((Note: The following story has been pieced together from the in-game emotes of several players and, therefore, each person should receive credit for the words and actions attached to their characters. Also of note, the player of Eduwiges wrote for the hunchback and I wrote for the guards with some input from Xanderian on the guard captain's nickname for Neth.))
( Continued from The Great Horse Rescue: Part 2)
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The guards were not gentle with the group as they forced them into two tiny, side by side prison cells- Nethrida, Eduwiges , and Addie in one and Calidis and Xanderian in the other. A wall of iron bars between the cells allowed for them to still see each other, though they had been somewhat separated now. Eduwiges was still unconscious and had been discarded like a sack of potatoes on the only bed; her rhythmic breathing and the sound of Addie’s footsteps as she anxiously paced from the bed to the door were the only sounds coming from their cell in that moment. In the corner, Nethrida sat quietly slumped against the wall, not believing that fate had brought her to the same cell she had once occupied the last time she was here.
The two in the other cell were also quiet for now, one from shock and the other in quiet observation while she confidently waited for her “Urchin” to come to the rescue. Xanderian stood near the front of the cell, as still as a statue, as her eyes flitted about the room; behind her, sitting on the bed, Calidis was still wide-eyed and still shaking from the events that had just occurred in the tavern. She watched as three guards made their way down the stairs toward the group’s cells. Two of them entered, one to each cell, and thoroughly searched each person, patting them down as they seemed to be looking for a very specific item. The other guard dumped the contents of their bags and satchels out on a nearby table and began to search through it.
Whether by magical means or oversight, the guard responsible for checking Calidis had missed the item that Rhavanielle slipped into her pocket just before they were arrested. Addie and Eduwiges were not so lucky. When the guard got to Eduwiges to search her, he pulled at the chain around her neck and found the blood red gem they were searching for; he took it from her, held it up to show the other two guards, and they both, knowingly, nodded back to him. The two left the cells and locked them back just as the guard that was searching the belongings found the glass vial from Addie’s bag; he glanced back at the blonde haired woman and shook his head at her while he took the vial for evidence.
(switching to emotes)
"Wait here you lot, and don’t go anywhere…" The guard gruffly says as he finished locking the cell, he then turned to his comrades and they all laughed at his jest toward the group. "The captain will come read you your charges in a moment."
Xanderian sighs to herself once they leave and Calidis continues to shake a little. The scared elf looks about the place and then freezes up; something... is in her pocket that wasn't there before. She makes no move to reach into it just yet, not while they are so closely watched. Addiela looks around to the others and finally breaks the silence, "Well, this is lovely. Did I mention that nothing good ever happens to me at Edoras?"
Xanderian softly smiles back at her, “Gently, sweet sister...now at least we may find some answers to many questions. Our captors are not the sharpest spears in the Riddermark, it seems.”
Nethrida looks over to Xanderian and shakes her head. “I... Very much doubt it matters whether... they're smart or not... They were prepared for us.”
“Indeed, and their preparations may yet prove their undoing. They seem quite...pleased with themselves.”
Addiela sighs at the whole situation, patience is not her strength and she looks to be very anxious while sitting here, awaiting her fate. "At least Hawke escaped."
Xanderian looks at Addie, her expression displaying a feigned confusion, "I do not know of whom you speak...all of our friends are now in chains.”
Addiela’s eyes widen for a moment as she realizes what she has done, but she quickly composes herself and looks around as though she is looking for this “Hawke” and has now spotted the person, "Ah, I see now; forgive me for misspeaking, my mind is still fuzzy from the tainted food and drink...”
Meanwhile, Hawke stands outside in the shadows of a building with his back propped up against a wall, furious and frustrated at this situation. He is staring at the guardhouse in the distance as he ruminates on how he can get his companions out of the jail. Suddenly, a small man with a slight hunchback approaches; he is dressed in black and walks with a limp. He sidles up to Hawke says, “Yeah, it’s a shame wot happened to your friends innit?'
Hawke draws his dagger and immediately holds it to the hunchback's throat, hissing. ''What would ye know about it?"
The man throws up his hands in surrender, “Easy, easy there young master, easy... I am only given you wot ‘elp I can, so eeeeeasy! Look young master, there are parties wot interested in your peoples welfare, they are.''
Hawke presses the edge of his dagger to the nosy little man's throat menacingly. ''Tell me what ye know, quickly, an' I'll decide if ye walk away."
The little guy cowers, snivelingly, and sniffs as he crosses his eyes staring down at Hawke's dagger. “Easy, young master, easy; I am the only one who can help you, so easy... I was bidden to give you this.” He unfolds his grimy, soot ridden fingers and a black key is in his hand. "This key wort opens the cells in the jail.” He holds his hand up offering it to Hawke.
