Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 22:21:22 +1000 (EST)
From: Haleth <seraphtear@yahoo.com.au>
Subject: "Elf's New Slave" 'Part 5'

	Lord William Vatigar stood before the full-length mirror in his
personal suite. His clothes were immaculate, the black silk and velvet
finely sewn and imitating the latest fashion. He smiled, feeling slightly
excited about seeing his new... no, slave was the wrong word. In truth he
hated slavery and he often freed the women only months after he purchased
them, once they had settled into their new lives. Of course if they wanted
to leave he would let them, but they never did. Their lives could not be
better and he expected nothing from them and so they were very happy to
stay.
	This new one though, that hadn't been for his usual reasons. He
usually only bought slaves who were pretty but who had bad lives, as whores
or had abusive masters. But the elf, that had been different. He had always
wanted to see an elf, ever since he was a child and his nanny would tell
him stories of the magical creatures and their wars. But elves never came
to Brantilay, and so he finally decided to bring one to him. He would have
preferred a male one, as they did seem the more interesting gender of the
fair race but that would have been bad for his reputation. Everyone
believed he purchased the women to look at and admire because they were the
beautiful women who he could never have, who would never love him.
	He sighed and pushed those depressing thoughts aside, tracing the
scar along his left cheek carefully. It was a hideous sight, running from
his forehead right down to his chin, his left eye had been removed entirely
and the lids sewn shut. In their delicate and refined society he was a
monster, but a rich one and a cunning businessman. And so he held much
respect... but he would never have a companion to share his life with. But
he couldn't really complain, his life was far better than that of many
other Brantilans.
	He picked up his mask and carefully put it in place so the deformed
half of his face was completely covered. He then straightened his jacket
and headed out the door. It was time to see his new 'possession'.
	When he reached the sitting room he sat down on the only couch in
the room and took a glass of fine wine from the servant. He glanced around
the room, it was one of his duller rooms, with very little decoration and
furniture. He had chosen it specifically because he wanted nothing to
distract from the elf's beauty. He had deliberately not found out from
Warren what the elf looked like because it was more enjoyable that way, he
longed to be in awe of something and he hoped the elf would live up to his
expectations.
	After he had been waiting only a few minutes he heard the door
handles turn and he carefully set his glass down on the coffee table,
looking anxiously towards the entrance. The doors opened and Urtha walked
in, stepping to the side of the doors as the elf walked in. William drew
his breath in sharply and was very glad he had already set his glass down.
	The tall and slender figure was wearing a dark purple and pale pink
dress of the finest silks and lace but truly the dress paled in comparison
to its angelic wearer. She was stunningly beautiful, with the most amazing
hair he had ever seen. There was a finely tattooed dragon on the elf's
cheek but this seemed to only add to the creature's unearthly beauty.
	He stood and walked a bit closer to the beautiful elfess, he then
took one of her delicate gloved hands and bowed, kissing her hand
softly. He then straightened, but didn't let go of her lovely
hand. "Welcome to my estate, Lady Vali."
	"Thank you, my lord." She smiled but the gesture seemed weak and he
realised her hand was hotter than it should have been. He placed his other
hand under her chin and lifted it gently so their eyes met. He gasped as he
got another shock, her eyes were just as astounding as her hair and almost
as silver with just a hint of blue. He then frowned as he noticed a drop of
sweat trickle down the side of her face.
	"Are you alright?"
	"No..." She confessed, closing her eyes lightly. "I... don't..."
	He darted forward, supporting her just as she collapsed. He then
lifted her, amazed he could as he wasn't exactly well-muscled, and placed
her gently on the couch. Urtha had come over in a panic and was now
hovering over the unconscious elf.
	"I-I don't know what happened, sir, she was fine a minute ago!" She
exclaimed going slightly hysterical at what she considered a huge disaster.
	"Calm down please, Urtha." He told her kindly and she calmed down
enough to stand still. "Now, did she say anything at all about not feeling
well?"
	The maid shook her head but then stopped. "She, she did complain of
a headache, sir, just before we got here. But I gave her some lavender
oil."
