II. MIRALA

"Long live the King!"

Knots tied within satin scarves, tenderly but tensely so. There was a warm feeling kissed away by coldness followed closely by a dark void, heavy and unimaginable. The knots would never been unbound, never be set free. Cold banging, followed in a careful rhythm, it stretched the knot tightly.

Then there was consciousness.

Her eye was sore, she could feel the cruel bruise and taste a lingering bitterness with each careful waking slur. Mirala could already tell that she was in for more than she could handle and it hurt worse than the black eye. Her memory was fuzzy but the smell of burning flesh made her heart hurt with forced recollections. There was pain, lots of it bottled with terror, and whatever wasn't pieces of sadness had been filled with fear. The images floating around her head were choppy so in the end it was futile trying to recall something that wouldn't come. All the Awoken girl knew was that where she was now and where she had been before were different. They didn't feel the same, not entirely.

Wherever Mirala was now had been quiet and made the terrified voices pound against the headache with a terrible ferocity. Banging and hammering, banging again against the walls of her mind rhythmically. Everything was sore and the ex-royal guard felt worse laying against the cold steel floor than imagined. There was a hum to the area that worsened the feeling of sadness. Sadness that made her angry in a way.

Carefully the Awoken creature opened her silvery eyes and stared into the void, pale but beautifully so from within the darkness. There were noises somewhere and though it was dark the lovely creature could tell that she was in a small room. It was difficult to try and recall but somewhere along the way in the midst of the chaos something had knocked her unconscious. She remembered that indefinitely as not only had it been a shock to the system it was followed by hazy images of her Prince. It made the feeling of the knot tighten when she recalled it, it brought bitter ashes to her tongue and made her insides twist up angrily. The Prince of Crows had something to do with everything and it was obvious, she knew it.

But then there was a banging somewhere which in the end had pulled her from her thoughts. Bright eyes looked upward, plump lips in a hard line, somewhere something was calling out to the ex-guard. It was confusing but needed to be solved.

So with a sore but careful push forward the creature of soft indigo rose from her place upon the floor to investigate. Her mouth was dry and bits of blood lingered at the corner of her mouth. The dust bit at her and she bit back with a light cough, hoarse and sharp. Somewhere along the walls of her room something was banging in a way that had definitely called out to her. Maybe if she could locate if she could answer, it was clear something was trying to get her to. Carefully with an ear to the wall the Awoken located the sound and vaguely wondered where she had been. Thoughts of the Fallen and Queen Mara came to her then. Something with the Fallen...

But then the banging came!

Softly Mirala brought her fist to the wall and laid siege to her side. Softly at first, and then harder, in simple strokes that followed a pattern. She paused for a moment and rested her aching head upon the steel and thought for a moment. Somewhere along the way it brought images of an Awoken man to her, beautiful and dark haired as he smiled. Mira hadn't thought about him for a very long time, refused to really. Every time Madrigal would come to visit the Titan would always bring thoughts of him. Mira's throat hurt with the thought of the man and he twisted the knot with careful hands.

Maric, his name was Maric, and he would always smile even when there was nothing to smile about. He would even grin wild and stupid at Riga even when there was that look in her eyes. Maric would give Mira hope whenever there was no hope to be had.

Vaguely the lovely thing thought of the man and she stopped banging the cold wall, something was different in the air.

And then there was a sharp light that burned the silver eyes as a door slid open. It was off to the left and with the cold light it had occurred to Mirala that she was communicating with another room. Whoever was in there became silent and as the Awoken turned with a hand above her eyes she squinted into the pale light. There were noises that had flooded in, sounds of an enemy all too familiar, and as she vaguely realized where she had been silhouettes of tall beasts made Mira feel small. There were eyes void of any light as they had glowed, there were two bodies that rocked with shaking grace. Then as she registered her location her own body grew weaker.

"The Wolves," Mirala whispered as they spilled into the room with outstretched arms. "I am a prisoner of the Wolves?"

The two sets of arms that hadn't been wielding a weapon had seized the Awoken woman and though they were slender they held much strength. She was aching and as they dragged her across the smooth floor without struggle her body trembled from the bruises. There were vague memories that came back, especially as the two guards chattered with guttural slurs, and as they pulled her one way it became clear that the noise on the other side of her cell was yet another prisoner. And though it wasn't clear as to how Mira became their captive it was obvious that it became just so during the uprising. Whenever the uprising had been for that matter, she couldn't recall when that had been. Time had slipped by without too much care.

