Post by Soleil on Nov 6, 2008 0:22:50 GMT -5
Thais had not been to far off when he heard the cries of his beloved but why? What was going on? By the time he'd reached the edge of the forest he could see a group of men basically dragging her down the docks and he rushed forward.. Keeping low and out of site, his cloak and lack of high class clothing earned him easy cover within the darkness of the night. He leapt from the docks just close enough to reach out and grasp hold of a loose board. It gave, however quicker movements earned him the steady grip of the net against the side of the ship..- "What was that sound?" -He could hear a couple shipmates talking amongst themselves while peering over the edge. His dark brownish-black cloak allowed him to blend almost perfectly against the side of the ship...For now he'd cling to the side, high enough on the ship the water couldn't reach however low enough they'd not be able to spot him easily without him moving... Here he would wait for the opportune moment to board..
Alexandria was devastated. What would happen to Avalendor without her there? Without a successor or someone to take over things, unless Orin took it upon himself to watch things for her. She was scared. The men had left her there in the dark room. It smelled funny and she could not see anything--that scared her more. The door had been slammed shut and she heard a lock click from outside. She listened to the footsteps echo outside the room until she was surrounded by complete silence. It was then that Alexandria began to cry. Her knees were drawn up to her chest and her face was placed into her hands and rested down upon her knees. She cried quietly, though her sobs echoed through the room.
Minutes passed and soon a half hour came and gone..His arms were growing weak and the men were starting to calm down and some if not two thirds were heading bellow deck to rest..He shifted and winced, his right arm had fallen asleep giving a soft crack of protest from being moved after kept in one potion for so long.. He paused, when he heard nothing he continued on..He could hear her now, the sound soft of her sobs muffled by the thick boards that built the ship.. He moved sideways towards the front of the ship and paused at the point the sobbing sounded the loudest... A soft whistle would escape his lips, one that sounded much like that of a robin, or blue jay. The familiar tune used by rangers as a code, a tune and code he'd made sure both his men and Avalendor's knew well.. A tune she'd grown used to most likely when wandering in the forest. He paused and waited, ducking down more against the side of the ship when he heard footsteps and a shadow pass by. A few more precious moments past and he whistled again though sound and distant, loud against the boards so she'd be able to hear him.. He ducked again when he heard a voice.. Talking about a bird trapped on the ship somewhere.. He then moved to get away from the area so his cover would not be blown.. It wasn't till the far back of the ship he would finally climb aboard the ship and duck down into the supply cargo ...If she'd heard him, oh he hoped she had...At least now she'd know she wasn't alone as she may have thought..Her forest guard was still there, still protecting her even if he was at a distance..He was on the ship and hell would break loose if anyone tried to harm her..
Alexandria, since she knew Thais, had learned to keep her ears open when her eyes did not tell her everything. It was a skill she was slowly beginning to pick up, and at the sound of the whistling, she quickly stopped sobbing and lifted her face from her hands and looked up towards the deck. Thais. He had followed them. She smiled in the darkness, knowing that he was there for her and was not letting her go to where she was going alone. What she knew, was that Saelis was behind all of this, and it was not good. It was what she had feared since they left the old Kingdom. They found out where they were and now she would be put to death. She knew this would be her fate. They had warned her many times that if she did not marry, or ran away, that war would arise for Avalendor and she would be put to death. But who had told them where Avalendor settled now?
He would remain here for the time being, well hidden, out of site and out of mind.. What would he do? Who knows, for now he just waited silently for the ship to dock.. It'd been quite some time since he'd hidden from people and spied.. It brought back memories of his childhood that only earned a faint smile that none could see.. He'd finally drift off to rest for now, though ever so light of sleep every wave of shift of footsteps he was wide awake again... How he could manage such? This was definitely not training he was actually that worried and that easy to set off.. Surrounded by the enemy none would be able to sleep all that well if at all...
