Unedited...but i didn't upload last nyt so i thought it was just better to upload it anyway...its a long one =)

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Refresh of the end of Chapter 33

I climbed up the nearest tree and sat hidden in the branches and cried. The silent tears streamed down my face as I tired to figure out what to do, to come so close to having some sort of direction, only to be left with nothing, it was like loosing all hope, like being left in a dark cave with no light or direction out, I felt trapped.

Hunger eventually drew me out of the tree and I found another small tree full of fruits, I plucked them off the branches and ate them in silence, I ate until I could eat no more, unsure when I would have my next meal. After that I walked back to the river and started on my path along it, knowing that towns and villages started along rivers because they were sources of water, and everyone needed water.

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I wandered along the river for two weeks, eating fruit and vegetables that I could find along the way and drinking the water from the river. I still had my sword and practised the Tingure night after night, running through the stances as fluidly as I could.

One night I was walking along the river when I saw the outskirts of a village. Stopping in the woods I found a place to spend the night under a large tree with wide, outstretched branches. I lay out my sheath and took off my ethereal skirt, placing it on the floor so it wouldn’t get caught up in my legs when I was practising the Tingure. I tried to run through it but I couldn’t concentrate, thoughts kept popping up in my head and I couldn’t flow through the movements like I wanted to; they felt awkward and disrupted. I stopped and tried to clear my mind from all thoughts.

Closing my eyes again I held the sword out in front of me, feeling my surroundings as Senkrad had taught me to do during my training. I was trying to remain calm and clear my mind, but as before the thoughts kept coming into my head, I got frustrated again but thought about the healing glow I had seen at Merlanda’s and focused all my attention on it. I slowly pulled myself into the first position of the Tingure with my sword still in my hand, then slowly flowed into the second position. I went through all twenty of the positions and then repeated them again with increased speed, until I could hear the air as it whipped around the blade of my sword, I heard extremely quiet and unfamiliar footfalls coming behind me, but carried on flowing through the Tingure with increased speed until I felt like the sword was an extension of my arm.

I heard the footsteps stop about twenty yards away from me and after I had done the twentieth stance I flung my sword into the trees in the direction of my unwelcome observer. I hit the tree next to him, inches away from his head and he stood motionless as I walked towards him. As I walked closer he realised my age and grew more confident, “You missed.” He said cockily. I examined the tree and agreed with him.

“Yes I did, it was supposed to cut off your ear.” He grinned at me as if I had been joking and stopped me pulling the sword out of the tree.

“Let me.” He said and tried to yank it out, but failed. “You’ve got a pretty strong arm,” He said trying to hide how embarrassed he was, “Give me sec and it’ll be out.” He said and tried to pull it out again, he failed the second time as well.

“Just move.” I said rolling my eyes.

“Well I don’t want you hurting yourself trying to…” He stopped speaking as I gently pulled it out of the tree like slicing butter.

“Why are you here?” I asked him pointedly.

“My friend said he saw you here and I didn’t believe him so I came down to look.”

“You’re lying, your friend was never here.” I said evenly.

“Well ok then, I saw you out of my window and wanted to see if you were a boy or girl, because if you were a boy you had to be a bit of a lad to be wearing a tunic that short.”

“A lad?”

“Yeah, you know…”

“No, what does it mean?”

“Well… erm… you know… liking other men I guess.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“What do you mean what’s wrong with that?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“Well… everything’s wrong with that… it’s just not right is it?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“You’re strange you know that.” I turned around and walked away, he came after me like a lost sheep. “So what cycle are you in?”

“My seventeenth.”

“Oh, I’m only in my fifteenth.” I said nothing and carried on walking back to where my skirt and sheath were. “So is that your sword?”

“Yes.”

“Who gave it to you?”

“An elf.”

“Haha, you’re funny, I suppose it is a bit strange being able to fight if you’re a girl though, not many do it I suppose.”

 “Why?”

“I guess it’s up to the men to protect the women.” I slid my sword back into my sheath and put my skirt back on, tying the belt and sheath around my waist.

“I know we’ve just met, but you’re really pretty, would you consider coming with me to meet my friends tonight?”

