The Young Apprentice (closed for AugMilf)

[DarelHute]

The Young Apprentice

OOC:

Bernart Tomas
Former General and Swordmaster in King Rychard the III's army, now retired and a recluse
36 years old, 6'5", brown hair, blue eyes, athletic

IC:
"I could smell you a mile away!" Bernart said to Sir Joceus unmoved in his deep meditation in the sept.

"Aye, I'm sure you did, old friend!" the old knight smirked and came to sit next to him on the simple cushion in the middle of the small sept.

"Why are you here?" he asked bluntly.

"So direct... as always... The king..."

"The king? I thought we had an agreement!" Bernart interrupted, keeping the same tone of voice from the first time he opened his mouth.

"You did! If you remember, the king granted your retirement on condition that you serve him one last time!" Sir Joceus reminded him, waiting for this reply. Bernart kept his eyes closed, and said nothing. "That time is now!"

"What is the king asking?"

"He wants you to take on an apprentice!" Sir Joceus began and waited for his reaction, which failed to come, so he continued. "You're impossible to read!!... It's only for a year or two, at the most.... But, it's not the usual kind of apprentice... It's his daughter: princess Arielle!"

"What?" Bernart reacted, turning to look at him for the first time since he arrived.

"Aa, finally. He's alive!"

"A woman. Here. In the middle of the desert!" he continued.

"Yes, the princess is a woman, and the king knows of your vow of celibacy after your wife died... was murdered..." he sighed. "That's why he can trust YOU and you alone with this task. The princess is... well... very spirited... She needs a strong, gentle hand to guide her in her unbridled youth."

"Spirited, you say?" Bernart asked returning to his meditation posture and closing his eyes.

"Yes. She was in great danger of losing her maidenhead a few times at the castle and everywhere else she was hidden. Attempts have been made on her life as well, so the king is desperate!" he explained.

"What am I to do with her?" Bernart asked.

"Keep her safe. Food will be provided for both of you on a weekly basis, along with anything the princess needs. Teach her to respect the gods and honor her blood right: she will be a queen one day. The sooner the better, if you ask me... but she's not ready!"

"Will she be obedient?"

"She will have no choice. She can't cross the desert by herself!" Sir Joceus grinned.

"When is she coming?" Bernart asked, his eyes still closed, his tone balanced.

"She was two hours behind me!"

"Gods help us!" Bernart sighed, regretting that the calm solitude of his desert oasis would soon be disturbed.

 

[AugMilf]

https://www.bing.com/images/search?...454eaf068c50c827d37d80045a1da02do1&ajaxhist=0

Princess Arielle and her guards trudged across the unforgiving desert. She was lost in her world of thoughts and the anger she had for her father.

How dare he send me off to this God-forsaken place to rot! I was just trying to have a little fun. What's wrong with a girl exploring a little before she is off to wed someone she's never met. And now I will be stuck here with this ogre.

The jostling of her horse awakened Arielle from her thoughts and brought her back to the present.

"How much longer?" she asked one of the guards.

One pointed to a small area on the horizon. She grunted in reply as she shielded her eyes from the sunlight to try to see her new home. Finally, they arrived at the simple dwelling.

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart stood suddenly and bowed to the gothic window before turning towards the exit.

"She's here!" he said simply and walked towards the door.

"Must I remind you, my friend, that failure in this mission is treason! Should the princess not return to her father a virgin..."

"I know, Joceus, I know!" he cut him off as they left the sept on the mound and descended towards the one chamber dwelling where he lived.

"Princess! Welcome!" Sir Joceus announced their presence. "You arrived safely!"

Bernart walked towards her as her guards helped her dismount. He looked at her with a slight shake of the head: her beauty and youthful sensuality was difficult to overlook. He slowed his pace as he approached her, but did not bow.

"Princess. Welcome to my home!" he said simply. "Please follow me inside and have a drink. You're all welcome!" he said and pointed to the open wooden door to his round wooden dwelling.

 

[AugMilf]

"Hmmph," Arielle grumbled to Sir Joceus and then she took in her surroundings and her new jailer.

He was younger than she had imagined and better looking but nonetheless he was still her captor for all intents and purposes. She dusted off her garments and shook out her hair. The locks of red fell down her back in waves as beautiful as the sunset. She pulled her hair to the side to shake any remaining sand from it and followed Bernart into the small dwelling.

"So this is it?" she questioned. "My new prison?"

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart smiled at her question, but did not reply.

"Your highness," Sir Joceus said to her, "you will most definitely be safe here with Master Bernart. He is the most skilled swordsman in the twelve kingdoms! And he is a wise man who has a lot to teach you!"

Bernart did not listen to him, but rather invited his guests to sit around the central hearth while he opened a trapdoor in the floor and disappeared for a few seconds down a spiral staircase.

