Chapter 15

A New Friend

Images of Eliza filled Lynn's dreams. Through the ring Lynn could tell that Eliza was undergoing a great struggle. Lynn struggled along with her, nodding off every so often and then waking with a start. She couldn't sleep. She didn't want to. So instead she sat on the bed, giving Eliza strength through her ring, and hoping for the best.
 

Eliza walked in darkness. Things moved past her, inhuman things. She couldn't see them but she could feel them, and she didn't like what she felt. She was in the realm of the undead, that much she knew, but she wanted to get back to the realm of the living, and she felt that waiting by the Mists was like waiting for death. She could feel that the Beast was slowly killing her, but she knew that as long as she had life within her that there was still hope.

Eliza could see glowing eyes in the darkness. Some were dark red, others pale yellow, that leered at her as she walked past. She was afraid, but Ezra had told her to be strong and so she refused to let her fears rule her. On and on she walked boldly through the darkness, hoping that there would be light on the other side.

"You should not have come.", snarled a voice in her path.

Eliza stopped and looked up. A pair of large red eyes peered down at her. She heard whispers on either side of her and she looked around. Hate-filled eyes glared back at her, incensed by the presence of her life force.

"Be gone!", Eliza commanded. She held up her hand towards the voice that spoke and tried to sound strong, but inside she knew that she was too weak to fight.

There was a short silence, then the voice before Eliza breathed a quiet chuckle. A cold feeling began to creep up Eliza's spine.

"Guardian in the Mists.", Eliza began, closing her eyes. "Grant me the strength to banish these foul creatures."

Eliza felt the divine energy rise weakly around her and then falter and fade. She heard more laughter.

"Ezra can't help you here.", the voice spoke darkly.

Eliza could feel the ghastly creatures around her coming closer. She looked around wildly, trying to find a place to run, but they had her surrounded. The thing in her stomach clenched harder and she fell to her knees in pain. She knew that she was done for. She wondered why Ezra had let her go this way, only to die like this torn apart by undead hands. Then she felt a warm feeling come from her ring that quickly moved through her. The magic around her suddenly flared and the creatures surrounding her hissed as they were forced backwards. Eliza rose to her feet and took a step forward. She could see two pairs of glowing eyes before her move apart to let her pass. Quickly she walked between them and they separated farther.

"You can't escape us.", the snarling voice hissed angrily.

Eliza ignored it. She quickened her steps and soon she was running. She could see nothing but darkness before her, but at least those awful things were far behind.

"Thank you, Lynn.", Eliza whispered as she ran.
 

A ray of sunlight fell across the floor from a slight gap in the shutter, waking Weamar from a short but restful slumber. Weamar stretched, rose, and opened the shutters. The window itself was a large arrow slit and when he unlatched and opened the shutters, a slight breeze entered the room. From his vantage point he could see a grand vista. For countless miles he could see into the east. Harsh and rugged mountains stretched for as far as the eye could see. The land was barren. There were no trees and no plant life that he could spy. A very large raven glided on the updrafts around the tower. Weamar called out to it, but it ignored him and continued riding the currents.

Marinae woke up and started thinking about Jonathan again. She had to admit to herself that she was obsessed with him. She didn't want to feel the way she did, but it also felt good.

"Do you think Jonathan can be trusted?", Marinae thought to Rambis. "Outside of his um, interest in me, of course."

"I don't know. I can't smell anything bad. He seems nice enough.", Rambis said. Then he dug his claws into the bedding. "And he'd better stay nice."

"If he doesn't, you can have him.", Marinae replied. She smiled and then began wondering why Jonathan didn't come back to her room again that night. She wondered if it was something that she said.

There was a knock at Lynn's door. She shook herself out of her semi-awake state and walked over to the door, worried and hopeful. The emaciated butler, James, was on the other side.

James droned on slowly. "Breakfast in the dining hall."

Lynn nodded, washed her hands and her face, and joined the others in the hall. Together they made their way downstairs. David came trotting up from behind Lynn and greeted her.

"Good morning.", David said heartily. "I didn't hear you get up and leave last night."

