No one should die for me. Fenris looked torn. He'd always fought to be free; to abandon his companions at the first chance he got. Now it was different - he didn't want to see Hawke or Shiloh take the punishment for his decision. "Hunt . . . the dragon?" Fenris clenched a hand into a fist as he felt his own power returning. Something had changed. The broad-shouldered male growled as he regarded Venra's offered paths.
"How would you keep us under your thumb, woman?" He took a step forward, though it was merely for show. "Do you plan on releasing us once the dragon is dead?" Fenris' black eyes flashed with anger. "No. You wouldn't." He glanced to Hawke, who showed signs of being alive yet. Shiloh looked as good as dead, but Fenris wasn't about to think that she was. "You . . . want too much."

Fenris seemed to mellow out then; a sudden expression came over him as he stepped back again. He looked tired; he appeared ready to just listen. "You might be giving me a choice," he said quietly, his eyes lowering a bit, "but I am going to ask for more. I want to know where you found me." It sounded as though Fenris was actually considering this "deal."
-

I can't just leave you here. Not again.

The dark elf hissed as the blade point dug up under his jaw. Behind him, Lish laughed.

I've left you before.

His blue eyes flickered over to Shiloh before he shivered. He felt his magic returning swiftly. It was like a rush of water flowing over him. The mercenary fingered the ring on his hand before considering his disappearing act. Could he just leave them again? Venra had them: both her and Lish would suspect his sudden reappearance later on.
Jarlaxle tried to ignore the warm liquid that trickled down his throat. If he didn't leave now, he was dead. If he left, he might not be able to find them again.

Shiloh had tears coming out of her eyes as she lay unconscious in the man's arms again. Her mind wandered to where Jarlaxle was. You'll die... and we will be apart again.... I would... kill myself.... Please live... I want you to live.... The man holding her started to walk away from the group to put her in the wagon they had brought. The fight was way too easy and the men hated that they couldnt get a good fight out of these people.

Venra looked at the man as he walked away with her little prodigy, then back to the elf. "Well you all will live comfortable lives if you stay with me willingly. If not then i have my ways. I'm not going to pain the picture out so much to make you want to stay, but i will tell you the truth. That girl that my servant just took away is going to be with me at all times while you and your girlfriend are going to be doing things for me when i ask for it. Luckily for you, I need people that want to hunt dragons. So I'll play it out to your strengths. As for your last request..." The woman walked over to the elf and put a finger on his chest. Her eyes told him to do nothing to her or Hawke and the other girl would surely die. She was a tricky little vixen who also had stuff up her sleeve in case she was captured. One was Lish, and another was the blades she kept hidden on her in case she couldnt trust Lish to come help her. "I'll take you to where you came from. You wont like it though." She whispered in his ear. "If you really want to know better where you came from, you should ask the drow behind you who is about to get his throat slit."

Fenris tensed as Venra approached. He would have struck her had the warning not been so blatant. The elf didn't even react when Venra mentioned his "girlfriend." "I won't sell myself into your service," he growled, glaring at the woman as her finger hit his chest. His resolve seemed to flicker when she mentioned his home town, but Fenris regained his feral mask swiftly. So swiftly, in fact, that his hand shot up to strike Venra in the jaw in an attempt to stun her.
"I have been working to be free for every day I draw breath. I am not going to walk into your realm of slavery."
-

Jarlaxle clenched his eyes shut, gritting his teeth. I love you. The drow hissed something in his own tongue before a vicious burst of shadow consumed both Lish and himself. In the mere moment when Lish was stunned, Jarlaxle acted. A blade flicked from a hidden sheath at his wrist. Jamming it back, he felt it connect with Lish's thigh: it embedded itself deep into the bone, drawing a cry from his attacker.
He didn't stop. Jarlaxle snarled, slamming his head back into Lish's face. The blade fell away from his neck, giving the drow the opportunity to spin and flick another blade into his hand. This one stayed attached to the underside of Jarlaxle's wrist - and it was stabbed into Lish's ribs. True to his blood-thirsty nature the dark elf snapped the blade off of its hilt, leaving the blade buried in the man's side.

Lish flickered into his realm of speed, but it was altered by the darkness and teleportation.

Shiloh silently shifted in the cart. " love you too." She mouthed in her sleep. The man watching her got very confused until he looked back and saw Jarlaxle had been engulfed in shadow. The men holding onto Beth, brought her to the cart as well and threw her in. The first thing she did was go over to Shiloh to see if the girl was alright. With a sigh of relief, she layed down as comfortably as possible in the cart. Her feet were bound once inside so she couldnt escape period.

Venra looked displeased as the punch came toward her. Her quick movement forced a blade into the elf's arm, but not before she got clipped in the side of the neck while dodging. She backed up quickly, putting her hand up so the men didnt go after Fenris. "No, dont. I'm offering this man his choice. If he doesnt want to join us then he wont see the woman and the girl ever again, but thats his own choice." A smile crossed her face as she backed up into the crowd of men behind her. Of course her movements were sensual as she watched Lish for a second before putting her gaze back on Fenris. "He wants to be free so badly, but what about the freedom of his friends. Ill let him make his 'free' decision on his own." Something flickered in her eye sight as she looked towards where Jarlaxle had been locked by Lish. They disappeared in shadow, but the shadows on the wall flickered. She showed a flicker of annoyance as she flicked her wrist to tell the men to fall back to the cart. "Well my dear. Say good bye to your friends. If you want to help them, you know where to find us." With that, all the men except two were on horses, leading the cart away. Two men got into the cart with the girls. One held onto Hawke, pulling her onto his lap and holding a knife to her throat. He snickered at Fenris as they pulled away. The other drove the cart away. It was as if the whole group was daring him to do something.Venra stayed on her horse and waited to see if Lish came back to the land of light. The two guards who stayed behind, took up protective positions next to her.

