A Debt to be Paid (Open for one female)

[BrotherGrimm]

A Debt to be Paid (Closed for Zarafina and I)

As he was brought to his feet before the tower, Draven felt fear for the first time in many years. The place was imposing, dark stone walls rising much higher than he had imagined. He’d heard stories about the village of Kadren’s Rest, but he had never been the superstitious type, so when he’d pinned that luscious innkeeper’s daughter against the stable wall to have his fun, he never had a second thought about it. Even when he had been caught, he had laughed when they had given him a choice of execution or service to the Lady who ruled the village. How bad could it be, serving some pampered noblewoman? Looking up at the tower, he asked himself the same question again, but this time without so much mirth. It was no wonder that the villagers had looked at him as if he were a madman when he had so easily chosen to serve. The village guards brought him to the door, and nervously knocked, waiting for an answer.

Name: Draven
Age: 23
Looks: A tall, menacing man with long, dirty blond hair and piercing green eyes. He is handsome in a very rough way, with a lean body made strong by years of mercenary work. Draven takes very little seriously, and usually has a smirk on his lips.
Background: Without any large scale wars in years, Draven’s financial situation has forced him to wander. When his latest job took him to the village of Kadren’s Rest, he figured it would be another boring stop on the caravan route. Trying to make his own fun has now cost him far more than he realizes…

I am looking for a female to play the Mistress of the tower. She can be anything from a medieval or fantasy setting. PM if interested, please.

 

[marla56]

mistress marla

whose knocking at this late hour...who has the guts...the guards leave you standing there as they run..standing behind the door i open it slowly...come in if you dare....at the top of the stairs is a room..go to it..don't look back..take your rest for tomorrow will be your undoing....

 

[Zarafina]

Sorena il'falahad

Sorena had ruled over the small village of Kadren's rest for several decades. Long enough that the townspeople were frightened of her, because she never seemed to grow a day older. That kept them at a comfortable distance, though.

At least, it had been comfortable for a while. Sorena had grown lonely. She had other servants in the house, sure. Men and women sent to her for some crime. She let them tend to her house and her things. She allowed one maid to wash and dress her. But none of them seemed happy, and this made Sorena unhappy as well.

"Mistress, another is being brought to you." murmured an elderly man, long ago sent to her for stealing his neighbor's cow.

"What for this time?" she asked boredly, waving away a sprite bearing a tray of fruit.

"Raping the innkeeper's daughter." he whispered softly. Sorena's crystal eyes flashed, and she pushed to her feet. 'Really, now?'

She beckoned the maid to her. "Dress me. We have a new guest coming to join us." The woman did as she was told, lacing the back of the soft brocade gown, the icy blue seeming to shimmer as though it were truly made of frozen water. It clung to Sorena's form as she walked, the stiff collar rising behind her head like a frame for her beautiful features. Pale skin, eyes that sparkled like crystals, an upswept nose and full, lush lips of a dark coral hue.

She stepped to the grand staircase and descended slowly as the guard knocked, and her voice echoed down to the main floor. "Let him in, then leave us." Using a touch of her magic she opened the doors from where she stood, still out of sight, but where she could see down.

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

The sound of Sorena's voice startled Draven somewhat, as no one had yet physically come to the door. The guards seemed only a little more sure of themselves as the door to the tower swung open. Their prisoner looked about almost desperately for some way out, but the two guards had him bound well, and were strong enough between them to keep him from running away. The cool air that rushed out from the opening doors made the hairs on the back of the mercenary's neck stand on end, and he grumbled curses under his breath.

The guards paid him no mind, however, tossing him to the floor just inside the doorway. Draven gave a loud grunt as he hit the ground, and raised his head slowly, taking in his surroundings. He was too stunned from striking the ground as he had at the moment to even think about finding an escape route, even if one were present. He was still better off than he would have been in death, but he also had yet to meet this mysterious Lady. And, given what he had seen so far, he was beginning to think that perhaps there had been more truth to the stories than he had initially thought.

