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Conquered Rewards (DareToDream & Vivid Fizz)

DareToDream

DareToDream

Pulsar
Joined
Dec 26, 2009
Location
East Coast of U.S.
Pandemonium. That’s what he faced as he stood in the doorway of the throne room, surveying the scene in front of him. Blood ran along the floors, thick as molasses, and screams tore through the air, echoing in his ears like broken dishes shattering against a cavern wall. A weak man would cringe in fear, trembling like a willow reed blowing in the wind, but not Lord Thomas Kincade, King of Leguria, the great nation to the north. No, Lord Kincade reveled in the mayhem he saw before him, soaked it up like water on a cloth, and he smiled. Victory was his this day. Sweet victory over the dreaded kingdom of Mica, the nation he had battled for the last ten years for dominance of the northern continent.

He strode into the chamber, which was a rather large room in reality, and walked among his men, in the final stages of slaughtering the Mican troops. Only one last thing remained and that was to dispatch the Mican King, a task he left for himself. He reached the throne and faced the old man sitting on it. Old and feeble was the Mican King, having ruled the land for decades; it was time for his dethronement. With the flick of his wrist, Lord Kincade buried a dagger deep in the King’s heart, then tossed the dead body from the throne, taking its place. Sitting down, he grinned. A fitting seat for someone of his stature and he rather liked this castle overall. Perhaps he would stay and rule both kingdoms from here instead of returning to his northern fortress right away.

As the last of the fighting sounds died down, his men began gathering up anyone in the castle who wasn’t a soldier and brought them to the chamber room. Maids, butlers, scribes, and assorted other sorts were lined up along the wall. With a nod from Lord Kincade, a soldier stepped forward and summarily executed the first prisoner, then began to walk down the line and to the same to the next one and the next one. Thomas watched this with no remorse because he knew that the staff of the old king would stay loyal and thus had to be eliminated. As the soldier approached the twentieth person in line, a young woman of remarkable beauty, the Lord leaned forward. This one caught his eye as no other had. She appeared to be a half elf, whose beauty blinded him. Dark hair and radiant violet eyes that sparkled with anger and a figure that gave him many thoughts, all of them wicked. “Halt!” he hollered out, stopping his soldier before his knife could fall. The soldier stepped back as Thomas came down from the throne and approached the elf. She was dressed slightly better than the other servants and from her build and the way her hair was designed, he suspected she was an elfin bard of some sort. He smiled at her wickedly and reached out to stroke her cheek, ignoring the jerk of her head as she pulled away from him. “Today is your lucky day, milady” he said, giving her a half bow. “Today your life will be spared.” He turned to his men and raised his fist high. “Here me now, all of you. This lady will be spared as I take her as my royal consort and as my just reward for this great victory today!” The crowd of soldiers roared in appreciation and with a flick of his hand, the lady was drawn from the line and taken away. “I will come for you later, milady” Lord Thomas said as he watched her walk away, his eyes fixed on her swaying hips. And I know I’ll enjoy it when I do, he thought.
 
That day was supposed to be a day of celebration. Something had happened that day hundreds of years ago. Something glorious and spectacular that few remembered but all took part in. The nation needed something to relax. Or at least the king did. Ten long years at war. The country grew tired, its ruler grew tired; a nice holiday was in order for everyone.

Gilloleth danced. Her troupe behind her played lovely music to go with her movements. She was like the flame and reveled in the attention she received. Her long, wavy raven locks billowed behind her as she spun. Everything she did was done with the unbridled passion that burnt inside of her. Normally she was not the king’s entertainer but her group had been traveling through and had garnered praise. This was a special treat for the musicians and their beautiful dancer.

Yet that had changed. A loud scream from a maid had broken up the festivities. Gilloleth turned around quickly but was being forced out of the throne room by the now frightened crowd. There was panic and discord everywhere. Maids and valets were trying to get everyone out of the castle in a calm manner but they were no match for the loyal subjects’ blind fear. Many were trampled. Gilloleth was able to hide herself behind a suit of armor. What was happening?! The gorgeous half elf was so confused. Anger burnt inside of her. Who would do such thing?!

