Chapter Two: The Golden Sword

The speeding feet of a young boy running through the soft grass was utterly silent compared to the loudness of the screaming Elf Soldiers chasing after him. His beating heart thumped in his ears, his lungs pounded as they began losing oxygen. His torn red cape trailing wildly behind him, a stolen golden sword dangling and wobbling at his side. He was growing exhausted but suddenly became nervous as he neared a large rock cliff.

"Get back here boy!"

"We've got him cornered!"

"Surrender!"

He tried to ignore each annoying comment the soldiers had shouted at him. He shook his head to move his dangling black bangs which hung over his brown headband from his forehead and sped up his pace with no fear in his eyes as he got closer to the impenetrable cliff.

Only two more moments passed before he was in the air, falling downward freely.

Every soldier froze in astonishment once reaching the cliff's edge, watching the thief draw his sword and blaze it into the rock wall on the other side, sliding down then coming to a stop towards the ground.

The boy then kicked off the wall, releasing the sword from the solid rock, flipping backwards to his feet. He stared upward at the soldiers above him as he sheathed the sword and began running down the aisle of rock.

"You know, you can't keep this up."

Ian turned in surprise to see an Elf leaning on a rock wall to his right; his large arms crossed, his foot resting on the wall allowing his knee to pop out stiffly. His long black eye brows were down low as it camouflaged with his long, black hair which hung over his shoulders yet passing his long and tall pointed ears.

Ian sighed as he continued walking. "Don't start with me, Marsh."

"Ian, this is wrong and you know it. You need to stop," Marsh warned. "You don't deserve that sword."

"Oh, and you think those lowlifes do!" Ian shouted, turning to him angrily. "You don't think that they stole it from someone else!"

"I meant that you're not fit to wield it. You don't know how powerful that thing is, you don't know what it can do; you're probably not strong enough to control it," Marsh explained calmly.

"Keep it up, Marsh," Ian tempted furiously as he kept walking, knowing his old friend would follow.

"Is there a reason you're doing this?"

"I need to become stronger. This sword can grant me just that," he answered, silently grunting.

"Besides that, you didn't just do this to retrieve a sword; you wanted to get back at the Elf Soldiers. You're different when you're around them, I've seen it in you." Marsh paused for a moment then continued. "Ian tell me, is there a reason you despise Elves so much?"

Ian ignored him as he kept stomping away.

"Ian!" Marsh grabbed his shoulders and forced him down on the hard cement holding both of his shoulders to keep him still. "Tell me!"

"Fine!" Ian hollered back. "Elf Soldiers killed my family!"

Marsh's grip on Ian loosened. "You never told me that."

"They broke into my house and annihilated my parents!" Ian yelled, sitting up and showing how thwarted he was. "I was fortunate enough to have survived. I hid in our underground basement all night. By the time I came back up, they were gone and my house was burned to the ground."

By now, Marsh was glad that Ian had calmed down, but he felt more ashamed for screaming at him before hearing the story.

"I've loathed Elves ever since that night," Ian continued.

"You know, not all Elves are like that," Marsh added.

"Yes they are," he mumbled under his breath as he hung his head down low.

"I'm not."

Ian looked up in surprise, he then sighed in shame. "I'm sorry."

Marsh smiled as he stood. "No problem, man."

Ian grinned as he took his friends hand and pulled himself up.

"There he is!"

They both turned in awe as they saw a group of Elf Soldiers piling up behind them. It was the same group who had been chasing Ian earlier, except now they all armed themselves with bows and arrows. The first was shot unexpectedly, though Marsh was able to spot it and yet, he was not quick enough. He stood in front of Ian and allowed the arrow to pierce his shoulder.

"Marsh!" Ian shouted in anxiety as he kneeled beside his friend.

"Forget about me. They want you. Run!"

"Not without you!" Ian demanded as he removed the arrow then grabbed Marsh's good arm, lifting him to his feet. They ran too quickly to an unfamiliar, yet small grassy forest, dodging arrows which flew past them continuously. They kept tripping on every rock and root which stuck out of the ground. They were finally able to hide behind a large boulder and ditch the soldiers as they ran past them and into the large field.

Sadly, they didn't leave, nor did they give up on their search.

Ian stuck his head up above the grayish shape in front of him as Marsh rested in the grass. He then spotted two figures coming out from the dark trees to his right. He focused on them as they became more clear and close. They stopped in the middle of the field and Ian noticed that they were young girls; as well as the fact that they were Elves.

Ian looked to his left at the soldiers who glared at the two girls standing a few feet apart from them.

"What are you doing in these parts?" One had asked.

"That's none of your damn business," Lamari had replied fearlessly, matching her shoulder length with her sister.

"If you do not flee from this place immediately then we will be forced to take action," the same soldier spoke again.

Lamari chuckled. "You don't scare us."

"You were warned," he continued. "Take them!"

Two Elf Soldiers stepped forward under orders but couldn't get far for Meredith had pounced between them blocking their path.

Belledonna raised her bow and stretched out an arrow in a flash, aiming directly at the soldier's head. "Back off."

The soldiers were utterly silent and surprised.

"You just made a big mistake!" Shouted another soldier.

"The Council will hear about this!"

Belledonna lowered her bow slowly as each soldier began backing away until they were finally gone.

Marsh noticed Ian's non-blinking stare. He sat up and grunted. "You do realize that she's an Elf, right?"

"She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," Ian spoke as he gazed upon Belledonna's blowing hair and gleaming green eyes.