Hello everyone! May I apologize for taking forever to update- I've been
denied access to a computer for quite some time, but while I was separated
from my laptop, I got most of the brainstorming work done. Enjoy chapter
fifteen of the Raven saga!
A groan escaped Legolas's lips as his mind registered the blurred shadows surrounding him. After several seconds of impaired vision, a particularly sack-shaped figure focused into the sitting form of one of his dearest friends, "Arien," he breathed in a groggy voice, "I had the most horrible dream. Raven-"
A grave expression grew on her face as she finished his sentence for him, "- left. Legolas, it was not a dream."
The Prince's eyes grew wide with panic, "No . . ." His head fell back on his pillow and his eyes dulled.
She tried to meet his misty blue orbs, but he gazed into an unseen realm, "I am sorry . . . Minas Tirith has already dispatched several searchers. Gimli was among the first who volunteered, but-"
Legolas cut her off with a look that would have frozen the heart of the grimmest mortal, "How long have I been asleep?"
"Since yesterday evening. It's now almost ten o'clock," she chewed the inside of her cheeks.
He felt his pulse slow; Raven had been missing for more than a day, which was plenty of time for Roain to-. He shivered and refused to finish his thought. He needed to be positive. She could still be alive. "I must find her," desperation laced his voice. The Prince pulled the light sheets away from himself and placed his feet on the cold stone-floor. To his surprise, Darin lay in the bed next to him, and his cheeks were starting to get their color back.
"I'm going with you," she said with slight hesitation; she did not want to leave Darin. Unlike the Prince though, she was much more down to Earth and knew there was no way Raven could still be alive. When he finally accepted the truth, there was no telling what he would do. She could not leave him alone.
"No. Arien, your place is with Darin," he looked into her eyes, "You belong by side." His tone was firm.
The woman wanted to protest, but Legolas's words had struck her. Somehow, she had always known they were the truth but hearing them stole her voice. All she could do was watch in stunned silence as he looked into Darin's face and exited the room.
The hour it took Legolas to prepare for travel passed like the blink of an eye in Arien's mind, and before she could say goodbye, Legolas was riding from Minas Tirith. Wind whipping her long black hair, she watched him and Arod from one of the great watch towers as they raced from sight- raced from her life. As she stared helplessly after the fading figures, the reality finally settled in her mind; she had lost them- the only two friends she ever had. Even though she knew long before that Raven was not coming back, the importance of this fact finally reached the intricate workings of her brain. An angst-ridden cry erupted from the depths of her soul, "WHY RAVEN, WHY? WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO PROVE? WHY DID I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO GO?" She fell to her knees and beat the ground with her fist, "WHY?" All Arien could see was red; the strain of her shrieks had burst the blood vessels in her eyes. She passed out.
A soft moan escaped Arien's chapped lips as she sat up in bed. A day had passed since Legolas left.
"Wow," came a familiar voice, "Arien, you look terrible."
"Darin, shut the hell-" her eyes instantly widened, "DARIN!" She catapulted from her bed and rushed to his side. "You're awake! When did you come to? How are you feeling?" Arien could not remember her misery as she hugged him tightly.
"Oh, an hour ago I should say, and I'm perfectly alright, if not a little tired. Can you imagine my surprise when I saw you next to me? What in the names of the Valar did you do to your eyes?"
"Wha?" she asked as she glanced in the mirror. She gasped in her vanity at the monstrous bruises around her eyes; it looked like she had been kicked in the face. "I screamed so hard I must have popped a vain or something," she said in disbelief.
"Why were you screaming?" Darin asked in confusion.
Arien's stomach dropped as her memories returned, "Raven . . ."
He furrowed his brow, "What about her?"
"She's dead."
"WHAT?"
"She left to protect us. She thought her being here was endangering us, so she did the only thing she could think of." Her eyes were too swollen to produce tears.
"She gave herself to Roain . . ." he could hardy believe his own words. "What about Legolas?"
"He left to search for her. I think he's in denial. There was nothing I could do," she shook her head, "He couldn't bare to loose her."
Darin's head fell back in shock, "He's not coming back, is he?" It was more of a statement than a question.
Arien looked away; she could not bring herself to say no," I'm not sure." Deep down, she knew it was only a matter of time before he gave into depression.
