I never knew whether it was truly my fault for what happened.

Had killing those men been what brought all this destruction?

Or had they been planning this all along and it had nothing to do with the men I killed?

As I said before I will let you decide, because whether or not it was my actions that brought all this doom upon us....

I still had blood on my hands.

////

My heart is pounding as I race towards the village, but by the sounds of screaming elves I know that I am already too late.

I skid to a stop as I see at least thirty men on horses setting the houses and buildings on fire, they are all riding horses and are armed with bows and spears.

What fills me with more terror is that there are more men coming from behind me. We are outnumbered and they took us by surprise.

I watch as some elves try to help others escape while some stand and fight. Suddenly I remember Elwin, Rilien, and Anna. Terror siezes me as I run blindly into the chaos.

I have to find them, that's the only thought in my mind. Find them and get them out of the village and somewhere safe.

By the time I reach the buildings they are all on fire. Elves stumble by me as they cough on the thick smoke but I don't have time to worry about them now.

"Elwin!"
I call desperately, hoping for an answer.
"Anna! Elwin! Where are you?!"
I hear an angry shout and spin around. A man is charging towards me on his horse, waving a spear in the air like a madman.

I grip my axe and run towards him, I bring my axe down on the horse's side and watch as it and its rider crash onto the earth.

I leap over the fallen horse's body and notice with grim satisfaction that its rider was crushed beneath it.

I keep running and searching for Elwin, Rilien, and Anna. More men rush towards me, one of them on horseback and the other two on foot.

I wait for them to come to me and throw my axe at the horse. It becomes embeded in its chest and it falls taking the rider with it.

I race towards them and deliver a hard kick to the man's face. He lays unmoving on the ground as I retrieve my axe. The other two men are about to attack, one has a spear and the other one has a scimitar.

Fire blazes around us and the sky is filled with dark smoke, I block out the frightened screams of the others and focus on the two men in front of me.

I attack the one with the spear first, I run towards him and spin out of the way as he thrusts his spear at me. His eyes widen in bewilderment as I bring my axe down on his spear, cutting it in half.

Before he can react I swing my axe across his body and he falls. I drop onto the ground and roll just before I am struck by the man's scimitar.

I leap back to my feet and throw my axe, which knocks the scimitar out of the man's hand. He smirks at me.
"Now you don't have a weapon elf."
He sneers.

"Neither do you."
I comment with a sly smirk.
Which quickly vanishes as he pulls out a knife.
"Alright you do."
I begin to back away as the man runs towards me.

I grin as his expression becomes confused as I run towards him as well. He raises his knife, ready to stab me, but I have other plans.

I instantly drop onto my back and kick out with both legs at the man's knees. He cries out as he heads for the ground.
He drops his knife as his body collides with the hard earth and I retrieve it.

"Now I have a weapon."
I hold up the knife triumphantly as he shakes his head, trying to clear it.
"Not that I really need one."

I deliver a hard blow to his head with my boot and he goes down. I toss the knife away and retrieve my axe, it's served me well so far.

I continue searching for my family, taking down as many enemies as I can but there are just too many. We cannot defend this place, we will have to abandon our home once again.

I spot Landion out of the corner of my eye and sigh in relief. He's alive. I head towards him and watch as he commands his Guard to stand fast, but their numbers are rapidly decreasing.

"Landion!"
I call as I finally reach his side.
"Caran! Are you alright?"
Ash and soot cover his face and he has a deep gash in his left shoulder but he's still fighting.

"Have you seen Elwin? Or Anna and Rilien?"
I ask with trembling in my voice.
"I sent them with the others, they are escaping into the forest."

No! They can't go into the forest!
I turn to run but Landion grabs my arm.
"I need you here Caran! I cannot hold them off by myself."
"We can't hold them off no matter what! It's over Landion, we have to run!"

Landion hesistates and takes in all the destruction.
"I will not be driven out of my home for a second time."
Fear grips me and I grab his arm.
"Come on Landion! We have to go!"

He pulls himself out of my grasp and turns towards me with somber, pain-filled eyes.

"I will die to defend my home Caran. It's all I have left. Go to your family, at least you have something other than this to fight for."

He gestures sadly at the burning village and offers me one last smile.
"Take care of yourself."
"No! Landion please! Come with me!"

But my pleas are in vain and I watch as my best friend disappears into the smoke and flames.

////

I fight back the tears that threaten to fall from my eyes. I could do nothing for Landion, all I could do now was find my family.

Suddenly I see a flash of gold through the smoke, I pear closer and see Anna running alongside someone.
I found them.

I run as fast as my weary legs can carry me, I had to reach them. That was all that mattered to me.
"Anna!"
I shout.
She turns around and her already wide eyes widen even more.

"Caran!"
She calls and I watch as the figure holding her hand turns around with a fearful expression on her face.

It's Elwin, one hand is clutching Anna's while her other arm is holding Rilien tightly.
"Caran!"
She starts towards me but I yell for her to stay put.

"I'm coming! Just- Look out!"
Anna screams and Elwin whips around in panic as a horse thunders towards them.

