Eneida felt a strange kind of sympathy for Chinook. She had never lost someone so close to her, and she doubted that she'd feel the same pain if she did lose either of her parents. Neither of them had bothered to grow close to her. They'd had more important things to deal with, like ruling the kingdom. They'd been more focused on conquering and keeping themselves in power than their child and, really, she couldn't blame them.

"No," she responded to his question immediately, eyes hard when they turned to him. "There was absolutely nothing you could have done more than separate yourself from the rebellion. He knew what he was getting himself into when he started leading it, and trying to do anything to defend him would have only incriminated you for a crime you had no part in."

She wished that there was more that she could have done to help Kol. Out of the both of them, she held the most power. Realisticially, she knew that there was nothing more she could do or could have done, but that didn't stop the pangs in her chest.

"I don't know," her voice was quiet, dragging her face away. She didn't know. She could guess that the guards wouldn't be too kind to him, and that her parents would do little about their treatment of him (but it was, really, her job to keep the knights, soldiers and guards in check, so she would be having words with them). She could guess what her father's desired punishment of him would be, and she had to stop herself from trembling at the thought.

Executions were rare, but not entirely unheard of.

"I'm guessing the trial will be a week or so from now. I'll try to push for Colm to get trialled first, if that's what you would like." She'd certainly like to see Colm trialled before Kol. Colm was likely to get a demotion, perhaps a permanent scarring or branding, maybe even extended time in prison.

His final words caught her mildly off guard, and her steps paused for a moment. "You treated me like another dog," she said after a heartbeat of silence, gathering her thoughts. "You saw me as more than just a title, or a female with high breeding, or someone to marry simply to get a higher rank. You saw me as... as another dog. Not higher than you, not lower than you. Just... equal. No one had ever done that before. It was refreshing, to say the least."

Was that the only reason? Chinook had treated her like an actual living, breathing creature? Even she didn't know.

They had found their way to her rooms, and she watched the knight she'd sent to get a bed leave, nodding to her in passing. She only briefly returned the pleasantry, walking into the open, warm space and locking eyes with the two doctors there.

One was a black poodle, one of the masters of the practice, and the other was a golden labrador retriever. Slowly, she greeted the pair: "Socorro," belonged to the poodle. "And Neha," belonged to the labrador retriever. "Socorro, you will be seeing to Chinook. Neha, my wound isn't bad, and you'll be aiding Chinook after finishing up with me."

"Yes Ma'am," came the chant, and the doctors set to work. As she'd predicted, Neha quickly finished with her own found, finding that she, really, only had to clean it and tell her to rest. Chinook had a far worse deal.

His father, the leader of the Rebellion.

Kol, who took an oath to serve the Kingdom with all of his might.

He was respected. Highly so. Why would he risk everything? Surely he must have done so because he saw what others didn't. What did his father see? Surely if he was willing to risk all he had, then it must have been worth it. Why else would his father do such an idiotic thing? To risk his life? His son? His title? All for what?

What did his father risk getting caught for?

Chinook desperately wished to ask somebody and confide in them. Anybody. But to ask anyone, even Eneida, was practically a death wish. He was now within the very heart of the Kingdom walls. It had ears all over. One mutter of the Rebellion, and he'd be alongside of his father. Chinook couldn't help him if he were in prison next to him. No, he needed to help his father in some other way. Maybe.. Maybe this was all a misunderstanding!

Who are you kidding?

He would go find Frode. That's what he'd do. Frode would help him. He was sure of it. For now, however, he needed to get his wounds tended to. "Don't be a fool, Chinook. Frode can wait. First, get yourself fixed up. You can't help me looking like something the cat dragged in." That's what his father would have said, he was sure of it. Nodding his head firmly to himself as if finishing a pep talk, Chinook followed alongside of Eneida.

Her words did offer him some comfort. Not much, but slightly. He felt as if he owed his father to do something. He only wished he had told him before he was taken. Worry fluttered in his chest worrying about his father. Would he be alright in the prison? Would he be cold? Would he have enough food? Would he be harmed? The mere thought made Chinook release a small whine.

No, stop thinking about that.

He couldn't do anything but honour his father's wishes. Not unless he wished to be held accountable as well.

