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But I Could Not Help Myself If I Could (Gamzee & Castleofglass)
Arsenio sat with his back to his favorite tree, perched on a low branch with a bow in his hand and a quiver of arrows resting next to his legs. He had just turned the ripe age of 18, which meant that he was old enough to learn how to be a powerful elven warrior as well as be on his way to become king. One of his first lessons were to be a sentry for the kingdom, watch for the enemy, and mercilessly shoot them down. Finally, He thought to himself, Today I can stand on watch. I won't let father down. Arsenio gripped his bow every now and then, to make sure he was ready for any surprise attack that the opposing force might pull on him. Despite the oak tree being large, it's leaves kept Arsenio well hidden.
Since his birth, Arsenio was taught strictly to hate the enemy, that nothing but bloodshed came from them. Since then, he couldn't wait to become the age to train and become the warrior he aspired to be. It was in his blood: to fight and die protecting his country. The thought of becoming a warrior sounded more interesting than becoming king, in his opinion, and he was fine with that. He wanted to show his father that he will be his greatest warrior and not only that, his son. Arsenio began to yawn and rub his eyes. He had been there since six in the morning, barely getting enough sleep seeing as he was so excited for the day. He wanted to doze off, but he knew he couldn't. He just simply couldn't. He gripped his bow tight in hopes that clenching his fist would make his blood flow. He blinked his emerald eyes, blew his whiskey-brown bangs from his eyes and watched the ground below him and all around like a hawk stalking for prey. |
---------- Post added 07-12-2013 at 04:23 PM ---------- Ithil stared at the ground, frowning. He'd never been much for the violent ways of warrior and kings. He was a softer child, seventeen years old and still afraid to leave his room. The world was a dangerous place for a young elf, and though he could feel his father's disappoint, he never left the safety of the castle. Today was a special day however, an he knew he'd not be allowed to stay indoors for much longer. It was the day before his eighteenth birthday. He was dressed in an outfit of fine silk as always, given a knapsack, and told to go to the woods. He carried a bow and arrow, though he was no skilled archer. He had food, but he wasn't sure how to prepare it. He had all the tools he needed to survive a week in the woods, but his inexperience made him vulnerable to the creatures in the dark trees. He set off, going a few miles out before deciding to give it a rest. He'd found an ok looking spot, and he set up a small camp. He was close to enemy lines he knew, but this was what he had been told to do, and he'd do it. He climbed a sturdy looking tree, pulled out a book, and began to read. A few hours later, Ithil woke up, having fallen asleep in the tree he'd been using for shelter. His book was on the ground below him, but he didn't go down to get it. Dusk was beginning to fall, and he didn't think going down on the ground would be smart. He tried looking out around him, but the darkness made everything too hard to see. He shivered at the sounds of animals. Wolves if he was correct. He'd never been so alone or in so much danger, and his fear was getting the best of him. |
Out of nowhere Arsenio heard a soft thud from somewhere near where he perched. He pricked his ears and began to sat up straighter, scanning his area once more. He couldn't see anything different with the area. Letting the noise brush off his shoulder as if it were nothing would be completely unlike him. He gathered his things and began to descend his perch. As he came down to its base, he saw a flicker of movement. Quicker with his bow and arrow he shot the darting rabbit straight through its eye. The animal stopped short and thudded to the ground. Not the same thud. He thought as he approached the animal to claim his prize. He loosed the arrow from the animal's eye socket, slung the carcass over his shoulder and began investigating for the noise.
The sun had begun to set and it seemed that Arsenio's search was to no avail. If he could not find anything, he figured he would cook his game and call it quits for the night. Just as he was about to give up, his foot tapped something hard. He looked down to find that a book was laying on the ground; some novel Arsenio had never heard of. Tilting his head, he looked up and almost flinched as he saw that there was another elf perched on a different tree. He began to notch his arrow and hide himself in the dense shrubbery, ready to make his attack. Finally. His knuckles held the end of the arrow tight but he couldn't bring himself to release. He slowly put his ammo down to study the other elf closer. The poor thing seemed to be afraid of his own shadow. What good would he be if he couldn't put up a fight? He softly put his weapon down, pondering what he should do. Its the enemy, Arsenio, kill him already! One voice began to yell at him, while the other whispered to him calmly, What threat does he pose to you? He looks as long as you are. Maybe he's just as afraid as you are. Arsenio wouldn't admit it publicly, but he was secretly afraid most of the time when he was alone, even though it was his duty to learnt he ways of the warrior. He threw the rabbit carcass near the book, wondering what the other elf would do while Arsenio studied him from a hidden and safe distance just in case. |
Ithil looked down quickly hearing a sound below him. He didn't see anyone and gasped slightly. He wasn't sure if he should jump down and make a run for it, or stay and hope he'd not been seen by whatever was on the ground. He stared down a little longer, grabbing his bow and arrow, getting it ready to fire at anything that might move around him. "Hello?" He shuddered, eyes straining against the impending darkness surrounding him. "Is someone there?" He asked very softly, his voice cracking. "I'm armed!" He warned, trying to sound threatening and failing.
