There are so many chapters I've written and not posted here with a good reason... it's scary...

It's a LOOOOOOOONG chapter, with LOOOOOOOOTS of conversation in this chapter. Finally some Julia again and a heart to heart with our lovely Elmont.

My answers from chapter 27 are on top of this page and from chapter 28 are at the end of this page!

Thank you for reading everyone and I hope you will enjoy!


Answering reviews from chapter 27:

Lady-of-Reecia: Aw, thank you so much! The chapter didn't stand a chance :) More fluff coming your way missy!

Pensandbooks: Hahaha! Thank you my dear. I really do think I need more Jack and Addy moments :)

Teddy bear 007: YAY! xD

Jedi Kay-Kenobi: I'm glad you liked the moment between them! And Addy's 'You tell no one!' attitude. My first idea was to let Elmont and Addy part without a word actually, but I couldn't do it. I'm glad you liked their moment together!

Druid Archer: Oh dear! Don't hurt yourself C: I'm very glad you like it!

Midnightshadow07: I know right! The bantering is very fun to write as well! Be prepared for more Elmont force (sounds like some sort of fangirl group haha!)

Thedragonhorse: More suspense coming your way… I added some holding hands for you! I hope that'll make up for the kiss :)

The kiss will be coming sooooooon

Cantate: Yep, Jack is captain obvious! Glad you like it :)

Addie: They will! Just a few more chapters I promise! But you'll not like me for it, muahahaha!

MoonCastersFlyingCircus: Yep, Addy's got the jiggles. And you got holidays?! Give it to me! I need it :O

Guest: I will! Thank you very much for reading all this, it makes me very happy!

Blackcat: NGGh… don't make me blush! Thank you for taking time to read it all C: You'll have to wait and see though, I ain't tellin' ;)

SerendipityAEY: Thank you, I'm really glad you liked that moment! I had to create some understanding between each other so they can grow closer. Horseback riding, showers, baby's and Jack are on the way!


'I really don't think I should be doing this.'

'Lost your touch milady? Insecurity is a bad color on you.'

'I don't know man…'

'I really do realize you are in a delicate situation, so I will refrain myself from stressing this as much as I actually should. However I do-'

'Did you just imply that I'm psychosomatically disturbed?'

'...'

'Right here and now? Being in a dungeon turns you into a charmer don't it? '

'Go in there, nothing will harm you.'

'You must really want me dead,' I snapped at him 'This really sounds like a bad plan. Do you really think I'm going to impress her in my damn pink dress?'

'I am quite certain it is salmon.'

'It's bloody pink captain.'

'It doesn't matter,' Elmont sighed, clearly playing the affronted knight once again 'You are the only one she will listen to.'

Have you been paying any attention to her?! She'll jump me! She'll be on me like panther!

'Yeeeeah… didn't she like you more?'

He gave me a look.

'Okay, look, you're not being very-'

'Addy,' Elmont sighed. I could almost see his patience melting away this time. 'You have been kidnapped by a feared group of bandits, you have been held captive in a place so small you could barely turn your head, you have been beaten, you climbed a beanstalk, you barely turn a lash at the idea of giants and yet you still you not believe you can handle a simple talk with a woman who adores the dirt you step on. '

He nudged me towards the heavy door this time 'I promise you I will be right here.'

A few minutes ago when I was marching into the dungeon, tripping several times from the lack of light, I wasn't expecting all this. This dank dungeon reeked of sweat and mold. Small, stone cells were placed next to each other on my right. Heavy oaken doors covered each entrance, so there was no way I could take a peek inside.

I gave him a pleading look but Elmont was immune to it. Why did I even expect anything else?

'But, what if I- I mean... How could I ever-'

'Because Lady Pitsman, you have a way of sneaking into a person's good books. You, my dear, are the embodiment of trust.' Elmont explained while unlocking the heavy door in front of us.

'I will not let anything happen to you. Will you believe in that? Believe in me?' he told me while his hand was resting on the door handle.

I took a few unsteady breaths. The corset wasn't making this any easier on me, that damn thing is just dreadful. Plain dreadful.

