12 comments/ 22797 views/ 61 favorites Hummingbird By: MrPezman It had been raining constantly for the past month, and, driven by hunger to hunt, I was out in it. It was dark, the heavy storm clouds further darkening the land around me. I was soaked to the bone, my cloak offering no protection, and I felt foolish for attempting to hunt on a night when all the animals were in burrows or in caves, or otherwise sheltering from the storm. Reaching into my ruckah, I pulled out a chunk of Vor tree pulp. I chewed on it for the nutrients it provided, though it was also good for cleaning my teeth. Unfortunately, it was all I had with which to nourish me. I squelched through the thick, black mud, feeling it suck at my boots. I headed for higher ground, toward the rockier hills, hoping for at least some animal dumb enough to be out in such horrible weather so that I could go home and warm myself by my fire. However, all of my stores had run bare, the food gone, and my garden had been crushed and drowned by the torrential downpour. I spat out the remains of the Vor pulp, having gotten as much as I could from it, and scrambled up a hill, adjusting my cloak, which clung to me, peering out into the darkness, shivering, feeling miserable, and wondering if I would survive. With no food, and no trader in their right minds braving the storm, there seemed no chance for me. I had been alone ever since I was twelve years of age, ever since my father had died of injuries he received by brigands while defending our home. Once, before I had been more than three years of age, my father had been a shop keeper, selling his famed wood carvings. Then, my mother died of a blood disease, and my father turned to drink, his shop suffered, and, due to some event he would never speak of to me, he was run out of the village, and we were forced to make our home in the eastern woods, south of Gyreal Mountain, in a small cabin that he built. There, he made his new profession as a woodsman, chopping down great oaks and Gnoll, selling through traders that made their paths just south of the woods to any who desired it. Much of what he learned, he had passed on to me, including tanning hides, carving wood, and hunting or trapping the animals that lived in the woods. I carried my bow, one of my most treasured possessions, on my shoulder. It was something my father had also passed onto me. He had told me that it had belonged to a celestial elf from Hirincith, their homeland, and he had won it from the elf in a game of chance. It was made of a very light, very durable wood that I'd never seen before, and I assumed that the tree it was made of only grew in Hirincith. All along the sides of the bow were tiny, intricate symbols of which might be elven writing, though I wasn't sure. Any arrow loosed from this bow flew true, and always seemed to find its mark. It was only about half a jug in weight, quite a bit lighter than any bow I had ever used. It must have been quite a treasure, and I always wondered why any elf, celestial or otherwise, would bet it in a game of chance. As I ascended the hill, not far off, a bolt of lightning cracked the night and flicked a rock, sparks flying, and I ducked, startled, and, in the flash of light from the lightning, I glimpsed a figure hurrying along, wrapped in a dark cloak. I quickly grew curious, wondering what sort of activity the figure was engaged in. The figure headed into the hills, and I followed. The rain pounded down, but, whoever the figure was, it seemed largely unaffected by it, its cloak infused with a weird blue glow. Could it be enchanted? At this point, a cloak like that would be quite useful. The figure ducked around large boulders perched precariously along the ground, having been deposited by glaciers during a time, I had been told, when most of the world had been covered in thick sheets of ice. I eased around the boulders, slipping on more patches of mud as I followed the figure. Then, suddenly, it was gone. I whirled around, looking for it, but it had disappeared. It was a lucky slip, I decided, that saved my life. Even as I almost went down, l glimpsed something silvery flipping toward me. Before I could react, it hit me, sinking into my left shoulder. I cried out and fell to the ground, scrambling backward, but before I could get far, the figure suddenly stood above me, a long spear aimed right at me. It spoke in a foreign language that I did not know, though I did only really know high and low Common, and a few choice curses in Dwarvish, thanks to a few of the traders I bartered with. I could feel blood coursing from the wound, warm fluid on cold flesh, and I felt suddenly weak. "I meant... you no harm," I gasped, feeling the roaring pain radiating out from the wound. "Those who mean no harm," spoke the figure in a high, whispery, matter-of-fact voice, while taking my bow away from me, "Do not hunt those whom they mean no harm." "Wasn't... I wasn't... hunting you." The figure considered this, and my shivers intensified as I felt impossibly cold. Speaking harshly in what I assumed were curses in its own language, the figure moved the spear and reached out with one thin, long-fingered hand. I grabbed the hand offered, and it helped me up. "Lean upon my shoulder, I know a place that will be safe." I was forced to lean heavily on the figure, though it made no complaint, leading on, through a giant, cracked boulder, down a narrow path that had been carved into rock, and to the small mouth of a hidden cave. Having to duck to enter, we continued inside, and then I was told to sit, though I fell more than sat, grunting out in pain, too weak to do more than that. The figure went further into the cave, out of my line of sight, and then returned with firewood, which it dumped into a shallow impression on the cave floor that showed evidence of past fires. Soon, a fire crackled, and the cave became warmer, though I shivered as much as ever. The figure crouched before me, grasped the handle of an ornate dagger, and yanked it loose. Despite my weakness, I found a cry for this. "We will need to treat this wound, or you will perish before morning," the figure flung the hood of its cloak back, revealing the face of a dark elf. Her skin was the normal hue of a dark elf, a dark blue-gray, and her eyes were blacker than onyx, bright and glittering with fierce intelligence. I had expected the features of the face of a dark elf to be sharper, more severe, but hers were much softer, more pleasant to behold. Her ears were slender, pointed, her silver hair long, braided with dark green ribbons, and her mouth was small, but with full, dark lips. "Your wound?" she reminded me, "Are you a dullard?" "Sorry... just... not what I... expected. Sharp dagger..." "Yes, and you are fortunate to have slipped right then, or it would have been your end. Now, lie still." She knelt next to me, helped me remove my cloak, ripped my shirt to gain access to the wound, and reached into her cloak, withdrawing a small, green pouch festooned with silver-threaded designs. She reached three fingers inside the pouch, and then spread a gritty, gray powder around the edges of the dagger wound. Within a few moments, the pain seemed to fade to a distant burning sensation. She produced a thin, sharp bone needle and some silky black thread. She threaded the needle quickly, and began stitching the edges of the wound together, working with a confidence that spoke of experience. Once the last stitch was in place, she knotted the thread, and cut the needle loose. "You are quite skilled," I praised, my voice barely above a whisper, "I barely felt a tug." "Mostly, it was the medicine I applied before I started," she replied, and then she opened a small jar of salve. She smeared it on and around the stitched wound, and then leaned back. "It should heal just fine," she put her things away, back under her cloak, and then pulled out a bundle wrapped in a thin hide. She unwrapped it, revealing two small wheels of a white cheese. She gave me one wheel, "I do not have much for food, but you are welcome to it." I used a small knife to cut into the cheese, to find that it had been covered in a thin layer of wax. The cheese underneath the wax layer was a little more reddish. I cut the wheel in half. If this was all she had, just those two wheels of cheese, I could not deprive her of all of it, in the event that she might need it for herself. So I gave her one half. "This will be plenty," I explained, "All I've had is Vor pulp for the past few days, so I would not be able to eat much." I peeled the wax from the cheese, setting it aside, and took a small bite. I was pleasantly surprised at the slightly sweet, but sharp tang of it. I spoke of my surprise. "Our goats were fed sweet grasses, and the cheese was smoked for days after being made," she explained, "One of the elders is well known in my clan for these cheeses." "I don't know much about your people," I admitted, "I have heard a bit, talk from traders that dark elves live underground, and that humans and dark elves have been mortal foes for hundreds of years." "Longer than that," she corrected, "And perhaps you have also heard that we weave webs like spiders and lure in prey to kill and eat." I shook my head, smiling weakly, "I had not heard that one." "There is no truth to it. Yes, we are subterranean dwellers, living in cities under the mountains, driven from the surface centuries ago, after the Risyral War, by a human and wood elf alliance. My kind has harbored a hatred for your kind ever since." "If your kind hates humans so much, then why did you save me from death?" She looked into the flames of the fire, answering, "I suppose I could have finished you off, at that, except that I wanted to know more about the bow you were carrying. Where did you get it?" She picked the bow up, her finger tracing along the symbols etched on the sides, much like I did on occasion. "My father told me that he won it from a celestial elf in a game of chance," I explained. "Is that true?" "I do not know. It is just what he told me. Do you know different?" "This bow belonged to a wood elf named Kinilike, a hunter of my kind. We suspected he was paid by a human master for each dark elf head he brought back, as the heads of his victims were always missing when we found them. If your father came to possess it as he said, then perhaps Kinilike is dead." "Then, now that you know this," I worked myself laboriously into a sitting position, "I am not long for this world?" She picked up her dagger, checking the blade, wiping it of my blood, and then answered, "If I were to kill you now, all the effort expended to mend you would have been wasted, would it not? No... I will let you live. You do not seem to possess any ill will toward me, which I find contrary to every account given by the elders. Can this be true?" "I have lived most of my life alone in the eastern woods, so perhaps I have not come to develop the prejudices that others possess. I know little of your people, except that I, being human, am supposed to be your enemy. Yet, I cannot, and will not hate you simply because I am supposed to." "Then it would not do for me to end you." For a while, she bade me sleep, and, exhausted from my ordeal, I did, though fitfully. While I slept, she mended my shirt, and then rested herself. I woke hours later to find her sleeping, leaning against one rough wall. My cloak was mostly dry now, so I rolled it up into a wad. I found that I was already feeling much better, though still sore and stiff. I approached her, got within an arm's length, and then her eyes were open and I felt the edge of her dagger at my throat. "Be easy, please," I showed her my rolled up cloak, "That wall looks difficult for sleeping. Here, I offer my cloak." She assessed me sharply, and then her dagger withdrew, "If you offer, then I accept, and am grateful." She took my cloak and rested her head on it. I returned to where I had been resting, and sat, staring at the fire, enjoying the warmth. "You are an odd one," she spoke, her eyes still closed, "And I imagine that other humans would see you as a betrayer of your own kind." I thought about this, and then responded, "Perhaps I am odd, as you say. Still, you have shown me kindness, and I am only responding in kind." "Need I remind you that it was I that wounded you?" I laughed, "You had no idea who I was when you threw your dagger. Who did you think I might be?" "I saw your bow first. I thought you were Kinilike." "So you threw your dagger at Kinilike. Once you knew it was not he, you brought me here and saved my life." She smiled slightly, her dagger disappearing under her cloak, "I never would have fathomed that I would save a human's life when I set out a day ago." I asked, "Do you spend a lot of time on the surface?" "More time than the elders would allow were they to know," she smiled a little wider, "And, since it so happens that you were not hunting me, what were you doing out in the storm?" "Food has been scarce, all animals driven to hide, and so I was searching out there for game." "Do you not live in the woods? I would think that game should be plenty within." "My traps turned up none, and my search within the woods was fruitless." "You are quite far from the eastern woods." I nodded, "I am two days' travel." She sighed, "Then you should not have too much trouble making it home. I can give you a little medicine to help with the pain if it gets too much." "It sounds like you plan to take your leave." "I must. I need to get back soon, before someone is sent to collect me." "May I know your name?" I asked. "I am Raina, of the Moonlock clan." "I am Cuthbert, last of the Woodsides." She left the next morning, just before first light, settling her hood back onto her head, staring out at the continuing downpour from the mouth of the cave. "Will you be okay out there?" I asked her, "Do you have far to travel?" "North a ways, almost a day's travel, but I will have no trouble. I must say, your concern for my safety is refreshing." "We are well met, I hope. If you are ever in the eastern