WOAH! new chapter. haha. unfortunately, this one is kinda short...but i couldn't convince myself that it needed more to it.
anyway, as you all very well know, reviews are welcomed (and encouraged.)
thanks for the attention so far!
-TSA
Chapter 11:
"Espionage, for the most part, involves finding a person who knows something or has something that you can induce them secretly to give to you. That almost always involves a betrayal of trust."Aldrich Ames
She wasn't sure what to think of it aside from that her plans were severally halted-Actually, countered would be a better term.
He was standing so perfectly still, the lamplight reflecting off his golden, polished armor. His grey eyes were glued to her, waiting for the moment she'd break. But all she could do was listen to her racing thoughts that tried to make up a reasonable excuse for why she ran off to Ba Sing Se. A faint smile curled at the corners of her mouth and she curtsied, her jade pendant bouncing against her skin. When she rose to her full height, Chronos was smirking.
"You've blossomed," he whispered, striding down to her while handing his helmet to a servant standing by, "A true rose." He ran his fingertips across her cheek, wanting nothing more than to see her lash out at him. But she remained perfectly still and leaned against the warmth of his fingers, "You're worthy of the Spirit's Envy."
"Yet I ask naught for it." She saw his eyes flicker along her neckline and the generous cut of her dress, "Your request for an audience has been met."
"Though much later than I would have wanted it…" He shrugged, "I have been concerned about you."
"I've not asked you to be concerned about me."
"Would you expect me not to care about my bride?"
"I am an able woman, Milord."
"I couldn't agree more." He leaned closer to her, lips dancing against her earlobe, his breath tickling her tender skin, "I know what you're planning, Milady, and you've certainly crossed the line."
She smirked, "I believe that is a conversation meant for our ears alone."
Chronos grinned, holding his arm out to gesture her to lead them out of the audience chamber. She left in no hurry, her hips swinging. He walked beside her until they came to the garden, where she sat down on a stone bench. The night air was crisp, goose-bumps crawling over her skin. She pulled her hair over her shoulder and ran her fingers through the tangled strands. Her eyes followed Chronos as he examined the roses that were in full bloom.
"I am quite curious about how you found me," she mused, hoping to keep him occupied on other topics.
Chronos chuckled, "General Nalren has kept tabs on you since you entered your stay in the palace."
"He's certainly a sweet gentleman." She giggled while casting a batted eyed glance at Chronos, "A fine general, I presume?"
"He belongs to the Council of Five." Chronos plucked a rose from the bush, twirling it between his fingers, "Have you ever wondered why roses have thorns?"
Briar ran her tongue along her top lip, lost to the sensation of Zuko's lips against hers, "Where there is beauty, there is danger…"
She blushed when Chronos sat beside her and held the rose before her eyes. She gratefully took it, taking in its sweet essence. When she went to stand, Chronos held her hand. Coaxing her back into sitting, she was paralyzed by the gentle gaze in his grey eyes.
"I have a proposition for you," he said.
Briar bit her lip, "Go on…"
"Marry me here in Ba Sing Se and I will assure that no one knows of your treason. You'll be pardoned on all accounts upon our return to your kingdom."
She stared at him for what felt like hours. Marry him? He spoke as though that was the solution to everything. Her lips were pursed the longer she stared at him, but the answer remained the same. There was no way in hell that she was about to marry him so soon. Fine, if the other knight was getting impatient then she might need to toy with him a little.
"Marry you? In Ba Sing Se?" She rolled her eyes, "I don't see how it would be fit to be wedded here."
Chronos grimaced, though he found her response a tad amusing, "And where would be suitable?"
She glanced over at the oasis pond that sat a few feet away from them, "Down by the sea…"
She was off her in own little world for awhile, imagining the beauty of the water glistening in the sunset's light. A dress of the finest silk, a pearly white, adorned by her mother's emerald necklace…It was an enchanting thought. A thousand royal subjects would be seated as she strode down the aisle with little a care in the world aside from standing beside the man at the altar. Those "I Do's" would come and suddenly a kiss-
"I don't think you understand my proposition."
Her face flushed, "You're threatening me."
Chronos rose to his feet, "You've betrayed the Earth Kingdom!"
"You don't scare me," she hissed.
"Your people are being deceived. You are no queen! They starve while you dabble in treason-!"
Briar stood up and slapped him, sending him tumbling backward, "How dare you accuse me of such a thing."
Chronos stared at her in disbelief, "I have a letter to prove this."
"I don't care what you have." She tossed her hair over her shoulder, eyes narrowing, "The Earth King will never believe you. Not while he trusts me."
