II. Confronting the Enemy


Author's note: I never liked the idea of Rorek being a womanizer. However, it worked out that I could use that quirk as a means to hide his pain. Don't worry, he won't stay that way for too much longer!


The innkeeper stoked the fire and returned to the front desk. Raven stood in front of the fireplace with her hands clasped behind her back. She closed her eyes and held her head back as she basked in the warmth from the flames. She was enjoying the heat and was strangely comforted by it. Raven then began to ponder her situation. She had so many questions for Rorek. Just how much information did he manage to pull from her before she had closed her mind to him? She knew that at the very least, he knew about the Teen Titans even if he wasn't quite sure who they were. Her mind shifted quickly from her friends as she felt her heart growing heavy. She then began to think about Malchior. Rorek knew that she had defeated Malchior in her time, but he didn't seem to know just what had happened.

"The less he knows, the better," thought Raven. She opened her eyes and stared into the flames. The light-hearted dance of the fire suddenly brought back the hellish vision she had received from Slade. She shook her head to clear it when…

"Good morning, Raven!" Rorek's voice was uber cheery.

"Morning," she responded. "He and Starfire would get along just fine," mused Raven. She turned around to face him.

"We have to talk, Rorek. I need to know what information you took from me." Her cold stare stopped Rorek cold in his tracks.

"Umm...you don't seem very happy."

"How perceptive. Now, tell me what I need to know!" Raven pressed.

Rorek brought one of his hands to his forehead and sighed. "Why are you always so serious? Don't you ever allow yourself to have fun and be happy, Raven?"

"Corrections," Raven thought, "he and Beast Boy would get along just fine!"

"Rorek, I'm one thousand years from my time, I'm alone here, AND I find out that my enemy is here as well."

"You are correct in two instances. However, you are not alone." Rorek's tone suddenly went serious and it caught Raven off guard. This was the first time in their brief encounter that she had seen him this way. His goofy smile was gone and his stoic facial expression matched her own. For the moment, Raven found him formidable.

"Rooorek! Yoo-Hoo!" The swarm of women came skipping into the lobby. Rorek's countenance changed again.

"Maidens! My lovelies!" Rorek tuned to them and clasped his hands showing another toothy grin.

"Ugh!" Raven needed some air.

Outside Raven leaned against the wall taping her fingers as she waited for Rorek. He flew open the door and came out whistling.

"Ah! There you are! I know what you're probably thinking and no, they didn't sleep in the same room as I. I slept by myself last night." He seemed very pleased with himself.

"WHY are telling me that?"

"I didn't want you to think that I am immoral," he grinned.

"You lied to the townspeople, parade yourself like some hero, play up to foolish women's fantasies, and you're worried about being perceived as immoral?"

"Touché! Well met, Raven. I see that we'll make a great team!"

"We're NOT a team." Raven began walking off when Rorek called out from behind her.

"Oh yeah, that's right!" He said slapping his forehand. "Even when you are part of a team of people you consider your friends, you isolate yourself and become a one-woman act! So why should I be any different, hmmm?"

The tone in Rorek's voice was full of sarcasm and irony. When Raven turned back around to defend herself, Rorek quickly stepped forward so that he was standing just a hand's length in front of her. He leaned down so that their noses were barely touching and whispered in an almost threatening voice, "So don't tell me about being immoral."

Raven usually had a witty comeback but was speechless because she knew that there was an element of truth to his words. Rorek saw that he had won and smiled smugly. He straitened himself up and walked past her. His smugness vanished as he again returned to his cheerful persona.

"So, let's formulate a strategy shall we?" He said exuberantly. Raven numbly followed him, defeated.

"Well met, Rorek. Well met," she thought. That was three times in less than 24 hours that he had mentally disarmed her. She strengthened her mental defenses. She would be more careful about her choice of words from now on. She had put up a good front, but inside she was reeling from Rorek's words.

Later…

"So, what's our strategy, Raven?" Rorek and Raven had found a large boulder in the clearing of the nearby woods. They had decided to sit there and confront one another.

"First, I need you to answer my earlier question. How much do you know about me?"

"Fair enough. I heard you screaming in my mind. You called out for your friends, the Titans. I also saw a book and Malchior's likeness. I saw betrayal and a bitter victory. I told you, I can only see bits and pieces." Rorek had been looking up as he had said this. He then focused and looked Raven straight in the eyes.

"Something puzzles me though, Raven. What was the link between your hurt and Malchior's defeat? Why the sadness?" Rorek's voice was gentle at that last question. His silver eyes showed compassion. Raven was forced to look back at him. She was about to answer but caught herself.

"What does it matter," she tore her eyes from him. Rorek was slowly beginning to understand.

"You had…feelings for him? He is a murderer of both dragons and humans! How could you care for him?"

Raven knew she could make up something, but she felt that she did not have to answer to this man. She met his eyes again.

"Rorek, you want to save your reputation, and I just want to go home. Normally, such goals would make us go our separate ways, but Malchior's defeat is also our main objective. That's our link. Help me and I help you. In the end, we both may end up getting what we want. Let's stick to that."

Rorek let out a loud sigh and nodded. "Very well. I will let it drop for now." He looked at her, almost lovingly, and turned away. "Broken hearts may also be our link too," he said with his back to her.

Raven didn't acknowledge his last statement. "So, is that it? Is that all you know?" Raven wasn't about to let the subject drop.