woods, and are in need of shelter, I pray you consider my home as an option." "I believe we may be well met, Cuthbert," she smiled beatifically, "May we meet again under pleasant skies." "May we ever," I responded, and I watched as she made her way up the path and out of sight. I returned to the fire, thinking about everything that had taken place. I looked over at my bow, wondering if my father had been speaking truthfully about where he had gotten it. Perhaps it had happened just as he had said, and the celestial elf had slain Kinilike, claiming the bow as his prize. It might be possible. Still, where it came from no longer mattered. It was now my bow, and it would not spill dark elf blood unless it was justified, and hatred was not justified. I remained in the cave for two more days, using the wood available to keep the fire going. There, I allowed my wound to heal more before going back out into the rain. As I went back toward the mouth of the cave I saw something on a narrow ledge nearby. As I went for a closer look, I saw that it was a small bundle of something, wrapped in thin hide. I unwrapped it, and smiled. Raina had left me the other wheel of cheese, having left it without me knowing. Perhaps she still felt responsible for my injuries. I took it, since she had been kind enough to leave it. It might seem disrespectful not to. On the third morning, I shouldered my bow, donned my cloak, and left for my cabin. My left shoulder was stiff, but not too bad. I started up the narrow path, through the cracked boulder, and, across the hills, keeping Gyreal Mountain ahead of me and slightly to the left. I left the hills behind me by the end of the day, and, with no possible shelter for the night, I was forced to keep moving, slogging through the mud, the burning in my shoulder beginning to increase. I took occasional rests, huddled in the rain, shivering, nibbling at the cheese Raina had left me, wondering if I would ever see her again, deciding that the possibility, however possible, was very unlikely. I would probably never cross paths with her again, which was a shame. I made it to the woods by midday on the second day, my legs burning with exhaustion, and took an hour of rest, my back against a Gnoll tree, massaging the muscles of my sore legs. It was still raining, but the thick, large leaves and long branches helped to shelter me from much of it. From there, it would only be another five or six hours until I would reach my cabin. And then I could rest some more, maybe let my wound finish healing, and... I was still in the same dilemma in which I had started out. Without food, I would still die. I left the cover of the Gnoll tree and continued walking. My shoulder was soon on fire, and it was all I could do to keep from moving it excessively, though every little step sent a bolt of pain through my body. Six hours later, deep into the night, I finally reached the cabin, and I dragged myself inside, started a fire, and collapsed on the floor before it. Tossing my drenched cloak aside, I covered myself with my bear pelt, and fell into an exhausted sleep. Waking up a little at a time, the first thing I was aware of was a burning pain in my shoulder that throbbed with every beat of my heart. Gradually, I realized that I had slept on the floor, wrapped up in the bear pelt, and that my entire body was sore and stiff. I extracted myself from the pelt, dragged myself to my feet, taking care not to use my injured shoulder. It was still raining outside, and a there were a few spots where water had seeped through the roof. I would have to repair them before they got too bad, but first I needed to work the stiffness from my tired muscles. As I stretched my muscles, I moved my injured shoulder and received a bolt of agony that brought me to my knees. In my ruckah, I found the small piece of hide with string tied around it, and untied it. Inside were a few pinches of the gritty, gray substance. I slowly removed my shirt, wincing, gasping, cursing, and then applied a pinch of the medicine to my wound, rubbing it in. Within about five minutes, the pain abated. I tied the hide back up for later, and put on a fresh shirt. With the pain dulled down, I could exercise my injured shoulder, though slowly and carefully. It would still take some time to heal. I grabbed a few bowls and put them under the leaks for the time being, added some wood to the fire in the hearth, which was mostly cinders, and nibbled on the remains of the wheel of cheese, ignoring the protestations of my stomach as it demanded more. From there, I ended up at my workbench, where I worked on my carvings. I had a few new carvings to add to the other finished pieces, and one I was halfway through with. I used knives with very small blades of my own making, leaning forward over the carving, and began working the piece, little grooves here, more detail there, one wing freed, the other still trapped in the wood, little by little extracting it from the rest of the wood. Wings outstretched, frozen in mid-flap, long, narrow, slightly down-curved beak fully detailed now, feathers forming bit by bit under my steady hand. I used two small, black river pebbles, polished until they gleamed, for the eyes, inserting them into the eye sockets. The tiny feet were positioned as they would be in flight, retracted and held close to the body, the tail pointed down. Finally, after turning the hummingbird, which was about half the size of an apple, over and over, inspecting each area to ensure its completion, I set it with the other finished carvings. I had passed about four hours on the hummingbird, and I figured that I would wheel the covered cart that I used to transport my hides and carvings out to the edge of the woods, because there was nothing else that I could do that my shoulder would not prevent. I loaded the cart with the remaining hides I had finished, and my finished carvings... all except for the hummingbird. For some reason, I couldn't stand to part with it just yet, so I set it back on the shelf. I grabbed my bow and quiver, and went out. I had to pull the cart, rolling it over roots, small brush, and saplings, carefully as to not knock around the carvings, and made my way to the southern edge of the woods. There, I let the cart sit and waited under the canopy of a Gnoll, hoping to see a trader determined enough to weather the storm. The sky was gray, ashen, but there was still light. It was difficult to pinpoint the time without sunlight, and the time dragged by like oak sap. I occupied myself with thoughts of Raina, who had hopefully made it back to her home in one piece. She had seemed so surprised to find that I, being human, bore her no hatred, and I supposed that living around so many of her kind who loathed humans with a passion would color her opinion over time. After all, living underground must be a constant reminder of all they had lost. Hummingbird Still, in spite of all our differences, I found her to be quite an alluring creature, fierce, yet gentle. I hoped that our paths would cross again so that I could see her again- A wagon drew near, drawn by a pair of oxen, wheels clattering over the uneven ground. I stood, pleasantly surprised, and the wagon came to a halt next to me. A burly, heavily-bearded dwarf sat in the driver's seat, smoking a deep-bowled pipe. "Be still," the dwarf warned, "Or yer next breath be yer last." I stood still, my bow still shouldered, "Be easy, I mean no harm. I wish to barter." "Perhaps, or perhaps there be more of ye at the ready. Sput! What do ye see?" A small imp clambered on board, clothed in dark hide garments, its head disproportionately small for its body, "Alone, none else." "Well, ye may yet live another day. Sput here be quite skilled with poison darts, and he be sharp with his aim, so he be. What have ye to trade? I intend to be on me way swiftly, so I be." I brought my cart, showed the dwarf the hides, and then the carvings. "Ye make these little animals? That be impressive, I say! There be those who pay a pretty price for such things, know ye?" "Above all, I require food, if you can spare it." The dwarf gave the hides a quick examination, "Not the greatest lot be they, but I take them still, so I do. But these animals ye carved, they be first rate. Sput, behold these animals!" Sput leaned close, peering at the carvings with keen interest, "Like real, but wood! Owl and fish, hare and... and..." "And turtle, ye simple turnip! That be a turtle, what with its shell on its back! Yes, we have food we may give in trade for yer wares!" For my hides, the dwarf traded five small loaves of brown breads, but for the carvings, he added a wheel of golden cheese as large as my head and some salted pork. "I be back in a few months' time, and I gladly take more of yer animals for trade when next I see ye. Sput, scout ahead, brigands haunt these lands, and I'd be ready to make a few less, so I be. Take care, carver, they be a mean lot." I thanked the dwarf for his generosity and his warning, and hurried back with my cart, resisting the urge to gorge my fill right there where I stood. Back at my cabin, I unloaded the cart and put it away. Once I was inside, I threw off my cloak, sat down at my table, and forced myself to eat sparingly, a few thin slices from the wheel of cheese, a small chunk of salted pork, and a small portion of bread. But even that little was enough to sate me. I put the food in the store room. With such small portions, I could most likely make it last a month. I added a few more logs to the fire, keeping it going strong, and then sat down at the workbench. I still had scraps left from the hummingbird carving, but no wood large enough to start a new one. I looked up at the hummingbird as it sat on the shelf, lying on its side. If I was planning on keeping it, I would either need to hang it by a string from the ceiling, or create a stand for it to pose on. I used one of the larger scraps, creating a base with a concave bottom, almost like the lip of a bell. On the top portion, I began carving three narrow arms, and adjusted the hummingbird on it, repeatedly shaving down the ends of the arms until the hummingbird was posed upon it properly. Then I treated both the stand and the bird with a very thin, watery wax to seal and protect it. I cleaned the eyes off, and then set it back up on the shelf. It was shinier now, a little darker, and still a fetching piece, even if I did say so myself. I sat by the fire, letting the heat chase away my chills, and I realized that the emptiness I suddenly began to feel wasn't emptiness, but loneliness. For a night, I had someone to talk to, someone I found that I liked talking to, and now I was alone again. I wanted to know more about her, wanted to enjoy her company. I tried to imagine what it was like to be surrounded by family, friends, neighbors, children... and I could not. I could not even imagine people in my own cabin, sitting at the table, or clustered around the fire, conversations, laughter, arguments aplenty. It must be unbearably noisy. I also attempted to imagine what Raina would be doing, but I knew terribly little about her. Perhaps she was a healer; she had done a fine job with my wound. I imagined her knelt over someone, applying a powder to the elf's broken arm, or a child's scrapes, tending the brittle bones of the elderly. Still, I supposed, I had no idea for sure. Feeling weary, I dragged myself to my bed, expecting to be asleep in a matter of minutes. Instead, I pictured Raina in my head as she had smiled at me, and also as she had been, so keen of hearing that she could have a dagger at my throat as I had offered my cloak for her comfort. The next few weeks, my injury healed to a thin, puckered scar, and I regained full range of motion of my shoulder. Also, after the first week of my return, it finally stopped raining. I began repairing my roof, patching holes that had formed, and then gathering firewood, setting it in the sun beside the cabin to fully dry. Most of the vegetables and fruits in my garden had been drowned, the stalks crushed, but, among them were survivors. I rotated the soil around them, not removing the plants that had been killed, as they would fertilize the soil, and the seeds would grow new plants eventually. I roamed the woods around the cabin, checking my traps, many of which were empty. In two of them, I found rabbits that had investigated the red berries I had placed inside for bait. The rabbits were skinny, but meat was meat. In another, a snare, I found a small doe, which began thrashing as I neared. I ended it with a well-placed arrow that pierced the heart. I reset the traps, brought back my catch, and began skinning the deer, draining it of blood while I did so. Once I had removed the pelt, I scraped the layer of fat from it, set it aside, and removed its organs, many of which I could eat, while others had their own uses. While I let the carcass continue to drain, I took care of the rabbits. After cleaning up the mess I'd made, I went in and bathed, using rainwater I had collected using a device I had created. It employed a long, hollow, wooden tube that went through the ceiling and roof before belling out at its end. The tube went down to a large, wooden bowl that sat on the floor. It was simple, and very useful, though I had needed to dump it out while it had been raining nonstop. I gathered water from it using a smaller bowl about the size of my head, carried it outside, and began to strip my bloody clothes off. I rinsed off, scrubbed with a small piece of linen, and then rinsed again. Next, I began scrubbing my clothes, trying to remove the stains from the animal blood, not quite removing all of them. I dumped the bloody water, went back inside and re-clothed in fresh garments. I picked up my bow and arrows, went outside, grabbed a small hatchet, and went into the woods to collect more wood for my carvings. It was late in the day by the time I had found, cut, and possessed an armload of the wood I needed, and I began heading back when I heard some shouting deeper in the woods. I set the