Betrayal

This is the short story I wrote (in about, oh, let's say 45 minutes...hence the choppiness) about the background of the character I play as in many random RPGs named Rue. Enjoy.

Side Note- I am currently in the process of giving the story a MASSIVE OVERHAUL. Fixing every typo, changing words around, rewriting paragraphs and dialoge, etc. I am now finished up to Chapter Three. Check back for more updates.

Chapter One

Rue Drazenka sat in her room, carefully running a comb through her hair. Today, she would meet the man who was to be her husband. She looked at the small yellow bird who was perched on her windowsill. "What do you think, Chirp? What if he's ugly? Or what if he's a peasant?" She asked, her voice light and smooth, delighting the ears of any listener. She then realized what she had said and giggled to herself, her laugh equally as delightful as her voice. "Nevermind that, Chirp. My father would never arrange for me to marry a peasant. That's unlike him." She set her brush down and walked to the windowsill. The elf leaned on the cool stone and poked her head out of the window. The wind caught the long, shining, golden strands of her hair and twirled them about happily in a private dance. Rue stroked Chirp's head affectionately. "But what about..." Her thought was interrupted by loud trumpeting. The procession had come. She could hear the fanfare. "They're here!" she cried. Two horses led the procession, a grandly dressed man atop each steed. One rider was, undoubtedly, her husband to be. The other was most likely his father. "Chirp, they're here!" Chirp simply ruffled his feathers.

Chirp had been Rue's companion since before she could remember. He had fallen in her windowsill when she was a little girl. She couldn't remember ever seeing a nest of yellow birds, birds anywhere on the entire continent. Chirp had never been like other birds. By bird standards, Chirp should have been long dead. But it had never crossed Rue's mind to wonder why. There was one thing that Rue had always been curious about. Chirp was able to carry incredibly heavy objects with almost human strength, but Rue would always forget to look into Chirp's oddities - a strange thing seeing as the elf had a reasonably good memory. She examined the humanly hurt look on Chirp's face, and patted his head again.

"Ah, Chirp. Don't be so sore. You know you're the only man I'll ever love!" She joked as she skirted across the room. She quickly scribbled in her royal diary. It was a hassle, but her great-great-grandfather had made it a law that all royalty of Draz must keep a journal, for historical purposes. It was illegal to look into the journals by anyone but the owner until that royal had died. Then, the journals became part of the historical library. Punishment was death. And a brutal one at that. Rue had heard dreadful tales about her great-great-grandfather, ruling with a violent fist, a completely dishonest man. She was certainly glad that it didn't run in the family. Rue cleared her silky hair away from her eyes, and pulled the front up, tying it with an ocean blue ribbon to match her carefully made silk dress. She twirled around and looked at Chirp. "How do I look?" she asked. Chirp twittered approvingly, looking out the window. Rue could sense that something was wrong. Maybe he wasn't just a little sore. She approached Chirp to see what he was looking at, but an inconvenient knock came to the door.

"Lady Rue? You decent?" came Nin's grating voice. Nin was Rue's guardian. A stand-in mother. Her own mother had died during childbirth, or so she was told.

"Yes, Nin." she sighed. She rubbed Chirp's head one more time, then patted him and left him on the windowsill. She then opened her chamber door. "How do I look?" she asked, with another dramatic twirl.

Nin sighed. Her frizzy gray hair, which she took such pain to style in the morning, had already wilted, but the winkles on her face cleared away from her mouth and bunched up under her eyes in a smile. "You look lovely, sweet'eart." She said. Nin wiped at her face, playing it off as an itch, but Rue knew that she was concealing tears. "The boy's is a fitting bachelor. I would marry 'im meself if he awready fit to be 'ad by the finest lady in the kingdom!" She declared.

"Oh, Nin. You stop it now!" Rue giggled.

"Y'know, the procession's just arrived. It's time to meet 'im." Nin sighed. "It's time to give you away." She smiled, sadness now etched upon her aged face, having grown to love Rue as her own daughter much like Rue had grown to accept Nin as her mother.

Rue took Nin's arm, and they departed downstairs. Rue looked back to catch a glance in her room. Chirp sat on the windowsill, his tiny head fixed onto the ground. A drop of water hit the ground. But birds couldn't cry, could they?


Chapter Two

Nin and Rue approached the long, twisting stairway to the Entrance Hall. Nin looked at Rue one last time. "You're so lovely, dear." She said. And it was true. Rue's golden hair was pulled up, leaving pieces to drizzle down and frame her symmetrical face. Nin pushed wayward strands from Rue's eyes. "You know, if anything, the boy'll surely fall for those eyes of yours." Nin stated plainly. but what an understatement that was! Rue's eyes possessed a sort of ethereal beauty. They were a dark gray, deep enough to pull on in. Golden flecks rested in her irises, coming to life with each new emotion Rue experienced, and even betraying her true emotions when they were hidden, masked behind a solemn face. Rue's dress had been carefully made as well. An ocean blue dress made of flowing silk that clung to the top of her body and flowed out on the bottom, shimmering with every step. Princess Rue, not needing anything to truly display such natural beauty, took a deep breath and turned to Nin.

"Well..." she sighed, grasping Nin's hands. "Wish me luck?"

