An Unlikely Alliance (Closed for CoSurvivor)

[CoSurvivor]

"Get away from the spider! The blood!"

Chance took two steps to the side of the spider as it's viscus blood began to pour out of it's head. pooling, it sank into the tunnel floor, only a few moments later did Chance begin to see what he'd dreaded. bubbles... and then the floor began to give way.

"GET TO THE EXIT!"

The moment he saw Ana clear the spider she was standing on, was the moment Chance, started running as if his life depended on it. He sprinted, running hard enough to make his lungs burn, each footfall followed by the jostling of his travel bag, bow and arrow case which were slung across his back. His sword swung freely at his side, prepared to take out anything that came out of the floor.

His heartbeat filled his ears, and he could swear he heard the floor of the tunnel crack, behind him, never thought he'd have to run so hard, to cover such a distance. Chance knew Ana would catch him, so honestly, he didn't worry about her, he was worried about what might crawl out of the crack.

Within just a minute or two, Chance had reached the spiders. All three had broken open like eggs, crushed against the cavern floor, their insides pooling about them mixing, covering the floor with a massive black line. As Chance got close, he could see the bodies were more smoldering than anything, the impact and dust up had quenched the flames, but the blood.. had woken and attracted something far more dangerous.

he spied one.. then two..."Blood wasps..."

Sweeping his smoldering blade once, twice thinking he might get lucky and kill them Chance confirmed one thing, He was good with a sword, but not good enough to kill insects. Chance then noticed they buzzed for the floor, headed for the viscous liquid which spilled out of the spiders. One got stuck, then the second.

"Huh... well

He had to get around this, and with the spiders attracting the wasps, and bore worms, he knew of only one other option. Looking back he noticed Ana not more than a few feet away, "Ok, ok. I killed them but I pinned us in, the only way out is to climb the walls that I can see." Looking at the tunnel walls they were naturally porous, cracks and stone poked out of the wall in chaotic patterns, and in his mind's eye, Chance tried to plot out a way up and over.

The exit, was within reach maybe 100 feet away, lay taunting them, unobstructed by anything else. The bridge which had been constructed eons ago lay just inches within the darkness. "What do you think Ana? ideas?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Ana had caught up and sprinted with Chance towards the exit, her bow in one hand and Chance's staff in the other. When they were forced to stop, their path blocked by the other fallen spiders, she couldn't help but grimace at the grotesque sight of the arachnid's insides spilling out and drenching the dirt around their singed corpses. She watched as Chance swiped his sword at the two buzzing insects he'd identified as the blood wasps he'd warned her about before, though thankfully the bugs only seemed interested in the blood of the spiders and thankfully leaved the two of them alone... for now. She didn't want to risk sticking around to find out what would happen if more of them came. Not to mention the bore worms that she was pretty sure were already present by the other spiders that had been killed.

Seeing Chance turn to look at her and listening to his suggestion that they climb up the tunnel wall to make their way around the spider's bodies, she turned and examined the walls with him, like him noticing the different cracks and stones that they could maybe use for foot and hand holds.

"It just might work..." she agreed with a nod.

She turned her attention back on him.

"Our only other option would be to try to climb over the bodies of the spiders now that the flames are out, but I don't think that would be a good idea. Even if it's doable, we're likely to get some blood and remains on us in the process and would be risking drawing the wasps our way if more of them come around. I think climbing like you said is our best bet... though we'll want to hurry, no time for ropes or a harness like before."

She handed him back his staff and fastened her bow back into the harness upon her back so that she would have her hands free for the climb.

 

[CoSurvivor]

Chance nodded in agreement, it was time to climb... Quickly collapsing the staff as he moved toward the wall, he spotted a few handholds and made his way up the wall about 10 feet. the walls were porous, as the tunnels were naturally made, not man made as some of the tunnels around the human kingdom were. There were plenty of places to use as footholds. It has been a while, years actually since he'd needed to climb by hand, but as he found the muscle memory came back to him quicker than he'd expected. It was just when he was beginning to feel confident in his abilities that he looked down and could see the split in the floor begin to widen, and stretch closer to the three dead spiders. he could hear the familiar shuffling of the bore worms making their way through the crack reaching the bodies, and beginning to devour all of them. The sound alone made his skin crawl.

Scrambling as he did, Chance found a good solid ledge where the hardened rock and the more porous wall met, he was able to get his hands on it easily and shuffle along the ledge, his feet trying to dig in where he could. Looking around he was sure Ana was probably laughing at him, from his knowledge, he'd read stories of Elves natural agility, their ability to nearly walk on water and cross the most fragile environments leaving little trace. He'd once watched from afar during a snowstorm on the surface as two elves walked across a heavy snow bank with little worry. That same snow bank had nearly caused him to freeze to death two days earlier. It was a sight to behold, and surely Ana was just as graceful as well. But for his own sanity, and his own concentration he didn't look around for her, He could hear that she was making progress and that was enough.

it was slow going but they were safe, 30 minutes later he'd put more distance between him and the spiders, the bore worms had eaten most of one, and were devouring the final two with little signs of stopping. Chance had slipped a few times, but, thankfully he'd made it around the bodies with little more on his hands than scratches. However, they were faced now with greater concern. The Bridge.

