Post by Ursarius on Oct 14, 2013 18:18:31 GMT -6
CONTINUED FROM "BARBARISM [CLOSED STORY]"
Ursarius climbed out of the Bear Pit, After the fight of her life in which she whole-heartedly expected to lose... She emerged victorious, Queen of the Dauntless Mountain Bears. It was a small mountain, but guarded by several large Ursanids since long before she was born, and like her Father before her, she led them. She walked sodden from the muddy pit alone for a while. Until her Brothers caught up to her, the Queen's personal Guard. They Looked her over for injury and took off in separate directions without a word. Ursa was baffled, but thought lightly on it as she walked back toward the King's Hut where she would dry off. And find something suitable to wear. The Kings' hut was hers now, though she expected that she'd never use it again. 'I should take as much of this as I can... for my Sons. If I die, they can do whatever they want with it.' She thought, running her hand over the dusty trophies and trinkets. She came across a wooden chest at the foot of the Bears nest. Kneeling down to open it, a cloud of dust rose and fell around her ankles. 'Most of it can stay, but I need something... something that screams 'KING DAUNTLESS' when you see it. For my Eldest boy.'
The Chest was where Archon and Strongjaw kept their regal belongings. Much to Fanciful for the Average bear, but the Kings were far to rough-and-tumble to be bothered with silks and trinkets. She pulled out a long Garb banner of sorts, beautiful green material with a golden yellow embroidery. The former Princess scrunched up her nose, wonder who's nimble paws could make such a thing, the designs were flawless and she wondered where it came from. Along with a few other robes to be worn by the kings succession. She thought about her eldest son and wondered if he'd wear it.
A shiver ran through her body and the realization she was still drenched in mud and cool rainwater. The Autumn chills were coming in waves now. If she didn't get warm now, she'd be in no fit condition to fight. So she tossed her wet human clothes aside and stepped into a warm soft leather blanket while she searched for something more her size. Ursa was a strange Cub, Born and raised a bear, she knew she was the smallest and weakest of her kind. She was always too nimble, too articulate, She preferred to walk on two feet and displayed many human characteristics all throughout her up bringing. Her Father taught her to fight, the ways of armor-making and the ways of the weapon. She took fondly to the Quarterstaff, because it was also quick and nimble, suiting to her skill with mobility. Her Mother preferred the quiet life, as Queen before her, she took care of the Heraldry, the cooking and feeding the Ursanids was a tough job, she made and repaired the garb and sewn materials, often in a human or half human shape to get at the small rips and tears. Ursa took a Human form when even smaller tasks were required. Fitting into small places, or needing a smaller, gentler task. Before long she learned how to Shift shapes without losing her clothing, and she was able to run errands between the Summit and the Village fen at the base of the Mountain. Vaguely she thought her mother may have sewn the banner, so she scooped it up and draped it around her neck.
There was a knock at the Door, and she stood to answer it.
"My Queen." Said Markkus, coming in from out of the rain with a Bundle of fur, enclosing something unseen. "Your Cloth." He said, placing the Bundle down and bowing his snout to her. "I'll leave you to change." He turned to leave pushing the canvas aside.
"WAIT." She sputtered, shivering. "Where are my Sons? Where's Billy?"
"Your Sons are safe, Sleeping. They occupy your den. Your Husband to await for you in the first cellblock."
"Cellblock?!" She shouted. "Why is he contained? what happened?" Her fury began to rise again, feeling the warmth in her cheeks, her eyes burned with anger and sorrow.
Markkus kept his head low. "Forgive me my Queen, Your Husband is still being punished for his actions against you, Daughter of the Late King. My Father. Acts of Hostility are punishable, but the Murder of our Women Royal, is punishable by Death...' The Great Bear stopped to ponder his words. "Though I suppose his Wife is now Queen, He is Lord, and your Sons little princes. Now." he shook his head. "He waits. Go to him and break loose his chains. He doesn't like it when we check on him."
With that Markkus was gone and Ursa stumbled around the hut trying to get her dry clothes on as fast as she could. Still damp, she throw a cloak over her shoulders and hooked an extra for billy beneath her arms. She could feel the tight coil of sorrow and worry building in her chest, the feeling of guilt and wanting to cry. Pushing tears up to her eyes. She hurried breathlessly across the village to the far side where the containment cells were maintained. Cold clouds escaping her mouth and wisping up into the Night air. Her face pale and cold in the Autumn air. She stopped at the cold cell doors and took a deep breath.
"Billy, Are you alright?" She said, with sadness in her voice, stepping into the Torch-lit room.
Billy looks up slowly thinking 'I've heard that voice before.' Opening his eye I slowly half excepting to be hit. "I'm fine." He whispered. "I'm fine" Now looking at who is speaking. "Ursa, What are you doing here" slightly concerned to see if she has done something wrong, and was being looked up with him.
Ursa smiled, but there were tears in her eyes. "We have to go, I came to get you out of here." She then walked over to Billy and Knelt down in front of him. "Are you hurt?"
The Guards came up to the door, first peering inside before swinging the door open with a gust of cool air.
"No, I'm never hurt as long as your here for me" I'm lying to her, he was hurt. Bruises everywhere. "Why did you come back for me?"
