Lament of Innocence

GARRION

I jumped up quickly and ran to the cells. Finally! It was about time the man had dropped! I opened Tarrion's first and then moved to Selene's. Then Kale and that other boy...Tigger.

Tarrion ran straight to Selene, which didn't surprise me. The lad was mad in love. "Okay, I know a way ta get out. Somebody help me with Tarrion," I murmered, carefully putting his arm over my shoulder.

"What about Aris?" It was Kale. Another lover?

"We'll get her as soon as we can Kale," Selene soothed, helping me with Tarrion.

TARRION

I leaned over slightly and kissed Selene on the cheek. "We're going to get out!" My heart was pounding wildly. We were actually going to get out...and when we did, I was going to be a father! A flippin' father!

"Should we get him some pain killers or something?" Tigger asked. So he hadn't lost his ability to talk.

Garrion nodded. "I'll get 'im some after we're safe. I suppose horses and new weapons would be of service too?"

I grinned. "You have no idea how thrilled I would be to have a horse."

Selene
"Ares first" I said firmly.

TARRION

I nodded. "Of course she's first. But I will be no help whatsoever. Is there anywhere you can stuff me while you go for her?" If I went along, I would get us all killed.

Garrion paused, biting his lip. "I know a place."

We stumbled up the steps, trying to be as stealthy as possible. Surprisingly we didn't rouse anybody with our clanging around. My body was begging me to stop moving, but I couldn't. Not when we were so close... damn these stairs were giving me issues. I bit my lip hard, trying not to yelp. How did Selene mask her pain so well?

Kale

Garrion brought Tarrion (was the similarity of their names odd to anyone but me?) to a small room. "Its my room, the Queen 'n the rest won't be needing to seek you out here," he said.

Tarrion nodded. He seemed annoyed that he couldn't come, but I didn't really have time for this... I was itching to find Aris and wasn't going to wait just because Tarrion wanted to come.

"Ok, lets go, alright?" I said hurriedly.

TARRION

"Ok, let's go, alright?" Kale asked in a rush. He was all but shoving them out the door.

I gave Selene a kiss on the cheek before she left. "Be careful okay?" I whispered. I was sort of hoping for her to say I want to stay with Tarrion. But I knew she would go after Aris. I wouldn't force her to stay.

"I will be."

GARRION

I sighed. "Alright, let's go b'fore the lad loses it on us." I turned to Tarrion quickly. "I'll get ya some painkillers, too." I had a funny feeling he wasn't going to be the only one who would need them on this trip.

I shut the door behind us quietly and let Kale let out a relieved breath. "Okay, let's go!"

We crept through the halls quietly, avoiding anybody possible. A servant rounded the corner and I shoved everybody into the room behind me, slamming the door in their faces. That was a little close. "Excuse me dear," I said to her. She arched an eyebrow.

"Yes Garrion?" Mae, my favourite. At least she wouldn't ask a bunch of questions.

"I need some painkillers. Just put them outside the door by my room." I tried to act casual, but I was on edge.

She nodded. "Why outside?"

So much for her not asking questions. I sighed. "Just don't go into the room okay?"

She shrugged and went on her way. When she was out of sight I opened the door and the others tumbled out. "Sorry," I mumbled.

...am I allowed to kill Garrion? He wouldn't tell where Tarrion and co are hiding... I don't want to kill everyone, I swear!

~Taeryn~

I granted Aris a small smile, glad at her co-operation. Even if it was clearly reluctant and only out of a wish to save Kale, it was still a nice reprieve from Selene's constant screaming and singing and crying and fighting and moaning. Ugh.

Aris seemed completely mentally traumatised by my cheerful demeanor, which depressed me a little. I mean, I'd been fairly nice, in the grand scheme of things, considering they were traitors to the throne and everything. She followed me in near silence back to the cells, probably thinking about the betrayal to Rajun that she was about to make. We'd leave tomorrow in the morning.

I stopped dead as we reached the cells. Each of my guards lay asleep or in a near-comatose state on the floor, one giggling stupidly at the end of the corridor. I marched towards him, Aris being dragged along by the handcuff that linked the pair of us as I walked.

"Where are the prisoners??!!" I shouted at the only awake guard as I reached him, picking him up by the scruff of his neck and shaking him to sober him up. This idea pretty much failed as he continued to laugh nervously, before hiccuping once and falling asleep. I turned angrily, glaring around the room for that damn guard. Garrion. He was no-where to be seen.

Deciding the only secure place for Aris to be held was for her to be attached to my wrist, I stormed off in search of Garrion, and Aris yelped as I began to walk away briskly.

**Actually, kill Garrion! YES! KILL HIM! *clears throst* of course Tarrion will not be very happy about that one... heheh**

Selene
I bit my lip as I walked away from Tarrion any physical pain I could endure this was one of the hardest things I had to do. I groaned inwardly praying that he would be safe personally I didn't care about me just that he was safe.

