Jira walked into the kitchen. "Dear, we have a guest."
The woman turned at the sound of his voice, and her face got very pale at the sight of Filia standing beside him. "Dear god..."
Filia looked around nervously, her hands clasped in front of her meekly, watching the woman with wide hopeful eyes, slightly creased in worry at her reaction.
Jira sighed softly. "Dear..... you said that you didn't like how they were treating them..... now's our chance to set things right."
Filia looked at the woman, her eyes pleading softly. "I know it's a lot to ask of you...demo...we really need your help...."
The woman looked a bit pale, but slowly nodded. "Yes.... yes of course.." She smiled at Filia, then offered her a chair at the table. "Please sit, you must be exhausted, you look terrible my dear."
Filia sighed taking the chair in relief. "Oh thank you so much.."
Jira sat down at the table, taking some of his heavier armor off. "So.... the plan is to go back and somehow get him out, though I'm not sure how yet."
Filia took a sip of her tea that was whipped out of who knows where. "Well the other guard said that his door will be open when they go to serve him his meals.. "
Jira nodded. "Yes..... so somehow we have to get him out then."
Filia thought a moment. "I have an idea!" They both looked at her. "If I can borrow an apron and a wig or something, I can be the maid who brings him his meal and you the guard who accompanies me!"
Jira grinned wide and chuckled. "Yeah, that would work!"
"I happen to be an ex-dramatic so this should be easy." His wife chipped in.
"Great!" Filia smiled taking another sip of her tea calmly now that they had a plan. "I can't wait to get him out of there...when we do I'll repay the two of you for helping us so much."
Jira shook his head and smirked. "No need dear. we want to help."
"Demo...your both risking your lives! I want to repay you.. ."
"You don't need to, we're just doing what's right."
Filia smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you..."
"Ok dear, let's get you suited up." The woman said with a smile. She took Filia's hand and led her upstairs closing the door to the room they went in. "Let's see..."
Filia thought of something then. "Oh...your husband will need this to report back to the council.." She ripped a part of her dress off and held it out to the woman. "Ano...I need a small wound or somehow get blood on this..."
The woman looked at her worriedly, but handed her a needle. "Will this do?"
She bit her lip. "I'm afraid I need something bigger..." She cringed at the thought.
She frowned slightly. "Are you sure?....
She paled considerably. "Well there really is no other way to convince them of my death."
She bit her lip. "Demo..... there's got to be... an easier way..."
"Have any suggestions?"
She looked thoughtful, then smiled suddenly. "Yes actually...." She looked around, then grabbed an empty perfume bottle and washed it out, then handed it to her. "Put one drop of blood in here, and we'll replicate it."
Filia stared at it. "Replicate?" Her eyes widened. "How?" She took the needle and did as asked, handing the bottle back to her.
She smiled and murmured a word and the bottle began to glow, then the blood began to copy itself again and again. "Being an actor has it's plus sides...how to make blood..."
Filia giggled lightly. "Wow..."
The woman nodded at the now full bottle. "There we go." Filia held out the piece of material to her, and the woman took it, spread it down and began to sprinkle blood over it. Filia paled slightly at that, but stayed quiet. However, she noticed and put a hand on Filia's shoulder. "Are you ok?"
"Y..yes, I just... don't like seeing blood."
The woman nodded. "I understand."
Smiling faintly, Filia nodded. "Thanks."
The woman nodded, then glanced down at her job appraisingly. "What do you think, convincing?"
Paling again, Filia nodded. "H...hai."
The woman nodded, then put the cloth in a bag so it wouldn't get everywhere, washed her hands, then nodded to a chair in front of the dresser. "Now then, dress in this." She handed Filia some clothes to change into.
Filia did as asked, and began to change. "What is it?"
"A maid's outfit... it's the court outfit type, so you'll fit right in."
She smiled. "Great....." She finished dressing, and modeled it off, her tail poking through slightly. "What do you think?"