It would seem like hours before the ship finally slowed down and stopped. Alexandria had grown restless and fell asleep, though she too would wake at every foot step, every shout that could be heard through the walls or ceiling of the room. When she heard the footsteps come towards the door, she quickly lifted her head and became alert. She silently waited until the door opened and sun light spilt in. It must have been five hours that they had been sailing, because they had captured her around one or two in the morning. She squinted and cringed as she heard the men yell at her. "Get up, Queenie." Alexandria slowly stood up, but the man walked over towards her and grabbed her arm, yanking her up. She let out a small cry and then spoke. "Let go of me! Let me go." The man yelled then, slapping her across the face. "Do not speak here. You are wanted to be seen and your life will be taken." The man grabbed her arm again and pulled her, bringing her out of the room. He dragged her down the hall of the ship and back onto the deck where a large number of men were standing around waiting and talking plans for what they would need to do.
His eyes narrowed almost instantly when he heard those few words towards the end.. He wasn't going to wait much longer. He stood with his hand against resting against the hilt of his sword. Moving amongst them as if he were one of them himself. Brushing past the man to her right forcing him to hold back on the ship and would replace him with a firm grasp of her arm so nothing looked out of place..However just by the naturally loosened grip she'd know it was him. He would continue this way for a certain amount of time, again waiting for the opportune moment..
Alexandria showed no emotion to the man as he spoke to her. When she felt the other man come up behind her and grab her other arm, she felt how different the grip was from the other man's. She slowly lifted her eyes to glance at him, though he was in disguise, and she could not recognize him, there was a familiarity in him. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly and she quickly looked away. The man on her other side spoke to Thais. "Thanks for your help, though I don't need help with this one. She's a weak one, I can handle her with one arm tied behind my back." He laughed slightly and Alexandria narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke. "You don't know me too well then." The guy laughed again and shook his head. "I told you not to speak!" When they arrived at the deck of the ship, he barked out an order. "Are the boats ready?" She knew that meant the ship could not get close enough to land and they would travel the rest of the way in boats that would carry them towards the shore. They were in Saelis, she just knew it. Her eyes moved down to her feet and she silently panicked. This was not good. Not at all. She just wanted to go back to Avalendor now.
"Ah but if you could handle her than how come you needed help with the snitch?" -He answered in a rugged, sarcastic tone that didn't sound anything like him at all...He sounded no less nor more than a brute sailor hired no doubt for the pure pleasure of killing and taking the lives of innocent men, women and even children...One could be amaze how many different tones the man could come up with, yet he held this one almost perfectly...Almost as if he'd done it before? Such a voice that struck fear into the mean nearby causing them to second guess wanting to get in the smaller boat with the man. He waited till the other was down in the boat and would ease her down into it with him, then climb down himself. He'd not make any move till shore..He couldn't afford a boat battle and on shore she was less likely to get hurt...
The man's voice discouraged her from thinking that he was Thais, though she did not let the idea slip from her mind. She was quiet the rest of the time as she was lowered into the boat and she sat down, nervously fidgeting as she did not want to touch foot upon the land. It all worried her, and she worried about Avalendor and what would happen to all of her people. Sapphire eyes remained on the man and she studied him. She wondered what his face looked like, as it was covered by his cloak and his face was completely shaded. He wore his hood just as she had seen Thais wear his a few times. The boat hit ground finally and the men poured out of the boat. Another man grabbed her arm and ripped her out of the boat, throwing her pretty much down into the water. She was soaked now and tired. The man picked her up again and dragged her towards the shore.
It was then when Thais struck and fought to get Alexandria freed. He yelled out to her to run and take cover in the Forest and continued to fight, giving her enough time to escape and run off to hide.
