Border Crossing

First topic message reminder :

"You're late." Baralai Fairchild despised the rain, almost as much as he despised mages. He was waiting at one of the bridges that crossed the river that in turn divided the two largest kingdoms in their land. It was the same bridge where he had waited countless times. Templar or no, gold was gold, and this gold also got rid of troublesome mages.
"You want the gold or not?" A black clad man snarled as he jumped down gracefully from his equally black steed.
Baralai muttered something rather unbecoming of a Templar, then held a gloved hand out. "Gold first, then the cargo. Try anything..." He words were cut off as the mage he was transporting broke free of his restraints. It all happened so quickly that he didn't see the flash of lightning and the proud Templar was crashing into the raging river below.
Six months. It had been six months and the fallen Templar still woke in a cold sweat after dreaming of that night. The mage had rendered him immobile, though wide awake when he had plunged into the river, his heavy armour weighing him down until a pig farmer had dragged him from the river several miles away. It had taken months to get back to health and pay back the farmer for his kindness. In that time word had gotten out that Fairchild the Templar was a deserter.

Alice Gormanghast was scowling into the mirror. She hated this world she had been born into, even now as her maid pulled tightly on the laces of her dress she thought of nothing but a way to escape. Her brother's were all war heroes, famous to everyone in the kingdom for their brave deeds and triumph in defeating several of the dragons. But Alice... All she was known for was to be the prize her father handed over to the man he deemed brave enough to end the war altogether. She was the proverbial Princess in the tower, useful only for luring in prospective suitors. The young brunette didn't even realise her rose coloured lips were quirked into a slight smile 'if only they knew'. Indeed, her father would have a literal heart attack if he knew his prized daughter had secretly been learning how to shoot a bow and handle a sword. She lost herself for hours at an end in books that told of the thieves guild, and their mysterious leader who was sometimes known to have a higher moral code than the knights of their kingdom.

It was odd that this whole time Blackbeard hadn't seemed as angry or surly as he usually was. Even now he simply smiled as his son drank. "A princess who belonged to another, from what I hear."

"Even when he had your lover, you didn't fight. Doubt you ever loved the poor sap, just wanted him to be your protection." Auron sneered, though he wasn't even looking at Yena.

The mood across the world had gone sour. Storm clouds were rolling in, thunder rumbling loud enough to shake the very foundations. "You don't think I know that?" Garrik whispered, shoving out of his chair. "If you have no orders for me, I'm leaving. It won't take me so long to figure out when I'm not wanted this time." 

"You wouldn't know what love is like. Your mother doesn't count." Yena hissed, narrowing her eyes at him. "You're drunk, wolf. Go to bed."

"She told you her brother violated her, but how do you know she wasn't the one begging him to take her?" Blackbeard asked, smiling as a loud clap of thunder sounded directly over head.

"And you do? I'm betting you used magic to trick that pathetic idiot into being with you at all." Auron sneered, seeming to just want to goad Yena now.

"I know my Captain. I know how to please her. That bastard never could have." Garrik snarled. A flash of lighting tore through the sky, the thunder sounding like it was tearing the sky open. "What would you know?" 

"Shut up." There it was. The rage was in her hissed tone. "You don't know anything you stupid hairy bastard." She snarled, heading toward the doors. She had to get away from him. Far away.

"Do you? How often did she speak of the husband she left for dead? She's probably already moved onto the next warm body, and your name is all but lost to her, damn whore." Blackbeard sneered. "She put a lot of effort into 'stopping' her eldest brother, but never even mentioned the other two. Odd, don't you think?"

Auron smiled and drank more of his ale, still not turning around. "If that's true, why you so uptight, Mouse?"

"Her husband is dead, Blackbeard. And as for other brothers...I have never heard of them. She would have told me." Garrik said firmly. "She never lied to me. Not once." 
As if on cue there was a shout over the thunder. "Approaching ship, Captain! It's the fleet. Their captain is demanding to board." 

"I don't have to answer you. You're just a guard. A kept slave for a monster." Yena muttered. "And you're drunk. You're worthless."

Blackbeard smiled, once more. "You sure about that, boy?" He asked as he pushed his large frame up to his feet. "She tell you all about her conversations with the dragon, too?"

Auron was upon Yena in the blink of an eye, her slight frame pinned to the wall by her throat, toes just barely touching the floor. "And what does that make you, worthless mouse? You're only alive because I allow it. The king has no more use for you, not if he killed your pathetic mate."

Garrik tried to hide the surprise from his face. "If that were so why would she go to an elf to speak to contact a dragon? Why didn't she just call one to get her hands on the dragon heart herself?" He snorted, convincing himself that this was true. "Besides there are only two in the world. Where would she have had the chance to speak to one?" 

"My mate was no dragon. There was nothing Bear could do for him other than hold the shard of my heart. He won't let me die until he can get the entire heart for himself. You don't scare me." Yena snarled. Her teeth clenched and her crimson eyes glittering.

"She can speak to them, she can't summon them." Blackbeard responded, though he was already heading out to the deck to greet the other ship.

Auron's own eyes seemed almost yellow as he watched Yena now. "So you admit it, the idiot was no more than a shield."

The eldest son of the now dead king was standing on Blackbeard's deck, his lips set in a thin line. "Why are you on the move? I believe we had an agreement about that."

"I didn't know he had the shard!" Yena shouted, wanting to beat his chest until her hands bled. "How could he have been anything but my mate?! You know nothing!"

"You think I am up to something?" Blackbeard asked, feigning horror. "Boy, I'm hurt by yer lack of trust in me."

"A dragon knows it's heart." Auron spat, finally letting go of her.

