Chapter VII: A Past Forgotten/ Darryn

My Spellchecker was on the fritz last chapter and I noticed some typos after posting…forgive them…thanks for the other review and thanks for all those who have put me on their lists. It inspires me to keep going. This title has two names, yes…two names, I couldn't decide. Enjoy. (I think you know the rule by now …P.S. Strayton belongs to Cassia and Siobhan of the Mellon Chronicles. I have been unable to get in touch with them for their permission. I promise no harm will come to it, but if they wish me to discontinue using it, I will. I give them all their credit due to this town they made up in their wonderful fanfic series.)

Warnings?: Some brief nudity and implied rape.

"Father," the young man pointed in front of him. Thick black smoke rose from the distance beyond the hill that lay near their village. The father took off for the village with his oldest son on his heals. Darryn raced as fast he could to keep up with his father and brother. He reached the bottom of the hill and paused with his hands on his knees to catch his breath before continuing up the incline. His father and brother were already almost down the other side when he reached the top.

An overwhelming smell filled his nostrils as gazed down upon his village, or rather, what was left of it. Most houses and barns were burnt. Bodies lay strewn on the ground. Many were charred beyond recognition. He covered his mouth and nose with his hand and gagged, resisting the urge to throw up. Instead, he walked down the hill and through the remnants of a vegetable garden.

Two bodies lay in front of what was left of his home. His mother's blank eyes stared at him from there her body lay. Her body was naked and bloody. Bruises were formed where she was held and beaten. A young girl, his twelve-year-old sister lay nearby in the same manner. His breath hitched, tears stung at his eyes, staring back into his mothers eyes in shock.

Darryn's father and brother sought for survivors. Brother kept glancing back at his mother and sister, trying not to weep, seeing it as a sign of weakness. Something pierced his body and knocked backwards onto the ground. It hurt badly. His eyes opened to see a black-feathered arrow protruding from his chest. He clenched his eyes shut in pain and never opened them again.

A group of men were running out of an unburned house. Darryn's father drew his hunting knife and ran towards them. A man's sword cut into him and sliced up before with drawing.

Darryn's eyes got even wider as he watched the murder of his father and brother and the men rushing towards him. He seemed stuck in his place. His head was screaming at him to run, but he stood frozen. The men were almost upon him when green-feathered arrows flew past him and into the men closest to him. More followed after, seeming to strike in unison. Two beings rushed passed him, chasing after the remaining men who had chosen to remain and fight while others fled. Soon they too fled up into the woods.

"Are you alright?" Darryn looked up at the being before him. His mouth widened at the site. It was an elf! It was several moments before he was able to mutter and answer.

"M-mm-my father and brother, " he stumbled, vaguely pointing at their bodies. There another elf walked up to him. He closed his eyes and shook his head to make sure he was not seeing double. Darryn stumbled his way slowly over to where his father lay. The elves followed and one of them knelt to check his brother before standing and checking his father. "Do something," he whispered. The elf looked up at the other and shook his head slowly, his face grave. "Do something!" he repeated shouting at the elves, disturbed that they were not doing anything to help them.

"There's nothing we can do," the elf straightened from his position, "I am sorry." He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"No!" Darryn stepped back, pushing his hand away. "You're an elf, use your magic or whatever it is you do!" The elves looked at each other regretfully then back at him.

"I'm afraid it doesn't work like that."

"We cannot bring those back from the dead."

"LIARS!" He screamed at them. Tears flowed freely down his cheeks now. These elves were full of nothing deceit and lies. Only caring about their own people, just like the stories he had been told when he was little said. "Curse you!" He cursed them several times before running away into the wilderness.

One of the elves started after the boy, but his brother stopped him. "Let him go, Elrohir, leave him be. He would not trust us now."

He ran as far as he could before he collapsed to the ground and curled in on himself. He wept there a long time, screaming with each cry until he could scream no more. His was voice hoarse and dry.

Darryn woke from the nightmares of his past. The sound of his screams echoed still in his ears. He looked down at the boy sleeping near him. He sighed softly. The memory brought forgotten emotions back into his heart. He was a hard man and sometimes cruel, but each time he had stolen something it had been for a purpose, whether it was food to feed himself with or gain information for Ravin, but never another being. His own family had been taken from him. Now he threatened to take a someone from their family, even if it was an elf. But for what? Money? He rarely paid for anything; however, this money could pay off Ravin and maybe satiate him for a while. He had the feeling for sometime now that Ravin was growing tired of him. He was also feeling something dark growing in Ravin.

Estel whimpered and stirred in his sleep. He glanced over at him. Once he started something, he always finished it without a second thought. Why was he having these thoughts now? Was he going soft? He smirked. He knew what it was it was the kid. After spending alone time with him, he had a soft spot for him. Those big grey innocent eyes. Every time he looked into them, he felt himself wanting to give the boy back to his family and forget the whole thing. The elves and their magic, he snorted. Estel was most likely using his elven magic on him to get him to release him but he would not give in.

It seemed to have the exact opposite effect on Ravin. Ravin seemed only to grow angrier and darker than before. In fact, he had not realized how dark Ravin was until Hope showed up and it was growing.

"Darryn?" a soft voice called to him out of reverie. The first thing he did was look at his eyes and mentally kicked himself. "I had a bad dream."

"So," he grunted back, "what do you want me to do about it?"

"Ada says it helps to talk about them sometimes. That way they are not so disturbing."

"Fine, what was it?"

"It was about Ada and my mother. I heard what you said the day you caught me, about my Ada being…being an…but it just can't be true."

"Why not?"

"Because my Ada's an elf."

"And so are you and your mother, now go to sleep."

"My mother's human and Ada isn't my real father." Darryn sat up.

"Elrond is not your real father." Estel shook his head, "no". "Then who is?"

"I don't know we don't talk about him. It makes my mother sad. Elrond took us in when I was little. I do not remember my real father, but he had to be human because I am as human as my mother is. Elrond has always been a father to me."

"You are human."

"Yes, I should have corrected you earlier but I was afraid and you were frightening. Besides, adults don't like to be corrected by children."

"So, you just have one of those likeable personalities and are not using elf magic to make me like you?"

"What?"

Darryn shook his head, "never mind, go back to sleep, you are all right."

"Will you sing to me?"

"No." He lay back down but did not go back to sleep. He had to give the kid back, ransom or no. This was all wrong and a fine time to grow a conscious. He knew as much as Ravin hated Hope that he would never go back. In fact, he would probably kill him and take the ransom if he was reading him correctly. Was he in too deep now? Yes, but he knew he had to give him back. The trick would be how to do it without Ravin realizing too soon. Ravin had his ways of finding things out very quickly. He lay there in thought till dawn crept into the clear sky.

TBC