"To Wander Once More"

By Curtis Geluf,
"Wandering" Minstrel

Kiora Geluf, APC,
wife of said Minstrel

OOC- Anyone who wants, can write the exact details of the pre-battle. Essentially, Bhrode and the neighboring counts have led their citizen armies to the farming pastures south of Galaxia town. The Kling are there, and the two armies, of course, will clash. As far as I'm concerned, your battle melee posts can come out now.

~Eat, Drink, Be Merry, For Tomorrow, We Die~

"So, this is Galaxia County?" the grizzly man growled, "I've never been here before, but I like the wine!"

"And the women!" the fat man next to him exclaimed, grabbing the rear of the servant woman as she replenished the meat on his plate.

However, at the opposite end of the long table, the ruler of this land and master of this court was not as pleased. "Idiots," he grumbled under his breath, slicing into the thick steak laying before him. All the local counts and military captains were sitting in the great banquet hall of Galaxia palace. Bhrode was hosting a feast! And he wasn't too happy about it.

Sitting seven chairs away, Count Scott of Hood began to boast. "The Kling, fearful hunters, and masters of the blade. They can fell a tree with a single swipe of their battle swords," he said, swinging his arm wildly in demonstration, ale from the cup he held in his hand sloshing out across the table, "The legends do not describe what happens when those blades strike the neck of a man, one can only infer the gruesome result. Haha," he guffawed, "yet, with one small regiment of archers, the warriors of Kling are sent scrambling and their front line warriors sent on their journey to Sto'vo'whore."

Chuckles emanated from the crowd at the count's mistake. Noticing, he added, "Or whatever nonsense their church claims. The heathens. I say they all will be thrown from our borders within a fortnight!"

A fortnight! Hah, indeed, Bhrode thought. They've only managed to hold the entirety of southern Lefedera for four years.

"Has anyone heard the ladies of the town whispering about a pack of Kling barbarians?"

"No, I've heard the ladies of the town whisper about clinging to the barbarian in my pantaloons," the fat man boasted, the horse and cart of his mind firmly remaining on the same old single path.

"Vicente, you fat oaf!" the first spoke, Robertson, a captain under Duke Price. "They say three Kling snuck into the woods south of Galaxia, where an old, decrepit hermit woman lives. And, no more than a few hours had past, before they had come screaming out of the wood, raving like lunatics about a demon spider! Hahah, how can one fear an enemy that can be so easily fooled by a spinster in the woods!"

Again, laughter came from the men sitting at the table. None of them were bothering to mention their recent defeat in one of Price's southern territories in their ongoing attempt to cut the body out from under the Kling forces camped in Hoth's lands. It frustrated Bhrode, but he understood their reasons. No one liked to mention defeat, not even Bhrode himself. And many of these men needed the morale boost.

The boasting continued, but Bhrode no longer listened, he only concentrated on his steak. However, he noticed someone new enter the banquet hall out of the corner of his eye. It was his messenger Savoie.

"Your lordship," Savoie said, leaning down and speaking quietly into Bhrode's right ear, "Your scouts have reported back. They say the larger portion of the Kling army has begun moving east. They expect an attack on Galaxia tomorrow in the afternoon."

"What? They're sure?"

"No, sir. They are not, the two spies they sent to infiltrate the Kling troops did not return. But, the army appears to be preparing for battle," Savoie explained, then stood up at attention inconspicuously.

"Very well," Bhrode grumbled. A battle, on his fields this time. "Alert Dukes Hoth and Price in their guest suites, and alert my lieutenants. Tell them to round up the men from the town this night," he ordered, then sighed. "We will have to meet the Kling tomorrow."

Year 821

[BACK POST]

“It’s Time”

By Dhanishta Eshe

Since Ethan had left Dhanishta had had the house locked pretty much all the time. The feeling of danger grew and now, since the other night when she had the vision of her sister, she couldn’t sleep at all. Kalethan’s continuing questioning of where Ethan was, began to irate Dhani, she tried not to snap at the small lad but her patience was wearing thin.

After tucking Kal in bed and kissing him goodnight she went back down stairs and sat at her spinning wheel, might as well do something she though seeing as she could not sleep, made sense to work.

She had been spinning for some time when her vision clouded over and another emerged;

A manor loomed in front of her, guards raced towards her and like a skilled swordsman she cut them down. She heard the roar of a man, thundering footsteps. She felt fear and then she saw Chandrakala quarrelling with the Baron. He knocked her down sending her crashing to the ground, her blood spilled onto the floor. Then the vision shifted again fire raged consuming the manor, raging like the wind. She saw Kala again through thick black smoke.

The room re emerged in front of her and the spinning wheel, still spinning. The vision had been crystal clear. Dhani was confused she had already seen her sister hurt by the Baron, she had felt her pain. Why would she be shown it again? She thought for a while trying to understand what she had been shown but the vision made her feel exhausted and she decided to try and sleep.

As she climbed the stairs a cold sweat enveloped her body as she suddenly realised that the previous vision had been her own, not her sisters. She almost collapsed on the stairs, choking on her own breath. Her mind raced flooding with questions. Fear and the memory of pain made her feel sick. What about the boy? If the vision was of her what would happen to Kalethan? She sat on the stairs for some time, processing the information.

Knowing that she could only save her sisters son she rushed round the house gathering all that she thought the boy needed and could carry.

Before the light of dawn graced the land she had Kal dressed with a bundle of blankets and food on his little back.

She took him to the edge of the woods. “Listen,” she said. She had not answered any of his questions and the boy was getting testy, “you know the woods well, Ethan taught you all you need to know. You must go the place where the spiders live. There you will find a woman, she will keep you safe till mommy returns for you.” “But…” the boy protested. But Dhani cut him off. “You must sleep in the trees and speak to no one. If someone sees you then run from them, hide in a tree do what you must but NO ONE must see where you go.” “How will I know when I have found the right person?” Kal asked, “What is her name?” “You will know.” Dhani replied, “You have been there before.” “I have?” he questioned, still sleepy. “Yes. Now GO!” she ordered him. He protested some and Dhani wanted so much to hold him as he began to cry. He didn’t understand the danger he was in and didn’t want to leave his mother. “You will come for me, wont you mommy?” he asked through his sobs. Dhani couldn’t bare to reply. She raised her hand as if to smack him, “GO” she yelled again. And he did, running as fast as he could.

Dhani returned to the house as the sun shone, with a heavy heart. She had gathered some fire wood, just in case anyone had been watching her. They wouldn’t have been able to see her with the boy while it was dark and would assume that she had gone alone. Once inside she sat at the table and sobbed.

**** Later that day *****

Outside Dhani could hear irritated voices, she looked out the window and could see some of the lads who worked for her out in the fields, they were not working as they should but arguing.

She hitched up her skirts and went out to settle their squabble. As she got nearer she could hear the insults that they spat at each other. She knew of the growing conflict between the supporters of Price and Hoth, and here the conflict was, in her fields.

