Hi everyone, sorry for not updating as often as I'd hoped I'd be able to. Well, I'm back finally. So I hope you enjoy this next chapter, The Dark Realm.

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As the figure entered the dim light, Kasumi saw that he his skin was pale, but his features were dark, just like the others. She turned to look up at Haydn, he didn't look the same, his skin was bright with life, and his features were light. Then she looked at Aegnorion, he was talking with the elf, constantly pointing at her, and Manwein.

"He is the head guard; they keep watch at the border of our realm. His name is Imbesarn," Haydn whispered, sensing her curiosity.

Suddenly, Aegnorion and Imbesarn's conversation stopped, and Imbesarn addressed Kasumi and Manwein.

"We are accustomed to blindfolding our captives as we enter the Dark Realm," he said looking at them. "However, Aegnorion says we can trust that you two will not cause any trouble. Now, I am willing to let you pass without having to be blindfolded if you will cooperate, but be aware however, that if you don't, you must suffer dire consequences." Imbesarn looked from Manwein to Kasumi, and they both nodded in agreement. "Very well then," he turned once again to Aegnorion. "You may enter."

Aegnorion thanked him, and they followed him into the darkness of the trees.

After several steps, Kasumi looked back, the bright forest where they had stood seconds ago seemed to disappear, and it looked as though to whole forest was always so dark. She looked ahead, and trudged on reluctantly, trying not to worry about what may lie ahead.

She could hear Manwein shiver softly, as he approached her side. It made her feel better to be between Haydn, and Manwein, it was less cold, and if any trouble occurred they would take care of it. Even though it was not her nature to rely on warriors to take care of her, but she did not want them to suspect that she knew how to fight defensively and offensively.

What sounded like a crack of a twig underneath someone's foot, reached her ear, and seemed to echo among the trees. She looked up at the top of the trees, searching for any sight of the sun. However, what surprised her was that instead, she found the moon.

"Haydn, why is the moon out?" she asked in a whisper. "When we were in the light the sun was out, and then it was still early afternoon. What happened?"

He looked up as well, and then answered. "The king of the Dark Realm, he harnesses the power to control all the natural elements in the kingdom. He has made it so that it is allows night, so that our part of the forest will be filled with a never ending darkness."

Kasumi gasped amazed. "Is he a wizard?"

Haydn shook his head, "No, he is just like us, an elf, but I've heard that he hadn't always wielded such powers. Ever since I've been here he has had that power, but people tell me that it hasn't always been so.

"They say he was just like we are now, enchanting, yet not wielding magical powers. Some say it was given to him, by a dark wizard, after they had made an agreement," he looked at her as she stared forward in awe. She looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "However, you shouldn't always believe what you here," he said quickly, not wanting her to judge all dark elves as evil just because of one of them.

"Do not worry about me," she reassured him. She looked around her once more, still astounded at the idea of an elf that can bend nature to his will. Thinking about the power's good and evil points, she walked on, following Haydn's lead.

Her feet began to drag along the ground, but not because she was tired, in fact she could have walked a whole other day without tiring. It was because she was anxious, she didn't know why, maybe because her mind was bent on seeing this king's power for herself, or maybe because she had been away from civilization for such a long time, but not nearly as long as Manwein had.

She walked over to Manwein, and he looked at her.

"Manwein, this may sound funny, but, are you anxious to get to the city?" she asked, surprised at how much like a child she had sounded.

He thought silently for a moment, then answered. "No, not really," he said, making a face that gave Kasumi the idea that he was thinking of all the bad things that could become of them at the city. "Why do you ask?"

"It was just that...," she considered how she could it explain it to him without sounding strange. "Well, I haven't seen civilization in over a century, and I know to us that's not a long time, but after a while you realize how long that's been. Especially for you, you've been isolated longer than I have, aren't you the least bit eager to see a city full of life?"

"I hadn't thought about it like that," he replied. "However, now that you've brought it up, yes I guess I'm a bit excited to see many people again."