TARRION

Somebody was on the other side of the door, I could hear them bend over. What on earth? Something clunked to the ground and I could hear their footsteps retreating. Curiously, I made my way over to the door and opened it a crack. A bottle of pain killers layed on its side. I grinned and picked them up, shutting the door quietly.

"Please let them find Aris and be alright," I murmered, sitting on the bed.

GARRION

"She's not 'ere," I muttered. We were at Taeryn's door.

"We have to find her!" Kale hissed.

I sighed. "I know that well as anybody." I panicked, a sudden realization dawning on me. "She probably went to the dungeons," I whispered. If she had gone to the dungeons, lord knew what was going to happen to us.

Aris

Don't come after me, please, please, I prayed. I hoped that they wouldn't come.... if they had escaped they were safe. I could handle being with Taeryn, but I couldn't handle Kale or Selene or Tarrion or even Garrion, whom I didn't know well, being caught. It was too much..

Selene
I cursed aloud using words that would make my father turn over in his grave and Tig, Kale and Garrion looked at me in surprise. "We just got out now we need to go back in." I said irritably. "It's for Aris." Kale said shocked. I smiled gently at him in contrast to my harsh words. "We are going to get caught again probably and that will not help her at all." I said harshly my voice bleak. He opened to protest and I just looked at him as he closed his mouth unable to counter my logic. "Do not get me wrong we need to get her. That is why I am going alone." I said my voice calm. "What? NO!" Kale said shocked. "One person is less likely to get caught then four." I said still calm. "Then why can't Tig go?" He demanded. I sighed. "You need him hear he is the only one who can get you through here safely without getting caught." I said proud of my logic. "But we have Garrion." He insisted faltering. "True but he can't sneak into rooms without anyone seeing him." I said nudging Tig slightly. He grinned slightly bleakly. "So if anyone is going to contradict me speak now or forever hold your peace." I said calmly.

GARRION

I arched an eyebrow. "She's right. But if Tar foun' out I let ya go alone, he'd 'ave me head. I prefer to keep that intact. I'll follow at a safe distance just incase ya need help." I crossed my arms. I would go with her if it killed me. "Think, if you go alone, you could risk the life of your child and yerself." She wasn't going alone and that was final.

"You do know how to get her out don't you?" Kale asked quietly.

"Another reason I should come with 'er. Then there's the horses. Who'll get those? We need seven."

Tigger grinned. "Leave that to me."

"You're getting us out, remember?" Kale hissed.

"I can do both."

I nodded and turned to Selene. "You can't get rid o' me lass. I'm comin' no matter what."

~Taeryn~

I walked down the corridor silently, Aris still stumbling reluctantly after me. "Do you know what they were planning?" I asked her quietly, and she shook her head with a distressed expression. As if she would tell the truth anyway... Probably she had planned to delay as long as possible whilst being questioned so they had enough time to escape.

Still, I couldn't believe that Garrion... one of my own guards, and one of the best at that... would actually go as far to betray me. Simply letting them out of their cells was one thing, but helping them escape? A huge part of me prayed for it not to be true, that they'd managed to escape without his involvement... because... because I really didn't want to be given a reason to kill him.

I heard quiet whispers coming from around the corner, and Aris' breath hitched with fear. "Don't," she begged softly. "Don't hurt them! If you do... I'll... I won't tell you where Rajun is."

Hesitating, I nodded. "I won't kill any of the prisoners."

"Or Garrion?" she pressed, and my lips tightened.

"That is my decision." I replied finally.



[Face-off coming sooooooon! *excited* ....It's gonna be a long time before this finishes though... Still gotta find Rajun and have a breakdown yet... xD]

GARRION

I held a finger to my lips. There was mumbling around the corner. Taeryn! Which probably meant Aris as well. Selene stepped forward and I grabbed her shoulder, yanking her back. I wasn't about to risk Selene and her baby.

My heart pounded loudly and I wouldn't have been surprised if Taeryn could hear it. How would I get Aris away from her? If she had her chained, we were toast. I pulled out a daggar, breathing heavily. I turned to the others and mouthed Go find Tarrion. They didn't move. Fine, let them stay.

Now what? Just casually stroll around the corner and say, Oh, good mornin' Taeryn. I aided the prisoners in an escape and we'd like Aris ta come with us. Not such a good idea.

I took a deep breath and crept closer, trying to be as quiet as my armour would allow. But what did that matter? She had probably heard us already anyways.

{{Domdomdommmm! I'm excited now too!}}

Aris

Oh, please no God, please let them not be here, please let this be someone else, I thought to myself. I couldn't let him them get hurt, all because of me. Selene, who'd always been there for me. Tarrion, my best friend. Garrion, who had helped us escape. Kale- I couldn't finish that thought.

But inside I knew it was them. I had to protect them but how? I couldn't. I was stuck.

And I hated it.