A Secret Untold: Part XVII
by: Thalisirwen
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Aragorn had bent over me, and I had spoken to him. Then he had gone away, and
I fell asleep on the ground. Waking up, I found myself in a cave. I stood up
and looked around for a way out. Seeing a light shining down a tunnel, I
began to make my way towards it. As I reached the tunnel, a hand grabbed my
arm. The touch of the hand sent a piercing pain along my whole arm, which
spread across my body. I drew a sharp breath as the pain took a hold, and
pulled away from the hand. The pain went almost instantly. I turned to see
who it was, and saw a strange blackened creature with long bony fingers and
sharp nails. Hair bristled from its ears, and it looked at me evilly as it
poked me with one finger. The pain returned when the creature made contact,
and I dodged away, gasping in pain. A strange animalistic cackle erupted from
the creatures mouth, and then it spoke. "Give yourself up, elf," it croaked.
I stepped back cautiously. "Who...what are you?" I asked, casting one eye
about the cave for a weapon. My bow and quiver were gone, as were my knives.
"I am what you might call a Sangwafaire," it grinned horribly as I realised
what it meant
"Poison Phantom," I spoke the words aloud to myself, not taking my eyes off
the 'phantom.'
The Sangwafaire stepped forward, leering, and I stepped away, not wanting to
be near the terrible thing. Backing against the wall of the cave, I was
trapped. The creature got closer and closer, its pain-causing hands stretched
out to me. I looked around frantically for a way of escape, but could see
none. The Sangwafaire smiled malignantly, flashing rows of sharp teeth, and
gripped my arm once more. Pain shot through my body; I tried to pull away but
was weak in the phantoms grasp. It released my arm and I fell to the ground,
all my strength and energy drained from my body.
I lay on the ground, my knees drawn up to my chest. Watching the phantom on
the opposite side of the cave, I tried to think of a way to get away. But my
chances were slim. My arm was still throbbing in pain, I could barely move
it; although the pain in the rest of my body had subsided I still felt as
weak as a human child.
Where was Aragorn? If he came here...the creature would get him too. As a
human, it may harm him more than me. He can't come in here.
I imagined he would be close by, returning soon. I could not wait and find
out. I had to escape.
Pulling myself up I looked cautiously around the cave. It was stifling, I had
to get out of here. A few rocks lay several feet away. Shifting carefully
towards them, I picked one up, and, though my head was already spinning from
sitting, stood. Before the Sangwafaire had a chance to move, I hurled the
rock at it with all my might, and forced my legs to work as I ran to the cave
entrance. But with strength still drained, the creature outran me, grabbing
my arm once more, and digging its claws through the material of my tunic and
into my skin.
"That won't work," said the Sangwafaire.
"Of course," I chided myself. "Phantoms aren't solid."
I couldn't believe that hadn't crossed my mind. But now as I fell to the
ground once more, the most important thing on my mind was Aragorn.
| Part XVIII |
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