Disclaimer: I own none of the characters except for Evalyn and Aviran.
Frog: Sorry this took so long. The end of this summer has been buisy for me. Aviran is just a character I added because I needed another OC. I don't know how much he'll appear, though. He's actually one of the main characters in one of my original stories that I want to get published (when I actually get to writing more of it, I've been too focussed on fanfiction lately). As our profile says, I have a really bad habit of reusing characters. So do not steal him. Anyways, I'm done talking to myself.
victorianvamp105: I think Danica and Zane would be 19 or 20, maybe 18. I know I said this is medival, and they would probably be older, but that would just make it more confusing for me. And, as I mentioned in my first author's note, there is no shapeshifting. Also, I don't think Hawksong has countries, just races. Maybe I'm wrong.
Golden Eyes Silver Fangs: Danica will try to escape, but there was really no where to go in the wagon with them in there. And they threatened to kill Evalyn if she didn't come with them. I wasn't aware that I was making Danica nice, though. Evalyn was the one who asked their names, and Irene didn't want them to be nervous. I don't want to make them impolite, even if they are assasins. Besides, I'm making Zane and his group act a little differantly than you might expect, anyways. Sorry if they seem too nice. And, forgive my use of my favorite video game series agian, but in Fire Emblem, the members of the Black Fang (a group of assasins that turned bad, and I just realised how similar Black Serpent sounds...Oops) were normally very polite...except Linnus. Never mind, sorry about that. I just tend to over-explain so people don't get the wrong idea. As for their language (speaking of which, you taught me two new words!), that's just the way I write. Generally I try to focus more on the point than how I get it across. Maybe that's another bad habit... Medival mostly refers to the setting than anything else. Like how they dress, and the buildings. Though I suppose the way people talk is part of the setting, isn't it...I don't know. Sorry about that, and sorry for rambling.
Danica awoke in a bed with warm blankets draped over her. For a brief moment, she thought she was in her own bed at home. But she soon remembered that wasn't the case, and sat bolt upright.
Her eyes darted around the dimly lit room. It was decent in size, but had no windows. The room was dark red with white accents. The furniture was made with oak wood from what she could tell. There were a couple bookcases and tables. Beautiful tapistries depicting ancient legends hung on the walls. No doubt stolen, Danica thought bitterly.
She looked around some more, and spotted Evalyn on a velvet loveseat with a few blankets as well. There was a fireplace in the corner, currently ablaze, and several interesting knick-knacks in various places around the room.
The place smelled musty, and was fairly cold. Danica vaguely wondered if they were underground, but wasn't sure how that would work. There were two doors. One was open, revielling dark bathroom, and the other probably lead outside to the hall or some other room. She wasn't sure which it would be. For all she knew, on the other side of that door was a cave.
She carefully slid out of bed, and shivered as cold shot through her thin slippers. She grabbed a small blanket at the end of the bed, and wrapped it around herself. Then she went to the door to try the handle.
Much to her surprise, it was unlocked! She cautiously peaked outside, and found no guard was present at the door either. The narrow hallways were completely empty.
She hurried back inside, and closed the door quietly. Their chances of escape may be slim, but this could be the only chance they got. So she shook Evalyn awake.
"Your highness?" the girl looked at her drowsily, before her eyes widened in realization of where they were.
"Shh. They left the door unlocked. We should try to get out of here," Danica whispered as her friend took in their surroundings.
"Uh...o-ok," Evalyn spoke with uncertainty, and Danica turned to leave, "...But..."
The Avian princess sighed, knowing that her desire to get out of here as soon as possible may gave caused her to overlook something that her friend had not. She gave the other girl an expectant, but kind look.
"Well...what if they catch us?" the petite girl whimpered, "What will they do?"
Danica shook her head, and held her friend's hands as she looked her in the eye, "I don't know. But we have to try now, or we may never get out of here."
Evalyn nodded, and bit her lip as they headed into the hallway as quietly as they could. They had no idea where they were going, what time it was, or why there was no one else around. So they only ended up getting themselves lost. Suddenly they heard a tutting noise behind them, and turned to see a foreign looking girl with dancer's clothing, and extravagent jewelery.
"You two should not be running around in your nightgowns. You'll only catch cold," she scolded, large hoop earrings swaying with every movement of her head.
"Umm...Who are you?" Evalyn asked quietly, not sure what else to say or do.
"I am called Aisha," the girl bowed dramatically, "And you two lovely girls are Princess Danica and Lady Evalyn if I'm not mistaken."
"Are you one of the assasins?" Danica asked, eyeing her skeptically. She certainly didn't look like one, but who was she to judge what killers look like.
