As the night waned Rainbow Ivy, Dragon and Fiona were well on the way in their journey. They had quite a distance to go, but Rainbow Ivy, now that he had gotten the job done and was on the way to delivering his package, felt some relaxed. He would not trust her to ride Dragon, as she could use Dragon to escape. He felt bad, but there was no other way. He had decided that the long tiring journey on foot would make Fiona more compliant and take out any thoughts of her trying to run away. Maybe once she realized that she had no options, he would let her ride Dragon in the back of him. She needed to learn her place and that he was in charge. The journey would take more than several weeks as they were going to a distant city. Rainbow Ivy wasn't worried though, as he was in total control and he had plenty of money to provide for them on the journey. He knew that soon they would have to rest, but for now he wanted to keep pushing on. He wanted to be far enough away before they rested, so there would be no danger of Fiona attempting to try to go off on her own and find her way back here.
Fiona sighed. She was so tired she felt her feet were going to fall off. She felt like she could sleep even as she walked. Would they never stop? They must have travelled for hours. Where were they? Were they in another land? She didn't recognize anything, but she hadn't been familiar with most of the city, being locked for the most part in Shrek's house. Thinking of Shrek, Fiona grimaced. She was too tired to deal with that right now. She couldn't help but think though of her warm bed, and desperately wished she was in it. Did he miss her? Was he glad she was gone? What about the Ogrids? Would they come after her? She worried some thinking about that, as Barthus had made it clear the Ogrids would not take the breaching of that cursed contract lightly. How had things gone so badly? How had her life come to this? No, she was too tired to dwell on things now. She couldn't think of anything else except her blasted feet.
Fiona grumbling: When are we going to stop? We must have travelled for hours and hours now. What time is it?
Rainbow Ivy: We have a long journey ahead of us, so you might as well stop complaining. You are very beautiful Fiona, but a shrewish woman no matter how beautiful, could chase away a 100 men.
Fiona churlishly: Well why don't you run away from me then? I didn't ask for your companionship, nor this trip.
Rainbow Ivy: Well it seems to me that you weren't exactly living in paradise. You made it pretty clear that you were looking for a way out. So I actually did you a favor. I gave you your wish that you were too wimpy to take. Can you honestly tell me you really wish you were back there with that nasty ogre? I don't think you really can say being away makes you unhappy. You owe me a debt of gratitude and if you weren't so contrary, you would realize this.
Fiona tired and cranky became sarcastic: Oh dear Rainbow Ivy, thank you for doing me a favor by rescuing me from the big bad ogre. What girl doesn't dream of being kidnapped in the middle of the night by an armed masked man, and forced to walk miles without rest to a destination unknown? And to think out of all the girls that could have been chosen for such an honor I got the lucky short straw.
Rainbow Ivy knowing she was tired chose to ignore that
Rainbow Ivy: I think I can see what Shrek had to put up with. Maybe I am not doing you the favor, but him, from rescuing him from a life of married misery to you.
Fiona at the end of her patience stopped and turned to face him: Oh you.... she spluttered impotently. Her mind being so overcome with the pain couldn't think of anything bad enough to throw at him.
Rainbow Ivy not in the mood for a fight, changed the subject: Look Fiona, we will be together for quite a while, so we might as well try to get along. This journey can be pleasant, or hard and trying for us both. I prefer the former. Let us say that we forget about what has been done, and I will forgive your bad manners. I promise it won't be long and we will rest. I have a wonderful shady, well watered place that we will be camping at. I will then cook you up a feast to make amends of my boorish behavior.
Fiona sighed. She was so tired she felt her feet were going to fall off. She felt like she could sleep even as she walked. Would they never stop? They must have travelled for hours. Where were they? Were they in another land? She didn't recognize anything, but she hadn't been familiar with most of the city, being locked for the most part in Shrek's house. Thinking of Shrek, Fiona grimaced. She was too tired to deal with that right now. She couldn't help but think though of her warm bed, and desperately wished she was in it. Did he miss her? Was he glad she was gone? What about the Ogrids? Would they come after her? She worried some thinking about that, as Barthus had made it clear the Ogrids would not take the breaching of that cursed contract lightly. How had things gone so badly? How had her life come to this? No, she was too tired to dwell on things now. She couldn't think of anything else except her blasted feet.
Fiona grumbling: When are we going to stop? We must have travelled for hours and hours now. What time is it?
Rainbow Ivy: We have a long journey ahead of us, so you might as well stop complaining. You are very beautiful Fiona, but a shrewish woman no matter how beautiful, could chase away a 100 men.
Fiona churlishly: Well why don't you run away from me then? I didn't ask for your companionship, nor this trip.
Rainbow Ivy: Well it seems to me that you weren't exactly living in paradise. You made it pretty clear that you were looking for a way out. So I actually did you a favor. I gave you your wish that you were too wimpy to take. Can you honestly tell me you really wish you were back there with that nasty ogre? I don't think you really can say being away makes you unhappy. You owe me a debt of gratitude and if you weren't so contrary, you would realize this.
