Ariane turned over to look at Mikal's shirtless form, he slept on his stomach with one arm beside him and under his head. They had decided to spend the night in the same room somehow feeling safe from their nightmares. She didn't understand why she had allowed him to stay, but was even more confused that she had told him he could find a way into her heart. After what he had done, she felt incongruously pulled to him. Now in the light of the morn, she no longer felt what had been so strong.

Placing her hand on his back, he stirred and turned to face her. He smiled then closed his eyes, without realizing he couldn't see her, she smiled back.

"Good morning." He muttered.

"Good morning." Ariane said, looking over the features of his face.

"That was a strange evening, was it not?" His eyes opened and looked upon her.

She nodded, "What I said."

"I know, its alright, Ariane. We have two separate roads, and we are different people. Whatever happened to us yesterday will remain between us for the rest of our lives."

She smiled relieved.

"Theron would pay assassins to find me, if he found out about this. I do not want to hurt him again."

"Hurt Theron?"

He nodded, "Yes, the man is so helplessly in love with you. I knew from the first moment I saw the two of you together."

"Theron? No." She laughed.

Lifting his head from his pillow he looked into her eyes, "You didn't know?"

The humor left her face, "You aren't serious, are you?"

"Very much so, milady. I thought you knew from the kiss."

"The kiss?"

Mikal chuckled, "When he asked to be your guardian again."

"I thought he was just excited that I let him back in."

He stopped to think, "Yes, I suppose you did. No, milady, Theron is not the type of man to kiss a woman out of excitement." He sighed, "Do you know he never even shared his bed with his betrothed, and the only time they kissed was when she pecked his cheek?"

"No, I did not."

He nodded, "They were only to be wed cause his Uncle thought she would make a good little paladin's wife. Theron doesn't need someone to cook and clean for him, he needs someone to fight at his side. Neither were excited about the arrangement, but he felt he had to feel for the woman, so he forced himself to find things about her that he enjoyed. Being blind to the fact that she was not faithful to her coming vows."

"That's terrible."

The door to the room flung open, and Jabin stood in the door frame with his mouth slightly open. His words began to stutter, trying to decided what he was wanting to say.

"What is it, Jabin?" Ariane asked.

"Reinforcements from other cities are here, they are going to attack soon. I thought you wanted to know. I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had company otherwise I would of knocked, and..."

"Get out, Jabin." Ariane threw a pillow at him, but he closed the door before it hit him.

Ariane climbed out of under the covers, giving Mikal a concerned grin. He stood up and threw his shirt on as well as his boots.
"Perhaps, I shall leave now."

She nodded, "That would be best."

He bowed, and exited the room.

Watching him leave she gave herself a sigh of relief, what had she been thinking last night. At least the first she could of blamed the ale, but this was all her own decisions. She remember clearly making the choice in allowing him to stay in her room, and she had been the one to kiss him. It had to be the exchange, that was the only reason she could think of, that would of allowed her to let down her guard. She knew everything about the man, everything about this stranger. A stranger that laid beside her, who had scared away her nightmares for the night.

She sighed changing into her leather armor, then heading out into the hallway. Mitsos walked up with a large bag in his hand, offering it to her.

"What is that?"

"Your armor, go put it on." He told her and left her to drag it back to her room.

Slowly she placed the armor on, taking deep breathes. Somehow, she didn't feel right placing this armor on, it was like she was not cleansed. The last time she wore the armor, Mikal hadn't truly happened not like it had last night, she had kept her chaste vow, but something felt wrong within her soul. Placing her glove on, she looked down at her helmet. She hadn't worn the thing since she had gotten the armor, it always remained on the ground or attached to her belt. Picking it up, she placed it on the dresser, where it seemed Pantol had other souvenirs of women who had slept in his bed. Hairbrushes, hair pins, strips of cloth, she placed her helmet in the center of them all. Smiling at her joke, she wondered if he would get it.

Out the door she went giving one more glance to the helmet her father had paid for. The thieves told her that her party waited for her outside the building. When the sunlight hit her eyes, she couldn't help but shut them. Men ran around the area, preparing for the battle that would soon begin. She had never seen so many armed men waiting to go to their deaths, it was a new experience for her.

