Amarth's POV

Something cold presses against my forehead; water runs down the side of my face. 
What happened? 
Cautiously I open my eyes; a black sky filled with stars is the first thing I see. A cool breeze caresses my skin. I am not in Oroth's lair anymore, where am I? 
"Amarth?" I recognize Darovel's voice and turn my head to face him, he's the one responsible for the cold water on my forehead. 
"How are you feeling?" Darovel asks removing the wet cloth and pressing a hand against my forehead. 

"Terrible." There is no sarcasm in my voice, no snarky comment follows, just the blunt truth. If Darovel notices he doesn't say anything. Instead, he returns the cloth to my head and I close my eyes again. It feels good but doesn't do much to heal my weary body. 
"Where are we?" I ask quietly.
"Somewhere in the desert, after we escaped our only thought was to get as far away from Oroth as possible." 
"Are Ramben and Morwen alright?" 
"They are resting." 

I wait for him to say more but he changes the subject.
"What do you remember Amarth?"
I furrow my brow and though I'd rather not I try to recall some memory of what happened in Oroth's lair. I quickly divert from any thought of Daeris; a shudder runs through my body at the mere thought of all that she did to me. I try to piece together what happened during our escape. I vaguely remember Darovel carrying me out of that place, but everything else is unclear.

"I can't think of anything now." 
Darovel nods his head.
"Try to get some more rest Amarth, perhaps you will remember tomorrow after your body has had time to recover."
"What about you? You're hurt just as I am."
A quiet laugh comes from him, but I see nothing funny about this.
"I will be fine Amarth, get some rest. I will wake you in the morning." 

I'm too tired to argue anymore. Rolling onto my side I try to go to sleep, but it will be a long time before I will be able to fall asleep again.

/\\//\\/

Morwen's POV

She splashed cold water on her face as if it would wash away the memories of what had befallen them. Straightening herself Morwen allowed her gaze to wander over the vast expanse of desert. Sand stretched before them as far as the eye could see, if they hadn't found this small oasis all of them would be dead. 

For hours she and Darovel had run blindly, only stopping rarely to rest. Neither Amarth or Ramben had awoken during that time. Morwen glanced over at where her three companions, all of whom were sleeping. Ramben trembled as he slept, muttering incoherent things as he grasped the amulet tightly in his hands. Darovel had tried to remove it from the elfling but he refused to release it, even in slumber.

She still couldn't believe what he had done in Oroth's lair. He had commanded the shadows and destroyed two more, all with the amulet. So far Ramben was the only one who could kill the shadows, but why him? And how did he do it?
Morwen sighed and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the one that always fell in her face, the one Amarth said he liked... 

Her mind flooded with the image of him writhing in pain on the ground, screaming in a voice that was not his own, begging to be brought back to the darkness.
The light harms him...
As of now, Amarth was lying under the shelter of the solitary tree that grew beside water, his body shaded from the bright sun. Darovel feared what would happen if he was put in the sunlight again, and so did she. They'd had no choice but to render him unconscious, Darovel said that he had awoken briefly last night but had no recollection of the events that had transpired.

Her only desire was that he would awaken, healed and able to return to the same Elf she knew and loved. She was tempted to heal him herself but fear held her back. She didn't know what ailed him and trying to take away his hurts could kill her.
I can't leave, not when a creature such as Daeris is hunting him.
Morwen swore that she would not stand by and let that monster harm Amarth any further. Fear would control her no longer. 
I was trained to fight without fear, and that's what I will do.

Yet deep down she was afraid. 
Afraid of losing Amarth again, of him dying.

Her hands shook and she quickly tightened them into fists to stop the movement. 
I cannot be afraid, for Amarth's sake I must learn to remove my fear.

But, how can one live without fear?

/\\//\\/

Amarth's POV

My hands shake when I dip them into the water, cupping my hands I scoop some out and pour as much as I can into my parched mouth. Darovel is watching me closely, his entire body tense and alert.
"I am not going to leave the shade, you can stop worrying." I snap bending down to retrieve more water. Upon being "awakened" by Darovel (I was never truly sleeping) I was once again asked if I remembered anything. After hearing that I didn't, he told me everything. How we escaped, and what happened afterwards.

I can't remember being harmed by the sunlight, but I do remember Ramben using the amulet. He is still asleep, the amulet trapped in his grasp. I want nothing more than to march over and tear it from his hands, but I have been given strict orders to remain in the shade of this tree until dark. 

I'm almost tempted to try going into the light, just to see what will happen, but I stay put. Darovel tried to get me to tell him and Morwen what happened to me in Daeris' realm, I refuse to speak of it. 

What she did to me...

I-I'm ashamed to think about it.

For now, the three of us sit in silence, waiting for night to fall or for Ramben to awake. Darovel has tried to find food but there is nothing in this forsaken desert. Normally a lack of food would not be a problem for me, but in my weakened state, it won't be long before my hunger begins to affect me. Did we escape Oroth just to die in this desert?