I took a step forward as Elmont nodded at me.

The door opened and panic flushed through my veins, I turned around to face him 'But what do I-'

'Preposterous, meaningless and inappropriate. ' Elmont cut me off as he turned me around and nudged me inside the cellar.

The fact that I was actually standing inside a cellar dawned on me when Elmont had shut the door with a loud bang. And even though I didn't hear it lock it still made me think of all those nights at home watching prison break-movies.

Only in this cellar there weren't any sweat-covered men showing off their biceps.

Nope.

In this cellar was Julia. Arrested for suspicion of aiding the kidnapping on Isabelle and me.

That was all I knew.

I was nervous and I felt what most prisoners would feel when they entered a cell. And that my friends was called fear. Only now I noticed my labored breathing and the fact that I was starting to sweat.

Go back a small voice commented.

And to be honest, the idea was tempting. But I wanted to prove something to myself. Not to Elmont, not to Isabelle, not to the crooks that kidnapped me but to me. Only me.

Julia was sitting on her bed to the right in the room. It was a thin and narrow bed that seemed moments away from snapping in half. The one chair in the room seemed uncomfortable and matched with the small table in front of it. I found myself wondering how many people had sat there and wondered what was out there beyond the stone walls.

The one small window cast a pale light inside the cellar, it was nice but didn't have the power to enlighten the darkness inside the jail. If anything, it made Julia's beautiful round face even more pale than usual. Making her almost see-through.

She sat anxiously with her hands folded in her lap, steam rising from the cup beside her. The chains around her thin wrists clanged against each other gently when she turned to me.

I believe they did give her one of the better cellars. She was somewhat important right?

She wasn't skinny, but she did look quite tired. Her strawberry blond hair wasn't curled and braided into a beautiful hairdo, but it was down and fell gently on her shoulders. Perhaps she didn't wash for 2 days but her hair still looked beautiful, it hadn't faded one bit.

Her eyes bore into mine and I sighed while I brushed both my hands over my face. How did you interrogate somebody? I didn't think reenacting Samuel L. Jackson in the movie pulp fiction would help me with that.

I took a weary step forwards in the direction of the chair and the desk, trying to keep myself from accepting defeat already. When I sat down in the uncomfortable chair I gathered all my courage to take a look at her face, wondering if she was still staring at me. Indeed she was.

'You look good.' I started with a smile.

Julia returned my smile with a watery one of her own.

It was so quiet and I couldn't find any words no matter how much I forced myself to open my mouth. So instead I shifted awkwardly in my seat.

'So do you.' Julia said softly. I didn't miss the tremble in her voice.

I smiled again, playing with the ends of my dress. How on earth was I going to do this?

'I like your dress.' Julia said while she looked at my dress longingly. 'Showing curves are fashionable in Cloister at the moment I heard.'

'Curvy?' I questioned while I inspected the dress 'Perhaps because of that corset I'm wearing. That thing is from hell I tell you. Damn thing is more restricting than a boa constrictor.'

Even though Julia probably didn't know what a boa constrictor was, it still prompted a small laugh out of her which she hid with her hand.

'I remember the first time I wore one, quite an experience.'

'How old were you?' I asked as I shifted in my chair.

Julia looked up at me with a look that almost make me cry.

'Seven years old.'

'Seven y-' my voice broke before I could end my sentence.

Julia and I were so different. Not a thing connected us and I felt so bad for her. Yet I knew I shouldn't, she might have done something that made some nasty people kidnap Isabelle and me.

It was silent again. It wasn't uncomfortable or anything, but the air was heavy of the things that remained unspoken.

Julia shifted and the bed made a loud creaking sound. She must have known why I was in here, she must…

She was a smart girl after all.

'Perhaps I may have made… I made a mistake.' She whispered as she turned her eyes away from mine. 'When someone you… love asks you to protect them, you would do anything for them. Anything. But I misinterpreted all the signs. His intentions…'

So she did have something to do with it. Somehow that didn't surprise me. If she was innocent she would have told me already.

'I did not mean for you to get hurt.' Julia sniffled, wiping her tears away with a thin handkerchief. 'That was not what we agreed on, that was not-'

She buried her face in her small hands now, sobbing out loud.

