Virginia clenched the arms of the chair, turning her knuckles white. It was then that she felt a cold draft run across her feet, making her aware that her shoes had all ready been taking off. Ann was carefully carrying one of the slippers over to her while the other sat idly on the ground. As she watched it sit on the cobblestone, she was shocked and incredibly terrified as she saw it sear a black print into the floor.
"Don't you dare!" She managed to say through clenched teeth. She tried to move her feet away from her, but cold shackles held them down. Virginia struggled in the chair, desperately trying to free herself before it was too late. As Ann lowered one of the slippers by her right foot, Virginia could feel the heat that was radiating off of it, a horrible swell of fear and anger fumed inside her.
Just as Ann was about to unbuckled Virginia's restraint on her foot, there was shouting and yelling down the hall where several trolls in a heated argument of some sort. Ann glanced down at Virginia, whose chest was raising and falling so quickly from what Ann had planned to do, it made her smile again.
The shouts continued and Ann felt another sense of irritation cover her. Couldn't they do anything right? Ann sighed exasperatedly and with the tongs she picked up the other shoe and carried them both back to the fire. She placed them gently above a huge flame and then tossed the tongs to the ground.
"Don't worry," She said over sweetly. "I'll be just a moment." Her expression changed as she glared out the door and stormed out of the room.
Virginia watched for a few seconds and the eagerly started to work on her manacles again. She almost had gotten them off before, but Wolf had freed her before she needed to make herself slip out of them. It was up to her now.
She twisted, pulled, turned, pushed, and scrunched her hands up to fit through, but had no avail. Ann was right, the iron started to rub on her skin and made it hot and sore. Virginia let out a final grunt of anger as she tried one last time, but achieved nothing.
"I'm in the hands of a maniac." She said quietly to herself as she watched the slippers on the fireplace. There was no escape. There was no hope. Virginia felt a rush of coldness fly up her spine as she came to terms with what was going to happen. Ann wasn't going to stop until she was dead, that she knew.
Virginia shut her eyes tightly and banged her head against the hard wood behind her, resulting in a dull pain. "What am I going to do?" She mumbled to herself. She heard the voices quieting down in the hall. Dammit. Seeing no other option, she started to pull on her restraints again, ignoring the thickening pain that was resulting.
Suddenly, two hands clamped down over Virginia's eyes. Her first instinct was to bite them, fearing that it was a Troll's or even Ann's. She immediately refrained from that thought when she heard the voice that followed.
"Guess who!" A husky voice whispered near Virginia's ear, and Virginia found she's couldn't hold back her smile. The hands moved and Wolf rested his chin on the back of the chair. "You would think that after one escape before, they'd board up that window."
"Oh my God, Wolf! I thought you were dead!" She said quietly when she saw his face, it was so surprising, and she couldn't do much of anything but stare at him. He really had come to save her, and she wasn't going to be killed by a silly shepherdess. Well, that's what she kept telling herself.
"Am I the only one getting a strong case of déjà vu?" He asked softly as he moved to the front of the chair and quickly undid Virginia's restraints. As soon as they were off, she flew into her arms and hugged him tightly.
"I've missed you so much." She said as she clung to him, refusing to let go. It felt so warm to be in his arms again, safe and welcome. She held onto him, running her hands through his hair and over his back. She wanted to be absolutely sure that he was real, standing there and rescuing her again.
"I've missed you too." Wolf whispered as he ran his hands through her short hair and kissed the top of her head. "Are you all right?" He asked, his voice was covered in fear and concern. He ran his hands down her back and then to her abdomen.
"Yeah, we're fine." Both Virginia and Wolf smiled and pulled in for a kiss. It was long and tender, neither wanting to break the embrace. Virginia had a million questions to ask Wolf, but they could wait, this was all that mattered at the time.
When they broke, both stared into each other's eyes as Wolf ran his hand down her face. Their reunion was broken when the sound of voices elevated and started to come towards the door. "Come on, let's go." Wolf grabbed her hand and rushed her over to the window.
"Wait, I need my shoes." Virginia rushed back into the room and over near the door. She ignored Wolf's attempts to stop her, she needed them. The terrain was terrible once outside the palace, she knew that from before. Besides, they had time. Maybe not much, but they still had some.
"Virginia! Forget them! Let's go!" He shouted, choosing not to mention how many trolls were coming down the hall. They were coming in close and fast; there wasn't enough time. Wolf jumped down from the parapet and halfway followed Virginia.
