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Post by Prince Arthur Pendragon on Nov 13, 2009 19:23:35 GMT
Arthur practically threw Henry into the cell, leaving the boy crumpled in a heap on the thin layer straw that barely covered the floor.
He regretted that he had to do this. Hated that he even had to make the decision as to whether he should do this, but he had defied his father time enough to know that this was the correct way to handle trespassers.
It wasn't because Henry was a low, it really wasn't, however it was inevitable that people were going to assume that. The thing was, that it didnt really matter whether they did or not. The Low's already detested anything of higher class than themselves, and the nobles felt the same but the other way around, so no matter what Arthur did it was going to get someones backs up.
In the end he had decided to go with what would please his father.
"Don't get any ideas about escaping, boy." The prince added as he turned to leave. "I've already lost one prisoner from these cells, and it won't happen again, i assure you."
His injuries from that previous episode still caused him trouble every now and again and hsi legs would be scarred until he was long past the age of battle.
He slammed the iron door shut, locking it with a strong key and slipping it smugly into his breast pocket. Even though he didn't fully agree with what he was doing, Arthur was an excellent actor when it came to playing the arrogant Prince.
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Post by Henry Renold on Nov 13, 2009 20:19:37 GMT
Henry stumbled into the cell, under Arthur's strong command of course. His anger and hate towards the prince was reaching boiling point and it was all he could do to keep himself from lashing out. The princes grip was lax, he obviously assumed that Henry's weight and appearance also denoted his strength- he was wrong.
He fell where Arthur pushed him-In a mess on the floor of the cell. It was cold and hard, but Henry had been used to much worse, at least this place was clean.
He smothered a smile as Arthur mentioned the prisoner who had escaped him a few weeks back. It had been Henry's doing and a good friend of his who had left the prince badly wounded and bed ridden for days. It was not in Henry's heart to ruthlessly murder a prince, but part of him wished that the attack had come off. He certainly wouldn't be here if it had.
The door slammed and the noise reverberated through his skull, making him groan. He wanted to be outside in the fresh air, apologising for the way he had left Gill behind (and one of his shoes...). But realising that that was just nto possible right now, he lay himself down on the loosely scattered straw and fell asleep.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Nov 14, 2009 1:59:14 GMT
Gill had walked back from the orchard in a miserable state. She had taken a detour through the empty kitchens, grabbing some of the leftovers that had been overlooked and not cleared up. She filled a pitcher with water, tucked the shoe under her arm and headed out towards the dungeons. On her way down the spiral steps she heard echoing footsteps ascending and slid into one of the alcoves, hidden. The prince strode past, heading back towards the castle. Gill waited until his footsteps faded into the distance and then continued her descent. She was stopped by a guard almost immediately. After the breakout the other week, the security of the prisoners was much improved.
"I'm bringing the newest prisoner food." she explained, before the guard asked her anything, and made to stride past confidently. She had almost made it past when his deep voice inquired:
"Wait one minute there little miss..." she froze in her tracks, turning on her heel to face him.
"Under who's orders?"
"Prince Arthur's." she replied lightly.
"But he only just bought in the whelp."
"I was there when he arrested him."
"Where?"
"The Orchard."
"When?"
"Just now."
"Don't normally be givin' them food this late."
"I'm a maid, I don't question the orders I'm given."
He seemed satisfied and nodded. Gill breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh and miss."
"Yes?" Gill voice showed signs of strain, she was so close!
"Why'd you have a shoe under your arm?"
"I always carry a spare shoe..." she replied with a quick smile, and hurriedly turned the corner leaving the guard behind her. Most of the inmates were sleeping and so she had trouble identifying which one was Henry. After a few minutes searching she discovered him curled up, apparently sleeping
"Psst." she whispered, "It's Gill."
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Post by Henry Renold on Nov 14, 2009 19:11:10 GMT
Gill? Henry questioned as his mind struggle to wake up properly. What is she doing here?
Henry blinked open his eyes to the dim light of the dungeons, it was strange to wake up and not be temporarily blinded by sunlight streaming through the rafters. In a way it was a welcome change from his slum house.
"What are you doing here?" He asked as he shuffled on his knees to the iron bars,"How did you get past the guards?"
He felt terrible that Gill was risking her own safety to be here, it was his own fault that he was in the dungeons and he wished she would just get out of here. He didn't need to have this weight on his shoulders too, he just wanted to get past this and go back to the slums where he wouldn't have to see her anymore.
"Just go away will you?" He hissed through clenched teeth, "I don;t need the responisibility of you too. It's bad enough I'm in here!" He turned his back to her.
He knew it was unfair, but he couldnt see how the friendship could work. Not unless she gave up her life and went to live in the slums, and he could never do that to her. She worked at the castle, a place that Henry could never go- especially after this. Perhaps it was best if they never saw each other again.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Nov 14, 2009 22:48:06 GMT
Gill knelt, placing the food beside her, and faced Henry through the bars. She didn't answers his first two questions. It was obvious why she was here- she felt that it was her fault everything had happened, and it didn't matter how she had got past the guards.
