Lilith slouched against The Bearded Mouse's brick wall, watching Adrian and Marcia whisper ten feet away. They were no longer pretending to be crazy; Adrian's face was impassive while Marcia was glaring and gesturing wildly. Even from far away, Lilith could hear Marcia's tone deepen and heat up, her words sharpening.

But even as she kicked the wall in frustration, Adrian shook his head. His eyes darkened and he avoided her gaze, but he didn't seem to be changing his mind.

As the rebels fought, Lilith turned her attention to the two boys who were in the middle of leaving the tavern. Unlike Adrian and Marcia, they were not quiet – Lilith could hear almost every word they said.

"...tying him behind their horses and making him walk the whole way," said the small one, who had a guitar strapped to his back.

The taller one ran his fingers through his hair and nodded. "Shall we wait for nightfall?"

"He'll be in a cell by nightfall, which means it would be four guards instead of eight. Most everyone will be attending the funeral."

"Shhh, don't speak so loud..."

They had walked out of Lilith's earshot, but Lilith had heard all she needed. She twirled back around to tell the rebels what she had heard, in the hopes that they would let her accompany them, but they were gone.

Lilith's jaw dropped but she acted quickly, darting away from the building and glancing this way and that as she ran, wondering how they left so quietly.

"Damn it," she muttered to herself, skidding to a stop. "I really thought we bonded in there."

As she stewed over them leaving her, she made her way back to the bar. Either she was getting rusty or they were good, for her senses were usually amazing. No one could sneak up to her, much less away. Maybe it was because she was no longer near the ocean, which she had been close to all her life. The docks were a whole town away, and she reasoned that the absence of salty air was dulling her senses.

She giggled to herself over that last thought and decided that if anyone were to point out a weakness of hers, she'd blame it on the lack of salt in her system.

"Wha's a prrrretty lady like you doin' all alone in the street?"

Lilith glanced around at the villagers making their way down the street, then looked back at the guy who'd spoken. He was quite clearly speaking to her, as his brown eyes were traveling up and down her outfit, but there were many others on the street with her, which made her pause for a second.

"Excuse me?" she snapped, taking a step back.

"Give me a sec...ond," the man said, taking a big swig of his empty drinking glass. He wiped his mouth, shook his head, and leaned against the wall. Or he tried to lean against the wall. He misjudged the distance and fell against the bricks instead. "Don't go in there," he whispered conspiratorially. "There's a bar fight." He nodded and leaned back, his eyes nearly shutting on him.

"Uh-huh," Lilith said, nodding. "I have to go, but I hope you get the help you so desperately need."

Maybe she could follow the two boys who'd been talking about breaking the other guy out. If the rebels didn't want her, then perhaps she could make them notice her. What better way then by breaking out the same guy they turned in? Plus, it was what they deserved. They didn't even give her a chance to prove herself, and that was a dick move. She didn't have to help them. This wasn't even her town.

As she was thinking, she left the drunk guy leaning against the wall and headed out the same way she'd seen the boys go. She heard clumsy footsteps behind her, but as he was drunk she didn't think he'd be much trouble. He probably wouldn't even be able to keep up with her.

She kept a hand on the hilt of her sword all the same and sped up, hoping maybe he would trip over his own feet.

Glancing over at Jenson, Voronwe raised his eyebrows. "Is the cruelty necessary?" he asked the boy, tossing a quick look over his shoulder toward the rioter.

The crowd had certainly done a number on the boy. Even though Voronwe was two horses ahead of him, he could still see that his face was bruised and puffy. Not only that, but he was limping, his tunic was slowly soaking in blood on his left side, and his breathing came in short, halting gasps. The soldier who had the boy tied to his horse didn't slow down for him, forcing him to walk fast, lest he fall and get dragged.

