Wounded Swan

"Good morning Princess Odette." A maid said as she entered the princess's bedroom. The sun has already risen above the horizon as a new day filled with different obligations was staring for the Princess of the Swan Castle.

It was a castle in the south of the land, built on the shore of crystal lakes where swans would often come to enjoy clear water and peaceful atmosphere. No wonders the lake is called Swan Lake.
The lake was also surrounded by high rocky mountains with snow caps that are simply unclimbable for most people. Only the chosen few has even climbed to the top where they were able to receive magical blessing.

Odette was one of the few who was gifted with very powerful magic that is based on power of swans in the nearby area. That is how she soon developed a high reputation all over the land as Swan Princess.

With huge power and reputation, there is also a lot of work to do and I'm not talking about housework but about watching over the nearby lands and attending many meetings where there would always appear that one person who would get on her nerves.

She is a very elegant person who always appears in the most brilliant light so her day mustn't start too early. She needs to sleep enough if she wants to look as glamorous as ever. After waking up, she takes an hour or two for herself to get ready for the day.

"Thank you, Rafaela." Odette replied to her maid while sun was dancing on her window.

Rafaela was an angel that has flown down from the sky to help humans in everyday life. She was wearing a white suit with golden details and few azure jewels stuck as decoration for her skirt. As every other angel, she had large shiny wings and a halo above her head.

It'd be hard to imagine her being just a maid if you haven't seen the Princess. She slowly put on her white dress made out of the finest silk with silver strings and countless pearls and jewels that enchanted her look which was complete only with silver tiara that reminded of swan wings and her two weapons.

First was a magic staff made out of the finest silver and platinum with enchanted amethyst sphere on the top. The second one is a sword, also made out of the finest materials. It is funny though, you'd imagine her using sword to really fight but it was more of an accessory than anything else.

By the time she exited her room and set off towards the dining room, almost one and a half hour has passed but now she was ready to get going, after a breakfast of course.

Rafaela flew next to her to be ready if she makes any requests, the first rule for being a good maid is to never leave your mistress alone.

"So... How was your sleep Rafaela?" Odette asked.

"Fine, Mistress." The angel replied shortly before continuing their way towards the dining room.

Second rule - never speak unless spoken to. Odette was personally not really liking that rule but not matter how many times she tried to explain people she wanted them to feel like normal people and speak whenever they want, they simply wouldn't listen.

"How about you, was everything fine?" Rafaela asked politely.

"Yes it was. Thank you all for taking such a good care of the castle." Odette said with a smile.

Rafaela blushed and replied: "It's nothing ma'am. That is why we're here, now come. You must be very hungry, I have prepared you a nice meal."

The Swan Princess nodded as they sped up and entered the dining room. Inside, there was somebody waiting for them. It was a white centaurus with a horn on his head. He was wearing golden body armour decorated beautifully. He was staring through window, his back turned towards the doors but as soon as he heard them opening, he turned around.

He bowed deeply. "My Princess." He said as he heald his magical spear turned upwards. Odette immediately recognised him. It was the minister of war personally, Hylos.

She returned a small bow saying: "Hello Hylos, it is a pleasure to see you have returned from the border area. I'm glad to see you are alright."

He nodded. "We have checked everything and it all seems under control, nothing to be worried about yet but to be honest, I feel something is going on and we're constantly missing it..."

Odette sighed. "Straight up with bad thoughts... Why don't you tell me more about it while we eat. I'm guessing there is much more you need to tell me."

Rafaela prepared seats and the Princess sat down but Hylos just pointed out the fact those chairs weren't really designed for his four horse legs. "I'll just keep standing." He said before Rafaela flew to the kitchen to bring them their food.

"I'm glad to see not much has changed here since I'm gone." He said staring right into the Princess' amethyst eyes.

The lady just nodded. Rafaela served them with their foods, soft waffles with many exotic syrups and season fruit. Odette politely thanked her before turning to Hylos once again. "Here. Eat, my friend. I can't finish it all by myself anyways." She said.

The two soon began to eat while Hylos was telling her all about distant lands where the day never starts, about the magic border between two halfs of the land and about some people who try to fight off the guards but usually fail.

"... but the thing that is worrying me the most is that I've heard people saying that they have seen the daughter of Onmyoui family. You know the family who rules over both forces of light and darkness. They never get into our buisnesses unless they feel like something bad is going to happen, something that will throw the land off balance." Hylos explained.

