Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I hope you guys enjoy the second chapter. Also, this is my first fan fiction story and would appreciate any criticism or anything you guys could offer. Thanks, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the knights (I'm working on that as we speak). I only own the original characters portrayed in this story (Seraph, Tiernan, etc)
Chapter 2: "Why have you come?"
She might have lost herself among the endless corridors of the castle if she had not traveled them for what seemed like eternity. She slowly made her way to the torture chamber of the dungeon; where Galahad was currently being held.
Somewhere below the surface of her soul which had been hardened into stone, hope still lingered and she regretted was she was about to do. Even though she feared her master's wrath, she knew he only controlled part of her.
Eventually she reached the door leading into the torture chamber.
There was guard standing in front of the door. A sword hung at his side. He wore all black, loose-fitting clothing; that of a ninja. These were the kind of people Tiernan kept in his company; those who chose to delve in evil.
"Unlock the door." Seraph commanded and the ninja moved to unlock the door. After it was unlocked, the guard returned to his post, but not before managing a look of disdain in her direction.
Seraph ignored it. Most of those who resided in the castle resented her in one way or another. She knew part of the reason...she was an outsider.
Though she could remember nothing before coming here, she knew...she was a foreigner not from this land. They resented the way Tiernan kept her around though they knew he had a use for her.
She entered the room expecting to see Galahad in the chair where they had left him. He was not there, and the ropes that held him...they had been cut!
What had happened? Where had he gone? Questions raced through her mind as she ran to the chair and checked the ropes.
She knew Tiernan would show her no mercy if Galahad had gotten away. She heard a sound behind her and spun around.
There was no one there. She then realized where it had come from. There was an archway leading from the large torture chamber into a smaller room which held nothing except for some chains which restrain a few prisoners if they were lucky enough to survive that long.
She walked cautiously through the arched passage way into the smaller chamber and saw immediately source of the sound.
Galahad lay slumped on the floor in the middle of the room. His arms were held above him by chains which hung from the ceiling.
She ran over to him and helped him sit up as she noticed the lashes across his back. She gasped as he grunted while she tried to pull him up. He raised his head and she noticed there was blood which had ran down the side of his face, some of it came from his mouth.
"What happened?" She realized how dumb the question sounded coming from her after what she had done to him earlier. Besides, she was in league with the man who held him prisoner here.
Galahad managed to pull himself up far enough to where he was in a sitting position. She realized he couldn't hold himself up and she bent down beside him as he started to fall back. She supported him, as he leaned now across her legs.
Galahad slowly opened his eyes and glared at Seraph as soon as he realized who it was.
"Why have you come?" He asked as the reason she was here came back to her. She closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry." She moved one hand from his shoulder which supported him and removed a small satchel from the black robe she wore.
"Guard!" She called and moments later the ninja came through the door and the larger chamber till he reached her presence.
"Unchain him." She commanded him and the guard obeyed as he took the keys and unlocked the chains binding Galahad's arms. Seraph nodded and the guard returned to his post.
She was glad the ninja had complied without any resistance, however suspicious. She tried to help Galahad stand, but he collapsed to the ground. Seraph opened the satchel and pulled and small vial which held some bluish looking liquid.
She uncorked the vial and brought to Galahad's lips.
"Drink this." She instructed and he shook his head as he held his head back.
"You'll poison me." He responded bitterly. Of course, Seraph knew why he wouldn't trust her.
"Please, it will help you. It will give you strength." Galahad stared at her and then glanced towards the vial, reluctantly opening his lips. Thankful he obeyed, she emptied the vial's contents into his mouth.
He realized it had a sweet taste to it as he swallowed it, though it burned against his parched throat.
"Why?" He asked as Seraph tried to help him stand again. He found it was easier to stand though he did feel weak. "Why would you help me?" He asked again; this time louder.
She looked up at him, for now that he was standing besides her, she realized how tall he was. She looked in his eyes, searching for the words to explain, but none came. Seraph shook her head.
"You mustn't ask questions, just hurry. You don't have much time." Galahad found himself quickly regaining his strength.
Seraph helped him into the larger chamber and he rested against the wall while she went and retrieved his clothes (for now he only wore his britches). They were in a small, closet-like room which conjoined with the torture chamber. There, the weapons, clothes, and other objects found on him at his time of capture were held.
She picked them up and headed back into the torture chamber. Galahad looked up from where he had been resting against the wall. Seraph walked over and handed them to him.
He nodded his thanks, though still wary of her and quickly put on the rest of his clothes. He was surprised they had kept his weapons and had not disposed of them or put them some place else when they had captured him. He put on his belt and attached his sheathed sword to his belt.
