Slave Maid Witch Queen
Entry 1: Slave
O.O.O
Wherein a little girl flees from a life of slavery and meets a prince.
O.O.O
"Move!" A voice roared before snapping a whip next to the line of connected humans. "You'll rest when I say you can rest."
Beryl's body flinched as the whip snapped again. Despite having heard the terrible noise constantly for two days, she could still not reduce the sense of fear the torture device created. It had only been two days since the raids. Since her world had been turned upside down and she was made to endure this living hell. It was hard to think straight and collect her thoughts. Between the torturous trek with her neck bound to the neck of the person in front of her by a length of rope and the horrific sleep she was forced to endure as she tried to sleep in her restraints her mind felt cloudy. Sleep had also been dominated by the nightmares of the raiders invading her village. Beryl's body shivered as she did her best to push down the paralyzing visions of blood and gore decorating what had been her home.
"Halt!" The man with the whip roared as he snapped the divide near the head of the human chain. "On your knees."
"Philip," A man on a horse from the rear growled as he noticed the captives beginning to rest. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Shove it up your ass Jeremy," Philip snapped at his companion as he clipped his whip to a notch on his belt. "I have to take a piss."
"You wouldn't have to piss so often if you didn't drink so much," Jeremy grunted as he moved the horse close to the captors. "
"Maybe I wouldn't have to piss so much if I wasn't the only one on the ground," Philip grunted as he moved into a dense patch of trees.
"I swear we'll demand the boss get us some wagons for this work," Jeremy grumbled, shaking his head. "We'd be able to get it done much faster."
"Quiet whining like a newborn and get back here," A third man ordered. He was also on a horse and had been at the front of the line. "I'll try and talk with the boss after we get this group back. Hopefully one of them will help him relieve some stress and he'll be in a good mood.
Beryl took in the scene around her. After the main force had ransacked and destroyed the village the remaining survivors had been bound and left in the care of this trio.
"Beryl, keep your head down," A voice instructed her. The voice belonged to her older sister Morgana who she was tied to. "If you catch their glance they could take an interest in you."
"Yes big sister," Beryl answered, forcing herself to look at the ground instead of their captures. "I'm sorry."
As she struggled to keep her eyes off her captures, Beryl noticed her sister pull one of the pins out of her hair bun and began to use the pointed end of the pin to stab at the ropes keeping the two of them together. Her sister performed this task every time their captors were not looking in hopes of cutting Beryl free.
"I've almost got it," Her sister insisted in a low tone. "Once you're free, I want you to run as fast as you can into the forest and don't look back."
"But sister," Beryl protested, the idea of being separated from her sister absolutely terrified her. She had already lost her entire village. "I don't want to be separated from you."
"It's the only way you can survive. I'm almost there," Morgana whispered as she doubled her efforts to hack through the rope with the hairpin. Just as it seemed like a never ending task, the last of the strands of the rope broke and the tether between the two girls was no more. "It worked. Now when I…"
"Hey wench," Philip called as he approached Morgana after relieving himself. "What's that in your hand?"
"Beryl run!" Morgana screamed as she jumped to her feet and lunged at Philip. Wielding her hairpin like a dagger she aimed for Phillip's eye but instead pierced his cheek. Beryl was stunned by her sister's attack. Her body was frozen and unable to move. "For the love of the gods RUN!"
Her sister's scream brought Beryl back to reality as she ran as fast as she could towards the woods.
"Evil bitch!" Philip roared as he grabbed Morgana by the neck and slammed her against the ground. He drew the short sword at his side and raised it high. "I'll teach you some fucking manners!"
Beryl did not falter as she heard the commotion behind her. Her sister's warning of the consequences of even a moment's hesitation kept her running. She did not turn as she heard Philip roar as her sister briefly begged for mercy, or when a blood curdling scream filled the air. She knew if she was caught there was a chance she would be beaten within an inch of her life as punishment for running away.
Beryl ran until her lungs burned like they were on fire. When she finally had no choice but to stop and catch her breath, she looked around her surroundings. Finding an incredible dense bit of brush, Beryl climbed under it and hid. Doing her best to not make any noise she waited and listened. As she laid on the ground she had to focus on her fear. The fear of getting captured kept her awake and prevented her from giving into her tired body and simply falling asleep on the ground.
