(Trigger Warning)
“WHERE IS SHE?” he billowed out. The men stopped talking, Hagthoria raised her head from twirling the leather tie on a soldier’s armor and looked around also.
“Sh..she went to use the woods sir, she said it was an emergency, a 'woman' issue, wanted to relieve herself alone.” One of the men sitting nearest to where she previously sat, spoke.
“WHICH WAY?” He yelled.
Nikolas knew that scouts were afoot for the King, so he grabbed his scabbard and sword leaning on his tent as he dropped the pile of furs. Mumbling how the female was already a pain in his hind end and only having been there less than a day, he ran into the woods in the direction the soldier pointed.
It was daylight, so Ally could see her way through the dense woods. She still wasn't a hundred percent she wasn't dreaming, but regardless she just couldn't take it anymore. Tricking the soldier that was keeping an eye on her was easy, at least they understood when a women needed privacy.
Her bare feet were now blistered and sore from walking on small stones and dead branches that blanketed the forest floor. Leaning against a dead tree log over run with moss, she looked around and started to talk to herself out loud.
"Great, Alexanne, you went from having a comfy office job, to exploring nature. Can life possibly get any worse?" As she examined her foot, it started to bleed and tears welled up in her eyes. She just wanted to go home, she was cold, hungry and tired. Lost in these thoughts and trying to fight the tears, she was suddenly startled by the sound of laughter.
"Aye! My, my ! Eh, ha ha, George, ye wouldn't reckon shed be one of the courts would yah?" the scout's voice startled Ally and as she looked up from her foot.
She was now face to face with two men she didn't recognize. They didn't seem to be the same as the soldiers she just ran from.
Eyeing her as he scratched his head, the scout looked her over, stopping on her chest, with an almost toothless grin. This gave Ally the creeps and she pulled her robe close covering her breast the best she could.
"Nay, may she be a whore frum the tavern down by Pilly's farm? Either way, it'd be nice if we's have a little fun, eh Fred?" stepping closer in her direction, the scouts' words caused fear to run down Ally's spine.
"We's gonna have us a little fun with ye now lass, ye just play nice." Hearing him say this, Ally started inching sideways to try and put a large fallen tree between her and the two men coming at her.
As she suddenly decided to just run, one of the scouts was able to snatch onto her robe before she could get around the tree, causing her to lose her footing and fall to the damp ground on her face. Feeling pain from hitting her head on the fallen tree, she fought through grogginess to get on her back.
By the time she was able to look up, she could see the two men looming over her. One smiled as the other started untying his pants. She couldn't believe this was happening and started to kick at their legs and use her nails to scratch at them.
The man smiling at her came down hard on top of her kicking legs. Grabbing both of them with his hands, to hold still, he snapped at this partner.
"Don’t just stand there, grab the wrists, be this kitties gots some claws." The man's horrible chuckle scared Ally even worse.
"Ye's going first Fred? Aye, be fine with me, I like them a little more calm." His partner snickered as he said it.
The man holding her legs let go and, in that instant, she tried to scuttle backwards but the other man grabbed at and held her flailing feet, dragging her closer. Getting on his knees he suddenly punched her hard in the jaw.
"Nay, I be not in to fiery women ither, lay still lass, may hap not take us long, and ye could be on yah's way." Saying this he spread her legs to each side of him causing her to cry out in pain more, the other man grabbed her wrists and held them above her head.
"She be wild for sure, we could always kill her first, what you say?" bending and looking into her face too close, while saying it, Ally spat at him.
"HELP!! Someone, PLEASE! NO! PLEASE DON'T, PLEASE NO!!!" She sobbed and begged as her voice was going horse from screaming. She used every ounce of her strength left to try and wiggle free.
The men just laughed at her while she kept struggling and tried her best to fight them off but they were too much for her. She could feel the world start to swirl in front of her.
Closing her eyes, she attempted to detach herself, think back to her bed, and believe this was just a dream. Feeling a hand reach up under her nightie and rip at her underwear made it a reality.
