She was wearing a white dress with red designs on it, her hair pulled half back with pale flowers decorating it. She was chained to the floor of the raised pavalon overlooking the jousting field, her arms shackled behind her back as well as her ankles together as she was forced to kneel next to Prince Theophanes. When it was time for the Prince to joust, Sophie was left blissfully alone in the pavalon. Unfortunately, she did not get the pleasure of seeing the smug Prince knocked off his horse as he won, circling the arena asking for challengers. A man with thick red hair jumped his pale palamino horse into the arena. He wasn't even wearing armor. Sophie felt tears of fear prick her eyes as she recognized him right away, even from this distance. "Prince Theophanes." She sucked in a breath, never thinking she'd hear his voice again. The crowd was in an uproar. "Please have a duel with me!"

"Olaf?" The King's Advisor came to stand beside her to make sure she didn't cause a ruckus. Guards drew closer to the King and Queen on the raised dias across from Sophie's own.

"What should we do?" The captain of ths Guard asked the King.

"Wait." The King finally said. "Red-Head-what do you want?"

Olaf pursed his lips, then said calmly, "I...If I win against Prince Theophanes, please give me that slave you have across the way."

The King considered the slender man carefully. "Alright, as you wish."

"No armor?" Theophanes asked.

"No need."

"Olaf!"

"It's alright." Olaf graced her with one of his signature grins and she felt like crying in relief. "Do not fret."

"Don't get cocky!" Prince Theophanes didn't wait for the herald and charged. Olaf didn't panic and met him head on, his lance hitting home and sending Theophanes from ths saddle. The crowd murmured and the King raised to his feet. Olaf turned his horse toward  the royal dais expectantly.

"Kill him."

Sophie watched in horror as the archers around the arena fired. "No!"

~~~

Sophie was on the floor, a mess of screaming sobs, tears streaking down her face. Gabriels was shaking her slightly, trying to get her to look at him. A maid and Loki were also in the room. "Sophie!" Her gaze returned to Gabriels, but she couldn't stop crying. Instead she threw herself at him. Clutching to him for dear life as she cried her heart out. The pain of her friend's loss opened all over again. Gabriels gestured for the others to leave. "Sophie." He said soothingly. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"T-They killed him."

"Who?"

"Olaf." Her voice broke.

Gabriels rocked back with her in his arms. "Alright." He lifted her up and carried her back to her strewn bed as she continued to clutch at him. "Alright Honey. I'm sorry." He let her cry, trying to sooth her as he lay there with her. Gradually her sobbing slowed and she collapsed into a worn slumber. "Zarathustra." Gabriels whispered, causing the blond to appear as the King tucked a strand of the Guard's hair behind her delicate ear. "Have Agnes find out all she can." With a sympathetic glace at Sophie, he nodded, meeting his liege's agonized gaze, then disappearing out the door.