[Tiki Time]

Before the Auction

Amalia sat silently upon the caravan, enjoying the alone time as she rode to Pyarados for work. Although such times alone are usually used for meditations, she was consumed with thoughts about the upcoming Auction. Her emotions were conflicted, her thoughts were scattered, she wasn't even sure if she wished to attend.

Before, she had wanted to be there to purchase Alyisse and ensure that she did not end up with a cruel master, but now...she wasn't so sure.I don't understand why she would do this to me. I was kind to her and when she claimed I was unkind, I tried to be kinder. I allowed her to speak to me as if we were equals and I was honest with her as she had asked me to be. Amalia frowned, once again thinking about to that night when Alyisse had begged to be sold.

As many times as her mind went over it, she still could not understand the reason why Alyisse had lied to her, and why Alyisse was turning her friends against her. I suppose I was cruel to her once, but she deserved it then and I'd thought we'd long since made up.

Amalia shifted in her seat upon the couch as the caravan hit a few unpleasant bumps. I truly wanted to help her, I wanted to protect her from the cruelty often shown to women...especially slave women. She was lucky that Max never forced himself upon her, but who knows about her future Master. I wanted to shield her from that, to keep that little dignity she had safe...but she has lied about me, she has convinced others that I was trying to get her "out of the way" of Max.

Amalia gripped the armrest of the couch as the caravan lurched to a halt. She could hear the caravan leader shouting about intruders. When usually she would quickly stand up to assist, this time Amalia simply stared on at the wall across the way. I could have beaten her daily, I could have asked Max to beat her daily, I could have done so many cruel things to her but instead I tried to help her. In all the times she was disrespectful to me, I only slapped her twice. She deserved to be slapped far more than she was, and she knew I only snapped because she'd truly crossed the line...but even still, my discipline was far kinder than any other would have given her. When she continued to refuse to listen, Max dragged her to the Palace by her hair. I could have done the same thing and he would not have been upset with me...but I didn't.

She sighed heavily, occasionally glancing towards the caravan door as she heard the sounds of battle continue on. She wasn't interested in fighting, she wasn't interested in helping anyone; not after her last attempt to help someone had blown up so largely in her face. Whenever I've shown kindness, I've received nothing but betrayal. Why? Why is it so easy for someone like Marister to be kind and make friends...but if I am kind, I am betrayed? She frowned deeply.

Her thoughts moved to Marister and she frowned even deeper. How has she tricked you so easily, Marister? How did she cause you to doubt me when I've never lied to you? If you were my friend, as you claim to be, why do you not ask me my side of it all before simply believing it? Is it because she is a slave? I suppose in your eyes, slaves are incapable of lies. In your eyes, I am a villain simply for being Mulan. I am a villain simply because...what? Because a slave claimed it to be so? Gods, Marister, I knew your kindness would get the better of you someday. I knew it would cause you to be naive and to believe the first pretty thing that came crying to your doorstep.

I wanted to believe better of you. I wanted to believe you were truly my friend. I wanted to believe that you would treat me with the same respect I treated you with...but you've betrayed me as well. You may not hold the dagger in your hands, but you have turned your gaze away as it was being stabbed into my back.

Finally the sounds outside of the caravan seemed to die down and she could feel the caravan begin once more. She was relieved that they were on their way again, she was eager to get to Pyarados so she could begin her work and get her mind off of all the nonsense.


I told you that I was not your enemy, Alyisse. I told you that I would help you, that I would try to protect you. Why did you have to treat me as your enemy?

As the caravan finally arrived at its destination, it seemed only a moment passed before a raven appeared with a letter. Amalia rolled her eyes, obviously not shocked at all that the ravens were "Stalking her" once more. On the outside of the letter was crawled the message, "Auction starting soon, come if interested".

She frowned, I don't know if I'm interested. She was truly conflicted with her feelings. She was angry, but she also pitied the elf. A part of her still wished to protect Alyisse, to try to keep her from being sold to someone cruel...but another part of her wished for Alyisse to end up with a terrible fate.