Aysel had yet to learn anything from the king other than he could not run out of questions for her. But the king seemed to be learning much from her by the way he spent his days in the library and muttering about when they conversed. he'd ask her several question during a session. Questions like her parents, which she could tell him nothing about. And then he'd steer off course and ask about favorite food, to which she answered she had none. Slave where not afforded favorites. It was a luxury for rich men. To which the king would mutter she was allowed to have now. luxuries? For her? What was she then? A slave? A guest? The kings pet? Her life suddenly became very complicated. Now she had to choose things and make her own decision. Triffle things like what dress she wanted to wear or which flowers to weave in her braid were just another load upon her shoulders. It was a different type of weight than the ones she had perviously carried and still carried.
Since that night when she sworn herself to him, he'd not tried to kiss her again. Might have had something to do with her fainting. She'd slept in his bed with him for three nights now. And not very well. Her nerves. It was worse that being in solitary confinement. He was her constant companion. Or rather She was his. She sat next to him during meals, sat at his feet in the throne room, walked with him when he walk. A flurry of new faces were introduced to her, though she spoke little. Some she liked and some she didn't. One particular elf thought it was hilarious to pinch her cheeks and talk in a baby voice to her. The King had stopped her from slapping this one particular elf on more than one occasion."If I can't slap him, then you can't."He would tell her and she would proceed to mutter something about him being the king and him being able to do what ever the hell he wanted. Which in turn would make him smile just a little."It has its responsibility little one." He would pat her head and go about his business.
"Have a drink." Thranduil said handing her a goblet of wine without waiting for her to give him and answer. She took it to be polite. Thranduil had changed into his sleeping pants already so his chest was bare and open for her own personal viewing. She tried not to stare like always, but like always she couldn't seem to help it. Thranduil glanced over at her glancing over his figure."Enjoying the view are we now?" He cocked an eyebrow at her. Aysel blushed and looked away quickly."Tell me something...Aysel. Since you've been here, You've become less for conversation...why is that?" He swirled the liquid in his glass around, glancing up at her for an looked up at him as he said her name. Usually he just referred to her as slave or girl. "Well, I might offend you with something I might say. Wouldn't be the first time I've offended someone."She said staring down at her cup."Drink."He ordered her as he mulled over her answer. Aysel obeyed like a good little slave and took a sip of the sweet wine."You have my permission to say what you will behind these closed doors." He said, drinking his wine. Aysel narrowed her eyes at him. Was he joking? Waiting for her to say something displeasing so he could punish her? She took another sip of the wine. She had to be careful. The wine was strong and she was small. Thranduil seemed to enjoy her skeptical side. His amused expression stayed on his perfect pale face. His gorgeous blue eyes alight with entertainment."Finish your drink and we'll go off to bed."He said after he drained his and stood up. Aysel pressed her lips together and stared ahead. So she was still his slave, but one with more...privilege. Hmm. She drained her cup as well and set on the table. The king had already begun to make his way to the large bed, so she stood as well and trailed along behind him. She had already dressed for bed in one of the soft night gowns she'd been given. She'd been given so much since she had arrived here and it was starting to make her feel guilty. She had, in no way, done anything to deserve them. She wasn't even pulling her own weight and she was becoming increasingly bored.
"Is my company really that boring then Aysel? Perhaps you'd prefer my son's then? Maybe I should put you to work." The king's mood had suddenly turned sour and she briefly wondered how he could have read her thoughts. Oh...The wine. Clever.
"So glad you think so Aysel."He said bitterly as he crawled into bed. She frowned, not wanting to share a bed with his mood. " ."He commanded and she did what she was told even though the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She hadn't been alone with him when he was angry. There were always other people around them.
"Oh Will you be quiet already? You think too much about everything." He rolled over and glared at her.
"Well, I guess you should have thought about that before giving me the wine."She grumbled, refusing to look at him."And yes, put me to work."She tacked on.
The king grew quiet, but she could still feel his gaze boring into her skull."Very well...I will put you to work then..." He said in a slow and controlled voice and she began to worry. What was the king scheming now?
Cooking, it turns out is what he was scheming. The elven kitchen was much grander than the one in the masters house, but then again everything in the elven kingdom was grander than anything lake town had to offer. And as far as cooking went, she only had enough skill to keep herself alive in the wild. And as that turn out, was not enough for an elven kitchen that severed the king.
"Your burning it!" The head chief had yelled at her for the fiftieth time that day. It was starting to wear on her nerves.
"Well you do it then!" She threw the pan at the elf, knowing full well he was quick enough to dodge it.
