1x1 with DragonDream

[DragonDream]

Ezra wasn't sure that it was the best idea for just the two of them to go wandering away from the castle. The guards didn't venture far, so if anything happened they would be on their own, and he would be partially responsible for not doing anything to stop her from going. Like she said, she would have went without him. The princesses' confidence in his company only made the weight of the situation more serious. As they walked, he kept his eye out for anything. Apart from the unease, the day was not unpleasant. When they started to head for the forest he almost protested, but ended up keeping his mouth shut for reasons he didn't understand. It wasn't long before voices were carrying through the trees, and time sped up to where he hardly had time to react to the events that unfolded.

His sword slid from his sheath in a fluid motion as people began dropping down from above. Managing to nick the upper thigh of the person directly in front of him, his sword being pushed away just in time to prevent any serious damage. From behind, something hard hit him on the head and a sea of stars swam in his eyes as he tried to stay conscious. The sounds of the Princess struggling seemed amplified in his pounding head. He turned, swaying on his feet to see her being subdued, then crashed to the forest floor with darkness flooding his vision.

[cronchbottle]

When Rosalina’s eyes fluttered open once more, she was in the arms of a strange person thousands of feet above the ocean. She blinked a couple times to clear the clouds shrouding the corners of her eyes. She frowned as she saw Ezra on the dragon next to her, just draped over the back of the saddle. She knew better than to struggle as she could fall off the dragon if she caused too much of a fight. She looked down at the ropes on her hands and started rubbing them together to try and at least get out of the ropes. This only resulted in the unpleasant rope burns across her wrists. She looked back at the kidnapper behind her and frowned at him before saying, “at least let me be able to use my hands. I promise I won’t fight, I’m a bit too smart to do that thousands of feet above the air.” her shoulders slumped as the man shook his head at her, she had just wanted to push her hair out of her face as the wind was whipping it into her mouth. She periodically looked over at Ezra, this was all her fault and felt horrible for him. He should have been back home, doing his daily tasks instead of unconscious on a dragon. She didn’t know why they took him as well, but was very thankful that he was left alive as she would have felt even more horrible than now.

Suddenly a dark castle slowly came into view as the dragon suddenly plunged downward to land. As they landed, Rosalina was immediately picked back up and carried inside. The place looked strangely familiar, and she knew the men who were holding her weren’t exactly human. She swiveled her head around to observe the man holding her. He was a soft gray with red eyes and pointed ears, surely he was one of the dark elves that was a part of the night bandits she had feared ever since she was a child. She whimpered slightly as she was taken down a eerie twisting staircases to the damp dungeons underneath the castle. She was carelessly tossed into one of the cells, whimpering out in pain as her fragile body hit the floor. She sat up and scuttled to one of
the corners putting her head in her hands sorrowfully. She had been so stupid to go out and now look where she was, cold and damp.

[DragonDream]

Everything around him was blue. Disoriented, he tried figure out why he was moving so fast, and why there was wind making his eyes water. Trying to move his arms yielded an awkward squirming. He could feel that they were tied behind his back, and as the questions began to grow in his mind he became more aware of the situation. Across from him he could see Rosalina, and he was facing down towards the sea below, tossed over the back of a dragon saddle. All squirming ceased. A throbbing pain still persisted in his head, and he wondered just how long he had been knocked out. From where he was he couldn't see the sun well enough to figure the time. It wasn't worth trying to find out. From what he could tell the Princess was well enough, but the situation they were in did not leave much room for confidence.

He couldn't help but wonder where they were going, and why he had been taken as well. Then he figured he was just the unlucky witness. It made his stomach churn to think of that possibility. They couldn't possibly have any use for him other than getting rid of him. Straining to look up at his captor he frowned. He had encountered few dark elves, but he knew their presence in the situation did not bode well for the princess. When they landed, he was dragged off the back of the dragon where he found his footing with shaky legs. Shaking off the hand that was holding onto him he received a shove that nearly sent him to his knees. Rosalina had already disappeared from his sight, but he was taken in the same direction. The dimly lit staircase was more of a hazard to him than anything, his shaky vision making the trip down nauseatingly painful.