	"Ok, why don't you go and fetch a doctor." He told her calmly and
she left in a hurry. He took out his handkerchief and dipped it in a jug of
nearby water before gently wiping the cosmetics off the beautiful
face. When he was finished he was surprised to see the elf's skin was
smooth and milky-pale naturally, with not a blemish or freckle in sight. He
decided she was even more beautiful without make-up. He patted the damp
cloth to her warm forehead and wondered if she was ill. It was possible she
was just nervous about meeting him, and the stress of being moved to a new
land and climate had finally taken its toll.

	He felt like he was drowning in a sea of fire... everything
hurt. From far away he felt someone caress his cheek and he relaxed
slightly, it had to be Brandon. He slowly came back to consciousness but
didn't open his eyes, he was laying on something soft and gentle hands
touched his face with cool fingers. He heard someone say his name softly,
but it didn't sound like his lover. He forced his eyes open and when the
world came back into focus his heart sank. He wasn't in Sentanii with his
lover. He was in Brantilay with his...owner, and he had fainted. What a
great first impression, he thought miserably.
	"I'm sorry." He apologised weakly as the Lord pressed a damp cloth
to his forehead. "I...I did so want you to like me."
	"What?" The man seemed stunned from what Vali could tell from the
man's voice and the half of his face that wasn't covered. "This wasn't your
fault, and I do like you. You are very beautiful."
	Vali's vision went blurry again for a moment and he tried to focus
back on his Lord through the haze of dizziness and pain. When he could see
again he momentarily forgot about being in a massive mansion with his very
wealthy new owner... all he saw was a kind young man, with thick chocolate
brown hair and gentle green eyes...eye. He looked so concerned, and for a
moment the elf saw his soul.
	He reached out a slightly shaking hand and touched the man's cheek
in something like awe. "Beautiful... such a generous soul." He whispered
not registering the amazement in the man's expression. He then squeezed his
eyes shut as another wave of pain washed over him.
	"Vali?" The deep and soothing voice questioned softly.
	"It...hurts!" The elf gasped out, his whole body trembling, his
veins feeling like they were on fire. He was hot... it was too hot! He
struggled to try and pull the damn dress off, it was too tight and hot and
he was suffocating. Gentle hands took his own and pulled them away from the
fabric, he struggled for a moment but then slumped back against the couch,
too exhausted to move anymore. The hands moved to caress his face again, in
a soothing fashion and he became aware of the fact he was whispering
something. His brain wasn't working properly and he wasn't entirely sure
what he was saying, so he forced himself to stop.
	"Take deep breathes, angel. Deep, calm breathes."
	As William's words sunk in he realised he was taking short shallow
breaths and his heart was racing, he was going to kill himself in a
minute. He held his breath for a moment before forcing himself to take in
slow, calm lungfuls of air.
	"Good, that's good, angel. Everything will be alright, the doctor
will be here in a minute and then you'll be fine."
	The human's voice was so soothing and kind he soon found himself
calming down. He looked up at William tiredly, the pain seeming distant for
the moment. "Why do you wear that mask? It looks silly." He mused quietly,
his throat feeling terribly dry.
	The Lord blanched for a moment, he then shrugged and started
peeling the elf's gloves off. "Urtha said you complained of a headache." He
commented obviously trying to change the subject.
	"Not truly, she was chattering so much and I just wanted her to be
quiet for a moment. And... and then she gave me that sugary stuff, and I
felt awful."
	"Have you ever eaten lavender before?" William questioned
thoughtfully.
	"No...it is a fragrance in my country, not a food." Vali answered
feeling dazed and not sure what the human was getting at.
	"Did you use it often in your homeland?"
	"No, I don't like the smell, it makes me feel queasy."
	"I think you are allergic to it." William told him as he put the
gloves aside and reached to undo the tight necklace. When the ribbon was
removed, cool fingers brushed across the red mark around his throat. "I
don't think you should be dressed in such things again."
	"No." Vali whispered his agreement, feeling very sleepy. "What's
'allergic' mean?"
