Maria sat close to her mother in the cramped dungeon quarters. She was a pretty girl, with long red hair and a shimmer of freckles. She was fourteen years old, nearly fifteen. Practically a woman, but in some respects, a girl.

The ogres had come when she was in the healing room stripping the beds. The ogres had come in so fast; Maria had been too stunned to struggle. But her friend Ariel hadn't, and Maria had seen her neck snapped with ease. Within moments, Maria and her mother had been taken to the dungeon and put in the cell. It was further away from the other cells, as she was one of the last few to be caught. All cells were far apart though; to prevent communication, Maria's mother assumed.

In a cell that was meant for eight people, there was sixteen. Everyone had been forced to stand for the past few hours. Some had urinated on the floor, and combined with the stench of the sweaty bodies, Maria felt nauseated. She coughed, and suddenly the servants in front of her fell silent. She strained her neck to see what had happened, and instantly shrank back.

It was the creatures. The ogres. Those horrible things that had put their hands on her and shoved her into the cell. Maria sucked in her breath and kept her eyes on the floor. No one wanted to stand out in the crowd.

The rasping voices said something in Ogrese, and Maria shivered. Just the thought of the glistening fangs made her shudder. Already they had taken out some of the prisoners, including Meg the kitchen maid. None of them had returned, and she had a eerie suspicion about their fate.

The door opened, and the people stepped back. The sound of a body hitting the hard floor was heard, and the door slammed shut once more.

Then the voice came. The voice that would give her nightmares in the years to come, and not her alone. Maria flinched as it echoed off the walls.

" Anyone help him, and my lord will see you gutted himself. Understood," the rough, rasping voice asked lowly.

Several people nodded slightly. The ogre seemed to be satisfied, and it slammed the door so hard the hinges rattled. Maria unfortunately knew that they did not rattle because of weakness, but because of the monster's unbelievable strength.

Maria listened, hope rising in her as always. Her heart sank once more as the lock clicked. These creatures weren't stupid; they weren't going to forget to lock a door. Now there was a chance that they could open the lock themselves, but no one dared; to attempt would surely mean suicide.

Several minutes passed, and no one moved an inch. Curiosity got the best of her, and Maria strained her neck to see who it was.

The man seemed so familiar, and yet Maria could not place where she had seen him before. His pants and boots, now dirty and tattered, were those of a nobleman.

Maria understood why no one was inching forward then. He was nobility; they didn't go out of their way to help the servants, and the only reasons that servants went out of their way to help the nobility was for the money.

An uncomfortable feeling rose in her as she continued to scan him. It was hard to be a healer and watch someone go unattended, even if Maria herself only healed servants. The man was good looking, and his golden hair still shone in the dim light, despite it's sully condition. His face was cut and bruised, but that appeared to be the only injuries on him. But then Maria's eyes traveled down to his back. It was bare as she already knew, but Maria still drew in a gasp of breath.

His back was completely destroyed from the work of a whip. Tattered skin hung in strips, and his entire backside was smeared with blood. There was a certain commanding presence about him, and Maria once again wondered who he was.

He's probably dead, she told herself silently. They threw him in here to scare us.

Then, almost as if to prove her wrong, the man shifted and groaned.

Oh, so now he decides to be alive. That was just her luck; Maria was going to have to withstand the drive in her spirit that told her to help the man.

His eyelids fluttered, then suddenly snapped open. He exhaled deeply and looked around bewildered. " Where in god's name am I?"

No one seemed to offer an answer, and that seemed to unnerve the man.

" What's happened? Why are we in here?," he asked again, his voice rising. The man rolled over onto his back, then let out a cry of pain. He immediately laid back down on his back, breathing hard.

Maria studied his back, and knew that this man had to be suffering from severe blood loss. If he lived, these scars would never fade.

The man closed his eyes for a moment, then reopened them. " Someone....someone help me. Do any of you know who I am," the man asked slowly. Maria stared dumbly at him, just like the rest of the servants did.

Surprisingly, her mother spoke up. Her voice was quiet, but got it's point through.

" You are the Prince Robert of Kellia. But I cannot say it matters much down here. The ogre's shall gut us, they said so themselves. Already they have killed some of us. We are all under their rule now; there is nothing that can change that. Obedience is our only hope of survival." her mother said gravely.

