Hello. Here I am again with the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I borrowed the basics from Lord of the Rings and don't want to earn any money with it. Most of the characters are mine.

Dedication: to all the authors I've read the stories from, Je and Zoe, because they criticized me and so I was able to correct a few of my mistakes.

Legend:

"Conversations"

'Thoughts'

... dreams / visions ...

(my comments within the story)

Have fun while reading!

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Chapter 2 'Orc Attack'

When Piero woke up the next morning he looked out the window and found that the sky was overcast with clouds. 'I hope it won't start snowing,' he thought as he went down the stairs.

His parents were now in the large room where the guests usually sat. His father used to be a rider of Rohan, but due to an injury to his leg, he was retired and opened his own pub. He looked dangerous and terrifying nonetheless.Broad shoulders, loads of muscles and a thick beard, just like you would imagine a giant. A bit rough in character and his humor was not always understandable for everyone.

Piero and his brothers, however, followed their mother's appearance and character. She was slim, had light hair, and was very confident. She ran the pub with her husband and served the guests.

"Where were you last night? We could have used your help too." His mother's accusation was unmistakable, but also justified. Piero had promised to help in the bar. "I forgot", was his answer as he sat down at the table with his parents. "How forgotten? Who do you think you are. My father would have made me forget." "Arok was definitely not meant to be", his mother wanted to appease her husband. "So where have you been?" She turned back to her son. "I'm sorry. I was out with Jaru yesterday," he answered quietly.Arok's face, which was still looking angry, suddenly changed its expression. "If so ..." He had to pull himself together not to laugh as loudly as his wife. "Mira enough. The boy is already blushing." Piero looked at his plate and quickly ate his bread. 'Just get away. 'was his only thought during these minutes.

After he had finished breakfast he got up. "I'm going out for a ride and don't come back until tonight. I'll help out then and won't forget it. See you then." The front door was closed behind him. With his face still flushed, he headed for the stables.

The sky over the narrow village streets was gray and the clouds hung low. 'Hopefully there won't be a blizzard. Then I can't ride that long. 'The barn had been rebuilt, but the wood had darkened quickly. The black horse he wanted to ride today was in a pen. It was said that it was sometimes a bit headstrong and that it liked to throw off its rider.But Piero didn't mind in the least. His self-confidence was so great that he never thought of being thrown from his horse as an experienced rider.

After he had saddled the black horse and led it out of the stable, he swung himself nimbly on its back and let the animal trot off towards the steppe. The sky over the dreary wasteland, which stretched for miles, made it snow a little and the cold wind whistled towards the rider. Piero screamed his joy out into the world full of vigor. Here he could do what he wanted, no orders, no tasks, just him and his wishes.

Piero rode hour after hour, indulging in his thoughts. He didn't notice that the few snowflakes from the morning were now turning into a thickening veil. Only when the horse slipped briefly was it brought back to reality. 'Crap. Where did I ride? Everything looks the same here. 'He turned his horse around once to get an overview of the monotonous area.For a moment he saw a black silhouette flashing between the snowdrifts. 'Huh? Was there a shadow? 'Piero let the animal trot a few meters in that direction, but then stopped as a precaution. His horse, however, suddenly made a leap and galloped away in the other direction. "Stand still!" He yelled at it, because it didn't want to listen to simple commands. The animal was still heading straight for a forest. "Stand still!" He shouted again and pulled the reins convulsively, but to no avail.

