Post by lytasilverstar on Aug 25, 2010 23:18:20 GMT -5
"Do you, Ivan Clow, take this lovely young woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" a priest asked looking to the tall muscularly built young man
"Yes, I do." he replied softly looking into the soft gray blue eyes of the young woman he so loved
"And do you, Krystal Rose take this powerful knight as your Husband?"
"Nothing could make me say no" she replied
As they stared into each others eyes the priest's voice faded away, and every person in the room disappeared. They were lost in each others eyes, reading each others feelings. It was by mere luck that as they began to lean into each other letting their lips meet in a passionate, heart-felt kiss, that the priest had said 'You may kiss the bride.'
His fingers twined in her long, silky golden hair.
Her hands were on his shoulders holding her to him.
Slowly, almost reluctantly they let their lips part, knowing that that night when the moon was high, they would share their love together in the secret shadows of the summer night. But now they had a crowd of happy people to face. As he swept her off her feet to carry her outside to the carriage that awaited them there were many cries of 'Congratulations' ringing through the cathedral as they passed.
Once they had gotten outside and he had set her in the carriage and he had climbed in he sat across from her. She noticed he was uneasy.
"Ivan, what is it?" she asked quietly concern in her voice
"Hum? Oh, Nothing my love…" he said half distractedly
"Ivan…"she started but she let it drop, looking out the carriage window
"Krystal, you know I'm leaving for the war soon?" he said watching her out of the corner of his eye
"Yes" she said quietly knowing she would be leaving too
"I'm leaving sooner than I told you the other day…." He confessed, "I'm leaving late tomorrow"
"Is that why you insisted that we have our wedding today and not tomorrow?"
"…Yes…" he replied
When she said nothing he continued
"I only insisted so I could spend our wedding night with you."
"I see…" she said sadly looking down at the two rings on her left hand.
One slim silver ring, with diamonds in a flower pattern along the band and the solid gold band he had just given her.
She wanted to tell him she was to be at the same battle but she couldn't seem to say anything else.
"Is something wrong?" he asked noticing the way she was starring at the rings he had given her.
"Krystal?" He asked when she didn't respond
"Hm?" she looked up
"Is something wrong?"
"No." Yes!
"Are you sure?"
"Yes" I need to tell you something…
"Positive?"
"Yes!" she snapped
"I'm sorry…I was just thinking how much I'm going to miss you." She said quickly at his startled look
"I'll miss you too, but I'll be back." He said smiling, trying to reassure her
But she returned his smile with a weary gaze; quickly she looked down at the rings on her hand
"Krystal…Something's bothering you. Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"
"Because I lied to you…." She said softly
"I'm sorry, what?"
"I lied to you." She said looking at him
"About what?"
She looked away from him focusing her gaze on the scenery they were passing through, "About the Battle coming up…."
"You're not going to be there." He said
"That's what I lied about…" she said nervously
"OK I'll just have to work extra hard to keep you safe." He said dismissively
The stars lit the sky and the moon was high by the time they had arrived at his manor.
As he carried her up the stairs to his, no, their bedchamber he looked at her, as she lay in his arms, half asleep.
"You're exhausted…" he said quietly as he laid her on the bed,
She remained silent
She must be asleep already, he thought as he shed his cloak and tunic.
But soon he felt her soft, warm skin pressed to his back. And as he turned he found her smiling up at him, her beautiful white silk gown hung up. Her beautiful cream colored skin revealed to him.
He bent his head and pressed his lips to hers, dropping down to her neck, sampling her taste, moving to her gently sloping shoulder.
Sweeping her off her feet he once again carried her to his bed, and laid her down upon it. Shedding his slacks he joined her on the bed. Rising over him, she guided him into her, smiling as she felt him fill her, as he gave a moan of contentment as he pushed up into her.
Slowly she began to move, pushing down on him as he thrust up into her.
"Mmm…you feel so good…" she moaned after a few minutes
Quickly he rolled pinning her to the bed beneath him. He began ramming himself into her, he heard her moaning, begging for more. He felt her muscles begin to quiver, but he didn't stop. Even as her orgasm peaked he still drove forward. As he felt her soften only to come shuddering back to a steady quiver he knew he needed what she was giving him.
As her second Orgasm rose and peaked he let out a low grunt and shot his seed deep into her womb.
With a contented sound he laid down, keeping his weight on his arms, still in her, his head resting on her chest, listening to her heart pound.
As she stroked her fingers through his shoulder length jet black hair she felt him relax and drift off to sleep. Slowly she followed him.
The next morning she woke up, slowly opening her eyes to find her head resting on Ivan's' shoulder.
Slowly she pushed herself up, trying not to wake Ivan, wondering how they had gotten that way.
"Mmm…." Ivan moaned as she moved slowly starting to wake
"Oh, I'm sorry I was trying to be careful so you could stay asleep."
"Mmm….Its alright" he moaned softly opening his eyes, a slight smile coming to his face seeing her
"How did we…"
"Get this way?"
"Yeah..."
"I woke up a few hours after I fell asleep and pulled out of you. Then I laid next to you. You rolled over and put your head on my shoulder."
"Oh…Okay" she said starting to get out of the bed
They both knew that they were leaving for the battle field. He watched her as she walked to the dresser and brought out a neatly folded dark gray tunic, a pair of black slacks and a thin black belt. But before she dressed she pulled out a tan tunic and set it next to the gray tunic, and a pair of brown slacks.
"Are you suggesting that we get dressed?" he asked walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her slender waist, watching her in the silvered glass.
"You don't have too, my love. But I am going to get dressed and ready for our long travel tonight." She said as she leaned back into him.
"And a good Idea but that means you must cover up you lovely body"
"Yes….But I am the First Archery Battalion Commander." She replied
"And the only woman in our entire military force" he added
"Yes and the only Woman in our entire military force." She repeated
He pressed a soft kiss to her neck and then let her go. Beginning to dress in the tan tunic and brown slacks she had chosen for him.
She too began to dress donning her tunic and then slipping into her black slacks. As she reached for the thin black belt Ivan swept her off her feet and away from the dresser.
"What do you need the Belt for Krystal, You look stunning as you are…" He said his expressive storm gray eyes sweeping over her.
"I need that belt to keep my tunic where it belongs!" she said as he set her on her feet
"Hmmm….Why?" he asked playfully loosening his hold on her
"So that your soldiers don't get the bright idea to look under my tunic while I'm sleeping." She said turning out of his embrace and walking to the dresser to get her slim belt.
Cinching the slender belt around her waist she emphasized that she was in fact a woman. The tunic angled from her chest to her slender waist, and then the cloth fell over her hips. The folds and creases of the soft material indicated that the fabric only covered the warm smooth softness of her flesh.
