Anniya 30
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West was the last one to hurtle himself to safety. Anniya could see, and he most certainly felt the wall materializing behind him as he did it, and the impact of the stone floor even more. It knocked the breath clear out of his lungs, causing him to lie still on the cold floor.
"West!," Anniya screamed, and bent down to see if he was alright. She didn't notice Robert frowning, but it wouldn't of stopped her if had. Anniya wasn't one to dwell on the past, and at the present all she knew was that West was still her friend. Robert slapped him forcefully on the back several times as Esperanza pulled him up in an upright position.
" Are you alright? Is everyone alright," Robert asked them all, snatching one of the two torches on the wall. He swirled it around, making sure that all of them were there. Not that there was much he could do if they weren't.
" Where are we, anyway," Esperanza asked, looking around.
No one seemed to be able to answer her question. West stood up and brushed off the dirt on his clothing, surveying the place with the rest of them. Even with the light shining from Robert's torch, it was impossible to know where they were. It was a hand carved passage, about eleven feet tall and wide enough for all of them to walk through it, side by side. Torches lined the walls.
" Well, wherever we are, we should camp here tonight. This looks as safe as gets, considering the territory were in," Robert declared.
West nodded curtly, an action that surprised Anniya. Considering what had happened between the three of them, she was surprised that he acknowledged Robert at all.
West slung off the two sacks. With a start, Anniya realized that the sacks had been on the horses, which were missing.
" Where is Diobla? And your horse, Robert," she asked, slightly worried. As annoying, self centered, and arrogant as Diobla was( and come to think of it, West as well), Anniya didn't want anything to happen to the horse. As with Gleex. But she couldn't let herself think of Gleex if she wanted to save them all.
"We were forced to abandoned them when you ran off after Gleex," Robert replied, in a deep yet kind voice. Anniya was grateful for it. She knew how much Robert valued his horse, Night, and not to mention she had lowered their chances of survival.
" Horses are pretty damn intelligent. Not to mention a lot faster, which will give them more luck in evading ogres. They'll probably outlive us all," West said with a shrug, obviously not terribly concerned about his beloved horse. That West for you.
He opened the sacks, and began rummaging through them. After a few minutes, he told Anniya, Robert, and Esperanza their contents.
" Spare arrows, rope, candles, a blanket, some spare knives, some thread and string, a couple other supplies. In the other sac, we have bread, cheese, jerky, a couple of beat up apples, and god's gift to man."
" What is it, whiskey?," Anniya asked sarcastically. West laughed, and shook his head.
" Canteens. Empty of course, but one or two of us could go off and find a spring. I'm sure there's one in here. Somewhere," he replied.
Esperanza nodded. " Good idea. We'll set camp right where we are now. How many blankets did you say you had?"
" Two, unfortunately. One of the other packs had more. You and Anniya will take those," Robert told the two girls apologetically. Anniya shook her head stubbornly.
" You take it. I don't get cold easily," she lied. Robert had attempted to explain the idea of chivalry to her awhile back; Anniya had never grasped or liked the concept of it, just as she disliked being labeled ' weak' and 'feminine.'
" Don't be ridiculous. You'd have to have a dozen blankets to be warm. Your taking the bloody blanket."
" Stop it! Alright, if we have to argue about something, can it be about something other then a blanket! I'll solve this and I'll take the extra blanket if no one wants it. God knows I'll need more then two to keep me warm!," Esperanza exclaimed, interrupting their battle.
Anniya grinned at Robert, and he grinned back. Esperanza had a temper to rival Anniya's.
Within a short hour, they were all sleeping fast.
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West sat on against the wall, re-stringing his bow. He was used to sleeping only several hours at night, at most five. It was like that in his line of work. That was part of the reason he had woken up before everyone else. Taking an arrow in his hand, West grabbed his bow and shot the arrow with deadly accuracy.
It hit it's mark of course, making a slight, whistling noise. Anniya made a slight noise, and for a moment West worried that he had woken her up. God, she was beautiful. Especially in her sleep, he thought. Her blonde hair, which was now waist length, was spread out all around her, and her face had a very serene look on it, far from the face she had on when she was awake.
