The Crown Of Fire

Aria IX

She'd sat there for days, taking in the torture.

Her lip had been cracked open by a blow to her face. The blood dried there and formed a sort of crust. She knew that she had bruises all over her body, definitely on her face.

And when those who sought to discourage her, and harass her would come, nothing would change. Her expression remained void of any sort of emotion. They would do their best to get a rise out of her, but they never did. She remained resilient. She remained silent and still.

"Oi!" Kiard sneered. "Little princess, what's it like to be chained up like a little bitch?"

She didn't answer, unmoving and silently staring forward. She wasn't a princess, why should she answer to a title that was not hers? And why should she answer to a vile question such as that? She would not take the abuse of the beasts that followed her sister.

"You look at me when I talk to you!" Kiard growled, grabbing her chin roughly. He forced her to look at him. But there was nothing there. It was like knocking on one's door and realizing that nobody was home. "How do we know if she's dead?"

"She isn't dead, you bloody fool," Gha'roud scolded from where he laid down a few feet away. "You can see her breathing, can't you?"

"But look at her eyes," Kiard spoke. "There ain't nothing there."

"Maybe we've broke her," the hyena suggested lazily. "I don't know how many humans can make it this far without food, water and sleep. I suppose she's retreating into herself."

The goblin let go of her chin and walked away, grumbling, "I suppose so."

He sat near the hyena, and grew bored rather fast, so, he began throwing stones at her. She never moved, never flinched.

"Kiard! Gha'roud, get back to work!" Seraphina shouted. She'd had her entire army brought to this location. It made Aria wonder if Omdrus's camp had known, it was only a small wooded area, and surely the wolf would have had scouts. The hyena and the goblin left the area that Aria was trapped in. Seraphina watched her for a moment. "Are you alright?"

Aria neither spoke nor glanced at her sister. She didn't have the energy to deal with her sister.

"Don't be so spiteful," Seraphina scoffed. "I'm trying to make things right. I apologize for the beating, though it was only a punishment meant to make you better." she paused. "And if you're willing to let your allegiance lie with me, I'll have your wounds treated."

Aria finally turned her head to Seraphina. She spoke, though her voice was hoarse, and her gaze burned with hatred, "I will wear my wounds like armour, for they're proof of your evil."

"Well," Seraphina inhaled, suffocating her rage, "I hope you opinions will change once I've won the war."

The mage, her vile sister, walked off. Leaving Aria in isolation, though it would be her salvation. For in her isolation, she noticed a sharp edge on the tree.

An edge that could free her.

~

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