| Logs |
2004 May 02
| Idlewild |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Idlewild Logs |
May 2 (Part A)
The journey through dark and tangled foreign gardens is all too short considering what waits at the end of the path-- stairs. Stairs going down. Elis' office is nearer with each step, and she murmurs softly in Aiden's ear to tell him so... at the halfway point in the gardens, and then when they start down the black stairs. Breathy and childishly pure, her voice whispers through her black-feathered mask to the black-feathered cloak. "These are my stairs, Aiden.. I'm fond of the earth, it muffles things remarkably well. Noises. You know. Soon we'll take off your pretty feathers, and you'll tell me your story. Won't you?" They descend into the blackness. Elis does not create light. Aiden's cloak seems to know the way and keeps his footing sure and steady after her, no slower.
Aiden closes his eyes, swallowing heavily against the fear that's starting to choke his throat off. She's not going to do anything, right? Surely she's just trying to frighten him. He hasn't done anything wrong and has nothing to hide. It rings hollow, even in his mind, but panic is the last thing he needs right now.
Aiden's feet stop and he senses himself on level ground. It's cooler down here, and utterly dark. Growing up, he had better night vision than anyone... but here there is no light at all, and he is blind despite his nonhuman blood. He can feel where Elis is, though... she makes the small hairs on his arms and neck stand up. She's close and there is a smile in her voice..."Aiden, stay still while I tie you." Small, delicate hands are cool as they tie one wrist to another and stretch his arms out over his head, though he's not quite standing uncomfortably tall yet. Just... helpless. A chain clinks. "Good boy." The cloak comes off in a sudden tug, and something else metal makes a sound in the darkness. It's a sharpening-sound.
Aiden says quietly, "You don't need to tie me. I'll answer your questions.." He blanches, almost audibly at the sound of the sharpening. It's getting harder and harder to fight the panic and it's really starting to seep through now. Aiden can't move, but his hands are shaking terribly. "Whisper.. why?"
Whisper giggles. Light and horribly happy. "Aiden... you're not important. But you know people who are... and you know other things, precious, more important than you are. That's why I can do anything I want with you. Tell me. Are you fond of what you're wearing today?"
Aiden winces. She may as well have slapped him. He knows he's not important, but who likes to have it pointed out? He shrugs faintly at her next question, voice resigned, "Does it matter if I am? They're just clothes."
They are indeed, and they rip easily enough when the knife slides through them close enough to Aiden's spine for him to feel the metal's cold. "So they are, my dear. That's a very healthy attitude to take. Especially tonight." His shirt hangs open down the back now, cut edges moving gently in the breeze of her movements. It tickles a little.
Aiden stops a scared noise in his throat, where it sticks, threatening to burst out any second. He squirms just slightly at the first brushes of the shirt against his back. He manages to ignore it a little more successfully after that initial reaction.
Whisper moves close and puts her cheek against the smooth skin of Aiden's back, wrapping her arms around him. The knife dangles carelessly from her hands in front, point resting sharply against his thigh. With just a little more weight, it would cut. Whisper sighs, "Aiden, I want you to know I'm so very sorry I have to do it this way. I'm sure we could be friends, if only... Aiden, darling, what happened to the Princess?"
Aiden stiffens when she presses her cheek against his back. She makes his skin crawl, and he's worried about putting any pressure on that knife, given the sensitive spot that it's sitting on. "I don't know what happened to the Princess, Whisper.." His voice is quiet, but intense. He means it. If he knew where she was, he'd be making her safe right now.
Whisper's knife twitches, and Aiden feels the pop of the cloth over his leg parting. The point of the knife is cold and sharp against his skin.. and slowly sinking into it like a nurse taking blood in slow-motion. Only bigger. Whisper sighs again, "I wish I could believe you." Her fingernails trace Aiden's stomach through his shirt. "The succession is no light matter, however. I'm afraid I just can't. I know you spoke to Lyriquin. And he's not looking very hard for her..."