She looked her up and down, straightening something here and there, and smiling. "Great. You look good enough, just hide that tail. Sit down here and we'll do your makeup." She smiled and sat down in front of the mirror as asked. The woman nodded and began to pull her hair up and back into a bun. Filia looked into the mirror in front of her, then clasped her hands together in her lap and looked down at them, a million thoughts going through her mind at once as the woman whistled cheerily while she worked. "You care for him don't you?"
Filia blushed suddenly, startled by the question, and looked down, making her force her head back up. "Yes.... A lot."
She smiled and then nodded. "Good..... that's the way it should be."
Filia smiled faintly. "You think so?"
She smiled and nodded. "Yes I know so. No matter what, you shouldn't let anything stand between love."
She blushed again. "It's that obvious?"
She smiled wider. "Dear, you have the look of one who's desperate."
She giggled slightly. "I suppose I do..."
"He must be something for you to care so much for him."
"He is...he's innocent and sweet really...like an angel."
"Ahh one of those..." She finished with the hair, and pulled out a dark gold wig about chin length and put it on her head. Filia took one look in the mirror and made a face. The woman giggled at that. "You're not supposed to look pretty dear."
She grinned lopsidedly. "Yup, this'll work perfect! I doubt Xel will even recognize me..."
The woman smiled with pride. "That's the point. "She then turned Filia around and began to apply the make up while Filia snickered softly to herself, trying to stay still. It took a while, but finally she finished, and Filia appeared to look about the age of 40 or so, complete with wrinkles and fade lines.
Filia turned and looked in the mirror, and nearly gagged. "Gods...I'm ugly!"
The woman hid a smile at the young lady's appraisal. "Well, they won't recognize you.
Filia stuck her tongue out at her reflection. "That's for sure..."
The lady smiled and shook her head, then headed for the door. "Come now." Filia followed her still a bit taken aback by her skills. They entered the kitchen and the woman smiled proudly. "Welllllll here we are dear."
Filia grinned and looked to the guard who was gaping. "What do you think, convincing?"
He sweatdropped. "Gods..... they won't recognize her that's for sure..." He shook his head, once again amazed by his wife's talents as she handed him the bloody rag. "Well..... I guess we should head back then."
Filia nodded in agreement. "I'm ready if you are..."
"I hope we're not forgetting anything....."
"I can't think of anything...." The wife mused.
He sighed. "Lets just hope this is enough..."
They both silently began to walk back through the town, as the woman watched them go, praying that everything was all right..... Filia followed Jira quietly, almost calmly as they made their way through the gates and into the palace. He then took her aside, and pointed in the direction of the kitchen. "Mel should still be standing guard there.... I have to ... deliver the package to the council. You go and pick up the food and take it to him, you remember how to get down there?" She nodded, remembering vaguely the way. "Good, then good luck to you...." He squeezed her shoulder, and she threw a grateful glance at him then headed off to the kitchen as instructed while he headed off to the council chambers.
She entered the kitchen, and the head cook looked idly up at her as the chefs went about their business. "You new?" He snapped at her.
She swallowed, but lowered her voice to become thick and grainy. "Yes sir, I'm here for the prisoner's food."
The chef scowled. "I didn't hear anything about this.... When did you arrive her?"
She thought quickly. "Just this morning sir, Jira instructed me to come here to take his meals."
The cook snorted angrily, but pointed at a bowl of gray cold gruel on the counter. "There, go take it and get out of my sight on the double good for nothing scullery wench." He snapped as he went back to his work irritated.
She bit her lip, but bowed her head submissively and took the food, making a face as she left at the slop that was supposed to feed him.... She wanted to smack the good for nothing chef across the head, but she restrained herself for the better as she made her way down the stone corridor towards the dungeons. Even among high class systems like the gold society, there were still undesirables....
