The Place That We Call Home

by burn to ashe

"How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget"

-"Hotel California" by The Eagles

Disclaimer – I do not own. Do not sue.

Author Notes – Lots happens in this chapter, folks, which is why it's taken a few days to write. Also I kept having trouble with consistent characterization, and had to rewrite a section because of it.

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Chapter Fourteen – Deceiver

14.1

It was the third day on the path to Gotham when Koriand'r finally drew enough courage around her to pull her mare up beside Rachel's, and glanced at her with a smile. What she may feel about this woman, she was a priestess and fighting for the good of all. No matter her relationship with Richard—which Kori was even more confused about since the revelation that Rachel was no simple peasant girl—Kori knew she could at least appreciate what Rachel strove to do.

She wanted to form a rapport or friendship with Rachel. Koriand'r was not stupid, she had seen how close the priestess was to Richard, and as Richard was her new husband she felt a duty to make peace with his friends and allies.

"How are you faring, Lady Rachel?" Kori asked as they rode. Rachel seemed to consider her answer, and Kori wondered why. Why was it so hard for the priestess to talk to her?

"I'm fine, thank you for asking, your highness." she said quite diplomatically. Kori did not want a diplomatic answer, though, she wanted friendship and honesty. She could see the paleness, the tightness of Rachel's hands on the reins, and the tightness of her lips. Kori had been taught from childhood to keep a close eye on the body language of someone. Rachel was in pain, and she was nervous about something.

Kori was initially suspicious, then she chastised herself. If Rachel did not have reason to be nervous, then perhaps no one did. Soon she would be petitioning before King Bruce of Gotham, and then no doubt she would be standing before a concave of collected royal parties negotiating war. Kori felt almost... jealous. Not that Rachel would be facing great hardship, but for the girl's freedom. Kori would grow to love Richard, she was sure, and she was not sure that she had not already begun to form feelings for him. But Rachel was traveling freely from one side of the continent to the other, with no parents or husbands to tell her what she could do.

"I suppose you are nervous. To be petitioning before my husband's father. I hear he is a hard man to impress." Kori said, in attempts to continue the conversation.

"Either he will see merit in my petition or he won't. I cannot change his response." Rachel said neutrally. Kori glanced her way and wasn't sure she believed Rachel's statement of complacency.

"I do not want us to be adversaries." she said abruptly.

Rachel looked at her. "Why would we be adversaries, princess?" she asked, still so neutrally. There was a something in the tilt of Rachel's head that unnerved Kori. Her horse shied, and she moved away.

"Uh... good afternoon, Lady Rachel." she said and turned her horse away. The strange feeling clung to her until she was safely tucked between Richard and Victor, and even then she stole a glance over her shoulder at Rachel. What had that feeling been?

14.2

Raven moved stiffly as they prepared to camp. It was still well lit but Garfield had informed them that this was the last good campground until the river, and no one wanted to cross the river as it was getting dark. So it was decided they would tackle that in the morning, and tonight they would camp beneath the stars.

She tried to slip away discretely. She was not interested in announcing her intention to bathe to the collective, so when she was sure no one was looking she took a clean gown and began the very stiff walk down the path towards the river. She had seen the escorts take this path earlier, to bring back water, but there was no reason to think they would need do that again.

Walking around the palace back in Tamaran had not been this hard. But an uneven path, strewn with rock and tree roots and all manner of other obstacles was going to make this difficult. She winced and hissed as yet again she had to bend her knee further than she had been lately to step over a fallen log.

"Rachel?" She froze and glanced back the path to where Richard stood. She said nothing and waited for him to go on. He seemed like the type to yell at her for sneaking off like this, and she intended to stand her ground. Politely. She could be polite while being firm.

"Might I be of service to you?" she asked too sweetly. He gave her a sour look and walked straight up to her.

"You shouldn't be wandering off by yourself. It'll be dark soon." he stepped over the log and turned to face her. "And your knee is far from healed. You should be taking it easy." She tried not to glower at him and probably failed.

"I just wanted a quick wash in the river. I will be back soon, and my knee is fine." she said grumpily. She expected him to get testy with her, but instead there was a sort of sympathetic kindness in his expression. He turned to head down towards the river, as if he was coming with her. She rooted herself to the spot. "I am not bathing in front of you, Prince." she snapped.

He looked back at her. "I wouldn't expect it. There is a steep, rocky incline further down the path. You'll never make it down them alone with your knee. I thought I'd help you." he said blandly. She furrowed her brow and hesitantly nodded. This new kindness in Richard was disconcerting. She was far more used to standing her ground and being defensive rather than dealing with his cooperation.

They walked in silence for a time. Then Raven spoke. She wasn't sure why she asked, but it came to her and so she did. "How do you like being married?" she asked, almost a tease. But he didn't smile, didn't glance over his should towards the camp. He simply looked... thoughtful. Almost sad.

"Much like being unmarried, I suppose. Perhaps things will change once we are settled in our home, in Gotham." he replied honestly. She was amazed at his answer. "To this point, Kori and I have barely had five or ten minutes to speak to one another alone, let alone learn anything about one another." he said. He sounded wistful and irritated, and Raven wondered fleetingly what sort of husband he would make.

