Part Three-K'Lera

Tom Paris woke to find B'Elanna gone. He sat up quickly, causing him to see blackness. The dizziness passed, and he looked around his surroundings, worriedly. He was about to call her name when he heard faint sounds. He strained his hearing, trying to figure out the sound. He then heard rustling from behind him. He spun around to see Torres walking toward him. He stood up, the blanket wrapped around him. He walked toward her, concern in his eyes and on his face.
"B'Elanna?" He asked, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Torres shook her head, "I'm all right, Tom. I guess the rabbit didn't agree with me."
Paris offered a small smile. He gave her a hug then helped her back to the campsite.
"Maybe it's nerves." he offered, "Are we getting closer to your home?"
Torres nodded.
"Then it is nerves! You're more than a little apprehensive about this."
Torres shrugged, "I'm worried about what she'll think of us. Especially us together."
Paris sat down beside her, "It shouldn't matter, Lanna. I know her approval is important, but it shouldn't both you. Are you afraid your mother will force you to leave me?"
Torres shook her head, "I wouldn't leave you, Tom. For anything. She'll disown me of course."
Paris stared at her shocked, "Just because you wounldn't leave me? What about her falling in love with a human!?"
Torres shrugged, "I'm hoping she'll remember that and accept you."
Paris took her in his arms and held her close. He hoped Torres' mother would remember as well. He'd hate having to lose Torres that way. He would rather die than be forced to be without her.
"She'll have to kill me before I let you go."
Torres turned in his arms, and stared at him in shock, "No, Tom. Don't say that. I couldn't bare watching you die. I couldn't stand it last time."
Paris smiled weakly and kissed her forehead, "All right. Let's just get there first. Then we'll find out where she stands on all this."
Torres nodded and kissed him in the lips. She then got up and gathered her clothes to get dressed. Paris followed suit.
The two were back on the road in several minutes. Paris kept his eye on Torres. He was afraid that what was making her sick was more than just bad meat.
If it was just the meat, I would be throwing up as well, Paris thought to himself.
Paris noticed that she seemed better after she had eaten some dried fruit. He hoped she was past the worst of whatever she had, but he wasn't going to take any chances.
I'll just find something else besides rabbits, he thought, maybe fish.
He smiled at that thought. He always loved to fish, and took any oppertunity to do so. It was soothing to just sit back, and hear the water as he waited for a bite. It was also refreshing to stand in the middle of the water as he picked a fish to spear.
"What are you smiling about?" Torres' voice broke through his thoughts.
He looked at her confushed at first, but her words finally focused, "I was thinking about fishing. The next meal we have could be fish instead."
Torres nodded in agreement, "That's a good idea. I'd like to see how well you can fish."
Paris shook his head, "You just want to see me fall on my face if I get one I can't handle."
Torres laughed, "You know me so well!"
Paris shook his head again and smiled. He was falling in love with her more every day.
If such a thing were possible, he thought.

K'Lera stared out a window of her castle. She watched the sun rise above the trees, and imagined her sacrifices riding closer to her.
Soon, Harpra, she thought as the wind blew through her long light brown hair,you will have your lives soon.
She turned slowly away from the window, and went back to her throne. She sat down just as the sound of someone pounding on the door echoed through the room.
"Enter," she commanded.
The doors creaked as they opened. Footsteps sounded through the room as a dark robed figure walked toward the priestess. The figure bowed low then straightened to stare at K'Lera.
"Priestess," the figure spoke, "everything is ready for the sacrifices. When will the offerings arrive?"
K'Lera smiled. This was the only human male she had ever allowed to live. Mainly, because he had never attempted anything on her, and he believe the same as her when it came to Harpra.
"The offerings will be arriving soon, Taren. A day at most."
Taren smiled and bowed low again before leaving the room. The doors echoed in her ears as they closed, but she just smiled. The sounded were the only things that told her the castle wasn't empty.

