A/N: Well it's been a while- but never fear, I haven't forgotten about the world of Lodoss just yet. I suppose I owe you all an apology for waiting so long to update. GOMEN!
Things have been hectic, also a case of writer's block came over me. Was it really writer's block or just plain laziness…. God only knows.
But long story short- I'm back and if you're still willing to give it a read- we're back in business ;
Thanks for sticking with me and bugging me occasionally from time to time- I appreciate the reviews! They are the best part of writing- having others enjoy my crazy ideas…
-
'Onward to Marmo, and then back home… just wait my love. I'll be back soon.' He said as he watched the forest grow smaller and smaller to the human eye. 'I'll return to you.'
From above the ground on a dragon the journey that had seemed like forever was done in mere hours. This was the second time both of the men had stepped foot on the cursed island. Once again Parn was not here for any sort of enjoyment. Although the mission timelines were more lax this time around, Deedlit's life was still on the line.
As he dismounted from the dragon Parn couldn't help but shutter as the memories of carrying out of the broken and crumbling temple Deedlit's nearly lifeless body. He vowed to never have to see her like that again. This was a promise he intended to keep even if it meant his life.
"So Orson, what do you think?" Parn asked taking in the surrounding area. The landscape had seemingly changed in the time since their forces had left the island. Kardis the destroyer still held a powerful grasp over the lands, none of the king's men wanted to even try and bring human civilization to these shores. Thus it was decided to leave Marmo be as it was intended.
"It is not a pleasant place to reside, however once our mission is complete, we may return to the green haven of the elves."
"I can't wait to return." Parn sighed as his thoughts turned back to his wife and children. While he was fighting his way into the temple to save Deedlit's life and to stop the evil wizard from destroying all of Lodoss, Parn's mind had never envisioned them with a family in only such a short time.
Shaking his head, Parn cleared his mind of the wonderful distractions. He had come here for a reason. His once headstrong streak seemed to return as he reached for his pack still on their transportation.
"Don't worry boy, we'll get out of here soon." He comforted the weary dragon at his side. By the large animal's movements and very demeanor, Parn could tell Deedlit's trusty pet didn't like their current location any more than they did. "Now, Deedlit's father and a scholar gave me the directions to the area where the root was fabled to grow."
"We must be careful Parn. Who knows what we could encounter, and it is just the two of us this time around."
Nodding his head in agreement, the two men and the dragon began the hike. They had not gotten very far when the cries for help echoed in the air. Putting away the book, and drawing his sword, both Parn and Orson rushed to the voice's aid.
-
"Deed, can I ask you a question?" Sheris asked as the two women sat amongst the serene walls of the bedroom. The morning sun had risen to midday level, as Deedlit rested against the headboard of bed. A hungry baby fed from Deedlit's breast as Sheris sat to her friend's side holding a very talkative and content Teseus. The morning after the boys had left was slowly progressing. Since Deedlit had been ordered to bed rest by her father, even to the point that she was barred from leaving her room, the two friends decided to spend the morning talking.
"What is it Sheris?" Deed inquired looking up from her more elven looking child in her arms. "You've been very quiet since the boys left. What's on your mind?"
"Deed, it's about…" Sheris began struggling to find the words to express her feelings. For once the red haired woman didn't know exactly what to say. Her friend's actions made Deedlit smile a little. Usually Sheris was not one to hold back an idea or opinion. Many battles of words had been fought between the two women, however that was all in the past.
"Sheris." Deed shifted the baby that had seemingly finished feeding to reach out and touch her friend's hand. The gesture of support made the red head sigh. "You know you can tell me anything. I assure you that no one else will hear what you want to say except me… well no one else that can actually understand you that is." The she elf gave a soft chuckle as Teseus seemingly wanted in on the chance to converse with his mother.
"Deed, what is real love like?" Sheris finally had gotten up the courage to speak. Normally talking about her feelings to someone else never happened. Sheris was to type to mostly stick to her own thoughts, and keep her emotions contained to herself. However the feelings inside had not gone away like they usually would. Maybe it was the environment, maybe it was a little bit of jealousy deep down in side of her- whatever the reason, Sheris couldn't keep them quiet. She needed help.
