A/N: Well it's been about 5 months since I updated. I am sooooo sorry.. I'm not even gonna try and make excuses. I will update sooner than that though. Again. for the few of you who actually read this I am sooooooooooo sorry.

Disclaimer: My precioussssssss.. Mine. my own. alright so I'm delusional. I DON'T CARE! I wish it was mine. but most of it isn't.

Chapter 5 ~ Run Away ~

Islayanna opened her eyes in the dark; a faint glow from the dying embers of the fire illuminated her face. She crawled out of her bedroll and stood up slowly. A rustling noise came from where Derin lay. She froze. Turning her head slightly she saw that he had only rolled over. Taking this as a warning she stayed still for a moment and until she was sure he was asleep. Quickly but silently she rolled up her bedroll, and pulled on a fresh tunic, strapped her dagger to her waist, grabbed another tunic and wrapped food in it tying it to her waist. With one last glance around the camp she left.

She ran through the forest barely making any noise at all. Islayanna didn't stop till noon because she knew that Derin would be after her and she wanted to get away as fast as possible. She looked around at her surroundings and decided to rest for a few minutes. She sat down on a fallen tree and watched her surroundings searching for any sign that Caril was close by. Shaking her head she stood up and continued on her way when she realized her lir was still to far away.

She continued to run and run and run until sunset. She found a fallen tree with a hollow under it. Leaning against her tree she pulled out a piece of bread and chewed on it thoughtfully before putting her food away and slipping under the tree. Her eyes traced the patterns in the old rotting bark of the tree above her. Closing her eyes she inhaled the deep musky wood scent and sighed softly knowing that she was were she belonged, in the open. Slowly she fell into a deep sleep hoping that Derin would not find her.

At dawn, Islayanna awoke and continued on her way. Again she stopped at noon and sunset only. Curling up at the base of a large pine tree, Islayanna fell asleep once more with a feeling of contentment. She was out in the open where she belonged, searching for her lir. Tracing the bark's pattern with her hand, she sighed happily and closed her eyes, listening to the woodland noises around her. Crack! A stick broke. She sprung up silently and scrambled up the tree. Perched high in its branches, she listened and heard it again, the unmistakable sound of a group of people walking through the undergrowth.

Scanning the ground for people, her eyes fell upon two men walking calmly closer to her tree. The first man had short black hair. He wore a dark green tunic and brown breeches. The second man was blonde; he also wore a green tunic, but instead had black leather breeches. They were watching the areas around them for any sign of humans. She smiled to herself thinking, They never think to look up do they? Shaking her head in amusement, she strained to hear what they were saying. From what she managed to hear they were discussing an attack plan. The man wearing brown breeches seemed to be the leader, leaning closer she caught more of what he said, "Dang elves. need. spell. wolves. Why. themselves? . . . They can't be far behind us now." The men walked right under her tree.

Waiting till they were gone, she jumped out of the tree and sprinted in the direction they had come from. She heard the wind whistle in her ear, but she paid no attention to it, she just ran faster and faster. After her adrenaline wore off she started to slow down and looked around at her surroundings, the trees had thickened around her and it was almost pitch black out. If the moon was not out she would have stopped for the night and continued the next day, but since it was she continued to walk in the same direction. She walked, her eyes closed, her feet tired, blisters formed and broke, yet she still walked forward. She stumbled and fell. There she lay, slowly loosing consciousness.

As she lay there, she began to dream. It was nighttime, the only light coming from the moon and stars that shone down upon the ground. She stood in the middle of a forest her bare feet immersed in a cool creak. The water swished and swirled around her toes making her giggle a sweet and melodic sound that rang clearly through the trees. A deeper voice sounded behind her, laughing happily. She didn't turn around, but waited patiently, and sure enough, strong arms encircled her waist and spun her around. Laughing with the man, she felt one of his arms slip under her knees as he began to pick her up bridal style.

