Loving the enemy

4. Panic

I sob, trying to compose myself. The mans hand starts running down my leg again, and I quickly shake my head 'no'.

"Good. When's the last time you've seen anyone from the army?" His eyes show no remorse as he continues to question me.

"Since- since the war started." I croak.

"Tell me."

"They came-" I sob, "to tell us that they would come- come by again if the war would come too close to our village to evacuate us."

He lifts his hand off my leg and continues, "See isn't that hard, is it?"

He sighs as I try to keep my gaze low while my tears silently stream down my face seemingly finding no end.

"Answer me this time. Will someone come looking for you?"

I've dreaded this question the most. It I say no, he could kill me at any time. But if I say yes he'd make sure that if someone was coming to have them taken care of. Fuck.

Frustratedly shake my head 'no'. I don't want to risk getting anyone in danger and it's the truth.

"And you're not lying to me?"

"No," I whisper.

"What were you doing at our camp?"

"I got lost."

"Caper is pretty far from here. What made you walk all the way into the forest?" He asked strictly.

"A fight." I hide my face behind some strands of hair that fall into my face.

"What fight?"

"With my parents."

"And you just disappear into a forest and expect them not to come looking for you?! Stop playing me for dumb."

"I'm not. They won't be coming!" I lower my head even more. They really wouldn't come for me. They'd probably be relieved, I think as a new wave of tears start rolling down my cheeks.

"If I find out that anything you've told me is a lie, you won't live long enough to regret it."

"It's not like your planning on keeping me alive anyways." I mumble under my rapid breath.

He stares at me for a while, shooting daggers at me. I couldn't see it but I could feel it.

"True." He says while getting up and then leaving the tent. I need to get the hell out of here.

I squirm around trying to ease the pain in my ankle, and around my sore wrists to no avail.

Never had I felt more helpless than now. Tied to a pole, in a camp full of men, who make a living by taking lives.

Right in this moment something broke within me and panic started erupting in my chest. I was going to die at the hands of these people. All the myths about their gruesome Walzenorian ways were true. I understand in a way that he can't let me go but why must I be killed?

I weep a while before the tent shortly fills with light because the curtain serving as the entrance to the tent is pulled open and then closed again. I burry my head and curl up as small as I could possibly get, wishing to be invisible.

Steps walk in my direction and soon the leather boots of my captive become visible as I peep out between my knees.

I bite my lip trying to hold back my tears. Showing weakness won't be helping me at all.

"Look at me."

Fuck you.

I don't move, hate and fear consuming me.

"Fine, then. I'm leaving your water and you food in front of you. If you won't speak to me I won't be wasting my time feeding you."

I hear him placing something down on the ground but choose to ignore it. Whatever he's brought me was probably poisoned. I hear the man walk over to his desk and sitting down, which means his back was probably turned to me.

I slowly lift my head just enough to look around. To my surprise there really is a jug of water and a bowl of stew, which quiet frankly smells amazing.

I don't need this monsters mercy. He's going to kill me. If he thinks that soothing me with food before I die is a good idea then he's damn wrong. The last time I ate must've been about a day ago and I don't plan on begging for anything.

I burry my head again and wait for anything that would take me away from my current situation as the drying tears on my cheeks start to itch. Without realizing it I slowly drift away into an inharmonious slumber once more.

———————————————————

Another day had passed and the man holding me captive had not payed much attention to me. My ankle had been healing but my back and buttocks hurt under the pressure of being in the same position for such a long time.

The food and water had been brought away, most likely by Lord Asher as I'd slept.

The tent filled with light once again, leading me to open my eyes only to shortly hold eye contact with the Lord.

I tried dearly not to move, seeing how my ties had rubbed my wrists very sore.

"You hungry?" The man asked as I quickly averted my eyes.

I didn't answer nor did I look at him again.

"I don't care about your wellbeing," he spoke.

"Ignoring me will only disadvantage you."

I look into the opposite corner of the tent trying to ignore his words.

Not caring he resumed his paperwork.

Hours had passed and my stomach was grumbling and paining, yearning for something to eat. I tried ignoring it but the grumbling sound became so audible that the knight had turned to me and raised an eyebrow.

The hunger wasn't even the worst of it. It was the thirst that was killing me. My capped lips burned and my dry mouth felt like a dessert as my throat burned of thirst.

Seeing how I wasn't going to answer, Lord Asher turned away again and had resumed whatever he'd been doing before.

The sunlight creeping through the entrance of the tent had soon faded and evening was upon us.

Lord Asher had gone to wash himself, and I'd averted my eyes once again.

The water running down his back and dripping off his arms from the wet cloth made my unquenched thirst worse.

Anger overcame me as I realized that I'd have to give in to speaking with him.