Legends of Belariath

Reigor SureClaw

Ehlanna's Sojourn: A Princess Among Men - Part Three

So my fate is to be a slave? Ehlanna thought to herself as the guards took her away from the Prince’s audience hall and into the deeper depths of the castle. The deeply depressed Sylvan Elf barely registered the twists and turns that the men-at-arms path took, nor the looks of curiosity among the castle servants they passed. There was only the bitter blackness of her heart, and the growing conviction that though these humans might make her a slave, they will get little enjoyment from her, perhaps her apathy towards her new duties might make the Prince change his mind and just kill her instead.

What those new duties were Ehlanna wasn’t sure of just yet, despite her seventy-odd years of age she was still fairly young for an Elf and was familiar with only of the customs of her people. Slavery for forced labor was unheard of among the Sylvan Elves, and servants whose primary function was sexual pleasure were for most part well treated by the community. However, Ehlanna could already tell from her brief visit to the human lands that these people saw things differently, and she scowled at the thought of having to scrub the royal chamber pot, however she might deserve it for her crimes.

What Ehlanna did know was that she was to be cleaned and prepared to serve the Prince in his quarters and part of her was glad that she would finally get rid of the filth that had accumulated on her recently. As for her clothes she didn’t really care, the only thing of value was the spidersilk skirt her mother had given her as a parting gift. That was safely tucked away in Cloudwind’s saddlebags, though she had the aching knowledge that she would never see the Elven mare or the skirt again, at least her mother’s gift wouldn’t be used as a cleaning rag by some ignorant chambermaid.

The silver-haired Elf sighed again, only a little fragment of her dignity allowing her to stand up and walk instead of being dragged to her destination by the guards. As it was she needed the support of the two burly men on either side of her, the spellbound chains and manacles that they had used to secure her lithe frame were very heavy and dragged behind her. It showed how much they feared her, and the darkness that had bloomed in Ehlanna’s soul had some satisfaction in that, but the rest of her was sickened by the destruction and death she had caused. This in turn only increased her bitter depression, making it hard not to hold back sobs.

Because of this, Ehlanna was slightly surprised when the guards holding her jerked her body as they came to a stop, the Captain shouting commands to two of them to fetch a maid and the court smith. Looking around the silver-haired ranger saw they were in a washroom of sorts, dominated by large tubs and drying racks, part of the ceiling overhead hinged to open to allow the sun and wind into the room. The place was dominated by the smell of lye soap, though tinted with a hint of herbs and rose petals.

After a short while, one of the guards hustled a human girl into the room, a young maid of perhaps nineteen summers, with long black hair tied back in a pony tail. She was obviously not a servant held in high regard, Ehlanna noted, as she was bare foot and dressed only in sleeveless blue tunic that came down to mid thigh. The Elf mage also noticed, with slight derision, that the guard was obviously groping the girl’s rear, causing the maid’s cheeks to flush red with embarrassment and nervously try to pull the hem down on her short garment, much to the other guards’ amusement.

“What? You got her?” the Captain demanded, apparently displeased by the maid’s presence, who seemed to wilt under his displeasure, her flush deepening. This sparked a bit of sympathy in Ehlanna for the poor girl, who obviously was very uncomfortable among all of the leering guards, and strangely something else. It wasn’t anything that Ehlanna could put a finger on, but she noticed with some interest how well built the black-haired teenager was and that she was obviously wearing nothing under the thin tunic, her nipples clearly standing out from the generous breasts barely hidden under the form fitting garment.

“Sah! You said get the first servant I ran across and here she is Sah!” the guard said crisply in response, still fondling the girl’s rounded rear with one hand. The maid said nothing in response, apparently deciding that speaking out would only get her into trouble, and only bit her lip nervously. She stopped pulling on the tunic’s hem, realizing at the same time Ehlanna did how it made the material stretch over her breasts, and instead held her hands gripped together in front of her while the guard added, “Besides Sah, I hear she being on the outs with Lady Margot, don’t want this one no more her Ladyship does.”

“Well I suppose that’s good enough, this is a delicate situation here now lads, we don’t want anyone blabbing any rumors. It will be bad enough as it is,” the Captain replied as he addressed his men before finally settling back his attention on the maid and Ehlanna. The black-haired girl overcoming her initial confusion and looking around, deep brown eyes widening as she saw Ehlanna for the first time, her face lightening up in awe and wondered as she saw the Elf’s silver tresses and delicately pointed ears.

“An Elf Lady,” the gasped and for the first time since Ehlanna saw her didn’t look embarrassed or afraid. In fact the look of pure wonder that she gave the Sylvan lady was almost like a ray of sunshine brightening Ehlanna’s darkened heart, stirring it, the lithe ranger finding herself straightening up more, her dignity and pride awakened a little. Despite her past and actions, the Elf woman was a child of Gaea and the Light, and she felt a tinge of a smile light her lips part of her amused by the simple awe the human girl was showing.

