Aidelyn sat at the lake in the female slave's quarters. She was dangling her feet in the water, staring down at her reflection. Drawing her knees up close to her, she wrapped her arms around them and rested her head. She knew the guests for the tournement were starting to arrive, even though it was still early, and she dreaded dancing for them. She always had danced back at home, but it was only for her own happiness and enjoyment, but dancing under somebody like Vlad's instruction was just wrong.

Before long, she felt somebody come up behind her, but Aidelyn didn't care, she left her head resting on her arms. A face peeked over Aidelyn's sholder and smiled at her, another Neried slave.

"You know, you shouldn't always look so grumpy." The Neried told Aidelyn, "It will put worry lines all over your pretty face." She said, outlining where the lines would appear on her face with her finger.

"I don't care..." Aidelyn frowned, "It's hard to believe that just two days ago I was swimming with the rest of my family, but now I'm a slave... a SLAVE!" She looked up at the Neried, "How can the rest of you just... accept it, just like that?"

"Well..." the other Neried said, plopping down, "others had a hard time accepting it too, but," She giggled, "You're the one making a big show about it." She said, then got serious, "You know, if you just learn to deal with it, it's not all that bad. Master Vlad treats us kindly-"

"He treats us like we're nothing more than just his property!" Aidelyn inturrupted her.

"Well, of course." The other Neried giggled, "That's what it means to be a slave. But honestly, if you don't fight with him, you're life will be a lot easier."

"Hm." Aidelyn said, pretending to think about it, but not quite ready to accept her fate as a slave quite yet.

"Well, guests are arriving and are heading for the throne room," The other Neried smiled, "That mean's you and the other dancers will be summoned soon." She nodded then jumped into the water, "Good luck." She said, then became one with the water, making her invisable to Aidelyn.

The group travelled through the castle, examining the decorations and construction. They finally approached the main throne room, with a figure at the other end. Zalbag was getting an odd feeling, but couldn't put his finger on it, so he pushed it away as they went to meet the king of this castle. They finally approached the king, and said, "I am the Magister Zalbag of the Order of the Dragon. I am pleased to come to your humble abode after hearing of the festivities you have planned, and wish to pay my respects to you, the King of this castle." With that, he, and shortly after all the others, bowed to the king respectfully.

Vlad sat on the throne, which was nothing more then a fancy wooden chair. He however did not look like he belong there. Wearing only a black cloak and pants, he sat on the chair sideways, one of his legs half hanging over the arm rest as he leaned back over the side. Tied to his right arm was a chain, which connected to the neck of Atha.

"Not king, ruler. I hate the word king, and you're only a king if you rule over a kingdom. I merely own a large mining village. Now your arrival was unexpected, seeing as usually most people above commoners will announcing their comings before they arrive. But you and two others may join me and my other guest in my booth above the arena. I'll be waiting at the staduim entrance, east wall halfway down the hall."

With that said, Vlad stood up and walk past the group. He tugged on the chain so the nymph followed. On his way out, Jared came out from the side door and walked along Vlad as he gave the slave instructions. "Go find the four nymphs that I told were going to entertain my guest. There is still time before the tournament starts, might as well entertain them a little." Jared nodded and ran back towards the door he had come out of.

Zalbag was actually a bit taken aback by the odd behaviour of the ruler. But he shrugged and said, "Alright, Dezil (The dwarf), and Ssslara, you two will accompany me to watch this tournament. The rest of you shall watch this tournament from the arena seats I suppose. Shall we go?" Dezil and Ssslara nodded, and after Dezil gave instructions to the mercenaries, the three headed towards the doors to the halls, not totally sure when he wanted them there, but deciding it was better to be early then late.

Jared had gotten to the female slave's area and was now gathering the nerieds.

--

The mage and mercenary found Vlad waiting for them all infront of two large doors which were opened, some commoners still arriving and going in and down the hallway to the right. If any attempted to go up the left hallway, two Xodar would stop them.

Vlad saw the group coming, and once they were close enough Vlad aproached them. "The three that are coming with me follow me, the rest go down the right hallway." Vlad turned and went though the doors. Atha winked at Zalbag before turning around and following. Vlad told the Xodars to let a mage named Zalbag and two others with him to pass as he went by them.

(Edit)

The booth stood halfway between the first and second floor, directly in the middle of the oval shaped staduim on the west side. It was shaped like a large box, and every side but the front had blocked off walls, while the front had a window that covered the entire wall. Above that window was a large thing to add more shape to the front, so even Vlad could go there. The other three guest were already there, in chairs near the front. Vlad's seat was a little behind the guest chairs, and stood higher then theirs. Several torches lit up the box, but no sun light entered it.

---

Under the arena, all of the slaves who were going to fight had assembled. The weapons had been deliveried, so each slave were taking the weapons they wanted. What was odd about the weapons what that every one of them were blunt, including the ones that are supposed to have sharp edges. Vlad didn't like his slaves dying.

