Madeline’s boots echoed softly against the cold stone floor as she descended into the depths of the Keep, her mind a whirl of conflicting emotions. The dimly lit corridor leading to the cells seemed longer than usual, the flickering torches casting long shadows on the walls. She had been down here before, many times, but this visit felt different—heavier.
Ely’s betrayal had cut deeper than any wound Madeline had ever suffered in battle. To discover that someone she trusted had nearly driven her to the brink of insanity, all in service of a megalomaniac ancient elf, had been a blow she hadn’t been prepared for. The fact that Ely had come forward after Elgar’nan’s death, confessing her role in the plot, hadn’t lessened the sting of betrayal. Madeline had thrown Ely into the cells without a second thought, unsure of how to process the mix of rage, hurt, and confusion that had overwhelmed her.
But time had passed, and with it had come counsel from those she trusted—particularly from Rosalie. Rosalie had urged leniency, pointing out that Ely could have done far more damage if she had truly been committed to Elgar’nan’s cause. Instead, she had chosen to stop, to reveal the truth, even though it meant her own downfall. Rosalie’s words had stayed with Madeline, prompting her to consider a course of action she had never thought she’d take: understanding.
Madeline reached the door to the cells and paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She was here to listen, to hear Ely’s side of the story in full before making any final decision. Whatever that decision might be, it would be made with a clear head and a full understanding of the facts.
With a firm nod to the guard, the door creaked open, and Madeline stepped inside. The air was cool and damp, the narrow corridor lined with iron-barred cells. At the far end, she could see Ely sitting on the small bench in her cell, her posture tense, her eyes downcast. The sight of her, so different from the confident and capable person Madeline had known, stirred something in her—an uncomfortable mix of pity and lingering anger.
Madeline walked slowly toward Ely’s cell, each step measured, her expression unreadable. As she approached, Ely looked up, her eyes widening slightly in surprise at the sight of her former friend. There was a long moment of silence, the two women simply looking at each other, the weight of what had happened hanging between them like a shroud.
Finally, Madeline spoke, her voice calm but with an edge of steel. Ely, she said, her tone betraying none of the emotions churning inside her. I’m here to hear your story. All of it. No more secrets, no more half-truths. I need to understand why you did what you did... and what you expect me to do about it now.
Ely barely ate and slept, not because she didn’t have food and a bed, she was just…empty, tired as if the mere act of being alive was a burden. The cat was out of the bag and now she was alive to deal with the consecuences of her action which was very inconvenient. She would have rather been struck by Rian, due to Madeline’s orders than to deal with his resentment and hurt as he took her to the cell.
Days passed and she hoped that death would find her, the lack of food making her exhausted. At the least she wasn’t giving trouble to the watch, who looked at her with disdain but also mild curiosity since Ely wasn’t even moving a finger.
When Madeline arrived she assumed that she was here to inform her of her future death, but instead she asked for explanations. “Who cares, can’t you execute me already to put me out of my misery?” she said with a quiet groan.
“Elvhen god wanted you crazy and incapacitated, he sent me and I performed adequately until unfortunately I got soft and decided to back from the plan, tweaking the tool so that it wouldn’t break your mind.” She said with an shrug “That’s pretty much it”.
“It got to a point where even the mild version was damaging you so I decided to embrace the consequences of my actions and here I am, waiting for the axe” she said calmly, not sounding a bit scared about the prospective.
Madeline’s gaze hardened at Ely’s words, the dismissive tone like a slap to her face. Ely’s apparent indifference stirred a flicker of anger beneath the surface, though she quickly quelled it. She reminded herself that she had come here seeking clarity, not to allow herself to be drawn into bitterness.
Waiting for the axe, Madeline repeated, her voice level but carrying a sharpness that hinted at her frustration. Is that all you’ve got to say, Ely? That you got ‘soft’ and decided to come clean? She leaned closer, her eyes boring into Ely’s. I need to know why you even agreed to it in the first place. What did Elgar’nan promise you? What made you willing to betray everything you claimed to stand for?
Madeline studied her, silent for a moment, searching Ely’s face for some glimmer of sincerity. She needed to see something, anything, that told her Ely regretted more than just the consequence of her actions.
I trusted you, Ely, Madeline said quietly, her voice laced with a sadness Ely hadn’t expected. Even now, after everything, I want to believe there’s something in you that regrets what you’ve done beyond self-preservation. She straightened, hands clasped tightly behind her back. But if you don’t care—if you truly feel nothing for what you put us through—then maybe you’re right, and there’s nothing left for me to do here.
“I am indeed. I hope you are merciful enough to make it quick, I have heard that being hanged is much less clean and fast. Poison would be a decent option too” she said attempting to sound emotionless.
Anger flicked in her eyes “Agreement implies choice. I have only known orders since I started to work under Elgar’nan. When I was young and foolish I thought that I would be loved and powerful but later I learned that doing it good was my best chance of survival. What I was promised was to not die, or at the least to do it in a kind way” she said with a hiss. Madeline didn’t understand how hard was what she did, and to explain her past twice like she had with Rian hurt in ways she didn’t dare to explore.
“You shouldn’t have. I hope the lesson helps you” she said looking down “I regret it and I can’t change it. Self preservation would have been to finish the job” she said looking down. “The only thing I can say for myself is that at some point I realized I preferred to die than to hurt you further and that’s the only good thing I can say for myself. I don’t deserve the axe for what I did to you only but for all that I have done” she said, clenching her jaw as she didn’t dare to look at Madeline.
