Songbirds

[Bryden]

[[Author's Note: Ok, so I'm a bit jumpy about posting this. God knows I'm petrified about sharing my work. ESPECIALLY things like this, which I consider my "real" writing, as opposed to the sub-par junk I put on the-n.
There are actually two versions of this story. The only mildly horrific version (this) and the hardcore version, in which people are graphically fucking and fighting. I don't have the courage to post the full version, and I'm not scared to admit it. And before you ask, YES, "innocent" little Dumbness writes THAT kinda stuff.
Any how, I hate my writing, so no criticisms can hurt me any worse. Hit me if you want, praise me if you're insane.
Just read the story, it's all I ask.]]


"No stop! Please! You don't have to do this!" Begging. Laughter at said begging.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't."
"I-I'd be worth more with it! Please don't. I can speak two languages!"
He brought the knife closer to her mouth, and she flinched away in desperation.
"I'm a singer!" she insisted.
The man's hand paused, the knife inches from her tongue. "A singer, eh? That COULD be worth something."
The knife was dropped, and Freesia was sold as a singer three weeks later.

The jostling of her "ride" tore Sia from her thoughts. She was stuck on a decrepit old camel, fully exposed to the hot sun in the middle of nowhere.
She was part of a wedding procession. A caravan of gifts to some Sheik as part of a rich princess's dowry. A pretty singing girl to entertain at the wedding.
But after the "blessed day"? Nothing was certain. She'd probably be shipped off somewhere else. As was her luck. Born under some unholy star, and doomed to this so-called life.
At least nobody had forced her into a hot, stuffy, covering cloak. Her skin breathed free in a tight shirt and flowing pants, part of a dancer's costume.
Small blessing dotting an otherwise mucked life.


The ride wasn't pleasant for those sold for the wedding but something else could be said for those who knew the bride and groom. Devonvoi, brother to the bride, sat at the front of the caravan moving forward through the hot desert, it of course his job to bring everything to the wedding of his dear little sister in one piece. It wasn't as if he wanted the job, Allah knew he didn't want to transport thousands of angry slaves and helpers through any desert but whom else would do it?
Voi didn't bother to look at the rest of the caravan for most of the trip but as nightfall came he decided now was the best time to give out water and bed down for the night. One girl in particular caught his attention as he moved forward to see just what she looked liked. "Miss, exactly what are you doing on this caravan anyway?" He asked quietly his dark eyes shadowed by long eyes lashes as he removed his turban showing shoulder length ebony hair. "And riding alone no less...?"
"Oh, great, someone else to harass me," she thought morosely.
Sia bowed her head modestly. Wavy black hair fell and shielded her face demeturely. Her face, rounded in shape and tan, with large doe-like green eyes and a small mouth, was not supposed to be seen in public. Unmarried woman... yadda yadda yadda.
"I'm singer, my lord," she said, looking down from the camel to the top of the man's head. "Meant as gift to the bridegroom."
She had no memory for the long, drawn-out formal speech she was supposed to be using. There were two languages. Common tongue and formal. Freesia, for the life of her and for all her lies, could not possibly remember any words in the formal language. Hence her stumbling speech to the man.
He nodded, slowly looking her up and down, his eyes staring at her intently. He flashed her a beautiful smile. "Wonderful, the singer indeed." He said his voice deeper than ever. "I ask of you, come sing around the fire tonight, give us festivities, it would be quite kind of someone of your beauty." His eyes drifted from her face towards a group of horses riding up together before sighing. "If there are any tonight, sometimes I wonder why I do so much for people that just want to use me."
Nodding, Sia said quietly. "Would be an honor, my lord."
"An honor to get away from you," she added in her mind. She studied his smile and smoldering eyes. "By the Seven Hells this one is a charmer!"
She swung her legs over the side of the animal before anyone could try to feel her up under the guise of helping her down. Freesia was shapely and pretty enough, and she'd seen every trick in the book. She was not about to fall for any of them.
Keeping her head bowed, she faced the man. It took her a moment, but Sia recognized that face. Prince Devonvoi. Older brother of the bride. He'd probably been put in charge of transporting the slaves to the palace. She would have liked nothing better then to kick sand in his face and run for it, but she knew better. He wanted her to sing, so sing she must.
Secretly, Freesia hated singing. Around an audience, at least. Alone, by herself, she sang like a bird. But with people around... with all those eyes boring into her like the true evil eye... she felt wrong. Not shy or frightened- she made a point never to be those things- but wrong. Like those who listened were unworthy to her a voice that should have been meant for Allah's ears alone.
But she was no fool. "I await the evening eagerly, lord," she said, bowing contritely.
He nodded watching as the horses passed them his coal black eyes surveying each movement in particular before smiling long eyelashes covering those beautiful eyes that seemed to be as deep as any lake.
"I'll look forward to it." He called as he turned to greet the men talking with them for only a few minutes before they were on their way away waving behind to him.
It was apparent that he knew the men but by the look on his face, stern and bored, he didn't have any wish to see them riding around his caravan as he turned mounting his horse riding off into the distance.