The other sighed, "What can we do?"
"I don't know . . ." she sat at the foot of his bed, "I just don't know anything for certain anymore!" She felt her face grow hot. "I just keep thinking there was something I could have done. If only I'd known; I should have slit that bastard's throat when I had the chance." She took a damp cloth to her eyes to sooth her eyes and to hide her emotions.
"There was no way we could've known, Arien. You can't let it get to you, and besides . . . she might still be alive," he offered and sat up.
"I hope so, I really do," her voice throbbed, "I need her to be alive."
"Me too," he said and cast a sorrowful glance at the floor and released a long breath, "Me too."
Raven groaned and sat down in the shade of a large rock, "Sigh," she said, "I am in quite the predicament. You see I left with the impression that I'd be wandering for five, fifteen minutes tops, and then Roain would appear out of nowhere and then I'd die. But nooo- I've been out here in the rain for days, waiting for the biggest creep in history! Look at me," she screamed at the rock, "I'm wet; I'm dirty; I'm tired; I'm hungry because I haven't eaten for a week because I didn't bring any food!" she exhaled and calmed down considerably, "I really didn't plan this well."
"No, indeed you did not."
"Great. Now the rock is talking."
"Wrong," Roain grinned down from the top of the rock.
Raven's heart jumped in her mouth; this was it. She felt the numbing fear flow in her veins, but she refused to show it. "Where- how the hell did you get up there without me noticing?"
His smirk lengthened and his eyes narrowed, "I have my ways. The question is: why were you stupid enough to come out here," he smoothly leapt down in front of her, "alone?"
She tilted her chin up defiantly, "I came to save my friends . . ." she swallowed, "Take me. Just, leave them alone. Stay away from Legolas." Her stomach performed back-flips and somersaults.
Roain's eyes and mouth widened in disbelief and shock, "You, you're giving yourself to me?"
Raven cast her eyes to the ground and nodded silently.
He could not believe it; how could anyone care for someone so deeply? She had to be lying. He hungrily drove his mouth on hers and raked his hands down her body and took no shame in touching her in places even Legolas had not dared to explore.
Every instinct told her to pull away or punch him square in the nose. She clenched her fist and prepared to strike, but suddenly Legolas's smile came to her mind. Raven relaxed her hand.
Roain waited for her assault, but it never came. He pulled away, "You mean it, don't you?" it was more like a statement than a question.
"Yes."
He stared at her in astonishment; she was sacrificing herself for another. His brilliant mind could hardly comprehend the absolute loyalty and devotion she held for her friends . . . and her immeasurable love for Legolas. He had to have this love. Not just for a moment . . . forever.
She furrowed her brow, "What?" The rain grew stronger.
Roain ignored her question, "Come."
She took a timid step forward.
"We must fly."
"And how do you propose to do that?"
He smirked, "With wings."
"Wha-" she cut herself off as the world grew dark. She closed her eyes, and strong wind blew about her.
"Open your eyes."
Raven did as instructed and gasped at the sight before her; a winged-man flew several feet over where Roain had stood only seconds ago. His eyes were completely black, except for his red slit pupils, and his eagle-like wings and long hair matched his startling orbs. He smiled at her stunned expression, revealing white fanged teeth that contrasted his darkly tanned complexion. "Am I not magnificent?" He swooped down and caught Raven in his arms before she could question him.
She screamed and fought desperately, but none of her effort had any affect. She waved her arms wildly and tore at his wings. She managed to rip out some black feathers and threw them to the ground. As time passed, she stopped fighting and watched as the landscape grew more and more barren as they flew toward a group of mountains. She knew what they were called: Ered Lithui- the mountains of Mordor.
Some time later, they landed in a cave of one of the outer mountains. Once inside, the strange being released the she-elf and stood in front of the exit.
When she had backed away from her captor, she asked the question that had nagged at her, "Who are you and what have you done with Roain?"
"Aw," he said and pretended to be hurt, "Raven, don't you recognize me?"
She furrowed her brow at him, "Roain?"
"Yes, that's me, although I go by many other names," he listed them off with his fingers, "Simiov, Arimus, Zxyk, Chrazrcz, Harqutio, which is my birth-name, and one that you may recognize: Roy." He laughed at the roundness of her eyes as he continued, "The list goes on and on!"
