Chapter 3: A Chat with Attia

The third chapter to my Incarceron Fan Fic. Any input on how to improve, or what you liked about this, is appreciated.

I have also decided to change this to a T rating due to a little profanity (not much) and a slight use of alcohol in this chapter.

It was getting late as Finn climbed the steps to the attic of the castle. They had just finished dinner and everyone was getting ready to go to bed. The sun had set and the moon was just starting to rise out into the sky. The breeze had gotten stronger so that now a steady wind was buffeting the side of the castle. His feet made the old musty floorboards creak and grown as he put his weight on them.

Finn had tried to talk Attia out from sleeping up here, but to no avail. She said she liked the peace and quiet of the attic and the lack of traffic going through it. And even though Finn warned her that the floor was not structurally stable, she said she would be fine. So far there hadn't been any accidents, yet.

Finn tried to push any negative thoughts out of his mind as he approached the door to Attia's room. He hesitated, his hand about to knock on the door when a voice from inside called out, "Come on in already!"

Finn was a little taken back, but had no choice but to enter. The castle attic was a fairly large set of rooms. The main room was Attia's living room, while the other two were built into the east side and served as a bedroom and bathroom. Attia wasn't much for decorating, so the living room was fairly bare. There was no wallpaper and the floor was made of wood, the only exception being the large, light blue rug that sat in the center of the room. Two small chairs sat on the rug with a coffee table resting in the middle, while a big couch took up the side opposite of the stone fireplace; which was built into the north facing wall. The south wall was occupied with a square window looking out to the courtyard with its curtains pulled closed so only a sliver of moonlight got through. A few oil lamps lit up the rest of the room.

And resting on one of the spare chairs was Attia, glaring at him as she took a gulp of red wine. Attia was wearing a red shirt, a pair of brown pants, and some hiking boots. They didn't say anything for a time, as Attia continued to sit, and slurp her red wine noisily, while Finn stood there in the doorway.

"Well, aren't you going to come in?" she said venomously as she set her empty glass down.

As Finn walked in and sat down on the couch cushion closest to her he got a better look at her. She was calm with her hands on her lap acting patently, but he also saw that her eyes were pink and swollen from crying. Her hands were also clutching her pants very tightly as if she were trying to hold in a scream. One look at the wine bottle told him that she had had more than one glass of wine this afternoon.

"So, you're getting married in two days," Attia said, she was trying to sound calm, but there was a dangerous undertone in her voice. Finn couldn't help noticing that her words were slightly slurred.

"Yeah, that's what I what I wanted to talk to you about,"

"That right?" She said as she poured another glass of wine, "Want some?"

"Sure, my nerves are a bit agitated," Finn knew he should really keep his head clean, but what harm could one glass be?

Attia picked up a second glass that was setting on the table and began filling it up, it was set there as if she was expecting him. "Here you go."

"I need to explain why I have to go through with this." Finn said as he took a swig of wine," I have to because the realm needs a king."

"Why not let me be the queen then, and have Claudia be an advisor?" Attia prompted.

"We both know you hate being the center of attention. And besides that, you don't really act all that 'queenly'," Finn said. Attia snorted at the second comment.

They sat there, staring at each other, and occasionally taking a drink of wine. Finn would sometimes try to explain to Attia why he was going through with the wedding, but her cold demeanor would always shut him up. He accepted the offer of wine each time his glass was emptied. His head was starting to get a little fuzzy.

"I really don't like Claudia all that much," Finn slurred his words together, his mind too clouded with the wine to think about what he was saying," She is a pain in the ass and waaaaaayyyyy too bossy. I don't even get to say what I think about the marriage."

"Really…? You would marry someone you don't even love?" She said it with such malice that Finn knew he had said something very, very wrong." You don't even have the guts to say no to her?" Attia was getting more and more furious with each word; her impassive façade had completely disappeared. "You just do what that damned bitch tells you!"

She had slammed the empty wine glass on the table so that it shattered into a million shining stars. Attia jumped from her seat and leaped strait at Finn, knocking both of them and the couch over. Attia had her hands wrapped around Finn's neck and was shaking him senseless. All Finn could hear was the pounding of his heart and the profanity spewing out of Attia's mouth.

Attia, her head also dulled by the wine, didn't even realize she had hit Finn's head hard enough to knock him out cold until he was but a rag doll in her iron grip.

As soon as her mind caught up to her actions she let out a gasp and released Finn's neck. Attia didn't even know what to do; all she could do though was sit there and cry as she bent over Finn's limp body.