“I not pay you to fight each other.” She said closing in on them.

They paid her no heed, raising pitchforks and hoes at one another. She clapped her hands trying to get there attention, yet they continued to advance upon one another, knocking her down in the process.

Dhani looked up from the ground and watched in shock as the men charged at one another, knocking each other down and wrestling on the ground. Then the others followed suit, raising their farming equipment - turned weapons. The sound of metal upon metal and the crashing of wood merged with the sound of their voices, grunting, hissing and spitting curses at one another.

Dhanishta flew back into her house, locking the door behind her. Her heart pounded as she realised she was alone, and would be for quite some time yet. Ethan would not be back for three weeks if not longer and the war had come.

She routed about the house quickly and once she had found what she was looking for raced back out to the fighting farm hands.

*** BANG***

All the lads jumped at the sound of the hand held musket. “Good. I have your attention now.” Dhanishta said looking at them with a solemn expression, “I do not pay you to fight. I pay you to work. If you can not work then leave.”

A grumbling arose between them. “I can’t afford to go home, I need the money.” One of the hands shouted. Several others concurred.

“Can you work with the man in front of you?” Dhanishta asked.

“He’s a Hoth lover.” The hand snarled to Dhanishta and the man in front.

More grumbling.

Dhanishta knew it wouldn’t be long till they were at each others throat again.

“Drop your tools.” She commanded. Reluctantly they downed tools.

“Now you lot,” Dhani said pointing out the group that seemed to be siding for Price, “leave.”

They left shooting insults back towards Dhani and the ‘Hoth lovers’. After 10 minutes she told the others to leave in the opposite direction and they did murmuring amongst themselves of the revenge they would show the ‘Price lovers’

*****

The event in the fields had only been a fraction of what had happened in the Town later that week. To say ‘all hell broke loose’ was an understatement. The town was in total chaos and it was spreading. Within days the conflict had reached the outskirts of the Town and another week and it was on Dhani’s doorstep. They set light to her dry fields and to her barns, no animal was safe as the riot peeked. Her farm tools became implements of the vigilantes, and they were about to use them on her. They knocked down the door of her house and rolled in live a wave, they took anything of value and destroyed everything else. And then they found Dhani, hiding as best she could in the rafters of the house. Dragging her outside they screamed at her to declare her ‘side’.

Dhani cared not for Hoth, or Price. All she wanted was to live in peace. The cries from the crowd grew louder as they waited for her decision. They did not wait long. They began to advance on her as she stood sobbing, shaking and afraid. Soon she was on the ground being poked by sticks, the crowd chanting; “Chose, chose, chose, chose…”

Suddenly she felt her arm being wrenched as she was pulled.

“This ones not worth the bother lads.” A gruff voice said. The voice belonged to the man pulling her arm. The crowd took a moment to disperse and let Dhani and the man through and back to the house.

Inside Dhani dried her eyes and looked at the man stood before her. Hotchkins. ‘I’d rather be outside’ she thought.

Dhani tried to scream but he grabbed her and covered her mouth. She kicked and scratched trying to loosen his grip, but he held on. She bit down hard on his hand and he let her go yelping with pain. He looked at his hand surveying what the Devil had done to him, and she ran up the stairs.

Reaching through the railings of the banister he grabbed her foot making her trip.

Bouncing down a few steps Dhani turned to see Hotchkins at the bottom beginning his assent. She kicked him square in the face sending him crashing back down. Blood splattered the staircase. Hitching up her skirts she ran up the rest of the stairs and to her own room. Once inside she piled all her furniture in front of the door as quickly as she could, hearing his footsteps on the wooden floor she leaned against all she had piled and prayed she would be strong enough to hold him back.

*** THUD……THUD…..THUD***

On every thud Dhani felt the vibrations and the furniture bounce off her back and the door. ‘Please please, please.’ She begged silently.

***THUD….THUD…THUD***

He tried again.

***THUD.….THUD… THUD***

And again.

***THUD***

And then it fell silent.

Soon she heard a thunderess wave of crashing and shouting as the mob found others to attack. And then the window shattered, and there was no where left to run.

"Yr 820 & 821 (hehe nobody else has done this LOL) : The day after and results"

by

Cassie,
Court Jester/Prostitute,

Ryn,
Grace Wife

Yr 820..... Day after "Oops Part II"....

Kira moaned as she rolled over. Opening her eyes and wiping them, she looked around at the small dungeon cell she was currently being held in.

Scratching her left breast where it was itchy from the hay, she stood up and groaned when she saw the 'pit' to one side. Deciding that she didn't need to at the moment, she walked over to the grimy bowl in the corner. The water inside lookedquite sickening and seemed to be well on the way to helping a thick layer of green gunk make the next jump up the evolutionary scale.

Moving to the door, she banged on it and hollered for awhile with some nasty curses about the guards before she heard footsteps.

The iron grate opened and a guard snapped, "What do you want, whore?"

"Some fresh water, something to eat and either a lockpick or keys to this door."

Growling, he slammed it shut. A few minutes later, he brought back another bowl of water which at least passed her minimum drinkable level and some bread that seemed to be okay as long as she broke the green end off. There was also some sort of vile looking soup, but she passed her nose at it.

Calling out some vile curses about his mother, she drank her water and ate what she could of the bread.

Leaning against the wall, she was eventually forced to use the hole and had just sat back down when she heard more footsteps. The guard looked in through the grate before opening it. A beautiful looking woman walked in, and Kira smiled, "Hiya! Didn't think they were so crammed as to need to share cells."

Ryn regarded the woman with curiosity followed by concern. She wasn't accustomed to meeting a prisoner in such pleasant spirits, especially one with her wounds. Immediately she dropped to the floor and pulled her bag of herbs and salves off her shoulder, setting out bandages as well. She hadn't been told much about why she was needed, but she knew not to argue. She wondered briefly why the guards would show such concern for a prisoner. "My name's Ryn. I'm a healer and gracewife, and I'm here to help you. Can you tell me what happened?"

Kira grinned, "Sorry, I can't help with jokes. I'm the court jester. I got busted for borrowing some documents, and well, the captain of the guards got a bit mad and let them rape me a lot.. everywhere. They also used lots of interrogation & torture stuff on me. I guess they don't like me pulling jokes on them."

Ryn tried to comfort Kira as she did what she could for the bruises & wounds that had been recieved.

Once that was done, the guard informed them both that Kira was allowed to go free as well.

****************************

Yr 821..... About 9 months later..

Kira screamed loudly as she felt sharp pains. Reaching the end of the corridor, she walked around it and spotted some guards nearby. Kneeling down on the floor, she was unable to keep from crying out.

When the guards turned and spotted her, they raced over. All of them knew that what they originally thought was a baby from either the captain or one of their own was actually a noble baby, and they were sure that Lord Blackadder would convince the Count that peg heads up on the wall might be good deterrants for Hoth and Price if Kira or his baby were harmed anymore.

