Chapter 24 – Possession

Camnath rode his steed hard all the way to Southshore where his guild had rooms at the inn for the night. They were due to head south west to Menethil Harbour for the mid morning boat to Theramore in Kalimdor.

His hurt and anger still burned deep. He could not come to terms that Tiene had not so much as mentioned him to anyone for almost a year. She must have had someone there who she could have spoken with surely, yet according to Brett, Sauren's right hand, she had not. Sauren had cleverly engineered her ability to engage in close friendships by planting her in the rooms next to his own. For almost a year, Camnath had spoken about her, dreamed about her, written to her. Loved her. Tonight was going to have been their night, the time they would truly show each other how they felt. So he had hoped.

But now she was betrothed to the Crimson Blade guild master. That arrogant, son-of-a- naga who swaggered his way through the evening and took great joy in humiliating him in front of Tiene.

Brett had voiced that he believed Sauren was lying. He did not think that Yathas would have agreed to his daughter being courted by the likes of Sauren. He had a point too when he said she herself would have known. Yathas surely would have let her know that he had received a proposal. They were such a close family. And, they were well aware that he, Camnath, had strong feelings for her and vice versa.

The more he thought about it, the more he blamed himself. He should have went to her father first, and long before now. He had known after all, many months ago, that she was the one he wanted to be with. If only he had acted sooner. Then at least, she would have no excuse not to at least mention him in front of people. Oh, why did that seem to hurt so much in particular? Did he consider it somehow a denial of her feelings? He knew his thinking was irrational, but perhaps that was what came to the fore when your heart was breaking.

Her letters had always said she loved him. She used to speak of the little butterflies swarming in her belly whenever she thought of him. He liked that. Choking back a sob he got angry with himself. All he could see in his mind's eye was Tiene with Sauren holding, touching and kissing her. He could not seem to shake the image from his mind.

Then dread poured its cold contents over him. She had tried to tell him it was not true. What if the bastard had contrived the whole thing and was in fact forcing himself on her right now. Sweet Elune! He had left her to that fate.

Hurt. Pain. Anger and excruciating guilt washed over him. He did not know how many more emotions he could bear.

He reached the inn. Quickly dismounting and tethering his horse, he entered the building. The raucous laughter of Belaen was heard before he was seen. He sat with the other two Sigil of Shadow delegates next to the hearth, downing more ale. One of the lads nudged him when they saw Camnath walk in. Belaen turned, his broad beaming smile faltering instantly when he saw the young elf's face. He turned to his recruits and whispered, then rose up and approached Camnath. "Come on, lad. Let's walk."

They left the inn and turned left to stroll down by the small pier. "So, what happened, Cam. I thought you and young Tiene..."

The elf folded, fighting to keep control of his dignity. He clung to the barrier at the pier, staring out over the sea. Belaen gave him time, a fatherly hand resting on his shoulder. The lad was struggling though. Belaen could guess what had happened, partly due to information he had been privy to during the evening. As the silence drew out, Belaen took the lead. "The bastard has her, doesn't he?" he said.

"Aye," was all Camnath could manage.

"I'm truly sorry, lad. Really I am. Perhaps things will somehow... oh I don't know, Cam. I can't possibly imagine what you're feeling right now."

"Everything!" Camnath said in a huge sigh. "Anger. Hate. Pain...Guilt."

"Guilt?" The last admission took the guild leader by surprise.

"I just left her there, Belaen! I was so hurt that she had never mentioned me to anyone in a year! How stupid is that? It's hardly important considering the situation I've left her in with that - that ..."

"Devious little half breed," Belaen finished. "The cold hard fact is though lad, if you had tried to do anything, he would have killed you, maybe even hurt Tiene as well."

Camnath punched the railing. "I should have tried ..."

"No, Cam. You are good, don't get me wrong, but he is superior and I'm sorry to say, probably always will be. That is no defamation to you, lad. Merely a fact."

The ebony haired elf shook his head, dejected. "Why couldn't I see it coming? She mentions him in her letters all the time..."

"Of course she does, Cam. He's her guild master, part of her every day routine basically. That does not mean she felt anything for him. Do you mention me when you write to her?"

Camnath lowered his head. "Yes, but..."

"Yes, but bugger all, lad. It means absolutely nothing. And quite frankly Cam, the only person she needs to speak to about you, is you." Belaen knew his words would not comfort the boy, but sometimes it was necessary to say it how it was in order for healing to start. But, before that he also needed to hear more. "There is something else you should know."

