Okay! So here's the 4th chapter! I thought I wouldn't be able to post this chapter up, but here it is! Ah! School started and it is hard! Oh, well… I'll definitely be busy! But I'll do my best to get chapters up at least on weekends…hopefully!
I had some trouble with the beginning (Ulquiorra and Nnoitora) conversation, but it was vital for future chapters. Elaine wasn't supposed to be there, but since I decided to use 1st POV I had to include her (in 1 POV you can't write anything your character doesn't see, hear, etc.) Well, it came out somewhat alright, although I wasn't able to retain its original beauty…! Ok! Read on!
From Rags to Riches, From War to Peace: Chapter 4
Ulquiorra pulled me by the hand inside Las Noches through another entrance, I wasn't sure where he was leading me or why, but the truth was all that crying had given me a terrible headache and I couldn't think straight. And another reason I followed involuntary was that it was so comforting to be around him, truth was I would do anything he asked.
He led me through several hallways and many corridors and it was almost hard to believe that the palace could hold so many rooms. "We're almost there" he said shifting his eyes to me and then continuing to wherever he was leading me.
Just as we were about to make another turn a tall man with an eye patch and a frightening smirk appeared leaning on the hallway, I didn't bother looking at him and shifted my gaze to the ground. "Hello, Ulquiorra" he greeted in a mockingly tone.
I felt surprised that Ulquiorra knew this man, but then again I knew absolute nothing about him, so why would I know his friends? When Ulquiorra heard him, he stopped and faced to greet him, although I felt he was reluctant to. "Hello, Nnoitora" he responded and was about to start walking again when Nnoitora put his hand on the opposite wall, thus preventing him from continuing.
"So, where are you going with this young girl, eh, Ulquiorra?" he asked in his sarcastic tone of his, I had just met him, yet I disliked him already. I felt my body tense up and my grip on Ulquiorra became tighter as Nnoitora moved in closer to me, his eyes examining me.
"If you'll please excuse us" Ulquiorra answered in a polite tone. I was so glad that Ulquiorra's comment made Nnoitora turn his attention back to him, rather than to me. He didn't seem very friendly, and something told me that he didn't like Ulquiorra very much.
"If you really are in a hurry" Nnoitora answered disdainfully as he removed his hand and began walking away a snicker on his face. As soon as he left I finally relaxed and I think I finally began breathing again. I definitely didn't want to be around him any longer and I hoped that I would never have to see him ever again, but little did I know that wasn't the last time I was going to meet up with him.
~*~*~
I felt weak, my life had taken a turn, and everything seemed to run lose. And the worse part was that everything seemed to happen before my eyes, and I was unable to do anything, even now. I had been denying this feeling, but it was obviously there, and it was changing me. I had fallen in love with the enemy, and my heart was in debate, I had to chose between my people or the person I loved. It was a maelstrom of emotions, and sadly I hadn't chosen yet, causing even more turmoil.
I had hoped to keep both, but one of the choices interfered with each other. By choosing Ulquiorra I had to accept the fact that he worked with Aizen, and would obey any order or command given to him, thus harming my people. And by choosing my people, I had to forget Ulquiorra since he was the person helping bring about the destruction of my people. What was I to do? My mind told me something while my heart told me something else.
Tiredly I awoke to a room unknown to me, it was very beautiful and it definitely had valuable possessions, and something told me I must have passed out before Ulquiorra. I got out of the bed I laid and put on a silk robe that was left on the bed's side. I slowly strode around the room analyzing each thing and taking in its beauty. And on top of the fireplace there was a beautiful picture that seemed strangely familiar, and as I reached up to touch it, for the first time I noticed my hands were bandaged. And then the incident from the day came back to me.
My thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the bedroom's door. I quickly turned to see who it was and as soon as I saw him, my heart felt strangely relieved. "I thought you might be hungry" he answered to the question in my eyes, as another person strolled in with a small cart and food on top.
"I'm not very hungry" I responded, feeling sick from all that I had undergone. He didn't answer, and I was glad that he didn't, I was really embarrassed at the show I had done yesterday and didn't want to make another one. He went and stood on the balcony overlooking the land. I walked towards him to join him, hoping that I would find my land like it had been before, rather than a crumbling place.
As I reached his side I received a scenery that was the complete opposite than what I had hoped it to be. You could see places being burned and the sky was filled with smoke and smelled like sulfur. I felt like crying, I felt like shouting at Ulquiorra and demanding him to stop, demanding to make everything disappear, but instead I stood there dumbfounded taking in the terrible scenery that lay before my eyes.
