Starting It Up With: A Meeting Of Chance [CLOSED]

It was some time passed mid day. The sun was high in the sky, beaming it's heated rays down onto the lone young woman that trekked through the forests and valleys. It had been three weeks since she had seen another human being, though it truly felt like much longer. She was sweaty, dirty, hungry, thirsty, and practically anything else one could think of that would make someone feel horribly uncomfortable. Her hair stuck to her body, the humid air making it more uncomfortable. It was okay. She'd get to some place, right? If it was humid, there must be some sort of water source near by, right? Let's just hope it was drinkable. Still, tired and hungry, she continued on North. When she pushed up the strength to actually look around, Amelia saw a city. It was a large city at that. Oh god, let there be someone there who would be kind enough to help her out! She was so thirsty, having traveled the last fifteen miles in this heat without anything to drink at all. Amelia quickened her pace, but she began to breathe heavily. She was weak from the lack of food and water and was beginning to wonder whether she'd get there on time.

And luck took it's toll on her. Amelia lost her balance and fell to the ground. She stayed there for a few moments, trying to catch her breath. "Too... hot..." she said between breaths. She only stayed for a few minutes, the hot ground beneath her not helping her comfort level. As she pushed herself to her feet, she heard a deep chuckle and froze. "What do we have here?" a masculine voice echoed in from behind her. "Shit." she thought as she quickly pushed herself to her feet. She didn't even look back. Amelia began to run as fast as her legs could carry her. "Get back here!" she could hear another masculine voice calling out towards her. How many were there!? She was not going to look back to figure that out. She could fight them, if she had the energy to do so. With her current condition, she'd likely get herself killed. Luckily, she was able to pull up enough energy to just get the fuck out of there.

She could hear them following, a few more voices echoing out. How many? How many men were chasing her right now?! And why!? What did they want!? Amelia contemplated grabbing her sword and turning to fight, but the moment she did that, a sudden burst of pain hit the back of her head. She fell forward to the ground, her left eye closed because of the pain. She looked to the side and noticed a rock rolling by. "Is that what hit me?" she thought to herself as she attempted to push herself up. She failed. Her body fell back to the ground with the aid of a large foot stomping down on her back. "Ah!" she screamed out, coughing a moment later. She couldn't even get a proper scream out, her mouth was too dry. "Hehehe... next time don't run!" a man said. She felt her hair being grabbed as she was pulled up to hang from the grip of a rather large man. She didn't dare look around. He was problem enough. She only heard the few cackling laughs of the few around her.

"A woman?" Amelia struggled harshly against the grip of this brute. He held her hair so tightly and so close to the skull that she wasn't really able to move. Instead, she shifted her only opened eye to see a woman fighting these men as if they were nothing. She had taken down five so quickly that it must have scared the other's because they ran from her. When she spoke out, her voice was demanding and powerful. Amelia would be afraid as well if she were to be this woman's opponent. The woman was graceful in her movements and quick as well. The man that was holding her was cut in some way. Amelia could not tell what happened. She only felt her hair be released and her body collapse onto the ground a moment later. She turned her head, fearing what was going to happen next. She didn't fear what was going to happen to this man, but to her. She did not recognize this woman like the other's. Amelia was completely unaware of who she was. She pushed herself onto her back to try and stand, but her hand slipped on the dirt below and she once again ended up on her back.

"Banish?" Amelia thought when hearing the brutes words towards the woman. It was an odd phrase to use. Was this woman some sort of higher up? Amelia had no idea, literally. As the woman came over, Amelia sort of froze, accepting her fate to be similar to the brutes. It was a shock to her when she felt her head raise and lay comfortably into the woman's lap. The woman's voice changed as well. It sounded nothing less than angelic, warm. Hearing a kind word actually brought tears to Amelia's eyes. She looked up to the woman with wide eyes as these tears fell down the side of her face. "I-I... I'm thirsty... a-and hungry." Amelia dared ask this stranger for help along those lines. It felt so rare to receive kindness from someone, but Amelia had not lost hope.

Amelia closed her eyes when her forehead was touched. She didn't understand the gesture, but it didn't hurt her so she was fine with it. The woman confirmed that she could not cook, which saddened Amelia until it was brought up that she would be taken to someone who can. "Real food..." Amelia mumbled as a small, hopeful smile formed on her lips. The idea of getting something in her stomach was quite refreshing for her. When she was picked up, Amelia tensed a bit. She was placed on this woman's back and held up. Amelia did her best to hold lightly onto the woman's shoulders so she would not fall. She hadn't been picked up by anyone in years, if had ever happened. She couldn't remember. The woman was pretty strong to be able to pick her up, but it made Amelia feel guilty. She wasn't exactly clean and this woman seemed more along the lines of someone important, especially more important that she was.

