Behind enemy territory [Meepmeepimmasheep x Lady Leah]

[Meep meep Imma sheep!]

War.

It seemed like in his life growing up within the confines of the castle wall’s safety, Rainer had heard nothing but tales of bloodshed throughout the region. Yet for the first time in many years, lasting peace looked not as a faint wish, but a promise. In return however, he and he alone, would need to sacrifice the one thing he held dear in this war torn nation. His freedom. His captivity for the freedom of his people. They had told him what they required of him during the meeting of which only the highest of senior members belonging to the king’s council even knew existed. They told him how he would be forever known as the man who bought peace between two nations that had been brewing wars for centuries, told him how as the king’s youngest son, it was neither his responsibility nor concern to look after the crown or to seek a place within the council, but instead to do whatever he had in his power to enable a union between the two sides.

Rainer was a man that would gladly put down his life for his country’s safety and prosperity, but the terms of their so called treaty were preposterous. Never in his life had he felt such rage and embarrassment, they had wanted him to be sent as a treaty, to be wedded to one of the king’s daughter. Instead of lifting up his blade and sweating blood over the battlefield for his beloved land, he would be sent over to be wedded, like a fucking princess. He had immediately rejected the proposal, but what good was voicing his displeasure to a room of people who thought of him as nothing but a child. They told him that he would be treated as how someone of his status would, a position of power in their opposition’s empire, he would live his life as he had for the past nineteen years, just that it would be on their land, and in their castle. And in seven years, when their daughter would be of age, he would then be married to the woman, but till then, he would be under constant scrutiny of her family. Every single thing he planned to do must be carefully thought out, for if he were to show even the slightest hint of betrayal, he would be executed and war would once again reign over the countries.

Having no other say in the manner, he quickly bid his farewells and for the first time in many years, left the safety of the country’s walls. For four days he journeyed, never once threatened by anything more dangerous than a few annoying insects. Had circumstances been different, the trek might had seemed almost idyllic, if not for that fact that the peace around him was merely a facade, the tensed, peaceful moment between two blades before they collide against one another.

The late afternoon sun began to sink amongst the treetops, creating contrasting areas of brightness and dark shadow among the trees as he slowly arrived at the edge of the woods. Yet as much as the darkness tried consuming whatever light that remains illuminating through tiny patches of holes in the canopy, it did nothing to hide the flames belonging to the group of man that waited at his journey’s end. Being signaled to follow along, there was nothing Rainer could do but to edge his stead forward and get led to meet his awaiting "family in laws".

 

[Lady Leah]

Malachy is an odd kingdom, once known for being warlike they are now ruled by a fat king who prefers parties and intrigue to war. In the most recent wars he never took the field, which might explain why they were a bit more successful than his earlier campaigns. However, far more important, and damaging, was the failure of the black witch to join the battles.

She had served the kingdom for the past two hundred years, an unreliable ally but deadly when she could be convinced to help. She had not joined their side in the past ten years amid rumors she disliked the new king. Still the threat that she might show up was an incredible advantage as it forced their enemies to always consider magic as a weapon. Malachy had never lost a battle where the witch was present.

The castle was imposing, as fitted a warlike empire. The walls were of black stone, and it cast a long shadow across both the harbor and the forest adjacent. Set to one side of the castle was the home of the witch, the infamous black tower. It was visually a bit disappointing because all of the castle was black too, that was the type of stone they had. It also was just one of seven towers that lined the castle walls, the rest used for defense, this one, set apart, looked empty.

Rainer was given a tour of the castle, he was after all a guest, not a prisoner. He would be treated like a guest as long as he never tried to leave. He was not to set foot outside the castle walls without an escort, for his own safety of course. There would be a grand ball in a few days time to welcome him and he could meet the king and queen and royal family then. In the meantime there were tailors to see and rounds of visits to high court officials that had to be made.

Of course they made sure to show him the witch’s tower, and tell him to avoid it. The witch wasn’t here anyways, hadn’t even been seen in the last five years, although they didn’t like outsiders to know that. She came and went as she pleased, but he was warned her temper was bad and she was to be avoided at all costs.

That said they left the young prince to settle in to his suite of rooms, to unpack, wander the castle and try not to be too annoying until the ball.

 

[Meep meep Imma sheep!]

Ghosts in the gathering light, the figures floated across the docks, gathering nets, hauling tackles and coiling ropes as they fitted their crafts for sea, an armada of fishing boats bobbed near the harbor as their horses passed. To the north, intermittently visible through the patchy mountain fog , Rainer sighted around half a dozen towers, built with the same black material of the castle’s walls. They casted a hellish shadow over the land, truly giving his new home a diabolical look.