Mitsos placed his hand on her shoulder, and looked into her eyes. She smiled and took a deep breath, "What now?"

"We wait for the wall to collapse and then we enter."

She didn't understand until she saw them leading the large catapults into the city. Running over to get a clear view of the dudes home, she watched as the large chunks of rock were tossed at not only the walls but the duke's home itself. Her eyes fell upon Frayne who had found his spot next to her, his wife was in there. She imagined the amount of strength it must of took to not run around to every catapult and destroy its controller. His face told it's worry as he stared at the falling rocks.

Ariane touched his forearm and he looked down upon her, "It'll be alright, Frayne." She didn't know why she had to say it, but felt the man had to know. It wasn't even clear to her if Oriana was alright, but she knew he needed someone to stand strong for him.
He gave a forceful nod, and attempted a grin. Swallowing deeply he turned back to the falling wall and manor.

Her own heart ran at speeds she didn't think possibly, she was more frightened in those moments then she had been being attacked by a wolf. It wasn't clear to her why she had to go into the manor, but something told her she was needed there. Eryalith let her know she wasn't the only one frightened, when the small elf took her hand in her own. She gave a pathetic grin that told of her excitement and that she was horrified. Ariane squeezed her hand back as hard as Eryalith held hers.

Though she was surrounded by the large warriors, Mitsos and Frayne. And some of the greatest archers she had ever seen, she felt she was without protection. She knew what it was as soon as she felt it, though he had never been a willing companion, he was the one she felt most safe with. Her eyes fluttered around the area, wondering how Theron had held up. Mikal's words that morning had placed him in her mind, she prayed for his safety as the wall began to crumble.

---

Even after the wall was open enough for the armies to begin entering, the catapults continued to attack the manor. They knew they had to get in there and save Oriana, before she fell victim to the crumbling home. More importantly before the duke realized there was no hope and ended her life before his stopped, of course, that was if she was even still alive.

Running into the courtyard of the manor, the chaos continued around them. The guards, though less then the armies, put up a fight and display of loyalty that would make any ruler proud. Looking over to the large double doors of the duke's manor, several men tried to use a battering ram to open it. It didn't even seem to shake the door, she ran over to see if she could be of assistance to the men.

Stepping onto the last stair, the door flung open by force purely of it's own. The men went to step into the home, but they were met by an invisible barrier. She looked over to her party, and attempted to wave each of them over. When they were gathered around her, she told Mitsos about the barrier as the men continued to try to find a way through it. Ariane walked up to it, and placed her hand gently upon it. It felt like a gel substance, and slowly her hand sunk right through. She pulled her arm back and looked over to Mitsos, who came to try for himself. Instead of being met with a gel substance he found it to be very solid, as if it were made of brick.

It was then the voice in her head spoke, the dark voice calling out her name. It became clear to her why the wall allowed her to enter, she was the duke's sibling. Looking over to her group, she began to speak, but Wiralyn interrupted her.

"Good luck, Ariane." He said then ran away to help the armies.

Frayne looked directly at her and without words, she knew he had begged her to save his wife. Walking down the steps, he cleared away three guards with one swoop of his sword, using it as if it were a club.

Mitsos had always been a man of few words, and he found no wisdom to speak. Instead he nodded, knowing there was nothing he could do to help her. He squeezed her shoulder, "We will keep looking for a way in, go help her."

Ariane nodded and stepped through the gel, not hearing Theron call out her name. She disappeared into it's darkness, though it seemed clear the room she stepped into was not the room she had seen from the outside.

Theron ran up the steps, slamming into the barrier. His eyes shot over to Mitsos demanding an answer.

"She has to do it alone." He said turning to head down the steps.

Theron grabbed his upper arm, "She can't protect herself, we both know this. We have to find a way in." The anger in his voice lessened when he saw the pain in Mitsos' eyes.

"Look if you must, but there is a battle to be fought. Ariane must do this alone, and there is nothing you or I can do to stop it." He yanked his arm from Theron, and headed down the stairs.

