Azor and Nedari

(Continued from...)

Chapter 2

            “You know we’re going to have to tell him at some point.” Nedari whispered to Azor as he slipped into her room after hours. At one time, Nedari had her own place, but since she is having another one built closer to her brother, Tearis had another wing added on to his cottage after his now wife, Nevallia, was almost killed by a member of the guild. He insisted that he can’t worry about her and Nedari especially since now Nevallia was expecting a child. He instead built Nedari her own wing so that she still may have privacy until her home was finished.

            “Nay, I don really like the idea of dying at his blade, though you seem over eager for it to be so.” he said climbing into the bed with her, snuggling up to her naked body. “Lass, were you expecting me tonight?”

            Nedari smiled up at him lovingly. “I am always expecting you, Barbarian.”

            Azor kissed her softly as his hands started to explore her naked flesh when a swift knock came at the door, startling them both. Azor jumped out of the bed, hiding in a shadowy corner of the room as Nedari blew out the candle. The knock came again.

            “Come in.” Nedari called, pretending to sound sleepy.

            “Nedari,” the door opened a crack and Tearis’ voice came from the other side. “I’m sorry to wake you Ned, but I forgot to tell you that tomorrow Nevallia’s mother is coming to visit us. I really need you there with us please.”

            “I’ll be there.” she said in a tired voice.

            “Evening.” He said.

            "'Night Tear." She said as the door closed, she listened for the foot steps going down the hall. A whoosh of breath came from Nedari as Azor walked back across the room to her bed. She cocked her head questioning the wide grin that appeared on his face.

            “You have to prance in front of royalty tomorrow, maybe even in a dress.” he said grinning at her.

            “Shut up, Barbarian.” she said trying to act irritated at his teasing, but couldn’t help herself and started to smile. “Shut up and kiss me.”

            Azor bowed deeply over her and then jumped into the bed with her, immediately capturing her lips in a deep kiss that left her toes curling.

                                                                        ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

            The next morning after several protesting excuses and delaying kisses Azor finally slipped out of her room to let her get ready for the day. Nedari went to her closet to see what she can wear for the Queen today; it’s funny to think of the Queen of Fylwyth coming to the most feared village. It’s actually just funny to think of Death Lord Tearis is married to a high ranking Paladin Princess whom is also the Half Elf daughter of the Queen of Fylwyth. Nedari was about to give up on finding a dress when she remembered the beautiful gown that Tearis got her for his wedding.

            Nedari took the dress out and laid it out on her bed and started to dress. After getting the dress on, she walked over to the full length mirror to check how she looked. The dress was a perfect form fit to her body and a beautiful pale gray that made her eyes just stand alone. With dark gray beaded designs and a white sash for her waist that perfectly matched her hair, she was dressed like a princess.

            “You’ve grown up a lot in three years.” a voice said from the doorway.

            “You know, I don’t remember this dress being that beautiful on me.” Ned joked.

            Nevallia walked into the room, also in a beautiful dress that had to be let out because of her seventh moon of pregnancy. “Your brother is driving me crazy so I am here to do your hair.”

            Nedari smiled and walked over to her dresser and handed Nevallia the brush. The soft strokes of the brush was quickly relaxing Nedari.

            “May I ask you something?” Nevallia asked, still gently brushing the tangles way.

            “Aye.”

            “How come you and Azor hide from Tearis?”

            Nedari spun around to face her sister in marriage, checking to see if there was any thing past curiosity there. “How did you know?” she whispered.

            “I have known for a while, but do not worry yourself sister, I have not told anyone. Though I would just like to know why you hide?” she asked, spinning Ned back around to undo the fresh tangles she got from spinning around so fast. “I mean I have been expecting this, but I should think Azor would be shouting on hill tops.”

            Nedari laughed. “He’s afraid Tearis will send him to the gallows if he finds out. He said he has to prove himself to Tearis first.” she explained. The silence stretched for a while before Nedari spoke again. “Why do you say that he should be shouting from the hill tops?”

            “Well, honestly I am surprised that you haven’t noticed before but he has done nothing but love you since you came to this village.”

Nevallia smiled down at her sister. “Since I came here and from what I’ve heard around from others, he protects you, watches out for you, is jealous when you took a lover and cried for and with you when they broke your heart.”

            “How did everyone know this before I did?” Nedari asked frustrated with herself for being the last to know. Nevallia just smiled, never answering the question.

            “Alright, I think you are tangle free, are you ready?” She asked after sweeping Nedari’s hair into a twisted bun leaving wispy curls to hang loose.

            Nedari took a deep breath and nodded her head. “Here we go.”

                                                            ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

            In the guild hall, the entire village showed up to see the Queen, though as hard as she looked Nedari couldn’t see Azor anywhere.  She finally spotted him in the front of the Guild Troops, being just promoted to captain he would have to stay there with his men.

            Nedari brought her attention back to the ceremony going on. The Queen, who was a beautiful woman with very long blood red hair and bright green emerald eyes, made it easy to see where Nevallia gets her exotic look. She picked up a beautiful silver sword with elven writing all down the blade and touched each of Tearis’ shoulders then as he arose from his knees, she handed him the beautiful blade and faced the village.

            In a crisp and clear voice, she addressed Tearis’ people. “Good people of this village, your leader has leaned before me the fearless, courageous, and triumphant Tearis. He now rises before you Lord Tearis Hollowsoul, Lord of Tersida Valley.”

            The entire hall roared with applause and cheering and a quick speech was given before the announcement that festivities continue in the banquet hall all the rest of the day.

            As people started filtering into the banquet hall, Tearis gave his wife a hug and bent to a knee quickly to give her belly some attention. He walked over to Nedari who greeted him with a smile.

            “Congratulations, brother. No one deserves it more then you do.” she said giving him a quick hug. She was anxious to get to Azor before he left.            

            “Well you know what that means right?” he asked, smiling slightly.

            “I can’t tease you for not taking out Tirranun anymore?” she said laughing at the annoyed look he gave her.

            “No, it means you, sister, are an actual Lady.” he said, knowing she hadn’t thought about that. Tearis walked away with a smug look on his face and when to join his wife.

