Ren eyes widened. He wouldn’t accept that kind of answer, not for a while now. “No, no, no. She can’t be dead. Fay is still the spare to the thrown, since she’s the only child of the kind here right now, she can’t be dead. The queen would keep her alive,” Ren said, praying his words were true. “They’ve probably gotten her locked up somewhere.” Ren honestly was having a hard time believing his words were true still. What kind of queen would lock up the princess?
Ellie sighed. "I wouldn't put it past her, Ren. Listen, I know you liked her, but false hope is just - it's really not a good thing to give yourself."
“Giving up on her isn’t a good thing either,” Ren said stiffly, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn’t mean to lash out, but the past couple days… he couldn’t stand just sitting in his room planning without taking any action.
"I'm not giving up on Fay. I'm just - " she sighed and rubbed her eyes. "I need to go home now. Maybe we'll talk another time."
“I’m done waiting around. The reason why I wanted to talk to you was about how I’m going to try to break her out. With or without your help,” Ren said, looking at the door. He didn’t care what the consequences were, something was very wrong. From the little time Ren got to know her, he still knew Fay was a fighter. And being locked up ever since that day… that stupid day. Ren should’ve never mentioned the game in the first place.
Ellie looked at him tearfully. "You don't- you don't even know where she is. You'll be arrested, then executed. And if Fay is alive, she'll be more better off because of it."
Ren closed his eyes for a second, “Listen, I know that I don’t know what your going through. I didn’t know Fay as long as you did. But I am still a prince, they can’t just execute me without demanding war as well,” Ren said softly, swallowing, “I think I know where she might be. I’ve snuck around before, I saw the queen going in and out of one room. Even if Fay isn’t there it’s worth the risk.”
"You were allowed near there?" Ellie asked, amazed. After a moment, she shook her head, and her eyes went dull again. "No, it's really - " she put her hands on the sides of her head. "Oh, gods, I think I'm giving birth to a goddess," she groaned. "If you were going to do this with or without me, why did you even ask? Do you even have a plan?"
Fay, like every other day, was sitting on her windowsill and reading a book. This was closest to being outdoor as she can get. And with the bars and being on the second floor, there was no way to escape and honestly for the first two weeks she had tried, but now has given up. A knock came from the door making her jump a little. It must be Lily. Her and Lily have become close since she was the only one that was allowed to see her. She was older, maybe in her late thirties, but Fay liked her and if she ever got out of here, she wanted to keep Lily as her personal maid. But the person she didn't want to see walked in. Closing her book she immediately stood and bowed. The Queen always had a smile on her as if she had won. "Come, we are going to see your father." It was strange she had only seen the king about three times since she's ever been to the castle. "First change though, you'll embarrass me." Again Fay bowed as the queen left. One of the guards unlocked her chains. She went to her closest as he turned around waiting for her to change. It was a red dress that was tight up top and loose and fluffy at the bottom, and even though it was a small dress it was still a bit loose on her. She put on black flats knowing very well she couldn't walk in heels. She could barely stand right now. Throwing her hair in a bun was a bit more difficult since it had grown out. "Let's go." Grabbing her arm he dragged her out of the room. He made sure to keep a good grip on her. Even though running away was the last thing on her mind. People stared as she walked by. Because she hadn't been out in a long while, but mostly because she looked so sick. "So the rumors must be true." One of the maids said as Fay walked by. Rumor? "Wait here, he'll call you in a bit." A different guard took his place as he walked inside.
"You were allowed near there?" Ellie asked, amazed. After a moment, she shook her head, and her eyes went dull again. "No, it's really - " she put her hands on the sides of her head. "Oh, gods, I think I'm giving birth to a goddess," she groaned. "If you were going to do this with or without me, why did you even ask? Do you even have a plan?"
“I’m still a prince, even out of my country I can still scare a few maids to pretend they never saw me,” Ren said, but in reality he had barely been able to get a glimpse of the door. It had heavy security. “But I asked you because I know for a fact that Fay is incredibly important to you. You deserve to know, even if you don’t want to help. I don’t exactly have a well thought out plan, but I can at least try.”