"Roy Lions?" she asked in utter disbelief.
His laughter grew as he nodded.
"That's not possible!"
"Oh really? How so?"
"Because it's not!"
"My dear girl, if you came here, why is it so hard to believe that I did as well?"
Raven opened her mouth to protest, but she quickly closed it.
"Do you have something to say?"
"How-"
"Did I become winged?"
She nodded.
A proud grin grew across his well-featured face, "I," he paused for a dramatic affect, "am a demon."
"Great. How lovely."
Harqutio smirked. "So, what do you really look like?"
"This," he said with a shrug.
"How did you come to Middle-Earth?"
He grinned and raised his chin, "I'm a demon; think about it."
"Yea but, it doesn't add up. Legolas said you've been here for years, and I only came a few months ago."
Harqutio shrugged nonchalantly, "I don't know, but I must say- I was really surprised when you walked into Mirkwood."
"That's Eyrn Lasgaelen."
He grunted, "I never gave a damn about names," he laughed. "Anyway, you did your friend Arien quite a service by coming when you did." He saw the confusion building on Raven's face before he continued, "Do you recall her ever mentioning anyone by the name of Dartanian?"
Her eyes widened, "That was you?" she nearly screamed.
Harqutio nodded, "I could sense she could shift trough universes, and that drew me to her. I was going to take her in hopes of gaining her gift-"
"What? Why would you need her "gift"?" she stressed the last word and narrowed her eyes.
The demon sighed, "Like her, I too lost my ability in the shift to Middle- Earth. Anyway, back to my story. Arien was close to surrendering to me, but then I saw you again. You had only been a tool for my pleasure on Earth, but when I saw you here, I knew you were more than you seemed."
"What?"
"Normal humans cannot survive the jump between worlds."
"What do you mean?" she furrowed her brows.
"I mean you're different from those selfish humans. They claim to do something for someone else, but they always have hidden motives," he said venomously. "But not you. It took me nearly two years for me to realize that." He grinned when he saw Raven's nervous swallow.
"What are you going to do to me?"
"I will, of course, take you . . . and your ability," he said cooly and cleaned his fingernails.
"When?"
"Not tonight. The moon isn't ready."
"Ready for what?" she snapped, "You to rape me to death?"
Harqutio looked up from his fingers with a smirk, "No, you foolish girl, the moon has to be positioned correctly in order for the transference to be successful. Until then, I cannot lay a finger on your virginity. And you can stop worrying because loosing it won't kill you." When he saw the confusion written on her face, he explained, "Because you willingly gave yourself to me, your soul will survive."
"So you'll let me go?" Hope sparkled like emeralds in her eyes.
He almost laughed, "Of course not!"
She looked aghast, "Why not? You'll have your "gift"," she motioned quotation marks with her fingers. "I'll be no more use to you!"
"Look at me Raven. When I enter another world, the people will worship me; I will be made a god!" He grinned, "And I will make you my goddess!"
"No!" she cried, "I can't be your goddess or anything else! I won't stay with you Ro- Harqutio. My place is with Legolas; I love him!"
Rage festered in the demon's black orbs, "If you go to him I'll kill him!"
Raven fell back in surprise at the raw hate in Harqutio's voice- the last time she heard such a tone was the night her mother tried to kill her. When she regained her rebellious composure, she instantly snapped her reply: "Fine, you'll have your goddess, but you will never have my heart."
"Then I shall have your hatred!" Harqutio shouted and crushed his lips on Raven's until her body hopelessly submitted to his rapacious kiss.
Arien shifted her position on the bench and folded her legs. She gazed thoughtfully at the stars and tried in vain to clear her mind; it was not good to dwell on things you had no control over.
The search parties had returned empty-handed the day before. Besides Arien and Darin, the one person who took the news of Legolas's choice the worst was Gimli, and he was rarely seen outside the pub, where he sat surrounded by empty mugs.
Arien thought of the poor dwarf often, but tonight she wanted to be free of her worries. But less than an hour of solitude had passed when none other than Darin broke the serene silence," Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone else was up here; I'll go . . ." Instead of leaving as his words implied, he waited in hopes that Arien would not mind his intrusion.
"No, don't worry. Stay- there's enough sky up here for both of us to stare at."
