Just some seaweed. Silly getting worked up over that.

She unwound it, then followed Han, who was by the exit wanting. He got out and stood next to Parcival.

Swimming faster she shot out the exit and landed stomach first on the grass.

Don't you have better things to do than bug me?

Unnamed snickered.

"At last we are out of the mountain caverns!"

She rolled on her back while eyeing them. Han looked away, then back again, smiling a little, his ears flicked. He flopped on his back chewing on a jerky stick.

"We should stop and get something to eat soon." Parcival got up slow and easy.

He hopped up shaking himself hard, spraying water off in all directions.

She backed away, with an arm covering her eyes. "Watch it!"

His fur proofed out like a fluffy dandelion, his glasses the only spot of seriousness.

She broke out laughing to the point of tears.

"So cute. So cuddly. I can't stand it."

Han stamped over and got in her face.

"Don't say it."

She waved her hands alternating them over the other. "Wouldn't dream of it."

He turned, wringing the water from his tail.

He sniffed, then went over to a nearby flat rock and sat on it.

"A hot meal would be nice," she said.

"Well, what way now?"

The map had stayed dry in the pouch. Unrolling it, she pointed to the small drawing of a silver tree.

"I know a short cut. If we cut through The Silver Forest we can get their much faster. It's is said to home one of the great five beasts, so watch yourself here."

The map had shown by cutting through here, the travel time would be cut in half. Her stomach growled. Dang it, the underground cavern river had swept away all the food.

"Do you know which beast?"

"No."

"let's keep going and break for supper later," Parcival said.

"So be it."

She lead the way.

The stomach stopped growing and reduced to a hollowness.

####

Here we go. The trees long silver trunks shined where the sunlight hit them. Draping down from each of the branches were delicate crystal leafs.

There wasn't any chirping or any other sound.

"Guard yourselves." Her right ear twitched violently. She pinched the lobe. Arg.

Far off in the west, was it the crunch of leafs underfoot? She strained, it stopped. Should I say something?

"Well, the map stops here. Any idea where we should go next?" Parcival asked.

"We need to leave quickly."

"That's not an answer," Parcival said, rubbing his face.

Unrolling it, she scanned it.

"If we go North-west here, and around this river, we can get to the city and exit this place faster."

"Let's do it," he said. That last word came out as a wheeze and he gripped his side. His face paled as he thumped down onto the ground.

Han trotted over to him.

"A rib bone must be broken off inside somewhere."

"Let's camp by that giant stump. Can you fix him?" She pointed up ahead.

"Yes, but then that'll be it for the week healing bone isn't easy."

"Right."

Parcival was heavier than last time. She tried to pull him back up, but her arms weakened.

He eyed her. "You're getting worse. I thought I was mistaken before, but now am sure of it. That strength of yours is gone."

Startling, she nearly dropped him, then draped an arm over her shoulder.

"I'm only tired. No need to overreact." If the gods were kind an inn would show up on the road out. Some food would bring it back up to half at least.

The humor in his eyes vanished, all except for a spark that left as fast as it appeared.

"We'll need a fire. I'll go get some wood," said Han.

She led Parcival over to the stump, he eased down leaning against it.

"It's time I told you something," Parcival reached for her hand.

Ah, it's come to this. She stiffened.

She pulled her arm back. Those blue eyes were full of an emotion that he'd never showed before.

He stopped. His jaw tightened and his lips thinned.

"You know you never asked me what I am you know."

Huh? She relaxed. Well, it can't be as bad as being asked to fry a person.

"Then you are?"

"I'm a Paladin, or a "Seeker" as some call us."

Interesting. The grand knights of Olenus.

"I thought they couldn't lie."

She pulled her daggers out brandishing them at the nape his neck.

"Tell me the truth, now!" she spat out each word and leaned in next to his face.

"I have been. Put that down!"

Her hand shook, she lowered them.

"Damn you." She huffed and slid back.

His voice thickened with emotion, and his eyes filled with a soft, gentle gleam.

She sat silent.