Just as she grabbed them, the doors swung open, Ann in front and followed by several trolls, all armed with heavy weapons. Virginia backed up into Wolf and the two of them quickly made their way over to the window. As they looked down, they were shocked and dismayed to see dozens of trolls lined up at the base of the balcony, pulling on the rope that Wolf had tied. After several tight jerks on it, the rope finally gave and fell down to the ground, landing in a heavy heap.
They were completely trapped.
Wolf put Virginia behind him and backed her up to the ledge of the balcony. Wolf quickly counted, there were seven trolls and a shepherdess, who he immediately could tell was related to Sally, there was no mistaking that scent.
"Ahhh, Wolf, it's a pleasure that you could join us today." Ann said as she and the trolls approached Virginia and Wolf closer. "Perhaps you would like to participate in the activities planned for today. We've got plenty of dancing prepared." Ann smiled at Virginia.
"Go to Hell!" Virginia yelled from behind Wolf.
"Tsk. Tsk. That's not very polite." Ann turned and faced the trolls, addressing each one of them. "Kill the wolf and bring her to me." Ann made her way through the crowd of trolls and to the back of the room to escape the massacre. She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled proudly, this was the way she wanted it. Finally, things were going the way she had planned all along, and there was nothing to stop her.
Virginia clutched onto Wolf harder than she had ever done before. She thought that she had lost him once before, she wasn't ready to let it happen again. As the trolls advanced, Virginia dropped her gaze below, the trolls had disappeared! Virginia was about to suggest to Wolf that they go down the balcony, but strangely, the shouting had resumed in the hall, only much louder and it mixed with the banging of metal.
Virginia and Wolf weren't the only ones to hear it, the trolls that had been advancing on them, turned to the doors as well. Wolf took one of Virginia's hands that were wrapped around him and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
The doors in the room burst open and soldiers came into the room, fighting against the trolls that turned to attack. Ann screamed as the battle suddenly shifted to her direction, and she found herself right in the middle of the clanging swords and shields. The soldiers all wore the symbol of the House of White.
Wolf turned to Virginia and smiled. She looked at the soldiers in awe, stunned of their timing. "You didn't think that I didn't come prepared?" Wolf asked her. Virginia was about to answer, when a figure she spotted came into the room.
"Dad!?" Virginia shouted as she saw him, covered in armor and holding a large sword in his hand. It was so unlike his normal frumpish style, and that's what caught Virginia off guard.
"Oh, Virginia. Are you all right." He asked as he hurried over to her and hugged her tightly.
"I'm fine." She breathed, still shocked at the massive turn of events.
"Good. Come on, let's get you out of here." Tony said. Both he and Wolf helped Virginia to the door through the battle that was taking place. The trolls were fighting the soldiers with their strength and not their brains. The men of Wendell were escaping the strong brutes with simple battle moves that the Trolls were too slow to block. The battle was practically even.
Swords clashed with shields and the sound of screams as skin was being pierced clouded Virginia's mind, it was completely horrible. Shouts and obscene language was being thrown around as the fight carried on, no one paying much attention to the three that were heading for the door, except for Ann.
"No!" Ann shouted as she saw Virginia. "She's not getting away!" She declared before making her way over to her. Just before she got within a few feet of them, Ann pulled out a small dagger that was hidden inside her boot. She concealed it in her hand and hurried over to them.
Just as Ann dove through the crowed, aiming to tackle Virginia, Wolf's senses picked up on the danger and pushed Virginia out of the way. Wolf and Ann tumbled to the floor near the roaring fire away from most of the fight. Seeing that Virginia was not beneath him, and Wolf was, Ann's temper rose to the extreme.
Ann took the dagger from her hand and aimed it over Wolf's heart. "No one is going to stop me! Especially not a wolf!" She yelled through her clenched teeth. As much as Wolf fought her, she had an advantage. Wolf was completely tired and exhausted. He was weak from his quest and his arm was still healing from the hit he took from the ax. The dagger was coming closer each second.
"Hey Ann!" Virginia shouted behind her. On instinct, Ann halfway turned only to be smashed in the face by the pair of tongs that she had discarded previously. The clamp that hit her face struck her cheekbone with full force and set her flying back onto the floor, tumbling off of Wolf.