Zalbag led the others by the two Xodar, and followed behind the ruler. He wondered about that strange womans wink, and he suddenly realized she was chained to him. So he was one of the rulers that believed in slavery. <To each their own> He thought. Regardless, he followed behind in hopes of learning more about this place and seeing this arena battle. After he followed Vlad up into the spectator's room, he looked at the massive arena and commented, "An impressive achievment. The city must do very well for you."

As if on cue, not long after the other Neried left, another slave, appearantly Vlad's messanger boy, came and rounded up the four dancers.

"But we still have at least a half an hour!" Aidelyn instictively argued.

"I'm sorry but some of his guest have already arrived and he calls for entertainment." Jared informed them, leading them down the darkening hallways. Before long, they had been led to a small room with two doors. There Jared left them and went about his other business.

Aidelyn looked around then wondered outloud, "What are we doing in here?" She glanced at the others, and most of them seemed to know what they were doing, <I'll just keep quiet and follow them. I should be alright then.> She thought as she leaned against one of the walls in the room, feeling nervious about entertaining. She would happily just refuse to dance and fight with Vlad, but she didn't want to get the others in trouble.

Jormungand sat in his coils. The tip of his tail wiggling near a bush. The yelps of a lone wolf grew closer. He saw the scraggily wolf approach his wiggling tail. It growled at it and sprung. The tail leapt and wrapped around the wolfs muzzle. Jo encircled the flailing wolf. He gave a quick and mighty squeeze. He squeezed until he felt the heart stop. He then proceeded to distend his jaw and swallow the animal whole. He coughed a bit and then spit up a wad of fur. "I hate furballs." He said outloud.

Vlad took his seat, looking at his other guest. They were talking about petty little things, bragging about new slaves they bought, betting on their own slaves they entered in the fight, and other things Vlad didn’t care about. All Vlad cared about was the money they had brought, and their own trophy slaves they had brought. By the end of the tournament, those would all be his, and probably more. The dancers and the fights were to distract them while Vlad would dominate their minds, little bits at a time.

Atropos, a tall, middle aged man with greying hair, turned to Vlad. "Hey, how about some entertainment?" He asked, laughing in an obnoxious way. Two other two, one short, bald man and another aging human both nodded in agreement.

Vlad merely tugged on his chain. Atha stood up from her position on the chair next to Vlad and walked to a door in the back. Opening it, she smiled at the four nerieds in the room. "Your on." Leaving the door open, Atha returned to her spot next to Vlad.

Vlad was remaining silent, but observed the four men babbling exitedly for entertainment. "Bah, some people have no patience or restraint, what fools and commoners," Zalbag said to Dezil.

"Ahh, let them have their fun. I'm pretty exited to see this tournament, I haven't been to one in years. Give me the roar of the arena any day to dancing or what have you." Dezil replied happily.

Zalbag shrugged. People like that, always in the pursuit of pure pleasure over all else, annoyed him. Nothing tangible or enjoyable, just pure, temperary joy, and they were so easy to manipulate if you promised them what they wanted. <Fools, and no better then common animals> Zalbag thought angrily. He didn't even contemplate talking to Ssslara, who's short attention span was about to burst from all the activity and excitment. Zalbag sat back in his seat with a sigh, waiting for the tournament to start, and focusing his mind on other problems.

As Greg stood there, numbstruck, a little girl was passing by when suddenly she exclaimed, "Hey! That's my mommy's necklace! Help! Police!" The police came running fast and he didn't have time to escape. They quickly surrounded and captured him. As he was brought to a dungeon to stay, he wondered why stealing a fake necklace would be so bad. I mean, stealing happened all the time! He sat on a bench in in his cell and thought about things. Is this really the life I want? Hiding from slave drivers, running from wandering monsters, searching desperately for food? Even going against the laws and inventing? That reminded him, he was lucky they didn't notice his inventions. Why did I leave? Why did I forget my friends, my family?

Aidelyn stared as the other door way opened, "You're on." Atha had told them. Aidelyn shivered at the back of the group, not wanting to go dance in front of other people. If they were Vlad's friends, who knew how bad they would be?

Nevertheless, the four slinked out of the room, Aidelyn at the back. First they stopped in front of the seated guested and bowed deeply to their master, staying in their reverant position until they recieved the instruction from Vlad to begin the entertainment.

Aidelyn noted how they acted a lot more 'slave-like' and reverant towards Vlad when he had guests, especially when ones of higher stature were expected. Aidelyn tilted her head up ever so slightly, while still bowing, inspecting the guests through her eyelashes. She couldn't help but glare a little when she saw Vlad sitting up above everyone else.

Vlad nodded, giving his permission for them to start entertaining. Some of them began dancing while others went up close to the guests talking to them, posing every once in awhile. Aidelyn stayed back, glaring, There is no way in seven hells she was going to dance in the way-too revieling costumes that Vlad was making them wear. She crossed her arms, feeling a pair of eyes or two staring at her. <Damn that Vlad.>She fumed to herself and glared around the room.