"Go and see if you can find a midwife quickly while we take her to the nearest bedroom."

Two of them helped Kira up while the other raced off.

Putting Kira down on the bed, one of them went to get hot water while the other stayed to look after her, ignoring her foul cursing.

A shortwhile later Ryn entered, immediately dismissing the male guard. This was not a job for the faint hearted and it would get messy in short order. She took a moment from her preparations to reassure the young woman in pain before her. Setting a basin of cool water on the nightstand, Ryn withdrew the cloth from it, wringing it out and placing it on Kira's forehead. "It won't be long now, Kira. Try to breathe. Can you tell me how long you've been in pain and if you're waters have broken?"

Screaming out, Kira thought for a moment before replying, "Ummm.. Not long really. and.. ahhhhhhh.. about now for the other bit."

"Okay. Just breathe deeply and I will help you."

Twenty minutes later of agony, Kira was finally able to relax as Ryn handed her a small baby boy wrapped in a blanket. Kissing him on the forehead, she giggled when he reached out and batted her nose. Leaving Kira with strict orders to rest, Ryn headed off to her next apppointment.

"Year 826: I have a cunning plan"

by Lady Kira Murphy-Blackadder,
Royal Court Jester/one of the town prostitutes,

'Baldrina',

'Cousin Edwina'

It had been five very happy years for Kira since the time she had been busted by the castle guards.

Two weeks earlier, she hadn't realised that she had become pregnant during a late night interlude with her cousin's employer. When it had become obvious that she was, and the calculations had been done, it was confirmed that Kira had indeed become pregant with Blackadder's baby.

They had spent a few months together before being engaged & getting married. He didn't mind Kira continuing her jobs though.

Now, she was sitting in the drawing room eating some sort of broth.

Looking up as Baldrick entered with a telegram, he spoke, "Lord Blackadder, this telegram arrived for you."

Taking it, he opened it up and started reading, "Oh, really? I wonder what it is at.. eeeeeeeeeekk.. The Kling are on their way here.."

"Oh, how nice.."

"No, it isn't.. They want us to go fight."

"Oh, not good. "

"Master, I have a cunning plan."

"Baldrick, you wouldn't know a cunning plan, even if it jumped out of your birthday cake naked & covered in whipped cream singing 'Cunning plans are here today'."

"Why don't we dress up like women? I can be Baldrina and you can be Kira's cousin Edwina."

Kira laughed as Edmund's eyes shot up, "That might work."

Shaking her head when they left the room, she went back to trying to read. She wasn't very good at it, and struggled hard, but she had managed to pick something up with Edmund's pushing.

About ten minutes later, they entered the room again and Kira started laughing loudly. Falling out of her chair, she had tears come to her eyes at the sight of them.

Edmund ignored her and went over to his desk, while Baldrick shrugged and walked out, not minding the dress.

"819 - Death is Peace"

Principle Characters:

Victor Demonsson
Laura Harper
Grey the Thief

****

Galaxia
The Dark Woods
Laura's Hut

Laura jumped from her chair, startled from her nap as someone came stomping into her hut. She heard the little noises her visitor made, however, and relaxed. It was Ella.

She smiled. It had been quite some time since the girl hadn't approached her like a healer approaching a sick patient. Ella must have been very annoyed indeed.

"Something troubling you, dear one?" Laura asked her.

Of course she couldn't see Ella but she had the distinct impression the girl was scowling.

"A bad hunt, Poppet?" Laura continued.

The rustling of fabric let Laura know that Ella had shrugged. A mystery indeed, Laura thought. But maybe not so. She had not heard the approach of Victor and wondered if he was perhaps the problem.

"Victor fixed the roof again." Laura remarked casually.

The effect of his name was fascinating. Ella made a sharp wailing noise, some cross between anger and frustration, and shortly after was the sound of something breaking into pieces against the wall. Probably tossed one of the boats, Laura decided. She hoped it was the one with the broken sail and not the one with the mermaid on its hull.

"I take it you and he are having difficulties." Laura replied. Ella snorted, there was movement, and then she felt Ella brush her leg as the girl sat down abruptly beside her with a defeated 'huruh' sound.

"I thought as much." Laura said. "You must be patient with him, Poppet. He's not used to the affection of women."

She heard Ella snap her fingers five time. "Yes," Laura sighed. "I know he's been with us five years. But maybe that's not enough time. He's like you were when I first found you. Do you remember how distrustful you were? How lost?"

Ella sighed loudly.

"Don't worry, dear one." Laura said. "He'll come around." She tilted her head as she heard an approaching noise. "See, he's already here."

A rush of noise told her that Ella had scrambled to her feet. "Come in Victor." Laura called to the so-called 'Demon of the Forest." She heard Victor enter, didn't have to see to know that he had probably nodded and was now engaged in a fierce battle of not looking at Ella. "How was the hunt?"

From the doorway, Victor answered, "A deer. A fish. The storm drove most things into hiding."

Ella was probably crossing her arms, something she did when she was pouting. "I'm sure it will be delicious. Poppet, are you going to move out of the way so that Victor can sit down?"

She heard Ella move, sniff, and then stomp out the door. Laura shook her head and tried not to laugh. She gestured for Victor to sit down.

"The deer are plentiful this year." Laura commented, listening to the sound of Ella stomping down the little path towards the center of the forest. The girl could be an adorable brat when she so desired.

Victor set the deer down and moved into the main part of the hut. There weren't many hunters last year. Too many deer this one."

"How lovely. When are you going to tell her that you love her?"

Victor looked at the old woman blankly. "Love is for men."

"Of course, I use love in the general sense." Laura said, ignoring his protest. "I understand about a man's needs naturally. I was, after all, married for quite some time. He was a total scoundrel, of course. Thank the Lord that he was killed in that tavern. I just got the impression that it was more than wanting with you, even though I'm sure that figures into what's been going on the past few years greatly. You can't keep avoiding her, you know. The forest is large but it isn't *that* large."

"Large enough. She can't find me if I don't wish her to." The problem, of course, was that he *did* wish her to.

"My dear boy, I'm going to tell you a little secret about most women. We don't like to have things decided for us. Arranged marriages, how many children we should have." Laura threw up her hands in disgust at the thought. "You should ask Ella how she feels on the subject before you just arbitrarily decide against it."

"Why?" Victor shrugged, making the chair creak. He'd need to fix it again soon. "What she wants, what I want... don't matter. I'm not for her."

"Why not?. Victor," Laura said seriously then. "In the years that we have known each other, I have never turned you away. You're a sweet boy, in your own way, and I can't think of a single reason why you shouldn't love Ella. And the day you decide to act on it, you will have my blessing. And hers, I rather suspect."

"Love is for men," he repeated. "I'm not a man."

"Funny," Laura said dryly. "You must be the most masculine woman, then, that I know."

