Underwater

[This canonically takes place after Aryth & Grigori's short-lived honeymoon.]

A R Y T H M E T I K

He walked through the dank hallways, flanked on either side by soldiers. The sounds of barks, snarls and whimpers filled the intermittent silence, although every once in a while, the plonk of melting snow dripping through the cracks in the ceiling could be heard instead. Arythmetik turned the corner of moldy stone, and as he pressed forward, he nearly trembled.


Not from the cold ground against his paws, either.


While he and Grigori were enjoying their honeymoon, protests turned sour in Rionna’s streets. Not that Arythmetik would have been brave enough to attend the protests himself. Wasn’t it unthinkable for the Princess’ tutor to publicly accuse her father of carelessness? Wasn’t it foolhardy for a scholar like him to reveal the depths of his unrest and disappointment? He glanced uncomfortably at his escorts, swallowing heavily. His throat was dry. Even though his husband (his husband) taught him to defend himself, led a life of courage through shining examples…Aryth was not entirely sure what he believed. He didn’t want to join Prince Jacob’s army, certainly, and yet, he wasn’t sure that the Voxi way was an efficient way of ruling the country and keeping it safe.


What Aryth did know, when he heard that his dearest friend was imprisoned, was that King Adamh had no right. Especially after Diptheria already caused tremendous suffering.


Then he spotted the Lady in her cell. Aryth gasped, sorrow coloring his voice as he cried, “Nimue!” He nearly ran to her, but thought better of it as the soldiers halted a few yards away. Perhaps this was one benefit of being a well-respected member of society. The russet male tried to press his face through the bars, eyes scanning his best friend urgently. “Nimue, what happened?”

code by claerie

@Nimue

T

he sound of a familiar voice and not one who had already been thrown in the dungeon with her, enticed her to lift her head from where she sat in shadow in the corner of her cell. “Aryth?" She hadn't expected him to set paw in this place, nor did she wish he ever had to. She stood and moved her way to the bars that were between her and her dearest Poet. “I'm afraid my eloquence is still no match to yours...I could not move the judge with my words...it was like delivering a speech to a brick wall..."

One of the guards smacked at the cell door and growled, “Watch your tongue, harlot!" Nim took a step back from the iron bars and glared at them defiantly before she gave into a sigh. “See, and now they slander my character..." She snorted and then her gaze fell upon Arithmetik once more. “So, how was your Honeymoon? This man's just been married, chaps, you should congratulate him." Nim addressed the guards and to her satisfaction the larger one actually looked to Aryth and bellowed, “Congratulations..." The other guard elbowed his counterpart and gave him a dirty look.

@“Arythmetik"

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A R Y T H M E T I K

The Professor’s brows contorted with worry, his paw inching through the bars toward hers. When the guard hit the door and called her a harlot, however, the scholar’s gaze steeled in a way Nimue had never seen from him. His muscles tensed, the fur along the back of his neck bristling as he clenched his jaw. Tighter. Tighter. Somehow, the male maintained his composure, smoothing his hackles before the guards could notice. But the hard line of his mouth was dangerously thin as he glared sidelong at the brute who abused his power. This was a side Nimue had never seen of the professor because, until recently, Arythmetik didn’t even know he was capable of fury. He didn’t know he was capable of standing up for himself or the ones he loved. It was Grigori’s lessons, the aftermath of being kidnapped by bandits, that awakened a long-slumbering passion in the native Lowlander. And, just like the day a strange wolf threatened to steal their hard-won boar, Arythmetik was ready to fight for his own.


In typical Nimue fashion, the graceful woman let the blows roll over her. Despite being locked in filth and grime, far from the comforting warmth of the sun, she was shimmering more brilliantly than all the oafs in armor combined. A tiny, wry grin pricked at the corner of Aryth’s lips. He closed his eyes for a few moments, then straightened and looked over his shoulder at the two Imperials. “Thank you, gentlemen. I’m indebted to you for showing me to Lady Tuonela Ó Saoirse’s cell.” The Professor’s voice was genteel and even, but as Nimue surely knew, a calm surface merely betrayed the swift currents of the undertow. “I’d like to properly introduce myself. I’m Professor Arythmetik Hardin, head of the Èolas Board of Trustees and Princess Mhairi’s tutor. My colleague Nimue has been a guest of the castle on more than one occasion.” He forced a kind smile. “If you’d be so understanding, I would speak to her privately. Of course, you can watch us from down the hall. I wouldn’t dream of asking to be left alone with a prisoner.”


