When Elaine woke up at last, the room was spinning all around her, so she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

The next time she woke up, the room was reassuringly still, and she decided to stay awake and try to figure out what was going on. She looked around and found she was in a different room than she had last been in, though her arms were still tied together. Instead of boxes, there were stacks of books all around the room, and a cluttered desk against the far wall. There was a fireplace near her, and beside that a large chair in which a man sat, his fingertips pressed together just like a villain’s.

At Elaine’s laugh the man started and his eyes focused on her. He got up and walked closer to her, and she realized he was quite young – about her age.

“How are you feeling?” He asked.

Elaine opened her mouth to answer, maybe with obscenities, maybe with equally fake politeness – she hadn’t decided yet – but when she tried to speak no sound came out.

“Oh dear.” The man said, frowning worriedly and kneeling beside her. “You must have overexerted yourself. I told them that you were new, and you wouldn't be much of a danger, but they wouldn't listen, I’ll bet. They’re always worrying about things like that, and overreacting. Well, I’ll have a word with them.”

Elaine cleared her throat and managed to speak. “I’m fine.” She said, opting for the path of least words.

“That’s it?” The man asked, standing up and moving away a bit. “You’re not going to give me the satisfaction of swearing at me, or spitting in my face. I am the villain here, am I not?”

Elaine managed a shrug. “I thought about it, but it just didn’t seem to be worth the effort.”

He nodded. “Yes.” He stared at her for a moment with a strange expression on his face, and then knelt to untie her arms. “You’ll behave won’t you?” He said quietly, and it seemed to Elaine that he wasn’t really talking to her.

As soon as her arms were untied Elaine punched the man as hard as she could. He fell onto his back and didn’t get up. Elaine stood over him and prodded him with her foot to see if he was faking it, but he still didn’t move. He seemed to be unconscious. Elaine shook her head at herself, for letting herself be captured by a bunch of sissies who went down with one hit, and then left the room.

She walked down a long hallway, peeking into doorways as she passed. Most of them were full of junk, books and maps and the like, and some were bedrooms, and a few more were occupied by men playing cards and drinking and laughing. Thinking to herself that she didn’t really want to meet those men, Elaine snuck away quietly and continued on her way.

The house was huge. It reminded her Mister Darcy’s house from the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. If she had been there under different circumstances, she probably would have enjoyed herself.

She passed by a kitchen, and through a large hall that could have been a ballroom and then she finally reached the front entrance. Hurriedly, she pushed open the front door and ran out, to be greeted by a blast of cold, snowy, purple, air to the face. Despite this she went out and looked around. She couldn't see anything except purple. She lifted her hand in front of her face, and could hardly see that.

She ran back inside and shut the door, cursing. Of course there would be a blizzard preventing her from escaping. It was like her kidnappers had nature on their side.

She made her way back to the room she had woken up in and found the man still lying senseless on the floor. Grinning she tied his arms behind his back before slapping him awake. “Oy! Wake up man!”

He blinked owlishly at her as he came to. When he realized what was going on his eyes widened comically and he scooted away from her.

“You know, I didn’t really expect you to go down after only one punch.” She said.

“I didn’t really expect to be punched by a woman with beastly strength.” He answered.

Elaine looked at her arm. She had become quite strong, hadn’t she? She hadn’t noticed until now, because she had always been surrounded by soldiers, men even stronger than her. Maybe this man here wasn’t a sissy – maybe he was just normal.

“Well, whatever.” She said, shaking off her thoughts. She grinned suddenly. “That was rather out of character for me you know. I don’t usually punch people at all.”

“Could have fooled me.” He muttered, stretching his jaw.

“Why am I here?” Elaine asked. “I kind of punched you out before you got a chance to give me the villain’s exposition back there, so why don’t you give it to me now.”

“I’m not actually a villain!” He protested. “You’ve been working for the real villains.”

Elaine stared at him, waiting for me, but he just stared right back.

“Ok... Not much of an exposition there.”

He shook his head. “We’re... rebels.” He explained. “We don’t believe in the monarchy, or in using the power of the seven souls.”

“But you don’t know the monarchy.” Elaine said. “Vanali is actually a very nice person.”

“That may be, but surely even you have seen that she doesn’t have any real power. Because of her lack of experience she is controlled by the Magistrate – the real power behind this war.”

“Ok fine.” Elaine conceded. “So why kidnap me? The Magistrate doesn’t even like me.”

“No matter how they feel about you, you are still one of the seven souls. We plan to take them all away from the Magistrate, essentially taking away their power. Vanali is not the only one being used in their plots.”

Elaine stood up and moved away to stare into the fire. She felt so angry, so helpless. She couldn't even argue with this man, because she had seen for herself how the Magistrate controlled everything, and she had been powerless to stop it. She had been powerless all along, in so many ways. Rheanne had seen it so clearly, hadn’t she? That was what she was always trying to say; she was trying to get the other Knights to realize what was going on, but in the end, it had come to this. War.

Elaine sighed. Maybe it was better this way, being away from the castle, the Magistrate, the war, away from everything. She wouldn't have to worry about all that here at least. Here she could be a prisoner, and blameless. It would be good, she thought, not to have to see anyone else die in the infirmary.

“Is there somewhere I can go?” She asked, turning back to the man.

“Ah... you can’t really leave you know. We’re in the middle of a blizzard.”

“Yes I know that.” Elaine said. “I meant, somewhere in this place. I don’t really have a choice for now, do I?”

“Not really, no.” He said, smiling nervously. “But I can’t really do anything with my hands tied behind my back like this...”

Elaine walked over and stared down at him. “If you even try to punch me...” She warned.

“Yes, yes.” The man answered, turning so she could get at his rope. “You’ll do unspeakably violent things to me. Don’t worry; I’m plenty afraid of you already.”

Elaine grinned and untied the rope. Really, he didn’t seem like such a bad guy, this kidnapper of hers. “What’s your name?” She asked.

“Marten.” He answered, rubbing his wrists and standing up.

“Nice to meet you Marten.” Elaine said. “I’m Elaine. I would shake your hand but well, I’m sure you understand.”

Marten nodded and went to the door. “I’ll show you to your room.” He said. Elaine followed him out of the room and down the hall in the other direction. They went up a flight of stairs and there Marten opened a door for her, showing her into her new room. “I apologize if it doesn’t live up to the standards at the castle.” He said drily and left her there, after closing her in.

Elaine smiled tiredly as she looked at the room. It was small, and it had big windows. The bed didn’t scare the shit out of her – it was perfect. And even though she had done nothing but sleep for who knew how long, she felt very tired, and all she wanted to do now was sleep some more.

She fell onto the bed and sighed happily, falling asleep within moments.