text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, humor, fantasy]
  
  Camping, making camp, this is what they called what Sophia and Juliette were doing.
  
  Both women would no doubt be more excited if there weren't a multitude of men out to get them at the behest of Sophia's sisters, Aline, and Ceciline. For all intents and purposes, they were in a much better state of being than the both of them. No doubt they had their own castle to fire off such orders as having Sophia captured, and of course having able bodied individuals to carry out and bring these orders into being.
  
  Now Sophia Nevermore and Juliette, chased out from their lodgings, were now in hiding in a wilderness. It really was only a matter of time before the enemies would start picking up on any trails left behind, so they didn't have a wealth of time of doing anything besides making a modest fire and eating the last of their provisions which consisted of bread that was now stale.
  
  It's been even more days since Sophia's father been killed by someone from her family.
  
  She didn't want to believe it, but it was now a certain reality.
  
  There was no further persons in her bloodline to turn to. If she was to even turn in the direction of her family, she would now have to be prepared to defend her life.
  
  "We need men of our own," Sophia spoke out-loud, feeding a small piece of wood to further feed their flame.
  
  "Remember, not too much, your highness. We're in hiding from some rather dangerous people from the sounds of it." Juliette hugged her knees, her face pondering. "Yes, for protection, that would be nice."
  
  "Yes, we have to pay those twins a visit."
  
  "Come again?"
  
  "Juliette, how long will we run for our lives? What's next for us? Do we allow ourselves to be chased to the point in which we're living in holes on the ground, only coming up to eat worms? I say that we should repay my sisters kindness and hospitality. They've sent such unsavory men after us, so I do feel it is only right."
  
  For her part, Juliette looked hesitant with the proceedings of this conversation, before Sophia covered both of her hands with her own, and looked into her eyes with the greatest amount of honesty she felt that an individual could muster.
  
  "I can't do this alone, as you may already know. So, will you help me as you always have thus far?"
  
  "Yes, of course, your highness."
  
  With that affirmation, the two woman would conspire in that wilderness for potential allies to recruit to their banner.
  
  > Employ Wizards
  "Perhaps we should employ wizards!" Sophia suggests to her attendant, who looks to seriously regard the decision.
  
  Juliette makes her calculations in her mind. "Well, we could maybe afford two. Magic is something that only few have an aptitude in this world for, so they become more expensive than hiring a group of men."
  
  "Really? Then they must be powerful! I think this is the choice that we should go with, Juliette." Sophia was growing a bit excited at seeing whomever they would hire in action now. Maybe she could even learn a few things? There was no way that she was one that so untalented that she couldn't possibly have to potential to do such a thing herself.
  
  Perhaps after all of this was done, she'd be able ask for a lesson or two herself.
  
  "Mira and Mako?" Juliette asks, regarding the two eager eyed magicians that stared across the table at herself and the princess. It certainly made her work easier that the brother and sister duo came equipped with a sheet of paper that listed all of the two spells that the both of them could do, and one combination technique.
  
  It looked like they would still have to hire a few more men, with whatever would be left from their purses.
  
  "Yes! We're both eager to make a name for ourselves! Our magic will go down in history, and we'll be etched in the history books like the great wizard Milano!" The brother, Mako speaks first.
  
  Mira nods her head, her knee rising up and down and shaking the table with each motion. "It's as my brother says! You two seem like royalty, and mother always says it's best to get up on the ground floor when it comes to these things. Battles like these, when the odds are stacked, that is only when it is worth doing magic."
  
  Juliette silently sends a look, Sophia's way. It asks: 'Are you sure about this?'
  
  Sophia is swept up by the pair's enthusiasm, smiling along. They both seemed so passionate, and that was just what she needed to feel more confident in what it was they were doing.
  
  "You're hired! Once we get more men ready, we'll want you to meet with us!"
  
  It's a disaster at the first moment the wizards are let onto the battlefield. The mercenaries that they were able to hire are also not of the best quality. Some of them have more desperation than bravado, as their armor is cheap in the areas in which they actually have armor. Mira and Mako do a decent enough job in keeping the moral high, but it's more through amusement than any inspiring comments that the two make.
  
  When all of them stand outside the castle, it's when they're finally unable to hide their excitement any longer.
  
  "So, I'm thinking we all snea--" One of the mercenary's was in the process of saying, before his speech is stolen from in his shock as the two mages begin walking ahead.
  
  Sophia is almost at a loss of words her own self.
  
  > call Them Back
  "Wait! Come back you two!"
  
  Sophia tries to shout while also whispering, which isn't the easiest thing to do. It does nothing however to stop the two young wizards from speaking their incantations for their spells. Soon a burst of fire and water respectively slams into the castle, destroying rock and causing death from falling rubble to crush the unaware soldiers below.
  
  "A-Attack!" Juliette shouts to the men.
  
  Soon they're engaged in battle with the hired muscle of the casle, and it's a losing effort to say the least. The men that Sophia hired is frankly too ill-equipped. The wizards, who knows what becomes of them. Their forms are lost in the haze of battle that commences.
  
  "We're going to die here!"
  
  Sophia hears one of her men shriek before he drops his sword and runs off, leaving his weapon behind. It looks very tempting for the princess to follow his lead. However it becomes less so as an arrow quickly takes him down into the dirt. It's another loss for her side, and Sophia is unable to even think anymore as her heart drums so loudly in her ears.
  
  --x
  
  "Princess, you have to move!" She's unable to make out the voice. It's only when she's tackled into the ground by the very woman, that Sophia looks up and finds her hand touching Juliet's back.
  
  When she raises her hand, she sees it's covered in blood, and the woman is prone and unmoving.
  
  Before Sophia is able to scream herself, an arrow meets her skull.
  
  It silences everything, even the drumming of her heart.
  
  A foolish end, for a foolish princess.
  
  However, if it isn't one that is agreeable, it's something that can be fought against
  
  But only if you deem it worth fighting against.