[cronchbottle]

Soon, Rosalina’s eyes adjusted to the dimly lit area, she had never been anywhere this dark in her entire life. Well, except for her long walks out at night, but there was still some daylight outside and it was nearly pitch black in here. The only provision of light was some lit torches outside of her cell, and outside of some others. She shook her head and clasped a hand on one of the jail cell bars to pull her onto her feet. Her legs trembled beneath her as she walked around the jail cell, observing her surroundings carefully. She saw a few other people in as well, questioning why everyone else was here. Now, where was Ezra? That was the real question, she peeked in the jail cell next to her once a shadow caught her eye. There he was, she winced as she saw the state he was in. She sighed and cursed herself as she sat down next to his jail cell, this was most definitely all her fault. “Ezra... I’m so sorry,” she whispered to him as she laid her head against the cool wall behind her.

How were they going to get out of this mess, would they serve them food? Was she really being worried about food right now, well her stomach was rumbling and they needed food to survive. She motioned Ezra to come over to sit next to her so she could speak with him. “Are we going to get out of this mess do you think?” She questioned him, frowning slightly as she spoke. She wondered if they could somehow even manage to break out of this place, two people against a trained band of elves. They had seemingly progressed since her mother’s age as she only heard of them living in camps, now they had a castle. However, that made sense as they were trying to steal her and the jewel which would create a very successful empire. She jumped out of her skin as a
door slammed and two elves walked through it. As she saw this happen she quickly scuttled away from the guard so they would hopefully not separate the two of them. She watched as a plate was placed into her cell, and she hungrily walked over to it and picked her up. She met the guards eyes and looked at him sadly, maybe guilt would get them to let her go. Alas, she knew deep down that wouldn’t happen.

[DragonDream]

Shoved into a damp cell he had the bindings taken off his arms. The squeal of rusted metal sounded, and the elf vanished into the seemingly endless darkness that the torches barely illuminated. Ezra was relieved when he heard the voice of the Princess. At least they were close enough to one another for the time being. Sitting down on the damp stone next to the bars he sighed. "No need to apologize. At least you aren't alone in all of this," he gestured around them. The cool ground felt nice, and he closed his eyes, trying to remedy the headache.

When the elves returned, they came with food. It was a good sign. He waited for them to leave before returning to his spot, trying to distinguish what it was that they gave them. Keeping his voice low he picked back up their conversation. "The fact that they are feeding us is good. I doubt they are going to hurt you, but all the trouble they went through to get you without really being seen means they aren't going to let you go, either. They seem pretty indifferent. Do you have any idea of where we may be? Figuring out where we are is probably a better start then how we are going to get out" If we are going to get out, he thought warily.

[cronchbottle]

Rosalina smiled weakly and gently placed her hand on top of his as she spoke with him. “Thank you for being so kind to me.” She said sighing softly as she looked around. The place seemed very dark and dreary which brought her mood down even more. She tended to be a more positive person but the depressing aura of the room seemed to envelope her. She wished she wasn’t here in the first place, but at least she wasn’t alone in all this. She looked at all of the others inside, searching their faces for any sign of interest in their conversation. Why were all of these people here? She had thought they only searched for the jewel and killed anyone who got in their way, not imprison them. She soon began to realize that she didn’t know as much about these people as she had thought she did. Her head seemed to swell with confusion as she thought over everything she had known about them.

Once the elves left she took her plate back over to Ezra’s side as quietly as she could. “I don’t think they could hurt me, we’ll certainly they could but not bad enough to kill me. I don’t know why they took you, but I’m glad they did instead of hurting you as that would be tragic. They aren’t going to let me go, we would have to find out how to escape.” She said taking in a couple of deep breaths to calm her nerves. Her eyes welled with tears as she began to think of what would happen if they never did, certainly she would be kept here for the rest of her life. What would they do with Ezra? She knew that she would be fine after all but his future was quite cloudy. “I believe we’re in the dark lands of Gadona... This place used to just be like little houses or just a camp grounds, but they seem to have gotten something that excelled their rate of progression.” She said as she gestured to the dungeon around her. “I believe this place is an island, surrounding by the Corrinth Ocean.” She said after thinking back to her lessons for a moment.

