Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 05:31:26 EST
From: MissColly@aol.com
Subject: The Sword of Aviondore

                    The Sword of Aviondore

                              By

                         Colleen Thomas
                        MissColly@aol.com


          This blade shall bring death and woe to your
          enemies My Queen. As long as it is wielded by
          one of your line it shall never know defeat. Yet,
          I foresee that one day, far beyond even the
          reckoning of Elves it will bring about the end
          of the line of Aviondore.

                               DonAu Tu'vervain, Court seer
                               upon the presentation of
                               Angrost to queen Shalima
                               Aviondore,in the first age.


The faint gray light of dawn had yet to penetrate the canopy
of branches. A single figure moved along the darkened forest
path with such grace and ease that even the animals of the
forest did not notice her passing. She was tall and lithe
and moved with a purposeful stride, seeming to fear neither
falling nor becoming lost. As light slowly began to filter
through the canopy of leaves her form became more distinct,
but she seemed so much a part of the natural world that only
a keen observer would have been able to tell.

T'larin paused on the edge of a small dale and carefully
surveyed the open area. She knew this wood as only an elf
could know it. The Elven race was the longest-lived race on
the face of Talor and T'larin was no longer young even by
their standards. Only death by disease or mishap kept them
from being immortal. Slow to anger and to experience other
emotions they were considered by men to be aloof and cold.
Still, the hot-blooded elven temptress was popular in their
myths and songs, for the elves were a hauntingly beautiful
people. T'larin was typical of her people; she was tall and
light boned with delicate features and long blonde hair. Her
skin was soft and carried the light blue hue of the northern
tribes rather than the light green of Sylvan folk. Slow to
anger and to friendship she was considered cold and proud
even by her own people. This was to be expected from the
daughter of a queen. Elven society was dichotomous in that
men held the power, but lineage was traced through the
mother's side.

This area had once been rolling grasslands between the Nero'
Larta or Singing River in the common language of men and the
swift Se` Larta or Falling River. Men considered the forest
here old and they called it the haunted wood. Most men would
not dare cross it unless they were in very dire need. To the
Elves no wood held any dread and the trees here were young
to those of the undying race. It was now called the
Westermark and was claimed by the king of Silverwood.

The move was premature in the opinion of many elves for none
of the great silver leaved Talthas trees had reached
maturity in this area. The king had made the move for
reasons other than nature, although he acknowledged that
only to a handful of his closest advisors. T'larin had been
chosen to be the march warder for the new lands by the
sylvan king partly for her intimate knowledge of the area,
but more for her better grasp of the situation outside the
elven kingdoms. Here on this bright morning in her peaceful
woods she allowed herself to think dark thoughts concerning
that situation.

The Orcs of the Iron Dust Mountains were massing for war
against the young human kingdoms along the coast. The
battles had already begun in the north where T'larin and her
people hailed from. Here in the south increased raids by
orcs and other evil creatures had begun to become more
prevalent only in the last few months. The adding of this
land was meant to create a buffer for Silverwood. It would
also allow the Elves to cut off the direct line of retreat
for orcish raiding parties without having to declare
themselves openly in league with the humans. While the
hatred of Elf and Orc was as old as time itself the Elves,
especially the Sylvan Elves were still very cautious when it
came to men. They had fought several border wars with the
men who lived in the valley of the Nero'Larta in years past.
That was ancient history to the men who lived there now, but
only a blink of the eye had passed in the long memories of
the elves.

T'larin was not of the sylvan people; her people were the
high elves of the North and had already created such marches
to protect Aslaheim, their homeland. It was for this reason
that she had been chosen as Marcher Lord over others with
better connections to the throne. Aladar, king of the sylvan
elves, trusted her to carry out her mission here without
embroiling the elves in the coming war. T'larin suspected
that there was some far greater force of evil directing the
orcs and that soon all races would be involved. She kept
this fear to herself however, knowing it would be unwise to
voice it with no proof.

Many of her northern kin felt that Kalouth, the great
deceiver was rising again. T'larin was only a child when her
father had led the Great host of Aslaheim to aid the
beleaguered men and dwarves of the northern coast. Kalouth's
host had been crushed and his great tower laid low, but even
the mightiest of magics had been unable to destroy the
keystone. Of Kalouth there had been no trace and no whisper
of him for ages up on ages, until men forgot and the dwarves
added him to their legends. Only the elves remembered him
for the threat he was. Now rumors came that the dark tower
had risen again, but these were rumors, nothing more, for no
good creature had set foot in the Forbidden Vale in all the
ages since the tower was destroyed.

She considered these things as the sun slowly warmed on her
face and shivered as an unnamed chill passed through her. A
rabbit carefully approached the small brook and took a drink
while songbirds flitted through the trees. They took no
notice of her, partly because she was so attuned to nature,
but partly because of her garb. She wore a white archer's
shirt, which was open at the neck showing an almost daring
amount of cleavage. Her green stockings were tucked into
well-worn brown knee boots. These boots had been fashioned
in the Silverwood and bore a minor enchantment, which
allowed the wearer to move silently over any terrain. Her
cloak was also of elvish make and bore a minor enchantment
that allowed it to blend into any surroundings. Around her
waist was a broad leather girdle from which several pouches
and her sword hung. A simple leather band with elvish runes
of protection painstakingly carved into it held her long
blonde hair back.

T'larin sighed and leaned on her bow staff. It was unstrung
now and she used it as a walking stick, but in an instant
she could string the mighty bow and send one of the lethal
cloth yard shafts from the quiver hanging on her shoulder at
an enemy. She expected no danger here, but something was
bothering her, an almost tangible feeling of menace hung in
the air. She moved to the stream and took a long drink of
the cool water before starting off again. It was many
leagues to the small enclave where her march warders were to
meet tonight. She had been walking for over an hour when
stopped suddenly and stared in wonder. Before her a Talthas
sapling stood. It had only a leaf or two but it stood nearly
as tall as she did. This was a good omen and for a while the
feeling of dread left her.


==========================================

The Se'Larta was called the Falling River by men. It gained
the name because it fell in a series of spectacular falls
out of the Ergos Mountains and ran in a swift crescent to
join the mighty Singing River, which rolled for leagues and
leagues until it finally met the sea at the port city of
Waterdown. The Se'Larta could be forded safely in only two
places in its long sweep and thus formed an effective
barrier. The first was King's Ford near the feet of the
mountains and second was Queen's Ford a few leagues above
the massive Eagle Falls, the last fall before the two rivers
joined. Over the past few months Orcish raiding parties had
descended from the Ergos mountains and forded at King's
Ford, marching through the woods they had cut out the huge
sweep of the river and crossed at Queen's Ford to raid the
villages of men on the east side of the Singing River. Orcs
left damage in their wake that it would take the forest
years to repair. They seemed to delight in killing living
things and marring any beauty they came upon.

Two months ago T'larin had set up her base just above King's
Ford when she first arrived. She and her few march warders
had harried the orcs and set up ambushes with such brutal
efficiency that it appeared the orcs were now avoiding the
ford and taking the long way around. This had the effect of
leaving them exposed to the cavalry of the men on the long
return march and there had been several bloody encounters.
The Orcs were unable to tame horses, for all animals hated
them and this gave the humans their one advantage in
combating the orcs for horses could move far and fast upon
the plains.

It was in this manner that the Sylvan folk chose to aid the
men of the valley rather than helping them in battle. They
also turned a blind eye to the men who would cut through
their lands to get in front of an orcish raiding party. The
men were respectful of the forest, cutting neither tree nor
branch and building only small fires. They had learned long
ago that elves watched the woods and took a dim view of
anyone who thought to change or damage the haunted wood.

On this evening T'larin was sitting before a large bonfire
and nodding as Colfinin, the bard told the story of DaMiel
the elfin princess who fell in love with the human hero
Cardan. The story was very old and in the mode of most
Elvish leys it was very tragic. T'larin was tired from the
long walk and not in the mood for it. In the story, DaMiel
was unable to resolve her love for a human and the scorn of
her peers. She had taken her own life by throwing herself
from Eagle Falls or so the legends said. The feeling of
impending doom would not leave T'larin and she wished she
had requested a happy tale for tonight. She was actually
happy when Ral-Nir'Thronin hurried in and whispered to her
that she was needed at the ford.

Ral was her constant companion and bodyguard. Old even for
elves he had been present at the founding of Aslaheim in a
time so remote most elves did not remember it. He had loved
once, but his wife and children had been slaughtered by orcs
during the first Orc War. He had been away with the host
aiding the men and dwarves and never forgave the lesser
races for it. He had changed after that and was considered
fell and dangerous by all who knew him. Ral seemed to love
little in the world, neither the forest nor the sea, but he
dearly loved T'larin, as she had been his daughter's dearest
friend.

When T'larin and Ral arrived at the ford she found several
of the rangers well concealed and intently watching the open
area across the river. In the fading twilight the light
copse of trees hid any movement but the sounds of battle
were all too plain. There were cries in the common tongue of
man and also shouts in the brutish language of the orcs.
T'larin strung her bow and knocked an arrow even though she
could perceive no target. The sounds of combat faded into
the gathering darkness and all was suddenly quiet. After a
few minutes her keen eyes caught movement in the copse. A
human female clad in dark red armor staggered out of the
woods. She held a sword in her hand, with the blade snapped
off about 3 inches above the hilt. Her other arm was cradled
to her side, but T'larin could not tell if the side was
wounded or the arm in the fading light.

She stumbled and dropped the sword, crawling the last few
feet to the edge of the river. The human dunked her head in
the cold water and when she came up for air she was looking
right into T'larin's eyes. T'larin felt her breath catch in
her throat; the girl's eyes were startlingly green. Her hair
was fiery red; even that which was wet and she had a deep
cut across her forehead that was oozing blood. Red hair was
unheard of among the elves, blonde being predominant in the
northern folk and black among the sylvan folk. The distance
could not have been over eighty paces, but T'larin was sure
the girl could not see her, but she felt as if the girl was
looking right through her. Movement in the copse behind her
caused the girl to whip her head about and broke the spell.

Four large Orcs came into the open and one of them spoke.
The language was vile and barbaric, but like most elves
T'larin understood it.

"Toldja, saw er run,"

"Ya did Grunmesha, ya can av second go at er," the largest
one grunted back.

"I saw er first, I shud get first go," the one called
Grunmesha snarled. The larger one cuffed him sharply across
the mouth and then turned back to the girl. Her hand went to
her side and produced a wicked knife from a tattered
scabbard. If it bothered the orcs they made no sign of it.

"Put the sticker down girle, we ain't gonna hurt ya none,"
the big one grunted in common.

