Chapter 9

Dean had finished his meal, topping it off with several slices of pie. He gave the serving women one of his dazzling smiles and thanked them for their hard work leaving them confused and happy at the same time. They had never been spoken kindly to before or acknowledged like that. It had the gossip running high about the human that was brought here for the hunt.

He could feel the eyes of the other hunters who would be participating in this Dark Hunt on him but chose to ignore them. Dean thought there were elves, fairies, trolls, goblins, and a couple he had no idea what they were. None looked too friendly, and he didn't want to make enemies before they even got started. He wandered to the open French doors and stepped onto a large balcony that overlooked the countryside and the back of the castle.

The scene was peaceful looking, but Dean knew looks could be deceiving. He felt the being approaching him but didn't turn around to see who it was. With a sideway glance he saw a tall, what he thought was an elf, stop nearby and gaze across the countryside.

"I am Ice, warrior of the Forest Elves," the elf spoke to him.

"Dean Winchester," Dean replied meeting his gaze and was startled by the blueness of his eyes. It was like they shone in the sunlight, much like Castiel's eyes when he powered up with his grace.

"You are a surprise to the hunt Dean Winchester. Never has the Queen let an outsider from another realm like you compete."

"I guess I'm flattered, but I would have much preferred to have been asked instead of kidnapped like I was."

"Would you have accepted if asked?"

"To be honest, I don't know," Dean huffed as he mulled that in his mind. Would he look at this as a challenge to be won or something new to explore?

"I accept your honesty with your answer. I must warn you that the tasks the Queen decides are hard, dangerous, and can be deadly."

"How many of these hunts have you been on?"

"Including this one, four and I have my battle scars to prove it."

"Don't we all have battle scars, spend nearly fifty years being tortured in Hell, the Hell," Dean chuckled dryly. "This should be a cake walk."

Ice looked over at him as he mulled over the statement Dean had made about Hell. He knew about a place that was called Hell in another realm and knew it was unbelievably bad and demons ruled it. He couldn't imagine being tortured for nearly half a century and what that would do to a man, a human. He finally spoke to Dean.

"You are greatly confident in yourself hunter. I hope it serves you well," Ice told him bowing his head to him and turning to leave.

"The Queen wishes to see you," a guard reported to Dean, motioning for him to start walking.

Dean didn't resist and walked out of the banquet room and down the hall going where the guard guided him. He was led outside to a walled garden full of shrubs, flowers, fountains, and benches. Sitting on a bench under a shade tree was the Queen.

"Come hunter, sit with me," the Queen told Dean.

"Sure," Dean replied sauntering over and sitting at one end of the bench.

"To put your mind at ease, no one here will harm you as long as you follow the rules and do as you are told," the Queen told Dean. "I want to make it plain that you have no hope of returning home, ever, unless you can complete the tasks. You need to give up on thinking you have any chance to escape this world unless I allow it. So, if you had thoughts of running when you start a task, you better change your mind."

Dean pursed his lips, as he gazed at a fountain nearby. Her words shot down any plans he had of escaping once they were sent on the task. He had to backpedal and come up with a different plan and it looked like the only choice he had was to participate in these tasks she was going to give them.

"Alright, I understand," Dean replied thinking it was best to cooperate.

"Good, I'm glad to hear that. Since I am in a giving mood and want you to last more than one day, I am going to give you a guide that knows our kingdom. That way you won't get lost or wander into dangerous territory. You will also be allowed to choose weapons to use since you have none to defend yourself."

"That sounds really good, but listen, if this guide is going to be working with me, I want to pick them," Dean insisted, trying not to sound too brash or bold.

The Queen looked at Dean with arched eyebrows before answering him.

"I think that is fair. Come with me," she told him getting up and strolling back toward the castle. "Bring the subjects to me," she told one of the guards who flanked them keeping a wary eye on Dean. They would not let this stranger harm their Queen.

Dean respectfully followed behind the queen as they made their way back to the throne room. He took in everything around him before they entered the throne room. The Queen stopped by a line of subjects, giving them a onceover, nodding her approval and then going to sit on her throne.

"You have been brought here so one can be picked to help this hunter compete in the Dark Hunt," she addressed the young men standing at semi-attention. "The hunter has asked to pick his own guide which I have granted him. So, Hunter, whom do you choose?"

Dean walked over to the row of young men and slowly walked by them, looking them over carefully. He knew his life might depend on whoever he chose and wanted to be sure of who he picked. The subjects' ages ranged from teenagers to early twenties by human years. None looked the same in statue or appearance. He paused at each one, looking them hard in the eyes before continuing to the next.

There was one boy standing slightly back and away from the others who had kept his head down the whole time. He was smaller than the others and poorly dressed. The boy shyly looked up when Dean stopped in front of him and quickly dropped his eyes.

"He will do," Dean decided thinking the boy didn't have that resentful, I'd rather kill you than help you look. "What's your name?"

"Titus, master," he answered in a small voice.

"Are you sure?" the Queen questioned, curious about his choice since he seemed weaker and inexperienced than the others.

"Yes, Titus will do," Dean told her laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Very well. It was your choice. Titus, take the hunter to the armory so he may pick his weapons and then take him to where he will spend the night."

"Yes, my Queen," Titus replied bowing to her before stepping back and motioning for Dean to follow him. "Master, this way."

