I feel someone shaking me but I can't tell who it is. My eyes are closed and I'm still trapped in a world of darkness.

I hear a faint voice calling to me yet I can't discern  who it belongs to.
"Caran! Caran please wake up!"
Suddenly I'm thrown back to the night of the attack. I remember watching Elwin and Rilien die and Idhrenion branding me as a traitor.

"Among our people you shall be remembered as Amarth! The one who brought doom upon us all!"

Anger floods my mind.
I am not Amarth.
Idhrenion is a coward.
He let Rilien die.
I want him and every single one of those men who destroyed our home to pay.

"Caran! Wake up please!"
I know that voice, Anna.
My eyes flicker open and I wince as I put weight on my injured shoulder.

I see Anna kneeling in front of me. Her eyes are red from crying and she is trembling in fear.
She wraps her arms around me and I want to return her embrace, only to find that my hands are still tied behind my back.

I rest my chin on Anna's shoulder and close my eyes.
"Are you alright Anna? Did they hurt you?"
"No, but you have been unconcious for days."
Anna releases me and for the first time I realize that we are in a prison cell.

The floor is made out of cold stone and sand and straw cover a majority of it. There are no windows and the only light is the faint glowing outside the barred cell door.

"What are they going to do us Caran?"
Anna's voice trembles as she squeezes my arm.
"I don't know but I swear that I won't let them do anything to you."

Anna is silent for a moment and then she leans against me.
"They killed Rilien, and Elwin."
I choke back a sob as the memory of their deaths enter my mind.

"They will pay for what they
did."
I wish that I could hold her and comfort her with more than just words but it's impossible.
"Why did Idhrenion call you a traitor?"

Her question throws me off guard and I can't think of an answer.
"You didn't bring those men to us, right Canar?"
My mouth is dry and I can't answer her question.

Anna opens her mouth to ask another question when the sounds of footsteps approaching causes her to press even closer to me.

Two men approach our cell door and unlock it. They stalk towards us and I glare up at them in blind hatred.

The men ignore me and haul me to my feet. One man grasps my arm and the other grabs Anna. Without a word they march us out of our cell and down a dark hallway.

I gance back at Anna who is wide-eyed with fear.
You're going to be alright.
I want to tell her.
The man holding me forces my head forward and I resist attacking him.

If it were only me I wouldn't be going with them so easily. But I couldn't do anything that would risk Anna's safety so I stay quiet and conform to what the men want me to do.

We're led out of the dungeon and immediately I am blinded by the bright flames of the sun.
I squint and try not to stumble as I'm continued to be shoved forward.

Finally the light of the sun is gone and I am able to see clearly.
I look around and see that we are in a courtyard of some kind. Stone walls tower all around us and the ground is covered in sand.

We are standing under a pavillion that has a table with several men standing around it and talking amongst themselves.

My eyes burn with hatred as one of the men turns around and reveals himself as the man who murdered my son.

Never in all my life have I wanted someone dead as much as I wanted him to be.
He smiles and waves the other men, besides the two holding me and Anna, away from under the pavillion.

He has short dark hair and dark skin. His eyes are brown and cruel and he wears traditional Easterling clothes, what strikes me as odd is how expensive his red and orange robe looks.

"Welcome to Rhun my friend."
He smiles revealing straight, white teeth.
I would love to knock a few of them out.

"I suppose you are wondering why you are here and what my plans are for you."
"Do your plans involve letting us go?"
My words are rewarded with a hard punch to my stomach.

I double over and fight to bring air back into my lungs. To add to my anger and frustration the man in front of me starts laughing.

"I've never encountered an elf with such a sharp tongue."
"If you thought that was anything you should hear what else I have to say about you and your people."

The man holding me prepares to strike me again the leader holds up a hand to stop him.

"I would love to hear your opinions about me and my people."
I narrow my eyes and stay silent.
I'm not going to do anything this man tells me to do.
"What's wrong elf? Have you suddenly forgotten to speak?"

He stands right in front of me with that stupid smirk on his face. I headbutt him and send him stumbling backwards.

I receive another punch to my stomach but by now I no longer care. They can't hurt me anymore than they already have.

The leader rubs his forehead and shoots me a dirty look. All amusement is gone from his face.
"You will soon learn your place elf."
He spat.

"I should warn you that I am a slow learner."
I say innocently.
I'm punched again but I can tell that the men are realizing that their blows are having little effect on me.

The man studies me closely and then gestures for the man holding Anna to bring her forward. I tense as she's brought before him and they notice.

"Is she your daughter?"
He asks after closely inspecting Anna.
I say nothing as I continue to glare at him.
"Don't make this difficult elf. You may not be affected by our punishments but I can bet that she isn't as resilient."

This makes both me and Anna widen our eyes in fear.
I take a deep breath and answer.
"She is my sister."
The man nods and looks down at Anna again.

I swear if he lays a finger on her he will die.
"We may not be able to hurt you physically, but you seemed to be harmed quite emotionally after your son died."

I stiffen and resist lunging at him. Anna looks at me fearfully, her eyes are begging for me to do something.

The man notices my panic and smiles.
"Don't worry elf, I'm not going to kill her."
He places his hand under her chin and lifts her head up.
"I know quite a few people who would pay me a lot of money for an elf slave."

This time I can't restrain myself and I break free from my captor's hold and run towards the man. Before I can reach him the two men grab me and hold me back.

The man smirks and calls for two more guards.
"Take her to slave's quarters."
He shoves Anna towards the men who immediately grab her by the arms.
"And take him back to his cell. I have something special planned for him."

"Caran!"
Anna screams as she's dragged away.
"Anna!"
I fight against my captors, I can't lose Anna, she's all I have left.
I rip myself out of their grasp and run towards the men holding Anna.

The leader calls for more guards to restrain me but I cannot be held. I push them away and keep fighting to reach Anna, who is still screaming my name.

Soon at least ten guards are struggling to hold me. They force me onto my knees and strike me on the head. It doesn't render me unconcious but succeeds in disorienting me.

"Caran!"
The men force me back to my feet and drag me away from Anna, and back to the dungeon.
I shake my head and clear away my dizziness.

I watch helplessly as Anna is led into another building.
"Anna!"
Her name is the last thing I say and her frightened gaze is the last thing I see before my world plunges once again into darkness.

////

The sound of Anna's screams haunts my dreams that night.
I lay on my side in my cell, alone and defeated.

I've lost my parents, my best friend, my wife, my son, my people, and now my sister.

I have nothing to fight for now.

Except for revenge.

I will get revenge for what these men took from me. Even if I have to die trying.

I'm left alone for three weeks. The only people I see are the guards that bring me food and water.

I wonder what they have planned for me and what happened to Anna. Is she even still alive? What if they decided to kill her and keep me in the dark about it? Letting me cling to the false hope that she's alive?

I hear footsteps approaching and a guard unlocks my cell. Four more men join him and they haul me to my feet.

I smile inwardly at the fact that they now need five men to contain me.

They lead me back out into the blinding light and towards the pavillion where the brightly dressed man is.

That's when I learn exactly what he plans on doing with me.
As I'm led away with him leading I vow that I will escape from this place.

And that he will die by my hand.