[Nerindel]

Taurëwen woke to the sound of their prison door opening, slowly lifting her head from Reynion's chest, she saw goblins grab up one of the elves, "No!" she gasped as she realised it was Gil. raising to her feet at jumping over bodies to try to stop them, But the goblin to the rear turned and sneered at her, "Still Spirited, Eh witch!" then he backhanded her across the face sending her to her knees, blood dripped from her nose as she looked up defiantly, but the goblin was locking the door to their prison and grinning at her wickedly.

Reynion had made his way over to her and helped her up silently leading her back to the back of the cage, "Where are they taking him ?" she whispered. Reynion's head lowered and she knew that he knew something, "What is it!" she pleaded. "Gil killed two overseer's trying to help me!" Reynion told her, his face red with guilt, She did not blame him for Gil's actions for if the situation was reversed she knew Reyn would have done the same and she told him so.

For a moment the two of them locked eyes, she felt his hands on hers and her heart burned and a knot started to form in the pit of her stomach, she suddenly felt herself leaning forwards to kiss him ... But the sudden clash of swords violently pulled her from what she thought was a beautiful dream. It's Gil she cried, but as she rose she realised that Reynion was holding her hands, but he pulled them away quickly and rose with the others to see what was going on. 'Was it real?' she thought as she watched him hobble over to the side of the cage.

She gasped in horror as another guard rushed at Gil from behind and cut him deep in his left side, from were she stood she knew that the wound was deep and the flow of the blood told her that he would not survive, but Gil managed to kill his attacker and toss them the key to their prison before he fell, never to wake again. Taurëwen wept for him and prayed silently to Illuvator asking him to honour this heroic elf, she was proud to call her friend.

She had not the time to honour him as he deserved. "At the cost of his life, Gilbereth has given us our means of freedom. Since dawn is upon us we will have the advantage. Take up all your hope and your courage." Ihwesta's words hardened her resolve and she nodded in agreement, brushing away her tears. She then listened as Ceros organised their group, Ceros and Ainemention went to hide the bodies, Ihwesta, Thillersk and Rydian went to retrieve their weapons and she and Dorienne were to get the others ready to leave.

They went around the cage that was their prison trying to rouse the other elves, but it was no use they would not move, when she came to Talas her heart broke she could not leave him . She hooked her arm under his and tried to pull him up, but he wouldn't budge, "Get up! Please, Get up!" she pleaded but he just looked at her blankly , she fell to her knees as she realised she would have to leave him behind with the others.

"Come" said the gentle voice of the elf woman Dorienne, Taurëwen nodded her head sadly and rose to join the other woman, but before leaving she turned and gentle kissed her brothers cheek, "I love you brother and will miss you always" the tears glistened as they rolled down her cheeks.

She followed Dorienne "We can't take them!" the elf woman quietly told Ceros and Ihwesta, Taurëwen could not bear to look at them and lowered her distraught face, Ihwesta's heated words only made her feel more ashamed that she could not help him...them! she slowly turned away as her sword was returned to her, the sword that Talas had made for her and as the runes glistened in the dawn light she made up mind if she could not take him then she would remain.

There was just one thing she had to do, lifting her chin nobly she walked over to Reyn determined that she would not let him change her mind. "This is yours and it is time you have it back." she said offering him the hilt of his knife, roughly chiselled into the black hilt was the elven rune for freedom, she had etched it days ago and the hope had kept her going. As Reynion saw a hint of sadness in her eyes he told her "Keep it you may yet have use of it." But Taurëwen gentle placed the knife in his hands, "Nay, I think I shall not." she whispered turning to what away. "No!" Reynion gasped looking down at the knife in his hands, realising what she was planning to do. Taurëwen held back the tears as she placed her sword next to Talas and knelt down beside him, resigned to stay with him, she squeezed at his hand one last time in the hope that he would respond, then she laid her head on his lap and wept.

"Ready?" Ceros asked "Yes!" she heard a weak voice above her say, It was Talas and he was holding her sword. "Thank you" he whispered pulling her up and handing her back her sword, "But...wha..how.." she stammered as they made for the East wall. She smiled as Reynion came up beside them and handed Talas a sword, he took it and nodded his thanks to the elf both for the sword and for looking after Taurëwen.


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Talas

clouded by the darkness in his mind, he could hear everything that going on but was powerless to do anything about it. When his own sister had been thrown in to the cage he had thought it but another cruel trick of his captors, but every night she came to him and slowly the darkness was clearing, he wanted so much to reach out and hug her and tell her that what ever she was doing was working.

on the ninth night since her arrival he listened to their plans to escape but still he could not break from the darkness that held him, but as he watched his sister say farewell to the elf that he could see that she loved and chose to remain in this prison with him a great anger rose in him, "No! you shall not have her!" he screamed in his mind and suddenly the darkness was gone. Looking down at Taurëwen weeping in his lap he lifted her sword and looked at its glistening runes remembering her strong resolve and determination.

"Ready?" he heard the Familiar voice of his captain ask "Yes!" he whispered tightening his grip on his sisters sword, and smiled weakly as she looked up in surprise. "Thank you" he whispered helping her to her feet. "But...wha..how.." she stammered as they made for the East wall. but before he could answer, The elf who his sister loved came up to them and offered him a sword, "My name is Reynion and it is good to have you back with us!" though as he spoke his eyes drifted back to Taurëwen, as his eye returned to look at him he nodded his thanks for not just the sword but also for looking after his sister.

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Taurëwen, Talas, Reynion

The three of them remained to the rear of the company as their going was slow, Talas was still weak and Reynion was still getting used to the wooden leg that the orcs had attached to his leg several days ago, the others had managed to get through the gate, when Taurëwen felt a strong arm grab her from behind, "oh no you don't !" a harsh voice whispered behind her, the others where to far ahead to hear her gasp, but Reynion and Talas turned round instantly.

Talas's eyes burned with hatred as he remembered the beatings he and others had taken at the halforcs hands, he raised his sword ready to lunge at the foul creature, "One move and I will slit her throat!" Rhtalk hissed pressing his blade to her bared throat, reluctantly he lowered his sword. "Fire!" Rhtalk yelled to the wall and both Reynion and Talas looked to the gate as they heard the twang of bow strings and the whiz if arrows flying through the air towards their fleeing kin.

"Just kill me and have done with it !" Taurëwen spat to the surprise of the others, "Oh no you are much more valuable to him alive!" her sneered at her "One who can heal without medicines is useful indeed!" he continued. As he spoke Talas sneaked behind him, he had made his mistake, letting them know that Taurëwen was too valuable to kill.

Reynion lifted his sword and charged forward, Rhtalk threw her roughly from him and blocked Reynion's blow with his sword then with his other hand he punched Reyn hard in the stomach knocking him to the ground, Taurëwen gasped as she saw the halforc raise his sword to deliver the killing blow, but suddenly Rhtalk screamed as Talas' sword went through his right leg.

Rhtalk's scream had alerted the archers and they now turned their fire on them "Come on !" Talas yelled as he helped Reynion to his feet, Taurëwen put her arm around Reyn's other side and the three of them made a run for the gate. "Kill them! Kill Them all!" they heard Rhtalk bellow from behind them.