Castle Secrets

Ion nodded. "I can handle a lot though I may not seem like it." he assured her. Ion noticed that she hid her hand and he kept a smile. "Let me see it." he said taking her hand lightly. It was only a scrape, but he still wanted to help. "I can heal it." he said holding his hand over the scrape. Within a moment it was gone. The joys of a magic wielder. "We should get back to the Castle, Your father will be worried if he goes to check on you, or your cook friend." he said with a smile as they headed back to the Castle. Once they got there Momo greeted them at the door. "Princess! There you are why must you always venture out and about without warning, scaring us all." she said beginning to panic. Ion watched as Momo stressed out. "Is she hurt?" he asked. Momo studied Antimony. "N-no.." she answered. Ion nodded with a smile. "Then all is well don't you think so?" he asked kindly. Momo reluctantly nodded. "Princess.." Ion started as he turned facing her. "Thanks for accompanying me for a walk, it was fun to talk with you for awhile." he had said bowing to her. "If you'll excuse me, I must go get ready for this fun party." he had said as he left the area quickly, but kindly. Momo watched as he left. "That boy is awfully cute!" she exclaimed then turned to the Princess. "Is everything alright dear?"

"Well, why not talk to your father about it? Show him that you have the voice of a queen." Ion said with a smile as he climbed finally resting on a branch across from her. "Why call you Annie? Antimony is a beautiful name. Never even heard it before." Ion told her leaning back as he fell off the branch only to grab another one and swing from it. "But if that is what you wish than I shall call you Annie." He had told her with a smile before something crashed into the tree violently. Ion let go landing on his feet. Whatever it was that disturbed the Tree was gone now. Ion looked around cautiously. "That was odd. You okay Princess?" He called out to her.

Ion watched as Antimony left to a tree. He looked back to the sky keeping relaxed and sighed. He walked over to Antimony and smiled to her, it was a real, genuine smile. He placed his hand on the Tree. "My family died...when I was young, really young... I never had anyone, try to protect me, shelter me. Love me." he listed. "But I know as a parent their job is to love their child, and want nothing but the best for them. Since your the king's only child, he had to learn on his own how to raise a kid, and it's not like he had experience before hand...so maybe he's just doing what he thinks is best for you Princess." he told her with a smile. "It may not be fun, and it can be hard at times...but, he's your father..." Ion told her. He kept his smile as he looked up the tree seeing a branch. He knelt down and jumped up rather high grabbing onto the branch. He pulled himself up and sat up on the branch. He stood up and began climbing the tree with ease.

"I suppose." Ion had said as she mentioned the Personal Guard would just add on to the list of people that constantly bothered her with being in line. Ion thought for a moment when she talked about being outside of the castle. His eyes narrowed as he watched clouds. "It's not wrong, your father is just sheltering you from the real life." he had informed her. Ion sighed. "Princess, there's many things wrong with Everia, your father normally doesn't do anything about it though...and maybe it's because he simply, just can't...but he just tries to shelter you from it." he had explained as he lay there.

Ion smiled. "Ok." he replied as they began walking he lead her out of the gates of the Castle. Ion lived in Everia himself so the guards didn't fight. As they walked he looked around. "So, Princess, your father...you two don't seem to see, eye to eye..." he had said quietly. "Oh!" he stopped. "I'm sorry that was rude. I mean, it must be natural for a child and their parent to have disagreements I suppose, so it must not be a big ordeal." he had assumed. Ion seemed like he hadn't known what it was like to have parents. Because he hadn't. "I'm...sure he means well." he had said trying to make it seem better. He lead Antimony to a field where wild flowers seemed to inhabit. He quietly fell back on the nice clean grass and looked up to the sky. "Are you not excited about having a Personal Guard Lady Antimony?" He asked curiously.

Momo watched as Antimony ran off. "Please don't try to run off Princess!" she called as the girl left.
Ion had been wondering around the castle for awhile. And still did not find his room. "How big is this Castle anyway?" He asked himself seeing a few maids walk his way they stopped him. "Is everything okay sir?" one asked smiling. "U-uh...Yes ma'am." he replied with a smile. "If you need anything just let the staff know, we are here to help you." the other had advised happily before they were on their way. Ion began walking again. "I should learn the layout of this place anyways." he muttered as his hands tightened into fists. He felt the anger rush to him as The king talked. Seeming so, fake. He knew the King was not a kind man. And absolutely hated the fact that he was trying to seem so good. What was this? Some kind of game? Although, Ion was very young. Surely the king didn't recognize him. He thought for a moment. "Princess Antimony." he thought and soon left to her chamber. "Princess." he called knocking on the door. "I know as royalty you must have your hands full, but I was wondering if you'd like to go for a walk, outside of the Castle Grounds, I think your father would be okay with it since I will be your Personal Guard someday." he encouraged her as he spoke through the door.

