Their trained method of attack was hit-and-run foot. Perfect for using the underbrush around the cove to hold off anyone daring enough to attack them. They numbered about 80 specalized fighters. Danyen was a simple soldier with no rank whatsoever. So he marched near the rear and got menial jobs at each camp site.
"Here's the place!" Captain Loory called, signaling the regiment to halt and begin camp preparations. Fires were made, beds were rolled out, foraging teams headed out, it was all done in silent military precision. Danyen was a forager tonight. His team headed out in a northern direction and spread out to find and hunt what they could for dinner. Danyen followed his ears to a river.
He found watercress in a lull, smiling, he took out his knife and began to hack away at the roots. That's when he first saw Her.
She was standing in a mist that had strangely just come up. Her skin was a pale, pale green that seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. A small part of his brain wondered at the moon, when had it risen? But that voice was soon overwhelmed. The woman had long, forest green hair that fell to below her waist. She was tall, slim, and exotic. Her body belonged to a goddess, it was so perfect. Her eyes were a startling emerald and as soon as he met them, he could not look away. The watercress fell from his quivering fingertips and he found himself standing and walking toward Her.
His body longed to touch her, his mind focused on her completely. But alas, he was rooted in place where he stood. She walked up close to him and slowly ran a finger down his cheek, neck, and chest. That little nagging voice asked, where did your armor go? He was wearing just a shirt and breeches. Suddenly, she pressed up against him and looked at him in a sort of wonder. Her hair flowed in the breeze and a silken strand slid along his arm. Her hands moved up into his hair and he found himself without breath. His heart beat as she looked at him. He now burned to touch her, kiss her, take her. She leaned close and whispered into his ear. A sharp piny smell filled his nostrils and her voice was like the wind in tree branches.
"You have come at last." Her voice was filled with the strange wonder he had felt earlier. "Danyen, love, come. Come with me."
Her finger touched his lips and his body shook with the effect she was having on him. Then she turned and walked further into the woods. Danyen could not keep from following, foraging forgotten.
He wandered through a forest unknown to him. The plants and trees were all wrong, somehow. But that didn't matter. He saw glimpses of the form of the woman every time he slowed. Small flashes of green, emerald eyes leading him somewhere he knew not. But that all didn't matter. He had to find her; he had too!
He stumbled and fell on a tuft of grass, crying out as he had thought he had lost her. But then there she was, kneeling right in front of him and holding out a flask of some sort of liquid. "Drink." She told him, so he did. With the first mouthful he found he could speak. "Wh..who are you?" Questions were bubbling over but she placed a finger over his lips and spoke. "My name is known to no one, but you may call me Lesduatia, or Tia."
His eyes ran over her form and his fingers twitched, not yet allowed to touch. Lust engulfed his body, an inner fire building within every second in her presence. Her hair fell over her eye and he found that he could tuck it behind her ear. That one touch of liquid silk broke the spell over him. He slowly started undoing the ties at her neck. the gown slid over one shoulder and she removed her sash. Her gown fell to her feet and she gained complete control over him. His hands moved towards her and his mind went blank.
Danyen looked at his reflection in the stream. Where am i? He thought. Looking down, he spotted the watercress in his hands. How had he gotten back here...? "Tia!" He stood up shouting. But her presence was gone. He looked around wildly, but there was no sign of anyone around him.
He kneeled once again, body shaking with surpressed tears, and he picked up the rest of the watercress. Packing it in his bag, he caught a glimpse of green on his hand. He turned it over, and on the back was a tattoo-like impression of a leaf. Perfectly shaped, but shining like metal. He flexed the hand and could feel nothing out of the ordinary. A chill ran down his spine as he headed back to camp.