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I do not own DC or any of its characters.
Sir Clark lounged casually on the wooden port railing, his right leg dangling over the ship as he closed his eyes and listened to the world around him. He had been assigned the early morning watch with Sir Stewart and, as the other man preferred to serve in silence, he decided to enjoy the morning quiet as well. He had long ago realized that his hearing was far greater than his comrades, a whisper sometimes sounding as loud as a cannon blast, and though he had some what mastered his control of it oft times it could be more of a curse than a blessing. It was in moments like these, however, that it was made useful. He could hear Richard puttering around in the galley scrambling up eggs and frying bacon as breakfast for their little band as well as Arthur, Oliver and Bruce who still lay slumbering wearily from their previous watches and Lois in her cabin, quill scratching rhythmically on parchment as she hummed the tune of a minuet. The only sound that came from Stewart was his calm breath and steady heartbeat as he stood as rigid as a sculpture near the bowsprit, eyes scanning the island for the first subtle signs of danger. Then, Clark heard a sound so quiet he almost missed it, the sound of a person scrambling up the side of the hull. He could hear feet seeking minuscule footing and small huffs of breath as the intruder exerted small, stealthy bursts of movement. As quick as a flash, Clark swung over the ledge, using his momentum to slam into his culprit and hoist them back over the railing, pinning them to the deck.
"Stewart! Sound the alarm!" Stewart ran to the stairs leading down into the lower decks, hollering for the crew to arm themselves and move out. Clark stared at the person he had apprehended. They were dressed from head to toe in loose black garments. Rags had been tied around their feet to prevent them from making noise and they wore both gloves and cloths around their head. The only thing Clark could see was brilliant blue eyes frantically searching their surroundings, attempting to find means to escape. Slowly the ship came to life as the crew surrounded their captive. "Clark, reveal our guest." Bruce demanded, sword drawn and ready.
Clark moved to drop the garment, hastily moving back away, mouth agape, as he realized that his foe was a young woman with raven locks and dazzling blue eyes. Could this be the witch? She snarled at them and backed away. "Tell me what you've done with her!" Bruce stepped in front of his crew, hands outstretched in a pacifying gesture. "My h-" The woman choked off her words and began again. "My friend. She was stolen away from me several months ago and I have traced her to this island. From far off I seen a woman aboard your vessel; if you have taken her I will destroy all of you!" Bruce chuckled, his stance changing into one of authority.
"If I may be so bold, may I ask why you believe that we are in fact, holding your friend captive?" Her blue eyes flared angrily. "I have been observing your ship since you narrowly guided it into the bay you have a woman with you and if I have learned anything about the world of man, it is that you are a stubborn, superstitious lot. I can only imagine the horrors through which you have put this poor girl. Release her at once, I demand you!" Bruce turned to Sir Clark "Go fetch Lois from below deck. I do not believe our guest will be appeased until she sees for herself that lady Lois is none the worse for wear."
As Clark moved to go below deck, the girl began to right her clothing. "Now, my name is Bruce. I am the captain of this vessel. May I ask to whom I have the pleasure of speaking?"
"My name is...Luna." Although she said this with confidence, Bruce noted the slightest pause before she gave it, as though she planned to give a false name but had to remind herself to put it to good use. "While we will happily introduce you to our crew mate, I very much doubt that she is the woman you seek as she joined our journey on the other side of the Gate. Perhaps if you would like to provide us with the details of your friend's disappearance we could be of aid." For a moment there was nothing but the sound of waves hitting the ship's hull.
"My friend and I are from an island about a fortnight's journey from here. It is a peaceful place, so much so that we do not require the use of guards and we very seldom barricade our doors in the night. One morning I rose up from my bed and went to join my friend on the beach as I always did. We would swim together every morning to wash away the sleep from our eyes and prepare ourselves for the rigors of the day. That morn she did not join me. After some time waiting for her anxiously, I grew worried and made my way to her home.
"When I reached it, the door had been broken in and her possessions littered the floor in pieces. It reeked of magic and burn marks blackened the plaster walls. My friend knew some spell craft, but she was a novice as it was a skill her mother very much discouraged. The magic used in that room was more advanced than anything she had ever been able to cast. I ran to my mother, informing her of what I'd found. We'd gathered some of our people and searched the island but there was no remnant of her remaining. I asked if I could leave my home and search for her among the surrounding lands but my mother refused. Finally, I could not take the unknown anymore and disobeyed her.
"I have been searching for my friend for months now, and I have heard nothing but frantic whispers of people going missing from their homes, leaving because of a witch that had woven a entrancement into her words. I understand that most were young men who disappeared, but I am at wits end. I have followed the tales to this island and, though I possess no magic myself, I am familiar enough with her aura to sense her presence here though it is encompassed by a great and terrible evil. It was difficult to find this island as it seems to have an intellect of its own, but finally I prevailed. I set up a small camp at the forest's edge and I have watched.
"Since I have come to this island I have watched several crews such as yours come traipsing up the beach toward that mountain, so enthralled that they ignored the dangers before them and took with them not a single weapon. Pitiful fools!!! I was about to finally move closer when I watched your ship make its way toward the rocks. I assumed it would crash like all the others and I would watch your men stumble, on the verge of death, to the core of this evil. Imagine my surprise when I watched you beach the vessel without foundering. Not only that, but your crew acted rationally, waiting for daybreak and getting a feel for the land. I had decided that I would be content to observe, but then I caught a glimpse of a dark-haired woman aboard your ship and I couldn't prevent myself from investigating, even if your crew proved to be my downfall."
