War

Tags: NC
Ok guys I LOVE the reviews. Thank you to those who read this and show your appreciation. Especially those who started on AFF just to leave a review =). I think this chapter is a fair length so it's just one, enjoy.



8

The sounds of the camp moving in the early morning were too much to sleep through for Catherine. She wanted to, badly, but it was just beyond her. The horses were loud and the overlying voices of men calling commands and slaves going about their morning chores. She sighed heavily and got up, brushing her hair with her fingers before tying it back. It was too short for her to braid anymore. She climbed out of her blankets and into the morning light. Everything was alive and loud and…bright. She looked about her camp, expecting to find Azel up and moving already. She looked at the dying fire, he was gone again. Catherine stared off at the town, her hands on her hips, she found herself to be famished. And HE was off playing in town. She sighed again and looked at the bucket next to the fire. She cocked her head slightly, her brows knitting together. If she remembered correctly there was a small stream not so far away from her tent, just off into the woods. She swallowed, her throat and mouth were dry, water was a good start for her breakfast. She grabbed the bucket and turned towards the woods. She was only a few steps away when she looked back at her camp. Azel had warned her to stay close, what if he came back and thought she had ran away? She looked back at the town, there was no telling how long he would be, and she was dying for a drink of water. She continued towards the stream, her footfalls a little faster than before. She would be back before he, or anyone, knew she was gone.

She made her way quietly through the under-brush; her bare feet immune to the stabbing twigs and rocks. She had been barefoot since she could walk; tender feet were unknown to her. She came upon the stream quickly and admired its clear, cool waters. Nothing tainted its flows or ripples. She knelt down to fill her bucket when she heard someone else approaching. Fear rose up in her that Azel had tracked her. Was he going to be angry? She set her bucket on the bank and turned to face the approaching person. A man, nearly six feet tall and young broke through the trees. He wasn't quite handsome, but he wasn't ugly either. Plain was a good word for him, very plain. He eyed her face and then her collar, which was dried now and a dark brown color.

"Where's your master?" She swallowed hard; something about the way he spoke and looked at her didn't seem quiet right. He stood between her and the way back to her tent, the stream to her back.

"I think he's in town. I came for water, I was thirsty." A smile touched his lips as he took a step towards her.

"You think he's in town?" She knew what he was implying.

"I…I'm not sure. I woke up alone this morning." A little voice in her head began to scream as he slowly neared her. Shut up stupid girl! Quit giving him information!

"So you're alone then?" She swallowed and glanced behind her. The opposite bank was too far for her to jump and reach, the water too deep to try to out swim him. He would catch her easily; her clothes would weigh her down. She hardened her resolve as she faced him again, he was only a few feet away now, she would have to go through him.

"I'm not alone, he should be returning shortly. He doesn't leave me alone for long." He studied her face closely, searching for a lie.

"Who is your master little girl?" She forced her chin up in arrogance. A small smile touched her lips, he would find out Azel owned her and regret having followed her.

"My master is Azel." He closed the foot of space between them, grabbing her harshly by the arm, a sick grin pulling at his lips.

"I think you meant to say me." A scream escaped Catherine's mouth as she tried to thrash out of his grip, she managed to pull herself away but lost balance and fell to the ground. He followed her quickly, seizing his opportunity, his large hand covering her mouth to silence her.

"Now now, be a good girl and do what you're told." His breath fell onto her face in warm gusts as he tugged at his pants, his body weight holding her firmly to the ground. He smelled like beer and tobacco, she wanted to throw up. She struggled against him, trying to bite his hand and beating at his chest and shoulders. Even her hardest hits didn't hurt him. He moved to straddle her and Catherine saw her chance of escape. With all her strength she lifted her free knee and struck him hard between his legs. His eyes bulged as his body tensed and his face turned a strange color. She rolled his paralyzed body from on top of her and struggled to her feet. He held himself and let out a strained breath.

"You little BITCH! I'm going to KILL YOU!"

Catherine flew through the forest back towards her tent. Her lungs burned from strain but she kept moving. She was afraid to slow or look behind her, she was afraid he would be right there if she did, grabbing her and pulling her down again, like a monster from a child's nightmare. Once through the trees she dared a look, still running as if her energy would never end. A solid pair of hands grabbed hold of her as she struck against a chest before her. She screamed and beat against the barrier, the hands that tried to stop her fists.

"Cat, Cat stop!" She looked up at the voice to find Azel, his hands wrapped tightly around her wrists. It was then that she finally breathed; she hadn't realized she had held her breath. Her body felt suddenly very heavy and very tired.

"You must be Azel."

The voice of the man behind her caused her to jump and tense. The adrenaline filling her veins again until she wanted to flee. Azel's cool composure returned as he shifted her behind him. She clutched his shirt and laid her head against his back. She could hear the rumble of his voice against her ear and feel his lean muscles tensing as he moved.

"I am, what seems to be the problem?"

He didn't move, he was planted to the ground, and the other soldier kept a fair distance of five feet. He lifted his finger angrily; his face red with rage and pointed at her. She felt like a child, the way she was hiding from him behind Azel, but she didn't care.

"I charge that girl with violence against a soldier. The penalty being death!"

