Ensnared
The Black Unicorn moved at a relentless pace, not knowing where she was heading but moving on none the less. Who could she ask for directions? Who would not flee in fear of the site of a black unicorn? All she knew was that Haggard's castle was on the edge of the sea, so she would travel until she reached the sea. After that . . . she did not know.
Days and nights she traveled. The dangerous night creatures her mother told her about were no where to be found thus far, and she was thankful for it. As far as humans went she had seen little of them as well as she had been keeping off the roads and away from their towns and villages. Days passed by as her journey continued on, and at times it seemed she would never find the sea let alone her father, but on she went.
It was night, the moon was full and the Black Unicorn was asleep as something crept through the forest towards her. It was silent and patient, taking its time so as not to make a noise. Soon there were many, all surrounding the unicorn as she slept. Then in a flash there were torches lit, men screaming, and the Black Unicorn was awake and alert. But it was too late. As she sprang to her feet ropes were lashed around her limbs to bind her and keep her from running. She was caught and couldn't move.
"What magic is this?" She cried. "No ropes in the world can hold a unicorn. What are you?" She demanded.
"These ropes are no ordinary ropes, and there is no spell placed upon them. What they are, are ropes made from the manes of unicorns, and who we are you will learn in time."
She could hear someone murmuring in the background and suddenly her vision began to blur, things went dark and then there was nothing.
When the unicorn awoke she was caged and in what looked like an old abandoned barn. There was an old man standing before her watching her intently. "So you're finally awake." She did not reply. "I suppose you'd like to know what you're doing here."
"I'd like you to let me go."
"I'm afraid I can't do that. You see my master has found you rather interesting. You see, he's a collector of . . . rare treasures such as yourself, and when he heard that people had sited a black unicorn traveling through the lands he demanded he have you for himself." Explained the old man.
"And what makes your master think he is deserving of such things?"
The old man chuckled and said, "The fact that he's had no trouble thus far acquiring them is part of it I'm sure. He has his own reasons that are none of my concern. He asked us to find and capture you and we did. Your fate is in his hands now. We have but to deliver you to him and our job will be done." And the old man left without another word
When the unicorn woke next she was in a moving carriage, the bars of her cage covered by dirty grey sheets. Using her horn she tore a hole in the cloth and peered out. They were still in the forest as far as she could see. Turning away from the bars she looked about her prison for the first time. The dull grey wood reminded her of the dull grey castle her father must have lived in for so many years of his life before her mother came.
She slumped to the floor. What was to become of her now? Her quest was suddenly cut short. Would she ever find her father? Despair swept over her like a tidal wave, overpowering her and dragging her under, drowning her. She was lost, and unlike her mother she had no butterfly, no wizard, no friends, and no prince of any sort to get her out of this.
The carriage jerked to a halt. She looked out the hole she'd torn into the cloth. While she'd sat there, overcome with failure, much time had passed. The sun was setting casting an orange glow on the land. Outside she could see a town square and people gathering around her cage. The men who must have been the ones to take her captive stepped out, ushering the people away.
As she scanned the crowd of people her eye fell upon a man standing on the edge of the crowd. Her eyes met his for but a moment, taking her by surprise. She didn't think anyone could see her through the tear. He began to squint as though to get a better look but she stepped away, fear suddenly taking hold of her. Humans could not be trusted. They were volatile, and uncertain. They could be kind and truthful one moment, then evil and cold hearted the next. Her mother was lucky enough to meet three with kind hearts, three among many she encountered in her travels. The Black Unicorn had already met with the worst of humanity, what were the chances that good people would come to her rescue? It was time for her to do something about it.
Rhett watched from the back of the crowd. What ever it was that was looking out from the cage at him through the curtain caught his attention completely for the short time their eyes met. He wondered what sort of caravan this was. What sort of creatures they were transporting and why. But in another moment the eye in the carriage vanished and he still had work to do.
