A/N: This chapter is portrayed through multiple shifting povs.

A musty dawn broke over towering treetops and lifted the morning mists. The night's dew, collected on leaves, reflected the brilliant morning hues like tiny multicolored jewels.

A gentle shake on the shoulder awoke Aurora. "T-Tezaro?"

"No." Lucas's cold response had her sitting upright in a hurry.

"Lucas. I'm---" Before she could fumble an apology, his hand silenced her. For a brief moment it seemed his finger caressed her lips, but then he leaned close and spoke softly into her ear.

"There is no need for apologies with me, pretty one. And neither is this the time for one. It appears your pursuers were relentless and continued their search through the night. They are close. Very close.

"I dare not raise my voice more than this. Munbata is feeding far off and will attract attention if I call him. We must be gone before they become aware of us." Lucas pulled her up, and holding her hand, guided her along the branches.

They were still high above, but the ground became closer with each step. Lucas continued to guide her steadily downward, the forest's voices concealing their movement. It was unfortunate that his quivers were on Munbata but the beast was nowhere to be seen. He would have to make do with the one arrow he carried and his bow.

He had not wanted to frighten Aurora, but he needed her complete trust in him if they were to go undetected. As they continued descending in a spiral, Lucas felt her resistance as he tugged her hand. He turned to face her, a question in his eyes. Aurora shook her head and directed him with her stare far below.

At ground level a robed figure examined a large trunk not too far from them. Using his cloak to shield them, Lucas pinned Aurora against the trunk

His breath was at her ear once again: "Mage." He spoke with certainty before he turned to the woods and back to the mage. Scenarios sped through his mind and settled on their best option. The decision was quickly made.

He looked down at Aurora, cradled in his embrace for protection; a half smile broke his face. Giving her a quick peck on her forehead, he mouthed, for luck, and led her in a new direction.

His stride was steady and sure, while Aurora followed him as best she could in haste trying not to make noise. As she examined her footing closely, she began to realize the tree limbs were wrapped together.

The branches began to merge, almost into a walkway, and it became easier for her to follow as the mass inclined upward. Clearly Lucas had something planned, but now was not the time to question him.

Lucas jumped with wicked ease to a higher branch, and then reached out his hands to lift her to him. Once she was at his side, he motioned for her to stay, while he sprinted up across branches. A few breaths later a rope dangled in front of her.

Lucas quickly maneuvered down the rope to Aurora, a short sword now at his waist. There was no way of knowing how he had acquired either, but there was no doubt there was much more to Lucas than she had thought.

When he landed before her a new air surrounded him that seemed juxtapose to his earlier demeanor. He was serious and subdued and...dangerous.

Lucas squatted at the edge of the trunk and fiddled with an object. Then he took the end of the rope and knotted it into two loops. Without a word he placed one foot inside a loop and motioned for Aurora to follow.

It was then Aurora got a clear idea of what they were about to do. Aurora looked down to the ground. Far, far beneath.

She grabbed the roped with one hand, like Lucas, and slid her arm around his waist as he did hers. Her life was literally in his hands now, and as unbelievable as it seemed, she trusted him fully. They walked to the edge of the ledge then he tightened his grip on her waist.

There was no uncertainty in his actions; only a steady heartbeat as she dug her head into his chest. When her eyes connected with his, she took a deep breath and nodded. In that terrifying moment, she bit her lip and shut her eyes tight against him. "Jump!"

Suddenly she thought: Wait! How are we supposed to stop?! 

Too late, Lucas kicked hard at the trunk releasing the pulley system that glided them down in a WHOO, WHOO, WHOO, WHOO, WHOOSH!

Wind screamed at their ears, rushing and scrapping passed them, fluttering their clothes like the rapid strokes of a humming bird's wings. Their bodies jerked to a halt as the rope reached its limit, and strained to a standstill  several feet above the ground.

When she felt his grip loosen, she dared to open her eyes as they swayed side to side. After releasing her, Lucas was on the ground waiting for her, with an ease that appeared to Aurora unnatural.

She jumped to his side, thankful that her hands were still bandaged to survive the rope burn. Unfortunately, their hasty landing had not gone unnoticed.

"Over here!" Aurora heard a woman's voice shout, alerting her comrades.

Lucas wasted no time and grabbed Aurora by the arm. They took off like a shot.

"Keep running! Head east! I'll be right behind you!"

There was no doubt in her mind that he would quickly follow. As fast as she could, she raced on. Adrenaline rushed throughout her body, clogging her ears.

Lucas had only one quiver with him and knew he'd have to make it count. Lucas spun back and saw the mage and a woman fast approaching. In one fluid movement he loaded his bow, aligned his stance at his target and released.

The arrow shot through the woods in a blinding whirl, ripping through soft fabric before making a sharp thud in a solid trunk. He'd hit his mark.

The mage barely noticed the graze while the female near him growled enraged. Her anger fueled her speed, narrowing the distance between them, daggers in hands. In his final glance before taking off, Lucas saw a third figure a distance behind the female warrior.

While running he slipped the bow over his shoulder and headed east to reach Aurora. His feet barely touched the ground as he took long swift strides.