"You're important to me. I care about you."

She tilted her head. Okay? She leaned against the stump by him. What's missing here?

"That," she paused, "I can believe." Then why tell about being a Seeker? She got up shaking her head between her hands.

"Are you alright?"

She stood by him. All muddled and messed up. The more a thought came the faster it twisted and disappeared.

"Yes."

She wandered off behind the stump, as a ridiculous heat covered her face. She pinched her forehead between the brows.

It's not like he said he loved me. This is good, he'll be safe in the city that's coming up, ditch him there.

Relaxing, she went back and sat near him.

"I want to continue to the city. Perhaps one of the Elder priests can be of help.

Only the Adapts had a chance of knowing what to do.

"Yes, that could work," Parcival closed his eyes, a hand gripped the grass.

They still have no clue of this evil, the vines are only the symptom. She shivered.

She turned away. Rude to stare for that long. Opening the largest pouch she pulled out an old thin blanket. She ripped it into strips with a dagger.

"Here."

Sitting close she wrapped them around his torso, then knotted it.

"Thanks, feels a little better, nice and tight."

She nodded.

"I'll wait for Han."

She stood then jumped onto the stump. What was I thinking?

Several hours passed, and as night took over the sky, a flapping nearby made her sit straight up.

A flapping nearby.

Voices whispering. An unmistakable gurgling screech; above a Neckhawk circled.

Her heart exploded into rapid fire beats. He'll never quit. Where is Han?

Parcival was laying on his side asleep.

She rolled over into a crouching position. Her ears rotated towards the forests start. She called the wind spirits whispering a quick prayer, before heading over.

Awhile later back the way the party had came, two hooded men stood together on the pathway. She scurried up a large silver maple. It was best to make sure, it wouldn't do to kill innocent humans.

"Follow the plan. I won't suffer any mistakes, she must be captured before it's too late."

What plan? She slid down following them.

They're going towards the camp! Fate is so cruel. She unsheathed her daggers, careful not to let them ring against the scabbards. Like hell.

She followed silently behind them for a few more feet. She rushed out in front of them.

"Stop, not another step." she tensed and held the daggers angled toward them.

"Well, that was easy," said a familiar voice.

Her stomach dropped to her boots.

"Maxwell."

He pulled down his hood and gestured to the other man that was with him. Who was he again? Her mind felt fuzzy trying to remember the red haired man's name. No! Not now!

The vines moved under her skin deeper, her strength drained even more. She stiffened and stood tall. Have to hide this.

The man in black moved his free hand and tossed a black dot at her.

Bolting to the right, but the dot opened faster than she could see, and entrapped her in a netting. She tried to cut it loose, but was unable to, where her hands touched it they burned and smoked! She hissed in pain.

"Be quiet or I'll kill them as they sleep."

She glared at him.

"I doubt it. I have much planned for you," He spit on her face.

She rolled on the ground, but the netting's poison burned into her skin. She screamed as it seared a criss-cross into the top of her hand. Her hand swelled and blistered.

"You Mirror of Nor! Why do you do this?" it already was eating away at any armor as well as where it touched her skin.

Tears flooded her eyes, she blinked, trying to clear them.

"It burns, let me out!"

"One more, one single sound, and they will die. This is your choice, come with me or be responsible for their deaths."

The man next to him started to walk to the camp.

She shuttered and lay there dragging in ragged breaths.

"Grab her before they wake up."

The man's ringlets blew and swirled as the breeze caught them. He scooped her up, then laid her on her stomach on top of the saddle. Jumping on the horse, he took off with the soldiers following him.

The bouncing of the horse slapped the netting onto her and she yowled then passed out.

The guilt and sorrow of that day come back like a blast of light. As the fire sparked it caught the city's banner that stood near the entrance, the fire crept up its edges and then worked towards the middle until the banner looked like a great toothed beast, angry and of flame.

A young boy of black ringlets stood behind the banner clutched to his mother. She could see him staring at her, staring straight into her soul. Hope was absent in them, just the blaze reflected back. Their mouths opened.

