Beneath the Armour: An Elven Desire

Chapter 3

The overgrown road they now travelled down was swallowed by a dense tangle of vines and thorny bushes, making every step forward a challenge. The occasional neighing of horses echoed through the thick underbrush, their discomfort palpable as unseen creatures rustled ominously in the long grass. The men were visibly tense, their hands gripping their weapons tighter as the oppressive overgrowth threatened to obscure any lurking dangers, particularly the possibility of bandits.

"Stay sharp, men. Report anything suspicious," Drake commanded, his voice cutting through the uneasy silence. He sat rigidly on his horse, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings with a practised vigilance. Fey clung to her horse, her small form shrinking in on itself as if she wished to disappear entirely. Her eyes darted frantically in all directions, trying to be as useful as possible despite her growing fear.

After what felt like an eternity, the oppressive overgrowth loosened its grip slightly, revealing a small clearing up ahead. In the middle of it stood three men, two horses, and a cart with a broken wheel. "Hold up," Drake barked, his voice sharp and alert. Drax rode up beside him, both men scrutinizing the scene with suspicion.

"A trap?" Drax whispered, his voice barely audible.

The men ahead noticed the group and gave a casual wave before returning to their futile attempts to fix the wheel. "Most likely, an ambush," Drake growled lowly, his eyes narrowing with distrust. Fey watched anxiously as the two strategized on how to handle the situation.

"Men, there might be an attempted ambush ahead. You four, drop back and make your way to the east. You four, to the west. Circle around and see if you can spot them. Stay sharp; none of us are to be wounded today. You three will come with us. The rest, stay hidden and ready," Drake's orders rang out with authority. Fey swallowed hard, the lump of fear in her throat almost choking her.

"Commander, the Elf?" Drax indicated towards Fey, his concern evident.

Drake turned, his eyes falling on Fey. His face remained stern and calculating as he assessed her. "You're right. Elf, put this on, hide your ears, hood up, and head down. We can only hope they assume you're a young male." Drake handed her a piece of fabric, which Fey quickly wrapped around her head, concealing her pointed ears. She then pulled her hood up, further obstructing her view but providing the necessary disguise.

"Yes, Commander," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Drake watched her for a moment longer, his hard gaze softening just a fraction. "Elf, you can ride, yes? Stay close," he instructed, untying the rope that connected their horses.

Fey nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes, Commander," she repeated, her voice steadier this time.

As the group prepared to move forward, the tension was palpable. Each man was acutely aware of the potential danger lurking in head, their senses heightened and ready for the slightest sign of trouble.

The Commander, Drax, Fey, and three other men who followed on foot approached the group ahead, stopping a cautious distance away. The scene was tense, the air thick with suspicion and unspoken threats.

"Hello, men, how good to see you," called the smallest of the three, his voice dripping with an insincere friendliness. The other two set the broken wheel down, brushing off their hands with exaggerated nonchalance.

"Do you fellows think you could give us a hand? Our wheel got dislodged from this horrid terrain," the larger man grumbled, his voice deep and grating like stones grinding together.

Drake tilted his head sideways, his sharp eyes analyzing the cart. "Interesting. This terrain wouldn't dislodge a wheel. That cart has clearly been here for a number of weeks; the wood's rotted. Probably one of the carts you raided previously," Drake's voice was hard, brooking no nonsense.

The three men tensed, their friendly facade cracking. "What are you saying? That we're bandits?" the smallest one spat, his eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint.

Drax gave a loud, forced laugh that echoed through the clearing like a death knell. "It's exactly what we're saying. It's best you get out of our way, let us pass, and you may keep your lives. A fair trade considering the fate you gave those poor souls," Drax scoffed, pointing to a couple of decomposed, skeletal remains hidden in a nearby bush.

Fey froze at the sight, her body shivering with revulsion. The horrific scene of the remains sent a chill down her spine, and she swallowed hard several times to keep the bile from rising. She cast her eyes down to her hands, which had turned white from her tight grip on the reins.

The silence that followed was thick and oppressive. The three men exchanged quick, furtive glances, weighing their options. The smallest one's hand twitched towards his belt, but a sharp glare from Drake made him think twice. The largest bandit smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes. "Oh, we want trouble. I would suggest you hand over all your valuables, and we might do you the favour of letting you live."

Fey shuddered at his voice, a chill running down her spine. Drake remained remarkably calm in the face of the threat, exuding a strength Fey could only dream of possessing. He let out a deep sigh, his hand moving to draw his large sword. His men followed suit, their weapons gleaming menacingly in the dappled sunlight.

Startled, the bandits hastily drew their own weapons. "I don't think so," Drake responded in a bored tone.

"Well, it's your downfall," the bandits cried, rushing forward with a desperate ferocity.

Drake swiftly dismounted his horse, engaging in the battle with practised ease. The other three men quickly passed Fey, one gathering the commander's and Drax's horses while the other two moved to join the fray. Fey gasped as her horse reared up, frightened by the clash of metal against metal. She struggled to hold on, but within seconds, she hit the ground, the impact knocking the wind from her lungs.

Gasping for breath, she crawled away from her startled horse to avoid being trampled. She could hear shouts from the men but ignored them, focusing instead on reaching the safety of the soldiers hidden behind the trees. Casting a quick glance over her shoulder, she saw one bandit lying dead, blood oozing from a wound on his head.

"Attack, men, attack!" screamed a terrified bandit. There was rustling from the bushes as Drake's men emerged, holding a few bandits by their shirts, blades pressed to their throats. The remaining two bandits gasped at the sight of their failed ambush, throwing their weapons aside and dropping to their knees.

"We surrender! You can pass!" one wailed, his voice breaking with fear.