Over the last three years, Chance had crossed it probably ten, fifteen times, the thing was sturdy, a natural, or unnaturally created stone arch that crossed a massive expanse. Looking up, Chance could see thread of daylight, but they were deep underground now, which meant the walls were high, and they had no other choice but to cross it, and do so quickly. Scanning the distance, Chance could see no signs of any additional spiders, nothing down below in the deep blackness that threatened to consume everything. What made him feel as if something bad was about to happen was the silence. All he could hear was his own breathing, well that and his heart pounding in his chest hard enough to threaten to break straight out. When they crossed the bridge they'd be sitting ducks, literally spiders could crawl out of the darkness and attack, their only way would be to cut through them, or run, there would be no going back.

When Ana joined him, he pointed at the expansive bridge, then down into the darkness.

"Do you hear or see anything?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

With Chance leading the way Ana had no trouble at all making her way up and over the wall of the tunnel, her hands and feet using the grooves that he found or created along the way. Like him though the sound of the bore words devouring their prey was rather hard to stomach, the noise of which was made all the worse by her sensitive hearing. She did her best to block it out though, counting down the minutes in her mind to distract herself as they climbed. Each time Chance would slip however she would loose her count, fear gripping her at the thought that he might fall.

She was beyond relieved when they'd finally made their way around and back onto the ground safely away from the ravenous worms and to the bridge. At Chance's request she gazed out across the length of the bridge, searching for any sign of danger. The thin bit of daylight peaking in from above wasn't much, but it was at least better than in the tunnel where she'd only had their orbs for light and she was able to see across it.

"There's nothing on the bridge..."

She moved slowly and quietly to the edge of the bridge and crouched, warily peering down into the expanse below. It was deep... very deep.

"I can't see all the way down to the bottom, but I can hear some water flowing down there... if there is anything it's being very still."

 

[CoSurvivor]

Chance listened, he couldn't hear the water below over his own heartbeat, and looked at Ana with complete confidence, "I'll take your word for it, let's get going. Can you keep your bow at the ready? just in case we have company?"

Seeing as he was the heavier of the two, Chance started out across the bridge, having Ana walk maybe a few paces behind him. Chance's thoughts behind this were; Ana would hear anything before he did, and he wanted to get across as fast as possible. She was surely lighter on her feet than he was so having her walk next to him just made sense.

His eyes were busy looking for cracks, looking for places where the bridge had been weakened by the recent quakes. Trying to be light a foot, but knew there would be little chance of that Chance pressed on. Nearing halfway across, Chance heard something that sounded like a break, and a shift the echo started small but ended up filling the silence of the open cavern. Not waiting for Ana to comment, Chance bolted pulling Ana with him and steeled himself for the thought that the bride was going to start coming apart underneath him. Instead, it was starting to crack right in front of him!

"Damn damn it all!"

Chance didn't have to yell, he was sure Ana was aware of their situation, and that assured him of that was her quicker pace as she left him in the dust. He watched her figure bound across the bridge, taking but just a few steps then watched her spin effortlessly across the rest of the bridge arriving safely on the other side.

"Show off!" Chance teasingly yelled at her, as Ana turned to look at him, urging him to hurry. At times in his life of true life or death situations, he tried to find humor in something to fight off the urge that he might not make it through what he was dealing with.

Chance sprinted, just as good chunk of the bridge came loose just to his left. In his peripheral vision Chance could see half the bridge just crack and slide off, falling into the darkness. He wasn't sure how big but he could feel the bridge begin to grow unstable with each step. He was getting close and could hear Ana urge him to hurry the urgency in her voice drowned out by the sound of his own heart beating in his ears.

Then, just five feet in front of him the bridge cracked the whole way through and began to fall away, the stone beneath him fell and Chance jumped, his momentum carrying him as far forward as he could. He was close SO close to the other side he could taste it.

The momentum of his jump carried him, he reached out his arms and hit the edge of the opposite side with a loud "THUMP" the air pushed out of his lungs Chance reached for anything to give him a purchase and could feel his feet sliding on the edges of stone but there was nothing to wedge his boots onto. The bridge had split off so cleanly his boots just slipped, as if scrambling across glass. Swaying his legs, he got one foot up, the heel of his boot caught on the ledge as Ana rushed to pull him up. Damn did he feel stupid. Looking across the expanse there was but maybe a quarter of the bridge still attached on the opposite side.

"Guess we are not going back that way..."

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"Show off!"

Ana had turned around in shock at the sound of Chance's voice, not having expected it to be so far behind her as it was. As the bridge had begun to give way and she'd noticed the crack forming up ahead of them she'd naturally hurried to get to the other side. What she'd forgotten about however was how much faster and light of foot elves could be in comparison to humans. She'd thought Chance would be right behind her, but to her horror she discovered that he was still out in the middle of the bridge.

She shouted for him to hurry, wanting to help him but not sure how. She considered running back to him, but just then she watched the chunk of bridge beside him break and fall away into the dark void below, then an entire half of the bridge fall away, leaving only a single narrow path for him to run upon. She would only get in his way now if she tried to reach him. Crackling and crumbling noises rang in her ears as she desperately continued to urge him on, knowing that more of the bridge would be falling soon.

Then the unthinkable happened.

