Escape from Darkness

Arden and his team moved silently through the dark, narrow corridors of the dwarven fortress, their senses on high alert. The explosions had done their job, creating enough chaos to allow them to slip deeper into the stronghold. Every shadow, every sound kept them on edge as they advanced.

Ahead, a faint glimmer of light signaled their destination. Ninloth and Finnian emerged from the semi-darkness, their expressions tense but determined. Ninloth's eyes met Arden's, a silent understanding passing between them.

"Any trouble?" Arden asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Nothing we couldn't handle," Ninloth replied, wiping the blood from his short swords. "The dungeons are just ahead. We need to move quickly."

The team followed Finnian's lead as he navigated the maze-like tunnels. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and metal, and enchanted stones were on the walls, casting eerie shadows on the rough stone. As they rounded the final corner, they came upon a row of iron-barred cells, each one a grim reminder of the fortress's oppressive power.

…

The sounds of footsteps felt like they were coming closer and the closer they were, other voices and sounds joined them. As seconds passed, the cold, oppressive silence of the dungeon started to be shattered by the distant sound of clashing steel and the echoes of shouts reverberating through the stone walls. Berdine's heart quickened. She recognized the familiar rhythm of battle. Her rescuers had come.

The iron door of her cell swung open, and Ninloth stepped inside, his short swords gleaming in the dim light. Behind him, Arden entered, his expression a mixture of determination and relief.

"Thalion!" Berdine exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and relief, embracing Ninloth briefly before turning to the others. "I knew you'd come."

Arden eyed Berdine and Ninloth's embrace before scoffing. "There's no time for reunions," He said blantanly, his eyes scanning the corridor. "We need to get out of here."

"Stay quiet, please" Ninloth whispered to Berdine, quickly moving to her side and breaking the chains that held her. "We're getting you out of here."

Finnian scanned the dungeons, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. His eyes narrowed slightly when he spotted a shadow in the darkness nearby. "We need to move fast,'' he said not removing his eyes from the shadow. ''The dwarves will be swarming this place soon.'' Then he started to move towards the spot he was eyeing, motioning others to be silent. The Blackthorn brothers followed him.

With trembling hands, Maelin tried to rip off the horn she had on her belt. Finnian placed a hand on her shoulder and taking her horn, he forced her out of the shadows to reveal her to the whole team. ''Looks who is here!''

Everyone stared at Maelin who was trembling uncontrollably, her face pale with fear. Seeing another dwarf, Arden quickly walked towards the spot, bloody daggers ready in hand.

''Maelin!'' Berdine exclaimed, her voice full of worry. ''Arden, no! Just let her go! She is my friend. She helped me.''

''Berdine, quiet!'' Ninloth whispered with urgency. ''We don't have time for this. Just let the dwarf woman go and we should be on our way.''

''Indeed,'' Arden whispered as his amber eyes directly stared into Maelin's widened pair. She remained silent, seemingly in shock with fear. ''We don't have time for this…'' Arden whispered again and with a swift movement he cut the female dwarf's throat. Maelin's eyes went even wider with shock as the dagger found its mark, her body collapsing to the floor. 

Berdine let out a choked cry ''No! Arden, you bastard! Why did you do that?! She was harmless!''

''Move!'' Arden snapped roughly walking towards them. ''And be quiet. We don't need any dwarves running around and informing others.''

Ninloth's eyes were filled with a mixture of regret and understanding. He placed a firm hand on Berdine's shoulder. "We'll honor her sacrifice later. Right now, we need to survive."

The team moved quickly, their progress hampered by the narrow tunnels and the need for stealth. The fortress was on high alert, the sounds of clanging metal and shouting voices growing louder with each step. As they neared the exit, they encountered their first line of resistance.

A group of heavily armed dwarven soldiers blocked their path, their eyes burning with hatred and determination. The corridor erupted into chaos as the two sides clashed, swords and daggers flashing in the dim light. The confined space made the battle even more brutal, each combatant fighting with a desperate ferocity.

Arden moved like a shadow, his daggers finding their marks with deadly precision. He fought with a cold, calculated efficiency, his movements a deadly dance of death. Beside him, Ninloth's swords whirled and slashed, cutting down any dwarf that dared to challenge him. Finnian used his agility to dart in and out of the fray, striking with quick, lethal blows.

Berdine, her heart heavy with grief and anger, channeled her emotions into her magic. She cast healing spells on her comrades, her hands glowing with a soft, soothing light. Despite her sorrow, she fought with fierce determination.

The Blackthorn brothers, masters of deception and strategy, used their skills to create distractions and sow confusion among the dwarven ranks. They threw smoke bombs and used darkness powder, their forms blending into the shadows as they struck from unseen angles.

Elara stayed close to the center, her healing magic a constant source of support for the team. She worked tirelessly, her hands moving with practiced ease as she mended wounds and bolstered their strength.

Lyra and Sarvin fought together with elegant efficiency. Attacking the dwarves from both sides, they lunged at them out of the fog created by darkness powder. 

The battle raged on, the narrow corridor filled with the sounds of clashing steel and cries of pain. The team fought with everything they had, their unity and resolve driving them forward. Slowly but surely, they began to push through the dwarven defenses, their path to freedom becoming clearer.

As they neared the exit, a final wave of dwarven soldiers stood in their way. These were mere soldiers compared to the elite forces they had just fought off, their armor weary and their weapons less formidable. The team steeled themselves for one last push, knowing that this was their final chance to escape.

