ᵗʰᵉ ᵈʳᵃᵍᵒⁿ ᵖʳⁱⁿᶜᵉ ˣ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

Chains

You had been on the run for days. Why? You had stolen something you desperately needed, money. You hadn't eaten a thing in nearly a week and you had to get food. It had only been a few coins, just enough for a meal. You pulled your hood up over your head and then crossed your arms.

Suddenly, you couldn't move your arms, they were pressed tightly agents your thin body. You jerked your entire body in atemt to break free but you were cought, this was a chain that had wrapped around you.

Next thing you knew, you were on your knees. You fought agenst your captor but he was too strong for you to fight.

"Quit struggling, you're only making it worse for yourself."

You gave up, you were too weak to fight this man anyways.

He brought you over to a tree before tying you to it. Luckily he made you sit first.

You felt your throat growing tight and your lip trembled. You refused to look at your captor. He would have to fight to get anything from you.

He tilted your dirt covered face up and you glared at him and snarled slightly, you were not going to be a 'good prisoner' as he likely expected you to be.

"Why did you steal that money?"

You looked away. You weren't going to tell him a thing.

He grabed your chin and forced you to look at him. You felt the tears of fear and hunger prick your eyes. You clenched your jaw. You would not cry in front of this man.

He frowned and glared slightly. "Answer my question, why did you steal that money?"

You snapped at him, attempting to bite him.

He pulled away, slightly startled. "Ok, hard way it is..." He said.

Suddenly, your stomach growled very loudly and you turned red from embarrassment.

He smirked slightly. "I've got a way to make you talk..." He said, fishing through his bag.

Your eyes widened when he pulled out a knife. He then pulled out bread and meat. You glared at him then looked at the food. "Answer my questions and the food is yours."

You suddenly got a brilliant idea, you would use elvish and only speak to him that way. "Ni'm sorrime, ni don't quet- english ana men ve tye." (I'm sorry, I don't speak English to men like you)

He raised an eyebrow before glaring at you. "So you want to play it that way huh?" He put the food away and your stomach protested, begging for it.

He sat with his arms crossed. "I've got all day..."

Then, it happened, the last thing you wanted to let him see, your emotions.

You looked down as the first tear fell. Then the next. He roughly tilted your chin up before his expression softened.

You let out a sob and looked away.

He gently turned your head back towards him and wiped away your tears. "Hey, look at me..." he said gently.

You looked up at him with a trembling body. He slowly took off your hood and gasped. "Y-your a girl..."

"And you're a jerk..." you said in a cold tone as the tears continued to fall.

He grabbed the knife and cut your binds. You immediately went to run but he stoped you, grabbing you and pulling you back towards him. You fell directly in his lap and frowned.

He held you tightly with one arm while with the other he fished around in his bag again. "Eat," he said, holding the food before you.

You hesitated only for a moment before snatching the food and eating it.

He slowly loosened his grip on you and when you didn't move to try and escape, he completely let you go.

When you finished eating, you went to move but he grabbed your wrist, not hard, but just to let you know he wasn't letting you go anywhere.

You continued to move, scooting off of him and onto the forest floor next to him. "I'm not running, let go," you said, pulling your wrist out of his grasp.

He sighed and shook his head. "You know I have to turn you in..."

"For five coins?" You growled bitterly.

He paused. "Wait, five?"

You nodded. "I don't steal for fun, I steal because I'm starving..."

With that he softened completely and put his bag aside before gently making you look at him. "Take off the cloak."

"What?"

"Just do it..."

You slowly took off the cloak and he shook his head in disappointment before he gently pulled up your shirt a bit to see your ribs outlined against your thin frame.

He had you stand. "Come with me..."

You knew you didn't have a choice so you fallowed him.

"My name is Corvus by the way."

"Y/n..." you said in a tiny voice.

He led you through the forest to a small hut where he then gave you new cloths, a bed to sleep in and best of all, a real friend...

Once you had bathed and put on new cloths that were far too big on you, he led you to a warm bed to sleep in. "I'm not here much, but if you need a place to stay, you're welcome to come here any time." He whispered, giving you a gentle smile.

Your cheeks heated up to a degree you didn't know was possible and he frowned. "When is the last time you've been held?"

You raised a brow, confused by his question. "What?"

He shook his head. "That's what I thought..."

He then scooped you up into his arms and sat on the bed, holding you close.

You sat, body tense before you broke down in tears and sobbed into his chest. That was what he meant, when was the lay time you'd been touched in a gentle way.

He rocked you back and forth until your crying stoped. He then gently wiped away you tears. "There, feeling better?"

You responded with a tiny nod and he smiled, his face inches from yours. Suddenly, you had no control over your body, it seemed to move on its own as your lips were suddenly pressed agents his.

To your surprise, hr didn't push you away but he pulled you closer, holding you in his arms.

When you parted you were shocked.

He smiled and gently stroked your cheek. "There, better?"

You nodded and held onto him. "Don't go yet..."

He gently rubbed your back before pulling up your shirt and gasping at the manny scars on your back and shoulders. You trembled and he held you closer. "Never, never again will this happen to you..."

And next thing you knew, you were asleep in his arms, blankets pulled up to keep you both warm.

You weren't sure how long he would remain kind like this but for tonight, you felt safe.

And in the morning, you found out that he was never going to abandon you like all those other people had...