Author's Note:

I've really been trying to develop Iya slowly. I know the game says (SPOILER ALERT) that her love for Ean was the only thing left behind, so that means that she did love him all the time. She just needs to realize it first.

Also, here comes Rye!

-Tangent

The woods were a far cry from the cold that Ean had known for so long. The trees created a pattern of sun and shadow that fell across the ground, illuminating the brushes and small animals that scurried by. The air was pleasantly cool, and the two elves had removed their jackets, stowing them in their packs. Iya was wearing a lighter brown tunic under her cloak, along with green leggings. Her hair moved slightly in the breeze, and she seemed a lot happier in the forest.

Ean was wearing his usual darker attire, minus the coat, and he had his claws sheathed for now. They had stopped to rest several times, but there was no sign or sound of pursuers, and he hoped that the soldiers had given up the chase. They were passing a rock outcrop which stretched out to their left before disappearing. The rocks here were made of a different stone than the mountains, with a lighter, more subdued color. The leaves were green, and he saw Iya smile as she saw a squirrel dart past.

"Happier now?"

"Yes. It reminds me of home." She said contentedly. Suddenly, she gasped out loud and ran forward, darting through the trees.

"Whoa, what the- Iya! Wait!" Ean called out, running after her. The elven girl pulled up short, and Ean saw what had excited her. A small brook ran through the forest, babbling quietly. It was about two feet deep, and about three yards wide. Iya knelt down next to it and put her hand into the water. It was cold, and Ean knelt down next to her.

"You really scared me for a moment." He said, scolding her gently, but not really meaning it.

"Sorry." She said, unable to keep a straight face. He reached down into the water, getting his hand wet. Without warning, he flicked it all over her, causing her to yelp with surprise.

"Ean!" She said, glaring at him. He kept a straight face as he responded:

"Next time, maybe you'll listen to me." She looked incredulous, and he burst out laughing, clutching his sides. She smiled bigger than he had seen since he had rescued her; a true, ear-to-ear smile.

"That was so rude."

"It was hilarious!"

"And rude."

"Oh, come on. It's not that bad. I didn't even get your hair wet." Ean said, standing up. "Now, I bet if there's a village, there's a path through these woods somewhere." They wandered downstream until they saw it: a wooden bridge stretching out over the stream, along with a path leading in either direction. There was sign posted next to it, and Ean looked at it:

Riverwood – South

Plains – North

"I guess we follow it south, then." Iya said, turning to cross the bridge. Ean followed her, looking around the woods for any sign of the soldiers.

"I guess we're safe for n-" The words had just left his mouth when a vicious black shape dove from a nearby tree, heading straight for him. Ean pulled Iya out of the way as the giant crow flew past, cawing angrily. It turned, but Ean slashed it from the air with his claws, dropping it to the ground. There was silence, and Iya chuckled. He turned to her, panting.

"What?"

"It's just that you really like tempting fate, I guess. Good move, though." He nodded and grabbed the coins dropped by the dead bird. They continued on their way, encountering a few more birds and even a giant chicken.

"How do these stupid birds even get this big?" Ean said as Iya roasted one with her magic, killing it instantly.

"I have no idea. Magic, I guess?" Iya said as he held her staff by her side. She had found it useful to keep enemies at a distance, although she couldn't really fight with it. The only thing it did was help her focus her magic a small bit, although she knew not why. After looting the various items dropped by their enemies, which included more herbs and some money, the two continued down the path. The river had changed course, flowing next to them. The rock face still ran southwest, and as they walked, Ean saw an opening in the cliff face.

"Whoa, hold on." He walked towards it, and saw a doorway carved into the cliff. He peered inside tentatively. There was a large, rectangular crystal standing in the middle of the room, floating in the air. On the far end of the cave was a table and a lever embedded in the wall. A metal box sat on the table, and Ean walked over to it. A dusty piece of paper lay on top if it, and Ean picked it up. It read:

Teleporter Instructions:

To teleport, flip the lever and place the appropriate amount of money inside the box. Step into the crystal. The levers on both ends must be activated to successfully teleport.