[[More Author's Note: If you are a bit confused, here:
They are in the Ottoman Empire.
Istanbul is capital of said empire.
Voi is prince of Persia, which is a lower ranking portion of the empire. so even though he is royalty, he still answers to the Sultan.
Freesia is a kind f flower, pronounced, "Fresh-ahh". This makes Sia not "see-ah", but "Sha".
Devonvoi is tricky to say. It's something like "Dee-van-voa". Voi is phonetic, however.
So do you hate it yet?]]

[Bryden]

"Hello... miss?" A young girl said quiet, her long brown hair drifting down her back in loose curls as he spun back and forth the dress on her the expensive type. "Are you the singer, it's a pleasure to meet you." She said happily. "I'm Auderilynne but people call me Audrey for short."
Though she'd been about to make a rude gesture (or at least stick her tongue out at his back- Freesia had no patience for her masters, no matter how they flattered or praised her) but the girl stepped in and prevented her from doing that. That was probably for the best, come to think of it. Sia'd been known to get herself into no small amount of trouble doing what she'd been about to do. And most slaves lost their tongues by default. It would be stupid to tempt a fate she'd only so narrowly escaped. But, on to the more pressing and immediate matter of the girl.
She was young- younger then Sia, who was only nineteen herself- perhaps about seventeen. She was extremely pretty, too. Large, soft eyes and hair that seemed impossibly shiny and thick both shone in the fading sunlight. And she was apparently high-born; the silk of her caftan was enough to tell Sia that.
"I am Freesia," she introduced herself, stumbling yet again on the formal speech; "People call me Sia for shortness." She smiled at the girl, in spite of herself. Audrey had such a happy, unguarded smile, Sia just couldn't help herself. "And yes, the singer am I. Pleasure to be meeting you, Audrey."
Audrey nodded and pointed at Voi's back. "You know my cousin, I think? He's of the special kind." She laughed brightly, looking at him as he walked and talking with a group of people.
"He's really not as bad as he seems to be, sometimes we just think that he needs someone good in his life, but when he gets the one ‘special woman’ he always..." She stopped. "Never mind. That's not important, he's not that bad." She offered in his defense.
"You don't have anything to worry about as long as he's around. He keeps everyone in line and safe." She laughed brightly, "Everyone, including people that don't work for him; isn't that amazing. People fear him because of his station when they really should fear him because he's him."
"That indeed is a powerful person," Sia said, nodding.
So she's the Prince's cousin... and the bride's cousin, too, obviously. That made this cheery little thing a royal. And she was... talking... to Freesia... for some reason.
Freesia shrugged internally. For some reason, poets and artists and singers attracted so much attention, even if they weren't freemen.
She studied the prince- Voi, or so he was called. He was, now that she had a chance to really look at him, incredibly attractive. Handsome high-born men... no matter how much she tried to hate them, no matter all that type had done to her, it still set Sia's heart fluttering when they looked her way. She was a hopeless romantic, and knew it. Even if none of the men who actually had been her lovers turned out to be her love... it was fun to wish.
"I am not afeared of him," she said, turning back to Audrey, "Not scared of his stature or him himself. I do not scare easily." She smiled determinedly.
Audrey nodded. "That's good; you need courage to be a slave out here..." She said slowly, picking her words before looking at her one last time. "He's not a bad guy... maybe a bit philandering... but never bad."
"They all are," Sia replied, very nearly laughing. “Philanderers, I mean.”
Freesia looked up at the now-dark sky. The stars... there were so many. It never stopped amazing her.
"It is late," she said suddenly, "Your cousin wishes me to sing. I should get ready." She smiled at the girl before turning to go.
Audrey nodded. "He sings also, to God a lot." She called after Sia. "You two should sing together." And with that the girl disappeared for sight, as if she were never there.
"Oh does h… huh?" Freesia had started to turn around to ask Audrey about her cousin's singing, but the girl had gone. Maybe it was just the dark of the night, but Sia didn't see any footprints where the girl had been standing. It startled her, but she passed it off as poor eyesight and went back to finding a quiet spot to prep her voice.