"Its turned into a civil war" Ulquiorra informed me, just what I had predicted and feared would happen were the wars to continue. I looked up at him hopefully, hoping that he would continue, but he just stared out. Finally he shifted his eyes to me without moving his head.
"It's the rich against the poor, and even the rich have began quarreling with one another" he responded. No wonder the place looked like it did.
"Why?" I asked, wanting to receive an answer. Why did Lord Aizen have to make these useless fights and kill so many people? Why did the poor have to rebel in a terrible fashion? All these questions, and all this suffering was hard to understand, especially to a village girl like me that spent her whole life in a secluded village.
"Tell me something, have you ever heard of Niccolo Machiavelli?" he asked and faced me with interest in his eyes. I felt embarrassed at the truthful answer, no. I had had no education growing up, of course, only nobility and the rich could assist school, and there was also the problem of sexism. Men were given a well-versed education, while women were given a different kind of education if any.
"No" I admitted shyly. There was no point in hiding what I was, it was definitely obvious to anyone in this castle, why wouldn't it be obvious to him?
"He asked this exact question, 'As a leader, is it better to be feared or loved?'" he stated and looked down at me, awaiting my opinion.
"Loved, so people won't have a reason to rebel" I answered sure of what my response was, there was no doubt.
"And how do you expect them to obey you?" he asked imposing a fact that gave me something to think about. I started doubting my answer, that did prove a difficulty. I unconsciously bit my lower lip as I thought of a better answer, but I couldn't find any.
Those rulers who are feared get what they want with everybody obeying them, and there's no disobeying, for fear of the person. And then there's the kind rulers, whom people love, but they might not always get the things they want done, for they are soft. Who was better? A kind and understanding ruler, or a feared one?
"He also stated something that I firmly believe, 'If you cannot be both loved and feared, then it is better to be feared than love.'" he finished. Although I felt that wasn't something completely right, he had a point. How else could one achieve? But then there was the people who would be subjected to constant fear, well in this case they were finally freeing themselves.
He looked back at the not-so agreeable scenery, leaving me in thought. He also seemed to be thinking, did he really believe that?
"The rebels have camped nearby, they're expected to attack sometime today" Ulquiorra continued. "They expect to put a stop to Lord Aizen's wars" he finished as he turned around to see my reaction.
Tears had began flowing down my face and I felt a knot in my throat. "But can't they see that by rebelling they're killing more people?" I asked, half-knowing the answer. The truth was that they really didn't care, they were so frustrated at the conditions they were forced to live and now they were rebelling without really thinking of the consequences.
I put my hands to my eyes hoping that my tears would stop flowing, but to no avail, this war was taking a huge toll on me. I couldn't stand watching all these people die, even the wealthy who I had harbored so much hatred towards.
"No, and this war won't end anytime soon" he responded and waited for me to stop crying so he could continue. I wiped my teary eyes and looked up at him, already fearing the worse. "The rebels have united with the enemy, Yamamoto."
Yamamoto was appointed general of the southern lands, and he had at his command a vast army, who were very skilled warriors. Rumors had it that Aizen once served Yamamoto, but later was banished and that's how he had come to Hueco Mundo. Of course, the reason of his banishment wasn't known. And now if the rebels had united with Yamamoto, the outcome would be a long war, leaving Hueco Mundo in worse conditions than it was already.
"Come on, you have to eat, it won't be long before they attack, and there's no telling if Las Noches will prove strong enough." he said, switching the subject and motioning me inside.
"While you were asleep you mentioned someone named Neliel a lot" he said with curiosity. I must have been talking in my sleep, and then the scene when they had taken Neliel replayed in my head once more.
"Some intruders came and took her away" I managed to say before being interrupted by someone knocking on the door. Both of us turned towards the door and then Ulquiorra got up and opened the door. There was a young girl there and came inside.
"This is Isabel, she'll help you get dressed" Ulquiorra said before closing the door behind him. I stared at the young girl, she was around my age and perhaps a bit older. I smiled back at her and stood up.
"Hi, my name is Elaine" I answered as I walked towards her, and she smiled back. She was holding a crimson dress, similar to the one I had worn to the ball, the one that had been torn to pieces.
"Here, I'll help you put it on" she said in a sweet tone. I felt really unworthy to be wearing such a beautiful dress, but I decided not to complain, since Ulquiorra had gone to the trouble of getting something for me to wear.
Once it was on me, I was putting on the matching shoes that had been brought with it when there was a loud commotion coming from outside, I immediately figured it was the rebels who had begun invading the castle so I rushed outside. I found Ulquiorra about to head towards the place where the commotion was coming from when he noticed me come out.
