(Tragedy)

"Whether you believe in me or not, I will continue to exist," the king spat, his fat sweaty face so close his breath moved the hair on my face.

"You don't scare me," I whispered, my eyes holding onto his, unblinking.

He grunted. "Guards, lock her up until I need her."

"Thank you for your audience, your highness." With a flourish of a mocked bow, guards came up and roughly grabbed my arms to tie them harshly behind my back, unnecessarily stuffing a gag in my mouth at the same time.

I willingly followed them, seeing as how there was nothing else to do. But I did try my best to memorize the path to my cell. I wasn't sure if I would be able to get out but if I did at least I would know where to go. The smell hit me before I actually saw the place, making my eyes water and my breath catch. Groans of the nearly dead welcomed me as the door to the dungans creaked open, the smell almost overwhelming.

One of the guards opened an empty cell and the other one shoved me in, making me stumble and fall, my face falling into something wet. I ignored it as i rolled to my side, watching the guards lock up, snickering at me.

"Enjoy your new room, princess." They chuckled as they sauntered off, the keys to my freedom and future dangling on one of their hips.

I sat up, my wrists still bound and my mouth still gagged. Looking around I tried to find something to help me break free when I heard a rustling to my left. I snapped to attention to see a slight form shuffling around, coming closer to the shared bars of our cell wall. A couple of lamps casted soft circles of light dotting the dungeon every few cells, making it easy for me to see who it was. It was a woman and she didn't seem to look much older than me despite her sunken in cheeks and fishbowl eyes. Even less likely enough to escape.

I didn't move as she came closer, coming to lean against the bars as if that simple movement across the ground took great effort. Her eyes blinked slowly and she breathed open mouthed, her body shaking. She has been here for a while.

"You denied him too."

The only indication I gave that I heard her was the rise of my brows, shocked she knew what happened up there.

She struggled to swallow, then motioned for me to come close. "Come, I'll help."

Hesitantly but grateful to be free, I scooted closer to her, turning for her to get to my bound hands. It took some time but she undid the knots giving me freedom to remove my gag. I breathed in air clear of smell but nearly gagged at the palpable taste the place had. I turned, nodding to the young woman.

"Thank you."

"You shouldn't have rejected him."

I didn't look at her as I rubbed my raw wrists, answering, "I didn't leave my home to be a man's pleasure thing. Much less the thing we worship as a king."

I assumed the ghastly sound she made was a laugh. "It would be better than rotting away in here."

I stood, looking around for any weak spots in the walls and any loose cell bars. "That's where you're wrong. I don't plan on rotting here."

She moved again, resting her back on the bars, her eyes shut. "You will want to save your strength."

I paused, turning to her. "My strength?"

Slowly, she turned her head, looking at me through laden eyes. "You were going to be the woman on his arm this week as an honored guest. Now you are going to be a servant for him during the Game of Swords."

My body grew cold and my finger tips lost feeling. I forgot, no wonder I was sent to him early in my training. Last year there was a girl who was sent around the same time, a day later they sent another and we were left alone for several more weeks. I looked the woman over, her severely soiled and ratted dress nearly unrecognizable but the style was unmistakable.

"You denied him too."

Her shoulders shook with a silent laugh. "I had a fiance and was about to drop out of training. But the king found out and picked me."

I walked over to her, sitting down next to her, my back against the bars, my head turned to her. "But you picked your fiance."

Pain riddled her face but past just as fast as it came. "He called for me and my fiance to be brought before him, even before I was told what I was doing there and given the choice. Peter was sure I was to be released. But the king asked me who I wished to be with and promised to let me choose and that he would respect it. Peter couldn't help but take my hand in excitement. But before I finished saying Peter's name a guard ran him through, his eyes wide, his blood everywhere. All over the side of me." She paused, looking down at her hand where her simple band on her finger still sat. "I held his lifeless hand as I stood there in utter shock. The king then joked about being engaged to a deadbeat then sent me down here."

She turned her head to me again, her hand reaching out to brush my arm. "He killed my fiance then me. You should have accepted."

