Ramben's POV

He kept his head lowered; eyes trained on the floor and hands shaking as they gripped the sides of the chair he sat in. Oroth had brought him here but had yet to say anything to him. The dark being only stared at Ramben, one of his hands holding Amarth's amulet. It scared Ramben to see Oroth with it; the amulet was the reason why Oroth brought Amarth here, but now that he had it what would he do to him?

What had he done to him?

Ramben glanced up at Oroth and shuddered. Unlike with Thilan there was no sorrow in this man's eyes; just hatred. This wasn't a man who had fallen into darkness, he had chosen it. Ramben shivered and lowered his eyes again. He wished that they hadn't been brought here, why hadn't he warned them in time? He'd felt the shadows coming why didn't he say something?

"What are you?" Oroth's voice made the elfling jump. It wasn't the question Ramben had been expecting, what did he mean by that?
"I-I'm an Elf." Ramben mumbled.
"And how do you know that?" Oroth demanded.
"A-Amarth t-told me." Silence followed Ramben's words; then he felt a strong hand under his chin, lifting his face and forcing him to meet Oroth's dark gaze.

"Amarth knows nothing," Oroth growled, "he only believes what his eyes see, never bothering to take the time to truly study something."
Ramben winced as he tightened his grip, fingers digging into his skin.
"He says you are an Elf and in a way he is right," Oroth narrowed his eyes, "but we both know that you are much more than that."

Oroth released him roughly, nearly throwing him out of the chair. Ramben rubbed his bruised faced, his entire body now trembling.
"W-what do y-you mean? I'm a-an Elf." To the elfling's confusion Oroth laughed; it was a cruel, dry laugh that did not last long.
"Either you are lying to me or you are just stupid." His words hurt and Ramben flinched as if he'd been struck. He didn't know why they affected him the way they did, perhaps the answer was another memory he had yet to discover.

Gathering some courage Ramben stood and did his best to stop trembling.
"I'm not stupid. I am an Elf, I know I am." His voice shook and his hands were sweating; towering over him Oroth did not seem impressed with his statement.
"What is your name?" This threw Ramben off for a second, should he answer?
"Ramben."
"Wanderer? Did your parents give you this name?"

Another question Ramben was hesitant to answer. Oroth was staring at him with those dark eyes; there was malice and a promise of suffering in those eyes. Swallowing a lump in his throat Ramben answered.
"I-I don't remember who my parents were. Amarth gave me my name."
Oroth's brows raised and a curious look entered his cold gaze. A wave of dread washed over Ramben in that moment, though he did not know why.

"You do not remember your parents?" There was no concern or pity in his voice; in fact Oroth's face was twisted in a sick grin, as if he were enjoying the fact that Ramben had no memory of his parents. He didn't want to answer but, knowing that he didn't have a choice, he shook his head.
"What about your past? How did you come to be with Amarth?" Oroth stepped forward and Ramben quickly moved backwards.

"I-I don't re-remember any-anything. I-I found A-Amarth in the f-f-forest." Ramben's back hit the wall and he yelped; Oroth now stood over him, he was trapped.
"Hmm, this is interesting. Perhaps you are not stupid after all, or at least not as stupid as I first believed."
Again Ramben flinched, why did his words hurt him so much?
Oroth studied him for a moment, his head tilted slightly to the side.
"There are many secrets hidden in that mind of yours Ramben." Oroth lifted up the amulet to where Ramben could see it; his eyes followed the amulet as it swung back and forth in front of him.
"And I," Oroth continued, "am going to find out every single one."

Suddenly Oroth grabbed Ramben's wrist and yanked his hand forward. The elfling cried out in pain as he pressed the amulet against his hand, brutally crushing the other on top of it. Hot, searing pain erupted in Ramben's hands. He screamed and tried to wrench himself out of Oroth's grasp but his assailant was too strong.

Tears ran down the elflings face; his eyes were shut and his entire body felt as if he was on fire. Then in the darkness a light appeared, voices filled Ramben's head and once more he found himself immersed in another memory.

"You foolish child! Do you not realize what you have done?"
The figure stood over him, his face hidden by the bright light that surrounded them.
"I-I just wanted to help."
"Help?! How could you have possibly helped? All you managed to do was almost get yourself killed!"

He lowered his head, tracing a circle in the grass with his foot.
"I'm sorry." he murmured.
"Sorry? Countless of our number could have died because of your foolishness, and you think that a simple apology can amend for that?!"
The figure's next words hit him as if he'd been struck.
"You stupid child! When will you learn to do anything right?"
When he did not reply the figure spun around on his heel and vanished, it was only after he left that he let his tears fall.

He wasn't trying to disappoint anyone, all he wanted was to make everyone proud of him; to prove that he was worth something. But no matter how hard he tried he always messed up; and one of these days he would make a mistake that could very well cost him his life, and the lives of those he loved.

The memory faded and Ramben was released. The elfling crumpled onto the floor; his arms wrapped around himself, his body trembled violently as he sobbed. He couldn't understand why the memory hurt him so much; his chest was tight and he struggled to breathe. Oroth was uninterested in his suffering however, he was more interested by what the amulet had revealed to him.