Yet the aura around her, the fact that she was in the Military, and the way she carried herself, proved that she was a very strong and yet very gentle woman, definitely a force to be reckoned with. She seemed to know what she wanted and know exactly how to get it. She had received the position of the First Archery Battalion Commander by pushing herself above and beyond the other archers in the academy.
She was very proud of herself…except for the fact that she was going to war against her father's people. Whom she had loved very much before he had passed away.
"What's on your mind, my little Krystal?"
"I'm the only Half-elf in the entire Military force too…" she said sadly
"Oh…thinking of your fathers people, again, are you?"
"Its hard not too" she replied
"I know my dear, I know." He said walking to her and putting his hands on her shoulders, gently turning her to face him
"But you can't dwell on it. You didn't kill him."
"No…" she said spitefully, "My Mother did…."
"Oh, now you know your Mother didn't kill him either. You know it as well as I." he said gently touching her cheek with a gentle hand, in a loving caress.
She didn't say anything, the tears welling in her spirited eyes. Her hand rising to his as the tears began to slip down her face.
"Oh Krys…I didn't mean to make you cry…" he said drawing her into his embrace.
She buried her face in his chest, leaning on him as she often did, for support and comfort. Letting the tears that she had held back, for so long, finally fall free from her soft eyes.
He stood there holding her, patting her back and running his fingers through her long silken hair. Just letting her tears form and fall, holding her, letting her cry. He knew he could do nothing but talk with her, let her cry and do his best to comfort her. But God, he wanted so bad to just take the burden for her, and just let her live her life the way she wanted too.
She took a shaky breath as she struggled to get her sadness under control.
"Krystal, you can't keep bottling up your emotions like this…"he said not letting her move away from him.
"I'm OK Ivan," she said quietly, "Really I'm fine."
"Krystal…your still upset…I can feel it…" he said softly one arm still around her as he gripped her chin gently with his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look up at him so he could look into her eyes. He could see in their depths that her pain was still there as the tears welled again in her eyes, "You need to let you're tears fall freely without stopping them, else your grief will kill you someday. And I don't want to loose you to anything but old age."
When she closed her eyes against his piercing stare he gentled his hold on her, cradling her.
"Ivan…" she said quietly trying to fight a sob
"Just let your tears come." He said softly
And as if his words had crumbled the emotional dam she had carefully built, her tears fell. Her slender frame was wracked with horrible, yet silent sobs. He feared that if he weren't holding her together in his arms she would fall apart.
He had never seen her like that. In all the years he had known her, he hadn't known her to cry that much…or that hard. Granted, she had cried on his shoulder before, it was only for a little while, with small quiet sobs.
He lifted her off her feet, still letting her cry. He sat on the foot of their bed, the only reaction she had was to wrap her arms around his neck and cling to him. He could do nothing but let her cry.
He began to rock, gently, while stroking his fingers through her hair.
After she had cried for a good fifteen minutes her body relaxed, her breath coming slow and shaky. Her body wracking sobs had stopped.
He shifted just enough to look down at her. A smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Krystal, the unstoppable, had cried herself into a deep, merciful sleep.
She looks like an angel when she's asleep. So calm, so peaceful. He thought as he looked down at her, How is it that God would call the one man that she loved so much that his passing would turn her into the steeled woman that I married?
She must have sensed him watching her, because she shifted, curling into him more, needing him close to comfort her.
Is this a glimpse of the child she never got to be? Ivan wondered looking down at the sleeping woman in his arms.
As he looked at her sleeping form he noticed a long scar that came from the back of her neck to drop down over her shoulder and disappear under her tunic out of his view.
What's this? I've never seen that scar before? He thought as he stared at the scar. It looked as if a knife had caused it. Her pale cream colored skin was marred by this scar, this soft fleshy pink scar.
She mumbled something, and he realized he was holing her tighter, trying to protect her from her pain and heartache.
He couldn't help but smile when she incoherently mumbled something like 'Thanks'
She talks in her sleep, letting someone know if they were holding her too tight. How cute. He thought as he stood up and cradling her in his arms walked to the side of the bed to lay her down.
As he bent to lay her on the bed he thought he hard her say 'No'
With a sigh he sat beside her, her arms falling to her sides.
"Krystal, you need to wake up. We need to finish getting ready for the battle." He said softly touching her face.
She groaned her eyes slowly fluttering open. A soft smile came to her face, a smile that reached her eyes.
"Sleep well?" he asked smiling back
She simply nodded
"Feel Better?" He asked again
"Yes, thank you." She replied
"Good, I'm glad. I love you, Krys."
"I love you, Ivan"
He smiled gently, bending to press a soft kiss to her lips.
"Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder." She said looking up at him.
"That's no big deal; I've always let you cry on my shoulder. That's what makes me happy. And it makes you feel better, which makes me even happier."
"You're too nice to me." She said smiling at him
"No I'm not! I'm not nice enough!" he replied which made her laugh
"Hey, Krys, can I ask you something? And that doesn't count."
"Yeah, what is it?" she asked concerned noticing that he had gone far too serious too quick.
"What is the scar on your neck from?" He asked
Her hand immediately went to her neck a strange look coming to her eyes, one he couldn't recognize.
"It's from when my dad died…." She finally said after a period of silence, "I was trying to run to him, but one of the people attacking him caught me and cut my neck with a dragon claw dagger."
"Why haven't I seen it before?"
"Because I usually put a spell over it…to make it not show."
He nodded, "I see."
"I'm sorry I never told you!" She said quickly
"It's ok, Krys. It's a painful memory I know. I was just worried it was new." He said smiling at her
"You're not mad?" she asked timidly
"Mad? Why would I be mad?"
"Because I lied."
"I can't be mad at you, Krys, I love you too much"
She smiled, relieved, "We need to finish getting ready to leave…"
"Yeah…"
"King Vanyard? He came to lead his troops? I thought he was deathly ill?" I van said
"He is, the Third Archery Battalion Has to keep him safe." She replied
As they approached they both dismounted and bowed before King Vanyard.
He nodded in return.
"I see you both arrived well." Vanyard said as they straitened
"We arrived slightly late because we took back roads and precautions to assure no one followed us." Ivan explained
Vanyard nodded and they both mounted and they rode to their battalions
"ARCHERY BATTALION COMMANDERS! ARE WE READY TO MOVE?!" Krystal yelled out as she rode to the front of the Archery Battalions.
There was a great din from the group as she smirked.
