Author's Notes: Hey everyone!
Ok, so I drew this picture of Arelle, and I thought I'd let everyone see it...not that it's any good...in fact, it didn't turn out how I had hoped...but, it's still Arelle ^^ I actually can't put the link to it here in the fanfic, cause FF.net won't allow it, but if you want to see it, check out my bio ^^ the linky should be at the bottom.
Oh, and I know a few people besides Blue the Echidna and Aniviel must be reading this fic (or at least, I hope...) so, please, leave a review, or email me! I would really appreciate it! Just a quick review would let me know that at least more than two people read Arelle ^.^;; Truly, any reviews I get really make my day ^^ Even if you're just a semi-fan of Arelle, or if you just read Arelle because you're bored and have nothing esle to do, please review Arelle! You don't even have to be a member...you can review anonymously. Pretty pleeeease?
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"I approve of what you did with the ruby I gave you, Lady Lyrial," Rael said. "In fact, after hearing your dreams, I find myself eager for you dreams to be fulfilled, and perhaps I can assist you," Rael said.
"Assist me? Aren't you leaving?" Lyrial asked.
"Yes, I am, Lady Lyrial. But I will return. And when I do, I will bring something to help you in your quest…"
"…and that's the story of the Commander's treasure," Akinen ended his story. "I'm sure ye can guess the rest…the Commander left, as he had planned, but returned with his vast treasury, which he donated to the orphan girl Lyrial who was trying to start her own orphanage. They buried the treasure underneath a secret tree, where no one else knew of it, and there much of it remains there, for safe-keeping."
"I see..." Moren said. "This complicates things."
"Yes, it does," Lilliah said. "What will we do? We can't take the treasure from Lyrial…would Respitas be satisfied if we told him someone else had the treasure now?"
"I'm afraid not," Akinen said. "He would be mad. Very mad. And the worst thing about it would be—he would have no reason not to kill Arelle."
"But there's no way we can give him the treasure that he wants! It belongs to someone else!" Moren exclaimed, upset.
"Respitas doesn't care," Akinen said. "Once he finds out we don't have what he wants, he'll kill the hostage. Respitas holds no value for human life. He kills without reason. But not only that, but he actually has a reason to kill Arelle—he and I have a rather, err, conflicting past."
"What does that mean?" Moren asked.
"Well, Respitas was jealous of me ever since I joined the Cutthroats. The Commander took notice of me and always had me by his side, even though Respitas was his second-in-command at the time. Naturally, Respitas burned with anger towards me, and even tried to kill me. The Commander, after Respitas had attempted to kill me, punished Respitas by giving Respitas's rank to me. I became second-in-command, and Respitas became even more enraged at me. Even though I tried to patch things up a bit between us, he never accepted me.
"That's how we parted when the Felwithien guards destroyed our band, and I'm sure Respitas wasn't all that happy to see that we both made it out. Killing my niece—or, companion, as he doesn't know we're related—would be the perfect revenge for him. I fear what he will do to Arelle—especially because we don't have her ransom."
Moren frowned. "What an awful situation…" he mumbled. "What if something happens to Arelle? Oh, I hope she'll be ok…"
"I fear for Arelle as well, but we must make plans," Lilliah said. "How are we going to save Arelle?"
The party fell in silence.
Suddenly, Akinen spoke up. "'Meet me in the place few else know of—you should know where I mean'… is what Respitas said. I know of the place he spoke of," Akinen said. "It was an old mine, made long, long ago by a group of outcast dwarves. The Cutthroats used it quite a bit, but they only knew of the main passageways. Only the Commander and a few else knew of all its secret passages. I knew them."
"Why are you saying this?" Moren asked.
"I know ways in to the mine that Respitas doesn't know of, Moren," Akinen said. "I know of passages to get to Arelle without Respitas knowing."
Moren paused, looking at Akinen. "We could rescue her."
"Yes," Akinen said. "We could rescue her."
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Arelle awoke with a start, jerking up into an upright position. She squinted in the darkness, trying to make out her surroundings while her memories were coming back to her.
Ah, yes. She had been kidnapped. Kidnapped by that troublesome Dark Elf Cutthroat, Respitas. But she hadn't been taken without a fight, she remembered.
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Arelle bent at the river, filling her jar full of the clear water. She had promised Moren that she would return with some fresh water, and maybe that would clear their minds. With Respitas showing up again and Akinen's past finally catching up with him, everyone in the party was feeling gloomy recently. Even though Arelle had tried to pay attention, her magic lessons from Moren didn't seem to sink in. There had just been too much on her mind.
So, seeing how the lessons weren't going well, Arelle had offered to go to the stream and get some water for her and Moren. Moren had agreed, and now, here she was, scooping her jar into the water.
Suddenly, she heard something behind her. Before she could even turn around, she felt a thump on her head, and suddenly everything went black…
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When Arelle awoke again, she heard voices talking near her, and lay still to listen. It was Respitas and his Barbarian companion! Arelle quickly remembered what had happened—the Barbarian must have sneaked behind her and knocked her out, before she could even fight back. She listened to them talking and found out they were writing a ransom note for her. They were planning to kidnap her. How dare they!
