Wow guys, I'm so sorry this is taking forever. I hope this chapter answers a few questions and keeps you guys interested!

Responses:

Zafara: Well, thanks a lot! I'm really glad you like this story. I myself am a bit disappointed with it, but we'll see where it goes. Thanks for the review!

StickyRice: Sticky! Yay! Long-time-no-see-you-review! How yah been? I'm glad you like my writing. I'm sorry this took forever, but man, freshman year is a killer. Thanks for the review!

celeste9: Hmm, doesn't, don't, big dif. Hah, just kidding. I'll fix it when I do my annual every five chapter once over. That would mean after I complete chapter 15, (which I WILL do!) I'll check things over. Thanks for the review!

Annnnnnnnnnnnddddd here we go!

Chapter 14: Light at the End of the Tunnel

Huffffff…

There was no white. There was only black. Endless darkness. An empty abyss.

Is this… is this death? She could hear herself think, but she could not speak. She could not feel any body part. Is my mind doomed to float through this forever? Something made a muffled noise. Like a huff. She tried to turn in its general direction, but could not. Am I really dead? She refused to believe it. She decided she would not give in.

She felt a sudden need to breath, and began to panic. She moved invisible arms that she feared were not even there to a surface she could not feel. With every ounce of strength she could gather in muscles that did not respond, she pushed.

And with a suction-like pop, her head came loose from the mud it had been stuck in.

The mud was frozen onto her face, and after taking in a few deep bewildered breaths, she felt the urge to clean herself and willed water into her cupped hands. Nothing happened. Again, she called silently to her True Water Rune for water. And again, nothing happened. She looked to her hand, which had been stripped of the gauntlet she had worn earlier. There was no mark.

Her memory was foggy, but when she saw that there was no mark of the rune that had normally adorned her hand, she began to recall. All too suddenly, she remembered the pain of being torn in two, the water rising high above her head, the wind… She hurriedly scrubbed her face to put some warmth back into it and clear it of mud. Gradually, she felt the feeling coming back to the numb body parts, and glanced around dizzily. She sat in a ditch that had most definitely been the raging sea not long ago.

Huffffffff… She turned toward the now familiar noise, and her eyes softened at the sight of her horse. She beckoned the mare closer, and the horse gladly moved through the mud. "Steadfast steed," Chris murmured, wiping dirt from the grey horse's face and patting her lovingly on the muzzle. Chris suddenly asked, though she knew she would get no real answer, "You woke me up, did you?" The mare whickered at her voice. "If you had not woken me up…" She wrapped her arms around the creature's neck and hugged tightly. She started as she slowly recalled what had happened.

"Oh no… what of… Borus! Borus, are you here?" She glanced around the ditch and raked her vision to be better in the dark morning hour. "Borus!" He was not in the ditch. She clambered up the slick edge and into the surrounding muddy snow, and still saw no sign of him. If he is not here, than he is alive… somewhere… She rubbed what was left of her hair out of her eyes and breathed warm air into her numb hands. It was far below freezing out, and she knew that she needed warmth fast. If she had not already contracted hypothermia or frost bite, she would at any moment. Her horse had followed her up the edge of the ditch and stood behind her.

She saw that the reins and saddle were still intact, and was about to mount. She had no strength left anywhere, and would be grateful for a ride. But she stopped short of lifting a foot to the stirrup when she noticed her horse was favoring her fore-left leg. She cursed under her breath. She could not, she would not ride her. She looked around in the snow that surrounded the area, and saw what looked like the footprints of six or so horses heading in the direction she assumed was the Zexen camp. Willing her feet into action and hoping they would not fall off, she made her way in the direction of the camp.

An endless eternity passed as she walk-limped through the two feet of snow that covered every bit of ground. She felt more like a zombie than a living creature, and even though she herself had no energy to give the legs, her will to live, to see that Borus was alive, to end the evil of the bandit leader, of Geo, moved her legs all on its own. In a time that passed both as fast as a minute and as long as a year, she found the Zexen camp entrance a mere twenty yards in front of her.

Control returned to her body all of a sudden; autopilot had turned off, and she found herself staggering slightly. The guard at the entrance to the camp jumped up at seeing her.

"Halt! State your name and business, stranger!" he called out. Chris had no energy to spare her mouth, and kept walking forward, her horse limping slowly behind her. She had followed her rider as obediently as a dog would its human companion, but the love the mare carried for her rider was beyond even that relationship. "Ho, I said halt!" When Chris still did not slow, she heard the shing as a sword was drawn. "Enemy sighted," the knight cried to the others on watch, before moving in with practiced ease to attack Chris. His sword sliced down as he suddenly appeared directly in front of her. She angled out of the way. The blade met snow, but was quickly pulled back. Again the knight swiped, and again Chris angled out of the way. It was an easy way to avoid blows, but very risky depending on the skill of the opponent. She did not need to order her body; instinct took over.

