Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-24123288-20150424224910/@comment-3293219-20150425230558

(Well, people are probably starting to feel a bit neglected, since me and Sunny haven't been posting much. XD

That's mostly because we've been plotting behind your backs, talking shit about yous  and working on a collab RP, in secret.

I figured since Toan, Arrie and Kori were seperated it would be the perfect opportunity to cover the beginning of their next chapter and answer some question.

So yeah, the first Queeneh and Sunneh collab pie! ^.^)

Toan and Kori had gotten a head start on their journey to High Rock, it had been a long and exhausting trip but they had finally made it to the boarder…

After twenty four hours of travel, the three of them had finally reached Evermore, a beautiful, lush green city on the High Rock/Hammerfell boarder. Within the best part of half an hour, they would be able to rest there and plan their course to Daggerfall, passing through the lush green woodland as the drew closer…

The Breton, his Redguard companion and the driver listened out to the warring birds as they sang their song, all of them were seemingly trying to get the attention of passer’s by. It was a nice change to the barren, dry wastelands of Hammerfell…

Eventually, the tranquillity was broken as Toan kicked the carriage and pulled out, requesting that the driver made a stop as he hopped off.

“Sorry, I don’t think that I can hold it until we reach Evermore…” He said, rather sheepishly.

"Oh... Oh..." Kori said, before blushing. "Erm... Go ahead, I guess?"

The driver began to utter to himself, seeming somewhat disgruntled at the fact that he was having to stop so short to the destination. This prompted Toan to roll his eyes as he wandered off, into the bushes, seemingly amused by the fact that he had annoyed the Driver.

It was his own fault for being so damned impatient in the first place…

His sudden departure from the carriage left Arrietty unsupervised, with the serum slowly wearing off…

The Breton’s senses were starting to come back to her but she was still too weak to do anything, she just simply groaned…

Kori glanced down at the young Breton, worriedly. She didn't want to beat anyone up, or even keep the girl down, but she knew she'd have to if she woke up.

The Redguard Dancer simply shuffled over, slightly, so she was sitting right next to the girl.

Arrie’s eyes slowly opened and rolled up to look at Kori, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking, although, considering that she was barely conscious, it was more realistic to assume that she wasn’t thinking anything at all and merely taking in her surroundings…

Kori frowned and glanced down, worriedly.

"Erm... Toan?" She called. She had no idea what she was supposed to do if the hostage woke up, considering that she had never kidnapped anyone before...

Kori’s voice just echoed, throughout the woods and yet still went unheard and unyielded as Toan was either too preoccupied or too far away to hear.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty’s eyes shot open at the mention of Toan’s name, almost as if the fright gave her a boost of adrenaline. The Breton’s eyes quickly shifted to Kori as she tried to pull herself up, slurring as she did so.

<p class="MsoNormal">“N-No… N-Not Toan…” The Breton spluttered, trying to pull herself up but swiftly collapsing in the process.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori frowned and gently put her hand on the girl's chest, to keep her relatively constrained.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Erm... Friend?! Please, help... She's waking up!" She paused and glanced down at Arrie again.

<p class="MsoNormal">"And she doesn't sound so happy about being here!"

<p class="MsoNormal">“N-No… L-Lemme go…” Arrie gasped, panting heavily as she pushed Kori’s hand away and attempted to sit up again.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I won’t go… To Gaerston…” The Breton wheezed, falling back down and panting again as tears built up in her eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal">“They’ll… Torture me…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“T-torture?” Kori asked, confused.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No, they won’t… Of course they won’t… Toan wouldn’t!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori gently placed her hand on Arrie’s chest again, to keep her down, once more.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Toan wouldn’t let them torture you…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“He… Isn’t… Toan…” Arrietty whispered, looking up to Kori as her face grew more emotional, her eyes were screaming out to the Redguard, begging to be released.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Toan… Died… Six years ago.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“N-no… Who… What?” Kori demanded, furiously, her hand increasing its pressure on the girl‘s chest.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No, that’s Toan! He told me he was Toan…

<p class="MsoNormal">W-who… Who do you think he is, then?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t know…” Arrietty replied, honestly as she looked away, finding herself to be confused on that point herself…

<p class="MsoNormal">She then decided to share her theory with the Redguard, she knew the most important fact, just not the rest of them.