Jormungand began to move again towards the imperial capital

As others geared up, including Dezil and Ssslara, and got excited as the dancers came out, marveling at their appearance and beuty, Zalbag seemed to be annoyed by the whole thing. <So easily blinded by carnal desires, pathetic. It is examples like this that makes me realise other races aren't as different from humans as they would like. They simply go to pieces over a display lke this, and forget all that is important. This is just another delay towards me getting a hold of that amulet. Fools, all of them, and all the reason more to get this mission done as soon as possible after this tournament is over, so I can be rid of such idiocy...> Zalbag thought causticly. He watched the girls, but differently, not from a leering angle, but more to observe their abilities. As the dance began, those in the rows closest cheered and goaded the, what species were they again? Nairids possibly, fairly rare outside of more watery areas, and most likely very expensive slaves. As three of them danced and posed for the audience, one stayed back with a sense of quiet hostility about her. <Now that is an interesting one, a new slave, perhaps? One to keep an eye on...> Zalbag thought, watching the show much more casually, but focusing on what must have been a new or at least more defiant slave.

Vlad noticed the same troublesome slave from before not entertaining the guest. Might have to step outside and train her...

"Stop." Vlad said, causing each of the neried to stop what they were doing and take a step back. "You," Vlad pointed at Aidelyn, "why aren't you entertaining the guest?"

ooc: Because she has a strong will, and liked being free to choose her life for herself.

Ic: The journey was going well, Jormungand, however, was feeling tired. He found a lone tree on a rocky hill which he climbed into and took a nap.

Aidelyn glared at Vlad, "I learned how to dance, like you instructed, but I think your guests are staying entertained enough just leering without me moving to provoke them any more."

Vlad was going to speak again, but then noticed that even the mage seemed to be getting into a more relaxed mood by watching the unmoving slave. "Nevermind. Continue." The three nerieds began to dance again.

Zalbag had figured Vlad was about to issue some punishment, but was surprised to see otherwise, and the rebellious Neried had somehow won the argument? There was something more at work here then met the eye... Although his companions were enthralled by the other three, and had only been briefly interrupted by the disturbance. He kept an eye on Vlad as well as the rebellious Neried, trying to figure out the situation, and why the neired felt so free to try and rebel against her master. He let the situation filter through his mind like a problem to examine and solve, occupying his mind far more then the dance itself that occupied the others.

Aidelyn looked at Vlad, surprised. She was expecting to get scolded more, or at least threatened. <Maybe Vlad was sick of arguing?> She relaxed a little, just a little, and turned her head to look out the front glass window. "I wonder when the tournement is going to start..." She wondered outloud. She had never seen a tournement before, and frankly, she didn't know what to expect.

After a minute, the three other slavers had been hypnotized by the dancing, them barely thinking at all as they watched the girls. The mage was to busy thinking to much to notice anything, while the other two were also just watching the girls.

Vlad started to mess around with the minds of the slavers now. He started with Atropos, seeing as he had pinched one of the dancers earlier, Vlad was going to get back at him for touching his things. Vlad began by crushing his mind, making the man think on a very basic level. The change in how Atropos acted would have been more obvious to the mage if he had not been so busy thinking. The rest were to busy staring at the girls.

Deciding that he had done enough to Atropos for now, Vlad clapped twice, causing the dancers to stop. Atha rose and opened the door to the room the nerieds had come from before. "You are all done for now." Vlad told the nerieds while pulling back on the chain.

Aidelyn resisted the urge to go, "but Vlaaaaddy. I wanna waaaatch." Mocking that annoying whiny voice Atha used.

Instead she just turned and frowned, "You mean we don't get to watch this 'tournement'?" She asked innocently, not trying to question him, but she was honostly interested into finding out why so many people found this 'tournement' thing so intertaining. The other Nerieds, and some of the guests stared at her incrediously, agast that a slave would continuously question her master.

Vlad was about to speak, but then a much louder voice filled the entire stadium.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY'S TOURNAMENT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!" Jared was yelling from a smaller booth underneath Vlad's. For a small man, Jared had a very booming voice when he yelled.

Vlad grinned, and turned his chair around to face the staduim. "Very well, you four may stay up here and watch the fights from here." Vlad signaled the nerieds to come over to his chair. Atha got up and sat down on Vlad's lap, making room for the nerieds to sit next to the platform Vlad's seat one on.

The slavers snickered at how Vlad was allowing his slave to do as she pleased, which is what Vlad wanted them to think. It would make it easier to bet against them on the rigged fights if they thought Vlad was a sentimental fool. Atropos did not snicker however, since at the moment he really didn't know what was going on.