[DragonDream]

Ezra could tell that Rosalina was equally worried about their situation. Even though he was holding onto his calm exterior, inside the panic and fear was sinking its teeth deeper and deeper. He didn't know an extensive amount about the surrounding geography, but being on an island did not boost his confidence. They would have to leave in a similar manner to how they arrived, and he doubted either of them could manage to steal a dragon and successfully get back if they even could escape. Pushing the loose strands of hair out of his face he sighed.

"We don't have a lot of good options here," he said, brows furrowing in the dark. "I doubt they will keep you down here all the time. What would the point be? If they let you out for any reason, you have to pay attention to everything. Every detail. If we can get out of here and get up to the surface, any bit of information can help. Okay?" He was trying to think rationally about things. They were vastly outnumbered, overpowered, and stranded. He knew his chances were slim to none of getting out, but at least they would be looking for the princess. Even if they both couldn't escape, she could eventually be found. He wasn't ready to face that alternative though.

[cronchbottle]

Rosalina nodded as she listened to the guards words. Maybe they would at least give her a tour of the place, letting her get some fresh air so that she was in good health. She could just hope the same for Ezra, but knew that was a bit too hopeful. “I don’t know, but I don’t see the point of letting me out either. Unless, they think that the sun would keep me healthy in some way. They may let me out to discuss where the Jewel is, but that I would never tell them of course. But I will search everything that I can for anything that can help us escape.” She replied holding her hand to her chest, as to signal a promise to that. All that she could do now, was hope the elves would have some sort of excuse to get her outside. She would even try and bargain with them when they came back, if that was to pick up their bowls before night fall, or to bring them breakfast in the morning. She gentle reached her hand through the bars and rested it on is, as the touch seemed to relax her quite a bit. Maybe something would come to her during the night and she would find some way to escape. As she leaned her head against the wall she hummed a simple lullaby that her mother had sung to her once before. It seemed to calm her and draw her into a deep slumber as her head rolled to rest between the bars and the stone wall.

Rosalina was awoken the next morning from the familiar grunts of the elves approaching with hopefully, breakfast. She climbed over to the front of her cell as the sound of boots and the jingling of keys came closer. She watched as what seemed like porridge was slid through the small opening for food and into her cell. “Excuse me,” she said to the guard, standing up to be at eye level with him. “If you’re going to keep me here, can you at least have the mercy to take me outside one last time.” She begged, looking up at him with the saddest eyes she could muster. She watched as the two guards looked at her and shrugged. They informed her they would ask their captain and come by again around noon with an answer and lunch. She nodded and walked back with her food to the side of her cell that she shared with Ezra. “Maybe my sad eyes will get them this time,” she muttered as she stirred the hot bowl of oats she held in her hands. “What sorts of things do you think I should look for?” She questioned as she ate a spoonful of the porridge. It was bitter, but it was food at least.

[DragonDream]

Ezra hardly slept, the light humming of the princess swirling in his head all night long. In the cold and dark his fears seemed tangible. Here was the grand adventure he had craved. The irony was not lost on him. He was just glad that Rosalina was resilient. Otherwise there would be no chance of either of them getting out. When the morning came, or his best guess with no light beyond the torches, the cold of the cell had left him feeling stiff. He stood, steadying himself on the bars with a glance down at Rosalina's sleeping shadow. At least one of them had managed decent rest. Stretching he heard movement coming their way. Rosalina had stirred beside him, and he watched as the elves reappeared with more food.

Taking his food with a muttered thanks he returned to his spot on the floor, watching as Rosalina spoke to the guards. He was impressed that she was trying to make them pity her, and more surprised that it wasn't met with mocking. Her question made him pause to consider. "Anything, really. Ways off the island, if there are any, the amount of guards outside, or anything that looks like it would be helpful like weapons or places to hide. Our chances are still really slim, but we would be fools to not try at all." Taking a spoonful of the porridge he was happy to find it warm. He held the bowl close and ate with no regards to the flavor. It helped immensely in warming him up. "And be careful. If they do let you out, don't make yourself look like a threat unless they are going to hurt you. If they do, then do your best to fight. Fight dirty if you have to," he said, keeping a low tone. The last thing he wanted was their pitiful escape plan being heard.