Alright, so if you read the other parts you get it. Same story, different authors. I still haven't gotten a third person to offer to do this, so if you want one, let me know. This is a novel from WinterWolf561.

Novel: Annabella: The Last Sorceress

Winterwolf561

"We are nearly there," Liana whispered into her stallion's ear and patted the side of the faithful animal's neck. The raven-haired She-Elf sat up straight in her saddle and looked around, taking in the familiar snow covered mountains around her. She had spent her childhood in these mountains.

A small smile hushed over her lips as she remembered all her mischievous adventures, that had once seemed so great. She could almost feel the bite of the frost from playing in the snow, fiercely fighting imaginary gods and dragons. In those past ages, she had still felt the cold. Liana shuddered slightly at the memory of snow sneaking into the gaps of her clothing and found herself wishing that those times had never passed.

She had been so young, not even old enough to master the simplest of spells.

Still, not much had changed here in nearly one millennium. Everything still looked pretty much the same. Even the city that lay in the valley below, half buried in snow, looked very similar.

Tharenshall was snuggled in between two mountains that reached up into the clouds. The settlement had grown. It was now a city of maybe ten or fifteen thousand. The city was surrounded by the old gray wall with its towers. Chiseled out of the mountain on the left was a fortress with broad towers.

Liana laughed quietly, still lost in joyful memory, her breath billowing out in a misty cloud. Then, after adjusting her cloak's hood, she gently nudged her horse's flanks with her heels and continued down the snow covered path toward the dark wooden gates. As she had expected the gates were closed for the night but she could see light flickering through the shooting slits of one of the guard towers.

The elf tugged on her horse's reins. The chestnut colored animal stopped, allowing her to gracefully slide out of her saddle. Liana knocked on the heavy wooden door three times and folded her hands patiently. Her gaze wandered over the deserted Battlements. Since when was security this slack?

The answer was obvious. The very gruesome and bloody Troll wars of the North were history. After the Troll's had suffered through three bitter winters their main concern had been to get out of the mountains and migrate further south, dreaming of more fertile lands. No one had seen it coming. The Tribes had united and overrun the far north of the Empire before anyone had been able to muster the strength to stop them. After nearly a decade of countless bloody battles, the Trolls had been forced to submit. Their chieftains had sworn their loyalty to the Emperor. Most of their tribes were now under the protective mantle of the Empire. The rest had fled back to their caves, defeated and broken.

Ever since this war the North had been the most peaceful place in the realm that humans called the Empire of the West.

"What do you want! It is night. Don't you elves sleep?" the deep bellowing voice of a Troll echoed down to her from the battlements in dwarvish, the most common language within the Empire.

Liana hid her smile and looked up. "We do and I would love to find a nice warm bed were the wolves won't eat me in my sleep," she called back up.

"Hmm," the Troll grunted. "Can't leave you out here to freeze. Just wait, I'll let you in."

Liana sighed and her gloved fingers closed around the black leather bound hilt of her one and a half handed sword, stroking over the cross guard with her finger. Then she released the hilt. No, she wouldn't need that tonight.

Finally, she heard the gate being unbolted before being pushed open and sure enough in the doorway stood a fifteen foot tall, gray-skinned giant. Despite the weather, the Troll was only wearing a loin cloth. He was covered in muscles and had two large teeth picking up from his lower lip. All in all the Troll looked like any of the brute animals from the stories but Liana could sense the calmness and curiosity in this one.

Her horse, however, snorted and nervously backed up at the sight of the giant Troll but Liana held the reins tight. "Who are you? Sorry, but I have orders to ask. The small man told me not to let anyone in without asking."

"I am Liana of Val Carid," the elf introduced herself and bowed slightly.

The troll kneeled down in front of her and his foul smelling breath washed over her before he sniffed hard. "Hmmm, you seem alright. They call me Ragnarok. You and your horse may enter. Don't cause any trouble, you hear me!"

Liana smiled pleasantly, "I understand. Thank you for letting me in."

