Chapter 70: Ropes and Binds
A/
That night our hero was served a cold dinner and thereafter sent to bed. He would again sleep in his door-less room, now that it was door -less. Alice never got back until late when the wolf gave a hollow cry and Slade found her snooping around in his study. She was sent to her room and the door was barred shut for good, leaving a simple crying girl to weep for her losses.
He was pretty hard on you. The hero lay across the covered mattress with very little ease. "Yeah…"
To crush your broken spirit-
Robin bolted out of bed. Why was he talking in his head?
You're not friend. Not like you think. Robin shook his head as the blood rushed back and forth.
"This is all fake, this has just been a fake scandal all this time… —
"Yeah but you're not, and neither am I." The spirit from within now showed itself fully clothed and with a bunch of Robin's features. Bursting right from the hero's chest. Almost the same hair, but longer and raven waves fell to the floor. It was a floating specter right in front of his eyes. Too, those eyes it held… "There is a name they call you, no?" The figure asked as soon as Robin had caught his breath.
"Whe...I-I mean, who — Gulp Who are you? Wait! You can't be here, you have almost got me killed!" He was a hysteric as the voice of our 'righteous one' was lost to craziness. "Why are you back?"
Since the longhaired spirit had long enough thought out complaints of its own, it decided to interest the young leader first. In the system of the god's own knowing of this enemy. "How is it that one of Roku's favorites falls silent." It asked mockingly. Robin blew up. "What?! I told them! I'm not his son!" Robin huffed a sigh and covered himself in a blanket. "I don't have time for this, Go away." The spirit watched as he let himself be taken into sleep's arms again, but it would not leave.
That night, Robin could have sworn he'd felt a tap on his right shoulder; it was back that time at 12:00 p.m. as well. And 1, and 2. Until as soon as the tapping resumed Robin planned not to be alarmed by it. The next time it came he woke as soon as he felt…a presence…AGH!
Robin threw his pillow at the wall as the figure reappeared. Robin was not happy with its having left bags under his eyes. He frowned at the annoying spirit as soon as it said one word to his face.
"Hello."
Robin burst through the sheets as he climbed messily out of the wrapped up covering. "What?" The spirit gasped as light was blinding the room. Was he activating a power? But all too late it was simply for the two as a maid knocked on the splintered way of the doorframe. "Oh my! Please, come into my chamber, you must be healed quick." Robin thought he would fall over as the spirit went back into his head to hide. It was late and early at the same time.
Adela, her name was Adela. She was a chambermaid and an elven maiden, he thought. "No, I am no such thing."
"Adela is my name, what they call me here. It isn't my real name though little one." She answered.
Eerily Robin paused as if they were being watched. "Your senses hone themselves at night I'm sure. For without your alertness you would be only human." She walked a step then turned to face him. "Here we are." Without seeing where they now were, Robin realized that the door was to his left.
Inside was a cozy spot filled with reds and purples of all shades, here even the flowers were coloured. The dresser and shelved areas lay next to the bed. While all clothes for the day were neatly placed as so folded up. There were candles lit everywhere and it was dim and darker still. Without the candles there would be nothing.
"Sit on the bed please. While I get the balm." Robin had held his breath waiting for her to finish what she was going to say. "He'll come for you so I'd like him to know that you were properly cared for while he was away." She rushed to a closet and took out a box and some jars. "You poor dear…if only someone had been told."
Robin waited until she was but his side, kneeling to speak. "Why are you helping me? Doesn't the fact Slade probably knows bother you?" He waited until a cloth had been set into warm water and she had mashed down the slop of ingredients. "Hold still, this might sting a bit."
"I mean, your friends….
Oh sweetie, they are only working her, as am I." The cloth came to his face and Robin winced painfully. Cringed up a bit her moved in his spot, to the side away from the cloth. "I'd said so truly that this would not feel well." Reprimanded the maid. "Now you've smeared my mixture all over your cheek." She got up and pulled out a bucket for hot water and cool water mix. Now be calm this time, "I don't want you burned."
Robin froze as he switched to holding his head in hands. "You don't know…"
"Know what?" she asked taking the wet cloth back to his face and down again. "The bruises? Little one, I know all of it."
