Flash Fiction Friday (4)

Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.

I have to thank Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell for introducing me to this fun meme. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with every week, but I'll give it a try from time to time.

The Image this week:

Zartha stood beside her newly gifted mount looking over the cliffs.  The mountainous steed stomped and the horn on his head sparkled in the minimal moon light as he thrashed his head.  With the small sliver of moon at its furthest point away from the world, the shadows stretched long and hard this night.  Zartha closed her eyes, turning her head sideways to hear, smell, and sense within what was around them.  She knew they where trapped at the edge of the cliffs but she wouldn't go without a fight.  Slowly letting her inner sight take over, they delicately slid back from the cliff.  Quietly Zartha pulled an arrow from her quiver over her shoulder and niched an arrow in her elegantly carved longbow, feeling them creeping closer to her.

Zartha felt a change in the energy next to her.  Pulling her senses back to her from the dreary and dying forest to feel what was happening.  Where they upon her already?  What was wrong with her loyal steed next to her?  Then she gasped and opened her eyes as she couldn't believe the feeling she felt.

There in front of her, he stood.  How could she have not known.  She was surprised when the elves gave her the unicorn freely.  Sure she had helped them fight in the deadly battle wondering if that was a price to pay for such a sacred creature, but nothing was ever free.  Zartha stood frozen, unbelieving of the sight before her.  He moved to her gracefully in just two steps.  He had caught her hand as if fell from the bow, turning it with her bruised and battered palm to his face.  His feather soft lips grazed across the sensitive inside of her wrist.  His other arm was around her waist pulling her in.  Her hips fell first as she melted into his embrace.

As she leaned against him they broke through the tree line behind her.  Jumping from her dreamy state Zartha couldn't move fast enough.  She had dropped her bow and arrow in her trance.  She tried to crotch low, to grab her knife and ready to lung at her attackers.  But, he pulled her close and turned to the attackers. 

They stumbled to a stop, "Lord Karneth, we are sorry. Sir"  And they where down on their knees as you would before your king.  "We did not know you."

He turned to them calmly and his deep voice vibrated through the air with knowing, "Yes.  Go start camp."

As the filthy men morphed back to their wolf forms to find a suitable camp for their ruler Karneth turned to Zartha drawing her in to him and leaning to kiss her with those soft ruby red lips, but she regained some realism in her mind and pushed back from him.

Karneth looking hurt and questioning.  He asked, "Did you not come to find me, my love."

Zartha answered with disbelieve and anger, "Yes, but you're with them!" pointing back toward the tree line the wolves vanished into.  "They tried to kill me..."

Before she could finish he pulled her close kissing her to quiet her before an outrage.  Then when he pulled away he whispered, "Shhh.  Follow me.  We can escape now."

Karneth turned, bent to pick up Zartha's bow and arrow, and off they went the opposite direction as the wolves into the dark shadows of the forest.