In the Devil's Keeping

[cgraven]

Reaching to him with her mind she murmured gently, I love you.

He answered her by simply bring her pleasure with his mouth, driving her crazy as he so well knew how to do. Arawn took made love to her through out the night till they both collapsed exhausted, and feel into a deep sleep.

From the shadows came a dark from slowly materializing from it. He was a man powerful in build, his skin golden like the rising sun, he was beautiful to behold, and his eyes tawny gold like the setting sun. He reached out a delicate hand and touched Orinda’s cheek.

D’or

He whispered, his voice and touch more powerful more seductive than the Lady Noir’s. As quickly as he had come he was gone.

Arawn felt the violent orgasm that rocketed through Orinda. He woke with a start.

“What happen…..are you all right my love?”

 

[caela]

From the shadows came a dark from slowly materializing from it. He was a man powerful in build, his skin golden like the rising sun, he was beautiful to behold, and his eyes tawny gold like the setting sun. He reached out a delicate hand and touched Orinda’s cheek. "D’or"

Orinda had woken sensing someone in her room and when she looked up and saw the man beside her bed a sharp gasp had caught in her throat. He was so beautiful! She hadn't though it was possible for any being to be more lovely than Lady Noir but she'd been so very wrong!

The single touch of his finger along her cheek sent a thrill of pleasure stronger than anything she'd ever felt rushing through her body in an explosive orgasm while that single word of his rang through her mind. When he disappeared she whimpered softly and only returned to the hear and now at the sound of Arawn's voice in her ear, “What happen…..are you all right my love?”

Looking to him her eyes were clearing from the lust that had speared through her like a lightening strike and her body still trembled against his. "I, I'm fine. He was here. At least I think it was him. " She saw the look of confusion on Arawn's face and clarified. "The drake who reached out to me before. Lady Noir confirmed that it was real and not a vision. And from the way my body just reacted I can only think it must have been him here just now. Does the word "D'or" mean anything to you love?"

 

[cgraven]

"I, I'm fine. The drake who reached out to me before. Lady Noir confirmed that it was real and not a vision. And from the way my body just reacted I can only think it must have been him here just now. Does the word "D'or" mean anything to you loves?"

Arawn saw the lust in Orinda mid night back violet eyes, a look the mage knew all to well from his first encounter with the Lady Noir. The sudden fear of what that touch might lead to flared in his soul, in his heart yet as he struggled he latched on to this frail young beauty’s love felt the her pure innocence of her soul that he held in his heart and calmed his fears.

“D’or is a Golden dark of the first circle, he is the most powerful dark of his line and has never consented to be ridden by a humane. His one vanity is he covets beauty Orinda.”

Arawn drew a steadying breath and then spoke slowly his voice very serious.

“A dragon rider must bend the will of the dragon to the rider. They are proud beast and must be paid for submitting their will to the rider. D’or will demand you be his concubine.”

He held her tight and let his love surround Orinda.

“It is your choice to accept his approach or reject it My Love, but another dark may not approach now that D’or has approached you.

 

[caela]

“D’or is a Golden dark of the first circle, he is the most powerful dark of his line and has never consented to be ridden by a humane. His one vanity is he covets beauty Orinda.” “A dragon rider must bend the will of the dragon to the rider. They are proud beast and must be paid for submitting their will to the rider. D’or will demand you be his concubine.”

So, D'or wasn't a word in the normal sense but a name. Interesting. Orinda's eyes narrowed as she listened to Arawn speak and the lust in them was replaced by a spark of anger. Kissing him soft so he'd know her anger wasn't with him she rolled from the bed and moved to the window against the south wall. A fury as pure as her love for Arawn raged within her body now as she stared out into the night.

She was tired of being a pawn to the men - demons? creatures? - around her! Her body had been violated in more ways than she could count and made to feel things she had only imagined and each time it had been simply for the amusement of whatever male creature was doing the violating. All except Arawn. Her thoughts were a violent turmoil but he had no place in the rage surging through her.

