Llewellyn’s Song Page 6

  She looked up and saw Llewellyn’s tall silhouette near the entrance of the cave. Her heart gave a funny flutter then. His straight black hair was plaited and he’d affixed a blue feather to the braid. His eye patch covered the deep hole where his eye had been, but his other eye was deep amethyst, sometimes cold, sometimes burning. He turned and saw her, and a tremor seemed to run through him. He flashed her a wide, white grin. Something deep inside her unknotted and she smiled back.

  “I’ve got some roots for us.”

  “Splendid. I managed to snare a rabbit and brought down a pheasant. If you want, there is some meat on the spit. We should leave soon. I want to make it to Frostbone’s territory before the real snows start.”

  They ate and then set the camp up for the next travelers. Taking their meager belongings, they set out once again. Tamara felt better each day. She was still not perfectly healed, but each hour that passed gained her new strength. She was glad, for she knew she would need it to face the ice demon king.

  Three days passed before they reached the outskirts of Frostbone’s land. It was marked by standing stones. Huge menhirs, some thrice as tall as a man, stood in ragged lines. Tamara paused before stepping through.

  Llewellyn put his hand on the stones and spoke clearly. “Frostbone, it is I, Llewellyn Fairnight. I have come to speak of matters that concern us both.”

  “Can he hear you?” Tamara turned and watched, disquiet prickling up and down her back.

  “He said to use the stones to call him. I think we best wait here.”

  Tamara looked around. They stood on a windy plateau. The stones stretched as far as the eye could see in both directions, and in both directions there were no trees, no shelter from the biting wind. “Even I, a stone elf, as you call me, can feel the bitter cold of this place. I hope we will find shelter soon.”

  “Don’t count on it,” said Llewellyn. He wrapped his cloak twice around himself for warmth and nodded to Tamara to do the same. “Conserve your body heat and strength. The ice demons need cold to survive. I think we may find out what it feels like to freeze before this interview is over.”

  They huddled together. Night fell, and the stars blazed above them. Tamara started to feel the chill seeping into her bones. It made her remember lying on the floor of the cave when the behemoth had found her. She was about to say that to Llewellyn when a sparkle caught her eye. She stiffened.

  “Yes, I saw it too,” he breathed in her ear. “Don’t move, but be ready to run if I say.”

  She tensed, waiting. The sparkle grew brighter and drew nearer. As it did, she caught her breath in wonder. She’d seen ice demons before—who living in the far north hadn’t? But she hadn’t seen their sleighs, or the white-furred creatures that pulled them. Larger than deer, with long, silky white fur and silver antlers, the creatures were harnessed to a crystal sleigh driven by an ice demon. It motioned to the sleigh.

  Llewellyn helped Tamara into the sleigh, then drew a fur cover over her knees. Tamara was too bemused to speak, but Llewellyn said, “Thank you for coming to get us. This is quite comfortable.”

  “Hang on tightly,” said the ice demon. Its voice sounded like snow crunching beneath boots.

  Tamara barely had time to grasp the sides of the sleigh before the demon shook the reins and the white deer fled into the night. They ran so fast that Tamara’s eyes watered and the tears froze on her cheeks. She cuddled closer to Llewellyn, and he put his arms around her. The night sky wheeled above them as the sleigh whispered across the snow. Sometimes they crossed lakes or rivers. The ice was black and the deers’ hooves hissed like ice skates. The journey seemed endless, or perhaps it was just the deep silence. Everything was frozen solid, even the air seemed to cut like sharp, cold quartz. Tamara’s cheeks felt numb and her fingers and toes tingled with frost.

  “We’ve arrived.”

  Llewellyn’s voice roused her from slumber. She opened her eyes, blinking, and then sat up and stared. They were in front of a magnificent palace made of sparkling ice.

  Starlight ran up and down the towers, and lamps cast pools of light that lit the palace from within. The demon waited until Llewellyn and Tamara had climbed out, then he drove off, the sleigh whooshing in the snow.