Camnath turned his head and looked at his guild master, his friend. "What?"

"I found out tonight, from representatives of the guilds you tried in the Eastern Kingdoms, that Sauren had a hand to play in your being rejected by them."

"He what?" Camnath's anger started to rise again. "He deliberately blocked my path? Why?" An awkward moment passed. "To keep Tiene and I apart?"

Belaen nodded. "Seems like it, aye. Some think he had an unhealthy obsession with her parents, striving to be as good as they were, desiring a partnership like they had. Lina's death had affected him greatly I heard, and when Yathas announced he was leaving the guild, well, his idols had abandoned him in his eyes, I suppose. Then, when he met Tiene..." He watched as Camnath's posture bristled. The lad was going through torture. He quickly continued in an attempt to alter the focus on Sauren which equally needed addressed according to various sources. "The guilds also have serious concerns about his ... direction these days."

Camnath took a moment to compose himself before he turned round to face Belaen. "His right hand hinted at something tonight."

"Brett? Now he's a good man. You can trust him, Cam."

Camnath nodded slowly. He really hoped he could, because he had asked him to watch over Tiene. He told Belaen what Brett's suspicions were, of the involvement with a renowned mage and Caer Darrow. As it happened, similar whisperings had occurred at the Gathering. It seemed the affluent Sauren Nightflame had alienated quite a few within the network. Belaen suggested they discuss it more in depth once they were back in Kalimdor due to the fact Southshore was owned by the very people who owned Caer Darrow. Camnath agreed.

"In the meantime lad," Belaen said. "Going by what I saw and heard of the lovely Tiene, I think there is much more to her than perhaps even you are aware of. She is strong. She will cope, whatever he does to her. She is, after all, a Firefury. Perhaps it is just not your time to be together yet."

Camnath shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, pain still in his eyes. His guild master spoke again. "I know you love her, and I'm pretty damn sure she loves you just as much, therefore I believe your paths will cross in the future, when the time is right."

Belaen patted Camnath on the shoulder, then returned to the inn leaving the young elf to lick his wounds and consider his words.

Camnath looked out over the sea and its moon-kissed waters. With a heavy sigh he whispered. "A' da'tad ordan dordie,* Tiene. Always".

"Learn to use your womanly charms Tiene, it may, in the future, be what saves you. You are more powerful than you realise". Her eyes flickered open. She lay on her belly, arm draped over the edge of the bed, the sheet covering her from the waist down. She fixated on a large black mass on the floor. Her eyes focused and she saw it was her dress from last night. The silver grey of Sauren's suit lay in a crumpled heap to the right.

Eyes still traveling right, she saw a foot. She looked up to find the naked form of her guild master, and violator, sitting, staring at her. His dark brown eyes crinkled slightly as he smiled. Supremely confident in his own skin, he sat with the other foot poised on the seat, a forearm leaning on his knee, the other resting on the chair arm. His eyes were still aflame, hungry. Was there no end to this man's lust? She held his gaze.

"Good morning," he said, his voice deep and gravelly.

She didn't answer, she just stared.

He lowered his arm and foot from the seat, displaying himself in all his glory. He was comfortable sitting there, naked. No inhibitions whatsoever.

"Once you see him, in all his magnificence, and feel him, you cannot resist." She tried to rid Lexie's voice from her head. It was, however, impossible not to notice his finely toned body. Two parallel scars, healed long ago, ran across his chest over the serpent and dagger tattoo. The snake seemed to slither with each deep breath he took. Other jagged scars traced down his left side over his ribs.

He had forced himself upon her though. There was nothing irresistible about that! Lexie had been adamant that one day, Tiene would understand how she felt. Well no, she would not want him as Lexie did. Poor Lexie. Tiene had ended up doubting her. But, the blonde would merely do whatever she needed to survive. Her eyes did not linger for long, nor travel lower. They flashed back to meet his.

A small laugh, though it was somewhat humourless, rumbled in his chest. "Speak to me, Tiene."

She closed her eyes and turned away from him, moving herself further onto the bed, curling her arms around the pillow. She heard him shift from the chair and felt the bed sink slightly as his weight sat on the edge. His long slender fingers swept her golden hair from the side of her face, revealing a hint of the marks on her neck. "I did not mean to hurt you," he said. "I swear I didn't."