(Wheres Ameika? I miss her posting. Are we leaving her behind?)

((I don't know where she is. :cry: Ameika: we miss you!

And sorry I didn't finish that last post with Jarlaxle and Lish. :sweat: I planned on having it done when I posted, but had to leave to go see "Fright Night." ;)))

Lish tsked in disappointment as he waved goodbye to the mercenary. Holding out an empty vial, he tossed it to the ground and flickered back into the real world. The blade he'd used to nick Jarlaxle's throat was poisoned. He wouldn't last long.
The mercenary leader stood unsteadily for a few moments before reorienting himself. He saw Venra, and couldn't help but smile. "He'll be dead by morning," Lish said, his hand moving up to his side. Blood stained his dark clothing, but he didn't seem to mind. Instead, he forced himself to step toward the others. While he walked, he ignored the burning from both blades: one still embedded in his leg, the other a loose blade somewhere in his side. Perhaps it was his insanity that kept him walking. "I have what I need."
In his hand was a scaled ring - it would lead them to Raziel.
-

Tossing the blade away with a hiss, Fenris almost went after Venra. It was the group of men that kept him from doing something foolish. As the cart rumbled away, his black gaze grew menacing. "Take me with you," he finally spat, looking frustrated. He didn't want to lose Hawke - though he told himself that the only reason he was doing this was because he owed the mage. She'd saved him, so it was his job to return the favor.
He stepped forward, giving Lish a look that would have killed him had he been paying attention.

The pale youth merely smiled and climbed up into the saddle behind Venra. He kissed her neck while leaning against her, nipping at the tender skin with a sigh. He was pleased - Jarlaxle would be dead by morning, they had their prisoners . . . and pain never made him unhappy. If anything the constant feel of the blade in his side sent shivers up his spine (and threatened to drag him into unconsciousness).

Venra smiled as she won the battle it seemed. The elf was completely annoyed with that fact, she could tell. He was about to attack her. Lish was now in the saddle behind her, kissing her sensually. Pleased with the fact that he had killed the drow, just like he planned. The blade had been poisoned. She knew that. Now it was up to them to tell Shiloh about Jarlaxle's death. It would devastate the girl into submission. At least, that's what she figured. "Well my love. I guess we can go home. Fenris has graciously agreed to hunt the dragon with us." She smiled down at the elf who was being ushered along with them. "Get him a horse boys." The men brought a horse for which they let Fenris climb up on and pulled it along with their own horses.
When the group finally got back to the fortress, Fenris was ushered to a nice comfortable room where he would be staying. "Ill let the girl go to him later. For now i need her." The men went over to the cart where Hawke was now alone. Shiloh had been taken to Venra's chamber where she was placed on pillows and chained to the wall again. Venra walked with Lish to her room where she laid him down on her bed. Hawke now entered with just her hands tied. "We have your friend now. He is willing to cooperate with us and we will let you stay with him if you do me this small favor." She looked over at Lish who was laying on the bed. "Heal him."

Hawke was about to argue with the woman and demand her release, but then the woman said she had Fenris. Her eyes watered slightly, but she controlled it. Anger built up inside her. They had just gotten the girl out, and for what? To be taken back in and forced into servitude? This was not what she expected. Unfortunately it now went through her head that they might threaten to hurt Fenris as well. She walked over to the two. "I need my hands to heal him." The guard holding her cut the bonds which allowed her to heal the male. The blades were taken out of the mans wound, though she did leave a little sliver in one of the rib bones, just because she could. She healed the wounds that way. Once finished the guard pushed her over towards the door for her to exit. With a quick glance, she saw Shiloh on the wall and had to fight the urge to help the poor girl. With the man pushing her, it wasnt that hard. A few minutes later, She walked into the room where Fenris was. The door slammed behind her. When she saw the elf, she ran up to him and gave him a large hug, even if he didnt want one. "I thought they were going to kill you back there."

Venra smiled as the woman was taken away. She kneeled down beside the now healed Lish. "How do you feel my love? If you want, that girl is all yours, I can put her through pain for you."

Fenris rode back with the group, looking mightily uncomfortable as they headed back to the camp. They'd just broken away from these people . . . and now he was coming back willingly. The dark-skinned male shook off the hand that led him, and turned his gaze to his room. It was more than he'd ever had: lush, comfortable, well-furnished . . . there was even a bed with many pillows. Everything smelled of wealth - Fenris felt out of place as he stepped forward to investigate.
He didn't wander about much before sitting on the bed, his head in his hands. What have I chosen? Would he be able to free himself easily? He was no longer a free man . . . and worse yet, he was back in the hands of the woman who'd created him.
He thought of Shiloh and her involvement in his past . . . and of Jarlaxle's involvement as well. Was everyone in his upbringing? Fenris growled, glaring at the floor between his feet in frustration. He looked up suddenly when he heard someone enter the room. His black eyes widened when he saw Beth coming toward him. By the time the door slammed, he had Hawke in his arms.
Stiffly wrapping her in a hug, Fenris roughly grasped either side of the mage's face. Making her look up at him, the elf met her gaze for many moments before resting hs forehead against hers gently. "I'm sorry." He spoke of his earlier actions against her; of their entrapment; of every harsh word he'd ever spoken.
-

"I always end up like this," Lish breathed, smiling at Venra as she knelt beside him. "And you're always saving me. Poetic, don't you think?" His pale lips curved into a grin as he stroked her cheek gently. "You're so beautiful."
With a chuckle, he glanced toward Shiloh. "Now that he's gone, we should put her through more pain than she's ever felt."

