A Mutual Understanding

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

Mir was suprised when Helwyn had nothing to say about the guardsman. It had been stupid and dangerous and it put them all in danger yet she said nothing about it. Women were far too complicated. A quick berating he'd have taken gladly over just silence. When she spoke though he wished she'd just stayed quiet. "I know," he replied. "Don't think I don't, and don't think I'm not grateful, incredibly grateful for your help. I'm in your debt, far deeper than I'm comfortable with to be honest.I can't promise you I'll be worth it but I will help you till the debt is repaid."

Mir sat up straighter in his saddle, looking at their options. When Helwyn pointed to some thin ruts in the ground and to the barn he nodded. "Looks like the most comfortable place to hide. Even if she's awful at hiding." Mir turned his horse towards the barn and urged it forward at a slow walk. The tracks to the barn were obvious once you knew what to look for. It could just be because the Althea had never had to really evade anyone in her life, or because she wanted them to come toward the barn for an ambush. It was an excellent location. Good cover, plenty of places to hide, and it would confine them.

"Be cautious," he urged Helwyn as he pulled his horse to a halt. He slipped off his horse and drew his sword when he touched ground. "Althea?" he called out softly. "If you're in there come out."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

The barn door cracked open with a groan, and a pale moon face could barely be seen peeking out through the narrow opening. An impatient voice hissed in a strained semblance of a whisper, "Where have you been? What took so long? She'll know we are gone by now! She's bound to have realized her plaything is missing, and me too!"

The slim elf stepped through the barn door, opening it up enough to permit entrance for the others and beckoning urgently. "She's in here, your darkling. Come get her, I've done my part. I want to be done with her."

Althea ducked back inside, not waiting for Mir to follow. Helwyn sat her horse, glancing idly at Mir and then back along the trail they way they came, as if looking to see if anyone was following them. She nodded to Mir. "You go get her. I'll keep watch. Call out if you need me." The Northern woman guided her horse a few paces back up the trail to give the mercenary some privacy. Her demeanor hinted that whatever feelings she might have in the matter of the dark elf and Mir's relationship with her, Helwyn was keeping her thoughts to herself for the time being. Or perhaps she'd just had enough of the elf earlier in the evening for one night.

A stirring sound from within the carriage drew Althea's attention, and she quickly crossed the barn, holding aloft a candle lantern she'd been keeping shuttered. She opened the door of the carriage as she heard the warrior moving in behind her. A quick yank of a dark blanket stripped it away from the even darker form concealed beneath it; a form that was just beginning to stir and move, despite the bonds that restricted it.

http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/thumb/a/ad/479401_-_Dark_Elf_Dungeons_and_Dragons_drow_piroro.jpg/733px-479401_-_Dark_Elf_Dungeons_and_Dragons_drow_piroro.jpg

A startled but muffled whimper escaped the drow's gagged mouth as the relative brightness of the candlelight hit her sensitive eyes. They glowed red in the darkness of the dimly lit barn as her tapetum lucidem reflected the light back like an animal of the night. The surprised and shocked expression furrowing the snow white brows quickly changed to one of recognition and relief when Spiriel caught a glimpse of Mir's presence over the elf's shoulder.

"She's all yours, Warrior. I had to keep her bound just as she was when I stole her away. I didn't want her struggling around and making any noise that would get us both caught." Althea's words lacked the haughty edge they usually held. It was almost as if she regretted the necessity of treating the girl the way she had. "Now you promised to take me away from here. We should get away before they come after us."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

"Quit your bitching," Mir snarled as he pushed past Althea into the barn. "We got here as quickly as we could without being obvious about it." Mir left off the part about killing a guard. A dead guard turning up, one who'd watched over Spiriel, who was seen by many drinking in Mir's inn, on the night that the light elf who'd helped interrogate Spiriel disappeared as well as the drow herself, well Mir was starting to seriously reconsider if anyone would think for a moment that the guard had just managed to randomly get mugged and murdered on this particular night. Like it or not speed was of the essence.

Mir followed the light elf into the barn, trying not to look at the candle and ruin his night vision. When the door of the carriage opened he peered inside. Spiriel wasn't sitting on one of the seats but bound up in the floor. Spiriel's red eyes light up in the candle light and her relief mirrored his own as he finally saw her again. In a flash Mir's knife was out and the ropes that bound Spiriel were cut through and discarded. He gag was yanked down to hang around her neck and Mir scooped her up into his arms and embraced her tightly, surprising even himself with the display of emotion. "You're safe," he told her.

He glanced at Althea and nodded. "I keep my bargains, come on." Still holding Spiriel he led Althea out. At his horse he rummaged in the saddle bags until he pulled out a cloak and wrapped Spiriel in it before picking her up and setting her atop his ash gray destier. He nodded at Althea, "You, get on the extra horse, you can ride it while we get away from here. Everyone, wait here for a moment."

He disappeared back into the barn and emerged moments later with the horse and carriage in tow. He led the horse to the crossroads and aimed it down the road to the west. He hauled back and slapped the horse on it's hindquarters bellowing, "YAH!" as he did so. The startled horse bolted off down the road to the west as he hurried back and mounted his own horse, sandwiching Spiriel's slight form between himself and the saddlehorn. "Come on," he headed for the road north and took off at a fast trot, urging his horse on and the women to follow.

For two hours they rode, long into the night until they came to a large stream. Rather than cross the bridge Mir led them down into the stream bed. Turning he lead them upstream to the west, moving slowly and giving his horse time to find it's footing. It was dangerous and slow but it was the only way to put an end to their trail. A mile upstream he found a good ford that exited the stream onto solid rock but he passed it, and the next one. Waiting for the steep and treacherous third one to finally leave the stream.

His horse climbed out and he led their group into the high, forested country they were now in, miles from the main road. As the sun finally started to peek over the horizon he led them into a large cave in the base of a hill. The entrance was in a small cutback which shielded it's entrance from the wind and anyone who might come looking.

The cave was at least five meters high and wide and went back in the hill about twenty meters. Mir got off his horse and helped Spiriel down. "We need to rest here, stay out of sight during the day. A fire won't be as obvious and we can avoid most people going about their day. I'll get to work on a fire, we and the horses need to warm up and rest."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Spiriel was still influenced by the residual effects of the sedative Althea had administered. Her momentary confusion at the sight of the light elf uncovering her was no longer completely based on the unreasoning fear of the elf killing her; the memory of the almost tender care that Althea had ministered to her welts and cuts from the lash was more recent in her mind, and it attenuated her fear of the elf with memories of mercy.

Still, the sight of her warrior almost seemed surreal, and she thought it was part of the fevered haze of the last few days until she felt the strong arms gather her up. Mir's words were clear enough; and she knew what he meant. But it was the feeling of his arms around her that solidified the sentiment his words had expressed.

She was safe.

Mir would not let the elf kill her now. Nor would he allow the seamstress to whip her cruelly anymore, nor the guardsmen to force her body or hurt her. As his arms wrapped her in relief and safety, she felt some of the pain of her last few days begin to fade.

Althea watched as the two unlikely companions embraced, and for the first time in days, her guilt in the whole affair began to be assuaged. Finally she had taken a step to setting things right after helping to make things so wrong. Despite her self centeredness and her unreasoning racial sentiments about the drow, she actually felt like what she'd done now was a good thing for a change. Still, the moment passed quickly and she determined not to let them know.

She snorted in derision as Mir wrapped a simple cloak around the slender dark form of the drow girl and led Spiriel out to his horse. "Aren't you going to give her more than that to wear? The night is chill, and her wounds are not yet healed." But even as she made her remarks, she followed and mounted the spare horse as instructed, not willing to take a chance on Mir changing his mind and leaving her behind now that he'd gotten what he wanted. She thought to remind him of the value of taking her with them once again, saying, "I will need to tend to her again later, and when I do, I could have a look at your leg if you want. I can make a salve that will speed the healing and leave no scars." Her tone seemed almost solicitous, as if trying to make up a little for her poor attitude in previous encounters with the warrior.

Helwyn watched as Mir led the slender dark form out of the barn and put her on his horse. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she assessed the source of all this trouble and bother. What she saw did not impress her much. It was a little hard to believe that a warrior like Mir would be so affected by such a wench. She shrugged before turning away deliberately rather than stare. There seemed to be no difference in the way the girl walked; nothing to give away the changes that her own people supposedly had done to her through magic, although Helwyn had not seen the change in person. She recalled what Mir had told her about the drow's 'special differences', but no details about the physical change.

As Mir carried out his precautionary measures, Helwyn stood her horse a little off to the side, deliberately not looking at the others any more than necessary. She realized she was feeling a little jealousy perhaps; or at least could not see what all the fuss was about. She tried to tell herself it was nothing, but the thought that this drow girl had something with Mir that she herself didn't have, at least not yet, bothered her more than she wanted to admit. The two warriors had formed a bond in combat and solidified it further through the last couple days in their mutual goal of getting his slave back. There was a budding trust and respect between them, and likely some attraction too.

But the drow already had a level of physical intimacy with Mir that Helwyn could not claim, and it might be enough to come between anything that could have developed between them. The Nordic blonde grunted in disgust at the direction her thoughts were turning, realizing that she was, at the core of the matter, feeling threatened by the slip of a darkling girl that sat naked, wrapped only in a cloak (one not even as fine as her new one), on Mir's horse a few yards away. The notion that she had anything to worry about from such a girl was absurd! Mir would see it in time, Helwyn assured herself.

The group rode out, following Mir as he took the lead. Helwyn brought up the rear, in part to lend more security to the group, but in part to avoid seeing the intimate way Mir held onto his recovered prize. She had no particular desire to be chummy with Althea either, so her position behind the group suited her mood most appropriately. For her part, Althea rode as close in behind Mir as possible, occasionally coming partially alongside his horse. She wasn't sure about Helwyn, or how safe she'd be with the Northern woman. Mir was at least a relatively known quantity, and despite the elf's opinion that he was a scoundrel and rogue through and through, he had a streak of his own kind of honor, and she was confidant in her ability to manipulate that if it would keep her safe.