"Ya, gunna give ya the time of yer life," another said and
they all laughed.

The orcs were a prolific and rapacious race. They were able
to crossbreed with almost all of the humanoid races,
producing offspring that were generally as vile looking and
evil as themselves. Occasionally the pairing would produce a
child who could pass for the mother's race and these
children were highly prized by the orcs as spies and
infiltrators. One thing was certain no female ever took
pleasure from such a mating; the orcs were brutal and cared
not a bit for their victims. They were also exceptionally
large and many women died from the experience.

The girl seemed unsure of what to do, she was obviously too
weak to fight the four of them off, but she appeared ready
to try. She tried to stand, but sank back to the ground with
a sob. The orcs laughed and closed in on her, but she seemed
to weak too even move again. T'larin was torn between
wanting to help and exposing her few archers to what might
be a considerable force of orcs. If it had been a man she
would not have intervened, if the orcs had moved in for the
kill she might not have, but when the leader began to undo
the filthy loin clout he wore her bow seemed to act of it's
own accord. Her broadhead arrow traversed the short distance
with a buzzing sound to bury itself in the orc's neck. The
other elves acted on their leader and in moments all four
orcs were down, so full of arrows they looked like large
ugly birds. The girl looked up weakly, her eyes disbelieving
and then she collapsed.

T'larin was already moving before the last flight of arrows
found its target. She splashed into the freezing river and
fought against the swift current as the water quickly rose
above her waist. Part of her mind was questioning what she
was doing, but she ignored the small voice and gritted her
teeth against the cold. She was just emerging when a small
orc stepped into the clearing. He saw her at the exact
moment she saw him. Before she could even think the orc sent
up as squawking scream and ran back into the woods followed
closely by a hail of arrows.

There was no time to think now; her body and mind were
reacting without conscious thought. She dashed to the
human's side only to find her unconscious. She was not a big
woman as humans went barely five foot ten and around one
hundred and forty five pounds, but that was a very big
person to T'larin who was almost six feet tall but weighed
barely one hundred pounds. T'larin stooped and managed to
get the girl over her shoulder. When she stood up she
staggered and nearly fell. The life of a ranger had made her
strong and athletic, but the girl's dead weight was a heavy
burden. She stumbled back toward the freezing river feeling
her breath begin to burn in her lungs.

As she trudged through the water her legs quickly became
numb. A volley of arrows whizzed above her head and she
heard growls and howls of rage behind her. An arrow splashed
into the water near her, but she ignored it and continued
struggling through the icy water. She was beginning to
falter when she heard several splashes behind her. Orcs were
following her into the river and cold fear welled up within
her. She suddenly felt a burst of energy return to her
leaden limbs. The adrenalin surge carried her up the
slippery bank, where she unceremoniously dumped the girl's
dead weight and whirled on the balls of her feet. The
beautifully sculpted long sword she wore snicked from its
scabbard and settled comfortably into her hand.

The blade was ancient even for her race. Forged in the First
Age for the Orc Wars it had been wielded by her great
grandmother in the defense of Aslaheim and by her father
when Kalouth's power had been broken. Orcs, trolls and evil
men beyond counting had fallen before the blade's fury in
the dim past. The blade shown with a cold blue fire that
gave some light in the thickening gloom. Enchantments by the
score had been cast upon the blade as it was forged. No
other blade had ever been forged with such skill and care
and it remained the pinnacle of the weapon smith's art. The
skill to make swords like it had vanished long ago when
Dragons and Orcs sacked Midrand and the great smith's
perished.

The orcs in the stream, who had been close upon her heels
when she turned fell back in a squealing panic. Even the
centuries had not dimmed their fear and loathing of the
blade called Angrost, the Orc's Bane. The orcs turned and
fled stumbling over one another and floundering in the cold
stream. The arrows striking them down from the shadows had
enraged them, but seeing Orc's Bane naked and glittering had
replaced that anger with cold fear. T'larin smiled grimly as
she resheathed her blade. Ral came out of the shadow of the
woods with a smile upon his face and a nearly empty quiver.
The far bank was littered with corpses and she wondered if
that was the lot of them.

"The next time Milady Captain decides to play hero I hope
she would let us poor underlings know. One quiver is not
enough it would seem to keep you out of trouble," he said
indicating the single arrow left in his quiver. The tone was
reproachful, Ral had promised to keep her safe when her
father had assented to her leaving Aslaheim. T'larin knew
better, no Elf hated the orcs with the implacable, timeless
hatred Ral held for them.

"The next time you can play hero and I will give cover
fire," T'larin replied after she had caught her breath.

"What of her?" Ral said as he pushed the girl's shoulder
with the toe of his boot. His disdain for humans was nearly
as strong as his hatred of the orcs. He was everything men
expected of an Elf, haughty, arrogant and aloof. T'larin
understood his feelings; she had never had many dealings
with men. Those she had met were hairy and wild, totally
unrefined and insultingly familiar or obsequious and not to
be trusted. Her brother had killed a man in a duel over his
ogling of her when she was still a mere child. Learning from
the episode her father had kept her well away from his
audience chambers when men came after that.

"Have her taken to my platform. Send runners to bring fresh
quivers and double the guard here tonight. The Orc's are
waxing brave if they are willing to engage us over the ford.
This whole episode brings upon me an ill feeling,"

"Aye, I have felt it too. Something is in the wind, on the
tip of the tongue of the animals of the forest, but I cannot
yet hear the words,"

"Ral, I fear some great evil is upon us. Send runners to
Silverwood and call out the guard. Call all of the warders
in and watch the ford with special care,"

"Have you had a vision T'larin?"

"Nay, I do not have my mother's gift of foresight, it is
simply a feeling that calls to me so strongly I must heed
it,"

"Should we tend to this one's injuries?"

"Nay, I will tend to her, she is my problem," T'larin said
quickly. When the older elf looked at her questioningly she
smiled, "My just rewards for playing hero,"

               ==============================

T'larin was bone weary as she mounted the ladder that would
take her up to the platform that served as her home. She had
seen to the girl being carried away on a litter and had
stayed with her men until the second watch arrived with
fresh arrows and eyes. The hurried walk back to her
encampment had seemed to take forever and she found herself
worrying about the girl even though she could find no reason
why.

The platform was built into the fork if an ancient Oak tree.
So cunningly worked that only an elf would be able to see it
from the ground. It was open to the elements, but the canopy
of branches above had been carefully sculpted so that rain
would run off and never touch it. In all things the Elves
strived to work and live with nature and even their homes
blended with the great forest rather than altering it.

The girl was still lying on the crude litter used to bring
her here. T'larin stooped and touched her neck, the pulse
was weak and her breathing was shallow. The tall elf
regretted waiting so long to treat her, but the demands of
her position as March Warder often forced her to do things
she was not happy with. The best healer in her small group
was with the guard at the ford, T'larin could not spare her
for the human when her own kind might have need of her
skills at any moment.

T'larin's practiced eye told her that the girl was bleeding
to death from at least one wound if not many. T'larin
removed her cloak and heated some water over the fire on the
hearthstone. The head wound looked to be minor, but one
could never tell with head wounds. The small pool of blood
under the human's back told of a much more serious wound in
her side. This was the wound T'larin had to get to first,
but the girl's armor was strange to her and she was not sure
how to remove it. Her armor was of blood red leather that
seemed to be sculpted to her body. Metal studs were placed
in areas of vulnerability like the breasts, shoulders, sides
and along the back between her shoulder blades. T'larin
could not figure out how to remove the armor and was
beginning to think she would have to send for someone to cut
it off when she realized the middle row of studs on the left
side were actually beautifully worked buckles. T'larin
quickly undid the row of buckles and unlaced the heavy
gorget.

With some tugging the whole piece came up over the girl's
head and T'larin tossed it aside. Under the armor the girl
wore only a dirty and blood stained chemise. T'larin cut it
away with her knife without thinking, for time was growing
short. T'larin was only interested in the wound, but she
could not help but notice how the girl's heavy breasts
bounced free of the chemise. They were beautiful and smooth,
covered in freckles and capped with rosy pink nipples.
T'larin found herself staring at them and shook her head to
clear it before she examined the wound. Even then her eyes
strayed again and again to the soft mounds.

The girl's side was deeply bruised and a furrow was torn
between two ribs. T'larin had treated many wounds and
recognized this one as a spear thrust. Even if she had not
fought the orcs at the ford she would have surmised it was
from an orcish spear. The jagged tear showed signs of being
caused by a barbed spear and only orcs used those cruel
weapons. T'larin bathed the wound carefully, slowly removing
the caked blood and dirt until the wound began to bleed
freely again. She let it bleed for a minute to finish
cleaning it, the orcs were well known for coating their
blades in all manner of filth to aid in causing infection.
Once satisfied that the wound was truly clean T'larin
dressed it in a clean white cloth from her pack.

The head wound was actually very shallow, but as was often
the case it had bled a lot. T'larin surmised a near miss by
a knife or sword. She quickly dressed the wound, adding a
mixture of herbs from one of her pouches to aid in healing
and prevent scarring.

The deep red stockings the girl wore were wet along her hip.
T'larin tugged the girl's knee boots off and then peeled the
stockings down. If the girl's breasts had held her attention
longer than they should have, the sight of her thick red
pubic thatch actually caused T'larin to gasp. Elves had no
body hair at all and the shock of golden red fleece
fascinated her. T'larin actually caught herself reaching out
to touch the girl's sex before she mastered herself.

"What is wrong with me?" she thought. Pushing the sight from
her mind she concentrated on the hip wound. It was another
ragged affair and bore the hallmarks of an orc spear. As she
worked to clean it T'larin found herself giving the girl a
grudging admiration. She knew warriors who would not have
been able to fight on with such wounds. Perhaps there was
more to these humans than she supposed.

Once the hip wound was cleaned and dressed T'larin sat back
and wiped her brow. Something was very wrong, but she was
not sure what. The girl's breathing was even shallower now
and when T'larin leaned close she could smell that it was
fetid. That smell was the scent of death and it was a slow
death from poison. T'larin had found no signs of poison in
any of the wounds she had treated. She examined the girl
again closely, she must have missed something and time was
growing very short. T'larin found what she was looking for
on the back of the girl's calf. A small discoloration, not
much bigger than a mole. The puncture had not bled which is
why she had missed it at first. With her knife T'larin dug
out the tip of a dart.