"No, not exactly. I mostly just make my living here, by performing, and running errands. It's much more peaceful, and beats travelling from tavern to tavern," she explained, twirling a strand of oak brown hair, "Would you like me to escort you back to the room you're staying in? They brought clothes for you to wear. And then I can give you a tour!"
Danica was, simply put, shocked, "You mean...we're allowed to wander around?"
A light chuckle escaped Aisha's lips, "But of course! You're to be treated as guests! And last I checked, it is not proper etiquette for a host to lock up their guests in a room for their entire stay.
"Besides, it's not like you can escape. The main door is guarded, after all. And all other exits are in places that I highly doubt you can get to, let alone, find," she taunted, which only irritated Danica. However, she let Aisha lead them back to the room.
"Do all the rooms look like this?" Evalyn asked as the dancer sorted through the garments in the wardrobe. There were many more than either of the captive girls had expected.
"That depends on the owner," Aisha shrugged,"We don't actually have any guest rooms, as you can imagine..."
Danica froze, and looked around a little, "Then...who's room is this?"
"Zane's," Aisha answered simply, not seeing it as a problem, "It's the biggest, and the nicest. We all thought it might fit your tastes better."
Danica couldn't help but grimace, despite her usual reserve. The thought of staying in his room disgusted her. Evalyn didn't seem to be paying attention. She was too buisy answering a knock at the door. It was an action done on impulse, since that was part of her job. Princesses don't answer doors. Though had she been actually thinking about their situation, she would have been to afraid to get anywhere near the handle.
"Hello?" she asked politly, opening the door a little. Irene was standing there with Charis.
"We were just checking to see if you woke up yet," the black-haired girl greeted, "Good afternoon, Aisha."
The dancer waved back daintily, and shoved an aristocratic gold dress into Danica's hands. Obviously insisting she wear it. The Avian princess tried to object, but Aisha had already pushed her in the bathroom, and closed the door.
"I'm not letting you out until you put that dress on," she insisted, keeping Danica from getting out, by holding onto the door handle firmly.
"Why?" Evalyn asked worriedly.
"Because it will look very nice on her, and she should make a good first impression being a princess and all," Aisha explained, once agian treating it like a light topic.
"First impressions?" Evalyn gulped, her face growing pale.
"Well if I'm going to give a tour, you are likely to meet a few new faces, regardless of the time of day," was the explanation. Danica sighed from the other side of the door. There was not likely to be any reasoning with this woman, so she got changed like a good, obeidiant little princess should.
When she got out, Evalyn was forced into an embroydered blue dress. Then Aisha began the tour with Irene and Charis tagging along, giving information where it was appropriate. Danica tried to keep note of as many important rooms as possible, though she couldn't remember the directions they went in the labrynth of halls. This place was much bigger than she expected. But then again, she was beginning to wonder if she should expect anything anymore.
"And this is the entry room," Aisha said, opening the doors to a rather large chamber. There was a simple door on the opposite side of the room, and a couple others on the other walls. Next to that door was a table with some objects that Danica couldn't identify at this distance. A young man was sitting at the table, his nose stuck in a book. He had white hair down to his waste that was tied in a low ponytail and dark clothes, but little else could be seen about him. Danica guessed he must be in charge of guarding the door.
The door opened, letting in some outdoor light for a brief moment as Ailbhe entered. He marked something on a paper on the table. The man sitting there glanced up from his book in acknowledgement, but that was about all.
"Greetings," Ailbhe smiled kindly upon seeing them.
"Back so soon?" Charis asked, almost sounding worried. He rubbed the back of his neck, and glanced at Danica.
"If we must discuss this in any depth, Zane should be present," he explained, "But I'll say this much. Avia was not happy to find their beloved princess had gone missing. The common folk are already talking about it."
"They actually let it slip out into the public?" Charis questioned in surprise.
"There are some advantages to that, you know," the man sitting at the table sighed.
"How so, Aviran, oh great expert of everything?" Irene mocked, "I would assume they would want to keep this quiet. Otherwise people may begin to doubt the palace guards, and possibly the army in general."
Aviran sighed agian, putting his book down, "You are right, it was a gamble on the king's part. However, they do not yet know we are behind the abduction, and no doubt suspect it to be the work of Falcane. Princess Danica is one of the most beloved members of the royal family. Hearing that she may have been kidnapped by the enemy will spark a greater hate for them, and more people are likely to join the army."
"And what do you think will happen when they find out it wasn't Falcane?" Danica frowned.
"As I said, it was a gamble. However, I doubt that when the people in power find out, that they'll tell anyone. Possibly not even their own allies. Our involvement will be kept secret," he explained.
"But that means we might not be returning home even after they get enough money! Not unless they have reason for why I would be returning from Falcane!" she was beginning to panick. Why couldn't luck be on her side, just once?"
