The Magic Room *Permission Only*

Laverna - Melnarian Princess:

Something was swaying from side to side with the occasional bump--up and then down. I groaned, shifting slightly. Father couldn't be moving the tribe, could he? No, he wouldn't be.

I opened my eyes, slitted against the faint light. Wait. We didn't have a caravan.

Suddenly there was a big bump--a huge up and then a huge drop. I was rolled out of the bed and landed on the floor of the caravan with a yelp. Someone up front started laughing. I was definitely awake now.

"Seems our little princess is awake," said a boy before I heard the creaking sounds stop and the whole caravan shuddering to a stop.

I scrabbled to my feet, looking around for a weapon as I ran my hand down my thigh, looking for my dagger. Suddenly remember what happened and then blushed, a deep, reddish colour. The bastard had removed my weapons!

Someone jumped down from the front of the caravan and walked around the side. Chains rattled and then the door opened, just as I lifted up a heavy pot. The guy who had cut his way into my tent stood in the doorway, and he was laughing.

"Bastard," I hissed and surged forward, trying to lift the pot to swing it at him. He snatched it out of my hands and tossed it out the door.

"Ah, ah," he said. "You're not getting me that easy, little princess."

I glared at him as he stepped back, blocking the door way. I was aware of my still blushing face and the fact that he had--- No. He wanted me freaked out. I wouldn't give him the pleasure. Straightening up, I summoned my inner warrior princess and held his gaze, ignoring the blush creepy down my neck.

"Do you have any idea of what you've done?" I asked. "I am Laverna, princess of the Melnarians. You've made my father very, very angry. He'll come after you now, you know that." I frowned. "Don't you?" I hesitated, watching him. He just smiled. "Wait....you don't want me. You want..." I gasped. "No."

Tathiel

So she was a smart desert princess. I could feel my grin broadening as I crossed my arms. "You know, there are so many people who have tried to get their hands on those two. Funny how none of them thought of you first," I said. I was enjoying myself way too much.

We hit another bump, and I had to grab hold of the doorframe to keep from falling flat on my face. "Hey! Easy out there!" I shouted at Blake and the others. "And Princess, you mind coming in here?" I called to Aisha. She shouted something that I didn't quite catch, but I was going to assume it was a yes.

I turned back to Laverna and chuckled. Girl did not look happy. Good thing we had taken her weapons, or I had a feeling my head would have been rolling around a while ago.

She looked like she was about to say something when Aisha popped in beside me, arms crossed. "You called?"

"What's with all the bumps?" I asked, not taking my eyes off of Laverna. The last thing I needed was for her to pull something cute.

Aisha was staring at me like I was retarded. "Umm...the ground is lumpy?"

I rolled my eyes. "Obviously. I meant, is it getting bumpier because we're officially in the mountains?" I smirked as Laverna's face seemed to pale, just slightly. I knew we were in the mountains, but this was much funner.

Aisha seemed to catch on. "Yes, I believe it does."

Blake shouted outside, and I jumped. "What the hell was that?!" I demanded.

"A pot fell off one of the carts. Nothing too serious," Aida answered quickly.

Of course it did. I turned back to Laverna, smile returning. "So, are you going to cooperate and let me hold a blade to your throat, or do I have to hit you upside the head again?" I asked in a sickly-sweet voice.

Laverna - Melnarian Princess:

Let him hold a blade to my throat? Hell no. I didn't want him that close to me, let alone with a freaking blade. I sighed and held up my hands, showing him that I would cooperate. There wasn't much I could do. Not with the threat to Anzeila and the fact that she'd be mad at me for getting caught, let alone getting her pulled into it too. Anzeila was not going to be happy.

"Good girl," he said. His tone was still sickly-sweet, but he wasn't laughing now. The girl beside him was just staring at me, smirking. "I suppose you won't come here, will you?"

I just stared at him, my expression now one of apparent boredom. The pair were toying with me now. I narrowed my gaze, wondering if they had taken my weapons too, and if said weapons had been stashed somewhere.

"Princess, I think I'll be fine." The boy--no, he was older than me, so therefore a man. He said it quietly. Somehow I knew he wasn't talking to me. "Go make sure none of the others screw up, we need to get closer." He glanced at the girl, and I followed his gaze. She nodded and silently left the caravan, which had started moving again while we were talking.

"No," I said quickly when his attention returned to me. He raised an eyebrow. "No, no need to knock me out again." He nodded once, smiling again.

I studied him as we stood there, staring at each other. The chains that bound my hands and feet rattled as I moved. He was kind of cute, blonde with dark eyes. He looked strong, and like he knew how to fight. And he was smart; I was guessing that he was the brains behind this operation, the one who planned out how to steal me....right from my tent in my father's camp. After all, he'd already revealed that it was his idea to steal me first to get to Anzeila and her brother.