<p class="MsoNormal">“He… Works for Lord Gaerston, I think…

<p class="MsoNormal">He might even be related.” The Breton strained as she pulled herself upright, straining as she sat up, gently lowering Kori’s hand, even she knew that she wasn’t going to be running away any time soon.

<p class="MsoNormal">“He wants his amulet back.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“W-who’s Lord Gaerston?” Kori demanded, upset.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I… But… But it’s Toan! He told me that that is who he is! Why would he lie to me?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty just stared up at the Redguard, looking just as disturbed as she did as she gently placed her hand on hers.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Maybe he didn’t think you’d trust the real him.

<p class="MsoNormal">His Father has had people…. Tortured and murdered for trespassing. I’m not even sure he’ll have me killed, he might just torture me forever.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori paused, for a second, as she registered the Breton’s words.

<p class="MsoNormal">“N-no… I thought you said you didn’t know who Toan was!

<p class="MsoNormal">You’re lying to me!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t know for sure but he isn’t Toan that much I know… He looks nothing like him, he acts nothing like him and Toan wouldn’t be able to inject me like that.” Arrietty insisted, looking up to the Redguard, frantically.

<p class="MsoNormal">“But… I made enemies with the Gaerston family… If anyone’s behind this, it’s them.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t believe you.” Kori smiled, pushing Arrietty back down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“We’ll wait for him to get back and see what he says.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“H-He’ll just lie about it!” Arrietty insisted as she was overwhelmed by the gentle, yet firm push of the Redguard’s delicate hand.

<p class="MsoNormal">“He’ll probably just knock me out first before he does!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Why should I trust you more than him?” Kori demanded, angrily.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ve never seen you before!

<p class="MsoNormal">I.

<p class="MsoNormal">Trust.

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“But he’s manipulating you!” Arrie wheezed, desperately trying to sit up again.

<p class="MsoNormal">“He’s lied about everything! He only wants to kill me and take the amulet; he doesn’t care about anything else, including you!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori’s face turned pale and she looked away, as if she had known their whole conversation was going to lead there but didn’t want to believe it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“That’s… Not… True…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Please… Lady, I know that I can’t prove this but I’m begging you, just let me go. He isn’t my brother and when he gets back he’s going to have me tortured and killed, over some stupid amulet.

<p class="MsoNormal">I only stole it from him, because someone told me that it could bring the real Toan back! Nobody deserves what he’s going to do to me.” She hissed, seeming more frantic and desperate than ever, seeing that the quick window of opportunity was swiftly fading.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Please…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No!” Kori snapped, before raising her fist and readying herself to bring it down on the other girl’s face.

<p class="MsoNormal">She paused, sadly, and let her hand slump down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m… I’m sorry… But… But I can’t…”

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrie sighed heavily, glancing away as she realised that she didn’t want to do this but now it was a matter of life and death and she had no choice.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m sorry to…” She uttered before snatching Kori’s hair and driving her head down, against the hard wooden carriage.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton, now almost completely rejuvenated, jump to her feet and hopped down, trying to escape.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Augh…” Kori groaned, before shoving herself up.

<p class="MsoNormal">She wiped the blood streaming down from her forehead away before stumbling after Arrie. She threw two fireballs and a fire-wheel at the girl before giving chase.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton quickly darted to the right, rushing off in the direction that Toan went as she had no visibility of the Breton as he left the carriage. As a result, she ran into him as he emerged, gasping as she did so and slowly stumbled back.

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan’s eyes narrowed as he drew his rapier, noticing that Kori had seemingly failed to subdue her, not that it mattered as the Breton had the advantage of not having a debilitating liquid pumping through his veins.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Going somewhere?” He asked, almost as if he was mocking her as he stepped out and gave Kori a reassuring nod.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Please Arrietty, we don’t want to have to hurt you, just go back to the carriage, like a good girl.” Toan insisted, talking down to her like a disobedient, yet hapless child.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Fuck off!” Arrie snapped, tightening her fists as Toan had seemingly confiscated her sickle and had it around his waist.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t even know who you are!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Speaking of which…” Kori murmured, circling off to the right to surround Arrietty.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Who are you really, Toan? Don’t lie to me.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan’s eyes darted off to the Redguard, prompting him to curse his luck for not telling her to disregard anything that Arrietty says. He still couldn’t believe that she was so quick as to believe her…

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll explain later…” The Breton replied, sternly, prompting Arrietty to look back to his companion.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, meaning, he’ll tell you after the damage is done!” She replied, slowly pacing away from the two of them but finding that Toan was quickly moving to his right, so that she was backed in against the wagon.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hush Arrietty, I think that we all know that you’re the one who has done the most damage here!