Hawke eyes the key suspiciously but snatches it away, not easing up on the dagger. "And what d'ye an' yer 'friends' want in exchange?"
The little man's eyes grow wider as the dagger draws a little bit of blood. “Nuffin’! Nuffin’ Young master, nuffin’ at all.” He shivers and shakes with fear as spittle comes from his lips and blood trickles from the inside of his nose. “The guards only ave a few wat work at night an they are all on the take. Get yourn mates out quietly.” He opens his other grimy hand and in it is a sweat stained map the size of a handkerchief that appears to lead to some kind of cave outside the gates of Edoras. ''Take it young master and leave me be!” His pants become stained as he loses control of his bladder out of fear of Hawke.
Hawke takes the map and recoils, drawing his knife away and putting space between him and the fearful hunchback. He isn't sure what the catch is but at least with the key he can unlock the prison cells. He'll let the others decide about the map...but first the escape. ''...Thank ye. Now get goin', and if I find out ye set the guards on me or this is a trap, I'll be back for ye!"
The hunchback drags his foot away as fast as he can go; his pants chilling him in the wind as he ducks around the corner and away from the fiercely angry Hawke. Hawke glances over the map skeptically and tucks it into his tunic, safe beneath his light armor. Pocketing the key as well, he creeps around the guardhouse, watching the patrols carefully. There were windows he could climb through, or perhaps a disguise? No, best to stay with the simple plans.
Back inside, a heavy set of footsteps can now be heard coming down the steps and a few moments later, a fully armored man moves toward the cells. In his hands he is holding the blood gem, a clear vial and a scroll. He places the items down on the table near the cells where they can be viewed by all and then unrolls the scroll to read from it. "You are hereby charged with allegiance to the Cult of the Blood Eye, allies to the enemy and saboteurs of the Mark." He turns his gaze directly toward Addie, "And upon evidence of a poison vial, Addiela, daughter of the late Tirbold, is hereby reinstated with her former crime in the attempt to assassinate Theoden King." He rolls the scrolls back up. “You shall all be led to the Golden Hall at sunrise for your judgment."
After hearing this, Addiela’s eyes flash fire and she moves toward the bars near the cell door to grip them as she shouts at the guard. "Lies! And you know it! That worm is the poisoner!" Calidis glances over to Addie, eyes wide, but says nothing and Nethrida sits there in utter disbelief of the charges. “... What...?” Xanderian reaches her hand through the bars and places it on Addie's shoulder to calm her, "Quiet now...” Addiela glares daggers at the guard, but hushes as Xan instructs.
The guard captain folds his arms over his chest as he looks to Addie and smirks, "You don't scare me, lass, but I would be scared of what's coming tomorrow if I were all of you." He laughs and looks to all of them; it is then that he notices Nethrida and laughs even harder. “You again? Welcome back, sugarbutt, we remember you real well.”
Nethrida doesn’t seem amused and quickly replies, “Then you ought to know the charges are nonsense! I'm no cultist!”
He scoffs, “What I do know is that you won’t be buying your way out this time.” He laughs again, picks the “evidence” back up, and then turns to walk off.
Addiela sighs when the guard turns and rests her head on the bars, her knuckles still white as she maintains her grip on the bars. As he’s leaving, Calidis curls up in a ball in the corner and shakes a bit, though the look on her face is somewhat resolute. She is terrified but is steadfastly trying to steel her nerves. It would not be wise for her to give into her fear here; not when she now has much to think about.
Eduwiges groans loudly and tries to sit up; her head pounding. “Wh, wha, what’s happened? Where are we?” She looks at the armored man through bleary eyes and feels herself to make sure she has clothes on. “Di, d, did I?” She sees her friends in shock and comes fully awake, “What in Bema's name is going on!”
Nethrida shakes her head, “This... Is becoming a habit... Isn’t it? Twice have I been to this city... and twice do I find myself here... In fact, this is the same cell.”
Addiela keeps her head on the bar, but rolls it so that she can look toward Neth. "Well, this is the first time I've been in jail..."
Nethrida scoffs with frustration, “Well, I'm one up on you on that.'
Xanderian smiles to herself. “This is not the first time I have been imprisoned, but the last time was some decades ago...I am sure this stay will be shorter than that one.”
Addiela shakes her head, "It's not the stay that I am worried over..." She takes in a deep breath and lets it out in a heavy sigh before releasing the bars from her grip so that she can walk over to sit by Neth. “These are serious charges.. treason. If we're lucky, we'll face exile.. if we're not lucky.. death. It's going to be hard to prove that we’re not guilty when they found that gem on us."
Xanderian remains calm, “I have absolute faith in our good luck holding.”