"What?" Deed was somewhat caught off guard by the serious tone of Sheris' voice. "Real love?" She inquired, getting a nod from her friend. Sheris set the baby in her arms down on the bed. Extending a finger to gently poke the little button nose, she allowed Teseus' chubby fingers to grab hold of her finger and squeal with excitement.
"Yes, what you and Parn have… real love." Sheris smiled down at the baby and his large blue eyes. "I'm just so confused. I thought I was in love with someone before, but I'm not sure it was real love. And now… now…"
"Real love isn't something to be confused about. Your heart will tell you, show you the way. Especially when you have found the other half of your soul." Deedlit spoke with a wise tone.
"But I really thought I was…" Sheris stopped and looked back up at Deedlit's face, feeling a bit guilty. "I thought I was in love with Parn for the longest time. Not any more!" She quickly said with a blush. "I was so sure he was the one I had been looking for. Then I saw how the two of you reacted to each other. I didn't stand a chance." She smiled. "And now. I've been at Orson's side for so long. We've shared some of the hardest moments together, yet I never felt this way about him until now."
"The tight grasp that the spirit of fury and rage has on his soul is lessened when you are within these spiritual borders. He is stronger now as well." Deedlit explained as she adjusted her dress, and wiped Ghim's mouth with a small towel, after he had stopped nursing. "I've noticed it too. Orson has been able to express more feeling that I had ever thought to see from him."
Sheris nodded once again as words seemed to be difficult to find. The small sliver of emotion in Orson lately had her mind and heart in a whirlwind. If this was real love, the kind Deed and Parn had found in each other, she was anxious and yet a bit frightened to experience more of this all too foreign emotion.
"He loves you." Deedlit's voice broke her out of her internal thoughts. "Orson always has, but he just could not respond to you."
"But how can you be so sure? I mean we've been together for so long…"
"Love is something that can break all rules and logic." Deed stopped her. She and Parn had learnt that lesson the hard way. An elf and human union was so very rare in their world, yet the love they shared was stronger than any prejudice they had faced. Sheris saw the meaning behind her friend's words and smiled. "I'm sure whatever the feelings your are experiencing inside are the beginnings of…" Her encouraging comment was halted abruptly as another wave of pain seeped through her body. This time it was not only physical pain, but also a mental feeling that something was not going well with Parn. Quickly handing him over to Sheris Deedlit sunk down into bed and whimpered.
"Deed, what is it? Deed?" Sheris asked as the tiny bundle in her arms now began to cry being handed away from his mother's arms so quickly.
"It's nothing… it'll pass soon." She said as she clutched the pillow trying to ease the throbbing ache.
"Are you sure? Deedlit, maybe I should go get one of those healers. What's wrong?" As much as Deed tried to assure Sheris she was fine, the red head wouldn't listen. Getting up with Ghim still crying, she quickly went out into the hall to find someone. In no time Deedlit had another group of elven healers at her side.
"Just what exactly is wrong with her?" Sheris asked of Deed's mother. The older elven woman, who slowly rocked a slumbering Teseus, motioned for the human to follow her out of the room.
"Her body is still in shock from having these two." The woman said as she looked from the grandchild him her arms to the recently clamed Ghim held by Sheris. "I'm not exactly what the healers know, except that without that root to be ground into some sort of tea or medicine, my baby will slowly die."
Sheris knew something was wrong with Deedlit, but nothing that could be described as fatal. Holding Ghim to her a little tighter, she closed her eyes for a moment. Parn would be devastated…
"They won't fail." She said with a feeling of confidence. "Parn won't let it come to that." Sheris knew this for a fact. Never had Parn failed when Deedlit had counted on him so greatly. Remembering this determination to save her the last time, he was more than willing to go to his death without so much as a sword. Parn would not fail.