 

[Zarafina]

The doors closed behind him as the guards hurried back towards the village, their duty done. Footsteps could be heard as the woman descended the spiral staircase that wound down the outer wall. "Welcome to my home." came the voice, which seemed to echo softly. A trick of the stone walls, perhaps.

Then she came into view, and she was radiant. She had donned, in addition to the crystalline gown, a snow-white cloak of thick, soft wool, trimmed in fur of a deep oceanic blue, and the cloak trailed behind her a bit, slowly sliding off each step.

"What is your name?" she asked as she approached him, gesturing with one hand. From nowhere came two creatures that had the torso and head of men, but had the legs of a goat, and were horned as well. Fauns .. if one knew the tales. "Lift him to his feet." she directed these, and then dipped their head and moved to assist Draven to stand.

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

The mercenary winced as he was helped to his feet by the creatures. He'd heard stories of fauns, but just like any other such stories, he had rejected them as mere superstition or children's tales. "I would think apparitions from my dreams would already know my name," he laughed weakly, trying to be as dismissive as possible. Despite his position, he was having a very hard time accepting what was before his eyes. Her beauty, while great, only made him a bit more suspicious of his own senses at that moment. "When I wake, these villagers will have a lot to account for," he groaned, trying to stabilize himself a bit more.

 

[Zarafina]

She laughed, stepping closer to him now, the two faun standing close enough to protect her if he did anything stupid.

"Apparitions from your dreams? Does this feel like a dream to you?" Her fingertips traced along his cheek, then drifted down his throat.

She spoke again, and her tone became serious, losing the delicate lilt it had held. "You are awake, human. You have been brought here because you committed a crime against those in the village below. Doing so saved your pitiful existence. Be glad."

She turned her head and spoke to one of the faun in a language unknown to mortal ears. The male moved back, bowed to her, then disappeared into another room.

"I will only ask once more. What is your name?"

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

As she approached, Draven managed to keep his eyes on hers, green orbs looking mistrustful as anyone she had ever encountered. Her touch did not change the look in his eyes, though confusion was added to the mix. As her fingers trailed along his skin, he fought the heated sensations from his loins, feelings much stronger than any innkeeper's or farmer's daughter had stirred in him in a long time. "Draven," he finally managed, though his eyes had closed at that point, trying to recover his senses now that the idea of it all being a dream had been so easily dismissed.

 

[Zarafina]

"Draven." She spoke his name as though it were some magical utterance. "Draven. I am Sorena il'Falahad. I am the Mistress of this tower. It is to me you owe your life."

The faun she had sent away returned, hooves clip-clopping softly across the stone floor. She glanced his way and he bowed. There was another brief conversation in that unknown tongue, and the woman turned to regard her new servant.

"I imagine they did not treat you kindly, after you raped the innkeeper's beauty." she said with a smirk, as if somehow approving of the action. "Come, we will get you bathed, and find you clothing, and a meal. And I will tell you what I expect."

She turned then, cloak sweeping against his ankles as she swept past him, fully expecting Draven to follow her. And if he didn't, the faun would make certain that he did.

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

Draven could not argue; he did owe this mystical beauty his life. He had agreed to serve her in lieu of losing his life. Though he fully intended to escape, arguing that particular point would get him nowhere, and he'd had enough of rough treatment over a trifle that the innkeeper should have been glad for. A bastard child from his wench daughter would have meant more free labor for him. As he silently regarded what had happened, he felt the faun pushing him along.

Shaking his head, he finally began moving of his own accord, though slowly. His legs were still sore from the cramped ride to the tower. As he walked, he could not help but watch this new Mistress of his. He told himself that it was so that he could find some weakness that he would be able to exploit in order to escape, though it was truly because he simply enjoyed looking at her.

 

[Zarafina]

She led him, and the two faun, into a chamber on the main floor into which a heavy tub had been brought and filled with hot water. A young girl stood on one side of the tub, clad in a tunic that skimmed the tops of her knees, the girl rather plain in appearance, but with a lovely body that was only accentuated by what she wore.

"Undress him, and help him bathe." she commanded as she moved to enthrone herself in an ornately carved chair, removing her cloak as she sat and handing it to one of the faun. The girl nodded her assent, and stepped forward to help Draven undress, while Sorena smiled and watched curiously.

