Setting: Cells beneath King Tesan's castle

Characters: Parn, Two Marmo soldiers, High Elf prisoner

After denying his freedom from King Tesan's prison, Parn sits in his cell reflecting on the past events. The guards are outside the door of the cells.

Dark Elf#1: So human, you gave up your freedom to prove your love to the princess, huh? You are even more stupid then I had thought.

Parn: (getting upset and angry) Leave me alone! You have no idea of what is happening!

Dark Elf#2: You know what? I think that he actually thinks that the princess is in love with him. (starts to chuckle, Parn is obviously getting more troubled) He thinks that the princess would chose a lowly human commoner when she could wed one of the elite of the elfin kingdom.

Parn: (sitting up) What!?

Dark Elf#1: He is right you know. The princess never was on the best terms with her parents, she was probably using you just to upset them. She always was a spoiled little snot.

Parn: (moving to his cell bars) Listen you-

The prison doors open and a set of guards come in. They begin to undo the lock of Parn's cell door.

Elf Guard: The king demands your presence at once.

In the throne room, Parn is once again set before the royal family, looking at Deedlit's tear filled eyes.

Parn: (addressing the elfin king) What do you want of me now, your highness? (his voice is respectful but his face reveals his distaste)

King Tessan: (similarly displeased) I ask you again. Do you want your freedom?

Parn: You highness, I do want my freedom, but only if I am allowed to leave with Deedlit.

King Tessan: (growing angrier) My decision stands. You will either leave, renouncing your betrothal to my daughter. (Deedlit looks to her father with a very hurt look) Or, you shall remain in the dungeon till you either die or are executed.

Parn: (looking to Deedlit) I will never renounce my love for her.

King Tessan: (looking to his daughter) What I do now, I do as much for my daughter as for my kingdom. I find you guilty of treason to the Elf Kingdom. You are here by sentenced to the only punishment allowed. (Deedlit and Queen Rashia look at the king with shock) Death....by beheading.

Parn's eyes go wide as the guards seize him and take him back towards the cell. The queen bows her head in defeat. Deedlit is in shock. Suddenly she leaps from her seat.

Deedlit: Hold it! (looking to her father) What gives you the right to tell me whom I should wed? Parn and I love each other deeply. How can you sit there and say that you do this for me out of love? If you wish to do something for me to show you care then give us your blessing!

King Tessan: That is enough! You shall not question my judgment!

One of the guards comes in through the door. He moves to the throne and kneels.

Elf Guard: My lord, there is a group of seven travelers outside that demand to speak with you.

King Tessan: Tell them to leave! I can not be disturbed now.

Elf Guard: I told them that my lord, yet they refused. It would also not be wise to anger them, one is a berserker and one claims to be the princess of Valas.

King Tessan: (eyes wide with fear) A berserker and a princess from Valas! Very well, bring them in.

The guard nods and goes off.

Deedlit: (to herself) A berserker, Valas. They're finally here. (her mouth forms a bright smile and her eyes light up)

King Tessan: Remove the prisoner! (Parn is forcibly removed from the room)

The doors open and seven figures, four in brown robes and three in white. The hoods are pulled down and Deedlit recognizes Slayn, Lalia, Liara, Etoh, Shiris, Orson, and Princess Fiona. Each one has their armament of choice except for princess Fiona who carries a large package wrapped in white cloth. Each step forward and bow and Deedlit attempts to rise and greet her friends but is blocked by a guard.

King Tessan: (realizes the visitors are all human and assumes his usual attitude towards humans) What do you wish here, and why have you brought him? (he points to Orson)

Princess Fiona: (addressing the king respectfully) My lord, I have come to find out why you have taken one of my knights and friend, prisoner. As for my companion, he is a good friend of said knight and has come to hear the reason also, as well as these other people here.

King Tessan: You knight, is being held for treason to the Elfin Kingdom. He was twice offered his freedom but refused. His fate has been determined.

Slayn: (stepping forward) Pray tell me what act of treason he had committed my lord?

Deedlit: My father has accused him of treason for refusing to retract his wedding proposal to me. (she holds her bracelet up for them to see)

Shiris: Hold on. Are you telling me that you are holding him prisoner for being in love? That is totally ridiculous!

Orson: Shiris, calm down. This won't help. (Shiris looks at him and sighs)

Shiris: Fine.

