The talking upstairs continued, the advisor responding to the new king, “Nearly twenty years, sire.”
“Twenty years..wow.” Atlas lifted a hand to rub his jaw while he thought, “Hm..and he hasn’t been out since?”
“No, your majesty.”
Atlas hm-ed again, “Being ‘im up, I want to finally meet him after all these years..”
The advisor hesitated, then nodded, “Yes, right away..” he turned to inform the guards of the order.
The guards startled at the request, but the two of them loyally went down to the dungeons to retrieve the man who hadn’t been outside in twenty years.
They rattled the cell with shoving the key into the lock, “Wake up, old man, the day’s arrived.”
“May I inquire why I am suddenly being brought out?” Eliza asked after standing to better allow the guards to un-shackle him from the floor.
Their uniforms were much what he remembered but were slightly changed now. Maybe a colour or simple design changed, he couldn’t tell exactly. But, what was definitely different was the feeling in the air now. Eliza thought he was probably right about how ridiculous this king might be. He was sure if he was a friend of the late King he would find him to be a good person.
One of the guards unshackled him while the other answered his question, “The King wishes to speak with you, I’m at a loss as to why.”
Once his shackles were opened, they roped his hands behind his back, and shoved him forward. The took his arm and escorted him out of the dungeon, and down the hall towards the throne room. The hall was uncomfortably bright with the natural light streaming in from every massive window. The guards didn’t seem to mind it.
Eliza squinted until he could barely see a thing. He hadn’t seen sunlight like this for a long time and it burned his eyes. The sunlight was warm, warmer than he had ever been all this while.
The immense windows looked cleaner than they once were, so did the floor and the walls.
The interior looked brought together quite well since nearly 2 decades ago.
Despite squinting and having rope rub against his already dying skin, he smiled. He was in sunlight again, he was out of his cell. Even if he was about to be executed, he was happy to not have to die in that cell.
Soon enough, they passed through the massive, decorated doors into the throne room where the king sat on his chair. He’d taken off his crown to rest on the stool beside him, but he kept the cloaks hanging over his shoulders, “Bring him in.” He repeated, lifting his head in interest as the doors opened.
The guards shoved Eliza to his knees several feet away from Atlas.
After a quick squinty glance, he almost confirmed that this king would be quite the interesting fellow. Atlas, was it? Eliza was not sure of their identity, having never been let out.
He stared at the floor and wondered what wasn’t to come.
Atlas lifted a hand to his jaw again, “What’s your name?” He spoke loud enough for his voice to echo. The cloak and the sunlight slowly made him sweat, but in front of a prisoner he reasoned he couldn’t make himself any less kingly.
“Eliza Deen, Your Highness.” Eliza was not one to piss off rich people or royalty, horrible consequences followed. He also figured that this new king was trying somewhat to do the right things and seem like he knew everything.
“Nice to meet you.” He said curtly, “How old are you?” He scratched his shoulder under the cloak, the heat now becoming itchy.
(I have to leave soon, I’ll try and get in a couple more responses, if not, I’ll respond as soon as I can.)
He kept his head low and responded, “I am not exactly sure, but I should be around 40 something.” His eyes were a little more used to the sun now and he opened them wider and saw a bit more of the room he was in.
“Okay..” he nodded slowly, “I remember you being very disliked by my father..he never told me why…why, Eliza?” He hoped he would get his twenty year old question today. Someone his dad hated so much he wouldn’t even execute him. Only slowly torture him through isolation and disgusting dungeon quarters. Atlas didn’t understand, but he would do anything to be able to.
(Oh my goodness, I need to respond but like, I can’t decide on why he was imprisoned. Help. TT)
(Hmmmmm I’ll research some options real quick and give you a list! One sec)
(Would you like some more ideas?)
(Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry for not responding. I think I’m okay, I’ll respond as soon as I can. Sorry.)
(Not a problem! Take as much time as you need :) )
Eliza sighed and started, “As you should know, not every person who had ever existed, loved your father or his heir. Many despised royalty, those who felt they were treated unfairly. I, myself at the time, worked as a towns blacksmith, I mainly made jewelry, especially after a lot of young folk had come round. I had been commissioned by a nobleman who had heard of my work, he had asked for a pair of knives to be made. Nothing fancy, just ones that were sharp and could do their job. I had arrived a few weeks after he had asked for the knives and arrived quite late. He brought me inside and, his friends I assume, we’re chatting in hushed tones. I hadn’t meant to listen in, but I could hear, ‘He should be passing outside from here to there, then we can get him and take his body here.’ I did not want to say a thing about it, but the nobleman took me further in with the knives and to room where whom I had heard we’re discussing over a map of this castle. The nobleman knew I had heard too much and decided to keep me there to fulfill the plan.
The night had come and the men had taken him, leaving me alone with the knives covered in blood and to be imprisoned for a crime I had never committed. I apologize for not having more details, I have forgotten most over time.”
Atlas leaned forward with interest. So…that meant he wasn’t the second hero to the throne after his father. He was the third. “Interesting..and you’ve down there for twenty years..” he looked over to the guards, “Take him to the library. We need to do a little more research.”
Eliza looked up with mystery in his eyes, this lad was quite interesting. The guards pulled him up and double checked the ropes were tied around his hands properly. Eliza was also a little excited as well, as he had never seen anything more than this room, the hall, and the cell.
Atlas stood up to go to his room and change, “I’ll be there soon.” He called to the guards, but mostly to Eliza as he neared through the heavy cloaks down the hall.
Eliza thought the guards mumbled something to the yet un-introduced King, but couldn’t tell over his excitement and confusion. Was this king being nice to him? Was ‘the library’ some kind of code phrase? It didn’t matter much to him, he mainly was excited to be outside his cell.
After getting dressed into a lighter weight overcoat, Atlas made his way to the library, which was conveniently located just down the hall from the throne room. He offered everyone he passed in the hall a friendly smile. Yes, today was going to be a good day.
The castle seemed much more defined and … bigger? Than before, but that didn’t mean much, considering he hadn’t explored around here. He wasn’t a huge book reader, and it wasn’t like you could buy books everywhere you went. He had a couple of books, he didn’t know if they even existed even more, so he was excited to see a library at the castle. Even if it was just for research, and he was a prisoner.
Atlas opened the door to the library, scanning the room for both the prisoner and the books of history of the castle, “Eliza, was it?” He called, “Where did they put you?”
