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Bitter Sweet Love 4 :

Vanya’s POV:

I woke up, feeling suddenly stronger than I had felt in months. It was strange feeling this raw adrenaline, something I had become unfamiliar with. My body pulsing with a new need to run, become active, I strode to my wardrobe and pulled on a tunic and breaches used by she elven warriors. Allowing me to run without hindrance.

They were my favorite colors, black with red embroidery. Just putting them I felt rejuvenated. Like all those days of laying in bed had never happened. Looking around my chamber I noticed something that was a complete oddity. Melda was missing which was surprising as she was always at my bedside.

Without a sound and moving swiftly I darted down the stairs leading to my chamber, peaking around the corner I noticed my guards leaving for their lunch break, so in a burst of speed I made it though the door without being seen. The sun shone brightly, filling my eyesight with colors I hadn’t seen in so long. I walked towards the stable, opening and closing the door quietly behind me.

Of course the stable boy heard me anyway.

“ Hello? Who’s there?” his prepubescent voice calls ,accompanying his soft footsteps.

I don’t answer, only continuing toward my destination. Her stall was like the others, but what was contained was far from the same. There she lay on her straw bed, and pale as moonlight she was, but her mane and tail were black as night. She slept there as if I had not been the only one sleeping this whole time.

“ Vanmoriel.” Barely a whisper it was, yet her silvery ears flicked at the sound of my voice. I smiled as she rose , the joints in her legs were visibly stiff from not moving for so long ; her eyes sparkled happily as she looked upon my figure.

She moved quickly to the door where I stood, nuzzling the my palm as I held my hand outstretched.

“Good Girl” I whispered.

Change Scene

A lone horse walked through the woods, no other animals around for miles, except for the few ravens that circles the skies, or sat in the trees. There was no sound, until a few bushes rattled, ravens called. Nothing could be seen, as it was dark black as night though it was still day.

“Eruaran , why are we here?” The she elf whispered to the elf in front of her. Her voice shaky from the horse’s movements. He whispered back.

“ I’ve seen Lairelandon come through this forest lately, I want to know what he’s doing.” Melda frowned.

“ Why am I here then?” He laughed silently.

“Because you insisted.”

“Oh, right.”

They continued on in silence until the black dead trees parted their ugly branches, and all noises stopped. A small poorly built hut was revealed. The horse hesitated as it could feel the evil resinating from inside the hut. The heart beats of the two elves stopped and slowly started again. Malice and evil choking them , trying to make sure they would never breath again. The silence was numbing and their bodies stiffened hardly able to fight off the invisible hands on their windpipes.

Melda gasped air into her body but it did no good. No matter how much air she tried to put in her body, more would be pulled from her.

“Eruaran, we shouldn’t be here.” She choked out. Never having been in the presence of such evil it was wearing hard on her.

Eruaran shook his head. He had to find out what was in that hut. He helped Melda off the horse, and the closer they’re footsteps came to the hut the shorter her breaths became.

“ Just a few minutes. Once we find out why, we’ll leave okay.” He kissed her forehead in reassurance. Melda nodded as she could respond in words for the life of her.

They moved silently to the window of the hut which was boarded up except for a few cracks in the wall. They crouched stiffly and peered in, what they saw almost killed Melda. A fat woman stood in front of a large cauldron, the water inside glowed green casting an eerie color over the interior of the hut. The woman flung little elven fingers into the cauldron before reaching for a jar labeled beating hearts into the cauldron. It’s water turned blood red. The thing cackled before drawing a little knife and cutting open a finger before letting the black blood drop into the cauldron. It’s water turned a dark green almost black. A poof of smoke rose from the cauldron’s contents in the shape of a skull.

The thing shrieked with glee.

“ Lairelandon if no loner under my control and therefore he must die along with that little bitch of a princess.” at the woman’s words Melda gasped loudly before Eruaran’s hand covered her mouth and dragged her from the window. I’ve seen enough he thought.

The woman’s eyes widened. Someone’s been watching me. He powers flared and flung open the door, glimpsing Eruaran lifting Melda onto the horse. She screamed in fury. Eruaran looked back and saw the witch.