	"It is when your body can't handle something, like the lavender. It
makes normally harmless things act like poison." William answered him
gently, before starting to remove the clips and ribbons from the elf's
hair.

	When the last decoration was removed from the silky tresses he
moved his gaze back to the angelic face, realising the elf was staring at
him, with her beautiful big blue eyes. It was rather puzzling but they now
seemed more blue than silver, as if they changed colour often. She looked
exhausted and he wondered if she even realised she was staring at him so
blatantly. He had been absolutely shocked when she had told him he had a
beautiful soul, but he chalked that up to the fact she was probably
delirious. As he ran a hand through the soft hair he realised he would have
to be very careful with this one. It would be entirely too easy to fall in
love with her.
	He might even have to have her sent away to one of his secondary
estates. He toyed absently with one of the silvery locks, his heart torn at
the thought of sending the beautiful creature away. If he didn't know any
better he would think he was already falling for her. He just couldn't
understand it, sure, she was beautiful, the most beautiful being he had
ever seen but he knew he wasn't attracted to her just because of
that. There was something different about her, there was a calm strength in
the way she looked up at him passively, showing none of the terrible agony
she must have been feeling. And she had never once spoken badly of Urtha,
even though the whole situation was much her fault.
	She was truly an astounding woman. And now he was sure he was
falling for her. It would be tragic, he could just see it. He would fall so
in love with her that he would get enough courage to tell her, or kiss her
and she would reject him. She would look at him with disgust and laugh at
him mockingly, telling him that no one would ever want to be with him, that
it was sickening just being in the same room with him and his deformities.
	She reached out one delicate hand and brushed his cheek, the
dampness coming off on her fingertips. "Why are you crying?" She asked
softly, her voice sounding like he would imagine an angel's to sound. He
looked down into her amazing eyes and for a moment he was going to tell
her. He felt he could tell her anything, anything and she wouldn't laugh
and she wouldn't be disgusted.
	But then Urtha came back with the doctor, and the moment was gone.


	Vali snuggled further under the blankets, blessedly thankful that
Urtha had finally left him alone. He had been put to bed shortly after
seeing the doctor and he had then slept until the following morning, when
he had found his maid fluttering around him and occasionally shoving food
in his mouth, all the while apologising profusely. Sometime in the
afternoon he finally got sick of her and lost his temper, telling her to go
for a walk off a bridge. She left tearful, but she'd get over it, and Vali
was too annoyed to care. He figured he had at least another hour before she
came back to pester him about eating dinner.
	He stretched happily, letting the blankets slip to his waist, a
warm afternoon breeze lifting the drapes and whisking across the room to
brush across his skin, the thin straps of his nightgown doing nothing to
impede the tranquil breeze. He then froze in mid-stretch as there was a
soft knock at the door, surely she couldn't be back already. He sat up just
as the door opened and prepared to tell Urtha to fuck off. But it wasn't
her.
	Lord William smiled and walked over to the bed, his movements
surprisingly graceful for a human. He sat on a chair by the bed, and Vali
noticed he carried a small silk-wrapped parcel in his gentle hands.
	"Good afternoon, angel, how are you feeling?" He asked in a
sickeningly kind voice as his eyes travelled over the elf's exposed
shoulders and arms.
	Was the man trying to annoy him? Was it annoy Vali day and no one
had told him? "I have a name you know." He said rather nastily, not caring
at this point if he insulted his 'master'.
	"Of course you do, angel." He agreed wholeheartedly. Vali responded
by glaring at him and making a low growl in the back of his throat. William
laughed at this. "I would ask if you got out of the wrong side of the bed
this morning, but you haven't gotten up today yet have you, beautiful?"
	"I'm sick." Vali stated crossing his arms. "What's your excuse?"
	"My excuse for what, angel?" He questioned innocently.
	"For being nasty!" The elf confirmed in an exasperated tone.
	"Nasty? Such a strong word to come from one so beautiful and
fragile."
	"I'll show you fragile." Vali mumbled wishing he could just deck
the guy, how could he have thought William was attractive? The man was
infuriating!