Aidelyn glanced at Vlad, surprised once again that he had let her get her way. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, she sat down, and watched out the window, wondering what was going to happen.
Every once in awhile, she caught one of the guests staring at her, either because she was the most outspoken one, or because they had thoughts on their minds... and the thoughts weren't about kittens.
But that was soon fixed because everyone had turned their attention to the stadium, excited for a good fight. She over heard a few of them talking, saying something about hoping the fights would be good. <Fights?> She wondered, wishing she knew a little bit more about what tournements were about. But she didn't have to wonder long because the tournement was just about to start.

His deep thinking was put aside at the announcement that the tournament was about to begin. He wasn't one for the carnal lusts of the dancers, but even he was interested in seeing a competition, a test to see which of two warriors was stronger. It touched the more power hungry part of him like little else did, and now he watched the arena intent on seeing the battles.

The north and south entrances to the arena opened up, and the first two fighters stepped out. One was a large orc wielding a battle axe. The other was a small feles.

The short, bald man laughed out loudly. "Ha! My orc will crush that puny little cat." The other two slavers nodded in agreement.

Vlad grinned, knowing who the feles was. "I think the little guy can take your orc."

The bald man turned around, laughing at Vlad. "Want to bet?"

"Yes I do." All three slavers turned and looked at Vlad. "If whoever bets against me wins, you can take one of these nerieds or this nymph. If I win, I get one of your slaves. Deal?"

The three guest thought for a moment, thinking Vlad might be trying to pull something. However, after having been whipped by the neried a moment ago, they figured Vlad was a wimp. Atropos and the bald one both agreed to the bet.

OOC: Feles is Ecurt's guy, since we have been going on for a while, and we're at 106 post...

(OOC: We did it in IMs again... but it was over 23000 words... jesus.)

Jareth was in the midst of practicing his martial arts forms. He wasn't very adept at using them in combat, but that didn't stop them from being excellent exercise, and a good way to pass the time in his confinement. As a result his shirt and vest were sitting on the hammock, and he was a bit sweaty.

The door to Jareth's cell opened again and a figure wearing an enormous, ornate dress and hairstyle stepped into the opening.

"I understand my knight Nephamael (isweartogodjadifyouusetheblessmesneezelineagainiw illfuckingkillyou) paid you a visit?"

At the sound of the door opening and Renesival's voice, Jareth stopped and turned his attention to the queen, a scab marking where Nephamael's blade had struck him before, on his cheek. "Yes, he did... and he was quite rude. Hardly befitting a Seelie," He spoke as he walked over to the hammock to sit down.

Renesival noticed Jareth's shirtlessness and gasps, covering her eyes.

"Please, put your garments back on!"

Jareth shrugged a bit and tugged his shirt on over his head, not bothering to lace up the neck-line, tuck it in, or put on his vest.

She nodded and peeked through her fingers, then removed her hands, coughing.

"Yes, Nephamael did act rashly, for which I apologize. It was not his place to strike you."

She took a step inside the cell and withdrew a small vial and silk square from her sleeve. She uncorked the vial and splashed some of the liquid inside onto the silk.

Jareth chuckled and watched her prepare the silk, assuming immediately that it was some form of healing salve or a chemical to clean his wound. "You have nothing to apologize for, my queen. I doubt that he came here and attacked me under your order. However, I do humbly request that you order the guards to disarm anyone else entering my cell for the duration of my stay."

"I am afraid I cannot acquiesce your request. You are a risk to our security, you see." She touched the silk to his wound.

Jareth flinched ever so slightly at the touch of the fabric to his skin. Although he saw it coming he wasn't expecting the liquid to be quite as cold as it was. "If I was truly a risk, my queen, you would be foolish to enter here without a guard."

She glanced up at him, still tending to his wound. "Perhaps. Indeed, it was foolish of me. Should I call some guards, just to be cautious?"

He smirked and shook his head slightly, careful not to make her treatment of his small injury difficult. "If I intended to attack you, my queen, it would be too late for that. I assure you, I am no risk to your security so long as I am not attacked again."

She shrugged. "This is all I may permit. The Council would prove furious if I were any more lenient. I am sorry." She finished the treatment and put the corked vial and silk back in her sleeve.

He nodded and brought a finger to his cheek, which he could feel begining to seal shut already, before answering, his voice uncharacteristically serious, "Well, do not expect my mood to be so amicable if I am wounded again... nor should you expect the council to be in kind spirits if I become any less amused with the situation."

"I shall see that he does not lay a finger on you so long as you abide by the rules imposed upon you." She sighed. "I expect you are hungry?"

He nodded and the smirk returned to his face. "Yes, quite hungry... I haven't had a chance to eat yet... and normally I dine as soon as I wake."

She clapped, and a small sprite servant girl came in carrying a tray of broiled pheasant, honeybread and quince jelly, milk and nectarwine, pomegranates, and fresh, split apples, oranges, and pineapple.

Jareth grinned, hopped off of his hammock, and walked over to the servant girl, relieving her of the tray of food as soon as he could. He then brought it back over to the hammock and sat down, slicing a bit of broiled pheasant off and taking a bite before catching himself, and quickly swallowing it so that he could speak. "Oh, I am terribly sorry... I forgot my manners for a moment." He moved the tray toward Renesival. "Are you at all hungry, my dear?"

