Authors Note: Hello everyone! I am finally able to post this! I was having some serious trouble getting the motivation to continue writing. I see that there are a few people reading my story, but I have to admit, I am not feeling very encouraged. I am not sure how people are liking the story plot or whatnot, and I would love some feedback. I got my second review from my girl Regina lunaris and another follower to add to my beautiful collection! Thank you PhilosopherPony! I am hoping to get some more feedback so I will have the motivation to continue this story. Hopefully you guys are loving it and are only finding minuscule problems with it. Also in the process of having my amazingly talented sister who is an artist read the story and draw some fan art for it! Hopefully we can get some of that! Anyways! Happy reading! Please enjoy!

Warnings: Nothing graphic in this chapter, the rating is for safety.

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, or Batman, for that matter.. if I did.. Batman would not be in this story, he would be chained up in my bedroom where he belongs. .;

Titan's Kingdom

Raven closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel the warmth coming from the big strong body of the man whom she hadn't laid eyes on in five long years. She was so shocked that he had come back, she did not know what to think or feel.

Sir Bruce had been the only person in the entirety of her existence to treat her like a normal human girl, well.. More like a normal human Monarch, but what mattered the most is that he made her feel like it was worth it. Living, that is. She did not feel like a cursed demon when she was in his presence, nor did she feel the hatred, anger, and loathing coming from him like she did with every other being she came in contact with.

Squeezing onto his neck tighter than she ever squeezed anything, she apologized to the Heavens for cursing them just moments before, and then thanked them for sending her the only living thing that cared for her.

"My Lady, it is almost dark out, we should move to some shelter. Can you walk?"

Raven felt her bloated face stretch and begin to throb as she tried to smile into his shoulder. "No." She was a girl of very few words and she did not talk unless absolutely necessary, so she did not feel the need to elaborate further. She knew it was a lie, and that she would probably be struck down by lighting for telling such a falsehood, but she simply did not want to lose the comfort and warmth of his arms.

"Is it so serious My Lady? Your legs? Or your face? What can I do to fix the problem?"

Raven wanted to jump for joy at the sound of genuine concern lacing her Assassin-Spy's voice. Wiggling her body even closer to Bruce's, Raven took a deep breath, smelling the outdoors and clean soap on his clothing. Wincing slightly at the pain of breathing through her wickedly smarting nose, she shook her head gently and mumbled sleepily, "I'll be fine after a small rest. Don't worry Sir Bruce, I will not die yet."

Bruce smiled softly, listening to his Lady's scratchy voice, muted from his clothing that her face was currently pressed into. No sooner had she spoken, than he felt her loosen up, a barely audible snore coming from her painful looking face.

Bruce felt his heart melt as he lifted his abused Monarch off the ground and started making his way back to a large bush he had spotted on his sprint over. It would do nicely for cover, shelter, and privacy. He wanted no unwanted company while his small treasure was sleeping so trustingly in his care.

Raven groaned slightly as she tried to nuzzle her face into the soft warmth that was surrounding her. She shifted her body deeper into the warmth and was just starting to relax and fall back into the blissful slumber that was trying to elude her when her eyes snapped open.

Where was she? Last thing she remembered was being attacked, almost killed, and then the miracle that was Sir Bruce showed up and told her he was there for her. So where was she now?

Lifting her throbbing head out of her surrounding warmth, she blinked her rapidly in confusion as she found herself laying under a tree, wrapped in furs, with hot coals just a few feet away from where her head had lain. Bruce was to her left, leaning against the tree with his eyes closed and his hand resting lightly on his heavy skin pelt that was around his thick waist. There was no light, as light would draw attention to their location, so she could not tell exactly where they were.

"Awake so soon my Lady? You should lay back down and get some rest, our journey home will begin soon." His voice was the barest of whispers she had to strain her ears to hear him. "It is not the wisest idea to move around in broad daylight until we get you something to cover up your features, so we shall stick to the thick trees until the sun starts to set, then we will move onto the main roads to the closest village."

Raven nodded her head slowly, her throat dry and her stomach empty. She was still tremendously tired, but her other basic needs were disrupting her slumber.

