Disclaimer: Me no own Diablo 2.

She remembered the rain. The cold drops of water pounding the both of them, their backs to each other as they warily stared at the horde of undead creatures surrounding them, corpses wrought from the eternal slumber of death to serve that madwoman. She could feel him tense up, making herself grip the staff in her hands more tightly as they both readied themselves for the oncoming onslaught. The demon-woman laughed at the two of them. "Join my army." She repeated, her hideous voice carrying across the graveyard, even through all the screaming wind and lightning. They would probably die in this battle, but by the angels in Heaven she would not allow them to harm a single hair on his head. Then, just as she took a step forward, her world exploded in a flash of light.

Elyoric sat on a low stool, and looked at the stranger lying on his bed.

When he had teleported back into camp, the unknown young woman in his arms, Akara had really taken charge. She had immediately set to work on a healing potion, insisting that he put her to bed as soon as possible since she would require plenty of rest.

Kashya had causticly pointed out that since he had taken the last spare tent, the stranger would have to have his bed, a point that Elyoric felt he didn't really want to push. Still, after Akara had administered her potion, the young woman had really started looking a lot better.

The druid studied her, intelligent eyes taking in every inch of her troubled face as she slept fitfully.

She had long honey-brown hair which reached her waist, the natural curls looking limp and grimy at the moment, and a simple circlet of silver encrusted with a single emerald upon her brow. This stranger had a sweet, heart-shaped face, her youthful apperance made even more pronounced by the porcelain skin, the smallish nose and bow-shaped mouth.

She looked on the thin side, though he knew that some stew and good bread would soon fix that.

Her clothes consisted of a pale blue bodice with laces on the front, worn over a cheap wool undershirt dyed a deep mauve and a simple black skirt that reached her knees. A pale blue sash was tied to her waist, and her feet were clad in high walking boots, which looked well worn.

All in all, she was a pretty young woman, though for the life of him he couldn't understand just why someone like her could have ended up where she had.

Then, all of a sudden, she shot up in bed, large jade-green eyes frantically roaming her new surroundings, her breathing becoming more and more ragged as she looked at him fearfully. Elyoric smiled cheerfully, hoping to put her at ease, though it did little to help. She seemed to be staring at something behind his left shoulder, though her eyes seemed more than a little unfocused.

"So, miss…are you feeling better now?"

"Is he okay?" she blurted out suddenly, those startling green eyes locking with his own. There was a desprate, almost frenzied look to them.

Elyoric was clueless. She looked as though she was about to cry now, and the druid gently took her by the shoulders. "I am Elyoric Ahn' Etraelh, a druid of the El Roukh clan of Scosglen. You, miss, may call me Eli. I found you a few hours ago, and I brought you to a camp run by the Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye. Now, what would your name be?"

She completely ignored him, and started rambling instead.

"Please, where is he? We were in the… the wilderness… and those gates...and the rain and…" Her eyes widened. "Oh god." She immediately pulled the blankets off herself, and pushing his hands away, she swung her legs over the side of the bed before attempting to stand up shakily. Almost immediately, she sat back down again, her head swaying as though the slight exertion had taken all the wind out of her.

"Please, miss, you need to rest. Akara says that you had been poisoned, and the antidote needs time to fully heal you. Now please, rest, I will bring you some food." He said, gently pushing her back onto the lumpy mattress.

"No, please, we have to go get him…"she trailed off, her voice seemingly gone hoarse. Standing in the doorway of the tent was Kashya, her arms crossed as she scowled at the two of them. "I see our latest vagrant is finally awake. I shall inform Akara at once." The redhead stalked off, leaving the two occupants of the tent alone.

"Don't let it get to you, she's pretty much mean to anything that breathes around here." He said, trying to make her laugh. She was pensive, but then she cast him a sideways glance. A shuddering sigh escaped her lips, and then she began to speak.

"My name is Arixia. Please, you must help me find him. My brother. We were lost in the wilderness when we came upon a most terrible place, and-" her story was cut off as Paige suddenly entered the tent.

A wink in her eye, the rogue walked over to Arixia, where she unceremoniously hefted her off the bed. Then, as though she were carrying a sack of potatoes, she easily slung the surprised girl over her shoulder and casually walked out of the tent, saying as she left: "Kashya has called for a meeting. You two should hear this as well. Hurry."

Elyoric was a little taken aback by this, not to mention highly amused, and figuring that since Kashya had actually sent someone over to inform them, it had to be important. He hurried after the two women, and was further tickled to see that Arixia had managed to squirm her way from the other woman's shoulder, and instead was walking alongside her now, cheeks aflame.

Paige was one of the few rogues who had warmed up to him, possessing a sense of humour which was a rare thing indeed in these troubled times. He settled into an easy stride next to the two of them, and the three of them soon found themselves standing around the bonfire. The sun had long since set, and even the sound of crickets had stopped filling the air. Warriv stood away from them, chatting with Akara. The captain stood at the other end of the clearing, flanked by a few rogues. Once all the members of the order had filled the clearing, she cleared her throat, then began to speak.

