Author's note: I would have posted quicker, but I've had a slight
revelation about my novel and now have to change the entire plot. Stupid
muses.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Please keep it up.
Gemma, review again or I'll tell Geff to scrap his latest idea, which would be a waste since it had Orginal Jen, and Emma in hysterics and Charlotte thought it was hilarious.
***
Rion was hanging from the chains again, lacking the will to stand. His mind was an empty void, containing only the image of those blank, staring eyes. He was unaware of the time that had passed, the hunger gnawing at his insides.
He didn't even look up as the door opened. He felt hands at his wrists and the manacle holding his right arm suddenly released. He fell forwards, arms catching him.
"You have to stand, your highness," a gentle voice said. He did so, putting his feet shakily to the ground. They didn't want to support his weight and, as his left arm was freed, he leaned heavily on his helper. So they were taking him to be punished. It was what he deserved after all.
People stood aside as Rion was helped along the corridors by the soldier, but their eyes followed him closely. Curiously. One thing comforted Rion. At least his father would never learn the truth about what he was. He would never learn his son was a murderer.
Tears filled Rion's eyes at the thought of the shame this knowledge would bring his father. It was better they discovered here what he was capable of. He thought of how his mother would grieve had she known this. With him here, however many leagues from home, they would live on in their ignorance, grieving a lost son, but not a lost illusion.
When the soldier eventually stopped and opened a door off the corridor, a waft of hot steam emerged and Rion realised it was not a punishment he was being taken to. A large pool of steaming water was in the centre of the room, and on a table in the corner clean clothes had been laid out.
"I shall wait outside while you bathe," the soldier informed him, and Rion was left alone in the room. He stripped and sank into the hot water gratefully, scrubbing at the dried blood on his hands. In a few minutes there was no trace of the blood left, but he knew that a stain still remained. One that no amount of washing could remove.
Half an hour later he left the room, feeling better than before but still weak and shaken. The soldier escorted him back to his room. It was much as it had been before, but the rug on the floor had been replaced my another. A subtle reminder of his crime.
Rion sank onto the bed and wept.
***
Ari had been shocked by what Traag had revealed, but now she knew she also knew that she had suspected it. She just hadn't dared let herself think it.
"Garen was jealous," Traag had said, "he was angry because he didn't see why a prisoner should have the favour of the princess when a loyal guard could not."
"What do you mean?" Ari had asked, already knowing and dreading the answer.
"You are, after all, an attractive young lady." Her father had been furious. Only the fact that one shouldn't speak ill of the dead stopped him from cursing Garen's name. He had stormed out in a rage, leaving Graynal to order Rion's release.
Ari wanted to go and make sure Rion was all right, but knew she should see her father first. His rage was a blazing fire, dangerous but quickly burned out. As he stood in his room, he looked as though he wanted to fling something at the wall just to hear the smash.
"Is there any need to tell anyone this?" Ari asked quietly, "It will bring dishonour on Garen's family, and they have done nothing to earn that."
"He dared think of my daughter in such a way!" The king snarled in fury.
"Men cannot always restrain their thoughts, Father. Garen was wrong to act the way he did, there's no denying that, but is it right to shame his family because of it?" She could see her father was calming. "Say that his death was an accident, and that after investigation Prince Eldarion has been absolved of any blame." Now he was thinking over what she said.
"There has been enough hurt because of this, do not let anyone else suffer," Ari continued.
There was a short silence, then suddenly he smiled. "You sound just like your sister," he said. Ari smiled at the compliment. Everyone said Lis had a gift with words, and Ari was glad to be compared to her sister.
"You miss Lis, don't you?" Ari asked. Her father nodded. "So do I."
"Go to the prince, Ari, he deserves an explanation." Ari nodded, and left.
When she came to Rion's room, she found him stretched out on the bed, his back to the door, staring into space. He didn't even look round when she approached.
"Rion?" she said quietly. He lay still. "Rion?" she said again. Again there was no response. It was as though he wasn't even aware she was there. All she had thought about was convincing her father that he was innocent. She had thought that once Rion was free he would be fine. She hadn't expected this. It was as though he had withdrawn into himself. The world was suddenly a terrible place.
