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 Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:29 pm
What happened to the days I sang in the meadows, serenading the clear blue sky, spinning and spinning until I fell down into the sun-soaked grass at the end of my melody, inhaling the wistful scent of the sleepy wildflowers..?
All I can smell now is blood....all I can hear now are the dying screams of men and women, the shrieks of swords as they meet each other in fierce assault, the conjuring of magics which incinerate and ravage. Another flame of life snuffed out. And through it all, I sing.
In the middle of the battle, the bloodshed, the vile encumbrance that is war, I raise my voice to the heavens, and sing, harmonizing with the oldest and strongest spirits who live in the veins of our world. My song rouses them from their sleep, and they do my bidding, so long as I continue singing.
I don't want to do this anymore. Why do they not release me as promised...? But then, I realized, finally...They will never release their caged songbird who pushes forth their victories.
[][][]
A cage, a gilded cage. Her chamber was in the palace, just like if she were a princess, but if she were to take two steps out of the palace grounds, she would be slain, or left to die in the dungeon. She knew this well, and was often reminded of what fate would await her, should she choose to attempt to flee, or to disobey. Raising odd inquiries also ensured her a visit to the dungeon, for several hours to several days. A hard reminder of the life that was her current reality, and a punishment she despised, for it was often that a prisoner of war would recognize her from the bloody fields of war, and chastise her until they could breathe their harsh words out no more.
She couldn't help it, though. She was gifted, that much was true, but against the piercing of steel, even she could not continue singing to give life to her summons. She couldn't save herself from this fate, and she was a coward for it.
The feelings caused her to journey down into the dungeon on multiple occasions, singing a soft hymn for those imprisoned, awaiting torture or death, or dying. It was all she could do. Even she knew that many of them were not strong enough for escape, even if she did let them out. She couldn't bear the thought of worsening their fate more than she already had.
It was on such a night that she traipsed into the dank and darkness of the prisons, airily singing a gentle, bittersweet lullaby, as she often did lately, but something was different. The harmonics of the prison had changed, how? Ahh...
Myuria paused her hymn as her pale cerulean eyes fell upon the two newest occupants of the prison. Both held a regal air, a semblance that demanded respect or fear. She felt a little bit of both as she quietly exchanged her stare between the two of them. Around the palace, she often held her tongue, her only words within her songs, but now she spoke on a whim, with a voice delicate and gentle, shimmering, if a voice could shimmer.
"You don't belong in there now, do you?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:30 pm
What had began with rage had slowly simmered down to shame and embarrassment and the urge to get out.
A thousand telltale warnings before he'd fallen into a trap, or not so much a trap, but had been found by an unsuspecting
enemy. Of course the door would be guarded. Of course the enemy would find him. Why hadn't he stuck to the plan of
getting in and Haveni out? Foolish dreamer, idiotic thief, the names he called himself but never voiced. His balefully bright
eyes slid to his pale half-brother across the cell, never calling out but observing the emotionless face. He still hated his
brother, but it was a flimsy displeasure compared to the hate he felt for the kingdom who trapped them now.
He wanted to tear the b*****d limb from limb. Or, the b*****d and the damnable guards. His blood boiled to have them
beheaded, or perhaps snap their necks like twigs.
If only... well, there was little point in 'if only's. He had already knew a way out, but it was a question of whatever they
both had enough power between them to survive the way out. However, each time Seir's thoughts lead to the one of
escaping, their captor had returned with taunting quips and interrogating questions. And the weapons that had been spilt
quite a bit of their blood-- some his, most his brother's. His gaze slid towards the floor, where faintly glowing cyan blood
slid through the little cracks and niches. It was a little bit disturbing in a manner.
How long was it until Erei's next visit?
It was due any time now... His train of thought slid towards Haveni. Was she dead? He'd felt a flare of evil, an evil that flitted
and dug into his skin and bones, and then it had gone. Seir could only guess what had happened outside...
...other than a massive battle for the sake of survival.
Aeos kept his eyes trained upon a particular spot amidst all the darkness, where a sliver of light brightened the shadows. His
thoughts strayed elsewhere, not even bothering to think about the aching wounds where skin had been sliced and forced to
bleed. He was silent, as always, because he couldn't think of anything to say. It was, after all, a bleak situation. The ice
constellation had never been that much of an optimist, and it was no different now.