"My sisters! I have come upon some very disturbing news indeed. Apparently, Andariel is not content with just taking our living. It seems that she has corrupted Blood Raven, who now raises our own sisters in the monastery graveyard as zombies to fight against us!"

The rogues fell silent. The rage hanging in the air was unmistakenable, when all of a sudden Arixia broke the silence. "I shall destroy her." Her jaw was set, and there was a strange fire in her eyes. Almost simultaneously, the entire camp population turned to look at her, their surprise evident upon their faces.

Kashya studied the girl, then said: "This is not a game, child. Blood Raven was our finest captain against Diablo at Tristram, and I'm sure that Andariel has augmented her abilities even further after death. Do not dishonour our dead with your false bravado."

The brown-haired girl was perfectly calm as she spoke. "She-that bitch has my brother. And I want him back. And believe me, I will get him back." And with that, she stormed off towards Elyoric's tent, her determination healing her almost as well as Akara's antidote.

The next day, after a meal of bread, meat and berries, the young woman set out for the Cold Plains, only to be stopped by Elyoric at the gate which led to the Blood Moor.

"I see you are going to kill Blood Raven."

"Let me pass."

"Now now, no need to be rude. I was just wondering, how exactly are you planning on defeating her?"

"None of your business. Now let me pass."

"I'm just saying, most people find that a weapon comes in pretty useful when you're trying to kill something."

That made her stop. Her hands balled into fists at her side, and she nearly shook with fury as she all but spat the words at him.

"I can't afford anything."

"Now, this is why you're going to love me. Here." He said, throwing a staff towards her, which she expertly caught, the confusion evident in her eyes. "I've got some armour you could use as well," he continued.

Her jade eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean? I don't need your charity."

He laughed at that. "No, no, not charity. I have to make sure that my apprentice is properly suited for battle."

She stared at him incredulously.

"Apprentice? And when exactly did I become your apprentice?"

"Since last night, when I worked out a little deal with Kashya after your little outburst. Basically, all you need to know is that we need to kill Blood Raven. Shall we?" he said, smiling as he held out some leather armour to her."I think that should fit you nicely." He said, more to himself than anyone else.

She stared at him. The druid was mad. That had to be it. He was mad, and she was supposed to follow him to a graveyard somewhere out in the wilderness and kill an even more insane demon-thing. Who had her brother. Sometimes life was just wonderful.

She couldn't help it.The laughter started deep in her throat, before bubbling past her lips in what were a few giggles at first, which soon turned into full-blown, side-splitting laughter.

Now it was his turn to stare. The girl before him held her sides as she doubled over, laughing like a maniac the entire time. He watched her for a while, the corners of his lips twitching into a smile as she grabbed the armour and put it on, the tears prickling at her eyes as she finished with the final laces of her armguards.

Then, picking up the staff he had given her, she walked past him, "Okay fine, Eli. But I'm not calling you master."

He only smirked.

They had appeared out of nowhere.

One minute they were walking along the Cold Plains, and the next they found themselves surrounded by a group of about seven dark hunters. The corrupted rogues wielded spears and swords, though without any finesse whatsoever. Arixia was a pretty good fighter, Elyoric noted as he parried another jab from one of the demon's lances.

With a deft motion of his hand, he neatly countered a frenzied slash from the one behind him with his buckler, before bringing his sword around and sheathing it deep within the wretched creature's heart in one smooth arc. The spearwoman sneered, making to impale him, but he quickly sidestepped her while his sword found its mark.

The remaining two were soon taken care of with a firestorm spell. Arixia stood her ground againt the three that tried ganging up on her. The staff spun expertly in her hands, breaking the kneecaps of one hunter, while smashing into another's head, causing both to cry out pitifully as they sank to the ground. The third could only watch as the brown-haired girl raised her hand and muttered a spell, sending a bolt of pure ice singing through the air before it collided with the creature's face. Stumbling back, the moment of hesitation was all the girl needed as she leaped forward, bringing the staff down hard against the hunter's skull, the sickening cruch that followed soon followed by the demon's death. Wiping her brow, she looked at him, her heavy breathing evening out quickly.

"You're not half bad."

"Likewise." He replied good-naturedly, happily pocketing his half of the spoils of their shared victory.

They continued their trek across the Cold Plains, occasionally running into more groups of the corrupted rogues, or of Fallen.

One nasty encampment of the little imps even had a High Shaman, a foul demon with a particularly high level of magical resistance who called himself Bishibosh. The creature seemed to take an extra delight in hurling his explosive fireballs at Arixia, somehow seeing the sorceress as more of a threat than the druid. It was all she could do to dodge the magical assault, occasionally firing her own icy blue spheres of magic at any Fallen or their Shamans whenever the chance arose. It had been a tough battle, but the two of them had finally managed to defeat the High Shaman.

They both gratefully downed their respective bottles of crimson potion after that, the aches in their muscles soothed immensely by the magical brew. That had been a few hours back.

Now, twilight was fast approaching, and they found themselves standing before the path that led to the graveyard. The crumbling ruins, visible in the distance, had once been the magnificent final resting place of countless rogues, the pride of the Order.