Beth was now in Fenris' grasp. His forehead was on hers and he had spoken an apology, that was it. It was very man moments before either of them spoke. They just stood there with their heads together. What would her brother say if he saw that both had been captured like this or even that they could show how they felt around each other. Fenris always acted differently with her brother around. It always seemed that he hated everyone. Now he was showing affection. Who would have thought that was possible. Finally, she looked up at him and walked him over to the pillowfied bed. "Its fine." The blush on her face was going a bit redder. "This is the way you've always been. I wouldnt expect anything differently." Trying to hide the blush, she smiled at him. "Anyways, how are we going to get out of here? And what do you think their doing to the girl? I saw her chained up to the wall in Venra's quarters."

Venra smiled as he stroked her cheek. "It does seem that you get yourself into a lot of trouble, dont you think?" She turned towards the sleeping girl. "Now that hes gone, I was thinking she would become our little pet and toy. So yes, a lot of pain should do her good." Smiling up at Lish, she realized something. "And what about the other two? I dont feel like making it so that they have a chance to escape again. Thats no fun." She smiled sadistically at the man.

"I don't want to think on it." With a sigh, he sat on the bed and stiffly pulled his arm away from Beth. It seemed that his sentimental moment was still going to be a bit awkward. "She can't be happy." The elf slowly took in the woman's blush (that she'd tried to hide), though his own features remained impassive. "We can't stay like this."
Despite the lush comforts they were offered, they were still caged beasts. Fenris clenched his fists, taking in a quick breath upon doing so. He immediately moved to use of the pillows as shredding material - he went to work covering the gash on his arm. It wasn't deep, but it stung. "We have to keep watch on how things are run. We need to find a place to slip out."

His onyx gaze moved back to Beth, staying on her features for a few moments longer than necessary. "I thought I was going to leave you, Hawke." There was a moment, back when Venra gave him the choice, that Fenris thought of just leaving. He seriously considered it.
Tying the fabric tightly about his arm using his teeth and free hand, the male frowned. I almost walked away from you and left you to die.
-

"You never said they would be without pain, did you?" Lish chuckled, his maroon eyes following Venra's movements. "The other two will escape unless they are too weak to do so. We need to give them a bit of incentive to stay, don't you think?" His pale fingers twirled a bit of her loose hair, and Lish couldn't help but smile constantly.
"As for Shiloh . . . she is ours. For anything and everything."
-

Darkness.
Jarlaxle felt the weight of the world pressing down on him. He'd sat down to rest after getting away from Lish, only to find that he'd been poisoned. The bottle was in his hand now: a dead weight. The dark elf felt like there was no energy left in him; everything was weak and useless. His mouth was dry; it was so difficult to open his eyes. Worse yet was the pain. It was a steady burn that made its way through his body starting with his throat.

The instant he'd realized he was poisoned, Jarlaxle had gone to his trinkets and other means of healing. None of it had worked. He'd gone through solution after solution only to find that not one of them had any effect . . . except to speed the taint along.

Now he called to his teleporting ability, trying to summon the darkness to carry him elsewhere. Where could he go for help? His companions were all captured and under surveilance . . . and he was dying. Wisps of blackness swirled and clawed at the drow as he tried to concentrate. He lost consciousness just after the smoke coated him.

Beth understood what the elf meant. It hurt to hear that he was about to leave her behind of course, but she knew that it was a terrible choice to be forced onto him. It was either serve the person who created what he is now which he hates, or leave a friend to be in that service alone with no help. "I'm sorry you had to make that choice. I didn't mean to be captured, they just found a way to weaken me. If only i didnt rely on my magic to be strong like you or that drow. I could have fought harder and neither of us would be in his mess." She covered her face with her hands. Suddenly, she stood. Something popped into her head. With the nice accommodations that they were given, they might as well play nice with the Vengar's... She found out the name from one of the guards. Of course it fit perfectly towards who they had been captured by. As soon as she thought of it clearly, she faced Fenris. "How good is your acting?" She asked quietly. "If we play along with them for a little while, you can train me so i dont have to rely on magic. This way, we can fight our way out if we have to without them being able to weaken me so easily." She looked at the elf a little more sympathetically this time. "It'll probably be hard, but if we dont do anything to get them aggravated with us, we might be able to live like this until you believe that we are ready. Its better than being in a dungeon" At this point she had completely forgotten about the girl they had rescued to get into this mess. She started to heal the elf's wounds so he didnt have to slice up too many pillows.

Before Venra could say anything, Shiloh woke. Tears ran down her face. Her connection was fading with Jarlaxle. She could feel him in sorrow and despair as he slowly died. She started to sob to herself which made Venra smile as she tucked herself into a little ball.