"Why you little-" The chef went on to curse her in elvish. He picked up a group of knives and then proceeded to to throw them at her. She yelped and ducked and ran. Damn her for her confounded temper. The chef followed her out of the kitchen, continuing to shout at her and throw knives. By pure luck, not one of them found their mark, but that was probably because the elf did not wish them to find their mark.
A hand grabbed her arm and pull her aside. The chef stopped, bowing. She looked up. It was Legolas, the prince. His bow slung over his back.
"Offended Tairent have you?" He said, glaring down at her. With as wave of his hand Tairent turned and stalked back to his kitchen. Legolas pulled her along behind him. She stumbled along behind him at his fast pace. She dare not ask where he was talking her. She was wary of the elven prince and he seemed to sense it because he smirked. "Don't worry. I wont harm my fathers new pet." His voice was bitter. And she determined that bitterness did not become any elf. It was to much of a human emotion. Too ugly to serve elves.
"No. I wouldn't dare harm his pet..." He tugged her along faster to the point were she had to jog to keep up. It turns out that he was taking her to what appeared to be a lounge of some sort. He thrust her into a group of sitting cushions and then pointed to a harp. "Play." He commanded. The lounge was full of elves talking and laughing. The prince sat down next to the brown-haired elf she had seen in the forest. Perhaps they were a couple. she thought and position her self to play the harp. she was good with any instrument and the harp was one she was familiar with. Her pale fingers plucked at a sweet tune and she closed her eyes, listening to the thing of her own production. She always got lost in music, letting it carry her away to a place better than she was. A place were no evil touched her, no dispare, no sadness. A hand took hers, stopping her sweet tune. She opened her eyes to find the lounge fuller than went she last glanced and the king standing in front of her. She briefly wonder how long she had been there.
"Long enough."The king said, pulling her up to her feet."I thought I gave you a job to cook, not entertain my son and his friends." Aysel swallowed.
"Well...about that- She began and then was interrupted by another voice.
"Tairent didn't need her so I took her from the kitchen. I thought she was better served as a musician other than a cook." Legolas said casually as he fingered through a book. His piercing blue eyes glancing up just in time to capture hers. Aysel swallowed again and then looked up at the king. "Hmmm. Perhaps you are right son... Continue."He thrust her back down and then left. She bit her lip thinking about later that night. She wonder want The king had planned for her next. She plucked a slightly sadder tune then, her eyes down cast. Legolas took notice in her mood then and closed his book. "My father can be cruel some times, but I doubt he will punish his pet." Legolas tried to reassure her, but she knew that no matter how found a master was of his pet, if she disobeyed punish was soon to follow. "perhaps you would like to be my pet instead?" He asked standing and walking to her. She glanced up and met the eyes of the female elf that seemed close to him and then he looked up at Legolas."The King would not allow it." She said simply, turning her attention back to the harp. "What makes you so sure?" he asked and she did not answer him allowed. Because I am curse. she thought though. Legolas stared down at her for a while. "You prefer my father then." He turned abruptly and took his place by the female elf side. She looked relieved. She loved him, but her feelings were not replicated by the prince, that or he was very good at concealing his feelings."Perhaps we can be friends...legolas..." She said finally after the awkward tension. He glanced up at her in surprise. Their eyes met and she looked into his mind. It was something she did not like to do, but she had to know the for the female's sake and there it was, buried. The elf prince narrowed his eyes slightly, He could feel her. But to him, it would feel little more than a brush of a feather on his mind. She gave him a small forced smile that felt odd and out-of-place on her face. He relaxed and then nodded. "perhaps we can." He replied. The elven woman tensed again. She turned her mind towards her."He love's you as well..." She whispered in her mind. She jerked back, wide eyed. Aysel cast her gaze down then.
Aysel closed the door to the Kings chamber. Thranduil was already there, standing near the fire. "Your son loves that elven woman." She said quietly."And she loves him back...But you...you wont let them be together. Theres something in the way..." She narrowed her eyes as her mind browser through his.
"Her blood." He said taking a drink of wine."I didn't give you permission to enter my thoughts slave."
"And I either, but you still do it! Her blood! So she's not one of the high elves, but who gives a damn!"
"I DO!" He shouted and turned to her.
" But its love! I have looked! It is real and true! Have you no heart? Are you so stubborn that you won't let your son have happiness? Do you not love him?"
"What do know about love? Nothing! You've known nought of the mothers love for her child, or the fathers. You have never loved someone else! You know nothing of the matters of the heart!"
