"Elfling part one" by Rachel N. LeBeane

Elfling

The demon stopped to catch his breath, hiding under a weeping willow and feeling like weeping himself. What had ever possessed him to join his brothers on this raid? He wasn't like them and couldn't kill innocents just because they were a threat to the Master.

He held his breath as one of his brothers rushed past, then skidded to a halt. His red eyes glowed." Kalen, I know you're there. Come out, and I'll make your death less painful than a traitor like you deserves." Karn hissed, eyes scanning the darkness.

The young elven maid at Kalen's side turned frightened amber eyes to him, clutching her young sister to her breast hard enough to make the child whimper.

Karn whirled and let out a blast of dark magic. Kalen knocked the elves out of the way, taking the brunt of the spell in his back. He hissed, but didn't slow as he turned and unsheathed his claws. " Selena, take the girl and run." He ordered as he circled his older brother. Serena tried to grab his arm, but he gently pried her fingers off and kept going forward.

"No! I'm not leaving you, Kalen." the fair elf maiden said, putting the child down and raising her arms. She started chanting, and power prickled along Kalen's arm. Selena finished her spell and pointed at Karn before collapsing." Take the princess and run." She gasped before the light fled her eyes.

"Serena!"Kalen shouted, the words torn from his heart. He started forward, but then the little girl threw herself against him as Karn hissed and started forward.

Feeling powerful magic hurling his way, Kalen did the only thing he could. He scooped the young princess into his arms and lept into the air. His strong wings caught the air currents, and soon he was soaring away, the last surviving elf summoner in his arms.

Wind whipped his long black hair free from its braid, blinding him. He cursed and landed in a secluded valley, setting the girl on the ground. She looked up at him with large green flecked amber eyes. Kalen looked away, ashamed and not wanting her to see his tears.

"Sissy called an angle to kill the bad man, but she wasn't meant to do that until she'd past the test." The girl said. Kalen sat heavily and hung his head.

"I'm sorry, little elfling. This is all my fault. I swear to you, I'll protect you with my life!" He said at last. The girl crawled over and snuggled against his warm body. Kalen jerked, than put his arm around her." What do I call you, young princess.?" He asked softly as her eyes grew heavy.

" Rydia. Thank you for saving me, but why..." Rydia trailed off, sniffing."Why is that destruction your fault, and why did you save Sissy and me?" She finally asked.

"The queen was my mentor. I was honored she would teach a demon, but...I wanted my brothers to meet her, so I...I brought them in. The Queen saw their intent and told me to get her daughters to safety." Kalen confessed, hiding his face.

"Then it's their fault for deceiving you, not your fault for believing all demons are like you." Rydia said simply. He looked down at her startled. She grinned. " I am older than I look. I'm near one hundred now. Sissy said I was to smart for my own good." Her chin quivered, but she held her head high.

Kalen snorted." You make me feel ancient, elfling. I'm well over twelve thousand." He said. His hand rubbed her rich chestnut hair back from her pale face, laughing at her wide eyed look. "I , too am older than I look. Rest now, Rydia. I shall protect you." He said, his deep voice soothing her into sleep.

Kalen stared up at the stars."Selena, I shall keep her safe, for you. Wait for me, please..." Under the quiet stars, the powerful demon bent over the small form next to him and wept.

MANY YEARS LATER

"Rydia! Get out of bed, Smokey is here to see you!" Kalen called from the front of the cave. I groaned and dragged myself up. How could he be up so early after staying up half the night casting spells with me?

"Coming Kalen!" I shouted back. He laughter echoed down the cave to my room. I scowled and pulled the worn dress over my head. Then I combed my unruly, thick, curly chestnut hair back into a neat braid. Kalen's hair was just as thick, but straight and silky. Lucky...

I hurried out into the bright light of morning and almost ran into Kalen. He caught me before I could fall, grinning at my sour expression." Cheer up, elfling. Smokey has a present for you" He said, black eyes gleaming with his good humor. I couldn't help but smile in return.

