♥ fighting to l o v e again ♥ Echo~

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

In the dead of night, a pair of slippered feet flew over the corridors soundlessly. Princess Tama had her silk robe wrapped tight around her curvy body, keeping the scanty nightgown she wore to bed covered in case she ended up running into someone. Her dark hair was loose and fell around her face, though she kept some of it tucked behind her ear. Golden eyes flicked around warily. She had to be extra careful if she wanted to sneak past the guards.

Jack was being held down in the dungeons after being caught by her father's men. Tama had no idea what her father planned to do with him, so she needed to see him as soon as possible. She slipped down to the dungeons. After glancing down at her feet, she knew her slippers would probably need to be thrown away after this visit.

Quiet as a mouse, the beautiful princess crept by different cells where prisoners of the castle were kept. Most were asleep that time of night- she just hoped the guards were as well.

[~echo~]

Tama. She was all he could think about. As Jack sat in his cell, a large bruise on his forehead and other injuries elsewhere, he wondered if he was going to die soon. He didn't doubt that he would be banished, but death was a possibility as well. Tama's father was known to have a temper. He shifted his weight and closed his eyes, his thoughts roaming towards the hours spent with his beloved. He wondered where she was now. Probably sitting in her room, sleeping or perhaps reading before bed.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

She slowed down, having to glance into the cells in order to find Jack. She was lucky that the little amount of prisoners that were there were asleep. She really didn't need them to start making noise.

Tama worried on her bottom lip, still on edge. There could be guards posted anywhere. Her father wouldn't tell her /anything/ about Jack's condition or where he was kept. He could have zero guards, or twenty. She didn't know.

[~echo~]

The guards stationed around Jacks cell were all asleep, save one who was pacing back and forth in front of the cell and surrounding cells.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

The tap of his shoes echoed around her and Tama immediately froze. Damn. /Someone/ was awake. That made this ten times harder. Sticking to the shadows, the princess crept until she was close enough to see the guard. She had a few options. She could give up and go back to her room, but she wanted Jack to know she hadn't given up on him. So she needed to find a way to lure the guard away or knock him out.

[ hmm...I might have an idea.../rubs hands together ]

[~echo~]

(Ooh okay!)

Jack didn't suspect anything was going on but wished desperately he could get away and tell Tama that he was okay.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

The princess narrowed her golden eyes, following the guard as he paced. He wasn't a huge guy, which was good. It meant he didn't have a total advantage over her. The battle practice she'd received from Vires helped strengthen her muscles and made Tama good at hand-to-hand combat. She used speed to advantage, rather than brute force. The only problem was that she couldn't be seen attacking a guard. Her father would surely hear about it.

In her frustration, Tama shifted her weight, but the movement made a small noise. In any other circumstance, it would have gone unnoticed, but the dungeon was otherwise silent. She saw the guard snap to attention immediately and the princess gritted her teeth. It was pure panic that set in and somehow, her body reacted on instinct. Several stones that littered the floor rose up and flew straight for the guard's face. They assaulted him with force that she could not have achieved by throwing. When one smashed across his forehead, she saw him crumple to the floor and Tama gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

[~echo~]

Jack awoke to this and gasped. What was that? He stood as way he could in the small cell and went to the bars. "Hello?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Jack.." Tama immediately dashed over to his cell, skirting around the guard's body, "He's...knocked out...I think.."

[~echo~]

"Tama!" Jack murmured when he saw her. He reached for her hand. "Look, I've almost dug myself outta here. I've been digging at night when the guards are ask joe and I'm almost through."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Tama grabbed onto his hand, her grip so tight it was as if she was holding on for dear life, "You're hurt," she exclaimed quietly, her voice tinged with anger. Her gut twisted uncomfortably; now that she saw him and heard his voice, the princess was sure she could not sit by with him down in a cell.

She reached in and trailed her fingertips down his face gently, "Oh, Jack..but if you escape, you'll have to leave. You'll be hunted down."

[~echo~]

Jack smiled sadly and leaned his cheek into her hand, closing his eyes. "Sh, it's okay. But... if I escape I may never see you again," he murmured. "I can't live without you..."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Maybe..maybe I can come with you," Princess Tama murmured back to him, her thumb stroking his cheek lightly.

[~echo~]

Jack sighed and nodded. "But your kingdom needs you, and I was about to be banished anyways."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

The princess quickly rolled her gold eyes, "The kingdom doesn't need me.'

[~echo~]

Jack smiled. "Then of course you can come with me," he murmured. "I was thinking to escape to perhaps Camelot or Caerleon."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"I will wait for you," Tama whispered, reaching for his hand again, "When you make your escape, I shall make mine."

[~echo~]

Jack took her hand through the bars, kissing the top of it. "Yes. You'll hear if it when somebody escapes the dungeon. Could you do me a favor?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Anything, love," She promised him, curling her hand around his.

[~echo~]

"Tomorrow night, will you bring me a cloak?" he asked, hating himself for asking of her something that may put her in danger. "I'll need it to disguise myself."