A/N: Sorry about the length of the chapter! I'll try to get the next one out sooner (tomorrow, hopefully) but you'll have to live with this one now.

I think this chapter is awkward, so don't get too mad if you guys thinkit is. Also, do you guys want me to have more of Rothas' point of veiw? I seem to be writing in Lythe's all the time. Also, do any of you know legends like the one of Windrider, the founding of Valdemar and Sun and Shadow? If you do, can you tell me. They don't have to be from Valdemar either; they can be from Karse or something.

And thanks to Tessabe (again), Amber Stag, wizard116, and Moonshadow for reviewing. And wizard--the reason both Lythe and Rothas were walking around was because it was at dusk, when the sun is setting, and both of them could walk around then. (Hey, it's in the song Misty wrote so I'll go with it.)

Wow, long A/N! R&R

X-X-X

One evening in the twilight e'er his curse could work its will,
Sunsinger sang of sunlight by a lake serene and still—
When out of the shadows stepped a woman, fey and fair—
A woman sweet as twilight, with the shadows in her hair.

She had midnight-black hair, fit with the shadows from which she came, along with dark grey eyes filled with surprise and a great sadness. She stood there in silence, as Rothas had stopped singing.

Well, since it doesn't look like she is going to make the first move… he thought as he stood up. "My name is Rothas Ashkevron," he said, holding a hand out to show he meant no harm to her.

She nodded warily and answered. "I'm Lythe Hyrosan."

"Lythe, that's a nice name," he said quietly, and it was true. But he had a feeling she could have been named anything and he would have thought it beautiful. "If you want, I can sing a song at your request… but only if you want, of course!" he added hurriedly. This was an awkward conversation, partly because her face remained blank so Rothas couldn't tell what she was thinking, and because she wasn't speaking either. But, to his relief, she smiled slightly.

"I'd like that. You can pick a song, though."

Rothas nodded and started singing "Shadow-Lover." It seemed appropriate, Lythe seeming to be of Shadows, not to mention Rothas liked the tune. To his surprise, Lythe, after the first two verses, started dancing to the song, and Rothas could honestly say he had never seen a better dancer. He wanted to stop singing completely and just watch her dance. She continued dancing until the song was over.

"That—that was excellent!" Rothas exclaimed.

Lythe smiled slightly, and Roth could tell she was modest about her gift. "Do you really think so?"

"Absolutely."

Lythe smiled even more at him and Rothas felt truly happy for the first time since he was cursed.

X-X-X

Lythe couldn't move when she saw the singer staring at her. And, it seemed, neither could he. But he finally broke the silence and said—

"My name is Rothas Ashkevron," while holding a hand out to show peace.

She responded with her name cautiously.

"Lythe," he said quietly, nodding. "That's a nice name."

Lythe felt a slight smile on her face. He seemed to be really nice and she couldn't help but feel comfortable around him.

But he doesn't need to know that. He has to have a reason for being in this dreary forest for three days and it might not be such a good one. He's the first person I've seen stay in this forest in a long time. It's the only reason I stay here, because it is uninhabited.

He seemed slightly uncomfortable, probably from her lack of response.

"If you want, I can sing a song at your request," he said, "but only if you want, of course!"

At this, Lythe gave him a smile. She hadn't danced to a song or tune in a long time, and sorely missed it. It wasn't the same when she danced without a tune.

"I'd like that. You can pick a song, though."

Rothas grinned and started singing.

"Shadow-Lover," she thought.

Lythe listened to the first two verses, trying to pick up the tune, and then started to dance. She wanted to laugh when he nearly stopped singing when she started dancing, but didn't. As she was dancing, Lythe realize how much she missed dancing to a song, and it seemed completely natural with Rothas. She was soon completely enthralled by her dance, and was oblivious to everything around her, except for a presence in the back of her head. But it was extremely faint, and Lythe could hardly notice it, but it was there, and she couldn't figure out what it was. She knew it hadn't been there before. But she was brought out of her musings when the song ended and so she finished her dance.

"That—that was excellent!" Rothas said.

Lythe turned to him with a small smile and asked, "Do you really think so?"

Rothas smiled back. "Absolutely."

For the first time, Lythe gave him a true smile.