Chapter 8
A/N: Hello again. Yet another chapter up for all you readers. Thanks for all the reviews. Sorry for the inconsistent post times- I've been busy and haven't had much time to type. But it's a nice day right now- procrastinating right now :) Summer session homework stinks! But I guess I'll survive. Anyway- keep those reviews coming and I'll keep posting-
PS-sorry about the spelling mistakes in last chapter- I totally forgot to run it through spell checker :( Hopefully I got the kinks out of this one… then again- I am known for being spelling challenged and grammatically impaired- actually I think it's a defective gene on my father's side- because my mom can spell perfectly- It's my dad and the rest of my siblings can't spell to save our lives… but oh well…
Disclaimer- I own everything! I'm so stinking filthy rich! I bought all the anime corporations in Japan and in the US!….. I wish! In my dreams! ;)
-
Everything around him became a blur as he ran with all his strength. Pushing back branches and brush his feet felt like they were flying over the ground.
Things seemed different to him then they had before. Now he sensed many auras surrounding him. But he couldn't stop now to figure out what they were. He had to get Deedlit back. She was waiting for him, who knows where or what was happening to her.
Crossing a babbling brook, Parn decided to take a quick break and get a drink. Splashing water on his face to refresh him, he knelt down near the water and drank from his cupped hand. As he has standing up a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
Like he had seen before in his first journey in the Forest of No Return, a vision appeared.
"Father?" He gasped as the man walked up to him from the brush. There before him stood the image of the man who had left him to fight valiantly for his king and country. The very person Parn had wanted to be like was right there.
"Parn, it's me." The dark haired man said looking at the bewildered knight. Reaching g out he offered Parn his hand. "Come son," he said in the voice Parn had remembered from so long ago.
"Father… you're real? But…" Parn said questioned as he slowly extended his had to touch the extended one.
"Together we can be famous knights and gain the glory and favor we deserve…"
Parn stopped. 'Favor? Glory?' He thought. Those were very appealing things, but… there was something he was suppose to do… Again the strange feeling came to him. It was as if they were blocking something out from him. 'What am I doing in the forest?' He questioned himself suddenly feeling sleepy. Putting his hand to his head he shook his eyes open.
"What… father… what is going on?" Parn asked as his leg gave out suddenly and he fell to his knees. Rubbing his eyes Parn brushed the jeweled circlet that rested on his brow.
'May it guide you back to me.' A voice not his own resounded in his mind. It was that of a woman, Parn remembered, but why was it so hard to recall? He wondered as he touched the jewel again.
"Deed!" It came to him, "None of this is real, I need to find Deed." He said as he stood but. Just as he looked up he saw a blade coming right at him. He dodges it just in time. The creature that had a minute ago looked like his father was now attacking him.
Quickly drawing his own blade he blocked several attempted attacks. Each time he thrust his weapon at the creature, it did the same. In most aspects the two fighters seemed an equal match. Neither could get a hit on their other. But Parn had something he was fighting for… 'Deed, I'm coming!' He said as he swung at the image. He knew that it was not his father, he knew it could not bring him things that he wanted and needed… what really counted was moving forward and towards his heart… his soul's desire…
Cutting straight through the figure it suddenly disappeared into mid air. Parn was panting as the danger was gone just as suddenly as it had come. Shaking his head and letting his mind clear he was reminded to continue on. But during the battle he had gotten his directions in an upheaval.
"Which way do I go now?" He called out into the vacant forest.
"Lost again are you laddy?" A familiar gruff voice called out. Parn turned around quickly and couldn't believe his eyes. "You never could seem to figure out which way was up." The short man laughed.
"Ghim?? Is that you?"
"No laddy, I'm a blinking fairy. Of course it's me!" He yelled at the confused warrior.
"But you're dead? We buried you in the rocks out side of…"
"Do you think that that stopped me? The best dwarf warrior? Never. So get your sword and let's be on our way." The dwarf commanded.
