by Lance Wilson
“Your so kind to me, but you don’t even know me, why” Mellyruna asks turning gently to her and then letting his hand gently stroke her cheek.
For the first time since he woke up he gets a good look at her. She is magnificent looking, the dress showing her young but elegant figure, her face with only a hint of makeup extenuating her face and showing him just how lovely she is. His fingers run though her black silky hair and he feels her lean into his touch. He can almost feel her tremble as the back of his hand gently brushes her neck.
“I can tell that you are meant for great things, I only want to help you get there” she says her voice clam but inside she is anything but. She cannot do this; she cannot allow herself to fall so desperately for him. This is only adolescent lust, his touch of kindness and compassion is the only one that she has felt since she was given to Skorm by her father, that is what she is feeling so desperately, it is not love, it can’t be love. She can’t allow it.
“I’m not so sure, but either way, I am glad to have a friend such as you. Shall we be going” he asks and gently takes her hand leading it to his arm.
Gently she takes his arm and leans in close to him. She cannot have him, but for this one night, this one night she can imagine, she can pretend, she can slip into a world were he is her lover, Skorm is dead and Mecmed vanquished, at least, for one night.
The two of them make there way though the halls and into the dinning hall where once the doors are opened they are both greeted with roars of approval. Mellyruna is taken back at the extravagance of the banquet, every kind of food is on the table, and every lord he can think of is here, Quickly he scans the tables, yes the lords of the gray elves are here, The Oda clan, the Hitori clan. Scanning even more he hopes against all hope, then, once his is done his heart sinks, the Hojo clan, they, they are not here, Fuma did not come. He can talk to Lord Oda and find out about Maeraer, and the Musashi Hanzo to find out about Byrdi, but he wanted to talk to Fuma the most, it is the visions of Attonnan’s death that have haunted him so much, and with Mecmed giving him the rank of general Fuma would have to answer, as will the others. But Fuma is not here and he will not know of Attonnan, he wonders what would make Fuma turn down the invitation to the feast, he is sure that it is some kind of slap to the face of Mecmed. It is then that his eyes fall on his mother, she looks even more beautiful tonight then he has ever seen her before. She is dressed in an elegant pale green dress with a golden chain belt tied at the waist, her golden hair set perfectly even though it hangs loose, a single thin braid hanging to one side. Tied to the end of it is a deep green cloth. The cloak she wears is velvet and a deep forest green. Seeing her now he can see how his father fell so desperately in love with her, and why Mecmed covet her so. With Neckity at his side he makes his way to the head of the room where Mecmed sits, at his left is his mother, at his right is another woman, her skin a tan color, her hair soft white even though she is still vary youthful looking. She wears only a braw made of red/brown leather and a loincloth of the same kind. Over her wrists are strips of leather the make up bracers and her boots are nothing more then leather as well that comes up almost to the knee. In her hair are two feathers of some kind of bird. Her skin along the arms, legs are painted in some kind of tribal markings in a bright royal blue. Her eyes are a golden color and show of fierceness. Across her back is a huge two handed, double-edged sword like he used to wield and at her side is a large double bit axe that hangs by its handle. Mecmed is dressed in the same fashion he always is, and tucked to his right, behind both he and the wild woman is Skorm, his black hooded cloak and golden mask unmistakable. Once he is at the foot of Mecmed he lowers his head and drops to one knee, Neckity soon following suit. Mecmed slowly gets up and gently puts his hand on Mellyruna’s bent shoulder, it is then that he sees it, the cloak, the golden cloak of the old guardians, how did he get it, he swore that he had all of them burned when he took this kingdom. At first anger burns in him and he pushes back the erg to rip it from him and throw it in the fire. But he is a thinking man and his mind begins to turn the idea around and only in a second of time he smiles at the idea. Yes, let him wear the cloak of the old guardians, the people will rally to it, but Mellyruna shall rally only to him, and in that, he shall bring the people closer to him. He couldn’t have planned it better himself, it seems this boy serves him even without thought.
