Arelle - Chapter 15 - Surprise Attack

Last time on Arelle: Arelle, while on her way to fetch water from the river, met a man named Drahkin. Meanwhile, Moren and Akinen came back to camp, and the party wondered what was taking Arelle so long to get the water, unknowing that Arelle had met Drahkin. Moren leaves to check on Arelle while Akinen and Lilliah wait by the campfire.

Lilliah watched Akinen as he sat, absent-mindedly poking the fire before him. He looked somewhat nervous.

"Look, if you want to go after Arelle, like Moren did a few minutes ago, to see if she's ok, that's fine," Lilliah said.

Akinen looked up at her, surprised.

"Akinen, don't act so nervous! You and Moren are like those insanely over-protective fathers to her!" Lilliah said.

Akinen stopped poking the fire. "Er...Sorry, lass," he mumbled.

Lilliah giggled. "You really do love Arelle, don't you?"

Akinen stared up at her in surprise. "Well...err...I suppose so, lass...After all, she's my blood-relative..."

"You're sorry for it, aren't you? You're sorry for joining the Cutthroats, right?" Lilliah asked. Akinen looked at his feet. Lilliah continued, "Akinen, you are a good person. No matter what mistakes you've made in the past, you're a good person now. Arelle knows that. I know she knows that. Why don't you ask Arelle if she'll forgive you? I know she will. She may already have, in her heart. Why don't you ask her for her forgiveness? Isn't that what you want?" Lilliah said, looking at him.

Akinen paused. Then chuckled lightly, "Lilliah, ye always have a way of making everything sound so simple."

"But it is simple!" Lilliah said. "You're sorry, aren't you? Then just say it! Tell her! That's what you want, is her forgiveness. But you have to ask for it, Akinen. Otherwise, she doesn't know you're looking for it," Lilliah said, sitting beside him. She put her hand on his shoulder.

"You can do it, Akinen. She'll forgive you. I know she will. You can do it," Lilliah said, patting his shoulder encouragingly.

After a minute, Lilliah got back up and began stirring the fire again.

"I wonder what's taking Moren and Arelle so long," Lilliah said. "Arelle probably started picking herbs or something on her way to the river, and that's probably why she isn't back yet. And then when Moren went to see if she was ok, he found her picking herbs and they started to talk. And you know how those two can talk for so long. They should be back any minute now, though," Lilliah said, tasting some of the meat in the pot with her wooden spoon.

Suddenly, she dropped her spoon back into the pot without warning, and Akinen jumped up of his stump. They both drew their weapons, glancing around the forest.

"You heard it too, huh?" Lilliah asked, addressing Akinen.

"Someone's here," he said. Lilliah nodded.

"Who's there?" Lilliah shouted.

Silence. Lilliah slowly inched up close to Akinen, sword still drawn.

Suddenly, out of no where, Lilliah caught sight of a man charging them. She turned to face him, and when their swords collided, there was a loud clang.

"He's so strong!" Lilliah thought to herself, as she was being physically pushed back by the force of his sword. But she wouldn't give in.

"Lilliah!" Akinen exclaimed, bearing his sword down on the surprised man. The man was slightly wounded by the attack. He jumped back a few feet before suddenly charging Akinen again. But before his sword reached Akinen, he was suddenly engulfed with flames. He cried out in pain, and sprung back, rolling on the ground, attempting to extinguish the flames.

Akinen turned to see Lilliah, magical flames still clinging to her hands. "Lilliah...Did you do that?!" Akinen gasped, staring at her in awe.

Lilliah nodded humbly.

"Lass, since when were ye a caster-" Akinen was stopped as he saw the man get up off the ground, slight fire burns now covering him.

The man chuckled, his voice rough and rueful. "Well done!" he said gruffly. " I certainly didn't expect you to have a well-trained Shaman bodyguard with you, Aka, the Scarlet Cutthroat!"

Akinen glared at him. "How do ye know that name?"

He chuckled again. "All bounty hunters in this area know of Aka the Scarlet Cutthroat," he said.

Akinen eyes narrowed at him. "And are ye one of those bounty hunters?" Akinen asked.

"As a matter of fact, I am. My name is Drahkin Mah'Cahlk," the man said. His eyes narrowed at Akinen: "I have come for your head, Aka the Scarlet Cutthroat."

Lilliah stepped in front of Akinen. "If you want for his head, you must get through me first," Lilliah said, glaring at Drahkin.

"If you wish to throw your life away for this rogue, that is your decision to make," said Drahkin. "But remember that life is precious, and if I were you, I would forget the money he pays you and run away. If you leave now, I won't chase you. I have no reason to," Drahkin said.