Ursa gently unlocked his chains and dropped them on the floor with a loud clanging noise. "Why wouldn't I come back for you? I need you. Your Sons need you." She sounded gentle, but her eyes looked a little angry. "If I knew this is where you were, I would have come sooner." Side-glancing to the Scout at the door.
Feeling weak this being the first time his had to stand up by himself. He put up his hand in a jester of help me up. A sad look came upon his face he just looked at the ground. He was more then happy to see ursa. But was sad that she had come. Her heart was pounding as she held out a hand to help him. As she helped her husband to his feet she looked for any wounds on him that she could heal. "Who did this to you? My father??" her head hurt and she couldn't think straight. all that mattered was that she got him out of there. As he getting up he could feel every hit he had endured for the past few months. slowly he get got up. "I don't know the names" he stumbles pulling Ursa down in to a shady spot to where he can see her face. "My god what happened to you?"
She shook her head. "I shouldn't have thought it was safe for you and the Boys to come here. it's all my fault..." When he asked her what happened, she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Her brothers just stood at the door not saying anything. He grabbed her and hugged tight like he had thought of doing for the past few months alone in the holding cells. He begin to get teary eyed. He never thought this moment would have happened. He had gotten use to the thought that he was going to die here without ever seeing here again.
She knew how he felt, even if no one said anything, she could tell that this wasn't the end, but the end was very close. "We'll be alright. For now." She said, holding him seemed like forever. And a part of her wanted to stay on the mountain and never go back to Wildgard. "We have to go get the Cubs..."
Just like that the moment had ended "Our cubs?" He said with great concern. "Who has our cubs now?" he said trying to funny but knew he had horribly failed at it. Trying to lighten up the mood. "Where are they?" She smiled again, but it was weak. the warm blood shining on her lips. "Don't worry, the Mountain Laws won't let the Bears hurt each other unless it's in the Pit. During the Unsanrites, we fight a tournament to see who is to be King. And when the King is killed they Become King. Or... in my case... Queen." She waited to see if Billy would catch on. Hinting that's why she was bloody. It took billy awhile to see what she was saying. He hadn't talked to anyone in awhile. " A Queen you say, A Queen of who? Where?" He saw the blood on her lips was more than he could bare. He took what clothes he had and wiped her face to clean the blood and the dirt off of her face. He pointed to the door and said "lets get our kids back... Where are they were they in a cell like me? Oh god what have I done. Where are our kids! Lets hurry." he started to walk toward the the door but stopped just looked at the ground. Remember every hit every broken bone that was delivered there being told that leaving this room was never an option that I doomed to live the rest of my life here. That if he left he would be killed and so would everything the barbarian ever cared about... He just stood there motionless. 'What this a trick was I being let in on. Was this really my wife or Have I gone mad wishing for freedom?'
Ursa watched him think, he seemed so lost in his own mind, 'How long was he in here?' She thought feeling her heart breaking. "I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner." She let her husband clean off her face and watched him go to the door and stop. "My father Archon told me the Cubs were staying Here on the mountain while you were in here, they are in My hut. Waiting. Let's go." She got up and walked to your side, Reaching out for His hand. He could feel her hand grabbing his. He grabbed it tight as he was now looking at two bears and just stared 'its a trap'. He knew it. He turned around and was going to go back to where he was shackled. But he looked at her face and saw everything that he had before. A life, a beautiful wife and family. Then he remember why he was here, He just stared into ursa's eyes and began to cry. "I'm so sorry love. I'm sorry I put you through this. I'm sorry for everything I put you through." He drops to his knees groveling at he feet crying. "i'm sorry".
She was shocked and confused and didn't know what to say, From the very Beginning, Billy the barbarian was always there for her, He was always the strong one, her bodyguard. Now he was crying at her feet and all she could do was stare at him. "Billy no, Billy Stop... What are you doing?" She knelt down on her knees and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Listen, We need to Be strong. We have to fight... this isn't over yet." She wanted to cry, she could feel the tears burning her eyes but she had to stay strong, Never mess with a Mother Bear. Especially not when she just lost one of her Cubs. But, She couldn't tell billy that just yet. "Don't be Sorry... I love you Billy. Please get up." He could hear every word like it was own. It took him every bit of strength to get up again. he said to himself 'what good am I as a puddle tears to her?'.
"You're right. You're right." pulling him self together. He changed gears. 'The kids, where are your kids?'
"whats the plan where are they now? how many guards are there? Do we have to rush them? I don't think I can handle that right now. But I will do anything you ask just simple ask" takes a breath in, exhaling slowly...
She helped him up again, "My hut will have two guards. Elite Ursanids but we can take them. If we have to." She smiled to herself, he was too out of it to understand that she was the Queen now. but she would have to explain that to him when they had a chance to relax. "The boys are safe, you don't need to worry, the other Bears can't hurt them The Mountain Gods won't allow it." She waved her hand and the Two Bears at the doors stepped outside. Ursa was already soaked, but she had something warm to cover Billy with. Draping the cloak over him it was far too large for a Human. Billy turned to where Ursa had pointed and walked talked to where bears were. Slowly stepping out in the thoughts it was a trap still. he hadn't been out of that room months. he had no idea what to expect what would happen. He just closed his eyes and walked forward limping and stabilizing on Ursa.