The Land Below our Feet II (Unleashed) COMPLETE

BARGAINING

Ishtun had been sitting outside the bathroom for a while now, with his back leaned against the wooden door as he remained immobile... Head bent back and ears incessantly perked up, searching for any signs of life behind it.

The harrowing whimpers that had blared for some time had already stopped by now, and the only thing that persisted was an excruciating silence, which strangely made things feel ten thousand times worse. At least when she was crying, he could tell that she was processing stuff… At least, while she refused his fruitless apologies and his useless bargaining attempts to persuade her to open that door, he knew that she was still there.

But now, with such a sepulchral quietude, he had started thinking that maybe she had escaped through a window hours ago…

And who could blame her if she had? After all, he'd been a colossal prick! Two hours slumped on the cold ground roaming on his own thoughts and a torrent of self-reproach later, he still could not comprehend what on earth had compelled him to be such a stupid and insensitive moron.

What was he thinking? Of course she had been hurt! That fact was more than evident! Now that he considered it more closely, he almost slapped himself at his own idiocy: The signs had been there all the time… Yet he'd still chosen to ignore them and ruthlessly pressure her. Maybe driving her away forever with that!

-Are you in there? – He tentatively muttered in a creaking voice, a heavy sigh emerging from his chest.

-… Yes – The timid reply came after a silent minute, making him straighten up with a hopeful smile blooming on his face.

-You know I have a key to that lock, right? – The young King declared. His tone inflected with frustration at his lack of progress.

-If you were going to use it, you would have already broken in – Her muffled voice responded.

-All right, you got me. I want this to be your call – The monarch cautiously remarked in a pleading manner, his fingers grazing the rough surface of the closed door standing between them – I just want to fix the mess I caused. So, would you let me in now?... Please?

A baffling silence extended for a few more moments, before Ishtun´s heart skipped a beat at the sound of the characteristic noise of the knob shuffling a little as the heavy gate cracked open just a tiny silver. Ajora´s red eye peeking at him through the narrow gap.

-There she is… - He cooed, breathing a relieved exhale, and composing a faint smirk – I'm sorry! Would you find it in your heart to forgive this poor asshole sometime soon?

-How did you know? – She sniffled, staring at him with a mix of intrigue and wariness as she hugged her naked frame protectively – Is it that obvious that I'm damaged?

-On the contrary – Ishtun replied, his hand gingerly extending towards her face, his fingers pausing mere inches away from her dampened cheeks – It's your tough facade and that wall you've built around you… They remind me of a very dear friend of mine.

-Why? – Ajora inquired, wiping her teary cheeks and glancing at him through her soaked eyelashes with crescent interest.

-Because she was hurt too – The monarch mumbled with sadness – A very bad man did unspeakable things to her, and for a long time, she behaved very similarly to the way you do... Pushing people out and putting a hard-shelled front.

-Really? – She uttered pensively, twirling a lock of hair between her fingers, and leaning forward in an attentive gesture – So… What happened to her then?

-Well, she found love, to begin with…. Hum, she became a powerful warrior. One of the best I've ever seen, actually – Ishtun answered, a big grin extending on his face –She killed the man that wronged her, and last time I checked on her, she was about to become a Yahurian Guider.

-That sounds… Wholesome – Ajora observed, her tone exuding jealousy – I never got the chance to slay the man that abused me. Finjël slit his throat the moment he peeled his disgusting body off me, and he was dead in a matter of seconds after that…

She paused, her eyes rising slowly and meeting his, a dark shadow shifting inside them.

-I sometimes think that it was almost too generous of him – She continued saying - I would have liked to see him suffer for a little longer.

Her sight trailed down to her lap as a few tears rolled down her face before she furiously rubbed them off in an exasperated move.

-Hey! Look at me, it's all right – Ishtun rushed to say, restraining her trembling hands and clutching them in his own – Take your time. You don't have to talk about it if it's still too hard for you.

-I want to – Ajora declared, eyeing him with resolution – I think it's about time. I haven't told anyone about it… Until now.

The monarch wordlessly nodded at her words, simply adjusting himself on the cold floor and staring expectantly forward as she gathered her thoughts.