Their progress was not without urgency, but not with undue haste either. As the horses swayed in the relaxed pace, Spiriel still felt groggy from the after effects of the elvish sedative that the light elf had given her without her knowledge. But she simply attributed it to her weakened state due to the harsh treatment she'd received over the last few days. As a result, she spent some time drifting in and out of lucidity, dozing as she leaned back into Mir's protective sheltering embrace.

When she would awaken, her first impulse was to look back up into Mir's face, assuring herself that it was not just a dream. She leaned into his embrace more solidly and the bright smile that came naturally to her lips shone in the darkness like a beacon of her affection for her warrior. Her hand drifted down alongside them both, caressing casually but gently over Mir's wounded thigh. Her fingertips traced the bandage lightly, sympathetically, and she wondered how he got the injury. It occurred to her that he might have been hurt fighting her own kind, and she wondered if it would affect how he felt about her.

She didn't mind the occasional stray of his hand when he'd let it drop lower to rest between her thighs as she straddled the saddle, nor the upwards strays when his palm might slip under the cloak's gathered edge to cup her pert ebony breast as they rode along. The chill of the night already encouraged her nipples to raise to almost rubbery protrusions, but when his fingertips circled or squeezed them slightly, they would stiffen even further, becoming hard little points under his touch. She found that when she leaned back into him more firmly, it pressed her sex flap against the saddle horn, the motion of the horse's walking gate rubbing the fleshy flap so that the ridged clitoris just inside was stimulated.

But she was still tender from the recent rape. The guardsman had not been gentle, nor small. His rough forcing of her had left tears in her special anatomy that were still not fully healed. In addition, the sting of the many cuts from the lash still welted her back, butt, and thighs, and her squirming in the saddle was more often than not because of discomfort rather than arousal. The only escape she had from the torment was in those lapses of sleep that overtook her, and they brought with them their own kind of torture in the form of dreams of her ordeals. From as near as Althea's position in the travel column, the slight moans could be easily misinterpreted either way, as pain or pleasure. It made the light elf wonder.

When they reached the cave, Spiriel had lapsed into a light doze again. Helwyn dismounted and took the reins of the spare horse, letting Althea dismount, then also took Mir's reins. "You've got your hands full of her, Mir. I'll take care of the horses; it's a cinch the elf doesn't know what to do with them." Indeed, Althea was walking pretty stiffly towards the cave, rubbing her pert derriere tenderly.

But as soon as Mir tried to dismount with Spiriel in his arms, she stirred and awoke anyhow. She slipped down to the ground, her knees wobbling as soon as her feet hit the bare rock, and she clung to the side of the stallion and to Mir's armor, holding herself up with a moan. Althea glanced back once, shaking her head. "She's not strong enough to be up and around on her own yet. It will take time. I'll look at her wounds if you want me to. I can check that leg of yours too, if it bothers you."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

Mir clambered down to the ground with Spiriel in his arms but his little elf woke up and slithered out of his arms. She nearly fell except for her grip on him and their horse. “She’s head strong.” he replied to Althea’s warnings. He scooped her back up into his arms. “Calm down, let me take care of you.” he said with uncharacteristic gentleness. He found a rock outcrop about the right height and set her down on it. “Look her over all you need,” he told Althea, “and get that harness off her.”

Mir set to ensuring his horse was taken care of. He led the big destier just outside the cave and hitched him to a tree after getting his saddle and blanket off. It wasn’t ideal but the big animal needed to eat and there was nothing in the cave. He did the same with the horse Althea had been riding before collecting wood for a fire. He opened up his bedroll and spread it out on the cave floor near to Althea and Spiriel, beckoning Helwyn to stay close as well as he started to make a fire pit. The slope of the cave roof would keep the smoke contained, hopefully, and he’d only collected dry branches for it. He got a rough ring of stones made and assembled his first bit of firewood. His flint got the tinder going and after a few minutes of work he had a small but strong fire going. He fished some food out of his pack - dry trail rations - but they would fill them up and keep them going. Only after everything was taken care of did he allow himself to flop down on the stone beside Spiriel. After their time separated he really had no idea what to say to her so he settled for putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her to him for a hug. He was still in his pared down set of armor so he didn’t hug her too tightly but he still held her, kissing her atop her head right in the midst of her silvery hair. “That will never happen again.” he told her. “Never.”

He cast a glance at Althea. ”How is she? Your mistress didn’t do any permanent damage did she?”

 

[Annisthyrienne]

“Yes, I kahm don. I help Mir.” Spiriel replied automatically, still mentally waking up after the long ride. But Mir only guided her to a place to sit down to rest, refusing to let her help. At first, she thought it might be because of how he felt about drow after fighting her own kind. Maybe the wound he’d received in his leg had turned his feelings against her somehow, Spiriel wondered.

But then he gestured to the elf, giving Althea permission to examine her. Spiriel shrank back a little, unsure of the elf’s intentions as Althea approached. Was Mir giving her to the elf now? Did he not want her anymore? Maybe it was because of what the guardsman had done to her?

Althea saw the little drow shrink away, almost cringing as she came near, and for a moment, she recalled the thoughts in the drow’s mind about how her own people had convinced her that any light elf would kill her on sight, as if just by thinking about it. Althea remembered with a twinge of guilt how she had laughed at the idea, delighted that the drow she thought she loathed so much would fear her so terribly. Now she felt a spike of guilt in the whole affair all over again, and spoke softly and soothingly to this black-skinned slip of a girl.

“It’s all right; I will not hurt you, Spiriel. I only want to help. I can help your wounds stop hurting so much.” She spoke to the drow slowly, as if she were a child, incapable of understanding too much, too quickly.
Helwyn noticed the change of tone from the elf’s normal arrogant manner, and glanced at Mir with a raised eyebrow and nodding her head in the direction of the two elves, wondering if he knew what had gotten into Althea. She said nothing, but her curiosity was piqued. She busied herself setting up her own bedroll, conspicuously close to Mir’s, but said nothing for the moment, determined to keep close enough to hear any more developments that might explain the elf’s change in attitude.

Spiriel watched Althea approach, her silvery eyes showing her cautious hesitation when the elf reached out for her. But other than cringing back a little, she did not move away. The quiet voice tone helped to allay her fears of the light elf, and she nodded hesitantly when Althea reached to take the cloak from her shoulders, leaving her naked.

Althea moved slowly, but deliberately, putting herself in the line of sight between Mir, Helwyn, and the little drow. She hadn't had a chance before to thoroughly examine exactly what the drow had done to Spiriel without being interrupted, and she wanted to have a better look now under the guise of checking on her wounds. At first, she did check on the welts and bruises covering the backs of the dark girl's thighs, buttocks, and back. She found it intriguing that the wounds seemed to be healing already, far more than her own attentions should have accounted for.

Risking a glance over her shoulder at the others, Althea then urged Spiriel to lie back on the rock, her hands pressing gently on the ebony shoulders from the front. The elf had put herself in front of Spiriel, between her legs, and now gently lifted and spread her knees. Spiriel, for her part, knew she was hurt down there too, and thought the elf was only doing what she'd said she would: making her wounds hurt less.

But Helwyn, already curious as only a woman can be, noticed the odd turn the examination had taken, and also that Mir was too intent on building the fire to notice. She watched, craning her neck to try to see a better view. She was curious too, about what exactly was so special about this darkling. That the girl had been changed somehow with magick she knew, but exactly how was still a mystery. She hoped to catch a glimpse over the elf's shoulder at just what all the fuss was about.

But Althea was being careful. Her fingers gently traced along the odd looking flap of flesh that had been formed over the dark girl's sex, finding the slight tearing at the edges from the recent rape by the guardsman. She lifted it gently and looked under, studying how the girl was made. Then she glanced up into those silvery eyes for a moment to gage how the drow was reacting to being touched so intimately. She was not quite prepared for the child-like innocent trust she saw in them. Ashamed of herself, Althea murmured a simple healing cantrip she knew from her days as an apprentice and then quickly grabbed the cloak and wrapped it back around the drow just as Mir returned to flop back down beside his little slave girl. Spiriel snuggled in as he put his arms around her, glad that he hadn't rejected her it seemed.

”How is she? Your mistress didn’t do any permanent damage did she?”

Althea started when his voice addressed her, but quickly covered her twinges of conscience by turning back towards the fire before answering, only to meet Helwyn's knowing stare briefly before looking away. "She is better than before. Actually she continues to surprise me. She seems to be healing much quicker than I can account for. I would have thought her condition far worse. But it seems that when they changed her body, the magick had a few other effects too. It makes sense, now that I think about it. I mean, if they changed her specifically to create some sort of plaything they could abuse however they wanted to, wouldn't they also want to make sure she could recover from whatever damage they inflicted so they could always have a reasonably healthy fucktoy, fit for whatever perversions they could think of?"

Althea's tone when addressing Mir was back to it's normal aristocratic style, and her use of the harsh street term to describe what Spiriel had been made into reflected her loathing of the drow once again. But this time, it could be interpreted as her hatred of the specific drow who had done such a thing, and not for Spiriel herself. Althea continued, "But Mir, you need to understand something about her. She's not what she seems to be. To anyone looking at her, she might appear to be just a sex slave. Her body is nubile and feminine, and certainly has its appeal. But you have to understand that she is not the same on the inside."

Helwyn spoke up, unable to contain he rampant curiosity now. "What do you mean, Elf? What exactly is the big mystery about the darkling anyhow? You've told me she was changed by magick in some way, but I want to know just how, and I don't mean how it was done, but how it is changed from normal."

Althea glared at the interruption before continuing, this time including Helwyn in her explanation as well. "Well, the priestesses of the drow spider cult took Spiriel from her parents when she was just a child, and that is when they changed her with their sorcery. They used it to change her body; in exactly what way, you will have to convince Mir to let you see, if he will permit it. The drow girl is his now, after all."

Helwyn looked expectantly at Mir, raising another eyebrow as if to ask if he would make the drow show herself. But Althea continued, "When they took her away and changed her, the priestesses became like the mother figure to her. That part is not so uncommon, since the drow race generally have a matriarchal society, run by the priestesses. But the last male in Spiriel's life to show her kindness and genuine affection was her father, and him not since she was taken from the family. Every other male she's ever known has used or abused her.....That is, until you came along, Mir. Now you have shown her the same kind of caring and affection that her father had before any of this happened. Well, not exactly the same, but close enough for Spiriel. You remember that I've seen into her thoughts. I know how she thinks of you."