  Tamara took Llewellyn’s hand, squeezing it tightly. Together they walked over an ice bridge and under a clear arch to enter the brightly lit palace. The door was ice, the floor was packed snow, and the sconces on the walls were ice crystals that held stones that burned with a cold fire and glowed blue, white or yellow. Everything shimmered and sparkled. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

  Their footsteps echoed in the wide hallway. There were ice demons everywhere. They stood in a line and there was only one way to go between them. Tamara felt her hand crushing Llewellyn’s but he made no protest. Her heart hammered in her chest. The ice demons didn’t move. They could have been carved out of ice except for the strange blue fire that danced within them. And then they arrived in the throne room.

  Silver-frosted tinsel hung in garlands from the ceiling and there was a huge white tree in the center of the room. Ice crystals glittered and shone upon it. On the throne sat the biggest demon of all, Frostbone. He too looked as if he were carved from a block of ice. The blue fire that lit him was paler than most—almost white. His eyes were like two blue flames. He stood as they entered and said, “Welcome to Winterhaven. I have been waiting for you, Llewellyn Fairnight.”

  Llewellyn stopped at the foot of Frostbone’s throne and bowed. “I’m honored to be here. I’ve heard of your palace and its beauty, but mere words cannot describe it. I feel most privileged.”

  “And this is your mate? Be welcome.”

  Tamara had to agree with Llewellyn. The beauty of the place was simply astounding. She gave a bow too, and said, “Thank you for your hospitality.” Her voice didn’t waver a bit.

  Frostbone said, “It is the least I can do. Llewellyn Fairnight and his brother freed us from the Mouse King.”

  “Don’t forget Branagh,” said Llewellyn.

  “I have not.” Frostbone clapped his hands. It sounded like bells ringing. “Bring refreshments for our guests. Come sit down. We have much to discuss and little time.”

  “So you too have heard,” said Llewellyn softly.

  “Many of my people have been lured away by the tempting promises of a wandering ice demon. He promised more land, better hunting and riches for all. It seemed too convenient to be true. The ones who left were young and foolish. They have been stirring trouble on the borders and so I send my troops or go myself to apprehend them. But this new demon is too clever for me. By the time I arrive he has faded away. And I hear his army grows stronger. Many rocs have joined him. But the worst news is that he has somehow joined forces with the behemoth king. That’s why so many of their kind have fled. The old, the sick and the weak are being pushed out of their lands.”

  “The one I killed looked old,” said Llewellyn, nodding. “So the Mouse King has somehow found a way to return.”

  “Yes, and despite my warnings many of the younger ice demons have decided to join him. He wears not the same face, nor rides a dragon. This time, I think his strength lies in the behemoth king, for how else could he get so powerful in so short a time? He must wear the disguise of an ice demon though, and somehow he fooled the rocs into joining his side. That was a heavy blow. The rocs guard the passage through the mountains to the north, and if our people cannot use it anymore, we will be hampered in our summer migration.”

  “I will return to Hivernia with this news. It grieves me to see your kingdom under such a threat. Be assured that Branagh will send his army here, and we will combat at your side.”

  “Your offer is generous. I hope it will be timely. As you can see, it is winter solstice soon, the most important of our traditional fêtes. I will use this as a chance to gather my troops together. We will be waiting for Branagh’s army.”

  An ice demon came bearing a silver tray with drinks. Tamara took one and winced. T
he cup was freezing cold. The drink was icy, but delicious. She found herself enjoying the sweet wintergreen and spice flavor.

  “Come, I will show you to your room,” said Frostbone when they had finished their drinks. “Tomorrow, at first light, the sleigh will take you back to the standing stones. I wish your visit could have been longer, but I have much to do before winter solstice. If the war is not over by spring thaws, we will surely lose everything.”

  “I know that.” Llewellyn didn’t touch him, but he raised his hand and held it with his palm facing Frostbone’s chest. “We will make haste.”

  Frostbone nodded and held his hand out too, nearly, but not quite touching Llewellyn. Then he left them.

