forum A Thing You Won't Remember

Started September 18, 2022 by @ElderGod-yellowqueen

tune

Lear took the water, watching her for a moment. He glanced at Romulus and nodded in her direction. Can she stay?

Romulus considered it. She was already privy to what was going on, the entire camp was. She was also a part of this particular interaction, since she'd been with them.
He turned to her. "As long as you're quiet, you can stay." He wasn't rude about it, but what they were going to do might become unpleasant if the would-be assassin wasn't cooperative.

Lear nodded and finished his water. He set the cup down on the cot, and both men turned to focus on the man slowly coming awake on the ground.
~~~~

The man came to sitting somewhere he didn't recognize. There was no noise, nothing to alert him to where he was. He opened his eyes, and looked up into the faces of two tall men, one willowy and intelligent looking, and the other built like a brick wall.
He immediately recognized them, and tried to scramble away. The big man reached down and grabbed his collar, lifting him like he weighed no more than an errant child.
"Name." It was a demand, not a question, and with his feet dangling, the man was in no position to refuse.
"Direm! My name is Direm!" His dark skin was beginning to flush red with the fear coursing through him.
"Well, Direm, I'm going to tell you this once. Sit still." The brick wall dropped him on his rump in the dirt, and Direm didn't move.
It was only then that he noticed the woman sitting on the cot behind them both. She was watching, and he couldn't read her expression, but he immediately relaxed slightly. They wouldn't torture him with a lady present.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Lear looked down at the Venian sitting in the dirt. "Care to tell us who you are and why you're here?" The man looked up at him, seemingly calmed by something, and responded sullenly. "I've told you my name, and I'm here because you brought me here."

Romulus stepped forward and placed a foot on Direm's ankle, slowly leaning his immense weight on it as he spoke. "Why don't you try again, a little more polite and helpful."

Direm flinched as something popped in his ankle, and nodded his head. "I work for one of the businessmen whose door you kicked in yesterday morning. And I'm here because I was sent to collect on that debt." He relaxed a little as the brick wall stepped back, though his ankle didn't fell better.

Lear narrowed his eyes. "By businessman, I can only assume you mean criminal. And by 'collect', I assume you were sent to kill me."

Direm nodded. "You're smarter than you look."
It felt like a thunderbolt landed on his head just then, as the bigger man slapped him with an open palm.

Romulus kneeled and got down in Direm's face. "Listen closely: say what you like to me, but you disrespect one of mine, and I'll send you back brain damaged, do you understand?"

Direm's head cleared slowly, but he got the point. "I understand."

Lear just watched. Romulus was mildly terrifying when he made threats, even if you weren't the one being threatened.
"Why did you come? You had to know you were no match for us?"

And here, Direm sneered. "Ah, yes, the mighty Haradrim, invincible, unassailable, unbeatable, right? How could I, a lowly Venian, ever hope to kill you, right?"

Lear didn't rise to the bait, instead egging the man on to get him to talk more. "Exactly."

Romulus stood as Lear did is work. The Venian went on.

"You're not as god-like as you think. Why should we fear you, people who sneak about in the night and slay others unsuspecting. No honor, no sense of glory, just snakes in the grass. I remember a Venian on the throne, and I know how you took what was his." He was frowning now, his face twisting in anger. "The King may not have been a great king, but at least he was from here! And he never would have done what you're doing, we had his support!" Direm was past speaking, he was spitting. "He saw our poverty, and rather than condemning us for the measures we took to survive, he enabled us to live well! We have a large, successful city, Calegon, a jewel in the midst of these pig-sty farms, and you would seek to ruin what makes us great! Our children may suffer, but the futures of their brothers and sisters are secured with their sacrifices!"

Lear eyes widened. There it is. The man had just admitted to the fact that Calegon trafficked its own children, and that the former Crown had not only done nothing, but had encouraged it. Lear knew first-hand about that side, but it was still jarring to hear.

Romulus's face had hardened as the man spoke. He interrupted the tirade with a low question. "So there are more of you?"

Direm glared up at him. "Of course, you bumbling oaf! We are all throughout the city. Our leaders may negotiate for peace with you, but our businesses will not close their doors. And you know that we will continue to have customers." A sick smile crossed his face. "I know your reputation, Prince. I know you single-handedly keep many of the whore-houses in the country in business. How low do your standards drop? How young will you stoop to screw, like a bitch in heat? Perhaps you have even been a patron of ours, indirectly, by supporting a place buying one of our wares! I suppose I sould be thanking you!" A coarse laugh left his throat, his nerves and rage mixing together to make him sound slightly crazy.

Romulus knelt again, down in Direm's face. He didn't respond to the accusation.
He did reach out and break Direm's arm in one hand, like a smaller man might break a bothersome stick in his way.

The Venian yelped, and immediately swallowed his laughter, the fear igniting in his eyes again.

"You're going to tell us everything you know, every location, every person involved." Romulus said evenly. "Or so help me, your family will regret it more than you."

Direm's glare returned. "You would threaten my family?? Your colors are showing. You pretend to be about righteousness and justice, when it's nothing but ego and pride fueling you! A desire to squash us under your boot heel! Well, let me tell you, Your Highness, that we will never bow to a Harad on the throne!"

Romulus again ignored his tirade, and merely reached down and bent one of his fingers the wrong way. Direm yelped and went quiet.

