You hear shouting, iron hitting each other and hectic people. What was once a peaceful kingdom is now a battlefield. A loyal knight, Sir Ludwig, accompanies you out and kills 23 fighters along the way. He is a loyal soul and a good fighter, but just before the exit he gets an arrow in the chest. Runs away. Protect the princess! You are destined for something higher. Take this! He handed me His sword and dies. I grabbed Lucia's arm and we ran to a safe point far outside the kingdom

Don't apologize. Thank you... For everything....

Lucy nods and holds tighter on him as he speeds up. "I know... I trust you with my life..." she whispers.

She nods slowly and tries to stand on her own. "I-I think I'm... okay..." she whispers, leaning against him slightly as she catches her breath.

She nods gratefully and sits down on the cloth, leaning against his back for support. "Thank you... You're so kind to me..." she whispers, her voice quiet but full of emotion.

She nods slowly, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "I-I am... just a little bit." Her eyes never leave the fire as she continues to lean against him, finding solace in his warmth and strength.

Lucia blushes even more at the question, surprised that he would even ask. "I... I don't know." Her voice is quiet and shy but there's a hint of longing in it as well. "Maybe?"

She closes her eyes as he sings, letting the music wash over her. It brings back memories of their childhood, before everything changed, before the kingdom fell and she lost everyone who ever cared for her... She listens intently, savoring the sound of his voice, feeling safer than she has in weeks. When he finishes, there's a moment of silence before she whispers softly, "Thank you..." Her hand gently squeezes his upper arm in gratitude.

Lucia listens to the birds echoing his song, her expression soft and peaceful. "It's beautiful..." She whispers, taking a shaky breath as she lets the music fill her heart once more.

She turns to face him, meeting his eyes for just a moment before looking away, unsure of how to express what she's feeling. But there's something there... something more than just gratitude and safety. There's an underlying current of emotion that she can't quite put into words.

Finally, she finds the courage to speak up, her voice barely audible above the crackling fire. "Henry..." she starts, hesitating as if weighing each word carefully before continuing. "... I trust you with my life." It's a confession, of sorts; an acknowledgement that in this harsh new world where everyone has been taken from her, he is the one person she can rely on, the one person who means something to her more than just as a friend or protector.

There's silence between them for several long moments before she adds softly, "Thank you." She leans into him again, seeking comfort and reassurance in his strength.

She nestles closer to him, burrowing into his embrace like a small animal seeking shelter. "I know you won't," she whispers, her voice muffled by the cloth of his shirt. Closing her eyes once more, she tries to relax and ignore the nagging feeling that perhaps she shouldn't have said everything. But it's too late now; the words are out there, and all she can do is hope that he understands what they mean to her...

She tries not to think about it too hard, knowing that trusting him with her life is both a relief and a responsibility. In this moment, though, she needs to focus on getting through each breath and finding peace in his arms. As the fire crackles nearby, its warmth lulls them into a fitful sleep, their bodies pressed tightly together for protection against any lingering dangers of the night.

Her eyes remain closed as she tries to focus on calming her racing thoughts. The feel of his lips brushing against her forehead is oddly comforting, and she doesn't fight the urge to nestle further into his embrace. "Hm?" She hums softly before finally opening her eyes, meeting his gaze cautiously.

Her eyes grow wide with surprise that he knows about the prophecy, but she nods slowly, taking a deep breath before explaining. "It's... complicated." She says softly, running a hand through her hair as she tries to find the right words. "Long ago, our kingdom had a great wizard who foretold that one day, a daughter would be born into the royal family, and she would bring peace and prosperity back to our land. That's why I was sent away from the palace as soon as Father learned of my existence... to protect me until the time came." She shrugs helplessly, her cheeks flushing at the memory of being treated like some sort of prize to be won or protected. "And then," she continues, "when Father died and I returned... it was too late. The prophecy had already been fulfilled, whether anyone believed in it or not."

Her voice trails off into silence as she stares up at the sky, lost in thought. She's not sure if Henry believes any of this story, but for her, it's all she's ever known.

Lucy blushes deeply at his words, her heart racing in her chest. "Thank you..." she whispers, her voice little more than a breath. Tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she realizes just how much Henry has meant to her over the years; not only as a friend and protector, but also as someone who has helped shape her into the person she is today. "I never thought..." She trails off, unsure of how to finish that sentence.

But she knows one thing for certain: without him, her life would be infinitely darker, bleaker. And with everything they've been through, there's an undeniable bond between them now; a connection that runs deeper than either of them could have ever imagined. As the fire crackles and pops nearby, she nestles closer to Henry, content for the moment simply to be in his arms, safe from harm.

Lucy listens to the fire as it crackles and pops in the distance. The heat soothes her skin and warms her body. She takes a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "I never thought you'd understand," she whispers, still blushing from his words. "Or that I'd ever have someone care for me like this." Her voice trails off as tears begin to spill down her cheeks, unbidden and unstoppable. "Thank you."

"Oh!" She laughs softly as she sees the tiny cat bell around his neck. "I'd forgotten about that." She reaches up to touch it, her fingers tracing over its surface gently. "We used to play with this all the time..." Her eyes grow distant for a moment before focusing once more on him. "Thank you for keeping it safe for me." There's so much they've shared together over the years, and though their lives have taken different paths, she knows that he will always be an important part of her life.

She leans in closer, her breath warm against his skin as she whispers, "You know I can trust you with anything... Right?" It's a question she doesn't need him to answer; it's more of a reminder for both of them about the bond they share and the promises that have been made.

She giggles softly at his words, the sound like music to him. "Well, some might call them crazy..." she admits with a sheepish smile, "but you've always been able to see past that." She shrugs helplessly, still unable to fully express how much it means to her that he understands and accepts her for who she is.

As they continue to talk, their voices growing more low and intimate with each passing moment, a sense of peace washes over them. For now, the war rages on outside their haven, but in this small corner of the world, they've created a safe space where nothing can touch them... Not arrows or swords, not prophecies or duty. They are alone together, and that is enough.

She listens to the sound of his voice, feeling more at ease with each passing moment. "I'm just glad that you're here... That I don't have to face this alone anymore." Her fingers play idly with a loose thread on his shirt, her heart full to bursting with gratitude and love for him. "I owe you so much," she whispers softly, almost to herself.

The fire crackles nearby, casting flickering shadows across their faces as they continue to share confidences and memories, lost in the moment and each other's company. It feels like an eternity since anything else mattered, and in this fleeting respite from the horrors of war, neither of them want or need it to end.

She blushes deeply at his words, unable to hide her amusement despite herself. "You're impossible," she whispers with a smile, nudging him playfully. "But I'm glad you're on my side." She looks up at him, her eyes full of emotion and gratitude, and for a moment they seem to share an understanding that goes far beyond words.

As the fire continues to burn, casting its warm glow across their faces, she wonders what the future holds. With Henry by her side, anything seems possible... Even in a world torn apart by war and despair. For now, though, she's content to simply be with him, savoring the safety and peace that his presence brings.

She nestles closer to him, feeling safe and content in his embrace. "What do you think we should do now?" she asks softly, her eyes fixed on the dancing flames as they contemplate their next steps together. They've survived so much already... perhaps there's a way for them to reclaim some semblance of happiness amidst all the pain and suffering around them.

As they continue to watch the fire, lost in thought, their connection grows stronger with each passing moment. Perhaps, she thinks with a sudden surge of hope, they really can make something beautiful out of this ruined world... together.