[center][img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d94/Malfoys_one_and_only_girl/Signatures/scar.gif[/img][img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d94/Malfoys_one_and_only_girl/Signatures/Freya.jpg[/img][img]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d94/Malfoys_one_and_only_girl/Signatures/Esmeralda.gif[/img][/center]
[center][h1][color=DarkOrange]Scar Lionhart[/color], [color=DarkOrchid]Freya Beauchamp[/color] and [color=Maroon]Esmeralda Lovel[/color]- Present Day - The Pride Lands[/h1][/center]

True to his word, Scar led Maleficent from the arena to the barracks where the victors were instructed to wait for their King. Aside from the two newly-made generals, Scar kept his promise and allowed Maleficent to create a small group of soldiers to her choosing and with a quick snap of her fingers and a plume of purple smoke, the make-shift army was transported back to the Moors where they were given immediate control over the military Maleficent had beforehand.

The two said very little between one another as Scar then led her from the barracks back to the castle, seeking out the chambers in which he kept his dancers. There would have been more than enough time for the arena to clear out in the time they had spent at the barracks - the soldiers would have escorted them out first not only because they were a high priority to keep protected amongst the rabble of citizens, but because most (if not all) of the dancers had a high flight risk.

Giving very little into patience, the moment Scar reached the doors of the chambers, the two stations guards scrambled out of the way just in time for Scar to force the doors open with a push of his hand, swinging so hard that they banged against the walls to a stop. Immediately, the women within the room gasped, one even shrieked but they all fell into uniform, dropping to their knees and bowing their backs until their heads were level at his feet save for the few who were stationed to provide food and water. But even an air of uneasiness was clear on their features as they held their breath, averting their gaze from Scar in hopes that he wasn't there for them.

Esmeralda was silent as she was escorted back to the room. She was starting to see a common trend in these outings in the Pride Lands... Not one of them ended well. She slipped quietly into her room as her thoughts raced about and she came to the realize she'd be dead with in the month if she didn't leave. She wasn't going to let Scar break her... No more than he already had. Besides, the fire that lived inside her was going to do those around her more damage as Scar's own fire burnt them all. 

She didn't have much time to dwell on it all when the door suddenly flew open and hit the wall. Esmeralda turned slowly and looked as the King entered. There was a feeling in the pit of her stomach that he was there for her. All the same, she followed in suit and sunk to her knees with all the other women and lowered her head. She felt dirty down there on the ground, which was bemusing considering this floor was probably cleaner than any place that she had called home before she was captured. Unlike the other dancers, showing that small fire that still burned with in, she looked Scar straight in the eye from her position.

It didn't take long for Scar to spot her; she was the only one with a blood-stained bandage wrapped around her torso and with their backs all bared to him, she stuck out like a rock amongst diamonds.

"Gypsy." he called though his tone remained conversational, motioning for her with two fingers, beckoning her forward.

Esmeralda held a moment, the smallest act of defiance that she could muster, before she sat up straight before moving to her feet. Careful of those around her, she walked forward. Surely, this wasn't more punishment... She was absolutely certain she hadn't done anything wrong this time. She taught the dancers against every fiber of her being and they performed well enough at the dinner... Had he not been pleased? Well, he couldn't see it as her fault that the others didn't learn fast enough for his liking.

She stopped in front of him and took a deep breath but said nothing. 

Scar opened up his hand he had been motioning to her with and placed it palm-side up between his body and Maleficent's, as though expecting something from her.

"You lot dabble in a bit of magic, aye?" he asked her rhetorically, making sure that his posture was straight and his head held high so he could look down at her as much as possible.

She had remained silent up until this point- her arms crossed loosely over her chest as she watched on with amusement; the way that the guards hurried to please their King, the way that the little dancers cowered about before him the moment that they heard the doors open and slam back against the walls… it was glorious to watch. Catching movement in the corner of her eyes, Freya turned her attention over to where his hand was held out to her, the small but simple action causing her eyebrow to quirk and a soft smirk to play lightly over her lips- she knew exactly what it was that he wanted, the very thing that she had offered to him while they had been watching the evening entertainment; and at this point, she was so ever willing to comply to his demands...

Lifting a single hand up from where it was folded over her chest, Freya lazily flicked her wrist, the action seeming to cause the small though still thick plume of purple smoke that engulfed his hand completely, only dissipating once the weight of the whip that she had promised to him was now within his possession, her head nodding once to him in encouragement as she once more returned her hand back to its place over her chest, her soft pink lips maintaining the mischievous smirk that she had gotten not moments before as she continued to watch on silently.

Flinching lightly, obviously not used to any sort of display in magic no matter how simple, Scar quickly regained himself by fastening his grip over the handle of the leather whip. If it did as the witch had promised, then this enchanted weapon would not only be able to inflict pain and leave a mark, but that mark would soon dissipate into nothing - as though it were never there.