Ithil still wasn't quite sure if anyone was in the forest below him. He carefully lowered himself to the ground silently, then took off running, not able to see a thing now that is was practically night. His breath pounded in his own ears and he was sure anything or anyone could hear him. Twigs snapped all around him and he knew he was in trouble. He was soon at the edge of the forest and near the enemy kingdom. He whirled around, dagger in hand, looking for anything that could be dangerous to him. |
Arsenio crouched lower to avoid being seen by the other elf. As he heard him talk, he felt less and less weary. Despite his threats, Arsenio could tell he was scared. He was about to reveal himself, when the male jumped down from the tree and took off running to his family's castle. Not the brightest idea. He chuckled softly to himself and silently began to stalk the boy.
Where the other elf was loud and noisy, Arsenio moved as silent as the other's very own shadow. He had learned to be great at being quiet when approaching people by surprise when he played Assasin with the fellow peasant boys when he was little. He crept up slowly and silently to the elf to the point where he could have flicked one of his silly little blonde braids. The other elf quickly swiveled around so that his side was facing Arsenio's front. It was his only chance to make a grab at the boy. He sprung his hands forward to cover his mouth and keep a firm grip at the wrist that held a dagger he held. "You don't look familiar." He hissed in his ears. Before the other elf could respond, Arsenio tripped him with his leg and pinned him to the floor, smacking away his weapon so that he was unarmed. "What are you doing here, enemy?" He glared at him, hoping his green eyes felt like coals burning into the other's eye sockets. |
Ithil struggled wildly at the grip on him, trying to scream but failing as a hand covered his mouth. His muffled cries eventually ceased as he was slung down to the forest floor, eyes wide and heart pounding in his ears. He could barely see the boy on top of him, but he could enough to tell this was no one he'd seen in his own kingdom. "Let me go." He howled, squirming around in an attempt to either grab a weapon or a stick to bash his captor with. "I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just camping out. I want to go home." He knew the chances of being let go we're very slim and he tried not to cry. He didn't need his enemy to think he was any weaker than he was. "I have money." He croaked. "You can have it if you let me go. I promise to never come here again." He was shivering as the night was a cold one and he was afraid for his life. "I'm no enemy to you. I'm only a child." He promised. "I can't even fight. You wouldn't kill a boy who can't fight would you?" He could only hope that argument saved his life.
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Arsenio kept his gaze on the boy under him, never loosening his grip. He began to untense his shoulders, feeling as if he had captured a fragile bird rather than another elf. He felt the boy shiver and shake under him, and if the boy could act like he was weak and afraid, he was damn good at it. He glanced at the dagger he smacked away from the boy's hand. "So you're saying that if I let you go, you won't try to kill me with that little weapon of yours over there?" He flared his nostrils, "How can I trust you when you were so close to our land?"
Arsenio thought of a better idea. He shifted up so his knees pinned the boy's arms down and began fumbling for some rope that was nestled in his pack. With swift movements, he tied the boy's wrists together and also his ankles. He couldn't trust this one just by mere word. Now that the other was immobilized he decided to raid through his things to make sure that he truly wasn't a threat, and maybe gain something from it. Arsenio lifted the frightened boy's chin up with a firm hand. "Where are your things?" |
Ithil tried to think of where he'd last had the pack. As he'd been trying to get away, he hadn't thought about getting the pack with all of his things. He wasn't even sure he'd grabbed it at all."I..." He thought hard. "I think it's back in the tree.." He said truthfully, struggling against his ropes. "It's not got anything dangerous in it.." He promised. "Just food and water and stuff." He tried to remain as brave as possible, staring at the other elf nervously. "What are you going to do to me?" He asked, squirming some more. "I wasn't hurting you...You don't have to kill me.."
