Boredom

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"What troubles you milady?" Inquired the page. "Is there anything I can do to help?" His worried tones seemed to calm her. "Nay, not unless you can bring my husband home early." She replied in her soft musical voice. Nodding in understanding, the servant quietly closed the doors and left the Lady Lindinara alone with her thoughts.

Looking once more at the piano, she stood and aimlessly wandered about. Not really seeing anything, she mused, *Perhaps I should go visit my cousin*. The thought had no more than passed through her mind when she decided that was exactly what she should do. Calling out as she left the parlor, she ordered that her horse be readied for her. A young maidservant attended to her, wringing her hands in consternation. "But milady! You can't go out in your condition!" The concerned tones of the young lady-in-waiting fell on deaf ears.

"Now, now my dear. I am not that far along yet. I shall be all right and I only intend to visit my cousin. I promise to return before the month is over."

The hand wringing increased as the agitated maid once more spoke, "But milady you should not travel alone, and what would his lordship say? He will return at the end of the month, can you not wait 'till then for this visit?"

Smiling at the girl's concern Lindinara took her hands and spoke calmly, "I am visiting my cousin now, because his lordship is away and I am bored with my own company. I promise you that everything will be fine. There is peace for the moment, and the roads south are civilized."

No amount of coaxing or wheedling would change her mind. Now that she had decided to go, Nara was hell bent to get there. Her horse saddled and ready, awaited her in the courtyard with the groom crooning words of endearment to the mare. Another smile at the groom as he helped her mount.

"Ye nae stray from de road milady. Dere be many critters lookin' for a sweet treat like ye." He frowned and continued, "And ye be careful o' de wee life within ye too." Blushing slightly at the groom's mention of her condition, she gave an embarrassed laugh, "Not you too Gayrbert? Does everyone think I am completely helpless?" Gayrbert chuckled, "Nae milady, we nae think that at all. We are just concerned for ye safety is all."

As the servants gathered to watch their young mistress off, she waved and lightly touched her heels to the mare's sides. Within moments she was out of sight and on her way.

It took 3 days of hard travel to finally reach the small village near the Misty Forest. Dusty and travel stained, Nara road into the courtyard of her cousin's home. Although it had been rough, she felt exhilarated rather than tired after her journey. A groom came running to help her down as her cousin stepped from the front doors.

"Eve!! I am so happy to see you again!" Nara exclaimed. They exchanged hugs and arm in arm they entered the manor together, chatting and laughing. Eve had a servant show Nara to her room so that she could freshen up after her long trip. Afterwards the two cousins spent the rest of the day catching up on old and new gossip.

That night, although weary and happy at seeing her cousin again, Nara could not sleep. She decided to take a walk in the nearby forest, hoping a stroll would tire her. Quietly she left the manor, and headed down a path that led to the peaceful woods.

Lost in thought, Nara at first did not notice she had entered a large clearing lit by moonlight. A cruel sounding laugh brought her sharply to attention causing adrenaline to rush through her body. Looking up, she saw an exquisite looking dark elf. The female drow was standing in the center as if she waited for Nara.

"At last, two key pawns draw close," the drowess said enigmatically. With a slight trace of fear, Nara asked what the drowess meant. "Tis not for pawns to know my dear," she chuckled with evil intent. "They exist only for our pleasure," and with this last mysterious statement the dark elf drew closer and her body started to change. A strange language flowed from the changing figure and Lindinara found she could not move. With revulsion in her eyes she saw a giant glossy black spider squatting over her. It's cold harsh tones echoed in her mind. *I see within you one who will belong to me . . .*

The powerful evil force looked deep within her body and mind. Ripping through natural barriers the entity seemed to rape her very soul. From some small hidden part of her mind, Nara saw the demon hovering over two separate sparks of life that nestled in her womb. *There are two?!!* She thought. *Twins!* As it reached out touching one, that spark seemed to darken for a moment. Then it again started glowing, strong with life. *This one shall be mine* Again that cold cruel tone echoed in her mind.