It ends NOW! she thought and stamped her foot hard against the floor, her anger surging out in a swell of magic that made the tower shiver.

Tossing her raven locks behind her she turned her head and her violet eyes glittered as they held Arawn's. "Than let him covet what he cannot have and we will find out if there is a drake courageous enough to tread toward the girl who will reject D'or. I will not be anyone's concubine. If he wants me badly enough he will bend to my will and if he thinks to try and control me through pleasure he will find out just how strong that will can be.

I can feel his power still in the air and would indeed be willing to take him to my bed now and than...as I'm sure you have Lady Noir...but I will not be coerced there. If he wants me he will yeild or I will walk the ends of the earth to find a drake with enough courage to defy him and stand with me."

 

[cgraven]

It ends NOW! She thought and stamped her foot hard against the floor, her anger surging out in a swell of magic that made the tower shiver.

The force of that on thought coupled with the pure white hot furry that raged through the young beauty rippled through out the universe. The living ribbons of magic flared with the force of her outrage.

“CALM YOURSELF NOW”

Came Arawn’s sharp command, his hand striking Orinda’s cheek quick as lighten and the force of a thunder clap.

“You do harm my love to lesser creatures with your anger.”

His voice soft and mild as his lips tenderly brushed the hand print that glowed crimson on her pale cheek

“D’or is proud, conceited without a doubt my love, and he covets your beauty, But he is ancient and knows nothing of the human heart, or of love. Yes he will demand that you be his concubine, but you need not accept that demand.”

Arawn held his love her supple body tense, her mind reeling.

“Beware of pride Orinda. You can set the terms and he can accept or reject them just as you can my love. You have the advantage Orinda for he has come to you twice when other spirits where present His very being is powerfully drawn to you.”

The mage let his unconditional love envelope the furious young acolyte.

“You still have one more trail no decision need be made till it is passed.”

 

[caela]

Came Arawn’s sharp command, his hand striking Orinda’s cheek quick as lighten and the force of a thunder clap.

Orinda was so startled at the slap to her cheek that her fury was gone in the heartbeat it too for her to register the pain. Arawn had never struck her before! Well not like that anyway. Looking into his eyes she hung her head gently realizing he was right and she had let her anger run away with her, allowing it to hurt others was unacceptable.

“Beware of pride Orinda. You can set the terms and he can accept or reject them just as you can my love. You have the advantage Orinda for he has come to you twice when other spirits where present His very being is powerfully drawn to you.”

Calming herself she let his love flow over and through her and gently nodded her head. "You're right of course my love. My anger was uncalled for but my resolution is the same. I won't be his concubine. After this last trial I don't want anyone in my bed that would simply be there to use me. Shared pleasure and love," she smiled warmly to him and caressed his cheek on that last word, "will I hope be the only reason to ever allow anyone else into my bed."

Curling back into his arms she sighed softly and relaxed against him once more. She didn't sleep the rest of the night but she at least drifted peacefully knowing she was safe in the arms of her love.

 

[cgraven]

Shared pleasure and love," she smiled warmly to him and caressed his cheek on that last word, "will I hope be the only reason to ever allow anyone else into my bed."

Orinda curled in to Arawn’s arms snuggling closer her head resting on his chest as she smiled up at him secure in his love letting it fill every fiber of her being. He was aware that his love rested peacefully yet not surrendering to deep sleep but just dozed contentedly, as if afraid the drake would approach her again while her anger simmer so close to the surface.

Orinda had progressed so far from Phedre the soiled pampered princess it was hard to believe that they where the same woman. Where once her body was soft curves, it now was firm athletic, and sinuous in its graceful movements, yet in one way it remained the same it was a body “Made to be Loved”. Phedre had yearned for freedom but was not prepared to embrace it despite her longing, Orinda was sharp and agile of mind and body and cape able of embracing the freedom she reveled in, she had embraced the pleasures a man could give her, embraced her darker passions as well, and yet her spirit remained pure in its firry nature. Yet in all that had happened to her the young acolyte still had one fault her pride.

