Ullari walked down the long hall, tired but quite happy. passing first his personal kitchen then the avery, then finally taking a short cut to the bedroom. curling up he quickly fell asleep.

The Next Morning:

Ullari woke, wandering into what functioned as both an armoury an a closet. "What to wear what to wear..." he wondered...as he began reminiscing on the last couple days "Woah" he thought, pulling out a black kimmono hemmed and trimmed with a white on gold finish. Ullari walked into the his avery, most of the birds where still asleep. He began feeding them.

Rayne slipped into Ullari's entry way, "Ullari?" she called.

Ullari thought he heard somthing but decided to continue on feeding the increasingly noisy birds....whom now that they where awake an smelt food...as well as himself being in there...caused them to make a racket. A guard materialised out of the shadows behind Rayne "Can i help you m'lady?" he asked with a bow.

"Is Ullari in the aviary?" Rayne asked the guard, hearing the commotion down the hall, "May I see him?"

"Yes of course" the guard replyed...they never had been nice to any of the captains...save gurthar...only then because they didn't want him to use his ability "Follow me" he said leading her down the hall to the door "Somone to see you my lord" the guard called out. Ullari turned around, hands covered in bird feed "Oi...well i guess show em in" Ullari said slightly embarassed.

Rayne entered and smiled, seeing him there, covered in birdseed and feathers, "Good morning." She said, bowing her head a little.

Ullari shook himself free of the feathers an feed, walking over to her "There is no need to bow" he said kissing her on the forehead "Good morning my love"

Rayne smiled up at him for a moment, then threw her arms about him, wincing a little from the pain that still haunted her from the previous day, "How did you sleep?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I slept well" he said even toned sensing her pain "Are you alright?" he asked stroking her hair and back gently.

"I'm alright," She smiled up at him, her arms still around him, "the pain is not nearly so bad as it was." Then Rayne blushed a little, "You said something about a dress for me yesterday?"

"Hmm yes i believe i did....oh boy this could be fun looking for it...it's been awile since i've placed it" he said leading her out of the aviary into his personal rooms.

Rayne smiled and followed him through his house, wondering about this dress which had been intended for his lost fiance.

Ullari bypassed the spa room which smelt of all sorts of things, further down passing the bedroom an finally coming to the closet. Throwing open the door, he began walking down the neatly assorted things he had all hung or folded atop a box "Hmm..this could be fun....especially if i packed it away...which i don't recall doing" he mused.

Rayne laughed a little, looking around the closet, "Is that it there?" she asked, pointing to the back of the small room at what looked like a white skirt showing from behind the rest of the closet's contents.

"Hmm...this...yes i believe..yes it is" Ullari said pulling out a flowing long white dress adorned with black an gold interwoven lace at the frock an along the waist line "Now where...oh..that's right...she took the veil" Ullari's voice trailed off slightly. He pressed the dress against her body "Hmm, well i must say that you look beautiful in it" he said with a smile "And i was right...it looks better on you to"

Rayne smiled, blushing ever so slightly, "That's alright, this will be wonderful, even without a veil." she said, "When should we go?" she asked

"I think i'll treat you to alittle spa of sorts before hand, then you can get ready an i will meet you there...sound good?" he asked her softly in her ear.

Rayne nodded, smiling, "When shall I meet you?"

"When you are ready" he said smiling back at her.

"Alright." she smiled, "What are you going to do?"

"You seriously don't think that this is all i am going to do?" he asked her with a raised eyebrow. A silent click an a small servant girl alighted gracefully from where she had been perched "Ahh pert, well i'm assuming you know what to do....knowing you" he said whith a smug smile "just...don't over do it....in other words...no nose burners ok?" Pert cocked her head to one side an stamped her foot indignantly "oooh fine....right this way m'lady" she said muttering somthing under her breath about this being the only time she ever got to do this.

Rayne placed a short kiss on Ullari's cheek before following Pert.

Ullari smiled whaching her go, the darting back into his bedroom only to have a page barge in...the door slamming into his heel. Ullari slowly turned to the boy "s-s-s-sso s-s-sorry my lord....i have a message though for you" he said bowing. "Very well boy make it brief" he said alittle impatiently...his foot throbbing "You may want to wear your armour less your day be your last day...i don't know who it is signed by....i was just told to deliver it" he said with a bow before dissapearing. Ullari groaned of all days can i get at least this one free from my adversaries? he thought "Oh well...armour it is then" he said picking out a rather decorative suit. It was black....with a distinctive blue sheen to it, he also decided on a silver mail shirt to go under his Kimono "Ahh..well the gigai should hide most of this...though the armour will still be visible" he said putting deep blue gigai, finally sheathing a long sword at his side. Ullari walked of to Telmar to await Rayne an the rest.

Rayne followed Pert and allowed her to work. Some time later, she changed into the dress that Ullari had made, and left for Telmar


Ullari had taken a short cut, in order to return ahead of Rayne having kept her momentarily occupied with some people. He threw up, heaving from the pain. Gathering himself together he went an sat in the lounge.....having inahled a large dose of somthing to kill the pain.

Rayne was finally able to pull herself away from other people and found Ullari in the lounge, "How are you feeling Ullari?" she asked, sitting beside him.

Ullari's eyes where slightly glazed from the drug that he had taken "I'm fine...Rayne, and how are you?" he said alittle haltedly.

"Arou you sure you are alright?" Rayne asked him worried, "Can I get you anything, can I do anything for you?" She knew that he hated being fretted over, but she had always felt unnerved, seeing her lord in pain.

"To be honest Rayne....i'm in alot of pain..i feel bad for pert...threw up in her bucket she was gonna use for bird seed" Ullari said with a pained laugh "That is why i'm sitting...an no no, you don't need to get me anything....your no longer my servant" he finished sweetly.

"Old habits die hard." Rayne replied with a small smile, "Now, what can I do?" she asked, resting her hand lightly on his arm.

