Gauntlet: Green Archer's War

Well, I've walked these streets A virtual stage It seemed to me Makeup on their faces Actors took their places next to me Well, I've walked these streets In a carnival of sights to see All the cheap thrill-seekers The vendors and the dealers They crowded around me Have I been blind? Have I been lost inside myself and my whole mind? Hypnotized, mesmerized, by what my eyes have seen? well, I've walked these streets In a spectacle of wealth and poverty In the diamond marke The scarlet welcome carpet that they just rolled out for me nd I've walked these streets In the madhouse asylum they can be Where a wild-eyed mystic prophet on a traffic island stopped And he raved of saving me Have I been blind? Have I been lost inside myself and my whole mind? Hypnotized, mesmerized, by what my eyes have seen Have I been wrong? Have I been wise to shut my eyes and play along?Hypnotized, paralyzed by what my eyes have found By what my eyes have seen What they have seen? Have I been blind? Have I been lost? Have I been wrong? Have I been wise? Have I been strong? Have I been hypnotized , mesmerized By what my eyes have found? In that great street carnival Have I been blind? Have I been lost? Have I been wrong? Have I been wise? Have I been strong? Have I been hypnotized, mesmerized By what my eyes have found? In that great street carnival, in that Carnival- Natalie Merchant" Carnival'

Chapter Four:The unspoken words of the Dead

Kit fled her tent. Outside tents set up in groups of thousands. Drow soldier's horses grazed on wheatgrass. Pots and pans left out near fire pits. Mugs and wooden ale barrels scattered about. From that previous night of celebrating. Before they marched off to battle the wood elves.

Kit sighed and searched for others who might have been awake that foggy morning. There was but one dark elf. Leaning up against a tree. To a mere onlooker he appeared to be sleeping. But Kit knew he was very wide awake.

Without being noticed, Kit walked over to him and knelt down.A pair of lavender eyes gazed into her eyes. He smiled and spoke to her," For such a dark morning. I see the light of the sun upon the smile upon those beautfil lips. Kit." He could not help but comment.

Kit chuckled lightly and responded,"I'm flattered Drizzt. But still this day shall never see the light. Only the glistening of spilt blood. " She said pulling his dark hood from his face.

Drizzt as he was called, blinked then asked," Even with your shimmering smile?"

Kit shrugged," Even with what you call a shimmering smile. You know that when we loose more comrades, there will be nothing to smile about."

" Lloth forbid that you still leave you light hidden though. Which may be comfort to the rest of us, Kit." He whispered. Then lifted an eyebrow." You have already been having some fun without me I see." He mused. When his lavender eyes fell upon a cut on her right arm. With dried up blood on her pale skin.

Kit lifted an eyebrow," What?" She asked. Drizzt motioned his head towards her cut. Kit looked over to her arm and she saw her wound. Her green eyes widened in terror. She remembered her dream. The imp shooting her. But how was this possible? The dream world in meant to be illusion. Completely false. Anything obtained within this night realm is meant to stay in the night realm. And how can she still possess a wound then? Kit only blinked." I haven't fought anyone."

Drizzt pointed his slender finger to the wound," Then how did you get this?" He asked. Kit only stared at her dear friend with intense eyes.Drizzt was confused for a moment then understood," You saw the Wraith." He mused." I can see the beast himself in your eyes.

Kit nodded." I was struck by a dart from one of his imps. The only reason I woke was because I forced myself awake." She said. Drizzt did not speak only reached over and touched the wound. Kit writher slightly.

" I'll take you over to the creek. You should clean it." He said, Kit only nodded in agreement. Drizzt walked with her into the thickets where a creek drifted downwards.

" I am releived Kit that you made it out and still sane." Drizzt stated.

" What exactly do you mean by, sane?" She asked.

" Most who see the Shadow Wraith, and lived remain broken, trembling, incompetent, and mad. You are lucky." He said and touched her shoulder. Kit smiled lightly. And Drizzt could only smile back.

Kit looked at Drizzt, then lay upon her belly and slid her entire arm into the cool water. She noticed blood moving down with it's small current. She glanced up as Drizzt's eyes widened in horror.

When she looked over to where Drizzt was staring, she gasped and stood quickly. Lifeless bodies of both elf and drow floated down the creek. " They must be the bodies drifted from the battle along the ocean shore." Kit mused." The current must have brought them here."

Drizzt shook his head then whispered," They fight because they can not learn to co-exist."

Kit nodded as she turned, Drizzt followed. To let the remains of the dead lay there. With the proof of a meangingless war.They remained silent for a moment. Until Kit broke the silence." I do not understand it anymore. Drizzt, why do we fight? I mean I fight because of my rage and anger that my family bestowed to me. And you fight because of the loose of Catti-Brie. But why must they fight? She asked as she and Drizzt sat down against the tree Drizzt leaned against earlier.

Drizzt shrugged," Can't say why they want to fight another. Because of Lloth's threat to the forest elves. And the truth that the Drow serve her. " He guessed as most of the drow had begun to leave their tents. Making themselves ready for battle.

" They fear this day may be their last." Drizzt commented. Noticing their looks of anxiety. Kit nodded in agreement as the dark elf general rode into the camp on horse back and inspected the camp. Soon, he gave the order to move out. Exchanging glances Drizzt and Kit mounted their horses to follow the rest of the drow down the foggy road.

# # # #
Castle Stronghold......

Lara tried to relax. But the sounds of her warrior's screams,echoing through her castle would give her no moment's peace.She clutched her ears tightly. As several wounded men walked into her throneroom." Well?" Lara asked cautiously.

One man stepped forward." We...were defeated." He said shaking his head" We are all that is left in your army."

Lara sighed and arose. Looking sadly out her window at her destroyed kingdom." How is it that we out numbered it by 90%, yet we failed to kill it? And return with 15 men left? She asked in disdain. She no responce from her soldiers." Go rest up." She said and dismissed them. They did as told.

For a moment Lara stood alone. But her faithful captian of the gaurd, Richard or Rick, spoke" There may be hope." He began." Elves are far more powerful then mortal soldiers."

Lara turned," What is your point?" She asked.

" An elven woman has amounted to over thwenty mortals. The Green Archer. They say she has brought about down a gargoyal of Lloth." He explained which caught her attention.

" One elf, defeated a creature of Lloth?"She asked in disbelief. Rick nodded," You lie!" She exclaimed.

" No. I shit you not. She fights on the side of the dark elves. But she is as white as the snow. She is a wood elf. She weilds an enchanted bow.They call her the Green Archer. "He explained.

" I have heard of her. This Green Archer.A strong woman. I hear. She is the daughter of the now dead Feltic Greenleaf. Exiled for her betral for a dark elf boy whom was her best friend." Lara said. rubbing her chin." So this Green Archer might beable to destroy the Chimera?" She asked. Rick nodded. " Are you curtain? If so then please find her." She commanded.

" Yes, my lady." Rick said, taking a slight bow. He departed. Leaving Lara with hope. And a little doubt.Moments passed and she felt that maybe she could try and destroy this creature with three heads. Herself.She grabbed her sword and shield. Walked from her throneroom.

Passed her castle armory, Lara entered the keep of the Chimera. This creature was bigger then she thought. Three heads. One of a snake, lion, and eagle. It had massive claws. And a long tail. Lara gulped and drew her sword. She dashed towards the Chimera. Quickly slashing it's belly. Jumping back she dodged it's claws. lara flipped to the side then leapt up. Attempting to slice off at least one head. But her sword was not strong enough. She discovered that she was not strong enough to take it alone. So she fled the lair.And slammed her fist into the wall within her chambers.