Madeline stood silent for a long moment, Ely’s words settling heavily in the dim space between them. The anger she had felt, the hurt—it all churned inside her, but something else rose to the surface as she watched Ely now. This wasn’t the proud, capable woman Madeline had once trusted; this was someone broken, hollowed out by years of servitude and regret.
She exhaled slowly, her hands unclenching from the tight fists she hadn’t realized she’d made. Ely, she began, her tone quiet but firm, dying isn’t justice. It’s an escape. You want me to end this for you because it’s easier than facing what you’ve done, easier than finding a way to make it right.
Her gaze softened slightly, though her posture remained resolute. You regret what you’ve done. I can see that, even if you won’t admit it to yourself. And yes, you’ve hurt people—me, Rian, countless others—but running from it won’t change that. And letting you die won’t give me back what you took.
“It’s so bad to want an escape? To yearn for peace for once and all?” she said with a small sigh as she listened to Madeline’s words “I have done enough wrongs to justify the axe Madeline, don’t feel bad for a life that has not done anything worth going” she determined with a final shrug.
“Of course I fucking do, I am not stupid I know the punishement that would came with deviating from the original orders. I even received threats” she confessed in a low voice.
“So what then, I am going to do community service? Paint the town? Help in the farm? My skills are not the ones that tend to be used for redemption purposes” she said looking firmly at Madeline.
Madeline’s expression remained calm, though her jaw tightened at Ely’s words. The mixture of resignation and defiance in Ely’s tone was maddening, but Madeline wasn’t about to let that sway her resolve.
It’s not about making you paint a town or work on a farm, she replied, her voice steady, though the intensity in her gaze didn’t waver. It’s about making you confront what you’ve done. You can’t erase the past, but you can choose how you move forward. You say your skills aren’t suited for redemption—then learn new ones. Find a way to be more than what you were under Elgar’nan’s thumb.
She stepped closer to the bars, her voice dropping slightly, becoming more personal. I’m not going to let you take the easy way out, Ely. Not because I pity you, but because I believe that somewhere in there, you still have the strength to make a difference. Maybe not today, maybe not even soon, but one day.
Madeline let out a soft breath, crossing her arms as she continued, And if you truly believe you’re beyond redemption, then prove me wrong. Show me I made a mistake by sparing you. But if there’s even a shred of decency left in you, Ely, then use it. Don’t let your story end as another one of Elgar’nan’s victims.
She tilted her head, her gaze never leaving Ely’s. What happens next is up to you. But I’m not here to hand you an escape. I’m here to offer you a chance—a hard, painful, and uncertain chance—but a chance nonetheless.
“Then what will I do? Do you have anything planned? Or I should just travel around the world making amends for my past? How do I even atone all the shit I have done?” she said, for once sounding vulnerable in this conversation. She genuinely thought that she was way too gone to be redeemed.
“And what happens later? I manage to make up for what I made for you and then I just leave? Where will I go? Besides the whole village must hate me after I did, where will I even stay?” there were so many questions, so many doubts; was she even worth the attempt?
There was a long moment of silence where she pondered her options. If it was for her, she would take the easiest way to deal with this. Dying didn’t sound that bad, if something a part of her believed that it being over would be so easy but if this was Madeline’s wish she would honor it; she owed her that much. “Okay I will do it. Not for him, but for you” because her former “boss” wouldn’t be the reason to take this chance, she would do it for the ones she cared about.
Madeline’s expression softened, though her composure remained steadfast. She had prepared herself for defiance, even resignation, but the vulnerability in Ely’s tone caught her off guard. It was a start—one she hadn’t been sure she’d get.
I don’t expect you to have all the answers right now, Madeline replied, her voice quieter but no less resolute. And honestly, neither do I. This isn’t something you can fix overnight, or even in a year. But if you’re willing to try, we’ll figure it out together. Step by step.
She leaned against the bars slightly, her eyes meeting Ely’s with an intensity that held no trace of pity—only determination. You’ll stay in the village for now. I’ll speak with Rosalie about finding a way to integrate you. There will be people who hate you, who’ll want nothing to do with you, but I’ll handle that. What matters is that you prove you’re not the same person who made those choices. Not just to them, but to yourself.
Madeline exhaled slowly, her hands gripping the iron bars of the cell door. And when the time comes, if you decide to leave, we’ll cross that bridge. For now, focus on rebuilding what you can. I won’t promise it’ll be easy—it won’t be. But I’ll give you the chance to try. That’s all I can offer.
She stepped back, her boots echoing softly in the dim corridor. Her next words were firm but held a faint note of reassurance. I’ll have food and water brought to you. Rest tonight, Ely. Tomorrow, we’ll talk about what comes next.
Madeline turned to leave, pausing at the threshold to glance back one last time. For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re willing to try. Don’t waste this, Ely.
Without waiting for a response, she stepped into the corridor, the door creaking shut behind her. As she walked back through the Keep, her heart felt no lighter, but there was a spark of something she hadn’t expected to find—hope. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
“I doubt that I will never have the answers” said Ely as she looked down, clearly trying to avoid Madeline’s gaze. She didn’t know what to think about staying at the village so she chose to not think at all; she would try to redeem herself but admittedly now she wasn’t feeling very optimistic about her chances.
“I am not afraid of it being hard, I just don’t know if I can make it” she said with a vulnerability very unlike herself. “I will take the offer. Thank you; I don’t know if I will be able to but I will try” she said with a smile.
There was little else that she could say as she stayed alone with her thoughts, waiting for the time to pass until she was released.
This was her only chance, perhaps it was time to do something for herself.
