Killing Beauty

Note: a 12 hour day made it impossible to write the fight last night. Hope this satsifies everyone...I spent a good deal of time today trying to visualize it.
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Blade against blade, one slowly descending towards the other's hilt, the sound of metal scraping metal. Kalan brought his elbow up and spun left, aiming for Haldir's head, but Haldir ducked and swiped at Kalan's legs. Kalan arced his sword down and caught the other. The blades rise in a slow curve as both combatants test the other's strength. Eyes lock. This will be the ultimate rape' the piercing of hot flesh by cold steel.

For a moment, perhaps less than a heart beat, there's a catch. a twitch in a muscle thought healed. Only the eyes betray what has happened, and then only in the black depths of the pupil, in the slight contraction that registers it. Kalan sees it.

They break, and Kalan devours his oponent looking for the weakness he had seen in the eyes. Haldir sidesteps; the injury is not in the legs. Haldir's blade suddenly scythes towards him, but Kalan intercepts the stroke and rolls it towards the ground and then spins it upwards. Haldir ducks and slashes, his stroke defelected by Kalan's downward roll, all of it happening so quickly a man's eyes might have seen the finer movements of wrist and and hand. Speed, step, sidestep, sometimes so close they shared the same breath.

Kalan crowds, Haldir strikes. Up and under, then Kalan's blade bites into flesh. Haldir staggers back, surprised by the wound that now runs from his right breast to the inside of his left rib under the diaphram.

Kalan grins wolfishly, the scent of hot blood assailing his senses. Haldir is bleeding and therefore getting slower. It is rich on the night air; he wants to taste it, drink it until his mind is drugged on its sweetness. But Haldir's emotions are still hot, and he attacks. There will be no pain until his blood cools, and as long as he is fighting, his blood is hot and his emotions are high. Kalan steps back deflecting the blow; all he has to do now is wait.
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"There it is," Orophin said, his eyes quickly locating the cell and the guards around it. He indicates that he and Rumil are going to circle around and take each guard out as quietly as possible. Ashva needed to stay with Elrohir.

The men fall with whimpers, never seeing their assailants. The two men in the cell are no better off. Elven arrows have the power to deter even the staunchest man. Like their comrads, they slip into blissful sleep courtesy of a backhand from Rumil and Orophin.

Ashva is horrified to see the state Elladan is in. She can only imagine the cruelty he has been subjected to as they free him into his brother's arms. Salve is applied to the wounds and a dressing is wrapped around him. He is unsteady on his feet, but Elrohir and Orophin manage to keep him on his feet.

Rumil hesitates a moment, eyes his brother and then takes off at a run. Ashva tries to follow but Orophin stops her. She is needed here and would only distract Haldir if she showed up.
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Haldir's breast heaved as he backed away from Kalan. Ashva had been right; he had been too sore to take on the dark elf, whose powers were certainly greater than they had been. But it was still good to see Kalan also sucking on air, sweat beading on his forehead. Haldir would not be an easy kill.

Kalan threw himself at Haldir, dropping his shoulder and getting under his sword arm. The force of his move threw Haldir back against the wall, his head slamming against the stone. Kalan felt the golden elf's body go slack in his arms. At first it didn't really register in Kalan's brain. What was Haldir doing? Stepping back, he eased the unconcious body to the ground. He was alive but unconcious! Ripping the tunic open, he stared at the hollow below the breast bone, where the heart beat. Blood was smeared over the pale skin, but he could still see the beat. Drawing out his dagger, he caressed the warm bloody skin. He slicked his blade with the blood and drew it up to his lips. Sweet. Laying the point at the base of Haldir's throat, he slowly, oh so very slowly ran it down his breastbone towards the hollow. When he felt the flesh give, he was going to plunge it deep and take the heart.

Rumil saw the dark elf leaning over Haldir with the knife sliding down his body. Thinking only of his brother, he drew his bow and shot. The dark elf hissed as the arrow slammed into his body and came out the other side half way. Screaming his rage, Kalan turned and staggered as another arrow imbedded itself in his body.
Disbelief clouded his face as the strength left his body. He collapsed on Haldir.