<p class="MsoNormal">To us, to our family…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Your family!” Arrietty corrected him, harshly as she was no seething with rage.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Your family of sadists, who everyone hates!

<p class="MsoNormal">That’s why you’ve had to lie, isn’t it!? Because if people knew that you were with House Gaerston, they’d have you ran out of town!”

<p class="MsoNormal">It was obvious that these comments were angering Toan but he kept his composure as always, best he could at least.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Stop Arrietty, you’re being paranoid!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori folded her arms. “Arrietty, just come with us. I promise that Toan-” She shot an angry look over at the man.

<p class="MsoNormal">“-Or whoever he is won’t hurt you as long as I’m around.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Sorry lady but he will and if you try to stop him, he’ll hurt you to.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Enough, you’re coming back with me to High Rock, for your treatment, if I have to drag you there myself!” Toan threatened, picking up his pace as he drew in on his sister, tightening the grip on his sword.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrie’s eyes darted back and too between them, Kori was slightly weaker, presumably but faster. Toan was more on edge, yet clumsier… She did the calculations in her head before reaching into her back pocket and drawing something out.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You’ll have to catch me before you can drag me!” Arrie screeched, throwing a powdered bomb onto the floor, which exploded in-between them emitting the most foul odour that either of them had ever encountered.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty took this as an opportunity to flee into the woods, hoping to put as much distance as possible between herself and her assailants.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori coughed, loudly, trying to expel the gas from her lungs as her eyes watered.

<p class="MsoNormal">“W-we… We can always g-get her again! L-Let’s t-track her!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan also found himself coughing and spluttering heavily, bringing his arm over his face as he turned away, staggering as far from the point of impact as possible as his companion yelled to him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I… S-Saw her run off!” He yelled, coughing up some more, quite violently before he did so, wiping tears from his eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal">“She went left, left!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori raised her hand and cast Clairvoyance, only seeing it for a moment before she was forced to bring her hand down again to cover her mouth as she coughed.

<p class="MsoNormal">“L-Left!” She agreed, before dashing after her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“R-Right!” Toan agreed, turning back to the carriage, realising that this left the driver in a precarious position…

<p class="MsoNormal">“S-Stay put, we’ll be back soon!” He called before dashing off after his target, hacking through any vegetation that was foolish enough to get in his way.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty desperately fled through the wilderness as she heard the yelling of her pursuers behind her, no longer caring about her weapon or anything else as she continued to flee to the South, though in truth she had no idea where she was really going.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton just needed to escape; she couldn’t go to the nearest town as they were probably heading there anyway…

<p class="MsoNormal">She had to keep putting distance between them, there was no other way, not for now at least, she had to keep running!

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori kept casting Clairvoyance, over and over, to give them an accurate path that they could use to find Arrietty.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">“I-If only… I-if only I was a mind mage…

<p class="MsoNormal">This’d be d-done already….”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ha, if only I was any type of mage, I would’ve paralysed her when I had the chance.” Toan sighed, trying not to think of it as he kept up his pursuit.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Just keep an eye out, she could jump out at us from anywhere!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I… I d-doubt it…” Kori called back, trying to ignore the feeling of betrayal that had risen in her chest with every word that Toan said.

<p class="MsoNormal">“She… She thinks you’ll… H-hurt her…

<p class="MsoNormal">She w-wants to get a-away….”

<p class="MsoNormal">“She’s insane, paranoid!” Toan argued, quickly rushing to his own defence.