In her effort to keep herself from falling, her hands reflexively flew to grab something, anything. Momentarily forgetting the dagger was in her hand, it flew down and broke through flesh. Both taken off guard, Wolf and Ann stared at the bloody dagger as she pulled it out from deep inside Wolf's stomach.
"Don't you dare!" She managed to say through clenched teeth. She tried to move her feet away from her, but cold shackles held them down. Virginia struggled in the chair, desperately trying to free herself before it was too late. As Ann lowered one of the slippers by her right foot, Virginia could feel the heat that was radiating off of it, a horrible swell of fear and anger fumed inside her.
Just as Ann was about to unbuckled Virginia's restraint on her foot, there was shouting and yelling down the hall where several trolls in a heated argument of some sort. Ann glanced down at Virginia, whose chest was raising and falling so quickly from what Ann had planned to do, it made her smile again.
The shouts continued and Ann felt another sense of irritation cover her. Couldn't they do anything right? Ann sighed exasperatedly and with the tongs she picked up the other shoe and carried them both back to the fire. She placed them gently above a huge flame and then tossed the tongs to the ground.
"Don't worry," She said over sweetly. "I'll be just a moment." Her expression changed as she glared out the door and stormed out of the room.
Virginia watched for a few seconds and the eagerly started to work on her manacles again. She almost had gotten them off before, but Wolf had freed her before she needed to make herself slip out of them. It was up to her now.
She twisted, pulled, turned, pushed, and scrunched her hands up to fit through, but had no avail. Ann was right, the iron started to rub on her skin and made it hot and sore. Virginia let out a final grunt of anger as she tried one last time, but achieved nothing.
"I'm in the hands of a maniac." She said quietly to herself as she watched the slippers on the fireplace. There was no escape. There was no hope. Virginia felt a rush of coldness fly up her spine as she came to terms with what was going to happen. Ann wasn't going to stop until she was dead, that she knew.
Virginia shut her eyes tightly and banged her head against the hard wood behind her, resulting in a dull pain. "What am I going to do?" She mumbled to herself. She heard the voices quieting down in the hall. Dammit. Seeing no other option, she started to pull on her restraints again, ignoring the thickening pain that was resulting.
Suddenly, two hands clamped down over Virginia's eyes. Her first instinct was to bite them, fearing that it was a Troll's or even Ann's. She immediately refrained from that thought when she heard the voice that followed.
"Guess who!" A husky voice whispered near Virginia's ear, and Virginia found she's couldn't hold back her smile. The hands moved and Wolf rested his chin on the back of the chair. "You would think that after one escape before, they'd board up that window."
"Oh my God, Wolf! I thought you were dead!" She said quietly when she saw his face, it was so surprising, and she couldn't do much of anything but stare at him. He really had come to save her, and she wasn't going to be killed by a silly shepherdess. Well, that's what she kept telling herself.
"Am I the only one getting a strong case of déjà vu?" He asked softly as he moved to the front of the chair and quickly undid Virginia's restraints. As soon as they were off, she flew into her arms and hugged him tightly.
"I've missed you so much." She said as she clung to him, refusing to let go. It felt so warm to be in his arms again, safe and welcome. She held onto him, running her hands through his hair and over his back. She wanted to be absolutely sure that he was real, standing there and rescuing her again.
"I've missed you too." Wolf whispered as he ran his hands through her short hair and kissed the top of her head. "Are you all right?" He asked, his voice was covered in fear and concern. He ran his hands down her back and then to her abdomen.
"Yeah, we're fine." Both Virginia and Wolf smiled and pulled in for a kiss. It was long and tender, neither wanting to break the embrace. Virginia had a million questions to ask Wolf, but they could wait, this was all that mattered at the time.
When they broke, both stared into each other's eyes as Wolf ran his hand down her face. Their reunion was broken when the sound of voices elevated and started to come towards the door. "Come on, let's go." Wolf grabbed her hand and rushed her over to the window.
"Wait, I need my shoes." Virginia rushed back into the room and over near the door. She ignored Wolf's attempts to stop her, she needed them. The terrain was terrible once outside the palace, she knew that from before. Besides, they had time. Maybe not much, but they still had some.
"Virginia! Forget them! Let's go!" He shouted, choosing not to mention how many trolls were coming down the hall. They were coming in close and fast; there wasn't enough time. Wolf jumped down from the parapet and halfway followed Virginia.