Kasumi nodded, and walked silently beside him. She considered his answer, aware that he was thinking more in a negative way, but there was one thing she hadn't told him.

She had never been to a large city, or any city at all. Villages, small towns, and campsites, were all she had ever visited on her little outings, but she had never seen a city. She had heard of the buildings: grand, large, and in countless amounts. Maybe even markets, filled with merchants selling fine cloths, herbs, and so much more. They were what she was most excited about, Maliana would always tell her about her excursions to small markets, buying more than she was sent out for.

Manwein nudged her gently, and she looked up, torn abruptly away from her daydreaming. She looked ahead. She could she the dim glow of faraway torches, and lights, and she could almost make out a gate in the far away darkness.

Her eyes widened apprehensively, her mind buzzed with all the things she had heard of, but had never seen for herself. Then suddenly her thoughts stopped on what Manwein had been worrying about their whole journey. What bad things could happen behind those gates? Would they be forced to stay there for the rest of their lives, and if so how would they be rescued? No one knew about this hidden city deep in the dark part of Mirkwood.

She gulped, and Manwein could sense her uncertainties.

"Do you think...," she began to ask, hushed in a whisper.

Manwein shrugged. "We'll just have to wait, and find out I guess, but don't worry. I don't think they'd be able to hurt you, and I'd put up a pretty good fight if they tried to hurt me."

"Are you fully healed?"

He looked at his legs, and stretched his once wounded back. "Well, I don't feel anymore pain, so I would say my wounds are mended."

Kasumi smiled, "That's good."

The light became brighter, and she could clearly make out a large wall, and four soldiers guarding its gate.

She reluctantly walked forward, as a sickening feeling ran through her.

They finally arrived at the gates, and the guards greeted Aegnorion and his companions. Then their stares turned to the captives.

"Where did you stumble upon these, Aegnorion?" a guard asked, as if they were animals that had been picked up by curious children.

"We stole them from orcs," he laughed. "They are stolen captives!"

He and the guards laughed, and Kasumi clenched her fists tightly, straining her muscles from hurting all of them.

"Do you know where they are from?" the guard asked, looking both of them over. "They look like they're both from different places. Taken kidnapped from different places, perhaps?"

Aegnorion shrugged, "That could be possible." He turned to the guard, "What did the King say about your daughter?"

The guard sighed. "Rejected her, he did. She didn't seem to mind, meeting him probably changed her mind about him."

"Rejected everyone so far, huh?" Aegnorion whispered.

"Yes, every single maiden brought to him. He just takes a quick look at them, and says no. Some say he's immortal, and doesn't need a wife to give him an heir, but that's just gossip I've been hearing out on the streets, and you know that half of the elves gossiping are drunk."

Aegnorion nodded, "Well, it was nice to talk with you again. Now if you don't mind, I've got to bring these two to the King." The two looked at Kasumi and Manwein. "I'm hoping that the King will like the girl, could even give me a little reward," he whispered into his ear so quietly that not even the elves close to them could hear.

The two chuckled, and the guard signaled to the other guard up in the watch tower to open the gates.

Kasumi's eyed widened anxiously as the gates opened slowly, not noticing Haydn getting up from his resting spot at the trunk of a tree.

As the gates stopped opening, revealing the city streets, Kasumi's mouth dropped.

Haydn stared at her amusedly. "What about our city amazes you so?" he asked curiously. "It is not the least bit fascinating to me, or anyone else I know, but you."

Kasumi continued to stare, her mouth now closed, realizing how foolish she must've looked with it hanging open. She turned to him, "Well, if you really would like to know, I have never seen a city before in my life. Just villages, and small settlements, but never cities."

It was his turn to look foolish. His mouth dropped, and he laughed lightly. "Well, where did you live if you have not seen a single city?" he asked, seeing that she did not find it funny.

She opened her mouth to answer, but closed it quickly, thinking of what she could tell him. "I used to live in a place with many elves, I did not like it there, so I ran away. Then I lived in the forest with Manwein, and now here I am," she finished, fairly happy with the briefness of her answer.