Following the men that had led him on his journey so far, he was given a tour of the castle, mainly only the places he was allowed to traverse. Passing by a particularly dull building, he was told of how to never enter the building because it belonged to the witch that had served the country for the past two hundred years, not that anyone had seen her in a very long time. He wanted to ask about the witch, and although he already knew this blood curdling story, he had an urge to hear it again, like a child who feels an irrepressible urge to hear scary stories about headless mutants and dark ones who kidnap young children. Especially from people who lived near the source of the rumors.

He had not believed the strength of the woman when he had heard of her, thinking of her as nothing but of legends or rumors. The fact that no one had seen her for so long simply further prove his points. But he would not speak his mind if he did not wish to get into trouble.

He was soon bought to the main building and told of the rules he had to follow, mainly about not leaving the castle walls without an escort and also of the ball he would had to grace with his presence in a few days. After the lengthy speech, he was quickly disposed of at a luxurious room, all of his bags and luggage were already there, no doubt opened and searched through moments before.

It didn’t really matter; he had not brought any items of importance, merely items of daily necessities and clothing. His weapon and armor had of course, been confiscated the moment he set foot in the castle, his horse too, probably sent to the stables. Not really sure whether this would be his final or just a temporary resting place, he did not bother to unpack his bags, and instead just changed out of his traveling clothing into a bunch of much more comfortable slacks.

He had been granted to wander around the castle, to enjoy the sights and familiarize himself with the place. There were a few certain places where he was not allowed to trespass, and that was something he would gladly oblige. Breaking the rules on the very first day didn’t really give the best of impressions. Putting on a rather large hat that hid the front of his face, Rainer stepped out of the room and begun walking down the corridor towards the library, hoping to find certain notes of importance about where he was staying at.

 

[Lady Leah]

The library was large, full of books and empty of people. There were row up row of books, manuscripts and scrolls. This was not the work of one man but of successive generations of leaders who valued knowledge and wisdom. The room was well had some good natural light from windows that overlooked the courtyard, it was also well stocked with candles if someone chose to light them to read better. Chairs, tables and desks provided comfortable seating for over a dozen, perhaps in the hopes that scholars would flock to this place. It only made the dust , shadows and emptiness more stark.

“A prince who reads, what an interesting concept.” The voice was low and soft, not quite a whisper but such that in this lonely place it could feel imagined. But it was a woman speaking, she stepped from the shadows, her far eastern features also distinct, there were no others in the kingdom who had the slanted eyes, black hair and bronze skin of the far east. Even more distinct was the silk robes she was wearing, black, with silver runes embroidered down each sleeve. She appeared to be in her late 20s perhaps.

“You do read don’t you? Or did you just get lost and wander in here, that would be so disappointing.” She smiled as she taunted him, lessening the jest. “Few in Malachy bother anymore, the king is a fool and his subjects seek to emulate him.” That was a bold statement, mocking the king could be cause for exile, or death. Mocking his future father-in-law made it seem bolder still, or perhaps she didn’t know who he was, though she had called him a prince…

Outside in the courtyard a large outcry could be heard and people milled around, something was happening, but up here, in the library, the cries could barely be heard. If Rainer bothered to look outside he would see smoke coming from the chimney of the tower that belonged to the witch. She was back.

The woman opposite him paid no attention to the tumult and shouting, keeping her focus on him.

 

[Meep meep Imma sheep!]

The room was vast, it's ceiling so high the library itself seemed to lead straight out towards the night sky. The walls too, made from the same black material, reflected off any illuminations from the settling sun's rays, giving a wall-less feel to the room he had set foot in. Only the gray stone floor with its gleaming symbols, one that represented the castle, gave any solidity to the scene. Entering the chambers, he had felt an awe so rare for one of his kind, the amount of knowledge here, way more than what he could find in almost all of his kingdom combined, made him felt like a child who just touched his first metal blade.

There were chairs, tables and desks littered messily around the place, all over them covered with layers after layers of dust. It seemed as though no one had been here for years, not even the servants had bothered with it's conditions. Rainer ran his finger through the cover of a book lying on a table near to him, he watched as his fingertips turned black as a layer of dust and god knows whatever else it was coated his finger.