She was surprised when Thais began to fight the men that had been on the boat with them. She knew it was him the moment he lifted her out of the way and began fighting them. When he ordered her to run and find cover, she did just that, hoping Thais would be alright. She would not be able to defend him, she had no weapon or strength against all of the men. She did not wander too far, however. She ran into the forest and hid behind a large brush of leaves and twigs. She listened and could watch from where she was. The other boats quickly noticed the situation on the land and worked harder at rowing to get towards the shore to help and capture the man that seemed to be in favor of the queen. They all began yelling and soon poured out of the boats even before they reached land. It wouldn't be long before all the men were on land and they were able to capture Thais. Alexandria sighed quietly, worrying now for him. He, sure enough, would suffer the same fate she had here. She watched as the men parted, half moving to go look for her, while the others carried Thais towards a building she knew to be the dungeons.
Of course he hadn't been captured easily. It wasn't till he was surrounded and seen no way to escape the fight was futile and he was taken... The sword left behind unless someone picked it up, the bow and quiver had been lost in the struggle.. It wasn't till he was finally knocked unconscious from a small log to the back of the head he fell limp and was carried the rest of the way.. A thin line of warm blood oozed down the back of his neck hidden by his clothing. Tossed in the dungeons rather he was shackled or not he didn't know..The only and finally thought that went through his mind was Alexandria had been freed and he hoped against all odds she'd make it...Or at least stay hidden till he could get free and find her..
On top of what Thais had taught her, Alexandria had experience with hiding and running away. Her and Orin had done it for a while after having to leave their parents behind. She remained quiet, hidden behind the brushes of leaves and watched as the men passed right by her. She did not make a sound, not until they were out of view and she could no longer hear them moving or talking. She and Thais needed to get out of here. She would not let them kill him just as he wouldn't let them kill her. He had risked his life for hers and she would do the same for him. She waited until everything seemed clear before she got up and moved towards the shore where she had seen him drop his sword. They had left it there. She leaned down and picked it up before she covered her head with her cloak and moved towards the dungeons, quietly and sneakily, making no noise as Thais had shown her so many times.
He lay silently, motionlessly upon the cool damp floor of the dungeons.. Where he was, was unknown to him, it would be a good ten or twenty minutes before he'd even start to stir, they'd hit him pretty hard. His head the throbbing and the room spun for a few moments. Turning he leaned back against the wall, the sound of shifting chains revealed to him he'd been captured and shackled...Chained to the floor like a dog.. At least he still had his full attire, which was the least he could say for the others he heard not far from him groaning and moaning about pains or lack of food..Either or he cared not to listen in enough to find out which was the cause.. The room stopped spinning and he opened his eyes to gaze into the dimly lit dungeons, there had to be a way out of here.. However it was much more complex than Avalendor's dungeons..He searched the floor for a bone or something he could break and use for a lock pick when he heard the sound of keys banging against someone's thigh, and the sound of footsteps growing near..Someone was coming and for what who knows..
The guard moved towards Thais, standing in front of him, with a deathly glare. He questioned him of who he was and where the queen had run off to, as if it would be that easy.
Alexandria had moved towards the window of the dungeon building and glanced through the window. Only walls could be seen and she knew then that it was underground. She frowned but listened as she heard the man's voice echo through the walls.
Thais hardly gave the man any of the answers he wanted. "I will take her secret to the grave before I'd speak a word to such filth as you.." -He emphasized 'filth' and 'you' with mocking grace...His features remaining emotionless.. His arms held straight by the tense shackles attached to rings in the floor, he couldn't throw a punch if he wanted to...
The man narrowed his eyes at Thais as he spoke and finally when he was done, he lashed out and smacked him across the face before he lashed out with his words. "If you do not tell me, the fate of you and the queen will be far worse if she is found." The man moved away from him and began to leave the dungeon room leaving him alone once again. He needed to put together a search party now to find the queen and throw her in the dungeon with the others. He was grumpy and not in a good mood now. Alexandria heard what was said and she closed her eyes, sad and upset all of this was happening. Thais did not deserve this. He was just trying to save her and care for her and she appreciated that. But she would not let them kill him because of her. She slowly moved, keeping herself hidden and silent so she would not be caught.