After seeing he was done, Seraph walked over to the door.
"Wait here." She slowly opened the door and walked out into the hall to address the guard, but the guard had waited right in front of the door and pushed Seraph back inside as she had moved to walk out.
"What…?" Seraph exclaimed startled that the guard had waited for her. The ninja drew his sword and raised it to strike the Seer.
His sword, however, clashed with another as Galahad quickly drew his sword and rushed behind Seraph in enough time to counter the ninja's attack.
Seraph had moved from between the two swords as Galahad swung his sword flipping the guard's who turned around attempting to catch Galahad across the chest. Galahad jumped back and spun the sword in his hand bringing it down into the ninja's chest.
The ninja stood there a moment before he slowly started to sink to the ground. Galahad put his foot onthe ninja'schest and pulled out his sword as he pushed the guard to the ground. He wiped the blood off on the guard's black clothes and then sheathed his sword.
He looked up at Seraph who was standing there staring at the dead body.
"Let's go." Galahad pulled her from her thoughts reminding her of their hastened state to escape. She nodded and ran out the door as he followed.
"Thank you." She managed as she took a left from the door and headed down a dark hallway.
They eventually ran came to a cross-section where two halls branched from the one they currently traveled. Seraph took another left and it didn't take them long to reach a wooden door which she opened, thankful that had yet to run into any guards.
The cold night's air hit Galahad as they stepped outside. He was surprised at how much and how quickly he had regained his strength, especially after what the masked man had done to him.
He realized they had traveled down a passageway that led out to the side of the castle. The stables where close, thankfully. They ran under the cover of night to the stables and quickly slipped inside.
Among the stables, Galahad searched for his horse and soon found him in the center of a ring.
Adir was tied to a post as an older man stood in the center with the horse. The horse whinnied and fought against the ropes and Galahad soon noticed the whip which the man held at his side.
This angered Galahad and he shot forward, but Seraph held him back.
"Wait." But it was too late. The man turned around sharply staring into the rows of stables, squinting his eyes to try and find the source of the sound.
Seraph stepped from the shadows which startled the man a moment until he realized who it was.
"Leone," Seraph said calmly heading over towards man and the beautiful white and gray horse. Leone had black hair which hung below his ears and above his chin. He had a neatly trimmed mustache and the kindest eyes of an ebon state.
Galahad followed and the man glared towards him.
"Leone, I need this horse. It belongs to this man." Seraph informed and Galahad stood surprised she was revealing this to this man before them, a servant of Seraph's master.
The man, much to Galahad's surprise, smiled kindly and replaced the whip on a hook outside the ring. Leone was one of the few people who did not resentSeraph here at her lord's manor.
"My lady…of course." He nodded and allowed Galahad to untie Adir's ropes.Galahad gently patted the horse, attempting to soothe the animal after any affliction it had to endure while he was away.
Seeing Adir was still saddled, he mounted as Seraph came forward. She handed him the satchel she had removed from her robe earlier.
"Here, take this. It will help…if the pain should return." Galahad took the small bag and nodded his thanks.
"I was unable to collect any supplies for your journey, but if you ride south through the night, you'll come to the edge of the forests bordering your land. There are Woads there…they will help you."
She assured as Galahad led his horse towards the front of the stables. Seraph walked with him until they reached the large double doors of the stable's entrance.
Galahad hesitated a moment before looking down at Seraph.
" Thank you. I will never forget your kindness." Seraph smiled at his kind words, but it soon faded thinking of the hard ride the knight had ahead of him.
"You must ride fast until you have passed from this land. You must be far away when Tiernan learns you are gone." This was the first time Seraph had referred to her master by his name in Galahad's presence.
Their words were turned to small, frosty clouds as the cold air entered from outside. Seraph handed him a bundle and Galahad accepted it as it unfolded to reveal a large deep brown cloak.
"For the ride ahead." Seraph explained. Galahad nodded and urged his horse to the edge of the doors as he tied the cloak around his shoulders. He cherished the warmth it brought him.
"May the gods carry you swiftly home." Seraph offered her own kind words and then Galahad kicked his horse forward and he sped off as fast as he could.
Seraph stood there as Leone approached from inside the stables.
"For a moment," He started leaning against the doorframe. "I almost thought you cared."
Seraph just stared ahead at Galahad's quickly fading figure. "For a moment, I almost did."
Author's Note: Well, that's chapter 2! I hope you guys like it. If you guys have any suggestions or ideas, relationships, anything you'd like to add or think would be cool, just let me know. I love input. Hope everyone had wonderful holidays! Please read and review. Later!
- I remain your humble servant.
