<div class="floatright"><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Elder Brightwind</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://i.imgur.com/QzLcu7b.png)<br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Pellenistra Shadowstep</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://i.imgur.com/niXjIfQ.jpg)</div></div></div><br/><em>“Maybe they'll find that sock.”</em>Pipa muttered, causing a girlish giggle to rise from Eren.  She quickly returned Pipa's kiss and they slid across the coach's bed like surface to the door and exited.  Pipa couldn't help but notice that Eren looked somewhat rumpled, having not had time to fix her appearance other than sliding on her clothing, with boots sans socks.  But she knew she likely looked equally disarrayed, but wonder if her skin was glowing the way Eren's was.  There was something about an orgasm that really brought out the inner beauty in the noble woman.<br/><br/>They found the soldiers somewhat at ease outside the coach, though alert.  Several of the female knights were likewise stretching or handing their horses to the servants to be fed and watered, as happened whenever they stopped for a break.  But what was different were the small group of elves that stood near the front of the caravan.  There were four elvish women wearing what would only be called 'clothing' in the loosest sense of the word.  Short skirts made of leather that hung to the knee, left the sides of their legs completely exposed, and were probably closer akin to loincloths then skirts, worn below leather strapping and banding that seemed to contain but barely cover their chests.  Still, it was not the most fascinating of the group of five elves, that distinction being reserved for the lone male in the group, an elf wearing white and green robes.  Eren and Pipa walked forwards and were introduced by Lady Ansel.<strong>"Contestants Eren d'Canti and Pipa Truebridge, this is elder Zapha Brightwind."</strong><br/><br/>The lone male elf stepped forwards and bowed his head in turn to each of the two contestants.  Elves were a difficult race to nail down in terms of age, and as far as Pipa could tell this one seemed to be no older than any others she had ever met.  They matured only slightly slower physically than most other humanoids, reaching physical maturaty only a year or two after a human born on the same day, but then they seemed to cease aging for the most part for centuries at a time.  However, upon her second look, Pipa caught something about this elf, the way he stood with a slight hunch as if carrying the weight of the world, or the way his eyes seemed to carry lifetimes worth of secrets, or the sad half smile he carried.  Something about this elf suddenly spoke of a great age, though it was hard to pin down.  So it was somewhat surprising when the elder elf, an effeminite looking man at best, spoke.  His voice was high pitched and almost childlike in tone, though he spoke slowly, thoughtfully as he said,<strong>"My greetings to you contestants.  It is my great honor to meet you and wish you luck.  I have met several such contestants over the last few centuries, and I like to warn you all of the same thing.  When I fled with my people across the Erusrin river, and the peace treaty was signed, we thought we had at most a few years to recoup before we were again plunged into the horrors of war.  My tribe lost all but a few dozen fighting the terrors of Pandora's army, and those that died might be the lucky ones, for those that did not were taken, changed.  But we have had over three centuries of peace because of brave women like you, and the entire world owes you a debt because of the sacrifice you make."</strong><br/><br/>He took a long deep breath and leaned on a staff he carried, shifting his weight for a moment before adding,<strong>"I remember when no contestant escaped the dungeon.  But now it seems that at least a few out of the fifty make it out every year.  If you should happen to be one of those few, know that if you wish it, you will always have a place as an honored guest among my people." </strong>He shifted back onto his other leg, as if standing for so long was uncomfortable for him, another sign of his age before finishing his message,<strong> "It is one of my descendants who mated with such a contestant, a guest and a welcome addition to my tribe.  She lived with us for many years before leaving her child in the care of her elvish father and answering the wanderlust that had taken deep root in her soul.  It is this child, my fourth aft-daughter, who will be joining you on your journey.  I will not ask that you keep her safe, for she is a capable girl, only that you do her no overt harm or malice."</strong>He smiled and added,<strong>"Also that you try your hardest, for I do not wish to see any woman fall."</strong><br/><br/>Eren bowed deeply to the elf and promised to do so, thanking Elder Brightwind quite sincerely.  Then the elf stepped back and made a small gesture with his hand.  From the side a pale skinned elf appeared, it seemed almost magical how she stepped from the forest, as if appearing from thin air.  More impressive was the white wolf that padded along at her heels as she approached.  But Pipa couldn't help but recognize the beauty in the elven woman.  Her heart shaped face, gleaming pinkish lavender eyes, flawless milky skin, delicate azure tattoos, pure white hair that shone in the dappled forest light, full large breasts capped with pale nipples, and almost all of it immediately apparent as the woman wore almost nothing, save a tiny garment that covered her sex that could barely be called an undergarment where Pipa came from.  A few leather and metal pieces of jewelry and a feathered and beaded strand woven through her hair was all she wore as decoration.  But she seemed absolutely without shame, completley unconcerned about being all but naked.  In her hand she held an ornate scimitar.  She walked up to Elder Brightwind and in a voice similar to his, spoke<strong>"Thank you great fore-sire.  I ask that you take my blade, gifted to me by my mother, and hold it till I return or should I fall, given to he or she whom you deem most worthy."</strong>She held the scimitar flat in her hands and bowed deeply as she held it out for him.  He took the blade with a nod, and held it loosely at his side as he continued to lean on his staff.  But the elf maid turned to the wolf at her feet and dropped to one knee.  She pressed her face into his neck as she hugged him and muttered something softly to him.  The wolf let out a single yip, licked her face once, then turned and padded off into the forest, vanishing from sight far sooner than should have been possible.  The elf maid stood and bowed her head to Eren and Pipa and said,<strong>"Fellow contestants, my name is Pellenistra Shadowstep, though you may call me Pellen if that suits you.  it will be an honor to get to know you for our journey, thank you for allowing me to accompany you.  Let us depart while there is still sunlight."</strong>Pipa also couldn't help but notice that the elf maid's eyes flicked down to the quarter orc's unshod feet, her bare feet touching the dirt unfettered, and the ghost of a smile quirked at the corner of her lips before it was gone.<br/><br/>Lady Ansel spoke then,<strong>"Do you need our porters to pack any belongings?"</strong><br/><br/>Pellen shook her white head,<strong> "All that I require, I carry, for possessions are fleeting.  Let us be off."</strong>She moved towards the coach then and a brief glimmer caught Pipa's attention.  Though she had turned to follow Pelen's movement towards the carriage she turned back to see the four elvish women and the elder already fading into the forest.  Their words had been said and they were leaving.  Lady Ansel gave the contestants time to take a break if they needed, however Pipa noticed that the camp latrine was set very close to the road, as if the soldiers did not wish to intrude upon the elvish lands.  When Pipa and Eren returned to the coach, be it directly after the meeting with the elves or after a short break to rest, stretch, eat, and drink, they would find Pelen kneeling on the bed like surface inside the coach.  A wry smile on her face as she nodded to the two women.  She waited till the coach door was closed before commenting,<strong>"a carriage that has a bed, and the strong scent of love tell me how you two have been spending your time on this trip.  Tell me, how does the addition of a third affect this for you?  Am I an intrusion or perhaps you see me as prey?"</strong><br/><br/>Eren's mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, and she turned to Pipa as if looking for the quarter orc to take the response, as she seemed a bit flustered.<br/>