Thread: The Wolf, the Forge, and Love Forbidden - Raivh & Abovetheroses

It was cold, damp, the smell of old earth, vomit, and other bodily fluids filled the air the further through the corridor you traveled. A single torch was lit by the locked door at the bottom of the stone stair case that seperated the free from the imprisoned. On the other side of the door were rows of stone walled cells. Prisoners never meant to see the light of day again. Milady, we can't be down here. The young guardsman's voice was shaking, he was clearly new at this, nervous. He kept looking over his shoulder. The small woman at his side had a cloak around her shoulders, hood over her head. I said, open the damn door. She yanked the torch off the metal bracket on the wall. The young man fumbled with the key ring and pried the door open with a loud squeak. You wait here. The woman demanded as she stroded down the peutrid hall with the single source of light, leaving him alone in the dark. The smell only got worse the further she walked on, moving passed iron bar doors keeping men and beasts at bay. Some were alive. Sort of, if you could call living in your own filth living. This underground prison was virtually hell. The woman was was only glad that these poor people and creatures didn't have to live here long. Her father would kill them all, soon enough. At the very end of the hall she reached the cage she was in search of, the newest resident of this place. A woman. A wolf. She placed the torch up in a bracket on the wall and peered through the iron bars that kept the woman in, but chains held her at bay. She was in a pitiful state. It made her heart sink. I-i'm sorry. She couldn't keep her voice from shaking. Nor the tears gathering in her eyes. No matter how many times she made this trip she always felt the same. And yes she made this visit to all the people down here, they all knew her face. Pulling back her hood she revealed herself. Alice Rosca, the youngest child and only daughter of the man that imprisoned them all in there. We aren't all like my father. Her delicate hand grasped the bar as she stepped just a bit closer looking the other woman in the eye. I'm truly sorry for what he is going to do to you... Milady! We must go! Her guards voice echoed down the hall as did the sound of approaching footsteps. Alice looked over her shoulder and then back to the woman. Don't tell him anything. She gave the woman a weak smile before flicking up her hood and disappearing down the hall back to where her scared guard was shaking in his armor. As the only daughter of the noble Andri Rosca Alice spent most of her days studying. Mathematics, sciences, literature, even the arts. She was more learned than most of his advisers but as a woman she was never allowed in his council. But just because she was not permitted to speak in their company did not mean she did not listen. She knew far more about the war than her father and brothers ever gave her credit for. Alice didn't understand it though, there never seemed to be any real logic behind it... At least not to her. It was going on for generations but she couldn't seem to understand any of it. So while the sons got to become great hunters, Alice was expected to live like a doll. She had personal guards and escorts because her father was paranoid. Then again, all of the good fighters were needed on the fields so most of the time the more rookie fighters were put to guard her and she could easily man handle them, and of course out smart them. It made sneaking out way too easy. Chances to get away and be alone with out her family's overprotective eyes was one of Alice's few joys. But she learned of the toll her father's war was taking. Not only was her father squandering money to fuel whatever vendetta he had against the wolves, but by not helping the town around them, the people resented him and were suffering. Being caught in the middle Alice didn't know what to do. It tore at her heart. Her father never listened to her, an emotional woman. She wasn't rational in his eyes so nothing she ever said had value no matter how true. Her brothers could say the same thing and her father would agree right on the spot. It was infuriating. She wanted to stop the war. She wanted to figure out the real reason behind it. Could there be peace or was her father too far beyond that? Today was the day of Luca's hunt. It was a big deal, a new sword and everything. Going on one of these hunts was a special occasion and deserved a new weapon, or so her father believed. As if they didn't have enough already. It was so special the even had the blacksmith coming to present it himself. He was one of the few men in town that Alice had yet to speak to when she was out on her own little adventures. She needed to change that. But it was always hard when they knew who she was. Milady do you need assistance? A maid stepped into the room. I can dress myself, thank you. Alice smoothed out her gown in the mirror. The golden hair that hung almost waist long was a bit odd in a place like this when everyone else had black or brown hair. Some saw it as a bad omen, her father saw it as good luck, a blessing on the child that killed his wife and a blessing towards his war. Her skin was pale to match but her eyes were a deep dark azure. The gown she wore was form fitting, hanging off her shoulders just a bit, and the emerald color of the House. With no real sleeves , Alice wrapped a shawl around her arms after she pinned her hair back out of her eyes. Out in the hallway, two of her four brothers were waiting for her. Marco, Peter? Just here to escort you. Marco said with a cheeky grin. He was always the goofy one. His brother elbowed him. She needs to cover up more. Alice frowned. Papa said this was a nice dress. Maybe for meeting your husband. Not for Luca's hunt. Peter scowled. Alice fake pouted. Then she winked at him. Too bad. It's my dress and I don't care. I will wear it when I want. Peter rolled his eyes and the boys walked beside her, her head barely gracing their shoulders as they made their way to the reception hall. In the hall the family gathered beside their father and Luca who was preparing for his hunt. While all the boys spoke of fighting and killing with each other and the other advisers on her father's council, Alice simply stood aside and waited for the festivities and ceremony to start. But she was always listening. Poised with grace and dignity, as much as she could show for having just visited their dungeon, although she tried not to dwell on it. The woman simply stood with her hands folded and she smiled and nodded to anyone who glanced in her direction, like any good noble lady.