The Fall of Marigill (closed for Poprockz)

[Poprockz]

Brannock's words were met with a playful roll of her eyes.

"I do, actually," Nettie answered. "I'll not show you, but I have a scar on the bottom of my foot as though I stepped on a fist-full of needles, and sometimes my foot goes numb because of it. I don't remember where I got it from though. For some reason, I have no memories of my childhood before coming to live in the castle." She shrugged as she walked back around to her spot and sat back down.

She picked up her goblet and paused, "oh! I also have a scar on the back of my shoulder. It almost seemed like someone was trying to dig something out with a knife, but that's just what the castle doctor said. It could have been from anything." Nettie then took a drink.

----------

Dremara blushed, feeling a bit uncomfortable with Y'Sennia cleaning her thighs. They were dirty liquids, were they not? Would it not be a punishment to have her do so? With these thoughts in mind, she was hesitant to fulfill his commands.

Fortunately for her, Y'Sennia required no guidance in this open-legged invitation. Immediately, she set to work in lapping at her thighs, every glistening spot on her skin receiving an appropriate amount of love. What a gift indeed! While it probably would have been better to savor it, she couldn't help herself in her enthusiasm. Orson's dick wasn't forgotten though, her hand once more attending to him in her mouth's stead.

Soon the Princess was clean from her thighs to her royal pussy, the woman looking down on the vampress as those ruby lips were licked in satisfaction.

 

[draco519]

Cillian couldn’t help it. He looked up to Nettie as she said she’d stepped on a needle trap. It wasn’t something unlike he’d use in his line of work. And a knife mark on her shoulder? His eyes shifted to the side at that. He suspected Nettie may be luckier than she realizes to be alive. Horreys made shitty killers and all that.

“Well.. I'm glad you’re here, too.” He paused, realizing how that sounded. “The.. our queen.. And..” He cleared his throat. “Y’know.”

Fionn, for the life of him, didn’t understand what Nettie saw in Cillian. Did she not see how eager he was to just worship the ground she walked on?! He looked back down into his cup of ale.

“We’d best turn in, brothers.” Roric said, getting to his feet after he’d finished his ale. “We face evil tomorrow; i’ve no doubt.”

“Looking forward to it!” Brannock grinned. “I didn’t come all this way not to!” He thought about it. “Honestly, poor Josie is probably lonely. I’d her services for a moon! Now i’m here. I wonder if she’ll count this as my time or…”

“I doubt the Song gives refunds.” Dagris observed.

As the rest of them left, Cillian nodded his goodnights to them before he looked back to Nettie. “Walk you to your room? Or..?”

—

Orson watched Senni lapping everything up happily. Such an enthusiastic lover she was. He knew Dremara was exhausted, and it was quite likely she’d be more than happy to get to sleep as soon as she could.

“My turn.” He looked down to Senni once more as he placed Dremara’s feet upon the ground and helped her down to her knees as well. Though more gently than he had Dremara.

The feel of Senni’s fingers across his cock. Bears balls, she was such an expert at that. He waited to see what happened next, genuinely curious.

 

[Poprockz]

"If you would be so kind," Nettie agreed with a nod. She wasn't about to invite him in or anything, but it would be nice to have some company on the way there. Besides... she didn't actually know where her room was, and walking there with one of the thralls by herself seemed somewhat awkward to her. The thralls mostly kept to themselves. They weren't... rude, but they weren't very friendly either.

One of the thralls gestured at them to follow and started to lead them down the halls to the guest rooms. While she had been able to sleep okay on the ground in the tent, she couldn't deny that she was very much looking forward to an actual bed.

------------

Dremara was content to simply kneel and watch, this only having been the second time she saw his member up close. However, Y'Sennia had different plans.

She wasn't going to demand much of the girl, but she knew Orson well enough that he was likely hoping for more than just an audience. Her hand went out and gently pulled Dremara forward by the back of her neck, her hand lifting his cock so she could see what was underneath. "Use your tongue on that sack there, anything you like. Just taste it, explore it with your tongue," she instructed smoothly.