Glancing up at Eneida, he nodded slightly at her words revolving around Colm. He had no words to offer her, just a simple, easy nod. It would give him more time to think if Colm went first. He could think of a way to help his father. "I just need.. I need some answers, is all." Eyes falling onto the floor, Chinook dragged his paws. He should be more grateful. He was chosen as the Royal Guard. This should have been an exciting day. One worth celebrating, but how can he knowing his father is locked away? Perhaps for good?

Now, stop thinking about all of this. You'll drive yourself mad.

Remaining silent, it wasn't until Eneida spoke once more did he look her way. For a brief moment, a sad smile appeared. "Everybody is so focused on titles these days, they lack noticing ones carrying them. I learned that when I was younger when I tried to befriend some noble pups." Scrunching his muzzle for a moment, Chinook recalled how obnoxious those pups were. All they did was talk and boast about who had the more powerful parents, or who had more trinkets. It was tiring, to say the least.

If titles didn't mean anything, was that why his father so easily stripped himself of his?

As he and Eneida arrived to her rooms, they were greeted with two doctors. Chinook took in a moment, observing the area before his eyes settled upon a black poodle and labrador retriever. The black poodle who would tend to his wounds was named Socorra, as he learned, and the one tending Eneida was Neha. "Pleasure to meet you," he spoke, dipping his head in greeting for a moment.

Chinook gaze snapped onto Eneida, practically pleading as if asking what he should do. However, he learned that it would be best to simply stand as Socorra worked. He twirled when asked, sat when demanded, lay down when told. He followed Socorra's words like a robot, wincing every now and then when a sensitive spot was hit. A grunt was sounded here and there, a soft yelp or whine. But before he knew it, Chinook was all patched up, his wounds stinging, but not as much as before. It made sense. All the dirt was probably cleaned out.

"Thank you," he said, spectating his body with a smile. "It feels much better." All he probably had to do was rest now. He'd find Frode later.

However, he felt the need to double check with Eneida. Chinook wasn't sure how to even act as a Royal Guard. All he was ever told was to listen to any orders given. So, he turned to her, smiling softly. "What now, my Princess?"

Eneida sat off to the side whilst the two doctors cleaned the wounds of the male. Her new Royal Guard, that's what she had named Chinook. The two doctors were more than used to her sharp eyes and quiet mannerisms--they'd tended to her knights and guards more than enough times to be used to her hovering around, just to be sure everything was fine. It's how she was. Even if she was, technically, Chinook's charge, he was also under her command. She had a duty of care to him, just as he had a duty to protect her.

"You will rest until they think your wounds have healed enough," she said, voice leaving little room for discussion. Sorocco and Neha were busy gathering their supplies, but, still, the Princess approached them, leaning in closer to mutter to them: "If you see him, do send Lothair to my rooms. I wish to speak to him about important matters."

Neha nodded, and the pair left.

"You will stay here until you have healed," she said, turning back to Chinook. "My rooms are yours, and will forever be open to you as my Royal Guard." The male had been alienated his whole life, how was she supposed to make him feel at home in an area full of those that hated him? How was she supposed to make him respected? How was she supposed to make him feel welcome, standing beside her?

"Chinook, if anyone tries to hurt you or say anything to you anymore, I want to know," she murmured, stepping closer, just shy of making physical contact. "I need to know, so I can put a stop to it. It's... disgusting, how some members of my parents' court treat you." It made her sick.

A throat was cleared at the door.

Eneida turned, body tense, fur rising instinctively, but her entire body relaxed when she spotted the white shepherd.

"Lothair," she said by way of greeting, turning her body, but not moving from her position. The shepherd had to walk across the space towards her to greet her back, dipping his head to both her, and Chinook.

"Princess, Royal Guard," he said, before he zeroed his gaze in on her face. "What did you need, Spitfire?"

"I need a favour," she said slowly, gaze sharpening.

"What is it?" His voice dropped, taking a step closer, paw narrowly missing her own with how close he was.

"I need you to make daily visits to the dungeon," Eneida said lightly, watching the confusion on his face for a moment before she continued. "The guards will not be kind, Lothair, you know that."

"To the traitor?"

"Kol is still a respectable knight. He did much for our kingdom--"

"He betrayed it--"

"Do not interrupt me," her voice softened, but sharpened to a dangerous point. The shepherd dropped her gaze, shuffling back half a step in response, but remained silent. "Kol is a respectable knight, and, regardless of his crime, he is a prisoner under my charge. I will not accept any mistreatment in my dungeons."

