(chapter 8)
"So, Raven, you have decided to leave," the master said to himself when he finished reading the note. "You have decided to leave as well as disobey. The Dark Lord told me to watch you closely, and it appears he was right in his assumption that you'd do this."
The master walked over to the bare table, where he had found the note, and gazed about the room. Raven had done his best to leave nothing nothing behind, but he had made one mistake. The note, in itself, was enough to use to trace him as well as the girl.
"Run fast, my dear Raven," he said as he walked around the table and to the door. "As soon as I've set the hunters on your trail, you won't have much time left. Enjoy her, enjoy your freedom. Your life, and hers, will end once they find you."
He smiled as he left the room. A smile filled with malice. He made his way to the dungeon. The guard who was on duty that night was being punished for his neglection. He didn't want to be late to watch him die.
One Week Later...
"How much farther are we going?" she asked him one evening. They were in his boat on the Sirion, passing Brethil and coming up on the Teiglan.
"We'll stop shortly. I want to get as far away as I can." he replied. The river was flowing quickly, but it didn't seem to be moving as fast as he'd like. Tomorrow, they'd come to the Aros and he'd decide his next route from there. The boat would be left behind, and they'd go on foot. Maybe they would go west. He always wanted to see to ocean.
"Are you sure that no one is following us?"
"I made sure I left nothing they could use to trace me by."
She was silent again. She had many more questions, but didn't ask. She was confused. All at once, her captor had become her savior and she didn't know why. She had the opportunity to run away from him on this journey, many times. Still, she stayed with him. 'Is it because I carry his child?' she asked herself. Moving slightly, she placed her hand on her belly. She was two months along, and soon she'd begin to show. She'd have to tell him soon, but the time still didn't feel right.
Looking around, she noticed it had become too dark to keep going. There was no moon out, so there was no light to see by. He had pushed on through the night when there was enough light by moon and stars. Tonight, they had no choice but to set up camp.
He guided the boat to the western shore. They got out, and he pulled the boat out of the water. They unloaded their bedrolls, placed them together, and he built a tiny fire. Once settled, they sat in silence. He looked at her as she gazed out at the river. She had something on her mind, and he could see she was trying to decide what to do about it. He didn't ask her about it. She would tell him in due time.
'This is amazing,' he thought. 'I feel almost... free.' He continued to watch her. 'She still hasn't asked me my name. Will she ever? What's keeping her with me? Does she know that I wouldn't follow her, should she chose to go?'
The last thought surprised him. While at Angband, after he had claimed her for his own, he made sure he was near her at some point during the day or night. On the river, during their escape, he realized that her presence calmed him. He felt... happy... to be with her. 'Happy' is not something he had felt for the last 500 years.
It suddenly dawned on him. He wasn't just happy to be with her. He loved her! Something had changed in him, and he was sure she had a hand in it. Feeling rather giddy at his discovery, he began to laugh. She turned to face him. He could see the confusion in her eyes, which made him laugh more.
"What is so funny?" she asked him.
"I've just figured out something." he said.
"Figured out what?"
"That somehow, during the time we've known each other, I've fallen in love with you."
"How? When?"
"I don't know, my Morniel. I really don't know."
She looked at him for a long time. Just by the little light they had, she could see in his eyes that he was telling the truth. All at once, the question of why she stayed with him came back to her, and she knew the reason why. It wasn't just because of the child, but because she had fallen in love with him as well. He had saved her life when he could have easily left her to die.
He held out his hand to her, and she took it. They moved closer to each other and laid down in their blankets. They laid there, holding each other, until they were asleep.
