Killing Beauty

Author's note: Sauren during the First Age almost destroyed the elven race with his hatred of them but was stopped by the Numenorans (sp?) who arrived in the nick of time and drove the orcs, dragons, trolls and whathaveyous back. Lady Galadriel is a survivor of that time. This, I believe is why she allowed an elven army to go to Helm's Deep (aka the movie version)
The orcs hate elves because they are beautiful and in control of themselves, something the orcs aren't.
And Melann believes the life force of an elf is stronger than the life force of a human. She believes those life forces, dispatched in a certain way will help Sauron return to the physical form.
AShva is trying,...................................................................................................................

Lady Melann looked at the elf, standing with his arms stretched across the post, and then at Ashva who could not look at him. Yesterday, by the time they had retired, Ashva had exhibited an interest in her lesson that had proven the blood lust was in her. Melann considered honing it for the future.

"I think your time is about over," she informed Haldir, neither regret nor anticipation in her voice; she was simply stating a fact. Ashva didn't move, but Melann knew she heard her. It was her intention that Ashva kill the elf, but she needed a little more pushing. Studying the bound creature with interest, Melann pressed one sharp forefinger into his skin just below the right collar bone and slowly dragged the nail downward. A scarlet ribbon formed behind it, and while she was only tearing the skin, to Haldir it felt like a knife cutting all the way down to the rib. But nothing or no one could force him to do anything but glare at the devilbitch. Melann chuckled at his heroic defiance. She had to admire him for that.

Playing on the eroticism of her act, she waited for a pearl of deep scarlet to collect on the tip of his nipple, and then she gathered it with her middle finger and tasted it. Ashva watched.

"Haven't you ever just wanted to rip open his flesh and devour him?" Melann asked curiously.

"Thoughts do not have to transpire to fact," Ashva answered quietly. She did know about the blood lust, and had felt it, but she had never desired pain for any lover.

"Why not?" Melann asked and gathered another scarlett drop. "Here, immortal ichor." She offered AShva the brilliant drop on the tip of her finger. "Taste."

Ashva knew Mother was tempting her because she could.

Playing into the macabre act, Ashva took her mother's hand and tasted the raw sweetness of his blood. What did this serve? "Has some magic passed it between us?" she asked.

Melann smiled. "There is a saying that as a woman bleeds, so must the man. I have made him bleed for you."

"I did not ask for this," Ashva replied.

"You want to hold him on the edge of the knife, and yet you are afraid to cut him?" Melann mused. "I assure you what I did is nothing to what you want to do."

"You give me no choice," Ashva reminded her.

"And if you had a choice, would you still want to know it?"

"I can see benefits in it," Ashva admitted.

"For the future?" Melann asked.

"Yes," Ashva answered with a slow smile. "Perhaps you are right," she suddenly agreed, her eyes drawn to a glistening scarlet pearl. "No sense in letting him go to waste."

Haldir knew he was in serious trouble, that Ashva might not help him when her lips closed on his flesh. It was at once blindly erotic and terrifying. A part of him screamed, 'just kill me.' The other part was saying 'trust'. Before she was finished with him, he thought he was going insane.

Melann thought Ashva had learned very quickly for only her second try. With caresses that were almost imperceivable she drew the senstation out of his flesh. Each time she pulled him deeper into the blood boil until it looked as if it hurt him to breathe and each time she released him as slowly as she could. It was obvious that she was relishing her control over this magnificent creature. Then, at what would be her final time, she drew him so deep into the blood boil, that Melann wondered if she could pull anymore sensation out of him. Then Ashva released him. Suddenly, without warning. Melann had never released anyone that deeply in sensation unless she intended to kill them then and there. Ashva was releasing her lover to a pleasure that was almost a pain.

Ashva was surprised that she felt nothing watching him shatter in on himself, but she didn't. She only needed to see what happened, and for that she needed to be as cold blooded as possible. Haldir was beautiful to look upon, but she needed to start acting on their escape. "I'm finished," she suddenly announced and turned away. "May I leave?"

"Certainly," Melann replied, somewhat surprised by her desire to leave. Her lover was so spent he could barely stand. Did she not want to say sweet words to him? She only had two more days to enjoy him.


Ashva was certain now she could do it, and she needed to start putting her plan in motion. Leaving the main Keep, she went down to the stables to see about horses. She would need three of them and needed to have tack at ready. She was pleasantly surprized and relieved to see the grays were there. That would mean the taking of only one Os horse. They were fast but unpredictable. she would give the princess her mount and take the Os animal.


The day was waning when Ashva returned to the garden. Haldir was secured so he could sit, but there was no light in his eyes when he looked up at her. Kneeling in front of him, unable to speak frankly with the Os guards about, she said, "You look as if you have finally given up. Maybe this is better." Then using his own words, she added, "I was mistaking lust for love. Now I see you were right." She heard someone in heavy boots step into the garden behind her. Inda.

"Are my ears lying to me?" he asked with a suspicious smile.

Ashva caressed Haldir's cheek but his face betrayed no expression aside from great inner exhaustion. Rising to her feet, she turned to the Os captain and said, "It depends on what your ears have heard."

"You sound resolved to his fate."

"I am. One fights for only so long then it's time to give up," she explained with a shrug. "I shall miss...." she paused as if searching for the right word and then said, "his company. I have not had a better lover and fear I never shall again." If that wasn't a challenge, then Inda was not a man.

He smiled at her and then gazed down at Haldir who didn't seem to be listening. For whatever reason, he grabbed the woman and pulled her into his arms. Ashva made no effort to resist. She even returned his kiss willingly. When he raised his head and smiled, she smiled back at him. "Today has been...difficult," she began. "This entire...affair...has been very hard on me."

"Has it?" he asked sympathetically.

"Yes. Perhaps you can help deal with it?" she asked, hoping she didn't sound too anxious.

"I think I can assist you," he agreed and took her by the arm. Ashva did not resist his attempt to lead her away, but just for a second she glanced back at Haldir. There was a black light in his eyes that frightened her. Did he understand nothing?