Disclaimer: I don't own Neopets the darkest faerie.

Chapter 5:

Tor tugged a little at his collar. He hated wearing these fancy clothes, but it was only the biggest party of the year. The celebration of the One Year anniversary of the defeat of the Dark One. And he was the guest of honor. Tor looked to his right at the carriage that King Skarl was sitting in and the one behind it where his family was. Though he was an important guest, he was still a knight and therefore part of the King's small escort. The other knights in the escort no doubt felt honored and excited to be going. Tor would have preferred to stay in Meridell and celebrate there.

Tor guided his uni forward as the rotation shifted and he took Aldwin's place at the front. He heard a rustling in the bushes and put a hand to the sword at his side. A dogglefox jumped out of the bushes and ran across the road in front of him. Tor shook his head. The recent attacks had made him and everyone else uneasy.

The sun had begun to fall by the time they'd reached the gates. Perfect timing. They'd been traveling since dawn that morning and Tor just wanted to sit. The gates were drawn open and they rode into the city. Everything was decorated splendidly with bright colors, lantern hung over their heads going from one building to the next. Different tables were set up and various places where separate parties would be held for the 'less important' Neopets. Different bands played all over and music filled the air. Tor heard Lucy squeal with delight from the back carriage and he smiled. He was happy they'd been able to come along.

"Tor!"

He quickly helped Lucy down from the carriage and turned around. Roberta was running toward him, looking smart in her green robes with golden trim, her wand hanging loosely at her side. "Roberta! Good to see you again." Tor greeted her as she came to a halt in front of him. She reached up and gave him a quick hug which he returned.

"Strange to see you so dressed up, I must admit. But you look nice. Classy."

Tor smiled. "Well I hate it. Now I understand why Nobles are always so aggravated."

Roberta rolled her eyes and patted his shoulder with mock sympathy. "Just get through the night, Tor. Now come on and see some of your old friends. A lot of Neopets have been waiting to see you again."

"My family," Tor began to protest. He couldn't really just leave them there. Meridell had been so foreign to them and Brightvale was even bigger.

"Are fine. Look." Roberta nodded her head over to where Lucy was already playing with some other young Neopets. Tor looked for his parents to see his mother talking with Marion from the food store. His father was excitedly explaining something to the Potion Master, Gerwuld who seemed to be very interested in whatever he was saying. Yeah, they were doing fine. "Tor, it's a party, and you're a guest. No knightly things tonight. Now come on."

They went from gathering to gathering so that Tor could greet all of his old friends again. He met Velhar again at the Wheel of Chance and Tor played a couple rounds. His luck seemed to be at his best that night and he just couldn't lose. Cheers went up through the air every time he won and the atmosphere was contagious. Nothing could take away Tor's smile.

"So this is what you're like when the world isn't at stake," Roberta commented as they walked back to the 'rich peoples' celebration. Couldn't be late to their own party. "It's different. In a good way. Something I didn't get to see very much."

Tor shrugged. "There was never much time. Only after the clouds had been driven away from each town and we had such a tight schedule."

The conversation ended abruptly when Lucy crashed into Tor's legs and hugged them. He wobbled slightly before catching his balance again. "This is so amazing Tor! Thank you so much for letting me come!"

Tor bent down and picked her up. "Of course I would take you! Why wouldn't I let my annoying sister come? It's because of you we're here right now!"

Lucy's eyes widened dramatically and Tor and Roberta laughed. "What did I do?"

Tor placed Lucy on his shoulders and they continued to walk. "Well, you helped me to become a knight when I saved your jealous butt from Shadowglen Woods."

"Really?"

"That's right," Tor nodded, grinning over at Roberta that Lucy didn't catch when he called her jealous of him. "So you basically saved the world Lucy."

"I'm sure that Roberta could have done it on her own," Lucy said in a suddenly serious voice. "I'll bet you weren't much of a help, Tor. You're too dumb."

Roberta burst out laughing while Tor gaped. Did he just hear that right? Judging from how hard Roberta was laughing he did. "I am not dumb!"

"Yeah huh! Mom said that all boys were dumb!" At this Roberta began to laugh even harder.

"Well she got you there Tor. And Lucy, I'm glad to know that you have so much faith in me, but Tor was more help than you think. While I did all the important things such as thinking, he kept watch for any baddies who might jump out at us."

Tor pushed Roberta to the side good-naturedly, but he frowned convincingly at her. "Not helping, Roberta. I'll never live this down, thank you very much."

Roberta smiled. "I've got your back, Tor. You know that."

"Obviously."

The three had only been back at their tent for a few moments before the dinner started. They all took their assigned seats, although Tor didn't very much like his. He was to the right of King Skarl who sat at one end of the long table while King Hagan was at the other, as was Roberta. Tor found it extremely hard to look away from King Skarl as he ate. Apparently the skeith did not care that he was in public at an important affair such as this. He still ate like he hadn't eaten in days, sending bit of food flying everywhere, some of it even landing on Tor's plate. Not to mention all the noises he made while he ate. Tor caught Lucy staring several times and he had to constantly nudge her under the table to remind her to look away. Tor could have done without dinner.