"Yes, Eneida."

"Disguise the visits under questioning Colm and, later, Kol. I want to find out why Colm committed his crimes, and the King will likely want more information about Kol." She paused, just for a heartbeat, before she continued. "And, Lothair, this is not my asking as a friend." She lifted her maw, as if to remind him of who was in charge. "This is your Princess ordering reports on her dungeon. You will fulfill your duties."

"Yes, Princess."

"Take Yorath with you when you go into the dungeon."

"Yes, My Lady." Lothair's voice had grown hollow, as if he'd given up arguing with her. He shouldn't have tried in the beginning.

"You are dismissed." She said, turning her face away from him, back towards Chinook, as if to completely ignore his presence. The white shepherd stood there for a moment, before he backed away, frowning.

"Eneida--"

"You are dismissed," she repeated, vocals dropping to something just above a growl, whipping her head around to face him again. Her eyes were a glare, face set in a stony expression until he nodded and removed himself from her sight.

Only then did the husky relax, closing her eyes and sighing.

"He can be so difficult sometimes," she whispered, turning back to Chinook and nodding to the bed that the other knight had brought in. "That's your bed for the time being. It should be fairly comfortable. If it isn't, tell me, and I'll get it replaced."

"Just because you can handle it, doesn't mean you should." She stated, face going blank. "Even the strongest people have breaking points. I want to help you before you reach yours." She didn't want to watch the male go through grief whilst also dealing with the hatred of those around him. It was no way for anyone to live, much less someone she regarded as a friend. She paused, and then: "Perpetual pain is no way for anyone to live, Chinook."

Would he understand?

She hoped so.

After the brief interaction with Lothair, the dame brought her full attention to Chinook. His comment, I can see why they call your Spitfire, had a small, almost cheeky smile alighting her face. "I got called that when I started training with them," she muttered, flicking a short glance towards the entrance, just to make sure Lothair wasn't lingering. "I absolutely floored Yorath in my third session, because he'd underestimated me." Something just a little less joyful than a giggle came from her maw, and she quickly redirected her attention.

"I'm a princess. I would get nowhere if I let people talk over me." She explained, shifting her weight slightly. "It's a skill I learned early. Now, get to bed, and rest. The sooner you heal, the sooner you'll be off bed rest."

------------------

It was a few days later, maybe closer to a week, she didn't know. It was hard to tell times recently, with everything blurring together.

"Lothair," her voice was hushed, so as not to wake Chinook, but dropped closer to a growl. "What do you mean?"

"I was not permitted to enter the cells." The white shepherd replied, voice equally hushed, but not as angry.

"By who?"

"The guards."

"The gua- Lothair you are a knight! You are a knight under the orders of the princess, do they have no respect?"

"I suppose not, Princess."

Eneida paused, blinking slowly.

Lothair hadn't tried. He hadn't tried to get into the cells. He was not angry, he was not upset about being disrespected like that, nor was he upset about her orders being disregarded. He had allowed himself to be pushed out of the prison, had allowed himself to be bossed around by the guards.

He'd let-

"You are dismissed." She stated, leaning away, voice turned to ice. "I want Sokra to lead the training today. Make sure it happens."

"Yes, My Lady," if Lothair was surprised by the sudden change in tone, he didn't show it, merely turning and leaving the room.

The princess uttered a growl before she remembered that Chinook was in the room, tucking her chin agaisnt her chest.

"Goddammit," she whispered, closing her eyes. She would have to check on Kol and Colm herself. She would have to remind the guards that she was in charge, not them.

She needed time.

"Chinook," she called, voice soft as it bounced across the room. "We're going to go to the prison today."

For a moment, the large male felt peace. For a moment, he had forgotten everything. In his mind, there was serenity and he was a pup again without a care in the world.

Then, he woke up.

At first, Chinook was confused, his ears turning and picking up a series of mumbles and murmurs. His eyes remained closed, his breath slow. He was trying to make it seem as if he were still asleep, when in reality, he was eavesdropping. Was it the right thing to do? No, but it was talk about prison, and therefore, talk about his father. Chinook needed to know everything. When he was sure Lothair had left, only then did he shift his lanky body around, head raising slightly to peer Eneida.