[[AN: Is Audrey a spirit? Does she just run off fast? You aren't gonna 'know, I don't do spoilers! (Unless you bribe me or I want to piss you of, of course.)
Ok, brace yourself, because things get slightly more... horribly written in the next bit. I can't do romance, I swear to you. So, I peppered in some of my trusty anger-management-issues to help me out! Fun! Well, painful, really, but also fun!]]

[Bryden]

Scarcely and hour later, and Sia found herself in front of the main campfire. There were many, many small fire pits, with varying levels of people around them. The lowest slaves didn't even have campfires or tents, and simply slept on the still-warm sand.
Sia herself didn't have a tent, but she'd figure something out. Probably.
Her thoughts were torn from her with the harsh blow of a pipe being tuned. It reminded her where she was. She bowed very low, the fabric of her skirt and veil flowing out around her. She waited for the music to start, so she could begin her song.

Voi, meanwhile, was at a distance, still talking with a group of not so good looking gentlemen. It wasn't as if the men were ugly, it had nothing to do with looks it was just that they seemed like a group of people to swindle you and not think twice about he. He smiled brightly laughing with the group before rolling his eyes and looking away, it was apparent that he didn't want anything to do with the group and he could most likely make due without them but still they seemed real close to him at least.

It was strange, but even though she should have been listening to the music and preparing for her performance... Freesia couldn't look away from Voi.
The firelight in the darkness played across his face and hair, making him look as though he were made of some amber liquid, like a strong brandy. He was beautiful.
The music started, and Sia tore her eyes from the prince. Pipes blew, somebody strummed a slightly out-of-tune sitar, and a few people looked expectantly at Sia. Not many though. Most people were busy eating or sleeping or talking. But that all changed once she opened her mouth.
A note, pure, light, and almost heady in its quality, escaped her lips, forcing everyone to look her way in surprise.
The tempo picked up, and she began to sing, losing herself to the music.

The Prince watched, his eyes locked on her lazily… then on the firelight. Unlike everyone else striving to see the girl singing he kept his eyes away looking downward before sighing. He then reached over tapped another gentleman on the shoulder before getting up and disappearing; most likely for his rounds.

She sang in the common language, figuring she could get away with it because this was so informal. The words were lyrical and flowing, and though spoken in such a harsh language, they were still beautiful.
The whole time, Sia kept one eye on Voi. Even as he left, she watched him walk away. It almost hurt her that he didn't look at her singing, but she shrugged it off and finished the song.


The audience forced her into two more songs before she was able to escape. She ran out, behind the tents and away from he fires, and just breathed in the cool darkness.
Someone grunted from the ground. Sia glanced down, startled. And there was the prince, looking up at the girl.
"Too close, what do you want?" He asked seriously, his eyes bright as they locked onto her.



