Ghosts

[Bogwoppit]

Lake wasn't expecting the blow, although God knows he should expect retaliation from her by now. Maybe that was why he kept doing it, winding her up. Maybe it was because he knew she could always be relied on not to take anything he said lying down. He was fed up with beaurocracy and social ettiquette, pissed off with people making 'allowances' for his behaviour, and sick to death of people pussy-footing around him in case they said or did the wrong thing and sent him spiraling back down into depression again. Thrace was different, she couldn't give a toss about him or his breakdown. If he said something to her she would give as good as she got.

"What the FUCK do you know?!"

He reeled back into the wall, putting a hand up to touch his jaw automatically where she had punched him. Before he could even think he pushed himself back upright and drew a fist back to punch her back, catching her on one cheekbone. Not waiting for her to recover he grabbed her jacket with both hands and threw her up against the opposite wall, adreneline surging through his veins as he brought his mouth down on hers in a bruising, violent kiss. He pressed against her, not allowing her an inch of space to move, and the small part of his mind that wasn't flooded with blinding rage registered the softness of her body as he moulded his own into her curves. Fuck it he was getting hard! How many months since that had happened?

He pulled away as suddenly as he had grabbed her, breathing hard through his mouth as he glared down at her with eyes like chips of ice.

"I know you're fucking gagging for it," he grated, gravelly voice soft but charged with the promise of violence.

Abruptly he let go of her jacket with one hand and slid it inside to cup her breast, pressing the heel of his hand against the hardening nipple there. As he did that he pressed his groin into her lower belly, a sly smile spreading across his face.

"Unfortunately for you I'm a bit more picky about who I fuck," he growled, leaning in close to her cheek so that his breath brushed her ear. "Sorry darling."

Releasing her abruptly he turned away from her and began to walk away, not wanting her to realise just how unsettled the whole incident had made him. He wasn't used to feeling desire for anyone, and he certainly had never been so aroused that he wanted to simply throw a woman on the floor and fuck her there and then. Even Nathan Lake had some sense of what was acceptable.

[Pinkie]

Mari liked the mornings. She rose early from the rooms she shared with her father and pulled back the curtains. Kolya was already gone on duty and so the seventeen-year old was alone, save for the cat that came up behind her, nudging it's head against her calf beseechingly. Mari glanced down with a smile, hunkering to twiddle her fingers against the cat's ears, illiciting a soft mewl of pleasure from the feline.

It was still dark and the moon had disappeared. Mari had alot of work to do today. She had been told as much last night by her father who informed her that there were strangers in the fortress. Her brown eyes glazed over and a wistful smile lit her lips thinking about strangers, envisioning a romantic image of strapping young princes and angelic women come to pay homage at the court of Minis Tirith! Of course all the things her father had said about the women having short hair and the men being grubby looking things went in one ear and out the other. Mari was prepared to meet these people, and was so eager for it that she was going to work early.

She washed and dressed in a simple green, wool dress. The jerkin she wore was a little grubby but only from the usual wear and tear that a servant at the fortress cuold expect from the once-white material. The tree of Gondor flared out from her waist to her neck prettily. Even in the drab, too-big work clothes of a servant, Mari managed to look sweet. She pulled her long dark curls back off her face, tying it up with a blue ribbon. She tipped her head side to side to see her reflection in the basin of water she had washed herself in. She was rather displeased at the blue ribbon with a green dress but she had little choice.. she didn't own green ribbon.

Chewing the inside of her cheek, Mari slung her pouch on across her chest and headed off towards the impressive, white citadel of Minis Tirith. She only lived a short distance but the walk was all uphill. Upon arrival, her cheeks were flushed pink from exertion and she was a little out of breath, giving smiles and bobs to people as she went towards the kitchens. She listened attentively to the gossip about the newcomers, about the handsome leader and the rogue tom-boy blonde woman that came with them. There was a scholary type gentleman with metal rims about his eyes which both intrigued and sent a tremble of irrational fear through Mari. There was a man with yellow eyes and two others had come in afterwards as well. There was a woman from Rohan amongst the company too.

Mari had a tray of breakfast food and stood on the balls of her feet impatiently waiting her turn to be sent out to deliver the breakfast tray and serve the needs of the newcomers. A part of her hoped to be in service to the handsome leader but she knew that serving him would have her flustered and so she transferred her hopes to serve the tom-boy. Mari fancied herself to be a tom-boy given the option. She liked the idea of the Shield-maidens very much... or perhaps the man with yellow eyes even.... ?

