[Amanaduial the archer]

Tallin felt the pain finally overwhelm her as the troll's club hit her injured side and arm, and slipped, struggling all the way, into unconciousness.

* * *

The wolf tamer felt herself slowly coming around, how long afterwards she didnt know. Then the pain shot through her side again and she doubled up on the floor, clutching it. She felt the blood seeping through her fingers, and it felt like the red liquid must be liquid fire, not blood. She sat up carefully and looked around.

Hwesta lay beside her, and feeling the side of the elfs neck, Tallin was relieved to feel her pulse going steadily. Directly in front of them was the huge bulk of the troll. Tallin jumped back slightly, reaching for a knife, then realised how still the troll was. Dead at last.

"Uh huh, youre right about the last." Tallin didnt turn around, and a few seconds later she felt a wet nose nudge into the small of her back. Smiling she reached her hands out to either side and both wolves pushed their noses into one, a sign of friendship they had perfected over the years. She opened her mouth to reply but was hushed by Jets quiet voice. "No, don't reply now Tal. He needs you."

Tallin didnt need to ask who. Berethion. She could hear a quiet voice nearby, a quiet voice, murmering desperately, pleading almost. She stood slowly and climbed over the trolls body, landing silently on the other side, a few metres behind Raye...and Berethion.

“This is all my fault. The troll was meant for Tallin and only Tallin, and even for doing that I-I…Oh, I’m so sorry, Berethion.”
Meant for Tallin?! Tallins mind screamed at her outraged, but she didnt move, couldnt move.

"Don’t be so hard on yourself, Corrowyn," Berethion replied, and Tallins heart wrenched as she heard his voice sounding so weak. "We all make mistakes. That is how we learn."
"And what am I to learn, Berethion?"
"That friends are better than enemies. That in order to survive, you always need someone else on your side. You need a friend, Corrowyn. You must learn to trust another being, besides me. I won’t always be around for you to rely on, you know."

Tallin thought she could hear him smile, but it was as weak, she knew, as his voice. Tears started to slip down her cheeks, but she hardly noticed, as she felt her heart ripping in two.

"She loved you, Berethion. Tallin loved you." The wolf tamer looked up, surprised, and wondered if Raye had looked behind and seen her; but no. She was serious. The next words were even quieter, as Raye bent over Berethion. "And so did I." The womans head moved down, over Berethions pale face, and she kissed him. Tallin looked away, down at the ground, then dropped her head back, closing her eyes. Slowly she sank to the ground, and she felt the link she had with Berethion break as he slowly slipped into the clutches of death.

"No." She whispered, almost silently. She heard another run up behind Raye, but didnt move from her spot on the floor until she heard the horrified gasp, then the silver sound of a sword being drawn. Her eyes flicked open immediately and she saw Dimithil standing over Raye. The next few seconds seemed to almost be in slow motion; Dimithil drew back his sword, and thrust it into Rayes side, his face a contorted mask of anger. The woman fell sidewards without a noise, hitting the floor beside Berethion with a soft thump. Then she opened her tear stained eyes again and Tallin saw the spark of life there, the life of one who was prepared to live properly, without waste. Dimithil stepped over her.

"Murderess." That one word was enough, that hissed accusation. His eyes narrowed again and he held his sword up above his head in a two handed grip, as if about to make a sacrfice. "And may your soul never find peace."

The sword came down in a blur, down past Dimithils head, past his torso, down down down, towards Rayes prostrate body as she made no attempt to get away-

-before it stopped about an inch from her chest, the blade held in an iron like grip. Tallin winced, gritting her teeth against the pain as the double sided blade bit into her hands, but didnt take them away, holding the blade up, away from Rayes body. Dimithil looked at her, confusion mizxed with anger in his blue eyes. After a second he drew his sword back up, slicing Tallins hands even further, and she knew anger was winning.

"Why?" He murmered, then his frown deepened and his voice raised, almost to a shout. "Why? Why? Why would you protect the one who tried to kill you?!"

"We all make mistakes." Tallin echoed Berethions words, words from the grave, and saw Raye's eyes open slowly, the confusion evident in her tear stained eyes as well...and the pain that was a mirror of Tallins own.

"No! No, I deserve to die!" She said, her look wild, almost panicky. She reached up to Dimithil, reaching for his sword. "I deserve to die!" She repeated, her voice choked with tears. She caught the end of Dimithils sharp blade with her fingers, but he pulled it away from her, slicing her skin; he was looking from Tallin to Raye, confused. Raye seemed to relish the blood on her fingers, staring at it like the holy grail. Tallin crouched down in front of her and their eyes met...but Raye dropped hers immediately.
"I killed him."
Tallin took her hands carefully, looking at the blood on her fingers and the blood on her palms. Their hands spread up, like mirror images of each other, and their palms pressed together, the blood mingling.

"I deserve to die." Rayes voice didnt sound as convinced now. She looked back up at Tallin, before both of them looked at Berethion.

"I loved him." She continued. The wolf tamer nodded.
"Aye. Me too."