The sound of fear caught in Aiden's throat shifts to a quiet sound of pain when the tip of the knife starts sinking into his skin. "I don't know what happened to her. I can't control how hard Prince Lyriquin is looking for her.. I've only met him once and briefly.. "
"Ah, but what do you think happened to her, Aiden? Who would benefit from taking her away? Tell me your thoughts... faster. We may not have much time to save your friends if they're innocent." Whisper's knife slides out of the tiny puncture on Aiden's thigh and the flat traces coldly up along his crotch before she takes it away and touches the tip lightly to his neck. "If only I could trust you. Trust that we are all on the same side..."
Aiden stiffens when she slides the knife over his crotch and he stays that way when it touches his neck. She just finished sharpening it and he doubts that she'd be particularly upset if he twitched and ended his own life. She's likely enough to end up doing that. "I think she was kidnapped to help clear the lines of succession for someone else. I don't know enough about Summer to know who that might be, though! I don't know anything about your court."
"But her brother is already the heir before her." Whisper's knife traces a thin, burning line down Aiden's neck and stops, pulling back and hovering between his shoulderblades. It may not be touching, but he knows exactly where it is. The skin quivers there. "She would only be a danger if she had children before him... the nobles might push to have her status changed. We are not a fertile court, dear Aiden. That would change her power greatly."
Aiden hisses, flinching as the blade bites into his neck and draws the first bit of blood that he's certain is intentional. "Whisper, please don't.. I'm talking, you don't need to hurt me, I want her safe, I wouldn't hurt her.." He listens to her question, then says, "She's pregnant. Maybe whoever took her was trying to hide that? Or trying to protect her?"
"Oh, Aiden. I adore a polite boy. I am sorry, but... you only started saying really interesting things after I cut you. Please, forgive me. I'm going to have to go with what works. You understand." Whisper murmurs a strange word, and a low greenish light comes up in the dungeon. There are some very unfriendly things in racks.. bolted to the walls... on a neat tray-stand not far from where they're standing. Whisper really does look sorry as she moves to the front to look at Aiden... then smiles and walks behind him again, out of sight. "So. She's pregnant. Why isn't Lyriquin looking harder for his child, darling? I just don't trust that man." The knife touches Aiden's back, starts to slide down. Another shallow, long cut. It stings like hell.
After an initial surge of very real, deep fear, Aiden finds himself oddly resigned. He can't see a way out of this except by cooperating and hoping that she doesn't hurt him too much. I'm so sorry.... He gasps at the unexpected sting of the knife on his flesh, letting out a hurt sound. "I don't know. I don't know him, I couldn't answer that. I don't know anything about him, much less what sorts of things motivate him, Whisper."
Through the bond, Sol panics...
Whisper laughs and says "Oh, Aiden. You wouldn't be here if I believed that. I wish you'd stop lying to me. It makes it so much harder..." She cuts him deeper, on the other side, as if wanting symmetry. "You know whose child she's carrying, don't you? And it's not Lyriquin's. Is it? Tell me, Aiden. Tell me faster."
Aiden makes another pained noise. "No.. I think it's Clairchiare's.. " He squeezes his eyes shut. I wish I could wake up.. this is a fucking nightmare..
Elis makes an approving noise and stops cutting as long as Aiden speaks. "Good boy, Aiden. Now. Why do you think that?" She starts cutting again, long lines and curves down Aiden's back, a little faster.
Aiden chokes down a sob of pain, "He said they were trying.. He believes it is.." Clairchiare, forgive me.
Whisper's knife is still, moved away from Aiden's bleeding skin for the moment. She traces fingers down his back gently; it stings worse when she does, and when she moves around to face him again he sees her fingers are covered in blood. His. She reaches to brush them across his lips, coating them with the sticky fast-drying stuff. It smells strong as blood always does. "What else did he say?" She moves closer and starts cutting the front of Aiden's shirt open.
Aiden flinches away from her touch again, the smell of his own blood nauseating. "He's been looking for her, frantically.. He hasn't been able to find her, or any trace of her. He gave us a physical description of her. That's all."