Now, however, it throbbed with the insane power that had possessed Blood Raven to desecrate everything she had once believed in.

Elyoric sighed, his grip on the handle of his trusty sword tightening as he stepped forward. Arixia downed one of the three cerulean potions she had left on her, before she joined the druid. They walked together, breaking out into a run as they approached the burial grounds. Hoards of the undead milled about the place, and their presence was soon noticed as the various corpses began uttering bone-chilling moans, re-animated feet shuffling towards them.

There she was.

In the middle of the burial grounds, standing under a tree that must have died many years ago, was the reason they had undertaken this trip in the first place. Blood Raven tilted her mutated head back, her lips parting wetly as she began to roar with laughter, the horrible sound seemingly coming from every direction. A corpse suddenly burst forth from the ground, causing both druid and sorceress to dive for safety a few yards apart.

Elyoric swore as he hit the ground, tucking his limbs and rolling forward with his momentum before springing up to his feet in a defensive stance. His poison creeper would be all but useless in the current situation, seeing as how the undead were naturally gifted with a resistance towards toxins, so he had to rely on his elemental spells to help him.

No matter. He had little time to think, for the first wave of putrid corpses were now almost upon him. Raising his hand, he invoked the artic blast spell, instantly freezing the first few monsters that were lumbering towards him, while slowing down the ones behind. He had no time to waste on them at the moment, for his real target was currently running away from him, stopping every now and then to fire flame-enchanted arrows which he blocked with his trusty buckler.

He gave chase, managing to land a few gashes on the demon, enraging it further.

Meanwhile, Arixia was doing a pretty good job of keeping the zombies away as well, though one of the fiends had managed to bash the side of her head with its fists, a trickle of blood visible near her temple. Her staff whirled madly like a cyclone as she advanced through the mass of rotting corpses, breaking ancient bones and smashing faces with the consistency of old jam.

Apparently, she had the same idea as the druid, for she seemed to be focused solely upon Blood Raven too.

Once she had enough room, she stopped, ducking to avoid one of the fire arrows before unleashing an ice blast spell which caught the retreating demon right in her back, instantly slowing her down as a wave of frost coated her unholy hide. Screeching, the creature stopped and turned on her heel, unleashing a volley of arrows at the young sorceress.

Thankfully, a tombstone lay a few paces to her right, and Arixia quickly dove behind it, though not before an arrow pierced her calf.

Elyoric heard the shriek of his companion, instantly turning around and fairly flying towards her, ducking and weaving through the crowd of icy cadavers.

His artic blast kept the undead away from the both of them, as he knelt down on one knee, channeling the icy wind through one hand, the other quickly reaching for a red potion which he held out towards her. "Take it." he commanded, sounding a little out of breath as he concentrated on maintaining an icy radius around them with the spell.

Gritting her teeth in pain, the tears streaming down her bloodied face, Arixia uncorked the bottle, before she gripped the wooden shaft embedded in her leg. In one motion, she twisted the slender arrow and yanked it out, simultaneously slamming the bottle of healing potion to her lips. Her scream muffled by her own hand over her mouth, the green-eyed girl sobbed silently as the potion began to work, knitting flesh and muscle and tendon back together.

Seeing that the injury was significantly reduced, Elyoric stood up, banishing the freezing wind he had been conjuring. Arixia thankfully looked up at him, before scrabbling back to her feet. Then, grabbing her staff with renewed vigour, the two of them stepped out from behind the stone that had served as their temporary shelter.

Blood Raven now stood on the far coner of the graveyard, obviously weakened yet still managing to summon her undead minions. A veritable army of those abominations now separated them from the foul demon.

Elyoric was about to take a step forward, when he felt Arixia's hand on his arm. "Hang on, I'm going to try and teleport us to where she is." she breathed. Looking questioningly at her, he stilled, watching as she closed her eyes in concentration. Then, in a flash, he was suddenly standing barely a yard from the crazed demon, who obviously didn't expect them to suddenly just appear next to her like that. The moment of confusion proved most costly for the former rogue captain.

Before she could make a move, Elyoric charged, plunging his sword right in her heart. Her eyes widening, Blood Raven threw her head back as she staggered backward from them, a hand going to the gaping wound in her chest in a feeble attempt at stopping the blood from escaping her dying frame. Without warning, her entire body suddenly exploded as bolts of lightning seemingly danced all around them, shattering tombstones, ripping coffins right from under the ground, the smell of ozone hanging thickly in the air as pure electricity shot through the numerous corpses. Elyoric watched that incredible display, his mouth hanging open in mute shock. Turning around to see his companion's reaction, he saw that she sat hunched over an open coffin a little way off from him, her shoulders heaving as sobs wracked her body.

Someone was sitting up in the coffin, patting her back weakly.

A/N: Aaand we're done with Chappie 2!! In case any of you were wondering it's pronounced 'Eee-Lie-Oh-Rick', not 'Ell- Yo-Rick'.

And by the way, are Eli and Arixia coming off as Stu/Sue-ish? lemme know,okay?