High Elve of Red Hallow

CHAPTER 11: Mirranda's Dilemma

Seseh imprisoned them together, locking them up in the dungeon of Cardamon run by the head guardsman, Cassius Longinus. 

That night, Mirranda and Rose dreamed a dream, both of them were they roamed as a family the caves, trees, and tower of their North tower.

"They will be imprisoned in a pit if I want them to be. I will lock them in a prison far away. There, they will stay for as long as I deem necessary. They shall be punished for not bowing to me."

Their dreams became nightmares, a threatening witch from Southern Mountain Range ravaging the tower, birds choking the area, the underground turning into a prison THEY WOKE!-- 

Spiderlings... a people plundered and killed. Spiderlings... trapped and slaughtered and now the last of them imprisoned in a dungeon. 

They had become lost with no one to rescue them. With no songs written. No stories to tell.

"MIRRANDA!" Cried, Rose, the youngest of the two sisters. Rose sat on a metal cot drenched in sweat.

"I am with you Rose, don't worry." She answered her with an elven phrase she heard when she was young. It meant "beautiful sister". The phrase was symbolic. It was so beautiful it comforted the young girl if only for a brief moment.

Then Rose looked over at the guardsman. The same one who took her away. The guardsman who lead her to the hall.

Cassius Longinus stood at attention, looking over at the two but focused on Rose. He had worked for the royals for years and never once had been asked to harm a child.

Cassius regretted standing before the oaken doors of the Queen's hall. 

He held a spear in his hand, leading a child behind. It was a little girl dressed in rags and chained to his wrist. A sackcloth covered her face.

He waited with bated patience for the queen's summons. He listened to the soft, muffled weeping of his captive, which secretly tugged at his heart and reminded him of his orders.

None of the mission statements he had with the Diddymous Royals prepared him for this. Aracnia kneeled before a queen. A queen that Cassius Longinus thought he knew. Something was amiss about her. That and Seseh would never dream of hurting children.

He listened to them speak in heated converse. He pulled on the chains and held her close to him. He wanted to comfort her, give her some form of kindness. Yet, he knew there was no kindness to be had in such situations. Not even a crumb small enough for a titmouse.

"How do I know you'll keep your promise? How do I know this isn't all a manipulation?" cried Aracnia, still on bended knee to the queen seated on her throne.

"This is the best I can do," she said, clapping her hands. That was his cue to come closer.

"Let me see her." Said Aracnia. Rose was silent, still trembling under her smock.

"Guardsman, remove it."

Again she clapped her hands. Cassius removed the coarse fabric, trying to be as gentle as he could.

"The first battle you win will free Rose's bonds, the second will earn her sister's. Understand?"

"You want me to trust you while she's bound?"

"Trust? No. You are mistaken, Spiderling but if it's trust you truly desire, Aracnia... Trust this." She snapped her fingers twice.

That was the signal. He pulled out a small, serrated knife.

"Yes, Your Highness." He whispered in Rose's ear. "I'm sorry." brought the knife to her arm, paused, and looked back up at Seseh's blue eyes. His gaze was one of questioning concern.