Solitary Sweetness

The boat emerged from the meandering fog over the lake as the oars slapped the still water in rhythm. The moonlight reflected off the water lighting the mist in an ethereal way. The vessel glided in and out of the patches of fog as it journeyed from the encampment on the shore far behind. A slight wind blew across the lake and the dark hair of one passenger took flight and danced.

The two soldiers had thieved from their camp to share some time alone. This had not been the first time that they had left the army to indulge themselves. Minard was a human warrior and Ariel was an elven archer. While both races generally tended to avoid each other, the ogres and trolls had started to invade the human and elven towns and farms. Because of this, the humans and elves had put aside their indifference and banded together to drive back the adversary.

Arial leaned forward in the canoe and used her hands to bring the male’s face up towards her. Tilting in closer, she brushed her lips against his before she more boldly placed her lips upon him.

Minard pressed his lips upon his lover’s and tasted her sweetness. He breathed in her scent and became intoxicated. His hands left the oars and he leaned to put his arms around her slight frame. Hungrily, she started to curve her body inward as he leaned down in the boat. Her body awoke and flushed in excitement as his body covered hers.

The human male struggled briefly with his tunic to pull over his head. Victoriously, he pulled it off and he tossed it to the side. The moon briefly reflected off his muscles in his biceps and chest before the vessel sneaked back into the mist. He returned his attention to the feminine creature on the boat with him. She purred and pulled his head playfully down to hers. Fumbling, he worked to loosen the strings on the front of her tunic.

Ariel pushed up Minard and held up her arms. Kneeling, he slowly pulled the leather tunic up, stealing a look at her womanhood, to her flat abdomen, to her swelling bosom, to her long neck, over her exquisite face, and to her pointed ears. Excitement caused his movements to jerk and the canoe teetered in the water dangerously. He attempted to stabilize it and almost succeeded until Ariel sat up to help.

Capsized, they came up giggling. Minard turned over the boat and secured the oars inside. Ariel swam to him and ran her fingers over his shoulders while they bobbed in the water. She wrapped her legs around his pelvis enjoying his hardness while their heads dipped underwater. Ariel released him and started to swim to the shore of the tiny island nearby. The male seized the rope attached to the canoe and kicked off in her direction.

As his lover came ashore, Minard stopped in the water and admired her silhouette. She arched backward and shook the water from her hair, thrusting her breasts upward. The coldness of the water had played its magic and caused her nipples to become hard casting their own minute outline from her petite body. His groin tingled in anticipation and he swam faster towards her.

Ariel ran her fingers along her physique, tantalizing her lover to hasten.

Minard’s footing came upon hard ground and he hurried onto land pausing briefly to bind the boat to a fallen log near the shore. He walked out of his leather pants as he drank in the beauty of his mate.

The naked warrior stopped just short of her and raised his right hand while she raised her left in greeting. Their palms touched, fingers touching. His hand was larger than hers, callused, and leathery. Her demure hand was soft and her fingers reached just past his first joint. Ariel's fingers trailed along his fingers, traced his calluses, and then returned back to resting her palm against his. Her green eyes met his brown in a gaze. His fingers started to outline hers slowly. He started to run his fingers slowly past her thumb to her wrist. Ariel sighed contently as Minard's fingers continued the journey up her forearm to her upper arm. He moved his fingers to her shoulders and softly massaged one side.

The human wondered how this beautiful woman could have such a lethal aim with her bow and arrows. He had seen her strike down many enemies in battle from far away. So far away that he had barely been able to see them. The elves were noted for their archery and military discipline. As a warrior, he had been assigned to protect the archers from attack should the foe come close enough.

While the humans and elves had put aside their differences to save their way of life, the elves still saw the humans as undisciplined and unkempt. Interracial socializing was heavily discouraged. However, during the many months of battle Minard and Ariel did the unimaginable, they had fallen in love.

Leisurely, Minard pulled her in closer as his fingers continued their journey down her spine. Ariel studied his face, memorizing every detail from the dimple on the left cheek, to the scar under his chin, to the way his eyes squinted when he smiled. He stopped at the small of her back, and then reversed back up her spine. Ariel tilted her head down, placing her forehead on his strong, bare chest.

Minard took his right hand and formed a loose fist, which he used to bring her head back up to look at him. He wasn't sure but it appeared that Ariel's eyes were watery. He took a lock of her hair and placed it behind her pointed ear while he outlined the ear with his index finger. Ariel moved her hand up to his ear. She took his shoulder-length dark hair and pushed it behind his ear while she caressed his lobe.

Pulling her in very close, he hugged her tightly while she returned the embrace. She positioned her head once more on her favorite resting spot of his chest. Simultaneously, their bodies started to dance under the moonlight as they held each other in the embrace.

Ariel kissed his chest, while Minard reached his head down to her neck and started to softly kiss the contour. A moan escaped her lips.