"I know everything! I have watch men love! Felt them love! I know love. i have watch a mother give birth to a child and then hold that child. I know how emense that love is! I have loved a thousand times! In a thousand different ways! I know more of love than you do! I have seen stubborn kings throw true love away because of the matter of blood. It is foolish. Who cares about blood? Blood does not make a leader, or a king or a man. It is the soul! You have lived a very long time and yet you do not see. What a fool of a king you are!"
Thranduil crossed over to her and dealt a hard slap across her face.
"I look out for my people. I govern my son's love life so that he can lead our people. Do not call me foolish when you know nothing of ruling slave."
Aysel cupped her stinging cheek, holding back her tears," You know nothing of love." She whispered, the tears threatened to waver her voice.
"What do you know about me." His rage deepened,"Nothing! Your just a slave nothing more! Worthless."
His words struck her deep and she almost gasped in . No! not worthless... . No!
"Your worthless slave. A worthless slave. They should have just left you dieing in the forest,"
She shook. He wanted her to be dead. Her tears spilled over her rims, trembling down her face."I HATE YOU!" She screamed out in her thoughts. The king stumbled back from the mental assault. She turned and ran out of the king's chamber.
"I HATE YOU!" She screamed at him through her thoughts. Her words assaulted his mind, forcing him back. He gasped. A trembling hand reached up, holding his head. He had felt her power coursing through him, a dangerous power. She herself didn't know what she was capable. He had to find out more about her. He had to know how extensive her powers were. He had to keep her save till then. But how? How could he keep her safe? Lock her up again? No. If she could assault him in such a way what would stop her from mind control if she could. What would stop her from killing one of his people if he did that? What would stop her from killing them all? But He knew she wouldn't. She'd seen so much death already. So many things needed answering.
She ran. She had to leave. She had to get out of this place. She couldn't be around him around him anymore. She had to get out. She needed air.
"Aysel!" A voice entered her thoughts and a hand grabbed her arm, yanking her off-balance. She stumbled into a warm body. Looking up through her tears she saw Legolas.
"Aysel what is wrong? Why are you crying?" He asked, holding her close."What happened?" Aysel didn't answer, instead buried her face into his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt. Legolas put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back to look at her face. "Aysel what did he do?" He asked. Aysel shook her head, splaying her hands on his chest. She didn't want to tell him. "We just had a fight is all." She said finally, getting control of herself. She wiped her tears away and with a shuttering inhale she asked,"Can we go out side? I need some air." Legolas thought about it for a moment, staring intently at her."Alright..."He said slowly,"But you can't run away. Promise me you wont run away from me." And she did promise. Promised she wouldn't run away from him. He stared at her almost like he didn't believe her, but he lead her away.
Guards stood in front of two large carved doors. She stared up at them, admiring their size. "Open the doors." The Prince commanded. The guards exchanged looks, but did as the prince said. She noted they followed them out. Great. She thought. More of them to run from, but the sunlight temporarily stopped all her thoughts. She stood still in the warmth, inhaling the fresh air. It cleared her mind, washing away all that had happened. She spread her arms out, splaying her hands in the light. The prince watched her with an intense expression. She knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to enter her mind. She wouldn't allow it. He couldn't get through her walls. She had made them too thick. She knew his frustration was growing with the inability to read her mind. She smiled softly. His muscle trembled with the effort to hold it."You shouldn't even try to read my mind. Theres to much in there you shouldn't know." She said to him. He narrowed his eyes. She held out her hand to him and he took it. Aysel planted a small kiss on his pale skin."Sleep Legolas." And he did. He collasped on the ground, snoring lightly. She turned to the guards who drew their swords. She stood staring at them, her hand splayed out towards them. She could feel their fear. "Lay the sword down on the ground. Gather the prince and return inside." She commanded. The guards hesitated, but then did as she told them. She picked up one sword and took off jogging into the forest. "I'm sorry Legolas." She whispered to him in his sleep and then she was gone.
The forest trail lead her deeper into the woods. She tread as quietly as she could manage. The elves were going to be after her soon. The further she went the better, the more chance she had of escaping even if those chances were slim to none. And slimmer to none since she was tiring. The effect of using her curse. The forest tipped and tilted as she stumbled along the path. Her breath echoed in her ears. Gotta hurry...gotta leave... Her thoughts slowed.
"Aysel..." A voice echoed in her mind. The kings voice. She spun around. Where was he?
"Aysel come back..." His voice echoed everywhere. "come back to me Aysel..." She ran then. "NO!" She screamed back at him.
