Ok, so this chapter may not be the best, so if you have any suggestions, review and let me know!

R&R!

"Maerad...Maerad..." a distant voice called, growing louder by the moment. Maerad struggled to open her eyes, and then closed them again quickly. The light was blinding. And where was she?

A wave of panic washed over her. Where was she? What had happened? And where was Cadvan?

"By the Light Maerad, you're awake!" Cadvan's voice was like a drink of fresh water after weeks in the desert. Maerad opened her eyes once again; the light wasn't nearly as bright this time.

"Cadvan, w-where...h-h-how...?" she stammered, hopelessly confused. This couldn't possibly be Lirigon, could it? And if it was, how did Cadvan manage to get her here? She glanced around at her surroundings.

She was in a brightly lit room, with a fire crackling in the fireplace across from the bed she was laying in. There were couches and chairs heaped with lush pillows sitting in front of it, and a bookcase stacked high with books. She was lying in a canopied bed with rich red blankets and pillows. Maerad stared in wonder. She finally looked up at Cadvan, who had a worried expression on his pale face.

"Lirigon, Maerad. You're in Lirigon. Now, I wish to know what exactly happened on-"

"But, how? How did you get me here?" Maerad interrupted.

Cadvan heaved an exasperated sigh, then smiled grimly. "After your...collapse...I panicked. I didn't know what had happened to you! I finally decided, after frantically considering my options, that Lirigon would be the safest place to be, and the Bards here could probably nurse you back to consciousness. I set you behind me on Darsor, and led Keru. Now, Maerad of Pellinor, I wish to know what exactly happened on those plains." Cadvan had a stern look on his face, yet Maerad saw, with a start, that there was fear in his eyes...fear of what, she did not know.

"I-I don't know Cadvan. One minute I was fine, and the next, there was a terrible pain, a twisting inside of me. Then-then I felt...something...shift, so to speak. Like the pain was making way for a different kind of pain. It felt...dark..." Maerad looked up, at a loss for words, and saw that Cadvan was now openly expressing his fear. She suddenly felt very much alone and vulnerable.

"Maerad, I'm afraid we have stirred the Dark. When The Nameless One was defeated, all was thought to be well. I think it is not. Some other Dark presence has been awakened by his death, Maerad. I think it is not stronger, but more numerous. More...determined." Cadvan hung his head, and they sat there for some time, each pondering their situation. Cadvan finally raised his head, only to see Maerad, looking as helpless as a small child. Her face was pale, her eyes distant and wide in fear. He felt a pang of grief. His beloved Maerad was in danger once again.

Maerad suddenly looked at Cadvan, a single tear escaping her eyes and running down her cheek. More soon followed, and before long she was crying into Cadvan, him stroking her hair and holding her tight as sobs racked her body.

Maerad eventually pulled away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Why, Cadvan?" she asked quietly. "Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't His defeat have been the end of it? Why...?" She trailed off, getting a distant look in her eyes once again. Cadvan cringed. Why did she seem to ask him the one question he had no answer for?

"I...I don't know, Maerad, I don't know."

They sat in silence for some time, each thinking their own thoughts. Cadvan glanced up at Maerad. Her face was in her hands, and she was hunched over, her body trembling. He reached up and touched her hand. She lifted her head, her eyes sunken in, her face surprisingly pale.

Cadvan reached his hand up to her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "It's going to be ok, Maerad. We'll be ok." Maerad smiled, however pained it may be, and leaned forward, kissing Cadvan lightly on the mouth.

"As long as I have you, I know it will be," she said, kissing him again. Cadvan smiled into the kiss, knowing the same was true for him. As long as he had his sweet Maerad with him, everything would turn out okay.

Ok, hope you liked it! R&R! Chapter 5 coming soon (hopefully, if I get enough reviews!)