She heard her mare neigh nervously behind her. Again and again the blade came, and again and again she dodged. The knight grew frustrated, and retreated momentarily. "Light!" he yelled. "I need some light!" Just as he spoke, other solders on duty came from many directions, and a light soon lit brightly in front of her as one of the solders lit a torch. "Goddess!" Blades were sheathed, messengers sent, and a few soldiers moved to Chris's side to aid her. One led her horse away; another brought a flask of water to her lips. The soldier who had attacked began sputtering apologies. One look from Chris silenced him, and even before she was helped past the first tent in the camp, Salome rounded the corner.

"My Lady! Are you hurt? What has happened?" Chris did not look up to meet her strategist's eyes.

And in a voice that was hardly a whisper, she spoke, "My…" Her voice cracked. Salome moved his head closer. "My… my dear Salome… we are in… much more trouble… than you could… ever…imagine."

……

"From what I can see, you've a fractured ankle, a pulled muscle in your leg, partially healed bite marks in your stomach and neck… hmmm…" The mender scratched his five o'clock shadow, looking over a paper in his hand. "You have a bit of frostbite on your hands, milady, but no hypothermia. I've taken care of the bite marks and your ankle, but I'm afraid there's not much else I can do for you." A few candles lit the menders tent they were in, and light flickered strange shadows onto the wall.

Chris nodded exhaustedly, placing a strand of dirty hair behind her ear. The coff-bean brew she held in her hands had done a good job of replenishing her energy, and a little magic had restored a bit more, but she was still beyond tired. She thanked the mender, dismissed him, and turned to Salome. He sat in a chair with folded arms, a million questions in his arsenal that he refrained from asking. Chris sighed and placed her head in her hands, willing herself to wake up from the nightmare she had gotten herself into. Salome waited patiently.

Unexpectedly, Chris spoke. "After Percival left, we were captured. When I came to my senses, we were in a prison cell. I tricked the guard, got the keys," she said, waving a hand in front of her to show she was skipping a bit, "and freed the prisoners that were there––" She paused, as if remembering something. "Percival did make it back. Correct?" Salome nodded and signaled for her to continue. She leaned back, the seat creaking as she shifted. "The prisoners were three deserters and a Harmonian spy. Others were dead." Salome changed his position. "We escaped from the dungeon, Borus, our two reconnaissance men, the Harmonian, the deserters and I, and fled to the stables. A man named Khith escorted us from the fortress to the entrance of the city-" Chris realized that she was assuming that Salome had heard everything from Percival. But nothing short of interest showed on his face, and she saw he knew what she spoke of. "When we left the city, Geo attacked us." She spat the name. Now Salome looked puzzled.

"Yes, Geo Girth, the Councilman. He leads them, these so called bandits, on a false quest. He lied to them, fooling them into thinking that Harmonia had betrayed them. Hence the Harmonian spy." She gave him a second to absorb this. The mention of Geo had obviously been unexpected. "He used a rune… I cannot place what rune it was, but it was immensely powerful. The others escaped, but Borus refused to go even when I ordered it…" Her glassy look began to crumble. There was a crunch of snow from outside.

Percival strode through the tent entrance. He looked to be just roused from slumber, but mostly awake. "Milady!" He moved forward after only a glance at her hair and picked up one of her hands. "I am so glad to have you back! You are well?" He paused, releasing her hand and stepping back. "What of Borus? Is he in a separate tent?" Silence. "Well he obviously is. Is he asleep?" Chris did not look up, and Salome, taking the hint, lowered his gaze. Percival turned from Chris. "Where is he, Salome?" he growled.

"He is gone," said Chris. Percival whirled around. Anger and disbelief emanated his every move. Chris looked to Salome, who would fully understand her next statement. "When I woke from the attack, he was gone. His body was not there. He was just-" she shrugged, "–gone. I assume they have him. But I feel he is most definitely alive." Salome's eyes traveled to her hand. Some of the anger left Percival, and he lowered his voice.

"If you so think he lives, then I do as well," he stated coolly. Chris looked mildly surprised at the trust he placed in a simple feeling of hers, but sighed gratefully.

"He lives. I can… I can feel it."

……

"The prisoners are right here milady. The two reconnaissance knights could vouch for four of the men that returned with them." The guard motioned toward the tent to the left. Chris poked her head inside, and saw the three deserters, fast asleep. She nodded, but noticed that the deserters were the only ones in the tent.

"I see three," she said. "Where is the fourth?" The guard looked confused.

"Is he not in there?" The guard now took her place and looked in, letting out a quiet exclamation. "I'm sorry about this, milady. It seems the Harmonian has disappeared. Shall we send out a search?"

"No, no," Chris said tiredly. "He will be long gone by now, and no search party of ours could find him. Besides, he has done nothing wrong." The guard nodded, and moved on to another tent.

"This one, though our reconnaissance men did say he helped, they could not say he would be safe to let go free. He has not slept as we advised, and refuses food."