Finally she was sent on her way and stole quietly through the still sleeping citadel to the room ordered. She had no idea who it was she to serve but felt an excited flutter in her stomach. She didn't care who it was - it didn't matter! This was a stranger, from a different planet if some of the servants were to be believed! This was an opportunity she had never seen before nor would again.
With silent grace, Mari ascended the servants staircase and pushed open the hidden door to the room she had been ordered to. It was her duty to be silent about her tasks - without waking the slumbering stranger.

The young woman placed the tray upon the table and looked over eagerly to the bed to see who it was that she was serving. She tilted her head to the side, nose wrinkling as she tried to discern which one it was -- and then something caught her eye on the bedside table. The metal rims... Mari's smile was beautiful. Her feet shifted with excitement and she clutched her hands to her stomach to quell the fluttering butterflies! Turning quickly, her elbow accidentally knocked the metal flask of drinking water that was for the man's breakfast and clattered to the ground noisily.

Mari stared in horror and clasped both hands to her mouth, looking down in shock, her small shoulders hunched upwards and her face pale as a ghost.

[Pinkie]

Faramir walked to the bath and slid down into the water gingerly, his brother to his right and the fire to his left. He faced an unshuttered window but turned his head to the side, blue eyes looking at his older brother attentively. Weary and in need of relaxing he might have been, but this was much more important. There was little to be done this evening for certain, but at least when he and Boromir spoke about such things, it put his mind at ease that they could overcome it. Once Boromir was there, Faramir felt he could accomplish almost anything. And according to his father if Faramir failed, Boromir would at least pick up the pieces.

Boromir said:

"No, Haldir has spent most of the evening outside with one of the strangers, the one with the eye glasses. I believe he was quite interested in our history so no doubt they had much in common. I will speak with him in the morning, We must prepare for an attack. We still do not have enough men to hold Osgiliath. What is the Dark Lord planning now?"

The words sent a shiver down Faramir's spine.

He frowned, looking out the unshuttered window pensively. His handsome face was half obscured in shadow, adding an extra layer of darkness to his mood. His mind fluttered to hs wife, to Eowyn and he wished that she would be safe during these uncertain times. He wished that she were here with him so that he could protect her ... though she would scorn him for it no doubt. Sighing, Faramir splashed a hand into the water with a hint of impatience but the sorrowful look of rejection was replaced with serenity when he considered Miriel... the second person's safety that came to his mind oddly enough.

A half smile pulled up his lips and he relaxed back into the bath, the clear water rising up to the centre of his chest and his strong arms laid out on either side of the bath-rim. The wiry, fair hair on his knees were beaded with moisture when they emerged from the bath, the young Ranger getting more comfortable in the scented water.

"Mmm I do not know. But we have overcome before, brother. Let us not fear that which we know we are capable of mastering." the scholar said in a slow, tired voice. "Perhaps, come morning, we will know more. I only wish that Haldir was not the only Elf in Middle Earth." Faramir commented, stifling a yawn behind his hand. He shrugged his broad shoulders to get more comfortable and lifted a hand to halt any comment that Bormir might make....

"What is it you intend with the woman, Boromir? You know it is a bad idea... we don't know enough about them to trust her in your bed. Why can you not pick a local woman hmm?" he gave a wry grin, sleepy but bright, "A pretty, Gondorian woman. Fair and slight and proper... ? Not brazen and vivacious as this woman seems to be...." the younger brother pleaded, knowing it to be a brick wall but tried nonetheless, and he was asking mostly in jest anyways.
For some reason he once again thought of Miriel, he thought of her to be the epitome of all these qualities that he had just praised to Boromir. Eowyn possessed those qualities too of course! He would never say a word against her of course but ... Miriel had them gracefully where Eowyn had them reluctantly....

[Pinkie]

When Kawalsky folded his arms over his chest, it created quite an attractive image. His chiselled, shaven jaw and clear complexion were offset by the broadness of his shoulders and the manner in which his muscular forearms tensed. The tendons strained against his sun-darkened skin in narrow rivulets that looked both human and sub-human at the same time. His yellow eyes narrowed at her sharp look, knowing that she had taken stock of his teeth. There was little he could do about it now however and so he just bowed his head a little, watching her turn her back to him...

It was almost funny how she turned her back on a werewolf so easily and spoke of such hatred regarding these beings, these Elves. She was a woman who could take care of herself, or thought she could at the very least. Safe to say she would not be taken without a fight -- Kawalsky cuold respect that... but it also went against his grain. He was old-fashioned. Oh he could work alongside Thrace... but she was more like one of the guys, not a woman. Not to say that she didn't exude femininity when she wanted to, she did ... but something about a woman who smoked liked a chimney and swore like a sailor didn't quite fit John's perception of 'damsel'. Eledhwen kind of did...