<p class="MsoNormal">“She stole the amulet of Asgarne and unleashed him onto the world, just so that she could escape!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“The amulet of… what?” Kori called back, still not convinced.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You and I are going to have to have a very long talk, sir!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan scowled as she said this, he knew that Arrietty had damaged the trust that she had in him, a betrayal that she would pay for.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I promise, once we’ve get her back, I’ll tell you everything! Right now though, we need to stay focussed on getting her back!” He replied, sounding somewhat enraged at the both of them, she didn’t realise what was riding on this mission, for his family and for him.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori frowned and nodded, hurriedly.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Well then, let's hurry up and get this girl!" She paused, and cast Clairvoyance again.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Go right!"

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan nodded and darted for the right, hoping to catch the girl before she found herself on a farm. He’d hate to have to convince two people that he was the one in the right…

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty found herself at a pathway, which obviously went two directions. Being a rogue and quite an accomplished one at that; she figured that she could quite easily create a false trail and maybe confuse her pursuers…

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton got to work, using as much time as she could afford to waste on such a desperate attempt to throw her pursuers off.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">After a few minutes, Toan and Kori approached this spot and immediately discovered what Arrietty had done. The only problem was that it was incredibly difficult to tell what exactly she had done as both trails looked identical, almost as if she was in two places at once.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Sh-Shit… She’s a lot better than I gave her credit for…” He seethed in amazement as he ran his hand through his hair, looking over to Kori.

<p class="MsoNormal">“We may have to split up…”

<p class="MsoNormal">"Split up?" Kori frowned, however it was a smart idea, as she had ran out of magicka just before they had reached this spot.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Erm... alright. You go left, I go right?"

<p class="MsoNormal">“Sounds good.” Toan agreed, passing her one of his remaining syringes.

<p class="MsoNormal">“When you find her, stick the pin into her body and push down on the top, she’ll be out within seconds…” He instructed, placing the tiny needle in her hand before pocketing the other one.

<p class="MsoNormal">“If you get into trouble flee, I don’t want you getting hurt over this.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori nodded, reaching over and pocketing the needle.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Alright. You be careful, too." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before darting off, into the right path.

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan found himself somewhat petrified as she kissed him, watching as she turned around and majestically leapt and bound off in search of Arrietty, gently rubbing his cheek as he did so, like a hopeless child with a crush. The Breton was unfortunately forced to snap out of it as he turned away and searched the left path.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">As Kori wandered the road, she noticed that there were several, rather scuffed track along   the edge of the road’s surface, from where her Breton prey had clearly taken a hard right, hoping to lose them in the woods.

<p class="MsoNormal">From the looks of things, she was no longer covering her tracks, prioritising speed and distance over subtlety.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori darted into the woods, shoving brush and shrubs out of her way as she ran around, following the girl's tracks. She wanted to make Toan happier, and get this girl, before she had to waste anymore time or magic...

<p class="MsoNormal">However, Kori soon realised that the tracks were running out and came to a sudden stop, just at the base of a tree. From the looks of things, Arrietty had stopped and climbed up, into the canopies. For once, looks weren’t deceiving as the Breton dropped down from the branches and tackled the Redguard to the floor, pinning her down.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori looked up at the Breton girl, coolly.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Sorry, I only let your brother do this." She said, with a raucous grin, before grabbing the woman's ankle and burning it with fire.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty cried out in pain as she rolled around on the floor, clutching it as she did so, realising that she was losing precious time before Kori rose back up to her feet.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton rolled away and eventually managed to get into a crouching stance, ready to tackle or punch the Redguard, if she went for her again.

<p class="MsoNormal">“He isn’t my brother!” She snapped, wondering how many times she’d have to yell this before it penetrated the bitchy Redguard’s thick skull.

<p class="MsoNormal">Although, given her last comment, maybe what little brains she had were fucked out, either way Arrietty didn’t have time for this.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori frowned and did a handspring forward, in an attempt to kick the Breton in the face.

<p class="MsoNormal">"You could be lying just as much as he could be kiddo."

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrie quickly threw herself to the side, landing in a heap on the floor before she quickly jumped up to her feet, hopping and keeping her injured foot off of the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No one could lie that much!” She pointed out, knowing that she couldn’t rely on her usual, more agile moves like this, since her foot was in a bad way and she was unarmed.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori summoned all her remaining magicka and threw another fireball at Arrie's legs, preferring to burn her where it could heal instead of burning her face.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Submit, and I'll make sure nothing bad happens!" Kori said, done with this conversation about Toan-if he really was Toan.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty jumped off to the side once more but her injured foot was caught in the blaze, causing her to scream out in pain as she hit the floor, with an almighty thud and started to shiver.