-It all happened no longer after the troops had departed to reconquer our land – Ajora began saying in a monotone voice – Days were spent peacefully inside Lowland´s gate walls as the Cahenean unit patiently waited and prepared for the incoming battle.

She inhaled sharply, her fingers tightening around the ruler's limbs as she relived the past with shut eyes, her breathing faltering.

-There was this man... He was one of the many Cahenean soldiers that were meant to protect us – She continued her tale in a strained tone, her eyelids shooting open – But he was no guardian at all… There was a darkness inside him that he could barely conceal as he stalked me for days while I vainly tried to stay out of his way.

Ishtun went to open his mouth as if to say something. Only to reconsider his action and promptly shut it again a second later, limiting himself to squeezing her hand reassuringly and stare into her swollen eyes with firmness.

-I know I should have said something… I should have told someone – Ajora sighed, disheartened – But I was just a stupid girl back then, and I thought that if I just ignored him, he would eventually give up and go away.

She winced, visibly shaken as she collected herself and straightened her frame up pointedly, her sight hardening.

-He ambushed me one night when I was heading towards the cellars to get our food rations… He pushed me into an alley – She whimpered, making Ishtun´s hand ball up into a fist - I tried biting him and pushing him off me… I swear I did! His smell, it was… It was stuck in my nostrils for weeks…

She trailed off, a shudder running down her spine as the monarch felt the goosebumps plaguing her skin, and he rubbed her hand encouragingly.

-I don't know how long he was brutally shoving himself inside me – Ajora murmured, a silent tear rolling down her face – But then I felt him being yanked away from me and I could finally breathe.

-It's fine, you are safe – Ishtun reminded her while she nervously twisted her own fingers and openly sobbed – It's all over now.

-Finjël told me later that night that he had been doing his rounds when he found us – She continued saying, recovering somewhat, her eyes staring blankly ahead – He took one look at me, then at him… And he cut his neck from side to side with his sickle. Not a single word was uttered, nor a single question was asked.

She took a deep inhale and let out a heavy sigh, her face brightening somewhat.

-He took good care of me after that – Ajora spoke, a faint smile appearing on her lips – I don't know if it was because he felt sorry for me, or guilty about the atrocity that his own man had committed, but he taught me everything I needed to know, so I could fend for myself… So it would never happen again. And it didn't.

-Well, I'm glad that he trained you then – The young King mumbled sheepishly, letting out a labored exhalation and offering her a half-smile.

-It was not only because of the training – She muttered, her face blushing with deep shame – I went to a very bad place after that. And I decided that no man would ever use me again if I made sure to use them first... So, that's what I'd been doing all this time – She reluctantly confessed after a brief moment of silence. Her eyes purposefully avoiding his sight.

-And… Did it work? – Ishtun cautiously asked, pulling her chin up slightly and scanning her features.

-For a while –The girl softly whispered, distractedly shuffling a strand of her long hair between her fingers – Or at least I thought it did… It made me feel in control.

-Good- The monarch puffed out satisfied, wiping a tear off her face delicately – We do whatever we must to cope. We bargain with our pain, it's human nature… Don't fret about it.

-But it's not working anymore – Ajora admitted, breathing out gloomily – It hasn't been working for some time now, to be honest.

– I'm sorry to hear that – He rambled, staring awkwardly at her, his face contorting with remorse – And I'm also sorry that this happened to you in a place where you should have been the safest to begin with... I should have paid closer attention to the people we were leaving behind.

-Please... Don't say that! – She scolded him sternly - It wasn't your fault, or Finjël´s… Or mine. No one is to blame here except for that pathetic excuse for a human being that assaulted me.... And he's been dead for over a year now.

She paused, her sight lightening as an idea suddenly popped inside her brain – Hey! So, do you think I could meet that friend of yours sometime? Maybe she could give me some kind of advice.

-That depends... – The King playfully responded, patting the back of her hand – Are you still joining me in battle tomorrow or not?

-Of course I am! – She shouted excitedly, sniffling and offering him a smug smile – That was never in question at all!

-Then yes… -He smirked, jumping on his feet and swiftly grabbing a blanket, which he wrapped tightly around her bare shoulders as he helped her standing up - I'm sure she's already on her way along with the Yahurian army. So, we better go to bed now. It's getting late, and we have an early morning if we are going to stop this war.