Drake approached them slowly, his demeanour deadly. "Unfortunately, we can't just let you leave. As soldiers of the royal army, it is our duty to rid our lands of bandits and lawbreakers," Drake's voice was low and predatory.

"Soldiers? Royal guard?" Another whimpered.

"That's what he said," growled Drax.

Fey watched in a mix of fascination and horror as Drake and his soldiers executed the remaining bandits with cold efficiency. She was unsure how to process the event, a tumultuous mix of confusion, intrigue, and disgust swirling within her. She had never dreamed the world could be so harsh, so overwhelming.

Slowly, she got to her feet, ignoring the pain from her fall. Drake approached her, retrieving her runaway horse from the hidden soldier. "Okay, little Elf?" he whispered as he walked past her, holding the horse steady and assisting her back into the saddle. His hand brushed against her bottom, igniting a surprising warmth throughout her body.

"Yes, sorry, thank you," Fey whispered, embarrassed by her clumsiness and the unexpected emotions his touch had stirred. Drake nodded simply before leading her horse back to his. He mounted his own horse and tied her horse to his.

"Good job, men. Perfectly executed," Drake called out. The men cheered in acknowledgment. "If we make haste, we may just reach the town of Woodpine. I hear the ladies there are some of the best," Drake added, eliciting an even louder cheer from the men.

As they continued, Fey couldn't help but wonder what Drake meant by that. Sensing her eyes on him, he tugged the rope, pulling her horse level with his. "What is it, little Elf?" he asked, his eyes trained on her.

Her face flushed. "What did you mean by your earlier statement?" she mumbled.

Drake raised an eyebrow at her forwardness. "The ladies," she hinted.

Drake smirked. "There's a brothel in Woodpine where the men can blow off some steam."

Fey frowned, puzzled. "Human men blow out steam? What causes the steam?" she inquired.

Drake let out a loud laugh, realizing he had forgotten the naive innocence of the Elf. Fey ducked her head, feeling a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. A few men behind chuckled at her question.

"How do I put this," Drake trailed off, searching for the right words.

"s*x!" called out an older soldier behind them.

Fey turned and frowned at him. "s*x? What is s*x?" she asked, shaking her head in confusion.

The men laughed again, but Fey felt her cheeks ignite, the blush spreading down her neck towards her chest. Despite being embarrassed, she couldn't ignore the strange warmth that flickered inside her at the camaraderie, even if it was at her expense. It was the first time the men had laughed and interacted with her, and despite everything, the feeling was oddly comforting.

"Coupling," called another soldier, trying to clarify, but Fey continued to shake her head, her confusion deepening.

"Lovemaking, intercourse, fornication," they continued, their laughter growing as they listed the terms.

Fey's blush intensified, and she dropped her head, turning her gaze back to the front. "Never mind, maybe once we are there, I will understand what you mean," she muttered, mostly to herself.

Drake suddenly tensed beside her. "No, that's not happening," he said sternly, his swift response making Fey frown up at him.

He shook his head, his expression serious. "Look, little Elf, you won't ever be near something like that. Mating... The men are going to engage in mating," he explained, trying to find the right words. At Fey's wide eyes and soft, delicate parted mouth, Drake's eyes darkened, and a hunger began to stir within him, a feeling he hadn't experienced since his early youth. He shifted on his horse, struggling to keep his thoughts in check. "Just without the baby part," he added, his voice strained.

He couldn't help his reaction to Fey; everything she did was pure, something he instinctively wanted to protect. Her innocence was a rarity, especially after the Battles of the Firsts, where many had lost their morals due to Cannon's fathers attempted uprising. Cannon, like his father, had promised freedom and pleasure, claiming he would take on multiple wives and allow them to experiment with others. The chaos had changed people, but Fey's purity stood in stark contrast.

Fey's heart pounded at Drake's words. Did humans mate so willingly with others? Her kind waited until they were bound to another, until they found their other half. The Elders had told stories that engaging in such acts before finding one's true mate would lead to mutations, untimely death, and misfortune. But now, Fey wondered if her people's ways were mistaken, if it was just another lie.

"Are humans allowed to mate with anyone? Do you not have to wait for the one? Are there no consequences for engaging before finding the one?" Fey's questions tumbled out, her confusion evident and her desire to understand more growing.

Drake sighed, realizing the depth of her innocence. "Some humans don't have the same beliefs, little Elf. We don't have to wait for a destined one. We choose our partners, and sometimes it's for pleasure rather than love. Others wait for the right person and marry them." he explained gently, trying to bridge the gap between their cultures.

Fey's eyes widened, absorbing his words with a mix of fascination and disbelief. She had read about mating, had craved the descriptions of pleasure, and had almost broken the law by touching herself. The Elders had said that the area between her legs was her mate's possession, not hers. But now, hearing Drake, she couldn't help but question everything she had been taught.

The convoy continued, the men still chuckling and jesting among themselves. Fey's mind, however, was racing with new thoughts and questions. She glanced at Drake, who seemed lost in his own thoughts, his jaw set in determination.

"Marriage?" she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Drake expression softened as he looked at her. "Marriage is like a bond between two people. They swear to each other to live their life as one. Dedicated to each other." he said, his voice gentle yet firm.

Fey nodded, "I guess like us being bound to another.... marraige. " Fey felt a strange sense of empowerment at his words. She still had much to learn about the human world and its complexities. Drake nodded his head, "yes". He gave her a small smile before concentrating on the journey ahead.

As they rode on, the sun began to dip low in the horizon, casting long shadows across the road. The promise of reaching Woodpine and the prospect of a respite from their journey filled the air with a renewed sense of purpose. Fey's heart was still heavy with questions, but she felt a flicker of hope, a sense of belonging among these men who, despite everything, had begun to accept her as one of their own.