Down Into The Depths (IC)

[MausAss]

Ravin felt a bit anxious, he had from the moment they accepted the mission, but he felt it even more now. They shouldn’t need these kinds of barricades if it was just a couple of goblins. Still they were in the castle and it was reasonable to think that they would take extra precautions to make sure the King was safe. He couldn’t sleep just yet and when he looked over at Alysa she had her eyes on the captain, studying him as he talking to one of his soldiers. He didn’t know if she always acted like this or if she felt something was wrong too. Either way she didn’t seem like talking and Mara was trying to sleep.

Instead he started to talk to one of the soldiers, one who seemed particularly green and talked to him about his family the weather and whatever would put him at ease. He wanted some answers and hoped that this solider could provide them.

“So Martin, how long have you been stationed here?” Ravin asked.

“I…” Martin looked nervous and it took a couple of seconds before he decided to answer: “I’ve been here two weeks.”

Ravin didn’t like that he got nervous just by him asking this question. He could see him trying to get eye contact with the captain for some help. Ravin decided to move just enough to block the view. This man knew something and he was probably the best shot he had at finding out just was waiting them.

“How long has these barricades been here?” Ravin asked and once again Martin started to act nervous before answering.

“I don’t know,” he said, making it obvious that he wasn’t interested in answering more questions.

“How many goblins are they?” Ravin asked the question he was most interested in.

“I… You have to ask the captain,” Martin said, looking down in the ground.

Ravin tried to ask him more, but it was pretty obvious that he wasn’t going to get any more answers and none of the ones he got did anything to ease his worries. He didn’t like this at all and he felt a need to talk to Mara about this. She looked so peaceful sleeping on the side and he felt a bit cruel for waking her. It was only going to be a short nap, but every minute of sleep was worth a lot on the road. Before waking her up he looked over at Alysa again and wondered what she was thinking, for some reason he wanted her advice just as much as Mara’s. For know he was just going to ask Mara, she had been with him a long time and he trusted her with his life.

For a second he thought about waking Mara up with a kiss, but quickly knocked the thought out of his head. This wasn’t the right time for that, instead he removed his glove. Ravin stroked her cheek before grabbing her shoulder gently to wake her up. He moved his mouth close to her ear, as he didn’t want the soldiers to hear what he was about to say.

“I don’t like this, I think there are more goblins than what they’re telling us,” Ravin whispered in her ear and despit the situation they were in he couldn’t avoid noticing just how good she smelled.

 

[DellaDivina]

Mara nodded groggily, feeling Ravin's breath against her ear. She had been thinking the same thing, before she lay down. She was slightly annoyed at being woken, but said nothing. It was a bit awkward having Ravin so close, when she knew how he felt, or how she thought he felt. If they had been alone, she might have talked to him about it, or even done something about it, but not with a cloud of witnesses.

"I agree," She whispered back. "This can't be such a simple problem, and I can't see what the handful of us are going to do about it." She reached up and gave Ravin a hug. "We'll do our best and go to see our ancestors if it is to much for us to handle." She sounded matter of fact about the possibility of death, but then again she believed that she would hunt with her grandfathers and grandmothers when she died. She wasn't sure what Ravin believed, but thought to ask him now. "If you die, then where would you go? Do you hunt with your ancestors, or is there another fate in store for you?" She took Ravin's hand in her's as they talked, though she still lay on her side.

The captain was done talking with his sergeant and walked over to where Alysa waited. "You'd best get some sleep. The little buggers are a lot more active at night. If you go in tomorrow morning, you might catch them sleeping." He didn't much sound like he believed himself, but was being forced to play a role.

The fact was that Perus was angry about the state of affairs. He wanted to take the guard that remained in the capital, all thirty of them, and go in threw the door to face down the threat. It was the fucking king which had drawn his forces to thinly across his kingdom and the fucking king who had forbid his personal guard from attempting the task, for fear of his own hide. If there were ever a more vain and vile man, Perus did not know of him. Still, for the love he bore for his father, and for his own personal honor, he obeyed.

 

[AlysaNewport]

The white polished fingernail traced over the emblem of the Order engraved in the pommel of her sword subconsciously while she focused upon the actions committed by her traveling companion. She bore witness to the reactions of the young warrior that Ravin moved over to and was carrying an unknown conversation with, however, upon Ravin's movement and positioning himself would construe that he himself was questioning this entire farce and was drilling the what he would consider to be the weak link of the men stationed here. The young man's face showed all that she needed to verify her next move

Her eyes traveled back to the captain to ensure that he was still with them in this dreary space, for she still wanted that word with him, more now than ever had been. The expression on the two men along with the young militant really began to push Alysa to the edge of confrontation. Her eyes bored away from the two men once more to the hovering form of Ravin, whom was now in the process of waking Mara. She close her eyes for a moment trying to wash down that rising lump in her throat once more.cursing herself she completely turned to her left side removing him from her view.

Taking a deep breath and releasing it she adjusted her gaze just in time to see the captain approaching her. The look upon his face was still one of hidden knowledge trying to pass off that all is going to plan. His words flowed over his lips as if it was rehearsed for hours end for it was smooth and commanding. She looked up into his eyes and read what he was hiding. A slight smile formed upon her face. "Captain, I call you on your honor." she rose to face him, bringing her eye gaze to his."I call upon what is left of a man that you are to bare me the respect of truth." she moved into him,"What say you captain, I see the burning in your eye that hides the truth that you wish to yell out for the world to hear. Look about you Captain, look at your men huddled in fear for these are not your men of trust as like your friend that you just spoke with. These men know of that is beyond that barrier but hide in fear of you!" she steps back from the Captain, her eyes drifting over to the now awake Mara and Ravin. The look upon her face was one that Ravin was learning that she wore all the time, confrontation...