            Nedari was stunned. A lady? What is expected of her now? Could she still scout for the guild? She had to go tell Azor! She took off down the steps of the guild hall, looking over the crowd for her Barbarian. Finally she spotted him, just about to leave.

            “Azor!” she called, just barley being heard of over the noise. “Azor!” she tried again a little louder. He turned around, spotting her and slowly tried to make his way to her as she ran to him. When they met in the middle, she jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly.

            “Well, ‘ello to you to Lass.” he said laughing as he picked her up and spun her around. 

            “Guess what?”

            “Yur beautiful?” he said whispering into her ear.

            “No seriously, guess what?” she said giggling.

            “Hmmm, seriously huh? Yur driving me crazy in this dress.” he said nibbling on her ear a little.

            “C’mon, Barbarian!” she said acting irritated, only because she was quickly forgetting what she wanted to say because of his antics.       

            “Okay, okay.” he said finally pulling away from her neck and looked down at her. “Yur going to meet me tonight in my cabin?”

            She nodded smiling at him lovingly. “Okay since you’re such a bad guesser, I’m just going to tell you. Since my brother made Lord, that means I’m an actual Lady.”

            Azor scoffed. “There is no one Lady-like bone in yur body.” he said laughing, quickly giving her another hug. “No, I jest you. I think yur a real Lady.”

            Nedari grinned up at him, lacing her fingers with his. “Alright, Barbarian. How about you are my partner for the night?”

            He bowed over her hand properly and looked up at her with a grin. “My Lady, it would be a honor.” he said making Nedari burst out laughing.    

                                                            ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

            Later that night when Nedari knocked on his cabin door, Azor didn’t answer right away. She knocked again and she heard him call from inside to come in. She opened the door and went to the fire to warm herself.

            “I’m in my room.” he said, his voice muffled behind the bedchamber door.

            Nedari got up and made her way to his room, opening the door and peeking her head in first. The room completely dark except for a candle next to the bed. Nedari took the pins from her silver hair, letting it cascade down her back as she made her way to the bed. She went to set the pins on the table that the candle was on when she heard a noise behind her.

            Nedari spun around to find a naked Azor behind her walking toward her. He smiled at her, but didn’t say a word. When he got to her, he turned her back around and slowly undid the ties at the back of her dress, letting it slide down her body down to her feet. She started to turn back around, but Azor stopped her, keeping her back to him.

            Something soft glided across her skin and down her back, then back up again. As it traveled up and down her neck and circled her breasts, she looked down to see that a rare, but beautiful Shadow Bloom was Azor’s seduction tool. Nedari felt her knees start to weaken and a sigh of pleasure mixed with her breath.

            Azor suddenly turned Nedari around, picked her up and carefully laid her down on his bed. Still using the bloom to seduce her in one hand, he leaned into kiss and nestled her neck. He kissed up her neck and nibbled on her ear a little. “Do you know that every glance of love, every soft touch and passionate kiss that I give you an get from you, it’s like living in a dream.” he whispered into her ear. He pulled his face back and looked into her eyes before giving her a deep passionate kiss. When they were both breathless, he pulled his face away to look her in the eyes again.

            “There is a reason that I wanted you here tonight, other then my own selfish motives.” he said in Dark Elfish, smiling a little. “I know you better then you know you. Though you know me better then I know me, but everything we don’t know about each other, I want to spend the rest of our lives figuring out. Nedari, would you merry me?”

            Nedari’s eyes widened with shock, blinking a few times before speaking. A small smile played on her lips and she shook her head. “Ask me right, Barbarian.”

            He rolled his eyes and looked at the stubborn set of her face and cleared his throat before speaking again. “Lass, will ya do me the blessing of being me wife?”

            Nedari finally dropped her act and blinked at the tears in her eyes. “Azor, I don’t ... I can’t think of ... yes.”

            “Yes?” Azor asked, making sure he heard her right.

            Nedari smiled up at him, nodding in confirmation.

             Azor let out a victorious roar, before doing a lap around the room and returning to Nedari’s side.

            “I will ask your brother for yur hand as soon as I can.” he said to her smiling face.

            “Azor,” she called his name lovingly. “Please, now can you end this torment within me?” she said as she guided his hand to her breast.

           

                                                                       

                                                                       

                                                                        Chapter 3

            “Me lord, I jus want Nedari.” Azor argued heatedly with Tearis. “Aye, she be a lady, but that does no mean she’s too good for me now!”  He shouted.

            “When she is busy, yes that is exactly what it means.” Tearis yelled back, finally fed up with Azor’s demanding. “Look, she will not be back for four more days, you will just have to either wait or go on without her.”

            “Damnit, she’s my best bloody scout!” Azor said, no longer yelling.

            “Azor I’m done, you wait or you leave, either way I want this thing with the people of Lostava sorted out.”

            “Fine.” Azor said, bowing slightly and quickly leaving the cabin. He continued to walk to the militia’s quarters to let then know the raid was being put off for four more days and pending Nedari’s arrival.

            After leaving there, he started to go to his cabin, but suddenly didn’t feel like it. With all the tension and stress he had, he felt like running through the woods. So that is exactly what he did. Azor ran through to the other side of the village and right into the woods, not stopping for twenty minutes straight. When he finally stopped, he realized that he ran to his and Nedari’s secret lake. Really, it was a fresh water pond with a small water fall coming down from the mountain.

            Azor stripped down bare and slowly walked into the water. It was cool and refreshing on his heated skin, soothing his burning muscles and washing away all his aggravation. He swam for an hour, letting the water cleanse his worries away from him for a little while. When he was about to get out, he heard something that sounded as if someone had called his name. He spun around and looked from where he heard the noise, but saw nothing but the waterfall.

            He had to keep weary incase a Water Pixi had come to play tricks on him.

            He turned back around, hoping that maybe he was just stressed out, but then he heard it again, a clear whisper coming from the water fall. Azor squinted his eyes to try to see through it, but he saw nothing at first, but suddenly something moved behind the waterfall, slowly coming through to waterfall toward him. As the figure was heading to Azor, he was also making his way to it and finally the figure emerged and Azor’s eyes grew big with shock.

