Unlike last night the sky is clear and all is quiet. Darovel and I slink around the outskirts of the village, hoods up hands ready to grab our weapons. There are still some people milling about much to my annoyance. Doesn't anyone believe in going to bed at a reasonable hour? I am almost certain that the world is constantly conspiring against me. 

"Where exactly was Ramben taken to?" I whisper to Darovel. I'm actually impressed, he didn't speak a word until we got here.
"If I'm right then he should be at the end of this row of houses."

Wait a minute...
"What do you mean if you're right?!" I hiss resisting the urge throttle the man where he stands.
"Usually after Thilan captures someone he decides whether or not he wants to keep them for his use." Darovel moves forward, darting between buildings and staying in the shadows, I of course follow.
"If he decides that he does not want them he will pass them on to a man named Elaph who will bring them south to Harad to sell them as slaves," Darovel continues in a low voice, "Elaph will bring Thilan back the money earned and that's how he earns most of his money. Those he decides to keep are brought here, and since he seemed interested in your friend I have almost no doubt in my mind that they brought him here."

Interesting, what a lot of useful information.
"How do you know all this?" I ask starting to grow even more suspicious than I already was.
Darovel pauses for a moment as two men pass by where we're hidden. Once they are gone he quickly darts across the street with me on his heels. Once we are across he answers my question.
"I have been hunting Thilan for years, I've learned all of his movements and tonight he will finally pay for his crimes. I won't lose him again."

Obsessive isn't he?
"Why do you want to kill him so much?" I ask. "What did he do to you?"
Several different scenarios enter my mind. Was his family taken? Killed? Had Thilan tried to capture him? All of these are good reasons for someone wanting revenge, so when Darovel gives me his answer I'm very confused.
"Nothing, Thilan did nothing to me."

I'm actually so confused that I stop walking and it takes a moment for Darovel to realize that I'm no longer following me.
"Something wrong Amarth?" He asks sounding genuinely concerned.
"Why are hunting Thilan if he never did anything to you?" I ask moving forward again. "You say that you want him to pay for his crimes, and yet he has done nothing to you? Why are you going after him when you have no reason to?"

Darovel blinks once. We stand in awkward silence for a moment before he finally answers, motioning for me to keep moving.
"I don't know if you are aware of things in this part of the earth Amarth, but here people are forced to fend for themselves. Those with power do nothing to help feed or shelter their people. Men work themselves to death for food, women starve themselves to keep their children fed, their sons and daughters are too weak to live. Many began to realize that they couldn't rely on "kings" to take care of them, so they began to take matters into their own hands. Outside the city the law was nothing. The strong oppressed the weak: Stealing, murdering, driving families from their homes. And then the slave traders came, it was soon learned that those in Harad would pay a lot for slaves, after that people were disappearing left and right. Father's taken from their families, children torn from their parent's arms, and still no one did anything to stop it."

Darovel's entire demeanor has changed. I didn't notice it before, but it seems as if he's carrying this weight  on his shoulders. He takes a deep breath before finishing, "I grew up in this world and I hated it. I was sickened to see how cruel and heartless people had become. I left my home when I was only thirteen, learning all I could about fighting and weaponry. I knew a little but I knew that if I wanted to stop this I needed to become better. I learned from whoever was willing to teach me, but there were not many who wanted to waste their time on me. So I taught myself my own style of fighting, which involves stealth and long range weapons. Once I'd learned all I could I returned to my home, seeking out those who had done innocent people injustice. I've hunted down more criminals than I can count, but Thilan has been my prime target for three years."

I stare at him in complete and utter bewilderment. I knew most of what he said already, actually the only thing I didn't know was that he existed. The fact that he has no grudge against these people he hunts, that they never did anything to him, yet he hunts them anyway, does not make sense to me. 

"So what you're saying is you've taken the law into your hands?" I ask trying to make sense of all this.
"No one else would." He replies shortly quickening his pace.

I hasten my steps as well, excitement courses through me when I see that we're nearing the end of the street. Darovel suddenly darts forward and leaves the shelter that the buildings provide. And because I'm dependent on him for the time being I follow without hesitation. 
The attack is about to begin...

/\\//\\/

"There are two guards outside the main door," I inform Darovel.
"You can tell from here?" He asks in disbelief.
"It's an Elf thing, you wouldn't understand. You know, with you being a mortal with your weak eyes and whatnot."

Darovel rolls his eyes.
"Alright Amarth, what do your Elf eyes see?"
I open my mouth to respond, then suddenly close it. I don't know why but I suddenly feel very uncomfortable. 

"Something wrong Amarth?" Darovel asks.
"I-I honestly don't know. I feel very confused at the moment."
"Why is that?"
"I have the sudden urge to repeat a certain phrase over and over again in the form of a song, but I don't know why."