She waited, unmoving for what seemed like an eternity. Once she was sure no one was around she left the hiding spot in the brush and began to explore a more secure place when she could properly rest.
Beryl's father has trained her and her sister to be able to fend for themselves if they ever got lost in the woods. She knew how to sustain herself off the land if they were ever lost in the woods. He also taught them how to cover their tracks to avoid detection from danger. Though she hadn't been able to at first, as soon as she left her hiding spot she made sure to cover her tracks to ensure she wouldn't be followed.
As she moved deeper into the woods she found a large fallen branch she picked up and started to use as a walking stick. She decided it would serve as a weapon in a pinch. Beryl did her best to try and stay focused on her task but her stomach continued to rumble. It reminded her she hasn't eaten anything more than stale bread pieces her captures had tossed out at the end of the day. She had been given some of the scraps by the rest of the villagers in the slave line who took pity on her being the youngest. She would have been placed in the line with the rest of the children in the village but she had clung so tight to her sister the raiders eventually got sick of it and just put Beryl in the same line as her sister.
Making her way through the forest Beryl eventually discovered a small cove and realized it would perfectly hide her especially with the precautions she made on the journey. Entering the cave, Beryl found a jagged rock she could hold in her hand and began to carve at the rope. It was difficult to saw the tether down without hurting herself in the process. She jabbed her jaw several times as she tried to free herself from the restraint. She soon became tired and decided to take a break.
She pulled her knees to her chest to try and stay warm. The sun had set and the cold night had started overtaking the area. Beryl knew how to start a fire on her own but she did not risk it. Though she had covered her tracks well so it would be harder for the raiders to find the cave, a fire could easily lead them to her location.
As she sat in the cave trying to gather her strength, the terrors she had experienced in the last few days haunted her. The attack on her village, the slaying of her parents and sister, and the overwhelming exhaustion and hunger washing over her all at once. Beryl was too tired to cry, instead a single tear rolled down her cheek as she gave into the fatigue and collapsed against the cavern floor.
O.O.O
The light of the morning sun and the chirping of birds woke Beryl in the morning. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she took in her surroundings. She was still in the cave, her walking stick and edged stone by her side. She picked up the stone and considered working on the rope around her neck again, but was interrupted by the rumbling of her stomach. Getting to her feet, walking stick in hand, Beryl began to search for something to eat.
The lessons of her father helped her to know what she could and couldn't eat in the forest but unfortunately she was coming across far too many items falling into the inedible category. She could build a trap and catch a stray animal, but she was far too hungry to hunt and she didn't have anything to bait the trap with. Beryl eventually came across a bush of wild raspberries and did her best to pick as many as possible. She winced as the overly tart fruit burned her throat, but she didn't care as long as it gave her strength.
She was about to search for a source of water when she heard a noise. She tried to focus on the sound and found it was getting closer. It moved too cautiously to be an animal which meant only one thing: It was a human and there was a good chance they were coming for her. Scanning the area, she ducked behind a tree trunk and waited.
Beryl held the branch tightly as she heard the approaching footsteps. She was tired from the poor sleep and lack of nutrition. Still, she would not let her sister's sacrifice be in vain. She was willing to fight with the last bit of her strength she still had to prevent once again being tied into the slave line.
Suddenly she heard a twig snap from the opposite side of the tree and, without a second thought, Beryl sprang towards them ferociously with her weapon of choice.
She only stopped her attack when she saw him.
It was not one of the bandits who had attacked her village. Instead, it was a boy around her age with a knapsack. His clothes looked relatively new, unfrayed, and with little if any dirt on them. He stared at Beryl with striking blue eyes which caused her heart to flutter but she quickly shook off the surprise, tightening her grip on her weapon, ready to defend herself.
"G-greetings," the boy began as he presented his palms forward to show he was unarmed. "I mean no harm. I was just journeying through the woods. Are these your woods? Do you live here?"
Beryl didn't speak or move. The boy seemed friendly enough, but she dared not risk being captured again. For all she knew he was a scout for the bandits.
"Are you hungry?" The boy asked as he slowly took off his knapsack and reached inside.
