Warrior's Reprieve [Andarial](closed)

[Reyn]

Blood covered the lone soldier as he made his way through the forest of Myth. His rusted armor was caked in the red liquid and his body coated in it as if he had just been baptized within it. The salty liquid stung his eyes as he trekked through the forest, his weakening muscles screaming in protest. A solder was only coated in so much blood when a battle had taken place and Reyn, the lone soldier, had just escaped one that would go down in history. The battle was large, but not the largest so far, no what it would be known for was how terribly the Queen of Light's army lost. The memory of it was still fresh in Reyn's mind. It made the young man shudder with a multitude of emotions, none of them pleasant and each one worse than the last.

Reyn's unit had been placed on the front lines. An honor, or so that was what his commanding officer had said before retreating to the back of the lines where he would be safe. In the two hours that Reyn had been on the battlefield blood had been poured across him. His own, his comrades, his foes, and even the beast that they rode. It had soaked into his boots long ago and the feeling of it made him uncomfortable. The battle had started off simple enough, if one could call war simple. It turned south once the Dark Elves unleashed their beasts before the Light Elves could. They devastated the lines and split them down the middle. They continued with the divide and conquer tactics until the Light Elves lost all moral and a retreat was sounded. Reyn's unit was one of the first to leave. Countless others were trapped between friend and foe with only impending doom waiting over head.

The grim thoughts filled his head as he followed his unit. They distracted him from his hike and his unit. When he snapped back to reality he had been separated from them. With no compass and nowhere to go Reyn set off on his own in an attempt to find his way back. As he walked he training his thoughts on the battle. He had to find away to distract his muscles from their agonizing torment or else collapse. He thought of how the Dark Queen's men were probably raiding his comrades and setting up camp as he spoke. The thoughts distracted him just long enough. Luck favored those who never gave up and today luck shone down upon Reyn. No more than ten meters from him was a lake. Reyn ran towards it with renewed vigor and drank from it until his belly was full. Letting out a content sigh he fell to the ground. "Sweet water," he said as he allowed the water to cool him.

Reyn sat up and took off his boots. Tired as he was he wanted the stench of blood to be off of him. He cast them aside and then began to remove his armor. His helmet came off first revealing sweat soaked hair with ornate feathers braided into them. His breast plate came off next followed by his greaves and gauntlets. Soon Reyn was stripped of the leather armor beneath his plate mail, standing in what appeared to be cloth shorts. Fresh wounds covered his body though they paled in comparison to the many scars that crisscrossed it. He was glad no one was around. He was never able to bath like this and took delight in it, finding some good in the tragedy that had occurred. He smiled and jumped into the shallow portion of the lake, blood falling from his body and circling him in ripples.

[Andarial Featherstone]

She had killed many that day. That would bother most but it did not bother Andarial Featherstone. No what bothered her was what she did after the battles. The kindness she showed the soldiers, this kindness was not something most would consider kind but it was the only thing she could bring her dark heart to do for them. Kill them, show them mercy and bring them a swift end. Yes it bothered her, showed she still had good in her heart and Andee hated it. She glanced back to see if anyone was following her, not even Wulf would at these times when he knew she was her broodiest.

She had already been stripped of her full body armor. It had been bloody and needed cleaning, and apparently it wasn't very Queenly to be walking around in blood though she thought it would show her courage and ability during battle. But alas her advisers were usually right so she usually did what they said. Besides the armor had been getting heavy. Now she was just in her usual barely there clothing and her two scimitars adorned her sides (she had decided to leave her tiger claws back at camp).

As she stalked through the shadows of the forest, sticking close to the tree trunks where the shadows were the thickest, she watched the sunlight play across the forest floor. It was beautiful. Wonderfully so, though she was a dark elf she enjoyed the sun just as much as any light elf. She thought it was an amazing thing, something that could create life with just some warmth and energy. It was something they owed their lives too, something they would never be able to live without. As she mused she turned the corner and came upon a sight she would never have thought possible.