"Then sit an get used to snapping an whistling" Ullari said pulling her down, kissing her lightly despite the pain he was in. He set her gently next to him before a servant came in with the lunch tray...bread cheese, meat, and...a treat...fresh fruit...not dried...for once.

Rayne looked at him, a little surprised, where did someone find fresh fruit around here? "I could get used to that." she smiled, pushing some of her black hair out of her face.

Ullari smiled at her as he picked away at the bread meat and cheese. He didn't eat much....the pain saw to that, he whached her with a smile as she began getting used to her new life.

Rayne was not hungry, so she didn't touch the food. She just pulled her feet up onto the couch beside her, and sat gazing at Ullari. She was happy, but she could also see that he was in a lot of pain, that dampened her mood a little.

"Don't worry about me...the pain is there...because having one's insides pulped doesn't exactly feel good...even after they are healed....phantom pains set in an the whole thing is rather unpleasant" he said softly to her "What's on your mind?" he asked absentmindedly.

Rayne smiled a little, brushing her long white fingers along his arm, "I felt so useless. I knew you were in battle, and I was forced to remain on the sidelines. I have always followed you into battle, I have always fought near your side, I felt like I was being forced from my place, from where I belong." Rayne murmured quietly, still gazing at him.

"Even if you had you abilities Rayne you would have been crushed, bloodied....and most likely killed.....and i prefer you alive looking just how you are thank you very much" he said smiling softly at her.

"I have gone against armies before for your cause, for you Ullari, I have always survived. I wish to always fight by your side, for your cause." Rayne looked at him, still smiling a little.

"You would have been no match for a deamon prince Rayne.....i don't know what i would do if somthing happened to you" he said leaning his head back "what do you want to do love?"

"Perhaps not the prince, but his underlings, and the humans with them." Rayne looked at him a moment, "I have no real preference at the moment. Do you?" she asked him.

"The deamon warrior...no...the only way to kill them is hand to hand...in yor case anyways...your not powerful enough to kill them with magic...an you don't want to go up against them one on one...right now i have no real preferance" he said with a slight yawn.

Rayne gazed at Ullari for a moment, then leaned her head on his shoulder, "I love you." she whispered, enjoying the feeling of those words. She smiled a little as she closed her eyes.

Ullari whached her lean her head on his shoulder to think that two days ago i would have smacked her an worse for this...i could get used to this change though he thought pleasantly.

"What are you thinking about?" Rayne asked him, her eyes still closed.

"Today" he said simply with a yawn. Ullari's mind strayed to the war room planning planning an more planning....just when i want a break the spring campaigns role around he thought to himself with an inward groan.

"What about today?" she asked in a whisper, her own thoughts turning to the day's events.

"I love you, an....to be honest i've been waiting for this for awile" he said fiddling with a strand of his hair.

"What do you mean?" Rayne asked him, lifting her chin a little so that she could look up at him with her head still on his shoulder.

"Waiting to get married.....an i suppose you could say to love an have a heart again" he said kissing her lightly on the cheek.

Rayne smiled a little, "Did you ever think that you could marry one so much younger than yourself?" she asked.

"No....i did not, then again my brother isn't much better" he said with a laughed "I don't care that you are so much younger....your all that i want, what's age got to do with it?"

Rayne's smile faded and her eyes were far away, "I am still a child Ullari." she whispered, remembering the other day's conversation with Gurthar, "Why do you want me?"

"Because yes you are a child, but underneath that feiry temperment is somthing of innocence...that which i didn't rip from you" his voice filled with regret "Why do i want you? i don't, i love you. why? because despite myself i do" he said wrapping an arm around her.

"Innocence..." Rayne all but spat the word, "A soldier of your army cannot afford innocence. Your captains cannot afford childish ways. And yet you keep me by your side...Why me? Why did you allow me into your service? Why did you keep me in a place of favor at your side? Why do you love me?"

"Because you remind me so much of one who i lost...you are better though...i mean that. I keep you at my side because of your unwavering loyalty, i can trust you despite your antics....an it's that trust that grew to love" he said nosing her forehead.

"How?" Rayne lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him, "The one you lost was no child, I have been told that she possessed the wisdom and grace of the High Elves. How can I be better than one who has matured so much? How can I be better, when I have matured so very little in over two-thousand years? How can you love me?"

"Because i do....i'm not sure i can explain it. Neanil....before she died was wise, but so very unloyal...Lomien never stopped nagging me about it...he was right...i'll admit. I love you Rayne because you are you, and you are unswervingly loyal"

"But I am naught but a child." Rayne whispered, "In maturity, if not in years."

"And?" he asked her lightly, he had never even thought of their age differance...and he was glad no one fully knew his full age.

"You are an ancient," Rayne said "one of the few who can remember Telpurion as it was in all its glory. How can you love a child? One who hardly remembers her homeland, outside of the comfortable manor she was raised in. How can you love one who cannot control a temper such as mine?"

"Yes i am an ancient, though there are many who remember the fall of Telpurion....Gurthar included...he is far older than what he will admit to. We all have things that we are not to proud of....i started a war and have killed hundreds....not somthing to be proud of and so what if you are a child" he said, his mind straying to before the fall "an as for age....don't worry Lomien baby sat Ninquelote as a toddler all the way till he married her" Ullari laughed alittle.

Rayne smiled a little at the thought, "With a family like the one she belonged to, I am surprised that she had him, and not a nanny." She looked up at Ullari, "I am not talking about age, when you have lived as long as we, age does not matter so much anymore. You speak as if my childishness were something you admire. How? I do not want to be a child any longer Ullari, I cannot afford to be."

"I'm not saying i admire it, i'm saying so what if you are" he corrected "She had him as a nanny because of what he did for the family...he was a grounds keeper...an a might good one at that...Nin took a likeing to him because he would always let her play in the pond or do whatever....somthing her parents didn't like, but since she got along so well with him they gave it a try"

Rayne looked at Ullari for a few long moments, "Why did you ask me to marry you Ullari?" she asked quietly, "What made you decide to do that?"

