The Dragon Prince - Soren x reader (f)

- Consequences -

I start towards them, but Finnegrin's brawny arms grab me. He takes both my wrist in one hand, pulling them behind my back. Then with his other hand, he grabs my hair.

Finnegrin positions my head so I'm forced to watch Soren and River in their suffering. They were quiet at first, battling the excruciating pain. But the torment is clearly getting too great, and harrowing exclamations make their way into their aching groans. Villads doesn't know what's going on. Rayla is now in Elmer's grasp. Ezran watches with wide eyes.

"What are you doing!?" I thrash in his grip. "Stop it!" My screams are in vain as his hold on my body is too strong.

"Calm down... I'll give you mercy today, darlin'," Finnegrin taunts. "One of them can survive... the choice is yours."

"No." I can't stand to watch the scene unfold before me. The female Tidebound Elf draws an ancient looking saber, pointing it between Soren and River as if this is a game. My levels of anxiety only rise - overwhelming grief settling in.

"No?" He laughs diabolically. "Well then both will die... and nobody wants that." He spits the vile warning at me.

When did this all suddenly explode into chaos?

"Please, Finnegrin, I'm begging you," I try to still myself in his grasp. "I pissed you off, don't hurt them." My eyes sting. Heavy rain blends with my tears.

"Ah," he laughs mockingly. "But death is too good for you." Soren's eyes are watering from the resistance to the violent pain. He can no longer hold himself up on his knees, falling slowly to the wooden floor. "You must suffer how I suffered," Finnegrin pulls my head back, "you must see your world, your freedom, all you hold dear, ripped from you as it was ripped from me." River stares me dead in the eye. He's still on his knees. I refuse to read into the look.

"Please, stop hurting them," I sob. Pathetic. Useless. This Elf is crazy. "I'll do anything."

"Then choose," Finnegrin sneers. "Only one has to die." I try stomping my heal into his foot. Ineffective. I try pulling my hands out of his grip. Futile. I try moving my head from his clutch. Pointless. Finnegrin groans at my lack of response. "Naela, try the blonde one," he orders with annoyance.

The elf points a sword to the side of Soren's neck. "NO!" The word is more like a agonised howl. It's an immediate response - an instinct. I can't- I won't let Soren die. "No." It's the whimper you'd hear from a desperate dying animal, caught in a hunter's snare. "Don't touch him." I can practically feel Finnegrin's smile. Naela moves the sword to River's back.

And I falter.

Tears streaming like an idiot. I brought him with me. I went to Finnegrin. This is my fault.

River's life is in my hands and all I can do is cry.

But he doesn't.

He doesn't lose strength.

His chest is still tall despite the torture.

And he smiles.

Regardless of the pain.

River smiles.

He would rather die.

I shake my head softly. Delusional. The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it.

No one has to die.

Yet River nods his head ever so slightly.

Acceptance.