            He first thought that she was a succubus or some sort of water fiery though because a Pixi could not be so beautiful, when he finally realized who it was his guesses weren’t far off.

            “I thought you were no coming home for four more days?” he whispered, as he pulled her into his arms.

            Nedari laughed and hugged him tight. “I missed you, I was on my way in when I spotted you running out, so I followed you.” she suddenly frowned and put her hands on her hips. “Why aren’t you happy Barbarian? You didn’t miss-“

            Azor cut her off with a fierce and passionate kiss, pushing her back through the waterfall. When they reached the back of the waterfall, there was a hidden landing that he lifted her onto, hopping up after her, pushing her back to the ground and ripping off her tunic.

            Nedari arched into his touch as he caressed the length of her upper torso. He leaned down and kissed her hard and urgently as his hands worked on getting off her pants. As soon as she was free from her restraints of clothing, he was over her, entering her deep and hard. Nedari moaned loudly and pivoted her hips to except even more of him into her.

            “Oh Nedari, I missed you so much! Oh me heart felt like bursting when me eyes laid on you.” Azor whispered into her ear. “I love ya so much, Lass.”

            “I love you Azor Tolden.”     

            Azor continued to pound into her hard and fast, knowing that’s how she likes it. He felt her tightening around him and knew that she was about to climax. He took hold of her hips lifting them and he drove into her making her nearly scream in pleasure as she came hard, moaning his name over and over again. “Azor.  Azor.  Azor.  Azor.  Azor.  Azor.”

            Knowing that he was also on the verge of climaxing she moved her hips around as he entered her. Within seconds, he was kissing her passionately as he finished inside of her.

            “I’ve missed this, we hardly get to see each other anymore.” Nedari said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

            “Don fret Mrs. Tolden, soon we will be married in the eyes of your brother an we can come home to each other every day.” Azor said smiling at the hope he saw in her eyes, knowing it mirrored his own.

            They laid in each other’s arms for a bit before getting back into the water and swam around the pond for a while. They made love three more times before they finally decided that it was time to go. After they got out of the water and got dressed and as they were kissing goodbye a dark rider came up quickly on a black horse.

            “That looks like one of Tearis’ horses.” Nedari said, watching the rider. When the rider got to them, he didn’t identify himself and kept his cloak on concealing his face. He walked right up to Azor who had pushed Nedari behind him for safety. The rider pushed back his hood revealing his face.

            “Tearis!” Nedari, said relieved. “You gave us a fright, brother . . . what’s wrong.”

            Tearis hadn’t even glanced at his sister and Azor knew why, but felt no shame so he stared right back.

            “You had no right.” Tearis said through clinched teeth. “She is but a child, my sister for that matter.” Tearis finally looked at his sister long enough to speak briefly. “I have come alone as to not embarrass you in a crowd, sister.”

            “We are to be married, ‘tis no some child fun, Tearis.” Azor said, justifying his actions knowing that someone had probably seen them together. “ I was going to ask for your blessing before hand, but it wanted to wait until I had a new cabin built and then I could prove to you I could take care of her.”

            “I would have said no.” he snapped and jerking his gaze to Nedari, he started barking orders. “Get on your horse and go home.”

            “No. I am not a child Tearis, you cannot tell me to go home.” she said, her little chin lifting defiantly.

            Azor grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. “Look, I am no’ to see how this is to end, so go home and you will hear word from me.” he told her in a loud voice so that Tearis could hear. He hugged her tight and brought her ear by his mouth. “Return here in four days time.” he whispered, only loud enough for her to hear. He sat back looking into her eyes, silently questioning if she understood. Finally, she nodded and ran off into the darkness, the sound of hoof beats was the only evidence that she obeyed. 

            Azor looked back up at Tearis expectantly. “Say wha’ ya have to say, me Lord.”

            “Do you have any idea what you have done?” Tearis said seething. “You have defiled a Lady!”

            “‘Tis not as if it were against her will!”

            “I don’t care if she raped you, she’s already engaged and you know it.” Tearis shouted.

            Azor felt as if Tearis had just slapped him. “Wha’? Engaged, to who?”

            “It’s of no concern of yours, but of only mine and Nedari. “

            ”She never told me.” he said, still stunned. “I swear it, my Lord. If I had known–“

            ”You would have done it anyways.” Tearis said angrily. Azor didn’t answer; he only stared off into the darkness in the direction that Nedari had ridden. She hid it from him. He was taken for a fool.

            “Azor, you cannot come back.” Tearis said finally, snapping him back to the conversation at hand. “You are no longer welcome in my guild, I hereby banish you.”

            “Nay, nay this is all I have. Please take me rank, me position, me life, but don make me go. Please.” Azor begged, not ashamed to do so.

 

            “Go and think no more of my sister. I can see that it was very one sided. You did love her, I can see that, but she is promised to another and was only amusing herself with you until that day.”

            “Nay.”

            “Aye, now go. I have a man coming with your belongings from your cabin that will be following behind you.” Tearis snapped his fingers and a figure on a horse came out of the shadows, Azor was surprised that he didn’t see the man earlier. “And Azor, if you show up in Tersida again, I will kill you.”

            Azor walked over his horse, which was brought with his belongings. He mounted and left in silence knowing that he would not be played to be a fool again the way that Nedari played with his heart and no one will ever get the chance to.

                                                                        ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

            Four days later Azor waited for Nedari to show up at the lake all day and into the next morning, but she never showed. 

                                                                        Chapter 4

            “You don’t even believe in arranged marriages, why are you doing this to her?” Nevallia argued with her husband.

            “She will thank me in the end. Morden is a good friend of mine and he will take good care of her.” Tearis said, distractedly polishing his sword.           

            “She will resent you forever.” Nevallia said bluntly. “Or she will end her own life, either way you are going to lose her. Not just that, husband, but she loves this village, why make her leave?”

            “Anarak East is just as beautiful and she will grow to love it just as much.”

            “At least let Azor–“

            Tearis jumped up and tightened his grip on his sword. “You try my patients, woman. I will tell you as I did 5 months ago and never again. I do not want to hear that name spoken again, do you understand me, wife?”