  Their room was made of ice. Windows with ice panes looked out over the endless tundra. The moon had risen, casting everything in a silvery glow. Tamara sank down on the bed. It was hard, being made of carved ice, but it was covered with a pile of deep furs. “I thought that demons were unable to speak our language.”

  Llewellyn nodded. “Most cannot. Frostbone was under the Mouse King’s spell for a long time. They are immortal, or nearly so, unless someone cuts their heads off. I don’t know much about their way of life. In the summer they retreat to deep caves of eternal ice. Here, in this land, they can live for most of the year. But Thaw finds it eventually, even if it is for a short time. If the Mouse King is not defeated, he may take over this land and enslave the ice demons once more. Frostbone is afraid of that.”

  “I would be too,” said Tamara. She couldn’t suppress a shudder of fear. The last time the Mouse King had enslaved Rog, a mighty dragon, and had used his power. Now, if Frostbone spoke the truth, he had the behemoth king’s might. If only she hadn’t left her tribe! She had to be able to convince them to send a troop of warriors. She hugged her knees to her chest. She could still do that. It would be at great risk though. The penalty for coming back into the tribe after leaving it for a male was death. But when the clan chief mother heard her tale, she would surely waive her punishment and agree to help Hivernia and the ice demons defeat the Mouse King! And then, after that, she had to find a way to give Llewellyn back his elf song, and at the same time discover her own. Only true love would unlock the notes of that song. It was too early to tell, but she found herself wishing with all her heart that Llewellyn was the key.

  She stared out the ice-paned window at the night sky, where mysterious borealis shimmered red and green. Her world suddenly seemed to teeter on the edge of a knife, and she wasn’t sure which way it would fall.

  Llewellyn could tell Tamara’s mind was in turmoil. He thought he could guess at some of it, for they shared the same fears and doubts. But he wondered how much of it was due to regret at leaving her home. A d’ark t’uath had never left her clan to marry—at least in his time.

  After he undressed, he sat next to her and ran his hands over her back, massaging gently.

  She sighed and leaned back into his embrace. He lifted her tunic off and then slid under the covers with her. Together they soon had the furs toasty warm. And the touch of her skin was enough to arouse him. He slid his cock between her legs, slowly pushing it in and out, practically purring as the satin skin of her inner thighs stroked him.

  She kept her back to him and pressed her buttocks closer, opening her legs to catch his cock with them. “Got you,” she giggled, and squeezed tightly.

  He reached over her shoulders and captured one of her breasts in his hand. “Got you too,” he said. He loved the feel of her breast—heavy and firm, her nipple hardened to a little pebble when he pinched it. He pinched it gently, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger. Then she reached down between her legs and grabbed his cock.

  That made him groan aloud. Her fingers closed around it and then she started a slow but steady pumping, coaxing him to move his hips. Her own hips pressed backwards and she spread her legs so he felt the wickedly wet heat of her sex.

  But she didn’t let him press his advances. Letting go of him, she twisted around so that she faced him. Without a word, she looped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He let her mouth explore his. She urged his lips apart with her tongue and then ran it over his front teeth, then dipped it in his mouth. She tasted of spice and wintermint. He opened his mouth wider, deepening their kiss. His breath came quickly as the image of her lush lips closing over his cock came to mind. He crushed her to him, wanting to melt into her kiss, her arms, her embrace, so that he couldn’t tell where he left off and she began.

  “Wait.” She broke off. Her face pensive, she leaned up on one elbow.

  “What is it?” His mouth felt swollen, his eyelids heavy. His cock throbbed with each of his heartbeats. He wanted to thrust it into her, to hear her cry out…

  “I wanted to say that I love you.” She said it quickly, then, to his surprise, blushed.

  He let the words sink in. They felt right, falling into a place he’d kept free. A place that hadn’t been filled until now. A smile tugged at his mouth. “I love you too, Tamara. I’m glad you chose me as your husband.”

  Sheer relief flashed in her eyes and they filled with tears.

  “No, don’t cry, my love.” He took her face in his hands and drew her down for another kiss. He loved losing himself in her kisses.

