A/N: And yet another chapter!

Welcome to the City of Silver and Crystal

Dawn soon gripped the day and Annika found herself on a warm feather-stuffed bed. Yawning slightly, she stretched and looked down to find herself in a pale blue night gown. Wondering who had changed her, she placed her feet on the floor, but quickly withdrew them. The floor was icy to the touch. Her feet returned to the duvet's comforts and Annika pushed up the pillows to the headboard and sighed. Her mind returned to the nights events of before and she found herself wondering as to why she was not in the slightest bit ill from the liquor of the night. "You can't get ill from it." A voice came from the doorway.

"Michael?"

"Aye."

"What time is it?"

"An hour after dawn."

"Oh my! I have to go!"

"Aye Miss, and I am coming along."

Annika eyed him curiously. "Are you sure?"

"Miss, I told you I would, and a gnome is loyal to his word."

"Thank you."

"We will depart soon."

"Where are we going?" Michael only winked.

"The Land of the Elves. Don't worry Miss Terich, I won't lead you astray."

"I hope not." Annika mumbled.

"Hurry up. We have a long day before us if you wish to regain your nobility before the Prince's ball."

"I'm coming." Annika stated. She placed her feet on the floor and shivered, Michael laughed lightly. "What do you find amusing Mr. Doriae?"

"Miss Terrich, it would be wise to cover your feet before you walk."

"Why is the floor so cold."

"Our land is over a frozen cave. No one knows what lies inside, but we are told it is of great power."

"Right, well this "great power" has my feet numb." Michael walked over to a bureau and brought out a pair of woolen socks.

"Put these on until you are ready to leave."

"Danke." Annika said while taking the socks gratefully.

"Bitte." The gnome nodded and left the room.

Annika pulled her hair back and tied it with a string to keep the golden wisps out of her eyes. She pulled her boots on as well as her cloak. In no more than twenty minutes, she was ready to depart. She descended the stairs and found Michael Doriae at a table.

"I apologize for my lateness."

"Tis no problem, but we must leave. The journey to the elfin realm is long and dangerous. It is best not to travel by night, and though the land is not far in comparison, it is still quite a walk."

"How long."

"About two days." Annika nodded and headed toward the door, Michael trailing behind. Both walked outside into the light and Annika walked over the stallion. "He is amazing."

"I know. His name is Schutz."

"Guten Morgen Schutz." The horse neighed.

Annika laughed, "I think he likes you."

"Perhaps." Annika led him away from the tree and onto the path. "He is very loyal."

"Hm?"

"You did not tie him up last night."

"Well...no, I had not expected such a warm welcome."

"Your father was a good man."

"So I've heard."

Thus began the journey of Annika, Michael, and Schutz. The group rarely stopped, and kept up a pleasant pace. Conversation filled up the time for the most part, occasionally comforted silence filled the rest. The path finally came to a fork, and Annika did not know which path to take. "Well?" She asked.

"I'm thinking." Michael said impatiently.

"Sorry." Michael only nodded.

"I think...that way." He said pointing to the trail on the left. "Yes that way."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Alright then." Michael led them down the path and Annika turned to look at Schutz. He grunted.

"I agree." She whispered before petting his nose. What started out to be a bounteous path soon grew dark and barren. The trees were bent or broken, and the only sounds that came from the depths were from creatures no one would like to meet. Annika shivered and pulled her cloak closer around her. Michael seemed oblivious to it all. That was, until they were stopped.

A shrill scream left Annika and Michael staring around. Tentatively Annika spoke. "He...hello?" Nothing. "We seem to be lost, it would mean a great deal if you could help us." Annika stated, nothing. She took a few steps forward. "Show yourself please." She called looking around her for any sign of movement. Nothing. "Or don't." She sighed. She began to hit her hand on her fist, a sign that she was growing impatient. Suddenly a grotesque figure stepped out onto the path.

"Looking for me." The dark figure grunted.

"No...not really." Michael said. Apparently his courage was shorter than his height. Annika hit him on the back of his head.

"Actually Sir, we were hoping you could give us some guidance."

"Why would I do that?" The figure asked, obviously confused.

"Well...because...well...it would be nice?"

The figure laughed. "Sure I'll help you. Follow me."

"Or you could just tell us where to go." Michael stated.

"No, the directions are very confusing. I must show you." Annika looked at him curiously.

