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The Dragon War: Dinin's story

"You have been doing some things very poorly lately, my son." Dinin's mother stated. Dinin frowned, becoming fearful for his life.
"What are you talking about?" He asked respectfully, his voice coming out strong and hiding the fear.
"You've been letting sfirneblin escape." She growled angrily. Dinin frowned. How did she know that? He thought.
"I'm sorry. They slipped from my grasp." He said quickly, clenching his fist in front of him. "It won't happen again." He promised. She stared at him.
"Do you think I'll let you off that easy, Dinin?" She growled furiously, becoming angrier by the second. He closed his eyes, wondering what she was going to do.
"No, Matron Mother. Of course not." He said quietly. He heard Briza snicker in anticipation. His teeth clenched with hatred for his oldest sister.
"Do you know what I am to do to you?" She asked. He didn't dare look at his mother, so he kept his eyes on the floor, bowing his head in respect.
"You should kill me for my uselessness." He said, hoping she would take pity on him or at least see that he was not useless.
"No. That would be too easy." She said. He sighed silently in relief.
"Then what, if I may ask, are you going to do?" He asked, keeping his head bowed, him already in a kneel.
"I am going to curse you, Dinin." She began to chant and his face went pale. He sprang to his feet, preparing to proest, when he suddenly had tremendous pain and he fell to his hands and knees. He gasped in excrutiating pain. She continued to chant. Putting three complete curses on him.
Suddenly, he passed out, the curses were complete.

100 years later
Dinin glared at his brother as he turned and fled from the palace. He drew his sword and chased after him, but his sister, Briza, stepped in the way and stopped him. He growled angrily.
"Get out of my way." He ordered, then realized who he was talking to and stepped back humbly. She growled angrily. She raised her serpent whip and brought it down toward him. He immediately brought his sword up, trying to block it, but three snake heads got a hold of his chest and gut and began to chew and rip. He cried out in pain and he heard her evil laugh. He grabbed for his fallen sword and his fingers touched the hilt. He grabbed it and slashed the whip, severing the heads from their necks. He gasped in pain as he stood up.
"Show me some respect, male." She sneered. He looked at her with hatred, but his eyes fell to the whip and he nodded slowly. She stepped aside and let him pass. Dinin ran through the doors, gripping his gut painfully.

Killisar stood in the cavern outside of his home land, Menzoberranzan, his eyes closed tight as the scene played over and over in his mind. His father, his only friend... slain. Slain by his evil mother. His hand jerked against the wall and gripped a rock. He opened his eyes slowly and leaned against the wall with tears in his eyes.
He looked around, hearing feet pounding on the ground and coming closer, he turned and bolted toward the next cavern, determined to get to the surface and get away from this darned underground city.

3 years later

Killisar stared at the mass of destruction. He had not been able to find his way to the surface, so he came back for a map or something of the dark caverns and passages of the Underdark.
His breath caught as he looked over the once great city. It was reduced to rubble, and dragons were flying above the city with roars and howls of victory. He saw his palace and bolted for it. He tossed aside some bricks and saw a hand fall down where he had just removed a bolder.
He immediately tore through the rocks, pulling them and pushing them. His breath caught again when he saw who was there. It was his enemy brother, Dinin. He was in terrible shape, his clothes torn and scorched and his skin bruised and bleeding.
Killisar quickly pulled him gently to his feet, not thinking. Dinin growled when his eyes fluttered open and he saw who it was. Dinin immediately pounded his fist into Killisar's gut. Kill dropped Dinin involuntarily and stumbled to the side.
Dinin pulled his sword but realized it was dented and broken. He threw it aside and ran at Killisar furiously. Kill stepped to the side and brought his elbow down on Dinin's shoulder, then tripped him up. Dinin winced in pain as his cuts reopened and his bruises pounded against the rocks. He laid there a moment before rolled over to his side and struggled to stand up.
Killisar helped him up again, this time Dinin too weak to stop him. Killisar put Dinin's arm over his shoulder and walked toward the massive hole that the dragons had made getting in there.