“Drego!” He shouted to the horse and it raced off through the woods, Melda clung to it’s neck.

“ Eruaran!” She cried. For she knew she would never see him again. He smiled grimly. Before he shouted to her.

“ Le Melon Melda!”

She cried openly as she watched his figure disappear behind the dead vegetation of the forest. I love you too Eruaran. Tears rolled her face wetting the cloth of her dress, and the fur of the horse.

Eruaran turned to face the ugly creature who was still screaming her rage at being seen. Finally she had quieted down. He drew his sword. The witch grinned evilly. Clenching one fist while the other held a dagger.

“ Who are you.” He asked calmly while holding his blade in front of him. She smirked.

“I am Saewen. However there’s no need for names as you will be no more than a pile of bones when I’m done with you.” Her hand flung out and raw energy flew from her fingers; eyes widened as a ball of black power hit him in the chest, effectively knocking the wind out of him .Eruaran fell to his back. Gasping he turned on his front. His sword lay a few feet in front of him. Frantically he crawled to where it lay. His hand grasped the hilt and quickly he scrabbled to his feet.

But the witch was much quicker than one would think and before he could stand up straight she had plunged the dagger through his back. She stabbed him again before removing the blade from his flesh. Blood started soaking through his tunic, he clutched his chest, coating his hands with the red liquid. He fell to his knees. He tried to breath but blood had bubbled up and out of his mouth. His face nothing but a mess of blood. He finally didn’t even have the strength to stay on his knees, and collapsed onto the ground.

His blood pooled around him, the light in his eyes quickly fading. With his last gasping breath he whispered her name.

“Melda.” Though it came out garbled and he choked on the blood that came out with her name. His body went limp. She cackled, dropping the dagger she had killed him with. Bending over she put her fingers in the blood pool. She smeared it on her fingertips before bringing her hand to her lips. Her tongue flicked out and she smiled.

“Sweet.” She cooed. Laughing as she pulled a bottle of her potion from her cloak. Uncorking it she inhaled it’s putrid smell before dumping it on his corpse. Rancid fumes shot from it and she backed away while covering her nose and mouth with her cloak sleeve.

She grinned as the flesh that once covered his body now began rotting away. Chunks fell off his skull, and body, showing the white bone underneath, before they shriveled into black dust. His eyed melted and fairly soon, he was nothing but a skeleton with clothes. She laughed for the final time before she walked back into her hut, ravens swooped down to pick at his bones.

She stood before the cauldron filled with her potion.

“ Lairelandon will die, but that girl must go first. She must not warn the princess. She chanted softly to the trees of her forest.

Change Scene

She didn't know how long or how far they'd riden. She couldn't recall a lot of things.It was as if his death closed her off, isolated her from anything else. Her life seemingly didn't matter because he wasn't around anymore. She felt a shift in the air, in her surroundings. The trees creaked, as iff they were trying to move. The ravens halted their callings and soo not a sound could be heard.Just like at the hut.She thought, tears pooling at her eyes. She told the horse to hurry. But she knew in the end it would surely be no use. If she survived this it just proved that the horse was extremely fast. The witch would be after her.The thought scared her, as did the continued noises all of the trees were making.

Soon all noises stopped, except the pounding of the horses hooves on the solid ground. Melda knew it was over now. There was no use trying to fight it. One tree moved its branch with a speed that shouldn't be capable of a dead tree.It raked its sharpened claws through her arm. The pain was immense. But she did not cry out. Only more tears flowed down her face.

The trees were clawing at her, trying very hard to rake, maim and scratch her, but Melda did not care. He was gone. The horse maneuvered itself around the knife like branches the arched downward, and sliced through the air towards her. But they were moving quickly and finally a razored branch caught Melda in the throat. She did not feel the pain as her head was cut from her shoulders, she did not feel the blood as it poured from her body. She did not feel her body slip from Eruaran’s horse as it kept moving. What she felt was a fleeting happy thought. I’ll get to see him again.

Her head hid the ground with a thud. Slowly it turned and her face was not shocked, no. the blood leaking from her mouth, was streaming down smiling lips.

Change Scene

I pet her muzzle, until finally the soft footsteps reached me.