She shook her head. "No, thank you. I have already eaten." She hesitated for a moment, then took a step toward the door. "If...If that will be all, I shall take my leave..."

Jareth moved the food back into his lap and arched an eyebrow at her. "That is too bad... I normally enjoy company whilst I eat, my queen... but if you have more pressing matters to attend to... well, I am a prisoner, and not a guest visiting for breakfast."

She stopped for a moment, then turned back to him. "Well, then. I have nothing else to do for now, so I shall oblige you."

Jareth smirked and took another, relatively large, bite of pheasant, chasing it quickly with a chunk of apple, and chewed the two together before swallowing. It was quite apparent that he was either very hungry or they didn't practice table manners in his court. "This food is quite good. Are you certain that you are merely serving me left overs?"

She nodded. "Yes. These are the leftovers. We ate all the cakes and lamb."

He chuckled and cut a rather large piece of the pomegranate off, which he then speared with his fork, and then he speared a piece of pheasant as well, eating it all in one bite. "I see," he said as soon as he had gulped it down, with the help of some nectarwine, "Well, as much as I regret missing out on the lamb and cake, this is still more than satisfactory. Give my compliments to the chef... I would do so myself, but..." He gestured to the room with his fork and chuckled again.

"You only have a couple more days." She sighed and clapped again, another pixie servant bringing her in a silk and oak chair. She sat down in it and folded her hands. She cleared her throat. "What the deuce gave you that idea to drug the Seelies?"

He couldn't help but laugh at her wording, and the memories of idiotically gigging seelie faeries. "Well, my queen, it is often amusing to place people in situations they are unfamiliar with. To see their reactions... the seelie being drugged, is one of those amusing out of context situations."

She sighed. "Do you have any idea of what sort of emotional damage you may have caused in doing that?"

He arched an eyebrow and continued to eat, in a more reserved manner. "Emotional damage?" he asked, as he took a normal sized bite of pheasant.

She nodded. "Seelies pride themselves highly on being dignified, intelligent faeries. The loss of control was a very humiliating experience for them."

He chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "They'll get over it."

She stood up, crossing the cell to stand before him. She touched his healing cut with her fingertips gently. "Physical wounds heal, but wounds to the heart last a lifetime, Jareth."

He arched an eyebrow at the unexpected touch, but didn't pull away, or make any movement, stopping for just a second before replying to her statement, "If being humiliated in such a manner is enough to wound their hearts, then perhaps they should learn to prioritize... I was a tad embarrassed at running into that wall last night, as well."

"Prioritize? If you had not been determined to play such an immature prank, no one would have been embarassed."

He shrugged. "Perhaps... but I realize that a few moments, hours, even days of humiliation in a life time as long as ours, is of no importance, easily forgotten and moved beyond. However, could your people look at the situation without feeling shame, they would have a memory to laugh about for centuries to come.

She looked down, silent at the words, "as long as ours."

He glanced up at her. "I apologize. I momentarily forgot that you are still so young. You probably have not even stopped aging quite yet..." He took another bite of pheasant and apple before continuing, "You will understand what I meant in a few centuries... we are immortal creatures, after all."

She nodded. "You are correct. I will not stop aging for another two weeks....therefore, a hundred years seems so long."

He chuckled and finished off his pheasant, which he had been eating steadily through out the conversation. He then drank the remnants of his nectarwine and milk, setting the mostly empty train on the ground. "You are seventeen then?"

She bit her lip. "...Sixteen."

He arched an eyebrow. "Faeries do not stop aging until eighteen..."

"I....am a special case." She looked up and offered a small smile.

Jareth laid down in his hammock and stared at the ceiling for a second, contemplating whether or not to press the matter. He decided he would. The worst that could happen is that she would want to leave, and he was curious.

"A special case?"

She coughed and smoothed out her skirt.

"I am sixteen weeks old, not years. A special spell, you see, placed upon me by the Council. It was...so they would not be stuck with a baby for a queen."

Jareth arched an eyebrow and sat back up studying her carefully. "So... you didn't have a childhood?"

"Oh, I did. Just a bit shorter than a normal fae's."

He shook his head. "A few weeks is not a childhood..."

She waved her hand at him. "It is no matter. A far too serious subject for a jester such as yourself, hmm?"

'They stole her childhood, simply so they could have their queen a bit sooner, and they call my court evil. This is a crime nearly as heinous as killing a child,' he thought with a dark expression on his face.

Jareth gave his head a quick shake, however, momentarily pressing the dark thoughts toward the back of his mind, and forced a smirk. "Yes, far too serious for a jester."

She exhaled softly, obviously relieved at the lighter mood. "Well, then. Is there anything else you need?"

He slid out of the hammock and grinned. "Well, seeming as you are offering... you did say that I could use the bathing facilities, and I did work up a bit of a sweat."

