Ramben's POV

The amulet burned in his hands, but leaving it behind was not an option. Ramben hissed as he felt his skin being eaten away by the heat that emanated from the stone, he knew how to stop the pain but he did not dare. If he let the amulet into his mind it would bring forth another memory which he did not have the time nor the strength to deal with now. Yet his refusal did not stop the voices that had suddenly flooded his ears; voices of people he did not know who all spoke at once in a cacophony of noise.

He did his best to ignore the voices, but there was always some word or sentence that managed to get through the barriers he had set up.

"How many did you kill?"
Ramben stumbled, the amulet nearly falling out of his hands. Who had asked him that?! Why did they ask him that?!
No, you need to aim higher, and stop fidgeting! You won't hit the target with all that moving.
Aim what higher?! What target was he trying to hit?! Ramben's teeth bit sharply on his tongue after colliding with the wall, the taste of blood filled his mouth.
"They will not show mercy, so you must not show them any either. Kill without hesitation it is the only way to stay alive."
He didn't want to kill! Why did all of his memories paint him to be a killer?!

Stumbling along the narrow passageway Ramben almost missed Morwen, who was hiding in the shadows.
"Ramben!"
He froze as she whispered his name, his hands tightening around the amulet.
"Where did you get that?" She demanded, he did not pull away when she grabbed him gently, yet firmly, by the arm.
"We have to go." He tried to move forward but Morwen refused to let him.
"Ramben how did you get the amulet from Oroth? Please answer me."

She eventually let him move and he started to lead her forward. He did not want to tell her, he couldn't tell her or anyone else how he'd gotten the amulet from Oroth.
All Ramben wanted to do was leave this place and never come back.

They entered Oroth's throne room immediately spotting Darovel, carrying a limp Amarth in his arms. Ramben came to a stop the moment he laid eyes on Amarth; his skin was white, not pale, but an unnatural white.
"Save him! Please save him!"
Ramben shuddered as the voice screamed those words in mind; whoever spoke them sounded terrified, their voice cracking and throat strained. He could see tears running down a face, one that was no longer fair but twisted in grief and pain. Horrified, Ramben realized that the voice belonged to him; the tears and grief were his own.

But who was he crying for? His father? A brother perhaps?
"If we want to save him we have to get out of here." Darovel's voice cut through his thoughts. Ramben shook himself pushing the memory out of his mind. Now was not the time for this, getting away from this horrid place was all that mattered. How were they supposed to escape? All of them had been unconscious when they'd been brought here, how were they supposed to find the way out without being recaptured?

Use the amulet.
Ramben looked over his shoulder, expecting to see someone standing behind him. This wasn't a voice from his memories, who was speaking to him?
Do not be afraid, I am keeping Oroth from coming after you, but his shadows I cannot keep at bay. You must escape before they are sent to hunt you. The amulet will show you the way out.

Ramben blinked once as the presence left him. He looked down at the amulet resting in the palm of his hand; he could see where his skin had been burned, how was he supposed to use this? He rested his left hand on the blue gem in the center of the amulet, willing for it to show him the way out. His eyes widened in surprise as a soft, blue glow appeared from the gem and fell onto the stone and spread across the floor; he watched wide-eyed as the blue smoke created a path before him. This had to be the way!

"Come on!" He said walking forward.
"Where are you going?" Morwen grabbed him by the arm bringing him to an abrupt stop.
"I know the way out! Come on we have to hurry." Ramben tried to move but Morwen refused to let him go.
"How do you know? Were you awake when we were brought here, or did Oroth give you directions after you stole the amulet from him?"
"You did what?" Darovel's eyes were wide in shock.

Ramben turned away from them, eyes locked on the faint path that lay before them, how could they not see it?
"Please, trust me. Amarth will die if he stays here." He was worried about the older Elf, Amarth hadn't stirred since Darovel had rescued him from whatever torment Oroth had put him through.
"Darovel?" Morwen waited for him to make a decision.
"Ramben is right, we can't stay here a minute longer."