The other man had taken the liberty of binding her wrists with one hand while he ripped at the part covering her breasts. She cried and tried to scream harder as she felt the cool air hit them. Squeezing her eyes shut as hard as she could, the pain in her head ebbed on harder.
She felt the dirty roughness of his hand squeeze her right breast hard. She tried bucking her body to avoid the torture but the man at her legs was now upon her.
"Open yer pretty eyes lass, look at me, I be making you scream, I needs to see yer eyes." saying this in a whisper he started to grind into her while the other man holding her wrists stopped his assault on her breasts and attempted to pry both of her eyes open with his fingers.
She shook her head and tried to bite at the fingers in her face. The scout holding her wrists just laughed and gave her a hard slap that made her teeth chatter. She stopped struggling, darkness was finally there to save her.
The feeling of slipping off into a sweet pool of nothing gave her sudden peace. She tried riding it until she couldn't feel anything or hear anything.
Noticing she was starting to slip into unconsciousness, the man on top stopped as he was about to force himself inside her. Grabbing her by her chin, he shook her head side to side roughly.
(Trigger warning cont.) "Aye, lass, wake it, ye nigh fall asleep on me, ye hear? " He slapped the side of her face as he said this and realized she had passed out. Stopping and getting back to his knees he looked at his partner. "She dead?" Motioning for his partner to check, the man leaned down and put his ear between her exposed breasts. Lifting his head back up, he shook it and just smiled. "Nay, she jist takin a wee sleep is all, so hurry now, ye taken long enuf." his partner responded. "We needs to wake the lass, I cunn't enjoy it with just a log layn der. Tis no fun, go gets sum water, we wake her an continue." saying this, he stood with his pants still around his ankles. "Awe, nah, cum now man, just do it, otherwise I be taken her now," his partner stood as he let go of her wrist, and started undoing his trousers. He pushed his friend aside. "Gets ye arse back, I be showin yer hows a real mans does its." working his dirt stained trousers to the ground, he w
“Water! Bring me water! Wizard, come here at once!” his commanding voice could be heard throughout most of the camp. The Wizard stopped his eye rolling as the witch pouted about the soldier that ran away and went into the tent. Seeing the stranger covered in leaves and bruises he sucked in his breath. “What happened sir, that she ended up in such a state? I will apply some salve to her cuts and those nasty bruises, it will take a day or two for them to subside.” Shaking his head, he reached in to his robe and pulled out a small metal jar. Reaching up with his hand to the wizard, Nikolas didn’t take his eyes off Ally. “Nay, I will apply it, tis again, my fault for not watching the lass more closely. More scouts came upon her wandering in the woods. Pray now she realize the situation and not stray far from camp. War is not to be taken lightly.” He took the salve the wizard handed him as he explained what happened. Applying the honey like concoction on the abrasion
The beast shook his head and Hagthoria hobbled over to it. Nikolas helped her up on the animal as she grunted in slight protest. Once firmly seated upon the beast, the horse turned around to face him. "Do tell the lad we shall return, until then, keep close watch. I will, with certainty, try my best not to allow the old hag to stop for a drink or three." Listening to the horse speak, Nikolas nodded his head in agreement. "Tis be a bit longer fur ours return, best be keepin ye's eyes on the succubus, I nay be trustin er. Keepin er's away frum the mens until we be returnin Nikolas, be best." The witch gave this warning, making Nikolas chuckle. With a quick nod and smile, he slapped the wizard on his hind end and they took off. Turning to go check on Ally, Nikolas met Caspian and Barreth coming out of the tent. Looking at Caspian, he asked how she was doing. "Her head felt cool as I let the wash sit for a moment, sir, I think she will be fine. I covered her well with some f
