Chapter 6
A/N: Hello again. I think this story is coming along quite nicely. Thanks again for the reviews- I didn't want to go in depth about the rituals because I have to admit my limited knowledge of the Elven "culture." Or it could be called the Elven lore. So I made stuff up :) Oh well- love it? Hate it? Don't really care? Let me know-
Alrighty then- here's the next chapter if you want it…but I don't own it… well Lodoss War anyway… but you knew what I meant…
-
The next morning Parn was feeling back to normal. Leaving most of their things near the glen, Deed led Parn to a great cave.
"Parn, your next test will come from the spirits in the earth."
"I'm ready for whatever comes Deed." Parn said taking her hand. Ever since last night, he had no problem showing small gestures of affection towards the beautiful elf. It scared him at first to show such emotions, but now since he had finally told her things were easier.
"Parn, you need to be serious… I can aid you in these trails, but the last one I'll be unable to help you at all."
"I know Deed. I'll succeed- don't you worry."
"But I do worry. I don't want you to get injured."
The trial led them down into the depths of the cavern. A place that seldom ever see, and the only light that appeared was from the spirits Deedlit summoned to help them.
In the darkness of the cave, Parn met with similar images like in the previous trial, except that these were recent memories. In the prior test, he had been confronted with his past. Memories of his parent's death and his life in his old house would have weighted him down- if it were not for the gentle coaxing of Deed to not be transfixed with the occurrences he could not change. Now he saw his mistakes in battle… how his friends were put in danger and how rashly he had acted at times.
When he again opened his eyes Deed was again at his side.
"You made it through. I was worried for a while." She smiled down on him.
"Was… was I really that rash?" Parn asked feeling completely drained.
"Most of the times." Deed replied. "Once you got an idea in your head- no one could talk you out of it. Especially the earliest ones."
"You saw the images too?"
"Yes Parn. As a guide I too see your struggles. I try to guide your soul to peace. That way you can be seen for your true soul."
"Deed…"
"Hush, we'll rest a while here before heading back. Only two more trials before the whole forest will test you."
The two slowly made the trek back to their camp. Parn instantly fell asleep with Deed once again in his arms. He was exhausted again, and yet he was happy.
As the sun once again came up over the forest's tree tops, Parn awoke to Deed's face looking worried.
"Good morning… Deed what's wrong?" Parn asked.
"Our next journey will be the hardest of the four leading up to the final trial. We will confront your temptations and desires. By trying to open your heart to the needs of the forest and others first, we can free you of human selfishness and other negative tendencies."
"Where do we go now?" Parn asked.
"To the residence of the spirits of fire."
"And where do they reside?" Parn asked as they both ate their morning meal.
"A long dormant volcanic area, it won't be too far. But you need to conserve your strength. You will need it to realize what is fantasy and what is reality once the spirit reveals itself." She warned as she picked up a few bags and put them on her back. Parn followed as she led them towards their next destination.
The temperature in the forest seemed to increase as they reached the slumbering volcano's lair.
"Now what?" Parn asked Deed as she set their supplies down.
"Follow and find out." Deed said, she was a bit apprehensive about guiding Parn's visions this time. 'What if these fantasies showed things I couldn't bare to see?' She wondered. If any woman was there Deed would feel hurt beyond words. 'But I have to do my part… he is, after all, doing this for me.' She sighed.
As Parn relaxed like the last times, a rush of images came to him. Fame… Skill… Respect…Honor… They were all common aspects in them. The only other fantasy he held turned him to mush every time he imagined it.
Deed's breath caught in her throat as she came across that particular 'temptation.'
The way he held her- the things he was doing made her stomach roll with a heat she never knew before. The expression of love he wanted to show her and only her warmed her heart and cleared any worried from her mind, except one…if Parn was to be a king in the future… would it be selfish of her to want to have him all to herself. To be free to ally with other countries through marriage could truly bring about the peace they were struggling for such a long time.
'Maybe this was a mistake,' she thought. 'Parn does love me and I truly love him… but if he knew what was in store for him- would he still want me?' Deed's soul pondered as she watched the side of Parn she had always wanted to see, and was now just slowly experiencing in real life.
The trial with the spirit of fire did prove rather difficult for Parn to over come. Deed was shocked at the level of devotion he had for her- he truly would not give her up.
If she weren't already head over heels in love with him- his devotion would cause her to fall for him all over again.
Parn awoke again feeling similarly sore and weak. But there was one difference… Deedlit. She wasn't looking down on him with love in her eyes. Forcing himself to sit, he saw her form looking deep in thought at the stars.
"Deed?" He called in a weak voice. She was broken from her thoughts as his voice made its way to her. She was up and at his side in seconds.
"Parn you need rest." She soothed him.
"Why does it feel like I was burnt?"
"You were able to convince the spirits you were worthy of letting go of everything that matters to you and hold on to what was truly important."
"It was you Deed… you were what I was struggling to save."
"By showing your willingness to sacrifice, even to the point where you would die and forsake material gains, you have passed."
"Deed… what's wrong? What were you thinking about before I woke?'
"I was thinking about… us."
"US?" Parn smiled. "Us…" He took her hand and continued to look up into her lovely eyes. "What about us?"
"Nothing- just forget it."
"Deed. I will always be here with you. I'll pass the remaining tests and succeed in battling the prince and then… I want to be with you Deed…"
"I know." She blushed as she helped Parn lie back down with her next to him.
"What do you think Karla and those Dark Elves will do when we finish?" Parn asked after a time of silence.
"I'm not sure. I don't think they want either of us dead. I over heard her telling that to the dark elves… but they definitely don't want us together…" Deed responded a little worried. "But we'll face it together."