Ramben's shoulder sagged in relief as Morwen released him. Immediately he took off in a run; following the blue path that disappeared after each step he took. Morwen and Darovel were close behind, their footsteps echoing in the otherwise silent air. The pathway they took became darker as they ran; the blue path began to glow brighter and still neither Darovel or Morwen said anything about it.

How was it that he could see it but they could not? It was the same thing with the cell door; Ramben had been able to see the handle while Morwen claimed that there wasn't one. A shudder passed through his spine as the dark presence of the shadows touched his mind.

They were coming, and they were mad with fury.

If the shadows caught them no one would be left alive. Ramben didn't turn around to see if the others had sensed their pursuers and increased his speed. Whether it was a trick he did not know, but the darkness around them seemed to be lifting.
They had to be close!

Ramben's heart leapt for joy when he saw light up ahead, beautiful light. His elation vanished when he noticed the two shadows standing guard by the small exit. To Ramben they had no definite shape and moved around as smoke would, he could just make out two pairs of glowing eyes and the glint of sharp fangs amongst the black shadows.

"How do we get past them?" Morwen whispered to Darovel. The man looked to be at a loss; they were in no condition to fight the shadows, sneaking past them was out of the question, the passageway was too narrow. Ramben glanced down at the amulet he held, though the heat had subsided his hands were still sore. The voice that had guided him earlier was silent, the young Elf did not know what to do.

A soft moan reached his ears and he turned his head to see Amarth's face twisted in pain, but his cries were almost silent. Something inside of him snapped: Oroth had done this to him, he'd brought them here and hurt his friends, had hurt him.
His hand tightened around the amulet, his body began to tremble and the light from the gem shone through his fingers. If Darovel and Morwen noticed he did not care; all he was aware of was the power flowing into him.

Show them no mercy.

I won't.

/\\//\\/

Amarth's POV

I can't die.

If I had the strength I'd laugh at the hopelessness of everything, but I can barely open my eyes. I'm being moved I know that much, everything else is hazy and unclear. A sharp pain in my head makes me wince, what comes after makes me moan.

Where are you going Duvain?

Leave me alone...

I thought you were happy with me, why run away now?

Just stop...

Do you think that leaving the darkness will heal you? No Duvain, the light will only burn you. In the end, you will be begging for my shadows.

You're lying...

Quiet laughter fills my head as Daeris leaves my mind.
How could I ever willingly go back to her? She has done nothing but poison me...

Something is happening, the world seems to spin as I force my eyes open. I realize that I'm being held, but by who? I hardly remember anything...

There's a bright light ahead that makes my eyes sting. Just when I'm about to close my eyes again I hear a hiss from behind, then my body crashes onto the cold floor.
"They are trying to take him! Kill them all! Bring him back to our massster!"
Cold hands grab my arms and I feel myself being dragged.

No! I am not going back to her!

I wrench my arm free and elbow one of the creatures in the face; it shrieks and recoils in pain, but one quickly takes its place and more bony fingers latch onto my arm. I twist and kick out, thrashing and clawing at any creature who comes too close. I don't know who else is around me but I can hear someone else struggling with the shadows.

A voice cries out in pain (or it could be anger) and I think I recognize it...

Darovel? How did he get here?

I don't have time to think about it further as my air is abruptly cut off. Two hands have wrapped around my throat, and my struggles grow even more desperate. My arms are pinned to the floor, soon my legs are stuck the same way, black begins to take over my vision.

I can't breathe...

A flash of blinding, blue light engulfs the room. The shadows screech and release me, I immediately fight to bring air back into my body. I barely notice Darovel gathering me in his arms, I hate being so helpless. The bright light appears again, this time a voice follows.

