*Chapter One*

Maelen took a comb to her hair, working out the tangles with tender care, eyes glazed over, her thoughts taking her away from the present. The past month had been a hard one; training the men from Captain Tulunk’s army into thorough fighters, ready to battle the elves and Linquidnights to help free the dwarves from their enemies. But training them had been difficult; they didn’t like a girl being in command, telling what to do, how to do it and when to do it. Each time one man protested, Captain Tulunk had been quick to shut them up.
She dropped the comb into her drawstring bag, and left the tent, ready to tell the captain of her news. She searched for him among the tents, but did not find him. She inquired of his whereabouts and was told he was at the river with Fuhlay and Furlo.
She found them filling their canteens. For a moment she watched them, wondering if the trio would come back alive. Come back victorious.
“Captain.”
The group looked up, standing, and the captain smiled pleasantly at her. “Maelen, what may I do for you?”
“The men are ready,” she stated simply, emotionlessly. At Fuhlay’s smile, she added, “As you know, it’ll take us a day to reach the village where you were camped at the day of incident with the dragon, so we cannot be charging into battle for at least two days, I am sure. As we must rest and then scout out the elf territory; would not be pleasant if they were to catch us before we even reach our destination.”
They had made a day’s journey from the village, in hope the elves would be too busy fighting to scout out the one who hurt the dragon too far away from the forest. It appeared as though they had put enough distance between them and elf territory. They had posted guards each night just to be sure they’d be safe.
“I guess we should head out within the hour,” commented Captain Tulunk when silence reigned for a minute or two. “Maelen, go tell the men; it just may put you in their good graces,” he added with twinkle in his eyes.
Maelen gave a curt nod, turned abruptly and walked away.
“I am kind of surprised she’s given the go ahead so soon,” Fuhlay admitted. “I thought she was too soft, too attached to those elves, to ever give the go ahead.”
“She may have known them, but she isn’t the type to let her feelings run her,” Furlo replied, eyeing his friend. “I think she just wanted to be sure we were fully prepared so any deaths wouldn’t be placed on her shoulders. She wanted to do all she could for us in getting us ready.”
“Quit arguing, and get ready,” Captain Tulunk interjected, stopping Fuhlay from responding to Furlo.

In the heart of the forest, elves were conversing amongst themselves, a handful of dragons watching with interest, their eyes unblinking.
“We cannot let whoever hurt one of these-” he flung his arm towards the dragons-“get away.”
“It’s been a full moon cycle, and we have not found the culprit. Rest easy, for they will come,” the leader, Kuloon, responded, voice sharp.
“What about Shining Lake? We’d benefit from it greatly,” Chapen inquired.
Kuloon eyed his right-hand elf, shaking his head. “I would much rather keep our men from that war for now. Once it is won, we will simply take it from whoever has it. As for now, we will prepare for our mightiest enemy.”
“The one who injured our dragon,” noted Chapen. “We will destroy whoever dares ride with him.”
The dragons looked at each other, seeming to smile at their words.
“And what of the girl?” Riamiido questioned.
“I believe,” Kuloon began thoughtfully, “she’ll be with our foe.”
“Why?” somebody threw out.
Kuloon tossed the group a sardonic smile. “The one who did this would have rest assuredly continued their trek into the forest, only she would stop them from it. Knowing the danger that awaits one who hurts a dragon.” He looked towards the dragons, and smiled happily. “We shall appease their wrath with her death, and they’ll let us win Shining Lake.”
Riamiido spoke softly, “I would feel bad to kill her. She cared for my parents as they writhed in pain before their death.”
“She helped us all, Riamiido!” bellowed Kuloon, “but she will be leading an attack against us, against our dragons. We cannot let her live! Death awaits her.”
Chapen and Riamiido disagreed. She had not even eaten of the dragon her brother had slain. Nor had she known of his plans; surely if she had, she would have stopped him.
With a glance at the dragons, Chapen noticed how they seemed to smile at one another again; eyes narrowing, mouths curving. Chapen personally thought it looked more like an evil grimace.
“Bring out the prisoner!” Kuloon hollered. A moment later, a girl in nothing more than rags, hands bound tightly in front of her, and gagged, appeared, being roughly shoved by one of the elves. Her hair hung to her shoulders, badly in need of washing for the black shine was gone. Kuloon stared at her. “We shall use her to capture the traitor.”
The girl tried to speak through the gag, but her efforts were futile.
Chapen looked once more towards the dragons to judge their reaction. Anger burned in their eyes as they intently studied the girl before them. With a final look, they dispersed. He watched he knew what they were up to.