"Only the best for my little Rue." Nin replied. "Now go get 'im." she laughed, giving Rue a pat on the bum.

Rue nodded, and down the spiraling staircase she went. She felt as if were the long winding road to her destiny. But she had to take it. Everyone did at one time. If only Rue knew where that road truly led! She slowly walked down, with the flowing motion of a princess...

The first time Prince Gawain saw Rue, he might have said that he had died, and seen an angel. The sunlight came in from a window across the hall and struck Rue, bathing her in light and making both her hair and dress shimmer as they flowed like liquid over her body. She wore a sublime smile, and was elegant in any way. His breath had seized in his throat when he first saw the elegant creature come down the stairs, and when he overcame the desire to pinch himself, he strode to Rue, knelt in front of her, and took her elegant hand, and kissed it. "A pleasure to meet a beauty such as yourself." He stated. "I am Prince Gawain Cha'rang of Chattaga."

Rue smiled. Impeccable manners, however there was something strange about this prince. Something...vacant. "Charmed. I am Princess Rue Drazenka," she said with a regal voice that was only for those of royalty. Rue truly could not stand the drivel that she so fondly called "royal-speak." There was a pause in which Rue stood, waiting for Gawain to stand. "Please, do stand..." she said after a moment.

And he did stand, but the Prince held Rue's fine hand, with its long, elegant fingers, soft skin and well-manicured nails, solely because it was pleasing to the touch. And when Prince Gawain stood, he was quite a few inches taller than Rue, who was not short by any means. His blonde hair was lighter and shorter than Rue's, and his eyes were a crystalline blue. But his appearance did not entertain Rue very much, the she-elf suddenly regretting her father's choice.

"Ah, Princess Rue!" came an unfamiliar voice, and Rue turned to see a man who was undoubtedly Gawain's father, King Cha'rang, rushing at her. He knelt and kissed her hand. Rue noted that he looked nearly the same as Prince Gawain, except his face was much more sagged and wrinkled, and the white hairs upon his head outnumbered the blonde. But the same sense of vacancy was given to her by both of them.

King Drazenka tuttled over moments later. "Ah, Rue. I see you've met the Prince and the King." he smiled, taking King aen Cha'rang's arm and attempting to tug him away from Rue's hand discreetly. "We'll just - ungh! - leave you two to - urgh! - get acquainted then, yes?" he asked, while giving a final tug on King Cha'rang's arm and successfully giving him the hint to release his daughter's hand. The two portly men then went off into the kitchen, leaving Rue standing there with an open mouth.

"Shall we be seated then?" Rue attempted to ask in the most regal voice she could muster.

Prince Gawain gave no words of acknowledgement, however he sauntered over to two chairs at a small table and pulled one out.

He then proceeded to sit in it.

Some prince... Rue grumbled inwardly, helping herself to the other chair.

Gawain stared at Rue, his eyes sliding over her body appreciatively, stopping in the most indecent places.

Rue caught his wandering eyes and gave a slight cough. He paid her no heed, and so she studied his appearance as well, however, her eyes never left his face. She studied those eyes of his, searching for some speck of real intelligence, but she found none. Her father had said that he was rich, and Gawain was a mildly handsome one if you looked past his stupidity. His kingdom, which happened to be Draz's neighboring one, was three times the size of Draz. Rue didn't care either way. She didn't get a say anyways, so why have one to begin with? She was as carefree as royalty could get. She opened her mouth to speak to Gawain when an incredibly loud banging was heard at the door. Since the servants all seemed to be away tending to their chores, Rue felt that she had no choice but to answer it. "Please excuse me." she said to Gawain.

"Ah, I will accompany you, milady." Gawain said, standing. "You never know what could lurk behind closed doors." He said, with a smile that showed he was obviously pleased with what he said, and assumed that Rue was as well.

"Oh, don't worry," smirked Rue. "Even a delicate flower such as myself is well equipped to open a door," she said, waving Gawain back to his seat. She walked across the hall and reached out to open the door when the banging arose again, this time louder, more frantic. Her bones chilled, her mind racing over what could be concealed behind that door. She was about to turn back and resume her seat as if nothing had happened, or even to ask Gawain to answer it for her when a voice in the back of her head chimed in. You're being silly. It's probably only a messenger. And besides, if it were dangerous, what would Gawain do? Stare at it blankly? And so, Rue inhaled deeply and pulled the door open. What lay behind the door would have made Rue scream if she could only find the voice to do so...


Chapter Three

Although Rue did not scream, she was able to find it in her to whimper. An elven man stood there, and he would not have been extraordinary under any other circumstances, however, he did have an arrow sticking out of his chest. The man's blood fell from the gaping hole in his chest, sliding down his body and dripping onto the newly waxed floor, creating a pool that reached for Rue's feet. Rue's eyes were wide with fear, the color draining from her face. The first words that came to mind stumbled from her lips. "Sir! Are you ok?" she asked. The answer was quite obvious, but it is hard to think of something to say when a man who is bleeding to death appears at your door, the sharpest arrowhead you've ever seen glinting dangerously, and the shaft of the arrow protruding from his chest like a sort of third arm or other extra appendage.

The man stumbled forward, placing his good hand on Rue's right shoulder. He attempted to form the message that he had been sent to deliver, but all that fell from his mouth were slurred words and nonsensical phrases, his voice hollow, ghostly.

