A/N:This chapter is a pivitol moment for Rune's character and how she changes. Like Regina she becomes darker, also some of the questions regarding her encounter with the Manifold and the resulting memory loss will be answered. She becomes a well known "villain" but this is a completely different take on their origin. (And gender). If you can guess who it is before the big reveal you get a gold star! Lol. Unfortunately after this chapter Rune's darker side will come out to play, and we will only see glimpses of optimistic care-free happy Rune. Warning: Things get dark and somewhat graphic, you've been warned.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! :D
-Enchanted Forest, Two days After the Full Moon-
Rune had been acting strangely as of late, sometimes she would get intense headaches out of nowhere and her eyes would glaze over while she was talking and she's say something that had nothing to do with the subject at hand. Then of course there was the memory loss. Regina had learned yesterday that Rune had remember nothing after speaking to the disembodied voice in the cavern near the roots, she couldn't even remember the entire conversation. Somehow Regina knew that the events were connected. She hadn't spoken to Rune about her theory, but she could guess that her sister had come to the same conclusion. "BOO!" said a voice just beside her ear. Regina screeched and jumped up, she turned to face her trickster of a sister. "Aw, no need to be frightened Gina, its only us." Rune's chuckles mingled Ginovio's loud guffaws, "Aye lass, you're a mite jumpy this afternoon." He added. Regina rolled her eyes at the duo, before glancing at the bird perched on Rune's shoulder "I would have preferred if Anne would have come in your stead." Regina stated in mock seriousness fighting hard to keep the smile off her face. Ginovio let out an indignant squawk, but before he could reply an unwelcome voice joined in.
"I thought I heard an angel." Daniel says smoothly. Shooting Regina a dashing smile that made her heart flutter. Ginovio rolled his eyes while Rune scoffed at his poor attempt at being suave. "Don't you know it's rude to show up uninvited?" She asked, already thoroughly annoyed at his constant hovering over Regina. 'I will need to speak to her about that.' she mentally decided. Daniel shot her his best glare, to his dismay she looked unaffected, "That's entertaining a Child of the Forest trying to teach a civilized person manners." Daniel goaded. It was a trap, she knew it was a trap, he knew it was a trap, hell she suspected Regina knew it was a trap. "I'm more educated than you could ever hope to be, I earned my name yours was freely given. So do not question me on civility, boy. Or I will gladly show you how clueless you truly are." The level of calm that Rune had applied with shocked him, but it was the look in her eyes that rendered him speechless. He was positive those eyes would haunt his nightmares for the rest of his days. Regina was once again ready to step in again for the sake of her love's pride, the move not going unnoticed by neither Daniel nor Rune, before Regina could say anything however a loud squawking was heard. The group looked up in time to see a raven swoop down and land on Rune's now outstretched arm. Grabbing the scroll tied to the winged beast's leg and unfurling it, she began to read, her gut churning with every word. She crumbled up the letter in her closed fist, "Ginovio, accompany the raven back to the village and tell Tobias that he shall have my aid, I will gather Anne some supplies and find a stag to ride." Ginovio nods and takes off, the raven quickly following suit. She looks up at Regina, "I must go, something has happened. I will be back." She sprints to her home not even giving the young girl a chance to question her. There was no time, she was needed as soon as possible.
-Unknown Location, Two Days After the Full Moon-
They all listened to the scouts report in disbelief, the humans had broken through the wards not only that but their original numbers had been underestimated. They now only had a ten man advantage. " Is there anything else we need to know? Anything at all?" Tobias asked the frightened young man. "well, there is one more thing sir...the leader, or the man who appears to be, he is calling for your sister's capture." Tobias growled and Deron stood up from his seat. He turned sharply to Tobias "Double the guards! If they hit, they're going to hit hard. We need to be ready." The Battle Master nodded. "We need to find this traitor, I want all of the ward keepers ready for interrogation. I will make sure they bleed for this!" The council nodded and retreated to their respective tasks. "Rune should be here before their forces reach the village. I suggest we evacuate the civilians just in case they breech the walls." Tobias proclaimed. "We are not evacuating. The walls will hold. There is no need to inconvenience or frighten our people unnecessarily." Deron replied with practiced ease. "There is a betrayer still loose in the village and you still think the walls will hold?! Are you even listening to yourself brother? Better our people be a tad frightened than slaughtered in the streets because of your false bravado in the face of this looming threat!" the Battle Master shouted angrily, shocked at his response.