She was different in front of her Battalions. It was difficult for him to believe that just a few hours before she had been crying in his arms. Now her gray-blue eyes were steeled, her gentle nature had been pushed aside, her military training was coming forth for a reason he could not name, the change bothered him,
He took his eyes from her, and looked over his own legions of troops. Every knight was armed helms, gauntlets, bracers, and many shields were donned.
Every knight had fear in their eyes, barely masked by the fire of war that steeled their faces. Many of the younger nights were unsure of what was to come, although they were not willing to admit to being afraid.
He drew his sword; the sound was cold, even to his own ears. Every knight followed his example; the sound of the tempered blades leaving their sheaths chilled his blood. As he raised his sword above his head to rally his knights, his legions cried "FOR OUR KING! FOR OUR GLORYAND HONOR! FOR OUR PEOPLE!"
He sensed Krystal watching him and he sensed her unease.
The soldiers fell silent as King Vanyard raised his hands.
"Do not let them sense your fear, these Beasts that move silently in our forests. I know you all fear them, and rightfully so! Their arrows fly truer to their mark than any, their swords are swift. And their tenacity is unmatched! But we cannot let them defeat us! They are invading our lands! Killing our women and our children! They are our foes. You have defended our country well. We call upon you once again to protect our people, to save our country! I know you will fight valiantly! You have already proven yourselves! Fight hard, my soldiers, and you will see victory!"
As Vanyard fell silent, Krystal watched as every soldier around her, and her own beloved husband cried out. The din was a great thunder, but Krystal could hear the separate cries of war amongst the men 'Kill the Elves!', 'We will crush them!', and from her own husband 'Don't stop until they are all dead!'
Horror came over her, suffocating her, clawing at her heart ripping open pains she had buried long ago. Her husband was turning on her. She knew she was going to be fighting but she wasn't aiming to kill her people.
The signal came that the time to move was upon them, and with the soldiers ready to do battle, the trek began, and Krystal felt trapped in a sea of anger and hatred.
After many hours of traveling the sun finally lowered behind the horizon and the moon rose high into the sky.
The troops stopped for the night and set up camp.
Krystal took a guard post, crouched in the tree branches among the leaves and in the shadows.
Ivan, noting her distance and unease persuaded another archer to relieve her of her post. Reluctantly, she relinquished the post to the archer and dropped out of the tree to find Ivan waiting for her.
"What do you want?" she asked, icily
"We need to talk."
"What about?"
"You're avoiding me. Why?"
"Think about it Ivan." she said lowly.
The sound was unusual to him, he had somehow hurt her, he wasn't sure how.
"I don't understand…" he said looking at her
"Never mind then. Go get some rest, you'll need it tomorrow." She said walking past him.
He reached out and grasped her wrist, pulling her back to look at him.
"We need to talk!" He said again forcefully
"There is nothing to talk about." She said trying to mask her pain. His grip tightened on her slender, unguarded wrist sending electric currents of pain up her arm.
"Why are you avoiding me?!" He snapped at her, he was angry, and she knew it
"Because these are your people, not mine." She snapped back her eyes reflecting his anger and betrayal.
He saw the betrayal in her eyes, and began to realize what he had done. His grip began to loosen on her wrist.
"Yes, Ivan, I could hear you above the din. I could hear every soldier's voice call snide remarks of war, every war cry."
"Krys…" he started
"No, Ivan," She said raising her free hand to ward him off, "You can't take back what you have said. It is obvious you have lost interest in me, and you don't want me to survive this…"
"Krys! I was talking about them!"
"I AM THEM! If you recall I am Half Elvin!" she snapped
Then he realized just what he had done, how much he had hut her. But before he could say anything she twisted her wrist free, and was walking away from him.
"Get some rest." She said again.
He watched her as she walked through the camp, towards her tent that was set apart from the main camp.
Angry tears were threatening to form in her eyes as she breezed through the encampment. She paid no mind to the soldiers who watched her, or passed her. They all seemed to sense her unease, maybe they could see it, but they let her be, and that's all she wanted, was to be left alone.
As she entered her tent she looked around in the darkness, her cot, with a warm deerskin blanket from Ivan, she wouldn't sleep on the cot, she knew, and she wouldn't sleep with his deerskin blanket. She hardly wanted to wear his rings, but she would. She wanted nothing to do with him, she didn't want his name. But, she wanted his child… she wanted nothing of his yet she wanted his child.
Strange she thought, still, I'll not sleep on that cot…
She walked further into her tent and across from the cot; she laid down upon the ground.
Her tears began to form and fall as she lay on the ground, in her cold dark tent. She loved Ian, but now she hated him all the same. She trusted him, yet now she didn't. She was confused, lost, angry, hurt, and she felt awfully alone, all because of Ivan.
Her tears trickled slowly down her cheeks as she thought of the past.
Just last night, she thought, we were married and happy. Not caring about the war, only needing each other. And tonight…he wants me dead
Ivan sighed as he walked slowly through the encampment, nodding to those who greeted him. He paused at the entrance to his tent as he looked towards Krystal's tent. He sensed her anguish.
She probably doesn't want anything to do with me right now he thought as he walked towards her tent.
She probably hates me right now… he thought as he stopped outside her tent.
But before he could turn to walk back towards his tent he heard her voice, "Ivan, I know you're there, and since you won't let me be, come in."
Reluctantly he walked into her tent. It was dark and cold but he could tell she wasn't on her cot under the deerskin blanket he had given her. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness he looked around her tent and found her laying on the ground, her face tear streaked.
"God Krys, get under the blanket."
"No, I want nothing of yours"
"Krys…"
"I don't want to hear that you were only saying that to boost your soldiers' confidence either!" She said getting to her feet, "There was a conviction in your voice…You meant every bit of it!"
His eyes sparked and she saw it. She full well knew she was angering him, but she didn't care.
"Am I permitted to speak, Madame Wife?” He asked barely hiding his anger.
"I don't see why not, Lord Husband" she replied icily
"Yes, I admit, I meant every word of what I said today. But you are my wife! And I shall not let anything separate us! Hell itself couldn't keep you from me," he growled, "You, Being my Wife, are of my people. I know you don't want to fight the people your father belonged to…"
"I AM HIS DAUGHTER Lord Husband! I am of those people!" She hissed
"Yes, I know, Madame Wife" His voice was colder than Ice as he spoke to her, "But you are of my people now. You are my wife, by name, and by binding. You are no longer of your Fathers people."
A strange emotion came over her, grief, pain, and anger combining, blinding in her, as she struck him, the back of her hand striking his face hard.
He looked at her stunned, as he grasped her wrist, his strong grip tightening on her wrist, drawing a whimper from her.
