Enna heaved a huge sigh of relief as they reached the stables. She smiled softly and raised a beaten hand to the horse, stroking the horse. She yelped slightly as she was lifted onto the horse. She had tried to steel herself for the ride. Knowing the natural jostling gait of the horse would make pain jolt through her. She still gripped her frying pan for dear life. Huddling up close to Benjamin with a tiny sniffle. Sensing his tension her relief quickly retreated. Being replaced by worry and unease. She closed her eyes for a few moments, focusing on remaining quiet. The horse's hooves on the cobble stones sounded painstakingly loud. Her heart plummeting and racing in fear and panic. Her mind going into over drive on all the tragic endings and chaos that could happen.
Unfortunate Realities (Semi-Advanced)
- Lone Feanorian
- Closed
-
-
He led the horse out of the stables as quietly as he could, then carefully walked as close to the gate as he dared. Just before they came in sight of said gate, he climbed up onto the horse, sitting behind Enna, and let the horse move forward on its own, guiding it as well as he could toward the gate. There were no guards present - or at least there did not seem to be. A grand carriage had arrived, and everyone was busy attending to these new guests. The horse that the pair sat on was dark, and hopefully no one would notice. They slipped through the gate and out into the free country, and if there was a shout of alarm he did not hear it. Benjamin made the horse increase its speed, knowing that it would probably hurt Enna somewhat but also knowing that they needed to get away as fast as possible.
-
Enna hid closer to Benjamin as he got up on the horse behind her, she was so scared, trembling and cold, nestled in his cloak. She whimpered and yelped softly onto his shoulder. Muffling the pain of the horse's gait as it flew through the gates of the castle. Just a black streak, the jostling around tormented her injured and beaten body. She wanted to scream the horse to a halt but knew they had to escape. She whimpered softly and weakly into Benjamin's shoulder. Tiny tears running into his high quality shirt. She had no idea if anyone had shouted an alarm or was pursing them. She didn't care. She felt nauseous and dizzy, hiding her face and closing her eyes tightly.
-
He could tell that the pace was hurting Enna, but he also knew that they could not stop, not yet. They were too close. There was a low whistling sound, and something tugged at his sleeve, but he kept going, shielding her as well as he could. They had left the road now, and the castle was growing smaller behind them. As they neared the edge of the forest, he slowed the horse to a stop, then slid off and held out his arms to help her down. He knew that they would have to send the horse back to the castle, where it would probably go if they left it alone. Enna was in such poor condition that if they went anywhere near a town with a fine horse they would be immediately suspected, especially since he could not speak.
-
Enna only clung tighter to him and huddled closer yelping as she sensed arrows being shot at them and just praying none would hit them. She cried weakly and silently. Relieved once they at last drew to a halt. Se shakily slipped off with a small stumble. Standing there, the dappled shadows played in mottled patterns over her beaten skin. "W-where are we? Are you ok?" She asked softly in worry. She lightly leant against a tree, still trembling. His cloak still hung and wrapped around her tiny body.
OOC My apologies. Low muse
-
He nodded, moving over to stand by her. There would be little or no pursuit that night, he knew, for the king could not simply call off his party at so late an hour. Bending to the ground, he took a stick and wrote in the dirt. 'Away from the castle - in the forest. Have to go further in.' Benjamin stood again, taking her hand and gently beginning to lead her deeper into the forest. He did not know this kingdom well, but he knew that they would be safer in the woods than they would be in the open. Soon, perhaps the next day, they would have to find a town and purchase a little food. He did not know where they would go, only that anything was better than living in the dungeons or being forced to marry the princess.
-
(bump)
-
Enna read the words in the dirt, feeling her tiny hand taken in his warm and comforting one. The tiny, beaten girl was utterly exhausted. She just wanted to curl up and cry. She stumbled slightly after Benjamin. Though her thoughts were racing. Thinking about that party. The main attractions promising Benjamin to be married to the princess and herself being executed. She was glad they had escaped. Glad he hadn't forgotten about her, relieved that all those rumours and lies were just that and didn't posses a scrap of truth. She was so hungry and weak as they continued to stumble on, more than once she almost tripped but always managed to find and keep her footing. For now lost for words. So much had happened and her head spun at all the knowledge she had learned.
