This story is fan-fiction for the game-A Dance With Rogues part 2, by Valine, which is a module of D so hollow and empty. She had felt like that before…one time.
One time, she had been an innocent, care-free Princess.
Some say her father, the King, was a great leader, who was inexplicably betrayed by his closest allies. Others say that he got too greedy, and was blinded by the power his allies, the mighty Dhorn Empire had afforded him. He refused to see the threat that they posed to his own kingdom. The pious Dhorn weren’t interested in gaining allies; only dominance. Pretty Princess Lyanna had no concern for such things, she left those games to the men in power.
Her father assured her that there was nothing to worry about when the Dhorn invaded their borders-it was all just a misunderstanding, and would be amended promptly. Then the Dhorn forces took the city. Her father still calmly assured her that their secure castle would never be breached, things would be all right. Lyanna trusted him, even though, deep down, she was more frightened than she had ever been in her life.
And then that horrifying night came. She could hear the fighting slowly getting closer, like an unstoppable tide. The clashing of blades, loud shouting, agonized screams, she heard it all as she cowered in her bedroom with her handmaiden, Tina. Finally, she couldn’t take the waiting any longer and left the bedroom against her handmaidens’ protests.
That was when she confronted true evil for the first time in her young life. Tina was cut down in front of her without warning. Then the Dhorn officer coldly ordered her own execution. Lyanna didn’t know how she got away from the soldiers, but she ran. She ran and she ran through the castle, but everywhere she looked, her fathers’ men were dead, and there were only her red-caped enemies.
It was in that moment, fleeing for her life in absolute terror, that she first encountered Vico. The black-clad criminal snatched her away into one of the castles’ secret tunnels. He then delivered the devastating news; her parents had been murdered. The Princess was still reeling in shock, when he did the unthinkable-he tore her clothes off and raped her.
Lovely innocent Princess Lyanna had died that night. That was when she had become an empty husk; after having everything-her whole life torn away from her in one unbelievably cruel blow. Eventually, she began to fill that husk, as she began her new life. The criminal organization she had fallen in with; The Family, taught her the tricks of their underworld trade, and she was determined to become the best rogue she could be.
She saw the city of Betancuria in a much different way; not looking down on it from the keep, but being in there amongst it, a part of the chaos. The city could be colorful, artvin escort vibrant and welcoming, as well as sleazy, dark and dangerous. She learned the hard way about black-hearted men who would prey on pretty young women like herself for a fleeting moment of power and gratification. There was no one there to protect her any more, she could only count on herself.
And so she trained in combat with Master Hatori, a long-time member of the Family. The patient master would spend hours with her in the basement below his tea shop, teaching the arts of dodging, blocking and striking. It was not easy for her, but her master could see her strength and determination, and pushed her hard. As a result, she was able to hold her own in most every combat situation, inside and outside of the city.
It didn’t help her when she walked blindly into the drow ambush, though. Once again, she cursed herself for being so stupid. She felt tremendous guilt for the deep peril her party was in.
Now, everything had been taken away from her again. Once again, she felt like a hollow husk. Was Lyanna the rogue dead? Would she have no choice now but to become Lyanna the slave? How cruel the fates could be.
No. She couldn’t accept this fate. There were people depending on her; Master Nathan, who gave her a second chance at life. Chella, who gave her care and comfort when she needed it most. Anden, who showed her there are still some men who still had honor, loyalty and chivalry. Pia, who she loved dearly, and who brought joy into her life once again.
Even Vico, he was an insufferable bastard, but he had saved her life more than once. And there was no doubt that he was loyal to The Family, for reasons she had not yet discovered. She needed his help. They were all counting on her. Lyanna the rogue was much stronger and wiser than Princess Lyanna. She would find a way.
She looked up and saw him standing there-the male drow from the audience chamber when she was brought in. Was he her master? Lyanna picked herself up off the floor. She stood in the middle of the cell to face him, not attempting to cover her nakedness. She just stared back. He was obviously a fighter, by the way he carried himself, and his attire-black and purple light armor, which covered his whole lean, but muscular frame. He also had a black cape draped over his shoulders and a thin longsword sheathed at his belt.
His head was shaved on each side, around his pointed ears, and he had a thick mane of white hair running down the middle. He continued to calmly stare with his intense red eyes. Lyanna had wondered if he wanted to have sex with her, but his eyes never wondered over her body with a lustful gaze. He also didn’t have the look of a master reveling in aydın escort the power he held over his slave. She knew what that looked like.
His face was hard to read, it was almost like he was measuring her somehow. Was he waiting for her to do something? He wasn’t giving any indication of wanting anything from her.
