Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Knights. If did, Alfeegi would not have died and would be my lover, and Kai-stern would also be alive and Cesia and Tinlet would be dead. Some of the things mentioned in this fic might seem familiar and they should be!
A/N: This is my fist DK fic and it is part of a series that I can hopefully get written. I don't want to spoil it but the plot is little complex (well for me it is), but it doesn't get that complex yet, so hopefully you can figure it out but you can always email me if you have questions.
The Book of Counted Sorrows
Chapter 1 - Whispers in the Dark
The raging storm outside made it uneasy for most of the occupants in the Dragon Castle. It was of the most bizarre velocity. Thunder and lightning were a constant, loud and ever so near. The rain kept pouring in torrents and the wind was howling unnaturally, sounding throughout the Palace, like a dying wolf crying to the moon.
"Man, something is up with this storm. I swear, I don't think I would ever be able to sleep through this," Thatz said, looking out one of the windows in Lykouleon's throne room. Another crash of thunder sounded through out the spacious room, echoing off the walls and deep corners.
"Wow! Coming from your mouth… something must be up!" Rath said, laughing.
Kai-stern, Ruwalk, and Lykouleon laughed as well. No one took notice of the melancholy look on Rune's face except for Alfeegi. He walked over to the elf, who was standing near a window, looking at the pouring rain as it pattered against the glass, obscuring the blurry outside view. The courtyard looked a mess as the lightning flashed against the sky.
"Hey, Rune, are you okay?" Alfeegi asked, putting a hand on Rune's shoulder. Rune continued to look out the window, not bothering to acknowledge Alfeegi.
"There is a strange energy coming from the storm. Demonic, yet at the same time, Elven. I sense the power of another Dragon." Rune said, finally answering him. His voice sounded perplexed and at the same time held a foreboding sense of danger.
"What do you mean?" Ruwalk asked, taking a step forward from his spot. He had over heard their conversation and was curious as to what got the elf all ominous all of the sudden. His question was soon to be answered.
The doors of the throne room burst open, which was followed by a particularly loud crash of thunder and a bright flash of lightning happening at the same time. To them, this was some kind of omen from the Gods above. In the door way stood a dark, shadowy figure. The occupants of the room were on guard with their hands at the hilt of their swords except for Lykouleon.
The figure began to walk forward, straight to Lord Lykouleon, not paying attention to the others.
As the person walked by them, they realized it was a woman, who was pretty tall, but slightly shorter than them. Her long brown hair looked mangy and wet. Her violent eyes were a piercing violet that filled their hearts with fear. She was soaking wet and her white dress clung to her body, slightly showing off her contours. It was also quite muddy at the bottom. Her green corset was cut in some places and looked a little blood stained.
But what was shocking the most were all the weapons she carried. At her hips were two swords: a kantana and a sakabatou. On her back was another sword that looked more ornamental, and a long bow. As she walked by they saw two daggers upon the back of her shoulder and four arrows decoratively place in her hair.
Around her neck was a silver chain and attached where three pendants: a Celtic cross, a decent sized emerald, and a small veil filled with a crimson liquid, presumably, blood.
Although Alfeegi felt like he should be pissed off, he couldn't be mad at her, she was just too beautiful. Even though she was wet and muddy, he couldn't help but be captivated. However, he kept that hidden, and he showed his anger. The others seemed to be mystified, but a little displeased at how she had made her entrance.
Once she approached Lykouleon, she bowed. At least she is courteous, thought Alfeegi.
"Lord Lykouleon, I bring tidings from Arinas," she said, as she stood up. Her voice filled the room with deadliness, and held a deep sense foreboding.
The others pulled out their swords, and went into a fighting stance. Lykouleon looked shocked, but nothing more. He looked at the others with a look that said, 'Is that how you greet a guest?' and then he motioned them to put their weapons away. They did, although a little reluctantly.
"I see. May I ask of your name?" he asked smiling.
"Lily," she stated. "Lily Spardas."
"Ah, Lady Lily, how may I help you?"
"That is between you and me. May we talk…" she stopped and looked at the others and then turned back to Lykouleon. "Alone?" she heavily stressed that word.
"As you wish. You all are dismissed." Lykouleon said, waving his hand slightly, motioning to the door through which Lily had just previously came through.
As they looked as if they were about to protest, Ruwalk, Rune, and Tetheus, ushered them all out. (Or more like shoved them out!)