Venra heard the commotion of the pillows as the girl slowly started to curl herself tightly in the fetal position. "Well would you look at that. I dont think we have to tell her about her lover." She turned back to her lover, a very large smile on her face. "Well now, I believe you have a very fun point about those two. As for her, I'll let you start off the pain since she was more of one in your side then my own. I think I'm going to go visit our other guests to make sure their... comfortable." Her smile was sadistic as she stood, letting her hand touch his cheek then fall. Her steps were slow as she left her lover in her room with the girl. When she got to the door on the other hand, her steps were quick. The Guards stepped behind her and with her as she went towards her guest's room.

"Acting?" Fenris frowned and smiled grimly. "I suppose we'll have to see how well I can play pretend, now won't we?" He knew that he wasn't good at it . . . but their lives were on the line. Eternal slavery, or a chance at freedom through tricker. The elf was definitely willing to try.
He was deathly silent as Hawke went on about how she'd gotten captured because she was a mage . . . but Fenris thought over the situation from a different perspective: they'd all gotten caught, no matter what their profession was. Perhaps Hawke might have stood a better chance against the Vengar if she'd been able to physically fight back, but that was an uncertainty. A male fighter nearly always had the advantage over a female just because of the natural differences. He was startled when she suggested he help train her.
"Train you?" His pupil-less eyes filled with thought. "Teach a mage to fight?" The beginnings of a smirk twitched his lips. "I've never even considered it before." But Hawke was right: learn to fight, bide their time, and then break free when they could.

Though he'd never been a man for many words, Fenris chuckled; instead of nodding, as he might have done earlier, the elf spoke. "Consider it done." He would teach Hawke - and they would free themselves one way or another.

He was silent for a while before meeting the woman's gaze. "You . . . are different. I don't think of you like other mages." Fenris' black eyes were almost soft. "Are we friends, Hawke?"
-

Lish chuckled as Venra left, nipping at her fingers when she pulled away. By the time she had left, the mercenary leader had stepped near their prisoner. His attention switched . . . and along with it, a bit of his personality.
"You never cease to amaze me, Shiloh." He watched her cringe as she felt Jarlaxle's condition. "Things could have been so different had you chosen the right side." Wrinkling his nose, he reached down and pulled Shiloh into a sitting position. "You wouldn't have to go through this."

His fingertips became like ice then: dull, aching pain radiated through Shiloh's wrist as he kept hold of her. This form of torture came from Jarlaxle - Lish had snagged it along with the ring he'd been looking for. Both were now on opposite hands: Raziel's scaled ring on his right, the temperature control on the other. "You can feel it, can't you?" His maroon eyes sparked with laughter. "You can feel Jarlaxle dying."

Shiloh didnt want to move. She didnt want to be tortured by Lish. She didnt even want to live as her lover lay dying somewhere she would never be able to find him. Of course, the man had to have his way and forced her into a sitting position, where she sat on her knees, hands in her lap, silently crying. The tear drops showed on the skirt she was wearing and shimmered on the bare leg that the skirt wasnt able to cover. His fingertips felt like ice as he kept them on her skin. That dull ache was all too familiar. She looked at the fingers which held her, then up them until she saw the ring she was looking for. Her eyes lingered on it. Her lungs filled with air that was trying to force itself to release in painful screams, but she wouldnt allow it. He was right. If she hadnt broken the rules and tried to see Jarlaxle then they wouldnt have gotten into this mess in the first place. Lyna would be alive. Starlyn would still be in power. Lish wouldnt have the power vendetta against them. This was all her fault. Everything she had done led up to this point. All of it. Now her lover was dying even though she thought she had made it preventable. Despair showed through her eyes. Her breathing became harder and uncontrollable. Her whimpering came out clear as day. Sobs started to form instead of her crying.

Tear streaked eyes slowly looked down towards her fists which now were clenching themselves then slowly up to face the man. The sobs werent very loud, but they were painful. Her teeth were gritted before she closed her mouth in sorrow for the man she was losing. Every tear spoke a loud yes towards Lish that she could feel Jarlaxle dying, but she knew that wouldnt be enough to "convince" him. In other words, he would want to hear the pain in her voice as she spoke the words she didnt want to. "Y...Yes. I can." With the words spoken, she looked back down at her knees. The sobs started to come out even louder now. Her head filled with all the thoughts she had of the man. They were truly in love, but now that was taken away by Lish and the woman she hated the most in her life. She was their puppet now. Forever in their servitude. If Lish wanted her as his toy, she was pretty sure Venra would encourage it instead of object. All of this made the girl want to cry even more, but now it seemed, with everything going on in her mind, she couldnt. Her physical sobs had ceased to exist and all she wanted to do was sit there, staring into the darkness of the shadows. Her heart....

Her heart felt like it shattered into a thousand pieces as she stared into the shadows she could see in between the pillows. The chains glowed brightly as the held her. Her power felt uncontrollable throughout her body. It was like it was trying to leak out and wreak havoc, but the chains had forced it to stop. The expression on her face was emotionless as her eyes glowed a bright green-blue color. She looked up at Lish. The tattoos that never showed on her body were now glowing brightly through her skin. It seemed that the Lyrium had mixed with her aura and was now showing itself in its true form. All the power could be seen through the girls body, but it was all being forced away through the chains. Pain and anger showed on her face until the effects disappeared and the girl just sat the way she had before all of this happened. Her hands were clenched in her lap, her head was down, looking at the shadow. Tears fell from her eyes once more.