Bruce released a small smile when he heard her stomach growl quietly. Reaching into his pelt, he pulled out a small turtle's shell and placed it into her hands before standing up and silently fading into the night.

Raven stared down at the turtle shell in her hands in confusion. What was she supposed to do with this? Upon closer inspection she realized that the holes where the tail and legs would normally come out of were sealed up with some sort of black substance, and the hole where the head would be had a piece of smooth stone shoved in it.

Holding her breath, she gingerly gripped the stone with the hand not currently on the turtle, and tugged. The stone popped out of the shell with a vague grinding sound, causing the liquid inside to slosh around. Bringing it to her nose she very lightly sniffed, but being that her nose was still swollen, she did not smell anything.

'Well, it's not like Sir Bruce would try to poison me or anything.' She thought with a slight shrug. Tipping her head back, she dripped a little of the into her mouth. It tasted like water! Smiling to herself, and then smiling even harder because her face didn't hurt as much, she went to start guzzling the water before she willed herself to stop.

Raven stared at the turtle shell in agony, realizing that this was probably the only water that they had with them, and Bruce had given it to her without any thought to himself. Sighing with amusement she figured another sip wouldn't hurt as she brought the shell to her lips and took a gulp of the wet liquid.

Smiling to herself yet again, Raven laid back down on the furs and felt her mind get fuzzy. 'Where did Bruce go?' She wondered briefly before her eyes closed and a deep sleep claimed her.

Time passed in a blur. Raven was not sure how long she slept or why she slept so deeply, but she knew that it was a long time before she opened her eyes again. She moaned as she wiggled her stiff body, dimly aware that she was upside down, bouncing slightly, and she had a splitting headache. As soon as the moan had left her mouth the bouncing stopped, she was slithered into an upright position, and tasty bits of cooked meat were being shoved into her mouth.

Raven felt like drooling, the meat tasted so good. She tried her best to chew it, but her jaw felt like it was unhinged and didn't want to listen to her. Eyes still closed, she whined in frustrated embarrassment, when she realized her lips weren't working very well either and she was, in fact, drooling all down her chin, the meat going with it.

Raven jumped slightly from her place on the hard ground when she heard a disembodied chuckle go off somewhere behind her. Then she felt the sensation of cloth on her chin, and ground meat entering her mouth, followed closely behind by more water. Raven relaxed and swallowed the mix, happy she did not have to chew. After this routine happened a good three times, she felt the deep blackness that was sleep claim her once again.

This same thing happened at least four more times before Raven was able to wake up and stay awake. Raven forced her eyes open and willed herself to keep them open. She felt the remnants of sleep swirl in her head like a good dream, something she hadn't had in her whole life until now. She had dreamt of warm light, pretty dances, and snuggly embraces.

Shaking her head softly as if to knock out the rest of her sleepiness, she realized that nothing hurt. Her ankle was fine, her body was no longer sore and aching, and her face didn't hurt! Reaching up to touch her face, Raven gasped in stunned shock when her face felt completely normal! Her nose, her adorable pixie nose, was even back!

"How!?" She breathed in excited awe.

"You were healing, my Lady." Came the deep voice she had heard every time she awoke. "That potion you were drinking was not ordinary water. I made it so that you would sleep so deeply your body could heal itself. Forgive me my Lady."

Raven looked across the darkness to stare at the handsome face of her Assassin-Spy. "How long?" She asked in her deep, crackly, voice. Bruce seemed to consider for a moment before informing her. "It has been almost two weeks, my Lady."

Raven gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. A few days, surely, but almost two whole weeks!? Her brain began to pound an angry message against her skull. Bringing her hands up to the sides of her head, she delicately pressed onto her temples silently willing it to stop.

"Unfortunately, the head pain is a side effect of the mixture, I sincerely apologize your Majesty. It was the fastest way for you to heal, and it made traveling a little easier on both of us, as I could just carry you the whole way." Standing from his crouched position over their hot coals, he pointed into the far off distance and continued, "You see? We are but a weeks journey away from Titan's Kingdom, my Lady, Your home."

Raven nodded once stiffly, wincing as the pain intensified. "I am hungry." She stated as she took a look at the surrounding shrubbery, hoping to find some sort of edible something around. "Here, I have some freshly caught rabbit, I am cooking it over the coals now." Bruce spoke in a hushed voice, reaching out to the coals and squatting down to her level. "How is your jaw? Is it still sore or can you chew your food now?"