"Men kill for reasons that make no sense. They take what they want from others with no regard. They hurt without a thought. That's the way of man." He sighed. "I'm no man. I'm not for her."

"I think you're too hard on yourself."

"I'm not for anyone. Ever."

Laura frowned. "Who is she really going to choose from out here, Victor? You may not have been part of the world of man for long but, like it or not, you are one. And Ella is a woman who wants you. It's only natural, after all."

Victor frowned. Last night at his cave had proved that Poppet did, indeed, want that with him. Perhaps as much, even, as he wanted it. She just didn't understand that it was impossible. "She doesn't understand."

She laughed, could imagine the frown on his face. The two of them were perfect for each other with all the scowling they did. "You know she's only going to keep pushing you until she gets what she wants."

"No one gets all they want," Victor said with a shake of his head. "Even Poppet."

"Try explaining that to Poppet." Laura then sighed. "I have a favor to ask of you, Victor. Be you like husband or like friend to her; take care of Ella when I'm gone. I...think it will be soon."

Victor started to respond, but stopped and looked at the old woman. Despite the food he'd brought for years, she seemed thinner now than when he'd first seen her. Thinner and lighter, as if a strong wind would blow her away. He leaned closer and sniffed once. Yes, the smell of death was there. Not very strong, but there. "How long?"

"A few months perhaps. But probably less."

"Poppet doesn't know." It was a statement. Had she known, she would never have left the old woman's side.

"No. Or if she does, she won't admit it to herself." Laura said.

"Tell her."

Laura shook her head. "I want her to live life, not be chained to my death bed." She looked directly at Victor with that strange perception she seemed to have even though blind. "I want your word that you'll take care of her. I don't want her to be alone again."

"Tell her," he repeated, ignoring the question.

"When the time is right."

Victor looked away from the blind eyes that seemed to see inside him to places he could not. "Does it hurt?" he asked, trying to deflect the question again. "Need something?"

"I need you to look after her when I'm gone." Laura countered.

Cornered, he sighed and nodded. "I will care for her. No one will hurt her while I live."

Laura frowned. "Be her friend, Victor. Not just her shadowy protector."

"I will... do what I can." He hoped she wouldn't ask for more than that, since he wasn't certain he could give it.

She heard Ella coming back up the path. "Wouldn't hurt you to kiss the hell out of her either." Laura smirked.

Victor flinched at the statement, glad for the first time that the old woman couldn't see the expression that crossed his face at them, glad she couldn't see how badly he wanted to do just that - and more. He looked away, trying to erase the desire from his face before Poppet entered.

Ella came in, made a small 'huh' sound which seemed to say "What? You're still here?", and walked briskly across the room. Laura heard the creak of their only chest open. She grabbed whatever she needed from it and stalked from the hut once more.

Victor wondered if Poppet knew how much her pouts and scowls and tantrums affected him. He doubted it. If she realized how much they made him want to kiss them away, or how badly the angry set of her shoulders and hips made his hands long to touch her, to smooth them away, he'd never see her smile again.

"Are absolutely sure you don't want her?" Laura said with a chuckle that turned into a nice coughing fit.

"Does it hurt?" he asked after she'd finished coughing, unwilling to answer her question.

"What is pain to an old woman?"

He nodded - then reached out and took her hand, something he hadn't done since their first meeting. "If it does, if it hurts too much," he said quietly. "Tell me."

"Why?"

"Because I will make it stop for you. No more pain. Just rest." He hoped the old woman would understand. Only men let people suffer for no reason.

Laura smiled. "That's very kind of you, dearest. But I've always told myself that I would die in my sleep like my grandmother. She went so peacefully."

"Death is peace," he agreed. "But dying is pain." He looked down and wondered why he'd needed to hold her hand now. "I do not wish you... pain."

"Life is pain, Victor."

"If do not wish the pain, it can stop." He frowned, uncertain why the words were suddenly difficult to say. "I will take it from you. Just ask. I could not do this for my other people - but I can now. I understand now."

Laura raised her eyebrows in interest. It was the first time he had ever spoken of other people. "Your parents?" she asked him.

"Yes." Victor stopped speaking for a long time after that, and then suddenly added, "Men took them from me. Father made crossbows, so there was always work. We moved because I was not like men. I was different. They never understood." He frowned. "Men stopped us on the road. They wanted gold, but that wasn't enough when father gave it to them. They wanted more. My mother."

"I see." Laura said evenly.

"Father fought them," he continued slowly. "She fought them. I fought them. There were too many." He paused for another long time, eyes closed, reliving the memories that he kept locked away inside him.

"They hurt her while we lay there, bleeding. She screamed for a long time. When she stopped, they still hurt her." His hands tightened on Laura's, stopping short of painfully so. "After they were gone, she was still alive, but she hurt. She took a day and a night to die. Father another day."

"I'm very sorry, Victor."

Victor ignored her, still lost in the memories. "I didn't know then. I didn't know that I could help them, that only men let the suffering go on when they have the power to stop it. I know I'm not a man now. I won't let you suffer like I did them."

"Dearest..." Laura began. "You may not understand this but I don't think it was your place to end their suffering." She held up her hand before he could respond. "I don't think we will agree on this but I will keep your mind in offer for if it becomes too painful. I thank you for your promise. Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll get some rest."

"Rest is good," he agreed. He looked down at her hands where he was holding them, back up at her, and released her. "Wait." Without explaining, he bent down and picked her up - she was so light she felt like a feather in his arms - and gently laid her down on the bed he'd rebuilt and enlarged the year before. "There," he said, draping a cover over her legs. "Rest."

"Victor," Laura said to him as he was leaving. "Not all men are evil, you know."

"Perhaps," he replied from the doorway. "But they are all men."

Laura sighed, closed her eyes, and quickly fell asleep.

Victor watched her for a moment, then turned and slipped from the hut. Things would change when the old woman died, he knew that. He hadn't decided if they would be good or bad, but he knew they would change. The memory of Poppet's arm wrapping around him last night, and the feel of her lips against his back returned, but he pushed them away. He was not for her... but she was waiting for him.

He sniffed the air once, and reflected that Poppet's scent was too well known to him now for her to sneak up on him - he recognized it instantly, without even thinking about it. She was there, in the bushes by the side of the trail - and she was angry. She'd never be so sloppy if she weren't.

Grey stepped in front of him, dagger in hand. She had heard the end of their conversation and had decided she needed to set a few things straight with Victor before he left. She pointed at the hut and then made a pantomime of slashing her throat. Then she slowly pointed the dagger at him and then made a quick mimic of slashing his throat.

She had tried to deny the seriousness of Laura's illness for years now but Victor's offer had destroyed all illusions. And, as sincere as the offer seemed to be, she would kill him- even though she considered Victor her mate- if he so much as scratched the old woman.

Victor watched her calmly, waiting for her to finish before he nodded. "If she asks me, I will set her free, Poppet. Only man lets suffering continue for no reason - and I am not a man."