Regardless of how long of a time span that was Mirala hadn't struggled against her guards but instead complied as they brought her somewhere. The worst thing a prisoner could do was struggle, that resulted in premature death. But then noises from behind caused her attention to drift, curious as to what was happening. There were others who were also being dragged somewhere and with the yelling of curse words Mirala felt a new knot grow in the pit of her stomach. From what she could see it was another Awoken, beautiful with soft blond hair, and he pushed and pulled at his guards who in return hissed at him. The ex-guard had never seen him before but knew this wouldn't be the last time. Mira could almost count on that as they were lead along the path to fate.

Along the corridors of their journey there were many Fallen that had gathered. They bore the colors of the Wolves as she had expected and though Mira had been used to them in court they felt foreign somehow. They were different, feral perhaps to say, and as they passed some a few oh so bold lunged outward in a way that animals do so to show strength. Mirala merely stared however for she didn't feel threatened by their acts as some of the others towing behind her had.

But it became obvious they were getting close to their destination however as more Fallen had begun to show up. One large door later and they were there. There were many together, dreg, vandal, captain, everything in between, all in one place. They were all surrounding their Kell who was accompanied by yet another just as large as he. They all stared and there was something about this that made Mirala ready herself for the worst. Then the large mass separated in a way that had allowed for the prisoners to stay safely while in this large presence. Then it hit the Awoken woman, she had seen this before while in court, they were going to be judged in worth before the King himself.

There weren't that many prisoners in truth. Six all together with two men and four women who were all of Awoken descent. Many wore guard uniforms but some were dressed as commoners. They weren't bound, instead they were toyed with the notion of being allowed to fight their way out. Perhaps the creatures wanted that? Maybe the Fallen wanted the amusement of some prisoner who thought they could break out just like that? Mirala looked to her companions and noted that three were terrified, two furious, and though they were at the feet of their captors upon bent knees they all held themselves defiantly. Curiously she looked to the Kell and found herself unsure of his emotions.

"Awoken scum, cower before the Kell of Kell's with awe," Mira heard then which had caused all of their attention, captor and prisoner alike, to be placed upon the tall Fallen at the King's side. "you have been summoned to have your fate decided. Will you bend the knee or die?"

There was silence that swiftly ensued as the prisoners registered a talking Fallen and the fact he had offered service or death. Mirala stared curiously, her black eye aching, and with much awe the girl wondered what the other's had thought. There were growls from the crowd that suggested the Fallen wished for death yet still she couldn't quite place the Kell's thoughts. The King himself uttered a low tone that his speaker noted. Mirala wished to know herself but alas would be ignorant to it any way.

"We'd rather die than bow to Fallen!" one of the female's had said then as she rose to meet their captor's eye. The crowds roared with delight then and as she defied them another one of their sister's rose to the challenge as well. Mirala kept low however, for now was not her time to speak.

"Then so be it." the Speaker responded as he gave a nod to their guards. The two who stood turned just in time to watch as blades plunged through their stomachs from behind and with a quick turn herself Mirala moved just in time to miss her own untimely demise. Quickly she fell forward, back upon the cold ground, and from the floor she stared upward at one of her warden's as he went to lower the sword in her abdomen.

"Wait!" Mira had said from upon her back which made for a sudden silence. "Perhaps not all of us wish for death!"

Between the pounding of her head and heart Mirala couldn't help but to feel dizzy. Only once had the girl been that close to death and she vowed that there would only be that one time. Death was a funny thing, it made one realize how precious life was.

"Then speak before death is the only option." The Speaker responded which resulted in Mirala looking toward the large creature from a strange angle. He was a curious thing to view upside down but it didn't matter truthfully, if she failed to convince him then it wouldn't matter how she viewed him at all. There was a pause and many eyes were upon her.

"My sister's were foolish but not all of us are. I understand bending the knee was an option?" Mira asked then. There was a quick thought to when she first became a guard, the ceremony that took place when she vowed herself to her Queen. Yet that time Riga had been proud of Mira's accomplishments and though she wasn't here now Mirala could already hear the disappointment in her sister's tone. Suddenly instead of fear Mira became spiteful, angry even. Her heart pace lowered with further thoughts of such an awful creature to call kin. "I'd much rather be of use to such a radiant leader than dead," the ex-guard said while turning around upon her stomach, her eyes now looking toward the large beast seated in his throne. "I would do anything to serve such a noble lord, even kill for him."