He nodded. Then looked over at the open gate where Aegnorion signaled for the rest of the group to follow him. As they past through the gate, Haydn and the others bid farewell to the guards, and then followed Aegnorion through the cobblestone streets.

They walked silently, Manwein on one side, Haydn on the other. Both surprised as they watched Kasumi's reactions to everything around them.

She looked at the buildings lining the streets, staring in wonder at the shops with their colorful window displays.

They walked on, and soon the city lost Kasumi's interest, and she walked along, looking straight ahead. The light from inside an inn shone through the street, casting shadows on the buildings' walls. On the sign above the door was carved a silver moon, and in golden letters was the inn's name: The Waning Moon Inn and Bar.

Aegnorion walked toward it and opened the door. They all gathered into the building, and waited as Aegnorion talked to the innkeeper. As the innkeeper went off to run a short errand, Aegnorion turned to them.

"I just have to take care of some business, and I want you to watch them," he said, referring to Kasumi and Manwein as 'them'. He walked across the crowded bar, passing the many tables, until he reached the other side, where they watched him climb the stairs, and disappeared.

She followed Haydn as he and the other elves walked to sit at the bar. She took a seat, between Haydn and Manwein, and looked around.

The room was stuffy, and was thick with the smell of wine, and beer. The elves sitting at the tables were all drunk, and were laughing loudly. She frowned, it was disgusting how they were acting, 'They are elves, not men!' she thought. 'They should know better than to go wild like they are.'

She turned around to face the bar, and looked down the line. Haydn and the others were drinking goblets of wine, and Manwein was enjoying some as well.

"T'would you like a glass of wine as well, dear lady?" the bartender asked her.

Kasumi looked at the bartender. He looked a little bit older than herself, and had rough fuzz growing on his face. "No thank you," she said politely, then looked quickly back at him.

There was something about him that wasn't right. Young elves did not grow fuzz, or beards, but there it was plainly on his face. Not only that but his hair was cut short, and above his ears. Then she saw the final clue, his ears were not pointed at all, they were perfectly curved. Then that would mean he was human, but what would a human be doing here?

She turned around in her seat, and looked around at the bar. He wasn't the only one, there were more men crowding the tables along with the elves, and dwarves as well. She didn't know why it surprised her. She had only expected to see elves here, especially since this was, in fact, a secret hidden city.

She tapped Haydn's shoulder.

He swallowed the wine in his mouth, then looked at her.

"Why are there men, and dwarves here?" she asked, trying not to sound clueless.

Haydn looked around. "Yes, you would think since this was a hidden city that there would only be us elves here, but that is not so. We do business with the men, and dwarves that pass through here. They are how we get most of our outside news, and trades."

She nodded, then let him return to his wine. She asked the bartender for a glass of water, and he looked at her surprised, no one usually ordered water she guessed.

"Is that all miss?" he asked. "We have some wine, if you would like that better. Maybe some ale, perhaps?"

She shook her head. "No thank you sir, water would be fine."

He nodded, and went off to fill her glass. When he returned, she gratefully took the cup, and turned back around to observe her whereabouts. Many of the men were smoking on their long, wooden pipes, while gorging themselves with mugs of beer. The dwarves were consuming large amounts of snacks, and drinking immense amounts of ale.

However, what most disgusted her was the behavior of the elves, they drank so much wine that some of them were screaming wildly, and some went outside to vomit.

She coughed suddenly, the thick smell of alcohol seemed to flood her senses. Her head became light, and she turned around to rest her head on the bar.

Manwein looked at her worriedly. "Are you feeling well?" he asked, as she groaned.

"Well, I wouldn't say I was feeling great. The air in here is stifling, and I cannot believe the way these elves are acting," she said, taking a long sip of water from her glass.

He looked around, "Yes, but you can't really blame them. They have nothing else to do," he took a sip of his wine. "And this wine is really very good."

