Thread: Certain Doom, Interrupted (Methos and Autumn)

From days of old, the kings of Aegina had been wise in building the fortress of their castle walls. The stones were cut into erratic patterns, giving the architecture the look of an elaborate labyrinth. It was a means of being misleading, should the unthinkable happen and their territory be invaded. Though the enemy had managed to pull together enough numbers to thoroughly inspect the area, the winding and twisting corridors had managed to delay their capture of the princess and altogether prevented them from finding King Kleitos. A true Aeginan knew well the layout of the palace, whether he was royalty or peasant it had been the duty of fathers to pass the information to sons. A secret of defense, if you will. As Kleitos had neither a wife nor a son, he relayed the information to his precious sister. He whispered to her the tunnels that led into the underground and warned her of the two dungeons built beneath the hard earth. The first one was smaller with four walls and shackles covering the stone. To an untrained eye, there was no hope of escaping, but to someone who knew the cleverness of the kings it was a different tale entirely. One of the walls gave way to a much larger chamber. It was labeled as a dungeon, though it was merely a holding cell built for armies to hide in while an enemy infantry marauded the land. There was another disguised doorway that led directly to the outside, making it easy for Aegina's military to surprise the opposing army. As Aegina had never been attacked before, Ambrosia knew the security of this shelter had never been breached previously. Though her captors had come inside the smaller chamber frequently to bring her sustenance, they had never once stepped foot toward that secret door. It was then that the bound princess discovered the ugly truth of the matter someone on the inside of her brother's army had committed the ultimate crime of treachery against the King. Someone who was perhaps safe with all the other rulers on the island in the Aegean had betrayed his homeland of Mother Greece. But who and why? The chants grew more loudly from outside the stone walls. Visions of men dancing and slinging her kingdom's wine in honor of her bloodshed enveloped her mind. Frantic, Ambrosia began to flail her arms and legs about roughly, eyes cautiously watching the hatch that led to both her freedom and her death. The restraints pulled tautly against her skin, burning the delicate flesh. Mouth opened to scream, but it would do no good. Everyone who could hear was awaiting her death anyway. There was a steady drum beating in rhythm with her heart, the end of it signifying the cease of the vitality that pounded against her ribcage. She knew what was waiting on the other side of that door, ready to ravage and mutilate her fleshy vessel. Finally, the drumming stopped. The yells of the men outside became more frantic and distant, though she didn't understand the meaning of it. Lungs dragged in a heavy breath through her mouth, keeping it held within her chest. She waited. . . and waited. . . and still. . . On the other side of the wall, two men held ropes that controlled the doors. The massive beasts paced impatiently in front of the stone slabs, clawing at it as they roared out into the night. They were thirsty for blood hungry with lust. The men knew that when the drumming ceased, they were to release the doors, but it was the panicked calls of the seamen that alerted them. Fire! Someone shouted. The ships! Another one yelled. Neither considered the consequences as they bolted from their posts, the ropes slacking against the doors and raising them enough that the monsters ran inside before the hatch was sealed tightly again. Once the two minotaurs were closed inside, their keen senses began to work frantically. The fire flickered in their eyes, the thrashing figure alerting them of their gift. Massive feet slapped against the floor, the two creatures moving steadily toward Ambrosia. The princess glanced around the chamber, looking for anything that may help her hold them back. Closer and closer they came, the stench of their skin burning her nose. Mouth opened, a scream emitting into the air. With one last moment to give her legacy, she cried out I am Ambrosia, Princess of Greece and I will die for the land I love! For Kleitos and for Aegina!