 

[MausAss]

Ravin had hoped that talking to Mara would cheer him up; that she would tell him they had nothing to worry about. Still he hadn’t been surprised when she told him that she shared his worries. Even the hug didn’t ease his nervous and when she started talking about seeing her ancestors. They were too young to die and he wouldn’t let it happen. He wouldn’t let her die.

"If you die, then where would you go? Do you hunt with your ancestors, or is there another fate in store for you?" Mara asked and took his hand.

He was angry; he didn’t like her taking so easy on death. If the gods consider that he lived a good life and died an honorable death on the battlefield his soul would go to the hall of warriors. There it would spend an eternity preparing for the final battle between good and evil. If died any other way he would choose to be reborn, as he knew his soul was destined for the hall of warriors. Still there was a possibility they might not make it out alive and didn’t have the right to blame her for having those thoughts.

“I won’t let you die. If it comes to it I can hold them long enough for you to make it back here. But I plan to make it out alive too. If I die on the battlefield, my soul will go to the hall of warriors, if not I will choose to be reborn,” Ravin said grabbing Mara’s hand tighter to emphasize his point.

“It is not our time yet. We will make it out alive, no matter what,” he said looking into her dark eyes, meaning every word he just said.

He knew it was foolish to say such a thing, but he intended to keep this promise. He looked over at Alysa and despite what she had said earlier he planned on protecting her too. She needed to know there was still goodness in the world. He suddenly saw the same glow in her eyes she had when she faced the king. She hadn’t listened to a word she he had said. The captain had seen like a reasonable man, he had even provided them with supplies. Turning him against them would be a bad idea; still he was probably their best shot of finding out the truth. Still he wasn’t sure if confrontation was the best way to find out the truth about their mission.

“She’s not so bad deep down I think, but I know that look. She’s about to confront the captain,” Ravin said to Mara before leaving her side and half running over to where Alysa and the captain was talking.

He didn’t want her to burn another bridge. He once more told himself that he shouldn’t care about Alysa, but once more he found himself wanting to rush to her aid. He had no idea how to make her calm down; everything about her was a challenge.

“What’s going on?” he asked Alysa as soon as he was close enough and as he got close enough to whisper to her without the captain would hear he did so.

She was probably just as suspicious as he and Mara was, probably more considering her nature, but sometimes honey worked better than vinegar. Of course if he told that to her, she would probably think that honey meant to trick men using her body. Judging by the way she moved, she probably had a very good idea of how to please a man. His mind wondered for a second exploring what it would be like, until he realized what he was thinking. He didn’t help her to get inside her pants, he knew that much, but he wondered if she did. Either way, she needed to learn that you could gain friends and find out what people know just by treating with respect. Still giving them an extra coin to spill the beans didn’t hurt either. Intimidation could work too, but the consequences when it backfired were usually far worse.

“I’m on your side, but try not to make him our enemy,” Ravin whispered to Alysa, hoping to calm her down. Still he didn’t have much hope, but at least this way he could hopefully smooth things over, if they went overboard.

 

[AlysaNewport]

Alysa's blue eyes shifted from the angery Captains face to the face she was getting tired of seen in her way everytime that he feels she is making a wave in this pond of life of his and it was jousting going to be the end of the world. He had no idea what her pond of life looked like nor the waves that she had to ride out. Life is not a silver platter with wine and cheese handed to you all the time. You had to take matters in your own hands and carve out your own destiny.

She shot him a glare but found herself backing away from the Captain so he could speak with her. "What's going on? " she mocked his question but answered it,"This Captain knows more than what he is telling. You can see it in his men's eyes, even that tall one he was talking to earlier is someone who knows something as well, for like his captain, he holds no fear like the rest of these men besides its not only what lies behind that iron door that puts fears in these men's eyes,but the Captain does this as well!" she looks at him deeply," Did you not get that feeling when you talked to that man?" she gestured in the general direction were he confronted the militant boy.

"What!?... Does not him telling us the truth already makes him an enemy? Does not his silence place our lives in more danger than what it would if he would tell us what lies before us? How does this silence of knowledge be any differant than a king not sending in his army to help his knights and allowed them to be slaughtered! Tell me knight! Does your blind honor to the king make you a fool to betrayal?" she glared at him,"Tell me Knight whom is the stupid one now!" she turned away from him and walked back to her bedroll.."So tell me Captain are we feel to leave? Or do you advise us to stay?" she looks at him wondering if they were considered captives now..

 

[MausAss]

He was a bit surprised when she pulled him aside. He had half expected her to ignore him completely. Still he couldn’t deny what she saying. There was much truth in it, but still he didn’t think the captain was a bad man. He still wanted to give him a chance before assuming the worst. Ravin had seen it as respect of their captain, but maybe it had been fear that had made the solider shut his mouth. He couldn’t be sure.

Was he a fool as she said or did she just assume the worst? He wasn’t sure. Either way the only one who knew was the Captain. As it was now, he was only the sixth son of an unimportant count. The King wouldn’t care if he lived or died, maybe if his engagement was official it would’ve been different. If they were captives then he truly was a fool, but she was a fool too for always assuming the worst. He didn’t really mind it when she turned to captain and questioned him, even if he had preferred it if it had been done in a different way. Still if they really were captives, none of that mattered. Alysa seemed so certain that the captain was betraying them that Ravin had started thinking it too, but it was just as likely that she was wrong.