"King...Chattaga...traitorous...yellow...danger." And with that, the man gurgled, eyes rolling back in his head. He swayed before tumbling forth onto Rue, sinking the arrowhead into her left shoulder.

Rue gasped, not yet aware of the pain. She reacted out of instinct, attempting to shove the dead man off of her. She gave a sudden scream of pain as muscle, blood and arrowhead all churned together, giving off a sickening crunch. She grew woozy with the pain, and her legs gave out from under her, causing her to tumble backwards, taking the dead man with her. He landed on top of her, all of his weight pressing the arrowhead further into her shoulder and causing her to let out another blood-curdling scream.

Gawain, who had only just risen from his seat, rushed over to Rue. "Are you all right, Princess?" he cried. He kneeled to help Rue up when his eyes caught the sight of the shaft of the arrow and the base of the arrowhead protruding from her chest. "What happened to you?" he gasped.

Rue would have made some sort of witty comment about Gawain being unable to see a man shot with an arrow collapsing on top of her, however, said arrow was now embedded in Rue, causing her excruciating pain. "Just help me get the arrow out!" she yelled, gritting her teeth to keep from screaming.

"What?" asked Gawain, clearly bewildered.

Rue sighed and tapped the shaft of the arrow. "Wrap your hands around here and pull it out on the count of three." she muttered. Gawain did as he was told, taking the shaft of the arrow, but inadvertently shifting it, causing Rue to let out a sharp yelp of pain.

"I'm sorry!" he cried, eyes wide.

Rue gritted her teeth once more. "Just pull. One..." Rue wrapped her own hands around the arrow. "Two..." She clamped her eyes shut.

"Three!"

As they pulled, Rue let out a deafening scream, the pain proving to be too much for her. A banging was heard on the other side of the hall as King Drazenka threw open the door to the banquet hall and rushed to Rue, quickly followed by King Cha'rang.

"Rue!" King Drazenka cried, his face filled not with worry, but with anger.

Before King Drazenka could utter another word, another scream echoed across the hall as the arrow's resistance gave way, first with a sickening slurp, and then with a very loud pop. Rue's eyes shot open, but all she saw was a flash of yellow and then specks of green.

When Rue's vision finally focused a few moments later, everyone was still standing where they had been, mouths agape, staring at her, save Gawain who had tumbled backwards, somehow landing underneath the dead man's carcass, the carcass having flown back with the arrow. Her first reaction was to tear the glove off of her right hand and press it to the wound, as she was covered in blood, though not all her own.

Prince Gawain finally shoved the corpse off of him and scrambled to Rue on his hands and knees. "Oh, Princess Rue! I thought the worst!" he whimpered.

Rue stared up at Gawain, honestly the last person she needed right now, and smiled weakly. "This little scrape? Hardly." she managed to muster. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. When she opened them, Prince Gawain was still there, but it appeared that the two kings had inched closer.

Rue gasped, suddenly remembering the man's cryptic message. "Father! He was a messenger!" she cried, pointing to the dead man whose blood stained their floor. "He said-"

"Can you stand?" King Drazenka interrupted coldly.

"What?" asked Rue, dumbfounded.

"Can you stand?" He repeated, more slowly, his voice monotone.

"I-I suppose..." she muttered.

"Then do so," he sneered.

Gawain stood back, offering no help as Rue stumbled to her feet.

"Good. Now go upstairs and have Nin fix you up," the King ordered.

"But the messenger!"

"Rue! You will go upstairs and have Nin fix your injury!"

"But-"

"Go!" King Drazenka roared.

Rue cringed slightly, giving up her argument. Gawain waved her a good-bye, but it was barely acknowledged with a fleeting wave of fingers before Rue retreated up the stairs.

Rue leaned against the first wall she could find. She buried her forehead in her left palm, and there was a slight pause as a realization entered her mind. She tore her right hand off of the arrow wound and let out a small, involuntary gasp.

It was no longer bleeding.

Come to think of it, it hardly hurt. Rue's mind raced with possibilities. It was a deep wound with a sharp arrow. She had heard the arrowhead slice muscles. She had felt the pain.

Rue's heart pounded in her chest. Taking a deep breath, she decided to see the one person who would have the slightest clue as to what was going on. She brushed some green powder from her left shoulder and hurried to Nin's room.


Chapter Four

The Following Day...

Rue sighed, looking out her window again. Her arm was heavily bandaged, and Nin had put some healing herbs inside of the bandage to prevent infection. Nin had said it was a miracle that Rue hadn't bled to death. They hurt, but she'd rather keep her arm. Prince Gawain had left without even giving parting words. Her dress was in the garbage. Her father hadn't spoken to her since yesterday. In fact, she hadn't seen much of him. She heard him though. He had spent all day thundering around the house, screaming "WHERE IS IT?!" Rue would rather stay out of that, thank you.

Come to think of it, Rue hadn't seen Chirp either. But no sooner had she thought of that, Chirp had landed on her window. "Chirp!" she smiled. "Where were you yesterday? I'm so sorry about leaving you, Chirp." She smiled. Chirp didn't look like he was in the mood to fool around, however. He had a determined look on his little bird face. It was almost somber. She had never seen him like this.

