Marise sat silently atop the chestnut stallion as she leaned forward to
search the darkness before her. The night was overcast blocking out any
possible lumination from the full moon. But that would not deter the
signal she awaited. Somewhere among the distant trees a light would
soon emerge letting her know it was safe to proceed.
The air was thick and chilled from the evening mist. Marise pulled her
hooded cloak closer around her small frame before settling back and
allowing her thoughts to drift. Her fear of being found here was
formost in her mind but somehow the journey though the dark forest ..
the cool mist leaving a slick layer of condensation over her cheeks and
hands .. the intoxicating perfume of the ancient firs .. all lead to an
overwhelming exhilaration. A wonderful sense of adventure.
A sudden flicker of light appeared before her. Marise quickly slid from
her perch and tied her mount to a lowhanging branch. Pausing only to
take a deep breath, she proceeded anxiously toward the light.
Dressed in heavy leather riding breeches, her boots crunching over the decaying leaves of the forest, Marise's step quickens in anticipation. Time is of the essence, for the keeper of the light has been instructed to wait no more than 1 minute for the lady.
As Marise hurries toward the signal, silent hands untie her stallion. The horse whinnies in confusion, and rears back, striking out at the intruder. Desperate in his fear, the once-wild stallion bolts, crashing through the foliage, seeking the scent of his mistress. Caught off-guard, the intruder curses under his breath, watching helplessly as the stallion gallops away.
At the sounds behind him, the keeper of the light quickly extinguishes the flame.
Dorian smiled to himself as he silently made his way through the forest. It was all too easy and he still could not believe his good fortune. Coming across the local sovereign’s daughter like that in the middle of the Acacian forest .. It was an incredible stroke of good luck. Capturing her would be the simplest thing the resistance had done all year and the ransom she would bring would supply the men with supplies through the winter.
The nimble soldier followed the young woman closely as she made her way through the trees. He fought against the chuckle that nearly escaped him as he watched her. This girl had no business sneaking around the middle of nowhere at any hour much less this one and her lack of training in the art of stealth was amusingly obvious. Dorian couldn’t resist a mock wince at the loud crunching sound the girl’s footsteps made as she crossed a bed of dried leaves. By now his men would have her stallion. “Too easy,” chuckled the soldier softly to himself.
As he watched her move into a small clearing Dorian decided it was time to make his move. Stepping out of the shadows he pulled his dark hood down to cover his face. As he quickly moved forward the girl turned. Shock, then terror flooded across her face as she froze in her tracks. Dorian’s right hand was over her mouth in an instant while his left followed to grip the back of her neck.
“Silence .. and you may live,” hissed the dark stranger.
Starwoman
“Damnit, woman!!” Dorian hissed as he jerked back his hand to look at the broken skin. Taking the small window of opportunity offered by his loosened grip, Marise broke free and began to run. Her small feet crashed through the leaves as she pumped her legs as hard as she could. She heard the stranger coming after her and knew she would have to use every ounce of energy she possessed to try to get away.
Dorian, knowing full well that the lady stood little chance of escape, cursed to himself as he ran after her. The bite to his hand still throbbed painfully and he was angry that she was able to escape his grasp. He had to admit though, he was intrigued by her spirit. However, he was determined to scare her sufficiently to keep her quiet. Gaining ground quickly, he lunged forward grasping both sides of her waist and forcing her to the ground.
Kicking and yelling, Marise struggled under Dorian’s weight. “Unhand me, you beast! I’ll have you know my fa…” Her words were cut off as once again the rough hand covered her mouth. He whispered fiercely “Ok, this game is over. Keep your mouth shut and don’t even think of biting me again or I’ll be forced to gag and tie you. Your choice, my lady!”
Dorian then picked up Marcy with his 6’5” body and lifted her to the sky and said, you are my queen do you want some beans? She said, no, they make me a wee bit gassy. Dorian grabbed the horse that had been running wild since the first paragraph of this story and thru Marise on top of it.
