Gelbron slowly sat up and stretched. Looking across the long dead embers from the previous nights fire he silently watched Falandra’s smooth back. Her silver hair fell and seemed to pool around her. Some fell over her shoulder and out of his sight. He imagined that some probably fell over her face. He could clearly picture her midnight blue eyes peering intelligently through the silver strands that obscured the view.

            A rustle in the bushes brought Gelbron back to the present, after sitting quietly for what seemed like ages of silence Gelbron slowly shook his head. Soon his gaze returned to Falandra. During the silence she had rolled over and now lay facing him. The fire burned in her deep eyes. Her silver hair shone softly in the morning’s light.

            Gelbron felt tongue tided, as he had upon the first time he’d laid eyes on her. With the light shining behind her, she held the flame in her eyes. To him she looked as an angel might. Slowly she stood and walked towards him.

*~*~*

            The moonlight glistened off the snow-tipped mountains; he was freezing and loving it. He watched in wonder as the cold air surrounding him allowed him to see his breath. To him it seemed as a strange magic.

            “The dwarves have agreed to shelter us for the night,” Malkhor’s voice interrupted his thoughts, “unless you’d rather freeze, watching your breath in the wind!”

            “I’ll come soon, but is it really the wind that causes this? It never does so at home.”

            “It’s the wonder and magic of colder places. See not a leaf of green? This very cold you wonder at kills any green that dare try and surface!” His brother’s voice was patient but Gelbron heard the laughter in it.

            “I suppose that once we’re home you’ll tell everyone and embarrass me,” Gelbron said with a sigh, as he stepped towards the entranceway where his brother and a dwarf stood waiting.

            “Dat’s da right choice lad, dis way the lady won’t be gettin’ you!” The dwarf said with a chuckle.

            “What lady?” Gelbron’s voice was thick with curiosity.

            “Why dat one dere…said she not be from these here parts but she stays dere anyways. I not be trusting her kind were I you…she ave elf blood no doubt, weak and trouble.”

            Gelbron’s gaze followed to the lone tree that stood proudly on the mountainside, just beyond it was a cave. A young woman stood at the entrance her eyes cast upward as though searching the sky for the answers that she herself could not find. Her long silver hair blew wildly in the strong wind; the moon’s light seemed to hold close to her. At first he was certain that it must have been a trick of the light, to make her skin appear so smooth and cold. Slowly and deliberately she turned her head to face him, as though to say, “I am not afraid,” unfortunately the shadow cast upon her face combined with the dim light of the moon he was unable to make out more of her features.

            “This way boy, ye no wanna be stuck out wit her fer a night,” the dwarf’s tone was dead serious but Gelbron couldn’t help but question his words.

            “The dwarf said only one of his kin has exchanged words with her, if you’ll come out of the cold I’ll arrange it so that you can speak with him if he’s willing.” Malkhor reassured as he began to steer Gelbron into the cave.

            Gelbron felt his heart sink as he heard the stone door shut and the dwarf proclaim it was to be “a wicked one tanight!”

*~*~*

            “Morning Hun,” Gelbron said softly. But as he looked at the Falandra he knew now he wondered what she would have done had he ran over to speak with her. I wouldn’t have had anything to say, he chided himself.

            He allowed his eyes to trail her body as he had back then, of course that had been the first time he had seen her and he wouldn’t lay eyes on her for a year and a half.

            Her eyes shone with an inner spirit as she made eye contact with him taking him out of his memories and slamming him into the present, “We should keep moving,” her soft melodic voice sounded cold and yet sweet with nature’s morning songs.

            Nodding his head in agreement, Gelbron started rolling his furs. His mind was in a state of confusion. What’s happening to her, he thought, she’s never acted this way before. Falandra stood on the other side of camp, her back facing him. Gelbron wasn’t sure if bringing up the topic of the previous night would be wise and decided to stay quiet.

            “Gelbron…Love…please tell me what’s bothering you.” Falandra’s soft voice called. She had turned to face him, and had even stepped closer to his side.

            “Falandra, I-I…I don’t know,” Gelbron stuttered, not sure if it would be wise to lay bare his worries.

            Falandra moved closer to his side until she felt his shoulder brush against her bare thigh. It sent a wave of welcoming warmth through her body. Slowly she lowered herself so that she could look at Gelbron’s face.

            A part of her wished to still be angry and upset with Gelbron but another part had already forgiven him for the previous night’s blunder. Alas she found she had a hard time remembering what it was that had instilled the anger in her heart. Tentatively she reached out and pulled Gelbron’s head closer before gently kissing him on the cheek. Quickly she moved to finish with her bedding furs before quietly telling him she was going for a short walk.

            Gelbron sat silently on his rolled furs as he watched Falandra disappear behind the foliage. He wished to know what was happening with her, why the sudden changes, and what was the dark secret that lay in her past.

*~*~*~*

            Balrik paced the length of his cell. The rage burned his skin and boiled his blood. He examined the hard, unfeeling walls before setting his sights on the stone door. A single pounded hole only wide enough for the meal trays, and but three dwarf fingers high was the only source of light. Standing before the door he looked through the window that was made for dwarven height. A chuckle from the only other inhabitant only further infuriated him.

