"Listen to Your Heart"

A shaky breath, whether caused from fear or nerves, she did not know, escaped her lips. Her eyes, a usual crystal blue now shaded in gray, rose to meet that of Wilhelm’s. “I don’t think we’re coming back.” She told him quietly, the realization hitting her like a lead block.



His lips formed a frown, perfect, dark brows furred as he nodded in reluctant agreement. “We’ve failed, it’s over.” Even though the words were said, neither stopped looking at each other, praying one would say something, anything, to stop this madness. Both young rangers praying that one would say something to keep them together.



“Mina,” Her mentor spoke abruptly as he walked into the clearing, “It’s time we go.”



I know there's something in the wake of your smile.

I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yea.

You've built a love but that love falls apart.

Your little piece of heaven turns too dark.



Dressed in blue and white, from head to toe, a gown of flowing silk now took place of her ranger’s clothes. R’gon had gone to the West, Wilhelm to the South and She, to the East – back to her people. Now she stood, eyes closed, head bowed as she stood at the temple, feeling the bitterness of her decision. The past years flashed through her young mind, aging her with every thought and every pain. A gasp, full of pain and tears, escaped her lips and she fell to the burnt ground. With reluctance her eyes open to survey the tortured ground covered by a black sky: a land once her home, now nothing but rubble.



“M’lady?” One of the survivors asked, placing a dirtied hand on her slouched shoulders. “We should go, they’ll be back.” Absent mindedly she stood once again, staring out a head of her, “None of this should have happened, Odin, I should have stopped it. Now there’s nothing in this world that can save us. The King's won.” With blurred eyes she turned a somber stare to the grave at her feet, where three others should someday lay but never would- for their bodies would never be truly recognizable. From her hair she pulled a dead blue rose, allowing it’s thorns to cut her fingers as it glided from her hands down onto the grave bellow. “We’ve lost, Tript,” She whispered aloud to her brother, as if he could still somehow hear her wherever he was, “we’ve lost everything.”



Listen to your heart

when he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

there's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

and I don't know why,

but listen to your heart

before you tell him goodbye.



“Mina?” Her brother’s voice called from the doorway. With a gasp she sat up more, wide eyes turning to meet his. Her breathing was erratic, her nightmare still replaying itself before her eyes. Without another word her brother was there beside her, his arms placed protectively around her and his chin on her head. From beneath his head she could feel the soft texture of his worn robes and the warmth he emitted. “Shh,” Tripton whispered, his voice as soothing as a lullaby. “Go back to sleep – it was a dream.” He said, even if it wasn’t, just to give her comfort.



With a startle, she woke, tears in her eyes as she looked around the cold forest. No, he wasn’t there, none of them were. Sleeping in heaps were what was left of the fight, resting peacefully as if nothing had ever happened. Lying back down against the tree she stared up at the clouded sky, wishing to see a star behind them. The forest was cold, but she was numb to it, it wasn’t nearly as frozen as her heart. “It’s just a dream.” She whispered to herself, closing her eyes. “Just a dream.”



Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile.

The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yea.

They're swept away and nothing is what is seems,

the feeling of belonging to your dreams.



“Who goes there?” A sharp voice demanded. Its tone was familiar, but only just, as it had changed with age. Holding out her arm she ordered her men to lower their weapons, eyes focused on the approaching figures. When their eyes met, neither could speak at first. It didn’t seem possible that they were standing there, together once more after all these years. His hair was a bit longer and stubble shadowed his face but his eyes, his eyes were just as gorgeous as ever. She looked worn to him, weighted by a thousand evils, dragged down by the dead, still from somewhere behind her mask he could see the old her. Long black hair fell over her shoulders like a waterfall in his memory and her face held a soft knowing smile, and those eyes of hers...eyes that could read your sole. “Mina?” Wilhelm whispered, “Is that you?”