Addiela looks to Xan and blinks a few times, "Good luck? What part of any of this speaks to ‘good luck?’”
Nethrida looks back from Addie to Xan, 'I would... Say our luck hasn’t been so great...” Addie jabs her thumb towards Neth nods in agreement at her words.
Xanderian still seems unfazed as she continues, “No one is slain or even injured...and we have learned a great deal thus far, and are wont to learn more. When we leave here we will be able to speak more fully and assess the situation.
Eduwiges reaches a hand up to hold her head, “I never thought my head could hurt so bad. When we get out of here someone is going to pay for this!”
Addiela shakes her head, "That's assuming that we'll be leaving here at all... alive."
Xanderian smiles, “We will be, sweet sister....I have no doubt of that fact.”
Addie sighs, “I wish that I could be as confident of that as you, Xanderian.”
Xanderian’s voice is soft as she says, “Gently dear sister...all that has happened thus far was meant to occur, and had been helpful”
Addiela glances back to Xan, "Please enlighten me how this is helpful."
Nethrida shakes her head slightly, “I'm... Sorry Xan but I agree with Addie... How is this aiding our cause?”
Eduwiges punches her hand with her fist as she usually does when she is angry, and says, “It brings our foes out into the open it does. Right Xan?”
Xanderian nods and grins, “It does my Lynx, and makes very clear that we are on the right track...and have badly frightened powerful men for such a force to assail us.”
Addiela looks back to Eduwiges, "You know as well as I that the least we are facing is exile. We will no longer be welcome in the Mark with these charges against us."
Eduwiges raises her eyebrow and looks at Addie, “My father is dead, and evil runs the Mark, I care not whether I can return or not. I'll not live in a place this twisted.”
Addiela shakes her head, "I mean not to live here; I speak of justice. We will have to remain in the shadows from here on out if we are to hunt your father's killer, not that we haven't done that already, but more will be on the lookout for us."
Eduwiges smiles that evil grin and says, “Nothing will keep justice from my father's killer, nothing.
Nethrida nods in agreement, “I hope this evil that festers within the Mark is rooted out.”
While the others speak, Calidis finally ventures to reach a hand into her pocket; when she removes her hand from her pocket, she holds a tiny phial with a decidedly odd looking fly within it. She tilts her head and frowns, puzzled. She's never carried such a thing on her person before. Calidis stands again and looks to see if any guards are watching them closely. Seeing that they’re not, she walks over to Xanderian and places a gentle hand on her shoulder to get her attention.
Xanderian looks at Calidis and Cal holds up her hand with the phial in it between the two of them while speaking to the other elf in Sindarin, “I believe Lady Rhavanielle has left us something." Xanderian looks at the vial, head tilting, "Then keep it hidden, dear one...I have no idea what its purpose might be.” Calidis slips the vial back in her pocket and smiles shakily. "I-I believe I know what it is for." She moves back to her corner and seats herself again.
Once there, Calidis seems to lose some of her composure and buries her face in her upturned knees. Xanderian walks over to her and strokes her hair. “There, there dear one...all will be well.”
Addiela 's eyes widen as she looks over and sees Cal like that, "I'm sorry. Was it something I said?"
Eduwiges sits up and walks over to the bars separating her from Calidis, “It’s going to be ok Cal, it’s going to be ok.
Calidis mumbles something unintelligible before raising her face to look at everyone; she looks a little like she might cry, but is attempting to not make a scene. "I-It's just... It's nothing. And it’s not your fault. I apologize. For making you worry and for... being so useless."
Xanderian continues to pet Calidis' hair, cooing to her softly as Addie offers her a look of sympathy, "Please don't speak that way, you are not useless."
Calidis shakes her head. "I-I know you mean well saying that. And I thank you for it... But I know very well that I am a liability to you all. Had I not been caught first... If I had listened to my own thoughts and not drank that tea." She sighs and buries her face in her knees again, whispering, "Even now, after all this time has passed, all I can do is watch."
Eduwiges looks at Cal incredulously, “Cal, I set the bloody meeting, and I was smacking my lips over drugged mead. If there is any blame to be had it is mine.”
Addiela shakes her head, "You two were not the only ones that ate or drank. This was a carefully laid trap, we were outnumbered and overpowered. You cannot blame yourself for that.”
Xanderian nods in agreement, “And I was surprised by the sheer size of the force seeking to capture us...all of us made oversights, but all will come to the good.”
Calidis shakes her head again and fights down other unpleasant feelings that threaten to rise within her mind, all of which she would feel further ashamed if free rein was given to them. She still feels horrible about herself but decides that giving anymore voice to such feelings would be detrimental. She does not want to cause others to despair.
