Royal Pain

Underdog, #2B3856
Vale took ahold of her, embracing her in his arms and held her tightly, listening to her quiet hiccups as she spoke. Oh his Audrey, always unable to make up her mind, bringing up so many worries and thoughts up even when she was so sure of a decision she wanted to make. Once Vale agreed, she would bring up more risks and troubles for them, always worrying too much about the future. It was quite funny actually, so funny that Vale wanted to laugh, but he refrained himself from doing so. Now was not the time to laugh in the state Audrey was in.

Those who are rich would be expected to not worry so much about the future, since it is already decided for them and they live in the life of luxury and with plenty of money, so they shouldn't have to worry about the future so much. Always believing that things will be provided for them and they'll have everything they'll need. Vale on he other hand, he never worried about the future, nor did his fellow coworkers. Having so little, they didn't spend their days worrying about what they were going to do, where they'll end up being, and how they'll make it through the winter days. They simply did what they could when they could, taking everything one step at a time, instead of trying to plan their whole future and every step leading up to it. Perhaps it was because that they had so little, that they didn't worry about losing it, whereas the rich would worry about losing their money. Because once that was gone, their life was over, and kings and lords will marry off their daughters to rich lord sons to regain that money back. Just like Audrey said, she and many others couldn't work, too pampered by their life that if they lost it, they would only be in a panic and the world would fall around them.

But he believed that Audrey was different. Sure a new life would be hard to accept at first, but she was strong and adapted quickly, and could learn to accept it. It wouldn't be too hard for her, and he could help her all the way. After all, she didn't mind being among other peasants or getting dirty, and she would take care of Vale whenever he was injured or sick, providing care for him whenever she could. She wouldn't have to do manual labor, she could be a healer or maybe a gardener, anything that wouldn't have to involve such hard work like he had to go through. Besides, even if she didn't work and only sat around, he wouldn't care. He could provide for them both, just happy to have his beloved with him and making him comfortable whenever he returned home, smiling warmly at each other while sitting beside the hearth and perhaps sipping some tea. Vale was used to hard labor, so he wouldn't mind continuing to do so to provide for them.

"You think way too much." He told her, a soft smile playing at his lips. "How about just trusting me to handle it all? If you end up being lazy then leave all the work to me. I've provided for this whole household with clean rooms and floors, and healthy horses, I think I can handle less picky you. Just give me a relaxing massage, a warm dinner, and tell me you love me every day. Then I'm good. But if that life seems too dull and boring to you, we can be mercenaries, always traveling to new and exotic places. But even if that doesn't suite you, then I guess I'll just have to find a way to get rich." He said as if it wasn't a big deal and the easiest thing to do in life. "I'll discover an oiling well or something, perhaps capture a dragon and sell it's scales, or maybe even find a buried mine shaft full of diamonds and jewels."

He pulled away from her a bit so that he could look at her face, cupping her cheek in his hand and gently wiped her tear away with his thumb. "But if you want to stay here, then I won't object to that either, even if you marry Benjamin. Whatever it is that you want to do, then I'll remain by your side, no matter what. I already know that you have no desire or love for Benjamin, so you won't betray me by marrying him. You are only trying to keep your family line strong, and doing what it is that your father wishes. The only reason why I wouldn't want you to do it is because I don't want it to destroy you. To change you..."

He took her face gently in both his hands as he continued speaking. "I want my Audrey to remain here, with me. I already know that...that if you marry him he'll want an heir, but if it comes to that, then come to me. Please come to me first... Have my child. Not his. I just can't stand the thought of there being a little Benjamin. Royals are so dull in the head, and they'll never believe that you would taint yourself to the likes of a slave like me, so they'll all believe it's his. Even Benjamin himself. His nose is always so high up in the air anyway that I doubt he'll even look at the kid to realize something is up. If your wish is to stay here and carry on like this, then I will remain here as well, forever secretly staying by your side while continuing to work as a slave. But when we're alone I will take you and give you all the love and comfort you deserve, making you mine over and over again if I have to right behind the lord Taylor's back, never knowing that his 'wife' is taken by the likes of me." A playful smirk crossed his lips. "I'll get a lot of joy just for that fact alone. He'll be so busy anyway that I'm sure we'll have a lot more alone time together than he ever could with you."

Though he spoke with such confidence and kept that smiling face, the very idea of having to share Audrey hurt him to the core, the very thought of the man's lips on her's and hands touching her body creating a pit of fire deep in his stomach. Making him sick. He wanted Audrey all to himself, to marry him instead of that stuck up bastard, who had no respect or concern for her at all. But no one cared... Not even Audrey's father, and it wasn't fair to her, to never be heard spoken or thought of. Once she was wedded to Benjamin, she really won't have a say or freedom, forced to agree with whatever it was Benjamin desired and have no say in anything. She would only be a trophy to him, and a slave to him just as Vale was to all the nobles, only worse. He didn't want that life for her, but he had no idea how to get her out of it.
 
Prim and Proper, #6cb031
"You speak of treason, adultery as if it didn't mean a thing." Audrey was halfway between sobbing and laughing.

To see the look on Benjamin's face if he ever discovered their child was in fact that of a slave's, it put a smirk on Audrey's face alongside Vale's. That'd be the day. However, when the hilarity faded into pain, she knew what might happen. Adultery was a sin, and a punishable offense if the parties were known. Vale would be hung. The child would be cast aside, perhaps slaughtered depending on how old they were, and Audrey? She would be condemned to the life of an adulteress. Her place in court would be left to the likes of Benjamin and the snickering of other Lords and Ladies alike. When they hear of what Audrey did, it wouldn't be out of pity that they frowned, but out of distaste. Love was fickle to them, but they could put up with the casual nights of romance alongside the abandonment by their husbands and wives. That was just the lifestyle.

She wanted more, more than the casual love of a nobleman. Audrey wanted something intangible and ever so sweet, a forbidden fruit of another kind, yet still a natural taste to her tongue. She wanted the love of her slave, a low born, and scarred man.

"I don't want to pretend, I don't want to hide, but I can't just leave, I can't. My father would be destroyed." Audrey swung back into a fit of hysteria and began to cry anew. "I don't want Benjamin to so much as touch me, not even with a ten foot pole. I don't want to pretend to be happy in a marriage that will bring about nothing but pain!"