'And now I am here, and he did not even take the time to-' she sobbed, I noticed she was shaking by now.

Now was the moment I should say something, I could feel it. That itch.

'Why did you do it then?' I asked, not really sure what I was expecting. I knew so little but I was sure I couldn't ask stupid questions now. Who on earth was she so upset about?

'Since he would do it for me. He was always there for me. ' she answered while she stared at the floor.

Owen? Was she talking about Owen maybe?

Was she dating him or something?

Brain-explosion.

'I know I will not leave this place,' she started once again, looking into my eyes. 'so you have to believe me that he promised me he wouldn't hurt you. You or the princess.'

When her voice trailed off I reached out to grab her hands, they were cold.

'Tell me,' I urged her 'I'll promise you right here and now I will help you.'

She frowned a little, eyes still watery.

'I'm sure you would feel better if you tell someone.' I offered her.

She shook her head though, as if she was at war with herself.

'I-I cannot. It will not matter.'

I sighed as I thought all this over again. Elmont told me she was in here from the moment she informed him. Apparently she had waited for 3 days before she told anyone about what had happened on our walk. By then we were far away, surrounded by murderers, rapists and thieves. Yes, she was partially responsible for that. But then again… if she was trying to protect someone…

'Did Owen threaten you?' I asked cautiously, not sure if that was the case.

She shook her head her blond hair fluttering around her. Her not answering me made me even more frustrated.

'Julia,' I began with a sigh ' he left you in this dungeon, broke his promise to you. Such a person… he's a douchebag. A royal pain in the arse. A twit. Why would you still protect such a person?' I huffed 'Right? It's not like he's so important you'd let him get away with anything? It's not like he's-'

My brain stopped working.

I took a deep breath before I studied her reaction. Julia's response confirmed my suspicion.

It's not like he's-

family?


I felt bad leaving her in that room sobbing. I really did, no matter how scary she was every now and then.

There was barely any light in the dungeons, except for a few torches and the very small window in Julia's cell. There wasn't anything you could amuse yourself with in there. Absolutely nothing except for the silence, the cold and the occasional rat that seemed to scatter over the stones.

Elmont looked up when I exited the room, searching my eyes.

I remained silent though and leaned against the stone wall beside me as Elmont locked up the room.

Again with the heavy silence.

He offered me his arm which ticked me off a bit. Why was he acting so…

'Could you show me a normal empty cell?' I asked looking dead into his eyes. I knew I couldn't demand it, but I could at least try to put a little pressure on him.

Either way, Elmont was not prepared for this question obviously and raised an eyebrow.

'A normal and empty cell?' he questioned slowly. He looked at me curiously and I realized it was an odd question to ask.

But was really time to stop letting things happen to me. I should start make things happen myself. I had a lot of questions and I desperately needed answers.

He moved further into the dungeon before asking a guards for the keys.

I didn't really want to take look inside a boring and narrow cell… exactly. I just wanted to make sure that our next conversation was private and that he had nowhere to run… Because he was acting strange around me from the moment I arrived here. Treating me like any other lady and all. And I was not like any other lady!

It wasn't plotting! This was just… good planning.

Elmont opened the door and a putrid smell protruded from the prison cell. Elmont seemed to stand back but I didn't care though. As fast as I could, I snatched the key from his hands and pushed him inside. Before the guard could notice what I'd just done, I stepped inside as well and closed the door.

It was so dusty in here I could barely see the colour of the stone wall. And that smell.

I heard Elmont's sigh of exasperation when I locked the door but he made no move to stop me.

My hands still trembled from before, making the key slip a few times. I simply couldn't face what was going on here. Or… what had happened, or any of it. The biggest reason for me was that nagging little voice inside of my head that kept telling me I was too stubborn and scared to confront him and…

I clenched the key in my fist.

… and what exactly?

Talk?

Yes.

He beat me to it though.

'I am quite curious to hear you explain how you believe this will turn out.'

'Elmont.' I started.

'Addy.' He responded while taking steps towards me.