            Nevallia bowed low and then heard the baby start to cry, so she excused herself from the room, going to her newly born son. After getting him back to sleep, she walked to Nedari’s wing of the house and gently knocked on the door.

            “Aye?” Nedari mumbled from the other side.

            “Ned? It’s Nevallia, may I come in?” she asked quietly.

            She heard some rustling around and then the door opened just enough for Nedari to peak out and see if her guest was alone. When she was sure she quickly jerked open the door and pulled Nevallia into the room, swiftly closing and relocking the door behind them.

            Nevallia was about to comment on Nedari’s strange behavior, but when she looked around the room, she realized why she had been acting that way. From top to bottom, the room was a mess, things in piles and thrown here and there, it looked like the room of someone that was getting ready for a journey. “Your brother will come looking for you.”        

            “I can’t get married to anyone else other then Azor. Please help me. I have to find him, please.” Nedari began to weep, but quickly wiped her face disgusted at herself for being so weak. She had cried enough these past five months and it had done nothing to her advantage. “I can’t be without him, Nevallia. I am doing this with or without your help, but I could really use it–.”

            “Hush, hush, I was already planning to help you.” Her sister in marriage said smiling. “Now you are going to the market with me because my back still hurts.” she said with a wink.

            Nedari smiled and quickly gathered a simple travel bag with some things in it and they both left in the direction of the market. About half way there Nedari broke off and started heading into the woods, while Nevallia continued on.

            Nedari walked for over two hours until she reached the out skirts of Sevlekrad and then stopped to rest. She soon set off again being careful not to be spotted by the guards of Sevlekrad because they would for sure turn her in to her brother.

She finally reached the Lake of Despair when she saw smoke from a distance outside the little village there. As she walked through, she was surprised to see the funny looks she was getting. No one recognized her so no one bowed, but they did stare. She stopped at the first hut with people out side of it and waited.

            The men outside of it looked confused and stared at her a second before asking if she needed anything.

            “Aye,” she replied. “I want to speak to your leader, please.”

            “Lass, you do understand where you are right?” a Barbarian said to her right.

            “I understand just fine, could I please speak to the leader of this village.” she said, starting to lose her calm because of their consistent staring.

            “Why have you come here?” a familiar voice said behind her. 

            Nedari spun around at the sound of Azor’s voice, but her surge of joy stopped dead in its tracks when she saw the cold glare she got from her old friend.

            “I– I wanted to see the leader I needed a place to hide for a few months until I can get on my feet.” her heart broke as his cold eyes seared right through her.

            “Your husband know where you are?” he said, his voice as frigid as his stare.

            Nedari was wounded by the comment, knowing, though that he was had been hurting as well because of hearing the marriage rumor.

            “Or did yur oh-so powerful brother loosen the tether around ya neck?” disdain dripping from each word.

            Nedari had heard enough. She lifted her chin defiantly and stared right back at him, just as coldly. “I can see this was a mistake, if I had known you were here I wouldn’t have bothered. Good bye.” she started to walk out of the village, but a large hand seized her wrist and yanked her back.

            “Where do ya think yur going, princess?” he asked sneering at her. “I’ll bet big brother don’ know where ya are either.”

            A crowed had started to form to watch the scene. With each comment, there were nudges and unconcealed snickers.

            “It’s none of your business what I do with my life.” She shot back twisting out of his grip. “Not anymore. Not ever again.”

            “Me Lady, it sounds to me like ya go’ a personal problem with me. Well, I tell ya wha’,” he said stroking his chin as if debating on something. “You can stay here for the night, but yur staying with me and I’m taking you home tomorrow.”

            Nedari laughed out loud at the proposal. “Are you mad, Barbarian? You are wanted in my village. Oh and darlin,” she said mocking his accent. “I would rather sleep with a dragon then sleep with you. Not that there is much of a difference.”

            Azor’s eyes brightened with fury. “Oh ya will stay wif me an if ya don’ want to go back, fine, ‘tis no me problem, but ya will earn yur keep.”

            There was no way she was going back to marry the man her brother chose either way; at least here she could start over. “Fine, on one condition.”  She said confidently.

            “Oh aye?” He said laughing at her making demands so far from home. “Okay, wha’ is yur condition?”

            “You don’t tell anyone I am here and I am not a prisoner though nor am I a Lady here, so stop calling me that.” she said challenging him to refuse her.

            “Deal.” he said after thinking about it for a second he turned to face the crowed that had shamelessly been on looking. He spoke in clear Barbarian tongue. “People of me guild, listen here. No one speaks of this woman or claims memory of ever seeing her. Is this understood?”

            An uproar of ‘aye’s’ came from the people and he nodded indicating that the show was over and to go back to work. Azor turned back to Nedari who was seemingly studying his face carefully. “Follow me.” he barked and turned his back on her and walking up a path to the very end of the village to a large cottage that had smoke rolling from it. “This is where ya will stay; there is a spare bedchamber to the lef’, put yur belongings there.”      

            “Thank you.” she said quietly, walking ahead of him into the cottage to the room he told her.

            “Com’er please.” he barked from outside the room after giving her a moment to unburden herself of her things. When she walked out side the room, he was standing by the fire pit, not even looking up when she entered. “We have some things we need to talk about.” he said sternly. Nedari was waiting for this. She steeled herself metally, knowing he is going to want to talk about them.

            “Aye, there are.” she said solemnly, her eyes not meeting his.

            “If yur gon to be here,” he said, giving her a hard glare. “An’ no’ want people to know, ‘tis some things we need to change. Yur name for one.”

            “My name?” Nedari asked, taken by surprise.

            “Aye, yur no longer aloud to be Lady Nedari Hollowsoul, people will find you fast. Second is you must spend most of yur time in this cottage. The less yur seen the less people will remember you.”

            Nedari nodded, understanding his point. “Okay my new name will be Thea and I can’t think of a last name, but I will.”

            Azor nodded and started to walk out of the house, but stopped short and turned back to her. “I killed two pumas and a bear this morning; I want them ready for supper tonight.”

            “Supper?! That’s in two hours! Not even the most skilled cook can finish that in such a deadline.”

            “Ya wan’ to earn yur keep, Lass. Ya will do as yur told.” he said before slamming the door behind him. 