“Yes an Elf Lady, little slut, now pay attention!” the Captain snarled as he took a step forward to grab the girl’s chin, forcing her to look up at him, fear washing away her curious wonder as she shivered a little. The human guard leader growled in her face, saying his words very slowly while pointing at Ehlanna, “Your job from now on girl is taking care of this she-elf’s needs. Keep her fed and washed, her quarters cleaned, and her clothes…heh…if she is given any, mended and spotless, understand?”

“A-Ahhh…Yes sir!” the maid stammered, nodding her head as much as she was able in the man’s strong grip. The black-haired girl of course didn’t ask why she was to do this, which apparently was the smart thing to do.

“Good, now as soon as the smith shows up to fit the new slave with her collar then you will get started on cleaning her up, so be ready!” the Captain growled one last time and let her go, the guard behind the maid giving her rear one last stroke as she scurried into the room to start filling one of the tubs with hot water from a steaming kettle. Ehlanna and the guardsmen watching the girl’s movements with varying degrees of interest, the men joking quietly among themselves what it would be like to couple with the attractive maid, Ehlanna because she wanted some distraction from her bleak existence.

Eventually the Royal Smith did show up, a man who apparently was not only an expert metal worker but a powerful enchanter as well. The tall bearded man in flowing green robes had come prepared with a mithril collar which he fitted about Ehlanna’s slender neck, locking it in place, before inscribing the magical wards on it. The wards would prevent Ehlanna from using magic, from causing harm to another, and to keep her from wandering away from the castle. This, the mage cheerfully mentioned, would be reinforced by a massive jolt of painful shocks which would grow worse the more times the slave attempted to perform the forbidden activity.

Thus secured, the guards released Ehlanna from her chains, allowing the Sylvan elf to rub her limbs to bring some circulation back to them. There was then an heated debate among the Captain and the guardsmen who wanted to stay and watch Ehlanna be washed by the maid and their leader who wanted them back at their posts. Eventually he had the men draw lots and led all but a lucky two off, the duo grinning and exchanging friendly insults with their comrades before settling down in chairs to watch the “show”. Animals, rutting pigs at best, Ehlanna thought scornfully, turning away to ignore them completely and regarding the freshly blushing maid who stood next to a now steaming tub of water.

“P-please…milady…i-if..you would disrobe? I-I can…get started,” the black-haired girl stammered as she waited to begin washing, not looking into Ehlanna’s eyes as she stared down at the floor, obviously still awed by the elf woman but embarrassed by the circumstances. Ehlanna nodded slightly, deciding not to make things difficult to the maid, knowing that if she did nothing then the two leering guards would be quite happy to strip the new slave of her tattered clothing. So with as much dignity as she could muster, the lithe Elf woman, removed the remains of her stained travel leathers and under clothes.

The room suddenly started to become quiet as Ehlanna pulled off her tunic and tossed it to the side followed shortly by her breeches, slip and loin cloth. She didn’t need to turn around to feel the burning stares of the two guards to know they were lewdly caressing her curves with their leering gazes. What did surprise Ehlanna was when she straightened up she heard a gasp from the maid, who was blushing again, but this time it was like the girl was glowing all the way down to her toes, her eyes slowly traveling up Ehlanna’s body to meet the Elf’s eyes, the wonder in the seemingly tripled. This was confusing, her being impressed by one of Gaea’s children, the silver-haired elf could understand, but surely the girl had seen another female naked before.

Deciding it was best just to get this process over with, Ehlanna strode forward and gracefully entered the wooden tub, wincing slightly at the water’s temperature as she dipped one of her slender legs into it. After a few moments she got used to the temperature and slowly lowered herself in, the wooden container just big enough for her to sit in with bent legs, the water coming up to half cover her small, but round breasts. Looking over she could see the maid still staring at her, which made the elf woman sigh out quietly, “Well…what is it girl? And what is your name?”

“Kali…milady…a-and…I’m sorry…for staring…it’s…well,” the girl stammered again, taking up the sponge she had clenched in her hand and dipping it in a pail of soapy water. She then tentatively rubbed it against Ehlanna’s shoulder, washing away the dirty streak there, but her embarrassment making the process slow, her sweet voice still trying to explain, “well…you…you are so beautiful! I never…met an Elf lady before…my gram always told me stories of your kin…well I have always dreamed of meeting one and now I have…”

Ehlanna sighed as the girl continued to prattle, but as mild chatter continued she found herself relaxing for the first time in weeks. Perhaps it was the hot water seeping into her muscles, perhaps it was the fact she no longer needed to worry about what fate had in store for her. Or maybe it was Kali, the black-haired girl finally seeming to calm down, scrubbing Ehlanna’s back a bit more vigorously both young women forgetting for a moment the leering guardsmen, who were keeping quiet, but stilled stared with lust filled eyes.

