Chapter One: Rescue

Raven collapsed beneath a tree, unable to go any further. She'd ran as fast as she could to get away from them and it was all for nothing. They would follow her scent and then they would just take her back to that wretched place that she so despised. An ominous rumble flowed overhead. It was going to rain soon. Raven prayed that it would rain soon and that it would rain hard. She stood up and began running through the trees, only to come to a dead stop. Before her, perched on a midnight black horse, was an elven knight in black armor. He looked down at her, his expression unfathomable. He took in her bedraggled appearance and the way she was gasping for breath.

"Are you running from something?" He asked in a voice more beautiful than Raven could have possibly imagined. She didn't answer, afraid that this beautiful knight had been sent to look for her. "Come, now, I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help."

"The Unseelie Court… Nephamael… they're chasing me!" Raven blurted at once, swaying unsteadily. "They thought it would be fun to chase me like they chase the solitary Fey." The knight dismounted and approached her.

"But you're an elf, are you not?" He asked. Raven nodded. "Then why are they chasing you?"

"How should I know, I…" Raven trailed off as she heard a rumbling noise that had nothing to do with the storm. It was the thundering of horses. "They're coming! Please, you can't let them take me away again!" She pleaded. The knight mounted his horse.

"Then come with me if you wish for my help." He said, offering his hand. Raven grasped it and was pulled into the saddle in front of the knight. The knight urged the horse into a gallop right as the rain began to fall. Raven was never sure of how long they rode, but many times they came so close to being caught that Raven could hear the snorting of the horses, the pounding of their hooves, and the shouting of the men as they asked which way they should go. At one point, Raven could even see the gleaming coats of the rain soaked horses and Nephamael's shining armor. Eventually, though, they'd completely lost the group pursuing them. Only when the knight was sure that they would not be captured did he stop. Raven gratefully sank to the ground, not caring that she was getting her dress dirty with mud. It was already ruined anyways. By now, both of them were soaked.

"There, you are safe now." The knight said, dismounting and kneeling beside her.

"Thank you so much… thank you," Raven sobbed. Now that she was safe she began to notice the pain of the bruises and injuries she'd gotten when she'd been a prisoner. She felt her consciousness slipping away from her.

"What's your name?" The knight asked. Raven eyed him suspiciously. "Not your full name, just what you go by." He said.

"Raven," She answered. "My name is Raven." She leaned back against a tree and closed her eyes.

"I'm Roiben," She heard the knight say. "Can you try to stay awake?" He asked. Raven opened her eyes to see him eyeing her with a concerned expression. She nodded, but even as she did so she felt as if she would surely pass out despite her deepest wishes. She beckoned him closer.

"If I don't make it… if I die, please try to find my family and tell them what happened. My mother is Amaranda, she is in the Seelie Queen's court." Raven whispered. "And please appeal to the Queen on my behalf, or try to get my mother to. Let them know what members of the Unseelie court are doing." Roiben looked at her and stroked the side of her face with his fingers, an action that surprised her.

"I will." He answered. "But you needn't worry, Raven. You're going to make it. You'll be fine." He assured her. Raven smiled weakly.

"Thank you, Roiben." She whispered faintly. "I owe you my life." She slipped into unconsciousness as she felt herself being lifted off the wet muddy ground.