"I'm only threatening your family with having to care for you." He rested his thick palm on Direm's thigh, much too high for comfort. "You wouldn't want them to have to care for a castrated, addle-brained, wheelchair-bound blind man, would you?"

Lear piped up. "You'd better do what he asks, he'll take you apart with just the one hand."

Romulus slid his hand slowly up the man's thigh, a decidedly threatening gesture.

And Direm caved immediately.

Elia sipped her cup of wine and she nodded. "I can be quiet." And she would. She had no interest in torture, only that she wanted to be in the know.
It started out rather boring for her. She didn't care much about his name and such. No, she wanted to know about the children. But it wasn't the answer she was looking for. Her body stiffened and she inhaled sharply.
No, it wasn't true. It couldn't be.
Her body was frozen. Her father would never do such a thing. He couldn't have. He had seven children of his own, why would he condem other children to such a terrible fate.
She didn't realize she was shaking until wine sloshed out of her cup. She murmured a quiet curse and set the glass down before she spilled anymore. She wasn't paying attention to the men any longer. She was stuck in her head, thoughts about what a wonderful father she had. This man couldn't possibly be what they said he was.

It took all of two minutes for Lear to get all the names and locations from Direm. The man was jabbering by the end, frantic to get Romulus to leave him alone.
The Prince hadn't moved, just staying very still very close to the man. It was arguably scarier than watching him in combat.
Direm finally swore up and down that was the end of the list, and Romulus backhanded him across the face, knocking him back out.
"I'm going to take him to Alak and tell the man to make sure he's executed humanely." The Prince stood and carried the criminal out.

Lear nodded at him, and turned to Elia.
The look on her face was distant, as if she wasn't here.
"Are you alright?" Lear asked quietly. "That was quite the condemnation of your former king."

Elia didn't acknowledge Lear at first. Instead, she topped off her glass with wine and downed it all in one sip. She wiped her mouth dry and had already started filling another glass. This one, she didn't gulp down. She just held it in her hands, her fingers tapping against it as a nervous tick.
"I'm not talking about this with you," she said hoarsely, "My-the king never behaved in such a way around me. And everyone saw how much he doted on his children. It is hard to believe such slanders when all my memories of him were caring and kind."
She never saw her father much as a child, he was busy ruling a kingdom. She never faulted him for that. She had her mother who constantly doted on her. But the few moments she did get with her father, especially alone, he had been nothing but kind to her. He showed her things around his office, they would dance together at night when she couldn't sleep, he let her sit on his lap sometimes at dinner. She couldn't accept that he was a monster.

Her reaction told Lear everything he needed to know. No mere noble would jump straight to his conduct as a father in order to defend him. As a king, a just ruler, a man of character, sure. But a father? Not the very first thing.
A child's memories might, though.
He didn't say anything more about that particular point.
"I'm not asking you to, just asking you if you're ok. Hearing the truth of how the common people remember your king can be harsh, especially if you don't believe they know him." He said the last part evenly, his mind firmly fixed on Romulus and the reputation Direm had alluded to. Perhaps Elia was right in defending her king- no one would believe who Romulus really was either. But Lear had also been trafficked by the crown himself, and knew that to be true.
Then again, maybe everyone only hates Romulus because he's foreign and in power.

Elia paused for a moment to sip out of her glass. She looked up at him with a void expression.
"Lear, I haven't been alright for a very long time. That hasn't changed at all. Just add this on top of everything else in my life." She straightened her back. "I can leave now, if you're both finished with whatever you two are up to. I'm sure the kids wouldn't mind a familiar face. And I'm not sure what else there is to do until the kids leave in a bit. Unless you have anything for me."
She looked defeated, tired. And she was. She was starting to give up. What little she thought she knew was beginning to turn into a lie. It was confusing and it made her head hurt.

Lear watched her crumpling, and wanted to help, but of course she wouldn't let him. Venomous indeed. went through his head, and he wondered if Romulus still though of her that way.
Speaking of which, the Prince chose that moment to step back in. "Elia, if you'd like to go check on the kids, the Wulves should be here within the hour, and Lear and I need to talk about Calegon." He gave her a small smile.
Lear nodded at her, his face conveying his sympathy.

Elia nodded her head. She finished her glass, not wanting to waste the wine but also not wanting to drink around the kids. She was quiet as she left the crumbling tent.
She put on a fake smile as she neared the kids. She didn't want them to notice something was wrong with her. She sat down with them, laughing as some started climbing on her, asking for her to di their hair. She obliged. She told them stories of a hero traveling the word, saving village after village, keeping them entertained.
And when the hour drew near, she reminded then to be brave and to be good. They were getting a chance at a better life but they would have to listen to achieve it. She gave then each a hig, some two hugs. She kissed each of their heads.

Lily and Calvin watched her with the kids. Lily was delighted at how well she worked with the children, occasionally going to join when another little one wanted a lap to sit on.
Calvin was a bit more analytical, wondering where this smiling woman had come from. Elia had always been a little more stiff at the brothel, and he understood it, but… this was more than just a brave face for children.
Freedom suited her.
~~~~