	"What did you say, angel?" The lord asked, pretending not to hear,
a very pleased expression on his face.
	"I said, what do you want?" Vali lied in a rather sarcastic tone
and leaned back against the pillows.
	"Well I did come to give you a gift." William said fingering the
silk parcel absently.
	"A gift? For me?" Vali questioned hesitantly, very surprised and
his heart fluttered lightly in anticipation as he wondered if it would be
something he would like.
	"Yes, but I'm not sure I want to give it to you now, you have been
rather rude." The lord commented, though the sparkling in his eye betrayed
his teasing. Vali could play this game too.
	"Please." The elf then coughed weakly, holding a hand to his head
as if it hurt. "It might make me feel better...and I didn't mean to be
rude...it's just been such an awful day...and I..."
	"Enough!" William commanded with a teasing grin, he then held out
the small parcel for Vali to take. Vali instantly recovered, sitting up to
all but snatch the gift from the Lord's hand with an excited little
giggle. William chuckled softly at this, waiting patiently for Vali to
carefully unwrap the present.
	The gift then sat in his pale hand for several moments as he looked
at it with stunned admiration. It was a tiny pendent, about the width of
his thumbnail and it was hung on a thin, finely crafted gold chain. It was
a tiny red-gold dragon holding a small purple gem in it's front paws. The
most amazing thing though was that it wasn't just any dragon, it was the
same dragon that was tattooed on his cheek.
	"I had it made this morning." William told him in a rather subdued
voice and Vali realised he was nervous, he was worried the elf didn't like
it. "I did a sketch of it from memory, I hope the likeness is..." He
trailed off as Vali clutched the tiny gift to his heart and smiled
beautifully.
	"It's beautiful...thank you so much." He choked out, feeling tears
welling in his eyes. He had never been given such a thoughtful gift.
	"Well, I thought perhaps you could use some jewellery which won't
choke you." William said with a soft smile as he shifted to sit on the
bed. He then reached out, taking the necklace from the elf's hands before
placing it carefully around the pale throat, closing the clasp. He then
pulled the waves of silver out from the chain, so the cool metal fell
neatly onto his skin, the charm settling about an inch down from the base
of his neck. As William pulled his hands away he brushed his fingers across
the elf's throat and shoulders and Vali felt his heart flutter again as he
realised how close they were.
	William frowned slightly in concern. "Are you cold?" He questioned
running a hand down the elf's bare arm, unaware that he was the cause of
the goosebumps.
	"A little." Vali lied, pulling the blanket up to cover himself,
wishing he could pull it up over his head to hide the blush he knew was
visible.
	"Vali?"
	"Yes?"
	"If you don't mind me asking? What is the dragon for?" William
asked curiously, moving to sit back in the chair.
	"I don't mind at all. Do you want the short or long version?"
	"I have plenty of time."
	Vali hesitated for a moment, he had never told the full tale to
anyone, not even Brandon. Yet looking at the genuine interest in William's
expression, he actually felt like telling the story, as he knew the human
lord would actually listen.
	"The elves didn't always take human slaves, in fact that only
started just over fifty years ago. Before that they lived in peace with the
humans of Laurien, there were just as many human nobles as elven ones and
the peasants worked happily for both. But then the humans became angry and
fearful of the elves because they lived for so many centuries and because
they had magic. Whereas the elves believed they were far superior to
creatures who only lived for half a century at best and who were crude and
ugly in their eyes. And so another war began. Most of the elven nobles
rallied under the High Lord of Ethriel, while the human nobles rallied
under the Lady of Wyvern."
	"Lady?" William interrupted absolutely enthralled. "The human lords
followed a women?"
	"Yes, I suppose I should have mentioned that. The people of Laurien
believed women where the more important gender and so they ruled, not their
husbands and the heirs ran from the female line. And as the Lord of Ethriel
was the most powerful of the elves, the Lady of Wyvern was the most
powerful of the humans, it was even said that she possessed magic herself,
and could charm animals to do her will, even bring eagles down from their
nests high in the mountains.