Voices rose suddenly, for the first time since the ogres had thrown the man in the cell. Maria gaped at her mother, then the Prince. He was the prince! What was he doing in here? Were they really under the ogre's rule now?

" Do you believe that? It is not a group of rogue ogres that is behind this! It is Count Frederick Di Fallon! He's made an alliance with the ogres, you must see that!," the Prince said angrily, the passion equal in his voice. It was louder then her mother's, but still weak. He closed his eyes once more.

The was a chuckle of nervous, scared laughter. Maria knew that the servants were only frightened, but overwhelming pity for them, herself, and the Prince swept over her. How could they laugh at a time like this?

The laughter faded into still silence. Maria glanced at all of the faces, and suddenly felt angry. Were they submitting to the ogres? We're they going to let a man die?

Hardly knowing what she was doing, Maria stepped forward. " I am a healer, the youngest in the palace, milord. I am relatively experienced, but I do not know if I can help you with no medical supplies."

" Maria! Don't, you don't understand the consequences! Maria," her mother cried. Maria ignored her.

The man's startling blue gray eyes looked at her for the first time.

" How old are you, lass?"

" Fourteen, milord."

He studied her closely, as if he were looking for something. He abruptly stopped, and shut his eyes once more.

" Please call me Robert," he said quietly, with an earnestness that touched Maria's heart.

Her mother abruptly stepped forward and yanked her back. " Maria! Do you not understand what will happen to you? They will kill you, torture you to death! You know that, you foolish girl! You cannot be selfish and leave me and your sisters by ourselves! He is a spoiled prince, and if you could switch roles he would sooner let you die then sully his hands with us!," her mother hissed, the hysteria rising in her voice.

Terror ran like wild through her body, but she held her ground. The rest of the servants watched them in silence, too scared to interfere.

" He will bleed to death, Mama."

Before her mother could retort a number of sensible replies, the Prince spoke.

" Your mother is right. Interfering with me will cause you a death in a far worse way. Just....leave me be," the prince said quietly.

But Maria was too involved now. She bent down next to him, and asked what was no doubt on everyone's mind.

" What would happen if I was to help you?"

The Prince took a deep breath. " I would explain more in depth about why this is the work of the Count Di Fallon, and why the ogres have nothing to gain. And then, I would try to get us out of nightmare."

" Explain about the Count again, if you please."

The Prince met the eye of every single servant in the cell. " What do ogres have to gain from this? Their culture and way of life would never cause them to undergo an insane plot like storming the castle. The ogres do not sit and think things out like this; this would take a human, one that was well liked and intelligent and high nobility. One who was sure that he could hold on to the throne once he attempted to usurp it. And who better then the second most powerful man in Kyrria, the man who knows the monarchs the best?"

" But you attempted to murder the Prince of Kyrria! Why should we believe your lies!," an angry voice shot out.

The reply from the Prince was swift. " Because if I really wanted to kill my lifelong friend for a throne I do not want and had employed the ogres, what would I be doing sitting in a cell half dead?"

It seemed as if everything finally clicked. More voices stirred up, and Maria took the opportunity to look at the Prince's wounds.

But the Prince got a few more words out.

" This a strong gate, but how strong is it? There are sixteen of us, all with different skills. There is this one weak gate. Surely we can do something?"

Then, it seemed as if everyone was talking at once. A few men Maria knew began examining the gate, and everyone started calling out suggestions. Maria focused her attention on the unofficial leader.

" Did they rub salt into them?," she asked as she gingerly touched his back. The Prince flinched, and nodded.

Maria ripped her skirt quickly, and dipped in the small bowl of water the ogres had surprisingly given them. " I have a small bit of healing balm that I carry in my pocket. I'll make some bandages out of my skirt, and if you sleep, you'll be fine."

" No! I have to get back to Esperanza, god knows what trouble she's been getting into! And is Anniya alright, how could I be so stupid to let her out of my sight? And my brother.....is my brother.......," the Prince spoke softly, his voice drifting off.

Everyone else was talking excitedly to hear the Prince's almost inaudible words. Perhaps Maria was the only one whose ear caught the key phrase.

His brother? The Prince of Kellia was the sole and only heir to the Kellian throne; everyone knew that. Was he getting delirious?

" My lord, you don't have a brother," Maria said as gently as she could.

