The lithe assassin watched as the intruder walked through Her woods. He was tall, dark haired and dark of eye, that much she could tell as she shadowed his every step. She moved like the wind, silent and soft. Her footsteps do not even bend a blade of grass as she follows, curious about this newcomer, for he is the first person she has seen in almost 300 years. Her movements like a lemur or monkey as she travels through the trees, swinging through the branches without a sound. Her piercing green/blue eyes miss nothing as he wanders, unaware that 'death' stalks his footsteps.
She got so close to him, hidden in the darkness like a panther, that she could see the chain links on his tunic, could see the curls in his hair and count, if she so desired, the sweat beads upon his forehead. With a soft growl, she disappeared back into the forest, not even stirring the bushes as she passed them as she pulled back. She followed, more because she was curious, and because also that this was HER home. No one had set foot here because they could not find it or did not know about it, hence she thought she was safe. but with the pressing of people coming to this land from the mountains, her safe haven was close to being threatened every day, and every day, they grew closer.
When he turned to go down the path that would take him to her cottage, nestled in the hold of the mountains, she knew he had gone far enough! She slowly took out her bow and an arrow and sighted down the shaft, and let the arrow fly! It landed, in the trunk of a tree, not an INCH from where he was going to take a step with a loud THUNK and quivered there in front of him. She stood tall, squared her shoulders and stepped out of the shadows, her eyes blazing.
"I did that on purpose...I don't have to miss." her voice cool yet soft as she watched him, and wondered of him.
Having never before ventured out beyond Alfheim's safeguard, Daeron stepped softly among unknown environs. Shadows crept in his wake as though timid, as though wary, while in truth it he was who bore apprehension. Tension rode his sinews when he heard the stealthier, yet he gave way no hint to betray his awareness. When suddenly an arrow burrowed into his path, he brought forth his sword with instant precision. A smile etched his features as he met voice to voice. "Neither do I," he replied in bold statement.
she considered him with a soft smirk, noticing how fast the sword had appeared in his hand. Here, might be a friend...or a foe, she was never one to 'latch on' to quickly. It took time to earn her trust, and this person was a stranger.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" she asked him bluntly, this was her land and she would defend it to her last breath. everything, from her cottage to the ruins of the castle walls high on the mountain top was HERS and no one would take it from her. All her life, she wanted a place to belong, and she had finally found it, and would defend it to the last. "You move fast...for a human." she chuckled, he was no more human than she was and she knew it. "I ask again, why are you here?"
His dark eyes glittered with amusement. A full foot shorter than he, lesser by at least a hundred pounds, this elven female stood bristling, undaunted.
"For a human I do move quite fast, do I not?" Moonlight shone in the ebon sky, a gentle beacon leading him forward with cautious brevity. Did it matter who he was or even she? He'd not come seeking contention. She seemed defiant, as though he'd wronged her, but whose arrow sat buried between their proximity? "I am here because I wish to be. Does this mean you don't like that?" He knelt down and plucked the arrow from its grassy rest.
She hid a smirk at his reply, she knew from the sight and smell of him that he was no human. His heart, beat to fast, his reflexes to honed, even his eyes shone to bright. All this she knew, knew from her training. Years and years of being forced to become what she is now, hiding out away from the world from those who would use her talents against her. She watched him, watch her and felt her hackles raise at his comment. the way he said it, left her feeling that he was arrogant and she resisted an urge to growl at him. This being the first person she had seen in years, she wanted to know more about him and not chase him off.
"Well, you are going the wrong way. There is nothing that way and you need to turn around now." her stance told him that she would take no refusal, that she would stop him if he tried to go further without her say so. She stiffened as he bent down and picked up her arrow, looking it over. It bothered her, him studying her weapons; it gave the 'enemy' a better way to know you by studying what you use. She would have to be more careful next time. "You...need to leave...now." her voice was clear but not as strong, he caught her attention and she felt unnerved by it.
