Fable - Ask Among Strangers

[Rosaline]

A warm smile greeted the Knights in return as Rosaline approached. It was genuinely good to see all of them, but when her eyes met with Nil's she felt a small flutter in her chest. The trip wouldn't have been the same without him.

"Good morning everyone." She said brightly. "Sorry for keeping you all waiting, me and Raya had a hard time with the corset." The girl she mentioned was the handmaiden that Aguilar had assigned to her.

When she saw the horse Nil had already saddled for her, Rosaline's smile only grew all the wider. He was always so thoughtful.

"And good morning to you too, Luis." She greeted the horse just as fondly, gently patting the side of his neck.

The Queen turned to Nil, chewing her bottom lip after tucking her satchel away into her saddle bag. "Could you... Give me a leg up? Normally I wouldn't ask, but I'm not sure I can manage in this... Thing." She gestured idly to her gown.

 

[Nil]

Nil was of course more than happy to do so.

Aguilar had wanted the Queen to ride in a carriage, but that notion had been argued against by Miguel. The Knight Captain had pointed out that it would be better for the People to actually be able to see the Queen, and he'd quickly assured the King that she would be kept safe.

"Of course, your Majesty." Nil said as he quickly made his way to her and helped her get atop the horse.

She would have to ride side saddle in the dress of course, but that was simply the constraint she was under.

As the Queen mounted up, so did the other Knights. They were quick and professional, pulling themselves into the saddle and preparing to go before any command was even given.

Nil was the last to mount, pulling himself into pips and guiding the horse forward. "Are we ready?"

He asked with a smile.

 

[Rosaline]

With that, the small party set off on their short journey. It was less than half a day's ride to the village itself.

When they arrived the sun was high and the sky clear, a beautiful afternoon. Bright and cheery townfolk greeted them in droves, rushing to crowd the street.

It was clear by the size of the crowd that even the neighboring villages had come to the celebration.

Rosaline warmly smiled and personally greeted each villager who approached her. Whenever a child ventured forth, she would produce a small wrapped candy that was hidden away in a pocket in her skirts.

By the time they reached the stables and had the horses put away, Rosaline already had a crown of flowers adorning her head, with small daisies tucked into the elegant braid she wore.

Off in the distance, she could hear lively music playing in the town square. A small child, no older than six or seven grabbed her hand and tugged, beckoning her to come join in on the festivities.

She knew that she couldn't leave the guards, they'd get into trouble if she was separated for any reason. Thinking quickly, she grabbed hold of Nil's hand with her free hand and grinned up at the Knight.

"Come on! Let's dance!" She called to him, laughing.

 

[Nil]

Nil hesitated for a brief moment, looking at the other Knights for some sort of guidance.

He wasn't entirely sure what the protocol was for dancing with a bloody Queen. Aguilar would likely not be pleased, but at the same time it was difficult to deny given that they had to stay close to her. Lips thinned, and the others just shrugged.

How would they know. "Alright."

The Knight finally said in capitulation, letting himself be dragged forward out onto the dance floor. Some of the Kids and other women flowed in besides them, moving twirling to the pleasant sound of the instruments strumming nearby.

It was pleasant.

Human.

More so than Nil had ever really experienced. His hand gently settled on Rosaline's hips, twirling her around as the song picked up in tempo.

 

[Rosaline]

Dancing with Nil just felt... right.

Natural.

Rosaline's smile was bright and cheerful, her laughter echoing over the music in his ear as he spun her around. With one hand in his and the other resting on his shoulder, it was easy to forget about the weight of her new position.

They were being watched, of course, but none of that mattered. It was all so far away now. The music and Nil were the center of her world for that short time.

 

[Nil]

The dance was entrancing, captivating, and in a very real way forbidden. His fingers danced over her hips, swayed across her skin. People were watching, but those in the crowd were simply happy enough to have their Queen among them.

It was a rare event, and the joy that they felt eclipsed any thoughts of impropriety that any of them might have had.

Simply put, the people were happy. There was drinking, cheering, singing. It all seemed to echo out and coalesce, drawing the attention of nearly everyone. Even the Knights seemed to enjoy their time, a few tavern maids and farm girls coaxing them to dance or drink.