The princess hesitated for a moment before doing as she was told. Her tongue was smaller than Y'Sennia's (whose tongue wasn't?), but it was still agile, soft, and warm. She simply touched her tongue to his sack at first like putting one's toe in a bath. Once it didn't burn her, she started to lap at it, running her tongue over the skin that held his heavy balls. It was an odd feeling, having their weight supported by her tongue one moment and then slipping off the next. Should she suck on it? She decided to try, her mouth suckling curiously now.

Satisfied, Y'Sennia went back to her calling: sucking the absolute fuck out of his cock. She didn't bother being seductive or teasing. No, this was sloppy and hungry, and she didn't care whether some of her saliva dripped on the woman below her. All she cared about was whether Orson was going to bust his load.

 

[draco519]

“Ursui’s roar..” Orson felt it coming. The tongue on his balls and the suck of one into Dremara’s mouth while Y’Sennia seemed absolutely driven, like a madwoman, to make him cum.

His breathing quickened, he could feel the thundering in his chest. Fire spreading through his veins and his muscles tensed up as he came. And came. And came some more. Y’Sennia had a way of milking a cock that he hadn’t ever met the equal of - though Dremara’s pussy would’ve come damn close if not better. Of that, he was quite sure.

“Fuck!” Massive streams fired out of the head like an 18 pound cannon. His legs quaking as he felt the vein bulging and pulsing in Y’Sennia’s mouth. “Oh.. oh..” His breathing came in ragged gasps, a hand coming out to hold on to the bedpost.

What would happen after he’d purged her lands of the evil what tainted it? What would his reward be then? If this was simply the prelude to such a battle.. Y’Sennia never disappointed; she always brought him to great heights. But this? This he’d remember in times when he was alone and of a mood.

 

[Poprockz]

Y'Sennia moaned on his cock as it swelled between her lips, her eyes rolling up as she felt his seed be relinquished to her. Her throat moved as she swallowed all that he could give, each thick gulp being deposited right in her stomach. He wasn't holding back, and she loved it. Part of her wished she could bear his children, that every year he would take her by the hair and fuck her until she was swollen with his progeny. It was a privilege that only the Princess would be privy too, and she would be lying if she said that it didn't make her at least a little jealous.

She pulled off his cock slowly, giving him an affectionate smile as she panted softly.

Dremara released his balls from her mouth and scooted back a bit, getting off her knees so she could sit on the bed instead. Her hand came up to push her hair out of her face and she sighed tiredly. She might be a bit grumpy with him the next day for deciding to take her chastity without discussing it with her, but not tonight. Tonight she simply wanted to fall asleep in his arms.

 

[draco519]

Cillian followed the thrall, Nettie on his arm. His eyes moving over the architecture of the White Peaks. It was a curious structure, to be sure. The way the halls twisted, he memorized. His keen sense of direction drawing a map in his head.

“I.. been meaning to ask. But I didn’t know if a Horrey lady would think it’s rude or whatnot.” He looked down to Nettie, then, eyeing her glasses. He reached up to tap at his ear, tracing the line up where the armpiece would be and waved over his eyes.

“What are those?” He’d never seen their like in RimeHaven. Glasses were new to him.

--


Orson reached down, running an appreciative hand through Y’Sennia’s hair as she swallowed and slurped the last of his cum. Chuckling breathlessly as he got sensitive and he eventually did have to guide her back. She always had a penchant for it. Coming at his cock with such a passion.

He reached for Dremara, then, gathering her into his arms and he carried her to the head of the bed to let her lay down and got the covers situated where he could slide beneath them, beside her. Letting her come to rest her head on his shoulder, he kissed her one more time before he sighed, content. His arm closing around her to lay his hand on her hip. “My greatest treasure.” His words were a whisper.