Just as she grabbed them, the doors swung open, Ann in front and followed by several trolls, all armed with heavy weapons. Virginia backed up into Wolf and the two of them quickly made their way over to the window. As they looked down, they were shocked and dismayed to see dozens of trolls lined up at the base of the balcony, pulling on the rope that Wolf had tied. After several tight jerks on it, the rope finally gave and fell down to the ground, landing in a heavy heap.
They were completely trapped.
Wolf put Virginia behind him and backed her up to the ledge of the balcony. Wolf quickly counted, there were seven trolls and a shepherdess, who he immediately could tell was related to Sally, there was no mistaking that scent.
"Ahhh, Wolf, it's a pleasure that you could join us today." Ann said as she and the trolls approached Virginia and Wolf closer. "Perhaps you would like to participate in the activities planned for today. We've got plenty of dancing prepared." Ann smiled at Virginia.
"Go to Hell!" Virginia yelled from behind Wolf.
"Tsk. Tsk. That's not very polite." Ann turned and faced the trolls, addressing each one of them. "Kill the wolf and bring her to me." Ann made her way through the crowd of trolls and to the back of the room to escape the massacre. She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled proudly, this was the way she wanted it. Finally, things were going the way she had planned all along, and there was nothing to stop her.
Virginia clutched onto Wolf harder than she had ever done before. She thought that she had lost him once before, she wasn't ready to let it happen again. As the trolls advanced, Virginia dropped her gaze below, the trolls had disappeared! Virginia was about to suggest to Wolf that they go down the balcony, but strangely, the shouting had resumed in the hall, only much louder and it mixed with the banging of metal.
Virginia and Wolf weren't the only ones to hear it, the trolls that had been advancing on them, turned to the doors as well. Wolf took one of Virginia's hands that were wrapped around him and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
The doors in the room burst open and soldiers came into the room, fighting against the trolls that turned to attack. Ann screamed as the battle suddenly shifted to her direction, and she found herself right in the middle of the clanging swords and shields. The soldiers all wore the symbol of the House of White.
Wolf turned to Virginia and smiled. She looked at the soldiers in awe, stunned of their timing. "You didn't think that I didn't come prepared?" Wolf asked her. Virginia was about to answer, when a figure she spotted came into the room.
"Dad!?" Virginia shouted as she saw him, covered in armor and holding a large sword in his hand. It was so unlike his normal frumpish style, and that's what caught Virginia off guard.
"Oh, Virginia. Are you all right." He asked as he hurried over to her and hugged her tightly.
"I'm fine." She breathed, still shocked at the massive turn of events.
"Good. Come on, let's get you out of here." Tony said. Both he and Wolf helped Virginia to the door through the battle that was taking place. The trolls were fighting the soldiers with their strength and not their brains. The men of Wendell were escaping the strong brutes with simple battle moves that the Trolls were too slow to block. The battle was practically even.
Swords clashed with shields and the sound of screams as skin was being pierced clouded Virginia's mind, it was completely horrible. Shouts and obscene language was being thrown around as the fight carried on, no one paying much attention to the three that were heading for the door, except for Ann.
"No!" Ann shouted as she saw Virginia. "She's not getting away!" She declared before making her way over to her. Just before she got within a few feet of them, Ann pulled out a small dagger that was hidden inside her boot. She concealed it in her hand and hurried over to them.
Just as Ann dove through the crowed, aiming to tackle Virginia, Wolf's senses picked up on the danger and pushed Virginia out of the way. Wolf and Ann tumbled to the floor near the roaring fire away from most of the fight. Seeing that Virginia was not beneath him, and Wolf was, Ann's temper rose to the extreme.
Ann took the dagger from her hand and aimed it over Wolf's heart. "No one is going to stop me! Especially not a wolf!" She yelled through her clenched teeth. As much as Wolf fought her, she had an advantage. Wolf was completely tired and exhausted. He was weak from his quest and his arm was still healing from the hit he took from the ax. The dagger was coming closer each second.
"Hey Ann!" Virginia shouted behind her. On instinct, Ann halfway turned only to be smashed in the face by the pair of tongs that she had discarded previously. The clamp that hit her face struck her cheekbone with full force and set her flying back onto the floor, tumbling off of Wolf.
In her effort to keep herself from falling, her hands reflexively flew to grab something, anything. Momentarily forgetting the dagger was in her hand, it flew down and broke through flesh. Both taken off guard, Wolf and Ann stared at the bloody dagger as she pulled it out from deep inside Wolf's stomach.