Vermin

Meeting by Moonlight

Damien's sister Talsa was there to greet us when we arrived. She pulled me into a tight hug, saying how sorry she was and how those bastards hadn't heard the last of us. Her dark hair brushed my cheek, soothing me, but her nails bore the familiar marks of a hunter who had climbed the wall. Why had Damien not gone out? Damien's father, Mr Wood was stirring a rabbit and squirrel stew when we came in. But he immediately stopped what he was doing to greet us. Their house was a little bigger the mine, with three rooms instead of two. The first a kitchen and dinning room, and two bedrooms. One for Damien and his fourteen year old brother Luven, and the second for Talsa and Ellic, their three year old brother.
That night I shared a mattress with Damien, Luven on his other side. He held me all through the night, even when I could feel him drifting off to sleep, his warm breath on my cheek. We cuddled into each over all night, not as lovers, but as friends. And that was all I needed right now.

The next morning was freezing. Luven, Talsa and Damien went over the wall to find breakfast, each refusing to let me come. Instead I was left to look after Ellic, who's brown eyes reminded me too much of Elfie. They had been good friends, Ellic and Elfie. And it was no secret Ellic wondered were his friend was. It didn't take him long to ask the question I'd been dreading.

"Where's Elfie? Why isn't he with you?" He said, tugging on my shirt. Mr Wood froze at the sink. Quietly waiting my awnser. I was silent for a while, until I tried to move my lips, but nothing seemed to be working. After about a minute, Mr Wood beckoned Ellic over, and crouched down next to him, talking softy to him. Ellic didn't ask me anymore questions about Elfie after that.
It was freezing in the cottage. I stuffed, my hands in my pockets, my jacket being washed by Mr Wood, trying to preserve the warmth. Beneath my fingers, a piece of paper brushed again my palm. I closed a fist round it, yes there it was. I pulled it out, and unfolded it. It was a message, a message from Asha. My eyes widened in surprise at the words written down.
Meet me tomorrow night at the wall.
Then I realised, Asha's haste to get back her mirror had not just been to give me and Elfie a last goodbye, but to swap it for this note. Was she crazy? How on earth would she get away for that long? Not to mention it was way to dangerous on my part. But then, if I didn't go, and she had to wait there alone in in the dark ... perhaps I should go, if only to tell her to leave. I stuffed the paper back in my pocket, huffing a sigh.
Apparently the citizens of Tiyrin were not only evil, but stupid too.

The moon had almost reached the top of the sky. Gently I lifted Damien's arm of me, and crept towards the door, swinging my hunting jacket over me.
"Ani?" Damn. He sat up rubbing his eyes. "Where're you going?" His attempt to be stern was stifled by his obvious exhaustion.
"Back to my house." I lied. "I need to see it."
"I'll come with you." He made to get up but I shook my head.
"No. I need to do this alone." Well it wasn't entirely a lie, Damien certainly wouldn't approve of Asha. He dropped back into the bed.
"Good, coz I'm exhausted." A glimmer of laugher shone in his eyes, hidden by his fatigue and worry.
"I'll be back soon." I promised. Hopefully.

I heaved myself over the top of the wall, swearing as my hand scratched against the hard rock. What ever it was Asha needed to tell me, it better be worth it. I was certain she had known it was going to be Elfie who was taken, yet she hadn't said a word to me. Perhaps she wasn't worth meeting tonight, but then, I was already a top of the wall, it would be a waste to turn back now. I kept low, crawling across. An other thing that made me worry. I had no weapons, my fathers hunting knife had been token from me when I was captured. Perhaps that's why I was in such I bad mood, the thought of being vulnerable scared me. Needless to say I was extra careful in the woods. Sticking close to the shadows, alert for any sight of danger that would have me scurrying back up the wall. I waited for an hour, two more. Until I was just about to give up and go back I heard a noise. I pressed my back against the wall, slowly shrinking down to a crouched position.
"Ani?" Came a whispered voice. I breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of Asha's gentle voice.
"Over here." I called quietly, stepping out of the shadows. I looked her up and down, the bottem of her lilac dress was muddy and wet, obvious sighns she had left the house. But as least she wasn't wearing heels, instead, small rose pink flats sat on her feet.
"Anivana I'm so sorry." She began. I couldn't do it, the rage rose up inside of me. Years of anger I was now taking out on this poor girl. I lunged for her, slamming her against the wall. She had the sense not to scream. I growled, showing my teeth, and pushing her wrists and back closer to the sharp, cold rock. She bit her lip as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"How could you not tell me?" I snarled, pushing my boot into her foot. The boots my mother had made me, before the Tiyrin guards had killed her in cold blood.
"I'm so sorry Ani." She whimpered. I scowled.
"Only my friends call me Ani." I spat. She flinched, clearly hurt, but I didn't care.
"Anivana, I didn't know. I swear if I did I would of told you." She was still silently crying, but I had loosened my grip now. Allowing her to move away from the wall, but still keeping a firm grip on her wrists. She wasn't done explaining yet.
"He's safe." She began, even hearing that made me want to sag to the floor with relief. "I went to see him this morning, he's in the old nursery with two guards out side his door." I let go of her. Expecting her to run, but she didn't. She had said room not cell, a small blessing then.
"Is there no way to get him out?" I asked.
"No." She said sympathetically. "His room might be badly guarded, but the rest of the castle isn't." I scuffed my feet across the earth, willing the tears away. The princess lifted her hand as if to touch me, but thought better of it, and let it drop. Good. I didn't need her sympathy.
"What happened to your hand?" She asked, a look of worry and disgust across her face. I looked down at my middle finger, there was no more then stump left.
"Infected cut." I said blankly. "My father had to cut it off." Asha went slightly green.
"Why on earth didn't you see a doctor?"
"A what?"
"A doctor, a person who heals you."
"We don't have doctors, we have to help our selfs. We use plants and water to make mixtures." I said, trying to imagine having someone you didn't know fix you. How would you know they weren't going to rob you instead?
"It makes pulling a bowstring much harder." I said.
"You have a bow?" She said shocked.
"No." I said quickly, she couldn't know Damien had one, she might report back to her father.
"Then how did you kill that deer?" She asked narrowing her eyes.
"With a knife. A knife from my kitchen." I answered. It was the truth. The princess looked unconvinced, but she shrugged her shoulders, turning to leave.
"Wait! Where are you going?" I asked, angry to realise I didn't want her to leave.
"Home." She said.
Home. Of course, it was her home, even if the people inside it were evil. She would have friends there, people who were like her, people who were rich and happy. Perhaps she had a boyfriend there, maybe he was wondering where she was. I refused acknowledge the jealousy building up in my stomach. But all I said was.
"See you soon princess." She turned to face me, pausing for a second.
"Perhaps we can meet again tomorrow?" My cheeks went pink; she wanted to hang out with me?
"Yeah okay, I'll see you here tomorrow." I said, keeping my voice casual.
She gave me one of her glorious smiles in return.

Yayyyyyyyyyy!!!! This is is where the drama starts!! And you thought being kidnapped was dramatic? Just you wait and see!!!

*evil laughter...*
did you know there are tiny microscopic bugs living in your eyes?! ha! bet your grossed out now!

*more evil laughter*