A Raven's Blessing | Vax'ildan x OC | TLOVM

Prisoners of Ank'Harel

Warnings: Strong and Sexual Language; Violence, Gore & Death. Mentions of torture in this chapter. 

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Athena stared back at the ridged rock wall. It was like a game to follow the edges that jetted out in different patterns. She imagined that each one told a story. One edge being sculpted by a father who had plans of making the space a home for his wife and new baby. Another was the result of miners searching for ores to build a stone bridge that arced over a river. Maybe some of the rock was used to make jewelry adorning the neck of a noblewoman who showed it off at a rich party. 

But in the end, it was all just a game. 

A distraction. To pretend she wasn't trapped in the enclosed stone room. That she wasn't beaten down again and again. That she wasn't made to hold a sword and swing its blade. That she could just walk out and feel the grass again beneath her feet. 

What did grass feel like again?

She knew what stone felt like though.

"Can't sleep?"

Athena blinked not realizing she was having a staring contest with the wall. She turned over in the wooden bed. Her body ached as she moved, the fresh bruises reminding her of pain. 

"Can you ever really?" she said to the bed across from her. Tyr was lying on his back staring up at the ceiling as if he was playing the same game as she was moments ago. Darker spots of green appeared across his already dark green skin.

A short laugh escaped his lips. "It's unfortunately the thing I look forward to. To dream."

"Ah." Athena simply said at first. She used to think the same thing as well, but all she could dream about now was the day her parents were killed. The look they had as blades were driven through them as she was dragged away. "Then how come you're awake then?"

Tyr shrugged, "I couldn't think of a good dream to have tonight."

"You can control your dreams?" She curiously asked finding the thought of that intriguing. 

"Kind of. More so the beginning of them. Before I drift off to sleep." 

"What do you dream about?"

"Nothing special I guess. Mostly of home." His voice sounded distant at the mention of home. Like it was a far-off land that was a tale, it affected her too just as much. She turned on her back now looking up at the ceiling. They both stared at the ceiling for a while. There was no way to tell time deep in the caves except for when they were forced into training. If she had to guess, they laid in almost peaceful silence for a couple of hours.

However, Tyr suddenly turned his body to his side facing her as she had done earlier in the night. "You remember the baker?" he asked.

"What?" she breathed thinking that she imagined the question. 

"You know. The baker. The one who lived by that large oak tree with the tall chimney coming straight out of the middle of the roof"

It took Athena a few moments to try to remember but when she did she turned her head towards him, "Y-yes. What about him?"

"I've decided I'm going to dream about those pies he made with the wild berries from the meadow out past the turf and lake." 

That was all Tyr said before he turned his body away from her pulling the thin material of what they used for a blanket up to his shoulder. Athena was a bit taken aback by the short exchange. However, she began to think about the pies he mentioned. She recalled the early morning air that would redden her cheeks as she held her parent's hands as they walked to the baker's house smoking rising from the chimney. There would already be a line waiting for the pie. She recalled her excitement, her feet bobbing up and down as her mother collected the pie. She remembered begging for a slice as they went back home to drop it off before they would start work for the day.