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"I can't just trust you merely on your word, stranger." Arsenio hoisted up his things onto his shoulder and looked in the direction of where the other elf had mentioned his things were. "I'll know what to do with you when I get to your things." He began to walk to the elf's perching tree when he realized that the other couldn't move because of the ropes. He frowned and studied the elf. He didnt seem too heavy. Arsenio took the elf by his waist and slung him over his other shoulder, making sure his pack didnt prod the elf uncomfortably. Although he couldn't trust the other elf, Arsenio might as well keep him alive in case he wasn't a threat or was worth something.
The walk was only a couple of yards away and soon enough he found the other elf's things, even in the almost darkness. He put the elf down back facing the tree he perched on; the elf couldn't do much except for struggle or scream, but most of the guards near his castle's gates were asleep at this time. They probably wouldn't have heard the elf anyway. Arsenio took two stones and struck them together to eventually ignite a twig so that he could see. He searched around the elf's things warily, keeping alert in case anything happened to come out and snap at him. Food, water, tarp...this really is just regular stuff. He looked back at the boy, who looked as frightened as a deer in headlights. Arsenio frowned. "Do you even know how to survive out here, much less cook food?" He shook his head; he didn't care too much about the elf's answer. "Nevermind, I'll start a fire. I'm starting to get hungry anyway." He went back to retrieve his game that he had shot down earlier, keeping a close eye on the other elf. He couldn't help but notice how vulnerable he looked; innocent in other words. He looked angelic in a way, even in the torch's light. Arsenio shook his head. He is a captive. He began to creat a pit and eventually starting a fire; small enough for them to not get noticed but big enough for Arsenio to make dinner. Turning the rabbit on a long stick, he glanced at his captive every now and then making sure he didn't do anything hostile. |
Ithil stopped his twisting, groaning as he was slung over his captor's shoulder. He wasn't fond of being manhandled. He considered screaming, but he didn't think anyone would hear him. He didn't see the point in blowing out his voice if he didn't have to. He settled on huffing loudly, expressing his discontent. He was more than happy when he was set down. His wrists felt chaffed from the rope and he whined to himself. He thought about trying to get away while the other Elf climbed, but he was simply bound too tightly. He stared into the darkness.
When the other man came down, he frowned, very unhappy to have his things searched through. "O-Of coarse I know how to cook!" He wailed, highly offended by the suggestion that he couldn't care for himself, true or not. He tried moving his hands, still tied up. "Can you at least untie me?" He swished his hair back, blonde braids falling back in his face. |
Arsenio looked up from his cooking and raised an eyebrow at the elf.
"What, so you can go bounding off to wherever you came from?" He chuckled at that thought, "From your appearance, I'd guess you were some kind of nobility. If I have you here by morning I can just turn you over to my father, maybe get some ransom out of you. Would do great for our people if we got some extra gold." He shook his head slightly and began turning his game slowly. "Besides, how do I know you're not just going to kill me with that pretty little dagger of yours?" Arsenio fed more sticks to the little fire. He reached for his canteen inside his pack and sipped some of the ice cold water. He wondered if he should at least let the elf be near his things. He shoved the elf's pack of things with his leg and proceeded to turn the meat |
Ithil's eyes widened slightly. "No, no, no. I'm not royalty. Not at all. I'm very simply a peasant boy...I just want to go home." He shuddered and twisted some more. "Do I look like I could kill you?" He frowned, pouting. "My hands hurt and I'm itchy." He continued whining loudly, hoping that he might whine enough to annoy his captor into setting him free. "What am I supposed to do with this?" He kicked at his bag. "I can't even move my hands." He huffed loudly. "You're really mean." He jutted his lip out.
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Arsenio looked at the other elf and laughed. "Do all of your peasants dress like that?" He said with full sarcasm while looking the elf up and down. He is kind of cute, I'll give him that. He shook his head at the thought. Though many of the girls gave him much attention at home, he never really was interested in them. Just not his type, it seems. Then again, no girls interested them. But it was humorous to see the other elf act like one.
