Promises of Gold

12. Captivity & Unknown History

Cordelia sat on the grass awaiting James and William's return. She felt as if it had been ages since she saw James. It had been hours already. It was slowly turning to night. She sighed as she played with a flower she had picked. Cordelia was getting restless. She needed them to come back. Cordelia was beyond worried about James. She wanted him safe and here. With her. She didn't understand why she felt so tied to him. As she put down the flower she had spent some minutes twisting, Cordelia spotted Thomas walking towards her from the corner of her eye. She turned around to face him noticing his grave expression.

"They should have been back by now. I think something has gone horribly wrong" Thomas stated as he stood by her, sounding concerned.

"I believe so too. Thomas I can't sit around and wait. This is all my fault!" Cordelia cried, standing up and dusting off her tunic and pants.

"What do we do? Go after them? What if we just get ourselves in danger?" 

"Thomas, we can't just sit here. We need to go." Cordelia pleaded, placing her hand on his arm.

Thomas sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked at Cordelia as if he was contemplating and shook his head before sighing. He seemed defeated. Cordelia watched him in hope that he would agree and they would go. She could not wait any longer. 

"Fine. But you follow my lead and don't try and go off on your own. This is dangerous"

"I promise. Let's go. We don't know how much time we have." 

***

"Max. Why are you bothering Cordelia? Why do you need her?" James demanded as William watched him with pity in the makeshift wooden cell they had been pushed into. It was sturdy and the lock worked surprisingly well for something created by Max. 

Max sat on a bolder in front of the cell and simply smirked at their situation. James knew Max had been waiting for this day. They had a long and complicated history. One that could not be fixed and forgotten. James sighed and began to pace. Cordelia would be beyond furious that he let himself get into this. He hoped she wasn't foolish enough to come after them. 

"Give us Cordelia and you can leave." Max said, standing up and walking towards the cell.

"If I don't?" James challenged.

"You stay here. And we can get her ourselves. It would be much more work, so I would rather you just hand her over." Max shrugged. 

"James..maybe we should.." William begun hesitantly from the other side of the cell.

"No! Are you out of your bloody mind?" James snapped, looking at William with shock.

"Why won't you hand her over? Oh no, do you still.."

"Shut up Max." James warned, gritting his teeth.