Hello,

Serving next piece

I want to thank you for all of your positive feedback. It really REALLY makes me happy to see that you like what I do. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART :)

Enough blubbering and to the point.

As always, let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance

MS

Two cloaked figures ran. They ran until the lights of Ashane were merely a bright spots on a sea of dark.

"I need to have a breathe out, or my lungs will burst in flames.." Nessa gasped sitting heavily on the ground.

"Alright stay here and I will search a place for halt." Nuada said and added – "I'm not going to be far away. If something happens, jus call for help"

"I can take care of myself, ELF" – she frowned at his patronizing remark – "I'm not a damsel in distress, fear not. I won't be a burden"

"Why are you doing this Woman? I'm trying to take care of you as I would do, with every warrior who was injured because of me. I owe you protection. Does it offend you that much?" Nuada snarled resting his hands on hips

"No, it does not. Well maybe annoys a little, for you know perfectly, that I don't need your protection." Nessa replied locking his eyes against hers "I will tell you however what offends me… if you want to know…" she tilted her head to the side awaiting his reaction.

"DO enlighten me then.." Nuada mocked now giving her his all attention

"Alright …" she started – "First of all… my name is not HUMAN and it is not WOMAN. It is Nessa, so I'd appreciate if you started using it. And secondly…" she paused for a moment – " I don't know what your problem with humans might be, but I'm tired of you treating me like some half –witted goblin life form. And I'm asking you to quit it. I don't need your sword. If you really want to pay your debt to me, treat me as someone who saved you life. I'm asking you to show a basic respect, for I believe I earned it tonight. Am I asking too much?"

"If respect is what you want… you'll get it" Nuada replied slowly approaching her – "but only after you answer one simple question. Why did you save my life?" – seeing her open her mouth to answer he added - " No… you don't have to answer right away. We'll return to this conversation later. The night is young. Just don't get killed while I'm away.." he mocked and turned away.

She couldn't help smirk crawling up her face. He was so obnoxious.. so ungrateful and yet she didn't regret saving that pretty head of his. Although it cost her few new bruises and dislocated shoulder, which now started to ache real bad. She was torn away for her musings by the touch of the hand on her shoulder.

"Come, I've found quite nice place for a night" – he said –"You… We need to rest." – he reached out his hand to help her up. At first she wanted to ignore his arm and get up by herself. But then she thought, that if she wanted his respect, she needed to change her attitude as well. For him it was plain nobleman's courtesy. She grabbed his hand and after standing up she smiled and said – "Thank you"

"My pleasure" - he replied but his stunned face made Nessa snort

"I bet you thought I'd reject your help" – she chuckled – "Well as you can see, I can appreciate these little things."

"That's a nice change…" he smirked back, and suddenly kneeled down

"What's wrong?!" Nessa queried seeing his face covered in sweat – "Gods you're bleeding.! – she exclaimed feeling his sleeve soaked through – "Lead the way!" – she commanded – "We need to try to fix this.. Put your arm around my neck!"- sensing his hesitation she snapped – "For Abyss Legions DO IT!"

Very reluctantly he leaned against her and led her into the darkness. After five minutes of march they reached a small grove. She sat him on the ground and searched her sack for special herbal ointment she always had by her side.

"We need some light. It's so dark I cannot see a thing." – she murmured to herself

"Suoress tanya Tel Quessir anta kala" – she turned around to see Nuada's hand covered in flames. It was not regular flame, it was a fountain of colors, like dancing lights. Nuada caught her hypnotized look and smirked

"I almost forgot that humans are still impressed by this little trick.. No offence intended." He added quickly when he saw her eyes narrowing – " It just for me it's natural. Each fey has magic running through him. As you probably suspect, I usually do not spend nights in human's company. Therefore your reaction is kind of… new to me. This is not a real fire, it gives light and warmth, but it is not dangerous to living creatures." – with a light blow he sent it to the ground. Nessa forced herself to look away and returned to searching her sack.

"Here it is!" she exclaimed pulling out a little bottle – "Now I'll try to keep you alive, but I'm no fairy. Moreover I'm positive Quirk would faint, if she saw my healing skills…" he paused seeing his amused gaze.

"Don't worry, I've been handled with less dexterous hands." he smiled at her embarrassed look

"We need to get rid of this sleeve, could you?" she asked pointing his arm with her head. Nuada grabbed the material and with one tug he torn it off. She kneeled by his side and reached for his arm to examine the wound. It didn't seem deep, but bleeding was quite intense.

