09-10-2007, 04:01 PM
One day i was taken out to mine in a large mine a short distance away from the castle. The guard stayed at the entrance and held the pack horse there and told me to get working. I had done this so many times before so it was nothing new to me. I walked in to the back of the mine so i could do the areas furthest away first. Meant less walking with the ores.
In the back of the mine there was very little light. Sunlight didn't get in here and slaves were not allowed to have a torch or lantern.
I started mining but wasn't in a hurry. No point since no matter how much a slave does it will never be enough.
I had only found a few stacks of ore when i heard a voice coming from the dark corner.
"Veno" it whispered.
"Who is it? What do you want?" I quickly replied.
"Don't you recognize my voice?" Lia stepped out into the light so i could see her.
"Lia!" I said loud.
"Shh! Don't let the guard know that im here."
"Sorry" I mumbled while jumping over and hugging her.
"I missed you beautiful"
"I missed you too but i just couldn't come see you any sooner"
"Its ok don't worry. I'm just glad you haven't forgotten me" I smiled.
"That will never happen. Now lets get out of here"
"Err out? Out were? How, the guard is still..." Thats all i could say before Lia had grabbed me and chanted the words for recall.
We appeared in a small clearing in a forest. It was still early morning but it was quite warm and with just a slow brise rattling the leaves and trees.
"Isn't it nice here?" Lia said while i was looking around.
"Wow. Aye it really is very nice. But what about..." Lia interrupted me knowing what i was going to say.
"Lets just enjoy this place for a while okay? Ill get you back before anyone notices."
"Alright. I trust you" I smiled at her
"I want a house here someday. You know? A nice quiet house where i can relax and get away from the castle and..." She stopped mid sentence.
I tried to catch her eyes but she had turned her head down and was looking at her feet. I put my hand under her chin and slowly lifted her head up.
"What is wrong? I asked.
"I just realized what i must be to you. I walk freely or close to in the castle. I'm not a prisoner or a slave like you are. And here i am bragging with it. Teasing you with my freedom and easy life"
"Lia, you are very kind to me. You don't treat me like a slave but as an equal. You brought me out here so i could see this beautiful place. A place of your dreams and hopes"
"But..."
"Let me finish please" I interrupted her. "It is not your fault that im not a free man. You are not the one who puts me to work, who tortures me, keeps me as a slave. You are my light, my hope and my strength. Just seeing you brightens my life" I slumped down on the soft grass and looked up at her reaction.
She slowly sat down and looked me in the eyes.
"Thank you for not hating me" She said softly
"I could never hate you Lia" I smiled back at her.
I took her hand and just held it. I shifted my sight between Lia and the lovely surroundings. I just sat and enjoyed this moment.
After a few mins that felt far too short Lia stood up.
"We should get back before anyone notices" She was clearly sad
I stood up and smiled at her. "Its fine. I really liked the time we spent here"
"I promise i will find a way to set you free"
"You don't have to. You should not risk anything just because of me. I'm not worth it" I smiled
"Hush! I'm going to do this for you! Besides then you and i can see more to each other too" She grinned at me.
"Well i know a stubborn woman when i see one" I said while giving her a hug.
She held onto me and chanted the words for recall. We reappeared in the dark corner of the mine.
"Thanks for the small trip. Lets do it again sometime" I smiled knowing that she couldn't see it in the darkness.
"Next time it will be permanent though" She said softly
She said the words for recall and disappeared.
I went back to work and tried to make up the time i was away. At first the guard didn't seem to notice that i had been away for a while but when the time had passed midday and the packhorse normally was full he became annoyed.
"Why aren't you done yet? Have you been slacking or are you trying to get me angry?" The guard shouted at me.
"I'm sorry but the ores have been hard to find today." I said while looking down.
"So you have been slacking? Ill teach you to not work enough on my watch!" He shouted and raised his wooden club to hit me.
Just as the guard was going to hit me the slave handler came in and stopped him.
"Whats going on here?" He calmly asked the guard.
"This slave has been slacking and hasn't worked enough this morning!" The guard was clearly trying to sound angry and confident about his case.
"Well then you should discipline him, not beat him with a club so he cant work at all." The handler said. "Here use my whip and give him a few lashes."
"Yes sir." The guard replied.
The handler pushed me down on my knees. Drew a dagger from his belt and cut my shirt open down the back.
A few mins later i tried to open my eyes but i was lying face down on the rocky ground of the mine. I could feel blood running down my body from the wounds on my back. I heard the guard yell at me to get up. I didn't bother to try and passed out again.
I woke again in my room. I slowly sat up and tried not to stretch the skin on my back too much. It was healing quickly though and the wounds had already closed up.
"Must have some of that healing potion in me still." I thought to myself and smiled.
I wasn't sure how long i had been sleeping but at least a few hours. I picked up a new shirt which the guards had left on the floor. The pain was not too bad so i quickly put it on and laid down on the bed and covered up. I needed the rest to be ready for tomorrows work.
I woke to the sound of a guard banging on the door.