" No....West, he's older.....he should take the throne you know.....he was always better at understanding people.....more fair.....maybe he is a thief, but he's got honor...more honor then I have....ever have...........thinks I hate him.......he would figure how to get out of this hell....call me Robert.....wish....I could do more.............actually help you....," the Prince drifted off, and Maria felt more confused then ever.

Brother? Was it even possible, what this man was saying? Maria pushed the thought out of her mind and dipped the material in water once more.

An older man kneeled down next to Maria, startling her. " my lord, how can you say you haven't helped us?"

The Prince let out a weak laugh, the only indication he had heard what the man had said. His eyes remained closed. " I'm being a burden. I'm risking people's lives. I can't help, I haven't done anything."

The old man shook his head. " If this lassie is as good of a healer as she appears to be, you should be strong enough within the hour. But that isn't what you've broughten, lad. Look at these people; their meek like behavior has been chased away in the face of bravery! You've broughten the truth to the people, and that's what will rally us all in the end."

The man turned back to the rest of the servants, but then stopped for a moment. " You know lad, perhaps you will make a good King."

A brief smile crossed the Prince's face, and he exhaled just as Sean the carpenter broke the lock to the door.

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

Anniya held her ground, and took out her sword. All the time spent with her teacher came flying back to her.

" You put one hand on me, and I will put this sword on you. It would be refreshing to see some justice," Anniya told the ogre steadily, trying to keep her anger under control. This was the creature that had killed her mother.

The ogre paused for the slightest moment. Anniya kept her eyes on him. TSSal studied her, assessing what he was dealing with. Anniya gritted her teeth, and kept her eyes on him.

Abruptly, he swung his massive fist at her. Anniya, for once, was glad of her petite and lithe form as she ducked.

The ogre frowned, then with frightening agility, swooped down for her neck. Anniya ducked to the left, and thrust out her sword. It pierced TSSal's chest, and the creature howled in pain. It ripped the sword out of his sheath, and Anniya at last had an equal opponent. Well, sort of.

She circled the ogre, ready to block his strike. This would truly be a test; while Anniya might of had more skill, TSSal would have massive strength on his side.

Anniya swung the sword through the air, and TSSal's struck it back. She stumbled backwards a bit, but quickly blocked as she regained her ground. The ogre lunged again, and Anniya heard the sweet breeze of the sword whizzing past her left ear.

Offense was the best defense, but Anniya couldn't administrate it against the ogre. His swings were wild and crooked, but they were unbelievably strong. Anniya could barely keep him from knocking her down.

She parried to the left, then blocked another swing. The Ogre's sword came on her again, and cut her hand. This time the ogre's sword forced her downwards. Anniya felt panic coming on her.

TSSal gave a raspy laugh, and glared down at her. " And now I have beaten you. There is no contest that will allow you to come out on top."

" Except for a contest of wits," Anniya muttered under her breath.

The ogre laughed once again. The laugh was easy and laid back, and that frightened Anniya more then any of his actions, but her face remained straight.

" Why weren't you gutted with the rest of them," she demanded, trying to buy time.

TSSal ignored her question and pressed down harder. Anniya tossed out another question, frantically trying to stall.

" For ever the slightest moment, did you have doubts about killing my mother?"

Surprisingly, the ogre paused. His strength didn't waver, but his harsh, dry voice spoke.

" It was the lady Eirene and her child I was to fetch. I was to look for the necklace and the girl, and kill the rest. When I failed, I disgraced my lord. My tribesmen and my brother should not of been gutted; the fault was mine alone, and is a curse I live with every day. My lord spared my life for the fact I am chief. My life was kept, but my code of honor was not."

The least to say, Anniya was fascinated with those words. Oh she hated him, for what he had done to her family and no doubt hundreds of others. But for the first time, she saw it from the ogre's perspective. The unwavering devotion that had led to his own inner pain. Perhaps if it had not been her life, Anniya would of felt pity on the ogre.

" If you hadn't killed my mother, you wouldn't have to deal with no more honor! How can you live with it the first place, killing so many innocent people?," Anniya hissed angrily.

TSSal's smiled, revealing his incisors. " Just like your mother. At least I will please my lord now" With those final words, TSSal lunged at her throat.

To this day, Anniya couldn't exactly recall where the strength came from. Maybe it was her magic; maybe it was from inner last resort. Or maybe, it was the memory and spirit of Anniya's parents with the sheer stubbornness not to let the Count win.