King Tessan: The act is done and the punishment announced. What you say now is irrelevant. At tomorrow he will die.

The group is taken aback.

Princess Fiona: You can't be serious. Majesty, this is insane. You can not execute someone for falling in love.

Etoh: Deedlit, how can you let this happen?

Deedlit: (breaking into tears) There is nothing I can do! I am as much a prisoner as Parn.

Slayn: Is there anyway we might be able to come to a better solution?

King Tessan: If the boy retracts his proposal and leaves I will let him go.

Princess Liara: Your highness, may we speak with him and Deedlit? And it has been a long journey may we seek residence here for the night?

King Tessan: Very well, you will be granted stay here tonight. My servants shall show you to the guest rooms and you shall have your audience tonight, however the prisoner is not to be released.

Princess Fiona: (bowing, realizing that it would be pointless to argue) Thank you.

The others bow (Shiris does it rudely) and are escorted out.

Later, everyone is gathered in the princess’s room, less Parn and Deedlit. A fire burns in the corner, and everyone is seated, Slayn and Lelia are going over a book of magic, Shiris is laying on a couch with her feet up, Orson is next to her on a footrest against the wall, Etoh, Liara and Princess Fiona are speaking in the corner. There is a knock at the door and Deedlit walks in with a guard following. Everyone looks up and Deedlit motions the guard to leave.

Elf Guard: (bowing) I will wait outside.

Deedlit: (turning to her friends as the guard leaves) Thank Falis you all got here when you did. I think my father was prepared to kill Parn right there.

Shiris: (raising herself from the sofa) Deedlit how could you let this happen? I mean there has to be something that you could do.

Deedlit: Don't you think if I could I would do something!? I love Parn, but I am totally unable to do anything.

Slayn: Deedlit, maybe a better question would be, if there is anything any of us can do to get Parn out of here?

Lelia: Is there a way to release him and get away?

Deedlit: (looking to the fire) My father has guards posted at the cells and he keeps me under close guard as well. Even if we could get him out, I know that he wouldn't leave without me. To get us both out is almost impossible.

Etoh: Is there any way to prevent Parn's execution at least? That seems like the most pressing issue.

Liara: Yes, can we convince your father to postpone the execution or even cancel it?

Deedlit: I don't know of anything that could change my father's mind once he is set in something. There might be an alternate possibility but I don't know any.

Queen Rashia: But I do. (she is standing in the doorway)

Deedlit: (looking shocked) Mother? What are you doing here?

Queen Rashia: I am here to help you. If you want me to help save your knight.

Princess Fiona: (Deedlit is too shocked to speak) Any help you can offer your Majesty, Would be greatly appreciated.

Queen Rashia: (smiling) Thank you child, but if you are to do this you must hurry.

(FADE OUT)

Setting: Throne room

Characters: Deedlit / Slayn Queen Rashia / Lelia King Tesan / Princess Fiona Orson / Etoh Shiris / Liara

King Tesan: (anger and shock in his face and voice) You want what!

Princess Fiona: We wish to have Parn battle for his freedom. If he wins he must be freed, along with Deedlit, to leave at their desire.

King Tesan: How dare you!

Queen Rashia: As his Lord, the princess has the right to issue this challenge.

King Tesan: And it is to be honored if only two of the royal family support it, which is not the case here.

Deedlit: I support it.

King Tesan: You are still only one.

Queen Rashia: I also support it. The challenge stands and must be accepted.

King Tesan: Ugh.... Very Well! The prisoner shall battle for his freedom and....my daughter's hand in wedlock. But should he lose, he shall die as his sentence decreed. (looking to the guards by the far door) Release the prisoner.

The guards bow and return with Parn. Parn, however, appears a bit banged up though his face radiates with strength. He is released and drops to his knees out of exhaustion.

Deedlit: Parn! (tears forming at her eyes)

King Tesan: Take him and make him ready for combat. The battle shall begin in the morrow.

Parn: (barely conscious) deed. (eyes close)

Back in Princess Fiona's chamber Parn is in the bed and Etoh, Slayn, Lelia, and Liara tend to his wounds. Orson and Shiris are going over Parn's armor, which has been damaged, Princess Fiona sits with the package she had been carrying when she arrived next to her. Parn begins to wake up.

Parn: (groggily) Whe. Where am I? Where's Deedlit?

Etoh: (grabbing Parn's shoulder) Parn, calm down, everything is all right.

