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Chapter Nine: Surrounded by Stone

I stared at the walls again, counting the stones yet again. My total was the same, 54 blocks of stone.

I was sprawled out on the floor of the same little cell that they had held me in before, and once again, I was bored.

"Princess," the door creaked open, but I didn't bother to see who it was. "Milady, your dinner is here." I heard a tray being set down, and then the door creaked shut again.

I looked over at the coarse fare and sighed. Bread would get old very quickly if I were to be fated to eating it everyday, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Without further ado, I ate my meal and went back to my corner to stare at the wall.

My mind wandered, and I was fairly glad when sleep over took me. At first, it was a dreamless sleep, but soon enough, a scene began to formulate in my mind.

I was sitting, exhausted, on my bed, my fancy gown pooled in a pile around my feet. I yawned and pulled one tattered slipper from my foot, and then I removed the other slipper and threw them on the floor together.

Stretching, I stood, picked up the gown and draped it loosely over a chair. I collapsed on the bed then, ready for sleep. I curled up under the covers and slept.

A hand that was rudely clapped over my mouth startled me awake. I tried to scream, but it was in vain. In short order, I was dragged out from under the blankets and bound hand and foot. My captors shoved one of my own slippers into my mouth to serve as a gag and wrapped me up in my heavy quilt. I was slung over someone's shoulder and carried away into the night.

I woke up trying to get out of the dream-quilt, only to find that I was really wrapped in a blanket. I kicked it off and stretched, quite happy not to be bound.

A dry chuckle from the corner of the room grabbed my attention. "So, Elensar, you've finally woken up."

"Yes, I have." I glared at Adrian. "Were you watching me sleep?" I accused him.

"Yes, actually, I was." He flashed me a quick grin. "What were you dreaming about? You were certainly struggling enough!" He crossed his arms and waited.

"Why should I tell you?" I sneered.

"Because I'm the king, of course." He smiled ingratiatingly.

"Well, I'm a princess, and so far that hasn't done me a whit of good, now has it?" I toed the blanket that was lying on the floor.

"Maybe it has." He looked quite innocent. "You met me, of course."

I stood in shock for a few moments, stunned at his sheer nerve. "You bastard!" I blurted out. "You arrogant, conceited, snobbish bastard." I let my head fall back against the cold stone.

"I'll take that as a compliment." He laughed quietly. "From you, I suspect that that's the best that I can hope for."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I groaned.

"What do you think it's supposed to mean?" I glared at him and he grinned.

"Why do you have to be so damn high and mighty all of the time? Why can't you ever be nice?" I grumbled at him.

"I could ask the same of you." I heard the rustle of fabric as he walked over to me. "Why can't you just accept things?" he asked me.

"I do accept things!" I protested. "I mean, I've accepted the fact that Evadne hates me, and that even the nicest people want money more than anything." I smirked up at him. "I mean, I've even accepted that you are a complete ass!" I closed my eyes again and pulled the blanket over me.

"Elensar, really, you could at least attempt to be polite," he said sardonically.

"Why bother?"

"Well, for one, you might make a good impression on the council when you go up to receive your sentence if you were polite." A scornful smile twisted his lips. "Which reminds me- so far, the Council has been trying to get a year of service labor for you. We all thought that you would love that." Adrian raised an eyebrow. "What do you say to that, my fine Princess?"

I was on my feet with my hands at his neck in an instant. "No."

"Oh, what have we here? Threatening the King?" He caught both of my wrists in his hand and pried by fingers from around his neck. "High treason, that."

I paled very quickly. "No, Adrian…" I locked into that icy glare and pled for my life. "Adrian, you can't!"

"Oh, but I can," he mocked me with a quick kiss. "But, then again, I don't have to tell them- the Council- about this, you know." He pressed against me, holding my wrists over my head.

"You…don't?" I asked him fearfully.

"Of course not! It is only you and me here; no one else has seen this." He leaned in closer and whispered conspiratorially. "I won't tell if you tell me something."

I was on my guard. "What? Trust the fox amongst the chickens?"

He chuckled. "Clever, Elensar, clever. Just tell me why that shoe I took out of your mouth was so torn apart."

I could have laughed. He wanted to know our secret. Unfortunately for him, he hadn't phrased the question just so. "Shoes wear out with use, you know." I smiled sweetly.

"I know, but why would such a new shoe be so shredded, I wonder?" he seemingly mused to himself, but I knew better. "I think you know, Elensar. It might go better for you if you tell me."

"Are you telling me that should I give you information on my family, you'll make my sentence lighter?" I challenged him. "I thought I wasn't above the law, but apparently, you are."

I had him. Adrian's face was suffused with an angry flush, and he pressed my wrists harder into the stone of the wall. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying." He released my wrists and turned away angrily.

