Hello,

As promised, I'm giving you another part. I wrote it at night thus I hope the content won't sound like madman's blurb.

I hope you'll enjoy it. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

MS

Mr Wink looked down at a human he just knocked out. Unbearable, dull creatures – troll's nose wrinkled with disgust. So vulnerable, weak, and yet so self indulgent. They think all world at their command. Because of them we are homeless, they made our fate miserable. They want to push us to the outskirts of society, make us ashamed of who we are… Wink's fists clenched. His mind receded to an argument between Prince and King Balor that he had witnessed.

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" FATHER You cannot withdraw the Golden Army now!. Not when we are so close to reaching the natural equilibrium!" the Prince personified pure fury. His body was tensed, shaking form outrage.

"Nuada, my son, you are very young. Perhaps too young to see things from wider perspective. Your age makes you hasty, and in war haste is not the best counselor." – king approached Nuada and placed his hand upon elf's shoulder – " I see now, that this Army was an unforgivable mistake. All the atrocities…." – Balor closed his eyes – " I was too proud son, to arrogant.. And now there's blood on my hands. I don't want you to take this route. I want you to live, to be there for your sister, for our people… for me.."

"You know Father that I cannot do it!" Prince shook off his father's hand and looked him in the eye "You are… you used to be a great warrior! Dedicated to your people, to your land! When did humans become so precious to your heart?! Don't you see what they've done? Don't you see what they made us become? Father I beg of you. Do not let us fade…"

"Maybe we are supposed to fade. Maybe it's our destiny. It has been decided my son. Now leave me. I have to meet human's commander. The crown will be divided." With these words Balor turned his back on Nuada

"WE WILL NOT FADE!" Prince snapped – " I can't believe what I'm hearing father. And I cannot accept it. I will not! Since you don't care about your people, I will do it instead! You won't stop me.."

"Very well son, as you wish. I cannot stop you." Balor replied – "but I can warn you. Your anger and arrogance may bring death upon you AND your sister. As well as disobeying your king's will. Now leave or I will have you arrested!!

Wink watched his Prince undergo inner fight. Eventually he turned away and stormed out of Coronation Hall.

Wink pitied his master, for he understood his issues perfectly. Once Nuada decided to leave his home, he joined him without any hesitation. He felt like someone had to watch this Elf's back. He was young, inexperienced, and furious. He was decided to fight the world alone, just to prove was right. To his father. Nuada loved Balor very much, he admired him as a king and a warrior. That's why it was so difficult to understand his actions. Balor was the one, who shaped Nuada's idea of being an Elf, a king. They spent hours, first in castle's library exploring the history of elf folk, learning about their superior culture, and about their historic role. Then in the training hall. Balor was Nuada's personal teacher. It was him who created Nuada the warrior, fast and daedly, ready to face any opponent. He prepared him for this war. Nuada was Balor's creation. But at some point, this masterpiece decided to go it's own way....

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Wink was back in the forest. He returned to what he had started. Troll lifted human to end his miserable life. A horrifying view made him stop half-step. As he peeked at the clearing, he saw his Prince lying on a ground with a blade pressed to his throat. For a split of a second Wink panicked. Last time he had seen his prince defeated on the ground, was back in Bethamora, during his early trainings. Wink saw blood stains on Nuada's neck, it was serious. At first Wink just wanted to charge down the clearing. But it was not a good idea. Elf would be dead before he would manage to reach them. Distance attack was also out of question. He would risk hurting Nuada. And then his mind returned to a human he had just knocked down. He examined closely his attire. What was it doing here? A coincidence or back up?

Wink was aware that every second of hesitation could cost his master a life. Not wasting any more time, with a growl, he entered the clearing, holding Jon in the air.

Nuada felt the blade started to move. He glared at Nessa, somehow caging her with his eyes. Suddenly he heard familiar growl. Wink, my old friend.. punctual as always… he unwittingly smirked. Nessa wouldn't be impressed at all, if it hadn't been for one small detail. One fool. As she rested her eyes upon Jon's unnaturally pale face, her heart stopped for a moment. She didn't even notice the troll. Nuada sensed her hesitation as Wink slowly approached them.

"So let me introduce you to Mr Wink, my loyal servant" Nuada's smile widened

"And a assume that a gentleman is a friend of yours?" – he asked moving his eyes to Jon – "I Believe that put's us into slightly different positions. Now why don't you get off me and surrender your weapons…" he smiled maliciously

Nessa took a deep breath. Her mind raced. She didn't remove the blade from Elf's throat; she analyzed the situation. She glanced at Jon. He looked terrible, pale with blood drops falling off his head. It was very hard to say, if he was still alive. Nessa sneered at the Elf "You're a bit overconfident Sire.. What makes you think he matters anything to me?"

"Oh, I could name a reason or two.." – Nuada sneered back and relaxed a bit. His golden eyes watched an inner fight well hidden behind those blue eyes. Her body stiffened, that made him almost positive that he just hooked himself a small fish. "First, if I were wrong, I'd be dead right now. And still you are talking to me. Secondly, your body says it all. Your arm trembles. I just cannot believe that fatigue would be the reason. Speaking of which, I had really good time… Thank you. But coming back to the point. What will it be you and your friend, or me?"

