Part two...........

The BIG day has finally arrived. The day that we were to celebrate our union with all our friends and family. I sit on the very tree stump where Ketel and I exchanged our vows, watching everyone enjoy sampling Master Brewer Valkon's latest creation. Melindala, an old friend and comrade in arms, climbs up the giant stump, while her elemental floats up beside her and scowls. A companionable silence is broken only by the occasional chink of my chain armor and Melindala's silken mage robes flapping in the light breeze as we both gaze out over the ever-growing crowd of well wishers. Melindala sighs and frowns at me.. "So how come you two didn't have a real ceremony?" "I always thought you would call upon me to be your attendant!" Melindala pouts. I smile. "To tell the truth, Mel, I think Ketel was afraid one of my old flames would show up and steal me away". I shrug and grin "So, I let him talk me into eloping." "Old flames?!!!?" Melinda yelps in mock surprise "What old flames? ? For as long as I've known you its only been "Ketel this" ? "Ketel that!" Melinda rolls her eyes and asks "Who are these others?" and pauses a bit ... glancing over her shoulder as a small cheer went up behind us, where some contests were being held. Melindala's high brow wrinkled ever so delicately as she thinks and says, "I know you've told me how you two meet but umm he left. How did you two get back together? Is that where these "others" came in? While he was away?" I lean back and rest my weight on the palms of my hands and look up at the ever so comforting view of tall evergreens. The tops of my ears turn red as I say, "OH, well ? there have been a few others?" I give a deep sigh, mixed with a bit of embarrassment, for past remembrances. Melindala makes herself more comfortable and gives me an eager look ?. "Do TELL!"

???????????.

As, my confidence and my skills grew as a young ranger; I began exploring my home of Greater Faydark. Of course it was only a matter of time before I discovered the great city of Marble called Felwithe, home to my High Elf cousins. While the High Elves in general looked down upon us Wood Elves (us being so much closer to nature and them being well ... a bit stuck up to my way of thinking), the males of the city of course enjoyed looking at me while I explored their great city from top to bottom. In my wanderings I stumbled into a tavern tucked away in the corner of their fair city and being the curious elf that I am ... I went in and sat down. The tavern was deserted ? it being too early in the morning for many, except for maybe the most dedicated dwarf cleric. The bar keep, Tyle Songwhisper, came over "Don't often see many of your type in here." I cock an eyebrow at him "My type?" I ask archly ? "Young, pretty and so earthly" he replied while gazing upon my cleavage that was showing in my leather tunic. He automatically pours a glass of Elven wine and pushes it towards me. "On the house if you keep me company for a while ? my assistant, Wela is out Sick tonight." I smile and lean over the counter (the better to show off my chest) and pick up the glass and mock toast him. "So what's a little thing like you doing running around all alone?" I calmly explained to him that as a Ranger I was expected to do some running around and that while I was alone, that I could hold my own against most odds. The slightly bickering tone to our discussion continued through out the night, even though we sorta seem to hit it off. I think he enjoyed playing the "uppity high elf".

Maybe I should have mentioned to Tyle that I had never drank ever before in my, admittedly short, life. Either or. (*shrug*) I was curious ? who knew it would have such an effect on me ? or that It would be so quick ? at, first I just sorta sipped at my glass, while chatting with Tyle it was sorta fun ... especially when the room started to sway a bit to the music in my mind. I am vaguely aware of myself getting up on the top of the bar after some chance remark from Tyle, which I seemed to have taken as a challenge to my ranger honor. ? While up there on top of the bar I could see that even the chairs in the room had decided to get into the mood by doing a bit of the 4-step ? I catch a glimpse of Tyle's face while I am dancing (doubt that this was very graceful) and taking off bits of my armor .. at first he had on his usual smug face but it started getting more and more concerned even though he couldn't seem to stop chuckling and I remember wondering insanely if his eyebrows were ever going to be able to come back down from the top of his forehead, just before everything went black.

?????.