Rorek nodded again. "All I know is that you are from a different time. You are part of a team called the Teen Titans. You shield yourself from them. You keep them at arm's length. Yet you claim to be alone."

"I'm not alone." She said defensively.

"You know that…here" said Rorek as he pointed to his head. "But you don't know that here," he then pointed to his heart. "Again, I don't know the connection between you and Malchior, but I do know that somehow you fought him and won."

Raven tried not to let his words affect her again. "What a complex individual you are! One moment you're acting like some adolescent girl chaser and the next you act like you possess the wisdom of the ages!" She gave up trying to figure him out. For the moment, she was satisfied that Rorek was telling the truth.

"So, you don't know anything about that book?" She asked.

Rorek shook his head. "I don't know the true nature of your victory."

"I see. For future reference, how do we find Malchior."

"Not to worry, Dark Maiden! I have found you!" Raven and Rorek jumped and turned at the rumbling voice. Malchior had been crouching in the trees. He now stood before them.

"Malchior! Deceiver!" Hissed Raven.

"Flattery, child?" Malchior chuckled. "Die!"

Malchior was about to incinerate her when a high pitched scream filled his ears. It made him grit his teeth. He had expected it to be from this strange girl, but her mouth was closed and she was staring in the opposite direction. Malchior followed her gaze and saw the white-haired runt running away with his hands in the air. Both Malchior and Raven were stunned.

"Ooookay," said Raven. "He screams just like Cyborg. So much for our 'team'."

"Well, if it isn't the Great Slayer of Dragons." Malchior suddenly lost interest in Raven and pursued Rorek. "I'm going to enjoy this, worm!" He grinned. He let at a massive ball of fire.

Rorek screamed and tripped. He was frozen in fear as the fireball got closer to him.

"Rorek! Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"

Rorek was then engulfed in Raven's dark energy. He winced as the fire came at him full force. He was cringing and realized that he was still alive. Rorek stood up and his gaze shifted to Raven. Malchior's attention also shifted back to Raven.

"Wench! You will not deny me my kill!" Malchior turned on Raven. She levitated the boulder. It was a LOT bigger than she thought. The part that was above ground was about the size of a minivan. The rest of the massive boulder that was buried underground was about the size of a two story house.

"Good enough for me," said Raven.

She flung it at Malchior. He stopped and tried to dodge it, but too late. The boulder hit the side of his head. He let out a roar of pain and fell to the ground.

"Amazing, Raven! You did it!" Rorek ran up to her.

"No. He's not dead, just stunned. I'll finish this right now!" She lifted the boulder up again. "You will never see my time, monster!" She was about to smash his head in when she noticed that her field of vision had increased. Horrified, she forgot about Malchior and dropped the boulder on the ground.

"Raven! What has happened to you?"

Raven ran right past Rorek to a nearby lake and looked at her reflection. Sure enough, she had an extra pair of eyes. Her reflection warped and cleared revealing her father! Raven screamed and fell on her side. She was curled up into a fetal position holding her head in her hands.

"No! I'm not like you! I'm not like this! I am Raven! I am my own!"

Rorek stood by, horrified. In Raven's panic, she had let her mental block down. Rorek tried hard not to intercept her thoughts, but it was like trying not to hear two people screaming at each other right in front of you. Rorek rushed to Raven's side and knelt down. He took her by her arms and forced her to turn to turn to him.

"I'm here, Raven! I know the truth now. I won't let him hurt you. Let me help you!" Rorek sent out his own mental broadcast. It calmed Raven down and the eyes disappeared. She collapsed in his arms. He picked her up. He looked to Malchior who was still out cold.

"If I had a blade, I would finish it now, demon! Next time, I won't be the one running." This wasn't false bravado talking. It was authentic rage as Rorek finally understood Raven's link to Malchior. Rorek fled with Raven. The ride was rough and Raven opened her eyes slightly. She saw Rorek panting, running as fast as he could. She didn't want to know what had happened. Raven heard Rorek calling out to her in her mind. He kept reassuring her. Raven sighed as she let the darkness overtake her.

After Rorek had cleared the area, Malchior had woke up. He groggily stood up. He looked around and saw no trace of either human. Malchior couldn't go to the town because of the magic barrier that the Great Magician had put up around it.

"You didn't kill me, Dark Maiden? I'll make you wish you had!"

Meanwhile…

Rorek reached the inn exhausted. It took every last bit of his strength to keep from dropping Raven and collapsing. He wearily kicked open the door to the lobby. His groupies had been there waiting for him.

"Lord, Rorek!" They chimed. "How went the dragon slaying?"

"It went terribly!" Rorek really wasn't in the mood to be dealing with them right now. "Maidens, my associate has been injured. I must take my leave and tend to her." He tipped his head to them out of respect. They cleared the way and let him pass.

"Some other time then?" One asked.

"Maybe," he replied tartly.

He reached Raven's room and set her down on the bed gently. He then collapsed on the floor. Rorek groaned and turned onto his back. Raven's broadcast mentally wore him out. He now knew that Malchior had used his image and his voice to trick Raven. Even though Rorek hated Malchior even more so now, Rorek wondered if he was any different with the way he'd been treating women.

"Raven," he whispered her name. "I'm sorry…for everything. I'll make it up to you, I promise." It was only noon time but Rorek's eyes grew heavy. The hardness of the wooden floor didn't seem to bother him as he too drifted off.

To be continued…