Adsiltia mentally groaned. How in the name of all that was good could she forget Trillan's power?! It had served to be the root of much of her humiliation and degredation in the past, and she should have known better than to leave her thoughts unguarded. Instinctively, she stiffened her back, standing up straighter. She had to work hard not to show how much the young girl's cruel taunts really hurt her.

That small part of her held deep inside that was not yet broken seethed with rage. What wouldn't she give to put this girl-child in her place?! If only she could somehow. But no, it wasn't possible. Adsiltia was careful to keep those thoughts hidden in the dark recesses of her mind.

"I am here to serve," she said numbly after a moment, "I can do only what is commanded of me to do." Her gray eyes were unfocused, staring blankly forward, seeing nothing at all. She couldn't bear to meet the cruel gaze of Trillan. How was it that such a young girl could be so evil?

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I'm back!

"We all are" said Marien beside her. In the smallest hidden courner of her mind she was compleatly unaware of what she was promising to do. Hapilly improviseing her way though a large repotoire of songs learnt before her enslavement.

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Made by Lembas

Alec felt almost sick with the thought of what waited for them after sunset. Since the Controller had said no more and didn't oder them to do anything he managed to turn around a walk a few paces from him. His heart made a leap, turning his back at the Controller gave him a feeling of satisfaction. But clearly the Controller wasn't done with them: Alec felt a sharp pain in his back and his limbs became numb. He fell on the ground in pain and he was short of breath. With his face in the warm grass he closed his eyes and waited for the Controllers next command.

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O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

"You will do this," the wiry old man continued, staring intently at Alec in particular, "At midnight. I expect a clean job - no fuss, no talking, just quick, clean work. Understood?"

Viran nodded. What could he do? There was nothing to do. How he wished by the stars in the sky there was, there wasn't anything anyone could do. Unless by some magic they could convince that old rotting man that they were no longer needed for his services, they were all just doomed to be puppets for enternity. After all, that was what they had been for the several past years, and Viran could clearly feel the rotted, bruised soul inside him somewhere slowly fading away into oblivion. They either escaped soon, or became empty shells for the use of a sorceror.

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

The voice of the Controller echoed in his head. He tried to scramble on his feet but he still couldn't move his legs and his back ached, so he remained lying in the dust. Understood? sounded the cold voice again. Alec couldn't resist his will anymore and said with a hoarse voice: "Understood"

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O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Some inexorable prompting fought to have the word escape Elaitha's mouth - understood - but she managed little more than a gasp and suddenly the world spun dizzyingly. The elfmaid sank to her knees, breath coming in agonized short spurts. The clearing around her was dissolving into eerie shapes, green and black and brown. Only by sheer willpower did Elaitha claw her way back to consciousness, and when she did it was with an impending sense of dread.

Attempting to stand Elaitha felt herself collapse, knees buckling underneath her. Pine needles, dry and sharp from years of lying in the dirt, dug into the knees of her worn dress, and Elaitha focused on the discomfort to avoid the abject terror that threatened to render her helpless - or rather, more so than she already was.

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Marien did not feel the pain courseing though her body. "Unsterstood master" said her body in a clear voice
What's Understood?Asked her mind, suddelny aware it had said something as the body fell to the ground.
Shhhhhhh, you don't want us to get noticedSaid another part and the mind returned to its music.

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Made by Lembas

Trillan grinned as she saw some of the suffer at the thought of killing those they once knew. Still holding onto the Controller's arm she turned her gaze to him.

"Can I go as well" she asked, " I want to kill something."

It had been forever since she had done something evil like that. She normaly got her fun from the cursed. However, things had grown old doing that.

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Mira walked over to Alec, in time, and managed to aide him in getting up off of the ground. The Controller's voice remained dominate in her head, but her expression remained blank upon her face. This tore her up inside, but she kept the feeling in a mode of surrender as she turned to the controller and mentioned, "Understood," with as much of an unexpressive face as the situation would permit.

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<center>

The force which seemed to control his body, had disappeared and only left pain. Alec realised that the girl, Mira, helped him up. He leaned against a tree, shaking a little, and nodded to her to show his gratitude. He wished that the Controller would dismiss them, perhaps then he could think..

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O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Hythraii started to shake his head. He made himself shake it, but then he neck seemed to grow sore and istead of shaking his head no as he intended, he nodded "yes" to show that he understood. He cursed at himself, but he knew the Controller was too strong for him.

Or was he?

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

"Understood." Jaken respondened woodenly. He started straight ahead, past the Controller. He added, "Are we dismissed, Master?"

Hythraii hoped that they weren't...not yet. He stared blankly at the Controller, trying to find a weakness...a way out of this terrible curse.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

"Understood, master," Adsiltia replied woodenly. She still carefully guarded her mind and emotions. She didn't want her weakness to show through again. Strength was the key, for she knew there was nothing she could do to change her current circumstances.

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I'm back!

You just agreed to kill people
"What?" Her unfocused eyes suddenly showed life and she looked at the Controller as if for the first time. "Now look here why should i kill the..AH" For the first time in years her mind registered the physical pain. Hidden inside her mind this small part of her that had suddenly taken control was unaffected by the Controller. "Hey that hurt ah" She pulled herself back up to standing rage in her eyes

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Made by Lembas

Hythraii looked up and said, "I can't..." He didn't finish his sentence but said those two simple words. The pain hadn't come to him yet, but he stared blankly or daringly at the Controller, to see if he would give it too him or kill him.

Though, at this moment, Hythraii hoped he killed him.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly