We could have been stuck in that prison for days; at this point I was just guessing. None of us had anything to say to each other, what was there to say? I know that everyone is worried, what annoys me is that I'm the one they're worried about. Why? It just does.

I hear footsteps outside; loud and heavy footsteps.
Here comes the torment...

The door to our prison is flung open and I lift my head. I still haven't figured out why I was chained to the floor instead of the walls like everyone else, but that doesn't matter right now. Two tall, broad shouldered men (at least I think they're men, for all I know these are more shadow creatures) enter the prison. They don't say a word as they move to where Darovel is and free him from his chains. 

The larger of the two guards (that's what I'm calling them) shoves Darovel into the smaller one who grabs him by the arm, there is murder in that man's eyes, I wouldn't be surprised if he started killing everything in sight. I hear more chains being moved and watch as Ramben is pushed forward as well. The guard holding Darovel grabs Ramben by the arm; the young Elf looks as if he's about to faint.

More chains are moved and I assume that Morwen is being freed. Then the guard crouches beside me, freeing my hands from their bonds. Once my ankles have been loosed I'm hauled to my feet. The guard holding me is holding Morwen too, of course I'd get stuck with her.

We're marched out of our prison, the guards don't make a sound. Morwen and I are in the front and Darovel and Ramben are behind us. I try to keep a straight face as we're led through a poorly lit tunnel; are we underground?

The tunnel begins to widen and before we know it we are standing in a large cavern; and the familiar weight of dread settles in the pit of my stomach. Everywhere as far as the eye can see are the shadow creatures. Some are like the ones in the cell, but there are others much worse. There are those that resemble giant bats, snakes, I think I see more beasts lurking in the shadows. But the most unsettling thing are the ones that look like people. 

Black skin, colorless eyes, it's enough to make my skin crawl. The shadows watch us as we're marched by; some shrieking and jumping in excitement, others glaring, but most of them just stare in silence. The amulet is still glowing and I use my free hand to quickly tuck it under my shirt. I don't know how long it's going to stay there this time. 

The ground beneath us slopes downward and I struggle to keep my footing. At the very bottom there is an elevated spot with several stone stairs leading up to a black throne. On that throne sits who I guess is this Oroth that was mentioned earlier. His hair and clothes are black, he has dark eyes and a cruel face. I try not to be intimidated, but he's quite intimidating. The two guards continue to lead us forward; everything inside of me is screaming to run the other way.

Of course I can't, so I can only stare ahead as we're brought before him. Only after we're directly in front of him do the guards release us. I rub my sore arm and glare at the guard who stands motionless behind me. Are these creatures even alive? I glance over at Ramben and Darovel, the elfling immediately presses himself against me, holding my hand. Darovel moves to stand beside me and Morwen moves closer as well.

The four of us must look pathetic, but if Oroth thinks so I can't tell. He stares at us for a moment and everything else goes silent. I can feel Ramben trembling and I wrap an arm around him; just to offer him some comfort. Oroth's gaze eventually rests on me, I blink once but otherwise keep myself still.

"So we meet at last, thief." Oroth's voice is deep, and loud. Ramben buries his face into my shirt and I don't stop him. 
"I'm not a thief," I say as boldly as I can manage, "I mean I've stolen stuff in the past. Although I don't remember stealing anything from you." 

Oroth doesn't even blink.
"The amulet you wear, it is mine."

"Are you sure? Because I just found it lying around and there was no name on it so I figured it was for anyone to take." I really should keep my comments to myself, but I can't help it if sarcasm is once of my best defenses I have. Oroth however, is not amused.

"Do you know who I am elfling?" he growls.
"The creatures back in the cell called you Oroth, so I'm assuming that's your name?" This seems to annoy him; I guess he wanted to tell us himself.
"It's one thing to hear someone's name," Oroth narrows his eyes, "it's another to know the person whom it belongs to."
"Very well then let's get to know each other. My name is Amarth," I extend my hand forward for him to shake, "and let's start by you telling us why we're here."

Darovel's eyes are closed and he's pinching the bridge of his nose again. Morwen is staring at me in disbelief and Ramben still has his face pressed against me. Oroth looks as if he's about to lose his patience.

"You are hear because of what you carry. Your friends however, are here for another reason." 
This sends a chill down my spine and glance sideways at Darovel, he's staring straight at Oroth, his gaze calm and expression neutral.
"First of all they're not my friends; they are my acquaintances. Second of all; why do you need them if I'm the one with the thing you want? And why is it so important to you?"