He wanted to explore more of Ramben's mind, but if he did there was a chance that he would die.
"That will be enough for today, Ramben," Oroth said, "you may return to your companions now."
But the elfling was oblivious to his words. He lay there motionless on the stone floor, his eyes open and blank as they stared at the far wall in front of him. A single tear ran down his face and dropped onto the floor.

I don't want my memories back, none of them.

Yet he knew that choice was no longer in his hands, and for that he closed his eyes and wept.

/\\//\\/

Amarth's POV

I turn cautiously towards the sound of the voice and see a figure emerge from the darkness. Her face is thin, her lips pale and eyes an eerie violet color. Her bare arms are just as pale as her face, her black hair floats around her head as if she were submerged underwater. She looks as if she is clothed in shadows; embodies them even.

But what unsettles me the most is the hunger in her eyes, the ones that are focused on me.
"Who are you?" I take a step back as she moves forward. She doesn't walk, she floats.
"I am Daeris, and this is my home." She spreads her arms out and spins around once. "Do you like it Duvain?"

"No, in fact I felt the urge to vomit the moment I was carried in here." I snap. "And why do you keep calling me that?"
"Because that is what you are," Daeris smiles, "my beautiful darkness."

I'm starting to get a very bad feeling about this. Without a second thought I run, not stopping to see where I'm going. All I know is that there is a crazy woman back there that I need to get as far away from as possible.

Suddenly she's in front of me, and a hand latches itself on my arm.
"Why do you run from me Duvain?" She tilts her head to the side, that smile still plastered on her face. I don't answer and try to wrench myself free from her grasp, but all she does is tighten her grip.
"What do you want?" I hate how desperate I sound; but honestly I have never been more terrified in my life.
"It is simple Duvain," Daeris pulls me closer, her other hand grasping my other arm, "I want you."

My entire body freezes in cold horror. I can't make myself move, and my mouth can't form the words I'm trying to say. It was her, the one I heard in my dream, the one I keep hearing in my head.

It was always Daeris.

I manage to tear myself out of her grasp; I'm no longer afraid, I'm angry.
"You were the one responsible for those nightmares!" My entire body is tense and I'm about to lose whatever control I have left. Daeris smiles innocently and moves forward.
"I had to Duvainor, how else could I have been with you?"
"I don't want anything to do with you! Leave me alone!" I try to run again, but just like before she appears in front of me.
"You cannot escape from my shadows Duvainor."

I feel something cold around me, and before I can blink it tightens around my chest. I fight to free myself but my arms are pinned. The same thing wraps around my legs resulting in me being unable to move. A shiver runs down my spine as the shadow climbs up my neck; I feel it grasping the sides of my head, forcing me to face Daeris.

I can't move at all.

"I have waited so long for you Duvainor." She moves towards me and I will my body to move, but there's nothing I can do.
"Get away from me." I growl. Daeris laughs softly, as if what I said was amusing. She reaches her hand out and a shudder runs through me as she caresses my cheek.
"Why do you loathe my touch?" Her tone is curious, her hand remains against my skin. Her touch feels like ice, my entire body is chilled to the bone.
"It's not just your touch I loathe," I snap, "everything about you makes me ill."

At first she looks hurt by what I said; good.

But then she smiles again and shakes her head.
"Oh Duvain, you did not always think this way." Her fingers brush against my skin as she tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. Then she cups my face with both of her hands, our faces our now inches apart.
"There was a time when you desired me, you have simply forgotten."

Daeris moves her hands up, entwining her fingers in my head and bringing our foreheads together. I close my eyes and try to break away, the shadows tighten their hold on me.
"I-I have never, desired you." It comes out as a whisper, a pathetic act of defiance. Again Daeris laughs.
"Perhaps not me Duvainor, but there was a time when you desired darkness."

Her hands twist my hair, pulling on it painfully. I've never trembled so much in my life.
"No..." I whimper, I never whimper.
"Yes Duvainor, you did once." This time when she smiles; it's wicked.
"I just have to help you remember."

A scream tears itself from my throat. My body feels as if it's on fire one moment, then a burning cold follows after. Wait, I've felt this before. I know this pain, it's-its's- dear Valar no. The scar, it's coming back, Daeris is bringing it back.

I thrash and cry out, tears falling freely from my eyes.

I want to die, please let me die and end this!
But I don't die, and the pain doesn't stop.

"Ego!" The voice is so loud it makes my ears sore. The shadows I was trapped in suddenly release me and I fall onto the ground, curled in on myself. Daeris shrieks in anger and steps over me, I'm in too much pain to care about what is happening.

"You have no power over me Faervel!" Daeris screams. "You cannot take him from me! He is mine!"
"You have no claim to him, nor anyone on this earth. Leave him, NOW!"

The bright light returns, Daeris shrieks and I bury my face into my arms. I can sense Daeris retreating; shouting one last thing before she leaves.
"You cannot command me in my own realm Faervel! I will be back and I will have him!"

With that she vanishes and I'm left alone. All is silent and still, the only thing I can hear is my own breathing.
"Do not fear Amarth," the voice whispers gently, "you will not be trapped here for much longer. Stay strong, help is coming."

The voice fades, and my consciousness goes with it.