Beryl kept his eyes on him the entire time, watching to see if he would unsheath a weapon. Instead, he pulled out a large apple. "I have this…"
Before he could finish speaking, Beryl snatched the apple away and began to ravish it. Within a few bites the apple was down to the core. She swallowed it so fast she began coughing, causing the boy to reach for her in concern. In response, Beryl stepped back and again raised the branch defensively.
"I also have a loaf of bread and some jam," the boy announced, reaching into his bag. This time he produced a loaf, a small jar, and a bread knife. The sight of the knife caused Beryl to tighten her grip on the branch and growl.
"What? Oh, I'm sorry," the boy apologized. "I didn't mean to frighten you, Here, let me cut you a piece."
Moving to a nearby stump, the boy cut a piece of bread before getting jam from the jar and spreading it over the top of it. Once finished, he placed the knife on the stump and stepped away from it.
"Here," he insisted, gesturing towards the stump. "Enjoy."
Beryl glanced from the boy, to the piece of bread, and back. Slowly she moved closer to the stump, snatched it up, and ate it in three bites.
"You're really hungry," the boy observed with a smile. The more he tried, the more Beryl believed he was intent on only offering her assistance. "Do you have a name?"
"B-Beryl," she replied, swallowing the bread.
"That's a beautiful name," The boy commented, with a heart warming smile. "My name is Endymion."
"Thank you," Beryl nodded, her cheeks becoming warm from Endymion's compliment. "For the food."
"You're welcome," Endymion acknowledged, moving towards the stump to cut more pieces of bread from the loaf. He couldn't help but notice the rope wrapped around her neck and was immediately filled with concern. "Do you live here?"
Beryl shook her head.
"Did you run away from home?" Endymion asked, frowning slightly.
"No…," Beryl hesitated for a moment before deciding to continue. "But I did have to run away."
"I see. Do you have a place to stay?" Endymion wondered.
Beryl shook her head.
"Then why don't you come with me," Endymion suggested, as he placed his belongings back in his sack. He stepped away from the stump, revealing two more pieces of jam covered bread. "I could help you find a place to stay."
"I..," Bery hesitated, scanning the boy again, barely looking at the pieces of bread. He still possessed a kind smile and seemed to have a gentle nature. The vulnerable part of her wanted nothing more than to trust him. She wanted to believe he could help her find more good food and even give her a place to sleep. Taking a deep breath, Beryl summoned her courage and nodded. "A-alright."
"Excellent, follow me," Endymion instructed as he offered Beryl his hand. She hesitated again but eventually accepted his hand. Endymion led her through the woods until they came to a clearing. There they found a group of four boys sitting around a campfire.
"So we finish this stew and then ride to the rendezvous point?" A boy with short hair asked as he kept stirring the pot. "Do you think there is a chance the prince will beat us to the location?"
"It seems that won't be necessary," A large boy with long chestnut hair remarked, noticing Endymions' arrival and pointing at him. "He's back."
"What?" A tall boy with long white hair gasped as he jumped to his feet. "Your highness. What are you doing here? You're supposed to be taking part in survival training!"
"Hold your horses Kunzite," A long haired individual called. She couldn't tell immediately if they happened to be either a man or a woman, but she was able to see they kept a crossbow strapped to their back. "He seems to have made a little friend."
"Her name is Beryl," Endymion clarified. "She's lost and hungry."
"My lord," Kunzite hesitated, not taking his eyes off the new arrival. "Can she be trusted? She could be a spy."
"By the stars Kunzite," The chestnut haired man groaned, throwing down the knife and piece of wood he had been widdling as he stood up. "Will you ever take that stick out of your ass even for a single day? The prince has found himself a little fairy. We should be welcoming her instead of interrogating her. Greetings little fairy. I'm…"
Beryl hid behind Endymion as the man with the chestnut hair came closer. Her fingers clung to his cloak but she felt safer being so close to her new friend.
"Nephrite, you're being too forward. You're scaring her," The androgynous one with the crossbow noticed, pulling out a flute, and beginning to play a little melody. "Forgive him little fairy. Nephrite means well but he can be a bit loud at times. The grumpy one is Kunzite and the one burning the stew over there is Jadeite."