He laid his head back on the pillow, blue eyes finding Senni’s. Did she want to clean up? Did she want to rest with them for a spell? He didn’t know her routine at her palace.

 

[Poprockz]

She looked at him questioningly until she realized what he was asking. Nettie chuckled, "they're called 'glasses.' While you may have the keen eyes of a raven, I unfortunately have the dull eyes of a mole. The glasses make things closer and more focused for me so I can see. Without them, my vision is blurry. I can see light and shapes, but the details aren't visible to me."

They reached the door and the thrall gave them each a key, letting them know that his door was three doors down before leaving.

Nettie took off her glasses and offered them to him in case he wanted to look through them out of curiosity.

---

The princess closed her eyes and snuggled close to him, feeling comfortable simply being naked next to him beyond all odds. He felt warm and firm, safe.

His whisper stung Y'Sennia a little. Was she not still the most important woman in his life? Was it not because of herself that Dremara was even able to use her power at all? Was it not Y'Sennia who had warmed his bed for so many nights and held him in her arms afterwards?

She didn't feel particularly tired now, so she slipped on her robe and sat at the end of the bed. "I'm going to take a bath. Feel free to rest... It will be a big day tomorrow."

 

[draco519]

“I think you have pretty eyes.” Not like a mole’s. Beady and.. Oh, he’d said that out loud. Cillian blushed, clearing his throat before the glasses were offered to him.

Cillian had slipped on Nettie’s glasses, looking through them and saw the way the world changed. Witchcraft; that’s what it had to be. But Nettie didn’t seem like a witch. No boils. Had all her teeth. Handing them back to her, he hoped he wasn’t blushing anymore by the time she got them back on.

“Well.. good night. Big day tomorrow. All that.”

--

Orson woke to the scent of coffee and a fast breakfast. The scent of women and sex coating him. But he didn’t let Dremara out of bed without stopping her to kiss her. He hoped, in that moment, that she knew he didn’t regret anything. He held no doubts there would be reason for her to have words with him about what had transpired; but this wasn’t the place nor the time.

Getting cleaned up and back into his armor and getting his weaponry settled, he walked into the room Y’Sennia had the large table set up in and the breakfast spread. And the large table in the middle. Eating the breakfast on his plate, he nodded his go ahead to Roric.

Roric pulled the map out of a leather bound wooden tube, unfurling it across so everyone could see it. “The Whitecaps, more than the rest of the Vale, is fraught with difficult terrain. Slopes so steep you’ll fall a hundred feet and break your neck before you make it to the bottom; where no one will ever find you.”

“I did some looking around.” Cillian said, snow still on his cloak, slowly melting. “Just before first light.” His sharp eyes were powered by the amulet that hung around his neck. It allowed him to see great distances. Pointing at the map, at the White Peaks, then further northwest. On one edge of the Baleful Lake. “There’s a cave here that wasn’t there last time I was here.”

“Northeast? On the far side of the lake?” Dagris confirmed that Cillian was correct. His face became troubled. “Ursui warned me last night of the direction; they divine a warning of an ancient evil. Something that we weren’t capable of facing before. And thus the entrance was collapsed and sealed away in times past.”

“Like we aren’t now, then?” Brannock growled. “I didn’t come up here not to-”

“Brannock.” Orson silenced the man, finishing his coffee and handing the cup off to one of the ever attentive thralls that moved like whispers throughout the palace. “Our people couldn’t purge this from our lands before; that means it’s a trial we must face now. And not leave it to our sons.” He looked among them… and finally to Y’Sennia.

“You spoke the name Kauvric yesterday, Lady Y’Sennia. What can you tell us about him?”

 

[Poprockz]

She hadn't seen the blush before she took off her glasses, but she was too concerned about her own blush to notice his afterwards. "O-oh. Thank you! Yes! Big day, yes. Goodnight Cillian." With that, she scuttled into her room and put her hands to her glowing cheeks. Hopefully she hadn't come off too awkwardly.

