Capture

The curtsey was many things he'd seen before but never all at once, the woman had dropped so ungracefully quick into the greeting it showed her frantic rush of fear, but still her greeting was low and respectful, her head dipping down to hide away, showing she knew who held the rightful hierarchy and she would not dare challenge it.

Her eyes remained down in submission and there she stayed, her body's fearful trembling growing as her muscles stubbornly strained to keep herself in the low greeting and there the King left her, his thick brows raising a moment as he regarded all he could read from her greeting before he spoke, "Rise, Princess," He requested, his tone a natural leadership calm and she obeyed his request, bringing herself into a timid stand but still her eyes would not look towards him. "And welcome to my kingdom," He offered with a nod, but as kindly as he spoke all knew the welcome was not truly there and no one knew that more than the Princess stood in her lone solemn stance, her head bowed in both shame and fright while her hands held tightly to the front of her dress.

"Thank you, your Grace," She spoke ever so softly, knowing she should reply but so fearful of doing so, the situation she found herself in was something she never thought would befall her, it had never crossed her mind that one day she would end up wearing the finest dress she'd ever known, spattered with dirt with her once styled hair sitting messily askew while being looked down upon by the enemy King who'd just decimated the attempted siege of his kingdom.

"Of course it would be a more joyous occasion had your father been true to the intentions he lead us on to believe," His tone took a stronger turn, a show of his disgust at the act committed and the lie that was spun and all the woman could do was nod meekly. She agreed full heartedly but she knew it would be pointless to voice her thoughts for if anyone were to listen they had no reason to believe her, she was seen as just as much as an enemy as the westerly King was to King Brahmwell. "Did you know of his intentions?" The King then calmed his tone to ask, his strong posture baring down further on her from his elevated position upon the ascend to his throne.

"I did not," She shook her head in honest truth before she finally lifted her eyes to meet the King's, watching how his brows knotted the slightest unknowing as he though of her resembling a lamb at slaughter. "It wasn't until I arrived at camp that I realised it was not a party gathered for peace," again she shook her head as she looked back down both ashamed and regretful that she too was lead to believe otherwise.

"Can I ask why you were found alone," The King spoke the question in conflict with his words, his tone after all was not asking but more of a play of formality and nicety.

"I had sent my hand maidens away. If I was to a be a target I wanted to at lease be sure they were safe else where," her palms grew ever more sweaty in the gloves that she wore, causing her to release her tight grip on her skirt for a moment to quickly wring her hands together as if it would help rid them of their clammy feeling.

A long silence drew out through the hall, voices now still and all eyes looking to the King as he regarded the woman and her words, he knew nothing of her, he couldn't be sure her words were truthful no matter how convincing she seemed to be and if she was anything like her father he couldn't risk letting another conniving mind get the better of him and so with a great exhale his judgement was made. "You will stay here, in this castle," He spoke, his voice growing to a more booming level so all could hear, "You will be watched and your door guarded until your father is either found or surrenders." His eyes bore down on her and she could feel them but she did not look up only nodded in understanding and agreement. "Elmont," He then called allowing her a moment to peek up at the person that strode towards the King. She watched as he climbed one step to near him in order to converse quietly with him but no closer so he wasn't level with the King, and there the men spoke a moment, needing barely a minute before orders were understood and the called man turned to look at the bedraggled woman, a single brow quipping up but nothing more showing on his face as he turned to fully face her and descend down the single step he'd climbed. "Be so kind as to show our new guest her quarters." The King then finalised, nodding his dismissal of her and accepting Elmont's nod of understanding and bow before he stepped forward to take charge.

"Milady," He nodded in greeting, his face a clever stern that hid all thoughts and intentions and it left the woman with only the ability to bob her head in a return to his greeting, very unsure of the person before her and what was now to happen. "This way," He then instructed with a directing arm before he took the lead.

"Your Grace," She spoke quietly as she again gave a low curtsy in farewell before she followed after Elmont's lead.