Ana watched, heart pounding in her chest, as the section of bridge in front of Chance broke completely and the portion just beneath his feet began to fall away as he ran, forcing him to make a desperate leap for the other side. For one horrible moment she thought that he might not make it, but then...

THUMP

He was just able to reach the edge with his arms, but as she heard his feet sliding against the stone she realized he could not find a foothold and was in danger of sliding off. Quickly she dropped her bow on the ground and moved to help him, grabbing his arms and helping to pull him up and away from the edge.

"Guess we are not going back that way..."

His words barely registered in her mind as her arms wrapped around his waist and held him tightly, a sob of relief escaping her as she buried her head against his chest.

"Thank the gods you're alright!"

She lifted her head, her violet eyes looking up at him as they grew misty with grateful tears.

"For a moment as the bridge fell out from under you I thought..."

 

[CoSurvivor]

Chance rolled over and looked up at Ana, her violet eyes looking on to him with the greatest concern. He reached up and put one long strand of her hair behind her ear and smiled.

'I just found you, I'm not going to let a little thing like nearly falling to my death keep me from you."

He sat up, pulled Ana in for a kiss, which naturally became more passionate. He pulled her into his arms. By the gods Ana was warm, simply being with her holding her in his arms lit a fire in his belly.

Breaking the kiss he took a look back at what was left of the bridge and sighed, they were committed now. "Ana, the only way out that I know of now is further down, beyond the castle we are headed to. If we weren't committed to this before, we are now. we have no where else to go but forward."

Chance refused to say "down' that in his mind meant they had no way out. In his mind they had to press forward resolve this mystery, find out what intended to kill them all and stop it.

With Ana's help he got up, dusted off and helped her gather her bow. With one last look at the hole behind them he turned back toward the cavern in front of them and pressed on... Moving forward.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Despite their current circumstances, or perhaps because of them, Ana could not help but melt into Chance's kiss when he'd pulled her in. Relief at his well-being mingled with desire as they shared their passionate kiss, but all too soon it had to end and she turned with him to look back and examine the bridge.

"Ana, the only way out that I know of now is further down, beyond the castle we are headed to. If we weren't committed to this before, we are now. we have no where else to go but forward."

She nodded in response, a sense of resolve filling her.

"Onward it is then."

After they had gotten up and she had her bow in hand again, she watched as Chance took a final look back before the two of them pressed forward and began to walk together through the cavern. With her free hand, she reached out and slipped her hand into his as she had earlier that day upon their departure from the glen.

"I'm committed to this Chance, even if the bridge hadn't collapsed..." she assured him.

"No matter what lies ahead, I'm going to see this through to the end with you."

 

[CoSurvivor]

Holding Ana's hand in his own, he gave hers a light squeeze, they ventured further into the tunnel a few more feet until Chance re-assembled his staff, placing the light stone at the top, and lit their way. Chance made sure to watch the walls looking for any additional spiders. Satisfied, they'd have no other company for a while, Chance spoke as they walked.

"If everything else on our route to the castle remains uneventful, and we don't get attacked by any residents down here we'll be able to reach it tomorrow. The route I've plotted takes us there, but there's another, which you'll see later today. The route I'd love to take appears more direct, but it's just cut off. So, because I don't have a cave troll in my back pocket we are forced to go the long way. You don't happen to have one do you?" Chance joked, then added, "Maybe a levitation spell? or something that can move houses? Give it some thought." He teased Ana about it but knew she might have some magic she was holding in an 'Oh shit' situation. They hadn't quite been there yet, They'd been close but not quite.

Chance filled the time by trying to explain how he 'thought' or assumed the caves had been cut out. He mentioned processes that he'd heard were used back in the human Kingdom but hadn't seen in person. Some massive mechanical contraption that could bore through solid rock. Or the use of creatures known as "rock worms". If given the right 'food' they'd chew through just about anything to get to it. It was steering them or keeping them on a direct path that was the problem. their trek was peaceful, yet, still eerie, normally Chance had only his thoughts to keep him company down this far, he was almost giddy to share what he knew with Ana, knowing maybe her knowledge of Elven history or traditions might fill in a blank or two. As they traveled, Chance could feel a slow downward grade the further and further, they walked. Eventually they came out of the long tunnel to a landing, which took them down a long wide stairway that gradually switched back and forth at least 10 times. The stairs were cut level, fine artisans had done the work, maybe dwarves had done the work from a time when they hadn't retreated from the world and disappeared. When they reached the bottom, there was a natural spring in the wall. and what looked like the remains of a fallen tree was off in the corner opposite of where they were headed. The tree had long hollowed out, and the area where the trunk had once stood was completely out of place this far down. Chance spoke out loud, thinking possibly the spring fed the tiny green space from under the stone floor they were standing on. Walking closer to the spring for a closer look, an even flow of water rushed down the wall in a narrow stream from somewhere far above, disappearing again into the floor. Chance nodded at it and smiled to Ana. "It's clean, go ahead I've tested it. Here might be a good time to fill our water skins and take a break.