Eledhwen said:

"I will not rest until I have found him, and her, I should have killed this male Elf while I had the chance. Even if he knew where they were I would not ask him, nor would I listen to his advice should he give it. His words are poison!"

Kawalsky listened with a growing sense of unease at the abilities of these Elves. That they had so enchanetd a man with a strong mind like Eledhwen's father was remarkable in one sense, but suspicious in another. John was always suspicious of aliens and right now Eledhwen was not an alien, not when compared to the Elf.
He found himself steppng inside the door of her room but remained with his back against the doorframe on the inside, arms folded and one knee bent, his foot on the doorframe behind him also. He shook his head at the end of her tale, a frown set deep on his brow.

"I did not think such mind manipulation was possible..." he murmured, wondering if the Elf could use a toxin to dull the mind and senses of his Commander. Kawalsky lifted a hand to his jaw, lowering his head somewhat as he stroked the smooth skin gently, looking pensively at the ground and murmured to himself.
Finally, he shook his head and looked up at Eledhwen, almost surprised to see her still there.

A sense of pity and genuine sympathy washed through Kawalsky for he knew what it was to lose a father... he knew what it was to lose a father to another species, another creature altogether. His throat felt dry but he parted his lips in any case, his eyes, though still shimmering gold, were tender yet.
"I know how it is to lose a father. My own was ..." he paused, fanged teeth exposed in a moment of venomous, hurt rememberance while he tried to figure a way to describe his father's demise without going into the finer details.... "I lost my father to our enemy back home. Parasites. They take over the mind and leave nothing behind but a burning hunger for domination...." KAwalsky recalled with a hoarse voice, shaking his head and balling up his fist, resting it tensely on his opposite arm, looking at Eledhwen intently.

[Pinkie]

It could be said that Elves were quite human at times. They had all the feelings that humans did - love, fear, terror and illness. And right now Haldir felt fear. He felt an uneasy fluttering in the very pit of his stomach derived from a situation that was spiralling out of his control. But outwardly he appeared as unperturbed as before. His chilly eyes watched Joe West with almost clinical appreciation, seeing the strength of a man but not truly the man. Haldir would not use him if he had not the need of him -- but he would go against the prophecies. He dared not. Too much depended upon him and upon the destiny he had suffered so much to come to in this moment.

West said:

"Ok, we'll help you beat this Sauron guy, You know they'll be here tomorrow? These Orcs? How many men are there here? Are they prepared? My men need some sleep, I should talk to whoever's in charge of the army though. Is that Boromir? So who has the DHD? You say there are two gateways here? You mean two stargates? Doesn't the other one go anywhere too? Or just to your... Undying... place?"

The Elf gave a small, true, smile at West's perfunctory agreement to beat Sauron. The man made it sound extremely easy and Haldir had not the inclination to set the man's hopes on a downward spiral. If he believed that they would defeat the Dark Lord, just like that, then Haldir would let him. Perhaps that confidence would carry them through this trial.

Moonlight reflected silver off Haldir's fair hair as the Elf moved more towards the window. He folded his arms and turned his back to West once more, narrowing his wise eyes towards the horizon as he thought of the answers to the questions.. to any of them. His mind produced a rather peculiar image of the girl, the Rohan woman, in danger. He felt a surge of panic right beneath his ribs and cleared his throat, frowning downwards to rid himself of that helpless feeling. It was ludicrous.

"There will be an army of Orcs ... perhaps 5,000 tomorrow... and more will come after that. There are about 1,000 men here but we have the advantage of high ground..." Haldir looked over his shoulder with a shrewd smile at West, "But you know that being a seasoned warrior already. These men are always prepared for war, Major West. They have lived and breathed war and the stench of Orc blood upon their hands for too long. Do not worry about Boromir. I need to see him before he retires tonight. And regarding the ... Stargate .. " Haldir said, pausing, pursing his lips, "The second one will only take you to the Undying Lands, yes." the Elf told West. He gave an almost fond smile as the man yawned.

It was truly a beautiful and peaceful sight to see an elf smile. His porcelain skin seemed to glow in the low light in the large room. His pure scent, alluring and charming without him making it so, filled the room also, creating a cozy atmosphere of trust and good-will, of confidence and perseverance. Haldir gestured with his slender hand towards the bed --

"Sleep, Major West. Do not worry yourself on such things as I can fix once the threat of darkness has been lifted from Middle Earth." Haldir spoke sincerely, walkign towards the door. He stopped however, and tapped his fingernails on the doorhandle, thinking before turning bak to the Major.
His expression was a mixture of awkward amusement and relutant guardian.
"One more thing, Major... be careful of Elendur. For her sake... not yours." the Elf intoned with a knowing smirk. He then gave a deep, respectful bow to the sitting Major.

