The Walls of Allendor

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---- And all the King's Horses.... And all the King's Men...... ------

---- the ground rumbled -----

--- the air filled with the sounds of horses coming out of the river, hooves pounding, snorting, whinnying, the cry of Amalok's bugle as he signaled them to stop ---

--- King Leotin was at the front, flanked by his knights -----

Staza: (his uniform crimson with blood as he leads Imari on Arissa's horse from the wood to meet the King)

Leotin: (drops from his horse, moving quickly toward them)

Imari: (her eyes red and swollen from tears and shame as she spots her father)

Leotin: IMARI.. Oh Thank the GODDESS!!!

Imari: (sniffles) Father  (throwing her arms around him, burying her face in his neck, sobbing) Tis all my fault....I'm so sorry!! 

Staza: (glances at her, then past his father toward the knights)

Leotin: Hush hush, my child.. (closes his arms over her, rocking her back and forth slowly)

Imari: (thinking of Arissa...captures and Staza ..wounded, the army marching through the night...all because she couldn't stay inside the Keep as she was told)

Imari: (letting her turbulent emotions run out, her body wracking with sobs, feeling such a great comfort from his loving presence..)

Leotin: Are you injured? Let me look at you.. (takes her shoulders and sets her back, looking down at her)

Imari: (shaking her head no) No, I'm fine  (clutching the cloak tightly around  her)

Leotin: STAZA! (bellows) Tell me you cut the head from the Bastard of Allendor who's done this to your sister.

Imari: (staring down at the ground, unable to meet his gaze)

Staza: (looks back at him, getting his shoulder patched up) I was lucky to get her back at all, Father...

Imari: (winces at the bellow)

Leotin: I've a mind to ride after them. Kill them all!

Imari: (looks over to Staza, her eyes blurred with tears)

Imari: (looks back to her father) We must go after them, we must!!  We have to get Arissa back father!!

Staza: (looks away, looking down at the ground)

Leotin: Arissa? Where is ARISSA?

Staza: (exhales) That is not how I would have had you find out, Father....

Staza: But They have Arissa.

Leotin: (looks outraged)

Imari: (gasps) You did not know she had come to help rescue me?  (the guilt made all the worse)  ((she went against father...she never goes against him...))

Leotin: Staza! (bellows his name again) Take your sister HOME.

Staza: No. I'm going after Arissa.

Imari: (takes a step back, her father's rage palpable)

Leotin: Nonsense. You'll do as I say. You're wounded. You'll take your sister home.

Staza: (slipping his bloody uniform back over his bandaged shoulder)

Imari: I do not want to go home without Arissa, father!!!

Staza: Nor do I.

Leotin: (looks at Imari) You have disobeyed enough for one day.

Imari: (covers her hands with her face, his words striking her like a lance) ((all my fault...this is all my fault))  (utterly devastated at what her actions have lead to)

Leotin: We camp here tonight. And by morrow's light, Bordalyn will escort you both back to Palicide. We will ride onward.

Imari: (looks to Staza, imploring him to change their father's mind)

Staza: (exhales again) Father, by morrow's light, they will have gotten through the pass and there will be no catching them until they reach the lands of Allendor.

Leotin: (lifts his chin) Then, By Goddess... We will ride into Allendor.......

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--- The Pass -----

---- steep walls of marbled black and gray line either side of the narrow chasm ----

--- The pass is a blessing to Allendor.... and yet a curse ---

---- the only path into the lands of Allendor without going around the high mountains, the path is rocky and lined by crags ----

--- the legends speak of the ghosts that haunt the rocky path to Allendor, and on some crossing, it is sworn that you can hear the cries of the women who'd husbands died there ---

Jaeger: (has a tight arm around Arissa's midsection as his horse carefully picks it's path through the boulders and rocks)

Arissa: (her eyes darting around, never having been so far away from home before, glancing up at the huge walls of stone)

Xavier: (jogs his horse past Jaeger, reining him in as he draws up along side) Pity, Jaeger..... having to settle for a child instead of a woman. (slow smile, taunting him) And what a woman she was...... succulent.

Arissa: (stiffens in Jaeger's arms, turning to sneer at Xavier)

Jaeger: (not looking at him) The child will suffice.

Arissa: ((I will kill him along with this dark beast))  (mentally trying to bolster her courage)

Xavier: Why don't you just drop her here.. leave her to the vultures.

Jaeger: She is currency.

Xavier: Currency? What do you mean? You plan on selling her?

