I've learned something about myself today.
When it comes to stealth: I am a failure.

Darovel and I were probably inside for three minutes before we were discovered, and don't listen to Darovel if he says that it was my fault because it certainly was not. Now we have been surrounded by Thilan's guards and thanks to Darovel refusing to kill anyone, things look bleak for us.  

Again if I were alone I'd have no problem getting out of this mess. I wouldn't be handing my weapons over to these sorry excuses for guards. Three of them have loaded crossbows aimed at us and are currently the only thing keeping us from fighting back. The bow and arrows I don't mind giving over, I only use a bow when necessary. But I don't want to hand over my swords. I've been through so much with these swords, out of all the ones I've stolen these are my favorite.

Alas, when one has three crossbows aimed at himself, it leaves him with no choice but to hand over his weapons. Darovel has his bow taken from him too, and a dagger that he wears at his side. The guards haven't searched us for any more weapons which I find odd, and humorous at the same time. What man doesn't know to check their prisoners for extra weapons? I myself have two knives hidden in my boots, and I assume that Darovel has throwing knives hidden everywhere.

However if they don't want to search then I'm not complaining. They may not be my swords but having two knives is better than being completely weaponless. 
"Start moving!" One of the men holding a crossbow orders.

Since we have little choice in the matter Darovel and I do as we're told. There are ten guards surrounding us, three with their armed crossbows. I'm a bit uncomfortable at the moment because during the struggle (that was not caused by me) my hood had fallen off. Fortunately my hair covers my pointy ears and no one has questioned my long hair. I just hope that my ears don't decide to make an unwanted appearance.

The last thing I need is to be apart of Thilan's Elf collection. We enter what seems to be the main room of the house, there's not really much to look at. Unless you count two dying plants interesting. We stand there in silence for a few minutes so I look over at Darovel to see how he's doing. At the moment he is glaring at me with a very irritated look on his face, of course he would blame me for this, even though it's not my fault. Suddenly Thilan storms into the room looking the exact opposite of what I'm used to seeing him like.

He's no longer calm and collected, in fact it looks as if he's about to explode. His face reminds me of a tomato. What slightly worries me is the fact that Ramben is nowhere to be seen, where is he being kept?
"How many times must I kill you?!" Thilan shouts.

I look over my shoulder at a guard standing behind me, then look back at Thilan with a confused expression and point to the guard.
"Are you talking to him or me?"

Darovel breathes heavily out of his knows and pinches the bridge of his nose. What? He didn't think that was funny? I've done that plenty of times and I think it's very amusing. Thilan isn't amused in the slightest, he has calmed down some though.

"You should watch that tongue of yours, one more slip up and I'll cut it out." He growls. I'm very tempted to stick my tongue out and "watch it" as I was told to, but I don't think I could survive without hearing my smooth voice, so I refrain from the childish action. Thilan's attention moves from me to Darovel.

"And you," he snarls, "I was told that you were dead."
"Whoever told you was lying." There's no sarcasm to be found in Darovel's voice, the man is too good for his own good which isn't good. Great, now "good" no longer sounds like a real word to me...

"Have you finally come to kill me?" Thilan asks in a mocking tone.
"I've come to make you answer for your crimes, death will follow after."
"What right do you have? You are no soldier, just a man playing the hero. I've never killed a person in my life but how many have you killed Darovel?"

"Seven, all of them either murderers or slave traders, men who refused to repent and confess their crimes. You may not have killed anyone with your own hands Thilan, but ordering someone's death is the same as doing the deed yourself. I do not hold the men following their orders responsible, unless I know that they wouldn't hesitate to kill someone without orders to do so. I only care about justice, that is all I want."

Darovel blinks once, "And tonight I will get it."
To this day I still don't know how he did it, but one moment Thilan is standing with a smirk on his face, and the next his face is stricken in pain as a knife becomes embedded in his stomach. He drops onto his knees, skin turning paler by the second, blood soaking his tunic, then he falls. 
"Huh," I shrug my shoulders, "that was easy."

I look around and see the shock on the guard's faces.
"What? You've never seen someone die before?" They stare at me in further disbelief but at the moment, I don't really care what they think.
"Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have to find my Ramben."
Strangely no one tries to stop me and I walk without a care towards the hall that Thilan appeared out of, he must have Ramben hidden somewhere in that place. However I haven't gone more than three feet when Darovel suddenly grabs my shoulder and pulls me to a stop.

"Now what?" I groan.
"What is that?" Darovel asks looking down at my shirt. I follow his gaze, and see a blue light shining from underneath my clothes. I reach under and pull out the amulet, ignoring the widening of Darovel's eyes. I hold the amulet in the palm of my hand, staring at the bright light.
"Hm, it's never done that before." I say rubbing the gem in the center of the amulet with my hand as if that will turn the light off. 

I lift my head and stare at the wall directly in front of me, something is wrong.
"Amarth? What's-"
A loud, familiar roar suddenly fills the air. Everyone starts looking around searching for the noise, but I remain still despite my growing panic.
"This is not a good time for you to freeze up Amarth," Darovel grabs my arm and gives it a shake. I yank it free and smack his hand. 
"Don't touch me. Now do me a favor and go find Ramben."