“I see you have found a cloak of the guardians, I had thought that they were all lost” Mecmed says patting his shoulder letting Mellyruna know it is time to rise.
“It was given to me sir, but I do not know by who. At first I thought it was Skorm your sorcerer, but when I ask of him he did tell me he knew of the emblem, but he seemed shocked that I had it, so I couldn’t tell you where it came from” Mellyruna says smiling. But he can see a sneer on the face of the wild woman.
“And tell me, when he told you of the emblem, what did he tell you” Mecmed asks curious if he was told the right answer
“He told me that it meant, that by the heart of the dragon, no collar nor crown shall imprison the warrior.” He says his head held high in pride.
Neckity only smiles yes that is what it means, and the way he says it she can tell that in time he shall embody all that it means. She also senses a flash of anger in Mecmed’s eyes, she is sure that she will be fingered, but she can say something, make up some kind of lie to ease the punishment.
“Indeed it does boy, are you sure you are ready for such a cloak, such a task” he asks, his mind wondering how such a simple youth can prove to be such a thorn in his side
“I couldn’t tell you, but I know this cloak, it, it feels right, and I shall earn it regardless” he says and watches as his mother smiles down at him.
“Hmmm, indeed. Now where are my manors, I should introduce you to everyone, let us start with my first wife and love Shaharazad” he says gestures to the wild woman to his right.
Slowly she rises and smiles at the young prince, already she can see that this one is hard to predict, and worse he comes here with Neckity. Although her husband knows nothing of her gifts she knows vary well what this dark wench is capable of. She has not told Mecmed cause she has not seen a problem with it, she knew the all of Neckity’s hate was reserved for Skorm and if she dealt with that dark sorcerer, well that was just one less problem for them. However seeing her now with this prince, well, perhaps it is time to tell him so that he may be on his guard. She is obviously starting to play some kind of hand she thinks she has, but the questions is, to what end.
“I have never met a woman such as you before” Mellyruna says blushing at the amount of her body she has chosen to show.
“And I doubt you will, she is wild, as wild as the beasts the roam our woods” Mecmed says and with that draws her close with his arm around her waist. Shaharazad only leans in close and kisses his neck lightly making him close his eyes.
“Now dear, let me tend to my duties as lord” he says and smiles at her, she only nods and lets him go.
With that Mellyruna is led by Mecmed though the room introduced to all the lords and ladies of the moon elf kingdoms, at first he tries his best to remember them, remember there names and what they are like by a bit of conversations but after a while, and so many toast in his honor, he become dizzy with thought and wine. His mother only sits on the thrown knowing that she dare not leave, Shaharazad has given her strict orders that she is to talk to no one and do nothing to jeopardized her children. The woman scares her, like Mecmed said she is wild, and like any wild beast she has claws and teeth of her own that she would gladly tear a person to shreds with, the only difference is her claws and teeth are that of the moon elf army and the temper of her lord. Once all introductions are made he is taken back to the head of the room and sat at the table closest to the front, he is seated right next to his mother, and Neckity next to him. Now sitting he in front of the banquet his hunger hits him like flash of lightening, it has been almos
t six days since his last meal. As soon as Mecmed starts his own plate Mellyruna digs into his like a wild animal. He doesn’t even stop until three plates later, and even then he doesn’t’ so much as stop as just slow down with the fourth, each time his drinking horn getting refilled. By the end of the fourth plate he can only lean back in his chair and look over the room, it is full of laughter and talk of all kinds, he is barely able to keep his attention on anything until soon Mecmed taps his glass and the room stops giving him there attention.
“People of my new kingdoms, I welcome you to honor our newest elf, this day he has passed the tasks of cleansing and come out a man, I welcome on to you Mellyruna Savgtlin of the Unagi clan Mecmed says and gestures for Mellyruna to rise and greet them. Mellyruna slowly places both hands on the table and starts to rise, when he almost stumbles Neckity quickly catches his arm and helps him up. Mellyruna then raises both his arms to cheers and laughter.