Darovel stares at me as if he's questioning my sanity, which he would be wise in doing.
"Is this going to be a problem Amarth?"
I shake my head and shudder.

"No, I'm good now. The urge is gone."

Darovel nods and slowly moves forward. Giving myself one last shake, I follow. As we near the house I'm glad to see that the guards by the door seem to be the only ones outside. 
"Wouldn't he have more guards?" I whisper.
"People like Thilan do not live in fear of being attacked. They believe that no one would dare to attack them so they don't worry about having a lot of guards."

Which will make sneaking in much easier. Now usually I'd just kill the two guards and storm the place, kill everyone in sight, kill Thilan, free Ramben, then get out of this place and never come back. However Darovel has made it clear that stealth is our best option, and since he's been useful so far, I decide to listen.

Darovel leads me to behind the house, it's bigger than the smaller homes in the main village, but it's nothing impressive. There's a single door in the back with two more guards, both leaning against the house half asleep. I'm about to grab my bow and shoot them both when Darovel grabs my arm, shaking his head.

"What? I won't miss!" I whisper.
"We're here for Thilan, I won't kill anyone else unless it's necessary."
"Necessary?! They all deserve to die!"
"Do they?" 
"Yes!"
"Why?"

Why? WHY?!

They're-

They...

Huh, I've never actually thought about this before. Darovel is still waiting for an answer so I give him one, "They just do. Now enough talking let's get inside already."

Darovel bends down and grabs something in his hands, two stones. He feels them in his hands for a moment, studying their weight I assume, then with deadly precision he throws both stones which strike the men in their heads. They slump onto the ground and for a moment I think they're dead.

"What happened to not killing?" I hiss watching Darovel walk towards the fallen men. He crouches down and presses a hand against one of the guard's neck, he nods then moves on to the other doing the same thing.

"Don't worry they're alive. Although they'll suffer the most grueling headaches in their lives." Darovel searches the guards for, something useful I'm guessing, but comes up with nothing. He approaches the small, wooden door and pushes it open. Thilan must be very stupid if he leaves his back door unlocked.

Darovel glances over his shoulder and asks, "Ready?"
"I've been ready, I'm just waiting for you."
"Then let's go."
Without another word we enter the house. I've never done a stealth approach before, hope I don't do anything to mess this up.

But knowing me, I probably will. My thoughts are so preoccupied that I don't notice something peculiar coming from underneath my shirt. A soft, blue light coming from the amulet that up to this point, I have completely forgotten about.

The third biggest mistake of my life.

/\\//\\/ 

Unknown POV

It was near, its power could be felt, and it was not far. The hunter turned its farseeing gaze towards the village, the amulet was there, as well as the thief who had stolen it. The hunter growled as it raced onward. Soon it would have what its master had been so fervently seeking, and the hunter would be the one to deliver the amulet, and the thief to its master.

Nothing would stand in the hunter's way, nothing.

/\\//\\/

Ramben's POV

"I do not see what I am supposed to do with it Thilan, I'd rather have new jewelry than- what is this creature again?"

"An Elf Milda, it's an Elf." Thilan replied growing rather impatient with his wife's complaining.

"Well I truly appreciate the gift Thilan," Milda replied glancing down at where Ramben sat up against a wall, "but I already have plenty of servants. What am I supposed to do with it? How do I know it's not dangerous?"

"I can assure you Milda it is harmless. He didn't try once to escape or fight back, all he does is sit and stare straight ahead at nothing."
"So am I supposed to just set him down somewhere like furniture?" 
"Do whatever you want with it! I'm giving it to you."
"I told you Thilan I don't know what to do with it!"

Ramben put his hands over his ears, trying to block out their bickering. He hated being talked about as if he was somehow lower than they were. Could he not think the same way they did? Could they not both feel the same way? Why did these men think he was so different? Ramben glanced over at Thilan who was nearing the end of his rope with his wife.

All this man thought Ramben was good for was his beauty, a trophy to be shown off and preserved. He'd tried to offer Ramben as a gift to Milda as if he was a piece of jewelry, in Thilan's mind he was but an object, not a living being. This upset Ramben more than anything, and the burning feeling he had experienced before was now constantly with him. How long would he be forced to stay here? Would Amarth ever come for him?

Of course he will! He's probably on his way now!
Was he? Surely Amarth wouldn't leave him, no he wouldn't. Ramben knew that he would come, he had no reason to believe that Amarth wouldn't come. An angry shout of frustration came from Thilan who threw his arms in the air in exasperation.

"Fine! If you won't take the Elf I'll find some other use for him!" Thilan stormed towards Ramben and grabbed him by the arm, hauling him to his feet and leading him down the hall and away from a highly offended Milda.