Audrey felt herself falling into the river, her body was soaked and shivering from the cold, but Vale still seemed stable. He was used to the harshness of the outdoors, the cool of the river was probably something he dealt with every day. Audrey gripped his arms hard for support.

She would need every bit.

"Is someone there?" A voice called.

The noblewoman snapped her head up at the voice, but was too afraid to respond back. She didn't recognize the voice, and that didn't help at all. Quickly, she pulled herself and Vale to his feet and began to give him strict instruction so as to cover their tails if it wasn't a friendly face.

"I fell in the river, you were escorting me on a walk." Her teeth chattered together with her fast instruction. "We were just returning, and you were going to get me a fresh set of clothes to change into."

"In the name of the King, show yourself!" The voice called again. Audrey looked his way and saw the bright colors of her cousin's royal guard. Kingsguard, and nothing to be afraid of. With little time left to ponder the situation at hand, Audrey lifted herself up to embrace Vale, and gave him a swift kiss on the cheek before they had to part.

"I'm over here, good sir, I fell in the river!" Audrey chirped from behind the cover of nearby brush. The guard emerged off the main road, astride a thick black steed. "I remembered seeing this stream and had wanted to get a better look, such a lovely day wouldn't you agree good sir?"

"Lady Audrey? Come, it's best you get dry." The guard dismounted and offered up the horse to the woman. He failed to notice one last look she gave towards Vale, smiling through a twisted mask of pain. She wiped away the last of her tears, and they returned to the confines of her prison.
 
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Underdog, #2B3856
Vale could only look at Audrey with those silver eyes, trying to mask the sadness and hopelessness as he listened to her, every word bringing him further and further down. He wanted to make her happy, would do anything to make it so, but the problem was was that he had no idea how to come about doing that. There was no simple answer for them, and no matter what they do, problems always arose. It didn't matter if they left or if they stayed, the only question really being, 'What is the better option'? That was pretty much it. There will always be something they have to deal and live with, no matter what, making any kind of decision they can make seem difficult and hard.

He wanted to tell her that it'll be okay, that he'll find a way to fix all of this, but before he could utter a sound there was a call in the distant. He tensed, already thinking of excuses as the why he was out here with Audrey, but she already beat him to it. In a blink of an eye, she had pulled herself together, pulling him up to his feet and began urgently instructing him on what they were 'doing' out here. He quickly understood, listening to every word before a knight came riding along on the back of a horse, and Audrey was back to her 'noble' state. Vale resumed his own role, keeping silent and bowing his head to the knight, stepping out of the stream to quickly follow Audrey back towards the castle.

He was silent the whole way, and a bit distracted, tripping over the ground so much that the knight had gotten annoyed and barked at him to quit being so clumsy. But he couldn't help it. The last look Audrey had sent his way had stabbed right through his heart, and he was trying to think of anything he could do to ease the pain she was going through. He didn't care much for money, but if only he had been born of royal blood, so that he may ask for Audrey's hand and fight Benjamin to the death if he had to for it. Then again, would he think of Audrey the same way if he was noble? He wouldn't have been brought to her as a slave then, which would mean he wouldn't have grown up together with her, or develop any feelings towards her at all. Would he be like Benjamin? Stuck up, snotty, self-loving, arrogant, all the points of what a noble should be?

No. He didn't fancy that at all, so it was probably for the best that he had been born a peasant, but still... All these thoughts kept troubling him till they were finally returned to her room. As instructed, Vale went and fetched her dry clothes for her to put on, while maids were already scrambling into her room to get ready to fix her hair. They fretted over her wet locks, running different kinds of brushes through her hair to get rid of the tangles, trying to be as gentle as they could be. Vale set the dry clothes on the bed, knowing that Audrey will be stuck here for a while so that the maids could pretty her up again, and he needed to get back to his daily chores. He had already delayed them long enough. So he glanced her way, flashing a small smile as if to say, 'Don't worry, I'll be back', before he walked to her door after excusing himself. And then he was gone.
 
Royal Cousin, #9e2515

Audrey didn't know what to say to him, but Vale was gone. She was left to the harsh scrubbing the maids gave her. There was a tut here and a hiss there. Audrey was soaking wet before she came in, and covered in grit from the river's bottom. They didn't approve one bit of her falling in. Even if that's not what happened.

It was a full week and Audrey hadn't allowed anyone into her room, save the occasional maid to deliver a meal. She didn't let a single soul past the front door, not a one. Even Vale had to stay outside, cruel as it was, she couldn't bear to look at his face without feeling some twinge of regret in her stomach. Benjamin had simply been told she was ill, riding off her make believe sickness from the day prior, but the longer she holed up inside her room the worse she felt, and the lie turned to truth. Before Audrey knew what had happened, she was bedridden.

Marcellus was the only one who seemed concerned for his royal cousin. He'd tried knocking on the door, "Audrey?" He called. "Are you there?"

"Go away." She squeaked.

That only left a few solutions. He called for a doctor, and left him to it. Audrey had even tried to send him away but it was no good. Marcellus tried to think of who else she might allow in. something told him she wasn't approving fully of Lord Taylor. Although they'd seemed smitten before, always walking around the castle together, the engagement had changed their relationship to a new sour degree. If Marcellus guessed, he would have been sure his cousin hated the man, he'd never seen her look so miserable. Not since her mother passed.

The Prince walked down the corridors in wonder, nearly stumbling over his own two feet on the freshly washed floors. He laughed it off when he saw a servant scrubbing hastily to get rid of the growing dirt. Servants always got a little antsy with the nobles.

"Oh, it's you." Marcellus snapped himself to attention. "Vale, right? You're my cousin's favorite servant lad."

He bent down on his knees to give the man a shake of his hand. The man was just like his cousin, Audrey, they both didn't really care much about the grime. They even shared some notions about slave treatment, but Marcellus was more hush hush about his overall opinion.

"I know this is a stretch, and please, don't mind the scrubbing, I just want to talk." Marcellus waved his hands and tried to get Vale to stop his work. "Can you tell me, what's gotten into my dear cousin? Surely you've overheard something?"
 
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Underdog, #2B3856
The week hadn't been so kind to Vale either. Of course he had been trying to see Audrey every day, and when he was first turned away, it left him a little disheartened. However he shrugged it off, thinking that she was still too overwhelmed with everything that has happened, and wished to be alone for a while. This was his thought the following few days, having gone to her at least five times on each day, but even after that she still refused to see him. Though he tried to find a reason for this, each refusal felt like a slap to the face and a spit to the boot, then a door slamming right in his face. His visits grew less and less, till now it was only one visit a day, and when she still refused him he assumed it would remain that way through the whole day.

