Chapter 35

Lark looked around as they walked down a stone path lined with rose bushes. The place was peaceful and made Lark feel calm. It seemed to take away all her feelings of trepidations and stress the closer she got to the cottage.

"I will leave you here. She will find you." Elaria told Lark before turning to head back to the brothers.

Lark started to say something but decided not to and watched her walk away. She could tell the feelings between Sam and her and wondered if he knew who she was then. She continued to move on toward the lake marveling at the pearl colored water lilies that decorated the water's edge. They sparkled and glistened in the light of the sun making them look like gems.

"It is beautiful isn't it?" a female voice asked from behind her making Lark startle, surprised she was able to come up to her without her knowing it. Not very many have been able to do that since she became a hunter.

Lark took in the Lady of the Mist's appearance. She was tall, slim, with delicate features and golden hair that hung down her back. It was hard to tell how old she was, but her eyes were filled with the wisdom of the ages. It was gathered up and pulled back with a gold hair comb on one side of her head. Her eyes were the color of a stormy day with flecks of gold accentuating them. She wore a simple but elegant pearl gown that had a V neck and long flowing sleeves.

"Hello." Lark said reverently and out of respect.

"Hello my child." she said in a sweet, soft spoken voice. After studying her for a moment she continued, "I can see you are gifted and a very special person. You are wise beyond your years and have a strong, brave heart and bright soul that has been shadowed by a traumatic event."

"You can see all that?" she asked not sure she liked being read like that.

"Do not worry my child I will speak to no one about this. You are troubled and your dreams are haunted."

"Mylaela thought you might be able to help me." she said shyly looking down at the lake, not wanting to assume anything.

"Come, let us sit." the Lady said motioning to a bench that sat nearby at the water's edge.

Lark looked where she motioned and moved to sit on the handmade bench and gazed out onto the lake. She could see what looked like dragon flies dancing around cat tails and could hear the humming of the insects that were around them. She watched the Lady move with the grace of an exquisite dancer as she came to sit by her. Lark waited for her to speak.

"I can give you two choices or you may choose not to do either." the Lady started. "The first, your memories can be taken away and you will not remember any of what happened to you. The bad side is that there may be memories that you want to keep that will be erased too. The procedure can not distinguish between the good and the bad were memories are concerned. Or I can pull the memories all forward and let you remember them, but I have to warn you, you will feel each and everything thing that happened to you like it was the first time. Once you have experience those memories, I can help you to accept them and take away the pain and misery they have caused you. Or the last option is you do nothing and in time you will remember it all, but you will suffer longer as they invade your sleeping dreams. There is no way of knowing how long it would take to be free of them. This is a choice only you can make and whatever you choose we will abide with it." she finished. "Why don't I leave you to think about it? I will bring us drink." she said getting up and moving away, leaving Lark alone in her thoughts.

Lark looked out across the still water of the lake as she thought about what the Lady had said. To have those memories erased would be great, but she thought about others that she didn't want to lose and didn't want to chance having them erased too. What if she forgot who Sam and Dean were or lost some of her skills as a hunter? She decided that choice was off the table. Lark thought about the other choice and it scared her to think she would have relive what happened to her again. But maybe it was for the best and she could put it behind her for good and move on with her life. She knew it would be very painful and might almost break her but if she could do it she knew it would be the best choice. Lark didn't think doing nothing was a viable choice either because she didn't want to continue with the nightmares and not knowing when they would stop. The more she thought about it, she was sure of the choice she needed to make. Lark stood when the Lady came back with a cup in each hand.

"Here you go." the Lady said handing her a cup. "I hope it is to your liking, it's homemade."

Lark thanked her and took a tentative sip of the drink and smiled, nodding her liking. "This is good my Lady."

"I see you've made your choice." she said looking at her closely.

"How do you know what I chose?"

"It's in your eyes child. They tell the world more than you know. Drink and then we will prepare for the ceremony." she said sipping her drink.

