Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Lathanos's Great Journey ❯ Lathanos's Awakening ( Chapter 12 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

By: Pika189

Title: Lathanos's Great Journey

Author: the ultimate SoBe Master

Chapter 12: Lathanos's Awakening

Email: mightysobe745_8@yahoo.com, sobe_rocks@hotmail.com

Category: Fantasy

Lathanos sat up just as a woman with lavender eyes, long, flowing, black hair, and milky skin entered the room. “You really took a beating! What happened?” She asked.

“Well, let's just say I was attacked by a demon and just barely escaped with my life,” Lathanos replied.

“Well, you should be more careful these days. With Etheros's army advancing every day, demons are common in these parts!” The woman was smiling innocently.

Lathanos winced as a sharp pain shot through his side. He looked down to see the bloodstained bandages his stomach was wrapped in. Everything suddenly came back to him in a flash: Etheros, the fight, Romona, his brother's death, everything. It played back in his head as if he were an innocent bystander watching the fight.

“I must leave now!” Lathanos exclaimed, jumping out of bed and heading for the door, his stomach burning fiercely with pain. He then remembered that he had dropped his swords. He felt down to his side, only to feel two swordless scabbards. He turned to the woman and her daughter. “Did you happen to find two swords near where you had found me?”

“Yes, one with a gorgeous, emerald green blade and one with a blade that shimmers icy blue like the ocean,” The woman replied. “By the way, my name is Ithalna, and this here is my daughter, Scarlet.”

“Nice to meet you. My name's Lathanos. Now, where are those swords?! They are very important to m-me!” Lathanos replied, wincing from the pain.

“They're upstairs. Let me go get them for you…” Ithalna stated. She headed up a single flight of stairs and disappeared from view.

“You look like you are in pain; you should sit down,” Scarlet said, beckoning towards a wooden chair next to Lathanos.

“Thank you,” Lathanos replied, taking up on her offer and sitting down. “So, what village is this?”

“This is Elrohir Village, sir,” Scarlet replied. Her eyes were staring curiously at the bandages on Lathanos's stomach. “So, how did you get that awful gash in your stomach?!”

“Well, I was fighting this demon who wielded a huge katana! I had tried to strike with my green katana, but he merely blocked! So, I moved back and unsheathed my other katana, considering the fact that it can easily bring down most demons,” Lathanos paused for a moment, then continued. “I rushed him, swinging at him with both swords; yet, he still blocked!

We pushed off each other and shot forward. Our swords came together, and a grinding, metallic sound filled the air! We pushed off again, and I shot into the air and landed behind him! I swung my green at him. He turned and blocked it. I then grinned and swung my blue sword at him,” Lathanos paused for another moment. “, but he simply brought his free hand up and grabbed the blade!

I was stunned! He pushed me to the ground. I got to my feet and charged, but before I could strike, he thrust his sword through my gut with no problem at all!!” Lathanos finished. A tear then trickled down his face.

“What's wrong, Lathanos?” Scarlet asked.

“Well…my brother, S-sobasa, tried to avenge me, but the demon, he…he…KILLED HIM!!!” Lathanos suddenly snapped, filled with a sudden hatred towards Etheros he had never felt before. Without warning, Lathanos's fist slammed hard into the wall. Electricity crackled around him for a few moments, accompanied by wind, causing his hair to flow upward. Then, suddenly, it stopped. `What the hell happened to me?!' Lathanos asked himself.

Scarlet was staring wide-eyed at Lathanos with the utmost curiosity. “What was that all about?!” She asked as Ithalna was heading back down the stairs with Lathanos's swords.

“What happened?!” Ithalna asked sharply.

“Momma, Lathanos got really mad all of a sudden and as he hit the wall with his fist, electricity crackled and wind flowed around him!” Scarlet exclaimed.

“That is startling I must say, but what is done is done, and at least he didn't attack you…” Ithalna replied calmly.

“I swear, ma'am, that I have not a clue as to what happened to me! It was as if I were a different person!” Lathanos exclaimed. He had gotten to his feet. The seat he had been sitting in was charred, and there was a dent in the wall where he had hit it.