wood down, prepared my bow, and moved closer to see what was amiss. As I neared, a man cried out in agony, and the sounds of battle ensued. Another man bellowed in pain, and then someone came running at me. As it was getting darker, it was not easy to see who it was, but when I could, I gaped dumbly. "Cuthbert," Raina was bloody and gasping in pain, "Please..." "Come with me," I urged grimly, and she began to follow, but fell, so I picked her up and carried her to my cabin. I could hear her adversaries somewhere behind us, searching for her. Finally we reached the cabin. I let her in, and closed the door, barring it after me. She collapsed to the floor, and I knelt beside her. "What has happened?" I asked, helping her remove her cloak. She moved stiffly, painfully, wincing, "Brigands... came upon me while... I rested from the journey." I helped her to a chair, and she fell into it, crying out softly. "They took my spear," she pressed her hand to her right side, flinching, "But they knew not of my dagger. I fell one of them with a deep slice of the throat, but left my blade in the chest of a second. Quickly after, disarmed, I ran." "How many were they?" I put a pot of water to boil in the hearth, and set aside a linen cloth, almost the only one I had that was still clean. "They numbered five, big brutes, all of them. There may only be three now." I tended the cut on her brow, using the hot water and linen cloth to gently clean around it. All other injuries being bruises, some expansive, including the one on her right side, I could not do much more. "I have my medicines, and they will tend to the worst of my injuries," she opened her ruckah. I let her tend the bruises, turning to give her privacy. I rinsed her blood from the cloth, boiled it in the water in the pot, and hung it nearby to dry. I was about to remove the pot from the hearth when someone pounded angrily on my door. I turned to Raina, who had gained her feet, fear plain on her face. "You must hide," I whispered, "I will turn them away." "You may need help," she hissed, "I can help!" "No, please, I will handle it. Also, you are unarmed. Just hide in the store room." She hurried into the store room, out of sight, and I went to the door, grabbing my bow and nocking an arrow. Thus armed, I removed the bar and threw the door open hard, causing it to crash against the wall. The sudden noise and motion startled a very brutish man, clad in rough furs and wielding a battle axe. The man bore old scars on his face, and was bearded in dark hair. "Woodsman," growled the man in an equally large voice, "We seek a filthy little dark elf. Has the diseased little beast come this way?" "I have seen no elf," I spoke evenly, "Why do you seek one?" "The abomination attacked my brothers and me, killed two of them, it did! I will crush the beast under my feet, and its head I will mount on my wall!" "If your brothers are as large as you, I fail to see how such as a dark elf could fell one of you, let alone two," I replied. "The abomination was quick, a dagger it used, hidden in its cloak, 'fore fleeing like the dirty little coward it be. Have you seen it, 'haps felt pity and now hide it? Speak true, woodsman, or you will share its misery, for find it we will!" My heart pounded, but I spoke calmly, for fear might betray me, "I hide no elf within. I believe you have been misled to have ended up at my door." "We tracked the cursed beast this direction, woodsman! I say again, speak true, or your head be mounted next to the diseased beast's 'fore the night be over!" "And I say again that you are misled, Now threaten me not, or your brothers will mourn you this night at your resting place." Taken aback, the brute scowled darkly, prepared to threaten me once more, but halted as I drew back my arrow, prepared to loose it at his face. "Pray your path never again crosses mine, woodman," his voice was low, venomous. "I will do so. I am loathe to waste even a single arrow on such as you." The man bared his teeth, and then stalked away. I waited, my arrow still drawn back and ready to fly, until he joined with two other slightly smaller, yet dangerous men in the woods. They disappeared from sight soon after, and I relaxed my arms, returning the arrow to my quiver. I closed and barred the door. My legs suddenly weak, I sank into a chair at the table, setting my bow next to me. Raina appeared from the store room, her eyes widened in surprise as she gazed at me. "What sort of man might you be to speak thus to a human who equals two of you in size?" she asked. "You must be hungry," I got up, feeling a little weak still, but recovering, "Pardon my manners; I will provide some food and drink." "He called you woodsman," she recalled, "How does a woodsman stand to a brute like him and succeed in causing fear?" I went into the store room, cut small pieces of cheese, pork, and bread, bringing them to the table and setting them before her. "And why do you evade my questions?" she regarded me with suspicion. "Please, you should eat, and I will fetch you some water," I indicated the food. "Tell me at once," she insisted in frustration. I brought her a mug filled with water, setting it next to the plate with the food on it. "I will not touch crumb nor drop until I know why," she warned. "He may be two of me in size, but half of me in mind," I sighed, "He feared my arrow, and rightly he should. Brigands such as he rely on their size to cause fear. He saw no fear in me, so he had no advantage." "You must be quite mad to not fear such a beast!" she exclaimed wonderingly. "Oh, I feared greatly. I only showed none." "Then how were you able to stand and feel great fear, yet show none?" "You gave me strength, that if you could defend against five, I could stand against one." "I hardly escaped with my life!" I nodded, "Yet you did, and fell two of them as well." "If he had attacked, I may not have been much help in a fight," she admitted, "I am much weakened." "Perhaps, but I would have defended you all the same." "You owe me not your life, and I would not ask it!" she declared, "I had expected that you would turn me over once you beheld their size." "How low you must have thought of me," I frowned, "To think I would betray you to them." She lowered her eyes in shame, "Please forgive me, I beg. I meant no offense with my words." "I may be human, but I am not like them." "I beg of you, please forgive me," she said again, her hands before her clasped together. "Be easy," I took her hands, "You are already forgiven." "And I now owe you my own life, as I had faced death before you saved me." I blinked, and then shook my head, "You owe me no such thing." "If they had caught me, my head would be a trophy. If not for you, it would be so." "And you have saved mine, as I would have died in the rain. We are quite even." "You seem to forget once again that it was my dagger that wounded you," she argued. "I insist, you owe me nothing, but I would happily accept your friendship, as I have been long without a friend." "Then I give my friendship and loyalty," she agreed readily. "I am well pleased," I smiled, "Now, please eat. You will need to regain your strength." She ate most of what I had put on the plate, and all of the water from the mug, and would eat no more, "I cannot eat more for fear that you have little else." "Be easy, I was fortunate to happen upon a trader soon after returning here, and I have plenty. Also, after the rains stopped, I happened upon a doe and two rabbits, which have been added to my stores. Eat as much as you require, I happily offer it." "The elders would never believe me if I ever spoke of your great kindness to me," she smiled, "They would insist that I was spinning tales to fool them." "You must have grown with endless accounts of horrible misdeeds wrought by my kind, if any act of kindness would be so unbelievable!" "My father alone has recounted countless encounters," she emphasized. "Then our friendship should continue without his knowledge, or they will disallow it." "I swore my friendship to you, and I would not end it at their insistence. They would have you killed for it, no doubt, and I, and possibly my entire clan, would be banished." I paled, worried, "Would you so readily accept such harsh consequences on my account?" "It shall not come to pass, as we are to continue our friendship without the knowledge of the elders," she assured me. She huddled before the fire, and I draped my bear pelt across her shoulders. She glanced up at me gratefully, her eyes reflecting the firelight. Then she looked past me and spotted the hummingbird as it perched upon the stand. "Is that..." she stood with some difficulty and went to the shelf to look closer, "This is a hummingbird. Where did you come upon such a treasure? It is beautiful!" I stood next to her, smiling, "It is one of my creations." "You? You carved this?" "I did. You seem surprised." "Surprised? I'm astounded! Such attention to detail... I have seen no rival, save for the true creature itself." "I am pleased to hear so. I traded my other works, but felt compelled to keep this one." "You possess quite a talent. Its eyes..." "Those are black pebbles from a river, polished and placed." She gazed up at the hummingbird still, entranced, "Once again, you have surprised me, Cuthbert. I would not have thought it of you, I confess." "I carved it soon after my return from the rocky hills where I met you... perhaps I kept it from the others because it reminded me of you." Raina blinked, confused, "Of me? The black eyes, you mean?" I thought for a few seconds, and then explained, "The hummingbird may appear frail, vulnerable, you see. However, I have witnessed occasions where it has bravely chased away blood-hawks, which are so much larger. Hummingbirds are quick, their wings flitting so that they are difficult to see, so graceful and elegant, and I am constantly stunned with awe of their beauty." I glanced beside me, and was startled to see tears glimmering in her eyes, which were now upon me. Thinking I had crossed a line of which I had no business crossing, I stumbled over my next words, "Please, forgive me if I have spoken out of line, I meant nothing by-" "No!" she stopped me, "Do not say that, I beg, not if you truly meant your words." I closed my mouth, not sure what I could say next, and she pressed her lips to mine, one eternity, another, and then done in only a few seconds. She seemed as surprised as me of her boldness. For an awkward moment, she said nothing, searching for the right words, and I was less sure of my words. "I-I... " she faltered. "Yes..." I tried, my heart pounding with nervous excitement. "I... should... I should... lie down... I feel weak... " she lowered her eyes. I felt a wave of disappointment, but quelled it. She had, after all, just recently survived an attack by a group of vicious brigands. She had more than earned some rest and recovery. I nodded, managing a smile. "Yes, it has been quite a dangerous day, has it not? You should rest." I led her toward my bed, and, as she lay down, I covered her once more with the bear pelt. "This does not mean that..." she looked up at me, "Please... tell me that you meant what you said." I leaned down a little closer and answered, "You are as the hummingbird, Raina. I mean every word." She smiled radiantly, her eyes bright, "Say it once more, that I may take it to heart." "You, dear Raina, are as the hummingbird." I held her hand, sitting on the side of the bed, until she was asleep, and then I held her hand still, feeling the warmth that radiated softly from it. When I finally released her, it was with great reluctance, but I contented myself with watching over her. I brought a chair over and set it down softly next to her bed. I sat down in it, wondering what was happening to me. Being always alone, I had only spoken to traders, and once to a man who had showed up at my door, asking for assistance. The man had turned out to be a foe, intending on ending me and taking everything of value. Luckily for me, he had underestimated me greatly. With an arrow in his stomach, bleeding and crying out in agony, he had made great bait for the bear under whose pelt Raina slept now. With such limited conversations in my lifetime, one might expect I would be more akin to an animal, responding with grunts and howls. However, my father had taught me to read, using the books he owned as tools for the task. As well as everything else he had left me, his books became mine, and I had read them several times since, as well as other books that I bartered for when the trader I met happened to have a few. Hummingbird There were several books in my collection that contained characters of other races, including wood elves, imps, and dwarves, but never dark elves. What I had said to Raina, I had never read in any book; the words had just spilled from my lips, and they had surprised me as much as her. I was not sure what would happen next, and I was less sure how to respond to it. Of romance, I knew only of what I had read, trysts and affairs, but not much regarding what exactly took place in the heat of such circumstances. But if I could say what I did without having read it before, then should such an affair occur between Raina and me, perhaps I could do it again, but with actions rather than words. Not that I expected anything of the sort to happen. For all I knew of dark elves, perhaps such an affair was physically impossible, or quite different in nature, even. I dozed off in the chair at some point, slumping over a little. When I awoke, I was leaning forward so that my head rested on my arms on the edge of the bed. And Raina was gone. I was quite sore for having slept in such a position, and it took a minute of massaging the tightened muscles in my back before I could stand up straight. The door was closed, but no longer barred; she had left. I opened the door, finding that it was not quite morning. The sky was dark, but not as dark toward the east. I wanted to call for her, but I did not know if the brigands were still out in the woods. As I had just begun to