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

As the girl helped him undress, the scrapes and bruises that Draven had received following the discovery of his "fun" came into view. They had treated him roughly, but it was far from the first time he had been on the receiving end of such "discipline". The only sound he made was to take a deep breath once he was nude; the girl undressing him was not without her charms, and Sorena was still in the room herself, watching his clothes being stripped off. As much as he wanted to maintain self control in those circumstances, he was male after all, and by the time he was being helped into the water, he was fully erect.

He did his best to ignore this, and sank down into the tub. The water felt good, as he had been in the dirty village prison for at least a few days before being brought to serve his sentence at the tower. He did his best to wash himself, if only to keep the girl's maddening touch away from him. The mild pain from washing the scratches did help clear his mind some, if not as much as he would have liked.

 

[Zarafina]

Sorena watched with a smile as he struggled to avoid the young woman's touch, and she gestured, releiving her of her duties. She chuckled when the maid hurried out of the room, the ice-clad Mistress rising from her chair and approaching the tub herself.

"Didn't you like her, Draven?" she asked, gazing down at him with a smirk resting lightly on her lips.

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

"I think you can see otherwise," he smirked up at her, shaking his head slightly, "But I doubted it would be a good idea to give her any of what I gave the innkeeper's daughter, considering that's how I ended up here." At least, not with Sorena there watching, though he was not going to add that part. Chances are he would rub his captor the wrong way soon enough, but there was no need to push his luck when he was in no shape to defend himself.

As she came closer to the tub, however, he could feel his shaft swell again. The effect she had on him herself was far too strong for his liking so long as she could call for her guards. For that matter, he had no idea yet what she was capable of herself, though he had seen clear evidence that she was possessed of some sort of magic. That last word left a foul taste in his mouth, despite the fact that it had not actually left his lips. Still, he would have to find some way to deal with her magic if he were to have any hope at all.

 

[Zarafina]

"Indeed I can. So I wonder .. why did you not take advantage of the opportunity, as you had with the innkeeper's wretch?"

She did not miss a chance to examine him more fully then, arching a brow just slightly at his obvious arousal, though she didn't comment on it. yet.

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

Her question made him a bit nervous, but he laughed anyway as the reply came to his lips without thought, "Well, I was waiting for her to leave so I could have a better chance at you." Draven realized the folly of his words only after he had said them, but he also knew it was too late, and would not try to awkwardly take them back. He was not well-used to being unable to back up his words, and he doubted it would be an easy adjustment. Instead, he simply shifted a bit in the tub, watching her much more intently. The mercenary would not simply sit there and let her kill him, though he had no idea if that was her intent or not.

 

[Zarafina]

"Do you think you're here to perform manual labor, Draven?' asked the fae beauty as she settled down on a small padded seat one of the faun drew close to the tub. She leaned closer, fingertips brushing through his hair.

"But of course, you area stranger here. And they likely explained little. They're just happy to 'appease' me with a troublemaker." this she said with a smirk, fingertips straying languidly, moving down his neck. She noticed the scrapes and bruises from their treatment of him, and she muttered a curse. 'Fools.'

She seemed to take great delight in touching him, in feeling his warmth .. and in truth had not, since his arrival, made much use of her magical ability. She frowned at his wounds and leaned to whisper against his ear. "Do not fear me, Draven. I'm not the cruel witch they make me out to be."

As she spoke she trailed one fingertip over the surface of the water, stirring a healing enchantment into the bath.

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

He shivered at her touch, not because he was cold, but because the feel of her fingers thrilled him more than he liked at the moment. There was no denying it, though, and when he felt his wounds eased, he was silently grateful. "I...well, I have no idea what I am here to do. The villagers merely said I would have to serve you, and hinted that I would be better off accepting their offer of execution," he told her as flatly as he could, though his voice was unsteady, betraying his further excitement at her touch. It was all growing confusing enough to make his head spin. Luckily for him, he was already sitting, and the bath had already restored some of his strength.

