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Raven stared back at Slate with cold, lifeless eyes. She was quite aware how easy it could be to kill him with one of her daggers, seeing how he was unarmed and had been locked up in a dungeon cell for years on end. Raven had been outside, practicing her delicate art of torture and her dark magic, not to mention just all out killing. Looking into his eyes, she allowed a slight glimmer of something to show in her eyes. It wasn't like the rest of her, seeing as it seemed almost happy.

It was a good question. Why did she serve Hrothgar? A question she didn't ask herself on many occasions. Raven brought out one of her poisoned daggers and held it to his throat, backing him up against one of the walls of his cell.

"Yes. I plan on killing you and enjoying every second you suffer from the poison."

She sighed and paused for a moment. If this man was going to die, she didn't mind telling him how she came into Hrothgar's hands and why she enjoyed it so.

"I knew your brother before you both left...I don't think you knew me then, though. I didn't look like this... "

Again she sighed and tightened her grip on him, pressing the dagger closer to his neck.

"Your father wanted Hrothgar to court Lady Antoinette, the daughter of a noble family who the king was close to and loved. Typical of Hrothgar, he went against your father. He was always rebellious then. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with Lady Antoinette. She was beautiful and intelligent. She had a kind air around her at almost all times of the day and never really mistreated anyone.

So, your brother had a little affair with me, Lady Raven of a lower noble house. I'm not commonborn, you know. Well, that all went well until some damn seer predicted that we'd be caught and to pay for it I'd end up killing both my parents and my younger sister and older brother. Of course, we didn't beleive it. Seers can be ridiculous. Sometimes they hide the truth behind pretty words, but this seer had spelled it out pretty clear.

Needless to say, your father found me in the palace with your brother one night and threw me out. I believe you were asleep at that time. Your father didn't make too much noise and your brother was a little dazed with shock. The king wouldn't speak of his prince son having an affair outside of the watch of him so he kept it to himself. My parents and siblings died at my hands the night I was thrown out of the castle, as I shared my rage. My anger controled me and I slit all of their throats. They didn't even let out a scream. Just looked at me, cold dark eyes.... stared at me. The next morning I was found with their bodies, blood all over me. In my hand was the knife I had used. I didn't cry as many useless pitiful women do. I just stared at their bodies with wide eyes and tried to understand my actions. I couldn't. I was doomed to that fate the moment I set eyes on your brother. It is widely known, Slate, that one cannot escape one's destiny or fate. Run as much as you want but you just can't. It catches you with it's lies and false hopes much like a spider entraps a fly.

After being found I left the city before they could throw me out and went out onto the battlefield where you were both fighting, finding Hrothgar after much looking. It had only been a week since you both had left. My face was disfigured and my body crippled by the constant beatings I gave myself, not knowing how else to find forgivness for my sin. I went to your brother and explained everything. Amazingly, he didn't hurt me but rather cured me of my own poison. My blood is what's on this dagger, Slate. It's the poison that kills people. Your brother cured me with himself. He made a small slit in the palm of my hand and the same one in his and pressed our palms together. It was an old spell, long forgotten but still just as effective. Over the course of a few hours I became what you are gazing upon now."

Ending her tale, Raven took a large breath of relief. She hated telling her story. It made her seem pathetic and sad. She wasn't sad. Killing helped her revive herself. Every bone and muscle in her body benefited from each kill, bringing her closer and closer to complete happiness. The spell Hrothgar had used was dark magic, the reason for it being long forgotten. How he knew it? She didn't know or care, as long as it had saved her. That had started her alligence to Hrothgar and she would never falter from that path. She belonged to him, she served him, she was almost a part of him. Leaving him would be impossible.

Just as Raven was about to slit Slate's throat Hrothgar, himself came rushing in and told her to leave the kingdom until the child was born.

"My lord, that is ridiculous! I cannot leave you here with these disgusting rebels. I stand by you until death. I'll even stand by you after death if possible. I cannot leave you. I WILL NOT leave you. My mind and body cannot handle being without your presence nearby."

Raven's face crumpled up in anger and she followed the king.

"HROTHGAR I WILL NOT LEAVE!"

She yelled, louder than she thought she could.