"Your father the king trusts Master Bernart more than any man in the realm, including myself! He is gentle and strong - the most loyal subject of his Royal Highness!" he said to the princess as she sat together with the four guards.

Bernart re-emerged from the cellar with a jar of cold ale and poured it in clay cups for all his guests, and then poured one for himself before he sat down.

"How is this cold??" Sir Joceus exclaimed, enjoying the refreshing taste of the ale.

"My cellar is very deep. And as you know, the desert is freezing cold at night!" Bernart reminded him, as he completely ignored the princess.

 

[AugMilf]

Arielle stood with her hands on her hips while Sir Joceus spoke to her. She half-heartedly listened as she watched and wondered where Bernart had gone. When she was seated with the others, she expected to be served with them. When Bernart ignored her, she was offended.

"Is this how I can expect to be treated here? Is it not bad enough that I have to be shipped away from my home and all I find dear but now I have to suffer such treatment!" she shrieked indignantly.

She jumped up and grabbed a cup from one of her guards and tasted the ale. She gulped it down and then looked at Bernart.

"Thanks for your hospitality!" she almost yelled.

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart smiled at her outburst, but made nothing of it. He rarely took offense at anything!

All the guards instantly stood, prompted by Sir Joceus.

"Anyway, we must be going. We can't be caught in the desert at night!" he said as they made their way outside to the horses.

Bernart followed them outside and watched them mount.

"A servant will be back in a week's time with supplies!" Sir Joceus said as he bowed his head to the princess. "Fare well, your highness!" he said and then began on their journey.

Bernart didn't even say goodbye. He returned to the hut and poured a cup of cold water and handed it to Arielle.

"You're too young for ale. The water here is even better than in Tamaris!" he said, looking kindly at her. "We should talk about your stay here!"

 

[AugMilf]

Arielle watched as Sir Joceus led the guards away from the dwelling. She followed Bernart back inside and took the water he handed her.

"This water is refreshing. Thank you! Now what of my stay? What provisions have you made?"

Arielle stood looking at Bernart with her arms crossed across her ample chest. She had done it a thousand times before with other servants and her voluptuousness had always allowed her to get her way.

"Where are the other servants?" she asked.

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart poured himself a cup of water and sipped, and then took a seat inviting her to do the same, her cleavage not without effect on him although he hid it well. The heat of the day meant she couldn't wear too much, which seemed to suit her plans.

"Don't worry about provisions for now. I have enough in store to last us a few months, and more will be on the way in a week!" he said and took another sip. "As for servants, I'm afraid it's just you and me!"

"I don't know what you were told you were going to do here, but you are not here as a princess. You are here as my apprentice. For a princess of Qildor it is imperative that you are trained in the art of sword play. This is what you will do here! You will train, you will sleep, you will eat and you will meditate with me and by yourself. You will be glad to know that the pool beyond the trees is very refreshing for bathing!" he said with a smile and took another sip.

 

[AugMilf]

"Are you serious?!" Arielle jumped up and yelled. "So not only am I being sentenced to a term of loneliness, I also have to train to be some kind of warrior princess? No! I certainly was not informed of this."

Arielle marched around the area for a few steps back and forth. It was easy to see why her virtue was at risk with the sway of her hips and pout in her lips. She put her hands on her hips and her figure was accented as was her temper. Finally, she seemed to resolve herself to the situation.

"Master Bernart, I thank you for taking me in. I think I will take you up on that bath now after the dusty ride through the desert. If you will excuse me, I will return soon."

Arielle gathered what she needed and walked over to the pool. She undressed and stepped in the cool water. It was refreshing just as Bernart had said. She looked back towards the dwelling as she bathed.

"I'll have to make the best of it," she said aloud.

When she was done she walked back to the hut and joined Bernart.

"That was perfect! Thank you."

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart took all her antics in his stride. He had seen it before. His wife's younger sister had a similar temper. How both had died marked him forever and made him isolate himself in the middle of the desert.

While Arielle was away to cool off in the pool, he prepared dinner. He was a master cook as well: his specialty was grilled meat with exotic spices that sometimes trade caravans sold him on their way through the desert.

"I'm glad you enjoyed your bath!" he said smiling. "Please, have a seat and eat!"

He poured himself some ale, then looked at her with a smile.

"Here, try it. I suppose you're not THAT young!" he said and handed her a cup of ale.

"So tell me. What kind of trouble were you in that you ended up with me?" he asked.

 

[AugMilf]

Arielle was much impressed with Master Bernart's cooking skills. The food smelled delicious and she was drooling when she sat down. She was thrilled he offered her some ale. She had certainly had her share of spirits before. She was after all 19. When Bernart asked about her trouble, she stopped drinking and stared at him.

"I'm surprised they didn't tell you already," she said simply as her skin began to flush. "I was caught in let's just say compromising situations. The king thought my virtue was in jeopardy. I was just having some fun."

