ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Turn Of The Wheel

by Ellianora

Rating: this tale would be gen/alt/uber

Disclaimer: The characters are of my own creation an as such my property. Even though the two main women resemble a pair we all know and love they do have some differences.

Violence: The story does contain violence and some of it can be quite graphic so be warned.

Sex: Not too much here only a little hugging and kissing. A developing relationship between a person who is attempting to discover who she is and one who is hesitant to trust another with their heart and soul.

Feedback: I have been working on this project for sometime and any comments would be greatly appreciated.

I would like to thank Trisha and Lesley for their time and patience in reading my work and putting up with my artistic tantrums.:)

Epilogue

Slowly the band recovered from the effects of the life-draining spell, brushing off the dust from the blasted wall and ceiling. They could see the sun was already beginning to set in the darkening sky. Terrell immediately tended to the others, checking each of them in turn for any serious injuries. Miraculously, the only one who had suffered more then a few bruises and cuts was Venom.

The stoic dark woman quietly thanked the young priest who fashioned her a makeshift sling for the injured arm. Fortunately, the woman seemed to have a high threshold to pain and an incredible recovery rate. Venom smiled listlessly, then slipped away from the rest of them taking a seat on what remained of the ruined stairs. The massive explosion had devastated the entire citadel along with the mountain itself.

The others gathered together observing the heartrending portrait of the former pirate sitting alone on the stairs staring blankly at the ruins scattered about them.

"Someone should talk to her," Zafrina suggested.

Ellie nodded in agreement and walked towards her companion. The moment in the torture chamber was still fresh in her mind. She felt closer to Venom then she ever had to another person, but she realized she could scarcely fathom the torture her companion was going through at this moment.

"The others are worried and so am I." Sitting down next to her companion, Ellie placed her hand in Venom's.

"Don't be, "Venom said, squeezing her hand, "I am still alive, unfortunately."

"It must have been a nightmare when Kahn gave back your memories."

"Y-You can't imagine," Venom continued her deep strong voice cracking slightly.

"Then tell me, help me to understand please." Ellie said, lovingly caressing Venom's cheek.

"I fell into the hands of pirates when I was very young," Venom said, burying her head in her hands. " Rather than kill me they decided to use me for menial work and something to take their frustration out on. Later, as I grew older and didn't die they decided to use me for other things too, such as taking me when ever the urge came upon them."

Eliannora stroked her hair soothingly, pulling Venom's shaking form closer to her.

"I had my first child before I was thirteen plantings old, at least as best I could recollect the passage of time." Venom cried, allowing years of hurt to spill out, "but none of my children survived. I either lost them during one of my beatings, or they were ripped from my arms as newborns when they were birthed and thrown over the side."

"It must have been horrible," Ellie choked as tears brimmed up in her violet eyes.

"They dressed me in scraps pillaged from the dead women they had ravaged. Then one day when they raided a merchant ship I swung over with a belaying pin in hand and fire in my heart. I slew a score of men that day and took what I wanted, armor and weapons. I vowed I would never be abused again." Venom then retreated from her companion's gentle embrace.

"It was a nightmare, but it doesn't excuse the things I've done." Venom placed her weary head upon Ellie's shoulders sobbing.

"You had more reasons than most," Ellie comforted her; Cradling Venom's head close to her chest. "I haven't exactly led an upstanding life and my rearing wasn't nearly as bad as your own. Maybe together we can begin again."

Venom looked up into the loving eyes of her companion. The ice blue eyes were red rimmed while the heavy black liner had run down her cheeks, leaving long dark streaks.

"I meant what I said." Venom said quietly

"And so did I," Ellie said smiling, kissing her lightly. "I love you. I never thought I'd ever say those words to another person."

"I never thought I'd hear anyone say them to me."

"I love you," Ellie repeated. Slowly their lips touched. Their tongues met entwining each other, as Venom drew her smaller companion closer. Ellie wrapped Venom's raven locks in her fingers as Venom softly caressed her back.

