The Fight for The Princess’ Hand

The Fourth Chapter

Her hand stretched out to me, and I hesitated- Why were my cheeks so red? Why was I… heating up? I shook my head quickly for clarity before taking her gentle hand immediately. This woman vigilante pulled me up immediately, and I gasped as I knocked into her body. I reddened even more-

“Here.” She shoved me behind her as she looked to the left while unsheathing her sword, “Stay behind me.”

Her voice was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. It spoke so sultry and beautiful- it put me off.

A couple men laughed from behind and in front of us. I glanced behind me, seeing they left Estella alone as they came forward to us- Estella trembled, and turned heel as she ran away. I huffed, somewhat relieved she had gone, but also worried about my own well-being.

I could hear chuckling and laughing start, and the seemingly ‘leader’ of the pack shook his head as he approached the women with a smirk. “A woman? What are youse tryin’ to do- ‘cause all youse doin’ is makin’ us riot.”

I suddenly felt myself begin to doubt this vigilante. But she was my only hope- I had to trust her. The woman pointed her sword at him, and her voice spoke so calmly, so surely… “Six of you against me with a sword? I think I’ll take my chances.”

They laughed again, and I nudged her. She looked back at me, and I whispered, “There’s also men behind us. I fear-“

“To go on despite fear is to be courageous.” She smiled- she SMILED despite the situation we were in the midst of. And somehow it was so bloody gorgeous that it made me have heart palpitations. What was happening to me? She handed me something out of her satchel and winked at me through her black mask before looking away. “You can fight, can’t you?”

I turned around, seeing the men who had been attacking Estella come our way. I looked in my hand to see she had handed me a sheathed dagger- a bloody dagger! “Not really.”

“Here’s a clue, darling.” I turned to see her having already begun to fight the leader, dodging and weaving before sticking her sword into his leg. I gasped along with the other men, and she looked at me with a smirk. “Stick ‘em with the pointy end.”

I scoffed as I unsheathed the dagger, looking at the shiny and sharp blade, “Are you insane-” I turned just in time to back up from a punch coming my way. I shrieked, “I don’t know how to fight!-”

“Then learn!” I could hear her grunt, and I yelped as the man swung at me again. I was backed into a wall suddenly- I panicked as he came closer, and as his hands went to grab at my neck- I ducked (more like fell) and in a panic- I found myself sticking the dagger in his thigh. The man screamed, backing up with the dagger in his thigh. I stood, gasping as my hands went to cover my mouth while I exclaimed.

“Oh! My word- I’m so, so sorry! I’m dreadfully sorry!”

“Watch out!” I heard the woman vigilante cry out from the side of me, and I immediately crouched to pull the dagger out of the whimpering man- unintentionally avoiding a hit from his fist- I stood and turned to the person with a raised brow.

“Going behind my back now, are you?” The man growled and lunged at me at my quip. Without hesitance, I stuck a dagger into his shoulder. The man grunted, and I stuck it out with a grunt before pushing the assailant away. He fell against the wall, and I looked to my left to see one more assailant running away. I went to go after them when a hand on my shoulder stopped me- bringing me back down to reality. Was I really about to chase a man down the street for… more fighting?

A squawk from above made me look to see Crowley returning, and he landed on my shoulder softly. I pet Crowley’s head affectionately as I looked back at the vigilante woman. There was blood splattered on her face… I tensed, “Thank-Thank you. Who are you?”

Her lips smirked at me, and her eyes looked me up and down. I tensed, my heart beating faster- God, was it the adrenaline from the fight earlier? Why was she… making me feel this way?

“You can call me Nike- after the goddess of victory.” She grinned at me toothily, and I looked past her with furrowed brows when I heard something... guards? Oh, now they decide to come! Anyhow, I couldn’t be caught like this in the midst of these wedding plans.

“Well Nike- it looks like we’ve got to run.” I grabbed her arm, and took off in the opposite direction with her and Crowley- albeit flying- in tow. I held my skirt up with the other hand, looking around quickly as I got to the end of the alley before heading off towards the pub again.

I moved left and right, dodging people with ease as we tried to avoid being slowed down with the guards. Before I knew it, I was leading ‘Nike’ into The Slum House. Crowley squawked, signaling he’d stay outside as I entered and went to the back of the interior, past the people who were inside-

The bartender held their hand out to me, stopping me before I could enter Estella’s room.

I scoffed as I panted, “It’s Tina. Estella’s word is ‘stars’.”

