I Can't Love You

Part 1

Huff, Huff...

I have to get away from here...

The Elven guards were going to catch me any minute if I couldn't get away. But I was getting so tired...

I stopped to look for a tree to hide in. I spotted a tree that looked stable enough for me to climb and hide in, and not a moment too soon as I could faintly hear the voices of my pursuers. I sprinted to my newly found cover and began to make my way up. The voices were getting closer.

Hurry...

I was panicking at this point. In my haste to get up as fast as I could, my foot slipped. I almost fell, but held on. I pulled myself up more and then heard the voices right below me. I froze in my place.

"Damn, I think we lost her," A female voice spoke below, frustratedly. "We need to split up. You there, go towards the castle. The rest of you head back to the village. I want to see it burn."

Accidentally letting out a gasp, I quickly covered my mouth with widened eyes. The guard was alert after my sound. She began to walk around the tree. "Are you up here, human?" She began to stalk slowly towards the tree. I squeezed my eyes closed, still covering my mouth with my left hand. "Lets see.." She let out a chuckle and kicked the tree, making it shake. I felt my right hand slipping, and quickly grabbed the tree with my left.

The guard walked around the tree some more. "I know you are up there. Why don't you make it easier and surrender yourself," She paused for a second. "Or we could do this the hard way?"

I looked around for any ideas. I had nothing. Surrendering myself was not an option, though. I wasn't about to give up. While panicking, I heard a laugh from her and looked down. She was looking straight at me, with an evil glint in her eye. "Please, I didn't do anything!"

She shook her head. "You are on the wrong side of this war. That is the worst crime you can commit, human. Come down, or things aren't going to go very well for you."

I refused to let go of the branches I had been holding for dear life. I was terrified. I couldn't move. She sighed. "I guess we are doing this the hard way." She kicked the tree again, this time with more force almost making me lose my grip.

"Vulas." She looked to her right. A male guard came to her side. "Yes, captain?"

"Shake the tree."

The male guard nodded and put his hands on it. I gripped the tree tighter, closed my eyes and braced myself for what may happen.

Someone... Please save me.

I felt the tree begin to shake violently. Holding on was getting harder, and my exhuation was no help. I knew no one was going to save me. The guards were probably slaughtering all of their innocent lives as we speak. My father.. My brother.. I probably had no one left. Closing my eyes, I let out a side and made a decision.

I let go.

--

"Urgh..."

I felt a jolt of pain in the back of my head. I slowly opened my eyes to look around only to squeeze them shut again from the bright sun. Opening them again into a squint, I tried to slowly sit up.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," A male voice sounded to my left. I jumped and turned towards him quickly, grunting from sudden pain. "I told you so." The voice said again.

"Where am I...?" I inquired. I didn't get an answer. "Hello?"

"Get some more rest." He said. My eyes finally adjusted and so I looked in his direction. My jaw dropped. He was another elf. Ignoring the pain, I hurriedly stood and turned on my feet to run. "Shit! Come back!" I heard behind me. "I don't want to hurt you!"

My entire body ached as I ran away from him. I couldn't believe I sat there with an elf so long! My feet barely carried me and I fell. He was catching up. "No!" I got back up to run and felt an arm wrap around my waist, halting me in place. I turned to see the face of the elf, and squirmed to break free. "Let go of me!" I cried out for freedom.

"Not until you calm down, I don't want to hurt you." He brought me in tighter to stop my squirming. After a while of this, I couldn't hold myself up anymore and stopped. "Finally, you are a feisty little human." He continued to hold me, so I could walk back to where we had originally been.

"What is your name?" He sat me down against a tree next to his fire. I stayed silent. I didn't want him to know who I was. He could use it against me. "Great answer.." He sighed as he tended to the fire. "Look, I know you don't trust me but I really mean no harm."

"Tell me your name first." I asked him, rubbing the back of my head. He grabbed my wrist, causing me to flinch. "Don't touch it... My name is.. Um.." He looked away seemingly stressed. "How do you not-"

"It's Nicholaus." He kept his gaze averted. "Now tell me yours." I gave a confused look and sighed. "I'm Faith. Nice to meet you, I guess.." My stomach grumbled loudly, and I blushed in embarrassment. Without a word Nicholaus got up and left. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and watched as he left. I felt too weak to get up and do anything so I sat and waited. I took this time to look around. He has had this little camp set up for a while it seemed. I yawned and realized just how tired I had been, which would probably be obvious for anyone else. I was exhausted.

I sat there waiting for him for what seemed like an hour. I closed my eyes and sighed, wondering if he just left me there and wasn't coming back. I yawned again and felt myself drifting off. All of a sudden all my surroundings drifted away and I fell asleep.