These darts were a cruel weapon, thin and sharp with brittle
tips that often broke off leaving only a small bit in the
wound. After a battle there were always nicks, cuts and a
few very minor wounds. She had seen elves who came through a
battle with nothing visibly wrong, the very picture of heath
when they went to bed only to be found cold and lifeless the
next morning. The poison was subtle, first causing
paralyzation of the muscles. The victim was often awake and
knew he needed help, but was incapable of making his
companions aware of his plight. Slowly the heart and lungs
failed while a pain like liquid fire ran through the veins.
Many who had been saved at the last moment never fully
recovered from the ordeal. No one knew exactly what the
orcish shamans used to create the poison, but the elves had
found that the liquid obtained by crushing a Talthas leaf
was the best antidote.

T'larin was weary and the nearest mature Talthas trees were
leagues away in Silverwood. She knew the rest of her company
would advise her to slit the girl's throat and save her the
slow agonizing death that the poison brought. Even now
T'larin was sure the girl was paralyzed and only being
unconscious was sparing her the intense pain. Regretfully
she picked up her knife and prepared to put the girl out of
her misery, but something stayed her hand. T'larin was
holding her knife and looking at the human's face when her
eyes fluttered open. Those deep green eyes showed fear and
pain so eloquently that it touched the elf woman's very
soul.

T'larin felt tears well in her eyes. She had not cried in
ages and yet something in this girl's plight touched her in
a place she had never felt before. She knew she would do
anything to save this girl's life and yet she was helpless.
She could never hope to make it to Silverwood and back in
time to save her. Even if she used her best runners the
precious leaf would arrive too late. She wiped the girls
brow and murmured, "It's going to be all right, sleep now,"

The girl seemed to understand the words and her eyes slowly
closed. T'larin sat back and wiped a tear from her cheek.
Something tugged at her memory, something important, but in
her unexpected grief it took a long time to make her examine
it. When it did she leapt to her feet and descended the
ladder in great haste. Turning she ran into the forest,
leaving the few elves left in camp to puzzle over her sudden
departure.

Branches slashed at her face as she ran, but she had no time
to avoid them. Somewhere up this wild track was a sapling, a
Talthas sapling. The walk that took hours that morning she
made in less than two, moving with the desperation of fear.
In her haste she must have passed it for she suddenly burst
into the small dale with the brook and startled a hart. She
turned and forced herself to move slowly looking all about.
In the dark she passed it a second time before retracing her
steps. The little sapling was still very young and there
were only two leaves on it. T'larin took them both,
whispering a prayer to Lalean, the forest spirit as she did
so.

By the time T'larin made it back the first gray light of
dawn was tinting the sky. She hurried to the girl's side,
fearing she had come to late. She was again surprised when
she found the girl still breathing. An elf would be dead by
now yet the girl was still clinging to life. Maybe the venom
was more toxic to her kind. Or maybe she had misjudged this
race in her prejudice. She felt slightly ashamed of herself
but she had no time to examine these thoughts. She took both
leaves and slowly twisted them until a few precious drops of
liquid fell onto the girl's full lips. When her pink tongue
gently licked the fluid from her lips and T'larin felt a
stab of something in the pit of her stomach. Her day's
exertions seemed to catch up with her all at once and she
felt drained. She dropped the two leaves into a small kettle
and brought the water to a boil over the hearth. T'larin
bathed the small wound in the sweet smelling water and then
dressed it. Having done all she could for the girl she
pulled a blanket over the still form and collapsed onto her
bed.

T'larin's dreams were chaotic, filled with images of the
orcs, the battle at the ford and most hauntingly the human's
lips, breasts and sex. In her dream the girl came and sat on
her chest, those soft lips descended to press against
T'larin's own.

          ======================================

She awoke to a soft breeze whispering through the trees. The
sounds of the camp were pleasant and comfortable, the rattle
of cooking utensils, the bard's quiet plucking of his lyre,
muted conversations and laughter. It was only when she sat
up and saw the girl's still form that the previous days
events came flooding back into her mind. The girl was so
still that T'larin could not even detect the rise and fall
of her chest. Had her long journey in the night been in
vain? She tiptoed over and sat next to the prone figure. At
first T'larin feared the worst, but up close the even rise
and fall of the girl's chest was obvious. Her face was pale,
but serene and her breathing untroubled.

T'larin leaned close to see if she could smell the girl's
breath. Her lips were almost touching the human's when the
dream flooded back to her. T'larin started at the memory and
the sudden movement caused the girl to stir and her eyes
fluttered open. T'larin expected her to be frightened or
upset at the close proximity, but she closed her eyes and
her soft lips parted, as if awaiting a kiss. Her breath held
no taint of poison, it smelled sweet and clean like the
Talthas leaves. The girl did not stir again and T'larin
quietly rose and went down to join her men.

The evening meal was usually light and conversation brisk.
There was usually a great deal of singing and joking, but
this evening it was quiet and subdued. There had been no
more fighting, but her men reported a force of orcs camped
on the other side of the ford. Orcish scouts kept watch on
the ford from the concealment of the trees, just as her men
watched from her side. After the meal was done talk turned
to the orcs.

"We have to get a feel for their numbers. For all we know
there could be an army over there," Erstic said.

"Nonsense, we would have heard an army, or smelled their
cook fires. You know orcs, they hack and burn anything they
can't violate,"

"These orcs are different," Ral observed.

"How so?"

"Well, they are bigger for one thing, stronger and light
doesn't seem to bother them as much. They seem to have
better control of their destructive natures too. T'larin, do
you remember those reports that your father was getting just
before we left?"

"Yes," she said thoughtfully "Something about a tribe of
evil men in the south living with the orcs of the Forsaken
Mountains,"

"Not just living with, interbreeding with. Your father
discounted the rumors as being preposterous, but I wonder
now if perhaps these orcs aren't the result,"

"It's possible, did anyone see any tribal markings?"

"I did," a gaunt Elf named Welspar said, "I have never seen
them before. I don't know much about the lands to the north,
but those we killed yesterday were not from either of the
Ergos mountain clans,"

"I suppose I could swim the river after dark and do some
scouting," Ral said.

"No, one elf across the river was too many. I'll not risk
loosing anyone," T'larin said.

"We have to know," the old elf said.

"We will wait for the girl to come around, perhaps she can
tell us more,"

There were many nods and a general ascent to her proposal.
T'larin had had no thought of information when she went to
rescue the girl, but if her men decided it showed her to be
shrewd so much the better. She far preferred them to believe
that than to question her motives because even she was not
sure of them.

The conversation turned to other concerns and by the time
someone requested a song from the bard she was nodding.
Saying her good nights she departed from the fire and
climbed up to check on the girl. She was still asleep, but
had kicked off the blanket. The sight of her nude body
caused a peculiar feeling of unease in T'larin and she
covered the girl again before falling into her bed.

                    =========================

T'larin woke suddenly in the early hours of dawn. She knew
instinctively she was being watched and in the semi darkness
she tried to find the observer. The girl was propped up on
one elbow staring at her.

"Well, you're awake at last," T'larin said as she sat up.
The girl started but then relaxed.

"I think I am, or maybe I'm dead and this is heaven," the
girl said. Her voice was soft and raspy with a strong
accent.

"I assure you, you aren't dead," T'larin said and chuckled.

"Where is this place? And who are you? And how did I get
here?"

"Easy, first things first, how do you feel?"

"My side hurts and my head. I have memories of horrible pain
but everything seems to be working," she said as she
stretched. The blanket fell off her shoulder and her breasts
were exposed. If this bothered her it did not show. T'larin
had to concentrate to keep from staring at them. Elves were
a slight people and even when pregnant the average elf's
breasts would not be so full as the girl's. In the dim light
they looked soft and silky and altogether lovely. Unable to
understand her fascination T'larin forced her mind back to
the problem at hand.

"You were poisoned, that's the pain you remember. I have a
lot of questions I need you to answer, do you feel up to
it?"

"I asked first," she said in that strangely sensuous voice.

"So you did," T'larin said perhaps a little loudly. She was
feeling very strange, "What would you like to know?"

"Lots of things," she said and smiled, "First off, where am
I and how did I get here?"

"You are in the Westermark of the Silverwood. As to how you
got here, you were carried,"

"I remember the orcs, and the river. They were all around
me. I was about to slit my throat when I heard a buzzing
noise, like angry bees. And then they were all dead.I saw an
angel running out of the woods on the far side of the river
towards me. was that you?"

"Yes,"

"Thank you, for saving my life," she said. That wonderful
voce was softer and touched with emotion. T'larin, who had
stood in the Elven court and heard the greatest bards of the
age perform had never heard anything that sounded so
wonderful. She could feel her heartbeat in her chest and
felt light headed.

"Your welcome," she managed.

"I have never met an Elf before. I always dreamed of it when
I was a child. The stories the grown ups told of how
beautiful they were. I never thought I would ever see one,
much less owe one my life,"

T'larin did not know what to say to that. When the silence
became awkward she cleared her throat and asked, "How did
you come to be there?"

The girl chuckled, "a game then, very well, you answered my
question I will answer yours. I belong to a mercenary
regiment, the sisters of blood. We were hired by King Rollos
to fight with his troops,"

"King Rollos?"

"He is king of Baslandia which is north and west of the
Ergos Mountains. My turn, I remember someone tending my
wounds, her touch was soft and gentle and her words like
music, was that you too?"

"I tended your wounds, but I don't think my voice is very
musical. Perhaps that was delirium,"

"Your turn," the girl said and smiled.

"Look, I don't have time for a game, I really need to know
what's going on," T'larin snapped. She felt edgy and flushed
and the feelings were growing stronger.

"I think that you are in command here, you have the looks of
a leader and I do owe you my life, so I will answer all of
your questions that I can, but you must promise me that you
will answer all of mine later,"

"I promise, now can you tell me what happened? We could see
nothing of the battle but heard the noise,"

"We marched south from Igros ten days ago, a force of ten
thousand foot with a thousand mounted knights and a handful
of archers. Three days out we gave battle to a huge force of
orcs and other evil creatures on the plain of Shureth. They
broke easily and we began the pursuit, confident in our
coming victory. Too confident.  Two days ago we pressed
through the high pass of the World's End Mountains and found
the orcs waiting for us in the plain below. They were beyond
number, like flies on a corpse. We hand only just engaged
them when horns sounded and orcs began to stream out of the
mountains. In no time we were surrounded. I cannot even
begin to describe the slaughter."

The girl seemed lost in her memories and T'larin fought her
impatience down and waited until the girl hesitantly began
again.

"My sisters and I fought our way free of the trap along with
some of the free companions. The rest of the army was
slaughtered. The high pass was closed to us so we marched
east hoping to reach the safety of the Singing River. The
orcs followed us closely and our leaders soon realized these
weren't ordinary orcs; they moved by day as well as night
and were far more disciplined. Only a small part of the host
followed us, the rest must be sweeping through Baslandia as
we speak,"

"How many followed you?"