It was a wondrous time, but a distraction.

Figures shuffled through the crowd, not men in black cloaks, but garbed in the outfits of workmen and farmers. Hidden within the crown, their daggers concealed. Slowly they crept forward.

 

[Rosaline]

It never occurred to Rosaline that there could be a hidden threat lurking in the mirthful crowds of the villagers. This was time for celebration, after all.

The Queen beamed up at her Knight, grinning ear to ear as they danced the night away together.

By the time someone tapped on Nil's shoulder, it was already past twilight.

Standing behind Nil was a demure looking farm girl who was already blushing before she'd even said a word. "Your Majesty, could I um... Could I cut in please?"

Rosaline chuckled, taking a moment to finally catch her breath. She smiled to Nil and then to the woman. "I suppose that is entirely up to Nil here. I can't speak for him, after all."

 

[Nil]

Nil frowned for a moment, chewing his lip.

It was clear that he did not like the idea of leaving her side. His mandate was to protect the Queen, and that order was more important than any other. Lips thinned for a moment, but he saw the slight smile that touched Rosaline's lips.

It was almost encouraging, as if she wanted him to open up. It was not a request he could deny, not without being cruel. "I suppose one dance."

He looked at Rosaline, unaware of the men creeping through the crowd.

"As long as the remains close to Knight Terin." It was the only condition that he could fulfill it under.

Terin was a good man, though a terrible dancer from what he'd shown so far.

 

[Rosaline]

Rosaline chuckled and gave a small curtsy to Nil and the young farm girl before she turned to go seek out Knight Terin. She could use a break from all the dancing after all.

It was difficult to make her way out of the throngs of people, having to weave her way in between the dancing couples.

As she glanced over her shoulder, she could see Nil dancing with the young woman. It was good to see him so relaxed for a change.


Her gaze was focused on the Knight that she didn't realize there were men moving through the crowd towards her, intending to intercept her before she reached Terin.

 

[Nil]

Even as he danced Nil kept half an eye on the Queen as she moved through the crowd.

It was hard for even himself to tell whether he did it to make sure she would be okay or to just...just look. He frowned for a moment, his concentration lapsing as the girl he was dancing with let out a quiet giggle and said something he didn't quite hear.

"Of course." He answered with a nod, not entirely sure what he had agreed to.

Another dance perhaps.

As the music continued and the crowd swept back and forth the men who had hidden themselves away drew closer to Rosaline. They moved with surprising lithe grace, slipping through the crowd untouched by others.

Then they reached her.

Not all of them moved in at once, showing trained patience that ordinary men would have struggle with. Instead only one swept towards the Queen, coming up behind her. One hand slipped over her mouth, the other wiedling a knife by her ribs. "Don't make a sound. Move forward."

He told her, his hand drawing away once he was sure she wouldn't scream but the knife remaining in place.

 

[Rosaline]

Her startled cry was muffled by the rough hand that was clamped over her mouth. Once she felt the cool metal of the blade against her side, she stilled and gave the faintest nod in understanding.

If he'd wanted to kill her, he could have easily done just that. A silent slip of the knife and the new Queen would have fallen dead by the time she reached one of her Knights.

She frantically glanced around, trying to find Nil or one of the other men, but they were all out of sight or too preoccupied to notice what was happening. The only one who's gaze she caught a glimpse of was Nil's, but he was gone in the blink of an eye as she was forced to move forward.

Frightened and unsure of what to do, Rosaline could only do as the man ordered.

Quite suddenly, the cheery atmosphere turned haunting for the Queen. She could hear people laughing and thoroughly enjoying themselves all around her, but she felt utterly alone.

He guided her easily through the crowd and before she could offer so much as a protest, the entire festival was hidden away behind several new buildings.

 

[Nil]

The man pushed Rosaline along. “Just like that.”

It was a calm voice, an edge carrying through it. The threat was an obvious one. If she screamed, if she tried to run, the blade that was settled against her rib would slip throught the dress and end her life.

If she looked back she would see the man holding her hostage, his face pale, his eyes a strange off-blue, and his ears pointed. He was an elf, though not the sort that made their way from the Falwood.

Nil meanwhile looked through the crowd as he danced.

