Suzie was trying to clean her friend off when she realized the gate was opening again, a bearded man with three large gashes running down his face looked down at them, groaned irritably, and motioned toward the duo.
"Just bring both the elves up to the second level," He muttered irritably, at his word the guards picked up both Suzie and her friend, although he was wrapped in heavy-looking chains before they picked him up.
Suzie had two guards on either side of her whose hands held her shoulders firmly, her friend, however, was being dragged up the small staircase leading to the gate by his chains.
That had upset her, his being dragged up the large flight made it worse, but she didn't do anything, her friend wasn't struggling, and he knew more about this place than she did. And if he could win a fight against a man with a sword bare-handed without even a scratch she had no reason not to trust him.
Upon first meeting him she had only attached herself to him because, even if it was only superficial, he reminded her of the home she was afraid she would never see again. However she had found more interest in him upon seeing that he, and he alone, had a shine in his eye, he didn't look like he was waiting for death, she even saw him turn a rock into dust with a punch, she had only hurt her hand when she had tried it.
Her mother had once told her that just because someone was stronger than her, didn't mean they were better and it alone wasn't a suitable reason to pick a life partner, but here, in this horrible place, it seemed being strong was the only way to stay alive, and if he liked her she had a better chance of living long enough to hopefully one day be saved.
She had thought she would die when the man had grabbed her, then she had felt the painful combination of guilt and horror as her only friend had let himself be dragged away in her place.
Now, from this moment onward, she would spend every second of her life when her mind wasn't occupied with the simple thought in the back of her mind, that she was only still alive because of him, and she would repay that kindness.
All these thoughts ran through her head as she and her friend were brought into a somewhat worn-down room, but it had an actual bed instead of just a floor to lay on. Without another word, the guard tossed Suzie onto the bed and left her friend on the floor as the man spoke.
"Congratulations," he said dryly as he looked at a card that had a tear in it "As the King of the Colosseum you are granted a bed, you are also granted a slave of your very own to serve you," he motioned half-heartedly towards Suzie, "Enjoy yourself as much as you can, as the King your matches will now only be death matches, and when you die your slave will be given as a reward to the one who defeats you,"
The man put the card away turned away with a wave and called out "Do me a favor and die fast, your disgusting elf smell is already polluting the second floor, you next match it tomorrow at noon, try to enjoy your slut in your final hours, you won't be leaving the arena a second time," The door slammed shut, and locked with a small click.
Suzie was quick to get off the bed, her instincts begging her to lay on the comfortable fabric, she ignored them and instead began untangling her friend from his chains. As soon as she touched one she was hit with a wave of fatigue, as though she had run a marathon, she forced herself to keep moving and after a few of them were removed her friend helped her.
Magic chains that caused the exhaustion effect on contact, the effect wore off quickly but wrapped in these chains it was amazing her friend was still conscious, as she though back, however, she realized he may not have been for some of the trip up the stairs judging by his delayed response to the removal of the chains.
He looked around the room but, true to how he had acted thus far, he didn't say anything.
"How long have you been here?" She asked, the notion of him not having a name already giving her the answer.
"Always," He replied bluntly, his dry raspy voice giving her the faint impression she might hold the honor of being the first person he had ever spoken to. She inspected him, taking in the blackness of his nails and his dirty blond hair, his eyes mesmerized her for a moment before she shook herself straight and asked him a question she had asked a few times already in the three or maybe four weeks since she had ended up in the colosseum.
"You're a half-elf, but not a half-human, do you know what your other half is?"
"No," He stated blandly as he got to his feet and began rummaging around the one dresser, before going to the bed and sizing up one of the Pillows, getting the basic idea that he was looking to replace his torn and bloody sack she pulled the Pillow from its case to help him avoid getting blood on the bed and watched as he effortlessly tore a hole in it.
Suzie turned around as he changed into his new outfit and, upon looking back, found him looking at it with an odd expression, his eyes having regained their light.
"Comfort?" His response to the Pillowcase skirt and the sight of his bare chest was all the inspiration she needed, without a word she grabbed his hand and this time dragged him after her, she climbed up on the frameless bed and pulled him up onto it.
He flopped onto the bed and lay still on it, the bed itself was cheap and only slightly better than a wooden chair, but to Suzie, it felt like heaven at the moment, and to someone who had probably only known the sweet embrace of stone she could only imagine the bliss.
She had hoped to begin repaying her life debt but one look told her he had passed out near instantly, instinctively curling up into a ball it made things easier as she pulled him to the head of the bed and got him onto the pillow and under the blanket.
She had no reservations about joining him in the bed and she tucked herself in, She recalled his new title and, seeing how he had no name, felt it was the best she could do at the moment.
"Goodnight King," She said "I hope you win tomorrow," he gave no verbal response but did put a hand on her as he snuggled up to her body heat. "A good start," She whispered to his sleeping self, "Tomorrow when you win let's see about giving you a proper reward,"