Hello everybody! The promised Sunday chapter. I hope you will enjoy it. Many key things happen. Let me know what you think

"Haldamire"

I heard my name sound nearby but ignored it to keep my eyes closed trying to regain sleep. It did not last long as I felt something shift underneath me and suddenly the warm softness I had been leaning against vanished and I fell back on the floor.

"Ungo" I snapped irritated at the abrupt awakening. He huffed for a moment before cocking his head sideways.

"I tried to wake you by calling your name. It's not my responsibility to make sure you actually get up" He said shaking out his fur out in every direction and then stretching. I glared at him before looking around. It seemed like most of the wolves had left. There were only about 7 or 8 left milling about the spacious area. I did not even see Tar-Mairon around.

"Where did everyone go?" I asked stifling my annoyance with actual curiosity and more then a little concern because I also did not see my little Dagor either.

"To fight" Ungo offered the explanation with simplicity sticking up one of his back legs to scratch his ear rapidly.

"To fight" I repeated mystified. They had been fighting and rolling around with each other in here when we came in earlier. Ungo just grunted at my puzzlement and told me to come see. I paused momentarily as another wolf approached slowly and sniffed Ungo and I. I felt excitement bubble up. I had been waiting so long for another wolf to try and talk to me. "Hello" I murmured weakly hoping for a response. The wolf looked at me for a long moment and then sat back.

"greetings" she finally said. Ungo approached her and stuck his nose into her fur. She growled at him and he pushed her harder with his nose. She gave a snap of her teeth in his direction and he bowled her over. She then snapped three times at him as he stood over her. He let her up and sat down near me. I looked at him and got the distinct impression he was very amused. I looked back at the she-wolf in momentary horror wondering if Ungo just ruined my chances at new friends but she was back to sitting comfortably and seemed amused as well.

"its nice to meet you." I offered into the amused silence between the two wolves.

"how is my baby?" she asked licking a paw and drawing it over her ear.

"Your baby?" I responded looking at Ungo who almost seemed to have rolled his eyes at my question. She stopped her movements and looked at Ungo surprised.

"Dagor" Ungo grunted.

"A good name. I hope he lives up to it" The wolf said sounding pleased.

"Oh, well, He has been good and he's, uh, around here. Somewhere" I said stumbling over my words and hoping Dagor would show up. I also felt slightly guilty that I had taken him from his mother.

"He's going to be tested and fight" Ungo said scrathing himself again. I had a flash of humor that maybe he had an itchy spot, but it was overtaken by horror.

"He's going to what!?" I demanded furiously. Dagor was my fluffy baby. Both Ungo and the she-wolf, whose name I forgot to ask about, stared at me like I was an idiot.

"Perfectly natural" Ungo said beckoning me to follow him with his tail. I bit my lip acquiescing and hoping we be arriving wherever he was being "tested" with all due speed. The she-wolf followed us. She was a very pretty she-wolf too. Almost the exact picture-perfect wolf in terms of proportion and color. She just happened to be very, very large for a wolf compared to the ones that were back home. Of course, her size was really nothing on Ungo and some of the other wolves. I wanted to feel her soft gray fur and see if it was as soft as Dagor's or if that was a baby wolf thing.

I tried to groan or show my frustration at Ungo's almost unbearably slow pace. Why couldn't I just ride him and we could run? I need to see Dagor immediately. How could he possibly be old or strong enough to fight. Oh my goodness, I haven't even taught my poor baby any fighting. What if the other wolves just roll him.

"Stop your panicking Lady Haldamire". The she-wolf said looking at me with a penetrating stare. I looked back at her still biting my lip. How could ask me to stop worrying? Why wasn't she worrying.

"but" I tried to explain.

"no." she said cutting me off "Wolves will be able to sense your panic and fear for Dagor. It will lose him respect. If the one who raises him does not believe in his ability, then no wolf will either" she growled her ears back. I swallowed my trepidation. She was right. I could not show faithlessness in my baby fluff.

I took a deep breath and tried to tamp down on my rapidly beating heart. It must have been enough because she put her ears forward again and nodded to Ungo.