Fiona tired and cranky became sarcastic: Oh dear Rainbow Ivy, thank you for doing me a favor by rescuing me from the big bad ogre. What girl doesn't dream of being kidnapped in the middle of the night by an armed masked man, and forced to walk miles without rest to a destination unknown? And to think out of all the girls that could have been chosen for such an honor I got the lucky short straw.
Rainbow Ivy knowing she was tired chose to ignore that
Rainbow Ivy: I think I can see what Shrek had to put up with. Maybe I am not doing you the favor, but him, from rescuing him from a life of married misery to you.
Fiona at the end of her patience stopped and turned to face him: Oh you.... she spluttered impotently. Her mind being so overcome with the pain couldn't think of anything bad enough to throw at him.
Rainbow Ivy not in the mood for a fight, changed the subject: Look Fiona, we will be together for quite a while, so we might as well try to get along. This journey can be pleasant, or hard and trying for us both. I prefer the former. Let us say that we forget about what has been done, and I will forgive your bad manners. I promise it won't be long and we will rest. I have a wonderful shady, well watered place that we will be camping at. I will then cook you up a feast to make amends of my boorish behavior.
Fiona stalked away offended momentarily forgetting her tiredness. Unfortunately, her feet screamed even louder in protest after a short time.
Rainbow Ivy laughed giving Dragon a few sharp kicks to trot after Fiona. This one had spirit that was for sure. He would have to keep a careful eye on her.
Fiona groaned in pain. This journey was going to be the end of her she was sure. Normally that thought would have cheered her immensely, as that is what she so desperately wanted, but she was too tired and sore to find any joy in anything.
They continued on in silence for a while longer until Fiona's legs gave out. She stumbled and fell. Slowly picking herself back up, she took a few more steps and fell again. It was no use. She was all done in.
Rainbow Ivy: Come now Fiona, we have at least another hour to go before we stop. I will not have you playing the helpless woman act. We will rest for an hour or so at this lovely glade I have run across before, and then we will head on to the place I have in mind for our camp for the night. If we don't keep going, we won't be able to rest very long if we want to reach camp. You will be thanking me later for it. A well watered oasis and a feast to tempt the palate of the finest prince in reward for a fine days travel. Who could ask for anything more?
Rainbow Ivy laughed giving Dragon a few sharp kicks to trot after Fiona. This one had spirit that was for sure. He would have to keep a careful eye on her.
Fiona groaned in pain. This journey was going to be the end of her she was sure. Normally that thought would have cheered her immensely, as that is what she so desperately wanted, but she was too tired and sore to find any joy in anything.
They continued on in silence for a while longer until Fiona's legs gave out. She stumbled and fell. Slowly picking herself back up, she took a few more steps and fell again. It was no use. She was all done in.
Rainbow Ivy: Come now Fiona, we have at least another hour to go before we stop. I will not have you playing the helpless woman act. We will rest for an hour or so at this lovely glade I have run across before, and then we will head on to the place I have in mind for our camp for the night. If we don't keep going, we won't be able to rest very long if we want to reach camp. You will be thanking me later for it. A well watered oasis and a feast to tempt the palate of the finest prince in reward for a fine days travel. Who could ask for anything more?
Fiona tried to move once again, but her legs refused.
Rainbow Ivy: Come now! Move along. Surely you can't be tired already?
Fiona snapped: Says the man who has been letting a dumb beast do all his walking for him! Such a gentleman you are! I tell you I cannot move another step!
Rainbow Ivy bent down reaching for Fiona's hair: You will continue on even if I have to drag you along by that beautiful hair of yours. The choice is yours walk on your own or be dragged.
Fiona looked up at him tears in her eyes. She wanted to beg him to let her ride on the back of Dragon, but she would ask no favors of him. She wouldn't give in to him. She stood there trying not to cry, and jutting her chin out.
Fiona: My legs won't move. What do you expect me to do? Is it my fault I am so exhausted my body is revolting against me? Don't you think just to get out of your loathsome presence I would walk as far in front of you as possible if I could?
Rainbow Ivy touched her hair and before she could pull away, he grasped a good handful and yanked her head back painfully. The pain in her head made the pain in her feet seem like a small ache. He kicked Dragon in the side and Dragon lurched forward. Fiona fell forward. Her head was throbbing, and her body scraping along the hard ground was causing her no small amount of agony. The only thing keeping her face from scraping along the ground is his tight grasp on her hair, which was adding to the agony. Her neck felt like it was going to be pulled right off her body along with her head. She had thought her feet were agony! That was nothing, nothing!
Fiona gasping and moaning : Ok, stop! I will walk! I promise, I will walk!
Rainbow Ivy wanting to teach Fiona a lesson continued to drag her along for a bit longer. She had to learn to obey his every command. He had promised his patron delivery of Fiona by the end of the month and he was not going to risk failing his patron. He was a valuable commodity to his patron, but his patron's motto was everybody was expendable. You fail him, you will be replaced with the next ambitious candidate waiting in the wings for you to fail or to sabotage you. There was no room for failure, do your job or lose life.
