chapter 16

He finished getting dressed and she tossed him his axe. "We are going to need this for certain. Let's get out of here master dwarf and I'll cook you a real feast. And maybe show you what a truly playful evening is. After you bathe of course", wrinkling up her small nose.

He finished buckling his broad belt and moved to her side. "I'm ready...hungry, but ready. I'm right behind you." At his words they burst through the door, moving quietly from room to room. Quietly except for his stumbling ponderous gait.

"Pick up your feet, dwarf, they'll hear us...too late!" she shouted as they stumbled into a room of sleeping orcs, now rising to their feet at the noise.

Like a madwoman she tore into the mass, swinging her blazing sword in glittering arcs, each pass taking off a series of orc heads. He followed suit guarding her off side flank, his axe whirling at a blurring speed, orc blood gushing from severed heads and limbs.

Soon the room grew silent, and as he stood leaning on his axe handle catching his breath he watched her stalk carefully, quieting any still living orc with a thrust of her slowly dimming blade.

"And that is that," she said, wiping her blade on the most clean rag of clothing she could find. "Stop leaning on that axe and lets get out of here...I knoww a camp a distance away where we will be safe...for awhile."

She turned and slid her arms around him, giving him a hug that took his breath away. "I'm glad you're safe dwarf...I told you I didn't care to lose anyone I loved. Now follow me."

She turned and as usual, without a look set off, and, with a smile, he stumbled after her.

After what seemed like hours they finally slowed and he guessed they were near the area near where she had planned to camp.

He tripped over a limb on the ground and almost fell, just barely managing to catch himself. She looked over at him with concern. "We are close, sir dwarf. There is a place not far from here we will be safe. It's an old elf outpost. We can attend to your wounds there."

He nodded, his mind still reeling from the blow on his head, the cruel torture and the humiliation he had received from the orc female. He could still feel her raspy squeezing grasp around his member and shuddered, feeling soiled and disgusted with himself.

He staggered on after his savior, blessing his fortune through his pain and misery. Miserable, hungry and tired he struggled after her, gratefully accepting her assistance as she occasionally supported him on difficult sections of the trail, or help him across streams, balancing on slippery fallen logs.

They climbed higher and higher up forgotten paths along treacherous rocky hillsides, still cloaked in deep forest, along crashing streams and thundering waterfalls, endlessly climbing.

Finally they came to a massive tree that, other than its immense girthh and height, looked very ordinary. She headed towards it and noticed that he had stopped.

"I cannot climb like you, fair maiden. If I try I shall surely fall."

"Look closer my dear dwarf. You will see that there is a way up for all."

And sure enough upon closer inspection, he could make out the camouflaged steps that seemed to be growing out of the tree. Feeling better about it, he let her lead him up high into the thick, spreading branches. There, nestled in the leaves many feet above ground was a small carefully disguised building appearing as if it was actually part of the tree itself.

"This used to be an output for elf sentinels. We will be safe here. Now let's get you attended to."


Chapter 17

She massaged the small of his back as she ushered him in and her nose to wrinkled at his terrible odor as she got close. "But first, sir dwarf, a bath to get that orc stink off you...over there is a water closet and a bathing area. The water will be cold but I understand dwarves are a hardy people...certainly as hardy as the men of my kind," she winked, teasing him.

"Very well," he grumbled, "Anything to get the feel and stench of that creature off me."

He went into the small bathing area noting it neatness and cleanliness despite its long disuse. Why can't the men and women of my race be clean like this? Always dirty, living in squalor, lice infested, flea infested, straw mats on cold stone floors. No wonder we are hated by most races...including these elves.

He sighed wearily as he stripped and started to bathe. He discovered bottles of what appeared to be cleansers and scented unguents that as he used them seemed to lift his spirits and cleanse his mind. All his body that he could reach he cleaned, with cold water and almost magical herbs that seemed to warm the water as he lathered and rinsed. He peered around looking for a scrub brush so that he could reach his parts out of reach because of his bulk. None was to be found... apparently elves were double jointed when it came to cleaning their backsides he mused. Certainly none were as obese as he.

He went to the door dripping soapy water and opening it a crack called out, "Princess, there doesn't seem to be a scrubber on a handle that I may reach my back and nether parts...is there something out there that I could use?"

"We elves have no use for such items. But I do have an idea. With your permission of course master dwarf." She appeared outside the door, with an outstretched hand, he thought indicating that she wanted his clothes for washing.

He handed out his filthy clothes and continued to wash what he could, the best he could, humming tunelessly a dwarf battle hymn. The water splashing, wetting the floor surrounding the shallow tub. He felt like he was in a pot ready for cooking and he shuddered at the close call and his narrow escape from a fate worse than death.

He jumped as he heard her clear her throat behind him.

"I had already planned an washing your clothes as best I could. I meant that I would wash something else." Her eyes twinkled as she smiled and held out her hand once again.

He just looked confused for a moment until he realized what she had meant...

He smiled shyly, his smile hidden by his wet moustache and soapy beard now plastered to his face and neck. "There is nothing more I could wish for, madam elf," he replied, "That is if you don't mind, and I do know you've already seen most all the parts of me not traditionally visible in the light of day."

As she moved into the small room and stood in front of him he handed her the huge wash cloth he was using, that sparkle again in her eyes. She was loosely garbed in her gauze-like top, which disguised absolutely nothing of her amazing voluptuousness. Below that he could see nothing else, her smooth muscular, perfectly hairless thighs rising up and up until they disappeared under the lower hem of her blouse.

He blushed, his affection for her he tried desperately to hide, his desire for her throbbing in his body despite his weariness, the washing herbs giving him new energy. "You take my breath away, my bold brave princess...you continually surprise and amaze me."

"I am amazed, every time I see you," she answered, gently moving the wash cloth over his protruding abdomen and broad chest, "this belly of yours...this huge wonderful shape...for some reason I just can't take my eyes off it, or keep my hands from exploring the softness. Touching you, feeling you against me does something inside me. Oh my stars, look at these bruises and cuts down here and between here. Let met put some herbal tincture I've brought with me. Now be a good dwarf, spread your legs apart and lift that big belly so I can work underneath."

He heard a soft gasp, "Yes, you are the one who is amazing sir dwarf."