Someone lay before her, someone absolutely beauitful. HE seemed to radiate beauty from every scar that twisted his skin. She drew in a long shuddering breath. She paused just as she came out of the trees upon the lake and suddenly felt, almost unworthy to be in his presence. Almost but not quite. AS she gathered herself she walked forward, her pointed ears giving away her status as a noble immediately. Suddenly her gaze became like that of a predator that had suddenly sighted it's quarry. She put a sensual sway in her hips that set her in the 'Sex goddess' category.

"Well, well ,well what do we have here? A light elf caught in a dark elf trap?" She had seen this elf on the battle fields, he had fought well. She was impressed by him and the fresh cuts running across his body looked good enough to lick.

Words: 460 (OMG)
Muse: AWESOME
Song: N/A

[Reyn]

Reyn allowed the water to rush over his body and cleanse it of the blood that had stained it only moments ago. The scent hung on him stubbornly though and his nose wrinkled at the smell of it. The coppery smell stung his nose and was a scent he had never gotten used to. The stench of sweat from a hard fought battle had, thankfully, seeped away. As the remains of battle flowed away Reyn felt a certain bliss about him. He felt calm. He let out a content sigh as he ran his hands through his hair, undoing the braid and setting the multicolored feather aside as if it were a treasure. With it set away he went about washing his ebony locks and the rest of his torn and tattered body. He whipped his head around, shaking out his raven locks and splattering water across the grassy shore of the lake. His sore muscles that had been throbbing in protest moments ago were relieved by the chilled water and Reyn was able to rest easy for the first time that day. The sense of calm did not last long though. As Reyn washed himself a dark presence made it's way through the forest. It went unnoticed, Reyn's mind caught up in the moment and only after it made a noticeable sound did Reyn realize that it was there.

The sound of grass and twigs crunching beneath lithe feet echoed from behind him and Reyn almost froze. The warrior turned, his body suddenly feeling heavy once more. His crimson eyes traveled across the smooth blue waters and then toward the shore. Taking in a deep breath he forced himself to look upon the figure who had found him. The breath he had just taken felt as if it had been punched from his lungs. The woman before him was beautiful, no that didn't quite cover it. Reyn had seen beautiful woman before but not like this. Dark skin stretched over taught muscle. Slender, well defined curves, and a head of hair as white as snow, a feature he had never seen. Delicately pointed ears marked her as royalty and to set it all off were a pair of golden eyes that seemed to shimmer in the light. She was like a goddess descending upon the world. A goddess of blood and anger, of seduction, and, in Reyn's mind, of beauty. Reyn instantly felt ashamed, realizing his body was displayed.

He ducked down, sheathing his body in the still waters from the neck down. His cheeks turned bright red as he looked away. His scars were now hidden beneath the blood stained water, blood from his open wounds feeding it, dying it red. His crimson eyes looked toward the ground, feeling unworthy. Though his feelings of unworthiness were well deserved. After all, he was the hideous soldier whose only responsibility was to fight and she... well he couldn't exactly describe what she was. The sound of her voice drew his attention back towards her, his red eyes meeting her golden hues. Dark elf, he thought to himself. He had spent hours in battle with them yet he had never seen this one. Never laid eyes upon her. "You know how to bait your traps rather well." he said, his blush fading slightly. It wasn't what he should have said but he found it was all that he could think to say. "Tempting a weary warrior with a nice bath."

The woman before him was used to men of a different breed. A breed Reyn was not apart of. Any of those men would have interpreted her sensual walk in a different way would have swooned for her in a much different way than the boy before her did. Reyn, barely noticed it. The Dark Queen that stood before him would have trouble understanding this one. At the age of nineteen Reyn was as innocent as a child and completely oblivious of advances being made upon him. A challenge if anyone had ever seen one, even for the Queen of Darkness.

[Andarial Featherstone]

Her eyes glittered with amusement as her slipped farther into the water. He was embarrassed if that stain of red across his cheeks was anything to go by. Why he was embarrassed she didn't know. He had nothing to be nervous about, he was gorgeous and wonderful. though maybe the fact he had been caught unawares by a woman and a dark elf no less had wounded his pride. A lazy smile curved her lips and she wandered closer, unhurriedly, keeping her eyes on him; not out of fear that he would attack, no merely because she was afraid he would disappear.