He set me back on my feet and tilted his horned head to one side, listening. His bat-like wings flared, then his powerful, bronzed body was hovering in the air, a good twenty feet above me. A white dragon came soaring towards him, something clutched in his powerful jaws.

"Smokey!! Hey, Smokey!" I called, waving my arms as he coasted to a smooth landing in the clearing. Kalen landed and took the bundle from the dragon.

" Thank you, old friend." He said, walking over to me and shoving the burlap into my hands.

I opened the top and peeked inside. A little paw swiped at me and I squealed, almost dropping the bag. Kalen laughed." Met your familiar, elfling. The spells last night told me she'd be brought to you this morning, and what manner of beast she'd be."

I pulled the little red fox-like creature out of the bag. My eyes met her brown ones and she licked my face. " Oh, thank you both so much! She's adorable. I'm going to call her...Do you have a name?" I asked, only feeling a little bit foolish. After all, I could talk to animals most of the time.

"My name is Amalexia, but you can call me Lexi!" She squeaked. I laughed and put her on my shoulder. " I'm a mountain fox! we're stronger and bigger than normal foxes." she offered.

" My, seems I picked a chatterbox. My apologies, Kalen." Smokey said, laying down in the warm sun. Kalen snorted.

"I live with Rydia, Smokey. This place is over run with all her friends, and none of them can shut up." He said. I glared at him, but his teasing look had me laughing in no time.

"I can't help it that the sprites and nymphs like me." I said, putting Lexi on the ground and watching as she chased a butterfly.

"And dragons and Dryads and all the animals around here." Kalen added. " Of course, I did make the mistake of teaching you how to communicate with animals, so that one is my fault." He said. He rested against a tree in low slung leather pants, shirtless as always.

He never ceased to amaze me. Here was a powerful demon who wielded more magic than any other creature I'd met, and was drop dead gorgeous to boot, but he never seemed to realized just how shocking he was. He'd told me once that the form he wore was one of many, and he'd picked it because it was the one I was most familiar with.

The two black horns on his head didn't take away from his beauty. They just added to the strong lines of his face and the hardness of his body. He rested his long black claws against his chin and stared thoughtfully of into the green forest that surrounded us.

"Kalen!" Smokey barked, jumping to his feet. Kalen instantly lept into the air, scanning the area for danger. He froze and dropped a few feet before flapping again. Then he dove down and landed beside me.

"The forest it burning, Rydia, and coming this way fast. Go pack up all the things you need and get Lexi. I'll be right back." He said, shoving me towards the cave. Heart in throat, I ran back to my room and threw my cloths and supplies into the travel bag. As an after thought., I grabbed the quiver and bow.

Then I rushed outside and grabbed the little fox. She crawled into my near empty quiver. I looked around for Kalen and only saw Smokey. I ran over to him.

"Smokey, where's Kalen?" I cried, feeling frightened and lost. Kalen was my protector, and my friend. Smokey gripped me by my dress and lifted me onto his back before taking off. " Smokey!!"

"He's trying to stop the fire, or at least slow it. The animals need to run, and the fire is blocking the closest escape. If it moves to fast, none of the animals will get out." Smokey said, gliding over the forest towards the safety of the far river.

"What can he do? Kalen is just one demon." I asked. Smokey snorted and turned his great had to peer back at me. He had blue eyes, which was unusual for a dragon.

" You don't realize how powerful your protector is, elfling. Kalen is not just a demon with a heart. He is the demon high priest. He can and does wield all magic the darkness has, if he so wishes. He has chosen a better path than any before him by protecting an innocent." Smokey said, banking to spiral down towards the river.

Kalen was there, arms lifted and eyes closed. He was chanting in a language I didn't know. The water suddenly lifted out of the river and rose in the air. Without opening his eyes, Kalen jumped into the air and flew towards the fire, the water following him.

I stared at him until I could no longer see him. When I turned around to talk to Smokey, I didn't see my dragon friend. Instead, I saw a pale man with blue eyes and white hair watching me. I blinked, then shook myself.

