Thank you to those who reviewed! It's always nice to know that someone is reading. I am doing my best to make the story as good as possible. I have written (and I am still writing) stories, but this is THE FIRST TIME that I have ever shared any of my work with anyone, so please bear with me. Hopefully with enough constructive criticism I can make my work enjoyable.

Disclaimer: For the record, I don't own the Tithe book or characters. The only characters that are mine are Raven and Amaranda (so far)


Chapter Two: Until Next Time

The moment Raven awoke, she knew instantly where she was. The smell of apple blossoms invaded her nose as warmth spread through her body, relaxing tense muscles. She had to be in Silarial's court. Despite the fact that she was anxious to discover what had happened while she was passed out, she kept her eyes closed. If she tried to rush her body, she would only make her conditions worse. I should've known that wine was poisoned, Raven thought to herself. She'd been taught how to detect these kinds of things. Yeah, I'd also been taught advanced combat by the best warriors, but did that help me when I was captured? No, it didn't help at all. The though was a bitter one. Raven couldn't believe that she'd been so stupid to take such risks.

The moment she could open her eyes, she sat up and took in her surroundings. She sat under a pavilion of sorts, probably raised as shade from the unrelenting sun. It was open on all sides to let in a nice breeze. Raven saw that she was lying on a soft blanket that someone had probably put there for her when she arrived, unconscious, although Raven didn't see that she deserved such a luxury. Seeing that she was still a mess, she walked over to one of the maids standing beneath a tree.

"Is there a place I could go to wash myself and get a change of clothes?" Raven asked. The maid pointed her in the right direction.

As soon as Raven had washed and changed her clothes, she slowly made her way to where the Queen stood, surrounded by her handmaids. As she walked, everyone turned to look at her. Why are their expressions so guarded? Raven wondered silently. They all looked at her as if she was a disgrace, yet there was admiration in their eyes. But that was only what was on the surface. Still, whatever they might be thinking, Raven walked with her head held high. To show fear is to show weakness, she reminded herself. That was one of the many things she'd learned during her training. Raven was glad when she knelt before the queen, so that she could hide the fear and disappointment that had to be written all over her face.

"I am sorry, my Lady, but I have failed you. I do not deserve to even be in your presence." Raven said, humbling herself before Silarial. It was a while before the Queen spoke.

"You have indeed failed me." The Queen said. Raven flinched at he words, which were colder than the dead of winter. "But you have done what many would never dare attempt. For that, Raven, you are praised." Silarial's tone had warmed, and she had bent down to rest her hand on Raven's head. Raven looked up and met the Queen's green eyes.

"No, my Lady, I am not worthy of praise." Raven insisted, her black hair falling across her face. "I have allowed myself to be captured, thus insulting your best warriors."

"My dear," Silarial said softly, smoothing the hair out of Raven's face, "Yes, you have been trained by the best, but you were never trained to go up against Nicnevin or Nephamael. It is no fault of your own. However, I am rather disappointed to find that you'd been poisoned."

"Forgive me, my Lady. I recognize that the fault is mine. Punish me as you see fit, but I ask that you not send me from your service." Raven pleaded, keeping her eyes cast downward to avoid looking Silarial in the eye.

"Rise, my dear," Silarial commanded with a small sigh. "You will not be punished this time." Raven pressed the hem of Silarial's robes to her lips before obeying.

"You are too kind my Lady." Raven said simply, unable to say all that she wanted to. If she spoke what was on her mind, it would only get her into trouble. Instead she bowed to the Queen and departed, walking away quickly.

"Raven," A voice called from behind her. She turned around and saw Amaranda, her mother, running toward her.

"Mama," Raven acknowledged her mother, embracing her. They stood there like that for a few seconds before pulling away and looking at each other.

"I'm so glad you're safe!" Amaranda finally said. There were tears sparkling in her warm brown eyes.

"I'm only safe thanks to Roiben." Raven said as she turned away. Amaranda touched her shoulder lightly, a soothing gesture.

"Yes, sweetheart, I know. Roiben came to me as soon as he had delivered you safely to the Queen." Amaranda replied softly. When Raven turned around, her mother was looking down. "He told me that he would try to get the Queen to do something about what happened to you." Here she stopped, as if fearing to say what came next.

"She refused to do anything, didn't she?" Raven asked. Amaranda nodded. "I thought it would be so. She's not fool enough to go up against someone that matches her in power without a good reason, and apparently I'm not important enough. But I had to try."

"Oh, darling, it'll be alright. You're alive and well. That's what matters." Amaranda said. "The Queen can't really do much anyways, as you were in the Unseelie Queen's territory."

"I suppose you are right." Raven said with a sigh, running a hand through her hair. "Well, I must be off."

Raven, wait," Amaranda called. Raven turned to face her. "Promise me that you won't leave again. I can't bear not knowing if you're dead or alive." Amaranda pleaded.

"I can't promise something like that, mother. I work for the Queen and if she bids me go, then I shall go." Raven replied. She walked away before her mother could protest. It hurt her to say such a thing to Amaranda, but it was true. And it's not like she had a choice. If you worked for the Queen you did what she said without questioning. Only a fool would dare to refuse the Queen. Usually it wasn't dangerous to work for the Queen, but with there being a war between the Seelie and Unseelie courts there was always a chance of being sent on a dangerous mission. Letting out a weary breath, Raven sank to the ground beside a crystal clear stream.

"It's tiring, working for the Queen, isn't it?" A tantalizingly beautiful voice said behind her. Raven instantly knew who it was.

"And you would know?" She asked without turning around. Roiben knelt down beside her as she swirled her hand in the cold water.

"Yes, I would. I work for Silarial, too, you know." Roiben replied with a small chuckle.

"I have never seen you around before... and here I thought I knew everyone that worked for the Queen." Raven said with a sarcastic edge to her tone. It was more reflex that anything for her to be sarcastic.

"The Queen has a few who work for her secretly. She can't have her enemies knowing everyone that works for her." Roiben said, ignoring the sarcasm. "I'm glad to see that you're well." He added, his tone softening. Raven turned her head to hide a blush that was partly from pleasure at his words and partly from embarrassment.

"About that," Raven said quietly. "First off, I wanted to thank you for rescuing me and for being so willing to do as I had requested. And secondly, I would like to apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused you."

"I can understand why you would feel the need to thank me, but why apologize? Was I supposed to leave you helpless and let them take you away, despite the fact that I could clearly help you?" Roiben asked, shocked. "How could I have returned, knowing that whatever befell you would have been my fault?" Raven turned to look at him. She realized, once she saw his expression, that she'd made a mistake in apologizing.

"I'm sorry. I just realized that you risked your life to save me. There were times the other night when, had we been a bit too slow, we could have been caught. You went out of your way to keep me safe." Raven quickly explained. Silence greeted her words. For a moment she thought that Roiben wouldn't reply, but he finally spoke.

"I was not going out of my way, though." Roiben contradicted her. "I was just in the right place at the right time. Besides, I wanted to save you. Is that not enough?" Raven thought on this for a moment before speaking.

"You say 'wanted' as if you were given a choice." She said, pulling her hand out of the water. She looked over at Roiben when he didn't answer immediately.

"The Queen found out that you'd been captured so she pulled together all her best knights and explained the situation. I volunteered to go because they wouldn't expect me to be the one to rescue you, seeing as they didn't know about me." Roiben explained. Raven nodded to show that she understood.

"Then, in that case, I suppose all that I have to say is thank you." She said standing. Roiben stood with her. "It was nice meeting you. I hope that maybe we will get the chance to talk again."

"Until next time, then." Roiben replied.