“No need to worry, Lathanos. What you did is in the past now, and at least you didn't take your anger out on my daughter, or else I would have had to take action…” replied Ithalna, still as calm as ever.

There was a long pause. Then, Lathanos finally decided to break the silence, saying, “I will be leaving tomorrow, but for now, I think I shall rest. I must find Etheros and destroy him! He is holding a friend I hold very close to me prisoner!!”

“I wish to accompany you, Lathanos! I have yet to see what lies beyond this village!” Scarlet blurted out.

“Well, I really don't think -“ Ithalna began, but Lathanos interrupted her.

“Don't worry, Ms. Ithalna. She will be just fine if she sticks with me. It would be good to have some extra company anyway…” With that, Lathanos headed for his room. Before he went in, he said, “I would prepare yourself if I were you, Scarlet. The journey ahead shall be a perilous one…” That said, Lathanos headed into his room, crashed to the bead, and was out like a light.

Looking at the map and the room now vacated by Etheros, Romona now ran her fingers over the mountains and the sparkling rivers. It was indeed a beautiful 3D map, and she loved to look at it, but she also had to figure a way to escape the confines of the building that was her prison.

Turning to the door she had entered through, she exited quietly. However, she wasn't in the same room she had been in earlier. A small light landed in the middle of the room, illuminating it with a soft glow. Glancing around, she could only see the grey walls. There were no decorations or paintings on the walls, only grey nothingness. She bent down to touch the floor. It was also bare - no carpet or anything, just a strange, concrete-like substance.

Moving forward, she moved into the light, her hair shining, and a spark finally crept into her eyes. The light was cold and unfeeling; it was an unreal light, used only to light a room, and never to provide any warmth.

Romona reached upward to block the glare. “Hello…?” She said uncertainly. No one answered her call, but rather something floated lightly to the ground beside her, brushing gently against her long wings. It was an envelope tinged tan from age with a character from another language on the seal. Picking it up slowly, Romona broke the seal and pulled out a piece of parchment. Scanning it quickly, she held it up to the light and read it again slowly:

My Guest,

You have a time limit to roam the castle for I will have a curfew. Be in your room an hour `til midnight and we shall have no problems. You are a prisoner of war, but so far I have taken you under my wing. I urge that you not break my trust and follow my few simple rules. There will be three meals a day, for tonight you shall join me for dinner in the grand hall. Tomorrow I will be absent from the castle, so I shall show you the kitchen after our meal. You will have certain times to eat your meals: seven in the morning for breakfast, noon for lunch, and seven again for dinner. I will come to your room a quarter `til seven to take you to dinner, so make yourself presentable; the dresser will have suitable clothes for the occasion.

Your host,

Etheros

Holding the letter with shaking hands, she uttered, “I am a guest, not a prisoner. I guess I am better off than most, but then again…”

Turning away, she moved away from the light and to the wall. Running her hand over the wall, she found a crack and, frowning, pushed lightly, watching it slip away from beneath her fingers. Gasping lightly, she pulled back her hands, opening them as they rested on her hips. Pushing on the stone as it moved to the side, she finally moved forward into another room. Recognizing it as the Library, she breathed a heavy sigh and moved into the lights

She found herself on the second story of three that were held with books. The room being circular, she walked all the way around it until she found a ladder. Climbing down it slowly, she entered the bottom floor. Glancing at the desk, she walked past it and out into the hallway. Wandering the halls, she finally found her room, and just in time too. She had only around thirty minutes or so, judging by the sun's position in the sky.

Opening the dresser, Romona reached in slowly, drawing out a magnificent dress. It was not the regular style, but a white dress with small straps gracing her shoulders. It was made of silk and it hugged her curves, flaring out at the end. Long slits were on the back for her wings. The front neckline was a deep V that went down a little farther than she would have liked, but it was nonetheless beautiful. Brushing out her long hair, she left a long strand hang down on either side of her face. The rest she pulled into a complicated knot on the back of her head.