"Because i was tired of putting it off....tired of making up excuses...and i wanted you...i wanted you to be safe an i wanted to protect you" He replied softly "What made you say yes?"

"I have been by your side most of my life. I have grown up under your wing, and learned everything that I know from you. I owe everything that I am to you Ullari, and I love you." Rayne said quietly, a lock of her hair falling into her face as she looked down a little, "But why? Why me?" she asked looking back up at him.

"But why though?" he asked her alittle ernestly. Ullari was for the first time at ease and very much relaxed. A gentle evening breeze flew in, reminding him that it was still winter in Arda.

"Because you gave me a life, taught me how to live, and how to defend myself. You made me who I am, and I has always admired who you are. Admiration and loyalty became love." Rayne said.

Ullari smiled alittle, yawned an streched out. He arose lighty "Well, if you do not mind i shall be calling it a night" he said munching alittle more on the tray...making a face to indicate that somthing didn't taste quite right. Ullari ventured into the avery where he began his routine of feeding the birds, an putting each one into its' seperate cage for the night. He did this to keep the birds out of the cold. He ran warm water over pipes to heat the cages at night.

Rayne trailed after him, watching from the doorway as Ullari returned the birds to their cages. There was something about the way that he cared for them, something that he never showed when he was around people...Until yesterday. She walked slowly over to him, standing behind him and wrapping her arms around his middle, she buried her face in his cloths.

Ullari had a prize falcon...a beautiful small perigrin that did not take kindly to its' master being (what it precieved) assaulted. The bird fussed an hissed as Ullari set her in her cage. Ullari looked down at the set of arms wrapped around him "Can i help you?" he said teasingly.

Rayne flushed a little, mistaking his meaning, she dropped her arms and took a step back, "I..." she stopped, not sure what to say, dropping her gaze to the floor.

Ullari's heart sank, he took hold of an owl that had got itself stuck in a hole it was trying to burrow in. Returning the large bird with much fuss and an accidental gouge in his hand, he walked out the opposite end did i make the right choice? This is already proving rather tedious he thought sadly to himself. Ullari walked across to a small kitchen like room, which was his own medical ward. Reaching up he retrieved a balm, deciding to wash it out instead he began cleaning it.

Rayne trailed after him, not sure what to say or do. She approached him slowly, "Can I help?" she asked in a whisper, watching as he cleaned his hand.

Ullari, initially surprised that she said somthing smiled at her "No, i'll just clean it is all" he said as he whached the candle lighters scuttle about lighting the candles in the rapidly dimming hall ways.

Rayne nodded and stood beside him, watching him, hoping that the silence would pass. She slowly took her hair down as she watched him, letting it fall around her shoulders in stark contrast with her white skin.

Ullari having finished washing the gouge walked out, continueing down the long hall an into the bedroom where he dissapeared it would seem almost that she doesn't care he thought to himself.

Rayne's heart sank when he walked from the room without so much as a glance her way. She followed him, standing in the doorway watching him, she was unsure of what to do, it seemed almost like he did not want her there. She watched him, wondering what to do, her face an open book.

Ullari reappeared dressed in simple black silk shirt an pants. "What can i do for you?" he asked sweetly. Ullari had by now had the air completely let out of the tires, he was hoping for alittle more....almost expecting it. An inward change came over, somthing not noticable on the outside.

Rayne approached him a little nervously and wrapped her arms around him again, hoping that he would not push her away, "I...I love you." she whispered, "....I almost thought that I wouldn't see you again."

Ullari wrapped his arms around her, squeezing lightly "Love you to" he said stroking her back "What do you mean?" he asked tilting her head up.

"Today...when the deamons attacked, I feared that I would never see you alive again." she whispered, tears glistening in eyes that were almost black now, "I feared that I would not hear your voice again."

Ullari stood stroking her back an head "I am alive now...an why would that bother you? you'd be free at last" he said softly to her.....he still hated himself so bitterly for what he forced her to endure.

"I would be useless," Rayne looked at him sadly, "a warrior with no cause, a soldier with no leader. ...And I would be without you. Why do you continue to blame yourself for what you did?" she asked gently, guessing at what was on his mind, "I do not hold it against you, do not dwell on it." she reached up and brushed the back of her long white fingers along his cheek.

"No you would not be useless...you where not born a warrior therefore you would find a new life" he said sorrowfully "Why do i hold it against myself? because i betrayed you in the worst way an forced you to endure the worst that one could endure" his voice was bitter, Ullari had never intended for things to get so out of hand...he had in mind only entaining dancing...a far cry from what happened to her.

Rayne looked at him sorrowfully, "I do not blame you Ullari, please do not blame yourself." she whispered, placing her hand on his cheek.

"Do not blame myself? You almost died the first time an i sent you back in believing that they would be gentle!" he stroked her face lightly, brushing her hair to one side "How can i not, when i ordered you to what nearly proved to be your death?" Ullari was miserable because of it...he was drunk on the prospects an promises they had offered, and this blinded him to what he cared most about...her.

"Don't." Rayne whispered, burying her face in his shoulder. She knew he was right, it had nearly killed her, but she did not want him to dwell on it, "I have moved on Ullari, please do the same."

"You're saying you want to be put through that again?" Ullari asked slightly surprised "I just....i just can't believe that i betrayed you like that" he whispered softly. "What do you want to do now?" he asked with a slight yawn.

"I never said that." Rayne whispered, shaking her head, "I just want you to move on. Please Ullari." she looked up at him and kissed his cheek softly.

"As you wish" he said softly, turning from her...this time because he was tired. He curled up on his bed, streching out with a yawn as he propped himself up against the headboard.

Rayne stood there a moment, not sure why Ullari had turned away from her. She went slowly and sat beside him, facing toward him, her feet on the floor, "What are you thinking?" she asked in a whisper.