I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to feel. Suddenly I had the urge to scream. I knew my fate, I was sitting next to it. I knew I wasn't ever going to leave but that made me all the more determined to do it. If I was supposed to be a servant during the Game of Swords then I'll just have to use that time to get out. Or damage him as best I could. There was no way in Hell I was going to let this sick sick man take any more lives just because he felt like it.

"What's your name?" I kindly whispered.

"Emery."

"Thank you for your help, Emery. I am so sorry about your fiance."

She gave a half hearted shrug. "It has been a year and I will see him soon enough."

I sat up straighter. "No, don't think that. I plan on using my time out of here to get as much information I can on leaving this place," I reached out and brushed her arm like she did mine, "and you are coming with me."

Emery just gave me a sad smile. "You seem strong."

I gave a hearty laugh, probably startling the rest of the prisoners to a welcomed death. "Not in the slightest. Just determined. I have never done anything remotely heroic or dangerous. But I have a sharp mind. Plus I don't think it will be hard to recruit friends on the inside to help. The king isn't exactly the most likable person in the kingdom."

That made her smile. "Then I will eagerly await your success. I wish I could help."

I stood, resuming my inspection of my new home. "You have helped me already." I flashed her a smile. "We will be out of here before you know it."

~

Three weeks. I had to be a servant for three weeks. The next day after being thrown into the cell I was taken by another set of guards and lead to a small servant's chamber filled with a dozen other women ranging in looks, age, and nationality. More woman from the training camp. That was unsettling. Made me question what we were really training for. A large ugly woman stepped up and looked around at us all, her pudgy face scrutinizing us. She and the King would make quite the couple.

"Now ladies, you know the drill. You serve the masters and their champions. I will hand pick the ones for the king. But keep in mind, the King has decided to extend this week's Game of Swords to three weeks instead of one." She sounded winded already, beads of sweat trickling down the rolls on her neck and arms. She was handed a drink and in a blink of an eye her sweat was gone and her breathing was normal. "You are to be on your best behavior. The girl with the least served trays, lack of attention or calls of complaint will be spent a night in the cavers. Now off with you!"

And just like that, I was thrown in a room with fifteen other girls, dressing in the most vulgar clothing I have ever seen, trying to grasp the little snippets of conversation that was going around in hopes of understanding what was going on.

"I hope Lord Phorbus comes with his son again. They took a liking to me last time."

"Do wear that Izzma, you look horrid in that color."

"Three weeks is going to be a long time. Enough time to find me a man to take me out of this wretched place."

"Has anyone seen those red arm cuffs?"

"You seem new."

I blinked, turning around at the voice pointed at me. This woman was older than me by about ten years, maybe fifteen but her poorly applied makeup made it hard to tell. She stood with a cocked hip, her hand placed on it, her eyes looking bored.

"You need to get dressed and we will start our first and only trial run. You get one shot at this newbie." And then she was gone.

So I did as she said, getting dressed in the most sensible clothing I could put together, not bothering with makeup or my hair, save for a flower pin by my ear. I stood in a line behind the others as they were issued their trays and the area they were assigned to. I was last, given five trays each with a label on them of different foods.

"You are to work in the back, giving the winning man a glass to drink and whatever it is they wish." The leader lady gave me a pointed look as she took a healthy swig of her drink. I shuddered.

I took my trays and went to the back, not minding one bit being separated from the others. And then I watched as they all walked around like they have been doing this for a while, which they probably have. The same shorter lady came by and showed me where to stand and what to do, pointing back at the back doorways leading to bedrooms that I was supposed to keep filled with food and drink at the same time as I tend to the winner of the sword match.

I always hated this sport. Men, usually a gladiator of sorts, was brought with the lords, dukes, and high council men who came from all over to attend, used solely for fighting purposes. A sense of entertainment I found utterly revolting and completely unnecessary. Seeing as how my task was simple enough I went back to watching the others, taking note of their exaggerated actions and flirtatious movements to their invisible targets. Therefore I didn't notice the man who snuck up on me until he spoke.

"You must be new here."

I jumped, nearly dropping the trays in my hands. I turned and came face to face with one of the most beautiful men I had ever seen. Even the dance partners at the training camp weren't this handsome. I nodded, tearing my eyes away from his face.

"Yes. Got here this morning."

He let out a deep chuckle. "Turned him down that quickly, huh?"