"You will harm us no longer, return to your master and leave us in peace."
I don't recognize the voice, although is sounds familiar...
The shadows hiss and only a few seem to obey the voice.
"Ego!" The command thunders throughout the entire cavern, shaking the walls and echoing in my ears. The shadows flee to the darkness, and I finally manage to look at who the voice belongs to.

Ramben?!

The elfling's eyes are blazing, no longer pale blue, but sharp and- glowing? In his hand, he grasps something emanating the blue light that fills the entire cavern. Behind him two massive shadows are preparing to attack; claws sharp and fangs bared. I try to go to him but Darovel holds me back

Ramben turns around and raises the blue light over his head. The shadows roar and stumble away from him, but Ramben continues to move closer. I watch, spellbound as the light grows brighter, and the shadows slowly begin to shrivel up and fade.

What...

What is this?

Suddenly both the shadows and blue light vanish, and Ramben sways on his feet. Just before he can fall someone runs forward and catches him.
Morwen...
She- she's alive?

"We have to go." She says cradling Ramben in her arms. Her voice, it sounds real. Is it hers though, or another trick from Daeris? I wince when Darovel rises to his feet a bit too fast; if he noticed I'll never know. He starts to run alongside Morwen and I close my eyes again, my head is pounding.

I feel the light before I risk opening my eyes and seeing it. The way out, it's right here, we made it. My relief is short lived, the moment we step out of the darkness I understand what Daeris meant.

The light will not heal me, it will burn.

I scream, pushing myself out of Darovel's arms. My entire body is on fire, I curl in on myself trying to keep as much of my skin hidden as possible.
"Amarth!" Morwen is beside me, her hand on my shoulder, it only makes the pain worse. I scream again rolling away from her.

I can't see.
It burns, everything burns!

Why did they bring me here?! Can't they see that I'm dying?!

"Take... me... back..." I moan.
"Amarth?"
"TAKE ME BACK!"

I rise to my hands and knees, arching my back, roaring in pain.

It's too late now.

I've let the darkness take me.

I cannot escape now.

/\\//\\/

Oroth's POV

His shoulders sagged in relief as he felt the barrier Faervel had set vanish. To say he was angry would be an understatement: his prisoners had escaped, the amulet had been stolen, Daeris' own realm had been invaded, all because of Faervel's meddling. He straightened himself and stalked forward, paying no heed to the shadows that cowered in the darkness. Daeris met him as soon as he entered his throne room.

"You have failed me Oroth, you promised me that I would have my darkness, and now he is gone!" She spat, her purple eyes burning with anger.
"Recover your strength Daeris," Oroth said calmly, "you can go after him yourself once you are rested."

Daeris blinked.
"You would have me go myself? When Faervel is roaming these lands?"
"I thought that your power was greater than his." A challenging glint entered his eyes causing Daeris to bristle.
"You know I am weak! My power is waning, Duvain would have restored my power but you let him escape! Bring him back to me or it will be you who pays!"

Oroth did not even bat an eye.
"I gave you Amarth, he was in your domain where I am not permitted to go. Everything in your realm is under your control correct? That means that it was you, not I, who let Amarth get away." Oroth turned his back to her and added, "Which means, Daeris, that if you want your Elf back you will have to find a way to get him yourself. He is no longer any concern of mine."

Daeris hissed and a smirk appeared on his face. He had won this argument.
"And what about your amulet? Is that not your concern?"
Oroth spun around, his eyes narrowed.
"How did you know that it was stolen?"
"You are not wearing it." Daeris smiled, knowing that she'd trapped him.

Oroth was perfectly aware of where she was going with this, and though he hated himself for it, he had no choice but to comply with Daeris.
"I will give you enough power to capture Amarth if you retrieve the amulet and return it to me."
Daeris' smile widened and a malicious, hungry gleam entered her eyes.
"It will be done." she purred.
"It had better be." Oroth spun on his heel and walked briskly away from her.

"What shall I do with those he travels with?"
Oroth did not even hesitate.
"Kill them."