Disclaimer: I don't own the Tamora Pierce characters

Warning: A very undetailed character rape and beating is mentioned in this chapter and may be mentioned in others. If you don't like this, please don't read this anymore. I don't want to upset anyone.

A/N: If you think that Daine is a little ooc keep in mind that she is going through a very traumatic experience. She isn't going to be her normal self.

Chapter 4 Messaundra

Despite her mother's reassurances, Daine didn't feel like life would get any better. She decided to rebel against the life she had been forced into in anyway that she could. Unfortunately, the only way she found to do that in the short time she had been in her new rooms was to refuse to eat. It may affect her health, but since she couldn't leave her room without Ozorne and she had no wish to have anything to do with the slaves, she found this an easy thing to do.

She tried to be polite about her refusal at first. However, they always asked if she was sure about twenty times before they finally left her alone and then would come back every thirty minutes or so until she just couldn't help venting her anger on them. It didn't help that they were calling her Nobility and that despicable name. She couldn't help the glare she sent their way the moment the words, "Lady Josephine," left their mouths. It was instinctual.

It didn't help her moods that Ozorne kept visiting her. First, he kidnaps her, then forces her into an unwanted engagement, then locks her up in a room, and then he has the nerve to expect her to be polite company towards him. It didn't help that each time it was reported she hadn't ate that he would get even more upset with her. It always ended in an argument and those always ended with her being "put in her place."

She knew she scared the slaves with her moods. She knew because there was a new one coming to her room each time. She never had the same slave twice. She felt sorry for the ones who would serve her today because she was in an especially bad mood. The Emperor had had the nerve to bring up sex with her. As if she would ever, ever let him touch her. He may have her in marriage, but he did not have her body. It was hers, not his. She knew he would be paying her another visit today for yet another argument because the moment he had brought it up, she had just left the room.

She entered her room ranting to herself only to find that she wasn't alone, that there was already a slave there. This time, it was a young girl about her age, maybe a year older. She was coming back from her private gardens. Obviously, she had been looking for Daine. "What do you want?! What are you doing in my room?!" Daine demanded, not willing to deal with anyone right now. She just wanted to be left alone.

"I-I was just seeing if you wanted anything to eat, Nobility," the girl replied in a small voice.

"How many times do I have to say that I don't want to eat until you people get it? No, I don't want to eat! But I do want you to stop calling me nobility!!" Daine yelled. Why couldn't they get it? She didn't want to eat. She didn't want to be called those stupid names. She didn't want to deal with any of this. She was just fifteen. She shouldn't have to deal with a power hungry Emperor forcing her to be his Emperess and trying to get her in his bed. Why didn't anyone understand?

"Yes, of course, Nobility." Messaundra replied.

"I said don't call me that!" Before she could say anything else, Daine heard the door open. She swiftly turned around to see a very upset Ozorne just inside the doorway. She knew he wouldn't take kindly to her just leaving the room. He commanded the slave to leave, which she did immediately, before turning back to Daine.

"Josephine, how DARE you leave in the middle of our discussion?"

Daine interrupted him before he could continue, "What discussion? There is no discussion. We're not having sex."

"How dare you try to keep from me what is by rights mine?"

"YOURS?" Daine Screeched. "It is my body, not yours. And what rights? You have not earned the so called right to my body. You have trapped me here. You have taken away my freedom! You have no rights when it comes to me!"

Ozorne grabbed her roughly before pinning her on the bed where she was unable to move. "Wrong, Josephine. It is my right as your future husband to have you and have you I will," he growled at her before ripping her clothes off. She tried to fight back, but he was too strong and backhanded her a couple of times to put her in daze. He was in her and making no attempt to take it easy on her by the time she could focus again. It was all she could do not to cry out in pain, she would not give him that pleasure. She couldn't stop the silent tears that were making their way down her face however.

When he was done, he stared down at her with a satisfied smirk before getting off her and putting on his clothes. Daine curled up on her side. She didn't want to look at the evil monster who had taken her against her will. She was turned toward the door, so only she saw the shocked face of the slave from earlier before she left to not be caught by her master spying most likely. Daine couldn't find it in herself to care at the moment. She didn't think she would care about anything anymore. She had officially lost everything to this man.

Not long after he left her, the door opened again. She stiffened before she recognized the slave from earlier. She was carrying some things and laid them on the bed beside Daine before picking Daine up in her arms carefully and making soothing noises causing Daine to let everything out. Once she calmed down, Daine looked at the stuff she had brought and asked what it was.

"Its some stuff for the pain and some for healing, Nobility." the girl replied handing it to her to take.

"I thought I told you to quit calling me that," Daine said quietly, making a face as she took the medicine. She instantly felt better. She looked up at the girl she had been so rude to who was being so kind and asked, "What's your name?"

"Mine, Nobility?" the slave asked, surprise clear on her face.

"Yes, yours," Daine replied before making a face and replying, "And would you please stop calling me that?"

"My name is Messaundra, Lady Josephine."

"Ugh, don't call me that either!!"

"Why don't you want to be called by you name...mistress?" Messaundra asked.

"Because it's not my name, Messaundra my..."

"Messa."

"What?"

"Call me Messa. I don't really like Messaundra." Messa then got a panicked look on her face as she realized she just told the Emperess to be to do something. "I-I apologize Nobility. I didn't mean..."

"It's okay, Messa," Daine said kindly to the girl with as much as a smile as she could form at the moment. "Anyway, as I was saying, my name is Veralidaine Sarrasri. But you can just call me Daine."

"That I will do just as soon as I draw you a nice, hot bath." Messa said matter of factly. Upon seeing Daine's odd look she explained, "It will do some good for the pain you feel ... on the inside. Plus I bet you want to wash off the blood and it'll just feel good.

During her bath, Daine told Messa her whole story, from the beginning in Galla to Tortall to Carthak. After that bath Daine really did feel much better, but really wanted some sleep. Before she left, Messa gave Daine two of three charms explaining, "The one is a very powerful antipregnacy charm that can't be seen by any but the wearer and the other is one that allows you to know when someone is listening. See its clear at the moment and that means no one is. I have one, too" She looked uncertain. "I want to say I am sorry, Daine. If I had known what he was going to do to you, I never would have left the room. Slave or not, I would have fought him for you. No woman deserves to have that happen to them." With that said she got up to leave.

"Wait Messa, would you like to be my personal...servant?" Daine asked uncertainly. "As long as you promise not to fight him. You can't afford to have him angry with you."

"Yes!! Of course," Messa replied eagerly, "I'll move into the adjoining room right away."

"Hey Messa, how'd you get these amulets?"

"That's a slave secret," she replied with a wink and with that she left Daine to her sleep. From that day forth they were more that just master/servant, they were friends.

A/N: Thanks to laurashrub and Queen-Cocaine for your reviews.