Khith… She had almost forgotten about the high-ranking bandit. Chris entered the tent without another thought, the guard following behind her.

Khith sat inside a steel enclosure that was far from uncomfortable, Chris thought. He looked up as she entered, and spat at her feet. The guard moved in front of her and was prepared to knock him on the head with his sword's sheath, but Chris curtly motioned for him to stop. The guard obeyed. But he could not help protesting when she asked to speak with Khith alone.

"Milady, I highly recommend that I remain here with you for your own safety." Chris shot the guard a steady gaze.

"Guardsman, how do you think I got to my position, by letting people protect me?" The guard was silent. "I can take care of myself. Please, give me a moment alone with this man." There was no hesitation in the guards answer.

"You are weak, milady," he said haughtily. "And you've nothing to protect yourself but me. Why even your rune is gone." The guard saw his mistake only as Chris moved up to him. The guard stood a full eight inches above her head, but now he cowered beneath her gaze.

"You do not know what I have seen, guardsman. You do not know what has befallen this world, and what will happen if nothing is done. You do not know how great our enemy is, and you do not know how far we have come to stop them. Should you value your pride for Zexen and its people, should you value your family at home, your friends and relatives, I suggest you leave, now." The guardsman visibly gulped before trotting out of the tent. Chris let out a breath. How the hell did he know I no longer have my rune? Only then did she realize the strange shadows she had seen on the wall of the tent she had conversed with Salome in were rather… people shaped.

She pushed this aside for another time. Now she turned to Khith. He looked at her in defiance. Chris knew that any conversation would go nowhere fast if she attempted to interrogate him. Instead, she used the key on the far wall of the tent to open up the enclosure and enter. She left the door open and sat on a chair directly across from Khith. He looked slightly bemused, though mostly suspicious.

She did not speak for a very long time. Khith became uncomfortable, but he did not let is show. Finally, she spoke. "Khith, it is you I owe a thousand 'thank you's. You helped us into the fortress, and you helped us out of the city." She paused. Khith glared at her with beady blue eyes. He had been unmasked, and a stubble of beard covered his later thirties face.

"Just rub it in," he said venomously, out of the blue. "I helped my enemies… now His Lordship will never accept me again." Chris stayed silent. He obviously had more to say. "But looks like he showed you, eh? He's not just some pushover, like you." Chris knew he was attempting to make her angry. But she was not.

"He did show me his power. And now I am very scared." Khith's amusement was cut short.

"Who are you?" he finally asked. Chris looked up from the ground.

"I am Christine Lightfellow, leader of the Zexen army and servant to the people of Zexen." Khith shook his head in disbelief.

"No wonder…" He stopped for a moment, as if trying to remember what they were speaking of before. "You are a poor leader, Lightfellow." Chris thought over his words.

"I am," she said. "I have led my army into a battle that cannot be won on our own. A battle that can almost not be won at all." She sighed. "Do you know the truth about your leader? About 'His Lordship?'" Khith just looked at her.

"Your leader happens to be Geo Girth, a head councilman of Zexen, of my country. He has tricked you and your fellow Harmonians. Harmonia has not betrayed you, but he has." She waited for it to sink in.

"No…" he said finally. "You are lying. You are playing tricks with my head." Chris shook her head.

"I do not lie, Khith. Why else would we be attacking you? We are not cruel people who wish to kill for the sake of killing, we are normal humans, most of us, who wish to keep our country and allies safe." Her eyes burned with purpose. Khith saw this, and for some reason knew she was not lying. He chose to say nothing. Chris took the chance to continue. "I see now that I cannot lead my people the way I need to. I have failed them. I have failed the one most important to me…" She stopped there. She had planned to continue, but she could not. She began to crumble, and stood to leave the cell.

Khith reached out and grabbed her wrist. She stopped, but would not look at him. "The blonde one who was always behind you? The one who would not leave you when you commanded it?" Her silence confirmed his suspicions. She carefully removed her wrist from the man's hand and moved out of the cell, leaving the door open.

"My only hope is that somewhere, he still lives," she said, not showing the fact that she was trembling. "You are free to leave should you wish it. You may return to your city. You are also free to stay, to aid us in destroying your leader. And you may leave, and go back to Harmonia." He seemed to consider.

"And what will you do? Run away as well?" he asked, though without sarcasm. It was sincere.

"I cannot run now. Something of mine has been taken. Now I must retrieve it." He slowly nodded at her answer. He seemed to make a decision. One that surprised Chris despite her intentions.

"Then your will is my command, Milady Chris of the Zexen Knights. You are bolder than you know, and it has taken you far. I will serve under you from now on." Chris inwardly sighed. She had won him over, though not in the way she had at first planned.

"Then my first order as your superior is that you get rest, Khith. There is a long road ahead." The older man nodded solemnly.

"A long road indeed, Milady, a long road indeed."

………