"Of...of course. I shall call a guard and have him escort you."

He shook his head and took a step toward her, closing the distance between himself and her chair. "I would much rather that you escort me, if at all possible, my queen."

She stood, staring up at him. "Well, if that shall be the case, then I shall once more oblige you...but you must have a guard for the bath."

Jareth smirked and shrugged. "I assure you, I will do nothing to require the use of a guard, but if you insist, I suppose I can stomach the presence, so long as he is not rude or obtrusive."

She stared a bit longer. "...May I have your word on that?"

"But of course, my queen. You have my word that I will do nothing to require the use of a guard."

She arched an eyebrow, then exited the cell. "Follow me."

He nodded and walked just behind her, as would normally be fitting of a servant, in order to show proper respect. He had decided to play at being reverent again, like the night before.

She closed the cell door behind him, then led him up several staircases and finally to a very large double door made of oak. She opened them and led him through those, which were actually the doors to her chambers, then to her bath, which was a giant, heated pool surrounded by rocks and plants, and a giant birdcage-like ceiling.

Jareth looked around the rooms carefully as they passed through her chambers. He wasn't quite expecting to be lead to such a lavish area. "This doesn't seem to be the public bathing facility..."

"No, it is my private bath. I do not want to risk anyone seeing you in the public bath." She nods and pulls out a screen, then drags a cushion over to the pool. She sits down on the cushion. "You may undress and enter the pool behind the screen."

Jareth walks behind the screen and begins to undress. 'Her private bath, hmm? I wonder why she agreed to bringing me here.' he looked at the screen, through which he could see her silhouette clearly. "Is it not a risk to bring me here, my queen?"

"No one disturbs me in my chambers unless it is a dire emergancy, and even then, they knock first."

He nodded and sank into the water, allowing his muscles to relax in the hot water before continuing the conversation, "Then we are completely alone here?"

She nodded. "That is correct."

He smirked, although although Renesival couldn't see it, and chuckled. "You certainly are trusting of me, my queen. The other Seelie would never enter a room with me alone and unarmed."

"You did give me your word." She laid back, staring up at the sky through the glass ceiling.

Jareth stretched and slid further down into the heated waters, until only his head was still above the water level. "I suppose I did," he said dreamily, as he lounged in the water. "This pool is quite comfortable. You are welcome to join me, my queen."

She coughed. "That would be highly inappropriate. So, I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request."

He chuckled a little bit from the water and then turned around, crossing his arms on the edge of the pool so that he could look at Renesival through the screen. "You said yourself, we are completely alone here... What is appropriate doesn't matter."

"It does matter....to me." She shifted her head a bit so that her hairstyle would not be messed up. "Do not take advantage of my kindnesses."

He chuckled and turned back around. "I would never think of taking advantage of your... kindness, my queen."

"Oh, now of THAT I am certain." She smirked and stared up at the clouds.

Jareth grinned and washed himself in relative silence, taking his time about it. A while later he stood from the water and dressed himself, still leaving the collar of his shirt unlaced. It was more comfortable, and he doubted if anyone visiting him in the cell would expect him to be dressed for formal occassions.

She turned her head a bit. "Are you done yet?"

He nodded as he stepped out from behind the screen. "Yes, my queen, and I thank you for permitting me to use your bath. I feel much more comfortable."

She nodded. "Of...course. You are welcome." She folded her hands and looked down, trying to think of something to say.

He arched an eyebrow at her somewhat submissive stance. From what he had seen submission of any sort was uncharacteristic of her, at least not shown outwardly. The distance was closed between the two as Jareth walked over to her. "Is something the matter, my queen?"

She looked up again and shook her head. "No, I was just thinking..."

He studied her face for a moment and then nodded slowly. "Well, I am certain that you don't want me to pry..."

She smiled a bit. "Thank you....We should probably head back to your cell, lest someone find you absent."

He nodded and gestured toward her door. "Lead the way, my dear queen, and I shall follow."

Renesival led him back through her chambres and down to his cell, finding the door open.

"...Oh no..."

"My Queen!" said Nephamael, stepping out. "The Rogue has-Oh." He glared at Jareth.

Jareth bowed toward Nephamael, and quickly devised a suitable lie. "My dear knight. The queen was just escorting me back to my cell. I had requested of the guard to use the bathing facilities..."

Renesival glanced at Jareth and then back to Nephamael.

"I am grateful for your devotion to your duties, Nephamael, but please, do not agitate the situation further."

Nephamael continued to glare at Jareth. "Yes, my Lady. I was only worried for your sake that this scoundrel might have revenge on his mind."

Jareth straightened himself and smirked, thinking better than to say anything at the present. He did not want to cause trouble for Renesival, as that she had been the kindest, in her own, cold, way, and he knew that anything he said would only 'agitate the situation further,' as the queen had warned Nephamael against.

"Yes, Nephamael, I am sure. You are dismissed."

