Chapter 2

I forgot the disclaimer... so...

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the story Sundiata nor do I own the Teen Titans, Okay?!!?! No matter how great it would be...

FYI: Sarason, the head witch in this story, is from the episode "Cyborg the Barbarian"

Previously...

Jealous of Raven and Arella, Madame Rouge called upon the Nine Withches of Azerath.

"Why do you summon us?" they inquired.

"I want you to kill Raven Roth" said Madame Rouge, simply and emotionlessly.

Sundiata

"I want you to kill Raven Roth" said Madame Rouge, simply and emotionlessly.

"She must have the fatal blade turned on her for her destiny runs counter to my son's and she must be killed before time runs out." continued Rouge, "If you succeed, I promise you the finest of rewards. I shall pay a little in advance," she said, her French accent thick as ever, as she took out a small chest from under her bed. The chest had complex geometric designs carved in the finest red cherry wood. The chest was filled with translucent diamonds that had a purple hue. These Purple Diamonds were the rarest in Azerath.

"Mother of the king," said Sarason, the head Witch, "life hangs by nothing but a very fine thread, but all is interwoven here below. Life has a cause, and death does as well. Life comes from death. Your hate has a cause and your action must have a cause. Mother of the king, everything holds together, our action will have no effect unless we ourselves are involved, but Raven Roth has done us no wrong. Since her heart isn't blackened, we cannot harm her."

"But you must be concerned, for the weakling Raven will bring Azerath down."

"The snake seldom bites the foot that does not walk," said one of the witches.

"Yes, but there are snakes that attack everyone," replied Rouge, annoyed at the unexpected resistance, "Allow Raven to grow up and we all will repent of it. Tomorrow, disguise yourselves as old women and make a show of stealing herbs from Arella's garden. Raven stands guard there and you will see how vicious the girl is. She won't respect your age and she'll give you a good thrashing."

"That's a clever idea" said a witch.

"But the cause of our discomfort will be as a result from our actions, for having touched something that didn't belong to us," retorted Sarason.

"But we could repeat the offence," said another witch, "and then if she beats us again we would be able to reproach her with being unkind, heartless. In that case, we could kill her, I think."

"The idea is ingenious," concluded Sarason, "Tomorrow we shall go to the vegetable patch."

"Now there is a happy thought," said Rouge, "Go tomorrow and you will discover Raven's black heart, as her name suggests. Here are your diamonds."

With that the witches dissapeared into the night. Rouge was all alone now, gloating over her anticipated victory. But Jinx had awoken.

"Auntie, is everything alright? I thought I heard voices. Who were you talking to?"

"Sleep Jinxie, it is nothing. You didn't hear anything."

In the morning, as usual, Raven got her companions together and asked them, "What shall we do today?"

"Can we shop at the market today?" whined Kori. After much debate over lack of money and interest, Raven and Jinx were persuaded to go. As usual, Richard tagged along, like a guardian angel.

At the market, Kori, Jinx, Tara, and Karen added their gold coins together and split them evenly between all six of them. That way Raven and Richard would have money too!

With this money, Kori bought a snack and a new dress. The dress was a light pink that sparkled in the light. Up close, you could see that the sparkles fromed designs on the dress.

Jinx bought a new pair of high heels to go with her elegant black and pink dress robes. Tara purchased two different necklaces, one of jade and the other of aquamarine. Karen also bought jewelry, but instead she bought a set that consisted of two onyx earrings (DUH!), an onyx bracelet, and an onyx necklace.

Richard bought a bo staff to train Raven with. He also bought two broadswords, also to teach Raven with. Now Raven didn't buy a dress or shoes or jewels, but instead Raven bought meat and salt. It was rare for Rouge to give Arella any meat scraps, let alone enough for the three of them. Raven bought pig meat that her mother could prepare some of and then salt the leftovers. All of them, except Richard, were suprised, but they made no comment.

When they arrived at the palace, Raven immeadiately went to check on her mother's garden. When she arrived, she saw nine old women scurrying away, theives that had been caught in the act of stealing gnougou leaves.

This crime could've been dealt with severely, but instead Raven called out to them,

"WAIT! Stop, poor women. Why do you run like this? This garden belongs to all." Raven was unaware of her friends that were watching the scene unfold.

Raven then began to fill in baskets with many different condiments and herbs from her garden.

"Each time you run short of anything, come to stock up here without fear."

"You disarm us and confound us with your bounty," replied one of the women.

They then revealed that they were the Nine Witches of Azerath.

"Listen, Raven," said Sarason, "we've come here to test you. We have no need of herbs but your generosity disarms us. We were sent here by the King's mother to provoke you and draw the anger of the nocturnal powers on you, but nothing can be done to a heart full of kindness. And to think we were given diamonds and are owed more. Forgive us, Raven Roth."

"I bear you no ill will," replied Raven, "I am returning from the market, and I have the meat of a pig with me. Join us for supper, will you?"

Then the Nine Witches dined with Raven, Arella, and Richard.

"Thank you, Raven."

"Thank-you, Child of Justice."

"Henceforth," said Sarason, "we will watch over you."

Then they dissapeared into the night.

"Those Nine Witches scared you, huh? You were really frightened, and don't try to tell mme you weren't," Richard asked Raven.

"How do you know?" asked Raven, astonished.

"I was there when you were talking to them," then, at the look of anger on her face he added, "we all were. Jinx told me she heard their scheme but said that she wasn't worried at all. And she would know, she's a witch too."

"Oh," replied Raven, and at that moment a small smile graced her features.

I love to see her smile thought Richard.

Now Arella was a wise mother. So the next day, at dinner, she told Raven,

"Let us leave here, your friends are vulnerable. They have not yet mastered their skills, whether it be martial arts, witchcraft, or geopathy. Since she cannot injure you, Rouge will try to hurt your friends. Let us go away from here. You will return to rule once you are full grown, for it is in Azerath that your destiny will be fulfilled."

Raven accepted exile only to protect her friends. The next day she asked Richard to stay with her. Raven went out with her friends to do archery for her last time. Arella wanted Richard to help her pack. However, apparently King Adam had called the council together in order to think of ways to appease the evil king of Gotham. King Red X decreed that Richard would be given to King Slade as an apprentice and a griot. In the midst of packing, people showed up for Richard, and he was forced to leave, even though Raven was gone.

When Raven returned, Arella told her what had happened. The embassy had left that morning.

"What?! How could she?!?" by now, tears were streaming down her face. "My father assigned Richard to me! They can't do this! They have to give him back!"

"Stop!" shouted Arella, "Let it go. It is Madame Rouge acting thus, but she does not know that she obeys a higher order."

"But I didn't get to say goodbye," sobbed Raven. She cried in her mother's arms for several minutes before drying her tears.

On their way out of town, Raven and Jinx went to the King.

"Half brother Adam," stated Raven, full of fury, "you have taken away our part of the inheritance. Every royal successor has had his/her griot, and you have taken away Richard. He was not yours, wherever he may be, and he will always be my griot. And since you do not want us around you we shall leave Azerath and go far away from here."

"But I will return," added Raven vehemently. "I will return, do you hear?"

I was feeling nice and I had some time, so...Chapter 2! Now can you all be nice and review? Maybe? Sort of? It only takes 3 minutes verses 3 hours...