Lynn looked and sounded hung over. She had her hood pulled over her head. Underneath she wore her blindfold once again. She felt terrible. She wondered if she could last another day away from Eliza.

"Good morning.", she replied sleepily, not even thinking about what David had just said.

David smiled a little. "You seem tired."

Lynn nodded.

David touched Lynn's arm. "Is something wrong?"

Lynn pulled her arm away weakly. The awful feelings inside her grew. "Eliza.", was all that she said.

David released Lynn's arm. He whispered, a slight tremor in his voice, "You regret last night, then?"

Lynn didn't know what David was referring to, but she was full of regrets, and she regretted not getting enough sleep. She knew that she had to be strong so that she could complete the quest, but instead she was tired and weak and that made her feel guilty. Lynn nodded and David turned away. For a while they walked in silence.

"I wish", Lynn spoke up, pausing between words. "She was well again."

David fell a step behind. "She will be."

David's cheer was wearing off rapidly. He began to feel terrible about coming between Lynn and Eliza, but at the time it felt like the right thing to do. He looked at Lynn and how she was suffering and swore that he would never do anything to hurt her again, nor let anyone else hurt her if he could help it. He wondered if this was the dark side of the gift that Kendra had given him. But it was no gift or curse, it was just Kiri having fun at the expense of others.

James led them all back to the dining hall. The table was arrayed with various breads, honeys, and cooked meats. Damon and Adederia were already seated and eating when the others arrived and Jonathan was filling their cups. The elf glanced up at Marinae when she walked in. Marinae made discreet eye contact with him, but worked to keep a bland expression. Jonathan gave her just the slightest hint of a smile. Marinae felt awkward, and very nervous, but despite that she managed to get food on her plate and in her mouth without dropping anything. Lynn sat down and made herself eat. She knew that she needed strength for their adventure, but she didn't feel like eating at all. Weamar, on the other hand, ate heartily, knowing that the land outside didn't offer very much. David prepared a plate for himself, all the while watching Lynn with a worried expression.

Damon nodded to the others. "Morning everyone."

Adederia dipped a slender finger into a pool of honey on her plate and lifted it up. A thin stream of the golden substance drizzled back down to the plate. She watched it with rapt fascination. Damon took her wrist and wiped the honey from her hand.

"Mustn't play with the food, my love.", he said in a motherly tone.

Jonathan moved to fill the cups of the newcomers. As he filled Marinae's he allowed the back of his hand to brush hers. Marinae had been staring at Adederia's finger, but as Jonathan touched her she though about him and nothing else. Then she hoped her blush didn't show and then wondered why the room had become so warm.

"How can I make something like this work out?", Marinae wondered. "Why would he want a half-breed? None of the 'real' men back home treated me as anything but an inferior, someone to be pitied, when they weren't trying to get me into bed that is. How do I know that sex isn't what he wants? Just that and nothing else?"

Jonathan addressed everyone. "When you are all finished, I will summon my lady and she will hear your responses to her offer."

"But then, isn't that why I left?", Marinae's mind kept whirling. "On my own, I don't have to worry about motives. I don't have to play games. Maybe I should just pass a mage-bolt through his personal space."

"So, what do you all intend to do?", Damon asked.

Marinae looked at the others, already having an idea of how the vote would turn out.

"Is there really much of a choice?", David replied.

Lynn said nothing. She knew that she had to do what Kendra wanted.

"I'd rather help if others wish to go through with whatever she wants, than worry that my absence may have made it harder for you.", Weamar said, choosing his words carefully.

Damon was quiet for a moment, then said, "In any case, I've decided to return to Sithicus. Adederia needs to be among her people." He sighed as Adederia pressed her open hand onto her plate. She lifted her hand and several thin streams of honey flow from her palm back to the plate.

"I'm not particularly keen on helping her ends for any other reason though.", Weamar added. "Though I completely understand why others might feel indebted to her."

David pushed his plate away and agreed. "I don't like it either but I guess this is the best option at the moment. Shall we get this over with?"

Marinae sighed and Weamar nodded. A cold voice broke the silence.

"Have you decided then?", Kendra asked.

