As Eryn crosses the clearing she can feel Darius's gaze boring into her back still. Every moment they spent speaking she felt him analyzing her, picking apart her words and actions. She's realizing now she has to be careful, anything she says can be used as a weapon by the Noxian.
"Don't antagonize him please Claudius." Eryn pleads softly when she feels her and her brother are out of earshot of Darius.
"Why? We don't owe him anything and he's at our mercy." Claudius has calmed down but there's some venom to his voice still.
"Because-" Because he's the leader of the Noxian Army and in the event that he escapes or we give him back to Noxus as a bargaining chip I'd like him to not have a vendetta against us and our family. Eryn thinks to herself and wants to say out loud but she bites her tongue. She remembers the rapport she's seemingly building with him. And how he looks at Claudius with so much more hatred than he does her. She begins to worry if she shares information with her brother that Darius will close off from her. This might be their only chance to obtain information from one of the Trifarix. As long as she can play this safely and smartly…
"Because we're Demacians. And Demacians treat humans, even their enemies, with respect."
"Not Noxians. Demacians who show Noxians kindness end up with a dagger in their back. No exceptions." Claudius says with a tone of a parent lecturing a child. This causes Eryn to scowl. "Besides if we want information from a Noxian, they only respond to acts of strength. We need to show him we're in charge here, not him."
She has to stop herself from rolling her eyes as annoyance builds. Despite her being older by 4 years, Claudius always treats her like a child. He got to go with their father on trips outside their farming town, he got to see the world and join the military, while Eryn was forced to stay at home out of sight. Learning to hide her magic and be a good farm hand. These woods are the farthest from home she has ever gone while her brother has seen the capital of Demacia. It makes him feel more knowledgeable than her, and his higher status in the military surely enflates that sense of superiority.
She sighs and quells the feeling of annoyance that had been bubbling in her chest. "Fine. You're the Lieutenant here. I'll follow your plan." He beams at her.
"Great. No meals for the Noxian until he cooperates with information." Claudius declares and begins eating a handful of the berries. "In the meantime, we'll bunker here for tonight and then in the morning we need to trek to the next fort. This is Noxian territory now and who knows when they'll start stripping these woods for lumber."
"How will we get past the fort?"
"I know a way around it. A few secret tunnels in the cliffs. It's a few days' walk through these woods. They're abandoned mines that aren't on any maps anymore. We get through those and we'll be back in Demacian territory. We should sleep in watches from now on though. Keep an eye on our prisoner and an ear out for any soldiers."
Eryn hums and chews on her own share of the berries before glancing up and catching the gaze of Darius from across the clearing. He's watching them intently, like a wolf eying a meal, and it causes a shiver of fear to run down her spine. We are very much in over our heads here… she thinks to herself, missing the days before she was drafted into this senseless fight.
They finish their meals, leaving a small amount in the bag for Darius, and Eryn watches her brother saunter over to their captive. She remains a few paces back behind him, not saying anything as Claudius begins his own line of questioning.
"What is your name and ranking, Noxian?" Claudius asks standing over the Noxian trying to look intimidatingly large.
Darius laughs. The sound is sharp, almost similar to a bark. It has a mocking tone. His eyes flicker between Claudius's face and Eryn's, before he settles back to lean against the tree with a smirk.
"Alright then." Claudius holds up the pouch of leftover berries and nuts. "This was your share originally. But now today you don't eat."
"I already told you I don't fear hunger. If this is your worst Demacian then you're wasting your breath."
Claudius snaps and grabs Darius by the hair and slams his head back into the tree. Darius grunts and grits his teeth at the pain. "Listen, Noxian, this is far from my worst but I prefer to not stoop to your levels. Cooperation will be a much more pleasant experience for you in the long run."
Darius glares and spits in Claudius's face, causing him to recoil backwards. He wipes the spit from his face and winds up his arm for a punch but Eryn catches his arm. "He needs to be able to travel tomorrow." She reminds him softly. "Don't make me waste my energy healing you and him."
Claudius stops and glances at Eryn before looking back at their captive. "Maybe the march tomorrow will have him singing a different tune." Claudius turns to walk through the grove. "Let's gather supplies."
Eryn follows, feeling Darius's eyes burning holes into her back.
They spend the rest of the day searching through their old hiding places for old supplies leftover from camping trips. They had hollowed out some large tree trunks when they were teens to store their supplies in for repeat trips. They manage to find some of their old hunting supplies and a small tent that could fit one person, two if they cuddle closely, but thankfully with them taking watches at night that won't be necessary.
They take breaks often for Eryn to spend some of her returning magic to heal Claudius's ribs, all the while she feels Darius watching them intently. She supposes if she was tied to a tree by her enemies she'd be doing the same, but it still unnerved her.
Night falls and Eryn takes first watch. She's not tired now that her magic is returning to her, and in fact is feeling far too energized to sleep. She sits stoking the fire they had made before the sun set, staring into the flames and trying to avoid casting glances at the man tied to a tree across the clearing.
She waits until she hears the gentle snoring of her brother, the tell tale sign he was deeply asleep, before casting a cursory glance at Darius. The Noxian is still awake and meets her gaze.
She hesitates, glancing over to their pile of supplies, then finally sighs as she stands up and begins to walk across the clearing, carrying the bag of nuts and berries from earlier. His eyes never leave her as she approaches, stopping only once she's a few paces in front of him. She holds up the bag of food, a silent offering.
He rolls his eyes and leans back against the tree. "Insulting."
Her eyebrows furrow. "How so?"
"You pity me, thinking your brother's treatment is enough to bring me harm. And that you are so noble and kind for showing me mercy." His jaw is clenched when he talks and his voice is filled with venom. She has to stop herself from flinching at his words.
