The angel didn't say a word, the alcohol, along with the Doge's question, rendered her speechless. Even if she did speak, heaven only knew what she would say. Her cheeks were flushed from the wine, and she couldn't stand without leaning slightly. Aris stiffened at his touch, though she didn't look angry or fearful at all; she looked relaxed, courtesy of the wine.<br/><br/>Her mind, however, still worked well enough.<span style="font-style: italic">This horrid man... but I can't simply ignore his question, I might be given more of that wine, and I won't be able to think at all!</span>she thought, so she gave a nod, much to the amusement of the guards.<br/><br/>-------------------------------<br/><br/>Nathaniel sat up, panting slightly. He had had the dream again, about how he met her. He held his head in his hand, thinking, remembering...<br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~~<br/>"Jeez, how far away did they say she landed?" One of the demons muttered, looking rather irritably at his human-like body as the band of demons walked along. "It's not much farther." Nathaniel responded, walking briskly in front of the other disguised demons, looking around. This was one of the very few times he had been outside the castle walls, of course, being on a retrieval mission wasn't what he would consider 'fun' in any case.<br/><br/>"There!" The demons spotted the angel, who wasn't hard to see with all the white on her wings and her gown. She was on her side, her eyes shut, one wing was beneath her while the other drooped over her torso with a burnt arrow sticking out of it. All around where the arrow hit were burn marks.<br/><br/>"Is she breathing?" Nathaniel squatted down, feeling her pulse on her wrist. "She's alive" he muttered before scooping her up in his arms. The other demons questioned him; "Why do you get to carry her,<span style="font-style: italic">Prince</span>Nathaniel?" one sneered. Nathaniel glared back at them, harshness in his voice, "Because none of you can be trusted to keep to yourselves, especially when it comes to women."<br/><br/>One of the demons jabbed his arm teasingly, "Are you getting the hots for this one? You know what Xerxes said-" "I know what he said!" Nathaniel barked, but grew silent when Aris stirred slightly, her head turning towards him, but her eyes remained shut. She was still again, and the demons kept walking, Nathaniel at the lead.<br/><br/>~~~~~~~<br/><br/>Nathaniel let out a sigh, it felt like just yesterday, even though it was a few days ago.<span style="font-style: italic">Aris...</span>He got up and got dressed, deciding to walk around to see if anyone else had woken up. He poked his head into the stables, though the stench of horse was a bit overwhelming. Noting Silas hanging upside down from one of the rafters, he glanced over at a startled Ashton. "So," he muttered, arms folded, "When are we leaving to get Aris?"