Blinking groggily into the harsh sunlight, Alanna uttered a pitiful moan. Her shoulders had long ago become numb and her wrists were covered with blood. Jarth's smirking face peered down at her as he unhooked her manacles from the top of the wagon and she fell unceremoniously onto the green grass. Alanna moaned into the grass, her eyes longing for respite and silently called him every foul name she knew.
"How you feeling this morning, sweetie?" he chuckled as he dragged her to her feet.
Alanna snarled but said nothing as he began to drag her across the field, her feet refusing to support her weight.
When Jarth halted to talk to some other men, each as dirty and unshaven as him, Alanna would massage her throbbing limbs as blood began to seep into them, making her bite back a yelp. As she rubbed her arms, Alanna gazed around her curiously, noting the wet and draggled look of the slaves coming from the direction she was being dragged in. A line of lush, healthy trees obscured the destination from view, but judging by the cries and splashes she assumed she was being taken to a river or a stream.
A sharp jolt on her chains caused her to stumble and she barely managed to keep herself upright, her ribs screaming in protest. Hissing, she quickened her pace, refusing to scream in front of Jarth. Her booted feet sank into the soft grains of sand as she was lead like a horse down to water, to the stream.
Slaves of all ages were being dragged out of the water that was swiftly turning muddy because of the banks being churned up. Anya, who was already bare in the water and looked for all the world like a drowned rat, waved at her when she saw her and made her way towards the banks.
The stream was a rich sapphire blue, and Alanna felt a pang of longing she quickly erased when she saw it, for Jonathan's eyes. There was a cliff that banked the stream and cast shadows onto the water's surface. As she glanced around, she realized there would be no escape.
There was a clink as her chains were removed and then a harsh thrust to her back sent her sprawling into the water. She let loose a cry as the impact jarred her ribs, and she was swallowed by water. Rising to the surface, she groaned and held her arms around her side, gasping as fire raced down her side.
Jarth threw her a bar of rough, squished soap and ordered, "Get yourself cleaned up! You cannot look like you have been dragged through mud before you go up on stand." He folded his arms, still holding onto her chains and waited.
Alanna straightened and glared at him, still cradling her wounded side. Anya tugged on her arm and shook her head when Alanna looked down. Sighing angrily, she began to froth the soap, and then lathered her exposed skin. Jarth stiffened and growled,"Wash your clothes."
Alanna returned the stare and then began to froth her white tunic and tan breeches. Jarth snarled at her defiance.
"Take your clothes off and wash them and yourself!" he spat with a face like thunder.
Alanna stopped scrubbing and snarled, "Fine. Turn around."
A gleam came into his brown eyes and a grim smile crossed his face. "If you don't do it, I will come in and do it myself," he hissed, his eyes daring her to argue.
Anya tugged on her arm again, pleading with her to follow orders. Alanna's amethyst eyes met Jarth's brown eyes in a death stare. Alanna broke off first, not liking what she saw in his eyes. Looking around, she saw female slaves being forced into the water and undressed. They were made to clean themselves with the men leering at them and an occasional groping.
Clenching her teeth, she reached for her tunic and slid it over her head, her ribs flaming as she reached up. Her view obscured by the fabric, she didn't notice Jarth lean in and stare at her as she exposed her trim and taunt stomach. As she pulled the sleeves down, she noticed Jarth shift and wondered what it was about; his eyes appeared to stay locked on hers the entire time.
Fighting her pride, she reached for her breast band. This time, she watched him the entire time. Blushing deep red, she watched as his eyes traced the contours of her body, snagging on her hips and finally her breasts. An appreciative look crossed his face and Alanna's blush intensified.
Standing deeper into the water, she removed her breeches, making sure no man was close enough to touch her. Standing naked, but for the token from the Goddess, in the water she began to scrub herself all over, noting with embarrassment the other looks she was getting. She began to feel even more uncomfortable, if that were possible, for they were watching her with lust, a look she had never received.