"I can hear them now" Ungo muttered to me. I swallowed forcing myself to remain calm.

"Dagor?" I asked gripping my beautiful robes tightly in one hand.

"not his turn yet" he answered back as the she-wolf snapped "Don't show signs like that either." I unclenched my hand from the fabric and practiced being as calm as Tar-Mairon. Or at least looking like it. I sighed finally being able to hear wolves growling and barking in the distance as well as shouts. It still took what felt like an eternity to get close. It was likely only 10 or so minutes, but everything feels like an eternity when something precious is at stake. We entered a huge room filled with even more wolves then had been in the other place. I tried not to show my shock or gape too obviously. There must be hundreds of wolves in here, maybe thousands. I thought that they were all in the other place and that was all of them. Ungo gave me a look like he was disappointed in my surprise and muttered something about a war which I just frowned at.

I spotted Tar-Mairon shining golden a short distance away. He was leaning back looking very relaxed in a raised dais resembling a throne. Wolves were engaged below with vicious bites and looking very much like they wanted to kill each other. I looked to Ungo for further explanation about why they were fighting, but before I could open my mouth a shiver wracked my body and I turned back to Tar-Mairon. His golden angelic gaze captured mine even from far away and I could almost feel him summoning me to his side. I broke eye contact and gave an awkward smile to Ungo before weaving my way delicately through throngs of wolves. I tried to show no fear, but they seemed aggressive anyway. None of them attacked me on my way, but one did growl as I accidently brushed his fur on my past him.

"Little one" Tar-Mairon said in a tone resembling affection and resting his fingers on my cheek "you have finally awoken". His leaned forward on his throne-like chair and lifted me up. I jerked in surprise for a moment as he sat me down on his lap with an arm around me.

"Fear not. I would never have let your own little one go take his turn without you" he whispered into my ear. I shivered slightly and dulcet tones that somehow showed both warmth and coldness at the same time. I gasped as one of the wolves in front of viciously lunged and took the other by his throat slamming him down hard on the ground. He shook him a bit and the other wolf let out pitiful whine baring his throat as soon as he was released. He limped off as the other wolf howled in victory. I could feel Tar-Mairon smiling behind me in that way of his. He was pleased with this inane violence. He made a gesture and I felt eyes widen as Dagor strutted his way in front of us. Another small wolf entered as well.

"Tar-Mairon" I whispered trying not to let panic take over and remembering the she-wolf's words.

"hush now little one" he said petting my hair "this is traditional for wolves. They must show their strength to be part of the pack. Losing does not necessarily mean they did not show strength." I closed my eyes trying to piece together the meaning of his words through my frustration and forced slow heartbeat. I had to briefly wonder if I would have been able to control my heartbeat like this before I came here. I think that I have much more control over my body and its reactions then I did before coming here. Of course, I have also had my mouth sewn shut so there is much more motivation to remain in control. "Begin" he ordered. I felt my heart drop as Dagor and the other wolf began circling each other making fake moves in to test the others reaction. How does Dagor even know this? I should have asked Ungo to teach him to fight.

I sniffed keeping my heartrate slow and closed my eyes refusing to watch.

"Dagor's mother is quite right in the wolves are also watching you, little one. You may want to keep your eyes open" Tar-Mairon said softly winding his fingers through my hair and letting fall slowly. How the hell did he know what she said to me all the way back there? I stared him completely floored by how he knew what we spoke of, but he just gave my hair a playful tug and looked forward. I sucked in a deep breath as they finally connected. It just as vicious a connection as the adult wolves had early with furious biting and kicking. Dagor was getting rolled right now. The other little wolf just bit his paw hard and knocked him back so far, he almost hit other wolves that were surrounding them.

I let out a gasp my eyes connecting to several orcs behind them as well. I cannot believe that I failed to notice them when I was with Ungo. They are so horrific to look at it that its incredible that I missed seeing them. I scowled angrily remembering Airawende's story when she first landed here. I want them all to die. Painfully. Tar-Mairon leaned forward and rest his chin on my shoulder.

"Such anger is in your heart. Tell my, my small one, what put it there?" he whispered silkily. I looked at him out of the corners of my eye and folded my arms.

