A/N: Ok this might seem kind of funky. That is because I wrote the entire chapter, and then it got deleted from the computer so I had to rewrite it. It came out ten times better the first time, and I couldn't remember all of what I wrote. I hope that this is alright.
Chapter 5
Groaning, Daine opened her eyes only to shield them with her hand from the bright light above her. Feeling sand beneath her, she guessed she was near a body of water. The scent of spices and clean air washed over her. Once her eyes were accustomed to the light, she revealed them from behind her hand.
When a pair of piercing green eyes appeared above her, she sat up, startled. She had sat up too fast, and her head started to spin.
"Where am I?" Daine said with her head in her hands to stop it from whirling.
"Don't you know?" the eyes asked taken aback.
Looking up, she found that the eyes belonged to a boy. The boy appeared to be somewhat older than her. He had striking navy blue hair, and a few freckles stippled across his nose and cheeks; Like each one was carefully placed to exactness. He was clad only in a pair of breeches and sandals, leaving his skin open to the sun, making it olive toned.
She could tell that this boy, or man, with remarkably blue hair wasn't going to harm her. The only weapon that he appeared to have was a small machete-like sword that lay in the sand a foot or so away from him. The blade was dull, and had the green skin from plants still sticking to it. He remained in a squat next to her, drawing symbols in the sand with a stick.
"The last thing that I remember is that we were fighting Rawdon and his army. We had been on our way to Ilyria with the Riders to prevent them from taking over Tortall." she furrowed her brows in the confusion of remembering, and then they rose in realization. "Then from behind, I was shot with and arrow and I…"
"You died." The boy said with sympathy in his eyes. "You are in the Realm of the Dead."
"Yes, of course."
There was a pause as she placed her hand on the spot where the arrow had entered her back and pierced her spine. She could feel a scar.
"How am I here now, though? I thought I was banned from ever returning to this place."
"They know that. That is why they request of you your presence before them. I am supposed to bring you to them at the Meeting House."
Sighing, Daine looked around. She found herself on a beach. The surrounding water was the same blue as the boy's hair and there were no other people around. Behind her lay a forest exceedingly green, with flowers abundantly placed all over. All over the sand there were shells and drift wood. Picking up a small white shell, she rubbed the smooth inside with her thumb.
After a few moments, Daine stood and placed the shell in her pocket.
Daine looked at him. "Who are they?"
Smiling. "You already know the answer to that, Daine. You shouldn't have to ask."
"How do you know my name?" she asked bemused.
"Who wouldn't know the name of a God born child, especially such a pretty one?"
Daine blushed. "Well then. If you know my name, it would be the proper thing to do for you introduced yourself."
Now it was his turn to blush. "My name is Lucre."
Holding out her hand, Daine spoke. "It's nice to meet you, Lucre."
Lucre smiled and shook her hand.
"Shall we go on then?"
Lucre nodded and picked up his machete. He led Daine through the thick tropical-like forest, stopping every now and then to cut down a few plants that blocked their path.
At a particularly root-y area, Daine tripped. Reacting, Lucre grabbed her arms and caught her. Helping her stand again, he blushed when their faces were inches apart. Daine smiled and shook her head as she straightened her tunic-not that it did any good. 'Men' she thought to herself.
.Daine had to admit, he was intriguing. Noticing the lack of conversation, Daine broke the silence.
"I know this might seem a slightly awkward question to ask, but how old are you?"
Lucre turned around to look at her. "I was 19 when I died. I have been in this Realm for quite some time. I've lost track of the years."
"You were young." She replied sadly.
"Well now, I died protecting my family. If there is a more decent, and noble way to die, I'd like to know." Lucre said with a wink. "Now see, we're almost there."
Daine looked at where he was pointing to. What she saw was a large building in the middle of a clearing in the trees. It was the only building that she could see.
"How many of them am I meeting?"
"There will be Mythros, Weiryn (dad), The Green Goddess (mom), The Badger, Rikash (no he is not dead. I like him), two of the dragons, and the Duckbill."
Daine's shoulders fell. If all of them were in there, that meant that there had been a problem.
"Are you ready?" Lucre asked.
"I might as well be. Whether this happens now, or later, it will still happen the same way. I hope to meet you again some day, Lucre, if I don't see you after this." She kissed him on the cheek and walked into the Meeting House of the Gods.
Alright, this is fair warning about the next chapter. I knew what I wanted to write after the fight, but I didn't know how to lead up to it. I didn't know how to write the conversation and it still isn't written, it's being worked on. I also can't remember. Was it the Realm of the Gods that she was banned from or was it the Realm of the Dead?
And why was she banned from it? I'd reread the book(s), but at this point in time I have lots going on.
Right now, I could use some reviews. Life is crap right now and it sucks.
PLEASE: I need someone to talk to about where I want my story to go. I only want to go over my ideas and see if they work. Also, I need to have someone to double check my stuff from the books. I hate mixing things up like that.
Anyways. Email me at or MSN is AIM: BlueEpiks13