"What'd going on now, Chirp?" asked Rue. Chirp promptly flew away. "Chirp?!" She cried. "Are you mad, little one?" Ah, but not to worry. Chirp came back with a huge, heavy book in his beak. Rue stared in amazement. "I always knew my little Chirp was special bird." She said, trying to joke. But Chirp wasn't listening. He flew onto her bed, and dropped the book. Rue went over and looked at it curiously. How strange... she thought. Chirp flipped the book open with his beak, and used his beak to turn the pages to nearly the end of the book. It was an entry from yesterday. Rue stared at Chirp. "How did you do that? Chirp, what's been going on? You've been acting like you're..." She stopped. What an idiotic thing she was about to say. She shook her head with a light smile. Chirp was just special. ...almost human.

Chirp wanted none of this. He clearly wanted Rue to read the book, which was evident by his loud chirping. "That's why I named you that..." Rue muttered. "OK...I'll read it." She picked up the book slightly and looked at the cover. She wanted to know what she'd be reading.

The Journal of King Lenge Drazenka III

Rue gasped. "Chirp! I have to return this right now!" She slammed the journal shut and stormed across the room. "This is my father's diary. His DIARY! Do you have ANY IDEA of how much trouble I could get in?!" She put her head in her hands. "He's been looking for this ALL DAY! What has gotten into you? Where did you even THINK of this?"

Chirp lept atop the book and flipped it open again.

"No!" Rue cried, slamming it shut. She turned away and looked out the window. "I'm dead..."

Chirp opened it again, and trilled at Rue. She spun around and stared at him. She moved to close the book again when Chirp jumped on it. "Chirp...I can't. It doesn't matter what's in it. I can't read this."

Chirp looked up at Rue with what may have been puppy eyes. Rue sighed. "Chirp, you know better..." But Chirp continued his gaze. Rue exhaled dramatically. "Fine. I'll read it quickly...Very quickly..."


The Diary of Lenge Drazenka III - Volume Five

Page 537

"Today, my daughter is to meet the man that she is to marry. Sometimes, I wonder what this country would do without my diabolical genius. Prince Gawain of Chattaga is the perfect candidate. He is rich. His wealth is sixfold our own, and his country is three times the size of ours. In a few months, this wealth will be mine. Rue will marry Prince Gawain in three weeks' time. Two weeks after the wedding, I will host a magnificent feast in my castle. Before I divulge further, you must know that King Cha'rang and Sir Gawain Cha'rang are the last two members of the Cha'rang family. That is why King Cha'rang is so anxious to marry off Prince Gawain. We have come to the understanding that when Rue marries Prince Gawain, she will be written in both Prince Gawain and King Cha'rang's wills, in case some tragedy befalls the family. Everything will be left to her. At the feast, King Cha'rang will be given a poisoned drink. He will die one week later, very suddenly. No one will be able to trace the crime back to me. We will grieve...yes. And I will legally own part of the fortune that is now Queen Rue Drazenka's. No...Queen Rue Cha'rang's. We will hold a feast in the King's honor. However, this time, the beverage of Chattaga's new king will be poisioned. His body will begin to shut down after two weeks. He will spend three weeks dying a slow and painful death. Then, comes my daughter. We will create wills together. I write that I shall give everything to her, and she shall write that everything of hers shall be given to me. We toast to our wills, and she drinks her poison. She will die quickly. I wish not to make my spoiled daughter suffer.

"I know that this means that I will lose my only offspring, but it does not matter. She was a devil child in that matter. When her mother purposely bore me a daughter, I killed her. I will simply have to find a new wife that I can entice with my soon-to-be wealth, and boundless land. A wife who will bear me a son who will be fit to wear my crown. The procession arrives. Luck be with me."

Page 538

"Yesterday worked out rather well. The two hit it off splendidly. If it weren't for some travelling fool from a different country, we would have been safe. Trying to ruin my plot...Someone must be on to me. I can't let this happen. Careless, thoughtless Rue nearly got herself killed. She shouldn't have opened the door. Pressing matters would have barged right in...and gotten themselves shot, but it doesn't matter. She should have moved, or let a man answer the door, incapable wench."

"Prince Gawain did not better. He did not even stay with my daughter, nor was he a large help in any way. He simply stood there and watched her suffer. I will go through with this, but more cautiously. I must show more caution. I also must keep Rue in the house. She may bumble around and hurt herself again, stupid girl. Stupid wench."

Page 539

Empty


Chapter Five

Rue stared at the book for a moment. Tears welled in her eyes. Prince Gawain was nothing more than a ploy. Her father planned to kill the king, her future husband, and her. Soulless creature. He claimed she was a devil child...and he beheaded her mother. Rue could take it no longer. She collapsed in quiet sobs. As she cried, she unconciously formed a shell around herself. She would no longer envision herself as beautiful. She was no longer the princess here. She stood, and stared at Chirp. "Thank you." She said, brushing away tears. He chirped quietly. She turned to her wardrobe, and threw the doors open.

She stepped forward and touched the back wall. It was still there...

She kneeled down and felt around under her bed. After a moment, she found a smooth, jade stone. She looked at it, and laughed. All of the childish fantasies were abot to come true. She went back to her wardrobe, and placed the rock in the groove on the back wall.

"It's still there. They're all still here!" She gasped.