Trolls... It had been hard for her to get used to seeing Trolls everywhere after the war. Elves, especially the ones her age, had very long memories. Despite the war being over for nearly two centuries, the memories still felt awfully fresh. However most Trolls didn't live nearly as long as elves and by the looks of it, this one wasn't even twenty. He held no ill feelings for her and she decided to take care not to let her past quarrels with his ancestors fall back on him.

The Troll stepped aside and allowed her to pass, seemingly amused at the horses fear.

They proceeded through the gate tunnel and up a street. "Good night Ragnarok," she called back over her shoulder and headed up the snowy road.

The streets and most of the windows were dark and deserted and the only souls she encountered were a few groups of Dwarves and other Elves from the city watch. However, they paid her no heed and let her lead her stallion to the stables.

Once her horse was set up with a warm coop and hay, Liana proceeded deeper into the city. Unlike the city gates, the gates of the inner fortress were open. Only a single, tired looking Dwarf stood guard and let her pass without so much as looking at her.

No one in their right mind would ever dare to steal from this residence. Two kinds of beings were famous for viciously defending their treasures and both resided here.

Liana proceeded over the empty courtyard unchallenged although she was aware that she was being watched now. She approached the mountain fortresses inner gate and knocked three times.

"Ehh, who knocks at this late hour?" a deep voice yelled from somewhere up above.

"It is I, Lady Liana of Val Carid. Open the gate!"

"Very well," came the reply.

For a moment nothing happened, but then finally one of the heavy doors swung open revealing an armored dwarf. "Lady Liana, I am Thorax, the steward. I didn't expect any guests at this latest of hours, much less you. I shall awake the Lord at once."

"No need. I am here to speak with Kelthron," she replied hastily.

The dwarf's eyes widened for a moment but then he bowed, "Very well my Lady. Follow me."

Despite the torches, the halls were dark and nearly as cold as the winter night outside. Her breath still cast small clouds. They left the entrance hall but instead of heading to the warm living quarters, they walked down a side passage. Soon castle's walls turned into the solid stone tunnel that headed deeper into the mountain.

Suddenly the dwarf stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to face Liana. "Forgive me, my lady. I dare not go any closer."

Liana bowed slightly, "Thank you very much. I am sure I will find my way from here."

"My lady, are you sure..." the Dwarf trailed off.

Liana laughed softly. "Do not worry. I thank you for your assistance."

With those words, the elf continued on deeper into the mountain until she reached a giant cave. She was slightly surprised to see the stars when she glanced up. "Ohh joy," she muttered, once she realized she was standing inside a volcano.

"What brings you to my lair Sorceress?" a deep, melodic voice greeted her, seemingly coming from everywhere.

"You do not seem surprised to see me Kelthron," Liana replied and turned left to face the mouth of another tunnel. This one, however, was over fifty feet wide and just as high.

"Did you really believe I wouldn't sense someone as powerful as you approaching? Have you come to finally find out who of us is greater?"

The giant, horned head of a lizard moved forward into the light. It alone was the size of a horse and covered in pearly white scales. Slowly, and surprisingly graceful the ancient dragon moved the rest of his giant body out of his nest. He stopped fifty feet away from her and rose up to his full height.

"You should know why I am here. Are you hoping for a fight?" Liana replied softly as blue flames collected in her hands. The air around her dropped noticeably by a few degrees as her magical aura took effect.

The dragon opened his jaws, showing off long rows of pearly white, dagger-sized teeth. The ground shook as the laughed, reminding Liana of rolling thunder.

"There is no reason for a show of force Sorceress. I know why you are here, even if I would prefer if you had come seeking a battle."

She let the flames engulfing her hands die slowly. "Too much has happened to turn back now. I have no other choice, not after what happened in the monastery."

Kelthron lowered his massive head to meet her gaze, "Very well. I hope you have settled your affairs."

Good story. I probably used a lot more of your words verbatim because I think we have similar diction uses. A few major differences. Adding a little mystery both to who Liana is and who the dragon is. It's only a few paragraphs, but I feel it adds something. Other than that, just minor tweaks here and there to how things were described an unfurled. I felt the ending needed more punch, so I extrapolated things a bit. Enjoy!

