After Eowyn dropped the king at the elder's home she returned to her room because she expects them to be there for long. She loves the comfort she feels within here. Vines with endearing green leaves climbed up the walls, even across the expansive arched windows. Shelves upon shelves lined the walls, each crammed with bottles and jars of varying shapes and sizes.
She stood behind a large wooden table, scarred from centuries of use, scattered about with parchment, quills and even more potions. Using a small mortar and pestle, she ground dry leaves, then collected leaves from a bundle of fresh herbs and squeezed their juice into the mortar.
A knock came to her door but she didn't react to it. It opened.
"Nana?" a beautiful head peered inside.
"No" Eowyn replied not looking up.
The girl followed the voice and found her Nana at the near end of the room at a table working on something. She entered the room and closed the door behind her.
"You don't even know what I--"
"No" Eowyn cut her off, still not looking up.
There was silence for a few moments. Still not looking at the girl, Eowyn dropped her pestle and went to the shelf behind her and retrieved 3 small bottles. She opened one of the bottles and poured a small amount of it's contents into the mortar and continued grinding.
"I don't understand why you care for her more than you do me" the girl said, genuine sadness in her voice.
"You are not taking your sister's husband, Karla"
"He is not hers!" she yelled, then paused to get her composure back. "I am the eldest, it should be me with the king" She went on, her tone calm. "This is a golden opportunity, why are you wasting it on her? Out of pity?"
Eowyn blocked out the rest of the ranting; she had heard it all before. When she had suggested to marry Isadora to the king Karla had raised an eyebrow but nothing major. Then she heard stories from the humans and felt cheated—not necessarily because she wanted the king, Eowyn knows as much, but because Isadora has it. If she can't get it from her then at the very least share it with her, and knowing the king Eowyn has no doubt she can convince him into taking the second sister as a second wife but she would never do that. The elders won't allow it.
"Fine," Eowyn stopped. "Go to the elders and convince them. If they accept then the king is yours"
The girl clenched her jaws, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She nodded slowly, unable to believe what she had heard. She took a step back, her movements slow and heavy.
Eowyn's face remained impassive and the girl knew she wasn't taking it back. She turned and painfully away.
Immortality has it's faults. When she thinks there's no greater good she doesn't bother pretending to feel. She doesn't think much will come off her rage, at worst a rash pursuit of desire and knowing the king it won't be a problem.
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
I found Isadora waiting for me at the end of the first flight of stairs from the elder's home. Her hands clutched at the edges of her shawl, fingers twisting and fidgeting with coarse fabric. She looked up as I approached, her eyes meeting mine for a brief flickering moment before darting to the floor. Her cheeks flushed, and she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, a gesture that seemed almost involuntary. Beautiful as always but I could see the tension in her posture, the way her shoulders were slightly hunched, as if trying to make herself feel smaller.
"What?" I asked, almost indifferent, a slight edge of impatience.
She waited until I came to a stop before her to say, with all desperation in her eyes, "please take me away from here"
"What?" I asked, confused.
"I--I can't stay here anymore"
I considered her for a few moments. Makes sense that she's been picked on, a ram in the midst of wolves. A very beautiful ram. It probably got worse after they thought I was dead, but this is not a good time to bring her in.
"You will be fine. I will have Eowyn look after you till when it's right to come"
I made to leave but she held my shirt, almost out of reflex, her glistening eyes more pleading.
"It won't be long I promise" I said in as soothing a tone as I could while holding her right cheek. But she didn't relent. She grew bolder and more desperate, and after a while, I just gave in.
The problem was Eowyn said I couldn't take her without a proper druid ceremonial marriage, which they promised wouldn't take long. So I waited and watched as they set it up. It had to be on land and obviously, there was no meat or alcohol, just fruits and a fruit wine that seemed more suited for a kid's birthday party than a wedding.
I walked up to one of the fruit tables and plucked a banana while druids were working around me, moving tables, setting up lights. As I peeled the banana I saw a fruit I recognized. I picked it up.
"Glad to see you have great taste too." I heard a voice say. I looked up and saw an older druid coming to the table. He wasn't an elder. His weathered hands reached for the same fruit, expertly breaking open the tough pod with a swift, practiced motion. He handed one half to me, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Try not to eat too much"
Cacao pods.
"Are there many where this came from?"
The man laughed excitedly. "Very much so," he replied, tossing another bean into his mouth to my discomfort as old traumas were unearthed. "The young ones don't like them"
Of course they don't, you sick shit, but this is good. The methods are simple enough, and though I doubt I can sell as high as the soaps, I can sell much with no cost of production since it's simple and I have slaves. I would need for more to be planted because this would definitely be popular.
I found Eowyn and told her I would need a steady supply of the fruit and she looked at me with surprise but says she will inform the elders and I knew there won't be a problem. A cacao tree produces dozens of pods a year and so I might have found another steady source of income for my kingdom.
Soon the ceremony started in earnest and Isadora came out even more beautiful than I thought possible. Draped delicately around her shoulders was a flowing gown, crafted from no doubt the finest silks. Its bodice, intricately embroidered with motifs of ivy and roses, cinched at the waist, accentuating her slender frame. A high neckline, adorned with a cascade of chiffon fabric, gracefully cascaded down her back, tied with a satin ribbon.