The knight scowled and stomped out of the area, rather upset. Renesival turned back to Jareth. "I apologize for that."

Jareth chuckled and stepped through the doorway to his cell before Renesival. "For what, my queen?"

She followed. "Nephamael."

The unseelie king shook his head and casually collapsed onto his hammock. "He did nothing you need to apologize for. I have been called far worse than a scoundrel and a rogue in my time." He smirked and chuckled a little bit. "I rather take it as a compliment."

"How?! Those are both derogatory terms!"

Jareth chuckled again and crossed his arms behind his head, lounging comfortably, and he looked over toward her. "It's rather difficult to explain having pride in something that many believe to be wrong."

"I see...." She continued to stand, facing him. "...Will not the Unseelie Court be curious as to your whereabouts?"

He smirked and looked over at her. "They will most likely assume I got into trouble in the mortal realm again. I rarely tell them where I am going, and so, they don't bother trying to find me if I am gone long. I will probably have to explain myself when I do return, however."

"I see...Does it not bother you? I would feel like no one cares about me if my Court were like that."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Oh no... my court shows their appreciation for me in other ways. They simply trust me to get myself out of trouble, and realize that scouring the mortal realm for a glamoured faerie king is unlikely to yield results... to be honest, if my court acted like yours I would go mad."

She smiled a bit and looked away. "Who says I have not gone mad already?"

He smirked and looked to the ceiling. "You seem rather sane relative to your subjects..."

"Oh, no, we are sane, for the most part. We just have different ideals and morals than you seem to..."

"Which makes them insane," he stated flippantly before returning his gaze to the queen. "You, however, seem to rather enjoy spending time with your prisoners... not that it is a sign of sanity."

She glanced over at him, her eyes meeting his before she broke the eye contact. "...It is not so often that I get to converse with someone from outside my own realm...Actually...the only others from outside my kingdom I have spoken to are enchanted mortals."

He chuckled a bit, having caught the moment of eye-contact, and her quick breaking of it. "Ahh, I see. I am merely an oddity then. Shall I perform tricks for you, my queen. I can juggle rather well."

She blinked and looked back to him. "No, I did not mean it like that! ...I apologize if I made it appear that way."

He grinned and went back to looking toward the ceiling. "Oh, do not worry, I know that is not how you meant it, although it did sound that way... but, having rare occassion to talk to one outside your own realm, you must have many questions, my dear queen."

"I...do. What is the mortal realm really like?"

He stops and tries to sort his thoughts before answering. "It is... both horrible, and amazing. There are all sorts of ways to enjoy yourself that one would only dream of in the Seelie Court, and are not taken to such extremes, even in mine. However, there is also rampant slavery, and other undesireable things."

"There is...slavery here too. I am not naive enough to believe that the mortals we keep...and...perhaps some of the Court....are not slaves..."

Jareth nodded slowly. "Slavery is a terrible thing... there are few things that bother me more, however we have slavery in the Unseelie Court as well, although only technically. No slaver stays alive for long unless their slaves enjoy being slaves... while slavery is, technically, protected in our code, so is killing a slaver."

She looked down and became silent for a bit. "How complicated....things become...when one has more than their own viewpoints to see things from."

The hammock groaned a bit as Jareth rolled over onto his side, allowing him to gain a better view of Renesival. "It is the way of the world, my dear queen. The more viewpoints the world has, the more complicated things become, as each view conflicts with each other view."

She sighed, continuing to look down. "...It is rather disconcerting to have all you have ever believed in torn apart by doubt."

He shook his head and rolled out of the hammock, glancing toward his open cell door to be sure that no one is looking before carefully putting his arms about her just for a moment, a quick squeeze. He pitied her, more now than ever. The unseelie king was good at reading people, and seeing inbetween the lines. He understood what she meant when she said some members of the court were slaves, and he further understood that, until now, she thought her own enslavement was worth it. She was doubting herself, and so Jareth embraced her, although only for a fraction of a second, to be as certain as possible that it would not be seen.

She looked up at him, obviously shocked. "....What...what are you doing?"

He stepped back away from her. "I apologize, my queen... but, I was merely trying to comfort you. Without being seen by any passerbys. I understand more than what you have told me about the situation..."

She stared at him, eyes wide and her mouth open in wonder and incredulousness. "....Do you realize that no one has ever tried nor laid a hand upon me in such a way before?"

He simply shrugged at her shocked reaction. "It does not matter if they have tried or not, I believe that at the time you needed it. If I was wrong then I apologize greatly."

She glanced back down at the floor. ".....Thank you, Jareth."

A kind smile appeared on his lips. "It is nothing any decent man would not have done."

She continued staring at the moss on the ground. "...Is that so..."

"Yes, it is." A chuckle escaped his mouth as he sat back down on his hammock. "However, decent men seem to be in short supply."

She clenched her hands then stood. "...Thank you, again, Jareth. But I must be going now." She took a step backward.