'H-hey! What are you doing?' I could hear the panic in my voice as he was only a step away from me.

'Making you uneasy I see. ' he said as he extended his left hand 'Give me the keys, there are better places to discuss this matter.'

I shook my head and hid the hand that held the keys behind my body.

'Give me the keys and we will talk.' He offered again, keeping his hand outstretched in front of me.

'We will talk and then I'll give you the keys.' I countered, not giving an inch.

I cringed when he backed off, because really what would I really talk to him about.

'About Julia and about his bitchy attitude. Man up and talk about your feelings damnit.'

Feelings. Right.

'The real ones.'

Real feelings. Got it.

It's not like I had a choice now did I? I made it the second I shoved him in here.

So what if I was nervous now? I was only human.

'I want to get out Addy.' He stated again, staring me down challengingly.

'Yeah well, too bad. I want a bath filled with whipped cream every once in a year, but that ain't happenin' either.'

'You are behaving like a child.'

'That's because you are too much of an adult.' I gave him a look that generally involved maintaining the air of disgruntlement.

This wasn't turning out like I wanted. It felt like this big ugly beast was sitting on my heart. Why did it always turn out like this?

Then turn it around Addy. Say what you have to say.

'I'll start asking some questions… Or if you like, state some problems I've encountered. And you have to promise to be silent.' I said while I searched for more courage.

There wasn't any courage lying around in this place for sure. The walls had deep cracks into them and some of the names scratched into them weren't readable anymore. It made everything more real. Like the people who were once locked in this place were breathing in my ear, making me afraid of taking a breath myself.

Just start with the easiest.

'One: Julia told me the reason why she screwed us over, was because of a relative. A male apparently, who ensured her nothing would happened to Isabelle or me. And now he screwed her over by letting her take all the blame. Which brings me to question number one:' I sighed and shook my head before looking up at him 'All the blame for what? What she said implied the kidnap was a setup.'

Elmont inspected the ceiling of the small room we were currently in, sighing loudly. When his eyes looked back at mine I noticed they hardened just for a moment. But soon enough humour flooded back into his eyes.

'Is this an interrogation? Threatening the captain of the royal guard is against the law.' He wondered.

'I'm asking you as a friend.' I answered, a sharp edge to my voice.

'As a friend? Funny way of showing it my dear.'

'Answer the question Elmont.' I breathed, noticing my temper started to flare up.

The more he stared at me, the more my courage crumbled away into a pile of ash. I wanted it to be over with. Not because I hated it inside this cell but this… this was the thing that made me remember exactly who I was. With some people I met, Jack, Isabelle, Howard, Elinor, I was able to continue the idea that I was a woman with a big mouth who wasn't afraid of giants or thugs. A woman who didn't care about the weird looks people gave me and simply danced on in the middle of a foreign land.

But with Elmont I was reminded of what I really was. And in his presence I was exactly who I was. A distressed little girl who needed comfort 24/7 from some sort of terror only she could see.

And it made me feel ashamed of myself.

'The crown has been stolen.' Elmont announced, brushing his hands over his face.

I scoffed, thinking he was joking.

But he wasn't laughing.

'Wh- stolen? How-' I started but Elmont cut me off.

'When Lady Julia informed me about your disappearance, I was not about to waste another second. I rode out and took the best men with me.' He sighed but it turned into a soft chuckle 'Foolish of course. They came in through the king's chamber…'

I could feel my chest start to ache in such a way that I felt suffocated by it. My hands fell to my waist and I took a steadying breath.

'Killed ten unsuspecting people, poisoned the king, took the crown and left the very same night.'

Wait what?

'Poisoned?' my head reeled in disbelief

Poisoned? How the hell did they do that?

'What do you mean poisoned? Not killed?'

Elmont shook his head, but it looked as if he wanted to slam it against the wall instead.

'That would be all Cloister knows for now: The king is ill. Whoever took the crown knows we will not create panic. Perhaps it was a distraction as well. Curing the king was more of a priority when we arrived than retrieving the crown.' He told me softly.