"When they changed her physically, they could not stop her body from maturing into the young woman you see now, but the process did something to her emotionally, mentally perhaps, that arrested her development. I don't know if it was the magick that did it or just that they kept her so isolated and made sure to feed her mind a diet of lies and half-truths. But she is very naive, Mir. She thinks like a child in many ways. Everything is in basic black and white terms to her; pardon the reference. At first, she wondered what you wanted from her in exchange for the kindness you showed her. She thinks of it as a quid pro quo situation. Nobody ever did anything for her unless they wanted to use her in some way, or had some other devious motive. Now you come along and she thinks that she will have to repay your considerations in some way. Still, she is intelligent enough to know that she didn't want to be a slave exactly, having just escaped such a life. So she proposed being your 'helper' instead, right? Same thing as being your slave really, but put into her own terms. She thinks she had a say in it that way."

"But now that you've continued to show her kindness and care for her, she has begun to think of you more as the kind of man her father was to her, and not like the others who used her. I'm not saying you are becoming her Daddy, Mir, but you need to understand just how she does see you, and how it is changing the longer you are with her. Also, you are exposing her to more of the world than she has even been allowed to know about before in her life. That is bound to broaden her horizons, so maybe her mind will someday catch up to her body. I'm not saying she's a child, mentally speaking, but she is naive and very inexperienced in the world. She certainly is not unintelligent. But it would be easy for people to take advantage of her. Other than physically, she is quite innocent."

Spiriel listened to all the talking with some interest, but it was spoken in the Common tongue of humans, and spoken too quickly for her to catch the meaning of all of it. She knew when Althea spoke her name, but the elf's unusual accent and speed of speaking made it hard to garner much more of the conversation. She did start a little when the giantess spoke up, gesturing at her so emphatically, but only curled closer into Mir's side, pulling the cloak around her tighter. It sounded like the elf was very excited about her somehow, but all Spiriel knew was that she hadn't tried to kill her, and Mir was at her side to protect her, so everything would be all right in time.

After her impassioned speech, Althea lapsed into silence, taking a seat and chewing thoughtfully on the rations Mir had passed her. For several long moments, only the crackling of the fire could be heard in the little cave. Finally Helwyn spoke, the burning curiosity still evident in her voice, "So Mir, does that mean you'll make her give me a peek?"

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

Mir's face darkened as Althea explained Spiriel's rapid healing. "So they made her able to heal so they could abuse her more." he rumbled. He shook his head and looked away, his own anger plain to see. He said nothing about Althea's tone as the elf seemed to be as disgusted as he was by it all. He blew off Helwyn's first request to see how Spiriel was changed. Everyone was curious about that. Althea's further talk of how she had been changed was not pleasing but in an entirely new manner.

"She's not a slave, not anymore. I didn't... We had to pretend in town. People couldn't think I was letting a drow just wander around free, but she's not my slave. Not anymore." Mir sighed. He'd known when he saw the look in her eyes that she hadn't fully understood what was going on when he'd put the collar on her back in the seamstress' shop. He looked at her and tried to give her a wan smile and an assuring, "Helper." before Althea continued on.

"I ain't fit to be anyone's father," Mir grumbled. "Especially not hers." He gave Spiriel a reassuring squeeze, but the idea that she might see him as a kind of father figure bothered him. Especially since he was looking forward to her being healed so they could be together again in the least fatherly way imaginable. As he sat there looking at the fire he thought about it more, just letting the fire burn as he considered it. Ultimately, what choice did he have in the matter? If she saw him that way, she saw him that way and trying to dissuade her would probably only accomplish what it usually did with young girls: encourage them to keep doing it.

Then Helwyn spoke up. Mir's eye's darted to hers and then down to Spiriel. His thoughts about what he'd like to do with her betrayed him at that moment. Helwyn asking twice betrayed a far less prurient interest in his little drow's condition. Slave or not, he could likely tell her to show the northern woman and she would. To his own shame he was sorely tempted. Helwyn was a beautiful woman in her own way and Spiriel's polar opposite. To see the two of them close like that... He clamped his eyes shut and shook his head. "If she wants to show you she can, but I won't make her. Right now we all need to get some food and then rest." he declared. "We need to put another day or two between the town and us before I'll feel safe on the main roads again."

Motioning for Spiriel to stay where she was he retrieved a few items from his own saddle bags. A loaf of bread was tossed to Althea while he got out a small pan and set it over the fire before tossing some sausages on it and then fishing out a few pears. He got the food going before he went back and fished out something for Spiriel to wear and tossed it to Althea. "Help her get dressed." he ordered. He turned half way to the food at the fire before he looked back at the high elf. "Please," he added.

The sausages were soon finished and he took them off, offering each of them one and tearing off chunks of bread for everyone.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Althea broke the bread into equal shares, offering some to Helwyn as she noticed the Northerner still staring curiously at Spiriel. Althea could almost see the wheels turning in the human woman's head as to how she could get the little drow to offer her sex for inspection. She just shook her head. Mir had said it was between Helwyn and Spiriel now, and at least he was not going to force the little drow to show off her goods unless she wanted to.

Althea didn't exactly approve of Helwyn's over eager curiosity; in truth feeling a little protective of the drow herself. The realization of how she felt surprised her at first, but she attributed it to feeling a little guilty over how she had treated the girl before, and all of the suffering it had led to for the drow. But at least, she thought, the girl was not going to be passed around like some piece of meat, and that seemed to be an improvement to her lot in life.

She handed a piece of bread to Spiriel, offering an actual smile to the dark skinned girl before turning back towards Mir just as he tossed an article of clothing at her face. It hit her as she sputtered indignantly, just in time to hear him order her to put the clothing on his darkling. She opened her mouth to screech her protest at him when he added in a more gentle tone the word 'Please'. It stopped her objection cold, and she merely turned back towards Spiriel without saying a word, helping the drow get dressed in the outfit she, herself, had been the model for, and helped to create.

As Althea helped Spiriel dress, she recalled modeling and then working on the lavender outfit. It was quite an elaborate design. The collar of the one piece garment fit snugly around the dark girl's neck like a choker, and was fastened right at her throat with a carved oval mother of pearl decorative bauble. It was designed to contrast with her black skin and set off the slave collar effect well.

From there, the sleeves of the outfit extended clear down to the cuffs at her wrists, but they were slit along the inside front, and then fastened with lace ties. At the cuffs, the garment fastened with smaller versions of the throat gem. Down the torso of the snug fitting garment were several key hole peek-a-boo openings, one in the center of her cleavage, one at her tummy, exposing her navel, and one daringly low at her groin, almost exposing her sex. It was a design specifically made for the way Spiriel was made. The fabric was a stretchy, clingy material, and hugged her every curve, yet moved with her in a sensual whisper of rustling fabric. It was open in the back, the opening plunging from her shoulder blades clear down to where her butt began to curve outwards.

The suit continued, fitting over her hips like very short shorts, and extended down the sides with one strap like 'garter' that held up the thigh high cloth boots that served as footwear and leggings, completing the outfit. The insides of her thighs were left exposed, almost completely up to the apex of her legs. The entire garment was all connected as one piece when worn, although the various ties and closures took some assistance to manage.

Althea admired the way the clothing looked on the drow once she finished. She remembered the work that went into that particular outfit, and realized that Mir had ordered a half dozen such outfits, plus more reasonable traveling clothes. She knew what her former mistress would have charged for such custom wear, and began to have a new appreciation for Mir's affluence. Here was a man who, as gruff an exterior he might present, was very good to his woman. Chances are he was good to all those in his company, and treated them well. Didn't he already provide food for all of them, without even needing to be asked for it? The ambitious she-elf began to formulate a plan.

She went to sit beside Mir, smiling as he handed her the sausages and bread. It was the first genuinely warm smile she'd offered him, and her face lit up with it. Althea possessed a good measure of elfin beauty when she wasn't being selfish and scheming. She pretended to be lost in thought, then ventured somewhat tentatively, "Mir, I was just thinking....I know we made the deal that you would take me to the nearest town, but maybe I should reconsider, and stay with you for a while. I could help out with your drow girl, since you don't want to be saddled as her father figure. I can understand how you wouldn't want to burden yourself with taking care of her like that. And she seems to be trusting me so far. Perhaps it would be a good thing, you know, to have a woman to care for her, show her the ways of the surface world. You're a warrior. You don't need to be babysitting some drow wench who is so naive that she needs a keeper. I could do that for you. And all I'd ask in return is to be treated well and provided the basics I need. What would you say to that?"

++++++++++++++++++++

From her place opposite the fire from Althea and Mir, Helwyn smirked, grunting her opinion of the arrangement. It was clear to her that the elf had something in mind, and it wasn't that she wanted to take care of the mysterious drow slave girl. The Northern woman returned her stare to the dark skinned elf in question, wondering again how she could persuade the darkling to show her what her own kind had done to her sex. It was a rather personal thing to ask another woman you'd barely met to see her pussy. But Helwyn's curiosity was burning. And she had to admit, Spiriel looked very enticing in that lavender outfit. For a moment, Helwyn entertained the idle thought of what the drow would be like under the furs.

The giantess' gaze wandered over to Mir's muscular form, more to her liking. She let her eyes indulge her fantasies, blatantly roving over his body with her stare. As she thoroughly reviewed each part of him, her thought turned to how it would feel to run her hands over those muscles, to feel his arms holding her tight, to have those strong calloused hands spreading her thighs on a cold night next to a warm fire. A dreamy smile painted her lips. Then her thoughts began to run together, blending the idle speculation about the drow with the lustful fantasies about her fighting companion.

What would it be like to bed them both, Helwyn wondered. How would Mir treat her, with his slave girl so near? Would he even spare her a glance? Her eyes fell on the elf, still scheming to get Mir to let her tag along with them. What if he decided to bring her to his bedroll as well? Both elves possessed a certain ethereal beauty that the human woman just couldn't lay claim to. What could she offer Mir in comparison to that?

Helwyn started out of her reverie when she realized she was feeling a strong pang of jealousy. When had she begun thinking of Mir in that way? When had she begin thinking of him as hers? With a sigh, the tawny blonde warrioress turned back to staring into the flames, keeping her thoughts to herself. It seemed to be shaping up to be a long day, she thought.

