Purple Feather

Castle

I glanced at the guard. Rather strange, that a guard would be escorting an unfi. Yes, we were often invited for meals. Yes, we were often placed in the castle for work. But... The thing that was strange is the fact that an unfi was being escorted in winter. Winter is the time of famine. Famine. A terrible word. A terrible thought. The hunger, the pain. It's all terrible. All of it. Nothing is good or pretty about the word famine. Famine happens often in winter. Slowly the kingdom is dying and no one can solve the problem. The king tries to save the younger unfis. The name Unfi was supposed to be insulting, but we have come to accept the rich had terrible ways. Strange how the human race sucks up to the powerful and spits on the weak. Sad... Weak beings we are. Acting high and mighty when we are the weakest things out there. Can't be helped. It's just human nature.

The guard sharply grabbed my arm. "Hey!" I protested when his cold iron glove cut into my arm slightly. I winced and glanced down at the cut. There was blood leaking out of the wound. It stung but I ignored it. The promise of food. Why would they spare food in the winter? It's dangerous. Dangerous for the royalty. They need to live, or the kingdom will go into anarchy. Chaos. Until every one of us just... Dies.

So sad, but so true. Humans were born to die. Why am I thinking this way? This isn't like me. "Where are you taking me?" I asked. No reply. "Where are you taking me?" I tried again. Louder this time. No reply. "Answer me before I start resisting!" I ordered and glared at him. I could see him glance at me from under his helm. Still he made no reply. I stopped walking and kneeled down on the ground. "Tell. Me. Where. We. Are. Going." I said and stared at him. He mumbled something and picked me up, tossing me over his shoulder. "LET GO OF ME. THIS IS RAPE! EEEEKKK!" I squealed and punched the armor plates on his back. I struggled and looked for a place where his armor parted and tried to hit there. "Annoyance." I heard him mutter. "Excuse me, sir! Your the one interfering with my day, thank you very much!" I said sourly. "I can manage fine!" I said and slammed my fist on a weak spot of his armor, a small crack in the shoulder. "So starving is managing? Ha! I'd like to see you go one more day on the street and not die." He scoffed. Idiot.

Who does he think he is? Just because he lives in the castle doesn't make him all that. I slammed on the armor again. "Well then let me go and let's see." I said with a smirk on my face. "Unfi, as much as I'd like to see you starve on the streets, orders are orders, and I'd rather not be executed." He said and held me down tighter on his shoulder. "THIS IS RAPE! HELP ME! RAPE!" I called, but of course no one cared. Kora wasn't in ear-shot, and the villagers wouldn't dare to help an unfi at the cost of their life. Sickening. "I am capable of walking on my own! Let me go!" I said and slammed on the armor one last time, leaving a dent. He growled and dropped me. I fell onto my hands and knees onto the thin layer of snow. I gasped at the impact and glared up at him. I stood up carefully. I didn't expect him to actually drop me.

I brushed the snow off of my rag of a dress and looked around. Castle. We were at the castle. I looked up at the stone building. Beautiful. I have never ventured to the castle. The rich were cruel near here. There was a beautiful stained glass mural. It showed a sword, shield, and a purple feather. I knew what they resembled. The sword resembled strength, the shield was defense and protection, while the feather meant peace. I walked up the stairs and shot a glare to the guard who crossed his arms and watched me walk up the steps. I guess it was me from here. I glanced at the cut on my arm. Still leaking droplets of blood. I placed my cold hand on the wound and walked up to the large door.

I grabbed the ring on the door and slammed it onto the wood. I waited for one of the maids to open the door... Nothing. I tried again, slamming it onto the wood. I heard shouting on the other side of the door and then the door creaked open. A young blonde girl in a light blue dress looked up at me "Ehh? Unfi? Um... Come in I guess?" She said, uncertain. She glanced at me, and at my blood stained hand. She gently eased my hand off the wound, revealing the cut. It wasn't deep, but it was untreated. Infections were common to untreated wounds, but I should be fine. The girl grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the warmth of the castle. She seemed to be only ten or so, much younger than me. She glanced up at me and then led me through the halls, refusing to let go of my arm.

(A/N :: OH MY GOD I'M ALIVE! I'm really sorry for abandoning this story, but I'm back now! I had terrible writers block and then just forgot about it... *shot*)

After some time of walking through the seemingly empty corridors, she opened a door and, rather rudely, shoved me in before shutting the door. I looked around and saw books. Shelves and books, shelves and books. For as far as I could see there were shelves and books. I let out a sigh and kneeled on the floor. I wished that the warmth of the castle would last, but it didn't. It was warm but I felt cold. Suddenly, the door opened behind me. I didn't look at it as it creaked open. I heard footsteps from behind me but refused to let my curiosity get the best of me. I kept my head down and eyes closed. 

"Ooh! An unfi in the library? Do you know what time of year it is? You shouldn't be here, I'm sorry but you'll have to leave~!"

"Leave? Excuse me, but I don't want to be here! That knight, Mathus or whatever his name was, dragged me here!" I said angrily, standing up and turning to face the figure behind me.