"Hm... That might be a big problem..." Odette stated. "But I'm not sure we have to be worried about it yet since as you say, nothing has happened yet."

"Look... I'm just warning you. If you notice anything off, please tell me. I can't let something happen to you." He said when suddenly, the golden doors opened once again as a guard entered the room, panting heavily. He has been sprinting to them.

The man was wearing armour similar to Hylos' but it had more chainmeal on it and some fur to guaranteed extra warmth. He was carrying a large sword and shield that were now leaned on the wall as the man seemed to have something very important to say.

"Tigreal?!" Odette exclaimed. "What has happened?!" His expression alone was enough to make her worry.

He tried to say something but words simply weren't coming out of his mouth between pants. "M-my... l-... t-there... a man..."

Odette stopped him as she got up. "Calm down. Take a breath and tell me what is going on."

He took a moment to slow down his heartbeats and stop panting before he said: "There is a man... He was washed off on the shore of the lake. He seemed wounded. He asked for your help."

Odette, as a lady of pure and caring heart, couldn't let somebody suffer without getting the help needed to recover. She shouted: "Rafaela! We need your help!"

The angel joined them as the Princess ordered: "Lead us to him."

With that, the three ran down the hallways, outside of the castle and down the shore to a place where mountains were rising above the lake surface. Lancelot was there, under willow leaves, bleeding heavily as he was fighting for every breath.

His vison was blurred and he could barely recognise a female face in front of his eyes as she put pressure on his wounds while Rafaela was preparing a healing spell.

Odette was observing the handsome stranger. What happened to him? Why was he there? Why was he hanging off the cliff of life? And most importantly... Who was he?

Just as Rafaela was casting her spell, Lancelot saw a bright green flash of light before his consciousness faded away. His eyes closed. There was only darkness... everything was black, countless shadows flying around him - a poor soul who has done nothing against the world. What did he do to deserve this?

***

Next time he opened eyes, he found himself in a bed, covered with white blanket. His shirt was gone as there was a bandage soaked in blood instead of it. He looked around. He found himself in an unknown room that looked like a room of a castle.

Next to him, he could see a beautiful angel, as if he found himself in paradise but instead of soft words that would invite him to join a neverstopping feast, the girl just said: "Oh my goodness! He's awake! I need to inform the Princess." With that, the angel was gone.

Lancelot was alone, once more. Still no answers to why he was there. He didn't know what was going on. Few minutes, he fought with grave silence until the door opened once more, this time the Swan Princess herself standing on the doorstep.

"I'm glad to see you awake." She said as she walked in the room, Rafaela flying behind her with a bouquet of flowers in hands. She placed them in a white vase next to Lancelot's bed.

The knight was stunned by Odette's beauty. "I- Thank you... May I know who is this gorgeous lady I'm talking to right now?" He asked sitting up on the bed.

Rafaela said: "No. Don't move. Your wound still hasn't completely healed."

Lancelot sighed but he laid down guided by her hand as he was awaiting the Princess' answer. He didn't have to wait much longer. "My name is Odette, I'm the princess of this area, and the angel you see is Rafaela."

Rafaela was busy preparing medicine for Lancelot so she didn't join the conversation, instead the knight said: "It is a beautiful name, and I'm guessing that now I'm in my saviour's palace?"

Odette smiled a little. "Don't thank me. She is the one in whose hands I left your wounds. She is the best healer in this part of the land." Odette sat down on his bed next to him and took a new bandage. The old one was already bloody.

"May I?" She asked.

The man looked at his bandage and nodded giving her approval to change it. Not as he would want to get the wound infected... He just laid down as the two gentle female hands unwrapped the bandage, cleaned the wound and put a new bandage in the place of last one.

"Now... I'd like you to rest a little more and then you can tell me what happened to you?" Odette suggested with a small caring smile.

"But I'm fine right now. Trust me, I don't need more rest." He said trying to sit up. Again, his chest just collided with her hand as she said: "Both me and Rafaela have told you to keep resting so I think if you know what is the best for you, you should really lay down."

He obediently nodded. The sun was close to setting as golden light was creating a warm atmosphere in the room which had windows turned to west. The rays of dying sun were colouring whole sky orange.

"Why don't we have a talk tomorrow morning?" Odette asked getting up from the bed. "Come on, Rafaela, let's let him rest." She walked towards the door.

Lancelot watched her leave, sun tracing her moves looking more and more elegant and amazing with every next step. The boy was left to rest as his wounds were healing up thanks to the holy magic and two caring ladies.