ACT 3
SCENE 1
Scene: Dusk is settling. ROBIN is placing branches in GAR's arms. He glances at VICTOR and RAVEN, some distance away, sitting in a clearing.
ROBIN: Gar. If we get the prince back to the castle, you go before the court, and you collect the reward.
GAR: What? Why?
ROBIN: I don't want to be known as a bounty hunter.
GAR: Well, me neither! I want glory as much as you—real glory. Not this.
ROBIN: Well then who gets the money?
GAR: Oh yeah, I still need the money.
ROBIN: Yeah, so do I.
GAR: So then who's gonna go before the court? Raven?
ROBIN: (Pauses) Maybe. We could get her different clothes—she could just pretend she's a regular lady.
GAR: Yeah, that's not gonna work.
ROBIN: Why?
GAR: Uh… she's all weird colors.
VICTOR: (Watching the boys) So, uh, witch lady. You know those two well? Are they good guys?
RAVEN: I don't know them at all.
VICTOR: But, are they mercenaries? Are they just peasants?
RAVEN: If they were mercenaries they'd still be peasants.
VICTOR: (Ticked off) A moment ago you knew so much, but you're awfully defensive of your words now.
RAVEN: If I cannot tell the truth, I say nothing. Unlike you.
VICTOR: What's that supposed to mean?
RAVEN: You don't plan on going with them. You don't plan on going back to your kingdom at all.
VICTOR: (Shaken) …Who would want a broken man for a leader? I'm not worthy of my people until I get myself fixed. If I can't do that, I'm better off never cropping up again.
GAR and ROBIN come back with firewood.
GAR: Rae, give us a hand.
VICTOR: What'd you…- (Yelps as a fire erupts)
GAR: Thanks.
RAVEN: Don't call me Rae.
GAR: (To VICTOR) So uh, you're really not gonna take off the armor? Not even the visor?
VICTOR: I can't. I meant it when I said I couldn't.
ROBIN: Care to elaborate, your Grace?
VICTOR: For God's sake, it's your Highness! At least pick one! Or better yet, just say sir!
VICTOR sighs.
VICTOR: A few weeks ago, I ran into the fabled beast, Cinderblock.
GAR: (To ROBIN) Why's it called that?
ROBIN: Because it's a square stone beast from Cinder island, shh!
VICTOR: We battled. It almost killed me—it pretty much did. There's nothing under the armor. I'm bound together with magic. If I take this off, I die. (To RAVEN) Can you grow me new limbs?
RAVEN: It will never be as it used to be.
VICTOR: I wouldn't care. I just want to be whole again. I was all set to marry this girl and everything. A princess from another kingdom. But I can't face her like this! Who knows if I even have a heart in here? I was informed of a place where they could fix me, for real.
RAVEN: Misinformed.
VICTOR: So you've said. My father didn't approve of me going to Hive, either. He had a wizard make me this magic armor. That keeps me whole. But a necromancer keeps my body alive. He's over there in our castle, sacrificing mice and pigeons every day just to keep me going! I hate magic so much. (To RAVEN) No offense.
RAVEN: Magic sucks. But the Hive sucks worse.
ROBIN: Is that why you've been out of public eye since the battle? They shouldn't have done that. All sort of rumors cropped up—people thought you were dead. But an injured prince is still a prince.
VICTOR: You don't know anything. What country would want a broken man for a future leader? What if our enemies find out? Actually, I should have you two executed when you bring me back, just in case.
ROBIN and GAR swallow.
VICTOR: (Smirking) Still want me to go back home?
ROBIN and GAR stay silent.
VICTOR: Anyway, your turn. What's your story? What put together this odd crew?
GAR: Well, Rob and I are from the same village. I'm out here looking for adventure! We're side-kicks now. Except he won't tell me where we're going or why.
ROBIN: Because I didn't want you to come in the first place. And we're not sidekicks.
VICTOR: (To ROBIN) Well, what are you after?
ROBIN: Forgive me, sir, but I don't think that's your business.
VICTOR: It is my business. You want to escort me to the capital, you want me to trust you, and you won't even tell me what you're after in the first place?
ROBIN: Fine. What I'm after is justice. I'm searching for a man who's done horrible things.
VICTOR: Who?
ROBIN: I don't know his name.
GAR: What's he done?
ROBIN: I don't know that either.
VICTOR: You're chasing a man and you don't even know who he is or what his deal is?
ROBIN: I heard a lot of things, alright? Tales of his minions running around, looting and killing. Burning down villages of the lords and ladies he couldn't win to his side. And I know he's looking for me, so.
RAVEN: (Lowly) How do you hope to defeat a man with so little knowledge of him?
ROBIN: (Tightly) I'll work my way up to it. (Pause) And what about you, huh? Are you gonna share your story?
RAVEN: Pass.
ROBIN: Oh, really? So you drop in on us, tell us what to do, where to go, who to trust… and we're supposed to accept it?
GAR: Robin, drop it…
ROBIN: We've all shared our stories.
RAVEN: You've all shared what you tell yourselves. I'm not being any falser by not saying anything.
(Pause)
ROBIN: (Standing up) Maybe you don't wanna share because it's incriminating.
GAR: Rob?
ROBIN: What are the chances that I step out to bring an evil powerful man to justice, and I immediately get tailed by a mysterious witch?
RAVEN: (Getting angry) If you're linking me with the evil you seek, that could not be further from the truth.
ROBIN: How would I know? Why should I trust you?
RAVEN stays silent.
ROBIN: (Sitting down. To VICTOR) Sir, I don't suggest you follow someone who won't give you the courtesy of explaining themselves.
RAVEN: (To ROBIN. Finally angry) I know what you really want. Your quest is not about righteousness. You're not some selfless hero. You need this. You need the fight. You need a purpose. You need this character as much as you think this land needs you.