"I can only guess, but they number in the thousands. They
caught up with us yesterday and we turned to give battle. I
was sent with a small company to try and find out how far we
were from the river. I did not see the end of my sisters,
but it must have been quick. My company and I were just on
the other side of the woods when more orcs ambushed us.
These were ordinary orcs, perhaps one of the mountain
tribes. We fought hard and it looked like we might win
through when we were taken in the rear by the van of that
force sent after us. My sword broke on the iron collar one
of them wore and I was ridden down by another mounted on a
warhorse using a spear as a lance. Several of them were
mounted upon horses like men and we were ill prepared for
that. I crawled into the woods and heard the river. I was
hoping to get a drink for my throat was burning. You know
the rest of my tale, better than I do,"

"Yes, much better. You have been unconscious for three
days,"

"No one else has made it across the river?"

"My men have seen nothing, save orcs,"

The girl nodded and looked down. When she looked up her eyes
were filled with tears. T'larin was usually very aloof, but
something touched her and she moved to the girl and wrapped
her arms around her. The quiet tears turned to ragged sobs
as her emotions overpowered her control. T'larin simply held
her, gently stroking her hair as she would a child. The girl
held T'larin tightly and cried for several minutes. T'larin
could feel the girl's breasts against her own and the
softness of her skin. Somehow she had always imagined humans
to have rough skin, but the girl's was satiny and warm. When
the human regained her composure T'larin sat back.

"Thank you, I...I needed that...I will answer any questions
you have now,"

T'larin questioned the girl until well into the morning.
There was still much she needed to ask, but the healer in
her saw that the girl was in need of rest and so she
reluctantly ceased her interrogation and descended the
ladder. She was walking away from the tree when she realized
she had not even asked the girl's name.

An orcish host on the border was not something to be taken
lightly and T'larin spent the whole of the day anxiously
awaiting the arrival of the guards. The news that the force
on the opposite side of the river numbered in the thousands
was shocking, almost unbelievable, but for some reason
T'larin did not doubt the girl. Near noon she decided that
the information had to reach the king and sent runners to
Silverwood to inform them. She expected Aladar would call
for the host to be raised against the orcs, regardless of
his wishes to stay out of the coming troubles. T'larin
fretted and paced, often starting at sounds. Her men would
never be able to stem such a tide and her only hope now lay
in the arrival of the guard. They came late in the evening;
some two hundred strong lead by the dashing Captain Findalus
Farseer.

The guards were the shock troops of Silverwood and together
with Knights of Corinthia formed the armored core of any
sylvan army. T'larin was glad to see them, even if she was
less than enthused over their leader. Farseer was a good
leader and well loved by his men, but he was vain, arrogant
and haughty. He also considered himself to be handsome and
charming and was almost as well known for his amorous
adventures as his battlefield exploits. He had tried on
several occasions to charm his way into her bedchamber, but
T'larin disliked him and would have none of it. Unused to
being rebuffed he had made his displeasure known and her
brother had actually started out from Aslaheim with a few
friends to teach him some manners before Aladar had stepped
in. It had hurt the dashing captain's pride and vanity to be
forced to apologize publicly and T'larin knew better than
most that he harbored a deep-seated resentment of her.

Their meeting was as unpleasant as the last time. He seemed
determined to minimize her position and take command for
himself. As time passed and she refused to bow to him his
comments became more snide and barbed. After two full hours
of dealing with him and the snide comments she was ready to
kill him herself, but Ral stepped in then.

Farseer had just stated that his command and authority
exceeded her own and that he was taking command with or
without her ascent when she felt Ral move. The old elf said
not a word but stared Farseer down while his hand gently
caressed the knife that hung at his side. Findalus Farseer
was brave to the point of recklessness, but he feared Ral
and his face blanched before he looked away. Turning on his
heel Farseer strode off ordering his men to the ford without
a backwards glance.

"Too long in the company of men," Ral spat.

"What do you mean?"

"He has been too long in the presence of men. His duties
carried him to Waterdown for many a year and he has become
more like a man than an Elf. There is something about the
younger races that can kindle fierce emotion in us if we are
not careful," he said and then looked at her meaningfully.
T'larin did not look away and merely nodded before she
turned and walked back to the fire. There was so much to do
and she feared that time was not her ally.

T'larin made the rounds of her defenses before she climbed
wearily up to her platform looking forward to her bed. She
had barely put her feet down when the girl spoke.

"I don't mean to bother you, but could you answer some of my
questions now?"

T'larin nodded and sat down cross-legged in front of the
girl. She wanted to go to sleep, but she also wanted to talk
to this strange woman.

"What would you like to know?"

"Your name would be a good place to start," she said. The
chiding was gentle and unlike the not so subtle barbs flung
by Farseer she detected no malice in them.

"I'm sorry, you must think me very rude, my name is T'larin
Aviondore, but you may call me Tee. T'larin is rendered in
the high speech of the North and some elves have trouble
pronouncing it, I am sure for you it would be an even
greater challenge,"

"My name is Tess," she said quietly.

"Well met, Tess,"

"Are you the leader of these elves? I have watched you all
day and you seem to be in command,"

"I am Marcher Lord, I guess that puts me in command. In
reality we are not as rigid as humans, most of the rangers
follow me because they choose to. Only the troops you saw
arrive this evening have a real commander,"

"The tall elf. I did not understand the words, but he made
me angry,"

"Angry?"

"He was being mean to you, at least. at least it seemed like
he was to me,"

"And that angered you?"

"Yes,"

T'larin laughed for the first time in two days and really
meant it. She was not sure why, but the fact that Farseer's
treatment of her angered Tess made her feel good inside.

"Tell me about yourself," Tess said after T'larin had
recovered herself.

"Well, you know my name. I was born in Aslaheim in the far
north. My father is king there and I grew up in the palace.
When I reached maturity I traveled to the other elvish
realms and acted as ambassador for my father. I stopped here
in Silverwood long ago and found I loved the woods more than
the mountains or the sea. I gave up being ambassador and
told my father I wanted to stay here which did not please
him. I learned the bow and the arts of healing and traveled
with the rangers helping the forest. Last year King Aladar
asked me to become marcher Lord and I accepted. So here I
am,"

"You aren't married then?" Tess asked. The question caught
T'larin a little off guard and the expression on her new
friend's face was also puzzling. It was hopeful, like a
child at gift giving time. T'larin was usually very guarded
in giving out information about herself, but she answered
before she thought.

"No, I have yet to meet anyone I would give my heart to,"

Tess tried not to smile, but T'larin caught a satisfied
little grin before the girl could look away.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't be," T'larin said. She was confused by Tess's
reaction and by the question, but decided it was only her
weariness and let it go without further comment.

The questions continued to come, and T'larin found herself
answering them even though she was not used to revealing so
much about herself. Tess's curiosity about her seemed
boundless and T'larin found that she rather enjoyed the
attention. She had always thought of herself s a solitary
creature, but the evening of questions and laughter made her
realize that she was lonely. This girl put her at ease and
she almost happily let her guard down. She was reluctant to
put an end to it, but she had to get some sleep, tomorrow
would be a dangerous day for her to be less than her
sharpest. So she bid the girl to rest and crawled into her
bed falling asleep almost instantly.

               =============================

T'larin was instantly awake. She held perfectly still and
let her eyes adjust to the darkness. She was sure it was a
sound that had awakened her, but she could not remember what
sound. It came again, a soft moan, unlike anything she had
ever heard before. She immediately assumed Tess was having
difficulties and rolled over to go and see if she could
help, but the sight that greeted her froze her in place.
Tess was lying on her back and had kicked off her blanket.
Her left arm was cradled across her chest and her palm was
spread wide over her right breast. As T'larin watched the
girl's hand rhythmically flexed, deeply massaging her
breast. Her eyes were tightly shut and she was chewing on
her lower lip as her body spasmed.

T'larin's eyes traveled slowly down the girl's body. Her
soft skin seemed to glow in the weak firelight and was
covered in a sheen of sweat. Her legs were spread, but her
hand covered her pussy. All T'larin could see was her hand
rubbing in a slow circular motion. As T'larin watched the
girl's hands began to work faster and a series of tiny
sounds escaped her lips. Her feet drew up and once planted
on the platform her pelvis began to rock. T'larin wanted to
turn her head, but she was riveted, like a bird staring onto
the eyes of a snake she couldn't move a muscle.

Tess's hand circled faster and faster and T'larin could
almost feel the tension building. She saw Tess's stomach
muscles begin to heave and knot as her pelvis pressed
upwards and fell back to the matt. Her body seemed to quiver
with energy and as she rocked her breasts bounced gently on
her chest.

Both of the girl's hands were between her widely splayed
thighs now. T'larin would never know how long she sat and
watched, but after a time the girl's motions became frenetic
and she tensed suddenly. Her body went rigid and only her
feet and shoulder blades were touching the platform as he
back arched upwards.

A series of breathless ejaculations began to flow from her mouth,
"Oohhh...Ahh...Uhha...uhhha...please..Please...Oh god!" With this
final exclamation her body began to twist and contort. T'larin
was not sure what had happened, but she knew instinctively that
the girl had reached her goal. Tess rolled over onto her side
and curled up hugging her legs to her breast and a long sigh
escaped her lips.

T'larin eased herself back down onto her back and closed her
eyes. Her nipples were hard and she could feel wetness
between her legs. She was excited, repulsed, confused, and
titillated all at once. She fought to keep her own hand from
easing down her body and mimicking the girl's.

Tess was still basking in the glow of her orgasm and her
next utterance almost caused the elf woman to give away the
fact that she was not asleep.

"Mmmm God, T'larin..." she cooed. It took her a few moments
to even realize the girl had pronounced her name correctly.
The question of why her name, in that context would not
leave her mind. T'larin closed her eyes and tried to relax,
but sleep was long in coming.

          =========================================

The next morning T'larin rose early and tiptoed across the
platform in order to keep from waking Tess. She had barely
reached the ground when a runner came up with news that the
orcs seemed to be massing for an attack. T'larin sounded her
silver horn and grabbed her bow. As she rushed out of camp
she caught a glimpse of Tess staring at her from the edge of
the platform.

She reached the ford with the rest of her men just as the
first wave of Orcs broke from the trees and wildly charged.
A withering hail of arrows met them, leaving most of them
down before they reached the water's edge. Those few that
reached the river were feathered before they could reach mid
stream. All was quiet for a few minutes and then with a
whoop another wave of orcs burst out of the woods. For hours
it went on, runners brought up whole bundles of arrows and
archers joined her sporadically through the day as the
rangers she had called the night before began to arrive.
They came none to soon for like the inexorable rise of the
ocean each wave of orcs got a little closer. There were
hundreds down and only the gods knew how many hundreds more
had been washed down stream in the strong current. Yet,
still they came showing no fear of arrows or sunlight.