"I suspect things will change, Richard." she replied softly. She touched his arm, and he looked down at her.

"I hope you are right, Rachel." The sound of her fake name broke something in her and she looked away abruptly. The sting of tears threatened, but was quickly claimed. Here was dreaming of a life that was most assuredly not her own: she would never have the luxury to consider marriage and love. It was a foolish girl's dream. She did not cry as a general rule and most certainly would not cry now. "Rachel?" he asked. She tried to laugh it off.

In silence, Richard climbed down the incline, and turned to raise his arms up to let her slide into them. She hesitated and finally did, finding his grip as strong as she might have imagined. Her face was bare inches from his, and she felt something catch in her throat. Suddenly her heart was beating very quickly.

"Rachel?"

"Yes?" she replied. Her answer was as breathy as his question had been. Why wasn't he putting her down? Why wasn't she protesting?

"I-" he paused, and leaned the bare space between them and kissed her. It was soft and chaste for merely a moment before it felt hungry. She looped her arms around his neck, and he set her gently down only to lean into her. She felt cold, moist stone through the material on her back.

Then she heard the footsteps, as loud as the blood pounding in her ears. She gasped, pulling away, but it was too late. As Richard raised his head, he spotted her.

Koriand'r had seen it all. She turned and ran back towards camp, and Richard took off after her. Raven slid to the ground, head lolling back against the stone, wondering how she had let this happen.

14.3

Raven intended to stay far away from the Tamaranian princess for the rest of the night, and perhaps the rest of the journey. When she finally limped back into camp, almost everyone had already settled in for the night. Garfield greeted her with a nod of his head when she appeared finally and he looked relieved to see her. She must have remained out in the woods for an hour or so after Richard left, and the sun was nearly down.

"There's food if you're hungry." Garfield offered. Raven shook her head, and moved off. She wanted time to think about what had happened, and to formulate a course of action. She did not want to face an angry bride for being the girl who'd kissed the groom.

For that matter, she realized, she did not want to face Richard either. What he had meant by kissing her, she did not know. For that matter, she had no idea why she hadn't fought him, hadn't tried to stop him in any way. She didn't have feelings for the Prince of Gotham. She was not concerned for propriety, she was concerned for her ultimate mission. This most recent incident could only harm her chances, she thought.

So lost in thought, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going, and found she had wandered rather far from the camp. And that she was not alone. She was startled when she saw a person, and her stomach sank when she realized it was the Tamaranian princess.

"I did not think to speak again with you, Rachel of Azarath." the princess nearly spat upon spotting the other woman. "But you come to seek me out. Why? Do you think an apology will cause what has happened to become undone." the princess said with no charity whatsoever. Raven would have flinched, save for how much she wished to be removed from this situation. She had not intended to apologize at all, merely to avoid them both for another day or so.

"I did not mean to do such a thing to you, princess, and what was done meant nothing. Rest assured that your prince is still your own." Raven tried.

"Still my own? He has not so much as spoken a dozen words to me on this journey, and I find you with your arms wrapped around his neck. Priestess or not, you are a betrayer of trust and a slut." Kori snapped. Raven could hear the tears building in the princess's voice, but more notably the righteous fury that was driving her. Raven had been called worse before in her life, but never by someone she'd considered nearly a friend.

"Think what you must-"

"I know only truth." she snapped. "I did not think a woman in service to a god could be so base." Raven felt her temper pricked. She clamped down on it, as she clenched her teeth. She wanted to simply look away from the princess but felt her eyes raising to look her in the eye. Kori met her gaze for gaze, and finally spoke again. "You are a whore, and I want you to stay away from my boy." Kori snapped.

The whip-crack of Koriand'r's voice was what snapped the hold on her temper. Why it was so fragile, she couldn't have guessed, but Raven felt control flee her. She knew her eyes shifted to red, and her hands glowed black.

It took everything she was not to attack the princess like a feral dog. She pulled back until her eyes returned to violet, and she collapsed to the ground. She looked up at the princess, who's shocked face and pale complexion were news enough.

"You're a demon." Kori breathed, terrified.

"If you tell anyone, I'll kill you." Raven replied without thinking. Kori ran. Raven curled into herself, into a small ball, and no one came for her this time.

14.4

On the fourth day, it rained. And rained. Torrential downpours plagued them, forcing the party to find simple shelter and bed down for the day rather than continuing on. Each shivered beneath a thin blanket and looked among the others with little conversation. No one felt like talking, and everyone hoped they wouldn't contract a cold from this.

The next morning, early, they rose to continue on, trying to make up for lost time. They rode until they reached a river. The river was up from all the rain, of course, but Richard only got wet to his chest trying to cross his horse. He tied his horse to the other bank, and looked back.

"It is crossable! Ladies, we'll take you across first, mounted please." he informed them as he carefully recrossed. There was a strong undertow, but as long as he warned the men leading the horses across, they should be fine. As he stepped back out on the other side, he looked about. He spotted Tara first, and nodded at her. "You first, Tara. Garfield, take her reins and slowly lead the horse across. Watch the undertow, and take it slow, alright?"