For good measure, and just to ensure that the gypsy was paying attention, Scar rolled the whip loosely around his hand and gave it a quick flick. The snapping crack filled the air as the strip of black leather uncoiled; louder even than the willow-branch whips he used on the normal which gave him a pleased smile, though degrading as he was still looking down at Esmeralda.

The Gypsy couldn't help but flinch slightly when the whip cracked in the air. After all, she had become rather accustomed to the stinging pain caused by such a weapon. Despite that though, she managed somehow to keep her face calm as she held his gaze.

He let his shoulders hunker down a bit, sliding his head forward so that he was on an equal level as her's and spoke directly into her ear in a hushed, graveled whisper.

"You defy me again, [i]Gypsy[/i], and I'll be able to whip you all day, all night, and then all day again until my own hands begin to bleed. You see... this is a [i]very[/i] special kind of weapon, one that will allow me to handle you as much as I please, and the wounds just. Keep. Healing."

He smirked as he pulled his head away, standing back to his full height and let both hands rest behind his back - the position of a well-trained soldier that came out of habit.

"Now turn around and see that I can also be a gracious King when my subjects obey my word. You taught my dancers your way of dancing, and for that I reward you."

Scar moved one of his hands from it's resting position on his back to cup Esmeralda's chin, jerking her head upwards a bit so that she was looking at him in a way he saw fit.

"I hope to reward you often, Gypsy. I trust by now, you have learned compliance."

Esmeralda's jaw clenched as he took hold of her chin not even allowing her the chance to turn around as he had instructed. As he brought his face close to her's once more, she resisted every urge to spit on his face. Not only did she not want to give him any reason to use his new toy, she didn't want to see how his guest might react to such a show of disrespect. She had heard whispers that the horned woman wasn't too fond of such things. 

She didn't move her chin from his hand, instead waiting for him to release it, a small sign of the compliance that he had beaten into her. After all, there were too many innocents in the room to give him any reason to hurt someone as he had the little boy and his mother. The thought of them practically ripped the wound back open as she felt the weight of the limp boy's body on her chest. Slowly, she turned, doing as he had asked.

Freya couldn’t help the soft yet still quite malicious chuckle that slipped out through her lips as she watched the scene before her- the fact that he had only once cracked the whip, yet seemed to enjoy the feeling of it in his hands causing her to feel a warmth in her heart. He could use it to his hearts content, and as she had promised him before at the arena, all wounds inflicted would be healed- vanished as though they had never existed, though the stinging pain would remain; causing those who had done wrong to remember their punishment clearly. Pushing away from the wall that she had been leaning happy against, Freya slowly moved herself forward, a single arm dropping to her side as she passed him by, while her other reached out towards the girl that she could see was clearly injured beyond healing naturally without leaving marks of any kind. Scar had been right; such wounds required magic, especially if he wanted her to remain as flawless as the others that surrounded them in the room.

“My, my… you certainly did pull a number on her didn’t you darling…” She let her eyes flick up from following her fingers as they brushed over the bandages while she circled around the girl once, her gaze meeting with that of the gypsy for only a moment before she tore it away again, her fingers pressing slightly harder against the bandages so that she was purposely agitating the wounds that were underneath, “..no matter my dear- nothing that dear old Maleficent can’t fix for you…”

Esmeralda heard the sound of skirts brushing along the ground as she stood facing the other dancers. Her back tensed slightly as she felt fingers brushing along her bandages, which only caused her back to ache slightly. However, she did not move away from them, keeping her head looking forward. It was difficult not to look at the woman though when she was suddenly standing in front of her. Esmeralda stared back at her until the witch continued her circle around her once more. That was when the pain erupted through her back as she felt Maleficent's fingers pressing against one of her many wounds. Unable to hold it back, a small whimper escape her lips. 

The sound of the girl’s whimpers, no matter how soft, caused Freya's lips to spread wider into a more obvious grin like smirk, mirrored almost to the T by Scar. She had to admit that the sound had her reveling in her own ego boost, it was something that she loved… inflicting pain on those when she had the chance; she might have to pay a visit with Jafar to the village to the west of the Moors, it had been quite a few years since they had last gone for a stroll together, “Well… she has a voice… how interesting…”

Pulling her now slightly blood-stained fingers from the woman’s back, Freya took a single step backwards as she once again flicked her wrist lazily, though this time the action caused the bandages and the girls top to disappear completely- her eyes then dropping down to look upon the gypsy’s back as she tilted her head, bringing her hands together in front of her body so that she could look upon the extent of the wounds.

Esmeralda was mentally kicking herself for allowing herself to vocalize any form of pain but really, she couldn't help it. The pain had demanded more of a reaction from her, the fact that she managed to keep it to a soft whimper was just short of a miracle. As the sharp pain turned into a dull throb as the woman removed her fingers from her back, Esmeralda looked down to see purple smoke wrapping around her torso before quickly dissipating. With the disappearance of the smoke, she noticed her top had gone along with it. She blinked a few times, staring at her bare chest but made no movement to cover herself up. Taking a deep breath, she raised her gaze to look over the kneeling women and passed any guards, acting as though nothing were different. Scar and Maleficent wanted to torment her but her pride wasn't about to allow that to happen.  

