by J A Essen
Faudron breaks the arrows off in front of his body and tells me to pull them out through the backside. He grabs one of the broken shafts and clamps his teeth down on it. Grabbing the one through his thigh, I pull it cleanly through and he only just winces. The shoulder, though… I feel resistance when I pull and know It’s not good when it takes two tugs to remove it.
He falls onto his back, and the color drains from his face. “Edana. The arrows were dipped in poison.”
No!
His eyes close and he begins mumbling unintelligibly.
“Ambar aire anar nulla urwa wilma kelva tulk.” This will only slow the spread of the poison.
“Athraigh!” In a flash, I shift into a large elk, and kneel down, nudging him with my nose. Please understand.
He’s coherent enough, barely, and wraps his arms around my neck, throwing his good leg over my back. I stand back on all fours with ease and crossing the river, aim back toward the mountains edge. It doesn’t take long to reach it, and I turn, following parallel against it. I run for what seems like forever, and can feel Faudron’s grip weakening.
Please just hold on.
Finally, I see the outcropping and the symbol. Cautiously, I press my long muzzle to the rock, and it begins to ripple with energy. Walking through, the guards see the human on my back and attempt to stop me.
"Down, ed' order en' i' tarien!”
They plant their crossed spears to their sides and let me pass. I run at top speed past Ithoran and straight through the front gates of Robor.
I know where I must go.
Without shifting, I continue around to the left and down the corridors until I reach the armory. I settle to my knees, letting Faudron roll off and come to rest on the hard ground before shifting out of form.
“Taranis, please, I need your help.”
He’s already moving in my direction with covering. “Princess, what have you done? What is this madness? Why have you brought an Ujnart here?”
“There is too much to explain right now, Taranis. He has been shot with poisoned arrows, and I have cast a slowing curse, but I don’t know enough to cure it. Please, Taranis, help him!”
I’m hysterical, and he tries to calm me. “Okay Princess, okay. Try to calm yourself while I think.”
Taranis looks at Faudron whose breathing is growing shallower. “Amin delotha lle,” I hear him curse under his breath as he lifts Faudron’s weakening body with ease and carries him deeper into the armory, out of initial sight from anyone who would walk in. “Stay here while I get someone.”
I anxiously wait for several minutes. Hearing the door creak open, I jump up and peer around the wall to make sure It’s no one that shouldn’t be here. My heart slows minutely when I see Taranis return with Sirona, his sister and one of our best healers.
“I want you to know that I’m here against my better judgment, Princess. Healing an Ujnart seems like a waste of energy.” She’s snide, but only just.
She begins a long incantation, one that I’m completely unknowledgeable of, so I sit and wait… and pray. Mother, if this is what you meant by ‘see it through’ then I hope you were right. I’m taking a huge risk with both his life and my heart.
Sliding down against the wall into the corner, I lean my head to the side and am suddenly very drowsy. I can hear Sirona still droning on around the corner. How long will this take? I yawn and…
The next thing I know, Taranis is shaking me awake. “She’s done. Your Ujnart is stable, but still unconscious. I hope for your sake, you know what you are doing.”
I nod my head. So do I.
Chapter 11
Edana
“Edana how could you?! These beasts slayed your mother, and now you bring one into our midst; into MY Kingdom?”
My father paces back and forth outside the dungeon where Faudron has been concealed and locked away. Taranis had just barely finished showing me in to see him, lying on the table, unconscious, but still alive, when my father threw the door to the armory wide open, nearly knocking it off its hinges. To say he was not pleased with my decision would be a mild understatement; blood-boiling-furious might come close.
He didn’t speak to me, but rather to Sirona and Taranis, about who else knew of this situation. Once they were both sufficiently grilled and forbidden to speak of the matter, he ordered the body be brought here and kept under a watchful eye. Not leaving anything to chance, he oversaw everything from the armory until the cell door was closed and locked tight.
So, here I now sit with my father tearing into me.
“But Father, please, listen to me. This is…”
“Quiet! I will not tolerate insolence from you, young lady. Guards, escort her to her room.”
One of my father’s personal guards grabs me by my upper arm, and I yank it away, hissing at him.
“I know my own way, thank you very much!” I glare in the guard’s direction, daring him to touch me again. My father waves him off and allows me to make my own way to my room. Wise decision.
I’m pissed and knock over everything in sight as I cross the grand entrance and head up the wide stairway over two floors. The staff is not going to be happy, but I don’t give a shit. Not like they can do anything about it. I’m a goddamn princess after all, as everyone always wants to remind me. Amin delotha lle!
I finally make it to my room and slam the door behind me, just before I collapse on the bed in tears. For all of the brash, rough exterior front that I put on, I’m still just a girl with typically weak emotions when it comes to being scolded.
But this is different I realize quickly. I’m not crying for myself or even because my feelings are hurt. No; I’m crying because I have doomed an innocent soul to an unjust future. He has been nothing but kind, compassionate, and loving… my how he has been loving.