“ Excuse me you’re not supposed to be in the royal st-!”I had turned to face his voice. He choked back a gasp at seeing me. I wonder why? “ Princess,” he bowed,” My apologies I did not real-” I silenced him by putting my finger to his lips. He seemed confused. I smiled gently.

“There’s no need for apologies,” I told him, “ Just don’t mention seeing me to anyone alright. I shall repay you for your loyalty later.” I kissed his cheek before standing and opening Vanmoriel’s stall. I lifted myself with ease onto her back and whispered to her to go, as we moved I looked back to see him frozen in the same spot. I laughed quietly to myself.

We rode silently across the meadow near the palace. I noticed how different it had become from my memories. All the flowers had bloomed and it was an array of colors, instead of the promising green I had always known it to be.

I jumped off her back as she was still moving and tried run along side her, of course she eventually outran me but I had kept up fairly well on my part. I laughed giddily and hugged her as she returned to me. She nudged my head, I turned to see what she did. There was a spring I remembered swimming in as a child, it was inside the forest surrounding the meadow a little ways.

I tried to race her to it but she outran me as she always has. I slipped out of my clothes and jumped in the water. It was cold, and it felt so good on my skin. I resurfaced and splashed some water at Vanmoriel, she let out a surprised whinny before she came into the spring also. I floated in the icy water with my eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the surrounding forest. The birds sang softly, and the breeze shook the trees slightly. It was music to my ears.

Finally I opened my eyes, to find the sun had sunk low. I was shocked. Apparently I had dozed off. Vanmoriel watched me from the bank, she lay beside my clothes and the dagger I kept hidden in them.

I swam to her dripping wet. I shook my finger at her.

“How could you let me sleep so long?” She let out an amused sound at my irritated voice. I sighed. I guess I had needed it.

I put on my clothes, and hopped on her back. I patted the side of her neck.

“ Well, lets go.” I told her. She broke into a run heading back to the palace. The wind dried my hair, erasing all evidence of my escapade. I returned Vanmoriel to the stables. Before sneaking back up to my room. I opened the door to my chamber and prepared myself for attack. But I was met with nothing. No worried Melda. This confused me. I went back downstairs to find my guards. They were surprised to see me walking I bet.

“ Have you seen Melda?” I asked them. My voice was tired but worried, and they could tell. The guards frowned before looking at each other.

“ No my princess, however Eruaran’s horse was found riding by itself , returning from the woods.” I was even more worried.

“ Did you investigate?” I hoped they had.

“No, the city’s guards returned the horse to the stable, they haven’t been able to find Eruaran.” My breath hitched. This wasn’t good.

“ Send out a search party. Don’t travel too far into the woods, I wouldn’t want you to get lost, or hurt.” I said softly.

With a strength I didn’t know I had , I went back up to my chamber, without shedding a tear. I stepped out onto the balcony. I stared at the seemingly endless streets and fields of Bein Amon.

Change Scene

Huoriel walked along the streets of Bein Amon. She didn’t really have any real destination. Only to walk the streets aimlessly. She wasn’t really interested in shopping though she did have money on her. Soon she wasn’t really paying attention to where she was walking. Her foot hit an uplifted stone on the street and she tripped, falling forward she hit a hard chest.

Brought from her daze, she looked up to meet blue eyes framed by rather short black hair. She blushed. They were a shade of blue she had never seen before, and would probably never forget. His lips parted in a friendly smile, revealing white teeth.

“I’m sorry, I ran into you, how rude of me.” He apologized. She shook her head.

“ Don’t be, I wasn’t paying attention. It was my fault.” She said softly, trying to assure the elf there was no fault in his actions. He smiled wider, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it gently. She blushed even redder, not used to such attentions. He lowered her hand though he did not let go.

“ Might I know your name?” He asked. She smiled.

“My name is Huoriel, might I know yours?” She tried to mimic him. He laughed.

“My name is Faelon, will you let me take you to dinner in apology anyways?” She smiled and nodded. He smirked, and intertwined their hands as he led her down the street.