	"In any case the elves won the war, but I won't bother to tell you
about the battles as you could read that easily in a book. But when it was
done the Lord of Ethriel had all the members of the Wyvern family killed,
so they could cause no future rebellions. The only one he didn't kill was
the Lady of Wyvern's five-year-old daughter. The girl, Valerie, was taken
and kept as a slave and she was forced to follow the Lord wherever he went,
a collar around her neck, to symbolise how great the Lord's victory was."
	"That's terrible." William whispered worriedly, "The girl wasn't
you was she?"
	"No." Vali sighed and rolled his eyes. "Weren't you listening? The
girl was human."
	"Oh, sorry. Please, go on."
	"Alright. Where was I? Oh, yes, Valerie. Well, you see, though she
had only been five when she was taken she was a very clever girl, and she
had been the Lady of Wyvern's first born, and so she had been brought up to
be a ruler. Now the Lord thought that he had broken her and that it was a
torment for her to live how she was and he made his greatest mistake by
thinking she feared him. But in truth she only hated him, and the whole
time she spent following him around she was watching and learning and
planning.
	"So in this fashion she lived out the next twenty-five years of her
life. And when she was thirty the Lord thought it would be a great joke to
have her bear his child. So shortly afterwards she became pregnant. But by
the time the child was born she had decided she would not let him anywhere
near the child, and that the child would be free. So as she carried the
tiny child, wrapped in a bloody blanket straight from the birth and she
made her move.
	"The Lord was out in the courtyard addressing his loving public,
telling them how he had a child from the Wyvern whore. She came walking
straight out and when the guards tried to stop her she began singing. A
deceptively beautiful song, the kind angels would sing. Everyone was so
enthralled they were very surprised when a large shadow fell across the
courtyard. As they looked up a thousand ravens dove from the sky, pecking
and clawing at the elves who ran screaming and falling over one another, as
Valerie stood calmly in the centre of it all. Holding her sleeping child
and watching with passive eyes as the birds slowly pecked the elves to
death.
	"When it was done she stood covered in blood and gore and laughing
as if the whole world was a wonderful joke. Need I mention the fact she was
quite insane? No? Good. Anyway once she finished with her laughter she
realised she would need to get away before the other elf lords came for
her. So she took the fastest horse in the stable and rode it bareback into
the forest. She rode so far into the forest the elves would never find her
and there she made her home, never fearing goblins or orcs as others might,
after all she could easily command the animals of the forest. And she lived
happily this way for nine years, never seeing another soul but her child.
	"So for nine years of my life I lived happily with her deep in the
forest and she taught me many things, and she told me the tale of her
freedom to me many times. But she was growing old, as humans do, and she
became ill, it was a horrible wasting disease and she knew she was
dying. So she gathered for me things I would need to travel to civilization
and she gave me last words of advice as she carefully tattooed the dragon
on my skin. I cried when she did it but she told me how important it was
because that way the elves could never take the mark from me. They could
never take away my lineage. And then I left."
	"So that's what it means." Vali said finally then turned to his
audience, surprised to see a tear slip down the man's cheek.
	"What happened then?" William questioned, his voice a bit husky but
his curiosity still at a peak.
	Vali grinned, happy that William was so genuinely interested, no
one had been interested in him and his past before, it was a very nice
feeling but he had some questions of his own. So he took his time carefully
pouring himself a glass of water from the jug on the bedside table before
letting the cool liquid refresh his dry throat. He then carefully set the
glass back on the table before finally returning his attention to the
handsome human.
	"Well, that is another story." He said finally. "And since I've
already given you one, I'd like something from you before I tell you the
next one."
	"Anything." William offered without hesitation.
	"Take your mask off." Vali wondered if he had made a mistake in
asking that, as William's light brown skin turned almost white, his eye
going very wide. He was about to take it back, say that the Lord didn't
have to if he didn't want, but before he could William gave a slow nod of
consent. He then reached up and removed the mask gingerly, closing his eye
and keeping it closed as if fearing to see the elf's reaction. The elf for
his part was rather surprised.
