What a sneaky princess

  I kept running and jumping from one rooftop to the next. The princess was still screaming, calling me names. She's annoyed with me because I'm forcing her to run away with me. I'm not surprised she wouldn't be pleased. Her anger was justified, I'm kidnapping her after all. But I have no choice. I have to get her away from the palace and away from her guards. I couldn't let her escape just because she didn't like this. 

  I kept running with the princess over my shoulders. I kept jumping from roof to roof, moving quickly but carefully. The princess was not getting off my shoulders anytime soon. And after some time, we came to a very secretive and strange place in her kingdom. I did not recognize this area at all. It was very narrow and dimly lit with only a few homes and alleyways. It was a bit frightening, but I had to keep going. 

"I wouldn't use this way if i were you..." 

  Her words surprised me. She knew this area? It felt like a place where someone would get robbed or mugged if they used this way. I couldn't stop now. I couldn't go back and I couldn't stand here. I just needed to keep running with the princess, away from the guards and away from the palace. I would take my chances with this dangerous looking alleyway. I kept walking down this dimly lit path with the princess over my shoulders. I heard voices coming from the darkness and they sounded like trouble. 

  As I kept walking, I could now see men lurking in the shadows. It looked like a gang of thieves and they seemed to be waiting for someone like me to come by. And that "someone" was me with the princess on my shoulders. They could see that I was already exhausted and I had a heavy burden on my shoulders. It would be easy for them to overpower me and take all of my possessions. But they were not the only people interested in me and my precious burden. 

  As I kept walking towards them, their eyes were locked on the princess. They couldn't take their eyes off her. They could see that she was a beautiful girl and definitely a prize. They were like vultures, waiting for the right time to attack me and take the princess. They didn't realize that I was trained to fight and I was willing to fight with my life if I had to. I had to get out of here as quickly as possible. 

  The men moved a step closer towards me, their hands tucked into their pockets as they kept their eyes on the princess. They were preparing for an attack and they knew it would be easy since I was exhausted. I had to act quickly or else I would lose my precious cargo. And I cannot fail my mission at all costs. I looked around for another exit, but this dead-end alleyway had no other exits. I was cornered. 

  The princess wrapped her arms around my neck, almost as if she was using me as a shield. The thieves were now surrounding me, their faces hidden by masks or hoods. They looked dangerous, and I could tell they were not joking around. The princess knew how dangerous the situation was. She was just a girl, used to living in the lap of luxury. It was my job to protect her, not to let her get carried away by these men. I needed to act quickly. 

  I took out my sword and brandished it at the men. I wanted them to know that I was a capable warrior and I would not let them touch the princess. The men looked at me with amusement and disbelief. Did they think I could stop them and their numbers? I was going to try, I was not going to give up without a fight. I glared at them menacingly, daring them to come closer. They stood their ground, not moving an inch. 

  The men stared at me, a lone fighter with a beautiful girl over my shoulder. I could tell that they were not impressed. Their leader stepped forward and I immediately faced him. He seemed like the most dangerous man of the gang and he had a scary mask on. He had a sharp looking dagger and he knew how to use it. He didn't say a word, he just looked at me with a menacing stare. I refused to back down. 

"Give us the princess or else..." 

"Or else what?" I replied, keeping my sword steady. I didn't flinch or move an inch. I was challenging the leader of this gang. He was a large man with a very muscular body. His eyes were sharp and he gave off a very intimidating and threatening aura. I was not going to let this guy scare me off. I was here for a job and I had to get the princess back safely, even if that meant taking him on. 

"Don't make me laugh. You think I'm going to hand over the princess to a bunch of thugs?" I replied smugly. My bravado was only part of the act, I was also very nervous. The leader seemed amused by my confidence.

"So you think you're better than us? You think you're strong? Let's see how strong you are after I run you through with my knife." He raised his dagger and took a step towards me. 

I stood my ground, keeping my sword poised and ready. I couldn't let this guy get near the princess. This man was dangerous, there was no doubt about it. I had to be careful. One mistake and the princess would be in his hands. The leader seemed to sense my apprehension and he smirked.

"Don't be a coward, let's see what you're made of." He raised his dagger and charged towards me, aiming at my chest. 