Finn woke a few hours later. His head hurt and his neck was all bruised, but he was alive and he sighed with relief. He hadn't known Attia could get so brutal and savage. He shuddered at the thought of her mouth twisted into a snarl and her eyes full of such furry and hate.

As he pushed that thought away he looked around where he had woken up. It was a simple room with a single person bed, an oak wood dresser, and an oil lamp in the far corner. It took him a moment to realize that, this was Attia's room! He quickly stood up, and immediately regretted it as a massive head-ache made him double over back onto the bed. After regaining his composure he stood up again, slower this time, and made his way to the door.

The living room looked largely the same as he had remembered it, except that the couch was slightly farther back than it used to be. There was also a large wine stain on the rug, and an empty bottle rolling on the floor. The thing that caught his eye though was a small shape huddled on one of the chairs, weeping quietly to its self.

He approached it cautiously. When the shape didn't seem to notice him he drew even closer. It wasn't until he was right behind it that he could see it clearly. Attia was huddled up, on the couch, her head was resting on her legs, and constant streams of tears were pouring out of her eyes. Finn walked around the chair, and when it was obvious Attia wasn't going to get out of that position for a while, he picked her up and cradled her over to the couch.

"Attia… it's ok," Finn tolled her in a calm voice as he set her down and stroked her hair.

She looked up, and took in all the details of Finn's face. His hair had been roughed up a bit, his cloths were torn and ripped up at the edges, several claw marks ran along his arms, and the thing that scared her the most was the big bruised ring around his neck. As soon as she saw the last part, she broke down in tears again, wailing something about her being terrible and that Finn should go away while he could.

But Finn would be scared off that easily, having grown up in Incarceron, "Attia, I'm fine just calm down for a sec."

"No! I've already h-hurt you s-s-so much, just leave me alone before I end up killing you!" Attia told him in between gut wrenching sobs.

"Attia, you'll end up hurting yourself if I don't help you. And…I deserved it after all I have done to you…," Finn said as he put an arm around her. After a while of sobbing, apologizing, and gentle cuddling, Attia started to calm down. She would keep on pushing Finn away and telling him to leave her alone, but Finn would not be dismayed and stayed by her side.

It was getting fairly late now, the moon was up high and the stars were out.

"Come on, I know what we can do," Finn told her as he stood up and strolled to the closed curtains and opened them wide. The entire room was flooded in silver moonlight. He turned to see Attia pushing the couch and table against the wall, a shy smile creeping on the edges of her face.

She then walked towards him and embraced him. They slowly started to dance as the stars outside twinkled. Attia felt a rush of emotion as Finn danced with his arms wrapped around her. Her eyes were always staring up into his, never leaving each other's comfort. Even when Finn took a miss-step or when Attia smashed his toes they would only shrug and continue on.

Eventually they sat down on the rug next to each other. Attia was resting her head on Finn's shoulder as they stared out to the setting moon. They were both tired and, to be honest, a little sweaty. It was such an amazing time for both of them but it felt as if it had only lasted a few minutes. Finn turned his head to her, "T-thank you Attia that was the most fun I've had being the prince."

"But what about tomorrow…" Attia trailed off, not wanting to speak about the wedding aloud, as if saying it would make it approach even faster." I-I don't want to lose you again Finn!" She clutched his shirt as she started to cry again.

This time Finn could not think of a way to calm her, "Don't worry, I'll think of something to make this work."

"Promise."

"Ok, I promise you,"

"Thank you Finn," Attia stifled a yawn.

"Come on, it's past midnight, you need some rest," Finn told Attia as he helped her to her feet.

"What about-," Attia let out a huge yawn, which made Finn yawn too,"-you?"

"I'll go to bed once I know your sound asleep," Finn said as he kissed her on the cheek, then closed the door behind her.

He was lying on Attia's couch, sometime after she had gone to bed. "Curse this all!" Finn said under his breath as he was trying to find some way to get out of marrying Claudia. He then chuckled as he looked back and noticed how similar this was with Claudia trying to not marry Casper.

"I think I can manage to get this working, but I'll need to talk to Claudia about it. I just hope she says yes..." Finn muttered to him self as he drifted off to sleep.

Well there you go, my third chapter to my Incarceron fan fic.

Only one more to go, WOOT! What might happen next?

Review and tell me what to fix/change/add and I'll try to make this as good as it can be.