They say that the pen is mightier than the sword…

It's a metaphor. It isn't supposed to be literal. And yet, Elena watches as Elijah uses a fountain pen to decapitate one of the vampires holding her captive, while simultaneously slapping the head off another.

He blurs, almost too fast for her eyes to see, and then he's holding the hearts of two more of her captors in his hands. The last one turns to run – but suddenly Elijah is in front of him, blocking his way to the door, and then that vampire has his head slapped from his shoulders too.

Another flash, and he's in front of Elena, tearing away the vervain ropes tying her wrists and ankles together and to the chair – uncaring of the way his skin sizzles wherever it touches the ropes. "Elijah," she gasps, throwing her arms around his neck as soon as she's free. Holding him close, she feels safe for the first time since the group of vampires captured her, thinking she was Katherine.

"Elena," he murmurs, clutching her desperately. Neither of them cares about the blood on his hands as Elijah rubs her back, and runs his fingers through her hair, and caresses her cheek, gazing down at her with dark, worried eyes before he finally presses his lips to her own.

Their teeth clash, and their tongues tangle together, and it is almost as much a punch to the mouth as it is a kiss. Then Elijah runs his tongue over one of her fangs, deliberately slicing himself open for her. He heals almost instantaneously, but Elena sucks his tongue into her mouth anyway – even just a drop of his blood enough to drive her nearly mad with lust for him.

When they finally pull apart, his mouth is ringed in blood – his, and hers, and the vampires who dared to try to take her from Elijah, now nothing more than bodies left sprawled on the floor where he killed them. Elena knows she must look even worse than Elijah: she can feel the blood drying in her hair, and on her cheeks and chin and jawline. She licks her lips, enjoying the taste of ihim/i on her tongue, even diluted as it is with her own blood, and the blood of their enemies.

Elijah sweeps her into his arms in a bridal carry. Though she's already healed from the vervain exposure, and his blood has rejuvenated her, she lets him. They're inside their hotel room in moments – and then naked on the bed together in another blink.

It still surprises her sometimes, how Elijah can move faster with her in his arms than Elena can run by herself, despite her vampire speed. Elena is no more able to physically match Elijah now than when she was human. Very few can.

Of course, Elena has no need to be stronger or faster than Elijah.

She may not be able to decapitate someone using nothing but a pen, but Elijah kneels before her just the same. And when Elena spreads her thighs and welcomes him between them, pulling him closer, Elijah bows his head to worship her.

And she knows he's igrateful/i for the privilege.

(Elena can't imagine anything more powerful than ithat/i.)