In a Dark Tower
Disclaimer: I don't own Tairen Soul.
OOOOOOOOOO is time change
XXXXXXXXXXX is POV change
Shia now lived in a world of pain and darkness.
Ever since she'd been captured by the High Mage, everything was dark. She was stuck in his underground lair without access to the sun and her light seemed to fade daily. Other mages that served Vadim Maur swarmed around in the distance, whispering, and gaining power regularly.
Shia had lost count of how many times she'd moaned in agony in this world. Some of the men's (if Shia could call them that) mere presence was so painful they caused her to vomit. One such man had carried her out of her space while she screamed, tortured by the overwhelming pain, and terrified at what he might do to her.
And suddenly, the world had disappeared. No doubt someone had weaved a spell to make her unconscious. And when the spell finished, Shia had been placed in a different space. It was just as dark as the last one, but much smaller and lonelier. It seemed as if she were the only living being here at all.
It was almost as if she were Rapunzel from the Fey tail, stuck in a dark tower, with only the Eld witch for company.
But now Shia's stomach grew, and she knew she was no longer the only living being here. And given the way the mage had been feeding her lately, there was only one explanation. One of those painful man – creatures had impregnated her. Dahl'reisen, they were called.
Shia stared at her stomach in horror as it grew, worrying about the monster within her. Desperate for someone to speak that wouldn't cause her pain.
OOOOOOOOOOO
One day, when the new umagi brought her food, Shia couldn't take the emptiness or silence anymore. After all, she was never allowed to leave the tiny cave – like room about half the size of a servant's quarters. So, she looked at the girl and said, "thank you.' After all, the food was rather tasty. Certainly, filled with more meat than before she became…pregnant with the thing.
Shia knew umagi were slaves to the mages and had no will of their own. Everything Shia said and did would be reported back to the girl's master, and ultimately, to the high mage, Vadim Maur himself. But she didn't care anymore.
Not even when the umagi stared back at her blankly, as if Shia's words had no meaning. Instead, she inhaled the meaty stew with the umagi watching. Shia couldn't stop her hunger.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
After the first time, Shia thanked the umagi every time she arrived with food. It helped that the stew, drink, and bread was always brought by the same girl. It was as if this umagi was Shia's only connection with the world. .
Even if that "world" was only the rest of the High Mage's underground lair.
One day, she almost thought the girl smiled in response.
Shia knew the girl was a slave to her enemy, but that had to mean something, didn't it? "I think I should give you a name," Shia said to the umagi one day as she devoured the meaty stew and dipped the stale bread into the broth.
The umagi's dark eyes stared back at Shia, a mix of surprise and offense. "That's not necessary," she said, speaking for the first time herself. Then the umagi turned away from Shia.
But the sound of another voice was so sweet, Shia didn't care that the umagi was offended. "Yes, it is," Shia said with a nod. "I'll call you…Melliandra."
OOOOOOOOOO
From then on, Shia said "thank you Melliandra," when the girl brought her food. She liked to think they were becoming friends, especially when Melliandra smiled in response. Shia knew it was dangerous, considering umagi's were compelled to tell everything to their master. She'd heard some mages even temporarily inhabited their umagi's body, gathering even more secrets that their umagi may have missed.
But the desperate need for a companion was too strong. She now understood why Rapunzel would have considered the Eld witch her only friend for years.
Besides, as Shia was already held captive and pregnant by the mages, what more could they do to her?
OOOOOOOOOOO
"Maybe I should let you climb my hair next time when you arrive with food, Melliandra," Shia said, with a chuckle. It took her a moment to realize she was comfortable with this umagi to joke. She laughed a bit more as she took a bite of stew, letting the meat fill her mouth.
But Melliandra's eyes stared back at Shia in confusion. Of course, growing up in Eld as umagi, the girl would never have heard any fey tales. Shia sighed, realizing how different her friend was. "It's based on a story, where a young maiden is locked in a tower, and a…" Shia suddenly realized she couldn't say "Eld witch" to Melliandra. "… Only one person ever visits her, and she uses the maiden's hair to arrive at the tower."
Shia sighed and shook her head, glancing at her hair. It was thick, dark, and long, although not as extensive as Rapunzel's was said to be. Before she was pregnant, it used to scare Shia, the way the umagi cared for her hair, and now she understood she was right to be afraid. No doubt the high mage was preparing Shia for the dahl'reisen's pleasure.
Staring at her stomach, Shia wasn't certain it was so funny anymore.
But Melliandra's grin and soft laughter in response made it worth it.