Gulping, she hurriedly washed her clothes and redressed, stumbling out of the water and pulling Anya with her. A slave woman helped her re-dress and then look her hand as her chains were re-attached. Jarth smiled down at Alanna as he tightened her own. "So we don't loose you before we sell you," he said with a grin, which remained filled with lust.
His eyes once again roamed her body as he turned and led her away from the stream, Alanna hurriedly dodging the grasping hands for her body. Alanna walked a step behind him and to the side as he led her towards a caravan with fabric hanging from twine. A brown top came over the roof of the wagon, and Alanna wondered what it was. Getting closer, he called out to the woman who was sitting sewing next to the horse.
"I have job for you, Kat," he said, halting and dragging Alanna forward beside him.
The woman Kat looked Alanna over and raised an eyebrow. "Lad look ta be outfitted," she rasped, never halting in her sewing.
Jarth shook his head. "Not a lad," he said, looking Alanna over. "A lass."
The woman glanced up at Jarth and then looked to Alanna, grey strands of hair being blowing in whips across her face.
"Very well," she said, slowly rising out of the old wooden chair. "Follow me." She turned and led the way into the brown tent, pitched behind the wagon. She paused at the flap and looked at Jarth. "You don't need ta be a coming in," she informed him.
Jarth tightened his grip on Alanna's manacles. "I will be coming in to make sure you don't give me something she doesn't need," he said firmly, dragging Alanna into the tent, past Kat.
Once inside the tent, Alanna looked around her, curious. The tent had rolls of plain to extravagant fabric in rolls on a long bench and there were pins stuck in small pillows near the fabric. A length of fabric had nicks in it at even intervals and Alanna guessed it was for measurement.
Kat moved her to the center of the room and started pulling off her clothes; she paused when she saw the gift from the goddess and the gold chain it hung on. Reaching out, she seemed to want to touch it and then stopped when she remembered her audience.
Alanna halted her as she reached for her belt and removed her breeches herself so she was standing in loincloth and breast band in the middle of the tent, still soaking wet. She clenched her fists and stared blankly ahead, trying to ignore the look that came into Jarth's eyes and failing.
Kat picked through a few fabric and offered the cheapest for observation. At Jarth's nod, she brought it over to Alanna and began making measurements. Looking around her, she seemed to have lost something. Remembrance flashing on her face she waddled out of the tent, calling back, " Just gonna get some scissors."
As soon as she was out of hearing distance, Jarth took long strides to come and stand before Alanna. He stopped in front of her and let his gaze roam her body before rising to meet her eyes. Staring into them, he reached out and touched the black stone. Light flared from it, and he blinked in confusion.
Looking down and realizing his hand was in contact with her skin, he slowly drew a meaty finger down her collarbone before pausing. He glanced up into Alanna's eyes and then resumed his caress. His finger slowly went down between her breasts and over her body to rest on her bellybutton. Licking his lips, he leaned in until his body was pressed against hers, Alanna's pride refraining her from shying away. Tensing, she coiled ready to knee him between the legs, regardless of the consequences when Kat walked in.
"I charge for extra unneeded time," she snapped as she began cutting fabric along the marks.
Jarth looked over at her and then back at Alanna. Placing both hands on her waist he whispered into her ear, his breath casting strands of flaming hair across her face, "You're lucky I may already have a buyer for you. Otherwise, I would take you for a romp in the hay barn, and teach you what it is like to be with a real man."
"I have already been with a real man," snarled Alanna. "You could not compare."
Jarth laughed softly and tightened his hold. "That sounds like the words of a virgin," he mocked.
Alanna leaned back and glared at him. "I'm not a virgin," she snapped.
Kat glanced up from her piece of fabric and smiled in amusement.
"Ouch, love, no need to bite my head off. Besides, you look no more than twelve summers," Jarth said, loosening his hold and stepping back as Kat walked over and draped the fabric across Alanna's shoulders.
