Sorry for the shortness of the chapter but work and Dragon Age has been taking up my time

…

Balthier saw her running too late. Ella had run off ahead despite him saying they need to stick together when they had met up. Balthier heard her yelling at someone, as he looked up he saw they were surrounded by ten guards.

"Dammit all." Balthier whispered catching only the ears of Fran.

He heard Ashe gasp and looked up. Vayne was standing there with a smug look on his face. Ashe was about to lunge, Gods this would make for even more trouble.

"Now is not the time." Balthier said to Ashe throwing out his arm to stop her

As the soldiers descended down towards them he saw a struggle. Peering closer he could see Ella struggling as the soldier tried to pull her down the stairs. Hearing a crunch and a scream, Balthier flinched and turned as a soldier stomped down hard on Ella's hand. Throwing her the rest of the way, Balthier watched her curl into a ball.

Damn it all! Balthier himself had no real emotional attachment to Ella but he'd be dammed if he was going to watch a defenceless woman get beaten.

"Fran," Balthier whispered

Her ears twitched signalling she heard his words.

"When Vayne is distracted pull the girl away, this is beginning to turn too brutal." He finished

A slight nod of her head indicated her readiness to act out his wish. Keeping his eye on Vayne, he watched as he walked slowly and maliciously towards Ella. Slowly and gently he began to stroke her hair occasionally pulling it softly. Balthier did not like the look of that at all. Vayne was going to start something.

"Balthier, oh it has been to long tsk tsk tsk and now I see you running about the sewers like the rat you are." Vayne said slyly

Balthier simply shot him a look of intense hatred so fierce it would of felled enemies.

"But no matter the time has passed for pleasantries, let's see how we can have some fun." Vayne said

Watching he slowly saw Vayne wrap his fingers into Ella's hair, pulling her quickly up on her knees, her eyes wild with pain.

"Fuck you Vayne you worthless dog!"

"Now, now pretty thing, such language like that does not suit a woman." He replied

"Unhand her Vayne or have you resorted to cowardice!" Balthier fiercely stated

Vayne smirked at Balthier; Vayne pushed her head down into the concrete earning a small whinge.

"I suppose you would know all about that wouldn't you." He said angrily before his face contorted into shock

Balthier nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the scream that emerged from Vayne's mouth, but that would not be proper for a leading man. Vayne's face was contorted in pain. Looking down he saw Ella latched onto his leg with her teeth, blood spurting from his leg and her mouth. Balthier was impressed, broken fingers, bruises, being hit and thrown on hard surfaces and she could still fight. An almost animalistic look had taken over her face before she ripped away leaving a huge hole spurting blood everywhere, crawling over to Vaan she wrapped her arms around his legs and poked her tongue out.

Balthier was very impressed.

…..

Standing there in a line we probably resembled a bunch of naughty children as Lowtown inhabitants stared and pointed at us.

"They're the thieves who stole into the palace." One man remarked his eyes filled with distaste

"Is that what the commotion last night was about?" His female companion asked

Ashe swivelled sharply, shooting daggers at the pair silencing them.

"They think me some common thief!" she remarked angrily

"Better than a common assassin." Balthier piped up

Ashe shook her head but did she really expect any different? Her attitude was really starting to irk me. Standing there she started to tap her foot and sigh.

"For Christ's sake shut up!" I growled

"Show some respect or I might just let you rot." She snapped back

Stomping forward to the Vayne she made her presence known with a loud demand.

"These people have done nothing. Release them!"

Vaan looked at her with confusion written all over his face.

"What are you doing?" he asked her

"Don't interrupt me, I'm thinking." She spat at him

Vayne turned to look at us, I'm sure he was disappointed that he couldn't use more barbaric actions on us but being surrounded by the very people he sat out to lure into a false sense of security he had to play nice. Smiling at me, he bowed his head slightly and walked off.

A scream sounded out through the passage alerting everyone to a girl trying to break through the crowd. Penelo struggled against the two guards holding her back.

"Wait! They didn't know what he was doing! You have to let them go! You have to!" She cried out, tears running down her rosy cheeks

"Penelo, sorry, that dinner'll have to wait." Vaan said a sheepish look flittering across his features

"I told you, Ella you were supposed to watch him" she sobbed

Clearly sick of the theatrics a soldier stepped forward and punched Vaan. The blow to Vaans head knocked him out instantly leaving a cut bleeding profusely.

"That's enough!" he yelled

"Vaan!" I said dropping to my knees, I slapped him to trying to wake him but not hurt my fingers, but this boy was out cold

Penelo ripped herself out of the guards grip running wildly towards us, "Leave him alone!"

Balthier being the ever cocky sky pirate stepped out catching Penelo in his arms. Gently holding her up he slipped his handkerchief in her small hands. With teary eyes she looked up questioningly her bottom lip trembling.

"Hold onto this for me, would you, Just until I bring Vaan back," He said wiping a tear from her face "After all it's no good for a pretty face such as yours to cry."

The faintest hint of a blush spread over Penelos face. Nodding she slipped it into a pocket on her little jumpsuit. Turning to face me she mouthed "Take care of him".

I nodded and mouthed back "I'm sorry" before a solider pushed me and Balthier towards the exit of lowtown.

"All right, all right, Edgy, aren't we?" Balthier snapped

As we walked the walk of shame I studied my surroundings. Would I survive Nalbina? The others would but I was not written into the story. Balthier, Fran and Vaan had a free pass for the rest of the "game" but me, I was in it to survive with no guarantees, and this was not fun anymore.

"How are your hands?" Balthier asked

I looked down, they were bloodied and bruised, and I could not move them. Upon closer inspection of each finger I saw that several of them had either bone sticking out of the cut or lumpy bits from the evident broken finger. The shock must have prevented me from feeling anything because as soon as I saw them my stomach turned.

Making retching noises my body shuddered at the vision of bone and torn muscle.

"What 'er problem" one iron clad man inquired

My retching got more and more violent before I threw up all over the imperials metal shoes.

"Not good then I take it?" Balthier replied a hint of laughter detectable

I looked at him with pleading eyes. Why was he laughing at me now?

"Oy you pris'ners stay 'ere, bloody scum hawked on my shoes." He snarled

As the guards went off to clean his shoes Balthier showed me a small blue vial of a healing potion.

"I snuck this for you; I thought you would need it." He said easing of the cap

Grabbing my chin he tipped my head up slightly and poured the liquid down my throat. The burning sensation in my throat only matched by the incredible pain I felt in my fingers from the bones snapping back into place. Moaning I held my hands to my chest.

Balthier looked at me slyly, "Well that was erotic, wasn't it kitten"

I raised my eyebrows at him, "Really, now you're making sex jokes."

He smiled at me, a lot of mystery behind his expression before he walked off with the imperial who had returned from cleaning his shoes.

I shook my head, maybe the game would have its perks.