Lark wondered what this ceremony involved but was afraid to ask. She didn't want to offend the Lady or seem rude, so she remained quiet and drank her drink too.

spn

Dean and Sam walked near Elaria as she moved through the gardens pausing to smell a flower or pick a berry. Dean motioned to Sam to talk to her and Sam gave him a bitch face to quit pushing him. Dean gave him a shove in the back causing him to stumble into Elaria before he could stop himself.

"Sorry, sorry." Sam apologized giving Dean the evil eye.

"I'm just gonna go over here." Dean said quickly walking away and leaving them alone.

Sam looked at Elaria in his arms and let her go as they got their balance.

"Sorry about my brother, he's..." Sam started glancing toward Dean who trying his best to pretend not to be listening but was.

"Sam, it's okay." she told him giving him a warm smile.

"Elaria, I didn't know who your father was before we..." Sam tried to explain as his face reddened.

"And that's why I didn't tell you. I've lived my life always my father's little girl and was shunned by many because of it. For once I wanted to do what I wanted, to have what I desired." she said taking his hand in hers. "Are you sorry for what we did?"

"No, it was amazing." Sam said quickly cupping her face and smiling at her. "But what will your father think or do if he finds out?"

"He won't. No one knows I came to you that night, I made sure of it. You don't have to worry."

"I want to kiss you right now, but..." Sam whispered urgently.

"Come." she said pulling him into an arbor where no one could see them.

Sam pulled her close and captured her lips with his own and kissed her passionately. He could feel her respond to his touch as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed into his body. They finally broke the kiss, both breathless and wanting more. They leaned their foreheads together and allowed their breathing to slow.

"Guess we should find your brother." Elaria mumbled not wanting the moment to end.

"I know." Sam chuckled when he heard his name being called. He took Elaria's hand and led her back out into the open garden to see Dean walking their way a concerned look on his face.

"Everything okay?" Dean asked eyeing Sam and then Elaria who was smoothing down her hair. He sent a silent message to Sam only to get a bitch face back.

"Would you gentleman like to visit the market or check out some of the local establishments?" Elaria asked ignoring the tension between the brothers.

"Do any of these establishments offer beer or whiskey?" Dean asked.

"Really Dean?" Sam chastised him.

"Yes, the Grey Dove offers ale and stronger drink." Elaria said.

"Then I'm in." he said excitedly. "Lead the way me lady." Dean bowed to her much to Sam's disgust and roll of eyes.

spn

"Are you ready my child?" the Lady of the Mist asked looking to Lark.

"Yes." Lark answered as she drew in a slow breath to ready herself for what was to come. She got up and followed the Lady around the lake and marveled as the mist began to close in around them shutting them away from the outside world. She watched as the mist swirled around the elf like it had a mind of its own. She now knew why she was called the Lady of the Mist.

"We are here." the Lady said stopping beside the water's edge at a small clearing where the ground was covered with soft, deep green moss. "Make yourself comfortable and we will begin." She motioned to Lark to lie down on the moss nearby.

Lark moved to the soft bed and knelt down on it before stretching out and making herself comfortable.

"Close your eyes child and let your body relax. Pretend you're floating on a cloud in the sky, it's calm and you are alone. Clear your mind of all thoughts, there is nothing here that will harm you." the Lady's soft, mesmerizing voice spoke to her in her mind.

Lark could hear her voice in her head and could feel the gentle brush of the mist as it surrounded her and came to rest over her body. It felt like she was being cocooned away from everything around her as the noises suddenly ceased. It felt like he body weighted nothing and she was beginning to float in the mist. The soft words continued to guide her through the mist as she could feel something in her head that was flipping through her memories of this place and a few others. It was going so fast she couldn't focus on any one event and made her feel dizzy.