I'm too far to throw my axe, I'm too far to do anything.
So I run.
The man raises a spear and aims it at Elwin. She turns her back to it and pulls Anna behind her as she runs.

All I can hear is my heartbeat.
All I can see is Elwin's fearful diamond eyes lock onto mine.
The spear flies from the man's hand.

Elwin drags Anna in front of her.

She shoves Rilien into her arms.

She forces both of them onto the ground.

She stands over them as the spear flies towards her.

Her body jerks as the spear strikes her in the back.

She stands still for a moment.

Then she falls.

I hear her body strike the earth.
I feel the impact as if I was the one who had fallen.
I open my mouth to scream, but no sound comes out.

////

I am no longer in control of my body. I run blindly towards the man who had killed Elwin. Who had murdered her.

I raise my axe and send it flying through the air. It hits the man in the chest. He falls off his horse and the animal runs wildly into the forest.

I gather Anna and Rilien into my arms. I hold them close as tears fall from my eyes. Anna is crying, Rilien is crying, my heart is breaking.

I dare not look at Elwin's body, I know that I couldn't bear to see it cold and lifeless on the ground. She's gone.
Elwin is gone.

I promised to keep her safe and I failed. Now she was lying dead on the hard and unforgiving earth.

It should be me lying there.
Not her.

Anna screams and something pierces my right shoulder.
I cry out in pain and lash out at whoever it was that attacked me.

But to my shock and horror it was Idhrenion who stabbed me.
"You did this to us."
He hisses.
"You are responsible for all this death! You are the one who brought this doom upon us!"

His eyes turn into narrow slits as he raises his knife once again.
"It is all your fault."
Before he can move I throw myself at him. He gasps as his breath is knocked out of him and he crashes onto the ground.

I wrestle his knife from his hand and hold it over him.
"Do it! Kill me! It will only confirm that you are a murderer!"

I stop and lower the knife.
I don't hear Anna's warnings or the sound of men running towards me.

It's only after they seize me by the arms that I realize what is going on.
I hear Anna and Rilien scream and immediately begin fighting against the men holding me.

"Stop struggling or we'll kill them!"
One of the men shouts but I don't listen. I swing my arm out and punch him in the nose.
He screams and covers his bloodied nose with his hands.

I hear an agonized wail come from behind me and I turn my head around. Two men are holding Anna and Rilien, both have knives held to their throats.

The men holding me saw their chance and took it. While I was staring in horror at Anna and Rilien they forced my arms behind my back and tied my hands together.

They forced me to my knees but I never took my eyes off of Rilien and Anna.
"You're quite the fighter elf."
One of the men says grabbing my face and forcing my head up.

"And strong."
He added as he turned my head to the side inspecting me like I was some animal.
"I'm sure we'll find something suitable for you in Rhun. Won't we men?"

Cruel laughs filled the air around me as the man releases me and turns toward Rilien and Anna.
"Of course, you need to be punised for killing so many of my men."

My blood turns to ice as I realize what he's going to do.
"No! Leave them alone please! I'll do anything I swear!"
But the man ignores me as he approaches Rilien.

He turns around drills me with a cold, heartless stare.
"Tell me elf, which one would you rather see die?"
I struggle to get back to my feet but the men hold me down.

"The boy is his son."
I see Idhrenion out of the corner of my eye.
His eyes are burning with hatred, towards me.
"Why should I believe you?"
The man asks.
"And why would you want one of your own to die?"

"You can clearly see the resemblence of the two."
Idhrenion replies calmly.
"And as of now Caran is no longer one of us."

He looks down at me with those burning hate-filled eyes.
"Kill his son and take him and the girl away."
Idhrenion turns back to the man.
"I will let you do this if you allow the rest of my people to go free."

The man considers his words for a moment as I try to reassure Rilien and Anna with a comforting smile.

"You would trade these three for what's left of your people?"
The man asked.
"Four actually."
Idhrenion said matter-of-factly.
"The elleth that one of your men killed over there was his wife. Take these other three and do as you please with them."

"Idhrenion you coward!"
I shout as I lunge towards him only to be held back by the men.
Meanwhile the man standing near Rilien considers Idhrenion's offer.

"Alright. I'll leave the rest of your people alone in exchange for these three."

He turns towards me with a cruel smirk.
"Actually, I'll only be taking two."
I scream as the man who had been holding Rilien runs his knife across his neck.

His small, precious body falls onto the ground. I sob but it comes out as a choked shout. I collapse in my captor's arms as I stare at the now lifeless form that used to be my son.

In one day I lost Landion, Elwin, and now Rilien. As the men drag me onto my feet and lead me away I lock eyes with Idhrenion one last time.

"You are banished from these lands Caran."
He says watching as I'm led away.
"And your name will no longer be Caran! Among our people you will be remembered as Amarth! The one who brought doom upon us and our home!"

I thrash and struggle to break free from the men's grasp. I glare at the retreating form of Idhrenion.
Something strikes me on the head and sends me into darkness.

The last thing I'm aware of is Idhrenion's voice echoing the name he gave me.

Amarth....