Killing Beauty

Author's note: Wow! Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it. And It was Haldir not Orophin getting the caress...but one must wonder how asleep was Orophin?
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Atluf's head was throbbing with every heartbeat, a sure reminder that he was not a man given to strong drink, and he had a vague memory of challenging the elf to a fight, or at least trying to fight him. "I am so messed up," he said to himself and looked to see where he was. The snort of a horse told him he was in the barn.

"I see the great warrior is finally awake," Etta grumbled fom the open door. "I'm amazed he didn't break your arm instead of just making you kneel down."

"I am too," Atluf groaned and forced himself to his feet. "Do you think he'll accept an apology and let me see her?"

"I suspect if Ashva knows you want to see her, she'll see you," Etta replied with conviction. "Come on, let's go see if Mug has any breakfast cooking."

They trudged out of the barn and noticed that there was a warm breeze trying to make its presence known. The mountain behind them was still cloaked in white, but it would be that way long after spring came to the flats and the mountain passes opened. They stepped on the porch but stopped when the door opened and Rumil stepped out with a plate of food in his hands for Ashva.

Atluf swallowed his pride and said, "Please tell Haldir I am sorry for what I said and tried. And Please, may I see her."

Rumil felt compassion for the man but he could not give him permission. Etta decided to take matters in her own hands. Without asking permission, she stormed upstairs and barged into the room unannounced with Rumil sprinting in behind her.

"I am sorry, brother," Rumil apologized quickly. Haldir was sitting in the chair, running a whetstone over his blade while Orophin kept his place on the bed. He feared if he ever got up Rumil would take it. Ashva sat up, happy to see her friend, but Etta had eyes only for Haldir.

"My friend made an ass of himself last night," she readily admitted, "and he was in the wrong, but put yourself in place. How would you feel if you were in his shoes?"

"Orophin, what happened last night?" Ashva asked the brother.

"Your old lover challenged Haldir to a fight," Orophin replied and examined the plate Rumil had set on the bed.

"Etta, is that true?" Ashva asked and sat up, remembering to keep the blanket over her bare breasts.

"It's true," Etta said and looked back at Haldir who was still slowly running the stone over the edge of his blade. "Please, let him see her."

"See me?" Ashva shot back in disbelief. "Of course he may see me."

"I do not approve," Haldir replied softly, the menace in his tone if not the words. He glanced up at Ashva to make sure she understood.

In shock, she sank back on the mattress, understanding full well what he meant. "Am I to be bitted soon?" she asked softly.

Haldir sheathed the sword in its scabbard and stood up. "Go," he told his brothers, who grabbed Etta on their way out the door. It bothered him greatly that she was looking at him with fear in her eyes, but she had to understand. He would tolerate no one trying to take his place in her affections.

"Why is important for you to keep this man around, knowing he still loves you?" Haldir shot back at her."Do you do it so you can see me....upset?"

"He is just a friend," she answered back, trying to keep her voice calm.

"A friend who would fight me," he countered. " A friend who as much accused me of neglecting you, of not being there when you needed me."

Ashva sighed deeply and looked down at the blankets around her. "That is why he upsets you?" she asked gently and looked up. "He has made you think that you failed me?" Haldir frowned. The truth was biting him now. The room was cold, but she knew where there was warmth. Climbing out of bed, unable to take her eyes off his beautiful face, she embraced him and laid her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him until he began to fear she would get cold again.

"You need another day of rest," he whispered and kissed the top of her head, her hair smelling clean and cold.

Ashva had other ideas and found the edge of his tunic. "You underestimate your elven cures," she purred and brought the tunic up high enough for her to kiss bare skin. "I do not love you because I need rescueing. I love you because you are you," she said and brought her hands up over the sleek bare skin. Mother might have been a demon bitch from Mordor, but she had taught her one thing well. Haldir trembled as she started drawing the sweet sensations to the surface with soft kisses and caresses . She released him and returned to the bed because the room was very cold. "Join me?" she asked and offered him her hand. "I have been without a long time."

"No fault of mine," he replied and pulled the tunic off, tossing it aside on the chair. Ashva smiled and reached for him. How could any being be so beautiful? Even the scars that marred his perfection only added to his maleness. When he kissed her, she felt as if she was melting in the fire that was his being. BUt he was gentle this time, careful to avoid as best as possible her injuries. Ashva didn't care. She wanted to pleasure this magnificent creature until he put all his concerns away. She wanted to see the liquid desire in his eyes. She wanted to feel him inside of her driving deep into the core of her being. How could one being be so beautiful?

When the passion had been consumed and both rested in each other's warmth, he held her gainst his body and kissed the top of her dark head. He loved the cold smell of her hair. "I do not know what I am going to do now," he whispered softly. "I do not want to love you."

She smiled and kissed the nipple that protested the cold so near her lips. "I know," she whispered back. "I have always known this."

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Kalan owned an elven sword, a trophy taken from one of Lady Melann's victims, and it was a beautiful weapon. It was so sensuous, the way it fit into his hands, the way it curved and recurved. There was no bulky hacking and chopping with an elven sword. One had to move as gracefully as the weapon, and one had to be swift. The elves who did fight were lightning fast, and this one, the one he was going to kill, was supposed to be one of the best. Lady Melann wanted his heart and the golden braid that identified him as a warrior among his kind. Kalan was going to give them to her; everything else was his.
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Orophin, Rumil, Etta and Atluf were all at the bottom of the stairs when Haldir came outside. Convinced that his brothers were conspiring against him as well as the small woman, he said, "She is awake if you want to see her."

Atluf's face lit up with relief as Haldir continued down the steps. "Haldir," he began, "I am sorry about last night. I lost my head in ale."

Haldir did not want to make a big show out of this and said simply, "Ashva will never give you what you seek. Accept her friendship for what it is and nothing more."

"Aye," the hunter replied and hurried up the stairs.

"You need to go too," Haldir told Etta as he pulled on his gloves. "I will not have him alone in there with her."

Etta smiled. "I can see why she loves you," she said and ran up the steps after Atluf.

Orophin, a knowing smile on his face, said, "She has great powers of persuasion."

"Great powers indeed," Rumil teased.

"What is her secret, dear brother," Orophin continued the tease, "that I may use it when I need to persuade you to my way of thinking?"

"I would tell you," Haldir replied as they headed towards the barn, "but I fear you might attempt it."