++++++++++++++++

Spiriel flashed a smile at the elf helping her put on the wonderful clothing. She loved how it hugged her skin, almost like it was part of her. Never in her life had she had such fine clothing, and she instinctively knew it made her look attractive, even still recovering from the lashings she took under the seamstress' hand. Now this elf, who she thought would kill her, was helping her, and seemingly treating her nicely. Spiriel wondered at the change. Could she trust this person?

She'd been abused many times in the past by those who approached with a seemingly friendly smile that hid their sinister intentions. Trust did not come easy to her after all those years. She was only really beginning to trust Mir out of all her newly acquired companions. As they all sat around the fire, Spiriel's silvery gaze cast upon each one of them.

She reflected on her feelings for Mir. She found she actually liked him, and despite how their arrangement had started out, she realized she wanted to belong with him, and yes, perhaps belong to him, in a certain way. She recalled how she had been ready to fight at his side against the guards, even though she didn't know much more than about fighting than which was the pointy end of the dagger.

The Northern giantess was another matter. There was a woman who obviously could fight; another warrior like Mir. It wouldn't surprise her, Spiriel thought, if Mir would rather be with the tawny blonde instead of her. Why not? After all, Helwyn could protect him just as well as he could fight for her. And what could a little drow, former slave girl do? Help him? Help him do what?

The human guards had hurt her, had captured and abused both of them, and Mir couldn't even fight them because she was there, holding him back. His concern for her prevented him from fighting those bad you-mans and they had both suffered as a result. Spiriel hung her head in sorrow. She tried to be a good drow girl and not kill any you-man people. But they had hurt her anyway, and hurt her badly too. She had been nearly powerless to stop them. What good was she as a helper anyway.

With a grim determination, Spiriel gingerly stood, a little tender still from the bite of the lash, though she was slowly healing. She walked slowly to Mir's huge grey stallion, and tugged on the shiny pommel of the sword he'd bought for her in town. At last it came free of the bundle, sliding out of it's sheath with a metallic ring. It was heavier than she expected, and the point dipped in her grasp. Still, she committed to her purpose, carrying the sword back towards the fire. Each step pained her between her legs where the brutal rape from the guardsman had torn her delicate genital flap. Each step reminded her, taunted her of her uselessness as anything other than a sex slave. She would put that life behind her. Mir would respect a woman who could wield a sword and fight by his side; a woman like Helwyn. He might even come to love such a woman. Spiriel thought she could someday be such a woman too.

Stopping at the fire, opposite of Mir and Althea, standing nest to the giant warrioress, the little Drow raised the sword point, holding the weapon with both hands.

"Mir, teach Spiriel Kitten kill bad You-mans. Spiriel be bad drow girl now. Kill You-man soldiers good. Learn how. Fight with Mir, protect Mir too. I help, you see."

Althea looked at the drow, and then back at Mir with astonishment, shock, and concern clearly showing on her face. Helwyn looked back up at the little slip of a darkling girl with a new appreciation. Her expression showed surprise, but also approval. Then she, too, looked at Mir to see his reaction.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

Mir sat stoically in between all three women. He didn't know exactly what they were all thinking but all three of them were thinking hard about something. He wasn't sure what they were all thinking about but odds were good it had something to do with him. In this case he could do the brave thing and just ask, or he could do the smart thing and not bring that kind of hell down upon himself. Given that his experience with women for the past decade or two had been with the kind who's charms you could rent for an evening he wasn't sure he was ready to have all three engage him at the same time.

To his pleasant surprise Althea offered Spiriel a piece of bread without comment, just a small smile before she started to look towards him. His distraction worked though as Spiriel's clothes smacked the elf in her face not entirely not on purpose. She started to sputter indignantly before he added a please and she got up to dress Spiriel. The choice of clothes had been terrible. What Spiriel wound up wearing was... distracting. No, not distracting, mesmerizing. His exotic little drow was now dressed in an outfit that was designed with every single stitch to both show off Spiriel's charms, and her exotic nature.

A tight fitting choker collar, exposed slits down her front, even going so low as to hint at her unnatural anatomy. Even in back there was no reprieve with a plunging back that stopped right above her cute little bottom and then those stockings... He needed to pay much, much closer attention to the clothes he gave her. His own manhood was making itself known as it started to tent his pants almost immediately. "Say what you want about your former employer, she wasn't a cheat." he said as he looked Spiriel over. He'd gotten his money's worth for certain. Of course after Althea had put all that work into getting it on Spiriel all he wanted to do was strip his drow back naked, and finding someplace private was not on the menu.

His ruminations of a public reintroduction to Spiriel's body were interrupted by Althea sitting down beside him. The she-elf gave him an earnest smile and nearly a stroke. They had been unwilling and unhappy partners so far, so the elf's wide unassuming smile set off some warning bells even as his awakened libido noted again that, like all elves, she possessed an ethereal beauty that was captivating. "Mir, I was just thinking...,"

He carefully listened to her proposition and wound up slowly shaking his head. "It's not that I don't want to be saddled with being a father figure, it's that I don't know how. Certainly not with how things are. We've done things... well most father's don't do that kind of thing. I know how to be a protector, lover, companion, but I don't know about a father. I think it would be good for her to have a woman around, someone she can relate to though. I'm not much for taking care of things, so having someone along who can help and who can teach Spiriel would be useful. If you want to stay about, that's fine. Food, water, clothes on your back, shelter, I'll guarantee it so long as you keep up camp. But," he leaned in closer, "Call her a wench again and you'll start earning your keep the hard way."

Across the fire he heard Helwyn grunt at Althea's offer, then sigh and look into the flames. The northern woman's request to see Spiriel's alterations had rubbed him somewhat the wrong way. Then again everyone wanted to see it. After all in spite of the many races running around, pussy was pussy. Elf, drow, orc, catwomen, halflings, dwarves, pretty much every female of every race, even mermaids, had the same plumbing, so Spiriel was unique in that respect. And well, his manhood certainly didn't mind the idea of Helwyn's face that close to Spiriel's pussy. After all, if she got that close…. He shook his head, trying to think straight. It wasn't easy, not surrounded like this. Spiriel was dressed to kill; Althea was smiling at him and getting chummy, and Helwyn… Well the northern woman was very beautiful in her own right. She was the polar opposite of the elves: tall, strong, and fair. If it had just been him and her on this trip he'd have long since started to try and woo her. Long travels weren't nearly so bad when you could share the bedding with a companion, though every thought he had of the amazon included Spiriel in some fashion, and occasionally Althea. Dream big after all.

His ruminations were interrupted when Spiriel got up and went to his horse. He had to admire the way she strode confidently towards the big animal, even as the red welts of the seamstress' lash shone brightly against her ebony skin, framed by her purple outfit. She poked around in the packs before he heard the familiar slip of steel through leather and she turned back to him brandishing the sword he'd bought her. Any threat that she might have posed was washed away by the inexpert way she held the blade, barely able to keep it pointed in the right direction. The comedic effect of her actions was eradicated by the stern determination on her young innocent features. "Mir, teach Spiriel Kitten kill bad You-mans. Spiriel be bad drow girl now. Kill You-man soldiers good. Learn how. Fight with Mir, protect Mir too. I help, you see."

Mir sat looking at Spiriel for a long, drawn out moment. He could see how intent she was about this in her face. What she lacked in ability was made up for in heart, that was important. Did he want this though, her risking her life? No, he didn't. She shouldn't have to fight. After the shit she'd lived through she deserved to be taken care of, protected. However it didn't matter one little bit what he wanted though. She was hated here on the surface for being drow. If she wasn't murdered immediately by someone they'd likely enslave her and sell her off. Her own kind below only wanted to murder her to appease their bloodthirsty goddess. There wouldn't likely be any respite for her in this life so what kind of man would he be if he didn't teach her how to protect herself.

He slowly stood and walked towards her. He took the tip of her sword in his hand and raised it straight up. "Mir teach Kitten, but Kitten only fight when Mir says. Not all humans are bad," he said looking over at Helwyn pointedly. He slid his hand down the blade to the tang and untangled her fingers from the hilt. "Right now, Kitten is hurt." he told her as he slipped her sword back into its scabbard. He pulled her to him and wrapped her in his arms as he rummaged in the pack for something before pulling out a long thin spit. Made of steel it was almost as long as her sword but the slight thing weighed only a pound, unlike her sword. "Take it easy," he instructed her as he began to teach her the very basics of swordsmanship with her slender body pressed against his.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Spiriel watched Mir warily as he rose and crossed around the fire to her. He took the sword tip in his hands and she was sure he would take it away from her, deny her the chance to become anything more than a slave girl for the pleasure of those who used her. But as he held her sword, his words reassured her. He would teach her, but he was concerned about her. He took her sword away. She thought that was it.

But Mir pulled her close, taking her in his arms, and gave her something else. It was not a sword, but it had a point, and it was light enough she could swing it, thrust with it, use it. It would do.

His strong arms wrapped around her, making her feel safer than she'd felt since the two of them had gone to see the you-man soldiers. He guided her hands with his, lighter skinned and larger over slender, smaller, darker. Going through the motions as he led her, she concentrated, trying to memorize them all. But they'd covered only a few when the light elf spoke up.

++++++++++

Althea watched as Mir took the sword away from the dark elf. She began to smile in approval. This girl was no warrior. Even the human mercenary could see it. He would not let this innocent girl take up arms and get herself killed. She was beginning to think the human mercenary had some sense after all. Didn't he just agree to keep her with him?

But then she heard his words to the drow, and her burgeoning smile turned into a frown. She watched, still unsure of his intention. She heard him tell her that she was still hurt, and as he took the sword away from her, Althea was sure he'd come to his senses. Then he gave the darkling the metal cooking spit, and began to show her how to use it like a sword. The she-elf had seen enough.

Althea rose to her feet and stalked purposefully towards the two, glaring at Mir as she came. "You can't be serious, Mir! I must object to this in the strongest terms! She's no warrior; she'll be killed in the first fight! If you want her to help out, at least teach her something that she can use to engage from a distance. Teach her something that all elves naturally have an aptitude for. Teach her to use a bow."