            Nedari muttered to herself as she walked into the back of the cottage to find the carcasses.

           

                                                                        ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

            When Azor returned there were two puma bodies being hung to bleed and enough strips of smoked bear meat to feed his entire guild. He smiled to himself thinking of how hard she had to work to get all this done before he got home. His smile faded know that he is going to be sleeping in the room right next to her. Not that he couldn’t trust himself, but who could control their thoughts.

            So help him mighty Gods above him, though all that she has done to him, he still wanted her. He was in shock to hear the familiar voice demanding to see the leader of this village earlier that day. He was thankful for all his men being there, because his reaction, were they to be caught alone, might have been one or the other extreme. He felt like throttling her, flogging her and sending her on her way and on the other hand all he wanted to do was hold her. He had to keep his hand tightly on each side of him to keep him from doing either.

            He grabbed a few pieces of the smoked bear and headed for his bedchamber, closing the door behind him. He stripped off his dirty clothes and threw them into a pile in the corner of his room and headed straight for his bed letting a loud sigh out as he hit the bed.

            He lay awake for several hours trying to accomplish sleep, but every time he closed his eyes he saw her face, body, smile, heard her laugh.

            “Damnit!” he cursed loudly, sitting up in bed. Slipping on his pants he walked out of his room and into hers, slamming the door as he came in.

            Nedari sat straight up in bed, grabbing a hold of her knife on instinct until her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she saw that it was Azor standing over her. She didn’t let go of the knife and he smacked her hand, easily unarming her. The knife flew across the room clanking as it hit the ground.

            “Are you mad? It’s mid night.” she snapped.

            “Aye, maybe, but if yur gon to keep me awake then I’m gon to keep you awake.” he shot back.

            “How, might I ask you, am I keeping you awake?” she asked defensively, but it was a stupid question and she knew it. She knew because she hadn’t slept yet either, despite her hard work tonight.

            “You have infected my brain, witch!” he shouted at her.

            Nedari stood up, only a large tunic covering her other wise naked body. “I have infected your brain?! You seem to have snatched any rational thought that I might have. To think that I ran away from home to find you! My family and all that I’ve known is now gone because I thought that maybe you’d care to see me again.” she shouted back at him, now standing on the bed to reach his eye level. “I found a bitter, horse’s ass who would take childhood friends in on the condition that they are his slave!”

              “I shoulda slit yur throat fo’ wha’ ya did to me! Ya should be me slave!” he said furiously. “I waited for ya all day to the raise of the mornin’ sun! Risking me life an ya never showed up to even refuse the fact that ya led me on! Toy’d wif me while ya waited for yur actual betrothed to come for ya!”

            Nedari’s mouth dropped in shock. "You unbelievable prick." Her hand snaked out before she even knew what she had done, striking him soundly across the face.

            "Bloody-" Azor grabbed her hands and pushed her back roughly on the bed.

            “Nevallia had her child, what did you want me to do? I had no idea where you went after that. I found you by chance here.” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. “Don’t you look at me with those hateful eyes, I have done nothing to deserve such a wrath.” she sat back on the bed, losing all want and will to fight any longer. “I have done nothing but . . .never mind.”

            “But what?” he demanded. She stayed silent and he squeezed her wrists making her hiss. “But what?”

            “What would an ogre like you care about a meaningless slave’s feelings?” she said openly weeping in front of him, not wanting to, but not being able to help it. “I am no longer interested in caring about what you think of me, Barbarian.”

            Azor grabbed her off the bed by the wrist and she fought hard to brake free of him. With all of her strength, she pushed him back, making her fall off balance. His iron grip on her wrist didn’t let go though and she flew forward into him making them both hit the floor hard.

            He jumped on top of her, pinning her to the ground. “Now hold still, lass.” he warned.

            “I plan on it.” she said giving him an icy glare. “I have learned from the last time I tried to brake free of you in this position.”

            “So ya are capable of learning.” he said mocking her insinuation. “Good, so this should be easier then I thought. Listen to me.”

            Nedari nodded her head, partly in understanding and partly because her body was reacting to him being on top of her. She didn’t trust herself enough to verbally answer him.

            “Good, yur sure yur set no’ to marry this fellow tha’ Tearis as chosen for ya?” he said looking into her eyes.

            “Aye.”

            “Okay then what ya are going to do is trust me alright?”     

            “Aye”

            “I am goin’ to get up an I don’t want ya to run or anything such as tha’, alright?” he asked, still pressing down on her until she nodded in answer to him. Then he slowly lifted his weight off of her hands and stood up over her. “Come sit down on the bed please.” he said, not offering a hand to help her up.

            Nedari obeyed, sitting on the edge of the bed, fixing her tunic to cover her properly. Azor walked across the room and picked up the knife that was discarded earlier before walking back to Nedari. “Turn around so your back is to me.” he said sternly.

            When she had her back to him, he came up behind her and took hold of her hair. “Trust me.” he said, before he started sawing at her hair. When he was finished there was no length left to her hair, but she was unrecognizable from afar. That is what Azor was trying to accomplish.

            “Turn ya self an look at me.” he said, his voice much softer then before. When she turned around, he actually smirked at her. “Noone will know ya now.” he confidently. “There is something else. I will give ya the choice of either pretending to be me house servant or me wife to be able to live here.”

            Nedari stared at him for several seconds thinking on what he just said. “Well I see it this way,” she stood up and started pacing the room. “If I am your servant, more of our little spats will happen because I may not be a Lady here, but I will not be told what to do.”

            “Aye, I am in agreement.” he said carefully watching her face.

            “If I am your wife, you must not look at me like you are going to run me through all the time like you do.” she said still pacing the room, if only to avoid looking at him. “Also we must speak about what has happened because I cannot live with you thinking what you must be thinking.”

            “Aye, so we are be married on the morrow, after a little chat.” he said, suddenly getting up to leave the room.

            “Azor?” she called after him.

            Azor physically winced at his given name that she uses so seldom. He turned to look at her and even across the room, he saw the tears in her eyes. “Aye?”

            “Why are you helping me all of a sudden?”

            “We talk over it on the morrow.” he said before leaving the room and closing the door.