He left the square and moved on to the butcher's. He was having trouble with some of the merchants he sold his goods to and asked if Rhett could come help him negotiate. But while speaking with the butcher and the merchants all Rhett could think about was that sky-blue eye peering out at him. When the problem was finally solved and the Rhett was heading home he decided to stop by the square where the caravan was parked once more.
As he was coming up to the square a ruckus could be heard. There was shouting, and what sounded like horses whinnying. He started moving forward slowly, his curiosity getting the better of him. He hid in the shadows and looked upon the scene unfolding before him. In the center of the square with its head thrashing about ferociously was a pitch black unicorn.
Rhett rubbed his eyes to make sure they were not deceiving him, but sure enough when he removed his hands it was still there. The men from the caravan were surrounding it trying to lash ropes around it to hold it. Rhett's eyes then moved to the cage that had held the creature that had caught his attention before to find the bars mangled and broken, splintered wood littering the ground before it.
Looking back to the unicorn thrashing about before him wondered whether or not to interfere. The eye he saw earlier surely belonged to this creature and moments before he was certain that such an eye, full of sorrow and mourning could only belong to something good. But a black unicorn . . . such an omen spoke of only evil and despair. But the creature's eyes had spoken otherwise.
It was a sin to capture a unicorn against its will . . . it was possible the same could be true no matter what color it was. What ever the case Rhett could stand idly by no longer. He bolted into the square, knocking one of the men aside, pulling out his knife and cutting the rope free. With the other men distracted by Rhett the unicorn was able to buck knocking one of them into another, and leaving them sprawled on the ground. Rhett ran to the unicorn's other side and knocked another of the men aside cutting free yet another rope.
"Boy!" a voice called out suddenly and everyone froze. Rhett watched the unicorn turn and followed its gaze to an elderly man standing next to the destroyed cage. "Do you know what it is you are doing, boy? Who this caravan belongs to?"
"It doesn't matter who this belongs to. A unicorn belongs to no one." Rhett replied.
"Yes I supposed that's the traditional way of thinking of it. But times have changed my son. Some things aren't as far out of reach as they used to be. Now it would be best for you if you just left this place and forgot we were ever here." The old man insisted.
"I cannot." Rhett said.
"Then I'm sorry, but we can't let you stand in our way any longer." The old man nodded to his men and they began to close in around Rhett and the unicorn.
The unicorn tossed its head and whinnied, moving between Rhett and the men. The old man chuckled. Then in unison the men tossed ropes, looping around the unicorn's neck, but the unicorn yanked its head in, dragging the men closer, and then slashed them all across the chest with its horn. All around were taken by surprise. It was then unmistakably clear that this was no ordinary unicorn, for what unicorn was willing to shed another creature's blood?
The old man's eyebrow rose at the spectacle unfolding before him. The unicorn glared black, the once sorrowful blue eyes now filled with rage. Rhett didn't know what to make of this, but he'd put his foot through the door. There was no going back now.
The rest of the men, angry that their comrades had been harmed charged at them all at once. There was a flurry of movement. Rand could hardly keep track of what was happening around him, but he fought with all he had, for something he hardly knew anything about.
Suddenly the men from the caravan broke away, backing off towards where the old man stood. Fear was streaked across all their faces as they stared back at the unicorn. Rand turned to the unicorn to see that it was emitting a light slowly growing in intensity. In the next moment there was a flash of light that blinded all around and when it was gone the unicorn was no longer in sight. Lying on the ground in its place was a young girl, her long black hair nearly covering her whole body.
"Well this is an interesting turn of events." Said the old man. Rhett remained wary. "I suppose we'll leave you for now. We weren't ordered to retrieve a girl. But I expect you'll be hearing from us again." And with that the men from the caravan packed up their things and rode off.
Rhett moved to the girl's side, covering her with his cloak, and turned her over. She was unconscious, but covered in marks around her wrists, neck and ankles. She was also bleeding from several wounds. He brushed her hair away from her face and saw a star like mark in the centre of her forehead. "What have I gotten myself into?"
AN: Please R&R!