Leaning tightly over his horse, he felt it shy and in the next moment an impact that made him fall from the horse. Piero cursed loudly when he got up. His horse quickly moved away from him and galloped off into the blizzard. Suddenly he heard someone gasp in front of him. Apparently the stallion had ridden and knocked this person over. The person was now lying on the ground with his face in the snow, the cloak he (the person) was wearing was completely white from the snow."Hey you. Can you get up?" Helpful Piero held out his hand to the person. She looked up in amazement and took her hand. 'An elf ?! 'Piero was amazed he would not have thought it possible to meet an Elf this way. "Thank you", was the word that Piero brought back. "Um. I'm sorry that the horse knocked you over." "It's okay. Have you seen the orc or why are you riding like a madman in this weather." The elf looked at him appraisingly, apparently he didn't trust them particularly. "An orc?" Repeated Piero. Now he remembered the shadow he had seen. 'Was that ...' "I saw a figure earlier. The horse ran away." "Where?" The Elf's eyes widened. "Back there. It's been a while." Piero's opposite suddenly seemed to be deep in thought. Piero used this chance to take a closer look at him. He had blonde hair that came up to his shoulder. He was tall and wore a dark green coat that he kept closed."Very well! I allow you to come with me." Piero was perplexed. "Please?" He asked indignantly. 'Am I wrong? Who does he think he is? 'The Elf snorted contemptuously. "Pah! People! Just get eaten by an orc. I'll hide, it's up to you what you do." "Why should I trust you." "Maybe because I'm the only person who can help you! ", the Elf's green eyes gave him a penetrating look. 'That's true. I'd be here all alone and if he's right and there's an orc around here ... I don't even want to think about it. "As far as I'm concerned. But that doesn't mean that I trust you." To underline his words, Piero put a hand on the hilt of the sword. "Then go." The Elf turned and went into the forest, Piero followed him, always ready to defend himself.

"Tell me what is your name actually?" Piero was asked after a while. "Piero. And you?" "Sulnaur." The Elf went on undisturbed, Piero, however, looked around questioningly in the strange forest.“Where are we actually?” Sulnaur groaned in exasperation. “Where do you live if you don't even know where you are, human?” Piero was speechless at first. 'What kind of stupid question is that? Who or what does he think he is! 'But he didn't dare to express his thoughts in the same way and in the end to be alone in the forest. "Do you know 'Klein Emnet' (unfortunately not to be found on any map (why ?!))? ​​I live there. And I don't know where I am, because the whole area looks the same here. White and covered in snow," replied Piero angry. "Don't be so loud. Who knows what lives in this part of the forest," Sulnaur snapped at him. "Who do you think you are?", Piero only hissed. The Elf stopped with a jerk and turned around. It seemed like he wanted to give a harsh answer. Shortly afterwards he collected himself and walked quickly towards a cave that he had chosen as protection from the orc.

"Are you looking for something?" Asked Piero, because Sulnaur kept touching the ground."Yes," he said slowly and in a friendlier tone. "Do you see dry wood somewhere to make a fire? I don't want to freeze to death." Only now did Piero notice how cold it was in the cave. Immediately he went looking for it. In one of the poorly lit corners, he finally found wood. “Hey. There's a lot of wood here!” Shortly afterwards Sulnaur was standing next to him. “Apparently they have collected some here.” They quickly picked up the dry material and put it together to form a small fireplace. Piero was now standing questioningly in front of the heaped pile. “How do we do this now?” “No problem. I always have some tinder with me.” No sooner said than done. Sulnaur took out a pocket well hidden under his coat. From this he took the said tinder and two flints. He carefully placed the tinder on the wood. He knocked the two stones together skillfully. After a few tries, the sparks lit a cozy fire.

Piero and Sulnaur sat down in front of it.The Elf began to rummage in his pocket again, Piero was watching him carefully. Sulnaur took out a canteen and a loaf of bread. "Also what?" He asked. "What are you still carrying around in your pocket? It seems as if you live in the forest." Sulnaur looked up and handed his counterpart a piece of bread, since he hadn't answered his question. "Everything you need if you don't want to go back home," was his answer. "I ... let's leave that." Something in Piero told him that he shouldn't bring this up anytime soon. The crackling of the fire was the only thing that could still be heard, as both fell into an overwhelming silence.

Piero unconsciously began to poke in the fire with a stick. “You, Piero.” The addressee looked up in surprise. “Yes.” “I'm sorry. That earlier.” Piero didn't know what Sulnaur was referring to. "I think I was a little quick-tempered earlier. Of course you don't know your way around this forest."Piero still didn't understand what his counterpart wanted to say to him." The forest is mostly guarded by elves who ensure that no one or the like enters it. " "Or similar? What do you mean by that? "Sulnaur paused. He couldn't possibly say that he meant orcs and goblins. Desperately he tried to find an appropriate answer." Well, other beings. "Piero seemed largely satisfied with this statement and returned to the real topic." And why was I able to enter the forest? The only elf I've seen sit with me in this cave. "" I wonder too, but I prefer it that way. Nobody sees you and you don't have to justify yourself. “The irrepressible anger