"I've been commanded to quell anything that looks rebellious, in case the peasants get ideas." Jenson shifted on his horse, avoiding Voronwe's eyes. "With no male heir, we're unsteady enough as it is. Melianchor doesn't want them taking advantage of our weakness."

"Melianchor is not king, and as such, he cannot command you," Voronwe snapped, taking a deep breath before he continued and said something he would regret later.

Jenson chose not to answer, staring straight ahead. Even still, Voronwe knew Jenson could see him, and so he drew himself up and let loose the glare that could scare even the rowdiest of men.

Finally, Jenson twisted to give Voronwe his own glare. "Look, Voronwe. I'm just trying to survive. Orders are orders, and if it means that ruffian must stay in the dungeons for a couple of nights so that I can live and receive my paycheck, then so be it!" He sat back, his face red. "Now leave me alone."

Before Voronwe could reply, they heard a thump and a cry, and both swiveled in their saddles to see what the matter was.

The boy had finally fallen, and he was trying to use the rope tied around his wrists to pull himself up, to no avail. Dust flew through the air. The guard atop the horse dragging the rioter spurred his mount faster with a laugh.

Voronwe immediately leapt off his horse, pulling his knife out of the sheath as he landed hard. The guard pulled his horse to the side quickly to avoid running Voronwe over. The rope holding the boy snaked by next, and Voronwe sliced it with one fluid motion.

The guard kept going.

The boy stopped. He didn't move.

Voronwe was tempted to throw his knife at the knight, but instead he cut through the bonds tying the boy's arms in front of him and began patting him to test for broken limbs.

As he assessed the boy's injuries, Voronwe absently scanned his face, noting the oddly familiar jawline and the scar along his hairline, nearly covered by the obnoxiously bright red hair...

His jaw had become defined as he had lost the earlier baby fat, his hair was longer and unruly, and his eyes swam with more sorrow and bitterness than they used to, but like a smack to the face, Voronwe realized who this was.

"Oh my...Phoenix?"

Voronwe sat back, shock unfurling down his spine. He hadn't seen Phoenix in over five years, when the boy had been shorter, with laughing eyes.

Should've figured sooner, Voronwe thought with a frown. Who else has hair that bright?

"That's my name," Phoenix muttered, coughing and rolling to his side with a grunt. "I see you've been well."

"Where the hell have you been?" Voronwe snapped, suddenly overcome with anger. He forced Phoenix to lay on his back again, as he hadn't finished checking his injuries.

Phoenix smiled faintly, closing his eyes and swallowing hard. His lips trembled for half a second before he took a deep breath. "As much as it pains me to admit, I have missed your scolding."

"I thought you were dead. You let me think you were dead for five years. Was I such a bad master?" Voronwe absently yanked Phoenix's shirt off, causing him to howl in pain.

Voronwe's arms tingled as he ripped Phoenix's shirt, making a makeshift bandage for the wound on his side. As happy as he was to lay eyes on his mischievous young apprentice, he could barely believe his eyes, for he had spent so long thinking he was dead. How could one outmaneuver Voronwe? He was an excellent tracker. It was simply impossible, especially for a fourteen-year-old, or so Voronwe thought. But here Phoenix was, right under his nose this whole time, and not dead. He didn't know whether to hug him or stab him.

Instead, he quietly tied Phoenix's shirt-bandage around his wound, tightening it as if he were in another place. Phoenix's muffled whimper brought him back, and he winced for the boy.

"You weren't a bad master," Phoenix finally replied after he'd caught his breath. "You were a great master. I just...don't think I was fit to be a ranger."

Voronwe opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before finally speaking, as the knight knelt next to Phoenix and began tying his bloody wrists.

"That wasn't your fault, Phoenix. It was my burden to bear, not yours."

"Stop lying to me. I can tell when you lie."

Voronwe blinked and furrowed his brows. "Apparently you can't."

He turned to the knight, who was already yanking Phoenix up by his elbow. "I'll take him from here," Voronwe commanded, used to having the knights listen to him, but the knight just laughed, retying Phoenix to his horse.