The images suddenly slowed and stopped and she saw the camp they had made after leaving the Hobbits' village and saw herself get up to go look for water. She remembered this as she found the stream and filled the pots. Lark could feel the cool water on her face and neck as she washed off and turned when her spidery senses went off, but was too late. The pain exploded in her head making her gasp, but this time she didn't pass out. She had no control over her body as she felt herself being thrown over the kidnapper's shoulder and carried away. Lark could on watch and feel everything that was happening to her but couldn't react to change it. It was like she was a spirit watching everything play out for her except the pain was real. She tried to break away but the hold was too strong and she had to endure being thrown roughly over a horse's back and carried away from the others.

spn

The memories continued to play out, getting worse as she watched her body being dumped to the ground and two other men step her way. Lark could feel them picking her up and throwing her on a rough blanket and started removing her clothes, making comments about how strange they were and never seeing a wench dressed like this. Lark knew what was coming and couldn't stop the tears flowing from her eyes or the cries of pain and anger that only she could hear. She now knew that all three had raped her and was going to sell her when they grew tired of her.

Lark felt the jarring pain as she was tossed into the wagon and that is where she first met the female elves that were being held hostage too. Some of the blank spots were starting to fill in now and she saw herself making the crude weapon that she used to kill the first kidnapper. She watched as she coated her face in the dead man's blood preparing to finish this. It seemed the scenes moved a little faster now since this was some of what she did remember. She could feel her blood lust and her need for revenge burning deep in her soul. Now armed with a weapon Lark watched as she took on the other one driving the knife deep into his chest.

The last one stepped from the forest with his kills and faced her seeing the dead one at her feet. Lark felt herself pulling on the last of her strength and calling to her ancestors for their powers to help her end this, to allow her to exact her need for revenge. She could feel each strike, each injury as she fought for her life. With everything she had, she drove the sword into the man's groan, pinning him to the ground. Lark looked up the see the elves move into the clearing and on the other side the brothers broke through the trees. She saw the stand off and Dean move toward her talking softly but her mind wouldn't let her comprehend he wasn't trying to hurt her. The only thing that got through to her were Talon and Ara. She watched herself collapse as Dean put Sam's shirt around her and saw the look of desperation and worry on his face.

The mist fell down over her again as she began to sob in a hitched breath accepting the memories and the pain and emotions that had been bottled up inside of her since it happened. She cried out with anger, hurt, pain, and despair letting it all come out.

"That's it child, let it come out, don't let it control you, you take the control back." the Lady whispered to her as she laid a cooling hand on her hot forehead.

The gentle touch was not felt by Lark as she turned to her side to curl up and let it all wash over her. She could feel every ache, pain and injury to her body like it had just happened, but this time she knew how it happened and didn't have to try and guess. She let herself morn and grieve until her throat was raw and her she couldn't cry anymore. She tried to push herself up, but was stopped.

"Lay still child, you need to let your body, mind and soul sync back up." the Lady instructed. "Did you see what you needed to?"

"Yes." Lark replied in a hoarse, raspy voice. She took slow, shaky breaths and closed her eyes again letting her mind reach out to feel everything around her.

Soft humming came from beside her and the mist seemed to grow thicker around her body and she drew it into her lungs. It had an earthy, sweet scent that seemed to relax her and take away her pain. It was filling her with a gently peace. She listened to the Lady as she began to sing a haunting song in an ancient language to help with Lark's healing. Lark didn't know how long she had lain there, but when she opened her eyes the mist was gone and the Lady was sitting nearby.

"Your friends will be back soon, I have sent word that you are ready to leave." the Lady told her seeing she was back. "You should rest this afternoon and let your body recharge."

"I don't know how to thank you." Lark said slowly sitting up and pausing to be sure she could stand before pushing herself to a standing position.

"You are quite a unique, strong, complex person who has a bright, unwavering soul. I have not met anyone like you and it was an honor to help you." the Lady said bowing her head in respect. "May your continued journey be a safe one and let my blessing follow you through this land."

"Thank you." Lark told her kneeling down in front of her for a moment and taking her hand. She could feel the peace surround her as the Lady pressed a hand to her cheek and smiled lovingly into her eyes. She helped Lark rise and bid her farewell before turning to head toward the cottage. Lark stood there for a moment watching her leave before turning back toward the garden to go meet up with the others.

A/N: Now Lark remembers it all and can deal with it. Their journey is almost over with, but the story is not. I will be throwing another twist in soon. Reviews are awesome. NC