Marise said No Way dude, I’m headed to Los Angeles this weekend. I don’t need to be around weird freakazoids like you. Don’t people know that when you give a gift you don't ask for it back.
A D I O S!
Morgan muttered a few oaths under his breath as he watched the stallion disappear into the forest. Nope .. Dorian wasn’t gonna like this. It was difficult enough trying to gain any respect from the other men, he sure didn’t need any screw ups like this over his head.
“Morgan!?!,” cried Tellan.
Morgan looked sheepishly at the older sun weathered soldier. “He bolted, Tellan. I held him right but he bolted.”
Morgan wasn’t officially a soldier in the resistance but he hoped to be someday. His thirteenth birthday was only a few months away and he’d been practicing at every opportunity to improve his aim with his bow. He wasn’t even actually supposed to be with the resistance. But who wants to stick around home with his nose buried in history and latin when there’s a war on?? So after a few month’s of begging with no avail to follow his brother Dorian to join the rebel ranks he decided to take matters into his own hands.
As of yet he’d been able to talk his out of being sent back home. Mostly by volunteering for small mundane tasks that no one else wanted. This mistake sure wasn’t going to help.
Morgan shuffled his feet and waited for the older man to decide what to do next.
“ He’ll slow down in the forest. Lets go get him,” grumbled Tellan. “We’ll circle back to meet Dorian.”
The two dark figures disappeared quietly among the thick trees.
As Tellan and Morgan walked along, Tellan remembered back to when Morgan had first shown up at the camp.
A gangly teenager with book smarts, Morgan had no business being in the resistance but he did have a stubborn determination to do even the most menial of tasks. At first, the men largely ignored him. Gradually though, Morgan was proving himself as someone who would do just about anything asked of him. Lately the men had been putting more responsibilities on his shoulders and he seemed able to handle the additional burdens. He had a quick mind, but it would be long time before he was skilled to handle himself in battle.
Dorian had a tendency to be harder on his brother, and he wasn’t about to be a babysitter. Morgan was walking a fine line and trying his best not to make too many mistakes. But Tellan usually found himself acting as an intermediary between the two when things heated up. This latest incidence was going to infuriate Dorian and Tellan was hoping he could calm the older brother’s temper before he sent Morgan packing for good. The boy had potential, and thoughTellan acted gruffly around Morgan, he really didn’t want to see him go.
Carrying a small oil lamp to help them see, Morgan and Tellan trudged through the forest, straining to hear any sound that might lead them to the horse. At first the noise was faint, but it grew distinct as they came nearer. They were careful to step lightly so as not to frighten the creature, but they could hear it begin to snuffle softly.
Tellan began to whisper softly, hoping to calm the animal with his voice. It was mostly nonsense, but served the intended purpose. “Ssshhh, it’s ok, ya fierce bugger, me and you is going to share a nice pint back at camp, yes we are. You’re a fine boy, standing there tall as a tree, no no don’t ya go snuffling at me…” Reaching out, they began to stroke the horse’s neck while trying to put the rope over his head. At first the horse resisted the rope, tossing his head and whinnying softly, but eventually, the task was done.
Tellan and Morgan walked on either side of the horse, intent on finding Dorian as soon as possible.
As they approached the wooden bridge, the horse began to stomp furiously. He didn’t want to cross that rickety bridge. He didn’t like the sound of his hooves clanking on the wooden planks. Morgan and Tellan sensing the horses displeasure, grabbed some twizzlers from their backpacks. Thank goodness for that strange box that came upon shore last week filled with candy, Tellan thought to himself. This horse has always had a sweet tooth and they were always able to coax him into whatever they wanted with some sort of sugar. They were halfway across the bridge when a big black monkey swung across a vine from the forest and landed square in front of them. The monkey, being about 7 ft. tall with a chest the size of a small car, began to walk ever so slowly to the men. The horse, well, he felt this was not a “good” thing, so did the moon walk backwards as quickly as possible. Unfortunately for him however, he missed a plank and went plunging off the side only to be caught by the reins. The horse, totally panicked now, tried to chew the rein in half thinking to himself “plunging to my death has to be better than dealing with that big ape.”
