Author's Notes: Yay! It's Saga II now! I hope y'all enjoy this ^^ Thanks again to all my reviewers! Oh, and btw, sorry for all the late updates recently . I;m just so busy, it's really hard to get Arelle done in time these days. *sigh*. Well anyway, enjoy!

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IMPORTANT: Before you read this fanfic, you should know that this is the second part of a Fantasy/Action/Adventure book series by Kendra Kassidy, aka Amai. I highly suggest that you read the first part of this series, Arelle: Saga I, first, before reading this one. To read Arelle: Saga I, click on the author: Amai no Tenshi above this fanfic. You should see a list of all the things I've written with a Bio about me, and at this screen, choose the fanfic called Arelle: Saga I.

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Arelle watched her breath make puffs of fog in the cold, crisp, winter air.

"What do you think?" the Elf beside her said.

Arelle glanced at him quickly. "What do we think about what, Moren?" she asked.

"The wolves," Moren said. Arelle drew her attention back to the small pack of wolves in front of her. They were currently busy devouring a rabbit, and took no notice of the three elves that were quietly watching them from the bushes.

"What about the wolves, lad?" the third, eldest Elf, Akinen, asked.

Moren glanced at him and smiled.

Arelle felt her stomach churn. "If you're thinking about eating them, then think again Moren!" Arelle said commandingly. Moren gave her a pouting look.

"No, no, no! Absolutely not." Arelle continued. "You know how Lilliah feels about wolves. And don't think that that face is going to work on me, Moren!"

Moren sighed. "But Areeelle! I'm huuungry!" Moren complained.

Arelle rolled her eyes. "You know very well that Lilliah would never eat a wolf!"

"Arelle, Lilliah wouldn't have to eat the wolves! We could eat the wolves!" Moren said, as if the answer was so simple.

Arelle rolled her eyes. "You know Lilliah wouldn't like it, Moren."

"I agree with Arelle, lad. You know it'd hurt Lilliah if we ate wolves in front of her. It just wouldn't be right," Akinen said.

"But the water is frozen, so fish are off the menu, and we have to catch at least a few rabbits for each meal, whereas a wolf would last us for at least two meals!" Moren exclaimed.

Arelle just rolled her eyes. "Then I suppose we should hurry up and get to work on finding some more rabbits!" Arelle said turning to leave. Akinen and Moren followed her, Moren still grumbling quietly.

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Arelle smiled as she looked around the campfire that night, eating roasted rabbit. It had been a little over a year since she had lost control of her magic, causing her to have to run away from home. After running away from home, she met Moren, a half Wood Elf/half High Elf Cleric, who, at Arelle's request, began teaching Arelle magic. Arelle and Moren hoped that if Arelle learned more about magic, she could learn how to control it, too. Arelle was learning more and more magic, and she barely ever lost her control over it these days, but Moren said that when she lost her temper, he could still feel the negative energy disrupting the peaceful flow. At least things didn't burst into flame when she got angry anymore. But then again, since she had begun living in the forest with her new companions, she really had never felt the anger she felt in Felwithe, her hometown.

A while after beginning her training with Moren, suddenly her long lost, disgraced Cutthroat uncle showed up. Arelle was less then happy at first, seeing how he had forever disgraced their family when he joined the Cutthroats, but, due to Lilliah's prodding, Arelle was beginning to forgive him. As for Lilliah, she's a Shaman Barbarian from Halas. What's she doing in Greater Faydark? Well, it turns out she knew Akinen a long time ago, and showed up just a few months ago, looking for him. She finally admitted she loved him just a few weeks ago, but so far he hasn't made any response to that.

And now, here Arelle sat, watching her new companions as they ate. Arelle smiled happily, thinking of how nice it was to be part of a group for once. This was where she really belonged.

"What's the matter?" Moren asked Arelle, seeing that she had stopped eating and was just looking around the fire.

"Nothing's the matter, Moren. Everything is as it should be," Arelle said, happily.

Moren cocked an eyebrow at her. "Err…huh?"

Arelle laughed. "Never mind," she said, taking a bite of her roasted rabbit.

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A week later…

Arelle hummed happily as she sharpened her sword. Lilliah was away picking greens to eat for supper, while Moren and Akinen were cleaning some rabbits for supper that night. Moren had said as soon as he and Akinen cleaned those rabbits, he and Arelle could start their daily magic lessons. Arelle smiled as she held the sword up to the sun and saw it gleaming in the sun's brightness. She lowered it to waist level, and then began practicing stances.