At this point in time, West couldn't say that he loved her anymore. Oh, no question, West would always love her, in the back of his heart. But he wasn't the type of man who spent his life dwelling on one woman he could not have. Even so, he still remembered telling her words so important, so long ago. 'I loved you since I first saw you in the tavern.'
It was an annoying thought. West shook his head, and rose. Taking his bow and several arrows with him, he began to walk down the long corridors.
Despite with all the women he had been with, he had never mentioned the word love. Many of them had been as beautiful as Anniya, and more. West couldn't even begin to wonder why she had affected him like this. He knew that he hadn't been the first, and wouldn't be the last.
He sensed something behind him. West knew by the footsteps that the person was tall, and then most likely Robert.
" I owe you an apology," the deep voice said quietly. West suppressed a harsh laugh. That was perhaps the underestimate of the century. Robert shouldn't of followed him. West was restless, angry, and looking for a fight.
" Oh no, Robert. You did your job, like I asked you. You just did it too well," West told him, his voice light, yet freezing.
" West, we were going to tell you soon. I had no idea, when you found us.......," Robert abruptly dropped the sentence. West closed his eyes. He didn't want to think about that kiss.
"I don't care at this point, what happened a few nights ago. I am, however, curious to know, if you remember to tell her what I said. Do you remember," West told him, sounding simply amused.
Robert had been raised in court. He was born to tell lies. But it was hard to lie to a liar, and so West looked for the signs.
" West, by the time I got your letter, I-,"
" Take your bloody time before you lie to me. I don't care how closely related we are. It's not going to mean a damn thing if you lie to me."
Robert didn't slip, but his temper did.
" West, for god's sake, come to terms with it! I'm bloody sorry this all happened, but neither of us can do anything to change it! Besides, you and John changed whore's every week, and you especially! I thought I was protecting her-,"
That was all Robert would ever say before West threw the first punch at him. It came so sudden that Robert didn't have time to react, and if he had, it wouldn't of made much of a difference. Robert had been trained in the fine arts of combat: fencing, archery, etc. West had trained on the streets.
Robert slammed on to the ground, but rolled to the side and was back on his feet, just before West was. Robert's expression abruptly changed, and he threw a punch, and this time it hit West directly in his rib cage, promising a bruise big and painful. West swore, momentarily losing his concentration. Robert threw another punch, throwing West into the wall. Robert pinned him against it.
" You crazy fool! What the hell do you think your doing," Robert hissed. West glared at him cooly, letting him talk. Let his strength replenish for a moment.
" And don't talk about Anniya, how sweet and wonderful you are to her. You can't even tell her the truth. You can't even tell her who you really are," West spat, getting angrier by the minute. Robert's eyes darkened, a storm brooding in them.
" And perhaps your one to talk? If we want to talk about identities, West, wouldn't that be you, to talk? I didn't ask to be born! It was me who found you after all that time, wasn't it? You yourself didn't want to come back to the palace!"
" Well, well. Our little reasons have changed, haven't they? I have no desire to take what is now rightfully yours, Robert." He was not talking about Anniya. " It's you who's terrified that someone will find out, and someone will rise against you. They've forgotten about me, Robert, so I don't know what your obsessing about now. Actually, I do. I do know what your obsessing about now, Robert. You're bloody terrified that Anniya will find out, and then she'll come back to me. If she's that shallow, which she isn't, you can have her."
Robert's eyes flashed once again.
" Terrified? Terrified? West, you cannot come to terms with what happened over twenty years ago. You may think what you will, but don't try to bring Anniya into this."
West let out a harsh laugh.
" Both of us love her, don't we? That is perhaps the first thing we've agreed on besides archery in our lives. That makes her involved, Robert," West told Robert, his voice cool and relaxed as ever, as it was the way with West.
Robert had been pushed to the end. " Tell me, then. After that time you left us, when you tried to take the dragon. Tell me that you didn't go to a single other woman? Because I know you did, West. The reason you want Anniya so much is because she doesn't want you anymore. The one woman you've ever wanted who is too good for you. John was the exactly the same......"
Robert had been treading on dangerous ground. West's honor was fiercer then any other man alive, even in his career of thievery. It had been dangerous talking about Anniya. It was the final straw to insult his best friend. His dead best friend.
