A/N: It's in Ava's POV because Aer-Burdon(guess I was in the habit of calling him 'Aeri') is unconscious for the most of it. Plus this chapter shows how they are captured and taken to the Empire. I would've added Burdon's POV, but it would've been REALLY long, so... yeah. Also, this used to be in third person view, but I changed that(there are mistakes however). If there are any mistakes, please tell me. Thanks!
SC ©
End of A/N.

~Ava~

Aeri gets hit in the chest, then he... flew into a lake. Without thinking, I jump into the lake to go and get him. Luckily he wasn't that far down, like a few feet down. The down side was that he was quite heavy, which means it was harder to break the surface. When I broke the surface, I saw that he was unconscious, and there are the evil king Jazer's armed soldiers.
"What do we have here," asked Guard One, smirkingly evilly.
"Well, I believe we have a elf and the wanted dragonrider we were looking for," said Guard Two, also smirkingly.
"Yeah, we found the wanted dragonrider King Jazer wanted us to find!" said Guard Three.
"Yes!" said Guard Four, punching a fist in the air, obvious excited.
I couldn't read people minds as well as Aeri could, so I couldn't read everything that's they are thinking and know. But I didn't need to go into their minds to know that they wanted to capture Aeri and I.
"Now be a good girl and hand him over," said Guard Five, approaching me with his hands outstretched.
When I backed away, the Six Guard said, "Oh, come on. We won't hurt you. Just give us the dragonrider and we'll let you go." I tried to run away, but they blocked my escape routes. More guards came to the lake. "What's taking so long?!" demanded Guard Seven.
"We found a elf and the wanted dragonrider," said Guard One.
"Yes! We found a elf and the wanted dragonrider!" said Guard Eight, excitedly.
"Just give us the dragonrider, pretty lady," said Guard Nine, approaching me. I shook my head, no.
"Come on, we don't have time for this. Just get her, and the dragonrider, and let's go," said Guard Ten. Two guards somehow came out of the lake from behind me. I turned around to attack them, when the guards behind me, grabbed my arms. I struggled to escape from their grip. Aeri felled down from my shoulder. One of the guards picked up Aeri and put him over his shoulder.
"Let's go," said Guard Seven, who's apparently seem to be the leader.
"What about the elf?" asked Guard Six.
"Just bring her with us," said Guard Seven.
"Okay, looks like you're coming with us pretty lady," said one of the guards that were holding me. I fought to get away, and get Aeri away also. "Whoa, hold on," said one of the guards, that were holding me. They put chains around my wrists, and put chains on Aeri too-just incase he wakes up. They made me go into a prison wagon and they chained me to the wall. Aeri was chained up also, just in case he wakes up.