Rainbow Ivy: So are you ready to walk now?
Fiona getting up slowly and painfully looked at the ground and nodded. She wanted to cry and thankfully her body being so tired would not let her. That was a good thing though. She suspected that would bring him no small amount of satisfaction.
Rainbow Ivy let go of her hair and waited.
Fiona painfully put one foot in front of the other silently. She was limping slowly. Rainbow Ivy watched her walk away.
Rainbow Ivy: Fiona!
Fiona stopped and stared straight ahead not willing to turn and look at him.
Rainbow Ivy: I have a schedule to keep, and you will not stop me. We will be there on the 27th 3 weeks from today, and it will be done with your cooperation or without, but we will be there. So if you have any other thoughts of stalling me, or making this trip longer than it has to be you will regret it. Do I make myself clear?
Fiona stood there silently saying nothing.
Rainbow Ivy: One last thing Fiona, if I have to drag you ever again I will drag you until you are nothing but one big black and blue blob of painful flesh. I won't stop, no matter how much you plead with me. Do I make myself clear? Now pick up the pace before I regret my generous impulses.
Fiona having no choice put one foot in front of the other as fast as she could manage. It was not an easy feat as every step took her breath away with the agonizing pain going up and down every nerve in her body. She knew she wasn't going to make another hour, much less another 10 feet, but she had to. She just had to.
One thing is for sure if she was under any illusions that Rainbow Ivy was taking her some place for her good she knew now that she was in real danger. In spite of the danger, she felt that she had a better chance of escaping with Rainbow Ivy than staying with Shrek and that thought made her extremely sad.
Rainbow Ivy: Come now! Move along. Surely you can't be tired already?
Fiona snapped: Says the man who has been letting a dumb beast do all his walking for him! Such a gentleman you are! I tell you I cannot move another step!
Rainbow Ivy bent down reaching for Fiona's hair: You will continue on even if I have to drag you along by that beautiful hair of yours. The choice is yours walk on your own or be dragged.
Fiona looked up at him tears in her eyes. She wanted to beg him to let her ride on the back of Dragon, but she would ask no favors of him. She wouldn't give in to him. She stood there trying not to cry, and jutting her chin out.
Fiona: My legs won't move. What do you expect me to do? Is it my fault I am so exhausted my body is revolting against me? Don't you think just to get out of your loathsome presence I would walk as far in front of you as possible if I could?
Rainbow Ivy touched her hair and before she could pull away, he grasped a good handful and yanked her head back painfully. The pain in her head made the pain in her feet seem like a small ache. He kicked Dragon in the side and Dragon lurched forward. Fiona fell forward. Her head was throbbing, and her body scraping along the hard ground was causing her no small amount of agony. The only thing keeping her face from scraping along the ground is his tight grasp on her hair, which was adding to the agony. Her neck felt like it was going to be pulled right off her body along with her head. She had thought her feet were agony! That was nothing, nothing!
Fiona gasping and moaning : Ok, stop! I will walk! I promise, I will walk!
Rainbow Ivy wanting to teach Fiona a lesson continued to drag her along for a bit longer. She had to learn to obey his every command. He had promised his patron delivery of Fiona by the end of the month and he was not going to risk failing his patron. He was a valuable commodity to his patron, but his patron's motto was everybody was expendable. You fail him, you will be replaced with the next ambitious candidate waiting in the wings for you to fail or to sabotage you. There was no room for failure, do your job or lose life.
Rainbow Ivy: So are you ready to walk now?
Fiona getting up slowly and painfully looked at the ground and nodded. She wanted to cry and thankfully her body being so tired would not let her. That was a good thing though. She suspected that would bring him no small amount of satisfaction.
Rainbow Ivy let go of her hair and waited.
Fiona painfully put one foot in front of the other silently. She was limping slowly. Rainbow Ivy watched her walk away.
Rainbow Ivy: Fiona!
Fiona stopped and stared straight ahead not willing to turn and look at him.
Rainbow Ivy: I have a schedule to keep, and you will not stop me. We will be there on the 27th 3 weeks from today, and it will be done with your cooperation or without, but we will be there. So if you have any other thoughts of stalling me, or making this trip longer than it has to be you will regret it. Do I make myself clear?
Fiona stood there silently saying nothing.
Rainbow Ivy: One last thing Fiona, if I have to drag you ever again I will drag you until you are nothing but one big black and blue blob of painful flesh. I won't stop, no matter how much you plead with me. Do I make myself clear? Now pick up the pace before I regret my generous impulses.
Fiona having no choice put one foot in front of the other as fast as she could manage. It was not an easy feat as every step took her breath away with the agonizing pain going up and down every nerve in her body. She knew she wasn't going to make another hour, much less another 10 feet, but she had to. She just had to.
One thing is for sure if she was under any illusions that Rainbow Ivy was taking her some place for her good she knew now that she was in real danger. In spite of the danger, she felt that she had a better chance of escaping with Rainbow Ivy than staying with Shrek and that thought made her extremely sad.