There was a sharp barking from somewhere out in the darkness. A chill breeze kissed the shadows, a whispering specter enjoining the tension passing between them. He stood and studied the arrow. It was finely crafted, exceedingly lethal. Glancing up he then altered his course of scrutiny. Who was this woman standing before him with such brazen demand? While exuding brash confidence there could be no mistaking her apprehension. As well, curiosity crested her tone despite seeming best efforts to keep it concealed.
"The wrong way?" He stepped forward, moving with sleek animal grace, a challenging glint in his dark gaze. Perhaps he should seduce her, gently entice, lead her slowly yet inexorably down the path to her ultimate surrender. Perhaps then she would step down and out of his way. "And if I do not leave?" His voice was velvet as he held the arrow to her return. "Will there be more of these then to follow?"
she watched the way he examined her arrow, her eyes slit wondering what he was thinking. "Yes, the wrong way. That way is not for you and you need to go back the way you came. There is nothing for you there." Her eyes opened wide, startled as he took a step towards her. She resisted the urge to jump back and instead held her ground. She stiffened as she heard the sound of his voice change and gritted her teeth to hold back a growl for it made her uncomfortable. She had heard, often enough, when someone tried to seduce her or others and knew its inflections it had upon the voice and the body and she was having none of it! He had no right to be here, this was her home, her solace of peace, hard won and given by blood and he would not interfere or take it away from her!
"Yes! More would soon follow, and maybe even a greater pain then even my arrows can give you." She stared right back at him, her eyes sparking in defiance and even anger as she took the proffered arrow and tucked it back into her quiver, turning to glare at the man once again. Who WAS this man, who came onto her lands and teased her so? Why was he not unnerved like the rest were? what did he want? "So I suggest you turn your feet norward, and head back to town, for only pain and death lead that way." She indicated with her hand, pointing in the way he was going, so close to her hidden home.
She held herself with pride, this one, he thought as he slowly circled her. Raven locks cascaded over slender shoulders, her frame petite yet stalwart in regal carriage. Perhaps she was a noble of some sort although the prospect seemed unlikely given that she was alone, unguarded. She could be taken easily despite these valiant efforts, but he was not a man bent toward such proclivity. An exasperated growl rumbled at the back of his throat. He could not 'go back the way he'd come' for to do so would see him quickly seized. Of course she had no way of knowing the 'greater pain' awaiting him were he to simply turn around and leave her to her stance.
His heart raced and blood pounded in his ears. He needed to be on his way for certainly by now his leave had been discovered. If he remained here playing games who knew how long before captivity would once more be upon him? Struggling with the conflicting emotions battling inside him, frustration led him forth to action. "I shall proceed as I've intended." With the moon as backlight he could see the curves and contours of her form so clearly she may as well have stood unclad before him. The high firmness of her breasts, the creamy perfection of her skin . . .
He forced his eyes to cease their predatory descent and took a half step back. The physical reaction to her was too strong, the heat rushing through his loins an unanticipated pleasure that threatened to absolve his annoyance at the circumstance within which she'd placed him. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead, his breath a deep sigh of binding restraint feathering across her cheek as he leaned close and whispered, "You place yourself in more danger than you seem to realize."
She watched him, keeping her eyes on him at all times, turning when he tried to look her over by walking around her. She saw the way he looked at her and it sent shivers up her spine, and caused her to sneer slightly at him, holding back a growl. "What are you looking at?" Her voice was low, but it dripped with acid, a warning in her tone that she was not to be trifled with! she watched him, unsure of his intent and slowly, let her 'other senses' overcome her. She closed her dark emerald eyes and inhaled as he passed near her, letting his scent waft over her tongue and down her throat. She smelled no darkness about him, which was unusual, for only those who came this way, sought an escape from something, which she readily gave them. Usually an arrow in the heart or knife used if they got to close. She fingered the blade she kept hidden at all times under her arm guard for her bow and opened her eyes again, looking into his dark ones, uttering a soft growl in response to his. Her eyes danced with a hidden flame that was her demon, like tea lights upon a dark lake, they blazed brightly into his. He was hiding something, of that she was sure for no one came this way. The forests alone were rife with 'ghost' stories. Only the very brave or the very stupid ventured this far east.