"I could use some water here…." – she murmured to herself – "Do you know any water tricks?" she queried

"Now for the first time you are overrating me…" Nuada replied enjoying the warm glow his fire gave to her face.

"Well My Prince… Then there's a hard way ahead…" she winced as she reached for her sack again. After a moment the took out another flask. She pulled out cork with her teeth and poured the liquid over elf's arm. Nuada clenched his teeth at burning pain that spread all over his arm. He watched her putting the bottle away and taking torn material. With few firm moved she wrapped it around his bicep. When she tried to tighten the knot a groan came out of her throat.

"You need to help me here. I cannot do it alone…" she hissed offering him one end of provisional bandage. He took it together they managed to stem the bleeding. She she was reaching for the ointment when he stopped her by gently grabbing her forearm.

"This can wait. " he stated – 'Now we need to take care of your arm. It doesn't look good. First I will have to set it, and then we will see." he studied her face thoroughly – 'I'm afraid this will hurt." he said standing up

"I know it will…" Nessa joined him – "Don't fondle with me." She asked giving him her hand – "Just be quick…. AAAAAARRRRRRGHH!!!" she screamed when without any warning he tugged her hand. She felt her joint return to it's place, but the pain was enormous

"I didn't mean to" – Nuada replied releasing her hand – "I'm not a healer either, but this will have to do. Once we return, Quirk will handle this properly."

"I do not doubt that…" Nessa sighed bending down to get her things

Nuada sat down and leaned his back against the tree.

"So why did you do that." – he spoke to her back – "Why did you follow them?"

She straightened, took a deep breath and spoke to the space in front of her

"You won't take "I don't know " for an answer will you?" –she finished looking at him from over her shoulder

"No I will not accept such answer. Or I will, but that would mean, that you are in fact half witted life form. Risking your life and not knowing why, is not very wise… wouldn't you agree?"

"Alright, you got me… Although answering this question won't be easy… and you may not be satisfied with what you'll hear." she gave him a warning look while sliding down a tree trunk. After a moment of deep silence she started choosing her words thoroughly.

"The moment I saw you in that tavern…. You were totally indifferent to me. You were just another scum who I had to take out." – she paused as she saw him frown at the memory of their first contact.

"Then.." she continued – "After our first duel, you started to intrigue me. You've given a great lesson to overconfident and pompous brat who believed she was invincible…" – she sent him a sly smile – " Then during our second clash…. You earned my respect as a warrior. Your skills are stunning. I know I'm lucky to be alive…." – she paused and dropped her gaze to the ground embarrassed by the look he cast her. She studied her hands for a moment when she heard him speak:

"I'm sill waiting for your answer. For I don't believe that my skills made you risk your life… Although, thank you for your kind words. .." he murmured feeling flattered

"Well the answer is yes and no. When I saw you with your people, when I watched your eyes while you spoke to them, even when you tossed me around because of them… I truly felt that I'm part of something important. This….loyalty came to me uninvited. It just felt good to be by your side…" she broke off blushing at sincerity of her statement. Then avoiding his eyes she quickly spat out:

"When I saw them betray you, it was something I had to do. I promised you my loyalty, and I kept my promise…That's what I've been taught. To be a man of word…"- she hesitated for a while and added looking him straight in the eye " And I just didn't want you to end this way. You just didn't deserve it…. Your spirit didn't deserve it." She looked away escaping his gaze

Nuada was shocked with her confession. Despite all that he had already done to her, she cared for him. She cared enough to risk her life in order to save his. That was something Nuada's heart and mind could not handle. Although she was forced to join him, she turned out to be the most sincere and loyal companion among the ones, that he had chosen. He knew that at the moment he owed her everything. But at the same time he felt embarrassed by the fact, that he was saved by human. One of those he hated so much. If he was supposed to succeed, to awake the Golden Army, he could not have any feelings towards her race. Towards her. His inner fight must have been written al over his face, for she brought him round saying;

"It's ok your Royal Highness. You don't need to thank me. You owe me nothing. It was my choice and that's mainly it…." She shrugged staring at the fire – "There's one thing I'd like you to do for me. One question. Truth for a truth…. Why are you so disgusted with me?"