Heads turned and once again they saw Kendra resting comfortably in her chair. Kendra's burning eyes focused on Weamar and Marinae. Marinae matched her stare. Weamar yawned. Kendra nodded to Jonathan. The elf bowed to the Drow and turned on his heel. After a few moments he returned to the room bearing a scroll case. He opened the case and laid out a parchment map on a clear portion of the table.

"Inside is a map to the tomb. Inside the tomb you will find the Hands of Balican, but care must be taken if you wish to come back alive.", Kendra grinned slightly. "Jonathan will help you with the equipment that you will need. The journey is difficult and the path is too rough for your horses."

"The only thing we haven't had to do in a while is walk.", Marinae mused.

"I'm sure some blisters are going to be the least of our worries.", Weamar replied.

"Don't I know it.", Marinae answered. Then she had an interesting thought, "I could set Jonathan free in trade for this."

"Once we deliver the hands to you, will you heal the girl?", David asked.

"She is being healed as we speak.", Kendra assured him. "The wound is deep, but she will be well again when you return."

Lynn lifted her head slightly. Hope was filling her, but inside there was already so much dread. She wanted to get started. She wanted to get it over with. She wanted to see Eliza well again.

"We shall settle on your payments when you return.", Kendra said, nodding to Marinae and Weamar. Marinae looked away but Weamar watched the dark woman out of the corner of his eye, trying to learn the trick to Kendra's disappearing act. But the shadows were too dark, and she was gone before Weamar knew it.

"How convenient.", Marinae thought to herself. "She probably set up the whole thing with Jonathan. I don't see how anything could happen in this place without her knowing it."

Jonathan turned their attention to the map. He traced a path from the castle to a cave symbol. The trail meandered through the mountains.

"It will take at least a week to make the hike.", Jonathan began. "I'll gather enough rations for the round trip. You'll want to carry as much of your own water as you can, the rain and ground water in this region is tainted. You could survive on it for a short time if you really needed to but I wouldn't recommend it."

"I'll want some bandages and first aid gear. I had to use a lot of it helping David.", Marinae interrupted. Then she added, "There aren't any bears in the neighborhood, I hope?"

Weamar muttered something under his breath . Marinae glanced at Weamar and gave him an innocent look.

Jonathan nodded. "I'll have a kit made ready for you." Then he looked puzzled. "Ah, no bears. There's nothing alive on the surface of these mountains. It was all scoured away by a massive windstorm about 170 years ago."

"So all your food is grown here?", Weamar asked.

"Some of it is 'made' here.", Jonathan replied. "Some we have imported."

Weamar whistled, "That must cost a fortune."

Jonathan nodded. "As you have seen, the Lady is very keen on striking deals with people.", he answered.

"Are you my 'deal', then?", Marinae thought.

Jonathan looked at Marinae, a look of concern on his face. "You must be careful inside the tomb. While life on the surface was wiped away, life below ground was not. There are many foul things that come from beneath the mountains. Also, the priests who laid Balican to rest must surely have placed protective measures around their saint."

"What can you tell us of Balican?", Weamar asked.

"Balican was a priestly warrior, a paladin.", Jonathan explained. "He used his gifts to protect the people of Darkon from sundry beasts that prowled the lands. Legend states that he could give life with his right hand and take it with his left."

"When can we get started.", Lynn said, her tired voice carrying a hint of impatience.

Jonathan rolled up the map and put it back in the case which he handed to Marinae. He then put his finger to his lips. "I'll find you all when everything is ready."

"Fine.", Marinae nodded.

Jonathan began clearing the table as his guests made their way back up to their rooms.

"We need somewhere where we can talk privately.", Marinae said to the others. "In my room. I'll cast the rope spell."

The others nodded and before long they were all inside the strange white room at the top of a rope which hung in mid air. Marinae had Rambis stand guard in her room while they talked in the space above. Marinae told Weamar, David, and Lynn about her previous night's encounter with Jonathan, leaving out the romantic parts so as not to embarrass herself.

"He wants to join us, or so he says.", Marinae related. "But I can see how he might be something Kendra's using to get to me."

"Solance, do you think it was really her?", Weamar replied.

"I don't know what to think about Solance.", Marinae mused. "The dead thing was a bear though. I'm pretty sure."

