She opened her eyes, and all she saw was darkness.

She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again to make sure that her eyes were actually open. Panic seized her as she realized that her eyes really were open. Had she gone blind?

Her panic dissipated as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and were able to make out the faint outlines of objects. She relaxed and briefly closed her eyes again. Her eyebrows scrunched up in pain as she became increasingly aware of the pounding in her head and the dryness of her throat. Her blue eyes flashed open again as another moment of panic seized her.

Questions exploded in her head: Where was she? Was she dead? What had happened?

She tried to sit up, but a sharp wave of pain rolled through her. She collapsed right back onto what appeared to be a bed. She hissed slightly, squeezing her eyes tight. Now that hurt. Her body was aching as if she'd been running for days and days without resting. Especially her ribs, which felt as if they were broken. Gently, she placed a hand against her ribs, lifting her shirt, and felt the area bandaged.

The faint sound of rustling caught her attention. Startled, she turned her head toward the source of the sound and saw the faint outline of something moving. A lump formed in her throat. Her eyes darted every which way in the hopes of finding a way of escaping, but she knew that even if she found one, she was in far too much pain to move. Her hand grasped onto the blanket that had been placed over her. Perhaps she could surprise the intruder and then scream for help. But could she even scream? Her throat felt so constricted and dry she wasn't sure if she could even speak.

A sudden light filled up the room. She squinted, turning her head away from it.

"…Jasmine?" The voice was hoarse and cracked, but she recognized it. Her eyes widened and she turned toward the man quickly. Too quickly. She moaned softly in pain, screwing her eyes shut as she rode out the wave of pain that hit her. When she opened her eyes she was face-to-face with somebody she thought she would never see again.

Raven.

Even through the dimness of the lantern she could tell that it was him. His hair was as dark and red as ever, and his eyes were wide and glistening. He had little whiskers on his chin and jawline, she noted, and his hair, although as dark as she remembered it to be, was sticking up in every direction. He looked exhausted.

So many emotions swelled in her heart she didn't know what to say or do. So she simply stared at him for a long, silent moment.

"You're awake…" he whispered. His voice cracked again. Gently, his fingers shaking ever so slightly, he brushed them across her face. Her eyes fluttered shut as she enjoyed the feeling of his warm skin against hers. "…I'll go get Priscilla," he said abruptly, moving as if to stand. Her eyes widened instantly, and she cried out a hoarse "No!" as she put a limp hand on his arm in an attempt to stop him. He looked down at her in surprise.

"Don't leave me," she whispered. Her eyes searched his desperately, and her hand tightened on his arm, even though it pained her muscles to do so.

"I won't," he replied, softening. He sat back down, gently prying her hand off his arm. He pressed his lips against her fingers. "I'll stay right here with you."

A torrent of emotions ripped through her. Silently she stared at him and opened her mouth as if to speak, and then thought better of it. Finally, she asked, "What happened to me?"

She looked scared, as if she didn't want to know the answer.

He sighed softly. "You got hurt," he said gravely, "and you fell into the water. You've been unconscious for four days now."

She was silent.

Everything was red, red with her blood…

"Jaffar jumped in after you." Her eyebrows shot up.

"…Jaffar?" she repeated. Her eyes widened.

A blob of black was heading toward her. She realized it was Death coming to take her away…

Except it hadn't been Death. It had been Death's Angel.

She felt like laughing at the irony.

He nodded. "He and Hector were the first to get to you. Hector killed the myrmidon who'd hurt you as Jaffar jumped in after you." He paused. "He brought you back up to the surface, and you were unconscious. Serra healed you and was able to stop the blood, but you wouldn't wake." It looked as if it was getting difficult for him to speak. He looked away. "They thought maybe you wouldn't have much time left." His voice was beginning to shake. "They thought you'd lost too much blood to make it through."

A silence filled the air.

"Yet here I am." She sounded like she couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth.

"Yet here you are," he murmured.

"So what happened afterwards?" she asked with a clear of her throat.

"Farina and Legault brought you back to camp." She lay limp in his arms like a rag doll, drenched wet in water and blood… "Priscilla, Lucius, and Pent worked hard trying to revive you…but even after they've closed your wounds and done everything necessary for you to return to your full health, you didn't awake. They told us that there wasn't anything else they could do...that it was now left up to Fate…" He felt as if the world was collapsing around him, and he could do nothing to stop it. He was suffocating and drowning, drowning in his emotions of rage and sorrow and shock and denial…

"…Raven?" She gently placed a hand against his cheek so that he turned toward her. The far-away look in his tormented eyes disappeared as they landed on her shimmering blue ones.