"They gave me the name Amelia..." she said, laying her head on the woman's back, hoping that was okay, "I don't know if it is my real name, but I do like it..." Amelia just tried to relax and there were a few times she almost fell asleep, but shook her head awake. Looking around, she noticed they were getting closer to the town she saw. "What place is that?" Amelia asked and waited for an answer, "I've never been to a big city like that before... Is it nice?" Amelia felt a little nervous, wondering exactly how she would be welcomed. Since she had no real idea where she was, she wasn't sure of any customs. She was a slave after all. Last time she was forced to guard people she hated. What exactly was going to happen to her now?

A small smile came to her lips when her name was complimented. "Thank you." she said softly. She had never thought too much about her name. She liked it, but there wasn't much else to say. In a way, it was more habit than anything. She had gotten used to being called Amelia, so she'd keep it that way. Now, she was safe, in the protection of a woman she did not know, but could feel like she could trust. Even while she was falling asleep, the woman didn't seem to mind, nor did she mind answering her questions. But one thing did come as a surprise about her, excluding the gentle kindness this woman showed. In fact, Amelia almost couldn't believe what had come next, but a signal of sorts had just been shot into the air. "I should probably introduce myself, so it won't come as a shock later. I am Tsubine Zoradia von Zarkonheinz the Ninth—the Emperor of the Empire of Zakat." Were people coming for her? Both of them!? Is that what that signal was about? Amelia was stuck for a moment, then her eyes widened, then she quickly removed herself from Tsubine's back. Dropping to her knees, she lowered her head to the floor in respect, but fear at the same time. She should have never been so casual with her! "I am so sorry!! If I had known you were the Emper-.. I shouldn't hav-... I am so sorry!" Amelia kept her head lowered to the ground, her eyes closed tightly. She could hear people approaching their location. The flare from earlier must have been some sort of signal. What did her people think of what that might have just seen!? Their Emperor carrying some lowly peasant girl around was not likely something they enjoyed the thought of. "I should have been more respectful... I-...I didn't mean to..." Amelia said more, waiting to see the reactions of the Emperor and her people.

Amelia calmed a bit when she felt Tsubine's hand touch her back. She lifted her head only slightly and listened to what the Emperor had to say. She was right. She never would have made it to the city. Amelia felt the Emperor's hand pull her chin to turn her gaze towards her, so she did not fight. She looked to the Emperor with slightly widened eyes, unsure of what to do next. Tsubine continued to speak and shock the young Amelia, her words shaking her core. Never, ever before had she been treated as an equal, especially by someone who obviously was not. It was amazing. Amelia nodded and struggled a bit to push herself up to her feet. She lost balance for a moment, almost falling again, but caught herself. She reached her feet and pushed up a small, unbelieving smile. "You're very different than the people I've seen, Emperor... It's nice... I like it..." Amelia's smile softened a bit, "And honestly... I don't... I don't know where I'm from... or what I am. I only remember the place I was forced to live in and even then I don't even know what it was called.... I merely did as I was told every day..."

"I can stand by you... I just don't feel right dirtying your clothes..." Amelia said with a small giggle, "I felt bad about it before, now I just don't want those men to get angry with me." Amelia pointed towards a group of people who she assumed where part of the area's forces. "I take it they're looking for you, Emperor?" Amelia blinked a few times, looking up to Tsubine with an innocent, yet curious expression. Looking back to those that were approaching, she took a step back out of nervousness. She felt a knot in her stomach getting bigger and bigger, the closer these people got. She tried to keep a straight face, but she was still in a bad way. She felt hotter, sweat began appearing on her forehead again. She was breathing a little heavier, but not too bad. The only thing she could think of... What kind of people were these?

"You're right about that..." Amelia replied in a joking manner towards her statement about people's intentions. The fact that people's intentions were rarely good, at least in Amelia's experience, was definitely outweighing the good. One thing Amelia could say, even with all of the bad, once a day and person like this came along, the kindness felt much more special and more appreciated. Frankly, it gave her hope. "You'd do that?" Amelia blinked a few times and then allowed a smile to creep up, "If I look around a bit and find a place I'd like to stay... I'll make sure to let you know." She only hoped it would be no trouble for Tsubine. Amelia could only smile and keep smiling. Tsubine was amazing. Just knowing that this was the type of Emperor that lead this Empire made her wish to stay, no matter where she'd end up. Something made her feel like Zakat could definitely be home. The two began giggling along with each other, as if they had been friends for quite some time. Nothing like being rescued and doing the rescuing to bring two people close together, huh?