She gripped the knife tightly. Why did he persist in this silliness? Did he not understand what she meant? She repeated her gestures.

He regarded her without a change in expression. "I will do what I promised if she asks," he repeated quietly. "Only man breaks his word once given. If this is your promise, then you must keep it as well."

Grey sniffed, stuck the knife back in her belt, and turned around to stalk off into the forest.

Victor felt himself start to take a step after her and forced himself to stop. Better to let it stop with this than make things worse. If the old woman asked, he would set her free. He'd promised her, and that was that. If the price of that promise was to be Poppet coming for him, to kill him, then that was that as well.

He watched her stalk away, felt the urge he always did to reach out and catch her in his hands and smooth out the anger in her stance with them. He watched her leave, and turned away, knowing that if she came for him with knife in hand, he wouldn't fight her as she killed him. Even if she wasn't for him, he wouldn't fight her.

The birds flitting around the clearing sang as if nothing had changed, as if nothing was different, but he knew better. He couldn't come here again, not while Poppet was here. She'd spend all her time waiting for him to set the old woman free. Better to wait. Poppet couldn't stay here forever. She'd need to hunt, to gather supplies - and he could come then to leave the food he'd bring or fix the things that Poppet couldn't.

He watched the birds for a minute, listened to their song as it slipped inside him and failed to fill the sudden feeling of emptiness inside when he realized that he might never see Poppet again until she came to kill him. He would miss seeing her, he knew, but it was better this way.

He shouldered his crossbow and vanished into the trees silently, still trying to convince himself to believe that lie.

"820 - Life After Death" [Backpost]

[Warning for not especially graphic relations between consenting adults]

Primary Cast:

Grey the Thief
Victor Demonsson

****

Galaxia
The Dark Woods
Laura and Grey's Cottage

She ran her fingers over the dead woman's face slowly in disbelief.

Grey pressed down a bit harder on the flesh, her thumb stroking the old woman's wrinkled cheek somewhat similar to the way the old woman had done when wiping away the child Ella's tears. Laura Harper's white-brown eyes did not blink and no breath moved through her body. She was dead; the chill of her skin telling Grey that she had been for some time.

She felt the scream building and covered her hands over her mouth. It was partially successful in drowning out the noise but she knew that anyone in her part of the forest would probably be startled by the sound. She screamed again, not caring this time whether she was heard or not, and alternated between screaming and crying for some time until finally there was no more energy for either.

Time passed at strange intervals. The burial shroud for Laura, Grey's poor skill at sewing making a functional yet wholly uneven stitch in the fabric, went quickly even though Grey worked in a kind of stupor.

The hole she dug for the grave, between the roses like Laura had once requested, seemed to take forever. It had to be deep enough so that the animals would not scent the dead flesh but Grey reasoned that time went slower because she did not want to reach that point where she would have to leave her friend.

Moving Laura took even more time but eventually Grey managed to lower the body carefully inside the grave using a ramp she had made out of the earth. She buried her friend with some of the woman's old memories: dried roses, an old doll from her childhood, some letters, and one of the boats Grey had carved for her.

She covered her friend's grave quickly with the hateful dirt and then time slowed again as she broke down a second time.

The rest of Laura's remaining possessions were bundled together, all except Grey's favorite blanket made of mismatching fabrics, the remainder of the wooden boats, and the few possessions that were the thief's own. She would not live here now; she would only visit as a mourner.

Grey moved through the forest with little care of who heard her. She left the bundle at the door of the Webwitch in the company of the woman's many eight-legged children. She thought she spotted a child peeking out at her from around the place but she shook her head, realizing that her tired eyes were probably playing tricks on her.

She turned from the dwelling of the witch and made her way to the river. Once there, she set the boats adrift and watched with some bemusement as they sailed quietly down river. She waited until they disappeared from sight before she entered the water herself. Grey bathed for quite some time, washing all the dirt and sweat from her, almost not caring if she was found.

Almost but not quite.

When she was finished, she carefully dressed in one of her clean pairs of breeches and an old tunic that she usually didn't like to wear because its deep blue was too visible in the forest. Plus it had a small hole in the side. Grey shrugged now, finding it acceptable as it was clean. She checked and made sure that she had all her belongings, then began to make the long trek to where she knew the dark man would be.

****

Galaxia
The Dark Woods
Along the Main Road

Victor felt the change in the forest when the old woman finally let go. It was as if the trees had been holding their breath for the last few weeks and finally let it out in a long, slow sigh of relief that her pain was finally over. The birds seemed to pause a moment in respect before trilling out their song again, signaling that life in the forest moved on no matter what.

Victor considered that, and considered how he felt as he sighted down his crossbow, timing his shot. As he waited for the right moment to release the bolt, it came to him that he not only felt sad at her passing, but happy for the old woman at the same time. She was free from the pain he'd seen on her face the last few times he'd come to the cottage, free from the burdens that had weighed her down in life. He would miss her... but she was free in a way that he would never know until he joined her and flew on the wind.

He lifted his point of aim and let the man in the brightly-colored tabard go on his way. The old woman would not need the medicine that the tax man's gold would have brought now, and without that need there was no reason to kill the man. He paused, looked at the tax collector, and almost raised the crossbow again, only stopping at the last moment. No, even a tax man deserved to live.

Unless, of course, he came to the Woods and disturbed things. Then he would die like the last two Victor had killed before they could disturb things in their search for the Web Witch. The Witch's man could have killed them of course; he was a wolf, that one. But there was the boy to think of, and the Witch herself. Anything could happen in a fight. Better to kill them far away and be done with it. No one disturbed the Woods.

****

Galaxia
The Dark Woods
Victor Demonsson's Cave

No one, that is, except the determined Poppet marching her way through the forest like a bolt from a crossbow, aimed straight at his most private of spaces in the Woods.

With all the noise she created as she made her way indifferently through the forest, Victor heard her approach long before she appeared from the trees, even though he'd felt her coming some time before that. He wasn't certain how he knew, but he did.

The last year, spent more alone than not, with only occasional visits to the old woman's cottage when Poppet was away had changed him. He felt things more, seemed more in tune with the forest around him, as if it were a part of him in a way it never had been before. He found he liked it, liked being a part of something larger than himself, liked the feeling he got when he stood in the branches of a high tree and looked out across the forest and knew that he was a part of it.

But a part of him still remembered that night all those months ago, when Poppet had touched him, had made him wish to be a man, just for a time, just long enough to take what he wanted from her with no remorse. He'd never forgotten that, and the feeling returned, as strong as ever, as he watched her emerge from the path he'd never shifted the traps on, leaving them where she knew them to be, her small bundle of possessions clutched in one hand and her crossbow in the other.

Grey stopped just short of him. They looked at each other for a long moment before Grey dropped what she was holding and pounced, latching on to him and hugging him with all her might. She wrapped her arms tightly around him, molding her body to his in a way that probably wasn't decent. She didn't care and squeezed him tighter, if possible.