Folding the cloth around Alanna's body, she pinned it in place, slapping Alanna around the face when she squirmed as pins pit into her skin. Holding a hand to her red face, Alanna glared at her but said nothing, nor did she move a muscle until Kat was done.
A few silver coins were handed over and swiftly pocketed by Kat who thanked Jarth for business and led them out. Alanna, feeling uncomfortable in the scratchy fabric, followed.
Jarth glanced at the sun and then looked over to where his slavers were gathering the slaves and smiled. "It's time lass," he told Alanna, setting off toward his men, Alanna following docilely behind.
Anya tried to smile when she saw Alanna, but all she managed was a slightly pained twitch of her lips. She was to be sold before Alanna and was scared.
Alanna lined up behind her and allowed her manacles to be fastened onto a chain that ran the length of the slaves. Each pair of wrists were locked onto it. Feeling resigned to her fate, for there would be no escape, only in death, she trudged along behind her fellow slaves as they were lead across the field, down the cobblestone road, and into the town square.
The town square, if you could really call it that, was set with a road that branched off around a rectangle and then met on the other side. The rectangle held tress, mere twig and ghostly examples, nothing in comparison to the trees around the palace. Alanna felt a pang as she thought of the palace- home.
In the square's center, there was an uprising of stone and a path wound its way beneath it to where a slave now stood, head hanging, awaiting selling. The square was packed with people, all yelling. Children dashed beneath legs, and dogs barked. Hawkers called out their wares, and over all the noise there was the bidding of the slaves as each one was led beneath the auctioneer.
Shaking her head she tried to shorten herself and hunched over, not meeting any potential buyers' eyes as they came forward and ran their gazes down the line. Some offered prices, which were rejected as Jarth was saving for the stand. A stocky man walked down the line with Jarth standing relaxed at his side, pointing out factors of various slaves.
When he came to Anya he turned to the man, who he seemed familiar with and said, "Another lass for the bedchamber or a kitchen hand."
Alanna stiffened and hissed under her breath, unconsciously gathering her bearing and anger so that when the man came to stand in front of her he was taken aback. This slave had hair of flames and eyes that were pools of lavender. Her eyes smouldered in rage and she held herself staunch and tall, adding length to her short frame. Jarth glanced at the man and said, "This is the one I told you about, Lordship."
The man stared at Alanna and licked his lips. He glanced over his shoulder and beckoned. A small girl dressed in a short skirt, which came up to her knee,s quickly hurried over, keeping an unusual distance between herself and the lord.
"Go and get my lady, he ordered. Turning back to Jarth as the girl ran away, hair waving behind her, he asked, "How much?"
Jarth shrugged and looked Alanna up and down. "I was thinking ten gold nobles to start off."
The Lord paled. "Are you trying to cheat me?" he demanded, aghast.
Jarth shook his head, strands of brown hair whipping across his face. "A strong, young one like this could fetch me that as a slave to Tahakén easily enough."
The Lord glared at Jarth and then turned to his lady as she approached, slave girls holding an umbrella over her head.
Alanna turned and followed Anya, as their slave line was lead towards the stand, straining to hear what was being said. She stood blankly, squeezing Anya's hand as the girl shook and cried. Families were crying as they were ripped away from each other and thrown into wagons and driven away.
As Anya was unchained and dragged up onto the stand, she began to scream and kick her captors. As one of them raised and arm to hit her, Alanna stepped forward, taking advantage of the loosened chain and struck first. The man fell to his knees in pain, his hands clutching his groin. A sharp snap hissed through the air, and Alanna cried out as the whip lashed her back. The whip once again whistled through the air, and Alanna quickly spun, ready to grasp it in her fist but her manacles halted her movement. The whip cracked across her face, and Alanna screamed in pain and held her hand to her face, blood freely running from the weeping wound. After screaming a few curses in the vague direction of the whip master, Alanna allowed herself to be led after Anya.