"I would like to talk to you about…" was the last thing they heard before the heavy door closed on their faces, blocking out any of the conversation that was taking place within the throne room.
"Who the hell does she think she is, waltzing in there like she owned the damn place?" Rath yelled at the door, wanting to beat the shit out of it. His face was flush with anger. He was the only one in the palace who was allowed walk around like that.
"Calm down before you kill somebody," Rune said putting both hands on Rath's shoulders and bringing him slowly away from the door. "Calm down." His powers of relaxation seemed to work wonders.
"I want to know how in the hell she got in. Only authorized people may enter that room and I know she sure as hell didn't do any paper work to enter the grounds," Alfeegi yelled at the door, the same way Rath did, except he wanted to barge in there and demand how in the hell she got in there. But that would be rude, and Alfeegi was never rude.
The others sweat dropped. Leave it to Alfeegi to think about paper work. Was that all he ever thought about? He needed something to keep him away from that damned stuff. Ruwalk walked warily over to him. He didn't want to get hit by Alfeegi's mallet or anything else Alfeegi could get his hands on.
As he was about to say something, Thatz beat him to it. "She's Lily. She can do those sorts of things," he said nonchalantly, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.
"And what makes her so damn spec-… wait a sec, you know her!" Rath asked. The others looked at him with blatant curiosity.
"Um…" before he could answer that question, the doors opened, and Lord Lykouleon walked out of the room. They immediately noticed that the mysterious Lily was nowhere to be seen.
Lykouleon noticed this and chuckled a little. "Our guest has been taken to her room. You may ask her your questions tomorrow afternoon. I also suggest you all go and get some rest, I have a feeling tomorrow will be a very long day. We will finish our meeting some other time," he said before anyone could ask him anything. "Good night." With that, he left for his chambers.
They all said good night and left in different directions to their bedchambers. That is except for two people.
A pair of hands came out of a dark corner and grabbed for Rune, and pulled him into that dark corner. "What the…" he managed to say before a hand covered his mouth.
"Shush… do you want the whole castle to hear?" a voice whispered into his ear, its warm breath tickling one of the most sensitive parts of his body. It shivers down his spine. His captor took note of that and filed it away for future reference.
Rune glared, as the hand was removed. "Rath…! Explain the meaning of this!" he whispered dangerously.
"Thatz," was all he said before he grabbed Rune's wrist and led him to Thatz's room.
However, upon reaching said persons room, no one was there. No one answered the door when they knocked, nor when they found the door open and they walked in only to find the bed empty. Very uncharacteristic of any room that belonged to Thatz..
"Is this what you dragged me all the way to see? And empty bed?" Rune asked sarcastically. Then as an afterthought, "Why in the hell are you looking for Thatz anyway?"
"Look, I know you are just as curious as I am about this Lily and how Thatz knows her. Plus I know I wasn't the only one who felt that strange aura coming from her," Rath said, a little too seriously for anyone's taste.
That seemed to calm down Rune considerably, to a state of faint shock. "How did…" was all he managed to say, his eyes wide as he looked at Rath.
Rath shrugged his shoulders. "Call it a connection the two of us has between each other. We can sense those sorts of things. It's kinda like a bond we have, I guess you can say. Well sorry 'bout the whole thing," he said smiling. He walked over to Rune, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "G'night, Rune," he said giving a little wink and then left the room for his own.
After he was gone, Rune came out his state of semi-shock, his eyes going soft and starry-eyed. He lifted his hand to his face, his fingers lightly touching where Rath's lips had previously made contact. A faint blush painted his cheeks as he smiled and whispered good night to Rath, a little breathlessly. He then left Thatz's room to his own, with a fluttery feeling coursing through his veins.
As everyone settled in for bed, the storm all but vanished into the abyss of night. The rain stopped pouring, and the wind less fierce and was nothing but a gentle breeze. The thunder and lightning all but vanished. The moon and the stars peeked through the clouds, casting an eerie glow upon the palace.
A pair of violet eyes, much like Lily's, stared at the palace sadly. "Here, she will be much better. I'm sorry Lily, but I believe you belong here more than you do with me. Please, forgive me," he then bowed his head, then turned and disappeared, as if it were nothing more than part of the breeze.
A/N: I hope you liked the first chapter. I couldn't resist a little Rune/Rath. They are just too cute! In the next chapter, everyone gets to meet the mysterious Lily and learn about the connection between her and Thatz.