"So you want to know our big secret." I stared at his back. "You want to know the secret of the Twelve Sisters of Meridian. I, however, am not disposed to tell you." I saw him peek over his shoulder at me with a look of pure disgust written on his face; whether it was directed toward him or me, I could not tell. "You have kidnapped me, locked me in a dungeon and made a complete fool of me. I don't think I want to tell you."

"Elensar-"

"No, don't talk. I know, it was my sister who put you to this, right? And you couldn't have done a thing against her wishes because then you would be out of her favor and out of her bed. That would be quite a shame, wouldn't it though?" My voice was dripping with sarcastic sympathy. "If you couldn't have your slut, then where would you be? You would be quite lost then- no entertainment for Adrian!" I giggled, so infused with resentment that I was lost in it. "If poor Adrian doesn't get what he wants, then the whole world must be in trouble. What a damned shame."

"Elensar, listen to me! No, listen to yourself! You sound as if you are stark raving mad!" Adrian shook my shoulders violently. "Yes, I admit, I was sleeping with your sister. So kill me! I take the blame also for kidnapping you; yes I do, all right? However, I want you to know something. I am not proud of what I did, or my motives. Does that make you happy? You know have my sincerest apologies, Elensar." He stared at me, hurt all over his face.

"Take me home. Then I'll be happy." I glared at him, stubbornly refusing to accept his apology.

Adrian through up his hands, exasperated with my obstinate streak and me. "Fine. I'll tell the Council that you tried to kill me." He turned and started to leave my cell.

"Hell no," I muttered angrily, throwing myself at him. "You're not going anywhere if you're telling them that."

"Get off of me, Princess Elensar," he shrugged me off.

"Adrian, come back here!" I managed to get between him and the door. "No. Whatever you do, do not tell them that I committed high treason. I prefer to keep my head on my shoulders."

"Elensar, move. You're blocking the door." Adrian had reverted back to the cold, flat monotone that was devoid of any emotion except boredom.

I searched his face, trying to pick out any little bit of sympathy. There was nothing. "No." I whispered, working myself into a fury. "No," I repeated, louder. My mind seemed to shut down then, as I let the anger take over.

I kissed him. Right there in the doorway to my prison, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. At first, he kissed me back, so I suppose it must have been a natural reaction, but after a few (rapid) heartbeats, he pushed me away.

"Elensar, show some propriety, please." His breathing was shallow as mine was, and his eyes darted over my face.

"Not if it means I'll lose my life." I braced myself against the heavy wooden door, expecting the worst.

"Damn it, Elensar, did you really think that I would tell them?" He sighed and I felt so idiotic that I would have preferred to have flung myself out of a window then and there.

"Yes." My voice was small and girlish.

He ran his hands through his hair and shook his head. "I wouldn't do that to you- or anyone. Really, I wouldn't." His fingertips glided over my cheek. "Did you- did you really mean that kiss or were you just trying to save your skin?" He looked down and trailed his first finger over my lips.

"I- I'm not sure. Um." I risked a glance up at him. "I think I was just trying to save myself." I grinned impishly, then. "Although, I could mean it, really, if you let me try again."

He chuckled, but that didn't last too long, as I stood on tiptoe to kiss him. He kissed me right back, putting a lot of heart into it. He squished me to him, I clung to him, and he pushed us up against the door.

I was so involved in the sensations that ran through me, cavorting and fluttering through my stomach, that I didn't hear the door click open until it was too late.

I fell backward, my support gone. Stumbling, I tried to catch myself, but only manage to trip over my own feet. Someone behind me caught me and I scrunched my eyes shut, fearing the worst.

"Ah, how nice to see you again, Princess Elensar. I see King Adrian has been with you."

I grimaced.

"Hello Lord Raven." Adrian coughed self-consciously.

Author's Note: I'm back! Finally I'm back! Yay! In regards to this chapter…I love to torture my characters. I must be a horrible person! Hah…Anyway, thank you for all the lovely reviews that were waiting for me when I got back! It made me feel special…:)

To my Reviewers:

LindyLou78: well, it wasn't all that soon, but I did update it! I'm so glad you like it!

Miss Piratess: Yeah…Adrian isn't all that likeable right now. However, your Raven is back! :D

No myridon: A hot fudge sundae? Yummo! :o)

Tamaran Girl: I was dragged away, but I have made a (semi) triumphant return! Glad you like Elensar…She's one of my favorites! As for Adrian…you're very perceptive. :oP

Midreamer: No problem reviewing your story! Thanks for reviewing mine!

Flummoxed: Ah, my dearest writer! I have returned at long last! Yay! Did you expect this to happen when she got back to the castle? Hehehe.

Jackie: Thanks so much for reviewing, and I updated as soon as I could! Thanks for the compliments as well. :oD