoenix nodded at the knight that had approached them and bowed to the king before following him. Her guards were silent behind her. One of them was her brother. There was a faint resemblance between them, invisible unless upon a closer look.

She smiled at Bohtimbhar politely. "Thanks for showing us. This place is like a maze, so I appreciate the directions." Her brother nudged her and gave her a look, as if saying Don't talk! What was she supposed to do? Stay quiet all the time? That'd be weird. Last time she checked, the hard thing was to keep the princess's mouth shut.

An awkward silence stretched as they followed the knight to the hall where the guest rooms were. Nobody was really in the mood for chatting.

Bohtimbhar nodded silently, as if he had found the princess' sudden words somewhat awkward. He shook his head faintly for a moment, and lead on into the guest rooms, until he came to a stop.

"These are the doors to the noble chambers..." Bohtimbhar spoke with a stoic voice as he explained. "Here rest the king's own invited guests... that would include you my lady." Bohtimbhar was never one for chivalric talk. Though a knight, he was more so in appearance than in personality.

Bohtimbhar once again allowed the princess to survey the room, as well as looking down the corridors to check for any disturbances.

The brief moment of hesitation was gone, reminding herself of what was at stake here. Trying to imitate the princess' regal attitude, she stood straighter. "Does the king receive many guests? Or I'm the only one at the moment?" A small frown of concern appeared on her forehead. She hoped there were no other guests, it'd make everything harder.

The room was reasonably fancy, not over the top like she had expected, and it pleased her. Her two guards, though remaining alert, looked at the rooms longingly. It had been a tough trip.

"No. His majesty receives guests on a regular basis, for it is here where he resides." Bohtimbhar replied. "I do not know much of them however, if you go down the halls, I am sure that you will find many young nobles and squires." 'Perhaps even a suitor' he thought to himself. Despite his advanced age, the idea made him snicker, his expression hidden within his wide and heavy helmet.

Bothimbhar cared very little for nobility. He found squabbling barons and meddling squires a nuisance. As a mysterious newcomer to Uther's realm, he had met very few lords, who paid more attention to his extravagant armor, than of the fact that he was himself a knight. It reminded him of own homeland, and that was what ached him most. Ever since he had found himself within this land, he constantly brooded on how in a Dwarf's name he had ended up here!?

"I hope you enjoy your stay within his majesty's castle, my lady." Bohtimbhar spoke. He was preparing to leave the noble highness within her quarters.

Phoenix was resisting the urge to groan in frustration. Nobles and squires? Her kingdom's enemies were still looking for what the princess had managed to save from the castle, which meant it'd eventually bring them to Camelot. It was jusf a matter of time. By the look on her guards' faces, she knew they were thinking the very same thing.

"A lot of people, great." She, being the curious person she was, was itching to know how the knight's face looked like. Would he think she's weird if she took his helmet off? Probably. "Thanks... Bohtimbhar."

The sound of feet pounding down the halls nearby echoed through that one. Phoenix approached a window. "There are soldiers gathering outside. It seems serious."

Bohtimbhar was intrigued by this mustering of guards. What could the urgency be? Bohtimbhar shook his head for a moment, simply at the idea of such a hindrance. Then again, he himself had not been called to the gathering, and it was still unknown to Bohtimbhar how his sudden majesty, King Uther thought of him. Such a thing bothered him little however, and he was determined to see what this urgency, or possible farce was all about.

"I suppose that the lords would expect to see me at this gathering outside." Bohtimbhar replied, though still uncertain. "I shall take my leave, and enjoy your stay within Uther's demesne." He went on his way, following the stairs down to the castle courtyard. Not looking forward to the encounter.

They were carrying some injured knights inside. Phoenix's gaze was glued to the conmotion and she barely registered his last words. "Uhummm, have a nice day." When he left, her guards looked out the window too.

"I hope it's not them. Do you think Camelot's army would resist if there was an attack?" She asked them, with a concerned edge on her voice.

They stayed quiet for a moment, then Gotkin, her other guard answered. "We'd have to watch them."

'What could this possibly be?' The Elf thought to himself. Injured knights. Was this a surprise attack by an enemy force? Bandits? Or something more sinister? Bohtimbhar was willing to believe either of the three, after all, he ended up here. Nothing can be truly certain.