+++++++++++++

Helwyn had watched with approval as Mir began to show the darkling how to perform the basic maneuvers in beginning swordsmanship. She was noting his techniques, what he saw as the basics that Spiriel should be taught first. She thought it was telling of his skill and experience as a warrior that he began teaching Spiriel with those steps first. But then the she-elf had to go and ruin it all. Helwyn cringed at the first shriek of the elf's voice. "Can't she ever complain quietly?" the giantess muttered under her breath.

She stood and took a few steps nearer to hear what argument the elf was making. As Althea spoke, Helwyn recognized her chance to get closer to Mir and the mysterious dark skinned girl at the same time that she could tweak the she-elf, and she could hold her tongue no more.

"Elf, you are a fool! Your people learn the bow only because they live all their lives in the forest, where it makes sense to use one. But Spiriel's people live underground where it's so blasted dark they couldn't see to shoot an arrow beyond the reach of their own arm! And those caves and tunnels twist and turn so much, I doubt there is scarce room enough to stretch a bowstring to full draw, let alone shoot one."
"The answer to me is an obvious one. Mir, what weapon do almost all human soldiers learn to use in the beginning? A spear! Why? Because it is easily mastered with only a few lessons and then practice." Helwyn turned to look pointedly at Althea before continuing. "It can be used to hold off an attacker at a safe distance when wielded in the hands, and can even be thrown for greater ranges."

The Northern warrior woman slowly circled Mir and Spiriel, eyeing the dark skinned girl up and down. "She isn't much more than a slip of a girl, but I bet she can handle a spear, Mir. It would be easy to teach her how to thrust and block with it. I'm sure you've done your best to show her your thrusting technique, now let me teach her mine. And more than a basic weapon, if we get her the right kind of shaft as well, the spear could serve double use as a quarterstaff. I'm guessing your girl there doesn't have a lot of upper body strength, but I bet like most elvish kind, she has the dexterity to make a staff deadly by skill alone, not strength."

"One more thing. By training with it as a staff first, I can teach her without any danger to herself or anyone nearby. There won't be a pointy end until she's ready. But she could still use it effectively as a staff if we get in a scrape." Helwyn winked at the drow girl. "What say you, Spiriel? If Mir agrees, and you are willing, I will teach you. Let Althea be your nursemaid. I'll be your trainer."

Spiriel didn't understand all that the elf or the giant human woman said, but they both were looking at Mir expectantly when they finished talking, so her silver eyes were added to the two other pair looking to the human mercenary for a decision.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

Mir quietly listened to both women before addressing Althea. "In a city a bow isn't much use if someone attacks you. It won't be at a hundred yards where she can shoot their eye out, it'll be up close where a blade's all she's going to be able to work with." Mir continued on quickly before the temperamental elf could say anything. The thought of gagging her came to mind, or putting something else in her pretty mouth to keep her tongue occupied. "You're not wrong. I'm not expecting her to put on ringmail and fight a troll with me, but I'm more worried about her getting separated from me in a city and getting in trouble there." He turned to Helwyn. "Same with a spear. That and I don't have one. The idea's good but it'd be hell for her to walk around with one. I'm not going to expect her to fight by my side right now. When the time comes I want her using a bow or spear."

He turned back to Spiriel, "Besides, she's shown an interest in a blade. May as well encourage that. Once I'm satisfied she can defend herself up close I'll see about getting her up to speed with a bow and spear, and you," he said looking at Helwyn, "can teach her the spear."

It was the most diplomatic way he could think to put them both off. Their ideas were good, but out in the wilds he could handle himself. With Helwyn's help there wasn't much outside of a dragon he felt they couldn't take on. Spiriel's help would be useful, but his main concern wasn't in the wilds. The four of them, they were trustworthy, more or less. He didn't fear Helwyn or Althea doing anything untoward to Spiriel, but in a city? That would be dangerous, and he'd prefer Spiriel learn to fight with a blade, something she could keep on her at all times, to handle the city first.

He pointedly ignored Althea's attitude as he wrapped Spiriel back up with his body and guided her hand through another fifteen minutes of practice before he let her go. He tracked down a stick about two feet long and used it against her spit to show what the movements he'd been teaching her were for. Just like language she was a fast learner to his satisfaction.

Outside the light was starting to wane so Mir called a halt to their teaching. "We need to rest," he said with authority. The elves at least were his responsibility now but he also found himself naturally including Helwyn in his subconscious orders. He went to the fire and using the poker he got from Spiriel tugged the logs apart, reducing the flame. "Keep the bedrolls close together, this cave will get cold," he told them. He removed a few of the largest and most uncomfortable pieces of armor as he directed Spiriel towards his bedroll. "Get to bed," he told her before he turned to Althea and walked the few paces to her.

"I meant what I said." he told the elf softly. "Teaching her a bow is a good idea, and we'll do it in time. It wouldn't hurt for you to learn to defend yourself either. Whether you think you're a nursemaid or not I don't spend a lot of time in civilized places. You don't have to fight, but only a fool wouldn't learn how to use a weapon or two." He let that sink in and waited for her reply.

When he was done with her he made his way to Helwyn; not much of a way with how they were huddled up around the fire. "When we get to where we're going we'll track down a spear for her. I like to think I know how to handle a staff but if you think you could teach her how to handle a thrusting shaft then you're welcome to give it a try."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Spiriel followed Mir's instructions attentively. She found that with his hands to guide hers it was easier, since he could show her the right angle and grips. Apart from that, it was essentially mocking what he did in perfect repetition. That was something she could do.

But what really helped her 'get it' was when he drilled her through the movements while at the same time acting as if he were a bad You-man who was fighting her. Of course, deep down she knew he was taking it easy on her. This was a you-man who was used to smashing people's faces into bars and tables; he hardly ever even needed to draw his sword. But seeing how he used the stick as if it were a sword taught her the basics of how someone would be swinging a sword at her when the time came to fight. She paid close attention in all earnestness, because she knew she wasn't strong enough to smash anyone's face into a table.....well, maybe the other elf.

But soon the lesson was over for the time being, and Mir ordered her to go to his bedroll. He took the meat spit from her and turned her towards his blankets. She paused a moment, looking him in the eye, then meekly turned and did as she was told.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Althea listened to the argument of the Northern giant of a woman. She had to admit that the barbarian had a point, but it shouldn't be on the end of anything Spiriel was holding the other end of, in Althea's considered opinion. She returned to sit on the same rock that she'd examined Spiriel upon just a little while before, and watched the pair working through the kata. She knew that it was useless to argue with the bull-headed mercenary; he would have his own way whether she liked it or not. That he'd at least considered the idea enough to explain to her why he preferred to teach the girl the sword was something.

She admitted that the giantess' idea was a pretty good one. The spear was a crude weapon - basically a pointy thing on a stick - but it would keep Spiriel's foes a little further off at least. And the idea of using it as a staff was a pretty good one. Helwyn was right; elves could use a staff pretty well, and it was more about speed and dexterity than strength. She wasn't sure about drow, but with the same basic build, Spiriel ought to be able to handle one decently enough.

Althea watched until the pair were finished, then to her surprise, Mir came over to talk to her quietly. She was shocked by the gesture enough that she actually stayed quiet long enough to hear him out. But it was short lived.

"Mir, I still don't think it's even a good idea to teach her to fight. Have you any idea how much attention she will draw in any town we go to if she's walking around with a weapon? I know you are protective of her and worry about her, but now there are three of us to look after her and keep her out of trouble. Between us all, we should be able to protect her without her needing to fight."

She watched as Mir considered her words, but Althea knew he would have his own way in the matter. She just felt she needed to get her say. Then if he didn't heed her obviously wise advice, whatever misfortune befell him was on his own head. The trouble is, if she was going to take her assignment of looking after the drow girl seriously, she felt she ought to be making sure that the trouble didn't fall on Spiriel's head too. Not to mention that she didn't want to be standing too close when it happened, lest some of it fall on her head as well.

At his suggestion that she should learn to use a weapon or two herself, Althea blanched. The deal was that he was supposed to protect and provide for her in exchange for her looking out for his little slave girl. She never expected to have to fight. "Me? You want me to learn how to fight? And I suppose you'll have that brute of a woman teach me, huh, since you'll be too busy with your arms around your little drow?" She let the double entendre speak for itself. "You know she doesn't like me, Mir. Not like you."

++++++++++++++++++++

Helwyn noted Mir's point about not having a spear to give the drow girl with good natured acceptance. She didn't feel as though she had anything to prove in the matter, and was not attached to any expected outcome. Among her kind, there was little reason for arguing. One simply made their point and that was it. They knew they were right about it, and trying to convince someone else did not make them any more right than otherwise.

She went back to watching the lesson, giving the pouting elf a glance every now and then. But her main interest was in watching Spiriel and Mir. Mir for the fact that he was an accomplished warrior and not a bad looking man besides, and Helwyn had an appreciation for both. But she was also watching Spiriel very closely. Helwyn had a trained eye for spotting any possible injury or weakness, and she was using it now to evaluate the way the little drow moved.

She noted casually that Spiriel seemed to be picking up on the lessons very quickly, which Helwyn saw as a sign of the drow's eagerness and seriousness to learn, but she was really trying to detect any difference in the way the darkling moved that might give a clue as to what was done to her between her legs. Helwyn's curiosity was burning within her. Once she got onto the trail of something that interested her, she was as dogged as a hunting hound about finding it out. She noted how the drow girl was nursing obvious injuries, but Helwyn's warrior's eye quickly spotted those and relegated the information to the back of her mind.

But there, on the lunge! Wasn't Spiriel just a little slower, just a little more hesitant when it came time to stretch her legs apart like that? Could it be a hint of what they'd done to her private parts, Helwyn wondered?

She watched the rest of the lesson, then nodded when Mir suggested keeping the bedrolls close together. She had already laid hers out next to Mir's, but she wouldn't mind scooting it even closer, especially if she could catch a glimpse of the drow girl's special anatomy. She wouldn't mind getting a peek or two at Mir's special anatomy too, but Helwyn had noticed that Spiriel didn't seem to have a bedroll or blankets of her own. It didn't take much to figure out that she'd be sharing Mir's, and that was confirmed when Mir ordered the girl to his bed.

