The Light in the Dark Kingdom

Prisoners

She sat in the dungeon with her wrists chained to the wall. All of the tears had drained from her eyes. Fiddling with the hem of her dress, the dungeon door swung open to reveal a short man with green, scaly skin and long matted hair, "Who are you?" She demanded, pulling herself onto her feet.

The green man glanced at the bracelets she wore, tying her to the dungeon wall, "No need to be rash, dearie, allow me to introduce myself," he bowed gracefully, singing, "Rumplestiltskin."

"That name means nothing to me! Why are you here?" The child spit, glaring into his green eyes.

"You've got thick skin, Princess," he let out a devilish laugh, waiting to hear her soft response, "It's only fair, tell me your name, dearie."

"Eilonwy, Princess of Prydain," she told him forcefully after only a moment of hesitation.

The crocodile scoffed and let out another laugh as he stepped towards her with a devilish smile playing on his lips , "What a lovely name, Eilonwy," he let out a quick laugh and ran his hand along the side of her face. She turned away from him and he laughed again, slightly stepping back as his eyes scanned over her.

"What are you going to do with it?" She asked, "Why are you here, working for him?"

"Being here isn't my choice, dearie, I'm as mush of a prisoner as you," he said to her as his wide eyes moved down her body. His hands moved to hold her waist and he leaned in towards her ear, whispering, "but at least he left me with someone to play with."

All of the light drained from her face as he laughed. She moved to attack him, but he halted her fists from coming any closer, "That's it then?" She shouted as he turned away, allowing her arms to fall to her side, "You are going to give in to his power and leave me chained here?"

"Like I said, dearie, I have no other choice," he flashed her a quick smile and took a step towards the open door.

"You're a coward!" in a blink of an eye his hand was around her neck and his face only inches from hers.

"A feisty little Princess, aren't we?" he asked her roughly, tightening his grip on her neck, "If I were you, I'd learn how to pick your battles. I'm not your enemy, dearie, but I can be."

"Why don't you kill me like my parents?" She choked, gagging for air.

He laughed, releasing her from his grip, "Now, that wouldn't be much fun, would it?" His dark green eyes searched hers. She pulled away from him again and he turned her chin back, meeting her eyes, "But I can't kill you."