Chapter Seventeen Though Hell Should Bar the Way

Alannah breathed slowly, her lungs straining in the cold. She had been slipping in and out of delirium, and now she watched with blank eyes as the door slowly opened.

Lord Maxwell came forward, gazing down at the woman who lay curled up on the floor. She had proven to be more stubborn then he realized. No matter how many times he asked the question, she had responded in the same manner. But now her skin was nearly blue with cold, and her eyes were beginning to fade into a dull green. He knelt down in front of her, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him. Her eyes stared through him, blank and unseeing. He slapped her, and her eyes flickered briefly before settling back into a dull apathy. He slapped her harder, and she moaned quietly, but showed no sign of comprehension.

Maxwell stood up. "I guess this means that you will not yield to me. Very well. Your death should be soon. Goodbye, My Lady. He laughed quietly, then turned and walked out the door. He walked down a long dark hall towards a set of stone steps that ascended upwards. He carefully climbed the steps, emerging in a large kitchen. At the bottom of one wall was a small window. Maxwell had no idea why the window was there, but he had not questioned it. He had purchased the house when the owner had passed away, hoping to turn it into a summer home for himself and Alannah. He had found the cellar quite by accident-

He had been exploring the kitchen when he noticed that one of the walls seemed longer than the other three. He had gone over to the wall, and slowly run his hands along it, stopping when he discovered a small depression in the woodwork. He hooked his fingers into the depression and pulled as hard as he could. The door opened with a screech, and Maxwell had found himself looking down at a flight of stone steps. He had walked down, shivering against the cold, stopping when he came to another door. He had carefully turned the handle, expecting it to be locked. To his surprise, it had opened easily.

Now he walked out of the kitchen, looking out the window at the land outside. He smiled insanely. "I wonder if she'll be remembered in the years to come. It's such a tragedy when a young person dies before their time. But it's even more tragic when it's a death that could have been prevented."

Stayne crouched behind a tree, staring grimly at the large house in front of him. He, Tarrant and Chessur had been running for what seemed like hours.

"Are you sure she's in there, Chessur?" Tarrant panted breathlessly. Chessur nodded.

"He's got her chained up in the cellar. My old mistress hardly ever went in it, since she was very sensitive to cold."

Stayne gulped. "How cold is it in there?"

Chessur gave a sad sigh. "Freezing. I don't know if she is still alive."

Tarrant spoke up, seeing Stayne's eye start to glaze over. "How do we get in without being seen, Chess?"

Chessur frowned, and then brightened up. "There's a small door set in the outside wall. That opens up to the outside cellar stairs. It's rather well hidden, though. I don't know if I could find it."

Tarrant looked at him grimly. "Then you had better do your best. Find the door, Chess."

Chessur nodded, and then disappeared. Tarrant turned and grabbed Stayne's arms, giving him a shake. "Stayne. You cannot give up now. We are close. Alannah needs you."

Stayne nodded. "You're right, Tarrant. Thank you." He clenched his fists, and breathed slowly. Tarrant smiled before turning to await the return of Chessur.

Chessur floated slowly along the outside wall, searching for the hidden door. He had nearly given up when he spotted a dull flash of copper. He floated towards it, purring in triumph when he saw the ancient door handle. He slowly solidified his paw, and turned the handle. Much to his relief, the door was unlocked. He tugged on it, and then realized he was going to need help to get it open. He quickly floated to where Stayne and Tarrant were waiting.

"I found the door, but it's jammed. You both are going to have to open it."

He led them over to the door, and Stayne grasped the handle, giving it a mighty tug. The door slowly opened, and Tarrant slipped his hands in between the door and the jamb, tugging as hard as he could. The door opened a few more feet before coming to a stop.

Tarrant gasped out, "I think that's all I can manage. Stayne, do you think you can get through the gap?"

Stayne nodded, and then slipped through the gap. Tarrant followed after, and they carefully made their way down the steps into the darkness below. Chessur followed after them.

Stayne looked blindly around, whispering quietly. "Any idea which way we should go, Chessur?"

