Faryn’s eyes glanced around the clearing, an emotionlessly expression on her face. She would not give them the satisfaction of showing the fear that vibrated in her chest like a plague ready to release. She could feel the eyes of her captor and future husband undressing her, feeling his gaze working what was underneath her clothing. Finally he began touching her. Her body notably stiffened as he wrapped an arm around her. Her smaller frame engulfed easily.  The cool air around her legs signaled to the fabric of the dress being lifted. Her chin rose in silent protest of showing embarrassment. She was not ashamed of her body. She was an elf, proud of herself to the point of arrogance. They could watch the little show, steal glances at her exotic body. Her only concern was that dagger strapped to her thigh. The cool night air touched her ass, only to have the crowd breaking out in hoops and hollers. Had they never seen a woman’s ass before? Honestly, they acted like virgins.<br/><br/>As his hand grabbed one of her cheeks her feet faltered from the rough grasp, one foot stepping forward to balance herself. She could hear his breathing, smell the ale on his breath as he looked over her shoulder. At the mention of her dagger and the feel of its pressure leaving the sheath, her fingers curled into fists, an instinctual reaction to fend her blade kicking in. It was one of the few items she had brought, her horse, clothing and that blade being the select possessions she kept. Besides, it was one of the three knives she carried, her only weapons. Though she figured by the drunken glares no one would be able to outlive her fists, let alone a blade.  Goosebumps prickled at her arms as the cool blade ran over her ass, the skin reacting like anyone’s. It didn’t take long for him to cut away the panties, the fabric falling loose between her thighs and cradling to the ground. Her throat gulped back the urge to curse him, her teeth clenching to maintain a shut mouth. She had figured she would be raped. She was to become his wife after all, any man demanded that kind of attention. But she hadn’t expected to be humiliated as such. She was an elven princess, a warrior in her own right and he had the nerve to disrobe her in front of an entire crowd. Her self confidence didn’t falter but her pride was taking a hit.<br/><br/>Feeling the tip of the blade against the back of her neck had her mind reeling. She wanted to defend herself, wanted to kick out his legs and steal back her own knife that he used to humiliate her with. But instead, the princess stood. Carrying out her duties she was silent as the back of her dress was cut away, exposing pristine pale flesh underneath. Not a scratch littered her body, not a blemish or birth defect. She was definitely something not made by human bodies. The blade running down her bare back made her involuntarily shiver. The cool metal and the fact he could stab her at any moment kept her on edge, aware of what exactly he was doing behind her back. Then it released but she didn’t allow herself to relax in relief, she knew something worse than simple teasing drags of her knife would come. If his camp was any indication on what kind of man he was, it was gruesome and cruel.<br/><br/>Faryn didn’t have time to think before the knife was plunged into her flesh. She let out a gasp of pain, shockwaves spreading throughout her body and screaming in her nervous system. Her body stumbled forward slightly, her feet balancing and catching herself before she could knock into the pool she was shackled to. Blood rushed to her ears and face, reddening the pale skin. Her teeth bit down on her tongue to prevent the scream in her throat from bubbling forth as the blade carved into her. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. She figured he was the type to get off on such things. She had known worse pain. Her mantra of self-motivation and soothing played in her mind. The blade was removed after a curve was carved only to be replaced again, producing a groan only audible for his ears. She could feel the warm blood trickling down her back and over the curve of her ass. Her head was growing light and fuzzy, both from the loss of blood, alcohol and lack of food in her belly.<br/><br/>Her body jerked forward as he tore her long sleeve from her arm, exposing her second blade. She grunted, head looking down at the bare arm and sheath. Her back burned as he pressed the fabric to it, wiping the blood away as if she was a canvas he was painting. As he stabbed the knife in she couldn’t hold back the scream that finally emitted through her lips. Her body shuddered in pain as she lost her composure. Her body leaned forward, her good shoulder leaning against the pool as she used it to hold herself up. Her back went numb as he jiggled the blade, the stinging sensation becoming an echo in her mind.<br/><br/>Faryn wasn’t sure how many more times he stabbed her, her back felt nothing. Only the lurch forward each time the knife plunged into her skin, though she didn’t count how many. Her eyes closed, hanging her head with the post nestled between her right shoulder and neck. Her lips were parted, breath panting with saliva collecting on the middle of her bottom lip. The next thing she remembered were his hands running up her slender arms, feeling for any more hidden weapons. He had surely found her other hidden dagger within her right sleeve.<br/><br/>The old man stepped forward, her ears ringing with her nerves screaming in pain. Everything sounded muffled, like she was under water. Everyone looked a bit fuzzy as if they looked down at her from above the water she felt she laid within. She felt gentle hands rubbing a salve over the wounds, a cooling sensation soon rocking her nerves back again, soothing the angry flesh. Her mind seemed to pop back into existence as her back began to feel again. The burning sensation was there, numbed by the salve. The man finished rubbing the ointment on the brand and placed a large patch over the girl’s new body modification to keep dirt and bugs from entering it. Her feet regained their ability to hold her weight, unaware of when she had fallen to her knees. She stood, legs a tad shaky, but she stood. Her lips were wiped on her the arm of her good shoulder. Sweat covered her brow with her long blonde hair clinging to her forehead and back of her neck.  She let out a slow uneven breath, her heart racing and mind reeling at the pain. Her eyes cast out around the ground before coming to rest on Cromir, an almost daring look in her eyes, a silent challenge that he had not beaten her. But, that could have been his imagination. After all, she was just some aristocrat.