She'd been to the river. He could smell it on her hair as she held onto him with a desperate strength all out of proportion to her size. Arms around him, she refused to let go when he tried to draw back, the memory of the afternoon he'd seen her emerging from the river, her shift wet and clinging to her, suddenly bright in his mind. He tried again to draw back, failed, and finally stood still, unwilling to move and deny her the comfort she needed, even knowing the price he was paying for it.

Grey rested her head between his jaw and shoulder and, in doing so, accidentally brushed her lips against his neck. She felt the old feelings of warmth spread throughout her body and decided to kiss him a second time. Victor immediately began to protest but Grey shushed him and began to trail light kisses along his jaw and finally, after a quick glance at him, a slow kiss to his lips.

If he was too stubborn to take her, she would just have to take him.

As she kissed him, Victor closed his eyes, afraid that the sight of her would be too much. Her lips were soft, and warm, and their touch set him afire inside. This was too much, too dangerous. She had to stop or... She had to stop. He opened his eyes as his hands reached for her shoulders and tried to push her away, hating himself for doing it, hating that he was strong enough *to* do it.

Grey shook her head and refused to let go. She didn't want to dance around this anymore. Time was too short, the need was too fierce. She inhaled deeply and then opened her mouth.

"Want you." Grey said clearly.

Victor froze. Of all the things he'd thought might happen, all the things he thought might happen, that was not one of them. She'd spoken. Poppet never spoken, not in all the years he'd known her, or all the years the old woman had lived with her in the forest before that. She'd spoken... to him.

Her voice was nothing like he'd imagined. It was rich and strong despite years of silence, reaching inside him to strike a chord that reverberated through him again and again. It wrapped around him, filled him, and made him want to hear more, to do anything to keep her talking. She'd spoken to him, no one else, not even the old woman. Just him.

Grey smiled slightly. "Want you" she repeated, surprised herself at the sound of her voice. It was much different then she remembered. She used his surprise to pull him close to her again, sighing slightly at the pleasure she took just from being this close. She slid her arms up his chest and then circled them around his neck. "Need to," she whispered. Grey moved in closer and made sure his eyes were on hers. "Want?" she asked him.

He looked down into her eyes and knew that he couldn't lie to her, not now, not like this. His mouth was dry, his heart raced like a stag fleeing wolves, and his hands were not obeying him any more as they reached out and supported her, the feeling of her under them everything he'd known - and feared - it would be.

He tried to close his eyes and couldn't because she held them captive with hers. He wanted to hear her speak just for him again. He wanted to feel her against him like he had that night in the cave. He wanted to have the strength to push her away, to run and escape the words he was about to say. He wanted.... her.

He nodded once, looking down at her.

Grey's relief was so great that she couldn't help but smile brightly like an idiot. She gave a happy cry and embraced him again and then sobered up to kiss him more confidently on the mouth.

Her kiss stole his soul away, and he let it go joyfully, surrendering it to her freely. She took his breath with it, and his head spun, his thoughts unable to form. He was falling, he was flying, he was drowning- and he never wanted her to stop. In the end, he was the one that pulled away, the hurt look in her eyes stabbing at him like a knife.

He's changed his mind, she thought. He doesn't want me. He'll turn me away. He...

He shook his head and touched her lips, stilling them. "Wait," he said, watching her eyes as he took a breath. She had spoken to him; he had to speak to her.

"Yes," he told her, watching her eyes soften. "Want." He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers, almost losing his resolve at the feel of them. "Want you."

She shivered and then smiled and looked back at him hungrily. "Then take."

"No," he whispered as he bent down, the effort it took to not drag her to the ground so strong that occupied almost all his strength of will. "Man takes." He kissed her quickly, a darting press of his lips to hers, already pulled back before she could react. "We're... not men."

She laughed softly. Grey understood his meaning but she thought it was amusing all the same. She kissed him back as quickly as he had pecked her and then smirked as she slid her hand low. Grey raised an eyebrow. Not a man? she thought with a chuckle. She moved to kiss him again, finding that she was enjoying this new sport more and more.

Victor groaned and shivered openly as she kissed him, his eyes closing. He drew her closer, the scent of the river in her hair and the scent that was hers alone filling his head as he found the strength to whisper pleadingly, "Slow."

Grey didn't want that, even if such a thing were possible. "Later." She muttered against his mouth. She moved to tangle her hands in his hair and then move them across his back, down his arms...

"Pop...pet" He shivered again, his hands slipped lower to keep supporting her, and he realized that the roaring in his ears wasn't the water falling behind him, but instead was his pulse pounding.

She was for him. The simple realization shook him to the core, reaching even further than the feelings that her kisses were enflaming. She was for him. He was for her. He wasn't supposed to be alone. He was never supposed to have been alone. He would never be alone again. The wasted years fell away, the lost moments and time carried away in a breeze that seemed to whisper with the sound of the old woman's laughter.

"You," he whispered to Grey as she kept setting his body on fire in a way he'd never known before, "are for me."

Grey looked up at him and stroked a finger across his cheek. She nodded as if to say "Of course." Men, she thought. Sometimes it took them so long to understand the simplest of things.

Victor smiled suddenly, not really realizing why he felt like his feet were no longer on the ground, but not caring either. She was for him. "I am for you," he told her, the way her eyes lit up at the words making even the loneliness of the last year without her vanish.

She smiled, pulled away from him- her smile widening as he instinctively would not let her go at first, and then took his hand to lead him to the cave.

Victor looked at her things lying there on the ground, looked at the work he'd been doing... and turned away as she tugged again, following her along the path. He stopped at the edge of the path behind the waterfall, resisting her pulls and shaking his head. "No," he said firmly, a dim memory from one of his mother's stories returning to him.

She frowned. Hadn't they just resolved this? Grey tilted her head. She probably could have just asked, now that she had spoken to him, but old habits died hard.

"No," he repeated - and picked her up in a single swift movement, cradling her against his chest naturally, as though she belonged there. "Like this," he murmured and carefully moved forward along the path, carrying her along the path and into the dark of the cave similar to the way he had a year before.

She didn't understand why he wanted to carry her in but she didn't protest. Grey settled in his arms happily and wrapped her arms around his neck, wondering what he was up to.

Inside the cave, he shifted to the side and moved sideways through the short tunnel, emerging into the small chamber, lit by the same lantern she remembered. He'd rearranged things, she noted. A wooden screen - she recognized it as part of a wagon bed - blocked the inner doorway now, and one of the tables was missing. The bed was still in the same place, but to the side of it were now a series of recessed shelves cut back into the stone of the cave wall, the things that had been in chests and on the tables stored neatly there. The biggest alteration, though, was the addition of another doorway, set into the back of the cave where she recalled there only being a stack of lumber before.