The pain in her wrist became to strong as his grip tightened, her vision began to clear and she saw she had stricken him, his face was slightly red and blood seeped from the side of his mouth from the force behind her hand when she smacked him.
"Ow!" she yelped when his grip became even tighter, "Ivan, I'm sorry! I was angry…OW! Ivan! Please! You're hurting me!" She whimpered, thankful, partially, for being away from the main encampment, yet wishing she was closer so someone would help her.
He didn't seem to hear her as she told him he was hurting her, as she tried to apologize. His grip didn't change as he twisted her wrist slightly.
Tears jumped to her eyes and she dropped to her knees. The Ivan she knew was buried deep behind the anger.
"Ivan! Stop, Please! You are hurting me!" She cried as he hauled her to her feet by her wrist. Her tear filled eyes met his angry ones and she saw something soften.
"Krys…" He said hoarsely as he let her wrist go and backed away from her, "Oh god Krys…I'm so sorry…"
Her hand went to her wrist as he let her go; she dropped quickly back to the floor as pain surged through her arm, tears falling down her face to the ground.
Ivan knew he had hurt her, he hadn't meant to, he just wanted to keep her from lashing out at him again… Slowly he walked back over to her cot and grabbed the deerskin blanket. Slowly he walked back over to her and draped the blanket around her shoulders. Knowing she was freezing.
"Krys…I really am sorry…" he said as he turned towards the entrance to her tent intending to leave her alone after the bout they had just had.
"Ivan…" her voice was soft, and shaky, it made him flinch to hear her like that, "You have nothing to be sorry about…I…I'm sorry I hit you…" He could hear the tears in her voice as she spoke
"Christ, Krys….I about broke your wrist!" he said hoarsely as he turned back to face her in the dark of her tent.
She smiled sadly up at him and got to her feet, the deer skin blanket falling from around her shoulder to the ground, walking towards him. She knew he was uneasy, and that he didn't trust himself. But she didn't care. Slowly she walked to him, but he turned away from her. She smiled; she recognized he was trying to protect her from him.
Fine if you want to play that way… she thought as she slowly, carefully wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back.
"Krys…" he whispered hoarsely
"Shhh…stay here…for just a little while…please?"
He sighed, "Alright…Until you fall asleep, I'll go then."
She smiled, "That's fair." She said softly
Gently he took her wrists in his hands and unwound them from around his waist. Turning around to face her, he let her wrists go, and bent down to pick her up. Startling a quiet yelp out of her, making him chuckle. Slowly he walked over to her cot and laid her down.
"Stay here, I'll be right back." He said as he walked away from her and picked up her deerskin blanket. Walking back over to her he laid the blanket over top of her.
"I'm not cold." She said as she sat up, "Really I'm not."
Worry softened his face "Just lie down and rest for a little while…" He said gently
"What's got you worried?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yeah you, don't you know your eyes are blood shot, your skin is ice cold, and your eyes have shadows under them? Krys, you need to rest….Please…"
"But I'm fine!"
"You're exhausted…Please Krys…for me…"
It touched her that he was so worried about her, that he cared.
"Please Krys…"
She smiled softly and laid back, her eyelids immediately becoming heavy.
"That's my girl." He said softly as he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and drew the blanket up over her shoulders to keep her warm. He watched as her eyes slowly closed.
"Remember…..You….Promised….." she mumbled even as she fell asleep
"Yes…I remember…" he whispered as he stood up and quietly left her tent.
"Rest well...My love..." He whispered once outside her tent.
Turning he walked to his tent. Before entering his tent he turned, and looked towards Krystal's tent, an uneasy feeling coming over him. Ignoring it he walked into his tent, to try and get some rest.
An alarm rose, many of the soldiers scrambling out of their tents, many of them had been too worked up to rest.
Ivan ran out of his tent, having been unable to rest he was still in his armor.
"What's going on?! What Happened?"
"Elves were spotted leaving the camp, Sir!" a soldier near by him replied
Krys…he thought as panic raced through him.
"I want you to gather a small group of men, archers and soldiers alike….no more than ten men. Meet me at Commander Krystals' tent!" He ordered running towards her tent.
"Yes, Sir!" The soldier replied running off to fulfill his orders.
As Ivan ran towards Krystal's tent his mind wondered on what could happen.
Damn it! I shouldn't have left her so soon...DAMN IT!!
Getting to Krystals tent Ivan walked inside.
It was dark…darker than it had been earlier.
"Krys? Are you here?" Ivan asked as he walked to the lantern she always left next to he entrance of her tent.
Lighting the lantern he looked around her tent.
There were signs of a struggle , the cot had been upturnd, grass was rampled down into the soft earth. It was obvious Krystal had heard them, and woke up. She had obviously tried to fight them off. In the process she had been knocked down, Ivan could see where Krys had fallen; the grass was ground into the earth as if she had struggled to stay on the ground.
Damn... Ivan thought, hating himself.
As he turned to leave a glitter in the grass caught his eye.
Krystals rings…, Ivan thought as he knelt down to look at the glitter, Damn them…
Turning he blew the lantern out and stepped out of the tent, looking around for the way they had gone, looking for the way they had taken his wife. Soon the soldier ran up, followed by nine others, four knights, and fiver archers.
"Do any of you know which way they went?"
"Yes, sir. I was on Duty, I sounded the alarm. They went that way." One archer replied, pointing towards the tree line just past Krystal's tent.
"Thought so…." He said, "We need to be able to hide in the shadows…" Ivan continued, already removing his gauntlets, "Return to your tents, remove your armor and then meet me back here, bring your swords and bows and quivers. We need to travel light."
"Yes, Sir!" The soldiers replied all at once turning and running off towards separate tents.
Walking back into Krystals tent Ivan removed the rest of his armor, laying the several pieces next to her upturned bed. Silently promising himself that he would find his stolen maiden. Just before he exited the tent he knelt down and took Krystals rings from the ground.
She will want these back… Ivan told himself as he placed them in a pouch at his side.
"Excellent…" he said quietly as he found the ten men waiting for him, the archers in dark colored cloths, and his own soldiers in dark tan cloths, "Lets move…"
Turning he walked towards the trees, followed by his search party.
"Sir is there any specific reason you are searching for Commander Krystal?"
"She is a comrade. I will not abandon a comrade before a battle has been won, female or not." Ivan replied, not entirely lying.
"I noticed you both wore rings on your left hand…" one of his soldiers commented
"We're married, is that a problem?"
"Well, no, but…"
"Hush…do you hear that?" Ivan said quietly stopping, a faint murmuring coming from in front of them.
