Chapter Thirteen: Passing the Graves of the Unknown

Author's Notes: I've been on vacation and haven not been writing, so this story might slow down quite a bit, in the meantime, if you want to read another BB/Rae Fic I wrote, read "Requiem for Methuselah", it's another brilliant idea that I came up with, but it's rated M for gore.

"How did you get in there?" Raven asked. "You died before the Philosopher's Stone was created."

"You're the sorceress, you tell me," Terra actually turned to face her. To Raven's surprise, she was dressed in travelers clothes, she was wearing simple attire and had a smile on her face.

"He bury you in those?" Raven asked.

"That's your first question?" Terra laughed. "Well I guess your answer is yes."

"Tell me, has he been well since I've been dead?" Terra asked.

"Gar has been well yes," Raven looked at her, unsure of what she should say to Terra. She knew that Terra had loved Gar deeply, and that they had been very happy together. Needless to say, it wasn't fair that she had been murdered by Malchior, her former husband. Still, they were both connected to each other through Gar, and she felt she should give Terra some closure.

"It took me a year to regain my identity inside this Hell," Terra said. "I don't remember much after I died or how I got here, so I don't know much about your life before recently, I guess I remember your name because he spent so much time with you. How did he find you?"

"He brought me back here as a servant," Raven told her.

"So you lived in Malchior's house, what were you, his servant?" Terra asked.

"His wife," Raven replied.

Terra gawked at her. "You can't be serious. I never saw you once when I was there."

"I wasn't there, I was gone," Raven looked at Terra and was unsure of what to say. "I found him with someone else so I left, hoping that he would apologize."

"I'm sure you knew his reputation, and you should have known that he would never apologize to you. He only cared about himself."

"I know that, but I still wanted to believe that he loved me. It was the last thing he ever told me."

"I'm sure that was a lie," Terra told her.

"Yes, it was," Raven agreed, "Still, I wanted to believe it."

"So what happened between you and Gar?" Terra was curious, after all, you didn't always get to speak with your former husband's new wife every day.

"He fell in love with me. At first, I didn't return his feelings because I thought that he saw me as some kind of prize. I offered to tutor him, teach him what he would need to know in order to rule this country. He accepted, that surprised me."

"I tried to teach him once, it was like teaching a brick wall," Terra's laugh made Raven smile.

"At first I thought I was growing fond of him, and then I discovered what he'd done in the war against Malchior, I thought he sacrificed his soldiers to win and I thought that he was the same."

"We fought, and it was during that fight that he first kissed me, it was a little while after that when I discovered how Malchior really felt about me. Gar brought me back and we married after awhile."

"I see. He's come a long way since I knew him," Terra smiled. "When I knew him, he didn't believe in falling in love, said he didn't understand it."

Raven was surprised, from what she knew about Gar and Terra's relationship, she knew they had loved each other deeply. To think that Gar didn't believe in romantic love at one point in his life startled her.

"From the way he acts now, I find it hard to believe that he could be skeptical about love," Raven looked at Terra. "He loves me very much. He's everything I ever wanted, what I wanted Malchior to be."

"I'm glad he found you, he needs someone to keep him in line," Terra felt at peace with what had become of Gar. She had hated the thought of him being alone, with no one as a companion and helper. That he had found one in an unlikely source, the wife of the man he'd taken revenge on was strange and yet fitting. She had always told him that if she died, she would want him to be happy. And he'd found happiness, and that made her feel at peace more than anything else.

"Then you don't hate me for marrying him?" Raven inquired.

"No, of course not. I always told him that if I died, I would want him to find someone and be happy with them. It's not like I can come back to life," Terra was resigned to her fate, and she was satisfied with how things had turned out for Gar, and she cherished their life together, it had been enough for her.

"Malchior didn't deserve someone like you," Terra commented. Raven agreed with her.

"Garfield told me that too," Raven frowned a little.

"I understand why he loves you," Terra gave her a smile. "You're like me, someone with gifts no one else can understand. He loves you very much, maybe even more than he loved me."

"Don't say that, he still loves you, not a day doesn't go by that he doesn't think about you, or talk about you."

"It's true though," Terra insisted. "I taught him how to love and care for others and he took what he learned from me and gave it to you, and that makes me happy. I know I won't ever see him again, but at least I'll know that he will spend the rest of his life with someone who will always be there for him."

"I am happy with him; he's the most wonderful person I've ever known," Raven admitted.

"Yes, he is, I know you're married now, so is he still wonderful in bed?" Terra asked. Raven blushed.

"Yes," she replied.

"I haven't forgotten all those nights we had together, I practically lived in my bed."

