Attack The Bandit Leader

I lunged forward and swung. He blocked as the axe cleaved into the wood of his shield making a pretty good crack in it. He swung his sword barley missing me as it swung across my chest. He swung again and I managed to hook the with the inside of the axe. He countered by nailing me in the face with the shield before he slashed me across the chest sending me to the ground. I felt like my chest was on fire as I touched it and pulled back my hand which was covered in blood. I glanced up to see him standing over me as he turned the sword over ready to drive it through me. I guess fighting someone with military training wasn't my smartest move. He raised the sword up ready to deliver the killing blow. At least I had died trying to do something noble before I died. Before he could finish me off I saw a sword burst through his chest as if from the inside. A figure bent down over me as my world slowly went to black a chill running through my body. Was this death?

Time passed though I couldn't say how much. I heard distant voices in the dark. Flashes of people looking down over me. When I opened my eyes again I saw the sky. I felt water around me, my body was naked. I sat up quickly as I touched my chest where I had been stabbed.

"Relax, you are safe." A woman's voice said. I turned to see an elven woman touching my arm.

"Where am I?" Trying to focus on the world around me. I was on a stone table surrounded by water.

"The sanctuary of Elderwood. Your gnome friend brought you here to heal after you where injured. Had he been any later you would have died. You will be sore for some time and your wound has left a scar but you will recover fully in time." She said touching my chest. I had heard of the healing pools. They were said to have limits to what they could heal but as I looked down at my chest it was amazing considering the size of the scar across my chest.

"Why am I... I began to say as her breast rubbed against my arm. "...Why are we naked." I said admiring her body. It was hard to tell how old she was from her appearance since elves lived longer then humans but she looked mature in age but still very beautiful.

"The water of the elder springs are a sacred place. One may only receive the blessings of the earth godess if they come before her as they first came into this world." Not that I minded the view I thought.

"Is Tomen here?" I asked.

"No, you have been here many days. He had to get back to town though he left your horse for you." I wondered if it had been him who had saved me from my fate. He had at least gotten me here.

"Can you stand?" She asked. I nodded and slide my feet off into the water. I noticed other pedestals like the one I had been lying on. She lead me out of the water and into a building that sat between two tall trees. As I looked up I could not tell how tall the trees even were. Even with the clearing of the grove. I felt slightly odd walking naked in the forest but the elven woman beside me didn't seem to mind in the least.

"Arwin. Please get our guest a robe." The lady said to the first person we saw. She was an elf as well though younger then the elf who had guided me I would guess. She wore a thin dress that hung from her slender body that hinted that she wore nothing underneath.

"Yes priestess." She smiled.

"Arwin will show you to a room and bring you some food. I am sure you must be starving."

"Thank you priestess." I nodded. Not sure what else to call her. Arwin brought me a robe but not before she gave me a look over. I swore her eyes stopped at my cock making me wonder how I measured up to elven males. Not that I wanted to see personally. She lead me up a winding staircase that encircled one of the trees. Buildings were built around the trees resting along the branches. Bridges made from vines and wood spanning the gaps between. How big the village was hard to tell with the vertical nature of it. We passed a few elves who politely nodded as we passed. I hadn't noticed a single male elf around.

She took me to a small house on one of the lower levels then excuse herself to go get me some food. I found clothes in my size laid on a bed for me which I was grateful for along with my boy minus my arrows and my knife. I felt a little weird wearing such thin material. The clothing was light and comfortable, I wasn't sure what it was made from but it wasn't cotton or wool. I found my bow and quiver minus my arrows that had probably all been broken.

"Aw, it fits. I am glad. I hope the material is comfortable." A voice said. I turned to see Arwin standing in the door carrying a tray.

"Yes, thank you. I do not have any money on me but I can..." I began to say.

"That will not be necessary. It is a gift." She smiled setting the tray on a small table.
"I hope you are hungry."

"Starving." I smiled and walked over sitting at the table. She had what looked like food for both of us. A wooden cup full of some drink, bread, cheese, and a healthy portion of meat covered in some kind of sauce. "Is that venison. I didn't think that Elves ate meat."

"A common misconception because of the thinner appearance. If we did not hunt we would not have such skilled archers." She smiled as she sat at the other side of the table taking a bowl for herself that was not quit as full as mine.

"Fair point I guess." I nodded. I knew very well what it meant to miss a shot. Especially in winter when food was scarce.

We talked a bit as we ate. I ate like I hadn't eaten in days which truthfully I hadn't. The food was good as well as the wine though not as strong as human wine. She offered to bring me another plate but I decided not to push the hospitality.

"Thank you for the hospitality." I smiled. "If there is any way I can do to repay your kindness all you ever have to do is ask."

"Actually I can think of something you can help me with."

"Name it." I shrugged.

"Much like animals we elves have a deep connection to the changing of the seasons. Once a year we experience certain needs. Carnal needs. That is part of the reason my mother sent me here to the temple and away from men." She said softly as she blushed. That was why I didn't notice any males. This had to be an elves version of a convent.

"You want me to have sex with you?" I said taken a little aback by her request. Most animals entered heat in the fall and gave birth in the spring but elves would have longer gestation periods if they where anything like humans. Maybe longer because of their long life span.

"I prefer to call it making love." She blushed slightly. "But yes, you are not an elf but you have the goddesses blessing. If not you would have died blissfully in the waters of healing." She said. I wasn't aware that could have been my fate but I guess it was better then a painful agonizing death I could have suffered.