I find myself walking through an Aspin forest which seems to be to be glowing with the light of a midsummer's sun. I look down to notice I wear a beautiful white dress with embroideries of shiny golden deer on the trim.

Everything is covered with dew, sparkling like stars in the dark night. It feels warm like summer but all of the plants are in bloom like spring. I look at the trees when I suddenly notice that they start to turn to colors of yellow, red, and orange.

"It must be turning into autumn," I say rather casually and then I notice the plants begin to wilt and the sky turns black with ash raining down. Suddenly all of the trees become inflamed. It spreads to the grass and burns all in its path.

I look down at my once beautiful gown to see that the golden deer had turned into grey blood thirsty wolves and the white has turned to black with bits of ash about it.

As the fire spreads I begin to run as fast as I can away from it but the flames soon surround me. I can only stand and wait for death to take me but suddenly, my attention is drawn to a strange figure emerging from the flames. As it comes closer it begins to look like Ry but even more close and I notice that this certainly is not Ry this figure begins to look very, very large and wearing strange, sharp grey armor.

I try to back away but the figure grabs me by the neck and lifts me up. I struggle to escape but his grip only gets tighter until I can't breathe. In the corner of my eye I notice his other hand is wearing a plain gold ring I suddenly feel strangely attracted to this small piece jewelry, I reach out to touch it but the figure throws me into the flames. Burning—I wake up to a voice saying my name in haste.

I frown and open my eyes slightly, the morning sun gleaming into my room and my face...

Nin sits beside my bed.

I straighten up, using my arms to pull myself to a sitting position. I wipe my eyes. "Nin what—"

"You slept in past breakfast."

"I did?"

"Yes but I grabbed some for you. The king saw me do so."

"What did he say?"

"Nothing he just smiled—! By the way what were you two doing out there so late last night?!" she sounds more surprised than angry.

"Is this really proper for you to be barging in and waking up another in her sleep?"

"You talk about proper?"

"I'm rubbing off on you, aren't I?"

"Answer my question, Vil."

"I was just... you know... practicing."

She waits for a further explanation. "And he just met you out there and you two just had a cup of wine?"

"Who met me—?"

"He's the king, Vil. No one gets to talk to the king. You have to make a bloody appointment." I can tell my language has indeed rubbed off on her.

"So?" is all I manage to come up with.

"Why...?" she sighs.

"Well for one thing I didn't come up to him he came up to me and I almost chopped his head off and that seems to be a good conversation starter."

Her face shows utter surprise. "What are you talking about, edan? How did you...? Did you two fight—?"

"No I was practicing by myself and he was just... there."

She excuses what we were talking about completely and shakes her head. "What did you two... what do you two talk about? What does a king talk about to...?"

"Look we just talked like normal people I don't know what you think we talk about... He made conversation like any other elf. Not much."

She holds back a smile and shakes her head. "You are something, you know that?"

"So I've been told," I sigh. "Is the king really that hard to get to know like a normal elf? I mean even after all these years is there no one who can talk to him?"

"I have lived under his rule my whole life. And we elves only get around one elfling every decade if even that. It is a rare sight..." she says thoughtfully. "My father was his friend and the general of his army. I was told he was the closest one to us. Well I was little when my father died... and I thought the king would show sympathy and I even thought he might take me in but... I remember that day. He hands me a sword and makes me general in my father's place... a she-elf. It is not a common thing. But ever since then he has treated me coldly and only as a general... nothing more."

I think to myself. Maybe Thranduil isn't the nice elf that I had seen last night. "I think he only treats me with such kindness because of this..." I look down at the rune on my hand, letting my thumb trace the design. "Something that was passed from his wife to his son... and I am all that's left of them..."

"Well then consider yourself lucky..." She looks down.

"I don't know..." I mutter. I remember what Kel told me about the king never smiling... and about how serious of an elf he really is. I suppose I got lucky getting him to laugh last night. I wonder to myself if he treats everyone harshly... I remember the way he spoke to Legolas. I remember how angry he was and I remember how intimidated I was the first time I met him. I can't imagine what it is like being in his bad side and that made me feel so sorry for Nin.

She doesn't say anything more on the subject...

