The Past, Seen Through the Eyes of Today

                                    I wonder if I would want to change her death,

even if I could somehow travel back to that day and save her?

I miss her. Yes, indeed, I sorely do miss her. I miss her smile, her long slim tan legs. I miss her laughing at all the smart-ass remarks that I used to make. I miss kissing her, feeling her body pressed to mine. But if she had not died, then I would not be here today. Because you see she died to save me…

“Let’s go and just do it!” she said. Laughing and pulling her tunic over her head. God, she was beautiful! I loved to just look at her body. To see her breasts rise and fall with each breath, to see the curve and sway of her hips as she walked.

“Are you sure?” I asked her. I would have much rather just stayed in bed with her all day. There was no need for us to leave the Inn at all.

“Of course I’m sure. I am ready for this. I’ve worked hard. I’ve trained for days to be able to go down into the depths of Hell with you. I know that I am only a level 17 Rogue, and you are a level 30 Warrior. But I also know I’m ready. Especially with you there, ya’ big ‘ol stud!”

How could I say no?

We finished dressing and getting our gear together. She had her Windforce bow,a present from me on our first meeting. I had found it two weeks before on one of the upper levels of Hell. And being a warrior I had had no need of it, but seeing it’s worth I had taken it to town in search of a young rogue who would… appreciate… such a gift. I had not been disappointed. I had noticed her the moment I stepped into Odgen’s Tavern. Beautiful raven hair, jade eyes, and a body to make my arms yearn to hold her close. I walked over to her and said, “Hi there. I was wondering if a gorgeous woman such as yourself would have any use for this old bow I found.”

She had turned me and I could tell that she was about to tell me to leave when she saw the bow.

“Oh my! You have got to be kiddin’. That’s a Windforce!! The best bow there is.”

“Really? Well maybe I should find someone else to give….”

“NO!” she said and pulled me down to sit at her table. “You just sit right there and tell me what I can give you to repay you for such a great bow.” I could tell by her look that I could ask for anything and she would give it. Just my kind of woman.

“My name is Theizadock. But people just call me Doc” I said so as not to appear at all to eager to let her now just what I wanted. “What’s your name?

“Mine’s Raven, of course.” She said and smiled at me and I knew that very soon I would have her in my arms.

“So Doc, wherever did you find such a wonderful bow?”

“Oh, I was doing a hell run and found it when I broke open an old chest. Pretty kewl huh? I don’t know much about bows but figured that maybe someone could use it…”

“Um… I might have some other stuff you could use up in my room if you would care to come and take a look…”

“Sure, let’s go.”

My God, but she was incredible…

From then on when she was not training in the use of her new bow, she was with me. She really seemed to like me for some reason. No other woman had ever liked me before. Oh I had had many women before, don’t get me wrong, but after the first night they would get mad at me over something and then they would be gone. But not Raven. The more time she spent with me the better she seemed to like me. I had no one else in Tristram. It had been just me doing my best to find the one Great Find in the depths below so that I could leave this cursed town. And now I had found her. And I would never let her go. At least not until something better came along, that is.

We walked over to the crack in the ground behind Pepin the Healer’s house. And I asked her one last time. “Are you sure you want to do this? Why don’t we go and work the Caves for awhile and then we can go back to my room. I got something I need to give ya’.” She laughed at that. “Oh I just bet you do. Mr. One Track Mind. Don’t you ever get enough?”

“Never of you, my sweets. Never of you.”

“I need to do this Doc. I can’t explain it, I just need to do this now.”

“Ok, then. Let’s go and kill us some baddies! Maybe today we make The Find, eh?”

‘You always say that Doc. And you never do…” She smiled as she said it and I knew it was just a good-natured jab at me.

“You just never know darlin’. Today could be the day.” And it was…

We had been workin’ Hell for maybe half an hour. Killin’ monsters and demons and not finding anything good at all. Raven was doing great. She did not need me to guard her at all… She really knew how to use that bow. As long as we went slow and took our time, I knew that we would have no problems. But I got way to eager and screwed everything up. We were on level 15 of Hell. Laz’s room was close by and I knew that we needed to be really careful. One mistake could cost us our lives. And I made that mistake.

I had just come around a turn in the tunnel, Raven was right behind me, when suddenly we were set upon by a host of Balrogs and Black Knights! I screamed for Raven to stay behind me, and then waded into the mass of monsters. My sword flashed and stabbed at blinding speeds. Nothing could stop me. I was killin all that was near me when suddenly a huge Knight stood before. I hacked at him with my sword, expecting to see him fall as swiftly as all the rest, but I missed. I guess in my haste to show off for Raven and since the others had been so easy to kill I got cocky. I screamed in pain as his axe slashed down on me and split open my side. And then Raven was beside me and her bow was shooting arrows almost to fast for my eyes to follow. But she got to close to him… His axe came down on her and cut her in half. In a blind rage I flew at this armored demon and with one great swipe of my sword I removed his head from his body!!

With a flash of fire he fell and lay dead before me. And so was Raven. Her wound was just to deep for me to heal with what potions and elixirs that I had brought with us. I looked down at her and noticed that the huge Knight had dropped something when he had died. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before.

I had no idea what it was. It was a coat of arms that was all covered with gold and jewels. I had no more room in my pack for it. I made the choice then to leave Raven’s body and carry my find back to town.

I picked it up and with nary a look back I headed for the stairs.

“Master Cain! Can you tell me what this is?” I said handing him his one hundred coins.

“I will try. Let me see, Doc. What have you found this time?”

I handed him the armor and by the look on his face the moment he held it I knew that I had finally found my ticket out of this town.

“This is the Heavenly armor of the Gods! It is said that this fell to earth eons ago and then was lost. Whoever wares this armor is unstoppable. No man or demon can stand against him!”

And thus my legend was born. No army or horde of demons can stand against me. I now sell my services to the highest bidder. And all this wealth and fame I now have is due to Raven…

I would not go back and save her. Even if I could.  No way