"Smokey...are you able to take human form?" I asked. The man nodded. looking proud. But then his face clouded over.

"Yes, but I can transform this way as long as I am near water. That is why I live near here. I'm a dragon, but my element is water, not fire." He said." Makes the transformation painless. Kalen...never mind. He'll tell you when you're ready."

I was about to ask what he meant when Kalen landed on our side of the river. He wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned at his now human friend." Any reason for the change, my friend?" He asked, splashing water onto his over heated skin.

"A group of wandering actors come our way, and I'm rather easy to spot." Smokey said, dipping his bare toes into the water. Kalen's smile left his face and he looked around for a place he could hide. There weren't any nearby.

" Rydia, turn away." He said softly, not looking at me. When I didn't instantly obey, Smokey grabbed me and pressed my face against his chest. I struggled, but he was still a dragon and much stronger than me.

"I'm sorry you have to do this,my friend. If I'd known they were here, I wouldn't have landed." Smokey said, his voice rumbling in my ear.

" I know, but we really have no choice. I... Smokey, they're getting closer. Can you stall?" Kalen asked suddenly. Smokey whirled away and lightly ran down the river, out of sight. I looked at Kalen, confused. His eyes were blank.

" Remember when I told you I could take on other forms?" he asked. At my nod he continued"I can become a human, but the process is very painful. Please, don't interrupt, thought." So saying. he lifted his arms and slowly brought his hands together. Once they met, he lowered them and started to chant.

I gasped as his claw retracted and horns stated to shrink into his head. His beautiful face was twisted with pain, but still he chanted. Then his wings started to fold into his back. He collapsed onto the ground once they'd vanished, panting and shaking. I rushed to his side and knelt, but didn't touch him, afraid of causing harm.

"I'm alright, elfling." He gasped, his usually smooth voice rough. He lifted his head and I met his now brown eyes. He even had some stubble on his jaw, something he didn't have when a demon. In fact, his chest even had hair. I followed it to the waistband of his trousers and blushed.

He struggled to his feet and took a deep breath." I hate being without my wings. "He muttered. Out of nowhere, he pulled a large broadsword out and strapped it to his bare back. " But I still have my magic."

"Kalen, why? That looked awfully painful.!" I cried, grabbing his arm and holding tight to reassure myself that he was really okay. Kalen snorted and pulled me against him.

" It is. But going back to my natural form is even more painful, which is why I don't do this often. But, we mustn't let anyone know what I am, or what Smokey is. We're the few remaining of our kind, just like you are the last of yours. Oh, loosen your hair and hide your ears." He said.

I did as I was told, still studying his new form with some interest. I'd always thought Kalen devilishly handsome, but now... now he was even more so. He was still tall and strong, but now his wings and horns were gone. And his claws. Kalen met my eyes and gave me his bad boy grin as people came closer. My heart decided right then that it was in love with a demon.

~*~

"Ready Rydia? You must keep you ears hidden at all costs." I told my young charge. She was studying me strangely, but I didn't have time to dwell on that. She seemed to shake herself and rolled her lovely eyes at me.

"Here they are! Thank the gods you were nearby. My friend has exhausted himself by saving my sister and I" I heard Smokey say. I thanked anyone listening that he was so adept at lying, and settled on the ground. Rydia came and squatted next to me, pressing a cool cloth against my head. Her eyes sparkled. She was enjoying this way to much.

Smokey lead a group of brightly dressed people into the small clearing and came to my side, helping me to stand. The actors studied Rydia and then Smokey, seeing how very little they looked alike.

" Oh, thank heavens! I was worried that Marcus was going to die!" Rydia exclaimed, clutching her hands together like she was on the verge of breaking down. What an actress! She turned to me." Sham on you for scaring my like that! I didn't need to you to go back to get Lexi." She said, cuddling the fox closer. I heard Lexi mutter a few choice words and stifled a laugh.

One of the actors, a young man, came forward and took her pack and weapon so she could carry her "pet". I saw the way his eyes roved over her body and wanted to smack the young man. I was to protect her, even from the scum of the Earth.