-
Back inside the bedroom, Deed lingered between sleep and wakefulness as the healers left her some herbs to take. Her mind was not on herself at the moment. Something in her mind told he that Parn was in trouble. The link they shared was being tested, never before had they tried to communicate over such a large distance. As much as she wanted to talk to him, it was enough that she could feel him through the bond. Something was wrong…once again he was put in danger because of her. Never before had Deedlit felt so helpless. Summoning the forest spirits around her, Deedlit prayed that they could aid Parn if he needed them.
"Be safe my love." She whispered before exhaustion over came her and Deedlit slipped into a much-needed slumber.
-
"HELP!" the shouts continued to ring in their ears. As both men rushed through the brush and nearly dead looking vegetation, they soon came to the source of the cries.
Before them among a pool of sinking sands was the figure of a shapely woman calling out for assistance. Her frightened eyes looked up to meet the two strangers who suddenly appeared.
"Help me, please!" She begged as she continued to sink beneath the ground. Stretching out her arm towards them she struggled to get herself out of the sands that wouldn't let her go.
"Orson, do you have any rope or anything?" Parn asked assessing the situation. He knew that if one of them tried to go into the sands, they would also meet a similar fate. Orson looked around the area and spotted a vine like plant growing on a near by tree. Cutting apiece loose from it's growing tract, Orson stepped up beside Parn. The two seasoned warriors looked at each other as Parn decided to act.
"Orson, can you pull us back in?" The free knight asked his friend before jumping in. A nod from his traveling companion was all Parn needed as he grabbed an end and jumped into the dangerous sands as far as he could. The weight of his body weighted down with armor only caused him to sink faster than either men expected. Neither did it help that the woman, who was now clutching to him, wasn't staying still. The added movement sent them deeper and deeper into the mess.
Orson strained to pull the two out of the sinking pit. The vine he held was slowly snapping and he could feel the time slipping away. Sooner than he expected the vine broke as the woman screamed again right into Parn's ear. As he felt himself sinking deeper, panic began to seep into his mind.
'No, it can't end this way… I have to save Deedlit… Deed!' He told himself as he felt a warmth surround him. Opening his eyes that he didn't even remember closing, Parn could see tiny spirits doing their best to fight against the sands. Orson saw the two slowly emerge from the ground and couldn't believe his eyes.
The woman who was still in Parn's arms stopped screaming when they began to rise instead of sink. A look that could be described as irritation crossed her face and without warning from within the sands large arm like appendages sprang forth. Quickly grabbing a hold of Parn's legs, the spirit's work was nearly worthless in seconds. If things could not look any worse, Orson was also thrown into the pit by yet another arm grabbing a hold of his legs. Before either knew what was happening the sands had swallowed them.
Coughing out the sand that had gotten into his mouth, Parn slowly came back to reality. A painful throbbing came from his head, for some reason it was like a signal for him to awaken from his temporary sleep. Groaning as he slowly tried to move, Parn heard footsteps come closer to where he laid.
His eyes finally cleared and darkness surrounded him. To his side, he could see his unconscious partner also on the ground. Blinking twice Parn finally noticed that although they were alive, he could not move his arms or legs.
"Awake so soon?" Came the voice of the woman who had been calling for aid not to long ago. However her tone was no longer one of pleading, but a sharp and menacing tone. "Who are you that you can summon spirits to your aid?" The woman asked again as she used her foot to push Parn onto his back. "Well? What are outsiders doing on Kardis' Island?"
Parn could only look up at the woman who was dressed in a black cloak. If he had not been assured by Wort, that Karla was contained, he could have sworn he was seeing her before him. The dark hair, dark eyes, this woman just radiated darkness around her.
"If you will not tell me what you want here, then I will just kill you both and get it over with." She said as she reached down for Parn's sword. Unsheathing it she turned back to the blue eyes man at her feet. "You must be a powerful shaman to have spirits come to your aid and break my sleep spell. No matter, I'll just be done with you now."
-
A/n: I promise that I won't keep you waiting another month or so the next chapter. I actually want to finish this fic rather quickly. I have tons of other story ideas just bugging me to play with.
