The Dragon Princess

Epilogue

The only thing worse than being captured is being put into a hole in the ground too deep to climb out of. A metal gate lies at the top, opening only wide enough to get a small hand through, letting in some daylight, but most of the time it is dark. Makena lost count at day ten, but then again she doesn't know how long she has really been gone due to drifting in and out of exhaustion. She has been secluded, no idea where Anna, her guard, is, but hopes that her life wasn't ended. Makena knows that Anna would have put up a fight. Yes, Makena ran, but she should have put up more of a fight for herself as well. As it replays in her mind, they captured her too easily. They knew when, and where, she would be, which is surprising to her because no one knew about the detour to the mountain. They knew just how much time they had to make the caravan disappear. They knew Anna would tell her to run for her life and they knew just how long she could run before she couldn't run any more. This was no random heist, a captive of opportunity. No, this was a well thought out, extremely detailed plan that went exactly as it should have.

Makena isn't asleep when the rope is lowered down. Every day they try to talk to her, but every day she refuses. In the chance that she will change her mind, they have held back food for three days, and though Makena is starving, she would rather die than talk to these people. She defiantly stays seated, head leaning against the wall of the hole, staring up at the opening. With the sun shining straight down the hole, she can't see who the person is, but she can see one there. Realizing she wasn't coming up today, the rope is hauled up and the gate is shut. She can hear voices, and for the first few days she tried to hear and understand their words, but it got lost to her.

"Let me try." Her ears perk up at a new voice, or rather a voice she recognizes. "Look, barbarians, you planned this whole thing out just to get her and now if you don't let me talk to her she is going to die down there and your whole plan will be for nothing." Anna; she is sure of it. Makena recognizes that fiery temper. It takes a minute, but she watches as the gate opens again and a smaller form peers over the edge. "Makena?"

Makena laughs to keep herself from crying. It is her. Having spent many days thinking her friend has been murdered, it is a relief seeing her now. "I am here." She answers, trying to stand, but finding it difficult, leaning heavily on the wall. "You are alive."

"Barely." Anna replies with a hint of her sarcasm. "Look, Makena, I can't have you starve to death down there. I have been given their word that no harm will come to you, if you will only come out. You can get food, water, and even rest."

"I would rather not." The younger of the two shouts.

"I know." Anna laughs. "Believe me, I tried to tell them that, but it isn't them asking you right now. Mackie is me, Anna, your friend and your guard. Please, come up." Makena, though weak, smiles at the pet name she has used for many years.

The rope is lowered and it takes a moment of hesitation and a bit more pleading from Anna, before Makena slips her foot into the small loop at the bottom. She ignores the glaring of the light as she breaks the surface, and a few hands are there to catch her, knowing she is weak. Eyes adjusting, Makena sees Anna, leaning heavily on a stick with a bandaged leg and looking more beaten up than she though. "Anna..." Makena stares in shock at her friend.

Anna only shrugs, brushing off her worry. "This is nothing, Makena, really. I would say that you should see the other guy, well guys, but they are all dead so, you can't." The two women embrace, though careful of each other's injuries. "How is your head?"

"It still hurts." Makena admits, rubbing a spot at the back of her head that is still tender.

It doesn't go unnoticed to Anna. "I best have a look at it later, but right now, you need food."