“Just as foolish it is to trust everyone is it to trust no one. I maybe be fooled once or twice along the way, but I have also found true friends and compassion. What have you found? I won’t betray you if you trust me. Not unless you hurt the ones I love,” Ravin said in a lower voice to Alysa, as they were waiting for the captain to answer.

“Tell us the truth captain. Even if you won’t allow us to leave, at least give us the best chance we can to survive. It's the least we deserve,” Ravin said as he turned his attention to the captain.

 

[DellaDivina]

Persus answered slowly. "You took the task and to withdraw now, without the King's consent, would be viewed... negatively by the crown. On the other hand, the task is quite... daunting. I am not sure what I would do, if placed in your position. As things stand, I am prepared to send my subordinate in with you. He has... volunteered for reasons of his own, which I can not begin to understand. I will leave you until morning to decide your path, but know this. If you are here in the morning, you will be expected to complete your task, and if you are not, I would advise you to be as far as possible from the capital."

Mara could hear Perus from where she lay, though barely. A shudder ran through her. She did not fear death, but she did not relish a senseless death. She turned back over and pretended to sleep, unsure of her next move, but sure that the captain wasn't telling as much as he knew, even though he was telling more than he was supposed to.

She waited for Ravin to come back over to her, to hear his reaction. She assumed he would want to leave, though she herself wasn't sure. It seemed to here that if the captain could be persuaded to send his men in with them, they might stand a chance. It would be a risk, because if they died, the king would hold him to account. Still, maybe he could be convinced. She would ask Ravin. He was good at speaking and smoozing.

 

[AlysaNewport]

Alysa's brow arched over her staring blue orb upon the captain with a building desire to have words with the fat bastard above them, but, to keep the peace as Ravin wishes she only withdrew her hand from her sword and looked over to Ravin."There is your answer! Once again pushed forward like dogs to fight for the cowards with the silver spoon." she steps forward toward the captain with a desire to kill him, but he is only the messenger."I had you wrong as being a Knight with that rank but all you are is the little messenger boy! I shall play your little game and captain you can tell that fat bastard upstairs that you all do hope I perish down there for if I don't!... Well let the unknown dig into your belly!" she turns away..

Walking away from the two her heart cries out in pain that she quidkly tries to get it back under her control. She wipes the tears from her eyes as the fear of falling into slavery fills her throat and threatens to choke her. She swallows hard trying to remove the lump of fear but to no prevail. Her body begins to lightly tremble as the memories flood her mind of the times she has already spent as a sex slave, now she sees that same look on the king just earlier this day. A tear slides down her cheek while the memories hammer her defenseless mind and body to the edges of submission, why fight what is going to happen her mind finally letting the battle within end.

She lowered herself down upon the bedroll somewhat defeated, she turned her back toward the others so that her face was away from everyone and allowed the feelings to ravish her inside. The tears fell as she allowed the pain to flow unhindered by the wall of anger that she used to keep it at bay. Now she just wanted death to take her. The betrayals seemed everywhere she went and she was growing tired of always being the cold bitch..

 

[MausAss]

Ravin tried to think back what he knew about the King and if he was in the wrong mood it could be just as dangerous to leave as to stay. It seemed that the King was more personally involved in this mission and which meant he probably wouldn’t forget about the ones who refused to do his bidding. Even worse, Alysa was right they were just expandable pawns to the King. Ravin didn’t like that she lumped him in with the captain and the King, but he started to understand her better now. She was so used to being betrayed that she saw it everywhere and this only reaffirmed this. Just as he wondered if she was tired of being angry all the time he heard her cry out in pain.

He watched from the back and he could see her hand moving as it was wiping of her tears. He hadn’t expected her to be scared, but she had endured so much to be alive. Maybe she really was afraid of death. He didn’t like the thought of dying either, but he wasn’t sure if it was it. Still he couldn’t leave her alone like this. She was lying on the bed turned away from everyone, carefully hiding her face and he got the feeling she was crying. He wondered just how much she had to endure during her captivity. Maybe she was more scared of being kept in captivity again, either way he planned to stop both from happen. He didn’t know what he was supposed to say, but he needed to say something.

“I’ll protect you Alysa, from the King, the goblins and against the order,” Ravin said.

He knew she didn't want him to be her white knight, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say. It beat being quiet, but it would probably cause another outburst from her. But as long as it eased her pain he could take it without screaming back. Ravin wished Mara was here by his side too. She was much better at calming people down. Maybe she knew how to ease the pain Alysa was feeling, since all he seemed to do was to make her upset every time he talked to her.

 

[DellaDivina]

Mara was soon asleep. She dreamed of a fat goblin king sending them out to battle invading humans. In the dream she knew it was wrong, but somehow could not help herself from fighting the humans. In her dream Perus killed her again and again, only to find herself back at the start of the battle. Alysa was there as well as Ravin, but their faces were masks of anger. When she tried to talk with them all that they would do was shout at her to fight.

While she slept, she tossed and turned, unable to shake the bad dream.

Perus was across the room, sleeping on his own bedroll, rather than going back to his quarters to rejoin his lover. He was torn with guilt over his part in the proceeding, and questioning his loyalties. It was a long time before he was able to fall asleep and when he did his dreams were sour.