"You think this works?" Iya asked, and Ean shrugged.

"I don't know, but I think we'd need to activate another one. We'll keep an eye out for the others, okay?" She nodded, and they stepped out back into the forest. Suddenly, Ean heard voices from up ahead, and he ducked behind a tree quickly, followed by Iya.

"Where are we going again?"

"The village, obviously. Ryva is the name, I think. It's small, but those people who escaped earlier might have gone there."

"You think it was the elves the Queen mentioned in her orders?" A second, deeper voice cut in, and Ean peered around the tree to see 6 soldiers striding down the nearby path. Beside him, Iya had turned pale at the mention of her.

"Maybe. We'll see. If it is, I'm sure we can handle a few farm folk." The other man spoke, clearly the officer of the troops. The men murmured assent, and their footsteps began to fade. When they were completely gone, Ean slumped down next to the tree in relief.

"That was too close. But if they're going to town, we can't go yet."

"But what if they hurt the townspeople?" Iya asked, concern written on her face. Ean hadn't considered this.

"Let's find it then, and see what's going on, alright?" The other elf nodded, and they departed, following the trail that the soldiers had walked on. After a couple minutes, Ean saw that the trees opened up ahead, and that there was another bridge over the stream. The soldiers were nowhere in sight. They crept to the edge of tree line, peering out over the town.

Ryva was a farming village, as they could tell from the many barns and crop fields that littered the southern part of the town. Near the square, which had a small stone well in the middle, several stalls and shops were open, and they could see more houses beyond them. The whole town was placed in a large area which had been cleared of trees. Children ran through the streets, while adults chatted in the square.

"It's pretty." Iya said. "It reminds me of Elfwood a little bit." Ean could see the resemblance slightly, but he did not comment. The soldiers could not be seen, but he knew they had to be nearby.

"Well, the Oracle said we could find an answer to the rock problem here. But who should we ask?" Ean said. Just then, a commotion could be heard from the center of town, and they looked to see the soldiers barging out of the inn, banging the door on the wall. From a distance, they heard the commander shout:

"Listen! You're to bring your best cattle here, for us! We soldiers need food to protect you people!" Ean and Iya snuck closer, hiding behind an outlying barn near the square so that they could hear more clearly. People were gathering in the square, and they had frightened looks on their faces.

"Did you hear me?" The man roared, unsheathing his short sword. "Bring us the cattle!" A woman nearby spoke:

"B-b-but our cattle and crops are all we have, sir. Please…" The man whirled and smacked the woman across the face, sending her to the ground, her cheek covered in a massive welt. Ean felt his blood boil, and he moved, but Iya grabbed his arm.

"What's going on?" A new voice had entered the commotion, low and confident. They looked to see a young man, about their age, standing at the edge of the square. He was tall, with green and brown clothes that matched his green hair that was short and spiky. He had a long bow strapped to his back, and a knife at his belt.

"Who are you?" The commander asked rudely.

"I'm the hunter for the village. I provide for most of us. You said you're here to take our cattle?"

"That's right. We're on the lookout for these two." The man held up two drawings of Ean and Iya, and the female elf gasped.

"We haven't seen them, and if we do, we'll tell you. Okay?" The young man said calmly. "And as for the cattle, we can't spare any right now. If we give you them, we'll run out of crops, milk, and the like."

"What did you just say to me?" The soldier said, stalking towards him with his sword. "You don't talk to me like that, boy." The man seemed unperturbed by the threat, although his hand twitched.

"There's no need for violence. When the crop is ready, we can sell-"

"I'm talking about now!" The man roared. "Bring them here. That's an order."

"And like I said, that's not-" The man brought the sword up to the green-haired boy's heart.

"You want to die?" The green head did not move, but he said:

"Fine." With a sudden motion, he knocked the man's blade aside and grabbed him by the collar, yanking him forward and slamming him into the ground, knocking him out. The other soldiers stared for a moment, and then drew their swords with a cry of anger.

"Get him!" The young man jumped to his feet and pulled out his bow, nocking an arrow. The first arrow flew into a soldier's arm, causing him to drop his weapon. The others advanced, but the man fired more arrows in rapid succession.