Until next time-
Things have been hectic, also a case of writer's block came over me. Was it really writer's block or just plain laziness…. God only knows.
But long story short- I'm back and if you're still willing to give it a read- we're back in business ;
Thanks for sticking with me and bugging me occasionally from time to time- I appreciate the reviews! They are the best part of writing- having others enjoy my crazy ideas…
-
'Onward to Marmo, and then back home… just wait my love. I'll be back soon.' He said as he watched the forest grow smaller and smaller to the human eye. 'I'll return to you.'
From above the ground on a dragon the journey that had seemed like forever was done in mere hours. This was the second time both of the men had stepped foot on the cursed island. Once again Parn was not here for any sort of enjoyment. Although the mission timelines were more lax this time around, Deedlit's life was still on the line.
As he dismounted from the dragon Parn couldn't help but shutter as the memories of carrying out of the broken and crumbling temple Deedlit's nearly lifeless body. He vowed to never have to see her like that again. This was a promise he intended to keep even if it meant his life.
"So Orson, what do you think?" Parn asked taking in the surrounding area. The landscape had seemingly changed in the time since their forces had left the island. Kardis the destroyer still held a powerful grasp over the lands, none of the king's men wanted to even try and bring human civilization to these shores. Thus it was decided to leave Marmo be as it was intended.
"It is not a pleasant place to reside, however once our mission is complete, we may return to the green haven of the elves."
"I can't wait to return." Parn sighed as his thoughts turned back to his wife and children. While he was fighting his way into the temple to save Deedlit's life and to stop the evil wizard from destroying all of Lodoss, Parn's mind had never envisioned them with a family in only such a short time.
Shaking his head, Parn cleared his mind of the wonderful distractions. He had come here for a reason. His once headstrong streak seemed to return as he reached for his pack still on their transportation.
"Don't worry boy, we'll get out of here soon." He comforted the weary dragon at his side. By the large animal's movements and very demeanor, Parn could tell Deedlit's trusty pet didn't like their current location any more than they did. "Now, Deedlit's father and a scholar gave me the directions to the area where the root was fabled to grow."
"We must be careful Parn. Who knows what we could encounter, and it is just the two of us this time around."
Nodding his head in agreement, the two men and the dragon began the hike. They had not gotten very far when the cries for help echoed in the air. Putting away the book, and drawing his sword, both Parn and Orson rushed to the voice's aid.
-
"Deed, can I ask you a question?" Sheris asked as the two women sat amongst the serene walls of the bedroom. The morning sun had risen to midday level, as Deedlit rested against the headboard of bed. A hungry baby fed from Deedlit's breast as Sheris sat to her friend's side holding a very talkative and content Teseus. The morning after the boys had left was slowly progressing. Since Deedlit had been ordered to bed rest by her father, even to the point that she was barred from leaving her room, the two friends decided to spend the morning talking.
"What is it Sheris?" Deed inquired looking up from her more elven looking child in her arms. "You've been very quiet since the boys left. What's on your mind?"
"Deed, it's about…" Sheris began struggling to find the words to express her feelings. For once the red haired woman didn't know exactly what to say. Her friend's actions made Deedlit smile a little. Usually Sheris was not one to hold back an idea or opinion. Many battles of words had been fought between the two women, however that was all in the past.
"Sheris." Deed shifted the baby that had seemingly finished feeding to reach out and touch her friend's hand. The gesture of support made the red head sigh. "You know you can tell me anything. I assure you that no one else will hear what you want to say except me… well no one else that can actually understand you that is." The she elf gave a soft chuckle as Teseus seemingly wanted in on the chance to converse with his mother.
"Deed, what is real love like?" Sheris finally had gotten up the courage to speak. Normally talking about her feelings to someone else never happened. Sheris was to type to mostly stick to her own thoughts, and keep her emotions contained to herself. However the feelings inside had not gone away like they usually would. Maybe it was the environment, maybe it was a little bit of jealousy deep down in side of her- whatever the reason, Sheris couldn't keep them quiet. She needed help.