Raven laughed. "I guess I have a lot to look forward to."

"Gar is a wonderful lover, he meant the world to me, so do something for me would you?"

"Anything."

"Take good care of him, and make him happy for the rest of his life. That's all I've ever wanted for him."

"I will. I promise."

"Tell me something, how did I end up in here?" Terra asked.

"I suppose it's because you were part of what was needed to create the Philosopher's Stone, he needed thousands of lives, not just the ones he took from Kravia and that was why he was always going to war."

"I see, I'll be seeing you around," Terra said, walking off, she looked back and gave Raven a wave. She vanished from her sight and Raven opened her eyes, and stared at Terra's grave.

Raven got up and headed back toward the castle. She had some more research to do, she wasn't just going to be idle, and she never knew what was going to happen.

Garfield Logan sighed as he continued pacing up and down. What to do, what to do, when would he announce his marriage to the peasants, but what should he say? What could convince them that he loved Raven and that she was a good person who could help them? As soon as the fervor died down over the fact that she could use magic, he planned to lift the church's ban on magic so that she could use her powers to aid and help the citizens.

"I'll tell them tomorrow," he told Richard. "It's been a month; I think I'm ready to announce what I've done. I'll deal with the church as quickly as possible, I won't let anyone or anything hurt Raven, I'm going to make it so she won't have to live in fear for her life because of her powers. I want her to use them and help others."

"You have to be careful though," Richard warned. "The peasants may revolt, I fully expect them to. People fear things they don't understand."

"Then I'm fully prepared for that," Gar said.

Victor stood inside the room, "This is a very perilous decision you've made. Don't get yourself killed."

"Don't worry, I won't," Gar reassured him. He had no intention of dying any time soon and he hoped that he would be able to resolve this conflict peacefully and settle down into a life with Raven.

"Kori, do you think I was too rash, marrying her?" Gar asked.

"I do not know for certain, Raven is our friend, and we want her to be happy here with us, but it is not my place to judge your decision, whether it was a mistake or not will be seen very soon."

"Cryptic answers are not helpful," Garfield sighed.

"I honestly don't know what's going to happen either," Richard admitted, "But we will stand by you, no matter what."

"Thank you, I find it comforting," Gar looked up as Raven entered. There were other dignitaries behind her.

"Hello Raven," he greeted her.

"Hello My Liege," she greeted him formally, there being others in the room who had just entered and did not know about their marriage would probably be displeased if they knew so she kept a formal tone with him in public.

Gar attended to his duties, always looking forward to when all the guests would leave and they would be able to spend time together.

He bid his guests good night and headed to his bedchamber, he had worked hard, signing decrees, debating with other nobles and lowering unnecessary taxes for things he never even needed. Malchior's exuberant lifestyle had taken its toll on the citizens. He was going to have a good life of course, but not so extravagant that the common people would think that all the power had corrupted him.

The heavy door shut behind him and he looked up at Raven who was silhouetted in the dark, after his eyes adjusted, he could see her.

"I've finally gotten away from them," he sighed. "It seems like I'm always saying that."

"You have been saying things along those lines lately," Raven agreed.

"I do believe that," he leaned forward and kissed her, she used her powers to grab the small torch and hold it up so they could see as he moved her over to their bed. She used her powers to set the torch back into the wall and he laughed as he gently set her down on their bed.

"I just can't get enough of you," he smiled. "I'll be insatiable until I can no longer help you have children. That is what I want most of all, yes, our children will be wonderful."

"You keep saying that like we'll have more than one," Raven said as she gasped as Gar's mouth found the side of her neck.

He pulled away, "Yes, I intend to have plenty of children with you."

"Is that your excuse?" Raven asked. "If I didn't know any better, I would say you were like Malchior." Raven regretted it, she didn't mean it the way she said it.

Garfield stiffened and looked at her. "Don't ever say that! I'm not like him. You know that better than anyone!"

His fury astounded her, even the comparison to him made Garfield enraged. Even if it wasn't meant to be insulting, anything about Malchior seemed to set him on edge.

"I didn't mean it that way Gar," she said quietly.

Still, she could tell he was angry. "Don't ever compare me to him! I love you, he never did. I want to be with you forever, he didn't."

He suddenly lurched forward and pinned her down. "Gar, I—" Raven tried to apologize but he wasn't listening.

"You infuriate me beyond reason, when you get me so worked up I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with you!" he let loose a low growl. "I won't hear anymore from you about Malchior. He's dead a gone, don't forget that!"

"Gar just calm yourself!" Raven was trying to calm him before he did something rash or said something that might be heard by the other guests.