With a slow, blank stared nod she responded. “Yes…Wilhelm, you,” Her slips struggled to form words, “you look well.” A small lopsided smile was his response as he stepped toward her, arm nestling across her shoulder as if to help carry the invisible load she carried, “And you look like the world around you has fallen apart.”



“It has, Wil, it has.”



Listen to your heart

when he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

there's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

and I don't know why,

but listen to your heart

before you tell him goodbye.



For a moment she closed her eyes and she wasn’t there, she was back at the lodge with her mentor and her brother; listening to them tease one another like children. She listened to his laughter, to the music it seemed to make as it exited his lips. His laughter was her lullaby; it had been for so many years. Reality set in, the remembrance of the swords dicing her brother before her eyes, his panicked voice as he told her to run. His last words he spoke to her, unfinished, held dead in the air. Opening her eyes she stared ahead of her, watching the flames enclose around what they had of her brother’s body. “We are gathered here,” The preacher began, “to honor a noble warrior for his courageous accomplishments in life and his honorable death.” The sound of Leiha’s sobs behind her drowned out the sound preacher’s voice. For a moment, a split second, she understood how her mentor felt when they’d heard the news about Aizlin. It was like someone had taken a knife and stabbed you in the heart.



And there are voices

that want to be heard.

So much to mention

but you can't find the words.

The scent of magic,

the beauty that's been

when love was wilder than the wind.

“These woods are cursed,” Wilhelm hissed in the elder man’s ear, eyes darting around their surroundings, “what kind of nut would send us out here alone? Better yet, what one would let his so-called niece live here.” His eyes shifted along the woods. “You know, he’s known for being a bit crazy, R’gon, how do we even know this supposed ‘niece’ exists? How do we know he’s not trying to kill us all?”

“Shhh!” R’gon whispered harshly, thrusting out his arm to stop both of his apprentices short of him. A silence lingered between the three wanderers, a dense and troublesome silence that brought nothing but the hair on the back of their necks to a point. Over his shoulder the older man signaled the two younger Rangers to be silent.

Within a matter of seconds, on all sides of them their was a rustle in the leaves, starting at the left and then the right until it met in the middle, somewhere in the distance ahead of them.

“Do you hear that?” Minaethial breathed as quietly as she could, although the question’s answer was obvious. Once more the man hushed them both, his own eyes darting around the darkened woods around them. With one hand he outstretched the candle in an attempt to see what was in the distance. He knew these woods too well, more than even such a Ranger as himself should wish to know them.

In perfect time, as he lifted the candle before him, a hard wind blew, it’s cold gust stealing life from the burning wax. A thick fog, once thin, rolled in around them, obstructing their view. The silence around them became eerie once more, and the sound of their breathing echoed like the devils footsteps.

A shadowed form stood upon a hill before them in a mess of robes which were moving in the wind, too indistinct to tell if it was male or female. If it had not been for the voice, mysterious as it rose from every angle of the wood, they would not have known of the gender. But speak the shadow did as it moved ever so carefully from its place upon the hill on the beaten path ahead of them. The shadow’s voice was shady and threatening, and full of mystery, yet oddly gentle for anything that might dwell in that wood.

“In the Dark,
Clouds Shatter,
Thunder Soars,
Out from the depths,
An ominous shadow roars.”

Around them, light footsteps - like that of Mina’s Elvin kin - were crunching leaves were nearly drowned out by the sound of a coming storm. The in-coming front sent yet another whirl of bone chilling wind through the three travelers, causing two of them to shiver. While the other two focused ahead of them, R’gon stood in the front, hiding the dead candle in his robes.

Slight movement to her left caused Minaethial’s head to turn, her eyes piercing the forest beside her. Suspicion rose in her as she could not see the culprit and, instinctively, she raised her hand to cover her necklace. Beside her, Wilhelm moved, leaning forward to whisper to R‘gon . “Who is it?” This question seemed to ignite another verse in the shadow.

“Friend or Foe?
You do not know,
Until the darkness swallows you
By then your fate is sealed.