“And your name Lady…if you don’t mind me asking?” Kali eventually asked her as she washed Ehlanna’s arms, the water starting to turn grayer from the filth being washed off. The silver-haired Elf noticed then that though Kali had lost her stammer, she was still brushing and where the water splashed against her chest was showing a pair of very erect nipples. What was the matter with this girl? Ehlanna asked herself, though beginning to suspect that Kali’s nervousness wasn’t just because she was in one of the fabled Elf’s presence but rather she was attracted to Ehlanna’s beauty as well.

This made Ehlanna blush a little herself, though the hot water helped hide it. The young Elf woman, while hearing of such things, had only had one lover, her dead Tolwyn. Thoughts of him turned Ehlanna’s thoughts black again so she didn’t answer Kali’s question, just shook her head instead. A slave, especially a murderess, didn’t deserve one, nor did she care to give it, ignoring now the maid’s small compliments and prattle. Kali eventually got the hint and shut up, going about her washing in a more business like manner, but obviously still aroused by caring for Ehlanna’s lithe body.

Eventually though, nothing was left that wasn’t scrubbed down but Ehlanna’s breasts and inner thighs, the girl starting to get very nervous again and the sponge she held trembled in her hand. She gave the Sylvan Elf a questioning look which Ehlanna replied with a slightly cocked head an arched silver eyebrow. Strangely however, she was starting to find the young girl’s embarrassment and arousal quite fetching, almost…cute. So she let Kali squirm for a few moments more before nodding her head and giving her a small smile.

Kali swallowed and nodded, proceeding with the washing of Ehlanna’s more intimate parts, the sponge feeling rough but stimulating as she worked over the silver-haired elf’s moderate breasts. Her nipples hardened from Kali’s ministrations and Ehlanna let out a small gasp, her eyes meeting the maid’s again, making her blush cutely again, and for once in a long time the heart wounded elf woman felt a bit of amusement and interest. These feelings only increased when Kali finally worked the sponge between her legs and Ehlanna suddenly had the urge to kiss the girl, but the moment was too passing and Kali withdrew before she could decide to act on the feeling.

“I…I don’t understand why…why you are like you are Lady, but it’s not my place to question,” Kali spoke again as she started to rinse Ehlanna’s hair and body off, her voice quiet but with the tone of concern and urgency. “But, from what the Captain said the guards will take you to the Prince’s chambers when you are done. Please Lady, do whatever he says and don’t make him angry! He can be right cruel, his Lordship can, and you do not want to be on receiving end of that. Please keep that in mind Lady! Especially since…”

“Here now!” One of the watching guards shouted at Kali as he stood up and walked over and tossing her a plain flimsy tunic, grinning with a mouthful of broken teeth. Behind him his partner was getting up as well, both of them apparently had enjoyed the show while it lasted, but all business now that Kali was done with her task. “If you be chatting so much girl you must be done cleaning his Lordships new slave, get her dried off and dressed up in this.”

Kali nodded vigorously, wide brown eyes full of raw fear again, making part of Ehlanna slightly irritated, what had the girl been through to instill such terror by being in the guards’ presence? It was a question she would ask later after she found out just what the human prince had in store for her. Standing up, Ehlanna continued to ignore the guards as she stepped out of the tub so Kali could dry her with a handful of fluffy towels before dressing her in the short white tunic, very similar to the maid’s blue one, meaning it didn’t cover much.

“Good enough then,” the guard said as he gave Ehlanna a leering up and down look before grabbing her arm, pulling her close to him. The elf’s lips parted in a snarl and thought about punching the lewd human, but then her collar flared warningly and she held back, not willing to test its magic just yet. Meanwhile the guard waved in a dismissing motion towards Kali, while growling out, “you be on your way little slut, prepare one of the “guest” chambers in the East wing and make sure its ready for the slave when his Lordship is done with her.”

“And as for you slave, you’re coming with us don’t want to keep his Lordship waiting!” the guard said to Ehlanna with his broken tooth leer, his laugh joined by the other as they took her from the room, the silver-haired elf looking back to catch a last worried look from Kali before the maid turned and scampered down the corridor, giving Ehlanna a look at her rounded backside before disappearing around a corner. The Elf ranger shook her head slightly at this, unsure what to think of this unusual feeling she had started to develop for the human girl. Perhaps it was her bitter heart just trying to seek out any sort of happiness?

This question plagued Ehlanna’s mind as she was taken by the guards down the corridor and then up the stairs of the tower that held the Prince’s chambers. Unknown to both her and her escorts though, a small form detached itself from a patch of shadow and flew quietly after them, and unknown to it another shape briefly shimmered into existence as yet another spy followed the Prince’s new slave, who had unknowingly been thrown into a complex and dangerous situation where her feelings for a young human woman would be the last of Ehlanna’s concerns.

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