Freya was getting bored, and very quickly as well- the Gypsy was doing all that she could to show her defiance to her by keeping her mouth shut, and that was quickly taking all the fun out of the little game that she had been playing with the girl. Quirking her brow slightly as she took in the woman’s posture, Freya shifted on her own feet, being sure to take another step closer to her as she reached out her arm, her hand pressing flush against the wounds on her back causing more pain as she pulsed her magical energy into the injuries, feeling them burning almost red hot beneath her palm as they began to heal and seal themselves off underneath her very touch; the thought of forcing more pain while helping the child causing her grin like smirk to return full force to her lips once again.

Esmeralda's jaw clenched when she felt the pain against her back once more. Along with the normal throbbing and insane sting from where the woman placed her hand, there was now a burning sensation as well. Remembering how the woman had reacted before to her whimper, Esmeralda did her best to internalize her pain, however, that did not stop her eyes from watering. She quickly dropped her head, not wanting anyone to see her tears. However, Maleficent seemed to know exactly what was happening. 

“Oh my darling- am I hurting you child..? Well do forgive me… it should only last but a few seconds longer; you have the word of the Queen…” Pushing slightly harder against her back for no apparent reason at all, Freya waited until she was sure that each of the wounds had been properly healed before she pulled her blood covered hand back, letting it drop down to her side as she looked over the handiwork that she had performed- not a single scar could be seen upon the Gypsy’s back, not a sign that she had been injured at all besides the lingering pain that could be felt by the child; though getting duller with each moment that passed the them all by, “..I’m sorry my dear… seems the pain will be lingering a little longer than I had originally thought… Oops; my bad…”

Another unintentional whimper escaped her lips as she pressed harder against her back. Esmeralda was only vaguely aware of what it was that the Queen might be doing but all it really seemed like was the woman attempting to torture her for pleasure. As though Scar brought her here just to allow her to cause pain. However, moments later, the pain dulled slightly as the woman removed her hand from her back. She apologized again for the pain but Esmeralda knew that she had greatly enjoyed it... As the moments past and the pain slowly died out, Esmeralda was certain that she was right to assume the woman had just healed her as her 'reward' from the King.

Turning her back to the Gypsy so that she was now looking over to where Scar was standing, Freya inclined her head to him ever so slightly, letting him know that what it was that he had wanted her to do was now completely done- his precious little dancer was once again blemish and mark free; ready again to perform at a moments notice without drawing the unwanted attention that she had been with her injuries. Lifting her hand back up, she dropped her gaze down so that she was staring at the bright red crimson blood that covered her palm, her eyes seeming to flash over golden for a few moments as she passed him by, the blood disappearing from her figure as she once more made her way back to the shadows, allowing him to take over the situation- for now, her job was done.

Smirking with his arms now crossed over his chest, clearly enjoying Maleficent's theatrics, Scar waited patiently until the wounds were healed; merely spectating the entire ordeal until he caught the witch's glance that she was done. Giving her an affirmative nod - a jerk of the head only once, Scar unfolded his arms from his broad chest and approached the Gypsy closer, circling her just as Maleficent had done before him until he was facing her front properly.

He lowered himself down onto his haunches, tilting his head slightly as he reached his hand out to once more take hold of her chin, though this time with an air of gentleness in his grasp. He didn't even seem to notice that the Gypsy was topless in front of him, his eyes never once strayed though within the Pride Lands, nudity was just as common as walking on two legs.

"There." he said softly, keeping the conversation between just the two of them. "Perfection. Just as it should be." He smirked a bit then as he moved himself to stand, patting her cheek a few times like one would their pet dog. "I do hope you've learned your lesson, Gypsy." Scar then said, raising his voice up to a normal level. "Come later tonight, I'll show you just how [i]rewarding[/i] I can be." There was a sort of glint in his eye, followed by an arrant smirk as he turned away from Esmeralda and back to Maleficent.

"Now, if you don't mind, I have it rather set in my heart to not be conversing with a swan at dinner tonight."

Esmeralda looked up at him with her tear filled eyes as he spoke. His voice was soft and held no malice in it. She listened to him as he spoke of perfection before patting her cheek and rising again. It was his next words though that made her stomach churn. Another 'reward' was to come later that night and from the look in his eyes, a look she had seen many times before, she had a feeling she knew exactly what was to come... She needed to leave.

“..and here I was led to believe that cygnet’s held such great conversation…” Chuckling softly as she came to a stop half shrouded in the shadows of the room, Freya turned her head back so that she was looking over her shoulder at him, she reached her hand out in front of her, gesturing to him to lead the way so that they could complete her reason for being within the Pride Lands. It was, after all, the reason he had called upon her in the first place- to allow his swan Princess to walk about the castle as she pleased; the Gypsy and the whip has just been small little gestures between the two that seemed to work in the favor of them both.

“..please- after you my dear Scar…”