Chessur looked around, his night vision enabling him to see. He reached down and tugged Stayne's hand, pulling him to the left. "This way. You'll see a small light set in the ceiling. That's where the door is."

"The light must surely be out by now, Chess." Tarrant said in confusion.

Chessur shook his head. "My mistress hated having to replenish her cellar light, so she found a way to make it burn perpetually. She told me once what the ingredients were, but I didn't pay attention. Whatever she used worked, though."

Stayne sighed in exasperation. "It doesn't matter! We need to get moving!" He set off in the direction Chessur had indicated. Tarrant followed quickly after. They soon arrived at the door, and Stayne began shaking so hard he nearly collapsed. Tarrant looked at him in sympathy.

"Stayne, we have to go in there. You know that."

Stayne groaned. "I…don't think I can, Tarrant."

Tarrant grasped his arms. "You can, and you have to. Your Lady is waiting on you. Don't give up now."

Stayne gulped, then slowly reached out and turned the handle. He stepped into the room and screamed in anguish at the sight in front of him.

Alannah was curled up on the floor, her eyes shut. She was breathing slowly, and her skin was blue. Stayne moaned in agony, and slowly walked towards her. He collapsed to his knees in front of her. He reached out and touched her, and moaned afresh at how cold she was.

"Alannah….?"

He reached out and began to gently stroke her hair, wincing at the small slivers of ice that his fingers encountered. "Wake up. Please. Please. You have to wake up. You have to. I found you. Please, my love. Wake up." His eye fell on the chain, and then traveled down to the shackles around her wrists. A black hatred for Lord Maxwell threatened to overwhelm him, and he gripped his sword handle so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"That slurking urpal slackush scrum."

Tarrant's eyes widened in surprise at Stayne's language. He had been watching sadly as Stayne tried to wake Alannah up. He was about to teasingly chastise him when he noticed Alannah's eyes flickering. At first, he put it down to a trick of the light. But his jaw dropped when they slowly began to open. He stared in blank surprise, robbed of speech.

Alannah was dimly aware of someone stroking her hair, and she was certain that Maxwell had returned once more, but she was too weak to make him stop. She was determined, however, to not give him the satisfaction of her death. She slowly opened her eyes, even though they felt like lead weights. Slowly, she focused on the figure kneeling in front of her, and her heart began pounding.

"Ilosivic….?" She whispered in disbelief.

Stayne gasped loudly, and then looked down into her eyes, which were filled with tears. "Alannah?"

His hands shot out and grabbed her, pulling her into a tight embrace as she shook with sobs of relief. "You found me, you found me, you found me."

Stayne spoke in a choked voice. "I will always find you." He stared at the chain, and slowly drew his sword. "Alannah? Can you move your arms at all?"

Alannah slowly lifted her arms, and the chain was pulled up. Stayne placed his sword on the chain. "Hold still, love. I'm going to get you unshackled."

Alannah nodded, and Stayne brought his sword up and down on the chain, which snapped in half. Alannah sobbed in relief as she felt it give, and she threw her arms around Stayne, crushing herself against him. He dropped his sword and embraced her just as tightly.

Tarrant had been keeping watch outside the door when he noticed Lord Maxwell coming down the hall. He smiled madly, and hid himself in the shadows. As Lord Maxwell passed him, Tarrant stepped out and placed his sword to his throat, wrapping his arms around his waist. "Greetin's, yer Lordship. There's someone here that would like ta have words with ye." He shoved Lord Maxwell forward and into the room.

"Look what I found, Stayne."

Stayne turned at the sound of his voice, and glared in black hatred at Lord Maxwell. Alannah looked over, and whimpered in fear, pressing herself against Stayne.

Stayne continued staring at Maxwell, who gulped in fear. "Tarrant, take Alannah and get back to Marmoreal. She needs the Queen's healing powers. I will be along after I finish something here."

Alannah shook with fear. "No, Ilosivic. Please don't leave me."

