DISCLAIMER: I do not get any money from writing this story. I only own my Ocs.

"Braric"

'Thoughts'

"English"

(Elvish Translations)

.oOo.

Chapter XIII

The Blood That Ties (pt. 2)

.oOo.

I lay awake on my cot in the dead of night. The soft breaths of the ones around me and my empty thoughts were my only company.

My mind went back to the memory of my grandparents' forest. It was so beautiful and wild. I remember walking under it's branches and feeling the soft spring breeze rustling the leaves and the sounds of the many birds flying through the tree tops.

That wonderful place met its end when my grandparents died. We lived too far away from their house to keep it up so dad had to sell it. However, he didn't know that the buyer would level the entire property. That event crushed me. I went days where I wouldn't hardly crack a smile. That forest was the only strong link I had to my father's parents, the only one's I knew.

'If that forest meant so much to me, then how much does the forest mean to the Avari?' I thought sadly, 'I had only fifteen years of memories but those people have thousands apon thousands of years spent among those trees. It's their home, and Azazel wants to burn it to the ground.' I balled up my fist, 'Well, it's not going to happen. I'll see to that!'

I sat up then halted with slumped shoulders and a sigh, 'I'm banished. The moment I set foot across that border near the Ruins I'm toast. They would never listen to me long enough to hear my warning; that is, if I even saw them in the first place.'

I straightened, 'Silvius! He would believe me!' I glared determinately out the loft window, 'He has to.'

I nodded to myself and grabbed my tennis shoes and climbed silently down the ladder. I crept to the back of the house and looked out the window there and saw another guard standing a little aways from the house. Just barely far enough away not to hear me as I opened the window and climbed out.

I crept around him keeping my body low and using the wind to mask my footsteps. I was nearly away when the back window suddenly slammed shut. The guard rushed over to it giving me the time to get away from the house without being seen.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I got far enough away to not have to worry about masking my footsteps. I quickly slipped on my shoes then stood.

I looked into the forest. 'Silvius said to come to the ruins if I needed him, but I don't need him. He needs me.'

I drew in a confident breath before crossing the line into the forest.

My feet followed the familiar path with quick and confident strides and I soon came to the old stone road. From there I jogged to the ruins and up into the main hall.

"Silvius?" I called out into the darkness, "Silvius, I need to talk to you!"

I whispered, "Please tell me your there."

There was silence for a minute before a familiar voice spoke from behind me, "Elanor?"

I turned and saw the silver haired elf standing by the stairwell.

A smile broke onto my face, "Silvius!" I ran over and hugged him but drew away quickly.

In my panic to tell him my message I switched over to English, "You need to go back and warn your people!"

He held my shoulders, "Why? What is wrong?"

"General Azazel, came this morning with a whole troop of soldiers. One of the mercenaries that was killed here, he was Azazel's son! And he's vowed to take revenged on you and the others." Silvius' hands dropped to his sides and he walked a short distance away as I continued, "He's coming here tomorrow and sunrise. So that's why you must go warn your people!"

"My grandfather feared this, but foresaw it nonetheless." he smirked, "Besides, they will never be able to find us before we find them."

"That's not the point!" I stomped my foot, "He said he's coming here tomorrow and he's going to burn the whole forest to the ground to smoke you out!"

Silvius' eyes widened, "Fo." (No)

"Silvius!" we both turned abruptly to look to the newcomer. It was the guard whom escorted me out of the borders of the Avari's land. I immediately took a step behind Silvius as the elf marched forward, "Imneista hi lye cenai ninya ponte uvaquer!" (I knew here you would come here if my back be turned!)

I immediately kicked myself mentally for not practicing my Quenya; I had no idea what he just said, but I have a feeling it had something to do with me.

Silvius stepped forward to meet him speaking in Braric (probably for my sake), "It is a good thing indeed that you do not rule my life, Sivevarn. For if I had not come here, I would have never heard what will save many of the lives of our people!"

Sivevarn frowned, "If what she says is true-"

"It is." Silvius stated, "I believe her."

The warrior sighed and reverted back to Quenya, "Silvius, tye lertau mernye ana savrya ve lefinya!" (You cannot expect me to believe her just because you do!)

