[M] IC - La Belle et la Bête - Dark pigeon / Scottishgal

[Dark Pigeon]

Salvador did not show it, but he was nervous as hell. He had learned quite quickly to keep his emotions hidden. All of them but anger towards everything and everyone. He quietly ate his thick soup and munched on the big pieces of potato in it, while his mind was racing as he feared all the things they had to do when they would be running away. Leaving the castle, traveling without being spotted, finding a ship that would bring them, heading towards the big city, meeting ... meeting the leader of the North. The latter he mind fear the most, for he knew how much the North hated the users of magic, especially the members of the five mages that wielded these intense powerful weapons. What worried him the most had to be his own temper, would he be able to stay respectfully?

When they both had finished their soup, a piece of chocolate pie was brougth to them, and by the looks of it a nice big slice. Salvador had insisted upon chocolate, knowing fully well he would not have any of it for a very long time. He liked chocolate, it was his comfort food so nobody would think anything of it. Just their king eating one of the most expansive foods in the world while his kingdome was falling. He watched Meila as she looked at the strange dark brown, early black cake with its very strange but sweet smell. "This is chocolate, it is made from a plant in the far south. There is nothing as expansive that one can eat and like in this world. Please, try a bite. I think you will like it. " he told her gently as he gestured for her to take a bite.

[Scottie]

Melia let the silence cover her, she could feel it wrap her in its cold arms. She could feel doubt eating away at her soul, with a single glance at Salvador...she knew he was faced with the same doubt. The soup helped to warm her body but every movement felt like it took maximum effort. Everything felt like it was in slow motion, only the deafening thumping would bring her back to the present. The bowl was taken from before her and Melia watched the maids scurry from the room. They were being left...as fodder to a man who would easily break down the gates. A monster who would claim this land as his own. She didn't know what would happen to those within the castle. Those who had served Salvador his breakfast, tended to his horses and shined his shoes. She hoped that they were shown mercy, that they were allowed to return to their families and feel joy once again.

Something was placed before her. She had seen stale cakes before, they were gifted as presents to her family. She had never seen anything like this before. This was chocolate. No one had ever heard of chocolate. She heard his words brush past her but her gaze was looked on the pure delight before her. Made from a plant. It didn't look healthy, it wasn't potato...the only vegetable that she knew. It didn't look like the soup that they had before. She felt like her spoon would combust as soon as touched the cake. It looked like that one slice would cost the price of her family home. She gingerly took a small bite of the cake and her tastebuds sang a heavenly chorus at her. "Oh my goodness." Her voice was small as her eyes grew to the same size as the cake. "W....That is glorious. That is like nothing I've ever had before." She was like a child in her amazement.

[Dark Pigeon]

Salvador showed his first smile when he watched her enjoy the chocolate. A smile that soon made place for that same icecold look he always seemed to wear. He was sick with worries as he did not know what was to become of the both of them. He felt shame for running, even though he ran so he could fight the fight he always had wanted. He finally was to gather everything he had, all the knowledge he had gathered over all these livetimes in the hope he could indeed destroy these horrible weapons, to free those pieces if souls and fuse them again with the right ones. Ending this endless cicle o dying and being reborn without evern meeting ones gods. He could not talk with her about this, not now. Not without him knowing if they could truly trust everyone at this moment.

He silently ate his chocolate pie, enjoying every single bite as he had his eyes on his plate. Not being able to look up at the woman that was ready to follow him to hell and back to save this country, to safe him. As his pie was finished he looked up again, watching Melia taking her very last bite. "I promise you that you will have such a wonderful meal again. It being with or without me" He told her sweetly before he got up, pushing his heavy chair away as he gestured for his staff to come towards him. "I will see you in the morning. Try to sleep." He told her before he walkes away, but not before he gently brushed his hand over her cheek. "I admire your loyalty." He said without to much emotion before he walked out of the room.