I gave him a side glance. "What is it to you, I'm just another woman for you to ogle over."

He straightened, clearly offended by my comment. "I am the captain of the guard, not here to ogle but to make sure you woman are safe."

I snorted, turning back to the others. "Then set us free."

"I too would like to keep my life, so no."

I shrugged a shoulder. "Worth a try."

"You aren't like the others."

"Oh dear, what gave it away?" I reached up and touched the flower in my hair. "I knew I should have grabbed the peacock feather."

He chuckled a pleasant sound. "Perhaps you should change it before tonight. You won't last the first week if you don't try to stand out."

"I thought I was already different. You noticed me, didn't you?"

"Not that kind of different."

"Doesn't matter," you shook your head, "I don't plan on being here for the three weeks."

The captain of the guard raised a dark brow. "Plan on taking the easy way out?"

I smirked, catching his meaning. "Only if the front door isn't an option."

He then turned to face me, making me look to him. His dark eyes were slightly wider, his mouth agape. I snickered. He blinked then shook his head.

"You plan to escape." He turned back to the other woman, his face stern, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "It isn't wise to tell your plans to an officer to the king."

"Not unless they can help me."

His face hardened, darkened so quickly a shiver of fear washed over me. "I should report you right this moment and have you thrown in the dungeons where you will rot away and never see the light of day again."

I left the humor out of my voice as I spoke. "I am already staying down there."

He let out a breath but his face didn't relax. "As you should be. Speak of this again and I will report you faster than you can say 'freedom'."

The large woman reappeared, calling for the girls to come back. I squared my shoulders and followed suit but before I got too far from the handsome captain of the guard I turned back to him, looking him right in the eye and whispered.

"Freedom."

~

I was sent back to the dungeons after being told the plans for the nights of the next three weeks. I found Emery and told her all that happened. Once I got to the leader lady and her drink Emery sat up higher.

"The higher ups drink this special stuff that helps them heighten their pleasure senses for sight, smell, touch, and taste. Hinders their hearing though I'm not sure why." Her eyes were wide as she continued. "I noticed this the third day serving. They get sick if they don't keep drinking it."

I nodded. "Interesting."

Emery shook her head slightly. "Don't get any ideas, it's bad enough you are sent down here to stay, they could kill you if you tried anything."

I winced. "Well, I may have already cost our chances of escaping."

"What did you do?"

"I may or may not have spoken to the captain of the guard and sassed him. A bit."

She groaned part of which I was positive because she was in immense amounts of pain. "You are going to get yourself killed."

I shook my head, sending her a small smile, knowing full well she was right. "Don't worry, nothing that won't already happen to me. Eventually."

Emery cracked a smile but nodded. "True. But be careful. Three weeks will take a long time."

"It's alright, I'm a patient woman."

She nodded. "Good luck to you then."

~

I tried not to wince as I watched the men in current battle, one was weak and was soon run through, the men around them erupting in mixed choruses of cheers and boos. The large square table with over thirty men and their sons seated around a sanded pit where their champions fought. Guards were stationed at every door and by a pin where the champions were held when they weren't fighting. Not making it easy to make a fool proof plan. Unless I found who I was looking for.

My thoughts were interrupted by the winner of that match requesting drink and food. I did as he said, trying to keep his smell from making me gag. Once he left I let out a breath, closing my eyes. I need to get out of here. If not for me at least for Emery.

"I see you changed the flower."

My eyes snapped open. "I see you are talking to me again."

"I was hoping you would have gotten yourself killed some other way by now."

"It's only been four days, give me some credit, I could still screw up."

He didn't look at me as he spoke, his body half hidden in shadow by one of the back doors that lead to the bedrooms. I hadn't noticed anyone else go back there so perhaps there weren't just bedrooms back there. The captain placed his hand on his hilt as more champions were set free to fight.

"What makes you think you can escape?"

I shrugged but spoke through smiling teeth as a few men passed. "I made a promise to a friend."

"A just cause can't be your only reason."

"It's the reason that keeps me from running the next time your guards make their rotations."

"I'm surprised you haven't done that already."

"You and I both."

