A/N- please r/r!!! I'd really love feedback!
Ch 2
The next morning, the ten party members were all gathered in the palace stables. It was still dark out, and couldn't have been later than 5:00. They were almost ready to go. They had been delayed because Triztan hadn't been able to saddle his horse, and a groom had to help him. When that was done, Menolli looked around at the group she was about to lead into certain danger and almost as certain death.
"Let's go."
By noon, the docks in Butcher Block were in sight. Darien drew his mount, Corsair, even with Ashling, partly to get away from Triztan, partly so he could talk to Menolli. When he caught up, Menolli turned from her conversation with Audra.
"Men, why don't you and Audra ride ahead and find out when the boats are leaving and make sure we have everything ready. That way we'll be ready to leave when we get there." She nodded.
''Good idea. Is that alright with you?" she asked, turning back to Audra.
''Sure." The girls smiled at the Beastlord, then urged their mounts into a gallop.
When Audra and Menolli reached the docks, the captain told them that the next boat to Freeport left in an hour. They thanked him and reserved the last five cabins for their party before going back to the great archway that marked the entrance to wait. After about ten minuets the others had arrived, and they spent about half an hour putting their horses in makeshift stalls below deck and loading their luggage, which left them with about fifteen minuets.
''Go, do whatever you want, but be back here by one fifteen. If you aren't, we'll leave without you, and we won't come back either," Menolli instructed. The others nodded and went their separate ways. Menolli began to walk around the grassy area right off the docks, Darien beside her.
"So," he began," what's happened since you and your family left for Erudin? Did Illia ever complete her studies?" Menolli bowed her head.
"She almost did. She was very close to finishing when-" her voice trailed off. "I stayed in Rivervale for a while before I moved back to Felwithe, which I did only two months ago."
Darien frowned, something wasn't right. "Why didn't Illia finish studying? Becoming the best Cleric in the world was her dream-" Menolli cut him off.
"Look, we only have three minuets, lets go." And she turned and walked back towards the docks. Darien shook his head as he began to follow her. Something big had happened since Menolli had gone to Erudin, and he was determined to find out what it was.
That night, while everyone was sleeping, Menolli lay awake in the cabin she shared with Audra. She couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes she saw her two sisters' dead bodies, along with her mother's, father's, brother-in-law's, and niece's. She heard the only other who had survived, her eldest neice,Stacia, screaming, "Menolli, you bitch, how could you let this happen?! I hate you!" She remembered collapsing onto the floor, sobbing and screaming, pounding her fists mercilessly on the polished white marble that was now stained with blood. Slowly, she slipped into a fitful sleep.
As she and Stacia entered the house on the outskirts of Erudin City, Menolli realized something was wrong. It was much too quiet. Ever since Kahsera had been born the house had been filled with either her cries or her laughter. Stacia sensed it too.
"Menolli, what's wrong?" the thirteen-year-old asked softly.
"I don't know. Stay with me." The two carefully made their way through the many rooms of the house, but found nothing.
"That only leaves one place," Menolli thought. "The temple." Sure enough, as soon as they entered the wide passage that led to the temple dedicated to Rodcet Nife, a horrible sight met their eyes. Illia, Kahsera, Celyne, Talius, Alyshiane, and Lanuein were lying motionless on the floor. The once white marble was stained with rivers of crimson blood, the murals that had covered parts of the floor were no longer recognizable. Menolli rushed over to the bodies, bending down and checking for any sign of life. She could find none. By now, tears were streaming down her face, her body shaking with silent sobs. Lifting her head, she turned to look at Stacia, who hadn't moved.
"Stacia, honey, they're gone," she whispered gently.
"No!" the younger girl screamed, "No!" She fell beside the body of her mother and began to shake her. "Mama! Mama! Mama, wake up! You have to wake up Mama! You have to...." her voice faded away into sobs. "No, Mama, Daddy, you can't leave me! And Sera, Grandaddy, Grandma, you can't! You can't," she choked between sobs. Menolli pulled the girl to her and hugged her.
"Shhhh. I know, I know." She vainly attempted to control her own sobs. Stacia pulled away and looked up into her aunt's tearstained face.