Raven glanced up at him, reluctantly tearing her eyes away from the juicy looking slab of rabbit he held in his hands. Testing out her jaw, she noticed a small soreness to it, but it was the same with all of her limbs, just the smallest ache from lack of movement. "Sore, but it should be fine." Raven watched as Bruce nodded, started ripping the slab into small chunks, and setting the ripped bits into her hands. Feeling the greasy pieces in her hands, she wondered briefly what he had used to grind it up for her while she had been out of it. Slowly bringing it up to her mouth, she tried nibbling on a piece, grunting when she found how tough the meat was. Sighing in defeat, she popped a piece into her mouth and proceeded to suck on it until it softened up and was easier to chew.

Bruce watched her as he shredded the meat as best he could, smiling at her small dilemma. "Would you like my help again my Lady? I don't mind chewing it for you." Bruce almost burst out laughing at the horrified look on his lovely little Lady's face. Her eyes were bigger than humanly possible, her face scrunched up in disgust, her cheek was rounded from the chunk of rabbit, and her mouth was pinch in the cutest way.

"Y-you, Chewed my food… for me?" Raven said over the lump of meat in her mouth. She was surprised she hadn't choked on it! Suddenly flushed, Raven wanted to hide from her savior's humored gaze. "I..I need to relieve myself!" She stated with as much noble dignity as she could muster. She slowly got to her feet, looking down her nose at Sir Bruce the entirety of the time, and turned to walk in a heavily bushed direction before she stopped in her tracks, face stunned in thought.

"Sir Bruce… If I was indeed sleeping for as long as you have said… How is it.. That I was able to relieve myself.. Without waking, or ruining my clothes…?" Raven stood frozen, her back to him, afraid to know the answer, but needing the truth. She listened to the rustling of clothing as Bruce went to work cleaning up their small camp.

"My Lady…" Bruce hesitated, "I did not see anything that I was not supposed to. I know that to look upon your Majesty's form, as a man, is punishable by death. Do not worry, I was able to stop at various streams and puddles to clean our clothing whenever my Lady released herself." Bruce continued to pack up the remaining bits of meat, keeping his head down, and a serious tone in his voice to spare her any unnecessary embarrassment.

Raven's eyes filled with tears of humiliation as she thought of how many times she must have relieved herself all over him or worse… Stifling a mortified cry, Raven ran into the bushes and crouched down into a little ball, curling her legs up until she could rest her forehead on her knees. She tried thinking about pleasant things, to keep her mind off of the fact that she had shown her favorite person in the whole world the one side of her that no one else, not even her own parents had ever seen before.

Sure, she had been unclothed in the presence of other girls before, most people just ignored her, to the point that she wasn't even given a changing room. She had been forced to change and bathe in the hallway or in the kitchens, where she slept, so she was used to people seeing her and cringing in disgust whenever they did. But this.. This was different! No one had seen her relieve herself, let alone have them smell it, touch it, or clean it! She was very aware of how gross other people's waste was, as she was also in charge of taking out the chamber pots and cleaning them, it was horrid. And to know that the only person in the world who tolerated her as a living being, let alone Liked her, had dealt with her waste, it was almost too much to bear.

Raven felt her chin wobble and told herself not to cry. 'So what if this causes him to hate me? I can deal with hate, I have dealt with it my whole life! It will be something I am used to, I can…' Her train of thought was cut off at the sound of the bushes surrounding her rattling. Jerking her head up from her knees, she looked around for the cause of the noise. Seeing nothing, she went to plop her head back down, only pausing when her eyes caught something laying in front of her on the ground. Peering at it closely. Raven's cheeks blushed. A shredded piece of cloak with stained blood, used for cleaning your unmentionable areas, lay on the ground, clean and ready to be used.

Reaching out to touch the cloth, Raven's other hand flew to her stomach as her eyes widened. "W-was I the reason this cloth was bloody? D-did I happen to.. Become a woman.. While I slept?" A vague memory of tossing and turning from the stomach pain, and a stickiness between her legs made a fresh wave of self loathing and shame wash over her.