She was about five feet from the lakes shore now and had noticed the feather laying on the ground. How strange, she had never seen a feather like that before. She wondered how it had got there. Her gaze flicked back up to the man, relieved to see he was still there. So this wasn't some teasing dream she was having. She frowned at him, he really hadn't reacted to her advances, though they were subtle anyone should have noticed them. He must be young or stupid, she thought. Only completely innocent individuals wouldn't rise to the occasion to flirt with the dark Queen.

"Why are you hiding your body? Do not hide it, I rather enjoy looking upon it," she decided to go right for obvious. Who wouldn't get that advance. The scar that beautified his face made her long to reach out and touch it. But that would be scandalous. A light elf being touched by the dark Queen. She smirked at that thought. Now one would think that for a dark Queen Andee was too flirty, but she wasn't one to love the people she flirted with or slept with. No, she was more likely to either kill them or break their heart. Though she had loved once... he had hurt her horribly. After that she had built up a wall around her heart so thick that no one had been able to tear it down for 6 years and she had no intention of letting anyone tear it down for another 75.

Words: 323
Muse: Really Good
Song: Tangled up in me- Skye Sweetnam

[Reyn]

Reyn was young, though not stupid, and in truth he wasn't that much younger than the Queen that stood before him. At the tender age of nineteen he was still as oblivious to someone's attraction to him as he was when he was no more then eight. It was odd really. Maybe if he had been able to avoid the horrendous event that left him scarred and mangled he would have grown to understand such things. The scars were a large part of his life. They changed his entire image of himself, though his self image was never developed, and caused him to retreat from most women, not wanting to disrespect them by showing his terrifying visage. They were the most likely reason as to why he was unable to pick up the subtle hints the queen laid before him. In his mind he had already decided that a woman like that would never find any interest in him.

"...I rather enjoy looking upon it,"

Reyn's face sunk under the water after hearing her compliment. It suddenly felt incredibly warm to Reyn, as if someone had started a fire before his face. He sunk deeper beneath the water, hiding his cheeks, leaving only his eyes and messy black hair visible. Bubbles floated up from where he was, the air leaving his breath as he calmed himself. Even after giving a more direct hint Reyn still didn't seem to understand what she was getting at. He simply figured that she was being nice to him. The soldier had no idea why she was being kind to him or looking at him the way she did. She was an enemy, or so that's what the officials would have liked for him think. He rose slightly so that his shoulders were above the water. "Thank you for your kindness miss," he said, his eyes not meeting her's. "But you don't have to make things up for my sake. I know I'm not the most appealing man in Gira."

[Andarial Featherstone]

She sighed and rolled her golden eyes. He truly was innocent. HE couldn't be that young! This was ridiculous. He should flaunt himself with all those beautiful scars decorating his body. Though something about the way he acted drew her to him. A challenge that Andee had never met before. She had never had issues gathering a man to follow her back to her bed. But this man she wanted fiercely and she would have him, she always got want she wanted. Always. Whether she had to use her Queenly powers or not. She began making her way closer to the lake while his gaze was lowered. Stopping only to unzip her boots and slip them off, leaving them where they were. Next came her gloves as she moved, then her top and her shorts. She left her underwear on. An easy smirk flicked her lips upward and she carefully avoided the feather and she moved into the lake.

Andee shuddered at the cold and felt little bumps rise up her arms and her flat stomach. She was soon in the shallows far enough that her waist was covered and she stood right across from him. The smirk still tilted her lips but now her head was cocked curiously to the side. Her eyes trained on him, watching his reaction.

"Does it look like I'm making things up? I think you are a very attractive man and I have every intention of getting to know you better," she said. The last part wasn't necessarily an innuendo but more like a gentle reminder that she wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. Perhaps he needed to be on the same level as her, they both needed to be naked he needed to see her scars and there were quite a few, most faint and barely noticeable but there was one that slashed from her right shoulder to her left hip. Some fish brushed passed her leg and she turned for a second, just her top torso and just enough so her could the beginning of the deep scar.