Time passes far too slow for me. The sun begins to set and soon it is dim enough for me to leave the shelter of the tree. I walk around the small pool of water to stretch my legs, avoiding Darovel and Morwen along with their questions. I know they're worried about me but what could they possibly do to help? I'm used to taking care of myself, I don't need their help. 

While walking I keep an eye on Ramben as he sleeps fitfully on the ground; I wish he would wake up. I finally learned that he was the one who killed the shadow in the village. What I want to know is how Ramben (who didn't even know what a knife was at one point) could manage to throw a one with deadly accuracy straight into the beast's skull and kill it. Why didn't the knife Darovel threw in the shadow's neck kill it? How was Ramben able to see the handle on the cell door when none of us could?

There is something unnatural about that elfling and I intend to find out. However, it will be impossible to get any answers out of him as long as he remains asleep. As if he heard my thoughts Ramben begins to stir, I race over to his side just as his eyes begin to flicker open.
"Ramben?" I crouch down beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He blinks several times before rolling over to face me. His face lights up immediately at seeing me but there's something off about him, I just can't put my finger on it.

"You're alright!" He sits up and I brace myself for a hug, but he doesn't move. That's when I notice his hand, there are thin tendrils of smoke rising from his skin.
The amulet...
It's burning him.
"Ramben, give that to me." I reach for the amulet but he pulls away.
"No." 

Behind me, I hear Darovel's and Morwen's footsteps come to a stop, but those two are the least of my concerns at the moment. Ever since I met him Ramben has done whatever I've told him to do without hesitation; he trusted me blindly and would have probably followed me into Mordor itself if I'd ask him to. That "no" along with the cold, fierce glare that has entered his eyes makes me feel as if I've just been slapped. 

I take a moment to study him closely, searching him for any ailments, then I see what's different about him. It's his eyes that have changed. No longer soft and full of innocence, but sharp and piercing, no longer innocent. I am looking into the eyes of someone who has seen Death, I can see the guilt of having taken a life masked by anger. I know this because my eyes hold the same things. Ramben blinks and I divert my gaze. 

"Is something wrong?" He asks, but I hardly recognize his voice. Swallowing a lump in my throat I turn back to him, he's shaking.
"What are you Ramben?" 
Hurt flashes in his eyes but I ignore it. 
"Tell me Ramben. What are you?" 
Fear enters his eyes next. He looks past me to gaze pleadingly at Darovel and Morwen, begging for one of them to intervene.
"Amarth," Morwen says, "he was hurt just as you are. You don't need-"

"Was hurt?! WAS HURT?! I was not "hurt" by what they did to me, I was torn apart! Daeris didn't harm my body, she invaded my mind! There was nothing I could do to hide from her! Before we were even taken to that forsaken place she was haunting me! Poisoning me! Now you want to stand there and look at me as if I only received a flesh wound?! I'm dying! Don't you understand?! I'M DYING!"

Without thinking I grab Ramben by the wrist and pull him forward, tearing the amulet out of his hands. Shoving him aside I stand up and storm back to where I was resting before. After slipping the amulet on over my head and tucking it underneath my shirt I sit down I draw my knees up to my chest, folding my arms together I bury my face in them, letting my hair hide my face. Only then do I allow the tears I've been holding back fall.

/\\//\\/

No one came to try and talk to me. I'm glad they knew better than to try and get me to speak. Gritting my teeth in frustration I wipe another stray tear off my face. I haven't cried like this in years, I hate it. Crying makes me look weak, and after my outburst, they're probably watching and waiting for me to fall over dead. 

How could I have let my guard down so easy? I spent all day making sure I didn't tell them anything about Daeris, and I ended up announcing to the world that I'm dying. It's the truth though, I am dying. Not in the way one would think, my body isn't dying, it's my spirit that's failing. 

And whether I'll admit it or not, I'm afraid of what will happen to me.
I glance over at the others; Ramben is asleep again while Morwen and Darovel talk quietly together. I briefly wonder what they're talking about and at the same time I feel something tickle the back of my neck. I go to brush whatever it is off, it's probably just a stray piece of hair, but when my fingers brush against something as cold as ice...

No, oh please no not this.

I have no time to call out a warning as the shadow gags me, wrapping itself tightly around my head and covering my mouth, muffling all sound. These are not Oroth's shadows, which take on the forms of monsters, these are Daeris' shadows. They have no form, no mind of their own, they do only what their master commands. More tendrils of shadow wrap around me, pinning my arms to my sides and keeping my legs pressed together. 

I can't move, I can't scream, I can only watch helplessly as I'm dragged away from the others. 
"Amarth!" Morwen's voice cuts through the silence, but it does nothing to calm me. What can they do to save me from this? I feel myself being lifted up until I'm standing on my feet, then I feel something press against my back, and cold breath against my ear. 