Beth felt something at that moment as she was about to answer Fenris' question. It was some sort of power surge. Something big had just happened. As she was about to speak on it, the door opened and in walked the hated woman with as many guards as she thought the woman would need to invade a small village home to pillage. There were about 8 men in total. Two stood guard inside. Four stayed next to Venra, and the last two took guard outside the door in case the inside was taken out.

"Good evening Darlings." Venra said as she walked in and over to the table that had some fruit on it. She took some of the fruit and popped it in her mouth, savoring the taste. "You two look healthy and fit. I do need to tell you something though. In order to stay in such." She sighed with delight. "High accommodations, there is a price. You will both be put through pain."

Beth glared at the woman and almost felt like jumping her, but the woman stopped her in her tracks.

"Now i never said that there wasnt a little pain to go along with you being here, I just said i wouldnt kill you." The men from outside moved in and the eight of them grabbed the two in the room. Two of them held Hawkes arms onto a wall as the other two ripped the back of her shirt. Her wrapping was still on though. They didnt touch it. The two then moved onto help the four with Fenris. They did the same to him as Venra pulled out her spiked whip from under the bed. It was more fun to surprise them with what was in store then to lead them on. "Five Lashes each i think should do the trick."

((GAH!! I want to reply so bad, but I need sleep! I'll post tomorrow!! :eager:))

(Thats fine hun. Ill get youpr post when your not so sleep deprived ^_^)

(hey sorry guys i had gotten a job and then my computer got fried by lightening durring a storm through the phone line so i am finally off from both jobs and am at the libary up here)

((Ameika! :kiss: We've missed you, deary. I'm sorry about your computer! That really stinks. :())

Lish watched Shiloh's tears with a look of satisfaction. "I'm glad you can feel it," he whispered, his expression darkening. "I took him from you just like you took her." Like Starlyn - he would make Shiloh feel the same pain he'd felt for her. Of course, it was different . . . for Lish didn't have the same connection to Starlyn as Shiloh had to Jarlaxle.

There was a strange surge of power that made the mercenary leader pause. Watching as her bonds glowed, and then her features grew more feral, Lish bore his fangs (yes, he has fangs. He's . . . just too odd to be completely human, but I don't quite recall what he really is :sweat:). When Shiloh looked down at her hands again, the male finally lashed out. He backhanded her, knocking her back as far as her shackles would allow.
"I thought it would be harder to destroy him," he said, maroon eyes filling with mocking hatred. "But he was too worried about you."
-

Fenris glanced toward the door when he felt the power surge. Hawke looked ready to speak, but the door opened before she could utter a syllable. The broad-shouldered elf slowly got to his feet, knowing that the group of guards that accompanied Venra was a sign of trouble. Her sweetened words did nothing to ease the feral look in his onyx gaze.

His markings pulsed with their soft glow as Fenris turned his glare to the guards who approached him. They weren't phased - it seemed that they'd been through enough to know that their master was more frightening than an animal backed in a corner.
"If you enjoy pain so much, why don't you move to hell?" Fenris snarled, shoving the nearest guard away as they closed in. Unfortunately there were four of them. There was a scuffle in which the elf seemed to gain the upper hand, and then lose it . . . and then come out with a new bruise along his jaw. Then he saw Hawke.
With a growl that would have made a dragon proud he tried to go to her. That was when two of the others turned to help. Four men was too many to deal with, let alone six. Fenris was swiftly brought to his knees.

Knowing that words were empty (as he'd always thought, anyway), Fenris refused to stop struggling. A few of the guards would walk away with sprained, broken or crushed bones . . . but the elf knew he couldn't overwhelm all six of them. Just seeing the whip made his struggling more fierce. Hawke was going to be struck with that weapon.

The mage was going to be hurt - and Fenris felt his need to protect her surge through him like an undeniable rush of adrenaline.

Riya stared up at awe at Raziel's full hieght, it was intimidating but only to those who were not fascinated by them, yes she was scared just a bit, but more that he may knock her to the ground with a swish of his tail or a flutter of his wings, but she smiled anyways, listening to him thrumming, she got even more shy when she listened to what he asked about why she asked her question. "Well um......you told me that you haven't been there for years cause you were being chased so.......if you keep running away from home they will find you easier right?" of course she was speaking in a small voice that seemed to get smaller as she said each word to him, soon drawing small circles onto his scales as if she was embarassed that she had touched a touchy subject with him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck like he told her too, which caused her to tuck her feet carefully under his wings, she was glad for the protection considering she didn't know if his scales would cause her harm like she had read. She held her breathe as they luanched into the sky, clinging to him as tightly as she could get so that she wouldn't fall off, she laughed when she heard his mental laugh, finally breathing since they took off, even lossening her grip a bit. She opened her eyes and sat up some as she started to look around them careful not to move to much in case she fell from his back, laughing more at the sights thst she saw before she went back to hugging his neck. "well i am beneath anyone....i even with the humans i am beneath them.....it isn't new to me so why not go back?" she said to him mentally her voice just as small and shy as it was when she spoke to him, her once wounded cheek pressed against his neck as she watched the world far below them.