Since Moren had begun teaching her magic, he also taught her others things—like how to survive in the wild. Before meeting Moren, Arelle couldn't even wield a sword. Now Arelle was somewhat skilled in both sword and bow. She liked learning to use weapons, but she couldn't help but chuckle, thinking of how her father would react if he saw her wielding a sword.

Suddenly, she stopped, lowering her sword. She listened carefully. Something was wrong. There was a foul odor in the air.

"Hello there, little girl," she heard a hoarse voice say. She jerked around to face the source of the voice and saw two beings, a Dark Elf and a Barbarian, emerging from the bushes. Both of them were clothed in dirty rags, and their eyes held a dangerous glint to them.

"We was just passin' by here when my friend here saw smoke from a fire. Naturally, we was curious, so we came over here to investigate!" the Barbarian said. "And who woulda guessed that, out here, alone in this forest, was a young High-Elf girl!" he said, taking a step closer.

Arelle twitched slightly and rose her sword in a fighting stance. "If you come here seeking trouble, I suggest you leave," Arelle said sternly.

The Barbarian glanced at the Dark Elf, and after a nod from the Dark Elf, the Barbarian stepped out towards Arelle again. "Really, ya know, ya should just give up now, before we havfta hurt ya. If ya surrender now, we promise we'll give ya a quick death. Yer really not worth spendin much time on, ya know, seeing how ya have barely anythin here," he said, motioning around the camp. "But then again, that there is a pretty nice lookin sword ya have there. Why don't ya drop it there on the ground, and I'll come pick it up later. If yer especially cooperative, we might even consider lettin ya go!" the Barbarian said.

"You like this sword, huh? If you don't leave now, I assure you this sword will be your death. I don't want to fight you. I would never choose to spill blood, " Arelle said.

The Dark Elf stepped out now, and his hoarse voice made shivers run up and down Arelle's spine, though she didn't show her fear to them. "Ah, big words from such a little girl! Do you really think you stand a chance against us, little girl? We've spilled more blood than you'd ever dream of. You think we're scared of you? A little High-Elf with a sword. You're pathetic," the Dark Elf hissed.

Arelle stared at he Dark Elf, still ready to strike a blow.

The Dark Elf continued. "Why are you out here in the first place, little girl? Parents leave you here? Your people cast you out? You're an outcast with no family, no home? No body wanted you?" the Dark Elf smiled as he saw Arelle's eyes narrow. "That's it, isn't it?" he sighed. "Such a shame when that happens. An unwanted child. I bet it really hurts inside, doesn't it?" the Dark Elf said.

"I have nothing to say to you. Get out now!" Arelle said, trying her best to control her anger.

"It does hurt, doesn't it? I bet it's hard to live with yourself when—"

"I said get OUT you filth of Norrath!" Arelle said, snarling at him. He only smiled and stepped closer, but as he did, suddenly his arm caught aflame. Completely taken off-guard, he screeched in pain, a screech that made Arelle's blood run cold. She jumped back in surprise from the Dark Elf, who was now lit up like a torch.

Arelle watched in shock as the smaller creature rolled in the dirt attempting to put the flames out that were now consuming most of his body, while his partner the Barbarian attempted to help put the flames out the best he could. In other circumstances, Arelle might have laughed at the odd display, but she was too confused to laugh at the moment. Then it struck her—it was her old habit, coming back. She must have been really mad to make him light up like that. This was the first time, however, that she was actually glad of her ability, and she silently smirked to herself. But all the mirth left her face as she saw the Dark Elf get back up, his face twisted with rage and hatred. Arelle lost all composure and gasped, her sword slipping from her hand to the ground. He took a step towards her, and Arelle screamed, looking into his charcoal black eyes.

v"Arelle! What is it, lass!?" came Akinen's voice from the trees nearby. When he and Moren came through the trees Akinen gasped at the sight of the Barbarian and Dark Elf, and they gasped seeing him, as well.

"Respitas?!" Akinen exclaimed.

"Aka?" the Dark Elf replied, wide-eyed.

"What in all Norrath are ye doing here?!" Akinen said, astonished.

"What about you?! I thought that you had left this plane for the after life, and yet here you are before me!" the Dark Elf, Respitas exclaimed.

Moren rushed to Arelle's side. Akinen replied, "No, I haven't left this realm yet. This is my…err… temporary home," Akinen said.

Respitas looked at Akinen in the eye. "Aka…have you betrayed us?"

Akinen paused in silence. "Err…Not betrayed…I was just taking a small break," Akinen said.