"Father knows you're innocent, Rion," she said, "you don't have anything to worry about now." But instead of her words giving him comfort, he began to shake in silent sobs. She didn't know how to help him. But maybe there was someone here who would.
***
Mir wished he could know what was going on. He knew Rion wasn't a murderer, but these people could easily blame him just to make things better for them. And there was nothing he could do while he was stuck in here. Rion might be dead already and he wouldn't know.
Fear and anger filled him in equal measure. Fear that they would kill Rion. Fear that the same thing would happen to him. And anger that they could accuse someone as kind and good as Rion. It reached the stage when he felt like beating his fists against the walls in case he could break through the stone.
When the door opened to admit Ari, Mir glared at her fiercely.
"What are you doing here? Come to accuse me of murder?"
"Rion's been cleared," she said, and the relief tore through Mir, breaking down his anger as it did. The change in emotions made him want to break down, but he stayed were he was.
"So what do you want with me?"
"Rion won't talk to me."
"I guess he's learnt something then," Mir said angrily, glad that his friend had seen sense.
"I think something's wrong," Ari said. The fear was back as quickly as it had gone. He couldn't see why Ari would be worried about Rion, but the fact that she might be speaking the truth was enough to terrify him.
"I thought he might talk to you," Ari continued, "Will you go to him?" Mir nodded quickly, and Ari opened the door.
This time there were no ropes, no blindfold. Ari walked quickly along the corridors, and Mir followed, a guard on either side. He didn't try to memorise the journey, his mind was too focussed on Rion. What could be wrong? What had they done to him? His mind was filled with terrifying imaginings by the time they reached Rion's room.
Mir didn't even notice the comfort of the room at first, he just hurried to the bed and sat down on the edge. Rion lay with his back towards him, apparently unaware of his presence. Mir couldn't see any injuries, but Rion's expressionless face was terrifying.
"Rion?" Mir said, "Rion, it's me." He laid a hand on Rion's arm, but nothing happened. "Rion, what's wrong?" Rion shifted slightly so that he pulled out from under Mir's arm, but didn't say anything or turn to face him. This was so unlike him. Rion normally spent most of his time talking or laughing, to be so silent and withdrawn was a frightening change.
"Please tell me what's wrong," Mir asked again. Rion's shoulder's shook and he closed his eyes as though trying to shut out something terrible.
Mir was beginning to think he would get no response, when Rion whispered, "You'll hate me." The reply shocked Mir more than his friend's silence.
"I could never hate you," Mir said honestly, "What's wrong?"
"I killed someone." Mir's mind went blank with shock. In the silence that followed he tried to process this revelation, and Rion seemed to shrink further into himself.
"What happened?" Mir asked. He didn't say a word during Rion's tale. Just waited and listened. The end of the story was hidden in sobs as Rion broke down. Mir placed an arm round him, and held him until the sobs subsided.
"Don't blame yourself, Rion," he said, "You never meant to hurt that man at all. His death was an accident, you said so yourself. If he meant to kill you, you had no choice but to fight back."
"A man is dead because of me, Mir." Mir couldn't think of how to get through to him. Then suddenly he knew.
"How many men are dead because of your father?" Rion turned and looked him in the eye, the puzzlement showing clearly on his face. Finally he was thinking about something other that his own depression. "Your father is a good man," Mir continued, "but he knows that sometimes there is no choice but to fight. He's fought in wars, knowing that some of the people he killed might be just following orders. He did it because he knew he had to. He's killed people, Rion, and he's still a good person. So are you."
Rion paused a moment, then flung his arms round Mir, burying his head in his friend's shoulder, crying. Mir held him until his shoulder was soaked with tears and Rion pulled himself away. His face was damp, but he was smiling slightly.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"You're my friend," Mir replied, "it's what I'm here for." Rion gave something that was almost a laugh. His eyes filled up again, but this time he wiped the tears away.
"I'm sorry for breaking down."
"I probably would have done the same in your position."
"But I wouldn't have been so good at comforting you." In the silence that followed, Mir looked round the room, taking in the comforts and splendour.
"You've got a nice bedroom here," he commented.
"It'll do until we get home." The way he said it, with such certainty, made Mir feel it was possible. Things suddenly seemed better than they had in a long while.