 

[AlysaNewport]

His words came to her as a whisper, soft, gentle, but she didn't know if she was ready for him to see this weak side of her. For many times during her slavery she had cried herself to sleep, wishing her life would end, and here it was now at her doorstep once more. She felt shames's burn streaking into her chest with each breath she took. She closed her eyes as if that would chase these feelings of shame and fear away. She took a deep breath and held it for a few moments as if trying to fill it with all that was stressing her before allowing wit to escape over her trembling lips.*

Her hand wiped over her face ridding them of the streams before slowly before turning over to her back. Her ponytail curled around her neck as her red filled orbs rose to look into Ravin's globes of tenderness. She lightly shook her head as the notion to bark at him to mind his own business, but the words were not there to utter to him, instead only a tear fell from the corner do her eye. " Ravin ." was the only word that crossed her lips.*

Her eyes looked into his as the pain surfaced to those staring eyes of his. She gave up the attempt to hide this pain as she just closed her eyes and allowed the tears to fall. Images, images of long past came striking her wall of inner strength knowing that the string barrier, which was, *was now cracking and on the verge of collapsing.*

 

[MausAss]

Ravin could see in her eyes that she had cried when she turned to face him, but he had not expected the pain in her eyes. The look in her eyes told him that he had no idea what she been through. The expected bark didn’t come; instead he heard his own name being called.

“Ravin.”

He hadn’t expected this when he first saw her stumble inside the tavern earlier this day and he knew she hadn’t either. He still didn’t know why he cared about her so much, but he couldn’t abandon her now. The tears started to fall and he began to understand that he wasn’t the only one who had opened up quickly. He wondered how long Alysa had been on the run, how long it had been since she had opened up to anyone?

Ravin didn’t know and he didn’t care at this moment, he just wanted to help her get through this. His hand wiped her tears and he took her in his arms and started stroking her thick black hair. Her tears kept flowing and he wanted to ease her pain so bad, but he didn’t know how.

“I’m her for you. I won’t let them catch you again. I promise you Alysa, I will keep you safe,” Ravin said trying to sound soothing, still stroking her hair.

In just a couple of months he would have to leave her side and he didn't know how he would be able to keep his promise after that. He would have to leave both her and Mara, but until that moment arrived he would protect them with his life. To prove that goodness existed in this cruel world and to save Alysa from herself.

“It’s going to be alright.”

 

[AlysaNewport]

This was happening way to quick would have been the words of the old Alysa, in fact, this wouldn't be happening at all if she was herself, but regardless she felt complied to stay in the mans arms. she lowered her face into the nape of his neck absorbing his warmth and taking in his scent, her tears dripped down from her chin to the soft crevice of his collar bone.

She didn't care now about showing her weakness anymore, it has been a long time that this inter conflict has been held inside of her, and now it felt good to just let it out without the fear of being judged. She heard his words of promise to protect her but in all counts he was in the same boat as she was except the king won't be raping him. Her body shuddered at the thought of that bastards hands upon her. Her teeth clenched at the thought and if nothing else she would take her own life before letting that slob touch her.

"Ravin, I thank you for your words of comfort, but I will be okay in a few moments. It's just been a long time since I have purged myself clean of all my emotions and this betrayal that we flow face just brought all those emotions to the top." she whispered into his ear. She gave a small chuckle, "I should be back to my normal bitch mode soon." she squeezed his arm,"I believe you should go back over to your bedroll and get some sleep. We all need our rest if we are going to survive this ordeal." she lightly pushed away from him and wiped her tears away. "I'm okay. Thank you, please go get some rest." she forced herself to act if all is well now but in reality, the pain of the past and what is occurring to her now was more intense than she had ever been before for normally her strong will kept those feelings at bay.

She lightly pushed him away again before nodding to him and returning to her own bedroll and once again she turned her back to everyone else and let herself cry herself to sleep..

 

[MausAss]

"I'm okay. Thank you, please go get some rest."

Ravin could still see the pain in her eyes and he wondered if it would ever go away for her. She tried to act normal and he even saw a small smile. Alysa pushed him away and turned her back to him as she went back to bed.

He was happy that she had opened up, but he still didn't understand her. They were similar in many ways and very different in others and he didn't understand his feeling towards her either. One second he wanted to save her, the other he felt his eyes admiriring her body and when she had hugged him, he had wanted to more. He had lusted after her body the same way the king had before. Ravin felt that she needed a friend much more than a lover at this point, but he wasn't sure if would've been able to turn her down if she had offered herself. Hid feeling toward Mara was clearer, with Alysa everything was so mixed up and it would only get more complicated from now on. The three of them were all in the same boat and they would have to rely on each other to survive. Even if they did make it back alive there was no telling how the King would treat them. He hadn't liked the way the King had looked at the girls.

"We might need the bitch tomorrow Alysa. Good night my sweet princess and I hope you will sleep with me the next time?" Ravin said to Alysa as he got up to leave as he didn't want to push things further tonight.

Suddenly he stopped his steps as he realized just what he had said. He had just asked her to sleep with him, he had been thinking about the bedroll or had his mind been playing with him. It would be even worse to correct himself now and he decided to keep on walking. Ravin couldn't help throwing another glance at Alysa over his back while walking back to his bedroll. He knew he lusted after her body now and somehow it felt like he had just betrayed Mara. He still had no idea what Mara felt for him and they hadn't even kissed. If only things were less complicated Ravin thought as he lied down on the bedroll next to Mara. Ravin still needed some time to sort his thoughts before he would be able to sleep and took some time studying Mara’s face while she was sleeping. He couldn't decide who was more beautiful Mara or Alysa, they acted just as different from each other as they looked.