"I'm not burning it!" Jadeite shouted, not looking up from the pot. "I'm making sure this is just right."
"Here's a thought," Zoisite began, flashing Beryl a bright smile before puffing out a few more notes from their flute. "Why not join us for some stew? I personally bagged the rabbits myself with my crossbow. In fact, have my share."
"T-thank you," Beryl nodded, letting go of Endymion's cloak.
"Really?" Endymion asked, surprised by Zoisite's statement. "It's barely been an hour since I left. You managed to catch some that soon?"
"I'm just that good your majesty," Zoisite replied, with a cocky smile.
"W-why do they keep calling you 'your majesty?" Beryl wondered, her attention on Endymion.
"You see Kunzite," Nephrite chuckled loudly. "The little fairy isn't even aware of Endymion's lineage."
"Child," Kunzite began, clearing his throat. "You are in the presence of Prince Endymion. Heir to the throne of Elysion and future King of the Earth."
Beryl gasped and stared at Endymion. She would not have guessed even for a moment he was royalty. She had always heard rumors of nobles being as ruthless as the bandits who raided her village. To think a being as kind and friendly as Endymion would become a King was unfathomable.
"Take a seat," Enymion offered Beryl as he sat on the log by the fire. "We'll have some stew before we return to the castle."
"Return to the castle? My lord I must impart to you the importance of your lessons," Kunzite reminded Endymion. "We have already pushed this training session back multiple times due to other obligations."
"Is it not a King's job to ensure the safety of his citizens?" Endymion asked, looking from Kunzite to Beryl. "Miss Beryl is lost and in need of assistance. I will not abandon her to the wild if it is in my ability to offer aid."
"He's got you there," Nephrite chuckled loudly, taking a seat on the opposite side of the fire. "The real question is what do we do with her."
"Let's take her to that old bat who runs the kitchen. She's always willing to take on strays," Jadeite commented, as he brought the ladle to his lips. He blew it before taking a sip. "Stews ready."
"Mauve would kill you if she heard you call her that," Zoisite insisted, untying the travel cup from their belt and tossing it down to Jadeite. "Here, give Beryl some stew in that."
"Good point. Lord knows she's got the ears of a cat," Jadeite commented, pouring some of the stew into Zoisite's mug before handing it to Beryl. "I wouldn't put it past her. Enjoy the stew, little one."
"T-thank you," Beryl whispered, taking the cup from him. She looked at the hot stew as steam rose from the mug and hesitated. There was no way it could be poison right? Turning to Endymion and seeing him flash her a smile, Beryl decided to trust it. She blew on the stew until she could finally take a sip. The simple meal seemed to warm her very soul as she swallowed a big gulp of the dish. "It's delicious!"
"See!" Jadeite proclaimed, pointing at Beryl with the wooden spoon he had used to cook the stew. "Finally someone here knows how to appreciate my cooking."
"We do appreciate your cooking," Nephrite chuckled, reaching into the pot with his own travel mug and scooping up some of the stew himself. He took a big swig of the dish, not caring if it burned him. "We just know Mauve's chefs in the royal kitchen can do better. Speaking of which, you need to add more pepper."
"Ugh, all you ever want is more spice," Jadeite grumbled as he poured himself a bit of the stew. "I swear you have wrecked your taste buds with your overabundant seasoning."
"What can I say? I like things with a punch," Nephrite shrugged, turning towards the trees where Zoisite remained hidden. "Hey Zoi, you can borrow my mug if you want some of this."
"I'll pass," Zoisite replied, taking the time to play a few notes on their flute. "I had a big breakfast."
"We all did and then we rode here hoping to task the Prince with his survival training," Kunzite reminded Zoisite as he presented Jadeite with his own mug for some of the stew. "You need to make sure you keep up your strength in case of an unforeseen disaster."
"Again Kunzite, pull the stick out of your ass, take a seat and enjoy a bit of food with your companions," Nephrite insisted, reaching forward and scooping another mug full of stew from the pot. "We need to appreciate the tranquil moments before one of your 'unforeseen disasters' springs out of the ground and tries to swallow us whole."
