Chapter III:
Prisoner Forever?
He walked over to her, slowly. “And end all the fun? Now why would I do that?” he said, raising an eye brow. “Plus,” he added, now standing right behind her “I really fancy our meetings.” he ended. Mihanna turned, and gave him a look of disgust. “How dare you.” she said, very plainly. There was silence, for a moment. She looked from them to the door, twice, then bolted for it. Telibraun slammed the door, just as she reached it. He grabbed her arm; the wounded one; and she cried out in pain. He let go, and she fell to the floor, holding her arm. Ragar knelt down to her, on one knee, put a hand on her, then said: “Now, if you swear not to pull a stunt like you just did, then you may walk on your own.” he continued, “But one mistake, and you walk surrounded by my soldier, and you hands tied. Do we have an agreement?” he asked, extending his hand.
Mihanna looked up at him, still holding her arm. She thought, then reluctantly, agreed to this arrangement. “Fine.” she said, not taking his hand, but grabbing the wall, to help herself up. She remembered something, then turned to Telibraun and asked: “Where is Captain Jaramiah?” Telibraun looked at Ragar, then back at her. She looked from one to the other. “Where is he?!” she demanded, her face growing angry. Ragar gave a sign to Telibraun, then he said: “The princess may see him, if she so wishes.” She wondered what condition the Captain was in. “I do.” she plainly said.
Telibraun led her out, and down the staircase. He lead her down many flights, and halls, then they came to a metal door. It was so heavy, it took him and another man to pen it. She entered, and it was dark, the only light was a small lamp, latched to one side of the room. They were in a room at the bottom of the ship, which had no windows. The air was still, stiff, and misty. It smelled of sweat. She looked around, all the cells were empty, except one, Jaramiah was in it! She ran to him, as he called her name.
“I was so worried about you.” he began, taking her hand. “I'm sorry.” he continued, looking at her arm, and the bandage. “I should've been there to protect you. I promised you.” she looked at him, a smile showing up slightly. “Promises were meant to be broken.” she said, a light in her eyes. Then, Telibraun walked up, and grabbed her hand, and rested his head on her shoulder. Jaramiah, was angry. “Oh.” Mihanna said, realizing she had forgot something. “This is Telibraun. He is a friend, Well, more than a friend really. You see, Telibr-” but her sentence was cut short. The guard told her, her time was up, and that she must go now. “Come Mihanna, you shouldn't be down here anyway.” Telibraun said, pulling her away.
“Jaramiah,” she began, as Telibraun pulled her away. “I, I'll see you again.” She said, as she was leaving. Jaramiah kissed her hand, as she left, as was the custom. And was left in the cold dark room, alone.
She walked up with Telibraun, who was getting farther, and farther away from her. For he was sure footed, and sturdy, and the steps were steep. There were five solders behind her, and she thought of a plan. “If I go,” she thought to herself. “I risk getting asked questions, until I'm sick. But if I run, I risk getting caught, and that would be terrible.” Mihanna concluded. She looked out of the corner of her eyes, then Ragar, at the top of the stairs, came to her view. She took a deep breath, then turned and bolted in the opposite direction. She ran, hearing the curses of the men behind her. She came to a fork in the hall. She was torn; save Jaramiah; save herself.
Mihanna ran down the right, for Jaramiah was down the left, she would hide, then save him. She came to a door, a dead end! She pushed on the door, trying to open it, but it wouldn't budge! She gave it one last push, seeing the men coming on her quickly. The door cracked! She just managed to squeeze in and close it, just as they got to the door. The room was dark, and she couldn't see anything. She cautiously took a few steps, then bumped into something. It was tall, and hard. It moved! She now realized it was a person. There was an arm shot out to nab her, but she backed away quickly.
