Chapter VI: A Choice for a Young Elf
Mihanna fell to the floor, due to her failing strength. Ragar leaned down to her, as she backed away from him. Ragar grabbed her arm, and pulled her towards him. She looked away, as she was brought closer to his face. He pulled her ear, to his lips, and whispered: “Åarníä yûríeã Mihanna, æôvnërûn min eneur cov!” “No!” Mihanna yelled, pushing him away. What he had said, was: “You know Mihanna, I will kill him.” He held her arm tightly, as she tried to struggle away from him. He pulled her closer and continued. “There is nothing you can do.” he said, followed by a diabolical laugh. She broke free of him, as he remained laughing. She rubbed her wrist, and looked at him, with anger, and sorrow. “I would do anything!” she begged, kneeling to him, with her hands folded. “If you only spare his life!” she pleaded, beginning to cry.
He stood, and thought. “Well,” he said, motioning her to sit in her seat. She sat, and covered her face. “If you...no, no. You would never do it.” he concluded. “What!?” she asked, desperately. “I would do it, if it would save his life. What is it? Tell me!” she said, her tears deepening, and her voice growing angry, and shaky. “I will spare his life, if you stay here; with me.” Mihanna's face grew cold with stunned sadness. She looked away, then thought. “I need time to think on this.” she said, sadly “Fine.” he agreed. “You may think on it, but then you must tell me your answer.” he started. “Be your answer: Yes, and I shall not harm the boy. But be your answer: No, I'll make you wish you had never met him.” “Do we have a deal?” he asked, cunningly, extending his hand, to shake on it. She turned and closed her eyes. “For you.” she whispered. Then she turned, and extended her left hand to him. Before she even had a chance to pull her hand away, Ragar had already taken her hand, and held it tightly.
Mihanna felt a rush like fire, go up her arm, then a burning pain. She cried in pain, finally he let go, and she fell to the floor with a thud, holding her arm. Ragar opened the door, and Telibraun walked in. Mihanna could hold on no longer, and fell into a uneasy sleep. She fell to the floor, but Telibraun caught her, and picked her up. “Take her to the tower room. I need to think on this matter.” Ragar said, showing him out. The young man took Mihanna up the many flights of stairs, all the way to the tower room. He unlocked and opened the door, and took her to the bed, that lay in the corner. He set her down, and left the room.
After fifteen minutes or so, Mihanna finally opened her eyes. And guess who was staring back at her; Jaramiah! He was holding her hand, and looking at her intently. She immediately sat up, and looked around, gasping for air. She remembered the incident, as the pain returned to her arm. Mihanna laid back down, and looked in the captain's eyes. “I knew I would find you.” she said, her voice creaking. He looked down at her, and stroked her face, and hair. “Yes.” he said, at last. “You have found me.” Her face grew serious. “Where did you go?” she asked. “I looked for you. Why did you leave me?” Jaramiah's eyes wondered. “I, just went to go look around, then, when, Ragar found me right out side the palace, he ordered me, captured. “And I suppose you can fairly well, guess the rest.” he said, with a chuckle. “Oh, Jaramiah!” Mihanna exclaimed, when he sat up. She took him hand, and pulled him back down. “What happened?!” she asked, pointing to a bloody bandage on his arm. “Oh,” he said, remembering. “I had a sword fight with Telibraun.” he said, finally. “He is quite the swordsman.” he ended. “I'm so sorry I've brought you into this.” Mihanna said, resting her head, on his shoulder. “No.” Jaramiah said, putting his arms around her. “I'm glad we met. After all, I can't save some one I don't know, very well, can I?” he continued, comically. “And if we never met, you would have had to deal with Ragar in the boat, even longer. You would have had to sleep here last night, and the night before. So don't be sorry we met. In fact, you are the best thing that ever happen to me, since I left home.” he ended, romantically. Mihanna suddenly, sat up, and looked at him. No!” she said. You cannot love me! You cannot!” she yelled. “Do not tell me you still have feelings for HIM?!” Jaramiah said, as if accusing her of it. “Don't be ridiculous!” Mihanna abjected. “I don't think I ever really did.” she answered, realizing the truth. The captain started to walk toward the window. “Jaramiah.” she said, taking his hand, as he walked away. He looked at her, compassionately, and lovingly. “Yes?” he asked, seeing her face saddened. “What would you say, or do, if any one ever gave up their life, for you?” she asked, purposefully not immediately telling him, her reason