ACT 3 - The First Strike.
Saint Moyer's Castle.
After surrendering to the mercenaries, Alexia was taken the saint Moyer's Castle in the Western province.
The castle is more ancient than any bone left in the soil. The once smooth rock is pitted and scarred. how soon the present becomes the past and the important becomes the irrelevant one. In this hallowed and ancient site the trees have seen the centuries blow past in the winds of each season and witnessed the folly of the struggles. Walls stand mute, water awaits the call of the wind to ruffle and move as molten glass of deepest green. Grey stone rises from the land, unapologetic and bold to defy entrance and protect what has been entrusted to their care. Below the uneven patches of grass are arrowheads of old, hilts of broken swords and armour that failed to protect.
Beneath the chorus of the birds she could hear the voices of old, the clash of metal on metal and the pounding of horses hooves. She saw where knights stood, see what kings, dukes and peasants saw. In this pale light, were it not for the tell tale signs of weathering, it could be almost as any century in the past seven hundred years.
Alexia: Where are you taking me?
Alexia was being hoisted inside of a carriage. Her eyes were blindfolded and her body was bound up.
Knight: Quiet! You'll find out in a minute.
The knight shushed alexia.
Knight 2: Lord Greyhound, Shall we stop before the drawbridge?
Greyhound: Yes, We should keep going and head straight into the water.
Greyhound rolled his eyes.
Knight: Right!
Greyhound: No, You Idiot! Of course We should stop before the drawbridge!
He yelled back.
Knight: Y-Yes Sir.
The cavalcade stopped right before the drawbridge. Two cavaliers on the side of the castle hailed them:
Cavalier: Aie! What is your business here?
One asked.
Knight 1: We have captured the princess! -And we wish to give her sanctity here until the kingdom army arrives to take her back to the capital.
Cavalier: Show us, Her!
Greyhound: *Grumbling* Get her out of there!
Alexia: H-Hey!
A knight grabbed alexia by the arm and shoved her in front of the carriage,. Putting her in full view of the cavaliers across the moat.
Cavalier: You madlads actually did it. Bravo.
He clapped.
Cavalier 2: Lower the Drawbridge!
The second cavalier called.
The bridge lowered inch by inch, second by second. It made alexia's stomach curl as she waited for the bridge to come to level. She couldn't imagine what would await her inside…
Saint Moyer castle - 15th Floor hallway
The inside of the castle was creepy with spider webs coming the slick walls and both human and animal skeletons on the floors. At the end of the hallway was a statue of saint moyer herself. She was a tall, busty woman with curled eyes and a tumultuous stomach. Her statue was slightly deformed with several fingers on her left arm missing and a segment of her leg missing. Saint moyer was a warrior maiden who had not only defeated the previous dynasty and helped alexia's family become rulers of the country. The status of the statue symbolic In a way, of how justice had gotten old and decrepit over time in this country.
The two knights stopped just before the room with a silver door. They whispered their own concern about something...
Knight: Oi, You sure it's safe to put her in there with him?
Knight 2: Its fine. That chap is a complete dolt. Can't even remember his name half of the time.
The knights then talked to alexia.
Knight: Here's your place of confinement. Don't Talk, Don't walk and don't make a wink of sound.
Alexia: This is no way to treat your princess, You ruffians!
Knight: Shut up, Caesar will be here for you in 2 days.
Alexia: No…!
Knight: Enjoy your stay!
The knight graciously opened the door and threw Alexia into the room.
The room itself was quite average. There were two small beds on both sides of the room with one being red and blue and the other being green and magenta. There was one source of light in the room which was a crooked window that hanged in the back. It wasn't bad for what was supposed to be a prison cell.
The room had a drab and melancholy feeling.
?: Hey…..
A voice came out from underneath the bed.
Alexia: Huh, Who's there?
?: Just me….
Someone stepped out from under the bed. It was a male, about 17 or 18 years old. He had crisp auburn hair and indigo eyes that seemed to lazily stare into the distance, He wore something akin to a tunic with silver robes and several chains around his arms.
Alexia: Another prisoner….? Those mongrels can't even be bothered to give me my own room?
Alexia whined.
Alexia: No matter, I shall soon escape this place anyway.
Alexia turned back to the guy in the cell with her.
Alexia: Who are you, exactly?
?: Um…..
The boy put his hand on his head.
Ben: I think my name is ben….. Or something.
His puntactily never seemed to be right even when announcing his own name. It seemed like there was something wrong with him in his cranial cavities.
Alexia: Well ben, I am princess alexia.
Ben: Princess….? Princess of what?
Alexia: Princess of this land! Aetreon!
Ben: What is Aetreon?
Alexia: The kingdom we live in! You are from Aetreon, aren't you?
Ben: I think so.
Alexia: Good.
There was a long pause after that exchange.
Alexia: May I ask, Why are you imprisoned here?
Ben: I'm Imprisoned? Since when?
Alexia: You have chains around your arms…
Ben: Woah….
Ben looked down at his chains in amazement.
Alexia: Are you an Imbecile? Why do you not seem to know anything?
Ben: I don't know…..
Alexia: By the gods… I'm stuck with an imbecile…
Ben: Hold on! I think something is coming back to me….
Ben gripped his head.
Ben: I think I was captured from somewhere.
Alexia: *Rolls eyes* I could have told you that.
Ben: Somewhere grassy… and I was with a couple of people when I was captured.
Alexia: That really tells me nothing….
Ben: it doesn't?
Alexia: No. For all I know, you could be here for larceny.
Alexia laid down on her bed. Her head felt heavy on the thin sheets that covered the mattress.
Alexia: (I left beagle behind…. For this?)
[Flashback]
Alexia: You'll let beagle go?
Greyhound: Of course, I am a man of my word.
Alexia looked at beagle who was cowering in his own pain, unable to even speak now.
Alexia: Fine, I surrender.
Beagle: ...!
She held up her arms in a sign of Obedience and submission.
Greyhound: Wise choice princess.
[End]
Ben: You know….. You look like a lot like…..
The boy paused for a second.
Alexia: Whom?
Ben: I can't remember….
Alexia: Ugh. Please don't waste my time.
Alexia turned over in her bed.
Ben: That girl we were…
Ben mumbled to himself.
Alexia: Quiet! I'm going to bed.
Alexia said as she covered her body in blankets. In her mind, She wanted to completely forget the fact, that she was in this situation, But in her heart she wished for something else.
Alexia: (I escaped one castle to find myself in another…. How Ironic.)