Chapter 1

The pounding of drums increase in volume as the two shadowed figures tried to make it to safety.

"Quiena, run for the border. Run and run hard!" Thranduil said as he gave a small push to his wife. He himself stopped running and turned to face the small orc army that was on his heels. Quiena stopped for a moment looking at her husband, who stood tall and proud, then fearing for her safety and babe's that she carried in her arms, she ran to the border.

She got there and ran to find the guards. "Help! The King and Mirkwood are under attack!" Suddenly, as if by magic, the elven guards appeared as if they were made out of thin air.

The King, however, was faring quite nicely on his own. He didn't dare glance back, for fear that he might get injured. But his ears picked up the sound of arrows whizzing through the darkness. His back-up had arrived. Just like Quiena to send the army out to help him. Grateful for the quick response, he took one last stab at an orc, who had already sliced his arm open, and turned to run to the border. He pushed himself, although he was quite tired, to make it just a bit more. Finally, he saw the gates open and caught site of the archers that lined the battlement tops.

Upon arriving into the city, he looked immediately for his wife and their small son, though he didn't have to look far. Quiena rushed forwards and threw herself and the young babe into his battle-weary arms. Thankful that they had gotten to safety, he hugged them back.

**********1900 years later**********

"Catia! Watch out!" a voice cried out as the young girl nearly took the ear off of her instructor.

"What did I do wrong this time, Diamoita?" Catia asked as she walked forwards.

"You had your head in the clouds again! Honestly, when it comes time for you to ready for battle, your going to take out more of your own people than you will of the enemy!" Diamoita said, picking up the fallen arrow that was at his feet.

"Sorry." Catia mumbled and flung her silvery hair over her shoulder.

She gave him a small smile, picked up her bow, and notched an arrow. Trying to focus on the small target, she let the arrow go. The arrow sliced through the air, only to drop five feet away from the target.

"Sometimes I wonder why you wanted to join the elven army, ÔDiomoita said, shaking his head.

Catia knew what he was talking about. She had been courted by many men, all of them wanting her beautiful hand in marriage. But sadly, she turned them all down. She also knew that if she had married, she would already be carrying one of the lucky man's child.

"I joined so I could bring honor to my family. "Catia said, giving her instructor the same response that she always gave him.

"Ah yesÉhonor by slaying your side and not the enemy. Well that is enough for today, I am quite weary." He stood and walked towards Catia.

"I believe I'm going to stay here, until I get one of the targets." Diamoita shrugged and headed off.

"I'll tell your family to expect you back in a few years." This just earned an arrow that fell weakly ten feet from him. He gave her a grin and wandered towards Catia's house.

Catia gave another exasperating sigh as the arrow thunked into the ground. She decided to give it one last try. Picking up her arrow, she notched it and let it fly. It flew through the arid andÉlanded into the wooden leg under the target.

"Well, that's as close asÉ" she began to say when a light pounding sounded far off. She knew to whom those drums belonged to. She quickly picked up the rest of her arrows and stopped at the one that had lodged itself into the wood. Giving it two good tugs, it came free and she stuffed it back into her arrow sheath. Then began picking her way home through the woods.

When her house came into sight, something didn't seem right. First off, the cottage was completely dark, which was very unusual. And second, there was no smoke billowing out from the chimney.

Fear gripped her stomach and twisted it into tiny knots. She swallowed the fear and pushed on. As she crept closer, something like evil billowed in waves off of the silent cottage.

She finally reached the house and pushed open the door. The sun had already set, and there was no moonlight to cast upon the dark house.

She stumbled in, and shuffled towards the dinner table. When she reached it, she felt for the candle that usually sat upon the table. After letting the light spill into the room, she dearly wished that she hadn't lit it. The terror and fear that had been built up was released in a single scream.