Chapter 2
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Hello all! Not much going on in my world right now- it's late at night/early morning and I can't sleep- so I decided to post!
Anyway- here's chapter 2! I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer- You know this by now :)
-
They were back on the road before dawn was up the next morning. The tensions of the day before seemed to be eased. But the increasing carnage they witnessed created a new uneasiness. The scorched earth and destroyed villages caused the group to wonder what kind of creature this could be. Nothing was spared to the devastation.
"What could be this powerful?" Sheris questioned looking at the damage.
"It seems to be a great evil. With many dark powers…" Orson spoke in his quiet thoughtful voice.
"Well what ever it is, it needs to be stopped." Parn said as they continued on until they came to a large palace. Somehow it was nearly untouched by the desolation of the surrounding areas.
"That's odd." Deedlit said as they approached the stone walls. "It doesn't even look scorched."
"You're right. It looks like nothing has even touched the castle." Parn confirmed as they approached. "Hello! Is anyone on there?" He yelled at the castle.
"Do you think someone is even in there?" Deedlit questioned.
"They must be there. It would be a safe place for the wounded to be tended." Slain confirmed as a voice came from the other side.
"Who goes there?" Came the voice.
"We bring help from Valis. Please let us in so we can talk with your leader." Parn yelled back. Soon the castle gate was opened wide and they were let into the palace walls.
As soon as Parn dismounted a familiar face appeared.
"King Kashue!" Parn smiled happy to see the man he looked up to so much.
"Parn! I was hoping they would find you and send you my way!" The mercenary king said as he greeted the group. "You arrived just in time too. We didn't think we would have enough men to go after the beast again."
"King Kashue, what is this monster like that it inflicts so much damage?" Deedlit asked as she came up behind the two men.
"Ah, Deedlit is here too." He smiled. "We'll need your and Slayn's magical powers to aid us as well. The creature is one unlike any I've encountered in all my days. It has tremendous power and we've been unable to even scratch it." The king described.
"This sounds extremely dangerous. How can there be such a creature that can do that?" Deedlit asked as she overlooked the men in the courtyard from the balcony of the throne room.
"And were is the king of this kingdom?" Parn asked looking for some sort of leader in the vicinity.
"Sadly the king and his two sons all perished fighting the monster. I was asked to look after the kingdom before they passed. I've been here ever since." Kashue said rubbing his temples. Fighting this battle was something that looked too big to handle, and he was tired.
"Your majesty, maybe you should get some rest. We can attach the monster's lair before sunup." Parn suggested.
"That's just it. We have no clue where this monster's lair is. We are usually attacked by it and forced to defend when we go out to look for the monster's den." A soldier commented as Kashue sat down in a chair. A table was set up with a map of the area and markings showing where the monster had attacked.
"And as you can see there is not plain pattern to the madness… it's like this creature is smarter than us."
"We need to find its den." Parn stated. "That way we can launch an offensive strike and stop defending all the time."
"But every time we send people out, they get attacked." Kashue said rubbing his temples. He was visibly tired.
"Then I'll go." Parn replied. "One or two people should be able to sneak by the dragon without causing too much problems…" He deduced.
"Then I'm going too." Came Deedlit's voice as she returned from the balcony after hearing the conversation.
"Deed, please. We've been through this before."
"And I've always won this argument. So that means I'm coming with you." She smiled as she kissed his cheek and walked out of the room. She always had a way of winning their arguments.
The rest of the group slowly left the throne room to help where needed at the moment. Leaving Parn and Kashue alone to look over the maps.
"From the circlet on your forehead and the different ways you act, I assume you and Deedlit are wedded?" Kashue said breaking the silence between the two.
"Yes, we are." Parn sighed.
"Don't feel too down. Women always seem to have a way to win arguments. But I must say having Deedlit as a wife must keep you on your toes. She's got the fieriest spirit I've seen in a long time."
"I just wish she would stay behind where I know she's safe. I've nearly lost her too many times to keep track of."
"Parn, I hate to say this, but nowhere is totally safe anymore." Kashue said looking out the balcony now. Parn walked over to his side. They gazed down on the busy courtyard area. Even Parn couldn't miss the sad look on Kashue's face.
"Your highness, maybe you should get some rest. You look exhausted… is something wrong?"
