The whole court was deadly silent. Elara looks to her hand and around her completely shocked at what kind of sorcery that was.
She didn't even touch him. It cannot be her that threw him meters away. It just can't be that.
The king was standing from his throne completely baffled with a little hint of pride.
He then instructs another guard to take her to the dungeon of solace. The other guard carefully lifts her up and just let's her walk on her own.
After a rather long walk. They reached the dungeon of solace. Elara wanted to drop to the ground from the excruciating pain in her knee.
Once she was locked up alone. She slides down to the ground before checking up on her knees.
It was still gushing out blood. She sighs closing her eyes. This was bringing back past trauma.
She breaths slowly through her nose, out through the mouth. In. Out. In. Out.
But alas she still got swept back to that time.
"Mummy. Mummy please open the door . Mummy it's dark in here" silence. That was what she heard, she couldn't here her mum's loud clanking or her dad's screams over TV.
"Mummy?" She spoke softly refusing to believe the truth. She's all alone.
A soft sob escapes her. Then another, till it became a full on wail. She cried till she couldn't anymore. She cried till the only thing left was her hiccups.
She cried till she realises every tear wastes the little energy left in here. From there on she silently sat on the floor gazing at the small window way high up.
She gazed as nights engulfed. Morning rise. The silence of people asleep. The chatter of people moving around.
As she was starting to give up. A silver lining in the form of a rats comes to her with a giant cheese.
She greedily munched on it and then vomited it. She appologises to the rats but they weren't giving up on her.
The next day, a cat found a way to come in through the passage of the rats. The cat was holding a bread, she hands it to Elara.
"Elara" Madame Tilda snaps her out of her memories. She looks to her with a teary smile
"Madame Tilda. You shouldn't be here"
"Oh hush. You need food if not you die"
"Don't worry. I'm stronger than I look" Madame Tilda glared at her before giving her a pear with a pouch of water.
"Manage this till tomorrow" Elara nods hiding the pouch under her gown.
Madame Tilda looked like she wanted to say more but thought better of it. She stands up to leave when Elara softly spoke.
"Thank you"
She turns around nodding before padding out with her hunch back still intact.
Elara sighs looking up at the dark cell. This one doesn't have any windows but it's fine.
She starts to hum softly till slumber captured.
Meanwhile in the king quarters. The king couldn't relax or even try falling asleep. He doesn't know why but he feels extremely restless.
He turns around in his bed again but the position only makes him feel heavier.
Is he turning like the mad king? No. What he did today had to set an example for everyone.
He runs his hand down his face. Ugh this is really grating on his nerve. He sits up on the bed.
Why is he worried about her? She'll be fine, after all, she is a lowly tribute girl. What he did was right.
But why doesn't it feel that way? He sighs before getting off the bed and putting on his cloak.
He'll just check on her and then leave. It's just to calm his heart and help him fall asleep.
When he reached her cell in the dungeon of solace, he found Elara crying while still sleeping.
That view felt like a literal squeeze in his chest. He stoops low and gently wipes her tears with his thumb.
He gazes at the moisture on his thumb. Why does this thing displease him? Why does he want to never see it on her face.?
This was the first time he saw Elara shed any tear since when she came into the outer realm and that didn't quite sit right with him.
He kept on stalling saying he will leave after a few minutes until he fell asleep on the floor close to her.