I collapsed onto my bed, sobbing. After I had no more tears to cry, I sat on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind empty. Then Nar leapt up beside me. I glared at her. "Some guardian you are! Where were you, when I needed you most?"
I was watching, she replied. And I didn't want to interrupt. You looked like you were enjoying yourself. Roald certainly was.
I made a face. "Of couse he was! He wanted to do it! I didn't!"
Nar sighed. If you say so. Best calm down your face. The dinner bell's about to ring. And with that she leaped of the bed, leaving me staring after her.
*****
At dinner I was quiet and didn't talk much. Roald and I avoided each other like we each had a plague. The others knew something had happened and kept exchanging looks with one another. Let them find out themselves, I thought grumpily, staring at my food. I don't have to tell them Roald kissed me.
Later that night, I was trying to sleep and couldn't. Finally, sick of tossing and turning, I got out of bed and pulled on my clothes and boots and quietly opened the door, praying it wouldn't creak.
I glided silently down the hall. I eventually got outside and breathed in gulps of fresh air gratefully. Dawn was only a few hours away anyway.
I was leaning on the wall, watching the waves crash against the cliffs, deep in thought. I wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings, so when a shadow fell over me, I was so surprised, I almost had a heart attack. I looked up and went pale.
"Hello my dear," Roger said pleasantly. "Fancy seeing you here."
I back away so fast I stumbled. "Roger!" I gasped. "What - what - oh no!" I knew exactly what was going to happen.
Roger smiled, the smile insane. "My dear, if you want to live, you battle me - now."
I went deadly pale. "No - no...." I whispered.
Roger threw back his head and laughed. "You have no choice." He clapped his hands twice and we disappeared.
*****
I swam out of the darkness and slowly opened my eyes. I moaned. My head was throbbing and I felt like I'd just whacked my head against a wall - for an hour.
Then I looked around and almost leapt into the air. Roger was standing by the door, leaning against the wall, watching me. Upon seeing my fear, he laughed. The sound sent chills down me, as I stared at him. Finally, I said, "Why me?"
"Pardon?" This was one of the things about Roger that infuriated me. He always acted like he was just an old friend, not a man back from the dead for the second time and wanted to kill me.
"Why me? Why did you choose to torment me? I mean, what did I ever do?" I asked, again, surprisingly patiently.
Roger seemed to be considering his answer, before he replied. "You were different. You had a magic few had, elemental magic. It was a legend , just a myth, until you came along and proved all the scholars wrong. Why wouldn't I choose you?" Suddenly he grinned. "Plus the fact you're beautiful can't hurt."
I glared at him. "This is not the time to go on about your potential to be a husband," I hissed, with such venom I think I surprised him, which clearly surprised me.
But he recovered easily. "Oh I think it is," he said smoothly, walking over to the bed and bent down near it, pulling away a blanket to reveal someone. "Because if you don't I think you should say goodbye to your friend."
It was Neal, bound and unconscious. I yelped, fear for my friend flooding me. I knew Roger would do as he said, he was a man of his word. Roger smiled again, and turned, obviously enjoying my fear and left. I turned my attentions to Neal.
He looked okay only he there was blood trickling from his left temple and there was a huge bump on his forehead. As I held his head on my lap, he groaned, flickering open his eyes. I could see his eyes widen fractionally when he saw me there. Then he grinned.
"Well this is nice," he commented and I whacked him gently on the cheek for that, grinning. Slowly and gingerly, he got up, his lips tightened into a thin line and he sat on the bed beside me.
"Are you all right?" I asked, looking at him. He seemed all right, but that bump in the head might have given him concussion....
When he grinned broadly, after seeing my concern for him, I knew he was fine. To my surprise, he grabbed my hand, and turning it around, kissed the back of it. "I am eternally grateful to you," he murmured, his green eyes never leaving mine, waiting to see my reaction.
He told me later, that the reaction I gave was the one he wanted. I turned bright red, and started to stammer, suddenly seeing him in a new light. Furious with myself, I yanked my hand away from his and started to pace up and down in the room.
"I guess you know that I've to fight Roger," I said. At the time I had figured my voice would be cool and calm, but it came out, hesitant and wobbling. I was afraid and there was no use in hiding it. But of course, my pride stepped in and I had to. I hate myself.
I glanced up and saw Neal was looking at me thoughtfully. "What?!" I snapped, my nervousness surfacing.
He suddenly grinned. "Your pride amuses me." He'd barely finished the sentence before I flung a pillow at him. He howled laughing, tears streaming down his face.
"Bugger," I muttered irritably and then bent double, my face creased in pain. "Ow!" I cried.
"What is it?" Neal asked, his face full of worry.
"I don't know..." Then I collapsed. What I didn't know was that I'd also disappeared...