"No luck?"

Eyes remaining glued upon her figure, he could tell from the way she looked that she hadn't had a successful conversation. Glancing at his paws for a moment, Chinook rolled onto his stomach and lifted himself up. It was but a week since everything in his life turned around. It was a week since he had seen his father. He dreaded to know how he was being treated.

Glancing back at the female before him, Chinook broke out into a slow walk, stretching his hind legs as he moved. Only a short amount of time, and he felt himself growing stronger. Since the day after he was treated for his wounds, Chinook was determined. He had gone to the training grounds each morning and evening, where he remained for at least an hour working on his skills. He wanted to do better. Needed to do better. For his father and Eneida's sake.

When the male finally stood before her, his head tilted slightly. "How do you plan on getting to the prison?" Pausing, the male shook his head. "I don't want to risk you getting in trouble for my sake." As much as he wanted to see his father, how could he rely on Eneida to help him again when she's done so much already?

"If you are seen, then you're father will be noted. Isn't that right?" The King hated him enough already, Chinook didn't want to risk himself and his father potentially being treated worse. Unless.. Did she have a plan? A way to either move past the guards or swear them to secrecy? Was there a secret rule among the royals that they had to be confidential?

His eyes seemed to ask all of these questions as they stared at her.

His concern, although unneeded, allowed a smidge of warmth to enter her icy brain. How had Lothair allowed them to- Her maw wrinkled, and she almost spat out foul words that rose in her throat. How dare she be so obviously disobeyed. How dare the guards disobey her, how dare Lothair disregard her orders, how dare they harm prisoners.

"No luck," she agreed, voice dropped to a cold kind of anger. Frighteningly calm is what her anger had been called by many, and it did not disprove of that claim now. "Gods above- Lothair has found a way to convince the guards to go against my orders. Or he just didn't tell them about my orders. Either way, he hasn't been going into the cells to check up on your father and Colm."

Eneida's jaws snapped harshly against air, and she turned towards a different room in her rooms. She needed to be ready, to look presentable in front of her guards. "Regardless of their crimes, prisoners will not be hurt under my watch. Your father may be a so-called 'traitor', but he is still a prisoner under my command. The guards have no business doing what I suspect of them doing."

The guards were hurting Kol.

The sentence didn't need to be said.

It was obvious.

She grabbed the leather and glass contraption that every royal was given to wear, to show off their status. Should she wear it? The guards knew who she was, she wouldn't need to prove to them that she was the Princess. And if they were hurting the prisoners, she intended on getting messy.

She put it back in its place, turning back to Chinook, eyes hard. If Chinook didn't wish to go with her, fine, but she was going regardless. She'd never, ever been one to back down.

"I will say it's a routine checkup on how they are keeping the prison, how sanitary and tidy it is, and the status of the prisoners. Kol and Colm are my prisoners, inside the prison under my command, guarded by dogs that follow my orders. My Mother and Father left me in charge of most of the smaller things when I turned a year old. Learning responsibility or something like that; they focus more on their war campaigns with the wolves now." They don't have time for petty crimes, they had told her.

"The guards are in no position to refuse my orders. They think they can get away with this," she stalked closer to the taller dog, pausing when she was right in front of him. "And they will not."

And, as with all things, Eneida didn't wait. She turned and left the rooms, expecting Chinook to follow her. The walk to the prisons wasn't short, but it wasn't a long one either. It was nearby the top of the mountain, but on a side with less housing than the other sides. A singular, thin path led down to it, and it was angled in a way that sunlight almost never got in.

So torches, thick sticks and cloth on fire, lined the sides of the tunnel leading down to the prison.

It was cold, damp, and dark. All things that she hated.

The guards at the entrance had done nothing to stop her, and she met their stares head on. The guards at the entrance to the cell rooms only looked at her, straightening up when she paused between them.

"If someone carrying out my orders is refused access again," she said lightly, airily, as if she wasn't angry. "There will be consequences." Her wording betrayed her emotions more then her tone did. "Am I understood?"

The guards nodded.

Eneida carried on without looking back at them.

She found Kol and Colm quickly. For some reason, they had been put in neighbouring cells. She would change that. The cell doors were branches woven together with rope and vines, holding them together and stuck harshly into the wall. They had never been easily removed, especially from the inside.

