When I finally woke up, I simply wished I hadn't.
My body was too sore to attempt to sit up. Not that I even wanted to. I looked around and found that I was imprisoned in a small cell, and before long, the events prior to my unconsciousness crashed down on me all at once. The memories were all a fuzzy, tangled mess. Except...one. Did it really happen?
I closed my eyes again, feeling the hot tears pour out uncontrollably. I bit my quivering lip to retain myself from crying out loud, but it didn't stop the wave of images that swallowed my mind; Uncle's face twisted in pain and shock, the sword eerily protruding from his chest, his body falling to the ground where the blood pooled around him. It didn't feel real. It wasn't. It couldn't be.
I didn't get a chance to say goodbye. To hold him. It had all happened too quick.
I covered my face with my hands to cover the sobs that had managed to escape. The images wouldn't leave. They just kept repeating over and over in my mind against my will. It was worse than any nightmare.
~~~
I woke up later again, having fallen asleep sometime in the midst of my crying.
A bit of light filtered into the cell through the small barred window high up on the wall.
How long has it been? I curled up and hugged my knees, staying like that for who knows how long. Time went by slow and steady. Unreal. I kept my eyes open, staring out in front of me but not seeing anything at all.
How long has it been? I curled up and hugged my knees, staying like that for who knows how long. Time went by slow and steady. Unreal. I kept my eyes open, staring out in front of me but not seeing anything at all.
Time. What a curious thing. So unreal.
I kept hearing noises outside of the cell; footsteps back and forth, a shout here and there. Some time later I heard a click and the cell door creak open. Footsteps entered the room and approached closer to where I lay.
A soldier entered my field of vision. He set down a tray with food and a glass of water on the small table across from me.
"Hello," he said softly and crouched down beside me, "I brought you some food."
I kept on looking straight ahead, avoiding his stare.
"What's your name?"
"A pretty little girl like you shouldn't be stuck here."
He sighed and stood up after waiting for answers that wouldn't come. "You might have a chance if you speak what you know."
He left and opened the cell door, pausing for a second, "by the way, Darin will be put to death for treason. Thought you might want to know. You might be allowed to speak with him...if you cooperate with us."
At the mention of Darin, my eyes lit up. Anger slowly crept into my mind like a deadly poison. It was his fault. He pulled us into this. He got Uncle killed.
The cell door closed behind the soldier, leaving behind a numbing echo. But, Uncle trusted him. Uncle always fought for what he thought was right. What did Uncle die for...?
I remembered Darin smiling at me apologetically and fighting bravely beside Uncle. It hurt so much to remember.
"It wasn't his fault," I said slowly and painfully, my throat being sore and parched. It was hard to admit it wasn't Darin's fault, though I still felt resentment towards him. Then whose fault is it? Who could I blame? I desperately needed someone to blame.
Then I remembered what Darin had whispered to my ear.
"If you escape, search for the Varden. Tell them Darin has failed. The king remains with four dragon eggs. A Shade is on his side."
The Varden. Uncle had mentioned the Varden before. I sat up and thought hard, trying to remember what Uncle Liam had said, but any memory of it evaded my mind. Instead, I found myself reliving old memories of my time with Liam, not knowing if I should cry or laugh, or do both.
I sighed and stared at the tray of food and the glass of water that called out to me, gulping to confirm my parched throat.
Reluctantly, I stood up and grabbed the glass of water taking a small sip. The cool liquid relieved the pain and soon the glass was empty, and the tray of food followed shortly.
I sat back down on the bed, feeling tired and numb and oh so confused. The cold gray walls stared back at me as I tried to forget everything. Everything. I wished it would all disappear and take me along with it. I blinked back the tears and laid back down as I had been before. Eventually, I fell asleep again.
~~~
The rusty creak and sudden bang of the cell door startled me and I sat up in a flash, searching for the source of the commotion. I relaxed a bit when I saw a soldier enter with another tray of food. How long had I slept?
"Good, I have your attention," the soldier said, noting that I was looking at him. I recognized his voice from last time. My eyes followed his every movement as he walked in and set the tray of food on the table. "Will you speak to me now?" he asked and fixed me with a studying gaze.
I only stared back at him, not really knowing how else to react.
"Time is running up for Darin. If you want to speak with him one last time, I suggest you give us the information we need."
I looked away at this. I needed to know more about the Varden. And Darin...
"What do you want to know?" I asked quietly, meanwhile thinking.
"Everything you know about Darin. And who was the other person with you."
I thought slowly over through his words, thinking of how best to answer. The mention of "the other person" however, distracted me. I felt a sharp pain in my chest and the tears wanting to be set free again.
"I..I don't really know Darin...just that he was a friend of my...Uncle Liam..," I said ending in a small whisper, the tears pooling around my eyes unwillingly.
The soldier came closer and crouched down beside me like last time, though this time he gently touched my arm.
"Your uncle was the other person?"
I simply nodded, not daring to look at him. "We transported goods to cities...that's all. I don't know why he attacked."
He stayed quiet for a few minutes, his hand still touching my arm. Then, "do you know if he or Darin are with the Varden?"
My head turned at the mention of the Varden, and I slightly cocked it to the side when I realized it could have looked suspicious. "The Varden?" I asked as innocent as I could.
"Yes, the Varden. The king's enemies."
"No, I don't know," I said, shaking my head slightly, "Uncle never mentioned it."
He stared at me, deciding if I was lying or not, and I stared back. After a moment, he stood up. "Thanks for the information." He turned to walk away.
"Will I get to see Darin?" I called out to him.
"I don't know if a murderer like you should be granted such wish."
The loud bang of the closing door was nothing compared to the shock of his words.