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Stolen (Candira and Frelance)

Candira

Candira

Singularity
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
Another restless night. Sighing, Lady Nel pulled on her robes and straightened her hair a bit. She often had trouble sleeping--more often than not it was because she was worried about something. Tonight, however, it was because she was unable to stop thinking...which meant she was worried. Exasperated, she pulled the thick green robe over her shorter black night gown and put on some slippers. Her red hair was tied up in a braid which reached the middle of her back. Many people thought she was pretty. In fact, most people thought that the reason her father had brought her to court this time was to introduce her to the prince.

She had been introduced, and she had no desire to wed the man. He wasn't mean or rude by any stretch of the imagination, but they just didn't seem to hit it off. She wouldn't mind being friends, and he seemed of the same mind, but suddenly people were expecting them to get married. Sighing, she realized this was the reason she was awake. Perhaps a walk around the castle would calm her nerves.

Little did she know her little walk would take her further away from her bedroom than expected...
 
Cursen had slipped into the castle with no problems. It was finding what he wanted after he got inside that was the difficult part. He had searched four floors before of the Castle before he found the room he needed.

He glanced back down the hallway to make sure no one was there before he pulled the cowl of his cloak farther down and slipped into the room. He ran his fingers over a few of the scrolls before he found one that he knew would be valuable. When he had a few in his hands he opened the leather bag ad his side and slipped them into one half of the bag. He had found what he needed and was just about to drop it into his bag when he froze at the sound of a board squeak behind him.

He started turning around just as the servant dropped the tray of dishes and bolted down the hall. He swore and grabbed one last book before he took off down the hall in the opposite direction of the servant. It had gone so well, if only he had been able to stop her but it was to late now, he could already hear the heavy thuds of castle guard coming after him.

Just as he turned a corner he noticed the shadow and pulled out one of the knives at his belt. He had it up and against the throat of Lady Nel before he even recognized her. "Make a single sound and I will slit your throat." Most of his face was still in shadow. He circled around behind her keeping the knife up against her throat the entire time.
 
Nel heard footsteps coming toward her. They sounded rather hurried--was something wrong? Just as she was thinking this, a dark, hooded figure came into her line of vision, as did the blade he held to her throat. It shone even in the darkness it's tip dangerously close to her skin. After a long moment she forced herself to remember to breathe. Heart beating wildly, she didn't think she could scream if she wanted to, so his warning was quite unnecessary. She stood perfectly still, trembling in fear as the stranger circled her. Of course--it was just her luck. There was no way she'd be getting to sleep now. Not unless it was eternal sleep. So this was what she got for not marrying a prince?
 
"Good now we are going to walk to the nearest stair case and out of the castle." He lowered the knife to the bottom of her neck and let it rest there as he put his hand on her back and nudged her forward. "Now you can speak but if anything you say will get me killed I will make sure you die with me." He moved his hand from her back and wrapped it around her waist as he heard soldiers approaching in the direction that they were heading.

He took a few breaths to steady himself just before the four soldiers came around the corner. They stopped dead in their tracks then just as they started to draw their swords Cursen brought the knife up to her throat again. "I would leave those where they are or she dies."
 
Nel wasn't a fool She liked her head right where it was, thank you. And she liked all the blood she had to remain in her body. Trembling, she did her best to remain calm and do as he asked, whimpering just a little as he let the knife rest at the base of her neck. "Please...I promise I'll cooperate," she said softly. "Please don't hurt me." She began to move as he directed her only stopping as his arm went around her waist, pulling her back into him, the knife at her throat. She whimpered again, tears in her eyes.

"Please, do as he says!" she plead, absolutely horrified. It didn't seem like the man had killed anyone, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't if he needed to. She said nothing more as the guards cursed under their breath and moved their hands away.

"Release Lady Nel at once!" they commanded. Admirable though it was that the guards were trying to save her, Nel couldn't help but feel as though their command was about as effective as a paper sword against a dragon.

She was well aware that until the man holding her was safe, she would not be either--nor would she be free.
 