Whisper has Aiden's shirt hanging in tattered shreds very quickly. She stands back and considers him thoughtfully. "I think I believe you. So. Why don't you take a break and tell me how you got this?" She flicks Aiden's weeks-old nipple ring, hard, and smiles.
Aiden winces when she flicks the ring. He's still not used to the feel of it. With a needle, bitch. "I assume the same way that everyone gets one.." The question actually has thrown him off slightly. He doesn't want to talk about this with her. It's personal and none of her business.
Whisper pouts. It does not look childish. It looks dangerous. So is her sweet, breathy voice, now, as she reaches and pulls the ring taut with one hand. "Aiden. Let me tell you something. When I ask you how you got something, I want a story. Don't be flippant." She pulls harder, smiling thinly. The pretty little knife in her right hand rises, flashing. "Tell me the story, Aiden. Now."
Aiden closes his eyes, going bone-pale. Sol... "It was a gift. A promise. We needed a drop of blood collected specifically from this, in order to complete an obligation so we could get here sooner. I agreed and we turned the obligation into a promise to be linked forever.."
Whisper smiles approvingly, but her voice is hard. She slips the tip of her knife through the ring, slowly. "Tell me who 'we' is, Aiden. Stories are so dull without names... the next time you fail to use a name, or try to be flippant, this... comes off."
Aiden nods slowly, closing his eyes, the betrayal of saying the name stinging something worse than her knife ever could. The name comes out in a pained tone, "Prince Soleil."
The knife withdraws. Whisper pats Aiden on the threatened nipple. "You are such a good boy when you decide to be, Aiden. I'm pleased." She pauses. "So. Are you his?" The knife touches but does not cut the center of Aiden's chest.
Aiden nods, eyes staying closed. "Yes..." I want to wake up now..
The knife still does not cut, but it does trace coldly up to Aiden's shoulder. "Are you lovers?"
Aiden nods again. "Yes."
Whisper sounds amused as her knife pricks lightly at spots close together on Aiden's shoulder. She comments, "Well, you've certainly been fucking someone. Is this bite his, too?"
Aiden turns his head to look at it. He doesn't remember who bit him where. He looks back at her. "I believe so, yes."
Whisper raises her fine blonde brows. "You believe so? Is there some doubt in the equation?" Her knife moves to rest on Aiden's pierced nipple again, the flat cold. "How many people were you in bed with last night, young Aiden? I know the age of a bite when I see one."
Aiden's actually leaning more towards "angry" than anything right now. "Two, Whisper, not counting myself." I bet you do. You've left enough of them on the ones you've eaten.
"Names, Aiden.." she murmurs, knife-tip sliding down, harmless so far...
Aiden actually wrestles with himself internally for a few moments, not sure if he's going to answer that. He does, though, pain is a powerful motivator and he's already in a fair bit of it. "Seodil." Once again, Whisper's knife finds it's way to a target that she's probably not even aware that she's hitting - Aiden's heart. This is worse than the cutting. The cutting he can stand, it's only physical.. this is tearing him apart internally.
Whisper's eyebrows fly high. She looks intrigued. "My dear child. I miss him so. We spent such a lot of time together when he was young... so tall he's grown now, and stern. He tried so hard to please..."
Aiden flinches as Whisper hits him in the heart yet again. He wants to hurt her, he wants to scream at her, but none of that is going to help him right now, and so he bottles it, for now, refusing to rise to her bait.
Whisper beams at Aiden as though delighted. "I'm a trifle amazed he's biting anyone nowadays. I thought I'd broken him of that well enough to last a lifetime."
Aiden's eyes open and he meets her eyes, rage, fear and pain warring within him. He doesn't trust himself to speak, just yet, and he's bare moments away from outright glaring at her. He shifts his gaze to the side.
"The side" happens to be the stairs. Feet are coming down them in utter silence. They're very familar. In fact, they're paws.
Aiden doesn't say anything, but internally he wails, No, Seodil.. no no no.. Oh, god, don't.. no please.. Whatever panic he'd managed to stuff in behind the rage comes back, hard.
Whisper pats Aiden's stomach as though reassuring a pet. "There, there. His sight came back... and he didn't even stay sunburned long. His skin just won't take it. Peels and he's pale again, even after three days out on the roof."