He cut through the forest, weaving between trees confident of his direction and speed. He'd only met Aurora a night before, had pledged to save her friend, and was already fending for his life. Lucas beamed as he spotted her; he was having the time of his life.

Aurora continued running, remembering how a few nights before she had been stalked, and she propelled her legs faster. Lucas now ran almost parallel with her, his breath steady. She took his hand when he offered it as he tugged her close.

"In a moment we will enter the Silent Circle." He didn't stop for breath. "Run--- and hide fast." He was barely panting, his face focused on the task at hand.

"When this is done, I'll find you. Do not come out for me. No matter what." Then, none too gently, he shoved her ahead of him with a pull from his arm.

The trees fanned out and made running in the direction Lucas had signaled clearer for her to follow. Unfortunately, it also made their pursuers' task that much simpler.

The soft earth and green leaves made their rushing footfalls soundless. She could see a small clearing a short distance from them. Glancing back she saw Lucas nod once and draw his recently acquired sword.

There was no mistaking his intent: he was going to take a stand so that she could escape.

She wanted to turn back and tell him she had powers to help him fight. But even as the thought began to form, she saw Lucas's intense stare and heard in her mind his strict instructions: run and hide. Her racing thoughts blanketed the silence around her.

Resolved to do both, she looked for a place to hid and use her powers from there.

She entered the clearing first, as Lucas had intended, and darted her eyes in every direction. With not much choice, she sprinted towards a low hanging branch as adrenaline pump filled her veins. Her arms stretched out to grasp it as she jumped. The rough bark scrape through her bandaged hands and reopened her wounds.

Meanwhile, Lucas spun around as his back faced the center of the clearing, ready to fight. He steadied his breath, but did not plant his feet.

Elves preferred the shuffling of feet, the quick adjustment to their opponent with a deadly speed. He kept his eyes drilled to the tree line, knowing full well his sense of hearing was void in this place.

The sword he carried had seen better days, but it would have to do. Aurora had hidden; and he would fend off the enemy. As long as she remained hidden, he felt confident the mage would not be able to find her within the Silence.

Lucas did not wait long before the mage and warrior entered the grove. The dark haired mage simply stood at the foot of the entrance with arms crossed, unsurprised. They both knew he was powerless within the Silence of the Circle. The brief eye contact was enough to convey the message.

He turned his attention to the fair warrior and attuned his stance to a smaller opponent. But she did not ready to attack, though her daggers burned in her hands anxious to spin and whirl in fury. Why the hesitation, he wondered. There was a fleeting look to her right, not intended for the mage.

A third pursuer had arrived.

The charging steed did not stop as it galloped towards him. In a maddening rush the rider dismounted with great ease, sword in hand midway through his deadly strike.

Steel hit steel, as thrust met parry. Enemy faced enemy glare for glare. Zealous green eyes matched the intensity of eyes the color of hardened steel. Recognition did not lessen their animosity.

Blades flashed apart. Too rapidly their dislike for one another had grown.

Lucas launched a speedy attack swinging right and downward; if not for his many years of fighting, Tezaro would have been inflicted with a deep shoulder wound. In a blinding spin, Tezaro deflected the attack easily enough and launched two quick strikes of his own. Neither was holding back.

The strength in Tezaro's strikes vibrate through Lucas' sword and weaken his arms momentarily. It was an unexpected shock to experience such force. His opinion of Tezaro was slightly elevated.

He leapt back to dodge a sweeping blow that was a little too close for comfort. Lucas continued to change his footwork, hoping to confuse and outmaneuver Tezaro. It did not succeed. Every move was quickly countered.

Tezaro studied the elf's moves closely, ready to exploit them. Predictable, he scoffed. He did not mean to toy with the elf, but some punishments were better drawn out.

The elf was well-trained; even so, it was becoming obvious that swordplay was not his strength. Tezaro smiled and increased his speed.

Looking at the elf, he doubted that he was one of Lord Fennaris's minions. He did not fit the mold. Still, if he so much as touched Aurora--- he could not, would not complete the thought. Anger boiled in him, strengthening his strikes and turning them deadlier.

Aurora had continued to climb, unaware of the battle waging at the edge of the small clearing. Wounds that had almost healed began to reopen on her palms as she fought with the abrasive bark to climb.

Her breathing was labored but she remained focused on reaching the next branch. A tiny droplet of moisture fell from the sky on her hand. The small interruption caused her to misplace her grip, and sent her arm flailing as she tried to regain her balance, all the while yelping. However that tiny droplet had expanded her awareness.

Two things happened at once.

First, her vision shifted to the edge of the clearing. Lucas was retreating from Tezaro's barrage of attacks. She realized it was Tezaro from whom they had been fleeing all along. But relief did not set in.

Second, a strange silence was all around them. One she had not yet noticed until the moment of her slip and no sound had emerged from her mouth. The imagined hammering of her heart had drowned out the silence, but now there was no rustling of leaves caused by the playful wind. No birds chirping. No murmuring of voices in the forest background. And no clashing swords like thunder.

There was nothing except the Silence.