You've kept busy, Grey was about to comment when Victor swung her around and kissed her again, slowly this time, while he moved to set her down so that she was sitting on the edge of the table as she'd been that night long ago. Once she was seated, he devoted his full attention to her. His hands moved across her back, drawing her close, as he kept on kissing her, a lifetime of longing reacting to the fire she was lighting inside him, making it impossible to think, impossible to do anything but try and satisfy its burning need.

For the first time, she was the one to pull away. She could feel her cheeks flaming, her whole body blushing actually, and the little damp cave had suddenly become a great deal hotter. Victor growled at the interruption and Grey laughed slightly, while leaning into him and kissing him softly on the neck. "Needed air." She told him with a chuckle.

He shivered at the touch of her lips, his eyes dark in a way she'd never seen before, his face changed by the shadows into something out of one of Laura's tales - a creature she'd summoned up from within him with her kiss. "No," he whispered in a low, soft growl that made her shiver, "need you."

Whatever reply she might have had was forgotten as he kissed her again.

His hands moved down her back, drawing her closer as he bent down again, his breath warm on her neck as he smelled her hair, drinking in the scent of her, imprinting it on his mind. She was for him. No other. Only her. He shifted his hands, touching her, running them down her sides and across her hips slowly, as if smoothing out the anger that he'd seen there so many times, watching her intently as he did so.

The look on her face made him smile like one of the great striped jungle cats from the lands to the south - but that smile was driven by a different hunger than the one that compelled the great cats to seek out their prey. He moved his hands back up her, slower this time, enjoying the way she moved beneath them, the soft sounds that she made, and the knowledge that he was the one making her feel that way.

Grey found herself short of breath as his hands touched her in ways she'd dreamed of for years now, the reality of the contact so much more powerful than her dreams that it stole her thoughts away as surely as it did her breath. She didn't want him to stop, but she knew there was more, so much more for them yet to explore together. She tried to reach for him, but he pushed her hands away and returned to touching her, scattering her thoughts as his hands moved higher, his powerful hands gentle as they moved up her body and teased her into arching her back and pushing herself forward into them.

With a low growl that sent shivers through her, Victor bent down and kissed her again, hands starting to work at her clothing as she returned the kiss. When her legs wrapped around him, trapping him, he had to stop and close his eyes as he shuddered, their bodies already moving against each other in an instinctive rhythm that threatened to overwhelm him. "Pop-pet," he rumbled. "Clothes. Off. Now."

He didn't have to tell her twice. She drew her tunic over her head quickly and then moved to take off his. When skin met skin, Grey shuddered again and decided it was time to move from the somewhat uncomfortable table. "Bed." she ordered.

"Wait." His hands shook as he slipped off her boots and the tight leather pants that she'd chosen to wear, knowing that he watched her most closely when she wore them. Their snug fit had another benefit, only revealed to her when she realized how much he had to touch her to get them off, and she couldn't stop herself from shifting slightly to make his task more difficult than it had to be, just to garner just a few seconds more of his touch.

Once the breeches were off, Victor stopped for a moment and looked at her there in the lantern light, his heart racing. She was beautiful. She was for him. This was supposed to be. The memory of her skin under his hands made them twitch, aching to feel that satin smoothness again, and he moved forward suddenly to pick her up, holding her to his chest, feeling the heat from her skin as he turned and moved to lower her onto the furs and blankets that covered his bed.

Too slow, she thought as she struggled against all the new sensations she was absorbing. Grey reached for him, wanting to tell him to be gentle later, that now the need was too great for the kindness she'd heard about in fancy poetry and romantic stories at court.

Victor bent down and kissed her, almost overbalancing when she wrapped herself around him and reused to let him go. "Poppet," he whispered, breathless, against her lips. Her hands moved over him, touching him as he'd touched her, making it hard for him to think, to hear anything but the pounding of his own heart. He broke away with an effort, her hands joining his when she realized that he was trying to remove his own boots and breeches.

As he kicked free of the clothing and turned back to her, Grey slid close to the edge of the bed to reach for him. A groan tore free from his lips as her hands found their goal and explored him, her smile devilish as she watched his expression and the way he moved in response to her touch.

Grey dropped her hands, moved back on the bed and watched with almost predatory eyes as he followed.

His eyes were a match for hers as he stalked her across the bed until she had nowhere to go, and reached for her hungrily when she realized she'd run out of room to retreat in their little game. His hands were strong as they drew her back to him, his lips hot as they claimed hers in a kiss that started out gentle and grew more and more passionate as it went on. Victor struggled to slow down, to make this last, to give them he memories that he felt the moment should contain - and lost.

Fighting the fire burning inside him, the one that only she could extinguish, might have been possible; difficult perhaps, but possible. Likewise, fighting off Grey's advances and her obvious desire for the moment to be anything but slow and gentle might have been possible had he tried with all his will. The two together, backed by the fact that he wanted this as much or more than she did... that was impossible to fight

His hands pulled her closer and moved across her with growing urgency as they shifted positions, her skin sliding against his like silk. He kissed her once more, his teeth capturing her lip and biting down slightly as her hands moved down his sides, making him growl in a low rumble and kiss her again.

Grey shifted again, her legs sliding along the outside of his, the times she'd spied on him as he bathed coming back to her as she felt the heat of him against her leg. She'd known what she wanted then, as she knew now, and being at the cusp of achieving it made her tremble. She'd waited years - her whole life - for this. For him. For now. And so she pulled him closer to her and when he moved inside her that brief minute of pain was not enough to diminish her happiness or the smile she managed around Victor's mouth.

She was his, she was home.

****

Grey awoke, much later, in Victors arms and gave a sleepy smile. He looked so peaceful, so content, and that more than anything made her happy. She loved seeing him smile. She loved him. Grey kissed him innocently on his cheek and then closed her eyes again.

The kiss woke him. He lay there for several breaths, feeling her next to him, arms around him, one leg possessively over his. He felt... he didn't know what he felt, but it was a good feeling. Not as good as the ones they'd given each other before they slept - nothing had ever been that good before - but good in another way.

Right, he suddenly realized. It felt right that she was here. Right that she was holding him. Right that they were together. This was the way things were supposed to be. His arms slipped around her, marveling at the smooth feel of her skin and the way that touching it made his hands tingle.

He moved and kissed her on the forehead, watching her eyes open as she looked up at him. They were different, he realized. Her eyes were softer now, not so hard, like a deep, deep pool that he wanted to dive into. He realized he should say something, that the moment demanded it, but he had no idea what it was that he was supposed to say, what the words were to convey how he felt. With a start, he realized that he was already speaking, already saying something, and stopped thinking to listen. "Not alone," he whispered to her. "Never alone. Never again."

She smiled sleepily. "For always."

"You will stay? Here?" The question was hesitant. He wanted her to stay, wanted to feel her lying next to him like this every morning when he woke - but he wouldn't force her to. If she wanted to live elsewhere, then he would learn to deal with that. Not like it, never that, but deal with it, yes.

She nodded. She had known when she had left Laura that she would either live here or in the wild once again. Grey was glad it had not been the forest she had to turn to. She didn't think she could make it out there on her own again.