Deron's head snapped up from the map of the lands, his face burning with anger. "You forget your place Battle Master," he growled not bothering to hide the disdain in his voice "I am the High Ruler, I will take your council when it is needed. It is not needed. I am willing to overlook this indiscretion, so long as you leave my sight before I consider you a suspect for the treason that has been committed!" Deron snarled. Tobias clenched and unclenched his fists. He strode to the door and opened it before glancing at Deron over his shoulder "Remember brother, pride comes just before the fall. Let us hope that our people do not pay the price for your hubris." the slamming door was the only thing that saved him from the energy burst shot at his retreating form.
Xxxxxx
They had questioned all the wards keepers and had even moved on to their apprentices, the interrogations were fruitless and the human forces drew closer with each passing minute. He rubbed his temples in frustration, Rune would be here on the morrow. Just after sunrise he suspected. At least a day and a half ahead of their adversaries, which gave them ample time to prepare. Tobias turned to look out the window and observe the happenings of the streets, even though night had fallen they were still abuzz with activity. The next naming ceremony was in a few moons, it was personally his favorite celebration. The looks of awe on each youngling's face when they hear their name for the first time was something he would never tire of. He chuckled as he recalled his niece's face after hearing hers. Her love of the past heritage and spells made her name the easiest to choose. He was so lost in his memories of Rune that he failed to see the moonlight glint off of a blade just before it plunged into his back and out of his chest. He coughed up blood and turned to face his assassin, his eyes widened in shock. "Why...?" he managed to choke out. "Simple uncle, with you out of the way we can sack the village unimpeded." came the proud response. Tobias' last thoughts were on Rune, 'She will kill you, and I can promise it won't be an easy death.' and though he was surprised there was no light he peacefully slipped into the void to meet the Maker.
Xxxxxx
She needed to go faster, the stag was swift but the acrid smell of smoke was burning her lungs. 'Tobias said they were at least three days away! What happened?!' as she followed the beaten path to her village she heard gut wrenching screams and metal clashing against metal. As she neared the gate she saw something that made her blood run cold, hanging from the gate is her uncle's lifeless body. A scream rips itself from her throat as she dismounts the buck and glances up at him. Tears cloud her vision but she pushes them back, she would mourn him properly later. She unsheathed her short blade and cuts the rope suspending him, she winces as his body hits the ground, pulling him off to the side so none of the fleeing people would trample him. She fights back another strong wave of tears as she takes one last look at the man who was the closest thing she had to a father and heads inside. She was completely unprepared for what she witnessed inside the gates of her village. Blood had run so freely in the streets that the dirt was replaced with mud. Bodies were lying everywhere, men, women, even the children were not spared. She knew these people, broke bread with them, played in the forest with the children. She didn't realize she was shaking until she looked down at her hands. 'They will pay.' Rune's mind didn't even register that those weren't her thoughts. All she felt was anger, loud cheers pulled her attention from the storm of maliciousness brewing in her mind. Following the sounds she found herself at the gallows, there was one person that had noose around their neck and a bag over their head. She noticed a man impatiently watiting for something. She climbed up the side of a house as quickly as possible to get a better vantage point. More cheers erupted and she saw another bagged figure being forced up the stairs to join the first. 'I have to save them!' She started to look for away to get closer without giving herself away.
"Gentleman, I would like to thank you for being with me today. Almost eighteen summers ago something very precious was taken from me. Something that this harlot stole!" The man announced while pointing at the first figure, resounding noises of disapproval filled the air. "Yes I know, she not only stole from me but you! She took my heir in the middle of the night without a trace." The already rowdy crowd became significantly more violent. "Would you like to see the face of this thief?!" the cheers that followed were an obvious answer. "Here she is!" He shouted while pulling the bag away from her face. Rune was close enough to see who the intended victim was...her world stopped. 'Mother!' as if hearing her thoughts Yusef raised her head and looked directly at her.
Xxxxxx
Yusef had done many things in her century of life, many ill advised choices, numerous mistakes but nothing that she would ever regret. It had made her who she was, flaws and all. It had also given her a beautiful and loving daughter. To her personally, Rune was without a doubt the one thing she got right. To have no regrets is how she believed one should leave this world. And until now that was how she was to leave. Until Mark lifted the bag that shielded her face from the crowd. She squinted at the sunlight hoping to look at the clouds one last time when her eyes caught movement along a rooftop. She prayed that it was just a hallucination, but somehow she just knew she was really looking at her daughter. Her heart clenched, she wanted to shout at her to run, to not do anything rash, to live, to turn away and cover her ears. Tears streamed down her cheeks at everything she would miss. Rune's first love, following in Tobias' footsteps and becoming the Battle Master, Rune's Bonding Ceremony, holding her grandchildren. The one thing she would regret was not being able to watch her child grow up. 'Look away honey, please look away!' she mentally urged she heard Mark pull the leaver and saw wide grey eyes looking at her, then there was nothing.