B'Elanna smiled as she watched Tom stand in the middle of a fast moving stream. He had drawn his sword, and was now staring at the fish with his sword poised to strike. He looked both very attractive and quite silly. She tried not to laugh at the sight, for she didn't want to break his concentration.
Suddenly, he jabbed his weapon into the water, causing it to splash onto his buckskins. He drew the sword out of the stream with a large fish impaled on the other end.
Paris looked back to Torres, and waded back to where she sat under a tree. He flicked his sword which sent the fish flying through the air. It landed on the shore a few inches away from the other fish he had caught. He then sat down beside Torres, and prepared the fish to cook.
"You looked really alluring out there fishing," Torres said, smiling.
Paris looked at her and saw the feral smile playing on her lips. He grinned impishly then kissed her on the lips.
"You're alluring just sitting here under the tree," he said, turning back to cleaning the fish.
Torres shook her head as she picked up the other fish to clean it.
"We should be entering my homelands in two days," she mentioned.
Paris nodded as he took a large stick, and jabbed it through his fish. He then poised it over the fire to cook.
"You're still worried, arn't you?" He asked, knowing the answer.
Torres nodded, "You're going to be stared at, Tom. You might even have things thrown at you. The worst they could do is attack you."
"And that's just the women, huh?" Paris asked, turning the fish over.
Torres looked at him, "Yes. If they believe that you are a threat to them."
Paris glared at her, "B'Elanna, if they see that we are together..."
"That won't matter, Tom! They'll see that you're a human and a male!"
"Then I'll just try to make myself less threatening."
Torres shook her head, "Maybe..maybe you should stay here, Tom. I wouldn't want you to get hurt, because of what some male did to one of my people in the past."
Paris turned her to look at him. He forced her to look into his eyes as he spoke, "I am not going to let you do this alone, B'Elanna. I'm coming with you."
She stared into his eyes and saw that he was quite serious. She gave him a small smile as she gently touched his face.
"Alright, Tom. I'm glad you want to do this with me. I know I couldn't do it alone. I wouldn't get very far anyway."
Paris smiled. He then noticed that his fish was buring. He jerked it away from the fire then beat it against a rock. The flames went out a moment later. He looked back at her and said, "Think you can do better?"
Torres smiled ferally, "Just watch me, Tommy boy."
She shoved a thick stick through her fish then poised it over the fire. She looked over at Paris, who was cutting his fish into smaller pieces. She smiled and went back to watching hers cook. She was glad the threat of being hurt or killed didn't frighten him away. The idea of facing her mother scared her.
We really didn't part on good terms, she thought as she turned her fish over,Will she eve let me in the house?
She looked over at Paris again, and saw that he had begun eating. He looked up at her and smiled. Shr returned it with a small smile. She knew what he must be thinking, and it didn't surprise her.
Why am I doing this if I'm so anxious about it? Probably to prove to my mother that I can survive the humans' world without killing one. And that loving one isn't so terrible
Torres smiled at that logic as she removed the fish from the fire. That was it then; that was why she was going home. She could face anything now with that defiant thought in her mind.
The two ate in silence, listening to the rushing stream before them. Finally, Torres tired of the quiet.
"I've been thinking that I shouldn't be apprehensive about going home."
Paris nodded, "What was it that made you come to that decision?"
Torres shook her head, "I'm going to prove to my mother that I can survive this world without killing every human male that comes toward me. I'm also going to show her that being in love with one is not terrible."
Paris gave her a small smile, "Your mother t hought being with a human was terrible?"
Torres shrugged, "She couldn't handle the stares and remarks from the others anymore. She kicked him out and watched as the females threw things at him. He barely made it out of the town alive. I was only a little girl then."
"She made you watch that?!" Paris asked, stunned.
Torres nodded, "She said that it wasn't worth loving a human. She wanted me to remember that day. I didn't understand, but I promised her I would remember."
Paris took her hand in his and squeezed it, "Don't worry, B'Elanna, we will prove it to her even if she doesn't approve. I love you too much to have her disapproval seperate us."
Torres smiled and squeezed his hand, "Thank you, Tom. Now, I have nothing to worry about."
Paris smiled in return.
The two were back on the road several minutes later. They were much happier now that the anxiousness was lifted from their hearts. They were also enjoying the scenery and the songs of the birds.
"I forgot how beautiful it was here," Torres remarked in awe.
"Yeah, being away from home for years does that to you," Paris said somberly.
Torres looked at him. He was looking up in the trees, but she could sense the dreariness in him. She realized that he was thinking about his own home. She growled softly at the fact that he could never go back.
I wonder if his father ever thinks of him? she thought with a mixture of bitterness and sadness, I wonder if he regrets what he done to his son? Does he even miss Tom?
Paris could sense eyes upon him. He looked at Torres and could see the emotions in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I was wondering if your father ever thinks about you. If he even regrets what he'd done."
Paris shrugged, "Maybe, but I can't wonder about that now. I can't go back even if he wanted me to."
Torres nodded sadly.