[Scottie]

It was strange seeing his face contort into a smile. It was surely scare any of the staff watching, maids would run away to foretell the end of the world. But the smile drifted away, as soon as it had arrived, it was gone. Melia wanted to rest her hand against his cheek and beg for that smile to return. She had seen it before, she had seen it in her dreams....in so many memories. She wanted it back. She wanted to bask in its glow. But silence was all she was gifted. Melia let her eyes drop back to her cake and she ate it slowly. Trying to savour every single bite. She wondered if this would be the last thing that she ate. What if they were caught just out the gates? What if she was executed at dawn...like her old neighbour was? What if this was her last night with him?

His promise felt empty. With or without me made her smile drop. She didn't realise that could be a possibility. Melia couldn't even try to smile as he left. His touch did nothing to the storm that was filling her stomach. His words brushed over her and she nodded once as he left the room. Vermin came up to the table and smiled at Melia. "We go now." Melia didn't move, she didn't even gift him eye contact. She just stared at the empty plate before her. If she had known that it could be their last meal together...she would have taken longer. She would have eaten the cake, crumb by crumb.

"We go now." He said again and finally she stood. Letting him lead her as if she were a puppet. Her feet shuffled forward as he tugged her along. Her shoulders had dropped and she felt defeated.

[Dark Pigeon]

Minutes seemed hours, hours seemed days. Salvador knew that the time was coming for him to leave his childhood home, the one place he had always felt safe.. the castle. He did not know if he would ever see these walls again, walk the halls in which he had played as a child with his brothers and sisters. The halls in which he had watched his young son run around with his hobby horse. He looked around his room once more, looking at the walls, the bed, the closets, the chair at the warm fire. Memories flodded his mind, his wife, his child, his parents, his brothers and sisters, every single person who had worked here, and every single person he had invited over in friendship. He was leaving behind his kingdom, his life.. he was leaving everything for a slim change that he might win for a change.

Vermin had made sure that Melia was ready. Not a single soul had been allowed in or around her room as he had told them that the king had instructed Vermin that he had to teach Melia everything she had to do when the invading forces entered the castle. Not of this was truly happening, instead he was dressing her to travel, thick clothing that would keep her warm in the North. Furrs and thick fabrics that would keep the wind out, and the warmt of her body in. She was to be dressed as a man, to ride as one as well. They would be looking for a man and a woman, acompanied by a imp. Such a small merry band of companions would stand out like a soar thumb. Vermin was to ride with Salvador on his horse, while Salvador and Melia were to be dressed as nothing but two trafeling mercents from the South that wanted to trade goods for the magical stones that the North traded in. Melia was told exectly who she was, what they were doing, and where thy were headed to. All they needed now was to get there without any problems.

When Vermin brought Melia through the castle and into the stables, they noticed a strange man standing there. Saddling horses and making sure that they did not look like the royal horses they truly were. He wore the clothing fitting for a man of simple needs, brown leather and boots, an thick cloak to keep him warm, and short black hair. Vermin panicked for a second, not knowing who this stranger was until he turned around. Both Melia and Vermin needed a second, but those eyes - even when blue- betrayed right away who he was... this was their king. Even if he looked like an bearded robber that was about to steal the horses.

"Sire... y.. your ha.. hair, I do like the .. beard." Vermin said as he did not know if he had to laugh or cry seeing this strange look on his sire. "An illlusion. Have you told Melia?" Salvador asked "Everything sir.. but... not what is to be her illusion" Salvador snorted in anger and rolled his eyes in disbelieve "Come here Melia, and quick about it. We don't have long" He told her as he placed his hands on top of one and other, as he lifted one, and lowered the other, she could see that the staff appeared out of thin air where it became an scepter.