for asking. He thought. “I don't know.” he said, after a long pause. “Why do you ask?” he asked, looking at her, then seeing the sad look she had, sat by her once more. “What's wrong?” he asked, putting a hand on her cheek. She looked up sadly, at him. “I've sacrificed my life; for yours.” she said, touching his hand. “What!?” Jaramiah said, in utter astonishment. “No! Mihanna, you can't.” he told her, taking her hand, and pulling it close to him. She looked up at the ceiling, then back to him. “I can't change it now.” she said, getting up. Jaramiah stood, and taking her hand, pulled her up to him, looked in her eyes, then took her, and held her in his arms. She was still a moment, then returned the gesture. “I guess, I am of no further use to him.” She said, as he let her go. He set her back on the bed, and looked at her. She looked away. He took her hand, and held it tight. “No one has ever done that for me.” he said, walking closer to her. “You have done more for me, in two weeks, than any one has, in my whole life.” he came closer to her. “I can never repay this debt.” he said, coming closer, and closer still. He came towards her face, and it took all she had, to pull away. “No.” she said, pushing past him. “You can't love me. You can't.” she said. She limped over to the window, falling, again and again. He helped her back to the bed, and looked at her arm. “How is it?” he asked, pulling up her sleeve. In place of the red, and slightly pink, scrape; there was, a red, purple, and black bruise. “I'll bandage it, just to help it heal. He used a pocket knife to cut out a strip of his shirt. “I thought they took it.” Mihanna said, almost in a question. “They took one, yes.” Jarmaih replied, comically. Then he tied the piece of fabric around her arm. “Now let's have a look at your leg.” he said, pushing her dress aside. His face grew dark, at the color, shape, and thickness of the wound. “No wonder you can't walk.” he said. He did the same for this wound, and then looked at her, satisfied. “Mihanna?” he said, resting his hand on her arm. “Can I ask you something?” he asked, in a kind tone. “Certainly.” Mihanna replied, looking at him, her face sincere, and gentle. “Why do you refuse me?” he asked, not realizing how his feelings had control of him. “Jaramiah, you wouldn't be able to be with me, even if I wasn't-” “An elf?” Jaramiah broke in, as she replied. “Yes.” she answered. “That doesn't matter. It's just, I am sorry it's you, that my heart has chosen. I didn't plan it, I swear.” he ended, trying to be comical. Mihanna turned and looked at him. “Don't be sorry.” she said, looking at him, and putting her hand on his cheek. “You didn't know any better, and sometimes, you can't help how you feel for others.” she ended, looking up. “I know I can't.” she said, realizing what was happening. He looked at her, inquisitively. “You, you do?” Jaramiah asked, astonished at her words. “Captain, I may never be alone with you again.” she began, taking his hand. “So I'll tell you now, my true feelings for you. Jaramiah, I-” but there were footsteps coming up the stairway, and she stopped. “What ever happens, follow your heart.” Jaramiah said, going to the window, and looking at her. The door opened ,and Mihanna saw Ragar, Telibraun, Grendo, and about a dozen others, enter the room. Telibraun and Grendo took her arms, and brought her in front of Ragar. “Take your hands off her!” The captain shouted, taking a step toward them. “Restrain him!” Ragar yelled, as the solders held him back. “Now,” He began, taking out his sword, and walking behind her. He pointed it right at Jaramiah's throat. The men holding Mihanna, turned her in Ragar's direction. “Shall I run him though now? Or torture him a bit longer?” he asked, getting closer to him. Jaramiah lifted his head up. The men chuckled to themselves. “No!” Mihanna screamed, struggling from her captures. “Or do you have something to say?” he asked, pointing his sword at her. She breathed in deeply, and held her head back. She looked away, and thought. “You promise? You swear, you won't hurt him!?” she asked, still looking away. “You have my word.” he replied. “Fine.” she said, under her breath. “Good.” He said, signaling them to leave. “Mihanna!” Jaramiah yelled, as Mihanna was taken out. But it was too late, they were gone. She was taken to a room, and throne to the floor. She heard the door get locked, and she looked around the room, tears in her eyes. Mihanna walked over to a bed she saw in the corner, and pulled up her legs. She put her face on her knees, and eventually cried herself to sleep. Two hours later, the door opened. Telibraun walked in, and looked down at her. She suddenly looked up at him. “Come.” he said, reaching his hand down to her. “He is waiting.” She ignored his