Killisar stared at the city from outside of the hole and was stirred with fury and vengeance.
"Dinin, I will kill every dragon for doing this to Menzoberranzan." He swore, looking at Dinin.
Dinin just scoffed and looked at the dragons who were breathing fire again.
"Good luck with that. Don't you think we tried to stop them? The drow elite couldn't even get down two of them." He said furiously. "And you think you can do it alone?"
Killisar looked at him blankly. "I just took you down in less than a minute, and you're one of the drow elite. That means nothing to me, Dinin." He said, a bit of bitterness in his voice toward the drow.
"Whatever you say, Killisar. But I don't care if you get yourself killed." He said as he stood up and stumbled away.

Dinin walked through the woods and suddenly collapsed. He pulled himself up against a tree and sighed. He closed his eyes and tried to preform a healing spell, but his magic was too worn out for the night. He looked up. It wasn't night. It was day. And the sun burned into his eyes. He gasped and blocked them from the sun.
Suddenly, a hand grasped his shoulder and jerked him to his feet. He thought it was Killisar at first, blinded by the sun, but when he squinted his eyes open, he saw a tree elf gripping him.
He immediately brought his elbow over and against the arm of the elf, jerking it off of his shoulder. He brought his knee up against the elf's gut, but stumbled back and his knees buckled again, unable to take the strain.
He shook his head and growled at the elf, "Get away from me, scum."
The elf's fine features didn't change into an angry expression, just stayed the same. Full of disgust towards the drow race.
The elf slipped his slim fingers around the rope hooked onto the belt against his backside. He unhooked it and pulled it in front of him.
"You won't get out of this rope easily, dark elf." He said, a bit of bitterness in his voice against his race, just like Killisar.
The elf knelt down behind Dinin's helpless form and tied his hands together. He gripped the rope after tying the rope tight and pulled the dark elf to his feet.
Dinin was led, blindfolded, to a tree city. The tree elf brought him into the council room still blindfolded.
"I found this dark elf in our woods." He exclaimed furiously.
There was silence a moment, then arguements about how the death of the dark elf should come around.
"Be silent!" The head elf cried out angrily. "Be silent!" Slowly, the volume decreased and everything went silent. Dinin was becoming more and more agitated by the second.
"Now, dark elf, what is your name?" The head elf asked calmly. Dinin tilted his head, pretending not to understand the tree elf language. "Cut the act, dark elf. We know your race is familiar with many languages, including ours." He said frustratedly. "Now, what is your name?" He said more firmly.
Dinin just sneered. "I will not reveal my name to an elf that is lesser than me." He goaded. "I will not reveal anything to you. I'm no traitor-" He stopped. A traitor. Funny, his people were dead. Kill and him were the only ones left. He smirked. Sounded good to him. He hated his family, and was glad to see them dead, so that he wouldn't have to do it himself. "I will not tell you my name." He said instead.
There was silence for a moment, and suddenly a knife was against the blindfolded Dinin's neck. Dinin froze for a second, but then just continued to smirk evilly.
"You will if you value your life." It was the elf that had captured him. He turned his head toward the elf, hearing where his voice had come from.
"I'm a male. My life means nothing to my people."
"That's not what I said. I said if you value your life." He repeated. Dinin stared at him a moment, then snickered.
Dinin gripped the tiny dagger that tucked into the top of his pants and hid in his shirt. He began to saw through the ropes.
"I value my life. But not enough to lower myself to humiliation. I'm not going to die without a fight." The last thread cut and he pulled the dagger in front of him and slammed it into the man's throat, pinpointing it by the voice. He tried to pull off the blind fold but it was a special cloth that only a tree elf could cut through or remove. He ignored it and slashed the tree elf that was charging him with a sword.
As the elf fell, Dinin caught the sword and put it in his free hand. Dinin growled and plunged his sword into the elf on his right, while stabbing the one on the left with his dagger.
