In Dreams: Red

The Walls

The sun is high when the soldiers suddenly retreat. It is a terrifying move. There are far more of them than us, so we know it isn't because our numbers are overwhelming them. In fact, our numbers are dwindling, and my father has already sent my small group back to the tunnels and called us back for aid in different parts of the fortress five times. As the soldiers disperse into the woods, he claps a hand on my shoulder.

“Go get some rest. I'll have someone fetch you and your men when you are needed again.” He orders.

“Group.” I correct him. “We actually have an additional woman.” He quirks an eyebrow at me, but makes no comment, so I retreat before I can be rebuked for correcting my 'King'. “Sexist pig.” I grumble, rolling my shoulders as I walk back towards my room. Oh that truly would get me into trouble. Possibly locked up beside the prisoner even. The prisoner! I turn and bolt in the direction of the stables where he had been kept, skidding to a halt as I reached them. Bursting through the doors I notice the stables completely bare. Panic coils within my stomach as I think of all the things that could have gone wrong, and surprisingly, I am less worried about whether or not the prisoner was a spy so much as...

My feet slip and I nearly fall on the way back out. Who would know where the prisoner has gone? Where did I even start looking? Without thinking I run back towards the arena where he was originally held, trying to keep my balance as I try to suss out who to speak with if this fails, if he is not here. There are no guards posted outside the arena, which doesn't bode well. Unease starts eating out my guts. Gripping the entryway, I use it to launch myself into the arena and fly down the row of seating to see the prisoner jump warily to his feet with a growl. I slide to a stop a few feet from him, panting, hands on my knees. He looks at me with amusement and fear warring for prominence on his face.

“Oh thank the Gods. I thought maybe you had escaped. Or gotten hurt. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if you were..” I look up and his gaze grabs mine immediately. The words die in my throat.

“If I were what, My Lady?” The prisoner asks mockingly. I stand straighter and look around. There is only one guard posted watching him now. He has snapped to attention and I am shocked that this is all we have.

“Where are the other guards?” I ask him, and his face blanches.

“They were needed for the fight. It goes poorly, my Lady.” The soldier responds with a small bow of his head. I hiss.

“Yes I know it goes poorly, where do you think I come from looking like this?” I gesture at myself and the guard blushes.

“Apologies Lady, I am all that could be spared.” He mumbles.

“That's insane.” I mutter. “At a time like this, as if giving him an easier time to escape would be just the greatest idea ever.” I say sarcastically walking back and forth in front of the prisoner. His face tilts up.

“I smell blood.” He remarks softly. I ignore him and keep pacing, grumbling to myself. “My Lady, are you injured?”

“I'm covered in blood.” I roll my eyes. “Again, look at me.” I shake out my cape and his nostrils flare.

“No, this is your blood. What have you done? Are you seriously injured?” He demands. I roll my eyes again.

“Why, do you wish to take my place in battle?” I retort.

“Would you let me?” He asks seriously, but then his tone turns mocking. “After all, I'm a prisoner sentenced to death, who would say I wouldn't betray you?” I turn on him swiftly.

“You're right, how foolish of me. Why should I care if you were injured or hurt in the attacks? You're not an innocent bystander, you're a prisoner, condemned to die. Why did I bother to come check on you, and why bother initiating conversation with you at all? What are you to me anyway? Possibly a traitor, a murderer, a beast.” I snap. For a moment anger flashes through his eyes and he yanks at his chains, and then, behind the anger I see a flash of pain, of hurt, like my very words have done more damage to him than the chains ever had. I back up a step, surprised, not just at the pain in his eyes, but the ache that it causes in my own chest. My hand clenches in front of my sternum.

“I.. um..” I turn and flee, why am I even bothering?

The trek to my room seems impossibly long, but when I finally arrive, bone-tired, I see a bowl of clean water has been left out for me. Blessing Dana, I wash as much blood off me as I can, with the now ice-cold water, but don't even bother to strip out of my clothes, just collapsing on top of the bed to sleep. Dreams flitter behind my lids before I'm even fully asleep, some making me laugh, some cry, and Silas is there telling me something important that I couldn't understand.

“..Lady! My Lady rise! You must rise!” It's Dana shaking me awake. “Lady, the walls! They've breached the walls! Your father calls for aid!” I sit up so quickly I nearly hit her with my head.

“Wha'do you mean the wall's been breached?” I slurred, I'm still half asleep, but my body is already reacting, standing and checking my blades, etc are present. I'm missing my coin, but it seems relatively unimportant at the moment.

“The enemy, my Lady, the retreat was a ruse to bring in a much larger catapult they had been assembling as they kept our armies busy, they.. half the southern wall is gone, they've been swarming over it like ants my Lady. They need your help.” Dana insists. I start from the room, I'm still not fully awake as I take my first limping steps down the hall, but my body reminds me of its overuse and wakes me up quickly. Also, needing to relieve myself is becoming a very pressing issue. Ugh, having to stop somewhere is going to be a ridiculous waste of time. I laugh madly at my own pun as I push forward, determined to get to the wall as quickly as I can. I skitter to the lower levels of the castle after using one of the communal restrooms in the upper levels of the castle, then sprint down the southern hall that I know leads outside. I don't know what to hope for, but it's definitely not the crush of people I encounter the closer I get. In annoyance I begin pushing my way forward, only to encounter enemy soldiers. This close to the castle? I gasp as the first swings a sword at my head. Ducking, I pull a blade from my stay and stab him in the calve. He screeches and falls to a knee, and I use the momentum of my turn to stab him in the back of the neck, another blade sliding across his throat. He goes down, never to stir again. I move onward, cursing and spitting as I fight off more enemy soldiers along the way.

“Kennice!” A voice roars and I turn back towards the wall, to see my father standing proudly on the crumbled stone of the fallen wall. It is about half caved in, and he is at the top striking down soldiers as they try to cross. “Back to the tunnels!” He slices down another soldier with an expletive. “The elderly, women and children!” Another curse from him as he kicks a soldier in the face, shaking them off his boots. “They've infiltrated that way too!” I feel my face pale. This is possibly the worst thing I could hear, and my heart stutters, shuddering to a brief halt and time seems to stall as I look around. We are going to lose. This is the end of our kingdom. The end of our lives. “GO KENNICE!” My father bellows and I turn and bolt as quickly as I possibly can.