<p class="MsoNormal">She looked up to Kori, with pleading eyes, full of tears, that slowly trickled down her face as she nursed her burned foot and curled up into a ball.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Please… K-Kill me…”

<p class="MsoNormal">"I'm sorry..." Kori whispered, sadly, as she slowly walked closer to the girl, feeling nothing but sympathy as she went into the fetal position. She knelt down beside her, figuring that she would heal the burns when she had her magicka back. Slowly, she raised the syringe, before slamming it down into Arrietty's arm, only for it to be deflected with a desperate swat of Arrie’s hand.

<p class="MsoNormal">“W-Wait… I-I can make you see! I can make you see the real him!” She gasped, not wanting to pass out again, since she may never wake up.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You want to know, don’t you?” She whispered, knowing that she was incredibly confused and loved this ‘Toan’ in some way. Arrietty undid the amulet, from around her neck before dropping it next to her, nodding towards it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“T-Take it, hide it… If he finds me without it…” The Breton paused, panting heavily as she looked Kori in the face; feeling like this was her last moment on Nirn.

<p class="MsoNormal">If it was, she may as well make it count…

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m not going anywhere… You have the amulet… Let him come and find me without it, if you still don’t see the truth? I’ll come willingly…”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori frowned and took the amulet, depositing it in the knot of a tree and covering it with leaves.

<p class="MsoNormal">"TOAN!" She screamed, waiting for the man to arrive, so she could... see what the girl was talking about.

<p class="MsoNormal">“G-Get out of here…” She whispered as Toan started calling out, after them.

<p class="MsoNormal">“He’ll be himself when he’s alone…”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori nodded and slipped away, hiding behind a clump of trees so that Toan wouldn't see her.

<p class="MsoNormal">Of course, she still made sure that Arrietty wouldn't be going anywhere, with the burn on her leg...

<p class="MsoNormal">After a few moments of waiting, Toan had believed that he had tracked the source of the yelling down, prompting him to stop for a minute before seeing that Arrietty was injured and lay down, in a ball in the middle of the forest clearing.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton smiled at the easy prey, most likely injured in a confrontation with Kori, judging from the burn on her leg, however, Kori was nowhere to be seen. Toan looked around, briefly before he crouched down over Arrietty and slowly forced her onto her back, looking her in the face.

<p class="MsoNormal">He looked down on the Breton as she lay perfectly still, with her eyes closed, it looked like she had passed out from the pain and was seemingly unconsciousness. Though it was pretty convincing, he’d still administer the needle though, just in case she came around soon or worse, was faking it.

<p class="MsoNormal">He slowly began to feel around her chest, circling his hand around it as he was obviously searching for the amulet. His casual expression quickly shifted to a small grin as he felt something…

<p class="MsoNormal">He pretty much mounted her at this point as he began to tug at the chain around her neck, pulling it up and undoing the couplings, so that he could finally reclaim it. Toan pulled it off of her neck, only to find that the ‘amulet’ had been replaced by a ring, a cheap looking copper ring, completely worthless and corroded.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton tossed it aside before searching some more, looking deeply concerned as he realised that, that was the only thing around her neck.

<p class="MsoNormal">He immediately felt her legs, wondering if it was in her pockets, he then felt her feet to see if it was in her shoes, her sleeves, her breasts and even checked to see if she had hidden it in any other imaginative place but no…

<p class="MsoNormal">It was gone…

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan paused for a moment, seemingly dumbfounded by the fact that the amulet had completely disappeared, he panted heavily as his face was overcome with worry and he quickly rubbed it in his hands. Looking around for any sign of it but sadly not being able to locate it…