Perhaps, also he needed to befriend her first. Now Andee wasn't used to taking things slow, but something about this light soldier intrigued the dark elf and she was wondering if she might try 'befriending' someone for the first time since she had been thrown out of the Light Kingdom.

Words: 404
Muse: Great
Song: I Believe in Ghosts- Jason Aldean

[Reyn]

This woman was odd, to say the least. She was a dark elf, a very attractive dark elf, who walked strangely, and in a strange manner. She complimented Reyn out of, what Reyn assumed, to be pity and for some reason had taken some interest in him. If she hadn't why else would she be undressing. Wait! What? Out of the corner of his eye Reyn saw a flash of something dark. He looked up to see a boot being casually tossed away followed by the rest of her clothes. Waves of embarrassment rolled over the teen as he looked toward the lake, suddenly finding it much more interesting. The sound of her feet on the soft grass announced her movement. The sound of the surface of the water breaking caused his heart to sink. Why was it that he found himself in these awkward situations so often? He cursed himself, wishing that he could think of something to get away before the situation got any stranger. For the third time that day he was called from his thoughts. He glanced forward only to lay eyes upon something a pale shade of brown. He blinked rapidly realizing that it was the woman.

She was no more than a few feet from him. In his current stance he was about eye level with her navel. Feeling that the situation would become more awkward if he remained like that Reyn let out a deep sigh and stood up, the water streaming down his chest and back. He rubbed the back of his head as he listened to her speak. He had no idea what to say. No woman had ever found him desirable and he wasn't sure if this woman was being truthful or not. He remain quiet as he digested what she had said. Maybe this is really a trap, he thought to himself. He thought of running once more but decided against it. If this was a trap he was too far in and his spear and sword were too far away to reach. He would just have to go with the flow of things.

What was it she had just said? She wanted to get to now him. He figured the best place to start was to give his name and rank as he was so used to doing. "I'm Private Jonathan Reynhart, a soldier of her majesty's royal army and member of fifteenth regiment's light infantry unit." he said, taking some solace in the fact that reciting his name and rank had restored some courage to him. "Though most of the boys just call me Reyn. It's a lot easier to say and not so plain." he said as he lowered his hand and looked toward the woman. He was sure he had answered one of her questions now he needed some of his many questions answered. One in particular. Just who was she?

[Andarial Featherstone]

Reyn, she loved it. It fit him and he was definitely someone who she would call by name. Rarely did she grace people by calling them by name, usually she called them by their rank. Should she tell him her whole rank? Well even if she just told him her name, just her first name even her would know. IF he knew she was a noble, as he would know by her ears, he would know who she was because she was the only noble name Andarial. But she did not want him to call her his majesty. No she wanted someone to call her Andee. She knew of no one besides Wulf who called her Andee. Not even her sister called her Andee anymore. She always referred to her as the dark Queen or so she heard the grapevine.

"I am Andarial Featherstone, but you can just call me Andee. I am pleased to meet you Reyn, truly I am," her words rang true. For the first time in so long she was speaking with honest happiness. Why was that? She frowned minutely for a moment. Why was she so happy when nothing had happened? Was it this man? No it couldn't no one had made her this happy by just being around her except Wulf. "I have seen you fight, why are you only in the fifteenth regiment?"

Her eyes skittered across his form after he stood, watching the way the droplets clung to his muscles and the pure strength and contained power body held. He wasn't very magically inclined or so she guessed from his ears but she did notice the strength his form controlled. She wondered what had made him so much like a tiger. Brawn and intelligence, raw beauty and power, that's how she saw him at least. She wondered if he would kill her for just saying the wrong thing or if he leaned more toward the extreme light side and he only fought when he had to. If he was a pacifist.