 

[Zarafina]

"They would say that." hissed the beauty, drawing her fingers away from him suddenly, and she sat up straight.

"They think me a cruel and heartless witch, I think. They believe I steal their infants and bathe in their blood to keep my youth .. or some other equally ridiculous poppycock."

She focused a crystalline gaze upon the naked man in the bath. "How old do you think I am, Draven?"

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

Her anger toward the villagers surprised him, but was not shocking enough to make him jump. A combination of disappointment and relief washed through him as she withdrew her hand, a chance for him to collect his thoughts. He continued watching her, listening to her words; perhaps the weakness he had sought earlier was beginning to show itself. When she asked him her question, he looked at her more carefully, for it was not easy to say how old she looked. There was an agelessness about her, it seemed. "If I had to guess, I'd say 28 winters or so," he finally spoke, sounding very unsure of himself. The way she was looking at him just then did make him shiver, though the tub was still warm enough. Her gaze reminded him of a snowstorm, and he'd been caught outside in enough of them to remember quite clearly what they were like.

 

[Zarafina]

She laughed again, and stood, her gown swirling around her as she left the side of the tub. 'I have lived in this tower for seventy-three winters. Before that, I resided far north of here, but my home was destroyed by the armies of men and I had to flee all that I knew.'

She spoke simply, as if her tale were nothing more than words. But her heart ached at the reminder. She'd been alone, save for the occasional servant, and of course the creatures of magic that were drawn to her.

Turning back to regard him she smiled. There was no malice in her eyes. Though she knew he'd been sent here as a punishment, she hoped he might come to like it here. With a sigh she realized they never did. But he was different. Perhaps ...

"A robe hangs on the chair behind you. When you are ready to leave the bath, put it on, and follow the faun to my chambers."

She swept from the room then, though one of the faun remained, looking at him impassively.

 

[BrotherGrimm]

Draven

Draven only realized once she had left the room that she still had not told him how she expected him to serve. Exhaling deeply, he stood up a few minutes after she left. His energy was returned, the bath and her healing magic taking the pain and some of the weariness away. Slipping into the robe slowly, he looked about the room he was in, but saw no windows. It made sense for a bathing room, after all, but it was still not to his liking at the moment. Shaking his head, he turned to the faun, "Well then, it seems that I'm supposed to follow you. Do you have a name, or should I just call you 'faun'?" "Goat-legs" sounded more appropriate, but Draven was still all but naked, and without a weapon of any kind.

 

[Zarafina]

The faun did not reply. It perhaps could not understand him, or could not speak in a language he understood. But it realize he was ready, and led him up the stairway. Many doors seemed to lead to rooms in the center of the tower, which the steps circled. Their destination, however, was at the very top of the tower.

The faun opened the door, but did not enter, waiting until Draven stepped withing the mistress' chambers before closing the heavy wooden door and locking it.

She was sitting before a vanity, her hair unbound and falling around her shoulders. She passed a brush through it slowly, looking upon herself in the glass. If she realized he was there, she made no sign of it.

 

[BrotherGrimm]

The mercenary had the urge to simply run through some of the doors they passed, but he knew that they might not even be unlocked. Even if they were, he wouldn't know which way to run. For the moment, compliance was his only real choice.

Finally, they arrived at the top of the tower, and the faun seemed to indicate that he should go through the door that the creature had opened. Hesitating only a brief moment, he walked into the bedchamber and immediately saw her. With her hair unbound, she was even more stunningly beautiful than before, and he literally had no words for her for a time as she brushed her hair, seemingly unaware of his presence. Only once he recovered did his mouth once more run ahead without his mind, "Well, if all you wanted was a roll in the sack, all you had to do was ask."

 

[Zarafina]

Sorena did not even pause as he spoke, though in the glass her smile could be seen. It was gentle, far from taunting.

"You are not here for a 'roll in the sack, Draven. You are here because you would be dead at the end of a rope otherwise." she purred. "Though yes, I desire more of you than simply another manservant." She turned to face him then, and extended a hand. "Come closer ..?"

It was a request. It was not a command. She waited, palm offered to him, hoping that he would come to her of his own desire.