The paws pause on the stairs a moment before they keep coming. Seodil's head comes into view, held low, ears back.
Aiden can't take it anymore, he can't.. there's too many other things going on in here and he just doesn't care what her reaction is. "Maybe when you were busy helping Rluel eat Setisel, you failed to notice that he was rather pale, Elis, or was he already stained red with blood by the time you came into the room to feast?"
Whisper's head snakes around fast. "How do you know about that?" Aiden has her full attention.
Aiden snarls at her, "Because I saw it happen!"
Whisper's knife flashes. Cuts. Fast. Aiden's nipple ring falls to the floor and jingles on stone. He feels the blood flowing warm down his chest from the cut. "I told you not to be flippant. Tell me the truth now, Aiden... you're nowhere near that old. You smell of milk still." She sounds not at all breathy now. It's a growl, soft as ever but nothing sweet.
Aiden cries out in pain, physical and mental at that. "I saw a memory, rode behind his eyes, watched him die. I saw everything, from the time that you came to get him in the room and he made you chase him while he laughed at you, until the knife and I know what you did afterwards, you sick fuck."
Whisper backhands Aiden with knife in hand. His lip splits, trickles blood. She says evenly, "Politeness is a virtue in the weak, child. Incidentally, I only had a few bites. That man never sat well with me, I didn't want to give him the pleasure of spoiling the rest of my dinner." She grins and touches bloody fingers to Aiden's cut nipple, brings them fresh to her lips, tastes thoughtfully. "You know such interesting things, and you have such terrible manners. You tempt me to keep you. You could have Deosil's old room."
Aiden licks at his own lip, swallowing the cry of pain that might've gone with the strike. "Oh, right, because you're partial to Nixe. So, Elis, did you take the Princess and hide her until you could find someone to force her to eat to keep the baby alive so Rluel could kill the Princess and sit her pink ass on the throne as regent or are you two waiting until the baby is born so you can use its flesh to keep Clairchiare alive?"
Whisper's eyes narrow, but she smiles. "Well. You weren't going to walk away anyhow, sweetness. Clairchiare's going to be fine, and so is the baby. He'll see reason when it keeps his love alive, no matter what silly ideas the boy has about personal sacrifice at the moment. The Princess, now... she's attached to that baby, if not so much to its fool of a father. She'll eat." That last sentence has an especially ominous ring to it... and she starts to turn toward the stairs, where Seodil is nearing the foot and fully in view.
Aiden doesn't want her to see Seodil yet. "Fool of a father? Clairchiare is the baby's father.. how can he be fine when he's going to get eaten?!"
"He isn't. She's going to eat his twin." Whisper gives Aiden a nasty little beam. "And I'll have more than a few bites of that for all the trouble he gave me." Behind her, Seodil creeps closer, still twenty feet away and nothing to hide behind.
Aiden snarls at her again. "Fuck you, Elis. I'm not going to let you do that.."
Whisper snickers and slides her hand down Aiden's bloodied chest to paint reddish-brown over his crotch, cupping. "You're not my type. I wait til they cry. But I have the time if you do, child." Seodil gathers himself to sprint across the remaining distance. The knife descends to start cutting Aiden's waistband; cloth tears.
Aiden sneers at Elis, "I don't sleep with snakes Elis. One day they're going to be washing the smear of you off of a floor somewhere, and I hope that I'm there to see it. You are a disgusting little creature."
Whisper squeezes painfully and says, "You are working hard. What for?" and then turns, knife half-raised. Seodil's rush is already begun. She gasps-- her hands blur-- and Seodil is on the ground skidding into Aiden's feet as Whisper sidesteps to look down. The silver wolf has a knife-hilt sticking out of both shoulders. The look in his eyes as they meet Aiden's holds far, far more guilt than pain.
Aiden looks down at Seodil in pure horror. "No, Seodil.. Oh, god, no..." He moves his feet, trying to get Seodil back behind him, trying to put himself between Seodil and Elis. Everything is crumbling around him and his hand are tied. He crumbles inside too. He won't cry, not anywhere that Elis can see..