She took a step in front of him, as if blocking his path and gave him a warning growl, her grip on her bow tightened and he could see she meant what she said, about stopping him. "No Sir, it is you who have put yourself in great danger by coming here." She radiated danger, toxic to the system as a drug, her presence wafted around them, anger, defiance, rage, even the tiniest bit of fear at his being so close to her. Her emotions had a scent of their own and she knew he could smell them, could tell by the way he looked at her. She was affecting him, in ways she did not, herself, yet understand. She had lived alone for to long. Had drifted in and out of homes and walked among people without being seen. She was the BEST at what she did, taking life. Her Demon side helped keep her alive more times then she could count as well. She had lived out her life, alone. Her mother kept moving them, so she never had time to make friends or get used to the way a real life was supposed to be. she had no idea how to act among other people, was very antisocial, she tended to sit back in a crowd and watch. She learned more that way then any other. She could pass through a crowded room and people would not even know she had been there. "I suggest you turn back...least you meet your end if you but dare take another step closer, Sir." Her breath low, nearly whispered. what was happening to her? why was he beginning to affect her? She growled again and looked away a moment before turning to meet him eyes once more. "Perhaps if you were to tell me why you came here, I might not kill you. MIGHT!"
Darkness closed in upon his desperation. Not an evil man, he was yet one hunted. Charged with a crime he had no hand in, evidence proving his innocence ignored, he was now a sought fugitive with little hope of much future should he be discovered. Re-sheathing his sword he grasped her arms and pulled her close, the bow in her clutch of no imposition. "What game are you playing here?" His hold tightened with the roughness of his voice. This was not what he wanted. It was wrong and yet what choice had she left him? He was coming unhinged in more ways than one. "I am not turning about and would therefore offer suggestion myself. Abandon this folly. Step aside, allow me my passage or see yourself to unwilling surrender." The shadows that partially hid his face hardened his features into sharp angles making him appear more menacing than his large physique would allude. The intensity of his increasing desire emboldened him. He had her so close he could feel the wild fluttering of her heart against his chest, sense the unspoken questions that loomed in her mind. "Patience quickly evades me," he warned as he stared into her eyes with menacing demand.
His movement took her by surprise, a first since she was far faster than any elf or human around. She let out a soft growl, as his grip tightened over her arms, imprisoning her so she could not use her bow, but that did not mean she was defenseless! In a swift, yet unseen movement, she unsheathed her dagger she kept tucked up in her arm band and held the point of it to his gut, eyes tinged red slightly in distress. She had never been grabbed like this before and it upset and made her nervous! She pushed just enough that he could feel the blade at his side, her face stone, her eyes the only thing that danced and they danced in barely restrained rage! "One more move like that, Sir and all your issues on this earth will cease to exist." Her blade was at a vital spot, one thrust and it would go through his liver with accurate precision. She pricked him harder to let him know she meant what she said, that if he did not stop hurting her, she would kill him, and have no compunctions about it later. "You tread to close to my home, turn back and go the way you came. This land is mine, the secret I keep dies with you if you go another step further." She looked up at him and was, for a moment, confused. Her heart actually leapt upon glancing into his eyes, her breath stopped for but a moment as well. Not out of fear, but something entirely different. the atmosphere around them changed rapidly, from one to defiance to barely restrained passion...but she had no idea what this emotion was and fought against it! She could tell he was different, in the way he looked at her, that he desired her, but she had seen all that and more in others faces when she was sent to kill them. People would do anything...anything not to die.