Arissa: (having stayed completely silent the entire journey thus far, clenching her teeth, wanting to scream at them that she is not a child..wanting to scream at them for talking like she is not even there)

Jaeger: Something like that.

Arissa: ((I hope he doesn't plan on getting much...))  (lifts her chin a little higher)

Jaeger: Of course first, I plan on tasting the goods.. (cups one of her breasts and squeezes)

Arissa: (snarls, trying to push his hand away)

Jaeger: (grips her small breast hard)

Arissa: (winces at the pain, pressing back as if to escape his grasp, spatting out) You disgust me..

Jaeger: (laughs at her)

Xavier: (shakes his head)

Arissa: (snaps her mouth shut, mad at herself for letting him get to her, takes a deep breath and relaxes, trying to muster a serene expression)

Xavier: I don't think she likes you too well, Jaeger the Dark.

Xavier: (starts to ride ahead)

Jaeger: She'll like me even less when we get to Allendor. (dark smile)

Arissa: (her eyes narrowing on Xavier’s back as he rides ahead)

Jaeger: (strokes the side of her face, petting her like a dog)

Arissa: (remains unflinching, taking every bit of self control, refusing to give him the satisfaction of her fear and loathing)

Jaeger: (slips his hand up to her neck, feeling and finding her pendant and tearing it off)

Arissa: (gasps, moving her hands to reach for it, then quickly dropping them to the side, balling them into fists)

Jaeger: (tucks it in his pouch) Do you know what I mean to do to you, little one?

Arissa: Do you think to scare me? (inwardly bristling at being called little one, cursing the fates for her petite size)

Jaeger: (amused smirk) I think that yes... I do scare you. And if I don't.... then you are a very foolish little girl.

Arissa: I do not scare easily..

Jaeger: Well... then I accept the challenge.

Arissa: You obviously are not very important to waste your time on one such as me..

Arissa: Tis pathetic at best.

Jaeger: (stretches a hand down between her legs, cupping her and tightening his fingers hard against her sex) Perhaps I am mistaken and you are a little stable slut who spreads her legs for the stable master.

Arissa: (her voice menacing, trying to keep the fear out of it) Your mistake was attacking Palicide and stealing Imari.  King Leotin will have your head.. 

Jaeger: Not likely, little one. Your old weak king hasn't a prayer. But fear not. You will see your home again... very soon. (strokes her slowly)

Arissa: (her entire body tensing, unable to stop herself from trying to squirm away from his touch, her heart starting to beat faster)

Jaeger: (reins his horse up short) Tibin. (digs the pendant out and presses it toward Tibin) Ride back and meet the army of Palicide. Show them this and tell them you offer a bargain on the behalf of Allendor. The Princess in exchange for this child. Tell them to deliver her to the pass here..... and the two shall cross at the same time. If they refuse.... tell them the child will die.

Arissa: (gasps) Are you mad??  She is the princess! The daughter of the king, she is beloved by the people.  Have you been hit upside the head one too many times in battle...

Jaeger: (just smiles in a knowing way)

Arissa: Captured by a fool....my humiliation grows leaps and bounds.

Jaeger: And tell them her death will not be quick, or painless.....

Jaeger: And with every moment in my care, she grows closer and closer.... to it... (sliding his hand around her neck)

Arissa: (takes in a deep breath, saying softly through his grip) I am not afraid of death...

Jaeger: (leans forward whispering in her ear) Oh there are ways I could make you die a thousand times inside, and all the while your heart will still beat. Only a fool would not fear.....

Arissa: (her hands trembling, his words filling her with dread) I am already dead inside, you can do nothing to hurt me..  (quiet conviction in her voice despite her growing fear)

Jaeger: We will see about that.... little one. (cold smile)

--- the path widens again as the pass is left behind... and before them lays the beautiful arches of Allendor ----

----- the city sprawls behind the arches, the tall walls surrounding part of it, the city built into the mountains, magnificent and regal ---

--- huge monuments and statues stand at the entrance, more evidence of King Allen's vanity ----

Arissa: (wondering if he knows how irritated she gets at being called little one...prays to the goddess for the strength to die with dignity)

Arissa: (her eyes widening as the landscape changes)  ((the land of the enemy))

---- the army spreads out once they enter the walls and Jaeger sets his horse to a gallop, running up the middle ----

Arissa: (her thighs gripping tighter around the horse as he moves into a gallop)

Jaeger: (draws his horse up and dismounts swiftly, reaching up and pulling her roughly down, catching her in his arms)

Arissa: (her eyes round, her breath quickening as he yanks her to him, studying his face...)