Take your chances,
If you wish,
But most flee the forest,
And avoid the risk.”

A flash of lightning lit the dark wood, illuminating the shadow’s enough for the group of disheveled warriors to get a better view. The shadow was clearly a woman, as her voice had given hint to the first moment she had spoken. Her eyes were dark and hardened; rage reflecting the terrifying flash of light, her long dark hair was even more wicked and wild in the wind than Mina’s. Still, though, a small smirk, mischievous and dangerous played her face. To her right another shadow moved, darting from behind her and then up in front. It slinked upon the ground, staying low, a soft growl and beady red eyes the only clue to its whereabouts.

“Lightning flashes,
Black wolves growl,
Petty courage turns to ash,
As the wind lets out a mighty howl.”

As if the words were a cue, the red-eyed shadow turned it’s head to the moon, releasing a wild howl. The sound sent pins and needles up your spine, making you think twice about what you may or may not do next. “Let us pass.” Mina was shocked to find Wilhelm demanding with his fingers placed carefully over the hilt of his resting sword. His eyes were hard, like the woman’s, and if any fear of what stood before them was in his body, he did not show it. R’gon, however, appeared quite displeased with the Ranger’s couragous outburst and turned his eyes, then slits, upon the boy and gave him a swipe across the arm.

The woman smirked, walking forward with slow and deadly movement until she stood a few feet from them. From her hip she extracted a candle and with a movement of her long fingers she lit it. The warm glow softened the contours of her face, giving it a more playful look compared to the ferocity it had worn a moment before. Her eyebrow, the same red-brown color of her hair, arched and she tilted her head as if to challenge Wilhelm. “And yet you fools do stay,” She eyed Wilhelm with hard eyes, though she seemed mildly amused, “however, fools do what fools lead them to,” Sharply her darted her bright amber spheres to the head of the group, a smirk slowly forming across her face, “and what a large fool does lead this hefty group of weary men.”

“Only the largest, Lady Kalluhan,” R’gon responded, much to the surprise of his charges. A smile, wider and brighter than the woman’s before him also appeared on his face as he gave her a small bow. A moment’s pause lingered between the two before the woman, whom he had regarded as Lady Kalluhan, reached out her hand and rested it upon his own. “You need not to bow to me, we are beyond formalities.” Her eyes, which were aglow by the candle, rose up to his face, searching in his green eyes for an answer to their coming. “You are being hunted then?” She whispered half to herself, half to the group before her. As she stared ahead over R’gon’s shoulder you could almost see the gears in her mind turning like an old grandfather clock. Suddenly, her eyes dilated and opened wide before retracting a split second later. Her head turned to look at Mina, a knowing look in her eyes, “I am the keeper of these woods and the only guardian from dangers that live in it. So long as you stay with me, I will keep you from harm.” Turning her attention back to R’gon she moved closer, hand wrapping tighter around his own. Against his callused skin her hand was soft and as he embraced its brittle form within his own muscular hand he nearly worried he could break it. “You will come back to my home and rest there for the night…what occurs from there, we will discuss in the morning.” Quickly the mysterious woman released R’gon’s hand and moved away from them, turning to face the hill once again. She held the candle out in front of her, eyes narrowing to pierce through the night. “Edelweiss!”

Listen to your heart

when he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

there's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

and I don't know why,

but listen to your heart

before you tell him goodbye.



“R'gon!” Wilhelm called, eyes focused in the distance. “There’s smoke coming from the hole!” Like that the world stopped, Mina turned to see her mentor rush towards the hole. Of course, the two younger rangers followed his movements faithfully. As R'gon's eyes ran across the scene he looked lost, more pained than even when Tripton had fallen. With lethargic movements he crouched, tapping the ground with his forefinger. “She was not here when it happened.” He spoke in slow, precise words, “This was done after the attack, her tracks are too old and this smoke too fresh. Whoever it was, wanted all evidence of her lost.” Standing up he looked at his charges, “We have to go to the city; they’ll know what’s happened.” Without another word, he headed for the road, expecting them to follow.



