Disclaimer: Guess what? I still own nothing!

(((((((((((((o Chapter 6 o))))))))))))))

December 29th, 3018

Winter has come to this land, and what a sight it is! There are no trees here, so when the snow falls, you look out to the horizon and all you see is white oblivion. It is really quite breathtaking, but I'm having regrets also. As warm as my cloak and hood can be, without any trees to take shelter under, it is still very cold here. Not to mention every morning I wake up with a fresh blanket of snow on top of me. I don't believe Gilandor is enjoying the weather either. He's bringing back less food than usual, and it's more difficult to start a fire with all the moisture in the air.

I'm not sure how far I've gone north. Three weeks I've been trekking, and I haven't seen a single house! Not a town nor a man in sight. Where have they all gone? Perhaps I really am lost. I should have known better than to leave home without a map to guide me. But I'd be damned if I turned back now.

Another thing is bothering me. The dream I had the night before I started to head this way—was very disturbing. The part that frightens me the most was my mother's defaced gravestone. And Father's scars. He looked like he'd been beaten. Yet I haven't the slightest idea what it all means. Perhaps I'll find out soon.

Ithildor

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"SCREEE!"

Ithildor groaned, but didn't move.

"SCREEEEE!"

The young prince moaned again and turned over. "What now, Gilandor?" He asked grumpily. He felt the weight of another layer of snow on top of him and sat up, shaking it off.

"SCREEE!" Gilandor screamed again.

Ithildor glanced at the bird in annoyance. "Would you please stop it?" He asked.

The bird hopped about excitedly on it's perch and cocked his head. Ithildor had attached his leash to a branch in a nearby shrub for the night. What a night it had been! There had been a great storm, and the snow came down in blankets. They had had to stop for the entire night because you could hardly see five feet in front of you, even with elven eyes.

"Silly bird." Ithildor scolded. The hawk continued to act usual as the elf wearily stood and went to undo the band from around Gilandor's leg.

"What has gotten into you?" Ithildor continued. "Did you see a rabbit just now or something?"

Ithildor breathed in a whiff of clean, winter air as the now-freed bird hopped onto his should. It was then he discovered what had so excited his pet.

There was the scent of smoke in the air. And lots of it. Ithildor turned immediately and gasped, for the bright sun was shining brilliantly upon the snow covered hills and valleys. The entire land glittered with the radiance of a million diamonds. Ithildor had to shield his eyes from the brightness. Then he saw the source of the smoke.

There was a small dark cluster on the horizon, consisting of many square shapes. Ithildor could barely make them out as buildings, they were so far away. The fire and smoke that was rising from them, however, was easier to spot. Thick plumes of black cloud rose over nearly half the settlement.

Is it…is it an orc attack? Ithildor thought in disbelief. He looked again, and noticed something even more stirring rising up from behind the town. Trees.

Ithildor smiled. He'd had enough of barren, white plains and hills. He would attend the battle and see if he could hew a few orc heads. But battle or not, he was heading towards those trees. He quickly raced about his camp to collect his belongings and place them in his sack. Once he was finished, he called to his pet.

"Come on, Gilandor!" He yelled. "Something exciting at last! No wonder you wanted to wake me!"

It did not take the young elf very long to move closer to the burning town, despite the many inches of snow on the ground. He, like any elf, could race on top of it. His feet barely made impressions in the power as he ran along, with Gilandor flying above and ahead of him. He stopped and crouched behind a snowdrift just beyond the town's borders, and his eyes saw what he'd hoped to see.

A battalion of orcs were laying siege on the town. They raced through the alleys and the cobblestone streets, weapons and torches in hand, setting buildings aflame and terrorizing the townsfolk. Ithildor looked again and saw at the other end of the town there was a large group of men and boys preparing to defend their homes. In fact, the group was so large that it outnumbered the orc battalion. Ithildor did a quick head count, and nodded. Yes, the men greatly outnumbered the orcs. They would not lose this battle against the evil race.

Still…that didn't mean he couldn't have to help.

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"Lady Aderyn! Milady, come away from the window!"

Aderyn turned her head and glanced at the frantic servant in her doorway. She didn't move. "Have all the gates been closed?"

The servant was unprepared for the question, and she put her hand up to her face. "I—I don't know, Milady. But you must—."

"See that it is done then!" Lady Aderyn ordered. "And when it is done, see that all the able men in the house organize a counter attack."

The servant was at a loss for words. Finally she stuttered out: "A counter attack?"

Aderyn turned back to the window and looked to the south. The smoke was rising from the distant part of town, and the flames were drawing closer. So was the enemy. Aderyn frowned deeply.