"Aysel come back."
"Aysel"
"Come back."
"Aysel"
His voice was everywhere. In all places. In her mind, in the air, the earth, the water, the trees. He urged her back. Wanted her back. No! She would not go back. They would have to drag her back kicking and screaming. She ran faster and harder. And then he was there, standing in her path. Standing there, smiling softly at her. An expression she didn't know he could muster. "Come back to me Aysel." He said holding out his hand to her. She almost took it. Almost. "Please come back to me Aysel. Come back, come back, come back, come back, come back, come back." He repeated over and over again. It battered against her head. The King took a step forward, caressing her cheek. His hand felt light as a feather, so soft, so light, so gental. It couldn't be the king. He wasn't real. It was a trick of the forest. Of the air. She pulled away. He was the king she wanted. A kind king. A loving king. A king that would never exist for her. What was she anyways? A Slave. Nothing more. Her gaze returned to the king. He wavered and then dispersed into the air. She drew in a breath and continued her escape.
Legolas walked with heavy foot steps towards the king's chamber. Dread summed up what he was feeling. He knocked on the doors and his father accepted his entry. The king was sitting in a chair, rubbing his forehead. Legolas drew in a breath and then spoke."Aysel has escaped." Thranduil's shot up from his chair."What...?"
"Aysel has escaped." He repeated. The King stared at his son. Anger swelled.
"And how did she manage this...?" He asked, though he already knew.
"She... she knocked me out..." Legolas said softly.
"You've sent out a search party I presume?"
Legolas nodded.
"And you're not out there with them why?" Thranduil turned from his son to pace the length of the room.
"I'll go now." Legolas turned, stiff backed and left his father to his thoughts.
So she escaped. Most likely using her gift. curse. gift. Gift. But to were? And how long ago? Frustration replaced his anger.
She could hear them behind her. She had to run faster. They were going to catch her. She didn't have the mental strength to force them all back. There were too many. I don't want to go back! She thought as she ran. The elvish sword still in her hand. It was growing heavier and heavier. Maybe she should just leave it behind. No She had to protect herself! But it was so heavy. Don't think about it. She told herself. You have to run. Keep going. You can make it. Go Aysel! All her life she belong to someone else. All she want was to belong to herself for once. She didn't want a king or a master. She didn't want anyone. She just wanted herself. She wanted to steal herself away, far away.
Hands grasped at her hair and her shoulders and her arms. Faster! She said to herself. Their too close. Faster. They were behind her. Then they were in front of her. She had to escape! Aysel veering to the left, avoiding the elves in front of her. A hand shot out of the forest and grabbed Her arm. It was Legolas. She kicked his shin, ripping her arm away. She pointed the sword at him.
"Let me go." She said. Legolas stared at her in silence."Let. ." She repeated."Tell the elves to go back or I will kill you." His eyes narrowed, calculating.
"I am a slave and I am desperate and I am pointing a sword at you. A sharp sword." She pressed the tip of the sword to his neck. Legolas raised his hands up.
"You know I can't do that Aysel." He said swallowing. His adams apple bobbing, pushing against the tip. The other elves had surrounded her, but stayed back.
"You can, and you will or you will die." She kept her voice strong.
"Your surrounded Aysel. Surrounded by my guard. Do you really think you can escape?" Legolas nodded at all the elves around her.
"You don't know me. You don't know what I know."
"You are human."
"Human yes, but not meer. Never mere." She gave him a soft sad smile.
"Human is enough." Legolas nodded and the elves swarmed on her. She closed her eyes and projected an image into their minds. An image of her burning. A column of flames. They all skidded to a stop feeling the heat of the flame on their skin, fearing the burn.
"It is a trick! It is a spell! Don't believe it!" Legolas cried out to them. She held out her hand, turning in a circle.
"Touch me and you will burn." She growled.
"Your eyes are cheated by a spell!"
Aysel turned to Legolas, her hand cast out towards him.
"Do you want to try Prince of the woods?" Her challenge was met by him. He launched his self at her. She stepped a side, watching him skid to a stop. He pivoted on his heels to find her again.
"Can you fight what you do not see elf?"She asked, projecting herself invisible into their minds. It was draining her though to do this. She had to escape. Legolas glanced around his surrounding almost frantically. She ran then, slipping between the elves. The forest path was gone from her sight and it was likely she would not find it again. It did not matter. She had to run. She had to get away even if she died in the forest. At least she would die free and that's all she really wanted. She ran till she could run no more. She collapsed on the ground, huffing and puffing. So much in one day. She should not have used so much of her energy.
