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Cameron was waiting at the stables. His own horse, a tan stallion, nibbled on some hay lightly. Cameron had not left yet, thinking he should take his time. His urgency in the matter was not as hectic as Alister's. He found Alister preparing to leave yet again. Cameron caught up with him easily, not fatigued or tired in the slightest. "Hey, Alister!" Cameron rode alongside Alister. "You shouldn't be out like this having searched for her earlier, I presume." He looked ahead, his look far seeing. "A man needs to clear his head and think calmly befor ehe can do things. When they do things out of spite, things tend to be rather difficult. I'm sure Asriel is fine." He blushed a little but the pink tinge was hard to see on his tanned face. "I know she's fine." Yes. After seeing after that girl for the years he had, he was sure that left upon her own devices, she could find a safe place. And with the gift he gave her, he was sure no danger could come to her. But hearing Asriel get herself into trouble...Hopefuly word hadn't gotten too far out. If Asriel's grandfather heard of it, Asirel surely would be hunted and killed. He kept such thoughts to himself though and picked up his pace. "Let's look for her together. It'll be easier and quicker. I mean, I am a foreigner as well," he noted. He rode ahead, glancing at Alister behind his shoulder. The sun rose now, early in the morning. Cameron looked forward again, saying nothign to the prince. He knew nothing personally about Alister and preferred to keep it that way. In reality, Alister took part in the war against Eureka and Cameron, being a former soldier before his post as a mere sapless guard, found distaste with him. But he kept such feelings quiet, only to be polite to this man Asriel called her husband. Alas, however, some time riding to a town, Cameron cleared his throat. "Before the mishap...ugh, did Asriel look well? Has she taken to you yet?" He asked, curious.

Asriel was up early, only sleeping a few hours. She opened the door a crack, looking around before the door was swung open. "So this is the new girl?!" A few girls swarmed Asriel's door all with curlers in their hair and looking quite...unfinished. Asriel grimaced, taken by suprise. The girls studied her, checking her out before lifting Asriel's skirt. Asriel pulled it down, blushing with embarrassment. "Ha ha. I didn't see anything but judging by how you reactd, you're still a virgen, nay?" The girls laughed. This was a brothel after all. The owner waved the girls away with a high look, lifting her chin as she looked at Asriel. The owner was adorned with beads and fabrics, beautiful looking. The girls watched her like a goddess. "Go on, go get ready. Men don't like ugly women," she stated rather nastilly. The girls scampered. The woman looked bemusedly upon Asriel, comforting, and patted her shoulder. "Look, kid, you can stay here for awhile but this place isn't a place for young or the ill hearted." She began to wave her fan. "But if you want to stay here then you have to work. I won't force you to do anything. You're pretty as it is. I guess we can use you for entertainment." With that, she tugged Asriel along to the dress up rooms.

The owner exited rather in a lovely mood, happy in her masterpiece. Finishing Asriel's look was an accomplishment; it was like turning a caterpillar into a butterfly. She left Asriel to the other girls to be taught some guidelines. The owner left the brothel, about ready to start advertising.

Cameron rode his horse in silence. Thanks to Alister, the converstaion was left rather...dull. He sighed, looking around. He wasn't entirely amazed by what he saw. Cameron rode on, admist his own thoughts. A prostitute caught his eye. "So early in the morning, fellows?" The lady waved him down. Cameron stopped his horse, glancing at Alister. "Come on," Cameron murmured, slipping off his horse. The lady's eyes brightened. She gave a whistle; one of the more less attractive girls that worked the brothel tottered out, hastilly taking Cameron's horse. Cameron pocketed his hands, smiling at the lovely women. "Let's go for a little. It can't hurt, right? Besides, I need a drink," he said and was already being wavered inside by the owner, obliged to have such a customer. She eyed the other guy, Alister, and cleared her throat. "How 'bout it ol' chap?" She recognized him from earlier, better looking now. "Look, even though we're a brothel, we sell liquor. You don't have to do anything with the girls if you don't want to," she murmured. "Besides, your friend is already inside. Take a load off." Basically, she was telling him not to be such a hard a**. The owner dissapeared back inside the two story building, Cameron already being lead to a medium sized room with a fire place and couches. The building was riddled with smoke and incents, leaving a rather ominous feel about the place.