fear the worst, I saw movement in the woods to the north. I grabbed for my bow, came back to the door, and breathed a sigh of relief. It was Raina, cloaked, approaching. She pushed her hood back as she came close. "They are camped in the woods north of here, but not very far." "You worried me," I understated, "Why did you leave?" "Forgive me, I only went to find where they were. Also, I had hoped to reclaim my weapons, but they hid them, I knew not where." I shook my head, "It is dangerous out there. If they had caught you, I would not know about it until it was too late." "Be easy, for I am fine... still sore and bruised, but my medicine is helping." "I cannot be easy with thoughts of you slain," I frowned. "Come, please, let us go inside," she took my hand, and I followed. I barred the door, and then turned to her as she removed her cloak and sat down on the edge of the bed with a wince. The fire had gotten low, the wood mostly consumed. I threw a few logs on, sparks swirling up before winking out. I poked at the char underneath, and flames sprouted up, catching upon the logs, growing brighter once more. Little calmed, I sat in the chair next to the bed, "You are still in pain?" "The medicine works for most of it," she answered, removing her boots, "You worry too much." "I am concerned. To lose you so soon after finding you..." "Come and lie down. You must be most sore from sleeping in a chair." I allowed her to pull me close to her. She pulled my arm around her and snuggled against my chest. I could feel her breathing slow, and she was quickly asleep. I, however, took longer, so greedy for the sight of her in my arms, for the warmth of her breaths. I awoke some time later, feeling disoriented for a moment. At some point, Raina had turned over so that we both faced the same way, her body comfortably pressed against mine, and my arm positioned in such a way that the palm of my hand rested upon a firm, high breast. I felt a flush creeping up my neck and lighting on my cheeks until my face burned. I began to move my hand away, but then her hand grabbed mine and pulled it back. I could feel a part of my body responding to such intimate contact, and I turned slightly so that I could keep it to myself. "Your body seems to know what it wants," I heard her whisper, and my flush deepened. "I am sorry if I offended," I mumbled. "I take no offense to the way your body responded to me. Be easy." I relaxed slightly, and she pulled me tighter against her. The sudden pressure of her body against that burning, sensitive hardness of me caused me to gasp in surprise. She started, turning toward me, concerned. "Did I hurt you?" "Ah..." I flushed deeper, "No, I... just wasn't expecting... no, you did not hurt me." She smiled slightly, shy, "If it calms you to know, I did not mind your touch. Perhaps, when I have recovered more... we may... touch like this again." Eventually, we both left the bed. She gathered some pork, cut into small chunks, and added it to a pot of boiling water. I collected what little I had in the way of vegetables, including milk-pea pods, carrots, and a usable head of leaf-bloom, and she cut them up as well, adding them to the mixture in the pot, making a stew. She added some spices from the store room, and rich, savory smells wafted from the pot. She covered it to let the stew cook for a while, and we both sat at the table, and she asked me to tell her my story. I did, about my father's banishment, how we ended up in this cabin, learning everything I knew. In return, she told me about herself, about a subterranean city where she lived, her father, her clan, and the other clans that inhabited the city. I was surprised to learn that she had lived already for one hundred and twenty-seven years. "Essentially, I am hardly an adult," she explained, "My kind can live over a thousand years, though the oldest I know of at this point is Iselu, of the Windfang clan, who is nine hundred and thirteen years of age." "Then you have quite a long time to live," I tried not to think about how my entire life would pass in what would amount to about half a decade of her own life. "It would have been quite short, if you had not found me when you did," she reminded me. Eager to change the subject, I asked, "What do you do when you are home with your clan?" "I collect herbs and plants to make medicines and salves," she said. "So this is why you go to the surface, to collect herbs and plants?" She nodded, "I could have them bought from some of the shops near me, but they are never as strong as the things I pick on the surface. I believe that the freshness makes a difference. Beside s that, I enjoy the sun on my skin, the freshness of the air, the openness of the surface... it was this, more than the freshness of the plants and herbs, that made me want to venture up. And now, you..." "How long until you are missed, and they send people to search for you?" She frowned, "They might already be at this moment. There is no telling. Of course, nobody knows exactly where I am, as I was only planning on going as far as the fields south of the eastern woods. But if the scouts sent to find me can track me, they will eventually track me here. So, once I have healed... I will need to get back." Thoughts passed, unbidden and unwelcome, through my mind, thoughts of the consequences faced if her clan, or any of the other clans, discovered our friendship, of the hundreds of years of life ahead of her, while I, if lucky, would be given about seventy years, of how any others would see our differences and respond negatively, not that I cared about what people thought, but of how violently they might react to the discovery... it seemed that the chances of our living a peaceful life together, even only in friendship, were quite low. But even with all that, I could see the way she looked at me, her words, and I believed that this meant more than just a simple friendship. Was it doomed to end badly? "If you were any more transparent, I would see right through you," she said. I started, "What do you mean?" "You are concerned, it is written on your face. Why do you worry?" I shook my head, "It has been so long since I have had friendship... I worry about losing you." Raina moved closer to me, her hand in mine, "I would be false if I said that I do not worry as well. But it would not do to worry over events that may or may not take place, more so because we cannot control them. It only darkens the time we do have, you see." "Then I will do my best not to worry," I promised. "That is very well... I do believe the stew is ready to eat." I lifted the lid, and the fragrant aroma of well-prepared stew filled the cabin. We ate well, two bowls each, and then lazed for a while, sated and warm. I had begun to doze off, feeling much better than I had for years, grateful for the welcome weight of her as she leaned against me, her head on my shoulder, her hand in mine. My mind drifted ever closer toward slumber, when I felt her sit up and regard me. She moved close and kissed my cheek, and I opened my eyes, turning to her. She leaned forward and kissed my lips, and I kissed her back, feeling the nervous tremors in her lips. We kissed like this for another ten seconds, and then she sat back a little. "All of this is very new to me," she confessed, her eyes searching mine. "I know very little, from books I have read..." We kissed again, and I touched her gently, afraid that I would bump a bruise. Her arms went around me, resting upon my shoulders and pulling me close. Her lips parted slightly, and I felt the heat and wetness of her tongue, so I parted my own lips and met her tongue with my own, and our kiss deepened as our hunger for each other grew. I pulled her into my lap, and her hands began sliding up and down my back. I unlaced the ribbon laces on the side of her blouse, and slowly removed her shirt, our lips parting briefly so that I could pull it off of her. Her skin was soft, dark blue-gray, bruises apparent along her right side, her arms, and on her back. Her breasts were firm in my hands, her areolas a darker blue, almost midnight, capped by small nipples. She kissed me harder as my fingers brushed her hardened nipples, her breath harsh with passion. My own body was responding as well, jutting out proudly, pressed against her. She suddenly looked down, surprised, as she noticed it. "Am I hurting you?" I shook my head, "No, all is well. All is more than well... only, are you very sore, still? I do not wish to cause you pain." She pressed her body tightly against mine, "Do not concern yourself with that. All I concern myself with is that you love me as you will. I am yours in passion only as you speak it once more to me, the words you spoke to me, I beg of you." I smiled, "My love, you are as the hummingbird, fierce, full of beauty and grace." Tears sparkled in her eyes, her lips trembling, "I shall never tire of hearing such lovely words." I spread the bear pelt on the floor, and then I further undressed her until she lay before me, her body presented to me. I knelt before her and busied my hands to explore the lithe beauty of her. My lips met hers briefly, so briefly that I took the time for another deep, unrestrained kiss before planting more kisses along her cheek, to her neck, her throat, to her shoulders. Her fingers stroked through my hair, lighting upon small areas of my head that caused tingles to race along my scalp. My lips reached her breasts, and she gasped as I teased the delicate nipples, unable to focus upon one for long before noticing the other and moving to attend it. Her flesh prickled up in response, and she whimpered as I captured a nipple in my mouth, pressing my lips around it and flicking the tip of it with my tongue. But, as much as I would have liked to remain at her breasts, there were other wonders to behold, other pleasures to be wrought, so I kissed along her ribs, to her flat, slightly concaved stomach. Her provocative, slightly musky aroma permeated my nose, captivating me. I moved down to its source, her thighs parting under my urging. Between her lovely thighs, my eyes beheld two slender petals under a patch of silver, wispy, soft hairs, two petals that leaked a moisture of desire, and it was from within that gave such tantalizing aromas that made me ache with want. As I lowered my face toward those soft petals, she started slightly. I stopped and raised my head to ask of her concern. "That part of me..." she seemed afraid. "That part of you is as lovely as its whole, my love, and I wish to praise it with my lips. Be easy, as I will be gentle in your pleasure." She nodded, biting her bottom lip with concern, but not bidding me cease. I returned to plant soft kisses along her thighs, her trembling of worry replaced with shivers of delight. I continued, kissing ever closer, wishing to light directly upon those slender petals, but staying that wish as I more wished not to cause her fear. Finally, no longer able to avoid it, I kissed first upon one side, then the other, catching some of her moisture and tasting it to find it as irresistible as its scent. I used my tongue to swipe up one side, and then then other, hearing her gasp, but not bidding me cease, so I continued. Her thighs parted more as she found the sensations of my tongue between them quite enjoyable, and I parted the petals to find purplish-blue within, and more moisture seeping outward toward me. As I delved my tongue inside to taste her, her hands clutched the bear pelt on either side of her waist, and I paused, believing I had hurt her. "No, do not stop, I beg, I have never before felt such wonderful sensations!" she cried. I brought my tongue to explore as she wished, feeling her tighten upon it, the moisture increasing with the pleasure I gave her, and I wanted more, greedy I became for the taste of her. Her body writhed, her legs resting on my shoulders and back, her cries and moans increasing in intensity as I brought her to fulfillment, and then her body shuddered as the pleasure overwhelmed her, her hips thrusting up at me uncontrollably. Then, gradually, she began to relax, her legs leaving my back to rest upon the floor, the tension leaving her body with flutters of tremors. She gasped for breath, her eyes wide with amazement. "I..." she laughed weakly, "That was..." "The first of many times, I pray," I replied. "I shall repay pleasure with pleasure," she came to me and kissed me deeply, paying no heed to the moisture from her that rested upon my lips. Then she began to unclothe me, stopping frequently to kiss me more. Finally, as I was fully unclothed, she regarded me, her fingers stroking across my skin, and down to that part of me that throbbed and yearned for attention. She encircled it in her fingers, feeling the smoothness of the flesh, the veins that crossed it, the pulse of my heart raced through it, a drop of clear fluid suspended upon the tip. "This is," she spoke of it, excited, "Just as the ones some of the women in my clan use to fulfill their desires while the men work and the little ones sleep. I happened upon it by chance, and my mother explained its purpose... she never did so in great detail... but, one day, I spied upon her and three of her sisters as they gave themselves and each other pleasure." I was unsure what to say of this, so I said nothing. "It was quite startling," she admitted, "And still exciting, as I was not supposed to witness it... and it aroused... other feelings in me as well, much like you have just done. Does this alarm you?" I considered her question, and then shook my head, "Not in the least." "It did me, a little at first... A part of me wanted to join them, but I was too afraid." She leaned down and captured the tip of my flesh between her lips, and then enveloped half of the length into her mouth. As she backed out, her tongue tickled the sensitive organ, causing it to jump slightly in her mouth. Slowly, she moved me in and out of her mouth, her saliva coating the skin. I moaned at the intensely pleasurable feelings, watching her as she continued sucking at me, her finger