"Iya, protect the villagers!" Ean yelled, sprinting out from cover and unsheathing his claws.

"Ean, no! What-" Her cry was cut off as he sprinted into the fray. One of the soldiers turned to face him, and he slashed, knocking his blade from his hand. With a swift kick, Ean sent him to the ground, where he punched him twice. Another soldier rushed him, swinging wildly with his blade, but Ean dodged it quickly. The man swung twice more, with Ean only narrowly avoiding it. When the man left an opening, the elf grabbed his wrist and turned, throwing him into the wall of a house. He fell to the ground, and Ean spun to see a third solider ready to strike him down.

"Die!" He snarled, and a surprise look crossed his face as an arrow sprouted from his chest. He collapsed, and Ean saw the green-haired boy standing there with his bow. He made no move to put it away, and his eyes narrowed.

"So… The very topic of conversation." Ean stood up straight, looking at him.

"We aren't your enemies." He said, aware of the situation he was in right now. Behind him, Iya ran up, only to have the man point an arrow at her. Ean stepped in the way, holding out his arm.

"I'll decide that for myself. Drop the claws." Ean did as he was asked, unstrapping the blades from his arms and letting them fall to the ground with a clank. "Now, who are you?"

"I'm Ean, and this is Iya."

"The escaped princess. Why are you here?"

"It's a lot to explain, but we were told by the Oracle of Shaenlir that we could find help here. It's very important." Ean pleaded with the boy, who stared at them for a long second before placing the bow upon his back. Ean picked his claws off the ground and placed them in his pack.

"We can talk at my house. Come on." After directing the men to dispose of the soldiers' bodies in the ocean, the three walked through the village and up a small hill that was covered with flowers. The man entered a house near the forest, and closed the door behind them. The house was small, with a few sparse wooden pieces of furniture.

"I'm Rye."

"Hello, Rye." said Iya quietly, looking nervous. Rye sat down on a chair, offering the other ones to Iya and Ean.

"Why are you here?" He asked. "What do you want?" With a deep breath, Ean began to explain everything that had happened since Iya had vanished from Elfwood, including the plan of the Snow Queen. Rye's eyes were wide, and when they had finished, he sat there for a moment, thinking.

"So you and Iya have got to save the world, huh?"

"I understand if you don't believe us, but we do need help." Rye looked at them for a moment, almost wonderingly.

"You know… I do believe you, actually. I've met the Oracle too, when I was hunting in the mountains for furs and meat. She told me that I would have a 'part to play', whatever that means." Ean looked at him, and he went on. "I think this is what she meant by it." He stood from his chair, offering his hand to Ean.

"If it's for the good of the village and the rest of the world, I'll help you." Ean stared at him, then smiled widely and shook his hand.

"Thank you, Rye." The young man grinned back at him mischievously, rubbing his hands together.

"Now then, what do we have to do first?" Iya, who had been quiet for a while, spoke:

"We need to get to Thais. The Oracle said Prince Uthar could help us find a place to start. And it sounds like we're going to need a boat of some sort, since the nymphs (she had told Rye about her mission) live on islands. But there's a large rock blocking the river to Thais, and we cannot go around because of the mountains."

"Oh, a rock? I can take care of that." Rye said, standing up.

"How?" Ean asked, confused, but the man merely chuckled.

"You'll see. We should probably stay here tonight, though. Ryva will be safe for a while, and when we leave, the soldiers will be more focused on you guys anyways. I'll get prepared this afternoon, so go ahead and buy any supplies you need. You have money?" Ean nodded in confirmation, and Rye headed to the door of his house.

"Alright. The villagers should be fine, so go talk to them." He exited, and the two elves sat there for a moment, looking at each other.

"That went well. What do you think of him?" Ean asked, and Iya's brow furrowed.

"He's certainly capable, and I'll guess we'll find out if we can trust him. But he seems a decent enough man." Ean agreed, and the two opened the door and strode down to the village. When they arrived in the square, Ean saw the woman who had been struck by the soldier with a bandage on her cheek, and he felt a surge of anger. He walked over to her, followed by Iya.