It was not often that it flared but it had this night Arawn had felt its touch when Orinda’s temper flared at the thought that D’or would demand that she be his concubine. It was a price her pride had rebelled against casting her in her mind’s eye as a mere pawn in affairs she could barely understand.

The next day the young acolyte training focused of the last remaining vestiges of the young beauty’s pride. Arawn pushed her as he had never pushed her before both mentally and physically, yet always he was the loving Master and mentor. Days turned to weeks as he prepared Orinda for her final trial, he was there for her in the evening to sooth her with his love yet she always had to return to her chamber at night to dream to be open to the approach of a drake.

Night after night D’or would approach her, his voice, his physical beauty, his touch bring unimagined pleasure to the young beauty and always the demand that she submit to become his concubine.

Then one night a different presence came to the young beauty. Slowly, hesitantly he touched her mind a vision of a peaceful like began to form a quite lonely wooded glen by the moon let lake. She saw a young man ruddy and bronzed by the sun, his features hazy, slowly taking shape in her minds eye. Like all dragons he was beautiful to behold, raw power adorned him his body powerful, yet unlike D’or he was not the image of a perfect man, but rather he was winged, with leathery wings his airal nature quite evident a creature more at home in the air then earth bound. The back of his hand caressed Orinda’s pale cheek and he whispered a single word.

D’Lation

The world shuck with D’or furious howl that this insignificant drake dare approach the object of his desire.

 

[caela]

As the days turned to weeks and her trianing intensified Orinda reveled in the new skills Arawns taught her and the way he pushed her to sharpen her old one. He never let her forget the basics and his constant drilling had made them so much a part of her that she even practiced in her dreams some nights.

And yet she wasn't sleeping well.

D'or came to her each night after Arawn sent her to her own chambers and the drake sent the type of pleasure pulsing through her body that only Arawn would understand. Afterward Orinda found it impossible to wholly surrender to sleep except when her body was so totally exhausted that she fell into it without a thought.

It was such a night that her dreaming shifted and she found herself standing beside a peaceful lake within a mountain glen and a smile curved her lips. It was the sort of place she would envision in her own mind when she needed peace. Looking around she was startled to see the man nearby standing and watching her. Feeling a familiar throbbing through her blood she knew she had found - or rather been found by - another drake.

Approching him cautiously a part of her mind wondered what this one would demand of her but she couldn't quite find her voice to ask. Her violet eyes were trapped on his and she was surprised to find them the same sparkling shade of her own. She hadn't seen eyes that shade anywhere but in her own mirror and they made her smile. When he reached out to run the back of his hand against her cheek she felt the warmth of pleasure that ran through her blood and sighed softly.

This wasn't the violent pleasure that D'or sent pulsing along every nerve fiber of her being. This was softer, more seductive...intoxicating. This pleasure offered not just sexual release but friendship and the warmth of a companion as well and it sang through her blood like warm honey instead of sizzling like lightening.

D'Lation

About to open her mouth to ask him what his price for her would be she heard D'or's shriek of fury and felt the ground trembling under her feet. Whispering softly, "I won't forget," she drew her mind back from the drakes until she was in her own bed again.

Knowing she wouldn't feel entirely safe for the rest of the evening she left her chambers and sought out Arawn's. Climbing into his bed she nestled against him and begged, "Just hold me love, I'll explain in the morning." She felt his arms wrap around her and the sense of peace and safety that his embrace always brought and was soon deeply asleep.

 

[cgraven]

The pale beauty came to Arawn her body soaked in sweat, her body humming with sexual tension. He had felt the sharp jolt of D’or’s rage that had rippled along the living streams of magic that bound and flowed through all living things.

