Beyond the Castle, part one. (Two person.)

((Im at a loss of what to do...))

I tried to get free of the ropes that bound me but to no avail. Who ever they were they were good at their job.

((Okay, later I'll post something probably longish to wrap it up.))

Araline:

That day passed sluggishly. The man and woman took turns leaving while the other one would stay and do things like cook or fix thing or just sit there and watch me. Some times they would go down to Ario taking bits of food. I wasn't fed as much probably because I refused to eat any thing they gave me and the second time they tried to force me I kicked the woman in the stomach then got hit across the face. They left me alone to brood in hatful resentment, I had never felt so violently towards any one in my life. The second day passed much the tame way except at this point I was starving, and my ankle was rubbed raw from yanking so much. It was bound in to curved pieces of metal screwed together. The third day I realized I might be able to unscrew the screws with the other end of the spoon and started work on it. It was slow and hard but it was working.
I woke up surprised that I had fallen asleep and blinked out the window at the evening sunlight. I turned around and jerked a little seeing the man watching me, the familiar skin crawling feeling rushing over me. "I want you to have this." He said holding out some thing in the palm of his hand. It was my turtle. I jerked away when her got close enough to me and I stumbled half way across the kitchen. I looked down in shock seeing my ankle freed. I let out a sharp cry as I was grabbed roughly and yanked back. "Oh no you don't" He breathed in my ear. I kicked out and thrashed managing to get away. I darted to the door that lead to Ario but was blocked by the man again. He chased around the room knocking things over and shattering glass. I spotted the short bow and scrambled for it. He made a grab for me again and I felt a sharp pain in my belly. I ignored it and snatched the bow up loading an arrow and twirling around to let it fly at the man. It drove straight through his throat. I gasped and stumbled numbly to Ario's door. "Ario? Ario?! Ario!!" I screamed at the door trying to yank it open, but it was locked.

Ario:

I felt weak, they had been giving me food, but since she wasn't eating they had been denying me water. Araline's voice woke me up and I wasn't sure if I was just being delirious or not. All I knew was that if I called her name she would get hurt...

Araline:

I stopped trying to get into the door and forced myself to turn around and go over to the man. I choked back a sob seeing blood pool around him, his eyes staring glassy at the ceiling. I knelt down tried to focus through the tears swimming in my eyes and went through his pockets looking for the set of keys. I found it and rushed back to the door. My tummy was throbbing painfully but it barely registered in my mind once I got through the door and stumbled clumsily down the steps.

Ario:

The blindfold was on me as usual, and so I didn't bother moving when the door opened and someone came down. I didn't even both raising my head.

Araline:

"Ario?!" I asked frantically crawling over to him my voice strained with tears. I yanked the blind fold off and pulled at the ropes.

ARio:

I blinked up at her. "Araline?" I asked, uncertainly. Once the ropes were off I touched her cheek just to make sure she was real before pulling her into a tight hug.

Araline:

I hugged him close burying my face in his shoulder trying to calm my sobs.

I rubbed her back, and kissed the top of her head, holding her close against me. If this really was a dream, I didn't want to wake up from it. But her warmth, and the feel of her in my arms. I knew that she was real.

Araline:

I finally got my tears under control and said quietly, "We need to leave before that woman comes back."

I nodded but I didn't want to let go of her. Not now, and not ever.

Araline 

I forced my self to pull away and get up.  "I'll get some thing to cut the rest of the ropes." I said hurting back out to the main room not looking at the mans body.  A wave of dizziness swept over my and I grabbed onto a chair to keep from falling.  My hand brushed my belly  slick with warm sticky blood.  I gasped softly, it was a lot of blood.  I thought quickly, I needed Ario to focus on helping us get out of her not on me.  I looked around and found our bags that they must have brought here.  I pulled on my cloak and hurried back to the dark room to cut the ropes with Ario's knife.  I was running on adrenalin and nothing else. 

I gave her a quick kiss when she freed me. I got to my feet and headed out to the main room. I paused only a moment to inspect his body before i took brians bo in my hands. I ran my hands over it almost reverently before gathering everything i could fin that we might need.

Araline:

I followed him trying to help but I was losing energy quickly.  I didn't think I was going to be able to get very far it was hard just to stand up straight, and that woman would be coming after us once she saw what happened.  A brief burst of relief went through me when I caught sight of the horse out a different window.  "Ario," I said softly, "I know you don't like riding but I think it is our best option." 

I looked at the horse and sighed. "Fine...but you owe me." I smuttered before pulling her outside. It was when i helped her onto the horse that i noticed she was hurt. I cursed softly before swinging up behind her and uttng an arm around her.

Araline:

I moaned in pain as the horse started to gallop and leaned back against  Ario.  I pressed my hand over the deep gash.

I knocked an arrow keeping an arm around her as we rode off. I wanted to look at her wound as quickly as possible.

Araline:

I had never been in this much pain, thinking back I had been unbelievably pampered at the palace, and it wasn't serving me well now.  I held back another moan and just let out a shrill breath.  Every step the horse took was unbearably painful.  I got to the point where I was only barely conscious.

Once i felt we were far enough away did i stop the horse. I climbed down and lifted her gently down as well. I cradled her in my lap as i looked at her wound carefully.

Araline

My eyes fluttered open when he lifted me down.  Every breath I took was labored.  I looked down at myself with half closed eyes.  The cut was about four inches wide starting just below my belly button and curving towards my side.  And my dress was absolutely soaked with dark blood.  I let out another moan and leaned my face into Ario's chest.

I took a deep breath and just ripped her dress so i could see the wound better. I took the cloak she had taken and used it to make makesift bandages which i promptly used to wrap around her. I watched her worriedly.

Araline:

Even when I opened my eyes every thing was black so I kept them closed. "It's... so... cold." I mumbled taking a breath between each word.

I held her against my warm body i chewed on my lip. She needed blood....badly.

Araline:

I lost consciousness again. Wasn't scared, I knew I would be alright as long as I was with Ario.