Ullari pulled her close kissing her full on the mouth, cradling her gently in his arms "Not sure really" he said softly to her as he set her to one side.

Rayne returned his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kept her arms around him as he set her down, and rested her head on his shoulder.

Ullari nosed the side of her face "What's going through your mind?" he asked her picking her up again, deciding that he liked it better with her in his arms.

Rayne smiled a little, enjoying the feeling of having his arms around her, "I wish we could remain like this." she whispered softly, resting her head on his chest, "I wish that we did not have to fight a war, that we could be free to stay like this."

"The war will be over soon, and since we are cursed with immortality....it may turn out not to be a curse after all" he said noseing her head, exhaling down her back.

Rayne smiled, "We can always hope." she said softly, a shiver going up her spine from feeling his breath on the back of her neck. She reached up, caressing his cheek with her long white hand, "But how soon, I wonder"

"If all goes well, possibly in the next year or so....Gurthar an his minions are the only ones that know of this...i'm planning a huge offensive that will put us at the walls of Eldamar within six months" he said kissing, an playing with the back of her neck.

Rayne trembled a little, feeling him play with her neck, "Why...why was I not told?" she asked, "That...that will be great." she was trying hard not to lose her train of thought, she could hardly think of anything but the feel of his mouth on her neck, she felt almost giddy.

"Because Gurthar is head of...battle field espionage an research. So you where not told because he only recently finished mapping out our line of approach" he said softly, moving from her neck to her shoulders, then back to her neck again "You sound alittle scatter brained" he teased.

Rayne laughed a little, "I am...I can hardly think strait..." she closed her eyes, her breathing a little irregular as her stomach fluttered wildly.

Ullari stopped, leaning back an resting his head against the head board "Is it to much?" he asked playing with her hair.

Rayne smiled a little at him, "I am your wife now," she said flushing a little, "nothing would be too much."

Ullari was quite happy that his face was in the shadows....because it was by now bright red "Well then what do you want me to do?" he asked her softly.

Rayne laid her head down on Ullari's chest, closing her eyes, "Whatever you wish my love." she whispered. She truly did not care a whole lot, just so long as she was close to him.

He gently slid the top of her dress down, exposeing her back. Ullari caught his breath at the scars...gently running his hand over them "You deserve better" he whispered to her, tracing one of the deeper indentations along her back.

Rayne forced herself to breath normally as Ullari traced the scars on her back. She was glad that it was dark, for her face was almost as red as her eyes.

He continued to trace her scars, playing gently with the rest of her as he did so "What's going through your mind" he asked her, nipping her neck "Anything you want me to do?"

Rayne trembled, she could not think, she could hardly breath normally. She twisted around a little so she could wrap her arms tightly about his neck, "I love you." she whispered in his ear, then kissed his cheek, and buried her face in his neck.

He smiled "I love you to Rayne" he spoke softly, playing with her ear. He wished that he could remain like this, but he knew tomorrow would bring problems of its' own....most pressing would be the upcoming campaigne. He sighed softly, wrapping his arms around her, stroking her "What's on your mind?"

Rayne wrapped her slender arms a little tighter around Ullari's neck, "I can think of nothing but you." she whispered into his neck, "Feeling your touch drives all other thoughts from my mind." her face flushed, he could probably feel the heat of her cheeks on his neck.

He felt her against him, an he was far from sure about what to think about it. He smiled, she could probably feel his heart pounding against her "How so?" he said running his hand down her "How does this drive all other thoughts away?" A cold wind swept through the room i don't remember leaving any doors or windows open he thought with an inward growl as a knock came on the door. "What" Ullari said, not at all pleased to be disturbed, making this very clear in the tone of his voice.

"My lord..oh..uh...hmm, an entourage of your new allies has arrived" the messanger said sheepishly realizing over late just what he was intruding upon...an hoping Ullari was still in a good enough mood to not feed him to the birds.

Ullari was by no means in a good mood "Tell me..what hour is this? it is nearly midnight! See to it that our guests then are kept busy an that they can expect me no earlyer than tomorrow afternoon" he replyed curtly, still not at all happy to have been disturbed, making it clear that he was rather enjoying time with his new wife an had no intention of entertaining guests no matter how important they where.

"Ullari," Rayne whispered so the messenger would not hear her, "perhaps you should not ignore your guests. I do not want you to lose any more allies on my behalf." she really did not want to go, but Ullari's cause had always been her first priority, and that was not going to change.

"It is only a matter of housing, that is all mistress" the messanger said, mistaking her for somone else.

Ullari boiled under the words "Yes i think i will stay here, see to it that our guests are housed appropriately" he said biting back whatever it was that he wanted to say....utterly incensed for his mistaking her for a tramp.

Rayne's face flushed and her eyes blazed, if she had the use of her powers the messenger would probably have been consumed in a blaze of fire, "You..." she stopped herself, forcing herself not to say anything.

"Pert" Ullari called out sweetly. A very tired, slightly annoyed looking Pert stumbled in behind the messanger "Do you have any sense of time?" she growled. Ullari smiled "Ahh but you get to have fun, take this young man here, tie him up at the far end on the outskirts of the forest....shoot him from afar with an arrow an leave him for the werewolves" Ullari said flatly whaching the messanger's eyes grow wide with fear an a sly smile cross pert's face "As you wish, an i'll see to it that our guests are well taken care of" she said leading him out kicking an screaming. Ullari looked down at Rayne "Now...where were we?"

Rayne glared after the impertinent messenger, then looked back up at Ullari, wrapping her arms around his neck again, blushing a little, "What do you want to do?" she whispered.

"Anything you want...but you have to start" he teased, looking into her eyes.

Rayne hesitated a moment, gazing at him, then leaned forward and kissed his lips. When she pulled away, her usually pail cheeks were pink, and a slight smile hovered on her lips.

