Robin's Blood

Page 24, Ch. V

Robin was thrown onto the floor of a large bedroom. The guards had stopped being gentle with her long ago, almost immediately after they were out of the man's sight, and had thrown Robin around as if she were a ragdoll. She knelt on the ground glaring at the guards as they chuckled between themselves. They slammed the door shut, locking her inside. Once their heavy footsteps faded far enough, Robin stood up and brushed herself off while examining the room. The walls were stone like the rest of the cave, and small stalactites hung from the ceiling, stringed lights coiled around them. Many ambient lights were scattered about the room creating a warm glow, misleadingly peaceful to anyone foolish enough to be soothed.

Robin refused the tranquility that tried to creep into her head and began searching for an escape. There were no windows; she was inside a mountain, and the only apparent exit was the door she had come through, which was locked and probably guarded. A raised canopy bed was at the left end of the room, and a fireplace was on the right. Robin rushed toward the not lit fireplace and bent her head underneath to look up the chimney opening. Thick metal bars just far enough apart to let smoke escape blocked it, Robin grunted. She pulled her head out of the chimney and sat on the floor before the fireplace, curling her knees into her chest and hugging them. The door clicked unlocked suddenly. Robin whipped her head around at the sound. A thin, sickly thin, elf walked through the door with a large box tied with a bright yellow ribbon. She looked pale and tired, her eyes were sagging, and her mouth was curled into a frown. The elf girl placed the box on the edge of the bed and turned to leave the room. Robin clambered, rushed to the elf girl, and grabbed her arm. "Help, please," she whispered franticly to the girl. Terrified, the girl swiftly pulls her arm from Robin's grasp and rushes out the door. It clicks, locked again. Robin stood up from her pathetic lean on the ground and strode to the foot of the bed. She hesitated, then pulled on the ribbon of the box; It slipped apart with ease and fell to the sides of the box. She lifted the top off the box, revealing a mossy green gown. Robin carefully lifted the dress from the box and laid it on the bed. It was sleekly fitted with sage stitching of thorned vines creeping from its edges; It was menacing but beautiful. She hated how much she wished to wear it. The door creaked open again behind her, and the sleek man from earlier walked inside the room, his creeping grin still stretched across his face as he looked at Robin. "Is it to your liking?" he questioned. Robin glared at him, turning away from the dress. "You must," he continues as he walks toward Robin, his eyes facing the floor. "My seamstress worked tirelessly on it," he chuckled, looking up now into Robin's brown eyes with his; icy blue. She continues her silence in protest, and he smirks, annoyed. "You will wear that this evening. I am holding a ball in your honor," he remarked. Robin raises an eyebrow in confusion. A ball? In her honor? Then an idea hits her. "Will Faye be there?" she asks quickly. "Who?" He looks confused, then has a realization, "Oh! That forest elf who came with you...." He looks frustrated. He sighs. "Since it is a ball in your honor, we will allow your friend to attend," he sneers. Robin is relieved, but she stays stern and on guard. "If I am an important guest, can I leave this room?" she has a plan now; depending on what he says, she has stuck him into a corner. He pauses momentarily, then glares up at her through his hair. He scoffs. "I believe..." he remains, thinking, "...That can be arranged. But only for a short while," he demands. Robin is pleased by his response; the wheels of her plan are turning now as he sticks his head out of the room, summoning two guards. The four exit the room, the guards on either side of Robin, keeping her at bay. He turns to Robin. "I do hope you enjoy my market," he brags slyly.