Aliel

Chapter 29

I stared in horror. Large pieces of the Vale-jor, the barrier that protected all of Valenass, were breaking and falling from the sky. But before they could crash to the ground they dissolved into nothing. On the outside of the barrier it was nearing the end of day, which accounted for the shadow that now covered the once bright city.

What was happening?

"Claresa!" I heard Lorien shouting from a ways away. "Claresa, where are you!?!"

"Here, Lorien, I'm here!" I turned towards his voice, but then the baby kicked again, this time much harder, and I bent over double, gasping from the pain. Lorien appeared from between the trees, and rushed to my side. "Wha-what is-happening?" I asked, still huffing.

"I don't know, but we must go, now!" Then, seeing that I was in no way able to run with him, made a move to pick me up. But then something fell from the sky and landed on the path ahead. I was blown off my feet, and landed hard on my side, again gasping for breath. Lorien landed beside me, and recovered much more quickly than I did. "Claresa, are you alright?" he asked, helping me to a sitting position, then he looked to where... whatever it was had landed.

A look of horror crossed his face, and I looked, too.

A miniature crater lay where the pathway should have, and standing in the very middle... was the largest man I had ever seen. Not only in height, but in musculature. He only wore a sort of loincloth, nothing else. He had long black hair, tanned skin, and his yellow eyes shone brightly in the dim light.

"No," I heard Lorien whisper beside me, but I couldn't look away from this person that had just crashed into the earth, with not even a scratch to be seen for it.

"I am surprised to see you as well, Lorien of Valenass," the person said, and I didn't know why, but his voice grated on my ears, making me want to cover then against the sound. "I thought you had perished the last time we met. The fire should have consumed you. But, no matter. You shall die here tonight, along with your dear Aliel."

The elf-human hybrid, for that was what this person was, raised a hand and spoke a word I didn't know in that chafing voice, and fire sprang from his fingertips, shooting towards us. I screamed, turning away from the flames, as Lorien raised his hand and spoke his own word quickly. The fire parted before us, leaving us unharmed.

Pure terror swept through me. This was the creature that had caused so much destruction, he had almost killed Lorien all those months ago, and he wanted to kill us all now. Lorien pulled me to my feet, his hand still up, fending off the fire, but the hybrid spoke another word, and the fire formed itself into a wall around us, blocking our escape. We were backed up against the well, and there was nowhere for us to go. I clung to Lorien's arm, not knowing what to do, or what I even could do against such an opponent.

The hybrid moved his hands back and forth in front of him, chanting in that strange language. Lorien tensed beside me, sweat drenching his skin from the exertion of keeping the magical fire at bay. His green and gold-flecked eyes stared intensely at the hybrid, probably waiting for any sign of attack. It came, but Lorien was too slow. His arm was wrenched out of my grasp as he was flung by an unseen force up into the air and over the fire wall. Then it wasn't a wall anymore, but a dome.

I was trapped there in that magical cage with the most dangerous creature in this world. He took a step towards me, and the baby kicked hard, but I wasn't going to show weakness to this monster.

"Ah, he knows I am come to destroy him," the hybrid said, taking another step, which was accompanied by another kick. "Do not worry, human. It will be over soon."

"Please don't hurt my baby," was all I could say while facing certain death.

"Your child is the very reason I've come. He would rival my power. He would defeat me, if I gave him the chance to grow. It is him or me, and I will not lie down and wait." He raised one of his giant hands, spoke another word, and the fiery dome collapsed down on top of me. I threw up my arms uselessly, and knew that this was the end.

But nothing happened. I opened my eyes, which I had squeezed shut in fear, and gazed in wonder.

A shimmering wall, much like the Vale-jor, surrounded me, holding back the fire. I felt another kick from the baby, and looked down at my stomach. Vapors of light were streaming from the bulge of my stomach, flowing into the barrier. Somehow, the baby was protecting us both.

I heard a sort of whooshing sound, and looked up through the shimmering wall to see that the fire had disappeared. The hybrid stood just on the other side, a look of puzzlement on his face. It was replaced by a look of disbelief. Then rage.

He roared, but it was muffled by the magical barrier. The hybrid launched himself forward, bringing both of his fists smashing down against the barrier, but nothing happened. I stared through the shimmering substance into the hybrid's hate-filled face, grateful that my child and I were protected from him, but not knowing how long it would last.

The hybrid pounded on the barrier, beating his fists in a sickening rhythm, his eyes fixated on my own. Suddenly he stopped, his hateful yellow eyes widening in shock.

And I saw why. The tip of a bloodied sword was protruding from the middle of his bare chest. The hybrid slowly toppled to the ground, and Lorien was revealed to have been the wielder of the sword.

Lorien too stared in puzzlement at what had saved me from the fire. Carefully he raised a hand and placed it against the barrier. There was another, softer kick from the baby, and the shimmering wall dissolved into nothing. Lorien rushed forward and gathered me up into his arms.

"Are you alright?" he asked, holding me close to his chest.

"Yes. Yes, I'm alright."

It was over. The danger was passed. We were safe.