Minard aided the elf to the ground in one slow movement with his muscular arm supporting her back all the way down. He lay carefully upon her. He gently took her breasts in his hands. They were barely handfuls. He worked the nipples between his fingers so he could deliver kisses to each. Instinctively, Minard started to suck on one of the breasts while his other hand traced along the neglected side.

Slowly, he left her areola and kissed to the center of her chest. Her hands played in his hair as his tongue traced down her chest to her flat abdomen. Minard stopped at her umbilical region and blew onto her abdomen. He kneaded her abdomen as he delivered more kisses, enjoying the softness of her skin and the contour of her pelvis. With deliberate care, he widened her legs and gazed upon his beauty’s feminine keep. He felt her hold her breath in anticipation and he smiled up mischievously before he flicked his tongue over her clitoris. While the elf writhed, he circled her sensitive button repeatedly enjoying the resultant squeals. He separated her legs a little farther, opening her up more to the night before his fingers probed inside.

Ariel’s hips rose from the sandy beach as she cried out in pleasure. Her man feasted upon her lust and aroused more with his continued, slow movement within her cavity. From the wetness that had been produced, he knew she was ready for the imminent coitus. He leisurely kissed his way back up to her face. He looked deeply inside her hungry eyes, and he kissed her lips gently. When he united with her, Ariel gasped in ecstasy and clung to him tightly. In the night, they moved together as one.

The moon shifted in the dark purple sky, and a bird took flight from a nearby tree. The leaves rustled briefly as the small limb bounced back into place. An owl screeched into the night once before it too took flight to hunt for dinner. Water lapped onto the beach in tiny waves causing the boat to rustle against the log periodically. A languid wind blew over the couple as they partook in their passion.

Once spent, Minard fell upon the elf. His breathing was fast and erratic as he gulped a few times to catch his breath from the excitement. Shortly after, he pulled up to deliver a kiss to Ariel when he saw her eyes pouring tears. Deeply concerned that he had hurt her, he rolled to the side and immediately took her face in his hands.

“Have I hurt you, my love?” he asked, his voice deep and full of alarm.

Ariel bit her lower lip and tried to stop the tears from coming. She shook her head.

Minard pulled Ariel to him and laid her head upon his chest. She curled in tight and buried her head under her tendrils of hair. He pulled leaves and twigs from her dark mane while he waited for her to speak.

“I need to leave here, Minard,” her voice was low and melodic. “Your child grows in my womb, and I dare not stay in battle. I plan on going back west, back near the elven city, Malah, and start a farm there in the forest. I can raise our child with love and respect,” she blurted the words out fast while searching his face questioning herself if she should tell him her vision. “. . . until you come home from the war,” Ariel lied.

Minard’s breath stopped as he contemplated her words. He was going to be a father! While he knew that the unit could not afford losing two of its soldiers, he could not leave Ariel alone at this time. The elves would shun her and refuse to help due to the crime of interracial relationship. Elves and humans could fight side-by-side, but sleeping with each other was a severe offense. She would not be able to return to her city, her family, or even seek help from the elven community. As an elf with the ability of vision, Minard knew that she had foreseen this inevitability, yet still she was willing to face it to raise their child. He could not let her do it alone, nor did he want her to leave his side.

He tried to speak several times but he was unable to find the words to express how he felt.

“We leave this morning,” he announced.

She rose from his chest and looked into Minard’s eyes. “I cannot let you, Minard. You play an integral part in this war. For you to leave would mean certain failure.”

He saw his death in her eyes.

Nodding in acceptation to his fate, he pulled her back down. Her body heaved in tears as she cried for the man she would lose. He stared up to the night sky in silence, holding Ariel as tightly as he could.

It was in this position that sleep overcame them.

The moon faded as the sun started to rise over the mountains. Critters that lived on the wee island started to waken and start their daily routine of survival. The wind had picked up some and blew Ariel’s hair across her face.

Ariel opened her eyes and immediately noticed that Minard was not with her. She leapt to her feet and searched for him. She found him in the water swimming back to the camp. He had left his tunic with her and Ariel put it on. She pulled up the tunic to her nose and inhaled while closing her eyes, savoring his fragrance. She heard the boat banging against the log and knew that Minard had left her the boat to travel to the west.

She held her hand up to shield the morning sun and watched him. A lone tear escaped and journeyed down her cheek. In a vision, she had seen his death. He would lead a small force up a mountain, charging bravely towards the giant ogres and trolls. Minard's courage would bring victory to the unit and consequently the entire legion of humans and elves. He would not live to see the end of the war or his child, but because of their sacrificed love, the world of elves and humans would endure the war and their child would live.

She raised her hand up as if to touch him once more. Her fingers stretched toward him. “I love you,” she mouthed as he swam out of sight.