I yawn and stretch, sitting up in the tiny little cot and immediately grab my forehead with both hands as my entire head starts to pound as though an Ogre was taking clogging lessons on it ... After a bit I notice a little cup of water and a small white packet of something on the floor ... it seemed to have some writing on it. And even though my stomach and head were rebelling against me in full force ... I lean down and pick up the packet and draw it close enough to read ? DRINK ME.
------------------------------- How to explain the 2nd dance ? a bit of a mistake, really. Blame it on my newly awakened hormones ... and all the talks and the lectures from Ran Sunfire weren't really helping in dampening rather but were helping to flaming them. After all with a Ranger's herb-lore knowledge ? there were ways of preventing problems before they could occur (childbane & moonflower). I knew whom I wanted to discover my body's secrets with -- the problem was that I hadn't heard from him in so long and there were way too many cheap and easy druids in Norrath. So, while my heart was sore, I tried to tell myself that there was someone better out there for me.
While running the mail between Felwithe and Kelethin I thought for a tiny bit that maybe I had. For the protection of his reputation I will call him "Parcer". Parcer was a fellow Ranger (1 point in his favor) a bit more seasoned than I and definitely more traveled since he originally hailed from Qeynos. A city so far removed from Kelethin, I couldn't quite grasp the actual distance. Why he stopped me will probably be forever lost to history but stop me he did and proceeded to exchange a few pleasantries with me ? I'll admit it, I was flirting with him. I couldn't help myself; I seemed to have developed a distinct weakness for Half-elves. ? For some reason (the imp of perversity?) my mouth mentioned my drunken striptease for Tyle Songwhisper, the barkeep in Felwithe. I immediately got all hot, as I blushed profusely but Parcer just gave a wicked grin and a bit of a chuckle. And said that he's done quiet a few drunken dances himself ? he paused and gave me a long look and said that he wouldn't have minded seeing that, though. I hesitated a bit too long I guess cause he started back up the conversation on something else and spoke for awhile longer ... speaking of his travels and adventures, what I have to look forward to in the way of Ranger skills, improvements on this and that ... comparing thoughts on the latest armor and equipment ? and when he found out that I was a "Bowless" Ranger he was floored and immediately offered his skill in making me a simple but effective bow for a reasonable price. And, while the price he quoted was very reasonable and within my budget ? I was (still am) a bit frugal with my hard earned gold. Maybe he saw that I was a bit concerned over the price ? maybe he just hoped I would be. He gave me another option. "1 bow and 1 quiver full of regular arrows for 1 dance." Many thoughts passed through my mind at this moment: "He's cute, bit arrogant but still nice body ... He's available ... He is HERE (*sigh*) ... He's not from around here ? he may not stay (bit of confusion and relief on this thought)". While he was trying to look as though my answer wasn't important ? I looked into his eyes and said that I might be interested in that offer. He lets out the breath that he didn't seem to know he was holding and grinned at me and said he would have to run back to Kelethin, as that was the nearest place to get bowing and fletching supplies. So we agreed to meet at the Heartwood Tavern in Kelethin.

When I get to the bar, Parcer is already there waiting for me ... I notice that he has already had a couple glasses of what "looked" like Elven wine ? he sees me and motions me over to the bar and tells me that he sorta rented out the bar for a couple of hours. I look around, just now noticing that the bar is indeed deserted except for us. He hands me a glass that does turn out to be Elven wine. I take just a small sip. Purely to steady my nerves. I am a bit uneasy with the way I reacted to my first experience with the wine. As Parcer shows me the bow he made for me and gives me a few pointers on the use of it ... I notice that he is showing some of the same reactions to the wine as I had. ... Maybe a bit slower but he was definitely falling into the spell of the alcohol. But, seeing how I still had to up hold my end of the agreement. ... I hop on to the top of the bar and start my little dance ... Parcer is trying to pay attention but as he keeps taking gulps out of his mug of wine, I can tell it's a losing battle ? and was only a matter of time before he came to the point where he couldn't possible get any drunker and passed out. Slipping right off the barstool to land on the floor in a heap.

I am on the bar top with just my leather corset on ... with my body all tingly ... I give a very deep sigh and roll my eyes heavens ward. I figure this is Tunare's way of telling me that this was not the time and definitely not the ONE. So I round up my armor and stuff from the various locations they had some how gotten to across the bar and get dress again. I look down at the soundly sleeping Parcer. Grab him by his shoulders and yank him over to the corner (as gently as I could), made a pillow out of his backpack ... tucked his cape around him and gave him a soft kiss on his forehead. Took my new bow and quiver of arrows ? looking back only once at Parcer's sleeping form and vow right there and then to damp down my body's flame till I could find someone that was worthy of one of Tunare's creation ? and leave.

Several "seasons" later ?