Now he was starting to think differently. He knew that Audrey was still very upset about the wedding and how her future was going to be, but usually when her world seemed to be crumbling down around her, that was the time when she needed Vale the most. But now she refused even to see him. He was starting to believe that she was angry with him, that he was also the cause of her distress and illness, but he couldn't figure out why. Had he failed that miserably to cheer her up? Was it because he hadn't actually prepared horses for them to leave, or was it because he even suggested that idea? Or maybe it was because he had asked her to carry his child instead of Lord Taylor's, and that had only caused her more stress? He'll admit, that was a bit out of the blue and probably unnecessary, but he loved Audrey with all his heart. The thought of her carrying Benjamin's child...

He shivered, trying to focus on the many stains on the floor, pressing down on the brush he held in his hand. He was deeply worried about Audrey, for what he had heard from the maids, she had become sick. Actually sick. He wanted to see her now more than ever, but still, she refused to allow him entrance. He had no idea what he had done wrong to cause her to be so upset with him. Never had she denied to see him, but now... It left an aching hole where his heart should be, and he could do nothing but carry on with his life, doing his daily chores. But now he had nothing to look forward to, each day passing by far too slowly, with all the colors drained so that it was nothing but black and white and gray. He didn't smile for the whole week, and he was even quieter than usual, simply giving a nod or a grunt in answer to somebody's question. All he could do was wake up, hope that he'll finally hear the words, 'Come in' when he went to go visit Audrey, then pick up a bucket and a brush.

But he couldn't even do his chores right. His mind was constantly wandering off, thinking about Audrey and worrying about her, that he kept screwing up at his duties. Once he had scrubbed the floors using dirty dish water, which the cook had given him a series of choice words and several lashes with his ladle, then punished him-as if the hot ladle wasn't enough-by making him redo it all over again with clean water, then wash all of the dishes by himself while the other slaves got the day off. Another time he was supposed to carry a bag to the laundry room, but he had mixed up the bag of laundry with the bag of garbage, so instead of dumping clothes into the large bucket maids used to wash the clothes, he ended up dumping a whole pile of garbage inside it. Wasting all kinds of hot and soapy water, while the dirty clothes had been thrown into the furnace where the garbage was supposed to go. This cost him many lashes across his back, then he had to clean the bucket, which took him hours, then wash all the laundry. There were many mistakes like this following, sometimes they were much smaller, sometimes bigger.

Right now he was being grateful that he remembered to use actual clean soap water when a voice pulled him back from his thoughts, "Oh, it's you. Vale, right? You're my cousin's favorite servant lad."

Vale glanced up and was surprised to see the king's son walking over to him, even more surprised that he actually remembered his name, and even more so when he knelt down to shake his hand. Vale hesitated, wondering if this was some kind of test, staring at the hand as if he expected it to smack him. Only Audrey wasn't afraid to touch his dirty hand, and this was the king's son, the noble of all nobles, so he was supposed to be extra stingy about that kind of thing. Or at least... That's what Vale thought.

Then again, Vale remembered Marcellus from his visits to Audrey, though Vale never really personally talked to him. Perhaps only exchanged a few words, but that was it, since he never associated with the nobles. Only Audrey. But he did remember Marcellus sharing similar qualities that Audrey had, a lot actually, so Vale relaxed a little. Still, Vale kept a barrier up, not allowing Marcellus to read his emotions or give him a friendly welcome.

"Yes." He simply answered, reaching out his hand to take Marcellus's, shaking it firmly. "Vale Foyer."

And just like that he was back to scrubbing, keeping his eyes on the floor, not wanting any trouble. However the prince refused, waving his hand so that Vale would cease his constant scrubbing, so he was forced to look up and listen to Marcellus. Hands still.

"Can you tell me, what's gotten into my dear cousin? Surely you've overheard something?"

This made Vale lower his eyes, feeling as if his chest had sunk about three feet, but he didn't allow that emotion to show. Making it seem as if he was thinking. But he wasn't sure what to say. What could he say? 'Oh yes actually. She's very upset because she has to marry a dreadful man with his nose too high up in the air and a foot too far up his ass that he can't think for anyone else but himself, but not only that, she wishes to marry a slave boy who tends to her every day without a penny to his name. In fact they already declared their love for each other and made it official with a night together out in town that just happened some time last week when she pretended to be sick, so that she could run away with him, but now the stress of the forbidden love and the upcoming wedding has made her bedridden. Oh yeah, and you happen to be talking to that slave boy right now!'

Yeah. Nope. There was no way. He couldn't show any sign that even though he was her 'favorite slave lad' that Marcellus put it as, that was all it should be, and nothing more. Just a favorite slave who shared nothing too personal with her, otherwise suspicions would rise if a noble could talk so freely to a slave, no matter how close they seem. So he simply shrugged and shook his head, taking the brush once more and began scrubbing.

"I am only a mere slave." He told Marcellus. "She wouldn't deem me worthy to discuss her troubles with, and even if she did, it's not really my place to share those worries with anyone else. My apologies, Sire, that I can not be of any more help to you."
 
Royal Cousin, #9e2515
The Prince stayed on his knees, knelt beside the slave in a common stance. There was nothing to be shameful for in this way, Marcellus knew. They were both men, both had the same desires and whims as men did, the only thing separating them was their status as noble and slave. He liked to lower himself down if only for a moment to try and see what life was like from the theoretical slums of the bottom. Marcellus would never truly understand, he simply couldn't fathom going days on end without food or proper rest, it was a given that each night he'd fall restless into his bed, thoughts of what could have been kept him awake.

If he were a poor man, he wouldn't be so bothered. Alas, he was born the King's son, and was destined to wonder how best to treat those below him without being so insulting.

"Horse shit." Marcellus blurted.

He was never good at being subtle, not when he felt he was on his way to something important. Marcellus was a good man of politics in this way, no one could usher in a deal under his nose without the Prince smelling something foul in the air.

"You've been by my cousin's side for, what, since we found you out in the mud?" Marcellus remembered the day, oddly enough, but it was still a foggy memory. "Surely there must be something you know. Even so, come with me. It's high time she got out of bed wouldn't you agree?"

