Tegan and Taj- An awkward romance

Jenrei held Rasera at his side, listening to Mask, far more pleased to see the helplessness in his eyes. When he was finished, Jenrei stood there weighing the truth of his words for a moment. "I don't believe you are telling me the entire truth but for now I'll leave it be at that." Jenrei threw Rasera against the post, knocking the breath from her lungs. Instead of putting them back to back as they were before he put a chain on her ankle and then locked it to the post. "You'll both eventually have these anyway." He didn't feel liking bothering to untie Akar, and then reshackle him at this time. He instead went to his son, who was now sitting on his knees and pulled him up roughly. "What do you think your doing, back to your post." He growled, walking back into his confines.

Rasera felt the sting on her cheek were she was slapped, and tasted a metallic taste in her mouth from the blood and her wrists burned from the ropes that had held her down, but her eyes held true concern for Akar. Now that she had some moving room, she went to Akar and wrapped her arms around him even though his own hands were still bound. "Akar, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She wanted to weep for them, for her helplessness and her apology was all she could give him. She tested the strength of the iron on her leg. There was no budge. She thought for a moment to release Akar from his bindings but as soon as she was planning to make the move two men came to guard them, standing on either side of them. She knew if she made any moves that she would be killed.

Even with Akars comforting words melting her heart, Rasera still felt it breaking. She was what made him weak, what had him getting soft spots in his defenses and this was only proof of it. She didn't voice her thoughts however, and she looked up when he had asked it of her. There was a thin line of blood coming from her mouth, and a dark bruise forming on her left cheek from where the impact had been. Luckily it had been below the eye so it was swelling shut like many facial injuries tended to do.

"I'm alright..." She whispered, looking back at the men eyeing them but doing little to stop them from being together. "I wonder why I was allowed to be put on a chain...?" She asked, looking down at the metal bracelet around her ankle. It gave her a lot more freedom to move and her hands were also free to do as they pleased. If only she could get the two of them alone she would set Akar free so he could leave this place.

Rasera moved slightly closer to Akar, moving so he would not be made more uncomfortable by her being on him. "I love you, Akar..." She whispered, closing her eyes and getting herself comfortable for the night. She fell asleep listening to his heart beat and drifted off into light slumber.

As the first light of morning came upon them, Rasera was literally ripped from Akar and throw to the side. She let out a small scream of fear more so than pain as she landed away from Akar the chain on her leg keeping her from going too far. Jenrei cut Akar's Rope, making sure that there was a man on each side of him before putting the chains around his hands and one of his ankles. He pulled hard on the chains to make him walk to the same horse he was partnered with the day before.

He then grabbed Rasera and put chains on her hands, bringing her over to his horse and chaining her as well. "Play nice now kids." He grinned to Akar mostly, kicking his horse to move.

The day had been much harder this time, the heat beating down on their hungry and thirsty bodies and muscles ached from the long walk. By the time they set up camp Rasera offered no resistance to being chained to the pole. At least this time both of them were chained so they both can be more comfortable. She lay on the ground, breathing heavily as she looked to Akar. "Are you alright?"

Before she could get much out, Jenrei walked over to them, pulling Akar up and punching him hard in the face. "Now, do you plan on giving me any more useful information today?" He growled.

"Akar!" Rasera said weakly when she saw him pulled to his feet and then punched back down. She went over to his side, placing a hand on his chest and placing herself slightly in front of him. She was scared for them, it had been hard enough walking without food let along if they had to do it again with Akar hurt. "Please, he told you all he knew!" She tried to defend him.

Jenrei growled in anger. "Highly doubtful. There are weaknesses you aren't telling me." He grabbed Akar by the hair, ignoring Rasera and pulling him close to his face. His breath came in short, aggravated growls and would have been hot on Akar's face. "Tell me, Where are they?" He said punching him hard in the face again.

"Please! Please stop! He doesn't know! He left them in the middle of their leave from Racksom to find me!" Rasera cried in a half lie, only feeding Jenrei's energy. He liked this ones reaction. He leaned down, cupping her face and grinned. "Is that so, flower?" He held her face leaning in to lick the tears from her face. "What a wounderful taste of sorrow." He whispered into her ear, making her shudder. "Do let me know if you have anything else to tell me." Jenrei said, roughly pushing Rasera away and then getting up and moving back to his own tent.