Niniliath and I practice speaking to each other in her language as I eat my breakfast and get dressed and let Nin play with my hair. She knots it into two rope braids that start above my ear and hook around—twisted in a French way—until they are vertical and fall into lonely rope braids that flow with my hair. It's a beautiful style and she's amazing with hair. I can tell she likes playing with my mundane locks.

I grab my things and walk with her down to where her stuff is kept which is the armory. She gathers some weapons and walks with me from the realm and to the training ground where we actually find Kel. He sits in a large tree reading a book.

"You read more than a scholar she-elfling, you know that?" Nin says to him.

"I am sorry I cannot hear you over expanding my mind and yours just playing with your little swords," he responds in a bored tone, still looking at the pages.

"Oh and you think sparing is a waste of time?" Nin puts her hands on her hips. "Let's see you take on Vilora."

"I don't think she is a fool."

"Uh yeah I'm not," I cut in. "I'm not stupid enough to challenge a seven billion year old elf captain."

"Oh," Nin laughs. "He's only three hundred years, hardly older than I."

"Is that so?" I ask as she giggles a little.

"So do you want to challenge me?" He asks me, still sounding bored but having a smirk.

"No," I reply. "You have still had fifteen times more practice than I have had, buddy."

He chuckles to himself in agreement that I don't want to fight him.

"Why don't you come down here and show me what two hundred years of training looks like?" I ask.

"Oh but I can admire your training much better from up here," he sasses as he still reads.

"Shouldn't you be on guard?" Nin asks as she pulls out her bow and prepares to shoot at a target.

He finally shuts his book and hops down swiftly from the tree branch. "We haven't had orcs in these woods for nearly sixty years."

"They are returning and you know that." Nin lets her arrow stick into the center of the dummy's head.

"That would leave quite the scar," he says while looking at where she shot, him standing right beside me.

I nod in agreement.

Kel stays with us as we fire arrows and practice techniques... well I am the one learning here and the others are just entertaining themselves.

But I get the hand of my bow quickly, like the way I have been trained with artillery my whole life. I have a steady arm and a sure aim. Even if I haven't shot many things like this before I have had plenty of experience to be able to handle it and learn quickly.

I practice elvish as well. And Kel cuts in as Nin and I talk a few times but she always gets angry with him. I think that amuses him.

We spend that day doing pretty much the same thing, talking, practicing, sparing, and reading.

At dinner I see Riven and Nodwen that speak to Kel, Nin, and I. I talk with them and laugh when they tell a story of Nodwen, an embarrassing one.

I sip the wine in my goblet and my eyes catch Thranduil looking my way. He smiles but I just look down, my expression indifferent. I remember about what Nin told me this morning and I just focus on the conversation with my friends.

The next morning Nin walks up to me after breakfast. "We are going for a ride. Accompany us?"

My first thought is a car... but then I remember. Have I ever ridden a horse before? I've ridden a dragon does that count?

"Sounds like fun," I say and follow her outside. Nodwen and Kel are there with their horses. Nin lets me use a silver speckled one with a black mane. My fingers stroke the animal's hide, hoping that it won't kick me. I don't think I've ever seen a horse in person.

"Can't ride?" Kel asks me curiously as I look at this beast that seems almost alien to me.

"No I can," I lie. I hesitantly I wait for Nin to help me saddle the animal. Then I slip onto its back. I rode a dragon. How much harder can this be? Kel and Nodwen are already mounted on their horses and wait for us.

The three of them start off ahead of me and I gallop to keep up. I hold onto the reins of my horse and ride with the others through the trees and I do well, almost landing on my butt once but Nin is the only one who sees me do that.

I see the coming beauty of Mirkwood today and the dark forests that bud with orange and green, riding through the huge enchantingly winding trees.

Sunlight dances in our eyes and on our path and I smile as my company talks in front of me about Nin, teasing her for something.

We spend the whole day visiting and relaxing. I get to know the elves I share a realm with. I get to live like one of them; like royalty. This is all so odd to me. I had never been able to have off time like this my whole life. This is the first time I haven't been afraid of what will happen next, scared that I might not survive another week... or live in the dirt, sleeping on concrete, leaving my taste buds behind so that I won't starve to death.

With each curse comes a blessing. With each hardship comes a reward. With each trial comes mercy.

I have done nothing to be shown mercy. But I think being here now is a part of something bigger than I had thought. Perhaps we shall find out.