“We..we dare not disturb ye, Sire, gave us instructions to..to not disturb yer Majesty un..unless the Castle was a..aflame.” pleading with the King for understanding, the soldier raised up, looked at the people all kneeling behind him. He did not want to be the one receiving the Kings wrath at that moment. They were all aware as to what King Barkarius had been doing in those 4 days. It happened often he would not leave his room during drug filled entertainment with female guests. The King had explicit rules to not be disturbed during that time. “So, ye thought not to inform me that the dragon managed to walk right out of my castle? Ye thought to not inform me, that half of my army, just abandoned their duties?” Going down each step as he spoke, the King stood before the soldier. “Apparently I am no longer King of this castle if ye think for a moment I need not know that the very purpose of my existence freely walked out the doors?” The King addressed all as he pulled the sw
Cutterson who had been watching as well, looked to where the lady stood. He felt there was something odd about the Lady. “Sire, if I may speak?” The Lady asked. Turning, with blade still in hand, the King nodded. “I do find it odd that they weren’t killed by Captain Nikolas.” Smiling sweetly as she said this, a bit of blood lust rose inside her. Looking back at the naked bodies before him, the King nodded. “It is odd, I do say.” He didn’t believe the soldier's excuse either. “Maybe he intended to insult ye, my Lord. He must think ye desperate for soldiers, so sending them back, as such, was his way of pointing that out” the Lady commented. Looking back at her, the King’s face started to turn red with anger. “Insult me! How dare he! I will have the dragon, and I will have that traitors neck hanging in the courtyard along with anyone who sides with the churl!” Holding the sword as he threatened, the King turned to the man nearest that had begged for his
“That would not suffice, as this was handmade by my mother, I dare say I demand more than some useless trinket box.” Her snobby persona was in full swing as her high-pitched words penetrated Cutterson’s ears. More whispers and giggles could be heard, from behind Lady Regaline, as the maids held the truth, that it truly was just a normal wooden box, with no sentimental value whatsoever. The lady had planned well, and caught him in a bind. She knew that Cutterson was not loyal to the King, so she had plans on making him pay for it, but after the visual of the naked men that graced the throne room floor, her desires were first in need of gratification. Cutterson was handsome enough, and even more, the Lady knew he was married with a child. She had heard talk of how faithful he was, and that all the maids swooned over it. The Lady would break him of that pride and seduce him, let him be her first. Bowing again, Cutterson knew he couldn’t compensate her for such a valuabl
“We’s be leaving at firsts light. Be the Cap’ns camp tis half day ride, it must be’s south of err. I’ve bad feelin we stick round, we’s gonna be stuck dyin frum sicknes or starvin.” Halik whispered once the men were facing the bushes under the pretense of having to pee. “T’was yur idea, fool, yu’ve pulled us in this mess” One of the soldiers whispered louder. “Aye and yee be bigger fool for follwin, we’s all be, no’s need to be blamin him!” Freddik whispered as well, suddenly pushing his shoulder into the soldier that was mouthing Halik. Now arguing over whose fault it was, they stood there with their pants down and gained the attention of a few soldiers sitting at the nearby campfire. The men at the fire couldn’t hear what they were whispering about, but they watched as each man took turns shoving their shoulders into each other. Suddenly Halik hit against the soldier next to him hard enough, causing the other three to fall like dominos. Including Halik, when his feet were
One by one, coaxing the horses with sweet grass they had tucked against their chest behind their armor, Captain Nikolas and Barreth spoke soothing words to the animals as they walked nervously being led out of the camp. They could smell Caspian, but couldn’t see him, causing them to dance a little in place with each step. Finally getting the last horse out with nothing more than a mumbling turn, or coughing fit from the sleeping men, Captain Nikolas waited at the edge of the camp as the men got ready to throw the nests of hornets they had gathered, into the middle of all the sleeping scouts. Caspian had his head peering above some underbrush barely able to see the Captain as he stood at the other end. Waving his hand in the air towards Caspin, the dragon’s mouth started to spew a bit of white smoke before a small blaze of blue fire started licking around his mouth. Keeping his thick mouth pursed, he blew the fire in a thin line as he stepped slowly down the edge of the camp. Wi
