By Cardio
"Because my daughter obviously cares for you to some degree she has begged me to let you stay in the castle. But so long as I am King you will not soil her in the eyes of the church for whatever man I deem worthy to be her true loving husband. Therefore you will stay by my daughters side as her handmaiden. Yes you heard that correctly," The King continued with a smile upon seeing Garrett's look of confusion. "You shall be made into a woman by magical means and you will stay by her side. You will make sure that she attends to her duty as princess or you will be met with another punishment that I promise will not be as lenient as this."
Garrett wasn't sure he agreed that this punishment was 'lenient'. It seemed like it would be a living hell to forever be at his loves side but not able to show her and truly express his feelings that he now almost wished his honor had not gotten in the way so many times.
But Garrett stood tall and forced himself to smile as he said, "Thank you my King, I promise you that I will protect the honor of your daughter with all of my being." Fina seemed to break down a little bit upon hearing this. The King and Captain who both seemed to want Garrett to beg and plead more just looked disappointed. King Emeril looked to Captain Burgos and nodded as he said, "Deliver the potion Captain."
"It will be my pleasure." Burgos said as he stomped up to Garrett and grabbed him by the throat roughly as he pulled a bubbling purple potion from behind his back. Burgos forced Garrett's mouth open but Garrett did not fight back, he just looked ta Burgos with a fire in his eyes that betrayed his real feelings toward the situation. The potion tasted like a sweet and creamy cake. Garrett enjoyed the taste for a moment before feeling his entire body go into convulsions. He felt like his bones and flesh were about to rocket off of him. His entire body was bubbling for only a second but it felt like a painful eternity for Garrett. Finally the changes stopped, and where there had once stood a bulky former paladin, a slim handmaiden stood. The prison garb that had fit Garrett fell off this new girl for a brief moment. But she was able to hide her new privacy from the watchful eyes of the men in the kings court. The determined former paladin looked with determination at her king and said, "Do you require anything else of me my King before I begin my new duties?"
The king who looked very disappointed that he hadn't broken Garrett turned to walk away, "Just make yourself decent and get out of my sight. From this day forward you are no longer Garrett, you are nearly Gwen" The newly crisped Gwen bowed and approached Fina as the crowd of people of watched this take place left disappointed they didn't see more of a show. "My princess." Gwen said as he bowed his head letting a new set of flowing brown locks fall in front of her face.
Fina cried as she hugged her new handmaiden. She just kept saying that she was sorry over and over again as Gwen patted her on the back. Gwen lead his princess to her room where the two stood alone. Fina spoke first, "My love, Garrett, I do not care how you look or what you are, I still wish to marry you. We can still leave tonight. We can still..." But Gwen stopped her from speaking more, "My love...no my princess. As much as we desire that, it can not be. This time I was lucky to escape with my life, if we tried to escape to marry again then I do not think your father would be so forgiving of you a second time. I don't care what happens to me, I just want you to be safe, and if being by your side as a woman is the only way I can assure that, then so be...Mrph"
Garrett was so distracted by trying to find the words he wanted to say he did not noticed Fina coming in for a kiss. The kiss was longer and more passionate than either had ever had. Fina was the first to break it, "Very well, my Gar...no. My precious Gwen. If we can not run and find love together in the world we will make our love here in secret. No matter what my father or the world throws at us, I want us to be here for each other no matter what. That is all we wanted before, and as much as I will miss Garrett, I see no reason why Gwen can't pick up where he left off."
Gwen was very tempted by her loves words. Words that were very tempting, but words that could lead to punishment for both of them. Punishment that would ruin the life of the princess that she loved. Gwen looked to Fina and knew what she had to do.