“Good night Mara, my dearest friend,” Ravin whispered to the sleeping Mara next to him before closing his eyes and welcoming the sleep.

 

[DellaDivina]

Mara slept on for about four hours, before she was rudely awoken by the sounds of screaming and swords and axes clashing. Whipping to her feet, she strung her bow and drew it in almost one motion. She quickly saw that there were a group of ten or so goblins streaming from the battered open wooden door. Five of the king's guards were already fighting a pitch battle and six or so more were waking from their sleep and coming to their feet, weapons in hands.

She took careful aim, not wishing to miss and hit an alley, before drilling an arrow through the ocular cavity of one of the goblins. She quickly drew another arrow, but realized that the fighting was growing to convoluted to get a shot off safely. Dropping her bow, she drew the twin tomahawks from the small of her back, and ran forward to confront the goblins.

She ducked the blow of a crude mallet, and barely backed up from it's back swing, before sinking one tomahawk into the bicep of the mallet's owner. Blood spurted out of the wound, but the goblin kept coming, cursing at her like a sailor.

 

[MausAss]

Ravin recognized the sounds of fighting immediately as he heard. It wasn’t the way he had wanted to wake, but he quickly reached for his sword. There was no time to put on his ring mail on, but he did have time to put on his shield. Mara had already woken up and was taking aim at one of the goblins. There was enough sounds and scream to wake everyone up and there weren’t enough goblins to drive them back, but there was a definitive risk of someone getting killed.

He looked over where Alysa were sleeping, but it was too dark for him to see if she was alright. Still he didn’t have time to worry about either her or Mara as he threw himself into the fight. His swing hit one of the goblins in the back rendering him lifeless. He saw Martin the solider he had been talking to having a hard time defending himself being attacked by two goblins at the same time. He was already wounded when Ravin reached the first goblin that was attacking him. Ravin wasn’t able to take this one by surprise as he turned to face him. Ravin was sure he could beat the goblin easy, but the real danger was being attacked from someone he didn’t see. He scanned the surrounding to see how many goblins were close by, before circling so no one would be able to surprise him from the back.

In a battle attacking heads on to save the wounded often lead to more death than looking after your own safety first. With a quick couple of swing with his sword he managed to hit the goblin deep in the chest, but as he pulled out his sword from the goblin’s chest he could see Martin getting mortally wounded by the other goblin. The first battle was always most dangerous and Martin had not been ready.

 

[AlysaNewport]

The sound of battle is never forgotten once it occurs, a curse that all carry with them, and Alxsa was not exempt of this fact as the first sound of a heavy hammer colliding with a cheap made iron shield. The shouting of orders from the captain to bottle them in the doorway was not hindered too as the Gobins pushed inward breaking the militant line.

Alysa's eyes found her companions already stepping up to fill the holes but filling the line was no longer a wise decision, they had to get to the one controling the Goblin tactics. Her eyes looked for the one that was usually issuing these commands, the battle hardened Hobgoblin. Her eyes locked upon him in the back shouting and pointing at locations he wanted his spearman to advance upon.

Alysa's eyes looked for away to get to him but he was well protected by his shieldmen that only a.... An Archer was the only chance!.. Her gaze fell upon the captain that was now battling two heavy goblin mace men. "Damn!" she hissed pulling her sword there was only one thing to do! Her gaze fell on Mara and realized she was free except for that advancing Goblin, without hesitance she leaped in front of the attacker yelling at Mara!

"Take out the commanding Hobgoblin Mara!" The hammer catching Alysa's left shoulder with a painful thud that spun Alysa counterclockwise into the Goblin's backswing, she screamed as the hammer cought her center chest and sent her to floor gasping for air. Her eyes focused upon the approaching goblin, with her sword still clenched in her hand, she took several deep gulps of air before using what strength she could, she brought her blade to bear upon the goblin. She was relieved as the over enthused goblin embedded himself upon her blade.

She pulled her sword free from the slain goblin before pushing herself up to prepare for the next breach if Mara was unsuccessful in taking out the hobgoblin commander.

 

[DellaDivina]

Mara barely had time to register what was going on, when she saw Alysa thrown backward from the battle, and scream at her to take out the leader. Cursing at herself for dropping her bow, she whipped her head around taking in the remaining goblins. They were mostly dressed in leather armor, but one larger one, near the back, had on chain mail and an open faced helmet. Her bow was over in the corner of the room, so she would have to dash back and get it, if she were going to take out the leader.

She did not have any goblins on her, for the moment, but they were regrouping. Mara quickly whipped her arm back, with one of the tomahawks, and whipped it end over end. It landed with a dull thud, unheard over the din of battle, directly in the lower jaw of the leader, cutting into his bone. Not wanting to disarm herself before she had her bow, she dashed back across the cavern and retrieved her downed weapon. Coming up out of her crouch, she found a goblin almost on her. She ducked his blow and brought her knee up into his stomach sharply. When he was on the ground, she dropped to her knees and smashed his head into the floor again and again. When she was sure he was dead, she regained her weapons and ran back toward the fight.

Fitting an arrow to her bow, she looked up to find the hobgoblin still on his feet and fighting, despite the deep bleeding wound in his jaw. She took careful aim and loosed an arrow, which was blocked at the last minute by the helmet of one of the king's guards. Trying again, she sent an arrow straight into his eye socket. He died screaming, as the arrow penetrated into his skull.