"Just hold me love, I'll explain in the morning."

Her soft voice begged him, racked with the emotions that seized within as her body curled around his as she sought comfort and solace in the Mage’s embrace. Arawn could feel Orinda relax her breathing slow as she feel asleep in his arms. Thought his love now slept peacefully he was worried wondered what had caused her such great distress and what had so angered the golden drake. If to make matters worst the time for the young girl’s final test in Hell was at hand. Arawn wished that it could be otherwise for Orinda had not yet chosen a dragon as her consort, yet the times of her testing where not his to chose and the forces of Hell where close to leashing their terror on the world of man.

All these thoughts occupied his mind through the long restless night torturing his spirit. When his loves eyes fluttered open the peace and joy in them drove all his fears from his heart. She said that she would explain in the morning and he trusted her above all.

“Morning my love.”

Arawn did not press Orinda for an explanation but rather fed her from his fingers as he did once so long ago. Waiting for the pale beauty to chose her own time to talk of the proceeding nights events.

 

[caela]

Arawn did not press Orinda for an explanation but rather fed her from his fingers as he did once so long ago. Waiting for the pale beauty to chose her own time to talk of the proceeding nights events.

She smiled to him as he fed her and once her stomach was full she turned thoughtful, trying to figure out how to explaint he night's events. Finally shrugging gently when she couldn't find the words she reached out to him with her mind and opened the memory of what had happened the night before so that he could see it in it's entirety.

"Do you know anything of this drake my love? Should I ask Lady Noir about him? What do I do with two drakes trying to claim my attention? Will they simply accept whatever choice I make between them?"

She'd felt D'or's rage the night before and she worried that if she chose D'Lation over him that he might try to kill the other drake. She didn't want to be the cause of in-fighting between the drakes and yet she found herself drawn much more by D'Lation than by D'or. If pressed right than she would have chosen D'Lation but she was wise enough to know that she knew nothing of this drake except his name and the type of pleasure that he sent shivering through her body.

She needed to know what price he would ask of her.

 

[cgraven]

"Do you know anything of this drake my love? Should I ask Lady Noir about him? What do I do with two drakes trying to claim my attention? Will they simply accept whatever choice I make between them?"

He saw the vision that had come to his love as she opened her mind to him, felt the deep attraction that D'Lation held for her and more something that she in her confusion had not seen in herself, the subtitle spark of temptation of love for the unknown drake. The mage kept this knowledge from his love for it would serve no purpose to torment her with what might be, when she herself had not recognized it herself.

“The Lady Noir’s consul is always of value love. The one thing I do know from what you have shown me is he is a young drake and a brass dragon. They love water, often take on the shapes of animals to observe mankind and it is rare they take human form, That is why I believe that he appeared to you with wings. They by nature are beneficial in nature and of all the dragons the ones most capable of something that approaches human love, and yet like all dragons they covet beauty and purity of spirit.”

The Mage spoke slowly choosing his words carefully. Then he drew a steadying breath for he knew what he had to say next would not sit well with Orinda in her present state of mind.

“It is time for your final trail Orinda.”

 

[caela]

“It is time for your final trail Orinda.”

She'd been lost in thought, pondering his words about D'Lation with a smile on her lips. From what Arawn had told her this drake seemed much more suited to her temprament than D'or and in the end she wanted to be able to be friends with her drake much as she sensed that Arawn was with the Lady Noir.

Her thoughts stopped dead though as Arawn's words snapped her from them.

"Time? It can't be time yet can it?" Her voice was soft but she knew the answer and it scared her. It could indeed be time and Arawn wouldn't have said it if it wasn't. Drawing a deep breath she tried to calm the confusion in her mind and sent out a silent prayer to whichever god might be willing to listen.

"Of course it can be time, you wouldn't have said it otherwise. What do I need to know about this trial love?"