For all the attacks not a single Elf had been so much as
scratched. It appeared the orcs had no archers with them or
if they did they did not have the range to shoot from the
concealment of the woods to where her men were gathered. In
the late afternoon the attacks stopped and a strange quiet
descended. T'larin leaned heavily on her bow and shook the
sweat from her eyes. Ral moved close and sat down, the old
elf seemed tired but she knew he would be the last of them
all to falter.

"They seem to have stopped," T'larin ventured at last.

"They have taken our measure," he said flatly.

"What do you mean?"

"This wasn't an attack my Captain. They were not seriously
trying to ford the river today. This was just to see what
our numbers were and what our range was. Tomorrow they will
come for real, after a night of drinking and whipping
themselves into a frenzy,"

"You can't be serious Ral, their losses were staggering"

"Aye, as staggering as the number of ants who die taking
down a field mouse. They do it with numbers girl, that's
where their strength lies. They just wear an opponent down
with sheer numbers. If they had succeeded in killing one of
us today they would have been ecstatic. It would have been a
light price to pay for a dead archer,"

As the words sunk in T'larin's head began to spin. She
realized that what he said was true. She could not imagine
another day of this, they had already reached the near bank
and if that was just a probe of her forces.

The last attack came at dusk and it was the most powerful
yet. Orcs reached the near bank and some even reached the
tree line before being felled by the guard. As she trudged
back towards camp she faced a tough decision. Her march had
already served its purpose. Silverwood had been alerted and
she had bought them enough time to begin marshaling the
elvish host. If she abandoned the river and stole away
during the night many of her men would be saved. On the
other hand every minute she stood was precious time to get
the far-flung families behind the Singing River and get the
defenses built up. There was also the girl to consider, it
was unlikely that she would be allowed into Silverwood
proper even with T'larin speaking for her. She was too weak
to make the long march to Queen's Ford on her own and
T'larin felt responsible for her. At least that's what she
told herself.

Her mind was sluggish and she realized the sleepless night
had done her no good. She needed to rest, to rest and to
think. She dully answered a few questions from runners
before ascending to her home. She barely had time to get to
her bed and collapse before a runner came in from Silverwood
and she was called back to the forest floor. Tess gave her a
worried look as she climbed down and T'larin forced a smile
for the girl's benefit before climbing down.

"Mi Lady T'larin?"

"Yes,"

"The king sends his thanks. The muster of the Silverwood has
begun, but we need more time. His Majesty asks how long you
think you can hold here."

"Tell his majesty we will hold as long as we can, but he
must not count upon us holding through the morrow,"

"That is ill news."

"The orcish host is beyond count. Such a gathering has not
been seen since the host of Kalouth was crushed. You will
have to trust to the mercies of the Nero'Larta for more
time, burn the bridges when you return,"

"Lalean protect us. If we burn the bridges how will your men
get back?"

"We aren't coming back," she said flatly.

He looked at her sadly and bowed. Then backed away and
turned to begin the longest run of his life. T'larin looked
to Ral who, as ever stood nearby.

"Tell the rangers and Farseer. Any who wish to return had
best begin now. If we fail to hold tomorrow the orcs will
travel swiftly and overtake all in their path,"

Ral smiled, "All is not lost Mi Lady. The old prophecies
foretell that no orcish host will ever prevail as long as
one of the line of Aviondore still wields Angrost,"

She smiled and touched the blade at her hip. She felt
renewed and full of energy suddenly, but the feeling faded
when she removed her hand from the well-worn hilt.

"The prophecies are inscrutable and I have never placed my
faith in them,"

"Nay, you have grown in wisdom since you were a child, but
you have never taken them to heart. Yet, none have ever
failed to predict the future. The seer's of old saw far and
were never deceived,"

"Yet ever do they speak in riddles. Always the prophecies
fulfill themselves in a manner unlooked for. Even so, the
prophecies also foretell that Angrost will end the line.
Perhaps on the morrow I shall be forced to fall on that
blade rather than be dishonored,"

"Would that I could foretell what the morrow would bring,
but I can not. I can only say that we shall fight and if we
should fall, it will be a tale long remembered in song,"

"Yes, our passing will at least earn us a place in the Leys
if any are left to sing them," She said before turning and
wearily climbing back up.

Once she reached the platform she collapsed on the bed. Tess
came up and sat on the bed next to her. The human girl wore
her red stockings and one of T'larin's old shirts. It was
stretched ridiculously tight over her chest and the Elf
could easily make out the girl's stiff nipples.

She caught herself staring and felt a blush rise to her
cheeks. The girl smiled down at her and then brushed a
strand of blonde hair from T'larin's face.

"You look like you could use a bath," Tess said.

"Aye, and a few days of sleep. But I will get neither I
fear,"

"Was it that bad?"

"I fear I have saved you from taking your life only to doom
you to having to do it again. Were that you were an elf, I
would have already sent you back to Silverwood, but you are
human and the warders will not allow you to cross the
Nero'Larta,"

"Enough of these dark thoughts, I will get you some mead and
prepare a bath for you," Tess said quietly. Her voice was
soft, but there was something in it, a kind of breathless
expectation. T'larin's mind was so dulled she did not catch
it, however.

T'larin started to protest but Tess placed a finger over her
lips. The contact was electric and T'larin felt her stomach
lurch. She thought of protesting farther but she was so
tired and it felt good to be babied on occasion, even at her
age. The mead was cold and T'larin drank it quickly. She had
not had any water through the long hot day and by the bottom
of the second glass it was beginning to affect her. She
watched as Tess heated water over the cook fire and poured
it into the brass tub that she considered her one luxury. It
had been made in Waterdown by a dwarven smith who was down
on his luck and transported by flatboat to the ford where
several volunteers offloaded it and manage to get it to her
platform.

Tess brought her another goblet of mead and handed it to
her. T'larin started to put it down without taking a sip,
but then she though, why not? It may be the last chance I
get to enjoy it. She did not notice the sly look Tess gave
her as she savored the sweet mead.

Tess came over and caught one of T'larin's boots in her
hand. She had to tug at it several times before it finally
came free. The second boot was even harder to get off,
T'larin had turned her ankle somewhere in the previous days
fight and it was still swollen enough to make it hard to
remove the boot. It finally came free and T'larin wiggled
her toes enjoying the freedom. Tess caught T'larin's arm and
pulled her up to a sitting position.

"Your bath awaits," she said with a smile. T'larin studied
her companion carefully. There was an air of expectancy
about her, a mingling of hope and doubt was written on her
pretty features.

"And where are you going while I bathe?" T'larin asked. The
question was not a difficult one, but you could not tell
that by studying Tess's features. She seemed to be fighting
a struggle within herself before she finally screwed up her
courage and replied.

"I am not going anywhere,"

"No one has seen me unclothed in more than two hundred
years," T'larin said. Tess seemed to have a hard time
believing it; it took her a few moments to remember that she
was in the presence of an Elf.

"I find that...hard to believe,"

"Tess, I have watched the world for over a thousand of your
years, when I was born your tribe was not even begun yet,"

"I did not doubt you because of the years, all know that
elves are immortal, at least practically immortal. I just
cannot believe that someone as beautiful as you has not had
many lovers," Tess said. She seemed to be in earnest and
T'larin found the tables turned. Now she was not sure what
to say. Perhaps it was the mead, or perhaps being so near a
human had begun to kindle in her some of the recklessness of
this younger more passionate race as Ral had warned her.
Whatver the cause her next question shocked her.

"Have you had many? Lovers I mean," T'larin asked.

"I had many lovers in the sisters of blood," Tess said
simply. When T'larin did not respond the girl went on, "The
sisterhood was more than just a military formation T'larin,
it was a family. Our ranks were filled with women who had
been brutalized, or ostracized from their towns and
villages. The sisterhood provided us all with a family and a
safe haven. It is true that some of them still took male
lovers, but most of us loved only among our group,"

T'larin sat quietly and tried to think this through. Human
society was so different from her own. Love between elves
took decades to grow and the actual act was rare even among
married couples. Most of course took lovers through the long
ages and some, like Captain Farseer took many, but they were
the exceptions. T'larin had never contemplated love between
two women, at least not until she met this girl. The more
she thought about it the more excited she felt herself
become. How did two women consummate their love? Her
experience with males was very limited and she had not found
the act to be enjoyable.

Tess seemed to take her silence as disapproval and she
sighed deeply. "I'm sorry," she said at last. He voice
pulled T'larin's mind from her contemplations.

"Sorry for what?"

"For telling you that. I am used to scorn and hate, I had
just dared to hope..." she broke off her words and almost ran
to the ladder. She was gone before T'larin could find words
to voice what she felt. T'larin started to call out to her,
but decided against it. Instead she called down to the elf
that was baring the girl's way with drawn sword that it was
all right and she was free to go where she wished.

T'larin was unsure of her feelings and did not know what she
should say, she needed time to think. Shaking her head she
quickly disrobed and eased into the hot water. As ever the
water seemed to wash her cares away and she began to
consider everything as she sipped her mead and soaked.

               ============================

T'larin lay on her bed with her head resting on her hands.
She was wide-awake and filled with a nameless energy that
she could not explain, even to herself. She heard the ladder
creak as someone slowly climbed up. Tess quietly moved to
the edge of the hearthstone and stared into the glowing
embers.

T'larin had used the time to think and work through all that
she felt and all that she knew. While the feelings were new
and strange they were also wondrous and she was at peace.
Even then, she found it hard to speak.

"Where have you been Tess?"

"I was with Ral. He is a very strange man..I mean Elf. He
has told me much about you. About all you did to save my
life. I should have been even more grateful to you if I had
known. Perhaps I would not have told you of my past as
readily if I had known all that I do now. I knew that the
elves were haughty and proud, but I did not know how little
they think of us. You have risked much in sheltering me."

"Would being less than honest have shown me more gratitude?"

"No. I cannot hide my feelings for you. Knowing that
tomorrow may be the last sunrise I see does not make it any
less,"

"Tess?" T'larin said as she sat up on the bed.

"Yes?" the girl said without turning around.

"Will you show me?"

"Show you what?" the girl said now turning to face T'larin.
T'larin took a deep breath, "will you show me how one woman
consummates her love for another?"

In the soft firelight her face was a study in contrasts,
hope, fear, confusion, all written on her pretty features as
easily readable to T'larin as any book in her father's
library. She started to speak, but no words came. She
swallowed hard and tried again, "T'larin."