Opening her eyes she gasped, she was in someone's arms, she began to struggle to get free. Suddenly she felt faint and everything went black again. A soothing voice whispered in her ear, "Calm down, everything's going to be alright." She was lying in a man's lap. She felt safe in his arms and ceased her struggling. Trying to sit up and look at the man, she grew faint again and lay back down. Looking up she saw could make out the outline of his face, once again she noticed pointy ears.

Suddenly, there was a crashing sound in the woods. She felt the man stiffen against her and then relax as he realized what made the noise. She tried to look but again grew dizzy and resigned herself to waiting. Islayanna gasped as she felt something lick her cheek. Turning her head, she saw black fur that had the vague shape of a wolf. She sat up quickly and screamed in surprise, "Maytin!" She launched herself at him. Hugging him she once again became dizzy and fell backwards into the strange man.

Mistaking her yell for joy as one for fright, he steadied her and said, "He will not hurt you, do not be frightened."

Islayanna began to laugh, "I am not afraid. How could I be afraid? This is my ruhjo's lir. That means that Caril has to be around here! You know Maytin, do you know where his sister is? Oh by the gods, let her be safe."

The woman was so frantic for news that the man was not sure if he wanted to tell her that Calavendë was injured. He managed to speak to her though, "The wolf was with his sister, she was injured, though. I do not know how." He was startled to see Islayanna smiling at him. Shaking his head, he asked, "Would you like to go see her?"

Before he could even say anything, Islayanna was on her feet running through the woods to her lir. I am coming, Caril! she told her wolf. In response she heard a happy howl. Within moments Islayanna had burst into a clearing. There by the fire her beautiful light gray wolf lay on her side. Dropping to her knees next to Caril, she took her into her arms. "Leijhana tu'sai! Leijhana tu'sai! Leijhana tu'sai," she whispered over and over.

Caril nuzzled her happily, saying, Did you think the gods would separate us for good? It is not possible.

Laughing slightly, Islayanna said, "Not really, but I can still be afraid that they might." Then, she froze. Steal pressed against her throat drawing a drop of blood.

A soft feminine voice whispered quietly, "Let go of her and I may let you live." Islayanna released Caril from her arms slowly. Caril growled at the female behind her lir, while Islayanna cursed silently in the Old Tongue.

The woman gasped in surprise when she found her dagger pressed against thin air. A small silver wolf glared up at her teeth bared, where Islayanna once sat. Backing up in confusion, the woman called out for help, "Teleptin! Mornatoron!" She let out a loud scream and thrust her knife blindly at the new wolf. The silver wolf had leapt at her knocking her to the ground, her teeth sinking in to the woman's shoulder.

Suddenly, Caril stood up, teetering on her feet, and attempted to walk forward, when Mornatoron and Teleptin burst into the clearing. Teleptin ran forward, attempting to aid his friend. Mornatoron reached the two first and quickly grabbed the wolf by the back of her neck, forcing her to let go of the woman. Dragging the wolf towards Caril. The minute Mornatoron let go of her, the wolf silently called on the earth magic. Islayanna felt the magic tug restlessly and then she was free of any form. She was nothing. A moment later, she was back in her human form.

Teleptin gasped, "You! You, did this to her!" He cradled the woman's head in his lap, she was pale and sweaty, blood ran down her arm freely. "Why did you attack Certar? She didn't do anything to you!" He was shaking with anger and frustration.

Islayanna bowed her head and responded slowly, "I . . . I am sorry. I did not know . . . I did not know that you were taking care of her. I only thought you were trying to tear us apart again. I am so very sorry." She spoke more to Certar than anyone else. She continued to apologize switching to the Old Tongue unconsciously. Teleptin shook his head in confusion. Noticing his confusion she switched back to common, "Perhaps I could do something to make it up. If you would allow me. I could heal her. We usually do not heal anyone unless it is grave, but this should not have happened. Please." She broke off awaiting an answer.

Certar closed her eyes leaving Teleptin to answer for her, "I know how to heal!"

Islayanna shook her head, "With you it will take at least a week. I can have her back to normal in less than five minutes. If you will just let me." She pleaded with her eyes.

After what seemed like an hour, Teleptin nodded his consent with a warning, "If anything happens to her you will not escape these woods alive, even as a wolf."

