She smiled, aware that he would go back to his master. "I wish to come with you." she said simply, she had a plan, and it showed in her eyes as she sent him a lopsided smile.

His eyes flashed. "Oh no...you can't. He will be most unpleased...He'll.." He lifted the deer over his shoulder and turned to face the woman. "It would be too dangerous..."

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"Too dangerous? Why?" she challenged. She knew someone like his master would not refuse the jingling of coins. "He'll listen." she grinne mysteriously.

"I warned you," He sighed as he walked back onto the path. He walked back to the town, his head low. His feet seemed to drag as they carried him back home.

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Sh followed, wondering what would happen. But she knew what she was going to do, and refused to take no for an answer. She hiked her skirts up and determinedly followed him along.

Markus sighed heavily. "What's your name anyway?" He grunted, not out of rudeness, but under the weight of the deer. In his mind he reeled back his masters commands for the day. He checked everything off the list. Therefore on the most part his master should be happy. He will just be angry at the sight of another elf.

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"Luna." she replied, looking around at the town. "What's yours?" she looked at his back curiously.

"I am Markus. Markus Swift," he said. His voice had become more quiet as they neared the mansion at the top of the road. Instead of heading up the steps to the front door, Markus walked round to the side of the building. He set the deer down on the ground while he propped open the doors to the basement. He lifted the deer and walked down the steps. Once inside he set the deer against the wall. He looked around the basement, his eyes resting on the make-shift bed in the corner of the room. He glanced back to Luna, he held a finger to his lips before moving behind her to close the basement doors.

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She looked at him curiously as he did this, but remained quiet. This was odd, she thought. She tilted her head and looked almost like a puppy.

As the basement doors closed a creak echoed from up stair. "Markus?" A voice growled. "Is that you?" Another creak, only louder as someone climbed down the stair. "What took you so long?" The voice grumbled. "I am starving! The food does not cook itself!" The door to the basement swung open to reveal a large man. His clothes were elegant but wrapped too tightly around his bulging body. His beady brown eyes widened as he took in the sight before him. "Who is this? What is the meaning of this?" He bellowed. Before Markus could react or even attempt to explain, his master flicked his whip and it slapped Markus around the face. "You know what I think of your kind, boy! Why would you bring another here? Let me guess you thought she could rescue you?" Markus gritted his teeth as the whip lashed his back. "Get upstairs! You filthy disgusting excuse for a creature. I am hungry and my guests are becoming impatient." He turned his attention to Luna. "As for you!" He jabbed a finger at her. "Get out of here now! Your kind is not welcome here!"

Markus glanced at her apologetically, his eyes almost pleading her to leave. He crawled up the stairs, blood soaking his shirt.

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Her eyes literally glowed bright blue, and she was on the master in a flash. she snarled almost like an animal as she pinned him against the wall. "I am going to buy him, and you are not going to argue." her voice was dangerously low, and she drew a dagger and held it to his throat. "I'll give you three full bags of gold for him." the tip of the knife drew blood.

"Get your filthy hands off of me!" The master yelled as he grabbed her shoulder and flung her across the room. "Markus! Markus!! Get down here this instant!"

Markus ran down the stairs immediately. "Yes Master?" He asked.

The master glared at him. "Was this your doing?" He hissed. "Was this your plan? Bring her here to kill me?" He growled, whipping Markus repeatedly until he was on all fours on the floor. "You want him?" The master asked, looking round at Luna. The master pulled some cloth from his pocket and dabbed at his throat. "You can have him. Get that miserable carcass out of my sight and never return." He glared at the two elves as he disappeared up the stairs.

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She watched with tears in her eyes, and barred her teeth at the man as he left before going to Markus. "We will get you somewhere safe, and I shall help you." she whispered and helped him up, going to the stairs to the basement door outside. Once outside, she helped him run into the woods, once they were a safe distance she helped him lay down. "Drink this." she gave him some strong ale, then went to work at putting herbs on his wounds. She tore strips o cloth from the bottom of her dress and bandaged the wounds. She was silent, her eyes flashing with anger and sadness. "You are free now." she finally said.

Markus could barely hear Luna's voice through the searing pain that blinded him. He simply nodded to her as he took deep breaths through his gritted teeth. Markus felt her push a flask into his hand, he drank from it without hesitation. His body welcomed the ale and it's numbing qualities. "Thank you," he managed to whisper to Luna between sharp winces of pain. "You...you did not need to do that...You could have gotten yourself killed..." After a moment Markus fell silent and his eyes closed.

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She silently held him as he slept, feeling an almost maternal instinct take over her. She brushed hair from his forehead, taking the time to study his features. How long had he been in captivity? How much had he been beaten? From the look of his back it had been more than she cared to think about. Her mouth tightened into a thin line and she trembled with rage that anyone would do that. She could not deny she wished to see his master dead.

When morning came, Markus woke up. He sat up stiffly, wincing sharply. He looked around at Luna, the memories of the night before flooding back into his mind. "Hello..." Markus said uneasily. He knew, from the look of her eyes, she had been up with him all night, tending to his wounds. He frowned deeply.

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