Words: 350
Muse: Really Good... He gives me so much <3
Song: Hey Soul Sister- Train

[Reyn]

Featherstone, why did that name sound so familiar. Reyn thought upon it for a few moments, drawing up a blank. He knew the name but he couldn't match it to a title or a face. He figured that this dark elf must have been one of the nobles from when he was a child. He waved the thought away as he gave the woman, Andee, a smile. The boy had no idea who the woman before him was, what she was. She was the Dark Queen, the one he had sworn an oath to fight and, if need be, kill. She was the woman that set loose the army that attacked his home and, indirectly, she was the woman who caused his current state. Her soldiers had placed the scars on Reyn. It was odd how she found them attractive when she was one of the reasons for their existence. Fate had a funny way of working and it had one sick sense of humor.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well Andee." Reyn said. In the back of his mind he still thought he was in a trap. If it truly was a trap it was a successful one. Reyn had dropped his guard, something he would kick himself for later. Andee, while supposedly the enemy, had set a calm over Reyn. He glanced at her, allowing himself a quick glance. That was when he noticed the scars that were placed upon her and the wounds. The scars were something one only found themselves possessing when they stepped away from the battlefield and the wounds were of a similar fashion. He blinked, wondering if she was a soldier as well. A noble that fought on the front lines? Now that was a strange thought.

When she asked of his rank grimaced and then hunched his shoulders. "It's hard for someone like me to go up in the ranks. I have no beast, no magic, and no noble blood to speak of. The higher ups are content with keeping me on the front lines. It's a lot like chess I think. You send in your pawns, the ones with little use to protect your nobility. Then they swoop down and take all the glory." he said. His tone held no bitterness, no malice, he simply stated it as if it was fact. "Besides, I've only been in the army for a year or so." he said, even so he should have advanced. by then. He was tired of only earning eight coppers a week. How could he support his family on that?

"What about you Andee?" he said, "Aren't you a warrior too?" he asked gesturing toward the scars and wounds that were etched into her dark skin. "I don't think I've ever seen a noblewoman fight."

[Andarial Featherstone]

He didn't have a Beast?! That was so strange! She never sent a warrior into battle without a Beast. Therefore they would always have someone to protect their back when they fought. She frowned in confusion, what would make her sister do something so stupid and dangerous? Was her sister truly so terrible at battle that she would send fighters into war without a Beast? She shook her head and walked over, closer to him. But still with his fighting skill he still should have gone up in the ranks, even if he had been in the guard only for a year.

"When will you get a Beast," she asked, head canted to the side and now standing a foot away from him. She could barely remember when she had not had Wulf at her side. What she did remember had been a sense of emptiness. It had been like she had been missing a piece of her soul. But when she had met him it was like the world had brightened and she had purpose in her life. This purpose was to keep him safe. She laughed as she realized that he didn't know who she was. It wasn't a condescending laugh it was more like a joyful and refreshed laugh. It was different to find someone who didn't know who she was. Who didn't bow before her immediately, and she liked it.

"I am both nobility and a warrior. A Queen has to lead her subjects into battle after all, doesn't she?" She smiled at him, she wondered if he would understand what she meant. She would not lie to him, she was not ashamed of herself. In fact she took pride in who she was, even if she didn't like the fact it didn't give her many people to talk to.

Words: 319
Muse: Crazily erratic
Song: Dogs of War- Brand X Music

[Reyn]

Reyn sighed, scratching the scar on his cheek as he did so. It was nervous habit he had developed after recieving it. Those who knew him best often told him that he'd wear right through his cheek if he kept it up. "I honestly couldn't tell you." he said, "The Queen has a few Regiments that don't have beasts. I kind of understand why. From a tactical standpoint it would be better to have some units that aren't cavalry. There are a few places where Beasts can't reach that only us Elves can and since all beasts are different it's hard to keep unity. Sure, all of us get along fine but unity in form is kind of important in battle. Without it things start falling apart and it's hard to keep everything the same when all of the Beasts are different. She likes to have us around as a kind of special forces and since there are so few of us I doubt she'll let us get out beasts anytime soon."

The boy's thoughts upon the subject were odd. No ordinary enlisted man thought like that but Reyn did. The boy had a mind like a general. Too bad he was too innocent to put it to good use and too innocent to realize he had revealed military information to the enemy, the Queen of the enemy! Her laugh caught his attention and he smiled, the scar on his cheek stretching as he did so. He laughed too, not really knowing what had caused her such amusement but found it to be contagious. He eventually found her answering his question. He smiled and nodded at first, thinking that it was interesting for nobility to be involved in battle. It meant that if he became a noble he could still fight. Wait... What had she just said?

