The Lady of Battle

Disclaimer: Im the #1 fan. Not an owner.


The Border part II


She watched this elf from on top of her mount, carefully paying attention to his motives. He was kneeling down to the ground and suddenly rose up and walked back to her.

“They had no warning.” He spoke for the first time since they had left the encampment. He was looking at the ground and was picking up loose particles as she gazed at the side of this elf’s face and watched the muscles in his neck move with his motions.

He continued to search the area and did not show any signs of elaborating his findings and theories to her. He lazily searched the remains of the battle and seemed to be in no hurry.

“How is that possible in such open space?” Suddenly she felt angered, partially at herself for being so easily amused and also for not receiving the answers she needed, she spoke.

“March warden, I have many duties to fulfill and have not the time to…”
She trailed off as he turned up to her and gazed into her eyes. She was no longer looking at him but over his head and he turned to see what had suddenly gained her attention. He stared at the horizon seeing nothing and wondering what had distracted her so quickly.

“My Lady?” He looked at her with concern as she still kept her eyes fixed on the horizon. Her silver eyes remained fixed and her body follow suit. She sat statue-like not responding to any motion he made. He couldn’t help but admire her beauty for a moment.

“Do you sense something?” She still made no movement or effort to answer him. She could not. It had hit her so suddenly that it had nearly taken her breath. It was a familiar sensation and she closed her eyes in order to concentrate on finding the origin. She reached as hard as she could but felt that the origin would not allow her to see. It wanted to keep its secrets and a shiver suddenly coursed through her body.

Still standing by her mount and holding onto her horse’s reigns, he witnessed her physical response to this strange occurrence. He was becoming concerned and quickly decided to try to bring her attention to him. He reached up and placed his hand on hers and said her name.

“Brenauth.” He had said it with sternness hoping she would respond to a command. Her eyes immediately snapped to meet his. He continued to meet her gazed and started to question her when her eyes suddenly became fixed on something behind him. She reached with incredible speed and with one hand knocked him to the ground while unsheathing her sword to meet the orc sword swinging down into the position in which he had just been standing.

She brought her sword around and took the orcs head while bringing her mount around to face her partner. He had regained his stance with ease and had drawn his sword, standing in a stance signifying his readiness for battle.

She glanced around the open land and realized that they were surrounded. They would have to fight there way out. How had they found themselves in this position? There had been no cover for their enemy to remain concealed for advancement. They were in the wide open. She couldn’t believe she had allowed herself to become so vulnerable. And this Warrior had become victim to it as well. They had both been fooled into a false sense of security.

All at once the orcs advanced and the March warden received them with ease. He fought smoothly and in strong fluid motions, quickly dispatched them one by one as they closed in. He turned to see to the safety of the Lady and saw that she was just as easily warding off her attackers. Her hair, freely flowing down her back, had begun to cover part of her face as she had lowered her head and revealed sheer fierceness in her eyes.

He had seen the eyes of many warriors in battle but had never seen such a controlled hatred for an enemy. She looked at them as though she was on a hunt. She received each one with a preconceived awareness, as if she knew what they meant to do before even they knew. If he hadn’t thought any better, he would have arrived to the conclusion that she was actually enjoying this sport.

Even though he was a skilled and trained warrior and had great passion for the battle arts, he had never enjoyed battle. He would divert if he could. He started to fight his way to her because they had pushed the orcs to one side and could make an escape. But she showed no realization of it. He could see in her eyes that she would remain until every last one was down. Surely she could see that there were too many and they would need reinforcements.

But she showed no sign of relenting. He called to her.

“We must return to the encampment. If they follow, the archers can easily finish them from a safe distance.” He was sure she had heard him but she showed no response. He continued to fight as he was swarmed again by orcs. He had become completely surrounded again but was retaining his space. He heard an orc horn and glance to see more were approaching the fight. They would be killed or worse.

Again he called her name but was unable to turn and see if she was able to hear him over the orc cries. He could hear the clatter of her sword and therefore knew she was alive but he was unsure if he would be able to escape. His mount had returned but was unable to reach him. He could see it at a distance and saw the orcs fleeing after it, chasing it away. He truly, knew not how to break from this trap or how he would see to her safety.

Suddenly, from behind he was grabbed and jerked back into her mount.

“Get on.” She ordered and he looked into her frenzied eyes for one moment and followed her instruction. She lashed with her sword covering him as he quickly jumped onto her mount. Once he was on, she gave her order and the horse was off through the sea of orcs, trampling them as they escaped toward the forest.

He held on tight as she led the horse through the maze of trees, far enough so that their elven ears could not hear the orc cries any longer. They rode in silence for several minutes until she brought the horse to a stop.