"No, I'm fine. Just thinking of past lives."
"Past lives?"
"Well, I was as young as you were… that was a long time ago though…it seems like a lifetime ago… I had a woman once, which I loved more than anything. I thought I was doing the right thing by leaving her where it was safe, while I first began to unite the lands of my kingdom. After a few months, I returned to see her. However her village was totally destroyed by raiding bandits. We never were able to marry…" Kashue told his story with a sad tone of voice, but his face was like stone. "Parn, there is no safe place in this world… remember that. Deedlit is strong. She is a good partner on and off the battlefield. I envy you two, what you have is something not everyone is blessed with." There was a silent pause between them until Kashue suddenly changed topics. "I think I better get some rest. And you better as well. Leaving by night cover would be best to go unnoticed."
"Yes, I agree." Parn said as Kashue walked out of the throne room, leaving him to think over the sad tale.
-
"There you are. I was looking all over for you Deed." Parn smiled as he found Deedlit out in the stables. "What are you doing out here?"
"Making sure you don't leave without me." She said as she petted her horse while saddling it.
"Deed…"
"What?" She asked as she put her hands on her hips and turned to face him. "Have you come to forbid me to come? Well I'm not about to let you go off by yourself…"
Parn quickly shut her up with s kiss on the lips. He held her in his arms tightly as he let the frustration wash out of him as he claimed her lips. Releasing her lips he simply held her in his arms. Kissing her circlet he sighed.
"I know…I want you to by my side. We'll go together after nightfall. Just promise me, you'll be careful."
"Only if you promise me you'll do the same." She smiled as she leaned against him. "Care to take nap with me before we go?" Deed asked as she flopped down upon the hay. Parn joined her and they snuggled up for a short rest before they left on their dangerous journey.
-
"Well if this isn't cute." Came a female voice. "I've found them over here." She yelled.
Parn opened one eye to find Sheris looking down on where he and Deedlit had decided to take a nap. "We were looking all over for you two!" She exclaimed as Slayn and Orson came in to the stables. "Sleeping on the job." She smiled.
"What time is it?" Parn asked groggily. He was enjoying the small moment of peace with Deedlit.
"It would be safest if you left soon." Slayn commented as he looked out at the sun as it began its trip below the horizon.
"Dusk has fallen." Orson stated plainly.
"Well I suppose we should get up." Parn said yawning. "Deed… Deedlit." He called waking the sleeping form in his arms. Soon the two were ready. Both horses were saddled and extra weapons packed just in case.
Knowing the seriousness of their journey Parn and Deedlit remained silent and on task during their trek.
As night progressed the couple covered a great deal of scorched earth.
"It seems that fire is it's main power- so it would be ideal for it to be near heat." Deedlit assumed.
"So then, the mountain?" Parn questioned. "It seems almost too easy."
"But there's something dark in the air…"
"You sense something again? Do you know what it is yet?" Parn asked, knowing that her hunches and feelings usually were correct.
"I don't know… but something isn't showing itself yet."
Parn nodded and they continued. The moon and stars were out in the clear sky. It was a picturesque night.
"It's a beautiful night." Deedlit whispered. "Some way to spend our, what do you call it… honeymoon." She smiled as she pushed her horse to catch up with Parn.
"When this is over- I'll make it up to you… I promise." Parn said as they finally made their way to the base of the largest mountain formation.
"It's volcanic." Parn commented.
"Yet it seems to be stable. It's a very good place to create a den." Deed deduced. Dismounting they took as much gear as they could carry and began to work their way up the rocky heights, not knowing what to expect.
"Parn… over here." Deedlit called. Silently Parn made his way to where Deedlit stood.
"What is it?"
"Listen." She said as she tapped on the rock. "It's got to be hallow to be making that noise." She suggested at the sound.
"Do you think there's a way in? I see light down there." Parn said looking into a small crack in the rocks.
"I don't know- I'm going to look this way." The elf stated as she began to walk over the rocky surface.
Suddenly after going a few steps, her thoughts of being hollow underneath were confirmed as the layer she stood on began to crack beneath her feet.
"Deed!"
"No Parn- don't come over here…" She tried to stop him. But his extra weight on the fragile surface made the splinters grow. Deedlit quickly summoned the winds to push Parn back before he fell down below. But in doing so, she didn't have time to save herself.