"You traitorous bitch!" Mirala heard from the side but she ignored it. Instead the creature and herself held eye contact as the thought lingered. There was a flicker in the King's eyes that made her hold onto hope.

Then a sound of low guttering came from the Kell that had been returned with a sound of caution from his speaker. The two large Fallen muttered to one another for a moment and though it seemed like ages it had been like watching hungry beasts fight for a kill. The other Awoken watched her in return, they were waiting for the moment in which they could end her themselves.

Then as the words between high Lords came to an end it had been finished with a loud growl from the King. It was obvious who had last say in the matter which didn't bode well. Pride wounded, the Speaker turned from his Kell to look down upon the hopeful girl with a new tone. Feelings swirled and Mirala felt her head spin slightly.

"My Kell is amused by your words, Awoken, he wishes for you to prove yourself before he decides whether or not to let you live."

The creature shook his hand toward the one who nearly killed her and before Mirala had known it a weapon had been dropped at her feet. Softly with a careful curl the girl turned around with out stretched hands and softly grasped at the large thing, the feeling foreign within her palms. The sword was heavy as the girl stood upward with it and as her pale eyes looked toward the two a new set of orders followed from the beast. Once more their guard's listened and yet this time they moved to the crowd leaving the four Awoken in the ring alone, the bodies of the two women having bled out during the time of talking. The three others alive had been given no weapons of their own, everything was painfully obvious, and Mira watched the blond man carefully as this became apparent.

"The Kell of Kell will accept only one servant," The Speaker mused with a delighted tone. "execute or be executed."

Mirala looked downward to her hands as images of Maric came to her. The feeling of twisting knots made her heart hurt as the recollections of stormy images paid her homage once more. Once she had been told that humanity was a savage thing and when reduced down to it anyone would do anything to survive. Had this been her moment, or was it yet to come? Maric smiled at her and Riga frowned. They were always like that, especially Riga. There were never any smiles and Mirala hated feeling like the heavy burden.

As the crowd rallied with shrill noises of guttural savagery and the three left in the ring pleaded or cursed at her, Mira struggled with the thought of her Prince then. In her memories he had frowned at her too, most people had truthfully, and with that realization Mirala found herself struggling with the notion of this. There was never a place in this world for her and it all became clear as she noted it within the blond's eyes. There was a moment of stillness as it dawned upon her.

"Do it you stupid bitch." he said to her and with a painful sting Mirala once again thought of her sister but this time saying his words. She could never please anyone, no one was ever happy with her actions. It angered her that no matter how hard she had tried everyone blamed her and didn't even think it through fully. Only one had lived and had accepted her and he was gone. Still Mirala looked the blond in the eye as he continued. "Do it and see how far that gets you! You selfish bitc-"

Before he could finish his words Mirala shoved the sword so far through his stomach that the edges of her fists met the tender flesh. Instead of surprise he glared at her, golden eyes spiteful, and though she had been akin to cruel words to just her sister she felt that it didn't matter now especially given the situation. "Don't look so mad," she muttered softly to him. "It's not selfish to want to survive. It's survival of the fittest and obviously you weren't fit enough."

Without a care she ripped the sword from him and he crumpled to the floor. Her eyes looked toward the other two who returned her eye with much horror. They couldn't believe what they had seen, begged for some sort of way to be let out of this entire ordeal. But instead she ignored them, plunged the steel into their blue flesh as well and let them bleed to death upon the floor before her new king. Vaguely she wondered which had provided her with the banging that had woken her up, which had reached outward only to be shot down by her. Mirala looked toward the Kell as she bent the knee before him upon the pools of her kin's blood.

"I hope to serve you loyally," the Awoken said as she met his eyes with a new look of carefully placed hope. "and I hope not to disappoint you."

Then softly the girl looked toward the Speaker and he watched her, all eyes studying each other. Skolas made a noise of satisfaction but the two kept on with their eyes interlocking, the feeling of tied knots slowly unravelling. Maybe she'd finally found herself a home, a real home.