“Well he may be a man but it seems the wine has taken its toll, come honor him” Mecmed says as everyone begins to get up, all of them holding some kind of box or pouch.
Mellyruna is shocked as that is happening; they are all coming to him with something of theirs, some kind of gift to their land. He didn’t want this, he’s not entirely upset about this, but this is not how you honor someone, gifts mean nothing. He then reminds himself that this is not his country and not his way, this is Mecmed’s land and the way of the moon elves and he must honor that. He doesn’t want to insult them. One by one the gifts come to him, most are just coins or some jewels and each comes with some kind of hollow speech about how they honor him and are proud to have him, but they do not know him so he knows that these are only words. It is only when the gray elf lords come to him that his attention is focused. The first of them to approach is lord Oda
“Mellyruna, I am sure there may be hard emotions between us, but that is the way of the world, I hope that Mecmed can enlighten you as he has enlighten all of us. In your passage to manhood I gift you with this, it is a book, a book of ancient elvish lore, The Daktari, I hope you find it as interesting and insightful as I have” Mellyruna only looks at the cover of the book, but he did notices how Neckity’s attention was caught immediately at the title.
“Thank you lord Oda, I wish you well and long life, I have already begun my enlightenment with Mecmed and wish you no ill” Mellyruna says speaking only the truth. He is angry at Oda’s part in the take over, but now he understands why it had to happen.
Lord Oda only smiles and is soon replaced with Musashi Hanzo of the Hitori clan
“I will not ask for forgiveness for what I have done. I will not ask for understanding, only know that I now try to right what I have wronged. I give you this dagger, made of the finest elves steel, by the finest Hitori craftsman, when it is time, I expect it either on my grave, or in my heart” Musashi says and before Mellyruna can even answer he is already walking away.
Mellyruna is shocked at that, he knew that the Hitori clan was a tribe of mercenaries and warriors, but they had never shown regret before. Now he tells him he is trying to fix things and that if he kills him, he has accepted that and will not shy away from it. Mellyruna gently strokes the dagger, he will treasure this, and it has shown him the path to a warrior, at least, a part of it.
Soon a young man bearing the uniform of a Hojo elite walks up to the table and bows to them all.
“My name is not important, know only that I come in the place of Fuma Hojo to honor the young prince. He regrets his absence but gives only the excuse that other things more demanding have kept him from here, for the young lord he gives this” the young man says and with that undoes a pouch letting a black stone roll out onto the table. Instantly Mellyruna hears Skorm whisper something in ancient elvish, and feels Neckity jolt at his side. Before he can ask what it is or why they reacted, the young man is gone, disappeared into the shadows.
“Hmm, well at least he honored you” Mecmed says calmly
“My son, I know this is not our way, but I too wish to give you something, something that was given to me” She says and reaches to a leather cord around her neck.
As she pulls it up Mellyruna’s eyes grow huge, On the cord hung like a trophy is a wolfs tooth, he knows all too well what it is and even when it was given to her. He was a young elf, only 10. He and Attonnan were finally allowed on a hunt with Vulge, they were hunting deer. They were out in the woods for days before they even found one, it was a huge buck. It was Mellyruna who took it down. They skinned and gutted it and hung it in the tree, but it was late and they had to spend the night before going back to home. That night they were all attacked, a pack of wolves were dawn by the smell of blood. They attacked from everywhere. All of them shot at them, but they seemed to feel the arrows and keep moving, Attonnan only fired one arrow the whole time, he was calm and focused, like he was in some kind of trance, his arrow found its mark and shot a huge black wolf right though the eye. The wolf fell and the others took off, the black wolf was there alpha. He and Vulge were astounded; Vulge went to skin it telling Attonnan how a wolf trophy was highly sought after, that his father would love to hear the story. Attonnan stopped them, they watched him walk up to the dead wolf and then stroke it’s fur. He sat there for five, ten minutes, he talked to it, talked to it like it was a friend, even said he was sorry for killing it. He then threw it on the fire saying that it belonged to no one, and there should be no trophies. That mourning they all got up to ride out Vulge stayed behind. When they got to the gates Vulge pulled Attonnan to one side and gave him the tooth, it was the wolf’s fang. He told Attonnan not to think of it as a trophy, but as a gift from his wolf brother, for his kindness. That mourning at breakfast he gave it to Rin, He meant to give it to their father, but he wasn’t there. So he gave it to Rin telling her it was for all she did for him. He remembers watching as she cried when she got it, she must have held Attonnan for hours, crying and thanking him. And now, now for her to give it to him.