"What I don't know is the truth or otherwise of the ravens' comments.", Weamar pondered. "And that big one was odd. Saw one like it near the tower this morning."

Marinae didn't want to talk about ravens or bears, only Jonathan. "He says he was imprisoned by Drakov.", Marinae added. "And that Kendra procured him."

Lynn didn't know what to say. All she wanted was to get the hands back. "Will he help us?", she asked.

"He seems honest.", Marinae replied. "Rambis didn't pick up any bad vibes off of him, though he didn't waste time ribbing me about Jonathan. And the bitch of it is, I like him."

Lynn remembered the noises the previous night and thought that it must have been Jonathan and Marinae.

"If Kendra wants to hurt us, she'll do it anyway.", Lynn said quietly.

"I suppose, but I've learned not to trust easily.", Marinae replied. "And no one trusts a Drow."

"Unless they have to.", Lynn whispered.

"In most places, we'd be bound by local laws to kill her and every other Drow we see.", Marinae continued. "Obviously we can't do that, here. Just thought I'd bring my own little ray of sunshine into things." Marinae smiled a little. "I'm considering asking that Jonathan be set free in return for my going on this quest. But I'm troubled. Kendra knows of Drakov's plans to move against my homeland. I've never told you this, but I was exiled from Darkon for a disagreement with my mother. I can't go back."

Lynn understood. She nodded silently. She could feel Marinae struggling to find an excuse to have Jonathan come along. Lynn knew too well how it felt to be apart from the one who you loved. She wanted Marinae to find her excuse.

"This means that I can't warn them in person, though I could probably get a message to someone through mundane means.", Marinae pondered. "Or maybe Weamar could bespeak a bird to carry it."

"Or Jonathan.", Lynn suggested.

"Yes. So by setting him free it could be done. And that's all I would ask of him in return.", Marinae concluded. "What do you think?"

David shook himself from other thoughts. "If you believe you can trust him, then granting him freedom would be the right thing to do."

Lynn and Weamar nodded in agreement.

"So it's settled?", Marinae asked, but she knew that it was. One by one they climbed down the rope and went back to their rooms. Soon there was a knock at Marinae's door. It was Jonathan.

"All of your supplies have been prepared.", the young elf called out to her. "I'll see you to the gate when you're ready."

Marinae rushed over to the door and opened it. "Is it safe to talk?", she whispered.

Jonathan closed his eyes and whispered. "For the moment. She's busy with your young friend."

"I'll make it fast.", Marinae said, looking Jonathan in the eyes. "I'm going to take her up on her...favor. I intend to ask for your freedom."

Jonathan looked at her like someone whose prayers had been answered, although he did his best to hide it. His expression didn't change but his eyes were dancing with barely contained joy.

"Will she honor my request, do you think?", Marinae asked. A warm feeling was filling her as well.

Jonathan's gaze didn't break from Marinae's. "Yes.", he said quickly, but then a shadow of doubt passed across his face.

"But?", Marinae replied as a cold feeling began to push aside the warm feeling inside her.

"I hope she will." Jonathan said as the light in his eyes faded. He finally looked away.

"You think she might devise some treachery?", Marinae asked.

"I guess I'm just afraid that the thing I've wanted for so long, when it is so close, might be denied me.", Jonathan replied.

"We've done some pretty incredible things together...", Marinae said, pausing as she realized the other meanings for what she said, but kept going anyway. "And maybe we'll get to, um, talk more when you're safe."

As if they were both thinking the same thing, Jonathan reached for Marinae's hand as she reached for his. Jonathan took Marinae's hand, brought it up to his lips, and kissed it softly.

"No matter what Kendra says,", Jonathan said, looking into her eyes. "I'll always remember that you cared. It's been so long since someone has felt this way about me. I want to return the favor in any way that I can."

Marinae smiled. "I hope that we might dance freely before much longer.", she said warmly. "No elf belongs in a cage."

"I should know.", Marinae thought. "Wasn't my castle just as much a prison as this?"

Jonathan lingered, looking into Marinae's eyes. The flicker of a smile crossed his lips and he raised her hand as if to lead her in a dance. "Care to, my lady?"

