(In the past)

'Go on, Ada' said the little elfling, shaking his father's arm to wake him up, and the tale was continued.

'...and sorcerers say, an angel comes to Middle Earth, her skin is lighter than the freshest snow and her eyes are just like deep black moons. She means journey and destination. You cannot capture or own her with strength, but can have her on your side forever, if you set her free. The angel brings peace and war. Her spirit is destroying like the cruelest fire, and healing like the water of the most chilling sea. And it is told, this angel is able to build a kingdom in one day, or perish it in a blink of an eye. Her dark tresses are like the proud trees, standing in the night forest, and her slender, porcelain form is like the sun's first ray on the morning sky. Sorcerers say, one day, when darkness blurs our mind again, this beautiful black rose falls to Middle Earth. From above the stars. '

The king closed the old book and kissed the top of his son's little head.

'Sleep now, my little leaf!'

(In the present)

Noira's POV

I exhaled slowly. My heart felt heavy but my muscles rested as I would have just floated on the waves of eternity. I have never felt so much peace. The material what surrounded me was like millions of little stars and distant worlds. I lifted my hands, but could not touch them or even realise them as they were, it was like a dream. Little lights and colorful spots blurred my vision, making me blank, so I closed my eyes slowly, and was just watching the light purple, blue, white patches, as they were changing in a beautiful dance.

I concentrated and started to feel my body's weight again. Suddenly I felt some soft wind too, what lifted my dark locks.

I was falling.

My eyes opened wildly from the realization, but closed again after a minute. There was nothing to do with it, after all. I couldn't do anything, but wait for death or life.

When I opened my eyes next time, the shiny spots disappeared and I felt chilling snow under my whole body. I hitched my breath from the shock. Did I fail it?

I sat up gingerly, and touched the bare skin of my abdomen. No, there wasn't snow anywhere. The freezing cold came from my own pores. I shivered and looked at my several injures. They were almost fully healed for now. Elven race is the luckiest one – I thought.

I stood up slowly and turned around. It had to be late night, because I didn't see anything in the dark. I looked up at the sky. It was like a great black ocean, filled with a million little lights and a noble planet in the middle.

Oh, how beautiful you are, silver goddess... - I stared at the full moon.

The forest around me seemed like a living, loud creature. I knew I wans't alone, but I didn't know what kind of races were looking at me from the shadow. Was there anything in the near anyway? A village, a town, a camp?

The growing panic constricted my stomach. I lived my life as a warrior. Alone and without anybody to help. I went for a hunt if I got hungry and was searching for a river if I didn't have enough water to drink. I could protect myself perfectly, so for me, being afraid was a strange and rare condition.

But I didn't know this world. I didn't even know where to take my first step.

Once you have to move, Noira!

I started my way cautiously and realised, the laws of physics – for example gravitation -worked in this area too. Maybe this place wasn't so different from mine. I was walking in the dark forest for an hour long and was honestly glad, I had my weapons. My legs hurt a little, and I was sure, they were broken from hitting the ground, but my self-healing ability was still working, so I didn't worry, it hurt less and less with every step.

The air in this late summer night was pleasant to everybody, but not me. Where I came from, the eternal winter ruled, I didn't meet this warm weather and now I had to clean my face from the sweat. I breathed heavily and had to take a pause.

Climbing up to a tall tree, I hoped it was cooler on higher. It wasn't, but as I arrived to the top, a little light appeared in the woods, not so far from my position.

A camp! Oh thanks, I need water! Now.

Birds flew away as I jumped down loudly and started to run to the unknown. When I was in the near, hid in a bush to look at the hosts. I was surprised as discovered, this race also lived in my previous world.

'Orcs' I said it out loud, and now they turned their faces to my direction. There were only men, not a single woman or child, it was strange. They were sitting around the great camp fire and eating some deer or horse, it wasn't visible from this far. I straightened and stepped to them.