"Release me...this instant!" She finally found her voice and shoved slightly on her dagger again, causing it to prick him harder. she was just about to tell him off when she froze. Footsteps, hoof beats upon the night air and growing closer. He was FOLLOWED! She turned her smoldering eyes upon him with a growl, her anger obvious. "What have you DONE?" She hissed at him as she sheathed her dagger back in its hiding spot in her guard and without thinking of the consequences, takes his hand in hers and pulls him off the path, shoving him into the darkness of the forest and after covering the path with branches, came back to him and nodded towards the darkness. "Keep quiet...least I give you to whoever follows!" She whispers through clenched teeth. "You threaten me..."Bottom of Form
She made him feel like a hungry animal, caged by his own rules, and all the more dangerous for it. For a few moments lust had risen so furiously that he'd feared he might drag her beneath him, uncaring whether she fought him or not. Instead he clenched his hands more firmly, further securing his hold - not so much upon her as of his resolve. Force was far from his preference. He winced as he felt steel piercing his gut. Although unexpected, the bladed threat did not surprise him nor did its presence send him to panic. If he stopped to consider all the times he'd been met with similar circumstance he may as well count the stars in the sky. He was far too experienced to give this much care. If she honestly thought him so singly armed as to leave himself open to lethal potential, she was sadly mistaken and so could well learn, but he had no wish to bring her to harm. Better he left her with whimsy of false belief than taken to suffering pain by his cause. "I tread close to my death by means greater than yours," he hissed as he met her assault. "Do you think me fearful of what you propose? If so I . . . "
He found himself caught within sudden peril, mortality approaching in hastened stead. Night transformed into a chasm of ebon oblivion as chase became certain, his re-capture imminent. The steel held against him no more of matter he loosened his hold and meant to be gone, only to find himself shoved further to darkness, HER fear more ravaging than was his own. She'd unwittingly hurtled them both into danger, despite her attempt to place him as blame. "I tried to persuade you to step aside. See what your foolish obstinacy gained you?" In truth he felt guilty in an odd sort of way. Had he been more forceful she would have been safe.
She paid his words no more thought then she would to a buzzing mosquito about her ears. If he thought her without means of protection, of herself and her home, he would soon find out how wrong he was to assume such. She led him through the darkness, to trails that only the wild things would dare to pass through till they came to a break in the trees, here, she paused and turned round to face him, snarling her warning, loud and clear, for him at least to hear. "You, remain here...you are downwind now. They will not find you. Stay here and no matter what happens, remain hidden. I mean it, least I strike you down by accident!" And with that, she was gone, faded into the darkness like a mist. Quickly as she had been there, she was gone, leaving not a leaf moving in her wake. like a ghost herself, it would make you second guess things if you had not seen it yourself.
She backtracked to the spot where she had stopped him and waited. It wasn't long till several elves, a few on horseback, a few walking came upon the trail. She watched as they reached what looked like a dead end, for she had barred their way before taking the man who tread her lands into the woods. She held her breath and listened as they decided which way to go and if to go further. "Come on..." she whispered to herself "Leave...go back the way you came." the moment was a tense one and she stiffened when she saw one draw a sword, and begin to hack at the branched that barred their way. They had made their decision and she had made hers. Fading back into the darkness like a ghost, her eyes were the only thing that could give her away as they glowed as she made her way closer to them. She picked them off slowly. Taking first one, when the rest weren't looking and then waiting. letting their fear of this wood and this place fill them as she took two more without a noise uttered or heard. Soon, there were only 5 left and she knew she had no choice...she rushed forward, dagger unsheathed and in a way that was so graceful, that it almost seemed like a dance, she slaughtered them before they realized what was upon them. She rushed out of the woods, and shoved her dagger, hilt deep into the side of one elf who was busy chopping at the wood, turning, she threw her dagger, hitting dead on in the heart of one behind her who would shoot her in the back as she killed the first. Kneeling, she grabbed two arrows and lined them up together and shot the two who were charging her, realizing what was happening as soon as the first was down. The last, had spurned his horse the way they had come down the lane to get away, and to warn others, as soon as she had leapt from the trees, but she seemed unfazed. She took out her last arrow and ripped the feather off the shaft with her teeth, strung it and turned, aiming at his retreating back. An IMPOSSIBLE shot, he was to far away! She breathed slowly and released and with a cry he fell as the arrow went through his chest, piercing his heart!