(yea so now i have to get off and i have no clue when i will be back on again but until then i hope this post id good and helps out love yall and until next time)

(AMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I MISSSESSSS YOUUUUUU.... COME BACK!!!! I know how you feel about the computer thing. My computer keeps crashing cuz of the update its trying to download off of my school network. So i have to use my old one.)

Shiloh was knocked off her knees away from the wall with Lish's backhand, then yanked by the wall when the chains werent able to go any further. Her body hit marble floor as she fell. There was just a small shock from when she hit the floor, but she got up anyways. She moved closer to the wall so that she was actually able to. She then got up and looked at the man. "Then why are you keeping me?" She didnt want to coax him, but it was in her nature. If she couldnt get out of the shackles, she wanted to coax him to hurt her enough to force him to take the shackles off of her. "You killed him because he killed that bitch, so whats the point of keeping me? Your revenge is over." All she wanted to do was go find Jarlaxle. Her heart felt broken and she felt emotionless... Heartless.

Beth wanted to fight, but she felt helpless at this point in time, but because Fenris was fighting them, the guards that held her started to twist her arm to make sure she couldnt fight. She screamed in pain. Being handled like this, she knew why Fenris hated it so much. It was torturous and she couldnt stop the pain whatsoever

"I think you better stop fighting Fenris. Your only making it worse for your friend here." Venra was smiling evilly as she watched Fenris try to kick the crap out of the six guards that held him. She slowly twirled the whip. The knives on the end of the whip hit the ground with a clank every time. She then whipped it in front of her at the woman. Hawke screamed in pain again, this time slashes were left in her back as deep gashes. It was like pain Hawke had never felt before.

Raziel hooked his neck so he could look back at Riya, his red-glazed eyes flickering with sorrow. I'm sorry you were treated so poorly. His tongue flicked out to tickle her cheek before he focused on the wide space before them. Someone so pretty shouldn't have to deal with that sort of pain. The dragon growled softly, letting them dip out of the higher skies so Riya could see more of the ground beneath them.

The golden creature knew that she'd been a bit frightened at first. The way Riya had edged herself onto his back showed that she thought what many others did: that his scales would harm her. Don't worry - that's only on my tail and legs. He seemed to chuckle again as the girl settled in and enjoyed herself. Riya even got the courage to sit up and look around before returning to her position against his scaled neck.
Raziel kept his wings beating powerfully against the wind and sky, soaring low enough to see the herds of sheep and cattle as they munched on their noontime snack (yes, they slept very late). Feeling her cheek against his soft scales (they felt a bit like bumpy leather), the beast whuffled against the wind. I . . . suppose it wouldn't be terrible. They wouldn't go to my homeland to look for me, and the other dragons may ignore my presense. If he avoided certain areas, they would be fine.

His course altered a bit - Raziel's leathery wings tilted a bit to point them in a different direction. It will be dangerous, he thought to her. I may not be able to protect you from everything.
-

"I'm keeping you," Lish lowered his voice, looking down at Shiloh with his eyes narrowed, "because revenge tastes sweeter when you have someone who suffers." The merc leader snarled when the girl spoke of Starlyn, bringing hand to clamp on the side of her neck and shove her against the wall. The ring on his hand immediately responded - a burn seared into Shiloh's flesh.
"Don't speak of her that way, you cur!" Rage flit over his features as Lish growled, his temperamental status making him tremble with anger.
-

He hated responding to Venra like a dog to his master. Upon hearing Beth's cry of pain, he glared at the guards holding her with murder in his eyes. His struggling mellowed a bit when he heard the knives hit the ground - and his black eyes widened ever so slightly. No . . . not to Hawke. The elf knew what was coming, but he couldn't steel himself for another's pain. It was one thing to tough it out himself, but seeing Hawke tortured. . . .
"No!" His cry echoed Hawke's scream of pain. Blood splattered on the ground nearby, making Fenris cringe. As Venra twirled the whip to strike again, he lunged against his captors as though trying to block the blow from hitting the mage. He could deal with his own pain, but Fenris refused to let Venra hurt Beth. Five lashes with a weapon like that could leave her near death . . . or worse.

Shiloh couldnt help but smile. The man was angry that she had mentioned anything about Starlyn. He grabbed her by the neck and forced her at the wall. The ring burned into her skin as he did so. She had a mark where it had burned her that looked like a slight hicky. As she came in contact with the wall, she put her hands up to protect her head from hitting it too hard. She tried to breathe as he still held her in place on the wall. "So you did love her. Even when she didnt love you back." At this point it actually seemed that she just wanted Lish to kill her. She wanted to die like Jarlaxle died.

Beth was being handled even more heavily now that the elf was fighting again. "I told you, Stop trying to move and she will be fine. You are the one hurting her." The whip lashed out again, hitting Beth in the back again. Venra had a large smile on her face as she whipped the woman. Blood spattered on the floor again. Hawke's screams of pain were louder then ever as the knives dug passed the other lashes. Hawke almost passed out from all the whipping. The two men had to hold her up even higher to make sure they didnt get any of the lashings.