Asriel was dressed in prostitute get up, tight and riddled with pins and embroidery. The dress tugged at her waist, she having much difficulty breathing in it, and was too low for her own good. The dress went about her knees and draped down in the back, exposing her skin. She had blushed at first but seeing how she didn't have to exactly talk to anyone today, she guessed it was okay. The owner was really something. She applied cake to Asriel's face, or rather enough so that Asriel's features were no longer soft but sharp and contrasting with dark make up around her eyes and lips made a light pink. Her hair was pulled back, into some sort of wig, curling about her shoulders and pinned up with pretty sparkling things. Truly, wearing such attire was embarassing for any normal woman to have to wear but she admired what they had to go through. Pleasing men. It wasn't like they wanted to do it. Or rather that they had no where else to go. No one wanted them. They were looked down upon in society. Asriel cleared her throat. It seemed like customers were here today in what the girl's called the curtain room. She heard a bunch of giggling from that room.

A woman sat on Cameron's lap. He laughed, seemingly enjoying himself. Another girl, rather wary of Alister, sat next to him closely, snuggling up to him as she tried to make small talk.

"Hey, kid!" One of the much older girls called Asriel over. She did so, keeping her head low. "Since you don't seem to talk much, how about just serving them their drinks, okay? Just don't mess up or you'll have to pay," the woman said irritatingly, handing Asriel the drinks. She never had to serve drinks before and stared at the dark liquid in tall clear mugs in her arms. "Go on!" The woman shooed her off. Asriel tottered over, hesitantly walking. The heels she had to wore, oh how ever did these women do it? The little tassles tickled her ankles and she knew that sooner or later, she'll fall. She already did so four times today.

Asriel entered, eyes casted down as she watched where she was going to step next. She was wobbly, about to spill before catching herself. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Asriel placed the drinks on the table before the two men, trying not to look at them. Dressed like this and knowing people, men, saw her like this was sort of...not degrading but something she'll have to get used to. Asriel bowed her head slightly before glancing at her two customers, almost falling backwards when she saw Alister. What the hell was he doing here? Asriel froze, staring at him with a cold panic before turning away quickly and retreating out of the room. Of course, she hadn't forgotten. No, she would never forget. But to see Alister so soon and here of all places, Asriel didn't know what to think. Did he think he was off the hook now that his wife became the enemy of the country? Asriel felt a little deflated and retired on a chair in the back corner near the bar.

"'Kay, kid?" The owner looked down at Asriel, patting the girl's back a little bit concerned. The girl only shook her head. The owner shrugged then. It seemed the girl went through a lot but the owner was never one to ask of one's past. No, she never asked of those kinds of questions. The girls that came here, looking for refuge, they all had a story. Even the owner herself. It wasn't like it was her dream to be a prostitute or run a brothel or anything.

The owner checked on her two early birds of customers, giving a quick grin to see they were sort of enjoying themselves. Cameron chugged down his second, licking his lips as he murmured sweet things to the one on his lap. The owner slipped into the curtain room, crossing her arms as she came in front of the table. "You two enjoying yourselves? Is there anything you need?" She asked the two, showing only utter courtesy.

Asriel shrank in her chair, watching him in horror. He had noticed her? Of course, obviously with him standing before her as if demanding her to say something. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. She grew frightened and again froze in panic. No, she didn't want to talk to him. She didn't even want to look at him. Asriel got up from her chair uneasily, backing away from him.