"We're almost there." The raven-haired elf whispered, patting the side of the stallion's chestnut mane.

The horse continued to march slowly forward up the snowy trail, and a smile couldn't help but touch across her delicate elvish features. She glanced around the familiar backdrop, reminiscing over the snow covered mountains that she had once called her home.

She used to play over in that field with the local children, ignoring the biting snow as they performed mock battles involving battlegods, monsters, and dragons. They had frequently gotten up to a great deal of mischief, such as the time they built a massive fort, and, in one of their more aggressive battles, had caused a minor avalanche which nearly took out the granary. The entire town was in an uproar and there wasn't a single child who could sit comfortably for a week after that incident.

Snow had managed to sneak its way through gaps in her clothing, and a particularly malicious snowflake had worked its way into the small of her back. She gave a gasp, breaking her temporarily from her memories. That was all a long time ago, anyway. It was before she had even mastered the simplest of spells. Had she ever been that young?

In the distance, she could start to make out the features of a small town snuggled in between two mountains whose peaks were lost in the clouds. The settlement, called Tharenshall, had grown since the last time she had been there. It was large enough to be called a city now, perhaps ten thousand people strong. The city was surrounded by old, gray walls with a tower at each corner. To the left, a fortress that seemed carved from the mountain was accentuated with massive guard towers.

The elf tugged on her horse's reins as they finally approached the massive wooden doors that functioned as an entryway. The animal slowed to a stop, allowing her to gracefully slide out of her saddle. Trudging up to the entrance, she gave three heavy knocks on the door frame and then folded her hands patiently.

As she waited, her eyes wondered over the deserted battlements as she contemplated how lacks the security had become over the years. The reasons for this were simple. This was considered a time of peace. The bloody and gruesome Troll War was considered long history now. At the time, the Trolls had just experience three bitter winters, and started migrating south in hopes of finding fertile land.

The unexpected event had led to an invasion from the united Troll tribes, which had conquered most of the northern Empire before anyone could mount a defense. A decade of countless, bloody battles and eventually the lands were reclaimed and the Trolls forced to submit. Their chieftains swore fealty to the Emperor, and most of the tribes are now considered annexed by the Empire. The rest had fled to their caves, defeated and broken.

After this war, the North had since been considered the most peaceful of all the Western Empire.

"What do you want?" A deep bellowing voice of a troll echoed down from the battlements. "Who the bloomin' ell is it? An elf? Don't you elves sleep?"

The Troll spoke in dwarvish, the most common language in the empire. The elf hid a smile and looked up at him.

"I'm looking for a nice warm bed where the wolves won't tread." She called back up.

"Hmmm..." The Troll's voice almost vibrated the wall like the sound of a stampede. "Can't leave you out there to freeze, I suppose. Just wait, I'll let you in."

She gave a sigh, releasing her gloved fingers from the leather-bound hilt, giving one last stroke as she pulled her hands away. She wouldn't need that tonight, she supposed.

After a brief moment, the sound of the gate being unbolted rung out with a clang and the door was pushed open. In the door way stood a fifteen-foot tall, gray-skinned giant. Despite the weather, this Troll seemed to wear only a loin cloth. He was covered in muscles, and had two large teeth that jutted from his lower lip. All in all, the Troll looked as brutal as many stories suggested, although this one only seemed to have an aura of calmness and curiosity.

The horse, however, was not convinced, and snorted nervously while backing up a few steps.

"Who are you? Sorry, it's orders. I need a name to write down. The small one told me to not let anyone in without getting their name."

"My name is Liana of Val Carid." The elf introduced herself with a bow.

The troll kneeled down in front of her and gave a loud sniff. "Hmmm... you seem like you won't cause trouble. Call me Ragnorok. You and that four-legged animal can enter. Just don't cause any trouble. You hear?"

Liana forced a smile on her face while ignoring his foul-smelling breath, "Yes. I understand. Thank you for letting me in."

