A/N: Sorry I haven't written this in so long! My old computer crashed, so
my family wanted to wait until the end of the school year till we got a new
one, and here it is! Now that I'm free from the torture chamber known as
MLC (and happily typing away on a new laptop) I'll get stuck into this
writing again! Thanks so much for your reviews, I will treasure them
forever!
Chapter 2- Onwards
Ani looked up at the orange dawn that was breaking over the hills. It had been hours since she sat down after running away from that horrible scene, not too far from the tree, where those evil creatures took her father away from her. To her left she could see the embers still smoking, and spitting under the melting snow. She struggled to her feet, deciding there was no point staying here any longer. Grief had overcome her, making her movements slow and painful, as if she was overtired. Slowly, she took one last look at what remained of her father, and trudged painfully back towards her hut.
Anareil jerked her head up in surprise as the sound of clashing metal and a startled cry greeted her ears. She took of at a sprint through the snow, clutching the sword, which still clanked unused at her side. She stopped quietly at the top of a slight hill, her breath coming in frosty bouts. Her eyes narrowed at the site she saw over the hill: it was them.
Taking slow, quiet steps, Ani edged her way down the hill, hiding behind the sparse pines that dotted it. This was an unfamiliar part of the forest to her, but she was sure her father would know where it is. Correction, he would have known, if he weren't dead. She clenched her fists so tight at this last thought that her burnt knuckles went white. She could see what was going on now; eight, maybe ten of these creatures were surrounding a man on horseback, one held a sword to the neck of the man, aggressively. He seemed to be the leader of them.
" Give us what we need, and we'll let you go." The foul thing spat at the man, unconvincingly. Ani could see why they picked him as a target, judging by his clothes he was a rich man, or of some importance, and also seemed to be very alone. The man raised an eyebrow at the creature questioningly.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, but I suggest you let me go before my men arrive." The man said, sitting tall in his saddle. He did not seem scared of them
" I doubt that will happen, my Lord." The drawled, before his hard fist struck the man across the head. Ani's breath caught in her throat. Her anger towards these creatures boiled in her heart She could contain herself no longer. She would avenge her father, or die trying. Steely determination crossed her face as she gave a cry and leapt out strongly from behind the tree, drawing the rusty sword from its shaft and plunged it into the nearest creature. Doing this shocked her, as she had never struck anything with a sword before. She could feel the skin give way under her force, then the muscles rip as she plunged it further in until it hit something, which was the back of its heart. The Lord, who had been sitting, stunned by the sight of a girl dressed in ragged clothes attacking them with full force. She gave a fierce cry. Waking up that this. girl was trying to save him, he drew his sword and quickly beheaded his captor, who was still staring at the girl, who seemed to be getting more aggressive with each passing second. Ani struck as hard as she could at the creature: two lay slain at her feet already. "You.killed. my. Father. now.. you. will. pay!" Ani screamed through gritted teeth as she hacked at the creature in front of her. Leaving it for dead, she whirled around to see another of them bring its sword down on her shoulder. Pain blossomed through her, yet it felt detached. Nothing felt real since her father died.
Not wasting a second to recover, Ani lurched forward and plunged her sword through the creature in front of her. She saw it gargle and spit blood as she drew her sword from it, turning on her heels to see the Lord strike down another and only one remained. It was hers. Ani stomped up confidently behind the creature, which was sneaking up with a piece of rope behind the Lord. Drawing her sword above her head, she let out one last, anguished cry as her sword swung violently down, slicing the creature from the neck down. She watched as the creature died at her feet. Her anger was gone, now she could feel the pain in her shoulder. It seemed to rip her legs from under her, as her body hit the hard ground. Her vision was going blurry, but she could still see a man bent worriedly over her. She struggled to nod her head at him, in an awkward half bow.
"Good evening, Lord Boromir."