∞

After hours and hours of being chained to a wall of a wagon, it finally stop, the doors to the prison wagon opened. "Come on out... Lady Elf," said Guard Seven, mockingly. I sat up and tried to charge at him, but the chain stopped me. "Sorry Lady Elf, but while you're chained up you can't hurt me."
Just watch me.
"Go check on the dragonrider," ordered Guard Seven to one of the guards.
The guard he was talking to came up, and while he was walking to Aeri I thought, If I kick him I'll show them I can still hurt them, even being chained up. I was about to do it, but then I thought, If I kick him I wouldn't be able to fight if my legs and feet are tied also. So I let him walk past, without kicking him. The guard walked over to Aeri, did a little checking, gently kicked Aeri with his foot-which is odd for a guard to do things 'gently'- then he turned back. The guard stepped out of the prison wagon.
"So...." asked Guard Seven.
"So what?" asked Guard One.
"How is the dragonrider doing?!" yelled Guard Seven.
"Oh, he's still unconscious," said Guard One.
"What?!" yelled Guard Seven. "How can he still be unconscious?!"
"I don't know, but when I kicked him-" At that Guard Seven's eyebrows went up. "Gently," said Guard One. "But he didn't move, like didn't move at all."
Guard Seven looked liked he was thinking, then he looked at Guard Five.
"What?" asked Guard Five.
"Either he's been in and out of consciousness, he's in a coma, or he's dead," said Guard Seven, shaking his pointer finger at Guard One. "If he's dead, you're not so lucky."
"Why me?" asked Guard One.
"You're the one who threw the secret weapon at the dragonrider," said Guard Seven. "Well you told me to, so I wouldn't have done if you didn't tell me to," said Guard One. "Touché," said Guard Seven.
Touché? What does that even mean? I wondered.
"What does that even mean?" asked Guard One, repeating my question.
"I have no idea, but I did hear someone say it in a conversation," said Guard Seven. "Oh," said Guard One.
"Well it's time to eat," said Guard Seven.
"Here eat up, Elf," said guard one, and he handed me a bowl of meat. I don't eat meat. I just stared at the bowl of meat.
"What is it now?" Guard Seven asked Ava, noticing I'm not eating. When I didn't say anything he said, "You can speak now."
He probably assumed that I was looking for permission to speak. Well, he assumed wrong. I didn't want to talk with him, but I guess I have to now. "I don't eat meat."
"Well, meat is all we got. So eat the meat, or go hungry," said Guard Seven.
"What if we go pick some fruits and vegetables for her?" asked Guard One.
Guard Seven seemed to be thinking about it. "Fine, two of you will go and get fruits and vegetables for the elf. Everyone else will stay here," ordered guard seven.
"What about four people? If we have four people to gather the fruits and vegetables for the elf it will go much faster," said guard one.
"Fine, four people," said Guard Seven. "Guard one, two, three, and four, go pick some fruits and vegetables for the elf."
"Okay," said guard one, two, three, and four-putting it lightly, they didn't actually say that. In fact they had a huge argument about why had to go and not the others. But, in the end, they had to go. After a half an hour to a hour, they came back after gathering some fruits and vegetables for me. I ate the fruits and vegetables. I tried to feed Aeri some food, but he wouldn't eat, he wouldn't drink either. The guards went to sleep, expect two, who are on watch-the guards are switching positions so the other one can sleep. I tried to wake up Aeri so we could escape. I couldn't wake up Aeri-I couldn't even get him to stir-so I fell asleep.
When I woke up in the morning Aeri was still unconscious. I ate breakfast-fruits and vegetables-then the guards packed up and rode on.
When the guards stopped for the night, the guards checked Aeri was still unconscious. They, often, did the same thing: gather fruits and vegetables for me, had a few fights, eat dinner, then went to sleep. For breakfast and lunch it's the same thing: gather fruits and vegetables for me, had a few fights, eat breakfast or lunch then packed up the stuff and rode on.