Ellie turned away again and looked at the ceiling, blinking quickly. "Okay. Okay. I can talk to some of the maids. One of us always knows something. What do you need?"
Emerald nodded, putting her hood over her head. At least we found Aurelie, at least there’s still hope, Emerald reminded herself, taking a deep breath. And maybe with her sword, they’d be able to find someone else even sooner.
(Also, if any knights are on right now, do you have a preferred place to be found? Like a tavern, or cave, or palace or something?)
“What are you two waiting for?” Aurelie asked cheerfully. She opened the door for them. “I’m ready to get out of here!”
(Also I forgot to respond to this I think? whoops)
Emerald stepped out the door, but looked back to Aurelie, “Do you think your sword will be able to tell us anything?”
Ellie turned away again and looked at the ceiling, blinking quickly. "Okay. Okay. I can talk to some of the maids. One of us always knows something. What do you need?"
“Information, mostly. I can trick most people since they think I don’t understand english,” Ren said, grateful Ellie would be helping. “I have Edgar as a resource, he can create a distraction. And I also need a weapon, just in case,” Ren added, trying to think. He was going in blind to this, but it was a risk he needed to take.
Ellie nodded and pulled a ribbon out of her pocket to tie her hair up. "I'll see what I can do."
“Thank you, Ellie,” Ren said sincerely after taking a deep breath. “Would you like to meet back here or somewhere else?” He asked her quietly. We’re finally going to get Fay out… or at least try.
"I'll meet you here. Should only take a few hours," she answered, pulling the door open. "See you in a bit," she gave a mock salute and turned to go out the door.
Emerald nodded, putting her hood over her head. At least we found Aurelie, at least there’s still hope, Emerald reminded herself, taking a deep breath. And maybe with her sword, they’d be able to find someone else even sooner.
(Also, if any knights are on right now, do you have a preferred place to be found? Like a tavern, or cave, or palace or something?)
“What are you two waiting for?” Aurelie asked cheerfully. She opened the door for them. “I’m ready to get out of here!”
(Also I forgot to respond to this I think? whoops)
Emerald stepped out the door, but looked back to Aurelie, “Do you think your sword will be able to tell us anything?”
“It might be able to lead us to the next knight, since finding the way to get where I want to go is its specialty,” she answered brightly.
The huge dark wood doors opened slowly making Fay snap out of any thoughts that she had. Already she was feeling sick again, she wasn't sure if it was because she was hungry or the nerves, maybe it was both. She stood, her hands were neatly folded in front of her. "Come in daughter." She hadn't heard this voice in a while. It was deep and a bit raspy. The king, even at his age looked well. Her had a nice clean mustache and beard. It was mostly gray with a bit of brown. His eyes were brown as well, he looked, happy, which is something she didn't expect. She always imagined him to be mean, intimating and always with a scowl on his face. "My daughter." He stood and walked down the steps to where Fay was. His arms wrapped around her small body. When she first came he ignored her and refused to listen, she was locked up and later released to be a maid. And to gain the favor of another country he decided to believe her and use her as a pawn. Right now she wanted to cry, Fay had so many emotions going through her head. This is how she wanted to be greeted the first day she came to the castle. Was he doing this because he actually cared, or was he doing what he thought she would want in order to gain her favor. "You're so skinny. The queen has told me you are finally feeling well." Before Fay could say anything, the king snapped his fingers. With one snap everyone was on attention. This, this is the kind of respect Fay wanted, this kind of power. "Go get my daughter some soup!" One maid bowed and ran out of the room. "You must be tired come sit." Blair was sitting on the throne just watching. If Fay was in her room, the queen would only allow her to eat half her meal. Fay smiled, but it was a bit twisted as she looked at the queen. Blair wouldn't dare say anything in front of the king that would displease him, and Fay was going to use that. "Thank you King." She bowed gratefully and sat. "Please child, I am your father, you are allowed to call me so." Fay cleared her throat, even though there was nothing there. "F-father, both my siblings are gone and I've been quite lonely." She started off, if