As soon as Melia stood before him, he touched her forhead with the scepter. "Don't panick when you see a man in the mirror. This will make us appear like others." He told her as he gestured to her to get her already saddled horse and get on it. "Vermin..." The imp stepped forward and looked up, and felt the staff hitting him on the head (a bit rough, Salvador still hates the imp afterall) Before Melia's and Salvador's eyes the imp changed, no longer an imp.. but a dog. Vermin was glad he was no imp anymore, but a dog... really?? "... a golden retriever... sire, thank you" The dog said as he wagged his tail happily. "Don't make me regret it" Salvador said as he climbed on his horse.

[Scottie]

Vermin spoke to her as much as he could. His words brushed through her skull and she barely registered. Furs, heavy coats and thick boots. She was dressing for a winter that had not arrived yet. Her chest and the shape of her hips were hidden. Her hair was tied into a tight bun. She looked like her older brother. She looked nothing like herself. Her eyes even looked dull. It was only when Vermin snapped his fingers before her nose that she listened. She was told exactly who she was to be. She was told exactly why they were dressed like this. They had to be hidden. Her boots were heavy and forced herself to almost stamp her way out to the stables. Vermin hid by her side. From afar, she looked like a stable hand heading out to the chill of the night.

The stranger made her panic. She had worked in these stables. She remembered most of their names. But this man was new. Melia blinked rapidly when the man turned and she took a step back. His hair had been cut and he had a beard. She knew they were to flee to the North to ask for help...but all this change was too much. Illusion...A frown crossed her forehead as he becokened her closer. "What illusion?" She asked hotly as she finally agreed to take a step closer. The staff appeared out of the shadows and Melia felt a little safer knowing it was coming with them. The cold metal hit her forehead and she let his words ring through her skull.

"A man...in the mirror.." Her eyes filled with anger as she watched him just move around like nothing was wrong. The only joy she got from this change was knowing that she could kick the shit out of him and no one would be none the wiser. Just a friendly argument amongst friends. Not a young girl beating the living daylights out of a king. She didn't get on her horse, not until Vermin was given his disguise. She had half a thought to whack her hand against Salvador's arm when he clonked the staff against Vermin's head. Her eyes grew wide as the imp turned into a dog. A golden dog, one whose tail was waggling away.

Melia was trying her hardest to come to terms with all the changes they were thrusting upon her. She preferred wearing thick trousers, they gave her more movement than those heavy dresses she was normally forced into. She had been in trousers before. The people in the village were more likely to hire boys to work, so this was not a first to pretend to be male. Melia refused any help and hauled herself up onto the horse. Her knuckles turned white as she held onto the reins. She needed Salvador to lead, she would surely be lost in the darkness.

[Dark Pigeon]

Salvador lead his horse by hand, going towards the not so well known (but still well guarded) gate that was normally used for servants and goods that were brought towards the castle. It had not been used for a very long time now. As goods were brought to the main gate, and servants were all people who were grapped from the streets and put to work. But the gate was still there, and still manned as Salvador was not a fool if it came to people enter the castle unnoticed. He had thought of closing it up with stone, but then again... he might need an exit when the war was to stand before his castle... like it was now.

He fiddled around with a letter, keeping it close while he gently drove his horse towards the older -less known- gate. He knew the men that were standing there, he knew all of his men. He also knew that orders had been given that no gate was to be opened during the night... and it was night now. But he also knew the weight of an royal seal on a piece of paper. He knew that they would not revuse their king anything now that they feared the kind of state their ruler would be in now.

Did not matter though, he was still nervous. Not about them being able to get to the other side of the gate and away from the castle. He feared how soon they would find out he was gone, that they would be hunted down. Yes he could do a lot magic wise, but reall combat.. he always had been so bad at it. He worried that he would not be able to keep Melia save.

