Captivity

…and as the weeks turned into a month, a new disaster has come to Elladan.

One fateful night, when the moon hung high in the sky, a group of raiders descended upon the sanctuary. Their arrival was marked by an eerie silence, their footsteps muffled by the darkness that cloaked their nefarious intentions. With calculated precision, they moved as shadows, their eyes gleaming with malicious glee.

Agatha, the kind-hearted woman who had been taking care of Elladan, could spot the approaching enemy and began alarming everyone in the sanctuary. She went outside the gates and stood defiantly in front of the raiders. Though lacking martial arts expertise, she refused to back down, ready to protect the sanctuary and its inhabitants.

"Leave this place at once!" Agatha shouted, her voice trembling with both fear and courage. "You will not find what you seek here."

"We are not here for trinkets or treasures, old woman. We are here for something far more valuable…" The raider leader chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with arrogant laughter.

"I will never surrender what you seek. This sanctuary of Lady Artemis is a place of peace, and I will defend it with my life." Agatha's eyes narrowed, her resolve unwavering.

"Well, the life is actually thing why came here, ha-ha-ha!" said another raider. "Okay, boys, let's finish her as quickly as possible!". It seemed like he was a commander of the band.

Then, with a swift motion, the raider leader launched himself at Agatha. Despite her brave resistance, her lack of combat skills proved to be her downfall. In an instant, the raider overpowered her, knocking her to the ground with a single blow.

As the rest members of the raider squad advanced, the residents of the sanctuary sensed an impending danger. The sanctuary's occupants, though unskilled in combat, were not without their own resolve. Some hastily armed themselves with makeshift weapons, ready to defend their newfound home. Others took refuge in hidden chambers, hoping to evade capture. Elladan thought that hiding was his best chance for his survival since there was no chance that an 8-years old boy could resist the high-skilled thugs.

With bated breath, he was trying to find the best spot to hide, witnessing with his ears as the raiders breached the sanctuary's walls at the same time. They moved with unsettling coordination, their every action revealing a familiarity with chaos and destruction. Everyone who dared to fight with them was fallen down. Then, one by one, the hiding residents of the sanctuary were discovered and overpowered. Desperate screams echoed through the once peaceful halls, drowned out by the triumphant laughter of the raiders.

Elladan decided to hide in the darkest corner of the sanctuary he could find. His heart raced with terror. He knew that his time was running out, that the raiders' merciless search would eventually uncover his hiding place. His mind raced, seeking a plan, an escape route from this nightmarish scenario. Just as Elladan's hope began to waver, a faint sound caught his attention. It was the rustling of fabric, the soft footsteps of someone moving with practiced stealth. His heart skipped a beat as he realized that another presence had infiltrated the chaos.

Peering through the shadows, Elladan saw a figure cloaked in darkness, moving silently amidst the chaos. It was a rogue, an unexpected ally in this dire moment. With a deft hand, the rogue dispatched a raider, swiftly and silently, before disappearing into the shadows once more.

Elladan's eyes widened with a mix of awe and gratitude. The rogue's actions ignited a glimmer of hope within him, reminding him that the fight was not yet lost. He knew that he could not remain hidden any longer; he had to seize this opportunity and escape the sanctuary for his own sake.

Summoning his courage, Elladan emerged from his hiding spot, darting between pillars and debris, following the path of the rogue. Their movements were synchronized, a dance of evasion and stealth as they navigated the chaos that surrounded them. But their luck would only hold for so long. As they neared the sanctuary's exit following the rogue, a raider-chienthrope, more perceptive than the rest, caught sight of Elladan's fleeing form. With a roar of fury, the man gave chase, closing the distance with each thunderous stride.

Fear and awe propelled Elladan forward, his legs pumping with a newfound strength. He could hear the raider's heavy footsteps closing in, a reminder of the peril that dogged his every step. Just as he thought he could go no further, salvation revealed itself before him. As the chienthrope closed in, its growls growing louder, Elladan made a split-second decision. With a burst of courage, he faced the creature head-on.

"I won't let you take me without a fight!" Elladan shouted, his voice filled with defiance.

His words made the raider laugh, however afterward, the chienthrope prepared himself ready to strike. Elladan took a deep breath, summoning his inner strength and courage. Unfortunately for the boy, he couldn't even realize how the foe instantly emerged from his back and held his neck. In a blink of an eye, Ell was knocked. As the raiders subdued him, the sanctuary had fallen completely. Every one of its inhabitants had been captured.

Once Elladan awakened back, he saw Agatha laying nearby. Her spirit seemed unbroken despite her defeat. Their gazes met briefly, and the old woman has spoken.

"Elladan, please, forgive me for failure. I couldn't save the people who trusted me…" she sobbed softly.

"Don't be sorry, Agatha! You did everything possible. Now, let's hope that somebody will come and rescue us!" Ell tried to cheer her, however, his head was still aching after the knockdown.

"Oh, gods… seems like you haven't figured out yet that such miracles take place only in fairytales…" said Agatha with a bitter smile.

Elladan wanted to mention the rogue one that successfully escaped the sanctuary, and probably ask about this person from Agatha, but their talks were interrupted. The raiders, reveling in their victory, put Elladan and the others in chains and loaded them into covered wagons. They dragged them all away. The sanctuary, once a symbol of solace and healing, stood empty and stained with sorrow.