"I knew I'd find you, my beautiful darkness." She wraps an arm around my chest and I fight to free myself from Daeris' clutches, but she only laughs at my struggles. 
"Let him go!" I see Darovel standing beside Morwen, both trembling in anger while Ramben stands behind them, a mixture of fear and anger are in his eyes. Daeris laughs again and a shudder runs through my body.
"Why would I let him go after I came all this way to get him back?" She runs her other hand through my hair, letting the strands fall through her fingers. I've never wanted to die more than I do now.
"I will be taking Duvain home now, but first I will allow him to watch his "friends" die. Once he sees that they are gone he will have no one to turn to but me."

My eyes widen in horror and I try once again to break free, but there's nothing I can do. I am about to watch even more people die because of me. Shadows fly from Daeris' free hand and streak towards them, Darovel and Morwen leap out of the way just in time, but Ramben is too slow.

A muffled cry escapes me as I watch one of Daeris' shadows pierce him. He staggers back a few steps, his eyes wide with one hand grasping his shoulder. 

Then he falls.

I don't scream.

I don't fight.

I only stare at the small, still form lying on the ground. 

My legs give out and I drop to my knees. 

Everything has gone silent.

Daeris is still trying to kill Darovel and Morwen, but all I can see is Ramben. 
But it's no longer Ramben I see, but Rilien. 

I see the knife that ran across his throat.

I see the man who smirked as he did it.

I see his lifeless eyes staring back at me.

I let him die just as I've now let Ramben die.

Daeris crouches down beside me, her voice whispers in my ear.
"You do not need them Duvain, I will provide you with everything your heart desires."
She turns my face towards her and kisses my forehead, and I want to die.

Suddenly, the darkness is flooded by the brightest, purest light I have ever seen before. I'm thrown onto my side and forced to close my eyes. Daeris shrieks and I feel her hands on me, trying to drag me with her. The light comes again, for a moment I think that I'm about to be blown away. I risk glancing over at Daeris; her eyes are completely black and I watch as shadows flow from her hands, rising high above her head.

Then I turn to where she's glaring and see a being surrounded by white, blinding light. A sword is in their hand and as they take a step forward, Daeris releases her shadows. The light being blocks each oncoming shadow effortlessly with the sword, continuing to move towards Daeris who is growing more panicked by the second. Shadow after shadow flies at the being, and each one is struck down with the sword.

In one final, desperate move Daeris seizes me by the arm but doesn't get farther than that. A beam of light streaks overhead; there is a scream from behind, and then silence. I look over my shoulder to find that Daeris is nowhere to be seen. Is she dead or is that too much to hope for?

Soft footsteps approach and I look up to see the light being standing over me. He is robed completely in white and wears a hood over his head with cobalt eyes, white hair can be seen underneath his hood. He has a fair face and looks down at me with an unreadable gaze. Crouching down beside me he grabs the shadows binding me and tears them off as if they were nothing but string.

He removes the shadows covering my mouth and they disappear in his hands, dissolving into nothing. Before I have a chance to speak he is already talking.
"Do not be afraid Amarth. My name is Faervel, I have come to help."
That name, why does it sound so familiar? Then I remember what happened earlier, and nothing else matters.
"Ramben!" I scramble to my feet and race past Faervel, not stopping until I've reached Ramben's side. Darovel and Morwen are already there but quickly move aside.

I drop to my knees and gather Ramben in my arms, my eyes immediately going to where he was stabbed.
"No, no please not you Ramben. Not you too...."
I search for a wound, but find none. What I do see are black tendrils snaking along Ramben's right arm. The next thing I find almost makes me scream.

I can see clearly through his body. If I put my hand behind his hand I can look at it as if I were looking through glass.
He's....
He's fading....

"No! No no no Ramben! Don't do this to me! Please don't do this to me!"
Tears are forming in my eyes but I don't care who sees them. A hand is placed on my shoulder and for a moment I think it's Darovel, until the person behind me speaks.
"Do you have the amulet Amarth?" Faervel asks.
"Yes, but what good will that do?" I snap without taking my eyes off of Ramben.
"Put it around his neck, it will keep him alive long enough for us to get him to my realm."

I turn around and glare at Faervel, a single tear falls from my eye.
"Can you save him?"
"I will do what I can."
His answer does little to assure me, but I have no choice but to believe him. Using one hand I lift the amulet from where it hangs around my neck and pull it off over my head, then carefully I put it around Ramben's neck. The gem in the middle glows softly, turning his face a ghostly pale color. But something is different about him now, I can no longer see through him.

"We must hurry if you want to save him," Faervel's voice brings me out of my thoughts.
"All of you are weary, you will all find rest and healing in my realm but we must go now."
I don't look to see what Darovel and Morwen think of Faervel. I gently lift Ramben into my arms, cradling him and trying not to think about how light he has become.

Turning to Faervel I nod my head, and without a word we follow him into the night.

End of Part One