----

Y'Sennia was quiet for a moment before speaking:

"The quake, beware the quake.
When the moors, and roads, and houses shake.
Bones of ice and blood of snow,
A prisoner's silent rage below.

The starlit mirror keeps the vigil.
Upon the chains, an ancient sigil.
His might and fury could naught be quelled,
And so inside the mount' he dwells.

With his axe he'll bring the slaughter,
To silence Kota sons and daughters.
Take up your swords with righteous light,
And stay the giant's deadly might."

The vampress produced an aged and well-worn scroll and handed it to Dagris. "I found this at one point or another in the past, though I knew not whether it was prophecy, poem, or a simple musing. I typically don't keep scraps of literature if I don't know what they are or where they came from, but that seemed important for reasons I wasn't able to place until now."

She sighed, her eyes going to Cillian now. "As you know, I am older than all of you combined, though a lady never reveals her true age." Her head turned toward Fionn and her eyebrow raised slightly. "And it is very rude to ask."

"I say this because I am old enough to remember the times when Glacivyr weren't beings of myth and legend, nor myrmidons, for that matter. Kauvric is one such being. I fear you will have to face him in order for the lake to be cleansed."

 

[draco519]

Fionn shut his mouth at Y’Sennia’s warning; then had the gall to look indignant. “I wouldn’t! But if I was curious-”

Roric had been standing at the table with crossed arms, but his right arm quickly struck out, contacting Fionn’s in a swift punch before he resumed his stance.

“Ow!” Fionn shook his arm out, waiting for the feeling to come back in his hand.

“A myrmidon is not to be scoffed at, Orson.” Roric ignored Fionn, looking up at his Chieftain. “If the legends are true? Such a beast will cleave a man in half.”

“I’ll cleave it in half!” Fionn recovered, his reckless bravery surging forth once more. He looked to Orson. “Send me. I’ll-”

Orson’s stare silenced Fionn, then he rolled his tongue in his cheek a moment… Then he looked to “Dagris?”

“There is a strangeness in the air; I sensed it when we arrived. I took the time to say the prayers to Ursui when we retired last night. To divine a dream; to walk with our ancestors..”

“May I?” Dagris looked to Y’Sennia, seeking permission first, but then picked up the candelabra from the hutch and placed it on the table. Removing the candles, he pulled his own from his bag, carved with runes in the sides. And he recited the words that would show them.

The candles lit of their own volition, their blue flames flaring to draw pictures in the smoke.

They depicted frostfire and blood. Of a man raging through the whitecaps and carving many down. Chasing a group of smokey men with pointy sticks into the cavern.

Dagris depicted the story as it went. “Our ancestors fought Kauvric, for days and nights, they battled up and down mountains; cutting down Kauvrics brothers until he was the last one left. But he could not be defeated. Not with fire and steel, arrow and axe. No spear could pierce him deep enough for a lasting wound.”

Dagris’s tone turned grim. The scene shifted.

A single rune displayed. Intricate knots that wove out into shattering, and formed again into collapsing rock and ice.

“With no options left, they collapsed the cavern with mighty blows of their hammers on runic shields, the sounds reverberating and shattering ice thick enough to support stone; and they perished with Kauvric. To spare RimeHaven. Ursui keep them.”

The room was silent while Orson thought about this new information. “And the ooze?”

“It didn’t look too dissimilar from the Sea-Wraith.” Cillian pointed out.

That was true, Orson hadn’t considered that. “We were covered in that and didn’t get get this.. Blight?” He looked to Y’Sennia, but she hadn’t been there…

His eyes snapped to Dremara as a thought crossed his mind. “Did.. did you protect us?”

 

[Poprockz]

Dagris had been given a nod of approval from Y'Sennia to do what needed to be done, and she watched the blue fire's visions.