While running through the forest of Greater Faydark, just for the sheer pleasure of being able to do so, I hit part of the path to Felwithe and happen to glance a familiar shape walking the other direction out of the corner of my eye. My heart is squeezed so tightly that I miss a bit of my footing and go hard down on my one of my knees. Letting out a small gasp of pain. I feel a presence near me and look up into his face. It is Ketel. He reaches down a hand and helps me back up to my feet and just stares at me ... for a little while I wonder if he had forgotten all about me. But then he gives me a smile and says that I have grown up ever so nicely and asks if I remembered HIM!! I say as if anyone could forget the amazing Ketel. He laughs and says "ahh I've missed you, Kero." "Have you? Have you really? It's been a while since we've talked." I am a bit upset and try ever so hard to swallow my anger and hurt. I know that it will only ruin our time together and I so very much wanted to spend time with him. Ketel sighs and says, "I know ... you scare me sometimes. What would you want with a stupid tank like me? A tanks life is not an easy one ... we don't have much to offer." I open my mouth as if to say something and pausing to look at him, I wonder that he can't see just how special he is. How everybody always turns to him for leadership and companionship and he in turns tries to do his best not to let anybody down. How everybody knows instinctually that he will gladly lay down his life to save others. So I say simply, "I've missed you." As simple as that ... his body unclenches and his eyes lose that slightly haunted look and he smiles at me and says, "I've missed you, too." And, we start to talk about what's been going on in each other's lives since we last talked. I am slightly naughty. I know it. So it didn't surprise me when I started to tell him of my dance for Tyle Songwhisper and Parcer. Though, I didn't name Parcer's by actual name. Ketel's reaction did surprised me a bit ? his whole posture went from relaxed to battle ready in the seconds that it took the words to come from my mouth to travel up to his brain to be processed. He was ready to do battle with ? He wasn't sure whom but he was definitely out for blood, in fact a wandering Orc Pawn lost his head with one swipe of his mighty sword. It took all my persuasive powers to calm him back down. Not to mention a couple of well placed word hits. After all, he's never laid any formal claim to my heart much less my body. And he was the one that left. And while, I have never told him of the whole ending of the dance for Parcer. I did tell him that nothing came of it. After all, I had two major reasons for mentioning the dances -- One (*grin*) obviously was to tweak any feelings he may have for me up to the front and see if he would get jealous. The second reason was so that he would ask for a dance in return (*sly grin*) and I was hoping for it for tonight. After all it would be a shame to waste the new silk under things that I had bought off a traveling Rogue, who had braved the Dark Elf city of Neriak. In fact, though we did talk of other things, I could tell that by the way his eyes keep scanning down the length of my body, that my dancing was somewhere to the front of his mind. Finally, after all my teasing and prompting, Ketel finally puts down his challenge ? to dance for him. I was hoping for more after THIS dance ... the last dance I know was a mistake, would have been a complete waste if fate hadn't of stepped in once again on my behalf. But, this time the feeling in my gut said this was RIGHT. Tyle and I have a developed a pretty decent friendship. So, after a couple of quick words to him after Ketel and I come in, he wipes down the bar top, hustles out the last customer and turns out most of the lights without much more than a quick fierce glance at Ketel. (The type that men give each other that says ? "You'd better treat her right!")