"Oh, it's you. Thank you for helping Rye with the soldiers!" She said, smiling sincerely at the elves.

"Are you going to be alright?" Ean asked, and she nodded.

"I'm tough." Iya smiled at her, and they entered the general shop. Ean purchased several cassia leaves, as well as several new herbs that could cure poisons and other afflictions. He also deposited a few gold coins in the goddess statue near the square.

"Just to be safe." He said to Iya, who nodded. They stocked up on bread, cheese, and other food. The word had spread that Rye was leaving town with the two strange people with pointy ears, and people had come up to them to wish them good luck. Several girls had approached Iya shyly, asking about her hair. She was near the well, kneeling next to the girls and helping them braid their hair. Ean looked over from his conversation with one of the farmers on preparing new meals from the forest, and his heart gave a sudden lurch as he saw Iya smile, her hands creating a braid.

She looks happy. After he had finished his conversation, he walked over to Iya, who had a matching braid in her hair.

"Oh, good job. The braids are nice. Yours too." She thanked him for the clumsy compliment, a small blush on her face. One of the girls looked up at him, asking:

"Mr. Ean, are you Iya's boyfriend?" He froze, taken aback by the sudden question. Next to him, Iya had turned even redder, looking determinedly away from him.

"I-I- no, I'm not. Why do you ask?" He stammered slightly, looking at the girl who had a curious expression on her face.

"Well, Rye used to have a girlfriend in the village, and they would always turn red when they were with each other." Ean chuckled at the sentence, and Iya turned back to the group, her face under control.

"And are they dating now?"

"Nope, they broke up a long time ago."

"Well, I'm not sure why Iya blushes. She never got many compliments on her hair before, or on anything for that matter." Iya looked at him curiously, but the girl nodded.

"Well, she's very pretty. I think you should be her boyfriend." Both of the elves turned red again, and Ean smiled.

"Maybe. I'll think about it, okay?" The girl smiled and skipped off with her friends, and Ean turned to Iya, who was once again not looking at him.

"Sorry. I don't know why-"

"It's okay." She said quickly, turning to look at him.

He's almost as flustered as I am. The thought crossed her mind, and she smiled inwardly.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, and when the sun began to set, everybody began to head to the inn to have a village-wide meeting. Ean and Iya stepped inside the busy place, finding seats near the bar. Several villagers nearby smiled pleasantly at them, and Ean returned the favor. Rye stepped up to the front of the inn and called for attention.

"Everybody, listen up!" Although the village had no mayor, Rye was a young, capable man, and thus, the villagers looked up to him. He continued once he had everyone's attention:

"I've got a couple things to say. First of all, I'm leaving the village. I'm escorting our two friends to Thais, and maybe further. I'll ask Prince Uthar to send men to protect the village, so just hold on a little longer. If the soldiers come back, tell them the truth: we left, and give them whatever they want. I'll try to be back soon, but some of the men may need to hunt in my place." He nodded at several men, who gave him a thumbs up in response. "Please, everyone stay safe, alright? I'll be departing in the morning." He nodded once, and the inn was filled with noise as people began talking. As Rye made his way over to Ean and Iya, he motioned towards the door, and the two stepped outside with their new companion.

"I'll fetch you from the inn in the morning. I've got my dynamite, so we're good to go."

"Dynamite?!" Ean said, shocked. "You're going to blow up the rock?"

"But of course!" Rye said with a grin. Ean exchanged a look with Iya, who nodded. "Anyways, I'm heading home now. Got everything ready?"

"Yup. See you tomorrow, Rye." They shook hands again, and Ean and Iya headed back into the inn for the night. They slept in the same room, on two separate cots. Ean was still not quite used to having Iya so near him all the time. It made things… awkward. He asked her if she'd rather have a separate room, but she said that it did not matter to her.

"After all, we should probably get used to it. We're going to be sleeping close by each other for a while." She had blushed after saying it, realizing how it sounded, but he agreed quickly with her. Ean fell asleep soon after, listening to Iya's shallow breathing across from him.