When everyone's attention turned to Dremara, the woman looked uncertain. "I don't know... Not intentionally. All I remember was waiting down in my room with Nettie. The most I did was pray for your safety, but I'm not sure if that would have helped you or not."

Y'Sennia pondered for a moment before making a suggestion, "the sea-wraith may not have been as tainted as the lake-beasts, and sometimes threads of light can remain unseen. It is very possible that the Princess had exuded an unseen aura at the time."

"And to add to your previous statement, Kauvric wasn't perished," the Vampress shook her head. "Not truly. Unable to move under the weight of ice and rock, he has been sleeping like a bear waiting for winter's end."

Nettie shifted nervously nearby, "But was does the frozen giant have to do with the lake?"

 

[draco519]

Orson was at an impasse. He couldn’t take Dremara with him; but they might not defeat this Kauvric without her. They’d have perished against the boar.

“I believe,” Dagris looked among them. “The mother of beasts grows stronger. The appearance of the Murgeilht, a beast also lost to stories, and now this? It cannot be a coincidence.”

“So the black blood of that beast may not have been blighted?” Roric glanced to Dagris.

Dagris nodded.. “It would lend credence to the logic that her power grows as the Glacivyr worship and sacrifice to her?” He looked to Y’Sennia for confirmation. “As she was weakened by the Kota abandoning her ways; she would seek new followers, and grow again..”

“...and seek out the children of those who she believed abandoned her.” Roric felt a chill run down his spine, and he looked to Y’Sennia next. More questions than answers.

“The prophecies speak of-”

“Not this again, Dagris.” Roric looked to his long time friend and seer.

“Deny it all you want, but the stories of our people tell of a Chieftain whom would face the darkness and usher in the light.” Dagris insisted all the same.

“I don’t deny that the Princess has the power-”

Dagris continued over Roric. “And we fought a Sea-Wraith.” His voice was more demanding than it had been in years. “Naymeera’s power will continue to grow. We have the means to truly strike a blow-”

“We have the means to try.” Roric interrupted Dagris now. “What happens if Orson falls? Who will be chieftain, then?”

“We can’t just let this giant sit in that cave!” Fionn got involved.

“And what will you do with your little spears?” Cillian looked at Fionn. “Run in and get yourself killed? Use your head-”

“Fight with your heart!” Fionn fired back at Cillian.

“Let me do it!” Brannock was now worked up. “I’ll crush this bastard to bits and-”

“ENOUGH!” Orson’s fist slammed into the table, silencing the room. “We stand as brothers or we die alone.” He looked to each of his men. “There is a time for caution and a time for zeal. But Nettie is right; what does the giant have to do with the lake?”

Dagris took a breath to calm himself.. “I believe it to be the giant’s tainted blood. Likely.. Kauvric has regained his strength in his prison. And is bleeding into the lake.” He looked to Y’Sennia. “The scent is likely strongest for you, Lady Y’Sennia.. Something that would smell like…” He tried to think of how to describe it. “..stagnant water. Something to warn us we must not drink it.”

 

[Poprockz]

The description made Y'Sennia's nose to crinkle in disgust. "It does smell like that, yes. But while it does smell dangerous, there is still the enticing whisper of power that may have tempted a more foolish vampire." There was no doubt that drinking such blood would make her powerful, but at what price? There was always a price with these things, and power for the sake of power no longer appealed to her. Why be a mindless, undefeatable monster if one was just that: mindless?

Dremara stood, speaking loudly and clearly. "I will go with you. My fate is tied to Orson, and to all of you. We will need every resource we can muster in order to win. Victory is the only option: defeat will mean a plague of evil and suffering on this land and I won't stand for it." The princess stood tall, her words resolute as she looked upon each man until she reached Orson. Her eyes said that she wouldn't accept 'no' for an answer.

Certainly she was terrified at the idea of facing an ancient giant that not even the hardened Kota warriors of old couldn't defeat, but that was the thing: bravery was only bravery it one did the right thing despite one's fears. Besides, she now had a responsibility to foster prosperity for the Kota, to protect them not only with her status but also now with the gift that had been bestowed upon her.