"Who?" she asked simply. ''Why?" Menolli shook her head.
"I don't know-"
"Well I do," a cold voice interrupted. Menolli quickly stood, facing the intruder. He was a Dark Elf, and one of high rank if his clothes were any judge. He had white hair that was pulled into a low-slung ponytail and black eyes that Menolli expected to glow red at any moment.
"It was me, and my soldiers." He waved a hand and at least 10 Dark Elven men and women appeared behind him in the doorway. "Your family is far too powerful for your own good. Having such magical abilities draws attention to yourselves.and besides, we can't allow such prominent figures in the High Elven government live.especially when they are such easy targets. You, however, were the main reason we came. You have more magic than any of the others, but as we had the opportunity, we disposed of them," he gestured to the figures on the floor," as well." He was about to continue, but Menolli didn't let him.
"Stacia, get into the temple!" She shouted, before chanting the words that allowed to cast her most powerful Area of Effect spell. Fire poured down onto all of the Dark Elves, as well as Menolli and her family. Ignoring the pain that shot through her body, she cast another spell, direct damage this time, directing it towards the leader. As soon as she recovered she summoned up a Water Elemental, which held the soldiers at bay while she stood back to cast. Menolli next cast Sun Vortex, Maelstrom of Thunder, Black Steel, Sun Storm, and Firebolt of Tallon, all in rapid succession. Those last spells completely drained her mana and stamina, and she sank to the floor, to weak to move or cast. Her Elemental was still fighting, but it wouldn't be for long.
She closed her eyes and summoned up every last once of magic she possessed, stood up and cast every Direct Damage that came to her mind. When she was done, none were left standing. She sighed in relief. Thank the Gods that was over. That was when Stacia came out of the temple where she had been hiding. Menolli turned around to face her.
"Stacia-"
"Did you hear them?!" she cried. "Did you hear them?! They were after you! That's why they killed everyone else! It's your fault! What did you do to make them mad?! Menolli, you bitch, how could you let this happen?! I hate you! I hate you! I'll never forgive you for this! Never!" And with that, Stacia ran out.
"Why?!" Menolli screamed. "Why?! You call yourselves Gods, and you can't even prevent innocents from dying! What the hell is wrong with you?! What did they ever do?!" She threw herself to the floor, sobbing, pounding the marble with her fists.
Menolli felt someone shaking her.
"Go away! Just leave me alone!"
"Menolli, come on, wake up. Wake up Mens." Finally Menolli opened her eyes.
"W- what?" She looked up to see all ten of her party members standing over her.
"Are you all right?" Selena asked. "We heard you screaming in your sleep and came to see what was wrong." Menolli sat up.
"I-I'm fine. I just had a nightmare." The others still looked concerned.
"Menolli, if you need anything, I'm here," Arrabella said.
"Thanks Arrabella-"
"Bella," she interrupted. "We'll go now, but if you need anything, call me," she smiled. Cohote, her husband, began to push people out of the room. Only Darien and Audra stayed behind.
"Darien, call them back. They deserve to know." Darien looked confused, but called the others back in. As they sat down in various places around the cabin, Menolli looked at them. They were trusting her to lead them, they deserved to know why she would choose what she did.
"When I was sixteen...." She began the story, and everyone sat in total silence until she was finished. By the time she was done she was sobbing and Darien was rocking her back and forth.
"Oh, Men, I'm so sorry. But it wasn't your fault. Stacia- Stacia was just upset. She didn't mean it." Menolli didn't say anything. Arrabella got up from her seat beside Menolli.
"Come," she said softly, drawing the others from the room. "Let her be." Before everyone was out of the room, Menolli was asleep.
Darien untangled her from his arms and laid her down, pulling the blankets up over her. He kissed her forehead and started to leave, but stopped when she opened her eyes ever so slightly.
"Darien? Will you stay here tonight? Please?" He nodded.
"Of course I will." He laid down beside her and pulled her into his arms. (There was nothing sexual about it, terribly sorry to disappoint anyone, but he was there just to comfort her.)
"Good night, my little mage." And with that, they drifted off to sleep. From her bed, Audra looked over at them. The two of them had something special, there was doubt of that. What she wondered was, did they know it?