and thumb wrapped gently but firmly around the base. Encouraged by my favorable reactions, she became more confident, her mouth moving over me more hastily, her lips pressed tighter around the hard flesh, and I was suddenly poised at a great precipice, my body thrumming with overwhelming pleasure. I groaned, and felt a great release, and another, as thick strings of my seed burst forth, surprising her so that she released me from her mouth. More and more spewed from me onto her, dripping slowly from one cheek, her chin, and her breasts. Finally, the eruption of my seed subsided, one last lazy bit oozing from the tip to drizzle down the side. "Forgive me," I gasped, "I did not expect to make such a mess." She wiped her cheek and chin, examining the sticky mess now on her fingers, "I swallowed some before I even realized what had happened." I felt remorseful, but she seemed more surprised by the amount than where it had landed. "I have never tried such a thing before," she gazed at the seed on her hand, "Nor have I witnessed it..." She brought her hand to her lips and licked some of the creamy liquid from it, "It has a most unusual taste, almost of water from the sea, but not as salty. Perhaps when next I do this, I will try to take all of it." I fetched her a cloth with which to clean her of my seed, and she regarded the mess more. "You are ready for more, I see," she licked her lips, "I would like to do more... I still have my purity... and I wish to give myself to you." I was worried, "Am I worthy of it?" She nodded, "You are, many times over. Would you accept me as your lover, as I offer it to no other?" "I am yours, if you wish it." "I wish it," she climbed into my lap so that my hard flesh pressed against her thigh. She took hold of it and guided it between the petals of her maidenhead. She hesitated only briefly, and then bore down, sending me within. She gasped, her thighs tightening, wincing with the pain as I went where no man had ever been before me. I was alarmed, my hands moving to halt her, but she only shook her head. "No, do not, if you have love for me," she insisted, hissing the pain through her teeth, "Only let me remain where I am until the stinging subsides. For now and ever, we are joined and no other can make it not so." For almost a minute, neither she nor I moved, and then, with slow, small motions, she brought more of me into her, until I was fully joined with her. "I believe this way is best for my first time," she spoke, "So that I may grow used to being filled so completely. You wince, too. I am hurting you?" "The tightness, nothing more, and, see, it is not so much. I am concerned more for your pain." She smiled, "I cannot be sure, as I have no account to compare with, but I believe that the first time is to feel much like this, and that it will become more pleasurable not long after, and more so each time after this." With slow, tentative motions, she began moving, her hands upon my chest, her eyes on mine. She winced a few more times, but no more than that. Her motions became more fluid, her actions more natural. I looked down, and was dismayed to see that there was blood, bright red, with our joining, but she showed no more signs of pain or distress. Indeed, she began to show enjoyment, and I was already relishing the sensations as well. It was as it had been when she had had me in her mouth, but even better, as if I was sheathed in heated oils, enveloped completely, every inch of my organ massaged by her. She began to gasp, each breath punctuated with a moan, or a whimper, and then she flung her head back, crying out as her body was wracked with shudders, and I felt a flood of fluids covering my manhood, still more as she continued to move. She exclaimed in her native tongue, words I knew not flowing much as her liquids flowed from her. Finally speaking in the way I understood, she moaned, "Oh, this is so wonderful, please, I beg, release your seed within me, I must have it!" She moved quicker, insistently, and the pleasure was more than I could stand. I cried out and thrust myself deep, sending her into another bout of paroxysms of ecstasy even as I released myself inside her, each spurt inspiring a shiver that coursed throughout my entire body. She relaxed as soon as she felt the last weak spasm of my stuff within, and lay upon me so that I remained joined to her, our breaths ragged and explosive. Hummingbird Eventually, we calmed, and our hearts slowed. She raised her head to look at me, and tears shone in them. "I never knew that this could be so incredible!" she favored me, "And if each time after is better, I might faint from bliss!" I reached up and touched her cheek, elated, "I can imagine no greater rapture, nor would I wish to." "Speak true? Tell me you mean it." "I swear it, every word. I could love no other as you." She lay her head back upon my shoulder, her lips kissing my neck, her hands caressing my cheek. I held her in my arms, slipping swiftly into slumber. During the night, she woke me with kisses, and insisted that we couple again, her urges colored with excitement. "I must have you again, I beg!" She lay on her back, her thighs spread, and I knelt between them. She grasped me, pulling me to her, my manhood throbbing at the sight of her. I sank slowly inside her, and gave myself to her pleasure, first slow, soft, until she begged that I would hasten, for she drew near glorious release, and her excited, breathless urges for me brought me to my own release. Together, our gasps in unison, we coupled as lovers once more, and reached release, soon sleeping after, our energies spent. Upon waking the next morning, I found that Raina had woken first, and had washed. She added a few logs to the fire, which had died sometime in the night. She kindled it and set the kindling afire, which spread to the logs. When she turned to me, I saw a troubled expression in her eyes. "What is it?" I stood up and went to her. She hesitated, and then explained, "I was outside gathering wood for the fire and I spotted scouts in the woods. They were a ways off, and they did not spy me... they are not tracking very well, as you did carry me when I fell, and you know the woods as I do not." "Do you think they will-" I began, and someone knocked upon my door. Her eyes widened with fear, but I put a finger upon her lips, whispering, "Be easy, love." She nodded, gathered her cloak, and retreated to the store room. I dressed quickly as the visitor knocked again, and then, my bow in hand, arrow at the ready, I unbarred and opened the door. Two dark elves, clad in light armor and wielding long spears such as Raina had lost, stood a few paces back. They sneered openly, but retained their bearing. "Human," the one on the left regarded me with disdain, "We seek another of our kind, a female, who may have happened upon your dwelling." I replied mildly, "You are the second one to knock upon my door for this purpose, and I will tell you as I have told the last, I have seen no dark elves out here." "Who else has sought after her?" "A band of brigands, who numbered two less after happening upon her. They appeared quite worse for wear, so it was apparent that they had not expected such a response. You are dark elves?" The two glanced at each other, and then back at me, surprised at my question, the talkative one responding, "Have you no sight? Can you not see that we are?" "Forgive me," I smiled apologetically, "I have never met a dark elf before. I have lived all of my life out here in the woods, mind you, and have not had the opportunity. You do not seem as pleased to encounter me, however. Have I wronged you, perhaps?" "Your kind has wronged us for centuries, human. Where did these brigands seek her next?" "Oh, well, I have not the office to apologize for so many humans before me, I am afraid, and I have never had occasion to wrong your kin, nor would I, being a peaceable sort. The brigands, three of them, moved on, south, towards the fields outside of the woods." The two elves, taken aback at my friendly demeanor, were unsure of how to retort. The first peered at me as if he'd never seen anything like me, which he probably hadn't, "I see... so you did not happen to see her at all?" "If I had, perhaps I would be no more, considering how large the brigands were. As it stands, you are the first dark elves I have ever met. I hope that you will not be the last, as I would wish to show you that, among those who have wronged you, there may be some that wish you no ill will." Disarmed of their sneers, they blinked, confused, and the first bade me a good day before they left. I went back inside, closing and barring the door, grinning. "You are a wonder," Raina emerged, smiling, from the store room, "If I were not careful, I would have laughed and ruined the whole story." "They seemed so angry that I could not help myself," I took her in my arms, "But, I suppose, this means that you must go back." "I wish not to," she frowned, "I would rather risk banishment than leave your side." "Would you risk your clan's banishment as well? I cannot be the cause of that." She started, stung by my words, "Would you forsake our love for those whom you do not know?" "I do not forsake our love, I only would not be responsible for the banishment of your family from their home. I have only you to lose. They would lose their home, their status, and all because of your love for me." "How could you hurt me so?" she cried, glaring at me, "If I go, they may not allow me to return to the surface, and I would never see you again. Are you to risk losing me just so my clan can retain their status?" "I do not want to lose you," I took her hand, "Is there any chance that I could convince them not to punish you and your clan, that I can be accepted?" "After centuries of hatred?" she wrenched her hand free from mine, "You would be fortunate to escape with your life! My father would have you put to death himself if he knew of our love!" "Then there is no hope of reconciliation, no way for us to be together without exiling an entire clan in return?" "And you have stated your decision," she grabbed her cloak, crying, "And I would not burden you with such a responsibility." She unbarred the door, flung it open, and fled into the woods. I struggled into my boots, cursing myself vehemently, grabbed my bow and quiver, and ran after her. I could not see her, nor where she had run, but I saw the print of her boot where the ground was still soggy, so I ran in that direction, towards the fields, but not directly south. I could not call her name, for fear of other ears hearing me, so I hurried ahead, passing a spot where I found another boot print, a freshly broken sprig from a sapling. Before long, another sign of her direction was presented me, though I could have gone a lifetime without hearing it; I heard her shriek in agony. I sprinted in her direction, fear and dread warring in my heart. I skidded to a stop as I saw her in a small clearing, surrounded by the three brigands, one of whom had wounded her with her own spear. The tip was stuck in the ground, impaled through the outside of her thigh. I almost cried out right there, but somehow kept my composure. I nocked an arrow, aimed, and let loose. The arrow streaked almost faster than I could see it, and buried itself in one of the brigands, deep into his throat. He gargled his own blood for a second, and then fell. I had another arrow nocked even as the other two, caught off their guards, spotted me. The leader bellowed in rage, and the other started toward me. I let loose the second arrow, and he stood for nearly three seconds, confused about the arrow protruding from his chest, trying to paw at it, and then falling forward onto it. I readied a third arrow, taking my eye off the leader for just a second, which was nearly too long. He had already crossed half the distance between us as I drew the arrow back, and was only three arm lengths from reaching me when I loosed it. It suddenly stuck from his right eye, and he stumbled forward. I dodged him easily, as he was no longer very coordinated, and he continued on straight for another five seconds before his body got the message, and he fell where he stopped. I rushed to Raina's side, kneeling next to her. "I've got to pull it from the ground," I paled as I saw the blood running from her thigh. She was reeling, hardly able to stand on her own, so I stood up and let her lean against me. I pulled the spear tip from the ground, and she cried out weakly. I caught her before she could faint, and I carried her carefully, trying not to bump the spear. I lamented the entire way, blaming myself and my idiot tongue for hurting her and sending her out into the woods. I reached the cabin, but I was not alone. "Unhand her, human!" the first scout shouted, his spear at my throat. The second scout was shocked at the spear that went through Raina's leg, so much so that he wasn't pointing his own spear. "I will not put her down, not until we get inside," I grunted, shivering, "Help me, I beg of you!" I rushed inside, followed by the two scouts, who watched as I placed her gently on the ground. "I have to take the spear out," I felt dizzy as I reached to grab the handle of the spear. "No!" the first scout stopped me, "Human, you cannot pull it back out the way it went it, not with the spear tip the way it is, you must-" "Cuthbert," I grit my teeth, "My name is Cuthbert, not 'Human.'" "Fine," the scout continued, "Cuthbert, you must cut the tip of the spear off first." I looked around, seeing my axe leaning against one wall, and shaking my head, "I do not have anything that would cut the spear, not without a lot of chopping." The scout reached into his ruckah, rooted around, and pulled out a black pouch that glimmered red depending on which way he turned it. "This will eat through the wood," he opened the pouch, "Hold her still, as it would eat through flesh just as quickly." The other scout grabbed one of my plates, placing it under the spear. The first scout sprinkled just a little of a greenish-blue powder onto the spear just