Besides the rare utterings from Hagthoria as she bad mouthed Ally in her sleep, no other noise except soft snores and crackling embers filled the small camp. All of them were exhausted, but relieved, the battle had ended. The sun rose quickly, shining off the cool dew that blanketed the leaves and clung to their cloths by the fire. Vermanious was already awake, still in the form of a horse, munching on the sweet wet grass while Nikolas woke. Getting up, he walked over to where the old man was. “Goodmorn” he said stretching, looking through the trees at the sun peeking through. “Yes, it be right nice, though the cool nights will be getting longer soon.” Vermanious responded between chewing the vegitation. Nikolas just looked at him and laughed softly, as he patted his neck. “Never is it easy to be seeing ye like this and watchin ye speak old man.” Nikolas said nervously. The horse bobbed its head, “Trust, tis even funnier when the old witch and I be getting to the pub, I dare s
Ally covered her smile and walked over to her horse. She had trouble when leaving the castle earlier, she had never mounted a horse on her own. “Let me help ye lass.” Nikolas said coming up behind her. She nodded, facing the saddle. “What made ye change yer mind?” He asked quietly. “I’m not sure. It’s crazy to think all the movies I’ve seen never prepared me for what this world is really like. Knowing that, it probably helped to change my mind. I will have to return home someday, but for now, without a job to go back to, I will just consider this a vacation, sort of.” She responded as he lifted her at the waist. Ally pulled herself up and looked down at Nikolas when she was seated. “Are you mad I stayed? Do you think I am crazy for staying?” She said smiling gently. He shook his head no in response. “What I be thinkin lass, is nothin to do with ye stayin or goin.” He was trying to hide his desire for her. Grabbing her small waist and lifting her up put images in his h
“Well are ye ready lad?” He said watching Caspian who was now looking down at the field. “Umm..where’s Ally?” He asked turning to Nikolas. “Did she not say her farewells to ye last night lad? Did ye forget?” He responded walking over to the edge. “No, she didn’t say a word to me she wouldn’t be joinin us. She only asked how I was feelin and what would be the first thing I be doing when I can fly. There was nothin else.” Caspian said looking over at the castle. “I be not sure why she didn’t give her farewells then. She plans on waitin around for them to send her back, I’m sorry lad. She did say she will be missin ye though.” Nikolas relayed the words, not understanding why Ally didn’t say goodbye to Caspian. “I be figurin as much, she be nothing but a selfish devil, best she be goin back soon.” Hagthoria commented while she eavesdropped on their conversation. “Hush, old woman. She has a right to be wantin to return home, we cannot blame her for that.” Nikolas said, glancing
His words sat heavy her heart. “I cannot tell you what kind of experience this has been for me. I still am trying to believe this is not a dream. I appreciate everything everyone's done, in their own way, to make me feel accepted. It breaks my heart to leave Caspian, he’s like the little brother I’ve never had.” Ally said, feeling at loss on how to react. “I am sure he will be missin yer company, tis certain.” Nikolas responded, feeling suddenly awkward. “And..I will miss him too.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. “I, ehm..am sure the rest of them will miss ye as well.” He almost let out that he would miss her, but he didn’t want to appear desperate. Ally nodded and stared at him. If he begged her to stay at that very moment, she knew she would say yes. “Umm..I do have a question that’s been bugging me. Why does Caspian need his parents so he can learn to fly? I mean, isn’t it as simple as flapping his wings?” Ally never had the chance to ask, so with the short silence bet