Ion had smiled as they left the room. While walking to the Throne Room Momo curiously looked over to see Ion. "I've seen the contestants, and I really have to say that you are the one that stands out the most." she had said bluntly. Ion looked over to her. "I...stand out? Is that bad?" he asked beginning to wonder. Momo jumped. "Oh no! Oh no! It's good, that is often what the King, looks for in an Employer." she had said encouraging him. Ion thought for a moment then nodded with a real smile this time. "I see, then in that case he did a good job picking you as a employer then huh?" He asked complimenting. Momo smiled happily. "Aye!"
Once they reached the throne room Ion bowed to Antimony and Momo. "It was nice talking to the Princess and her Friend." he had said happily. "Likewise!" Momo said happily. She walked Antimony to her throne and stood by her. "Antimony, who is the man you walked here with? You should not choose favorites just yet." The king tried to lecture.
He stood raising his hands to motion for everyone to stop talking. "Welcome to our Castle, our Home. I do hope that you find it comfortable here, and see the beauty of our castle. You all have your very own room, and are allowed to move about the castle, any room is yours to explore." he had encouraged every one to look around. "Tonight, we will be having a party to welcome Everyone in this room! So please relax until then, Training does begin soon, so please take the time to learn about the challenges ahead and realize that this will be no easy task." He warned. "As you all know you are here to try, to earn the title of Personal Guard. For my daughter Antimony. Please take in mind, this is my only daughter, and she is dear to me. So please do your best I will not just let anyone protect her." he had exposed his soft side for his daughter. Ion hung out in the back and narrowed his eyes as he listened. "I suppose for now, you all may find your rooms, please join us for the party tonight! I look forward to seeing all of you." he had said kindly. He turned to Antimony. "Please Antimony, do not be late to the Party as well." he asked before he left. Momo watched. "Most of these men look like muscle heads. How can that young man hope to succeed against all these men?" she asked Antimony. The men begun to move about to leave, finding there rooms. Ion remained reading the piece of paper telling him where his room was. "Let's see..." he had whispered before he began walking to the door to leave.

Momo smiled as Antimony talked. "I know you're a little unprepared Lady Antimony, but Just give it time, I'm sure you'll see how nice it is to have a Personal Guard!" she tried to encourage the girl to be excited. When the Princess asked for her to help find a dress she smiled and left to the wardrobe of the Princess. "Well, why not this one?" she asked pulling a beautiful red dress out. It was normally worn on special occasions. "This is the day you'll be meeting a future employer, might as well make a good impression!" she had said dangling the dress in front of her excitedly.

Ion wondered around the throne room. But he grew impatient. As the king and guards talked they payed less attention to the men. Ion sighed and walked out leaving to the royal halls. He wasn't thrilled about being here. But was eager to get his revenge. He partially spaced out as he began walking. Once Antimony was dressed Momo clasped her hands to gether smiling. "Yes, yes, you look wonderful won't the king be excited to see his daughter participating?" She asked turning to run out of the room. But the door opened suddenly knocking Momo to the ground. "Ouch!" she cried. Ion poked his head in curiously and blinked as he saw Momo on the ground. "Why-" he began to ask why she was sitting on the floor but realized it was his fault. "Oh, I am terribly sorry ma'am." he apologized helping Momo up. The girl seemed infatuated. "Aye, it's alright." she had said waving it off. He looked to Antimony. "Oh, I seemed to have wondered into the Royal Chambers..." he said crossing his arms. "This would be Princess Antimony, and yes, you have." Momo had informed him. Ion nodded. "Well, it was awfully rude of me to just barge in here, but I've never been in a Castle before so please do forgive me, curiosity does get the best of me sometimes." he had told her with a weak smile. He bowed to both women. "I am Ion Masters. I will be one of the many men, trying to earn the title of a "Personal Guard". If you two are heading down to the Throne room I should escort you. It would be the right thing to do." he had said giving a friendly smile. Momo turned to Antimony. "I think this is his way of asking if we can show him back, to the throne room." she had joked and began giggling a bit.