When she had placed the stone into the groove, the wall had slid away, revealing her adventuress costumes. She had sewn these a while ago, when she had dreamed of becoming a wanderer, a mage, anything outside of the castle. However, the first time she showed them to her father, he burnt them. As the little girl stood there, tears streaming down her face, her father had told her that it was foolish to have dreams like that. So she hid them. She never thought that she would have to use them...

She took a pack from her wardrobe, as well as two saddlebags. She sent Chirp to the kitchen to fetch as much food as he could without being seen. Intelligent bird as he was, he did as asked. She tore away her everyday dress, and pulled on her favorite outfit. A blue tunic, with purple shoulder pads. Animal hide gloves and boots. A long, flowing purple cloak. A longsword, taken from the barracks. A bow and arrow set, also taken from the barracks. She admired herself in her mirror. She looked the part.

She tossed the rest of her handmade adventurer clothes into the sack. She had made enough to last her a while. Chirp had been faithfully bringing back bread, fruit, vegetables, and any other food that wouldn't spoil. He had brought a few water skins which had been filled with water. Rue smiled. "I think we're ready, Chirp..." She said.

Chirp picked up the book. "I have to take this back..." He said.

Rue's jaw dropped. "You talked! Chirp...you spoke!" She was partly in shock. No, this was a dream. That's why she was setting out on an adventure. It was a dream. She wasn't getting married, simply dreaming. "A dream..." she muttered under her breath.

Chirp sighed. "No, it is no dream. I had a spell put on me by a witch. I must find love before I can find a human body. I found love, dear Rue. But I didn't wish to startle you. Oh Rue..." Chirp landed on the ground, and dropped the journal. A cloud of faerie dust surrounded him, and when it cleared, Chirp had become a majestic elven man, black hair, deep eyes... Ten times a beautiful as Prince Gawain, or any man she had ever seen, for that matter. He stared at her, not breaking eye contact for even a second, those hypnotic eyes penetrating every fiber of her being. And then, as if without warning, Rue was overcome with a million emotions at once.

"Chirp, you're being silly..." was all she could say at first. Such a girl with words, that one was. "A witch? Love? You love me? You silly beautiful man...I have so many questions. Why should I believe y-"

Before she could say more, Chirp had leaned in, and kissed her full on the lips. She returned the kiss with a passion. She felt an undenyable love. This was what Chirp felt? What he had been waiting for? It was lovely. "Chirp..." she whispered.

"No...not Chirp. Fhendriel." He said.

"Fhendriel..." Rue murmured. "Is it possible to fall in love with such force so quickly?"

"Always..." Fhendriel replied, a smile crawling across his face.

"We can travel together. We can be together forever." Whispered Rue. She felt as if she had known this man forever. Their spirits had entwined with his transformation. Love's arrow had struck them hard.

"We can, dearest Rue. We can." He said. He ran his fingers through her hair. "I can only stay human for so long in so evil a place. I'm sorry..." The pixie dust surrounded him, and he was as a bird again. "I must return this." He said dejectedly.

"Be not long." said Rue. "My heart waits for you." she said.

Chirp took the book and flew out of Rue's window. Rue threw herself back onto her bed and sighed. What love. Love felt so good. What an amazing feeling love was. She turned onto her stomach. She didn't know why she fell in love so quickly. Passion had sprung in a matter of moments. All she knew was that she loved Fhendriel, and that she would want to be with him always.

Rue continued drifting into her thoughts when she realized that Fhendriel had been gone for an incredible amount of time for simply returning a book. He was only putting the book back. That shouldn't take so long. She stood. It was peculiar...

Rue stuck her head out of the window. "Fhendriel?!" she called. "Fhendriel??"

Her response was the door slamming open. Rue spun around to see her father. His face was red, and he was angry. In one hand, he held his royal journal. In the other, he held a struggling bird. Fhendriel. He stared at Rue.

"What is THIS?!" he roared.


Chapter Six

Rue's eyes went wide with fear. Her heart quickened, her breath caught in her throat, and her mind raced. She blurted out the first thought that had rebuilt itself in her emotionally shattered brain.

"Put him down!" she screamed.

King Drazenka winced at her words. Never before had his daughter spoken harshly, but the carnivorous grin quickly resumed its place on his sick and evil face. He held Chirp out and squeezed the little bird tightly.

"Who...this little bird?" asked the King.

"Fhendriel!" cried Rue.

The King's smile faded into a twisted grimace. "Enough playing around. This bird shall die. I've seen you speaking with the yellow thing at your windowsill. There's not another yellow bird in the whole of the continent of Liliad. It's sorcery I tell you! I only needed proof that you two were up to something...and here it is!" He yelled, throwing the bok at Rue, hitting her in the chest. She gasped and stumbled backwards. "You know what that is...don't you daughter?" he asked.

Rue stared at the book. She bit her lip. She had seen this coming all along. It was, as she had assumed, his journal. She inhaled sharply, the dull pain she beating at her chest. Her rebellion was unavoidable now. "I know who you are..." she hissed. She opened the book to the pages that Fhendriel had made her read. "I know what you did to my mother..." She folded the two pages together. "And I know what you want to do to me..." She looked at the folded pages, and back at her father, unbridled hatred glinting in her eyes. "And soon...soon, so will everyone else!" She tore the pages from the book.