I am a bit nervous about this dance (and what I hope will come after) for this special warrior ? I smile, trying to hide my nervousness behind a mask of confidence and bravado. I hop up on to the top of the bar -- a bard passing through Felwithe practicing his latest masterpiece can be heard in the bar ... so I start off with its tempo. ... It seems appropriate ? slow and deep, possibly a bit of a tearjerker if you were to hear the words. Standing on the bar top with one foot slightly in front of the other. ... I start to move to the music. ? Using the palms of my hands to caress and smooth down the length of my body ? starting at (innocently enough) at my shoulders. ? Down my arms to skim across my tight chest ? to my ribcage ... my flat tummy ?my fingers just ever so quickly dip into the band of my leather leggings pulling them down just enough for Ketel to have a quick glance at my smooth tanned skin and belly button. ? I veer just a bit and use both hands to shape my hips and lean forward to let Ketel see the top of my breasts from my skin tight leather tunic ... all the while rotating my hips and keeping a steady eye contact with him. A definite tingling is starting in my nether regions and I veer my hands back over to the tops of my thighs and press them down firmly, while starting to go down on one knee ? still moving to the music, on my knee with my other leg bent off to the side ... I take off one of my gloves ? And hand it to Ketel ... I grin impudently at him and play with a lock of my hair? pulling it into my mouth and swirling it around my tongue. As I work my way back up to a standing position, I open my legs giving Ketel a nice view of my leather clad inner thighs. I quickly unbuckle my belt and give it a whip like crack and then carelessly toss it to the side. I then loosen the buttons on the front of my leather leggings and ease them off of one hip. Just enough to show the dark blue wisp of my silk panties. Placing my index finger between them and the smooth skin of my hip, lifting the edge of my panties ever so slightly. I move my hands up the side of my ribs to the ties of my tunic. Pushing my firm breasts together and up. And, moving my hands forward cupping my breasts, allowing a finger from each hand to slip between my tunic and the skin of my breasts. Not yet revealing anything but, making my ? umm ... skin tighten. I am keeping watch over Ketel and notice that when he doesn't think I am looking; his eyes are all over me. I notice that he is starting to breathe uneasily. Thinking to show him how well my leather leggings fit (*grin*). I turn my back to him and keeping my legs mostly straight I smooth my hands down my hips, thighs, calves ? all the way down to my grasp my ankles. The return trip is done backwards with just a few extra hip rotations till I am standing straight again. The leather banding around my waist has stretched a bit by this time and it seemed the perfect time to slowly ease them off my hips. Still with my back to Ketel giving him ample view of my cute little tush "clad" in the little wisp of blue silk that the rogue called a thong. Turning around just in time to see Ketel gulp and blink slowly and begin to lose his ability to keep his mouth closed. Slowly, ever so slowly, I loosen the bindings down the front of my leather tunic ? letting my shoulder straps slip down, which shows the blue straps of my matching (umm the rogue called it a "push up") bra. I continue to loosen my tunic each time opening it up a bit more. Revealing the clasp of my bra between my breasts. Taking first one side of my open tunic in my hand, I pull it aside and off my shoulder and then the other side. Letting my tunic slide down my arms to fall to a puddle to the floor. Ketel by this time has a very focused and intense look in his eyes and he can't seem to find a very comfortable sitting position. I give him a very wicked smile as a slowly reach up to the clasp between my breasts and release it. The only things holding the bra into place now are my firm tight breasts. I then cup my breasts. Moving the bra to give Ketel quick glimpses as I allow the straps to fall loosely off my shoulders. Letting go of one breast, letting one side of the bra to fall free, the bra slides behind me, pull my arm through the strap and in a quick move whip off the rest of the bra and have it dangling from my fingertips above my head. After another wicked grin I toss it to him, making him nearly jump out of his bronze armor. Standing proudly, with my feet slightly apart I turn to the side just a bit showing Ketel my lovely tush again, and slowly begin to rotate my hips and I begin to crouch down to my knees. On my knees I start to caress my body starting with my bare breasts, leaning forward, as I continue down to my flat tummy, firm thighs and continue to run my hands forward on the bar top as my back arches more and more. Allowing a very interesting view for Ketel, sitting behind me. I roll on to one hip and point one leg skyward. Rolling on to my back very slowly. I draw my other leg up to join the other one. Rocking my hips back and forth from side to side I draw forth my finial piece of garment to the sound of Ketel's gasp for air. I roll slightly to the direction of Ketel and point my toes downward and slowly slide down off the bar with my panties in my fingers. Smiling ever so gently at Ketel, I hand them to him. He hesitates for just a second and then pulls me into his embrace. ?????????????????????

Melindala says, "WELL!" ? "What happened next?!?!" I have my eyes closed and a very small secret smile on. I give my self a bit of a shake to come out of the remembrance. I grin at Melindala as I say, "I am NOT going to tell you that." "That is totally between me and Ketel." "Are you going to tell me of your first time with Walkerboh?" I arch an eyebrow at Melindala as she blushes bright red. "Umm probably not." She says. But in a show of pouty anger she tells her elemental pet to "Get Lost" and he immediately hits himself for an amazing amount of damage and disappears from sight. Melindala says, "Ok, but this Parcer guy doesn't seem to be much in the way of competition for Ketel." "So, is there another part to this?" "Is there another out there that had caught your heart?" I sigh and nod. "Ketel left me again. Not that he left for good or anything but again he was going somewhere he didn't think I was ready for." "So, once again I was alone." "With very nice memories but memories don't keep me warm on cold nights." "So it was probably only natural for me to crave some companionship." "And it so when Corax came into my life ...." I shrug "Best thing was ? we were of the same race, same religion ... same season."

