Chapter One
Beginnings in the Dark

Midnight embraced the forest, stirring its silent, eternal curse amidst the darkened foliage. Whispers grew of the presence borne of the forest, its name infamous yet unspoken. Chilling howls filled the air, climaxed... then silenced.
The blessing of Innoruuk lived on in Nektulos. Evil would flourish here forevermore.

While mortal men still feared darkness, even the boldest could not pass through the forest. None... except for one, who was to conquer over the Gods and Dragons, and defy even the Prince of Hate himself...

Yet fate often crosses the paths of the most unlikely...

***

Observing from the shadows atop a fellen tree, the Teir'Dal princess smiled slowly in satisfaction as the cries of death echoed around her. It was here, close to their home city that young Teir'Dal could perfect their skills of battle, hunting small, pathetic life forms. Borne of Innoruuk himself, these elves relished in darkness, revelled in death... in hatred of all others but themselves.
She rose, levitating above the crowd, and chanted soft arcane words... A young Knight of Innoruuk below her blinked as the figure hovering above him disappeared into the mists, and footsteps faded into the depths of the forest.
Away from the gates of Neriak, Nektulos grew darker still, and low resonant whispers surrounded the Teir'Dal as she ran on, still invisible, into the heart of the forest...

Footsteps. Then silence.

She stopped short, curious to know who it was she had heard, for, despite her ability to sense even the invisible, she could see nothing but the myriad trees. Cursing softly as her invisibility faded, she ran on towards the river, where she sat, ensuring that no-one was around. Opening her book, she began to scribe and memorise her spells in preparation for when she would venture out of the forest towards the Commonlands.
She was not, of course, ready for the large skeleton which deemed her easy prey; and attacked. Panicking, she stood, injured, trying to step back from it so that she may cast; cursing when she could not. Her health slowly draining, the Teir'Dal began to ready herself for certain death...

An arrow from the darkness.

It shot right into the skull of the undead, shattering it into a million pieces until it was no more. The Teir'Dal let out a soft moan of relief, then collapsed on the floor. There she lay a few moments, until she found the strength to sit up, resting, her mind in confusion about what had just passed.
"A thank you would be nice, Dark Elf."
She spun around, shocked to hear the male voice from behind her; a male, human voice...
Then she saw him. Armoured in alloy black as the night, short hair silver-white, with eyes of ice blue, stood a human. He wielded two impressive blades, with a quiver slung over his shoulder.... she knew it was a ranger.
"A human! A ranger?! Here, in my forest?" she cried. "Your kind are not welcome here. Leave now lest you wish to die, human!"
Her rescuer merely raised an eyebrow, showing no expression but a faint glimmer of amusement.
"The forests are my home," he insisted, with defiance in every tone of his voice. The Teir'Dal was taken aback at this.
"Do you not fear the evil here? Do you not feel it? Leave at once, ranger!"
"I fear nothing," he said, his voice unwavering, "Now why don't you return to your filthy caves, Dark Elf?"
She glared at him threateningly.
"How dare you speak to me like that?" she cried, "No-one speaks to me in such a manner! I am a princess!"
The amusement of the ranger was clearly only enhanced by this, and he smiled.
"Then it would seem I have rescued a princess," he chuckled, "does that not merit a reward?"
"Well..." she glanced around nervously, seeming somewhat hesitant to continue on that point, "It is of no consequence to you, ranger. You had no reason to rescue me..."
"I wanted only to rid the forests of that vile undead; I was doing you no favour, Dark Elf."
"As it should be, human," she paused, "Now... leave, or I shall call the guards on you!"
"Dark Elven guards?!" The ranger laughed heartily at her feeble attempt. "They are but young, weak fools!"
She had to admit this was true, however embarrassing it was to have such weaklings represent her grand race.
"You are not worth my time ranger." Scowling, she turned to run far from the insolence of this mere human.

Vines suddenly lashed out of the earth around her, entangling her legs.

She was stopped short, struggling to move.
"How dare you root me?!" she cried, glaring fiercely at him. He stared back at her, his blue eyes containing the same glint of amusement, which soon grew to a hearty laugh.
"So, dark elf, what now?" he taunted playfully.
She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes, clearly trying to contain her anger. Yet a realisation soon dawned upon her and she smiled slowly... cryptically. Puzzled, the ranger's smile faded, and he gazed at her inquisitively. She waved her arms over her head, as colours emerged from her hands. Drawing her arms back in, she opened her eyes...

Her eyes.

His gaze became fixed upon them, watching as their natural purple glowed vividly, brightly. A dazzling aura shone around the Teir'Dal, as the forests behind her faded into it's light... All he saw was her, and her only. She smiled at him, a sinister smile, yet strangely enticing... Strangely mesmerising...
Alarms rang at the back of his mind as a realisation began to stir, although before it could form, the Teir'Dal raised her arms once again. The aura around her became brighter still, and she rose up into the air, standing above him. Voices whispered through his mind...
Bow down to me...
Without hesitation, he obeyed. "Yes, my master."
Yessss... Bow down for I am Xaeria D'Xire, a Princess of all Teir'Dal.
Who is thy master?
"My master is Xaeria."
She began to chuckle, at which he only smiled.
"Ohh you look pathetic human," she laughed, "It is so tempting to kill you..."
She looked him up and down with interest. Of a human, he was undoubtedly a fine specimen, even strangely attractive...
"Of course," she began slowly, taking a step closer to him, "It would be far more fun to-"
A sudden violent push, and a swish of a blade, and she found herself laying on the ground, the ranger above her, his sword pointed down at her.
"So, Xaeria," he said, "enchantress, are we?" A cold smile grew across his face.
"Indeed," her voice was shaky, threatened, "Ranger..."
"Mantic," he said, loosening his grip. She lay, confused, as he began to get up. "Mantic Morrowind."
He replaced his sword in it's sheath, and held out a hand.
She considered for a moment, puzzled at this sudden change of heart, then took it, allowing herself to be helped up. Standing, she immediately released his hand and took a step back.
"You should leave, Ranger..." she began, although less forcefully than before. Seeing no reaction from him, only the faintly amused expression, she continued:
"Why.. Why did you not kill me?"
"Because," he said, looking her in the eyes, "You didn't kill me either. Now we are even, Xaeria."
"Aye, we are even. So now you must leave," she insisted.
Mantic grinned at her, then bowed. "As you wish, Master." He winked, then disappeared into the forests.
"Good riddance! Let me never see you in my forests again!" she called after him, although she knew it would be in vain. She sighed, perplexed by the whole encounter, then made her own way towards the Commonlands...

Authors Note: Chapter two coming soon :) Please please please review and Keep reading!