When Shift came to, the first thing he thought of was the throbbing pain in the back of his head. Then he realized where he was. He looked around the inn room wildly, and found that he was in the corner, bound and gagged. Raen was still on the floor, but her bandage had been removed, and she had several more bruises than when Saiven and Menel entered the room.
"Well look who's awake..." Saiven sneered. "Took you long enough, you were out for quite a while. We though maybe we'd killed you. 'Tis a shame we didn't."
"Now now, Saiven, what would we do with a dead Mirkwood Assassin?" Menel said, seeming to enjoy having hostages a little too much. The remaining human male that carried the shield into the room moved to Shift and without a word (but a kick to the ribs) removed his gag.
"I suppose you're right, m'lady. Still though, after all they've done to us..." Saiven also seemed to be enjoying having the upper hand. He walked over to Raen and drew his blade. "Well now, I don't think you've been introduced to my sword, Wrath." he said, trailing his long blade very lightly up Raen's stomach and up to her throat, pressing in slightly. Shift squinted to try to see Raen, and it appeared that she was unconcious, but bound as well. He nodded to the human male, and the hulking man grabbed Shift and dragged him over to Raen. In the meantime, Saiven placed his blade at Raen's heart and held it loosely. At that exact moment Raen awoke, but her injuries prevented her from struggling.
"Let her go, do what you will to me but leave her out of this!" Shift spat as the man drug him and position him over Raen. At that moment, it occured to him what Saiven's plan was. He would be positioned over Saiven's sword, and dropped. His weight would drive the blade into Raen's heart, killing her.
"Oh ho, looks like someone has figured out my plan. 'Tis a shame. Too predictable? Oh by the way, for every word you say that I don't like, I'm going to have you lowered down a little more, until you push my blade into her heart for me. You see, I'm tired, and do not believe I would have the strength to do such a thing at the moment-"
"Shut the hell up! Shut up or I will rip out your throat and feed it to my dogs!" Shift yelled as best he could through gritted teeth. Saiven nodded and the human pushed Shift down a bit, causing the blade to press into Raen's chest. She closed her eyes tight and tried her best not to sob, for that would cause her chest to rise, and the blade to go deeper. At that point, a tear rolled down Shift's cheek. He closes his eyes, trying to hide his emotion. Suddenly he heard a single person clapping somewhere. Menel stepped out of the shadows in a dark corner of the room.
"Bravo, Saiven. I will take it from here." She said, stepping forward. Shift moved his head to the side and spat at Menel's feet. Saiven and Menel both sighed at the same time, but Saiven was the first to retaliate.
"Drop him." Saiven commanded, and the human made sure Shift was still bound securely and still in a good position to push the blade, and let him go, and stepped back as he fell.
(I know, I'm an evil person for giving a cliffhanger like this one, but it won't be long until I finish the next chapter!)