[Pinkie]

It was more like ten years really -- but Gypsy did appear much younger than she was. She was young at heart - much like Mark himself. But from what she had espied through her slender fingers, Gypsy reckoned he was probably in better physical shape than she was! While she kept her eyes covered, more to keep her embarrassed cheeks hidden, the young woman tipped to the side as Mark sat down. She grinned even more, turning her face towards him, hands still over her eyes. Slowly, she parted two fingers, one vibrant, dark eye peering up at Mark.

He raked his hand back thruogh his hair and Gypsy let her grin slide into a genuine, happy and easy smile. She tilted her head a little more, angling her arms in an awkward looking loop so that her cheek lay against the nobbly bone of her wrist, looking up at Mark with melting eyes. Her elbows were spread far apart so that her body was almost flat against the bed, making her appear all the more innocent and delicate. Fragile.

Mark said:

"Yes, and don't you dare laugh! I had to wear one when I got my degree. It was all professors and doctors and high powered guys drinking champagne. I hated it. For a while they expect you to fit into their crowd, the rich and brilliant, but it wasn't my scene. I only go to the parties I can't get out of now. You look about twelve laying there,"

"Oh I can just see it now!" she squealed quietly in delight, kicking her feet in the air.

Gypsy's heart did a flip about her ribcage when he touched her hair. She lifted a hand instinctively, eyes wide, to see what he was doing. But her look of stunned silence was surpassed by a gurgling laugh as he told her about his lifestyle, or the lifestyle attached to his IQ at least! So he had told her not to laugh ... she couldn't help it! She could just picture him in a stiff tuxedo, uncomfortable and grouchy but smiling pleasantly at everyone nonetheless. No-one probably would have noticed the tension right in the corners of his eyes where his laughter lines were etched deeply.

The dark haired imp flopped down onto the bed, cheek on the mattress and gave a squeek of protest at being told she looked twelve. Her dark eyes saw his pale ones however... she watched him look over her body and knew that look. For a moment she didn't know how to react. He was obviously appraising her and from the twitch of his forehead into a troubled frown and the pinched bottom lip, he was perturbed by whatever it was he had concluded. Gypsy's eyebrows rose, her little giggles dying off a little. She reared up onto her elbows and glanced over her slim shoulder at what it was that Mark had been seeing to make him look so ...

The stark image of the rose on her lower back was the first thing to strike Gypsy. Phew! And for a second she thought he had been... well... she thought he had seen her anew somehow. Realised she was a woman kind of thing. It wasn't that she didn't like Mark like that, it was just ... well, complicated. Gypsy liked Mark. She knew she liked him the way a kid likes her good-looking English teacher in school, but the thoughts of him liking her in return sent an unsettling surge of nervousness through her blood stream for more than one reason. And Tomas was just a part of it.

Gypsy felt a wash of relief as she concluded that Mark had just been a little maybe .. embarrassed about her exposed flesh? or curious about the tattoo. There was the faint remains of a bruise a little higher than the tattoo but thankfully that part of her flesh was still covered. The woman lifted one thin arm up off the bed, peering under the limb at the tattoo and sniffed, the final remnants of her giggles gone, but her smile still wide and her eyes still innocent as she looked up at Mark.

"My wild youth." she explained with a sage, joking nod of her head, sucking her bottom lip a moment. "You know all about that right? You couldn't have been this good all your life surely... and there's another one back here..." the dark haired woman explained, dropping her head forward so her forehead was on the mattress and she pushed the short hair at the nape of her neck forward to reveal simple ankh tattooed onto her creamy skin. And just to the side of that, unbeknownst to Gypsy, was a scar from when Tomas has 'accidentally' shoved her against a glass door on her birthday 5 years previous.
Her fingers traced the outline of the tattoo expertly, reverently almost, her dark hair forming a curtain about her face and muffling the words that she spoke --

"It's Egyptian... you know the Ankh?" her pronunciation of the symbol's name was not without it's lilt. Having lived in Egypt for a while as a kid she had a certain way of saying things associated with that country that sounded musical, "Means life. Dumb idea to get it on the back of my neck admittedly. Even dumber to get a pink rose permanently inked onto my back but hey --- it wouldn't have been my 'wild' youth without a few hiccups.." she said, using one slender finger to pull back the veil of her hair very slightly, smiling at Mark though there was an unprecedented tinge of sadness to it as well, slight thought it was .