Chance swept his hand over a massive stone bench that was carved into the wall between the exit of the stairs which lead down a massive corridor, and the fallen tree. He admired Ana for a moment, she was out of place down here, light as a feather, but tougher than just about any man he'd ever met. Chance considered himself very lucky to be with her. He thought of himself much like the caves, lonely. He'd been alone for so long there were times when he wondered if he'd ever see the stars again. Alone, in this place, feeling no longer useful to anyone what would be his use after the quest was over? Sitting there, Chance get introspective for probably much longer than he'd intended to. The question rose in his head for the first time. What would he do once he'd figured out the mystery? Would he go back and rule? No... he'd abdicated by his absence. His father had groomed his sister well, She'd rule wisely. His future felt like an empty hole. Even Ana had a future to look forward to, she was to be Queen one day. She'd have to leave him behind eventually. Her people would never accept a human, surely. He mentally closed the book on that thought, knowing that thinking of what might come after would be a distraction to what they needed to do today. In a hopeful yet reflective tone, Chance spoke.

"This whole place amazes me, it's like I'm walking through a memory. Or being visited by an ancestor who once walked these steps, went through these halls and grew up down here. Why would all of this be abandoned? what would cause our kingdoms, who seemed to have lived in peace to separate? I know the castle holds the clues, probably the answers, but it still makes me wonder." Getting up, Chance walked over to the small waterfall cupped his hand and took a drink. "Not magical like the glen, but still refreshing." Running his hands through his hair, he tossed a look at Ana, again.

"Shall we break here for a little? Rest our feet and continue? Or should we press on?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Ana had laughed in response to Chance's teasing about what kind of magical creatures or spells she might have with her.

"I'm no mage, but I'd be willing to take a look at whatever is blocking the path and see if there is anything I can do," she'd replied with a smile, "I did bring a couple of enchanted items with me. However, the most powerful one that might be of use for something large is rather... unstable... and it can be draining to use to great extent as well... I'd rather not use it for something like that if we can help it. If the stories are to be believed it has already caused one cave in..."

As they continued their walk her hand absent mindedly smoothed over the front of her hooded shrug, under which she'd pinned the item in question over her heart and out of sight for safe keeping when she'd begun her journey. It was a silver brooch; a large, fractured, crystal clear gem fastened to its center. She was probably insane for bringing it with her and thinking she might try to wield its supposed power in the first place, but she had seen it in one of her visions about the tunnels and so she had insisted Evaleen help her sneak into the royal treasury and retrieve it so that she could have it with her. It wasn't clear, but she knew the item had some kind of role to play.

She listened with interest as Chance shared his theories about how the tunnels they were traveling through might have been formed.

"The elves down here at the time might have helped with showing the rock worms where they should go," she suggested, "All elves are close with nature and therefor have a natural way with animals.

She grew quiet as they reached the landing and began their descent down the massive staircase, her eyes curiously taking in their surroundings. She did not see or hear any sounds of danger, and the sound of the running water was comforting. When they reached the bottom she marveled at the sight of the fallen tree and the large bench that had been carved into the stone. It was almost as if the spot had been created intentionally as a resting place for weary travelers.

She walked over to the fallen tree and examined it, a sadness washing over her for a moment as she ran her hand over the dried up husk. She had no doubt that Chance was right, the stream had fed the trees roots from beneath the stone, but whatever the trees light source had been had been taken away from it long ago, and so it had slowly shriveled up and died. Like Chance she couldn't help but wonder why these halls and spaces had been abandoned and what answers they might find to their questions when they reached the castle. Hearing him get up and move towards the small waterfall, she watched as he took a drink and ran his hands through his hair, smiling slightly as he looked her way.

"Lets take a break and rest for just a little while before we press on," she answered in response to his question as she moved and joined him by the waterfall, "That seems to be what this spot was created for after all."

She smiled up at him and then cupped her hands as he had, letting the cool water trickle into them and then bringing them to her lips for a drink. She then pressed her damp hands against her face and the back of her neck, the cool water feeling refreshing against her skin.

 

[CoSurvivor]

Turning away from Ana, Chance walked back to the bench he'd sat down at before, he was antsy, but he knew they needed the rest. It gave him an opportunity to truly sit and check his equipment, belt pouches and the contents of his travel bag. Everything seemed to be right were it was supposed to be. His crash against the cave wall hadn't damaged anything, thankfully. Times like this he started thinking to himself. Who was he kidding, he did that no matter where he was, and his thoughts turned to the beautiful Elven princess down here in this mess with him.

Ana was a lot of things Chance didn't see himself as.. She was damn smart, empathetic and she was reaching out to assure Chance that he wasn't alone. Chance on the other hand, had been down here too many times that he felt more comfortable here than anywhere else. It was a strange dichotomy He'd abandoned his home and moved to the surface, knowing that the self imposed exile was what was necessary. There was nothing back there for him. Just pain. He'd hid it all through humor and a brash "fuck it all" kind of attitude when he was around anyone else. He'd focused everything on this, finding out what was down here that he'd never paid much mind to his own appearance or to the cares others might have about him. Sure, Sully had always given him shit, the old man was his only true friend, but others, had tried to get him to open up. Yet he'd shut them away.