Sometimes he wished the best for the group he'd recently traveled with. He hoped Haveni was still alive, and perhaps-- Noctis
be with her. Rosel... welll, he wasn't sure what he wished of her. Aeos couldn't tell what would make her happy, other than
destruction and mayhem and entertainment. Temporary amusements, he mused, but not permanent happiness. These thoughts were a lot better than what he could think about-- a public execution.
An nice example they would display that there was no hope for rebellions... Ah.. steps. His head turned slightly to listen to the
soft steps against the cold stone. They were too light to be Erei's, the name he'd learned from Seir one night when his sibling
was feeling particularly talkative.
The constellation had been a betrayer, a leader that had taken to leading a troop of invaders into the streets to slaughter And
then there had been a song... Funny, how there was one being sung now and it could no way be Erei. He lifted a cool
towards the woman who'd stepped in. She was a pretty little thing with a slim waist and long trailing pink hair. The blues in it
was a lovely shade, and he could recognize the same shade in the girl's eyes.
Seir could also recognize one of the main weapons being used to defeat him in no time flat.
He'd been sitting in the dark for some time, muted, but a flare of fury seemed to light a pattern over his face like a smear of
glitter despite dimming ack to darkness the next moment. "We wouldn't belong here if it weren't for you," his voice was softly
cold, regal as she put it. He still remembered the tones and way of talking that brimmed with royalty. "The king's weapon-- the
songstress, aren't you?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:22 pm
"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."
The words made her cringe and flinch back, as if he had tossed hot coals at her. The pain of that realization hit her at once, and she brought both of her hands to grip each other in front of her waist, her head lowering slightly. She was used to such accusations, but the cornucopia of them did not make them hurt any less. Each time was like a whip across her back.
It was true. She had been especially used to neutralize him, because hers was an ability he could absorb, but never utilize, and it had been excruciatingly effective, as it always had been. What was a throng of men against an ethereal beast summoned from some other plane, fueled by the melody of her song? As long as she was protected, nothing could damage the summon; and her ability was nigh unstoppable.
The fury upon Seir's face was like a gripping vice on her throat. It marred her deep somehow, even more so when her eyes slid from beneath her bangs to his brother, bleeding and maimed.
"If you need a name to curse...Myuria." she breathed softly. "I am that which you say." She could say she was sorry. Her eyes could well with tears, and she could plead for forgiveness in sobbing wails, but she knew from the bottom of her heart that would only enrage the brothers. She knew they wouldn't care why she continued doing what she did, even if her purpose had originally been noble, to save the lives of those in her rural village. Should she kill herself, they would kill those who resided in that village. Should she fail to do her duty to the king, she would be killed, and they also would join her in death. But she knew the brothers would not care. All they cared was that because of her, they now faced torture and their own mortality...Just like many others who had been before her in the painful symphony of war.
Heavy steps sounded down the stairs - several guards. In their clutches was a weak-looking little peasant man, who was violently disposed of into a cell, sobbing. One of them laid a rough hand upon Myuria on their way out, jerking her around like a rag doll.
"What'r you doin' down 'ere? Achin' to go back in yer cell, are ye? 'Kin be arranged, if ye ask polite-like, heh!" he roughly released her, sending her toppling backwards several steps, until she caught her balance against the cold stone of the wall, where she stayed until the two guards had left, laughing incomprehensibly about something sordid.
Into the dim light in front of their cell she returned, quiet, tentatively rubbing where she had been man-handled. The guard had left bruises from the metal of his gauntlets - something that happened often, really. The king favored her as his precious weapon, and treated her as such, but was apt to easily punish her, and the guards of course delighted in abusing the power they had. What little of it there was, anyways.
Myuria calmly shifted her gaze back to the brothers, taking the bitterness that seemed to radiate from them for her, before smiling kindly. Something really did feel different about them, though. They did not seem like they would easily be crushed should they have the opportunity to escape. Perhaps even, if she risked it..if she helped them, they might help her save her village, too?
Delicate hands unwound the thin scarf that decorated her neck, and she undauntedly stepped forward, close to the bars of the cell, and reached her arm through, extending the make-shift bandage to Aeos. "Please accept it, to stop your bleeding."