When he finished cooking his game, Arsenio looked at the elf and sighed. He might as well keep him alive until morning. He gently put the cooked meat on a stone next to the fire, went up to the boy and began untieing his wrists. He looked into the elf's eyes with both kindness and a hint of inferiority. He put the rope back in his pack. At least if the elf tried to escape, he wouldn't get far with his tied ankles. Arsenio ripped the meat in half and gave a part of it to the other elf. "At least the mean one can show some courtesy." He half-smiled. He crouched down next to the elf and began wolfing his dinner down."Well if your something royal, I am also. I am Arsenio, prince of the land of Arlain." He said in between bites. |
Ithil stared at his captor, wondering what thoughts might be going on in his head. "You've got me there" He muttered. "None of our peasants dress like this...well, the servants do, but I suppose they don't count really." He sighed softly, lowering his eyes in exhaustion. He has to admit the other was attractive. He shook his head slightly. He knew the last thing he needed to do was crush on someone who probably intended to kill him before morning.
He was more than happy as his wrists were freed and he rubbed them to get the feeling back as they'd fallen asleep. "Thank you." He smiled gratefully. He took the meat rather gingerly, not having ever eaten meat before. He sniffed at it, then licked it before deciding it was edible. "This is actually really good!" He said cheerfully. "Normally we eat only fruits and vegetables in the castle..This is actually against our religion unless in emergency or necessity" He laughed softly. "I hate rules." He looked at the other prince curiously. "Prince Arsenio huh?" He smiled. "Very nice to meet you, though the circumstances are less than ideal. I was hoping to meet you after the war was over. I am prince Ithil of Greenwood." He put a hand out to shake. |
Arsenio looked at the other elf wide-eyed. After his hands were free, he seemed to become so much more radiant and afraid than he was just a moment ago. That made Arsenio a bit perturbed, but it was no use intimidating the boy again. He might as well make him comfortable until further notice.
"No meat?" He said curiously, "It is our main diet here. We eat it to make strong boys who don't die in wars." He finished his half of the rabbit and threw the bone into the dieing down fire. He glared at the other elf's extended hand. In his land, only slaves in fighting pits shook hands before they killed each other, a way of saying that they were sorry for the current circumstances but it was all they could do. He took the other's hand warily and shook it once before letting go. "Ithil..." He said looking off into the distance. Why would he want to meet with me? Does his people really not want to have war? Well, they shouldn't have started it all that time ago. "What brings you here anyway? You don't look like you're trying to breach our walls in that kind of garb." He chuckled softly to himself at that thought. |
Ithil could tell he wasn't completely trusted. He smiled. "You don't have to be weary of me. I won't hurt you! In fact, I don't think I could..." He nodded. "Most of our warriors are allowed meat. That's the special exception to the rule. I'm no warrior though. I was always kept indoors. I was much smaller than many of the greenwood elves. I'm out here because I'm supposed to learn how to take care of myself. Most young boys have to complete this. I just had to wait longer because I didn't grow fast enough."
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Arsenio snorted softly to himself at that response. In his land, there were no small elves; they were all either tall or heavilly built. If by chance a runt were to be birthed, Arsenio never knew what happened, and he did not want to know. "I take it you don't know much of the wilderness considering you're dressed in that." Arsenio pointed at his clothes with his eyes. He wondered if he could somewhat trust him, seeing as the boy was too fragile to even stab someone it seems. He sighed, conflicted with different thoughts from his conscious. He grunted and went to untie his captive's ankles, his good nature getting the best of him. "You don't seem like you can do much to kill me, so I guess you can stay unbound." Arsenio said before throwing the other rope into his pack. Why are you so soft-hearted all of a sudden?! He scolded himself internally, Just you wait until you close your eyes tonight...
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Ithil smiled. "Of coarse I know a lot about the wilderness!! Just not much about surviving out here. Our religion is all about nature and it's creatures. Honestly, I'm more of healer than anything else. I know natures remedies and plants. I make medicines." He blinked as his ankles were untied. "Oh!! Thank you. That feels much better." He admitted. "Of coarse I won't kill you or even try. That would be horribly dishonorable. You spared mt life, therefore I owe you the same courtesy if I can offer it." He looked at Arsenio. "I don't really know how to use a knife very well anyway." He shrugged, holding his knees to his chest.
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Arsenio smiled at how happy Ithil became. He was a bit of a funny elf, the way he talked and dressed, but Arsenio prefered him over being frightened. Even though he was trained to kill, it was against the code to kill another elf unless in times of war or if you were in the fighting pits.