Sia jumped back, surprised. "Oh!" she said suddenly. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. I didn't mean to disturb you."
"Er... My Lord," she added in the formal language, realizing she was being rude and speaking too casually. She straightened her askew veil and bowed.
He looked up, watching her in the night. "You skipped out on your duties as singing, I'm sure they want you back." He was informal, as informal and as rude as you could be while still being a prince.
But after a tense moment, he laughed. "It’s fine. I wouldn't want to sing for a lot of ungrateful people, either."
Forgetting her manners completely, Freesia flopped down onto the sand next to the prince.
"Urgh, you have no idea," she groaned. She sounded exhausted and more then a little horse. "Everyone listens, comments on the beauty of the noise... then tosses me aside when they get bored of me." She shook her head sadly. "They forget I am a person, and not a music box to be used and thrown away."
He looked at her like she was stupid. "Ah... let me tell something to you, I have music boxes, several of them; three of them are broken and I have never thrown any of them away."
Sia looked up at him, very seriously. "Then you are a rare person indeed, my lord," she said slowly. She stared at him, holding his gaze for a long time.
Finally, she broke the eye contact and looked out over the sands. "It would be nice if more people thought as you do," she whispered.
"Don't call me my lord. I'm a prince, not a lord… And that also is something I can do without." He mumbled, fingering the sand.
She shrugged. She couldn't bring herself to be formal or proper, and anyhow, Voi didn't seem to mind much.
"I meant no offence... my prince. I was only calling you what I knew to call you. Same thing I call all my other superiors." Her voice sounded bitter and sharp.
"Not a superior, a normal person..." He mumbled closing his eyes. "Not Prince, Voi."
Despite herself, Freesia laughed. Something about what he said struck her as outrageously funny.
"Fine then, Voi," she said finally. "I'll keep that in mind." She looked up above her, at the heavens and all the little lights of stars.
"But you know," she said finally, "One might argue that it's selfish of you to even ask to be called a normal person. You, after all, are not. Just as I was gifted- or cursed depending on how you look at it- upon birth with my voice, you were gifted with your bloodline. And perhaps you are rejecting God's will simply by asking to be anything else."
She stopped suddenly, and looked down worriedly at Voi. He might want to be normal, but that still didn't technically give her any rights to actually speak to a prince in such a manner.
But he seemed to be ignoring her, fully and completely. He didn't respond, just kept completely quiet… until finally he sighed. "Maybe it's selfish of you to think your voice is something so amazing to be compared to my bloodline."
"Hah!" she laughed harshly. "You don't know how lucky you are, Voi!"
She turned to look at him. "Your bloodline is something that is totally without a downside. Something that assures a good life for you. Something you will never have to work for. My voice is another matter completely. But both," she paused, still looking at the prince intensely, "Were inarguably heaven-sent gifts. Don't deny that, at least."
He frowned. "I’d rather stab myself, but sadly that would be looked down up on as taking the easy way out." He muttered. "Be quiet about all these gifts that don't exist."
She studied his face. "You are a rare person," she repeated, sounding far-away and strange.
"And what do you mean, anyhow? Don't you believe each person's life is either a gift or a curse from Allah? To think otherwise is blasphemy." She said this, but didn't look as though she quite believed it.
He sighed once again seeming annoyed. "Blasphemy it is." He shrugged. "Not a gift... not chance… amazing luck, perhaps… but not a gift."
"Heh," she snorted again, "Your luck or mine?"
Freesia unclasped her arms from around her legs and lay back on the sand. She was surprised with how soft the ground was. And yet it reminded her...
"Why are you even out here, anyway? Why aren't you enjoying a big tent or good food, like someone with your 'luck' should?"
He sighed. "How about you go enjoy it for the both of us and I stay out here away from all of them?" He muttered turning over like he was trying to go to sleep.
She shook her head in disbelief. "I don't understand you in the least," she said, very nearly laughing at him.
"And besides," she continued, rolling herself to face his back, "I couldn't. You think for one second they'd believe you gave your food to me? Hah!"
She wondered very seriously if he was putting her on.
"No, I don't think so," she said finally. "I think I'd rather stay out here. You make good company. Prince."
She rolled onto her back and folded her arms under her head. The clasp of her veil bit into the soft flesh of her forearm, but she ignored it.
He remained silent. "I thought you wanted it?" He asked seriously. "I told you, you could have it and then you get mad...?"
"I'm not mad!" she said, laughing, "What made you think that? I'm serious. You make good company!"
He made a quiet noise. "I don't...I dislike people a lot."
"Exactly," Sia told him, "It makes for a laugh."
She shut her eyes and hummed softly to herself. An old tune her mother had sung when she was a very small child.
"Great, more singing..." Voi muttered softly. "DO shut up..."
"It isn't singing," Freesia informed him coolly, "I'm humming. There's a difference."
"I don't give a damn if you were whistling..."He said coldly.
"Humming" she corrected him again, chuckling slightly. "Relax, will you? I'll stop if you want. All you had to do was order it, my lord."
He shook his head. "When I tell you to leave me alone you do it, if not I make you go away by force."
Sia snorted doubtfully. He'd already said that he didn't want his royal status, and spoken to her so loosely. She very much doubted he'd bother to get up from where he laid to "make her go away by force".
"Whatever you say," she said sarcastically.
"You have ten seconds to be half away across back towards the camp before I get mad. One. Three. Five..."
She laughed again and shut her eyes. "I'm so sure," she said, calm as could be.
He in all kindness threw sand in her face. "I said away from me heathen." He hissed coldly. "Away from me."
Lucky enough for Freesia, she had her eyes shut when he flung the sand. Almost as if she’d been expecting it, despite her words. She sat bolt upright and dusted her face carefully. A bit of golden sand still clung to her cheeks and dark hair, but nothing was in her big, dark eyes.
She looked, slightly sadly, at the Prince.
"I thought so," she said, her voice a heavy sigh. "I knew you wouldn't be able to tolerate the company of a... what was your word? Ah yes, 'heathen', for longer then you choose."
She got to her feet smoothly, and with a wave of her hand rather then a bow, she left the Prince all alone.