under the tip. Immediately, the wood began smoking as the powder ate slowly through it. Within only a few minutes, the powder had eaten all of the way through the wood, and the spear tip clanked to the floor. The scout produced a small leather cloth, and wiped the remaining powder from the wood, tossing it onto the plate even as the powder started to eat through the leather. "Now comes the hard part," said the scout, "You must pull the spear out. Naku," he gestured to the other scout, "Ready the Tyrtue powder, and pour it on both sides of the wound as soon as he pulls the spear out." Naku nodded, grabbed a dark green pouch, opened it, and knelt on the other side of Raina. I took a deep breath, grabbed the spear shaft, and pulled it out quickly, tossing it aside. Even as the spear flew, Naku was pouring a little bit of powder in the back part of the wound, and as the spear clattered to the floor, he poured some on the front side. "This will slow the bleeding, but we must get her back so that she can be seen by someone who can mend the wound properly," the scout explained. "Good, I'll carry her," I nodded. "Your offer is appreciated, hum-... Cuthbert, but-" "No," I struggled to regain my composure, "I will carry her. You can lead the way." "You don't understand," the scout frowned, "Humans are not allowed in Farfell, never have been. You may be slain by the guards before you step across the threshold." Naku spoke up, "Rasab, Raina will not be long for this world if we don't hurry. Let him carry her, and we'll discuss this later." Rasab nodded to Naku, "You speak true, fine, Cutbert, we should go." I picked her up, and her arms went weakly around my shoulders, and, after a thought, I went to the shelf where the hummingbird carving was displayed. I grabbed it from the little stand, and gave it to her. She held onto it, opening her eyes briefly to see it. Naku and Rasab followed me outside, Naku closing the door behind him. The scouts led the way through the woods, and we passed by the place that Raina had been wounded, the brigands still dead where they lay. The scouts glanced at the corpses, amazed at their size. As I followed the scouts, I hoped that there were no more surprises along the way, because I would not be able to draw my bow while holding her, and I would not put her down to do so. "You spoke untrue when we asked about Raina," Rasab deduced, "Or you would not be so insistent on carrying her." "I know her, and beg forgiveness for my untruths. I was protecting her from the brigands, who did indeed attack her, and she did slay two of them before losing her weapons and running for her life. I brought her to my cabin and tended her wounds." "To think that a human would risk his own life to save a dark elf," Naku said wonderingly. Rasab agreed, "Yes, it is most unusual. But why did you lie to us about her whereabouts?" I had no real answer to give, other than the truth, which they might not be willing to accept, so I said, "I wished her to heal before going, but then she decided she should go anyway soon after." Rasab glanced sideways at me for a few seconds, but said nothing. I followed them out of the woods, across the field to the south, and further on, ignoring my worries, just moving, hoping that we would get her to help in time to save her. I refused all offers to relieve myself of her for a bit, as I feared they might take her from me, never for me to see her again, and we continued on coming closer and closer toward Mount Leedhi. My legs and arms were burning greatly, and my strength was beginning to flag, as I had been carrying her in my arms for hours, an immense test of my endurance, but it would be worth it, I prayed. Suddenly, they stopped me, and pointed out a small passageway between two mammoth-sized fallen boulders, and into a cave that was hidden behind them. I followed them into the cave, which was lit by torches once it veered around a corner. We reached the end of the tunnel, and Rasab pushed open a small door that was all but hidden by the wall. We continued through, finding another, better lit tunnel that led to a large, elaborately carved bronze door. Two armored dark elf guards stood before it, and spears pointed at me. "Let us pass, this is a matter of great importance," Rasab announced, "We must get her to help before she perishes." "You may pass, but not the evil one," one of the guards pointed at me with the spear. "He carried her the whole way here, insisted on it," Naku explained, "He has earned passage, if only to bring her to help." The guards spoke to each other, and then shrugged, "Then you are responsible for him. Once he has completed his task, you may kill him at your leisure." The guards pushed open the heavy door, let us through, and then closed it behind them. As weary as I was, I still had to goggle at the immensity of the subterranean city of Farfell. It stretched on further than I could see, buildings, shops, markets, homes. Still, I was in too much of a hurry to stop and gawk. Naku and Rasab led me down a large, wide avenue, and, finally, came upon a home that appeared to have been carved out of a solid monolith of marble. The doors were highly polished bronze, and opened in upon a grand house. The floors were inlaid with gold and crystals, the ceilings tall, sconces blazing everywhere. An older dark elf with a very distinguished appearance hurried into the front hall, quite angry, even more so when he spotted me. "A human!" he shouted, "You dare to bring a filthy human into our city?" Naku flinched, but Rasab replied, "This human has saved your daughter from brigands twice, and has carried Raina all the way here on his own strength and will." "He what?" the older elf gaped in astonishment, "That is impossible! There must be some other explanation!" "Please," I gasped, "She will not last much longer!" The older elf led us into a smaller room, which was still larger than my entire cabin, and instructed me to put her down on a pillow. I did so, kneeling slowly to place her as gently as possible. Somehow, even unconscious, she had managed to hold on to the hummingbird, and, as I stood up, she held it to her breast with both hands. "Now, Rasab, go and get Zasor, tell him this is a matter of grave importance," the elf commanded, and, to Naku, "You, watch this human. I ought to have you executed right beside him for this!" He went to Raina's side, examined the wound, "Gods! What happened to her?" Naku answered, "She was impaled with her own spear, taken from her by the brigands. This man killed the brigands with great skill, one arrow per fiend, carried her to his cabin, where he found us, and then he removed the spear. If not for him, she would be dead." Her father stood, scowling, "Why would a human go out of his own way to save a dark elf twice, and protect her from his own kind... I assume the brigands were human?" Naku nodded, and Raina's father continued, "How is this possible? Tell me, human." "My name is Cuthbert, not 'human,'" I managed to tear my eyes from Raina, "And I have no qualms with you or your kin. If Raina were of any other race, I would have saved her just as quickly. As it is, she saved my life first." I explained of how Raina and I had met, how she had mistaken me for Kinilike and sank her dagger in my shoulder, and of mending my wounds shortly after discovering I wasn't him. "Yes, that bow, I know of it," he nodded grimly, "It has spilled much of my peoples' blood. I would have it destroyed." "The weapon is not responsible for blood spilled," I replied, backing up a step as Naku stepped forward to disarm me, "The one who wielded it is. This is the same bow I used to slay the brigands who threatened Raina's life, so would you not say that it is capable of good, as well as evil?" He waved my reply off in irritation, "Even after she discovered you were not Kinilike, she should have left you to die. Why would she decide to mend you instead?" "She wanted to know where I got the bow, and I told her. When she discovered that I was different from all the humans you have told her about, she decided that a human that possesses kindness is worth saving." "There is no such thing as a human that possesses kindness. All humans are evil, treacherous, only fit for extermination," he replied sharply, and then sighed, "And still you have saved her life... what do you hope to gain from these actions? Do you seek fortune, favor?" I laughed, though it was hollow and mirthless, about to retort, when Rasab returned with an old elf with a bowed back, and a long staff that assisted him in walking. "Zasor," Raina's father spoke, "Before anything else happens in this room, you must swear a vow of secrecy that what you see never leaves my house." "And you have it, so you do," cackled Zasor, "Though I would hope that a simple vow such as this is not the only reason to have interrupted my studies." "First, I would have you help my daughter. She was wounded, and is close to death." "Raina?" he hobbled over to her, "Yes, a grievous wound, lost a lot of life's blood, not far from the end of the path, but also not quite there yet." He knelt slowly, grunting as his knees protested, and then brought out a bottle from a small bag that I had not noticed he was carrying. "This will hurt a little, young Raina, forgive me, so I beg, but it will help more," he unstopped the bottle, and then pressed against the wound, pushing one side to the other, wincing at Raina's weak cries, but not wasting time. He poured a small amount of a dark, syrupy liquid onto the wound, set the bottle aside, and smeared the liquid into the closed wound, and when he let go, the wound stayed shut. He repeated the process with the other side. "There," he pronounced, "She will need to rest a while, but she will live." Rasab stepped forward and helped him to his feet. I wanted to go to her side, but Naku shook his head when he saw me start, indicating quietly for me to stay put. Only a few minutes later, I was heartened to see her eyes flutter open briefly, and she brought the hummingbird carving to her face, smiling slightly, before holding it to her breast. Her eyes closed again. Hummingbird "Should I make a guess as to why a human stands in your house, Usarafi?" Zasor asked mildly. "This human is alleged to have saved my daughter's life twice, protecting her from a band of human fiends who sought to kill her," Usarafi sighed. "Oh, what wonders I have seen in my life! Among these wonders are accounts in which humans have proved themselves worthy of our respect, as I have often told the other elders, though they often turn a deaf ear to such as myself. So, to find once more that this is the case yet again does not surprise me in the least! Human, if your actions be true, you are a rarity among your kind, and most likely a disappointment to them as well. I imagine they might consider you a traitor to your own kind, would they not?" I allowed, "Perhaps they would, at that." "Cuthbert?" Raina's voice was like a balm upon my ears. I turned to her, and knelt at her side. "Why have you brought me home?" she seemed highly concerned, but still too weak to manage anything more than a vague alarm in her voice, "Do you realize what they will do to you?" I nodded, "If I had not brought you back, you would have perished. There was no other way." Usarafi saw our exchange, and then his eyes narrowed suspiciously, "Raina, tell me you have not found favor in him. " "And if I have?" she challenged, her voice quiet but with conviction, "This man, out of the kindness of his heart, and with no thought to his own safety, saved my life twice, and now once again, by bringing me home. Zasor, think not that I have dismissed you, for you have brought me from a grave fate with your genius remedies." Zasor grinned, "And my heart leaps at your return, so it does!" Usarafi scoffed, shocked, "Such a thing is unheard of, and quite forbidden! I will not have it!" She glared at him, drawing herself to sit up with a wince, "Cuthbert is kind, and gentle, and his concern for my safety and happiness has won my heart." "Surely it must not be so!" Usarafi turned to Naku and Rasab, "You two shall wait outside, and I will deal with you shortly." Zasor watched the conversation mildly from aside, seeming content to witness these events. "Gods!" Usarafi sighed, shaking his head, "Must I be tested so sorely? All the worthy, young men in our city, and my own daughter instead favors a human! Zasor, I seek your council." He led the old elf from the room, and Raina turned to look at me, "I fear that this will all end quite badly, my love. I am fond of my father, but I know that such as he would never change his views, not even for his own daughter. He has been upon this earth long, almost six hundred years, and his hatred of humans runs quite deep. And he would not risk exile of the clan, not even for my sake." I nodded, feeling weighed down by dread. I might not leave this city alive, and I would never be allowed to remain with Raina. "And you were willing to risk losing me forever rather than be responsible for the banishment of my clan," she frowned at me. "Please forgive me, Raina, I meant not to ever hurt you. I..." "Your heart is ever in the right place," she touched my cheek, "I know you mean well, and I cannot remain cross with you for that." Usarafi and Zasor returned, and they both appeared subdued. "In spite of everything," Usarafi spoke gravely, "One thing cannot be ignored. Human... Cuthbert... your regard for my daughter is not something shared by others of your kind, and is difficult for me to comprehend... and the favor you have found with her is most unheard of. However, if we were to bring it before the elders of the other clans, they could never be convinced to allow it. The union of a human and dark elf is not only forbidden, it is blasphemy, a repudiation of everything that our kind holds sacred... the clans would not approve, ours least of all, and I cannot risk the exile of the Moonlock clan, not even for my own daughter." Raina began to protest, and he shushed her, "However, if my daughter insists upon