Two fates entwined

Shaking and struggling to breathe without pain the sudden bright light hurt, trying to hide under the covers her sanctuary was taken away. Trying to say no that she wanted to stay where it felt safest, she followed him trying to talk again "b-brother, K-killian h-hurt me and Lance" she whispered looking like she'd seen an army of the undead claw their way out of their graves. Staying as close to the teenage boy as she could, she had a sense of being somewhat safer when she was with him. The tears continued to slide down her dirty face, leaving clean tracks behind them, wide almost broken brown eyes stared at the cloth he offered her before staring at him again wanting to cling to him until it felt less overwhelming. Her fingernails were broken and bleeding like she'd been clawing trying to get free or defend herself it was hard to tell, twitchy and clearly distressed she flinched at every sound and attempted to tuck herself close to him again.

He kept repeating that she was safe, that they couldn't hurt her here but he didn't understand there was no where in the world she could hide from ice and her brother. Leaning into him a little when his arm went about her shoulders she continued to shake unable to stop herself from it. The hand closest to him grasped his shirt,making sure he was still there, allowing him to move her other hand she began clumsily petting ned. As minutes passed she began to slowly calm down from the state she'd found him in, enough to say "Julian, m-my brot-no Killian he and lance they" she didn't know the word for what they'd done to her. She didn't know what word fit, the only one she finally found was "Attacked me" her hand that had steadied some trembled again as she spoke

Trembling and with her normally netural features screwed up in a sense of emotional agony, she waited with Ned as Julian left her there. Robotically patting him still, it took the broken girl a moment to understand what he wanted and scrambled up onto the horses back the normally effortless movement harder to do as she was still in so much physical pain as she had refused the shadows healings and had fled. Holding onto the reins when they'd been passed to her, guiding the easy gelding after Julian and the mare her haunted eyes keeping focused on him. How was she supposed to tell him that her brother had, there was no way to explain it in her mind, thinking to much about it the shakes began returning

Dismounting Ned and taking his hand, the young girls tears had stopped although she continued to shake, seeking comfort she moved to hug him such gestures not usually used by her. Managing to get calm enough to speak she spoke "Ice had her servant tie me up on a table and, and cimbed ontop of me, then brother did the same" the tears returned, melissa unable to go into anymore detail than that in her current state

Sitting down when he did she continued hugging him tightly, the normally aloof calm quiet female was a mess. Gut wrenching sobs leaving her, unable to do anything except cry herself out, she didn't know how long she sobbed in his arms before she ran out of tears. Not wanting to return back to Ice and her brother she nestled closer to Julian, his words about Killian made sense but it wasn't so easy to just get over what had happened, images had been burned into her brain that she'd never be able to get out. Eventually worn out and exhausted she fell asleep against him, tears staining her cheeks, arms still tight around him so he wouldn't leave her alone, she didn't want to be alone she wanted to stay here with him where it was safe

Melissa slept and slept, not waking up until the late morning rays woke her, her eyes flickered open and she was assaulted with memories that made her cringe and attempt to hide away from them. It was okay, she was safe here, with Julian she was safe, her arms tightened around the young man for a moment before she slowly let him go and sat up looking out and around with quiet eyes. Recognizing Ned she rose to her feet and moved over to where he was, not bothering to stroke him instead she just lay her head against his side listenining to his gut gurgling

After spendng some time with ned, Melissa returned to Julian and sat next to him leaning into him and closing her eyes again. "Thank you" the gratitude was quietly spoken but heartfelt, decding that she'd stay here for a while no matter the punishment and consequences she slipped her arms around him. She'd come a long way affection wise since she'd first met him, sitting there her thoughts drifted to the times when they'd been kids, watching the stars and learning to ride and experiencing what it was like to live a normal life. Listenign to the slow thud of the mans heart in his chest the woman was soothed

Listening to what he had to say she agreed, but it was hard to get the memory of the look on his face out of her mind. A quiet happy nose escaped Melissa when she was hugged closer, she liked his hugs, smoothly standing a moment or two after he did she nodded. Going to catch ned she was soon sitting astride him waiting for Julian to join her, turning the gelding she let him begin to wander back towards the house keeping a close eye on him. She knew his parents as 'mum' and 'dad' although she never referred to them by that as she only spoke to them when it was required preferring to talk to Julian instead

Unusually clingy she'd stuck to him like glue, the week passed by slowly as she tried not to think about what had transpired. Finally she acknowledged the fact that she had to leave, lying on the roof next to him watching the stars she slowly sat up and looked at him, features hard to read as they usually were. "I must return" any longer and she'd really get it, reluctantly looking in the direction she had to go, Melissa slipped down to the ground with a soft thud. Straightening and glancing up at the stars a moment she hesitated, nto wanting to go, she wanted to stay here, it was pleasant here. "I do not wish to leave" she finally murmured, how pleasant it'd be to stay here and never leave alas she knew what consequences that would bring.

Returning the tight hug and resting her chin on his shoulder, Melissa squeezed her eyes shut tight for a moment before opening them in surprise at the gesture. Not letting go she spoke after a moment of silence "I promise, I will see you again. It may not be for a while, however i will return" speaking with a surprising amount of stubborn iron in her voice she reluctantly released him and quietly met his gaze for a few seconds "I will keep the bracelet with me" she finally added softly steeling herself and wiping her face of the complex emotions she'd shown only seconds before. SHe turned preparing herself for the long walk back

Years had passed and finally they had returned to Ices care, the woman hadn't returned to the quiet little farm once they'd come back. She'd changed, had become numb to everything, an expert huntress that no prey escaped from, sitting in the richly furnished room both her an her brother having pleased ice enough that they had been rewarded with nicer rooms she stared at the wall. In her hand was the bracelet that was too small now, she'd kept it with her, the only sign she remembered him. Hearing someone at the door the item was tucked away and empty eyes turned as it turned out it was her brother coming to see her

Melissa looked away again "why? I will just end up being punished for it" there was a silent hidden belief that he'd forgotten her and moved on despite what he'd said. It'd been over five years since she'd seen him, they'd been in the awkward teenager stage, she'd long forgotten what it was like to be gentle and to be held. Besides she had a good thing going now that they'd both behaved so well for so long, she was hesitant to return to the empty concrete room and frequent torture training.