  She rolled him over on his back and straddled him. Her thighs spread on each side of his waist, she offered him a clear view of her sex. That was nice. But even better when she lifted her hips, balanced above him for a minute, then, ever so slowly sank down onto his cock.

  He watched, his throat going suddenly dry, as she eased herself down. Reaching the bottom, she thrust her hips forward, grinding her pelvis against his and sending shocks of pleasure through his cock as he felt it hit the mouth of her womb.

  He uttered a loud groan as she slowly lifted herself upwards again. The cold air hit his cock, wet with her juices, and made the heat of her body even more sizzling. He could hardly breathe anymore. His heart was going to burst out of his chest. He reached toward her, but she grabbed his wrists and held them pinned over his head, her breasts brushing against his chin. He lowered his head and sucked at one of her nipples with his mouth. It was taut, and when he suckled it Tamara ground her hips even more firmly against his, wedging his cock even deeper inside her.

  Shivers of delight ran down his spine. Then Tamara leaned over and pressed her lips to his. At the same time, she increased the tempo of her strokes, her hips lifting and falling faster and faster. His cock was burning. His tongue reached and parried hers. His cock head hit her womb with each long, hard plunge into her. Coherent thought fled, all sensation gathered in his belly and started to grow. Soon all that mattered was his cock driving to her womb, and each second, each minute seemed to lengthen and then become perfectly crystalline, hardening in his loins. Pain merged with pleasure until his muscles clenched, and then a flutter began in his chest. Suddenly he felt her cunt pulsate wildly as a blinding orgasm ripped through him and a golden note left his throat as he began to sing. A higher, silvery note joined his as Tamara threw her head back and sang. Music burst from her throat in a symphony of emotion.

  Elf song! The sound wrapped around them and bound them together. Each long spasm as he ejaculated echoed in a note rising from his throat. Part of his chi left his body in the song, part of his heart. A soft golden glow seemed to envelop them as their chi met and melded together. Ripples of music washed over them, wrapping around their bodies in a visible cloak of music.

  Afterwards, the very walls seemed to vibrate and echo with their music. Tamara raised her head from off his shoulder and looked at him, her eyes dancing. “I hope the demons don’t mind noisy visitors,” she said.

  Llewellyn pulled her down on top of him then rolled over, throwing his leg over her hip and pinning her against his chest. “I don’t care. I’m too tired to care, for one.” He blinked and laughed softly. “I didn’t expect that.”

  “I did.” She would always surprise him. She kissed his lips softly. “I hoped, a
t any rate. I hoped with all my heart.”

  Her eyelashes fluttered closed as she spoke, and to his amusement her last words ended in a soft snore. He kissed the tip of her nose and made sure the covers were securely wrapped around them before closing his own eyes and drifting to that place dreams haunt.

  Chapter Eight

  Hivernia

  The journey back to Hivernia was uneventful. Llewellyn would not let Tamara speak to her own tribe. He went to deliver the message himself, but didn’t wait for a reply. They were in a hurry to reach Hivernia before the snows blocked the passes completely. They were already late.

  Tamara fretted as they climbed the slopes, but her worries were unfounded. Bald Pass, the northernmost pass in Hivernia, was snowed in but still open. There were troops of elves there, and every day they cleared the passes. By order of King Branagh, the elves told them, as they stopped in a small hut and had some lunch.

  Tamara was still shy around so many different men. The ice demons hadn’t counted, but the first glimpse she got of a group of men elves together made her cling to Llewellyn’s arm in panic.

  “They won’t hurt you,” he said, trying to pry her grip loose and get her moving again.

  She hung back, but when he started to go on without her she bounded to his side. It took a few minutes for her to get up the nerve to say hello, and when they didn’t shout or go crazy, as her clan mothers had warned her they could, she relaxed. Maybe her clan had been exaggerating. As the night deepened and they sat around the fire chatting, she decided that yes, there had been a lot of exaggerating, and if she ever got the chance to go back to her tribe she would set things right once and for all.