"Parn!" She cried out as she went tumbling down with the rocks.
When the dust settles Parn's face could be seen looking down into the caved in rock.
"DEED!" He called out with a great sense of worry. "DEED! Where are you? Answer me!"
"Parn…" came a weak voice. The sounds of shifting rubble followed as the she elf emerged slowly. "I'm down here."
"Just wait, I'll be down in a second," he yelled as he looked for a way to get down to her.
"NO!" Deedlit screamed to stop him as every move he made caused more and more rubble to fall on her.
"Deed."
"Parn- stay there. Don't…don't come down- it's too risky."
"But Deed."
"I'm fine." She grunted prying herself free of the large debris that trapped her leg. "Parn… there's caverns down here and I smell sulfur and ash… I think the dragon does reside here."
"Deed- we need to get you out of there… but the ropes won't go down that far. Can you use your powers to get up?"
"No…" She groaned looking at her bloody leg. Placing a hand to her head, she felt blood also trickle down her scalp. "I hit my head too hard… I don't think I'll be able to concentrate enough to." She said looking back up to where Parn stood. "Go back and get everyone."
"What? And leave you here? What if the dragon comes… no way Deedlit."
"I can cast a simple spell to help me. Parn please. This is our only chance."
"No Deed… I won't leave you again… ever! You hear me?" He told her sternly, but lovingly.
"You're not totally leaving me… I'm telling you to go and do this."
"I won't leave because I won't know if you're safe or not… Deedlit."
"Parn, my circlet… since you passed the rites of our clan, you can connect with my spirit. Just touch the circlet and concentrate. I'll be able to hear your thoughts and talk to you…" She told him, pushing herself up to her feet. Deedlit balanced herself against the cave wall, but her leg was too weak and she fell. "I'll be waiting right here for you to get help. Please love…"
"Deed…" Parn didn't know what to do. But listening to her, he decided to get the others. "I'll be right back for you."
"I know you will… now hurry!"
Without looking back Parn almost ran down the mountain. Jumping on his steed, he took off full speed tot the palace and the others.
-
Hello all! Not much going on in my world right now- it's late at night/early morning and I can't sleep- so I decided to post!
Anyway- here's chapter 2! I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer- You know this by now :)
-
They were back on the road before dawn was up the next morning. The tensions of the day before seemed to be eased. But the increasing carnage they witnessed created a new uneasiness. The scorched earth and destroyed villages caused the group to wonder what kind of creature this could be. Nothing was spared to the devastation.
"What could be this powerful?" Sheris questioned looking at the damage.
"It seems to be a great evil. With many dark powers…" Orson spoke in his quiet thoughtful voice.
"Well what ever it is, it needs to be stopped." Parn said as they continued on until they came to a large palace. Somehow it was nearly untouched by the desolation of the surrounding areas.
"That's odd." Deedlit said as they approached the stone walls. "It doesn't even look scorched."
"You're right. It looks like nothing has even touched the castle." Parn confirmed as they approached. "Hello! Is anyone on there?" He yelled at the castle.
"Do you think someone is even in there?" Deedlit questioned.
"They must be there. It would be a safe place for the wounded to be tended." Slain confirmed as a voice came from the other side.
"Who goes there?" Came the voice.
"We bring help from Valis. Please let us in so we can talk with your leader." Parn yelled back. Soon the castle gate was opened wide and they were let into the palace walls.
As soon as Parn dismounted a familiar face appeared.
"King Kashue!" Parn smiled happy to see the man he looked up to so much.
"Parn! I was hoping they would find you and send you my way!" The mercenary king said as he greeted the group. "You arrived just in time too. We didn't think we would have enough men to go after the beast again."
"King Kashue, what is this monster like that it inflicts so much damage?" Deedlit asked as she came up behind the two men.
"Ah, Deedlit is here too." He smiled. "We'll need your and Slayn's magical powers to aid us as well. The creature is one unlike any I've encountered in all my days. It has tremendous power and we've been unable to even scratch it." The king described.
"This sounds extremely dangerous. How can there be such a creature that can do that?" Deedlit asked as she overlooked the men in the courtyard from the balcony of the throne room.