After everyone had finished eating, King Hagan made a long speech that droned on and on about Brightvale's role in all that happened and how proud he was of his niece. Tor just tuned it out. He didn't really care. And then he heard Roberta talking and he looked up again. "I was in Faerieland when the Darkest Faerie arose to power and I barely escaped with my life. Everyone's minds had been warped and I was alone for the first time, protected by this amulet." Roberta held up the amulet that hung around her neck and Tor touched his own. He never took it off. "After falling from the floating city, I met another who was not touched by the clouds, protected by his own amulet. Sir Tormund Ellis, Knight of Meridell." All heads turned to Tor and Roberta motioned for him to stand up, so he did. "Tor and I traveled for months, our quest to defeat the Darkest Faerie, something so unimaginable for the both of us. Tor, would you like to speak?"

No, no he wouldn't like to speak. But he pretty much had to. It was what everyone expected him to do, and they were all waiting for it. "I grew up all my life, a simple farm boy. No expectations. I thought that's what I would be doing my entire life. And then I got my chance to become a knight, and I took it without a second thought. This was my opportunity to finally do something and possibly be great. Not long after I finally became a real knight, bad things began happening. The darkest faerie took over Meridell soon after Illusen had been defeated. I managed to escape from the castle and I met Roberta." Tor shook his head. "I have never been so scared in my life as I was that entire journey, but I can't say that good things didn't come out of it. Other than saving the world, I made countless friends, many of which I see here now."

The feast couldn't end soon enough after that. Then Tor left his seat to sit next to Roberta. "That was terrible," he mumbled.

"Oh, you did great!" Roberta said encouragingly.

"Doesn't mean I liked doing it. Besides, you didn't have to sit next to King Skarl," Tor added in a whisper to ensure that nobody heard.

Roberta giggled behind her hand. "You shouldn't speak badly of your king you know."

"Oh? I heard you do it hundreds of times."

"That's different. He's my uncle."

Tor nodded slowly and looked around. Neopets were now dancing everywhere to the music. He could see different gatherings that had meshed together to create one big one. Sir Luthor was dancing with Lilly. Grayson was dancing with Lady Margo. His parents were dancing together. Lucy was once again playing with others and they were trying to copy the movements. Tor looked at Roberta. "Would you like to dance?"

"I would love to."

Tor stood up and held out his hand to Roberta. "I'll warn you now; I'm not much of a dancer."

"I'm sure you'll manage."

They went to the edge of the crowd where there was less Neopets. Tor bowed deeply and Roberta curtsied. Tor stood straight again and raised his right hand and placed it to Roberta's so that their palms were flat against each other in the space between them. Just as they began to move, screaming began. Tor drew his sword and looked wildly around. The lanterns gave off very little light, but Tor could see large bodies moving quickly through the crowd. Chaos ensued. Neopets ran in every different direction trying to get away from the attackers. Tor sent Roberta a panicked glance.

"Tor, find your family! We'll split up and look!"

Tor nodded and ran off. When he passed a terrified civilian he ordered them to get inside to safety. He didn't know if in there terror they even understood what he said over the pandemonium, but he couldn't stop and check. He had to find his family and get the werelupes out of the city. But he didn't know which he should do first. It didn't take long to come to a decision as he soon found Cadmere struggling on his own against three werelupes. Tor jumped to his friend's aid and fought the creatures back with him.

"Thanks!" Cadmere gasped.

Tor nodded. "Find King Skarl and help protect him. Get him to the castle and help any others you find on the way."

"Where are you going?"

"I need to find my family! Go now, Cadmere, and good luck!"

Cadmere grabbed Tor's hand and shook it. "And to you."

Tor fought and fought. His family was nowhere in sight and he began to panic. He didn't think that he would be able to handle it if the werelupes got to them before he did. He'd brought them here. Tor effortlessly cut down another werelupe with a furious howl. He could already see that the fight was beginning to thin out. Somebody tapped him on the shoulder and Tor spun around, sword ready. Roberta didn't even flinch, although his parents did. Hubert even raised the bone club that he was holding slightly higher. Relief filled Tor's body.

"I'm taking them to the castle," Roberta told him quickly. "But Tor—"

"Where Lucy?" Tor asked, realizing that his sister wasn't there. The relief quickly faded away when that came to light. He grabbed Roberta's shoulder. "Where is she?"

"I don't know, Tor!"

"We were separated!" his mother whimpered. "Tor, please find her!"

"I will," Tor promised. He released Roberta's shoulder. "Thank you. Keep an eye out for Lucy and take care of them."