"Don't speak. You have kindled in me a burning desire like
nothing I have ever known. We elves move slowly in matters
of the heart. I think with your kind this is not so. I did
not mean to make you feel.unwanted. I have known you for
such a short time I found it hard to believe you had
feelings for me. After thinking things through I realize I
have feelings for you. How this is I cannot say, but I know
it in my heart to be true. If you are still willing. I would
learn about human passion,"

Tess squealed in delight and jumped up throwing herself onto
T'larin's lap and riding the slight woman down onto the bed
while squeezing tightly. T'larin fought down the impulse to
try and throw the girl off. She had asked for a lesson in
human passion and she realized she was about to get it. She
smiled and wondered if she would survive it.

Tess released her hold and pushed herself up on her elbows,
she smiled down on T'larin.

"Your first lesson is when I hug, you hug back," she said
and smiled. T'larin must have looked perplexed because Tess
sighed deeply and rolled off of her.

"Did I do something wrong?" T'larin asked.

"No, no of course not. It's just that. well; I am not sure
what to do with you. It's true I have had many lovers, but
they were always more experienced than me and they initiated
everything. Now I am the one with the experience, but I have
never been around Elves and I don't know anything about
them,"

T'larin smiled and reached out to touch Tess's hand, "Then
we shall learn together,"

Tess smiled back and brought T'larin's hand to her lips. She
gently kissed the Elf's palm and then sucked a finger into
her mouth. Tess pursed her lips and sucked while rolling her
tongue over T'larin's finger. T'larin had never felt
anything like it, so soft, so sensuous; she felt a
tightening in her pelvis and her nipples hardening. Tess
took the whole finger in her mouth and then slowly pulled
off, sliding her lips along the whole length of it. A
shudder passed through T'larin's body as the tip slipped out
of her mouth.

"Well, you seemed to like that,"

"Mmm, yes...I don't know what to say, the feelings are...
strange,"

"Don't say anything, just relax and enjoy. If something
doesn't feel good, or if this gets to be uncomfortable for
you tell me. I won't lie to you, I have never wanted anyone
like I want you and I tend to get. very enthusiastic when
making love. You have to tell me if I am going to far or too
fast,"

T'larin nodded and watched Tess closely. The girl's green
eyes were sparkling and traveling over every curve of
T'larin's body. Men had looked at her like that before, with
the same hunger, but always it had repulsed her. Now, the
feelings were not of revulsion but excitement and a growing
need for something, yet she knew not what. Tess moved closer
to T'larin and held her shoulders back, forcing her breasts
outward.

"I have seen how you stare at them, would you like a closer
look?"

T'larin's mouth was suddenly dry and she felt very foolish.
She could not find her voice and in the end nodded silently.
The heavy linen of the shirt Tess wore was straining to hold
her breasts captive and T'larin reached out hesitantly. Tess
was watching her and when T'larin started to withdraw her
hand Tess caught her wrist and pulled it to her chest. The
breast was firm yet soft, deliciously yielding yet
wonderfully resilient. T'larin squeezed gently and was
rewarded by a long sigh from Tess.

As T'larin's hand continued to explore she felt the nipple
hardening under her palm. Her other hand moved to Tess's
chest and she cupped the girls breasts, feeling their weight
and the gentle rise and fall of them as Tess breathed.
Tess's hands had been busy unlacing the shirt at the throat
and wrists. She looked at T'larin and smiled. The rapt
expression on the elf woman's face was something to behold.
Watching T'larin closely she grasped the hem of the shirt
and pulled it over her head. T'larin's eyes became huge and
took on a luminous quality, but she jerked her hands back as
if she had been burned.

Tess pursed her lips and wondered what to do next. T'larin
was so strange, seemingly eager one second and lost in
thought the next. She was already very excited and she was
fighting the impulse to just throw herself onto T'larin and
rip her clothes off. Tess had never felt such an all-
consuming desire. She had been told many times of the
haunting beauty of the elves, but had never believed the
stories. Now she was totally enchanted with T'larin. She
felt clumsy and awkward compared to the elf's grace and next
to T'larin's delicate form she felt almost oafish and
clumsy.

She was still amazed that this was happening and she
desperately wanted it to go farther, but she could not
decide what to do next. She looked at T'larin once again and
decided she would take a more direct approach. She pulled
her boots off and then stood up and hooked her fingers into
the waist of her stockings. The elf was staring at her with
her head cocked to one side.

"Here goes," she though as she slid the stockings down and
stepped out of them.

T'larin's eyes were glued to her crotch and Tess felt the
familiar tingle in her loins. The elf woman reached out
tentatively and stroked her pubic hair with touches so soft
they were a torture. Tess had been naked before many women,
she had seen looks that ranged from hunger to just interest,
but she had never seen anyone look so fascinated. If she did
not know better she would think T'larin was in a trance.

T'larin felt the luxurious down under her fingers, she
remembered when she first saw Tess's pubes and how she had
wanted to touch them even then. She continued to gently
stroke, unaware of the feelings she was producing in the
girl. After a short while T'larin became aware of a dampness
and her fingers were slick. She pulled her hand back, which
caused the girl to groan softly. T'larin held four fingers
together and moved her thumb slowly up and down while
marveling at how easily her thumb slide along the other
fingers. She brought her fingers to her nose and inhaled
deeply. The aroma was overwhelming, a strong, clean musk
that sent her head spinning.

Tess's legs were quivering, she had almost cum from
T'larin's gentle stroking. She reached down and caught the
Elf's shirt and whisked it over her head before T'larin
could even protest. Tess had always assumed T'larin was
extremely fair skinned, but what greeted her eyes was even
more delightful and intriguing. T'larin's breasts were small
and pert with very large nipples, but instead of the pink or
brown Tess expected they were a very striking blue. The skin
was flawless and looked silky smooth but only now in the
soft light of the fire did Tess really appreciate the pale
blue tint. She could not tear her eyes away from those
nipples though. The aureoles were rough and puckered,
showing T'larin's excitement, but that color was beyond
fascinating, a deep hue of blue that she could not describe.

Her mind made the leap to wondering what color she would
find when she got T'larin's stockings off.  Her hands seemed
to have reached that decision before her mind. She placed
her hands on T'larin's shoulders and gently pushed her back.
Catching T'larin's impossibly long legs she lifted them onto
her shoulders and them curled her fingers into the waist of
T'larin's stockings. T'larin murmured some protest but Tess
was beyond hearing it. She pulled the stockings over
T'larin's slim hips and down her legs.

If T'larin has been fascinated with Tess's pussy, the human
was equally as entranced with the elf's. T'larin's pussy was
as bare as a babes and her mound was very prominent. Again
the shape was right, but the color was simply divine. From
the almost translucent blue of her skin the color darkened
on her mound to something like a robin's egg. The lips were
a darker shade of blue and Tess fought the impulse to pry
them apart and see what color the inner folds were. T'larin
was still staring at Tess's mound and it gave the human an
idea.

"It seems we both have found something that has caught our
interest," she began in a husky whisper, "if you are willing
I know a way we can both investigate at once,"

T'larin nodded but said not a word; it was as if the sight
of Tess's body unclothed had struck her mute. Tess felt her
heart hammering in her chest as she helped T'larin recline
on the bed. Now for the part she was worried about. She had
planned on some time just cuddling and touching, but the
fire in her loins was raging out of control now. This was a
bit advanced for a beginner, but Tess wanted it too much to
restrain herself. She quickly threw a leg over T'larin's
body and rolled on top of the elf. Her knees came to rest
just touching T'larin's shoulders and her elbows were on
either side of the elf's slim hips. Her arms curled under
and then gently parted T'larin's thighs.

T'larin found her face only inches from the girl's pussy
which was suspended over her face. T'larin's finely tuned
senses were almost the death of her. First there was that
intoxicating aroma, her head began to swim from the
intensity of it. Strong, musky, demanding, she felt her
chest constricting and her breathing became labored. If that
wasn't enough there was also the sight of it, up close she
cold see each single hair that made up Tess's public
triangle. The delicate pink lips were pouting and revealed a
glimpse of the darker inner folds. These were a deep pink,
almost red, but subtly less than red. Also there was a thin
white liquid, which gave a pearly appearance to any part of
her it clung to.

Tess had no idea what T'larin was thinking and it really did
not even impress itself upon her thoughts. Her entire mind
was focused on the delicate flower before her eyes.
T'larin's thighs were as smooth as the finest silk and as
soft as the best down blanket. Her mound was fat and fleshy,
but seemed totally in proportion to her thighs. Her outer
lips were beautifully formed and a soft blue that Tess could
only equate to a robin's egg. Tess could not detect any odor
or see any signs that T'larin was excited. Rather than being
put out this only served to make her want to bring this
woman to ecstasy all the more.

T'larin was still trying to control her breathing when she
felt Tess's fingers gently pry her lips apart. She could
feel the girl's fingertips massaging her most secret place
and it sent electric jolts through her body. Those jolts
turned to white-hot fire when the fingers were replaced by
Tess's soft warm tongue. T'larin gasped at the change in
texture and pressure. That incredible organ slipped along
her outer lips, making slow unhurried circuits. T'larin
began to squirm, but the girl's arms held her firmly in
place. When that soft tongue burrowed between her lips to
caress her inner folds T'larin moaned.

As Tess's tongue forced its way between T'larin's lips she
realized why she had seen no outward signs of arousal.
T'larin's body produced no odor at all except for a faint
hint of honeysuckle. Tess would never in her life ever find
words to describe the taste of T'larin's juices. It was like
a drink from a cold mountain stream, clean and refreshing.
Only when she took the time to savor it did she taste the
very subtle undertone of a sweetness that was far greater
than honey. T'larin's juices also produced a peculiar
tingling sensation in her mouth, a tingling that seemed to
create a hunger for more. No longer content to just tease
Tess flattened her tongue and worked it hard against
T'larin's slit, scooping up all of the sweetness she found
there. She lapped at it like a cat and the harder she lapped
the more she found. Moving down to the entrance to T'larin's
channel she found more and slowly the taste began to change.
The more excited the elf became the sweeter her juices
became and soon Tess found the taste almost unbearably
wonderful. She wondered fleetingly if anything would ever
taste sweet again.

T'larin was not sure if she was in heaven or hell. The
intense feelings of pleasure bombarded her mind, shaking her
being to its very core. Centuries of barriers and internal
defenses crumbled under the gentle assault like chaff before
the west wind. Deep inside the spark that burned so slowly
in Elves ignited into a fire that was all consuming. A
lifetime of false assumptions, deeply ingrained prejudices
and social mores melted in that flame, leaving only the
essence of the woman. In that crystal clear moment, the
essence of that woman wanted only to give and take pleasure
from the woman who lay on top of her.