Lilliah glared at him. "He pays me no money, Sir Drahkin, yet I am willing to give my last breath for him. You must pass through me if you want Akinen," Lilliah hissed at him.

Drahkin was taken aback slightly by this, but then responded. "I don't know why anyone would risk their life for a rogue, for free, but, like I said, it you wish to throw away your life for this rogue, that is your choice."

At that, he charged Lilliah, his huge sword gleaming. Again, their swords collided, and Lilliah struggled to keep from being pushed back. Suddenly, she crouched and swung her leg behind his knees unexpectedly, causing him to trip over forward. He jumped up from the ground quickly, swinging his huge sword at her, but she ducked, barely dodging his deadly sword.

Suddenly, Akinen was upon Drahkin, swinging his sword at the man. Drahkin, caught in surprise, barely dodged the attack by falling to his knees. Lilliah was about to swing another blow on Drahkin, when she saw his sword was against Akinen's neck. Akinen had prepared to slice at Drahkin again after he had fallen to his knees, but Drahkin had quickly gotten the upper hand on Akinen.

Drahkin chuckled, standing up slowly, making sure his sword was constantly firmly against Akinen's neck.

"Well, it seems as though I have won," Drahkin said. Lilliah and Akinen glared at him spitefully.

"What can I offer you to spare his life?" Lilliah asked.

"Milady, a bounty is a bounty. Don't take it personally. I just like to rid Norath of its filth, and how convenient it is that I get a reward for it, too."

Lilliah looked at him in disgust. "How can you say that? You don't even know Akinen! All you know is Aka...But Aka holds another inside him—Akinen. And Akinen is a good man! To call him filth—why, you don't know—"

"Enough of this!" Drahkin interrupted. "I am tired of this. I do not know what he has done to deceive you into thinking he's some sort of saint, but I don't care. He's my bounty!"

"How can you slay an innocent man?!" Lilliah cried at him.

"Milady, anyone with a bounty on his head is not an innocent man!" Drahkin yelled at her.

Suddenly, voices were heard in the forest, coming closer to the camp.

"Great, they're back. Just a little too late," Lilliah mumbled.

"Oh wonderful, so you have even more henchmen, Aka the Scarlet Cutthroat? Well, I better finish you off before they get here, or I'll be here all day!" he said, raising his arm to chop of Akinen's head. Lilliah screamed and Akinen held his eyes closed as the sword swung towards his head—

"STOP!!"

Drahkin's sword fell to the ground with a loud clank. He turned towards the forest, where there stood a young High-Elf girl, watching in horror.

"Stop this!" Arelle said again, running up to them, Moren trailing behind her.

Drahkin paused, unmoving. "Linnira?" he questioned, quietly. Arelle looked up at him, both anger and pity in her face, for he looked like he was staring at a ghost.

"No. Not Linnnira," Arelle said. "Arelle. Arelle Mah'Alimah."

Drahkin stared hard at Arelle while the rest of the group watched the scene in wonder.

"Yes. Arelle. So it was," Drahkin mumbled, his face returning to it's reserved look. Suddenly, the situation dawned on him.

"Arelle? What are you doing here?" Drahkin said in wonder.

"What am I doing here? What were you doing to my companion?" Arelle said sternly.

Drahkin frowned deeply, glancing at Akinen. "Companion? Him? Oh, I certainly hope not..." Drahkin said.

"And why is that?" Arelle said.

"Because he's my bounty, that's why!" Drahkin exclaimed.

Arelle gasped. "You're a bounty hunter!" she spat at him.

He winced slightly, "Yes...I am!"

She paused, glaring at him.

"You can't kill my companion!" Arelle exclaimed.

"But he's my bounty!" Drahkin responded.

"Well too bad! Find a different bounty, you bounty hunter!" she spat at him.

He paused in silence.

"I hate to interrupt..." Moren began, "but I'm afraid I've become curious to know who your friend here is, Arelle," Moren said.

"He is no friend of mine!" Arelle exclaimed, glaring at Drahkin. Drahkin looked away.

Moren cocked an eyebrow at her. "Ooook...Then let me rephrase that. Who is this man here, Arelle?" Moren said, motioning at Drahkin.

"Apparently a dirty bounty hunter," Arelle said.

"Look, Arelle, this is what I do for a living, and it's not such a disgraceful job, you know!" Drahkin said. "In fact, I'd say it was pretty honorable! Keeping it safe around Norath by taking out all the dirty thugs, thieves, rogues—"

"And my own flesh and blood!" Arelle exclaimed. Drahkin was taken aback by her remark, and Arelle hung her head in shame.

