.:Realising Dreams:.
I winced as sunlight burned my eyes from the gap in the gaping trap door, making me hiss out in pain. The man descending the steps paused as he heard my voice, then snorted with laughter and flung the door wide open, inflicting more scorching light onto my smarting eyes. There was the barking of dogs somewhere high above our heads, and the sounds of running water further away in the distance. A river, I realised, and then my throat began to scream in protest, alerting me to the fact that I was parched. It felt as though my lips had not tasted water in more than two days.
"Well." I looked up as my abductor spoke, fearing the rough edge to his voice...and my heart froze with terror. I could not see the man's face at all, for he covered it with a large bronze mask which burned like fire in the sunlight from the room above. He wore simple black leggings with knee-high boots, a flannel shirt and a waistcoat of shimmering purple silk.
I knew exactly what, if not who, he was: He was one of the Dark Knights my brother had spoken of, the ones who had slaughtered so many in the city of Sewel. The terror in my eyes must have hinted at this knowledge, for the man merely laughed again and cocked his head to one side.
"Hello, Princess. Remember me?"
Black curls tumbled from his head and around his mask, cut long yet tied back so as not to hide his formidable mask. He stepped forwards to me and knelt, bringing his face close up to mine so that I could see the shocking crystal blue colouring of his eyes. I felt my stomach rise into my throat – the servant who had given me my drink!
"How did the likes of you get into the castle?" I asked, sickened.
The man straightened and stepped back, folding arms across his broad chest as he stared down at me. "How did the likes of you get to rule from such a fine home in the first place? There are thousands out there in your daddy and uncle's lands who live with scarcely anything, make barely enough to feed themselves, and still they must pay the Kings' taxes!"
I flinched back against the wall as the Dark Knight raised his voice at me. He sounded furious, as though Ipersonally had ordered the raise in taxes. I know that many were not happy about father's newer, higher demands, but who was I to try and complain to the King?
I shivered and bit my trembling lip. "Is that why have you brought me here? To try and negotiate a reduction in taxes---"
My words had scarcely left my mouth when the Dark Knight suddenly roared with laughter once more. Anger welled in me momentarily, and I was once again standing before my father and having every little thing I uttered thrown back in my face with cruel mocking. I soon remembered, though, that this was a man who did not live by the rules. This was a man who was part of the smallest yet strongest Black Magic cult in history. This man would take my life if he wanted.
There was the hiss of metal, a flash of bright light, and suddenly the Dark Knight's blade kissed my neck with deadly grace. "Don't play stupid with me, Princess. I shan't fall for the Royals' sweet smiles and poisoned lies, like the rest of your stupid people! I follow no King, I pay him none of my money, and I shall never let him tell me how to live my life. Or what magic I can and can't practise." Ever through the eye holes of his mask, the Dark Knight's eyes were filled with contempt and disgust. "And I certainly won't let myself fall for the powerless promises from King Oren of Tirrius' most hated daughter! Do you realise how much pain, how much damn terror you've put me and my people through? Do you! Ever since you were born, magicians everywhere have lived in fear of their non-magical cousins, who now seem to think us inferior to them! If your father thinks that he can push us into a corner and forget about us, that he can kill us all in one swell swoop, he needs to wake up and face reality!"
I swallowed nervously, feeling the sword's tip press momentarily closer to my skin. I forced myself to look up and meet the Dark Knight's gaze. "So this is what you want me for? Revenge?"
"Maybe," the Dark Knight replied. He glanced at the sword and then, to my great relief, brought it away from my neck and sheathed it once more. "I've followed my orders so far and completed my mission. Now I need only to wait and listen for my next orders – concerning you,anyway. The leader of the Dark Knight has plans for you, Princess, but I'm still low in the ranks of power." As though remembering himself, the Dark Knight cursed fluently in a tongue I had not heard before, then glared at me again. "You'll be in my care for now, at any rate. Be good, and I'll feed you. Try and escape, and you'll face a fate far worse than death." He flexed his fingers, allowing small balls of magic to blossom at his fingertips. "I'm may be low in the ranks, but I can work a torture spell well enough. Heed my words, Princess."
Without another word, the Dark Knight turned and left. He left me in that cellar – my prison – underneath a house in a location I could not guess even if I could recall the maps learnt by heart from my geography lessons when I had been a child. I was too frightened by his words to remember anything, and soon I found myself lost in the darkness of my lonely prison without a soul in the world for comfort.
