Disclaimer: Same as always!

I am SO sorry about the wait. Stupid school, making me delay my readers. D:

Well, to make up for it, I made this chapter slightly long. It goes a little inside Shane's life and, uh, a little Mitchie sadness.

Enjoy!


Shane sat on his bed, resting his chin in his hand and looking out the window. No matter how hard he tried, his mind constantly wandering back to Mitchie. He couldn't get the image of her hurt expression out of his head. It frustrated him to no end. She was only a human. So what if she helped him? It didn't mean that he had to care for her.

But he did care. And damn it all, he didn't want to leave her.

However, when your people and kin come to rescue you, you don't really have a choice in the matter.

Shane groaned and flipped himself down on his bed, closing his eyes. 'Damn woman and her god damned charm.' He thought, breathing heavily through his nose. He wondered what she was doing right now. He wondered if she was thinking about him like he was thinking about her.

'Doubt it.' He thought.

There was a soft knock at the door, making Shane open his eyes. Not bothering to sit up, Shane called, "Come in,"

Shane heard the door open swiftly. He opened his eyes instantly as the person quickly ran over to his bed and jumped on him. Shane grunted in slight pain and looked down to see his youngest brother, Trevor, staring up at him with large eyes.

"Big brother!" he shouted, hugging Shane tight, "I was so scared when you were captured! I didn't know what those people would do to you! If I had the chance, I would've crossed the boundary and—"

"No you wouldn't," Shane interrupted, staring at his brother with serious eyes, "If you had, you would've been caught. I don't want you ever going near that boundary, you hear me?"

Trevor pouted and looked away, "Yeah, yeah, I know…" he mumbled, "I was just scared for you."

Shane stared down at his brother and sighed, "It's fine, Trev," he said, petting Trevor's head, "To be honest, I probably would've done, or well, thought, of doing the same thing."

Trevor looked up at his brother, touched by his words. "You would really?" he asked.

Shane smiled, ruffling his hair, "Of course. You're my brother, therefore I'm obligated to protect you, whatever it takes." He stated. Rolling Trevor off of him and allowing him to stand, Shane watched him, "You didn't just come up here to greet me hello, did you?" he questioned knowingly.

Trevor scratched the back of his head, "Uh, well…" he murmured hesitantly, "Dad wants to see you in the council hall."

Shane sighed, 'Of course he does,' he thought. Though his father wasn't much of a problem to him, he knew how overly protective he was of his sons. As much as Shane loved him, he didn't feel like getting a lecture on how to be careful in these woods that he grew up in.

Shane stood up, straightened his snug dark, woolen tunic, and made his way out of his room, his younger brother following closely behind him. Down the long halls and stairways he went until he reached the large doors of the council hall. Placing his hands flat on the steel doors, he pushed them open effortlessly.

In the middle of the room stood his father, looking as if he had been talking to the council around him. Upon Shane's arrival, he paused and turned. With a weary but genuine smile, he greeted his son, "Hello Shane, I'm glad you're doing well."

Shane nodded in return, "You wanted to see me?" he asked.

"I did," his father replied, then turned to the council, "I'm sorry for the interruption, but I would like to speak with my son alone. We will continue our discussion at a later time. I hope you all understand."

The council all nodded and murmured in understanding as they slowly stood and made their way out of the room, leaving Shane, Trevor, and their father.

"Come, I'll speak with you in my study," Shane's father said, then glanced at his youngest, "Trevor, would you mind leaving your brother and I to speak?"

Trevor smiled, "Sure! Bye Shane!" he called as he jogged off.

Shane smiled in his brother's direction before following his father into the study. The wooden door, with the words 'LORD PAUL'S STUDY' carved onto it, was pushed open, and the two headed inside.

As Shane closed the door behind him, he heard his father speak, "My son, I hope you realize how worried I was about you those past few days."

Shane sighed, "Yes, father, I believe I am aware," he replied, "If you hadn't been, you wouldn't have sent others to retrieve me."

His father breathed a weary sigh, running a hand through his gray hair, "That was a last resort," he admitted, "I truly did not want to go to that extent, but I did not want you to die there like that."