Marriage had been the biggest of her wild youth hiccups...

[Pinkie]

She was braced, ready for the hit.
Thrace recoiled in shock at the force of the hit though! He spared nothing in the brunt of it, striking her cheekbone hard. She felt the skin break and her head swam dizzily as she staggered backwards. She had her fist balled up ready to lash back but hadn't the opportunity. Lake grabbed her jacket and shoved her against the wall, her head whipped backwards, banging against the stone but again, her ability to react to that offense was taken away when he kissed her.
Thrace's balled up fists thumped into his shoulders and she grabbed a fistful of his jacket, lashing her tongue against his assault and attempting to bite his bottom lip. But it ended all too soon.

The blonde was left breathless, head bowed forward with Lake's hot breath against her ear. She could smell the booze on him, taste the lingering hint of tobacco on her lips and the heat of his body, the hardness of his body! Thrace had not really thought of Lake as muscular but with his lean body against hers now she could feel every tendon standing out.

Lake said:

"I know you're fucking gagging for it, Unfortunately for you I'm a bit more picky about who I fuck, Sorry darling."

His hand shot into her jacket, cupping her breast. Thrace hissed a sharp breath, unable to react to that simply because it felt so fucking good! His hips ground in against hers and she felt the heat sear her insides. He was right. She was gagging for it... but more alarmingly, she was gagging for it from him. Perhaps it was because she knew that he was possibly the only person dumb enough to fuck her right now - and she didn't, for one second, believe that he didn't want to fuck her.

Her sore head lolled backwards a little and he pushed away from her, walking away. Thrace's tongue poked out against her lower lip, tasting him again. Her hazel eyes shut and she started to laugh, a low, mocking laugh, hoarse with anger and thick with lust. She turned her body around though nto away from the wall, leaning her shoulder against it. A small trickle of blood was spilling down her pale cheek and her blonde hair was an unruly mess, lips reddened from his brutal kiss.

"Nah - don't be sorry Nathan. Least this way I won't have to try and pretend that it's ok that you can't keep up with me... or keep 'it' up for that matter." the blonde coaxed quietly, shutting her eyes and lolling wearily back against the wall the way she had been. Her neck was strained but it tensed in quiet laughter, eyes shut and her face was almost peaceful, reminiscent. "I am sorry that you're so fucking hard for me though..." she whispered huskily, dropping her chin and tipping it against her shoulder as she looked at him with shrewd, challenging hazel eyes.

[Bogwoppit]

DJ was fast asleep and didn't wake when Mari entered his room. He slept, as always, with his Beretta under his pillow, having found that and his P90 in his room the night before, along with the rest of his weapons. The hot bath had been exactly what he had needed, and he had soaked in it for a long time, washing the grime of travel from himself, before getting into bed naked.

The rattle of the jug falling to the floor snapped him awake in a split second, and before he even opened his eyes his hand reached for his gun, sliding it out and aiming it as he sat up in one swift motion.

Turquoise eyes widened as he saw the cause of the noise, before a frown creased his features.

"Who are you?" he asked abruptly, not noticing the breakfast tray beside his bed.

The gun was still pointing at the girl, and he didn't think to lower it, despite her obvious non-dangerous posture. DJ wasn't exactly the best of morning people. When he finally realised what he was doing he lowered the weapon off-handedly.

"Sorry," he said, giving a flick of his wrist to indicate the gun. "Force of habit."

[Pinkie]

Mari had never actually seen a gun before - nor had she ever been on the receiving end of any weapon pointed in her direction - nor, in fact, had she ever seen anyone else with a weapon pointed at them before. She had led quite a sheltered life up until that very moment the pitcher clattered to the floor and the beast in the bed stirred. She heard the swift movement of flesh on sheets and turned with wide, apologetic eyes to look at the scholar.
Well, she thought he was meant to be a scholar! Right now he looked more like a legendary warrior from some romantic novel - and his ire was directed at her.

DJ said:

"Who are you? Sorry, Force of habit."

Well, she need not have known what a gun was to know that that was a weapon he had aimed at her.

All the blood rushed from her face and her eyes watered as she stared at the odd weapon being lowered. Her mouth hung open and her shoulders remained hunched sweetly.

"I I I I .." she stammered weakly, lifting earthen eyes from the gun to his face she saw that he was barely awake and quite startled. That was her fault, admittedly. "Mari." she croaked, hands slapping down to her thighs as she gripped fistfuls of her skirt, falling into a deep and respectful curtsey. "I am Mari, my Lord and I am so, so very sorry for disturbing you. Pl.. please forgive my clumsiness." Mari said in a weak voice, daring to lift her eyes from the ground to look at him again.