"I think we'll just find our way out. Thank you though." She said, changing her mind and withdrawing her asking of aide.

"Not so fast my dear. You invaded my home, and now you expect to leave so soon? Did your mother teach you no manners?"

"No, I know my manners. But sir, I only figured it would be out of your way to show us where to go."

"It isn't a problem at well."

"Right."

"Follow me."

"No, really we're good." Michael said. The figure walked closer to them, and Annika and Michael took a step back. The figure was beyond grotesque. He loomed over eight feet tall. His head was barren of hair, and he seemed to be missing an eye. His nose was halfway cut off. His face was marred with deep-purplish scars, and his lips were large and split. When he smiled, Annika gasped. His teeth were sharp, pointed and black. She closed her eyes as she realized what was standing before her, an ogre.

"What do you want with us?" Annika asked.

"My dear, it's quite simple. You scared away my dinner, and what a lovely delicacy she was. So now, you are to feed my appetite."

"That explains the use you have for me, but what of him?" She asked, pointing to Michael.

"Annika please, leave me out of this."

"Annika is it?"

Annika glared at Michael before looking up at the ogre. "Yes."

"Beautiful name for such a beautiful woman. I'm sure your father is proud."

"I wouldn't know, I have not spoken to him in quite sometime."

"Such a shame for you to die before saying goodbye, almost breaks my heart. Almost."

"I didn't realize you had a heart."

"Annika, I would not speak so rudely to the man who holds your life in his hands."

"You're no man."

The ogre laughed. "You are right."

"What is your name?"

"Ogden." Annika nodded. "Come with me Miss Annika."

"I'm content here."

"Really." It was then Ogden began to sing. Annika found herself entranced by the voice. Her blue eyes glazed over, and she walked over to Ogden who picked her up easily.

"Annika no! Annika wake up! Annika...ANNIKA!" Michael cried in frustration but to no avail. Ogden began to laugh, a sound that shook Michael's bones, as he walked farther and farther into the woods. Michael paused, but only momentarily, and followed Ogden. Ogden led them further into the woods and Michael found himself sprinting to keep up with the ogre's long strides.

"Still there little man." The ogre haughtily asked. Michael only grunted in response. "I don't know why. I did give you a means of escape."

"Why?"

"You are of no use to us consumption wise."

"You know, I was always told ogres are incredibly stupid."

"Finding out myths aren't true aren't you, ja?" Michael nodded. "Now the myth of troll's stupidity is entirely true. Can't tell their heads from their asses, that bunch."

"What other myths are false."

"We don't eat babies."

"Good to know."

"We do however, only eat women."

"Why?"

"Sweet taste."

"I'm sure."

"Why am I talking to you?"

"Small talk makes good conversation?"

"I suppose. Ah, we're here."

"We're wh-oh." In front of Ogden, Michael, the sedated Annika, and Schutz stood an enormous cave. Ogden walked forward, but Michael and Schutz stood in place.

"Not growing fear are you now?"

"No...I had fear grown back there." Michael said, pointing behind him.

"Funny man eh?"

"Glad you finally noticed."

"Know what we do with funny men?"

"...laugh at them?"

"No...we kill them. We pull their insides out and choke them with it."

"Of course you do."

"Huh?"

"You pull your prey's intestines out and choke them with it. It's about as bloody as you can get." A deep growl erupted from Ogden's throat.

"You are crossing boundaries in which you ought not to cross."

"Can we get this over with? I dislike pain greatly." Ogden glared at the gnome.

"For a small man, you have a rather large mouth."

"Most gnomes do."

"A gnome eh?"

"Perhaps you aren't as intelligent as I thought." Ogden thoroughly frustrated, threw Annika onto the ground and lunged for Michael. Michael winced, I do not envy you the bruises Miss Annika. However, Michael's mind returned almost instantly to the angered ogre that advanced on him. Not knowing exactly what he was going to do, Michael did the only thing that came to his mind. He ran. The ogre laughed at Michael's miniscule efforts to escape. Michael ran faster, leading the ogre farther and farther away from Annika.

Annika soon awoke from her dream-like trance and looked around her. Groaning at the shooting pain in her muscles, she pushed herself off the ground with her palms. After wiping her hands on her apron she looked around her and gasped when her eyes found the cave. Taking one step back, then another, she pleaded that there was no figure lingering inside. Instinct soon took root and after stumbling a few paces, she ran. Batting at the tree branches that latched themselves into her hair. After ten or so minutes, she realized that neither Michael nor Schutz were with her. She stopped and looked around her, panting. She cupped her hands around her mouth and called out. "Michael...Michael...hello? MICHAEL?!" Nothing. Fearing for him, she turned around and headed in the direction she came.