"I can find some use for the daughter of a Maia, she must have some power that I can harness for myself." 
I almost forgot about Morwen's father. I turn to look at Morwen who has her eyes trained to the floor. I know she hates being reminded about Sauron, what I find troubling is that I never once considered her having any kind of power. Well yes Amarth, her father was a Maia and her mother was an unfortunate Elf, she's bound to have some special ability. Wait, what did Oroth mean by "harness?"

"As for your little friend there," Oroth continues nodding towards Ramben, "I think that I'll need to take a closer look at him. Appearances can be deceiving and I don't believe that he is what he appears to be."
What on earth is he talking about? I look down at Ramben who is peering up at me, his eyes flooded with fear. I know there is something odd about Ramben, he glows and sometimes I can't see him clearly in the day, but I've convinced myself that the amulet is responsible for it.

"And you Amarth," I feel his eyes on me and I stiffen at his words, "once I have retrieved the amulet there is someone who has been waiting a long time to meet you. I promised them that you would be brought here unspoiled."

A shiver runs down my spine and I quickly turn away from Oroth, I don't want him to see the fear in my eyes. Suddenly Darovel is in front of me; and for the first time in my life I am defended by a human.
"If you so much as touch him I will kill you." Darovel  is in no position to fight; he's weaponless and slightly injured, but I have no doubt in my mind that he will make good on his threat. In fact he looks ready to attack Oroth at any moment, like a drawn bow ready to be released. What did I ever do to earn this man's...

Whatever it is you call it when someone is ready to die for you. For the first time Oroth looks amused, though at the same time I can see traces of-is that respect?! What is that doing in there?

"You are brave boy I'll give you that, there is noble blood in your veins." Oroth's words seem to have little effect on Darovel, of course he's standing in front of me so I can't exactly be sure of that.
"However," Oroth continues, "I cannot think of any use for you, and yet I'm not ready to kill you at the moment. What to do..."

His voice trails off and I find myself holding my breath. Please tell me I'm not actually worried about Darovel.

Oroth's eyes light up and a smile appears on his lips. 
"My shadows have not had something to do for awhile, perhaps I will give them a toy to play with, something that will entertain them for a few hours."
My eyes widen in horror and anger floods through me. I gently push Ramben off and move forward, ready to launch my own attack on Oroth, when Darovel puts an arm out to stop me.

"What are you doing?" I hiss, "Didn't you hear him? He's going to give you to those things!" I gesture over to where some of the smaller shadows are creeping, looking at Darovel in excitement.
"I heard him, and he said that he wasn't ready to kill me." Darovel's tone is steady, but I can see the fear in his eyes. At Oroth's signal a guard moves forward and grabs Darovel, dragging him off towards the crowd of shadows.
"Remember," Oroth calls, "you can have your fun with him, but if he dies you will all pay the price."

I catch one last glimpse of Darovel as he vanishes (without so much as a struggle) into the darkness that the shadows cause. Immediately animal-like roars and screeches sound in the distance. I listen for a human scream mixed with them, but as the sounds fade I realize that they are taking him somewhere else to have their "fun."

"Taker her back to the cell."
I turn and watch as another guard grabs Morwen's arm and leads her back the way we came. She meets my gaze once, and I can see tears in her eyes. But are they tears for Darovel or me? Perhaps both? No it can't be me, she hates me. Does she?

Why am I thinking about this now?

"And you," Oroth walks down from his throne looking at Ramben, "will be coming with me."
Ramben hides behind me and I narrow my eyes at Oroth.
"He's not going anywhere with you." I growl, he's already taken Darovel and Morwen away, I'm not letting him take Ramben. Oroth chuckles dryly, his eyes dark.
"I'm afraid the choice is not in your hands Amarth." 

"Amarth!" Ramben screams as he's grabbed by one of the shadows, one who looks like a human, and is carried off like a sack of grain. I run forward when something grabs me from behind, wrapping its arms around me. All of my struggling is in vain; Oroth steps forward and reaches for the amulet. I can do nothing to fight him as he carefully pulls it off over my head, keeping the strap in one piece.

"At last," he whispers, "after all these years it is finally mine." Turning to the creature holding me Oroth says, "Bring him to Daeris, she has waited long enough."
Daeris? 
Oroth stalks away in the same direction Ramben was taken, while I'm practically carried by my captor towards someplace behind Oroth's throne. There is a small tunnel that we go through and almost immediately a wave of nausea comes over me. 

The air; it feels thick, I can hardly breathe. My legs and tremble and my eyes water. There is so much, evil here. I try to fight against the creature holding me, but I can hardly keep my head raised. Suddenly I'm thrown onto the ground, and darkness is everywhere. I can't see anything, the only thing I can see are my hands. 