T'larin cried out with a sound that was musically clear and
piercing, but utterly unlike anything Tess had ever heard
before. She stopped what she was doing and started to turn
her head to see if she had done something wrong, but she
felt T'larin's arms go around her waist and pull her down
until her pussy was nestled on the elf's face. Reassured
that it was pleasure and not pain she redoubled her attack
on T'larin's swollen sex.

T'larin was lost now in a world that was all Tess. The feel
of her skin on T'larin's, the weight of her body and the
soft breasts on her tummy coupled with the intoxicating
aroma of her excitement and now the unbelievable taste. It
was powerful, a musky overtone with both sweet and salt
undertones. Stronger than the headiest wine from her
father's cellars it filled her mouth and sent her delicate
taste buds reeling. Tess was very wet and soon T'larin's
lips and tongue were coated in her juices. The elf licked
frantically trying to get more. She was not working on a
conscious level any longer and was making no attempt to find
the places that felt good to her lover. She simply had to
have more and each taste merely increased her thirst rather
than slaking it.

Tess laughed outloud in her happiness. She could feel
T'larin's tongue working on her, and the urgency was plain
if technique were lacking. She forced down the rising tide
of her own excitement, tried to ignore the feelings from her
own soaked pussy and concentrated now on driving T'larin
mad. Prying the elf's lips apart Tess began to lave her
swollen clit, first with long broad strokes of her tongue,
then with feather soft caresses. She varied tempo, pressure
and angle always staying ahead of the elf's ability to
adjust. T'larin's hips were gyrating now, bucking and
rocking, but Tess held on tightly to her thighs and
continued the assault. When she felt that the time was right
she worked a finger into the tight channel and began to
forcefully drive it in and out. T'larin was very tight, but
the inside was slippery and smooth. Compared to T'larin her
other lovers had been coarse and abrasive. The elf's
delicate body and slight frame made her very tight and Tess
wondered if she could even work a second finger in without
causing pain.

Pleasure assailed T'larin's sanity in red waves that rose
ever higher. Muscles that she was barely aware she had
spasmed deep inside her body. She could not control the
rhythmic clenching and relaxing, nor could she hope to
contain the tension that was building. The finger driving in
and out of her seemed to fill her more than any male she had
ever known. The tongue was working on a spot she hardly knew
existed before this hour, a spot that seemed to be connected
directly to her spine. Each flick of Tess's tongue caused a
spasm now, each caress sent a new wave crashing into
T'larin's overloaded brain. Her body was rigid and she felt
certain she would die if she did not put a stop to it, but
she was powerless to resist the onslaught.

When she had reached the end of her rope, when it felt so
good she felt certain she would die with another caress,
something happened that she was altogether unprepared for. A
shock ran through her, starting in her enflamed pussy and
spreading through her body. It brought with it euphoric
pleasure and a delicious rippling sensation. In it's wake
she felt her body relax, but only for a split second before
another wave tore through her. She gasped for air like a
fish out of water as the waves, some weaker, some stronger
ripped though her slight frame. The pleasure was unbearable
and with the next powerful contraction she fell into a black
abyss.

T'larin returned to the world of the living to feel her
shoulders being shaken. Tess's face was above her, tear
streaked and frantic.

"Oh my God, Oh my god, Oh my god," she repeated. T'larin
smiled and tried to speak, to reassure her, but her tongue
seemed cloven to her palate and at first no words came.
Rippling echoes of the pleasure she had felt still ran
through her body and it was only with great effort that she
gathered herself and spoke.

"I'm all right, Tess,"

"T'larin! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"Don't be sorry," T'larin said with an effort, her mind
still absorbing what had happened.

"I never," the girl began again but T'larin brought a finger
to her lips and silenced her.

"I never either." she began, then shook her head to clear
it, "I mean I have never experienced anything like that,"

"Are you all right?" the girl asked, fear still showing in
her eyes.

"All right? I am better than that, better than I have ever
been. I asked for a lesson in human passion and you gave it
to me,"

Tess smiled radiantly and her eyes sparkled, "And what did
you think of it?"

"I think I will have to try it again before I can form a
judgment," she said gravely. When the girls face fell
T'larin laughed lightly, "Several times," she added as her
own eyes sparkled with mirth.

        ============================================

T'larin awoke to the sound of the wind in the leaves. She
felt deliciously relaxed, refreshed and content. Tess was
lying on her side with one arm thrown over T'larin's hip and
her body pressed close. T'larin could feel her lover's
breasts pressed against her back. She wished she had time to
initiate another round of sex, but she knew that this brief
interlude was over. Rising carefully she opened the old
wooden chest at the foot of her bed and began to remove her
armor. Each piece was wrapped in oilcloth for it had been
many years since she had donned it.

The suit consisted of a breastplate, chain shirt, bracers,
grieves and a gorget. The chain shirt extended well past her
hips and provided protection for her groin and upper thighs.
She donned her stockings and boots and began to fasten the
multitude of buckles on the grieves. They covered her lower
legs from above her knee to just above her ankles. Once in
place she stood and was preparing to pull on a chemise when
she felt a pair of soft arms slide around her waist. T'larin
was startled but leaned back into the embrace. Tess's warm
lips found her neck and began to nibble.

She felt the excitement curling in her loins and sighed
deeply. Tess's hands began to gently massage the area to
either side of T'larin's mound.

"Tess, don't. I have to get ready," T'larin, protested half-
heartedly. Tess picked her up and carried her back to the
bed. She dumped the struggling Elf on the bed and placed her
hands inside of T'larin's knees. T'larin felt the slight
pressure and her knees parted like magic. As she watched the
mop of red hair descend to the vee of her thighs she thought
about saying something.

Any words were drowned in a soft moan as Tess's tongue
slipped between her lips. T'larin relaxed under her lover's
touch, the war could wait a few minutes longer.

               ==================================

T'larin stood behind the rough barrier of logs and sharpened
stakes her men had erected just within the tree line. Ral
sat near her with his back to the hastily erected bulwark
sticking arrows into the ground. Tess stood to her left and
slightly behind her dressed in her red armor. She had
borrowed a sword from someone, but had no bow. She was
treated with deference by the elves, a fact that was not
lost on T'larin. The rangers were a slightly different breed
than the rest of elven society. They accepted their
Commander's new lover with nothing more than a few sly
smiles and one or two congratulations. Even Ral seemed
pleased with her lover and she wondered what the old elf had
told Tess while T'larin had bathed.

Only Farseer and his guard were offended by the choice
T'larin had made. She found she did not really care, she was
happy and staring into the face of certain doom she was glad
of the few moments of bliss she had managed to snatch. She
smiled at Tess who seemed rather confused by the sudden
change in her status. The redhead smiled back at her and
T'larin was almost able to forget the ravening horde across
the river.

T'larin's battle plan centered on the ford. It was only wide
enough for six men to cross abreast. She planned on letting
the orcs reach the river rather than shooting them as soon
as they emerged from the trees. Those who chose to try and
swim for her side would be left unhindered until they
climbed up the bank. Three quarters of her rangers would
pour their fire into the area around the ford while the
other third would pick off any swimmers that managed to make
it. It was her hope to build a mound of dead at the ford
entrance, which would further hinder their efforts. During
the night her men had driven sharpened stakes into the
ground on her side of the ford angled towards the orcs. The
orcs would have to get past those before they could come up
against the makeshift palisade. Once there Farseer's guards,
in their heavy armor would engage them.

She held out slim hope of surviving. The defense was
calculated to inflict the most damage and take the orcs the
longest time to break. She did not have long to wait and
consider her preparations. A grisly shrieking howl went up
from the woods on the other side of the river and the orcs
charged. The front ranks carried heavy wooden shields that
would protect them from arrows. The lack of fire from her
side seemed to confuse the orcs. The charge slowed as they
neared the river. It was only when several orcs were in the
muddy area before the ford that the first blast of arrows
tore into them. A howl of rage went up and they surged
forward. As she had hoped bodies began to pile up forcing
those who pressed in from behind to try and climb over them.
This in turn built the wall of dead ever higher. Hundreds
waded into the cold waters, but they did not know the river
as she did. On either side of the ford the channel was over
forty hands deep. It fell off steeply and those who went
under seldom came back up for the water was cold and the
weight of their weapons and armor dragged them down.

For much of the morning it went on with the orcs never
gaining the ford. T'larin's plan was working, but it could
not go on forever. Already her archers were having to draw
on the last reserves of arrows. Sometime after noon the last
arrows were fired and the elves cast their bows away and
drew their knives. Farseer's guard moved to the palisade and
waited in silence. It took the orcs a little time to realize
that there was no more fire coming from the far side, but
once they did they charged with renewed fury. They gained
the bank and charged headlong into the woods only to be
brought up short by the palisade.

The outnumbered defenders fought on with dogged tenacity.
Angrost glittered cold and deadly, weaving a red swath of
death around T'larin that was so intimidating she suddenly
found herself standing alone amidst the chaos. No orc seemed
to have the courage to face her and the blade of her
forefathers.

She saw that Farseer was fighting with his men and still
holding the orcs at bay on the northern end of the palisade,
but already they had swarmed over the defenders closer to
the center. Ral and three companions held an angle in the
bulwark and no orc seemed to be able to overcome their
flashing swords. On the southern end of the bulwark the
rangers held them back with pikes made from living wood.

>From out of the river T'larin saw the largest orc she had
ever seen emerge. He was hulking and battle scared, wearing
stolen pieces of a knight's armor and carrying a battle-axe
that had to be as large as T'larin. This had to be the
warlord and T'larin saw one last chance to save the day.
Even as she thought this, the big orc spotted her and her
hated blade and charged while bellowing a challenge.

Orcs were clannish and very superstitious. The death of the
warlord would make them all draw back. The shamans would
have to perform rituals and a new Warlord would have to
prove himself in trials of combat. Often the death of a
warlord signaled the end of an orcish offensive. If no
strong leader emerged the different clans would simply go
home leaving the horde vastly weakened.

T'larin moved to meet the brute holding Angrost aloft. When
they met T'larin swung Angrost with all her strength, but
even that fabled blade could not find the orc's flesh behind
the stout armor. Unchecked he plowed into T'larin, knocking
her back several feet. The great axe had opened a furrow in
her head and blood ran into her eyes. She had lost her grip
on Angrost and was lying on her back, totally defenseless
when she saw him standing over her through the red haze.

