Friend or Foe

Arra wandered along the dark menacing hallways, listening to her new friend talk about life in the mountain. She couldn't believe that Larten hadn't come looking for her. She frowned a little at that thought. What if he's mad at me?... That thought left her even more unsettled.

"Are you ok Arra?" The soft voice startled her out of her thoughts and she looked up a bit surprised.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I was lost in thought." She said and smiled a little as he laughed. It was a pleasant sound, not like the harsh barking laugh Vanez had. She studied his face silently for a moment. Her first impression of him was that he had been rather plain. But now, she noticed that his eyes were chocolate brown, rimmed in gold. His skin, which at first glance seemed unhealthily pale, now almost glowed against the darkness of the vast hallway they stood in. It contrasted nicely with his dark brown wavy hair, which hung just long enough that it could be pulled back in a ponytail. A grin sudeenly appeared on his lips.

"Is there something on my face? You seem to be staring at it quite intensely." He laughed as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

"Sorry, I was just noticing for the first time how…well…pretty you are." She said matter-of-factly. He smiled and opened his mouth to reply, but stopped before he could and looked down the hall. Footsteps approached them. Larten Crepsley came into view.

"Arra there you are. I was beginning to think you'd been eaten by the mountain." He stopped a couple of paces away, his eyes falling on her companion for the first time. "Ah, Gavin wasn't it?" He studied the young man, eyes narrowed slightly. "I've heard a great deal about you." His meaningful glance did not go unnoticed by Arra and she looked at him curiously. Gavin smiled tightly and bowed.

"Larten, a pleasure to meet you formally. I am Gavin Thomas. I have heard many tales about you as well." He straightened up and looked back down at Arra, giving her a reassuring smile in reply to her puzzled look. "Arra, it was a great pleasure to meet you, I hope that I may see you again soon." He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it, glanced sideways at Larten, and turned and disappeared into the shadows. Arra stared after him into the empty darkness for a moment before turning back to Larten. The man's eyes were dark and he suddenly looked much older than normal.

"Larten?...are you well?" She asked hesitantly. He nodded sharply and tried to smile.

"Of course Arra, this place just makes me uneasy. Lets go back shall we?" She nodded and walked after him silently. She started slightly as she felt his hand on her shoulder, and looked up at him.

"What's wrong?" She asked, looking concerned. He shook his head and closed his eyes.

"Arra, listen to me carefully. I will not tell you who you can and cannot hang out with, all I ask is that you be careful. If you are in any sort of trouble, you shout as loud as you can, and I will be there."

Arra looked at him confused. "What's this about? What are you hiding?"

He chuckled softly, looking so tired. "It isn't that I am hiding anything from you Arra, I'm hiding from the past." And with that they too disappeared into the shadows.

Sorry Im so behind. College started and I have been so busy my head is spinning. More to come though.