Chapter 7
His friends consoled him the best they could, knowing without need of speech how she had reacted. They reassured him with memories of other elves who had found their love in elves from the south. How some of them were now revered for their devotion and love, strengthened by their original difficulty. Despite their efforts, he found that they did not ease the sorrow in his heart. His thoughts strayed to her even as he listened of their hunt, and eventually rose, taking with him some of the day's catch for her.
She was sitting with her back to the trunk, her knees drawn up and arms holding them to her. Her face was hidden in the hollow created. He felt shame in brining such sorrow upon her, yet he was glad, that she was here with him, even if she had not yet graced him with her name. There had been no choice in the matter, she had been the purpose, the reason for the travel. Being from the south it could only mean betrothal to an ice elf. He was not at all regretful that he had taken her so. He sat beside her and gave her the food, stretching out his legs and watching the darkness beyond the platform as she ate, so as not to make her feel uncomfortable. In truth, he was sharply aware of her every movement knowing exactly when she finished and noted how she savored the taste. Her voice brought him out of his silent observation.
~Why me?~ It was barely a whisper, yet he was so attuned to her she might as well have shouted it.
~It was not my choice, upon sight I knew.~ It was the truth, if a whittled down version.
~When did you first see me?~
~When your company passed the stream at midday.~
~We detected no one.~
He simply met her confused gaze, arching an eyebrow. Realization came to her immediately and she returned her gaze to the wood. The moon cast thin silvery shafts of light through the canopy, illuminating the forest below with their luminescence. The light did not penetrate through the woven roof but angled light danced on the edges of the platform. The soft light became her skin, gold and silver melding to produce a glowing radiance the color of flower nectar. He felt his own breath taken away as he absorbed her, making every inch a piece of his own. She had felt his gaze but only glanced up to meet it now. Her green, green eyes roved over his face cautiously, wandering back to meet his own. They seemed so innocent and delicate, the stirring sensation to protect such a beautiful, untainted creature coursed through him. Without thought he drew her into his arms, warding off anything and everything that would dare harm her.
She was soft and warm in his arms. She didn't resist, for fear or compassion, but he was grateful. He listened to the sound of her breathing, smelled the faint sage scent in her hair and felt her warmth. Her head was tucked under his, her right hand was pressed against him, over the exact spot his heart beat. She was so close to him, yet this close all he thought of was what remained between them. He tilted his head down as his left hand lifted her chin to meet him.
He slowly took possession of her mouth, molding his mouth to fit hers and massaging it until she became lax in his arms. He followed her as she went limp against him, refusing to break contact with her. He continued to keep her lips. When he pulled away she was panting for breath, and glossy eyed in his arms. He relished her response to his attentions and his thoughts once again went to the rest of her prone to him. He dismissed them however as she seemed to recall the situation. Reluctantly he released her and stood, watching as she withdrew from him once again into a huddle that seemed to so explicitly represent her idea of shelter, from him. He withdrew to one of the other platforms, giving her the privacy to do what she wished after their latest encounter.
His friends consoled him the best they could, knowing without need of speech how she had reacted. They reassured him with memories of other elves who had found their love in elves from the south. How some of them were now revered for their devotion and love, strengthened by their original difficulty. Despite their efforts, he found that they did not ease the sorrow in his heart. His thoughts strayed to her even as he listened of their hunt, and eventually rose, taking with him some of the day's catch for her.
She was sitting with her back to the trunk, her knees drawn up and arms holding them to her. Her face was hidden in the hollow created. He felt shame in brining such sorrow upon her, yet he was glad, that she was here with him, even if she had not yet graced him with her name. There had been no choice in the matter, she had been the purpose, the reason for the travel. Being from the south it could only mean betrothal to an ice elf. He was not at all regretful that he had taken her so. He sat beside her and gave her the food, stretching out his legs and watching the darkness beyond the platform as she ate, so as not to make her feel uncomfortable. In truth, he was sharply aware of her every movement knowing exactly when she finished and noted how she savored the taste. Her voice brought him out of his silent observation.
~Why me?~ It was barely a whisper, yet he was so attuned to her she might as well have shouted it.
~It was not my choice, upon sight I knew.~ It was the truth, if a whittled down version.
~When did you first see me?~
~When your company passed the stream at midday.~
~We detected no one.~
He simply met her confused gaze, arching an eyebrow. Realization came to her immediately and she returned her gaze to the wood. The moon cast thin silvery shafts of light through the canopy, illuminating the forest below with their luminescence. The light did not penetrate through the woven roof but angled light danced on the edges of the platform. The soft light became her skin, gold and silver melding to produce a glowing radiance the color of flower nectar. He felt his own breath taken away as he absorbed her, making every inch a piece of his own. She had felt his gaze but only glanced up to meet it now. Her green, green eyes roved over his face cautiously, wandering back to meet his own. They seemed so innocent and delicate, the stirring sensation to protect such a beautiful, untainted creature coursed through him. Without thought he drew her into his arms, warding off anything and everything that would dare harm her.
She was soft and warm in his arms. She didn't resist, for fear or compassion, but he was grateful. He listened to the sound of her breathing, smelled the faint sage scent in her hair and felt her warmth. Her head was tucked under his, her right hand was pressed against him, over the exact spot his heart beat. She was so close to him, yet this close all he thought of was what remained between them. He tilted his head down as his left hand lifted her chin to meet him.
He slowly took possession of her mouth, molding his mouth to fit hers and massaging it until she became lax in his arms. He followed her as she went limp against him, refusing to break contact with her. He continued to keep her lips. When he pulled away she was panting for breath, and glossy eyed in his arms. He relished her response to his attentions and his thoughts once again went to the rest of her prone to him. He dismissed them however as she seemed to recall the situation. Reluctantly he released her and stood, watching as she withdrew from him once again into a huddle that seemed to so explicitly represent her idea of shelter, from him. He withdrew to one of the other platforms, giving her the privacy to do what she wished after their latest encounter.