They screamed.

She woke. The screams replayed over and over. Then the pain hit again. Her armor smoked, the stench of burning leather made her gag. After a while, she stopped feeling anything.

The horse came to a stop, and she flopped around trying to fall off.

"You would do well to stop moving, or I will poke with my short sword until you stop!" his tone cold like the ice of the north.

She stopped.

"That's better. I have a new home now, and I think you'll be the perfect addition to it. Provided some measures are taken with you of course."

She begin hyperventilating, dizzy. No, don't pass out. All of this confused her, the poison was a well kept secret. How had he managed to learn about it?

"Watch yourself here Jason, there are evils here, though not as vile as what we carry."

She felt the horse shift to the right and then as the cable stones appeared below. Wonder what place this is? But what one and why? Why not just kill her? Perhaps it was the poison or just exhaustion, nothing made sense.

The sounds of a city. Merchants hocking their wares. A child that whined to his mother, about being bored. The sun cooked her where her skin was exposed. The blisters popped, the pain returned. She moaned. Sweat tricked in streams down the sides of her face.

Trying not to pass out, she bit her lower lip hard. The pain and salty taste of blood woke her some. The past few days have used much of her energy reserves, and she was at her limit. It was hard to think.

The house stopped again. He picked her up, then tossed her over his shoulder. She moaned again. She held still to avoid the netting from touching her anywhere else. This day is pure hell. Just glad that they left the others alone. She closed her eyes. A sicking coolness shuttered up and down her.

When she opened them again, they had taken her into a house. From the looks of the wood flooring, benches and rugs it was moderately wealthy.

He took her down a long flight of stairs. He dumped her out of the netting, she tumbled out of it and rolled onto the cool compact dirt. She managed to turn her head to breathe better. Everything screamed at her to move, to fight and get away. Her body wouldn't cooperate. She heard a clink.

"Let's see you escape this time. The stairs are of metal infused with your favorite herb."

He moved her head more upright with his boot.

She hissed at him.

He knelt down and bent over her.

"Just die already. Your so evil I can't believe they didn't kill you yet."

She lifted her head a fraction and spit on his face, then lay back down again exhausted.

"Hmm, maybe 2-3 weeks it will take."

"What will?" she said in a weary voice.

"Oh come now, surely you know. Don't play the helpless women with me." He smiled at her. Not a sneer a smile, like this, was a happy day. She wanted to run away from that smile.

"Once your magics are drained, you'll become fully mortal and weak." He smiled again, with a wide grin, it didn't reach his eyes. They told the truth, in their dark blue depths of a hate for her so vast she shivered.

"Drained?"

He pointed at the wall behind her. "We had been preparing for you. Each of these walls mortar is layered with enchanted Elven bane. You will die here."

He grabbed her throat and squeezed. Pins of lights speckled her vision.

"Remember those poor souls you destroyed? No matter what I do to you, nothing will ever bring them back. At least I can make you suffer!" spittle flew from his mouth.

He let go then walked back up the stairs of the cellar, and locked the door. With a click, she was in the darkness.

The familiar creeping sensation inside her head started up again.

Well, if I did at least it-

Then why don't you leave now?

The god laughed and made her laugh like a mad person.

I hate you.

Sleep never came an unseen wave of the cursed Elven Bane slammed into her hourly. By the next morning, she couldn't even lift her head.

The next morning the door opened once again. Footsteps.

Jason came down with a single mug of water. Ah, good to know his name again.

"Here," Jason said, he tapped her leg with his foot.

She looked up at him, with her head to the side. He showed her the water.

"You torment. Can't move." She closed her eyes expecting a kick in the face.

Jason knelt down and put the mug to her lips helping her drink it.

"Why?"

As he walked up the stairs to exit he turned around. "I'm sure glad I am not in your place. Knowing him, he will find a way to keep you alive for as long as possible."

He looked away, "Evil or not I'll bring you a drink once a day."

The door closed, the cellar darkened, like her hope. Am I?