hand, and stood up. Her leg had more strength now, and she found it easier to walk on her own. Mihanna followed him out, and walked beside him, her head downcast. Finally they went down a hall, and came to a door. It was a huge, bolted door, and Mihanna thought that it might be to a throne room, or something along those lines. When the door was opened, she saw that she was in fact, correct. Ragar was sitting in the throne. Telibraun brought her in front of him, and then left the room. Mihanna looked from wall to wall, uneasily. They were lined with solders. “No hope of escaping this time.” she thought. “I've thought long and hard on your first task.” Ragar said, standing. “You are to,” Then he sat, and smiled, evilly. Mihanna held her breath, and prayed that it wasn't what she thought it was. Ragar opened his mouth. “bow to me.” he ended, followed by an evil laugh. Mihanna's eyes blinked uncontrollably, looking around her, as her breathing quickened. Her face hardened. “Never.” she said, gritting her teeth. “Oh, I think I can persuade you otherwise.” Ragar said, taking out the dagger, of Jaramiah's. He fiddled with it, talking slowly. “I think you will, if the life of your beloved was on the line!” he ended, suddenly throwing the knife at a hanging-cloth wall piece near her. The dagger easily went through it, like a knife through butter. Mihanna breathed deeper, as Ragar walked, or stomped towards her. She backed up against the wall, as he came closer. She shut her eyes, as he took her wrist, and forcefully pulled her to the throne steps. “You will!” he said, whipping out a hidden sword, from behind his sacred seat. He threw her on the steps, and pointed his sword at her. “Now do it!” he yelled. Mihanna; still laying on the red carpeted steps; sat up, and closed her eyes. Then, she clinched her fists, and slowly bowed to Ragar. He was amazed, he would have never thought she would actually do it, not in a million years. “Very well.” he said, put his sword away. Mihanna sat up again, and stared at the floor, as he began to talk. “I wouldn't have been so fierce if you had only obeyed in the first place.” He said, pulling out his pipe, from his vest pocket. “Here.” he said. He pulled out a much worn piece of paper. “This is-Get up first!” he said, pulling her up from the floor, roughly. Mihanna stood, and rubbed the arm he touched, for he hurt her, slightly. She looked down at the sheet he held in his hand. “This is a sheet, that simply states our little agreement, on paper. All you have to do is sign down here,” he continued, pointing to the bottom of the page, under a smeared signature. “and it will be legally bound, and permanent.” he ended, handing her a quill pen. She looked at the page, unable to read it. “What language is this?” she asked, then looked at him. “North Dunland, of course.” he said, almost sarcastically. She raised her eye brows, in realization. “Well, That explains it.” she said. “I can't read, or speak, this tongue.” she said, looking at him, in a concluding tone. “Well, why don't you just sign it any way?” he said, convincingly. “I would like to see what it says, first.” she said. “Well, I don't have the time to read it to you, and your not leaving this room, until you sign.” He said, getting up. He walked over to the guard nearest to the door, and whispered to him. “Don't let her leave, until she signs that paper. It's the only thing I need now, to get what I want.” Ragar continued. Mihanna now listened, to their quiet conversational whispers. “When she does sign, and make certain she does, you bring her to my study, and I'll decide what is to be done from there.” He ended, and with one last look at her, he left the room. Mihanna was torn. There was nothing for it, she had to sign. She took a labored breath of air, then wrote: “Mihanna of the Teurguein Elves” at the bottom of the sheet. She did regret it, but remembered why she did it. Mihanna walked over to the guard, and handed him the sheet, not looking at him, when she did so. He looked at it, then took her down the hall. They walked up two staircases, and then down a hall. They came to a hall, where they saw Telibraun standing at a door. The guard walked up to him. “I have special orders, from Ragar himself, to deliver the prisoner to him. Telibraun looked around him, at Mihanna; who looked away; then back at him. “But The Boss is not to be disturbed.” he said, blocking them from entering. “He is doing business. With the Spy.” he added. Then they heard steps towards the door, and it opened. They moved, and out came a tall, green eyed, brown haired man, with a small sack in his hand. He was about five inches taller than her, and stared at her, as he passed. Mihanna looked back at him, over her shoulder, as she was pushed into the small room.