Helwyn watched as the drow girl obediently went to Mir's bedroll and began to struggle her way out of the fancy outfit she'd been wearing. Mir had gone to talk to the elf, so Helwyn gave her eyes free rein to look as much as she wanted. She watched as more and more of the drow's ebony skin was exposed as she undressed. But the fire was banked, and it was rather dark inside the cave. With that plus the fact that Spiriel's skin was black, it made it pretty hard to see anything specific. Helwyn could pick out the lines of the wounds that were still troubling the girl, even though they were showing signs of healing already as the elf had said earlier. The wounds were just where she thought they'd be as she'd watched Spiriel moving during the lesson. But she just couldn't get a good enough look between the darkling's legs to see what had been done to her.

Helwyn moved closer, pretending to be casual as if moving to her own bedroll, and made a show of fiddling with her blankets. She was close enough to reach out to Spiriel now, and the drow spared her a shy glance as she let her garment fall around her ankles. She bashfully turned her back to Helwyn and stepped out of the garment, then was just about to stoop to pick it up. Now is my chance, Helwyn thought! But just then Mir called her over to talk to her.

With an annoyed grunt she stood and went to see what he wanted. As he began talking about the spear idea, Helwyn nodded distractedly, only half listening. She was looking back over Mir's shoulder as Spiriel put her clothing neatly aside. Something Mir said caught Helwyn's attention though. She smirked as her fiery green eyes were drawn back to him.

"I'm sure you've taught her plenty about a certain thrusting shaft, but I'll have to show you how I handle one sometime soon. Mir, it's true we don't have a spear to give her yet, but we could make a staff for her out of a small sapling. It would be something she could begin to learn how to use, and practice with it. Plus, it could serve her well as a walking staff in her present condition. Not to mention that it would draw less attention to her if we do come upon a town. I hate to admit anything the elf says is right, but I overheard her saying how a blade would draw conflict to her. She's right. Can you imagine what would have happened back in that town we just came from if Spiriel had been walking down the street wearing a sword on her hip openly? It might be some....thing......to......think.......about."

As she spoke, Helwyn's attention was drawn to something she was looking at behind Mir's shoulder. Clearly distracted, she murmured, "Mir, I think it's time you sought your bedroll."

As Mir turned, he'd see Spiriel waiting for him on his blankets, nude and on her hands and knees, her head and breasts down and her hindquarters raised submissively. Althea was looking at her in shocked silence, her mouth agape. It was the first time since he'd met her that Mir had ever seen the elf's mouth open with no sound coming out.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

The look in Spiriel's eyes when he took away the spit made Mir pause. It was late, they needed to sleep, why did she look at him like that? He was starting to appreciate that having three women around was potentially more work than he was expecting. Three times the incomprehensible behavior. Still, she made for bed so he didn't dwell on it. Soon enough he'd have his elf in his arms again and he hoped she'd be as happy to be back as he was.

+++++++++++++++++++

She had a point. Like it or not Althea and Helwyn both had points. Shockingly for the elf, they weren't just on her ears. Though if she was going to be tagging along he was going to have to adjust his attitude about her. She'd be able to watch Spiriel and tend camp and would be useful. Treating her like shit or even just thinking of her like that would be poison.

If Spiriel did walk into a town, armed, there would be questions, lots and lots of questions. At best there would be questions. At worst a flat out riot. Even if she was different, on the outside she was still a drow, a female one. Everyone would be expecting her to curse them or cast spells. Free and armed it would be hard to convince anyone that Spiriel wasn't a threat.

"You're... not wrong," he managed. "Maybe letting her walk into town with a sword isn't a good idea." He sighed and looked at the fire. "I don't like parading her around like she's a slave. She's not and... there was a look in her eyes the last time I made her pretend to be a slave. Like the fire went out. I don't want that to happen."

Mir rubbed his scruffy face and looked at Althea. "She'll learn to use a bow, and a spear, and a blade. I may just limit her to a small dagger in town though. Even then, I may have to collar her again just to avoid a riot." He quieted back down and shook his head. Her other outburst couldn't be let go though.

"Yes, I expect you to learn to fight. No, I'm no more expecting you to put on chainmail and stand beside me and Helwyn than I expect Spiriel to but I don't do safe work, and if something happens to me or Helwyn, a bunch of orcs or bandits or anything else isn't going to care that you're just the nursemaid. If you're lucky they'll just kill you, if you're not, you'll wish they would. Knowing how to use a weapon might save your life then."

The mood was getting too serious or morose so when she let out her little entendre he fired back, "Elves are small; I can hold two at a time." The grin he gave her was lecherous even without looking her over. He certainly wasn't blind to Althea's charms, and given a little time she'd shown she might not be completely intolerable. "Helwyn might warm to you." he carried on. "She's certainly interested enough in Spiriel, maybe she's curious about all elves. For now this can all wait though, time to sleep."

++++++++++++++++++++++++

"You keep talking like that and I'll take you up on it." Mir taunted Helwyn after her thrusting shafts quip. "I've got no doubt you know what to do with one but I reckon I could make you beg for mercy long before you could do it to me." Helwyn had her own charms. She was tall, strong, able to handle herself. She was an amazon in every way. Which contrasted sharply with Spiriel's small, lithe body and general inability to fend for herself beyond the basics. Her brash and confident nature clashed with Althea's natural elven high born snootiness. All the women were an interesting contrast and under better conditions his only concerns would be how to bed them all. Right now that had to take a backseat to just getting out of this situation and putting as much distance between them and the last town as they could. Then he'd happily take Helwyn up on her threat. Spiriel had certainly had no issue with including the barmaid in their fun.

"Yeah, she does have a point," Mir admitted. "It kills me but she does. If Spiriel were to walk into a town with a sword on it could raise hell. Tomorrow if we find a good sapling we'll cut it down and get started teaching her how to use it. She could carry a spear in town easier than a sword, and a staff with no problem at all. Not as good as a sword in close but better than a bow."

"This would all be easier if I just put a collar on her neck, and it would be easier not to if she didn't look so good in one." He was going to keep up the conversation until something caught Helwyn's eye and distracted her.

"Huh?" He asked as she pointed him towards his bedroll.

He turned, and he saw Spiriel. She was... well there was no kind genteel way to say it. She was presenting, ready to be mounted and fucked. And damn if he wasn't ready to do just that. He'd gone the better part of a week without her and now she was right there, ready for him. Somewhere between seeing her and now, his cock had hardened to solid steel. A very loud bit of him south of his belt wanted to take her up on it. Having Althea and Helwyn right here would only be a bonus. He wasn't shy, and having both of those beautiful women watch as he fucked Spiriel until she screamed would be perfect. Yet... he remembered that look she'd given him. He knew what she'd just been through. Something wasn't right.

Mir forgot about their audience as he walked over to Spiriel on their bedroll. He pulled off what was left of his armor, leaving him in his breeches and he sat down beside her. He smiled at her as warmly as he could manage, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her down to the bedroll with him, spooning her, his crotch to her bottom. "I didn't mean like this." he whispered to her. He kept his hands away from where they wanted to be, settling instead for one looped over her waist and another under her head, giving her a makeshift pillow.

"I can't make you... perform, like that. You're not a slave. You can sleep alone if you want." And he meant it. He had slept on cave floors before and he'd do it again if he had to, though he suspected he could find room in Helwyn's bedroll if he really wanted it. "You need to heal." he said shakily. "Then, if you want to, we can... do that." It was easier to be self sacrificing when he wasn't holding her. When he wasn't feeling her naked skin on his, her scent starting to fill his nostrils again, the memory of how amazingly tight she was starting to tease him.

'She's wounded,' he told himself, 'wounded, outside and in. They know it, you know it, so stow it.' He glanced up at Althea and Helwyn, wondering if they'd really judge him if he took Spiriel right now. He reached down and pulled the blankets they had up over himself and Spiriel. She might still ask him to leave, but he wasn't going to just hop up.

He leaned in and kissed Spiriel on the back of her head. "Go to sleep Spiriel," he whispered gently.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Spiriel waited for Him, just as He told her.

When Mir took away her weapon and told her to get to bed, she thought about defying him for a moment. She'd looked him in the eye and considered grabbing for the meat spit again. But he was Mir. He was a strong and skilled warrior, and what was she? Nothing but a slave girl. It was what she was made to be and always would be. She would never have a chance against him.

So she waited for Him.....her Mir......her Master, to do with her as he pleased. After all, she was his 'helper', but they both knew what she was there to help with. Even the others acknowledged it. She heard what they called her; darkling, drow, dark girl, slave, pet, concubine, or 'helper'. But whatever name was put on it, she knew...they all knew...what she was most of all: she was His.

So now she waited for Him to do with her as he wished and she only hoped he would be gentle with her after all she'd been through. Her body quivered as she thought about it, waiting him in the position she'd been trained to assume when someone wanted to use her. At least she only belonged to him now and not to everybody, although she knew he could let anyone else use her as he wished, and she would have to submit to it. But Mir had put Helwyn off already, and said he would not force her to do anything she didn't want to do. Spiriel took some comfort from that.

And Mir never hurt her intentionally, like some of the men she'd been made to service in the temple. His size stretched her, it was true, and it was a challenge to take him so deep as well. But she had managed it when she was unharmed. Now though, she was worried. The guard had hurt her, and the seamstress had whipped her until she could not stand to lie on her back. The tear in her flap and the numerous welts on her back, butt and thighs still were not healed. She hoped that Mir would only use her in this position and not insist on putting her on her back.

She heard him approach and looked back over her shoulder, her expression one of anticipation and more than a little apprehension. She did not fear Mir, but she was a little afraid that it would hurt nonetheless. He stood over her, removing his armor and clothing but to her surprise, he left his breeches on. He lay beside her, his arms capturing her around her waist and gently pulling her down to lay on her side, her back to him.

Her body was vibrating with built up tension, but his gentle sounding rumble helped to ease her fears. He spoke slowly and without the inflection caused by high emotions, making it easier for her to understand his words. Even so, she understood most of them, but not all. But it was enough to know that he meant not to force her to do anything; that he only meant for her to sleep with his body wrapped protectively around her.