playing innocently was going to get her what she wanted, the hell yeah she was going to do it. "And I'm your only child here, and that being said if they don't return I'll be taking the thrown. So, I was wondering if I could be your shadow, I want to know more about the country history and how to rule, and who better to teach me than you?" The king hummed, nodding at what she said. It made sense. If Fay could get closer to the king, earn his love, she could slowly push Blair away, and even better, drive her out of the country. "That is a good idea, you are old enough to start learning. Alright, in a week, when you feel a bit better we will start." Quickly jumping in before the conversation ended, Fay had one more thing to say. "And, I would also like to get close to you as my father, so that being said, may we have all our meals together?" Freya knew she was pretty, even sick like this she was still beautiful. Using that to her advantage she did puppy-dog eyes and pouted her lip a little. "How dare you ask so much of the king!" Blair shouted, standing as she did so. Fay's eyes turned dark, not out of fear, more like out of spite fullness, Fay hated the queen with all her being. But what she didn't expect was the king to stand and look down at Blair. "How dare you talk to my daughter that way. And don't you dare say what I can and can't do. I may be busy, but that is also something she needs to learn." He stood straight up and his voice got low and dangerous. "So sit down." The Queen sat and was silent the rest of the time. "My sweet Freya, of course we can eat together." Fay was sure he was doing this to use her, but she was also using him, so for as long as the king was useful to her, she'll keep him around. But when she's done with him, Fay will find a way to get rid of him as well. A smile appeared on her face and she looked to the ground. "Why thank you father." Her voice came out a bit strange, but no one seemed to notice. This is my time. And none of you will belittle me *ever again.
The maid that ran off was running down the hall to the kitchen, not really paying attention to where she was going. When she turned a corner and bumped into someone. Looking up the young girl recognized the red hair. "Ellie?" She stood and bowed. Ellie was above this girl and it was rude to bump into or disobey anyone higher than oneself. "I'm so sorry."
(That was a lot to write, but I wanted to make sure I got in a glimpse of what Fay's newfound personality is like and how what she went through affected her. So I hope I did a good job at that.)
(You did great, lovely!)
Ellie gasped and looked up. "That's perfectly alright, please don't bow at me. It makes me uncomfortable," she said with a laugh. "You can -" her face changed, "actually… I do need a favor. Do you think you might be able to help me?"
“It might be able to lead us to the next knight, since finding the way to get where I want to go is its specialty,” she answered brightly.
“Perfect,” Emerald replied softly as they left the inn. The sooner they could find another knight, the better. Each day seemed to bring more and more possibility of getting caught, if Emerald could find the other knights before then… it would be a miracle.
The girl stood. She was supposed to be getting soup, but needed to do something for Ellie to apologize. "Yes, I can. Oh, I'm Nanie." She smiled. Her wild curly hair was in her face and she had a gasp between to front teeth. "W-what can I do for you?" It was nerve wracking since she had only started working here for three months and was still trying to get into the swing of things.
"Really great to meet you, Nanie. Now, listen… have you heard anything about the princess? And I mean anything," she said rushedly, looking around carefully to make sure no one else was around.
"Oh, you mean princess Freya? Yes, I was just with her a moment ago. She's in the throne room with the king." Nanie, didn't know the relationship between the two, but Ellie seemed to be in a hurry. "I'm supposed to be grabbing soup for her. The poor girl is so thin. I'm glad her sickness is gone though. Now she can return to her bubbly self again." Nanie had heard stories about what the princess was like, and she couldn't wait to meet her when she was better. "Um, was there something you needed from her?"
Ellie's entire face went several shades whiter. "Th - the throne room?" She stammered, backing up. "O - okay, new favour. I need you to find Prince Ren and tell him exactly what I told you. If - if there's something you're supposed to be doing, I'm really sorry. This is extremely urgent." She gave the girl an apologetic look before sprinting towards the throne room.