Still she said nothing, her skin not even flinching under his touch. Her silence was deafening. It was a sound he was not used to and did not know how to deal with. He had been used to women either moaning with pleasure or pain when they lay in his bed. But Tiene had uttered nothing. It was as if she clamped up, closed herself to him. She had been a lively, talkative, vibrant woman last night while she danced in the arms of the black haired elf. Yet she had completely shut down when Sauren had deflowered her, not even a gasp when he took her, she had seemed in a trance. No fight, no flight. Nothing.

He was becoming agitated with her lack of response and the rage inside him started to build again. "Do I need to beat you to make you utter something?" he said, his words tinged with anger.

"Beat me if you must," she replied quietly, staring at the wall. "Bruises at least heal."

He flipped her over and pinned her arms at either side of her head. His dark eyes searched her pale azure orbs. "I really do not want to do that, Tiene. Not to you. I wish you would just..." he shook his head as if trying to rid his mind of a veil of darkness which possessed him.

"Beg?" she asked, looking up at him. "Scream?"

"Want me," he replied, exasperated. He searched her eyes for some sign she had registered his words. He lowered his head to hers, their lips just touching. "I want you," he whispered. "More than I have ever wanted anything, or anyone."

"You got what you wanted last night," she raised her chin, displaying the marks of his grip as a reminder of his brutality.

He punched the pillow beside her head. She didn't even flinch. "No! I didn't, Tiene. I am still wanting."

She remained quiet, assessing the situation. She saw his frustration, his anger, but she too had rage. Still, she needed to test the water more. "I thought you liked a willing participant! Like Lexie. I wasn't willing though, Sauren! What drove you to do this?"

He was momentarily stunned at her words. This was confusing, he felt shame. She was making him look at things in a perspective that was not his. His voice softened. "Have you never wanted something so badly, Tiene, that you just had to take it?"

Her breath caught in her throat. Another, more distant memory flitted over her mind. Inaris. He said that very thing after the weaponsmith had smacked him. Oh, why such memories! Vendel'o eranu*, she wished inwardly. She swallowed and fought to keep the fight in her voice.

"No! I haven't. And how demeaning, whatever you gave me last night worked. It immobilised me enough for you to take what was not yours for the taking."

He gasped, incensed that she would think such a thing. "That was merely an elixir to stop you becoming impregnated. Your lack of response was your own doing, and it was... infuriating!" he tried to keep his voice level.

She stared at him. "Talk about planning! I suppose I should be grateful for small mercies then."

Her words irked him, even though they reflected a cold harsh reality. She fidgeted to get out of his grasp but he wasn't letting go. His eyes drank in her nakedness, the smoothness of her skin. Not a blemish to be seen, except for...

"You hurt me last night, Sauren," she said, her moment of anger having subsided as she recalled Camnath's eyes.

Releasing one of her hands he touched her throat. "I'm sorry. I didn't..."

She slapped his hand away. His eyes widened. Instantly, her anger returned. "Not that! I meant what you said to Camnath. What you implied. You know how I feel about him."

"Well, I remember you did feel for him when you started here. But you never spoke of him much after, so I assumed with his choosing Kalimdor, the romance was all but over, it was just friendship that remained." He spoke matter-of-factly.

"Assumed? You saw us together last night. Did that look like it was over to you? How can you be so cruel, so unfeeling?"

"You think me unfeeling?" He had felt jealousy last night. That was a feeling. One he had not experienced before and did not like. And now, he was experiencing others that were totally alien to him too. It was more than just a sexual obsession he felt for this woman.

"You have no compassion! Lust and desire are all you know and they are not equivalent to having feelings. They are merely tools which drive you to get what you want at whatever the cost!"

There was venom in her voice. This was new. This was exciting. But, still he could not let her have the upper hand here. "And what of your precious Camnath?" he kept his voice low, in its usual gravelly tone. "Where were his feelings, Tiene?"

"You destroyed them!" she spat.

"Did I? That easily? They could not have been very strong then, Tiene. He just turned and walked away from you. I, on the other hand, am willing to fight for you."

The memory of Camnath leaving flitted across her mind. She loved him. He loved her...didn't he? She believed he did, once. Hoped he still did. She focused on the man above her, and anger bit once more. "You read my letters..."

"I did not, Tiene," he sighed and rolled his eyes. "I merely guessed that you mentioned me as I'm your guild master and we speak nearly every day. I said it for effect." He spoke the truth.

