DH AN: Well, Here's the last part of "Duel" Fruition. For those of you that were expecting the duel; it'll be next chapter; which I will start transposing on Saturday afternoon; sorry. I have a skeleton which I will happily send you if you are interested. Just use the Email link at the bottom of my profile. But Please enjoy "Duel" Fruition Pt. III.

Chapter Thirty Three: "Duel" Fruition Pt. III

"Just come in, Mheralo." Marik sighed from behind the door as he turned his chair to the wall, not wanting to intimidate the girl too much. He knew she was under quite a bit of stress, not that he wanted it any other way. But when he turned to see that the girl had taken a seat, he started having second thoughts. He looked upon her worn face; it looked as though she had pulled an all-nighter, he knew what that looked like from personal experience. Her eyes shone less than usual, but were not as dull as they would be if she was under the Rod's control. He stood from his chair, taking slow long strides toward her.

Her eyes met his almost immediately. His mind held the faintest bit of remorse for what had doubtlessly caused that reaction. Marik quickly shook it away; it was of no concern to him now. "Mheralo…" He started, taking a deep breath. "You shouldn't be here. You look exhausted." Too exhausted to speak, let alone make it here. But I'll probably be surprised more than once by day's end.

"You gave Raji the day off…why?" Mhera's voice was soft by choice rather than being so by inevitable fatigue. "I want the truth."

"Nashin was not affected by what I put he and Yagasawi through two days ago, and I have strong reason to believe he was the one who plotted the little escapade, most of which is thanks to your reaction in the corridors two nights prior." Marik closed his eyes. "Besides I have something different planned for Yagasawi this evening; something that concerns you as well. As for Nashin; his punishment is far overdue; after all, Yagasawi has learned his lesson."

"You can't be saying that you are going to have him watch me duel for…" Her eyes were wide. "Father, please…reconsider." Mhera's tears dripped down her cheeks, eyes lowering from Marik's sight in hopes that he would not see them. He did, however his response was opposite of the one prior.

"Tears shall never suit or aid you in trials to come." The words came out softly. His next words were harder. "I shall not reconsider; even if I did, Yagasawi would not let you duel The R.H. alone; it is his desire to protect you from whatever threat the R.H. is liable to present." Marik had to suppress a smirk at this.

Mhera said nothing for a few minutes. Marik stepped softly back behind the desk, taking a seat and turning his chair to the wall once more. "Go and rest. You shall know when you are needed." Mhera silently left Marik's office, swiftly making her way to her room, thankful that she had left a note for Sheon and Noinreil, saying that Raji had fallen ill, and that she herself had wanted to re-establish her sleep schedule. She flopped on her bed, an indifferent expression on her face as sleep took her into its embrace.

Dream Sequence

She was standing in a corridor, shadows mingling with torchlight. Mhera instinctively plunged her hands into her pockets. She heard footsteps, but not those of the R.H.; his were often purposeful, and always easily noticed. These were soft, comforting to the ear, and definitely produced by a soft-soled shoe. Mhera strained her eyes to see a worn and tired face… a face she knew.

The face was then washed in light and it was revealed to be the face of Filiron Rylae. A small, genuine smile graced her lips. She sighed, pulling Mhera close, her voice calm and soft. "Why are you worried? You are strong, a mediator…just as I named you, Mheralo. "

"But I…" Mhera's voice dropped in volume as she elongated the first person pronoun. "I always thought…"

"Your father did name you, but under my suggestion…and unknown to your father; he named you wisely. In a very ancient language; one which is guarded by, and known only to, my family; your name suits you." Light softly illuminated the area which was now revealed to be a huge study. Filiron pulled a brown hard backed book from a shelf, drawing five sheets of paper and a pen from a large desk, similar to that of The R.H., gestured for Mhera to take a seat at the small, round table in the corner.