"Get up you miserable slave!" He yelled.
I got up quick and found that my wounds were feeling a lot better. It was painful to move but i knew i could still work.
"I love you Lia." I thought to myself and smiled a little.
The guard took me back to the mine we had been in yesterday.
"You better work harder today slave! Otherwise ill give you a stronger lesson in following orders!" Is the last thing he said while i was walking into the mine to start digging.
After i had made several trips back and forth with ores to the packhorse i was heading into the dark area of the mine again.
"Maybe she'll be here waiting for me..." I thought.
"No stop thinking like that! Ill just end up hoping for something that will never happen." I stopped myself.
I heard something in the corner.
"Its nothing. Just a loose pebble." I said out loud.
"Oh so im nothing to you today?" I heard a familiar voice say.
"Lia? Are you really here?"
"No apparently im just a pepple." She giggled
I blushed. "Sorry."
"Its quite alright. I'm just teasing you a bit." She stepped out so i could see her big soft smile.
"Ive missed you." I said while hugging her.
Her hands slid down my back and i crinched a bit.
"What is it? What is wrong?" She asked.
"Its just my back don't worry. I'm fine really." I replied.
She turned me around and lifted my shirt up to my shoulders.
"Is this my fault?" She asked with clear worry in her voice.
"No its mine Lia. I couldn't catch up with the work yesterday."
"Then it is my fault. I shouldn't have taken you away." She sounded sad.
"I would suffer much worse if it meant i could see you."
She just stood behind me slowly running her fingers over my wounds.
"I'm taking you with me tonight. We are leaving the castle together. I just need to gather a few things from my room and the castle stores." Her voice was demanding but still soft.
"Please don't risk anything for me. I couldn't live if you were hurt because of a lowly slave like me."
"I said we are leaving. Be ready tonight. Ill come for you at midnight."
Before i could say anything against it she had already recalled away.
"Well guess that discussion is over eh Veno?" I said to myself.
I quickly got back to work and managed to make up the time before the guard noticed.
"Looks like you needed that lesson yesterday." The guard said when the packhorse was full. "Lets get this back to the castle then you can go back to your pitiful room."
"Yes sir" I replied.
It was just over midday when the ores had been stored in the castle and i was given cloth and needle to do some tailoring work.
"Make some slave clothing. Plenty of that has been used lately." The guard ordered as i sat down in the crafting room.
We slaves were given an early day off because the guards seemed to be otherwise occupied.
After we had been giving food and drink we were locked in our rooms and told to stay quiet. This had happened before but i never knew why. We slaves weren't exactly told the latest castle gossip.
Since i didn't know what time it was i decided to get some rest since tonight was going to be a long night. My night of freedom.
In the back of the mine there was very little light. Sunlight didn't get in here and slaves were not allowed to have a torch or lantern.
I started mining but wasn't in a hurry. No point since no matter how much a slave does it will never be enough.
I had only found a few stacks of ore when i heard a voice coming from the dark corner.
"Veno" it whispered.
"Who is it? What do you want?" I quickly replied.
"Don't you recognize my voice?" Lia stepped out into the light so i could see her.
"Lia!" I said loud.
"Shh! Don't let the guard know that im here."
"Sorry" I mumbled while jumping over and hugging her.
"I missed you beautiful"
"I missed you too but i just couldn't come see you any sooner"
"Its ok don't worry. I'm just glad you haven't forgotten me" I smiled.
"That will never happen. Now lets get out of here"
"Err out? Out were? How, the guard is still..." Thats all i could say before Lia had grabbed me and chanted the words for recall.
We appeared in a small clearing in a forest. It was still early morning but it was quite warm and with just a slow brise rattling the leaves and trees.
"Isn't it nice here?" Lia said while i was looking around.
"Wow. Aye it really is very nice. But what about..." Lia interrupted me knowing what i was going to say.
"Lets just enjoy this place for a while okay? Ill get you back before anyone notices."
"Alright. I trust you" I smiled at her
"I want a house here someday. You know? A nice quiet house where i can relax and get away from the castle and..." She stopped mid sentence.
I tried to catch her eyes but she had turned her head down and was looking at her feet. I put my hand under her chin and slowly lifted her head up.
"What is wrong? I asked.
"I just realized what i must be to you. I walk freely or close to in the castle. I'm not a prisoner or a slave like you are. And here i am bragging with it. Teasing you with my freedom and easy life"
"Lia, you are very kind to me. You don't treat me like a slave but as an equal. You brought me out here so i could see this beautiful place. A place of your dreams and hopes"
"But..."
"Let me finish please" I interrupted her. "It is not your fault that im not a free man. You are not the one who puts me to work, who tortures me, keeps me as a slave. You are my light, my hope and my strength. Just seeing you brightens my life" I slumped down on the soft grass and looked up at her reaction.
She slowly sat down and looked me in the eyes.
"Thank you for not hating me" She said softly
"I could never hate you Lia" I smiled back at her.
I took her hand and just held it. I shifted my sight between Lia and the lovely surroundings. I just sat and enjoyed this moment.