"You think I can remain calm when you compare me to that monster?" Gar raised his voice slightly; Raven was terrified they might be overheard.

Garfield's eyes burned with anger, he was furious that she had said that about him, Malchior was insatiable, but his desires always went to others. He was satisfied and happy with her, and to compare him with Malchior, to equate unbridled lust with Garfield's undying devotion and love had angered him.

Still, he was trying to think rationally, deep down he understood what she meant, but any comparisons to Malchior were unacceptable to him.

Raven loosened his grip on her wrists and pulled him down to her. She kissed him deeply, letting all her emotions wash over him. Sweet whispers of an apology and that she loved him. Raven knew that was all he needed to hear at the moment. It was all that mattered to him.

"The things you do to me," he murmured in her ear. He wrapped his arms firmly around her waist and kissed her gently.

"Tell me, who is the one who will always be there for you?"

"You."

"Yes, whom do you love?"

"I love you."

"Who made love to you on your wedding night?"

"You did."

His mouth curved in into a mischievous smile and he let his hands roam her figure. His eyes glinted in the darkness with satisfaction as she began respond to his attentions to her body and her breathing became heavy.

"What am I going to do to you now?" his voice was demanding, his touch ungentle and rough. He was beyond controlling himself now, his rage and melted into amorous desire and Raven knew she couldn't deny him anything when he was in this state, not that she wanted to anyway.

"You're going to make love to me," she sighed. "Don't pretend I don't know what you're thinking."

"Indeed, you're very perceptive Raven, I want children, but I'm curious. Do you want children?" His voice was serious.

Raven thought about it for a moment. "Yes," she whispered. "I want children."

"I'm glad, because I can't control myself anymore."

It was just as blissful as their wedding night, all their emotions mingled, combined until there was nothing in the world but the two of them. They would be together for until the end of eternity, he would keep that promise to her, no matter what. He bent down and pressed his lips to her forehead.

"I love you," he told her.

"I love you too," she replied. They drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Back and forth, Mikron and Adonis fought, Malchior had taught him magic now, and he had learned to combine them with his swordplay. Mikron was actually tiring. His skills had improved considerably.

"Necronom Hezberek Mortix!" Adonis commanded, and the magic spewed from his hands, hitting Mikron, the man was knocked off his feet and Adonis quickly pressed the advantage, his began raining down quick, heavy strikes until Mikron was overwhelmed.

"I yield!" he cried, surrendering.

"Good," Adonis sheathed his sword.

"You are now ready to face Raven," Malchior congratulated. "I have heard that Lord Garfield is going to make an announcement. No doubt it is concerning his relationship with sweet Raven. No doubt that the peasants will rise up against him, he will probably be injured, that is when you will attack sweet Raven and throw her off guard with the magic I have taught you. And everything will go just as planned."

Adonis was pleased. At last, he was going to make that witch pay for what she'd done to him, winning Lord Garfield's affections and seducing him until he was no longer able to see that his true ambitions should be to tighten his grip on the pathetic peasants instead of catering to their so-called needs and whims.

He alone, deserved to sit on that throne and call himself king. Perhaps he would spare Raven. Yes, it would be the best vengeance of all, her alive with her husband dead and being forced to become his wife and he would relish their wedding night, her despair and misery. It would be the most fitting form of vengeance and he would revel in every minute of it.

He closed his eyes and he could see it in his mind's eye, Raven's tears and him on top of her, pouring out his lust into her, forcing her to look at him and reminding her that this is what she was going to look forward to, every night until she forgot about Garfield. She would never be able to speak of him again, and if she did, he would torture her until she would forget.

Adonis began to laugh, the entire kingdom would be his, and he was going to enjoy it.

Malchior chuckled at this foolish man, who thought he could use his powers for his own gain. Adonis was a fool. He knew that Adonis didn't have the magical capacity to sustain using magic for long periods of time, he also knew that Raven would not be as surprised when she discovered that he could use magic. She'd been around him and knew how to counter magic attacks. He was just doing this in order to weaken Adonis, and make him more subservient to him.

Now as for Adonis' thoughts of revenge, they suited Malchior just fine, when he had taken his vengeance, he would carry out Adonis' plans concerning Raven. Perhaps, he would even enjoy the encounter; after all, no doubt she still harbored some feelings for him.

His mind wandered back to the night before he left. Malchior wondered what would have happened if he had made love to Raven, if he had let himself fall in love with her, if they might have been happy together. She had always craved his attention, if he had given it; he wondered how it might have been. No doubt she would have been an ardent lover…It wasn't important to him, since when did he care about love or emotions? He was being sentimental, and there was no place for that now. All that mattered was revenge, and he was going to have it.