"So we're going to root them out all at once with the backing of the city leaders?" Lear confirmed.
Romulus nodded. They'd discussed the issue of Calegon, and how to keep it quiet, and decided that the town would guard its own reputation. The families of the people involved wouldn't want their executed relatives' crimes known across the country, and so they wouldn't spread it abroad.
That, and they would pay for silence if they had to.
"It will take most of tomorrow, if they don't run. Who knows." Romulus shrugged. "I'm just willing to get as many as possible."
Lear nodded. "I'll make sure the men switch and rest in shifts tonight."
Romulus nodded again. "We'll be ready for them at dawn." He was cleaning his armor, Lear working on one of the pieces as well.

The Prince was frustrated, but Lear needed him to be careful. "Romulus… I have a suspicion."
He laid out his thoughts and reasoning slowly, carefully, and watched as Romulus processed it.

The Prince had been feeling better fr a bit now, his head slowly bothering him less and less. This information gave him a headache again.
"So… you feel Elia is not only a hidden noble, but a member of the royal family, likely an heir to the throne?" Lear nodded at him, and Romulus considered for a moment.
"…If she doesn't tell us, we do nothing. At least for now."

Lear nodded slowly. "I just wanted you to be careful. That could go many ways."

Romulus smiled at him. "I appreciate you telling me. And you could be wrong, who knows. But." He picked up another piece of armor. "If you're not wrong, the worst that can happen is she waits till my father is dead and tries to kill me then. That's miles down the road. No need to worry about it now."

"You're sure she'll wait?" Lear didn't think Elia would go after Romulus, but he also knew that she was venomous, indeed.

"She's not stupid enough to try to kill me while he's alive. He'd have her destroyed." Romulus said softly. "If she's stayed alive and hidden this long, she's not dumb enough to jeopardize it now. She has no following, no proof, and nobody to back her. My father wold have her caged as a lunatic and then killed." His jaw tightened at the thought.
"No, we say and do nothing until she either confirms or disproves your theory. And if that never happens, then I tell her one day when we're both old and decrepit." He shrugged. "Better for her to feel safe in her secrecy."