She saw the massive axe descending and said a final prayer.
T'larin saw a flash of red and the great orc howled in pain.
His blow was thrown off and the axe buried itself to the
post in the ground inches from her head. T'larin rolled over
and sought frantically for her blade. Her hand closed upon
the hilt and she staggered to her feet. She shook her head
viciously to clear her eyes of blood and sought her
opponent.

She found him in her field of vision, but several yards
away. Tess stood before him trying vainly to parry the giant
axe. Her blade shattered and she was tossed aside like a rag
doll. T'larin could not tell how badly injured she was or if
she yet lived. She screamed when the big Orc raised his axe
for the killing blow. She could never close the distance
before it fell and Tess was not moving. Time seemed to slow
to a crawl, unable to watch her lover killed and too far to
do anything about it T'larin acted in desperation. She drew
back her arm and with all her strength hurled her sword at
the giant orc, a prayer upon her lips.

Angrost was a long sword. It was never meant to be thrown.
Yet who could say what enchantments the elven smiths laid
upon it as they labored? Perhaps the great smith foresaw the
day when it would have to serve as a missile. Perhaps LaLean
heard her servant's final desperate prayer and guided the
blade with her own hand. Whatever the reason, enchantment,
divine intervention or the capricious will of fate the great
blade struck home in the one spot where the orc had no
armor. The blade may not have been made to throw, but it was
made to cleave orc flesh and it did just that, tearing
through bone and sinew like a hot knife through butter. It
pierced all the way through the Orc's neck, nearly
decapitating him.

The orcs, after seeing their leader felled, faded away
without striking another blow and the exhausted defenders
could not even manage a cheer. T'larin did not care, she
staggered and fell, then crawled to her love. She rolled the
girl over and frantically tried to wake her. Tears mixed
with the blood in her eyes and stung her, but all the pain
was lost in a flood of relief when Tess's eyes fluttered
open. T'larin gathered her into her arms and rained kisses
on her face until Tess managed to get her arms around her
lover and hold her tightly. Their lips met then and their
tongues twined. The kiss was deep and passionate and neither
seemed to care who was watching.


================================

A week had passed since the battle at the ford. T'larin was
still limping from the battering she had taken, but the
running joke among the rangers was that she was walking that
way because her new lover kept her worn out. T'larin smiled
and nodded, playing along with them, but in fact she and
Tess had not more than kissed since that day. The redhead
had been so bruised that even the gentle ministrations of
T'larin the healer made her wince. T'larin was afraid to
even touch her as a lover.

On this morning T'larin woke to find Tess caressing her
breasts. Her nipples were hard buttons and ached to be
touched. Tess saw her eyes come open and without a word
pounced on T'larin.

"Stop! You are in no condition to... Ohhh" T'larin groaned as
the red head's mouth found one of her aching nipples. In an
instant Tess's long tongue began to worry it.

Even as she enjoyed the sensations of Tess's pink tongue on
her nipple she could see the young woman was still in great
pain. T'larin willed herself to take Tess by the shoulders
and gently force her to lie back. The girl gritted her teeth
in pain and then relaxed with and exasperated snort.

"Damnit, this is so unfair. I can't take it anymore, lying
by you night after night and not even touching," she said
with a fetching pout on her full lips.

"Do you think it is any easier on me?" T'larin asked.

When Tess did not answer T'larin bent and kissed her gently
on the nose. She did not dare tell the girl of how she felt;
of the rising level of frustration she was experiencing. She
had never felt anything like that first time and now she
wanted it, wanted it more than anything in the world. She
was having trouble concentrating on anything else, but she
also loved Tess. She could not help but worry about her and
she would never willingly bring her any pain. This was the
third time she had been forced to make Tess lie back and
stop. She was sure that her will power was collapsing a lot
faster than Tess was mending, but each time it was harder.

This time the human girl would not be stilled. Her arms shot
around T'larin and bodily dragged the Elf on top of herself.
Remembering the first time T'larin had touched her Tess
guided the slight woman's face to the pillows of her
breasts. There was a moment's hesitation, but as Tess had
hoped the Elf's fascination with her breasts was stronger
than her caution. T'larin's incredibly long delicate fingers
cupped her heavy breasts and her eyes grew faraway. Tess
applied gentle pressure to the back of T'larin's head and
moaned when she felt her nipple enveloped by the elf's firm
lips.

T'larin's last bit of willpower slipped away when she felt
Tess's rubbery nipple in her mouth. Forgetting her own hurts
and Tess's condition she formed a seal with her lips and
sucked most of the aureole into her mouth. As her fingers
gently massaged the breasts her tongue lovingly twirled
around the hardened nipple.

Tess's shuddering moan drove T'larin to distraction; she
sucked harder now using her tiny teeth to gently hold the
nipple in place as her tongue lashed it. Tess tangled her
hands in T'larin's long blonde tresses and pulled her
tightly to her breast. T'larin suckled for a while more and
then abandoned the nipple to seek it's mate. Alternating
between them she kept it up until her lover was moaning
continuously and then T'larin moved down wards, tracing her
tongue along the underside of one breast and along the
girl's tummy to her navel. T'larin stayed there a moment,
swirling her tongue around Tess's bellybutton before dipping
into it and then she moved father down.

T'larin settled between Tess's splayed thighs and gently
massaged her mound. She tentatively licked along the slick
satiny lips and was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath
from the red head. She continued to trail her tongue slowly
over the girl's lips while her fingers played with the soft
pubic curls she found so intriguing. As she continued
T'larin noticed that the girl's lips had begun to pout open,
revealing the inner folds. Rather than try them T'larin
continued to gently tongue the girl's lips, wondering how
far they would open. In no time they were gaping open and
T'larin had an almost unobstructed view of her lover's sex.

The inner lips were a darker pink and at the top of the
girl's slit T'larin noticed the small bud of her clit.
T'larin was still unsure of many things, but she remembered
the incredible sensations Tess caused in her body and
surmised that this little button was the spot they emanated
from. Spreading the lips wide with two long fingers she
tentatively dragged her tongue over the hard little nubbin.
Instantly Tess moaned and her body stiffened.

Reassured that her guess was correct T'larin began to flick
her tongue over the sensitive nub. Tess's body began to rock
and her hips jogged upward, but T'larin held on tightly and
continued to worry the girl's clit.

"Ohhhh, T'larin... Ohh... Gods!"

The girls moaning drove T'larin to flick her tongue faster
and faster until it was just a blur sliding back and forth
over the satiny skin. Tess's fingers dug into her hair and
pressed her face tight against the girl's pussy. T'larin
could feel Tess's juices on her chin and lips but she
refused to stop and taste them, all that mattered now was
making this woman feel as good as she had made her feel.

Tess was silent in her orgasm, but judging from the way her
body contorted T'larin guessed it was exactly what she had
felt. She slowed her attentions until it was only an
occasional flick of her tongue over the girl's slippery
lips.

T'larin looked up to see Tess smiling down at her. The
girl's face glowed and her eyes sparkled like they had that
first evening. She sighed and licked her lips sensuously and
T'larin became suddenly aware of the wetness between her
legs and the longing there. She fought down the longing,
Tess was still to sore to move and she knew she would just
have to be patient, but her little vixen had other ideas.

"You're a fast learner," she commented at last.

"You are a fine teacher," T'larin countered with a grin.

"I think you are ready for your next lesson,"

"Oh no, you are not getting up. That's final. I won't have
you reopening those wounds, I worked far to hard to save you
from that brute to have you ruining my work,"

"I am not going to move from this spot," she said with a
smile. She broke out into quiet laughter when T'larin cocked
her head and gave her a puzzled stare.

Tess caught T'larin's arms and gently tugged until the elf
lay on top of her. They kissed deeply, their tongues twining
and caressing, stabbing into each other's mouth until they
both had to pull away to catch their breath. Tess pulled at
her gently and T'larin tried to follow the girl's lead, but
she was not at all sure what was wanted. After a few minutes
of struggle she found her knees on either side of the girl's
head with her shapely ass sitting on the soft firm mounds of
her breasts.

Tess moved slightly and T'larin groaned when that magical
tongue began to nibble at her lips. Tess licked and kissed
in a slow, languid progression. She worked from the bottom
of T'larin's slit ever upwards, stopping often to kiss,
nibble or retrace her steps. T'larin felt her breathing
accelerate and her heartbeat skyrocket. Tess seemed to know
exactly what felt best and she also seemed to be able to
sense the level of excitement she produced. She would move
from stimulation that drove T'larin towards a shattering
orgasm only to move suddenly to somewhere that felt
desperately good but allowed T'larin to come off the edge.

T'larin found herself moaning and her hands went back to
rest on the girl's wide hips. Her own hips bucked and ground
against Tess's lips as T'larin tried to steer Tess's tongue
to where it felt best. Tess would have none of it, taking
her own sweet time. She moved back to the bottom and tongued
T'larin's entrance for what seemed an eternity before
beginning the slow trip upwards towards her aching clit. A
single flick of her tongue was enough to make T'larin
shudder and she nearly screamed in frustration when the
girl's mouth returned to the bottom of her slit.

To the very brink and back, again and again, each time the
level of frustration built as well as the growing need. Tess
worked her lover's body like a virtuoso worked her
instrument. She drove the elf nearly insane with lust before
seizing her clit and sucking hard. Once it was in her mouth
Tess buzzed her tongue back and forth over the sensitive bud
until T'larin screamed out in pleasure.

               ================================

The orcish host still sat on the other side of the river. No
champion had emerged yet to take the place of the dead
Warlord. The threat was lessened by the presence of the host
of Silverwood and the orcs had no chance of forcing the
crossing now. The orcs did not know it yet, but a mannish
host approached from the south and another from the west.
They would be trapped soon with the river and Elvish host
acting as anvil to the hammer of the two human armies.

Ral was waiting when T'larin gingerly climbed down from the
platform. He smiled at her and she knew she was already
smiling. The strange grin had not left her face since she
crawled out of bed and dressed.

"I see, that the prophecy has been fulfilled," he said with
a look that a father might give his daughter on the day she
was betrothed. Part pride, part hope and part concern.

"Thus far it has been a good one, but there still remains
the question of Angrost ending the line of Aviondore,"
T'larin said. Tess had just reached the ground and T'larin's
arm went around her and held her close without conscious
thought.

Ral smiled again and said, "Angrost was the instrument which
delivered your love from the jaws of death and I can hardly
envisage your pairing producing a child, though with you
anything is possible I suppose," he said with mock gravity.

T'larin smiled down at her lover and then laughed until it
hurt. Thus the riddle was answered. The Prophesies never
lied she thought, but they never seemed to turn out the way
one expected either.


End