~ This is it. Only one more chapter after this one. And thanks for the nomination into the TMNT fanfic competition, I feel honored. :o)
Five armies total, that's what Michelangelo had counted them up to. Races of men, elf and another he wasn't sure what the title to was, all gathered and charges the gates of the dark elves. With the dark elves unprepared, they got in and were able to take many guards before trumpets sounded, warning of the attack. All the armies knew who they were looking for, the stolen elf prince.
After the trumpets, scores of elves came out of everywhere. Swords clashed, arrows flew by. It was chaos, all around. Donatello and his brothers were separated as the battle escalated. In a few hours, even though tired it was apparent that the armies were going to win. This gave everyone a new surge of energy and fought more gallantly than ever. The dark elves retreated, leaving the courtyard. Looking around, Raphael spotted his brothers and they got near each other. Looking to the door, Prince Aldanor stood there, holding Jodi, a dagger to her throat.
I was terrified. Aldanor simply came inside the room and grabbed me. He said I was needed for the battle but I wouldn't get hurt. Forcing me outside, he put the dagger to my throat and I froze. Looking around, I saw the bodies of what I would say is most of the elves of this land. The turtles were all standing next to each other, each beaten up a little but nothing life threatening.
"Enough!" Aldanor yelled. Walking down the steps, Aldanor had an arm around my waist, practically holding me off the ground. He was cutting off my breathing but I didn't dare voice it.
"Is she the one you want?" Aldanor questioned. "If it is, take her. I do not wish to claim her." Stopping in front of the turtles, Aldanor looked at them.
"That was your camp, wasn't it?" Aldanor questioned. They nodded yes. "I'm sorry about the rat, my men got to him before I could stop them." My eyes widened hearing that Splinter had gotten hurt.
"He is mending," Raphael said. "So is that cat, if you care to know." Michelangelo nodded. I closed my eyes thinking poor Klunk.
"Prince Aldanor." Another elf called, but he was different, he was brighter. I thought Aldanor would look like that, if the sunbeam shined from behind him.
"She is not all we came for. I am Molaart," The elf introduced himself. "I have been sent on behalf of our king to bring home the stolen elf child." Aldanor waited.
"That child is you," Molaart said. Aldanor jerked me in response. I gasped when he squeezed my stomach. Relaxing his arms, Aldanor apologized softly, but Molaart caught that.
"Why do you think you are so different from everyone here?" Molaart questioned. "Instead of killing her you are willing to let this woman go. Isn't that unusual?" Aldanor's breathing was speeding up. I could tell that he was ready to panic.
"Aldanor," I said. He lowered me to the ground and took the dagger away. Aldanor waited to hear me speak. "Ask your father."
"Yes, ask me," Aldanor spun around, placing me behind him. I looked around and saw the king.
"You're not my father?" Aldanor questioned. The king shrugged.
"No, but if you were it would shame me," The king responded. "The girl should be dead and you should not have cared a bit. You have learned nothing of your upbringing."
"That's because his true nature knew better," Molaart said. The king sneered at him then looked at me.
"He had you didn't he?" My face flushed but I stood tall. "Pity you weren't an elf. Otherwise you would have been an achievement."
Aldanor rushed the King with his dagger in front of him. The king stepped aside and easily knocked Aldanor aside. Getting up, Aldanor had grabbed a sword and this became a duel. As they centered the courtyard, a circle gathered around them, watching, everyone holding their breath. The king knocked Aldanor's sword out of his hand and had him pinned at the floor, blade at his throat.
"I should never have bothered with you," The king said. I couldn't stand this. Giving a battle cry I ran forward and knocked the king aside. We both fell over and I felt something pierce my side. I lay gasping on the ground and looked to see that the king was getting up, his eyes on me.
"You'll pay for that," and raised his sword. I heard the blade swish through the air then all was silent. My eyes still worked, they opened and found Aldanor standing above me. Looking to the side, the king lay dead. Lifting me in his arms, Aldanor turned to Molaart.
"Let's leave, I tired of this place a long time ago." Heading out they patched my side up and went to a friends house, who I leaned was name Holsomon. The turtles were all gathered around asking how I was. I smiled at them then was given something from Splinter to drink. I was happy to see him and said so. He smiled and told me to drink up. Once again I passed into slumber.
Aldanor was outside, in the camp with Molaart. This was all strange, his whole upbringing had been about males being prominent and females a likeness to be shared but not over come by. At least now he knew why it was so hard for him to learn the dark elves lessons. He was an elf of light.
That evening there was a celebration party, elves, men, everyone was there. My side was bandaged up but I wasn't in that much pain. The dress I had on earlier was ruined, so I made do with some of the guys clothes. The turtles were happy that everyone was together but seemed sad as well. Going over to them I sat down and asked what was wrong.
"I don't know," Donatello said. "It's just feeling very strange, like we have no reason to be here anymore." I put my hand on Donatello's shoulder, which he patted then looked off in the distance. Raphael got up announcing that he was going for a walk and stepped into the shadows. Not wanting his brother to be alone, Leonardo got up and followed him out.
"You feeling okay, Jodi?" Michelangelo asked. Klunk was by his side, purring.
"Yeah," I said. "My side still aches a little but I should be okay." There was an uproar over where a camp tent was. We looked over to see what was going on, but all the bodies that crowded in to see what was going on obscured it. I got up and walked over, making my way through the crowd. I found that Aldanor lay on the ground, blood seeping out from under him. Pushing the rest of the way through, I went over and saw that an arrow had pierced his shoulder. A healer made his way through the crowd and went to see Aldanor's shoulder.
"There is not much I can do. The arrow was poisoned, and the only cure for the victim is blood and possibly the life of someone who truly loves him. With out that, he will surely die," The healer finished solemnly
"I'll do it," Someone said. I turned and looked around for the voice when I realized that I had spoken. The healer looked at me.
"You love him?" The healer asked. The turtles were gathered around, surprised showed on all their faces.
"Yes," I said, putting my hand on his cheek. "I couldn't help myself."
"Jodi, no," Aldanor whispered.
"Shh,. You'll be all right," I said and stood up. "What do I have to do?" With help Aldanor was taken into a tent, I followed behind. I was instructed to tie bands around my forearms. The healer led me over to Aldanor and began to chant. You could almost see the magic, you could feel it all around. The healer took one arm holding it over Aldanor and cut it, the blood spilling onto Aldanor's chest, he did the same with the other arm and instructed me to stand there for as long as I could.
The chanting continues, I started to feel faint. It seemed that everything was getting louder, and started to echo, then the world turned on me. I opened my eyes, not even aware they had closed and looked around. The healer was gone, I was laying on the ground, where I had fallen and Aldanor still lay on the cot he was placed on. I got up slowly, it was hard to move. Getting up I saw that the arrow was gone and Aldanor looked like he would be all right. I sighed and fell back down to the floor, passing out before I hit it.
~ Okay reviewers, I need your help… will Jodi live or die? What's it going to be?