Victor relaxed, her words draining the tension he'd felt building away. "Good. Want that." He slipped his arms around her and drew her up so that her head rested on his shoulder. He decided he liked that too, and shifted the furs so her shoulders were covered, letting them linger for a bit longer than necessary just to enjoy the sensation of touching her skin before he slipped his arms around her again.

After a moment, he smiled and said, "The old woman said this was to be. Didn't listen, didn't think you - anyone - were for me." He pressed his lips to Grey's head. "Glad to be wrong."

Grey smirked. "I told you so."

"You did," he admitted as he shifted so that her leg was not placed quite so tantalizingly against him. He could already feel himself reacting to the way the smooth limb had slipped there, he wondered if it had been on purpose - or if that mattered. "But you tell me many things to get your way. Even that sky is green and grass blue." Her leg shifted with him, and he surrendered to the building desire inside him. If this was what she wanted, it was no hardship to give it to her - especially since he wanted it too. They had years to make up for.

Grey gave a mock scowl, about to explain at length the foolish ways of man but was cut off when he kissed away the words that were forming on her lips. Well, she thought as she grinned and let herself be moved under him, there would be other days to explain.

A lifetime of them.

***** WARNING : R-Rated sex post ********

"Year 826 - Captured Part 1"

by

Lady Kira Murphy-Blackadder, Royal Court Jester/one of the town prostitutes,

Looking out of through the castle window where she had been told to stay, Kira sighed from boredom.

The men who had come around didn't find Baldrick's cunning plan to be funny, and after making them change, had taken Edmund and Baldrick off with them. Kira had been told to get her ass to the castle, and had been escorted there when she asked if she could go along.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea came to her. She could sneak out of the castle through its secret passages.

Deciding that going to a battle in a conspicuous jester's outfit probably wasn't a smart idea, she stripped out of all her clothes and got into some tan-brown peasent-like clothing instead.

Racing out of her room, she crept through the castle until she reached one of the secret passages. Entering, she made her way out of the grounds and popped out one of the secret entrances, making sure that it was shut and locked behind her so no invaders could use it to breach the castle's walls.

Skipping down the path, she headed towards a hill where she knew she could secretly watch the battle from.

Arriving, she climbed up a big apple tree to one side and hid in the upper branches. Breaking an apple off that looked ready, she started eating it.

********************************

Moving around the edge of the area where the Kling planned for the battle to be, the small scout party silently advanced.

From up above, it was easy for Kira to spot them and she hugged the trunk of the tree. She had never seen any of them before, and was quite impressed. They were very big bulky men with bright orange beards and looked like they could have foul tempers. They wore think black leather armour with nasty looking studs pushed into it and iron helmets.

Silently groaning when they stopped below her, she could hear them talking amongst themselves. After about five minutes, she could feel her legs cramping but was scared to move. Finally, she was forced to shift position. As she did, the branch she was standing on rocked and some of the apples at the far end shook, breaking off.

She cursed gravity and the tree in her mind as the apples were caught by gravity and quickly sped downwards, splattering on the helmets of some of the Kling. There was wild cursing from below and swords were drawn.

Looking down, she saw that they had seen her and were cursing her, yelling for her to come down. Wisely deciding not to, she cursed them back, grabbed an apples, put them in her sling and fired it down at one of them, getting him in the face. He roared in anger and started hacking into the tree with his great axe. A couple of them drew bows and fired some arrows up at her but missed.

However, she wasn't used to being fired at and it unnerved her, causing her to loose her balance.

********************************

Screaming as she fell, she landed with a loud crash on the ground. Totally winded and groaning, she gasped as she felt herself being yanked up into the air. Gurgling as she was held by the throat, she wriggled and struggled, trying to get away but her feet were off the ground.

"Why, she's only a young woman. Pretty though."

Kira tried to kick the man holding her but he just shook her until she stopped. Putting her against the tree, he stabbed his mighty sword through the back of her clothing, holding her up before releasing her. Since her clothing was made of tough material, it was able to hold her body weight for a short time.

Angry at the way she was being described, she swore back at them, "Go fuck a sheep, you Kling fornocating bastards."

Getting a slap across the face, he said, "My, my. Fiesty as well."

One of them drew a knife, "Maybe we can teach her not to swear at people."

Taking the knife, the leader said, "I have a better idea."

Moving forwards, he used it to cut her clothing away, letting her drop to the forest floor. They grabbed her and held her down as their leader finished, leaving her totally naked.

Grasping and twisting them, he replied, "Hmm.. She has beautiful breasts. Tie her up and we will take her back to the base."

Kira struggled and cursed as she was held, knowing what they were planning and not liking it.

They quickly gagged & blindfolded her with her torn clothes. One of them tied her hands tightly behind her back and her legs were bound before she was hoisted over someone's shoulder.

Ten minutes later...

Kira moaned as she was thrown down on the ground like a bag of potatos. She tried to kick out as someone felt between her legs, but was unable to.

Her blindfold was ripped off and she found she was in a large tent. The scouts who found here were all there and one of them held a lit candle. He moved over to her and said, "Are you going to be a good girl?"

She kicked and bucked in response until she was grabbed. The ropes around her legs were cut away before her legs were spread.

Moving the candle between, he held the flame to her pubic hair, letting it singe. Finally, he held it until it caught alight and they laughed as she bucked in fear. When it had all gone, the Kling delighted in watching as candle wax was dripped on her mound and clit, causing her to scream. They moved to her breasts next and laughed as they were through a number of candles.

Hearing a loud cough behind, they stopped and grinned.

"Hold the bitch down."

Kira wriggled to get free as her legs were pulled up to her chest. She gasped & screamed as the leader rammed his member into her. She was hit by pain and tried to escape but was unable to. He rammed into her harder and harder, trying to fill her up totally. She struggled for a bit more before giving up, realising she had to just go with the flow.

He was very big and she could feel every single vein as her pliant tunnel was forced more and more open against her will. Eventually, she felt hot warmth inside her and moments later, he pulled out. What annoyed her most was that her body was starting to enjoy it.

She felt herself being flipped over onto her hands & knees before she was roughly entered again. She shook as the Kling behind raped her.

The gag was ripped out of her mouth and she moaned loudly. Her nose was held until she opened her mouth and she gagged as another rammed into her mouth. He started ramming in, causing her to rock back and forwards due to the onslaught. Screaming as she felt her breasts being grabbed hard, she moaned loudly when she felt someone sucking and biting on her nipples.

Closing her eyes, she let them use her until she exploded, arching and writhing and bouncing.

********************************

Laying unresponsive on the dirt floor, her skin totally slick and covered, Kira was glad when the last of them left. She had lost track of time, but was pretty sure that she had been raped non-stop for at least a full day.

Her whole body ached, and she wished that she would be rescued. The castle guards hadn't been so rough, even when she gave them great cause for it.

730