She relaxed into his arms, a grateful smile forming on her lips. Her hand covered his in a gesture of gratitude, and she snuggled into him. She wasn't sure what to say, but she murmured quietly, "Spiriel is Mir's dark girl. Sleep with me here. Mir protect me, Spiriel be Mir's drow girl long time, ever time Mir want." She shivered in mixed pleasure and happiness as Mir's kissed her. Mir might be her Master, but he was a kind one. He would not force her when she was not able, and he would not hurt her on purpose. For this, she was grateful and it made a warm feeling of happiness blossom throughout her body.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Helwyn approached with Mir, but for her own reasons. She wanted a closer look. Her eyes were riveted on Spiriel's crotch, trying to make sense of what she saw. There seemed to be some pink showing that contrasted greatly with the black of the darkling's skin, and it made it hard to make out many other details.

But one thing Helwyn could tell was that the darkling's sex wasn't split vertically like a normal female of any other race. Instead there seemed to be some sort of flap that was hanging down slightly, opening the drow's sex as viewed from that angle.

The Northern giantess leaned down for a closer peek and suddenly became aware of Mir undressing just a couple feet away from her. She quickly straightened, her eyes drawn to his physique instead of the dark elf's. Her green eyes roamed over his bare chest appreciatively as he took his place next to his slave girl. She continued to watch them as Mir lay down beside his girl, curling around her naked body. Helwyn wanted to see how their coupling would be accomplished, and was reluctant to move away until Mir glanced up at her.

She had heard his words of solace and reassurance to Spiriel, and the fact that he still had his pants on made Helwyn realize that nothing was likely to happen after all. She reluctantly began to move away to her own bedroll, feeling a little guilty as she caught Althea's eyes upon her. The giantess turned her back, standing at her own bedroll which was right next to Mir's, and began removing her own armor and clothing. Soon she was dressed only in a plain cotton sleeveless night shift that came down just to her upper thighs. Arranging her furs to provide a pillow for her head, she lay on her side, facing Mir and Spiriel, her gaze upon them in case Mir changed his mind and some action ensued. Helwyn was pretty sure their sounds of passion would awaken her, and she was certain she didn't want to miss seeing something like that, not only to see how it could be done with Spiriel's anatomy, but also to see how it was done with Mir's anatomy.

++++++++++++++++++++

Althea watched in shock as Mir approached the dark elf awaiting him in what was clearly a lewd position she was trained to assume. The question in Althea's mind was whether Mir trained her to take that position on his command, or was it from her prior life? Her eyes were on the two warriors as they approached the little drow. And she definitely seemed little in comparison to them, especially in the position she was in. Seeing her from this viewpoint, Althea couldn't imagine the little slave girl taking Mir's size, if he was at all proportional to the rest of his build.

She noted how the giantess tried to sneak a peek at the girl's special sex, and Althea's brows contracted in disapproval. But her real concern was not the other woman's curiosity; after all, she had taken a peek herself under the guise of checking the girl's wounds. It was the anticipation of Mir's actions that had Althea concerned. She watched in open disapproval as Mir undressed, not saying anything. She almost held her breath watching the warrior looking down on his little concubine.

But to her relief, Mir only lay behind Spiriel, gently telling her that it was not the way he wanted her. His nearly whispered words reassured Althea as much as they reassured Spiriel, and Althea realized as she heard Spiriel's response that she probably understood the words Mir spoke better than the drow girl. Spiriel's poor grammar and improper word usage in her reply convinced her even more. Althea slipped out of her sandals and lay down in the bedroll provided for her. She was facing Spiriel, looking into the dark girl's eyes as they lay there. Althea smiled at her, and was heartened as the dark girl smiled back.

"Mir? I think I'll start teaching her how to understand and speak the Common tongue better tomorrow. I wonder just how much of what we say she actually understands." After a few moments of silence, she added quietly, "Thank you, Mir, for understanding. I know you wanted her, but she does need time to heal properly."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

"Spiriel is Mir's dark girl." he replied to her declaration. It could be taken the wrong way he supposed, but at the time it felt right. It felt right to hold her and comfort her. He honestly hoped she wouldn't take the raging erection he had the wrong way. By the gods he'd love nothing more than to sink his length into her snug depths again but it wasn't the right time. After what she'd been through he sensed she needed comfort more than lust right now. She'd probably had quite enough lust to last a while.

He suspected that if he rolled over and asked Helwyn for some relief he had a better than average chance of getting it. Between her constant jesting with him and the way he caught her looking at him from time to time he knew she was interested but again, Spiriel. It would likely be a bad idea to abandon her right now just to slake his own lust with another woman. The only experience he'd had with multiple women might have been paid for but even he wasn't quite stupid enough to think he could have a quick fling with Helwyn right now and it not hurt Spiriel. That didn't stop him from glancing back as Helwyn disrobed. His vantage point from low on the floor of the cave giving him a nice view up the back of her shift. He couldn't see anything more than the tops of her thighs and the bottom curve of her butt but it did confirm what he already suspected: that Helwyn was the kind of woman he'd happily pass a few nights with. More than a few.

Helwyn was soon under her furs however. and the movement of their other companion got his attention. Althea was smiling at Spiriel and Mir felt a twinge of guilt at spying on that moment between the two fey. Given the enmity Althea had for Spiriel when they first met, her heartfelt smile felt all the more important. He closed his own eyes until Althea spoke to him. "Yes, she's doing better than I ever would trying to learn a new tongue but... I think there are some words, some very important words, she's not understanding. I think she still thinks of herself as a slave. I don't think the collar I had to put on her neck back in the shop helped. If there's anything you can do to help debase her of that notion I would be grateful."

Under the blankets Mir's hands weren't idle. The problem was that the difference between a reassuring touch and a lecherous grope was at times razor thin. After stopping himself from cupping one of her delectable breasts he had to settle for grabbing a fist full of the sleeping mat and holding on. Which only made him feel like more of an ass when Althea praised him for not taking her.

"I'm not completely oblivious," he said. "I know now is not the time to be doing anything with her." Mir grimaced as Spiriel's bottom squirmed against his manhood. Innocent on her part, not so much on his. "No matter how much I might want to. She's hard to resist."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Althea smirked, the expression evident in her voice as she replied, "Be careful what you want me to teach her, Mir. It wouldn't take me very long to have her convinced to put a collar on you. She IS a Drow female after all."

From the other side of where he lay could be heard a snort of amusement followed by snickering laughter. Helwyn's voice chimed in, "She might have to beat me to it, Elf! I think he'd look quite fetching, perhaps in something made of leather, with big shiny spikes."

Althea giggled in her turn at the imagery Helwyn presented. Spiriel didn't know what the two other women were laughing at, but their laughter was contagious, and after a moment Mir would be able to feel her slight body quaking with mirth, carefully suppressed. It was several long minutes before the three of them settled in to get some sleep.

+++++++++++++++++

The soft sound of voices murmuring in conversational tones, but at a slight distance, could be heard when Mir awoke. Near the mouth of the cave, where just enough of the fading light of day still entered to allow her to see what she was doing, Althea helped Spiriel into her outfit. As she helped the dark elf dress, the two were conversing in the lilting tones of Elvish. But even if the words were not immediately understandable to someone who didn't speak the language, the tones were clear enough to convey some of the communication.

Spiriel's tone was perplexed, confused. Althea's tone when she answered, while not agitated, showed hints of frustration. Finally she finished fastening the closures on the outfit Spiriel was wearing and directed the Drow to sit on a rock outcropping and wait for her. Althea's posture and pace as she returned to her pack and rummaged through it told the tale of her stress. She ran a hand through her blonde locks, blowing out a breath through puffed cheeks, stopping her search for whatever it was she was seeking for a minute. She muttered to herself, in tones so low they were barely audible, but she dared not utter them in any greater volume, lest the other inhabitant of the cave with keen elvish hearing pick them up too.

Finally continuing her search, she came away with a small hairbrush and headed back to where Spiriel was sitting. The conversation resumed as she sat behind the Drow and began running the brush through Spiriel's ivory colored tresses. She only got a few strokes through before stopping to gesture with her hands, then indicate Mir's form on the bedroll, her voice rising a little in exasperation.

Just then the light coming through the cave entrance was darkened with the shadow of Helwyn's frame coming through the entrance. She was dragging a 12 foot long maple sapling behind her, working it through the cave entrance with a few choice swear words before stopping to regard the two elves. Althea gestured to Mir again, and Helwyn nodded, lowering her voice tone so it would not carry. She conversed with Althea back and forth for a couple minutes before breaking into a laugh. Forgetting to keep her voice down, she chuckled, "Well, we'd better start hunting us a priest then, I suppose."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

Mir couldn't contain his own grin as the women started to tease him and laugh. It was good to hear some mirth, it was especially good to feel Spiriel laughing. It gave hope. He let them have their say before piping up, "You're all welcome to try, but if you lose I'm collaring you, and I don't believe in clothes for slaves."

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

The next morning, or rather evening as they were moving during the night and sleeping during the day, Mir awoke slowly. Spiriel being in his arms had calmed him down and let him rest well for the first time in a week. Of course the first thing he noticed was that his little Drow was no longer in his arms. He startled, until he heard the two elves talking at the cave entrance. He rolled over enough to see Althea helping Spiriel get dressed. He settled back down. The sun hadn't completely set so they had a bit of time before they had to leave. He heard Helwyn's return and the women talking. They were keeping their voices low which meant it wasn't likely meant for his ears. Which meant odds were he didn't actually want to know what they were saying anyways. The priest comment, that carried though.

"Priest?" he barked as he clambered up off the bedroll he'd been sleeping on. "Who needs a priest?" he asked. "Half the gods would strike me dead just for walking into one of their temples."

He deftly rolled his bedroll back up and stuck it in his backpack before retrieving a few choice bits to eat and a pan to warm them in. "Did ya'll eat yet? Even if we're riding ya'll need to keep your strength up," he said while looking pointedly at the elves.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Upon hearing Mir's voice, Spiriel broke away from where Althea was brushing her hair. Helwyn and the elf watched the Drow run over to Mir and throw her arms around his neck, covering him in eager kisses. Helwyn and Althea smirked at Mir's comment and Spiriel's reaction until finally Helwyn remembered her intention with the sapling and dragged it over to her bedroll, where she sat down and began lopping off the branches and stripping off the bark with her knife.

"She sure is enthusiastic, Mir." the giantess quipped cryptically. "If I were such a smart fellow as you, I think I'd be a little curious as to why." She grinned at him over Spiriel's shoulder, and one eyebrow quirked upwards over a bright eye.