Parn: Etoh?

Slayn: Deedlit is being confined in her room, and was not permitted to come see you.

Parn: (looking out to the night) Deed.

Meanwhile; King Tesan is in the dungeons beneath the hidden castle.

Dark Elf#1: So all we have to do is kill this kid and we will be able to go free, that's the deal huh?

Dark Elf#2: Seems a bit to easy to me. What is the catch?

King Tesan: No catch, just put him out of my misery and all of you may go free.

High Elf: (look of doubt in his eyes) Even me?

King Tesan: (reluctantly) Very well. You will be released, provided that you never return to my realm.

High Elf: (smiling coyly) Agreed.

The night passes as Deedlit and Parn sit in different rooms yet think of the same thing as they stare out into the night sky, each other. The dawn comes and Parn and his friends are in an open clearing. The Mountain Castle is visible in the background, with the King, Queen, and Deedlit positioned in chairs in its the shadow, they are surrounded by a group of soldiers and to the right of them are the prisoners that had been with Parn in the cells. Parn has the package that Princess Fiona had been carrying.

King Tesan: (smiling)Are you ready to battle, young knight?

Parn: (looking to Deedlit) Yes.

King Tesan: (becoming stern faced) You will battle each of the challengers one on one. These are not death matches, though, if you do slay each other it will make no difference. You. (points to one of the dark elves) You will battle first.

Parn: (beginning to unwrap the cloth covered item) Hold a moment.

From out of the package Parn removes the Holy Sword of Valas. All the people present are surprised except for Fiona and Etoh. King Tesan looks decidedly worried.

Parn: (raising the sword to a fighting position) Now, lets go.

Parn and his opponent begin their battle with hard slicing strokes and each one blocks the other. Parn tries to throw the elf off balance with a lunge, but is parried and countered. The battle rages with no side gaining a real advantage until the elf lunges at Parn and his sword is imbedded into a tree. Parn then knocks the sword hilt from the elf's hands and holds his point in the opponent's face. The elf closes his eyes and surrenders.

King Tesan: (looking a little angry)You next! (the next dark elf moves into fight)

Parn goes to his friends and has his wounds treated. He is winded from the battle but ready to go back at it.

Etoh: Parn you have to be more careful.

Orson: (nodding) They are trying to tire you out so you can't fight as well. Fight smarter, let them do the work, when you see your opening, take it.

Parn: Right. (he gets up and moves back to the center of the clearing, where the other combatant is waiting)

The second battle is begun with the dark elf lunging at Parn, who deflects the blow and shifts to the opposite side. The elf is angered and begins a furious assault against Parn. Parn is tiring and is barely able to raise his sword to block an overhead swipe. The two combatants lock up, Deedlit leans forward as Parn begins to fall back. Suddenly, Parn dives to the side and the elf crashes to the ground and drops his sword. Parn is on top of him in a moment, and is awarded victory. King Tesan looks a bit more observant of Parn and he signals the next fighter with anticipation.

Deedlit: (surprise and fear in her voice) Father! You are sending him to battle Parn?

King Tesan: Yes. You see a problem with my decision?

Deedlit: At least give Parn a chance to rest.

Queen Rashia: Yes, a small recess would be prudent now.

King Tesan: (defeat in his voice) Very well. The knight will be afforded a rest.

Parn: (sitting down on a nearby rock looking tired) Ugh. Thank you. (he casts a glance at Deedlit, smiles, then proceeds to size up his opponent) (mentally) ,'He seems strong and fast. King Tesan probable figured that after the two fights this one would make quick work of me.' (looks to his sword)

Etoh tends to Parn, applying the power inherited from Falis to heal the wounds and relieve some of the exhaustion. Liara steps forward with her bag and removes two potions from it. She uncorks them and measures the contents into a separate vial and hands it to Parn.

Liara: Here, drink this.

Parn: What is it? (looking at it doubtfully)

Liara: (somewhat annoyed) Its a potion to relieve your sore muscles and refresh your body.

Parn: If you say so. (he drinks it down and nearly chokes on it) Ugh....bleh its bitter.

Liara: It's supposed to be.

King Tesan: (standing) The rest is over. Let the battle begin.

High Elf: (smirking) A pleasure.

Parn: humph.

The battle begins and Parn is overwhelmed by the elf's fierce attack. He is batted to the side with the hilt of the other's sword and is winded.