-
For a while, he led her through the forest, holding back branches and brush so she could step through. At last, when they reached a small clearing in the midst of some pines, Benjamin stopped, holding out his free hand so she would know to stop as well. There was nothing soft to lay on - nothing but the scattered pine needles was on the ground - but it would have to do. The young prince slowly sank to the ground, and then patted the ground beside him to indicate that she should sit or lay down as well, if she so chose. He could see that she was tired, so he guessed that she would likely go to sleep soon. Fortunately, she was also wearing the cloak, which would provide some warmth. His cloak had been well-made, and as he saw it, tears stung at his eyes again as the faces of his family floated before his eyes.
-
Enna was very quiet as they walked through the place, just concentrating on keeping her footing and navigating through the low hanging trees and shrubbery. Remaining close to Benjamin. Feeling scared and vulnerable. She closed her eyes tightly for a moment, bare feet sore and bruised. At last they stopped, every sound made her jump. Perceptive eyes flickering around her constantly as she tried to seek out each noise and sound. Most made by her paranoid and feeble mind. At some of her weakest moments she had been in her life. She managed a small smile. Offering his cloak out to him if he wished to lay on it or use it as a blanket as she slowly settled in the crook of his arm. Utterly exhausted as she curled up in a small ball and hid her face against him. Her side rose and fell silently and evenly. Though not yet shallow enough to be the breathing pattern of sleeping. Her eyes hidden from view under her mop of hair. But open, gazing at nothing in particular as she merely snuggled closer to him. Her mind only just starting to catch up with everything.
-
Benjamin knew she would be cold, but all the same he gently took the cloak from her as she curled up. Once she seemed comfortable resting against him, he spread the garment over them both. It was just large enough to almost completely cover them, so long as they stayed fairly still. Laying on the ground with Enna snuggled up against his side, he slowly began to warm up a little, although the forest floor was not really comfortable. He said nothing, drew no letters or pictures into the ground, just lay there and let his eyes close. His breathing calmed, and ever so gently he wrapped his arms around her and began to drift off to sleep.
-
(Ah, this has somehow appeared again! Excellent. Do you still have any desire to continue?)
-
(If you don't want to continue, at least please tell me so...)
-
When Enna finally awoke, it was early morning. Her bleary eyes took in something she hadn’t seen for a very long time. And it brought a broken smile to her bruised lips. Sunlight just touching the horizon making the sky look like a mottled blanket of ash, trees overhead dancing with the softest whisper of a breeze, the smell of earth and dirt and the morning dew that settled over them. Chilling her to the bone and stiffening her joints. But no less breathtaking. The girl lost track of time, just watching the light seep into the world and listening to the chime of birds, the rustle of animals stirring. Then her sharp senses finally came to the realisation that they were being watched, her teeth chattered and she could feel a fever coming, disconnecting her mind. But she knew this was no imagination of hers. There, in the shadows stood a hooded figure, they seemed to melt and breathe with the shadows. But they also knew the perceptive girl had spotted them. Enna could see the glint of steel, they were armed, as their feet whispered over the glistened grass. A hawk flew lazily circled high above them, Enna had been watching it. She could hear the rustle of animals grow closer, her lips parting in alarm, her heart stopping as a gloved hand was placed over her mouth in which she weakly sunk her teeth into.
However, her blue eyes then found a pair of guarded and mysterious green eyes, yet there was subtle kindness woven in their depths as they placed a finger to their lips. A moist nose touched her cheek, causing a breathy and painful futile laugh to rattle within her rib cage. Too weak to do anything, yet somehow calmer now as she gazed at the wolf that she was face to face to, another wolf lurked further back while the bird swooped down to land on the cloaked male’s shoulder. Who then proceeded to gently start to scoop Enna up from Benjamin silently, causing Enna to once again become a little distressed which clearly brought confusion to his face. Taking in how different the two looked, wouldn’t she want to be rescued from the wretched abuser?