"Oh, yes.", Marinae answered. Marinae thought for a moment, then asked. "The Pride of Darkon. Are you familiar with it? It's one of the older ones. I had to learn the fad styles as well."

Jonathan placed an arm on Marinae's hip and danced like he once knew how but had forgotten some of the steps. He did his best to try and sweep Marinae off her feet with dips and spins and she did what she could to keep up. It was obvious that it had been a very long time since he'd danced. His attempts at grace came across clumsily.

"We'll have to do something about that.", Marinae said smiling. "I think we're both a bit out of practice."

"It would be a pleasure to try and remedy it.", Jonathan agreed.

Marinae caught her breath and looked at Jonathan again. "Yes, I'd like that.", then she remembered where she was. "But not here. Not while you're still in danger."

"With you here, I feel safe.", Jonathan replied.

"I know what you mean, but I still feel eyes everywhere.", Marinae answered, but never took her eyes off him. She briefly considered kidnapping him up the rope and pretending that he'd gone missing.

Jonathan came to a stop. He looked at Marinae again, wondering if he should kiss her, and if she'd let him. He whispered, "Let them watch if they wish."

"You tempt me.", Marinae replied. "And as much as I want to let go, I want your freedom first."

"I can't help myself. But for you, I'll try.", Jonathan slowly and reluctantly pulled his hands away from her.

"For us, Jonathan, under the stars, under the sun, under, well, I'm sure we'll think of other places.", Marinae said with a grin on her lightly reddening face.

Jonathan grinned as well. "Now you tempt me, my lady."

"Fair is fair, my lord.", Marinae replied. "Just giving us both something to look forward to when we're away from here."

"Well, until that time then." Jonathan bowed low before her and turned to go. Then he stopped and looked back. "You don't remember the way, do you?"

"The way?", Marinae asked.

"To the gate.", Jonathan explained.

Marinae recovered after a moment of thought. "Of course he wasn't talking about, that.", she corrected herself.

"I don't think a guide would be unappreciated.", Marinae said.

"Gather your friends and I will show you the way.", Jonathan said with a flourish. Marinae gathered them.

Once everyone was together, Jonathan offered his arm to Marinae in a most gentlemanly manner. Marinae curtsied and took his arm. They passed through the shadowed halls of the keep and into the courtyard. The gray sky lent no cheer to the start of their new journey and the gray skies matched Lynn's mood. She felt through her ring one last time before leaving the castle and told herself that the next time she returned, Eliza would be well again. Jonathan brought out the provisions and supplies. Hard rations, water, medical supplies, ropes, hooks and various bits of mountaineering gear had been carefully placed in a backpack for each of them to carry.

Jonathan turned to Marinae. "Kendra will not see you at the moment. I will have to bring your proposal to her.", he said, squeezing her hands. "Wish me luck?"

Marinae kissed him impulsively. "Be careful, okay?"

Jonathan nodded and parted, glancing once over his shoulder as he passed again into the foreboding castle.

David smiled a little. "Looks like somebody's made a new friend.", he said playfully.

Marinae watched Jonathan until he was gone and then she joined the others in strapping on their new gear. Before long Jonathan returned. Lynn crossed her fingers, hoping that Jonathan and Marinae wouldn't end up separated like she was from Eliza. Marinae held her breath and wondered if Kendra would refuse her request just to spite her. To her dismay Jonathan's mood was somber and he met Marinae with a glum expression. Looking down, he took her hands again. Marinae cringed.

Jonathan looked into Marinae's eyes and a smile broke across his face. "She said yes."

"Beast!", Marinae shouted with joy. She kissed him again, then came up for air.

Jonathan laughed. "Let's get out of here."

The supplies were stowed and the journey began. They moved on foot away from the massive castle and into the barren terrain of the range known as the Mountains of Madness.  They'd never seen land like it before. There was no life. Not even moss grew on the rocks. Weamar frowned. This wasn't the kind of wilderness he liked at all, nor did Cujia.