"…Sorry," he grumbled, looking away again in embarrassment. "It's just…" He took a long, deep breath and faced her again. "It was really hard for me to see you like that, Jasmine. I thought I lost you for good."

She stared at him for a long moment before she spoke. "I thought I lost you too." Her voice was barely a whisper, and it was so hoarse it was difficult to tell what she was saying. "I thought I'd never see you again." It seemed to pain her to speak these words, and whether it was emotional or physical he wasn't sure.

"You're here now," he whispered, brushing his fingers across her cheek, "and that's all that matters."

"Dammit, Raven!" Her voice cracked as it rose. "Why do you have to go and say something like that?" Her lips trembled. "Why are you being so sweet to me? After what I've done to you?"

"You may have put me through a lot of hell, but that doesn't mean you deserve to go there yet," he teased softly. The corner of his lips curved upward.

"But I hurt you!" she nearly shouted, sitting up abruptly. He jumped in surprise. She hissed suddenly through gritted teeth, squeezing her eyes shut as she leaned back. Concerned, he moved toward her, about to tell her to lie back down, but she shoved him away. His eyebrows rose in surprise. And just as quickly as she had angered, she simmered down and her voice was barely a whisper. "I don't deserve your sympathy."

He moved closer toward her. "It doesn't matter whether or not you hurt me. I put all of that behind me. None of it matters; what matters is that you're alive." He paused, struggling to find his words. "When I saw you limp and unconscious…I so very nearly lost myself.

"No…" he breathed, shaking his head. His breaths were quick and shaky. Lucius placed a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder. "No…!" He started forward, but Lucius tightened his hold. He struggled against him, his wide eyes on her limp form. "NO!"

"The fact that you were still breathing was the only thing that kept me sane. I've stayed with you every day since you'd lost consciousness, waiting for you to awaken…I realized something that night, Jasmine." Her expression became curious. "I realized that without you, I was nothing. I need you in my life. And if that means putting the past behind us, then so be it. As long as I have you by my side, that's all that matters."

She was quiet for a long time, contemplating his words. She knew that by 'the past' he was referring to the fact that he had confessed his feelings to her, whilst she had done nothing but avoid him. He would be willing to just stay as friends, as long as things went back to the way they were before.

But Jasmine couldn't do that. She couldn't blatantly forget what had occurred between them. She could never forget those three words he had shouted to her and the impact it had on her; the way it had made her heart both slower and faster at the same time, the way it had her breath knocked out of her, the way it had made her legs feel like jello and her face feel flushed.

"...Y'know," she began, catching his attention, "I've always had trouble placing the past behind me." She smiled bitterly, turning her head away from him as if she was looking at something in the distance. He frowned, wondering what she meant by that. Did she want to have absolutely nothing to do with him anymore? "I think that's what's gotten me in a few...predicaments."

"...What're you talking about?" he asked finally, when she was silent for a few moments, still staring off into the distance. She looked at him, but her eyes were somewhere else. Somewhere far, far away.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Raven," she said, perhaps a tad guiltily. "And after everything that's happened, I think it's only right that you know."

She took a long, deep breath, bracing herself for the worst. Then she fixed her eyes on him, straightened her shoulders, and lifted her chin.

"I'm a runaway," she declared boldly. "I ran away from home a few years ago, and I have absolutely no intention of going back. I doubt the house is still even intact. Even if it was, I would never return. So I'm homeless too." She watched his expression carefully, but there was only surprise and not disgust, so she continued. "I didn't have a good living situation for the first twelve years of my life. My father…" Here she looked uncomfortable, looking down at her hands. Then she looked back up, as if wanting to prove to somebody she wasn't scared. "He abused me." Raven raised his eyebrows. "He blamed me for my mother's death; she died giving birth to me. He always reminded me that he wished I'd died, not her. He said I didn't deserve to live. He called me a murderer."

Raven didn't say anything, but he was disgusted by her father. How dare he say such things, especially when it was out of anybody's control, let alone hers?

