Battle Plans
 
 

The elves worked quickly. Almost every able bodied elf was on the grass plains south of the Gate. Digging in hopes of giving them a tactical advantage against the army that was less than a day away. Ari-n was quite happy with their progress and tried to rally everyone as they dug. Reminding them of their families and of their homes. The people warmed to him. It seemed having an Elf lord around made them feel safe. Despite the fact that he was not of their own tribe.

Sterlith came up to him.

Sterlith - " Should we spike the pits? We have lots of spears at the ready! "

Ari-n almost snapped his neck he turned so fast. His eyes widened.

Ari-n - " I don't think we have the time. " He paused " Creatures that large would probably break those spears like twigs. "

Sterlith looked at him a moment. Then at the spears that were being pulled out to the field. The spears were as thick as his legs.

Sterlith - " I don't think they could snap those, besides It can't hurt to try? Begging your pardon lord but they are here and it would not take that much more time. "

Ari-n - " I said it will NOT be necessary. Let's not waste more time with this. We have battle plans to go over at the gate. Your people are almost done. They performed superbly. Let's not work them any harder than they have to. "

He turned away from Sterlith and walked towards the gate. Sterlith looked at the spears again. Ari-n called out from ahead of him. " The pits will be enough Sterlith! All will work out in the end. Come on! We can't prepare our defenses without you! "

Sterlith stared after him and simply sighed. He waved one of his guards over.

Sterlith - "Take those spears back against the gate. Tell the others that Ari-n says they performed excellently and send them home."

The guard nodded and ran off towards the spears. Sterlith turned and proceeded back to the gate.

The scene changes to a shot of Koblord making his way through the woods. He is surprised when the path he was following Just stops. Looking around for a second he notices that the brush had filled in behind him as well. Suddenly trapped. He seems to get anxious and then sits on the ground and takes a slug off of the water skin. A few moments pass and he hears a female giggling lightly floating in the wind.

There is the sound of the wind brushing through the leaves overhead. Koblord caps his skin and stands up slowly. He looks about but can see no one. He turns around slowly and finds himself staring at a lone wood nymph.

Alanya - " Hello. You are interesting."

Koblord - " And why is that? "

Alanya - " When trapped one generally tries to get out. "

Koblord - " Am I trapped ? "

Alanya - " That depends if you think I am beautiful..... "

Alanya backs up and giggles. She hops up off the ground and seems to sit in mid air.

Alanya - " Hmmm? "

Koblord smiles.

Koblord - " I do think you are beautiful. "

She looks at him. The response seemed quite genuine. She seems to think for a second. Then wrinkles up her brow as if confused.

Alanya - " Pretty arrogant. I think you are. " ( Sing song )

Koblord - " No. I answered true. You are delightful to look at. A flower above roses. "

Alanya - " Ohhhhh. A sweet talker."

She leans over looks at him.

Alanya - " Don't cha want to know why I stopped you? "

Koblord - " You stopped me? "

Alanya - " Yes. Yes. Silly human. You knew that. You know what I am. "

Koblord - " I don't KNOW anything. May I ask your name pretty thing? "

Alanya - " Alanya. I'm a nymph. "

Koblord - " A nymph. What's a nymph?  "

Alanya - " WOW. I must have been here a long time. Everyone all over the world knows what a nymph is. You must be sheltered. "

Koblord - " Well I have only been alive a few decades. You have to give me some time to travel. How long have you been here? "

Alanya - " Oh I don't know. It seems like forever. I only get an occasional traveler to help keep me from boredom. It's a shame you humans only live so long. I have had several human husbands since I have been here. "

Koblord - " Several husbands?"

Koblord looks around behind Alanya as if looking for the husbands.

Koblord - " Where are they now? "

Alanya - " Dead silly. "

Koblord - " All of them? "

Alanya - " Well...... Yes. They had fun till the end though. It's too bad you all get so frail after 50 years. "

Koblord - " You killed them? "

Alanya - " Well one. Not on purpose. I liked him. A LOT ! "

Koblord - " Please forgive my stupidity. I just want to make sure one point is crystal. "

Koblord - " They all stayed with you till they died of old age. At separate times? "

Alanya - " Well. It took a few times before I learned you can only have one, but yes. "

Koblord - " Is this why you have stopped me? "

Alanya - " The human CAN think. "

She stands to her feet and looks up at him.

Alanya - " I think you will do. Not of warrior stock I can see. Your a little thin, but I don't have much choice now do I? "

Koblord - " Sure you do. There is always another choice. "

Alanya - " I don't think you understand. I have to mate within the next 10 moons, If not I will die. That is my curse. "

Koblord - " Curse?  "

Alanya - " I'm stuck here. In this spot. I can not go beyond those four trees. "

She points to some specific trees. Koblord looks. He can see small symbols carved into the bark.

