[center] LAVELLE At Diomira's words, she smiled with relief that Bellona was on her way to recovery. "I had feared the worst when I heard the terrible news and I could not stopped worrying, so I prayed over and over for her health to improve. Oh, Lord Oz has surely blessed us all if Her Majesty is already doing so well...!" she whispered back, keeping her voice low to avoid disturbing the slumbering queen. Then she gave a discreet glance to Flaery before her eyes flickered back to Diomira. "My shift to guard her begins in a few minutes, but you've been here for some time, yes? I'm sure you can take a lunch break at the moment, especially since two protectors will still be present. However," Lavelle answered diplomatically, a slight frown tugging at her lips, "Unless it is the will of Lord Oz himself, Noem cannot escape his punishment for failing our queen." she stated firmly, but then she leaned in closer to Diomira, "But there is no shame in wanting to say goodbye. And we're of higher rank, so I'm sure the guards will let you through if you request it." Lavelle knew that if it was her brother in Noem's situation, she would go insane trying to find a way to see him one last time. And it was a huge fear that haunted her constantly. Lavana acted so lazy and uncaring over his position that Lavelle felt constant dread that he would end up failing to protect the princess in an act of carelessness and be executed as punishment. "I don't feel the need to see him," she admitted, Noem bonded closer with Diomira than either Flaery or herself, "But you could, if you visit soon enough." **approximately twenty minutes later** NOEM The prisoner stared at the knights with trepidation. He only felt slight relief that both were in on the plan to help him escape; anything could go wrong. He truly felt grateful that they were risking their lives for him but he could not shake off his wariness and anxiety. He still felt shock that Abiel and Madriel were apparently rebel spies. Noem never suspected them; how many other traitors had infested the castle? A dark thought crossed his mind: [i]If I turned them in, would my life be spared?[/i] He banished it quickly. Of course he would not be spared. Noem's sentence would not change; people had been killed for lesser reasons. Belzeneff would never pardon him for letting an assassin poison Bellona. And before they escorted him from the cell, Abiel had handed him a cup of liquid he claimed was an "antidote for loyalty potions". Noem had to admit his head felt a lot clearer and his undying loyalty certainly felt dead. Now he just felt so angry at Bellona and himself. The queen for being the reason for his death sentence and himself for making such a huge mistake in the first place. He was no longer forced to be loyal to her; he had no reason to betray the knights for nothing. As if the weight of his sins pressed down on his shoulders, each step made his body feel heavy. His throat felt choked, like a noose tightened itself around his neck, anticipating the moment of his death. Noem hated this. Honestly, nothing was stopping him from leaving right now. Noem used the hidden key from Symphony to loosen his shackles long before Abiel and Madriel arrived to take him away. Abiel had a plan...but Noem's earlier thoughts replayed over and over and over: anything could go wrong, anything could go wrong, anything could go wrong! If Abiel's plan did not work, Noem was dead. Noem felt he could place his faith and trust in Symphony...but could he do so with Abiel? Madriel? A few more steps. A few more breaths. A few more thoughts. A decision. No, Noem could not. He should depend on himself to get out alive. [i]Please forgive me for this. [/i] ABIEL He startled when Noem suddenly moved, swiftly unsheathing he sword at Madriel's side and using the side of the blade to whack his unsuspecting comrade on the head. "What are you doing?!"he hissed, trying to keep his voice low to avoid attracting attention. "You weren't supposed to do this yet, Noem!" Noem did not answer him right away. He ignored Abiel in favor of grabbing the dazed Madriel by the hair and tossing him against the wall, knocking him unconscious with that second blow to the head. "...He'll survive." Noem muttered with a wince, and finally gave his attention to the dumbfounded Abiel. "I'm following the plan, just early." Noem spoke, unable to hide from Abiel how anxious he sounded, Madriel's blade raised, "And, ah, sorry for this." Abiel gritted his teeth, aggravated that his plan was not going the way he hoped it would, but tersely nodded at the former protector. "...As long as you get out of here, safely, that's what important. Alright? Peppa's Cupcakes will help you out when you escape outside." Noem looked surprised by Abiel's concern at first, then a look of warmth crossed his face at the mention of Peppa and the girls. NOEM Perhaps he should have had faith in him; now that he thought about it, both Symphony and Peppa would not work with Abiel if he was unreliable. They trusted Abiel and Madriel to rescue him...Noem hoped he did not completely ruin the plan because he panicked and initiated it early. What if he got himself killed by his own stupidity?! Oh, Oz, he should have just been patient. "I owe you both for your help." he briefly glanced back to Madriel, (he would be fine. maybe. [i]probably.[/i]), ignoring his internal screaming, "Thank you." This was a truly amazing thank you for Abiel to experience for all this trouble, Noem thought blandly, abruptly shoving him against the wall opposite to the other knight. Abiel faltered and reflexively attempted to catch his fall; that moment of distraction allowed Noem to get him off guard once again. Madriel's sword grasped in his hand, Noem glanced at the weak point of Abiel's armor, and stabbed the knight in the shoulder. The blade went through Abiel's body and slammed into the wall that Noem previously tossed him toward, effectively pinning Abiel to it. The knight attempted to move forward and immediately cried out in pain as the sword sliced even more of his flesh, forcing him to stay in place. Pitying him, Noem reached for Abiel's own sword and knocked him unconscious the same way he did Madriel. He watched Abiel go limp, his body held up only by the sword pinning him to the wall. With the same weapon Noem stabbed the knight through the left hand; he needed them to look hurt enough, he did not want them to be accused of letting Noem escape without a fight. He eyed the blood oozing out of Abiel's wounds and grimaced. "He'll live."he told himself. Someone would definitely find him and prevent him from bleeding to death, right? Sighing, hoping he wasn't abandoning both Madriel and Abiel to die, he snuck off to find the secret escape route. **approximately ten minutes later** [i]Of course this would happen,[/i] lamented Noem, he could literally see where the hidden exit should be and it would only take a few moments to access. Sneaking around was surprisingly easy since nobody was aware he was an escaped prisoner, so he just pretended to be on a patrol of the castle and acted like nothing was wrong. He thought his biggest obstacle had been the annoying servant who kept trying to speak with him and called him rude after being ignored by Noem. No, Oz was obviously punishing him for his actions against the knights by giving him an ordeal of some sorts to overcome. Noem could practically feel his sins crawling on his back. Right in front of him was a shocked Diomira, staring wide eyed at him. "Diomira...Hello." he greeted nervously. 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