"I don't take orders from you," the knight sneered, mounting his horse and kicking him forward. "Boss your little rangers around, if you must, but do not tell me what to do."

Voronwe clenched and unclenched his fists, wanting so desperately to punch the smug look off the knight's face. Instead, he pulled his knife back out and cut the rope again.

The knight swiftly dismounted and stormed up to Voronwe, clenching his fists.

Voronwe smiled. Finally.

"The king can't save you now," the knight spat. "You're just like the rest of us, and I've been waiting a long time to punch the king's pet."

"I'm no one's pet," Voronwe said icily, keeping his posture relaxed to make sure the guard knew he wasn't afraid.

"Voronwe," Jenson snapped, dismounting as well. "Tarius. That's enough."

"He thinks he can get away with anything," Tarius snapped. "I'm tired of it."

Voronwe didn't speak.

He watched as Tarius pulled his arm back.

He watched as Tarius threw his whole body into the first punch.

He waited.

And then he dodged at the last second, sending Tarius careening forward, wildly off-balance. Before Tarius could get his feet back under him, Voronwe wheeled around and slammed his boot into the man's back.

Tarius tumbled to the ground.

Voronwe spun and nimbly snatched Jenson's sword out of its sheath. Before Tarius could stand, Voronwe had the tip of the sword against his neck.

"Yield," Voronwe said coolly.

Tarius spat upon Voronwe's boot. Voronwe grimaced but held his ground, arm unwavering, even though he wanted to break a couple of Tarius's ribs.

"I've killed men for less than you've given me today," Voronwe finally said through gritted teeth. "I suggest you yield before I gut you like a pig."

Then Voronwe took a light swipe at Tarius's arm, cutting a thin, shallow wound down the length. Tarius squeaked and backed up, instantly covering his arm with his hand.

"Voronwe," Jenson said, the one word cutting through Voronwe's anger and reminded him what would happen should he give in and kill this man. Instead, Voronwe tossed Jenson's sword back at his feet and kicked Tarius, knocking him over.

"I'm taking the boy to the dungeon," Voronwe said lightly, grabbing Phoenix's restraints and pulling him gently toward his horse.

Nobody stopped him.

Okay first of all, I know the title doesn't make sense, I just really wanted to use it. 

Cool. Now that we've got that out of the way, Merry Christmas! Maybe this can be my Christmas gift to all of you XD sorry it took me so long, I struggled with this beast of a chapter. 

There's one character I've barely even mentioned, and I just want you guys to know that I haven't forgotten about her! I'm so sorry I haven't gotten to her yet. Also, I'm finally figuring out the key to applyfics, which is stuffing as many lovely characters into one chapter as I can. That seems to work best. Hopefully. 

Anyway, someday there'll be a chapter without Phoenix in it, I promise. Also I barely edited this chapter (terrible, I know), so if you see a mistake lemme know cause that would be embarrassing. Kinda like having a piece of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your shoe and you just spent all day walking around an amusement park like that, wondering why people were giving you funny looks. Y'know?

Alright ciao. It was epic. Maybe. Who knows. I'll stop now. Nah it's fine. The rambling of a weirdo. Everything's perfectly fine over here. No worries.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas and uhhhh happy holidays cause those are all the holidays I remember rn.

CHARACTERS

Marcia Juavez ~ epicredpenn

Adrian Strider ~ Toilken4Life

Lilith Montgomery ~ Calliopes_Muse

Peleus Vikari ~ TheExplosiveCyborg

Pan/Sparrow ~ dr0wning_in_w0rds

Lucas Avftyr ~ sapphire10fun

Voronwe Tar-Minyatur ~ WingedWarrior1731

Jenson Falkaner ~ DURMSTRANGG

Phoenix ~ His mother

Tarius the idiotic knight ~ A hole in the ground, but not the Hobbit kind