Luckily it was so dark, so she could hide. Mihanna hid behind a desk, she thought it was, and the Man, for she saw it was, lit a match. The room was soon lit up, and all was seen. Mihanna saw to her horror, the room was almost completely filled with solders! She had no where to run, she was trapped. They began to close in around her, backing her up again the wall. She didn't fight this time, knowing that she wouldn't win, and just waist her energy. It was time to give up, and except the consequence, no matter how bad it was. One of them, the one she bumped into, reached out and grabbed her good arm. She could really do nothing now, her bad arm, was of no use to her. She was still as he, and another, tied her hands. It was unbearably tight, and she could think of no way to get out of it, without making it any worse. “Maybe this will teach you.” he said, finishing. “Prob'ly not, but---Walk!” he said abruptly, pushing Mihanna forward, toward the door. She walked forward, her face downward, until they came to the end of the hall, and saw Ragar coming toward them. “Well, I see our little agreement has been broken.” he said, taking Mihanna's arm, roughly, and pulling her away. “I will take it from here, Gentlemen.” he said, while backing up. “And thank you for the help.” He took her up the steps, then, seeing Telibraun, shoved her over to him. He put an arm behind her, and pulled her gently along, behind Ragar. “Why?” he asked, in a whisper. “I had to try.” she whispered back to him, over her shoulder. He took them up, and up, until they came to a door, and Ragar opened it. “Take her in. I want to speak with her.” Telibraun pulled her in, and strapped her to a chain link, hanging from the ceiling. Her bonds were removed, and she was locked in; her hand hanging above her. Telibraun left, and closed, and locked the door. Mihanna just wished He would leave. Ragar seemed to be thinking, then he looked up at her. “I'm not leaving until I know why you did it!” He said, almost as if he read her mind. She didn't answer. He asked: “Why!?” Mihanna still said nothing. “Well?” he said, growing impatient. “Mìenéã yûríeã!” she yelled, forgetting her tongue. “You don't know?” He asked knowing a bit of elvish, himself. “Well I do.” Mihanna forgot her pain, and looked up at him, in disbelief. “You do?!” she asked, letting her head fall. Ragar came closer to her, and raised an eye brow. “But of course.” he said, putting his hand under her chin, and lifting it up, forcing her to look up at him. She yanked her head away from him, making him angry. “And your not leaving, until I hear you admit it, yourself!” he yelled. “Perhaps.” Mihanna answered slyly. “But, then again...” she retorted, as she unlocked the cuffs that held her! Ragar was amazed by this, and his mouth dropped open. Mihanna was free! “How did you-” but Ragar was cut off, for she let her hands fall down beside her, then opened her hand. Inside was the key Telibraun had closed the cuffs with! “Your men are easy to escape.” she said. “And you are no better!” she yelled. Ragar was shocked. He had never seen her so enraged before. “Absolutely brilliant!” Ragar said, walking to her, and taking her good arm. “That was splendid! I never saw that coming! And you did it all yourself.” she pulled her arm away from him, and backed away. “What are trying to do?” she asked, looking in his eyes. “I'm not an idiot! But I'm not so sure about you.” she quickly added. Just then Telibraun burst through the doors, and Mihanna seized the opportunity. “Sir!” he said, out of breath. Mihanna ran out in front of him, and out of the room, knocking him to the door frame. “Well, I came to tell you that the key was gone, but apparently you have already figured that out.” he said, being rather comedic. “After her!!” he yelled, running down the staircase. Mihanna was already long gone. This time, she would free Jaramiah, then run! She ran toward his cellar bedroom, then opened the door, painfully. She ran in, and looked around. She ran to his cell, calling his name. “Mihanna!” the poor captain said, getting up from his bed, and walking over to the cell door. “I heard his words, and your screams. I was worried about you.” he said, Mihanna looked in his eyes, and they stared at each other. Jaramiah was the first to look away. Mihanna got out the key, and tried the lock. It wouldn't open! Mihanna was at a loss. “I will get you out!” she said, taking his hand. The door burst open, and Ragar with about two dozen solders, poured in! “Get her!!!” He yelled, and they charged for her. She held on to Jaramiah's hand, as they pulled her away. She was knocked up against the wall, and fell unconscious. Telibraun caught her, as she fell to the ground. “No!” the captain yelled, as he carried her away. “Now!” Ragar yelled, talking to his men. “If she wishes to run like a prisoner, she'll be treated like one! Throw her in a cell, and tie her with this.” he said, taking out of his belt pouch, a thin rope. Jaramiah immediately knew what it was. It was a special kind of material, that would leave even the strongest elf, defenseless. “No!” he yelled again. “Oh, stop it lover boy!” Ragar sneered. Telibraun held her, as another tied her. Then he laid Mihanna down on a bed, in a cell, and closed the door. Ragar locked it, and put the key in his shirt pocket. Jaramiah found it strange that a friend of Mihanna's would let all that stuff happen to her. They left the room, and all was quiet. “Mihanna?” the captain whispered. No answer came from the other cell.