“Whoa boy!!” cried Tellan. The old soldier and Morgan jumped back as the great stallion reared on his back legs and furiously pawed at the empty air before him. The animal’s eyes were wide with fear as he let out a high pitched cry.
“Something’s spooked him!” cried Tellan as he moved forward to grab hold of the flailing reins.
Morgan watched in horror as the beautiful beast backed away in a panic. As a child he’d been enchanted by the fantastic tales of the mysterious Acacian Forest. It was said that the ancient wood was filled with spirits, fairies and other bizarre and sometimes dangerous creatures. Those stories now flooded his mind as he peered anxiously into the dark shadows surrounding them.
After a few minutes of coaxing in his most soothing voice, Tellan calmed the stallion. “These woods are spooked,” grumbled the older man. “The sooner we leave them behind us the better.”
Morgan nodded in agreement.
As Tellan and Morgan started back toward camp, they saw Dorian emerge from the woods with the woman in tow.
He had tied her hands behind her back and a gag over her mouth to prevent screaming and of course, biting. He hated to do it, but it was the only way he could be sure to prevent her from fleeing. He had no intention of doing any harm, but she couldn’t know this.
Tellan and Morgan watched in fascination as Dorian and Marise made their way toward them. Dorian looked stressed and the lady looked furious. She was tossing her head, making noises through the gag. Dorian rolled his eyes and said in a fierce whisper “Will you just be quiet for a minute?” This only prompted her to make more noises as if to say “You have got to be kidding. I’m not going to make this easy for you!” Dorian held onto one of her arms, propelling her forward.
Marise made a sound when she saw her horse, Siraya. She looked quickly at Dorian, the obvious question in her eyes. The fact that Dorian wouldn’t look at her confirmed her suspicion at once that this attack had been planned. Thoughts of despair were hovering around the edges of her mind, yet she knew she could not lose hope. At once she knew it was crucial to keep her wits about her if she was to plan her escape.
Marise struggled against the cords binding her wrists as the small group of men quickly led the horses east along the forest’s edge. That something like this should happen this night of all nights was too frustrating for contemplation. She had to find a way to escape and make her way back to the meeting spot. She could only pray that the messenger would wait for a few hours before giving up on her.
As she moved along in rhythm with her mount, Marise could feel the heavy object secured in a hidden pocket within her tunic brush against her side. Quietly she breathed a sigh of relief. The package was safe, at least for the moment.
After an hour or so into their flight, Dorian led the group into a small clearing. “We’ll sleep here and continue at dawn,” mumbled the exhausted young soldier.
“It will do,” grunted Tellan with a quick nod. He then gathered and secured the horses.
Marise settled herself down on a bed of soft grass and silently took stock of her captors. Dorian, obviously the leader, was a tall man in his mid twenties as far as she could tell. His eyes were a deep forest green and his hair, shoulder length and wispy, was raven black. The man, as his companions, was dressed in a traditional hunter’s garb, in this case made up of a dusty leather jerkin and soft knee length boots. His frame was lean but muscled, well suited for quickness and stealth. The girl shook her head and admonished herself as she realized she’d suddenly found him to be quite attractive. Turning back, she glared evilly at him before moving her scrutiny to the other two men.
The elder of the two, Tellan as she’d heard him called, appeared to go through life with a vicious scowl on his face. Weathered and brown, his features were lean. His face, distinctly elven told by the slant of his brow, was all angles and bore the marks of more than a few battles. Though he was a small man, judging by the resolve he wore around him like an impenetrable cloak, she doubted him to be a man to be trifled with.