Time moved past me, leaving me dazed. Finally, I lost what little sense of time I had left. The Dark Knight left me with no water, no light, and no one to talk to. I sat there on the icy, hard floor, losing myself from time to time in memories. I had always been the outcast in the family – only Cathryn and Harte spoke to me like I was a normal human being. Father, as though fearful I would bring some curse upon his children, had never allowed me within two rooms of my half-siblings until they had successfully lived through their first two months on the earth. I hated that. My half-siblings had had their heads filled with superstitious nonsense about me having killed my mother. I hated that more than words could explain. But, oh, what I wouldn't give to be back in the palace with my mean family – I even realised I missed Father, for all his cruel glares and harsh words.
Dogs began barking eagerly suddenly, and I distantly heard the Dark Knight's voice calling them. For food, I guessed, for the dogs were all howling gleefully and loudly, kicking up a hell of a fuss. My stomach growled in response – gods, I felt so hungry! I found myself wondering where my father and brother were now. I tried hard not to think about what they would eat. Had they noticed I was missing yet? Harte? Maybe. Father? He probably wouldn't care. Truth be told, the only people who would worry about my abduction would be the Queen, the Crown Prince, my uncle, and...King Bacall. Well, I supposed he would, anyway – he hadn't been able to shut up about the intended marriage the previous evening. Or had it been the previous evening?
My chance came when the trap door squeaked again in protest, and the bronzed-masked man entered the cellar once more. A man of his word, the Dark Knight held a tray of food in his hands. He said nothing to me, and I waited patiently until he had settled the tray down besides me before I risked asking him my question – I didn't want him walking away with my meal!
"Do you know how long I've been here?" I asked politely.
The Dark Knight frowned as he looked up, crystal blue eyes flashing as he met my gaze. "Think someone'll come after you? I doubt it!"
I took a calming breath and waited until he had finished sniggering before I tried to ask my question again. "Please, I just want to know how long I've been here."
The Knight sighed and made an irritated noise between his teeth. "Women! Fine, it's been three days since your little party. Your brother, Prince Harte, he's had patrols searching high and low for you. Your uncle practically ordered the whole countryside be torn up in desperation for your safe return, but your father couldn't give a rat's arse. But there's no point getting your hopes up, Princess – they'll never find you here."
"A remote area?"
"Cloaked by magic," the Dark Knight replied boastfully. I could tell from his tone that he'd placed the spell himself. "And it's nigh on impossible to hear through, so you can save that pretty voice of yours if you're thinking about screaming for attention." He pushed the tray towards me, and then cursed again. "Bloody handcuffs! Forget I ain't supposed to untie you. I'll have to feed you myself." He didn't sound particularly thrilled be the thought.
"Oh, no you won't!" I cried, before I realised what I'd said. The Dark Knight looked at me and I shivered – meeting someone's eyes when they wear a mask of bronze is one of the most unnatural things in the world. "I'm not a child, sir. I can feed myself."
"So I take it you'll be eating with your feet?" The Dark Knight grinned behind the mask, and it was only then that I realised how young his voice sounded. "Look, either let me feed you this or go without. It's your choice – Princess." He spat the last word, making me remember he was a Dark Knight.
I lifted my head. No man would make a fool out of me! "I will not be fed like some child!"
The man merely shrugged and stood, taking the plate with him. "Suit yourself, but I did warn you."
"Wait!" I cried, alarmed, but the Dark Knight shook his head as he left.
"Nope, you've made your decision. We magicians learn that once a decision is made, it's almost impossible to take back or avoid the consequences. I think it's time you learnt that yourself."
Seconds later, the trap door slammed shut with a bang. Feeling helpless and overwhelmed by my inner terror, I let out a small sob of regret, and then began to cry.
Father used to scold me when I cried. Little girls should be allowed to cry when they fall and hurt their knees, or if they have a nightmare that shakes them out of their dreams in terror. But Father would never permit it – crying is a sign of weakness. I showed my weakness for almost an hour. I was aware of footsteps near the trap door from time to time while I tried to muffle the sound of my tears in my arms. The Dark Knight was hovering near the door to my prison, listening to my misery. I could just imagine the triumphant smirk in his crystal blue eyes, and the proud grin across his hidden face. It made me cry harder. Of course it was my fault, of course it was! I had been stupid and rude...and now I was paying for it. I was learning to hate my abductor the hard way.
I fell asleep. I walked through the forest, knowing that I had finally cried myself into dreams, but this time I was utterly alone. Even through my dreams, the stranger had deserted me. Oh, how I wished for his safe presence. I did not have to wait long. I heard a man's deep breathing behind me, and then his hands settled on my shoulders.