"That's good," he finally said, crossing his arms over his chest. I mimicked him, waiting. The chains rattled as they settled. I could feel my wrists starting to feel raw.

Maybe, if he hadn't decided to kidnap me, I would have considered him as a suitor. Or maybe not. He was cunning, but would he be content to be the next Melnarian king? Probably not... I shook my head, trying to dislodge the thought. No, he was like a snake. Cunning and poisonous. Deadly. I decided, watching him smile at me. Especially if he decided to get rid of me after capturing my friend and her brother.

Aisha

Alba was the first to realize I was very, very upset.

"Aish. What's the deal."

"Desert Queen's up, Tathiel's taking care of it," I said quickly, lowly. She raised an eyebrow before I stuck my tongue out, pushed her back onto the cart, attached to the carriage-caravan, and ordered Blake to make the trip steadier. I jogged back to Tathiel.

"Oi. Oh Mighty Master."

That got his attention. "Princess, I got it-"

"Just coming to say I'm lifting up again. Blake's got the caravan, I'm making Alba stay down."

"Uh... Why?"

"Cause she didn't get sleep last night. She needs sleep. I'll be up." I made two clicking noises and pointed at him before taking a running leap into the sky, out of Desert Queen's sight. It was part of the reason my arms were corded- the wings didn't work on their own. The thin layer of flammable fabric, transparent to preserve the stage magic, was the only thing keeping me in the air. Scary, huh?

I snorted at myself and started my nervous habit. Light the igniter, flick wrist to extinguish, light again. Stare at stars, knowing that they're the same comforting fire, don't think of life on the ground. Call down once in a while to let them know archers haven't got you, wait until you reach the Blue Ring, get the twins, and go to Aggar. Go to luxury. I swore to myself that someday I'd find Swaria again and live until my hair is white and my skin papery.

Away from the King of Flirts and away from the slavery, forever.

Torren

I lifted the heavy sack, grunting and hefting it over my shoulder. My back cracked, I winced. I was getting too old for this sort of thing. Much, much too old. Of course, getting old meant being released in a few years, which I suppose was welcome news. No more of this, no more slavery, no more pain. Freedom plain and sweet.

And at least I wasn't wandering around aimlessly now. I had a job, orders, something to do. Better yet, so far today, there hadn't been a single whip cracking over my head or the heads of others around me. Palace life, so far, was much more peaceful than working on the city walls or a new wing in the castle.

I had jobs like this now, carrying oats to the stables for the stable boy. (Flip or Flop or something if I'm remembering what I was told.)

I stumbled out of the storage room and out the door. The stables weren't too far off. I could probably make it without tripping and cracking my head.

Shockingly, I was succesful at this. (1 point for the old kook.) "Delivery," I called cheerfully as I entered. A few horses snorted at my intrusion and I smiled.

A boy with dark hair came out of one of the stalls, wiping his hands on an old rag.

"Oats," I announced. "Where do you want them?"

Tathiel

I furrowed my brow, frowning after Aisha. She was acting only slightly out-of-the-norm. I could hardly start to understand why, I hadn't done anything. Or I didn't think I had done anything anyways. Ah well, I would have to focus on that later. At the moment, there were things I needed to do. Things that would be securing a life of wealth and luxury out of that bloody desert.

I turned back to Laverna quickly, realizing that she could pull something within seconds. My grin returned and I bent down, knees cracking, and pulled a box over to me. I pulled the lid off, and took out a coil of rope, refusing to take my eyes off of Laverna. Any sudden movements were a bad sign.

I pushed myself back to my feet, stumbling slightly as we hit another semi-large bump. "Chains will be too loud. No point waking the entire tribe. Of course, you're cooperation will be required. We have men stationed at the cheif's tent, ready to slit his throat if you don't cooperate."

It was a bluff of course, but I wasn't about to give that away.

I hadn't realized it until now, but we were on a slight slant, meaning that we were actually on a mountain. This hadn't taken as long as I had expected it to, thank the heavens for that.

"Come here, I won't bite unless I have to," I ordered, grin broadening. So far, this had to be one of my favourite nights of my life.

Laverna - Melnarian Princess:

Sighing, I went to him. The chains had bruised my wrists; better to get them off then let them stay and make it worse. He took off my chains and tied some strips of cloth around my wrists.

"Damaged goods," he muttered and span me around, pulling my arms behind me. I felt him wrap the rope around my wrists, tying them together behind my back.

I wasn't going to struggle; I didn't doubt the threats about knocking me out again. Patience wasn't one of my strong points, but I would have to wait now. Oh god, Anzeila was definitely not going to be happy.

He'd tied it too tight, cutting off the circulation to my hands. "Ouch," I hissed. "Kind of tight, don't you think?"