Almost immediately, the archers spread out, creating a safe perimeter around the area. Slowly Ivan moved forward. Wanting to see what was going on.
"Yes, I do." he replied softly looking into the soft gray blue eyes of the young woman he so loved
"And do you, Krystal Rose take this powerful knight as your Husband?"
"Nothing could make me say no" she replied
As they stared into each others eyes the priest's voice faded away, and every person in the room disappeared. They were lost in each others eyes, reading each others feelings. It was by mere luck that as they began to lean into each other letting their lips meet in a passionate, heart-felt kiss, that the priest had said 'You may kiss the bride.'
His fingers twined in her long, silky golden hair.
Her hands were on his shoulders holding her to him.
Slowly, almost reluctantly they let their lips part, knowing that that night when the moon was high, they would share their love together in the secret shadows of the summer night. But now they had a crowd of happy people to face. As he swept her off her feet to carry her outside to the carriage that awaited them there were many cries of 'Congratulations' ringing through the cathedral as they passed.
Once they had gotten outside and he had set her in the carriage and he had climbed in he sat across from her. She noticed he was uneasy.
"Ivan, what is it?" she asked quietly concern in her voice
"Hum? Oh, Nothing my love…" he said half distractedly
"Ivan…"she started but she let it drop, looking out the carriage window
"Krystal, you know I'm leaving for the war soon?" he said watching her out of the corner of his eye
"Yes" she said quietly knowing she would be leaving too
"I'm leaving sooner than I told you the other day…." He confessed, "I'm leaving late tomorrow"
"Is that why you insisted that we have our wedding today and not tomorrow?"
"…Yes…" he replied
When she said nothing he continued
"I only insisted so I could spend our wedding night with you."
"I see…" she said sadly looking down at the two rings on her left hand.
One slim silver ring, with diamonds in a flower pattern along the band and the solid gold band he had just given her.
She wanted to tell him she was to be at the same battle but she couldn't seem to say anything else.
"Is something wrong?" he asked noticing the way she was starring at the rings he had given her.
"Krystal?" He asked when she didn't respond
"Hm?" she looked up
"Is something wrong?"
"No." Yes!
"Are you sure?"
"Yes" I need to tell you something…
"Positive?"
"Yes!" she snapped
"I'm sorry…I was just thinking how much I'm going to miss you." She said quickly at his startled look
"I'll miss you too, but I'll be back." He said smiling, trying to reassure her
But she returned his smile with a weary gaze; quickly she looked down at the rings on her hand
"Krystal…Something's bothering you. Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"
"Because I lied to you…." She said softly
"I'm sorry, what?"
"I lied to you." She said looking at him
"About what?"
She looked away from him focusing her gaze on the scenery they were passing through, "About the Battle coming up…."
"You're not going to be there." He said
"That's what I lied about…" she said nervously
"OK I'll just have to work extra hard to keep you safe." He said dismissively
The stars lit the sky and the moon was high by the time they had arrived at his manor.
As he carried her up the stairs to his, no, their bedchamber he looked at her, as she lay in his arms, half asleep.
"You're exhausted…" he said quietly as he laid her on the bed,
She remained silent
She must be asleep already, he thought as he shed his cloak and tunic.
But soon he felt her soft, warm skin pressed to his back. And as he turned he found her smiling up at him, her beautiful white silk gown hung up. Her beautiful cream colored skin revealed to him.
He bent his head and pressed his lips to hers, dropping down to her neck, sampling her taste, moving to her gently sloping shoulder.
Sweeping her off her feet he once again carried her to his bed, and laid her down upon it. Shedding his slacks he joined her on the bed. Rising over him, she guided him into her, smiling as she felt him fill her, as he gave a moan of contentment as he pushed up into her.
Slowly she began to move, pushing down on him as he thrust up into her.
"Mmm…you feel so good…" she moaned after a few minutes
Quickly he rolled pinning her to the bed beneath him. He began ramming himself into her, he heard her moaning, begging for more. He felt her muscles begin to quiver, but he didn't stop. Even as her orgasm peaked he still drove forward. As he felt her soften only to come shuddering back to a steady quiver he knew he needed what she was giving him.
As her second Orgasm rose and peaked he let out a low grunt and shot his seed deep into her womb.
With a contented sound he laid down, keeping his weight on his arms, still in her, his head resting on her chest, listening to her heart pound.
As she stroked her fingers through his shoulder length jet black hair she felt him relax and drift off to sleep. Slowly she followed him.
The next morning she woke up, slowly opening her eyes to find her head resting on Ivan's' shoulder.
Slowly she pushed herself up, trying not to wake Ivan, wondering how they had gotten that way.
"Mmm…." Ivan moaned as she moved slowly starting to wake
"Oh, I'm sorry I was trying to be careful so you could stay asleep."
"Mmm….Its alright" he moaned softly opening his eyes, a slight smile coming to his face seeing her
"How did we…"
"Get this way?"
"Yeah..."
"I woke up a few hours after I fell asleep and pulled out of you. Then I laid next to you. You rolled over and put your head on my shoulder."
"Oh…Okay" she said starting to get out of the bed
They both knew that they were leaving for the battle field. He watched her as she walked to the dresser and brought out a neatly folded dark gray tunic, a pair of black slacks and a thin black belt. But before she dressed she pulled out a tan tunic and set it next to the gray tunic, and a pair of brown slacks.
"Are you suggesting that we get dressed?" he asked walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her slender waist, watching her in the silvered glass.
"You don't have too, my love. But I am going to get dressed and ready for our long travel tonight." She said as she leaned back into him.
"And a good Idea but that means you must cover up you lovely body"
"Yes….But I am the First Archery Battalion Commander." She replied
"And the only woman in our entire military force" he added
"Yes and the only Woman in our entire military force." She repeated
He pressed a soft kiss to her neck and then let her go. Beginning to dress in the tan tunic and brown slacks she had chosen for him.
She too began to dress donning her tunic and then slipping into her black slacks. As she reached for the thin black belt Ivan swept her off her feet and away from the dresser.
"What do you need the Belt for Krystal, You look stunning as you are…" He said his expressive storm gray eyes sweeping over her.
"I need that belt to keep my tunic where it belongs!" she said as he set her on her feet
"Hmmm….Why?" he asked playfully loosening his hold on her
"So that your soldiers don't get the bright idea to look under my tunic while I'm sleeping." She said turning out of his embrace and walking to the dresser to get her slim belt.
Cinching the slender belt around her waist she emphasized that she was in fact a woman. The tunic angled from her chest to her slender waist, and then the cloth fell over her hips. The folds and creases of the soft material indicated that the fabric only covered the warm smooth softness of her flesh.
