Treason! - (M/F), (F/F) [Fantasy] - Chapter 2 Added
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:52 am
In the magical realm of Moonreach, where the moon's ethereal glow bathes the land in silver light, a kingdom stood on the precipice of chaos. Governed by the stern hand of High King Aric Ironheart II, was a land of diverse landscapes and ancient traditions. Its people, comprised of humans, elves, dwarves, and mystical beings, coexisted for centuries until the ominous clouds of rebellion cast a shadow over the kingdom.
The rebellion that now gripped Moonreach had roots deep in its history. Years prior, discontent simmered among the people as King Aric Ironheart's rule grew increasingly authoritarian. The once-unified kingdom fractured along ideological lines, and discontent turned into full on civil war.
The spark that ignited the conflict was the introduction of the "Lunar Accord," a controversial decree that sought to limit the magical practices of non-human races.
The Elves, known for their affinity with the mystical arts and magic, resisted this encroachment on their traditions.
The Dwarves, known for their complex and advanced magical creations, saw it as an affront to their freedom.
Tensions reached a breaking point when a group of disenfranchised individuals, spanning races and backgrounds, formed the clandestine Shadowcrest Rebellion and assassinated the Duke of Emberfall.
The Rebellion's goals are still relatively divided, their motives obscured by a veil of shadow. Some sought to overthrow the high king, while others aimed for a more egalitarian society that embraced the diverse magical heritage of Moonreach. The high-ranking rebels operated from hidden enclaves, pulling the strings in secrecy and their identities known to only a select few.
Chapter 1: Framed!
"Open the gates!" A soldier yelled. "Stormblade has returned!"
The gate crew scrambled to their posts, and the castle gates opened with a loud, metallic groan. A few moments later, a knight atop an elegant white stallion rode through the gates.
The knight arrived at the entrance to the Grand Hall, and dismounted her horse. A couple of guards rushed over to return the horse to the Royal Stables.
"Welcome back, Stormblade." One of the soldiers says. "High King Ironheart is waiting for you."
Stormblade took off her silver helmet, letting her long and midnight-black hair cascade down to her shoulders, and handed it to another soldier. "Thank you. I shall be in his company soon."
Upon arriving in front of Ironheart's Throne, Stormblade knelt on one knee before the High King.
"Captain Selene Stormblade of the Royal Guard, your report." The High King said, the very air trembling at his authority.
"The Elves of Skyhaven have announced surrender. They want to meet for negotiation at their fort in Black Forest." Selene reports.
"Very well." Ironheart says with the smirk of victory on his face. "I shall prepare an escort party at once. I will send for you when preparations are complete. Until then, you are dismissed."
"Yes, my Lord." Selene says before standing up to leave.
The Captain of the Royal Guard leaves the Grand Hall and returns to her quarters in the North Tower of Moonreach Citadel.
Later that evening, when the sky darkens and glistens with stars, Selene is reading reports from all over Moonreach when her thoughts are interrupted by the clatter of armor through the halls. Sensing something is wrong, she reaches for her blade when the Royal Guard she commands bursts into her room, led by her colleague Captain Gray Steelhand.
"Captain Steelhand, what is the meaning of this?" Selene demands, her hands tightly clenching her sword.
"Selene Stormblade," Captain Steelhand declared, his voice cold. "By order of the High King, you are to be arrested for treason against Moonreach and collusion with the Shadowcrest Rebellion."
Selene's heart pounded in her chest and her eyes widen. "Treason?" she exclaimed, disbelief coloring her voice. "On what grounds, Gray? With what evidience? I have dedicated my life to this kingdom!"
Gray Steelhand's voice begins to waver. Clearly he does not want to see his friend and ally be jailed. "Your questions shall be answered at your trial after your arrest. Drop your sword and surrender yourself. Or else we will have to use force."
Selene is at a loss for words. With Gray and a dozen Royal Guard members that she trained to be the best of the best, there was no way she was going to fight her way out of this.
With a heavy heart, Selene drops her loyal blade and the Guard swarm her with ropes and bindings. She is stripped of her sturdy armor and left with only her tunic.
Ropes are wrapped around her chest, forcing it to jut outward while her arms are pinned behind her back in an "X" pattern and tied to the chest harness. Her legs are bound together, making it difficult to even stand. And one of her stockings is removed from her feet and used to stuff her mouth before she could even protest. To secure the filling, one of the Royal Guards gags his former commander with a humiliating black panel gag, one meant for prisoners of the Empire.
Selene, now a prisoner of war, can only weakly moan at her predicament. Her eyes are welling up as a cold iron collar is locked on her neck and a rope is attached to it. With all dozen Royal Guard members surrounding her and Captain Gray Steelhand firmly grasping the rope leash, Selene Stormblade is led outside against her will.
"Order! Order!" The High Judge commands. The courtroom dies down.
"Captain Selene Stormblade of the Royal Guard. You have been accused of high treason, attempted murder of the High King, and Collusion with the Shadowcrest Rebellion. You are to remained bound and gagged for the duration of this trial, and if found guilty, for the remainder of your life in the Moonreach Dungeon."
Selene, still tied up and gagged, is standing on the defendant's platform, for all of the court attendees to see and gawk.
This is so embarrassing! Selene thinks to herself. How could this happen? I can't even say that I was falsely accused!
The High Judge strikes his gavel, ready to state his sentence. "Selene Stormblade, on account of these charges and the calamity the Civil War has brought us, you are guilty on all cases. You shall be put to death by the next Lunar Cycle. Court adjourned!"
Selene is horrified. Death? This can't be!
She begins to furiously struggle against her bindings, an act that causes 5 Royal Guard soldiers to pin her down and force her to her knees in submission.
"Take her away." The High Judge says without remorse.