Darin smiled faintly, "Um, may I?" The elf nodded to the bench.
"Hm? Oh, yes, go ahead." She looked back up at the heavens and felt Darin sit down a few inches away. After a few seconds of peace, she got the uncanny feeling that someone was watching her. Slowly, Arien turned her head and was almost surprised to see the elf next to her gazing up at her, and she returned his stare.
"Do you know what I thought when I first saw you?" When she tensed and shook her head he continued, "I thought you were the most stunning and intriguing woman I'd ever seen. I knew right then and there . . . that I loved you."
Arien's heart fluttered like a leaf in the breeze.
"And Arien, I still do, if you are willing to love one as unworthy as I." He tried to sound confident, but the she-elf next to him could sense his anxiety as he waited in angst for her response.
"Darin, I-"
He cut her off with his lips; the look in her eyes was all he needed to know her thoughts. A short while later, he pulled back from his polite kiss and placed an arm around her shoulders. She leaned contentedly into his side, a pleasant smile on her lips.
Legolas leapt from Arod's back and inspected the earth with his sharp elfish eyes. A smug smile lit his lips as he discovered a faint impression in the moist dirt; Raven had been here only a few days ago. He led his horse and followed her trail for several hours until he came across a predicament- his love's footprints came to a large boulder and then ceased to be. Feeling his worries resurface, he combed the area for clues. To his horror, he found another set of tracks: Roain's. Following them with his eyes, he saw signs of a brief struggle where they met up with Raven's, and then they both simply stopped.
His brow creased in alarm. How could two people just disappear? He leapt atop the stone and squinted into the distance. When he turned his gaze northeastward, a black spot on the horizon caught his eyes. Maneuvering quickly, the prince jumped to his stallion's back and raced toward it. As he neared his destination, the spots manifested into large black feathers the likes of which he had never seen before. They were too small for one of the eagles but far too big for a crow or raven, and the scarlet blood on their tips indicated that they had been torn out, but how?
Suddenly, a forceful wind blew the feathers into the air and swirled them around the elf. Next, the gale carried them toward the mountains on the horizon. Legolas swallowed; he knew that was where Raven was. If asked to justify his reasoning, he knew he could not . . . he just, knew.
A groan escaped Legolas's lips as his mind registered the blurred shadows surrounding him. After several seconds of impaired vision, a particularly sack-shaped figure focused into the sitting form of one of his dearest friends, "Arien," he breathed in a groggy voice, "I had the most horrible dream. Raven-"
A grave expression grew on her face as she finished his sentence for him, "- left. Legolas, it was not a dream."
The Prince's eyes grew wide with panic, "No . . ." His head fell back on his pillow and his eyes dulled.
She tried to meet his misty blue orbs, but he gazed into an unseen realm, "I am sorry . . . Minas Tirith has already dispatched several searchers. Gimli was among the first who volunteered, but-"
Legolas cut her off with a look that would have frozen the heart of the grimmest mortal, "How long have I been asleep?"
"Since yesterday evening. It's now almost ten o'clock," she chewed the inside of her cheeks.
He felt his pulse slow; Raven had been missing for more than a day, which was plenty of time for Roain to-. He shivered and refused to finish his thought. He needed to be positive. She could still be alive. "I must find her," desperation laced his voice. The Prince pulled the light sheets away from himself and placed his feet on the cold stone-floor. To his surprise, Darin lay in the bed next to him, and his cheeks were starting to get their color back.
"I'm going with you," she said with slight hesitation; she did not want to leave Darin. Unlike the Prince though, she was much more down to Earth and knew there was no way Raven could still be alive. When he finally accepted the truth, there was no telling what he would do. She could not leave him alone.
"No. Arien, your place is with Darin," he looked into her eyes, "You belong by side." His tone was firm.
The woman wanted to protest, but Legolas's words had struck her. Somehow, she had always known they were the truth but hearing them stole her voice. All she could do was watch in stunned silence as he looked into Darin's face and exited the room.