King Drazenka's face darkened. "Give me those pages or I'll-"

Fhendriel cut him off. "Rue! Run!" he cried. "Jump from the window, Rue! Go!"

King Drazenka gasped and stared at the bird. "Sorcery!" He yelled. Rue grabbed her sack, stuffing the pages inside of it, and the journal, and headed for the window. She paused, and looked at her father's journal. She didn't need it. She had what she needed.

"King Drazenka!" she called. He turned towards her, his face disorted with confusion and shock. "I've got something you want..." With that, she hurled the book back at King Drazenka, hitting him square on the nose, and causing him to fall to the ground and release Fhendriel. Rue sprinted the rest of the way to the window, and without hesitation, she leapt from it, grasping the shaking branches of the weeping willow, and climbing her way to the ground. She watched Fhendriel shoot past her. "Wait!" She called.

But no sooner had she touched the ground, then Fhendriel rounded the corner - in all of his human grace - with two elegant black horses.

"Shall we, Lady Love?" she inquired.

Rue smiled, filled with joy. "Yes. Yes, we shall." She mounted her horse, and the two rode off for the forest.


Chapter Seven

After riding for a full day without rest, Rue and Fhendriel stopped at a small glade buried deep in a long forgotten forest. Rue dismounted from her horse, and closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of pure, untainted air. Fhendriel dismounted from his horse as well, and stood behind Rue, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Lucian Glade..." murmured Rue.

"What's that, my love?" queried Fhendriel.

"I believe that a beautiful name, such as Lucian Glade, would suit such a beautiful place." She stated. She spun in Fhendriel's arms, and faced him with a wide smile.

Fhendriel cleared a few strands of white-blonde and golden hair from Rue's face. "And a lovely elf needs a lovely name as well." He leaned in a kissed her. "And Drazenka is hardly a lovely name at all."

At the sound of her last name, Rue cast her eyes to the ground. "I never wish to hear that name again." She broke out of his embrace, and paced around the glade in deep thought. "I never wish to think of myself as a descendant of that decadent pig." She sighed and went back to Fhendriel, pressing herself against his warm, comforting body. "Fhendriel...what should I be known as, if not Rue Drazenka?"

Fhendriel smiled. "Rue Meri'Daen." He told her without a pause.

Rue repeated the name quietly. "Rue Meri'Daen..." She smiled as well. "It's lovely." She told him.

"Even lovelier when coming from such divine lips." He replied.

Rue was slightly puzzled, however. "Fhendriel...How did you come up with the name so fast?" She asked.

Fhendriel tilted Rue's chin up so that he could look into her eyes. "It's my own last name, and I thought it fitting, for both you and I know that our souls are bonded for life."

Rue blinked. A beautiful name. A beautiful truth. Her life was right. Except... "Fhendriel, we must find a place to live. We need a home. The glade is beautiful, but no home of ours."

Fhendriel shook his head. "Worry not, Rue. I have everything planned. Everything is set." He kissed her again, and a well-timed wind blew her hair behind her. It flowed and tangled in the wind, almost blocking a perfect sunset. Rue sighed. She wanted nothing less to intrude on this moment, but they needed to run. They couldn't be caught. She pulled herself away from Fhendriel's lips. "We should leave..." she whispered to him.

Fhendriel nodded, trying, but not suceeding, to hide the disappointment in his face. Without a word, he lifted Rue onto her horse, and mounted his own. "The city of Illuriad." He said. "It's my former hometown. My home should be untouched. Everything is perfect." He paused, staring at the sinking sun. The sun had seemingly exploded in the sky, spreading its beauty across the canvas of the horizon. The light leaked from the sun, and drizzled itself over the mountains. He took in the moment, and looked at Rue. She inhaled deeply and smiled back at him. She then dug her heels into her horse, and Rue and Fhendriel rode into the horizon.


Chapter Eight

"Rue...We're here." Fhendriel said to the sleeping elf who rested upon the horse he was leading.

Rue lifted her head sleepily. Even in the transistion from sleep to consciousness Rue was beautiful and elegant. "Mm?" she muttered.

"We're here." Repeated Fhendriel. "This is Illuriad."

Illuriad was a small town that consisted of twenty-five homes, an inn, a small shop, and the necessary bar. In the early morning light, it looked heavenly. Pink and light yellow sprawled across the sky as the sun barely revealed itself over the horizon. The soft light made the town look all the more welcoming, and homely.

Rue quickly roused herself. She looked at the little town that she would be residing in. Rue could instantly tell that Illuriad was the perfect place for Rue to begin her new life. She smiled and looked at Fhendriel. "It's perfect. I'll love it here." She sighed.

Fhendriel nodded. "Yes...Yes. I will too."

--

"This is my home." Fhendriel said, pointing to the house that their horses now stood in front of.

Rue quickly dismounted, and stood in front of the door. She looked at it curiously, and would have continued staring at the tiny house if Fhendriel had not opened it for her. "It's safe." He grinned.

Rue stepped inside. A remotely large bed took up one corner of the room. A table sat in the center, with other pieces of furniture decorating the room. She flowed into the home, running her hand across everything that she came across. Finally, she came to the end of the room, and sat on the bed.