Brushing out the wrinkles in her dress, she heard a knock at the door. Grasping the handle, she opened it, but instead of Etheros, it was the kindly, old woman from earlier. Upon entering, the woman gasped. Smiling sweetly, she said, “Oh, you look beautiful, ma'am! Anyway, Etheros sends this to you…” The woman held up a small box, and as soon as Romona had taken it, she disappeared.

“Thank…you…”Romona whispered. Noticing the woman was gone, she opened the small, blue, velvet covered box. Glancing down at the box's contents, she ran her fingers over a long, silver chain. Upon picking it up, she noticed the jewel on the pendent. It was a teardrop-shaped emerald. Pulling it around her neck, it looked beautiful against her flawless skin. Reaching up to touch the pendant, it swung against her neck as another knock was heard at the door.

Walking back to the door, she opened it slowly, the well-oiled hinges doing their job. However, the man in the doorway was not someone she particularly wanted to see. Etheros was dressed nicely in a scarlet suit with gold trimmings. His dark hair was pulled to the nape of his neck and was tied with a gold bow made of silk. Romona was taken aback at his good looks. “Good evening, Romona,” He said clearly.

He executed a flawless bow as she flushed in displeasure, or was it just pleasure? Her thoughts were crowded and lost to her as she performed a gracefully curtsy and replied, “Good evening…”

He offered her his gloved hand, and she took it in some good faith. He kissed it, sending shivers down her spine. After that they left without another word. She closed the door behind her as he studied her form in the dress. “You look beautiful tonight…” He said politely as he walked down the hall.

Romona could hear the truth in his tone and, keeping the tone polite, answered back truthfully, “That is surely a compliment from one as handsome as yourself, Etheros…” Her voice trailed off as he dropped his hand from her's, grasping a door and holding it open for her. Entering with a quiet “thank you,” she found herself in a large room. The walls were a gorgeous cream color, and the floor was made of stained wood. A small table sat to one side, which she expected would be where they would eat. A flushed young man stood in the corner with a violin, and a piano was half hidden in the shadows with a woman in its seat. Turning, Etheros had pulled a seat out for her, and, accepting it with another “thank you,” sat across from him as dinner began.

The dinner was simple: roast duck and a few vegetables and fruits, coupled also with elven wine much to her surprise. After words, there was a wonderful chocolate pudding, with some light conversation passing between them. They didn't speak much, only about old customs, and they laughed at some of them. Finally, when they had finished, Etheros stood and, walking to her and extending his hand, asked softly, “May I have this dance?”

The music in the background had played on and on throughout dinner, but she hadn't really noticed. Now, listening to it, her heart began to race as she vacated her seat and answered, “That would be lovely…”

He led her across the floor with ease, placing his left hand on the lower of her back, avoiding her wings, and keeping her right hand in his. He kept her close, but not too close to cause discomfort as she looked into his eyes. She would later wonder how he had gotten those eyes; they were so beautiful and wise, and yet so dangerous at other times. While dancing all Romona could think of was how handsome he was. The speed of the music slowed, and they were forced to a slow two-step as Etheros broke the silence between them, saying, “Romona?”

Looking up to his eyes once more, she replied, “Yes?”

Etheros swallowed, and he looked as though he were having trouble. For some reason, however, it did not fit him. All the stories of him being a tyrant and killing so many people were washed away as he smiled uncertainly, whispering back, “Have you ever been…in love…?”

“I-I think I have…but then the truth is distorted, and who knows if love is real…”

The evening went on as planned, and after the dance, Etheros showed Romona where the kitchen was and then walked her back to her room. Standing outside the door as she opened the door, Etheros said softly, “Romona?” Turning to face him, she watched as he crossed the distance between them and, lowering his head, descended a gentle kiss on her lips. Moving back a step, he whispered, “Thank you…”

Watching him as he walked, Romona smiled slightly, saying, “No, thank you…” She then disappeared into her room.

“You never pick who crawls into your heart. It just happens.” - Unknown

A/N: Well, what did ya think? A bit boring, yes. But it had to happen to get the story along. I plan on Romona being reunited with Lathanos next chapter. I was planning on this chapter, but I had to stop it. Anyway, what did ya think of the quote at the end? The person I am writing this suggested it. I think it's a good ending for the chapter, don't you think? Anyway, later!