After a slight pause, she heard his voice from just beyond the bush, "Yes, your Majesty. I apologize that there was no one more worthy or proper to clean you up, but I had no other choice. If you wish it, you may order the knights to cut off my hands when we reach home, or I can cut one off myself now if you would prefer, but I cannot guarantee your safety as well with one arm and no backup." Bruce's pleasant voice was deep and filled with sorrow for her.

Raven bit back a sob and pressed her face harder against her legs, praying to the Heavens that they would zap her with lightning and end her humiliation once and for all.

"If it is of any consolation my Lady, it is not the first time that I have done it." After a brief pause Bruce continued, "I… Had a daughter once. She was hurt falling out of a tree and could not move for a long time… I was the one who cared for her… So it really is not that strange for me. I know it might have been presumptuous of me my Lady, but I just pretended you were her."

Raven listened intently as Bruce talked, hearing how hard it was to talk of the subject in his voice. Feeling strangely better, she could not help but ask, "Sir Bruce, your daughter.… What was her name? " A long pause, and then, "Helena. She died when she was your age."

"What.. How did she die?" Raven felt her throat close up, angry that a small jealous part of her was glad that the girl who got to call this man father, was no longer in this world.

"She was burned alive, in a fire, I could not save her. My wife, Selina, as well. Is there anything else you wish to know, my Lady?"

"Yes. Who did it?"

Another long pause, and finally, "I am unsure. There were no clues, and I have many enemies." Raven could sense the need to change the subject on the tip of his tongue and decided to spare him further pain. "Well, seeing as I never knew my father, nor was I ever likely to want to, and seeing as you are in need of a daughter around my age… I should like it.. If you could pretend.. "

"Your Majesty, I could never pretend to be the father of the Monarch. Such pretence could mean my death! I am just a normal man, serving you and keeping you safe, not worthy of being your father." Bruce interrupted her before she could finish.

"I see… So then… I am not good enough." It was stated as a matter-of-fact, as if it was normal for her to be "not good enough" and it angered him immensely. "No! My Lady…" Sighing in resignation he replied, "Maybe, if only while we are alone…" Before he could finish his sentence, the bushes were pushed aside and his petite Monarch was launching herself into his arms. "Thank you, oh thank you… Father."

Bruce's breath hitched in his throat at the sound of that word. "Thank you as well, my Lady."

"That will not do." Raven stated, pulling away from him and giving him a stern stare. "If I am to call you father, you are to call me by my name, and only my name."

"Is that an order my Lady?"

"Yes. It is."

Sighing in defeat, Bruce bowed his head in thought, before whipping his head up and staring her down with a gleam in his eyes. "Only when we are alone. The moment I so much as THINK we are not alone, I will drop all pretences, understood?" Raven shivered in excitement at the commanding tone he used. 'This is what it must feel like to have a father!' She thought. She was used to being bossed around and told what to do, no one ever called her anything other than "Hey You" or "Demon Girl" never anything other, so knowing that she was about to get the privilege of having someone actually address her by her name, made her more excited than anything!

"Yes! I understand, father."

Staring down at the slip of a girl staring up at him with stars in her eyes, he could not deny her anything, never mind the fact that she was his Monarch and he couldn't deny her anything anyways. Standing quickly, Bruce turned away from her and made his way towards the furs that she had been sleeping on earlier. "Hurry up and take care of your business, we need to be on our way… Raven."

Happy to the point of giddiness, Raven practically jumped into the bush and relieved herself in her breeches. Staring at her breeches as she did her business, she felt a sudden zing go through her heart when she remembered her appearance. Her sheered hair fell in uneven lengths around her head, some pieces came to her chin, but most of them were as short as a boys. Her skin was ashen and deathly colored, not to mention her eyes and hair being the royal color. Her body was underdeveloped because she was malnourished and sickly her whole life.

Suddenly feeling inadequate compared to his real dead daughter, Raven became sullen. Quickly wiping herself clean and fastening her breeches again, Raven made her way out of the clearing and shuffled herself over to where Bruce was bagging the last of the hot coals.

"What did she look like?"