 

[MausAss]

Ravin managed to kill the goblin before he could hit Martin again, but it didn't make any difference. He heard Alysa's scream as he reached out to close Martin's eyes. He would need to be buried later, but now was not the time to grieve their fallen comrade. He saw Mara dashing towards her bow and he ran in to cover her path. She would need some time to fire her bow and he intended to give it to her.

He joined the side of one of the soldiers as they fought against the goblins. Ravin was fighting more defensively now, as long as he gave Mara and the rest of the soldiers enough time they could easily turn the battle in their favor, unless there was an entire army of goblins. Their position was well defended. Ravin managed to wound another goblin, before he saw how the hobgoblin in the back got killed by one of Mara’s arrows. He could see how the confusion and fear was spreading in the lines of the goblins. This could be their chance to push them back before they could regroup.

“Let’s push these fuckers back. This is our land!” Ravin screamed in an attempt to rally the troops, before charging in head first.

He was no longer trying to preserve any energy and each swing he made was with his full force and after killing another goblin they were starting to get pushed back. It wouldn’t take much more for them to start breaking rank and cutting down a fleeing enemy was a lot easier than fighting them heads on.

 

[AlysaNewport]

Alysa's head dropped down upon seeing the excellent shot that Mara delivered to the commanding hobgoblin killing him instantly. She swallowed hard forcing the pain back down to a controllable level. She heard the voice of Ravin gearing up to push the Goblins back, his small chant rallying the militia to push forward brought a smile to her face, but this made her wonder where the Captain was, for he should be doing this rallying, as her eyes surveyed the area she noticed the Capt sliding around the right flank of the line with a few men, a wise tactical move on his part.

Alysa took a look back over the line wanting to find a position to fit in but decided to stay back for they had it under control. She would wait till the goblins broke then push inside with the rest of the men. She looked around and decided to help the wounded. She came up to the young boy that Ravin was talking to eariler. He was barely old enough to hold the sword let alone fight on a forward position. She cover the boy with his blanket and said her best passing for him.

She continued down the line minding what she could but began to realize that most of the men here was either old or very young. She looked over Mara with a look of not understanding this.

 

[MausAss]

Another arrow flew over his shoulder killing another goblin, whill Caelen managed to cut down a goblin all while the Captain made a flanking maneuver and when Ravin’s sword cut through the armor of a third goblin they started to panic.

“For Yelsin,” Ravin screamed as the goblins started retreat and within seconds they had lost their organization completely and were easy prey for the soldiers.

The captains flanking maneuver and the tight space they were fighting in turned it into a slaughter, the few goblins that managed to run away were shot down by arrows and in the end there was twelve dead goblin and one dead hobgoblin on the field and the body of the commanding hobgoblin. The only losses on their side was Martin the young soldier he had talked to earlier and one of the older soldiers had broken a bone, but other than that there wasn’t anyone seriously injured.

“Make sure he gets a proper burial and start rebuilding the god damn barricade, they are the only reason most of you are alive. Next time ring the fucking bell when you spot them, this is no god damn game anymore. We need to be prepared if they attack again, we are fighting for Yelsin and we do not let anyone enter the castle without our permission,” the captain screamed at his troops before heading over where Ravin and the other stood.

“If it hadn’t been for you four there would’ve been a lot more dead bodies on our side. They are either too green or too old, but they are the defense we got. Come with me and I’ll tell you what I know, it’s the least I can do after this whole ordeal,” the captain said and lead them towards the only building at the sight.

There was only a bed and a table and a couple of chairs inside. The table was covered by a map of the catacombs and as Mara closed the door behind them he turned towards them.

“I barely know anything more than you do, but I know what the catacombs looks like. We’ve been poster here for the last month ordered to defend the castle, but not attack. I don’t know why we aren’t allowed to venture into the catacombs or why the king hired you. We’ve seen goblins before, but this was the first time they attacked and I think it might be connected to why the King hired you. I suspect the attacks will only get worse from now on, but I have no idea of what’s behind them, but the King seems to know why… I have ventured pretty deep down the catacombs and I have never seen any goblins until this year. It has always been risky to go to deep, but not because of goblins...

I am certain that the goblins have set camp on the level below this on, but it’s very difficult to estimate their numbers without a scout. I don’t know what we are supposed to accomplish by venturing down into the catacombs, but the King told me you would know what your mission is when you see it. He didn’t seem to think you would succeed, but he seemed desperate. I think this mission could be more important to the kingdom than we suspect which is why I plan to join you. I know the catacombs and we are going to have to rely more on stealth than brute force for this mission,” the Captain told them; before he went on to explain the basic layout of the catacomb and where they were on the map and where they needed to go.

“If you have any questions I recommend that you ask them now, before we go down into the depth. I want us to leave as quickly as possible.”

 

[AlysaNewport]

Alysa continued her assessment and treatment of small battle wounds while the battle turned inward into the goblin ranks, her gaze shifted upward now and then watching the progress for it only took a split second mistake or rally to uproot an offensive, which happened to the goblins when their leader was slain.

She watched Mara fight with skill that impressed her, but at the same time there was a flaw to her fighting style, that in time, someone watching long enough could see... Her hesitancy. The way she was dropping the goblins so fast none had time to see this, but Alysa did have the time, and did see the weakness, something she would use to her advantage if things turned against her.

Ravin, her eyes focused upon his twisting, slashing body with awe, he was exceptional... Alysa pulled her eyes away while her mind questioned her thoughts. Was she falling for this showing the signs of a true knight, which goes against all that she has seen before this, most silver spoon knights tripped over their own feet if moving faster than a normal walking pace, but Ravin was not so clumsy, he held his grace, his wit about him and was able to rally the men to a higher since of prowess. Her gaze drifted up to him and before she realized it she was smiling as he finished up the straggling groups of goblins.