Queen

Reyn's crimson eyes shot open as he looked over her. Dark skin, white hair, queen. "Y-you're the Dark Queen?" he asked. Reyn's legs gave out and he fell into the cold waters. Shock had overcome him and he wasn't sure how to react. She wasn't anything like all of the rumors said about her. Sure, physically they had got it right, but she just couldn't be the Dark Queen, his sworn enemy. He shot up out of the water. "But you can't be the Dark Queen. She's got claws, a terrible beast with two heads, a wicked soul, and is as mean as they come." he shook his head, denying the truth. "You're too nice to be the Dark Queen Andee." he said, his mind didn't want admit it but his instincts told him that she was telling the truth. "That would mean..." he reached up and touched the scar on his cheek, it suddenly felt cold, lifeless.

[Andarial Featherstone]

But people could be separated from their Beasts if one really needed to have them fight separately. She didn't think any elf should go without having a Beast in their life. They were meant for each other, just like a soul mate was meant to complete a person a Beast completed the elf on a friendship and fighting level.

Andee laughed again. So the rumors had grown exponentially since she had last heard them. Seems like her sister had been spreading them like wildfires. Her sister must really think horrible things of her to think she had such an evil soul. She was dark hearted but not evil, she was not a demon. She did not eat people's flesh and destroy little kids. In fact she had a rather soft spot for small children. They made her smile because they were so innocent. Reyn was almost as innocent as them, when it came to love and sex at least.

"I am not evil. Yes I am a dark elf but that just means my sins are more pronounced. I give freedom to my people and allow them to commit most of the sins that my sister has shackled and keeps a close eye out for. I love to fight and I have no issue killing but...," she stopped there. No, she couldn't tell him her secret. Never would she tell anyone but Wulf. Because it would shatter her reputation and everyone would disown her as Queen and she knew nothing else but nobility.

She watched him closely, for some reason she cared about how he responded. She cared whether he hated her or liked her. But she had no idea why. She never used to care about people's opinions of her, but for some unknown reason this man struck a chord in her that she had thought she had long ago lost.

Words: 319
Muse: Good
Song: N/A

[Reyn]

Reyn was just as innocent as a child. The sins that she spoke of had never stained the boy's heart. Not once had he ever been greedy wanting things for his own gain. Never slothful, always active and zealous. Had never been to proud to accept help or offer what he could and never gluttonous, often needing the amount of food he ate due to his training. Wrath was sometimes known but in truth wrath was the most noble of the sins. It was the only one that was not selfish. Reyn's wrath was felt by those that dishonored his country. He was never envious of others and he certainly never lusted after another. No, Reyn was exactly like a child. If his heart were to be compared to that of another's you would find no other to be compared to unless it was a child's.

Right now the child like man looked at the woman before him. He couldn't really explain what he had felt. She had been so kind to him, minus the earlier trap comment. Had complimented him wanted to get to know him and yet her she was, proclaiming to be the Dark Queen. His heart sank as he gnawed on his lower lip finding that his insides were in turmoil. His duty and his urge to learn more of Andee were in conflict and he wasn't sure which side was winning. Her small speech wasn't helping her case. He bit down hard on his lip, almost drawing blood from the tender spot. She killed and felt no remorse. He too had killed but regretted it. Oh, how he regretted every stab and thrust that ended a life and the hands that delivered them. It was necessary though to bring about peace. That thought ended his conflict of interests. All Reyn wanted was peace.

He sighed deeply and placed a mangled hand over his face, hiding his red eyes. "I'm gonna get court-martialed if the boy's ever find out about this one." he muttered, not meaning for the thought to leak out of his mind. He rubbed his eyes before lowering them and looking over Andee. Even after finding out about her she looked no different to him. She was still the image of beauty that had stumbled across him, still the woman who had been kind to him, still Andee. Realizing that he had already let his thought slipped he made a joke out of it. "I can hear the rumors now. 'Reyn got caught bathing with the Dark Queen.' I'll certainly be a legend after that one." he said as he lowered his hand and smiled over at Andee, attempting to diffuse the awkward conversation and the argument that could very well manifest because of it. "That's not really how I wanted to make a name for myself though." The two of them were opposites. Andee was nobility, a Queen no less, and her heart had been tainted by darkness. She reveled in the more diabolical aspects of life. Reyn was a peasant and was as innocent as a new born babe. He enjoyed the simpler things. Oh yes, an odd pair and an even odder situation.