Gaelen and Claden lead the two surprise attacks, on the left and right side of the Linquidnights’ camp. The enemy of the dwarves were not expecting an attack that evening, and were ill-prepared. Their leader called out orders in desperation, but it was clearly obvious who would be the conqueror in this battle, but the Linquidnights would not go down without a fight.
After three hours of intense fighting, the Linquidnights backed off, noticing their losses were many. The groans of the dying filled the air as they suffered in agony. The dead were scattered just as the wounded, and blood soaked the ground.
Gaelen had his men collect their injured, taking them to the hospital to get immediate attention while Claden lead his army to help the Linquidnights’ injured. The ones in dire need of medical attention were taken to the hospital, while the rest were tended to on the battlefield, then carted off to the prison, and at the end of the war an exchange would be made.
By the time the sun rose, Gaelen was bone-weary, and temperamental. Claden brought him an early breakfast, knowing that he would be famished.
“Thank you, Claden. I deeply appreciate this,” he said tiredly.
Claden nodded. “Gaelen, I have been thinking…that instead of bloodshed, why not try negotiation? Surely they are also aware of the cost of this war.”
“They are stubborn. Besides, Claden, we are beyond the point of negotiation .”
“Why not give them half of the lake?”
“No! This land is ours!” Gaelen said, raising his voice several octaves, surprising himself and Claden. He rarely raised his voice, and never before at Claden. In a much lower voice, he finished, “It is too late now. I am not surrendering, and I doubt they will either.”
“What good is the lake to us if we are dead?” His voice was unusually sharp.
“Our women are still out there. Our boys not quite old enough to fight will soon be grown, and can marry and produce more offspring. No more on this subject, Claden.”
He gave a curt bow in a nearly mocking manner, before abruptly turning and leaving. Gaelen felt terrible. For yelling at Claden, for the death of his men. But what he had said was true; the Linquidnights’ wrath was fully aroused, and no negotiation would appease it. Not even half of the lake.

Captain Tulunk woke Maelen, Fuhlay and Furlo at dawn, and ordered them to go check out the hill, be sure it was safe. They had camped on the outskirts of the village as they had last time. The villagers, although friendly, wanted nothing to do with an army. They preferred to make it clear they were not involved whatsoever with the army. They liked to remain neutral.
The trio saddled their horses, and packed a breakfast they’d eat on the way. They didn’t push the horses, instead letting the horses walk at their usual gait.
Maelen looked thoughtful as they rode up the hill, yet remained quiet. Fuhlay, too, was quiet, but looked as if he were bored, and Furlo looked uncomfortable with the silence, but wasn’t sure how to break it.
Finally Maelen spoke. “I doubt we will see any movement unless we go into the forest. The dragons don’t usually venture out very often on this side.”
“Wouldn’t going into the forest be dangerous?” asked Furlo, eyebrows knitting together with concern.
Maelen smiled softly. “Yes, it could be, although at this early of day, they might as well and be sleeping.” She looked at the sunrise. It was a mixture of yellow, orange, pink and some purple was mixed in. It was rising from above the trees of the forest, and bathed the trees in a golden glow. “Hopefully the sun’s rays will penetrate into the forest. The dragons spook easily when awaken by surprise but we cannot go into the forest talking to warn them of our coming, as I am sure the elves have a few men on guard, and they have exceptionally great hearing-much to our disadvantage. It will make it all the more difficult to get our army through without being noticed.”
“Anything else we ought to know?” Fuhlay asked, sounding rude.
“No…Not that I can think of off hand,” she replied, smirking. His attitude was grating on her nerves, but she would not answer sharply, or be impatient. Sarcastic, yes. And she could not help the smirk that had come with the response.
“How will we not scare a dragon?” Furlo wanted to know.
“If the sunlight reaches into the forest, we can see them. If not, pray you will not bump into one of them.”
“I hope none sleep at the entrance of the forest,” Fuhlay muttered.
“Not usually, but if they are today, we will simply turn back,” she answered. Turning to Furlo, “Is he always this moody?”
Furlo simply chuckled, and she smiled widely. Fuhlay scowled, but didn’t comment.
They reached the crest of the hill, and Maelen scanned the entrance. No dragons seemed to be lurking nearby, so she urged her horse forwards, and the two other riders let their horses follow her. Upon entering the forest, all communication amongst them ceased, and the only noise was a quiet clop-clop of the horses hooves on the ground. Pine needles layered the ground.
Horses and riders were on the alert for any sound, any movement.

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Here is more of my story. I hope y'all like it. Please, remember this: if you do not, let me know. And any crictism (did I spell that wrong?) is welcome. It'll help me become a better writer if I know what to change, and all that good stuff. =) but of course, if u enjoy it, u can say that too. lol.