“Why would I do that?” I asked him, confused.

“Well, it’ll be bit of fun, and my brother will be there too, he picks on me because I’m so short and well, it’d be nice to bring along a prettier girl than he does. It’d only have to be for tonight” I looked into his eyes and saw a young mind, still innocent and unsure of the world he was growing up into, this boy meant no harm and he reminded me of how Jacob had been in his fifteenth cycle; innocent and impatient to learn everything. He reminded me of the easy days before I had even known I was an elf. The look on his face reminded me of a more innocent time in my life.

“Okay then, on one condition.” His mouth dropped open with shock and then he gathered himself.

“Sure, anything!”

“If you introduce me to your friends and brother, I am simply your friend, not your date.”

“Yeah sure! You really mean it? You’ll come with me?” I looked at him carefully; he might have been two years my junior, but he was already a head taller than me. I would have said he looked quite lanky, but then I noticed the muscle definition on his arms, they were thin, but definitely strong.

“Yes I have been on the road a while; it would be nice to have some distraction.”

“Okay then, by the way, my name’s Abe.”

“Hello Abe, my name is Ilea.” I said formally holding out my hand, he shook it and I laughed lightly, it was shallow and meaningless, but it felt good to act my age, well the age I should be if I was a human.

We walked through the town and people stared at me. I questioned Abe why and he said it was because I was so pretty, I laughed and asked him to tell me the truth. “Look into my eyes; people are looking at you because you have different colour hair, a stunning figure and are really, really pretty.” I smiled at him.

“Well thank you, at least that is one mystery solved.” He offered me a crooked arm and I slid my own through his, it felt nice to act so carefree, who cared if people stared at me; I would be gone tomorrow.

“I’ve got to ask, what is that necklace?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well what’s it made out of?”

“I do not know.”

“Why don’t you ask the person who gave it to you?”

“I cannot.”

“Why?”

“She died when I was a baby, I cannot even remember her face.”

“Oh, your mother?”

“Yes, I have only ever taken it of once and it has never been out of my sight.”

“Never?”

“Not once.”

“Wow, so you really love that thing?”

“Yes.” I smiled at him and he smiled back.

“I wish I had something like that, but all I’ve got is this.” He opened his mouth to reveal a chipped tooth, “Courtesy of my brother.” He laughed and I smiled with him.

“So where are you taking me?” I asked him.

“It’s just round this corner.” We walked round the corner and I saw a group of young people sitting round a big fire in the centre of a patch of grass. No one looked at us as we walked over; they were all laughing and talking to each other and from their actions I could tell that Abe was not a very popular member in the group, I suddenly felt protective of him.

“Hey Ando.” He called to an older boy that looked a little like him. The boy grunted a reply but did not really look away from the girl he was speaking to. I looked at Ando and saw how he only had a small resemblance to his brother; Ando was tall, but extremely muscular, his shirt fitted tightly cross the muscles on his chest, and his hair, about an inch long, was dark brown and sticking out in all directions. Abe’s hair was the same colour but was also longer and shaggy like a dog. His facial features were quite hard like his brothers, but Ando’s jaw was set at more of a straight angle and there was something about his presence that just seeped confidence.  

“Is he like this towards you regularly?” I asked Abe quietly.

“Pretty much yeah.”

“Then let us have some fun.” I said to him and I could tell that he understood when I saw the twinkle in his eyes.

“I hope you don’t mind Ando, but I brought along Ilea, she’s only staying for the night and I thought it could be a bit of fun for her to meet some new people.” Ando looked up when he mentioned the fact that he had brought along a girl and his mouth dropped open when he saw me; time to play my part.

“Yeah, Abe has been extremely helpful showing me around; I would have been entirely lost without him.” I smiled brightly at Abe and he looked slightly taken aback, so I turned to face his brother again. “You are his brother?”

“Ye… yeah.” He said, shaking his head as if trying to get rid of a fly.

“Abe has told me quite a large deal about you, he is so sweet, it is a shame I can only stay for one night.” I smiled brightly at Ando again and he looked slightly lost as if trying to find words.