"Photogenic?" Amelia tilted her head, merely guessing the meaning of that word. She looked at Tsubine and sort of examined her up and down, then smiled. "Well you are beautiful, so I have a feeling the photographs that come out with you in them are as well." Amelia could not help the smile that stayed plastered to her face. What was this feeling? It was warm, calming, comfortable... She didn't want it to go away. As she stood there, watching the men around the reporter, she felt herself becoming more and more at ease. But that caused a bit of a problem. The shock was wearing off, acceptance was taking it's place... The adrenaline that this caused was fading and all of her weakness was returning. Amelia felt her stomach curl, her skin heat up even more, and she suddenly buckled over with pain in her gut. She went tumbling towards the ground, her eyes closing as she passed out right there, her stomach growling from the lack of food, her mouth dry from the need of water.

Amelia's eyes fluttered open, unaware of how long she had actually been unconscious. Luckily, it had only been around thirty minutes since she had fallen to the ground. She woke up and looked around, taking in her surroundings. The first thing she recognized, and the only thing in fact, was Emperor Tsubine of Zakat. "Oh yeah..." she thought as she sat up, placing her hand over head forehead, "I remember now..." Amelia had been running, escaping from those who she thought had chased her. Her travels brought her here, to Zakat from what she had understood. She was attacked, rescued, and made what she assumed was a friend in a very short time. "M-My head..." she mumbled as she curled over. The dehydration was getting to her. She still felt dirty and highly uncomfortable. Looking to Tsubine, she gave a soft and regretful smile. "I hope I didn't cause too much trouble." Amelia said, adjusting herself to a more comfortable sitting position. She spoke in a raspy tone, her throat extremely dry. Even as she moved to adjust herself, it was obvious her arms almost gave in. She was getting weaker by the minute. "I'd had to be more of a bother..." Amelia said in a soft tone, her gaze to her lap, "... but... could I bother you for some water?" At that moment, Amelia's stomach let out a loud and demanding growl. Amelia jumped, wrapping her weakened arms around her stomach, and allowed her cheeks to fade into a reddened tone. "I'm... so hungry..." she whispered, her head pounding from the headache and her body feeling as if it could collapse again any minute.

"Thank you!" the moment Amelia got hold of that water, she pulled it to her mouth and was about to chug it down before Tsubine warned her not to drink it to quickly. Glancing in random directions, she tried drinking slowly and damn did that water taste good! She closed her eyes, swallowed, and let out a relieved breath. She drank a decent amount, but decided to listen to Tsubine and keep it slow, so she left about half in the container. "Thank you so much..." she said taking in another deep breath and letting it out slowly. She felt her body weaken a little more as it began to process the fact that something was finally in it. Soon, Tsubine offered her something to eat. She had never seen something like this before. The melon was blue? Kinda pretty actually. She took the piece that was offered to her and took a cautious bite. It wasn't bad, but the tang hit a little harder than expected. She swallowed the bite and began coughing a bit. Looking away and covering her mouth, she waited to stop coughing and giggled a little. "A strange taste, but it's yummy." she said with a smile, taking another bite and then relaxing a bit. She crossed her legs and slouched a bit, removing her sword from her side and setting it off to the side. "It's actually already making me feel better!" Amelia's smile was brightening with every bite. That felt so much better! And like an excited child, which she pretty much was at this point, Amelia looked around at everything. "So where do you live?" Amelia asked and then her eyes momentarily widened, "If you wanna answer... You dun have to. Oh! Yeah! You said I can pick a place to live and you'd help me, right? Can I live near you?"

"With the tripe I've been fed over the few years I've lived, this is wonderful!" Amelia smiled, speaking with a mouth full of melon. The conversation continued while Amelia ate the melon and upon swallowing a bite, she attempted to pronounce the word that she had just heard. "Ee-ser-lone?" she said, blinking a few times and listened as Tsubine explained everything about the location of her Palace and what was near it. Amelia was slightly disappointed and stopped eating the melon for a few seconds. She lowered the melon from her face and kept her eyes to the floor, thinking of what she would do if she could not be near Tsubine. "I... guess a tour could work." she said with only a bit of disappointment in her tone, "I just... don't know anyone, so I was hoping... that I could." Amelia sighed and brought the melon back to her face and took another big bite. She chewed it, enjoying the taste of food on her tongue and the feeling of something in her belly. "Oh well! I understand. It's not that bad. It'll be great just being able to be around you guy and having a home to myself..." Finally Amelia finished the melon and after she swallowed her final bite, she set the rest to the side, put her hands on her stomach, and took a biiig satisfied breath. "That was so yummy!" she said with a big smile. Amelia pushed herself up to her feet and waited a few moments with her eyes closed. She was sort of letting her body catch up to itself and allowing the food to settle. "Ohh kaaay..." she said with an exhaled breath and looked to Tsubine, "So what would you like to do now?"