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The next couple of days are spent exploring, visiting, reading of magnificent adventures of the elves of the Woodland Realm and of the other people of Middle Earth, riding in the forest but not going too far, sparing and firing arrows at the set up targets of the prince's, and living in a life of recreation.

I get used to the way of this realm, and of the company of elves, mostly my friends. And I like them very much. I have never had more than one friend my whole life. I am certainly blessed now to have four.

And I can speak like them as well.

Nin and I head out to practice some archery for a couple hours then head back inside to walk around as she goes over some sentences and words until early evening.

"Manke naa lle tuulo'?" she asks. (Where are you from?)

"Amin delotha lle," I joke in escalation. (I hate you)

"Amin feuya ten' lle." (You disgust me)

"Dolle naa lost." (Your head is empty)

"Lle holma ve' edan." (You smell like a human)

"Amin naa edan!" (I am a human)

She cracks a laugh.

"Nikerym Niniliath," a man's voice to the left of us says. I look to see an officer in armor there. (Nikerym: captain)

"What is it, soldier?" she asks the man in her language.

"Orcs were seen south of the mountain," he says.

"How close?"

"Less than a league."

"Where are they headed now?"

"Here."

She looks frightened and runs behind me towards the armory.

I don't know what this means. Enemies are nearby? Orcs they are? Immediately I feel defensive for this place and I return to old Vil, the one who doesn't let others fight her battles, the one that will protect the people she loves and even the people she doesn't know. I am back in war mode.

I glance at the elven soldier then run up to my chamber, throwing open the door and running to my chest. I pull out my bow and sword from it after I open the lid and strap them on. I am wearing trousers and a chest plate already.

I head down the steps and race towards Nin as she leaves the realm with her warriors and Kel. "You are not coming, friend," she says to me without looking behind her shoulder.

"You would be surprised at how much you might need me. I'm almost as good of fighter as you. And I'm coming. These are my people now and I want to protect them."

"You are a human—"

"I am one of you!"

She turns to me, a stern look in her eye. But I retaliate with a matching gaze and don't give her a chance to argue when I speak to Kel about what we are planning to do.

Nin commands the different elves of battle to different positions. I decide to use my bow until they get close. I am not sure what the course of action is.

Soldiers stand outside with armor made of golden metal and a beautiful bronze chainmail that looks like scales. Some of them are equipped with bows and others with swords.

"We should stand and wait," she says.

"No bad idea. We should go out, meet them head on," I tell her following behind her. "We want them away from your citizens and as far away from the realm as possible."

She turns around. "I will not have an open war."

"How many are there?" I ask in surprise.

She swallows.

"We can hide in trees they will not suspect us. Don't you want it as far away from your people as possible? If they know they can get this close they'll come back and won't be afraid for a full attack."

She thinks for a long time and then nods. She shouts commands to the soldiers. We begin making our way through the trees south.

My feet hit the ground, bow in hand as I run with the graceful soldiers towards our enemy.

I clutch my weapon and move my legs, the dark trees flying by us.

We split into two groups, one going left and the other going right. We separate from each other, Nin with group one and Kel and I with group two. We are far from each other but can still spot most of them.

It is not for a while that we see black specks heading down the hill. The elves hide behind trees to my right. The trunks are large enough to almost conceal two elves from the view of these creatures. I do the same, notching an arrow with my back against the bark. I realize that these 'orcs' looks a lot like the monsters I fought on my planet, corrupted humans, almost like living zombies; beasts; animals.

I hear their heavy footsteps come near... walking on the fallen leaves. I breathe and grip the string with my fingers, feeling the thin wire on my skin, the brush of the apple red feather.

I hear a rustling beside me and an arrow whiz through the air and thump into a beast with a scream of pain from the monster.

I turn around and pull my string back, quickly firing at the first black thing I can see. The arrow pierces an orc in the chest, black blood flowing from the wound and onto the thick leather armor. It roars and falls dead after another arrow stabs his shoulder. The elves are tremendously quick, no arrow missing its mark. Soon seven or eight orcs lie dead at our feet.

And I do well, hitting a few more marks with only one miss. I was taught well.

I eye Kel for a moment, who replaces his bow with a blade and looks past the trees ahead of us.

There are more marching through.

I put my bow on my back and pull out my sword like him.