Ullari looked at her as she pulled back "What?" he said softly, caressing her back, tracing the scars that he could feel through her dress. The room was suddenly very cold PERT!!! you forgot to close the door! Ullari thought to himself, realizing suddenly that the breeze was coming from the avery. He decided to think nothing more of it, as he stroked Rayne's hair.

Rayne smiled a little, gazing into his eyes, "I love you." she whispered, kissing him again lightly, "What is going through your mind?" she asked, running her long fingers through his black hair.

"Wondering why there is a chill wind coming in through the avery" he said with slight suspiscion "Other than that you...i'm happy i have you Rayne" he said pulling her up, and playing gently with her neck.

"Why do you think that is?" Rayne asked closing her eyes and continuing to play with his hair, she had noticed the breeze also.

"I don't know, but i'm curious enough now to want to find out" he said, setting her aside lightly an wrapping her up "I'll be right back" he said kissing her gently.

Rayne returned Ullari's kiss, "Should I follow?" she asked, starting to get up and follow him.

"No, no i don't want you to catch a cold...or get hurt" he said setting her back down "Be back in a few" he said softly. Ullari vanshed, most of the candles had been extinguished from the breeze. He noticed the cellar door open, venturing down into the laberynth he wondered which tunnel to check out first.

After a few moments of silence Rayne decided to follow Ullari anyway, rising from the bed, she walked silently the way he had gone, stopping just to the side of the doorway until he decided which way to go.

Ullari felt a strong cold breeze flow down one of the tunnels....a breeze that was not supposed to be there unless somone opened the door he thought nervously, dissapearing only to reappear further down one of the tunnels. Each tunnel was huge, branching off into numerous smaller ones...some leading to under ground prisons or store houses. Ullari flitted from shadow to shadow. Somthing had crept in, it had blown apart the door, and was now in an opposite tunnel....far from Ullari. It was hunting, it sensed Ullari would be a challenge to fight.

Rayne crept down the stairs, wondering which tunnel Ullari had taken. She decided on one to investigate, and walked silently down the tunnel, always in the shadows, inwardly cursing the white dress that she wore.

Ullari after walking a short distance down the tunnel returned. Seeing a set of foot prints he groaned, choosing a different tunnel to venture down whoever is down here is down the right tunnel...so far it seems whatever broke in ventured down here he thought flitting from shadow to shadow.

Pert seeing the door open an sensing people down there other than her lord decided to creep up on Rayne. Without making a noise she stood right behind her "you shouldn't be down here m'lady"

A Dark form detached itself, it had fooled Ullari, though it was not happy at Pert's intrusion. Venturing silently down their tunnel it awaited its' oportunity to attack.

Rayne spun about to face Pert, "Why do you sneak up on me?" she snapped, startled.

"Why do you venture into places that would cost others their lives?" Pert's voice was even toned without any emotion.

The Dark Elf wraith smiled, assuming the form and voice of Rayne's father he called out to her "Rayne? is that you? where are you i can't see in this place" The wraith mimicked his voice an tone perfectly, materialising into the walls so as not to be seen if she should come running.

Ullari, was by now frusterated. He heard a familiar voice..though it unnerved him to hear it i haven't heard that voice in a long time...i thought...NO! he thought frantically rushing down the tunnel, falling through an old mine shaft. Groaning in pain he hauled himself up the ladder.

"What are you talking-" hearing her father's voice, Rayne spun around abruptly, "F...Father?" she whispered, her mouth open in disbelief, she walked swiftly in the direction the voice came from.

The wraith smiled at her disbelief "Rayne...i can't see anything" the voice coming from further down the tunnel like it had before, though this time it sounded injured.

Pert cocked her head to one side "Somthing the matter m'lady?" she asked...she couldn't hear the voice.

Ullari groaned in pain, forced to walk on slowly.

"You...You don't hear that voice?" Rayne looked at Pert a moment, then continued down the tuned toward the voice.

"Rayne...where are you?" the wraith spoke again.

Pert looked in the direction of the voice...this time she heard it...an she knew that there where things that could replicate voices "Who is that?" she asked sweetly..she looked like a small child, indeed she had the voice of one as well.

Ullari reached the end of the tunnel, sitting down to rest.

Rayne slowed, the voice was closer this time, "'Tis my father's voice," she murmured not looking at Pert, "he has been dead nigh on two-thousand years..."

Pert stopped "Lady Rayne i think you have heard enough of that voice, now come with me please" she said firmly.

The wraith spun enchantment into the voice for Rayne "Rayne, i've been imprisoned here, i've been blinded and...and i think my arm is broken"

Ullari stumbled to the entrance really is it so much to ask for one night's peace he groaned. Hearing the voice down one of the tunnels he gave a start i thought he died in the war he thought startled.

Entranced, Rayne continued down the tunnel, "Father?" she called out quietly.

"Yes?" the voice came from a hole with a ladder leading down it "Rayne..where are you?" the voice came from the bottom of the ladder.

Pert grabbed ahold of Rayne's arm "M'lady we must go" she said ernestly.

Ullari began walking down the same tunnel Rayne was down, hearing voices up ahead he began walking slowly what is going on...is this a wraith doing this? or somthing else? he wondered.

Ignoring Pert's hand, Rayne continued walking toward the voice, gathering her skirts she descended the ladder.

Pert felt a blast as she was thrown back against the wall, and knocked unconceous. Hands flew up, surrounding an grabbing Rayne "Hello there, my my you're tasty" the wraith said biting into her shoulder "What shall i do with you?" he asked her cruely, muffling her. Multiple hands felt her all over "Aww the darkies got to you first an spoiled you...no matter only alittle" he hissed dragging her down.

Rayne cried out as she was grabbed, she struggled with all her strength, biting into the hand that muffled her mouth.

The wraith snarled dragging her into a room with an exotic array of devices and viles. He sent a punch into her side, then grabbing her by her hair, dragging her upwards an biting into the back of her neck, shaking her like a rag doll.