He laughed. "You can't be trusted," he muttered. "And I can't go losing the bait now, can I?"

I glared at the wall of the caravan, aware of his hands on my wrists, holding me still. Yes, he was definitely a snake. A deadly one.

Flip

"I'll take those, thank you," I reply politely, lifting the oats into my arms and wondering what kind of ass would make an old man carry heavy sacks of horse feed. "They're heavy. No one should have to carry them for longer than they need. Thanks for bringing these, though!" No point in making him think I think he's a feeble old man. Even though I do. Nothing personal, just facts here.

"My pleasure, Flop," he replies warmly.

"It's Flip," I mutter.

"Sorry about that. I'm Terron."

"Nice to meet you! I should probably put these away, so see you." I turn my back and walk to the empty stall with the oats to set them down. A snort that resembles a complaint comes from beside me, and I look up to see Anya staring back down from the next stall over.

"Hey girl," I say softly, stroking her nose. "You want out?" A whinny says she does. I smirk and walk around to open her stall door with her tack over one arm. She backs up a step and eyes the saddle. "You want bareback?" I ask. The look in her eyes answers that one. "You're lucky I trust you," I chuckle. I'm too lazy to put on her reins. Besides, I want to give her jaw a break.

"All right, let's go." I grab her mane and run her for a minute before jumping onto her back. It's much more comfortable with the saddle, but not for her. We ride up into the woods, to a little place with a pond. I go there to swim at night. It helps clean me up pretty well too, as my job, which involves mucking horse stalls, could be considered dirty.

I untie my shirt from my waist and throw it on the shore. After wading in a few feet and floating on my back for a moment, a wolf howls. Anya's ears fold back in the way that means she's spooked. "It's okay, girl," I say soothingly. A group of wolves howl. That's when Anya rears, whinnies frightfully, and bolts at a full speed gallop.

Panicked, I dunk my head to wake up then run down to the stalls and tack up a white horse (no point in losing two). I mount him and kick him four times to signal a gallop. The Queen will be pissed, and I'll likely lose my job, but this is my horse. I need to find her.

Tathiel

I chuckled quietly and leaned in close to her ear. "I could always amputate them if it suits you better sweetheart." I reached for my dagger, pressing the blade firmly against her wrist. This was the kind of fun that was hard to find back home. Or maybe it was that it was easy to find, and hard to get away with. Either way, I was never going back.

Laverna went silent for a moment. "You wouldn't dare," she said finally, voice serious as it was cold.

I shivered slightly before chuckling and pocketing the blade. "Mmm...I wouldn't be too sure. Tonight, no, tomorrow...well that's a whole different story." She gritted her teeth and I let loose another chuckle. "Would it make you feel better to slap me?" I paused, running a finger across her wrists above the rope. "Oh yes, I forgot. You're a little tied up at the moment aren't you?"

My grin broadened, this was the perfect oppertunity to enjoy myself and freak the girl out even more than she already was. And of course, I was going to seize this oppertunity. "Which reminds me about how very vulnerable you are."

Before she could say anything, I had stepped out in front of her and grabbed her arms tightly, pulling her to me. I kissed her neck, thriving off of her fear (I was sure she felt it by now) and my own enjoyment.

Aisha

Oi. Cold.

I'd left my cloak with Alba, shouting for her to take care of it, and now was soaring above the caravan in knee-length trousers, what classified as an undershirt, and a corset. I couldn't light my wings for warmth because that would give a signal, so there was only one thing I could do.

Alba jumped nearly a foot off the cart when I landed next to her.

"Good god, Ai!"

"Don't use the lord's name in vain, Albs. Where's my cloak? It's cold."

"Gathered. Um, I tossed it in the caravan."

I made a face, but thanked her. We were moving at almost a crawl, so when I slithered from the cart to the door of the caravan, Blake needn't have called out that "it wasn't safe, stop it!" I shouted back that he was a newbie, and he had to stop worrying for others. Eh. Not my best. The caravan was soundproof, I thought. Why I did, no idea.

I shouted for Alba to sit down, I could tell she was trying, and almost broke the handle with the force I turned it with. It was so cold out here! I wanted to be back home -Swaria, only Swaria- where I wouldn't have needed a patchwork cloak of fireproof leather and treated smokey gray fleece. I managed a glimpse of it, tossed on the seat in the Alba way, before a dirty blonde head swooped forward and locked lips with a very confused looking Desert Queen.

Only one thing to say.

"Tathiel! You'd better hope and pray to God that what I saw was a hallucination!"

Laverna - Melnarian Princess:

"Which reminds me about how very vulnerable you are."

He moved in front of me, and holding me steady. He pulled me into him, pressing his lips against my neck. How long until he moved on to my lips? I tried to ignore him, but as disgusted as I was, I was too shocked to move.