"My ancestors protected this place for hundreds of years." She said quietly. "I will not be the one to see it fall."

Aderyn gazed back to the doorway. Her servant hadn't budged. "Now go." She said. "And don't worry about me."

Another long pause. At last the servant bowed. "Yes, Milady. I will do as you wish."

Aderyn nodded in satisfaction but didn't speak. Her eyes found their way back to the window, and she looked out upon her town. She saw the fire burning closer and heard the battle-cries and clanking armor coming her way. She gasped in alarm as a dozen black figures raced around the corner, howling and shouting in an evil language. Orcs.

Aderyn watched as the orcs circled around the front gates to the mansion, squabbling and shouting. They each raced at the gates and tried to force them to open, but thankfully this particular gate had already been locked and held fast. With dread growing inside her, Aderyn watched as the orcs, one by one, began to scale the tall fence around the castle. Her fear grew, and so did her anger. As the vile creatures drew closer, she could see the bright glint of blood reflect red off their axes and daggers. The blood of her townspeople. The people she was responsible for were dying, and all because she was unable to protect them.

Suddenly, another figure appeared. This one was clad not black, but in green and gray, and moved swiftly. Aderyn watched in disbelief as a young man with long blonde hair plunged into the heart of the orc group, taking them completely by surprise. She saw the gleam of the edge of a sword, and suddenly the orcs began to fall. Their dark blood began to stain the snow-covered ground, and Aderyn blinked her eyes in disbelief.

What is he doing? She thought. He must be mad, to take on a dozen orcs like that!

Despite her doubts, the young man continued to fight, and the orcs continued to fall. Soon only two of the largest orcs were left, and they young man and his opponents circled each other slowly. Aderyn leaned further out the window to get a better look at the brave soul.

Strange, she thought as she observed him. He's not dressed like anything else I've ever seen…

Aderyn watched in shock as one of the orcs charged the boy. She saw a flash of his blade, and suddenly one of the orc's arms was severed from its body. A torrent of hot blood poured out of the enormous wound. It splashed off the snow onto the strange young man's boots. He jumped back, seemingly horrified by what he'd done.

But Aderyn was once again stunned. She'd never seen any creature move so quickly.

He cannot be human…she told herself. No man can move that quickly. Could he be a…

Suddenly, the injured orc lunged again. It didn't seem to notice that it no longer had two arms. It pulled a dagger from it's belt with it remaining hand and slashed wildly at the strange boy, who dodged each blow. Then, he raised his sword above his head to strike the final blow and kill the monster.

Aderyn saw what the boy managed to overlook. His second opponent, the orc that had stood and saw his comrade get chopped up, suddenly howled a war cry and raced to join the fray.

Aderyn's breath caught in her throat. Just as she thought that the young man was about to get skewered, she saw another flash of metal and heard the crunch of severed bone. When she looked again, her heart cried in triumph.

Somehow, the young man had managed to slice open the throat of the first orc—and then spin around fast enough to behead the second. Both dead bodies fell to the ground with a thud. And Aderyn finally saw the jagged edge of the orc-sword piercing the young man's side. She watched in horror as he shakily reached for the hilt and managed to yank the sword out of his flesh. Unable to stand any longer, he dropped his sword limply to his side and then fell next to the bodies of the orcs he'd just slain.

Aderyn gasped and backed away from the window as quickly as she could. "Rhianna! Rhianna!" She called the name of one of her servants.

After a few moments she heard the sound of Rhianna racing down the hall to the room. Aderyn didn't wait for her to enter the room before she shouted out more orders.

"There is a young man outside of the front gate!" She shouted. "He's injured. Send someone to fetch him immediately!"

The servant peeked her head in and out the door. Upon hearing the orders given to her, she quickly rushed back down the hall as quickly as she had come.

Aderyn resisted her fear and shakily turned her head back towards the window. She saw the fleck of green and gray among a bloody mess of black and steel. The boy was still.

Aderyn had never been so afraid. Not since her parents died.

But that was years ago…She thought, trying to repress the memories of her past. She glanced back upon the unmoving body of the brave young man.

The Gods help him…she prayed silently.

(((((((((((o Personal Thingy o))))))))))))))

Well, the ending was crappy so I'm sorry for that. But at least I managed another chapter! As for me, well…I recently visited my college for the third time and finally found out where the underground computer lab is—open twenty-four hours! Yay! So hopefully after I get over the shock of going to college for the first time, I'll continue to update! For now, I'll try to update as fast as I can. Thanks for all your patience! I love you guys so much!