I own nothing. Everything belongs to KIRSTEN BRITAIN and her GREEN RIDER series.

AN: This chapter is shit. Horribly,unruly, gross smelling, stepping on it with my boot, Condor's shit. I want to take it down and destroy and start all over but it didn't work the first through fifth time it's not going to work the sixth. I need a Beta. But until that happens, this is my holiday present to all of you!

P.S. I apparently like spoken sounds in my stories. Ignore them if they annoy you, I do it.

Chapter Four: Shadows & Secrecy

Karigan:

I awoke with a jerk and stifled a sob at the pain that it caused in my leg. As I was catching my breath, I wondered what had awakened me from the dead sleep caused by my injuries.

Creek

I instinctively reached out for my weapons next to my bedroll, only to see my sword and staff, along with fresh clothing, across the room in the corner behind the door. Room? What..? Oh. I'm in the mending wing. I began to go back to sleep assuming that it was merely a Blackveil nightmare that had awoken me when the noise came again.

Creek

With grim resolution, I forced my way into a sitting position and began my slow journey across the room to the clean clothes, and most importantly, my weapons. As I got closer to the corner behind the door, I began to be able to make out what kind of clothing it was exactly. Brienne's… I wearily smiled to myself while leaning against the wall to, once again, dress in Brienne's borrowed Black Shield uniform. I pause for a moment. Where is Fastion? Where is ANY Weapon? I whip my head around at the noises coming from the hall. Later. Escape now.

After stopping to rest against the wall from the struggle to maintain my balance while getting dressed, I finally began to notice how well this Weapon uniform fit, and the slight modifications made to it from the last time I wore Brienne's uniform. I was looking down at my leather doublet when I finally noticed the slight change to the typical embroidery. Wings… Rider Wings… I offer a silent watery giggle to the room at the realization that this is MY Black Shield uniform.

This Weapon uniform was made especially for me containing the embroidered horseless wings, honorary Black Shield, and Knight of the Realm positioning symbols. I traced the wings with my finger then looked to the accompanying sheaths and small belt satchel, and wobbly smiled once again. They made it all for me. Were the Weapons so sure of my return…? I sniffled slightly, at least I know they did not leave by their choice, then continued to dress in my Black Shield uniform by placing the combination sword sheath/small belt satchel around my waist. I then carefully slipped the black staff sheath over my arm with the bad wrist, in order to be able to properly draw my staff. After checking that my weapons were undamaged, I grimaced from the weight of them while slipping them into their perspective sheaths.

Unable to braid my hair without both hands working probably, it would have to be left down. A hindrance in a fight. Perhaps I should just cut it off…? No, not enough leverage with my damaged hand. Where will I put Grae's feather? The realization of this causes me to remember the rest of my belongings next to the bed. I slowly make my way back across the room to the bedside table.

Creeeek

At the noise, I quickly grab my muna'riel with a cloth covered hand to inhibit the light and place it in my small belt satchel. My hand hesitates to reach for the second item from sheer debilitating grief. Grae's feather… stained with her blood. I momentarily touch my hair before gently grasping the feather and placing it in the satchel next to the muna'riel.

Creeekkk *grumbling*

SMACK! "Be quiet!"

Despite the shooting pain in my leg and wrist, and general stiffness throughout my body, I strengthen my resolve as they close in on the only occupied room in the mending wing. Mine.

I am in no condition to fight one… I sway and lean my unbroken side against the wall for support … let alone, win against more than one…where do I hide? After so long in Black Veil, I can move like my seasoned Black Shield brothers and sisters, regardless of the extent of any injuries. At least some miniscule of good can come from the horrors of Blackveil. Although, survival is hardly different from my new normal state of being after needing to be constantly vigilant to survive… there. I never escaped… I am still trying to survive the horrors I have been forced to witness.

I glance around the small, sparsely furnished mending wing room. My unmade bed shows that there was someone here, recently. They must not come into the room for me to survive whatever is coming… as quickly as I can I erase all evidence of any presence in the room and continue to think of a way to hide.

CREEEK

BANG!

"Will you be quiet!"

"Why? There's no one here. Like I TOLD you!" he announces, "Karigan would not stay here any longer than she had to after she woke up!" The male voice, the next room over, stops his tirade. Presumably his companion had something to do with..?

"Well, be quiet anyways! She wasn't in the Rider common room or her room," he states, for it is most assuredly a second male, "There is one more room left; be silent until it is searched!"

She couldn't breathe. Who?

SLAM!

"I said quiet!" I snap out of my shocked silence at the outburst from the second voice and grimly place this new information with what I have learned in Blackveil. Then I continue on my way to a hiding place… any hiding place.

I sink into the shadows of the corner behind the door where I found my weapons and clothes, and stoically prepare to face the coming grim events.

CREEEEK

SLAM!

The heavy door of my room slammed into the wall inches from my face. The edge of the bottom of the door barely missed my injured leg. I stiffly maintained my position behind the door and the minute view of the room from a crack between the wall and the door as one of the two men held the door open.

