Betrayal is such an ugly way to put nature.

Posted on Sat Dec 24th, 2016 @ 8:27pm by Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tate & Keelan

1,599 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance
Location: Jenefran Castle Dungeon

Jennifer sat on a bail of hay, knees pressed to her chest as she shivered trying to retain her body heat as the tattered robe provided by the Jenefrans did little to help in this regard. Her hair was drawn down, in disarray covering a face with glistening tear soaked cheeks. Her eyes, bloodshot from the hours of crying. She was alone, brandished as a criminal for a crime she did not commit. She had called out to guards for a blanket, something to provide her with a shred of warm. The walls were as cold as ice freezing every bone in her body, blackening the hope she held in her heart of rescue. It seemed food came by only sparsely, maybe one meal a day? Or was it a week. Time seemed to stop in this hell.

The door to the cell opened and the brighter light from outside drifted in with the two large Jenerans who took up space on each side of the door, not even hiding the hands on the blades at their waist. Glaring down at the 'Trash' that had killed their former monarch.

Keelan came into the room, he had on the added outer robe; it was a disgusting smell this low in the bowels of the castle, to think he had to soil his shoes to come here was a testament to his desire to see this through. The Federation People would want to know she is safe; he had to evaluate the fact she was physically harmed for the most part. He could smell her, she was visably shivering as she sat aside. It was the worst way to be to an outsider ; but compared to what she should have gone through only her Being a 'Guest' from a foriegn Entity that Keelan wanted to be a part of had saved her from more .. persuaive methods.

He had not worn the crown; it would take a week to clean the stench out of it should he have done that, he wore more of a symbolic headband that let any Jeneran know who walked among them, the bows and showing of respects along his route told him he had done the right decision in wearing this little 'trinket.'

"I had such hopes when the King seemed to find favor with you." Keelan opened. "I wanted you to ... as you humans cal it, make friends with the King. It would have been a good symbol of friendship." He started to move closer to her. "Why is a guest being kept down here?" He removed the outer robe and draped it over her. "I am hoping you realize my doubt in your being the killer, I hardly believed it when I heard it, but I had to come and ask you myself and see the look in your eye."

Jennifer shivered as she slowly raised her head to meet the gaze of the man whom had offered her this wonderful gift. Her face was barely visible through the hair draped over it, but surely if she had enough energy she would have smiled. Her heart was instantly warmed by not only his gift, but his words. Her knight had finally come to save her, but one she did not expect. "P-please forgive m-me your highness f-for my dreadful ap-pearance. I d-did not k-kill the king, p-please believe me." She said weakly barely speaking with enough volume to be heard. She wept once again, but these tears were of happiness not despair.

Keelan took in her disheveled appearance and the tear stained face, he knew that she had not killed the King, and now he is aware that she wanted him to believe it.

"I should think you did not do it." He gave an assuring expression. "WHat we need to find out is how they framed you appearently." HE placed a hand to her cheek. "In the depth of dispair the true nature is seen, you are not the one who killed my predessor, you are not the assassin type, not in those eyes." He knelt beside her. "I had hoped you would be close to the King when first I lay gaze uponyou." He tilt his head to scrutenize her expression. "You look pale, he turned away from the girl. "WHen was she last fed?" He snapped the question. "SOmething to warm the body? SHe is still a guest from a powerful government. How will it look if we torture one of theirs while we are asking for membership?" He stood and offered her a gloved hand. "You will be tended to and given more appropriate dwelling."

"Your Highness..." One of the guards began. "She is the one who killed..."

"Suspected of Killing." Keelan corrected. "Put her in a the Upper levels, see she is given better accomidations." HE stood to his regal height. "I command you put her under watch but do not harm her treat her as a guest until the Federation decide to ask about her, when they eventually do I want her to be in good health until proven guilty.

"Y-your highness? They have not asked?" Jennifer whimpered trying to reach her hand out to him. Had the Calypso believed the lies? Had they left her to rot without due process?

"When brought before me they seemed more occupied with the disappearance of the Princess." Keelan replied with a pained look. "They did not demand we give you over and that Our laws and procedures were acceptable as they have not demanded your release as yet."

Jennifer squeaked as sorrow overcame her. Not only had York left her on the planet but now she was throwing her out like a piece of trash. She had felt like an outsider from the start, rejected by Samantha and now she had an all to convenient way to dispose of her. Jennifer began shaking with anger as that was all she could muster. "I am NOT one of them." She growled through her gritted teeth.

"I knew you were diffrent from the start." He helped her to her feet; he could even support her a bit with his strength. "I cannot relaease you by our laws you are the one all the evidence points to and your Federation has not shown any facts that it was anyone else yet so you must be detained." He gave her a smile. "But I can have you under arrest in a place closer to the surface, where the sun can warm you and there will be meals. You might call it the house arrest, you will be escorted to a private washbasin and given time to bathe." He glare at the guards. "I have made assurancews to the lady, go see to them." HE demanded.

Yes My King." One guard said and left the room to have a Prison Guard come in as replacement; the same that had been outside her door not answering her pleas.

"You are most gracious your majesty. Your kindness knows no bounds and once this is rectified. I will see to a good recommendation for your membership." She replied offering him a smile as his strength and kindness lifted her spirits.

"I hoped for as much." Keelan said as he moved to escort her.

"No my King, she may have killed one King I cannot allow oppurtunity for another. " His personal Guard interviened. "We will see that she is properly treated to your wishes but remember our fallen king was only touched and he fell." THe Guard did not look at Tate. "She is unworthy to be at your side, you lead and she will follow, that is how it should be."

"While I did not kill your king, your soldier gives wise council. I am in your debt your majesty, it is I whom must repay your kindness with that of my own." She turned her attention now to the guard. "If it suits you sir, I would much like you to remain with me at all times. As a token of good will so that one day I may earn your trust."

The second Bodyguard came back in to relieve the Prison guard and bow to teh King. "It is as you ask a Cell with a view above the walls is afforded her, she will be in a private wing for now."

"Very well Jennifer Tate, I shall pass that section naturally on my way out to see that it is appropriate." Keelan said as he moved towards the door., the recently returned guard followed as the other Bodyguard gestured for Tate to follow once the king was out of the cell.

Jennifer began to take steps away from the wall supporting her as she tried to oblige the guard. Her efforts were futile as after only two steps her legs gave way beneath her as her body collapsed to the floor with a thud. "Forgive me, I do not have the strength to walk. If you would be so kind as to assist you I would be grateful." Jennifer murmured from the floor.

The guard scooped her up as though she weigh nothing, he did not show any more emotion than if he were carrying an object rather than a person but he followed his King and was careful with the woman. He would be so until they put her in the next cell and he could be about his next duty.

Keelan had nod before continuing down the corridor.

OFF

Keelan
King of Jenefrans Pro Tiem.

Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tate
Federation Liason to Jenefra

 

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