"On my mark," Ninloth shouted, his voice cutting through the din of battle. "We break through together. For Tenebrya!"

With a unified roar, the team surged forward. Arden, his bloodthirst for dwarves still not satisfied, led the charge, his daggers a blur of motion as he cut a path through the enemy ranks. Ninloth and Finnian followed close behind, their swords flashing as they struck down any who stood in their way.

The Blackthorn brothers used their final smoke bombs, creating a thick veil of darkness that obscured their movements. They moved like wraiths, their blades striking from the shadows with deadly precision.

With a final, desperate push, the team broke through the dwarven defenses. They burst out into the open air, the cold night air a sharp contrast to the heat of battle in the fortress. Behind them, the sounds of pursuit echoed through the tunnels, but they didn't look back.

They ran through the rugged terrain, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. The forest loomed ahead, a dark and welcoming refuge from the chaos behind them. As they reached the safety of the trees, they slowed, their bodies weary but their spirits unbroken.

Ninloth turned to Berdine, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and sorrow. "We made it," he said, his voice soft. "We're safe."

Berdine nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. ''She was convinced that we are not the monsters they think we are…''

Arden scoffed. ''Really? Are you still crying after that dwarf? Are you even aware of what we risked to get you out of there?''. He snorted his annoyance and walked towards the horses, the Adders following him. ''This isn't over yet. We have to keep moving,'' he went on as he hopped on his horse. 

The Adders hopped on their horses as well, ready to leave after their leader. Ninloth picked Berdine up and helped her climb on his stallion. As they made their way towards the camp, the forest offered some cover, but they knew the dwarves would not give up the chase easily. They rode through the dense underbrush, the adrenaline from the battle beginning to fade, replaced by a grim determination.

Berdine, her heart heavy with the loss of Maelin, found it hard to focus. She clenched her jaw, trying to push away the grief. This was not the time for mourning. There would be time to honor Maelin's memory later, once they were safe.

Ninloth held her close on the horse, his presence a steadying force. ''This is war, Berdine,'' he whispered in her feline ear as he rode the horse. ''Arden made that move to ensure she didn't inform the rest of the fortress. Otherwise, we wouldn't have made it out.''

Berdine nodded, though her heart ached with doubt. She glanced at Arden with anger, who rode ahead, his eyes scanning the forest for any signs of pursuit. His ruthlessness had saved them, but it had also cost them dearly. She couldn't shake the image of Maelin's lifeless body from her mind. And now with her daughter dead, any hopes of peace with the dwarven commander Thrain was lost forever.

They rode hard for hours, the forest thickening around them, providing a semblance of safety. The sound of the river up ahead offered hope. Crossing it would slow down their pursuers and give them a much-needed advantage. Finnian led the way, his knowledge of the terrain guiding them to a shallow ford.

"We'll cross here," he said, dismounting and leading his horse into the water. The others followed suit, the cold water chilling them to the bone. 

As they reached the other side, they paused to catch their breath. Arden kept watch, his sharp eyes missing nothing. "We can't rest long," he said. "The dwarves will be on our trail soon."

Ninloth nodded. "We'll move along the river for a while. It should help cover our tracks."

They continued on foot, leading their horses through the underbrush. The sound of the river masked their movements, but they remained vigilant. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves set their nerves on edge.

As the sun started to shine from the east, they found a small clearing to make camp. It was a temporary respite, but they needed to rest. Elara and Berdine set to work healing the team's wounds, their magic a soothing balm to the physical and emotional injuries they had sustained.

Arden stood guard at the edge of the clearing, his mind racing. He knew Berdine was angry with him, and he understood why. But he couldn't afford to let emotions cloud his judgment. Not to mention he thought crying after an enemy for hours was dumb. Survival was paramount, it meant making quick decisions and getting rid of every single obstacle on their way. 

Ninloth approached him, his expression thoughtful. "You did what you thought was necessary," he said quietly. "But Berdine needs time to process. She's not like you."

Arden sighed, his gaze fixed on the forest that started to be illuminated by the sun. "It was just a stupid dwarf that stepped in our way. That's all. I don't see the point why she is so… like this about it."

Ninloth looked up at the weak sunlight seeping among the oak and pine leaves. ''She said she was friends with the dwarf and that she had been so kind to her. Berdine is sensitive but strong. She'll understand in time.''

As the sun rose higher in the sky, they prepared to move again, the weight of their journey pressing heavily on them. Berdine walked beside Arden, her expression resolved.

"I hate you for what you did," she said angrily. "On the other hand, I try to understand why you did it. Ninloth told me. You had your point but… she was a kind soul, Arden. She believed me! She believed Tenebryans deserved a chance! Now that's all ruined thanks to you!''

Arden let out a bored sigh, not even looking back at her as he spoke. ''A few days with the dwarves and you already started to speak like the enemy.'' He looked back for an instant, narrowing his eyes at Berdine ''It is insulting that you begged for 'a chance' from Elindorans. We are Tenebryans, Lady Starmane and we don't beg or bow down to other people. You seem to have forgotten that!'' 

Berdine's eyes narrowed with anger. Arden's words annoyed her even more. ''I haven't forgotten anything!'' she spat ''I am a Tenebryan and I didn't beg for anything. I just tried to make peace between…''

Arden cut in on her with a loud snort. ''Peace,'' he repeated. ''You are such a dreamer, Berdine.''

Berdine clenched her fists. ''Just… just don't expect me to forgive you easily!'' she spat before returning to walk with General Ninloth.