***
Author's note: So things are looking up, but I still haven't explained who Traag is. I guess you'll have to keep reading.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Please keep it up.
Gemma, review again or I'll tell Geff to scrap his latest idea, which would be a waste since it had Orginal Jen, and Emma in hysterics and Charlotte thought it was hilarious.
***
Rion was hanging from the chains again, lacking the will to stand. His mind was an empty void, containing only the image of those blank, staring eyes. He was unaware of the time that had passed, the hunger gnawing at his insides.
He didn't even look up as the door opened. He felt hands at his wrists and the manacle holding his right arm suddenly released. He fell forwards, arms catching him.
"You have to stand, your highness," a gentle voice said. He did so, putting his feet shakily to the ground. They didn't want to support his weight and, as his left arm was freed, he leaned heavily on his helper. So they were taking him to be punished. It was what he deserved after all.
People stood aside as Rion was helped along the corridors by the soldier, but their eyes followed him closely. Curiously. One thing comforted Rion. At least his father would never learn the truth about what he was. He would never learn his son was a murderer.
Tears filled Rion's eyes at the thought of the shame this knowledge would bring his father. It was better they discovered here what he was capable of. He thought of how his mother would grieve had she known this. With him here, however many leagues from home, they would live on in their ignorance, grieving a lost son, but not a lost illusion.
When the soldier eventually stopped and opened a door off the corridor, a waft of hot steam emerged and Rion realised it was not a punishment he was being taken to. A large pool of steaming water was in the centre of the room, and on a table in the corner clean clothes had been laid out.
"I shall wait outside while you bathe," the soldier informed him, and Rion was left alone in the room. He stripped and sank into the hot water gratefully, scrubbing at the dried blood on his hands. In a few minutes there was no trace of the blood left, but he knew that a stain still remained. One that no amount of washing could remove.
Half an hour later he left the room, feeling better than before but still weak and shaken. The soldier escorted him back to his room. It was much as it had been before, but the rug on the floor had been replaced my another. A subtle reminder of his crime.
Rion sank onto the bed and wept.
***
Ari had been shocked by what Traag had revealed, but now she knew she also knew that she had suspected it. She just hadn't dared let herself think it.
"Garen was jealous," Traag had said, "he was angry because he didn't see why a prisoner should have the favour of the princess when a loyal guard could not."
"What do you mean?" Ari had asked, already knowing and dreading the answer.
"You are, after all, an attractive young lady." Her father had been furious. Only the fact that one shouldn't speak ill of the dead stopped him from cursing Garen's name. He had stormed out in a rage, leaving Graynal to order Rion's release.
Ari wanted to go and make sure Rion was all right, but knew she should see her father first. His rage was a blazing fire, dangerous but quickly burned out. As he stood in his room, he looked as though he wanted to fling something at the wall just to hear the smash.
"Is there any need to tell anyone this?" Ari asked quietly, "It will bring dishonour on Garen's family, and they have done nothing to earn that."
"He dared think of my daughter in such a way!" The king snarled in fury.
"Men cannot always restrain their thoughts, Father. Garen was wrong to act the way he did, there's no denying that, but is it right to shame his family because of it?" She could see her father was calming. "Say that his death was an accident, and that after investigation Prince Eldarion has been absolved of any blame." Now he was thinking over what she said.
"There has been enough hurt because of this, do not let anyone else suffer," Ari continued.
There was a short silence, then suddenly he smiled. "You sound just like your sister," he said. Ari smiled at the compliment. Everyone said Lis had a gift with words, and Ari was glad to be compared to her sister.
"You miss Lis, don't you?" Ari asked. Her father nodded. "So do I."
"Go to the prince, Ari, he deserves an explanation." Ari nodded, and left.
When she came to Rion's room, she found him stretched out on the bed, his back to the door, staring into space. He didn't even look round when she approached.
"Rion?" she said quietly. He lay still. "Rion?" she said again. Again there was no response. It was as though he wasn't even aware she was there. All she had thought about was convincing her father that he was innocent. She had thought that once Rion was free he would be fine. She hadn't expected this. It was as though he had withdrawn into himself. The world was suddenly a terrible place.
"Father knows you're innocent, Rion," she said, "you don't have anything to worry about now." But instead of her words giving him comfort, he began to shake in silent sobs. She didn't know how to help him. But maybe there was someone here who would.
