Bent But Not Broken

Chapter 3

Elves are known for their stealth speed and precision... well most elves. To my father's dismay, I had never been very stealthy and my speed left something to be desired. Moving slow I crept my way towards the Northeast side of the castle. Thankfully there weren't many guards as my feet seemed to find every leaf and branch I paused with each sound thinking for sure I would be found. As I moved my mind began to wonder first thinking of the elf. It had almost seemed like he hadn't meant me harm when he had approached me in the stairwell. But that couldn't be right he had been there for a reason he was probably playing a trick to get me to let my guard down. If that was the case he had succeeded hadn't bothered to attack him until I had heard the guards on the stairs. Shaking myself from my musings I focused on the task at hand but my focus didn't last long as I passed the different areas that surround dungeons. With each area, I passed memories assault me. The first beating I had gotten at 5 when I had said I didn't want to learn to fight. Then the whipping I had gotten at 8 cuz he caught me playing dress-up with my half-sister. Then the worst one was when I had failed to kill a traitor at 14 because he wanted me to know what would happen to me if I ever betrayed him. When I refused to kill the man my father beat me until I blacked out from the pain. Only to wake up days later in a cell with only a bit of water. He came in many times over a week threatening if I didn't execute the man then I would be beaten again. Each time I refused the beatings got worse and worse. After a month of residual, he beat me again this time almost killing me. At a young age, I was taught that I was not a princess or even a person but instead I was something for my father to mold into his perfect weapon. When the doors of the dungeon came into view panic hit me like a punch in the stomach making me gasp and constricting my Airways making me light-headed. Time seemed to slow and I crept quietly carefully not to make noise on my way through the lower part of the dungeon. Searching every cell but as I reached the bottom floor I heard something that made my stomach drop. Someone was yelling but I didn't have to see them know who or what it was. Garrett's voice was loud and angry as he yelled at the elf and with each yell, I heard the sick thud of punch making contact with flesh. Everything in me every instinct everything was telling me to turn around leaves to go back to my room but I couldn't do this. As I turned to go the voice of the elf come and quiet despite the beating and the pain he must be in. "I coe will rejoice cín gurth"

"What's that supposed to mean" Gareth ground out. Peering around the corner Gareth and 3 guards stood in front of a wall. The elf hung limp the only thing keeping him upright with the shackles that chained him to the wall. If I hadn't heard him speak I would have thought he was unconscious or dead. Almost as if he knew I was there he looked up his eyes locked on mine for a moment before he looked at Gareth.

"The earth will rejoice your death."

"Well that may be true", Gareth laughed, "You'll know long before I do." Gareth punched the elf again this time knocking him unconscious.

It took everything in me not to jump out and attack Gareth and protect the elf but I couldn't. Fear tightened my throat what if I tried to help but instead I messed up then we would both be in trouble. Not only would it get him killed but like get me killed too. Or worse I would be locked up as Gareth's personal s*x slave. Just the thought sent a shiver down my spine.

As Gareth began to give the guards instructions I froze the sudden realization that I had nowhere to hide and that if I tried to leave not only would Gareth either hear or see me but also if he did go to my room and found me gone he would sound the alarm. I had to either hide till he left and go back to my room and accept my fate or hide and rescue the elf and flee. Neither option was a good one. Glancing around me there weren't many places to hide. I could move to the darkest part of the storage area and hope that the darkness will hide me. I could hide behind a barrel that wouldn't hide my whole body and hope that Gareth had drunk too much at the celebration and wouldn't notice me. Both options could have dire consequences if I was found. Standing there lost in thought I almost didn't hear Gareth's footsteps drawing close. Diving behind the barrel I lay flat on the ground hoping that the darkness and the barrel would hide the majority of my body.

Either Gareth was too intoxicated or my feet weren't as noticeable as I thought I'm not sure which. But Gareth walked past me stumbling with every step he took. I lay there not daring to breathe as the guards gathered everything up and they walked past so they could take up their posts at the entrance. I waited until I could no longer hear their footsteps before I dared to move. Rushing forward from my Hiding Place I crouched in front of the elf pulling my knife out I wedged its age of a small space against the wall. I had just pulled the last chain from the wall when the sound of footsteps made me freeze.

"Well well, what do we have here?" My father's voice bounced off the rock walls angry and menacing.