i had fun writing this chapter i have never done sword fighting scenes before and struggled hopefully it sounds alright to everyone reading it

again i apreciate any and all feed back

rated M for implied content and violence

"Maker keep us, maker protect us. Maker keep, us maker protect us," Nola prayed repeatedly.

"Shut up!" Shianni snapped at her, "You're driving me crazy."

"What the…?"I thought. "Uhhh," I moaned opening my eyes, for a moment I panicked unable to remember what happened. I blinked slowly, Shianni and Valora's faces coming into focus. Everything clicked into place and the memories came flooding back. My jaw throbbed and I rubbed it gently. I scowled, "that's it I'm done playing nice girl next human who touches me is going to get a foot in the neither regions."

Shianni exhaled a breath laughing abruptly, "Well it's nice to know u have some fight in you."

"Mother always said to fight first with kindness and when that fails kick a little butt." I blushed at my own words, "Well her words were much dirtier than what I am comfortable saying but you understand what I mean." I looked around at my surroundings, "where are we?"

Valora checked my face carefully as she answered, "somewhere in the palace. They locked us in here to wait until that bastard is 'ready' for us." She grimaced in revulsion.

My stomach rolled with nausea. I was going to do my best to make sure everyone survived this ordeal with as few scars as possible. However, I was unsure if I would be able to let anyone touch me unwillingly without fighting back, especially someone like Vaughan. "No!"I yelled at myself mentally. "I would do whatever was necessary to protect these women."

"Is there any way out of here?" I asked getting to my feet.

Shianni hugged herself tightly, "the door is locked solid and we are unarmed." I checked the door over carefully. "I know you could pick it cousin with the right tools and enough time but I doubt we have either." She was right but I would not be defeated easily, my eyes searching the room for an escape.

Brianna one of the bridesmaids spoke for the first time her medium length dark brown hair hanging limply in her dark tanned face. "Look we do what they want, go home and try to forget this whole thing ever happened."

"She's right. It'll be worse if we resist," Valora agreed sadly.

Shianni's eyes bulged from her head, "you idiots! It will be worse if we don't fight."

I put my hands up calming the women down, "for now go along with things, I will find away to get us out of here."

Brianna gasped in fear, "someone's coming." Backing away from the door we huddled in the corner of the room except Nola who continued to pray in the middle of the room as the door swung open.

"Hello wenches," the guard captain greeted. "We're your escorts to Lord Vaughan's party."

"You will not touch me," Nola screamed rising and backing away from the guards. The rest of the women crowded around me in terror. I heard the sound of his sword hitting flesh a second before the warm splash of blood sprayed across my face and dress.

I looked down at Nola's lifeless form in horror hot tears trickling down my cheeks.

"You killed her," Brianna cried aloud while the other women paled in shock.

"I suppose that's what happens when you try teaching whores some respect." He sneered, "Now you two grab the little flower in the corner." He pointed at Brianna and two guards escorted her from the room. "Horace and I will take the homely bride and the drunk."

"You two Randal and Otis," he pointed to a guard with a thick mustache and another with a long broken nose. "Bind the last one. Lord Vaughan likes her look and wants her for himself for last." The captain and Horace grabbed Valora and Shianni. He gripped Shianni's arm tightly dragging her kicking and screaming from the room. Valora did not fight but gave me a sad pleading look, as she was lead from the room.

Randal leered at me his mustache twitching, "come here."

"I'm fine over here thank you." I said politely desperately buying myself time to get my hands on their weapons.

"Vaughan wanted her bound till he was ready for her, but I say we have a little fun with her first," Otis suggested lumbering towards me.

"NO!"I screamed silently. "I am untouched," I blurted trying to discourage their train of thought. "Vaughan will know you didn't follow his orders."

"Don't worry we'll be perfect gentlemen," Randal laughed lunging for me. I sidestepped his large form and outstretched hands. However, I miscalculated my footing and tripped over Nola's arm falling into Otis's arms. His fingers wrapped tightly around my wrists and twisted my arms behind my back.

"Be a good little wench," he murmured in my ear, his whiskey soaked breath caressing my face. "You don't want to end up like your friend here." He pulled me tightly against him twisting my arms painfully. I clenched my teeth together to keep from crying out.

"Please don't hurt me," I pleaded. "I'm sure we can make a deal of some kind."

"There is only one deal I want sweetie," Randal said rubbing his crotch advancing toward me.

"Uh, Hello?" Soris called from the doorway both guards turned, their attention on the intruder.

"What have we here?" Otis taunted throwing me to the ground behind him, "an elf with a stolen sword." Randal and he moved to intercept Soris. I picked myself up on the ground crouching low and nodded to Soris. He bent over and slid the sword across the ground between the two guards. It landed in my open palm.

My heart fluttered in anticipation. Every day I walked a careful path, always saying the proper things of doing what was expected of me. Mother had taught me swordplay and I enjoyed the organized chaos of the fight. It was the only thing I did that displeased father. Today I was grateful for that training. I bared my teeth at the guards in fury. Swinging the weapon from side to side, across the room Soris pulled a bow from his back.

"Oh sod," cursed Otis reaching for his blade. My hand lashed out before he could pull his weapon cutting him across the neck. He fell backwards as the light faded out of his eyes. Randal screamed in anger swiping his blade at me, I stepped backwards narrowly dodging the blade. With a flick of my wrist I struck his sword with mine pinning it to the ground and punched him in the face with my left fist. I could hear Soris' bow twang and then the sound of an arrow sinking into flesh. Randal dropped his weapon clutching the arrow now protruding for him neck falling to his knees.