“Why don’t we sit over here, it’s close to the fire so you won’t get cold later.” Abe said leading me over to a gap in the ring of people. As we were walking over I whispered in his ear, “What was the matter a moment ago?”

“You surprised me, sorry, I just wasn’t ready for you to pull that on me.”

“Pull what on you?”

“The same thing you pulled on Ando.”

“I still do not understand?”

“That smile, it’s like having a light turned on suddenly in a dark room, it’s stunning.” I laughed at him playfully and pulled on his arm, I could feel the other people staring at us as we talked and saw how Abe was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable by it. “Ignore them. I have not been out for a night out with a true friend for over a year.” I told him talkatively, but then the memory of Johanna and Jacob slipped into my mind and I instinctively took a sharp, shallow breath in as the pain of the memory cut an open wound; I did not even know if they were still alive.

“What’s the matter?” Abe asked me quickly.

“It is nothing of importance.” I said, feeling my happy mood slipping away.

“No it’s not, what’s the matter?”

“I had two friends, we were so close they were like a brother and sister to me, but we got separated and I do not know where they are; it is painful to think about them.”

“Did their mum and dad move away quickly or something?”

“Yes, something to that effect.” I lied.

“Well then, have a good time for them tonight, I’m sure they would have wanted you to.” He smiled at me and put his arm round my shoulders comfortingly, I smiled back at him awkwardly, “That’s better,” he said, misunderstanding, “Nowhere near as dazzling, keep the other one for Ando.” I laughed uneasily. “Talking of the idiot, here he comes now.” I looked up to see Ando leaving the other girl on her own and coming to talk to us, but it was clear from his body language when he arrived that he was only coming over to talk to me.

“So Ilea, that’s a cool name, where do you come from?”

“Elmira.” I answered in a clear, truthful voice, he was not sure whether to take it as a joke or not.

“Cool, so where did you meet my little bro?”

“Down by the river, after I nearly sliced his ear off with my sword.” I laughed with Abe, but it became awkward when Ando joined in too, taking it to be some kind of joke.

“Yeah, then you put your skirt back on and I managed to focus my attention on something other than you legs.” Abe said winking at me, I ever so lightly punched his arm, like I would have done to Jacob.

“Why, what were you wearing before?” Ando asked, looking at me up and down.

“Just her tunic.”

“My skirt gets in the way when I am practising.” I explained to him.

“Practising what? Dance?”

“No, the sword.”

“Wow, armed and dangerous; I may have to detain her for you Abe.” I saw a glint in Ando’s eyes and a shred of doubt enter Abe’s. I realised it would not have been the first time that Ando had tried to steal Abe’s friends, and from Abe’s expression I think that Ando had been successful. Abe’s arm tightened around my shoulders ever so slightly.

“I do not think that would be a sensible idea; I might harm you.” Ando went along with my words as if I had been joking.

“Of course, a powerful warrior like yourself would have no trouble with the likes of me.”

“Exactly.” I said smiling at him and then turning to Abe with a glint on my eye, knowing for well that I could get past Ando with a flick of my eyes. “Is there anywhere that I could get a drink, I am thirsty.”

“Yeah, just over there by that tree, there’re some bottles.” Ando said and I presently got up and walked away to get them. I kept an ear out, listening to Ando and Abe’s conversation, knowing what the subject would be as soon as I’d left.

“How did you meet her?”

“I just saw her down by the river and asked her if she wanted to come with me tonight.”

“Okay then, do you know what cycle she’s in?”

“Erm…”

“Well?”

“Her seventeenth.”

“I thought as much, she’s way too old for you, she’d be better with some one older.”

“What? Someone your age?” I heard Abe say scathingly.

“Don’t take that tone with me, little brother, and actually that was exactly what I’d been thinking.”

“But Ando…”

“Quiet, I’m warning you now Abe, I want that girl, don’t get in the way.”

“But she’s really young for her age, she’s so naïve… and I did bring her to the party, can’t I just have this one?”

“No Abe, if people see you with a prettier girl than me then people will start to second guess me, especially when you’ve managed to bring along a girl like that, she’s the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, and her figure, I can’t wait to touch it.” I shivered as I bent down to pick up the bottles, he reminded me of Rowan.