I roll over on the bed and stare at the magical orb holding the edges of fabric together, creating the canopy draping down my bed. Closing my eyes, I think about that late afternoon on the edge of the river yesterday. The way his hands traveled my body, so gently at first; fingertips grazing the skin of my neck and trailing down over my peaked breasts, slowly exploring their curves. Then later, how primal he became as he pulled on my hair so roughly while slamming himself into me over and over again.
Before I realize it, my hands are between my pressed thighs, rubbing my sex through the folds of the gown that was brought to me to dress in while still in the armory. The fabric is thin, and I can feel my wet desire starting to soak into it. Pulling on the gown, I bring it up over my knees and let the airy material pool on my stomach, leaving me open and bared; the cool air circulating in the room stimulating my senses.
Pushing first one, and then the other shoulder of my gown down, I free my aching breasts and cup them with my hands, thinking about how Faudron grabbed them so roughly from behind as he buried his member inside my hot center. Pinching both nipples as he did, I take in a sharp breath of air from the curious combination of both pleasure and pain.
I twist and pull on them, my body beginning to squirm in the bed, and my core tingling, begging to be touched. Cupping one breast and grabbing it, I place my other hand on the inside of my thigh and slowly drag it to my apex, and across the smooth, glistening folds, causing a shiver to run through my entire body. Taking two fingers, I slide them through the slippery desire and into my heated pussy, my hips rising up to meet my first thrust.
Remembering the way Faudron speared himself inside me, I continue thrusting my fingers in and out, hitting that sweet, squishy spot on the top, and I can feel it growing. I begin rocking my hips on my fingers and using my other hand, force them deeper and keep them there. The sensations building up are radiating outwards from my throbbing core, and I know it won’t be long now.
Rapidly, I press and rub and swirl on the wall inside of myself and abruptly, wetness hits my palm in a burst and continues to squirt as my world spirals out of control. Pulling my fingers out, I rub my little bud voraciously as my body spasms, and I continue to come o
ver and over again, soaking the gown under my bottom. As reality creeps back in on me, and the stars evaporate from my vision, I slouch back all the way into the bed, arms spent hanging beside me, legs giving out, splayed this way and that.
After a few moments, I slide my limp body off of the bed and let the distressed gown fall away to the ground in a pile of spent happiness. As I’m grabbing a covering, there is a knock at my door and Breacca announces herself; her timing actually couldn’t be any better.
“Come in, Breacca.”
“Good evening, Princess. I’m glad you are back safe and sound. How was your hunting?”
Breacca is the one person that I confide in completely, without fear. She knows everything about me, and everything I do.
“Well, some things have happened over the past few days. Draw me a bath please and we can talk. I have quite a bit of telling to do.” I wink at her playfully, and her eyes go wild.
*****
I can’t help but laugh as Breacca sits in front of me, mouth drooped and eyes wide while I finish my story of the past few days. She’s still un-Joined and, therefore, inexperienced, so my erotic description has her blushing apple red.
“It was so much more sensual and primal than words can do justice, Breacca.”
“Sounds like you’ve fallen for this Uj, sorry, human male pretty intensely, Princess. What is going to happen now? You do realize that your father will either leave him locked in that dungeon for the rest of his life, or,” she swallows hard, “have him executed.”
I cut my eyes at her for using my title, and she realizes it immediately. “I don’t know Breacca. I don’t know.”
My mind begins to spin out of control as I close my eyes while Breacca rinses out my hair. The thought of Faudron… no, I won’t even let my mind drift there. I stand up in the tub, and she hands me a towel. I wrap up tightly and step out, Breacca binding my hair in another.
“I have to do something. I know this sounds crazy, but we are Joined, and I love him. My heart can never belong to another.”
“Think about what you are saying, though, Edana. If you go against the king, your father’s wishes, your status will not be enough to spare you. You would be punished just as any other elf for a crime of high treason.”
“Maybe I don’t have to, Breacca. He was too furious to pay attention earlier and doesn’t even realize that Faudron saved my life; twice in actuality. Perhaps tomorrow he will listen to reason. That is what I have to hope for.”
“I definitely like that plan a lot better, Edana.” Breacca smiles into the mirror from behind me as she brushes my long lavender, locks and begins to braid them.
Putting a silver and pearl clasp at the bottom, she places the braided hair over my shoulder. I stand up allowing the towel to fall away and Breacca, standing on the bench, holds a fresh gown up for me to step under. Letting the material fall around me, I give in to the exhaustion and yawn.
“Would you like me to bring you dinner, Edana?”
“No thank you. I’m ready to bed down for the night Breacca. See you first thing in the morning?”
“Yes, ma’am. Sweet bread and milk?”
“You know me too well.” I smile and follow her to the door, grabbing her by the hand as she starts to pull the door open. “Thank you so much for always being there for me.” I embrace her in a hug and lay my head on her shoulder. “If things don’t go well tomorrow with my father, I fear I may not see you again.”
“Be smart, Edana. Drift away and listen to your dreams. Many questions can be answered there. Goodnight.”
She hugs me tightly and then releasing, moves through the doorway and closes it behind her. I lock the door and then head to my bed, pull the sheets backs and slide under them. The cushiness is much welcomed after half a week of lying on the hard, unforgiving earth.
