Planning a battle not a honeymoon

I look to Rox for some sort of guidance. He shakes his head at me. "You're cheif, it's your call." He tells me.

Decision making hasn't and may never be my forte.

"Does it look like Charles forces will move soon?" I ask grandpa, he shakes his head.

"What's left for me to do here at the banquet?" I ask them. I'm going to focus on the first thing in front of me because Grandpa says they aren't moving.

"Get drunk and loose you title as chief is an option but no one's gonna challenge you with that brute standing next to you." Grandpa comments. I glance Rox's muscular body over and then mentally agree with Grandpa. "So you're left with two options, one is rally the fighters here and fight them off. Second, ya sneak into his camp and wipe everyone out by yerself. I pick the second option more often than not. It's less work."

Less work?! How?! Taking on an small force alone sounds awful. It took every shred of energy I had at the mansion just to survive and I didn't even hurt anyone. But... I don't want anyone in the village to get hurt.

Panic must be on my face because Rox speaks up, "the last thing the chief does is take their lover to their house. Which is right over. Inside we can decide what to do with his forces." His finger points to a nearby house. "Now, we can sneak off to there as long as one person confirms us walking in together. And I'm sure my mother is spying on us somewhere."

"A-alright." I say. Rox shrinks and leads the way off the stage.

"I will inform you of my decision in a little bit." I tell Grandpa. 

"You don't have to clear anything with me but I will give advice where it's needed." He says sipping on more tea.

We slip behind the crowd toward the house. Ducking into the shadows with Rox covering my white dress to help me blend in. We finally make it into the house. I breath a sigh of relief. Rox goes to the height I'm use to and begins kissing me. 

Don't we have more pressing matters at hand?! Shouldn't we... but this feels pretty good. I'm a little scared and want to escape that emotion.

"Sophia?" Rox asks gently.

"Y-yea?" I ask catching my breath.

"I know you have to be scared but listen to what I have to say, alright?" His words are calming and I nod my head in agreement. "Good. Do you know how strong you are? Or how amazing you are?"

I'm taken aback. He has always made little comments but this is very direct.

"You grew so much in the time we spent together but I think the month we were apart you have gotten so much more stronger and confident. It's almost a little frightening to be honest." He chuckles and I lightly smack his chest for his tease. "You survived you're parents place and survived training with Grandpa. Which is no small feat. You can survive this fight with your f.... fake? Father?"

"Yea, I don't even know what to call him at this point besides Charles." I reply.

"Anyways the big thing I need to tell you is this. I am your sword and shield. You will not be taken from me again, I will die before that happens. I will fight til I can't fight no more to keep you safe. I love you Sophia." He is down on his knee in front of me.

I wrap my arms around him about choking him and accidentally knock him over onto the floor. "I love you too Rox." I try not to cry but the tears come. "I don't want you hurt though." 

"Then I guess I must live and stay by your side uninjured." He smiles up at me while drying my tears.

.     .     .     .     .

(A middle of the night conversation)

"Rox?" I ask.

"Mmm?" He says kissing my neck.

"No kids please."

He sighs. "I want a whole slew of them... I will respect you're wishes though. Please let me know if you change your mind."

"Thank you my love." It breaks my heart but I know, I'm not ready for children.

.     .     .     .     .

I woke in the morning hours where the sky is still dark with the rays of warmth teasing before rising over the earth. Rox is holding onto me under the sheets, my stirring woke him up.

"Good morning beautiful." He says with a kiss.

"Good morning, sweetie." I say back.

"So how are we taking out Charles and his men?" Rox says getting right to business.

"Care for a little infiltration?" I smirk.

"Inflitration?"

"We sneak in without being seen and launch an attack."

"So we can take them out quietly before they notice? Alright we can do that." He says giving me a hug before getting up to get dressed.

.    .    .    .    .

Rox and I are are hidden in the trees by Charles' camp. Frost covered the ground with how cold it got last night. We have to be careful where we step to not leave a trace of our presence.

Men are coming and going while Rox and I are blended into the trees. He placed me on a branch just over head high but easily enough for me to jump from. We watch for awhile. My heart is racing the whole time. What if we are caught? 

Time is going by and men are walking underneath me and Rox here and there. They are talking freely about staying there and plans about raiding more villages looking for me. I see movement coming from the biggest tent in the middle. Charles steps out yelling at some high ranking officers. He storms out into the woods but not just anywhere, he is heading my way. 

I could end this.

Fear pulses through me once but then anger surges through me. I drop from my tree right behind him. Before he can react I have my sword to his neck.

"Move or scream and I will slit you open." I snarled. 

He gulps knowing I very well could do just that.

"Tell me Charles. What are you doing here? You disowned me. I'm nothing, just let me go." I tell him.

"W-well there. We could. I mean, we can..." he stutters.

"No. I'm dead to you. Keep it that way." I say with authority.

"You think you can just walk away? You have a duty to marry into a high ranking family! Then carry their heir so I can have more power!" Charles keeps going with his demands.

Rox shoves his black bandana into my face. "Don't look," he commands. The sound of a cut and choking are heard followed by a thump.

I move the bandana, Rox is standing with his chest in my face. I look up at him and he has a seldom look on his face.

"Why?" I ask.

"When I saw the scars on your legs again last night, it took a lot not to come here and slaughter all of these people. But I knew it would make you sad if I did that." His voice is a touch sad.

"Ahh." I say hugging him.

"We need to move. People are coming this way." He leads me into the woods so we can start picking people off one by one.