--- a boy runs to take his horse ----

Jaeger: (drops her on her feet and gives her a shove toward the house)

Arissa: (drops down, her body nimble and light, starts heading towards the house and then quickly darts to the left, taking off in a sprint)

Jaeger: (scowls and dashes after her, his legs long and strong)

Arissa: (hears his loud footfalls close behind her, quickens her pace, running as fast as she can, her eyes scanning ahead, having no idea where to go....not caring as long as it is away from him)

Jaeger: (dives toward her, his hand stretching ahead and grabbing her hair)

Arissa: (gets jerked back by her hair, wincing as it pulls at her scalp)

Jaeger: (pulls her back against him, encircling her waist with one arm, like a steel band around her, squeezing and hissing into her ear) Nice try, little one.

Arissa: (doesn't bother to struggle, feeling almost weightless in his strong grasp) Not nice enough, obviously.

Jaeger: Obviously.... (bites her cheek hard enough to leave imprints without breaking the skin, then shoves her toward the house again, drawing the whip off his hip and snapping it at her)

Arissa: (shirking back from the bite, back ramrod straight as she walks towards the house, not even flinching at the whip)

Jaeger: (grunts) I don't recommend escape. If you are found in the city without me, you will be stoned.

Arissa: As opposed to the warm hospitality I will receive from you.. (responding dryly, unable to resist rolling her eyes)

Jaeger: (grabs a handful of hair again, shoves her into the door once, then pulls her back, opens the door and shoves her inside roughly, letting go of her)

Arissa: (flinches as her small body is rammed into the door, stumbling forward into the house, quickly trying to regain her balance) My point exactly.

--- his slaves come forward ----

Jaeger: Bath her. If she troubles you, beat her.

Arissa: (clenches her teeth)

Miadon: (an older man, takes her arm) Come with me

Arissa: (following along, hoping Jaeger will leave)

Miadon: (leads her down a small stairway below the ground level, there is a pool of water there, with a bubbling spring in it)

Miadon: (starts trying to pull her clothing off)

Arissa: (swallows back a rise of panic, wondering how he knows all the things that unsettle her the most....not even being able to remember the last time she undressed in front of anyone...disgusted by her scarred body)

Arissa: (jerks back)

Miadon: If you don't. .he'll only come do it himself. And beat us both

Arissa: (purses her lips, looking up at him)

Miadon: (nudging her toward the pool)

Arissa: (walking slowly towards the pool) I can bathe myself properly, can you not turn around..

Miadon: No I cannot.

Arissa: There is but one door, it is not as if I can go anywhere..

Miadon: Do not fear. I am old and have no desire for women any longer

Arissa: You would not have desire for me even if you were not old...(pretty confident that her scars would repulse anyone)

Arissa: (slowly unbuttons her shirt, closing her eyes and telling herself to just get it over with)  ((what do you care if they see your scars...they are the enemy....there is noone here you need to impress))

Miadon: (looks bored)

Arissa: (wishing, for once, that she had not kept her hair so short...it only falling slightly below her shoulders, not covering much as she slips out of her oversized shirt and starts tugging on the laces to her pants)

Miadon: I recommend haste.

Arissa: (growls) Then you should of turned around.  (quickly sliding her pants down, then slipping into the water without missing a beat)  ((I hate being naked....hate being naked...HATE being naked..)) 

--- boots on the stairs ---

Jaeger: (enters the dim room, shrugging off his cloak)

Arissa: (sinks lower into the water, eyes on the door as he walks in)

Jaeger: (sits on the raised edge of the spring fed pool and stretches out his long legs to let Miadon remove his boots)

Arissa: (moves to the far corner of the pool away from him)

Jaeger: What do you think, Miadon.... Shall I lacerate her virtue right here and now? Or shall I let her agonize on it a little longer.

Arissa: (staying silent, trying to seem unphased and uncaring, her eyes moving over to Miadon)

Miadon: Whatever is your wish, Master.

Miadon: (removes his boots)

Jaeger: (rises, shrugging out of his shirt)

Jaeger: (unlaces his pants and drops them)

Arissa: (opening her mouth to speak, then snapping it shut again, just watching him disrobe)

Jaeger: (strips naked and steps into the pool, sinking down under the water leaving nothing behind but a ripple on the surface and a few bubbles)

Arissa: (her back pressed back against the cool stone opposite of him, eyes wary, wondering why she isn't screaming....but knowing it would do no good and he would probably enjoy it)

Jaeger: (surfaces, his hair wet and shining black, slicked against his head, long wet tendrils curling on his shoulders)

Jaeger: (looks across the pool at her) Let us begin.............