Respitas looked at him curiously. "Aka…Why didn't you come back to the main base? If you asked for it, I'm sure they'd let you have some time off to rest. Why didn't you meet up with the rest of the survivors of the Fewithien guards' attack?"

"I was wounded. I had to heal. If I went on, I would've died," Akinen said.

"You don't look wounded now…" Respitas said.

"No, I've healed up now. But, like I said, I wanted some time off," Akinen said.

"But you should have reported back to the main base as soon as possible!" Respitas said.

Aka said nothing. Respitas turned his attention to Arelle, standing beside Moren.

"And what of this girl? And boy? Who're they?"

"They just live here… Or, I live with them…" Akinen said, trying to find how to phrase it.

"Then, they're your servants?" Respitas asked.

"Err, no…" Aka replied nervously.

"No? Then what are they?"

Akinen paused. "Companions."

Respitas snarled at Akinen. "Companions? Since when did Aka the Scarlet Cutthroat befriend simple peasants? Why did you not kill them and take their tent and treasures, if you needed a place to stay? I don't understand."

"Ye know I don't kill unless I have a reason, Respitas," Akinen said.

Respitas raised his sword to Arelle's neck. Moren began to draw his sword, but stopped when he saw Respitas's sword putting pressure on Arelle neck. "Well, Aka, I do kill without reason. And I want to kill this girl. I hate her," Respitas said.

"No! Stop that, Respitas," Akinen said.

Respitas cocked his head to the side to look at Akinen, his blade still to Arelle's throat. "You've grown soft, Aka the Scarlet Cutthroat."

"Put the blade down, Respitas," Akinen said.

"Why do you care about her?"

"She's my companion," Akinen said.

"Don't be weak, Aka!" Respitas said.

"Respitas. But the blade down," Akinen said, his voice deep and firm. "Now."

Respitas paused. Something in Akinen's voice made him lower his sword, but he still had a snarl on his face.

"You know, that's how it always was," Respitas said. "You always gave us orders like you were Commander. And Commander always supported you. You were always his favorite," Respitas said.

"I remember the day you came to camp, hoping to be a Cutthroat—just a young lad, you were. You always did as you were told, and you were a good, loyal soldier. And then the Commander started paying attention to you, and all of a sudden you got cocky. You grew a reputation of being a Rogue no one would mess with. And now, here you are, protecting this—girl!"

"It pains me to see how low you've sunk, Aka. What would the Commander think if he saw you now?" Respitas said hoarsely.

"The Commander is dead. He's gone. All that's left of him is memories, now," Akinen said, sighing.

"No, that's not the only thing he left," Respitas said.

Akinen looked at him and cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

A grin slowly formed on Respitas's face. "Yes, that's right. He left something behind. You know what that is don't you?"

"Huh? What are ye talking about?" Akinen asked, confused.

"Oh, you know what I mean. Think about it. Something the Commander left behind," Respitas said.

"Look, Respitas, I don't know what yer talking about. I've had enough of yer games now. Leave me now in peace. Tell the main hideout that I won't be coming back for a while," '..if ever', Akinen silently added in in his mind. "Go, now. I'm tired of your games."

"You think I'll leave now? I know you're hiding it. You know where it is, don't you? That's why you didn't come back, isn't it?" Respitas said, grinning.

"I don't know what yer talking about. Go away now, Respitas. I'm sick of yer games."

"Stop hiding it, Aka! Come on! We could split the wealth!" Respitas said.

Akinen turned to look at him. "What did you say?"

"You know what I mean. The Commander's treasure."

Akinen paused, staring at Respitas. Then he turned around to walk away. "I want no part in yer foolish treasure hunt," Akinen said.

"You know what I mean, Aka! I know you do. You know where the treasure is, don't you?" Respitas called after Akinen. Akinen paid him no mind and quietly ignored him.

"I won't give up on this, Aka! I won't return empty-handed!" Respitas said, turning on his heels and trotting away, his Barbarian friend at his heels.

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Weee! Ihope y'all have enjoyed so far ^^ Keep reading--there's lots more to come!

And now, time to reply to comments!

Blue the Echidna: I'm psychic! ;) No not really I just know what a girl in love would do. *wink* Was it just me or was Akinen a little slow on the uptake? :p I find that endearing.Wow! Her birthday is the same as mine! Coolies! I can't wait for next Wednesday! Next saga! Yay! *dance*
Amai's Reply: Wow! January 23 is your b-day? That is so freaky...Of all the days in the year, I just HAPPENED to have chose your b-day for her! I find that really odd...almost creepy O_o...But very cool, anyway ^^ I'm glad I chose the b-day of one of my most faithful readers!