Eduwiges shakes her head as well and stands back up to walk over to the cell doors. She grabs the bars and pulls on them, testing their strength, while whispering to herself, “We will be free… We will be free.” She looks back, “Xan, have you looked at the locks yet? Neth, what about you?”
Xanderian’s eyes glance around for a moment as though expecting something soon, “Patience my lynx.”
Back outside, two guards stand posted outside the door to the guardhouse, unaware of Hawke’s presence as he looks around for a way inside. Hawke is doubtful he'll make it past the two guards, even if there are only two and they're stationed at the door. He has already noted that there isn't a patrol, so the windows seem to him to be the best option, though they are high. Hawk unbuckles his sword from his belt and leaves it on the ground, opting for being lighter and less bulky and he begins to climb the guardhouse walls.
Hawke has to pause at times in order to look for foot and hand-holds, and while it's precarious, the climb isn't too difficult. He eventually makes it to a shuttered window and begins to pry it open with the dagger and his hands, as quietly as possible, all while keeping the toes of his soft leather boots dug in. The window isn't much of an obstacle for him, it's latched together by a single latch and his dagger easily slips through to make quick work of opening it.
Once inside, Hawk sees that he is most likely on the second floor; he hears the sounds of snoring to coming from a door to his left and to his right, he sees the stairs down. Hawke considers slitting the sleeping guards' throats, but that seems unduly zealous and he doubts every guard in Edoras was corrupt. He sneaks carefully, testing the wooden floor before putting his weight down fully, making his way towards the stairs.
The stairs appear to be clear and he is able to move like a feather down them without even making them creak; however, as he nears the bottom, he can overhear two guards talking about the new prisoners. Hawke waits patiently as they make their snide remarks about the group, biding his time. After a few more minutes, the two say their farewells to each other and one of the guards turns to walk up the stairs to end his shift and grab one of the empty cots.
Hawke hears the guard coming up the stairs and quickly ducks into the shadows beside the doorway, pressed flat against the wall and holding his breath. He has his face turned so that his hood and dark hair will blend in with the shadows. The guard doesn’t seem to notice Hawke at all as he passes by him and is even comfortable enough to scratch himself as though no one is there. He whistles a merry little tune to himself and disappears out of sight.
Hawke doesn't release his held breath until the guard passes and the heavy steps have receded; only then does he push away from the wall and begin the descent down the stairs to see if the other guard has also left. There aren't any more obstacles or guards, but he still moves with caution and care and keeps his eyes and ears open, the key to the cell already in hand. He looks toward the cells and makes a very quiet sound, just the barest hum of a tune that only elven ears will catch- this should warn at least Xan and Calidis if they're paying attention, the last thing he wants is for the prisoners to sound the alarm thinking that he's a guard or an enemy. After that, he quickly moves toward the doors and fits the key into the lock, turning it with care, until the lock springs open.
Xanderian smiles..."As I expected...hail my urchin.”
Calidis looks up when she hears Hawk and lets out an immensely relieved sigh. Eduwiges and Addiela both seem to be surprised at seeing him, but neither say anything for the moment; Eduwiges just gets a ‘death is coming look on her face’ and Addie gives him a grateful smile as everyone filters out of their jail cells.
Xanderian holds out one hand and Heartbreaker reappears. “I will gather our things....”She quietly slips upstairs like a shadow and gathers everything from the storage room, including the “evidence.”
Once the items are secured and the belongings are redistributed, Addie whispers to Hawk, "How did you get in here? We should probably go out the same way.”
Xanderian smiles and looks to Hawke, “A foolish question...he was once Hawke of the Alley...in Bree he is a legend whispered to children.”
Hawke offers Xan a somewhat irritated look. "Hardly," he murmurs. He nods towards the doors ''I came in through a window, but we'd best get through the door while the guards are changing."
Addie nods in understanding “Aye, we should get going.” She then looks over to Neth and a small impish smile begins to form on her face; there's never too grim of a moment for her to tease Neth a little, especially now that they're actually out of the cell. "Unless, of course, you want to sleep here for the night again, Neth."
Nethrida shook her head and frowned "Most certainly not.”
Eduwiges buckles her weapons on and hefts her pack. “Lead on Hawke, I will bring up the rear.”
Calidis takes back her greatsword with a nod of thanks, even as she still doesn't look like she enjoys carrying it. She straps it back on with ease and readies herself to follow the others.
Hawke stands lookout while the ladies all equip their weapons and gather any taken belongings. "Hurry," he urges, leading the way out through the door. They all quickly follow, making it out the door before the guard returns. Hawke leads through a side alley and to a break in the fortifications of the city. They carefully climb down the rock facing and slip away into the night to ready themselves for their next objective- the cave on the map that the hunchback gave him.
(To be continued in The Great Horse Rescue: Finale)
