To Pay The Devil Himself

Rolarund had told them to be patient. He had spent many weeks near Gehenna without detection. He had seen Gulbrandt a few times and he could only guess the woman with him was his wife and the boy his son. Well their treachery deserved an equally horrible punishment. They didn’t call them dark runners for nothing. They had waited until this Cole and Aviana they were called now came outside the city. Now they had their chance to even the score.

Cole was over by the small lake. He was showing Aslan how to bait a hook and then how to cast the rod in. Aslan was still quite young and he looked up at his father and hoped he was doing it right. “That’s it son...just twitch it every few moments along the surface of the water,” he instructed. Aslan complied but not all that deftly. His version of a waterbug seemed to...hop out of the water and then back in again. Cole chuckled as he watched him. Aslan concentrated on trying to do it just right and Cole showed him as he used his own pole. Aviana was tasked with setting up the blankets and the food ofcourse and it certainly looked like fish was not going to be on the menu anytime soon! Cole looked back at Aviana. She was absolutely beautiful in her new dress. He was hopeful that Aslan would nap and that he could kiss her a bit while they were out in this fresh air.

She couldn’t know why but their horses seemed awfully skittish. Paslin, her gray, spotted mare frisked and rolled her eyes as if she was agitated.

Laenaya smiled as she watched her son try so hard to imitate his father. Everyday Aslan was getting bigger and she could see just how proud Brandt was of him. The day was beautiful. The sun was shining and air was warm and sweet smelling. Laenaya was practically glowing. She paused a moment and gently ran her hand over her slightly rounded womb. She was almost three months pregnant with their second child and they were hoping this one would be a girl.

She looked back at Brandt and Aslan, but suddenly a strange feeling came over her...like they were being watched. She looked over her shoulder, but could see no one. She tried to force herself to relax, but suddenly her horse began to appear agitated. That feeling of being watched came over her again. Suddenly she realized that all the birds in the area had disappeared and it was extremely quiet...

Cole would have normally seen the signs that something was amiss but he had been in Gehenna for years and as a result his senses and awareness had slipped to a degree. He did not see the two by their horses nor the other two who were drawing arrows at that moment.

Helja had worked hard to become a dark runner but she had grown up with Gulbrandt and was there when Laenaya killed her kinswoman in single combat. She didn't understand the politics of why Gulbrandt and Laenaya were to be executed but she felt if they just brought the boy back as recompense that whatever debt that these two owed to the clans would be paid. "Wound them only...i'll take the boy child and we will be done with this,"she had said before they split up. She hoped they'd heed her warning. If not she'd have to make an example and they all knew she would. Disobedience was akin to disrespect and Helja was known for coming down hard on such things. She nodded to Felogar and gave the finch call to the others that they were ready.

As Cole cast out his line again the area around him seemed to draw up as he heard the finch call. His senses peaked and he only had enough time to turn around to see Aviana looking right at him with that same, knowing look on her face. The look that told them both they had seen it all to late. In an instant Cole was slammed aside as an arrow pierced into his hip. Aviana felt the bite of an arrow as it pounded into her left buttock. The force of it knocked her off her feet and the she heard the horses scream as their throats were cut. Helja came out of the bushes like a mountain cat. She was dressed in browns and greens which made it difficult to spot her among the brush.

"Run Aslan...run!" Cole yelled but all Aslan did was drop his pole in fright and watch it float away. "Papa!" He cried and Cole tried to stand but Helja hit him in the side of the head with her cudgel and picked up the boy as she ran by. Her blow knocked Cole half senseless and he fell back down and didn't move again.