***
Mir wished he could know what was going on. He knew Rion wasn't a murderer, but these people could easily blame him just to make things better for them. And there was nothing he could do while he was stuck in here. Rion might be dead already and he wouldn't know.
Fear and anger filled him in equal measure. Fear that they would kill Rion. Fear that the same thing would happen to him. And anger that they could accuse someone as kind and good as Rion. It reached the stage when he felt like beating his fists against the walls in case he could break through the stone.
When the door opened to admit Ari, Mir glared at her fiercely.
"What are you doing here? Come to accuse me of murder?"
"Rion's been cleared," she said, and the relief tore through Mir, breaking down his anger as it did. The change in emotions made him want to break down, but he stayed were he was.
"So what do you want with me?"
"Rion won't talk to me."
"I guess he's learnt something then," Mir said angrily, glad that his friend had seen sense.
"I think something's wrong," Ari said. The fear was back as quickly as it had gone. He couldn't see why Ari would be worried about Rion, but the fact that she might be speaking the truth was enough to terrify him.
"I thought he might talk to you," Ari continued, "Will you go to him?" Mir nodded quickly, and Ari opened the door.
This time there were no ropes, no blindfold. Ari walked quickly along the corridors, and Mir followed, a guard on either side. He didn't try to memorise the journey, his mind was too focussed on Rion. What could be wrong? What had they done to him? His mind was filled with terrifying imaginings by the time they reached Rion's room.
Mir didn't even notice the comfort of the room at first, he just hurried to the bed and sat down on the edge. Rion lay with his back towards him, apparently unaware of his presence. Mir couldn't see any injuries, but Rion's expressionless face was terrifying.
"Rion?" Mir said, "Rion, it's me." He laid a hand on Rion's arm, but nothing happened. "Rion, what's wrong?" Rion shifted slightly so that he pulled out from under Mir's arm, but didn't say anything or turn to face him. This was so unlike him. Rion normally spent most of his time talking or laughing, to be so silent and withdrawn was a frightening change.
"Please tell me what's wrong," Mir asked again. Rion's shoulder's shook and he closed his eyes as though trying to shut out something terrible.
Mir was beginning to think he would get no response, when Rion whispered, "You'll hate me." The reply shocked Mir more than his friend's silence.
"I could never hate you," Mir said honestly, "What's wrong?"
"I killed someone." Mir's mind went blank with shock. In the silence that followed he tried to process this revelation, and Rion seemed to shrink further into himself.
"What happened?" Mir asked. He didn't say a word during Rion's tale. Just waited and listened. The end of the story was hidden in sobs as Rion broke down. Mir placed an arm round him, and held him until the sobs subsided.
"Don't blame yourself, Rion," he said, "You never meant to hurt that man at all. His death was an accident, you said so yourself. If he meant to kill you, you had no choice but to fight back."
"A man is dead because of me, Mir." Mir couldn't think of how to get through to him. Then suddenly he knew.
"How many men are dead because of your father?" Rion turned and looked him in the eye, the puzzlement showing clearly on his face. Finally he was thinking about something other that his own depression. "Your father is a good man," Mir continued, "but he knows that sometimes there is no choice but to fight. He's fought in wars, knowing that some of the people he killed might be just following orders. He did it because he knew he had to. He's killed people, Rion, and he's still a good person. So are you."
Rion paused a moment, then flung his arms round Mir, burying his head in his friend's shoulder, crying. Mir held him until his shoulder was soaked with tears and Rion pulled himself away. His face was damp, but he was smiling slightly.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"You're my friend," Mir replied, "it's what I'm here for." Rion gave something that was almost a laugh. His eyes filled up again, but this time he wiped the tears away.
"I'm sorry for breaking down."
"I probably would have done the same in your position."
"But I wouldn't have been so good at comforting you." In the silence that followed, Mir looked round the room, taking in the comforts and splendour.
"You've got a nice bedroom here," he commented.
"It'll do until we get home." The way he said it, with such certainty, made Mir feel it was possible. Things suddenly seemed better than they had in a long while.
***
Author's note: So things are looking up, but I still haven't explained who Traag is. I guess you'll have to keep reading.