“Ando, can’t you just leave her…”

“No, I can’t just leave her, I want her and I will get her.” I was on my way back at this point and sent a dazzling smile to Ando when he looked up at me. When he looked down I tried to hide the disbelief from my face; how could Abe be so innocent and kind when his brother was such a monster?

I came back to the circle, both the boys had stood up and I only had two bottles, I smiled at Ando and handed the bottle to Abe, “Sorry, I could only carry two.” I said. I saw a slight frown cross his face, so quick that any other person there would have missed it.

“It’s ok, don’t worry about it. Abe was just telling me how horrible he feels.” Ando said with a concerned look on his face.

“Why, what is wrong?” I said to Abe.

“He forgot he had to go home quite early tonight, he has to be up early tomorrow, he was just saying how mean he felt leaving you here on your own.” I turned to Abe with a sad look on my face.

“Please could you stay later?” I saw Ando shake his head from the corner of my eye.

“I don’t think I’ll be allowed.” I could see how much it pained him to say it.

“I would have no-one to talk to without you being here.”

“You can talk to me.” Ando said in a kindly voice. I turned around and smiled at him.

“I have decided that you have no choice,” I said playfully and smiled at Abe, “I will simply not let you go.” I took a step closer to him and dipped under his arms, wrapping my own round his waist, as if I was some mischievous child. The close position made me uncomfortable, but I did not want to stand by and allow my new acquaintance to be so dominated by his own brother. I saw a look of annoyance cross Ando’s face as Abe tried not to smile.

“Our parents will not be happy if he is home too late.”

“Stay for a short while longer to keep me company and then we can go back to your parents’ house and I will explain how you have been a most gracious young man.” I said to Abe playfully, but as if I was beginning to give in.

“Well I suppose if you really want him to stay then he could for a while longer.” Ando said, smiling at me as if he were allowing it.

“Thank you.”

“Do I also get a hug?” He put his arms around my waist before I could decline and I could feel the strength in them; most girls would think of it as protective, but I just thought of them as restraints and was happy to be out of them once again.

I skipped back over to Abe and pulled him to the floor, sitting with my shoulder against him. I knew this did not mean anything, but I wanted to make Ando feel jealous of his younger brother; I could feel how domineering Ando was and saw how Abe had suffered for it. I looked at Ando again and it struck me by how he reminded me of Rowan again; he had the same ruthless look in his eyes.

I could feel the warm glow of the fire on my face, for the first time since before the ball I relaxed a little; the only danger I felt at that moment was emanating from Ando and I could deal with him. I sat there leaning on Abe, feeling his body against me and I just stared into the glowing embers of the fire, loosing myself in them. I must have entered some sort of trancelike state for it only felt like a few seconds later when Ando nudged me and I snapped out of it, looking up at him suddenly, he seemed slightly taken aback by the force of my stare and I smiled at him quickly afterwards.

When he had moved away I turned to Abe, “Sorry, I’m not much company am I?”

“It’s fine, you look tired, you can go to sleep on me if you want, I don’t mind.” I looked into his eyes and saw the sincerity in his words, he really did not mind if I fell asleep on him.

“No, it is fine, I can always sleep tomorrow, for tonight I will do whatever you want.” I smiled at him, but I could see the cloudiness in his eyes.

“Well I’m only here for a little while, I’ll probably bore you, but you can go and talk to Ando if you want?”

“Please Abe, do not insult me. I know Ando wants me for himself. I also know that you do not have to go home early, so tell me, what would you like to do?” He looked at me for a moment and then smiled.

“I should have known you would have seen through him and as for what I want to do…” He looked at me impishly and trailed off; I could here a suggestion in the silence he made. After a pause he mumbled to himself, “It’d be worth it.”

“You think what would be worth it?” He paused, looking at my face and then he whispered gently in my ear.

“Kissing an angel.” He put his hand under my chin and turned his face, kissing me gently on the lips, he was so soft that I had to concentrate to be able to feel it properly. It was strange, kissing this boy that I had only met a few hours before, but I didn’t mind, it was too gentle for me to care, my guard was let down slightly by this kiss. It was a kiss of innocence.

