Lament of Innocence

~Taeryn~

I crept through the woods almost silently, a small troupe of three behind me. Finally I had recieved a lead on the whereabouts of the escapees, and three weeks of relentless bribery had led me to the knowledge that they were hiding somewhere in the forests.

Suddenly, a voice rang through the trees. Singing, and a woman from the sound of it. I gestured to my team, and we followed the sound. As we approached, I saw a couple by a pond, cuddled up. How sweet.
Fugitives in lust.

Signalling to my troupe to surround the area, I watched for a moment more, to ensure it was really them. Finally the boy spoke. "Selene?" he whispered, just loud enough for me to catch it.

It was them.

I leapt from my hiding place towards them, barely controlling my excitement. Finally. "You're surrounded," I informed coldly, "and you are to be arrested for crimes against the crown."

[Thought I'd bring four armed warriors to spice things up ]

Kale

"I'll try, I'll try," I said, sighing. I suddenly heard a cool voice. I heard the words 'Surrounded' and 'Crime Against the Crown'.

Oh crap. "Aris? Did you hear that?" I whispered.

"They're surrounded! It sounds like Taeryn," she added in a whisper, her face pale. I heard a rustling behind me. I spun around, sword it hand. It was Rajun- the guy who had helped us escape. I slowly lowered my sword, and Aris lowered her knife.

"I came to warn you," Rajun said, looking regretful, "But I can see it's too late for that."

"How'd they figure out where we were?!" I asked in outrage.

"You think they tell me stuff like that?" Rajun laughed quietly. "No, I heard from outside a closed door what they were doing."

"Tarrion and Selene... trapped?" Aris whispered. I could see her forming a plan in her head.

"This is the opportunity you were waiting for though, wasn't it?" Tigger asked conversationally. "You were going to storm the castle and kill the royalty, weren't you?"

I looked at Aris, outraged. "What?! Under no circumstances-"

Of course, she completely ignored me. "Yes, Tig, but we were kind of planning on the element of surprise."

"We can't help them now. We have to wait and try to get them out of jail after we've killed the royalty. If they get out before then, bravo for them," Tigger said.

"Listen, I can try to help get them out of jail once they get to the castle. You all focus on the task at hand," Rajun said.

"...alright." Aris said finally.

"Do I get no say in this?!" I asked as loudly as I could.

She turned towards me and said, matter-of-factly, "Nope. Now, let's make a plan. But Tig- if we hear them getting hurt, we help them."

"Deal." Tigger said.

TARRION

I jumped up, startled. Taeryn, the queen's daughter. Just when I thought I was going to have a good time alone with Selene...

I looked around franticly, trying to find some way of escape. There wasn't one. Plus I had left my weapons with the others. I stood in front of Selene, who was holding onto my shoulder, digging her nails into it.

So it came down to this did it? I couldn't count on Kale to come running to my rescue...I was pretty sure he still hated my slimy guts. I couldn't yell out for Aris or Tig. Four armed warriors crept out of the trees, surrounding us. I swallowed. This really wasn't my day.

"Get away from her!" I hissed. Taeryn smirked.

Aris

It was taking every ounce of strength I had to stop from running out there to help them. Kale didn't seem to mind so much about Tarrion, but Selene was his friend. As for me? Tarrion was my best friend. Selene was a close second. Kale was a different category entirely.

"We're going to come for you," I whispered. "Just stay strong."

Oh, this was killing me.

Selene
I grabbed Taeryn and pressed a dagger against the hollow of her throat. "Let us go or princess" Here I pressed hard enough to draw blood "dies." I said calmly my grip and voice never wavering. "You would really kill me." She said her voice as calm as mine. I laughed a high clear cold and deadly laugh and the warriors trembled. "Sweetheart I would kill the entire royal family and guards if I could and your life means nothing to me." I said letting my grip loose for a moment long enough for me to hand Tarrion a dagger then I gripped her again harder this time. "Oh and one more thing if I want to I can snap your neck." I said sweetly in her ear.

Selene you guys get captured its part of the plot lol

Kale

I couldn't take it. I ran over and spied through the trees with Aris as suddenly Taeryn flipped Selene and the guards grabbed her and Tarrion.

"Nice try, honey," Taeryn said sarcastically. "But that's going to get you nowhere.

Selene
I let out a low hiss of hatred and I struggled against the guards grip but he merely tightened it until my wounds started to bleed again. I let out a small whimper of pain and Taeryn smirked in satisfaction.

TARRION

I grinned and took the knife. The grin disapeared entirely when I realized one very important detail. The fourth guard had a bow and arrow. He was standing at an angle that put him directly into Selene's blind spot, which meant he could shoot at her freely.

I took a step towards Selene. "Selene, release her," I murmered.

Taeryn cast her eyes to me. I held her gaze, glaring at her. "Are you off your head?!" Selene hissed.

I shook my head, keeping an eye on the guard with the bow. He already had an arrow ready. I sighed. It's not like letting Taeryn go would help us anyways. He saw me staring at him and lowered his bow. Smart man.

~Taeryn~

How funny. The silly injured prisoner was trying to be protective. Kneeling above her, I considered the best way to punish such insolence.

I glanced upon her oh-so-beloved, gesturing softly for the guard restraining him to bring him closer. I smiled sweetly down at Selene, watching her eyes widen as she guessed my plan. Clever girl.

Selene
Tears filled my eyes. "Please please no." I begged. "Why not?" She asked. "If you kill either of us we won't tell you about the other fugitives." I said thinking on my feet.

Aris

"If they try to hurt Tarrion-" I whispered through clenched teeth.

"We'll intervene," Kale assured me, holding my hand and looking at me seriously. "But I don't think that'll happen. Selene won't let Tarrion die just so they aren't captured."

I turned back towards them, reassured, and saw that something was happening.

"If you kill either of us we won't tell you about the other fugitives," Selene was saying.

"She's going to tell them about us?!" Kale lept to his feet. "If she even tries to tell them where you are-"

"And me, and me," Tigger said quietly. "What about me? Why am I never mentioned?"

"Oh, shut up, Tig," Kale said, ignoring him other than a dirty look.

~Taeryn~

My eyes widened in mock-innocence. "Of course I'm not going to kill either of you. I'm just going to teach you to respect your betters."

I nodded swiftly at the guard as he took a knife to the boy's wound, deepening it and causing Tarrion to howl out in pain. I smiled at Selene again. "You do know that getting to the palace quickly is his only chance of survival, right?" I paused for a moment to let this sink in. "Besides, if I'm correct, your friends will all be following behind just waiting to daringly rescue you. And that's when I'll get them."

Selene
I bowed my head in mock respect. "Alright we'll go with you." I said pretending to admit defeat my shoulders slumping praying that I was a good enough actress to pull this off.

Aris

"Oh, Tig, can we please go help them?!" I whispered. This was driving me nuts.

"They'll give up. Oh, they're really dense. Just give up!" Tigger said, annoyed.

"They have no idea we're going to rescue them, but it seems Taeryn does," Rajun whispered. "This plan will have to be good- luckily, you two aren't rescuing them. Me and Tigger are."

"Yeah, because we're just the best that way," snickered Tig.

"Alright, we'll go with you."

Oh, obviously they were acting- I knew Selene that much. "Just go with them," I hissed.

TARRION

I would have fallen then and there, but the guard jerked me back up. I squeezed my eyes shut and gritted my teeth. Selene screached at Taeryn.

Selene agreed to go with them. The guard shoved me and I took a step. That sickening feeling came over me again--I thought that had ended a long time ago. I started coughing and lurching forward. Sure enough there was a stream of crimson leaking from my mouth.