           

                                                                        Chapter 5

            In the morning, Azor got up to the smell of food coming from the main room of the house. He slipped on his pants and followed the smell of food.

            “Good morning.” Nedari said when she saw him appear from his bedchamber. Azor grumbled in response and poured what looked like hot tea in a cup and grabbed a plateful of the food and joined Nedari around the fire.

            They ate in silence and were both sipping, on what turned out to be very strong tea, before someone said anything. “Okay lass, ya wanted to talk, so speak.” Azor said, now awake enough to listen.

            “I have told you before that I wasn’t there to meet you that day before Nevallia had her child that day and it was a particularly hard birth.” Azor nodded, remembering her saying that. “Well, I didn’t come to defend my self because there was nothing to defend. I didn’t know I was arranged to marry anyone but you.”

            Azor’s head snapped up to look at her and saw all the pain and confusion of the past five months. She thought he abandoned her, forgot her. She left her home to find him thinking he must have been hurt if he hadn’t come for her. “He dinnot tell ya that he had arranged a marriage for ya?”

            “Nay, not until after the baby was born did he even tell –” she suddenly stopped in mid-sentence. “Because he didn’t have one!” she said suddenly. “He told you I have a fiancée already and when you disappeared he arranged one for me incase you came back.”

            Azor looked straight ahead, his jaw muscle worked as things fell into place.

            “Azor, I still love you and I always will” she said take his hand in her own. He looked into her eyes, finding only sincerity. “There is no question that I will marry you.”

            “Darlin, ya have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear those words.”

            “Aye, I do. Five months.” she said smiling

                                                                        ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

            Two men stopped in front of Tearis outside his home as he was getting ready to saddle his horse, waiting for him to acknowledge them.

            “Report please.” Tearis said shortly, “I am a busy man.”

            “Yes, my lord.” they both said quickly. The taller one of the two stepped forward and bowed before him. “We have searched all of Tersida valley and Sevlekrad but have found no trace of her, my lord.”

            “She is on foot, she cannot go far damnit!” Tearis roared.

            “There is a small guild on the out skirts of Lake of Despair, but it is an all male guild and they have seen no women come through for several months.” the shorter one said quickly.

            “Then have you tried not looking for my sister and instead looking for the Barbarian?” Tearis said impatiently. The two men looked at each other. “Go.” Tearis said, disgusted.

            It had been three days since Nedari escaped from Nevallia when they were at the market. It was hard enough to find the ex- first Sergeant of his guild, but the guilds best tracker as well was proving to be impossible.

            He knew how he responded to Nedari and Azor being in love wasn’t exactly the best way to handle things. Though it wasn’t so much as her choosing Azor as her love, it was just the fact that it was his little sister. If it had been a mighty God instead of Azor, he still would have done the same thing. He had already told Morden that the arrangement was off and had been looking for Azor to bring him back when Nedari went missing.

            “Damnit.” he said cursing his actions.

            The Barbarian was a good warrior and leader. Not only was he leading his army when Tearis couldn’t, but he loved Nedari’s male ways for fighting and scouting with no stipulations. All Tearis wanted at that point was to make an apology and wish her well.

            He was quickly realizing that he may not even be able to do that.

                                                                        ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

           

            The festivities for Azor and “Thea’s” wedding went all day and long into the night. So it was with great relief that they finally got to slip away back to Azor’s cottage.

            “I didn’t think we would ever excuse our selves.” Nedari said, smiling up at her husband.

            Azor planted an exaggerate kiss on her lips and released her. He started to walk into the bedchamber, but noticed Nedari was not following him, but going into her own. “Darlin, married couples do sleep together.” he said jokingly.

            “Aye, but I have a surprise for you. Go in and wait for me.” Nedari said suggestively.

            Azor flashed his boyish grin to her and wiggled his eyebrows before walking into his bedchamber. He walked over to the side of the bed, just as he always does and took off his clothes, discarding them on the floor.  He was about to get into the bed until he heard a noise behind him. He froze, listening very carefully. By the time he heard anything behind him, he was already being knocked on the bed face down and the attacker on his back. His long brown braid was jerked back, exposing his neck completely. Feeling the cold steel on his neck made him smile, they had done this before. So he decided to play along.

            The attacker leaned forward, whispering harshly into Azor’s ear. “Don’t move’r I’ll slit yur throat.”

            Azor smile broke into a grin because the attacker not only had a badly disguised voice, but they had the giggles. “Now girly,” He said calmly, thickening the burr of his accent. “Ya don’ won’me tea be flippin’ ya over an’ haven me way wit ya?”

            “Barbarian,” Nedari giggled and then laughed, kissing his ear and neck. “I was hoping you would say that!” she laughed.

            Azor shifted his weight, easily flipping Nedari on the bed and taking the upper hand. He used one hand to pin her arms above her head, his other hand held the weight of his massive chest off of her so he wouldn’t crush her. He straddled her hips and was happy to note that his attacker was clothesless.

            “One day I am going to get you! How did you know this time?” she asked, trying to sulk, but laughing too hard.

            “I was jus’ pretending to be deaf, so I can git ya to dis compromising position.” he said wiggling his eyebrows.

            “Damn you, Barbarian!” she exclaimed, wriggling against his hold on her.

            “Ya bess stop squrmin’, darlin’” he said, his voice low and thick. “Or I really will have me way with ya.”

            “Good.” she said, raising her hips grinding herself up against him. “I was starting to wonder what was taking so long."

            A beastly growl came from Azor as he let himself finally take her.

                       

                                                                        Chapter 6

            “Let me get this right?” Tearis said, trying to make sense of the rambling guards. “You have found the Barbarian, but he is already married and the woman isn’t my sister? Correct?”

            Both the guards nodded, slightly afraid of what he might do to them. “Yes, my lord.” they said in unison.            

             

            “Go and retire for the day,” he said, his thoughts already off the uncomfortable guards. His thoughts were on Azor and his sister. If Nedari had found out that he was already married, then she should have come home. Unless she made a life some where else, or married some stranger! All sorts of miserable thoughts started to plague Tearis until he worried himself into going to Azor and ask about Nedari.