Time went by and the sounds of the massacre had dwindled. Gingerly she stepped out and looked around. No one was around. Or so she thought. Before she could move an inch she was scooped up by a guard.

“Put me down!” she snarled. She turned into a kicking, snarling beast. “Bastard!”

Of course her fighting did nothing but amuse the guard who dragged her into the throne room. There were other terrified survivors. Including the members of her troupe. Her eyes flashed and she attempted to squirm away again. That only met with being shoved against the wall. Almost as soon as that happened, a nod was given by a large, muscle bound man that she assumed to be the leader. He was sitting on the king’s thrown. Upon getting the signal, the soldiers began to kill off everyone one by one.

“Stop it!” she let out shrilly. “They have done nothing wrong!”

The blade, still dripping with blood, was lowered in front of her. Anger and hatred made her eyes flash dangerously. So this man was going to kill her? Let him try. Yet before anything could be done the warlord had raised his hand. She glared at him. The fear went through her. He had planned to make her his consort! She recoiled at his touch. No. She would refuse. Her friends… dead… all of them…

She stood and began to stomp off. Though she knew she wasn’t going to stay there. Before she could be taken she would develop a way out. Gilloleth was angry and wanted all of those invading bastards dead. She hurried down the hall, flat out running. One of the soldiers managed to catch her though and she was taken to the lord’s chambers, being bound with rope around her arms. A second length of rope was fastened to her neck and then tied to the bed.

“Let me out!” she snarled and the soldier left, laughing. There was nothing she could do now but wait.
 
Thomas watched dispassionately as the last of the prisoners were executed and the clean up began. He turned as a soldier approached him and nodded. “She is secured in your room, milord” the soldier said with a slight bow. He grinned when he stood up. “She’s a feisty one too. You chose well.” Thomas’s eyes narrowed at that last statement as it bordered very closely on a question of his judgment but he let it slide. Today was a victorious day; he’d ignore the guard’s transgression for now. “Post a guard outside my room” he said “and I’ll be there shortly.” The guard quickly hurried off.

As the clean up continued, Rogan surveyed the scene. Today had been a good day and his men deserved a reward when it was over. Perhaps he’d let them pillage and plunder the town some more and have their way with the women. That thought made him think of what awaited him in his room and he smiled. A deliciously beautiful woman awaited him and just the thought of her turned his blood boiling. Oh, he couldn’t wait to bend her to his will and show her what true pleasure was. He stayed lost in that vision for a while, then stood and made his way to the room he had claimed as his own.
 
Even after hours of struggling, Gilloleth had not given up on escaping. The flexible half elf bended and twisted to try and free herself from the binds. A few times she had nearly straggled herself. All of he effort only lead to skin rubbed raw on both her neck and wrists. These men certainly knew how to tie up a girl, which was a completely disturbing thought. She shook her head and examined the bed. It was made of a very nice wood and was well built. There had to be some weaknesses in it somewhere! With all of her might she began to pull at her arms. She was trying to crack the post she was tied to.

In a few minutes of her diligence she felt the wood started to give and seconds afterwards it began to crack dangerously. A smile of triumph crossed her lips as she worked to make it break the entire way. Little did she know that it was during that pivotal moment when the warlord had decided to join her in the King’s old bedchambers.

“That’s right,” she grunted at the wood. Her voice was sweet, soft, and stroking. Like any bard, everything about her look and sound was appealing. “Just a little more. As soon as I am free, I am going to teach that bastard a lesson!”
 
Thomas entered the bedroom quietly, wanting to take the maiden by surprise. He grinned as he heard her words. He walked up behind her quietly, able to do so only because she was so intent on breaking the post she was tied to. Standing behind her, he bent to her ear. “That bastard is right here” he whispered. “Please, teach me a lesson or two. I think I’ll enjoy it.” Reaching around her, he gripped the post she was tied to and gave it a mighty wrench, ripping it free of the bed. He placed it in her hands and stepped back. “Now’s your chance, my beautiful consort” he said, chuckling. “I like it rough so have your way with me.” He crossed his arms, waiting to see what she would do.
 