Arielle looked up at Bernart to gauge his reaction.

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart did not blink an eye as he heard Arielle's confession. He looked at her and noticed she blushed. His eyes drifted briefly to her body: the ways she sat revealing her beautiful legs and curvy bosom.

"You are young... It's natural to have a fire burning in your belly!" he said and looked at her, trying to take in the whole of her.

"Your energy is high and burns bright, and while that is what most men are drawn to, that is also dangerous for your father's plans to marry you and seal alliances. I can teach you how to channel your energy into something else. It won't go away completely, but you can use it to defend yourself without the need for guards!" he said and took another sip of ale, smiling at her.

 

[AugMilf]

"Thank you. I appreciate your understanding and your willingness to help me. I assure you I am a quick learner despite my um...temper. it is the curse of the redheads, they say."

Arielle took a drink of ale and nodded at Bernart. Maybe this won't be so bad after all?

"I'm sorry I was so rude earlier. Sometimes I can't help myself."

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart smiled at her as she seemed to come to terms with her new situation. Night was drawing closer, so he stood and stoked the fire in the central hearth. He had to admit it was more difficult to be himself with such a sensual presence where usually there was solitude. He decided this was to be HIS learning; his challenge. A brief thought of holding the princess down and fucking her hard passed through his mind. He shook his head and sighed.

"The sun will soon go down. Come with me!" he said and lead her to the sept - a small stone building with a simple Gothic window and a doorway with no door.

Two simple cushions were the only furniture to be seen. No candles, no altar.

"Sit!" he said simply, pointing to one of the cushions as he took the other one, crossing his legs.

"You will learn to control your... temper, as well as the fire in your belly, lest it consumes you!" he said as he straightened his back and took a deep breath. "Do as I do, before you allow your busy mind to ask questions. Do first, then ask, if you must!" he said as the sun was almost half way under the horizon, casting red shadows in the sept. "Close your eyes and breathe! We begin with silence and waiting for darkness!"

 

[AugMilf]

Hiking up her skirt to cross her legs, Arielle took the other cushion and did as Bernart did. She found it difficult to sit long and breathe with her eyes closed but she did her best. Every so often she would open an eye to see if Bernart was doing anything else, then she would sigh and go back to her attempt at meditation. It was torturous for her but as the room turned dark she started to settle down. Her mind, however, was not settled. Far from it, in fact. All she could think about was the last time her father had caught her with one of the young guardsmen she found so handsome. He was suckling at her tits and had his hand up her skirt. Arielle found this memory easier to concentrate on than the mediation that Bernart had suggested but soon her breathing was erratic and she had to change her thoughts to something less exciting, like sitting on this cushion in the dark.

 

[DarelHute]

"Your mind is drifting. Focus your attention on your breath!" he said softly, but then suddenly stood as if his cushion was on fire.

He quickly walked outside and peered into the darkness.

"Fuck, your distracted mind distracted me!" he said and took her by the hand, dragging her back to the house.

He walked to the trapdoor opposite the main door and opened it.

"Go down there and don't come out unless I tell you to!" he said and ushered her in, closing the trap door behind her. The door had bars through which she could see what was going on.

Bernart walked to the wall and grabbed two curved swords and then took a seat in the middle. Two men in black with faces covered walked inside with swords drawn.

"Where is the girl?" one of them asked, to which Bernart said nothing. He waited at the last minute when one of them attacked and he rolled forward, striking the other attacker just above his knees, causing him to fall on the ground with a loud cry.

He swung his body around as he stood and struck at the neck of the second, who fell lifeless on the ground.

"How many are you?" Bernart asked the one who was still alive.

"Gods curse you!" he hissed. "They will tie you up and make you watch as they rape the girl!" he grinned.

"Sure, very well!" Bernart said and ran his sword through his heart.

He then walked outside and peered through the darkness, unable to see anything. He returned to the trap door and opened it.

"Come, Arielle, their friends are not far behind and this is not safe for you!" he said and took her hand, leading her to the pool. "Take your clothes off and get in the water up to your nose. Try not to move, and don't come out until I tell you to!" he instructed.

 

[AugMilf]

If she was shaking in fear when she was hidden in the dark of the house, she was more than trembling with fear when she stepped in the cool water of the pool. It had been refreshing during daylight but without the sun it was freezing. But after what she had seen in the house, she was quick to obey Bernart's orders and undressed and slipped into the pool up to her nose.

She waited there in the pale moonlight of the night and tried to stay hidden in the shadows. Her bottom lip quivered and she bit it to keep it still. Arielle had never been this terrified in all her life. It made her moments of frivolity seem useless and trivial and yet still her mind burned with memories of happier times "skinny dipping" with a handsome swordsman from oh where was he from again? Her mind darted about to the details of the event to keep her mind of her current situation. In hindsight, this wasn't the best idea because it caused her to be less than quiet in the water as her loins burned for the casual fun again.