Nettie looked horrified at the suggestion, putting a hand on the woman's shoulder and starting to plead with her, "my lady, please don't..." She didn't have a reason, no logical argument for why she should stay at the castle given the situation, but that didn't mean that she didn't want to see her lady, no, her truest friend perish.

 

[draco519]

Dagris had been opening his mouth to speak when Dremara suddenly stood and declared she’d go with them. His gaze turned curious.

Cillian’s eyes widened; having genuinely not expected that. It was good that she felt responsible for her people, but… they weren’t even sure they could kill this thing. How..

Roric hated the idea. With every ounce of his being, his expression was rather grim. In potentially tight spaces with a beast like Kauvric? How would they protect her? It defied all logic and reason!

Fionn’s eyes were alight with a flame. Yes! Their queen understood them!

Brannock clapped his hands loudly, closings his hands into fists. “Aye! Our queen will-”

“Leave us.” Orson spoke to his men, not taking his eyes off of Dremara as his men filed out to go wait in another hall. He didn’t care where they went so long as they complied with his command. She was resolute in her belief, he’d give her that. But there was no give in his gaze. No softness to bend his spine in the slightest.

“I cannot allow you to come with us.” Orson hoped he was clear. “I gave your father a solemn vow that I would protect you and look after you; and I am a man of my word.”

 

[Poprockz]

The command hadn't been directed at Nettie specifically, but she counted herself among the group and it was clear that Orson wanted privacy. As such, she too exited the hall with the rest of them, though she did cast an anxious glance back at the three leaders as the doors closed. Y'Sennia had decided to stay, seeing as she should also be privy to the conversation.

"I cannot allow myself to be left behind," Dremara replied evenly, remaining firm in her own stance. "Let's say your band goes to face off against this giant and all of you perish. What then? Not only will I be put at risk, but all of your people as well. I am not your Queen yet, I am merely a deflowered princess from a defeated country. Right now I am still a spoil of war. Putting yourself at risk like this is putting me in danger, Orson."

 

[draco519]

Orson cocked an eyebrow down at Dremara as she declared herself a spoil of war. A deflowered Princess from a foreign land. He took a deep breath through his nose, rolling his tongue in his cheek. Yet his resolve didn’t waver. Of course she would think that. It made perfect sense; that’s how he’d explained it to her on the whisker.

“Then it would behoove us to look to the words of Lady Y’Sennia and the tale. Of how our weapons glow with power so we might destroy Kauvric.”

He did see the resolve on her face. He couldn’t deny it. His hand came up to cradle her cheek. “And before my men and I leave to face him? You and I will marry. We will send a raven to RimeHaven to spread the good news; and a feast will be waiting for us to return.”

It wasn’t the wedding he had in mind, and most certainly not her, he was sure of that. But it would have to do. If it was the only thing to put Dremara’s mind at ease and prevent her from doing something so foolish? He’d need to meet her there.

“Lady Y’Sennia can marry us. She’s the Lady of the White Peaks.” He reassured her. “I am not so easily killed, my Queen.”

 

[Poprockz]

Marry her?! Right here in this hall today?! Dremara had been expecting resistance, but she hadn't been expecting that. She had to admit that it was a solution that countered her arguments. Still.

"You are not immortal either. What if-"

It was at that moment that she was cut off. "If the worst comes to pass, and the entire group perishes, I will take you back to RimeHaven to be introduced as their rightful Queen," Y'Sennia said, studying her fingernails. "If for some reason, they reject you or doubt your legitimacy, they I will take you under my care in this castle. If you want to return home, I will find a way to get you there. I swear it upon Xarxibol, the dark that feeds me."

The candles fluttered in the hall as though shuddering at the mention of such a name. Indeed, it wasn't a name she would use lightly.