The guards looked up as the saw the two strangers with their golden dog "Nobody is leaving, get back to where you came crawling from" The older bold man said as the younger red headed man nodded in agreement. "Your king has send us, you are to open the gate and let us trough." He said as he tossed the letter towards the younger man. Salvador was met with an small snarl as the letter fell on the ground. It cost Salvador all his power not to show this man who was truly standing before him, how dare he speak to him in such a way! The younger man showed the older the seal, both were nearly shaking in theyr boots by the very sight of it. "Well, come on, open the fucking letter and gate. We don't got all fucking night. " Salvador snapped towards both men. It seemed to work, they quickly opened the letter and only after reading it did they become willing to open the gate for them.

[Scottie]

The darkness was filled with an eerily nothinginess. Normally she could make out vague shapes of the trees that dotted the land just inside the palace walls, but there was nothing. What Melia hadn't been informed of, was the need to fell every tree within the walls. Magic was clinging to them and driving deep into the earth. The enemy was using their own nature against them. The horse followed Salvador and Melia didn't really need to exert much effort in keeping the pony in line. The gate was barely lit, two faint torches were all the two guards needed to keep the darkness from choking them. Melia raised an eyebrow as the two men spoke harshly to their king.

Leaning forward on her saddle, she watched with a smirk as Salvador had to bite his tongue. Her eyes lit up as the man before her seemed to grip his reins just a little tighter. She snorted with a soft chuckle as the two men seemed to shake in their boots. She was hopeful that whatever disguise Salvador had put her in would be enough to fool these men. Her scarf was pulling further up her face and she gave the men a nod as she passed them.

The entrance to the underground passage was cold. Salvador was gifted a torch and then they were shooed inside. The guards feared Salvador but they feared the entrance even more. It was a dark and horrible place. There were rumours that floated around the castle of dark creatures that crept out of the caves and feasted on children. Melia had heard them but thought them just stories. Now that she was within the cave, she could see where the stories came from and how very real they felt. When the gate closed behind them, Melia brought her horse up close to Salvador before letting her words gently float to him.

"How long do we stay in this passage?" Her words were quiet, almost as if she was scared of something hearing them.

[Dark Pigeon]

Salvador was no fool! He had seen that covered smile of Melia, she had enjoyed herself while he had to bite his tongue. He wanted to slap that smile of her face, but when he saw that she was now filled with fear he felt a little bit better. A yes, the story's of these cavern passages. It used to be a smugling route for all the bad things that were brought to the castle, things that kings and queens did not want others to know about. Now it was not used anymore, the passage was unsafe, and it held so many stories that nobody dared to venture in. Salvador had made the choice that nobody would ever know the truth.. and for now, he would not tell Melia that it was pretty safe. `

Just stay close, and out of the dark. You never know what is hiding in the dark. Creatures of which even the bravest of men will tremble in fear. I have heard story's of men venturing in, and never coming out alive. But the dark will not harm me, they sence the power I wield. Stay close Melia, I can only do so much to protect you" He lied to her, while he sported a big old grin.

[Scottie]

It seemed like the walls were made up of writhing shadows. The breeze whispered her name as she snapped her head around. Stay close and out of the dark. She could do that. She brought her horse as close as she could. Not because she wanted to be close to Salvador but she wanted that light to kiss her skin. Vermin seemed content to yip happily between the horses and trot on ahead. The gate very quickly disappeared behind them. Melia was already counting the steps they took. Her knuckles were white as she held a tight grip on the reins. Her thigh brushed Salvador's as they continued through the cavern but she paid it no mind.

"How much l.longer?" Her voice broke as she spoke. Her question was meant to sound casual but it was obvious the fear that coursed through her. Melia's gaze was torn from the darkness before them to Salvador by her side. It was strange to see him with his hair short. She hadn't seen him with hair that short...well she had never seen him with hair that short. Her memories picked out a fuzzy haired youngster whose hair barely reached his ears. A shy smile was atop his lips...rather than the cheeky grin he sported at the moment. Melia narrowed her eyes slightly when she finally fixed her gaze on his smile. There was something a little too happy about that smile. "What is it?" She asked her question aimed at the smile, she wanted to trust him but things like this made it oh so difficult at times.