"Why?" Silvius clenched his fist, "Ten' im vinya? Ten' im horea?" (Because I am young? Because I am naive?)

Sivevarn sighed, "Imne va quettai." (I did not say that.)

"Le va maure ana." (You did not need to.)

"Silvius, inye-"

I blinked, Sivevarn cried out, an arrow was suddenly deep in his shoulder. "Get down!" he yelled at us as he drew his sword.

Silvius obeyed out of shock and dragged me to the ground beside him.

Sivevarn whipped around his sword as many soldiers came running into the ruins. I looked away as he sliced through the enemy without any hesitation or thought to the arrow protruding from him.

But oh why had I looked to my left? For right before my eyes there hung a giant, hairy, black spider. I screamed and jumped up and away from it indirectly distracting Sivevarn. He gave out a cry of pain and staggered back into a wall. His sword slipped from his hand in the shock of the blow; blood was dripping from his fingertips.

"Sivevarn!" Silvius yelled as the elf was sliced across the arm again and kicked to the ground where he stayed motionless.

Silvius then charged from our hiding place and took up the Sivevarn's fallen sword defending him from the soldiers still in the ruins, but to my horror he was soon overpowered and brought to the ground.

The remaining soldiers began speaking amongst themselves.

I was frozen to my spot on the stone floor still shaking from what I had seen and still casting fearful glances at the spider in the corner as a soldier walked over to me, "What about this one?" I yelped when he pulled me up by my hair. He looked at my ears, "She's not a Derali."

"Leave her. The General's orders." another soldier said, "She's harmless anyway."

The soldier let my hair go and I fell onto my hands, "What about that one? He sure put up a fight." I hazily saw him walk over to Sivevarn and kick his side, "He killed four of our best men!"

"Sivevarn." I heard Silvius whisper.

A soldier laughed, "I doubt the General wants us to bring back a corpse for him to beat."

A stone dropped in my stomach; my lips quivered, "Dead?"

I watched as Silvius stared at the soldiers body in shock, "Ninya hano ea qualin."

"That's enough out of you, Derali." I winced as the soldier backhanded him. "Lets get going."

They hauled Silvius to his feet and I barely registered when they left the ruins.

I shakily stood as the sky began to light in the east with the sun's dull rising rays. Many bodies of dead soldiers littered the floor, and there in the middle of it all lay Sivevarn.

"Hano." I repeated. 'Why does that word sound familiar?' "Hano... Brother."

'Brother?' my eyes widened and I took a step back colliding with the wall behind me. 'No. No, he can't be dead!' my eyes began to water, 'His brother.'

A tear rolled down my cheek as Sivevarn's face was replaced with William's, "How could I have let this happen?" I staggered over to Silvius' brother and fell onto my knees at his side. His eyes were open and unfocused. The arrow lodged in his shoulder looked incredibly deep and the lacerations on his arms were long and jagged.

I bowed my head and wept. 'He's dead and it's my fault.' I hadn't even thought to check if anyone was following me! Now they have Silvius and Azazel is going to kill him.

I slammed my fist on the stone floor, 'Why am I such a failure? Why do I always let these things happen?'

The leaves high in the trees rustled as a cool wind blew past. It's swirl reached down fanning out my hair seeming to pull me back towards the lake. I looked up at the decaying archway of the mansion, the light of the morning casting it in a pale light.

A storm is approaching on the Western horizon; I can taste the rain in the air.

I slowly stood to my feet and took a step towards the mansion gate. I heard a quiet clang when my shoe made contact with Sivevarn's fallen sword. I looked down at the elegant blade. Covered in blood, it looked battle born and hungry for more.

I reached down and grasped the hilt raising the blade up. It was heavy, but my grief weighed more in the balance. I gripped the sword as the wind whipped my hair. Tears fell from my eyes but sobs no longer escaped my lips. Memories of the little elf girl I helped, flashed in my mind. Silvius' little sister.

'If he dies, she'll be all alone.'

I ground my teeth as I glared in the direction of the town.

Sivevarn may be dead, but I won't let Silvius go. I can't let Elveawen be left alone... like I am.

So, if Azazel wants Silvius, he'll have to get him over my dead body.