When Jenrei finally left the two, Rasera moved over to Akar, gently wiping the blood from his face to avoid hurting him further. "Akar..." She had no words, nothing to say to make him feel better. They were both tired and hurting and now it was made even worse for him. As the night went on, Rasera could only lay where she had put her head down. The heaviness in her limbs and the raw pain in her throat kept her from doing little else. Eventually sleep claimed her as she looked upon the stars as she cleared her mind to calm herself. They would make it out of this.

Or so she had thought. A guard, stumbled out of his tent, his arm slung around that of his buddies. He had slashing cruel eyes and his face was red as evidence of how much alcohol he had consumed this night. His eyes landed on the two captives sleeping at the post and he stopped his buddy. "Oiii, don't they look a lil to peaceful...?" He growled, suddenly growing angry. The man stumbled in their direction and went straight for Akar, kicking him in the side and away from Rasera. "Bloody defender!"

The man attacking Akar didn't much like that he wasn't getting the proper attention he so deserved from the chained captive and kicked him hard in the face when he went for Rasera. "Don't ye go playin' wit the girly! I want you." He growled, leaping on top of Akar and pinning him down. His breath smelled heavily of alchohol and his eyes were glazed over slgihtly. "Now now, what you gots to say for yerself?" He asked, making sure to hold his arms down with his feet.

Rasera woke in a start, screaming in pain when her leg was kicked and then began to cough on the dirt that had entered her mouth. She was confused, crawling to sit up and find out what was attacking her in the middle of the night. She looked up to see a rather large man looming over her and her large blue eyes could only stare back to his in fear. "Please! What did we do!" She asked, looking to Akar and blanched when she saw him under the man and obviously hurt once again.

Rasera doubled over on to her side when she was kicked, knocking the wind from her lungs. Her breath came in short, wheezing gasps, not being able to breath well from the dirt she had inhaled a short moment ago. When the swings came flying at her from the man now on her knees, She simply could only cover her head and pray the beatings would soon stop.

The man on top of Akar howled in pain when he felt his nose being broke from the impact and a rush of fresh blood came pouring down his face as he rolled off the man and onto the ground. "Bastard!" He called after him, pulling on his chains to ensure he couldn't get to Rasera and help her. His other hand was on his nose, trying to stem the blood as it dripped down in front of his shirt.

From the noise just outside his tent, Faref knew there was trouble. His father had put down to bed some short while ago and he had no wish to wake the man with this short of trouble. He quickly left his tent, grabbed his halberd and making for where the captives were. As soon as he saw the scene he rushed over, pushing the man away from Rasera and grabbing the man that was holding Akar's chain by the shirt. "Do you know what the boss will do if he finds out you've killed them!" He hissed in anger, pushing the man away from him disgust. "Get out of my sight, both of you, before I tell him of your treason." He growled pushing both men away from him. The man that was Akar grabbed his buddy and ran for their tent, the very thought of what would happen to them if the son of their boss told him such a thing was fa worse than a death sentence.

Once the two men were gone he leaned down with a sigh to Akar first, helping him sit up and offering him some water. "I know your our captives but that gives them no right, I'm sorry." He said quietly, as if his father would come storming out of his tent to scold him. He looked to Rasera, she was in a small ball curled up and half sobbing half gasping for air. Her light blonde hair a cascade behind her and held bits of dirt and blood. He felt honestly bad for the both of them. "If you can stomach it, I can get you guys some food tonight or I can try the next night." He said talking more so to Akar.

Faref looked sadly upon the couple when Akar when and picked Rasera up like a broken doll. This is what happened to war prisoners, eh? He would have guessed they wouldn't get the best of treatment but this was pushing it for the man. They should have been reasonably treated until they were in the city of racksom and under Lord Zartea'rs judgement. When Mask grew more of a confident tone he grinned, unsure how he could have the resolve to take an even tone with him despite the position he was in.

"I'll bring some bread if you can stomach it, just make sure its gone by morning." He said, leaving the canteen in reach of Mask and then standing. He pat his clothing of the dust and dirt before walking towards his own tent. He would be harshly punished for his crimes if anyone found out but this was just...wrong.