A/N: So. what did you think? Will Ani be ok? Please let me know if you have any suggestions, questions or queries by either reviewing * smiles * or emailing me. Either would be much appreciated! P.S. Sorry about the "Block of Text" in the first chapter. Dodgy computer.
Chapter 2- Onwards
Ani looked up at the orange dawn that was breaking over the hills. It had been hours since she sat down after running away from that horrible scene, not too far from the tree, where those evil creatures took her father away from her. To her left she could see the embers still smoking, and spitting under the melting snow. She struggled to her feet, deciding there was no point staying here any longer. Grief had overcome her, making her movements slow and painful, as if she was overtired. Slowly, she took one last look at what remained of her father, and trudged painfully back towards her hut.
Anareil jerked her head up in surprise as the sound of clashing metal and a startled cry greeted her ears. She took of at a sprint through the snow, clutching the sword, which still clanked unused at her side. She stopped quietly at the top of a slight hill, her breath coming in frosty bouts. Her eyes narrowed at the site she saw over the hill: it was them.
Taking slow, quiet steps, Ani edged her way down the hill, hiding behind the sparse pines that dotted it. This was an unfamiliar part of the forest to her, but she was sure her father would know where it is. Correction, he would have known, if he weren't dead. She clenched her fists so tight at this last thought that her burnt knuckles went white. She could see what was going on now; eight, maybe ten of these creatures were surrounding a man on horseback, one held a sword to the neck of the man, aggressively. He seemed to be the leader of them.
" Give us what we need, and we'll let you go." The foul thing spat at the man, unconvincingly. Ani could see why they picked him as a target, judging by his clothes he was a rich man, or of some importance, and also seemed to be very alone. The man raised an eyebrow at the creature questioningly.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, but I suggest you let me go before my men arrive." The man said, sitting tall in his saddle. He did not seem scared of them
" I doubt that will happen, my Lord." The drawled, before his hard fist struck the man across the head. Ani's breath caught in her throat. Her anger towards these creatures boiled in her heart She could contain herself no longer. She would avenge her father, or die trying. Steely determination crossed her face as she gave a cry and leapt out strongly from behind the tree, drawing the rusty sword from its shaft and plunged it into the nearest creature. Doing this shocked her, as she had never struck anything with a sword before. She could feel the skin give way under her force, then the muscles rip as she plunged it further in until it hit something, which was the back of its heart. The Lord, who had been sitting, stunned by the sight of a girl dressed in ragged clothes attacking them with full force. She gave a fierce cry. Waking up that this. girl was trying to save him, he drew his sword and quickly beheaded his captor, who was still staring at the girl, who seemed to be getting more aggressive with each passing second. Ani struck as hard as she could at the creature: two lay slain at her feet already. "You.killed. my. Father. now.. you. will. pay!" Ani screamed through gritted teeth as she hacked at the creature in front of her. Leaving it for dead, she whirled around to see another of them bring its sword down on her shoulder. Pain blossomed through her, yet it felt detached. Nothing felt real since her father died.
Not wasting a second to recover, Ani lurched forward and plunged her sword through the creature in front of her. She saw it gargle and spit blood as she drew her sword from it, turning on her heels to see the Lord strike down another and only one remained. It was hers. Ani stomped up confidently behind the creature, which was sneaking up with a piece of rope behind the Lord. Drawing her sword above her head, she let out one last, anguished cry as her sword swung violently down, slicing the creature from the neck down. She watched as the creature died at her feet. Her anger was gone, now she could feel the pain in her shoulder. It seemed to rip her legs from under her, as her body hit the hard ground. Her vision was going blurry, but she could still see a man bent worriedly over her. She struggled to nod her head at him, in an awkward half bow.
"Good evening, Lord Boromir."
A/N: So. what did you think? Will Ani be ok? Please let me know if you have any suggestions, questions or queries by either reviewing * smiles * or emailing me. Either would be much appreciated! P.S. Sorry about the "Block of Text" in the first chapter. Dodgy computer.