Ullari came upon Pert, seeing that she was alright he began looking for the hidden door.

Rayne doubled over, coughing from the blow, then cried out as she was grabbed and bitten. She tried to pull away, looking wildly about the room, searching for an escape.

The wraith tore her dress from her, throwing her into a corner infront of him, eyeing her evily "Now, if you want to get out...you must fight" he said leering at her, appearing weak an sluggish, an only with two hands.

Ullari snagged a lacky of the Wraith, adorning himself in the black robes. He continued walking down the dark corridor.

Rayne glared up at the Wraith from where she had landed in the corner, "You will not touch me beast." she growled, then launched herself from the floor, toward the door.

An arm shot out into her bare side, sending her into the wall. He approached her "Hmmm, you look an feel so good" he purred, kicking her in the stomach with enough force to launch her into the wall again.

Ullari heard the sickening thud down the corridor, he approached slowly, killing the lacky at the door.

Rayne cried out from the pain as she heard one of her ribs crack, "Do not touch me." despite the pain, she rolled to the side, away from the Wraith.

The wraith placed a heavy boot on her back, kneeling down and digging his knee into her back "I am enjoying this" he said running his hands along her, playing roughly an cruely with her neck.

Rayne struggled against the Wraith, trying to get out from under him. She reached back and sunk her fingernails into his arm.

The wraith, relishing the pain "Thank you my pet, now here is some in return" he said taking a long knife, running it through the back of her. Leaving the blade there he whispered in her ear "That will cause you some discomfort....there is a poison in there to that will make you halucanate...it wears off quickly though" he said licking the side of her face, grabbing her by her neck.

Ullari found the door waiting for the moment to strike. He joined with the shadows, uttering an incantation that allowed him to become a part of the shadows.

Rayne cried out, feeling the blade in her back. She flailed, trying to reach the knife to pull it out, but the hallucinogen had already begun to work. She threw her arms over her eyes as things in the room mutated into terrifying creatures, "Let me go." she whimpered, struggling weakly against the Wraith.

He removed the blade, plunging it in again at her uper thigh "Oh but why? your such a tasty little thing to play with" he said running another knife along the side of her, he bent down an whispered in her ear "How's about this one going into your chest?" he said evily "Oh an this one will render you worthless to your precious Ullari" he turned to bekon a lacky in.

Ullari posing as the lacky entered in. The wraith seeing him "Ah, go over there an prepare that coffin for her to travel in" he said absentmindedly. "No" came the reply.

Rayne cried out again, then seeing the wraith's lackey enter, she began to whimper, the hallucinogen made the thing look much worse than it was, "Ullari, help me..." she whimpered hopelessly, knowing that he would not hear.

The wraith looked up in contempt "No..what do you mean no!" he very nearly shreiked at the stooped creature he thought to be his minion. Ullari decided he had seen enough, he cast off the black robe, revealing a white robed and black armoured figure who was much taller than the now very surprised wraith. The wraith vanished only to fall screaming from the ceiling. It arose, multiple arms coming from its back "I will kill you!" he roared, all his arms flew at Ullari. A bright flash followed by a scream saw the wraith dead on the floor, a massive hole where his heart used to be.

Rayne cried out and covered her face, the now white figure blinding. She lay, face down, on the ground, trembling, whimpering, and unmoving.

Ullari taking off his robe, wrapped her in it gently removing the knife "Rayne, it's me love your safe now" he said softly to her, cradling her trembling form in his arms.

"Get away from me, let me go." Rayne whimpered, pushing weakly against him. Then the affects of the hallucinogen began to ware off, "U...Ullari?" she whispered, looking up at him. She buried her face in his chest and began to sob, clutching his sleeve.

Ullari held her tighter when she tried to push him away, caressing her, seeing the blood run from the knife wounds and the wounds on her neck "Can you stand?" he asked her propped up against a wall, he had her bundled in his thick robe. His black shoulder armour seemned to absorb all the light around it, making it at once seem void an black, and a myriad of colors at the same time.

"I...I think so." Rayne whispered weakly, but when she tried, her legs gave out from under her.

"No matter" he said picking her up as if she weighed nothing. Ullari came to the ladder. He cleared the entire thing in one jump, landing lightly back in the tunnel. Pert was no longer there, she had returned to other duties...amoung them secureing the rest of the tunnels. Ullari set her down, sitting across from her "You alright?"

"I...I think so, I think one of my ribs cracked though." she said quietly, clutching Ullari's robe about her, "He ruined your dress." she whispered sadly.

"More importantly though, he did not ruin you...your still intact, and in one peice might i add" he said gently probing her side for any signe of broken bones "It seems you just got hit really hard. Do you want anything? I can see you are cold...if you'd like then i can give you another....i kept quite a few of my mother, sister's an former fiancee's dresses tucked away...why i do not know...i could never bring myself to get rid of them" he said with alittle laugh, he was bleeding from a few wounds as well, though this did not seem to bother him.

"But you made it." she whispered. Rayne looked at him for a long moment, then, ignoring the pain, threw her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder she took a long shaky breath.

Ullari blushed alittle, running his hands gently over her bare skin, tracing her scars as he saw now that she had many on her back "It's ok Rayne...the dress is expendable..you are not" he said playing with her two neck wounds. He wrapped her up, an held onto her "Where do you want to go?" he asked, exhaling down her back while he played with her neck.

Rayne flinched as he touched her fresh wounds, but ignored the pain, "Anywhere," she whispered, "just so long as it is away from here."

Ullari caried here out of the cellar "I told you, you silly girl to stay put" he chided her lovingly. He set her down gently on the bed "Do you want to return to your tent? or do you want to live here?" he asked sitting next to her.

"Why would I want to return to my tent?" Rayne asked, trying to smile through the pain, "I shall stay here with you, if I may."