K'Lera was staring out her window again. She recieved a telepathic message from another creature that the sacrifices were on the move again. She smiled at the news. She should be able to see them on the road soon.
She wasn't disappointed. The two came out of the forest and stopped. Obviously they weren't expecting a huge field to appear before them.
A few more hours then they will be mine, she thought, smiling wickedly.
She looked at the them through the eyes of the creature that was watching them. The female had short dark hair and was wearing the soft leather armor of her people. K'Lera stared in shock.
What is she doing with that human male?!
She looked at the woman closely, and saw by the way her forehead looked that she was only half. She sneered and remembered who her mother was.
"Like mother, like daughter," she hissed.
The creature then stared at the male, and she saw who the frightened blue eyes belonged to. He was an attractive young man as humans go. He was wearing dark clothes made of some soft material.
Well, he would make an excellent offering to Harpra. I know how much she loves young attractive males. She'll give me more than just land when she sees him. I'll have half this continent.
She laughed at the thought. She was now more than greatful to the goddess for bringing her attention to these two.
Not long now, she thought as she broke the link with the creature.
The priestess then prepared for the offerings to arrive.

"Well this is different," B'Elanna said as the two stared at the huge clearing before them, "This wasn't here..."
"B'Elanna that was years ago. Someone must have cleared the forest for pasture land or something."
Torres nodded suspiciously, "Someone lives up ahead then."
"Let's hope they don't mind trespassers," Paris said, humorously.
Torres shook her head then continued on, Paris following beside her.
The ride through the field was uneventful. Several birds flew away from their presense as they continued their trek.
Half way throught the clearing, Paris spotted something in the distance.
"B'Elanna, look," he said, pointing at the object.
Torres followed his gaze, and saw the shape looming before them. Her eyes widened at the sight.
"It's a castle," she gasped.
"Now we know who cleared the trees."
The two continued on, knowing that they would have to come across who ever lived in the castle. As they drew nearer, Torres felt a sense of foreboding. She looked over at Paris, and saw taht he could feel something as well.
"Tom, I don't like what I'm feeling from that castle," she said, a hint of fear in her voice.
Paris looked at ehr and saw the anxiety in her eyes. He stared back at the castle that was getting closer.
"Do you think we can go around it?" He asked, trying to keep the nervousness from his voice.
Torres gazed across the landscape. The castle stretched over most of the land before them. There was forest on both sides of the building, and probably behind it as well. It was also beginning to get dark and there was no telling what horrors would come from that castle at night.
"It's getting dark," Paris announced, "You want to continue throught the night or stop?"
Torres looked at him. She saw that he was also concerned about what could attack them at night. She stared back ar the castle and made her decision.
"Maybe who ever lives there is friendly. There's no telling what creatures roam around here at night. We would be safer inside."
"You sure, B'Elanna?" He asked, staring at the castle.
Torres nodded, "I'm sure, Tom."
"Alright, we'll stop at the castle for the night. Let's just hope the owner is friendly."
The two arrived at the castle when the sun was setting. They stared at the large wooden door, still trying to make up their minds about knocking.
"Oh for the love of Nightionsas," Paris said rolling his eyes, "I'll knock."
Paris grabbed the door knocker and pounded it against the door. The sound echoed through the hall on the other side. The rogue believed that the dead could have heard the noise.
"You think that was loud enough?" Torres said, drawing her cloak around her. It was getting colder as the daylight began to fade.
"I believe it was loud enough to wake the dead," Paris answered.
Several minutes passed. Paris was about to try the door knocker again when they heard the door unlock. The huge door slowly creaked open. The two stared anxiously as they waited for the castle's owner to show itself.
The two were shocked, Torres more than Paris, when the owner stood before them. She was wearing a long black robe. Her long brown hair fell in waves over her front. She wore a long dagger on her left side, and she wore a raven necklace around her neck.
Her darke yes bore into them as Paris realized that this woman was what Torres was, only full-blooded. He suddenly became more nervous as teh woman glared at him the longest.
"We're sorry to bother you," Torres spoke, "but it's getting dark..."
"And you are looking for shelter," the woman interrupted, staring at Torres, "Very well, you may come in. I am K'Lera."

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