It was not long after Michael had sprinted that the Ogden had caught up to him. Scooping him up, Ogden threw Michael over his shoulder and returned to his cave. Looking about the entrance, he realized that Annika was gone and he screamed in frustration. Ogden walked into the cave and Michael looked around to find ten or more ogres, and Ogden was the shortest. "Looks like ye brought company Ogden." One asked.

"Aye, I did."

"A gnome."

"A thoroughly annoying one."

"Never did have a taste for gnome."

"I did have a maiden, but she escaped."

"You let a woman escape?" The ogre asked, his voice full of laughter.

"Only because this one caused me trouble."

"You truly are a dimwit."

"Halt den mund Gregor."

The other ogre, Gregor, only shook his head. "Might as well eat him, though he won't fill an appetite such as mine."

"Shut it Gregor, you aren't as grand as you think."

"At least I didn't let a woman escape!" And thus began a very large battle of words and fists between Ogden and Gregor, and soon the other ogres. Michael had been through aside and forgotten in moments.

Outside, Annika had returned to the cave. She subconsciously took a step back when the noise from inside of the cave filtered out into the atmosphere outside. She heard a quite neigh and turned to her left. "Schutz!" The horse dipped its head as if telling her Yes. Annika ran up to Schutz and caressed his nose. "Is he in there?" Schutz dipped his head. Yes. "Was he alive when he was taken inside?" Yes. She took a deep breath. "I suppose I have to go in there?" Schutz just looked at her. "Right, of course." Quietly Annika snuck up to the side of the cave and peered in. Seeing the amount of ogres, she quickly flattened herself against the wall, contemplating leaving altogether she turned to flee. Something however stopped her.

He probably ran to save you.

Perhaps.

You know he did.

I do.

You can't leave him.

I know. Taking another deep breath, Annika quietly trekked her way into the cave, her eyes had problems adjusting to the dim light, but finally she saw the unconscious gnome on the other side of the room. Keeping her eyes up on the quarrelling ogres, she silently walked over to the gnome. Reaching him, she began to shake him. Finding that he would not wake, Annika looked desperately around her for something, anything, to aide in his rescue. There was nothing. Grabbing him by the upper arms, Annika decided to half drag, half carry him to the entrance. It proved to be difficult at first, but soon Annika found herself dragging him and stopping, dragging him and stopping, and doing it a fairly quick pace. All seemed to be going well until Gregor noticed them. "Hey! Is that her?" He said to Ogden. Ogden looked down and grinned that frightful grin.

"Aye. It is." Annika thought quickly. "I didn't think you would return to the cave Miss Annika."

"Really didn't have a choice in the matter Ogden."

"I'm sure you did."

"Not really."

"No matter, we are hungry and you are dinner."

"I don't-" But Annika did not finish her sentence. The room suddenly grew very still and very quiet. Time seemed to be frozen, all except Annika. She looked around curiously, Michael lay at her feet.

"Go." A familiar voice boomed.

"Who-"

"Go, I will explain later."

Priden. The voice belonged to Priden. However, she did not question his motives and quickly followed his advice. Pulling Michael out of the remaining part of the cave, she pulled herself onto Schutz back and laid Michael on his stomach across Schutz in front of her. Schutz galloped away from the cave. They soon reached the forked path and Schutz took the other path without direction. He soon slowed to a pace and they reached a clearing. "Stop." Schutz obeyed. She jumped down and pulled Michael carefully down with her. She placed him down on the ground and looked for something to wake him. She walked back to Schutz and began rifling through her back, she found the map that had been so carelessly forgotten before. She opened the parchment up and found the silver lining that marked their place. Her eyes moved over the paper as she searched for a creek. Her eyes stopped upon the silver letters of Flüsternden Flüßchen. Folding the map up quickly, she walked over to Schutz. "Watch over him." She followed the maps directions and found herself standing in front of a beautiful creek. The water was so blue it matched that of Aquamarine. Pulling a canvas water pouch out, she quickly filled the water pouch but as she was capping it she stilled. A voice echoed through the air.

"This really has to cease." Annika said to herself. "What do you want?" She called out.