Fhendriel looked at Rue apprehensively. "I know it's much smaller than your room at the castle...and I don't have much money, so we won't have the most elegant of things. And I can't promise you that we'll have everything that we'll need...and the town isn't that big either and..."

Rue stood from her spot on the bed, walked to Fhendriel, and placed one long fingeron his mouth. "Shh..." She whispered. "It's perfect."

Fhendriel smiled. "I'm glad you think so." He looked into her eyes, losing himself in them for the briefest of moments. "Oh...The townspeople...they'll be shocked by my return, and with a lady no less."

Rue smiled coyly. "Well...you were on a quest. A quest of most heroic proportions. You went to save..."

"A lonely princess from a cold imprisonment." Fhendriel continued.

Rue nodded. "Yes...Yes. You slayed all of the guards, and the monster the guarded her. The princess fell in love with you instantly...and you brought her home with you."

Fhendriel smiled at Rue's cunning. "The journey was arduous, but we made it somehow..." Fhendriel put his arms around her.

"And now we're here." She whispered in his ear.

Fhendriel looked into Rue's eyes again, and Rue was overcome with that feeling again. The feeling that she was inviting Fhendriel into the depths of her very soul, and allowing him to see everything. He was interrupted by the opening and shutting of doors, and the murmur of townsfolk. "We should greet our visitors..." He said.

Rue nodded, and slightly pushed Fhendriel towards the door. "Go." She began. "Go greet them. I won't come out yet. I don't want to ruin the climax of your story." She giggled.

Fhendriel looked at the door. "Wish me luck." He said.

"Always." Rue replied.

With that, Fhendriel opened the door, and went to the podium to greet the awakening villagers.

--

Rue had been resting on Fhendriel's bed for well over an hour, catching fragments of his story at times. She had just closed her eyes when she heard the door creak open. She opened one eye to see Fhendriel standing in front of her with his hand extended. "They want to meet the princess." He said.

"Always a pleasure." She replied, taking his hand. Fhendriel led her past a few homes to the podium that was resting in the epicenter of the village. As soon as Rue took her place, the villagers erupted in cheers. Rue blushed. There were no questions. Fhendriel had apparently deemed it so, but there were festivities. There was a feast, with a special dish for each of the villagers. There were performances, and laughter. Rue had difficulty taking it all in, when finally, as the moon began to rise, Fhendriel deemed it time for he and the lady to take leave to their residence. The decision was greeted with both cheers and groans. Rue had lost track of all time before that.

When they were safely inside their home, Rue lay on the bed, and Fhendriel followed her. She kissed him once before closing her eyes. "I love you..." She murmured.

"And I you." He whispered, and with that, both drifted to sleep, thinking nothing could bother them. And nothing could...

Except for the bloodcurdling screams the next morning.


Chapter Nine

Lost in a dream, oblivious to the night around her, Rue slept serenely.

--

Where am I? There's nothing around me but emptiness, more emptiness, and a horizon so dark that it's more black than blue. I'm so afraid. I'm by myself. i can't live this way. Not in the dark. my light. My light shines ahead. My ray of hope. Finally, I am almost free. "Fhendriel. I see you. I am coming to you. You're my light. Stay with me Fhendriel..." He says nothing back. I am moving towards him. There is no running, swimming, or crawling. Only moving. Everything echoes. My breath, voice and even my thoughts echo in this endless chasm. we are so close. I can hear him speak to me...

"I love you Rue. My only love."

He puts his hand out. We only have to touch. We can blast away all evil with just one touch. I reach for him. Our hands are so close. I feel the heat radiating from him. Millimeters away. We only have to touch...

"I love you Rue."

--

What awoke Rue happened so quickly that she hadn't the time to sort it all out. There was a stinging slap across her face. Four strong hands grasped her and threw her from her bed and into the wall. The hands then grabbed her hair and dragged her outside, throwing her against the outer wall. Five stunning blows landed upon her face before she finally gained the sense to kick the two men who were attacking her away. They fell to the ground, unconcious from the sheer force in her kicks. She wiped the dirt from her face and looked around her, thought she was almost afraid to. What she saw stunned her.

It was midnight, the only sign of that being the moon resting in a fully risen state in the sky. The small village of Illuriad was ablaze. The flames leapt from what was left of the houses and licked the sky with demonic hunger. The houses were torn apart, and bodies were strewn in the streets. Everyone in the town was dead. Families who had tried to escape lay mutilated in the streets. Some lay outside of their houses, their bodies black. Slain children littered the roads.

Rue's breath caught in her throat, and she put her hands to her face. Who had done such a thing? Who was so terrible? Just when Rue thought that she had seen the worst, an elf and a human arrived from around the bend. And they were holding a sword to Fhendriel's neck.

Rue lunged at the men, only to have to elf firmly plant his metal boot in her stomach. She gasped, and stumbled backwards. Her face contorted in rage and she stared up at her attackers with a great anger.

The men were all abnormally large, and frighteningly strong. Two humans and two elves confronted Rue and Fhendriel, though the ones who had attacked Rue lay on the ground. They wore shining jet black armor, and carried weapons of obsidian. Their muscles pressed against their armor, and their faces were twisted in permanet evil sneers. They were knights, but not of the chivalrious breed.