∞

It was several weeks before the palace came into view. And I wish I could've escaped earlier, but Aeri was still unconscious. I can't carry someone that is twice-maybe even triple-my size in weight and height, while wearing chains, people shooting at me, and coming at me with swords. I'm not that talented.
The guards dragged me to a castle, and I was brought before the evil king, Jazer.
Standing before me, he gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. At his insane, crazy, face. He turned my face from side to side, inspecting me. As if I was a horse or a pig at a fair, instead of a person. "This is the elf princess, Ava? Can't say I'm impressed. I expected someone a little bit... well, more."
I rolled my eyes. It wasn't like I was trying to impress him.
"Perhaps you will be of use to me one day," said Jazer, thinking out loud.
"I will never work for you!" I snarled.
"I never said you would work for me, but merely that you would be of good use to me later on," said Jazer, smirking.
I wanted to argue that I will never be of good use to him, ever, but before I could he had me thrown me in a room that was fancy, and too nice to be called a prison cell. I was with Aeri also. I was sleeping when I heard someone moaning, and moving around. I turned over, and saw that Aeri was waking up. I quietly walked over to Aeri's bed. Found him awake, but confused.
"Aeri?" I asked, barley more than a whisper.
"Where are we?" asked Aeri.
"We are in the evil king Jazer castle," I said, still in a whisper.
"What?!"
"I'm afraid it's true."
"That means.... Oh no no no," said Aeri, eyes growing wide.
"What, what is it?" I asked.
"That mean that... I was unconscious for longer than I thought."
"Wait, you thought that you could go unconscious, leave me to take care of you, and fight ten men?!" I demanded.
"No, I-"
"No you what? Oh, maybe you were trying to save yourself."
"No, I wasn't!" snapped Aeri.
"Don't you dare snap at me!"
"Fine," said Aeri, rolling over on his other side, facing the wall.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
Aeri rolled over looking alarmed. "Ava, go to sleep now," Aeri said in a hushed, but quick, voice.
"I'm not going-" I protested, but then I heard footsteps. I ran as quickly, and quietly, as I could. I manage to get in her bed, and looked asleep, before they-whoever 'they' were-opened the door.
'Don't move,' hissed Aeri, in my mind. I heard the footsteps of only one person.
'Who is it?' I asked.
'I don't know, but he seems familiar.'
Somehow, durning that time, I had fallen asleep. I woke up surrounded by people.
"Get enough sleep?" asked a guard. Before I could answer they dragged me out of bed and brought me to evil king Jazer's throne room. I was now bounded and gagged. Aeri was also brought before the evil king Jazer. He was bounded and gagged also. Jazer came walking up to them.
First, he came in front of me. He grabbed my chin turned, seem like he was studying me, again. I wanted to spit on him so badly. I really don't like Jazer. I think I hate, in fact.
Jazer then moved onto Aeri. He touched Aeri's face with both hands. Then brought his hands onto Aeri's shoulders, and started to shake him. After he shaken Aeri, Aeri fell to the ground behind him. He looks very convincing. It looks like he's actually unconscious.
"You brought me only this?!" yelled Jazer.
"Well, we thought you wanted him. We brought the elf because we thought you wanted a elf," said Guard Seven, must be either brave-or stupid-to talk to Jazer when he's like this.
"I wanted the dragonrider alive and conscious!" yelled Jazer.
"You mean he's not alive?" asked Guard Seven.
"No, he's alive, just unconscious!" yelled Jazer. "He's no use to me unconscious, take them away."
The guards dragged us back to our 'prison cell' or rooms. I realized that my arm felt funny. They unbounded Aeri's, and mine, hands. They also they took off Aeri's, and mine, gags. "Why isn't he wake yet?" asked Guard Seven in a different voice.
"Who are you?" I asked.
The Guard Seven pulled some kind of masked of his face, fact they all did. "I'm Malo, his half-brother."
"Wait! You're his half-brother? So why did you captured him?"
Eventually they explained it to me that they are trying to rescue him. Aeri woke up shortly after that. "Hey, I was wondering why you weren't awake yet," said Malo.
"Malo?" asked Aeri, surprised.
"Yes?"
"Wow. I haven't seen you in so long," said Aeri, jumping out of bed, and running to Malo. "Same with you. How are you?" asked Malo.
"I'm fine. You?"
"Same as all ways."
"Alamos?" asked Aeri, surprised.
Alamos lift his head up at the mention of his name. "Yeah?" asked Alamos.
"Wow! I haven't seen you in a long time. How's it going?"
"Fine."
"Same here. Let's go," said Aeri, as if it was that easy.
Aeri started to walk towards the door when Malo said, "We have to have evil king Jazer order us to have you throw out of the castle."
"Oh."
They must of heard someone coming because Aeri ran to his bed, and looked like he was unconscious. Malo, Alamos, and the other guards-or whatever they are called-put on their masks. I heard footsteps. I ran to my bed, trying to look asleep.
'Don't move,' hissed Aeri, or Malo-I wasn't sure who send that message to my mind. I heard someone come in-my eyes were closed, obviously.
"King Jazer, what are you doing here?" asked Malo in his Guard Seven voice.
"The question is what are you doing here?" snapped Jazer.
"I thought you wanted us to keep a eye on them."
"Hmm, all right I did." A pause. "Is the dragonrider awake yet?"
"No."
"What?!" yelled Jazer. "I'm tired of waiting for him to wake up."
"And..."
"And I want you to throw them out of the castle."
Okay. Maybe it is that easy, I thought.
"Of course," said Malo. Someone picked me up, put me over their shoulder, and started walking. I actually fallen asleep durning that time; I didn't realize it until I woke up. I was in a type of forest that I didn't recognize the forest, then I saw it was the forest that Aeri's half-brother, Malo, captured them. I stood up, looking for Aeri. It took around fifteen minutes before I found him talking to a female, and he was laughing too. I felt a spark of jealously.
Why did I just feel that spark of jealously? I only thought as him as a friend, and I certainly didn't love him. Did I? I noticed that Aeri staring at me. Did he hear my thoughts? I wondered. Aeri walked directly towards me.
"Hey," greeted Aeri.
"Hi. Aeri?" I asked.
"Yeah?" asked Aeri.
"Can you read people minds?"
Aeri bowed his head down, as if shamed, or embarrassed. "Sometimes," admitted Aeri. "Oh. Could you read mine just now?" I asked. Aeri nodded his head, yes, embarrassed and ashamed. He should be! He could read my thoughts without having to ask for permission, I thought, angrily.
"Sorry I didn't mean to. Your thoughts just came to me. It's hard for people's thoughts not to come to me. Sorry," apologized Aeri.
"It's okay; at least you didn't mean to," I said.
'It's okay?! What do you mean it's okay?! It is most utmost not okay!' said a voice in the back of my mind.
I ignored the voice in my head. "You didn't mean to read my thoughts, right?"
Aeri chuckled, then laughed, as if something was funny. "No, I didn't mean to."
"Good," I said. For some reason Aeri smiled. "What?"
"You think my smile is charming, and my laugh you love to hear."
"What?! No, I don't!" I protested. He smiled again. Ugh. Why does his smile have to be so charming?
"You thought it again," said Aeri.
"No, I didn't," I argued.
"Ugh. Why does his smile have to be so charming," said Aeri, repeating what I just thought.
"Okay. Maybe your smile I think is charming, but there's no way to prove that I love your laugh." He laughed at that. Don't think it Ava. Don't think it. Don't about how his laugh makes you feel like liquid, and that you want to hear it more, I ordered myself. Aeri smirked. No! He heard what I was thinking!
"You just prove that you love my laugh, and it makes you feel like liquid."
"Stop reading my mind!" I yelled.
"I can't help it, your thoughts come directly to me."
"Oh," I said. I remembered the girl he was talking to.
"Malo's courting her," explained Aeri, and proving how well he could my thoughts.
"Oh."
"She was very nice; Malo needs someone like her," said Aeri, who suddenly looked sad. "What? What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing," said Aeri, looking away.
"Well, nothing tell me that there's something wrong."
"No, there's nothing wrong."
"Well, I think there's something wrong. So tell me, what it wrong?"
"We should get going," said Aeri, quickly changing the subject.
"But what about our supplies?"
"Malo already got that covered, and we have our weapons back too."
I looked down, and saw I had both of my weapons. We all ate lunch in silent. I didn't bother to question Aeri farther. We packed up after they ate lunch and walked towards the Varden.
Eventually we got to the Varden. Aeri was so happy to see his dragon again and I was so happy to see my friends again. I closed my eyes all of the sudden. I heard someone laughing like a madman. I opened my eyes again, but this time I wasn't at the Varden, I was still in the palace where Jazer lived. I'm laying on some sort of a table.
Jazer is standing over me, smiling in amusement. "Hope you liked the dream I sent you," said Jazer. I was so shocked that what I had seen was just a dream that I couldn't speak. "I like giving my prisoners false hope, they are so much easier to break afterwards."
I was chained to a slab. I couldn't see where Aeri was, he was nowhere to be found. Jazer stood up from his chair. Where is he going? I wondered.
"I'll see you later! I have to see the dragonrider Aeri, so far he has been a tough little lad."
"What are you doing to him?!" I demanded.
"Don't worry you'll be able to recognized him when you see him-when I'm finished with him, hopefully," said Jazer, walking out of the room.
I struggled against my bonds. After a while I stopped struggling against them. What are they do to Aeri? This can't be happening. This isn't real, this is just a dream, I'll wake up, eventually, from this nightmare.
'You wish!' said a voice.

