**Mature Content Ahead: The following scene contains 18+ material. Reader discretion is advised**
At Vjerniskógur Outpost, the raven arrived like a shadow cutting through the sky, landing with a harsh caw that immediately caught the attention of a vigilant Legionnaire.
The guard plucked the sealed message free, muttering, "If this is another supply delay, I swear I'll throw the next scribe into the river."
What he read instead drained the color from his face. Without a moment's hesitation, he sprinted toward the command tent. "Captain! Urgent message—from Arch General Vjetromor himself!"
Lorianthel snatched the scroll, his sharp eyes scanning the words. A sinking feeling settled in his gut. "Damn..." he muttered. "It's war."
Within minutes, horns sounded across the outpost. Legionnaires abandoned their meals, dice games, and complaints as Lorianthel's booming voice carried over the camp. "Ravens to all corners! Sound the alarms—full battle preparations!"
Amidst the growing chaos, Jingfei spotted Lorianthel and rushed to his side, eyes wide. "Captain, what's going on? You're barking orders like the world's ending."
Lorianthel gave a short, humorless laugh. "Feels like it might." He met her gaze, voice steady. "King Aezaric marches. We stand between him and Aelric."
Jingfei's eyes widened as her hand flew to her mouth. "The King himself?"
"With an army of golden-clad elves trailing him, if the Generals words are true." Lorianthel sighed. "And yes—Mei-Ling and Aelric are safe, for now. They're days out, but..." He gestured at the frenzied camp. "We may not have days."
Jingfei nodded, squaring her shoulders. "What do you need from me?"
Lorianthel allowed himself a crooked smile. "Whatever you've got, Jingfei. And maybe a few miracles."
She gave a mock salute, "Miracles are extra. I'll settle for breaking a few noses." With that, she dashed off, already barking orders.
Lorianthel chuckled under his breath. "That woman, going to outlive us all."
As the sun set, Vjerniskógur Outpost transformed into a hive of controlled chaos. Lorianthel oversaw the archers personally, his sharp eye picking apart every flaw. "You miss the target again, Corporal, and I swear I'm drafting you into toilet duty!"
"With respect, sir—" the young soldier stammered, "I'd rather face the King."
"Good," Lorianthel smirked, "because soon you might."
The air vibrated with the twang of bowstrings as archers loosed volley after volley. Nearby, the weapon-crafters worked tirelessly, sweat pouring from their brows as they polished blades and honed arrowheads to wicked sharpness. One blacksmith wiped his brow and grinned, "We make 'em sharp enough, maybe they'll think twice 'fore charging."
In the training grounds, soldiers grunted through relentless drills. "Again!" barked the drillmaster. "If you die slow, you die ugly. Let's at least die pretty!"
The scouts rode out next, vanishing into the twilight like ghosts. Jingfei watched them go, muttering, "May the gods help the poor bastard who tries to sneak up on us. Our scouts are worse than the damn enemy."
Medical tents sprung up fast, healers grinding herbs and checking supplies. One young medic glanced up nervously, "Sir, how bad do you think it'll get?"
Lorianthel exhaled hard. "Prepare for worse."
Throughout it all, alliances were reaffirmed. Messengers rode out, spirits of the forest whispered through the trees, and nature itself seemed to rally. Birds, wolves, and unseen sentinels took their place, watching, waiting.
By nightfall, the outpost thrummed with one shared heartbeat—a simmering mix of fear, determination, and grim humor. Every man, woman, and spirit knew the same truth:
They stood on the edge of a war they might not survive.
And somehow, that only made them fight harder.
****
Night had fallen over Vjerniskógur Outpost, blanketing it in restless silence. Fires burned low, soldiers resting uneasy with the looming threat of war. Amid the tension, Jingfei noticed something that gnawed at her—Captain Lorianthel had not left his office since dusk. His untouched dinner sat cold in the mess tent.
Concern tugged at her chest. Jingfei muttered, "Stubborn fool... going to waste away before the battle even starts." With a huff, she gathered his meal herself and made for his quarters.
A polite knock echoed through the door. "Come in," Lorianthel called, his voice distracted.
Jingfei entered quietly, tray in hand. "You missed supper, Captain. Figured you'd starve yourself if left unsupervised."
Lorianthel glanced up, surprise flashing across his face before he offered a faint smile. "That was thoughtful, Jingfei. Just leave it there—I'll eat once I finish these deployment plans."
She placed the tray down carefully but didn't move to leave. Instead, her gaze drifted over the maps, reports, and diagrams spread across his desk. "You're not fooling anyone, you know. We all see it... the weight you carry."
Lorianthel's jaw tensed, eyes fixed on his maps. "It's my duty. Someone has to carry it."
For a moment, silence stretched between them until Jingfei finally blurted, voice trembling, "Is there... anything else you need?"
