Powerless (Anemarin)

Prologue

     Third person POV following Tamarin:

     "...and with the accused present, we may finally begin. Everyone, please take your seats."

     Murmurs and footsteps echoed around the arena, the ominous clanking of chains clanging beside them. Tamarin grunted in pain and discomfort. The cuffs around her wrists dug into her arms, weighing them down and keeping her bound tightly to the metal pole in the middle of the otherwise empty circle she was standing in. The metal links were cold against Tamarin's bare skin, colder than the stone beneath her shoe-less feet. The beaten leather jacket around her shoulders served as decent protection against the chilly afternoon breeze; but her leggings had been torn and were doing a particularly pathetic job of keeping her comfortable.

     Tamarin shivered. Everything about this place was cold and unfriendly, her two least favorite adjectives put in one sentence and about one thing. Tamarin was used to warm weather and familiar treks or challenges; terrain she memorized or was willing to test out. This was completely out of her comfort zone.

     How had she gotten into this mess?

     "I need a place to stay. How much room do you have in this shack over here- it's yours, right?"

     The rain was pouring outside her cabin. Along with the usual pitter-patter of the droplets on her roof, which was made of reeds, the water was also bouncing off something that sounded like a cloak. Her door was wide open, open to the someone who had knocked loudly a few moments earlier.

     The stranger was standing still amongst the weather, waiting on Tamarin's decision. She had no idea who this person was or why they had chosen her cabin, but it sounded like someone around her age - a female in her late teens. The girl was panting slightly, as if she had fought tooth and nail through the elements to reach this specific cabin.

     Tamarin considered her. Stranger danger was something Tamarin never particularly thought or cared about, since literally everyone was a stranger until you got to know them; nevertheless, this weird appearance of someone random was enough for Tamarin to get her guard up. Her mind jumped to multiple possibilities - had she finally angered the Aquatic Kingdom by camping on their border? Was this someone sent to kill her? But then if that was the case, why wasn't she dead already?

     Was she a robber? But she had just knocked on her front door- what kind of robber did that?

     Maybe someone trying to gain her trust.

     Maybe someone who knew about her condition... who knew she could hear very well, but not see... how clever of them. If that was true, they knew it would be better to gain permission to enter her home rather than sneak in, then leave with whatever they stole in their arms, and Tamarin wouldn't be able to see it or realize until it was too late.

     But that seemed unlikely. Tamarin rarely socialized, and she knew this place so well that no one just glancing at her walking around would know she was blind. Then, there was the fact that this girl was just - well - a small girl. Not the biggest threat. Tamarin guessed that if she wanted to do something violent or ill-intended, she already would've acted. And Tamarin figured that inside the familiar safe haven of her cabin, she could take this girl on and win easily, if need be.

     Tamarin considered the situation for a moment longer, and then gave up being suspicious. Who cared anymore? Tamarin had nothing valuable to be stolen anyway. She traveled a lot, and packed light, so she didn't tend to get attached to shiny things. Just things that could keep her alive.