The said bartender pursed their lips before allowing me to proceed. I opened the door and lead her into Estella’s living room. We both panted from the exertion, and I went over to Estella’s couch. I sat down on the beaten-up furniture, reality starting to hit my head as I started to realize what has just happened. I… stabbed two men. I… Me! A princess, just stabbed two men with a dagger in an alley like some common criminal-

“Tina?” I looked up at Nike, and she raised a brow at me. “Are these your quarters?”

“No.” I scoffed. The notion that I could possibly stay in a place like this was preposterous to me. Then again, I did look like a commoner. “They belong to a friend.”

“Well, their home looks decent.” Nike stated, taking off her tri-fold hat and placing it on the small wooden table near the door. “I like your golden hair.”

“You do?” I grasped a strand of my hair, looking at it observingly.

“I fancy someone with similar hair.” She chuckled, her hand playing with one of the braids on her chest. “I worry if she fancies me as well."

“She?” I questioned, suddenly intrigued. I frowned, “Why she?”

“Why not?” She grinned at my question, and I furrowed my brows.

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m assuming you’re more intrigued with men, then?”

“I wouldn’t say intrigued. I just… We’re supposed to be with them, aren’t we?” I bit my bottom lip, and she smiled.

“We’re supposed to be with who intrigues us.” Nike sat next to me, too close for me to breathe properly. Her finger went to my hair, moving it away from my face. I swallowed, a familiar flush returning to my face. “Who do you find intrigues you?”

I shrugged as she neared in proximity. “I’ve only ever been courted by men-”

“And you never found one intriguing?” She coyly asked, and I tensed. I didn’t want to admit it- I didn’t want to admit the allure I felt towards the unknown.

“None have stimulated well enough conversation to even consider to be considered intriguing.” My walls were back up, and I sat straight as I turned away from her. I’m a princess- peasant disguise or not, I was expected to be someone’s betrothed.

“I see. Well, I found myself in the same predicament not too long ago.” She giggled to herself, before sighing. “I realized I had to change targets in order to experience… intriguing stimulation.”

“You say that as if there’s a double meaning.” I looked at her with a raised brow. Nike’s smile widened.

“Well, it’s just us girls after all. I’ll be brash-” She leaned in closer, and I raised both brows now. “Have you ever been stimulated?”

“Stimu- what ever do you mean?” I scoffed, staring straight ahead with annoyance. “I’m plenty stimulated, thank you very much.”

“Not by books or activities.” She chuckled, leaned forward and whispered into my ear. The way her voice sent chills up my spine was unknown- and it also sent an unfamiliar ache between my legs. “When you touch yourself.”

My breath hitched. Touch myself? Whatever did she mean...?

“Anywhere on your body… anywhere you seem fit… you can touch yourself, but especially between your legs. Trust me- it can be very intriguing stimulation.”

-

Her words haunted me the rest of the day. Even after she left. Even after I left with Crowley, and returned to my castle. I cursed myself for forgetting to ask Estella's opinion on marriage, but I also knew I could do more of that another day.

It was finally evening. I had locked the door after changing into my nightgown and brushing out my hair, and as I laid on my silk sheets- everyone in the castle knew I liked my downtime most of all so there was no suspicions of why I was 'holed up' all the time. There were days where I barely went out of my room at all.

As I laid there, I found my hands wandering across my body, softly, teasingly... Images flashed into my head of someone else’s hands doing the same, of someone else’s hands tenderly going across my body. It wasn’t my hands that sensually rubbed my neck, that grazed my shoulders and grazed my bottom lip.

I glanced down at my chest, biting my lip in wonder. My hands drifted, going to touch inquisitively. It was a thrill to do something so... taboo. I squeezed my breasts, whimpering at the feel of it, and found myself touching the sensitive pink flesh that in the center of each breast. The more I squeezed, the more I felt an ache in that area downstairs.

I reached down.

I gasped as my hand went in between my legs, feeling immense moisture at my core, and my eyes shot open as I started to massage a small bead at the top. I bit down on my lip, my other hand squeezing one of my breasts while the other delved further in between my lower lips. Before I knew it, a finger penetrated, well me, down there. Before I knew it, I was gasping for air.

There was something I was reaching towards. Something I couldn’t quite grasp, but the more I did what I was doing, the closer I could feel I was to grabbing it. My back arched, and I found myself hitting a… a climax.

I silently gasped out.

I laid slack against my sheets, panting, and desperately wondering how I have never done this before. All the thrill from today's events certainly had an effect on me.

My hand went to my collarbone absentmindedly as I wondered about these things, but my eyes widened when I found it empty. I sat up, grasping at my neck with a gasp. My mother’s necklace… it was missing! Those men from earlier… they grabbed it? Where could it be now?

I knew now- this business with Nike is far from over.