Whisper giggles in pure delight, watching. Seodil takes a rough breath and starts to try to get up; Whisper moves behind Aiden and holds her knife to his throat. "Stop that, Aiden," she murmurs, then louder-- "Deosil my pale child, move away, not toward, or I'll kill your feisty lover."
Aiden stops moving, looking straight at Whisper, because it hurts less than seeing Seodil hurt. The hate in his eyes is intense. Though he know in his heart that Seodil won't listen, Aiden says, "Run.. Get help.. please.."
Whisper kicks and connects with a thud Aiden can feel as she presses against his back. Seodil makes a small, high-pitched whimper, as though she kicked one of the knives. She says in honeyed tones, "Move back and I'll let you take his place... and while you hold my attention, he stays untouched."
Aiden says, "No, Seodil. Don't you dare!"
But Seodil does.
It might have gone better had Rathskeliad not walked down the stairs then, and freed Whisper from needing to leave her threatening post at Aiden's throat. The slim elf Clairchiare affectionately calls "Oni" looks at the scene, and his lovely clear green eyes narrow. He smiles. "I'll get that for you, Mother."
Aiden's eyes slowly move to look Rathskeliad over. He doesn't say anything, finding himself unable to speak past the lump in his throat. I stay untouched, but I'm not free. They're going to make me watch. I wonder if her promise that I remain untouched only extends to her. Seodil.. why did you agree? I can't take this..
Elis smiles behind Aiden. "Would you? There's a good son... why don't you make sure our Deosil stays where we want him, and then see what else Aiden knows, hmm? I should make an appearance upstairs." She has not touched Aiden since her promise in any form, but her nearness cannot be ignored. It's almost a physical relief as she moves away... but then Aiden and Seodil are alone in the room with Rathskeliad, who kicks the prone silver elf. "Why don't you change so you can swear at me. It's almost as good as having a new fur coat... which is what I'll be wearing soon if you don't."
Aiden flinches as if it's him that was kicked. He felt it. He glares daggers at Rathskeliad, swallowing the lump in his throat into anger. "You've known all along, haven't you? Does Clairchiare know that his dear Oni is part of this?"
"Known what, Aiden my delicacy?" Rathskeliad smirks and adds, "Chi hasn't the slightest idea."
Aiden nods slightly. "He'll find you out eventually.. he's not stupid."
"No, but he is in love. The idiot." Rathskeliad wrenches a knife out of Seodil's shoulder after the silver elf changes back to his elven shape, and glares at Seodil as it drips, though he addresses Aiden. "With her."
Aiden tilts his head to the side, "So, you're doing this to punish him, then? For not being in love with you."
"No. I'm doing this to keep him alive, because those bitches will have that child on the throne no matter who they feed to the Royal Pain... and Lady Shh is not known for mercy no matter the bloodline." Rathskeliad toes Seodil into standing, and then pins him to the wooden scaffold behind him with the same dagger through the shoulder it just left. The silver elf grunts pain, and is silent.
Aiden snorts. "He's never going to love you now. Especially when he finds out that you were involved. The only strong emotion he's likely to feel towards you is hate, if you get anything but ice." He tries to catch Seodil's eyes..
Seodil meets Aiden's eyes across the small distance and holds them without wavering as Rathskeliad does the same thing to his other shoulder wound before turning to smile at Aiden. "I've gotten no better than growing cool for years, you know. No matter that I took Linden as a favor because he can't finish anything he starts. All that matters is his life. I'll tend to mine.. though you're kind to care, Aiden. Really."
Aiden actually manages a smile at Seodil, a reminder that the silver elf is loved and that Aiden is here. He turns his eyes back to Rathskeliad. "It doesn't have to be like this. There are other ways, ways that will ensure that no one has to die and that we can all walk away from this. No one needs to be hurt to ensure the child's life, including you, Rathskeliad."
