13-01-2014, 03:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 13-01-2014, 03:27 PM by MelancholyFae.)
~ Lady Sidian's Escape ~
She had spent the last few weeks tired and listless, even with Elizabeth and Mercedes living in the citadel with her. She kept considering it temporary; Liz so that she could have some time away, Mercedes so that she was closer to where she was working. They most likely didn't realize how well they had kept her relatively sane while they were around, but Sidian knew her time to leave was approaching ever quicker. Even with their presence there – she felt like they needed her – the disruptive, consistant thoughts of persecution and that last, threatening look of hatred from Daulton outweighed the desire to stay.
The day the guards showed at the citadel – Zark, Orvich, and Daulton – was the day Sidian knew she finally had to leave Ravenna. She knew that day was coming. She had been preparing it for a while by putting things in order before she left. Letters to various people had been written; explanations, apologies, last requests.
She had told them more than once, that she had no place to go, though she never really had any hope that these words would change how she was viewed. She still saw herself as being forced out; an unwanted criminal, thief, enemy... only good to either execute or lock up, and she knew she would rather die than get locked up again.
That left only one choice – to leave Ravenna. She had no actual destination in mind, and since it was winter, she knew she'd not make it far anyway, but she would at least die on her own terms. Sidian's plan was to send the two on errands – delivering the letters to the loower city, and she would make her escape then, out into the wilderness. Those plans were interrupted when Zark showed up in the office, wanting to apologize, and hoping for more explanations.
Rather than explain everything twice, she just gave Zark's letter to her, even while in front of Mercedes and Elizabeth. The conversation turned solemn, and quickly the three had agreed that Sidian would not travel alone, refusing to let her say no. They were going with her, to make sure she made it to her destination. Her plans had to be altered to accommodate.
There were last minute changes with her preparations with Lyrxi, and saying goodbye with a mug of mulled wine with her friends. They were to head out early the next morning, and Zark used this time to guard right inside the citadel to keep others from finding out their plans.
That night, Elizabeth had informed Sidian that she'd be going with her on her entire journey, not knowing Sidian -had- no actual destination in mind. The Xitian woman wasn't able to change her mind, and after hearing her reasons, reluctantly agreed.
The next morning and the four set out, Sidian leading and Zark taking rear guard. The way was rather steep hills, snow, and dense forest for much of the journey, and the Xitian woman stubbornly pressed on even through the cold, wind-blown plains, only stopping under a tree at the top of a small hill, when she was unable to move further.
A quick fire lasted long enough to get Sidian moving once more, and they reached the abandoned village after the sun had set, with Sidian just collapsing inside one of the buildings.
The other three boarded up what they could, made a fire, and rested with warm food and silence while Sidian, bundled up in borrowed furs, stayed unconscious for most of the night.
Morning dawned and the four set out once more, with the Xitian woman recuperated enough to continue, though at a much slower pace. Luckily the area they were walking into, though still with snow, was much warmer, and after midday, the snow was gone and a large mesa could be seen.
They finally stopped at a set of giant gates that bordered the desert, and it was there that Elizabeth finally informed the other two that she was going to continue on with Sidian. A few more moments of explanations, solemn farewells, promises of sending letters, and hugs, and the groups split, with Sidian and Elizabeth heading into the gates, and Zark and Mercedes taking the snowy journey back home.
~~~~
It would take Sidian two more days to actually recover from the cold ordeal, having stayed at the desert gate with Elizabeth caring for her.
She had spent the last few weeks tired and listless, even with Elizabeth and Mercedes living in the citadel with her. She kept considering it temporary; Liz so that she could have some time away, Mercedes so that she was closer to where she was working. They most likely didn't realize how well they had kept her relatively sane while they were around, but Sidian knew her time to leave was approaching ever quicker. Even with their presence there – she felt like they needed her – the disruptive, consistant thoughts of persecution and that last, threatening look of hatred from Daulton outweighed the desire to stay.
The day the guards showed at the citadel – Zark, Orvich, and Daulton – was the day Sidian knew she finally had to leave Ravenna. She knew that day was coming. She had been preparing it for a while by putting things in order before she left. Letters to various people had been written; explanations, apologies, last requests.
She had told them more than once, that she had no place to go, though she never really had any hope that these words would change how she was viewed. She still saw herself as being forced out; an unwanted criminal, thief, enemy... only good to either execute or lock up, and she knew she would rather die than get locked up again.
That left only one choice – to leave Ravenna. She had no actual destination in mind, and since it was winter, she knew she'd not make it far anyway, but she would at least die on her own terms. Sidian's plan was to send the two on errands – delivering the letters to the loower city, and she would make her escape then, out into the wilderness. Those plans were interrupted when Zark showed up in the office, wanting to apologize, and hoping for more explanations.
Rather than explain everything twice, she just gave Zark's letter to her, even while in front of Mercedes and Elizabeth. The conversation turned solemn, and quickly the three had agreed that Sidian would not travel alone, refusing to let her say no. They were going with her, to make sure she made it to her destination. Her plans had to be altered to accommodate.
There were last minute changes with her preparations with Lyrxi, and saying goodbye with a mug of mulled wine with her friends. They were to head out early the next morning, and Zark used this time to guard right inside the citadel to keep others from finding out their plans.
That night, Elizabeth had informed Sidian that she'd be going with her on her entire journey, not knowing Sidian -had- no actual destination in mind. The Xitian woman wasn't able to change her mind, and after hearing her reasons, reluctantly agreed.
The next morning and the four set out, Sidian leading and Zark taking rear guard. The way was rather steep hills, snow, and dense forest for much of the journey, and the Xitian woman stubbornly pressed on even through the cold, wind-blown plains, only stopping under a tree at the top of a small hill, when she was unable to move further.
A quick fire lasted long enough to get Sidian moving once more, and they reached the abandoned village after the sun had set, with Sidian just collapsing inside one of the buildings.
The other three boarded up what they could, made a fire, and rested with warm food and silence while Sidian, bundled up in borrowed furs, stayed unconscious for most of the night.
Morning dawned and the four set out once more, with the Xitian woman recuperated enough to continue, though at a much slower pace. Luckily the area they were walking into, though still with snow, was much warmer, and after midday, the snow was gone and a large mesa could be seen.
They finally stopped at a set of giant gates that bordered the desert, and it was there that Elizabeth finally informed the other two that she was going to continue on with Sidian. A few more moments of explanations, solemn farewells, promises of sending letters, and hugs, and the groups split, with Sidian and Elizabeth heading into the gates, and Zark and Mercedes taking the snowy journey back home.
~~~~
It would take Sidian two more days to actually recover from the cold ordeal, having stayed at the desert gate with Elizabeth caring for her.
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