Fugitive from justice.....

[Merelan]

"No Master? No, I killed him. Dead, he is dead, and I am free, and no more a whore, am I?" The water is good and pure.

"Ill? I have been ill? Then, I dreamed the wolf? dreamed him?"

 

[cgraven]

Helen Rest Me lady gain your strength,,….. No l’Omber’” is real… This is his domain Helen….Now rest.

As Helen’s eyes flutter shut L”Ombre” the wolf lord comes again to her.

 

[Merelan]

His breath is on me, I scent him close, touching me again.
"Yes, real." The drugs they must have given me, or his peace, causing me to rest, sleep. My dreams still now, only of serenity, the woods, the beauty.

 

[cgraven]

Again the woods in winter, at first stark bleak, cold and lonely. The snow softly filtering through bare branches, blanketing the bows of pine and fir, the land and all that is upon it covered in an ermine cloak of purest white. The plaintive call of the wolf for his lost lover. Breaks the silent world of white.

Then through the shimmering haze of falling snow he comes, “The Wolf Lord” L’Omber “The Shadow.” He comes, comes to Helen padding on silent paws across the snow his pricing golden eyes holding her still where she stands. As he comes his shape shifts, Wolfe, woodland Ranger, wolf, and then Ranger clad in his hunters gray green cloak. His hand reaches, caress Helen’s cheek, his lips brushes hers in a gentle kiss.

“Helen come with me, be with me free, no longer the whore but my lady, free to say Yea or Nay. No longer the whore. It is your choice and no other's “Me Lady Helen”.

This strange Ranger with golden eyes is familiar but not.

 

[Merelan]

A light touch awakens me, brings me from the sweet dreams. I do not wish to waken, and struggle. But I scent him, my wolf friend.
Eyes pop open, but it is a mna. Reaching out to me, a Ranger by the looks. I pull away as his hand touches my cheek.
“Helen come with me, be with me free, no longer the whore but my lady, free to say Yea or Nay. No longer the whore. It is your choice and no other's “Me Lady Helen”.
Who is this man, that he would ask me. Our eyes meet, his a strange yellow, almost golden, ageless. Like my wolf friend. What had they called him? But this was a man.
A man offering me a new life. As his whore? No. Shaking the thought from my head. Unworthy of this place. They value life here, or they would not have saved me.
"I am not a whore. I am not lady. I am..." trailing off. "I am Helene. Help me. Where am I? What is this place?"

 

[cgraven]

‘As you say…. Helen for that is your choice….. Yet you are a lady not my peerage , nor by patient ….. No your are a lady by hear and soul so genteel.”

I let my words struggle to reach Helen’s heart..

“You are at “Wolf’s Lair “ the home of the Lord Protector of these woods.”

Seeing the shock and fear in her eyes.

‘Nay you are not a kept woman for his pleasure or lust but free to come or go as you chose Helen.”

 

[Merelan]

"Why does he let me here? Does he not know who I was? What i did?" But his eyes, draw me close, without movign I feel he is touching me.

 

[cgraven]

Who you where & what you where Helen where not your choice. What you are now , what you will become is your sweet child.”

I look upon her with eyes that are timeless eyes that saw the birth of the world.

 

[Merelan]

"You will show me, help me?" Then drew myself back.

"I am sorry to be a bother. Is, is Roderick around? I should thank him, for helping me." Struggling to get up, then realizing i was nude. Blushing. Another sign of my new self. nuditymade me blush now. Especially in front of himself. No amusement showed, nothing. His eyes like piercings into my soul, seeing the truth.

 

[cgraven]

“Helen it is I Roderick, has a bath and shave changed me so much?”

I lightly tease her.

“But of course I’ll help you. Did I not say so when we 1st met?”

Helen is uncommonly beautiful she is naked to the waist as the bed covers slipped when she sat up. Yet here sitting up against me I am tempted so by her as I was in the green wood but it is her choice and I shall not use her. She must come to me, she must choose.