            “You’ll not be getting outta here!” The toothless withered gnome said playfully.

            “It aighn’t right for them to be cagin’ a dwarf!” Balrik spun around and plunked himself down on the stone bench. He couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened had he resisted the yearning of a cavern once more. But it had been so long since he was home.

            Craning his neck to look at the comfort of the ceiling. A piece of his heart tugged for the loss of the open sky, but this, this was where a dwarf belonged. That piece was small however, and it was the same piece that had granted him the ability to have the friends he’d had.

Reluctantly he noted that the vigor and adrenaline that had offered support to his weary muscles was seeping out. Despite the rage that still boiled his blood, he was exhausted. Fighting the erg to sleep, he sat straight, his back leaning involuntarily on the wall. Finally through closing eyes he watched the door until sleep claimed his aching body and heart.

*~*~*

            “Elf girl, I bringed you some food!” Balrik’s voice called out over the small clearing. Under the lone tree that stood mid-way between the tunnel’s entrance and the cave he’d offered her to make home in, stood the young woman her back to him.

            Softly she responded turning to face him, “Elf girl?” her words were difficult for him to hear due to the winter wind that now tortured the mountainsides.

            He cautiously moved a few steps closer and places the tray on the ground between them. He’d heard elves to be nothing but trouble. When she made no move toward it he took a step back, “Sooner you take it warmer it’ll be.”

            “I am an elf girl to you?” The young woman asked, with uncertainty.

            “Well you’re an elf aighn’t ya?” The young woman seemed to stare through him as she thought.

            “You can call me Falandra…it is my name, not a race.” She replied finally moving to the stew and ale he’d brought her.

            Balrik watched in silence thinking of her words and with genuine surprise as the elf girl, as he’d labeled her, downed the dwarven ale. Last he’d heard Elves weren’t able to handle the strong dwarf liquor.

            “El-Falandra, why is it yer here an’ not with yer people?” Balrik asked gruffly as she handed him the tray.

            The change in her demeanor was evident as she slowly looked back to the moon. The others that caught sight of her only did so at night. Not to mention she was always either under the lone naked tree, or standing by the entranceway to her new makeshift home…but her eyes always watched the stars, and more importantly the moon.

            “I cannot be with my people at the present time. But eventually it will come time to return home…then I’ll be with my people, not until then.” With that she slowly began her way back to the cave’s entrance. The sadness that was captured in her voice and eyes tugged on the stubborn dwarf’s heart but he was determined to push it aside. Taking firm hold of the tray he made his way back to the tunnel’s doorway and was soon off to his own home, within the dwarven mines.

*~*~*

            Balrik woke with a start. He half expected to see Falandra, accompanied by the profound sadness that had haunted her every step in those days. His eyes darted around the small room he was in…the old toothless gnome was snoring loudly over on the other end of it.

            He wondered in silence about his recent dreams. They were more like someone had hit replay and without a care threw him back to relive those days. The days where his nights were spent visiting the glories of the dwarven cities, with all the metals and gems to raise a mountainside. Still he wondered about these memories that came to him in his sleep. Those days were years ago, and he had thought rested silently in his past.

            Falandra hadn’t been too much trouble then, and with time had seemed to grow on him, but why the dreams? Balrik shook his head viciously; he needed to focus on the task at hand. He glared at the gnome who lay curled in a tight ball still snoring.

Pushing himself up he grumbled to himself over his present situation before trudging over to the gnome. Trouble seemed to gleam in his green eyes, as a wicked grin twisted his features. Looking down at the gnome, it didn’t seem that this sniveling thing could have caused him so much grief. Suddenly Balrik began jumping up and down vigorously, “Get up ye lazy olf!” He screamed.

Balrik had to swollow hard against the fit of laughter that threatened to burst forth as the old gnome screeched while scurrying to the farthest corner away from him. Balrik was quick to loose his humor as he looked at the gnome (as though for the first time) and almost felt pity for it. The gnome’s white hair was thinning, and was starting to leave the top of its head. The frightened eyes had sunk deep in its sockets and its skin hung limply off of its bones. The hollowed cheeks were further evidence of the gnome’s mistreatment while in they’re captors care. Huddled in the corner the gnome was shaking viciously, yet was unwilling to leave its new safety corner.

*~*~*~*

The swirling mists to the dark stone slowed as they revealed a tower, its heavy wooden doors were closed, keeping out any intruders. Runes were delicately carved into the white marble surrounding them, lending them strength and preventing them from warping or rotting despite their age. The black marble of the remainder of the tower was also covered with runes, but they were designed to go unnoticed to the untrained eye, and were only found if you were looking for them, and knew what to look for.  Lenzak didn’t under it. Once more he cleared his mind, Zorandia…show me Zorandia! He was frustrated but determined not to let it show. Once more the mists of the Dark Stone swirled, and once more they displayed the doors to his tower. The blood red walkway leading up to it had dead grass on the left, and appeared as though something acidic or extremely potent had dripped on to it. It followed the path until it disappeared at the doorway.