One might assume that she was simply being 'honorable' or 'kind,' but it was truly in her best interests to keep the girl close or to send her back where she came from. If the Kota weaponized her against Y'Sennia, it would spell out a very dangerous fight for the both of them. Also... it was possible that she might have a bit of fondness for the girl, if only a little.

Besides... that wasn't the only reason she was willing to comply with all of this.

The Princess felt a bit cornered, and she tried to find another reason to come along with them, but she could not. Eventually she conceded and sighed, looking downwards as her face went into the slightest of pouts. "Fine," she grumbled.

"I would have words with you privately, Orson... When you have a moment." Y'Sennia mentioned, looking up from her nails.

 

[draco519]

Orson swallowed down the urge to simply throw Dremara over the table, bend her over, and prove his strength to her right there. Did she not understand who he was? The man her father and brother likely cursed at the dinner tables as he tore his way through Hortensia? Battle after battle, he’d proven it.

Then she pouted, defeated. He hadn’t wanted to defeat her. He hadn’t wanted to win just for the sake of an argument. His hand was reaching up to cradle her cheek when Senni cut her off. His eyes darting up to her as she spoke of taking the princess into her care; or getting her back to Hortensia.

While that wasn’t what he’d have wanted for her? He was also dead in this scenario. “Return to your chambers; Fionn will see you safely there.” He said softly to Dremara. “We’ll speak more about this after i’ve had words with Lady Y’Sennia.” He eventually did touch her cheek as he spoke, guiding her to look up at him.

“Our people need you to believe in me.” He kissed her lips, backing away just enough to look down into those golden eyes. “I need you to believe in me.”

 

[Poprockz]

Dremara struggled with his words. Just because she knew him to be a capable warrior as well as a brave and quick-witted leader, didn't mean that her belief would see him back to her safely. Fate had a way of taking matters into its own hands, and one could never truly know the outcome. But... she supposed he was right in a sense: he would fight better knowing that she had confidence in him and perhaps that might make a difference.

"Very well," she pressed her lips together, "but just know that I will be very cross if you die." With that, she turned from him and walked out of the room.

Y'Sennia couldn't help but chuckle once the doors closed. "Though I imagine she won't say it in such words, I can tell she's worried about you."

 

[draco519]

Orson cocked an eyebrow as Dremara said she’d be rather perturbed were he to die today. Then he looked up to Y’Sennia as she said she wouldn’t ever admit it. “She doesn’t know me as you do.” He admitted. “Hasn’t ever faced me in battle.” He chuckled, approaching Y’Sennia, then.

He reached, touching Y’Sennia’s cheek, studying the look on her face. Attempting to read her. But he never could. Not even now. He had to remind himself, in that instant, that she’d wished to talk. That he couldn’t just hike up her skirts and throw her over the table, either. “My apologies for your dress.” He remembered tearing at the one she’d been wearing the night prior. “It was in my way; but it was quite lovely.”

 

[Poprockz]

She grinned wolfishly, "I wouldn't have had it any other way."

Though she was there to talk business, not drop to her knees and incite him into fucking her at the breakfast table. Not that she wasn't tempted. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about this battle, and I suppose any battles in the future."

Her demeanor became more serious, though there was still the ghost of a smile on her lips. "You have received my help in this endeavor, namely in guiding the girl and cleansing her, as I will have to do so after she blesses your weapons as well. I very much believe she can, she just needs the proper hand to nudge her where she needs to go."

"As fond of you as I am, I want something for the invaluable help I have provided and will provide." Her hand came up to his own cheek and she gave him her request. "I want you to drink my blood should you be given a a deathblow. I want you to accept my gift."

 

[draco519]

Orson was so fond of Y’Sennia.

All she’d done for his people, and while it still served her? The Kota would never have stood a chance against the Horreys without her. She’d helped to drive them from their lands. She’d helped him bring war to Hortensia for their many transgressions. Even against the Andel Empire when they’d come calling; and with the threat of a new Emperor looming? And Naymeera? And the Glacivyr and the Yorcs still out there somewhere?