Seodil smiles back at Aiden, past Rathskeliad, then fixes his eyes on the middle distance and seems to go out of focus. The green-black elf snorts at Aiden. "What did you have in mind? Talk, talk. I'm not that busy." He draws a slim knife and starts cutting away Seodil's clothing. "Yet."
Aiden tries to keep his voice sympathetic. "I know that there have been difficulties with children being carried to term, but obviously the sacrifice of a life isn't always necessary. It wasn't in Clairchiare's case, and I'm sure there's plenty of others around here that were born without. Perhaps there's other magic that can help ensure the child's safe passage into this world, or a sacrifice that doesn't require the death of one person. I've been told that it's not legal, and I don't see why there can't be a legitimate way. The child could even be "held" until a way is found.."
Rathskeliad snorts and traces a thin red line down Seodil's chest with his dagger almost carelessly. The silver elf's eyes stay unfocused and distant; he reacts not at all. Rathskeliad drawls, "A rosebush and a lot of blood paved the way for Clairchiare. I should know, I was there. He's forever left with that weak spot; their lives are linked. He's not the only one with a similar problem. This pretty, pretty lad here doesn't have it, though... and neither do I. The ladies wish to go with what works, shall we say. I... well." He smiles and lays a hand on Seodil's cheek. "I think I might get to know you better before they do."
Aiden's panic spikes again. "Don't.. Rathskeliad, there are other ways, there have to be other ways. All you're doing here is hurting yourself. People are going to find out what's going on here. There's no way to keep it quiet forever. What makes you think that your mother won't toss you to them to save her own skin?"
"She probably would, darling." Rathskeliad shrugs, voice and posture are stiffer, suddenly. "She's not exactly sentimental. Hm. Speaking of which... Deosil, precious. Do you still have your armbands?" When Seodil does not answer, Rathskeliad's voice sharpens. "Aiden. You might want to convince your love to come back to us and answer me. If he does not respond, you certainly will."
Aiden says softly, "I'll answer.."
"Answer me then, Aiden. Does he wear braided scars on his arms under those sleeves?" The sleeves in question are bereft of the rest of the shirt by now. Rathskeliad leans close to Seodil and whispers something. Aiden can see the silver elf shiver ever so slightly.
Aiden shakes his head, "No, Rathskeliad, he doesn't have braided scars on his arms." Aiden's heart is aching. Before he can stop it, a very very quiet whimper bubbles up from his throat, when Seodil shivers.
Rathsheliad clucks his tongue at Seodil. "Oh, she won't be happy about that at all. You know she likes her little marks." To Aiden, the green elf smiles, turning. "Love she may never feel, but possession is well within the bitch's range. --What did you mean when you said the child could be held? You're a bit early to be babbling yet. I want more clarity." The knife shreds Seodil's pants as Rath turns back. Small bloodstains appear as if the elf is growing careless.
Aiden answers quickly, especially when he sees the blood. "Well, it might take some time to find another way, right? But, you don't have a lot of time, because she's carrying the child right now, and she could end up losing it while another solution is being worked towards. There are ways to sort of hold her. I'm not good at explaining, it's magic, and I don't know that I understand it completely myself. You said that I'd fathered children? You were right. One, my daughter. She hasn't been born yet, because she's being held until the timing is better. Stored, I guess."
Rath looks interested. "Are you offering your child in trade?"
Aiden shakes his head, "No.. But what if the Princess' child could be stored until a way was found to keep the child alive, without having to kill anyone? I mean.. wouldn't that be better than betraying your love?"
Rathskeliad glares at Aiden and the captive ranger can almost see the slight elf trying to decide which to refute-- the love or the betrayal. Through gritted teeth, he says "It is not a betrayal" at last... and turns back to Seodil with clearly malevolent intent now, posture angry. The sleeves rip off easily, and Rathskeliad starts cutting a circle around Seodil's right arm.
Aiden says, panicked, "Rathskeliad, please, don't hurt him. I'll answer your questions, I'll try to help you figure out a way out of this, but don't hurt him."
"Answer my questions while I hurt him, Aiden. I am taking your suggestion out on someone, by all the hells." Rathskeliad finishes his line and starts another parallel to it. Seodil gazes quietly into the distance, eyes glazed. Rath says, "Does Clairchiare know to suspect his own mother?"