Cursen just smirked and laughed at the guards demands. "I will let her go when I feel its safe to now move or I will slit her throat right here and now." As he finished speaking he played the blade over her neck as his smirk darkened. It was not until the guards started to back down the hall that he let the blade lower and his grip on her waist loosened. "Now Lady Nel, lead us to the stable if would be so kind." His voice held only the slightest hint of frustration. This job was supposed to be easy, no killing or kidnapping. Just a simple get in and get out like he had been doing for years. That had all gone to hell with one servant.
 
A pitiable whimper escaped her as she actually felt the coolness of the steel nearly touching her. She leaned back into her assailant as much as she could, trying desperately to not make him angry. In all her life, she'd never been so afraid of dying. Her legs had been stiff and weak with fear, but they found themselves working as he told her to lead him to the stable. Only when the blade was lowered and his grip loosened did she allow herself to breathe normally again. "The stable is this way," she said, leading him toward it. Leading him to more soldiers would only make things more difficult for the both of them and her rescue was highly unlikely.

Slowly she started to calm herself, reminding herself that he probably didn't plan this. In fact, he probably didn't want to hurt her. If she told herself that over and over, she could make it through this. When they reached the stable she turned her head slightly to look at her attacker, though she couldn't clearly see his face. "What should I do now?"
 
He kept looking into each room as they passed by but no one who saw them took more than a step closer to him before he had the knife up against Lady Nel's throat again.

When they got to the stables he pulled the doors closed behind them before the knife dropped from her neck. "Saddle up a fast horse." He was going to threaten her again but held his tongue this time seeing the fear in her eyes.

He slipped the knife up his sleeve as he walked over to the saddles and selected a common grade saddle. As he held it on his shoulder he glanced at the door then to Lady Nel before he proceeded to saddle up one of the horses. He kept an eye on Nel as he saddled the horse as he was waiting for her to try and make a run for it.

When he was ready he climbed into the saddle one handed as the other hand was holding the throwing knife that was hidden in his sleeve. "I will hold the reins of your horse until we are out of the city. Then we will see where we are and what to do about you." The hood of his robes had slipped back a bit so that a small part of his face was revealed but still left to much hidden to really see who he was.
 
She was so grateful when he let her go that she didn't move at first. Shakily, she saddled a fast horse, not wanting to take hers out for fear that something might happen to it. The horse she was working with sensed her fear and tension, so she took a moment to calm it and bond with it, forcing herself to look calm. The fact that he trusted her to do this herself told her that he was more than likely not going to hurt her. Still, the sight of his knife did little to inspire confidence in that theory. Riding was going to be uncomfortable like this. She couldn't ride side saddle if she was going to have any kind of speed to her. So she mounted her horse the same way her captor did. She was glad her night gown was a shorter one and that her robe was long enough to hide much of her from view.

Nel handed him the reigns and watched him apprehensively. "I thank you," she said, bowing her head in gratitude. She still wasn't sure she wouldn't end up dead, but it seemed less and less likely by the minute.
 
Glanced at her as he heard her words but said nothing as he lead the horse to the door of the stable. As he was about to kick open the doors he spoke almost off handed. "Just hope the guards are smart enough to let us leave." Just as he kicked the doors open far enough to let the horses out the knife that he had in his hand glinted in the torch light as he went to her throat again.

He started their horse forward. "I will only kill her if you attempt to stop me." He was getting really frustrated with what was happening but his nervousness was much stronger so he was able to keep his calm as he watched the guards part for them slowly after looking up to the king who was on the steps of the castle.

He kept the knife to Nel's throat until they were out of range of the cities archers. "I will not threaten you again but do not try to run." He put the knife into the sheath on his arm as he handed her the reins to her horse before he started to urge the horse on a bit until he was sure Nel was keeping pace with him before he got the horse running full tilt. He wanted to make it deep into the forest before the king sent trackers out after them.
 
