"Marriage is destiny
Hanging likewise."
~old proverb
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 23: Marriage
~Road to Camp (Inuyasha's POV)~
We arrive at camp just as the sky lightens, Kagome has apparently nodded off to sleep since she tried to run away an hour ago. Luckily her arms being tied slowed her down and we were easily able to catch her once more.
Her head rests softly on my shoulder and she leans slightly on my right arm which holds her up. It is comfortable and peaceful in the chilly early morning. The only sound is the muffled steps of our horses.
A sudden shout causes Kagome to jerk awake and stiffen. It is a sentry announcing or return. We all dismount and I help Kagome down from my horse. A crowd gathers and seeing the leader of the enemy army they were defeated by yesterday they give a cheer.
Kagome, with her hands still tied, turns and stares at each one until they fall silent. I smile with amusement at this. Brave soldiers afraid of one young woman. She turns to me next.
"Well, you've captured me. What are you going to do now? Hold a knife to me throat in front of my army and threaten them with my life?" She asks in a loud, clear voice so that the whole camp can hear.
"Nothing quite so dramatic." I say dryly.
Her face darkens and I know she realizes that I am referring to her doing just that to me in the Yami Pass. She does not like to be made a fool of.
"Your plan is full of flaws. It will not work." She says angrily.
"Do not assume to know my plans. You are ignorant of most of them." I rely angrily.
I turn to the crowd.
"Two of you take her and tie her to a post. Guard her and do not leave. The rest of us will start to pack up camp."
Everyone does as I say and I return to my tent to write a letter to Miroku. This all has the feeling of repetition and redundancy. It has been done before but the roles were reversed.
~Battle Field (Miroku's POV)~
The messenger brings the letter into Kagome's tent followed by a sentry. We have searched all over the camp for Kagome and all we have found is twelve dead sentries. We did not expect an attack on our camp. It is against every commander's honor.
I read the letter quickly and see that what I feared was true. Inuyasha has captured her. He says that if we continue to attack he will publicly execute Kagome. I know that Kagome would urge me to continue to fight but I cannot knowingly be the cause of her death. I will send a messenger to the King of Aoi Kaze to see what he thinks would be the best solution.
~Hikari Fortress (Kagome's POV)~
I am in a damp dungeon in the deepest park of Hikari. It is the first time I have ever seen on and I think it lives up to most of the stories told of dungeons. Every time I sit down on the hay in my cell I feel rats scurrying over my legs. I stay standing up most of the time.
I would think that after the nice-well, not nice but clean-cell that I gave Inuyasha he would extend the same courtesy. Apparently not. I am only good enough for the dungeons that are used for common criminals and petty traitors.
The guard bangs the door open and hands me a rough wooden bowl and cup. I look fully expecting it to be stale bread and water. It is thick stew and ale. I am impressed with it until I taste it and find that the stew is old and has started to go bad. I gag it down because I know I will need my strength for the next few days.
It is easy to foretell my fate. The only thing that worries me is the possibility of torture. It is impossible to know if I will break down and tell them everything. Or, worst of all I might beg for my life.
The door bang open once more and I look up expecting the guard coming to take back the dishes. I am surprised to see Inuyasha standing in the doorway in his place.
He is dressed what I assume are courtly clothes though I find them vaguely silly. I think I will always prefer plain clothing to silks and velvets.
"How are your accommodations?" He asks gesturing to my cell with an ironic smile.
"I've seen better." I answer with a touch of bitterness.
"What can you expect though? Being a prisoner and all?"
I do not answer. I want him to leave so I can be alone once more. Maybe he will take the hint.
"If I were to let you go right now would you stay at peace? I would try and return Shi Wase to prosperity."
"No. I have no guarantees of that. You could be a worse King then your father-"
"Or a better one." He interrupts.
"Yes but I don't know it that will come true. The one way to be sure is to win the throne so I have power over what happens to the people of Shi Wase. I made an oath I would or die in the process."
"Then I have a proposition to make."
I wait expecting him to give me a chance to betray my soldiers for my life.
"You will not win the whole throne but half of it."
I stare at him wondering if he is saying what I think he might be.
"Half the throne?" I ask.
"Yes. You would marry me and be Queen."
I frown at him in disbelief. What is his reason for offering this to me.
"Why?"
He sighs.
"Miroku is gathering together his army and we know that Aoi Kaze is sending more solders to fight. We cannot hold them off without preparing for siege. This is make it even harder for the people to prosper."
I realize what he says is true. I wanted this war to get over with so we could return to peace.
"How do I know that you won't just execute me when I disagree with you?"
"We will sign a contract saying that we must agree on every choice we make. We will make it as fair and equal as possible."
I nod unconvinced. I do not want to marry any one, especially some one I do not love.
"This would only be a political match?" I ask carefully.
"Unless you want it to be more." He answers sardonically.
I resist the impulse to slap him.
"I will think on the matter." I say icily.
"Do not think to long or it will be too late." He says as her leaves the cell and closes the door after him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
right....i don't know what to say. i hope this idea works and it doesn't turn out stupidly. see? they're close but they still 'hate' each other. ^_^
thank you: ShadowSpinner, MJ, Mitsuko Maxwell, SwtAngl53, bonessansan, Soudesuka-Shurikens, Jazzy, Brood Mayran, Arwen of Imladris, Queen of Shadows, lalalala and Thesmartazngirl for reviewing!