Mhera watched wordlessly as Filiron's eyes sifted through the tome, and, after finding what they had seen, watched her write two words down. The green-eyed woman paused over the first word with the pen. "Strong," she murmured knowingly, lifting the pen to the next one. "Mediator." She finished. Filiron then wrote the alias down. " I apologize for giving you this as an alias; for "Arlomhe" would directly mean loyal truth-teller. And an alias isn't quite…truthful." Filiron sighed. "But I advise you keep it. You have certainly proven yourself loyal to that friend of yours." Filiron smiled. "I like him…he's one of the most well-mannered…" Her voice trailed off. "Forgive me for rambling, Mheralo."

Mhera only smiled slightly. She stood from her seat and proceeded to walk out of the study through the exit to the left of where she sat. She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Mheralo…wait...please." Filiron's voice was soft.

Mhera stopped and turned to face her. "Yes?"

Filiron simply placed a blank card in Mhera's hand. "This is yours."

"But it's-"

"No; it's not, take a closer look, Mheralo." Filiron stated.

The card wasn't blank anymore.

"It shall help you in your predicament. Best of luck to you." Her voice faded as Mhera woke from her slumber.

End Dream Sequence

Mhera awoke, and immediately went groping for her deck. Please let it have been a dream and nothing more. She paled as she found the dream-bestowed card in her deck. Laying back down, she inwardly shivered as doubt took hold of her once more.

The rest of Mhera's sleep was dreamless, and she was woken from it, in a cold sweat, by a smooth hypnotic voice. "Arlomhe…come to me …Arlomhe" She stepped out into the hallway, once more following silent instructions. "Step no further, dear one." The focus binding her was then released. She whimpered as she realized she now stood in the doorway of the atrium. She was shaking with fright. She almost gasped as she felt hands on her shoulders. She only did not turn to glance behind because the hands on her shoulders were only there in silent assurance and nothing more. And so it begins. She was shaking despite the presence of comforting assurance.

"You seem better than the last time we met…" The R.H. hesitated, trying to remove any fatherly traces from his voice. He stepped around Arlomhe, looking upon her face that was wan with worry. "But doubt is evident in your face. Surely you did not forget what I told you about doubt and discipline being intertwined. Your discipline must overcome your doubt tonight." The R.H.'s voice was almost icily soft. "I know you shall not disappoint me."

"I certainly hope you are right." Arlomhe stated softly. She was doubtful, and the fact that The R.H. seemed to be able to innately pick it out amidst all the emotions that a countenance could show, nerved her a tad further.

"Don't worry; you forget that I have everything under my control." Arlomhe could have sworn that she saw a smirk reveal itself underneath that hood, but it quickly vanished… if it was ever there. "Bypass the atrium, go to the kitchen, and don't you dare leave until Nashin is out of the room; I'm certain that Yagasawi will be hesitant to follow Nashin again." The R.H. leaned his head down a bit. "If Yagasawi asks where you are going; don't say a word." His voice darkened with a slight laugh. "I wouldn't want you to ruin the surprise." Arlomhe shuddered slightly at The R.H.'s choice of words as she stepped around him and into the corridor to the right.

As she walked into the kitchen, Arlomhe immediately sidestepped out of the way of an oncoming broom. It clattered to the floor, revealing a surprised Noinreil Nashin. "You weren't supposed to dodge that!" He exclaimed.

Arlomhe merely smiled childishly, walking past him. The childish smile transformed into a paternal smirk for an instant, then vanished.

However, any smile that was on her face quickly vanished when she saw Sheon busily drying a glass with a white towel. He breathed on it, gently rubbing the mist away with a circular motion. Mhera smiled at him.

"I assume your sleep schedule is back in order?" Sheon obviously had read her note.

"Yes."

"Is Raji alright?" Sheon asked as he set down the glass on a drying rack.

The girl hid a grimace. "Yes. She just had a very bad headache, and needed the night off."

"Ah." Sheon said.

Arlomhe caught Noinreil slipping out again. Do I follow him, or not?

Sheon decided for her. "I'm worried about him."

Arlomhe sighed. "Well, we're going after him then."

DH: Okay duel next chapter; pinky promise. I have orientation Friday & Saturday; so I'll respond to reviews tonight, Saturday afternoon or Monday. Thanks for reading.

Also I want you readers to help me rewrite this story's summary. Please PM me with PR summary as the subject line if you want to help.