As they walked along, Jonathan asked Marinae more about her life in Darkon. Marinae told him the full story. She told him about her life in Court and how much she hated it. She told him about the feud between her and her mother, and the feud between her mother and her grandmother. Her mother and her grandmother never saw eye to eye after her mother decided to have an affair with Damon. But the strange part was that Marinae's grandmother was more supportive of Marinae's rebellion than her mother was. Her mother wanted her to be a proper court lady, something that Marinae detested with all of her heart. Marinae told Jonathan about the fight that she and her mother had had and about how she had lost her temper and slapped her mother. Where Marinae came from that was an unforgivable act and as punishment her mother was going to have her locked away in a nunnery. But Marinae's grandmother sympathized with her plight and helped her escape. Marinae hadn't seen either of them since and missed them both terribly.

Jonathan frowned. "I had forgotten what life was like among them. So you have no home, now?"

"Wherever I lay my hat, as the song goes.", Marinae replied. "I'm hoping to get out of the adventuring business, buy an old inn, maybe become a teacher."

Lynn walked in Marinae's footsteps, oblivious to almost everything around her. Every so often she felt through the ring, sighed, and kept going. She told herself that even though Eliza was getting farther away, every step she took was a step closer to being together again. But it didn't make her feel much better.

Weamar noticed that Cujia had smelled something that she did not like. It was making her ill.

"Does it smell like something you've smelled before?", Weamar asked her.

"Burnt earth and something else I do not know.", his faithful dog replied.

Weamar scuffed the surface of the ground, took a pinch of soil, and sniffed again. The soil did smell slightly charred. There was another very vague scent that followed after. The closest he could place it was rotting eggs. He thought that it might be sulfur.

"With any luck we'll be away from it by nightfall.", Weamar said, scratching Cujia's head. Cujia whimpered and kept walking.

The ground sloped ever upward until it took a sharp rise towards the sky. The rock face jutted upwards at around a seventy degree angle. Weamar took one of the rope coils and began scaling the wall with surprising swiftness and dexterity. After he reached the top and secured the rope, Marinae and Jonathan followed up after him. At the midway point, Marinae's foot slipped on a loose rock and she would have tumbled if Jonathan had not moved swiftly to steady her. Lynn followed behind them and David hoisted the ailing Cujia over his shoulders and went up after Lynn. But Lynn's lack of sleep the night before had made her too weak to make it to the top. Halfway up she lost her grip on the rope and began to fall towards the rocks below. David reacted quickly, gripping the rope tightly with one hand and reaching out to grab Lynn with the other. With an almost inhuman effort he was able to slow her fall and not let go of Cujia, but he couldn't hold her for long, and he called out for help.

Far above the ground Lynn hung lifelessly on David's arm. At his touch Lynn felt a shiver run through her body. Even through her thick robes she believed that she could feel the scars on David's arm rubbing against her. Her guilt returned and grew quickly. She began to withdraw into herself and she became weaker and weaker.

Marinae thought fast and quickly had her staff raised above her in both hands. She focused her thoughts and used its power on Lynn. As the force took hold, the strain on David's arm was relieved, and soon Lynn was levitating towards the top of the cliff. Once Lynn was safely beside her Marinae quickly sat down, breathing hard. She felt drained, and remembered how much it took out of her to use the staff. Feelings of hopelessness rushed over Lynn. She knelt down on the ground, then curled up into a ball. Marinae crawled over and knelt beside Lynn, putting her arms around her.

"I'm useless. I'll never be able to save her.", Lynn sobbed. Her world was growing darker and darker. She blamed herself for David's wounds and she blamed herself for Eliza being trapped in the dark tower. She blamed herself for falling and she felt like the next time she was going to mess up and get everyone killed.

"You're not alone.", Marinae assured her. "We're all going to make this work out." But Marinae's words did little to help Lynn, and her touch made Lynn feel even worse.

Lynn pushed Marinae away and started thrashing around. "No. No.", she cried out. Her mind was full of horrible thoughts, of her dying alone in the mountains of madness and of Eliza enslaved to Kendra forever.

David made it up the rope, set Cujia down, and was shocked to see Lynn rolling on the ground as if she was in pain.

"David? Can you help me, here?", Marinae pleaded.

David rushed over and slid to his knees. He grabbed Lynn's arms. "Lynn, please stop. Stop and listen to me."