At first, it appeared the guards were unimpressed. But when Arythmetik stood there, unwavering and waiting expectantly, the two soldiers glanced at each other awkwardly. They didn’t want to offend somewolf with a direct connection to the Princess. It was a calculated game the Professor played; how far could he push their training to obey authority? Dropping Nimue’s recognizable, noble surname was no accident. And as Arythmetik clearly explained, he wasn’t asking for solitude, just some distance.


“Fine,” the surly guard growled, “you have five minutes.”


“Ten minutes will do, thank you, sirs,” Aryth replied. His smile did not fade, and the other guard shrugged and started to walk away. His companion sighed and joined him. They stopped at the end of the dank hallway, out of earshot and engaged in their own half-hearted conversation. After a moment, Aryth turned back to Nimue, urgency in his gaze once more. “My dear, dear friend,” he whispered. “Please, explain everything. I heard there were violent protests, that wolves were killed, but why are you in here?”

code by claerie

@Nimue

A

s the guards stomped away just down the hall, Nimue re-approached the bars and gave them a little wave with one of her paws. “Toodleloo, boys! Don't worry, I'll be on my best behavior!" This earned her a glare from both of them, though she didn't seem to mind it. She then turned back to Aryth and gave him a smile, trying to keep it lighthearted, “Someone has the magic touch with men, I see...speaking of...Grigori, how is he? How are you both? I've missed you so."

Aryth's urgency brought her back to the obvious subject at hand and instantly her intentionally brighter mood seemed to darken like the clouds before the promise of a storm. “I attempted to join in on yet another peaceful protest that did not remain peaceful..." She glanced over her shoulder warily at her cellmate and pushed her muzzle in between the bars to whisper to the Poet. “Some of Jacob's number were among us...they are becoming far too bold. I believe they may have been the instigators in the chaos. The soldiers did not back down when I urged them to stand down and therefore I had to defend those I felt needed assistance...I have the mark to prove it, it'll most likely leave a scar...." She pouted for a moment and then peered up at Aryth with the look of a pleading pup. “Is it somewhat attractive at least?"

@“Arythmetik"

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A R Y T H M E T I K

The male’s russet brows contorted, worry and heartache immediately plunging his spirit into icy depths. “Actually, Grigori was…conscripted. He lives in the barracks now.” The Professor’s eyes wavered, his voice thick as he tried his best to continue. “I was spared from the draft because of my position, but he wasn’t so lucky. We’ve only communicated via corvid for a couple days now.” Even mere days apart was agony for newlyweds. Returning from the Highlands on their simple honeymoon was descending into the veritable bowels of Hell.


Or, if it wasn’t Hell, it soon would be.


Aryth listened intently to his best friend, trusting her every word implicitly. It wasn’t in Nimue’s nature to start a fight, at least not a physical one. It was a cruel irony that someone who cared so much about protecting the innocent was cast behind bars. The revelation that the Jacobites exacerbated the turbulence spurred the pace of Aryth’s heartbeat. His emerald eyes widened. In the dim light of the dungeon, the two wolves truly looked like they were moments away from disaster. “Jacob’s men started this…” And the Imperial soldiers finished it. If there were more wolves like Nimue, who just wanted what was best for the people…


Aryth was beginning to see the importance of the Voxi movement, but only too late.


His eyes narrowed once more, straining to hold back tears as his dear friend revealed her scar. He smiled somberly. “It’s beautiful, Nim. As beautiful as your conviction.” There was a moment when the scholar’s heart ached so terribly, he didn’t know if he could breathe. He reached out to set his paw atop his companion’s. And once time resumed, his eyes had steeled again, his trembling lips hardened into a straight line. “I’m going to get you out,” he whispered. "You don’t deserve to be down here. And…I have the dreadful feeling that things are only going to get worse.”

code by claerie

@Nimue

N

im had to take a step back, the shock of learning about Grigori's whereabouts impacting her as though it were a physical blow. She moved up to the barrier between them, her eyes wide with sympathy as she reached a paw out to try to hug her dearest Poet to her. "Forgive me...for not being there for you...once I'm out, I'll..." She trailed off then staring off into the abyss where her own swirling thoughts bombarded her. "I'm sorry, did you say...draft? As in, draft for the army? What does that mean? What is the criteria? Would I...be...?"