Then Ana showed up. she'd walked onto the scene and he felt himself caring about someone else other than himself, and this mission of his. He allowed himself to 'feel' for once. and the feeling was both frightening and liberating. With Ana, the fact that they could be casual around each other with no concern for what anyone else thought made him value their time all the more. and, it started to make him realize... he'd isolated himself. Instead of burying it he actually thought to open up and talk about it if Ana asked. if she was down here of her own choice, then she had every right to know anything about him she might want to know. Chance spent time thinking about this, probably too much and as he rested his head back against the wall his mind wondered further. What stories did this place have of the men and women who'd traveled these caverns? As the old saying goes, 'if the walls could talk" surely they'd have thousands of stories to tell.

"I wonder how many others sat right here and looked up that staircase, wondering "I have to climb that to get out of here??" With a look of resignation on his face, Chance continued, "Silly us, we decided to come down here and the only way out is further down..what were 'WE' thinking." He laughed at himself. then swept away more dirt that rested on the bench, patted it a few times and started taking off his boots to massage his feet. His mind then turned to something Ana had said earlier. Dumping the dirt out of one boot and tapping it against the side of the bench, he started speaking out loud.

"You'd mentioned something that was..uncontrollable? I'll fess up, my sword is imbued with a magic itself. When the blade was forged it was designed to find me, bonded to me for life. So if I loose it, or if it falls, I can retrieve it by calling to it. Most of my other stuff is pretty much mundane, but I have a shard of an amulet that was lost years ago. I think it was even a gift from your ancestors. It hasn't showed any magical properties, But at one time it was supposed to be pretty powerful. The Amulet it was part of was smashed during a cave in. What I have is all that's left."

This entire time Chance hadn't been looking at Ana, he'd either been lost in thought, or staring at the walls and everywhere around him, looking everywhere else but Ana. When his eyes finally fell back to her, he watched as she washed her face, water cascading down her cheeks and a few ribbons of water flowed down her neck. It stirred him. He wanted to walk over and kiss her. pull her into his arms and stay there. The look on his face went from longing, to one of desire and back again.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Ana listened to Chance with amusement and curiosity as he speculated about the people that had traveled here before them in centuries past and about the magical sword that he had brought along with him as she washed her face, enjoying the refreshing water. It was at his mention of the shard he'd brought with him however that she felt a tingling sensation at the back of her neck and she paused.

"A shard from an amulet...smashed during a cave in?" she softly repeated aloud to herself in astonishment as she lifted her gaze to look over at him surprise.

It was then that she spotted the look upon his face as he'd been watching her and she felt a different kind of tingling sensation run through her, a blush creeping into her cheeks at the open desire and longing upon his face as her eyes met his and she smiled. Wiping the bit of water still on her hands off on her leggings, she moved to join him on the bench.

"May I see it?" she asked hopefully as she sat beside him.

 

[CoSurvivor]

Chance didn't take his eyes off Ana as she walked over to him. She was... a vision of beauty in his mind. When she sat down next to him and asked to see the shard, a momentary sense of selfishness washed over him. Why show it to her, what would it do? Didn't he have the answer to just about everything out here?

He did, well to a lot of things. But anything Elven he was walking around blind and deaf. He barely understood their written language (based on what he had read anyway) it only made sense that he should trust Ana with what he had. In a voice not quite his own, Chance spoke softly, mesmerized by her violet eyes.

"um... yes of course." Chance smiled and opened the belt pouch he had it in. Normally the weight of the shard was negligible, but now, as he pulled it from it's resting place, the small black velvet coin purse that he'd put it in vibrated.

Looking at it strangely Chance wanted to speak but changed his mind and pulled the drawcord. Nodding for Ana for her to open her hand, Chance shook the purse and watched as the shard slipped into her hand.

Normally the shard was a misty opaque color. Now... it was glowing a light green.

"Ana...that's not normal... it, it doesn't glow like that."

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Ana missed the strange look that Chance had given the black velvet purse containing the shard for at that same moment she'd felt a soft vibration coming from the brooch pinned against her chest beneath her hood, causing her to glance downward at the spot for a moment in confusion. It was so faint that she almost questioned if she'd imagined it. It was then that Chance nodded to her to open her hand, capturing her attention once more and she had to dismiss it for the time being.

Opening her hand and lifting her palm upward, she watched as he gently shook the shard free from the purse and the small fragment landed softly within her grasp. Her violet eyes grew wide with amazement as she noted the way it glowed, the soft pale green light illuminating their depths.

"Ana...that's not normal... it, it doesn't glow like that."

She gasped. Not because of his words, but because at that exact same moment the light of the shard pulsed slightly as it vibrated again as she held it within her palm. Not only that but she felt the gem within the brooch vibrate against her chest in response, the sensation strong enough now that there was no longer any doubt in her mind what she had felt. Her gaze turned downward once more and to her surprise she could now see a light green glow peeking out from behind her clothes.

"Holy stars..." she breathed in amazement.

Still in shock at what was happening she reached within her clothes with her free hand and unpinned the brooch, pulling it out and holding it out side by side with the shard.

"It doesn't glow like that either."

 

[CoSurvivor]

Chance was already within a few inches of Ana as she spoke, but as he looked at the broach, his eyes went WIDE. He felt as if someone has just poked him in the gut, he could feel butterflies swarming through his gut demanding to be set free. Chance made eye contact with Ana and knew what had to happen next. The pieces were supposed to be joined, attracted by their magical properties, and he remembered Sully had said something to him about an amulet... This amulet.