Gilloleth gave a faint gasp as he spoke into her ear. In the next instant he was able to rip the post from the rest of the bed. With his bare hands. The bastard handed it to her and she could barely lift it and when she did, the rope around her neck twisted and burned. A snarl crossed her lips and she glared up at him. How did he expect her to do anything with her hands still tied. Quickly she ran over to the wall. She rolled, pulled, and twisted herself off of the pole.

Without saying anything the beautiful girl made a run for the door. That man had to be completely daft to think she was going to try and hit him with that! He was stronger than her, for one. Second off she did not want to be anywhere near him. What woman in their right mind would?! The way that he dealt with things was deplorable. Such a man made her physically ill.
 
Thomas chuckled as the elf maiden tried to make a run for it, sprinting for the door. He had to admire her fight, her desire to be free, but he also tired of her defiance. Reaching out, he grabbed her hair and yanked her backwards, tossing her to the floor like a sack of potatoes. He reached out and grabbed the post and with a mighty swing, brought it crashing down onto the floor next to her head. He knelt over her then, his face very close to hers, and smiled. “That could have been your head my beautiful consort. Remember that. Twice I have spared your life.” He stared at her, daggers in his eyes, then reached down and grabbed her tied hands, lifting her up and tossing her on the bed. He approached her then, sitting on the bed, and running his hand down her body, caressing her lightly. A man of strength, he was surprisingly gently, running his hands up and down her dress, teasing her breasts and sliding over her belly. He watched her as he did this, lost in her beauty and aware of only her.
 
She gave a feral screech as he grabbed her hair and flung her on the ground with it. Violet eyes flashed dangerously at him, even as the post came crashing down next to her head. There was most certainly fear in her. This man could crush her with a simple wave of his powerful arm. Yet the fire did not dissipate from her eyes. No. The woman was not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that she was frightened. He was repulsive. Twice. Apparently he had saved her life twice. She rolled her eyes.

Then she was tossed on to the bed and the man’s hands were all over her body. Gilloleth grabbed his hands, or tried to, and push them away from her. “Don’t touch me!” she spat at him, making sure to have some spittle fly towards his face. “I would rather be dead than your whore, you disgusting excuse for a human!”

Even when insulting someone, her voice was smooth.
 
Thomas didn’t let the smoothness of her voice stop him from doing what he wanted. This lovely woman in front of him was his, to do with as he pleased. And he would. Her words angered him though and the spittle sent him into a rage. With a mighty swipe, he cracked his hand across her face, hard enough to rock her head to the side but not knock her out. He knew it would bruise her but she had to be intimidated or he’d never break her. The blow took some of the fight out of her and he immediately flipped her onto her stomach and grabbed her hands, pulling them painfully behind her back. Next he grabbed her feet and pulled them up to her hands, bending her legs behind her. With the rope he had brought with him, he quickly bound her hands to her feet tightly, ensuring she could not escape. Then he rolled her to her side and quickly blind folded her, allowing no light to enter her world.

Bending down to her ear, he licked it gently. “You will be my consort, fair maiden, or your wish of being dead might just come true. Do not push me that far as you do not want to feel the agony that I can bring you before I decide to take your life. I am but one man, whose heart is good though it may not seem like that now. You can be my consort or you can be entertained by my men, being taken by each and every one of them again and again, in more positions and ways than you can imagine. Pain, oh so much pain, and blood and fluids would be a part of your daily life that you would waste away to nothing. And still they would not stop. I offer you something better, something more, but you must accept it.” He backed away, reaching down and grabbing her hands and legs where they connected and lifted her from the bed. With a thump, he dropped her on the cold hard floor and stepped back. “Think on what I have said, milady” he whispered as he walked towards the door. “I will return in a few hours to look in on you.” Then he turned and left the door, securing it behind him. A guard was posted immediately but he knew it was unnecessary. She would be spending many hours trussed up like cattle without the benefit of sight, the first step in breaking her will to fight him.
 
The slap did indeed send her head reeling. Pain white hot flashed and she instantly stopped. Damn it! She growled at him. What a bastard. But now she decided to remain quiet. Her words were impassioned but they were hasty as well. Death was not something that she actually wanted. This type of life wasn’t what she wanted either. Gilloleth was much more than a common slut to a madman. The truth was that she was still a virgin and believed that it was a gift to give someone she truly cherished.

