'I'm afraid I've never heard of it highness.' The Captain told DG as he cleaned his weapon. Anyone else would have been too nervous to keep their muddy boots on the desk, but the man, like all Seethers almost demanded respect from everyone and didn't fear punishments. 'Unless she had been weakened when he tied her to him. But even magical bonds will be broken with our fury.' He mused. The meadow green eyes moved up to DG and she shifted uncomfortably as he inspected her. 'Unless she accepted it. If she wanted to be held back, then she would be.' His gazed moved to his dismantled weapon again. 'She would have to be touched in the head to want that though.'
'What?'
'Ah yes. I forgot you don't know our customs.' His chair swivelled around slightly as he moved the tree-trunk sized boots from the desk to the floor with a dull thud. 'In the O.Z. people marry their slaves. I'm sure you understand what that entails.' He gave a deep throated chuckle and stood out of his chair, walking to the shelves, collecting several books. 'No need to pry highness, but why are you so interested in the girl?'
'It just seemed odd that someone who was meant to be that powerful would do that apparently willingly.' DG whispered, mainly to herself. 'Have you seen Cain?'
'With his son before he goes back out.' The man gave his laugh again before dropping the books on the table. DG noticed them labelled with titles such as The War, Imanellite, and Belingate. 'Funny you two getting together like that. But the Head seems more peaceful. Not so many rash decisions. Can't say that I'm particularly happy about that, but from a military perspective it is mightily helpful in some situations.' He opened the top volume and began to read, turning the page every ten seconds. DG wavered near the door, trying to ask something but knowing she probably shouldn't. 'You need anything else highness?'
'No, I'm fine. Thanks for the help though.' She stretched the bottom of her top over her hips and continued down the hall, trying to ignore the Captain's chuckle echo down the hall.
She didn't know why she went to him. He was helpful- she had found out yet another weird and wonderful O.Z. fact, but she knew he would tell Cain everything. Have a good laugh over ale about it as well. It was probably due to the fact that despite his monstrous size, he was the least threatening out of all of the Seethers in the castle.
DG ended up finding Cain in the stables, brushing his Arabian. That was one of the normal things about the O.Z.- all of the horses were the same as the other side, unless they had been meddled with and turned different colours. But those were illegal now.
'Hey D.' Cain said as she put her arms around his chest.
'Hey.' She replied softly, resting her head on his back. It was times like this that she loved- just standing there, not saying anything. Not fighting or teasing or trying to save the world (though the teasing was fun). Just simply standing there.
'I'm going to go inspect the camp for a few days.' Cain finally announced, trying to walk away. DG just stood, keeping her arms secured firmly around his chest. 'Princess, you know I have to go.'
'Can I come?' She asked hopefully. She could feel another adventure forming.
'No you can't D. I'm only going to be away for a few days. You have to stay here and look after the villagers.' He turned around in her arms and unclasped them, holding them between his hands. 'Keep an eye on Ivy for me. Tell Captain Ptolomey to take a look at her.' He said, referring to the massive Seether. He leant down to kiss her, stoping centimetres away from her face. 'And sweetheart, if you want to find out things about different species, don't you think zipper head would be the best person to go to?' She could hear the smirk in his voice but before she could say anything Cain closed the gap between their lips.
'Fine then.' She murmured, still in the kiss. 'I'll just have to talk about the uniform for the new Head. I'm thinking pink.' She smiled as Cain pulled back, his icy blue eyes giving her his best death glare.
'You wouldn't.'
'Oh, I would.' The statement was followed by a short scream as he picked her up over his shoulder. She felt herself being jumped up and down slightly with the steady footsteps and the stables got further and further away.
'Hello Giselle.' Cain greeted the dress maker coming out of the door. He only knew of her because of DG's constant rants on how devil-like she was.
'You wouldn't.' He heard DG say over his shoulder. He let out a small chuckle, slightly scaring the old woman.
'Oh, I would.' He replied and gave a smile to Giselle before continuing. 'The Princess has made it quite clear that she wishes you to design her dress for the Royal Ball. I suggest something pink and frilly- you know how I love your work.' He said, lying through his teeth.
'Of course Mr. Cain.' Either she didn't know his title or his continuous orders for everyone to ignore it had worked on someone.
'Have the soldiers help you if need be. They still act under orders to ignore her pleads.' He had placed the younger princess down and could feel her piercing glare. Before she could protest, Cain kissed her cheek and walked again towards the stables.
'He wasn't serious.' DG said apologetically to Giselle. The old woman nodded her head in understanding. 'I have boycotted dresses or anything frilly for the rest of the time I'm in the O.Z. I'm sure you understand.'
DG frowned as she again smudged the hat. Her charcoal covered hands were shaking slightly as she tried to put the man before her on paper. Not that he was even aware of her presence, but as he packed she decided she had nothing better to do. Not that there was many things better than this. He bent over to gather his personal affects, moving from the position she was sketching him, and instead showing her a new position she smirked and again tried to put to paper. She quickly rubbed it out, deciding it would be more than dangerous in the hands of Glitch or Az.
Standing up again, he held a silver chain in his hand. The sun caught it and after the small purple blob was not blocking her vision, DG saw the pendant, gasping. She immediately covered her mouth and stopped breathing while Cain stiffened. He reached for the gun at his shoulder and though his back was to her, she could see his eyes moving around suspiciously. In his left hand was still her locket.
