Neela's body sway back and forth in her exhaustion upon her black steed. The warm breeze caresses her face as it blows by like an inviting friend. The scenery out here was beautiful, but the half elf beauty was beyond noticing. The rolling hills seemed to go on forever, it was starting to get dark and the sun could be seen fading behind them. No signs of life anywhere, she was truly in the middle of no where. She'd been riding for almost a week now with just enough supplies in her pack to make her journey. She always traveled light. Her dark green cloak concealed her body and protected her from the elements, which were leanant tonight. The hilt of her two blades could be seen across each shoulder, she was never without them. They were her life.
Her father's words echoed in her head, "Follow the path that's laid out before you. You know your heart, your spirit is bound." Then he'd saddled her horse and sent her away to find her path. She shook her head with a slight grin, ramblings of an old elf. He was old, nearly 600 now. She had no idea what he was talking about. Nearly 2 years had passed since she had found him again. For the first time in 100 years, Neela had a home. She lived with her father in Serpise Forest. No where near civilization, he'd been hiding here in this dark forest for the last 100 years. Upon her 20th year, her still a child, the other elves had turned on Mekier, learning that his spawn was not of full blood. Neela's mother, Samantha, had passed shortly after her birth and for 20 years Mekier had raised her in his home in the elf city.
When the other elves found he'd spawned a child not of elven blood he was shunned and run out of the city, forever to hid his presence from their eyes. He'd left Neela with Samantha's sister, to save her from his disgrace. But her spirit was restless to find her father and she soon set out into the life she now possessed.
Her mind snapped back to the present. It was very dark now and she looked for a place to set up for the night. A lone tree stood not far away, it would have to do.
When her campfire was blazing she lay in her bedroll, glancing around, thinking of her father's words. Her spirit was bound, what the hell did that mean anyway? She wasn't bound to anything, she'd never had anyone or anything to be bound to. She felt so confused in her life. There was an emptiness in her heart that was only slightly filled by finding her father. An emptiness she thought would go away when her search for him was over. But it remained.
She glanced around, the water rippled on the nearby pond as the wind blew. She looked up at the tree she was under. It looked dead, branches broken and blackened. Crisp leaves fell, even in the summer warmth. It barely clung to life, it's roots reaching into the pond. She felt a strange link to this tree. Her eyes grew heavy and she slunk down into her hard bed upon the ground. The wind whispered as she drifted off, her hand clutched to the hilt of her blade as she slept, "know your heart".
A thud awakened Neela just a short time after sleep had finally come. She was quickly on her feet, blade in hand. Within seconds she had it pointed at the throat of a form upon the ground. A low moan came from the darken form, a riderless horse standing near.
"Who are you, what do you want?" she hissed out behind tight lips.
The body upon the ground just lay there. Was it dead she wondered. She pushed it over with her foot, closer to the fire light. Her breath caught in her throat. It was him. Her hand reached up and clutched the key that hung between her breasts. She pressed the blade closer to his throat. Anger seared through her body. "Nickorad"
Slowly his eyes opened, they barely glanced upon her. "Neela" his voice was very whispered, weak. It was then that she noticed the crimson stain upon his shoulder. Dare she trust him? In his present condition he was still a formidable foe and still as handsome as ever. His face was rugged and unshaved, his black hair dark as night. He looked as if he'd been on the trail for weeks. She slowly lowered her blade, but refused to sheath it. She wasn't taking any chances, he'd gotten what he wanted from her once, it wouldn't happen again.
Her anger subsided a little as mixed emotions filled her. She quickly shook her head, she'd not let any emotion rule her, not now, not ever. She suppose he'd need tending, he looked quite wounded. Deciding his wound was more a threat to him than he was to her, she sheathed her blade. She quickly went to her saddle bags and ripped a piece of cloth off a shirt. She wet it in the pond and quietly kneel beside him. He said not a word, he barely looked conscious. She hesitated for a moment, she'd have to take off his shirt. She wouldn't soon forget what his body had done to her. She grumbled to herself, cursing herself for remembering such a time.