<p class="MsoNormal">He only had one option now; he grabbed Arrietty, by the collar and shook her violently, hoping to wake her up. The younger Breton seemingly jiggled in his hands, like a ragdoll, pretending to be completely out cold, though it proved to be increasingly difficult as she was throttled.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Noble didn’t have time for this shit and decided to slap her as hard as he could across the face, with a strike so severe that it echoed throughout the surrounding area and left a horrific red mark on Arrietty’s left cheek.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty would have cried out, were it not for the fact that it was so painful and sudden that she was practically in shock; it still made her eyes open as Toan shoved her to the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Where is it!?” He bawled in her face, clenching a fist and holding it back, ready to drive it into her face if she gave him the wrong answer.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Wh-Wha?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“The amulet you inbred fuckwit! Where is it!?” He screamed, pulling her up and wrapping his hand around her throat, clutching it so that they were forced to make eye contact.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I… Don’t know…” She whispered, dropping all pretense of cluelessness as she was truly terrified at this point.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I… I think I dropped it…” She whispered, though she was so dazed she wasn’t really able to put any emotion into her performance. He looked past that as he was too focussed on her excuse and found himself unable to heed her tone as she said it.

<p class="MsoNormal">Well executed or not, the response didn’t appease him, in fact it just angered him further. Toan fully punched Arrietty’s left cheek and sent her straight back to the ground; her shoulders and head hit the hard surface of the forest clearing with a thud, throwing dust into the air as he quickly scrambled to her feet.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Do you have any idea what my Father will do to us… To you if I go back without it!? How could you fucking drop it!?” He screamed, panting heavily as he finished, both fists clenched as he was almost ready to just strangle her to death on the spot just so that he’d be able to punish the bitch himself.

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan paused for a minute, running his hand through his hair before sighing heavily and driving his foot straight down onto Arrietty’s stomach. The force of which sent pains shooting through the Breton’s body, causing her to curl up into a ball, trying to protect her, now tender, stomach from more blows.

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan kicked her more and more, getting pained cries and even a few screams as he did so, he continued to do it around eight to ten times before stopping, not out of any sense of compassion but because Arrietty had managed to shield her body with her hands, stopping him.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton stopped beating on her and walked away, putting some space in between them as he buried his face in his hands. His Father would likely put him in the chamber, next to her, if he came home empty handed.

<p class="MsoNormal">That amulet could be anywhere… In some trader’s pocket, buried or festering in some animal’s shit and it may never be found.

<p class="MsoNormal">He paused for a moment, breathing heavily as he did so, still trying to figure out a solution as he came to terms with this recent development. He was such an idiot, he could’ve taken it off of her, whilst she slept all of this could have been avoided if he hadn’t gotten cocky and now he’d lost everything.

<p class="MsoNormal">His honour, his family’s honour… All because of the selfish desires of one selfish woman, now gone, taking the greatest treasure of House Gaerston with her.

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan sighed, heavily, turning around as he watched Arrietty pathetically shiver on the floor, once again going into the fetal position and wishing that Kori would return and put her out of her misery or maybe that ‘Toan’ would, though she imagined that, that wouldn’t be remotely merciful.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton just shook his head as he looked down on her before lifting up his leg and driving the heel of his boot onto her wound, causing her to cry out and writhe in pain as she rolled around on the floor, tears rolling down her face.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori frowned and ran into the clearing.

<p class="MsoNormal">"STOP, Toan!" She exclaimed, angrily, pushing the man away.

<p class="MsoNormal">"You... You w-wouldn't do that to your... Your own sister, would you?" She asked, angrily, keeping up the pretense that she hadn't been watching.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Toan’ stepped back, somewhat startled by Kori’s sudden appearance, he found himself panicking, looking over to what he had done to the thief. There was no way that he could cover this up and make it look good.

<p class="MsoNormal">“K-Kori… She lost the amulet; my Father will kill her for that…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“He’ll kill me for it…” Arrietty whispered, cutting him off as she rolled over and looked up to the group, the amount of pain that she was in practically emitted from her eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori crossed her arms, having pocketed the amulet a few moments before she had ran out. Of course, she was rather good at stealing small items, given that she was given to taking coins off of drunk men during her dances...

<p class="MsoNormal">“Kori… You have no idea what this means to my family, to my Father especially…” Toan insisted, placing his hands on her shoulders.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Arrietty won’t be safe until we get it back…”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I won’t be safe until I get this broken rib fixed…” Arrietty groaned, her voice torn up as she was welling up, due to the pain.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Toan." Kori said, coolly.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I'll help you find the amulet if you promise to me that Arrietty won't be hurt in any way, after we find it.