Ch 2
The next morning, the ten party members were all gathered in the palace stables. It was still dark out, and couldn't have been later than 5:00. They were almost ready to go. They had been delayed because Triztan hadn't been able to saddle his horse, and a groom had to help him. When that was done, Menolli looked around at the group she was about to lead into certain danger and almost as certain death.
"Let's go."
By noon, the docks in Butcher Block were in sight. Darien drew his mount, Corsair, even with Ashling, partly to get away from Triztan, partly so he could talk to Menolli. When he caught up, Menolli turned from her conversation with Audra.
"Men, why don't you and Audra ride ahead and find out when the boats are leaving and make sure we have everything ready. That way we'll be ready to leave when we get there." She nodded.
''Good idea. Is that alright with you?" she asked, turning back to Audra.
''Sure." The girls smiled at the Beastlord, then urged their mounts into a gallop.
When Audra and Menolli reached the docks, the captain told them that the next boat to Freeport left in an hour. They thanked him and reserved the last five cabins for their party before going back to the great archway that marked the entrance to wait. After about ten minuets the others had arrived, and they spent about half an hour putting their horses in makeshift stalls below deck and loading their luggage, which left them with about fifteen minuets.
''Go, do whatever you want, but be back here by one fifteen. If you aren't, we'll leave without you, and we won't come back either," Menolli instructed. The others nodded and went their separate ways. Menolli began to walk around the grassy area right off the docks, Darien beside her.
"So," he began," what's happened since you and your family left for Erudin? Did Illia ever complete her studies?" Menolli bowed her head.
"She almost did. She was very close to finishing when-" her voice trailed off. "I stayed in Rivervale for a while before I moved back to Felwithe, which I did only two months ago."
Darien frowned, something wasn't right. "Why didn't Illia finish studying? Becoming the best Cleric in the world was her dream-" Menolli cut him off.
"Look, we only have three minuets, lets go." And she turned and walked back towards the docks. Darien shook his head as he began to follow her. Something big had happened since Menolli had gone to Erudin, and he was determined to find out what it was.
That night, while everyone was sleeping, Menolli lay awake in the cabin she shared with Audra. She couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes she saw her two sisters' dead bodies, along with her mother's, father's, brother-in-law's, and niece's. She heard the only other who had survived, her eldest neice,Stacia, screaming, "Menolli, you bitch, how could you let this happen?! I hate you!" She remembered collapsing onto the floor, sobbing and screaming, pounding her fists mercilessly on the polished white marble that was now stained with blood. Slowly, she slipped into a fitful sleep.
As she and Stacia entered the house on the outskirts of Erudin City, Menolli realized something was wrong. It was much too quiet. Ever since Kahsera had been born the house had been filled with either her cries or her laughter. Stacia sensed it too.
"Menolli, what's wrong?" the thirteen-year-old asked softly.
"I don't know. Stay with me." The two carefully made their way through the many rooms of the house, but found nothing.
"That only leaves one place," Menolli thought. "The temple." Sure enough, as soon as they entered the wide passage that led to the temple dedicated to Rodcet Nife, a horrible sight met their eyes. Illia, Kahsera, Celyne, Talius, Alyshiane, and Lanuein were lying motionless on the floor. The once white marble was stained with rivers of crimson blood, the murals that had covered parts of the floor were no longer recognizable. Menolli rushed over to the bodies, bending down and checking for any sign of life. She could find none. By now, tears were streaming down her face, her body shaking with silent sobs. Lifting her head, she turned to look at Stacia, who hadn't moved.
"Stacia, honey, they're gone," she whispered gently.
"No!" the younger girl screamed, "No!" She fell beside the body of her mother and began to shake her. "Mama! Mama! Mama, wake up! You have to wake up Mama! You have to...." her voice faded away into sobs. "No, Mama, Daddy, you can't leave me! And Sera, Grandaddy, Grandma, you can't! You can't," she choked between sobs. Menolli pulled the girl to her and hugged her.
"Shhhh. I know, I know." She vainly attempted to control her own sobs. Stacia pulled away and looked up into her aunt's tearstained face.