"Why are you at my creek." A woman's voice replied.

"My friend is badly injured. He needs water."

"Do you know the price of taking without asking."

"I did not mean to take your water, if I had known it was protected..."

"Silence!" Annika shut her mouth. "I want a payment."

"What sort of payment, I have nothing to give!"

"Why are you in the forest?"

"I'm going to the Land of the Elves."

"Why?"

"I'm told only they can help me regain my nobility."

"So you are wealthy? Then you have much to give."

"I'm afraid I was temporarily stripped of any noble title quite sometime ago."

"What do you mean your title was stripped?"

"After my mother died, my father married Lady Giselle, after he died, she made me a servant in her home."

"You poor thing." The voice said compassionately.

"So you see, I must get to the Land of the Elves."

"Ja my child."

"Can you possibly help my friend?"

"What is his pain?"

"He was thrown to the ground by an ogre, Ogden."

"Why were you with the ogres?" The womanly voice asked.

"Michael er...does not have the best sense of direction."

"Why did you not follow your map?"

"A good question to which I don't have the answer for. Please can you help him? I need to get the elfin land before the prince's ball next week!"

"Prince Florian's ball?"

"Ja."

"Very well." The voice evaporated and in its place appeared a glittering light. A beautiful woman soon appeared. She was dressed quite simply. Her eyes were as dark as the ocean at night, her skin fair, and her hair was the color of raven and hung down her back in ringlets. Her dress was made of silver and blue. Annika took a step back.

"You're an..."

The woman laughed, "Elf."

"Why aren't you in..."

"The Elfin city?"

"Well...yes."

"It is a long story. Long ago my mother fell in love with the guardian of this creek, who was a mere man. Given the law of the city, she was forced to choose between her home and her love. She chose her love."

"How romantic."

"Perhaps. But because of that, I am to be the guardian of the creek...for all eternity."

"Alone."

"Ja."

"How horrible."

"Perhaps, but the land around here is beautiful, and I do receive visitors occasionally. Well, mainly one, but he is wonderful. We have talked long enough, take me to your friend."

"Danke." The elf maiden nodded. Annika led the elf on the path she had traveled and soon to Michael.

"Poor child." The elf maiden bent down and pressed her hand against his forehead. She then bent down and kissed it. After a few moments, Michael opened his eyes.

"You're awake!" Annika exclaimed.

"Barely...but ja." Michael rubbed his head and looked up at the elf maiden.

"Hallo." She whispered. He only nodded. She stood up and walked over to Annika.

"Thank you so much." The elf nodded.

"I will call upon you if I need you."

"I know." Annika stated. "What is your name?"

"Sabine." Annika nodded. "Good bye Annika Terrich." Annika jerked her head up to inquire about Sabine's knowing of her name, but the elf had disappeared. She stared at the space Sabine once took up until Michael cleared his throat. Annika rushed over to him.

"You gave me quite a fright."

"I apologize Miss Annika."

"Please, it's only Annika. We've been through enough for you to lose the 'Miss' title." Michael nodded.

"Are you ready?"

"Don't you think you should rest."

"Nein. I am fine."

"Stubborn."

Michael smiled, "Very much so." Annika helped him up.

"Do you know where we are going?"

"Yes."

"Just in case..." Annika showed him the map.

"Splendid!" He exclaimed.

"Drink." Annika handed him the pouch. Michael took a few sips, then returned the canvas pouch to Annika. The two began to walk with Schutz by their side. Their surroundings began to grow even more gorgeous with time. They paused every often to look at the map to make sure they were on the correct journey. At night, they rested beneath the stars and told of their pasts. Finally they reached a gate. Annika gasped at the sight of it. It was made of silver and stood tall. Behind the gate they noticed the city. The buildings were made out of silver and crystal, possibly explaining the sign that hung on the gate:

Willkommen zu Stadt von Silber und Kristall.

A/N: Please review, I'd love like ten reviews before the next chapter. I hope I didn't let you down with this, I have a few more chapters, then I'll be done with this story. I hope you are enjoying this!

Thank you:

Hdshdsfh: Thank you, I was listening to the song at the time and thought, "Why the heck not." Thank you for keeping up with my story, and I truly hope you are enjoying it.

Malista: My sentiments exactly, I hope this chapter has not let you down!

Everyone else: I'd love to thank you on here for reading here, and I'd love to respond to any of your reviews!