After he was sure that there was no threat, Cain cautiously pulled his hand off the gun and unclasped the necklace, twirling the chain around his wrist several times before clasping it again. She pulled herself closer to the edge of the floor, peering down at the jewellery now on his wrist, trying to see if it really was hers. She hadn't seen it since Zero had taken it. Azkadellia must have given it to him.
She tried to crawl back to a safer position, but in the process kicked the metal tin that held her willow charcoals and it tipped, creating another louder noise. Not bothering to suppress a groan, DG covered her face with her hair. Several small squeaks alerted her that the ex-Tin Man was climbing the ladder to the small second floor of the stable.
'I'm impressed.' She heard Cain say, kneeling above her, the roof not allowing him to stand. 'Not many people can stay that long in the same room as me without my knowledge.' He laughed softly, the voice now closer to her face. 'Now D, would you mind not hiding that face. I may not be able to see it for several days and I want to take in everything I can get.' She cautiously brushed the hair out of her face to see Cain's icy blue eyes staring at her.
'Yes, well I can be silent sometimes.' She replied, unable to speak louder than a whisper.
'Could have fooled me.' He chuckled and leant down to brush his lips against hers. The moment was ruined by a sing-song voice calling out.
'Tin Man, foolish man, metal man.' A waterfall of blonde hair fell over the side of the door as Ivy peered into the apparently empty stables. DG tore her gaze away from the girl to see the Tin Man put a finger to his lips. She nodded slightly and again turned slightly to look at the girl as she inspected the stables, humming tunelessly to herself. Beside her Cain twisted and she felt his weight lean over her and move back to lie beside her, sketchpad now in hand. How he managed to do that in complete silence on the creaky floor, DG had no idea.
'What's this?' He whispered, almost too low for DG to hear. The blonde immediately twisted around, the image of a graceful ballet dancer floating through DG's mind and looked up at them. Cain noticed the movement but ignored her. Instead he tapped the picture, a repetitive reminder of his question to the girl beside him.
'You, obviously.' She replied, her eyes still on the motionless Seether. 'What?' She asked when Cain continued to stare at the picture.
'I never knew you were this talented is all.' He muttered, tracing the drawing a millimetre above the paper so not to smudge it.
'Well... thanks. I guess. Were you looking for the Head?' She finally asked the girl. Her face split into a wide grin and she climbed the ladder.
'Good. You did see me.' Ivy replied as she crawled over to them and took the drawing off Cain. He open his mouth to say something but when he saw the peaceful lake green-blue eyes, let her be. 'Son is calling. You ride off into the sunset in fifteen minutes. I must stay here and learn. This is very good.' The string of sentences confused Cain, but he understood her compliment, and that she did not intend it to be spoken allowed with the under-her-voice breath.
'Learn what?' DG asked finally, resting her chin on the man's shoulder blade. He felt the weight of her head rise up and down as she closed her teeth around some imaginary thing.
'Learn of the House of Gale. And of happiness and peace. So that I may once again think properly and be able to fight with my brothers and sisters.' She replied, her water eyes becoming speckled with gold from an unseen sun. 'Where did you learn this art?' She asked finally, shaking the sketch book slightly. Cain grabbed it off her protectively, and flipped through to see the other pictures of him, Az, Raw, Glitch, and her parents. There were a few of pupiless eyes and he guessed she had tried to capture the beauty that seemed so alien to her.
'I did art class at school, but mainly self-taught. There definition of lesson was to throw us a bit of paper and tell us to paint something.' DG laughed at the memory, bringing back slightly painful feelings from missing friends.
'You paint as well?' The question from both of them was what caused DG to realise art was not well known in this world. When she questioned her theory Cain told her how people knew of art but didn't see the need for it. You could see something someway and not be able to put it to paper properly, so why bother.
'Protection is the main of our game. Even before the rise of the long coats.' Ivy whispered. She reached over to the notebook when Cain had flipped over to yet another page. He drew his breath in harshly as he saw Zero's glaring face looking back at him. 'Long coat.'
DG looked over to see the page they were on and both she and Cain nodded, agreeing. 'The worst of them all.' Cain muttered, turning the page over once again. Ivy simply glared at him and continued to watch the pictures flipping over.
'Time to go Tin Man.' The singsong voice sounded, when he reached the end of the book. He looked out of the crack of the roof to see the suns and apparently agreed with her.
'I'll be back in a few days.' Cain told DG and kissed her before she had a chance to argue. When they parted her eyes grew wide in surprise and she reached to the pocket of her jeans. Withdrawing an envelope, she passed it to the man and whispered in his ear.
'For when you get there. Jeb may want to see it as well.' He raised an eyebrow over sceptical eyes and again pressed his lips to her.
'Thank you D.' He glanced over to Ivy, who was clearly quite comfortable where she was, watching the suns while lying on her back. He crawled over her to get to the ladder while DG cringed, hating the burning stab of jealousy in her chest. She was not meant to be that girl.
She watched him as he gathered his bags and quickly fastened them to the saddle of his white horse. She swore she heard him mumble something before the horse whinnied as he urged it forwards. Besides her, Ivy shifted and rolled to be as close as Cain was to her minutes before.
'He said he'll miss you.' Ivy whispered. 'So will I. I don't think you will be the same you without him here. I shall have to see though. I like being proven wrong, helps me fight.'
And with that and a flick of blonde hair to the face Ivy slid off the second floor and jumped to the wooden ground, hardly making a noise.
'Okay…' DG muttered before taking back her sketch pad and again trying to put the odd eye to paper.