Lorianthel blinked and looked up, studying her. "No. You should rest, Jingfei. Big days ahead."
Jingfei's heart pounded as she stood in Lorianthel's quarters, the weight of her words still lingering in the air. "Before we face the battlefield... I want to know what it feels like."
Lorianthel stared at her, stunned, quill hanging mid-air. Slowly, he stood, the lines of duty and discipline fading from his face, replaced by something raw, something deeply human. "You're sure?" he asked, his voice lower, rougher.
"I am." Her answer was barely a whisper, but it carried every ounce of her courage.
His lips were on hers before she could say another word, the kiss deep, consuming, carrying every fear, every unspoken desire. Jingfei gasped as his hands cupped her face, thumbs tracing her cheekbones, grounding her even as her knees threatened to buckle.
"Say stop, and I'll stop," he breathed, lips brushing her ear.
"Don't stop," she whispered back, her fingers already tugging at the fastenings of his tunic.
Lorianthel groaned, his hands sliding down to her waist, pulling her flush against him. "Gods, you have no idea what you're doing to me."
"I think I do," Jingfei smiled softly, emboldened by the shiver she felt run through him.
His hands found the sash of her robe, undoing it with a deft pull. The silk pooled around her feet, revealing her bare skin to his heated gaze. Lorianthel stilled, drinking her in. "Beautiful," he muttered, reverence in his tone.
He bent his head, lips tracing a slow, burning path down her neck, stopping just above her breasts. Jingfei gasped, fingers threading through his hair as he nipped, kissed, and worshiped every inch of her exposed skin.
With careful hands, he lifted her and set her down atop the cleared table. His eyes met hers once more, seeking permission. Jingfei answered by guiding his hand between her thighs, her breath hitching as his fingers found her wetness.
"You're ready," he growled, his control slipping.
"Lorianthel... please," she whimpered, the ache unbearable now.
With one swift motion, he freed himself, his length thick and hard between them. Jingfei's eyes widened as she reached down, wrapping tentative fingers around him. Lorianthel hissed through his teeth, his head falling back.
"Jingfei..." he growled, her name a plea, a warning.
She stroked him slowly, feeling him pulse in her hand. "I want this. I want you."
His lips crashed onto hers again before he lined himself up, rubbing his tip against her soaked folds. He hesitated—just a breath—but Jingfei's hips arched, taking him in.
The stretch stole her breath, her body tightening instinctively. Lorianthel stilled, his jaw clenched. "Tell me if it's too much."
"No... keep going," she whispered, eyes locked on his, the vulnerability and need shining through.
Slowly, he pressed deeper until he was fully seated inside her. Both of them stilled—panting, trembling from the intensity. "You're... perfect," Lorianthel murmured, kissing her temple.
Jingfei's nails dug into his back as he began to move, slow at first, each thrust drawing a gasp from her lips. He watched every reaction, every flutter of her lashes, memorizing the way her body responded to him.
"More..." she whimpered, surprising them both.
Lorianthel groaned and gathered her close, thrusting harder now, deeper. Jingfei's head fell back as pleasure rippled through her. "Lorianthel... I—"
"I know," he grunted, sweat beading on his brow as he fought to hold himself back.
Suddenly, he withdrew, spinning her carefully. "I need... more of you."
Her breath caught as he bent her over the table, his hands firm on her hips. "You still sure?"
She nodded, arching back toward him. "Yes. I want to feel all of it."
With a deep growl, he pushed back inside, the angle making her cry out, pleasure and pain mixing beautifully. His pace quickened, hips slapping against her thighs as she gripped the edge of the table, moaning his name.
"Do you feel that?" he rasped, leaning down to kiss the back of her neck. "That's mine. You're mine tonight, Jingfei."
"Y-yes," she gasped, tears brimming in her eyes from the overwhelming sensations. "Yours."
Lorianthel's control snapped. He drove into her harder, deeper, until she trembled, her release crashing over her with a strangled cry. The feel of her tightening around him sent him over the edge—he groaned low, thrusting once more as he spilled deep inside her.
They stayed there, trembling, breathing hard—Jingfei still bent over the table, Lorianthel's arms wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly.
Slowly, he pulled back and turned her into his arms, kissing her forehead. "You're... incredible."
Jingfei smiled weakly, resting her head against his chest. "I'm glad... it was you."
Lorianthel chuckled softly. "I'm glad it was me too. Now you've ruined me, Jingfei."
"Good," she smirked tiredly. "I intend to keep ruining you if we survive this."
He laughed, kissing her gently. "Deal. But next time... it's a bed, not a table."
They stayed there, wrapped in each other, savoring the rare, fragile peace—knowing full well the dawn would bring blood and battle.
But for tonight... they had this.