"Of course you may" he said stroking her lightly. "Here sit up an i'll see what i can do about these cuts of yours....an i'll have one of the healers make a few ice blocks to help with the swelling" he said. Ordering the ice was somthing reserved almost exclusivly for him.....as the healers hated making it cause it took alot out of them. Having retrieved the ice he returned, gently applying it to where it was needed, he had left a window open so the room was near freezing as well....somthing he did not mind at all. He began to gently heal her wounds as best he could.

Rayne flinched from the ice, but forced herself to remain still. She gazed at Ullari, her face rather red as he applied the ice to her skin.

"Oh what's with the red face?" he asked he teasingly. He gently applied the ice to the most severe of her bruises "What's going through your mind?" he asked her as he finished searching for broken bones along her back, useing two fingers to lightly apply preassure to each of her vertabrae as he worked his was down.

Rayne leaned her head against his shoulder as he searched for broken bones, "I have never allowed anyone to so much as touch me, yet here I am..." Rayne trailed off and her face turned bright red.

"And?" he said resting both hands on her bare hips, giving a gentle squeeze as he rested his head lightly on her shoulder, exhaling down her.

Rayne trembled at his touch, wrapping her arms around Ullari, "Yet here I am..." she whispered, "feeling your hands on my skin, and wanting more." her voice was barely audible, and her face was as red as her eyes.

"What do you mean?" he asked her, trying to keep his breathing regular though his heart was throbbing in his chest and ears. He gently played with her neck, his hands still holding onto her hips, giving them a firm squeeze.

Rayne closed her eyes, leaning her head to one side, "I...I don't want you to stop," she whispered, "I want to go on, feeling your hands on me, feeling your skin on mine."

Ullari made her lay down all the way, he began playing with her starting at her stomach an ending with her neck "Why do you want me to go on?" he asked her softly, sidling up beside her an playing with her neck again.

Rayne's breathing quickened as Ullari pushed her down, "I...I...Don't stop." she whispered, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

Ullari smiled softly, he decided he had waited long enough to take all of her. "As you wish" he whispered softly into her ear.

Next morning

Ullari's eyes fluttered open, he felt somthing soft pressed against him. He smiled as he realized who it was. He decided to wait an let her wake on her own.

A while later, Rayne stirred, her eyes opened slowly to reveal Ullari beside her. She smiled, "Good morning." she whispered.

"How are you?" he asked her sweetly, realizing he had forgotten to get her a new dress an that she was probably cold. He gently began to stroke her shoulders.

Rayne snuggled up against him, not at all cold, she was enjoying feeling his hands on her shoulders, "Good." she whispered, "And you?"

"good" he said playing with her ear, neck an shoulders "did you enjoy last night? do you want me to get you somthing to wear or are you fine? i think you look fine the way you are" he said glancing down her, tracing her lips with his other hand

"Last night..." Rayne's face flushed a little and she nodded ever so slightly. "I'm alright for now," she said, "But I will need something to ware if we are to greet our guests who came in last night."

"Of course you will have somthing then" he said softly, he ran his hands down her softly playing with her, and mouthing her gently "What's on your mind? what would you like to do?" he asked her, exhaling down her back.

Rayne wrapped her arms around him, forcing herself to breath evenly, "What time is it?" she asked reluctantly.

Ullari felt like he had been punched. He got up "It's early enough" he said walking into his closet after washing up, he returned arrayed in long black pants, shoulder an neck armour with a kitana sword at his side. He set out a few different dresses for her before heading off into the avery.

Rayne watched him for a moment, surprised by his reaction, she didn't want him to go. She chose one of the dresses, a simple sleeveless white one, with red trim. She followed after Ullari, approaching him, and wrapping her arms around him from behind, she rested her chin on his shoulder, "I'm sorry love, I did not mean for you to leave." she whispered in his ear.

"It's of no consequence" he said moving away from her. He began lifting the birds out of their warm night cages, and setting them in the larger day pens. He retrevied food an hung it at the top of each cage. Finishing this he washed his hands "Well then i suppose i better get started then since there is nothing left to do here that o'le Pert can't take care of" he sighed to himself.

Rayne's face fell as he pulled away, she followed after him and approached again when he had finished. Laying her long white hand on his arm, she looked at him, "I just wanted to know how much time we could have." she murmured softly, "...Stay with me just a little longer?" she whispered, her eyes almost pleading.

Ullari looked at her with an odd expresion "As you wish....what do you want to do?" he asked her. He sent a messanger bird off to a remote outpost that he wanted information from, then he began fiddling with the leather straps on his armour peices.

"What do I want?" Rayne asked, blushing a little, "To be close to you...Can I help?" she asked, watching him fiddle with the straps.

"What do you mean?" he asked alittle weary.....he had taken a blow already and he wasn't about to take another one "No they are fine, i just mess with them"

Rayne couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, and it showed on her face, "Armor is not very comfortable to lean against." she whispered, lowering her eyes, she did not want him to go yet, she wanted to stay with him for as long as they could before they had to go about their duties.

Ullari removed his armour, setting aside, he kissed her on her forehead gently "What is it that you want me to do?" he asked her even toned. He was glad he had put on a mail shirt that had clothing over it so as to pad it....such things where a pain to take on an off.

Rayne stepped closer and kissed his mouth, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, standing up against him. She looked at him a moment, "Does that answer your question?" she whispered with a smile, blushing ever so slightly.

"What specifically though?" he asked her, warming to the idea. He held her kiss, placing one of his hands on her hip with the other resting at his side.

Rayne gazed at him, admiring his deep blue eyes. She slid her hands down and rested them on his shoulders, "Come back?" she asked, nodding her head toward his room, "We can sit and hold each other close until we need to greet your guests."

"As you wish" he said softly. Ullari removed his ornate wriste guards an armoured gauntlet. He walked back to the room, grabbing a bottle of what looked like water....it wasn't, he flopped on the bed, slightly happy to not be doing anything....and he in no way relished the diplomatics an campaigne meetings of the day.