For her part, Spiriel was streaming a constant flow of Elvish words in between kisses to Mir's face. Althea slowly followed her protege, but stood off a few feet, scratching her head and looking a little uncomfortable. "Uhm, Mir, I did what you asked me to and tried to explain to her that she was not a slave."

Helwyn snorted, trying to keep her eyes focused on her work with the sapling and not break into laughter. The whole situation seemed pretty funny to her, it appeared. Althea shot her a glance and tried to continue. "Well, she wanted to know exactly what she was to you then, and I had a hard time explaining. I mean, you would too. How exactly was I supposed to tell her she had to listen to you and stay with you, but wasn't your slave?"

Helwyn interrupted again, mirth evident in her voice, "Oh aye! I thought the elf's solution was a brilliant one. After all, the comparison is apt, I'd say." She couldn't help chuckling even more at her own wit. Althea was blushing and wringing her hands.

Spiriel had stopped kissing, but still had her arms locked around Mir's neck somewhat possessively, her head resting on his naked chest as she listened to the other two women talking, a smile wide on her face. Her hair was soft and shining in the dim light, like silver moonlight on her head. It had obviously benefited from Althea's ministrations with the brush.

She was wearing a simple forest green sleeveless tunic that had a low square cut neckline that ran straight across her breasts from armpit to armpit. Each side of the neckline then traversed her chest upwards to her throat where they met to form a collar that buttoned up the front with three small buttons which closed the three inch wide strip of cloth snugly around her neck. The back of the tunic was open down to the waist, and the tunic was belted to accentuate her waistline. Under the tunic were soft, dove grey hose, and knee high boots of a darker green that complimented the tunic. All in all it was a more practical outfit for traveling as they were.

As Mir looked her over, she gave him a moon-eyed glance, her eyelashes fluttering coquettishly. Althea stammered nervously when Mir's eyes returned to her, with a questioning look. "W-well I.....I didn't know how to describe what she was to you, so I....I kind of....told her that....she....was your wife."

Helwyn lost control and busted out in laughter.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

"Wife?" Mir snapped. His eyes darted between Althea and Helwyn but Althea was busy not looking him in the eye and Helwyn was laughing uproariously at the situation. And through it all Spiriel was there, hanging from his neck making eyes at him. His blurted exclamation was the only outburst he had. Spiriel was looking down right giddy, a far cry from the terrified, hurt, and determined looks she'd had since he met her. He wasn't going to take that away from her. How was he supposed to deal with this bombshell? There was nothing he could say that wouldn't break her heart and confuse her.

Would it really be that bad though? He'd spent twenty years on his own and while he could still remember the dead body of his betrothed lying in the streets after the raid. Did it still rule his life or had he just become accustomed to being alone? Would it be awful to be married to Spiriel? She seemed like a genuinely good person, eager to please and kind and of course she was probably the sweetest little pussy he'd ever been in. So a beautiful and sweet girl who also happened to be an amazing fuck? People regularly got married for less. And by the gods did she look beautiful. Regardless of how she took her pleasures the seamstress knew how to make fine clothes, one that accentuated Spiriel's form while still being able to be somewhat practical. And every outfit seemed to incorporate some kind of collar gods help him.

"Wait... what's involved in a drow marriage? What did you get me into elf?" he asked Althea. He had asked her to try and explain things to Spiriel but he had expected to be described as a guardian or caretaker, not husband. Then again, on top of taking care of her he was taking what you could consider husbandly privileges with her. He wrapped his arms around her slender body, holding her close, feeling her soft hair on his chest, her soft skin under his hands.

"I'm glad you're enjoying this," he shot at Helwyn. Part of his irritation was that if this had happened to someone else he'd be laughing his ass off right there beside her. It was funny, just not so funny when you were in the middle of it.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

Althea wrung her hands as she pondered how to respond to Mir's question. He was not going to like the answer anyhow, so she decided that she might as well just come out with it. She stammered a little as she replied. "Mir, I tried to explain to her, I really did. Well how else would you explain to her that she has to stay with you and obey you, and that you will take care of her and do sexual things to her?"

Helwyn, continuing to strip the sapling of it's limbs and bark, laughed, "Yep, that pretty much sounds like a marriage to me." She adopted a sad face. "Too bad though, it's a shame ol' Mir is off the market now. I was fancying having a go at him myself. But now....well, I guess I'll just have to honor their sacred bond." She grinned and winked at Althea, who only heaved a heavy sigh of exasperation.

"You aren't helping the situation, Giantess! I'm sure there are many women who would be heartbroken to miss out on the chance to be plundered by Mir's mighty manhood..." The slightest bit of pink could be detected in Althea's cheeks as she continued after a slight pause to take a slow breath. "But just because I explained it that way doesn't really mean they are married. Spiriel doesn't understand."

The elf started as Mir pinned her down with his next question. She thought for a moment, then stammered out an answer, a little surprised that Mir seemed to be considering taking the whole thing seriously. She looked at him appraisingly, wondering if she had once again misjudged the man.

"W-well, normally, in a Drow marriage, the woman rules. It's just the opposite of a human marriage where the man is the dominant one. If it were anyone else but Spiriel I'd warn you that you should know your place and stay in it. But as you well know, she's not exactly the dominant type, so you might be all right after all."

Spiriel clung to Mir's broad frame, listening to the other elf talk to him. She didn't understand many of the words of the common tongue yet, but Althea had told her that she'd help her learn. Soon she'd be able to tell Mir how glad she was to be more than just his helper. She wondered if other you-mans would treat her any differently now that she was Mir's wife.
Helwyn glanced up at Mir's remark, still with a mirthful smile on her features. "Oh, Aye! It's a real honor to have been here to see the joyous union. My only regret is that the poor dark lass probably doesn't know what to do with ye. Maybe I should give her lessons in that as well as teaching her to handle a staff."

Spiriel listened to the other women talking, her arm around Mir's waist, head resting on his chest, and her other hand rubbing over his bare stomach, straying distractingly close to the waistline of his trousers. Occasionally she nodded, as if agreeing with something one of the others said, although she didn't really know what they were saying. When Helwyn finished speaking, Spiriel spoke up, looking earnestly up at Mir, having stepped back a half step so she could look at him without craning her neck.

"Mir wake. Spiriel...'get you black ass ovah heah'." Her mimicry of the guardsman who first said that to her was perfect in accent and inflection, if a little different in pitch and tone. She slipped her hands free of his body to continue, holding up a forefinger to represent each one as she continued.

"Spiriel good Drow. Mir good you-man; not kill good drow girl Spiriel. Spiriel help Mir good. Make Mir feel good too; many, many lots! Mir teach good girl Spiriel fight, kill bad you-mans. Fight with Mir. Sleep with Mir. Stay with Mir." She brought her two fingers together, miming the two of them coming together, then rubbed the front of Mir's trousers to show exactly how she made him feel good, then brought her two fingers together, side by side to show they would fight together. She ended by throwing her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly to her.

Althea just smiled. "I can keep trying to explain it better, Mir. Maybe as she begins to learn the language better, you can tell her yourself just what you want her to be."

Helwyn grinned. "I'd say she understands things pretty well."

 

[Annisthyrienne]

((Skyguy's post))

"That's... that's... I don't MAKE her do anything she doesn't want to alright!?" Mir snapped. "She doesn't have to do anything like that for me." It sounded rather trite in his ears, but it was the truth. Like it or not the little drow girl had wormed her way under his skin since he'd met her.

It's not like he hadn't indulged in such arrangements before. He'd had more than a few ladies procure his services with their charms alone in his time. For an easy job if he wasn't hurting for coin at the time, why not? He wouldn't cast Spiriel out like that, nor would he Althea either though at the moment he was tempted to at least threaten the annoying elf with it. It hadn't been part of the deal so it wasn't part of the deal. You don't renegotiate terms in the middle of something. He honestly hopped that Spiriel would be healed soon and that she would want to be with him again.

Althea's outburst at Helwyn caught him by surprise. He thought the elf's disdain for him was equal to his for her but apparently she wasn't above her baser urges either. Which brought another question to mind, were drow marriages monogamous?

"Well I don't gather she really had much time to get used to the 'normal' drow way of doin' things any more than she knows how we all go about them." Spiriel's lack of understanding was a concern for him. While she might have been a slave, she might have some expectations he needed to know about. Mir found his arm wrapping around Spiriel's shoulders as she pressed herself against him. Father, husband, he was taking on quite a few roles in this little drow's life he'd never planned on.

"Bah," Mir huffed as Helwyn talked. "You talk big woman but you ain't one for doing anything about it. Besides, I can assure you that my little wife knows how to handle a staff just fine. In fact she could probably teach you a thing or two."

When Spiriel pulled away Mir watched her intently. She actually did seem to understand exactly what was going on, maybe to well. He wasn't overly keen to having her fight, but she was intent to learn and everyone should be able to defend themselves. He hadn't expected her to go for the front of his pants but her little hand on him, combined with her promise to make him feel good had an instant effect on him. His staff came to attention as she threw herself at him and hugged him tightly.

"Aye, I think she understands pretty well," he replied. Back on the campfire the smell of the warming meat he'd thrown in the pan was getting strong. Mir hoisted his little "wife" up into his arms and carried her back to the fire where he picked a rock and sat down. A couple thick slices of bread were cut and he scooped the contents of the warm pan off onto them before handing one to Spiriel and eating another. "You two, eat," he said, pointing towards the other slices of bread an the remainder of the reheated left overs. He took the chore of chewing as an opportunity and mulled over what the morning had brought.

Helwyn had gone from hints and innuendo to outright volunteering to give Spiriel lessons. Althea had let it slip she'd at least noticed him physically and Spiriel was getting grabby again. It was distracting, right when they needed to be focused on getting away from here. For Mir, who was on the mend, feeling better, and finally had Spiriel back, it was very distracting.

Sitting right next to her his hand migrated from her hip around behind her, feeling her bottom through the dove grey hose she was wearing. The spun cloth wasn't covering much up and he could feel her cute little rump right through it. He found himself rubbing the crease where her cheeks met as he leaned in close and whispered to her, "Spiriel is a good drow girl. Make Mir very happy."