When they woke, they headed downstairs to have a breakfast of bread, homemade apple pie, and ice-cold milk. It was delicious, and the wife of the innkeeper insisted on giving them extra "for the road." Rye joined them for breakfast, and when he was done, he stood from the bar, strapping his pack onto his shoulders.

"Well, time to hit the road." With a final goodbye, the travelers exited the inn into the cool morning air, heading back into the forest. It was a lot quieter early in the morning, with fewer animals stirring in the trees. They traveled in silence for a while, and it was Iya who broke the silence:

"Rye, have you ever been to Thais?" The green-haired man nodded.

"I've been once or twice, with my family. But that was all a few years ago, so my memory on getting there is a little hazy. Still, we can just use the road markers, so we should be fine."

"You have family?"

"Only some. My parents are dead, but my aunt and uncle live with my great-grandmother Nora in the village. She's a fearsome woman." He smiled at the thought, and Ean saw the image of a really old woman waving a cane around.

"I'm sorry." Iya said sincerely, and Rye looked at her.

"Don't be, it was a long time ago. But thank you." The silence was less tense now, and Rye began pointing out several landmarks in the forest as they passed.

"That's the Silver Crescent." He said, pointing to a crescent shaped path of dirt in the middle of the stream. "Legend has it that a plant grows there once in a while, and it has mysterious properties, supposedly connected to the Land of the Dead."

"The Land of the Dead?"

"Yeah, the Underworld. Its where dead spirits go, apparently. It has a place in history, so its real, but nobody knows where it is or if you can get there while being alive."

"Sounds terrible." Said Iya with a shudder, and Rye nodded. After a few hours of traveling, they came out of the forest, onto the plains. The soldier's encampment was too far away to be seen, and Ean led them to where the boat was hidden. To their relief, it was still there. They hopped in, and Ean noticed that the boat was low in the water. Rye had noticed it as well, and commented:

"The boat's overburdened, but we won't have to go far." They sailed back up the river, following its course past the Shaenlir mountains, until the river ended at a giant rock. The rock was blocking the flow of the river, and there was mountains on either side of it, making passage impossible. They bumped against it gently, and Rye set about tying a large amount of explosives to the surface, a plan that both Ean and Iya found unnerving. When he had finished, Rye lit the cord of the dynamite, lengthened to give them time to get away. They rowed away quickly, and they had just entered the safe area when the rock exploded in a giant fireball behind them. Chunks of rock rained down upon them, and Ean help up his shield to protect Iya. When the smoke had cleared, at least half of the rock was gone, with the other half moved to one side. The water had flowed into the hole, filling it in and making a passage into the water beyond. They sailed through, and Ean saw the largest lake he had ever seen.

"Wow." Iya breathed, her eyes wide. The lake stretched out to either side, with mountains bordering both the east and west sides of the lake. To the north, a dark green forest stretched to meet the mountain ranges, and Rye pointed to it.

"That's a bad forest. It's supposedly filled with monsters." He pointed to the south, where there was a small dock visible on the sandy shore. Beyond it, plains stretched out of sight. "That's where we need to go."

"Where's Thais in relation to here?" Ean asked, and Rye pointed to the east.

"It's over the mountains, so we've got to go around, through the Green Weed Plains." They rowed across the lake, admiring the depth and clarity of the water. Iya dipped her hand in it, finding that it was quite cold.

"Many people used to come to the lake to camp, fish, and hunt." Rye said.

"What happened to make them stop?" Iya asked.

"The monsters appeared, about 10 years ago. As such, lots of kingdoms are relatively isolated. Seri, the kingdom farther east, in the desert, is all but completely cut off. Same with the island kingdoms." Ean and Iya exchanged looks.

"Odd. I wonder why they've returned." Ean said thoughtfully. Rye shrugged, and they docked the boat on the old pier hanging off the shore. They used a rope to tie it down and disembarked, stepping lightly onto the soft grass.

"Finally, we're on the right track." Iya said softly, and Rye laughed.

"You know, I always wanted to go on an adventure."