Hanging likewise."
~old proverb
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 23: Marriage
~Road to Camp (Inuyasha's POV)~
We arrive at camp just as the sky lightens, Kagome has apparently nodded off to sleep since she tried to run away an hour ago. Luckily her arms being tied slowed her down and we were easily able to catch her once more.
Her head rests softly on my shoulder and she leans slightly on my right arm which holds her up. It is comfortable and peaceful in the chilly early morning. The only sound is the muffled steps of our horses.
A sudden shout causes Kagome to jerk awake and stiffen. It is a sentry announcing or return. We all dismount and I help Kagome down from my horse. A crowd gathers and seeing the leader of the enemy army they were defeated by yesterday they give a cheer.
Kagome, with her hands still tied, turns and stares at each one until they fall silent. I smile with amusement at this. Brave soldiers afraid of one young woman. She turns to me next.
"Well, you've captured me. What are you going to do now? Hold a knife to me throat in front of my army and threaten them with my life?" She asks in a loud, clear voice so that the whole camp can hear.
"Nothing quite so dramatic." I say dryly.
Her face darkens and I know she realizes that I am referring to her doing just that to me in the Yami Pass. She does not like to be made a fool of.
"Your plan is full of flaws. It will not work." She says angrily.
"Do not assume to know my plans. You are ignorant of most of them." I rely angrily.
I turn to the crowd.
"Two of you take her and tie her to a post. Guard her and do not leave. The rest of us will start to pack up camp."
Everyone does as I say and I return to my tent to write a letter to Miroku. This all has the feeling of repetition and redundancy. It has been done before but the roles were reversed.
~Battle Field (Miroku's POV)~
The messenger brings the letter into Kagome's tent followed by a sentry. We have searched all over the camp for Kagome and all we have found is twelve dead sentries. We did not expect an attack on our camp. It is against every commander's honor.
I read the letter quickly and see that what I feared was true. Inuyasha has captured her. He says that if we continue to attack he will publicly execute Kagome. I know that Kagome would urge me to continue to fight but I cannot knowingly be the cause of her death. I will send a messenger to the King of Aoi Kaze to see what he thinks would be the best solution.
~Hikari Fortress (Kagome's POV)~
I am in a damp dungeon in the deepest park of Hikari. It is the first time I have ever seen on and I think it lives up to most of the stories told of dungeons. Every time I sit down on the hay in my cell I feel rats scurrying over my legs. I stay standing up most of the time.
I would think that after the nice-well, not nice but clean-cell that I gave Inuyasha he would extend the same courtesy. Apparently not. I am only good enough for the dungeons that are used for common criminals and petty traitors.
The guard bangs the door open and hands me a rough wooden bowl and cup. I look fully expecting it to be stale bread and water. It is thick stew and ale. I am impressed with it until I taste it and find that the stew is old and has started to go bad. I gag it down because I know I will need my strength for the next few days.
It is easy to foretell my fate. The only thing that worries me is the possibility of torture. It is impossible to know if I will break down and tell them everything. Or, worst of all I might beg for my life.
The door bang open once more and I look up expecting the guard coming to take back the dishes. I am surprised to see Inuyasha standing in the doorway in his place.
He is dressed what I assume are courtly clothes though I find them vaguely silly. I think I will always prefer plain clothing to silks and velvets.
"How are your accommodations?" He asks gesturing to my cell with an ironic smile.
"I've seen better." I answer with a touch of bitterness.
"What can you expect though? Being a prisoner and all?"
I do not answer. I want him to leave so I can be alone once more. Maybe he will take the hint.
"If I were to let you go right now would you stay at peace? I would try and return Shi Wase to prosperity."
"No. I have no guarantees of that. You could be a worse King then your father-"
"Or a better one." He interrupts.
"Yes but I don't know it that will come true. The one way to be sure is to win the throne so I have power over what happens to the people of Shi Wase. I made an oath I would or die in the process."
"Then I have a proposition to make."
I wait expecting him to give me a chance to betray my soldiers for my life.
"You will not win the whole throne but half of it."
I stare at him wondering if he is saying what I think he might be.
"Half the throne?" I ask.
"Yes. You would marry me and be Queen."
I frown at him in disbelief. What is his reason for offering this to me.
"Why?"
He sighs.
"Miroku is gathering together his army and we know that Aoi Kaze is sending more solders to fight. We cannot hold them off without preparing for siege. This is make it even harder for the people to prosper."
I realize what he says is true. I wanted this war to get over with so we could return to peace.
"How do I know that you won't just execute me when I disagree with you?"
"We will sign a contract saying that we must agree on every choice we make. We will make it as fair and equal as possible."
I nod unconvinced. I do not want to marry any one, especially some one I do not love.
"This would only be a political match?" I ask carefully.
"Unless you want it to be more." He answers sardonically.
I resist the impulse to slap him.
"I will think on the matter." I say icily.
"Do not think to long or it will be too late." He says as her leaves the cell and closes the door after him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
right....i don't know what to say. i hope this idea works and it doesn't turn out stupidly. see? they're close but they still 'hate' each other. ^_^
thank you: ShadowSpinner, MJ, Mitsuko Maxwell, SwtAngl53, bonessansan, Soudesuka-Shurikens, Jazzy, Brood Mayran, Arwen of Imladris, Queen of Shadows, lalalala and Thesmartazngirl for reviewing!