Robin looked up at her with his mouth open a bit. 'The rumors had taken toll last night while you slept my dear." She wet her cloth again. "Slade said anyone who tried to help you would be fed to his pets."
Robin gasped. "But he –
HE is not our king, you are." The hero sat on the bet looking at the bucket by it. The two were silent until Adela picked up her supplies and spoke. "As a rite you are our prince, none the less and furthermore Slade should not control you as he does. This was supposed to be Rokuro's 'job', but until they bring back his body he is only spirit within another." She told him angrily. She was breathing so her body could relax again from her fit. Robin said nothing.
ST/B/
"Wondrous! Now we may continue our quest without any intrusions —
Um, Star?" Beastboy looked up at the sky as he spoke.
"Hm?"
"I don't think we need to look that far." He was correct, the castle was in their sites.
Wiz/Verr
"The kingdom lies in this desert? Huh. Who knew." Verra swung himself from the arms of the short magician and onto the rock hard ground. Landing on all fours. "Careful!" Verra's friend and ally exclaimed. With little much to say the least each Titan and non-hero or guardian decided to sneak in to find out if this was indeed the spot and place. Beastboy was the first to not want to volunteer, so he went.
Turning into a locust he made his way to the vine covered wall of one side to the floating castle. Starfire watched with piercing eyes as he made his way through a small crack in the wall's side. Starfire squealed with joy as he made his way past rock and stone way towards the light. He had entered the kitchen and was below the keep where they held guests and former Titans. Beastboy became a mouse and found the door quietly, not quiet enough for the cook.
"Aha! Le mouse is back!" The cook came down on his head with a broom. As quick as a mouse, Beastboy fled. "Eeep!" the mouse cried out as it ran through the halls. Too late, there was no other way to take…! He was trapped.
"You little rat! I shall have your head!" the cook screamed aloud; too loud so that the sweet, yet stern Adela heard. Her goal had been to check up on Slade and try to stall him while Robin stayed in her room to heal, but… She hushed his bickering with a wave of her palm and sent him away muttering. Picking up Beastboy gently, she became one with his spirit in seconds. "You are not a real mouse are you?"
Beastboy gulped as her eyes shot a glance at his. "Um…uh..." Adela spoke in her voice with a booming affect on the mouse, Beastboy. "You are not too free with your words, be careful how you use them here." She smiled down at him as he was placed on the floor, changing shape.
"Can you help my friends?" He blurted out. She stood looking back at him and nodded. "Follow me." She said.
B/
Robin sat on the bed until the door opened a crack. Adela had returned with, someone…BB! He felt like flying out at his buddy and hugging him silly, but he still hurt all over. Adela did not smile, she had only done this to soon be rid of her worry of Slade, but it only grew. "Make this a quick visit." She said slowly. She eyed the two and sat on a chair by her bed. "Please."
Robin looked at the two as he slowly stood up. "Why is he here?" He didn't look very joyous at all. His mood had changed quick. "Where are the others?"
Beastboy's ears bopped up. "Here dude! We came to get you out of this place. And away from Slade…"
"But —
Nope, not till we break you out of here."
Adela stood. "But the Titans and you yourself were friendly towards one another, how isn't this a momentous occasion for you or them?" she asked robin who sighed but suddenly felt like falling over. Clinging to the post of the bed for support he held his hurting spot and looked his friend in the eye then back away. "I…you shouldn't have come…--
Doesn't matter dude, the others are waiting outside this place for us." Robin felt a growl in his throat. Then a burning and last fire smoking in his lungs. Opening his mouth, impossibly he let out a blazing heat filled skyrocket of fire. Beastboy and Adela ran from the spots that they were in and ducked behind a bookcase. Coughing up ash Robin felt his nostrils smoke up a bit too. What was happening to him? He was blowing out fireballs in midair! "Like a monster —
Which is exactly what you are." Slade came before the doorway and with the wolf and a captive Alice by his side. Her eyes were full of never-ending fear. Robin's eyes flashed open as he was getting ready to sneeze…
Wow. Too much trouble for little Richard, boy oh boy. Will come up with the next chapter soon. Till then!