"Who?" she asked simply. ''Why?" Menolli shook her head.
"I don't know-"
"Well I do," a cold voice interrupted. Menolli quickly stood, facing the intruder. He was a Dark Elf, and one of high rank if his clothes were any judge. He had white hair that was pulled into a low-slung ponytail and black eyes that Menolli expected to glow red at any moment.
"It was me, and my soldiers." He waved a hand and at least 10 Dark Elven men and women appeared behind him in the doorway. "Your family is far too powerful for your own good. Having such magical abilities draws attention to yourselves.and besides, we can't allow such prominent figures in the High Elven government live.especially when they are such easy targets. You, however, were the main reason we came. You have more magic than any of the others, but as we had the opportunity, we disposed of them," he gestured to the figures on the floor," as well." He was about to continue, but Menolli didn't let him.
"Stacia, get into the temple!" She shouted, before chanting the words that allowed to cast her most powerful Area of Effect spell. Fire poured down onto all of the Dark Elves, as well as Menolli and her family. Ignoring the pain that shot through her body, she cast another spell, direct damage this time, directing it towards the leader. As soon as she recovered she summoned up a Water Elemental, which held the soldiers at bay while she stood back to cast. Menolli next cast Sun Vortex, Maelstrom of Thunder, Black Steel, Sun Storm, and Firebolt of Tallon, all in rapid succession. Those last spells completely drained her mana and stamina, and she sank to the floor, to weak to move or cast. Her Elemental was still fighting, but it wouldn't be for long.
She closed her eyes and summoned up every last once of magic she possessed, stood up and cast every Direct Damage that came to her mind. When she was done, none were left standing. She sighed in relief. Thank the Gods that was over. That was when Stacia came out of the temple where she had been hiding. Menolli turned around to face her.
"Stacia-"
"Did you hear them?!" she cried. "Did you hear them?! They were after you! That's why they killed everyone else! It's your fault! What did you do to make them mad?! Menolli, you bitch, how could you let this happen?! I hate you! I hate you! I'll never forgive you for this! Never!" And with that, Stacia ran out.
"Why?!" Menolli screamed. "Why?! You call yourselves Gods, and you can't even prevent innocents from dying! What the hell is wrong with you?! What did they ever do?!" She threw herself to the floor, sobbing, pounding the marble with her fists.
Menolli felt someone shaking her.
"Go away! Just leave me alone!"
"Menolli, come on, wake up. Wake up Mens." Finally Menolli opened her eyes.
"W- what?" She looked up to see all ten of her party members standing over her.
"Are you all right?" Selena asked. "We heard you screaming in your sleep and came to see what was wrong." Menolli sat up.
"I-I'm fine. I just had a nightmare." The others still looked concerned.
"Menolli, if you need anything, I'm here," Arrabella said.
"Thanks Arrabella-"
"Bella," she interrupted. "We'll go now, but if you need anything, call me," she smiled. Cohote, her husband, began to push people out of the room. Only Darien and Audra stayed behind.
"Darien, call them back. They deserve to know." Darien looked confused, but called the others back in. As they sat down in various places around the cabin, Menolli looked at them. They were trusting her to lead them, they deserved to know why she would choose what she did.
"When I was sixteen...." She began the story, and everyone sat in total silence until she was finished. By the time she was done she was sobbing and Darien was rocking her back and forth.
"Oh, Men, I'm so sorry. But it wasn't your fault. Stacia- Stacia was just upset. She didn't mean it." Menolli didn't say anything. Arrabella got up from her seat beside Menolli.
"Come," she said softly, drawing the others from the room. "Let her be." Before everyone was out of the room, Menolli was asleep.
Darien untangled her from his arms and laid her down, pulling the blankets up over her. He kissed her forehead and started to leave, but stopped when she opened her eyes ever so slightly.
"Darien? Will you stay here tonight? Please?" He nodded.
"Of course I will." He laid down beside her and pulled her into his arms. (There was nothing sexual about it, terribly sorry to disappoint anyone, but he was there just to comfort her.)
"Good night, my little mage." And with that, they drifted off to sleep. From her bed, Audra looked over at them. The two of them had something special, there was doubt of that. What she wondered was, did they know it?