"Just go away will you?" Henry's voice hardened and Gill opened her mouth to protest that she wasn't going anywhere, but he cut her off, continuing: "I don't need the responsibility of you too. It's bad enough I'm in here!"
Gill's hopeful smile faltered, hurt, as Henry turned his back to her. She bit her lip to stop it trembling, continuing to kneel as her hands tightened their grip on the bars. And she hadn't thought it was possible to feel any worse than she already did... He does blame me! Forceful tears started pricking at her eyes. But instead of apologising, she blinked them back and pushed the food through the bars, asking in a voice much steadier than she felt:
"At least tell me your name."
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Post by Henry Renold on Nov 15, 2009 17:02:49 GMT
"Henry!" He shouted, turning back only to glare at her. He was getting angry now and he just didn't want this pressure anymore. For the last day or so, the idea of being friends with someone who worked for nobles had played on his mind, although he had chosen to ignore it until now.
But he couldn't be. No matter how nice she was or how noble her intentions had seemed, she had gotten him into this mess, he could see it now and it had probably been her intention all along.
"I'm just another Low, who is finally off the streets aren't I?" He spat at her, continuing on from his thoughts. "Not good enough to be out in public with the likes of you! So you take me to the orchard and set me up!" He hit out at the tin plate with his hand and sent the food rolling across the cell floor.
"Just get out of here and don't bother coming back. Your guilt is no worry of mine." He went back to his corner and brought his knees up to his chin, face set in a deep scowl.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Nov 15, 2009 18:27:00 GMT
Henry's words were like a stinging slap to the face and for a few moments after he finally fell silent, Gill couldn't speak. How was she supposed to keep up with this boy's changing temper? One moment he was ignoring her, the next saving her life. His smiles and soft words had been left behind in the orchard, swinging first into bitterness, now resentment and violent anger.
When he hit the plate, sending food skittling across the floor, Gill flinched- her face stony. Guilt and upset disappeared as irritation finally took hold of her. Why feel sorry for this boy? The desire to yell at him bubbled inside of her, but she pressed her mouth together in a grim line, teeth clenched behind her lips.
Although her next words were controlled, they were edged with a hardness that caused her hands to tremble:
"If I wanted you to be arrested Henry, would I have covered for you in the kitchens? And if I wanted you permanently 'off the streets' I'd have cried assault or worse to Arthur. If you don't want my guilt that's fine, but let me leave you with these apologies. I am sorry that you're here. I'm also sorry that you're too damn pig-headed to understand or care about anyone other than yourself..." Her dark eyes flashed dangerously as she spoke, and when the simmering anger threatened to overtake her, she stood up abruptly. She would leave this boy with what little dignity she could muster. Her last words were softer, spoken as she dropped his shoe through the bars.
"...And I'm sorry we ever met."
It was at this point she caught sight of the dungeon master, watching curiously from the end of the row. The noise of Henry shouting must have roused him.
"Everythin' alright there Miss?"
"Fine thank-you." she replied with a tight smile. "Goodnight Henry."
Without a backwards glance she left the cell, her even footsteps echoing through the dungeons. She continued to walk even when the dungeons were far behind her, through the palace gates and on through the city. Gill was surprised at how angry she felt, but perhaps when you felt passionate about something, it could swing either way in seconds.
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Post by Henry Renold on Nov 16, 2009 22:50:16 GMT
Henry sat hard-faced and silent as Gill said her piece. Part of him knew those words which she spoke were right and true, but she was right, he was pig-headed, and the words washed over his stubborn exterior even as she stood up to leave.
"...And I'm sorry we ever met."
Those words did strike Henry hard. It hurt to know that someone he had felt a connection with and who he thought had liked him, now regretted it. He just couldn't see how he had brought this upon himself.
His shoe bounced across the floor and the slow echoing thuds melded with Gills steady footsteps. He listened to them until she left the dungeon, and they were nothing more than a distant tap. Then he moved, picked up all of the food that still lay scattered about the cell floor, and began to eat. He was grateful she had brought him these scraps from the kitchens, but it still didn't change his mind about being her friend. Probably too late now anyway He thought, morose.
When he had finished eating, and with a half full belly, he gathered all the straw in the cell into a pile and lay down. It was only really big enough for his head, but it was comfortable enough to a Low and Henry was soon dreaming again.
***
The next morning, Henry awoke to the scraping of iron against stone. He opened one eye, forgetting where he was and tried to stretch. Instead he found his arms were stuck and as he opened his other eye sleepily, he saw a rather obese guard's face boring down into his. His arms, shackled behind him now were painful and his wrists felt like they wore open wounds. It didn't take long for the iron to cut into the skin.
"Get up wretch!" the guard shouted at him, and Henry tried. The pain in his wrists meant he couldn't move very well though, and before he had managed to do it himself the guard had yanked him up himself. From there he was dragged by the scruff off his neck to Hagmoore Green, where he would be put into the stocks.
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