::Courage::

Disclaimer: Consellariel is htenywg's. Whatever is Brian Jacque's is his. Whatever is mine, is mine. Get it?

A/N: I really need some comments here, people! Please??? Thanks. So go down there and press the pretty little button and review!

*

Rapieratce looked up from the cell key to Consellariel, eyeing the badger lady as if she were crazy. He did not believe his ears enough to say that he heard truly what she had said. Lock Daleria up? Never, and there was a great emphasis on never, had there been a case of a hare being locked in one of the prison cells down below. The colonel started to voice his doubts.

'Surely you have ta be joking, marm? We can't just lock the poor gel up! The prison cells have never bally well been used for so many blinkin seasons that I can't jolly remember when they were occupied! This would be injustice!'

Consellariel faced him, her eyes boring directly into the now standing colonel's. Her voice was deadly quiet, and one could sense the danger seething off of her.

'You will do it if she tries, colonel, and that is final. You are under my command, and I am telling you this as a leader is to a follower. You have no right whatsoever to do anything against my orders, and you know that, so do not push matters, colonel!'

Rapieratce was burning up, but he could no say any thing. The lady's word was law in the mountain, and he knew he could not do anything against it, lest be deranked or something in that manner. Forcing his head down in a curt nod, Rapieratce slipped the key into his tunic pocket, remaining standing at attention for dismissal. In the deep recesses of his mind, he silently apologized to the unknowing captain, hoping that she would understand his motives for this. Consellariel nodded at him, turning him away with a wave of her large paw.

'Dismissed, colonel.'

Turning around shortly, he saluted and left the infirmary, heart torn in two, but his head commanding him to follow Consellariel's orders.

*

Daleria lay in silent turmoil on the infirmary bed, not wanting to return to her dormitory just as yet. Her drilling was still two hours away, but she was meant to be down at lunch. Sighing, she pulled her weary body off the bed, she dragged herself down to the mess, forcing herself to lighten her step and keep her head high. Upon reaching the mess though, she saw Consellariel heading toward the main entrance with Captain Joseph, the very same hare who introduced her to the mountain so long ago, on her tail. That meant only one thing.

There was a messenger outside.

Daleria slipped around the corner, hiding in the shadows, she silently followed the pair outside into the entrance. Little did she know that she was being followed by a seriously worried colonel.

Hiding behind a pillar, she saw a vermin messenger talking to Consellariel. She heard snatches of the conversation.

'What do you want with us, vermin?'

'Seppak the Black demands that you hand over the scum Daleria Windbind.'

'Never. She belongs in Salamandastron, nowhere else. Go back to where you can, vermin!'

'You will hand her over, badger, or our horde will come and storm your mountain to the ground!'

'Never!'

'Fine! So expect our force in three days!'

It was then that Daleria stood up straight, ears up. The thought of running away came into her mind, and she quickly whirled around. However, she was stopped by a firm paw. It was the colonel.

'You are not going anywhere, captain. I have been asked to place you in the cellars until this has faded off.'

Daleria started struggling madly.

'Let me go, Rapieratce! Let me go!!!'

'Sorry old gel. I have to.'

With that, the colonel, who had superior strength compared to Daleria, twisted her paw around behind her back, grabbed her other arm and held the two together. Taking advantage of her stunned posture, he pulled her down the nearby staircase, yanking her until it hurt. Emerging in the cellars, he unlocked the door, shoved her in, and locked it.

'Sorry, m'gel, but I had to. I hope you understand...'

Before the angered Daleria could even get up, the colonel was gone.