The hour it took Legolas to prepare for travel passed like the blink of an eye in Arien's mind, and before she could say goodbye, Legolas was riding from Minas Tirith. Wind whipping her long black hair, she watched him and Arod from one of the great watch towers as they raced from sight- raced from her life. As she stared helplessly after the fading figures, the reality finally settled in her mind; she had lost them- the only two friends she ever had. Even though she knew long before that Raven was not coming back, the importance of this fact finally reached the intricate workings of her brain. An angst-ridden cry erupted from the depths of her soul, "WHY RAVEN, WHY? WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO PROVE? WHY DID I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO GO?" She fell to her knees and beat the ground with her fist, "WHY?" All Arien could see was red; the strain of her shrieks had burst the blood vessels in her eyes. She passed out.
A soft moan escaped Arien's chapped lips as she sat up in bed. A day had passed since Legolas left.
"Wow," came a familiar voice, "Arien, you look terrible."
"Darin, shut the hell-" her eyes instantly widened, "DARIN!" She catapulted from her bed and rushed to his side. "You're awake! When did you come to? How are you feeling?" Arien could not remember her misery as she hugged him tightly.
"Oh, an hour ago I should say, and I'm perfectly alright, if not a little tired. Can you imagine my surprise when I saw you next to me? What in the names of the Valar did you do to your eyes?"
"Wha?" she asked as she glanced in the mirror. She gasped in her vanity at the monstrous bruises around her eyes; it looked like she had been kicked in the face. "I screamed so hard I must have popped a vain or something," she said in disbelief.
"Why were you screaming?" Darin asked in confusion.
Arien's stomach dropped as her memories returned, "Raven . . ."
He furrowed his brow, "What about her?"
"She's dead."
"WHAT?"
"She left to protect us. She thought her being here was endangering us, so she did the only thing she could think of." Her eyes were too swollen to produce tears.
"She gave herself to Roain . . ." he could hardy believe his own words. "What about Legolas?"
"He left to search for her. I think he's in denial. There was nothing I could do," she shook her head, "He couldn't bare to loose her."
Darin's head fell back in shock, "He's not coming back, is he?" It was more of a statement than a question.
Arien looked away; she could not bring herself to say no," I'm not sure." Deep down, she knew it was only a matter of time before he gave into depression.
The other sighed, "What can we do?"
"I don't know . . ." she sat at the foot of his bed, "I just don't know anything for certain anymore!" She felt her face grow hot. "I just keep thinking there was something I could have done. If only I'd known; I should have slit that bastard's throat when I had the chance." She took a damp cloth to her eyes to sooth her eyes and to hide her emotions.
"There was no way we could've known, Arien. You can't let it get to you, and besides . . . she might still be alive," he offered and sat up.
"I hope so, I really do," her voice throbbed, "I need her to be alive."
"Me too," he said and cast a sorrowful glance at the floor and released a long breath, "Me too."
Raven groaned and sat down in the shade of a large rock, "Sigh," she said, "I am in quite the predicament. You see I left with the impression that I'd be wandering for five, fifteen minutes tops, and then Roain would appear out of nowhere and then I'd die. But nooo- I've been out here in the rain for days, waiting for the biggest creep in history! Look at me," she screamed at the rock, "I'm wet; I'm dirty; I'm tired; I'm hungry because I haven't eaten for a week because I didn't bring any food!" she exhaled and calmed down considerably, "I really didn't plan this well."
"No, indeed you did not."
"Great. Now the rock is talking."
"Wrong," Roain grinned down from the top of the rock.
Raven's heart jumped in her mouth; this was it. She felt the numbing fear flow in her veins, but she refused to show it. "Where- how the hell did you get up there without me noticing?"
His smirk lengthened and his eyes narrowed, "I have my ways. The question is: why were you stupid enough to come out here," he smoothly leapt down in front of her, "alone?"
She tilted her chin up defiantly, "I came to save my friends . . ." she swallowed, "Take me. Just, leave them alone. Stay away from Legolas." Her stomach performed back-flips and somersaults.
Roain's eyes and mouth widened in disbelief and shock, "You, you're giving yourself to me?"
Raven cast her eyes to the ground and nodded silently.
He could not believe it; how could anyone care for someone so deeply? She had to be lying. He hungrily drove his mouth on hers and raked his hands down her body and took no shame in touching her in places even Legolas had not dared to explore.
Every instinct told her to pull away or punch him square in the nose. She clenched her fist and prepared to strike, but suddenly Legolas's smile came to her mind. Raven relaxed her hand.
