Travel with the elf

The trio set out the next morning, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a sword. Lauren and Sir Lennis were on horseback. Elara walked alongside them. Despite being on foot, the elf never seemed to tire, always nimbly moving ahead of them. Lauren tried to ignore the way Elara's hips swayed as she walked, the way the knight couldn't seem to stop staring at her.

"You two move slow." Chided the elf. "Perhaps the girl's horse is too burdened by her weight.

Lauren was normally quick witted, but under the circumstances, she found herself just blushing and unable to think of any retort. This only made her more embarrassed. Elara continued making backhand comments and jibes, mostly directed at her body. Sir Lennis seemed to not notice, but Lauren was fuming. The elf's taunts and jibes about her body made her feel small and insignificant.

***

Another day and a half they rode on. Still Lauren knew of no destination. In the afternoon she felt her aching hips and backside.

"I need to take a break." She said.

Sir Lennis raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed by the constant delays she caused, but remained silent. The elf was not so kind.

"If you insist on stopping, then make the time useful and feed the horses." She commanded.

Lauren fumed as she stumbled off the saddle, but bagged the bag of feed and came in front of her horse. Her beast just began to eat when she heard a rustling.

Lauren looked up. To her shock a group of a dozen men emerged from the woods, wearing woolen cloaks the color of the surrounding folliage. The men had knives, hatchets and bows, which were knocked and drawn and pointed right at them!

"Bandits!" Elara hissed, raising her bow. Sir Lennis drew his sword. Lauren, without a weapon, froze like a deer in headlights...