[[and so my pathetic attempt at a romantic relationship begins...]]

[Bryden]

Prince Devonvoi didn't know how to act around her. Too much talking, not enough space, and yet he just couldn't walk away. She in a way...scared him? Of course he could have never told her that he didn't know how to act around her. He was a prince. People skills were something that he had to have. He kicked the sand balefully.


"What an ass," Freesia muttered to herself, making her way back to the camp. She was halfway there. She could see the fires; hear the drums, the people. They were probably waiting for her to come back and sing until she could sing no more. Then, doubtless, various men would try and take advantage of the pretty singing girl. Then, the next day, they'd be traveling again and Sia would be forgotten until the evening, when she'd be expected to do it all over again. And again and again, until they got to Istanbul and whatever Hells awaited her there. This was her life. And it made her sick.
Even if he was an anti-social ass, at least that prince had talked to her like a human.
She stopped in her tracks, and walked not to the camp, but to a sand dune about a kilometer away. The sand was soft, the night was quiet, and maybe she'd get some rest for once. Maybe the prince had the right idea after all.

The prince himself sat up, frowning. "Ah...miss Sia!" He called from the distance. "Please come back, singer woman..." He was trying at least.
She turned around, looking through the darkness to the sound. She'd thought he couldn't see her from where he was, but apparently she was wrong.
Though she didn't really want to go back... she did anyways. She liked being around Voi for whatever reason, and anyway it wasn't like she had the option of disobeying him.
Once she got back to where he waited, she knelt in the sand before him. "And what is your bidding, my master?" she asked him. Her voice was serious, but anyone who knew her knew how un-serious she was, and that this was just Sia trying to be funny.
Voi sighed looking confused and upset all at once. "I'm sorry Miss Sia..." He said softly. "It was unprincely the way I acted, my apologies.
“I… I shall have to make it up to you."
"Make it up to me?" Sia repeated doubtfully, "And just how do you intend to do that?" She laughed, more at him then with him.
He sighed running his hands through his hair. "Well, what can I do?"
"Alright then," She laughed. "Well for starters… how about you stop calling me 'miss' all the time? It's Freesia or Sia, can you remember that?"
She pretended to be thinking while she waited for him to say something.
He shrugged. "I'm a prince, I was taught miss."
"And I'm a slave, and I was taught 'my lord'," she countered quickly.
"And I wasn't done yet..." she looked at him tauntingly. She smiled and tapped her lower lip with a narrow index finger. "Give me a prince’s kiss, and I shall call it even."
He nodded before stepping back. "What kind of… of... kiss… are we talking about?"
"Well, that's for the both of us to find out, now isn't it?" she said with a mischievous smile.
"What's the matter? I don't bite.... much."
He nodded. "I guess it doesn't matter does it?"
"No it does not," Sia replied, leaning forward. She lifted up her thin cloth veil to uncover her moth and nose.
He leaned forward pressing a kiss to the girl’s lips just like she asked for, he really in truth didn't want to but when you're in the wrong, you're in the wrong.
And she kissed him back, leaning into him. He felt nice.
Out of respect- and possibly some lingering fear of him- she didn't open her mouth. She allowed the kiss to end, and leaned back, sitting on her heels, knees in the sand. After a lingering moment, she opened her eyes.
"See? Now that wasn't so bad, now was it?"
Voi shrugged, looking her over. "More or less." He mumbled looking away. "Now are you over me throwing sand at you?" He asked looking ashamed by his own actions even though if he really wanted to he could have gotten away with the act.
She pretended to be thinking very hard. Then her face broke into a small smile. "I think so,” she assured him.
"But what I don't understand is why you even bothered to apologize. Or kiss me. You didn't have to. You're a prince, I'm a slave. You're allowed to fling sand and worse into my face and never apologize!" She looked at him seriously, her head cocked to one side and her veil slightly askew. "I just don't get it."
The prince shrugged. "I-I don't know that's it...I felt bad." He muttered. "I-I just felt bad about it, I'm sorry."