her decision to remain with you... then I will respect her wishes." Raina gasped in surprise, "Father? You speak true?" "It will be difficult for me, but I would have to preserve the repute of our clan as well... I will have Naku and Rasab escort you from Farfell under the guise of having you executed where your blood may not be spilled upon the ground of our fair city. As for Raina... there is a church far from here, Iverezad. If questioned, I will say that Raina has been sent there upon a pilgrimage, as a part of her development into a valued member of our city. She will join you soon, after a week or two of preparation here." I felt that weight of dread ease slightly, but Raina seemed wary. "Furthermore," Usarafi added, "I am sure that you are aware of the differences in the spans of your lives. Raina will have long to remain upon this earth, centuries." I nodded, and he continued, "Perhaps there is a way to ensure that you remain to make my daughter happy for longer. Zasor, is there a way?" Zasor hobbled forward, his staff clacking on the marble floor, "There be a way, Usarafi, an enchantment that would add at least a century to his life... be this your wish?" Usarafi sighed wearily, "Never before would I fathom that I would wish this... but I do," and to me, he proclaimed, "You may consider this my blessing, if you decide it so. Perhaps, when the enchantment wears off, my daughter might return to me." Raina was baffled, awestruck, and still wary, something not quite right, "Zasor, do you speak true? You have an enchantment that will prolong Cuthbert's life with me?" "Do I speak true?" Zasor replied haughtily, "Do you doubt my powers, tell me, I beg? I have studied for centuries, child, practicing until the wee hours, until my head pounded from it, until my eyes seemed fit to fall out! It can be done, child, be it ever true!" Usarafi shot Zasor a look of warning, intending it to be inconspicuous, but Raina picked up on it, and her suspicions were confirmed. "You plot something!" she accused, struggling to her feet, making it with my help, "Tell me, I demand!" Usarafi flinched, and tried to recover his façade, "Raina, you cut me with your accusations! What is the meaning of this?" "Do not attempt to deceive me, father, I shall guess at your scheme: perhaps Zasor will pretend to perform the enchantment, only it will reverse 'unexpectedly,' killing Cuthbert instead. Of all the horrors! And you will appear blameless, as you so obviously meant well, did you not? Speak true, father, I demand it!" Usarafi snapped, "Demand nothing, ungrateful, willful child! You oppose me at every turn, going to the surface when I request you refrain, and then you meet a filthy human, and you favor him over your own kin! It is a sacrilege, I say, a desecration of everything our kind stands for! I will not allow it, and, as your punishment, I will have this disgusting beast executed before you, so you may see for yourself what comes of such unholy actions!" "I knew it!" Raina glared furiously at her father, "Ever mindful of your own status over the happiness of your own child, to plot such deception! I knew that such as you could never, would never change, so blinded are you by your hatred, not even when the evidence is plainly before you. I cannot allow you to harm him, and I will not." "I will give you one last chance to renounce this beast, and swear your allegiance to your clan and your people! There will be no other opportunity." Raina stood tall, "The only thing I will renounce is my status as your daughter. I will not claim a father who would do such horrible things, at the expense of his own child, to maintain his own repute. Therefore, you are no longer my father." Usarafi flinched, shocked, "You cannot mean such words!" When Naku and Rasab came back inside, drawn by the shouting between Raina and Usarafi, I drew my bow and readied an arrow. "How dare you!" Usarafi glared malevolently at me, "Behold what you have done to my house! And now you aim that cursed bow once more at a dark elf!" "I do not intend to spill your blood, but I will if you leave me no choice," I replied calmly, though I quaked inside, unsure of my chances of leaving here alive with Raina. "Zasor," Raina turned to the old elf who had not moved to argue either side, "You wound me the most, that you would go along with his plans to kill Cuthbert." Zasor did not respond in his own defense, simply standing where he was. "We must go," she said to me, "This is no longer my home, and I wish never to lay eyes upon it again." "How will we do that?" I asked, "We would be slain before we reach the gate." "Usarafi would wish to keep all of this from the elders of the clans, so he would not risk calling for guards," she responded bitterly, "So he cannot stop us without drawing the wrong attention." I nodded, and turned to Naku and Rasab, who stood with their spears at the ready, and I aimed my arrow between them, "I am truly sorry about this. I had truly hoped for a better outcome. I ask that one of you surrender your spear to Raina. Her leg is still weak, and she would require it for assistance." Naku gave her his spear, and she leaned on it gratefully. "Do not do this, Raina," Usarafi pled, "If you leave this city, you are a traitor to your own kind, and I will send hunters after you. I must protect the Moonlock clan's integrity." "Do what you feel you must, but expect that I will do the same," she spat venomously. She and I left the house, turned right, and hurried as fast as her injured leg would allow. She grabbed my arm, stopping me. "This way," she indicated a small path between two large houses, "There is the tunnel I always used to go to the surface in secret." I followed her along the small path, and we reached a tunnel mostly concealed behind the wall of the house on the left. It was narrow, and we had to duck to gain access to it. Before we had gone twenty steps, we heard a noise behind us, and I whirled around, my bow drawn. "Be you still, as I am not a threat to such as you," said Zasor calmly, his dark eyes glittering in the gloom. "You!" Raina frowned, on the verge of tears, "And I thought you my friend, only to find betrayal!" "Believe you so? Perhaps you do, at that. Only, search deep within yourself and ask this question: For years, you have sought my stories of the wonders of human kindness, a rarity, but not unheard of, and, when presented with the rarest of humans, the one that not only shows kindness, but love, would it do for me to cause the death of such a human?" Raina blinked, confused, "But... you were going to..." Zasor cackled with glee, "You believed it so, but, more importantly, so did your father! He believed that he had my cooperation in a quite nefarious plot. But you are sharp, dear girl, as always you have been, able to see what others are too blind to, sometimes even myself." I was completely baffled by all of this, and eager to be off before we were discovered by the scouts, or agents of Usarafi. "You were always such a terrible liar," Raina's lips curled up a little, "Is this why you sought us, so that you might clear your name with me?" "Did I ever tell you that I once loved a wood elf?" Zasor asked, "That I loved her as I have never loved since?" Raina gaped, "You never spoke a word of it to me before." "A union between a dark elf and wood elf is considered as much a blasphemy as a union between dark elf and human," he frowned, "But it was so, all the same, it was so, and I loved her so! Ilinika, such a splendid beauty she was, a songstress of great renown. I was of a mind to run away with her, to forge a new life elsewhere so that we might remain together, oh, wonders to behold! Only, it turned out not to be." "Someone found out," I guessed, and Zasor nodded darkly, his eyes suddenly bitter with memory. "Aye, young Cuthbert, so it happened just that way. Someone found out about our love, and he was as blind with hatred as your... well, as Usarafi, willing to end the life of his own sister to preserve what he knew. This despicable creature beheaded his own sister and left it for me in a glen where she and I met." Raina listened carefully, and then it dawned on her, "Beheaded... you don't mean..." "Aye, the very same who once wielded the bow that Cuthbert now uses for your honor," he sighed, "It has been ages since last I saw her alive, and, even now, her lovely face is foremost in my mind." "I am truly sorry," Raina spoke softly, tears in her eyes, "Dear Zasor, please forgive my harsh words." "Do not be sorry, dear girl, for it is upon this bitterly sad tale that I offer your own love the blessing that Usarafi only feigned. I wish to bestow upon you the life that I should have known, the chance to love whom you choose to love without fear of reprisal." "You mean," Raina took his gnarled, old hand, "The enchantment is true? I beg of you, please speak true, is it possible?" "Oh, quite possible, so it is! Only, it did not take years of study and experimentation to make it possible, only an old fool who stumbled upon it by accident, while trying to prolong the life of the food in the city's stores. It will work, though others in the city shall never know it exists. Otherwise, I should have all manner of elves begging and pleading for it, and men of office demanding it... no, I destroyed all my notes on it, so that I, and now you both, are the only souls upon this earth that know it is possible. I offer it to you, Cuthbert, at least two centuries of life in addition to the years you already have, so that you may longer provide the love that Raina deserves." I looked at the old elf, hardly daring to believe that it was possible, and yet fiercely hopeful. "Raina," I turned to her, "Do you trust in what he speaks? Tell me, I beg." She kissed me gently, and answered, "He speaks true, and I trust him fully." "Then I will, upon your word. Zasor, as you offer, I accept and am ever grateful for your kindness. What shall I do?" There, in the nearly dark tunnel, Zasor produced a small, wooden rod with a glowing, green stone perched upon it. "I require that you lie on the ground and bare your chest, do ya," he instructed, and I obeyed. He held the bottom of the small rod to my chest, and, upon his instruction, I held onto it, keeping it standing upon my breastbone. "When I say, and only when I say, you shall drive the rod into your chest. Fear not, for you will feel no pain, only a momentary weakness, and it will pass quickly. Before this, I must chant, and you must repeat my words exactly. I assume that Elvish is not a language you possess?" I shook my head, and he nodded, "Aye, so I shall speak slowly, but you must repeat it precisely. Shall we begin?" I glanced at Raina, who waited pensively. She nodded, and so did I. Zasor began speaking slowly, pausing frequently for me to repeat the words, and I did, though with difficulty. Elvish is quite a tricky language. After a few minutes of this, Zasor opened his eyes and commanded, "With these words, take the life offered to you, take it into you, Cuthbert, now!" I took a breath, and then thrust the rod into my chest, and it sank in through my breastbone with the ease of a sword through water, disappearing completely without a scar or wound, the light visible under my skin for only a second. I could not feel it within my body. "And, my friends... may I consider it so, to befriend a human? I bestow upon you, Cuthbert, the remainder of my years upon this wondrous earth. Enjoy them well, I beg." "Wait," Raina took his arm, "What is the meaning of this? What have you done?" "Dear child, there is a balance to all, as there always has, a life for a death, a failure for a success, since time out of hand. One cannot just make life from nothing, and I cannot imbue years of life without the sacrifice of my own, for the balance must be kept. Therefore, Cuthbert, the years of life you have gained are the years of life that I have left, so it be." "No," I shook my head, shocked, "I cannot gain life at the expense of your own. Please, you must take it back!" "Even if I could, I would not. Be not concerned, as we have both done each other a service, my friend. Ha! Wonders shall never cease, dear boy, that you would be so concerned for such as me, even! You see, my love, sweet Ilinika, she waits for me in the hereafter, this I know with my heart, old as it is. And now, I shall meet up with her so much sooner, and this is all I could want, so it is." "How much longer do you have?" Raina was crying now. "Oh, cry not for me," Zasor took her hand and patted it reassuringly, "Only celebrate my swift exit from this world and my reunion with my Ilinika. Dear, that leg will just not do, will it? You have a journey ahead of you, and your leg will only slow you down. I believe I have just the item to help." He rummaged through his purse, grunting to himself, and then pulled out a long piece of dark linen, "Ah, this should do nicely." He asked for her leg, and then wrapped it around the wound, tying it tightly, "It will remove your wound quite quickly, but, mind you now, once it has done its work, you may never use it again, for it would give the wound back to whomever you use it on. So, when it is done, you must burn it completely." Raina winced, but did not complain, still concerned for the old elf, "Will you be okay to return home?" "Still you worry for me!" Zasor clucked his tongue, "Be easy, dear child, I still have a bit of time, perhaps a week, perhaps a little less, but it is plenty to get my house in order. I believe you should be more concerned with Usarafi and his promised hunters... there, I believe I have one more gift for the both of you. It will last for a while, and will make you dim to whomever Usarafi may send after you. Step back, do ya, and I shall begin." He muttered a moment's worth of chants, moving his staff in small patterns over the ground, and then lifted his staff. He drove it down to stab at the dirt, and, to our astonishment, it became a column of bright red flame in his hands. He seemed unaffected by the conflagration, his hands unburned. Then he struck