Suddenly he couldn't move. He was frozen with magic. He growled angrily as a soft voice finished chanting the spell. He felt a cold substance around his ankles and he tried to get free of it. Two hands wrenched the weapons off of him and began to pad him down, searching for other hidden daggers.
Dinin winced with anger as the elf padded him down. He hated being touched. He crossed his arms across his chest as the spell made its way up his stomach toward his chest. He felt the ice cover his arms and freeze them, then stop at his neck.
"Well done Lokewen." The head elf congratulated.
Dinin rolled his eyes under the blind fold and sighed. I got beat by a girl. Figures. He thought with a growl.
"This beast sure growls a lot." Said the head elf. Lokewen didn't smile or laugh. She walked over to him.
"A beast indeed." She said slowly as she put her hand on his cheek. He jerked his head away from her hand and bit it. She pulled it away quickly but blood was already pouring from the wounds. She sighed and chanted a healing spell, then wiped the blood off.
A rod jabbed into Dinin's cheek, sending his head to the side with a painful CRACK. Dinin winced as his neck cracked, but did not break. He felt his lips tighten against his teeth and the oxygen come in through his nose furiously.
"Release me and maybe I won't kill you all." He threatened angrily. The elves just laughed at him. Lokewen's laugh was a quiet giggle that was barely audible, but elf ears could pick it up.
She ran her hand along the iced shoulder and looked at him.
"Let me heal him." She said suddenly. Everyone's head jerked to her, including Dinin's.
No way. He thought angrily. No way is she healing me.
There was silence for a moment, then a nervous laugh. But Lokewen did not smile or laugh. She was completely serious.
"Let me heal him before you kill him. I have never been able to try my magic on a dark elf. Please?" She begged. She was sincere, so the head elf nodded and ordered the men to take him to the healing chamber, but to strap him down and to put guards in the room.
Dinin was dragged to the chamber and thrown down on a stone coffin like table. He winced as he hit it, his body still freezing from the now diminished ice. He laid there staring at her as they strapped him down. They did one last search for weapons on him, then turned and walked away except for two who stopped and stood at the door.
Lokewen stared right back at him, smiling invisibly.
"I'm sorry about freezing you, but... you were killing... them." She said, suddenly depressed. He just looked at her, holding back a witty comeback. She sighed and walked over to him.
He saw the sorrow in her eyes and frowned. Why was she so depressed? He sighed angrily and watched as she began to open his shirt. He frowned as he looked into her eyes, not watching what she was doing. She saw the bruises and cuts and scars on him and held back a gasp. It was more blood than she had seen since...
She nodded and put her hands on his stomach. She closed her eyes and began to chant.
"Umbrea carte' cleoria magami cilentiel tylietal. Comeras saliyrai vienta delantiel." She stopped when she saw a bright light from and illuminate the room. She gasped and her hand flew from his chest to her mouth. What's happening?! This has never happened before! Her hands moved along the cuts that the light was coming from, healing the wounds. She looked at Dinin, her mouth open barely. "What... What is this?" She asked calmly, confused in her mind. He looked at her for a minute, then smiled.
"My magic is fighting against your magic. It's a defense that I made, whenever some one else's magic comes in contact with me, then it will activate and fight against the other magic." He looked at the light. "But my magic is too worn down now, you'll win out in a matter of seconds." He said bluntly. She ran her fingers along the illuminated cuts and her eyes shown with the multi colored lights. He stared at them and found himself lost in them. They were silver already, but the lights made them purple, blue, light green, and light light pink. Slowly, the light died and they went back to light silver.
She smiled. She ran her fingers along the perfect skin, not one bruise or cut. He suddenly broke through the bonds and sat up.
"Thank you." He said as he stood up and punched the elf that was running at him in the gut. He immediately brought his foot into the other man's head. He looked at the man as he fell over for a moment, then fixed his shirt and began to walk out when an arrow was suddenly against his neck. He stopped slowly and turned his head, staring at her.
