Snippet #2733097

Maelthra watched as she at first gaped at him. Perhaps he had impressed her with his skills in magic. He felt satisfied in knowing he had succeeded in showing her a small sample of his power. He was certain she’d be intimidated. He waited for her comments and queries with glee.

”I may be your prisoner, Your Grace" despite him keeping his confident grin during that cold statement, Maelthra’s eyebrow twitched visibly as she continued, "But I refuse to be used to placate my people for your benifit, I may be at your mercy but I will never belong to you.” The chair was brought and she sat with a defiant air and folded her arms, The Shadow King lost his smile. He clenched his fist in anger, he felt tempted to just summon a weapon of shadow and exterminate her soul then and there. But, there was something about her. He couldn’t tell if it was her beauty, her skill in defying his wishes. Or some desire stemming from the body he now wielded to not kill her, but to make her his completely.

“You, surprise me. I’ve not seen such ferocity, such beauty... and insolent defiance, in a woman in a long time. Even in the interim of my wait for rebirth.” Maelthra said slowly, as he snapped his fingers, signaling his personal dark elven servants to bring food to the table. “Perhaps a different approach to make you understand the gravity that you and your people are in. Because, you have the choice in saving hundreds of lives from needless slaughter in their attempt at rebellion, or don’t, and be branded by the survivors as weak. I had learned long ago that weakness is not tolerated in a leader, Lady Clara.” He stood from hi— ahem— her throne.

He walked calmly, putting a hand on the table and ran his fingers through it, as he walked towards her. He closes his eyes and took a deep breath. “Ahh, the many things I have missed in my centuries of absence, quality furniture, the sensation of human touch, a body.” He looked straight in her eyes and began to chuckle. “I jest dear princess.”

He suddenly leaned close to look at Clara up close in the face with a hard glare. “Say such insolence to me like that again Clara, and I will show you true pain, like the which you never have seen nor feel again.” He breathed through his nose after saying that and took a cup of wine from a tray one of the dark elves was carrying and sat on the throne again. He took a long sip from it. “Valinar Red, perfectly aged, perfectly chilled. So many memories can be made, so many remembered.”

“Indeed your grace.” Said one of the servants. “Shall we proceed with the main course?” Maelthra merely waved his hand in a signal to do so, taking another long sip as he turned to look at the stars, as if watching for a sign, a hint of something that remains to this moment elusive, out of sight.

”Show me, O stars, tell me my fate this time. And please, let it be in my favor.”