Darovel looks at me, confused.
"What do you mean? Amarth what is going on?"
"I'd do it myself but very soon I'm going to have problems of my own, so could you please go now?"

Before Darovel has a chance to ask another question another roar splits the air, closer than ever before. Suddenly the wall that I had been staring at is blown to bits as something crashes through it, and I know exactly what it is.

"Hello beastie." I smirk as it glares in my direction. Then without another word I run for my life, and the chase is on.

/\\//\\/

Darovel's POV

The creature that had just appeared seemed to have the build of a bear, but the head of a wolf. It was completely black and was at least eight feet tall. Darovel was frozen in place for a moment as he gaped at the terrifying creature. He barely heard Amarth mutter, "hello beastie" before taking off down the hall where they had been brought in through. Darovel had seconds to leap out of the way as the best ran after Amarth. Several men hadn't been able to move in time and had been trampled under the beast's massive paws. Darovel laid on the floor for a moment, trying to process what he had just seen.

What is that thing?! And why is it after Amarth?
Darovel suddenly remembered; Ramben. The man scrambled to his feet before tearing down the hall, determined to find the Elf quickly, and then go assist Amarth in whatever way he possibly could. Darovel raced down the hall, throwing open every door he came across. Most were empty while others contained useless junk. The last door Darovel opened was the one he'd been searching for.

Inside the room laying bound hand and foot on a bed was Ramben. The elfling's back was to the door so he did not see Darovel enter the room. He walked briskly over to the bed and gently laid a hand on Ramben's shoulder. The Elf looked over at him and his eyes flashed with fear.
"It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you." Darovel smiled kindly at him. "Amarth sent me here to free you. Come on, let's get you out of here."

Darovel took one of his knives and carefully cut the bonds around Ramben's hands and feet. Lastly he removed the gag from his mouth and helped him stand up.
"Where's Amarth now?" Ramben asked as soon as he was able to talk again. Darovel's face paled, remembering the beast that was after Amarth.
"In a very tight situation," Darovel grabbed Ramben's hand, "he needs help, let's go."

Without hesitating Ramben followed Darovel out of the room, both man and Elf fearing for Amarth's life.

/\\//\\/

Amarth's POV

I am afraid for my life.

The beast is right on my heels, if I stop running now I'm a dead Elf. I hadn't meant to run straight towards the village, but when you're fleeing for life you don't exactly pay attention to where you're going. Fortunately the beast's roars have alerted everyone and they too are fleeing the village. If I'm lucky no one will be near when the fight starts. Obviously I have to try and fight this thing, I can't run forever.

Screams of terror come from the village as I near the first buildings. Now the dwellings in this village are very close together, and the beast is big. So when I dart between two buildings, it smashes right through them as if they were made of sticks. I hope no one was home...
The beast refuses to give up its pursuit, what I find odd is that it doesn't seem to be interested in anyone else, just me. 

Although it doesn't seem to mind if people die anyway. I run until I reach the center of the village, which is the only area with enough space for me to fight this monster. I skid to a stop and spin around as the beast stalks forward. I can't make out its definite shape, it's almost as if it's a living shadow, but one with teeth and claws.

I smirk and reach for my swords, only to grasp at nothing but air. I feel around as if that will make my swords appear, but it doesn't. 
I am slowly beginning to panic.

I don't have my swords, I don't have my bow, all I have are my two knives. Sighing I bend down and pull them out of their hidden sheaths on my boots. I look down at the small blades in disappointment. I'm a swordsman through and through, knives are too light for me. The beast growls as if feels the need to remind me that its still there. 

"Yes I'm coming, just let me get a feel for these."
The beast roars and charges. Impatient one isn't he? I grip the knives in my hands and wait, all of my instincts are screaming for me to run, but I tell them to shut up and remind them who is in charge. The beast is getting closer, I can feel the earth shaking underneath my feet, still not yet...

I close my eyes and take in a deep breath.
Three...
Two...
One.

I run forward and fall onto my back just as the beast attempts to grab me in its jaws. I thrust my knives upward but since I'm not used to short blades they only manage to scrape along the beast's skin. It roars in pain just as I roll out from under it and leap to my feet. The beast whirls around and charges at me again. I run to the left and narrowly avoid the beasts jaws. I throw my knife and it strikes the beast in the shoulder. 

It roars again and charges. I only have one knife now, and that last throw had been a lucky shot. When the beast comes close I try to get underneath it, hoping to stab it somewhere vital and kill it. I run forward when something slams into my chest. Sending me flying, my knife falling, and the air out of my lungs. I crash onto the ground, hard. I lay there stunned as the world slowly spins around me.

I feel something warm and sticky coming out of my chest. I look at my hand and see blood. This isn't good. The beast slowly creeps forward, it's dark eyes locked onto me. I try to get up but my body refuses to move. The beast stands over me with one massive paw raised, about to drive it down onto my helpless form. 

This is it, I'm going to die.
Looking the beast in the eye, I wait for my death to come.
Strange that it would come so soon...