"Very well," Kunzite grumbled as he took the mug from Jadeite and took a seat of his own by the campfire.
As Beryl sat in silence she couldn't help but notice how inviting the scene was. As she watched everyone enjoy the stew, heard Zoistie's flute, and listened to the banter of Endymion's colleagues a smile formed on her face. The group was filled with merriment and made her feel at ease for the first time since the raid on her village.
"So Lady Beryl," Endymion began, putting his mug down to look at his new acquaintance. "Will you return with us to my Kingdom? I will do what I can to help you find a place to say."
Beryl hesitated for a moment, looking away from Endymion and studying the last bit of stew in her mug. She didn't know how to respond but something inside her wanted to trust Endymion's kindness and hope it would pay off in the end. Taking a deep breath, she nodded.
"Very well," Kunzite interrupted, noticing Beryl's answer. "She can come with us and we will restart your training. We will return her to Elysion and meet you at the original rendezvous location, your majesty."
"Hate to break it to you but that's probably not the best idea," Nephrite disagreed after downing his third mug of stew. "Affairs will go smoother for her if the prince himself requests her placement to Mauve from the King instead of us simply dropping her off and hoping things play out for the better."
"Face it Kunzite," Zoisite added, putting their flute away. "The test is canceled and we have other things we need to deal with.
"Fine," Kunzite grunted, realizing he would have to alter his plans. "Just finish your stew."
Once everyone had enough stew, Kunzite stood up and announced, "Well it would appear the training session will have to be rescheduled. Nephrite, gather the dishes. Jadeite, extinguish the fire. Zoisite, scout the area. The prince and I…"
Kunzite was silenced by a bird call. At the sound, all three of the older boys moved close to the prince and he in turn wrapped his arm around Beryl. The act took Beryl by surprise and she felt her cheeks turn as red as her hair in response.
"W-what?" Beryl stammered, her attention focused on Endymion.
"It's Zoisite's signal," Endymion replied, as he reached into his satchel. He pulled out a knife for himself before handing Beryl the bread knife he had used earlier. "Someone is approaching."
"Let me borrow that stick of yours little lady," Nephrite insisted as he reached down and grabbed the branch next to beryl, hoisting it over his shoulder. "I guarantee I could do more damage with it then you."
"You'd do even more damage if you hadn't forgotten your mace," Kunzite grumbled, his hand on his sword handle. "Now look alive. We have company."
The group grew silent as they listened for any sign of an approaching threat. Sure enough, they soon heard the rustling of trees and the crunching of leaves not far off. A moment later a man on horseback emerged from the forest flanked by five men on each side. Beryl immediately recognized the man on the horse as the leader of the invaders who had ransacked her village.
"Greetings to you good sirs," The man on horseback called with a wave of his hand. Beryl saw he wore a similar look of glee when he watched her village burn. "A fine day is it not?"
"It is," Kunzite replied, his hand still gripping his sword handle. "Tell me, what brings you fine gentlemen out on such a day as this?"
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Lord Gedeon and my men and I are simply searching for one of our lost flock," Gedeon answered, scanning the group. When his eyes came upon Beryl, a devious look appeared in his eyes. "There she is. The poor thing got lost going to get water. Thank you for your kindness, good sirs. We'll be taking her back now."
At the suggestion of having to go with the bandits, Beryl reached for Endymion, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt as she began shaking with fear.
"Beryl?" Endymion asked, staring at her with concern. "Are you okay?"
"They killed my parents," Beryl whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "They killed my sister. They're monsters."
"Sir," Endymion spoke up as he tightened the grip he had on Beryl. "I believe you have no association with this girl and believe you are an unwelcome presence to this girl."
"Watch your tongue boy," Gedeon spat, his smile twisting into a sneer. "You would do well to respect your elders."
"And you would do well to respect the nobility," Kunzite interrupted. "You are in the presence of Endymion, first prince of Elysion and rightful ruler of this planet."
"Really? Ha! And I'm Queen Serenity from the Moon," Gedeon laughed loudly with his men joining him in the joke. After a hearty laugh, he shot a piercing glare at Kunzite as his hand moved towards the weapon on his belt. "Now I feel I have been incredibly patient with you all but I have more pressing matters to attend to. Give me the child or face death."