"And were is the king of this kingdom?" Parn asked looking for some sort of leader in the vicinity.
"Sadly the king and his two sons all perished fighting the monster. I was asked to look after the kingdom before they passed. I've been here ever since." Kashue said rubbing his temples. Fighting this battle was something that looked too big to handle, and he was tired.
"Your majesty, maybe you should get some rest. We can attach the monster's lair before sunup." Parn suggested.
"That's just it. We have no clue where this monster's lair is. We are usually attacked by it and forced to defend when we go out to look for the monster's den." A soldier commented as Kashue sat down in a chair. A table was set up with a map of the area and markings showing where the monster had attacked.
"And as you can see there is not plain pattern to the madness… it's like this creature is smarter than us."
"We need to find its den." Parn stated. "That way we can launch an offensive strike and stop defending all the time."
"But every time we send people out, they get attacked." Kashue said rubbing his temples. He was visibly tired.
"Then I'll go." Parn replied. "One or two people should be able to sneak by the dragon without causing too much problems…" He deduced.
"Then I'm going too." Came Deedlit's voice as she returned from the balcony after hearing the conversation.
"Deed, please. We've been through this before."
"And I've always won this argument. So that means I'm coming with you." She smiled as she kissed his cheek and walked out of the room. She always had a way of winning their arguments.
The rest of the group slowly left the throne room to help where needed at the moment. Leaving Parn and Kashue alone to look over the maps.
"From the circlet on your forehead and the different ways you act, I assume you and Deedlit are wedded?" Kashue said breaking the silence between the two.
"Yes, we are." Parn sighed.
"Don't feel too down. Women always seem to have a way to win arguments. But I must say having Deedlit as a wife must keep you on your toes. She's got the fieriest spirit I've seen in a long time."
"I just wish she would stay behind where I know she's safe. I've nearly lost her too many times to keep track of."
"Parn, I hate to say this, but nowhere is totally safe anymore." Kashue said looking out the balcony now. Parn walked over to his side. They gazed down on the busy courtyard area. Even Parn couldn't miss the sad look on Kashue's face.
"Your highness, maybe you should get some rest. You look exhausted… is something wrong?"
"No, I'm fine. Just thinking of past lives."
"Past lives?"
"Well, I was as young as you were… that was a long time ago though…it seems like a lifetime ago… I had a woman once, which I loved more than anything. I thought I was doing the right thing by leaving her where it was safe, while I first began to unite the lands of my kingdom. After a few months, I returned to see her. However her village was totally destroyed by raiding bandits. We never were able to marry…" Kashue told his story with a sad tone of voice, but his face was like stone. "Parn, there is no safe place in this world… remember that. Deedlit is strong. She is a good partner on and off the battlefield. I envy you two, what you have is something not everyone is blessed with." There was a silent pause between them until Kashue suddenly changed topics. "I think I better get some rest. And you better as well. Leaving by night cover would be best to go unnoticed."
"Yes, I agree." Parn said as Kashue walked out of the throne room, leaving him to think over the sad tale.
-
"There you are. I was looking all over for you Deed." Parn smiled as he found Deedlit out in the stables. "What are you doing out here?"
"Making sure you don't leave without me." She said as she petted her horse while saddling it.
"Deed…"
"What?" She asked as she put her hands on her hips and turned to face him. "Have you come to forbid me to come? Well I'm not about to let you go off by yourself…"
Parn quickly shut her up with s kiss on the lips. He held her in his arms tightly as he let the frustration wash out of him as he claimed her lips. Releasing her lips he simply held her in his arms. Kissing her circlet he sighed.
"I know…I want you to by my side. We'll go together after nightfall. Just promise me, you'll be careful."
"Only if you promise me you'll do the same." She smiled as she leaned against him. "Care to take nap with me before we go?" Deed asked as she flopped down upon the hay. Parn joined her and they snuggled up for a short rest before they left on their dangerous journey.
-
"Well if this isn't cute." Came a female voice. "I've found them over here." She yelled.
Parn opened one eye to find Sheris looking down on where he and Deedlit had decided to take a nap. "We were looking all over for you two!" She exclaimed as Slayn and Orson came in to the stables. "Sleeping on the job." She smiled.
"What time is it?" Parn asked groggily. He was enjoying the small moment of peace with Deedlit.