Catherine tensed against her keeper, Azel looked at her from over his shoulder as she met his gaze fearfully. Her voice was small sounding, even to her, but she managed to speak under his look.

"He..he was going to rape me." Azel looked back at the youth who was still seething.

"And what of it girl? You're only a slave it makes no matter what I wanted to do! You're here to serve ME!"

"I do believe I was the man who purchased her. And I think that I am the one she is to serve. It is a crime to do violence to a soldier, but it is also a crime to steal the property of others don't you agree?" The man growled something under his breath, his temper rising even further now that he was losing.

"She kneed me in the groin for gods sake!" Azel stared at him a moment, Catherine knew it was his paralyzing look, because the youth silenced and looked as if he had been pinched. His icy voice told finality to the argument.

"Leave my sight or you'll have worse done to you, I promise you that." The youth grunted and spit on the ground before turning to leave. She prayed that was the end of it, she didn't think she could go a second round of that. It was then Azel rounded on her and she shrank back from him a little.

"Didn't I tell you to stay near the tent? What were you doing out in the woods anyway? Are you trying to get killed?"

Catherine stared at the ground in silence for a few seconds before Azel sighed and walked past her back to the tent. He sat, by the now blazing fire, and stared at its flames.

"Are you that eager to be away from me?"

She stared at him in surprise and realized why he was so upset. He thought she was trying to run away. She walked towards him and sat in the dirt again, across from him instead of beside.

"I wasn’t running away. I was thirsty, there's a stream up that way and I wanted-"

"He would have killed you." Catherine looked at him in surprise. He was afraid of her dying? She was so confused by him; she just didn't understand his motives.

"I thought he would leave me alone if I told him I belonged to you. I thought he would be intimidated, or afraid." Azel sighed, finally softened a little, or defeated.

"You think everyone here knows who I am. I was only a commander for several weeks; we've gained new numbers that weren't even led under my command in that time. Only half of the men here know who I am. My name won't give you free pass to anything Cat."

She was quiet after that; she wasn't sure what was wrong with him and why he was so upset. She was only a slave, she was sure he had money to buy another if he so wished. He stood and went into the tent for a moment, she watched and waited. He came out with a small leather coin purse.

"If you're hungry I'll go get you some food from the inn, I've already eaten." She stood hastily and followed him on his heals.

"You…you're leaving me here?" He stopped and studied her face. She didn't want to be left alone again.

"You can come then. Just don't wander off." She felt a little weight lift off of her as she followed him into town, and she stayed as close to him as he would allow.

*****

Azel led her through the ever thicker crowd of soldiers and slaves, glancing back from time to time to be sure she was still in his shadow. His anger had left him surprisingly fast, he couldn’t be mad when she seemed so happy to be following him. He threw the idea out of his head, she wasn't happy to be near him she was happy to be getting food. He clenched his jaw as they entered the busy inn, why did he have to do that to himself? She already told him that she was terrified of him, that wouldn't change in a day.

"Azel, good to see you again. I see you've got another hungry mouth." Wallace was behind the counter, apron tied about his large waist. He heard a small giggle leave Cat's mouth but a sharp look over his shoulder silenced her. He was a funny sight, but he was no man to underestimate.

"Yeah she was hungry after the little episode we had this morning." He took a seat at the bar and Catherine followed, although plainly not happy that Azel was sharing her embarrassing morning. He watched as her face turned red and she found something other than him to look at.

"What happened to her boy? Someone else try taking her?" He nodded to him as Wallace went about fixing her a place. He could tell the man didn't approve of how he had kept his slave so far.

"You should keep better tabs on her Azel, you know what can happen to her."

He thought he heard pity in the mans voice as he handed Catherine her plate. She began eating hastily, as if she hadn't eaten in days. He sighed sadly then, she really hadn't eaten since he had bought her at noon the day before.

"You're supposed to feed them too you know." She looked up at him, completely oblivious to what they had been talking about. The pure innocence in her gaze nearly killed him as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Perhaps…you should take her back." He felt a heavy weight set on his shoulders as two pairs of shocked eyes fell on him. Catherine whipped her head around towards the door as the young man from that morning walked in. She looked back to Azel, deep fear in her eyes.

"I could refund her for you I suppose, if it's really what you want." Her panicked gaze fell on Wallace before returning to Azel.

"No, please, you can't." Catherine clutched at his shirt, her body beginning to visibly shake. He couldn't keep her; he wasn't even able to keep her fed, let alone safe.

"I wouldn't mind taking her."

The young soldier approached the bar, standing behind Catherine as he eyed her. Azel couldn't help it as his fist balled tightly on the bar. He hated the man; his brutish types always think they could get what they want by force. The look on Catherine's face was one of total betrayal, a hurt so deep it pained even him. He sighed and closed his eyes.

"I'll let her decide. You can stay with me and leave tonight, or go with him and stay in town."

He watched as confusion crossed her soft features. He had left that little piece of information out. He wasn't entirely sure she would want to leave her beloved town. But something else took confusions place quickly, something hard and true filled her eyes and she straightened herself on her stool.

"I'll go with you Azel."

yay! another chapter done, and a little insight into Azel I hope you guys like him =) next update will be thurs or fri. See you all then, R&R plz!