“I… . I can’t take this” Mellyruna says a tears beginning to well up in his eyes
“I have spoken to the monks in the chapel, the told me what you saw. If it is true, then he is with his wolf brother. He would want you to have this.” She says and before he can do anything she gently places it over his head and around his neck.
“I too have a gift for my young prince, but mine cannot be given here, it will be waiting for you in your room” Shaharazad says with a smile. Her eyes never leaving the wolf tooth.
“Speaking of which, you should call it an evening, you look like you have had much too much wine, go to your room to your awaiting gift, Neckity, could you be as kind as to guide him, see that he makes it alright” Mecmed says calmly and with a polite smile.
With that Neckity gets up and helps Mellyruna to his feet, his right hand clutching to tooth, his eyes closed, tears running down his face.
“Thank you Attonnan” he whispers to himself, only Neckity seems to hear him. So the tooth was his, and then Rin’s and now his. She wonders how this will affect things. If she is lucky this will keep him drawn to the Unagi clan, keep him at a bit of a distance from Mecmed.
They walk though the halls to his room, Mellyruna leaning hard on her. Smiling she tolerates his weight and even his slightly foul breath. Most of the time that they walk he is silent, not saying a word, just clutching the wolf’s fang and staring off into space. It isn’t tell they get to his room that his attention is finally gathered. Neckity gently leans him against the wall and opens the door; she is astounded by what she sees next. Astounds her. Laying in the bed waiting for the young prince is an enticing Yan-ti. She has seen them before but never in the palace. Shaking her head she knows that this must be the gift that Mellyruna was given. Gently she takes him in and smiles as he sobers up at the sight of the voluptuous woman. Her body is like none he has ever seen, she has a magnificent and alluring face, eyes the color of polished emeralds dropped
into a pool of golden amber, and they sparkle and shine like the real jewels. Her skin a soft light green, like creeping ivory. Her figure at least the top half is as magnificent and arousing as any he has seen before. Her breast alluring her form making him hunger for her like some kind of beast. Her lower half however is like that of a huge serpent, the pale green fading and giving way to a deep moss green, the back of the tail pattered with rust brown, the under belly the same color of light green as her upper body. Her long sleek hair is the color of a deep beautiful green, like a kind of shimmering seaweed.
“I’ll take it from here” the seductive Yan-ti says smiling at him
Neckity only bows, and leans him against the door, she doesn’t want to be here for this. Personally she believes that Mellyruna deserves better then this. But this is the way that Mecmed has done things. He is sure that in some way this is there way of making a man out of him. In her eyes however this is only encouraging him to be the kind of man that Mecmed is, a slave to his lusts and desires. With that thought she closes the door and makes her way to her own room. She has to work, that black stone, that book, she knows the book well, but that black stone, she has never felt something that powerful, that dark, it was like glancing at death itself, but why, and how. She has to do more looking, Skorm felt it too, she is sure that he will be running though his books, she shall watch though the shadows, and she shall move through what he does as well.
