Ulric thought quickly about where he should go. He had just left Xene's room. Glancing around, he darted down to the dungeon. Being as quiet as possible, he went deeper into the dungeons. He heard faint talking, and crept closer, curious.

He had heard sobbing, and then, "Nik, you are dying. Can you see yourself? H-how are you even awake?"

His eyes widened as he realized the assassins were talking. Being as silent as possible, he pressed himself to the wall and listened intently to the conversation. He heard the words, "Don't come back for me." And wondered at the assassin. Nikandros would let himself die for his partner's life?

"No, Nikandros. I'm not going to escape." Thea stated defiantly. "It's too late. Besides, I couldn't even if I wanted to." She added much quieter.

"Thea! If you have the chance, you have to escape. Promise me that." He pleaded.

"No. I'm not leaving you." She decided firmly. A lone hiccup echoed in her cell. She was silent for a few moments before looking at Nikandros, "I...I don't want to die, Nik." Thea struggled to keep from crying.

Nikandros closed his eyes and struggled to compose himself, "Thea..." He knew what he was going to say was crazy, but he couldn't bear to see Thea like this, "maybe we should speak."

Ulric thought about what that would mean. He had heard them say they had a master, but he wondered what else they would say.

Thea wiped her moist eyes, "Okay...?"

"Well, what do you think?" Nikandros prodded, "Maybe I'm not thinking straight though." He frowned.

"Will that really help us?" She sniffled, her nose plugged from crying.

"Maybe, but before we say anything, we need to make the terms clear."

"I don't think we are really in the position to make any terms, Nik..."

"Would you want to tell him?" He asked again.

Before Thea could answer, Ulric decided to show himself. He stepped out where Thea and Nikandros could see him.

Thea's eyes widened and she scowled, "You were spying on us!" She stated incredulously.

"I was listening, yes." He admitted, "And please keep your voice down." He sighed, "You said," he gestured at Nikandros, who was glaring hard at him, "that you may want to speak in return for your freedom." Nikandros said nothing, and Ulric continued, "I may be able to arrange that. You tell me what I want to know, and I'll release you." He raised an eyebrow at Thea, seeing if she agreed.

"How dare...you listen to our personal conversation!" Her voice rose from a growl to almost a shout, ignoring his cautionary tone. She felt very exposed and regretted showing her true feelings. She glared daggers at Ulric.

Ulric sighed, "Do you want a way out of here or not?" He asked in a low tone.

Thea quieted down, "Nik, if you think that's what is best..." She sighed, but a dry cough cut through it, "then go ahead."

Nikandros stared darkly at Ulric. He hesitated and glanced at Thea, "I'm not sure."

"How do we know you won't go back on your word?" She questioned.

Ulric straightened, "I am the crown prince of Gondor. I shall keep my word."

Thea laughed dryly, "Well...I'm totally convinced." She answered sarcastically.

Ulric stared at Thea hard. "Are you doubting my word?" He asked.

Thea stood up with great difficulty and walked over to the door, "What do you think?" She tilted her head in a 'seriously?' Expression.

Ulric changed his tone. "Well," he said carelessly, "I guess you can just stand in here, or," he gestured at Nikandros, "hang there, in immense pain and wait for my father to execute you." He shrugged, "your choice."

Thea hesitated, "Nik..."

"You choose." He said firmly.

Before Thea could answer, a guard unknowingly walked into the middle of their conversation. He gaped at them and at Ulric, "Sir...w-what...?"

Ulric strode over to him and punched him in the face. The guard slumped unconscious. "If you're going to make a decision make it now!" Ulric exclaimed at Thea and Nikandros. "Otherwise you choose death."

Thea stared down at the guard in disbelief, "Y-you punched your guard? What is going on?" She growled, her suspicion rising.

"My father is making stupid decisions and I am going against them." He said bluntly.

"If you are on bad terms with your father than how do you expect to get us out of here, genius?" Thea shouted angrily.

"I'll find a stinking way! Will you do it or not? I will go find a way, and you don't have to talk until I show you some keys, but I'm not going to go try to find the keys if you won't speak!"

Thea glanced over at Nikandros for help, but instead gasped, "Nikandros!" She shrieked and ran as near as she could to him. "Are you awake?" His head sagged downward as his whole back turned a bright red again. His wounds were bleeding profusely.