Roain waited for her assault, but it never came. He pulled away, "You mean it, don't you?" it was more like a statement than a question.
"Yes."
He stared at her in astonishment; she was sacrificing herself for another. His brilliant mind could hardly comprehend the absolute loyalty and devotion she held for her friends . . . and her immeasurable love for Legolas. He had to have this love. Not just for a moment . . . forever.
She furrowed her brow, "What?" The rain grew stronger.
Roain ignored her question, "Come."
She took a timid step forward.
"We must fly."
"And how do you propose to do that?"
He smirked, "With wings."
"Wha-" she cut herself off as the world grew dark. She closed her eyes, and strong wind blew about her.
"Open your eyes."
Raven did as instructed and gasped at the sight before her; a winged-man flew several feet over where Roain had stood only seconds ago. His eyes were completely black, except for his red slit pupils, and his eagle-like wings and long hair matched his startling orbs. He smiled at her stunned expression, revealing white fanged teeth that contrasted his darkly tanned complexion. "Am I not magnificent?" He swooped down and caught Raven in his arms before she could question him.
She screamed and fought desperately, but none of her effort had any affect. She waved her arms wildly and tore at his wings. She managed to rip out some black feathers and threw them to the ground. As time passed, she stopped fighting and watched as the landscape grew more and more barren as they flew toward a group of mountains. She knew what they were called: Ered Lithui- the mountains of Mordor.
Some time later, they landed in a cave of one of the outer mountains. Once inside, the strange being released the she-elf and stood in front of the exit.
When she had backed away from her captor, she asked the question that had nagged at her, "Who are you and what have you done with Roain?"
"Aw," he said and pretended to be hurt, "Raven, don't you recognize me?"
She furrowed her brow at him, "Roain?"
"Yes, that's me, although I go by many other names," he listed them off with his fingers, "Simiov, Arimus, Zxyk, Chrazrcz, Harqutio, which is my birth-name, and one that you may recognize: Roy." He laughed at the roundness of her eyes as he continued, "The list goes on and on!"
"Roy Lions?" she asked in utter disbelief.
His laughter grew as he nodded.
"That's not possible!"
"Oh really? How so?"
"Because it's not!"
"My dear girl, if you came here, why is it so hard to believe that I did as well?"
Raven opened her mouth to protest, but she quickly closed it.
"Do you have something to say?"
"How-"
"Did I become winged?"
She nodded.
A proud grin grew across his well-featured face, "I," he paused for a dramatic affect, "am a demon."
"Great. How lovely."
Harqutio smirked. "So, what do you really look like?"
"This," he said with a shrug.
"How did you come to Middle-Earth?"
He grinned and raised his chin, "I'm a demon; think about it."
"Yea but, it doesn't add up. Legolas said you've been here for years, and I only came a few months ago."
Harqutio shrugged nonchalantly, "I don't know, but I must say- I was really surprised when you walked into Mirkwood."
"That's Eyrn Lasgaelen."
He grunted, "I never gave a damn about names," he laughed. "Anyway, you did your friend Arien quite a service by coming when you did." He saw the confusion building on Raven's face before he continued, "Do you recall her ever mentioning anyone by the name of Dartanian?"
Her eyes widened, "That was you?" she nearly screamed.
Harqutio nodded, "I could sense she could shift trough universes, and that drew me to her. I was going to take her in hopes of gaining her gift-"
"What? Why would you need her "gift"?" she stressed the last word and narrowed her eyes.
The demon sighed, "Like her, I too lost my ability in the shift to Middle- Earth. Anyway, back to my story. Arien was close to surrendering to me, but then I saw you again. You had only been a tool for my pleasure on Earth, but when I saw you here, I knew you were more than you seemed."
"What?"
"Normal humans cannot survive the jump between worlds."
"What do you mean?" she furrowed her brows.
"I mean you're different from those selfish humans. They claim to do something for someone else, but they always have hidden motives," he said venomously. "But not you. It took me nearly two years for me to realize that." He grinned when he saw Raven's nervous swallow.
"What are you going to do to me?"
"I will, of course, take you . . . and your ability," he said cooly and cleaned his fingernails.
"When?"
"Not tonight. The moon isn't ready."