"What?" Deed was somewhat caught off guard by the serious tone of Sheris' voice. "Real love?" She inquired, getting a nod from her friend. Sheris set the baby in her arms down on the bed. Extending a finger to gently poke the little button nose, she allowed Teseus' chubby fingers to grab hold of her finger and squeal with excitement.
"Yes, what you and Parn have… real love." Sheris smiled down at the baby and his large blue eyes. "I'm just so confused. I thought I was in love with someone before, but I'm not sure it was real love. And now… now…"
"Real love isn't something to be confused about. Your heart will tell you, show you the way. Especially when you have found the other half of your soul." Deedlit spoke with a wise tone.
"But I really thought I was…" Sheris stopped and looked back up at Deedlit's face, feeling a bit guilty. "I thought I was in love with Parn for the longest time. Not any more!" She quickly said with a blush. "I was so sure he was the one I had been looking for. Then I saw how the two of you reacted to each other. I didn't stand a chance." She smiled. "And now. I've been at Orson's side for so long. We've shared some of the hardest moments together, yet I never felt this way about him until now."
"The tight grasp that the spirit of fury and rage has on his soul is lessened when you are within these spiritual borders. He is stronger now as well." Deedlit explained as she adjusted her dress, and wiped Ghim's mouth with a small towel, after he had stopped nursing. "I've noticed it too. Orson has been able to express more feeling that I had ever thought to see from him."
Sheris nodded once again as words seemed to be difficult to find. The small sliver of emotion in Orson lately had her mind and heart in a whirlwind. If this was real love, the kind Deed and Parn had found in each other, she was anxious and yet a bit frightened to experience more of this all too foreign emotion.
"He loves you." Deedlit's voice broke her out of her internal thoughts. "Orson always has, but he just could not respond to you."
"But how can you be so sure? I mean we've been together for so long…"
"Love is something that can break all rules and logic." Deed stopped her. She and Parn had learnt that lesson the hard way. An elf and human union was so very rare in their world, yet the love they shared was stronger than any prejudice they had faced. Sheris saw the meaning behind her friend's words and smiled. "I'm sure whatever the feelings your are experiencing inside are the beginnings of…" Her encouraging comment was halted abruptly as another wave of pain seeped through her body. This time it was not only physical pain, but also a mental feeling that something was not going well with Parn. Quickly handing him over to Sheris Deedlit sunk down into bed and whimpered.
"Deed, what is it? Deed?" Sheris asked as the tiny bundle in her arms now began to cry being handed away from his mother's arms so quickly.
"It's nothing… it'll pass soon." She said as she clutched the pillow trying to ease the throbbing ache.
"Are you sure? Deedlit, maybe I should go get one of those healers. What's wrong?" As much as Deed tried to assure Sheris she was fine, the red head wouldn't listen. Getting up with Ghim still crying, she quickly went out into the hall to find someone. In no time Deedlit had another group of elven healers at her side.
"Just what exactly is wrong with her?" Sheris asked of Deed's mother. The older elven woman, who slowly rocked a slumbering Teseus, motioned for the human to follow her out of the room.
"Her body is still in shock from having these two." The woman said as she looked from the grandchild him her arms to the recently clamed Ghim held by Sheris. "I'm not exactly what the healers know, except that without that root to be ground into some sort of tea or medicine, my baby will slowly die."
Sheris knew something was wrong with Deedlit, but nothing that could be described as fatal. Holding Ghim to her a little tighter, she closed her eyes for a moment. Parn would be devastated…
"They won't fail." She said with a feeling of confidence. "Parn won't let it come to that." Sheris knew this for a fact. Never had Parn failed when Deedlit had counted on him so greatly. Remembering this determination to save her the last time, he was more than willing to go to his death without so much as a sword. Parn would not fail.