Kissing her chastely;

“Shall have a bathe drawn for you Helen?”

 

[Merelan]

"You? Yes, I guess." Pulling the sheet up and blushing. it is him. had I not noticed before? His face, the strength, the .. sexiness. The power in his frame. had I been so self involved? My body stirred, but I soothed her.

"Not a whore." Whispering the words as he left.

"I am Helene, just Helene. That is a good place to start." Getting out of the bed, my legs shaky, stepping, but twined in the sheets, and weak. Falling forward and landing hard. Wanting to cry at my weakness. Gathering the sheet around me and standing, still. Holding myself erect to steady. Not wanting him to know I had fallen.
Why did I feel I must prove my worth to him? He was just another man, like so many I had been with.

No, not like any, any other man.

 

[cgraven]

I closed the door to Helen’s chamber and stood there for a moment her sent pervaded the keep, I longed for her to touch her to let her see the truth of me fully revealed Yet in my heart I knew that this daughter of “Adam was not ready for it. There would come a time in the not too distant further when she would know in her hear the truth. I yearned for that moment yet dredged it as well. Would this be yet another sword to wound her?

The scuff, the thud, the little sigh of pain as Helen feel, my hand on the latch, ready to run to her, take her in my arms kiss away her tears. No, I stilled my hand my body quivering in that moment of indecision, and then it drops to my side. Turning I pad away on silent paws to hut for my daily food.

 

[Merelan]

With the sheet still wrapped about me I slip out, trying a door. Yes.
There, a bath. The water so hot it sends clouds of steam. Yes. Oh, to be clean. Clean by my hand, and to stay that way. Not as preparation for him, but for me. To be clean for me.
Circling the room, finding soap, a thick towel. Letting the sheet fall from me slowly, trailing it. teasing myself with the tub. Oh I loved a tease. Mounting the step and slipping one foot in, flicking the water with my toes. Standing as i feel the heat envelop me. Fill me.
Water, always where I felt home, safest. Pure. Well, not pure, but clean.

Sitting slowly, laying my hair over the side. There, a clip. Smiling. Smoen was thoughtful. Piling it high on my head and clipping it there. A few curls falling out. Laying back and reveling in the heat, the feel. The restfulness. no bellowing men, no nosey servants. Just me.

And Roderick. Was that all who was here? Where was he? Why did I care.

And I did. My eyes closed I pictured him, his walk, his touch. his eyes.

But the wolf friend kept imposing himself on my image.

The eyes. The same? No.

"Helene dear, you are tired, and sick. You image too much. You are saafe here, for now."

Then lathering the soap I scrubbed, and scrubbed. Three times cleaning off my skin, till it fairly burned with the roughness of my touch. Rinsing quickly the third time. Then washing my hair.
The ater now tepid. I stepped out slowly, dizzy. Faint. the room spun and whirled. I sank to my knees. Slowly Helene. Slowly.
Finding the towel and drying myself.
But I had left my clothes in the other room. Who else was here?
I wound the sheet around me again, like a toga. My hair loose, wet, clinging to me. Opening the door and letting out all the steam in clouds that filled the hallway.

 

[cgraven]

Nervous I return to the passage outside Helen’s room. She is weak I know she has fallen, worry wears at my mind. Then there she is fresh form the bath, a bed sheet warped around her. Eyes meet, lips brush, all with out thought or planning.

“Helen forgive me ….. I…..”

Coloring I am at a loss for words.

 

[Merelan]

He is standing there as I emerge, and sudenly we are kissing. Oh sweetness. His mouth so firm, and gentle. But hjust as suddenly he breaks away. Stumbling and apologizing.

"You didn't want to kiss me?" Unsure suddenly. Had he felt like he had too, wasn't I pretty? Didn't he like me? Had he only saved me to use me against the Master's family? A tear slid down my cheek.