[Andarial Featherstone]

She sighed as he made the joke and the hand dropped from his face, revealing a small smile. The sigh was one of relief. HE had accepted her, he didn't hate her. And why the hell did that matter? Suddenly a look of recognition lightened her face, that recognition was of the fact that she wanted something from the man. Something more than just a one night stand. She wanted to be his friend. His innocence and acceptance was a breath of fresh air to Andee. She wanted to be friends with a light elf?

She walked closer to him and placed her hands on his shoulders, standing on tip toes she pressed her cheek against his and said in his ear,"Then lets keep this secret, hm? We'll be friends but only in the shadows." She felt the strongest urge when she pulled back to place a kiss on his scarred cheek, to taste his skin but went against that desire. She knew she'd have to take t slow with this man. Perhaps at the end of their friendship, when he no longer was interested in her, he'd sleep with her.

Still on her tip toes she seemed to dance away from him, the water rippling around her. Her feet lightly touching the ground with no silt drifting upward. Slowly she lowered onto her heels and stood normally. Her eyes glittered playfully. He made her feel so light weighted and she wanted to keep this feeling. Being his friend would keep this feeling with her. Even if she had to do it in the shadows, even if he was ashamed to be seen with a dark elf. Because she as sure that this was what it was about, he was ashamed to be seen being friendly with a dark elf. Though she knew it would be scandalous to be friends with a light elf she had no issues, it was him who did.

But she was getting ahead of herself, he hadn't even said yes or no to the arrangement.

Words: 352
Muse: Good
Song: Feeling Good: Michael Buble

[Reyn]

Reyn's face grew warm as Andee touched her hands to his shoulder. He glanced away and before he knew it one of his other cheeks grew warmer than the other. A shudder ran down his spine as Andee whispered in his ear. The meaning was almost lost on him as he tried to regain his composure. She had wanted to stay friends with him, why? He was just a no name infantry man while she was the Dark Queen, ruler of a country. If either of them got caught it would spell disaster. Well, more so for Reyn than it did for her. He watched as she made her way across the lake before answering. He rubbed the back of his head before speaking. "Well," he began, "I'm not so good with anything shadowy. Though, I suppose I could keep this a secret." he said as gave her a sincere smile.

Reyn wasn't ashamed to be caught with her. No, he was terrified of being caught with her on the grounds that he would be killed. Being caught with a dark elf was bad enough when you were a peon. It cast doubt and made others see you as some sort of spy or a self hating light elf. Being caught with the Dark Queen, that was grounds for the death sentence. If word ever got around that Reyn considered this dangerous woman his friend his head would be on the chopping block faster than he could stammer out an excuse. It was a dangerous arrangement and Reyn wondered why he had agreed to it. It didn't matter now. The pact had been made and the two were now friends, or at the very least acquaintances.

As for losing interest in her, it wasn't very likely that it would happen. He doubted being friends with a Queen would lose its novelty and even if it did it wasn't as if he became her friend because of what she could do for him. No, he agreed to it because the woman before him was kind to him and was able to stand his scarred visage with out cringing. Finding a woman within the realm of light who could do that was hard to do. "You know we'll both be in deep shit if someone ever finds out. I'll probably be beheaded and... I honestly couldn't say for you. I'm not to up and up on the whole royalty thing." he said hunching his shoulders and shaking his head as if it didn't matter.

Strangely, despite her standing, Reyn felt no compulsion to treat her as a Queen. If he thought of her as the Dark Queen things would become strained between them and for all he knew make their new found friendship harder to maintain. So instead he thought of her as he would any other woman. Though, that would be hard as well. Especially since Reyn had never had any sort of relationship with a woman, friendship or otherwise.