Once they were out of earshot of the others, Dean spoke to Titus.

"Listen Titus, I am not your master, and you don't need to call me that. My name is Dean, and you can call me that," he explained to the boy.

"Would that not be disrespectful?"

"Not when I tell you, you can. So, how old are you?"

"I have seen fourteen seasons ma….Dean."

"Damn, you're just a kid," Dean muttered not sure he had made the right decision or not. He didn't like being responsible for him. "Did your parents agree to you being picked?"

"I have no parents," Titus whispered sadly. "Or any other family members. I stay in a barn and the kitchen staff sneak me food when they can, or I steal vegetables from gardens."

Dean frowned at his words as he looked closer at the boy who led him out of the castle to a rock building.

"The Queen sent us," Titus told the guards standing at the door.

The guards looked from Titus to Dean and back before finally opening the door to allow them entrance. Dean paused for a moment to let his eyes adjust to the dimly lit room before walking down the two steps and into the large interior room. He let his gaze roam over the assortment of weapons, hanging and laying on tables, to choose from.

"Now we're talking," Dean beamed feeling like it was Christmas morning. He stepped to the tables and looked over an array of knives, swords, hatchets, clubs, and other weaponry. He picked up a sword a little longer than a machete and tested the balance before sheathing it and handing it to Titus. He chose a shorter one that he was going to give to the kid so he would be armed also. He picked a crossbow from the wall, along with two quivers of arrows. Dean took down a spear and hefted it thinking it might come in handy too. What he wouldn't give for his handgun and some extra ammo, but that wouldn't be happening.

"Mas…Dean, you should take a pouch of the healing herbs and powder," he suggested.

"Okay, that sounds good," Dean nodded taking a leather pouch that Titus pointed to. He stuffed it into a jacket pocket before deciding if there was anything else he should take. "Any other suggestions Titus?"

"The sling; I know how to use it," Titus offered timidly.

"Okay, well, that should do it for now. Why don't you show me where I'm to sleep and I'll leave the weapons there and maybe you will show me around your village."

"If you like," Titus agreed. He went across the square to the opposite side of the castle to where two sturdy buildings sat side by side.

"Hello again Hunter," Ice greeted them as he stepped from one of the doorways. "You can bunk in this building if you like."

"Thanks, I appreciate that." Dean took the weapons from Titus and went inside to look around finding small rooms with a bed, washstand, chair, and chamber pot in each. He took the first one that didn't have any gear or looked like someone had already claimed to leave his weapons. "Are you ready Titus?"

"Where are you going?" Ice questioned.

"Titus is going to show me around," Dean answered.

"Be careful Hunter. Though none will harm you per the Queens orders, they might not take kindly to you wandering around."

"I'll do that," Dean replied. "Care to join us?" he asked thinking the more the merrier.

"Don't see why not, I could use a little exercise." Ice got up from the chair he was sitting in and followed the two toward the town square where the market was.

The three wandered through the market checking out the stalls and goods for sale. The townsfolks had all heard about the new hunter that was joining the Dark Hunt this time and glanced sideways at Dean but wouldn't meet his gaze. Dean wished he had money to buy a couple of items but didn't think they would take a ten dollar bill. He fingered some handmade garments for a moment before stepping away from the table.

"You want?" a wizen old woman asked him as she held up the garments. It was common for hunters in the Dark Hunt to be given whatever they wanted without question.

"No, sorry, I have no money, thanks anyway," Dean told her apologetically.

"Let me," Ice offered holding out several pieces of round metal coins to the woman.

"I can't repay you," Dean told him.

"That's fine, there are other ways of repaying someone." Ice moved to the next stall leaving Dean with the older woman who pressed the garments into his arms.

"Thank you," Dean told the woman, smiling and bowing his head to her as he took the garments. "Come on Titus, let's go catch up with Ice."

"Alright," Titus replied, leading Dean the way Ice had gone.

"We are allowed certain privileges because of doing the Dark Hunt. It would have been okay to take the offering from the woman," Ice explained to Dean when they caught up with him.

"I wouldn't want to take advantage of these people. That's not my way," Dean told him.

They stayed a while longer in the town square before heading back to the castle for the last meal of the day. Dean insisted that Titus come in with him and eat too since he was going to be going on the hunt too. Titus was timid and unsure but was allowed to stay and eat with Dean.

When darkness came, everyone adjourned to the buildings to get some rest. Dean made Titus a sleeping mat on the floor of his room, deeming he shouldn't be sleeping in a barn. He gave him the garments he had gotten to replace the rags he was wearing. Titus was overcome with emotions and thanked Dean several times bowing to him as he clutched the garments to his chest with tears in his eyes. He wasn't used to being treated with kindness.

Dean fell asleep quickly since he had not slept much the previous two nights and he needed the rest so he would be prepared for the following day. He let Titus' soft snoring lull him to sleep, like he usually let Sam's do.

A/N: Has Dean made a friend, and did he choose the right guide? Maybe deep-down Titus reminded him of Sammy. It is going to get interesting now as the first task will be given to them. For guest ML, or anyone else who might be confused, this is not like the story When All Other Lights Go Out, by theStarchilde, which is about the "Wild Hunt". My story is about the Dark Hunt and is a very different event. I do like reviews/comments. NC