Marcellus stood, and held out a hand for the man to take. He wasn't above contact, wasn't above the petty atmosphere around turning up his nose. He was good, aura and intent coinciding in a manner that could only be described as honorable. The King may not have been one to care much for his slaves, but Marcellus still had the common sight to see that all men were human. All men, and women, shared mothers and fathers and cried when they became hungry, and bled at the touch of a sword.

They weren't so different, Marcellus and Vale. Only, one was clad in silken robes, and the other a gritty cloth tunic. Appearances set them apart, and hardly a thing more.

"Come."
 
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Underdog, #2B3856
The words that left the king's son's mouth had caused Vale to jerk up his head and stare at him in shock. He never expected the prince to utter such foul words, or any noble for that matter, especially so freely. However it was clear that the prince had seen right through Vale's ruse, not believing that his and Audrey's relationship was that of a mere slave and noble, though he didn't really seem to suspect that there was much more than that as well. Then he had gotten up, reaching down for Vale's hand, insisting that they both go and see Audrey. Did he really want someone like Vale to join him? To be seen walking with him to go see Audrey?

Vale lowered his gaze from Marcellus's hand for a second. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to go see Audrey, to try to rouse her from her bed, but she refused to see him. What would be different this time? Surely she had turned Marcellus away, and thus has caused him to come seek help, which resulted in finding Vale. Did he really believe that Vale could get Audrey out of her room? Well he was wrong. He was partly the reason for Audrey to being cooped up in there, or at least, that's what he believed. Audrey didn't want to see him, so the prince was wasting his time if he thought Vale could get the ill princess to open her door.

Although... He was still worried about her. Even if she turns him away, he should at least try, right? Yes, that was always his way, is try and try and try. He had been so messed up this week, that he had allowed himself to become too disheartened, when he should be keeping his chin up, to stay strong for Audrey. Maybe this visit will be different.

Yes, that settled it. He tossed the brush into the bucket, not even worried about getting in trouble if he was caught not doing his work, taking Marcellus's hand and let him help him up. Besides, the prince's command was higher than that of Vale's masters, right? He'll only tell them that the prince required his assistance. If they believed him or not, he didn't really care.

"I can't promise anything." He told the prince, keeping that blank mask of his and kept his eyes from looking directly into Marcellus's eyes. "But I'll see what I can do."
 
Royal Cousin, #9e2515
"Good man." Marcellus gave a nod of his head to Vale, slapping his other hand over their joined fists.

He led the way to his cousin's room and didn't hesitate to knock. His knuckles wrapped against the thick wooden door and a hollow echo followed the noise on the other side. There was no answer, and he took this as confirmation to enter. Slowly, he turned the knob and allowed himself entry. Whether or not Vale cared to join him was his decision alone, but Marcellus had the distinct feeling that the boy would want to come inside. His cheeks were hollowed, and his eyes filled with some kind of pain the Prince could identify with. Perhaps Audrey could find a way to heal the boy, perhaps it was the reason he looked so ill himself.

There was something the Prince wanted to see with his own two eyes, a hunch he'd had for some time now, only he couldn't confirm it without the boy nearby. It wasn't an accident he'd stumbled upon Vale in the hall. For years now he'd been subject to what his cousin and the slave thought were sly glances towards the other. He wasn't an idiot, nor was he oblivious to the affection between them. Only problem was, that was Audrey's nature. Was the boy falling hard for the taste of a sweeter nectar? Or had the fruit already given herself up?

Marcellus strolled inside and was startled to find Audrey's room a mess. She was prim and proper, everything always had it's place, both in her life and on the shelf. Books were thrown on the floor, every favorite from her childhood had a crumpled page and a new spot on the marbled floor. A bottle of liquor spilled next to a mirror above her dresser, half its contents were missing. Audrey had never been one to drink in the first place. The screen she changed behind had toppled over, clothes scattered about the floor. Something was wrong with his cousin, and Marcellus had decided once and for all. He had to know what plagued her. Her father was growing frail as the days passed, and if not for the constancy of her own sanity, Anton would not see his last days in peace. Marcellus saw his aunt wither away and he wasn't about to do the same for his uncle, no matter how selfish it was. It simply boiled down to Audrey.

"Vale?" He turned to the lad. "Do me a favor."

The Prince took a few hesitant steps towards Audrey. She was in a deep sleep, perhaps she was high on cloud nine, what with the masses of pillows around her head. Her face was red and raw, for what reason he couldn't say. A passing maid had explained she'd been sick, vomiting at every hour. Another said she'd heard her crying. Both were good to give reason to the state of her face. At least a dream was better than the chaos she'd created down on earth around her. Scattered books and tattered clothes. Whatever dream she was having was bound to be a good one. The Prince turned to address Vale.

"Wake her up." He ordered.

She'd hit me...but not you, would she?
 
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Underdog, #2B3856
Vale was in horror at the mess and chaos he saw before him, his feet glued to the floor just inside the room, unable to take a step forward. Never had he seen even a spec of dirt on Audrey's floor, and he had been to her room many times, yet it was like a tornado had made itself quite at home here. His eyes caught sight of the liquor and his jaw dropped, stunned to realize that his Audrey had been drinking, and lots of it by the looks of it. She never got drunk, hardly ever took three drinks of any kind of ale, even when he took her away to town that one day. This was far worse than he could ever imagine, a stabbing pain entering his heart, before it sank low inside his chest.

This was the mess he had left her in? All those days coming to her door, knocking, there was his mass chaos behind her door. Hidden from the outside world, trapping Audrey in her own miserable reality with no way to escape, keeping all other voices and light from her dark corner. She was forced into something she didn't want, trapped and unsure what to do, so this probably wasn't any different. Who would listen to her anyway? She was unheard, unthought of, or at least thought of the wrong way. He couldn't blame her for falling into such despair, but why would she keep him out, to refuse him entrance to fall so low such as this? Didn't she need him? Didn't she want him? He never wanted to leave her alone like this, having thought that she needed the alone time to recoup, but that was the complete opposite of what she needed.

Marcellus's words snapped him back to reality, the sight before him having caught him with such shock, that he allowed his guard to slip. Although it wouldn't have really given away anything, since anyone would have been just as surprised and shock as he was when entering this room, though probably not hit as hard as he was by it. He followed the prince to the princess's bed, though Marcellus had stopped, seeming unsure. Then he turned to Vale, wishing for him to wake up his cousin, though for what reason, Vale wasn't entirely sure. It never occurred to him that Audrey would hit someone if she woke up.