"What? You're related to this rogue?!" Drahkin exclaimed.

"Drahkin, tell me. Do you honestly know that all the people you kill for bounty are really dirty rogues? Do you really know what they're like, inside? If they're actually good people? Who has the right to decide who should live and who should die? Life is precious.

"That's why I hate bounty hunters. They kill for money. They take lives for money. To me, they are scum," Arelle said.

Drahkin paused in silence. Quietness fell over the whole party, and in the background they could hear the food cooking over the fire.

Moren sniffed the air. Arelle glared at him as he began to sniff loudly. He noticed Arelle glaring at him and stopped. Within a few seconds, he spoke up.

"Umm...I have to ask...what's that horrible burning smell?" Moren said.

"Oh!" Lilliah said, running to the campfire, "That's lunch!"

The rest of them stayed there, still staring at each other in silence.

Moren cleared his throat. "Sooo...Wanna stay for lunch, Drahkin?" Moren asked. Everyone looked at him, astonished.

"Umm, I might have an objection to that, lad, seeing how he just attempted to kill me," Akinen said.

"I agree. He's not to be trusted. He could surprise attack us while we weren't expecting it! Are you insane, Moren? And besides, who gave you the authority to invite him?" Arelle exclaimed.

Moren held out his hands in a surrendering gesture. "Oops! Sorry! I take that back! My error."

Drahkin paused. "I promise not to attack any of you."

Everyone turned to face him.

"I've given up on Aka. I won't kill him," Drahkin said. "I promise."

"And why, exactly, should we believe you?" Arelle asked. "Tell me that."

Drahkin paused. "In the name of my dear, beloved sister, I promise no harm will come to you by my hands."

Arelle paused. "You're sister?" she asked. Arelle paused. "Linnira?"

Drahkin nodded. "Yes. Linnira was her name. And she looked just like you, Arelle," Drahkin said. He gently laid his hand on Arelle's face, looking into her eyes. "Just like you..."

Moren cleared his throat loudly. Drahkin put his hand down quickly and turned to Akinen.

"Sir," Drahkin said, "I would be honored to eat with you and your companions," he said, bowing to Akinen slightly. Arelle stared at him in astonishment, as did the rest of the group.

"Well, lad...I don't know...Ye did just try to kill me..," Akinen said.

"Do you doubt my ability to keep an oath?" Drahkin asked. "I promised in the name of Linnira, my sister. I have nothing I treasure more to swear by."

Everyone paused.

"I trust his word," Arelle said. Everyone looked at her. Then another silence.

"Then, I suppose, I trust his word, too," Akinen said. Drahkin smiled at them.

"So then, it's settled? A new companion?" Moren asked.

"Companion? Well, I wouldn't say it that way. I mean, he did just try to kill us. But, at least we know we can trust him not to kill us in our sleep," Arelle said.

"Come now, let us go eat lunch," Arelle said. "I'm sure Lilliah has enough cooked for you too, Drahkin."

"Speaking of Lilliah, since when was she able to cast spells?" Akinen asked.

Arelle and Moren looked up at him wide-eyed.

"She what?!"

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This chapter was a little longer than usual, but I suppose longer's better than shorter ^^ When I showed this chap. to my mom, she said we should print out the following text and place it in our kitchen:

"Umm...I have to ask...what's that horrible burning smell?" Moren said.
"Oh!" Lilliah said, running to the campfire, "That's lunch!"

I blame my mom for my poor cooking skills. Uh-huh. So, anyway, in reply to comments...

Blue the Echidna:

Aw I feel all special now! *sniffles* This new guy...how interesting he is. I'm very curious about this one. This fic is one of my all time favs and will be reading this all the way to the end! Keep up the fantastic work!

Amai's reply: The new guy's interesting, huh? I think he's pretty cool, myself. I'm still rather fond of Moren, though. I'm so glad to know you want to read Arelle to the end ^^ That makes me so happy! Your reviews are always so encouraging ^^

So, is this whole "reply to every comment" thing going to be permanent, you ask? Well, I guess so. Ever since I signed up, I've thought FF.net should allow the author to reply to the reviewer's comments, like they do at my art account at Elfwood (). So, yes, I think I'll be replying to all my reviews. I hope that's ok with everyone ^^ I just like this interaction thing with my reviewers. And I want them to know I appreciate their comments! Btw, thank you to all of Arelle's readers! You all rock ^^