He was half contemplating on picking it up when a soft voice flowed out from within the darkness, it was barely above a whisper, and in his current situation, a voice like that would had bought along fear and shock, yet instead it held a soothing tone, one which accompanied an equally pleasant sight as a woman soon stepped out from behind shadows. Her thick dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, her soft bronze skin glowing faintly from the sun that leaked through the windows. Rainer was unable to tear his gaze away from the woman, her exotic look sending shivers down his spine. The woman was dressed fully in black, her robes covered with dozens of what seemed to be runes running down the side of her sleeves.

The young prince felt his eyebrows raise involuntarily as the woman mentioned of the king's incompetence, such statements were usually the cause for death, but it didn't seem at all like she cared in the least. Noticing that the woman had called him by his title, there was no longer a need to hide his identity, pulling his hat off, he tossed it to the side, his blue eyes, filled with confusion peered through the darkness at the sight in front of him.

"I heard that the libraries of Malachy held knowledge complied by it's travelers from centuries long past," picking up the one that had previously caught his attention, he blew at it's cover, sending a gust of dust flying across the room, "I was simply curious at it's content, and not here to discuss about the king's accused foolishness. Though I'm pretty sure you're well aware of what would happen to you if word gets out of this"

A faint cry coming from beyond the window caught his attention for a brief moment, but figuring that it had nothing to do with him, he turned back towards the woman, "now who exactly might you be?"

 

[Lady Leah]

She laughed as she responded, “I am myself, of course.” She seemed to enjoy teasing him. “And I am very aware of what would happen to me if that fat stupid fuck of a blowhard heard me. Nothing. He wouldn’t dare.” She laughed again and that might have given her away, she was so confident. There could only be one person in all the kingdoms that could say that with such confidence.

She took his hand, her own hand tiny inside of his, she really was quite petite, and led him to the window, pointing out the small finger of smoke that curled from the witch’s tower. “They are announcing my return, it makes them nervous. “ A shrug of her small shoulders, “being ruled by a moron doesn’t bother them, should I come and light a fire to warm my home, that sends them into a fit.”

The witch turned now, though still holding his hand, she studied his face to see how he took the news of her identity. Did he drop her hand as if scalded, did he retreat, or run away. She was very curious of this young prince. He had made a good first impression, both in finding the library and in wandering around, so eager to learn. Perhaps… she thought…just perhaps…

 

[Meep meep Imma sheep!]

The woman laughed as she replied to his statements, and she continued doing so even when she began insulting the king with a combination of profanities so vulgar, he would had never thought of it himself. The woman exalted a certain kind of confidence, one which he dared admit had bigger of a presence than even the king himself. Was she a noblewoman of high status? The highest would be the queen, yet he knew this wasn't her. Rainer did not move his hand as the woman reached out and grabbed his with hers, he flinched at the contact, her palm icy cold in contrast to his warm ones. He followed the woman as she led him to the side of the room, towards the windows which looked over the castle's inner grounds.

There was a trail of black cloud, seemingly darker than even the blackest of nights itself, flowing from within the witch's towers, and it took all of the man's will to not gasp out in surprise when the woman mentioned of her return. He had not believed in the woman's existence, yet the fact that she was here, and the way she spoke, it somewhat made sense. And at the same time, it could be a trick, a test by the king. To see how he would react by planting a woman like her in the library and setting random pieces of wood on fire in the opposite building. They could take the opportunity of his belief in the witch to brand him as a crazy man, and use that to their advantage.

He turned towards the woman and caught her gaze with his, "if you are who you claimed to be," the hand which held onto hers tightened it's grip, "prove it. Show me you're not merely a trick those idiots are playing on me." He studied her reaction, would she admit to the plot, or if she really was the witch, would his disbelief cause her anger?

 

[Lady Leah]

Now she laughed at him. “Ah my skeptic, so that is how you are, interesting, and possibly a sign of your intelligence, but perhaps not too. “ She raised one finger and tapped it against his nose as a kind owner might do to an errant puppy. Her touch was warm, not cold. “But I don’t care if you believe me or not. All of this is your conundrum, not mine.” She laughed again and stepped back, away from him. “But I shall see you around.” She turned on her heels and walked down one of the corridors of the library disappearing into the shadows before he could say anything.

If he bothered to look he would find there was no doors in the way she had went, perhaps a secret passage, or perhaps magic. All she was doing so far was adding to the confusion.

In the courtyard several guards were stationed at the entrance to the witch’s tower. The townspeople knew and the gossips would freely state that it was because the king wanted to know if she was coming or going. The guards had orders to invite her to visit the king as soon as they saw her. Invite was the real word too, for none would dare insist. If she chose not to, the king would come to her. But for the rest of the night nothing happened, the smoke billowed steadily, she had a fire going in there, but that is all they could tell.