What they discovered at the city was not any more comfort than the smoke they’d seen. R'gon had hoped, by some fleeting idea of imagination, that she had fled to the city when she had heard the Kings men coming. He hoped she was safe, furthest from harms way. His hopes, however, were not truth. “R'gon!” A woman exclaimed rushing over and hugging him, pulling back and taking his hands. “Thank goodness it’s you! Thank the Gods you’ve come!” She spoke in fast words with a thick accent, barely understandable to the younger rangers.



“Jade,” R'gon interrupted, holding the woman’s hands as well, “Jade, where is Aizlin.” His voice was urgent and his eyes were searching hers for some strand of hope. The woman stepped back a bit, faltering on her feet. “You did not know?” She asked, looking pained herself. “She’s gone, R'gon. They took her. The King's army came in the night; they jumped Edelweiss and then jumped her. For hours they tortured her, R'gon, hours trying to get some information about the necklace off of her…about you three and where you might be...where you were headed. Naturally she wouldn’t tell them a word, no matter what they did to her. She would protect you all until the King brought death upon her. Oh, R'gon,” She cried, “They took Aizlin to the black tower – to the King himself, nothing but death will find her there, R'gon, nothing but death!” All Rid could do was stare, white faced at the woman before him. The words ‘nothing but death’ ran through his mind like a horror movie.





Listen to your heart, mm-mmmmmm



"Wilhelm!" Mina exclaimed, running over and hugging him, wrapping her arms around his neck as best she could. It seemed to have been far too long since she’d last embraced him. Smiling a bit he did the same, only he wrapped his arms about her waist. "Oh, Wilhelm, I'm so glad to see you. I searched all over the mountain top for R'gon but could find him no where. He isn't the type to just not show, both you and I know that. I fear something bad may have happened to him." Stopping to take a breath the young woman looked up at him, pulling back enough so she could meet his eyes. Looking into the spheres she loved so much she smiled a bit, "I'm so glad to see you're alright, these past few months of unknowing have been torcher."



There was a pause where she looked closer, deeper into his soul, and more at his physical appearance, attempting to push aside her excitement. Upon further investigation she noted that he was pretty well banged up, as if he’d been in a fight. Blinking she looked up at Wilhelm’s face, furring her eyebrows worriedly. "What happened to you?" She demanded but, like he had for the past few moments, Wilhelm remained silent. A frown graced her lips as Minaethial pulled back further, worry clouding her normally crystal clear eyes. Immediately her excitement vanished, being replaced with worry, fear and speculation. "What's wrong?"



Finally, after moments of silence the man before her moved, but not towards her. He ran his hand through his hair, closing his eyes for a moment while he looked down at his feet. Taking in a deep breath he looked up at her, eyes filled with a strange look of guilt, "I'm sorry, Mina." He whispered, speaking up for the first time since she'd last seen him, "I had nothing to do with it, I swear, I didn’t know."



Widening her eyes the young female ranger moved to step towards him in both worry and accusation. "Nothing to do with what, Wilhelm?” Her voice became sharp at the older man, fear – of which out of all feelings she hated the most – soaring through her. When he didn’t respond and stood there, avoiding eye contact she advanced towards him, “What's happened? What did you do?"



Once more, there was a silence. The more experienced ranger turned his head away, looking into the depths of the forest – unable to bare her judgmental gaze. A sudden realization hit Mina, and she took in an unsteady breath. Slowly she lowered her blue eyes to his chest and then to his hand finding what she hoped to see, no where. "Wil, where's the necklace?"



Wilhelm smiled, a melancholy and sarcastic smile, but remained silent. Gritting his teeth he turned to look up at the young woman before him, staring into her eyes apologetically. "I had no idea, Mina." He whispered to her but she shook her head, completely confused. This couldn’t be happening, what had happened? What didn’t he know? How couldn’t he? It wasn't until dark shadows, men and others dressed in black, emerged from the dense brush to join him that she understood.