Without saying another word, Chance put his right hand under Ana's as she held her broach out for him to see, he then slipped the shard from Ana's hand, while he ran his thumb over the top of the broach. Smooth, except for... Yes... there it was, a slim hole. he could feel it with his thumb.

With the shard in his hand, he looked at Ana and said "Together... ok?" with her hand placed over his, and his right hand supporting hers, Chance slowly, and with great concentration started to try and insert the shard back into the amulet.

With his eyes focused on what he was doing, Chance could see the shad stop glowing bright green, but instead a bright white, then starting to glow yellow. The broach, or rather the amulet within it began to glow a brighter green, more intense as the shard grew closer.

The shard slipped in but wasn't completely flush, and they now had a problem. both pieces were now vibrating, at different rhythms... if they didn't sync, and soon, both pieces might shatter and then they'd be picking up the amulet from all over the cavern floor.

Chance looked at Ana, making eye contact again, "Hold it, both hands... while I try and push it in..."

With three hands now holding the amulet, Chance pushed hard with his thumb the shard digging into the flesh of his thumb painfully so. he could feel the vibration growing more intense, and felt the urgency to join the pieces together before it was too late.

With an intense look on his face, Chance pushed harder and could feel the shard draw blood.

The heat which emanated from it was immense, the pain incredible, and it raked up his hand straight to his shoulder. In a blinding flash, it was over, Chance could see the blood on his thumb from the shard, and as he drew his hand away he looked at it. His thumb was healed, and so was the amulet.

Which now, glowed a light purple...

"Ana...I think... we just found a huge piece to the puzzle down here." A genuine smile of hope crossed his face from ear to ear. Together they might just figure this whole thing out.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"Together... ok?"

Ana had nodded her response and rested her hand over Chance's as he held the shard, watching with bated breath as he began to align the two pieces of the jewel.

Like him she could tell that the two pieces were meant to be joined. It was obvious that they were responding to one another and, unlike Chance, due to her keen eye sight she was already aware that a tiny piece of the gem had been missing. This had to be that missing piece. How Chance, a human, had possession of such a thing was beyond her, but there was no time for such questions at the moment.

She watched in amazement as the two pieces began to react to one another again, the shard changing colors while the gem glowed brighter. When they both began to vibrate however, her eyes shot up to Chance's in alarm.

"Hold it, both hands... while I try and push it in..."


She quickly nodded again, her gaze returning to the amulet as she gripped it tightly with both hands as it vibrated. She saw him push the shard in further and the vibrating turned more intense. Remembering the tale she'd heard about how the stone's power had once been the cause of a cave in, she began to worry. Maybe they should stop.

It was too late though, for just at that moment Chance pushed harder and she felt the amulet flash white hot within her hands. She winced and shut her eyes, but just as quickly as it had began the burning sensation was suddenly gone.

Eyes opening again, she blinked in surprise as she noticed the now purple amulet and watched Chance pull his hand away to examine his thumb that had blood on it but no visible wound.

"Ana...I think... we just found a huge piece to the puzzle down here."

She looked at him dumbfounded for a moment, trying to take it all in. Then at the sight of the smile spreading across his face she felt the tension ease out of her body a bit and she laughed in relief.

"I...I think you're right."

She held up the now purple and flawless gem and examined it in wonder.

"I saw this in a vision... that's why I brought it with me to the tunnels...," she explained, "This amulet has been sitting in our palace treasury collecting dust for as long as I can remember, Chance. In all my seventy years I've never seen someone even touch it. I asked to wear it once for an event and my father forbade it. He said that it had great magic, but it was unstable due to having being damaged in a cave in, a cave in that it had created. He wouldn't speak on it any more than that."

She lifted her gaze back up to meet his own.

"For the human kingdom to be the ones that have had the shard this whole time, and for the stories to be so similar, there has to be a connection there that was kept hidden for some reason."

 

[CoSurvivor]

"I think I have an idea Ana, but we're gonna have to get close to the cave in before I can truly answer that question. From here, it's about an hour walk down the tunnel."
their close proximity made him desire her, need Ana... and with both of them so close, he looked into her violet eyes and quickly leaned in and kissed her.

Chance quickly put one hand on the small of her back and held her close holding her hand in his close to his chest. One kiss became two, two became three, and he could feel his face growing flush. Pulling her close he kissed her one more time, heavy and hard, then broke it, suckling her bottom lip for just a few moments, before releasing it.

Chance looked into her eyes and in his soul he wanted to devour her right there, strip her down again and make her his right there on the bench, he wondered, had some young lovers coupled on this bench? did any risk it and fuck on the steps to the surface?? He thought about this.. for a fleeting few moments and returned his attention to the broach in their hands.

"Can we... turn the broach over? Maybe take it out of the clasp?" His curiosity was getting the better of him so quickly he turned the broach over and looked at it, the frame of the broach was not open from the back and he had to turn a metal ring that held the back in place. Giving it a light turn, the back of the jewel was now exposed, which elicited a sigh of disappointment from Chance.

"Well... it seems the lies go deep... It seems both of our ancestors were in on this one.

In the glow of the jewel, a stamp of his family crest could clearly be seen now. definitive evidence of who made the thing, and probably, almost surely who took the shard.