Rasera simply laid in Akar's arms, unmoving, not wanting to make ant of her pain worse. She felt terrible, crying like this when Akar had taken the brunt of the beatings but she couldn't help the silent tears the fell from her face. There was no escape for them, and worse if it kept on like this they were going to die.

The gentle tone of his voice only brought on a batch of fresh tears to Rasera's face. How can he still be like this after today? Why didn't he hate her for being his weakness? She was hurt and angry, angry at herself for not being able to be strong enough for him. When he offered her the water she eventually took it, take a small sip or two and relishing the feeling to the liquid on her parched throat. "I can manage to eat something." She crawled out of his lap however and sat across from him brushing the hair out of her face. "I can feel your arms shaking, and I know it is not cold out here." Her tone was sad but determined not to upset him further.

Faref returned shortly after, kneeling in front of the two and giving them each a bit of bread. "Make sure you eat it all tonight and leave no evidence that it was here. I can easily keep account for my own stock of food but if they see crumbs of bits of bread on you and know my rations have been lessened they will figure it out pretty fast." He grinned despite his grave words. "Try to rest, there is another long walk ahead of us tomorrow." And with that he left them once more, going back to his tent to retire for the evening.

Rasera ate the bread she was given in silence and kept her gaze avert from Akars, but instead of sadness in her blue eyes there was a burning anger. She wanted to be stronger, to not weep anymore. All her life she had been weak and if they were going to beat it out of her then so be it.

When Akar finally spoke, Rasera looked back up to him, her large blue eyes moody and sad as she folded her and in her lap. "I feel...so helpless." She said, looking down to fiddle with her fingers. Her heart was breaking to watch Akar be beaten like he was and when they had come for her she could only curl into a ball to try and protect herself. "And...if it were not for me, you would have had a fighting chance to get away." This is where her anger stemmed from, she was the one who made him waver to fight instead of giving in. "I still can't control my power enough to be of use...I've failed you...and it's frustrating..." She was too tired to cry the tears that were in her voice and laying heavily on her heart. She loved Akar, more than anything, and she had to stand by watching him suffer.

Rasera's heart nearly broke with love when Akar spoke to her. He was the gentlest man she had ever met even if they were both suffering as prisoners of war. He had to be tired, and hurting from the beatings they had received and yet he was still trying to make her feel better. It made her feel childish. Though it hurt to do so, Rasera gave a soft, loving smile. "You're right." She said, unfolding her hands from her lap and touching his face lightly, briefly. "Thank you." He had enough courage and strength for the both of them it seemed. Soon after Rasera had fallen into a light sleep with Akar as the rest of the night went by.

"Get up." She heard gruffly, being kicked in the back to wake up. Seems they were leaving again and Rasera was pulled away from Akar and tied to the horse she had been for the past few days. Another long walk. Jenrei looked back to his captive with a sly grin on his face. The two of them looked like they had visitors last night and none all too friendly. But it had done them some good, neither was putting up a fight now and they walked with their eyes on the ground. A beautifully broken spirit. Jenrei stopped at the end of the evening but called over the other rider that was holding Akar that day. "It seems you have learned to behave a bit. It's been three days, "He looked up to the man holding Akar's bindings, "Give them food and water. They'd be of no use to me dead and we are less than a day’s ride to Racksom."

The man nodded, pulling on Akar's ropes and pulling Rasera along with him now. He set them up on the post and left them with a canteen of water and some bread. Without another word or action, he left them.

Rasera sighed when she finally sat down, giving a small smile to Akar. "Here that? We are nearly there."

Rasera took a small piece of bread and then looked down when Akar brought up the point that their destination probably wasn't going to be any more pleasant once they got there. "I'm not sure." Rasera admitted, "But what choice do we have?" Rasera asked, looking up to him seriously. "At least we wouldn't be walking anymore."

Jenrei walked over to where Rasera and Akar were sitting a short while later and grabbed their ropes, pulling them up. "We are leaving and making for the city. Give me any trouble and I'll have no issues beating you within an inch of your life." This time, he tied the two of them together by the hand and then tied them to his own horse.

Rasera sent a small smile to Akar, seems they get to walk into town together...for whatever fate would hold for them.


(Message me, and we can decided whether or not to end here. We don't have to : ) )