"they are terrible!" I exclaimed trying to keep my voice low.

"Are they my dear? So terrible? Didn't you already kill one yourself and feel grief over it? How so quickly that regret has washed away" he was smiling now. I gave him another look and then winced seeing Dagor get brutally kicked off of his opponent.

"Tar-Mairon do something please" I begged feeling panic. Something told me he wasn't going to show he was strong enough for the pack in this fight.

"You should allow nature to take its course with wolves to a degree Haldamire" he said moving his chin off my shoulder and relaxing back again.

"Please, Tar-Mairon, don't let Dagor die. Please, please. I will ask Ungo to teach him to fight. Tar-Mairon please" I pleaded beginning to panic as Dagor let out high-pitched squeal of pain.

"What will you give me in return for this Haldamire?" Tar-Mairon asked conversationally as if we were not discussing life and death.

"Anything you want. Please" I whimpered pushing my head into his chest to reinforce my point.

"That's a dangerous allowance to give Haldamire" Tar-Mairon said catching my eyes with his golden ones. They were lit by fire now dancing with amusement and dark promise.

"I don't care. Please don't let him die" I said dejectedly. Tar-Mairon just made a sound of consideration, but if I know Tar-Mairon then he has already made up his mind and is just leaving me in suspense. I looked down refusing to see my baby fluff get even more injured.

"Watch Haldamire" Tar-Mairon ordered sounding sterner than he had all day. Tufts of fur were flying and most of it was Dagor's. I shook as the other small wolf slipped under him and flipped him over. I looked back at Tar-Mairon who gave me a charming smile and I scowled looking back at Dagor. I choked in near disbelief as Dagor suddenly seemed to catch his balance from getting flipped and lunged for the other wolf. He tried to dodge back, but Dagor caught him around the throat. Why couldn't he freaking do this earlier? Dagor slammed down on the ground reminding me very much of the fight that happened right before them, but he did not let go like the other wolf had. Instead he lifted him up again and slammed him down repeatedly. I tried not to show disbelief, but it was hard. I did not want Dagor to be hurt or fight, but I also had not expected to see him this vicious. Dagor released the other small wolf and put a paw over his windpipe and howled.

"Satisfied now, little one?" Tar-Mairon asked running his hand through my hair again. I whipped around to stare at him. Did he do that? How could he do that? My disbelief seemed to amuse him for he whispered things about many abilities.

"Will you teach me?" I finally asked feeling relieved to see Ungo approach Dagor and see them walk off together.

"Teach you what?" Tar-Mairon asked pleasantly even though he knew perfectly well what I was asking.

"magic" I said fidgeting "like how you mentioned before".

"you want to learn magic now, do you? Now that you see how it can help you" Tar-Mairon's tone was colder then normal, but I didn't focus on it. If Tar-Mairon taught me magic, then I could defend myself and Dagor. No one would ever know and maybe one day we could both escape this place. Or maybe Tar-Mairon would take us with him somewhere else.

"Haldamire, Haldamire, Haldamire" Tar-Mairon purred softly. I looked at him in faint confusion and then gasped when I felt a hand close around my throat. I tried to swallow but couldn't. Choked breaths left me in horrid gasps as what felt like still closed even tighter. I tried to gasp out his name, but my mouth couldn't form words.

"Don't you remember what I said about swearing yourself to me to learn magic. Do you think me a fool who cannot grasp your selfish whims to learn magic? You are not ready until you are completely mine." He said as my arms came up automatically to try and pull his hand off me. "little one, you have made a very foolish mistake to believe you can deceive me". Black spots swam in my vision as my breathing lessened. I horribly choked whimper escaped me as my attempts to pull him off my throat become feeble. He released me suddenly and I pitched forward gasping for breath with blackness still encroaching my vision. He caught my before I could fall off his lap onto the floor and pulled me back into resting against him. My breathing was laborious, and my thoughts all muddled. I let out a terrified little whimper hoping he would not sew my mouth closed again.

"Watch Haldamire" Tar-Mairon ordered "the wolves have only just begun"