* Calimiel breathed a sigh of relief as Anna stirred from her pale deep swoon into a sitting position. Calimiel spoke. * The sun and its shadows have been weaving their striped way among the bars many hours this day since you ... since outside. Meanwhile, I've saved you some herb-and-apple salad, and we've water enough.
* Calimiel fetched Anna some water in a goblet of carven cherry wood. Calimiel meanwhile held a matching goblet. As for food, Calimiel left Anna to scrounge for it herself from the pile in the middle of the floor where it had been dumped, for there were no plates, no spoons, and certainly no knives to be had in the fastness of their dungeon cell. *
Tell me what happened. Why you surrendered to the door-warden so quickly? What happened after I fell? * Anna understandably was full of questions. *
* Not caring that Celumëomaryu had apparently chosen to haunt the dungeon and hovered near, waiting and listening, Calimiel explained events from her vantage point. *
Well, I couldn't help myself when we ran, Anna ... the orchard so near, the apples and pears ripe, the perfume of the trees drew me to their welcome sight. The sun shone golden on the choicest pear, glinted into my eyes. Bringing back memories of when climbing such trees and spending the afternoon sitting up there, dangling your feet and singing, or swinging from their branches laughing was ... safe.
But it was the hunger overcame me most. I knew Father would win, after all, no matter what you and I could ever think of. So to enjoy even one pear, before he did win, this time ... But Tiroedrath came too soon, speared away the second pear with his sword. Could have sliced off all the fingers on my right hand, if he'd wanted, had Father given permission. Then he put the blade up to my chest, and I knew if I didn't move, that he did have leave to draw blood.
Shortly after you went crashing down at the gate, the Butler came hurrying down all self important-like. He reported to Father that one more body had been left in the cell. And so I was made to bury that one myself, while you just lay there growing pale instead of tan in the sun. At last I was made to carry the shovels back to the storage room, then carry you back inside and up here, needing to stop and rest on the landing of each stairwell.
And now, here we are.
* Anna glanced towards the portion of wall where she'd discovered the switch that worked the secret door. The door was closed up tightly again, leaving no discernible outline of its presence in the wall. *
[ January 21, 2003: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]
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