She finally made her way down, after passing a few guards who gave her no second glance. She arrived in the lower dungeons, and walked down the corridor, her heart pounding inside her like a drum as she neared his cell... luckily, the other guard, Mel, was still there, and he glanced at her as she approached, and she saw surprise on his face, and worry. "Is it that time already?" He asked as she stopped before him.
She smiled to herself, knowing what he was thinking. "It's me Mel.." She said quietly. "Filia."
The guard blinked, then did a double take in astonishment. "Y...You...?"
She hid a smile. "Yes, Jira is off taking care of the other business.... How are we going to sneak him out now..." She said quietly, glancing around. "Do you have an idea?"
He seemed to have recovered a bit from his ultimate shock, and blinked. "Well.. I've been thinking a bit..." He glanced back to the cell and the locks heavily bolting it shut. "There's two ways we can do this.... Out by the main door, or out by another way..."
She frowned. "What other way is there?"
He looked nervous. "Well.... It's not pleasant, that's for sure...." He looked embarrassed. "The sewage system.... They won't look for you there."
She paled in disgust, but swallowed hard. "I... yeah... that would.. probably be easier...."
"And with him in the condition he is, you want to be able to take your time." He said quietly. "I was there when they caught him, and he didn't look too well I'm afraid."
She paled at that dramatically, her fear rising with her heart in her throat. "We... have to do the easiest then..." She murmured. "Would the sewage be easier than out the front?"
"Well, it would be less risky, we wouldn't have to disguise him or try to hide his injuries, but then it might be harder on him, though you could take your time."
She nodded slowly. "That sounds like our best bet... where is the way?"
He pointed down the corridor more. "It's down that way, we could easily get you there from here."
She nodded. "So be it...."
He nodded, then glanced back at the door. "Very well.... Then we go now?" She nodded and he bent down and removed a set of small pins to pick the lock with, and began to fiddle with the locks quietly, while Filia kept watch. It took a long time, but after about twenty minutes of fiddling, they managed to unlock the heavily bolted doors' many wards and locks. Filia took a deep breath, then took the food for good measure, and walked into the cell as Mel opened it for her.
Filia held her breath trying to prepare herself for the sight before her as she walked into the dark and dreary dungeon cell. She peered forward trying to see in the darkness, her heart racing like a drum. "I can't see... have you a torch?"
He glanced about, then pulled one off of the wall nearby. "Here."
She nodded in thanks, taking it, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks." She then turned and put the torch in the cell, and peered in through the darkness.... She paled as she caught her first glimpse of him, lying on his bunk still in halfling form, wheezing slightly with one clawed arm draped over his chest as he tried to breath through the broken ribs he had. Tears pooled up in her eyes almost immediately as she stepped forward to him, seeing that he was obviously asleep. Mel stayed ever watchful at the entrance, keeping an eye out as she knelt beside his bunk, placing the torch down with the food so she could take his large hand in her own slender human ones. She rubbed his hand gently, and spoke in barely above a whisper. "Xel...." He stirred slightly, but didn't wake, his face pale and drawn in the flickering torchlight. She tried again, as she wished she could use a healing spell to ease his pain, but didn't dare on the chance of being detected from above. "Xel... wake up... please?" This time, he made a slight moan and his eyelids flickered slightly, then slid open slowly, blinking before focusing on her face above him. Filia could feel her heart splitting as she tried to hold back the tears welling up at seeing him in such a horrid state.
He blinked slightly, then tried faintly to push himself to a sitting position, though he was in no condition to do so. "... Gomen... I..."
She quickly put her hands up and gently restrained him, urging him to lay back down. "No, no you don't have to sit up so fast."
He leaned back with a soft defeated sigh, and she could see him fighting a groan. "Domo..." She couldn't peel her eyes away from him for a second, though they drifted down to his bruised chest where some blood could be seen dried there, a telltale sign that some of his ribs were broken by the way he was wheezing. She closed her eyes tightly as they began to water, glistening in the faint torchlight and sparkling on her eyelashes. He slowly opened his eyes again after a breather, looking tired and worn. "What... do you need... miss...?"
