Killing Beauty

Ashva hated to admit it, even to herself, that she had enjoyed the lesson, even if Haldir had not, and she was certain that he had not. Human males do not enjoy losing the control of oneself; and elf would find it horrifying. Unable to sleep, she climbed out of bed and dressed. She needed to see Haldir while no one was around. She needed to apologize to him. Digging through the ranger clothes that she had hidden, she was not surprized to find her tunic missing. So that was how they had found him. Inda had used gallates to track her scent back to him. She had forgotten about them.

Finding her small dagger, she slipped it inside her gown sleeve, went to the door, checked the passage in both directions and slipped outside. She had been doing a lot of thinking about how they were going to escape, and she needed to let Haldir know.

There was never any warmth in the Keep, only a constant damp chill that soaked through the skin and got into the bones. The garden was even more miserable with fog sitting in it like dragon's breath. But at least Inda had lengthened Haldir's bonds long enough so he could sit on the ground. That was nice of him, she told herself; it also allowed her to see which key freed Haldir.

Arriving at the archway, she paused to listen. Who was talking to Haldir; she did not recognize the harsh voice, nor did she care for the vile words dripping off his tongue. Then she remembered the orc. They were creatures of shadow, and while everyone else slept, it was down here tormenting Haldir.

"My Lady humors her daughter," the orc hissed, its teeth popping like a wild hog's. "Then you die and I'll make meal out of your bones."

Ashva couldn't help but smile when Haldir retorted, "Don't you know another song? I've heard that one already."

Amused, she stepped out of the shadow, saying, "How about, orc orc fly away, and leave the chidren safe to play?" She had to admit that it sounded very foolish right now with her looking into the venomous yellow eyes of Baggor, but the hunters had used it to soothe frightened children in camp. She wasn't particularly frightened of Baggor. He was too afraid of Mother to disobey her wishes, but he could torment Haldir, and she was going to put and end to that righ now if she could.

The orc snarled into her smiling face and hissed, "You sneak down here in the dark?"

"Monsters live in the dark," she countered. "And look what I find, you. Go away now before I convince Mother how expendible you really are. Then maybe it will be your bones we grind." The orc hissed and snapped it teeth trying to frighten her, but Ashva refused to yield. "Go now before I go find Capt. Inda. I think he would enjoy collecting souvenirs from an orc." Baggor popped his teeth in her face but he could see she meant her words and relented, slinking back into the darkness of the Keep.

"You are playing an interesting game," Haldir spoke up curiously.

AShva dropped to the ground beside him and tried to touch his face, but he held back a little as if afraid of what he was going to feel. "Only my hand," she assured him.

"You blind folded me!" he hissed accusingly. "I told you not to do that."

"I was shy," she retorted. "Now we can argue about that or I can tell you what I know."

He frowned. "Keep your voice soft but go ahead."

"I know where your princess is, and I know where Inda keeps all the master keys," she informed him.

"And where is that?"

"On his belt."

"How do you plan on getting them?" he asked, unsure if he really wanted to know the answer.

"I need to finish this lesson today," she told him. "I need to know how to keep you on that edge."

"That is not something I look forward to," he admitted and detected ever so slightly a deepening of her breath. This talk was exciting her. "You desire me at the strangest times," he observed.

" I could make you," she teased and caressed his exposed throat without using the magic.

"Yes, but you would regret it," he assured her.

She dropped her hand. "I need to do this. I need to know the control," she explained. She did not want to say aloud that she was going to use it on Inda. She wanted Haldir to see the reason in her eyes. He struggled with his own emotions, that fear of losing one's self, of being controlled by another, but she was going to do it anyway, Lady Melann would insist on it.

Accepting the inevitable, he said, "Do not bind my eyes shut anymore."

"As you wish." Then before he could stop her, she kissed him with a hunger that surprised even her. Had it been possible, she would have been with him right there in that garden. "I love you." she whispered against his lips.

"Lust is not love," he responded breathlessly. "Never confuse the two."

Ashva raised herself to her knees, her eyes on his. "Then I will bid you goodnight," she purred softly."Rest, you'll need your strength tomorrow."