He looked quite terrifying when he was frowning but slowly the frown was lifting and he did not look quite so terrifying.
And ... he was also really rather nude beneath those sheets, Mari concluded, feeling all that blood that had rushed from her face dart all the way back up again. Her heart pounded in her chest and she dropped her eyes from his hip to the floor again before screwing them shut tight and biting her bottom lip.

"I have brought you breakfast and I am to assist you this morning in d.d.d. oh goodness." Mari couldn't very well say 'dressed' and allude to the fact that he was naked. She felt rather faint, lifting a hand to her forehead and swooned a fraction forward, forcing her to rise out of her curtsey rather than falling flat on her face.

[Bogwoppit]

Boromir looked down at his hands as his brother slid into the bath, wanting nothing more than to get back to his own room and do the same. He was suddenly exhausted, and despite the under-lying anticipation of battle which he always felt, he was not looking forward to the morning. The odds had never really been in their favour, but this time they would be overun without the Elves to stand beside them.

"Mmm I do not know. But we have overcome before, brother. Let us not fear that which we know we are capable of mastering. Perhaps, come morning, we will know more. I only wish that Haldir was not the only Elf in Middle Earth."

Boromir looked up, surprised at Faramir's thoughts being the echo of his own, but before he could speak his brother held up his hand for silence.

"What is it you intend with the woman, Boromir? You know it is a bad idea... we don't know enough about them to trust her in your bed. Why can you not pick a local woman hmm? A pretty, Gondorian woman. Fair and slight and proper... ? Not brazen and vivacious as this woman seems to be...."

Boromir blew out a soft breath of laughter, brows knitting together as he scratched his bristled chin absently.

"Well for one thing brother I have already bedded all the Gondorian women I would take a second glance at," he replied, grinning, "and for another thing, that is exactly why I want this one ~ She is... different, exciting. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it. Our women, while fair, have not the first idea of what a man really wants. Or at least, I have yet to find one who does."

A faint frown creased his brow as for some reason an image of Eonan popped into his mind. Well, there was one woman he hadn't bedded, but then, she was also one whom before tonight he had not spared a second glance...

What he needed was a hot bath and a massage, he decided, slapping his hands on his thighs and jumping up. And he knew exactly the person to give him that... Had she not said she was at the beck and call of the Steward's family, day or night?

"I will leave you to your rest brother," he said amiably, walking to the door. "Tomorrow we fight, and with the help of these strangers we will win."

[Bogwoppit]

The young warrior heard the man enter her room, and she turned to watch him as he spoke.

"I did not think such mind manipulation was possible..."

No, it was hard to believe unless one had witnessed the power of the Elves for oneself, Eledhwen knew that now more than ever. She could still feel Haldir's hand on the small of her back where he had guided her into her room, and his blue eyes still held her in their thrall although it was an hour or more since he had left her. She shook her head fiercely, angry with herself for even thinking about him, even though the thought was not a conscious one.

"I know how it is to lose a father. My own was ... I lost my father to our enemy back home. Parasites. They take over the mind and leave nothing behind but a burning hunger for domination...."

She looked up to meet his gaze once more, and almost took a step backwards as she saw the strange light there. Evidently Elves were not the only beings to possess a hypnotic stare. Kawalsky's eyes were yellow, almost like those of an animal, and his teeth... Eledhwen frowned a little and forced herself to take a step towards him rather than away as her instincts were telling her. His teeth were definitely sharpened almost to points, the canines overly large for a human, but it was strange, you wouldn't notice unless they were exposed as they were now. Unless you looked closely at him you would find nothing out of the ordinary. But she could not enquire about his... unusual appearance. For all she knew this was normal in his world, or if not... he might be offended at her asking. Who knew what harm he could inflict with those teeth? Were not Dwarfs perfectly pleasant until one offended them? And then, according to the old stories, they could fell a man twice their size with one blow. No, she would not ask. Not for the first time Eledhwen felt very young and very foolish and very out of her depth.

"I am sorry," she replied quietly to his confession, realising just how young and naive she truly was, how all of her own worries and concerns sometimes made her forget that there were bigger things in this world, and now in other worlds too if these people were to be believed.