I force myself to stand up, thankfully I no longer feel the urge to vomit. I stiffen as the air around me turns cold.

I am not alone here.

"Welcome Duvain," a voice purrs from the darkness, "I have been waiting for you."

/\\//\\/

Morwen's POV

She hated waiting, it was torture not knowing what was happening outside. Morwen was pacing back and forth in the cell. She hadn't been chained again (much to her relief) and was passing the time by pacing. She was worried sick for the others; Amarth especially. Morwen knew that the shadowed figure who had come into the cell was the one Oroth had promised Amarth to, what was that wretch going to do to him?

She shuddered as the memory of the being touching Amarth, how they called him "beautiful darkness," it scared Morwen to think of what was going to happen to him. 
I should be with him now! Why didn't I do anything to help him?! 
Morwen slammed her fist against the stone wall, gritting her teeth in frustration. Why was she such a coward? It was her stupid fear that had kept her from acting!

Oroth's words regarding her father entered her mind. The only reason she was still alive was because of the "power" Oroth claimed she possessed. Morwen sighed and looked down at her hands. She was aware that she had some power within her, but it was nothing that would interest Oroth. In fact she hated that she'd been born with it, her powers only served as a cruel reminder of her past.

Morwen sighed and went to sit down against the far wall of the cell. She would wait here for someone to come, and she prayed that it would be one of her companions. Hours passed before the sound of guards approaching reached her ears. She lifted her head up and gasped, a hand flying to her mouth as Darovel's body was dumped onto the floor. Morwen didn't wait for the guards to leave before rushing to the man's side, tears filled her eyes as she looked at his still form.

His shirt had been torn to shreds, only small strips of cloth remained on him, held in place by the gaping wounds that covered his back and chest. Darovel's breathing was shallow and one of his hands was taking on a dark, purplish color.

"What have they done to you?" Morwen whispered gently lifting his head into her lap. He moaned softly as he was moved and she was quick to cease moving. She moved his hair out of his face and assessed his injuries. He wasn't bleeding heavily due to the shadows not making deep cuts in his flesh, the worst of his injuries seemed to be his left hand. His fingers were bent at odd angles and Morwen knew that if his hand wasn't properly treated, he would never use his hand again.

She closed her eyes and thought carefully about what she was about to do. Her biggest fear was that Oroth was watching her, and this was a trap to get her to use her powers. Opening her eyes she was met with Darovel's pale face; though she hardly knew him part of her heart had been given to this man. It wasn't love she felt towards him, or perhaps it was. Not the same love she felt for Amarth; but a deep sense of loyalty and trust.

After running into him at the village Darovel had noticed her injuries and refused to let her leave without being cared for. Morwen had been hesitant at first, she'd never trusted men, but there had been something in Darovel's eyes that had led Morwen to let him help her. He'd been gentle and courteous towards her, he was respectful and there was something in him that made Darovel want to protect anyone that came in his care.

That included Ramben and Amarth. In the end it had been Darovel's gentle nature towards the elfling that won her over. After telling Morwen his story (leading up to how he'd met Amarth and Ramben) she started to feel this "love" for the man. Certainly not the same love she had for Amarth, but it was still love all the same.

No longer caring about if Oroth was watching or not; Morwen reached down and gently cupped Darovel's injured hand in hers. Closing her eyes she focused on releasing some of her life, her fea, into Darovel. In her grasp the color returned to his hand, his fingers straightened themselves and no longer looked deformed. Her eyes flew open and she released his hand; falling onto her side she gasped in pain. Her skin was pale and her eyes were dull, this was the cost of using her "power."

It brought life to another, by draining hers.

A soft moan from Darovel caused her to look up, his face was twisted in pain and he was clutching his now healed hand protectively against his chest. Most of his minor hurts had been healed but he was far from a full recovery. Once Morwen no longer felt as if she was going to faint, she moved back to where Darovel lay and placed his head in her lap again. His body still shook, she laid a hand on his shoulder, hoping that the gesture would offer him some comfort.

There they remained; alone in the dark. One oblivious to the world, and the other fearing for those out of their sight.

/\\//\\/

So the gang's in a pretty sticky situation aren't they? For your enjoyment I have provided a picture of Oroth for you all.

Hmm, now who does he look like? He looks very familiar to me.

And for mossfire946 another picture of Darovel. This one is more of a close up of him without his hood.

Hope you all enjoyed this update and I'll see you all in the next chapter.

P.S If you have a picture of Morwen lady_GreenleafXoX could you let me know? I'd love to include it in the book.

Alright I'm out