He dismounted before the horse was completely stopped and walked to the edge of the clearing. He placed his hand on the trunk of a large tree and leaned into it letting his head fall to look at the ground. His back remained facing her as he recounted the previous events.

He too, was confused on how the orcs had been able to sneak up on them in such open space. But the situation had been made worse by her actions. She had nearly gotten them both killed and he simply didn’t understand why she had behaved so reckless. It was not something that he would have expected her to do. She was renowned for her fighting abilities and her decisions made upon the battlefield. He couldn’t understand how she could have let herself behave so irresponsibly.

He could feel her gazed and turned to meet it. She stood relax in the center of the clearing and showed absolutely no expression whatsoever. He looked over her and saw that she bore no injuries, which was itself a miracle.
{We also made our end.} A thought which quickly occurred to him.

He thought about it and felt anger rise up within him. How could an elder warrior let raw emotions make their decisions? It simply was not the way of a seasoned elf. He knew not how to approach this topic and stood silenced by her numb stare.

“Le vae?” (Are you well?) She asked him quietly and seemed to be content with the situation. He retained himself, also revealing nothing of his thoughts yet. He waited to see if she would provide an answer.

“mae.” (I am.) He waited.

“bein” (Good.) She turned and began to inspect the horse which bore several injuries. She carefully felt the animals legs and found that it had sustained an injury to its hind leg and should not bear their weight.

“We should head back and allow the healer to inspect this.” She was business as usual as if nothing had happened and he was amazed. She truly felt she had done no wrong. He could stand it no longer.

“Do you not have any explanation?” He watched and waited as she stood and turned in his direction. He had said it with a complete lack of any tone.

She looked at him and simply stared into his eyes. His clear glass orbs revealed nothing as she tried to discern his meaning. He had steeped closer to her prior to asking and when she had stood and faced him she had found him only an arms length away. She searched his face for an answer and when she found none she responded.

“I know not your meaning.” He watched her features and realized that he had truly met his match when it came to concealing thoughts or emotions. If she did know, she was not going to tell.

She watched his face as his stare penetrated her and she suddenly felt slightly nervous. He was too close for her comfort and she didn’t welcome it from this strange maethor. She didn’t understand why he made her uncomfortable but only knew she didn’t like it and wasn’t going to give it any more thought than that.

As for his question, she wasn’t sure but she suspected that he was questioning her battle skills and found it more than insulting. This commander’s newly appointed position had gone to his head and she would not have it.

“I am no student or soldier of yours to command or challenge, March warden.” This statement was accompanied by a stare which could start a war. And even as she gave it, she was angered even more that she had allowed this elf to be the cause of yet another laps in control in a single day.

“I would not attempt to command or challenge one of your station, my lady. I was only concerned by your unusual decisions.” He was attempting to approach the subject subtly but realized that he was failing. He had insulted her which had not been his intention.

“You would know nothing of my decisions.” She would not have this elf questioning or second-guessing any of her actions. Given what she had witnessed of his actions, he was in no position, as far as she was concerned, to give lecture on control. She knew what he had witnessed and what he was asking. And she would not give him the satisfaction she thought he was seeking.

“My apologies.” He bowed low, realizing his mistake and retained eye contact while doing so. She looked at him and she could see a sinister expression slightly forming on his face. But it was so faint she was unsure if it was he or herself creating it.

~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~


Brenauth sat by the fire, leaned back onto a large branch and relaxed completely. She loved being out in the forest at night and felt like this was a vacation rather than an inquisition. She laid her head back and again, the moon was full like the night before. She did not know it but in the dark, out of the eyesight, she had an admirer. His eyes could only be seen; the glassy blue of them reflecting the light from the fire. He stood with one foot atop of a fallen log and the wind was blowing his cape all around. He observed her thoroughly and couldn’t remember in all the time that he had been watching her, ever seeing her as content as he did now.

She truly was beautiful. She had removed all her armor, leaving only her long shirt and leggings. Her shirt had fallen open and revealed her collar bone and the crease between her breasts, opening father nearly to her navel. He believed she was the most incredible creature he had ever beheld and he knew that he could not have chosen to embark on any other path than the one he was set on now. He took a deep breath and signed quietly, leaning down onto one knee.

She took up a paper in her hand and began to read it. She seemed to be entranced in it and he wondered what could have moved her so. She read for a few moments and again laid her head back to gaze at the stars. He reached out to sense her thoughts and found that they were focused on the author of the letter.
{Could this be from your suitor, melethrilen (My beloved)?}

It did not matter to him about the letter or who it was from. He would still have her, one way or another, for this obsession had only one cure. And his passion would accept only one outlet….TBC