Maerad clung to the evil within her. Trying desperately to ignore the pain that blossomed in her breast every time Cadvan turned his face away from her. It hurt too much to think of just how much he must hate her for killing that Bard.

He still wouldn't say anything.

If anything his silence had deepened.

Was he going to leave her?

She was beginning to believe that he would. No, she was certain that he would. She was after all, worthless. Just eating the scarce supply of food they had and taking up space. He would be better off without her.

So to lessen the blow of parting from him she too closed herself off in much the same way he had. With one slight difference. But that dissimilarity was much more then slight if you truly looked at Maerad's aura. Sure she was just as quiet as her former best friend, she turned her brilliant blue eyes away from his crystal clear cobalt blue ones without ever seeing the person those eyes belonged to.

But inside of her a fierce battle was being waged between the Light and the Dark. The shadowy tendrils struck out like whips, ingraining themselves upon her soul, while the light shined as bright as it could, trying to burn away the impurity of the darkness that was spreading like an infectious disease.

Maerad's temper was constantly wavering. One moment she would completely understand why Cadvan did not wish to speak to her and the next she would want to beat the living pulp out of him and watch the light flicker and die in the mighty Cadvan of Lirigon.

More and more often the Dark inside of her was asserting itself. And instead of fighting it she was slowly letting it take control, leaving her feeling powerful, as if she could never be struck down. Such supremacy was intoxicating and addicting.

It wouldn't be long until she let the darkness snuff out her tiny glowing ember of light that was still burning inside the shades of black. Then Maerad of Pellinor would be no more. She would be replaced by an empty vessel that felt nothing.

That numbing nothingness was calling to her. Its legato voice singing to her, making her walk towards it, even if she wished to go the other way, it would have been imposable. The call was too strong to refuse.

Maerad knew it wouldn't be long before the transformation from Light to Dark would be over, and a slight, cold smile danced across her thinly pressed lips.

O-x-O-xO-x-O

Cadvan noticed the evil looking smile on Maerads once beautiful. That beauty was dying alongside the goodness that rested in Maerads heart. He had watched the shadows leak into his pupils soul. What was happening to her, he did not know.

Their increasing silence was like a thorn in his side. A constant throb of pain. Maerads mind was releasing intense surges of hate and anger, and he suspected that those feelings were directed at him. They were so different from his own.

His love for Maerad was growing, even in this hated quiet. He thought he was going to loose her and so his feelings were becoming more intense.

What if instead of dying she simply fell into the Darkness?

Cadvan knew that that had become his greatest fear of all. That instead of loosing her life battling Sharma beside him, she would join him. That would hurt worse by far, and fear coursed hotly through his veins at seeing the light being diminished within her.

How could I bare to loose her now? After just realizing that I loved her? After finding out that she completed him in a way that even Ceredin couldn't have, how could he ever let her go?

He couldn't. And he didn't plan on ever having to let go of her. Even if she decided to serve the unforgiving evil that was the Dark, he would always try to be there. He would try to bring her back to the Light.

And if she fell in love with a man that was not him…

He do his best to keep his feelings to himself so that she could be happy, even if he thought that he could make her happier.

But for now he had to talk to her, before she did give in to the enticing call of the shadows. He didn't know just what he was going to say to Maerad. Maybe he would talk of their journey together. How he hoped that she knew that killing Ilar was wrong. How sorry he was for remaining silent for so long and increasing tension between them. How she was his best friend.

How he loved her.

No. I can't tell her that. She will hate me then, if she doesn't already.

O-x-O-x-O-x-O

Cadvan looked off across into the distance at the snow capped mountains of the Gwalhain Pass and couldn't help but thinking that Maerads heart was beginning to match the icy scenery. He had to talk to her, but kept putting conversation off.

I will talk to her when we reach the pass.

He turned his head and glanced at his friends face. How despondent she has grown, he thought to himself, and it's all my fault. I kept silent when I should have talked. I have rebuked her too harshly and now she is just a… shadow of herself.

Maerad caught his look and glared at him. Why was he looking at her with such sad eyes? Did he feel sorry for her? Or was he sad for taking her on as his pupil?

Cadvan quickly turned his head at her scowl and went back to studying the Pass.He swore at himself silently. How could he have let this happen? Let this anger build?

He vowed to talk to her when they made their next stop. Judging by the ever darkening skies that would be soon.

He would talk to her.

Before it was too late and she was lost to him forever.