"Silence!" – Nessa's yell made his muscles tense again. He thought that maybe he moved to far. After all it was her who controlled the situation. He looked at her again. Reluctantly he admitted that she was beautiful. Anger added wilderness to her appearance. And Nuada and wilderness matched perfectly. It's not that he wanted her. She was a human. But she fascinated him. There was something about her that confused Nuada's mind, but it wasn't unpleasant. Rather stimulating.

Nessa at the same time felt trapped. She really wished to end this maggot's life. But he was right. She would sentence herself and Jon to death. She was wounded and tired, she wouldn't manage to flee from the troll. And there was a chance that Jon was alive. She wished to believe in this. She closed her eyes. Well, this is exactly as Rhys said. My arrogance led me straight to.. the end? Why the hell did I come here?! She peeked at Jon. She examined him with her eyes trying to find the slightest life symptom. But it appeared to be impossible. Then she turned to Nuada, bringing her face near his, making her hair partially cover his face:

"Now tell me Ellfie, how should I know, if he's still alive?" she whispered looking straight into his eyes.

"You'd just have to trust me" – he smirked –" Ironic, isn't it? And if I were you, I'd hurry up with your decision. The view of my blood makes Mr Wink nervous…"

Nessa locked her eyes against his, trying to calm down. She tried to take it cool. But her self control was stretched to very limit. One move Nessa. Just one move… She clenched teeth. Then last gaze at Jon. With a deep breath she slowly removed the blade from Elf's throat and stood up. She still held her weapon up and fixed her eyes upon troll.

Nuada slowly got up, reaching for his neck to asses the injury. His own blood on his hand somehow amused him. It was the first time a human actually threatened his life. Suddenly he saw how stupid and careless he was. Nevertheless, the night was just to begin. He reached out one hand and ordered

" Surrender your weapon, handgrip to me!"

"Just after you tell your servant to release the man!" – Nessa replied firmly

"As you wish… Mr Wink release the human. I hold no interest in him!!!" – he ordered – " As for you Woman, I really don't know what makes me execute your requests. But I did what you asked me of.. Now your turn! And do not play with me. Hand me your blade!" – he demanded

Nessa saw Wink let Jon out of his grasp. Jon hit the ground with a thud. Nuada focused on Nessa's face. He felt a kind of satisfaction when a glimpse of pain ran across it. His vengeance just starred to unfold. And there was so much more to it….

"THE BLADE!' – he demanded for the last time.

Nessa's heart was filled with bitterness. How could she let this happen? Somewhere along the way, her common sense and assassin's instinct must have abandoned her. If only she had listened to Jon's warnings.. If only she just stuck to Rhys' code. But it was too late. She was the only one to blame. There was only one last thing left to do. The spun the blade in her wrist to hand it over to Nuada. She watched him approach very slowly, just as if he was tasting this moment. His eyes glowed, they contained the promise torment. Nessa sneered at him and with one quick move led the blade straight towards her heart.

Nuada's eyes widened with surprise when he saw what she had done. With one leap he reached her and knocked the blade out of her hand. The blade however managed to pierce the armor, and it reached Nessa's chest giving it a serious wound. She was an assassin, she perfectly knew how to use it. Nessa felt her strength leaving her. He had already lost a lot of blood through her arm. She dropped down to her knees, as her legs couldn't hold her anymore. She felt Nuada grabbing her. His eyes were burning with fury. She smiled at him and asked " I believe that your Gods are laughing hard right now?"

Last thing she remembered was Nuada's arm securing her against hitting the ground and his raised voice saying " Hurry Mr Wink. We have to take her out here!" – Then everything went blurry, eventually black…

Wink was a bit disoriented. In his wildest dreams he would not expect anything like the scene that just happened before his eyes. It all went very fast, so he just couldn't catch up. First – his master wanted to kill the human, then the human almost killed the prince, then it stabbed itself with its own blade, an the prince was…. Holding the human? Wink shook off as he heard Nuada's order to help him. He saw Nuada tearing off his own shirt to stem human's wound. It was unusual. Wink would never even dare to think that Nuada would try to save human's life. Troll approached the scene and allowed Nuada to place the human in his arms.

"Be gentle My Friend, I want her alive" Nuada requested- "Now go! I will catch up with you. Tell Quirk to take a good care of her." Seeing Wink's concerned look resting on neck and chest wound he added – "It's nothing my Friend. Don't worry. Now go!"

Nuada walked Wink to the edge of a clearing with his eyes. Once he lost his broad back out of sight, he looked around upon the former battlefield. He reclaimed his weapons and searched for Nessa's blades. Then he peeked at Jon

Well this knight's quest is already over. Your Lady stays with me. I won't kill you. You owe her this one.

He left the clearing in a hurry, hoping Wink will manage to bring Nessa to the lair on time.