A wise woman would have just taken her chances and run--if that wise woman had guts. The man who'd kidnapped her was more than likely a thief, not an assassin. He'd promised not to threaten her again if she didn't try to run. Then again, that didn't mean that he wouldn't kill her anyway. Stress did not sit well with her. Next time she was invited to the castle, she vowed to just pretend she was sick. This was what she got for being obedient.

She was very nervous, but she let her captor lead her horse out of the castle looking entirely helpless and much like the damsel she happened to be at the moment. It wasn't that she didn't know how to fight back--it was that she was far too afraid to do so. She rather liked living, after all. She watched as the king looked on with concern and anger in his eyes and knew that she would be pursued.

Just the same, there was more immediate danger facing her than she liked, so she did her best to keep up with her captor but stay just a little behind. He was leading the way after all. Focusing on riding was keeping her from panicking, but it would only last for so long.
 
When they were deep in the forest Cursen reached over and took the reins of her horse and slowed them both to a stop. "Time to get off." He slid off his horse and looked in the saddles bags before taking them off of both horses then sending both horses farther down the road. "Start walking." He put his hand on her shoulder as he pushed back his hood to reveal his face for the first time. Even though it was still heavily shadowed the moons light caught the line runes tattood down the left side of his face and almost seemed to glow faintly in the moonlight. They started just beside his eye and disapeared into the neck of his cloak.

He pushed her forward into the dense forest taking turn after turn but always coming back to the same course which was the direction of the forests oldest ruins which most people not beleived to be haunted and bad luck. He did not speak for almost thirty minutes as he directed her by pushing or pulling on her shoulder. His grip was strong but not painfully so. It was not until they came to a river that he stopped and let go of her shoulder. "Can you swim?" He asked the question as he walked to the bank of the river and looked into the black water judging its depth which he guessed would go up to his shoulders but no higher.
 
Judging by the fear in her eyes, despite her captor's benevolent actions to this point, Lady Nel was still terrified. She trembled once her feet were back on the ground and it was more difficult to walk in her finery--chosen specifically for the palace. Still, she managed to walk without much stumbling, and she lifted her robe a bit to keep it from getting dirty. She gasped and looked around at any strange noises in the woods, and the fatigue of their stressful journey was starting to get to her when he asked if she could swim. She could do enough to keep herself afloat, but she was not a strong swimmer, and said as much. Not to mention the fact that she was cold. If he were to leave her here, she'd have a hard time finding her way back, but he would be safe and faster without her...then again, she had no idea what the guards were doing.

The redhead frowned, looking at the cold, rushing water and back to him. "I'm not sure if I can make it across," she said. She wished they'd kept the horses. Having to stay calm for the animal so that it wouldn't buck and cast her off was fantastic motivation. Plus, the horses could swim. She could have made it over safely. And then she realized that whether she did it on her own or not, she was going to be wet and cold in the next few moments.

She looked over at his tatooed face and wished she could see more. His anonymity was not helping her calmness--though now that she could at least see his profile she was a bit calmer.
 
Cursen's eyes narrowed but he said nothing as he turned back to the river and glanced up and down the river before taking her arm and started walking down the river bank with her. "It should be shallow enough for you to walk across down here." He had wanted to wash as much of their scents off as possible but he was going to have to keep the books and scrolls dry so he would not be able to help her if he had to.

As they reached the spot he had seen he used the saddle bags from the horses to cover the bag with the books. It was not perfect but it would keep them dry for a few seconds if he dropped them. "Now you go first." He watched her until she started to cross the river before he followed her. He knew that she was going to be wet when they reached the other side but he did not care at the moment, she could dry off later when they reached the ruins. When they were across he wiped a bit of water off of the leather that had splashed onto it when he had walked across the river. "Into the trees." Even as he spoke he pulled off his cloak revealing soft leather armor on his chest and legs with a surprisingly dark silk shirt under it. He used the cloak to brush away their tracks up to the forests edge before he put it back on and started walking again. He didn't bother telling her to follow him this time, he was sure that she would do so without him telling her.
 