A guard came walking up just then. "My Prince, the Wulves approach."
Romulus stood and glanced at Lear. "Get the kids." He marched out to meet them.

Elia looked up as she saw the Wulves approach. She could feel the unrest amongst the children and she did her best to soothe their worries. She did understand how frightening they could look to little minds. She reminded them to be brave. They would be safe and protected. To start their new lives, they had to ride these Wulves.
She was standing in the middle of the kids when Lear approached. Her smile faltered only just slightly before she forced it back on her face. "They're ready when you are."

(youre totally fine! Focus on your job :) )

He smiled at her. "Thank you. Mind helping me get them strapped in?"

The Prince was in conversation with a hulking beast, all jet black fur and lean muscle. The Wulf has responding to yes and no questions, and Romulus knew what to ask to convey the points they needed. He and the alpha were on the same page. They bumped foreheads, and Romulus came to help get the kids in place.

The process wasn't terrible. Each Wulf carried 3 or 4 children on a harness. The children had to put on a similar small harness, and the harness were then paired. Each child was able to cling comfortably to a side of their Wulf, padded by the thick fur, and far from the ground that might hurt them.
Romulus, Lear, and Carth helped the children strap in. They needed Elia to help calm the little ones. Romulus usually managed just fine, the children recognizing him as a friend, but the other two were less familiar to them.
And besides, being strapped to a 7ft all mass of teeth and fur was a little scary, no matter who you were.
The process took all of half an hour, and then the pack was off, the alpha out front, Carth at the back, heading towards the palace and safety.
Romulus smiled at them as they left. He felt a small weight lift off his shoulders. They were in good hands, er, paws, and he didn't have to worry.

Elia joined them, helping them strap in. Though strap was a bit far fetched. There wasn't much to do with three muscular men. She just tried to help calm the children from their nerves and excitement. She continously reminded them to be brave and calm. They would be safe. They would be protected. Everything was going to be alright. They would have a better life.
She stepped back to let the prince do one last check before they were off. She smiled and waved as the children left. But as soon as they were out of sight, the smile dropped and her body tensed.
"So what now?"

Romulus checked the sun, which was quickly setting, and turned back to her. "I'm going to eat and change these bandages. We rest tonight, prepare for a long day tomorrow, and get some sleep." Lear nodded at him, and headed towards the meeting tent.
Romulus waited a moment, before lowering his voice and asking "What's wrong? You seem tense."

Elia nodded her head. She turned to walk away but was stopped by Romulus. She just shook her head.
"I'm just stressed. Come on. I'll change your bandages for you." She was angry about the lie she had been fed her whole life but she understood that wasn't his fault. He had been kind to her and had been the one to shed light on life she had thought she knew.
She extended a hand for him to take so she could lead him to the medical tent.

Romulus took her hand, but pulled her gently into his chest instead of following her. He looked down at her, his eyes soft, hs face earnest.
"Elia… you know you can come to me if you need to talk, right?"
The information Lear had given him didn't change his opinion, other than to tell him what a horrible weight she might possibly be carrying, and why she'd insisted so strongly on protection.

Elia let out a soft 'oof' as she came in contact with his chest. She placed her free hand on his pec as she looked up at him. "There's nothing to talk about, Romulus." She looked down at his chest, sighing. "I'm just…thinking."
She tilted her head back up at him. Part of her longed to tell him. It would be so nice to just sit down and unload everything. But the way that it was, they were enemies by blood and she wouldn't safe to talk to him of such things. She wouldn't be safe to talk to anyone.
"Whats the plan for tomorrow?"

Romulus searched her face. He managed to clamp down on the small amount of hurt that raised its head in his chest.
She'll never trust me…
He let go of her and straightened. "More hunting down of criminals. We have names and locations and the city leadership backing us. We should be able to cut the thing out by the roots." He started walking towards the meeting tent. "There may be more kids, if you're wondering what you can do. I'm not sure though. Might just be a lot of killing."