He had just run into the most beautiful she elf he had ever met. She was a little on the short side which was fine, and had the clearest blue eyes. Her hair was short and was a shade in between brown and red. Her voice was music to his ears.

It was cute when she blushed and he felt the need to make her turn red over and over again. He led her to a tavern called the Van Wen. It was usually packed, however they came at a good time and it was practically empty. It was fairly dark with only a small amount of light. The furniture was simple yet elegant in its own way.

He sat them at a far table before he went to the bar.

“Locien.” He called. An elf came through the door behind the bar. He smiled upon seeing Faelon.

“What brings you here Faelon?” the bartender smiled warmly. Faelon grinned at the elder elf. He nodded toward the table where huoriel sat.

“I’m treating a she elf to dinner. Name is Huoriel. I’d like your house special, and two pint of your best beer.” The elder laughed and nodded, running to the kitchen her shouted orders, before returning with two pints.

“Here you are lad.” Faelon reached for his sack of money but the elf waved his hands in front of him. “ It’s on me, Faelon. No don’t look at me like that, you know how well my business is. It’s no trouble. Now get, I’ll bring you your food.” The old elf said as Faelon had started to protest.

Faelon smiled and thanked him before returning to their table with the pints. He handed one to her before he sat down. She smiled.

“ I forgot to ask if you drink, sorry.” He frowned. She waved it off, as she lifted the jug to her lips and let the cool beer flow down her throat.

“You needn’t worry. I am not a proper lady, and I drink quite a lot.” She said happily. He lifted a brow at her comment before gulping down some of his drink also.

“I think it’s good that you’re not proper, because neither am I.” She coughed, before staring at him. Eyes flickering in annoyance.

“Don’t feed me that bullshit, you act about as proper as they come.” She huffed. Taking another sip of her drink. He laughed.

“ I’m not shitting with you, I just was brought up to be a gentleman around she elves. That’s all.” She smiled at his cursing. They had a few things in common.

They talked a while before their food was brought to them. It was chicken with a side of taters and a salad. They ate slowly as they talked.

“Any brothers or sisters?” He asked. She shook her head.

“None. You?” He smiled “Me neither.” They finished their meal and walked out of the tavern. The sun had set. Huoriel frowned. Time had passed so quickly. Faelon turned to her.

“Would you like me to walk you home.” She shook her head. “ I don’t live to far from here.”

He shook his head.

“ I insist.”

They continued to her home in silence merely enjoying each others company. They finally reached the door of her home. Which wasn’t big but wasn’t small either. She turned to him.

“ Thank you for dinner.” She said softly. He smiled tilting her chin up. He kissed her lips softly, she closed her eyes. He pulled away. Giving her forehead a quick kiss.

“ No thank you.” He turned and walked down the walk, back the way he had come. Huoriel smiled before racing inside her home.

Loud sounds could be heard from inside. A door opened and slammed shut.

“ Aerlinniel!!” You’ll never guess what happened?” Huoriel jumped on her friends bed. A screech could be heard from its occupants..

“Oriel?? I’m sleeping why were you thinking waking me up?” Aerlinniel sat up groggily, her hair messy from sleep. Huoriel grinned sheepishly.

“I’m sorry, I just wanted to tell you what happened.” The sleepy elf groaned before flopping back onto the bed.

“ Whatever the hell it is, tell me in the goddamn morning.” Her muffled voice cried.

“It’s about an elf that I had dinner with.” Huoriel stated, Aerlinniel sat up immediately, pouncing on her poor friend.

“Elf, that you talked to, had dinner with? What’s he look like? What’s his name? How come you didn’t kill him? What’s he like?” She started asking her a barrage of questions.

Huoriel calmly stated.

“ Yes I talked to someone, at the Van Wen we had dinner. Black hair blue eyes, Faelon, because he was being nice, he’s sweet.” Aerlinniel smiled before she fell backward unconscious.

Huoriel was shocked. Maybe she should have waited until morning? Sighing she pulled the covers overtop her friend, before she trudged tiredly to her own room. She yawned as she slipped out of her clothes and into her nightgown. She brushed her hair, and lay on the bed. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

Fin:

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Elvish Translations:

Van Wen: Fair Maiden