"Why must you attack my people? I was going to get you set free. Now I cannot, because you have attacked more!" She yelled angrily as she pushed him forward, sending him off balance and onto the ground. He stared at her blankly, then stood up.
"I don't need any help from a tree elf!" He yelled angrily. She threw the arrow at him with great aim, putting it through his shirt above his shoulder and pinning him to the wall.
"Then I'll kill you right now." She threatened. He looked at her, then smirked. He suddenly pulled out the arrow and grabbed her wrists, bunching them together. He spun her agianst the wall and slammed her wrists above her against the wall. He leaned in close.
"What were you saying?" He asked. She stared angrily at him, then slammed her foot into his, surprised he didn't let go or even wince. She looked down and saw metal tipped boots. She frowned angrily.
"Release me now, dark elf." She ordered. He stared at her blankly.
"We elves aren't that different, ya know. The only different is our color."
"You're wrong. Tree elves are a gentle, kind race. Dark elves are evil, always seeking control of everything." She said furiously.
"Not all of us."
"Most of you."
"And there are a lot of you that are the same, are there not?" He asked bluntly. She shook her head.
"No. Not a lot. And if there is, we banish him immediately. You banish some one when he's not like that!" She yelled. He stared at her.
"Say what you will, but you are just some sheltered little priestess who has never even been to Menzoberanzan." He said angrily. She shook her head.
"I have been there. I was a captive when I was 13 years old. I was a child! And you treated me like an animal!"
"I did?" He repeated. "I treated you like an animal?" He asked her skeptically. "Now I hardly doubt that since I probably wasn't even born then."
"I am not that old!" She protested.
"Yeah? How old are you?"
She was silent a moment, then smiled proudly. "157." She said.
"So I was. But I don't remember anything. I am only 351. Give or take a few years." She stared at him.
"You are so young. I don't believe you."
"Go ahead. It means nothing to me if you don't." He let her go then walked over to the door. He pulled out the two elve's swords and opened it.
She watched him a moment, then quickly ran after him. "No you don't. Get back here." She ordered. "If you escape, the Council will have my head for it." She said angrily. "Not litterally of course..."
He smiled.
"Again. Nothing." He said, looking straight ahead. She slipped around him and stood in front of him. She put her hands up against his chest, pushing, trying to get him to stop. It didn't work. He kept walking with a smirk, not even acknowledging her as she began to slide backwards.
She stared at him angrily as she tried to push him backwards.
"You.... Can't.... Go!" She yelled angrily as she strained against him. He sighed and slipped his arm around hers and pushed her shoulder with his elbow, slamming her against the wall.
"You can't stop me." He said as he walked by her. She stared at him.
"But... Don't go! I need you!" She yelled. He frowned and glanced at her over his shoulder.
"Why is that?" He asked angrily. She sighed and fell in step behind him.
"You're magic is superior to mine. I... I was hoping... I was hoping you could teach me some of your race's magic." She admitted. His frown turned into a smirk and he stopped and looked at her.
"And... Why would I do that?"
"Because I could keep you alive until you finished, then I'll help you escape." She said. He stepped toward her so that they were not even an inch apart. He looked down at her seductively. She stared back at him with an innocent expression, but pleading eyes. He stared at them and felt a strange feeling. They were kind eyes, not like the ones he was used to seeing in women. He put his hand to her cheek and touched her eyebrow. She stared at him, obviously confused at his reaction.
Her eyes were searching his for any sign of what he was going to do. He stared into them, a frown on his face.
"Lokewen..." He whispered. His eyes scanned hers. He was relieved to find soft, sensitive eyes instead of the hard, angry eyes that he was used to. "All right. I'll teach ya some of it."
She jumped in excitement and threw her arms around his neck happily. He cringed and quickly pulled away.
"No! No no no no!" He yelled angrily. She frowned, then smiled.
"Sorry." She said sheepishly. He sighed and turned around.
"So when do we start? The sooner the better." He sighed. She nodded.
"Right now." She said as she turned and began to walk back toward the room they had just come from. He sighed and nodded, following her.