"Tristan, we can't help but notice Lady Juliet looks nothing like you." an oldest actress said as she took over the carrying of Rydia's bags. The lady had a strange sense of power about, and an air of serenity. Her long white hair was piled a top her head and her clear blue eyes seemed to see into the soul.

Smokey heaved a sigh" I am not her real brother in the sense you mean. My poor mother found her lost in these woods when just a lass, and we took her in. My mother passed shortly after that, and I raised the little minx on my own." He said.

Rydia giggled and fluttered her eyes at a handsome actor, seeming to play the role of flirt. The older actress sighed and nodded. " Alright, yo worthless boys! Take the packs to the ponies! We shall escort you to the next town, and there we shall part." She said, Then she frowned at me." Have I seen you somewhere before?' she asked.

I made my grin weak." Not likely, My Lady. I'm a wonderer. Tristan lets me stay with him when I feel the need to rest, so I stay in these parts, I rarely go to town." I said. The actress leaned down and looked deep into my eyes. What...?

"Kalen Deathwind, I recognize you." She whispered, using my full name. At my startled look, she smiled." These old eyes see much. I know you have a bigger role yet to play in the elf woman's fate. I won't tell. My name is Cassandra." Then she stood and went over to free Rydia from one of her boys' grip.

"Well...so much for leaving these hills unnoticed. You sure are a hassle to travel with." Smokey said, helping me follow the actors. Rydia kept checking over her shoulder to see if I was still there. "I think the girl likes you, Kalen." Smokey said after awhile, dead serious. I glanced up in surprise.

"How can she? I'm a demon, and helped bring about her homes destruction. If she feels anything for me, its respect. Besides...she reminds me of Selena, and I can't let what happened to her happen to Rydia." I answered. Smokey gave my shoulder a friendly squeeze.

"Here is our caravan. Help the inured one into the back, Kain." Cassandra ordered." Let Juliet take care of him."Rydia climbed in without help and Smokey easily tossed me in. Kain stared, then ran off when Smokey snarled. I laughed.

"Yes, and your much easier to travel with, Dur Ra Akorishanrana." I teased under my breath, using his full name. Rydia perked up to finally learn it.

"Hey! I can summon you now!" She exclaimed. Then she cleared her throat and tried to look innocent." That is, if you want me to, Smokey."He snorted,and if he'd been a dragon, mist would've shot from his nose.

"I don't mind, elfling. Now, care for our wonderer." He said, sliding out of the caravan to ride up front with Cassandra. I sat back and rubbed the sore spots on my head and back.

" What other forms do you have?"She asked, pushing me forward so she could sit behind me and begin to heal the soreness left by my wings out of my body. I sighed, wondering if she'd run away if I told her.

" My regular form, which is the one you see me in every day. Then there is this one, my true demon form, the form of a shadow wraith, and one I'd rather not mention now." I said. She pinched me hard and I sighed." Alright..like all demons, I can choose which gender I am. I have a female form as well." I said as quickly as possible.

Rydia threw her head back and laughed. " Oh, that's great! But I'm glad you choose to be male. You can keep me safer that way." She said, her eyes hinting at another reason she preferred me male. Or was I letting Smokey's words effect my judgment?

"I choose to be male for three reasons. One is because that is what my personality depicts. Two is because it is easier to protect you this way, and three... I can't stand to have men crawling all over me." I admitted. She snorted. like Smokey, and I laughed at her mimicry.

Lexi squealed as the caravan started to move forward. Rydia sighed and let the fox settle on her shoulders. "What town are they taking us to, Kalen?" She asked, scooting away to sit across from me. I settled in, and thought.

"I believe that the closet town is just on the outskirts of the forest. The town is called...I think it was called MuddleDung when I was last there, but that may have changed. Whatever the name is now, we won't be staying long. We're heading to the Dragon Lands." I said.

Rydia's eyes got huge and a big grin spread across her face. My heart hurt when she did that, for it reminded me of her sister so very much...

"Smokey will be welcome there, but what about you?" She asked after a moment. I gave a dry laugh.

