When another horse, a mare this time, a bit terrified, appears at the still open gates; the tiger cutting her off from running into the open courtyard. 2
Justin quickly starts to reach for his bow and arrows when the cat rises and instead of biting her, strangely licks the mares muzzle. Holding the powerful bow in his hands, he blinks his eyes for a second, unsure of what he just saw. Even more baffled by the cat taking up the horses trailing reins and walking her towards him. 3
Never before had he seen animals act this way, except for his own companions, though usually only under his guidance. Yet, he is touched by the beauty, grace, and natural simplicity of the event and quickly returns the bow to his shoulder, the arrows never having been drawn, turning to pat and calm his newly arrived stallion as he waits. 4
Shortly the great cate and mare are joined by a tall woman from the castle. It is easy to see, just by the way she carries herself, that the castle was not her natural environment. Tanned and roughened by the outdoors, her expression showing no fear or alarm. This in fact was a warrior woman. One of the few types of human woman he could relate to, most being much too soft, useless, unreliable, and more often than not, a liability in battle. 5
Though he senses her reservations as she walks towards him he does not smell the stench of evil or cunning that would depict the presence of the dark ones and allows them to approach unchallenged. Speaking first she simply states..."It would seem we each have rather loyal companions in our horses." "And others" I respond, nodding towards the tiger, then turning toward Nioka the great wolf, watching silently from the shadows and then upwards to the eagle Anika, circling high in the bright blue sky above. 6
"Loyal companions and loyal friends in abundance, I see. I am the Lady Morgan of this court. I am unsure if we have met before. May I ask your name?" Just then the stable boy spotting him, yells out to the others around.
"THERE HE IS!" 7
Looking to the stable boy, she merely lifted a brow and put a single finger up to indicate silence. She looked to Justin. "He believes to have seen a dark elf. Do you think his eyes play tricks upon his mind or does he truly see what he believes he sees?" 8
Justin realizing he had been staring at her quickly responds “Please excuse my stare my lady.. For a moment you looked like someone I met long ago.” Sir Justin recalls a time in battle.. an angry woman with long red hair, sword held high, a large white tiger beside her, ferociously fighting off a band of orks, her husband, wounded, lying close by her feet... 9
Bowing his head slightly, “I am Sir Justin of Castle Orion.” Raising his head again he continues. “I, just hearing the cry of Dark Elf, did not want these brave people to try facing, and certainly not fighting, a dark one alone. They can be very dangerous, possibly even disastrous if one should escape with details of your castles inner defenses. 10
I swore an oath to your Prince that I would defend your land and people while I am here.” Looking at the boy's face, he remarks “I do believe He has mistaken Me for a dark elf. I must be very tired not to have realized this before. Is it possible, our kind, the true forest elves, have become strangers here? 11
Weakness and responsibility race through his being, each at war with the other. Morgan watched the crowd as she listened to Sir Justin. Duncan and Frieya had stepped over to her and were keeping eyes on the crowd as well. Duncan growled at a large man in the yard which had Morgan look at the man with increased interest. Her friend would only growl if there was danger or harsh words spoken in her direction. She smiled at Sir Justin. "I think this has all been a misunderstanding. But..."