"Aysel..." His voice echoed in the forest again. "Come back to me Aysel. I need you. I want you. Come back Aysel."
"No...no. You don't need me. I'm worthless remember?" Her gasped out.
"Your not worthless. I was angry. I'm sorry."
"King Thranduil would never apologize. Not to a slave like me. A worthless slave."
"Do you really believe your worthless?"
"What does it matter? To him I am worthless."
"I was angry because you acused me of being heartless. Anger makes people say things they don't mean."
"But he said it. He must think it. He must think I am worthless..." She trailed off, passing out exguasted.
The blood inside her head pounded viciously. Something struck her mind. She flinched away. Several more blows followed. She whimpered, flinching away from each blow. Cold metal surrounded her. She shivered. It was cold. Colder than it should be. She was afraid to open her eyes. Another blow, and then another. She threw up more mental barriers, adding to the already thick wall around her mind. "Let me in girl." A voice hissed acidicly at her. That voice. She knew that voice. Fear gripped her soul and panic set it. Blows from each side struck her, forcing her back into the metal bars. She opened her eyes, fearing the unknown more. She had to know. She needed to. Darkness met her gaze. She frantically searched around her. She hung in a rusty cage above a cliff. A weathered, abused, crumbling old fortress stood behind her. She felt a twinge of recognition at the back of her mind. Something emerged from the darkness, melted, no...formed from the darkness. It was darkness. "You can't fight me girl." It said, hissed. It's hands wrapped around a bar each. "Your not strong enough." A sharp mental blow rocked her back. Spots infected her vision. Aysel gritted her teeth and forced them away. "No." She said. "No, I am strong enough." The darkness cackled. That laugh. It chilled her to the bone. The great evil. His laugh. He was here. He was now. He had her. What did he want from her? Why couldn't he break down her walls? What was stopping him? Was it he who was not strong enough? It didn't matter. It gave her hope. It gave her strength. She closed her eyes and formed layer upon layer of walls. Of stone, of iron, of diamond.
Every day was hell. Every week was hell. She'd been there two weeks. His attacks were relentless. He was wearing her down. Slow and steady. She was tired, and cold, and hungry. She was weak. She knew she was weak, but she couldn't let this shadow, this darkness take her. She had to fight it. Fight it till their was nothing left for him to take. Till she was a shell. Till nothing resided in her. Till her mind, her soul was gone. Till the very spark of life had departed from her frail body. Till there's was nothing left for him to take except for a rotting piece of flesh.
Light washed over her. She glanced around. There was no moon out. Where was the light coming from? The dark evil hissed and disappeared. Aysel crawled onto her knees and gripped the bars in front of her. Another wave of light bathed her. A male voice muttered something in some language she had never heard before. A bang, and then more light and then more muttering. Three more bangs, three more times light bathed her. Three more times she heard his voice. She yanked and pulled on her cage. Maybe it was a friend. No one under the darkness' control could make such a light. . She kicked and pulled and yanked and pushed on her cage. It wouldn't budge. She stood up. She felt the bottom of her prison shift. holding onto the top of the metal cage she jumped. The floor groaned and moved barely. She jumped again, and again. Metal screeched against metal. The loud sound was drowned by the yelping and growling of the wargs and urks. She persisted on. The floor of her prison was moving. It had moved. If only she was heavier. She pressed her lips together. If she was to escape. She had to do it now. The darkness never left her alone for long. Aysel climbed higher into her cage and dropped herself down. The floor groaned and slid down an inch. She gulped, looking down over the cliff. Better dead than here. She climbed up her cage again, and again let her self drop down onto the rusty floor. It jolted and slid more. Her heart pounded in her chest. One more time... Aysel squeezed her eyes tight and let go of the bars above her head. It felt like time slowed. The bottom of the hanging prison slowly grew closer and closer till she felt her feet touch it and then time resumed again. Aysel grabbed the bars out of panic as the bottom of her prison gave out, clinging to them for dear life. The cage swung back and forth. Her feet dangled in the air, searching for solid ground, when there was none to find. Her grip was slipping. She could hear the urks foul voice's carrying, and smell their stench. Let go to die now, or hang on and live another day? Aysel knew her choice. She knew she could not risk staying alive. She know that the darkness wanted her for her curse. She may be cursed, but she would not join the eternally damned.
"Good Bye...My King." She said, looking up. Slowly her eyes closed and her grip loosened. The world slowed. The wind pulled, refusing to let her fall with out a fight. She spread her arms out. She was free. Free for the first time in her life.