Roberta nodded and quickly hugged Tor. "Be careful. This shouldn't last much longer, but I'll be back."

"TOR!"

He whipped around at the sound of Lucy's voice. The werelupes were retreating. How long had the fight lasted? It seemed like forever. But where was Lucy? He heard his name again and his eyes darted around. Then he saw her, looking over the shoulder of the werelupe that was holding her. Her arm was stretched out to him as she screamed his name. Tor began to chase after them, the sound of others on his heels. But she began to get farther and farther away. He couldn't keep up!

A dark purple cloud suddenly blocked his path and tor scrambled backward. Purple clouds. He shivered at the sight. "No," he whispered. "NO! LUCY!"

"Enough of your shouts little lupe. Your sister is gone." A chilling voice sounded out from the cloud. Tor took another step back as a dark cloaked figure emerged. There was the gleam of a long rapier at the newcomer's side, red jewels decorating the hilt. "I warned you that I would never underestimate you again."

"You," Tor whispered hoarsely at the gray gelert. The assassin drew is sword. "How..?"

The assassin chuckled coldly. "Did you think you killed me? Foolish boy!"

Knights slowly began to advance but Tor threw out his arms. "Stop! Don't come any closer!" he looked back at the assassin. "So you're the one who's been leading the werelupes."

"Of course. Such stupid creatures, but they have great strength and even greater numbers."

Tor growled. "What is your goal?"

The assassin began to laugh. "I will do what that foolish faerie could not! I will rule this pitiful world!"

"And you think I'm going to let you?"

"You cannot stop me."

The gelert darted forward and Tor jumped to the side, swinging his sword. It only met purple smoke. Tor dived forward on instinct and he heard the swish of a blade just inches from where he'd been. Immediately he was on the defensive, blocking every attack that came his way, blocking out the taunts shot at him, tracking every time the assassin teleported in a cloud of purple smoke. Tor kicked his opponent in the shin and slashed his sword cutting the assassin deep across his arm. Tor swung again but met the other sword with a loud clang on metal on metal. Tor used all of his strength to try and forced the gelert back, but then he saw the raw energy forming in his gray hand. Tor jumped back just in time and ducked when the orb was fired at him. It grazed the tip of his left ear.

"You'll have to do better than that!"

Tor was panting heavily but he shouted defiantly, "Coward! Only a coward would attack when his opponent has been weakened!" Indeed, Tor was feeling tired and weaker than he did when the werelupes first attacked. He'd been injured and was bleeding from several different wounds.

"You think you are in a position to call me a coward?" The gelert chuckled. "Look below you little lupe, and tell me then that I am a coward." Tor looked down at his feet. Vines were growing out of the road and beginning to curl around his feet. Tor tried to move away, but the vines suddenly tightened around his ankles and he couldn't even move. The assassin appeared in front of him shrouded in purple smoke. He put his left hand on Tor's smile while his right tightened around the jeweled hilt of his sword. He gave Tor a cold smile. "Say goodnight, Tormund Ellis."

Tor felt a flash of pain in his abdomen and he gasped. He looked down to see the blade disappear into his belly up to the hilt. The assassin chuckled darkly and slowly withdrew the sword causing as much pain as he could. The creeping plants turned black and shriveled up until there was only dust that blew away in the breeze. Tor stumbled back and dropped his sword. It suddenly felt too heavy to hold. Tor tripped and fell onto his bottom. He brought a hand to the wound and it was immediately covered in his blood.

The assassin brought the tip of his sword to Tor's throat. He began to laugh as he brought the sword back to strike again. Tor was still in too much shock to react. But then, just before the tip of the blade reached Tor, he was surrounded by a green dome which the metal bounced off of harmlessly. The assassin frowned in confusion and anger for a moment before looking to the source of the shield. Roberta stood defiantly on the edge of the crowd, wand raised. "Oh yes, I'd forgotten about you."

"How flattering," Roberta said sarcastically. "Now leave."

"Do you think you can defeat me? You think that you're stronger than me?"

"No, but I can try." Roberta fired the first spell, which was expected and easily deflected. But the second spell didn't come from Roberta or the assassin. It crashed into the assassin's back, and he roared with pain. Roberta took her chance and ran to Tor's side.

"Seradar!" The assassin snarled, whirling to face the aged wizard. His sword began to glow as he poured magic into it.

"Not so fast, Assassin. You have done enough damage here and you are outnumbered."

The assassin growled, realizing that Seradar was right. "This isn't over!" And then he was gone, leaving purple smoke where he'd been standing.

Roberta tried to stop the bleeding with her hands. She hadn't yet learned any healing spells and even the strongest wouldn't be enough for this wound. "Come on Tor!" Roberta muttered. "It's just a scratch!"

"I think it's a bit more than that, Roberta," Tor said with a pained groan. "But I'll be fine." His eyes began to close. "Just do me one favor. Find Lucy."

…