<p class="MsoNormal">If you aren't her brother, I want you to promise it.

<p class="MsoNormal">Won't.

<p class="MsoNormal">Happen."

<p class="MsoNormal">“G-Gods… Lady… You s-saw what he did to me!” Arrietty gasped, wrapping her hands around her aching stomach.

<p class="MsoNormal">“H-How can you be in this much denial!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan ignored Arrietty’s pleas and nodded, it seemed like it was the best option for the three of them at this point.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Alright, I imagine that my father would be more charitable…

<p class="MsoNormal">He may even let me pick her punishment, if so, I promise to pick the most humane, painless thing that I have available.” He replied, hoarsely as his throat hurt from all of the yelling.

<p class="MsoNormal">"No, Toan." Kori said, coolly, thoroughly shocked by what she had seen and not ready to believe him.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I don't want her to have any punishment. I want her to be treated as an equal to me, when we get there." She figured that her status wouldn't be very high, but it would be better than a prisoner/torture victim.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Kori… She broke the law, my Father cannot ignore that but I promise, it won’t be as she said. I won’t let her torture the girl or hurt her in any way. I promise, it’ll be a slap on the wrist, maybe a few days in our dungeon, servitude…” He paused, sighing heavily as his shaking hands calmed down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“As you said, equal.”

<p class="MsoNormal">"Fine." Kori sighed, before gesturing over to a patch of leaves, disgruntled.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Just... Look over there. I'll look over here."

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan sighed and wandered over to where Arrietty had entered, hopefully she’d dropped it after Kori had hit her.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty herself had already crawled a little to her left and snatched the copper ring, off of the ground, wrapping it in both hands and bringing it to her chest. It was all that she had left of him…

<p class="MsoNormal">“No… No sign of it here!” Toan called out, smothering his annoyance.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori pretended to dig around in her own pile of leaves.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Well, keep looking!" She had to keep this up for a few minutes, to make it look like she HAD actually found it.

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan nodded before moving forward, into the foliage, continuing his search as he was a little too flustered to think right now.

<p class="MsoNormal">“K-Kori?” Arrietty wheezed, reattaching the ring.

<p class="MsoNormal">"What, Arrietty?" Kori asked, distractedly, as she dug around in the leaves and grasses.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You… Saw…” She whispered, hoping that she could’ve gotten through to her as she tried to lie as still as possible…

<p class="MsoNormal">"I did." Kori confirmed, continuing to dig around.

<p class="MsoNormal">"And I'm doing my best, Arrietty. I'm trying to keep you safe."

<p class="MsoNormal">“He’ll kill me…” Arrietty whispered, her voice was just a raspy groan at this point though as her eyes were tear stained.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I won't let him..." Kori replied, calmly.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Once he has his amulet, maybe he'll let you go."

<p class="MsoNormal">“He might just kill me, once he gets the amulet…” Arrietty whispered, groaning in pain and burying her face into the floor.

<p class="MsoNormal">"As I said, I won't let him." Kori whispered.

<p class="MsoNormal">"While he's around me, he's going to be trying to keep up the pretense, right? Well, if I keep around you, he can't kill you."

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty just sighed, a weak raspy utterance as she wasn’t capable of doing anything else.

<p class="MsoNormal">“K-Kori… C-Could you put me to sleep? This… Hurts…”

<p class="MsoNormal">"I... I suppose." Kori whispered, crawling over and jabbing the syringe into Arrietty's arm.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arrietty kept her eyes fixed on Kori the entire time as she felt the slight prick of the needle before feeling its blissful effects. The Breton quickly placed her hand on hers as she stared up at her, with tear blinded eyes before passing out again. Her head lulled to one side and her eyes closed, letting the tears that they were holding back roll down her face and drip onto the grass.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori quickly returned to her searching. After a few moments, she held up the amulet and yelled,

<p class="MsoNormal">"TOAN! I found it!"