"Ready for what?" she snapped, "You to rape me to death?"
Harqutio looked up from his fingers with a smirk, "No, you foolish girl, the moon has to be positioned correctly in order for the transference to be successful. Until then, I cannot lay a finger on your virginity. And you can stop worrying because loosing it won't kill you." When he saw the confusion written on her face, he explained, "Because you willingly gave yourself to me, your soul will survive."
"So you'll let me go?" Hope sparkled like emeralds in her eyes.
He almost laughed, "Of course not!"
She looked aghast, "Why not? You'll have your "gift"," she motioned quotation marks with her fingers. "I'll be no more use to you!"
"Look at me Raven. When I enter another world, the people will worship me; I will be made a god!" He grinned, "And I will make you my goddess!"
"No!" she cried, "I can't be your goddess or anything else! I won't stay with you Ro- Harqutio. My place is with Legolas; I love him!"
Rage festered in the demon's black orbs, "If you go to him I'll kill him!"
Raven fell back in surprise at the raw hate in Harqutio's voice- the last time she heard such a tone was the night her mother tried to kill her. When she regained her rebellious composure, she instantly snapped her reply: "Fine, you'll have your goddess, but you will never have my heart."
"Then I shall have your hatred!" Harqutio shouted and crushed his lips on Raven's until her body hopelessly submitted to his rapacious kiss.
Arien shifted her position on the bench and folded her legs. She gazed thoughtfully at the stars and tried in vain to clear her mind; it was not good to dwell on things you had no control over.
The search parties had returned empty-handed the day before. Besides Arien and Darin, the one person who took the news of Legolas's choice the worst was Gimli, and he was rarely seen outside the pub, where he sat surrounded by empty mugs.
Arien thought of the poor dwarf often, but tonight she wanted to be free of her worries. But less than an hour of solitude had passed when none other than Darin broke the serene silence," Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone else was up here; I'll go . . ." Instead of leaving as his words implied, he waited in hopes that Arien would not mind his intrusion.
"No, don't worry. Stay- there's enough sky up here for both of us to stare at."
Darin smiled faintly, "Um, may I?" The elf nodded to the bench.
"Hm? Oh, yes, go ahead." She looked back up at the heavens and felt Darin sit down a few inches away. After a few seconds of peace, she got the uncanny feeling that someone was watching her. Slowly, Arien turned her head and was almost surprised to see the elf next to her gazing up at her, and she returned his stare.
"Do you know what I thought when I first saw you?" When she tensed and shook her head he continued, "I thought you were the most stunning and intriguing woman I'd ever seen. I knew right then and there . . . that I loved you."
Arien's heart fluttered like a leaf in the breeze.
"And Arien, I still do, if you are willing to love one as unworthy as I." He tried to sound confident, but the she-elf next to him could sense his anxiety as he waited in angst for her response.
"Darin, I-"
He cut her off with his lips; the look in her eyes was all he needed to know her thoughts. A short while later, he pulled back from his polite kiss and placed an arm around her shoulders. She leaned contentedly into his side, a pleasant smile on her lips.
Legolas leapt from Arod's back and inspected the earth with his sharp elfish eyes. A smug smile lit his lips as he discovered a faint impression in the moist dirt; Raven had been here only a few days ago. He led his horse and followed her trail for several hours until he came across a predicament- his love's footprints came to a large boulder and then ceased to be. Feeling his worries resurface, he combed the area for clues. To his horror, he found another set of tracks: Roain's. Following them with his eyes, he saw signs of a brief struggle where they met up with Raven's, and then they both simply stopped.
His brow creased in alarm. How could two people just disappear? He leapt atop the stone and squinted into the distance. When he turned his gaze northeastward, a black spot on the horizon caught his eyes. Maneuvering quickly, the prince jumped to his stallion's back and raced toward it. As he neared his destination, the spots manifested into large black feathers the likes of which he had never seen before. They were too small for one of the eagles but far too big for a crow or raven, and the scarlet blood on their tips indicated that they had been torn out, but how?
Suddenly, a forceful wind blew the feathers into the air and swirled them around the elf. Next, the gale carried them toward the mountains on the horizon. Legolas swallowed; he knew that was where Raven was. If asked to justify his reasoning, he knew he could not . . . he just, knew.