As she walked her eyes would drift from the back of the tall man leading her and to the ground before raising back again, her hands keeping a tight grip of her dress to keep them from shaking all while she focused on her breathing to keep herself calm. She thought to herself over and over that she would be fine, she was strong, she knew she was and this situation was nothing she couldn't adapt to.

"This way," He then piped up to both break the silence and gain her attention and her eyes lifted back up to him before she found herself lost for a moment, her nervous steps coming to a halt at the bottom of the stairs as she peered up at the man as he looked down at her over his should and upon seeing her hesitation he too stopped.

"Up?" She found was all she could question as her mind suddenly whirled with confusion.

"Is something wrong?" A light concern brought a slight crease to his brows and it wasn't one of worry for her but more of getting his task successfully completed.

"Where are we going?" She then found she had to ask, her brows raising in a curious concern as she wondered anew what the intentions of this man and his King were, she was expecting to be taken prisoner yes but so far everything had seemed far more lenient than what she had envisioned and prepared herself for.

He stood a moment in silence, joining her in confusion, "To where you'll be staying," He gave a light shake of his head, almost seeming as if he too was now unsure and a little lost.

"A-aren't your dungeons down?" She then asked, needing to be sure where she was going or else she'd be unprepared and seep into panic, but that was luckily paused for her as she watched the face of the man before her and how his brows shot up towards his hair line in surprise before a look of sudden understanding came to his face.

"Dungeons?" He questioned aghast as his lips parted in a show of a smile as he found some humour in the moment while all she found was confusion.

"I am a prisoner here, yes?" She then frowned.

"Of sorts," He nodded.

"Then should I not be staying in a cell?" She shook her head, still not quite grasping what was happening and unwilling to proceed further until she knew.

"Would you feel more comfortable in a cell?" Elmont opened his arms and gave a short shake of his head as he leaned slightly towards her, making his question sound both a little teasing and yet open for an honest answer.

"Well," She frowned as she thought about it before she came to her answer, "Yes," She nodded, she was their prisoner and she knew this would more than likely happen, and prisoners get taken down to the dungeons and shut away in a cell, that is what she'd prepared for but judging by the look of befuddled horror on Elmont's face she obviously shouldn't have been preparing for such a thing at all. "I feel it is only fitting and appropriate that I am kept in a cell, no?" Her brows rose in question and the man before her had to remain in silence just a little longer to recover.

"If you feel your current choice chambers aren't appropriate then I will mentioned this to the King, in the mean time," He then turned back up the stairs but looked back and motioned for her to once again follow him, "This way please!" he pressed before moving on and giving her little option but to follow.

Again she dropped into silence, her eyes now looking about as she inspected where it was she was actually being taken, her heart fluttering more with worry that caused her stomach to feel unsettled but she kept quiet. The King was different from the one she knew so perhaps she was wrong to expect the same treatment from him, the King she knew was a cruel and ruthless being and the one she'd just met was intimidating and powerful without the need to threaten and above all he seemed fair, his questioning of her wasn't much but he also hadn't accused her of anything.

"Here we are!" Elmont declared as he came to a swift kick halt, a very military stop as his foot stomped down and heels thudded together, needing now only a straight spine and salute to finish off the look but of course that was not what happened, instead the man stepped forwards to open the door he'd stopped in front of. "You should be comfortable here," He stepped aside and motioned for her to enter the room but all she managed was a slight lean around the door frame in order to peek into the room to inspect. "A maid will be along shortly to see to you," He then continued when she both remained silent and still.

"Is that really alright?" She then questioned with a frown, looking to the man in hopes of clarity but it seemed she only managed to make him feel unsure himself.

"I don't know, is it?" He rose a single brow at her strangeness, choosing the throw the question back at her to get her opinion on the matter instead.

"It's just- I'm not deserving of such luxuries," she finally released her grip on her dress to give a lost motion.