“Was it worth it?” I asked him quietly.

“Definitely.” I smiled at him and lent against him again. “So much for the friend’s aspect.” He said, smiling. I felt an uncomfortable thought niggle at the back of my mind and tried to push it away.

“Yeah,” I smiled at him and then sighed, “But I cannot stay in the same place for long.

“Then I’ll make the most of the time I have.” He went to kiss me again, but I stopped him.

“Your brother’s watching, are you sure…”

“It’s okay, I’ll chance it, and besides, I doubt he’d really try to hurt me.” He said and I smiled at him again, unable to stop myself. He took my face in his hands again and paused as if asking permission with his eyes, I surprised him by leaning up myself and kissing him. The kiss was gentle and caring, but not as soft, he seemed to be getting used to it, I did not mind, it was just nice to have someone want me that was not evil.

We heard Ando coming over and I pulled away from him slowly, drawing out the kiss, I had learnt a lot from Rowan; he may have been sadistic but he knew how to kiss. I looked up at Ando and smiled. “Hi.”

“Hello, Abe I think you need to go now.” He said without smiling.

“No it’s okay, we’ve been talking…”Abe began but Ando cut him off.

“You’ve been doing more than that… You’d better go.”

“No, I’m staying, Ilea’s only here for one night and I’m making the most of it.”

“Abe, I’m telling you now that you’d better go, you don’t want to get in trouble.”

“Who would he get in trouble with?” I asked, pretending to be naive.

“Well…”

“I have said I will talk to your parents for Abe, therefore he has said he will stay here to keep me company. I will not be staying that long so it is alright.” I smiled at Ando again, but he just glared at Abe.

“You need to go now.”

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“I said no, I’m staying with Ilea.” Ando bent down and put his face up close to Abe’s.

“No, you’re going.”

“It is okay Abe, I am actually quite bored, can we go somewhere else? I do not like the company.”

“No it’s okay, you can stay, he’s the only one that needs to go.”

“It’s okay Ilea, I’ll go.” Abe said with his eyes on the floor.

“But I do not want to stay without Abe.”

“It’s okay honey, I’ll look after you, you can come and sit by the fire with me.” Ando caught my hand and pulled me onto my feet, Abe stood up after me quickly. “You’d better get going.” Ando said to Abe coldly. Abe leant forwards to kiss my cheek but Ando still had hold of my hand and yanked me away, so Abe just turned and started to walk off.

“Abe wait.” he stopped and I turned to Ando, “Please let go of my hand,” I asked but he did not let go, “I said, let go of my hand.” I said in a low, menacing voice. His eyes narrowed and he closed his hand tighter around mine. “This is your only warning, let go of my hand or…”

“Or you’ll what?” he said scathingly.

“Ando, I’d let go if I were you.”

“Oh shut up Abe! Or you’ll what? Cry?” I had  enough; I locked eyes with him and opened my mind into his slightly. “Just as I thought you’re not going to do anything!”

“Last chance Ando, let go.” I said without raising my voice. He laughed at me. I threw my consciousness into his and found the pain receptor in his mind, sending a small pulse into it, his scathing laugh changed to a shout.

“What did you do?” He asked, griping my hand with even more force, enough to seriously hurt any normal girl. I said nothing and sent a pulse into him again, slightly harder this time, he let go of my hand and put both his own against his temples, shouting with pain.

I turned around, about to walk off but he grabbed my shoulder with an iron grip, his fingers digging into my skin. I sent another pulse, the strongest of them all and felt his hand let go of my shoulder as his knees buckled in pain and he slipped to the floor. I walked towards Abe for a few paces and then I turned back to Ando, “Not every girl is your property, treat them with respect.” I said to him, turning back round to face Abe, seeing his expression for the first time and stopping dead in my tracks; I could see the fear in his eyes. Again, I had become the monster.

I thought for a moment and then carried on walking towards him, he stood dead still as I brushed his cheek with my lips. I leant back and smiled at him gently then sped away into the night.