A slow yet sadistic grin would slowly form upon emotionless features...Such that made him look darker than he already had sounded earlier on the ship.. His grin broadened when the man stepped forward, ah yes, closer...just a little closer...It was then he felt the vague sting of the weak slap across his face. His head barely moved if at all, the most he did was close his eyes momentarily..As the man turned Thais ducked back down to the floor enough for the chains to give a bit of leeway enough from him to lunge out and trip the man so he'd land hard on his face or stumble hard against the bars of his cell. Either of the chain connected to the shackle around his right ankle had twisted to wrap around the man's leg and pull him back towards him as Thais stood. Moving back down to straddle the man's back and force him down against the cold floor hard.. The chain connected to the shackle of his right wrist was wrapped around the mans throat enough to cut off his air supply but not prevent him from barking orders...- "My isn't this a turn of events.." -There was that deep mocking voice of the ship again. That same voice that sent a shiver down some of the men's, backs to cause them to second guess their actions for their own safety..- "Order him to unlock my chains or I'll snap your neck like a twig.." -He growled forcibly and tightened the chain to show he wasn't joking. Never turn your back on an experienced military man...
Alexandria could hear the commotion and she rushed towards the entrance of the dungeon, keeping herself disguised. The door to the dungeon had been left open and she snuck inside. It was then that she saw Thais with the guard pin downed and choked by the chains. She rushed over towards them and leaned down, grabbing the keys at the man's waist. Thais' sword had been held out to stop any of the other men from coming near her, though they quickly moved in after her. She held the sword up as she grabbed the keys and stood up. "My guard and I do not belong here. We are leaving now. If any of you try to stop us, your heads will roll to the floor." The men continued to move closer towards here. There were only three of them, and they laughed at her words. Alexandria slowly backed away, moving down towards Thais where she began to unlock the chains from him, freeing him.
Once he was freed he stood and pulled the man to his feet to use as a hostage, his free hand moved to gently take his sword from Alexandria.. He growled again in the same low, deep voice..- "She won't but I will and I have no problem gutting you all alive.. One -- by -- one.." - He said the last three slowly enough each word earned a flinch and they would finally back off. The sword tip was placed against the center of the mans back as he used the chain around his throat to keep him there and keep him from trying anything. He pushed them slowly from the cell and waited till she was behind him to watch his back till he'd back towards the entrance..- "You follow us and I swear on pain of death you with suffer the worse death ever administered by mortals.." -Meaning it'd be worse that being tortured to death and he'd most likely make sure they lived through it.- "There are worse things then death.." As soon as they reached the entrance he forced the sword through the gut of the man then let go of the chain to push the man off the now bloody sword. He turned then and gently grasped Alexandria's wrist with his free hand to lead her away as fast as he could into the cover of the forests..
Alexandria was startled by the viciousness of Thais. She had known him to be so gentle and caring with all the times she had spent with him, but he seemed to be a very dangerous and brutal man that it even sent shivers down her spine. She watched him until he stabbed the man with his sword. She flinched but moved quickly as he grabbed her wrist and moved out of the dungeon and towards the forest. She did not say a word until they were out of sight from any that were on the land. Though she could hear in the far distance, men screaming and giving orders. They were going to come looking for them. Alexandria sat quietly, catching her breath. She looked tired and worried and stressed out over all of this, why wouldn't she? She clung to Thais, burying her face into his chest. "Thais. . . Thank god for you. Thank you for following and risking your life to stay with me..." She caught her breath and lifted her face, her eyes staring right into his before she brought her lips to his and kissed him, grateful for everything he had done for her. "We need to get out of here. . . They're going to kill the both of us if they find us. . . These are the people that I was afraid of finding me for leaving the old kingdom and not marrying that man I was going to be forced to marry. They have plans of killing me for not doing as they wished me to... And you should not suffer for something that is my fault." She stared at him still, her eyes never leaving his as she spoke to him, her tone and her expressions showing nothing but worry and concern.