(chapter 7)

Raven paced angrily in his room. It had been three weeks since he set his men upon Morniel, and still no new answers came. He was beginning to think she was really telling the truth, and so was his master. This was not good. If she was just another refugee from Doriath, then her usefulness was at an end. The Dark Lord would not spare her life any longer if she wasn't of any use.

He stopped his pacing for a moment. He wasn't sure if he wanted her to die. Thoughts of taking her away began to trickle into his mind. It wasn't the first time he had contemplated disobeying the master and Dark Lord. Granted, that was a very long time ago, and he couldn't even remember the circumstances that made him want to disobey. But the thoughts of her being killed were almost too much to bear. She was his, dammit, and he wasn't about to see her executed!

Walking over to the table he used as a desk, he sat down to write a note explaining his departure with Morniel. He would not say where they were going, nor would he leave anything they could use to track them with. His belongings were few anyway. He quickly wrote the few lines he deemed necessary, and then set about to packing.

He would have to leave while there were hardly any men about. He would have to make sure the guard at Morniel's cell would be... preoccupied while they made their escape. He knew what he needed to do for that, so it wasn't much of a problem. He thought of getting a horse for quick transport, but decided against it. The horse would make too much noise getting out. It would be too much trouble.

There was one passage out of the compound he knew about that no one else did. It went underground and came out at the northern edge of Fen of Serech. He kept a boat hidden on the banks of the Rivil. They'd then take the river south, until it joined with the Sirion. He decided they'd end up at the junction of the Aros and the Sirion until he decided which way would be better to go from there.

His plans well laid out, and his packing finished, he glanced about the room one last time. He had left everything as it was when he came here, and all that remained was the note he left at the desk. Satisfied, he turned to leave the room, but caught sight of something else. On a small table beside the door, there looked to be a dark red bit of twine. He picked it up, but instead of just the twine, he found a dark red pouch. Not bothering to open it, he placed it in his pack.

Making sure, once again, that he had not left anything behind, he went out of his room and left the door open slightly. He used stealth and shadow to conceal his passage to Morniel's cell. Once there, he unlocked her door and entered. As usual, she was instantly awake at his entrance. Closing the door behind him, he placed the pack by the door. He looked at Morniel, who was sitting up. She hadn't bothered to cover up and was bare chested.

His need for her never failed him. He went to her and pulled her up so that she was standing naked against him. He kissed her first, and let his hands wander on her body. He did not use his compulsion on her, and she did not refuse him. He took her over to the table, laid her down on it, and took off his pants. Soon he was inside her, and he took his time. He wanted to savor this, and the longer it took, the more likely the chance the guard would listen in.

He went slowly. He let his hands wander her body, stopping often at her breasts. He teased her nipples, and she was moaning. Her breathing came quicker. He picked up his pace a little more. A shiver went through her body, and he knew she was getting close to her climax. He went faster and harder. He wanted to climax the same time she did, and she was almost there. After a few more minutes, and they both screamed their release.

He pulled her up to him and kissed her once again. He left her sitting on the table and he put his pants back on. Seconds later, she was washing off. She was thinking this was just an ordinary visit. He went to his pack and pulled out a spare tunic and pants for her. Tossing them at her, he then checked outside the cell. No one was in sight, but he heard the telltale grunting of the guard. So far, his plan was working.

Turning back, he found Morniel dressed in the clothes. The look on her face plainly told him she knew what he was up to, and she smiled. It was the first time he had ever seen her smile, and he was totally enchanted. Smiling back, he took her hand, grabbed the pack, and they left the cell.