Looking into his eyes she smiled softly and drew strength and calm from the love she saw reflected in their depths. He gaurded her soul and had the care of her heart as well. If he said it was time than she knew it was and that he had prepared her well for it. She needed to remain calm and remember her lessons. He had taught her how to face what was to come, she simply needed to find the strength to pass the trial.

 

[cgraven]

"Time? It can't be time yet can it?"

There was a soft pleading in her voice a silent prayer to let this final test be postponed till her spirit was quiet, her mind calm. Yet she bowed her head demurely in acceptance, drew strength from her love before slowly raising her soft violet eyes to his dark fathomless eyes.

"Of course it can be time, you wouldn't have said it otherwise. What do I need to know about this trial love?"

“This trail will be like no other that you have experienced Orinda for it will test your spirit like no other. You will be shown half truths, or the truth of what you fear most.”

Arawn was again her loving Master and Mentor for that is what she needed most at this moment.

“What from this trial may take I do not know. It is not a simple matter of succeeding or failing only time will tell that. When it is over you will be left with a decision of which drake to chose and which to reject.”

 

[caela]

“What from this trial may take I do not know. It is not a simple matter of succeeding or failing only time will tell that. When it is over you will be left with a decision of which drake to chose and which to reject.”

She nodded slowly, her body relaxing slightly as she accepted his words. She would pass this trial, she thought not with pride but with confidence in what Arawn taught her and her love for him. She had no doubt that it would be more difficult than anything she had yet faced and the thought made her quiver slightly with fear but she was determined.

"So be it Master. Would you ask the Lady Noir if she will speak with me when I return please. If I pass I would like her counsel on the drakes if she'll give it."

Leaning forward she kissed Arawn softly before moving to stand near the window, her gaze distant as she wondered what would happen, what she would see in her last trial. Her voice was soft and edged with fear as she whispered, "Send me now, please, before I beg you not to send me at all Master. The sooner it is passed or failed the sooner I am back in your arms."

 

[cgraven]

“Of course I will Orinda.”

Her voice was soft and edged with fear as she whispered, "Send me now, please, before I beg you not to send me at all Master. The sooner it is passed or failed the sooner I am back in your arms."


Arawn’s lips softly brushed his love’s ripe young lips in a tender kiss. As his kiss faded the vision of the young acolyte’s reality began to shift as the magic flowed around her casting her to the depths of Hell. It was not the landscape of fire and brimstone that she was so accustom to by now, but instead it was the peaceful mountain glen by the lake bathed in soft pale moon light serene, peaceful and calling to her most tender emotion. No fearsome demon or beast approached the stunning young beauty, she was alone in the beauty that surrounded her.

The faint sounds of a couple making love reached her ears and seemed to draw Orinda to them. The man’s body lay on the soft moss, the woman straddled him in the throws of passion, her orgasm clearly written on her face and her alluring body. As the woman groaned her pleasure the soft, sensual, tones of the Lady Noir’s voice caressed l Orinda’s supple body in unimagined pleasure. Her golden eyes adoring her lover and the dark fathomless eyes of Arawn gazed back at the dark beauty in love.

They turned their loving gaze to Orinda they stretched out their hands to her drawing the young human girl down to them. Their hands explored her supple body and slowly, sensual, striped her clothing from her. Orinda’s pale naked beauty lay between them in sharp contrast to their dark beauty. Their hands began to tease and please the young girl, the dark image of Arawn kissed her in a soul searing kiss as the dark image of The Lady Noir bent her mouth to suckle Orinda’s nipples. They made love to the young pale beauty each taking their turn, each sampling her subtitle charms, each calling to her tender love and dark passions.

 

[caela]

Orinda was startled to find herself not in the landscape of hell she expected but by a cool, peaceful mountain glen by the lake bathed in soft pale moon light serene, peaceful and calling to her most tender emotion. She couldn't help the smile that curved her lips as she watched the moonlight playing over everything around her. It was so beautiful it made her heart ache with it's simple elecgance.