Filia spoke softly, her eyes barely able to see through her tears that lined them. "How could you...." She choked back a sob.
His expression turned to hurt and pain, and his eyes flickered to the side in slight anger and grief. "...gomen..."
She fought back the urge to hold him... it was overwhelming her entirely, but she knew she could only hurt him worse if she did. "Never, never, phase me away like that again.... Never!"
He blinked in astonishment as his eyes returned to her face, confusion and questioning in them. "...what?"
Tears flowed over her cheeks as she couldn't hold them back any longer, and she ripped her wig off, a few light golden strands falling over her eyes as she did so. "It's me dummy!" She smiled faintly. "Did you really think I wouldn't come after you?"
Xelloss stared at her blankly, not really recognizing her through the pain he was feeling, and not quite catching it quick enough. "...wh..what..?"
"It's me!" She glanced around nervously, and lowered her voice. "Filia!"
Now his eyes widened suddenly, shock and disbelief on his face, and his mouth half open in astonishment. She wiped a tear away, smearing some of the makeup off of her cheek on one side. Xelloss blinked, then a strange smile flickered across his face. "....you...." He chuckled then, lightly, and wincing at the effort it took.
She sat down beside him on the bench, gently propping an arm around his shoulders. "Be careful... don't speak if it hurts."
He nodded weakly, then leaned his head against her lap, a small tear sliding down his cheek. "...baka...." Filia silently, while crying herself, wiped the tear from his cheek gently. Xelloss suddenly felt tired, and closed his eyes slightly. "...you... came back for me.."
She gently kissed his cheek softly. "Of course, I couldn't just leave you." He smiled slightly up at her, and she returned it. "My fate is with you. Even if it's death.."
He shook his head ever so slightly. "Death is not an option."
"Whatever it takes to be with you." She said firmly, not taking any argument over that at all. "We should... be going. They could find us when they discover I'm gone longer than usual."
He nodded slightly. "But...how?"
She paled then, a sick feeling entering her stomach. "The...sewage..... that way we can take our time, no one will look for us there."
He paled as well. "Ho boy....this will be interesting...."
She nodded. "Hai... yuck..."
He tried to smile, despite the thought of that passing his mind. "Good thing Val isn't here..."
Filia felt her heart quicken a bit more at the mention of Val, but she managed to smile. "Yeah... I don't think he'd like the sewer much."
Xel winced slightly, coughing a bit, some blood coming to his lips. "Nope... smells like his diapers..."
She giggled slightly. "True, true... I hope Amelia is handling him all right..."
He grinned slightly. "She will.... I know he's safe with Miss Justice Freak....though....hope he doesn't pick up any habits...." Sweatdrops.
"It wasn't Val I was worried about. "Filia joked. "I was thinking more along the lines of poor Amelia."
He chuckled lightly, but stopped as pain shot through him. "Yeah..."
She frowned at his pain and stood up then. "We should go... the faster we get out, the faster I can heal you."
"Hai..."
She stood at that and offered both her hands out to him with an extremely worried look on her face while speaking softly. "Can you stand?"
He slowly reached his clawed hands out to her and closed his eyes as he braced himself against the pain and slowly pulled himself to a sitting position. She paled more at seeing him in this position, cringing at his every move that caused pain to him. Xelloss swallowed his nausea from the movement, and put one arm across his chest to support his ribs. "... lets...go..." He wheezed lightly.
She tried her best not to let any tears splash down anymore, and with one hand returned the wig to her head, pushing the loose strands of golden hair back up on top her head, then put a hand beneath his shoulders gently to help him stand. He was wheezing hard, leaning on her for support as he fought the waves of dizziness and the dancing black spots in front of his vision. She gently held him up with all her strength, and led him out the cell door to where Mel waited patiently.