Anger flashed through him, never before had the Dark Stone failed him. But the entranceway was definitely not the hudem. Finally Lenzak pushed himself up, and turned to the doorway of his bedchambers. There, Olvanya stood waiting silently.

“What is it you want?” Lenzak asked sharply, annoyed that she’d let herself into his private chambers.

“Zorandia, she’s gone! She was on her way and now she’s gone. She won’t be coming back well she? You said she’d proven herself!” there was a dead seriousness in Olvanya’s voice, one that held an underlying threat.

“She had, and she was to be here. Now out of my way I have to go find her. Get back to the dungeons. I’m sure that there is someone there who has yet to talk.” Lenzak’s voice was firm, as though that of a father speaking to a daughter. He’d let the hudem’s have more freedom once he’d thought his father dead, but he still made it clear that he was their master. The only thing that Rajador hadn’t taken from him was his control over the demons and hudems but Lenzak couldn’t help but wonder when he would. As Lenzak watched the hudem start back to the dungeon he shook his head gently, it was only a matter of time and Rajador would, then he Lenzak would be a prisoner in his own home.

Forcing himself to start moving Lenzak walked slowly down towards the entranceway. His tower was the size of a small castle, but he found that by using his kai and the magic of the marble he could make it appear as a large tower instead. He slowed as he came upon the chambers his father had claimed. Unsure if it was wise to pass them. He forced a small laugh; it’s still my home right? So why can’t I? The laugh died as it reached his lips. Resolutely he looked to the door. He thought of all the people he’d grown to envy and hate. Joland’s young Sarria would never have to fear her father. They were a happy family, and lead normal lives. His face darkened, as the anger rose. With the anger he also found embaressment that he’d never had the power to fully stand up to his father. Quickly he rushed past the doorway. Grateful once reaching the other side that his father had not seemed to notice his presence.

As he continued on his way to the door he wondered about Kippin, he hadn’t seen the gnome since his father had came to visit. As soon as he reached his destination his heart sank.

There before him lay the unconscious bodies of both Kippin and Zorandia. As he leaned closer to inspect them he felt sadness and doubt pull at him, with them came anger. Searching them with his kai, he immediately recognized the acting kai attached to the magic placed there. It was Rajador’s kai, his father’s signature, all over the two people.

Lenzak closed his eyes and sent his kai out to Olvanya, mentally instructing her to come and help him take the soulless bodies to his private chambers. Once his instruction was out he allowed himself to inspect the bodies closer. Within moments Olvanya arrived. Lenzak picked Zorandia’s lean body off of the floor with great care, while Olvanya grabbed the gnome Kippin’s body and began following Lenzak back to his chambers.

After extensive testing and checking of Kippin’s body, Lenzak was overcome with grief. The little gnome that for so long had been his only company other then the hudems and demons, was dead. His soul had been ripped viciously from his body, and there was no way to return it. As hurt poured into Lenzak’s heart he reached out with one hand to close the little gnomes empty, lifeless eyes. As his hand touched the gnome he heard a chuckle.

“Poor pathetic Lenzak. Are you going to cry over the loss of a stupid gnome? Gnomes are lowly creatures, it probably didn’t even know to call you master.” Rajador’s voice rang from the doorway.

Lenzak growled, “he was a loyal friend, and Kippin did not need to call me master!” the volume of his voice rose with each word.

Rajador’s thin face twisted as anger contorted his features; deliberately he strode slowly towards his son.

Lenzak found that as he looked into Rajador’s callous eyes, where rage flared wildly, he felt small. He knew that his punishment would be sever for loosing his temper but as his eyes looked to Zorandia and Kippin’s bodies he no longer cared how sever any punishment would be.

“You are the low life, son of a bitch, family murdering asshole! Just get the fuck out of MY home, and keep away from Daltok!” Lenzak’s voice displayed his rage, but once the words were out of his mouth, he instantly regretted saying them.

The flame in Rajador’s eyes flared, as he silently strode towards his son. He would teach his son his place. This night Lenzak would learn respect. This night he would unleash Melentia’s dark fury on his son. This night, Lenzak would pray for death.

Rajador stopped mere inches from his son’s terrified face, “Are you sure there’s nothing else you’d like to say?” With that he placed his index and middle fingers on Lenzak’s temples. Allowing his kai to flow freely he began to weave his son’s torturous punishment. The very punishment that was likely to be Lenzak’s last.

Lenzak looked into his father’s eyes knowing that there he would find no mercy or regret. There he only found the same dark commitment swirling in the depths. There he found the same look that he knew to be his mothers last. As the realization hit him along with the pain, he screamed.

*~*~*~*

Author’s Note: I’d like to apologize for the long wait for this chapter. I hope that it was worth it! I ran into some writer’s block in the middle of it, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out! Please let me know what you think! Thanks right, you know the drill on how to review so all I’m asking is for you to follow those steps…remember constructive criticism is always welcome, and if anyone has any requests or ideas feel free to let me know and I’ll take them under careful consideration! I’d also like to thank everyone who’s reviewed! You’ve all been awesome! Please keep them reviews coming! Well if you haven’t reviewed, what are you waiting for?!