I respected my father and thought of him as a good man. He did what he was told without any hesitation and beyond that he was powerful. I followed everything he said until he had captured an elf, the most beautiful lady a man could ever lay his eyes on. I tried not to love her, I truly did but her presence would not allow me to. So I was helplessly drawn to her and she to I. I have tried many times for her to not do this to me to love me, this perfect monster, a shade. But she simply could not do so and, truthfully, I did not want her to either. She completely changed my life in good ways and bad. The good ways I shall never forget, yet the bad ways I shall never forgive. Going against my father was the worst thing I could do, but the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am Kobal, Durza's son, and this is my life story which you would either loath or find it most remarkable. To me, it does not matter what you think of it. I lived it and that is that.

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"Kobal! Get up! Another visitor has joined Gil'ead and it is time that we greet them with our unwanted gratitude. Come now!" I heard my father yell in my room and loudly shut the door. A new visitor or prisoner I should say is the best time of the week; whenever a new prisoner has come it is like a new toy for a young kitten.

"Coming, I'll be right out!" I quickly lit all the candles in my room chanting Brisingr to each candle. When the room was finally well lit I took a good look at my dark room. Yes, it was still a pretty dark room with all the candles being lit, but when your father runs Gil'ead you will not find a bright room anywhere. I looked out the window to see it was still dark out. Must be still early morning, but no matter a new prisoner was something to wake up for.

I headed over to my mirror to scrutinize myself. Well I sure stood out in the room. If I blew out all my candles my pale white skin would still be seen. I guess you can say I am almost translucent. I ran my hand through my blood colored hair, feeling each hair run through my cold fingers. Unlike my father's hair, which was long and free flowing, mine was short, disheveled, and stuck up in all different directions. I had some wild hair but not in any way to make me look bad. In fact I was told I was beautiful by many people, but to me? I really don't care, I just think I am a standard shade, but I guess we are known to have beauty in our blood. I stared at myself one more time taking a good look at my crimson eyes, which glared back at me. I could not wait any longer! I quickly stepped out of the mirror and walked violently down the hall.

So much adrenaline was in me that I felt like I flew down the prison cell, but that's just another way of saying how fast I ran. My father was standing there with the door open for the prisoner and he greeted me with reaching his cold hands in the back of my neck. He smiled and said,

"Another one, Kobal." I did not know what he was talking about but this was another way of getting me excited; by not telling me right away.

"Another what?" My father smiled, that evil smile of his that I have inherited,

"Another elf, son." Another elf! How I hated elves, every elf deserved to be here in Gil'ead or better, dead. They think that they are so damn superior well this elf has got it coming!

"And you will like this, my son. I am leaving you in charge of her, so you may torture however you wish. I know you will do a good job with that." Another female? Well I was hoping for a male they are less brittle and would live longer than a fragile female, but no matter, she was an elf.

"I will be proud to do so, father." Durza smiled,

"Good, good. I have to be in charge of Arya, she is a strong one." Arya! Oh the hatred that I have for her could go on and on! Everyone says that she is a beauty but yet I do not see it. I have seen humans prettier than the dim-witted elf!

"So father, what is this elf's crime?" My father laughed deep in his throat and said,

"A friend of Arya's trying to help her escape! Ha! It was quite a failure, Kobal." I laughed along with him. You may think it is not too funny but let me tell you, you must be some fool to try to escape or help someone else escape. Does not matter if you are an elf or not, you will fail.

"When is she coming?" Durza looked angry and said,

"Well I told the guards to tie her up a few minutes ago upstairs so they should…" And just in perfect timing the two mighty soldiers were dragging down the struggling elf. I chuckled at this sight. She had pale skin like mine, but it was not as pallid. She wore dark leathered pants with a white tunic and a brown leather vest. This was the attire that female elves wore when they were on the run. Her dark brown, almost black hair was down in her face. Even though I could not see her face she looked pretty I will give her that.

"Show your pretty young face to Kobal. He will be accompanying you to your prospected death." I liked the way my father put that sentence together, it made me laugh. When she did not do what my father had commanded he tugged her hair and pulled back her head to reveal her face. My laughter was gone and in fact all my senses were gone. I could not hear or feel anything I just focused my red eyes on her brown ones. I don't know what to tell you of how beautiful she was to mine eyes, but I can say I have never seen anything as beautiful as her. I then forgot why my father had captured this beauty of a lady, but then I saw her ears and I remembered.