Garfield might be a scrappy kid, but he was tall enough to lead Tara's horse, and Richard knew he was stronger than he looked. The boy nodded at Richard as he took Tara's reins. The forest native looked confident, and it occurred to Richard that Garfield had probably been fording high rivers longer than Richard himself had. Tara looked sick as she clung to the pommel. She was an excellent rider, but she was more than nervous with how she was getting across this river. She was too short to have crossed any other way, though.

Once those two were safely on the other side, Richard turned to the remaining two women. Victor was a broad, strong man. He could probably control Rachel's horse if it started to spook. "Victor, I want you to lead Rachel across." The priestess looked sicker than Tara and avoided his eyes, which was no surprise to Richard. After yesterday, he was prepared for her skittishness. That Koriand'r had not mentioned what she had seen was a blessing. "I'll take Kori after you two are safely over." he turned to their few escorts. "And you take the men's horses over for us."

Rachel was clinging hard to the pommel as Victor led her into the river, and he kept his eyes trained on her. That kiss... it had meant nothing, surely. He assumed it was just his way of dealing with a new wife that he barely knew, albeit a bad way. Rachel was shaking. That woman had horrible luck, if anything were to go wrong, now would be the time. Richard hadn't realized he was holding his breath until they were safely on the other side, and Victor waving an arm at them.

Richard turned to his new bride and was startled to realize she had dismounted.

"My horse is afraid of high water. She can be forced to cross, but if I try to ride her she will spook and throw me." Kori explained upon seeing his look. He sighed, looked to her horse, and then to the series of escorts already crossing with the remaining horses. Kori was tall, perhaps if she hung on to him tightly she would be fine.

It was a risk. He had to protect her, he owed her that. She was his wife, he had to get her safely to Gotham. He found himself wondering why he'd dragged her along with him rather than letting her come in a week or two at a more leisurely pace. Forget that he hadn't asked her, that she had asked him. He still should not have let this happen. She looked at him, one hand wrapped firmly in the reins and the other extended towards him. It appeared that she still trusted him.

"No, let me lead the horse." He took the reins. "Hold on." he grasped her hand tightly and they stepped in. It seemed to be working just fine, and Kori was having no trouble at all despite how deep the water was on her. She flashed him a smile a moment before it happened, and for a brief second he knew that things could be alright between them again. She slipped on the moss covered rocks, her head slipping beneath the surface. The force of her disappearing along the rapid undertow force her hand almost out of his. Before he could swing his other hand down to grasp her, she was gone.

"KORIAND'R!" he bellowed. All eyes turned to him as he dove under the water after her.

14.5

It was too perfect an opportunity. Raven hated herself for thinking it. The princess had told no one, had said nothing to anyone. But Raven couldn't trust that to continue. As Koriand'r slipped beneath the surface and Richard went after her, Raven closed her eyes and started muttering.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos," she whispered, and then her soul was flying along with them. She watched Richard swim hard after Kori, and watched her body bounce along the rocks, wincing with each hit. Richard caught up to her, and it was a brilliant series of actions that brought them both to safety, several dozen yards down the river from the ford.

Before they crested the water, and came out, Raven delved into Koriand'r's psyche. She harmed nothing, simply wove a sleep spell. With the princess asleep, she could tell no one Raven's secret. It would last only until they reached Gotham and Raven had had time to reveal herself in her own time.

She felt dirty, she felt evil, she felt cold. Her essence returned to her and she gasped. "They're fine." she said, barely above a whisper. Victor looked up at her. He'd apparently noticed her state and stayed to hold her horse, so it did not bolt. "The prince is pulling her out now." She said stronger.

"The escorts have run to meet them." Victor replied.

The call for a healer went down the line, and Victor turned to her. She nodded and allowed herself to be helped off of the back of that behemoth beast and walked stiffly to where the red haired princess was laid out, her crown her own soaked hair. Richard was next to her, touching her face, clinging to her hand. Raven wondered if it was love or concern for duty that had such a stricken look plastered on his face.

Painfully, Raven knelt beside the sleeping princess, and appeared to do a check. "Bruising, to be expected." she said. "No broken bones, which is a miracle." She added.

"She will not wake, Rachel." Richard said softly.

Raven touched Kori's head gingerly, checking for obvious bumps. Finding none, she looked at the prince. "I think it is shock. She breathes the normal pace. Her heart is not elevated. She had taken no hits to the head. She should wake in a few hours, or at most a day or so. But we should hurry to Gotham. She less likely to catch a cold from this if she has a proper bed and proper meals when she wakes."

Raven rose with Victor's help, and watched Richard clinging to his ragdoll princess for a moment. Then he nodded, rose, and began making orders for a stretcher to be made that would be slung between two horses. Raven stepped back to allowed the chaos to begin, but stole one last glance at the waterlogged princee.

'I'm sorry, Koriand'r. You may never forgive me, but I hope you will understand one day why I do this. I would have liked to be your friend.' she thought before she turned to walk back to her horse, and continue the journey to Gotham.