The effects must have been on my face because she blushed and looked down. We stood before the tree, close and holding forearms as Eowyn chant words that seemed from a grimoire, then she proceeded to tie our arms together with some sort of soft reeds. When she was done she stepped away, and suddenly a magic circle appeared under our feet, green and very bright, then beamed into the sky, trapping us within the bright circle for like 2 seconds then completely dissipated.
I immediately turned to Eowyn, "What the fuck was that?"
"Language, Your majesty" Eowyn said nonchalantly as she approached with a wooden bowl. "That was just Nature blessing the union"
I noticed the fresh reeds were dead now when Eowyn reached for them, gathering them into the bowl. The bowl had some liquid in it.
"I'm not drinking that," I said.
"That's fine, it's only for the female."
And so Isadora drank it, after which she hugged her grandmother tight, crying. The druids came closer to offer congratulations, none bearing gifts, except the cacao man, accompanied by a kid if I guessed correctly, going by his low stats. There was hate in his eyes but not enough to take attention away from the gift the man gave with respect and humility. A sleek sword. Long, with patterns etched on the metal. The hilt had angular designs and a dark, textured grip, and the crossguards were wide and shaped with precision. I didn't have to be an expert to know what a fine sword it was.
"It's a relic" the man spoke up after I admired the sword for too long. "Made from special metal that fell from the heavens eons ago."
A meteor?
"I appreciate the gift, thank you"
He smiled and dragged the boy away with him.
I found the lady holding my cube, none of them knew what it was, then I found Eowyn.
"What? We are not staying for the main celebration?"
"No," I said. "We have to get to the palace immediately, but before that we need to branch off somewhere first"
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
He sat down on the couch by the young girl's side and began to play with her breasts, watching her closely. She was in a terrible state of agitation, her head rolling from side to side, her eyes closed, her lips slightly apart, while her breasts heaved wildly. As his hands seized her breasts roughly she started, opened her eyes, piteously pleaded, "Oh, Lord Vern! Don't ... don't..." She could not bring herself to say the dreadful word that expressed her fate.
"Don't ... what, Adia?" the old man asked maliciously.
"Oh! Sir! Don't ...please!"
"But your mistress has ordered it, Adia, and she tells me you are very sweet, and so I want it! And it will be like taking your maidenhead, only much nicer for you, as you won't have the pain that girls feel when they are first ravished and you'll be able to taste all the pleasure!"
"No, no, please," she cried
Just then the mistress came in with water, a sponge, and a towel. "What's the matter, Lord Vern?" she asked.
"Your niece says she doesn't want to be fucked, dear; perhaps you can convince her of her foolishness!"
She set what she had down and pushed Adia back. The mistress was now sponging Adia's cunt with diligent care, and her attentions were making Adia squirm and wriggle involuntarily in the most lovely fashion, much to her mistress's gratification. When the woman had finished, she turned to the old man and said, "She's quite ready, My lord. Go ahead!"
"No, no, Sir!" yelled Adia in genuine terror, but he quickly got between her legs and placed himself on her palpitating stomach, clasped her in his arms and directed his prick against her cleft. The head got inside without much difficulty. Adia was now wild with fright and shrieked despairingly as she felt him effect an entrance into her, and as his prick penetrated deeper and deeper, she went off into a burst of frenzy plunging in the hope of dislodging him.
He did not experience half the difficulty he had anticipated in getting into the poor girl but she was exceedingly tight and he must have hurt her for her screams were terrible! Soon, however, he was into her till their hairs mingled. He laid still for a little while to allow her to recover a bit, and before long her cries ceased and she lay panting in his arms.
The mistress who had been watching with the closest attention and the keenest enjoyment of the violation of her niece, now bent forward and said softly, "She's all right, Lord Vern! Go on dear!"
And off he went, with long thrusts into the girl but almost as soon as he started it ended, leaving a little deposit inside her. He rose off her.
"Surely you won't end it with just that, Lord Vern" she said, coming closer. "You've had her in your sights for a long time now"
She showed him a vial, no doubt of its contents but he was already standing and arranging his trousers.
"Of course not," he said, "but first I need to take a leak"
Nicholas Vern. An old drunk and poor village-end farmer posing as a lord of the city because his son was a bandit and his group had been part of the rebels who took over Verde. The problem was, the boy had been dead for 2 years now. No one has really paid mind to him so they didn't know the delinquent died and they've been treating him well ever since the rebels took over, trying to garner favor.
Nicholas stumbled outside, seeking a secluded corner. As he was easing himself, he realized people were distracted. Still pissing he turned his head, then looked up. The night skies were darker than usual. Thunder was rumbling and the lightning within the clouds very animated. It's months before it rains so it was very odd. Suddenly a huge figure burst out of the dark clouds. Dragon! Panic surged through the city as people scattered in every direction. But where would they run to, it is a dragon! But the dragon stopped, suspended over the city, flapping it's powerful wings and then let out a powerful long drawn roar! Vern's body vibrated with terror, drops of piss dampened his trousers. The rumors were true. The king lives, and they are doomed.
But then, the roar ceased. The black dragon turned and flew away, and the clouds quietened down as they slowly clear to normalcy. The king had announced his return—a clear, unmistakable warning. War was coming.