The town square was packed with merchants, craftsmen, and people from outside the village who were looking to get their goods cheap. It wasn't a bad idea, but more often than not they left with their pockets significatly lighter than when they arrived. Though not from buying villager's goods but fom pickpockets like Y/N.
Y/N, certianly not the youngest pick-pocket in the village, but she was the best. She was swift, hardly ever being seen by guards or merchants; her touch light as a feather, no one ever knew she'd taken from their pockets until they emptied them after returning home. She could steal anything, the ring off your finger, the watch from your pocket, the fruit from your stand, and the gold form your pocket. It wasn't the most honest way to make a living, but it got food on the table. So with her hood pulled over her head she ventuered into the square.
At the end of the day Y/N had snagged six gold pieces, fifteen silver coins, three bracelets, four rings, and one pocket watch. It was a sucessful day, she had enough to keep food on the table for a week, maybe longer.
*
"You know that one day you're going to get caught." Castiel exclaimed when she walked into the bakery.
Y/N rolled her eyes at the baker's son. But it wasn't anything shee hadn't heard before. "It's fine Cas. I haven't been caught yet, and I don't plan on it." She boasted, tossing two silver coins to Castiel.
Cas let the coins clatter on the counter, he refused to accept anything Y/N had taken. Even though he gotten used to the way she made a living, he didn't like the high possibility that she could end up in 'the cages' because of it.
"I'll see you later Cas." Y/N called, grabbing a muffin on her way out of the bakery.
*
The next weeks went along as normaly as any other week; Y/N would roam the town square and pickpokcet tose who passed her. And Monday started out like any other day; the hood of her cloak was pulled over her face, the shadows welcomed her like an old friend, and the pockets of by passers seemed easier to access than ever. But as the day wore on and the crowd in the square diminished so did the chance of Y/N getting anything else. But pickpockets didn't stop until they had to; and Y/N lived by that. So when someone, fairly wealthy by the clothes they wore, walked by she waited until they were close enough to slide her fingers into their pocket. She was about to pull her had out of the pocket when something clamped around her wrist.
"Drop whatever you have and stand up." A voice growled. Y/N glanced at the hand around her wrist up to the burly man who was gripping her wrist. She let the coins clatter to the ground and the man pull her to her feet. The man gripped her other wrist and pulled them together before binding them. Only after he was finished tying her wrists did she see the person she had attempted to pickpocket; Prince Sam Winchester. She started to stammer out an apoligy but when the man, a guard she now presumed, tightened his hold on her she stopped speaking.
"You do not speak." The guard hissed at her before speaking to the prince. "What will you do with the theif?"
Y/N cast a glance up at Prince Winchester only to see that he was already looking at her. They held each others gaze for minute before he spoke. "Bring her to the castle."
*
Y/N sat alone in one of the dungon cells rubbing the forming bruises blooming on her wrists. She now knew why people in the village called the castles dungeon 'the cage'; it's what it the cells looked like. Bars made up three walls letting her see the empty cells on either side of her and the one across from her, the forth wall was a solid stone wall. Now as Y/N sat against the stone wall she thought about how she might never leave 'the cage'.
"Stand." the guard from earlier ordered. Y/N listened and pushed herself up from the floor. The guard sneered at her before unlocking the cell. The guard stepped forward and gripped her wrists again, binding them in shakles this time.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked timidly, refusing to meet the guard's eyes.
"King Winchester requests your presence in the throne room." He said simply.
Her blood ran cold; she'd heard rumors about the king and about what he's done to those who have threatened his family and his kingdom. And now Y/N couldn't help but think that she was going to be the next one on his list.
*
If Y/N hadn't been shackled she would have marveled in the beauty of the throne room. The high ceiling was decorated with intricate designs of white and gold, red curtains hung in front of the windows and behind the high backed thrones. It was a beautiful sight, but the look the king was giving her didn't give her the chance to marvel in the beauty of it any longer.
The guard shoved Y/N to the floor, making her kneel on the bottom step, in front of the throne. She looked up at the king, his brown eyes glaring at the girl in front of him.
"Y/N L/N," King Winchester's voice boomed through the room, causing her to flinch slightly. "You are being charged with multiple counts of theft. Is there anything you have to say?"
She looked down at the carpet under her knees willing tear to form in her eyes. She'd seen the younger pickpockets do this to the merchants and the guards; wanting them to show pity on the poor kids. Y/N only hoped it would work on the king.
"I was so hungry." She whispered, a few tears slipping down her cheeks. "I haven't eaten in days."
When she stopped speaking Y/N looked up at the king, who didn't seem affected by the tears she was crying; though his wife seemed to show the slightest bit of pity towards the girl.
"That isn't a reason to steal from the royal family." The King bellowed, nearly rattling Y/N's bones.
The queen gaped at her husband before speaking to him. "John, show the girl pity. What if it was our boys?" She attempted to whisper, though it echoed slightly through the empty room.
Everyone in the throne room waited in silence as King Winchester thought over what his wife had said. A moment later Y/N was pulled to her feet by a guard, forcing her to look at the Winchesters.
"Upon my wife's request, I have decided to show the only pity you'll ever receive from me." John explained, "Take her to the maids. Maybe putting her to work will show her what it means to earn her keep."