"Mercy," he begged and I stayed my blade.

"Where were the other women taken?" I demanded. Color faded from his face and he fell forward dead a second arrow protruding from the back of his neck.

"Soris," I scowled

"What?" he asked. "The bastard asked for mercy cousin. Death was the only mercy to grant him."

"Yes but now I have no idea where the others are," I sighed exasperated.

"Oh, sorry Fìera," he said sheepishly. "They didn't… do anything to you did they?"

"No, you got here before…" I trailed off swallowing roughly. "Just shaken, they killed Nola and I have never taken a life before."

He nodded, "I understand that. Are you going to be alright?"

"Yes," I said holding back the need to vomit. "The sooner we leave this place the better I will be. By the way where did you get the sword?"

"That Grey Warden Duncan gave Nelaros and me his sword and bow, but it's all we had."

"Why didn't Duncan come?" I asked.

"Duncan said he couldn't interfere, something about the Grey Wardens being neutral."

"Did you guys have to fight your way in?" I wondered.

"No we actually snuck in using the servants' entrance. Although Nelaros took down a guard at the door, He's a savage fighter," Soris praised impressed. I smiled pleased, maybe he wouldn't mind my martial training after all.

"He's here with you?" I asked my heart fluttering nervously.

"Yes, he's the reason we are here. He lost it on those who wanted to hope for the best. I… didn't know what to," He admitted.

"You came in the end though that what matters," I commended.

He smiled bashfully, "Anyway Nelaros is guarding the end of the hall. We should meet up with him and figure out what to do from there." I nodded in agreement.

Kneeling next to the guards bodies I searched them over for weapons and healing aids. I pulled set of daggers from Otis' body keeping one for myself and handing the other to Soris. He took a mace from Randal slinging the bow over his back. Both guards had a couple healing potions and several bronze bits I pocketed the potions and gave the bronze bits to Soris.

Once we had acquired all we could from them I crouched over Nola's body taking the necklace around her neck, Soris looked at me funny. "For her parents," I explained. I stood wishing I had a scabbard for my weapons. Shrugging I crossed to the door, swinging it open we found ourselves in the palace kitchen. The door hit the wall loudly and the cook turned around startled.

"What is this?" he yelled, "you're not one of me. Wait… is that blood."

I quickly looked down at my dress blood coated the front of it. My beautiful wedding dress was ruined.

"Bandits," he exclaimed, "the guards will make quick work of…" he fell over unconscious a male elf stood behind him holding a cooking pot.

"You've no idea how long that Shem has had that coming." He scowled kicking the cooks limp form.

"Thank you," I said glad to have an ally even if only temporary. "My name is Fìera and this is Soris."

"I'm Adwen, the cooks' assistant." He stated. "You're one of the girls they brought in, aren't you?"

I nodded quickly unable to speak past the lump in my throat.

"They took the other to Lord Vaughan's chambers. You should hurry. He's not…gentle…with women." He warned shame tainting his words. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm getting out of here before the storm hits."

I shook my head ashamed by my race. Too many elves stood by and watched as others were abused and mistreated. Too afraid to say or do anything because of the ramifications. What Adwen had done for us was more than any other in his position might have done.

Soris and I continued into the next room where several off duty and unarmored guards were eating, but seeing us covered in blood and they took up arms against us. We defended striking them down quickly and moved onward. A couple of turns later and we were standing in the entrance to the hall where Nelaros was waiting for us. Our bad luck however, we were not the first to find him, and several of Vaughan's guards surrounded him. One of whom was the guard captain from the wedding.

Unarmed he stood no chance I cried out his name. But, it was too late, the guard captains blade cut through him like butter.

"NO!" I screamed rage rippling through my veins dropping to my knees. "You killed him. He was unarmed and you murdered him, why?"

"He needed to learn his place as shall you," he scoffed. "Kill them."

I gripped my blades tightly leaping from the ground at the guard captain knocking him over. I sank my dagger into his eye socket burying it in his brain. The remaining guards, momentary shocked at my ferocity, attacked. Soris bashed one across the face with his mace while I engaged the last one. My sword meeting his, my arm vibrating with the force of each blow. I threw my shoulder into his shield our swords locked together. I heard the sound of heavy armor clattering against the ground and knew Soris had taken his guard down. I twisted my leg behind his pushing with all my strength he tripped falling backwards. Our swords separated; finding an opening, jabbing forward deftly, I stabbed him in the ribs under his sword arm piercing his heart with my blade.

With the last of the guards, dead Soris and I fell to our knees beside Nelaros' body.

"I'm so sorry," Soris murmured sadly.

Numb I bowed my head, "he died trying to save me. To save all of us."

Soris stood, determination flashing in his eyes, "let's make sure his death is not in vain. We need to find the others before anything else happens."

I touched Nelaros' face with the pads of my fingertips fighting back the tears threatening to fall. I took his hand in mine holding it to my heart. "You would have made a good husband." I whispered. A glint of gold flashed in his palm, I opened it to find a single gold ring engraved lilies and our names into the surface. Slipping the ring on my finger, I stood gathering my weapons.

"Search their bodies for coins and anything else of use," I directed. I pulled a couple of potions and an armored belt from the guard captain. Hooking it around my waist I too his side pouch making a crude potion holster. I checked him for a scabbard but found it cut in half. I glanced at Soris who shrugged most of the armor was unusable but he had found a few healing herbs and handed them over to me.