I still do not own Neverwinter, but wow a twinkie... where did it go.

Back in Avarivase...

CHAPTER FIVE- Whisper

I opened my eyes expecting to see my small room of the Academy but instead I saw her, Delphie standing over me and I investigated my surroundings. I was in my room in Avarivase at Di'Manstrana Estate and I sat up then my head started to throb probably still from the ice blocks hitting my head. Delphie looked a lot different, more mature not age mature but she carried herself differently, she seemed more sure of herself than when I last saw her.

"So, you have returned to us," she whispered over me, not wanting to attract attention.

"Ouch," I grabbed my head, "my head hurts."

"Take this," she grabbed a blue leaf from her pocket, "do not worry Amar gave it to me, it will help it go away."

I took the leaf and I swallowed it so fast I didn't taste a thing, "So, I'm back. Do you know how long I'll be here?"

"About a month or so but that matters little. How was it, the other plane."

"I thought you would already know."

"No, I only see what is in this realm, so anything exciting."

"Well," I thought about my week in Neverwinter, "I went to this city called Neverwinter. I first meet this little human named Delphena…"

"Hold up, no one is named Delphena but me, you're trying to pull something over on me."

"No, really her name was Delphena. But I think she could have been you, you both seemed very alike."

"So… you think I came from the other realm."

"I'm not sure but she was about three when she died and I don't remember anything about you before we were in the cave together, even though everyone says that we've been friends longer than that, 'since before we had feathers.'"

"You don't remember things from before you were five that well any way, no one does."

"But you do, or would, right? What is your first memory?"

"The cavern but…"

"I know it was you, I can sense you there. I think that there are forces here that trying to keep of us from knowing the truth. Why can't I know the name of my father?"

"It was outlawed to mention his name but I do not see the relevance of knowing his name, it will not give us any clue into who he was."

"Unless it does give us a glimpse to who he was. Knowing his name will solve a lot of the details that we both don't know, in my opinion."

"If you want to know his name you'll have to get into the archives in the Castle and there is little chance of you getting Royal permission…"

"I could get Salzatorre to let me go."

She smiled and said, "Oh, I see you'll bat eyes, flirt a little and…"

"Delphie, your such a lunatic. You know you think he's cute too. By the way where is the real Delphie,you haven't asked me about the guys in the other realm yet."

"It doesn't… I don't care about that kind of stuff now." she said and looked into her eyes that started to sparkle.

"Who's the guy?" I said.

"It's Amar," she said with a loving accent over Amar so that it sounded like 'Ammmarrr', "he's so nice and he's been helping me study the prophecies of Uere and how they related to you and I. But about a month ago…"

"A month, I thought I was only gone a week."

"No, I was about seven weeks, dear. But anyway back to Amar. Did I mention his physique? No, I didn't, he's built like a siege wall but you wouldn't know it since he has to wear that robe all the time. A month ago, he asked me if I would ever consider a guy like him and I said 'of course.' We've been seeing a lot of each other since then until last week when he had to leave on his pilgrimage to the Shadow Fields to gain his full rights as a priest and before he left," she pulled out a large sun amulet from under her clothes and continued, "he told me 'I'm giving you this because you are my sun, my only source of warmth that I am provided with.'"

"Wow, so that tied you down."

"No, he's an incredible kisser," she shook off a sense of euphoria and continued, "He's so wonderful to me. Kind of like you but in a male's body."

I always thought that I'd be the first of us to have a boyfriend but I knew that there was no way that I could have one with my condition. I was still a bit disappointed and I smiled at Delphie, I truly was delighted that she had found someone for herself.

"We're not officially going out so you could still get guy before I do."

"Delphie, I know that you are reading my mind."

"I really am not. We've been together forever."

"Except for three unaccounted years…"

"You're back on that tangent."

"Yes, you know me. We've got to prove me wrong."

"I don't know anyone that would know that kind of..."

"How about your mom?"

"What?! Why in the hell would she want to aid us, she hates me and I hate her, anyway I bet she's dead," she said nearly beginning to cry but held it back, grabbing her amulet and inhaled the tears.

"Okay, I go by myself."

"No!" Delphie eyes resolved withgreat passion, she leaned into her my face and searched my eyes, "I am supposed to be your right arm. I am supposed to pave your pathway and I will not back down just because of her. I am going with you and protect you. Let's get our stuff ready and held to Raaspook, alright."

"Alright Delphie but first I have to go to the Castle and speak with Salzatorre."

"Do you want to know what happens with you and him?"

"A bit but I don't think that my relationship with my fixation is all that important, kids are dying in Neverwinter, demons are roaming the land here. I don't have any time for a fling."

"Lena," she captured my hands and whispered in my ear, "love makes you do incredible things, without it nothing would be possible. He will make you do the impossible, and you both will need each other."

"Okay, I'm going to speak with him."

As I headed out the door Delphie looked at me and said, "Let him help you." I didn't understand but I agreed.

I arrived at Okphlae Castle and as I entered the meeting, he was waiting for me as I approached him. He looked more handsome now than before, his long, deep brown hair rained just over his shoulders, his angular face was facing mine as I walked nearer to him wanting to tell him how I felt but knowing that I couldn't.

"Ashmorlenna," he said, "I...I want to ask you something."