Silence fell between the both of us as the third victor of the night bounded up to me. I gave him a smile and he smiled wide, his body splattered with blood as he grabbed for food and drink. But before he left me alone he turned back and placed a sweaty and hard kiss on my mouth, missing it enough to kiss my nose partly, then he rushed off to celebrate his small victory.

I resisted the urge to wipe my face so I spoke to distract myself from the discomfort. "Perhaps there are some selfish reasons I wish to leave."

I glanced over at him and was surprised to see him standing a bit closer and in the light. He looked upset but not at me as his eyes trailed after the champion who had taken advantage of my upper lip and nose. He blinked and glanced at me before turning his back, talking over his shoulder.

"Speak of this to no one, not even your friend. Do not speak when I see you tomorrow, I will speak to you and you will follow."

Before he left I called out to him, my voice hidden from the others by the new fighting champions. "Is this you helping me to escape?"

He turned, his officer face gone and his kind face slightly appearing. "This is me taking pity on a woman who can't see reason so I might as well show her it's nearly impossible to leave." And with that, he was gone.

That's when I realized Emery and I weren't the only ones who wanted to leave.

After the night's festivities, I rushed to my cell, kneeling down by Emery's cell, excited to tell her that there was hope. But she didn't shuffle over like she usually would. My heart started to pound as my eyes raked over what little of her cell I could see. On the other side, in the corner, I saw a dark, unmoving heap. My head shook as my eyes tried and failed to blink back tears.

"No. No, no, no, no, Emery don't leave me."

No answer.

"Emery, we are going to get out of here."

Nothing.

"Emery, please."

Silence.

I wept, hard and loud, not caring one bit at the guards telling me to shut up as they went in to remove her body, tossing her unceremoniously in a pile of other bodies being taken out for the weekly dump. She always joked about joining them one of these days but I never wanted to believe it. Tears continued to fall for hours and hours, only stopping right before the next night's serving. I got an extra tray for having puffy eyes.

The captain showed up but I ignored him. I watched the champions fighting, one of them the man who kissed me yesterday. Their swords clashed and their bodies shined with sweat. I heard the captain walk up to me but I didn't acknowledge him.

"Something is wrong. You haven't moved nor spoken since I came. I thought you wanted to be free?"

Slowly, I tore my bloodshot eyes away from the fighting men to look at the captain of the guard, a man whose name I realized I didn't know. I blinked slowly as I tried to keep my tears at bay.

"Yes I do, but it seems you were right the first time."

He tilted his head slightly. "About what?"

"Finding the easy way out." I dropped my trays and ran, ignoring the shouts of the men and other woman servers, dodging the guards that were close enough, my eyes fixed on one point. I could hear the captain following me, his voice louder than the others but as my tears fell again I found it hard to listen to what he was saying. I knew this was the only way.

I jumped the table, landing in the fighting pit. The champions didn't stop fighting, their sole focus on the opponent. Perfect. Just as one of them lifted their blade, I stepped in front of it, staring it down ignoring all the others as I braced for the pain. But the pain didn't come, instead, a form appeared in front of me. The captain.

He guarded me, his own sword out and blocking the champion's blow. This shocked the man and he faltered, stepping back. The captain lowered his arm and turned to me, his face a mixture of emotions. But before either of us could say anything the King boomed a command that rendered me frozen.

"RUN THEM THROUGH!"

I turned to the captain of the guard, time slowing down.

"Lemira," I whispered.

"Colin," he whispered back.

He took my hand and just as I felt a red hot pain in my middle, quickly traveling the rest of my body, quickly followed by numbness. I watched as Colin jolted, the tip of a sword poking out of his chest, matching mine. But he didn't let go of my hand. Instead, he gave it one last squeeze as his life faded from his eyes.

"Freedom," he croaked.

WIth a sickening suction sound, both swords were removed from us, causing us to fall to our knees. Colin fell to his side, his body unmoving, his eyes unseeing, his hand ripped from mine. Cold started to creep into my body as I shook, fighting to stay alive just a moment longer. I looked up at the King and gave him a sickly sweet smile.

"Thank you for your audience, your highness."

My body shook one last time, my knees failing me, my face falling into the dirt. The last thing I saw was Colin's face, eyes wide, blood trickling from his mouth, his last words echoing in my mind.

"Freedom," I breathed as cold consumed me.

Then.

Nothing.