[Arien]

"Rhtalk the Half-orc," he said with revolting pride. "We're a delicate breed, and a valuable one." The goblins snarled and Rhtalk's face fell. "Bring them to Amon Lanc," he ordered. Ceros’ hand automatically reached for Ihwesta’, he held it tight, even if he did not know he was doing it. They were all immediately stripped of their weapons and their hands were bound tight with ropes behind their backs. Ceros’ were the last to be tied.

“Hey,” said the goblin tying him up, “You can let go ‘ov ‘er.” But his hand did not move from her arm; he instead looked down on it half surprised to find his hand their. “He said you can let go of her…” came the voice Rhtalk as he circled behind Arië. But Ceros did not; he looked up at Ihwesta, her eyes pleaded for him to let go but her face was emotionless. Just as Ceros was about to let go something hard was driven into his stomach.

The pain was immense and he fell immediately to the floor on all fours, his breathing became shallow and blood spluttered from his mouth. He wiped it and stared as it on his hand then Ceros quickly wiped it onto the ground. He started up at the orc who had just pushed him down. Ihwesta stood behind him; her face was still pale, as cold as ice. Then out of nowhere Arië went straight into her, knocking them both to the floor.

Ceros tried to get up but the pain from his chest was too much. Her groped the air with his right hand for help, but it was meet buy a rough hard hand. It clamped itself around his; grasping it as hard a possible. Ceros pulled at it and got up, he looked at the face of the one who had helped him. It was Rhtalk.

“Weak beings…” he spat a Ceros; he then turned his back to him. Ceros suddenly had the urge to attack him. But that would be no good for anyone and Ceros doubted that he could even do it, now that his torso had been bruised hard again. Rhtalk spoke again, “Come on! Get them to Amon Lanc!” He roared at the goblins. The did as they were told and they Elves were pushed forward into a line; Ceros was first, then Arië, Gilbereth, Ihwesta, Ainemention, Eruwen, Reyn and lastly Taurëwen.

They only walked a short distance to the gates that flanked the Tower. They were gates of great iron and as they neared they were slowly opened. Only two guards were posted at the entrance. To Ceros this looked foolish, but he did not know what lay inside. Against his better judgement he decided that these things could not be that foolish. They were pushed forward up the muddy stone path that lead to the door of the Tower.

A dense fog surrounded the whole area. Ceros noted it was much like the one that they had already experienced. He followed the goblin in front of carefully, until in the distance the Tower started to pierce like a sword through the fog.

As Ceros looked up at the enormous structure his heart fell. Not in his wildest dreams had he imagined the threat to be as colossal as this. No. But than it could not just be these stupid creatures behind it there must be some more intelligent power controlling them. Ceros’ eyes widened as the opening front doors revealed a dark hall in front of them. The chill from the hall reached right down into his heart, his soul and it froze them still. A sudden weakness fell over him and his body felt limp, but he was still walking.

The echoing footsteps of the goblins were all that could be heard. All were brought into a line in front of Rhtalk; all were standing until they were kicked to the ground hard by the Goblins behind them. They laughed and snarled at the Elves.

“Silence!” Bellowed Rhtalk, his voice ricocheted off the icy walls and the goblins were silent immediately. “Now,” he said walking in front of them looking at each in turn. Inspecting them as if they were meat. “Looks like we have found some help….”

“Help, we will never help you!” Spat Taurëwen. Rhtalk sent a stare at her, and Ceros saw a Goblin grab her hair from the back. He whispered something into her ear, but Ceros was unable to hear properly.

“As I was saying, you will help us. You, you, you and you,” he said pointing to Eruwen, Ihwesta, Taurëwen and Arië, “You will help us with building. The rest will be drafted his the army.” His? thought Ceros. So they do have someone in charge.

“’ey, what ‘bout this one?” Said a Goblin kicking Reyn forward.

“Ah yes, well we shall see….”

“For now the will go to the cages with the others, it is nearing the height of the sun and you were lucky you weren’t scorched trying to get them here!” Rhtalk said to the Goblins stood behind them, he then walked away.

“Wait!” Shouted Ceros. Rhtalk turned round, “Don’t you want to know what we were doing here?”

“No!” He growled back.

“We are here to rescue the Elves you have taken and we are her to bring you down!” Howling laughs from the Goblins followed this.

“Well you doing well so far!” He shouted back.

[ September 28, 2003: Message edited by: Arien ]