She was glad at least that Aryth seemed to understand what had gone wrong when she explained it. There was relief in her expression, to be heard by her best friend and not simply cast aside when she explained what she believed to have occurred to turn the peaceful protest violent. Apparently he knew how to listen...unlike some Judge she had met recently...she really ought to retire. Seeing the emotion in his eyes as he tried to hold back his own tears only sparked her own as she let out a laugh at his compliment on not only her scar, but her conviction. She lifted a paw and wiped the tears on her wrist. "Oh, Aryth, love...you are truly no stranger to flattery, are you?"

Nimue's eyes drifted down as a paw settled on top of one of hers and so she took her other paw and held his between her own. When she looked up his lips were drawn into a thin line and his eyes were emerald flames of pure determination. "I'm going to get you out." She blinked at him as he continued to speak, claiming she did not deserve to be in the dungeon and that the future only promised worse things to come. "I appreciate the sentiment, darling, but...what about the other innocents here..." She gestured to some of the cells that she knew were not harboring Jacobites, not even in the slightest. "Do you have sway to have pardon granted to the rest of them as well?"


@“Arythmetik"

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A R Y T H M E T I K

Aryth shook his head—she had no reason to apologize. But news of the outside world clearly didn’t reach the darkness below. “Every able-bodied wolf, excepting pregnant females and the elderly, are to sign up for the Imperial Army. They’re taking many of my co-workers and students from the College, too.” The fact clearly sickened him. The professor returned from true bliss with his new husband, only to find his home being torn asunder. He sighed as Nimue, blessed with honest generosity, asked about the other prisoners. Again, he shook his head. His voice was barely a whisper as he leaned close and said, “I’m sorry, Lady, no. I’m going to have to lie to get you out, and it will probably only work once.” Aryth paused. “My position as the Princess’ tutor does not offer any power, nor any real influence. But these two daft idiots might believe I exceed them in rank. I’m going to negotiate for your freedom, and we’ll have to leave before they think twice.” Aryth looked Nimue straight in her shimmering, ocean-blue eyes. “The best chance for the innocent wolves down here is for you to be free, and do what you do best: inspire others. My Lady, you are a true leader, and I know you’ll have more influence on Rionnach than I ever will. You can join the Voice and fight from the outside.”

code by claerie

@Nimue
ooc. Short post <3

T

he Lady of the Lake scoffed in disbelief, shaking her head as her mind began to run rampant. She clearly fit the bill for able-bodied soldiers and now that she had been jailed and stripped of her access to the College, she couldn't imagine there would be any exceptions for her. They would send her to a war between petty Kings only to be rid of her as an outspoken woman. The shaking her her head became more confident and then she looked to him. "No. " Nimue said finally at first as though Aryth was the one making the decision. She took a breath and released it, locking eyes with him. "No. I refuse. I will not be part of their war. I would rather die a thousand deaths than be forced to bloody my paws on behalf of a King for a cause that I do not believe in."

Discovering that Aryth had come down to the dungeon for her and her alone gripped her heart. There were so many raw emotions that coursed through her veins and for a moment she considered staying where she was in solidarity of the others who remained behind bars. Arythmetik knew her all too well, however, and he illuminated a truth to her that would have otherwise not been considered in her current state. Her best chance to save anyone was to gain her freedom. Slowly she began to nod along in agreement, but huffed as he dismissed his own name in the face of Rionnach's history in the making. "Nonsense...The Lady of the Lake has never been and would be nothing without her beloved Poet..."

Nimue stared deeply into the endless forests of Aryth's eyes for a long pause, her own reflecting words that she could not express to him. "Thank you, Aryth..." The tender moment passed instantly when the professor made mention of The Voice. She straightened up instantly at the mention. There was more to what he had said than it being a simple statement. "Join The Voice?" She hissed between the iron, desperate for whatever information he had. "What do you know? What's happened?"


@“Arythmetik"

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A R Y T H M E T I K

He’d foolishly forgotten that news traveled poorly in the Dungeon. With urgency to match her interest, Aryth whispered, “Voice revealed herself. She’s just a corvid trainer from Ayr. You could go there to find her—she wants Voxi to learn self-defense to help protect innocent villagers.” The male’s emerald eyes scanned his friend’s lovely, freshly scarred features. “You’re strong, Nimue. She needs you.” He was beginning to understand what it meant to be Voxi. It wasn’t just about a political movement. It was about protecting the people, something his scholarly mind didn’t fully appreciate until Grigori was drafted into the army against his will. “Wait here quietly.”