But did she want to see him? If he went to her, woke her, and she saw him, what would she say? How would she react? Would she yell at him, demanding that he leave her room at once? Or simply turn away from him, pulling her blanket over her head, refusing to see him like she had been? Maybe she would actually hit him, like slapping him in the face, demanding he leave. He had no idea how she was going to react, fearing them all, only wishing to help and care for her.

Whatever way she would react, he'll take it. He walked passed Marcellus and over to the bed, his eyes landing on Audrey's face, gazing at her features. What was once the beautiful, pale cheek face was now rashed from tear stains and the works of the ale, no doubt her eyes would be bloodshot. She was still beautiful to him, but a sad beauty she was, trapped in turmoil she didn't know how to escape. The liquor only providing a temperate sanctuary for her, only to have her wake up hours later to realize that it was all still real, and had to repeat the whole process again.

The sight was too much for Vale. It shattered his heart, wanting desperately to reach for her and hold her, to make it all go away. But he couldn't, not with Marcellus here, yet he wasn't even sure if he was hiding all these emotions running through him. Some might have leaked from his well masked features, his eyes growing sad with longing and sorrow for Audrey, yet he tried hard to fight and hide it. It felt like someone had grabbed his gut in a tight fist and began twisting it, leaving a sick and horrid feeling inside him for the terrible person that he was, leaving Audrey like this.

He leaned over Audrey a bit, looking down at her with his silver eyes over her closed lids, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and gave a light yet firm shake. "Audrey." He said softly, but with enough urgency to try to rouse her from her deep slumber, prepared to take any sort of reaction she might give him. A slap, refusal, anger, any of it at all.
 
Prim and Proper, #6cb031

The tree was burning. Emerald leaves had long disappeared and burned into black char which fell to the ground in heavy chunks. Thick clouds of smoke enveloped the hill, and tendrils and weeds of a dark nature had taken hold of Audrey. They wrapped around her wrists, her legs, and coiled thick around her waist. She couldn't move, nor could she breath, as an illness took over her dreams. The fields she loved were covered in a heavy layer of sludge, and no matter how many servants surrounded her, they could never clear the grime. It was like Benjamin was there, to remind them that they would always be filth.

That I am filth.

Nothing seemed to help. She'd bite and tear, cry and scream until her voice was raw from speaking. It only made it worse. The more Audrey protested, the tighter the vines grew, turning to hands that groped along her body, eager for the one thing she'd allowed a mere peasant to have. She'd given up her innocence to someone as lowborn as a refugee on the side of the road, and not her husband to be, and now the world was punishing her for her misdeeds.

"Audrey." A voice called from above the swell of darkness. She looked up, only to find that there was no haze, but clouds with a thin silver lining. The voice was easy to recognize, a sweet and somber note she'd longed to hear.

The girl opened her eyes. The silver clouds had not vanished entirely, taking shape inside a swirl of Vale's eyes. She reached out and set her hand alongside his cheek. Just as Vale had suspected, her eyes were crimson, bloodshot from the mixture of tears and alcohol. Pain and relief, over and over, until it all nearly came back up in an empty mixture of liquid sick.

"Vale?" She croaked. Audrey was surprised she still had a voice left to her. "Where have you been? Where... "

What day is it?

When Audrey touched him she felt a wave of relief roll over her. The smoke disappeared and the reality set it. Alcohol had been her reprieve for so long, that even the days felt like nights. No color or brightness could alert her to the time or instance of day. The taste of whisky lingered on her tongue for far too long and left her stomach feeling empty, longing for something to fill the pit. It growled in protest the longer she thought about satiating her hunger.

When's the last time I ate?

She had no idea Marcellus was standing there, and without thinking twice she leaned sideways out of bed to try and give him a peck on the cheek. Stumbling like a doe first out of the womb, she faltered a fell halfway out of bed before catching herself on the dresser just behind her. Blushing, she pulled herself up and met Vale nose to nose. Damn the sickness, she thought. Her feverish face was hot to the touch, but Vale's, his lips were sweet and cool as the air outside. She swooped in to capture him at last.

"Why didn't you come back, did I upset you?" Audrey asked tearfully. "I'm sorry, Vale, I should've gone to you first..."

Marcellus turned his eyes away to allow the couple some privacy.
 
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Underdog, #2B3856
That one small touch on his cheek was enough to bring some life back to Vale, never realizing just how much he craved for Audrey's touch, however small. He allowed himself to lean into her touch, thinking that Marcellus will only suspect that Audrey cared for her slave, for it was such an innocent touch to the cheek. Just like he had guessed, her eyes were horrible, red from all her tears and the effects of alcohol. Why? Why did he ever leave her alone? He should have forced himself in here and tie himself to her if he had to.

"Where have you been? Where... "

Her words stabbed him like a fresh blade, making him feel even worse about himself, but it wasn't her fault. Did she really not know? Did she not remember? He was about to answer, but she had suddenly moved towards him, which caused her to nearly fall off her bed. He didn't know what she had been trying to do, but he reached for her, catching her even as she caught herself by grabbing hold of the dresser. He had helped her to sit up on her bed, and before he knew it, their faces were just mere inches apart. The heat radiating from her face was so great, that Vale could feel it, warming up his own cheeks. His eyes were staring into her's, and before he knew it, her lips were on his.

Instantly it was like the world had color again, warming his cold body and bringing life, reminding him that he had a reason to live. He returned the kiss gladly, closing his eyes as he kept his arms around her, forgetting entirely that Marcellus was standing right there. Oh what fools they were, Vale especially, for not realizing this grave mistake. Yet it felt so good, tasted so good, that no one could have thought of it as a mistake. Vale still didn't realize it even as Audrey pulled away, asking her heartbroken question, looking up at him as tears fell from her eyes.

"Of course you didn't." He answered her, taking her face gently in his hands and wiped her tears away with his thumbs, shocked by her question. "I've come back to you every day, but you never wished to see me, and I thought you needed some time alone. But I see now that that was a huge mistake on my part, and I never should have left you alone. Look at you..."