"On our way?" Parn asked.
"Of course- you want to get stronger don't you? You're just a head strong boy that is going to get himself killed." Ghim's voice stung.
"Ghim?…No- you're wrong! I've learnt so much from what I was." Parn said realizing this was yet another test from the forest. "I know what needs to be done and I'm not looking back for a minute!" He said turning around and going in the opposite direction from the image of Ghim.
"So you think you've learnt?" The figure screamed as it came for Parn. The sharpened battle axe came close to hitting Parn in the shoulder, but he had indeed learnt may new skills over the time with his comrades. The next swing of the axe was blocked with Parn's sword. Like the figure before, once Parn had gotten the upper hand it dissipated and Parn was left alone to rest. His body was exhausted. Two fights back to back where taking it out of him. Luckily he had yet to suffer a major wound.
'Well, I guess I'm doing quite well considering…' he thought as he once again rested. Setting his sword to his side he sat down on a large boulder. 'Do I just sit here and let them come out at me?' Parn wondered, 'I have to go somewhere… Deed's waiting for me… but which way?'
Suddenly the gentle sound of giggles came to his ears. Sitting up instantly he looked around for the face who went with those sounds. He knew who it was, how could he forget her jovial laugh. It was the voice of his beloved. 'But how did she get away from those spirits?' He wondered. 'Is the test finally over?'
The cute giggles continued until Parn stood up on the rock and saw her sitting in the tree branches.
"Parn…" She called to him with a smile on her face. Patting the tree limb to her side she motioned for him to come to her. Leaving his sword he gladly climbed up the tree to be near her.
"Deed? How did you.."
"Sh." She said putting her finger to his lips. Giggling once more she drew him close to her. The warmth that she gave off made Parn's mind and body soar. Leaning in closer to her as he closed his eyes, he gladly accepted her sweet lips to his own. The euphoric feelings were however drowned out as Parn felt a sharp object pierce his side. Finding that the creature before him would not release him from the embrace, Parn began to struggle as the blood began to fall from his side. Unexpectedly he felt himself falling as she pushed him off the branch and to the ground.
Parn groaned in pain as he clutched his bloody side. The elf continued to laugh as she back flipped gracefully out of the tree and stood before him, a bloody dagger in hand.
"You're not Deed! Where is she?" He demanded as he looked for his weapon. His eyes caught sight of it behind where the elf stood. Cruising himself inwardly for being so stupid, Parn didn't know what to do next.
"You are a foolish man aren't you." The she elf smiled at her wounded victim. "We're surprised you got this far human. Not many have survived the trials." She said as she threw away the dagger and drew her Elven blade.
As she charged Parn did the only thing that he could think of. He grabbed her blade and redirected it's direction. The figure had not expected him to be so dumb as to grab a hold of the sharp weapon, so she didn't have time to counteract when he directed it into the ground.
While she was busy pulling the blade from the grass, Parn made his move for his own sword. His left hand had been cut in the move, but he kept his mind on the adversary before him.
"You may look like Deed, and sound like her, but you are nothing like her!" He snarled at the elf.
"But I am your Deedlit." She smiled. "I am her equal in everything… now prepare yourself." She said as she lunged at him.
Parn knew Deedlit was indeed strong, but he never knew her full strength. If this creature was her equal in everything, he told himself to never get on her bad side. This battle was by far the hardest one he had faced in a long time. Not only because no matter how much he told himself that this was not Deed, his Deedlit, he still could not bring himself to harming her.
The elf creature taunted him to no ends during their battle. Parn was getting careless at times and was punished by the cold kiss of her blade.
"I had hoped you would have put up a better fight young one. But then again you truly are not meant to be one of us."
This comment made Parn mad. He couldn't lose now. Not when he was so close to getting everything he truly wanted in life… a life with Deedlit always at his side.