	He had thought by how William kept it covered that it would be some
hideous deformity, but all it was, was a scar. Sure it had taken his eye
out, but it was a clean cut and it had been stitched neatly. And the elf,
having spent a good many years in Tristian's army had seen far worse
wounds. Actually it added to the Lord's character, and Vali had to admit he
kind of liked it. Before he knew what he was doing he had moved to the edge
of the bed and reached out to touch the scar. But as his fingertips touched
the pale slash William's eye flew open and he knocked the elf's hand away,
probably more firmly than he had meant to.
	Precariously balanced as he was Vali slipped off the bed, landing
rather awkwardly on the floor at the Lord's feet. He rolled onto his back
and looked up to see William looking down at him, completely stunned. The
expression was too much for the elf and he burst out laughing. He was
laughing so hard his stomach stared hurting and he had to curl up on his
side, for the moment unaware of his 'master'. When he finally managed to
stop he sat up, glancing up to see William looking at him with a very
strange expression.
	"What is so funny?" The brunette questioned carefully, as if afraid
Vali had been laughing at his deformity.
	"Your expression...you'd think...you'd never knocked...someone out
of bed...before." Vali answered in between gasps of air and the subsiding
giggles. At this William managed to smile as stood and helped the elf up.
	"How is it you can act this way?" He questioned, genuinely puzzled.
	"Like what?" Vali retorted sitting back on the bed and pulling
William down to sit beside him.
	"Like you're not disgusted by my appearance."
	"Ah...because I'm not." Vali said in a light tone. "Jeez, by the
way you acted I thought you had an extra mouth or something. It's just a
scar." Vali grinned and traced the scar with his index finger. "Besides it
makes you look nasty."
	"Nasty? And that's a good thing?" William questioned smiling in
return.
	"Now I know what you're thinking." Vali said mock seriously.
	"Oh really?" He asked with amusement.
	"Yes. But it's only a good thing looking nasty, not being nasty,
and especially not being nasty to me, so you can just forget about it, Lord
William." The elf stated matter-o-factly, poking the human in the arm for
emphasis.
	"It's already forgotten, angel." He teased, laughing as the elf
glared at him in response.  Their playful teasing was then put to a halt as
a hysterical Urtha entered the room. She quickly shooed William out of the
room before coming back to lecture Vali.  "What on earth were you thinking?
Sitting so close to him? And you are completely indecent!"  "Indecent?"
Vali questioned, very puzzled. The material of his knee-length nightgown
was thick velvet and loose, it was perfectly decent.  "Yes!" The maid
squeaked huffily. "Your skin's showing everywhere! And your hair, its such
a mess! Do you wear such clothes in public in your homeland? What were you
thinking? And your legs... do you shave? They're so smooth. But that's not
the point, a proper lady..." At that point Vali tunned out, thinking he had
done very well to listen that far. He sighed a tad dreamily and slumped
back against the pillows stretching happily before creeping under the
blankets and blocking out that irritating voice. It seemed silly now that
only a few days ago he had been so worried about meeting William. The man
was so kind and charming and handsome and gentle and... he could have gone
on for quite sometime but right now sleep really seemed like a better idea.


	William walked towards the stables, as the sun was just rising,
figuring he could get in a quick ride before he had to leave for the
capital. He was rather annoyed that he had to go back so soon, he had only
been back at his estate for two weeks. And he hadn't spent nearly as much
time with Vali as he would have liked. He couldn't believe how interesting
the elf was. She knew so many stories, which she gladly told him and he was
rather surprised that most of them revolved around war and battles, and so
he began to wonder if she had been involved in such things in Laurien. He
had been planing to question her more about her life that night after
dinner but now he had to leave.
	He paused momentarily in his stride as he heard something. He
listened carefully and realised it was someone singing softly. He walked
into the stable and the voice became clearer, and there was only one person
he knew of that could have a voice that intoxicating. When he turned the
corner the owner of the voice came into view and he paused a moment to
admire the beautiful creature. She was wearing a rather plain pair of dark
brown leather pants, which clung nicely to her long slender legs and a
loose cream-coloured shirt that had the sleeves rolled up to her
elbows. Her hair was tied back in a simple braid and a few strands had come
loose to frame her face. It was odd, but she seemed to look even more
beautiful each time he saw her.