How many people, she wondered, every truly appreciate such beauty?

Hearing noise in the glen she moved toward it and stopped when she realized what she was seeing. Arawn and Lady Noir locked in a passionate and loving embrace. She watched the way their dark flesh moved together and again a smile curved her lips. She'd been in Arawn's mind, she'd seen the passion that his dragon lady could inspire in him and felt it in her own flesh as well. She knew too how well Arawn loved her and would not jealously begrudge him the pleasure that Lady Noir offered.

As the Lady Noir's sounds of pleasure reached her hears Orinda saw the love written on Arawn's face but again she only smiled. She'd known this too already and knew that his love for the dragon was not the same as his love for her. She'd seen the nightmare his life had once been and that he could come through his own personal hell and still find it in his heart to love was still one of her greastes sources of joy. Absently she wondered if she had told him that often enough?

When finally they saw her and beckoned her forward she went without thinking into their embrace. It was as they drew her passion up through her body though that she realized something wasn't quite right. She was used to having Arawn's mind open to her at least partially when they were intimate and now she felt nothing from him. It was like running into a wall when she tried to reach out to him mentally. Something was off in her sense of the Lady Noir as well though it was harder to define as she'd not been in the Lady's prescence often. Still something was off.

Shaking her head gently she pulled herself from the tangle of arms and legs around her and drew away from them. Her voice soft and without malice, anger, or pride when she spoke, "A very very good illusion, the best I've ever seen in fact, but I know my love and you are not he."

 

[cgraven]

Shaking her head gently she pulled herself from the tangle of arms and legs around her and drew away from them. Her voice soft and without malice, anger, or pride when she spoke, "A very, very good illusion, the best I've ever seen in fact, but I know my love and you are not he."

Then came the touch of the mages mind to hers, as the shadow lovers again drew the stunning young beauty into their passionate embrace. Their mouth feasting on her supple body. Arawn calling to her love, Noir calling to her passion. Orinda found that what she was entangled in had the ring of truth to it. As they pleased and tempted her body all her passions where laid bare in the pale moonlight as well as the love that bared her heart for all to see. It left no place for the young beauty to hide.

Even as the most forbidden pleasure ripped through Orinda’s frail body the scene began to shift D’or and D'Lation stood bathed in the pale moon’s Light. D'Lation bowed to his elder his hand in a sweeping gesture. And the olden dark came to the young Acolyte. His sensual call to her enveloping every fiber of her being. He laid the trembling beauty on the soft carpet of moss his lips and tongue exploring her body bring all the dark passions of her inner most being to the surface. His golden body poised above her, the tip of his cock brushed her nectar soaked pussy. Then in one thrust he claimed her body.

 

[caela]

His golden body poised above her, the tip of his cock brushed her nectar soaked pussy. Then in one thrust he claimed her body.

Orinda screamed her pleasure as the dragon thrust into her.In all his visitations she'd always felt intense explosive pleasure and this was no different. From the first stroke of his cock pressing into her, her body exploded in orgasmic pleasure around him. She moved wantonly under him, unable to gather her thoughts enough around her to think straight.

Looking up and past D'or she saw D'Lation watching them and though some small part of her knew this wasn't real, she reached out to him anyway. The calm in his violet eyes was soothing even as her body continued to writhe under D'or. Holding D'Lation's gaze she knew her decision was already mostly made and that he could see it in her gaze as well.

When D'or finished and stood over her she could see the proprietary look in his eyes as if he owned her already and it pricked at her anger. She kept her temper in check however and turned away from them both to dive into the crytal clear lack at the heart of the glen. Washing away the sweat and essence of so much pleasure before returning to stand before D'Lation. Violet eyes holding violet eyes with curiosity as she asked, "I know D'or's price to yeild to my will as his rider, what is yours?"