Lunging forward the elf didn't see his attack coming and was punished by having it slice through her causing her to fade into the air.
Before him trees pulled their braches back and cleared a path. Parn didn't know what was coming next. Not even stopping to bind his wounds, Parn went forward. He walked down the path that was cleared for him silently, listening to the sounds of the forest.
As he came to a clearing his eyes went wide as he saw two figures standing over the unconscious of Deedlit.
"Who are you!" Parn demanded as he stepped closer. As the two figures turned he recognized both of them.
"Woodchuck?" Parn gasped. "No- Karla! Get away from Deed now!"
"I don't think so mortal." The Dark Elf Prince said as he picked up the form of Deedlit.
"What did you do to her? Unhand her now!"
"We did nothing you stupid mortal- you were the one who did this to her." The elf spat at him. Parn looked at Deed's bleeding side and hand, they were similar to his own wounds… 'wait a minute… she said something about….' Then her words seemed to make total sense to him, 'When you succeed, it will succeed. When you are hurt, so does it. You are connected with that desire. I will be there waiting.' She had told him…
"Deed." Parn said sadly taking another step forward.
"Stop there knight." Woodchuck said under the control of Karla. "If you want the elf woman to live you will surrender and die."
"And if I don't?"
"Foolish boy- I had not wanted you both dead, but the world will survive without the two of you." Karla threatened with dark eyes.
"This is just some illusion the forest is using for the final test." Parn said confidently taking yet another step forward.
"And how are you sure?" The Dark Elf asked as he held Deedlit by her neck. Her arms and legs limply dangled as he held her. "Are you willing to accept the consequences if you are wrong?" He said squeezing his hands tighter.
The lack of oxygen and something gripping her neck caused Deedlit's eyes to open. Blinking twice to make sure she wasn't dreaming she saw Parn standing before her looking confused and angered. His side and hand were bleeding like her own were.
"Parn." She choked out raising her hands to try and get the squeezing objects off her throat. "Help me…" She cried in nothing more than a whisper.
A/N: Hello again. Yet another chapter up for all you readers. Thanks for all the reviews. Sorry for the inconsistent post times- I've been busy and haven't had much time to type. But it's a nice day right now- procrastinating right now :) Summer session homework stinks! But I guess I'll survive. Anyway- keep those reviews coming and I'll keep posting-
PS-sorry about the spelling mistakes in last chapter- I totally forgot to run it through spell checker :( Hopefully I got the kinks out of this one… then again- I am known for being spelling challenged and grammatically impaired- actually I think it's a defective gene on my father's side- because my mom can spell perfectly- It's my dad and the rest of my siblings can't spell to save our lives… but oh well…
Disclaimer- I own everything! I'm so stinking filthy rich! I bought all the anime corporations in Japan and in the US!….. I wish! In my dreams! ;)
-
Everything around him became a blur as he ran with all his strength. Pushing back branches and brush his feet felt like they were flying over the ground.
Things seemed different to him then they had before. Now he sensed many auras surrounding him. But he couldn't stop now to figure out what they were. He had to get Deedlit back. She was waiting for him, who knows where or what was happening to her.
Crossing a babbling brook, Parn decided to take a quick break and get a drink. Splashing water on his face to refresh him, he knelt down near the water and drank from his cupped hand. As he has standing up a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
Like he had seen before in his first journey in the Forest of No Return, a vision appeared.
"Father?" He gasped as the man walked up to him from the brush. There before him stood the image of the man who had left him to fight valiantly for his king and country. The very person Parn had wanted to be like was right there.
"Parn, it's me." The dark haired man said looking at the bewildered knight. Reaching g out he offered Parn his hand. "Come son," he said in the voice Parn had remembered from so long ago.
"Father… you're real? But…" Parn said questioned as he slowly extended his had to touch the extended one.