Xxxxx
She was numb. Deaf to all the cheers as she watched her father end her mother's life she felt something inside her break. 'He is no father of ours!' another voice boomed angrily in her consciousness. "Bravo!" a familiar voice said joyously. Rune was snapped out of her stupor as she watched her cousin glide across the platform. 'Akeem? What are you doing?'the entity taking residence in her mind offered nothing up in explanation. She watched as he pulled off the bag of the other figure's head revealing her mother's eldest brother Deron. "Father how lovely of you to join us!" Akeem said positively beaming. "What is the meaning of this?! Akeem what have you done!?" Deron bellowed. "I believe this is called an extermination, I had Mark here be sure to kill every last citizen. And you have yourself to thank for that. I knew you wouldn't listen to Uncle Tobias but I had to kill him before he could go against your wishes and evacuate the village." He laughed hysterically, clearly pleased with himself "You played right into my hand! It was so amusing to see you flounder about searching for the obvious rather than truly thinking." "Why are you doing this? We are your family!" Deron cried, clearly distraught. "Ha! Family?! I have no need for family. All I want is power, Mark will help me obtain it. But you dear father are in the way!" Akeem shouted as he pulled the lever, not even allowing his father time to prepare to enter the great void.
Hearing Akeem's reasons caused the storm of hatred and wrath to breech the surface. 'Light magic will not allow us to inflict the desired amount of destruction.' the other whispered. Rune's magic crackled violently along her skin. 'After today, I will no longer be able to wield light magic' Rune thought forlornly. 'But you are correct, and I will adjust accordingly.' A dark chuckle echoed in her mind. 'So, you recall our encounter with the necromancer then?' 'Yes, but first let us focus the task at hand. Our people must be avenged.'when she received no response she jumped up into the air using her magic as a boost, before forming a barrier of magic as she picked up momentum in free fall. The shocked screams of the men beneath her rang in her ears as she effectively crushed them in her landing. She was able to wipe out a fraction of their forces before they realized they were under attack. All the time reading spell books paid off as she was able to decimate their group with an amalgam of different hexes ranging from evisceration to mind shredding, one by one they fell. Her father stayed behind to fight with his men. Akeem on the other hand fled the first chance he could.
Xxxxxx
By the time night had fallen, so had the last foot soldier that worked for her father. It had taken all night to gather all the kindling and bodies of her people, but she was able to create a funeral pyre for all of them. Her mother and Tobias holding places of honor, and dawn was beginning to break. She looked to the middle of the pyre and lifted the silencing spell off of the man tied to the stake. "All these people died screaming at the hands of you and your men, your men died much the same way by mine. I believe it is only fair for my people to be put to rest hearing yours." The man yelled and pleaded for her to stop, to be a better person and be merciful. She sneered and tossed her torch onto the oil soaked wood and watched the flames start to dance. A part of her wanted to join the rest of her family, but she couldn't. 'He escaped. He must pay for what he's done.' the other demanded. 'He will pay. I will chase him in this life and the others if I have to. But he will pay dearly for what he has done.' she turned and left the village, there was nothing for her there. The only thing she had to remind her of her people was her mother's necklace which now had Tobias' Battle Master ring hanging on its chain. Anne landed on her shoulder but said nothing. 'What was there to say?' she asked herself as she sadly looked at her mistress. Up above them Ginovio cried out his pain in song. Somehow expressing how they all felt.
-Enchanted Forest, Two Days Later-
Granny had seen many things on her doorstep in her life, but the unconscious body of the stranger that had saved her granddaughter was not on that list. Until now. Hearing that child's scream as she opened the door to play outside nearly gave her a heart attack, quickly followed by another near miss when see saw the source of the young girl's distress. She hauled 'Art' inside and started to clean her up, looking for the source of all the blood. She was unable to tell if she should be relieved or concerned that the girl was relatively uninjured save for a rather deep gash down her side. Red, as she insisted to be called now, held her guardian's hand the whole time refusing to leave Art's side. 'I will most definitely be having a chat with her when she comes to. And learn her real name.' Granny thought as she checked in on her patient and to take her grandchild to bed, only to see her curled up on Art's uninjured side fast asleep. Rolling her eyes she checked the bandages and headed to bed. Hopefully their guest will be willing to join the land of the consciousness by morning. She was looking forward to the younger woman's explanation for all of this; she was however debating on if she should tell Art of her suspicions. In the end she chose not to, it would be much more entertaining to watch them figure it out on their own. Looking forward to watching both girls interact with each other when the time came, put a smile on Granny's face as she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.