 

[cgraven]

Even as Orinda mind fought to convince the young beauty that this was no more than a trail in the very depths of hell the truth of the touch of Arawn’s mind on hers, the dark forbidden pleasure that Noir’s mouth had brought her to shuddering pleasure, her own screams of passion as D’or took her lithe body all had the ring of truth in them. The young acolyte could not deny the pleasure her body had succumbed to as D’or took her. Truth, half-truth, illusion reality all tumbled together undistinguishable any longer to torment Orinda as she had never been tormented or tested before in all her young life.

Her chaste body glistened in the pale moonlight as she stood before D'Lation, violet eyes holding violet eyes with curiosity as she asked, "I know D'or's price to yeild to my will as his rider, what is yours?"

The young drake made no answer to her but instead let his essence engulf the young maiden. This was softer, more seductive...intoxicating. This pleasure offered not just sexual release but friendship and the warmth of a companion as well and it sang through her blood like warm honey instead of sizzling like lightening. He came to Orinda not demanding but offering her his body. his embrace was gentle as he enfolded her in his leathery wings.

Her mind was freed of her body as she watch the young drake take her body. Orinda could feel every caress the brush of his lips upon hers, the tender way he explore her body discovering what pleased her , finding all the hidden secret place that brought her pleasure, places that only Arawn knew, and then how to reach her hidden most desires as only the mage could.

She shuttered as D'Lation entered her body, the sweet honey pleasure that rippled through her till its beauty was painful and she screamed her pleasure as her legs clutched at the drake drawing him ever deeper into her passionate core. And in that instant the young acolyte realized D'Lation could steal her love from Arawn if she let him.

 

[caela]

She shuttered as D'Lation entered her body, the sweet honey pleasure that rippled through her till its beauty was painful and she screamed her pleasure as her legs clutched at the drake drawing him ever deeper into her passionate core. And in that instant the young acolyte realized D'Lation could steal her love from Arawn if she let him.

Shivering in the aftermath of pleasure she still felt D'Lation's wings around her body holding her against him. The soft leather cradling her loosely enough that she knew she could pull away if she chose.

Drawing a deep breath she did finally pull away to face them both. She knew in the rational part of her mind that all of this was a part of her test and not real. That these were all half truths and that, as Lady Noir had said, a half truth is a lie. The pleasure through her body had been real but it had been real too when Seth had laid claim to her for a month. It had been real when Arawn had first summoned demons to torment her body her first night in the tower.

This pleasure had a more pleasing form but it was still a test and this place wasn't real.

As she thought that she could feel the temperature rising around her. Could feel the heat of hell reaching for her as if her own disbelief gave it the right to enter the peaceful world she stood in. She couldn't see it though and it made her wonder just which demon was behind the skillfull illusions. She admired his skill and control and knew enough from her own training that it must have taken eons to learn to create and hold such an ellaborate illusion.

Turning her back on the illusionary dragonmen she called out softly, "Where are you? What do you want from me?" Her voice wasn't angry, just curious.

 

[cgraven]

Turning her back on the illusionary dragomen she called out softly, "Where are you? What do you want from me?" Her voice wasn't angry, just curious.

Unseen eyes watched the young maiden, the unseen demon felt her curiosity , tasted the controlled anguish of the young beauty’s mind to understand what had accrued, to make some rational sense of it all. Silence was Orinda’s only answer, truth, half-truth, illusion reality all hopelessly mixed till it left nothing certain in the young beauty’s mind.

There was no demon to face, no leering spectra, or hideous beast to show her, her weakness, or the tracery of her own body. it left the trembling acolyte with only doubt and unanswered questions.

Orinda woke in Arawn’s bed his arms encircling her, his love cocooning her and soothing her.

“My Love are you all right?”

The warmth of his body, the tender touch of his mind on hers, it all seemed so real. But then the shadow of doubt tempted her was it real or just another elaborate illusion?