Yet the aura around her, the fact that she was in the Military, and the way she carried herself, proved that she was a very strong and yet very gentle woman, definitely a force to be reckoned with. She seemed to know what she wanted and know exactly how to get it. She had received the position of the First Archery Battalion Commander by pushing herself above and beyond the other archers in the academy.
She was very proud of herself…except for the fact that she was going to war against her father's people. Whom she had loved very much before he had passed away.
"What's on your mind, my little Krystal?"
"I'm the only Half-elf in the entire Military force too…" she said sadly
"Oh…thinking of your fathers people, again, are you?"
"Its hard not too" she replied
"I know my dear, I know." He said walking to her and putting his hands on her shoulders, gently turning her to face him
"But you can't dwell on it. You didn't kill him."
"No…" she said spitefully, "My Mother did…."
"Oh, now you know your Mother didn't kill him either. You know it as well as I." he said gently touching her cheek with a gentle hand, in a loving caress.
She didn't say anything, the tears welling in her spirited eyes. Her hand rising to his as the tears began to slip down her face.
"Oh Krys…I didn't mean to make you cry…" he said drawing her into his embrace.
She buried her face in his chest, leaning on him as she often did, for support and comfort. Letting the tears that she had held back, for so long, finally fall free from her soft eyes.
He stood there holding her, patting her back and running his fingers through her long silken hair. Just letting her tears form and fall, holding her, letting her cry. He knew he could do nothing but talk with her, let her cry and do his best to comfort her. But God, he wanted so bad to just take the burden for her, and just let her live her life the way she wanted too.
She took a shaky breath as she struggled to get her sadness under control.
"Krystal, you can't keep bottling up your emotions like this…"he said not letting her move away from him.
"I'm OK Ivan," she said quietly, "Really I'm fine."
"Krystal…your still upset…I can feel it…" he said softly one arm still around her as he gripped her chin gently with his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look up at him so he could look into her eyes. He could see in their depths that her pain was still there as the tears welled again in her eyes, "You need to let you're tears fall freely without stopping them, else your grief will kill you someday. And I don't want to loose you to anything but old age."
When she closed her eyes against his piercing stare he gentled his hold on her, cradling her.
"Ivan…" she said quietly trying to fight a sob
"Just let your tears come." He said softly
And as if his words had crumbled the emotional dam she had carefully built, her tears fell. Her slender frame was wracked with horrible, yet silent sobs. He feared that if he weren't holding her together in his arms she would fall apart.
He had never seen her like that. In all the years he had known her, he hadn't known her to cry that much…or that hard. Granted, she had cried on his shoulder before, it was only for a little while, with small quiet sobs.
He lifted her off her feet, still letting her cry. He sat on the foot of their bed, the only reaction she had was to wrap her arms around his neck and cling to him. He could do nothing but let her cry.
He began to rock, gently, while stroking his fingers through her hair.
After she had cried for a good fifteen minutes her body relaxed, her breath coming slow and shaky. Her body wracking sobs had stopped.
He shifted just enough to look down at her. A smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Krystal, the unstoppable, had cried herself into a deep, merciful sleep.
She looks like an angel when she's asleep. So calm, so peaceful. He thought as he looked down at her, How is it that God would call the one man that she loved so much that his passing would turn her into the steeled woman that I married?
She must have sensed him watching her, because she shifted, curling into him more, needing him close to comfort her.
Is this a glimpse of the child she never got to be? Ivan wondered looking down at the sleeping woman in his arms.
As he looked at her sleeping form he noticed a long scar that came from the back of her neck to drop down over her shoulder and disappear under her tunic out of his view.
What's this? I've never seen that scar before? He thought as he stared at the scar. It looked as if a knife had caused it. Her pale cream colored skin was marred by this scar, this soft fleshy pink scar.
She mumbled something, and he realized he was holing her tighter, trying to protect her from her pain and heartache.
He couldn't help but smile when she incoherently mumbled something like 'Thanks'
She talks in her sleep, letting someone know if they were holding her too tight. How cute. He thought as he stood up and cradling her in his arms walked to the side of the bed to lay her down.
As he bent to lay her on the bed he thought he hard her say 'No'
With a sigh he sat beside her, her arms falling to her sides.
"Krystal, you need to wake up. We need to finish getting ready for the battle." He said softly touching her face.
She groaned her eyes slowly fluttering open. A soft smile came to her face, a smile that reached her eyes.
"Sleep well?" he asked smiling back
She simply nodded
"Feel Better?" He asked again
"Yes, thank you." She replied
"Good, I'm glad. I love you, Krys."
"I love you, Ivan"
He smiled gently, bending to press a soft kiss to her lips.
"Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder." She said looking up at him.
"That's no big deal; I've always let you cry on my shoulder. That's what makes me happy. And it makes you feel better, which makes me even happier."
"You're too nice to me." She said smiling at him
"No I'm not! I'm not nice enough!" he replied which made her laugh
"Hey, Krys, can I ask you something? And that doesn't count."
"Yeah, what is it?" she asked concerned noticing that he had gone far too serious too quick.
"What is the scar on your neck from?" He asked
Her hand immediately went to her neck a strange look coming to her eyes, one he couldn't recognize.
"It's from when my dad died…." She finally said after a period of silence, "I was trying to run to him, but one of the people attacking him caught me and cut my neck with a dragon claw dagger."
"Why haven't I seen it before?"
"Because I usually put a spell over it…to make it not show."
He nodded, "I see."
"I'm sorry I never told you!" She said quickly
"It's ok, Krys. It's a painful memory I know. I was just worried it was new." He said smiling at her
"You're not mad?" she asked timidly
"Mad? Why would I be mad?"
"Because I lied."
"I can't be mad at you, Krys, I love you too much"
She smiled, relieved, "We need to finish getting ready to leave…"
"Yeah…"
"King Vanyard? He came to lead his troops? I thought he was deathly ill?" I van said
"He is, the Third Archery Battalion Has to keep him safe." She replied
As they approached they both dismounted and bowed before King Vanyard.
He nodded in return.
"I see you both arrived well." Vanyard said as they straitened
"We arrived slightly late because we took back roads and precautions to assure no one followed us." Ivan explained
Vanyard nodded and they both mounted and they rode to their battalions
"ARCHERY BATTALION COMMANDERS! ARE WE READY TO MOVE?!" Krystal yelled out as she rode to the front of the Archery Battalions.
There was a great din from the group as she smirked.