"So be it," Kunzite agreed, drawing his sword. The act caused Nephrite to tighten his grip on the branch and Jadeite to pull a pair of daggers from behind his back. "Death it is."
"Kill them but bring me the girl," Gedeon ordered as his men unsheathed their weapons. Unfortunately one of them didn't manage to take a single step before a crossbow bolt entered his skull. The man's eyes rolled back in his head as he toppled forward and was dead before he hit the ground.
"Sniper!" One of his comrades shouted, scanning the area. A few of them began looking into the trees, trying to find where the bold had originated. One of them spotted Zoisite and pointed at the tree they were in but received a bolt between the eyes as a result.
"So much for stealth," Zoisite announced, dropping from the trees with an empty crossbow slung over their shoulder.
"Get behind me," Kunzite ordered, rushing past Zoisite to attack the first bandit who was advancing on their party. Kunzite caught the man's sword with his own, deflected it, and delivered a debilitating blow across his stomach. The bandit fell to the ground clutching his fresh wound. "Zoisite, Jadeite guard the Prince. Nephrite, I could use your specific set of skills here."
"Gladly," Nephrite agreed, rushing forward with Beryl's walking branch in hand. He knocked away a pair of bandits who were using spears and advanced on another fumbling with a crossbow. Before the bandit could properly set the bolt, Nephrite swung the branch and hit the man across the face.
Despite their efforts, three raiders advanced past Nephrite and Kunzite and decided on the remaining members of the party. One rushed at Zoisite with their sword held high, but as they brought it down Zoisite was quick to catch the weapon with the body of their crossbow.
"You're a looker," The bandit goaded as he licked his lips. "I'm sure you and I can have a lot of fun together, lassie."
"First, I'm a man," Zoisite commented, twisting the crossbow until he had disarmed the bandit. Before the bandit could grab a new weapon, Zoisite punched him across the face and retrieved the dropped blade. "Secondly, you're definitely not my type."
"Tiny man," A taller bandit with a mace smiled as he approached Jadeite. "If you run home to your mommy, I'll let you live."
"Funny, I was just to offer you the same thing." Jadeite replied as he held his daggers tight. In response the mace wielder swung high but Jadeite was prepared and caught the mace handle between the two blades and began a push and shove match against the taller man. In response the mace wielder swung wild, but not wild enough for Jadeite to again block the incoming attack.
The last of the advancing bandits, Phillip approached Beryl and Endymion with his whip taut between his hands. The rage in his eyes was apparent as he stared at Beryl, probably hoping to get more revenge for what Morgana had done to help her escape.
"Come alone girly," Phillip demanded as he kept the whip at the ready. "You don't want to end up like your sister now do you?"
"I won't let you have her," Endymion announced, stepping between Beryl and Phillip brandishing his dagger.
"Out of the way Little Prince," Phillip barked, flicking the whip out and knocking the dagger from Endymion's hand. Before Enydmion could recover from the shock of being disarmed, Phillip jabbed Endymion in the cheek, knocking him to the ground.
"No!" Beryl cried as she stepped between Phillip and Endymion. "Please, don't hurt him. I'll go with you!"
"Damn right you will you little bitch!" Phillip roared as he grabbed Beryl by the throat, lifting her off the ground. "You and your sister have cost me too much already."
"Phillip! Retreat!" Gedeon commanded from atop his horse. The battle had turned poorly for him in a short amount of time. Nephrite had managed to incapacitate one of the two spear men he rushed past earlier and was fighting the other with a stolen spear. Kunzite was facing off against the only remaining man he had at his disposal, other than Philip who wasn't dead or incapacitated. "We need to get out of here before…ugh!"
Gedeon didn't finish delivering his orders. A well placed throw by Jadeite sent one of his daggers flying on a path straight into Gedeon's chest. The leader of the raiders had enough time to look down at the blade sticking out of his chest before his eyes rolled back into his head and he fell from his horse.
"Boss!" The mace wielding bandit cried as he watched his leader topple over. He had lost sight of Jadeite for half a moment in their struggle and when he finally found him he saw Jadeite had found a new target. Tightening his grip on his weapon, the bandit ran towards Jadeite with his mace held high. "Die you little bastard!"