Elia smirked at his words. She took his hand to start leading him towards the medical tent. She had to take twice as many steps to match his stride. She found herself easily out of breath.
"I assume I'll be stuck here at the camp waiting. Hopefully, this time I won't be carried off like a sack of potatoes and dumped in my tent when I offer to help."
The dig was aimed at Lear, though he wasn't there to receive her fury. She entered the medical tent and pushed Romukus towards an open cot. She grabbed bandages, a wet rag, and the salve from the previous day. She waved her hand to instruct he take his shirt off.

(don't hate me 😬)

Romulus didn't stray from his goal. He was hungry, so he headed to the meeting tent. When she took his hand, he just kept walking, gently pulling her with him.
He did respond to her jibe. "I mean, you're cooperating now, so… I won't have to give that order." Lear had just been doing what he was supposed to.

Elia glared at his back as she followed him. This would be easier if he didn't weigh a ton and she could maneuver him where she wanted him. "Yes, well, the next tike that order is given I'll cut off your balls and where them around my neck as a trophy. We'll see if anyone wants to man handle me like that then."
She meant every word of it too. She had no qualms getting her hands dirty if anyone mistreated her.

Romulus rounded on her quickly, his hand stopping her in her tracks as he laid it across her collarbone and pushed just a little. "You'll do what?" His voice was low, even, neutral.
Lear had heard the comment and defused the situation. "She wants to handle your balls, my Prince, don't act so surprised."
Romulus looked her in the eyes for a moment, before turning and continuing on to get his food.
Lear cut her a look. "Maybe don't threaten him." She'd done it before, but something had obviously happened and Romulus was not on the mood to just smile and laugh at her venom.

Elia looked down at the hand on her collarbone then up at his face. She raised an eyebrow at him. She was about to open her mouth when Lear intervened.
She turned to Lear. "Then try not to manhandle me again and we won't have a problem. I don't appreciate being thrown around like some rag doll. I've been handled enough in my life. You need me somewhere, you tell me, you don't grab me."
She was tired of being treated like she wasn't human. She was a person and she would be treated like it. She pushed last Lear and walked into the tent

Lear sighed to himself and went to hand Romulus the plate of food he'd gathered. The children are gone and we're back to this. Great.
Romulus accepted the food and sat down. Lear could tell by the look on his face what was happening in his head. "Hey."
Romulus looked up at him.
"Don't go there." Lear turned to go get himself some food, showing Elia where he'd gotten it if she wanted any.
Romulus gave him a small smile and went back to eating. He was trying to think about other things, but…
His head was back to hurting, and Elia was back to snipping, and…
*Venomous indeed *

Elia found a seat somewhere in a corner where she could sit by herself. She had lost her appetite and really only wanted some wine. Unfortunately for her, she left the bottle in the prince's tent. She debated going back to get it but felt it would be too obvious. And she didn't want to put herself somewhere she could be cornered.
So she settled for crossing her arms on the table and resting her head in them. Her head was swimming with memories and voices. She had memories of her father, happy memories. She was always treated well and spoiled. She had a happy childhood for a time. But the man's voice, Lear's voice, swarmed her head with their tales. Everything she had believed to be real was nothing but a falsehood. It made her question why she had even bothered fighting for him. Perhaps she should reveal herself if not to end her line. She didn't want to carry on a bloodline that was so tainted.

Lear for his food and sat down across from Romulus. He glanced over at Elia, alone and thinking morose thoughts with her head down. He glanced up at Romulus, thinking morose thoughts with his head bowed.
Well.
"You two are probably thinking about the same thing." He said quietly to Romulus.

The Prince looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

Lear nodded his head at Elia, then said softly "You're thinking about your father and how wonderful he is, right?"

And Romulus had been. Elia had touched a nerve, several in fact, and he'd been going the exact direction Lear had told him not to.
He put 2 and 2 together, and his heart went out to her across the room.
"I don't know what to do."

Lear nodded, before shrugging. "Hey, I just follow your lead, Romulus." He took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "I don't have all the answers either."
Romulus paused for a moment, bedore looking down at his food. Lot of fruit and venison.
He stood, smiled at Lear, and took his plate to go sit by her.

"Are you hungry at all? He asked gently as he sat across from her. He offered his food, sliding his plate across towards her.