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 3:27 pm
Aeos peered up at Myuria through strands of pale hair, studying and making mental observations. It was a better
action than lamenting over his wounds. They were his own fault anyway. Whatever sense of duty he had made
him bring Seir's punishment down to himself. He shook his head, attention swiveling sharply back to Myuria. The
girl looked hurt at the accusation, as though she had no part in what Seir had accused her of doing. Except, it
could have just as easily have been a look of guilt, which worked better with Seir's accusation.
And, a moment later, she affirmed the claim with her voice ladden with guilt. The girl had been one of those that
had brought the strict rule of the new king to their peaceful kingdom.
He lowered his head slightly, not allowing the bitter twist in his stomach to show on his face. At least she had not
tried to taunt them, or tried to fool them with tears and apologies. Those were the things Seir would have tolerated.
The thief hated it when anyone decided to use tears as a weapon; he would have sooner pierced the eyes with
the very water they leaked than be swayed. Aeos himself had no particular opinion, just that he did not enjoy
watching anyone cry-- at least, cry honestly.
His head turned as the guards came into view, dragging a peasant. It had been years since Aeos had been in their
city so he did not recognize the man. Still, he turned his eyes away, 'lest he be recognized. Attention turning back
towards Myuria, Aeos watched as the guards taunted and tossed her away like a rag doll. If it was some sort of
display to trick them into revealing too much, the act was realistic and made a piece of his heart react with a
painful twinge.
Turning towards Seir, he already saw the analystic calculations running through his half-brother's expression,
which revealed little but a thousand words for himself. He looked back at Myuria again, surprised by the kind smile
she displayed despite the ongoings just minutes before. Was that a sliver of hope in her eyes? "My lady..."
"Do you already trust the girl simply because of that display?" Seir murmured, voice soft and cold. He peered at
Myuria with a range of suspicion, looking from her down to the outstretched arm with the make-shift bandages,
once a scarf. "I don't trust her," he gritted his teeth, showing a flash of white fangs. "Besides, don't you think it'd be
quite obvious someone's aiding us if we suddenly have bandages to wrap our wounds?"
Violate and angry, the male pressed her hand back away from the cell. "Your decorations are hardly worth the
new pain our captor will do if he finds out the king's weapon is aiding us," he sneered.
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:05 pm
Refused.
Myuria's smile melted from her face, showing much revered sadness that swam in her still dry eyes. Her arm slowly retracted with the scarf, until hanging limply at her side. What was she thinking, anyways? Speaking to them, let alone attempting to somehow ease the pain of their wounds. A smile, smaller and more fragile than before lightened upon her lips.
"If they found out I was helping you, I would be punished greatly as well. I don't need hands to sing, or eyes. If my actions were so grave, I also would be put into a grave." Even saying that, however, she knelt down, placing the scarf at the base of the bars, in reach of either of them, before turning on her heel, and making her way up the steps.
The moment she began to walk away, she had begun to softly lull out a hymn again; her only solace in this kingdom, even if it was her lullaby that made her into a weapon.
[][][]
Several days had passed since Myuria had gone to the prison. In each of those days, she had stayed in her chambers, laying upon her floor as if dead, her eyes locked on her ceiling, a small song coming from her as she thought about the two prisoners she had recently come across in there.
It was often she thought of those imprisoned because of her, but rare that their faces, voices, and persons stayed in her thoughts for so long. They had left some mark on her, that made her unable to pull her thoughts away from them.
Sometime later, the sound of delicate, careful steps echoed in the darkness of the dungeon. Myuria had returned, carrying a small sack with her, and now she peered silently into the cell the brothers were in. Were they asleep? She couldn't tell, but she spoke softly to them anyways, as she knelt to unravel the sack, pulling out several parcels of food including two halves of a load of bread, a few slices of salted pork, and some cheese, and pushed the entree into the cell.
It pained her in such a strange way, like the first time she had been used as a weapon. Oh, how she had cried and cried for days, weeks. It had shaken the foundations of her existence, but it was then that she stopped being able to cry. Even now, even if she wanted to. The tears would never come.
"I brought food...and this." she also had a small bottle of healing salve, given to her by one of the castle staff who did have some shred of care in their bodies. "They shouldn't notice that salve has been applied to your wounds. You'll need to keep your strength up, please, eat."