---

The manor was dark, like an abandon castle. A cool breeze ran through it, and though Ariane could not see where it was coming from, she could tell the direction. Following it she walked with the dark voice calling her name even louder with each step. The halls seemed never ending and when she came to two double doors, she knew he waited for her behind them. Placing her hand near it's opening she barely touched it as it slid open, revealing the throne room.

At the end, near the throne, was Oriana's chained and battered body. She looked up as the doors open, relief entered her eyes seeing her savior, and she laid her head back down. Ariane stepped in, the doors closed in behind her. She looked at each pillar trying to find another in the room, her sibling that she felt so clearly. This felt like a trap, and so she stood very still, waiting for whatever was about to appear to become it's solid form.

He stepped out from behind a pillar, in full armor with his sword drawn. Walking over to Oriana, he looked down upon her, he gently kicked her to see if she was alive. Oriana gave a moan, which seemed to satisfy him. He turned to look at Ariane, his face firm and cold.
"Kistur warned me of your coming, child." his voice a low hiss.

Ariane didn't say anything just took a step forward, she wanted this all to end. If that meant killing for it then she would gladly end this man's life.

"Before we battle, I do have something I would love to tell you." He had risen up his hand seeming to think that would stop her pace.

For a moment it did, and she looked up at him.

"Kistur deserted me here, when he could of saved me. If I win this battle, I will go after him, myself, and destroy that traitor. However, I am a logical man as any duke must be, and I know what you are, and I know it is your destiny to kill me and your other siblings. So, in the spirit of your victory, I want to tell you a little riddle of sorts. One that would give you a small hint as to where you might locate Kistur, would you like to hear it, sister?" He rose his eyebrow.

"Yes." Ariane growled the word.

"There is a castle on a lone mountain, may leagues and may months away from here. It is surrounded by a lake of red, a lake of fire, one that no mortal could swim across, or build a bridge across. There and only there, will you be able to confront your enemy, and find his true motive." He smiled rather pleased with himself.

Pulling her sword, she gave a nod as she placed it in front of her face, "Very well."

He grinned, "If and when you take his miserable life, please tell him that Enver will see him in hell."

She charged him, and he at her. Their weapons met in a loud clash, using her foot she pushed him away. Thrusting his sword down, she caught it with her own and pushed him off. Running behind the pillars, Ariane tried to chase after him. When she went to turn around one of the pillars, he jumped out his weapon clashing against the armor of her bicep. He then disappeared into the darkness he had been in when she first entered.

"Your blood isn't even active, how can you be any challenge to us, Ariane?"

She ignored him, "When you die, that spell over the door will dispense, correct?"

He laughed, "Yes, you will be able to safely bring in your army or take out that little assassin there." He meant Oriana.

Ariane turned around trying to find where his voice was coming from. She heard Oriana moan, and deciding she was more important she ran over to the woman. Using her sword she broke the chains, as the house shook from the catapults. She kneeled down next to the woman, holding her face in her hands.

"Oriana, are you alright?"

She looked up into her eyes, "Frayne?"

"He's alright, he's waiting for you outside."

Looking up she saw Enver dark figure appear at the end of the hall, standing up she mumbled to her friend, "Get to the end of the hall, and go to the front double doors. I will have them opened soon enough." She knew it would be a difficult task for a woman who could barely keep her head up.

"She does not leave unless my life ends, Ariane. What are you trying to do? You have to kill the dragon before you rescue the damsel. Didn't they teach you that in hero class?"

"Dragons don't hide in the shadows like cowards."

He smiled, "The smart ones do."

Quickly he moved forward, and Ariane came to meet him in the center of the hall. Again, their weapons met with a loud clash of metal, Enver looked into her soul in the moment as they tried to press each other to their knees. She gave and stepped back allowing their swords to meet again. From the corner of her eye she saw Oriana crawling behind the pillars, and from Enver's glare she could tell he saw her too. He stepped back, and reached to his belt where he pulled out a dagger. For a moment, Ariane thought he would throw it at the cleric, but he had no need for her death then. He targeted Ariane, driving the dagger forward, it flew towards her. Before she could think of what to do, her sword lead the way, blocking it and sending it flying beyond the pillars.

"Quick, sister." Enver snarled, then charged her again.