Thinking over it quickly in her mind, she suddenly sprung up and started running. She heard hollers behind her, coming from the unsuspecting Cutthroats. She heard them cursing at her, but she ignored them, running as fast as she could, hoping that she could escape.
Arelle listened to their footsteps, and she knew Respitas was gaining on her. Suddenly, she heard him draw his blade—he was right behind her now! Arelle drew her own blade, and just in time to block Respitas's blow.
A loud clang rang through the forest as their blades met. Arelle used all her force to hold back his blow, but he was so much stronger! She felt his blade pushing hers closer and closer to her, and she felt her arms giving way. She swiftly jumped back out of range of his sword, but he was quick, too, and before she knew it, he had his blade to her throat.
"Hold still there, m'lady, or you might lose your pretty little head," Respitas said. Arelle gulped, feeling the cold blade at her throat. She saw Respitas's Barbarian companion running up now.
"Horrathe, didn't I tell you to keep an eye on her?" Respitas asked the panting Barbarian, his blade unmoving from Arelle's throat.
"I'm sorry, Respitas! I was jus tryin to help ya with that note and all, and suddenly the girl just takes off, without warning!" the Barbarian, Horrathe, explained.
"And did you expect her to give you a warning, Horrathe?" Respitas said, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Ahh, no. I was jus sayin that I—" Horrathe was cut off.
"Never mind, never mind! Come knock her out again, and this time we'll bind her once she's unconcious!" Respitas said.
Arelle watched with fear as the Barbarian strode up to her, raising his huge fist to come down on her head. Arelle let out a piercing scream, hoping someone would hear…
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But, unfortunately, no one had heard. Or if they had, they had apparently been too late to save her, for here Arelle sat, in some sort of underground cavern. She was captured.
Arelle searched the dark room for light, but there was none to be found except for the few beams of light coming in from beneath the door. Arelle stood up and carefully made her way to the door. The door was thick wood, and apparently locked from the other side. Arelle backed up and slammed herself into it, hoping to break it open. It was to no avail, however—the door was solid.
Arelle sighed as she leaned on the cold dirt wall. What kind of a place was this, anyway? Some kind of underground fortress? Arelle wondered if her party was worried about her. She wondered if they even knew she was captured! Had they found the note Respitas had written? Were they going to save her? When she was able to hear them writing the note before she tried to escape, she remembered that they were talking about ransoming her for the hidden treasure Akinen knew about. She wasn't surprised, really, since they had been so excited about the treasure. But she wondered…Akinen would give up the treasure for her life, wouldn't he?
Suddenly, Arelle felt a sickness inside. She had been so mean to Akinen. She had called him a disgrace to the Mah'Alimahs. Would he give up all the treasure for her sake? Even after all the mean things she said to him, and the way she ignored him? She bit her lip. What if he wouldn't?
Suddenly, Arelle heard loud footsteps coming from past the door. Someone was coming! Arelle slid behind the door, listening as the footsteps stopped at her door. Suddenly, she saw the door creak open, casting a dim light into the room. Arelle hid behind the door, watching as he opened the door wider.
"Hey, girl, I have yer food. Respitas told me to give ya food once a day, so here it is…" he said, opening the door wider and searching for the form of the girl. Suddenly, Arelle slipped under his arm, through the door.
She had escaped!
Running quickly, she heard the yells of the Barbarian as he strode behind her, his heavy feet thudding against the ground with every step. She quickly made her way down the dim passages, searching for a way out. She heard Horrathe's footsteps fading as she began to put distance between them, and she felt her heartbeat thudding in her chest.
Arelle gasped as she felt a swarm of bats fly around her, screeching as they caught in her hair and scratched her, but she continued running, for fear that Horrathe would catch up. Soon, she saw a light—not a light from another dim torch, but the sunlight! Her heart racing, she ran through the opening of the mine, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight. Arelle's eyes burned in the sunlight, being accustomed to the darkness of the caverns, but she was so afraid Horrathe might catch up, that she stumbled along as fast as she could, falling over a rubble.
Suddenly, she felt herself run into something—not something hard, like a rock, but something warm. Looking up, her eyes began to adjust to the lighting, and she was beginning to make out the figure of a man. His dark blue skin, curved features, and white ponytail…it was Respitas.
Arelle gasped as she realized whom it was. Jumping back away from him, she stumbling on a stone, falling to the ground. As she looked up, she saw behind Respitas stood other figures.
Respitas had a squad of Cutthroats behind him.
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Blue the Echidna: Yea its true about the bad decisions thing. She has quite a story! How do you come up with all of this? You're so good! ^_^ Can't wait for more. Rael is such a sweety. :)
Amai's Reply: Aww, I'm flattered! ^^ I don't know how I come up with all this, actually ^.^;; It just...comes to me. And, of course, tragic pasts are my speciality ^^
Aniviel Freespirit: Sorry i didnt review last chappy i didnt have time to go online. This chappys good that guy is really nice :) Wonder what Respitas is gonna do when he finds out.
Amai's Reply: Hey, it's ok that you didn't review last chapter! I'm just thankful that you're trying ^^ You guys are sooo sweet! *sniffle* ^^ Hmm, it seemes Rael is pretty popular ^^