Not even pretending to not know what she was asking, Bruce answered in a voice that was both vague and loving at the same time. "She was tall, sturdy, with her mother's eyes, as blue as the cloudless sky, with strong features, a mischievous smile, hair as dark as night, like mine, and skin the color of untouched snow. Simply put, she was the most beautiful creature on this earth, aside from her mother." Bruce stood and stretched before continuing, ignoring the heartbroken look in his Lady's eyes. "Now, lets get moving my… Raven, if we don't leave now we will be discovered."

Raven swallowed the bile that had risen into her mouth from the words he had said. She had never considered herself to be a spiteful or jealous person, but at that very moment, she knew she was, and she felt the demon in her stir. She was glad that that perfect little girl was burned to death. She also hoped it had been painful. She did not like this part of herself. Not one bit.

The journey was long and tiresome, fairly uneventful, until the morning of the third day since her long slumber. They were only three or four days away from reaching the Kingdom when Sir Bruce wrapped his hand around her shoulder protectively and told her in a hushed voice to get on the ground.

Raven could hear them, loud voices, lots of them. They were laughing and fighting amongst themselves not forty paces ahead. Bruce pushed her down into the ground and told her not to move. Then, he pulled leaves and branches of bushes and trees over her until she was completely covered.

"I will be back, I promise, and for Heaven's sake, do not move!"

Raven watched helplessly as his black boots walked stealthily towards the cheering voices up ahead. After what seemed like hours, the laughter stopped and turned to angry shouting. Raven's breath hitched in her throat and she felt like she was going to die if she did not get out from under the leaves and branches. They suddenly felt as if they were a billion times heavier than her and it was insanely difficult to breathe.

Clenching her eyes closed she held herself as still as she possibly could and tried to concentrate on breathing. 'In… Out… In… Out…" Raven's eyes shot open and her body got impossibly still as she heard screaming and running coming from every direction. Tremors ran throughout her and she started panting, clenching her teeth and her sweaty hands.

Silence.

A black boot, just visible only five paces away from her face.

"My Lady? Are you unhurt?"

Breathing deeply in relief, Raven got to her knees and shoved all the brush off of her, eyes wide in wonder. "What happened?" She asked as she was pulled to her feet. "Are you alright Sir Bruce?"

"I am fine, my Lady, I take it you are unharmed as well. I am thankful you deemed it fitting to actually listen to me. Thank you for staying put." Bruce said with a tight smile.

Raven smiled back at him and proceeded to dust off her clothing. "What happened out there? Did you kill anyone?"

Without answering, Bruce walked back towards where all the screaming had taken place. Raven looked at the spot he had been standing not just ten seconds ago in confusion. 'Well that was rude. I wonder what that was about?' Raven continued thinking similar thoughts, hoping everything was ok, when she heard the rustling of the branches and trees signaling Bruce's return.

"Where did you…" Raven's question froze on her tongue as she watched Bruce yank a very thick looking chain and a very beautiful woman come stumbling through the brush after it. The chain wound around her upper body and ended around her neck, upper arms, and wrists. Her skin was the color of sunset, while her thick braid of hair was the color of fire. She wore a metal crown around her eyes, and dark purple strips of tunic wrapped around her most private places, leaving her middle exposed and her long oddly colored legs visible. She was tall, almost as tall as Sir Bruce, and sturdy, very strong from the look of her. What Raven could make out of her features were very beautiful.

Bruce yanked the chain hard towards her and then upwards causing the beautiful creature to stumble to her knees. "Pay your respects to your Monarch, slave. Introduce yourself."

When the woman gave no name, Bruce stepped behind her, pulled the chains up over her head, and down her back, causing her to arch backwards in a very painful looking manner. "I don't like repeating myself. I knew who you were from the moment I laid eyes on you all huddled up in that cage. Now, introduce yourself to your new Monarch or I'll rip your arms off of your torso and shove them down your throat."

Raven winced at the venom lacing his words and stared in awe at the beautiful woman. Why was the girl's eyes covered by that strange metal crown? She had a strange feeling that she was not going to like this girl. In fact, she had a suspicion that she was going to hate her.

Tilting her masked face up, the woman spoke in a soft bell-like voice, it was a voice fit for an angel, and it made Raven sick.

"I am Koriand'r, Princess of Tamaran."