Nikolas could understand where his friend was coming from. The loss of a loved one was never easy to move past. He was hopeful that Cutterson taking over the new Kings army would give him reason to live. “Ye cannot be blamin ye self, brother. The person responisible will be rotten in the dungeon until her last breath. Y can be sure of that. Now, I need ye to drag yer self back up proper. Those men need a good captain and I cannot think of another who has more reason to keep going forward then ye.” Nikolas kept his words convincing. The biggest fear he had was that Cutterson would reach a depressive state and take his own life. Nikolas had seen it happen too many times amongst the men. Being far from home, away from a dying loved one. No way to see them. “The captain is right. Ye be best for this. It will give ye a purpose.” Barreth commented, not sure how else to help convince him. Cutterson asked that they give him time to think on it more before the morning. It was already lat
Ally was feeling torn. She wanted to object, and beg them to try, she wanted to go back home. A hot shower with normal body wash and real shampoo was something she missed. Her body wanted a face mask, and to file away the jagged edges that developed on her nails. Her stomach missed a cold beer with fried chicken and she needed a good night's sleep in her own bed, not a hot sweaty back from animal skins. Then thinking about Nikolas, Barreth and Caspian, she had grown close to them in such a short time, how could she leave. What she witnessed on the field below was a piece of history, for someone’s future, probably not even hers. She wanted to see Caspian fly, if she were to ever go home, she wanted to take that kind of memory with her. “I understand, but I really need to get back soon.” She really didn’t, unless you would name off her wants as needs. Other than herself, she didn’t have anyone. No job, no real friends, back in her time. “We understand lass, ye are welcomed to stay
Nikolas felt without a doubt that the solution to the curse resided in the mountains. “We will head to Mt. Gelu come the morn. The lad had been cursed by a wee Fae up there, I’m sure of it.” He blurted out as he approached the camp fire. Barreth stood, “Are ye sure?” Nikolas nodded. “We first must see to the Kingdom Cap’n, then I will join ye on this trip.” Barreth said, feeling a bit concerned that they were rushing. “Aye, ye be right. I will speak with the King come the morn. For now, we will head back to the castle with the lad.” Nikolas said as he looked over at Ally by the fire. “The Fae generally don’t approach dragons. They have long lives themselves so I am unsure of what the purpose of the curse would have been for.” Vermanious said outloud. “Tis a simple reason. Our dragon has him a little fairy up there in the mountains that couldn’t bear the thought of him leavin her.” Nikolas chuckled as he walked over to stand by Barreth. “Oh? Ha ha, ye don’t say, how did ye come
Barreth gave Nikolas an odd look and shook his head. “Lass, when ye done, we shall be headin to meet with the witch on the hill. Tis cooler, I will have a someone bring ye somethin, warmer, to wear then what ye have.” Nikolas called out from behind the door while thinking of the garment he was eyeing not moments ago. “Okay, that’s fine, thank you.” Ally responded in a rushed tone. Barreth could sense something happened before he had returned to his captain but decided it wasn’t worth visiting. Afte Ally was well dressed, the three of them were given horses from the stables. Even though it was dark, they would be fine riding as the field was already alit with bodies being burned. Halik opted to stay back to keep an eye on Cutterson. Nikolas hoped that Caspian was awake so he could be questioned about wandering the snowy mountains. If what he heard from the Scourts troops was true, they may be one step closer to getting the dragon well and flying. After riding for 30 minutes,
Not sure if going in unannounced was the right thing to do, Nikolas decided to try one more time. “Lass, I am about to enter. If ye aren’t decent, I cannot be held wrongly if ye don’t answer me.” He waited until the count of 10 in his head and turned the wooden latch on the door. Slowly opening the door, her peaked his head around. Ally was nowhere to be seen in the room. All that sat there was a a steaming wood basin. Nikolas opened the door further as he entered followed by Barreth. “She must be somewhere else in the castle.” Barreth commented as he stood by the door, scratching his black beard. “Go and see if ye can find her. Ask all the help and check and see if any horses are missing from the stables.” Nikolas said, standing next to him. “Cap’n, I do have a question before I go’s searchin. What if the lass be with the King? I dare not knock on his door in fear of losin me head, haha” Barreth asked, and the laughed because he truly thought it was possible. Swearing under hi