 

[cgraven]

A tear trickles down Helen’s cheek a single glistening , living crystal. My hand cups her cheek trapping that tear. There is a deep sadness in my eyes and before I can still my tongue the words come tumbling out.


“ Helen my love…..I want you more than words can tell, Yet I will not take you………….The charms of your body have been the plaything of men sense you where a young lass……….The choice was never been yours…………I will not take thee my love ….. I will, willingly come to thy bed, and please you if I can, but only at your free invitation………..I told you and meant it ….. No longer a whore to be used……. You are a lady in my eyes.”


I hang my head. The green woods and the skill of the hunter I know. The words of love are foreign to me and I am as clumsy as a new born pup.

 

[Merelan]

Doesn't he know I want him? Can't he see? Does he think it was all bad and evil? There were times, oh countless times. And once, but he was young and naive, gentle and kind. And Master did away with him. For loving me was not allowed.

But Roderick...

"A Lady? Can I not be Helene to you? You have given me so much, more then life. A freedom to be Helene. I do not know who she is yet, but I do know." Slipping in closer to him, dropping the sheet which fell and entangled our feet.
"I know she yearns for you, to touch you. Taste you. Give you loving. For I see in your eyes a loneliness I know well." I backed away though, for he had not embraced me, and flinched when I touched his cheek.

Bending I pulled at the sheet, trying to hide my confusion.
Wrapping it back around me I blushed.

"Pardon me Sir Roderick. For I am unfamiliar with how to act a lady. Perhaps you could teach me. Lamia.." Halting on the name. "Lamia tried before, before..." But tears started and I turned and reached for my door, but it wouldn't open. Tugging and banging at it, frustrated again at my thoughts and actions.

 

[cgraven]

Helen pulls and the door ring in frustration the small tell tale signs of her quite sobbing I gently turn her to me our eyes meet, my lips kiss away her tears, then brush part and then my tongue slides across her war sweet moist lips.

Helen is in my arms and I carrier to her bed , laying her in its deep comfort I slowly undrape the sheet from Helens supple body.

“Helen I love you.”

 

[Merelan]

I can only moan as his lips claim mine. Taking me in his arms, sweeping me off my feet. I wind my arms around him, my heart screaming yes, my body shivering at his touch, his strengh. He ently laid me down and uncovered me, as if a gift for him.
For a fleeting second I wished I was a virgin again. But then, a virgin wouldn't know how to please him.

“Helen I love you.” Stunned I lay there, as his eyes drank in my body. Loved me? he didn't need to say that, didn't he know? but before I could respond there was a loud gong sound, from somewhere deep in the place. He growled, almost snarled and quickly I was covered again. I reached out in confusion, but he only shook his head. The look in his eyes kept me silent.

 

[cgraven]

My eyes are full of sorrow at the sound of the alarm.

“Helen it appears that we have uninvited visitors….. Dress quickly my love and bring your weapons for I fear they will not leave peacefully.”

Grinding on my “Hunts” man sword and sling my quiver. I kiss Helen’s hand.

Join me on the ramparts for this day will detriment our further, my love.”

Long bow in hand I walk to meet my fate.

 

[Merelan]

I pull on the tunic and leggings I had worn in the woods. Dirty again, but scared now. Me? Weapons?
I cannot fight. Surely it must be men from Master's family.
If so, I will not let this fight be over me. Not now, not ever. No more killign over me. I had done enough. Revenged on Lamia, and I was no longer that girl.
But my legs trembled and shook, barely holding me as we climbed and climbed the steps. Clinging to the wall as I got more and more frightened. Every step bringing me further back to the day I was locked in the tower, the walls the same, the steps the same. But this time I was clothed, and not dragged, not being poked and touched, fondled and beaten as we went.
I stopped at the top, almost bumping into him.

"Not a whore." A whisper escaping my lips. Myhands clinging to the knife so tighly it hurt, bit into my skin. A trickle of blood, I watched as it slowly dripped along my hand, a drop hanging in air, suspended.