"Together we can be famous knights and gain the glory and favor we deserve…"
Parn stopped. 'Favor? Glory?' He thought. Those were very appealing things, but… there was something he was suppose to do… Again the strange feeling came to him. It was as if they were blocking something out from him. 'What am I doing in the forest?' He questioned himself suddenly feeling sleepy. Putting his hand to his head he shook his eyes open.
"What… father… what is going on?" Parn asked as his leg gave out suddenly and he fell to his knees. Rubbing his eyes Parn brushed the jeweled circlet that rested on his brow.
'May it guide you back to me.' A voice not his own resounded in his mind. It was that of a woman, Parn remembered, but why was it so hard to recall? He wondered as he touched the jewel again.
"Deed!" It came to him, "None of this is real, I need to find Deed." He said as he stood but. Just as he looked up he saw a blade coming right at him. He dodges it just in time. The creature that had a minute ago looked like his father was now attacking him.
Quickly drawing his own blade he blocked several attempted attacks. Each time he thrust his weapon at the creature, it did the same. In most aspects the two fighters seemed an equal match. Neither could get a hit on their other. But Parn had something he was fighting for… 'Deed, I'm coming!' He said as he swung at the image. He knew that it was not his father, he knew it could not bring him things that he wanted and needed… what really counted was moving forward and towards his heart… his soul's desire…
Cutting straight through the figure it suddenly disappeared into mid air. Parn was panting as the danger was gone just as suddenly as it had come. Shaking his head and letting his mind clear he was reminded to continue on. But during the battle he had gotten his directions in an upheaval.
"Which way do I go now?" He called out into the vacant forest.
"Lost again are you laddy?" A familiar gruff voice called out. Parn turned around quickly and couldn't believe his eyes. "You never could seem to figure out which way was up." The short man laughed.
"Ghim?? Is that you?"
"No laddy, I'm a blinking fairy. Of course it's me!" He yelled at the confused warrior.
"But you're dead? We buried you in the rocks out side of…"
"Do you think that that stopped me? The best dwarf warrior? Never. So get your sword and let's be on our way." The dwarf commanded.
"On our way?" Parn asked.
"Of course- you want to get stronger don't you? You're just a head strong boy that is going to get himself killed." Ghim's voice stung.
"Ghim?…No- you're wrong! I've learnt so much from what I was." Parn said realizing this was yet another test from the forest. "I know what needs to be done and I'm not looking back for a minute!" He said turning around and going in the opposite direction from the image of Ghim.
"So you think you've learnt?" The figure screamed as it came for Parn. The sharpened battle axe came close to hitting Parn in the shoulder, but he had indeed learnt may new skills over the time with his comrades. The next swing of the axe was blocked with Parn's sword. Like the figure before, once Parn had gotten the upper hand it dissipated and Parn was left alone to rest. His body was exhausted. Two fights back to back where taking it out of him. Luckily he had yet to suffer a major wound.
'Well, I guess I'm doing quite well considering…' he thought as he once again rested. Setting his sword to his side he sat down on a large boulder. 'Do I just sit here and let them come out at me?' Parn wondered, 'I have to go somewhere… Deed's waiting for me… but which way?'
Suddenly the gentle sound of giggles came to his ears. Sitting up instantly he looked around for the face who went with those sounds. He knew who it was, how could he forget her jovial laugh. It was the voice of his beloved. 'But how did she get away from those spirits?' He wondered. 'Is the test finally over?'
The cute giggles continued until Parn stood up on the rock and saw her sitting in the tree branches.
"Parn…" She called to him with a smile on her face. Patting the tree limb to her side she motioned for him to come to her. Leaving his sword he gladly climbed up the tree to be near her.
"Deed? How did you.."
"Sh." She said putting her finger to his lips. Giggling once more she drew him close to her. The warmth that she gave off made Parn's mind and body soar. Leaning in closer to her as he closed his eyes, he gladly accepted her sweet lips to his own. The euphoric feelings were however drowned out as Parn felt a sharp object pierce his side. Finding that the creature before him would not release him from the embrace, Parn began to struggle as the blood began to fall from his side. Unexpectedly he felt himself falling as she pushed him off the branch and to the ground.