"Hmmm... And does this happen often? You feeling bad when you don't actually have to?" she asked, running her fingers through her hair.
She crossed her legs into a lotus position and started braiding her hair while talking. "Were I you, I don't think I'd ever bother to apologize to anyone ever again! It'd be a nice change of pace, I think."
He shrugged. "Then don't apologize, sometimes you have to make people leave you be...a lot of the time you do actually."
Sia laughed. "And don't I know it! But I have to apologize. For everything, even if it was not me who was at fault. Someone runs right into me because they're an idiot? My fault! Someone walks into a fire pit because they were too busy looking at my breasts to watch where they were going? My fault!" She sighed.
"Supposedly one gets used to it, but I never have. I always try and fight it. Stupid me." she looked away, gazing out at the sands.
"I can do without running into a fire pit while staring at your chest." He rolled his eyes. "Has that even happened before?"
"Maybe," she said evasively, still looking into the distance. "If not, then something to that effect."
Voi nodded with a slight smile. "I'll take that as it's happened before and if it has a fear you..."
"Let's just drop it, is that okay with you?" she said, glancing back to Voi. "There are some things I'm not fond of talking about."
She let go of her hair. The black tresses hit her back in one long, thick braid. She proceeded to twist the braid around in her hands, looking as though she were lost in thought.
"I don't have to drop anything. But that's because I have the ability to speak. Anyway, I've never heard of anything that stupid happened to anyone recently." He muttered, getting up and walking towards camp.
Sia sighed. "Who said it happened here?" she muttered.
Obviously, her thoughts had been someplace else. The funny story of someone being so distracted by her had led her thoughts to someplace darker.
"Running away?" she asked, looking up to see Voi turning to go.
He shook his head. “You looked like you wanted to think,” he said, pausing in his walk.
She laughed harshly. "I don't think I want to think right now." Freesia looked at the prince from under her eyelashes. "Please stay?"
He sighed. "So you can make more fun of how antisocial I am?"
"So you can keep me from losing my mind from being too social," she countered quickly.
"Oh great, you love people so great with people." He muttered crossing his arms but not walking off.
"I hate people with every fiber of my being," she explained calmly. "They just happen to like me. People think I'm social due to the fact that those around me are always social.
"Now," she continued, "I'm not quite as bad as you... but I'd still rather have the company of one then the company of many."
He shrugged. "And you can tell, I get mad easily, I throw things, I yell and use my status to make everyone stay away from me. I'm known as a spoiled brat, when that's not the case, I just don't get along with people do I demand stupid things from them and whine when I don't get my way. They stay away from me then."
For a long time, the singer said nothing. And then... "Why?"
It was a calm question, made while she made unwavering and almost spooky eye contact with Voi. It sounded simple enough, but is asked much.
Why would he be a brat and abuse his power just to make people go away? Why not be a good person and simply ask to be left alone? Why bother?
He shrugged. "When people think you're nice they come back like you, people always want to be around you. When I'm an ass...they just stay away."
She smiled wanly. "It's your life. If that is how you wish to live it- alone and with everyone hating you- so be it. It's your choice."
She sighed and lay back on the ground, still playing with her hair. "As for me? I'd rather have people like me and drive me insane then have them hate me and leave me alone. Then again I don't have the same freedom to choose as you do."
"You do, you're just stupid enough not to see it,” He muttered looking down at her. “A life as a slave is easy to escape. Or at least when you're a woman it is.”
"Oh, and I am the stupid one?" she said harshly. "You say this from the viewpoint of a prince. You have no idea what you're talking about... even if you think you do."
"Being a prince is being a slave, we just have different view of it."
"Hmmm," she said approvingly. "That is profound. I hadn't expected that of you. But you should be happy. Though you are still a bird in a cage, at the very least you have a cage gilded in gold, with the door left wide open and your wings unclipped. A cage where nobody shakes the bars and forces you to sing."