As if from a distance, Nara felt her body move. The powerful darkness that had entered her controlled the movements. She heard herself speak words of summoning and a gateway opened. Out stepped several demons that saw her and knelt at her feet. Again she heard herself speak in a language she did not understand. Apparently the demons did, because they rose and circled her body as if to attack. Then the being who used her body, screamed in false terror. Loud and piercing it seemed to rip through the peaceful forest like a knife.

Theido awoke at the sound of a scream. Sitting up he grabbed his sword and listened. There, the sound came from the west of his camp. Quickly grabbing his armor and donning it he headed westward. Nearing a small clearing he heard the sounds of battle before he could see anything. Stepping through the trees he saw a woman surrounded by huge dull red bodies, twisted and warped in shape. *What in the blazes are they?* He thought. The woman struggled to hold them at bay with her magic. She appeared to weaken with each spell cast.

As he moved forward to gain a better view of the situation, his foot came down on a small dry branch. At the sound the creatures turned and their eyes blazed with evil fire when they saw him. The lady also turned to look, exhaustion showing on her lovely features. Seeing a very young man, just barely in his teens, she cried out a warning.

At first, there was only terror in his eyes when he realized the monsters he faced were demons. Then a calm came over him and he seemed to relax into the fighting stance of a trained soldier. From her tiny spot inside her own mind, Nara heard the demoness speaking to the boy mentally. * They can be killed here Theido, though only their physical form will die. Help me and I shall give thee a gift ye shall always have need of*. This mind voice was completely different from the cold and evil tone she had heard inside her own head.

Theido looked towards the lady and asked, "If I 'can' help thee, I do not need a reward, but, how can I alone hope to defeat these creatures?" Again the dark entity mind spoke in a soft musical tone, *Ye are not alone Theido for I am with thee*. His sword became a blade of pure energy as he moved forward to engage the demons in battle.

The blade seemed an extension of Theido as he danced in and out among the supernatural creatures. Weaving and slashing he fought for hours against them, and as each demon died, the body would disappear in a flash of smoke and flame. Finally the last one, the largest, fell to his enchanted sword and it too disappeared.

The magic that sustained Theido drained from him and the glow slowly died from his weapon. Nara saw the body of the boy collapse in total exhaustion. When he was unconscious, the being inside her chanted another spell and his body disappeared. *You will remember this night but will say nothing of it* hissed the cruel tone inside her mind. Blackness enveloped her consciousness and she knew nothing more.

When Nara awoke, she found herself in the guestroom of her cousin's home. Remembering all from the night before, she placed her hands over her abdomen in a reflex action of protection and prayed that the lives within were safe from harm.

Though the memory was fresh and vivid, she found she could not speak of anything that occurred. Every time she tried to tell her cousin of the great evil that befell her, Nara's throat would close up and she could not draw a breath.

Eve noticed her cousin's distress. Unable to speak of the terrible event, Nara could only shake her head and change the subject whenever her cousin asked what troubled her. Finally deciding that Nara would tell her in her own time, Eve let the matter drop.

After that, the two cousins talked of the coming baby. Nara smiled and spoke without thinking, "It will be twins, Eve!" Immediately painful cramps assailed her. Fear for the unborn lives within struggled with the pain. Then as suddenly as it came, the pain left. Gasping at the unexpected attack, Nara grew silent and implored Eve with her eyes not to ask any questions. The cousin nodded in quiet understanding.

The remainder of the visit went by without further incident. The two women avoided any mention of whatever troubled the young mother-to-be. When the day of Nara's departure arrived, Eve whispered to her as she mounted her horse, "I do not know what evil has befallen ye, but when ye feel ye can talk about it, I'll be here." With a grateful smile at her cousin's words, Nara nodded without speaking and headed back to Willow Springs.