Lips thinned as he realized that he had lost track of where Rosaline had gone. He gave the girl he was dancing with a short bow, then stepped into the crowd.

The other men with the Elf seemed to shift, flanking the hostage and kidnapper.

 

[Rosaline]

Rosaline's mind was racing, desperately trying to think of a way to buy herself time. If she let her captor lead her out of the village, there was a good chance she wouldn't ever be found. Although, it was difficult to think with the rising panic.

She took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled, repeating the process a few times before she gathered the courage to speak.

"You're not from the village..." She muttered quietly, trying to walk as slowly as she could.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked, risking a glance over her shoulder at the elf with the piercing blue eyes.

 

[Nil]

"Shut up." The man hissed as he shoved her forward, the knife slipping a bit into the dress that clung so tightly to her skin.

It cut some of the fabric, though only enough for the knife to actually touch her skin for the first time. It seemed to linger there as he lead her forward, pushing her through the crowd and towards the edge of the village.

Somehow people still did not notice, as if consumed by some spell.

"Just keep moving." He hissed. "Your little Knight's won't protect you."

Even as he spoke though Nil was searching the crowd, his red eyes flickering through the different figures. It felt almost as though there was a strange haze over his mind, yet he pushed back against it, pressed and forced it to go.

He pushed men and women aside, slowly chasing after Rosaline.

"Just keep going." The Elf said. "And i won't hurt you."

 

[Rosaline]

She grimaced when she felt the harsh metal press against her skin. He didn't apply enough pressure to pierce her flesh, but the threat clear.

Something was very wrong.

Someone should have noticed by now. What was happening? How could someone just walk up and snatch the Queen away without anyone seeing?


As Nil rushed through the crowds, he wouldn't find Rosaline but what he did see was Bone-Face. The creature was standing apart from the crowds by an alley. He nodded once to Nil and then turned his harsh gaze down the street, showing the Knight the way.

 

[Nil]

Nil spotted the creature.

He still had not the time to ask her about it, to understand what it was, but it didn't matter. The knight knew that it was associated with Rosaline and that was enough for him. Slowly he stalked forward, his hand wrapping around the hilt of his sword.

"That's it. Good Girl." The elf said as Rosaline continued to walk, turning down an alleyway. When she glanced back she'd see the others that had been with him slowly taking up position. One slipped in behind a crate, another into a narrow alcove.

They waited.

One held a small knife, the other pulled out a hand-crossbow as two more fell in step behind the Elf and Rosaline.

Up ahead Rosaline would see a cart and several horses, though their coloring was strange and off.

 

[Rosaline]

When she saw the cart and horses, Rosaline hesitated. Her steps faltered and she felt her heart stutter in her chest. It was as though the harsh reality if what was happening had come crashing down on her all at once.

What was she supposed to do?

Fear knotted in her stomach, but the blade pressed against her side got her moving again.

If she got herself killed now, it wouldn't matter if anyone came to find her. All she could do was try to stay alive.

As she was ushered forward, she quietly approached the cart with the dread of a condemned walking to the gallows. It was as though she was under some sort of spell that compelled her to comply.

The men hoisted the Queen up into the cart, forcing her to sit down in a corner as they bound her hands and legs with rope.

 

[Nil]

"Shh." The Elf with those odd blue eyes said as he pushed Rosaline's head down into the bottom of the cart, hiding her away. "Time to disappear."

The words came with a smile, and then she would find a gag stuffed into her mouth and a blindfold tied over her eyes.

It was obvious that the men had come prepared, that they had planned for this exact moment. The odd daze that had hung over the crowd was still there, no one but Nil seemed to have even noticed that the Queen was taken.

The young Knight stepped into the alleyway, and there he met his face.

One of the elves stepped into sight, drawing his knife and pulling free the blade. A smirk touched the man's face and he instantly lunged forward. Almost instantly Nil drew his sword, swiping the blade low and cutting for the man's throat.

A spray of blood splattered over the wall as the Elf was felled in a quick battle, but a second later the man with the crossbow stepped out.

The bolt flew free, and buried itself in Nil's back, digging through his armor and piercing his flesh. In an instant Nil whirled around, his blade flickering and cutting down the man who had shot him. His head spun, but he stepped further into the alleyway.