"Now he grows some balls." Alysa whispered, shaking her head at his glory be our stance. If it was not for Mara's excellent skill and shot, their existence would still be under question for the aging men now dropping down exhausted would have fallen in a longer, aggressive assault. She peeled her eyes away from him with another mocking head shaking. She sighed when he informed them that it was now time to have that talk of what is really going on.

She followed the small band that she was associated with, her frown came fast upon the poor Condiction of the guard shack. No wonder this kingdom is in shambles, they are not creating a desire for the men, a passion to fight for their people, their pride when they are quartered up in a pig house. She shook her head once more while looking over to Ravin. She drew her attention to the captain as he began to tell them what he knew.

The only thing Alysa came up with to keep her here was the courage of the aging men and Ravin. If it wasn't for them she would have packed up and allowed the king to die at the hands of Goblin slavers. She had no questions to ask so only leaned up against the wall and waited for the others to complete this gathering.

 

[MausAss]

Ravin listened to what the captain had to say, while he thought about what he knew about the catacombs. There had always been stories about what was hidden under the castle, but it was difficult to distinguish between legends, truths and made up stories. The one thing most of them had in common was that an ancient evil resided deep within the mountain and that the castle was built just as much to defend it from the deep as it was to protect against an attack from the outside. What evil was? There were as many different descriptions on what dwelled deep inside the mountain as there were stories. None of what he knew helped them and hoped that killing their leader would be enough to put this to an end to it or whatever the King wanted them to do.

Ravin felt relieved to hear that the captain would join them; it would make the exploration of the catacombs much easier as well as finding their way back. He wasn’t very well versed in stealth not the way Alysa or even Mara was and they probably knew even less about the catacombs than he did. Mara seemed troubled by something and when he looked at Alysa she was looking at the captain. He admired her strength and she was probably the most suited of them all for this mission. He still didn’t get why he was so fascinated with her, why he lusted so much after her. He loved Mara, but he wasn’t sure if it was anything more than platonic only if they kissed would he find out for certain.

“The tales about the catacombs, are there any truths to them?” Ravin asked, he needed to know if there was any truth to the stories he had heard as a child.

“I… Most of them are exaggeration, I don’t think there is a devil that could destroy the world if he ever got free, but there is something. You start feeling it in your skin if you get deep enough and it’s not just the cold you’re feeling. We won’t go that deep though, what we are looking for won’t be deeper than the third level and call me Persus from now on,” Persus did his best to answer Ravin’s question.

Persus had always turned back when he went to deep and got that weird feeling in his skin, but it was a long time ago he had went that deep. The goblins were camping on the level below them he was sure of it and whatever they were looking for should be there or at least at the level below.

“I need to sort some things out with the men before the leave,” Persus said.

Ravin had started to like the man and he felt like the kingdom needed more people like him and not the weak ones at the court who only said what they thought the King wanted to hear. The goblins had suffered a blow and if it was true that they got stronger over time then they didn’t have much choice.

“We should probably leave as soon as possible and we might still catch them with surprise. Unless they got a whole army down there we just dealt them a big blow and we must strike while the iron is hot. Talk to your men Persus, but be quick about it,” Ravin said and saw how Persus gave him a nod.

Ravin looked at the small group and he wondered why it seemed like they were looking at him for answers. Maybe they could sense some of his conviction that mission was more important than the King had let them know. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the future of the kingdom relied on them, even though he realized just how ridiculous the whole thought was. He looked over at Alysa who was leaning against the wall; a part of him wondered why she hadn’t left already. Still he was glad she had decided to stay as her skills could very well end up saving their lives.

“Alysa,” he said to catch her attention and as she turned her eyes to look into his he could see the fire in them and he hoped she would be able to control it.

“We are going to rely a lot on you now. We need someone who can scout ahead and help us find a path around the goblins and as a knight of the first order you are better trained than anyone for the job and one more thing. I trust you Alysa, I trust you to guide us to safety,” Ravin said, looking into the eyes of Alysa to reaffirm his words to her.

She knew just as well as everybody else in the room that she was the obvious choice for the role, whether he trusted her or not. Which was exactly it had been so important for him to say that he trusted her. Ravin wanted her to know that he wasn’t just choosing her because of her skills, but also because he trusted her. He still didn’t understand why, but he wasn’t about to question his feelings now.

 

[AlysaNewport]

Blue eyes scanned over the earthy ground of this small guard shack while the stories of the catacombs slithered out into the earth scented air. She, being not of this Kingdom, knew not of these stories but in her land hey too had the tales of powerful creatures that wished to end the world and as of yet she has not seen these creatures of the night. Her mind fell back in time and realize that most of her time on this world she has been enslaved. She did not tune the stories out but only took them to be fables that the silver spoon knights spread about the land to idolize them to their people.

She smiled, chucked lightly upon the heroine words of the Captain about feeling the freezing sensation of sometime watching him, more than likely his own shadow or some hobgoblin captain stalking him. Either way the captains fearful fret with the king and not taking the stand for his men or the lives of this small group shattered all respect she had for him when they first met. Now his gallant stance was a joke to her. It was like a grace fallen Knight trying to get his honor back by handing flowers out to the people.

She pushed herself from the wall and was about to walk out of the shack when the voice of the only one she respected as a knight spoke out to her. Her eyes turned toward him then to his eyes. She felt the statement in his eyes and registered that his voice was saying. She could not understand how he could tell when the burning of anger was within her but he was always right or it could be because she was always angered, but he knew when she was hurting as well. She didn't want to admit that there was something growing between them.