Aiden shakes his head, "No, I don't think that he does suspect her, though we did." The urge to cry is almost overwhelming. Rathskeliad is hurting Seodil and it's his fault.. He feels as though his heart might shatter.
Rath nods. "Does he suspect me?" Still cutting.
Aiden answers honestly, "I don't know. We started to piece some things together and suggested that he not talk to you, but only because we suspected your mother. I don't think he does, but I honestly don't know, I'm sorry."
Rath nods again and starts the third circle around Seodil's pale arm. "I believe you, Aiden. So. I'll grant you a favor. What would you prefer that I not do to your lover tonight?"
A few tears spill from Aiden's eyes as he looks at Seodil. "Please, don't take him away from me forever.. don't kill him.." I can help the rest heal.. I can patch wounds, I can heal hurts.. I can't bring him back from the dead. Oh, god, Seodil, please forgive me..
"That works," says the green elf thoughtfully. "I will not kill him." And he proceeds to do something to the cut arm with his knife and fingers that makes Seodil hiss for just a moment and come back into focus. Rath starts humming cheerfully while he works.
Aiden watches Seodil, refusing to take his eyes off him for right now. Seodil is suffering and Aiden is not going to turn away. He was the one that agreed to join Elis tonight, he was the one that angered Rathskeliad, and he was the one who pleaded for Seodil's life, leaving Rathskeliad an open invitation to do anything short of killing him. He will not look away from his lover's pain.
Rath says softly after a long, bloody while-- "Aiden. What are your friends doing now? What is the plan?"
Aiden says quietly, "They might still be at the ball waiting for indication that something's gone wrong, or they might be out looking for us already.."
"What sort of indication, Aiden?" Rathskeliad smiles at him.
Aiden answers, quickly, voice quiet with grief over Seodil's pain. "First, my non-arrival at the ball. Second, any pain inflicted on me."
Rath's look darkens. "What was the first pain inflicted on you?"
Aiden says, "The second touch your mother gifted me with. The cut on my neck, the spot where her knife dug into my thigh, my chest. They occured in a fairly narrow span of time."
"How long ago?" Rath traces bloody fingers idly down Seodil's bare chest, down to his stomach.
Aiden shakes his head, "It feels like hours.. I don't know exactly. Half an hour? Twenty minutes? Could be longer, or shorter.."
"And they're at the ball?" Rath looks thoughtful, then smiles. "Don't expect much rescue. It's not far; you must be less important than we thought. Does anyone else even like Deosil?"
Aiden doesn't bother dignifying the barb directed at him with an answer, he does answer the barb directed at Seodil, "Yes they do. He's part of our family, and all of our family matters to us."
The look that Seodil gives Aiden is nothing short of heartbreakingly grateful.
Aiden, looking directly at Seodil, though he's addressing Rathskeliad as much as Seodil, continues, "All we've got is each other and we don't take that lightly. It's not always really obvious, but there's a great deal of love and respect directed at every member of our family. We care about each other.."
Rath snorts. "That must be nice." He tilts his head at Seodil. "Neither his family nor mine cared much about its children til Clairchiare came along, precious child. Now everyone wants a piece."
Aiden says, quiet and surprisingly intensely. "For what it's worth, Rathskeliad, I know some of what happened to him at the hands of your mother and his, and I can't imagine things were any better for you, and I've seen Clairchiare and can only assume that they must dote on him. I hate that it happened and wish I could've done something.."
Rathskeliad says silkily, "Pity makes me want to hurt people... just so you know." His eyes hold a flicker of something hurt for a moment, though. He does not resume cutting Seodil yet. "You know that my mother will not live through this if her side does not win."
Aiden says, "It's not pity. I hate them." He listens to Rathskeliad, then nods. "I didn't expect so. May I ask a question back of you, Rathskeliad?"
Rathskeliad waves his bloody knife idly. "Oh, do. I don't begrudge you a smidge of pleasure at a time like this." His voice is dryly amused.