"Now we should join the others, we shouldn't keep them fretting too long." Ellie suggested as two separated after one last lingering kiss. "First," she added wiping the former pirate's cheek tenderly with her tunic. "We need to clean you up. It wouldn't do for the big bad warrior to look like a masked tree rat."

"Thanks," Venom said rising from her seat walking to where the others had assembled themselves. "We should get back to Midtor. I could use some rest."

"Rest?"
"For now," Venom added with a sly wink.

"It's about time you two decided to join us," Zafrina teased.

"Sorry," Venom apologized. "I needed a moment." She turned to Gasqule. "I guess now we can head for Sidanthra."

"I feel this situation has ended most favorably," Terrell interjected before Gasqule could respond. "However it's a shame that Censor seems to have escaped from justice."

"I shall make a full report of his vile actions," Gasqule added, "but he has no doubt retreated into the Archeon Empire and the order has little sway in the Archeon court of late. Not to mention, some of our order may still believe he was somehow acting for the good."

"Nonetheless," Terrell continued, "it would be a travesty if such a miscreant was not made to answer for his actions."

"Who says he wont," Ellie said, glancing around at the others.

"If the Light Warriors and congenital laws wont bring him down we will," Zafrina insisted.

"Do you realize what your saying?" Venom demanded, noticing where the discussion was going. "I have my memory back now and know all about Censor and the Archeon Empire. We would have to enter a country entirely devoted to his protection. I don't think I need to remind you all, Archeon soldiers are some of the best on the continent."

"No more difficult than stopping say a full orc blood run," Ellie declared thrusting out her hand.

"Not to mention, a twisted little mage and his pet bug," Zafrina added placing her hand on top of Ellie's

Nor Tenaria the scourge of Velia," Gasqule observed placing his hand on top of the other two. "Along with the Tree of Malice for good measure."

"I feel I would be remiss if I did not mention our recent confrontation with the dragon Kahn and his dead master." Terrell stated adding his hand to the pile.

Venom rolled her eyes while the assembled look at her. Sighing lightly, Venom added her own strong hand to the group. "I take it we don't go to Sidanthra?" Venom smiled at the group before her.

"No need to rush off," Gasqule replied with wry smile. "First like Terrell said Censor must be made to pay."

"If we are to continue on this quest," Terrell suggested, "perhaps we should give our little assembly a title in reverence to the adventurous bands and heroes of old."

"Not a bad idea," Zafrina replied brightly, "how about Zafrina's Raiders?" The idea earned more then a few raised eyebrows and some groans from the others. "Just a thought, "the young mage said demurely.

"Then keep it as such," Ellie joked laughing softly.

"Perhaps something noble like the Hands of Justice," Gasqule volunteered.

"Oh please," Zafrina chided. "Could you come up with something a bit more cliché?"

"How about just Family," Venom offered, "glancing at the faces of her companions, her friends, and now her family surrounding her. The others nodded in agreement with warm smiles, and then broke apart beginning the long trek back to their mounts.

"The only thing I regret," Zafrina grumbled picking her way through the rubble. "Is that I lost my book in all this mess.

"Oh yes," Terrell said offhandedly walking next to her, "I took you up on your kind offer to peruse your tome. I believe once we reach the hall I should be able to transcribe the lost book from memory."

"Sometimes you are just too good to be true," Zafrina said joyfully hugging the slender mage with a strength he did not think she possessed.

"Actually, all of this reminds me of tales I read of great battles, " Terrell said slightly flustered from the demonstration of affection. "I believe it was the great playwright Yves-."

"Terrell," Ellie interrupted.

"Yes of course," Terrell said obediently before the half-elf could finish her statement.

The four friends shared a secret smile between them. " Tell us about it Terrell," Venom laughed placing her arm around Ellie.

In the distance The Family could see the flickering lights of Midtor as they descended the remains of Lost Mountain listening to Terrell prattle on in endless detail concerning the construction of heroic plays.

The End

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