the ground once more with the staff, and the flames vanished. "Take this, Raina, and I shall trade for the spear to get me home. Keep the staff close, and, wherever you lay your head, it will protect you from those that Usarafi sends to harm you. And this is my final gift to you, for you must go now. Be well, and may your lives be blessed with happiness." I took his hand, thanking him for everything he had done for us, and Raina embraced him. Then he turned and disappeared into the tunnel. Raina untied the cloth from her leg a few moments later, and, another marvel to witness, there was no sign of any wound on either side, not even the thinnest of scars. She stuffed the cloth into her ruckah. "There was never such as Zasor," Raina smiled, still crying a little, "And there will never be another like him, I fear." I nodded in agreement, and we left the tunnel, headed down the gradual slope at the edge of Mount Leedhi, and to the fields. "We may need to make a new home elsewhere," I suggested, "My cabin is known to Naku and Rasab, and they may lead others to it." "This is true," she sighed, "Will you be able to part with it? You have known it as your home for so long." "It is only a cabin. We can build another, one that is ours, and it will be home as long as you share it with me." She stopped me, reached into her ruckah again, and from it she brought out the hummingbird carving, which was miraculously unbroken. She showed it to me, smiling, and then kissed me fervently for a moment, so sweet was it because I had despaired that I may never feel her lips on mine again. Hummingbird "Once more, I beg, speak true," she whispered into my ear, her tears warm upon my cheek, "Speak the words that won my heart." I smiled warmly, and, into her own ear, I whispered, "My love, you are my hummingbird, strong, brave, and more beautiful than anything on this earth." Hummingbird's Train Naughtiness It's early on a cold fresh morning, the wind blows as Hummingbird waits on the platform at New Street Train Station. She's wearing a smart grey pin striped suit with a silk blouse, high heeled black shiny shoes, gold jewellery and gold dangly ear rings. Her make up is just right, quite natural, not too much and not too little. Her lips are a nice shade of wine red. The hot colour of passion. Her legs are covered in fine black silk seamed stockings, Her underwear is a matching set of gold & red, balcony bra, suspender belt with 4 straps for each leg and a pair of sheer lacy, mound hugging thong panties. She feels good, she feels excited and warm between her legs. Thinking how she loves to be on a train. Remembering how she had told her husband that morning before she left, how turned on and how aroused she'd got thinking of sitting near and next to total strangers. Stranger's almost touching each other. She remembered how last time she'd sat and fantasised all kinds of naughty stories as the train chugged along! But today she wanted someone to see her stockings. To see what a naughty dirty bitch she could be! Her husband would expect to hear all about it and she loved reporting back to him. She knew she'd have his full attention -- even if nothing happens today on the train, even if she just recalls her thoughts and fantasies to her husband! Her husband had watched her dress this morning and had wanted her -- but there had not been enough time! Just then her train arrived. She moved forward as did a smart professional middle aged man in a dark suit with a most cheerful bright red polka dot tie. He stood close to her and she felt a warm tingle run through her body as she smelt the heady aroma of his masculine aftershave. Her chest heaved as she slowly took in his scent. Her heart raced fast for a moment, as she suddenly longed to kiss his neck. Touch his skin, taste his lips and feel his mature manly strong body pressed up close to hers. The doors opened, she moved forward as he did also. She found a seat and was willing him to sit right next to her, or opposite her would have been a bonus. But he walked off down to the other end of the train. Her heart stopped racing and she felt disappointed. The lady next to her had her head in a book and looked boring, with her straight limp hair and her dull grey clothes. Hummingbird looked around the train, scanning over the people, her eyes spotted a young woman, maybe in her late twenties and wearing a tight figure hugging lycra top. It clung to a nice large firm pair of breasts and a pair of figure hugging trousers. She looked her up and down and decided she looked very sexy, curvy and shapely and actually very fuckable. Hummingbird's eyes could not leave her mound, she thought to herself how nice it looked. She was imagining how she looked underneath the fabric. Would she have small girlie lips with a tiny neat clit or did she have big womanly lips with a bulging fleshy clit that stood out proud. Just begging to be sucked! Would she be smooth, soft and peachy or did she have a neatly trimmed strip of pubic hair or did she have a hairy bush all womanly scented. Hummingbird wouldn't have minded how she looked as Hummingbird loved the sight of a woman's body. Especially the thought of exploring in between her legs, opening her up, pulling her apart - to see and reveal for herself the secret delights that she'd find. She closed her eyes with that vivid picture and naughty thought in her mind. The train stopped and the dull boring bookworm woman hurried off. Hummingbird then spotted him coming towards her hmmmmmmmmmmm she thought -- nice - yes he is very kissable and very fuckable too. She looked him up and down as he walked -- wow he had a sexy walk, yes Hummingbird thought that he was sex on legs! As he got closer Hummingbird's legs parted slightly and he immediately glanced down between her legs. His face now beamed with a glint and a sparkle in his dark eyes. She cheekily smiled at him and fluttered her eyelashes in a very flirty forward way. Then just when she thought oh well I bet that made his day. But, he stopped and actually sat down right opposite to her, he didn't hide the fact that he was staring at her legs and up her skirt. Hummingbird felt a huge rush of excitement coarse through her veins, through her entire body. What a buzz and how delightful it felt - being looked at like that. How she always craved this kind of attention and the knowledge of her knowing that he was looking at her! She wriggled forward on the seat, her skirt hitching up further. She looked out of the window, knowing only too well that he now had a really good view right up her skirt. She knew he could see the tops of her legs. Her stocking straps and her strong thighs. She knew the flesh of her thighs against the dark silk of her stockings would be fully displayed to him. Maybe even a hint of the red and gold crotch of her panties that now, as she wriggled forward, were pressing deliciously into her aching moist mound. She knew that she must look such a sexy hot arsed bitch for that was just how she felt right at this moment. Mr very fuckable man seemed to be fidgeting a lot and she turned and looked at him, her eyes caught his. She was very direct and wanted him to feel her sexual confidence. His face was smiling back at her, she felt herself blush with an amazing heat of desire uncontrollably flushing her face. The heat flushed her cheeks pink and made her chest hot and blotchy. Hummingbird smiled back with that warm sexy flirty smile that she had learnt to do so well. He leaned forward and asked "Are you going to London too?" "Oh no" she replied "I'm getting off at Leamington Spa" His eyes still looked her up and down as she looked him up and down. Their eyes meet for a second and they held that look, each seemed to be reading the others mind! She could feel her breasts swell, her nipples harden. Her body flush more and more. Her clit engorge, ache and throb against the material of her thong - her now damp and pressing right into her slit - thong. Her breathing quickened and she was starting to get very wet and swollen down there. She thought "Oh my god, what am I doing, teasing this hunky Mr very fuckable man like this." So she closed her eyes and started dreaming, she just couldn't help herself or stop. She had such a massive urge and powerful feeling that she was fantasising. She was dreaming of his big strong hands, touching her all over her body. His mouth on hers, his hot breath, his tongue. His skin touching hers and his need - maybe his need was as great as hers! She woke with a jolt, the train had stopped suddenly and it was in total blackness. She gasped out loud as he said "It's ok, there's a fault on the line, we've had to stop in a tunnel." "Oh" was all she could reply with. Then she felt him right next to her, she smelt him, she breathed his aftershave in. In a deep husky voice, he said "Don't be afraid, I'll look after you darling!" "Oh thank you, I'm ok really, it was just rather sudden and it woke me from my sleep." He was closer now and he whispered into her ear "Do you know that I can see your stockings and do you know that you are really turning me on?" His sexy voice and his breath on her ear and neck drove her crazy with a strong sexual need that now only he could satisfy. "Oh" Was again all she could reply. Then she felt his mouth on hers. The passion of their kiss, both enjoying feeling each others lips. She flicked her tongue into his mouth and ran it over his lips then she traced over his teeth as he moaned out softly. His tongue soon found hers. Tongues swirling and then he sucked her tongue into his mouth. His big hands started swirling and rubbing up her legs. Rubbing just underneath her skirt and just touching the stocking tops. She was so aroused, she thought she'd either melt or explode. Her legs parted further as he continued to make her so wet, so excited by sucking her tongue. Her hands were on his head and teasing through his hair as his hands carried on rubbing her thighs. Then one of his hands was softly stroking her breasts over her blouse, making her whimper out loud. She was shaking and trembling with such a sexual heated desire and lust now. His hand went under her blouse and under her bra and he rubbed her hard nipples and kisses her neck saying:- "Oh my - you are so beautiful, I just love your body -- so inviting, so fucking sexy." She had her head back as his fingers rubbed over her mound and he felt her dampness. She cried out a little whimpering "aaaahhhhhhh." His fingers pinched her hard nipples as she reached for his crotch, she felt his bulge and rubbed it over his trousers. It felt so hard and so big. Hummingbird wanted it and needed it! Then his big fingers were underneath the gusset of her panties and probing into her smooth hot swollen silky wetness. The smell of her sex filling the carriage, this sexual smell of her wetness aroused them both more and more. Her fingers were clawing at his trousers, unzipping him and reaching inside, desperate to feel his manhood. Her panties were soon around her ankles and then he slid them right off. He was on his knees licking her, lapping up her juices, tonguing her engorged throbbing labia. Licking her from her clit hood down over her swollen clit, right down to her tight little arsehole, as she moaned out, cried out in pleasure. He teased her clit, flicking his tongue over her clit hood, encouraging her clit to protrude. Making her sweet creamy juices of arousal flow and trickle down onto the seat. He could wait no longer, she could wait no longer. He came up and over her, he kissed her full on her mouth. Sharing the taste of her sweet, sticky creamy love juices with her. She sucked on his cunt juice flavoured warm tongue then she moved her hands and felt down. She gripped him in both of her small soft hands and guided his beautiful big thick hard dripping cock against her. She squeezed her cunt muscles together to suck him in and take him all. He felt her muscles tighten on his throbbing, pulsing hard erect cock. What a wonderful fuck this is going to be - he secretly thought! He felt his balls tighten as he felt her juices trickling out soaking him. Their love juices mixing together as he entered her. His big thick mushroom shaped knob forcing inside her. The feeling was heavenly as they both moved together, thrusting into each other and kissing, until she had him all inside her -- right up. As he fucked her in and out to a nice, not too fast not too slow pace. She used her cunt muscles to suck his cock deeper into her, making him sigh out loud as her cunt tried to milk him. They were lost together in passion and were fucking faster and faster, both feeling their climax building up. Their bodies started to explode as they cried out and gave themselves to each other in the heat and need of the moment! Suddenly the train started moving, they scrambled to their feet and quickly put their clothes back on and straightened themselves up. Just in time as the train left the dark tunnel. Leamington Spa was the next station, Hummingbird rose up and smiled at Mr fuckable guy, he winked back at her and she was gone. They would never see each other again but they would never ever forget the events of that day. Hummingbird smiled to herself as she walked along the platform. In front of her was the young woman with the tight lycra top on and she was carrying the same blue folder and conference papers that Hummingbird was carrying! They were going to the same place! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm now that could be interesting!!! She thought! As Hummingbird carried on walking, she felt the sticky wetness of his jism soaking through her panties and running down her thighs. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm she thought to herself, I wonder what time the return train leaves tonight? And what an exciting story she had got to tell her husband. I wonder if he'd think it was all a naughty fantasy and just Hummingbird's dirty filthy mind again. Or I wonder if he would still be able to feel and smell where another man had taken her and well and truly had her!