Nell sighed and tried to keep up as he took her arm and forced her to walk ahead of him so much for her robe providing warmth. bit her lip and took a moment to gather her wits about her before stepping onto the freezing water and wading across. The water came up to just above her waist, so she tried to keep her arms out of it as she walked, partially to help keep her balance, and partially because she didn't want wet sleeves. She shivered once she was out of the water, her nightgown clinging to her body beneath the heavy wet robe.

She figured walking would help keep her warm at this point anyway, so it was best and safest to just do what he said. So she followed after him and watched as he revealed a bit more of himself. So he was just a man, after all. Of course he was, she reasoned. What on earth else would he be? He didn't seem to be an assassin though. Just someone who was good at what they did. She watched how he got rid of their tracks and then stumbled after him, wishing that they would stop soon.

But if she knew fate, there was still a long way to go before they reached their destination.
 
After walking for a few minutes Cursen slipped off his cloak and held it out to her. "Here, it should keep you warm until we reach my camp." He held it out until she took it then after he waited for her to get it on he started walking again confident that she would not find anything useful in the empty pockets on the inside of the cloak.

He had slowed his pace as they left the river but when they hit a small animal trail he started walking faster now that there was not as much brush to slow him down. Soon after the ruins came into sight through the trees.

He slowed again as they reached the stone and put his hand on one for a moment before walking past it and towards one of the low stone buildings. As he got to the entrance he looked back at Nel and motioned for her to go inside.

The inside of the building was much taller than it looked on the outside because its floor was dug out before smooth stones were placed in the floor. There as a small sunken fire pit in the floor with a pile of thin dry one off to one side. On the other side of the fire there was a pile of furs on a pile of what looked like a mix of pine branches that where covered by long grass making a make shift bed. There were a few bags in various sizes and a very nice saddle beside the bed.

When they were both inside he let a mat of weaved grass fall over the doorway to keep the light in then went to work starting a fire.
 
She was incredibly uncomfortable as she walked, not to mention freezing. When he offered his cloak, it was a godsend. She happily took it, mumbling her thanks as she put it on. She didn't hesitate at all. She hugged it to her, glad that he'd been warm earlier as well because it had stayed in the fabric. She kept walking with him along all the different paths. She didn't much pay attention to where they were going, just hoped for a fire.

Once he opened the entrance to one of the stone ruins, she entered like he wanted, glad to be out of the chill of the night. She into the room and just stood there, wondering what he wanted her to do. She was very glad, however, that he was making a fire. "I-Is there something I can do?" she asked, shivering a a bit. She couldn't help it. Aside from being cold herself, her wet clothes were freezing beneath his cloak.
 
Cursen looked up form the fire as he heard her ask if she could help. It was a bit of a surprise that she would ask since he had just kidnapped her but he thought for a moment then pointed to one of the larger bags. "There should be some food in there. Get us both something to eat while I get the fire going." He finished stacking the wood the way he wanted but after trying to use flint to get it going he dropped the flint and picked up one of the smaller bags then rummaged through it until he found what he wanted.

He brushed off a section of the fire pit to reveal a wide but shallow impression about the size of a mug which he poured a layer of white powder into and dropped a few small pieces of sulfur into it then taking a few smaller sticks he poured what looked like water onto them being careful not to get any of the liquid on himself.Once the sticks were soaked he placed them over the small impression with the area he had been holding being the only part that was not touching or close to sulfur before grabbing a water skin a taking a drink before pouring water onto the white powder and making sure it was evenly spread out then took another drink as he waited. It was only a few seconds before the powder started to bundle and hiss then another minutes before the sticks caught fire and Cursen deftly picked them up and to put them into the wood that was ready for the fire. A few seconds later and the fire was spreading through the firewood and giving off heat already.

Cursen brought the bag back to the pile and grabbed a some cups and a dented metal pan which he put onto the white powder which was still hissing and bubbling. After filling both cups with water he put them on the pan to boil. "I assume you would like something hot to drink?"
 