"So I suppose he wanted to make me suffer, and suffer I did. This scar"—she pointed to the one that ran across her face—"was a birthday present." She traced over it with her finger. "That was the night I ran away. I just couldn't do it anymore. I'd put up with his torture for all those years because I was scared. So scared. I didn't know what would happen if I retaliated, or if I told somebody. I was scared of the consequences. So I let it happen. You'd think that you'd get used to the constant verbal and physical onslaught but…it hurt every time." Her smile was sad and didn't reach her eyes.

"I ran for days on end. I didn't have any money. I didn't have any food. I didn't even have any water. All I had was the clothes on my back, and even that's not enough in the Ilian cold. I nearly froze and starved to death, if it hadn't been for Mark."

Raven's eyes sparked in recognition.

"He was the first person that'd ever shown compassion toward me. To care for me. Me. I couldn't believe it at first. I didn't know that people like that existed. He offered me food and shelter, warmth and care. I was wary of him at first—how could I not be? I was scared of what people would do to me—but I was starving, and I knew I would die if I didn't accept his help. And…he did look like a good guy.

"I warmed up to him over time. It took time for me to trust anybody, but it was hard not to trust him. He was like a father to me. The true, genuine father I'd never had. I'd never been so happy in life before." She smiled. "But the fun didn't last long." Her smiled shrunk. "You see, Mark directed a militia and was traveling with them. They did warn me that I would be in danger—some of men had even tried to dissuade Mark from letting me tag along—but Mark said that I could travel with them, if I'd like. He assured me that we would be relatively safe since they were only traveling to their destination; they wouldn't be fighting until they reached it.

"But then one night there was a surprise attack. Everybody was safe and well, but it had been enough to scare Mark. He told me that my life was in jeopardy because of him and that he could no longer do that to me. It was never his fault, y'know," she added defensively, "I'd joined them knowing the dangers and at my own risk. But he was stubborn and made arrangements for my leave. I suppose he felt bad for me, though, because when my carriage came and took me away, I arrived at a school. And it wasn't just any school. It was a school specialized in teaching children military tactics. Apparently he had some special connections, too, because the president welcomed me in and set me up in one of the finest rooms they had." She smiled. "Even now, I can't believe how much Mark has done for me.

"Sometimes I think that he wouldn't have been so generous to other people. Sure, he probably would've been kind to them, but not with the kindness he had treated me with. I suppose it was because I reminded him of himself a little. He's a runaway too, and I guess he could relate to my situation.

"So," she said, rolling her shoulders and clearing her throat, "I think everything else is self-explanatory. Now you're probably sitting there wondering why on earth I told you all this. But I needed you to know. I needed you to understand why I am the way I am."

The pieces were all fitting together. The way she used to shy away from skin-to-skin contact, the slight narrowing of the eyes when she met somebody new, why she always felt as if she wasn't good enough...It all made perfect sense.

"I've letting go of the past, little by little. Five years ago I was a completely different person than I am now. But...it's hard putting it all behind. It's hard getting close to someone, to let myself be vulnerable." Her voice caught in her throat as the truth of her words emotionally blindsided her. "It scares me. It scares me so much, Raven..." Her shoulders shook as she put her hands to her face. It took him a moment to realize that she was crying.

"It's okay," he said softly, moving closer toward her and enclosing his arms around her. Her head gently hit his shoulder and he soothingly petted her hair. "I'm afraid too."

She looked up at him, lowering her hands. Tears were streaming down her eyes and her eyes were glistening. "R-really?" she whispered.

He nodded. "This is all crazy for me too. In fact, I think it's absolutely insane. I mean, really. You and me? What's the likelihood?" He smiled a little. "I understand if it was Florina and I, but you and me...?"

She smiled through her tears, grumbling something as she smacked his chest.

"But as afraid as I am, as scared as I am of putting myself in a vulnerable position, of letting myself fall so hard with someone who wasn't there to catch me, I'm willing to take the risk. Because I love you. And I think that outweighs everything."

"Even though I'm a homeless runaway?" she asked softly. "Even though I'd be a lousy wife and am no good for you?"

"Yes," he whispered, gently tilting her chin up so that she was looking up at him, "because you're still you, and that's who I fell in love with."

She was silent for a moment, a wide array of emotions on her face. Then she wiped the tears off her face and looked at the little bits of water on her fingers. "I guess I can still cry after all," she said softly. She smiled as she looked up at his confused expression. "You're the first person in over a decade to make me cry."

