On the eve of the Winter Solstice, near the end of December as mortals reckoned time in this earthly realm, Melea felt a magical tug on her wards that let her know a stranger approached. A stranger with substantial magic of his own, she could tell, but in danger from the tricky weather this far North. A blizzard was bearing down outside and the stranger could very well freeze to death were he not to find shelter.

Sighing at the effort this unwelcome intrusion would bring to her peaceful home, Melea waved her fingers to light the sentry fires. Candles burned in the windows and a beacon shone from the roof of her modest, magical home. If the stranger so wished, he would find welcome here, though Melea would have preferred her solitude.

Likely it was some foolish mortal hunter, lost in the dark. Or perhaps one of the sidhe, out to complicate her life. Either would be a nuisance, but Melea was not so unfeeling as to allow another being to freeze to death on her doorstep.

Before long, she heard a knock on the great wooden door and stirred herself to stand. Pulling a long, midnight blue robe closer around herself, she went to the door and opened it, shocked at what she found waiting outside on her doorstep.

A tall, golden-headed high court elf stood defiantly before her, nearly frozen to the bone, shivering beneath layers of ice-covered fur and hide. His eyes blazed blue but they were the only thing on the man that was not shivering uncontrollably. The eyes though, spoke volumes about this elf's warrior nature and his dislike of being beholden to anyone, especially one of his kind's mortal enemies. High court and dark elves simply did not mix.

"What in the realms is a high court fool like yourself doing out in weather like this? Or are you people really as stupid as you're reputed to be?"

"It's not my kind that are thought dumb, Dark One." Sir Eustace's chattering teeth ruined the tone of indignation, but Melea got the gist.

Tugging the nearly frozen elf by the arm, she pulled him inside and shut the door behind him with a thought. Immediately she shot a look at the fire that caused it to blaze higher, warming the room and the nearly frozen high court warrior, melting the ice that coated him into little puddles on her rug.

"You're nearly frozen through. Have you a horse outside in as bad shape?"

The elven knight shook his head. "I put him in your barn. Used all my magic keeping him alive these last few leagues. He should be all right 'til morning. A few gnomes came out to care for him when we entered the stable and I left him in their capable hands."

"Sensible of you. My gnome friends will make sure he's all right." Melea shook her head and made a tisking sound as she helped the warrior unwrap the furs and leathers he'd worn around himself. With a wave of her hand she conjured a tub full of warm water in front of the fire.

Eustace's eyes grew round at the beautiful dark elf's negligent use of such extravagant magic. He had little magic of any value except that with plants and trees. The high court looked down upon such common magics as next to worthless so he was never encouraged to develop his skills. Still, he often used his native talents when traveling in the woods and fields on his solitary journeys. Farmers were always glad to see him because crops flourished when he was nearby. He could also heal sicknesses in plants and it always made him feel good to help a sick tree, though his high court brethren would laugh at him.

Still, such casual use of complicated conjuring was something he had never seen, even among the more talented of his own kind. This stunning dark elf was something special, and not just because of her haunting beauty.

Eustace took a second look at his hostess and savior, noting the long black hair, the feminine features, the curvaceous figure beneath a long, dark blue robe that proclaimed her all female and very fit. She was no soft mage, but rather had the cunning look of a warrior mage. This Dark One would be a strong adversary, but she had kind, mysterious eyes that showed a steady character. She would probably be quick to temper like all dark elves, but measured in her responses in the way of a wise warrior. Her face was haunting, her form familiar somehow and Eustace felt his body quicken as the forbidden lower court sidhe woman looked him over with similar fascination.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Melea. And you must be the famous Eustace I've heard tell of these past years and more."

"I am Eustace, but who has been talking about me? I'm nobody important."

Melea shot him a mischievous look as he peeled away the last layers of shirt and dropped them to the floor. "On the contrary. When a high court knight spies on a princess of my kind, we notice. Most of your folk won't even acknowledge our existence, much less be bothered to watch us while we frolic in a glade. Word of you has gotten around. Most of the dark elves think you're somewhat deranged but basically harmless."

"Deranged!" Eustace parroted in outrage only to be stopped a moment later by Melea's soft hand on his chest. The touch was warm, powerful, and…exciting. It stopped Eustace short. It was also familiar.

"Now that I've seen you, I think you're probably just curious." Melea leaned forward, her gaze holding his as she reached up to brush her lips across his. A frisson of magic passed between their lips, multiplying and leaping between them in joy. "Now that I've seen you, I think I'm curious."

Melea chuckled slightly before leaning up once more, deepening the kiss. Eustace was shocked, but instantly aroused. This…this is what he'd been seeking. This kiss. This dark elf. He leaned into the kiss and returned it, taking charge of it by moving his cold hands up to grasp the silky warm robe Melea wore, fisting it between his fingers.

Melea pulled back, smiling up at Eustace. "You high court boys don't ever play on the dark side, do you?"

Copyright (c) 2007 by Bianca D'Arc. All Rights Reserved.