She laughed with him, but groaned as her head started to get heavy.

"I can hardly breath in here, Manwein."

"You could always request for a room," he suggested. "Aegnorion says we're staying here for tonight."

"What rooms are we to sleep in?" she asked. "Because I certainly can not sleep in the same room as them, it is just not done, and then I would worry if you were to sleep in the same room as them without me."

He smiled. "Thanks for worrying. Though I don't think they'll try anything, then they would have wasted their time dragging me over here."

Kasumi finished her water, then stood up. "I can't stand being in here anymore," she said lightheadedly. "If they ask for me I'll be outside."

"Will they allow you to?"

"I do not care if they should not allow me. I am far to dizzy right now to care," she said. Kasumi grabbed her cloak, and walked outside.

The other elves didn't seem to notice, and they continued what they were doing, each now on his second goblet.

Once outside, Kasumi leaned against the stone wall of the inn, and inhaled deeply. She sighed as the clean, fresh air, rushed through her, and her head stopped spinning. She wrapped her cloak around her, and shivered realizing how cold, and crisp it was out here, compared to the stuffy warmness inside.

There were several other elves outside as well. Some were recovering, just as she was, from the mustiness inside, and some were suffering the consequences of drinking too much wine.

She sank down to the stone floor, and sat on the ground. She looked up at the enchanted sky, with its enchanted moon and stars. She shuddered within her cloak, and struggled to stand up. Once up, she walked to the building beside the inn, with no intention to run away, just to keep herself warm.

She peered into its foggy window. With her cloak sleeve she wiped off an area of the condensation, then gazed inside. It was a clothing shop. She was amazed that the dark elves adopted man's way of living, than continuing the elven tradition of making whatever they needed. She forgot about their way of life, as she walked back to the inn.

Once Kasumi opened the door, the musty air rushed out. She quickly closed the door, and decided to stay out there a little while longer. 'Anyway, if they wanted me to come inside they would have come and gotten me,' she thought, sitting back down on the stone ground. She looked at an elf sitting on the ground as well a couple of yards away from her.

He looked up, and caught her eyes. His eyes were striking, bright-blue, and familiar. His hair fell a little beyond his shoulders, and shone like gold under the moonlight. She couldn't shake the feeling that he looked familiar. 'He looks just like...but no, it couldn't be,' she thought, feeling foolish.

He stood up, and walked over to sit beside her. She smiled in greeting, fighting the thought that he was who she thought he was. Suddenly he let down his hood, and she gasped. It was him...it was Legolas.

She squealed with joy, not caring about the surprised elves around her watching, and reached over to hug him. She closed her eyes, and as she wrapped her arms around his body, they whipped through the air, only to endup hugging herself. She opened her eyes. He was no longer there, and her hands grabbed nothing but air.

She cried into the bitter night air, unconcerned about anyone that might be watching her. She threw herself against the wall, and before she could stop them, hot tears ran down her cheeks. Kasumi clenched her fists, and pounded them on the wall behind her.

'It was not supposed to be like this!' she thought. 'All of this was not supposed to happen!' She finally realized what had happened. As if she was injured, and had gone numb, but then suddenly she began to feel the pain. She wiped her eyes, and stood up, hoping her nose was no longer red. She opened the door of the inn, and walked inside.

She told Haydn that she was going to retire for the night, and the innkeeper led her to her room.

As she entered her room, she sighed. She would not have to sleep in the same room with the others, and Haydn had assured her that Manwein would not be touched. Kasumi threw off her boots, and stripped off her clothing, until none but her undershirt remained. She untied her hair, and slipped into bed.

The mattress felt like a cloud underneath her, and she closed her eyes. Soon after, she forgot about the musty bar underneath her room, and fell asleep.

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Pretty long chapter, huh? yeah, I guess I had a lot of time on my hands (for once), Lol. Well, please review, and give me any suggestions, questions, or comments. I am also working on a website, which will contain pictures I drew to accompiany my fic, so hopefully I'll get it done soon. Bye for now!