ALISHA

I spied them as they went back inside, inside the house made by my people. Carved,by our hand.

I spied the two through the window as they snuck beneath the sheets together. I thought the commander incapable of smiling, but there he was, smile stretching from one ear to the other as he sat with the girl.

I aimed my shot with precision, drawing back on my bowstring until my arm hurt with the tension.

"You know that won't work." Father's voice came from behind me. "I've seen him stop an arrow in its tracks mere seconds before it would usually pierce another mans skull. I watched him slaughter legions of men single-handedly without so much as breaking a sweat before I was the only one left alive."

"Your point, father?" I asked,my voice ripe with anger and annoyance.

"You're trying to kill him,like he's just some ordinary human. He isn't human Alisha. He's undead. He moves faster than even our elven eye's can follow,can heal wounds to the point where you would barely recognise that he'd been wounded in the first place, his strategies and knowledge in battle are far superior than yours. Even in the state you're in now, he's probably already heard you draw back the bowstring. You aren't going to kill him...and killing his friend would be unwise."

I redirected my aim, moving my sights to the girl next to him. So pure and innocent she seemed.

"I've already killed one of his companions, another should drill it into his skull that we elves aren't meant to be taken lightly."

Father appeared in front of me, grabbing and snatching my bow out of my hands, snapping the arrow.

"Do you realise the consequences? He'll butcher us all! Your arrogance has made you over confident daughter."

"I'm the best archer on this continent and you know it. I can easily land that kill shot and break his spirit."

"Have you seen Eskarina Lyria fire a bow? You believe you're the best archer in this land, Eskarina is considered the best archer in the Northern Empire. That is already three continents that she is considered to be the finest in."

"Your point?"

"Who do you think trained her? The man you aim that bow at. The out come is simple. You fire, and Nova stops the arrow before it hits either of them, Eskarina fires back and you die. Or you fire,kill Eskarina, and Nova kills us all. And on the off chance that you do kill the Commander, you'd have Eskarina to deal with..."

"She's just a farm girl. I hear him call her that all the time."

"You underestimate her then." Crisingr said with a chuckle.

"How many of our people has he murdered? Slaughtered? Countless of our extended family members have died by his hand! Amaani's own family was almost murdered by that monster! And you want to let him live?!"

"I do not want you to die!" Father yelled. "You're being impulsive! I have seen first hand what both of them are capable of! I threw them both down a pit filled with arachnids. Even you with your skills would not be able to survive such a place. A nest? You'd be dead in a second. They made it out, and Eskarina made it out with barely a scratch on her, and they both killed the Queen of the nest. The two of them synergize their actions together extremely well, and alone, they can both hold their own in a fight. You won't stand a chance even with the element of suprise on your side."

I clenched my fists and stood up, my whole body was shaking.

"You defend them?! Why?! Have you grown soft?! Have you grown to like Nordlings?! Is that it father?!"

He was silent for awhile. "They taught me something. Nova? He is no monster like most people here say he is. He was cold, he was blunt, and at times he could be a complete asshole,but above all, he was fair, honest, and kind in his own obscure way. When I tried to escape once, he held me back, told me not to leave. I told him to unhand me,yet he told me the consequences of setting foot outside. I was a POW, in a time of war,from an enemy faction, in the capital of my enemy. People there loathed elves, and I wore our emperors colours like it was nothing. I would have died if not for Nova. I tried to escape in the woods, and had no idea where I was running to. I could have fallen into yet another arachnid nest,but he stopped me again.

In its own,strange way, I owe Nova,my life."

I couldn't believe my ears.

"If you want to kill me Alisha, try it."

His voice was like a match igniting, burning a flame. I drew an arrow from my quiver, holding it like a blade as I ran toward the direction of his voice. I jabbed the arrow head towards his chest, and it was stopped dead in its tracks. His grip on my wrists was tight, growing only more fierce with every passing second.

"I don't hit girls."

"I do."

Knuckles collided with my face,sending me staggering back. I opened my eye's,blinking to fight back tears.

The farm girl stood beside Nova, both of them holding their ground.

"Do something father! They fucking hit me!"

"You are the one who attacked Nova first Alisha. He never did a thing. If he was such a monster,he would've killed all of us as soon as he woke up."

"You especially. You killed Elena..."

A single eye of his went black, his skin went ghastly pale, and his face became skeletal,his bones almost protruding from his now near skeleton form. I could see the outlines of his cheekbones easier than I could before,his neck appeared to be stuck upright.

"I want to kill you more than anything..."

"Then fucking do it! Come on! I'm right here!"

Push him.

"I enjoyed it. I enjoyed skewering that bitch with my arrow, and I'd do it again if I could."

Piss him off.

"I'd fire it through her throat this time so you can watch her choke and drown on her own blood, and die slowly. Or maybe, maybe I'd shoot that farm girl next to you? Let her die and force you to watch her life ebb away at your feet."

He was growling,his teeth has become razors, growing wider until they were pushing out of his lips,parting them to reveal his sharp rows to me.

The girl stepped in front of him,placing a hand on his chest. His breathing slowed as she gently pushed him back.

"You need her to fight your battles for you?! I thought the fearsome Commander Nova was so scary! You're a fucking pussy!"

Father pulled me by my hand, yanking me back.

"Be silent! Do you not understand that he will butcher you before I have a chance to stop him?! Stop it!"

"Or what father?! Or what?! How many of our kin has he murdered?! You want to let him kill us don't you?! You're a fucking traitor that's what you are, you spent so much time up in the north that you've developed a soft spot for nords-"

"ENOUGH!"

Father glared at me, standing taller than I did. "Go. Home. Daughter."

I felt myself shrink smaller as my fathers voice grew more intimidating. I burned on the inside and turned on my heel,swallowing my pride as I walked away. I hid behind a few trees as I used my hearing to over hear their conversation.

"Forgive my daughter Nova. She's young..."

"She's a little cocky." The farm girl said.

"She's the finest archer we have. She's naturally grown arrogant."

"I don't think so."

Every time I heard his voice, I wanted to murder someone.

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes, a lack of confidence manifests itself as over confidence."

I bit my lip,trembling as tears stung my eyes. Rage bubbled in my chest.

I swear it...I'm going to kill you Nova...and your fucking farm girl friend is next.