"Princess," He started with a slight huff, giving a look that spoke words he could never voice to a royal, "You are not the one waging war so while here you will not be treated as the prisoner you think yourself to be," Elmont shook his head, noting how his words brought her more concern than they did relief but chose to ignore it for now. "Now, I'll leave you to settle yourself," Again he motioned for her to step into the room, "Unless you wish to remain stood out in the hall in a dirty dress?" He then shrugged, "The choice is yours," he then motioned to her watching as she thought over what he'd said and wondering what it was she was warring about on the inside but finally she gave a nod and stepped into the room much to his relief.

As she stepped cautiously she took this moment to take in the details of the room now she could see it better, her warm eyes moving from the wonderfully crafted furniture and to the intricate patterns of the fabrics about the room, distracted a moment and missing the approach of another.

"Ah, Carmen," Elmont lifted his head when he noticed the older woman striding forwards with purpose, giving a polite nod towards her in greeting.

"Sir Elmont," She greeted after a short bow, her face stern, back straight and head held high as she then turned to look into the room and at the new guest, "Milady," She gave a nod towards the dark haired woman and she in return gave a respectful curtsy that caused a slim brow to raise on the elder woman's other wise unimpressed face.

"I shall leave the Princess in your care," Elmont then interrupted the greeting to dismiss himself.

"Yes, I'll have her sorted in no time," The older woman spoke with such confidence and authority it had the younger woman fearing her personality a bit, she could tell just by looking at the older woman she was an obvious matriarch within the staffing of the castle.

"Carmen, Princess," Elmont then nodded in farewell to both woman before easily turning on his heels and breezing off with out worry.

"Well then," The elder woman started as she settled her hands on her plump hips and looked the younger up and down, taking in her soiled dress, the fabric now ruined with mud and tares, even the lacing of the bodice look like it'd been broken with the way the top of her dress didn't sit right, looking lose and ill fitting, "A bath will be the first thing for you I think!" She then declared, both brows raising, the motion causing a couple of folds to form on her forehead, the look obviously very familiar on her face with how her skin remembered it in the wrinkles that sat there when her face was stoic and neutral.

While a bath was being drawn she looked at her reflection with a frown, it was the first time she'd actually seen what she looked like in the dress, yes it was poorly fitted but it had less to do with any damage it took and more to do with the hasty lacing of the clothing, her hair was the same, the attempt to put her long dark locks up into an eloquent style had been so rushed it was no wonder it looked a mess and it most definitely was not secure enough to survive a slight quicken of pace let alone a desperate sprint. She didn't look like a Princess, not now nor ever had she and she was sure that would always be the case, no matter what pretty dress she wore or how long someone spent styling her hair she would never look royal, but she had to try.

"Right, let's get you out of these rags," Carmen spoke up, her loose dress sleeves rolled up past her elbows ready for hard work, "We don't have long till dinner," She huffed.

"If I may," The younger woman spoke up, looking to the older woman with panic, "I-I'd like to decline dinner for tonight," Her voice wavered with her worry, she sounded as jittery and she looked, the day had already taken such a toll on her as it was and she wanted nothing more than to be left alone to recover if only for a moment.

The elder woman stopped and stared a moment, taking in the youthful woman's sheepish but pleading look, her form a little slouched from her exhaustion and defeat, "I'll see about food being brought to you," She then huffed, before she gripped the woman by the shoulders and turned her, her nimble fingers working easily at the shoddily laced dress till the item came loose and just as Carmen was about to grip the once beautifully perfect fabric and pull it down off the youngster's body she notice her cling to her clothes, "Take the rest off and get in the tub when you're done," The elder woman then spoke, moving away to give the younger woman some privacy, putting her hesitation down to being scared when in reality it was a foreign experience to her.

With a deep breath she took one last look at her reflection and thought about herself and the Princess and why it was her now stood in her dress as a captive, she wasn't Eleina any more, she was Princess Sereina and she had to do her best so no one suspected her.

I keep watching films and getting ideas and I do need to stop but I can't -_-