~~0~~ 12
While Sir Justin and Lady Morgan talked, those called out for a bit of excitement stood grumbling in the courtyard. Though the castle staff new Lady Morgan and would obey her orders. That was not so with those called in from the local tavern. Especially a large braggart named Donash, who once was a soldier, now a dangerous tavern bully with a belly full of ale. 13
Whispering to those around him.. That woman will let this elf get away. Mark my words. Black or not elf’s can't be trusted. They're all heathens you know. Just look at him.. Doesn't even have a beard.. Looks more like a woman than a man. You think Prince Brian would let him free if he were here? A few of those listening shook their heads in negation. Smiling slyly he continues I bet he would even reward anyone who took him out. 14
At the mention of Prince Brian and the thought of a possible reward, he had gathered their full attention. One young man bravely spoke up.. “What about the woman and the big cat?” Now becoming the center of attention, a place he much enjoyed.. He laughed sarcastically. “Listen to yourself, worried about a big cat and a woman. We're men! We know how to deal with their kind.. Imagine, a woman trying to tell us what to do.. hahaha..” Several of the heartier ones laughed with him, used to dealing with the local tavern girls. 15
"Come on, lets deal with this problem ourselves.” “You two!” Pointing to a young man trying to act brave and another sly looking one he barely knew. “Go to the armory and get a couple of cross bows. Break the door down if ya have too. Then climb up on the Knights Quarters. Once your in position I'll create a distraction so you can get a shot at the cat. Don't miss! And for God's sake don't shoot the woman.. She's mine”. He said between broken teeth and foul breath, while smiling wickedly. Thoughts of murder and rape racing through his ale fogged brain. 16
“Move along now! Let's not let this opportunity pass. The bards will sing songs of how Donash and his friends saved the castle from certain doom. “ 17
As the young man hesitates for a moment the sly older one pulls him along.. “Come on boy, let's go. There's a job needin doin.” As they move off through the crowd Donash starts inciting others. His eyes constantly drifting back to Lady Morgan, watching how the breeze blew her dress exposing little bits of tender flesh.. Soon, you'll learn what it's like to have a real man.. he muses as his palms get sweaty with the thought of raping her. 18
The gradually escalating noise from the courtyard disturbed Prince Brian, who was in his chambers, busy with Court business. Coming out onto his balcony overlooking the courtyard, he saw Lady Morgan cross the yard to talk with an Elf, who looked to be Sir Justin, the Elf he had welcomed to the castle many moons before. Although the Elf, now in his gaze seemed thinner and smaller than he remembered. 19
He could see several of his men milling about, many carrying rudimentary weapons, as though they had been roused to defend the castle. It was then he spotted a well known troublemaker from town, Donash! It seemed this Donash was trying to rally a few of the crowd into some kind of action. 20
In the most powerful voice he could raise, he shouted, "Silence! All of you folk in the courtyard, be still at once! 21
Lady Morgan, if you can hear me, please come up to my chambers and tell me what is going on." 22
Again, the Prince raised his voice, and bellowed, "Guard! Arrest Donash and his band, and escort them from the castle grounds at once. See to it that he never sets foot in this castle again! 23
Hearing the prince, Lady Morgan looked in his direction bowing her head to tell him she had heard, before looking again at Sir Justin. 24
"The Prince will see that this confusion is resolved. We are all safe now." 25
She motioned to the guards rounding the ruffians up from the courtyard to move them outside the walls. She smiled at Justin. "I shall speak with the Prince as he requested, but I think he may wish to speak with you as well. You should have a meal. You look rather thin." She leaves it at that as she steps off with her two friends in tow. 26
Looking at Frieya, she spoke in a soft kind voice. "My dear Frieya, you can not go into the castle with me. Why don't you go back to your stall and I will come see you once I have spoken to the Prince." She patted her friend on the neck and kissed her on the side of the face before moving on towards the steps. Duncan and Frieya would make their way to the stables where Frieya would return to her stall without aid and Duncan would take up lounging in front of the open doorway of it. 27
Sir Justin nods to Lady Morgan in understanding of her need to leave. Turning quickly, she dismisses her companions and heads to the castle's main entrance in response to the Kings request. Sir Justin, leaning against the wall, slowly slides to the floor in total exhaustion. Yet his mind remains concerned about how quickly the crowd had risen against a person they did not know, especially an elf. Didn’t they know that any true elf would have defended them against a dark one to his last breath? 28
He watches in mild interest as the castle soldiers chase the would be brigands about the court yard, meeting with little resistance except for the big man he had noted earlier staring in his direction. The man was now surrounded by five of the Kings guards putting up a strong but slowly losing battle. 29
Justin's eyes begin to flicker then close...
~~O~~ 30
Unknown to Sir Justin or the castle guards at the time, there were still two men unaccounted for, the young man and the strange, sly looking, older one. The ones Donash had sent to the armory earlier. 31
Hearing the noise from the alerted guards, the young man's eyes grow large as he begins to panic. The older man whose features are hidden beneath his hood, grabs his arm with a force much greater than expected, his accent disappearing as he whispers to him. "You try to run boy and you'll die right here." T32
he young man freezes as he feels the sharpness of a blade pressed firmly against his back. Stammering, the young man asks "Wha, what are you gonna do? We, we gotta get outa here." 33
Quickly realizing the young man would be useless to him, he pulls him through a near by doorway. Carefully looking about to make sure no one was close, he grabs the young mans face, slamming his head against the wall. the blade slipping deep into his kidney. Then he watches in silent fascination as tears fall from the young mans slowly glazing eyes. Once he stoped fighting and with out further concern he carelessly drops the body to the floor. 34
Pulling his hood back now that he was unobserved, his dark elfin features and bright white hair are easily recognizable. With heightened senses he listens carefully to the goings on in the courtyard, waiting...
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