He trailed off, for it was then that he realized what had just occurred, and his whole body tensed. But it was too late, the damage had been done, and there was no taking it back. He glanced over at Marcellus's direction, seeing that his back was turned to them, but there was no doubt that he saw. Yet why wasn't he freaking out? Why didn't he have Vale by the neck or the end of the sword? Surely something was wrong with this....

Perhaps Vale could play it off, make it seem like Audrey had thought he was Benjamin. But no, that wouldn't explain why Vale had returned her kiss and was holding her the way he was now, unless he admitted his feelings and simply took advantage of her. He might at least save her dignity and from a life time of judgement, but he would still end up losing his life. He couldn't just walk out of his, they had been caught, and he wasn't sure what to do. He glanced at Audrey, wondering if she had noticed yet, glancing once more towards Marcellus as if to tell her himself that someone else was here with them.
 
Prim and Proper, #6cb031

"I was so scared that you didn't love me, I just keep hiding from you and I...I didn't want to see you, I thought you would hate me. Truly, I wanted to run away with you-"

"This is all well and fascinating, but do be careful what you say, Audrey." Marcellus finally spoke up and Audrey shrieked.

Finally, the pair both had the same notion. They'd been caught in the act. Audrey wanted to spring out of bed and stop him from running, but there was a slight problem with that. The Prince didn't turn to run, or speak, or do anything that might suggest he was about to rat on the pair of them. Awkwardly, she hung halfway out of bed with much reliance on Vale for support so she wouldn't topple over. Sitting up so suddenly after her rest had made her dizzy and somewhat sick all over again. She covered her mouth with her hand in case she felt the urge to vomit didn't pass.

"I'm not going to say a word about this." Marcellus pursed his lips together in a hard line. He was in a bit of a sticky situation now, having to deal with the star crossed lovers. He went to shut the door and turned the lock in place before speaking again. "But what would you do, run?"

Audrey's eyes lowered shamefully to the floor.

"Audrey, I love you. We are family, do you think me so cruel as to abandon my own cousin to the Taylors?" Marcellus rushed to her side, and with Vale's aid put her back into bed. He pulled the covers up around her chin and sighed with a heavy heart. "How do you think I felt when I was engaged to my own fiancee? She was a strange woman, I've learned to love her yes, but this Benjamin lad is no friend of mine."

"He hates me." Audrey squeaked. "He tried to visit me, once, but didn't even bother knocking..."

"Audrey, that man is vile, I can see it, just as I can see your little game at romance." Marcellus motioned to Vale. "While I don't believe it is false, you must be careful. There's not a whole lot I can do in this situation without putting our family to shame."

"Then shame the Taylors." Audrey suggested, to which Marcellus frowned. "You already know he's cruel, don't let that man marry me."

Her hand slipped out from the covers in search of Vale's. Marcellus could see it from the corner of his eye, but he wasn't going to stop her now.
 
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Underdog, #2B3856
Vale was almost ready to tackle the prince if he went running off to go rat them out, even though that would make the situation a whole lot worse, but he wasn't about to have the entire guard on him. The prince was surely stronger than the measly Benjamin Taylor, but perhaps Vale could get the upperhand, and maybe just knock him out for a few seconds. That way it would at least give Vale and Audrey time to think, then Vale could flee before he could be captured, and perhaps he could stage his own attack on Audrey. That way she wouldn't be shamed or blamed, making it seem as if she thought she was kissing Benjamin instead of Vale, so it would only appear like a slave taking advantage of his sick master.

But no, the prince had remained where he was, but not only that. He had promised that he wasn't going to tell, and went to close the door and locked it. When Audrey sat up, Vale was instantly there to help hold her up, his eyes moving between her and Marcellus. He was still in shock. This man really wasn't going to rat on them? But he was the prince, and part of Audrey's family, which means his name had already been shamed. He didn't care about that? By the sounds of it, he cared more for his cousin than the shame she could possibly bring to his family name.

Marcellus was soon there beside Vale, helping him with Audrey by laying her back down, pulling the covers up to her chin. Vale stood back to give the cousins a moment to speak to each other, studying Marcellus all the while, a thoughtful frown on his face. The prince was still not making any moves to go alert Benjamin or anyone else about him or Audrey, but was it a ruse? To perhaps lower their guard so that Vale would stay in one place while he was actually alerting the guards to come and get him? No... Perhaps not.

He spotted Audrey's hand, reaching for him, so he stepped closer to the bed and reached out with his own hand. He gently wrapped his fingers around her's, keeping his eyes on the pale skin and gently caressed the back of it with his thumb. "You see what this marriage is doing to her. She's so miserable and it's slowly killing her." He told Marcellus, lifting his gaze to look at him.

He didn't expect the prince to change anything, for even the prince had limits to what he could do, but he felt the need to tell another noble besides just Audrey. As if he needed another's insight who wasn't so blinded by their royal ways to actually see sense into everything else, to actually look at something for what it was. It was maddening at times when only he and Audrey could see, to be the break in the line between slaves and nobles, to look at each other as equals. It would be nice to have someone else there agreeing with them for once, instead of trying to hide from every single pair of eyes laid on them and set up a ruse, playing the part as master and slave.
 
Prim and Proper, #6cb031

"Audrey, what have you eaten lately?" Marcellus laid a hand flat against her forehead. It was scorching hot, all of her appeared to be an inflamed red color. The fever was the sure reason for her redness, but the alcohol probably had something to do with it. "Besides the alcohol, and don't lie."

Audrey couldn't blush, not with the particular shade on her skin, but had she not been so ill she would have been bright as a flame. She was embarrassed to say the least, that her cousin could blatantly point out one of the causes of her sicknesses. It had been an irrational decision on her part, to consume so much in so little time, and in such a state no less where her insides already wanted out. Whisky did little to warm her up to the notion of marrying a pompous nobleman, but it sure did warm her cheeks.

"I think..." Audrey bit lightly on the end of her finger. "I had some..."

"Vale?" Marcellus turned to the man. "Would you be so kind as to help me find the Lady a meal?"

"Marcellus, please, I'm fine." Audrey blurted.

"Ah, I suppose it'd be best if I go myself." Marcellus decided, much to Audrey's shock. "I'll leave you in the proper care of this man."

She couldn't complain. Vale had been gone from her world for far too long, the days lost to her weary mind. Audrey squeezed his hand hard, so he'd know that she was alright. She was to some degree, healthy, but her mind was off. Colors had been dulled before Vale's coming and the world just seemed brighter now that the man was back at her side.

