2-Premonitions

I let go...

The blood dripped down my wrist... falling drops splattered on my once clean robe. I was one of the few remaining. I closed my eyes and decided.

The sharp rocks cut my hand, I could scream out in pain but no one would save me... this was inevitable.

There wasn't anything to hold on to anymore. Through swollen eyes, I looked back on it all. How could I not see it coming?

Tumbling forward, losing strength, everything was blurry... I had lost so much blood. Before I knew it I was falling off a cliff, only saved by my robe being caught on a group of rocks. I turned over and grabbed at the rocks... I had to hold on... didn't I?

I struggled, stood, limped... the city was in ruins around me, what once was... is only a memory.

It all happened so quickly. The city up in flames, the staggering wounded, the already dead. The scent of freshly fired weapons, the chill of failure.

We had been warned days before... we were too strong, too many to worry. Even he...he thought we would come out victorious. But, he was wrong.

It was too late. He was dead. I let him die...

Dragging my body low to the ground...I reached him. He was not moving, his chest showed no giving of way to breath. Struggling to speak, I called out, "Orin... shell...ahk'tees..."
The enemy scattered around to find more victims, we were clearly outnumbered now, I thought we were stronger...

He fell...

Ryld shouted something... I could not make it out... I could only see the warriors around him dying... I could only see more and more of the enemy pouring in.

A sharp blow to the head and I was down on the ground. I could not see anything but fire... I could not feel anything but a throbbing pain in what I thought was the back of my head... except when I regained the strength to reach I could feel nothing... only to return my hand to my eyes and see blood.

He drew his blades, glistening in the moon-light as the metal shattered through the Orcs skull. It was not the first time I had stood by his side, I had many a time before, and would die an honorable death doing so if I had to. My eyes glazed over with anger, chanting loudly... the same chants I had said a thousand times... Orlo...ansil...ansinete. The enemy's around me fell, their eyes burning through me... I had attracted much unwanted attention.

The town was booming with noises. The loud chanting of Mages echoed through the cave... Le'suma...Qurim...Ahk'tese

Palus Knights, Warriors, Assassins... drawing their blades together, the shouts of advancing were heard for miles

The sound of metal striking metal, piercing flesh...

Falling bricks struck the unsuspecting... crashing down to the ground, crushing bones, screams were heard throughout the city.

This is the day we shall both die.

This is my lover, my friend, my everything.

He took his swords and placed them at his side.

"We are strong, we stick together. They shall not overcome us."

He leaned forward and brushed his hand gently across my cheek... looking deep into my eyes, he spoke softly.

"Your swords."

"Stand up, Arianta..."

"M'lord..."

I picked up his blades from the ground, I bowed before him and held out my hands so he could take them from me.

Quickly, I threw on my armor... I found myself unable to speak. I turned to Ryld and stared at him... he had his back to me, naked... he was truly a Dark Elf. I had seen his body naked so many times before... but it was different this time. I could see the scars from battles, the light softly reflecting off the marks...his dark blue skin...the muscles in his back... his broad shoulders...

They had come.

We lied down and I recalled...


I closed my eyes and nodded slightly...I had to believe him because I couldn't let any of it happen. I would never let this happen.

He cocked his head to the side and shook it furiously..."You are strong... I trust you with my life, at anytime"

"I let you die. I was not strong enough..."

"Same one as always?"

"Yes...they returned..."

"Your nightmares... you were screaming again..." he wiped the tears from my face and kissed me softly on my forehead... he beamed with love and concern.

"..." What had happened? "Yes?"

"Arianta!"


Sleeping soundly in my bed, nuzzled up next to my lover, holding him tight... the nightmares returned. Only, they were not only nightmares, but premonitions. Magister Haorl was right about me, as a child it was facsinating to think I was different... as an adult, it was a curse. I was learning still how to distinguish which was a dream and which the future... although this time I knew, my fears scared me sickly...I could never lose him, my everything. Thankfully, it was only a dream...