The troll stepped to the side to allow her to pass as she remounted her horse. As the horse passed by, he moved his arms and stretched. The sudden movement caused the horse to skitter slightly, and the troll chuckled in response. Liana gave him another tight nod before kicking the horse past him. It was still difficult for her to get used to seeing trolls everywhere. Elves were particularly long lived, and while several generations had passed for the trolls to the point that this one likely held no animosity, Liana grew up listening to stories of the troll's brutality and savagery.

"Good night, Ragnarok," She turned and gave him a deliberate nod, and he responded with a light grin.

This one was no more than twenty years of age. She wouldn't allow herself to show any ill feelings towards this youngling as a result of the past quarrels of his ancestors.

Heading through the gate tunnel and up the snowy road, the only souls she encountered were a few dwarves and elves that also belonged to the city watch. As she was already within the city walls, they didn't heed her any particular mind as she lead her stallion to the nearby stables.

Once she had paid for a stall and set her horse up with a warm coop and hay, Liana proceeded on foot deeper into the city. Unlike the city gates, the fortress gates were traditionally left open. She was once told this was a means of showing citizens that the nobles were open and fair to their people. Of course, this didn't mean that the fortress was not protected.

There was a lone Dwarf guard at the gate who allowed her to pass with a groggy wave of his hand. This sort of security might seem lax, but no one would dare steal from this residence. This place was home to two beings quite infamous for guarding their treasures, and Liana could already feel eyes on her, even if she couldn't pinpoint where they wer ecoming from.

Once she reached the mountain fotresse's inner gate, she knocked three times on another closed door. It took a few minutes before there was a response. Just as she was raising her hand to knock again, a voice came from the other end.

"Who is it? Whose knocking at this late hour?" a creeky, yet strong voice resounded from somewhere above.

"It is I, Lady Liana of Val Carid. Open the gate!"

There was a brief second of silence, then, "Very well then..."

Another moment, the sound of a lock turning, and finally the heavy door swung open revealing a dwarf wearing a more formal attire. He was still armored, but it was clearly a fine, soft leather that seemed almost ceremonial, although likely still effective if needed.

"Lady Liana, I am Thorax, this Castle's steward. I was not expecting any guests at this late an hour, much less from a elvish lady such as you. I shall awaken the Lord at once."

"No need, kind steward. I'm hear to speak with him."

"Him?" a brief flash of confusion shone on his face.

"Him..." Liana nodded, her eyes drifting down.

The dwarf's eyes followed hers and then widened for a moment before he gave another bow. "If that is your request, my Lady. Of course, follow me."

Although the hallways were lit with torches, it was still almost as dark and cold as the outside. Each breath cast out small clouds of vapor. As they left the entrance hall, instead of heading towards the warm living quarters, they walked down a side passage. As they headed deeper into the mountain, the bricked castle walls turned into a solid stone tunnel.

The dwarf stopped in his tracks, turning around to face Liana. "Forgive this old steward, my lady. I dare not walk any farther."

Liana gave him a smile and a nod. "Thank you kindly. I am sure I can find my way from here."

The dwarf hesitated for a bit, "My lady, if I may. Are you sure..."

Liana gave a sweet laugh. "You mustn't worry. Thank you for your assistance."

With no more words, the elf continued on deeper into the mountain. It wasn't long before the hallway started to widen and then broke into a massive cavern. As she tried to get a feeling for the dimensions of the cavern, she realized she couldn't see the far end, but when she looked up, she saw stars. That must mean that this was a giant crater. She was sitting at the bottom of a giant dormant volcano.

"That's just perfect..." Liana gave a sigh.

"What brings you to my lair, Sorceress?" a deep, melodic voice boomed out from the darkness, seemingly coming from everywhere.

"You're not surprised to see me, Kelthron?" Liana tilted her head curiously as she looked for the source of his voice.

"Did you really believe that I wouldn't sense someone with your power approaching my lair? Have you finally come to take me up on that challenge? I still wonder which of us would win."