As Neckity is walking down, Mellyruna is dealing with his own situation. The Yan-ti slowly moves over to him, her lower half moving like a snake. Mellyruna only stands there in shock. The woman smiles a wide smile showing her snake like fangs. Once she is close enough she gently wraps her arms around, lean in to him and begins to kiss along his neck. Mellyruna only closes his eyes as his breathing becomes rapid. She then gently moves her right hand over his chest and stomach but keeps the right over his shoulder. Using her long reptilian tongue she gently licks along his neck sending chills down his spine and makes his body shudder. Using the arm around his shoulder to begin to lead him to the bed. Once he is at the edge of his bed she gently begins to strip him. Slowly she moves over him, removing his armor, clothing, all the way down tell he is down to his skivvies. Gently she lets her hand moves over him, letting her smooth scaled hide touch his, she can feel his body shiver under her touch. Gently she lays him down on the bed, his legs draped over the edge hanging down. Smiling she decides to start his fun. She then lowers her body so she is just seeing over his stomach, then takes her hand and slowly removes his underwear. Once the cloth is gone she can see that his manhood is already aroused and ready for her. She doesn’t think twice, she only leans forward and takes the manhood in her mouth. Her long reptile tongue coils around its length and she can hear him gasp in shock, slowly she lets her fangs gently slide on either side of it, making sure that doesn’t nick it or puncture it with her fangs. She moves her head up and down suckling her like she was only a child at her mother’s teat. She watches with excitement and pride as Mellyruna grips the bedding, clutching it fiercely. Mellyruna growls and bares his teeth like a beast as the excitement and pleasure of it all. It only takes a few moments until Mellyruna bursts in her mouth, spilling his seed and allowing her a taste of him. She only smiles and lets her tongue uncoils from him. Once she is finished with him she lifts herself high with her tail and pulls herself seductively onto the bed so that she now lies beside him. She knows that he will need a few minutes to recover from his first release, so gently she rubs against him, and then takes his hand and gently runs it over her body. Her scales are smooth and soft, not much different from real skin. Aroused and now moving only on animal lust he gently lets his hand move over her body, feeling her soft skin. His hunger takes him and he feels that he must explore her, explore every crevice of her body. Passionately he leans down and kisses her; the kiss is savage and hungry. Lost in the kiss she clutches his hair and pushes him to her, she begins to probe her mouth with his tongue and his does the same. The two hold each other in a passionate grip as their tongues swirl and play inside the others mouth. Mellyruna feeling the heat of the moment lets his right arm drift up her soft body, his hand first feeling her seductive hips normally he would feel her legs move apart, but she has only a serpents tail and he has to admit that he is a bit confused on where to continue. Gently she takes his hand and moves it slowly up the underbelly of her tail, the long plate like scales are smooth and slick. Slowly his fingers find her womanhood, right where it should be. Knowing that he has the rest well under control she reaches around and grips his shoulders in lust. Mellyruna then goes to work on her, he was lucky in the fact that he was a prince and had the luxury of having bathers. They were always more then eager to show him how to please a woman. He breaks the kiss as his fingers go to work on her, massaging all the right places making her gasp and hiss in her pleasure. He feels her claws cut though his skin. He only continues to work on her for a few more minutes before his own arousal and lust take control of his mind and without thinking he mounts her plunging his manhood into her. She trembles as he begins his breeding of her. His pace is slow at first but quickly hastens. Her claws move down from his shoulders to the small of her back leaving shallow cut the whole way, her tail writhing along the bed. Mellyruna is lost in the pleasure of the claiming of this beast, he knows that this shouldn’t feel right, she is some kind of monster but he can’t stop himself, and it is far to late for him to even care. He feels a quick sting of pain as her claws dig deeper into his skin. It only takes him a moment or two before he spills her seed deep into her. Once he finishes he cannot help but collapses on top of her, both of them glistening with sweat. Mellyruna only lies there panting and holding the Yan-ti. The Yan-ti only holds him for a moment then gently rolls him on his side.
