Part One - This Horizon

Part One - This Horizon

By: Me!

A.N./Disclaimer: I don't own'em, so don't sue! Anyway, It took me a while to get writing this thing again…I think it's getting more pointless… Oh well, I just like angst…I've been going through lotsa' crap lately, so I don't know if I should take this fic seriously… What do you think?

The light from the fire glowed softly, casting brilliant new dances against the trees. The background, a thick sheet of blackness. It created a calming, yet eerie feeling while listening to the sounds of the forest. The sounds of crickets, frogs from a nearby river, owls, the horses that were already sleeping a tad loudly, and sometimes an almost moaning sound could be made out. However, that could just be due to one's imagination, an imagination made up from horror stories and myths. Last but not least, was the soft sound of a light clicking.

Click…

…Click.

Click…

…Click.

She wasn't back yet…

Click…

…Click.

She wasn't back yet…this has been happening too often…

Click…

…Click.

Parn sighed quietly. Uneasily. His hand clutching the sword still strapped to his waist as he sat in front of the fire, his thumb, nervously and nonchalantly unsheathing and re-sheathing the base of the hilt- the source of the creepy clicking. He knew it was irresponsible as a swordsman -a knight- to carry on bored routines by the sword, but hell, no one was here!

And that, he repeated in his mind, was a problem.

She should be here. A particular face appeared in his mind's eye. A face of laughter and happiness, beauty and knowledge…but was just as easily washed away like a leaf in a rapid-going river. What replaced it was her face…not shining in warmth, but somehow drowning in a force he couldn't see. Her eyes weren't glistening like the light of a breaking dawn, but they were lost and forlorn. He could be wrong though, he never got much of a chance anymore to catch a glimpse of her eyes. She was always deep in thought. Thoughts, he guessed, that were not meant for him to trifle with. She never smiled through them, which wasn't a good sign, but if they were connected with a threat to Lodoss, she would, without a doubt, tell him.

So, what was it?

What could possibly have her so depressed that she wouldn't talk to him? It hurt him to say the least. He knew she trusted him with everything. She trusted him with her life. Maybe he doesn't have her figured out like he thought he did…

"You shouldn't think so much when you're alone. It's dangerous."

Parn snapped his neck in the direction of the voice that startled him. "Deed…"

Deedlit walked out from beyond the tree, coming into the firelight and sat down diagonal from Parn. "Where were you?" He asked for another night of which he lost count.

"Just a walk. …I was just thinking." She sighed out, the last small sentence was practically said to herself as she stared off into the fire, unblinking.

"Hm. you've been doing that a lot lately. It makes me curious as to what you think of." He said quietly, trying not to sound as if prying.

She didn't answer immediately. She just looked at the fire, her eyes misted. She drew her knees up for her chin to rest on as her bare arms encircled her knees. She rested the side of her face against her drawn arms, looking in Parn's direction. She studied him. He looked…he was handsome as hell. "I think…I think of things that shouldn't be."

Parn's brow creased. What did that mean? He continued to stare at her, not even sure if his eyes were questioning or not, but he hasn't seen this much of her in a long time. Her eyes…possessing a longing that he didn't understand. Her skin glowed against the orange dancer before them, keeping her even more mysterious and beautiful than when they first met…though he didn't understand how that was possible.

"Things that should always be…" He found himself whispering, hardly even audible to himself.

"Hmm?" Deed mumbled questionably, her eyes closed, showing she was falling asleep. She didn't care, she would probably wake up in the middle of the night.

Parn was still amazed by her sensitive hearing, but thankful she didn't hear what he had said. She was falling fast asleep, a great idea for him as well. He pulled out one of the large wool blankets- always used as sleeping bags, and wrapped it around her gently, careful not to disturb her silent slumber as he shifted her into not such a cramping form. He gazed at her for a moment more, sighed, and got ready for sleep himself. He wondered if she had sweet dreams… He wondered if anyone had wished her that? If she remembered? He remembered his father, bidding him good dreams of fortune and happiness…that was so long ago…before he died. Parn looked towards the stars beyond the branches of the trees. A shooting star streaked it's way across the sky and Parn smiled. He looked back at Deed's silent breathing form.

"Sweet dreams." He whispered, and he closed his eyes.

~*~*~*~

"Hello?"

Nothing. Nothing called back to her. Everything around her was at a standstill. There was no sound…only a deathly silence that she couldn't bare. Her breathing was shaken, but slow and deep. Her steps, nervous if she should continue forward.

It was a forest with no time. She looked around her. The leaves were still and green. Animals stood or slept as statues. A butterfly was suspended in mid-air, poised in mid-flight. She continued to walk through the trees…there was no path to follow. she just walked. She soon heard the rushing sound of water, so she sped up her pace, looking in every direction, listening for the sound of the river. She began to breathe more rapidly, running through the branches. She felt as if she was being chased by something…but she didn't know what…she just ran. The rushing sounds of water was loud and clear now, filling her senses. She ran into the sudden edge of land, and she stumbled to keep her balance, trying not to fall in.

It was the river! A waterfall! But her expression of joy turned into shock once more. The waterfall and the river weren't moving. Just like everything else. Almost as if it had been expecting her, the moment she stumbled into view, was the moment it's sound ceased. She turned in all angles, hoping to find something in the surroundings. She focused her attention towards the cave behind the waterfall…a light peeked it's way out, beckoning for her to enter. She did so, following the wet passage way, lined with candles…they were the only thing flickering in the darkness. She finally made it to the end of the cave, where one last candle danced against the shadows. A goblet rested beside it, as well as a dagger. She approached the objects, seemingly displayed for her, and her only. Settling down before the goblet, she picked it up, taking it with both hands, she sipped.

Wine.

She breathed softly, holding the drink to her lips as her eyes closed. She took another drink until her senses became flooded with an all too familiar metallic smell. She tasted the iron on her lips, her tongue, it coursed through her body, flooded her senses…

Blood…

Her mouth opened, yet unable to scream as her grip slackened, the goblet slipping between her fingers and crashing to the ground below. She stared, horrified as the shards scattered to her feet, and the blood became a sickening puddle. The dagger was gone, out of it's previous spot…and found lodged hilt deep into her chest. Her vision became bleak, her voice unfound, and her body no longer moving as it crashed upon the blood and broken glass…

Death…the only way to overcome her immortality…

AN: Crap! MAN I know what the few people who read this are thinking…'Deedlit can't be depressed!' or 'She's the LAST one to have such mental negativity!!' …eh…same as depressed…ahem… Well, I can't help it. I like angst, but tell me if I suck at it, ok? Tell me so I can stop now and do useful things with my life. Anyway, if I ever get to writing another part, it WILL be longer! Ta!