"That's not true." Eryn argues back, clenching her fists in anger.
"Then why? I don't see you as the type to play, as the Piltoverian's call it, 'good cop bad cop'."
She's about to respond hastily, but stops herself. "Last I checked it was my round to ask a question." His eyebrows raise but does not argue. Eryn sits down across from him with legs crossed. She had nearly forgotten their agreement from earlier, and hopes invoking it would still be effective.
"Why invade Demacia?"
"The answer should be obvious. The majority of your military force is dealing with the mage revolt in the capital. Your king is dead and the crown prince injured. What troops you have not in the capital are marching north in search of your traitors. You're spread too thin to resist invasion." He states it all so matter of factly, like someone had asked him for directions. But that was not the answer she had been searching for.
"No I don't mean why now, but why at all. What is it that makes the bloodshed and destruction worth it?"
"The same reason why the mages are rebelling. Demacia is ruled by tyrants and hypocrites. They preach justice and honor, but do not practice it by imprisoning their own people. They claim to deliver safety to citizens, but only if you surrender your freedom. It is time Demacia releases its tyrant grip on this land." Every word he says causes anger to build in Eryn. She so badly wants to lash out. How could any Noxian feel they have ground to lecture, after the pain and suffering their endless wars cause?
"Noxus is no better-"
"How is it not? You only think Demacia is just because you reap its benefits, Mooreheart. That's a noble name is it not? How many servants does your family have, hm? That toil away so you can live a life of unearned comfort?"
Eryn feels her face go hot and for a brief moment she sees red. She takes a breath to shout a retort at him, but then stops. She notices how he's watching her, the same analytical gaze he's held all day. He's goading her now, trying to poke and prod for weaknesses. She exhales slowly and sits in silence for a moment, regaining her composure. "Is that your question?" She asks, feeling her voice still shake slightly from the anger she felt just moments ago.
Darius's lips curl ever so slightly into a smile. He hums, and he almost looks impressed for a split second before he speaks. "Sure. Tell me the tale of your noble heritage, Mooreheart."
She feels the rage in her flicker back to life from his tone, but pushes it down. "I am no noble. I have worked on a goat farm my entire life to help my family put food on the table. My village lies just beyond the walls of that fort your war machines tore through. Moorehearts were nobles once, but no longer. Once upon a time we were the lords of this land that the commoners serve. My great grandfather betrayed Demacia and disgraced our family name, exiling us to slave away in the outskirts, now we are those commoners. My brother joined the army to try to redeem our name."
Eryn searches his face for a change in expression. Waiting to see him admit he's wrong. He doesn't. He continues to look at her with the same stern but inquisitive expression. Like he's analyzing a book or a map. He doesn't press further and instead waits for her to take her turn.
She breaks the silence forming between them with her next question. "And you, Darius? You didn't state a surname. Do you have any family?"
"A brother. Draven. We were orphans" He answers simply.
"You're relatively good looking, and the strongest man in Noxus… No lover or kids?" She presses further. For the first time all day she sees genuine anger flash across his face. This entire day he always seemed to be amused, even when being taunted by Claudius. She somehow had managed to finally crack the front he's been putting up.
He doesn't answer, and instead counters with his own question. His brow furrowed with annoyance and jaw clenched. He leans forward as much as his bonds let him.
"What is the point of this 'interrogation' if you can even call it that, if you're not going to share the information I give you with your own brother? Who I assume is your superior from the way he talks…"
She hesitates breaking eye contact with him, causing him to continue to press. "You don't ask me things that would help give Demacia an edge even after you know exactly who I am. So what is the point of this?"
Eryn thinks for a moment realizing she doesn't have an exact answer either. Why had she initiated this with him? She tells herself it was for information, for Demacia, but she should be asking questions like what are Noxus's next steps. Not foolish ideological questions about why they're here or about his family life. That doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Every question he asks gives him leverage. He's gaining more here, and she knows it. So what is the point? Why risk giving up anything to him?
She isn't sure how many minutes go by, but it feels like an eternity of her staring at the grass, searching for an answer, and him expectantly waiting for it. She swallows a lump that had formed in her throat, as she gathers her nerves. "Because I'm doing this for me, not for Demacia." She states. "I've grown up hearing stories about the barbarian Noxians who live just over the steppes, how they only know how to take from others through violence and war." His brow is furrowed, clearly insulted. "But I also was told the same thing about mages. So I'd like to be able to form my own opinions about Noxus and its people, to see why someone would want to live there if it truly is as horrid as we're told. Or if they truly are all barbarians."
Darius's face softens. For a moment she thinks to herself he really is rather handsome. The firelight dances across his face accentuating his cheekbones and jaw. His eyes are a deep brown that look almost somber when he's not glowering. "It's much easier to kill your enemies, or hand them off to their execution in my case, if you can dehumanize them. Pretend they are all pure evil monsters." He seems satisfied with her response, and leans back 1
against his tree, waiting for her to make her next move.
She lets out a breath he hadn't realized she was holding and asks her next question. "I hear the tales of how Noxians are left to fend for themselves, if they can't prove their strength they are left to suffer. Get stabbed in an alleyway, that's too bad you should have been stronger than the robber. Is that true?" He simply nods in response. "Then why live there?"
He breathes in deeply before responding. "No one can cage you for simply existing. Once you've proven your worth, anyone can be anything in Noxus. Because in Noxus, everyone is free."
She wants to argue back, say that they're free in Demacia. But she remembers her fear of the mageseekers taking her away haunted her dreams through adulthood. How she had to hide away never to leave her hometown for fear of being caught.
She wonders what that must be like. To feel free.