"I'm not disgusted with you.." Nuada slurred

"Liar…" the broke him off with a disappointed sigh – "It is written on your face, I can feel it when you look at me, when you speak to me, when you touch me….I don't want you to deny it, if it is how you feel, let it stay this way. I just want to know why."

"STOP IT!" Nuada jumped to his feet – "stop confusing me, stop playing with my feelings.. I'm bound to hate your kind. It is my fate… and my choice. So just quit it.. I hate humans, because of what they had done. And you… you're making it all difficult, blurry. I CAN'T STAND IT!" she watched him toss like a lion locked in the cage.

"I want you to hate me, I want you to attack me… I don't want you to do whatever you're doing now!" – he roared unsheathing his spear aiming its end at her.

"I want you to regret that you've saved my live. I want to hear you say it!!" he lowered spears blade closer so that it stopped just an inch from her face

"Even If I say this" – Nessa started calmly locking his eyes against his – "you'll know it's just a lie. I saved your life, because my honor didn't allow me to leave you behind. Because I vowed my loyalty to you. Because this filthy human HAS a honor, whether you like it or not. Moreover I can assure you that there are more of us. And this is something you have to handle. It is so much easier to say that we are all corrupted. But tonight's story brought slightly different message, didn't it?" the sound of strong slap echoed among the trees. Nessa calmly turned her head and wiped off the blood that appeared in her mouth corner

"I hope that helped, because you will definitely not like me in a moment" –without any warning her leg shot forward and reached his groin. With a grunt Nuada bent down. She jumped to her feet and started a sequence of punches

"If you have problem with yourself.."

PUNCH!

"I'm a good listener…"

PUNCH!

"But if you ever, EVER raise your hand against me again…

PUNCH! KICK!

"I swear I'll kill you with my bare hands!"

She ended gasping over half kneeling Prince. She knew that her punches didn't impress him much. Her left hand was much weaker than disabled right. But they surely brought him back to senses. He raised his head licked the blood off his lips and burst in laughter. He laughed long , making Nessa feel more and more uncomfortable.

"So now I'm supposed to confide in my worst enemy" – he tilted this had to the side and chuckled again

"No, you are not supposed to. You might. But the choice is your to make" she rested her Hands on her hips. Her knuckles were red and hurt. "And you should know by now, that I'm not your enemy. No matter how much you wish me to be, I'm not."

"Alright then… "he advanced at her – "I'll give you confession… Tonight I found that most of things I believed in was not true. I' ve lost my friend, I lost my confidence, I lost my purpose. Moreover you're confusing my mind making it all harder to comprehend. I feel lost, I feel angry, I feel sad, I feel that everything I've done so far was useless. I feel that I was living a lie…" – he hanged his head and froze

"And all I feel is your anger.." Nessa whispered softly – "Life sometimes puts us in situations that make it hard to remain sane. Grief, pain ,rage, I know it all. Lack of purpose?" – she snorted –"That's my reality. Because of great loss, I don't have it. I used to, but when I wake up at night, when I'm alone I get the impression, that it all might have been a dream. I just live and take what life brings. Sad but true." she paused and turned her back on him.

"You have a fire, that I envy you. I don't know what your overall purpose is, but it makes you powerful… beautiful. It gives your eyes glitter that I yearn to find myself. Treachery, corruption… such things exist everywhere. But you cannot let them defeat you. NEVER…

She reversed again to look at him

"My father used to say Whatever doesn't kill you, is going to leave you a scar. Keep those scars to remind you, how important whatever you are doing is and how much blood it cost you. Scars are good things…" – she whispered half to herself – "They do not allow us to forget." – She turned her head and blurted out – "And for Gods, don't you ever pity yourself. It just doesn't suit you…Good night." she ended making herself comfortable on the ground

Nuada opened his mouth to retort, but after a moment he quit. Very reluctantly he had to admit, that this human was right. Despite her young age, she seemed to know what she was talking about. He sat on the ground and focused his eyes on her back. Gods were definitely playing with him letting him to run against this particular woman. She seemed to break his defenses as if they never existed. With a heavy sigh he leaned his head against tree trunk. He closed his eyes hoping that dreams will allow him to forget. He plunged into the dark sea of nightmares in which Nathaniel backstabbed him all over again. This was not the night for rest, just a theatre of painful thoughts and memories.

"Suoress tanya Tel Quessir anta kala" - Blessed fire of the Elf folk, give us light.