"See? Empty," the first male voice says exasperated He sounds achingly familiar, "Can we go search somewhere with even a miniscule chance of actually finding G'ladheon?" He sneered as he said my name. It was clear that this mysterious voice feels close to the outcome of this task revolving me. "Like, maybe, I don't know… the stables?"

Who would know me so well…? Alton! I do all I can do at this revelation to maintain my stance behind the door. I bite my bottom lip to keep from gasping at the knowledge that Alton is searching for me with disdain, just to have some sort of reaction.

"Be silent Rider D'Yer and come search the room with me as protocol dictates."

And Ty! I bite my lip harder, causing it to bleedat this second shocking revelation and I place my hand on my blades grip after hearing Rider Perfect's intention.

"Lord," sneers Alton.

"What?" Ty asks distractedly as he steps further into the room

"LORD D'Yer, Rider Newland, it is Lord D'Yer and this clearly empty room does not need to be searched Rider Newland. We will search the stables!" Alton orders disdainfully.

Ty, always one to follow rules of etiquette, bows sharply and stiffly follows Alton out of the room, and continues down the hall out of the mending wing; presumably towards the stables if they do not tire of searching. One can only hope.

I pale at the implications of this visit and try to think of any reason for the orders that they must be following to be issued besides my failed mission…that would not be enough for this.

Why would they…? It cannot be! Have we not lost enough?

I whip away the two fallen tears from my cheeks and dismally begin to plan my hidden journey through the castle


I clutch the material at my heart with my good hand and warily smile down at my new black uniform before slipping into the entrance of one of the hidden passageways of the castle that start in the mending wing and will eventually lead me to the Green Rider wing. Honorary Weapon indeed.


As I exit the passageway in the abandoned corridor next to the Rider Wing, I listen for any sounds coming from the area surrounding my room. Although it is the middle of the night, with the search going on, it should not be as quiet as it is. As I maintain my place in the shadows, I silently make my way to my room while staying vigilant for any hidden or passing Riders. As I come upon my room I notice the door open and the room empty. I start to prepare myself for what I have to gather and how quickly it has to be done when I enter the room; when I hear the murmur of voices coming up from the common room. I lean against the wall to give my injuries some rest and to listen for any voices coming any closer. The voices stay in the common room and I do not detect anyone else in the Rider Wing.

I wipe sweat from my brow with my sleeve and push myself off the wall with what little strength I have left to give. If my adrenaline does not last, I will never make it. I do not know if they will even help me after everything that has...Westrion do not take them, not yet...I stifle a sob and continue into my room. I enter quickly into the shadows of the room with a sliver of moonlight on the floor. I quickly grab my spare Blackveil pack and place by Rider bedroll, and great coat inside. I glance around the room and grab candles, matches, spare empty water skein, spare clothes... I hesitate before I grab some parchment, quill, and ink. After I have everything I slip the staff out of it's back sheath and place it on the pack sheath. I then place the pack on my back using my good hand. I help my bad hand through the other strap and slip silently out of the room and follow the shadows into the abandoned corridor once again before making my way to the kitchens for supplies.

What I didn't notice while I was leaving the Rider Wing was the soft click, click, click of nails on the stone floor following behind me.

After filling my water skein in the empty kitchen and adding some of the always-prepared Green Rider saddle bag food supplies to my pack, I began to make my way through the shadows to another secret passage when I felt something rub up against me. I quickly whip the staff off the pack and prepare to fight the unknown enemy in a battle I cannot win. After sensing no one around, I warily relax my guard. I place my weight on the staff and try to rub the increasing throb out of my injured leg. I lean into the staff and wearily look down in time to see Ghost Kitty start to rub itself against my leg once again.

My shoulders sag as I sigh out in relief. I start to lean down to pet Ghost Kitty when I black out from dizziness for all of two seconds. I slowly straighten up and wince at the pain it causes in my leg before discreetly searching for anyone that could have come upon us during my temporary weakness. I gradually relax as I determine that no one is around and look to Ghost Kitty once again. As he stares up at me with what I swear is amusement I whisper, "Well? Are you going to help me find somewhere safe to sleep, or are you just going to follow me?"

Ghost Kitty quickly takes off in the opposite direction I was headed and leads me through a maze of abandoned corridors. I hobble after him as fast as I can with only the staff and my desperate need for safety keeping me up. I couldn't bring this to them. I could not place my burden on their shoulders not if they are already in danger. I can be no help to them now. I will repay my debt then leave. If I do not make it out of the castle alive? The wings of Westrion will give me comfort and peace. Ghost Kitty finally stopped in an abandoned niche off a corridor near one of the entrances to the Tombs the Weapons and I tried to enter when Second Empire was in the castle. Hidden from all but those who know it is there. Perfect.

I place my pack on the ground slowly bring myself down to it's level. I dig out my bed roll and situate it on the ground. I place my pack and the staff next to the head of the bedroll before collapsing onto it, weapons and all, and sinking into oblivion. The last thing I remember before sleep pulled me fully under was the warmth of Ghost Kitty curled against my leg and the tears beginning to fall down my face.

A/N: I maintain that it is crap and IDK if I got the whole idea across. Read and Review please! Tell me what you get from it so I know exactly how crappy it is. Reviews = Love. Thanks