One of the Royal Guards grabs the leash and firmly yanks it, causing a yelp of pain to escape from Selene's gagged mouth and she struggles to stand. The other 4 surround her to ensure she can't make run away from her imprisonment, and she's led down into the dungeons of Moonreach.
The rebellion that now gripped Moonreach had roots deep in its history. Years prior, discontent simmered among the people as King Aric Ironheart's rule grew increasingly authoritarian. The once-unified kingdom fractured along ideological lines, and discontent turned into full on civil war.
The spark that ignited the conflict was the introduction of the "Lunar Accord," a controversial decree that sought to limit the magical practices of non-human races.
The Elves, known for their affinity with the mystical arts and magic, resisted this encroachment on their traditions.
The Dwarves, known for their complex and advanced magical creations, saw it as an affront to their freedom.
Tensions reached a breaking point when a group of disenfranchised individuals, spanning races and backgrounds, formed the clandestine Shadowcrest Rebellion and assassinated the Duke of Emberfall.
The Rebellion's goals are still relatively divided, their motives obscured by a veil of shadow. Some sought to overthrow the high king, while others aimed for a more egalitarian society that embraced the diverse magical heritage of Moonreach. The high-ranking rebels operated from hidden enclaves, pulling the strings in secrecy and their identities known to only a select few.
Chapter 1: Framed!
"Open the gates!" A soldier yelled. "Stormblade has returned!"
The gate crew scrambled to their posts, and the castle gates opened with a loud, metallic groan. A few moments later, a knight atop an elegant white stallion rode through the gates.
The knight arrived at the entrance to the Grand Hall, and dismounted her horse. A couple of guards rushed over to return the horse to the Royal Stables.
"Welcome back, Stormblade." One of the soldiers says. "High King Ironheart is waiting for you."
Stormblade took off her silver helmet, letting her long and midnight-black hair cascade down to her shoulders, and handed it to another soldier. "Thank you. I shall be in his company soon."
Upon arriving in front of Ironheart's Throne, Stormblade knelt on one knee before the High King.
"Captain Selene Stormblade of the Royal Guard, your report." The High King said, the very air trembling at his authority.
"The Elves of Skyhaven have announced surrender. They want to meet for negotiation at their fort in Black Forest." Selene reports.
"Very well." Ironheart says with the smirk of victory on his face. "I shall prepare an escort party at once. I will send for you when preparations are complete. Until then, you are dismissed."
"Yes, my Lord." Selene says before standing up to leave.
The Captain of the Royal Guard leaves the Grand Hall and returns to her quarters in the North Tower of Moonreach Citadel.
Later that evening, when the sky darkens and glistens with stars, Selene is reading reports from all over Moonreach when her thoughts are interrupted by the clatter of armor through the halls. Sensing something is wrong, she reaches for her blade when the Royal Guard she commands bursts into her room, led by her colleague Captain Gray Steelhand.
"Captain Steelhand, what is the meaning of this?" Selene demands, her hands tightly clenching her sword.
"Selene Stormblade," Captain Steelhand declared, his voice cold. "By order of the High King, you are to be arrested for treason against Moonreach and collusion with the Shadowcrest Rebellion."
Selene's heart pounded in her chest and her eyes widen. "Treason?" she exclaimed, disbelief coloring her voice. "On what grounds, Gray? With what evidience? I have dedicated my life to this kingdom!"
Gray Steelhand's voice begins to waver. Clearly he does not want to see his friend and ally be jailed. "Your questions shall be answered at your trial after your arrest. Drop your sword and surrender yourself. Or else we will have to use force."
Selene is at a loss for words. With Gray and a dozen Royal Guard members that she trained to be the best of the best, there was no way she was going to fight her way out of this.
With a heavy heart, Selene drops her loyal blade and the Guard swarm her with ropes and bindings. She is stripped of her sturdy armor and left with only her tunic.
Ropes are wrapped around her chest, forcing it to jut outward while her arms are pinned behind her back in an "X" pattern and tied to the chest harness. Her legs are bound together, making it difficult to even stand. And one of her stockings is removed from her feet and used to stuff her mouth before she could even protest. To secure the filling, one of the Royal Guards gags his former commander with a humiliating black panel gag, one meant for prisoners of the Empire.
Selene, now a prisoner of war, can only weakly moan at her predicament. Her eyes are welling up as a cold iron collar is locked on her neck and a rope is attached to it. With all dozen Royal Guard members surrounding her and Captain Gray Steelhand firmly grasping the rope leash, Selene Stormblade is led outside against her will.
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"Order! Order!" The High Judge commands. The courtroom dies down.
"Captain Selene Stormblade of the Royal Guard. You have been accused of high treason, attempted murder of the High King, and Collusion with the Shadowcrest Rebellion. You are to remained bound and gagged for the duration of this trial, and if found guilty, for the remainder of your life in the Moonreach Dungeon."
Selene, still tied up and gagged, is standing on the defendant's platform, for all of the court attendees to see and gawk.
This is so embarrassing! Selene thinks to herself. How could this happen? I can't even say that I was falsely accused!
The High Judge strikes his gavel, ready to state his sentence. "Selene Stormblade, on account of these charges and the calamity the Civil War has brought us, you are guilty on all cases. You shall be put to death by the next Lunar Cycle. Court adjourned!"
Selene is horrified. Death? This can't be!
She begins to furiously struggle against her bindings, an act that causes 5 Royal Guard soldiers to pin her down and force her to her knees in submission.
"Take her away." The High Judge says without remorse.
One of the Royal Guards grabs the leash and firmly yanks it, causing a yelp of pain to escape from Selene's gagged mouth and she struggles to stand. The other 4 surround her to ensure she can't make run away from her imprisonment, and she's led down into the dungeons of Moonreach.