She was different in front of her Battalions. It was difficult for him to believe that just a few hours before she had been crying in his arms. Now her gray-blue eyes were steeled, her gentle nature had been pushed aside, her military training was coming forth for a reason he could not name, the change bothered him,
He took his eyes from her, and looked over his own legions of troops. Every knight was armed helms, gauntlets, bracers, and many shields were donned.
Every knight had fear in their eyes, barely masked by the fire of war that steeled their faces. Many of the younger nights were unsure of what was to come, although they were not willing to admit to being afraid.
He drew his sword; the sound was cold, even to his own ears. Every knight followed his example; the sound of the tempered blades leaving their sheaths chilled his blood. As he raised his sword above his head to rally his knights, his legions cried "FOR OUR KING! FOR OUR GLORYAND HONOR! FOR OUR PEOPLE!"
He sensed Krystal watching him and he sensed her unease.
The soldiers fell silent as King Vanyard raised his hands.
"Do not let them sense your fear, these Beasts that move silently in our forests. I know you all fear them, and rightfully so! Their arrows fly truer to their mark than any, their swords are swift. And their tenacity is unmatched! But we cannot let them defeat us! They are invading our lands! Killing our women and our children! They are our foes. You have defended our country well. We call upon you once again to protect our people, to save our country! I know you will fight valiantly! You have already proven yourselves! Fight hard, my soldiers, and you will see victory!"
As Vanyard fell silent, Krystal watched as every soldier around her, and her own beloved husband cried out. The din was a great thunder, but Krystal could hear the separate cries of war amongst the men 'Kill the Elves!', 'We will crush them!', and from her own husband 'Don't stop until they are all dead!'
Horror came over her, suffocating her, clawing at her heart ripping open pains she had buried long ago. Her husband was turning on her. She knew she was going to be fighting but she wasn't aiming to kill her people.
The signal came that the time to move was upon them, and with the soldiers ready to do battle, the trek began, and Krystal felt trapped in a sea of anger and hatred.
After many hours of traveling the sun finally lowered behind the horizon and the moon rose high into the sky.
The troops stopped for the night and set up camp.
Krystal took a guard post, crouched in the tree branches among the leaves and in the shadows.
Ivan, noting her distance and unease persuaded another archer to relieve her of her post. Reluctantly, she relinquished the post to the archer and dropped out of the tree to find Ivan waiting for her.
"What do you want?" she asked, icily
"We need to talk."
"What about?"
"You're avoiding me. Why?"
"Think about it Ivan." she said lowly.
The sound was unusual to him, he had somehow hurt her, he wasn't sure how.
"I don't understand…" he said looking at her
"Never mind then. Go get some rest, you'll need it tomorrow." She said walking past him.
He reached out and grasped her wrist, pulling her back to look at him.
"We need to talk!" He said again forcefully
"There is nothing to talk about." She said trying to mask her pain. His grip tightened on her slender, unguarded wrist sending electric currents of pain up her arm.
"Why are you avoiding me?!" He snapped at her, he was angry, and she knew it
"Because these are your people, not mine." She snapped back her eyes reflecting his anger and betrayal.
He saw the betrayal in her eyes, and began to realize what he had done. His grip began to loosen on her wrist.
"Yes, Ivan, I could hear you above the din. I could hear every soldier's voice call snide remarks of war, every war cry."
"Krys…" he started
"No, Ivan," She said raising her free hand to ward him off, "You can't take back what you have said. It is obvious you have lost interest in me, and you don't want me to survive this…"
"Krys! I was talking about them!"
"I AM THEM! If you recall I am Half Elvin!" she snapped
Then he realized just what he had done, how much he had hut her. But before he could say anything she twisted her wrist free, and was walking away from him.
"Get some rest." She said again.
He watched her as she walked through the camp, towards her tent that was set apart from the main camp.
Angry tears were threatening to form in her eyes as she breezed through the encampment. She paid no mind to the soldiers who watched her, or passed her. They all seemed to sense her unease, maybe they could see it, but they let her be, and that's all she wanted, was to be left alone.
As she entered her tent she looked around in the darkness, her cot, with a warm deerskin blanket from Ivan, she wouldn't sleep on the cot, she knew, and she wouldn't sleep with his deerskin blanket. She hardly wanted to wear his rings, but she would. She wanted nothing to do with him, she didn't want his name. But, she wanted his child… she wanted nothing of his yet she wanted his child.
Strange she thought, still, I'll not sleep on that cot…
She walked further into her tent and across from the cot; she laid down upon the ground.
Her tears began to form and fall as she lay on the ground, in her cold dark tent. She loved Ian, but now she hated him all the same. She trusted him, yet now she didn't. She was confused, lost, angry, hurt, and she felt awfully alone, all because of Ivan.
Her tears trickled slowly down her cheeks as she thought of the past.
Just last night, she thought, we were married and happy. Not caring about the war, only needing each other. And tonight…he wants me dead
Ivan sighed as he walked slowly through the encampment, nodding to those who greeted him. He paused at the entrance to his tent as he looked towards Krystal's tent. He sensed her anguish.
She probably doesn't want anything to do with me right now he thought as he walked towards her tent.
She probably hates me right now… he thought as he stopped outside her tent.
But before he could turn to walk back towards his tent he heard her voice, "Ivan, I know you're there, and since you won't let me be, come in."
Reluctantly he walked into her tent. It was dark and cold but he could tell she wasn't on her cot under the deerskin blanket he had given her. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness he looked around her tent and found her laying on the ground, her face tear streaked.
"God Krys, get under the blanket."
"No, I want nothing of yours"
"Krys…"
"I don't want to hear that you were only saying that to boost your soldiers' confidence either!" She said getting to her feet, "There was a conviction in your voice…You meant every bit of it!"
His eyes sparked and she saw it. She full well knew she was angering him, but she didn't care.
"Am I permitted to speak, Madame Wife?” He asked barely hiding his anger.
"I don't see why not, Lord Husband" she replied icily
"Yes, I admit, I meant every word of what I said today. But you are my wife! And I shall not let anything separate us! Hell itself couldn't keep you from me," he growled, "You, Being my Wife, are of my people. I know you don't want to fight the people your father belonged to…"
"I AM HIS DAUGHTER Lord Husband! I am of those people!" She hissed
"Yes, I know, Madame Wife" His voice was colder than Ice as he spoke to her, "But you are of my people now. You are my wife, by name, and by binding. You are no longer of your Fathers people."
A strange emotion came over her, grief, pain, and anger combining, blinding in her, as she struck him, the back of her hand striking his face hard.
He looked at her stunned, as he grasped her wrist, his strong grip tightening on her wrist, drawing a whimper from her.