Suddenly, Arythmetik was walking away from the bars, toward the guards. He stopped about halfway down the hall, so Nimue could still see him. His head was held high, shoulders relaxed, and he appeared to possess a dapper, natural confidence. But Nimue, who knew him quite well, would probably see the back of his heel trembling nervously. He called out calmly and clearly to the soldiers: “Gentlemen—I have discussed the nature of Ms. Tuonela Ó Saoirse’s crimes with the Princess. Now that I’ve clarified events here with the Lady herself, it is evident you don’t have enough to hold her. Princess Mhairi sent me as a messenger to communicate her royal furlough to grant immediate, temporary release of the prisoner on royal merit.” Lying! Lying! Lying! Aryth hoped he was throwing enough legal jargon at the guards to confuse them.


They growled, lowering their heads as they prowled closer to him. The two exchanged hesitant glances. The apparent leader finally asked, “We can’t just let ‘er go…? She’s an enemy of the state.”


There was a moment of silence, but Arythmetik did not flinch. “I am the royal ambassador of Princess Mhairi, her personal tutor, here to secure the prisoner’s right to furlough on the basis of sui ipsius defensione. Are you saying you have higher authority than House Herondale?” The fire in the professor’s voice was enough to finally make the guards jump. They started walking toward the cell. Aryth trailed behind them and kept talking. “The furlough begins immediately this afternoon, whereupon I will escort Nimue Tuonela Ó Saoirse to Rionna, where she will stay until her audience with the Princess is approved. Yes, yes, go ahead and unlock that door…thank you, gentlemen.”


The guards begrudgingly opened the cell door, but glared at Arythmetik. “We’ll be checking into this!”


“I should hope so,” Aryth snapped back without missing a beat. “Or I should have to report you to General Faust for negligence.” He nodded for Nim to join him. As he walked through the dank halls, he whispered, barely moving his jaw, “Just keep walking…don’t look back…”

code by claerie

@Nimue

ooc. This is how we're flavoring Aryth purchasing Nim the "get out of jail" key; the guards will presumably find out Aryth was lying shortly after they escape.

A

visible chill ran down her spine, the nervous excitement of such a development with her political affiliation had her lightly dancing on her paws. Herself?" Nimue repeated, the shock and awe still plainly drawn across her expression as she practically witnessed a new path of destiny form right in front of her eyes. Aryth's kind words moved her and she had to hold back the beginnings of tears. He had no idea what he had just done for her...when all seemed lost, her dear Poet illuminated the way amid the darkness. She pressed herself against the bars and reached for her with a playful pout, “I could kiss you right now!" She whispered excitedly and then backed up and away from the door with a cheeky grin as he told her to wait quietly.

Her ears were tuned in to pick up every syllable spoken between Arythmetik and those dimwitted meatheads that they called ‘guards'. The introduction so eloquently given by her beloved Poet was a brilliant start, although there seemed to be some apprehension. “Shes an enemy of the state!" Oh, she meant to stay quiet, but she couldn't let that one slide. “On the contrary, good sirs, the only state that could call me an enemy as a state of mind!" If she received a look from Aryth she would slap a paw over her mouth before gesturing for him to go on and deliver the rest of his performance.

As the door was finally opened for her, even with her fur unkempt she sashayed her way out off the cell and joined Aryth's side. “We'll be checking into this!" One of the guards insisted and Nim turned to look at him over her shoulder. “Dont check too hard, boys...I would hate for it to get in the way of your primary duties. And you're doing such a marvelous job with those already! Perhaps I'll even put in a good word to the Princess for your promotions for just how well you treat prisoners of your dungeon, hm?" Nimue smiled ever so sweetly, but there was a dangerous glint in her eye that told them of other plans, whether they read into it or not. She brushed back up against Aryth and nestled her muzzle close to his ear as they moved away. “You should have taken up acting, my dearest Aryth..." She whispered with a giggle and then drew back to look at him and in all sincerity mouth the words, 'Thank you.'

[Fade as they Exit the Dungeon...]


@“Arythmetik"

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck