I awoke suddenly, then suddenly wished I hadn't. Pain roared across my body, in some places worse than others, if that was even possible. I had to physically bite my lip to keep from crying out. Slowly, I opened my eyes and took stock of the situation.

My weapons were gone, and my dagger was in my satchel, which was nowhere to be seen. I was sitting on the road, tied to the tree which had fallen across it, with my back propped against the rough bark. My head throbbed, and agonizing pain shot through my leg when I tried to move it. So, the good news was that I wasn't dead. Bad news was, I wished I was.

All around, orcs were loitering uselessly, leering at me.

Wait. Why was I still alive?

"Hey." I used my nose to point at one orc. "You really need a new dentist." I pointed to another one. "And you. I'd have to recommend using a sponge when you bathe. Maybe your next wife will stay with you."

They hissed, and some raised their swords threateningly. Not that they were intelligent enough to understand me. The sound of my voice must've angered them.

"Move!" bellowed a really, really big orc. The others scrambled out of his way, and he stalled toward me, stopping only when he towered directly over me. Eru, he was almost as tall as Men! Placing a booted foot on my injured leg, he growled, "Where is the creature Gollum?"

Wincing, I said, "Never heard of a gollum, princess. If you're looking for a cosmetologist, though, there are a couple of good ones in Gondo - "

He stomped on my leg, sending lightning bolts of pain up my spine. I screamed. When I silenced, the orcs were staring at me intently. The sick monsters were feeding on my torture.

The orc standing over me smiled, revealing crooked, yellow teeth. "You're going to be fun." He glanced over his shoulder and called, "Rope!" Then he motioned for one of the others to untie me.

If I was to escape, now would be the time. But I was in no condition to fight, and even less so to run. I'd have to ride this one out.

I was roughly untied and yanked to my feet. The blood rushed from my head and I began to sway, but I was held up. I watched silently, dreading, as they found a thick tree branch and looped the rope over it. The orcs dragged me over to the loop, while one particularly gifted orc struggled to tie a noose.

I smirked and turned to the orc leader. "You should feel honored to serve alongside the best of your incompetent infantiles."

He backhanded me across the face as hard as he could. I winced, but grinned when he rubbed his hand.

All too soon, the noose was ready, and I was shoved over to stand beneath it. My hands were bound tightly behind me, and a rope was jerked around my neck. I closed my eyes and bowed my head. Sometimes, the future was all too predictable, and this was definitely one of those times.

A foot went into my stomach, knocking the air from my lungs. I crumpled, hitting the end of the noose, choking off my shallow gasps. I barely managed to get my good leg under my weight and push myself up. Then I glared at the orc leader. "Was that really necessary?"

"You will look at me as you die," he growled. Then he nodded to the orcs holding the other end of the rope. "Pull."

The noose tightened, cutting off my breathing. I stretched my toes downward, trying to reach the ground. I failed, of course. I was too high. I needed air! My legs flailed as I desperately tried to breathe.

"Tie it off," he grunted. Then he called, "Spear!" A spear was brought to him, and pointing the tip upward, he brought the spear underneath me. His beefy hand grabbed my right foot and placed it on the spear tip. Finding something to stand on, I forced my weight into my injured leg, bringing shockwaves of pain, but opening my windpipe.

Air! Glorious air!

The implications hit a moment later. Agony shot through me, radiating from my thigh. I sank back into the noose for a moment, until the overwhelming need for oxygen drove me back into the end of the spear. I cried out as it tore through my shoe, and went into my foot. But, I could live without my foot. I had to breathe.

Then it hit me. The cruelest part of death, is the hope to survive.

I should end this. All of this. Kick the spear away, refuse to play this monster's game and just die. But, of course, I couldn't. Even I couldn't give up that little shred of hope.

Thunk.

An arrow impaled the orc leader's neck, and eyes wide with shock, he collapsed. Even before the other orcs could comprehend what was happening, another barrage took out a generous handful of the monsters.

Was I really seeing what I was seeing?

Good news always comes with bad news, though. Bad news was, without the orc leader to hold the spear upright, the spearhead was still embedded in my foot, but I was officially without oxygen.

The orcs rallied, grabbing their swords and whatever else they could find. They even grabbed my swords. I scowled. For a herd of over-aggressive pigs, they could mount a defensive fast.

The elves came out of nowhere. Falling upon the orcs from all directions, they used longbows and broadswords alike.

Okay guys. Take your time. Anytime this Age would be fabulous.

An orc holding a sword charged at a dark-haired ellon with a longbow. The ellon shot at another target farther away, then turned at the last minute. He dropped into a crouch as the orc swung, then shot directly into the creature's forehead. Then, pointing upward, the ellon fired another arrow. At me.

It sailed over my head, severing the rope. I fell, a mind-numbing pain radiating from my foot. I barely even felt the impact. My vision began to fade.

Wait. Shouldn't I be breathing?