Give Me Liberty..

[Aspen Wynfrid]

The Wynfrid woman sat in her usual place on the hardwood floor; just in front of the doorway leading into the room that had been her prison for.. How long had it been again? She really had lost count of the days. Before, she’d only been a day or so off, she was sure of that. But now, it all blurred together, feeling like it would never end.

Sitting with her back straight, chin lifted slightly with eyes closed, she pressed the bottoms of her bare feet gently into one another, her hands resting over them as if she were trying to keep them warm. Silent affirmations were chanted in her head, only every so often being spoken impossibly softly into the stillness. Despite the anxious and borderline psychopathic wreck she’d been in since her first encounter with the Dragon, she was now strikingly calm.

The dark green tunic the Dragon had so graciously given was replaced by the fur-lined leathers she'd arrived in. She'd taken to carefully folding the tunic and placing it on the neatly made bed behind her. A small fire still crackled and burned, but since the firewood had finally run out, she knew that meant someone would soon be returning to the cabin. For perhaps the first time since she’d arrived here, she actually hoped it would be Lorcan Drach . Not because of some twisted romantic fantasy or compassion, no. She had a proposition; a final plea for her freedom.

Aspen had spent the first week at war with herself, questioning why she hadn’t fought harder or did more to try to escape. As if that wasn’t traitorous enough to her people, there was also the matter of that kiss. She hadn’t fought the Drach then either. She’d given in so easily, like a lovesick puppy. That was definitely traitorous to her people. So was every word she spoke to the Dragon about her clan. She’d betrayed them and for what? The off-chance that Kaige Drach’s son would keep to his word? The fact that she’d gotten herself into the situation was an entirely different matter. Even as daughter to the Wynfrid Chieftain, she’d never once expected her people nor her father to get her out of her messes. This time, she didn’t have any choice but to get herself out. If anyone in her clan found out - if her father found out - it would be her head. Literally. At this point, she’d be considered as nothing more than a walking liability.

Taking a deep breath, she released it on a long sigh, clearing her mind again and returning to her affirmations, bright blue eyes opening slowly to peer through the space as she waited patiently. Logic and reason were now in control, emotion being locked away someplace deep so that it could no longer interfere with her clarity. Even when she heard the footsteps outside, the door opening soon after, Aspen did not falter in her affirmations. Instead, she closed her eyes again, deciding to soak up the last few moments she had in isolation until her visitor appeared before her. For once, just this once, she had to keep her head.

[Lorcan Drach]

What had blurred together for the wolf, had only been a few days since his last visit. It should have been Jayna and Turin coming, but instead, Lorcan had taken the chance. A dangerous chance at that. Each time he came out here, he risked his father noticing his absence. He put his brother in danger of another possible beating, and he put their very lives in danger at the chance of someone getting curious enough to follow them. If anyone noticed that is.

It was hard to ignore the second in command though wasn’t it? And yet, Aspen Wynfried had quickly become a risk Lorcan was willing to take. He needed to speak with her. To figure out some sort of plan to prevent a war, that currently was going to be inevitable. How many lives would have to be lost before Kaige Drach was stopped? What Lorcan dreaded to think about, was which lives would be lost.

In the days that had followed since his last meeting with the wolf, he’d had time to think. To speak things over with Turin and get his opinion. The conclusion that Lorcan kept coming too, was this was their chance. A possible chance to finally put an end to the tyranny that was their father. Of course, it would be a risk, but it was a risk they needed to go out on a limb on. Lorcan had even asked Jayna her opinion. If he was serious about ensuring her freedom as well, he needed to include her. She would have a large role to play even if he hated putting her in the situation…

As the cabin came into view, Lorcan dismounted. Taking the reins and tying the horse up, he retrieved some firewood and then received the cloth bag that had the food rations in it. He unlocked the door and entered. Kicking the door shut before, walking down the hallway. His eyes flickered down to see Aspen sitting on the floor, looking like she was either sleeping sitting up, or in some form of meditation. He didn’t say anything, rather he dumped the food sack in her lap unceremoniously as he walked by, dropping the replacement firewood into the wood box.

He didn’t say anything, rather finding the furthest corner in the room and leaning his shoulder against the wall. Crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at her, trying not to think about the last time he was here and that kiss. It was best to not draw any attention to it, and pretend it hadn’t happened. It was better that way. They might be shifting from enemies to allies, but it was a tentative relationship. The kiss and doing anything more would just further complicate things.

[Aspen Wynfrid]

As the footsteps made their way down the hall, her eyes opened just as the cloth sack was tossed into her lap. She heaved her annoyance in a loud sigh and took a moment before rising to her feet, food in hand. With an outstretched arm, she dropped it onto the bed next to the tunic, bright blues narrowed as they locked onto the Dragon.

Her gaze did not falter from his, expression empty as she crossed her arms across her chest. “No Jayna?” She asked sarcastically, clearly not expecting - or needing - an answer. “What is it you want, then?” She asked pointedly. “The only time you don’t turn on your heel and leave immediately is when there’s something you want.”

She hadn’t been quite so straight-forward with him until now. There was no beating around the bush, no colorful euphemisms or metaphors; it was straight to the chase. More like the Wolf the Dragon had first encountered, even if all of the twisted humor was gone. Aspen was done with this. One way or another, she would not be locked inside this damned cabin. A grave sounded much more appealing.

“Perhaps before we get to whatever it is you’ve come here for, we can get to this.” She stated after a few quiet moments, outstretching her chained ankle and freeing a hand to motion towards it. She moved to sit on the bed’s wooden footboard, crossing her ankles, unchained over chained. Clasping her hands into her lap, there was the hint of a glare in her eyes as she waited to see if she’d get any response at all out of him.