Arsenio assumed the other elf was cold considering he had gone into a fetal position, so he threw more sticks into the small fire. He took out a small blanket from his pack and threw it to Ithil. Arsenio didn't know why he was being especially kind; he still wanted to hand him over to the king. Even so, he might as well show some hospitality. He took out more things from his pack: a nap sack and a small dagger to keep at his side. He unraveled the sack and laid it out next to the fire and left the dagger inside the sack. After that he went back to sitting near the fire. It was only then that he noticed Ithil's chaffed wrists and ankles. "You...you're hurt." He began to silently scold himself.Did you really have to tie those ropes so tight?! He shook his head, Not many people can be as strong as you are. |
Ithil took the blanket and wrapped himself up. It felt much better than being in the cold. He watched Arsenio for a few moments, wondering if all of this hospitality was to be nice or to make him drop his guard. Not that it mattered. The chances of him escaping anytime soon were slim. He blinked as his injuries were called to his attention. "I'm ok really. It's just some simple chaffing." He rubbed around the places. "Ropes tend to leave places like this." He yawned. "They'll heal soon enough.."
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"They...they might fester." Arsenio pursed his lips. He knew how bad chaffed ankles could be. It was how his father trained his skin to be leather-like. It always hurt no matter how tight his father made the ropes. He shook his head. Better not make it seem like he cared. He went back to his nap sack and started to wriggle in.
"D-Dont take my things...please." He told Ithil without turning his head to look at him, "I'll regret trusting you if you do. Goodnight." He grabbed the hilt of the dagger inside the nap sack and closed his eyes, making sure not to fall asleep just yet. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep for a good couple of hours, but it was for the best. |
"I could use his ointment.." He opened his bag and pulled out a small flask. He poured the ointment over his wrists and ankles, hissing softly. Th liquid burned his skin, but he knew he had to take it like a man. H pulled th blanket closer around his body, eyes beginning to get droopy. He stared at the fire.
"Huh...?" He looked up. "Oh...yeah..I promise I won't take anything. I'm about to fall asleep anyway." He put his pack under his head to make a sort of pillow. "Good night." He really was very tired and had fully intended to go to sleep, but thoughts of what might happen to him tomorrow. |
Arsenio woke up earlier than the sunrise and the sleeping Ithil. He looked so peaceful when he was sleeping, like a child that had lost his parents and it felt to Arsenio to take care of him. He looked back to his castle. I have to do this for my father, my kingdom, my people. He looked back at Ithil. But he...meant no harm. He didnt want to hurt me. Arsenio laid in his nap sack with his conflicted thoughts and emotions. He was caught between doing what was right and doing what was morally right. He was raised to be ruthless and cold, just like his father. He got out of his nap sack, creeped up to the boy and took a better look at him. But father, what do you do if he's done you no harm? One of Ithil's braids fell in front of his soft, cream-skinned face. Without any thought to it, he gently brushed it to the side with his thumb and sighed. What if you think you could make peace by being his...friend? He stood up and paced around, occasionally looking at the sleeping boy. He cursed to himself allowed and began packing his things.
In just a half hour, Arsenio managed to hide remnants of the fire, pack both his and the other's things, out them both over his shoulder, tie the blanket around Ithil so he wouldn't wake, put a handkerchief over his mouth and began sliding him slowly across the forest floor, away from Arsenio's castle. |
Ithil had an ok night's sleep once he finally fell into his slumber. He wasn't really in the mood to wake up once the sunlight started streaming in through the trees. He mumbled a little, dreaming of being home. He sighed softly, finally stirring a little. He could feel that he was moving, and it was hard for him to figure out where he was. "Why are you dragging me?" He croaked, voice raspy from sleeping. "I'm not exactly light..I can walk if you'd like." He offered.
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Arsenio stopped in his tracks when he heard the other speak. He looked back at Ithil, nodded and motioned for him to get out of the blanket so that he could walk. Arsenio did not stop to wait for the other to adjust and begin walking; they had to get out of the area as soon as elvinly possible. The road was long and tiring, but he did not falter. He had finally found his spot and eventually stopped, settled his things and sat down with his back to a nearby tree, huffing and panting for air.
Arsenio had brought them to a hidden clearing, complete with a little lake and a hidden cave to shelter for the night. Only he knew about it, and now Ithil did too. "The guards are awake at this time in my castle." Arsenio said through short breaths, "We had to get out of there as quickly as possible or they would have seen you and tried to get you. So now we're here, and we're safe." |
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