Stayne cupped her face in his hands, and looked gently into her eyes. "I'll be right behind you, love. I swear. But I don't want you seeing this. Go with Tarrant."

Tarrant stepped forward, flinging Lord Maxwell against the wall uncaringly. He gently reached for Alannah. "Come on, Lady. Let's get you out of here."

Alannah gulped, and then slowly allowed Tarrant to take her arm. He looked at Stayne, and then suddenly smiled madly. "Do your….best."

Stayne smiled back. "I intend to." He waited until Tarrant and Alannah had left before walking over to where Lord Maxwell lay slumped. He reached down, and slowly pulled him upright.

"I told you before if you ever came near her again you would curse the day your mother was born."

Maxwell looked at him in fear. "Are you going to take my head off?"

Stayne laughed darkly, then walked over and picked up his sword. "That's much too quick! I have something else in mind. Although, by the time I'm finished, you will wish I had taken your head."

He walked over to the door, and slowly shut it. He smiled evilly, and advanced on Lord Maxwell. "Now, where shall I begin…?"

Tarrant slapped the reins of the horses, urging them onward. He had found Maxwell's carriage in the drive and against Alannah's protests had carefully bundled her in. Now he urged the horses faster, knowing that time was important.

He arrived at the palace, and leapt down from the seat, lifting Alannah out of the carriage and running towards the door. Her breathing was ragged, and she was shaking and moaning with fever. "Hold on, Lady Alannah."

He pounded on the door, and shot inside as soon as it was opened, sending the butler spinning. He looked wildly around, and noticed Mirana running towards him.

She stared in horror at Alannah. "Get her into a bed, quickly! I will be along soon. Where is Stayne?"

Tarrant chuckled grimly. "He had some business to attend to. He'll be along."

Mirana nodded, understanding what Tarrant meant. Then she turned and ran off to the kitchens.

Tarrant quickly ran through the halls and into the first bedchamber he could find. He gently placed Alannah on the bed and carefully began to peel her dress off, wrapping her tightly in the blankets when he finished. She continued shaking with cold, and Tarrant stared helplessly at her.

Mirana came into the room, carrying a large vial filled with a purple liquid. She approached Alannah, and gently touched her shoulder. "Lady Alannah? You need to drink this."

Mirana sighed as Alannah showed no sign of hearing. "Tarrant, get her upright. I need to give this to her or she will die."

Tarrant came forward, and placing his arms under Alannah's, slowly pulled her upright. Mirana gently forced open her mouth, and placed the vial inside, tilting it so the liquid would go down her throat. When the vial was empty, Mirana sighed. "You can put her down now, Tarrant. Let her rest."

He did, and they walked out of the room. Their eyes widened in shock as they saw Stayne running towards them. "Where is she?"

He had finished with Lord Maxwell only a few moments before. What was once a handsome Lord had become a bleeding piece of flesh just barely recognizable as human. Stayne had left him in the cellar, blinded, crippled, and bleeding to death.

Mirana smiled. "In there, sleeping. I have given her one of my more powerful healing draughts, but her ordeal exhausted her."

Stayne gasped in relief. "Thank you, Majesty. May I please go in?"

Mirana nodded, and Stayne ran in. He quickly climbed onto the bed, and pulled Alannah into his arms. "I love you." He gently kissed her, and then drifted off to sleep.

Tarrant watched a small smile on his face. "Majesty, will Lady Alannah recover?"

Mirana smiled. "Yes, I believe both of them will recover quite nicely."

Tarrant looked confused. "But Stayne wasn't hurt, and he's the only other person in the room. There isn't someone hidden in there, is there?"

Mirana laughed. "In a way. Alannah's the one hiding the person…at least for now."

Tarrant's eyes suddenly widened in shock. "You mean she's…."

Mirana nodded, and Tarrant's face split into a grin. "I wonder how Stayne will take it."

Mirana shook her head. "We can tell them both later. Right now, we should leave them in peace."

Tarrant nodded, and the two of them walked off, leaving the lovers to sleep.