"Yes," I said diving for his hand, staring into his teal eyes that peered into my soul, stealing my breath.

"I love you..."

"Lena..., Lena," spoke a voice that seemed very real and familiar.

"Are you okay? You seem tired," spoke Salzatorre as he lifted his hand off my arm, returning to a neutral stance about three feet from me.

I stood up and said, "I am okay. I was just... I need some information about my father."

He smiled serenely at me, I prayed that this wasn't a dream either, "I knew you would. I wish I could help you, more but..."

"You know about him?"

"No, but," he pulled out a book and handed it toward me, "it's locked. But it's your father's travelogue, I don't know where the key is but I have been searching for someone to pick it, but the best spymasters in the court have been unsuccessful."

"Thank you," I said looking directly into his eyes, "you don't have to help me."

"I do... I want to, you've done some much for me..."

"I have."

"Yes. You don't understand the hope you bring all of us. Your bravery breeds confidence. Your exploits empower all of us. I know that you don't think you are that special or influential but you are. You are our hope even if my family doesn't want to give you and others that deserve it their due credit."

"Why are you so different from the rest of the Royal Court?"

"They are not enlightened, they are self-diluted. I have studied the past of Avarivase and I understand the importance of our defenders, especially those that are selfless as yourself."

"Okay," I was speechless, was he trying to compliment me, "I need to go to Raaspook and wanted to know if I could have a Royal pass to enter."

"Raaspook," he said with his hand caressing his chin, "you don't need a pass."

"It would be a lot easier..."

"No..., I will go with you."

"You can't go with me, you're the Prince."

"I am the future King, I can do anything that is necessary for Gamlesh to survive."

"I don't want anything to happen to..."

"I'm one of the strongest sword wielders in the land," he said with an imaginary cross slash.

"You're bent on this aren't you?"

"I've wanted to venture out of these walls everyday of my existence. I want to see the world, to find myself, my real self. I have to go to Raaspook but not just myself but for you as well."

"For me."

"Yes, I want to protect you. You are different from any other girl I've ever meet, you're a blessing from Uere and will be a great blessing to the Kingdom, I have to protect you, I... I...," he turned and headed toward the door, "It's up to you, though. I won't want to be a burden."

"You can come, I could use the help in case the sailors get a bit rowdy," I said with a huge smile on my face. "Get your gear, I and Delphie are going to be heading out tonight, okay."

"Sure, but why are you really letting me join." with queer look across his face.

I answered him as I gracefully scampered pass him and whispered in his ear, "Because you're cute."

I gathered the things I needed, bedroll, arrows, flint, rope and some potions while I was in town. Delphie wasn't home when I returned and my aunt said she went to the Temple, so I took a nap and awoke as the sun was setting and raced out of the house as I told my aunt I was searching for Delphie, then ran down the beaten path behind our large house and saw the three of them standing around. Delphie, Amar and Salzatorre were standing beneath I huge Bao Bao tree which branches seemed to stretch out toward their heads.

"Lena," they all said in unison.

"Hi, everyone. I wasn't under the assumption that I'd be part of the a full party," I said toward Amar, who must have just returned from his journey.

Delphie said, "He told me that he was coming no matter what I said so that I should just drop it."

"Amar, I'm glad you want to go but Raaspook is no place for a priest," I said.

"I just return from week in a crater filled with rotting corpses, rats, vultures and not to mention walking dead and poltergeists so if you are saying that I can't handle myself against a bunch of sailors..." how can I argue with that point?

"Okay, and Salzatorre wants to see us reach there safely as well," I said with a quick glance at Delphie.

"You aren't talking me out of going, if that's what you are trying to do," said Delphie with her arms around her hips.

"No, I'm not. Let's take flight, we'll get there much faster and with the wind at our backs we will safe a lot of our energy," I said and we took off with fury and headed eastward to Raaspook, not knowing what we were in search for but each of us knew that trouble was just over the horizon. As we reached the foothills we saw it, they were everywhere, transparent creatures walking, floating and flying about. The forest was dead, everything, nothing thrived even the water, and death was everywhere.

There was a blazing red light ahead of us, Amar stormed ahead of us, I could sense it was evil and I prayed that we would all be okay as I remembered Javeraland Rasfael. Everywhere I went death seemed to be pair with my presence and I wanted everyone to come through this with their lives, especially Prince Salzatorre. As we flew faster through the decay, the creatures seemed to become larger and scarier the closer we came to the light. Amar seemed to pick up more speed the closer we got then as the dome of light was a closing in he lowered his head and ran directly into it, his body flew back, deflected off the surface. I mentallyjotted down…

I wanted to be with you until the end of time

I guess I asked too much.

Someday when I am on my own, looking back at you

I'll remember all about you, and me, and us

"Amar," screamed Delphie as she blasted forward to capture his spiraling body. We landed and watched the huge dome of crimson light call toward the dead spirits, they marched through it and whatever or whomever was in it yelled for more power.

Amar opened his eyes, "It's a demon. We must destroy it. It's feeding on other spirits to get more strength." He stood up and started to pray a spell and the red light faded.

"What did you do," Salzatorre asked.

"I've give us a chance," he said andsprinted toward the demon, feathers lining his path to his destiny.