The adrenaline had left her system as she looked around her, at the chaos she had created. She was born, trained to do this, yet she did not like it. She had hidden here to escape this, and now this man had come and brought this upon her. They were stuck together, him and her, she knew that now. She had killed not only to protect herself, but him as well. Why? With a growl, she motioned him out as she would not bury them alone and motioned around her
"Do you SEE!?" her anger clear and more deadly then ever "this is YOUR fault! They did not have to die! This is bad...they will send more. WHY ARE THEY AFTER YOU!" her voice rang out clear, yelling in her distress. "Help me bury them..." turning, she headed into the woods to pick out a spot to lay them to rest. He was here, and he was not leaving till she got answers.
"Do I see WHAT?" While he'd watched her in awed admiration, he was not of a mind to stand in reproach. "YOU brought this upon us. Lay ME no blame! I was but passing through or have you forgotten your ill-timed intrusion upon my traverse? Had you kept your distance I would have long been away from your precious presence and those following after would have done so without you in their sights!" The scowl that etched itself across his features deepened as he made closer approach. "Did you think me incapable of doing this or were you merely attempting to further impress me with your lethality? If you mean to kill me then be done with it." He drew his sword once more from its scabbard and tossed it to the ground at her side. "I tire of threats as I tire of false blame!"
"You don't get it do you!" She turns to shout back him, her voice however low for a shout and dripped venom. "this is MY home! No one here knows of me, or they would use me for their own gain! and you came and would not take the hint! would not leave! There is NO path out that way, it leads to MY HOME!" she stood her ground as he approached her, shivering in her own anger as her eyes leapt with fire, fire that he could surely now see deep in her eyes. "You came this way, You would not leave...YOU BROUGHT THEM HERE!" A slow growl left her lips as he drew his sword and threw it to the ground. He towered over her and still, she did not back up. For a moment, they stood there, glaring at each other, each testing the other. She broke first, she could not linger, death was all around her and it would soon bring out her 'other hunger'. She turned and bumped him hard as she walked back to the first dead body, hidden in the foliage. "You will help me bury them!
It was a dire task seeing these men buried to her satisfaction. Given a choice they could rot where they lay. They'd come to see him returned to captivity that would have eventually led to his own death. He neither cared how they'd died nor how their remains might be left as carrion. "This is absurd," he grumbled in the midst of their labor. "If you fear they'll be found you should not have killed them. Had you stayed by my side where you so conveniently shoved me . . . " Sighing, he abandoned the argument the moment her eyes locked hard with his own. Why engage further fury? He'd had quite enough. she had paused during the middle of her positioning a body into the grave an gave him a look so fierce and harsh, it could melt ice, set the forest on fire and cause his heart to burst should she so desire it, all at the same time. She shook her head and went back to filling in the last hole and sighed.
"Have you no respect for life?" She says softly, not trying to argue with him this time, just curious. "Yes, these elves were where they should not have been, and had they not been on a quest, might have turned around. But, since they decided to go down MY path, they would have found me, for this path leads to a small glade where I live, there IS no other way out. So, they had to die." She gives him another look, one that shows mixed emotions about her actions before finishing up, standing and sighs again. "Many things I do, to live...forgive me, if I hold a lingering respect for life." She knelt down and picked up his sword and examined it, before sheathing it herself, on her belt, turning to glare at him. She had no choice, now that he was here and had seen her and knew of her, she could not let him leave. It sent mixed emotions through her as she simply nodded for him to follow and head back down the path where they had first started. She walked in silence, she knew he followed. She could hear his step behind her. Resigned, he followed her where she led him. Tired and spent, he just wanted respite from this storm. She had his sword, but not his dagger, its jeweled hilt hidden well but within easy reach, not that he would use it, or even have need.