"Wilhelm," She breathed, stumbling backwards to get as far away from him as she could. Her young face, that was usually joyful despite their hardships, now looked pained. "How could you?" Narrowing her eyes, tears welling behind them the young woman felt the need to throw up. He had betrayed her, betrayed her mentor – betrayed the whole country.



His lips parted as he tried to talk, to say anything to defend him, but nothing would come. All he could do was stand there, staring at her helplessly while she stood there in a form of pain that no medicine could heal. She looked betrayed, and he knew she had full right to feel that way - he would have felt it too if he was in that situation and had he actually betrayed her. "Speak nothing to her, young Bowman," One of the dark figures commanded, coming behind Wilhelm. The taller, older and broader man gripped Wilhelm’s shoulders as if they were good old buddies. Wilhelm winced, but spoke nothing.

After taking a moment to pause the man who had spoken brushed shoulders with the younger man and walked towards the young lady standing before them, an eerie look in his cold eyes. "She is not worth your noble breath." The words were mocking, taunting him to think he had done something gracious. But he hadn’t – he was furthest from noble to either sides and he knew it. Wilhelm grimaced and closed his eyes, wishing to turn back time so he could right things. When he finally did open his eyes, it was only once and only to see Mina's perfect face distorted in pain, and her eyes glossed.



"Don't touch me." Mina hissed when he reached out to touch her as the guards dragged her past him – her captors. With all hate that could fill her small body she looked up at him, eyes narrowed into lethal slits as she glanced from his eyes to his fingers which were inches from her arms. Poison seeped from her gaze, as if she wished death upon him. Instantaneously Wilhelm retracted his hand and looked away, towards the ground not making another move until she passed.



I don't know where you're going

and I don't know why,

but listen to your heart

before you tell him goodbye.



“I swear to you,” His voice was firm and urgent, his breath moist and fresh as its warmth rolled over her cool skin. “I will never, ever hurt you that way again.”



Out of breath the young woman laughed, closing her eyes and resting herself against his muscular arm. “Don’t promise such things.” She whispered back to him, gasping for breath as they laid in the basement, waiting for the men above to pass without noticing them. In the back of her mind she wondered what punishment would be brought upon Aizlin for helping them escape, “Besides, you have nothing to worry about,” Reaching her hand up she placed its slender form against his dirtied young cheek, “I can turn reality into a fantasy at the snap of a finger. My worst nightmares in reality, can become nothing more than a dream.”



Chuckling under his breath the young man placed his lips to her forehead. His chest rumbled and rocked with every movement of his laughter but the young woman didn’t care – the movement was comforting. “Bless your strange ways, Mina.”



~~~~



Ahh, I've miss you guys.



Originally, I had this set to Carrie Underwood's "Just a Dream" because of the lyrics, and the fact that Tripton always told Mina that "it's just a dream" when anything went wrong. However, when I was listening to one of my playlists, "Listen to your Heart" by DHT came on and, well, I couldn't resist.



For the most part this thing (whatever you wish to call it) between a 1st and 2nd book...all revolving around three main characters....Mina (who I modelled after Lenia), Wilhelm and R'gon, Mina's mentor. I know it probably makes very little sense, haha, as you really don't know the plot line....but, it's something that has come to me recently....

*sigh*

Now I don't know whether I want to do the first book as my NaNo or do the non-fantasy one I was talking about.....I only have the outline for this one done, and these snippets but the story is well thought out....the other non-fantasy one is kind of....er....not so well thought out.


Pst. Anna. I want mmmooorrreeeeee


..For the sake of anyone who happens to come across this site while filtering through the internet....

Tripton, R'gon, Mina, Aizlin Kalluhan, Odin and plotline © Katherine LaGassie