Marcellus bowed his head low to the both of them before turning and shutting the door behind him as he took his leave.

"Vale, I'm so sorry." Audrey immediately spat. "I didn't mean to keep you away, I didn't mean to." The tears flowed freely once more, both miserable and joyous.
 
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Underdog, #2B3856
Vale had been ready to go and find Audrey a meal, but he was shocked when the prince changed his mind and declared that he will go and get it, getting up and leaving the two alone. Vale stared after him, still surprised by the gesture that a nobleman, a nobleman was going to go get a meal. Not just a nobleman, but the prince. He was trying to wrap his mind around it, not used to having one of his masters go and get their own meal, but he was pulled out of his mind when he felt a tight squeeze to his hand. He turned his attention to Audrey, and saw tears fall from her eyes when she finished with her apology. All thoughts on the prince were disregarded, his concern now for his one and only beloved, moving to sit on the edge of the bed so that he could reach out and gently wipe her tears away.

"I won't lie, I am a little upset." He said, frowning deeply at her. "I can't believe you would sit here all alone, drinking your sorrows away. That's the devil's drink for a reason, and you are far too good for that kind of poison in your body. If anything, you should have a huge jar of ice cream with you in bed, or a cart of desserts. But... I don't blame you. I just still don't understand why you wouldn't want to see me."

He cupped her cheek in his hand, looking into her beautiful eyes, despite the red surrounding her pupils. Before she could speak he sealed her lips with his, closing his eyes and enjoying the close contact, and enjoying her taste. It had only been a week since they've been alone, but already it had felt like forever, that he hadn't seen her in months or years. He missed the feel of her soft lips over his dry ones, the warm touch of her skin against the rough pads of his hands, although with her cheeks blazing it was more hot than warm. He let the kiss last only for a moment, not wanting to make her even more light headed than she was, letting their lips slowly part. He opened his eyes to look deeply into her's, his thumb gently caressing her cheek, keeping his face close to her's so that he could feel the heat radiating from her face.

"But I forgive you." He said softly. "But next time, even if you turn me away, I'm going to kick down your door if I have to to come in. I never should have left you alone for so long to go through this..."
 
Prim and Proper, #6cb031
Dessert made her stomach growl in fury. Such sweet delicacies were too much even for her noble tongue. Thick waves of white frothed foam made her curl in agony, the sugary treat giving way to a new wave of nausea. If anything, the girl wanted a hard piece of bread, something to absorb the alcohol and fill her stomach.

"No dessert." Audrey panted. Her hand slapped over her mouth, fearing the worst, and dying for a bucket to be sick in. She was too embarrassed to ask Vale to take her into the bathroom. It would have been disgusting for him to be forced to carry her, only to end up covered in sick.

Vale forced his lips to hers, and who was Audrey to deny that sweet taste? It was different than a chocolate swirled cake, or a creme tart. Bitter, soft, and humble were the best words to describe his touch. No one could blame Vale for being jealous of Audrey's current fiancee, unrequited love was a painful story best told by those on the wrong end of the bargain. Although, he still had his happy end, at least for a time, so long as Benjamin never found out about the betrayal. So, she focused on the other things. Despite his ragged hands, raw from scrubbing and hard labor, his lips were soft and tender to the touch.

Audrey couldn't take it any more.

She pulled herself away and leaned precariously out of bed, one leg swung out to meet the floor, and fell short of finding ground. Audrey stumbled, face in her hands as she felt the contents of her stomach moving up into her throat.

"I'm gonna..." She tried to warn Vale.

Audrey pushed past him and fell to the floor on her hands and knees, scuffing up the hard work someone had put into making them shine. None of her mess helped to keep the floors clean. The alcohol especially served to put a sting in the air, and it made her throat go taut with the anticipation of the burn. Audrey heaved once, embarrassed Vale was behind her to watch such a pitiable situation. She hadn't expected to feel so ill in his presence, nor had she intended to push him away, but it was better than throwing up over his tunic.

I'll never drink again.

She stood and attempted to stumble to the bathroom at the other end of the room. Her world was spinning around her in a flurry of clothes and polished tile. Up, down, it hardly mattered, and she was soon falling back towards the floor. Audrey wanted to cry again.
 
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Underdog, #2B3856
Vale felt like a complete idiot and an ass. He didn't mean to make Audrey feel sick by mentioning dessert, he shouldn't have been so dull about her sickness when he brought up the subject, but should have known that it would have made her feel even worse. Not only that, he had forced his lips over her's, when she had begun feeling so sick. Now she was on her hands and knees, all the alcohol she consumed now on the floor, though there wasn't much else to leave her stomach since she hadn't eaten. Once again he had to shake his head from all the alcohol she drank, before he quickly went to her when she tried making it to the bathroom.

She never made it, falling once again to the floor, but that was okay. He quickly grabbed a pillow and a bucket, setting the bucket down in front of her before kneeling by her side, taking her hair in his hands so that he could gently pull it back and out of her way. He had made her lift her knees for the pillow, so that they weren't pressed against the hard tile floor, trying to make it a little more comfortable for her. He shifted his hands so that only one held her hair back, while he began to gently stroke her back to help her with her sickness, whispering softly to her in comfort. He'll wait for a bit till she was done feeling sick, then will get a cup of water for her and clean the mess on the floor, so that it wouldn't only make her more sick later on. The stench will surely make her feel even more nauseated.

"I'm sorry." He said softly to her. "I should have thought more clearly. However I won't take all of the blame since you were the one who consumed all that alcohol."

He wanted to scold her for all her drinking, to get rid of the alcohol bottle and scold her more and more, but no. She was too ill and too weak heartened to hear all that, plus he knew that it wasn't all her fault. After all that she had to go through, it was only natural that she would resort to alcohol to drown out her sorrows, but of course that was only temporary. Never again will he let her resort to whiskey. If she so much as touches the bottle, he'll forcibly take it from her and throw it out the window, or maybe secretly place it for Benjamin to drink by mistake and make him do something stupid once drunk.
 
Prim and Proper, #6cb031
"It's not your fault." Audrey whimpered.

How could he blame himself for her mistakes? It was she alone who decided to take comfort in a glass bottle, when it was empty only then could she have a moment of clarity through the warped container. While she sat there, heaving sick like a dog left out to bake in the sun, she thought back on that bottle, how it had seemed so innocent once full, and dangerous once emptied. Audrey could not blame Vale for a single thing but being the humble servant he was. He was not allowed to come to her side unless asked, and she had pushed him away, putting all the barriers up.

