From Despair to Torment

WRITER'S NOTE: This is a retrospective of Ruth Grealth whose forced to be Gerlard's prisoner during the events of "The Blacksmith's Nephew". This passage is originally find in chapter 42. Please enjoy the read.

I was wide awake in my cell sitting there on the edge of the hay bed I was given. Long have I thought about my home and people once again until Orsimin came down to retrieve me about a quarter pass 6. The orc was holding some hand shackles.

“That’s odd…” I thought about this to myself. “Normally Orsimin would come around noon or midnight to give me the food and water for the day or evening. He also wouldn’t come back until the next period of time and date.”

“Orsimin, what’s going on?” I asked to the kind orc.

Before the orc would speak, he pulls out the keys from one of the pockets in his loincloth to open my cell. The orc replied back saying: “Master has ordered me to take you to your new chambers.”

“New chambers?” I asked with the most confused look upon my face.

“Yes, it’s the one in the west tower. It has a bed, dresser, wardrobe, a window and everything. It’s much nicer up there than it is down here.”

“That does sounds awfully nice, but why would he do such a thing?”

“Beats me Princess…Come now and follow me.” Orsimin opens the cell door, and I follow the orc.

The orc had to put me in hand shackles as requested from the Dark Wizard. The orc led himself and I out of the dungeon, eventually walking through the throne room and into the sanctuary of the castle.

As we walked, I was amazed yet heartbroken on how an unique castle, such as this one, for it has been mistreated by Gerlard. The kind orc and I stroll at the west side of the castle eventually coming across to a door. Pass that door were a flight of stairs spirally up to one of the west towers. Once we reached up to the top of the stairs, there came across another wooden door.

Orsimin opened the door and inside of it was a stoned room all fit for a Princess. The room had a queen sized bed, a dresser with an oval shaped mirror, a wardrobe carved with snakes on it, and a cart with a turkey leg on a silver plate. There was also a glass of red wine on that cart, a wooden chair with extremely soft purple cushion sewed into it, and a glassless single squared window. The room also came with a bathroom which contained a tub, sink and toilet as well.

I walked into the new chambers after the orc took the hand shackles off of me. Looking around the room with my mouth slightly opened. I then turned to Orsimin with a slight smile and said, “Thank you Orsimin.”

“Don’t thank him, thank me,” smiled the Dark Wizard as he passed his slave through the opened door behind him.

“Yes, why, thank you. This was all very generous of you,” I said to the Dark Wizard. My smile became a frown very quickly when he had entered the room. I despise this man!

“You’re quite welcome Princess. You see… I’m not as bad as I seem.”

“Question though.”

“Yes my dear Princess?”

“Why the sudden gesture?” I asked thoughtfully.

The villain then replied back calmly: “I had a change of heart, my dear Princess. I realized that if I was to marry my future Queen, she should be treated like one.”

All I could muster was me chuckling at first. Eventually I couldn’t help but laugh after what he had said.

“What’s so funny?” asked the Dark Wizard.

After laughing there, I then replied to him as conjure up a list of reasons why I was laughing by holding each finger: “Well…first of all, you kidnapped me from my home, imprisoned me down in that dungeon for three and a half days, had me eat that salty porridge, and drink that filthy water. You also had me nearly starving to death with little food and water that I’ve mention, you threaten my Kingdom and people, even killing my own father. Why would I marry you? I don’t even love you, I hate you!”

The Dark Wizard just stood there, and then process to chuckles too.

“What? Did I say something that was humorous?” I asked as I was cringing with my hands.

The evil sorcerer then replied: “I haven’t killed your father, even though I wanted to.”

“What do you mean? Is he alive? Where is he?” I wondered. I was getting really tired of the villain’s mind games.

“I’m not going to say much but yes he is alive. He is, in fact, on his way to rescue you with the rest of the warriors. But that’s only if they can make it on time though.”

“My father is alive?” This left me in quite of a shock. I then took a moment to process the news and replied back by standing my ground: “Just you watch, my father along with my mother’s warriors will make it, defeating you once and for all!”

“Again, that’s if they can overcome the trails and obstacles that are ahead of them. They only have less than three and a half days you know.”

“Yeah, well they have come this far and I bet they are more than halfway done from here,” I said with my back straight and chin up high. I was showing how much I believe in my warriors whoever they may be.

“You know nothing of the sort! You’re sounding very optimistic for being a spoiled little Princess. You really think your precious warriors and helpless father can save you from going up against the most powerful sorcerer there is?! Ha! Don’t make me laugh.”

“I may not know, but I do believe in my Kingdom and it’s people. You will lose!”

“SHUT UP!” shouted the villain as he slaps me across the face with the backside of his right hand. After getting slapped, I turned my head towards his direction with an angry redden face. You could see the handprint on the right side of my cheek, along with some water in my own blue eyes.

The villain then grabs my face with his left hand and says, “You will learn to respect me.”

The villain then leans in kissing me right there from where we stood. I tried fighting back by pushing him away but he was completely stationery and strong. This man was disgusting! The nerve of him assault me!

Gerlard finally pulls his lips away from mine’s and continued: “You will also learn to love me.”

The Dark Wizard lets go of my face and tosses me unto the bed. Thankfully he didn't do anything else than what I was thinking for he turns around walking towards the doorway and spoke with his back towards me: “Have a good night in your new chambers Princess. I will send Orsimin for your fitting tomorrow.”

The villain finally walks out of the room, while the orc gives me a sadden face. Orsimin followed his master and locked the door after gently shutting it.

I was now alone in my new chambers that night. Soon, I came to see the moon light from where I was on the bed. Eventually I get up from the mattress and walk towards the only window in my new chambers.

From there, I can see the Dark Mountains and the valley. Above the mountains was the moon which was getting close to being full. For the moon was currently in the waxing gibbous phase. I look up to where the moon was and saw a hundred stars across the night sky.

The next thing I did was close her eyes, take a deep breath, and pray from where I was: “Please Lord, bring my warriors to safety. Please watch over my Kingdom, and it’s people including my mother, father, aunt Flavia, Sonas, Lemmy and Terrance… Especially Terrance…”