"I want access to Kol's cell," she stated, looking at one of the guards inside the room. He didn't move. A growl rose in her throat, rumbling deep in her chest. "I want access to Kol's cell," she repeated forcefully, watching one of the others jump to his paws to move the door aside for her.

Her smile was venomously sweet towards them, until she turned her gaze and peered int othe cell.

Kol looked like he had been a lone soldier in a war against thousands.

He was torn and bloodied, bruised and hurt. Eneida didn't say anything, didn't allow her facial features to change, didn't make a noise. Instead, she merely turned her face to Chinook.

"You interview him for information about his crimes," she said, turning away, back towards the guards. "I have business to attend to."

She was going to give the guards hell for this.

'Make them regret this,' were the words Chinook uttered to her, and she didn't need to vocalize the fact that she very much intended to. The guards had not only injured, nearly killed, a prisoner, but they had directly disobeyed her previous orders. Kol, although a prisoner, was an important dog. He was needed for further investigations, needed to answer further questions. And she would be damned if she let him die in this hellhole.

"I am going to ask questions. You are not permitted to speak unless it is to answer the questions," she stated as she stalked towards the gathering of guards. "Am I understood?" A few nods met her words, and she kept her face blank for only a moment, before her maw wrinkled and she bared her teeth directly in front of the canids.

"Fantastic," she hissed, lifting her head and shoving her ears forward. "Who the hell gave you permission to hurt the prisoners?" She paused, waiting for an answer. There wasn't one. "Well?"

"Uh- No one-" Someone answered, flinching beneath her gaze when it darted across to him.

"No one gave us permission," another said, voice shaking.

"No one hurt the prisoners," a third snarled, daring to step forward towards her. "How dare you make accusa-"

Eneida lashed out quicker then any of them could see, or any of them bothered to see. Her teeth latched around the dogs maw, pushing her chest towards the floor, dragging him down with her until his legs gave out beneath the sudden change in his centre of gravity. When he was on the floor beneath her, she spat his muzzle out, putting a paw on his shoulder and uttering a growl against his throat before she lifted her head.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that," she snapped, digging her teeth into his cheek in a swift movement when he tried to talk back. "And don't you dare lie to me. If none of you have hurt the prisoners, then what in Gods name has happened to Kol and Colm? How in the name of everything holy has Kol gotten that injured if you didn't hurt them?"

The male, intelligently, remained silent as she turned her attention to another dog.

"So," she started again, keeping a paw on the canids shoulder to keep him on the ground. "No one gave you permission, hmm? No higher-up? Not the, say, King or Queen? Not any of their court?" Multiple dogs shook their heads, and her smile was venomous and sharp, voice dangerously sweet when she next spoke.

"So, why did you do it?"

"The traitor deserves it-" One spat, shrinking beneath her gaze. She gave him no time to prepare, or to run away, before she slammed him into the wall behind him with her own body, growl stuttering with the impact.

"Talk like that will get your rights to speak revoked," she snarled, allowing her threat to hang in the air, watching their eyes dart to the ground when her own swept over them.

"Sorry, Princess," the male sandwiched between her and the wall muttered, and she released the pressure, watching him slide down to the ground with short, gasping breaths.

"Just a reminder," she stated softly, managing to draw their attention to her with her soft tone as she picked her way across the two dogs laying on the floor. "That you are still considered missing if there is no body found." She looked up at them, grin bright. "And if I get reports of this kind of thing again, or if I come here and witness it first hand, or if you ever disobey me again, or if you ever touch my goddamn prisoners again," she paused, gaze dancing across their shocked faces. "You will be considered missing forever."

There was no need to finish her threat. She knew they understood.

"Do not touch my goddamn prisoners." Her tone was a snarl, and she turned her face slightly to acknowledge the lingering presence of Chinook. She didn't know how much he had heard, but she didn't really care, twisting her neck around to peer at Colm's cell, shaking her head. "And, whichever dumbass put those two next to each other, you're on yard duty. I want Colm moved away from Kol."

She watched as they began moving, smiling snarkily at them. "And I want Kol's injuries seen to. He will not be dying under my care, am I understood?"

"Yes, Princess," came the droned words.

Eneida nodded sharply, looking back at Chinook.

"We can go now."