 

[caela]

The warmth of his body, the tender touch of his mind on hers, it all seemed so real. But then the shadow of doubt tempted her was it real or just another elaborate illusion?

Reality, illusion...damnit! Suddenly she knew a way to tell, at least with Arawn. Tipping his head she stared into his eyes and let her mind reach out to his searching quietly and than shaking her head softly when she didn't find what she sought. Very carefully she controlled her own mind so that not even the briefest glimmer of what she had sought in his eyes showed in her mind. She kept her mind in such tight control that she could have been looking for anything there and not even he would have known it.

"Very very well done. As I said before though, I know my love and this isn't him," she spoke to thin air but she watched as the image of Arawn disappeared before her eyes. "Your control and skill are impressive indeed. Why won't you show yourself?"

 

[cgraven]

Again reality shifted and then replayed itself.

“My Love are you all right?”

The warmth of his body, the tender touch of his mind on hers, it all seemed so real. But then the shadow of doubt tempted her was it real or just another elaborate illusion?

This time Orinda saw what she searched for in the vision’s eyes, Arawn’s unconditional love, and the soft warm brush of his lips against hers. His face was worn, a deep concern shown for her in his dark eyes. He did not know what form her last trail had taken, all he knew was that it would be a test that would sorely try his love, strike at all he had taught her and all that she believed in herself. All he could do was hold her and let her know she was loved, for no other reason than herself.

Arawn waited as Orinda seemed to hesitate, a question glimmer of doubt flashing across her deep violet eyes.

Her questions of her unseen tormenter unanswered, no resolution to the doubt that had tormenter her but only the lingering shadow of it.

 

[caela]

Arawn waited as Orinda seemed to hesitate, a question glimmer of doubt flashing across her deep violet eyes.

The doubt that flashed in her eyes quieted as she stared deep into his own. Again she kept all thoughts or images of what she sought from her mind until this time she found it and knew that this Arawn was real. Yet even from him she kept the image of what she had been looking for from him. Not because she doubted her love or his, or because she didn't trust him, but so that knowledge would always be a touchstone for her to give her a clue between reality and illusion.

The last test still rang in her mind however. She didn't like haveing unanswered questions in her mind and she suspected that she would always have these...that leaving her with them was as much a part of the test as the illusions had been. Curling in against Arawn's chest she smiled up to him and nodded slowly.

"I'm fine my love. Just shaken and confused. Did you talk to Lady Noir? How long have I been gone? My sense of timing is shot right now."

 

[cgraven]

The mage saw the shadow of doubt fade from his loves soft violet eyes as she curled her body against his her leather mildly irritating but also sensual as it marked the sharp contrast of her soft silken cheek on his chest, and the leather that barely covered her supple body.

"I'm fine my love. Just shaken and confused. Did you talk to Lady Noir? How long have I been gone? My sense of timing is shot right now."

That shy impish smile, the soft purr of her voice, and as always her agile mind thirsting to have her questions answered. So as always he smiled and answered them one by one.

“You have been gone only a day and a half, love……………………………. Yes I did speak to the lady Noir and she asked me to remind you that if you wish to see her all you have to do is speak her name……………………………. And as for your sense of timing it is delightful I doubt I could have survived another day not knowing what was happening to you.”

Arawn had not been able to keep watch over Orinda as he had in the past, she had truly this time been on her own. He would not have been able to help her if the trial had proved too much for her. Or had that been part of her trail to be alone to have to rely on nothing but what she had been taught, to deal with doubts. She had two drakes to chose from. One she knew would have her as his concubine , a sex slave to his desire for her. The other would give to her be all she wanted and yet could pose a threat to her and the Mage’s love. And then there had been the shadow of the Lady Noir who had wrung such pleasure from Orinda’s body during her trial, how could another woman have affected her so. With the male drakes it was primeval magic and sexuality but Noir had been different. Doubts, truth, and half truth swirled around the young girl.

“Orinda , my love does something trouble you?”