Those blue eyes stared down at the ground, the lack of vegetation on the dirt showing just how often this yard was used, how many feet trampled it constantly to prevent any grass from breaking through the cracks of earth. His words of fire cut through her blank mind, her eyes hardened, staring at the ground with an urge to defend her people. Lack of courage. It was courage that brought them this far, courage to send their princess to her doom, courage that allowed them to survive and flourish for centuries before humans could tell the difference between their face and ass. The one without courage as him, prying on the elves for nothing but gold and fine luxuries, taking what was not his and demanding payment for things someone else already had. Having her meet him in his territory where she was clearly at a disadvantage… Courage, it was a funny thing how the one who lacked it couldn’t see it.<br/><br/>She heard the creak of the throne beneath his body as he rose. Keen ears listened as he walked across the stage, taking note of how he held himself, how the wood protested under his weight. She made a mental note to remember his steps. Each footstep closer felt like a nail in her coffin before they were muffled by the earth. The finger tips that touched the earth sent flares of signals through the ground, finding his foot and following it with her mind. She listened as the earth told her what she wanted to know, his weight, the arrogant stance she perceived he held. The earth whispered to her, like an old friend begging for help. They had murdered this place, taken what life had started to grow back and destroyed it, tortured it and corrupted it with the bodies of the dead or dying.<br/><br/>The shadow of his bulk signaled his arrival for her, pulling her mind away from the land around her. She didn’t rise her head, no matter how her mind called for her to do so. As he crouched she forced the anger from her eyes, relaxing her forehead and letting go of the earth that called for help. Her fingers withdrew slightly, hovering over the ground and silencing the pleas. She heard the movement of his clothes before he knelt and grabbed her, preparing for their first close proximity to one another. Her jaw was caught between his fingers and thumb like a small bug being squished. She relaxed her muscles, allowing her head to be lifted. The princess met his eyes, the darkness swirling around him speaking volumes of his life and soul. Her own gaze felt like it pierced through him, seeing what he was as if he stripped naked and bared his very soul to her. Nothing was said during the small exchange, allowing him to look her over like he had won a prize. It sickened her, knowing she was at the mercy of her enemy, to live in the camps of the foul humans and their barbaric onslaught of everything they touched.<br/><br/>When he released her she lowered her gaze again, stopping her hands from rubbing where he had held her. The warmth of his fingers lingered on her skin, fueled by her hatred at being forcefully touched. Her body stayed bowed as he spoke to her party, dismissing them with insulting words of expectation for more. The elves had given their princess, a bargain that was supposed to ensure more than three months, more than having their entire kingdom at the mercy and whims of this barbarian. The three male elves exchanged looks, glancing at the bowing back of their princess. A sight they would never forget. They nodded, placing a hand to their heart and bowing their head before they mounted their horses. The one holding Faryn’s horse urged the mare forward, the group departing. As instructed the princess’s horse was left by the gate, though they doubted she would ever ride it again. They prayed to their gods for a quick death to the animal and a gentle life for their princess before they started the long ride home.<br/><br/>Faryn closed her eyes, her head still lowered and not allowing anyone to see her moment of weakness. It would be the last time she would see her people, the last time she was able to speak in her tongue and he hadn’t even let her say goodbye. She silently prayed the king had a plan beyond accommodation. The yell Cromir bellowed startled her from her prayer, her eyes blinking several times as roars of excitement filled the camp. At his command she licked her lips before standing, her hands loose by her side, shoulders stiff but maintaining a relaxed look. Piercing eyes watched his back turn, taking in the girth of his back as well as his height. She had only seen him sitting or crouching after all. He towered of her smaller form, though she had always enjoyed a challenge. Her spot. Her feet worked before her mind could tell them to, following direction to follow him. She would love for some idiot to try and get her, to give her an excuse to take out her frustrations and anger on the human race. The warrior in her wanted to prove she wasn’t some weak aristocrat, that she was equally skilled and capable as any of these men or women. Probably more so. While they suckled on the teat of their mother, she was honing her skill with a blade.<br/><br/>Faryn followed him up the stage again, her feet soundless on the boards where he meant it weep under his weight. She stood, as instructed, by the left side of his throne. The keg was ignored, chalking it up to greed that he needed his own drinking keg instead of sharing and participating in the exchange of drink with his men. Her hands folding in front of her pelvis, the long flowing sleeves coming together to form sweeping robes in front of her body. Her eyes searched through the ground as they got things together for their festivities, hoping to see a glimpse of her men, but they were gone.