                                                            ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

           

            Azor was outside the cottage bleeding and preparing that mornings kills when he heard thunderous hoofs coming his way. He looked around for a second and then spotted his wife’s horse coming his way full speed.

            When she finally reached him she was out of breath and all jumbled from being excited.

            “Deep breaths, love.” Azor reminded her, trying to calm her down. “Take yur time Lass, what this all about?”

            “Tearis!” she finally managed to gasp. “He’s coming!”

            “Get in the cottage,” Azor said immediately, his face growing serious. “I don’t want him seeing you.”

            “Azor!” Nedari said helplessly. He snapped around to look at her pleading eyes. “Please don’t duel my brother.”

            “I won’, now get inside.” he said quickly shooing her off to the safety of the in doors.

            Moments later, one of Azor’s men came to him to let him know that a Dark Elf Lord was seeking him out. He told the man to show him to his cottage. He wanted to make sure that he wasn’t being set up for a trap. He will play it calm as if he were just visiting an old friend and hope that if he has to introduce his wife that she will come up with something where they could get away with Thea.

            As Tearis approached and Azor held his head high. “Hail, me lord. “

            ”Hail Azor. It’s good to see you again.” he said smiling. Azor must have been giving him a confused look because Tearis started laughing. “I know it wouldn’t seem from our last meeting that I would be happy to see you, but I have time to think on what I’ve done to you and my sister.”

            Azor turned to the window of the cottage and yelled in. “Thea, put some meat on. His lordship and I will be in before to long.”      

            “Ah, yes this is why I have come.” Tearis said, as if just remembering. He eyed the cottage, as if looking within from his spot so he could see the faceless woman. “I have heard that you married.”

            “Aye, lovely lass., ya would have approved o’ her. We just married yesterday.” Azor said smiling widely.

            “Have you seen Nedari, Azor?” Tearis said, skipping to the point.

            Azor stiffened at the question, his smile quickly fading. “Shouldna Lass be with her husband by now?”

            Tearis winced at the statement. “Look, I know what I did to you two was wrong and all I want to do is find her so I can tell her that.” Tearis shook his head and started back to his horse, obviously not getting answers from Azor.

            “Me Lord, wait.” Azor called after him. “Why don’ ya stay tonight, I have plenty of room and me wife takes to fussing over folks. Especially a Lord.”

            Tearis turned back to Azor smiling. “Nevallia is the same way. Oh, have you heard? I have a son.” he said proudly.

            “A son, well I better hurry up and have a daughter then, huh?” Azor said laughing. Tearis tried to look disapproving, but couldn’t help but laugh with him.

                                                                        ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

            Azor had gone in before Tearis came in for the night to tell Nedari that she will show her brother tonight that she is fine and in good hands. After they were done eating the meat that she had prepared for them, they sat around the fire pit and drank some ale.

            There was a knock on Azor’s bedchamber door and Azor smiled. “Ah there she is,” he said happily. “Me Lord an’ old friend, I wan’ ya to meet me love an savior, me wife.”

            Tearis turned around and locked eyes with a familiar face. He looked at Azor and then at his sister. “Nedari?” he said going down on one knee and held out his arms. Nedari ran to him, embracing her brother.

            “Tearis, my lovely brother. I am sorry to worry you by running away.” Nedari said quickly thinking that maybe he was still angry with her.

            “Hush sister, I learned a long time ago that I cannot control what it is that you do,” Tearis said laughing. “I don’t know what made me think I could do it now.”

            Suddenly a man burst through the door out of breath and red in the face. “Trolls, my lord!”

            Azor and Tearis looked at each other for a second and then sprang into action getting their armor and weapons. Nedari wasn’t far behind them securing her armor and sword as she ran out the door, trying to keep up with the boys.

            When they got to the front of the village, there was already a battle started. Though it looked as if Azor’s men were fairing well, there was still more trolls coming from the woods.

            Tearis spoke quick words and the ground shook and cracked beneath him. A boney finger, then a hand and before long an entire undead servant was summoned forth from the ground to aid Tearis in the fight. Both Tearis and his undead servant went headlong into the battle, working quickly to push forward the line.

            Nedari started along side Azor, but they were soon separated in the excitement of the battle. She briefly looked around and spotted him fighting two trolls at once. She ran over to him, jumping on the back of one and slitting it’s throat.

            “Facashious dura ga. Nethari druha ka.” Nedari started chanting over and over again. A slight wind picked up around her making her have to squint her eyes.  “Facashious dura ga. Nethari druha ka.”

            Suddenly three trolls that were gaining on her stopped and held their throats, coughing and sputtering as a black fog enveloped them. Nedari’s already light gray eyes turned white as she invoked more power into her body.

            “Lass!” she heard Azor call suddenly, she saw him with a sword through his side. “Azor!” she yelled, running over to him. “Oh Azor, lay still darlin. Please hold on, I’ll get them back, I promise.”

            As anger surged through her body her white eyes grew cloudy and then black. An animalistic roar came from her and she cut down every one that got in her way. When she laid eyes on the attacker’s commander and pointed her sword directly at him, calling to him.

            “You fool! Your forces are destroyed, call them back or forfeit every last life of your men!” she warned.

            The troll looked at her and smiled a vile smile. “You are but a woman!” his face grew serious and his ugly eyes looked over her body. “I do no woman’s bidding, though when we get done killing your village, my men will need some entertainment.”

            “I am no woman!” she called back, undaunted by the innuendo “I am the sister of Lord Hollowsoul, Duke of Tersida. I am Lady Tolden of this Barbarian Guild and most importantly, I will also be the one to kill you.”

            She started to chant as the troll laughed at her. “Takala hilashi gilibra taklathorf.”

            The troll was still laughing when blood came from his ears and nose, then his eyes and finger nails. He wiped the blood from his face as he lifted his axe and began to charge her. The ground suddenly broke apart and the earth’s roots took hold of the troll commander’s legs, not only tripping him, but also holding him to one spot. “No!” he roared.

            Nedari looked around to find Tearis leaned over, touching the ground. “I’ve got him,” he assured her. “Finish it.”