After a few mins that felt far too short Lia stood up.
"We should get back before anyone notices" She was clearly sad
I stood up and smiled at her. "Its fine. I really liked the time we spent here"
"I promise i will find a way to set you free"
"You don't have to. You should not risk anything just because of me. I'm not worth it" I smiled
"Hush! I'm going to do this for you! Besides then you and i can see more to each other too" She grinned at me.
"Well i know a stubborn woman when i see one" I said while giving her a hug.
She held onto me and chanted the words for recall. We reappeared in the dark corner of the mine.
"Thanks for the small trip. Lets do it again sometime" I smiled knowing that she couldn't see it in the darkness.
"Next time it will be permanent though" She said softly
She said the words for recall and disappeared.
I went back to work and tried to make up the time i was away. At first the guard didn't seem to notice that i had been away for a while but when the time had passed midday and the packhorse normally was full he became annoyed.
"Why aren't you done yet? Have you been slacking or are you trying to get me angry?" The guard shouted at me.
"I'm sorry but the ores have been hard to find today." I said while looking down.
"So you have been slacking? Ill teach you to not work enough on my watch!" He shouted and raised his wooden club to hit me.
Just as the guard was going to hit me the slave handler came in and stopped him.
"Whats going on here?" He calmly asked the guard.
"This slave has been slacking and hasn't worked enough this morning!" The guard was clearly trying to sound angry and confident about his case.
"Well then you should discipline him, not beat him with a club so he cant work at all." The handler said. "Here use my whip and give him a few lashes."
"Yes sir." The guard replied.
The handler pushed me down on my knees. Drew a dagger from his belt and cut my shirt open down the back.
A few mins later i tried to open my eyes but i was lying face down on the rocky ground of the mine. I could feel blood running down my body from the wounds on my back. I heard the guard yell at me to get up. I didn't bother to try and passed out again.
I woke again in my room. I slowly sat up and tried not to stretch the skin on my back too much. It was healing quickly though and the wounds had already closed up.
"Must have some of that healing potion in me still." I thought to myself and smiled.
I wasn't sure how long i had been sleeping but at least a few hours. I picked up a new shirt which the guards had left on the floor. The pain was not too bad so i quickly put it on and laid down on the bed and covered up. I needed the rest to be ready for tomorrows work.
I woke to the sound of a guard banging on the door.
"Get up you miserable slave!" He yelled.
I got up quick and found that my wounds were feeling a lot better. It was painful to move but i knew i could still work.
"I love you Lia." I thought to myself and smiled a little.
The guard took me back to the mine we had been in yesterday.
"You better work harder today slave! Otherwise ill give you a stronger lesson in following orders!" Is the last thing he said while i was walking into the mine to start digging.
After i had made several trips back and forth with ores to the packhorse i was heading into the dark area of the mine again.
"Maybe she'll be here waiting for me..." I thought.
"No stop thinking like that! Ill just end up hoping for something that will never happen." I stopped myself.
I heard something in the corner.
"Its nothing. Just a loose pebble." I said out loud.
"Oh so im nothing to you today?" I heard a familiar voice say.
"Lia? Are you really here?"
"No apparently im just a pepple." She giggled
I blushed. "Sorry."
"Its quite alright. I'm just teasing you a bit." She stepped out so i could see her big soft smile.
"Ive missed you." I said while hugging her.
Her hands slid down my back and i crinched a bit.
"What is it? What is wrong?" She asked.
"Its just my back don't worry. I'm fine really." I replied.
She turned me around and lifted my shirt up to my shoulders.
"Is this my fault?" She asked with clear worry in her voice.
"No its mine Lia. I couldn't catch up with the work yesterday."
"Then it is my fault. I shouldn't have taken you away." She sounded sad.
"I would suffer much worse if it meant i could see you."
She just stood behind me slowly running her fingers over my wounds.
"I'm taking you with me tonight. We are leaving the castle together. I just need to gather a few things from my room and the castle stores." Her voice was demanding but still soft.
"Please don't risk anything for me. I couldn't live if you were hurt because of a lowly slave like me."
"I said we are leaving. Be ready tonight. Ill come for you at midnight."
Before i could say anything against it she had already recalled away.
"Well guess that discussion is over eh Veno?" I said to myself.
I quickly got back to work and managed to make up the time before the guard noticed.
"Looks like you needed that lesson yesterday." The guard said when the packhorse was full. "Lets get this back to the castle then you can go back to your pitiful room."
"Yes sir" I replied.
It was just over midday when the ores had been stored in the castle and i was given cloth and needle to do some tailoring work.
"Make some slave clothing. Plenty of that has been used lately." The guard ordered as i sat down in the crafting room.
We slaves were given an early day off because the guards seemed to be otherwise occupied.
After we had been giving food and drink we were locked in our rooms and told to stay quiet. This had happened before but i never knew why. We slaves weren't exactly told the latest castle gossip.
Since i didn't know what time it was i decided to get some rest since tonight was going to be a long night. My night of freedom.