High Elf: Ha Ha HA . This isn't a battle it's a joke!

Princess Fiona: (because of her rank as a princess she is close to the royal family and she moves to Deedlit) Deedlit, this one seems different from the other two. Who is he?

Deedlit: (looking from the battle for a second to look at Fiona then back too Parn) Most High Elves in my father's kingdom are peaceable, though strong. Very few however are discontented with the way the last few generations of rulers have handled the relations with the human peoples. There are some who believe that it is our right and duty to rule over the people of Lodoss. The man Parn is fighting is called Jinn, he led a rebellion against my father not too long ago. He is an accomplished and strong skilled fighter. My father must have figured that, one way or the other, this fight can only end with him as the victor. Whether Parn defeats Jinn or Jinn defeats Parn, my father wins.

Princess Fiona: (gasping) But that would mean that Parn has a good chance at losing this fight. (Deedlit nods)

The battle continues and Parn is once again beaten down. Jinn stands over him with a cocky smirk on his face. Parn leaps out of the way of a killing stroke, but is still weak. The high elf, digs his sword into the ground and places his hands on it, chuckling. Parn suddenly realizes that this is a powerful foe and that he could easily lose at this rate.

Parn: Wow. This guys tough.

Jinn: Humph. I'm just warming up.

Parn is beaten around a bit more and is once again knocked to the ground. Jinn stands over Parn with a smirk on his face.

Jinn: You were not half the fighter I expected. (whispering) After I am done with you I will speak with what remains of my Marmo allies, then I shall return and "remove" the royal family.

Parn: (grunting) Why tell me this?

Jinn: (smirking) I just want you to realize, that by losing you have condemned the elfin royal family, to death. Including your lady love. (he casts a glance to Deedlit) Then again, I might just keep the princess for myself.

Parn: NO! (his rage gives Parn a second wind, and the Holy Sword begins to glow)

The group is astounded that Parn is able to ignite the sword's power. Jinn is shocked but recovers quickly, charging. Two feet from Parn, he is thrown away by the sword's power. Parn stands, looks to Deedlit, then back at Jinn. Parn unleashes a furious assault and Jinn is barely able to defend himself. Parn finally succeeds in knocking Jinn's sword from his hands.

Parn: This ends now. (Parn raises the sword over his head)

King Tesan: Stay your hand young one. This battle is done.

Parn reluctantly puts down his sword. He looks up to Deedlit. Deedlit looks to her father who nods. Deedlit runs to Parn and he takes her up in his arms. The party of elf guards pick up Jinn and take him before the king.

King Tesan: (with contempt) Take this man to the cells and lock him up again.

Jinn: (in disbelief) I lost to a human. How?

Parn and Deedlit's friends surround the reunited lovers and congratulate Parn on his impressive win. Parn hands King Faun's holy sword back to Princess Fiona.

Princess Fiona: (handing it back) I think that you have earned the right to wield this. Please keep it.

Parn: Re...Really? Thank you.

The group is returned to the royal throne room. The group stand before King Tesan and Queen Rashia, Deedlit stands with Parn in her regular cloths.

King Tesan: You have defeated my challengers, you and my daughter are free to leave.

Parn: Thank you, Your Majesty. (he bows)

Deedlit: Does this mean that you will support our marriage?

King Tesan: (bowing his head) No. (Parn and Deedlit sadden) I approve of you Parn. You proved yourself to me but, to admit a human into the Elfin Kingdom's royal family will result in a mass sweep of distention in my lands.

Queen Rashia: (looking to her daughter, then to her husband) Dear, I say that if Parn and Deedlit love each other as much as they say they do, then the rest of the people could understand.

King Tesan: I wish that was true. But can you be certain that the elves of our realm wound not revolt. Many are distrustful of humans.

Queen Rashia: I don't think that we have much say in the matter. I would venture to say that should we approve or not these two will marry anyway.

Deedlit: At least this way, the people believe that you support it and won't see you as someone who was unable to act.

King Tesan: True. (smiling for the first time at Parn) Very well I give my consent.

Deedlit: (joyously) Thank you father.

Slayn: Congratulations.

Etoh: (nodding) Yes, you two came a long way to this point.

Parn and his friends leave the hidden castle the next morning. They head to Valas where Parn and Deedlit will begin to plan their wedding reception. But they are being watched by a familiar foe who will soon play an important role in their near future.

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