"Indeed." Richard said, ever the prince. "As if anyone could ever trust a pirate. Now, mind telling why this rig is moving?" 

"And how would you know that?" Yena snorted.

"Is it?" Blackbeard looked aghast as he glanced around. "Had no idea." He added with a smirk that was almost hidden by his beard. "Funny how you just happen to be passin' by, ain't it?"

"Get out of my sight, creature. The king will want you intact, and I can't promise that if you stay in my presence any longer." Auron growled, turning away to return to his ale.

"Isn't it?" Richard corrected. "You are violating our terms of agreement. And I believe that gives me the right to blow you and your crew out of the water. I've let you go unchecked for far too long."

"That's what I thought. You're a coward just like the worm you serve." Yena hissed at his large back. "You kiss his boots every night while you think of ways to please him?"

Blackbeard's smile was suddenly rather icy. "Yer boys gonna blow up their golden prince, too?" He asked, a nod of his head bringing enough of his men to surround the Prince and his escort.

"You sound jealous that he's only got the hots for his sister." Auron snorted. "That was pisses you off? He never looked at you like a women, only the creature you are?"

Richard actually laughed at the men surrounding him. His sister was more like him than any of the others. "You're not trying to scare me with this pathetically rag tag crew, are you? I fought worse in Thedas than this. I'd rather fight my brother." 

"I'm leaving this castle." Yena said, not sure why she was telling him. "If you try to stop me, I'll eat you too, wolfie."

"And yet you ain't." Blackbeard pointed out. "Left it to the girl, and look where it got 'er."

"I look forward to you trying." Auron snorted. "A little mouse like you can do nothing, not until she remembers what she is."

Richard shook his head. "I'm not playing mind games with you." One would think I'd never been around a pirate before."

''I don't know what you're talking about." Yena hissed. "You are insane."

"One could think that." Blackbeard replied, mocking Richard's accent. "But one would seem to be forgetting that one's sister is currently Pirate Queen."

"So they say..." Auron mused, though Yena wouldn't get anything more from him.

Richard's blue eyes flashed with uncertainty, though it didn't last long. "I heard rumors to that effect."  He said evenly. "That must really puss you off, doesn't it?" He chuckled. "A woman taking your crown while you're under a curse. It makes you look weak."

Yena ran from the castle, taking in lung fulls of the fresh air as soon as she could. She needed it. She needed to be far away. She could see an out line of trees and her body ached for them. She was betting she could be among them by nightfall.

Blackbeard was clearly affected by that remark, but he didn't react too quickly. "Almost like you letting your baby brother rule your kingdom." He sneered.

No member of the castle household would stop Yena as she left. They all acted like she basically invisible, almost like they had been ordered to.

"Why would I have done that?" Richard asked with a frown. He wasn't even aware of his father's death. "My father is ruling the kingdom well enough. I have received no word if even failing health."

Yena was desperate for the night air. She plunged into the trees and began to sob. It was the first time she'd been alone enough to grieve. It was a terrible thing.

Blackbeard threw back his head and let out a loud boom of laughter. "You ain't even important enough to be included!" He mocked. "Daddy dearest is DEAD, boy! Even your whore sister knew that one!"

Golden eyes followed Yena through the trees, making no sound at large ears listened to the sound of her sobs. The creature deserved the pain... didn't it?

Richard's lips set in a thin line. His hand now on his sword. "You are a pirate. You are known to lie about a great many things. How am I expected to believe you?"

Yena cried until she couldn't breathe. She fell asleep under her usual spot, feeling safe beneath the dirty leaves and towering trees.

"Then go home." Blackbeard replied with a shrug, though his own hand was on the sword at his hip. "Prove me wrong, or prove that your family hate you as they hate the girl."

"The yellow eyes closed when she finally fell asleep, their fur covered owner even seeming to sigh heavily. He wanted to hate her. He should hate her. She had ruined his life without even knowing his name. But as it stood, he simply curled up close to her, thick fur keeping her from freezing to death.

Richard yanked out his sword, though was not at all emotional abut it. He was not a man given to emotionals. He didn't even seem to care that others were yanking out their blades or that his escort was back to back with him. His bright blue eyes were locked on the elder man's. "You know more than you're letting on, Jack. Spill it before I spill your guts on this rotted deck." He hissed. 

At some point during the night Yena turned, clinging to the large hairy body next to her. She sniffed softly, burying her face in the warmth. "Dont leave me alone." She breathed. Knowing no other way to express how she felt.

The pirate merely smiled. "You're outnumbered, pretty boy." He sneered. "Kill as many as you like, but you ain't getting off this ship alive, if that's how you wanna play this."

The golden eyes opened only slightly when she whispered this. She deserved to be alone, just as he had. The wolf made no sound however, and simply allowed Yena to cling to him. He told himself that it was simply because Kane would have his hide if something happened to the dragon before he allowed it.

"I doubt you'd want us to take out your son." Richard said in warning. "But I will if I must. Pirate blood is the same to me. He can pay for your crimes."

Yena prayed that her sleep would take her to the Fade but nothing happened. She didn't dream at all. There was nothing but darkness on the throne. The monster reigned and she was never going to escape the lonely hell she'd been born into.

"Ain't me you need to worry about, it's the boys mother."Blackbeard responded with a smirk.

At some point the wolf had carried the sleeping dragon back to the castle. There she was put into bed while the animal lay close by.

"How odd it seems that you never have any trappinga binding you to our world. No wonder the elfs punishment went unnoticed." Richard snorted. "I would be doing the boy a favor."

Yena woke to the bed and the lavish covers, feeling like her escape had been a dream. She buried her face in the pillows and howled, not sure what else to do.