Parn groaned in pain as he clutched his bloody side. The elf continued to laugh as she back flipped gracefully out of the tree and stood before him, a bloody dagger in hand.
"You're not Deed! Where is she?" He demanded as he looked for his weapon. His eyes caught sight of it behind where the elf stood. Cruising himself inwardly for being so stupid, Parn didn't know what to do next.
"You are a foolish man aren't you." The she elf smiled at her wounded victim. "We're surprised you got this far human. Not many have survived the trials." She said as she threw away the dagger and drew her Elven blade.
As she charged Parn did the only thing that he could think of. He grabbed her blade and redirected it's direction. The figure had not expected him to be so dumb as to grab a hold of the sharp weapon, so she didn't have time to counteract when he directed it into the ground.
While she was busy pulling the blade from the grass, Parn made his move for his own sword. His left hand had been cut in the move, but he kept his mind on the adversary before him.
"You may look like Deed, and sound like her, but you are nothing like her!" He snarled at the elf.
"But I am your Deedlit." She smiled. "I am her equal in everything… now prepare yourself." She said as she lunged at him.
Parn knew Deedlit was indeed strong, but he never knew her full strength. If this creature was her equal in everything, he told himself to never get on her bad side. This battle was by far the hardest one he had faced in a long time. Not only because no matter how much he told himself that this was not Deed, his Deedlit, he still could not bring himself to harming her.
The elf creature taunted him to no ends during their battle. Parn was getting careless at times and was punished by the cold kiss of her blade.
"I had hoped you would have put up a better fight young one. But then again you truly are not meant to be one of us."
This comment made Parn mad. He couldn't lose now. Not when he was so close to getting everything he truly wanted in life… a life with Deedlit always at his side.
Lunging forward the elf didn't see his attack coming and was punished by having it slice through her causing her to fade into the air.
Before him trees pulled their braches back and cleared a path. Parn didn't know what was coming next. Not even stopping to bind his wounds, Parn went forward. He walked down the path that was cleared for him silently, listening to the sounds of the forest.
As he came to a clearing his eyes went wide as he saw two figures standing over the unconscious of Deedlit.
"Who are you!" Parn demanded as he stepped closer. As the two figures turned he recognized both of them.
"Woodchuck?" Parn gasped. "No- Karla! Get away from Deed now!"
"I don't think so mortal." The Dark Elf Prince said as he picked up the form of Deedlit.
"What did you do to her? Unhand her now!"
"We did nothing you stupid mortal- you were the one who did this to her." The elf spat at him. Parn looked at Deed's bleeding side and hand, they were similar to his own wounds… 'wait a minute… she said something about….' Then her words seemed to make total sense to him, 'When you succeed, it will succeed. When you are hurt, so does it. You are connected with that desire. I will be there waiting.' She had told him…
"Deed." Parn said sadly taking another step forward.
"Stop there knight." Woodchuck said under the control of Karla. "If you want the elf woman to live you will surrender and die."
"And if I don't?"
"Foolish boy- I had not wanted you both dead, but the world will survive without the two of you." Karla threatened with dark eyes.
"This is just some illusion the forest is using for the final test." Parn said confidently taking yet another step forward.
"And how are you sure?" The Dark Elf asked as he held Deedlit by her neck. Her arms and legs limply dangled as he held her. "Are you willing to accept the consequences if you are wrong?" He said squeezing his hands tighter.
The lack of oxygen and something gripping her neck caused Deedlit's eyes to open. Blinking twice to make sure she wasn't dreaming she saw Parn standing before her looking confused and angered. His side and hand were bleeding like her own were.
"Parn." She choked out raising her hands to try and get the squeezing objects off her throat. "Help me…" She cried in nothing more than a whisper.