Laenaya was about to walk over to Brandt to tell him she sensed something was wrong when suddenly she heard the finch call. Her blood ran cold in her veins and she could see the terror come over Brandt's face. They had become to complacent here. They once had been so careful, but they had truly believed that they were safe and now she realized just how wrong they had been. Her eyes fell upon her son and she knew she needed to get to him. However, just as she started to run towards him she felt something sharp hit her upper thigh. She yelled and fell to the ground. She tried to get up, but couldn't. Looking up, she saw a woman dart from the bushes towards Aslan and Brandt. She screamed out, but it was too late. She watched as Brandt collapsed to the ground and her son was scooped up by the woman. In an instant it was over. They were gone...her son was gone. She didn't realize she was still screaming. With hot tears running down her cheeks she managed to somehow get over to Brandt. She feared they had killed him and taken everything she loved from her. But as she drew close she saw he was still breathing.

"Brandt...Brandt please wake up..."

Brandt began to stir and he had an odd look in his eyes. Blood ran down the side of his head and Aviana...Laenaya now since they were exposed, could feel a large pump where the cut was. Brandt opened his eyes. His hip felt like it was on fire but the sad, desolate look on his wife’s face dug into his heart like an arrow. “I’m...sorry Laenaya,” he said as if what was was. He knew full well that it was very unlikely they’d ever get Aslan back and he would never ask another to risk their lives for him.

Laenaya was relieved when Brandt opened his eyes. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt completely numb from what had just happened and no longer even felt the arrow that still stuck out of her body. She thought only of Aslan...her son who was now in the hands of someone else and she had no idea what they might do to him. She began to shake her head at Brandt's defeated words.

"No...No! I cannot just sit here and do nothing knowing that they have Aslan! He's innocent in all of this..." said sobbing now.

Brandt laid back down and looked defeated himself. He knew what they would do if they thought they’d lose him...slit his son’s throat for certain sure. “If we engage them...they will kill him Laenaya...you know they will to satisfy their honor,” he said.He saw how she shook her head in disbelief and then he grabbed hold of her blouse and gritted his teeth. “Yes...search your heart, you know I speak the truth,” he told her angrily. And he was angry but not with her...with himself. This whole thing was his fault. He had let them become complacent and careless and look what it has brought them….pain and loss that he doubted would never be repaired.

Laenaya didn't want to believe that they would do something like that, but she knew in her heart that it was true. They were forced not to go after him in order to save his life, but she would never see him again...never hold him again...never sing to him again. She practically collapsed onto of Brandt and began sobbing hard into his chest. When she had first met Brandt she had thought him wild and uncaring, but over the years that they had been married she had seen his more gentle and caring side come through on occasion and it was comfort that she sought now from him...comfort and the reassurance that their son would be alright.

It took the better part of the night to remove one another’s arrows and dress wounds. All through it Laenaya barely said a word. Brandt’s hip bone was bruised and there was likely going to be infection but they were fortunate that the arrows weren’t barbed or they’d likely have had much difficulty removing them. It was a long, painful walk back to the city and when the gate guards saw them hobbling, without their horses nor Aslan they sounded the alarm horn. Men and women rushed to them from the gate. Four guards and 8 others came up on them and took them into their arms.

“What happened? Bandits?” Someone said in obvious alarm. “Where’s Aslan?” An older woman asked. “Did they steal your horses?” Another asked hurriedly as they picked them up and carried them toward the healing house. It wasn’t long before even more people came and a crowd escorted them to the healers. As Brandt was separated further from Laenaya the look of hopelessness on her face made his heart go out to her.

Laenaya was clearly in shock after everything that had happened. She was pale and trembled and said nearly nothing. She didn't even make a sound when Brandt removed the arrow from her body. She desperately wanted to go search for her son, but she knew she couldn't. She wouldn't risk his life...she couldn't. And so she hobbled back to the village with Brandt. As the alarm was sounded and everyone rushed out to them she still said nothing. Tears filled her eyes as people asked where Aslan was. She was on the verge of breaking down again. Finally, they made it to the healing house. Laenaya just sat there staring ahead as she was examined. Thankfully, her unborn child was unharmed.

After a few minutes Serethiel and Conleth rushed in, after hearing that 'Aviana' and 'Cole' had been injured and Aslan was missing. Serethiel rushed over to her granddaughter with fear in her eyes.

"Where is Aslan? What happened?"