Standing up on the stand, smoldering, she saw Anya being led off by a hulking guard, screaming and fighting. A sharp slap silenced and subdued her.
Alanna turned her attention to the auctioned as her assets were pointed out. "This wild, unusual creature is from the far reaches of Tortall, a rare and exquisite buy. Look at those rare eyes! Purple as lavender fields and her hair of fire!" he called out, his voice ringing across the square.
The crowd all looked up at Alanna in awe at her looks. The auctioneer smiled and licked his lips as some began shouting out offers for her.
"I will be starting you off cheap for four golden crowns!" he announced, sensing a sale as hands immediately rose. "Eight golden crowns!" There was a slight murmur at such an expensive price for a single slave and the auctioneer screamed, "An exceptional looking virgin! Look at the spirit in her eyes!Imagine bedding such an exquisite creature! Look at those curves."
Alanna hissed and shifted her weight, glaring at the bidders who looked at her with lust in their eyes. The clothes Jarth had bought hugged the contours of her body and showed her shape, curvy beneath the fabric.
Alanna sighed and fixed her gaze on a single leaf that clung desperately to the spindly twigs that give it life. Her attention wandered and she caught herself wondering what Jonathan, her Jonathan was doing.
Stop that! She reprimanded herself, acknowledging the pain that came with the thought of her former lover, friend, Prince and Knight master.
"…And the female slave goes to my lord for fourteen gold crowns!" The auctioneer announced and smiled happily to himself. The wealthy lord had just broken the slavers' record; never had a single slave been worth so much.
Alanna snarled as a guard made a cautious snatch for her chains. Glaring at him, she walked down the ramp and waited. The guard gestured in a direction, and Alanna despondently followed his motion. Jarth was over talking to the same lord he had been talking to before. They shook hands, and a pouch of coins was exchanged. Seeing her, Jarth looked up and tracked her approach, the lord following his gaze.
Alanna had never been more conscious of anyone in her entire life. This was the prig that had sold her and the bastard that had bought her! Coming to stand in front of Jarth, she simmered up at him. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "A pity, lass. I should have kept you for myself- maybe broken you in a bit and then sold you on." He ran a finger down her face, the side that wasn't seeping blood.
"This one might be an animal in bed," he said, turning to the lord.
The lord, conscious of his wife's approach, shook his head. "She is for the kitchens," he stammered swiftly.
Jarth nodded and turned back to Alanna. "See you, lass," he said as she was led away from the lord and lady into a dirty, black horse drawn wagon. The horses snorted and tossed their manes, eager to be off.
Alanna clambered into the wagon and saw grim, tearstained faces staring at her with wide eyes. As she sat down and the door shut she could feel their eyes on her.
"Alanna?" A small voice called out of the shadows and a pair of frightened eyes peered back at her.
"Anya?" Alanna asked, pleased at the familiar face.
Anya squeezed her way through the bodies as a whip lashed out, and the wagon began to roll. She held a grubby, small hand up to Alanna's recently stopped bleeding face and said thank you. Alanna took the girl's hand and squeezed it as the wagon jerked and rolled into the unknown.
Authors Note: That may have been hurried at the end, wanted to get it done for ya . The last segment of chapter three could have been George or Jon ;). I am so bad.Anyway, please give me your feedback. I know it's been a while.
Oh and by the way, if anyone thinks of names for the chapters, Ill give you a spoiler about what is to come. Whenever you choose to have it! So, PM me with your ideas for each chap and I'll judge the best name!
Children-of-the-blood: Thanks! Im glad you think so.
Spazzysassyangel: Thanks. Any comments on my writing? What to improve? Things you loved/didn't love?
Escape my Reality: Yes, he turned her in in the first place. He told his father ( but that is all you are getting out of me, for now ). It will all be explained later, Alanna will have a flash back.