You've got the amulet, but we had the shard. and it looks like the royal family did the work. Probably one of the smiths in our foundry did the work. Did your father ever say anything about the powers of the amulet? could it have really made a cave in? I've got a book that might tell us something, but the translation seems bad, and well. possibly in Elvish, or part of it. I think that cave in should tell us something..."

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

As Chance had leaned in Ana' could see the desire in his eyes and knew he was about to kiss her, the look awaking her own senses and her heart beating faster with excitement in response. She eagerly accepted his kisses, her body quickly responding to his nearness and leaning in as he pulled her close. All too soon it was over though, a shiver of need running down her spine as he sucked her bottom lip and the last kiss ended.

He looked into her eyes again, and once more she could see the desire there. It was almost as if she could read his thoughts, and she felt her skin grow heated in response. Maybe it was because her thoughts at the moment mirrored his own; she wanted him.

She wanted him badly.

For a moment she thought that he might resume kissing her, but instead he turned his attention to the broach they were holding between them. She was disappointed, but watched on as he turned the broach over and opened the back, her eyes widening in surprise as a stamp of his family crest was revealed.

You've got the amulet, but we had the shard. and it looks like the royal family did the work. Probably one of the smiths in our foundry did the work. Did your father ever say anything about the powers of the amulet? could it have really made a cave in? I've got a book that might tell us something, but the translation seems bad, and well. possibly in Elvish, or part of it. I think that cave in should tell us something..."

"Elf magic can be very great, so if the stone's magic was so great that my father feared using it, it must have been very great indeed," Ana explained to Chance, "I think the odds that it actually made a cave in like he said are very likely, maybe even the cave in you spoke of that we will be passing. I could take a look at the Elvish in your book if you like and see if I can make anything out..."

She paused then, his nearness and the effect of his kisses from before on her body distracting her from the task at hand. Her gaze drifted down to his lips and she instinctively wet her own in response.

"But first..."

She leaned forward and brought her lips to his, softly brushing over them and tasting them with her own. Her free hand slid up and wrapped its fingers around the back of his neck, threading them into the hair at his nape and holding him captive so that he would not pull away like before as she deepened the kiss.

 

[CoSurvivor]

Chance turned his head to look down into his travel bag, he was going to pull out the small book that Sully had brought to him, just before he'd left on this adventure. Then he heard Ana say something.

"But first..."

She kissed him... Ana's lips were hot. her hand on his neck weaving into his hair made him give a slight moan, then a groan of pure desire. As their hands stayed together, and Ana's free hand pulled him in, Chance brought his free hand to the nape of her neck, his thumb dragging along the edge of her jaw.

It didn't matter where they were, he could tell by the passion in her kisses that she was not going to be denied.

Chance let his bag slip from his shoulder and hit the floor first, a loud "thump' echoed up the stairs and away from them. Releasing his hand from hers as he made sure Ana held the broach in her hand, he helped her with the quiver to her bow and removed it. The long shafts of the wooden arrows making a rattling sound as they hit the floor. Next was her bow, then his sword belt, each one hitting the hard stone floor with a clatter. lastly, he broke the kiss with Ana and encouraged her to put the broach away somewhere safe.

Once she'd done so, Chance grasped her left hand in his own and put her hand on his pants just over his manhood. He could feel the heat of her hand through the heavy fabric, and it made him grow hard. Grinding into her hand he kissed her hard, his other free hand finding the muscular curve of her right butt cheek, grasping her ass hard.

"I need you Ana..."

his cock needed her touch, desired her skin upon him anywhere under his clothes and Chance took the initiative and brought the hand that had been resting on his cock over his pants, to the waistband, and inside... When the tips of her fingers descended within, Chance couldn't help but groan lightly... He wasn't thinking of anything else other than to have her hands on him. now...

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Ana had felt her blood warm further at the sound of Chance's groan as she'd kissed him. When he began to touch her back in return and then she heard the thump of his bag hitting the floor she smiled slightly against his lips in victory, knowing that he would not try to end the moment between them prematurely again.

After their weapons were removed and she had put the stone away he drew her to him again, this time taking her hand in his and placing it over the crotch of his pants. To her amazement she could feel him growing beneath her palm at even this slight touch from her. As he ground against her hand and kissed her she rested her right hand upon his chest, moaning softly into their kiss.

"I need you Ana..."

His words both soothed her soul and set it on fire all at the same time and she moaned softly in response.

"I need you too Chance.."

When he then moved her hand and slipped it into the waistband of his pants and she heard his light groan she couldn't help but feel excitement at the thought of how much he seemed to crave her touch and the pleasure that it brought him.

Not waiting for his direction anymore she slipped her hand further inside his pants as she kissed him again, her fingertips slowly sliding down over his skin and following the trail of hairs leading down past his navel until at last they reached their goal and brushed over his cock. She tentatively began to move her hand over him within his pants, her fingers exploring and marveling at the feel of him.

She began to rub her palm softly against him like he'd had her do over his pants before for a few moments before deciding that the pants were too confining. Moving her right hand down from his chest to his waistband, she broke their kiss and stopped her movements upon his manhood for the time being and slid her left hand up out of his pants. Her two hands working together, she untied the waist of his pants and push it downward until his erection sprung free. Then with her eyes gazing up at him she wrapped her left hand around his girth and began to slowly stroke up and down his length, her movements mimicking his own from before when he had moved inside her.