Despite all of her bravado, and despite indeed being quite capable of winning a fight, she had led a sheltered life until now. Always protected by Eomer and his men, she had never been out of Rohan before this. She walked to the bed and sat down heavily, although the mattress hardly moved beneath her slight weight. She felt tearful suddenly, as though she had been carrying a great burden for too long and it was now beginning to crush her. Looking up at the tall soldier beside the door she attempted a small smile, but it came out as more of a grimace as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Sometimes I feel... so alone..." she admitted, although she did not know why she would tell this man such a thing.

Perhaps because he had also lost a father, and in a far more permanent way than she, perhaps she thought he might understand.

[Bogwoppit]

"There will be an army of Orcs ... perhaps 5,000 tomorrow... and more will come after that. There are about 1,000 men here but we have the advantage of high ground... But you know that being a seasoned warrior already. These men are always prepared for war, Major West. They have lived and breathed war and the stench of Orc blood upon their hands for too long. Do not worry about Boromir. I need to see him before he retires tonight. And regarding the ... Stargate .. The second one will only take you to the Undying Lands, yes."

West nodded in response to Haldir's strategy. 5 to 1... Not fantastic odds, but if by what he had seen already of these people the enemy only had bows and arrows for weapons then they still had an advantage. It would have been better to be able to get more weapons from Earth, but seeing as that wasn't possible they would just have to make do. It wasn't impossible, but he needed to see Boromir to make a plan of action, learn the layout of the city, the strengths and weaknesses of its defences. That could be done in the morning.

He looked up as Haldir turned back to him, ready to tell him this, but his words froze on his lips as the Elf smiled. Now that was a truly beautiful thing, and no way was West attracted to guys! But... well... he could quite understand the little Rohirrim girl's dad being lured away by one of them if the female Elves smiled like that. It kind of made your heart shine inside of you to see it. Weird... like you would agree to anything they asked if they would only stay around you for a while longer.

"Sleep, Major West. Do not worry yourself on such things as I can fix once the threat of darkness has been lifted from Middle Earth. One more thing, Major... be careful of Elendur. For her sake... not yours."

West smiled back, a little self-conscious of the fact that he had almost gone ga-ga over a guy. Clearing his throat he stood up, frowning.

"Yeah, yeah sure thing," he said awkwardly, not really sure how to take that piece of advice. Should he be offended?

Walking to the door he held it open until Haldir was outside, then nodded gruffly.

"G'night Haldir," he intoned. "I'll see you in the morning."

Closing the door he turned and walked back to the bed, throwing himself down on it and groaning. His mind hadn't been anywhere near Elendur before, all he had been thinking about was tomorrow, but now that Haldir had mentioned her he found his thoughts drifting back to the beautiful blonde. She knew the score didn't she? Surely she was playing the same game as he was? She didn't seem the type to get her heart broken easily.

He fell into a deep sleep before he could decide the answer.

[Bogwoppit]

"My wild youth. You know all about that right? You couldn't have been this good all your life surely... and there's another one back here...It's Egyptian... you know the Ankh? Means life. Dumb idea to get it on the back of my neck admittedly. Even dumber to get a pink rose permanently inked onto my back but hey --- it wouldn't have been my 'wild' youth without a few hiccups..

Mark's eyes narrowed as she lifted the hair off the back of her neck, disconcerted at the reaction the image induced in the pit of his stomach. The bare flesh was so pale, her movements unknowingly erotic, that he had to look away. Unfortunately his gaze fell back down to the rose nestled against the waistband of her pants, and he breathed in deeply through his nose to calm himself. Honestly, he was behaving like a teenager!

He dragged his gaze away from there, only to have it stilled by the glimpse of a faint bruise further up, revealed when she lifted her arms. He frowned, but jumped to no conclusion other than feeling for such a slight girl going through such demanding training. The job these airmen did was bound to knock up a few cuts and bruises along the way. He chanced another look at the ankh on the nape of her neck.

"It's nice, I like it," he replied, head on one side as he studied it.

Before he could even think what he was doing he had lifted one hand to trace the outline of the tattoo, fingers brushing hers gently as he did so. She felt warm, and soft, and young... And he had been far too long without sex. He snatched his hand back and grinned, embarrassed.

"If that's the only mistake you made in your youth I wouldn't worry too much," he continued, making light of the sudden tense atmosphere, unaware that he was touching on a sensitive subject. "And anyway, what d'ya mean, I haven't always been this good? You think I'm good?"

His grin widened, and he playfully cuffed her shoulder, not dwelling on the mistakes of his own that caused him so much pain every time he looked at his little girl. Not that she was a mistake, never. But the way he had handled Katee... Well, maybe he could have done something differently.

"God you make me sound so old and boring!" he teased, dropping down beside her on the bed and rolling onto his back.