Ketel interrupts me, just as I was going to tell Melindala all about Corax, I give a lopsided grin to Melindala as an apology and a promise for more later and jump down off the stump. The weight of my armor throws me off balance but just a bit and my stumble is more of a reminder that I'm not a newbie Ranger anymore ? I face Ketel and smile into his eyes. I find it amazing that my heart and body still trembles for him after all this time. Ketel gives me his extremely rare smile (meant only for me *happy sigh*) and in a surprise move sweeps me up into his arms ? full armor and all, I tremble in his arms ever so slightly with this show of his awesome strength. I automatically put my arms around his neck and lay my head in to the crock of his neck. He squeezes me ever so gently and gives a slightly evil chuckle and starts to joyously spin around in circles, making everyone who had gathered around us to back-off just a bit in surprise and start laughing and yelling out catcalls and some rather lewd remarks. At first I close my eyes, just enjoying the feel and smell of him but for some reason I open my eyes and peep over Ketel's shoulder, for a split second the world seems to stand still ---- I see a tanned face, a bit of a scowl, those intense eyes, the dark wavy hair --- Its HIM. My heart is squeezed so tight, I forget to breathe --- it was just a quick view ? "How can it be?" "He's dead." ?????

Kerowynn Kaotic
Loyal but flirty wife of Ketel
Newly made officer of the Apostles




PART ONE..........


As we sit here in the tavern in High Pass Keep, I can't help but get a bit nostalgic. My mind wanders back to that fateful night when we first meet. ......

I was a junior Ranger of about 7 seasons and was attempting to fulfill one of the lessor duties of a Ranger, that of instructing young woodelves in the ways of the forest. My pupil that night was a very young, extremely brash and particularly foolish Bard named Matter. No matter that he was but of 2 songs ... he was convinced that he could take on not only the Pawns but also the Centurians of the dreaded Crushbone Orcs. Matter did however have potential, I thought. No matter how many times the Orcs "slapped" him down, he would just pick himself back up and try again. Therefore, I was a bit sadden by the fact that other than my meager equipment and armor, I had none to spare for this determined young Bard.

Fate, of 'course, decided it would seem that both Matter and myself would receive some help in the form of a half-elf warrior named Ketel.

Ahhhh (*licks her lips*), to this young wood-elf Ranger's eyes this was one of the best looking specimen of what can come from a merger between Elves and the Human-kind, and his battle scars and his perpetual scowl just made him that much more irresistible.

Ketel, with his sure and steady steps, walked over to us just as I was giving my famous "For every season there is a Foe" lecture to Matter (*sigh* for the billionth time!) and asked if either of us was in need of some old equipment that he was tired of lugging around Norrath. I readily agreed that Matter was in dire need of something and was preparing to do some serious bargaining, when Ketel (*grin* the flirt that he is) said that since the stars shine so brightly within my eyes that I may have all that he had if Matter could use it.

Thusly outfitted in the finest Patchwork and Leather, Matter did fair a bit better against the dangers of the Forest but, since he still lacked in practice and training, Ketel volunteered to give him some "special personal training". I wondered if Ketel was going that little extra mile for Matter because of me. Seeing how our gods were on opposite poles on how somethings are to survive and prosper. I became positive about it when Ketel jumped off the top of the lift, as that strange Priest of Discord looked on in disgust.

Of 'course, as things do, that night did eventually come to an end. Matter, using his newly gained training and equipment went on to his next song ..... Ketel, being the wandering warrior that he was, started to get anixous to get back on the road ... see new place, people and beasts (*smirk* and kill 'em all!). He smiled and hugged me as he was preparing to leave, for even if I was ready to leave home, my Master Maesyn Trueshot would not allow it just yet. And, I knew that I would only be a hinderance to him as young as I was still.

I watched as he was walking away from me ... I sighed in disappointment and longing for I knew that it would be sometime before I saw him again, if ever, and that there were many other woodelves out there that were just as pretty to tempt him. A little down the path, I saw him hesitate as if he had heard my sigh, he turned and my heart skipped a beat. He asked if I had heard about the new toy that the Gnomes had invented ... my heart settled and I dredged up a smile and said that "no I hadn't". Ketel paused and then spoke in a rush about a wonderous thing called the "Teller" it allowed individuals from all over Norrath to speak to each other - no matter the distance! He said that dispite their wonderous nature that they were fairly easy to come by and extremelly cheap and that he would make a quick stop over by Ak'anon and purchase 2 and would have them send one over to me by way of the Bard mail route, so that, if I should want to, I could "Tell" him and we could still be together despite the distance between us.

And, so it began ......

I snuggled into Ketel's willing arms and lay my head on his broad shoulder and sip at my Elvish wine. I sigh in complete happiness and Ketel grins down at me (the better to view my ample chest) and asks "What are you thinking about that put such a smile on your face?" I say "Oh, just remembering." He gives me another of his famous wolfish grins and his eyes twinkle while he gives a quick look around the now deserted tavern and says "Well, there's no one here and there is another bar top ... how about another dance for me?" ........... ............. But THAT is another story.

TO BE CONTINUED.............................................