 

[CoSurvivor]

"Ana..." was all Chance could moan out, his eyes closed the center of his world focused on what she was doing to him. When she undid his pants and the cool air of the caverns hit his naked flesh, his cock nearly jumped, but when her hand grasped him, he groaned threefold.

"Yes.........oh Ana..."

His eyes opened and they sought out hers, his hand which had been cupping her ass moved, seeking a waistband under her corset, but in his distracted state, he couldn't find it and failed miserably. Instead, his hand sought out the laces to her corset, untied the knot and tried to pull it loose a bit.

His mind was a knot of chaos, he wanted so much all at once. He wanted desperately to get her clothes off, desperately wanted to bring her to as much pleasure as possible, he also didn't want her to stop. But she had him completely in her command, in her hands so to speak, and while the wheels turned in his head on how to get her out of her clothes he rested one hand on her shoulder giving her a subtle push down...

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Chance's moans encouraged Ana to keep going. As she did she could not help but smile a bit in response to his fumblings with her waistband and laces. Clearly he was distracted by what she was doing, and she found it absolutely adorable.

Feeling his subtle push on her shoulder she began to lower herself back down onto the bench where they had been sitting before, her free hand tracing down his chest as she did. Once seated she smiled up at him and moved her right hand to the front of her corset, using her fingers to untie the top fastening of her tunic so it hung loose and open at the top and then work loose the laces of her corset a bit more while her left continued its stroking upon his manhood.

All the while her gaze was on him, her violet eyes dark with desire. She loved watching the pleasure she was causing him play out upon his face. Loved watching his expressions, hearing the sounds that he made. Each one made her own need rise, and she found her hand moving more quickly upon him in response.

When her laces were loose enough she had to stop however, removing her hand from around him so that she could use both of her hands to reach down and slide the corset up and off of her.

 

[CoSurvivor]

Chance helped her with the corset, now that both of her hands were busy, he undid the top of her tunic at the same time. pulling it up and off her, her breasts were now free of its confines he spied her left nipple and leaned down to suckle it greedily through her tunic, then reached down and untucked it from her leggings, pulling it up and off her, lightly forcing Ana to raise her hands above her head he exposed her chest to the cool air of the caverns and was greeted by her lovely insanely beautiful chest.

Chance leaned in suckling each nipple, leaving a heavy trail of saliva between her breasts, as he licked and sucked at her left, then to her right nipple and back again. Breaking for half a moment he leaned in kissed her heavily and admired her beauty standing in front of her, then he got a devious idea. Putting both hands on her chest chance looked down at his engorged manhood, pushing her breasts together slowly slipping his cock between her breasts feeling the instant heat of her chest against his cock. stroking more than a few times, between her breasts he was growing harder by the moment.

He wanted to taste her again as he had in the fields... eventually pull off her boots and leggings, and make a path with his tongue to her heat. But Chance was just as curious.. if she might.. taste him?

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"Chance..." Ana moaned out as he licked and sucked her nipples, her eyes drifting shut and her back arching against his mouth for a moment until he pulled her in for a kiss. Then he pulled away and she caught a devious sparkle in his eyes as he looked at her admiringly, making her wonder what he had planned.

When he pushed her breasts together and then began to slide his cock in, stroking between them, she had to admit that it was unexpected, though not unwelcomed either. She could feel his cock growing harder as he stroked between them and it excited her. As he pushed forward, the head of his manhood pushed upwards towards her mouth, and then it was her turn to had a devious thought.

Remembering the way he had tasted her between her thighs and the pleasure it had given her, she reached out with her hands and lightly grasped his hips, stilling him and then pulling him forward. She wanted to give him the same pleasure that he had given her.

Her hands still resting upon his hips, she dipped her head down and slowly took him into her mouth, tasting him tentatively with her tongue for a moment before sliding him in further.

 

[CoSurvivor]

Chance could feel her lips around him, the heat of her mouth take him in, and as she did he couldn't speak, he could only moan out in pleasure.

"Ana....."

His hands subtly going to the sides of her head, fingers weaving into her hair gently, not forcefully touching her, but letting her know by the softness of his fingers through her hair that he was truly enjoying what she was doing to him.

As Ana continued, Chance was completely at her mercy. Ana could now do anything she wanted to him, and in turn, Chance would do anything she wanted him to do to her. His eyes eventually closed, and as he felt an oncoming orgasm begin to start, the edges of his toes begin to tingle at the delight of what she was doing to him he had to needed desperately desired to make this last.

Gently pulling Ana up and away from his manhood, Chance kissed her, Hard harder than he'd probably intended, groaning his desire moaning his need for her between each breath. Eventually, he broke the plethora of kisses that he'd showered upon her lips and took in a heavy breath...

"you need to warn me next time you plan on doing that..."

Kissing her again softly then again quickly, Chance's hands roamed her body, finding the edge of her leggings and quickly pushed both of his hands within, feeling the smooth skin of her ass, Chance squeezed her backside and pulled her to him, his desire, and need to be inside her overwhelming him. Chance could feel the head of his manhood poking her lightly in the stomach as another idea came to mind, but both of them had too many clothes on.

"I think...if we do anything..we need to shed some clothes."