Thread: Dark Desires: A Plot of Madness

She slipped into the city nearly unnoticed. The outposted guards merely nodding to her as she passed, but the elves further in walking the forest floor paused looking to her for several moments. It was not without reason. It was rare for Ellifain to take a route directly into the city that was leading straight for the council hall. She kept looking straight ahead as she drew near the tree where she knew the council hall was, the members of the council more than likely in meeting. It was that time of the year, and the elders of the village seemed to enjoy the parley with each other. Reaching the base of the massive tree, she looked over at the ropes that would normally handle the lift and decided she wasn't in the mood to wait, despite patience being her normal trait. Hand over hand, she climbed the rope and was met with the face of a perplexed elf standing at the top watching her. Needed the work out. she said, flashing him a smile as she slipped past. The elf grinned then shrugged and continued his previous act of resetting the lift. Walking down the woven branch walkway that circled the tree, partly natural grown and part elven made, she rounded the tree and came to a pair of large wooden doors set into the expansive trunk. The trunk measured at least forty feet in diameter, possibly even larger for it held a very large crowd with relative ease, and older than most of the forest. Pushing the doors open without stopping to drink in the intricate detail carved into them, a feature that always fascinated her on her visits here, she strode into the room and looked upon the faces suddenly turned to her in curiosity. We have a problem. she said. Her melodious voice betrayed none of the anger that resided just beneath the surface of her calm facade. She took a deep breath and began explaining in intimate detail what had befallen her and her actions up to this point. She told them about how she had taken Princess Danica as her captive and intended to use her to get her fellow elves back from a clearly maddened king bent on a twisted dream. Some of the elves observing her paled in horror while other simply stood in mute shock. When she finished it took several long moments before any of them spoke. One asked her where she was currently keeping the heir to the throne, to which she shook her head and replied that such knowledge would only be a hindrance to the council if Ellifain's plot backfired. They would be able to say it had been her acting alone and without their knowledge. A tale that Ellifain would follow up even if it cost her the last thing she had to give. Her life. She wouldn't endanger more of her people with her rash action, but she did get the support of the council to carry out her plan with any aid she needed. Nodding she then took her leave and exited the hall. Squinting and shielding her eyes, she was surprised to see that it was nearly mid morning. Realizing she had yet to eat, she walked to what passed for an elven Inn and grabbed some food. Frowning to her self, she ordered a second plate. It was a biscuit, scrambled eggs, and a slice of ham. Departing the Inn, she made her way out of the city and took a circuitous route back to the cave, making sure she hadn't been followed. Slipping inside, she made her way to the back and could see the woman clearly in the dim light refracted throughout the cavern. Deciding to light a fire anyway, regardless of the light, knowing that the woman had probably gone numb during the night after being forced to stay in one position for so long. Rooting around the cave, she found several scraps of wood and used the flint and steel from her travel bag to start a small fire relatively close to the woman. Setting the plate on the woman's lap, she reached up and traced the rope wedged into her mouth with a single finger. In a calm flat voice holding a note of song that her race had become known for, she spoke. I'm going to remove this. But the second you make a sound that doesn't sit well with me, I will regag you. And this time I believe I will add your trousers to the equation. She was slightly bluffing on that last part, but she certainly would regag the woman as well as knock her around a bit. Releasing her from her gag, she also lowered her hands to the belt, her nimble fingers making quick work of the belts clasp. Then she picked up the plate and offered the woman a bite of food.