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton quickly came back, emerging through the bushes as he found himself incredibly shocked by her discovery of it, he quickly ran over to her, hoping to see if she spoke truly. As she held up Arrietty's amulet, for his inspection.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton quickly took the trinket into his hands and examined it, it was exactly as he remembered, it even had the crevice in it where the gem was once kept…

<p class="MsoNormal">He pocketed it and moved forward, wrapping his arms around Kori’s waist and pulling her in for a passionate kiss, ignoring his ‘sister,’ who lay unconscious at their feet.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori couldn't help but get into the kiss, despite the slightly sick feeling that she had in her stomach. After a few moments she pulled back, and gestured to Arrietty.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Can we let her go, now?"

<p class="MsoNormal">Toan sighed, looking down to her sleeping form as he shook his head, looking quite regretful about doing so.

<p class="MsoNormal">“My Father would just hunt her again if we did…

<p class="MsoNormal">We’ll have to take her back to Daggerfall and I’ll make your requests heard, I’ll even say that they’re my requests. Then, we’ll work together to find a way to satisfy everybody…

<p class="MsoNormal">I promise.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori nodded, dejectedly. She turned around, to head back to the cart, before glancing at Toan.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Toan... What's going to happen to me when we reach Daggerfall? What's going to happen to us?"

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, you can stay in the estate; my Father would want to meet you, since you made all of this possible. Then? He’ll offer you something as a reward, though I can’t make any promises on his behalf and after that?

<p class="MsoNormal">Well, that’s entirely up to you, you may go where you please.” Toan explained, returning to his usual self as he folded his arms.

<p class="MsoNormal">"W-what about you, Toan?" Kori asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">"And... Erm... What's your real name?"

<p class="MsoNormal">“My name’s Garret, Garret Gaerston.” He replied, quite firmly and confidently, knowing fully well that this was important to her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“And Kori? I promise that there will be no more secrets between us…”

<p class="MsoNormal">"So... Is she your real Sister, Garret?" Kori asked, pausing as if she was tasting the name on her lips.

<p class="MsoNormal">Garret respectfully shook his head, looking down to the unconscious Breton.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No, we aren’t related at all…” He admitted, sounding regretful once more as he turned back to her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I only told people that, because I didn’t think that anyone would want to assist a noble looking for his lost property. It turns out that I’m a good liar, as shameful a skill as that is to have.”

<p class="MsoNormal">"Uh.. It's okay, Garret." Kori said, taking his hand.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Just... please, don't let her get hurt for her mistake."

<p class="MsoNormal">The Breton just nodded before he let go of Kori’s hand and turned back to his former sister and knelt down beside her. Garret proceeded to wrap one of his arms around her back and put one under his legs as he slowly lifted her and turned around to face her.

<p class="MsoNormal">“We should… Probably get her healed…” He pointed out; rather sheepishly as he looked down on her sleeping form, the pale moon light illuminated her face, revealing how peaceful she looked, drawing short, raspy breaths as she slept in his arms.

<p class="MsoNormal">“We’ll also need to give her more serum, to avoid this from happening again.”

<p class="MsoNormal">"When I have my magic back, I can... I can heal her. Should only be an hour or two." Kori remarked, glancing at the slumbering girl.

<p class="MsoNormal">"And... Yeah. She should take more serum."

<p class="MsoNormal">“Okay, could you use yours? I kind of have my hands full…” He replied, with a nervous smile, juggling Arrie in his arms as she slowly slid out.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori nodded and injected Arrietty with the empty serum needle, covering her tracks from where she had administered it before.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Let's hurry on to the carriage, and then to Daggerfall."

<p class="MsoNormal">“Agreed… Lead the way.” Garret replied, giving her a smile as he did so, seeming so relieved that it had all worked out.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori nodded and patted Garret's shoulder, before heading off into the wilderness, leading him towards the carriage once more...

<p class="MsoNormal">“Kori… I want you to know…” He whispered as he was lead along, sighing heavily as he built up the courage to say it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Out of everyone I had to lie to get this far? I found it hardest to lie to you… And I don’t think that I have it in me to ever do it again, I meant it, when I said that there’d be no more lies.

<p class="MsoNormal">You’re… Kind of the only friend I have right now.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Kori flashed him a winning smile. "Of course, To-Garret." She hastily amended.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I'm your friend.

<p class="MsoNormal">So... Let's go meet your dad, shall we?"

<p class="MsoNormal">“Aye…   I can’t wait to get this over with…” He sighed as the two of them left the clearing.