AN: Thank you all who read and/or reviews this story. This chapter is dedicated to all of you, my friends. I *might* change the title of the story to Fallen by the next chapter. But it's still a maybe…

Hmm…A little note to those who are interested; the fighting scene will use European/Asian fighting style just because I've read an article somewhere about the movie LoTR that Legolas fight with that kind of style. Well, that's what I think I've read anyway.

And I hope that the fighting is good enough. Not much yet, but I hope to put more in the next few chapter.

Chapter 10: Back

Alfirin ran as fast as possible. Nardin was slightly ahead of her. She had a feeling that he could have run faster and would have done so should she was not with him but her presence slowed him down. The orcs were closely behind and she knew that she could not outrun them. She was not used to this circumstance, being nowhere but in the save perimeter of the kingdom, and realise the true danger of the place in which she resided.

It seemed that Nardin also knew of this fact for he stopped and turned around. She nearly crashed into him but she halted just in time. He looked back, past her, warily and seized one of the long knife placed on his back. He stared at her hard and said, "Alfirin, you know as well as I do that we cannot possibly outrun them. Take this so that should they find you, you will be able to protect yourself."

Alfirin gaze at the long blade and nodded. She knew little on how to use them, but it was sufficient nonetheless. Er-Galadh had once taught her how to use it and she gripped the weapon before her hard before she started to run again. The knife was her only salvation then. Nothing else mattered.

Her legs ached painfully. She was not accustomed to all this and wished that she did not have her curiosity that had led her to the strange lady which eventually led her to this moment. Why did she leave the kingdom? Why did she not go back when chance allowed? Why must she be so stubborn? So engrossed was she on blaming herself that she did not realised the pain on her legs.

She ran and ran, not knowing where she went. Her sense of direction was gone as she depended totally on Nardin. She hoped so hard that they might be able to escape the orcs. However, the time that they had taken to stopped had cost them dearly for the orcs were now very close behind. So close, she could her their hard, harsh breathing as though they were breathing right behind her neck. The sensation sent shivered down her spine and she tried to run faster.

Alfirin looked back and saw that the orcs had stopped their pursue. They seemed to have given up on their chase. Alfirin sighed. It seemed that they could get away after all. She was about to call out to Nardin when she saw an arrow passing through. It passed Nardin by an inch and realised the threat it present when suddenly pain shot from her leg.

She stumbled and fell. Looking at her leg, she saw blood dripping slowly around the arrow. She gripped the arrow and yanked it free. Wrong move. Her scream rang amongst the trees. She shut her eyes in pain, tears seeping from the corner of the lid. When she opened her eyes, an orc was in front of her. It snarled and scolded the young elf in its own guttural tongue. Laughing evilly, it raised its sword, ready to execute the pathetic elf below it.

Alfirin glared back. The look of her face was beyond fear. She had given up all her hope, knowing that it was impossible to escape anymore for she had not the strength to run anymore, especially in her condition. She did not close her eyes. If death should come, she would face it just like her father. She confronted the orc confidently with nothing to betray her fears. She would never let it has the pleasure of knowing the terror in her heart.

The orc lowered its sword. Its eyes gleamed feverishly as the sword strike directly, leaving a bloodied mess behind. Flesh dangled from it, but it was not from the lovely elf that stare dazzled in front of it, but from its own master, lay crumpled on the cold earth. And above it, stood a fair creature, holding the bloodstained sword in its hand.

"Nardin!" Alfirin cried out in relief as she recognised the person in front of her. It was quite impossible for her to believe what had just happened. She could remember the sword coming towards her but someone must have attacked the orc for its grip lessened. And of what came next made her inside churned. The proof of it was before her. Fortunately, she had nothing inside of her that could be purged but she felt nauseous nonetheless.

"Come," He offered her his hand. "We cannot flee anymore," he said grimly while looking at her inoperative leg lying limply at her side. "Can you stand?"

Alfirin looked at the running orcs. They were coming fast. Anger swelled their heart as two of their comrades fell. They must have their revenge, not because of the love they shared each other, but of their pride. What would they become if they let some elves away from their grip, especially when the elves were outnumbered. The shame would be unbearable. Yet it was not just the shame. The pain that their master inflict should he found out would be even more excruciating.

She turned away. Taking his hand, she held herself up. She glanced up at him. His face an impenetrable mask, but she new the fear in his heart. She was about to tell him to go away, but she had not the opportunity to say anything. The orcs were already before them.

The orcs came, more determined than ever to finish the life of the two elves ahead of them. Alfirin clenched her knife, her other hand let go of Nardin's hand as she limped away from him. She knew that Nardin could not fight while holding her hand and the orc would attack her first, giving Nardin time to run away. It was her fault that Nardin was dragged to this condition and she was resolute to put him away from it. But she was not quick enough.

Nardin grabbed her arm and held her close, shielding her with his body. His other hand went to his back, retrieving another knife. "I've promised Er-Galadh that I will see you save to the kingdom. I will not fail it."

Alfirin was about to reply, when she felt Nardin moved. A move that indicated that the orcs had arrived. She closed her eyes in fear as she felt something warm splattered behind her neck. Instinctively, she reached out for it and saw fresh blood, red against her pale fingers.

She muffled her cry as she saw an orc creeping up behind Nardin. She saw the orc as it raised its arm, ready to injured the fair elf before it when Alfirin broke free of his embrace. The orc was so close, close enough for her to kill. Yes, the word kill was in her mind as she slipped beneath its raised arm and stabbed it in its heart. The knife embedded itself but not strong enough to penetrate the body armour that it wore.

Instead, it awakened the orc awareness of the seemingly frail elf-maiden. It glared at her viciously and raised its sword again. Alfirin was once again frozen in fear. The intensity of the war was beyond her experience.

The orc was about to end her life but a clash of sword nearby woke her from her paralyse as the orc brought its sword down. She raised her own knife above her head as she turned around. However this time, she made no attempt to reach its body, instead she aimed for the wrist that handled the sword. Her knife sliced the delicate skin beneath the palm that held a sword, forcing it to screamed in agony as the orc dropped the weapon it carried.

She took the opportunity to reached the disarmed orc, held it close, before moving her knife across its neck. Blood spluttered everywhere as the orc dropped dead in front of her. Her leg ached as the move took its price. She dropped to the ground, unable to move anymore. Tears fell from her eyes as she realised what she had done. Suddenly, she felt a hand reaching out for her. She forced her body to turn around using her uninjured leg, ready to attack but it was not an orc that confronted her.

She immediately recognised the elf before her. Looking around, she saw raining arrows fell at the remaining orcs. She watched as the orcs flee and saw elves descended from the trees that surrounded them. They must have run inside the perimeter of the kingdom. She cried in relief as the knowledge sunk in and, ensured that they were safe, she let the weariness invaded her as she let herself fell into oblivion.