 

[cgraven]

“No Helen Not a whore my luv……But some times to be we must defend ourselves….No Lass you are no whore. You’re a free woman, but that freedom has a price.”


I loosed an arrow at the gathering brigands. Some human, some trolls, and others hobgoblins. Yes this was where the worlds met, a cross roads of time and place. I could not let it fall to the dark forces of the realms It must be free to chose its own path. I showed Helen how to notch her arrows and let fly , then aiming then targets that needed to be dealt with.

“Ah Lass as I said freedom has its price.”

 

[Merelan]

He speaks, quickly showing me how to let the arrows fly. I do, only to drop it. But then we are seperated, torn apart and pushed by his men.
One after another I let them fly, not knowing if they hit, not knowing how long we fight. A cloud forms above me, dark and ominous, but a howl from the tower and it splits, tatters flying in the sudden wind.
Another howl, and another. Out of arrows and tired, exhausted. Is it the same day even? Pushed from one part of the fortress to another. Lost, and alone now. higher and higher I climb, unable to return downwards, too many men.
I am frightened, following the howls.
Is it he? My wolf friend. I cling to the tiny patch of hair I saved. Somehow feeling it pulse in my hand. Passing a window I am suddenly thrown against the opposite wall. A sting and sharpness. A bite?
No, an arrow. Flung wildly from below, embedded now in my side. Gasping and twisting I pull it free, but cling to it's slickness.
My hand reaches and I find a knob, tearing it open. Standing in the upmost room. On the walls manacles. With a scream I howl too. I am trapped, for the door swings shut behind me. Tearing at it, blood dripping from my side I cry out, again and again. Now lost in the memories of the past. Clinging to the manacle now on my own, it keeps me on my feet. I see...
See out the window, but the carnage is not Lamia. This time there are hundreds. I am drawn to it. Drawn to the window, in plain sight of anyone who sees. Open target. Like a dream I reach out my hand, covered in my blood, and bits of fur stuck to it. The rain starts, washing it off. Onto the heads below. Their sudden screams seem miles away as I stand, teetering on the edge, as the rain washes away the tears, the blood, the pain.


OOC Woah, where the hell did all that come from????

 

[cgraven]

The battle is joined. Arrows fly, scaling ladders to the wall, the tide of battle ebbs and advances as more and more of the foe breach or defenders. First only a trickle reach us but soon the shear wait of their numbers wears away at the meager little band of defenders.

Some where in the confused mêlée. Helen is washed from my side by their strengthening tide. We are slowly forced back as one section of wall after an other falls. We few left, fall back to the tower keep to make our last stand.

Helen’s scream reaches my ears and then suddenly unbidden the battle rage seizes me the golden eyes flash; gleaming white fangs rip and tear at the foe. The metallic taste of blood on my tongue and the soul rending howl of triumph answered by the beast of the forest. The foe no longer faces mere mortal men; no now the changelings revert to their natural state. Wolves, panthers, raging bores, Fang, Claws and Tusk take a fearsome toll in the close in fighting. The screams of the butcher humans, trolls, and hobgoblins fill the morning air

Franticly I search for Helen yet I find her not. .

 

[Merelan]

An eternity as I stand there, listewning to the screams, then he is there. I see a flash, a howl and know. Our eyes meet briefly.
It is he, my friend, my comforter, my saviour.
My head bows to the power that suddenly fills me, the searing pain in my side is no more. The anger within finds it's way out. The years of anguish, suffering, all wahsed away in one wave. It sweeps from within me and bursts outward. I am thrown back with the force. It sweeps across the enemy like an unseen wind, tossing them left and right. hurling some hundreds of feet, as it flattens others. Leaving in it's wake our confused and battered defenders, and silence.
But I see none of this. I slump against the wall. No longer concious, barely breathing. No longer a fighter, no longer scared, frightened or terrified.
No longer a whore.

No longer just Helene either.

I am his mate.