She smiled at her own irony.
"You're right, they open the cage and make me lead." He said seriously.
"I would rather lead then be led like a herded animal," she said sagely. "And in any case, you said it would be easier for me to get away. How on earth do you figure that?"
He frowned. "You, my child, cover your face and go by the cover of the night...you shall make it to a city of your choice and marry."
Sia couldn't help but laugh. "'My child'?" she said tauntingly, "You are really more sheltered then I thought."
She stood up in one smooth, fluid motion and came face-to-face (give or take a good half foot) with the prince.
"First off, I doubt I'm more then three years younger then you. So where do you get off calling me 'my child'? Secondly, you honestly think it is that simple? That I can just run away?" She shook her head forcefully. "I was lucky enough not to have my tongue cut out, so I can speak like a freeman, that much is true. But there are other ways people mark their property. Ways that would show clear as day to those who knew where to look.
"And I will never be someone's bride. That is as much slavery as this is."
Voi poked her in the face. "It's called a joke you idiot, and it's very well possible for you to get married or at least become a higher ups mistress, That will keep you way out of the dog house of any slave bidder."
Freesia swatted his hand away with surprising strength.
"It sure as the seven hells didn't sound like a joke," she said angrily. "And are you listening to yourself, you son of a bitch? Think this through!" she rapped him on the side of the head with her knuckles.
"The only way to 'get out of my situation' is sex! And that doesn't even get me out! It's the same story, different background. Everywhere I go it's the same. I won't get out until I'm all used up."
"You're making me want to slap you..." He hissed. "Didn't I just say that mistress or wife? Don't make me repeat myself you idiot, I never said that it would work. But I know several women that did that to get out of slavery, so no it's not all the same. They found a man, seduced him and now he keeps them safe and buys them anything their heart desires."
"You IDIOT!" Freesia said, stepping back. "That isn't freedom! That isn't escaping! Plaything or wife, it's all the same.
"You said it yourself: it's still a cage. Yes, so maybe it has gold on the bars, but you're still trapped."
She stepped back again, and flung her arms wide.
"You think I'm impudent? You want to slap me for saying what is true? Then go ahead, you son of a bitch. Slap me!"
Voi did just that, he slapped her, hard. "You don't get it do you. You just said it yourself, anywhere you go there is no freedom, you're a slave of some kind, you want to be free kill yourself and save everyone the trouble. Don't complain to me. You don't want the cage with golden bars? Then you don't want anything...you might want to rethink what it is you view freedom as."
Sia didn't even bat an eye as his hand connected with her cheek. It hurt like Hell, but as if she'd let him know that.
"When did I ever say I wanted the gold cage? When? I said you should be happy to have it at least, not that I wanted it!"
Tears were forming in her eyes, but she refused to let them spill over.
"And don't you think I've tried to die already? You are really something else, you know that?" she said harshly.
"I could choke you to death, shoot you… is there a certain way you want to die, woman?" He asked with a frown. "You said you wanted freedom, there is no freedom other than death now. Don’t both saying freedom again." He hissed.
"Unless of course you want me to hit you again?"
"Arrogant bastard," Sia said, more calmly then she felt.
"If I truly wanted to die, I'd be dead already. I have plans. Places to go. I'm not going to spend my life here. This?" she gestured to show she meant the camp and the fact she was with it, "Is just a fluke. Nothing more then a slight sidetracking."
Voi laughed cruelly. "You are one stupid woman."
Sia spun angrily on her heel. "By your leave," she said sarcastically, starting to walk away.
Without warning, Voi kicked her in the back to knock her over. "By yours." He muttered walking back towards camp.
Much as she tried to retain her pride, the kick has caught Freesia by surprise. She was knocked off her feet by the underhanded move, and lay in the sand, facedown. Tears sprung to her eyes, and though she did not sob, she let them flow as she fell from wakefulness.
For all her attitude, she was still a frustratingly delicate person.

