Lament of Innocence

~Taeryn~

I sighed. "Nobody is free." I replied after a moment. Selene didn't reply, though a frown appeared on her face, and I continued. "We are all bound by our emotions, if not by society. There is always something we can never escape."

Selene opened her eyes, frowning deeply now. "That's not true," she argued, and I raised an eyebrow.

"Really? You seem to be pretty captive to him," I jerked my head towards Tarrion's cell. "And you can never escape what you feel," I breathed softly. Even if it's a feeling of hate towards your own mother.

Selene
I smiled. "But that is of my own free will. What I feel towards him and towards the world is my will. So technically I am free." I said calmly. She looked at me with surprise in her eyes and I nodded. "Its true you need to learn that. Emotions and society may bind you but emotions are something you can choose society is something you are born in and may leave if you so choose to." I said wincing as a twinge of pain pulsed through my pack.

~Taeryn~

I tilted my head to one side. What a peculiar way to see the world. "I wish I could believe that," I replied after a long pause, "but I don't. You can't always choose how you feel, and you can't always run away from who you are."

The guards arrived back with a doctor, and I glanced between prisoners to decide who should be treated first. Tarrion clearly needed it more... but then he was also being better behaved, which should mean that he got the reward of Selene being treated first. I hesitated. Perhaps... if Selene got what she wanted, she might become more co-operative. Besides, if that didn't work then the recovery process could easily be undone with use of a knife or two. I gestured to Tarrion's cell, and the doctor made his way into it.

Selene craned her neck in an attempt to see what was going on. "What are you doing to him?" she asked, voice low and urgent.

Selene
"What are you doing to him?" I asked my voice low and urgent. " We're treating him." Taeryn replied coolly. I relaxed slightly I didn't know why I trusted her but I did. I guessed that she was treating Tar first to try and make me co-operative and if worse came to worse I would rely on my acting skills to get me out of that situation.

Aris

We went into the castle. Rajun led us to a room where servants were lingering, and then he and Tigger disappeared into the hallway. Kale and I stood there nervously.

"You," someone said, pointing at me, "Come with me. I've got a job for you."

Selene
I leaned my head against the wall biting my lip wondering what they were doing to Tar and where Aris,Tigger, Rajun and Kale were and if they were safe. Aris came in behind a guard with pieces of bread and water. She caught my eye and smothered a gasp of horror when she saw my pitiful condition I shook my head vehemently and her face went blank before the guard or Taeryn could notice.

Aris

"What?" I asked defiantly. Oops. Not exactly servant etiquette.

The man slapped me and Kale jumped to his feet. I gave Kale a fierce 'don't you dare' look, and then said, "Sorry, sir. What would you like me to do?"

"Go up and give a message to Taeryn. Tell her that Talen wants to see her."

I walked up towards where I suspected she was. And there were Selene and Tarrion. I could barely hold back a gasp.

Selene
I smiled wryly at Aris as she walked towards Taeryn. "Talen would like to see you." She said keeping her eyes down and for all the world like an obedient servant. Taeryn stood up and walked out the guard after having flung bread and water at me and Tarrion followed her. 'Aris where are the others?' I mouthed at her. 'In the castle trying to figure out a plan.' She replied.

TARRION

I glanced up for a moment from my treatment and caught sight of Tigger and Aris. Aris bit her lip when she saw me. I said nothing as the doctor pushed my head back down. "Keep still!" he hissed.

I winced as he stitched up a gash on my stomach. He was being quite careless and it was ending in much pain. Aris and Taeryn were arguing about freedom and emotions. "How many should I stitch up princess?" the doctor asked respectfully.

"Two or three," I heard her reply quietly. The two went back to arguing. The doctor nodded and continued to carelessly sew me up.

Aris told Taeryn that Talen had a message for her. Thank god she was leaving!

Aris

"What happened?" I asked Selene. "What happened?"

They told there story, and I nodded, feeling lightheaded. "Ok, so we have a plan... but..." I didn't know what to say.

Selene
"But what? Aris I don't know how much more we can take." I said quietly. I turned my back towards her and she gasped aloud in horror.

Aris

"I'm so sorry!" I burst into tears. "We knew that you were getting caught and we let you! It was our plan and, and," I sobbed. "I'm really, really sorry, Selene! We should have gotten you at first!"

Selene
I reached through the bars of my cell and laid a comforting hand on Aris's arm. "Aris we knew this was a risk. Don't blame yourself." I said gently smiling at her.

Aris

"Really?"

"Yes, it's fine," Selene said. "We'll be fine. If this gets Taeryn..."

"...then it'll be all worth it," I finished for her. "Yeah, but still... I wish I could just stay up here with you."

"Where's Kale?" Selene asked.

I looked out the door, worried. "I had to leave him alone. I hope..." I sighed.

Selene
"I want you to do whatever you can to stay out of trouble and when you can sneak up here." I said quietly and quickly.