ROBIN: (Shaken. After a pause) And what do you want? Do you even want anything?
RAVEN: …When good and evil are evenly matched, the battle isn't meant to ever end. For as much as good will always rise to meet injustices, likewise evil cannot be truly defeated, only contained.
ROBIN: (Disturbed) What was that?
RAVEN: (Almost smirking) You tell me. Is it a narration? Is it a prophecy? How do I know all that I know?
ROBIN: Is this a riddle? Are you trying to confuse us?
RAVEN: (Getting up) Are you always this paranoid?
RAVEN exits.
ROBIN: (Grumbling)
GAR: I'll go check on her.
VICTOR: I think she's just riling you up, man.
ROBIN: Prince Victor, you mark my words. That witch will be the death of us.
SCENE 2
Scene: Next morning. The four are walking: ROBIN and GAR walk ahead, followed by VICTOR, flanked by RAVEN.
VICTOR: So the whole kingdom knows I'm missing?
ROBIN: Yeah. The papers got all the way from Gotham to Star Town.
VICTOR: Ugh, he shouldn't have. Why did I bother leaving dad a note? How much are they offering for me?
ROBIN: Sixty thousand gold coins.
VICTOR: That's way too much. I'm gonna cut it down to twenty.
ROBIN: What?
GAR: Hey, it's still more money than we've seen in our lives, Rob.
ROBIN: I wanted to get a long-sword. I'm gonna have to get a measly seax now.
VICTOR: (To RAVEN) You're getting a share too, right? It's only fair.
RAVEN: I don't need it. I'm never in need of money. Nobody ever takes my coins.
GAR visibly deflates.
ROBIN: Unless they're a fool who literally doesn't know a witch when she materializes before him.
GAR: (Elbowing ROBIN) Shh.
GAR moves to join RAVEN in the back.
GAR: (Awkwardly) Hey.
RAVEN: (Deadpan) Hi.
GAR: So, remember two days ago when I paid you back that coin you lent me?
RAVEN: Yes.
GAR: I just want you to know, it's not that I don't trust you, or anything, I was just… in a position to pay you back, so I did.
RAVEN: Noted.
GAR: So, are we okay?
RAVEN: Yes.
GAR: Yeah, lots of people don't trust witches—not me though. I just, you know, had the coin.
RAVEN: (Pause) I'm not a witch.
GAR: Uh, what? You're… not?
RAVEN: No.
GAR: …Oh. Okay.
RAVEN stops cold.
GAR: Raven?
RAVEN: I have to go this way now.
GAR: What? What do you mean?
RAVEN overtakes VICTOR and ROBIN. GAR follows her.
GAR: Raven, wait! (To VICTOR and ROBIN) It's my fault. I offended her.
ROBIN: I bet it is.
VICTOR: I'm sure you did.
GAR: Raven! Come back! Give me the coin back! Give me an apple! Anything! I'll take it!
GAR exits following RAVEN.
VICTOR: What the hell? She was leading us. She's the one who wanted to show me the evilness of Hive.
ROBIN: Can you still get there without her?
VICTOR: Yeah, that's where I was going anyway! I know where it is. I don't… need her.
ROBIN: We shouldn't have let Gar go get her, he'll annoy her away if anything.
GAR: (Re-entering) Hey. I didn't catch her.
ROBIN: Yeah, no surprises there.
GAR: Hey, this only happened because I followed your advice. And you know, you were too harsh on her last night. Maybe she left because of you.
ROBIN: How can I trust anyone who doesn't seem to want anything?
GAR: Well… she came all this way with us… she's helping the prince… Maybe she just wanted friends.
ROBIN: Friends? That's your genius idea? The scary witch is lonely? That only exists in your childish fantasy world.
ROBIN exits, followed by VICTOR.
GAR: (To himself) Yeah, maybe. Maybe that's what I wanted, too.
SCENE 3
Scene: RAVEN stands in a clearing.
RAVEN: The warrior princess had traveled a far way, and she was about to meet the selfless hero who wanted nothing but to bring justice to the land, the boy who only longed for adventure, and the prince who was no longer lost. But since the prince was travelling to the Fortress Hive, his princess needed to be pointed in the right direction.
RAVEN concentrates. Wind picks up, and a well appears. RAVEN is consumed by it.
STARFIRE enters.
RAVEN: (Off-screen) Hello?
STARFIRE: Yes? Who is there?
RAVEN: A witch trapped in a well. Might you help me out?
STARFIRE goes to the well and pulls the rope in one swift jerk, pulling RAVEN out in less than second.
RAVEN: (With wide eyes) You are very strong.
STARFIRE: (Picks RAVEN up and sets her down on the grass) Witches and wizards are highly respected in my kingdom. I am honored to have been of help. (Bows deeply)
RAVEN: (In a small voice) Thank you.
STARFIRE makes to leave, then comes back.
STARFIRE: My lady witch, since I have been of help, may I have a question answered?
RAVEN: You may.
STARFIRE: Is there a way to enter the castle of Stone Court undetected?
RAVEN: If you're looking for Prince Victor, he is not there.
STARFIRE: Your powers of divination are great. Yes, it is the prince I seek. He was betrothed to me, but has gone missing. I cannot marry anyone if I do not find him.
RAVEN: What, never?
STARFIRE: Indeed. I cannot marry another while he is alive. And if he dies by any other means that my hand, I am doomed to eternal singlehood.
RAVEN: That doesn't make the least amount of sense.
STARFIRE: Well, my sister is the grand ruler, and she makes rules as she pleases. I must marry or kill him, and both are fine to me. Do you know where he might be?
RAVEN: Princess, I can tell you exactly where he is.
A/N: Raven the narrator and Raven the character came into contact a little bit back there.