A/N: Hello again. I think this story is coming along quite nicely. Thanks again for the reviews- I didn't want to go in depth about the rituals because I have to admit my limited knowledge of the Elven "culture." Or it could be called the Elven lore. So I made stuff up :) Oh well- love it? Hate it? Don't really care? Let me know-
Alrighty then- here's the next chapter if you want it…but I don't own it… well Lodoss War anyway… but you knew what I meant…
-
The next morning Parn was feeling back to normal. Leaving most of their things near the glen, Deed led Parn to a great cave.
"Parn, your next test will come from the spirits in the earth."
"I'm ready for whatever comes Deed." Parn said taking her hand. Ever since last night, he had no problem showing small gestures of affection towards the beautiful elf. It scared him at first to show such emotions, but now since he had finally told her things were easier.
"Parn, you need to be serious… I can aid you in these trails, but the last one I'll be unable to help you at all."
"I know Deed. I'll succeed- don't you worry."
"But I do worry. I don't want you to get injured."
The trial led them down into the depths of the cavern. A place that seldom ever see, and the only light that appeared was from the spirits Deedlit summoned to help them.
In the darkness of the cave, Parn met with similar images like in the previous trial, except that these were recent memories. In the prior test, he had been confronted with his past. Memories of his parent's death and his life in his old house would have weighted him down- if it were not for the gentle coaxing of Deed to not be transfixed with the occurrences he could not change. Now he saw his mistakes in battle… how his friends were put in danger and how rashly he had acted at times.
When he again opened his eyes Deed was again at his side.
"You made it through. I was worried for a while." She smiled down on him.
"Was… was I really that rash?" Parn asked feeling completely drained.
"Most of the times." Deed replied. "Once you got an idea in your head- no one could talk you out of it. Especially the earliest ones."
"You saw the images too?"
"Yes Parn. As a guide I too see your struggles. I try to guide your soul to peace. That way you can be seen for your true soul."
"Deed…"
"Hush, we'll rest a while here before heading back. Only two more trials before the whole forest will test you."
The two slowly made the trek back to their camp. Parn instantly fell asleep with Deed once again in his arms. He was exhausted again, and yet he was happy.
As the sun once again came up over the forest's tree tops, Parn awoke to Deed's face looking worried.
"Good morning… Deed what's wrong?" Parn asked.
"Our next journey will be the hardest of the four leading up to the final trial. We will confront your temptations and desires. By trying to open your heart to the needs of the forest and others first, we can free you of human selfishness and other negative tendencies."
"Where do we go now?" Parn asked.
"To the residence of the spirits of fire."
"And where do they reside?" Parn asked as they both ate their morning meal.
"A long dormant volcanic area, it won't be too far. But you need to conserve your strength. You will need it to realize what is fantasy and what is reality once the spirit reveals itself." She warned as she picked up a few bags and put them on her back. Parn followed as she led them towards their next destination.
The temperature in the forest seemed to increase as they reached the slumbering volcano's lair.
"Now what?" Parn asked Deed as she set their supplies down.
"Follow and find out." Deed said, she was a bit apprehensive about guiding Parn's visions this time. 'What if these fantasies showed things I couldn't bare to see?' She wondered. If any woman was there Deed would feel hurt beyond words. 'But I have to do my part… he is, after all, doing this for me.' She sighed.
As Parn relaxed like the last times, a rush of images came to him. Fame… Skill… Respect…Honor… They were all common aspects in them. The only other fantasy he held turned him to mush every time he imagined it.
Deed's breath caught in her throat as she came across that particular 'temptation.'
The way he held her- the things he was doing made her stomach roll with a heat she never knew before. The expression of love he wanted to show her and only her warmed her heart and cleared any worried from her mind, except one…if Parn was to be a king in the future… would it be selfish of her to want to have him all to herself. To be free to ally with other countries through marriage could truly bring about the peace they were struggling for such a long time.
'Maybe this was a mistake,' she thought. 'Parn does love me and I truly love him… but if he knew what was in store for him- would he still want me?' Deed's soul pondered as she watched the side of Parn she had always wanted to see, and was now just slowly experiencing in real life.
The trial with the spirit of fire did prove rather difficult for Parn to over come. Deed was shocked at the level of devotion he had for her- he truly would not give her up.
If she weren't already head over heels in love with him- his devotion would cause her to fall for him all over again.
Parn awoke again feeling similarly sore and weak. But there was one difference… Deedlit. She wasn't looking down on him with love in her eyes. Forcing himself to sit, he saw her form looking deep in thought at the stars.
"Deed?" He called in a weak voice. She was broken from her thoughts as his voice made its way to her. She was up and at his side in seconds.
"Parn you need rest." She soothed him.
"Why does it feel like I was burnt?"
"You were able to convince the spirits you were worthy of letting go of everything that matters to you and hold on to what was truly important."
"It was you Deed… you were what I was struggling to save."
"By showing your willingness to sacrifice, even to the point where you would die and forsake material gains, you have passed."
"Deed… what's wrong? What were you thinking about before I woke?'
"I was thinking about… us."
"US?" Parn smiled. "Us…" He took her hand and continued to look up into her lovely eyes. "What about us?"
"Nothing- just forget it."
"Deed. I will always be here with you. I'll pass the remaining tests and succeed in battling the prince and then… I want to be with you Deed…"
"I know." She blushed as she helped Parn lie back down with her next to him.
"What do you think Karla and those Dark Elves will do when we finish?" Parn asked after a time of silence.
"I'm not sure. I don't think they want either of us dead. I over heard her telling that to the dark elves… but they definitely don't want us together…" Deed responded a little worried. "But we'll face it together."