She rolled her tongue around her mouth when he mentioned the Order, she wondered if he was doing this to anger or or she her this was the new beginning of the order under her control. She turned completely toward him as he continued to layer her for this task. She smiled as she seen the political side of the Knight come to play.

The proverbial dagger came when he used the word trust! He knew of her hatred for betrayal, her anger was driven by this betrayal and he knew speaking this for all to hear would put a tab on her anger, for she could not let that anger be the cause of these people's deaths. She gritted her teeth and allowed her eyes to tell him she knew what he just did and coercion didn't settle with her. She bit her lip and walked toward him. Her gaze never leaving his for a single moment til she came to a stop only inches from him. She stood erect and proud before him. Her eyes searching his for nothing but the pleasure to gaze into them. "As you all wish, however if I am trusted to guide you to saftey, I take charge of this detail and what I say goes!" she spun to the Captain before he gets out.."Understood!"

 

[MausAss]

Ravin wasn’t sure what Alysa was feeling when she walked up to him. He never knew with her, she was always hiding her true feelings behind a wall of anger, unless she was angry all the time. She stared into his eyes as she walked up to him and Ravin couldn’t look away. There was something there and he felt the beat of his heart speed up as she got closer. Alysa looked almost majestic when she looked into his eyes mere inches from him. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but he didn’t sense any anger or defiance in her eyes this time. He could probably spend an eternity looking into them without ever fully understanding what they are hiding. Suddenly he saw that fire in her eyes again just before she opened her mouth.

"As you all wish, however if I am trusted to guide you to safety, I take charge of this detail and what I say goes!"

Her voice rang clear and he felt surer than ever that she had all qualities of a great leader. Ravin knew how to fight and he only knew a little about sneaking and the use of deception. Mara knew more than he did, but Alysa was an expert. There would be no time to argue and what she said needed to be done without being questioned. He could see the captain hesitating and Alysa must have seen it too as she turned to him and asked him if he understood. The captain couldn’t hold her gaze and turned his eyes towards Ravin filled with questions.

“Do you know how to use stealth to sneak past an army captain?” Ravin asked.

“No, but… she is…” Persus started saying before being cut off by Ravin.

Ravin didn’t know if it was because Alysa was a women, a knight of the first order or that he simply expected Ravin to be leader because of his noble birth. It didn’t matter why, what mattered was that he understood that Alysa was their best chance of making it out alive.

“I don’t know either captain, but I do know that fighting them heads on would be suicide. Alysa is our best chance to make it out alive and if she tells you to jump don’t ask why, just do it. We can’t afford any hesitation. Do you understand? You could cost us our lives if you don’t follow her orders. For this mission think of her as your king, you will assist her in any way she deems necessary,” Ravin said knowing that they couldn’t afford any mistakes.

“You are right and I will do as you say,” Persus said, he didn’t seem too pleased, but he didn’t protest either. “Unless you want to say something more, I will talk to my men now and make sure they know what to do while we’re away,” the captain said looking at both Ravin and Alysa before leaving the room.
Ravin felt how Mara pulled his arm and it was clear she wanted to say something and he followed her into one of the corners.

“What made you change your mind about her Ravin? Is there something between you two?” Mara asked looking at him with her big brown eyes.

He had always felt like Mara knew what he was thinking, but there was a bit of uncertainty about them like she didn’t understand him this time. Not that he could blame her, he was quick to trust but not like this. This was more than giving her just a chance and he understood why Mara wanted an explanation. Why he didn’t ask her to guide them? Why he was willing to risk it by trusting her when he could’ve played it safe by asking her. The truth was he hadn’t thought it through, he had asked on instincts and his instincts had told him to trust Alysa.

“She’s the most skilled and…” Ravin started saying and he would’ve stopped there if Mara hadn’t looked at him in way that demanded an answer to the second question too.

Ravin looked over at Alysa and wondered what he felt. There was something there, but she was so wrong for him in so many ways. Yet his eyes stayed on her for a bit too long, before he remembered Mara’s question.

“I…” Ravin started saying, but he had no idea how he would finish.

Ravin didn’t even know his own feelings for and he had no idea what she felt. He had seen men better than him being tricked by their hearts and he knew it was foolish to trust her. She was a knight of the first order and… yet he trusted her. He knew he wouldn’t be able to explain it to Mara, he couldn’t even explain it to himself. Instead he did the cowardly thing and ignored her question. Ravin knew that there was a chance that the silence was more telling than any words he could’ve said and he looked away from her and turned his attention to Alysa once more as he thought about his feelings. He couldn’t deny that there was something there anymore, but he also knew how much she hated betrayal and he was technically engaged. It wasn’t official and there was still a chance that Mirana would change her mind. She wasn’t even sixteen yet and there was always the chance that she would fall in love with someone else before their engagement became official. There really wasn’t any need to tell Alysa about it and even if there was it could wait until after the mission, if they all died the point would be moot anyway.

“I trust you Ravin and I will do as she says…” Mara said as she patted his arm in support.

She didn’t tell him he was acting foolish or that he trusted his heart too much or anything else he knew she was thinking. He already knew all that and he didn’t want to hear it from her too. It wasn’t just his own life he was risking it was Mara’s too. She understood all that and still decided to trust him. He knew she wasn’t afraid of death in the same way he was and maybe it was why she was willing to trust him or maybe she thought that Alysa was their best chance too.