"Hey!" The owner strutted over, compelled to defend the girl, not exactly knowing the situation, and stood in front of the man and the girl. She cleared her throat, prepared protect the girl. They had a lot of drunkies and abusers come by so pushy men were quite normal. The owner, well versed, straightened but stood sturdily in front of the seemingly frightened girl. "Look, sir, I can gladly lead you to one of our beautiful women here, anyone you'd like, but this one is a newbie so she's off limits." She didn't want to disrespect her customer though and quickly added, "surely you wouldn't want such an inexperienced girl like her," she dragged on.

Asriel was relieved to be saved by this woman and gave a glance at Alister, knowing very well he was angry with her, before finding sanctuary behind her back.

The woman's eyes widened, watching as Alister meesily pushed her aside. it was like watching someone take their possession, so casually, so possessive, the owner was off guard. However, the woman's flame was still strong and she managed to raise her voice. It wasn't like she ahd anything to lose, right? "Hey! Wait!" She screamed at the man who easily kidnapped the girl. however, no matter how much she begged and screamed, the man simply wouldn't listen. She wouldn't dare touch him though. No not that man ever in her life, not with his kind of family.
Prince, ha! The idea of how complicated matters were in her measily small brothel seemed almost surreal. Cameron clambered out of the arms of the swarming girls, hearing the commotion to what a flabbergasted woman standing in the doorway. Alister was already on his horse with another companion. A girl! Of course, with the wig, the attire, and the angle he was at, Cameron could not get a good view of the girl. however, by the time Cameron ran out the door, Alister had ran off out into a direction Cameron knew nothing of. Cameron quickly asked the owner if she knew anythign and merely shook her head. He cursed, hating being left so clueless.


The had struggled, yes, but her attempts were meaningless. So easily she was put onto the horse, trapped between Alister's constricting arms. So helpless she was, being thrown over a man's shoulders and tucked away on a joy ride. Asriel covered her face the entire way, trying to momentarily blind herself from what was happening. She didn't want to be there, didn't want to see or hear or feel or think about anything. And yet, thoughts and images ran through her head, racing so fast that Asriel felt sick. She tried to break free but after awhile, Asriel grew still, or as still as she could get while riding a horse, losing herself admist a wave of fear.

Asriel allowed herself to fall to the ground easily, feeling rather worthless, a little numb in her arms and legs, and distraught, lost. She winced when she thought Alister would speak, ready to be hit, ready to screamed at, pulled by the hair, dragged in the mud before she would meet her fate in execution. And yet...And yet...She experienced none of those. Alister only spoke what he thought, trying to be as helpful and honest as he could. She shivered and looked away, at the reflection in the water. What she saw was not herself but a disguise. A mask hardened over her face to hide her vulnerable skin and imperfections. It was depressing, degrading and shameful to look at. Self hatred only grew by staring at the blue eyed, wig-wearing prostitue that only sold what she wanted to sell because she thought that no one wanted to know her core. She looked up again with not tears but a face of shame. At least she could do him his one favor and stay there, watching him as he left her alone. She didn't speak, didn't dare to, and watched his back dissapear after what he said.

A bird, eh? She smiled a little to herself, faintly as it was. If she was a bird and the world was her cage, than where were wings. She rubbed her shoulders. Clipped, borken far beyond use, she believed. But Alister was a good man of hope and it inspired Asriel a little to at least flap her wings once or twice to see if she could fly.

Giving a shaking breath, she looked backa t the reflection. She pulled off the horrid, messed up wig and cupped some water with her hands, wiping off the heavy make up. Feeling a little bit refreshed, she pulled out the pocket knife, which she kept on her person ever since she ran away. She had tucked it around her waist band, away from a good eye. The knife held good tidings for her. She looked to the pouch then, its soft surface gentle around her fingers. The clink of money inside reassured Alister's word. He really was concerned, wasn't he? However, he had mentioned a knight and personal guard. She wonder what that meant and grew more anxious than curious.

She coughed, having also caught a fever from the last rain. Asriel checked her forehead. Not utterly too warm, she supposed. She laid on the grass, her back against the ground as she stared up at the sky, waiting, listening to the crunch of Alister's familiar boots to return like he said.