"Oh, they'll let me in, if not from respect, then fear." I said. She looked even more confused than normal and I tried to explain." My true demon form. It's caused fear in the hearts of many, but the dragons most of all."

"Why?" she asked, petting Lexi. I wanted to make her be silent, but fought my much abused nature and made myself answer her kindly.

"Kalen Deathwind, Rydia. I have wings, and claws. Also horns. What other creature do you know of has those?" I asked. As Smokey would say, always the teacher. Rydia scrunched her face up as she thought, then gave a small gasp.

" Dragons! Can you turn into a dragon, Kalen?" She asked in an excited whisper. I had to laugh. "Oh, whats so funny? Dragons are magnificent."

"Yes, they are, and yes, I can. Only my dragon form is large, grotesque, evil, and black." I paused, then decided to plow om." As a matter of fact, all those stories of black dragons you read about? They were either me or Karn. The nicer stories were, of course, me."

"So...Karn's a dragon too?" She said. I nodded. " Then you're right. We'd best go to Dragon Land, because I bet not even he wants to go there."

"Rydia, no one in there right mind goes willing into Mystiva without a dragon or a death wish." I said, laughing. I stopped when I saw how pale her face had become. " Rydia, we shall be fine. I'll protect you." I said, reaching out to rub her now clammy hands between my own.

"I know." she whispered, confusing me further. But I didn't get a chance of saying anything, because at that moment, the caravan came to a lurching stop and shouts started. Smokey threw the back open.

" Bandits." was all he said. I motioned for Rydia to stay put and lept out, drawing my broadsword as I did so. Then I threw myself into the fight and forgot all else.

~*~

I strung my bow and notched an arrow before peeking out the back. I saw Kain fall to the ground, and cringed. I shot the man who'd stabbed him and looked wildly about for Kalen.

How was I to explain to him that I loved him when he still loved my sister? I have better hearing than most, and had heard his whole conversation with Smokey. And I'd also heard him that first night I'd met him, weeping for her.

Lexi ran around nipping heels as I fired shouts off repeatedly. Kalen was fighting marvelously with the sword, looking, for some reason, scary. He then turned and saw me. " Rydia, I told--" and then he paused, a look of horror coming over his face as he looked back and to my right.

A big shadow fell over us and the thieves ran off. " Smokey!!" Kalen called, his strong voice ringing out in the sudden silence. "Smokey, you must do something! I cannot risk myself now!You must stall Karn!"

At that name, the actors panicked and ran into the woods as well...except for Cassandra. She hobbled over to me." Come, girl, let us flee. The demon is after you!" She said, tugging me towards the relative safety of the trees. I resisted.

"KALEN!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. He whipped around and started for me at a run just as a hideous dragon swooped down and tried to claw him. I screamed.

Smokey let out a defining roar and seemed to appear out of nowhere. Karn left Kalen crouched on the ground and turned to swipe at the diving dragon, letting out a roar and a stream of black fire. Kalen stood and turned to me again.

"Cassandra, take her into the woods, and head for MuddleDung. If I do not meet up with you there, head for Mystiva." He ordered. Cassandra nodded and started to try and drag me away again. I dung in my heels even more.

"NO! I won't leave Kalen." I snapped, yanking my arm free and turning. Cassandra moved quickly and blocked my way.

"The demon needs no distractions, Rydia! He is calling upon powerful magic out there." She said. I peered around her and, sure enough, Kalen and his arms lifted and was chanting quickly. "He has the power to force his brother to leave."

"How do you know so much about Kalen? I've lived with him for over a hundred years, and haven't learned this much about him." I demanded. Cassandra smiled softly at me.

"I am not an actress, but it is easier to travel freely if people believe you are one. I am the High Priestess of the Goddess." She said. " She tells me these things about Kalen because I was sent to bring him to her."

"What ever for?" I asked. " A Goddess shouldn't want anything to do with Kalen." I looked back out at Kalen and wanted to run to him and cry on his shoulders." They only see what he is. They don't look deeper and see him."