He left the princess without another breath to spare. Making his way to the outside courtyard, awaiting the answer to his aforementioned question.

Several knights greeted Bohtimbhar in his way, and filled him in with the recent news. "... doing patrols around the perimeter and were attacked. Those are not normal injuries. They don't have any wounds or marks!."

"Or broken bones," Another chimed in. "The king thinks it may be magic."

Phoenix had been patiently waiting in her room for several minutes, until she poked her head into the hall. Her guards must have gone to get something to eat after her constantly insisting they did. She slipped out. She had to know what was going on.

"Hmph... How do you suggest that the such are the fault of magic?" Bohtimbhar objected. He was not trying to hide the fact that it possibly could be magic, he was simply cynical of the idea of such. Standing tall, he waited for the knights to give him an answer, whilst averting his eyes to check for any possible unwelcome guests.

The soldier shrugged. Strange things always happened in Camelot. "The king considers magic everything he can't explain." He said as he walked. "The poor fellows are being taken to the doctor. Maybe he knows what was it that hurt them. Anyways, I've got to go."

Phoenix was just rounding the corner when she saw Bohtimbhar and the other soldiers parting ways. She stood in the middle of the hall so there was no way he couldn't see her.

Bohtimbhar made a parting gesture to the soldiers, as he turned his head towards the hallway, and was somewhat surprised to see the princess. Bohtimbhar was unsure whether the princess was curious, or there was a much more suspicious scenario taking place. Never the less, Bohtimbhar walked towards, taking a friendly manner of movement. Though he did not like the idea of guests poking around where they don't belong, this woman had recently lost her kingdom. Bohtimbhar held the belief that she had every right to be suspicious.

"Greetings once more, my lady." Bohtimhar said as he walked down the hallway towards Phoenix, his voice becoming slightly hoarse as he tried to speak regally. "I must ask, but is there any particular reason you are down here..?" He waited for the princess to reply.

Phoenix paled as the guard approached. Busted, I'm busted. She composed herself and nodded at him. "I couldn't help but hear about the conmotion outside, and," She paused, thinking about what she'd say next; finally deciding to be partially honest. "I think I may be able to help. The injured survivors from my kingdom also had these type of wounds. It's possible we have the same enemy."

"That is for his majesty to decide, not mine.." Bohtimbhar hissed slightly, his voice laced with reluctance. "I think I would prefer to find out how these wounds were inflicted at my own discretion." Though he was cynical towards the guards he had previously inquired about, being from such a land that he was, Bohtimbhar was somewhat accepting to idea. He did not fear magic, nor did he fear those who manipulated such energies. He wanted to see these aggressors himself personally before he made his decision.

"Are you heading to see the injured men?" She didn't know her way around the castle very well so she hoped he was so she could follow him there. "I know it's the king the one who determines this things but I have to know. I can't let destruction touch yet another kingdom." Her voice sounded firm and confident. This wasn't the princess speaking, it was Phoenix.

"If you were not heading there, I'm sure I can find someone to give me a few directions. No need to worry."

"Very well then, I shall tell you the whereabouts." Bohtimbhar replied, as he pointed to a south eastern road along the courtyard. "Should you follow that trail, you will come to find the castle chapel, that's probably where the soldiers are being taken to." He didn't speak with much thought that it was the princess that was asking where to find the injured men. Sure the King would probably find it questionable, but that was his problem. Bohtimbhar wanted to remain as autonomous as he possibly could, greatly disliking the idea of being a lapdog.

"I have shown you the path, now I wish to find the evidence of these wounds myself." Bohtimbhar held the sheathed hilt of his longsword with a tight grip as he looked toward the forest. He wanted to bring those outlaws to justice, either living body, or their rotting heads. "I'm going to head into the forest, to find anything that can lead to any clues to these unexplained injuries. Take care, as both Lord and Soldier may find your presence there questionable."

He still found the princess' presence slightly unusual, she did not behave like any other princess he had seen, not even from his own homeland. Though troubled he was, Bohtimbhar looked toward the forest, hoping to discover any items. Either a page full of gibberish, or a magician's head would do.