	He walked over and patted the neck of the horse she was brushing
down. "You know there are servants who can do this."
	"I know, my Lord. But I was bored." She replied, not even pausing
in her task.
	"Please, just call me William. And how is it you are so bored you
have resorted to menial labour?"
	"Well, William, Urtha plans to teach me how to do tapestry this
morning, and after having her try to teach me embroidery, sewing and
cross-stitch over the past week, I really don't think I could stand it."
	"You don't like such lady-like occupations? I must admit I am not
in the least surprised." He grinned and she glanced at him, a pretty but
shy smile playing at her lips. She then resumed her task and he watched her
skilled hands for a few moments more before commenting. "I heard you
singing a moment ago. You have an exquisite voice."
	"Thank you, but its not that good." She replied modestly, and he
was sure there was a rose tint to her pretty cheeks.
	"Yes it is. But I have to admit, I am curious. You said your mother
and grandmother could charm creatures with their singing, can you do that
too?"
	"No." She replied absently, "That particular magic is only passed
onto the female-...Ah, I mean..." She suddenly became flustered and the
brush slipped from her now-clumsy fingers. "It skips generations." She
stated finally in a rush.
	He looked at her carefully for a long moment, noticing how she
squirmed slightly under his gaze. What was it she was hiding? What slip-up
had she just made? 'only passed onto the female...?' The female of every
few generations? He didn't think so. She was definitely hiding something.
	"So both of them had this magic but it skipped you? But your
children might have it?"
	"My...my children?" Vali blushed looking at her boots. "I don't
think so."
	"I see." He stepped forward and lifted her chin to look carefully
into her eyes. "Is there something you are hiding from me, angel?"
	"N-no, of course not. H-haven't I always answered any question of
me you have asked?" She answered, her gaze wavering nervously.
	You are a very bad liar, my dear, he thought contemplatively, but
I'll let you keep your secret for now. "Yes, you have. I apologise." He
took his hand from her chin and she stepped back instantly, her gaze
returning to the floor. She looked oddly fearful before she whispered
almost too softly to hear.
	"My Lord?"
	"It's William. What is it?"
	"May I ask you something?" She questioned still very hesitantly, as
if fearing his gentle demeanour was a front.
	"Of course."
	"Warren...he said that you had other...possessions, like me? But I
have not seen any and...I wondered..."
	"Warren was wrong." He stepped up to her again and gently cupped
her face with his hands, his gaze once again drowning in the icy blue
pools. "There are no others...like you. You are perfectly unique. But if
you mean, where are the other women I 'own'? They are at some of my other
estates, the more minor ones. And they are very happy where they are, they
have good lives and I do see them on occasion, perhaps once or twice a
year." He smiled as he realised what she had thought. "Were you worried I
would sell you off to some dreadful place when I got sick of you?"
Unfortunately he only realised his mistake after the beautiful eyes filled
with tears and she turned her head away, whispering one word softly.
	"When."
	He almost cursed out loud...If...he should have said 'if' not
'when'. He turned her head back, wiping the tears away tenderly with his
thumbs, a little amazed and very pleased that someone was upset at the
thought of leaving him. It was something he thought would never happen. "I
said that wrong, angel." On impulse he placed a quick kiss to her
forehead. "I will not grow tired of you, ever. And I won't send you away
unless you want to go."
	"It's alright." Vali smiled weakly, but the tears still ran down
her porcelain-like cheeks. "You don't have to lie to me. I understand, it
is the way life is." Everyone gets sick of me...Brandon did and you will.
	William stepped back from her in shock, he could have sworn her
lips hadn't moved at the last sentence. "What did you say?" He asked
carefully.
	"I said, that's the way life is." She replied looking away to wipe
her tears away on her sleeve.
	"Who's Brandon?" He felt it was very important he know who this
mysterious person was, Vali had mentioned his name twice now; when she had
fallen sick that first day and just now. So he must have been someone
important.