Her eyes looked sorrowfully at mine but her action was not so. She spat on my boot! That wretched elf! Instinctively, I smacked her with the back of my hand convening her soft cheek into my cold knuckles. She quietly yelped in pain as my father laughed but somehow I was unable to. What was wrong with me? I hated elves! How can this be different? I did not feel strong or mighty when I hit her, instead I felt weak and empty. This is not what I usually feel when I hit an elf or anyone for that matter. How could she, this elf, Arya's ally, be any different? I wanted to touch her reddened cheek and apologize … Wait, what? How could I be saying this, or a better word, thinking this? I am Kobal, and I am no hopeless man who feels sorry for an elf. I am a shade.

"Guards! Lead her into her new home or hell, whichever works for you… What is your name?" My father said to the elf. All she did was glare those dark eyes at him signaling him that she was not going to tell him. My father never really cares for names anyway.

"Right then. Guards, as you were," My father said as he walked down the hall and I followed closely behind. My father looked at me in the corner of his eye and then turned around,

"What are you doing following me around? You should be getting answers from that elf, start off with her name." I did not want to go back to her. I did not want to face the same feelings I faced before they were… grotesque! I did not want to feel sorry for her, but I did what my father told me and walked slowly down the hall dreading each step. One of the guards tossed me the key to her prison and said in a raspy voice,

"Your in charge of her, am I correct?" I nodded blankly. The guard just nodded in agreement and headed back down the hall with the other guard. Now all I heard were muffled cries from that elf. Great! I made her cry so now I have to deal with her howling away giving me a blasted headache, but I must do what my father told me. I put the key in the hole and jostled it a bit until it opened. As it creaked, I heard her cleaning up her tears and taking deep breaths to calm herself down, but I was no fool I heard her crying. She was in the corner with her back faced to me and her ankle chained up to the stonewall. I did not know what to say, really what was I to say? I decided to go with,

"There is no reason for you to be crying. You got yourself into this." She dared to talk back,

"Please, don't." Her voice was sweet, I mean it was… ugh who am kidding? Her voice was such a sweet enchantment my ears. Oh why am thinking such things it … it felt good. Oh no. I quickly snapped out of it and thought of what she said. Please, don't. Hm, was she trying to command me? Oh well that just won't do. I stalked over to her and crouched down to get eye level with her but her face was still fixed to the wall.

"Excuse me? Are you trying to tell me what to do? That does not work here. This time you are not the superior one." It looked as though her eyes were watering again. She did not say anything so I guess this is the part where I start demanding some answers as to who she is. My voice was calm yet prevailing as I said,

"What is your name?" She closed her eyes and tears slowly fell down her cheek but there was still no answer. Daring this one, telling me what to do and not answering my questions, but I will not have it.

"Tell me your name." I said a bit louder but all she did to respond was to stare straight at the wall as tears peacefully ran down her flawless face. Is she deaf? Impossible, elves could never be deaf. I was getting frustrated with her and I would not accept that. I grabbed her chin and jerked it toward my face as I was about to yell at her. But I could not, all of the anger was out of me. And I could see that she was drained from her sadness as well. I'm guessing she was hypnotized by my red eyes, but who isn't? Her eyes were mesmerizing as well and they were just brown, but I felt lost within them. My grip on her became relaxed and my thumb caressed over her marked cheek. I was surprised she had not pulled away from me. I'm surprised I had not pulled myself away. But I could not help it. My thumb then began to wipe her tears off of her face, feeling the warm tears against my cold thumb was something I have not experienced for I have never cried. And it was something to be called sensational. I decided to ask her one more time now that I have locked her in my charm and I in hers,

"Please, your name?" My voice was gentle almost a whisper and it sounded unfamiliar to me. But it worked. Her eyes were soft and wondering as she matched my voice level and said in that lullaby of a voice,

"Aranel."

A/N: I hoped you liked the first chapter, and if you did please review. If you are one of my readers who have read my other story you will know how much I love reviews so please be so kind to do so. Now let me tell you about my updating back round. It varies. There may be times when I put out three chapters in one week. There may be times when I put up one chapter once every two months. I try to update as quick as I can while maintaining my busy schedule so please stay with me if I do not update fast. For now my rule will try to be a chapter every week and on holiday vacations twice a week. Alright, that is all for now and thanks for reading but do not forget to review!