Lynn struggled wildly in his arms. She wanted to break free but couldn't. She felt trapped, smothered, and she wanted to be rid of everyone and everything. She put her hands together and began to pull the ring off her finger, but stopped.

"I can't take it.", Lynn cried out. "I can't take it any longer."

"Go ahead. Kill Eliza and yourself.", a voice inside Lynn screamed at her. "Two less dyke bitches in the world. Good riddance."

David pulled Lynn to him, hoping to calm her in whatever way he could, but instead his touch made her more distressed. "I can't imagine what it's been like for you. But I do know that there is strength in you. We will save Eliza but not by sitting out here on a rock."

Lynn writhed erratically in David's arms, fighting something inside. Finally she began to calm down and pulled her hand away from her ring. She told herself over and over that she could get through this, but it was hard for her to believe it.

Marinae watched helplessly and wondered about the ring that Lynn wore. "Maybe it's cursed.", she thought to herself.

The awful feelings roiled inside of Lynn and she knew what she needed to do to make them go away. She turned and put her hands on David's face, holding it in front of hers, and breathing heavily.

Breathing almost as heavily, David said, "I was right, Lynn. You are strong."

Lynn took one of David's hands in hers and put in on her face. David felt something odd and pulled her hood back just enough to see her face and the blindfold covering her eyes. He began to wonder why she was wearing it but all his thoughts turned back upon himself and what he'd done to her.

"She hurts so bad inside, about what she and I did last night, that she can't even bear to look at me anymore.", David thought to himself as a tear came to his eye. His heart ached for the woman he held tenderly in his hands.

Marinae motioned to the rest of the party to leave the two alone. Weamar nodded and scouted up the path. Jonathan said nothing and offered his arm to Marinae who smiled and took it. They left David and Lynn in silence. David trembled almost imperceptibly from being so close to Lynn. He brought his other hand up and placed it against her face, matching her hold on him. Lynn took one of David's thumbs into her mouth and began gently sucking on it. Inside her emotions were raging. She didn't care about anything or anyone.

"You slut! You whore!", the voice inside Lynn screamed. The voice was right and Lynn knew it. She felt worthless. She felt dirty. She felt like a total failure. She wanted to be treated like a whore. She wanted to be punished for all that she had done wrong. She felt like she deserved it.

David winced as reason and passion battled in his mind. "We, we shouldn't, not here.", he stammered. "We have to keep moving."

"Put your cock in my mouth.", Lynn whispered in David's ear. "Fuck my mouth."

David pressed his forehead to Lynn's and closed his eye. He whispered desperately, "Please stop."

Lynn didn't. Her hands slid down David's chest towards his pants. David gritted his teeth and disentangled himself from Lynn. He wanted her, but he couldn't bring himself to take her. He knew that it was wrong. He knew it would just make her feel more guilty for betraying Eliza. But his feelings for her were so strong. A battle raged inside of him. He rested on his knees and placed his face in his hands, shuddering.

"Why do you torment me?", he cried out. "You know how much I want you. Why here?"

Lynn didn't answer. As David pushed her away it felt as if her stomach had caught fire. The pain was almost unbearable. She rolled onto her back and covered her face with her hands, searching out for something, anything that could help her.

"Eliza. Eliza. I love you, Eliza. I love you.", Lynn repeated over and over.

Confused and deep in his own struggle, David sat and watched Lynn suffering. His own emotions swirled around him, love and despair, lust and jealousy. Then he whispered, "Someday, you're going to be the death of me."

But Lynn was too caught up in her own misery to hear David's words. She felt through her ring again. Eliza was far away but still there. Deep inside Lynn, a small spark of hope ignited and grew, slowly pushing the awful feelings away. She let it grow, and it grew enough to let her carry on. She stopped crying and stood up, wobbling a little as she did so.

Still on his knees, David just watched her, stunned by her mercurial mood swings. He watched as Lynn's demeanor changed again. Now she was impatient, standing quietly, waiting for the others to return.
 

"Will she be alright?", Jonathan asked Marinae.

"I hope so.", Marinae replied. "She's bound to Eliza in a way I'm not sure is good for her."