Legacy

The day after, or rather the night of that day, Waltz got to work on that sword. He spent hours beating the metal and reheating it, ended up with one red metal blade and a golden metal hilt and handle. Mind you, it wasn't gold. Gold is horrible to use for making weapons. This was golden titanium and Red Steel. for the scabbard, he turned a single piece of leather into a work of art in less than an hour, fitting the blade perfectly and slinging over his shoulder even better.

As he left the forge, he took flight, headed to the castle.

the castle was as beautiful up close as it was from the distance. The architecture was perfected, no flaws, not a single stone sticking out, and it had such ine lines between each block of masonry, it fit perfectly. The guards at the front halted Waltz. He told them he were delivering a sword to the princess. Presented the blade for inspection, allowed hismelf to be searched, then continued on. Grandeur halls were everywhere, high ceilings stretching far above every door, stone masonry like a god's palace should have. This palce was beautiful. and must have equally costed multiple fortunes.

The throne room was a straight shot from the front door, albeit behind eight large metal doors. Guards let him pass, but as he approached the throne room, guards halted him again.

"State your business.", one commanded.

"Cloud Waltz. I am here to present a valued, skillfully made sword to his majesty, the King."

After a few seconds, the guards parted. "You may pass."

Waltz did. Walking up the steps to approach the king on his throne. an old stallion draped in velvet red robes embroidered in gold lace. Atop his head rested the crown of the kingdom. And at his side, his queen. "You're majesty.", he bowed.

"What brings you here, young stallion?"

"I am Cloud Waltz. I am a smithy. Yesterday, Young Rose approached my father's shop and asked of me for a weapon. A weapon made of my best materials, and forged from my greatest skills. This sword is the single most valuable and well-made blade I have forged thus far. I request to present it to the princess myself."

"No."

Waltz continued smiling. Tis fine. Tis fine.

"I will deliver it to her for you."

Waltz stopped smiling. "Apologies your majesty, but I will not allow that."

"Hmm? Why?" He was none too happy to hear that.

"This is the single most greatest piece of metal I have forged by hammer and anvil. I would not accept any less than to deliver it myself."

After a brief pause,t he king sighed, and waved over one of the guards. "You may. Kite. See to it that he finds her chambers. Both of you return here afterwards."

"Yes your majesty.", the guard bowed.

"Yes yoru majesty.", Waltz bowed.

Both left, taking a normal pace.

"It's going to be quite a walk from here, young Waltz."

"I have time."

"And I am restless and grow bored easily. Weren't you that stallion that were talking to Young Rose yesterday?"

"Indeed. You were there. I admitted to it."

"Is that all you spoke of was a sword?", he asked.

Waltz glanced back. Far from any other guards. Kite turned down another hall. Empty of guards.

"I don't need you to answer. I know now."

"She did request this sword. It was the first thing she mentioned. One weapon made from the best materials I had, and made from the greatest skill I can muster. Made the scabbard myself."

"Take pride in your smithing?"

"Sometimes. The droll repetition of making blade after blade does not deserve my pride. I do make something worth reckoning every once and a while. This blade...being the greatest I ahve achieved."

"And what of the second conversation, after the sword?"

They began up a set of stone steps that spiraled perfectly upwards.

"A story I'm not sure I should tell. You know we spoke of something else, I'd rather leave it at that."

"It's my job to be concerned for the princess. Plus. I'm Kite Shield her longest employed personal guard. the king is just none too happy about the fact that we...decieved him so that his daughter may run freely as she pleased for a good few years."

"Has she ever told you anything?", Waltz asked.

Indeed, there were times where Rose would get hurt as they had their fun, or that one time rose actually got in a fight. Rose and Waltz fought together though. they won, but not without a few cuts and bruises.

"Were you the reason she got in a fight?"

Waltz didn't answer.

"I promise to never tell the king. Her secret is safe with me, your secret is safe with me."

"We fought..."

"Hmhmmmm. I knew it was you."

"We fought together against a group of older colts. We won. But it started when they hit rose first."

"My. Protective of your friends. Good trait."

"What about you? Secret for a secret? What did you do while she ran off to play?"

Kite stopped, breathing a bit heavily as he took a seat on the steps. Waltz joined him. This staircase must go realy far up. "We spent our time guarding something else, really. We didn't know what else to do. We did...guard a pub or two. Doesn't hurt to enjoy talking to a pretty mare every now and then."

"How much further?", Waltz asked.

"Oh, we're halfway up. She just has to live in a tower. King won't let her have a room anywhere else. She has to climb these steps daily."

"That must be horrible."

"Oh, we never make it up or down without resting a moment. Lets go.", Kite stood up, continuing back up the steps. Waltz followed.

They rose to the top most step, finally stepping onto flat ground.

"And what about her clothes? She never returned wearing any dirt, yet she looked as if she had been rolling in mud. Many times."

Waltz chuckled. "We did have mud fights, but she bought her own clothes. Didn't want to be recognized. Barley Bread helped us with that one."

"Bread? How?"

"He married a seamstress."

"Oh, I thought you were talking about food."

"It happens a lot."

"Her majesty's room.", he stopped in front of a set of heavy solid wood double doors. They arched upwards.

Waltz knocked loudly, and it even echoed throughout the halls for a moment before the door shifted open loudly.

"Waltz!", Rose exclaimed, hugging him. She had the weapon in her hands as she parted. "Oh! Nice craftsmanship.", she drew the blade. "Perfect. The blade is just thin enough."

"I actually didn't have much of this material to work with."

"Well, it's exactly what I was expecting! Kite.", she greeted the stallion. He nodded in turn.

"I do need to say before you two continue, the king is expecting us back in the thrown room shortly. You may continue.", he walked off. Down the stairs, actually.

Rose immediately lunged at Waltz, grabbing a hold of him tightly and locking lips with him. For a good few long moments, that's all they did. Enjoy the sweet embrace of one another until she broke the kiss, take a few breaths and straightening her thin dress. "That's all I wanted."

"A sword and a kiss?"

"Just the kiss. The sword was a memento. I expected to not see you after yesterday. At all. Going there again, father would have more than likely said no."

"Understood. What now Rose? The secret's out, I've...fallen in love with you."

"And I love you too."

"I don't want to just let this go."

"Neither do I. But I have no idea what to do."