"What are you doing?" I wasn't trying to sound panicked, but I did anyway.

"What do you think?" he muttered, leaning forwards. I tried to twist away, but he just brought me closer, pressing his lips to mine. "I've never kissed a princess before."

Then someone said, "Tathiel! You'd better hope and pray to God that what I saw was a hallucination!"

The man back away and glanced towards the door. Oh, I was in shock. What the hell was that? I blinked slowly and turned my head. The girl was back, standing in the door and obviously cold. She glared at me, then Tathiel. Uh oh.

How awkward was this now....

Tathiel

Oh great. For the love of all that's holy, it just had to be Aisha who walked in there. I would have preffered it is they had all stayed away, but if one of them had to walk in, I would have preffered Blake. "A hallucination? Umm... no, I don't believe it was," I answered honestly, unable to stop smirking.

I was begging my lips to frown, but they wouldn't cooperate. Stupid mouth, seems it was having the time of its life tonight.

"Is it real a big deal though Princess?" I asked, giving my shoulders a slight shrug.

"Umm...yes?" Aisha hissed, stepping closer.

Look what you did you idiot. Well, at least if she killed me, I would die being able to say I had kissed a princess...even if that princess hadn't enjoyed it. Ha. Made it funner that way.

I took a step back and raised my hands defensively. "It didn't seem like a big deal to me."

The glare she was sending me sent shivers down my spine, shivers that weren't quite as tangable as the ones before.

"I can't believe you!" She was almost shouting now. Crap.

"What? Am I not allowed to have a little fun?"

Her glare intensified. "Fun?"

"Umm...yeah." I shrugged.

"Oooh... fun...yeah. You know what else is fun?"

She was reaching for her fire supplies. Oh good lord, I was in for it now.

Aisha

Fire, fire, fire. My blood runs with fire. Fire seems to burning across my skin. Fire roars in my ears. Fire is leaping into my hands. Fire is me.

I toss my bag to the floor and hold a ball of fire in my palm. "Do you know what's really fun?" I say. My voice is dead cold, low and trembling.

"Princess... Princess, you don't want to do this,"

"Shut up, Tathiel, you don't know half of what I do or don't. You just know that women have to be yours. Morals mean nothing, do they? All that matters is the money and the women. Admit it, pretty boy."

"Aish-"

"Tathiel, keep in mind who's been playing with fire since age seven."

He pales. I strike. The fireball is a knit ball, soaked in fuel and lit, attached to a thin wire wrapped around my hand. Very bouncy wire. I flick my hand out, and the fireball leaps forward, very nearly missing Tathiel. He shivers and backs up.

"You can't run from what's more powerful than you, pretty boy," I whisper, starting to twirl the fireball. He starts stuttering. I grin and throw my arm out again. The fireball narrowly misses his face, singing the hair on the right side.

"Let's even that out," I say coolly, striking the opposite side. He shouts that I'm overreacting. I laugh in a low voice and extinguish the fireball, pulling out my igniter. I click it on and run the flame up the side of his face. He knocks my hand aside, and I tut.

"Such a shame that you're on my list now. Have a nice night." I say, scooping up my igniter. I grab my cloak and twirl it on, fastening my wings again. Before I leave, I strike a match and blow the flame into a plume, the end just barely missing Tathiel's face. I leap out of the caravan and angle myself so I'm now more than a few yards above the caravan, blood roaring in my ears and my hands hungry to hold fire again.

EEP! So sorry I haven't posted... I'm really not sure where everyone is... I'm not supposed o be on, my dad thinks I'm sleeping, but, to bring my characters in so I HAVE to post, could you make them useful--make them do SOMETHING that puts them in some position or something please. I'll post Maybe Monday morning or evening. Thankies!

Laverna - Melnarian Princess:

The fire queen, the girl Tathiel was always calling princess, left in a huff and I turned to Tathiel. I knew their names; they could hardly let me go alive now.... Tathiel, he was staring at the hole in his shirt and muttering about fire queen--some choice words were added.

I coughed, twisting my hands and wincing when the rope dug into my wrists, even through the cloth that covered them.

"Ah, Laverna," he said, tugging me away from the nearest sharp object. "You're the bait--we need you. I can't go losing you....yet."

I shot him glare over my shoulder....then burst out laughing. His hair was singed---badly. Tathiel didn't seem to notice it; he was too fixed on keeping me out of reach of any and all sharp objects.

"Your hair is singed," I commented, earning myself a glare. Still chuckling, I shook my head. Isn't it amazing? From scared out of my wits to dying of laughter in under a minute. Ha, that is amusing. "Badly," I added.

Tathiel scowled, but then he paused, rubbing at his hair. His hand came away blackened.

"Damn it," he muttered, glaring at me again.

((I'm so terribly sorry. I'm so late on this, but can someone clue me in on what's happening?))