They charge for us with roars and angry cries. The elves don't make a sound but scatter among the army of beasts with swift movements, letting the blood of black rain through the air and down upon the ground of the forest.

I clutch the handle of my sword until one comes near and I charge forward, jaw set and eyes fierce. I swing my blade back and bend down when the demon of mutation and blood stained teeth, the red eyes of hell showing nothing but the thirst for slaughter, lifts its weapon up to slash down my chest. My body evades under his opposite arm, my sword cutting its side where his armor has exposed his leathery onyx skin, blood of the same color spewing across my blade and my sleeve. I stand to my feet and spin around, slashing my sword to the back of its neck before it can try to hit me again.

I kick its back to the ground.

My eyes flash to my left when I see a fellow elf get stabbed with a blunt, dark blade through his back. Nin fights mercilessly with her short sword.

I spin the handle around in my hand and plunge my blade into a monster behind me that has its sword raised ready to strike. I yank it out and whirl around to dodge the strike of another that has just gotten shot by an arrow. I finish it off by slicing open the monster's neck.

I charge forward as one approaches a soldier and thrust my blade over the elf's head, decapitating the orc behind him.

I do a flip in the air when I hear a roar and land behind the beast that was threatening me, reaching in front and slicing the thing's arm clean off.

They fight like the demons on earth... the look like them... And as I watch these orcs take on our soldiers I see it. These are the monsters that took my world...

These are the things I have been fighting my whole life, been trained to take down. And I can do it just as I have before.

I turn around to clash my blade with another with yellow fangs and disgusting eyes, shifting it off mine with a sharp sound of dragging steel. I thrust my sword into his stomach and pull it out again, almost getting hit in the head with another one's sword that luckily was blocked by another elf.

I watch in horror before I can use my sword again, as he is stabbed by another orc behind him. I blow down on this orc's head with a skull shattering strike, and spin around to avoid the arm of another, slicing its arm until he blows again towards my stomach, my sword catching his and throwing it at his neck, getting it just barely before Kel runs down and swings his blade swiftly around, cutting deep into the monster's back.

I turn to run at another one, throwing myself onto the monster and pushing my blade through its neck, scraping his spine and letting him choke on it for a few seconds before falling to the ground. I yank out my blade, feeling the warm blood of orc trickling on my lip before I spit it from me and spring to my feet again.

I turn around when I hear someone shout, "Warg!" but it is too late, for this elf is then eaten alive by a huge, terrifying wolf and orc rider. This thing had to be even bigger than a bear and terrifying to the eye. It strangles the soldier through this once shiny armor and throws him aside after the gargling sound of his death is over.

The enormous wolf growls, elven blood staining its teeth. Four more come out of the trees with it, and they charge at my elves.

The first one is cut down by Niniliath with a skillful swish of her sword to the rider. I come up to the beast as it snarls and lunges at her. I leap forward and stab its back with my sword before it catches her, the strong shoulder of this huge creature almost knocking me from its body even as I stab it. But it collapses and when I pull it out and look around I see dead elf after dead elf. The sight is horrifying and it makes me almost caught off guard as another rider flies past me.

"Vil! Get out of there!" I hear Nin say, now ahead of me, with two wounded soldiers making their way north.

I look back at the dead elves but don't hesitate any longer. There are no more live ones in sight that aren't running with Nin towards the realm.

Kel is there and he looks my way.

I charge towards them, leaping over a dead body of an orc.

But the snarling behind me catches my ear and I turn to see a huge Warg and its rider there ready to leap towards me. My eyes widen and I stumble back a little. I can't outrun this monster.

The wolf roars when its master makes it lunge straight towards me. I grip my sword ready to dodge or make a stand but the thing approaching me scares the beat from my heart and I almost duck before an arrow pierces the orc's bare chest, letting it cry out and fall from its mount. I take that opportunity to spin around and stab the creature in the rib cage before it can make a decision for itself, my blade getting yanked from my clutches almost sending me to the ground as the weapon is still stuck inside the warg.

Another elf I don't know takes it out with a swing of a sword and I run forward, pulling my blade from the monster and looking into the frantic eyes of this unnamed soldier as he beckons me to follow. We run after the others, he a bit faster than I because I am tired.

But miraculously we escape with our lives.

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