Why did she risk it? She knew they were serious about cutting off her hands, or removing her eyes..imprisoning her to near-death. She knew they would do it. She risked much helping the brothers, and yet, with all her heart, she wanted to.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 10:51 am
As expected, the girl did not return the next day.
It was hardly surprising since she could have easily been trying to manipulate them into giving her their secrets.
Since they'd shown no interest in befriending her, Myuria, or whatever her name was if she wasn't telling the truth,
had merely given up. Seir's gaze flitted towards Aeos, watching the slightly labored breaths. Erei hadn't held back
this time; after all, they were both set to die. No need to be light about punishments.
He wondered also if Erei planned to starve them. Surely, the king wouldn't want his predecessors sitting in his
dungeons where they could possibly cause a revolt. What better way than to slowly deprive them of nourishment?
What better way would it be to see someone so high and mighty beg for mere morsels of food? Not that he or
Aeos would—both of them were far too proud to beg.
Shaking his head, Seir eyed the dimly glowing blood seeping into the cracks. So odd, so different from the
normal… It was the only proof of royal blood, yet there was no one but him to acknowledge it. “Wake up,” he told
his brother, never speaking of the fear that the other constellation would cease to wake one day or night from their
captors’ torment. “If you die, I’ll be next—what kind of protector would you be then?”
Aeos opened his eyes at Seir’s voice, mouth pressing into a thin line as he listened to his brother speak. Really,
was that all he was afraid of? Giving a soft cough, the winged constellation straightened, shifting into a more
comfortable position—except it jostled his wounds and caused him to wince. Perhaps some of them were infected
because of the poor conditions of the dungeons, but there wasn’t that to worry about…
Every day, he was getting weaker. If they ever planned to escape, slowly the chances were diminishing.
“There isn’t anything good to wake up to,” Aeos remarked softly, deciding not to comment further. His attention
pricked as he heard the telltale footsteps, too soft to be Erei or any of the guards. Was it Myuria again? He wasn’t
too disinclined to believe it, as he’d always been slightly more optimistic than his sibling. The ice constellation
watched silently as she unraveled her pack, surprise flitting briefly over his normally impassive features as his eyes
slid over the parcels of food and whatnot.
“No one knows of what you’re doing?” He asked, a flicker of nervousness touching his tone. “I would not be disinclined
the offer of food and healing.” His gaze shifted towards Seir; neither had eaten in a while so the food
was a tempting offer.
Seir felt surprised and mildly amazed. If she were lying and the food were poisoned, then their lives would end
here. Except, except… Erei didn’t seem like the type to end it quick and easy. No, the girl seemed genuine… or
perhaps his thoughts were just muddled from the lack of food.
“… We’ll accept them,” Seir murmured softly. And haunt you and a dozen other people if you’re lying.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 11:12 am
Her stomach seemed to knot and twist as her eyes fell upon the worsening wounds on Aeos. Guilt wracked her, as if she had been the one delivering those blows, and she bit down on her lower lip as she passed the food she had collected through the bars. At least there were no other prisoners in the cells tonight, she had been sure they'd cause a riot at what she did.
Myuria remained silent for a moment, watching them eat, and when Aeos had turned his back to her slightly, she reached through the bars, her fingers gently applying the healing salve on the wounds upon his wings and his backside. For being a weapon of war, she had an extremely gentle touch, her fingers warm from the salve, though they cooled slightly as she pressed them against his chilly skin. She found herself idly stroking her fingertips against parts of his uninjured wings, as if admiring the softness of the feathers.
She finally passed the small bottle into the cell as well, so Aeos could apply it to the wounds he could reach, unsure if someone even in his state would be comfortable with a girl he had only just met rubbing her fingers all across his body.
"They won't bother you for at least a few days. I know they're gone to another kingdom right now, signing a peace treaty, I believe." she seemed to scoff, her eyes flicking to the ground as a foreboding shadow seemed to cross their aqua hues. "I think you and I both know that is a farce, and what their true intentions are, so...." she again chewed her lip. "I-...If I get your strength up in these next few days, if I opened the door on this cell... If you protected me, I could get you out of the castle, I could escape too. Otherwise.... I fear you will rot here, and I would be used as a weapon again in a matter of days, heh." Her nervous gaze flitted back, eyes locking onto those of Seir's. Even though Aeos seemed the more 'warrior', she somehow felt Seir was the one who would give the answer. Maybe it was the noble pride in his cold stare.
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