He tucked his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling, unconsciously taking up the same position that he had been in with her for these three nights past, laying side by side in close proximity. This was different though, this time they were in a bed and their survival didn't rely on their being so close. He could feel her warmth beside him, his leg brushed against hers and he moved it quickly. This time there was no camp fire between them.

"We should go to bed," he said, yawning, and realised what he had said a split second later.

He shot up, almost falling off the bed, and looked down at her with his habitual worried expression.

"I mean... I... should go to bed... here... and you should... go... back to your own bed..."

[Bogwoppit]

He really thought he could do it, really thought he could walk away from her even though he had a raging hard-on for her and his hands were itching to grab her by the throat and fuck her up against the wall.

"Nah - don't be sorry Nathan. Least this way I won't have to try and pretend that it's ok that you can't keep up with me... or keep 'it' up for that matter. I am sorry that you're so fucking hard for me though..."

His jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth might break, arteries throbbing painfully in his neck and nails digging into palms as he stopped. The worst thing was the bitch was right ~ he might not be able to keep it up, and how many fucking months would he have to endure the piss taking if that happened? He felt like he would be able to, he ached with the need for release, but nearly every other time he had succumbed to the attentions of women since... since then, he hadn't been able to go through with it. It had come to the crunch and he had found them, or himself, sadly lacking. They did nothing for him, and the guilt made it worse, the constant gnawing ache of guilt that ate him up every minute of every day and left no room for anything else.

But this bitch was pushing him too far, and his blood was up, and he felt like... like he wanted to slam her head up against that wall. He wanted to hurt her, to punish her for being so fucking easy, to punish her for his mistakes. This had been coming for a long time, since the moment they had met if he was honest. The tension between them was almost visible. Not desire, not... any kind of feeling or emotion, just pure physical need, the recognition of a kindred spirit, much as it pained him to admit it.

He turned then, fixing her with a steely blue gaze, and before she could react he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her after him along the hall towards his room. Bitch wanted it and she was going to fucking get it.

Reaching his room he threw open the door and shoved her inside, kicking the door shut and throwing her up against it. He pinned her arms by her sides, pressing his mouth down on hers in a fast punishing kiss, then raised his head.

"You have no fucking idea what you're playing with here," he grated, grinding himself up against her. "I fucking warned you, I am not one of your fucking pretty boy soldiers that you can mess with and not expect consequencies."

[Pinkie]

Boromir said:

"Well for one thing brother I have already bedded all the Gondorian women I would take a second glance at, and for another thing, that is exactly why I want this one ~ She is... different, exciting. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it. Our women, while fair, have not the first idea of what a man really wants. Or at least, I have yet to find one who does. I will leave you to your rest brother, Tomorrow we fight, and with the help of these strangers we will win."

Faramir flinched at his brother's statement. More that it was the truth than anything else really. He didn't know how his brother cuold be so flippant with women. Did he hold no affection for those he held physically close to him? How could he involve himself so physically with a woman he could not hold a conversation with?
However, the younger brother did hold a secret smile to himself.

There was one Gondorian woman that was worth a second glance that his brother had not bedded. She was a chaste woman. She was loyal and she was wholesome. She was gentle and sweet and she was also, not Faramir's.

The Ranger felt a little anxiety over what tomorrow would bring but he always did so. He was not born for battle. Where it came natural to Boromir he had to work on being a good solider. He really had to set his mind to it and force himself to concentrate on the tactics and strategies. He could range and secure a border, but when it came to a logistical operation in putting other men's lives at stake... Faramir just did not have the mind for it. He had too much of a conscience. Boromir did it right. When a man died under his leadership Boromir mourned and remembered that man. Faramir was haunted by it.

Giving Boromir a smile, Faramir lifted a hand in farewell and shut his blue eyes, laying back into the bathwater a little further and let his mind drift. Tomorrow would bring war. Eowyn, thankfully, was far away. So long as the war did not break the Gondorian borders then she wuold be safe. Miriel... Miriel though, she was at risk somewhat.
Faramir frowned, eyes opening. He considered going back to Eowyn to warn her but thought it even more inappropriate at this even later hour.

Rising out of the bath water, Faramir walked to his writing desk in a towel and sat down, etching a quick letter to Miriel, warning her to be careful, that there was a battle to be fought and should she need protection that she was to come to him at the citadel and demand to see him, he would ensure her access.
He tilted his head, perusing the missive and went to his door, grabbed a messenger boy and sent him running.

Feeling better about things, Faramir climbed into bed, leaving his towel on the gruond, and snugged down into the soft mattress and blanket.