Ulric frowned and turned to leave. "No! Wait...please..." She sobbed, "I'll talk, just get us out of here!"

Ulric turned back, nodded sharply, and then started to jog out of the room, when Nikandros croaked, "Wait." Ulric turned sharply and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"I have the keys in my boot."

"You WHAT?" Ulric asked disbelieving, but Nikandros had already gone unconscious. Ulric walked briskly over to Nikandros' cell and reached inside his boot through the bars. His eyes widened as he felt the cold metal. He pulled them out and unlocked Nikandros' cell door. Then he turned and unlocked Thea's cell door. "I need your help." He explained, "If I unchain him he will collapse to the ground."

Thea nodded silently and followed Ulric out of the cell.

They went over to Nikandros' cell and glanced up at the chains that were holding his hands. Nikandros was a little taller than Ulric, and Ulric realized that he couldn't reach the chains. He looked over at Thea, "I can't reach the chains. I'll give you a boost and you unlock his chains. I will try to catch him." Ulric instructed.

Thea wiped her moist eyes and came over, "Okay." She hesitated only for a second before clumsily climbing on the prince. Before she was completely steady, her foot slipped and she smacked it into Ulric's face. She grimaced, "Sorry..."

"It's fine." Ulric said quickly. She quickly adjusted her foot, ready to be lifted. "Ready?"

Thea nodded until she realized he probably couldn't see it, "Yes." Ulric boosted Thea up towards Nikandros' chains. She reached her arms up and grabbed the chains, using them to keep her steady before reaching up with the keys and unlocking the chains.

Nikandros started to fall to the ground, but before he hit it, Ulric had broken the fall by sticking his hands out in order to catch the unconscious youth. It partly succeeded, as in Ulric broke the fall, but he didn't fully catch Nikandros, and Nikandros fell to the ground. Thea fell from Ulric's shoulders in response to his jerky movements and crashed down beside her friend.

She instantly leaned over, looking into his face, "Nik...oh, my friend...I am so sorry..." She whispered. Nikandros barely responded by a shifting of the head.

"There is no time to waste." Ulric said briskly, "You need to get out of here." He crouched down beside Nikandros and slung him over his shoulder. "Let's go." He ordered and started jogging towards a secret entrance, designed for emergencies.

"You're right..." She said quietly. Following him, she kept glancing behind her to be sure they were alone. Ulric jogged straight for awhile, and then suddenly he took a sharp turn right down a passage way.

In the dungeon, the guard that Ulric had punched woke up. He rubbed his head groggily and looked around. Remembering what had happened, he jumped up and ran to tell the king.

Ulric increased his speed to a run until finally, he reached the door. He swung the door open easily, as it was always kept that way, and went through it. The door opened to the outside, and Ulric started sprinting away from Gondor.

"Hurry, Thea." He called back and then realized he had just used the assassin's name.

Thea was too busy thinking to notice him use her name and just pushed herself to run harder. She ignored the growing pain in her stomach and breathed heavily.

Finally, they reached the trees. Ulric slowed his pace to a jog, and went deeper into the forest.

When they were a ways in, Ulric stopped. "Listen to my instructions. You need to make sure neither of you leave any sort of trail for them to follow. Change directions every once and awhile, and rest once you've gone far away. Rest in a place that has cover and you won't be seen, alright?"

Thea nodded numbly, "I...I don't know what to say...thank you for helping us..." She looked at her hands as they nervously flicked back and forth.

Ulric smiled at her. The smile was sincere, he realized. He bowed his head, "It was my pleasure. Now go." He smiled sadly, and then turned away, and started walking back towards Gondor.

Thea watched him walk away as a strange longing settled over her heart. She shook it off and hoisted Nikandros over her shoulder, walking off deeper into the woods.

Hey guys!

Here was a much longer chapter just for you all! Things are starting to change!

Also, please don't forget to fill that beautiful star button and spread that love! Thanks! I always appreciate the feedback:))

Ithildae, Evara, and Aris

Writers:
Thea - Ithildae
Nikandros - Evara
Xene - Aris
Degore - Ithildae
Ulric - Evara
Fendrel - Ithildae
Guards - Evara and Ithildae