Bruce has listened to Luna with rapt attention, finding himself bewitched by her. For a woman who claimed she had no magic, she had thoroughly wrapped him in her tale. He had hung on her every word as though it was bestowed upon him by a goddess and for a moment the king was afraid. If this was the witch that had lured so many men to their dooms, was he now under her spell as well? He had withstood many things during his reign as king, including a love spell that had been laid on him by a jealous swamp witch, and yet this felt very different. He could sense no aura around her nor the pull of sorcery, yet it felt as though his very heart had been changed. What terrible power did this woman wield?
Bruce quickly glanced around to his companions, yet while they appeared intrigued by the steps in her journey, none of them appeared to feel as though the deck shifted under the soles of their boots. With great effort he forced himself to speak, hoping that his words reflected his authority as captain and king, not that of a young lad hoping to achieve the rank of a squire. "I give you my word, milady, as a man of honor and as captain, that neither myself nor any of my crew will harm you unless you lay the first blow. My men and chivalrous and true. Now, see here, Sir Clark had returned with Lady Lois and though she is not the friend I believe you are seeking, she will no doubt wish to speak to you as well. Be warned, her method of pursuing friendship is that of interrogation." Luna appeared to be puzzled, but she turned to Lady Lois with a disappointed smile. "Hello, you must be Lady Lois. I am Luna." This time there was less hesitation over her nom de plume.
"Sir Clark informed me that you are searching for a missing friend. I would love to help if you don't mind providing me with some information."
Without hesitation, Lois wove her arm though Luna's, guiding her below decks toward the galley as if they were lifelong friends, firing questions at her as rapidly as Sir Oliver shot his bow. Bruce wondered if they should trust the woman so easily, with her honeyed words and false identity, but the thought of getting between Lady Lois and an interview almost frightened him more.
As the women compared notes on their discoveries in the galley, Bruce and his knights dressed for battle. As stealth was a priority, they chose light armor. Each strapped on his weapon of choice and one by one they joined the women for breakfast. Though Bruce was positive that his men had failed to notice, Luna gracefully evaded the question of where her journey had started, though she happily pointed out several locations her search had taken her. Her movements were regal in bearing, noting that she was of nobility, though she also moved with the skill of a warrior. Her eyes studied the room, just as his often did, as to know her surroundings as well as she knew herself. She would maneuver herself so that no one ever remained behind her, but yet she always had a potential escape. Sir Clark had informed him that he had observed no weapons on her person when he had initially restrained her, but that did not prevent her from being deadly, especially beyond the gate where anything could happen. The more Bruce watched her, the more impressed he became. She seemed very at home with Lady Lois, but the men were treated with difference. Almost as though she was regarding an evasive species. This all left Bruce with the one fear he had yet to have reason to dismiss, could she be the witch luring men away? For wouldn't that be the reaction of a woman who lived on an island free of all men?
Bruce stood on the sandy beach with Sir Oliver, Sir Clark, Sir Stewart, Arthur, and Luna by his side. Lois has pressed hard to join them as well, but both Bruce and Clark had agreed that she was not yet prepared should conflict occur. Likewise, Richard was not thrilled with remaining aboard, but well understood that he must remain on board to guard the vessel as he was the only one besides Bruce himself who knew how to operate the craft. Bruce looked back at his ship one final time to see Lois leaning on the railing, her chin in hand as she glared daggers at Clark's back. She had not been delighted when Sir Clark had sided with Bruce's decision to leave her behind and Bruce only hoped that his theory that Clark was somewhat invincible held true.
The beach was still peaceful, quite lovely in fact. The vivid green rainforest began about fifty yards from the shoreline and the flora from within carried lovely perfume on the sea's gentle breeze. Just over the treelike l, Bruce could see their destination towering above them. They each shouldered their packs of provisions and began towards the trees, their boots sliding in the sand. The sun beat down warmly and Bruce knew he would welcome the shade provided by the rainforest's canopy. The thought made him quicken his pace toward the first row of small shrubbery.
His steel boot tip brushed against the first blade of grass and a low rumbling began to shake the ground. "What's going on?" Bruce called out as he whipped around, eyeing the woman with the extraordinarily blue eyes, only to meet an expression of surprise. "I do not know! I came from the forest myself and I have never had this happen." Sir Stewart grabbed a branch to steady himself as the shaking grew more violent. "Could the island be volcanic?" The woman scoffed at the knight. "There would be signs! There is no ash in the sky nor is there the smell of sulphur!" Bruce attempted another step forward. "No, but it would explain the lack of wildlife. Most beasts can sense the shift in nature and take steps to protect themselves. There has been naught a bird in the sky." Stewart suddenly pointed to a tree branch. "Until that hawk perched just there."
Surely enough, a bird had settled on a tree not ten feet away. The hawk stared at them with intelligent green eyes and a solemn expression, of a bird could display such an emotion. It didn't make a single noise, even when it opened its beak as if to cry out. Even when they neared, it didn't fly off as most wild creatures would. Luna cautiously reached out a hand. "Do you think it's trained?" As she moved forward the ground shifted again, this time with enough force to drive them all to the ground, sprawling and scampering for purchase. Trees creaked and groaned around them as their large roots erupted from the earth and appeared above the surface. "Look!" Sir Clark cried in alarm as the trees began to move out of their way, roots lifting and dragging themselves laboriously as an octopus in a shallow pool. Before their very eyes a narrow path, straight to the mountain, appeared before them, beckoning them forth.
What dangers await our companions atop the mountain? Is Luna the witch beckoning men to their dooms? What is with the solitary hawk? Will I be mean and make you wait until next chapter to find out?