𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎.

𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞.

CHAPTER III
discernment from a dragon.

You sat silently in the back of the carriage now. Only hearing the sound of the horses trot up the path. From what Merek has told you, the trip up the mountain took a few hours at a steady paste. You wondered if he made it back to the village yet. A sad smile on your face at what he has said to you last night. If only you knew.

After the ear-piercing scream you let out that frightened the whole village, you didn't utter a word nor sound after and presently. Your vocal cords were fine after a few minutes so you could talk completely fine if you choose to. You simply stayed silent out of defeat, acceptance and heartbreak.

To see your father and Sybil reach out for you desperately, Sybil crying and begging for them to let you go, your father pleading for your innocence. You could have sworn you saw a smirk on that charlatan's face. A scowl on your face as you kick at loose splinters.

As you plan out ways to haunt the dreadfully iniquitous man from beyond the grave, you begin to hear multiple other horses then your own. You crawl towards the metal bars for a better listen. It couldn't be... A sudden rush of hope runs through your body as you begin to shake and pull at the bars once more.

"MEREK!!!!!!" You scream once more, so loud that your throat burns from the friction. The cantering of horses comes closer before the carriage finally comes to a stop as multiple voices are heard. You continue to shake and pull at the bars causing as much sound as you can.

"MEREK!" The men leading your carriage seem to protest as someone gets off their horse and steps towards the back. You'd never been so happy to see his face than in that very moment. He's eyes wide as he sees you locked in the carriage, you reach your hands through the bars to grab him in a form of comfort. He grabs onto your hands before speaking.

"(Y/N)? What are you doing here? Why are you locked up?!" He looked around the carriage at the men who were guiding the carriage who began approaching him and yelling to let go of you.

"I've been wronged, Merek! They're accusing me of a crime i didn't commit and a punishment much too harsh for it!" You say quickly before the men drag Merek out of your reach. Merek's brigade that followed him up the mountain the night before grabbing the men off of him.

"Sir please don't approach the prisoner, she's unstable!" The two men say as you glare at the back of their heads. Merek and the hunters doing the same, seeming offended for your sake.

"Unstable?! HA! That vulgar rich boy will really say anything at this point!" You bang against the bars with your fist as you curse out the damn brunet while Merek tried to get an explanation out of the men. All they really said was that you were proven guilty of a crime and sentenced to judgement from the dragon itself. Which, of course, Merek protested greatly.

"For theft? (Y/N) would never steal a thing no matter how much she needed it! Even so, sent for judgement?! I think you're the ones whose gone mad..." If only Merek managed to make it back sooner, he and the hunters could've vouched for you! You could've outmatched the witnesses 1 to 10!

"Her punishment has been decided, please back away from the carriage." Merek glares at the men as they walk back around the carriage. No matter how much he fought them, he wasn't fighting the right guy. He quickly grabs onto the iron bars. "Tell me who did this to you. Quickly." He says swiftly as he hears them mount the horses.