*****
Edana, my selde, I know you are very confused and unsure of your future. Your human melindo is causing you myriad emotions, but don’t let anything keep you apart; love for him will save more than just the two of you. The future and the past will intersect one day again, and your Yanwe will save more than you can even imagine. I’m watching over you always Edana, and when the time comes, I will be there for you in your most vital moment of need.
Chapter 12
Faudron
Son of a bitch, my head is throbbing. Waking up, I feel like I have just gone head-to-head with a black bear and not come out on the better end of the deal. I sit up, my head resting in my hands, and swing my feet onto the cold floor.
Wait; where the hell are my boots?
Willing my eyes to open and focus, I begin to take in my surroundings. The place is dark, save for the faint moonlight creeping in through the small window, well out of my reach. A cell?
I step off the room; eight paces by ten paces. The door is solid wood and has a small cut, smaller around than my bicep. I’m unable to see much of anything as even on my toes, my line of sight only just reaches the bottom of it. Whoever has me captive either uses a stool to peer in or is very, very tall.
The last thing I remember clearly was the encounter in the woods and being shot twice. I recall Edana bravely pulling the arrow bolts out of me and then feeling the poison beginning to course through me. Then, some glimmers of riding through the forest, being placed on a stone slab and someone speaking in a foreign tongue; after that, nothing. Just waking up here without Edana.
Edana!
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
“Shut your mouth, Ujnart.”
“Where is Edana? I must speak with Edana.”
“The princess, is none of your concern. Now shut your mouth or I will come in there and shut it for you.”
On any normal day, I wouldn’t take his lip, but I have enough sense to know that I’m not at my best, nor do I have weapons at my disposal. As it is, my head is already starting to spin again, so I take a seat, prop my legs up on the bed, and lean back into the wall. The swirling sensation invades me even here, and I feel myself starting to go sideways. I wonder how long until morn…
*****
“Get up prisoner. Food is here.” I hear a gruff voice and the clank of metal against stone.
Bread and water, how original.
I’m definitely hungry, and hopeful that the food will stave off the nausea I’m suddenly feeling. Reaching up, I feel the lump on the side of my head where it impacted the floor last night. Apparently the swirling sensation was not just figuratively speaking in my head; looks like I actually did list and fall off the bed.
Whoever these people are really must be larger than life, judging by the amount of bread in the bowl. I eat my fill and drink every last drop of water in the wooden cup.
Feeling more like myself, I lean into the cutout of the door, “Will someone please tell me where I’m and why I’m being held prisoner?”
“Where you are being held is none of your business. As for the why, I’m unsure. If it were up to me, you would have been executed immediately.”
“On what grounds?!” I’m flabbergasted at his response.
“Trespassing on forbidden territory.” His voice is closer this time, and suddenly a shadow passes at my feet under the doorway, and a fist slams into the door. “Now sit down and wait.”
“Wait for what?” I ask as I do move back slightly from the door and angle away, so it seems as if I’m doing as requested.
“For judgment by the king. He and he alone will decide what is to be done with you, you filthy Ujnart!”
King…Ujnart...Edana called me an Ujnart. She must have brought me back to her land. But why?
Chapter 13
Edana
As Breacca and I eat sweet bread and drink our cool milk, I recall my dream-speak with Mother last night.
“I’m more conflicted than ever, Breacca. More than anything I want to be with him; but at what cost? If I could even figure out a way to get him out, we would be on the run for the rest of our lives, and from what I understand, they live
way shorter lives than we do. Why would the Great Elder lead me down such a path?”
“You needn’t worry about those thoughts until you have spoken with your father today. He may be completely appreciative of what your human did for you. At least, if you leave out the part about you two already being Joined. Once you have, what was his name…”
“Faudron,” I fill in for her.
“Yes, Faudron. Once you have him safely released, THEN you can work out what and where to go from there.”
For someone so inexperienced, she always seems to have the right answer. Perhaps her inexperience actually plays in her favor; not having all the emotional attachment lets her see things more clearly and purely.
“I suppose you are right… as usual.” We both smile.
Clearing our dishes, Breacca asks, “So what would you like to wear today?”
“The silver and purple flowing gown just there, please.” I point at my favorite. It’s floor length with a glistening silver bodice and purple, full-length sleeves; fitted to the waist and then flowing and trailing behind. This is my favorite because it’s a reworked version of the last dress Mother had made for me before she was killed. I feel strong and assured when I wear it.
“Ready to face your father then?”
Standing on the stool, she raises it high, and I stand under, holding my arms up to the ceiling as she slides it down over my curves. Beginning at the bottom of the back, Breacca pulls the ribbon tightly, finishing it off with a bow at the base of my neck.
“Ready as I’m going to be I suppose.”
Steeling myself for the difficult conversation that is coming, I thank Breacca, and we leave the room together. When we near the base of the stairs, she grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze, and kisses me on the cheek.
“Go free Faudron,” she whispers in my ear.
She heads left as I turn right and head into the throne room. Father is standing, speaking with a group of Ithoran leaders around a table. Seeing me enter the room, they all bow and I curtsy. Seeing the look on my face, Father dismisses them, and I join him at the table as he’s rolling some large piece of parchment up.