"Are you still trapped?"
"Yes," I whispered.
The young man cursed. "Damn it! I hoped you would have managed to escape; to have lost your abductor. I was hoping I wouldn't have to come to your rescue, though now it looks like I'll have to."
His words angered me. "You were hoping? I don't know you, you don't know me – if you don't want to help me then don't bother." Again I saw the potential in a mess up of my own making. "Everyone else has deserted me."
"You don't know that," the man objected lightly. He pulled me to a stop. "I haven't abandoned you."
"I don't see you running to my rescue," I pointed out sternly.
He chuckled grimly. "You don't see me, full stop. Let me see you? Please? I want to know who I'm looking for when I can get away from my business."
I tensed, not wanting to show my face. If this man really was a magician, if he saw my face and recognised who I was – Eloryn, responsible for magician hatred everywhere – he may just side with the Dark Knight and decide to leave me in my cell to rot.
But still he felt like the only person I could trust.
Against my better judgement, I turned to face him. He was taller than I, about six foot if he was an inch. I looked up, looking momentarily into a face as pale as paper. It was a handsome face, young with bold features, and a mass of coal black curls tumbled down towards his shoulders. I did not get time enough to get a clear imprint of his face in my mind, for he suddenly gasped, eyes opening wide with horror – crystal blue eyes. He stumbled backwards, falling away from me as fast as he could.
"You? No, it can't be!" He spoke a word, the dream flickered…
…And I woke suddenly in the cold dark prison. There was a loud bang from upstairs, the sound of feet scrambling up once more, and suddenly the trap door was swung open. The Dark Knight came crashing down the stairs, only just starting to pull the bronze mask over his face. He froze on the steps, meeting my eyes, mask motionless over his forehead. We stared at one another in horror for what seemed like an age, the minutes merging into each other as prisoner stared at her captor, and captor stared at his prisoner.
Finally he coughed his voice unusually high with nerves. "You…you're the girl in my dreams?"
I could scarcely believe it either. "Yes. And you're a..." I felt sick just speaking the name. "You're a Dark Knight?"
"Yes." A spasm of excitement flashed momentarily across his face, his eyes studying my face eagerly. He removed the mask altogether, though his face suddenly became as hard as rock. "And you're still my prisoner. And you're still the reason my people are being prosecuted."
I hung my head, turning my face from him. "I told you that you wouldn't like me if you knew my real identity. I did warn you."
The Dark Knight crossed over to me and knelt, blue eyes wide with excitement despite the stern line of his mouth. "Do you possess the Gift?"
"The Gift?"
"Magic."
I bit my lip and nodded. "Only just. A little. I can light a candle, but not much more."
"And I wouldn't have dreamt of you on purpose," the Dark Knight said thoughtfully. He worried his bottom lip thoughtfully, forehead creasing slightly. "Then... How have you entered my dreams?"
"I haven't!" I persisted quickly, desperate not to somehow anger or offend him. "I swear, I have no idea how I entered your dreams. I...I didn't even know it was possible."
The Dark Knight nodded slightly. "I suppose you wouldn't, if I think about it. So it must have been me, but...how? Why? You're my enemy."
He sat down heavily besides me, staring dumbly at the bronze mask in his hands. I nodded towards it, though I doubt he saw. "That mask goes against everything my family stand for. We tolerate good magic, not your type."
"We rebel against you because your family prosecutes all magicians – the good and the bad." The venom in his voice died away, and he returned his crystal blue eyes to the mask once more. "Coincidence does not exist – everything happens for a reason."
"I don't understand," I confessed dismally.
The Dark Knight looked at me once more, suddenly looking more like the young man he should have been, and not a deadly enemy that had taken me from my home. "I mean that we've been dreaming of one another for a reason. Neither of us intended for it to happen, so our Gifts... I don't know."
"I'm still confused."
The Dark Knight shook his head and cast his eyes up to the ceiling. "Gods save us. If my fellow Knights find out about this, they will say I'm fraternizing with the enemy. They'd kill us both for sure."
I really did not like the sound of that. "Then what are we to do?"
"Figure our why our dreams made us meet, I suppose," the young man replied, then closed his eyes and began to think.
Pirate – Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you want to find out what happens next!
Matakia – Hope this chapter lived up to the hanger of cliffs! Thank you!
Oo.dream.on.girl.oO – Thank you! Hope this wasn't boring!
martini the brave – Hehe! Now you know!
Everyone else, hope you enjoyed! Llamas, Ginger-Bizkit!