Cries Of War

Victorious

I had always been small, but defeating Beast made me seem bigger than the world. I had earned my freedom from this hell hole and I couldn't stop smiling. Even now as I'm being escorted to my room to get changed and set free. The Royal guard had their arms around my hands and were pulling me down that familiar corridor. I smiled to myself at the feeling that I will be free.

"Stop," I hear and the guards turn me around to face the King staring at me. "You're not going into your room." He says and I look to him. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that I would win over my freedom.

"Excuse me, what?" I ask, I felt my heart drop and the edges of my vision started fading to grey. I hadn't noticed but I felt the arms of the guards get tighter on me, I must've started to slip.

"Get this woman to the infirmary wing, and then bring her back out to the Pit, please." He says and starts to turn away.

"No, no, no. You CANNOT do that to me. I have worked way too hard for you to take that away from me!" I scream and shout I try to reach for him. "I swear I'll kill you, I swear to you, I will kill you!" I felt my body slump and the darkness in the corners of my eyes began to cover the rest of my eyes. I let out one more perishing scream before I felt myself lose grip on consciousness.

                                                                                        * * *

I peeled my head up off a cold metal table and looked around. My head felt groggy and my eyes took a minute to adjust.

"Ah, so you're awake. Perfect." I hear the king's voice echoed through the room. I stifle a cry that comes out of my mouth.

"You took away my freedom." I bark, my voice is hoarse and cracking. His face turned amused.

"Dear, Sira, you were incredible out in the Pit," He states, walking around the table I sit on. "I thought for sure you'd get crushed. Yet, here we are." He stares intently in my eyes.

"Get to the point." I say aggravated. My legs feel weak and my mind seems to be blurred.

"Sira, how old were you when you were entered into the royal guard?" He asks and I count on my fingers. Honestly, I couldn't really remember considering it was more than ten years ago.

"Seven." I say once I finish the simple math in my head.

"Seven," He repeats, "And you're nineteen now." He says and looks to me for any corrections. I nod my head telling him he was correct. He was pacing around me now and I look down as he counts on his fingers as well.

"You know for a fact I didn't kill him." My mouth spits before I can even think about it. He stops and the guards became stiff.

"Sira, I am afraid that, that issue has already been dealt with. You Elves don't seem to understand when to stop talking about an issue." The King spits. I felt myself sway a bit. The King also noticed he looked to the guards and they put their arms on mine.

"I need you to be the new Beast," he says. Beast, who I killed, had been working for the crown until convicted with poisoning the Queen. Then, he was sent into the pit and fought for God knows how long. And he wants me to be the new him? "You single handedly killed-"

"I'm not an Elf." I say and the King looks at me.

"What?"

"You said 'You Elves'. I'm not an Elf," I repeat and he lets out an awkward laugh. "I'm a Svartalfar. Or a "Dark Elf" if you will." I say and he is left speechless. His cheeks grow red and he clears his throat.

"Nevertheless, Sira, you were incredible, I need you to stay here. Please." He says and he moves toward me. I back up and shake my head. "Sira, this is an amazing offer, what would everyone think if you returned home? They would think you're a scoundrel, an Elf who kills to survive. Mothers would move their children away from you. You would never find a job and your brother-"

"Shut up!" I scream, my face red with anger, "Don't you dare speak about my brother!" I yell to the point my voice is cracking. The King moves his hands into view as he grabs my chin and puts his mouth to my ear.

"Your brother would see you as a murderer," he whispers "Your brother has already forgotten about you." I could practically see the steam coming off of my body, I pried my hand out of the Guard's arms and grabbed the King by his throat.

"I will tear your skin off piece by piece, until I reach my hand into your rib cage and tear out your heart, carefully, so the last thing you can see is the beating in your heart." The guards grab my arms and pull me back. The King brings his hand up his throat and coughs.

"I don't doubt it." Is all he says as they take me away.