[[When in doubt, Bry favors anger management issues! I HATE writing romance- I suck it it. So I throw in a bit of abuse and then I'm good to go. What can I say? Xee has been good practice.]]

[Bryden]

[little bit of insight on Voi for a moment. A hint of things to come? ...perhaps.]

The prince walked back to camp, muttering to himself, which was never a good thing. The prince muttering... to himself? No, never.
He sighed, taking his seat, and not even bothering to think about apologizing to the girl a second time. This time, on yes, this time she had brought it onto herself. She had basically asked for it, firstly she had spoken to him as a commoner... not that he cared about that but by being so annoying hypocritical about every little thing.
She herself didn't seem to know what she want but sat there and talked down about everything she had ever known. What was this world besides slavery; everyone was a slave, even the dead for all he knew. She knew nothing apparently. Escaping the life of a slave would lead her into another life just a bad.
Wouldn’t it?


It was morning before Freesia stirred.
She sat up, and immediately winced in pain. Had she been able to see her back, she'd have seen a bruise shaped like the bottom of the prince's boot.
But she forced herself to her feet, and walked, stumbling and biting her lip against the pain, back to the camp.
"Time to set out, woman." A man called in the distance before frowning. "Why are you walking the way you are walking?"
"I know. I- I'm fine," Sia managed, trying to fix her posture. "Just slept wrong, that is all."
He nodded, pointing to a horse. "Get on and let's move out."
Normally, she would have flat-out refused. But she was exhausted, in pain, and somebody took her camel. Even if this soldier was just trying to cop a feel, at least she'd have a smoother ride.
The man helped her onto the horse before sighing. "The prince will be with you shortly," He called walking away from her.
"What?" she asked, confused. But the man had gone. She'd expected she'd be hanging onto the guard's back while on his horse. Not that it was actually for her.
Voi finally appeared, dressed in different clothes, hoisting himself on top of the horse, right behind Sia, before beginning to ride everyone moving out with him.
"What game are you playing at?" Freesia hissed at Devon, trying to keep her voice down. But he didn't respond, forcing the horse to move faster as he ignored her. He just rose with his arms wrapped awkwardly around her frame so he could rein the horse.
If he was going to ignore her, then Sia would just ignore him, too.
She sat lifelessly the entire day, too angry to enjoy the relative comfort of the ride. Much as she hated to admit it... feeling Voi next to her was really soothing. He smelled pleasantly like sandalwood and leather.


At the end of the day he dropped from the horse abruptly before reaching up to help her down. "Hurry up... before someone sees."
She seriously considered spitting at him. She realllly wanted to spit at him. But for some reason, she didn't.
Instead, she took his offered hand and allowed him to help her down. He pulled her quickly forward towards a tent, lavishly decorated on the inside and cool despite the weather. "You stay here… There is food for you. Relax; sleep. No one will bother you here." He said disappearing.
Sia was left standing in the tent, staring rather gape-mouthed at the entrance. She had no idea what game the prince was playing, but she didn't trust it.
Even so, no reason not to get something to eat, she thought as she knelt on a cushion and popped a grape into her mouth.
He returned for a moment later, looking at Sia before turning to leave again. "This is your tent; don't worry about anyone bothering you here."
Freesia reached out a tentative hand to touch Voi's arm and make him pause. When he turned back she looked at him seriously.
"Why?" she asked, reminding herself of an echo.
He sighed. "I may be a prince... but I know when I'm in the wrong and when I hurt someone mentally and physically... and I am sorry."
Sia’s eyes widened in surprise. He'd apologized to her once... but she'd written it off as a fluke. But… he meant this. He was truly sorry for hurting Freesia.
There was little she could manage to do except stare at the prince.
Voi sighed, studying her face. "I-Is there anything I can do for your back? Haji said I bruised it... Damn. I- I am sorry. Really," He said softly, his face serious as ever.
"It's- It's fine," she managed finally. "I'm not going to lie to you: it hurts like hell," she laughed wryly, "But I don't think there's anything you can do for it that a bit of sleeping won't."
Freesia ran a hand down her back, reaching behind herself. "I think it's shaped like your boot, actually," she informed him mildly. Calm as though she were noting the weather.
He looked away.
"Oh well there's nothing I can do; that's what you said yourself." He muttered standing. "I'll just make sure no one wants your for entertainment tonight and all will be well.
"If someone tries to touch you just scream ‘I'm the prince’s woman’ and they'll run with their tails between their legs."
Sia wasn't quite sure if she should laugh or smack him. "I'll do that," she settled for saying, not looking at the Prince's face.
Still, Freesia couldn't help but wonder if he meant for her to say that just to help or, or if he was intending for her to be his own.
The prince nodded to the singer and left again, leaving her alone for hours.


[...anyone else noticing some blatant bi-polarism here? rotfl]