The pain in her wrist became to strong as his grip tightened, her vision began to clear and she saw she had stricken him, his face was slightly red and blood seeped from the side of his mouth from the force behind her hand when she smacked him.
"Ow!" she yelped when his grip became even tighter, "Ivan, I'm sorry! I was angry…OW! Ivan! Please! You're hurting me!" She whimpered, thankful, partially, for being away from the main encampment, yet wishing she was closer so someone would help her.
He didn't seem to hear her as she told him he was hurting her, as she tried to apologize. His grip didn't change as he twisted her wrist slightly.
Tears jumped to her eyes and she dropped to her knees. The Ivan she knew was buried deep behind the anger.
"Ivan! Stop, Please! You are hurting me!" She cried as he hauled her to her feet by her wrist. Her tear filled eyes met his angry ones and she saw something soften.
"Krys…" He said hoarsely as he let her wrist go and backed away from her, "Oh god Krys…I'm so sorry…"
Her hand went to her wrist as he let her go; she dropped quickly back to the floor as pain surged through her arm, tears falling down her face to the ground.
Ivan knew he had hurt her, he hadn't meant to, he just wanted to keep her from lashing out at him again… Slowly he walked back over to her cot and grabbed the deerskin blanket. Slowly he walked back over to her and draped the blanket around her shoulders. Knowing she was freezing.
"Krys…I really am sorry…" he said as he turned towards the entrance to her tent intending to leave her alone after the bout they had just had.
"Ivan…" her voice was soft, and shaky, it made him flinch to hear her like that, "You have nothing to be sorry about…I…I'm sorry I hit you…" He could hear the tears in her voice as she spoke
"Christ, Krys….I about broke your wrist!" he said hoarsely as he turned back to face her in the dark of her tent.
She smiled sadly up at him and got to her feet, the deer skin blanket falling from around her shoulder to the ground, walking towards him. She knew he was uneasy, and that he didn't trust himself. But she didn't care. Slowly she walked to him, but he turned away from her. She smiled; she recognized he was trying to protect her from him.
Fine if you want to play that way… she thought as she slowly, carefully wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back.
"Krys…" he whispered hoarsely
"Shhh…stay here…for just a little while…please?"
He sighed, "Alright…Until you fall asleep, I'll go then."
She smiled, "That's fair." She said softly
Gently he took her wrists in his hands and unwound them from around his waist. Turning around to face her, he let her wrists go, and bent down to pick her up. Startling a quiet yelp out of her, making him chuckle. Slowly he walked over to her cot and laid her down.
"Stay here, I'll be right back." He said as he walked away from her and picked up her deerskin blanket. Walking back over to her he laid the blanket over top of her.
"I'm not cold." She said as she sat up, "Really I'm not."
Worry softened his face "Just lie down and rest for a little while…" He said gently
"What's got you worried?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yeah you, don't you know your eyes are blood shot, your skin is ice cold, and your eyes have shadows under them? Krys, you need to rest….Please…"
"But I'm fine!"
"You're exhausted…Please Krys…for me…"
It touched her that he was so worried about her, that he cared.
"Please Krys…"
She smiled softly and laid back, her eyelids immediately becoming heavy.
"That's my girl." He said softly as he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and drew the blanket up over her shoulders to keep her warm. He watched as her eyes slowly closed.
"Remember…..You….Promised….." she mumbled even as she fell asleep
"Yes…I remember…" he whispered as he stood up and quietly left her tent.
"Rest well...My love..." He whispered once outside her tent.
Turning he walked to his tent. Before entering his tent he turned, and looked towards Krystal's tent, an uneasy feeling coming over him. Ignoring it he walked into his tent, to try and get some rest.
An alarm rose, many of the soldiers scrambling out of their tents, many of them had been too worked up to rest.
Ivan ran out of his tent, having been unable to rest he was still in his armor.
"What's going on?! What Happened?"
"Elves were spotted leaving the camp, Sir!" a soldier near by him replied
Krys…he thought as panic raced through him.
"I want you to gather a small group of men, archers and soldiers alike….no more than ten men. Meet me at Commander Krystals' tent!" He ordered running towards her tent.
"Yes, Sir!" The soldier replied running off to fulfill his orders.
As Ivan ran towards Krystal's tent his mind wondered on what could happen.
Damn it! I shouldn't have left her so soon...DAMN IT!!
Getting to Krystals tent Ivan walked inside.
It was dark…darker than it had been earlier.
"Krys? Are you here?" Ivan asked as he walked to the lantern she always left next to he entrance of her tent.
Lighting the lantern he looked around her tent.
There were signs of a struggle , the cot had been upturnd, grass was rampled down into the soft earth. It was obvious Krystal had heard them, and woke up. She had obviously tried to fight them off. In the process she had been knocked down, Ivan could see where Krys had fallen; the grass was ground into the earth as if she had struggled to stay on the ground.
Damn... Ivan thought, hating himself.
As he turned to leave a glitter in the grass caught his eye.
Krystals rings…, Ivan thought as he knelt down to look at the glitter, Damn them…
Turning he blew the lantern out and stepped out of the tent, looking around for the way they had gone, looking for the way they had taken his wife. Soon the soldier ran up, followed by nine others, four knights, and fiver archers.
"Do any of you know which way they went?"
"Yes, sir. I was on Duty, I sounded the alarm. They went that way." One archer replied, pointing towards the tree line just past Krystal's tent.
"Thought so…." He said, "We need to be able to hide in the shadows…" Ivan continued, already removing his gauntlets, "Return to your tents, remove your armor and then meet me back here, bring your swords and bows and quivers. We need to travel light."
"Yes, Sir!" The soldiers replied all at once turning and running off towards separate tents.
Walking back into Krystals tent Ivan removed the rest of his armor, laying the several pieces next to her upturned bed. Silently promising himself that he would find his stolen maiden. Just before he exited the tent he knelt down and took Krystals rings from the ground.
She will want these back… Ivan told himself as he placed them in a pouch at his side.
"Excellent…" he said quietly as he found the ten men waiting for him, the archers in dark colored cloths, and his own soldiers in dark tan cloths, "Lets move…"
Turning he walked towards the trees, followed by his search party.
"Sir is there any specific reason you are searching for Commander Krystal?"
"She is a comrade. I will not abandon a comrade before a battle has been won, female or not." Ivan replied, not entirely lying.
"I noticed you both wore rings on your left hand…" one of his soldiers commented
"We're married, is that a problem?"
"Well, no, but…"
"Hush…do you hear that?" Ivan said quietly stopping, a faint murmuring coming from in front of them.
Almost immediately, the archers spread out, creating a safe perimeter around the area. Slowly Ivan moved forward. Wanting to see what was going on.