Rayne followed him, and lay down beside him, her elbow on the bed and her head in her hand, "May I?" she asked, nodding at the bottle of what she thought was water, she was a little thirsty.

"Of course" he said softly to her, kissing her on the forehead. The contents of the bottle had no oddor to it so it even smelt like water....when in reality it was very strong alcohol....oh Ullari's own brewing.

Rayne took a sip, swallowed, and began to choke, putting the stopper back into the bottle so that it wouldn't spill as she coughed, "What is this?" she asked between coughs, handing the bottle back to him.

Ullari laughed alittle at her spluttering an coughing "The closest thing to straight alcohol that you can come to without killing yourself in one sip" he laughed, taking a swig out of it before setting it aside "Sorry...i guess i never did let you drink any of this before.....Gurthar can tell you all about it though....rumor has it he can keep down five bottles of the stuff an still be coherant....though that is not somthing he is proud of...he did it to get me out of a pinch one time...normally he doesn't drink"

Rayne smiled as she finished coughing, "It is horrid." she half laughed, half coughed, "And I drink more often than Gurthar." Rayne calmed herself down and gazed at him, smiling, "I wish that you did not have to go greet diplomats later." she sighed, moving closer and laying her head on his chest.

"And you think i want to?" he said with a raised eyebrow. He ran his hands down her, gently nosing her an playing with her neck...exhaling down her back "You kidding me i would much rather be here with you" he said with his face buried in her neck.

Rayne's heartbeat quickened, and she wrapped her arms around him, "As would I." she whispered, turning her head a little to play with his ear.

Ullari sighed, as he toyed with the rest of her "What would you like?" he whispered into her ear, gathering her up into his arms he began stroking her back an hair while still playing with her neck and shoulders.

"This," Rayne smiled, running her fingers lightly up and down his arm, "to be close to you like this, and to know that you are happy."

"What do you mean by this?" he asked, shivering alittle at her hand on his arm as he began playing with the back of her neck, holding her tight with one arm, running the other down her.

"What you are doing," she said softly, moving her hands to his shoulders, "the way you hold me...the way you run your hands down my body..." she flushed as she ran one of her hands through his black hair.

"Careful you don't tempt me...or else i might go all the way like last night" he said, his breath ragged an deep. He gently began nipping and playing with her neck and shoulders, using both of his hands to play with the rest of her.

Rayne smiled, her cheeks hot as she tried, almost successfully, to keep her breathing even, "If only we had more time." she sighed, holding tight to him.

"If only" Ullari said inbetween short breaths, playing with her neck alittle "I should probably be off" he said with a sigh, kissing her pushing her down with his arms around her handling her roughly, nipping her shoulder.

Rayne took in a sharp breath as he pushed her down, her breath sounding like a quiet moan when she exhaled. She wrapped her arms tighter around him, not wanting him to go.

Hearing her silent moan, he tilted her head back an played gently then roughly with her neck holding both her arms in each of his "I should go but i have no desire to" he growled in pleasure, nipping her shoulders an neck.

"Then don't." Rayne whispered without thinking. After a few moments she groaned, "You should go, shouldn't you?" she asked breathlessly as he nipped at her neck. She did not want him to go, that much was clear by the look in her eyes, but she also did not want to keep him from what he needed to do.

Ullari rolled off of her, laying beside her trying to catch his breath "Yes i should go.....i'm supposed to meet them between ten minutes from now and an hour" he stared up at the ceiling, trying in vain to keep his breathing normal "I don't want to go, you're more than welcomed to come with me if you'd like....i'd like it if you did, but you don't at all have to"

Rayne lay beside him a few moments, forcing her breathing to slow. She rolled over onto her side, facing him with her head on her hand, "I would be happy to come." she said softly, "But an hour? It sounds like we still have some time to pass then." she said, kissing his forehead.

"Ten minutes to an hour meaning they are probably already there" he said with a groan, kissing her cheek, then playing with her ear "What would you like to do? They are here fore several days an if you want i can send somone else to meet them....Gurthar would do that an he's a better diplomat than i...It's all up to you" he said poking the base of her neck.

Rayne smiled at him, very tempted to take him up on his offer, "We should probably just go and get it over with." she sighed, "It's not good for relations to not greet your allies personally when come to visit you. But after that, we can ignore them for the rest of their stay." she joked with a quiet laugh.

"Mmm, very well love" he said sitting up an looking down at her. Turning to face her a began stroking the side of her face "You look beautiful" he said softly to her "Shall we then?" he said reluctantly....the tone in his voice making it clear that he did not relish entertaining guests....he never was found of it, and right now he had little desire...though he did have some old friends there so it would be nice to see them again. Ullari retrieved his ornatly decorated armour peices, looking like a well done painting than a living being.

Rayne smiled then got up and smoothed the skirts of her long dress, "Who exactly are we greeting?" she asked, looking at Ullari, "And should I braid my hair again, or leave it down?"

"Some old friends of mine who are running pperations in Telpurion...some of them aren't so nice to be around...gang leaders and local warlords, but i do have a general over there and she has decided to grace us with our presence...oh and...don't say anything to her...she'll zero in on you as soon as she finds out your my wife" Ullari said with a face that spoke of his not being happy to see this person "The rest are feild officers, all of whom i guess have somthing to say" he took her hair into his hands, smoothing it out "I think it looks fine" he said "Shall we?" he offered her an arm.

"What do you mean she'll zero in on me?" Rayne asked, taking his offered arm.

"You know those love sick people that will do anything to bed you or otherwise get close to you an make you theirs? yeah....she's that type...in fact i sent her to Telpurion to keep her at an arms distance" he gave a disgruntled sigh "Well then off we go" he said walking her to The command tent

Rayne narrowed her eyes a little, thinking that she knew who Ullari was talking about, she followed him to The command tent