Conleth looked at them both as he listened to what had happened. Brandt had to explain it since Laenaya hadn’t wanted to speak of it. Even for him to relive it was difficult. Conleth looked at Serethiel who was trying to comfort Laenaya. “Though she can not use a bow, Serethiel can track these men and we can take back your son,” he said confidently though in barely more than a whisper. “No!” Brandt said. “I know these people...they...they were clansmen and women. They must have seen us at some point. If they see us or believe they’ll lose Aslan they’ll cut his throat,” he said in a rasp. His hip ached badly as the healers began to apply a salve to his wound. He was all but naked but he didn’t care. Laenaya had long learned of Brandt’s uncouth sensibilities. Modesty was something he could not understand. Conleth nodded reluctantly. “Then it will be as you say. If you are exposed then, then I will guess that your rightful names can be spoken?” He asked. It was hardly the time but if action was not going to be taken, then he moved on from it without a stutter.

Serethiel was horrified by what had happened and immediately angered. She wanted to leave then and go hunt down these men and women and kill them all for what they had done. However, when she heard Brandt explain what might happen to Aslan if they attacked them she felt sickened and helpless. She put her arms around Laenaya to comfort her as best she could, though she didn't quite know how. Yes, she and Conleth had given up Nauriel and Beren but that had been of their own will. Aslan had been kidnapped and who knew how he was going to be treated or what was going to happen to him. Serethiel was concerened about Laenaya and her unborn child and worried that her remaining in Gehenna was not safe now that these people knew that she and Brandt were alive.

"They will know that Laenaya is pregnant again. I think it might be best if they leave and move to Minas Tirith to better protect themselves and their unborn child. Who knows if these people will come back again and actually try to kill them next time."

Brandt shook his head as he fought to get a glimpse of Laenaya. It was difficult with so many people around them. “No...the blood price has been paid. All fault lies with me...I should have taken her away from here long ago...but she stayed...because I asked her to. I...wasn’t certain about living in that...that city,” he said sadly. He had forgotten the name of the White city but at the time, he definitely didn’t want to live there though Laenaya did. She said she didn’t but he knew she did. He knew she would protest at his words and as she turned to he spoke over her.

“Don’t try and turn this from me...Laenaya!” he said with more than a bit of irritation in his voice. “If you’ve taught me anything it is that my people are a savage breed,” he said in his own language. One that he had taught her but none here besides her knew. “I want to take vengeance against them now but doing so would only bring about more blood...if you ask it of me...I will go. But only if your honor demands it!” He said again in his own tongue. She would know that his anger was spawned by his grief that had no outlet right now.

Laenaya could sense Brandt's inner torment. His own people had kidnapped his son. She couldn't imagine how he was feeling right then. Hot tears streamed down her already wet cheeks as she listened to him. She was angry and wanted vengeance, but knew it would only cause the death of their son. She wouldn't be able to live with herself knowing that he had died because of her. She slowly shook her head.

"No," she said simply. She then got up and despite the objections of the healers, she pushed through everyone and left the healing house. She just began to walk...still feeling numb and empty. Somehow she ended up at their home, but as she walked up the first step she suddenly hesitated as she realized that their son wasn't coming home with them. Inside, all of his things still lay strewn about the house. Looking up, she could see the window to his bedroom. She collapsed down onto the steps and sat there sobbing into her hands like only a mother who had lost her child could.

ooc: what do you think, did you want too do more here in this timeframe?

OOC-Not necessarily this time frame. I think we should jump back to Narisa and Eagan next probably...or Calista and Eldarion if we had something specific we wanted to do with them. I know they were going to start trying to have a baby. I was thinking that Calista is going to have some problems becoming pregnant.

OOC-With Narisa and Eagan we had Eagan in Minas Tirith working his way up the ranks in the military to then be able to go back and ask her father for her hand. He was estimating he would be gone about 2 years or more. I would assume her father would be pressuring her at this point to accept appropriate proposals that I'm sure she would be receiving.

ooc-ok, are Eldarion and Calista back yet?

OOC-I would say that yes, they are back.

ooc: new thread