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OOOOOOOOOO
She'd been born to be a slave, so there was never a reason to grin or even smile. An umagi of the mages, who'd lived her entire life in this underground lair. By the time she'd become a young woman, she'd already received six mage marks, so her master could command her to do anything and even inhabit her body if he so wished.
And yet, this woman, pregnant because of the High Mage's birthing program, thanked her. Even gave her a name. Wasn't the woman supposed to be partially Fey, the sworn enemy of all Eld? But this woman… Shia, didn't treat her like an enemy. Shia treated her like… Melliandra.
She'd been taught to fear sweet words, as mages often used it to lure people into a trap. But it was difficult to fear Shia the more she conversed with Melliandra. The woman had no power, after all, pregnant and held captive in one of the High Mage's darkest rooms, away from everyone else.
Melliandra didn't realize it, but at some point, she began to think of herself by the name Shia had given her, rather than a nameless umagi, slave to the mages. She may still be umagi, but she was more than that, too.
And that was reason to smile and to even laugh a little.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
But Melliandra did more than smile and laugh with Shia.
One day when she entered Shia's space, complete with bread and drink, Shia gasped in horror at her stomach. "It…he… moved," she stammered. With that she began to weep. Tiny, watery tears ran down her face, each one faster than the other.
Melliandra lived in a world that did not care if people wept. It was weakness, after all, and her master and all the other mages hated weaknesses. But she couldn't leave Shia like this. Not the woman who'd given her a name.
Uncertain what to do, Melliandra took both the other woman's hands as Shia continued to cry. "I'm… so… scared," she said still weeping. As soon as she admitted that Shia shut her mouth. "I shouldn't have said that."
Of course, Shia was correct. They appeared to be alone, but mages had ways of obtaining information. What if her master was inhabiting Melliandra's body right now? He wasn't, but Shia wouldn't be able to tell the difference if that were the case.
Still, Melliandra wished she could help Shia. But she was an umagi. What could Melliandra do? Finally, she handed Shia the bread and drink, although Melliandra knew food didn't solve her problem.
Shia gobbled the food, as always.
OOOOOOOOOO
Even as Shia continued to gobble the food Melliandra brought, she grew more fearful. Every time Melliandra entered the cave, Shia would stare at her larger stomach. When the child moved inside her, Shia would weep again.
Melliandra tried to comfort Shia, holding her hands or even her arms, but nothing seemed to help. "Shia, that story you told me, where the young maiden is locked in a tower and is only visited by one person…" Melliandra paused and took a deep breathe. Then she looked into Shia's brown eyes and said in a soft voice. "Did she ever escape?"
Shia shrugged, glancing around the small space the high mage had provided her. "Yes, she did. Someone rescued her." For the first time, Shia looked at her stomach without fear, as if thinking what it would be like to raise the child herself. Melliandra smiled, thinking what a wonderful mother Shia would be. After all, she'd already showed Melliandra more kindness and warm feelings than anyone the umagi had ever known.
But then Shia shook her head. "But it's just a story," she said, blinking her eyes as a couple of tears fell. "Thank you for the food, Melliandra." She eagerly ate the meaty stew.
And of course, the story of the young maiden being rescued from the tower was just a story. There was no way anyone could rescue Shia and her child. Least of all an umagi.
OOOOOOOOOOO
Far too quickly for Shia, the high mage ordered her into the birthing chamber. Suddenly, the woman was surrounded by other umagi encouraging her to push, while Melliandra only fetched her water.
And the high mage stood nearby, waiting. Demanding. Probably performing some sort of sinister magic.
Shia birthed a son. A cute little boy with dark hair just like hers, but the high mage immediately lifted him in triumph, as if the child would do great things to serve him.
But there was blood everywhere around Shia, and more poured out of her. Before Melliandra could even try to save her friend, she was gone.
OOOOOOOOOOO
Melliandra hid her tears about Shia, knowing they would not be accepted in her world, but she couldn't possibly leave Shia's son to the high mage. Umagi or not, something had to be done. Shia deserved more. The maiden in the tower had been rescued, after all.
Melliandra would rescue Shia's son. She kept her smile private, but an image of the boy leaving this underground lair brought her great joy.
How much was Melliandra truly not able to do against the mages as an umagi, and how much was what she'd been conditioned into believing? After all, Melliandra had never believed she was worthy of a name, or laughter, much less a friendship with a half – Fey woman until she'd met Shia.
Vadim Maur, the high mage must be defeated. For Shia's and her son's sake.
Melliandra had heard talk of another Fey held captive that should be able to help. He was said to be the greatest warrior the Fey had ever know. "Lord Death" they called him, although she'd heard his real name was Shannisorran v'en Clay.