"You are very wise for a young elf, Rydia. The Goddess wants to see Kalen because he is a demon, but has a heart." Cassandra said, pulling me towards the trees again. I reluctantly went under the protective shade.

The black dragon roared and swiped Smokey with his claws. I clutched my hands to my chest as blood ran down Smokey's side. Smokey roared and rolled in the air, managing to swipe at Karn's exposed belly.

Karn let out a stream of black fire that hit Smokey in the side, seeming to stun him for a moment. Then he shook himself and let out a jet of ice that hit Karn in the face.

"Right in the eyes! I hope that hurt.' I cheered. Lexi clawed her way onto my shoulder and licked my cheek."What is it?" I asked.

" You can give Kalen access to your power, and by the look of things, he'll need." At Lexi's words, I whirled and looked at Kalen. He was still were I'd left him, but sweat was running down his body and he was trembling badly.

Cassandra shook her head as I started forward." You are more important than the demon, Rydia! We must go." She said.

"Not to me. He's more important to me."I said, running out with Lexi and taking his hand. Kalen jerked and opened one eye to glare at mer.

"Elfling..." He said, shaking his head." You shouldn't be out here. Karn's after you." even though he was draining himself, he was still talking in a normal tone of voice. He's tough, I'll give him that.

"But won't blink an eye if you die as well. Lexi told me I could let you draw from my magic, and Goddess knows, I've got enough. How do we do this?" I asked. Kalen shot a look at Lexi, then sighed.

"Big mouthed fox. Very well, take my other hand and open yourself to my mind. I'll shield you as best I can, but I can't promise this won't hurt." he said. I took his other hand and calmed my mind, throeing the doors to my magic open.

I felt something drift in, but that was all. After that brief sensation, it felt like I was floating in a mist and using my power. I dimly heard an outraged roar, but couldn't, for the life of me, gather enough strength to open my eyes. Then I was falling, falling and nothing was going to catch me...

"Wake up, Rydia!" Cassandra snapped, slapping me across the face lightly. I snapped my eyes open to see blue sky's and Smokey leaning over me on one side, Cassandra on the other. "Oh, thank the goddess." Cassandra breathed.

"Kalen? Where's Kalen?" I asked, grabbing Smokey's human hands tightly. He pulled me up and turned me around." Kalen!" I cried, running and kneeling beside where he lay still upon the ground.

"Ow. Karn's gotten much stronger. He shouldn't be that strong. No demon is able to resist the orders of a Dark Priest for that long. If Rydia hadn't given me her power..." Kalen trailed off and opened his eyes slowly. "Thank you, Elfling. And you too, ya bloody fox." He patted Lexi and pulled himself up into a sitting position.

I threw myself into his arms and wept into his neck. After a second, he wrapped one arm around me and patted my hair." It's all right, Rydia. I'm alright." He whispered.' calm down, we're all fine." I sniffed and pulled away. He smiled and ruffled my hair before standing.

"Cassandra was sent to find you, Kalen." I said as I stood as well. He sighed heavily, but turned to Cassandra and waited for her to explain. I took Smokey's hand and leaned against him.

'The Goddess needs you to help her fight your brothers. As you've seen, they're stronger than they should be. She believes that you and Rydia can destroy them before they become unstoppable. So far, Karn is the only one causing trouble, but there are reports of Kahn being about as well." She said.

"And Karsh? Is he about as well?" Kalen asked. Cassandra shook her head and he visibly relaxed." That's good. I doubt I could kill Karsh. He's got eons on me, and is a Dark Prince. I can't order him around like I can Karn and Kahn."

"I'll help the Goddess as soon as I deliver Rydia to the dragons. I swore to protect her, and so I shall. Then I'll worry about saving the world." Kalen said, rubbing his head as though it hurt.

"I shall travel with you." Cassandra said." You'll need a healer, and you won't be able to enter the temple otherwise." She added before either Kalen or Smokey could argue. Kalen nodded.

"Very well then. To MuddleDung." He turned, grabbed my hand, and off we went.