He needed Y’Sennia. And he needed Dremara. RimeHaven, the Iron Vale’s legitimacy on the world stage demanded Dremara. Yet Y’Sennia had been here before that was ever even a thought. How many nights had he shared her bed? Or she his? The nights spent with the Night Enchantress of the White Peaks watching over him. And he never felt as though he were in danger.

Now, here she was.. Asking him, for the first time, to drink of her blood. He remembered how afraid she’d been when she told him of this threat. How he needed to come to the mountains without delay and face this.

He brought his other hand up, cupping her face more firmly as he brought her to his kiss. It was a fierce and possessive thing, crawling and alive, burning hotter and hotter. A shared breath, and then two.. Before he opened his blue eyes to look down into her crimson pools.

“It is not lost on me all you’ve done for me. For my people. For RimeHaven.” He hoped she knew that. “Dremara is not the only woman I need to believe in me. I need you, Y’Sennia, who has battled me with the entirety of her heart, to remember what kind of opponent I am.”

 

[Poprockz]

She kissed him back with ferocity of her own, drunk on the taste of his tongue until he decided to end the exchange.

"It's not just this fight, Orson," she replied, licking her lips. "I have faith in you, you know I do. There is no one else I would trust to deal with this threat, and I do not doubt that you will be victorious. That being said, even if I don't think you will fall today, what about when your beard goes grey and your muscles fade? When your hands tremble and your eyesight is lost to the snow? What then?"

Her hand went to his chest and she ran her palm upwards, her eyes following it before flicking back up to his. "You are mortal; mortals die. When you die, you will be lost to me." The thought of such a thing scared her. There was a desperation within herself to keep him close. Perhaps she felt possessive of him, that she didn't want to loose the only man who fucked her right. The Vampress couldn't admit to herself what she truly felt for him.

 

[draco519]

Orson ran his hands back through Y’Sennia’s hair as she continued. Worrying not about this fight; but the days when his hair turns gray and his arms can no longer swing a sword or heft his shield. In her long life, she’d likely seen many come and go. Though he wasn’t sure how many received such an offer.

“I’ve yet to father sons.” He pointed out the obvious. “All I've worked for, Senni, all I've fought for is to protect our home. The Iron Vale can finally be seen as ours by the Kings of the world. No more Horreys or Andies coming to take what they believe they have claim to.”

He thought he knew what she felt, but this was a step even further. “But the other Kings of the world wouldn’t see me as one of their kind if…” He knew she knew what he was about to say.

“...what if I were to give you my word that I would drink on my deathbed? If, many years from now, when I have lived my time? You come and claim me. Gone in the flash of a shadow, never to be seen by my people again; lest it tarnish my legacy. My children’s memories of me. For the lessons they learn in my absence once i’m gone will hold far more weight if they do not know I live.”

 

[Poprockz]

He was making a concession, she could recognize that, but how many Kota warriors or chieftains died peacefully in old age? Very few, and typically none with a moral code so righteous as Orson’s.

Did he want her to plead? Did he want her to get on her knees and keep trying to get the promise she so desperately wanted?

“Orson… we both know that it is very unlikely that would perish in a bed with naught a weapon in your hand. There will come a day when you’re bleeding out on the ground, and if you do not willingly accept my gift then there would be nothing I could do to keep you here.”

The vampress gritted her teeth, and though her expression was fierce, there was pain underneath. “Have I not aided you through all these years?” She growled, “Have I not stood with you in battle? Who was it that warmed your bed and helped your people flourish? Am I not owed your dying breaths?” Her hands went to his and she gripped them tightly as her ruby eyes watered, her fire giving way to desperation.

“I do not care if you live your life how you like, father your sons, be the King you want to be but…” She tried to blink away her moisture, her brows furrowing. “Do not promise me something you know you will not be able to give me…”