The boy on the other hand was an entirely different story. From the moment he’d set eyes on her, Marise sensed from him a mischievous eagerness. His smile was quick and open and if not for the icy looks he received occasionally from Dorian, she was ready to bet the boy would explode with mirth and light hearted chatter. She found she liked the friendly warmth she saw in his sky blue eyes and had her hands been free she might have been tempted to tousle his straw colored curls.
Sighing heavily, Marise leaned back against a nearby tree trunk and began planning her escape.
Marise drifted off to sleep in the cool night air only to be awakened by a soft gentle kiss. She thought she was dreaming at first, but then quickly she realized there was a man leaning over her. It was Dorian. She at first tried to push him back, but when the moonlight hit his eyes she could see the fire inside. She thought to herself, you must not give in to your physical urges, but maintain composure. Don’t give in, be strong, but the way Dorian was caressing her hair and the wet kisses he was placing on her neck was making it harder and harder to resist. He gently began to untie her hands which had been bound for hours, he caressed her wrists and kissed each one ever so gently. Marise thought for a moment, now’s the time to fight, he’s lost all his thoughts on his mission, I can fight and possibly escape, but the feelings inside her body (which had not been aroused in so long) she just couldn’t stop him. He gently raised her back off the cool grass and put his arm around her, his other hand feeling her face, gliding down her neck, stroking her shoulders and down her arms to her fingertips. Chills were running down her spine, his heavy, raspy breathing in her ear was almost more than she could stand.
Marise awoke with a start, her heart beating wildy. Apparently she had dozed against the tree trunk. The dream had been so real, a dream within a dream – she could still feel his lips on hers, and the weight of his body against her frame. Putting her fingers to her lips, she tried to calm herself. “I cannot believe this!” she thought to herself. “Here I’ve been kidnapped and now I’m having dreams about my captor…this is ridiculous.” She looked at her bound wrists and shivered with the sudden chill of the evening. “Great, I’m cold and no one even cares,” she said softly. Feeling suddenly vulnerable, she felt tears spring to her eyes. A wave of conflicting emotions washed over her. She was angry, cold, tired and attracted to the man who had taken her captive. It was too much for her to bear. She briefly saw Dorian passing close by, on guard duty. She didn’t know how she could ever look him in the eye again without blushing.
After a few moments, she regained her composure and laid back on the grass, trying to find a comfortable position. “If only he would unbind my hands”, was her last thought before drifting to sleep again.
Little did Marise know that Dorian had been watching her. They had set up a night watch schedule and Dorian had been on for the last hour. He had been manning the perimeter, and was nearby when he her heard her moan softly. He had been inextricably drawn by the look on her face as she lay dreaming. He wondered what was going on in her head. Unable to resist, he had reached out to touch her cheek. Her head had turned, her mouth seeking his hand and he caught his breath as he felt her lips touch the place on his hand where she had bitten him just a few hours before. He smiled to himself.
He stood reluctantly and was a few yards away when she woke up. He could see the range of emotions play on her features and his heart nearly broke when he saw her tears. There was one thing he could do, at least.
He walked over to his pack and withdrew a heavy woolen blanket. In the time it took him to bring it to her, he could see she had already fallen back to sleep. He watched her for a few minutes, then took the blanket and covered her. He looked at her bound wrists and decided they looked too tight. Very gently, he unloosed them just enough to allow her a little bit of room to move, without risking her being able to get out of them. Intent on his task, he didn’t see that her eyes had opened and she was silently watching him.
When he was finished, he looked at her face and was shocked to see her awake. She had made no sound whatsoever. They regarded each other in silence. “Thank you,” she whispered softly. He stood abruptly then, and walked quickly away before she could read his thoughts, the thoughts that he was sure might as well have been plastered on his forehead. He was embarrassed and trying to will his heart to be still. “Damn”, he muttered to himself, “why does she do this to me?”
He stood under the canopy of trees with his back to her, not realizing she was watching him, still. He stood unaware of her inner struggle, as she was unaware of his.