Thilan muttered incoherent things under his breath as he led Ramben along, his hand was gripping him so tight that Ramben's arm was becoming sore. Thilan paid him no heed as they approached a door and went inside. Thilan closed the door behind them and without releasing him, proceeded to light some candles, filling the small room with light. Inside was a single bed, old and uncomfortable, a worn out dresser, and a rickety table with five candles sitting on top of it.

"This is your new home Elf, you'd better get used to it because you won't ever be leaving this place." Thilan then led Ramben towards the bed and sat him on it. The torn blanket was scratchy and Ramben didn't fancy sleeping here. But he would have gladly slept in that bed for the rest of his life if only Thilan would leave him for good.

The man was standing over him, arms crossed looking at him the same way he always did. Ramben hadn't realized it before, but there was almost something sad about Thilan's gaze. Why would he be sad? Thilan sighed as he shook his head, "Why is it that no one else can admire your beauty the way I can?"

Ramben stiffened as he sat down on the bed next to him. He expected to feel Thilan's hands on him, but for once, he did not touch him.
"I have grown up in a dark world little one," he did not look at Ramben while he spoke, "all my life has been shrouded in darkness, with hardly any light to be found. My mother died when I was a boy, and my father was a cruel man. I fled from home the first chance I got and was taken in by a man notorious for his slave trading, that's how I got into the business."

Thilan lowered his head, not even looking to see if Ramben was paying attention.
"I never said it aloud, but I hated living with the slave traders. I didn't want to take people from their homes, but I was told that it was the only we could survive. So when I grew up I took over the business, and just like they said I survived. I had food and shelter, men to do my bidding, and yet I was never happy. I was still living in darkness, searching for some light for myself, but I never found any. Until..."

Thilan finally looked at Ramben, and the young Elf was surprised to see a smile on his face, and tears in his eyes.
"Until I saw you at the inn, when your hood fell off it was as if the entire building was flooded with light. Beautiful, precious light. I knew that what I had been searching for was standing right there, I couldn't let you get away, so I took you by force. I couldn't believe it, I'd finally found light! I do not have to live in darkness anymore now that I have you little one, you are everything that I'd imagine light being."

Thilan gently brushed his hand against Ramben's face, but strangely Ramben didn't notice. His mind was troubled.
"I just- I cannot believe that you are actually mine. Everything about you is pure, unmarred by the darkness. It's all I ever wanted in this forsaken life of mine."
He removed his hand and at the same time Ramben blinked. Something stirred inside of his heart, the last thing he had ever expected to feel towards this man; sorrow.

Ramben's heart was grieving for this man, who had known nothing but darkness all his life, who had been so desperate for light which he'd never had, and believed him to be that which he sought after. He was hurting, Ramben could feel it. Thilan was so desperate to escape from his pain, it was consuming him. He wasn't a bad man, only lost and confused.

Tentatively Ramben reached out and took Thilan's hand. The man seemed shocked by the action, and for a moment could only stare at Ramben with his mouth open.
"I'm sorry." Ramben said softly, "it was unfair that you had to grow up that way, without light." He meant it too, he wished that life could have been different for Thilan, if it had been perhaps he wouldn't be this way now.

The man was about to say something, but he never got a chance to speak as loud banging on the door made them both jump.
"Thilan! Your house is under attack!" A voice shouted from outside the door.
Thilan was on his feet in an instant and at the door even faster. He threw it open to reveal a cowering guard.
"Who is attacking?" He demanded.

"T-two men! The one who attacked your men in Minas Tirith, and Darovel! He's here Thilan! Darovel is here!"
Thilan's face blanked for a moment, before suddenly twisting in anger.
"Order the guards to capture them and bring them to me!"
The man nodded and raced off, Thilan turned around and marched over to Ramben.
"They've come to take you away, they've come to steal my light!" Thilan grabbed him by the arm and yanked him off the bed. He then grabbed the blanket and tore it into several long strips. 

Before Ramben could run Thilan had seized him and using one of the strips of blanket, tied Ramben's hands behind his back.
"Please!" Ramben begged, "don't do this!"
Any other plea he would have made was silenced when Thilan used another strip of blanket to gag him. Finally Thilan lifted him up and laid him back on the bed, then he tied his ankles together before speaking again.

"I can't let you be stolen from me," the man's voice shook as he spoke and his hand trembled as he cupped Ramben's face in his hand. "If they take you away I'll die! I-I can't let that happen." Thilan then left him on the bed, he exited the room and closed the door behind him. Despite his current position, the young Elf couldn't help but tremble in excitement.

Amarth was here! He had come for him!

But what Ramben didn't know what that something else had come as well...

And it was preparing to strike at any moment.