Back up on that marbled pillar we nobles have created...and I threw him down in the dirt.

Vale held her hair as she became sick, the contents, or lack thereof, of her stomach emptied into the small bucket. How she yearned to be closer to the bathroom, so at least she could vomit into a container that was meant to be scrubbed down at least. Nevertheless, she was fortunate to have Vale give her a container at all.

"Don't apologize for my misdeeds." She spat into the bucket with the grace of a mule. "I only...I only wanted to get away, for a while, I...I didn't know what to do. Lord Benjamin would whisk me away, and I'd never see you again, and I. If I just."

Audrey leaned into Vale's side, even as he rubbed her back and whispered sweet words into her ear. She was so undeserving of his gentle touch, a high born woman like herself finding love in all the wrong sorts of places didn't deserve to have anything wonderful, including the man she fell for. It was all wrapped up together in sin, that she knew, but she was drawn to him like moth to a flame. Audrey could never leave, but, she could at least numb the pain for a while.

She reached for the empty whisky bottle, a part of her hoped there were a few drops left so she might daze out again. For the moment had to be a dream. What with Vale there, holding back her hair while she made a mess of her room? Surely it was an impossibility.

"I didn't mean for you to see me this way." Audrey stifled a cry by biting down on her lower lip. "I'm so-"

The moment was ruined by that mulish grace, as Audrey leaned forward to vomit again.
 
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Underdog, #2B3856
Vale could only shake his head as Audrey tried to explain. She had nothing to explain herself for, he could completely understand why she would feel so lost and miserable, that the world was crashing down around her. Who wouldn't? To be forcibly married to someone you didn't love, but not just that, but to someone you didn't even like. Even hated. If Vale had to marry someone like Benjamin and move away from someone he actually loved, then he would he downright miserable too and filled with despair, unsure of what to do. No one was perfect, even a noble, no matter how much they may think they are.

At the mention of Audrey moving away though... That crushed Vale's heart, the thought of never seeing her again making him almost want to reach for the bottle of whiskey, but of course he refrained from doing so. No amount of alcohol will every drown him away from that sorrow, not ever, so he won't even try. But of course if this wedding actually went on, there was no way he was going to be left behind, and find a way to go with her. Even if he had to spend his whole life having his true love be with another man that he served under, then so be it. He won't loose her, even if it meant sneaking around just to be together. But then again... Perhaps that wasn't such a good idea. That would be putting Audrey in a lot of stress and make her anxious, so much to the point that she might become sick again. How could he do that to her? To live every day fearing that she'll be caught and put to shame, a blasphemous wife to her husband, tainting herself with a slave in the dirt. Her children's children will be shamed.

Vale couldn't do that to her. But did that mean he'll have to stay, and watch her ride away with her new husband as they made their way to the Lord Taylors' castle, where they will have kids of their own to inherit their father's throne? Audrey will go on being the perfect princess and move even higher up, while Vale will continue working in the dirt, most likely to be forgotten with the common folk and be alone. To die either by a disease or during the winter days, always fighting and trying to luck out during those hardships so that he may live another year? With Audrey gone, what would there be for him to live for? There wouldn't be a reason to fight then, for he would have nothing to fight for, only live each and every day wondering about the girl he loved who was living with another man.

He quickly pushed himself way from these thoughts in time to see Audrey reaching for the empty wine bottle. He had the urge to snatch it away and crack it against her wall, but instead he simply reached forward and took it from her, a deep frown on his face. "I don't think so. You've had enough to drink, and if I see you place even a single drop of this poison on your tongue, I'll make you sick all over again by listing foods that'll make your stomach churn. Alcohol never solved anything, only make the most brilliant minds the world's greatest idiots, and the most respectable people downright scum. I will not see another bottle, or glass, in your hand again unless it's the reasonable occasion of simply enjoying a drink or two. Understand?"

Now that he was here, he wasn't going to allow her to grow even sicker by inhaling this stuff, her very being stinking of it. He didn't enjoy admitting it, but the stench was all around her, which was no where near a good thing. He was really worried about her well being, and continuing to drink this stuff on and on won't get her anywhere good, and it was time to face reality now and try to solve it with her own mind set in place. No matter how bad her reality seemed. The wedding still wasn't for months, so they had time to be together and to perhaps figure something out, whatever that may be. They couldn't keep wallowing over the fact that she'll be going away, otherwise they'll waste the time they have left together and only drive themselves insane.
 
Prim and Proper, #6cb031
Audrey felt relieved now that each horrid drop of what Vale deemed 'the devil's drink' was emptied from her stomach. She had to say, she truly did feel better, but that was the instant effect whenever anyone was so sick.

"I understand." She replied somberly.

And here the alcohol had done such a pleasant job at masking the world around her. Only now was she free to see what horror was just outside her door. Benjamin still existed, and Vale was absolutely gobsmacked to see his love in such a state. All it had been was a devilish mask, crafted by the brewers of the South. Unbeknownst to them, their Lady Audrey had fallen pray to their clever guise. It was her own fault, she reminded herself, she hadn't stopped herself from throwing back her head once the cork was out.

After Audrey laid her head down on Vale's lap, she sighed heavily. Even thought she'd slept through a week, she was still exhausted. Her rosy cheeks reminded them both of the sickness she'd incurred from her misery. She pulled her hand up and cupped Vale's knee, casually dancing her fingers along the rolled joint hidden beneath his worn looking trousers, stained with many afternoons worth of having knelt on the floor for hours at a time. Her eyes had never been so close as to examine the state of his pants, it was strange, seeing how tired it really looked for the first time. She'd always known Vale to be tired, but to see it with her own eyes was another thing entirely.

"What's it like, Vale?" She asked innocently.

Her question was a little beneath the surface of what it appeared to be. To sleep in a house made of scraps of wood, on a bed so stiff the ground had more comfort and warmth? Vale was paid less than a cattle being sold at the slaughter, but never once did Audrey hear him complain of being sore. He always trudged on for this reason or that.

"Do you ever regret it?" Audrey still couldn't look up at his face, hidden beneath a curtain of oily golden locks. "That we found you, made you a slave instead of...well, I don't know what."
 
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