Islayanna nodded and knelt down next to Certar. She took the woman's hands in her own and closed her eyes. Willing the magic to come heal the young elven maiden, she felt the familiar pull for the second time that night. She focused all of her energy on the woman's shoulder, the magic traveled through them swiftly, healing the bite marks as Islayanna directed it. Just as swiftly as it came, the magic was gone and in the earth again.

Certar sat up slowly, flexing her arm, she gasped, "How did you do that? Even the Lady Galadriel can not heal so quickly. Nor can Lord Elrond."

Islayanna smiled half-heartedly and said quietly, "It comes of being a Cheysuli." Ignoring their questioning looks, Islayanna turned to her lir, "Now if only you would get off your leg. I did not do anything. Nothing is going to happen. Lay down so I can take care of you." To the elves surprise the wolf laid down in front of this new girl. They watched in fascination as she healed the wolf quickly, repeating the steps she took to heal Certar. They watched as the young, seemingly human, girl opened her eyes again to be greeted by kisses from the newly healed wolf. Laughing the girl hugged the wolf, "I missed you too, Caril, but we are whole again, lir. We are whole!"

The elves watched the scene enfolding in front of them in silence. After a few more minutes of the joyful reunion Mornatoron slunk out from the shadows and sat next to the elves sulking. Islayanna's eyes widened as she realized what she had done to the poor wolf and she cried out in regret, "I am sorry Maytin! Come here!" The black wolf slowly walked to her side where she greeted him with a gigantic hug. "Do not worry. Derin is on his way. You shall be reunited once again."

At her words Teleptin's eyes widened, "This is what they were talking about. They are the masters!" He looked at Certar in astonishment. "How could they wipe out an entire race? Two people . . ."

Islayanna's head shot up, "Who are 'they'?" her voice was cool and steady.

Teleptin glanced at her and then Certar, who nodded her approval, "Men, they tried to use a sleep spell on us a few nights ago, in an attempt to take these two from us." He motioned to the wolves seated in front of them, looking at him intently, as if they were listening to his every word.

Islayanna looked at the gray female and spoke, "Was it the same one?" Through her link the response came, I am not too sure. I could not get a good look at him, as Maytin was standing in front of me. After a moment of silence, she spoke again, Maytin thinks that he was there, he believed he smelled him, but the man did not show his face to us. There was a long pause in which Islayanna let the information sink into her before the wolves gave her another shock, We are being followed. We think they are trying to surround us.

Islayanna closed her eyes tightly and then asked, "Do you know how far behind they are? How many men? Is it possible we could run? Perhaps we could make it to Derin before they are ready . . ." She trailed off hopelessly. "The real question is, Do you think the three of us can handle them on our own or do we need to try and find Derin? Two wolves and a Cheysuli. Is it enough?"

"Do you think we can not fight?" Teleptin asked quietly. Islayanna looked up at him with sadness painted in her eyes.

"I have no doubt that you are experienced fighters. Just have you ever fought against sorcery? Or Ilhini?" She asked them. Her eyes roamed over their selection of weapons, daggers and bows. She shook her head.

Before the Cheysuli could speak the elves drew their bows and the wolves began to growl. "It is a party of men, not elves, nor even orcs," Certar whispered to the group.

"Ilhini!" Islayanna said venomously.

"What exactly are these Ilhini?" Teleptin asked her suddenly.

"We are the Ilhini," a man said stepping out of the woods. The group of elves and Cheysuli quickly found themselves surrounded by fourteen men. The speaker was the man Islayanna had seen when perched in a tree. He raised his hand and began to draw a purple design in the air as the other men drew their weapons and began to advance. Before anyone could even lift a finger, the design burst into purple flame and everything went dark. Only the flickering of the remaining flames gave off any light.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*

A/N: I don't believe there were any stars. If there were please tell me. Anyways, so there you have it. I thought since I will not be able to work on this for 2 weeks I might as well get to a stopping point and post it before I leave. So here you go. And for those of you who read this. I am soooooooo sorry it took so long. I'll get the next one up faster. I promise. Oh and please please please review.