The remnants of her erotic dream danced in her mind. She watched his back, and saw the powerful curves of his thighs. She admired the shape of his shoulders and the way the firelight played on his hair. She saw herself standing behind him, with the length of her body pressed against his back, as she reached up and pulled his head back and kissed his neck. “Ah, such sweet torture,” she thought as she drifted back to her dream.
The early morning’s light found three of the now rested group awake and partaking of a light breakfast of bread and dried fruit. Morgan chatted gaily of the journey before them, oblivious to his older brother’s awkward silence and strained glances at their fair captive. Tellan, awake since early morning for the final watch, had gone ahead to scout out the most efficient and evasive route back to the resistance camp.
Dorian only half listened to his younger brother’s chatter. His thoughts were heavily occupied by the Lady Marise Elleroth. Looking up at her suddenly once again he was struck by her fragile yet determined beauty. The morning sunlight bathed her in its fresh radiance creating of her amber colored tresses a soft halo. Her face was fair and rosy with long dark lashes framing her lively hazel eyes.
Dorian, catching himself staring again, quickly looked away and forced himself to peruse the situation. A plan must be thought out and ready for execution with they reached the camp. Lord Elleroth was a powerful man in this region and timing and precision were critical. Dorian wondered suddenly what it was that brought the girl this far out near the Acacian wilderness. Most travelers avoided the great forest altogether and those that did venture near it only did so in groups. Few navigated within its borders and as far as he knew, no one ventured further beyond.
It was as Dorian sat deep in contemplation that Tellan returned. Hurried and flushed the old elf came forward. “Soldier’s approach us from the North,” he announced.
Marise hearted jumped with joyful anticipation. “My father’s men,” she cried. “ You will rue the day you dared lay a hand on me,” she said coldly as her angry gaze fell heavily upon Dorian.
“No Lady Elleroth,” whispered Tellan. “These men bear the seal of Draggnor.”
Marise felt the blood quickly rush from her face. “The High Prince’s assassins.” Her comment barely escaped her lips as terror suddenly raged through her. The Draggnor were known throughout the land only for their murderous destruction. When the High Prince commissioned them, no one they came for was ever left alive. But why would they come here? Her father was loyal to the High Prince and this intrusion into his lands made no sense. Marise searched the solemn faces of her captors in confusion.
“How soon before they cross us,” questioned Dorian.
“One hour,” responded Tellan.
“We have no choice then. We must hide in the forest until they pass. Morgan, gather everything. Be certain nothing is left,” commanded Dorian. “Tellan, hide all marks of our passing. We must take no chances.”
The two nodded quickly and hurried off. Dorian turned to Marise. “Well Lady Elleroth. It appears we shall be delayed.”
Shortly, the four disappeared into the dark shadows of the great forest.
Lord Ravian Elleroth was at the end of his rope with worry. His daughter Marise had not come home last night. Although headstrong and willful, Marise and her father shared a deep bond. It was completely unlike her to be gone this long without sending word.
At daybreak, Lord Elleroth sent one of his most experienced warriors to search for his missing daughter. He paced back and forth in front of the roaring fire that kept the morning chill at bay in the great hall. He was growing increasingly alarmed as the hours passed with still no word.
Suddenly, the huge doors swung open and the warrior, Gerold rushed in, the lines of worry evident in his weathered features. Lord Elleroth felt himself go cold.
“Sir, I cannot find the Lady”, Gerold said soberly. “There are scattered reports that the Draggnor have been sighted. They have been seen with women captives”, he ended on an ominous note.
Lord Ravian felt the anger run like ice water through his veins. “This is an outrage!” he shouted. “I have given every consideration to the High Prince and he sends his assassins into my territory? This will not be tolerated!” he raged. Bringing his anger under control he said fiercely, “Go back out and try again. You must find her Gerold!”
“Yes sir”, Gerold replied, striding quickly for the doors. Even if he died in the effort, the soldier was determined that he would not pass through these doors again until he had the Lady safely back with her father.