Alanya - " I have to mate every 100 years or pass into oblivion. "

Koblord - " That seems an awfully strange curse. "

Alanya - " I acquired the curse when I loved a king. Once long ago. His wife was a VERY jealous woman. I thought I would be immune to her dabbling. I mean most magic won't work on me. I'm a nymph. No one has ever trapped a nymph before. It's usually the other way around. "

Koblord nodded since he seemed to be on the receiving end at the moment.

Alanya - " But she did. I don't know how. Trapped me in this place. "

Koblord - " Forced to love strange men until you die. "

Alanya - " Horrible to be sure. You are a prize compared to most of the men I have trapped. I don't mind the sex so much. It's smell of some you..... Actually! You smell pretty good to me. This could be a fun few decades. Till you wrinkle up. "

Koblord hearing this seems to think to himself.

Koblord - " Are you sure you can't pick another? "

Alanya - " But you said I was beautiful! You don't want to stay? "

Koblord - " I can not. I have a destiny elsewhere."

Alanya - " Ohhhhh. A destiny! You are arrogant. "

Koblord - " Just certain. "

Alanya - " Well. There is no rule about marriage. I can let you go, but we have to mate first. "

Koblord - " I have another idea. "

Alanya - " No. No other ideas. I haven't had sex in a century. I need it or I die. "

Koblord - " I won't let you die. "

Alanya - " Then it's settled. "

Alanya reaches down at the base of a shrub. It seems to grow into a small bed. Grass grows out of the wooden frame. Making a very soft cushion. She slowly crawls into it and removes the thin fabric that had  covered her. Revealing all of her. Koblord noticed for the first time that her skin partially resembeled bark over her arms and legs. The rest so very like a human female. She gazed at him hopefully.

Koblord seems enticed, but shakes his head and clears the thought from his mind.

Koblord - " I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but if I help you in this matter. I would be betraying another trust and I fear something horrible would happen to her if I don't leave soon. "

Alanya seems moved, but disappointed.

Alanya - " I don't want to force you. I don't think I can, but I don't want to pass into nothing. "

Koblord - " I can bring people back here to you. I can give you a choice. Surely someone more worthy than myself. Someone with better definition. I could fetch hundreds of men. When I tell them of your beauty. "

Alanya - " If I'm so beautiful then why won't you stay? "

She pouts.

Koblord - " Had I not given my word I would stay, but my honor holds me. "

Alanya - " No one has to know! "

Koblord - " I would know, and it would change how I define myself. "

Alanya - " You are smarter than I gave you credit for human. A pity. "

She stands up and looks into Koblords' eyes. She rubs her hand across her chest teasingly.

Alanya - " You sure you wont stay? "

Koblord tightens up. He looks at her body and then her face. Then turns around.

Koblord - " If I stay any longer my will could be broken, I beg of you. Let me go. I give you my word. I will find another and bring him. "

Alanya - " What if you can find no other?! "

Koblord - " Then I will come back and submit to you. "

Alanya - " Even if it means you have to break your word ? "

Koblord - " I will try to explain the situation so I do not have to. When I return. If I do not have another man here for you. I will have concluded my agreement and be able to help you with a clear soul. "

Alanya - " Had you said you would break your work I would have called you a liar and kept you here. You will be the only human male who has refused me. The only man I have ever let go. Prove to me that your word is good. Return to me. "

Koblord - " I swear on my life! "

Alanya - " Yes. You humans are so fragile. What if you die before you get back? Then that's the both of dead by default. "

Alanya seems to think a moment. She holds her hands together. She opens her hands revealing many red seeds. She hands them to Koblord.

Alanya - " Should you meet anything like a lion or charging infantry plant a few of them in the ground quickly. They will grow and shield you. "

Koblord - " Thank you. I will use them with care. "

Alanya waves in front of her and the brush seems to fall away.

Koblord - " I WILL come back. "

Alanya - " Oh! If you don't I can promise the last thing I will do is place a curse on you. I may not be able to leave here, but my pets can."

There is a sound of a hawk in the distance.

Alanya -  "I will be watching you human. If you try and flee I will know. If you are ever in harms way I will do what I can to help. Karma will find charity. A miracle give back. "

Koblord nods and continues on his way. Alanya looks after him and seems to just fade away.

Koblord walked briskly for the next few miles. Every now and then he speaks to himself as he moves swiftly through the wood.

Koblord - " Nothing could possibly be more difficult than that.... Yes.  Yes.. Battle would have been easier. "

Fade to black
 
 

To chapter7.