His attacks were faster and stronger now, knowing the power of his adversary. Ariane was beginning to find herself overly challenged, fear entering her heart for the first time in a battle. Her call for the calm to wave over her heart was answered, and she continued to think strategically. It was time she became the aggressor, and she began pushing him back towards the pillars. As soon as they reached the gray pillar, Enver let out a scream of pain, disappearing into the darkness.

Ariane looked down to see Oriana laying where his feet had been. She grabbed her by her feet, and dragged her to the door. "You have to get out now."

Enver appeared with a limp and the bloody dagger he had thrown at Ariane, stuck deep within his thigh. Letting out a pain filled groan, he yanked it from his flesh. "That will not make your death any easier, assassin." He placed the dagger back in his belt, knowing it would not come in handy against her.

She dropped the cleric at the end of the hall, and shoved the double doors opened for her to escape. Gripping the hilt of her sword in her hands, she run forward at her now wounded enemy. With one hand he flung his large sword forward, catching her attack. Stepping back she looked him over, as he held his thigh wound with his other hand.

"I have been damaged by another, would you be able to rest knowing you did not win on your own strength."

"How did that dagger hurt you, if you are a child of active blood?" She looked at the dagger.

He grinned, "It was a gift from Cuthira, you remember killing her, don't you?"

Her eyes glared into his own, waiting for her answer.

"It's the same one that the mortal used to remove her eyes, it is a powerful weapon. Even more so when used by a Naaram child to kill another." He chuckled, "Like watching someone decay rapidly before your eyes."

Ariane attacked catching him off guard when another rock hit the manor, slicing his right arm. The ceiling was breaking and chunks were falling to the floor below. He jumped away from her with the look of shock and pain in his eyes. "Why do you look so betrayed? Did you think I came here to chat with you?" She snarled.

"So be it, sister." He charged at her, still attempting to nurse his wounded leg and arm.

She caught all his blows as the battle became more real, again. In the few moments she had to rest from his blows, she looked over to see Oriana had safely escaped the room. Looking back she found Enver had disappeared, and the blows from each rock were coming faster. The manor wasn't going to take much more of the abuse, as another rock hit it, she heard Enver stumble behind her. Flipping around her sword slide across his upper chest, the pain began to choke his heart with fear. When another rock hit, Ariane lost her balance, and fell backwards, landing on her back. He took advantage of her vulnerable position to leapt forward to attack her, her sword ran through his middle.

Yanking it from his body, he stepped backwards, placing his hands on the wound. And fell to his knees, knowing life was about to leave him. He gave in to death's grip, as the house shook once more, and a piece of the ceiling fell upon him. Ariane stumbled to her feet, realizing the house was about to give in to the weight of the earth that had piled upon it. Before she left she wanted the dagger, that the duke had on his belt, and quickly she snatched it from his belt as the manor shook once more. It was time to leave, she decided. Running out into the hall, she saw Oriana looking down the hall at her.

"Ariane!" She called out.

"Go now!" Ariane ordered her, as the wall collapsed in front of her blocking her exit.

Running back into the throne room, she looked towards the end of the room where another exit was to the right of the throne. Making her way across the shaking floor, she opened it to find another hallway stretched out before her. There was no other choice and stepping out onto the trembling floorboards, she continued her search for a way out, knowing all to clearly the manor was about to fall.

---

Oriana stepped from the manor into the daylight, she searched the grounds for anyone she knew. The pain that had come from being beaten made her eyes flutter, she wanted to faint with every painful step. Every man in armor that her eyes looked over looked like the next, and she had no option but to call out his name as she fell to her knees at the last stair.

"Frayne!" She screamed.

All the duke's guards had been killed, and Frayne stood in the corner with the group. Her voice pierced through the noise, and he shot his head over to look upon his bloodied wife. As he ran over to her, the others took notice of his hasty exit, and followed behind him seeing Oriana.

Falling to his knees beside her, he wrapped her in his arms, stopping her from falling over. Theron and Mitsos were close behind, and her eyes shot up to the paladin she knew.

"She killed him, stop the catapults. He's dead, Ariane's in there." her voice was forced and pain ridden. "The hall collapsed she can't get out!" She screamed out.

