Elf Wars
by Patrick E.



  In the darkness of the cool spring night, a young elf known as Alos, was sitting, legs crossed, out in the center of a giant plateau located in the middle of an oasis.
  The oasis is in the desert valley of the Snowless mountain chain. This oasis is also the arena of many of the greatest elf duals and spell battles known to their race, the spot where some of their grandest heroes perished, and the spot where two red dragons were defeated in battle.
  Alos was about 5� 7� in height, which was above average height for the elves, with a skinny, agile, and quite muscular form. He wore loose white leathers, which was adorned with markings of other warriors that he has defeated, of an elven general with superiority over all other elven warriors and most magic users. Around his waste he wore a black belt and a cape that cascades across his back. A black, dome hat sits nicely over his fine short cut golden hair.
  The plateau in which he now sat on was not really all that big compared to hills and other geographical forms, but it was just the right size for an arena with small stone bleachers around its perimeter.
  As the gold elf sat, gazing out waiting for the sunrise, black smoke started to rise up out of the air behind where he was sitting. Alos seamed completely oblivious to the silent stalker who was stepping out of the black smoke.
  This elven stalker was a dark elf that had long, silver hair and carried a long, slender sword in his right hand. The sword was as dark as the night above, just without the stars. He was nearly the same height as Alos and was moving with the silence of a gentle breeze. He proceeded slowly, pulling a dagger out from the back of his dark leather like belt.
  �Hello Dio,� Alos calmly greets him, looking over his shoulder at the dark elven assassin.
  Dio flung the dagger at Alos with all his strength, hatred for all light skinned elves fueling his passion to be done with the young gold elf. Alos quickly fell back into a roll and went under the fast flying blade, coming up to land on his feet.
  Dio is a dark elf, about 465 years old, and ranked as a mage/fighter. He wore a dark blue cloak and a black shirt with dark elven chain mail under it. He had a long braid of silver hair that ended at the middle of his back. He is very muscular as well as more skilled with weapons than any other dark elf in his own city.
  When he spun around, pulling out his crystalline two-handed sword that was magically enhanced, the dark elf was gone. Alos had fought this particular elf before and knew of his magical skills, he just feared that the elf would be to silent to detect in time. The young warrior had been trained in using magical defenses to fight off wizards, such as the dark elves were known for.
  Alos then heard it, the chanting of a spell, far off to his right and up at the top of the stone stands that covered both sides of the arena. Dio stood there, hands swiftly moving through the air while violet, magical light pulsed around and through his swift and graceful fingers. �How did I get myself into fighting a wizard fighter?,� thought Alos thinking of the right spell for the expected offensive attack.
  Alos flung out his left hand; palm up, to put a shield of magic resistance around him. Just then three lightning bolts shot from Dio�s finger tips in rapid succession, and blasted into the shield with tremendous force to spark and crackle as it crawled along the shields surface before winking out. Alos reeled back and nearly crashed to the granite floor of the arena from the magical force that was just blasted into him.
  Dio jumped down and off the stands before running all out at Alos, who barely had enough time to get his sword up to block the diving thrust. Dio flew past him and went into a small roll before coming up on his feet to face his opponent. Each warrior burst into a flare of energy and flashing blades. Each time the two blades hit a spark of magic burst from the enhancements.
  Dio took up the offensive first, thrusting randomly high, and then low or low then high. Alos was able to get his blade in the way to deflect the black sword and but unable to make any parries against his quick opponent. The offensive maneuvers that usually worked on minor and inferior warriors did not seem to work on the young and very skilled gold elf that now blocked every thrust and slash that was made.
  Alos did a quick spinning move to bring his blade on the inside of the dark elf�s thrust and knocked the blade out wide and brought him up so close that they could have kissed. Alos just head butted the other warrior, for his black hat was as hard as any helmet made of iron, and nearly knocked him off his feet. The younger elf didn�t miss the chance and came in fast to stab him in the heart, but just as the blade was about to break skin it stopped.
  Dio just stood there, looking into the almond eyes of the pale elf, as if he were studying his very soul. �Why didn�t you do it, I am at your mercy and my death is in your hands,� whispered the dark elf, which held a grin knowing that he would survive to see another day.
  �I do not kill because I enjoy it, but to protect, and you are no threat. Just leave to your little city and we will finish this when you are better trained,� replies Alos in calm melodic tones that show how often he loses.
  �We will meet again my young rival, we will meet again,� Dio tells him before stepping back and casting a spell of teleportation.
* * * * *
  �Did you win?� Asks a young gold elf with a sheet of silk, red hair looking at the great warrior with a grin. She is about 5�4� herself, and very skinny but quite muscular. She is a ranger, not to mention one of the best archers, that patrols the mountains and lush forests on the other side. Her clothes were desert colored, to match the surrounding lands and mountains.
  �Oh, hello Loren. How did you know about my dual with Dio?� Retorts Alos, returning the smile.
  �Well, I watched some of it.� She answered.
  �It was another grand victory,� replies the elf as he sits down at his wooden table.
  They were sitting in his tower in the desert, away from the city. Loren abided there, when she was nearby. She had been away for nearly a year, and it was surprising to see her in his home. The two were once lovers but now they were just the best of friends who have fought many battles at the other�s back.
  They sat and talked of battles past and her year away and even of his victory that night. The talking didn�t end until well into the next day.
* * * * *
  Dio appeared in a room with a high ceiling. It was decorated with beautiful elven statues of maidens long past on the walls of the cylinder like room. It was located just outside the dark elf city of Teirra. It is actually a temple of the dark elf goddess, Numa, and was made only for the most powerful and noble of all dark skinned elf priestesses to worship in, females only of course.
  �Did you win,� Asked a soft, disarming, melodic voice from behind him.
  As Dio turned he saw a beautiful young dark elf standing in the middle of the cave, surrounded by six elite female soldiers, even though it would take three of them to take him down. The young elf standing before him is really the queen of the city Teirra. She stands about 5�5� tall and weighs only 110 pounds. She is the most powerful sorceress in the city (or world even) and probably the most power hungry too. Because of her looks and strong will she is a force to be reckoned and a violent one at that.
  As Dio met her cold bluish white eyes, a sudden chill went down his spine. Her name is Lara Nightflower. The name is lovely, but beware the owner.
  �I asked you a question male,� said Lara in the same soft voice.
  Dio went into a low bow and nearly touched the floor as he replied �no, I am sorry my queen, I did not.� As he looked up she had a malicious grin spread across her elegant face. She slowly unrolled her whip that had three barbed ends.
  This whip was one of her favorite weapon, but only one of the many she was mastered in using. She often tortured males for no other reason than enjoyment or exercise. At a rare occurrence she would allow the male to fight back and then slowly torture and beat him to his death.