He nodded toward her. "If you must leave, my queen, then so be it. But may I expect to see you again tomorrow?"

"The day is young, Jareth, so perhaps I may come by again later today. Tomorrow is almost certain. Good...Goodbye."

"Farewell my queen... I shall look forward to another visit at the next nearest convenience." He wished he could think of something to say to make her forget her doubts, but nothing came to mind, except possibly making her annoyed with him. "Preferably in something a bit more... comfortable." He winked and flashed a lewd grin.

She sighed with exasperation and threw her hands up. "You are impossibly bipolar, Jareth." With that, she turned and left, shutting the door behind her.

A laugh passed his lips after the door closed. 'Hopefully she'll be too busy worrying about what an ass I am to worry about anything else for awhile,' he thought as he stood from his hammock and pulled his shirt and boots back off so that he could get back to practicing his martial arts forms as he was doing before she entered.

ooc-Sorry if this is late, I'm not really used to battle scenes.

Rovial did not know who the orc was before him, nor he did care. All he knew was that he needed to defeat his large furry foe in front of him.

Ignoring the yells from the announcer and the crowd as well as the various snarls and growls from his opponent, the feles closed his eyes and prepared himself. I just want to get this over with, he thought as he clenched his fist. The sooner the better.

When the signal for the fight to begin the orc rushed forward, eager to spill the blood of the feles before him. Rovial, during this time, had begun shaking and remained firmly planted in his spot as the orc drew near with its axe raised overhead. The orc, as well as many of the bystanders, believed that the feles was frozen in fear and that the large furry beast had already won.

However, when the beast brought his weapon down to slay Rovial the smaller dodged the blade easily, quickly stepping to the side as the axe sliced the empty space he used to occupy. The orc, caught off guard by this, could not react fast enough to prepare himself for the kick that was aimed at his chest, and was knocked backwards, landing on its back. It had been so surprised that it had let go of its weapon when it was hit, and it knew that it was now being ridiculed by some of those in the stands.

Enranged that it had been humiliated so, the monster immediately got back up, snarling and growling as he prepared to strike again. That was when Rovial took fallen axe and used it to crack its owner's skull by using his own speed and the orc's blind fury to his advantage. It did not take long for the pain to sink in, and soon the snarls and growls turned into one continuous scream of pain.

The feles, assured that the battle was effectively over, turned and walked calmly towards the arena's south entrance. It won't die, orcs are tougher than that, but the oaf won't be able to fight in that condition.

Edit-Needed to change some things. Also, I must say I'm glad I don't have to try and write up all the tournament battles.

The short, bald slaver was screaming, having his best orc just lose to a small feles, and having lost the bet with Vlad.

"Now Narth, the slave I'm going to take is that brunette nymph you bought yesterday. You know which one I am talking about." Vlad told the short slaver in a very mocking tone.

Narth turned around, about to yell, then stopped. "Fine..." He grumbled, then turned around and sat back down in his seat.

"And Atropos... I'll just come to your mansion in Rab and pick a slave out." Atropos remained silent.

Grinning, Vlad reached out and put his hand across Aidelyn's shoulder. Looking down at her, he smiled. "This was the first tournament you've seen correct? Did you enjoy the fight? It was a short one I must admit..."

OOC: Once Ch. 2 starts we will skip to the end (Want to do one more fight Ecurt?)

Aidelyn looked up at Vlad with wide eyes, "This is what you people call entertainment?" She simply said. She couldn't believe the barbaric nature of people outside of her sheltered life she had once known.
However, as much as she wanted to deny it, she had felt the excitement when she was watching the battle, never having seen a real battle before. She glanced back out the window, "It was exciting," She admitted, "But, how can you make bets on the outcome something's own life and well-being?" She looked around, nobody else found it strange to take a living creature's life lightly, just as a sort of amusement, "Doesn't anybody ever die doing this?" She asked him.

Let the corruption begin...

"Die? In my tournaments and fights, the fighters never die. Usually they are treated to after the fight." Vlad said, looking at the arena. The orc that had just lost had already been picked up by a team of healers. "Other slavers tend to have their slaves fight to the death however. Those people are idiots. Why buy something just to destroy it? Roughing it up a bit isn't that big of a deal, but ruining one's things is just idiotic."

Vlad grinned, then leaned closer to Aidelyn. "What to know a secret?" He whispered, eyeing the guest to make sure they weren't looking.

Atha was on the chair, staring evily at Aidelyn. Before the fight, Vlad had commanded her so she couldn't make any noises, and the fact that Vlad was paying so much attention to the new slave was annoying her.

Aidelyn glanced out the window again, observing the orc being quickly treated by healers. Then, she looked back up to Vlad, she was still irritated at him calling living things 'property', but she was relieved to know that he didn't just send his slave's to their deaths just for his personal amusement.

Then he grinned and asked her if she wanted to know a secret. She wondered what the secret could be, and obviously, her curiousity gave in and she nodded that, yes, she was interested in hearing his little secret.