"Not my problem," Aviran shrugged, and returned to his book.
"Don't worry. We'll work something out," Irene reasurred.
That made her snap, and she started yelling, "Why do you treat us like this!?! You don't treat us like an object or a prisoner! Why!?! It doesn't make any sense!!"
Irene frowned, almost pittingly at her, "I'm just trying to be nice."
"Would you like us to treat you like dirt?" Ailbhe asked, raising an eyebrow. Danica opened her mouth to respond, but then realised how she sounded, and looked down in shame.
"My apologies. I shouldn't yell at you for treating us with kindness," she murmered. And, while it was sincere, her voice sounded emotionless and cold.
"Your highness?" Evalyn cocked her head worriedly. She was always bothered when the princess got like this.
"What's going on here?" Zane asked curiously, entering the room. He eyed Danica and Evalyn approvingly for a moment before turning to his sister.
"Nothing much," she shrugged, "Is something wrong?"
He shook his head tiredly, "Adelina is convinced that we were ment to be, and she's going well out of her way to make me jealous."
"She's already with someone else?" Irene asked in shock.
"Well, he seems to think that, at least. And she deffinately treating him like their a couple."
"Who's he?" Ailbhe asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Karl."
"The new guy. Of course," Irene muttered under her breath.
Charis sighed heavily, "I always knew that girl was more trouble than she's worth."
Ailbhe glared at her slightly. Danica and Evalyn, on the other hand, were both completely lost.
"Adelina is Ailbhe's twin sister," Aisha explained, reading the expressions on their faces.
"She and Zane used to be in a relationship, but they had a fight about a week ago, and Zane ended it. But she won't accept that. She's kind of possesive and clingy," Irene added.
Zane rolled his eyes, "Why don't you tell them my whole life's story, dear sister?"
"Don't even start, you two," Charis warned. Evalyn made an unlady-like snort as she attempted not to laugh at the way the siblings reacted. They actually looked a little worried.
"So you can actually smile," Ailbhe teased.
"You really need to work on your pick-up lines," Aviran muttered, with an exasperated sigh. Evalyn blushed, and took a step behind Danica. Ailbhe just shrugged.
"It's not like you can do better," he sneered.
Aviran smirked, and looked up from his book, electric yellow eyes flashing mischieviously, "How would you know? I just don't have a good enough reason to try...Though I doubt one would have to work very hard to best you."
Ailbhe was about to respond, but Charis woudn't let him, "That's enough, boys."
"Aw. We can't have any fun when you're around," he pouted. Aviran had already gone back to his book.
"I'm a mother. It's my job to keep my kids in line," she explained.
Ailbhe pretended to get teary eyed, and looked at her like an innocent child, "You mean...I'm your son too?"
She rolled her eyes, "I suppose so. Someone has to look after you..."
"I love you mommy," he said, hugging her tightly. She tried to push him away, but he just hugged tighter. Even Danica had to giggle at the scene.
As Aisha lead them back to teh room they were staying in (at their request, since they didn't know how to get there on their own), Danica couldn't help but feel envious of these people. They seemed so carefree and close-knit. Even when her own family was completely alone together (which was very rare) they were nothing like that. They still retained a distance, and rarely joked or anything of the sort. It was a bit better with her brother, but he had been buisy lately, and rarely had time for her like he used to.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts, earing her a glance from Evalyn. They had still kidnapped them. She couldn't trust them, even if they seemed like nice people. But envying their lifestyle, or at least what she had seen of it wasn't bad, right?
They still had to get out of here somehow, and Danica was determined to find a way. She had to. She had a duty to her people to leave here, so that taxes wouldn't be raised to pay her ransom, and so that her family wouldn't have to worry anymore. She also had to get Evalyn out of here. Her best friend was easily frightened, and this strange enviroment full of assasins probably wasn't good for her...Perhaps she shouldn't bring that up again, otherwise her friend probably wouldn't sleep. She was a princess, she had no choice but to not just sit around like a damsel in distress waiting for her prince to rescue her. This wasn't some silly fairytale with a happily ever after. Danica had accepted long ago that those words would never refer to her. She was stronger than the princesses in the stories, and was going to rescue herself.
Frog: I hope you liked that chapter and how I portrayed the characters. But please tell me what you think I should do with Charis. Should she die like she did in the book, or should I let her live? I honestly can't pick. Please review! I'll try to update this soon, and I'm almost done with Free to Sing, so that will give me more time to write this story once it's finished. Though I'll probably be starting the sequel to Wingless soon. I'm not sure if anyone who reads this story has read that or not, though. Sorry that I talk so much. Bye!