            She nodded and made her way over to the fallen commander, easily kicking the axe from him bloody hands where the flesh was rotting from the bone at a rapid pace. Without so much as a flinch, Nedari raised her sword and plunged it into the troll’s chest. She picked up his own axe and then swiftly removed his head.

            Holding it up by the hair, Nedari turned to the battle ground to show Azor’s troops and the trolls still invading. “Your commander is dead, drop your weapons! Go now and no more will have to die!”

            Little by little, all the trolls threw down their weapons and retreated back into the forest. In Nedari’s experience with trolls, they are not stupid creatures, but nor are they intelligent either. So when she announced that their leader was dead, they had no one to tell them what to do. When she told they to throw down their weapons and go home, they didn’t have any other ideas, so they did.

           

            Nedari rushed to Azor’s side as Tearis watched the last of the trolls leave. She closely inspected his body and saw that he had been sliced from under the left arm to his hip.

            “Tearis!” Nedari yelled. “Send a note for Jona!”

            “I’m goin’ to be fine, love. Don’t fuss.” Azor said through clinched teeth.

            Nedari looked at Tearis, silently telling him to do it anyway. Tearis nodded and rushed back to his horse. Nedari had Azor’s men help carry him back into the cottage. When they reached it, he had passed out from the pain.

            Nedari couldn’t help, but cry. She knew it wasn’t weak, it was the love she felt for him.

            “My Barbarian. Please be okay. Please.” she wept into his hand that she held tight. “You cannot leave me. What if I am with child? You will never get to see your son or daughter.” she reasoned with the pale body that was her husband. “I don’t want to be without you again.” she sobbed, losing her handle on her emotions. She wept over him until she fell asleep two hours later.

           

                                                           

                                                                        Chapter 7

            When Nedari awoke she was cleaned, changed into a new tunic and in her own bedchamber.

            “Azor.” she whispered into the dark room before jumping up and running into his bedchamber. Three people surrounded him discussing him quietly amongst themselves. “Azor?” she whispered again, startling the three people into turning around, but still blocking her view of her husband.

            Jona, Tearis and Nevallia holding the baby all moved out of the way so that she may see her husband. Nedari slowly walked up to his bed and took his cold hand. “No. No, please!” she said, starting to get hysterical. She quickly calmed her self down, hearing Azor’s voice in her head. ‘Deep breaths, love.’  When she finally properly composed herself, she looked up at Jona and waited for him to tell her his news.

            Jona nodded, understanding what she was going through. “Nedari, I know you panicked because his hand is cold. We just washed him down and because of his wound his left side no longer carries the blood to the arm as well as it once did. It’s going to be cold sometimes.” he reassured her. “He is going to fully recover, but it will be a long recovery and he will need you nearby.”

            “Ned, we love you so much, we love Azor as well and we’re going to be here for you.” Nevallia said, taking Nedari’s hand with her free one. “Plus, Gennitos has missed you.” she said handing the baby to Nedari.

            She held him high and he giggled. She brought him back to her chest and handed him back to her mother. “Lets let him sleep.” she said, looking at her husband and then at everyone else. They all shuffled out of the bedchamber and into the middle room.

                                                                        ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

            By the fifth day of waiting, Tearis had to get back to the Valley and Nedari shooed Nevallia with her husband. Jona had left on another call, but promised to be back soon. The house was finally empty and for the first time in five days, she was alone with her husband.

            Most of the day she sat by his side, getting up here and there to answer the door. The well wishers from the guild were on going and often came all at once to eliminate annoyance.

            “Darling, you have to get up for me today,” Nedari said, as she did every day. “Tearis says that because he didn’t see the wedding it doesn’t count, so we have to have another one at the Valley.” she reported. Nedari wasn’t quite sure if he could really hear her, but she talked anyways, as if he were just sleeping.

            Taking hold of his hand she squeezed it tight and leaned forward to plant a kiss on his cheek.  When she was about to walk away, his hand tightened around hers and held on. She spun around to look at him only to be greeted by beautiful green eyes.

            “Azor, my husband!” she flung herself at him, embracing him tightly forgetting temporarily about his wound. He made a pained face and she jumped back, instantly apologizing.

            “‘Tis alright darlin, it feels like a life time since I got a hug from my wife.” he said smiling.

            “Almost,” she said laughing. “It has been about 5 days though.”

            Azor looked around and when his eyes found her, they stopped. “So, wha’ did yur cleric say about me scratch?”

            Nedari laughed. ‘Yeah, scratch indeed’ she thought to herself. “Jona said that you will mend up just fine, but you have to actually take it easy for a while.”     

            “And yur me bed slave for how long?” he said smiling up at her.

            Nedari laughed and looked into his eyes. “Forever and always my Azor. Forever and always.”

                                                                        ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

            “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride, again.” the priest stated loudly for all to hear. All of Tearis’ guild and Azor’s guild showed up for the wedding of Azor and Nedari four months later. There were so many people that they had to do it outside because the guild hall was too small.

            “I been waitin’ all day to hear that.” Azor said, following the priests orders, taking a hold of Nedari and pressing a romantic kiss to her lips. The crowed of people went wild and voiced their congratulations as they walked through to get to the banquet hall for the dinner.

             As Azor and Nedari arrived to the banquet hall, they were escorted to a table facing an empty space on the floor where there was to be entertainment. The music started playing and people started to flood the floor.

            “It’s nice to see the village at such peace.” Nedari told her husband. “To think three months ago, there was uproar about the guilds merging. Now everyone seems so happy.”

            “Aye, ‘tis behind us now, love.” Azor said patting her hand.

            “Look! Isn’t that Cooper?” Nedari gesturing out to the dance floor.

            “Aye, I believe ‘tis, dancing with someone I don recognize.” he said frowning a little, trying to place the person. “Who ever that ‘tis looks exactly like Nevallia.” 

            “Your right, she could be her twin!” Nedari said amazed at the side.

            “I’m glad ya don’ have a twin!” Azor said laughing. “I don think me heart could handle both of ya!”

            “Well I’m glad, because I want to be the only person you are handling Mr. Tolden.” she said, smiling slyly.

            “There is no need to worry about that darlin.” his large hands held her face. “Because you will always be mine.”

            “Always and forever.” she whispered, before he captured her lips with his own.