Hi there! This is my first proper fanfic, and I would be delighted if you could spare five seconds to write me a review to tell me if you enjoyed reading my chapters, and some hints on how I can improve my writing. More reviews may even encourage me to write more... :)

Shade of Fear

No matter how hard I tried, I could not shake off the feeling that something was wrong... very wrong. I smelt it in the air, I felt it against my skin in the howling wind, and I heard it in the lamentable screech of the nearby owl, which seemed to weep:

"Alas! Alas! Alas!"

I sensed this all, but did not alter our path.

I was the princess of the elves and the ambassador to the Varden. I had my two loyal companions: Faolin and Glenwing, and three of the best steeds in Du Weldervarden. After checking several times that the pouch was still on my lap and holding the egg, I deliberately lifted my head high and proud to match my comrades' stance; I could not let my worries show. Nothing could go wrong, I convinced myself. Nothing.

I had never been so wrong in my one-hundred years.

"Arya?" Faolin inquired. Barzul, I cursed in my head; Faolin knew me too well not to notice my earlier discomfort.

"I am just worried; I sense uncertainty up ahead." I sighed.

"Then I will switch places with Glenwing and lead." He offered kindly. I doubted he would be doing this if his job was to protect any other elf-woman than me. I knew that I could not argue with him, as it was I who had caused the fuss, so he exchanged positions and shifted his spear to a readier grip, as if expecting a fight.

"Take care, Faolin, I could not lose you." I stated, but did not know if he heard me speak over the moaning gale.

Suddenly, the direction and the speed of the wind changed. I caught a heavy stench of rotting meat, which could only mean two things; a careless hunter, or a party of Urgals. Our horses snorted and tossed their heads with fear, as Glenwing, Faolin and I exchanged alarmed glances. We turned abruptly on our heels and galloped away in the opposite direction from our intended destination. My horse surged forward, leaving my guards far behind. But even this effort it was in vain, as it was already too late. We were surrounded by Urgals, coming from every direction. Ambushed.

Without warning, a red bolt came from the shadows and struck my steed in the heart. Instant death. I froze with shock before nimbly leaping off my horse; there was a powerful magician hidden amongst the bushes. I looked over my shoulder to see my two guards, pleased to see that they were still on their horses, but they were unnaturally stiff and their weapons were frozen in their hands. Slowly, as their noble horses were shot with numerous arrows and began to fall to the ground, they slumped over the side, numerous black Urgal arrows sticking out of their backs and necks.

I stumbled over burning tree-stumps, tears blurring my vision as I caught up with reality, not focusing, not feeling, and not caring. I hugged the cold egg closer to my chest, as I felt tremors rack through my body.

Faolin.

I took a step towards my dead friends, my dead companions, comrades, and mate. I could not mourn for them now. Over Faolin's still body, I carefully placed the black morning glory he had sung for me two nights ago, and uttered a spell so that his body would not age. I felt a startling depletion of energy, leaving my body weak and trembling. This was all I could do for him now.

Faolin.

From the bushes came a flash of brilliant light, as a quarter-mile section of the forest exploded into flames. Slowly, the hidden magician burned and burned until the forest was just one continuous ring of fire. There was no possible path of escape; he was making very sure that the circle did not falter.

Faolin.

I felt the presence of three Urgals behind me. Enraged, I hacked wildly at every exposed slice of flesh I could see, decapitating them in mere seconds. Black Urgal blood dripped from the tip of my sword, as I ran from the eight or so ones that still remained. Revenge.

Faolin.

A dark cloaked figure landed nimbly before her, merely a foot away. His sword was raised above his head, with a wire-thin scratch down its middle. As his hood fell back, it revealed a pair of maroon eyes, and a smiling mouth full of the sharpest teeth, filed to fine points, like little daggers. The Shade. Durza. He was the magician!

"Get her." The Shade ordered, and the Urgals surged forwards.

And for the first time in my life I knew there was no hope in this fight. In my weakened state I had no chance of defeating him and the Urgals too. His sole purpose was to recover the egg, so I should use my remaining energy to send it far away from here, but to whom? The answer became obvious; Brom! I focused entirely on creating an image of him in my head, and released the magic. A brief flash of my emerald magic illuminated my surroundings, and so I did not see the ball of red flame soaring towards me until the last minute.

The last thing I heard before I collapsed was the mourning keen of that same distant owl, which wailed to the sky:

"Alas! Alas! Gone forever! Alas!"

Faolin.