After a few moments of silence between us he continued 'But we still have an immense problem. A poisoned king, still not being able to wake up, a princess with child, a missing crown… I believe we are in quite a pickle.'

His tone was light but his face told a whole different story.

'So who could have done it? Julia still has a father and a brother… Isabelle told me…Or maybe a cousin?' I questioned but Elmont sent me a small smile instead of answering.

'Yeah, I know. Could be anyone really… ' I sighed.

'At least we have an idea.' Elmont breathed after several moments of silence between us.

'What are you going to do?' I asked, scared of what his answer might be. I didn't want to leave him again. And I didn't want him to leave this town, Jack and Isabelle, me. But I guess he wouldn't have a choice. He too had to protect what was important to him.

So he didn't answer. And to be honest, I didn't need one either.

'So what is it really milady?'

I exhaled a shaky breath and reluctantly took a step forward. He knew me too well. He noticed too much and somehow it made me panic.

I shook my head at him, not knowing where to start.

'You're impossible.' I mumbled, shifting from one foot to the other.

'So I have been told. So what plans did you really have when you brought me in here? besides torturing a troubled captain of the royal guard.' he smiled.

You know that people sometimes talk about the whole 'butterflies in my stomach' crap. They aren't butterfly's.

They're bats.

Flapping violently and bumping inside you and tearing you apart.

Vampire bats I tell you.

'I-' I stared at him, almost dropping the keys 'You-'.

Christ.

'Probably nothing.'

'Liar.' He told me in a soft tone.

Fine.

'I feel… you're being off with me. If you tell me otherwise, I name you a liar. I see it and I feel it… and I'm not sure what it means…' I gave in, staring at the cold and dirty stones beneath our feet. I was pretty sure I saw a rat pass us by.

Real feelings. Fine.

'I thought we… were past that and all. And ever since I arrived here, it feels like you're shutting me out for some reason.' I frowned, not sure how to put everything into words.

'I understand you have a lot to deal with and things aren't really working in our favour at the moment.' I continued 'So I'd like to understand a bit better. I'd like to know what's eating you sooner, you know.'

I was so nervous. My heart was practically playing football inside my chest. It had to be the corset I thought frantically. It was squeezing me so tightly it made me breathe high up in my chest. Making my stupid chest dance the Macarena for Pete's sake!

Memo to myself: Don't think about your ridiculous dress. You're not giving enough feelings. Addy, prove yourself damnit! Be brave!

'And I know you have to leave a lot from now on… I just don't want you to. '

It scares me.

'And it scares me.' I added, cringing when I heard thought of how cliché this must have sounded.

'So I'm a little angry with you for not telling me this right away.' I straightened up and by now I had mustered up the courage to look up at him. Elmont was watching my every move with an annoyingly intense stare.

I felt my face flush from my completely voluntary outburst. This place was definitely getting to me. The stone hallways and cells were all crumbly and the big pieces of I-don't-know-who's-hair-extension-that-is littered the floor. And don't think I didn't see the torture devices. Because I did. All this made me more uncomfortable by the minute. And I was now properly convinced that the dungeon of Cloister was not a place to be trifled with.

'I cannot let you be put into that situation again.' He stated, shaking me out of my thoughts.

'What?' I asked with a confused expression.

'Not like with those raiders .' His jaw clenched and his eyes shot back to mine.

'I do not want you to feel pain. I do not want you to know that that sort of pain exists. How was I to tell you that your home is in danger?'

'You can't make those kind of decisions for me. I'm your-'

Friend?

'-friend.' I hastily added.

Friend. Right.

Are we friends? Where do we exactly stand? Am I interested? Should I be? And is it just me, or are we flirting in a weird twisty way sometimes? It goes round and round and round and round! I had boy problems. Knight-boy problems. He gives me that stupid 'milady' thing but he never does anything.

'So I'd like you to treat me as such.' I growled, quite fed up with this.

However, he ignored me 'I am trying to protect you because of that. Can you understand? Because it does not seem to have crossed your mind.'

'It's different from where I'm from!' I noticed my voice was getting louder and louder 'I'm not used to all this knights-protect-the-ladies-crap. But you are not protecting me by not telling me anything.'