Rue was calm under the extreme amount of pressure. however. She glared at the knights as she spoke. "Who are you?" she asked.

The elf holding Fhendriel opened his mouth, but shut it and was silent. He snapped his fingers, and Rue furrowed her brow. She began to ask again when the two knights who were previously unconcious sprang from the ground and grabbed her arms, pulling them behind her. Rue yelped , and the elf knight somehow grinned through his sneer.

"I am Cedric, and we are the Black Knights. The most cunning knights of all time. We are the knights sent out by King Lenge Drazenka to rid the country of anyone who proves threat to his throne." He stated proudly. "You are a threat. Therefore, you must be eliminated."

Rue lunged forward again, but was yanked back and pinned to the wall. "Let Fhendriel go. He has done nothing."

The elf was obviously pleased. "Another order." He grinned. " 'Destroy where she lives. Kill anyone and anything that thrives near her. Torture he whom she love.' So said the king."

"No!" Rue screamed. "Let him go!" All sense of calm had left her. She had to save Fhendriel, even if it meant dying herself.

Fhendriel, however, had been surprisingly silent. He had stared at Rue the entire time, with a sense of serenity. "Shh...." he whispered, looking into her eyes.

Rue fell silent at his wish, tears streaming down her pained face. "Fhendriel..."

"Rue, you're strong." He began. "You're a fighter. Fight for them, and win. Fight for me..."

Rue shook her head. "You're not going to die... You're my light. I can't live in the dark." she sobbed.

Fhendriel smiled. "I love you Rue. my only love." He stretched his arm out towards Rue.

Rue smiled. She knew what to do. They could blast away all evil..."All we have to do is touch." She whispered, pushing her hand towards his. Their hands were coming closer and closer together. Rue could feel the heat of Fhendriel's hand...

Cedric rolled his eyes, and nodded to the human with the sword to Fhendriel's throat.

So close... thought Rue. We just have to touch....

"I love you Rue." said Fhendriel.

The human drew his sword across Fhendriel's throat, and dropped the now lifeless body to the ground.


Chapter Ten

"Fhendriel!" Rue screamed. She squirmed out of the knights' grasp and ran to Fhendriel's body.

"No..." She whimpered. Reality hit her, and hard. Fhendriel was gone. Just as true happiness drew so close, it was snatched from her by black devils. Raw instinct kicked in. Now was the time for revenge.

Rue stood, and grabbed her longsword off of Fhendriel's body. He must have been using it to fight, because it had blood on the tip. Without a thought, she rushed at the Black Knights who had held her. She slashed the first one across the face, allowing him to die quickly. The second was felled just as easily, and was dead before he hit the ground. She charged at the man who had killed Fhendriel, and impaled him. His face was shocked, but she twisted the sword, and pulled it out. He fell to the floor, and Rue grinned. She spat on his face, and left him to die a painful death. She turned to Cedric, and raised her sword.

He spoke before she could attack. "Killing me will do nothing. There are more."

Rue could barely comprehend his words in her barbaric state of mind. All she knew was attack.

Rue leapt at Cedric with a savage scream. She slashed at his stomach, but he easily blocked it. She brought the sword down at his head, but he blocked her sword once more. Pure, unbridled hate coursed through her veins, but wherever she slashed, he blocked. He looked more bored than anything else. She stopped and stared at him. She examined Cedric quietly, trying to find a weakness. Cedric, however, chose this moment to attack.

He thrust his sword at her stomach. He barely left a mark as she jumped backwards with a smile. She leapt into the air, and slashed at his arm, cutting it to the bone. Cedric stumbled backwards and growled. Rue landed gracefully and smiled contentedly.

"You think you've won?" Asked Cedric. He placed two fingers into his mouth and whistled. On his command, ten new Black Knights appeared behind him, ready for combat.

"There are more!" He cackled. "There will always be more! We'll never stop hunting you!" Cedric yelled.

Rue shook her head. She hated herself right now, but she knew what she had to do. She ran to the horses, and untethered her horse before the Black Knights could blink. Such an unexpected move stunned them. The Knights began to chase her, and she mounted the horse and fled. With their armor, the Black Knights could not possibly hope to keep up. None of the Black Knights seemed to be trained in archery, and Rue was able to escape. She rode frantically past the blazing homes and slain townsfolk. She rode away from the town where she was almost happy. She rode for hours until the mountains hinted at daybreak. She halted her horse on the hill, her cheeks soaked with tears. She hesitated for a moment before turning to face the last embers of Illuriad.

A strong wind blew by, whisking Rue's hair back into the breeze. As her hair tumbled in the wind, she turned away from Illuriad. She could look at it no longer. Destruction...deaths. It was her fault. Chaos followed her. She watched the sun peek over the horizon again, almost the same as the day before. But this sunrise was decidedly somber.

They took my home, my love, and my freedom. They will never stop until they kill me. They will take what I love, and rob me of everything that I cherish. I mustn't become close to anyone, and I mustn't reside anywhere. Innocents should not die because of me. They killed Fhendriel, and for that alone, they shall pay. I will kill them, but nothing that they love. I am not like them. I am not harsh. And the day will come when I return to Draz. To the castle.

The day will come when I kill my father.

Rue rode into the horizon. Her destination was unknown, but her destiny was clear.

The only thing left was to fulfill it.


The End