Lyanna stayed quiet, even though her mind was bubbling with questions. She couldn’t understand their drowish tongue, she wondered if he could understand hers’. More than anything, she wanted to know what they were going to do with her, how long she would be left in her cell. She had a terrible feeling that when she would be taken out, it would not be good for her, but it could possibly present an opportunity.
Lyanna crossed her arms in front of her, beneath her large pale boobs as she waited. She didn’t know what she was waiting for. For a few more minutes, the drow just stared at her, appearing very calm and patient. Then, without saying a word, her turned and walked back down the dungeon corridor. Lyanna was left standing there naked in her small gloomy cell.
***
Nathrae made it back to the Great Northern Tunnel and let her lizard mount go free. She walked up along the tunnel several miles on foot until she got to her cache in a nondescript part of the stony wall. There was a head-sized rock embedded in the wall, which she pulled away. She then reached into the crevice and pulled out the small sack and the magical gem that was inside.
The drow woman activated the gem and then spoke to it, “Drider-dung-one checking in. I am heading back to my post now.” The words were magically transported back to her handler at Maeralssin. She obviously didn’t choose her code name. Nathrae waited for a response and any further instructions.
After a few moments, the gem started to glow and she heard a female voice, “Proceed.”
She put the gem back into its pouch and into the hole in the wall. She also carefully rolled the scroll and dagger into her cloak, and tucked them away in the crevice. The rock was then moved back into place, and she made sure that there was nothing to draw attention to the spot. Then she set about covering herself in dirt and cobwebs, scratching and cutting herself in various places with a sharp rock. Nathrae let out a sigh and continued on down the tunnel. She was dreading this moment.
The glowing stones ahead showed that she had arrived. She approached the wooden sign, with its welcome message in several languages. The iron door was closed. The dwarf still thought that she was not capable of opening doors. It was best to let him keep believing that, or he may start locking her away. So she waited outside. She had only been gone a few cycles. She hoped the dwarf balıkesir escort was still looking for her, and she wouldn’t be left out there too long.
Nathrae waited around the entrance. Walking and standing about, getting into her mindless act again. The hardest part of her ruse was dealing with the tedious boredom. She would often reminisce about the past, and her mind would often unwillingly drift to Rizzen. They were enjoyable memories, but often left her feeling sad and empty. She could never have him.
After waiting around an hour, she could hear someone traveling down the tunnel from the north. It made Nathrae tense up. She didn’t know who it was, what if someone wanted to harm her, or claim her? She considered just going inside, but decided to just stay there and keep playing the mindless Tiff.
The heavy footsteps got louder. With her darkvision she could see just one squat figure, and as it got closer, she recognized it as a dwarf or duergar. Then she heard a gruff voice, “Tiff?” Rugnar stepped forward, he wasn’t inside after all. His ruddy bearded face wore a surprised expression, “Tiff, ye come back again. Oh thank the gods.”
Nathrae didn’t look at him, she just stared off blankly at the tunnel wall. The dwarf dropped the large pack he was carrying and approached her. He got hold of her, turned her head, and stroked his big rough hand along her dirty cheek. “Yer in a bit of a state, aint ya? Where the heck have ye been? Ye disappeared not long after those humans were here. I thought that damned rogue had come back an’ stole you away.”
He smiled brightly and then wrapped his thick arms around her. Nathrae let out a squeal as he gave her a squeezing hug. Soon he let her go again and stood back, holding her at arms length. “I wish ye wouldn’t go wandering off like that, ye naughty lass. I aint letting ye of me sight again. Ye can be sure of o’ that.” He unlocked the door and opened it. The iron golem was standing just inside, facing the door. “It’s okay Jax, jus’ me, and look ‘ere, Tiffy has come back too.”
The dwarf took Nathraes’ hand and led her through the short tunnel and into the shop. He started singing some awful dwarven drinking song, obviously in a good mood. Nathrae wrinkled her nose, he smelt worse than ever. He settled his pack down by the stone counter and turned and looked at his dark elf again. “Yer, hungry and thirsty, I bet.”
She greedily accepted the water and bread he offered. Rugnar looked her over, examining the cuts on scrapes on her filthy body. “You were damn lucky again. Ye can’t go off on yer own, silly girl. Something’ll do ye in.”
He heated some water and filled the large metal tub. Nathrae just stood there staring blankly as he undressed her. Soon he was bathing her in the tub, wiping a wet cloth over her dark slender body. She winced as he wiped over her stinging cuts and scrapes. He kept smiling at her, “Ye always come back, don’t ya, Tiff?…Ye know those humans that were here? They gone and got ’emselves caught by that mind-flayer, Raul-Thor. He’s probably made a snack of ’em by now. He sold me some of their gear fer a good price.”