The older man sat down in a chair, rubbing his forehead, "Now I fear that we have started an unwanted war among the humans…something I never wanted to do." He said sadly.

"We started? You know just as well as I that we did not start anything!" Shane exclaimed, confused and angered at his father's statement, "That wretched king is who started everything! We have done nothing but obey his ridiculous rules, and yet he uses his sick trickery to come up with ways to accuse us, that scum."

"Shane—" His father began, but was quickly interrupted.

"No, I don't want to hear your pity towards that man!" Shane growled, "He deserves nothing."

Shane's father sighed once more, "Perhaps he doesn't, but what about the others? What about the other humans?" he asked. Shane hesitated, briefly thinking of Mitchie. "What about those with children? Do you really want to bring war to the innocent eyes of young humans?"

Shaking the thoughts of Mitchie out of his head, Shane snarled, "I myself do not, but I can no longer stand to tolerate that twisted king's brutality." He responded, "He started this war, and I will not stand here and watch as he tears this country apart."

"…As you say, my son," the fatigued old man replied, unable to come up with a reasonable response, "You are my only willing heir…don't forget that."

Shane huffed and was about to speak when there was a knock at the door, "Sir King Paul?"

Shane's father looked towards the door, "Come in."

The door opened, revealing Sander, one of Shane and his father's many slaves, "One of the council members wishes to speak with you. He says it cannot wait." He said.

The king exhaled, "I suppose. Give me a few minutes and I'll be done here."

Sander nodded and disappeared from the doorway. Turning his attention back to his son, the king said, "I also wanted to ask…how did you survive? Did they feed you? I feared that you had already perished."

Shane felt his cheeks flush and looked away. "Umm," he mumbled, thinking over his words, "I was…assisted."

His father raised an eyebrow curiously, "…Assisted? I did think they would ever assist prisoners."

Sighing, Shane elaborated, "Well, no…I mean, a woman came and helped me…she fed me and gave me water."

"A woman, you say?" The king asked, interested. He stood and walked over to his alcohol shelf, pouring himself a glass. "How odd," he remarked, "I would've thought that they'd keep that place locked down."

"A-ahhh…" Shane stammered, mentally cursing himself for stumbling over his words, "She wasn't just any woman…she, um…" Shane coughed, "…she happens to be the other king's daughter."

The king, who had been about to drink, paused. He looked at his son, who was looking away. "His…daughter?" he asked, surprised. Shane nodded silently.

"Hmm," he said, "very interesting."

-xXx-

Mitchie sat on her bed, legs curled up close to her chest. It was getting dark outside, and yet she hadn't moved from that spot since she woke up this morning. It was almost midnight, and Mitchie felt like getting up, grabbing meat and water and heading down to the dungeon to feed Shane like she always had and maybe get to know him a little.

But he was gone. He had left with his kind.

He had left her here.

Mitchie gave a soft whimper and pulled her legs closer to her body. Why was she having such a hard time letting him go? She had only known him for, what, a week and a half? What was so special about him?

'Everything.' She thought. 'Everything was special.'

After a few minutes, she heard the midnight bell ring. Abruptly, she stood up from the bed, barefoot and without a robe, and walked out of her room.

Two minutes later, she found herself standing in the dirty dungeon cell that Shane used to occupy. Her feet were caked with grime, and goose bumps had appeared visibly upon her arms from the nightly chill. Mitchie stared at the wall, the silver chains hanging limply, the cuffs missing completely.

She stared at it for a minute straight, before tears flooded her eyes and began to fall. "Why…?" she asked quietly.

A choked cry left her lips as more tears fell from her eyes, "Why would you leave me here?" she all but screamed, pounding on the stone wall in front of her, "After all I've done, why? Why?"

Mitchie continued to cry, and slid down the wall and onto her knees. "…Stupid…" she mumbled quietly, her nails clawing gently at the wall.

There, she cried herself to sleep, cold, dirty, and alone.

From the tiny, barred window, golden eyes watched, full of sorrow and regret.

'Pain…' Shane thought quietly, leaving before anyone could see him, 'that's all she'll ever know if she knew me…just more pain…'


R & R!