Kiri: Not much to say here... this one was actually kinda fun to write, since it exploits one of Ravan's weaknesses. I know, I'm so sadistic. lol. enjoy the story!

Chapter Fourteen

"RAVAN! Wake up!" Erik's voice rang in my ear, and he didn't sound happy. I opened my eyes and glanced around, finding myself on the ground and Erik kneeling next to me, looking a little more than aggravated. I quickly sat up and looked at him questioningly. "Something went wrong. We aren't where we should be. Or, more precisely, we are where we should be, just not when," he explained.

"What are you talking about? I asked, not sure what he meant. We both stood up. We were on some kind of bridge, and no longer on the island. He gestured towards the side railing.

"Look." Shrugging, I approached the rail and looked, but I did not like what I saw.

"Ah…! Oh no…!" I gaped. Babylon. I was home all right, but it was just like Erik had said. We were when we wanted to be, but not when. The city was under attack. I felt my heart clench.

"Not what you were expecting, eh, princess?" Erik mocked, leaning on the rail next to me. I forced back the tears I felt coming. "I bet I know exactly when we are, so if you are nice to me, maybe I will tell you." I grit my teeth, trying to refrain from smacking him again.

"Where is Hadi?" I asked with a steady voice.

"Who knows? He went off to survey the area and find a route to the palace. He advised that we should wait here for his return…" he paused and a sinister smile crept over his lips, "but… I for one don't believe in waiting around, especially while the capital city of the world's most powerful empire is under siege." He turned on his heel and started walking off.

"You… You're leaving me?" I exclaimed, "You can't!" He stopped and glanced back.

"Oh? And why is that, princess?" he was enjoying ever moment of this.

"Because… because I… because I need you, ok?" I fisted my hands tightly and chewed my lip nervously, trying to keep eye contact as his slowly grinned victoriously and mockingly. Then he laughed. My Persian pride was trying to hold strong, but it was already bruised horribly. Those tears I'd fought back? Well, they welled up again with a vengeance and my muscles began shivering in rage. His taunting laughter echoed in my ears, slowing ebbing away at my ego. I couldn't stand much more of this…

"So, the wonderful, perfect princess admits she needs the help of a common man! Could this be true, or do my ears betray me?"

"I… I don't know how to fight, ok?" I admitted shamefully, "And I… I…" I couldn't say the next part.

"You need me to protect you," Erik finished gleefully. I lowered my gaze.

"Yes…" He came back over to where I was standing until we were only inches apart.

"Well then, get on your knees and ask nicely and I might agree." I was appalled. There were only a select few I would ever get on my knees for, but he was definitely NOT one of them. There was no way I was going to beg him for anything!

"I would die first!" I answered angrily. Erik grinned smugly and shrugged.

"Very well, if that's how you feel," he turned and started leaving again. My heart beat wildly in my chest. I glanced quickly at my city. There was no way I would survive down there. I needed someone with me, who knew how to handle a weapon…

"Erik! Wait!" He stopped and turned back towards me, still grinning.

"Yes, princess?" I knew this would hurt me more than anything ever would. I would never live this down. I took several steps forward and grudgingly fell to one knee.

"Will you please protect me?" I asked quietly through tight teeth.

"What was that? I didn't quite hear you." I choked back an angry sob and repeated myself, only a little louder. "You'll have to speak louder, princess. I still can't hear you." He was doing this on purpose, to mock the fact that my parents had never seen the need to teach me to defend myself in a fight. The absolute pleasure in his voice made it all so sickeningly clear that he was taking advantage of my weakness and using it to torture me, to crush my pride. Now shaking from head to foot, I couldn't take it any more.

"For the love of God!" I suddenly shouted, angry tears now streaking my face, "I can't fight! I'm too weak to defend myself in combat! Please, protect me!" I threw myself on the ground, burying my face in my hands, sobbing. "Please!" My whole body trembled in rage. I had been forced to admit I was weak and powerless in battle, and to Erik of all people. I was humiliated.

I wasn't sure how long I stayed like that while Erik no doubt gloated over the whole thing. After a while, though, he reached down, grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet. He looked my in the eye, still smirking smugly, and brushed a tear away from my cheek.

"See? That wasn't so bad, now, was it?" He was adding insult to injury.

"I hate you," I spat back acidly, my voice still quivering.

"I know you do, princess." He backed away a little. "Well, since you were so civil about it," he threw me a chipper smirk, "I will guard you. But make sure you keep up and don't fall behind. I don't want to go chasing after you." He turned around once again and started to leave. Rubbing my eyes, I quickly followed.

For the next hour or so, my thoughts were stuck on one thing: revenge. I wanted nothing more than to punish Erik for making a fool of me earlier. Anything I said to him was said in a dark, cold tone of voice and any looks I gave him were angry glares. But I knew he found my weak retaliations amusing. So I finally gave up, promising myself that I'd get back at him later.

On the plus side, he proved to be one of the most skilled warriors I'd ever seen. I've watched the palace guards train and spar off a few times, and I saw my father in combat quite often, and Erik… well, he would prove a worthy challenge for him.

I watched from behind a crate as he finished off the last of the solders in the immediate area and wiped the sweat from his brow. Coming out from my hiding place, I couldn't help but stare at him as he cleaned his blade off and slowly sheathed it again. He just looked so… wow. How is it that a man who has done so much wrong and be so cruel be so sexy? The world may never know.

"When you are finished gawking, let's get a move on." I snapped back to the real world and quickly nodded and hurried to join up with him.

"Where are we heading, anyway?" I asked.

"The palace, of course." I slowed.

"Well then, we're going in the wrong direction. The quickest path to the palace is back the other way."

"We're not going by the quickest way."

"Why not?"

"There is something I must find first."

"And what would that be?"

"And why is the sky blue? Must you constantly ask question my motives? Can't you ever just shut up and leave it be?" He didn't seem as annoyed as he usually was when I got under his skin. "I need a different weapon." I blinked curiously.

"A new weapon? What wrong with a sword?" He didn't answer, so I decided not to pursue the question. "Well… can you at least tell me where you expect to find this weapon?"

"The palace." I raised an eyebrow. He was really making little to no sense at all, and it was starting to get on my nerves.

"Then why are we taking the scenic route?" Sighing in irritated defeat, Erik stopped and faced me.

"Because not only is the quickest way blocked off, and the only way through is by climbing, of which you have no such skills, it is filled with guards. I'm not sure about you, but I want to get to where I'm going with as little delay as possible," he explained.

"Oh… I see, then…"

"Now then, can we please continue?" I nodded once and we went on our way.