He spotted the Elf pushing Rosaline down, nudging her low and smiling at Nil as the Knight began to rush forward.

"ROSALINE!" He screamed out as he rushed forward, his body wavering, shifting, and then tumbling down as poison overwhelmed him into unconsciousness.

 

[Rosaline]

Rosaline screamed through the gag in her mouth when she heard Nil call out to her. She couldn't see with the cloth covering her eyes, but she knew there'd been two men waiting to ambush anyone who followed.

"MMPHM!" Her cry was muffled, but she desperately tried to call out Nil's name.

There wasn't anything she could do.

Maybe if she'd struggled earlier and bought herself some time... But it was far too late for that now.

Her body shifted and the cart started to move, leaving Nil and the festival behind.

 

[Eldrin]

It was impossible to tell how far they traveled, how long.

Rosaline had her eyes covered, her mouth filled, and her senses dulled. It might have seemed like hours, it might have seemed like minutes. Time seemed to slow and speed up all the same, as if shifted by some sort of magic.

That abyss of time seemed to slow and speed, until finally the blindfold was pulled from her eyes.

It slipped free of her skin with a surprisingly gentle touch, the silk flowing through her hair as deft hands tugged it free. "There."

She would see the man who had taken her fully for the first time now. His skin was pale, his eyes a complete bright blue, and his hair tugged back into a long ponytail. Strange markings covered his hands, and he peered down at her opposite in the cart.

He was tall, well muscled, and intense. An air of purpose hanging around him.

 

[Rosaline]

She narrowed her eyes at the elf who sat across from her, but she couldn't yet speak with the cloth still tied around her mouth. What she could do, was bite the gag in frustration.

As she glanced around at her surroundings, she quickly realized they were no where near the village.

She didn't even know what direction they'd taken her in. It was difficult not to lose hope, but she couldn't just give up.

The way the man was staring at her made it feel like she should know him, as though she'd done something to personally wrong him some how. Of course, she'd never met the man before in her life.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that he was carrying a deep-seated anger. Rosaline just hoped it wasn't directed at her.

 

[Eldrin]

Eldrin reached out and grabbed Rosaline's chin, jerking her face to the left, and then to the right. "He chose a pretty one this time."

The Elf mused out loud.

There was something about him that spoke of authority. Not the same as it was with the King, not a man who though he should command due to his divine right, but rather something more. A man who had earned his command, earned his respect.

"Suppose he got tired of the hags." There was a dry chuckle, though it was hard to tell where exactly it came from.

For a few moments He did not move, and then he leaned forward. "Are you going to scream if I pull this out? It'd be rather useless here."

The elf reminded her.

 

[Rosaline]

She instinctively jerked her head back from his grasp as he inspected her, but she didn't lash out at him.

Whoever he was, he frightened her.

Quietly, she shook her head in response to his question. If ever there'd been a chance to scream, it had been back in the village when he first grabbed her. It was far too late for such theatrics now.

She didn't know where they were or how to get away from them. Even if she did manage to get away, what was she going to do? Aimlessly wander through the wilderness in hopes of stumbling across a settlement that'd be willing to help her?

 

[Eldrin]

"Good." The Elf said as he let his thumb trace down over her jaw and gently grabbed at the gag in her mouth.

Thumb and forefinger met, and then he pulled the cloth free from between her lips.

The way that he moved spoke of confidence, intent. Even if she had screamed he seemed the type that was ready to pounce and cover her mouth before she even had a chance to do anything different. His eyes stared down at her still.

There was a steady rocking to the cart, a shift that told they were traveling down a road of dirt rather than one of cobbles.

If she glanced out of the back of the covered cart she would see forest. Trees that seemed to extend far into the sky. They were different than the ones in the Grove Nil had taken her to, far larger and seemingly more ancient.

 

[Rosaline]

The trees were what caught her attention. There weren't any forests like this close to Maricielo that she knew of. Where had they taken her?

Slowly, her gaze returned to the elf who still sat watching her intently.

His stare was heavy, uncomfortable. Was he expecting something from her?

"Can you tell me what is going on?" She asked him quietly.