"Yes," Lish hissed, gritting his teeth. "I loved her." He didn't deny that Starlyn hadn't loved him back - honestly, he wasn't all too sure. The words infuriated him, nonetheless. "Shut your mouth, you insolent pig!" His entire hand was a branding iron now, and he fought the urge to reach for the blade at his hip. He'd told Venra she could use Shiloh - he'd promised he wouldn't kill her. That promise was becoming harder to fulfill.
He slammed her back against the wall again, growling as his other hand came up into her ribcage. The speed that carried the movement allowed for extra strength - and a clear shot in the exact middle of her core. Lish was sure to hit where it hurt - and she wouldn't be able to breathe well for the next couple days.
"You keep silent about Lyn!" Somehow a searing bit of pain raked through Lish's mind. Just thinking about Starlyn was like rubbing salt into an open wound.
-

Letting out a grunt as he was forced back to his place, Fenris clenched his eyes shut and tried to block out Beth's screams.
You are the one hurting her.
The dark-skinned elf couldn't help but hear his companion's pain and suffering. Warm liquid managed to flick off the blades and hit Fenris' cheek as though trying to rub it all in. "Just stop," he growled under his breath, trembling with the urge to fight. It wasn't his nature to sit still . . . and it certainly wasn't right to know that Hawke was in pain while he did nothing. Fenris fell silent and still (save his shaking), keeping his eyes closed and fists clenched. I can do nothing to help her but stay still. Hawke's torture was worse than any pain Fenris would have physically felt - and it was a strain on his self-control.

Again she was slammed against the wall and then pain seared as he jabbed his other hand inside her rib-cage.The hit to the core was intense. It was painful and it showed her that she was still alive. She knew he had a knife on his belt. It was the knife that she wanted in her, not the fists. He wanted to use it on her, she had seen the hesitation, he just didnt for some reason. What would she have to do to make him kill her? She didnt show the pain heavily as she toppled over from the blow. All the air was released from her lungs. She threw up a little of stomach acid. It hurt to breathe because her stomach felt like it was caved in. She took a little bit of time to get enough breath to speak.

"IF YOU WANT ME QUIET THEN WHY DONT YOU JUST KILL ME! YOU HAVE THE TOOL RIGHT THERE ON YOUR BELT!" Shiloh finally gave up trying to coax him into killing her and just ask why he didnt. She wanted to die. She wanted to be with Jarlaxle in the after life. She was hurting him emotionally, toying with him even just to get him to do something she knew he wanted to do, but he just wouldnt. She couldnt breathe. It had taken all the breath she was able to take in to say what she did. Now she was trying to hold in the sobs that fought their way out. If she started to cry she definitely wouldnt be able to breathe and that was a slow painful death.

Venra smiled. It was getting through to her guest that if he didnt do what she said, she wouldnt hurt him but hurt the one he seemingly had feelings for. It was a nice lesson to learn, the only problem was that she really wanted to whip someone. She turned to him with a smile on her face. She would whip the problem child that was in her room. Whip her into shape so she never disobeyed Lish and herself. "Now you know what i will do if you ever try to disobey me." She dropped the whip. The two guards holding Hawke dragged her over to the pillows that were piled on the floor and laid her down. They then followed Venra as she went to the door, one of them picking up the whip as they went. The six other guards finally let go of Fenris and walked over to the doors as well, making sure he couldnt get to their Lady. Most had been battered and bruised. One had a broken nose, another a broken finger and another had a black eye, so they didnt go without their injuries. With that, they closed the door to let the two have their moment.

Beth tried to get up and move, but the pain was just too much. She couldnt turn on her side, let alone her back. It was just too painful. With the last attempt to stand, her wrappings came off. With embarrassment, she grabbed a pillow and held it to her chest. It was a good thing they had fresh clothes to change into if this happened. They had been put in the closet that was in the room. She looked down at the pillows as she sat on her legs and bent over. Tears still came out of her eyes as she did so, with such pain. It was hard to imagine, earlier in her life, what slaves had gone through with their masters, but now she knew. Growing up on a farm, her family neither had wealth, nor slaves. Her brother became famous so thats when they became wealthy. Now it seemed she was the lowest of the food chain and it was painful. Not just mentally or emotionally, but physically also.

Lish froze when he heared Shiloh speak. Inclining his head, he watched her suffer for a few moments before leaning back thoughtfully. "I see," he said quietly, looking (for the first time since Starlyn was killed) quite sane. His pale features fell into a mask of unfeeling cold . . . and he fingered the blade that suddenly appeared in his hand. "I understand." Yet he didn't make a move to kill Shiloh. Instead, he slid the dagger back into its sheath and smiled mirthlessly. "Unfortunately for the both of us, I'm not going to kill you."
Offering his empty hands as though trying to prove it, Lish tilted his head and regarded Shiloh for many long moments. "I made a promise that I very much intend to keep."
-

Fenris spat a curse after Venra as her guards followed her out. The elf was sure to give the closest one a shove toward the door before he was too far away. His features instantly filled with hatred . . . and he would have gladly murdered one of them if they hadn't been grouped together. When the door was finally closed, the male turned his black gaze to Hawke.

He looked over the blood and torn skin with an expression that changed from hatred to sorrow. "Dear God," Fenris moved toward the bed and looked away to offer the woman some privacy while she snagged a pillow. He was shaking again . . . though this time it was merely the adrenaline leaving his system. Reality was far more painful when someone else was involved.
"Hawke . . ." Fenris reached for her arm, but thought better of it and grabbed a pillow instead. Venra wouldn't be happy, but he wasn't planning on pleasing their new "master." The fabric was soon used as cloth to start tending to the mage's wounds. There was nothing the elf could say that would ease the situation. They both knew that Venra would return later - and they both felt the pain (though perhaps in different ways).