OOC so so sorry! I’ve had no muse. So I’ve been trying to come up with where to go next! Finally found some ideas. Ah I’m so sorry! Been so busy as well :(
-
Benjamin woke to movement. Although the ground had been hard and uneven, he had slept soundly, and it was only the movement caused by Enna being taken from him that brought his mind back to the conscious world. He opened his eyes, which promptly widened with shock at the sight before him—or what he could make of it. There was a man there, a stranger. And there were wolves, although he doubted that they were wild. And they were taking Enna away.
The curse which kept him mute had been a hinderence before, but now it was something different, something worse. His lips parted slightly as he sat up, his wide-eyed gaze becoming a silent plea that his only friend not be taken from him. He did not dare look away, lest she be gone when he looked back, but in the dried pine needles scattered on the ground he traced a single word. 'Stop.'
-
The man paused for a moment as the wolf that had touched Enna whined and licked Enna's cheek. The girl gazed up at the man, very weak and feeling a little dizzy as she managed to squeak a few protests. The man gazed at Benjamin for a long moment, clearly his eyes demanding why they were in such different states of appearance before he looked at Enna. "She'll die if you stay here. Follow" he murmured in a voice that was clearly not used often. The man mulled over the apparently mute boy for the time of his almost silent walk. He was hard to follow, almost seeming to slip from one shadow for another. Not caring if the boy was following. Though he could feel the girl feebly struggle in his arms to keep the male in her sights.
Enna kept peering around the man, too weak to do much else as she offered a tiny smile of attempted reassurance to the prince. The wolf whined and nudged at the boy encouraging him to get up and follow, continuing to persist about this while the other wolf just slunk away after the cloaked man.
-
Benjamin was on his feet in a moment, following the man. It was difficult to keep up, as it was hard to see the man, and the dim light made it difficult to follow without stumbling. He made his way through the trees, tripping over roots, his clothing snagging on the underbrush that he still could hardly see. He wanted to call out for the man to wait, to slow down so he would not be left behind, but no sound would come. Slowly, unable to see clearly where he was going or what he was following, he fell further and further behind, tears welling up in his eyes as he realized that he was losing them, that in a few moments there would be not even a trace of them left and he would be alone, unable to find them again.
-
There was a rustle as a wolf bound out of the bushes, the same silky silver one with molten gold eyes from earlier. She gently nudged him again with another soft whine. The she wolf flattened her ears and continued to persist. Speculation was that wolves were pathfinders and guides. Whatever the speculation was, it was clear the wolf wanted to guide him.
Meanwhile Enna fussed and struggled weakly, managing to breathe Benjamin's name and lashing out at the male who frowned and stopped. There was something odd about this. But she needed to be inside somewhere warm and soon before her fever got worse. He knew one of the wolves had gone back for the boy "don't worry. Stormbringer has gone back for your.. friend?" It ended in an almost unintentional question as he reached a battered but cosy looking little cottage in a clearing. A little gurgling creek ran along side the house, to the other side stood what looked like to be a stable that doubled as a black smith area.
-
Benjamin didn't quite know where the wolf was taking him. As a young prince, especially a cursed one, he had not been out in the world very much, but he had heard various tales of wolves—even if he didn't know which ones were true. Still, true or not, there seemed to be two main options. Either this wolf was trying to guide him somewhere good, such as wherever Enna had been taken, or she was nudging him toward some inevitable destruction, probably being devoured by a pack. Still, it wasn't like he had any other choices. So he let the wolf nudge him along, hoping that he wasn't being led to his death.
-
The wolf gently licked his hand once again, continuing to gently nudge him along. After a short time the darkness and tree's thinned out as the sun only climbed high making visibility easier as a cottage soon stood before them. The wolf yipped and bounded forward, looking back at the boy to ensure he was still following as she scratched at the wooden closed front door. Before racing around the back and jumping around the heels of the cloaked figure that appeared from the stable carrying some cut up wood. He looked at the young man his eyes asking him to follow before he stepped inside, holding the door open for both wolf and boy, Stormbringer of course not hesitating to vanish inside.