Whatever it was, Anniya slammed her sword upward against the ogre's. It was an unbelievably strong and unexpected movement, and naturally TSSal backed up with surprise. Anniya disarmed him in a flash, and picked up his sword with her hand, twirling it around. The twist of the steel and the sword's whistling sound made her feel alive again, and she remembered how it felt out on the practice field so long ago.

It also made something jump out of her pocket. It landed on the floor loudly, and TSSal snatched it up quickly, surprisingly fast for such a big creature.

Anniya didn't bother to see what it was, and held the sword at the ogre's chest, directly at his heart.

Then she saw West's ring.

A smirk crossed the creature's face. " Well, well. This is a lovely trinket. I wonder where the river would carry it. I am sorrowful that I have got to this point of holding this in ransom; if your ears would work on our persuasiveness, you would of been dead long ago."

His gigantic hand dangled above the window.

Anniya hesitated, and she hated herself for it. It was a thing, for god's sake. The only memory of West she would ever have, but still!

Anniya stared at the beautiful ring for a moment, and willed her hand to thrust the sword into the ogre. He had ripped her heart open, destroyed her life; now was her big chance to get him back. She hated him, she had no doubt of that. He had been about to kill her, and he would have no qualms or regrets about it. TSSal would probably forget who Anniya was within the day. This was survival; West did it all the time.

Had done it.

But for some reason, Anniya couldn't.

She took a step back, and glanced at the ring once again. The ogre grinned, and Anniya realized that she had made a gigantic mistake. A second of time was enough for her to lose the upper hand. TSSal tossed the ring out the window, and grabbed her arm.

" That was foolish, but stupidity is a common trait among humans. Elves. Whatever sniveling race you are of," TSSal said smoothly, and tossed her sword aside.

Anniya wanted to hit herself; like the ogre said she was, she was stupid. If she hadn't looked at the ring, she would of seen the ogre.

The ogre twisted her arm back violently, and Anniya let out a cry of pain.

" No need to make a fuss; it'll be over in a moment........," the ogre said smiling, and Anniya saw the sharp, carnivorous teeth coming toward her.

In an act of sheer desperation, Anniya thrust her free hand at the ogre to shield herself. There was no escaping this time.

No one expected what came next.

An emerald light shot out of Anniya's finger tips, and threw the at least one ton ogre onto the opposite wall. Green electricity kept him suspended there, and within moments, he began to turn into stone. Anniya stared at him, horrified. Into stone? What in god's name......?

The ogre stared at her with a blank expression on it's face. " We will meet again," it rasped softly, and then stone covered his face.

The green electricity stopped, and the giant stone dropped to the ground. Surprisingly, it didn't shatter.

Anniya stared at the stone for a moment, then at her own hands. They were wet and sticky with blood. She bit her lip, and glanced at TSSal once again as she stood up.

" I'm wasn't going to kill you. I know you probably don't care what my reasons are, and I know that you wouldn't of given a second thought to snapping my neck. But you know what? I'm not like you, or any of your disgusting race. Because no matter how despicable you are, you were live, walking being. I don't think my mother needs me to avenge her death. Her death itself already did the worst it could do," Anniya told the stone passionately.

Her voice shook a bit, but underneath it was strong. She studied the expression on the stone's face, and shivered. It's large, bug like black eyes didn't looked frightened, or distressed. They looked calm, and amused. But it was dead, her magic had come back in time. It couldn't hurt her or anyone else anymore.

But Anniya didn't forget the creature's chilling last words: We will meet again.

Anniya shivered once more, and walked over to the window.

The city was still ablaze, and the it's fiery reflection was on the River Lucarno. The waters lapped against the side of the castle. Anger suddenly seized her: for everything that was happening: for the Count coming into her life, for her parent's death, for West's death, just for everything. Why had she said something? He would of been alive right now. The Count and the ogre would be dead, and Kyrria would still be ruled by good, strong monarchs. West would be right next to her and he would make her laugh, and everything would be alright again.

Anniya leaned out further, and stared into the murky waters. She kept hoping that her eye would catch a golden glimmer, but her efforts were in vain.

She shook her head, and turned away from the water. So the ring was gone. There was nothing she could do about that now. There was only one battle left, the final one.

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





Author's note: It's not over yet!!! Please Review! I think I only have one-two chapters left, including the epilogue.