"Very well," declared Sir Orion. He hsifted in his saddle, steeling himself, covering his fear with insolence. "'Tis but a little matter to strike down a phantom of the forest --"
"Wait!" shouted Tailinn. "I give myself up!"
"What?" asked Sir Orion, irritated, as the dwarf rode up alongside on his pony. "Get back, dwarf! There is no need --"
"The choice is his to make," interrupted the Lord gravely. He looked at the dwarf with a smile. "Art thou certain, son of the mountain?"
"I am."
Tailinn looked steadfastly at the elven giant. He could feel his geas pulling at him already; but he also felt a contrary force, emanating from the woodland Lord. But he was not doing this for freedom. Throughout the day he had reflected; and seeing Pelodir in the flesh had confirmed that this would be a hopeless fight.
But even if but some grace of the gods Orion won, what then? Tailinn himself was screwed either way. At least this way he could be certain that Gerald would be safe. While the two weren't exaclty bosom friends, deep down he did care for the boy.
"Nonsense!" bellow Orion. "He is my servant, bound to me as payment for his sins!"
"A debt more than repaid, I am sure." The giant shook his head. "And even servants should have charge of their own destiny. So what say thee, Tailinn, son of Fahlinn? Wilt thou say it thrice?"
"I will. I will not see anything happen to the boy. Take me as your due, and let the others pass."
"Stop this folly, Tailinn! I command you --"
But Pelodir interrupted the knight's screaming. His deep voice echoing from the earth itself, the weight and solemnity silencing even Orion's wrath.
"Three times is question asked, three times is answer given; so are our choices bound, so have our fates been written." He lifted his right hand from the axe haft. "Quit thy pony, Tailinn son of Fahlinn, and step forth!"
Sir orion could only grind his teeth as make strangled sonds in his throat as Tailinn obeyed. Hitting the ground with a graceless thump, the dwarf began to take his axe from the saddle.
"Thou'lt not need weapons in my service."
"You can take her for yourself, if you wish," replied the dwarf, holding the weapon reversed as he began to walk forward. "But I'll not leave her with the knight; she's prime dwarven craftsmanship."
"As thou wilt. Amariel, tale the dwarf's weapons from him."
"Yes, my Lord."
The foxy elfmaid ran lightly across the bridge, meeting Tailinn as he reached the end of it. She took the axe and the dirk from his belt, smiling and whispering to him as she did.
"I am so glad you made the right choice, dwarf."
Tailinn merely grunted. She laughed softly and led him back to Pelodir. The dwarf bowed his head, almost instinctively, awed despite himself as he felt the power radiating off the green-skinned elflord.
The Forest Lord laid his hand on Tailinn's head. And the dwarf shivered as he felt the geas lift, the pull to return to Orion gone. He felt lighter, scarce believing he was free of the hated knight forever.
"Welcome, Tailinn son of Fahlinn, to thy new home and a better service. Thine old ties are broken; thou belongest now to the Wood, and to me as the Lord of Wood." He lifted his hand, and Tailinn looked up to see him smiling gently. Tingles running from him from his scalp, the dwarf found himself seeing the elf in a new light. He could not name the feeling. There was gratitude mixing with the awe in his heart; but there was something more.
"Errhhm. Thank you... sir."
"And now," Pelodir lifted his head and addressed the two humans, "as promised, ye may go whither ye will in my Wood. None of my folk shall hinder you further."
Orion just grunted, furious at losing his servant. But Gerry belatedly found his voice. "F-farewell, Tailinn!" he called, raising his hand.
The dwarf blinked, feeling unwonted tears in his eyes. He hadn't cried since he was first cast into exile; the elflord's touch seemed to have freed his heart from more than just that witch's geas.
"...Farewell, lad."
"Your ways may yet cross again," said the Lord. "But for now they part. May the Goddess smile on your errand, travellers -- and mind your manner with the witch, Sir Knight. Now come, dwarf."
He laid his hand on Tailinn's hair again as they turned and walked back across the bridge. More pleasant tingles spread through the dwarf, and he found himself fighting to come from pressing against the mighty Lord. He glanced at the graceful, nude Amariel walking beside them, blushing a bit beneath his beard. No longer seeing her as a threat, he could admire the pale swell of her big, smooth breasts; the roll of her naked hips and the swish of her vulpine tail.
When they reached the far end of the bridge where the other elfmaid stood waiting, all four vanished. The forest was silent again, until Orion broke it with a curse.
"Gorios damn that dwarf to death darkness! together with all these foul wicked fae!" He thumped his heels in his stallion, then glanced first at the now riderless pony, then at his squire. "Gerald, take charge of the dwarf's pony and the baggage."
The younger man let out a heavy sigh, realising he would now be doing all the work on top of losing the closest thing he had to a friend. "Yes sir..."
They rode on in quiet after that. Beyond the bridge the fairy lights resumed for a way, before they left the deep parts of the wood. At least the trail continued to be wide and clear, almost road-like past the bridge. At least Sir Orion's bad humour lifted, and towards evening he remarked that if the way stayed clear they should reach the witch's hut sometime on the morrow. Gerry responded listlessly.
Making camp with a heavy heart, he cooked the knight's dinner while wondering what happened to Tailinn. Was he all right? Would they, as the elflord implied, meet again? Thinking about what the dwarf had said about losing their manhood, would he even recognise the dwarf?
These thoughts remained on his mind throughout the first watch. Then the knight, not trusting the Wood regardless of what the elf said, relieved him. But even Gerry's sleep was troubled by dreams of the voluptuous women and the tall, antlered male; and the change that he had seen in the dwarf once the Lord touched him.