The sound of breaking wood, echoed throughout everyone's ears. Their eyes shot up to the manor, that was beginning to lean on it's side. Frayne lifted his wife off the ground, as the shouts for them to move away ordered them. Mikal and Mitsos pulled Theron back from running into the house, and a safe distance away from the collapsing building. With an upheaval of dust, and a loud crash, the manor fell to the ground.

Eryalith pushed her face into Jabin's chest not wanting to watch it fall, knowing her friend was inside. Mikal and Mitsos let go of Theron's arms as they fell weak, he dropped to the ground in front of them. His eyes staring at the manor, he had told them to stop long ago, but they refused. There was no way to get in, but he didn't look hard enough.

Mitsos' large hand rushed to his face trying to stop himself from panic, knowing it would get them no where. Being the only way he knew how to comfort the large man, Wiralyn placed his hand on his shoulder.

Upon hearing that the manor had fallen, Karim had come into the courtyard, and immediately saw his friend on his knees. He picked up the speed of his walk, reaching him he looked at the disgruntled group. Eryalith's tear filled eyes looked at him, then she returned her sniffles to her lover's chest.

"Theron, what happen?" He got down on one knee and grabbed his shoulder.

"Ariane was in there." The voice that spoke didn't sound like it belonged to Theron, it was airy and full of agony.

He looked up at the collapsed house, "Why didn't the catapults stop, when the soldiers got in?"

Theron looked up at him, his eyes red but not crying, "They couldn't get in."

---

The dust of the fallen house soon cleared the air, and though it was hopeless they tried to check the rubble. Mikal and Frayne even joined in the fruitless search, knowing that if they did find her in this mess, it wouldn't be alive. Every body that was found, their hearts clenched praying it wasn't her own. By nightfall there was nothing left to do, but wait while the city was repaired.

Theron stood on the top floor of the thieves guild looking out over the manor in the distance. He didn't want to believe that she had been crushed under the weight of the house. No, she was to important to the prophecies to die in such a manner. The apologies that his group were given, hadn't been enough. He had never spoken his true feelings to her, and now he may never get the chance too. He prayed that her body would not be found under all that wood and stone, that somehow by a miracle she had gotten out of there before it fell. She had to, if she hadn't it wasn't just his loss or the group's loss. The world lost the only person capable of destroying the evil of the Naaram children.

He closed his eyes and imagined the first day he had seen her walking in Githeth, tipping the merchants. She had captured his heart with a single smile, one that wasn't even directed at him. Everything about her called to his being, and even though he fought it, he had all along wanted it to come. The entire time he had been looking for reason to not like her from saying she was hiding the truth from him, to trying to convince himself that she was evil for being a child of Naaram. After he had admitted to both himself and Karim that he loved her, all he wanted to do was talk to her about everything, and hear her say how she felt for him. He had replayed the scenario in his head over and over, unsure what she would say to him. Now, he would never know what she would say after he told her that he loved her. He leaned his head back on the wall, hearing someone enter the room behind him. Slowly he looked over at Mikal, who seemed to wait for him to tell him to leave. He didn't, he wanted company, even if it was the ashling.

Without a word being spoken between them, Mikal took the other side of the window and looked out over the manor. There eyes met for a moment, and he saw the apology in the ashling's eyes. Nothing could of prepared him to fail protecting her, and even Mikal's reassuring eyes couldn't sooth the anger he felt for himself within. There was nothing that could have been done to save her, had he run in he would of only killed himself. He took a deep breath and released it, looking from Mikal back to the rubble of the manor. Mikal reached up his hand and patted his arm once, letting him know he felt for him. They both looked into the darkness, past the burnt buildings, the damaged buildings, the buildings that still stood tall, to the lot of stone and wood. The very lot that Ariane's body laid, neither had words to explain their emotions for that thought, and neither needed words to explain it to each other.

The End

Look for Priest of Naaram as the second book. Please feel free to visit my website and forum. The links are in my profile (RHunt) on fictionpress. I like to hear people's thoughts and there are many people on the forums that enjoy talking about my works. You also get more stories of mine for posting. Thanks for reading my book. I do hope that you enjoyed the story and look forward to hearing your critique.