I probably sound mean, but please! Give me ideas! I'm begging you!

Chapter 3: Achmed and Raven

Raven rose, as always, before dawn after a few hours of sleep. Quickly, she hopped out of bed and walked to the dining hall. At the door, she could hear rustling inside. Cautiously she slinked inside and pulled out a dagger from of her wrist sheath. Then she saw a golden-haired head leaning on the table. Raven relaxed and re-sheathed her dagger.

"Good morning Rhapsody." Raven greeted while she sat on her chair across from her.

"Good morning!" Rhapsody said cheerfully, "So I'm not the only one gets up this early."

"Shouldn't Grunther and Father be up?" Rhapsody looked confused. "Why?"

"Well, Grunther with the troops and Father usually gets up to explore Gwyliam's library." Raven stated while grabbing some fruit. Rhapsody nodded. It did sound like them.

"You still have questions, don't you." Raven said as a statement, not a question.

"Yes. If it's too hard for you…"

"No, it's fine."

"How old are you?"

"14."

"Do you feel heartbeats, like Achmed?"

"Well, sometimes. Not very much."

"Are you educated?"

"In what? School? Yes, very well actually. You, Father, and Grunther taught me lots of things. Even Ashe helped."

"Do you have any friends?"

"Besides my family? I'd occasionally visit Gwidyon and Melanie. This feels like I'm being questioned from a judge. Can you make the questions more opened ended?"

"Enough questions. The sun is rising and I would like to sing my morning bade." Rhapsody stood up and walked towards the door and stopped. "Would you like to accompany me?"

"Yes please." Both of them quickly ran outside and found a good view of the sun in a clearing where Rhapsody started to sing as she drew Daystar Clairton. (Am I spelling these things right? I don't have a copy of any of the books!) Raven gracefully sat on the ground, listening to the calming rhythms of Rhapsody's clear sweet voice.

Achmed

Achmed sat in the tree watching the two of them. It looked so… natural. But it didn't seem right. Like something was missing. Maybe he was just being paranoid. No. Being paranoid is good. It just means that you're more careful and see things others don't. Something was wrong. Rhapsody turned and said something to Raven, which made Raven blush and shake her head furiously and shook her hands quickly in front of her in "x" forms. Rhapsody apparently insisted because Raven started to scramble away playfully and Rhapsody playfully grabbed her hand and tried to pull her up. After a couple minutes Rhapsody apparently had gotten what she wanted. She helped pull Raven up and said some things to her. She nodded. Then together they started to sing.

Raven and Rhapsody

Raven felt embarrassed as she stumbled a little over some of the melody as Rhapsody sang harmony. Raven never thought she had a good singing voice, but now it sounded like screeching to her ears. She heard a small rustle behind them in the trees, and then a small crack of a twig. Raven carefully unsheathed her dagger, trying not to be noticed by Rhapsody who seemed oblivious to it all.

Achmed

Achmed quickly struggled to regain his balance. How could he have been distracted by that music? Oh no! Where's the branch? Quickly, quickly! Oh bloody hrekin.

"What the hell!?" Raven shouted as a figure tumbled out of a tree. Rhapsody quickly pointed the flaming sword at the undignified heap on the ground. "Who are you?" she demanded, "What do you- Achmed?"

Achmed struggled to his feet and brushed himself off. Rhapsody and Raven muffled their giggles with their hands. "Why in the world were you in a tree?" Rhapsody asked, hiding a smile behind her hand.

"I was simply- simply-retrieving a stray arrow of yours." Achmed said as honorably as he could.

"Really," Raven said turning to the now fully risen sun. "I'm hungry. Do you care to have some sport and hunt for food?" Raven challenged with a wicked smile. Achmed and Rhapsody stood confused. This girl really stated random things.

"Why do you ask?" Achmed asked. This kid was weird. "I don't know. I'm bored I guess. You used to send me to hunt food in case we traveled and I got lost. Such the cautious father you are- were." Raven's eyes suddenly dark sapphire eyes suddenly grew brighter than the sun. "Why don't we have a competition?" she exclaimed excitedly, "We can have Grunther and Ashe join us! We can have some bets! Or make the losers do something awful!" she cackled evilly as Achmed and Rhapsody stared at the cackling girl. Well, it was getting quite boring in this place, with peace here and all.

"Achmed, it does sound fun." Rhapsody said calmly, but they could see the excitement in those emerald eyes. "It has been quite dull. And I like the part about the losers."

Achmed stared at the two with a blank expression on his face. "Do what you like but I will not participate." Rhapsody and Achmed watched as Raven's face fell. "Why?" she demanded. "Because I do not wager and do not play games. I have much work to do."

"Like what? Signing papers? Oh, what grueling work." Her voice dripping with sarcasm. Achmed tuned on his heel and stalked off.

"Are you afraid that Ashe will beat you?" Rhapsody called after him. This made Achmed stop. Rhapsody caught Raven's eye and winked. Raven's confused look formed into a wicked face. "Your husband does look very fit. Maybe he could beat Achmed at competition. Ashe probably does this all the time."

"Oh yes, he has lots of muscles. He is very fast and strong. And handsome as well! And rich and is actually kind! That is very rare to find!" Rhapsody giggled. Achmed walked up to the chuckling women.

"What do the losers do?" Achmed asked.

"That's up to the winners." Raven grinned.

"I am only doing this because I need to get to know you better." He said to Raven.

"I'm sure you are." Rhapsody laughed.

Ok! I know this one was slow and still sucks but I've always wanted to see- read that Achmed falls out of a tree! I have no idea why but I love it!

DA777