'I came in peace. I need water and some food to continue my journey.' there was no answer, but they stood up and stared at me. 'I would also be glad, if you could give some information to me about my whereabouts.' I finished and bowed. And waited. They looked at me and each other with big eyes.

There were almost a hundred guys and nobody answered. I started to get really angry. It was clear, orcs were quite dull ones, but still, it pissed me up.

I made eye contact with one of them and commanded him firmly. 'Show me where your chieftain is!' then I got my answer, it was an arrow, flying next to my ear.

I grasped my swords immediately and was ready for the upcoming fight. It was suspicious, they were not from the friendly part of that race. Such a pity, when I was so thirsty...

A cold feeling on my neck interrupted me, and I focused on the present once again. I quickly turned back and in the same time slayed the attacking orc behind me. Then his three or four mates came, but I immediately cut them down. It was easy.

That was the point, when the others started to inquire. The horde moved as one, and I started my dance. Turning right, turning left, my blades slayed everything in their way.

My armor hid only small parts of my form on my hips and chest and for now, my white skin was black from the orc blood.

I felt a sharp pain in my stomack, and touched it. I was bleeding. How could this happen, when I was fighting against only brainless bastards? I was a high-qualified warrior! A living legend! Suddenly I panicked again. Not so clever activity while you are fighting for your life...

What if my power doesn't work in this world, as before? What's with the warm? I feel weakness in my legs. This never happened before! But... I can't kill this enemy only with my swords. If I can not use my spells, I'll die!

I was tired and they were over-numbered. I needed to save myself.

After a deep breath, I felt the well-known tingling in my hands. I threw my weapons away and focused my power to the fingertips. The orc blades were only an inch from me when I put my hands up and felt the icy energy leaving me. Its blue light found its way to the enemy and after a second, they stopped moving. All of them.

Then, I exhaled and closed my eyes. It worked. My powers worked. Now I had a minute to really save myself or die.

I concentrated and tried to collect all of my remaining strength. The energy slowly left my hands, arms, and gathered in my chest. Clearly, I was weaker here, but still tried to use my magic harder and harder.

Maybe I'll die soon, but for God's sake, I will surely not be dinner of anybody! Especially not theirs.

The pressure in my chest grew and an ice shield appeared around my form. The air was frozen and the cool blowing wind was forming an orb around me. The orcs started to find their consciousness and attacked with their axes in that very moment. Their eyes widened, as the weapons stopped in the strong ice wall, what covered me.

I had one chance. My spell will destroy the shield. If it won't kill the beasts too, it's over.

I closed my eyes again and murmured my phrases, as I placed my hands on my chest. The cold storm was tearing my dark tresses and cleaned the black blood away from my skin. I was nearly lighting in the dark.

The great power filled my whole body, and I roared as the destroying winter storm left me, forming a solid growing orb, broke my shield into million little ice shard and killed everything in its way.

°°

I opened my eyes and saw the light blue sky and the great gold sun. It was peaceful and refreshing but... Wait.

When did I get to the ground?

I pushed myself up to a sitting position and saw the butchery I'd done. After all, I could be proud of myself. The air started to get too warm again to me, and my several new injuries made me even weaker than I was before. My stomach was still bleeding and I had some cut on my back and arms too. I knew I'm healed soon, but now I had to move to somewhere from this damned place.

I started to walk again, not in a straight line, but nearly forward. After a time, I felt as a part of my power entering my body again. It was enough to keep walking, at least. The forest seemed so different now. In the sunlight it was almost lovely. Birds were singing their beautiful songs and the great foliages made little shadows on the grass. Not enough.

Damn warm!

I was thinking. Maybe in this world, orcs are not so friendly with my elven race. How should I have known about that?! Where I came from, there were good guys and rogues in every race. Or at least, they were not evil, just enemies because of the actual political situation. But sending an arrow without a single word?

At that very moment an arrow flown next to my ear.

I started to laugh from frustration.

Not again... please.