Aiden tilts his head to the side, "Wouldn't you be better off without her?"
Rathskeliad snorts and tilts his head right back at Aiden. "She's my mother. I hate her more than you possibly could, and if her side does not win, I go down with them. Look at it this way, Aiden... I lose something no matter what happens, but there is only one side that guarantees me Clairchiare's life, that of his child... and the Princess dead. If you start killing everyone I hate, you'll be up all night."
Aiden sighs softly, this having not worked as well as he'd hoped. It's his only hope though, "What if we told whoever that you had nothing to do with it?"
Rathskeliad starts to say something. There is a metallic rattle, as of a locked metal door being kicked. He raises his eyebrows and says, "You would guarantee my innocence to the entire court?"
Aiden nods, "Give me a plausible story and I will parrot it as many times as I need to, Rathskeliad. I promise."
Rathskeliad looks at Aiden and sighs. "You have nothing to offer me unless your side wins, you know. Otherwise I clearly have the upper hand."
Aiden's still looking at Seodil. "I know you do.. Rathskeliad? Clairchiare is with the group that's looking for us.."
Rathskeliad very calmly reaches for Seodil's crotch and holds his bloodied knife gently against the things that make it functional. "Aiden. Are you prepared to swear that statement is true?"
Seodil gazes ahead and does not change expression.
Aiden turns back to look at Rathskeliad. "He was with them when I left them. To the best of my knowledge, what I've just told you is absolutely true."
Rathskeliad gives Aiden a cold, hard look and then says, "Make Seodil swear to abide by your story of my innocence as well."
Aiden says quietly, "Seodil? Come back to me for a minute, please?"
Seodil takes a moment, but he does. He's paler than usual, possibly from bloodloss or shock, but his eyes on Aiden are steady. He's here, at Aiden's request.
Aiden says, "I'm going to tell everyone that Rathskeliad is innocent in all of this, but he wants your promise that you'll go along with me on this.. Please, Seodil?"
Seodil smiles faintly at Aiden. "I will abide by your decision, Aiden. You may speak for me in this."
Aiden looks at Rathskeliad, "He will tell your story as well, Rathskeliad.."
The door rattles again, then something clicks. Rathskeliad moves the knife away from Seodil's groin and says, "What would you have of me in return, then?"
Aiden doesn't hesitate. "Help us get out of here, back to our family.."
Rathskeliad says, "If those are your friends at the door, or if they are anyone else, here is your story. All your physical damage was done by Elis Shh. The braid on Seodil's arm is her trademark. You understand, both Averet and Shh are ruined-- the Princess. She has seen both Lady Shh and Averet complicit in this. She has not seen me but she will be suspicious." He looks at Seodil, looks at his knife again, frowning. "This is too complex. You'll have to kill them before they can talk."
Aiden frowns, "Who? Lady Shh and Averet?"
Rathskeliad nods. "Yes. And you understand that there is no guarantee Clairchiare's brat will live without this sweet silver meat."
Aiden nods, "You can find a way, I have every confidence. I don't know if I can kill them though, Rathskeliad. I have next to no training..."
Rathskeliad says softly, "They will be taken under guard before trial. Think of a way to kill them before their trial. If you need my help.. ask Lauren to send me a note." He smiles faintly. "The Princess is in the next room... and you were left alone here. I cannot stay." He moves to Aiden at last and reaches overhead to unfasten Aiden's wrists from the chain. "You freed yourself. I was never here." The door clicks, and footsteps sound on the stone stairs immediately, with voices and panting. Rathskeliad says quickly, softly, "The kiss of someone she loves will awaken the Princess."
Aiden nods. He rubs his wrists. "I'll do it.." With that, he's done talking to Rathskeliad, probably forever. He runs over to Seodil, and sets to work untying him.
Aiden carefully, carefully pulls the daggers from Seodil's shoulders, trying to hut him as little as possible. He ends up getting a fairly even spray of blood drops all over his face, which finally breaks him. He sobs, sinking to the floors with Seodil, laying the silver elf's head in his lap. "Come back, please, Seodil. It's over.."
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