"It would be safest if you left soon." Slayn commented as he looked out at the sun as it began its trip below the horizon.
"Dusk has fallen." Orson stated plainly.
"Well I suppose we should get up." Parn said yawning. "Deed… Deedlit." He called waking the sleeping form in his arms. Soon the two were ready. Both horses were saddled and extra weapons packed just in case.
Knowing the seriousness of their journey Parn and Deedlit remained silent and on task during their trek.
As night progressed the couple covered a great deal of scorched earth.
"It seems that fire is it's main power- so it would be ideal for it to be near heat." Deedlit assumed.
"So then, the mountain?" Parn questioned. "It seems almost too easy."
"But there's something dark in the air…"
"You sense something again? Do you know what it is yet?" Parn asked, knowing that her hunches and feelings usually were correct.
"I don't know… but something isn't showing itself yet."
Parn nodded and they continued. The moon and stars were out in the clear sky. It was a picturesque night.
"It's a beautiful night." Deedlit whispered. "Some way to spend our, what do you call it… honeymoon." She smiled as she pushed her horse to catch up with Parn.
"When this is over- I'll make it up to you… I promise." Parn said as they finally made their way to the base of the largest mountain formation.
"It's volcanic." Parn commented.
"Yet it seems to be stable. It's a very good place to create a den." Deed deduced. Dismounting they took as much gear as they could carry and began to work their way up the rocky heights, not knowing what to expect.
"Parn… over here." Deedlit called. Silently Parn made his way to where Deedlit stood.
"What is it?"
"Listen." She said as she tapped on the rock. "It's got to be hallow to be making that noise." She suggested at the sound.
"Do you think there's a way in? I see light down there." Parn said looking into a small crack in the rocks.
"I don't know- I'm going to look this way." The elf stated as she began to walk over the rocky surface.
Suddenly after going a few steps, her thoughts of being hollow underneath were confirmed as the layer she stood on began to crack beneath her feet.
"Deed!"
"No Parn- don't come over here…" She tried to stop him. But his extra weight on the fragile surface made the splinters grow. Deedlit quickly summoned the winds to push Parn back before he fell down below. But in doing so, she didn't have time to save herself.
"Parn!" She cried out as she went tumbling down with the rocks.
When the dust settles Parn's face could be seen looking down into the caved in rock.
"DEED!" He called out with a great sense of worry. "DEED! Where are you? Answer me!"
"Parn…" came a weak voice. The sounds of shifting rubble followed as the she elf emerged slowly. "I'm down here."
"Just wait, I'll be down in a second," he yelled as he looked for a way to get down to her.
"NO!" Deedlit screamed to stop him as every move he made caused more and more rubble to fall on her.
"Deed."
"Parn- stay there. Don't…don't come down- it's too risky."
"But Deed."
"I'm fine." She grunted prying herself free of the large debris that trapped her leg. "Parn… there's caverns down here and I smell sulfur and ash… I think the dragon does reside here."
"Deed- we need to get you out of there… but the ropes won't go down that far. Can you use your powers to get up?"
"No…" She groaned looking at her bloody leg. Placing a hand to her head, she felt blood also trickle down her scalp. "I hit my head too hard… I don't think I'll be able to concentrate enough to." She said looking back up to where Parn stood. "Go back and get everyone."
"What? And leave you here? What if the dragon comes… no way Deedlit."
"I can cast a simple spell to help me. Parn please. This is our only chance."
"No Deed… I won't leave you again… ever! You hear me?" He told her sternly, but lovingly.
"You're not totally leaving me… I'm telling you to go and do this."
"I won't leave because I won't know if you're safe or not… Deedlit."
"Parn, my circlet… since you passed the rites of our clan, you can connect with my spirit. Just touch the circlet and concentrate. I'll be able to hear your thoughts and talk to you…" She told him, pushing herself up to her feet. Deedlit balanced herself against the cave wall, but her leg was too weak and she fell. "I'll be waiting right here for you to get help. Please love…"
"Deed…" Parn didn't know what to do. But listening to her, he decided to get the others. "I'll be right back for you."
"I know you will… now hurry!"
Without looking back Parn almost ran down the mountain. Jumping on his steed, he took off full speed tot the palace and the others.