∞

Hours I spent staring at the top of the ceiling before someone finally came in. A young man came in-not Massenet-and sat down in a chair that was right next to me. He just stared at me.
"Are you here for a reason? Or are you just going to stare at me?" I snapped.
"So this is the princess of the elves?" asked the young man in a rhetorical tone.
"This is the man who's going to torture me?" I asked, in the same tone that the young man had.
"No, I'm not the man sent to torture you, I'm just suppose to observe you," said the young man.
"Observe me? That's your job? This is going to be a very boring day for you."
"I'm Valln, incase you wanted to know," said Valln.
"Actually, I really don't care the names of my captors," I snapped.
"Oh, too bad because I was going to tell you how the dragonrider Aeri was doing if you were nice."
"I'm sorry," I apologized, I may not really mean it, but he doesn't need to know that.
"Much better. He's being tortured right now, they're whipping him. He's putting up a brave front, but they will break him eventually."
"You don't know him like I do, he has a strong spirit."
"So did I, and look at me now."
"You don't know Aeri like I do, he's strong."
I heard Valln snort in disbelief. "He may be strong, but no one is strong enough to defy King Jazer."
"Aeri's father defies him, and Aeri inherited that stubbornness and strong will." I think Valln shrugged at that. After hours of Valln staring at me, he left. I was left staring at the ceiling.

-
Question(s) of the chapter:
Are the chapters too short, too long, just right? Well, whatever you may think, tell me right in the comments.