	"Brandon?" She seemed stunned. "I...I never said-"
	"Yes you have, you called for him when you were delirious and you
said his name a second ago. You said he got sick of you. Was he your old
owner? Did he sell you off when he was bored with you? Is that where all
your insecurity and hesitance comes from?" He knew he was becoming furious,
but he couldn't help it, the thought of someone being so cruel to the
sensitive elf was maddening. "Did he beat you? Is that why you cringe
sometimes at another's touch? Is that why you were so afraid about me
thinking you were lying to me? Did you think I was going to punish you like
he did?"
	"Stop!" She screamed and stumbled back away from him, falling to
the dirt and hay covered floor. "Stop it! You don't know. You don't
understand anything. You don't..." She broke off with a sob and her
shoulders slumped, shaking with barely audible weeping.
	This wasn't what he had wanted to achieve, not at all. He sat on
the ground next to her and gently drew her into his lap and to his surprise
she welcomed the embrace, wrapping her thin arms around his waist and
resting her throat against his shoulder. He stoked her back soothingly,
trying to calm her down feeling terribly guilty for making her break down
like this.
	"I'm sorry, angel. You're right, I don't know but only because you
haven't told me. Please, help me to understand, tell me what happened."
	"I can't." She murmured miserably and he wondered if that was
because of whatever it was she was hiding.
	He sighed and gave her a gentle squeeze of reassurance. "Alright
then, you don't have to tell me, not yet. But will you promise me one
thing?"
	"What?"
	"That you won't worry about me getting sick of you? If anything,
angel, you'll be the one to get sick of me. And then you'll want to leave."
	"No I won't." Vali tightened her grip as if afraid he would
vanish. "Don't say that, I won't." He then felt the elf swallow before she
continued. "I know it sounds stupid, and I've only known you for two
weeks...but I've never met anyone I've liked more, that I've found more
interesting and who can make me feel so content with myself and my
life. These past two weeks have been the happiest of my life, despite my
maid poisoning me."
	William chuckled, the elf always seemed to be able to make him
laugh at the strangest times. "Alright then, you promise you won't think
I'm going to get sick of you and I'll promise I won't think you're going to
get sick of me. Ok?"
	"Ok." She then pulled back to face him, their noses almost
touching. "I promise." She whispered, her warm breath caressing his lips.
	Kissing those delicious looking lips suddenly seemed like a very
good idea and he leaned forward ever so slightly, watching her face for any
reaction or sign of rejection, but she simply let her eyes drift shut
before closing the rest of the distance. Their lips stayed touching but
motionless for a moment, both of them just enjoying the moment, but then
the real kiss began. The elf's tongue slipped easily into his mouth and he
was drowning in the fiery passion. It was incredible. He hadn't been kissed
for eleven years, ever since his face had been ruined, and he had only been
thirteen at the time so it hadn't been much of a kiss... and certainly
nothing like this. This was heaven.
	He thought he heard something but he ignored it, too caught up in
the magical kiss. But then Vali pulled back very suddenly. He looked at her
questioningly as she stood and stepped away from him wiping her lips on her
sleeve. He thought fleetingly that she had suddenly realised who she was
kissing and was disgusted, but that thought vanished as he noticed Warren
standing near the entrance.
	"My Lord, you need to come and get ready now." He said politely and
as William stood and dusted off his pants he missed the vicious glare
Warren shot the elf.
	"Oh, of course." William then turned his attention back to the
beautiful elf. He took her delicate hand and placed a kiss to the back of
it. "I have to go to the capital for a few days, but when I come back can
we finish our...discussion?" She smiled shyly and gave a slight nod, her
eyes sparkling beautifully.
	"My Lord?" Warren interrupted a tad annoyed. "There is no time."
	"Alright, Warren." William was about to leave but then he decided
he would give into one final temptation. He pulled her slender body to his,
their lips locking again for another long moment of sweet passion. He then
released her, pleased by her slight stumble and dazed expression. "Goodbye,
angel." He said with a grin before following Warren out of the stable,
feeling very happy with his life.