I looked at him before boldly taking another step forward 'I am willing to learn, but you have to give me something back. I have to continue learning if I want to survive here, no matter the part I play in a castle. Because I can't do anything now! I can't fight, I can't make any money, I don't know-'

I shut my eyes and I sighed. How did this get so nasty? This turned into a complication I couldn't afford. I was not going down that road again because I knew where that led. Insecurity and misunderstanding. And that hurt. And I sure as hell wasn't going to set myself up for that.

Get it together. Christ, Addy, get it together.

'Perhaps you do not give yourself enough.' Elmont said, not yelling as I actually expected in the first place.

'Enough of what?'

'Credit.' He answered.

What a kind and absolute worthless lie.

'Perhaps you give me too much.' I said while I made a sound of disapproval.

'I am certainly not. Perhaps one day you will see.'

'I can't. I'm a child.' I waved my hands around in a gesture. His eyes were like a bottomless pool and I was feeling way too much. Far more that I should. Far more than anyone alive should.

In a ridiculous dress with a butt bow.

'Yes you are.'

'Hey! I could teach you one or three things about being a responsible adult in my world too! ' I frowned while smacking him in the arm.

'You are currently harassing a knight, does that seem wise to you?' He answered plucking the keys from my fingers.

I grumbled as Elmont nudged me aside and opened the door. The moments it clicked he stepped aside for me.

Who even did that anymore? I almost started giggling and stuff.

Elmont, without muttering a single word grabbed my hand instead of offering his arm and led me down the hallway. My hand felt surprisingly small in his calloused hand.

I'm not going to lie, I was still a bit put off at the idea of him not wanting to tell me important things. It had hurt me.

But his hand was rough in mine, caused by years and years of handling swords.

And with that I suddenly I didn't feel as angry as before.

If this situation really was as bad as it seemed, I didn't have it in me to lose anymore time with him that I might have. Because anything could go wrong at this point, and I didn't want to waste time by being upset. We had to stick to gether in an A-team kind of way!

Then again, I quite literally, knew nothing about the future. So what did I know.

'You will stay with me.' Elmont stated, nodding as if he just made that decision. It took a while for me to respond because I almost fell headfirst to the ground. Luckily Elmont stopped me from performing that trick.

I risked a look at him.

'I will what?'

'I will not leave you in a place where I cannot see you.'

Gosh.

I wondered when that familiar uncomfortable pressure in my chest started to feel sort of nice. It wasn't as if it happened now, it snuck in. Like he did.

'Promise?'

He squeezed my hand and that was enough. However sickeningly cliché that might have sounded, I didn't care.

I didn't care if I used to laugh at those things, like when I saw my neighbour giving his girlfriend a flower.

I did not care.

And I felt great.

As we passed the very confused guard I took one last look at Julia's cell. But as we went up the stairs I felt relieved nonetheless.

Suddenly Elmont laughed in a way which made my eyes snap up to him. It was the kind of laugh you make when someone does or says something incredibly funny.

No need to say it freaked me out.

'What's so funny?!'

'Perhaps I'll tell you one day.'

'Tell me what?'

His eyes were alight with amusement and his thumb brushed my wrist for a moment.

Vampire bats.

I swear they are Vampire bats.


Teddy bear 007: ELMONT HAS A TASK FOR ADDY! SCRUB THE FLOORS ADDY :D

MidnightShadow07: DAMNIT. How did you know?! You know too much… Things are going better, my relative is doing okay I guess. Just lots of drama! Thank you for understanding, it makes me very happy and grateful (-;

Jedi Kay-Kenobi: Oh you! Don't make me go all shy! I'm very glad I made you laugh! And I'm so happy you understand the reason for my slow update, everything's getting better :) So really: thank you.

Cantate: I agree, she needs therapy. :D

SerendipityAEY: I believe a shower will resolve a lot of problems between them to be honest. All will be well again in this chapter :) Addy's having feelings~

Lady-of-Reecia: YAY! Thank you so much my dear! I can't wait for your new chapter either! Thanks again, you guys brighten my day :)

Kailee: I think... more UST... C: