~Elena~
My father's chambers were silent as I crept from beneath a secret tunnel under the floor, being careful to pad softly across towards his sleeping chambers. I paused just outside his door, the familiar smell of spicy citrus giving me pause as I took in the lavish lantern lit room. Rage colored the room blood red as my heart raced, sweat trickling along my brow as I followed the scent to the other side of my father's bed.
"Please. No more. I don't know his name. I swear." I stumbled catching myself on the bedpost as I took in Elena's prostrate form shackled to the wall. Hand shaped bruises decorated her arms and neck, angry whelp marks tallied along her back and bare legs. She's been blind folded, her favorite soap sitting innocently on my father's bedside table. I stretched out my hand, torn between betrayal and heartbreak. What could it take to break the unbreakable? A Lannister.
"Please. Please. I don't know." She begged as my hand brushed across her swollen cheek, tears raining along the bloody cuts. A bandage, stained red, hid her torso, hair tangle about her face as she tried to push herself away from me, the shackles thwarting her escape. I pulled the blind fold from her face, taking in wide icy eyes. She stared with the eyes of a cornered animal, body paralyzed as she eyed the door.
"Elena? It's me. Are you in there still?" I asked as I knelt before her, her eyes slammed shut as she bit her lip, blood dripping down the corner of her mouth as shivers wracked her body. I tried to cage the rage once more as I edge carefully closer, snatching up the blanket he'd laid on floor for her to wrap about her naked shoulders.
"A lion once fell in love with a beautiful maiden, and proposed marriage to her parents." I recounted, trying to remember the story she once told me in my time of need. The shivers stopped but her eyes eye stayed closed as I edged ever closer, hand reaching out to grab hers. "The old people did not know what to say. They did not like to give their daughter away to the Lion, yet they did not wish to enrage the King of Beasts." Eyelashes fluttered as she opened icy eyes once more and really looked at me, as if for the first time.
"Tyrion?" Tears rained as she collapsed, shoulder shaking with her sobs as I snatched the key that was tauntingly just out of her reach, quickly freeing her of her cuffs. She clung to me, as if I was her last lifeline to this world.
"We must hurry. Varys is waiting to take us away." I ushered as I helped her stand. She clamped her mouth around a cry of pain as she leaned against the wall, breathing labored as she fashioned a makeshift dress of the tattered blanket. My teeth ground and my blood sang for violence as I took in bruised thighs.
"Come on, this way." She grabbed my hand, eyes sort of gleamed as if she were wondering through a dream. What has he done to you? I questioned as I led her to the hole in the floor, stopping long enough to help her down before turning.
"Tyrion, please don't leave me alone." Her voice was broken, pleading, but this was something I had to do.
"Follow the tunnel to the end. You'll come to a passage and a door. Knock twice, then knock twice again. Varys will be waiting." I instructed, her eyes shone brightly with understanding as tears trickled down her cheeks.
"What about you?"
"If I haven't returned when the alarm bells ring, leave without me." She nodded reaching her hand towards me before clasping it to her heart.
"Until we meet again." She spoke in farewell before she disappeared, footsteps fading into silence as I eyed the crossbow on the wall.