"You're open," Jadeite declared, rolling away as the mace slammed into the ground. He recovered and buried his remaining dagger into the bandit's back several times. Before long, the bandit's injuries were too overwhelming and caused him to topple to the ground. Removing his blade, Jadeite wiped it on the fallen man's clothing before sheathing it.
"Don't come any closer," Phillip declared as he pulled Beryl close and grabbed a fistful of her hair. With his free hand he pulled out the short sword he had used to kill Morgana and placed it against Beryl's neck. "Come a step closer, and I'll slit her pretty little throat."
"Harm her and you won't leave her alive," Zoisite seethed, still pointing a sword at the bandit he had defeated.
"Which is why we are going to make a deal," Phillip replied, a nervous titter to his voice. "I will take Gedeon's horse with this little wench in hand and you will…"
Beryl felt the grasp on her hair weaken until Phillip released her and dropped his sword from her neck. Falling to her knees, Beryl crawled away as fast as she could before stumbling to her feet. She turned to see Phillip standing with his mouth open, his eyes rolling back into his head, and a familiar figure standing behind him. It was Endymion, who had jammed his reclaimed knife into Phillip's back.
Slowly, Phillip's body wavered until it fell to the ground with Endymion's dagger sticking out of his back.
"My prince," Kunzite called, having dispatched his opponent. He ran to Endymion's side and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you safe? Are you injured?"
"I'm fine but…," Endymion trailed off as he stared at the blood on his hands. His gaze moved to the dead body of Phillip where his dagger was still sticking out the bandit's back. "I have taken a life."
"It was a battle, my prince," Nephrite insisted as he approached his charge. The spear he had borrowed buried in his opponent's chest as he recovered Beryl's branch before slinging it over his shoulders. "You did what was needed."
"Maybe but…" Endymion stopped, still shocked by the actions he had to take. Turning towards the man Zoisite had captured, a look of rage appeared in his eyes. "You there. Tell me, how many people have you captured?"
"We…ahhh!" The hostage screamed as Zoisite stabbed him in the shoulder with his own sword.
"The prince asked you a question," Zoisite observed as he twisted the blade into the man's shoulder. "You would do best to give him a solid answer."
"Dozens!" The man confessed between gasps of pain.
"Nephrite, bind this man and take him back to the castle," Endymion ordered as he grabbed Beryl's hand and started to lead her towards where the horses were tied up. "I will seek out my father and make sure he sends out an army to free all those who are still being imprisoned by these monsters."
"Of course your majesty," Nephrite agreed as he grabbed the whip from Phillip's belt and walked towards where Zoisite was still restraining the hostage.
"And you thought the prince wouldn't learn anything from this encounter," Jadeite chuckled as he retrieved his dagger from Gedeon's chest.
"Yes," Kunzite nodded, cleaning his sword before replacing it back in its scabbard. "This has truly been a very…unorthodox lesson."
Before long the Prince of Earth and his companions had mounted their horses and began the ride back to Elysion. Beryl rode with Endymion, her arms wrapped around his middle. Despite the sounds of the horses galloping down the road and the loud voice of Nephrite as he tried to make jokes as they continued on their journey, it was the most peaceful experience she had ever felt in her life. With her head against his back, she could hear the heartbeat of the young man who had become her savior. A Prince who had appeared like a hero and saved her from a life of slavery.
It was there, on the road back to Elysion, Beryl made an eternal vow to herself: I will do everything in my power to support you, oh sweet Prince, and will dedicate my entire life to repay my debt for freeing me from absolute Hell.
O.O.O
A/N: So begins the first part of my story. I have had this idea of doing a deep dive into the story of Beryl's origin. I'm trying to base it on the original manga and Beryl went from a scullery maid to the Queen of the Dark Kingdom. The inspiration for the title came from the book/movie "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" which I thought was referring to the character as they went through 4 different stages of their life (turns out it's not like that at all). So here with Slave, we see Beryl's meager beginnings and the dawn of her unrequited love for Endymion.
Big thanks to heavyheartedprinceofearth from Tumblr for reading this over.
Reviews are love and they keep me going.