She glanced around nervously as she raised up out of the water up to her waist revealing her beautiful orbs. Arielle couldn't see Bernart but didn't call to him. Her skin glistened in the light of the moon and she shook from the chill in the air.

I wonder where he is, she thought.

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart left Arielle, with the confidence that the water would be the best protection for her, provided the second wave did not see her hiding. He moved through the darkness of his camp armed only with one of the two curved swords. His eyes were closed - it was too dark to see anything anyway - and he could always focus better with his eyes closed.

He sensed each attacked charging him, and one by one they fell on the ground struck by his lightning fast moving blade. He kept the last one alive and tied him to the post in the house before he returned to Arielle with a lit torch in his hand. As he approached her, he could see her body rising above the water to her waist, her full round breasts fully visible and her nipples hard. As the fire from the torch danced on her sensuous flesh, Bernart felt his breath intensify: the view was intoxicating.

"I thought I told you to stay in!" he chastised and looked away, picking up her dress from behind a tree. "Come out now, it's safe!" he said and handed her a towel, looking at her as she emerged from the water, his trousers suddenly too tight for his hardness.

 

[AugMilf]

"Thank you, Master Bernart, and thank you for all you did."

Arielle dried herself and slipped her dress over her head. Her eyes were as big as saucers as she looked to Bernart for answers. Without thinking, she threw her arms around her guardian and squeezed her thanks.

"I must admit I was afraid. I will work harder at letting you teach me," she whispered against his ear.

Just as quickly as she embraced him, she backed away, suddenly unsure again and looking around in the dim light of the torch.

"Will there be more tonight?" she asked quietly.

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart smiled at her embrace and lead her back to the house.

"No, that's all of them. Actually, one is still alive!" he said and walked inside, pointing to a dark skinned young man tied to one of the posts holding the roof up.

He walked to the hearth and slowly started the fire, ignoring the prisoner.

"Kill me, you dog!" the prisoner hissed.

"Why are you in such a hurry to die?" he asked him without even looking his way.

"I failed. I deserve it!" he said defiantly.

"You all failed. It wasn't just you!" Bernart replied. "At least you got the men who lead you to me..."

"We didn't. They're all alive. They didn't even see us!" he said maintaining his defiant tone.

"Joceus... So careless..." Bernart said under his breath.

"Kill me! Get it over with!" the man shouted.

"Arielle, I'll leave it up to you. Should he die?" he asked her.

 

[AugMilf]

Arielle walked around a bit and looked at the prisoner. She crossed her arms and tapped her finger on her arm as if she was considering his fate but in fact she had made up her mind already. Her eyes shined with excitement and anger.

"You were sent to kill me? You are a miserable piece of filth. I sentence you to death! No mercy for you! I say kill him, good Sir!"

Arielle looked at Bernart with an evil, wicked grin. She stared at him waiting for his actions to his words. Her body tingled all over at the sight of him about to do this for her. Her mind thought about her lovers, none of whom had given such an offering for her. She places her hands on her hips and her breath quickened as she watched.

"Yes, Master Bernart. Kill him," she said breathlessly.

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart started the fire and then stood calmly. He walked to the wall where all his swords and daggers were displayed and removed a sharp dagger. He then returned to face Arielle.

"Your training begins now. Nobody should decide for death and have someone else carry it out. Own you decision!" he said and handed her the dagger.

He then poured some water in a kettle and placed it above the fire, completely looking away from Arielle and the attacker.

"Go on!" he said, sensing her hesitation. "Throat or heart. Your choice!" he said still not looking their way, sensing the defiant look on the assailant's face.

"Kill me, whore! Kill me, or I'll fuck you like the slut that you are!" he taunted her.

 

[AugMilf]

Arielle looked at the dagger in her hand and considered her actions carefully. She looked at Bernart and then with an animalistic scream she thrust the dagger into the heart of the prisoner. With both hands, she forced the dagger deep into his chest and watched as his eyes looked at her.

"This whore just ended you," she growled into his face.

It had taken all her strength to thrust the dagger into the man. She quickly pulled the dagger out and wiped it off on the man's sleeve. Turning the dagger around, she handed it back to Bernart with a nod. Then she stepped away from them and sat down.

"I hope we can get some rest now," she said a little weaker than she had hoped.

 

[DarelHute]

Bernart took the dagger from her hand with a slight smile.

"Next time your enemy will not be tied up, and will likely attack you!" he said and put the dagger back on the wall rack after he untied the dead attacker.

He dragged him outside of the house and then returned to show Arielle where she was going to sleep, in a seaweed bed on the opposite side of the house as his own. It was clear she would have no privacy there, something he wondered how she would cope with.

"Make yourself comfy and sleep. I need to bury their bodies!" he said and left her by herself.