Her brow furrowed. He could see she was thinking it through. Her eyes suddenly hardened. "Well bravo, it worked!"

He desperately wanted her to understand how he felt. Gently he brushed strands of her hair behind her ear. "Tiene ..."

"Show me the letter," she said flatly.

He inched back, surprised by her demand. "What?"

"Show me the letter. The one you said my father sent you."

His mouth twitched.

"Prove to me you didn't lie about that too." She was becoming bold.

When he still didn't move she swiftly ducked under his arms and dove for his jacket on the floor. Stunned for only a moment, he then grabbed her and they fell to the floor in a tangle. He wrestled the jacket from her hands, but she had the envelope. She fought as she had never fought before, pushing him away, kicking out, until finally she recognised the writing on the envelope. It was her father's. Her heart sank. So it had been true?

Sauren attempted to relieve her of it, but she still wasn't convinced and elbowed him away. She pulled out the letter. Again the guild master tried to get it from her. He grunted as her heel caught him just short of somewhere rather precious. He shifted so she could not try that move again.

Her eyes read the letter quickly before he could make another attempt at snatching it from her. But he remained where he was. He knew she had read it.

It was only a letter confirming that a consignment of armour was ready for delivery as per discussions. Nothing whatsoever to do with courting her. It had been a ruse. A bluff. A blatant lie.

Her rage, and her pain over the deceit surfaced, erupting tenfold. Lashing out she slapped him, punched, kicked and scratched and gouged him. She pushed him over and continued to hit him. "You evil bastard!" she screamed.

He was smiling, laughing, his perfect teeth on display. He held fast to her wrists but she struggled against him. He was loving her tantrum and it infuriated her even more.

"I hate you!" she hissed. Still she struggled.

He rolled her back over and pinned her hands down on the hard floor. His raw desire surfaced once more. Lowering his weight on her, he continued grinning. "No, you don't hate me, Tiene. But go on, bring out your fury. Embrace the rage."

She continued to struggle, but he was too strong, keeping her pinned beneath him. She was tiring from the effort again.

"Look at me Tiene."

She stared at the rumpled clothes on the floor beside her, still furious inside at the way he had deceived her and Camnath. Raging did not come close to what she felt and she refused to look at him.

But he would not be denied. "Look at me!" he demanded.

She turned hateful eyes to him, her mouth tight with rage.

His eyes were dark, full of lust and something more that she could not fathom. She dropped her eyes to his mouth and those perfect teeth.

"I have fought my desire for you for a year," he said, his voice was low, and raspy. "I could have taken you the very first day you arrived and believe me I wanted to; I almost did. But this is about more than just pleasuring you or satisfying my own sexual needs."

She raised her eyes to his again. "Really?" she spat sarcastically.

The effect of her answer was not what she expected. The brown orbs had softened, they were warm almost tender. "I do not know what you have done to me Tiene, but I sometimes think you have possessed me. So much so, that I did what I did, to have you here. Like this," his eyes roamed over her body. "With me."

Her breathing was steadying. Somewhere in the distance was an echo - a female voice. Lexie's. It sounded almost smug.

His lips hovered over hers, his warm breath ghosting on her face. "I know you think you loved that boy, but he left you. He doubted you. I on the other hand, I would kill for you."

She closed her eyes wanting to shut out the world. Why did Camnath walk away? Why did he not fight for her? Because he would have lost, she reasoned. This beast above her was a far more skilled assassin than Camnath, and if he had challenged Sauren, he would have lost, and therefore never be able to be with Tiene, ever. This way, there was perhaps a chance for them in the future. She desperately had to believe that.

Opening her eyes again she looked at the naked man above her. When he had taken her in the night, she had closed herself down during the act. But, now she was fully conscious, fully aware of him.

The female voice scoffed in the distance.

Sauren moved his weight slightly and she could feel his arousal. "I will be good to you, in every way, Tiene. We will be invincible as a team, precise, synchronised. Deadly."

She knew what was next. He thrust forward, brutally. She almost screamed as she felt him take her again, but she capped her voice, biting her lip.

His gravelly voice spoke once more. "And I will give you unlimited pleasure." His mouth crashed over hers in a deep kiss, tongue probing. A groan escaped him as he moved within her. She was acutely aware of the sculpted body above her with its serpent tattoo, the way his muscles rippled with every thrust.

Lexie: "When he takes you..."

Tiene: I must not listen...