Silently dabbing at the edges of Beth's wounds, Fenris let his features grow cold. If he ever got his hands on Venra. . . .

Shiloh was angry. Her hatred for the man filled every fiber of her body. All he had to do was take the dagger out of his sheath and stab it through her chest or cut any part of her body. He understood and he saw, but it seemed that he was just torturing her some more, playing the game so well. He wasnt going to kill her and he was using the promise as an excuse. Maybe if she attacked him he would kill her. She looked at him fiercely and got up from where she was, instantly coming at him and tackling him to the ground. If he wasnt going to kill her, she would just have to kill herself. She pushed the man tot he ground and went after the dagger that was there, hoping to take it and stab or take a tiny cut out of herself before anyone could do anything.
Unfortunately just then Venra walked in. She ran over to her lover who had just been tackled by the girl and threw the girl off before she could grab at the knife. Two of the guards that had followed her grabbed a wiggling Shiloh and held her against the wall while two more showed their hand to help Lish up. Shiloh kicked and pulled on the guards who were now struggling to keep hold of her. Another guard reeled in all the chains to the wall to make it so that she was basically connected to it. Just because it hurt the girl breathe didnt mean she wasnt able to scream and kick. "NOOOO!!! KILL ME DAMNIT!!! ITS WHAT YOU WANT!!!" She was hysterically crying a this point. Her plan was foiled.

Venra had walked through the door to her room just in time to see Shiloh tackle her love. She grabbed the girl and the dagger, pulling it out of her hand before she could do anything to harm herself. The girl was screaming as she was pulled back into the wall. She was screaming to die? Venra looked in amusement at the girl then at her lover. "What did you do?" She asked calmly. It wasnt like she was blaming him or anything. The girl stopped kicking and screaming to catch her breath and was now just crying on the wall.

Beth flinched every time Fenris touched her wounds. There were six cuts in her back. It was surprising that the elf had said the words he did instead of something like "thats what happens." or "Now you know how it feels." She expected it, but what she didnt expect had come first. Real concern. It was real not fake or anything. Genuine. She sort of liked it. Tears were still flowing from her eyes as she tried to use her own magic to heal herself. Unfortunately it didnt work. The cuts were too deep. She just waited for the elf to finish cleaning her wounds.

Lish was laughing by the time Venra entered. He had been able to shield the blade from Shiloh's hands just long enough to start fading into his realm of speed . . . but it was unnecessary. Shiloh snagged the blade just before he could keep it away from her. When Venra appeared with the guards, Lish merely offered a toothy grin to the girl who was pulled away from him.
It was no surprise that Shiloh had been able to knock him over - but she wasn't going to get the dagger. Venra handed it back to Lish, and he offered a slightly ironic chuckle when he heard Shiloh cry out for death. "It's what you want, girly." Lish reached up and used the hand available to get himself back on his feet. "All I want is to see you suffer," he paused, looking at the chains that bound her, which is what you are doing so nicely at this very moment."
Maroon eyes turned to Venra then. "You really do have impeccable timing, dear." Her question made him tilt his head in amusement. "I only toyed with her." His insanity kicked in again as he smiled innocently. "Of course, she can feel Jarlaxle dying, so I believe I've played my part well so far."
-

((:XD Yes . . . if the situation had been lighter . . . Fenris might have said that. *grimace* He's just so dry . . . and mean. Did I mention rude? :P))

Every time Hawke flinched Fenris was reminded of the blades digging into her skin. Her screams echoed in his mind - her pain wracked his own memories with the feelings of the past. This is . . . how it always was. The elf didn't withdraw the cloth when Beth cringed in pain, but he tried (emphasis on tried) to be gentle. Fenris being soft was like asking a porcupine to blow bubbles out it's ears: not possible. Still . . . he tried.
Setting aside the soaked cloth, Fenris took another scrap and started on the next gash. The silence was so thick he could have broken it by reaching out and wiping it away. After it had become unbearable, he finally spoke.

"I remember this girl," he said quietly. As he spoke his slightly accented voice lowered. "She was younger than me. I don't remember where we met . . . or how we knew one another . . . but I can remember her face." It was a fragment of memory that was slowly entering his mind. For the first time in his life the elf chose to speak his memory out loud. "She was always . . . drawing. She would draw everything." He reached for a third cloth and moved on to Hawke's next wound. None of them were looking close to presentable.
"She would draw us sometimes." His voice lowered to a whisper. "But I don't remember anyone else." Fenris paused, and then resumed his work on the mage's back. "I remember fighting with the others over who she would draw next. We made it into a game. Then one day the girl just disappeared." His brow furrowed. "I remember someone trying to explain it to me, but I was too young to understand at the time. Some of the others tried to keep me from being sad."
There was a long pause. Just when it sounded like he was finished, Fenris sighed. "It feels like someone else's life, not mine." His fingers lightly moved some of Hawke's hair so he could get the highest gash on her back. It stretched over the tops of her shoulders and near her neck . . . and it was bleeding more than the others.

Still frowning, Fenris finally took a larger pillow and used its cover to create bandages. While he worked, he was silent once more.