What if...

Hello there, book! A lot has happened since we last. . . spoke? You know what I mean!

After all the things which happened in Fukai, Locke and I finally made it back to Illias. I must admit, I was quite happy to be back home. Locke took me shopping! Heh heh, I never thought I'd see that day. . . but he had come across a good amount of money while he fought to get me back. So I suppose buying a few things wasn't going to put TOO much of a dent in his pouch! I've got a skirt now, and a new top that Locke picked for me. It was actually pretty fun, just putting the adventure on hold and having a nice day out like that. . . Anyway, we went to Mother's afterward, and I got a new cape as well! Meanwhile, my mother was trying to talk us into settling down. . . Ohhh, I wish she'd just drop it! She knows I'm not ready for. . . that sort of thing. She even made Locke flush! It made me kind of wonder. . . if he. . . well. . . Anyway! It was nice seeing Mother again, but we had to make our way to find Akorrin! We dropped by his Hall, but unfortunately, Forge was there, alone. We bid him farewell, and promised we would get our Master back.

Things at this point seemed like they were going to be a bit more peaceful. . . But I should know better than that!

Locke and I were given a free ride by a friendly merchant. Eventually, we came across this forest and decided to say goodbye to the nice man so that we could make camp. It was beautiful that night, and very peaceful. . . Locke was just about to tell me something as well. Something. . . sweet, I'm sure. But suddenly, our circumstances changed drastically. . .

We were ambushed by Orcs. It's a very long and drawn out story, but Glorak - an Orc we had slain at the start of our journey - had a brother named Orochi. It so happened he made his home in the forest, also known as Vadhat. He and his man took us to their camp and then dumped us in a big pit - but not before taking most of our possessions. . . as well as Locke's lovely braid!

Luckily, Orochi decided it would be more fun to watch us die if we had a fighting chance. I had my dagger, and Locke his sickle. While in the cave, we came across some horrible creatures. . . A giant and ugly worm, rats, spiders! Ew! But we also came across a friendly little Dwarf named Dorhi who hailed for Tuli. Locke didn't trust him much - but really, I don't blame him after what happened to us in the little town. Anyway, while we were in the cave, something terrible happened. . . As we were fleeing the ugly worm, some rocks collapsed. They would have hit me, but Locke shoved me and took the brunt of the hit! In fact, it hit him so hard, that he lost his memory!

I've never been so scared in my life, book. . . Not even when Maroco took me away and handed me over to that beastly Lucio. . . Locke didn't remember me! He was. . . so different. He was nice and caring, and a little bit on the cowardly side. I suppose it might have been a nice change for a while, but. . . to not remember me? Us? Or our journey? At one point, he asked if I could take him home. I felt so sad. . . Our journey was in danger of ending before it had even started. Locke wasn't Locke anymore. Instead, he was someone else. And he was. . . going to leave me.

He also insisted on being called "Maroco" the entire time! Ugh! If he wasn't so naive and innocent without his memory, I would have smacked him hard for that!

Eventually, we escaped the cave in which we were trapped; however, we only found ourselves in even deeper danger, as we were still in the campsite of those nasty Orcs! We decided the best course of action would be to find Orochi and face him directly. After all, we needed to get out things back. . . and if Locke had been himself, it would have been what he would have wanted! Our plans changed, nevertheless, when a goblin caught us wandering the path to the camp. That is when I did something that I hope I'll never have to do again. . .

While under Lucio's imprisonment, I watched the way his women acted. . . They feigned interest, and giggled a lot. They fluttered their eyelashes, and acted shy. They were also quite submissive. . . Taking all of this in mind, I crafted myself a new persona, known as "Raina." Although I'm disgusted with myself now, I pretended to want to be there with those nasty creatures! As their. . . entertainment, you could say. To my shock and surprise, it actually worked. . . I wooed my way past quite a few of Orochi's henchmen with "Raina." However, my plan slightly backfired when the goblin, known as "Tanz," took Dorhi away from us, for "questioning." I knew then that Locke had to save him. I also knew. . . that I couldn't come. I bid Locke farewell after we found our things, and I got changed, back into those horrible clothes I had been given to wear at Lucio's mansion. I even cut my hair to further my disguise, hoping it would buy me some extra time. . . Finally, I found myself in Orochi's tent. Although I was nervous, I suppose my disguise, as well as the determination to save my friends, gave me some extra confidence. I did my best to fool Orochi, but in the end. . . My scent gave me away! Ohhh! I should have known. . . but I did the best I could!

Thankfully, Locke was also buying us time, as he had slayed Tanz and alerted the camp to his presence. . . Orochi left, and this gave me enough time to slay some of the guards and retrieve my staff and Locke's crossbow. Eventually, we found each other, including Dorhi! We were about to escape, when Orochi and his Bugbear guard stopped us. Luckily, the Bugbear was no match for Locke and I. . . And Orochi ran, like a coward! I hope we never have to see that ugly mug of his again. . . but if he's anything like Maroco, he will keep coming for us.

Oh! Did I mention? Just before the fight, Locke regained his memory! The stupid buffoon. . . It took seeing me run in my servant's clothing in front of him to snap him out of it! Don't take me wrong. . . I was thankful that he was back but. . . Grrr! He's such a sexist pig! Even when he's lost his memory!

Sigh. . . I'm sorry for the long and drawn out explanation, book, but I figure it would be good to record our adventures. Who knows? If we survive, then perhaps one day we can tell our families about everything we encountered! And if we're ever slain. . . At least our journey will never be forgotten.

Locke and I are now safely camped out in a peaceful little thicket of trees, very near to Blackcrest. Well, I say safely - but that is not how I feel. I tried my best to sleep, but I kept stirring with each and every noise. I suppose I'm just a bit nervous. . . Vadhat Forest is still nearby, and I never want to go through anything like that again. Anyhow. Locke is sleeping like a baby nearby. Heh, I almost didn't recognize him without his braid when I awoke. I'll have to fix that for him. . .

As I watch him sleep, however, I've started to wonder. . . This "Maroco" character inside of him. . . Is that how he truly feels within? Is he really that caring, and that scared, on the inside? It makes me wonder if all the things he does and says to act tough is just a cover. . . for what he truly feels. In a way, the idea scares me. He was so eager to go back home as "Maroco." It horrifies me to think that he. . . Maybe he doesn't want to travel with me anymore. Maybe he's growing weary of being with me, or the things I do to him. It makes me angry at myself for even doing them! But I can't help it. . . He makes me so angry sometimes. . . But there are other times, like in the tent, or when he regained his memory. . . That I simply want us to be happy together. I wish I knew how to come out and say it. . . I wish I knew what I wanted to say! There are times when these emotions started to overflow in my stomach, and they just reach the tip of my tongue. . . But then Locke does, or says, something that enrages me - and the words and feelings are gone. What is this I feel? I know I care for Locke, but sometimes it feels. . . I don't know. I feel. . . maybe. . . if he was gone, then. . . Perhaps I could not go on.

I must sound pathetic! Oh, book. If he ever reads this, I will simply die! Keep it a secret for me. . . alright?

It's cold. . . I think I may light a fire, and start work on repairing on shredded tent. That's right - I'm not letting Orcs ruin my brand new tent! I paid for it, so I'm going to use it, hmph! Good day, book. May the coming days bring us all some peace, for once.