He was being much kinder than she had originally thought, and if he was telling her to get food and lending her his cloak, she was pretty sure that meant he intended to keep her alive. She grabbed two small loaves of bread for them to eat and a wrapped package of cured meat. She didn't see much else in there, either. Lady Nell found a plate inside to put it on and then came to him as he lit the fire. She came to sit near him with the plate and she was immediately glad for the heat of the fire. She watched him as he did all of this, curious as to the different things he'd done to light the fire. When he asked her if she wanted a warm drink she nodded, looking at him gratefully.

"Thank you," she said softly. She didn't much care what it was she was going to be drinking so long as it was warm. "I hope this is enough," she said, gesturing to the plate. With that, she waited for him to take the first bite--manners still ground into her.
 
He gave her a slight nod and went back to picking out the herbs he was going to use but when she spoke about the food he put down the herbs and looked at the food she had gotten out."Thats fine, I know there isn't much left." He had actually been staying in the ruins for almost a week now so he was almost out of food.

He started to go back to what he had been doing then realized she was waiting for him so he reached over and took a bit of the bread and some of the meat. He went back to crushing the herbs until he was satisfied and the water had boiled. He split the herbs in two and put them into the two cups before putting handing one cup to her. "It should taste alright but it will warm you up." He ate a bit more as he waited for the herbs to steep.
 
She was relieved once he started eating. She did the same, glad for the snack after their trek. Nel felt a bit more calm with something in her stomach. She watched him break the herbs, recognizing quite a few of them. It would be a decent drink but she wanted to let it steep as well. "Thank you." She looked at his face now that there was more light. He wasn't frightening. "I'm sure you probably don't want to tell me much," she said, holding the cup for the warmth. "That's understandable. But I would at least like to know your name." She hoped that he would divulge that much. She got the feeling that he hadn't intended to ever involve another person in this...well, whatever it was. "My name is Nel," she offered.
 
He kept eating as he looked at her and listened to her the njust smirked a bit. "I know exactly who you are. I have been in the city for a week already." He took a bit more to eat before he stood up and moved over to the bed. "My name is Cursen. I doubt you recognize me but I have seen you more than a few times over the week." He was not sure if she would have heard of him but probably not since he had only heard a few people in the market talking about what he had done in the last castle. He smiled at the memory of how he had left his mark there. He turned away from her as he started to take off the leather armor. "Now that I answered your question will you be so kind as to answer mine?" He glanced at her then focused on what he was doing as he asked. "Why were you walking around the castle tonight? I mean you could not have heard the guards and gotten out of your room that fast." He had been curious as to why she had been in the hall when he ran into her.
 
She frowned, not sure how he had learned so much about her in such a short amount of time. Then again, for gossips in big towns, it was no wonder he knew. It was strange that she hadn't heard of him, however. Cursen...she would remember the name. She wondered where they had seen each other? She would have asked, but he was already asking her a question. She ate more of the bread and meet and felt a bit better when she finished. The redhead took a sip of her drink and then set it down--it needed to steep more.

"Actually, I hadn't heard anything. I was walking in the castle because I couldn't sleep. I often have trouble sleeping, and sometimes a little walk helps me..." She decided not to tell him of her anxiety issues and pulled the cloak closer around herself. "I guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time...or I guess for you it was the right place at the right time." She smiled softly and did her best to stay warm by the fire as he took off his armor.
 
Cursen lifted off the chest armor and set it down before turning back to look at her as he sat down and started taking of the legs to his armor. "Well to night it didn't help you much." He was on the last piece of armor when he shook his head. "No, it was the dam servant who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If they had just walked by a minutes later no one would have known I had taken anything until the next day at least."

He came back to the fire and sat down as he pulled the leather bag holding the books to him. "Now I have to deal with you before I can move on." There was nothing menacing in his voice even though he knew how menacing his words sounded. He took out a few scrolls that all have to do with druids or the ruins they were staying in now.
 
"What did you take, anyway?" she asked, finishing off her little bit of meat and bread. She got a little closer to the fire and frowned at his casual mention of "taking care of" her. She decided to focus on something besides that turn of phrase. He was right, she definitely wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight. After all, it was kind of over already. She sighed and picked up her makeshift tea. It was much better this time when she took a sip.
 
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