"Stay with Isabel" he shouted back at me but I managed to get a hold of his pale hand. He quickly turned to back and examined me with his emerald eyes of his.
"No, I have to go find Neliel" I responded, I was determined to find her no matter what. He simply nodded and led me outside, his hand still in mine. I followed fast behind eager to find Neliel.
Once we were outside people were already fighting fiercely, some being thrown off their horses, some remounted, and some got hit badly on their helmet and dropped dead. I was awestricken by what I saw, but I followed Ulquiorra nonetheless. I desperately searched to find my friend, but she remained unseen.
As my eyes remained on the battlefield rather than where I was being led to I stumbled on something, and my hand slipped out of Ulquiorra's grip. I quickly got back up on my feet but as I turned to my side I saw a tall man about to strike with his sword held high. I closed my eyes, expecting to be struck, when I felt a hand wrap around me. It was Ulquiorra, he held me close to him as he deflected the man's blow with his own sword. Had it not been for him I would have surely died.
"Are you alright?" he asked looking down at me, and in response I simply nodded still stunned from what had just occurred.
The battle continued like that, Ulquiorra not letting me out of his sight and I scanning each person in hoping of finding Neliel or recognizing the people that had taken her away. Time passed people being thrown off their horses, others being remounted, and others harshly been hit, never to see the light of day ever again. As the battle reached its end, the brutality lessened, but the amount of people injured, agonizing, or dead was shocking. I was surprised that I was still standing, and then I realized why Aizen kept Ulquiorra close, he was a formidable opponent, and managed to protect me and himself at the same time.
"Ulquiorra?" I asked as I walked towards him, he was exhausted and had began breathing heavily. He was stained with people's blood and he had received some minor wounds. Before I could reach him some clapping could be heard from behind.
"Bravo, Ulquiorra! Look at how many innocent people you've slayed." he announced in a mocking voice. I turned towards the voice and found Nnoitora seated on a tall elegant black horse. His comment made me feel stiff and made me realize that Ulquiorra had been killing rebels, that were just peasants and hard-working people. All of a sudden his comment had turned my perspective of Ulquiorra and I felt uncomfortable.
As I remained there somewhat stunned I felt Ulquiorra walk towards me and stood beside me. Finally he spoke, "Elaine…I.." I shook my head, I felt so confused. I knew that he had to, and at the same time he had protected me, yet I felt somewhat angry at what he had committed.
"Oh, did you make your consort cry, Ulquiorra?" he asked mockingly and made his horse pace closer towards me. I hated, no I abhorred him, his sly insults and the way he was manipulating my thoughts. I just stood there confused my hands clutching strands of hair.
"Make it stop, please…please" I cried miserably, it felt terrible, I didn't even know what was wrong. Ulquiorra reached with his free hand to caress my cheek when he was intercepted by Nnoitora's sword, and in a second he slashed Ulquiorra sending him backwards. I looked up and saw Ulquiorra fall, his warm blood staining me.
"Ulquiorra!" I shouted, finally snapping out of my confusion. I was about to run towards him when Nnoitora picked me up in a flash. Before demanding or struggling to free myself he got some rope and tied my hands behind me. I wasn't even able to shout, for he had gagged me with a cloth tied tightly around my mouth. I struggled to keep my head up to see if Ulquiorra was alright.
After a few moments Ulquiorra began to get up. Nnoitora moved closer to him, and I moved back and forth hoping that I would at least fall of his horse. "And don't worry about her, I'll take good care of her" he said coyly as he brushed a finger on my cheek. I felt repulsed by him and was scared to death on what his plans were.
"Let her go!" Ulquiorra shouted back as he came rushing forward. I closed my eyes, but just then some more men appeared and attacked Ulquiorra, preventing him from harming Nnoitora. And then we were off, his horse galloping rapidly and I lost sight of Ulquiorra or the fate that had befallen him.
"ELAINE!" a faint voice came from behind, but of course it remained inaudible to me. I felt so guilty that because of my nonsense Ulquiorra had be harmed, and because of me he had undergone extra struggles. 'Ulquiorra, please forgive me.' I prayed as we galloped away towards what awaited me.
Niccolo Machiavelli -- wrote the prince, handbook on how to be an effective ruler. I was in Euro history when we took notes on Machiavelli and I thought that his question was very interesting and decided to fit it in this chapter. I mean what do you think is better? This question left me thinking up to this day, any answers/opinions are welcomed, and if you want more info on Machiavelli, feel free to contact me! ^^ R and R is greatly welcomed and appreciated! And may your week be blessed with happiness, because the 2nd day of school, I had some struggles and I wouldn't like you guys to have bad beginnings! Ok, good bye!