"Halt! State your business!" was what I was awakened to. I opened my eyes to see several armored men moving towards my companions and me. I stood quickly, Fenris was over by Hawke, clear across the camp.
"Wait! Isn't that the Champion?" a soldier frowned. "Shilo Hawke, you are under-"
I had pulled out my sword and hit the soldier in the face. I turned to Hawke, "RUN!"
I was glad that everyone-even Fenris- listened to me, but it was clear I hadn't thought it through at all. I fought off the soldiers as my friends escaped, knowing for a fact they could come to my rescue. I couldn't believe that I had the nerve to even try to take on armored, trained soldiers who probably spent most of their lives with a sword in their hand, but I did it anyways, trusting in the fact that I had good teachers. I held my ground for a short amount of time before one of the soldiers disarmed me. My sword fell out of my hands, and I found the tip of a blade pressed against my chest.
"What's your name, serah?" the soldier who had his sword to my chest, demanded.
"Kimberly," I breathed out. "Kimberly Amell."
"Well," the soldier sneered at me, "you're coming with us, Serah Amell."
"No, I'm not," I glared back at him.
That was when I felt a blunt force against the back of my head. Everything faded to black, and I saw a bright glow, as I prayed to God that Mercy stayed inside me. The last thing I wanted was to be dubbed an apostate and an abomination.
You'll be safe, I heard Mercy say to me as I slipped into darkness.
When I came to, I was in a damp, cold, smelly dungeon all alone. I knew right then that I was in Starkhaven. My heart nearly stopped, had Mercy come out to protect us? I prayed that she didn't. That was the last thing either of us needed. I stood and looked around. A guard was posted outside my cell door, his icy grey eyes were upon me, and at that moment, I felt fear.
Just breathe, Kimberly, Mercy instructed me. Our secret is safe. They know nothing about what you are.
Easy for you to say, I thought snidely. I moved towards the bars, "Where am I?" When the guard didn't reply, I glared at him, "What? You have no manners? Are you fucking mute?"
He only crossed his arms across his chest and looked up at the ceiling. I let out a frustrated scream and kicked the wall. That hurt me more than it hurt the wall, "Son-of-a-fucking-bitch!"
"What's going on in here?" another guard demanded as he entered the dungeon.
"The prisoner, Captain," the first guard replied. "She has an anger problem."
"Ser Jamison, weren't you told to report to me once Madam Amell awakened?" the captain didn't seem too upset.
"She just woke-up, Ser," Jamison gave a nod.
"Bind her and take her to the king," the captain ordered. "He wants to have a word with the Amell."
I had a good mind to argue with them, but I kept my mouth shut. I didn't need more trouble than I already had, and I was curious to find out what was going to happen to me. I recalled Varric's explanation about Sebastian Vael, the King of Starkhaven, who had wanted Hawke to kill Anders after the destruction of Kirkwall's Chantry, had sworn revenge on Anders, and Varric had also called him "Choir Boy". I began to shake like a leaf, what was he going to do to me? I had been traveling with Shilo Hawke, and on top of that, I had introduced myself as Kimberly "Amell", which I was sure the King knew was Hawke's mother's maiden-name. I took a deep shaky breath and allowed them to lead me up several flights of stairs. I was pulled into a throne room, where a man dressed in all white with dark brown hair and just as piercing blue eyes as Hawke, stood right as we entered the room. A lucky guess from me was that he was King Sebastian Veal of Starkhaven. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I was pulled closer to him, but not in the way it had for Fenris.
"Lady Amell," Sebastian Vael didn't show any emotion towards me, "what is your relation to Shilo Hawke?"
"She's my cousin," I replied coldly.
"Where is she?" he asked as if he expected me to answer.
"Fuck off," I glared at him.
"Is Anders with her?" he continued. When I hesitated, Sebastian smiled, "If I promise your cousin's safety, will you tell me where I can find Anders?"
"I won't tell you shit-even if you promised me my family back," I spat at him. "I won't betray my friends."
"Anders would betray you in a heartbeat," Sebastian's blue eyes lit up with anger. "He's an abomination and would sell you out if he thought it'd help his cause."
"He's a far better man that you could-" I started.
SMACK! His hand stung my face as he hit me hard. I must have struck a nerve with the bastard. If I wasn't tied up, I would have grabbed my face where a red welt was forming. Teas filled my eyes, and I could hear King Sebastian speak, "Ser Jamison, take Lady Amell up to the room the maids prepared for her. Stay there and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid."
I couldn't keep my mouth shut as Ser Jamison led me away from the king, nor did I try to keep it shut, "Only a fucking coward hits a woman! Especially a woman who's tired up! You fucking bastard!"
Sebastian ignored me as Ser Jamison pulled me away. My face stung like hell, and all I wanted to do was cry. I had some crazy luck. I had accepted Fenris' offer of being with him and then I get captured by one of his old friends. But I was strong, I wasn't going to break, no matter how much the bastard of a king hit or tortured me. I wasn't going to tell him anything, not while my friends were out there, probably trying to find a way to come to my rescue.
Ser Jamison opened a large, wooden door, and pushed me into a large, beautifully decorated room. Normally, I would have been excited to even have a bed to sleep in-especially one that looked so comfortable looking as the one in the room, but I wasn't even the slightest excited or happy about it. Everything was going terribly wrong, and I had just had to play the hero. As soon as I was unbound, I rubbed my face and looked out the window. Even though I didn't know King Sebastian Vael, I vowed to hate him until the day I died.
For a week, all I could do was look out a window and think inside my head to Mercy, praying to God that I wouldn't go insane from this. Fenris was always on my mind, which seemed to hurt more than any thought about my family. Most of the time I wondered why he even bothered to try to get with me when this shit happened the next day. Then I found myself wondering why I didn't just accept when he had asked me to be his. I wanted to cry, but I didn't allow myself to do so, not in front of Ser Jamison, who was like my own personal Templar, only he wasn't a Templar, just a knight. All the same, I hated him for being there in the room with me when I just wanted to get my emotions out.
You will see Fenris again, Mercy promised me.
How? I'm trapped here with only you to talk to in my own head, I let out a deep breath. Right now, all I want is my freedom, Mercy. I can't take this, being a prisoner. It's not right. I haven't been able to take a piss all week without that creep watching me.
Give them time, I have faith that they'll come for us, Mercy said calmly.
They all must think I'm a fool, tears stung my eyes.
I'm sure that's not true. They'd see what you did for what it really is, Mercy was being reasonable.
And what the fuck did I do? Gone and made myself a prisoner? I shook away the tears and took another deep breath.
No, Kimberly, you saved your friends. Your family, of course Mercy was the voice of reason. You gave them their freedom, and in turn, they will fight for yours.
What if Sebastian is right? What if Anders really doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself?
There's still Hawke, Isabela, Varric, Aveline, Donnic, Merrill, Arora, Tylor...and Fenris. I'm sure they all give a shit, Mercy thought back.
I smiled a little, Mercy, I fear I'm a bad influence on you.
No, your manor of speaking is just more...more, Mercy's voice was gentle. Just stay calm, don't do anything irrational or that you'll regret. We'll be just fine.
There is another way out of this Hell-hole, I thought bitterly.
How...?
We burn them all to the fucking ground, I could feel my hands already starting to heat up.
NO! Mercy sounded worried. Don't become what they all believe mages to be like. Your compassion for others, your mercy, is what divides you from everyone else.
Then we need to get the fuck out of here.