-
Back inside the bedroom, Deed lingered between sleep and wakefulness as the healers left her some herbs to take. Her mind was not on herself at the moment. Something in her mind told he that Parn was in trouble. The link they shared was being tested, never before had they tried to communicate over such a large distance. As much as she wanted to talk to him, it was enough that she could feel him through the bond. Something was wrong…once again he was put in danger because of her. Never before had Deedlit felt so helpless. Summoning the forest spirits around her, Deedlit prayed that they could aid Parn if he needed them.
"Be safe my love." She whispered before exhaustion over came her and Deedlit slipped into a much-needed slumber.
-
"HELP!" the shouts continued to ring in their ears. As both men rushed through the brush and nearly dead looking vegetation, they soon came to the source of the cries.
Before them among a pool of sinking sands was the figure of a shapely woman calling out for assistance. Her frightened eyes looked up to meet the two strangers who suddenly appeared.
"Help me, please!" She begged as she continued to sink beneath the ground. Stretching out her arm towards them she struggled to get herself out of the sands that wouldn't let her go.
"Orson, do you have any rope or anything?" Parn asked assessing the situation. He knew that if one of them tried to go into the sands, they would also meet a similar fate. Orson looked around the area and spotted a vine like plant growing on a near by tree. Cutting apiece loose from it's growing tract, Orson stepped up beside Parn. The two seasoned warriors looked at each other as Parn decided to act.
"Orson, can you pull us back in?" The free knight asked his friend before jumping in. A nod from his traveling companion was all Parn needed as he grabbed an end and jumped into the dangerous sands as far as he could. The weight of his body weighted down with armor only caused him to sink faster than either men expected. Neither did it help that the woman, who was now clutching to him, wasn't staying still. The added movement sent them deeper and deeper into the mess.
Orson strained to pull the two out of the sinking pit. The vine he held was slowly snapping and he could feel the time slipping away. Sooner than he expected the vine broke as the woman screamed again right into Parn's ear. As he felt himself sinking deeper, panic began to seep into his mind.
'No, it can't end this way… I have to save Deedlit… Deed!' He told himself as he felt a warmth surround him. Opening his eyes that he didn't even remember closing, Parn could see tiny spirits doing their best to fight against the sands. Orson saw the two slowly emerge from the ground and couldn't believe his eyes.
The woman who was still in Parn's arms stopped screaming when they began to rise instead of sink. A look that could be described as irritation crossed her face and without warning from within the sands large arm like appendages sprang forth. Quickly grabbing a hold of Parn's legs, the spirit's work was nearly worthless in seconds. If things could not look any worse, Orson was also thrown into the pit by yet another arm grabbing a hold of his legs. Before either knew what was happening the sands had swallowed them.
Coughing out the sand that had gotten into his mouth, Parn slowly came back to reality. A painful throbbing came from his head, for some reason it was like a signal for him to awaken from his temporary sleep. Groaning as he slowly tried to move, Parn heard footsteps come closer to where he laid.
His eyes finally cleared and darkness surrounded him. To his side, he could see his unconscious partner also on the ground. Blinking twice Parn finally noticed that although they were alive, he could not move his arms or legs.
"Awake so soon?" Came the voice of the woman who had been calling for aid not to long ago. However her tone was no longer one of pleading, but a sharp and menacing tone. "Who are you that you can summon spirits to your aid?" The woman asked again as she used her foot to push Parn onto his back. "Well? What are outsiders doing on Kardis' Island?"
Parn could only look up at the woman who was dressed in a black cloak. If he had not been assured by Wort, that Karla was contained, he could have sworn he was seeing her before him. The dark hair, dark eyes, this woman just radiated darkness around her.
"If you will not tell me what you want here, then I will just kill you both and get it over with." She said as she reached down for Parn's sword. Unsheathing it she turned back to the blue eyes man at her feet. "You must be a powerful shaman to have spirits come to your aid and break my sleep spell. No matter, I'll just be done with you now."
-
A/n: I promise that I won't keep you waiting another month or so the next chapter. I actually want to finish this fic rather quickly. I have tons of other story ideas just bugging me to play with.
Until next time-