He wasn't sure if he liked where this was going.

"Sometimes you make me so mad that I want to rip out my hair. Sometimes you make me flustered and embarrassed. Sometimes you make me admire you. But most of all, Raven, you make me happy. It's crazy to think that you, of all people"—He scowled—"would make me feel this way. Because even though you're absolutely frustrating and aggravating..." She smiled at him "...I'm hopelessly and madly in love with you."

For a moment he simply stared at her in stunned silence. He didn't know what to think or feel. And then, once his shock had disappeared, pure joy sprung within him. He didn't even know how to describe it. Everything just seemed and felt so perfect and nothing else mattered in the world except the woman in right of him.

Because she loved him. She loved him.

"What're you waiting for?" she breathed, leaning in toward him expectantly. "Kiss me."

He smirked wryly. "Not even a please?" he asked, unable to stop himself from teasing.

"No," she whispered, her cheeks flushing pink. "You have to follow the tactician's orders regardless of whether or not I said please, Sir Raven."

"And if I don't?" he challenged, leaning closer so that their lips were a breath apart.

"Then I suppose I'll just have to do it myself." And she yanked on his shirt so that their lips met.

All thoughts of teasing her were out the window. Her kiss was fierce and passionate, and he found himself kissing back with the same intensity. His hands wound around her waist and hers found their way into his hair. It felt as if all their pent-up emotions and banters had exploded in one passionate kiss.

When they finally broke apart, panting heavily, they caught each other's eye. They grinned at each other.

"That's what happens," Jasmine huffed indignantly, "when you don't follow orders."

"Then perhaps I shouldn't follow your orders more often."

She smacked at him playfully as he laughed.

"This is mutiny," she growled.

"Another kiss might be able to quell it," he said, smirking at her shocked expression.

"I don't know," she said, lifting her chin haughtily, "it might just make it worse."

"You'll never know until you try," he persisted. She puffed out her cheeks. Then she sighed, giving in.

"Fine." She gave him a quick peck. Frowning, he leaned in toward, wanting a deeper kiss, but she turned her head the other way. He growled softly, and she couldn't hide her amused smile.

"Must you always be so difficult?" His fingers caught her hair and gently pulled on the strands so she turned back to him.

She seemed affronted. "I've already kissed you twice," she said defensively, "you're just getting greedy."

He arched an eyebrow high. "Greedy?" He paused and made the better of it. "Well, you are all mine, aren't you?"

She also raised an eyebrow. There was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Actually, part of my heart does and always will belong to Sain."

He blinked, shaking his head. "What?" He wondered if he'd heard right.

She giggled. "He'd already claimed part of my heart, years ago," she said, clearly referring to something the green Paladin must've said to her. "So I'm not all yours."

"Then I suppose I'll just have to steal that part of your heart away from him."

"I dunno if you can," she replied, not letting up, "I'm sure he's got it secured."

"What if I hire Matthew to steal it back for me?"

"That's cheating."

He scowled.

"Oh, don't be so selfish, Raven," she teased, "Sain did get to me first, after all."

But her playful words were lost on him. Don't be so selfish.

She had told him everything about her. She had trusted him enough to do so. She had put herself out there. She even trusted enough to kiss him, to put herself in a vulnerable position.

But he hadn't told her anything. She knew nothing about him; hell, she didn't even know his real name. He hadn't been honest with her. He hadn't let himself become vulnerable.

"...Raven?" she asked softly, clearly noting the sudden change in demeanor. She gently placed a hand against her cheek and turned his head toward her. His expression was guilty. "What's wrong?" Her eyebrows crinkled in concern.

Her concern just made him feel worse. "You're right, Jasmine." She looked confused and worried. "I am selfish. You've told me everything about you but I've kept everything about me to myself. You deserve to know."

"...Know what?" she asked quietly, lowering her hand.

"Everything."

And so he, Lord Raymond, began to tell the story of how he came to be Raven.

...I don't even know what to say.

Well, Jasmine's past is finally revealed. And Raven reveals his. I think that the end might've been a little rushed, but I couldn't think of any better transitions. I wanted Raven to admit his past to Jasmine too, but it's kinda difficult transitioning from being all playful and kissing to revealing the fact that you're a Lord from the lost House of Cornwell. Mood killer, huh?