Neela pulled the buttons on his tunic apart so fast that most popped off, flying in all directions. She leaned closer to examine his wound. He'd been stabbed. It looked deep, and at least a few days old. She wondered how anyone had gotten the better of this hulking human. Nickorad's body was the glint of perfection, stomached hard as steel, rippling biceps, and faster than a cat. Why hadn't he tended his wounds? She assumed the questions would be answered soon enough. A sigh escaped her lips as she lightly dapped the pond soaked cloth on his shoulder. The wound would have to be closed. She always carried needle and thread in her pack, having done her own stitches before. She grabbed them and some healing herbs and returned to Nickorad's side. It was going to be a long night.
The sun was shinning brightly upon her face when Neela awoke. She didn't remember falling asleep. She quickly glanced around, where was Nick? Had he slipped out in the night while she slept? The splash in the pond drew her attention. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw his naked chest glistening wet in the sun. She bit her lip, shame on her. After what he did to her last time, she should just kill him now. Rage and lust filled her body, a bad combination. She thrust herself to her feet and cast a meaningful glare in his direction. Arms across her chest, she stood at the edge of the water.
"Neela, so good to see you again my dear." Nickorad glanced down at his perfectly stitched shoulder. "Excellent work, your certainly have a nack for it." A grin splay across his face. Oh how she'd love to slap it off. She grind her teeth to keep from spewing all the vile things she wanted to say to him. "You want to explain what the hell is going on here?"
"I was dirty and feeling much better, thought I'd blow the stink off myself." Nickorad knew it wasn't the answer she was looking for. He loved to get this woman's temper flaring, She was a spitfire when she got going and he loved that in her. He could almost see her face scalding with anger. "Explain yourself." Neela forced the words to come out in a calm manner, she wanted to scream, to throw herself at this man and beat him to a bloody pulp. How he infuriated her, how she lusted for him. With that thought she drew her sword. Nick's grin widened as he stepped closer to her, his body being revealed inch by glorious inch. The water dripped off his rippling muscles, his nude body tanned and hardened. He brought himself to the tip of her blade, at any second she could thrust it into his heart and it'd be done. About what he deserved he imagined.
Neela's breath caught in her throat as she looked at him, trying to stay focused on his face. Nick raised his arm, brushing the sword aside as he stepped past. The look of shock on Neela's face was unmistakable. He gave a haughty laugh. "If you were going to kill me, you would have done it last night."
He was right, if she had any intentions of harming him she had a perfect opportunity to do it already. Her heart wouldn't let her. She turned, sheathing her sword once again. He had quickly dressed and was examining the hole in his shirt, now stitched shut and clean of blood. "Nice." he stated.
"So, are you going to tell me what happened?"
"No."
"Fine" her arms crossed against her chest once more.
They both sat in silence as they ate hard tack from her saddle bags. She couldn't help but glare at him, a looked that didn't pass him by. They had come to a truce, he'd behave himself and she'd put away the blades. He moved closer to her side of the fire. He waited for her to move away, but she pretended to by engrossed in her eating. I'm not going to let this man get to me, after we eat, he'll be on his way she told herself. He was so close now she could feel the warmth from his body on her side, the smell of him drifting around her. It was almost mesmerizing. Her body tingled, being this close to him did strange things to her. She hated herself for it. As she brought another bite to her lips she realized his face was mere inches from hers. She glanced up at him, their gaze locking.
"I'm sorry" the words dripped from his lips.
"For what?"
"For this." Before she had a chance to say anything else his lips hungrily grasped at hers, locking her in a deep kiss. She should push him away, but couldn't bring herself to do it. The realization finally hit her in that moment, the emptiness inside her was gone. It was shocking to her, she'd never needed anyone before, not like she needed this man. She'd cheated and thieved her way through life when she had to, never once considering love or a relationship. The kiss seemed to go on forever, stirring her emotions. When they broke apart Nick braced for her hand across his face, but it never came. A single tear streak down her face. She quickly got up and stood at the edge of the pond. Of all the reactions he expected from this hardened woman, this was the last. He stood behind her, wondering if he dared speak. He reached out and touched her arm. "Neela?"
A sigh escaped her, her voice wavering with emotion.