He continued driving into her slowly now, rhythmically. It was intoxicating. A new sensation was building within her, deep down, and it was not entirely unpleasant. A small sound escaped her lips. She knew this was wrong, a grave betrayal to her heart, but to her shame, it felt so good.

Lexie:"You will succumb to his charms..."

Tiene: No, I will...not...

He sighed as he watched a flush begin to spread on her skin. He released her hands, slowly, one at a time, and placed his on the floor. Now he ploughed into her, deeper, faster.

She was responding, even though she tried to resist. He knew the sign though, could see it, feel it. Her barriers were crumbling, she was surrendering.

"Want me, Tiene." His voice, full of hunger, drew her attention. "Enjoy me."

Her eyes were bright, almost glowing. She imagined his serpent tattoo wrapping itself around her, binding her body to his. It's tongue flicking her skin, the seductive hiss in her ear. Temptation.

Lexie: "You will want him..."

Tiene: I do not...do...

A deep sigh came from her. Her body started to writhe, her hips meeting with his. Reaching up she grabbed his platinum locks and pulled him down. Her mouth frantically covered his. She nipped his bottom lip with her teeth and he drew his head back, momentarily surprised, tasting the blood on his lip. His tongue lapped the red liquid.

He pushed up, his hands gripping her hips, pulling her to him roughly, hungrily. The sensation fired up from deep within, she shuddered, he could feel her release building. He loved her surrender.

She gasped, almost screamed, back arching, she clawed at the floor.

"More! Give me more, Tiene," he rasped. He thrust harder still.

Lexie: "You will want him, again and again..."

Tiene: Forgive me...

Her back and shoulder blades burned from the friction on the floor but she didn't care now. She watched him closely, he was magnificent, wild, insatiable, utterly erotic. He sent her over again, she practically howled.

Spurred by her reaction, he closed his eyes, and with one brutal final thrust, he called out as his own release came fast and plentiful. His platinum braids flicked over his shoulder as he threw his head back in the throes of the orgasm.

His rhythm slowed, body shuddering, the serpent tattoo pulsing as his chest heaved from the carnal exertion. His hair fell forward covering both their faces as he brought his mouth close to hers. A thin film of salty perspiration lined his top lip, she licked it away along with the small amount of blood that still wept from her bite before. He smirked, a flash of his perfect teeth, his breath, hot and sweet on her cheeks, and his eyes, like a deep mahogany, burning hotly. "Now ..." he panted, "...Now, I have what I wanted, Tiene."

She entered her rooms and immediately went to bathe, scrubbing harshly and furiously dousing her womanly parts. Her back and shoulders still burned from the contact with the floor. She loaded the cloth and squeezed the soothing water over the grazes. Lightly, she dabbed her throat. It still ached from the assault of last night although it did not look as angry as she thought it might.

Then, like a lightning bolt, it hit her. She felt crippling shame. Her dreams had been shattered, the turn of fate had been but a consignment of leather goods, and a man whose insatiable carnal appetite had her in his sights all this time.

Her own nature had started to forge through, however. One which was adequately reflected in her family's name. Firefury. There was no way this fiend was going to break her. She could match him. He could have her body, but he would not have her soul nor her heart.

She hated him. She did! Didn't she? For the cruelty he doled out on Camnath, she would never forgive him. For the devious plot he hatched in order to bed her, she would never forgive him. For her body enjoying how he felt that last time, she would never forgive him ... nor herself. Above all, she would never forgive herself. And, there was a new complication now. Yes, she would never forgive him. Yes, she hated him. But,she wanted him too. Lexie had been right. "You will want him, again and again..."

Her sobs came suddenly and brutally. She crumpled to her knees. This, she promised, would be the last time she would allow herself to cry about it. Aledine's distant voice echoed in her memory once more. "Do not be ashamed of your body. It can serve you as a weapon, as good as any dagger. Under the right circumstances, of course."

Slowly, gradually, her sobs subsided. A last douse, then wrapping a towel around her bruised, tender body, she moved through and sat on her bed.

She opened the little cabinet beside it and pulled out the box she kept Camnath's letters in. She pressed them to her lips and brushed them against her cheek. "My love," she whimpered. "He robbed me of the gift I wanted to give you. Though I will never be able to right this wrong, I will make him pay, and hope that one day, you will be able to forgive me."

* A' da'tad ordan dordie – You have my heart

* Vendel'o eranu – Help me forget