I was ready for it. I anticipated the knife with my reflexes, raised my sword and blocked the dagger. The sharp steel of the knife sparked against my blade. The force of the strike made my whole body tremble though. The leader was definitely a lot stronger than me. I couldn't let him overpower me. I had to find a way to break the stalemate before the other thieves intervened. This could quickly get out of hand and I did not want to put the princess in any more danger. 

  As the leader was trying to overpower me, I suddenly tossed the princess aside. She was now standing on the ground, safely out of the way from this intense fight. The leader was surprised by my action, and I quickly took advantage of his surprise to throw him off balance. I swiftly kicked him behind the knee, causing him to fall onto the ground. I immediately stepped on his chest, pointing the tip of my sword directly at his chest. 

I turned my head in the direction of the other thieves. They had managed to ambush the princess and had grabbed her. She was now standing between two of the thieves, her arms tied behind her back. She was defenseless.

"Don't do anything stupid or she dies" one of the thieves yelled at me, clearly amused by the situation. I was in a stalemate again, this time I had to act wisely... 

The thieves were threatening to kill the princess if I didn't back down. I was in a very difficult situation. I couldn't let any harm come to her. I looked around for an opportunity, for any weakness in their defenses. As I kept my sword pointing at the leader, I kept scanning the crowd. I couldn't seem to find any weakness and my heart was racing. I had to do something. I needed an opening! 

The princess looks at me annoyed

"I TOLD YOU TO NOT TAKE THIS WAY, YOU IDIOT" 

The princess had been yelling nonstop ever since the thieves had tied her up. I was so focused on the fight, that I didn't even notice her shouting at me until now. I felt a mix of annoyance and frustration towards her, even though I knew that she was right. I just had to deal with the thieves first. 

"I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO YOU, SHUT UP" I snapped at her. 

"NO, FUCK YOU" 

The thieves couldn't believe what they were hearing. They were used to hearing people begging for mercy and apologizing, not cursing them out. I still had my sword pointed straight at the leader's neck and I was clearly not backing down.

"I SAID SHUT UP" I yelled at the princess, now losing my patience. 

"You know what? I'm safer with those thieves" she says annoyed 

I couldn't believe what the princess was saying. Was she serious? Was she really saying that she trusted these thugs more than me? I was risking my life to protect her, it only made sense if she would recognize my sacrifice.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW CRAZY YOU SOUND RIGHT NOW?! DO YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE YOU HERE ALONE WITH THOSE MEN, IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?!" I yelled at her. 

I was so caught up in my frustration, that I didn't realize the princess actually had a plan of her own. Her annoying behavior was actually part of a strategy to get away from the thieves. Was she actually smarter than me? The princess had kept quiet when she needed to, and now she had spoken up at just the right moment. I was impressed. 

  The princess was keeping her cool, despite being abducted and tied up by a gang of thieves. She knew what she was doing and she knew that her behavior was a crucial part of her plan. The gang of thieves were clearly taken by surprise. That sneaky little princess, she was definitely more tricky than I gave her credit for. But it was going to take more than tricks to get out of this situation. I still had my sword pointed at the leader's neck. I was not willing to let him go. 

  The thieves had let their guard down, thinking they had the situation under control. The girl was tied up, she couldn't cause any real trouble. And they had me busy fighting their leader. But that's when I took the opportunity to strike! I swept one of the thugs' legs and knocked him down. I was now facing three men, but I couldn't let them get the upper hand. I needed to keep moving and keep hitting them... 

  I swept another thug's legs and knocked him down. I was taking down one man after another. I was hitting them with rapid attacks, not giving them a chance to catch a breath. I was so focused on fighting, I didn't even notice that the princess was no longer tied up! She had somehow managed to untie herself. Well at least that part of the plan worked out. I looked around for the last man. I couldn't let him sneak up on me and hit me from behind... 

 And there he was! The last man was trying to sneak up on me but I saw him in my peripheral vision. I couldn't allow him to join the fight or the odds would be against me. I reacted quickly, turning my sword in his direction and striking him hard on the side of his head. He stumbled back and fell to the ground in the same motion. This was my chance to take him down and get rid of him... 

  I looked around for the princess but I couldn't see her. She had somehow managed to escape while I was fighting with this last dude. So she had her plan worked out to perfection, that sneaky little princess! 

Well at least the princess was no longer in danger here. My mission was to kidnap her and take her back to my king. That's what I need to focus on now, since the princess had managed to escape...