"You think he trusts you? That's a foolish assumption."
Briar slammed her heel into the ground, a fissure forming between her and Chronos, which sent him to his knees. Whirling her leg around, she jammed her foot into his cheekbone and threw him into the ground. Kneeling over him, she pressed her leg into his chest while drawing a knife from a sheath on her shin. Tip pressed underneath his chin, she smiled down at him.
"Ba Sing Se is mine. There are a few more pieces that need to be moved into place, but trust me when I say it won't be long before I have control," she whispered.
"Ba Sing Se will never bow to the Fire Nation!" Chronos yelled.
"They will when their king is removed." She kissed him on the cheek, lips lingering as he faltered to return the gesture, "No matter what you say, he'll never believe you. I suggest you remain quiet unless you wish for me to remove you from my little game."
"Game?" He swallowed hard as the tip of her knife nearly opened his skin, "You think you're in control, don't you?"
She pulled the knife away, laughing deeply enough that he shivered. Adjusting herself so that she was straddling him, she twirled her blade between her fingers while he showed little interest in escaping her, "Judging by the current situation, My Knight, it would seem that I am."
Chronos' hands crawled up over her thighs while she leaned her face closer to his, "What would be the price of my silence?"
"You won't be killed." She held her blade above his eyes, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Do you truly believe I will bow to you?" He laughed spitefully, "You're arrogant."
Briar rose to her feet, stepping over him as she sauntered her way back into the palace. Chronos knew better than to try to cross paths with her when she had the advantage. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that he was surrounded by Dai Li officers, fighting as valiantly as he could. But that would prove to be futile. She smiled as he stared her way, arms bound behind him while he was thrown to his knees. It was truly a shame that she had to sacrifice her knight to get her pieces into better place.
Walking down the hallway, she heard the doors to the throne room open. Upon meeting the eyes of the Earth King, she ran over to him and flung herself in his arms, sobbing loudly as the Dai Li ushered Chronos past them. She had her face buried into the Earth King's robes so he couldn't see her deceptive smirk.
"Why are they taking Lord Chronos-?"
"It was terrible!" She was wailing, hoping to tune out Chronos' shouts of her betrayal, "He tried to kill me! Spreading lies of me betraying my nation!" She finally looked up at the Earth King, eyes sparkling with forced tears, "I love my nation, Your Majesty. But he wouldn't listen to me! He threw me down, screaming at me these lies! I was so afraid…"
The Earth King hesitantly embraced her as more tears rolled down her cheeks, "I will see to it that he never harms you." He drew her out of his arms, watching as she tenderly wiped her eyes, "I insist that you return to your chambers. It has been a long night."
Briar nodded her head like an obedient servant girl before shuffling down the hallway. When she got far enough, she threw aside her pitiful mask and began to laugh. How could he have thought that she'd agree to a marriage proposal? There were too many things that needed to be done. With him locked away, she could spend a little more time preparing things, though she hated that she had to take him out of the equation.
"I see that you have arrested Lord Chronos…"
Briar shrugged, "I appreciate you lending me the use of the Dai Li."
Long Feng strode from around the corner, "I hope this won't become a frequent habit of yours."
"Depends if I need to remove people…" She leaned against the wall while crossing her arms over her chest, "I have one last person who needs to be arrested. Other than that, they will be returned to you."
"I would certainly hope your ambitions don't catch up to you. The king of your game would be displeased if the queen removes herself from play."
Briar narrowed her eyes on Long Feng's smirk, "You don't even know what piece you are. I suggest you watch your tongue."
"My apologies, Princess." He mockingly bowed to her, "There is one more thing I wish to warn you of…" He began to walk past her, "The Avatar has entered Ba Sing Se."
Well, she certainly wasn't accounting for that little detail…
Briar straightened out her dress while making her way to her chambers, "That's fine." She glanced over her shoulder at Long Feng, "I need more pawns anyway."
Well now... Chronos got screwed. (Briar's just a litlte bit of a BITCH) :) poor guy...now he's locked in a cell. won't be seeing him for awhile! at least she had a plan to avoid trouble...FIRE NATION SAY WHAT! we are getting closer to knowing who's the "king" piece and what Briar is trying to do!
sooo... she's been working alongside Long Feng? not bad to have the Dai Li on your side. wonder who she wants arrested next? (this is how she deals with breakups. haha)
Note to all my readers!
Chronos = Knight
just another chess piece!
also: the avatar has reached Ba Sing Se! Woohoo! (just figured i'd get a little excited.)
chapter 12 is written and will be up by or before saturday. stay tuned!
-TSA