All the anger rushed in. When it came down to it, Robert and West were nearly equal in hand to hand combat. Nearly. Because when it came right down to it, West had a slight advantage. A slight advantage, but never less an advantage.
West pulled back his arm, and with all of his force, drove a punch to Robert directly between the eyes.
The punch was harder then the first one had been. The sound of West's knuckles hitting Robert's skull was amazing. Robert stumbled back, holding his head. West had a moment of doubt and concern. He underestimated his own strength too often.
Robert put one hand on the wall to steady himself.
" Hit me again, West. No matter what you do, it won't change what happened," Robert said, his voice strained with pain. He turned and walked away. Not confidently, but still with an unimaginable grace that one shouldn't have after being punched in the face.
West watched him walk away.
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" Quite charming, if I may so myself, your majesty. You're wife is quite a splendid decorator," Count Frederick Di Fallon told King Jerrold and Queen Daria, sipping his glass of wine.
Personally, he thought it to be a bit overwhelming, but that wouldn't get him anything if he said it. The Hall was large, larger then the Count's own hall. Every wall was covered with tapestries: hunting scenes, court scenes, pastoral scenes. Along the walls were lines of marble pillars that marched to the end of the hall. Flowers engulfed the place.
The Queen smiled, and quietly replied to him. " Thank you, Frederick. But I can hardly credit myself when it was your idea to have this ball!," she said beaming. Frederick smiled at her simplicity. Perhaps this was why he had never looked at another woman afterwards.......
" Yes, one of your better ideas indeed, Frederick! It's about time Char settles down and finds himself a wife. I can't keep ruling forever!," King Jerrold boomed, laughing.
Frederick joined in the laughter, thinking how all too true the King's words were. He was right, about not ruling forever. Which was why Frederick would have to take the burden from him.
" Oh, there's Char! He hasn't seen you in several fortnights! Char, over here," the Queen called, her face lighting up at the sight of her son. When her face lit up, Frederick could see how someone might think she was beautiful. A simple fool, perhaps. Then again, that's what Jerrold was. Only slightly more complex.
The Prince's head turned at the sound of his name. As he strode over, the Count studied him. He was tall, like his Father, and had the same tawny curls and swarthy skin. He had the slightest bit of freckles, surprising on his face. The Count assumed that had come from Daria. His voice was deep, like his Father's as well.
" Mother, Father. Count Frederick," Char greeted them, not sounding enthusiastic at all. The Count carefully noted the Prince's face of uncomfort as he glanced around at all of the decorations. The Count swept the Prince a bow before more could be said.
" My majesty," he said, then stood up. Yes, it would be very easy indeed getting rid of the prince. Very easy indeed.
After an hour of making more polite conversation, the Count excused himself, saying he had a previous engagement. Which he did. With that, he had began the journey back to his manor. It was isolated, the closest manor being the palace. It indeed had enough splendor to match the palace, only it was more dark. And silent.
The Count was in the parlor within a few moments. Dressed in a dark cloak, TSSal of Mniqa could of passed for a man. But men didn't grow to be ten feet tall. The Count took off his riding gloves, and went to close the door. He didn't bother to lock it. His servants knew better then to come in, for any reason.
"Well? Have you seen them," he asked the ogre angrily. It was too close to the time of the ball to afford any mess ups. Like not knowing where the girl and the man were.
" We had track of them in the forest. But then, they just disappeared. We saw the girl's dragon, but didn't attempt to recapture it. There are several of my tribe following it, though."
The Count nodded, and stroked his mustache. Disappeared.
" We suspect that it is magic, but we do not know for certain," the ogre chief slurred, twirling a greasy black lock of his hair. The Count agreed with him.
" Not suspect. It is bloody magic. Well, very well. Double the count of ogres you have looking for them then. Keep tracking the dragon, but do not harm it. The dragon's going to the girl. All that we have to do is sit tight and wait. Is that all?"
The ogre chief nodded, and the Count smiled.
" Very well then. Just make sure you are here the night of the first ball."
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I was going to cut this off at 3 pages, but I went all the way to 5( I'm very proud of myself). I finally gave in to what everyone wanted to happen( Having Robert and West beat the crap out of each other). Only a few days left till the ball...................
Thanks for reviewing!! Keep it up!