Chapter Text
Not All Prisons Have Bars
Chapter 1
The stone was cold.
The air damp.
Silence.
Jan sat with his back against the wall.
He did not look like a prisoner.
Footsteps.
Light.
Familiar.
Astarion appeared by the bars, leaning against them with effortless ease.
“So…” he said quietly.
“A prison.”
Jan didn’t respond.
Astarion smiled faintly.
“I have to admit… it’s not a bad strategy.”
Silence.
Jan didn’t even look at him.
Astarion tilted his head.
“Do you want to know if she’s going to kill you?”
Silence.
“She won’t.”
No hesitation.
Jan finally looked up.
A brief glance.
It was enough.
Astarion’s smile deepened.
“You should have seen her face.”
A pause.
“That wasn’t someone who decided to remove a problem.”
He straightened slightly.
“That was someone trying to understand why she hadn’t done it already.”
Silence.
“She’ll come,” Jan said.
Astarion let out a quiet laugh.
“Yes. She will.”
A pause.
“And she’ll come alone.”
Another.
“And she’ll do something she normally wouldn’t.”
Silence.
“I know,” Jan said.
Astarion studied him for a moment.
“And you…” he added softly,
“won’t do anything.”
Jan leaned back again.
“No.”
Astarion straightened.
“Enjoy it.”
Then he turned and disappeared into the dark.
Silence returned.
Footsteps.
Different this time.
Heavier.
They stopped at the bars.
A key.
A click.
The door opened.
Minthara stepped inside.
Alone.
She left the door slightly ajar.
Silence.
She watched him.
Waiting.
Jan didn’t move.
Didn’t even look at her.
A long silence stretched between them.
“You’re ignoring me…” she said quietly.
No response.
A step closer.
“…even now.”
Silence.
“Look at me.”
Nothing.
That was enough.
Her hand shot forward.
She grabbed his collar and pulled him up sharply.
“You are not in a position to—”
She stopped.
Because he didn’t resist.
Didn’t pull away.
Wasn’t afraid.
He was simply there.
Silence.
And then—
She kissed him.
Long.
Not gentle.
Not brutal.
Intense.
She pulled back.
She looked at him.
“…this shouldn’t have happened.”
Silence.
“I knew you’d come,” Jan said calmly.
“No—”
She stopped herself.
Because she knew.
A long pause.
“I’m here,” he continued.
“Go on.”
Silence.
“Do it.”
Silence deepened.
“Kill me.”
A long, heavy stillness.
Her hand rose.
Stopped.
“But I know…” he said quietly,
“you won’t.”
Silence.
Her hand lowered.
“I won’t.”
Very quiet.
A long pause.
Jan watched her.
“So what now, general?”
Silence.
“This isn’t an army,” she said.
“And you are not my soldier.”
Another long silence.
Jan allowed himself a faint, almost ironic smile.
“Good night, general.”
He turned away.
“Guards.”
Movement outside.
“The general wishes to leave.”
Footsteps.
Minthara didn’t move.
Then, quietly:
“I forgot to lock the door.”
“You didn’t,” Jan replied.
Silence.
She turned and left.
The door remained open.
End of Chapter
The cell stood empty.
Only the bars remained—
never truly closed.