As he pulled her arms and legs to tie them, she let out a gasp. It hurt to have her limbs pulled and bound in such a manner. Just like a pig… how humiliating! Her cheeks burnt with that and anger. To make matters worse he placed a cloth over her eyes so she could not see. He left her on the floor to rock back and forth. Hours she spent there in stubborn silence. Her arms and legs both ached horribly. There was no moving… nothing to alleviate the constant strain on the muscles. Tears formed in her eyes and pooled in the blindfold.
 
Thomas returned to his room many hours later, finding the maiden exactly as he’d left her, only now she was crying. He could hear her soft cries as she lay on the floor, no doubt in pain as she rocked back and forth lightly. He closed his door quietly and approached her, kneeling by her side. “I have returned, my lovely consort” he whispered in her ear. “Let me ease the pain you are feeling.”

He gently picked her up, not by the knot where her arms and legs came together but under her belly, cradling her in his arms. He moved to the bed and gently laid her on it, swiftly unbinding her legs and hands from each other. He kept them each set tied together still but now they weren’t bent awkwardly. Moving her to her side, he gently began to massage her limbs, restoring feeling to them and trying to ease some of her pain. “I am sorry that I had to truss you up like that, my sweet, but your insolence can not be allowed. If you do not disobey me, I will not hurt you again.” He stopped massaging and removed her blind fold, rolling her over so she faced him. “I am not a madman, despite what you may think. I am a good man, with a good heart, who only wishes to have you by my side at all times.”
 
Gilloleth couldn’t help but cry out in relief as he undid her binds. She wasn’t in that awkward position anymore. Blood began to flow and the feisty maiden whimpered as that pins and needles feeling encompassed her limbs and stomach muscles. Despite her anger at him, his hands felt wonderful against the relentless prickling. The bard cried some more, though her actual sobbing had stopped and only tears ran down her face. At some point she was try and plan an escape. Right now she would do as this man said. That treatment was terrible. So terrible. It was not something she would want to happen again.

Though she wouldn’t be able to stay obedient for long. That was just her personality.

“Why me?” she asked softly. “I am just a bard. You could have easily had the princess or some other noble. I am a person of little notice.”

For now she was calmed and accepting of her fate, at least as far as that night went. She turned her expressive violet eyes up at him.
 
Thomas continued to massage away her pain, letting his nimble hands knead and tease her flesh. Though he was a rugged warrior and warlord, he was also skilled in other areas and knew how to use his hands for pleasure. He let his hands massage more than just her ankles and hands, letting his fingers trail up and down her legs, teasing her body and her flesh. He massaged lightly here, there, everywhere, making sure all pain from his previous punishment had fled from her mind, to be replaced by an image of him as a gentle man.

He helped her sit up she could begin to massage her arms and shoulders gently. “Little notice?” he asked incredulously. “My lovely, the minute my eyes fell on you in that throne room, all else fell away. You became the center of my attention at that moment and have commanded it ever since.” He worked her shoulders now, slowly massaging her, his eyes closed. He sensed she would not hurt him in this moment and he allowed himself a sense of peace. Later, he suspected, she would try again but that thought made him smile. He liked her feistiness. “You are beautiful my love” he whispered. “So incredibly beautiful I was blinded by it. Your piercing violet eyes melted my hard exterior and pierced my heart immediately. I just knew you the one for me.” He finished and stepped back, smiling down at her. “I hope you feel better now. I bet you are hungry also. I will send for some food and drink.” He turned to the door and gave the guard his instructions, then turned back to her.
 
The half elf trembled with his touch soon enough. Whatever he was doing with his hands sent little waves of pleasure through her aching form. Amazingly gentle, he made all of the tension just lift away. As she finished, she turned her violet eyes towards him. There was slight confusion in their depths. So he could be a kind master as well as a cruel one.

A blush crept up to her cheeks as he described her. Beautiful. Many had thought her beautiful. Such words were common to her but to hear such a man of power to utter them. Instantly she chastised herself got thinking such a terrible thing. A man like that was dangerous. He had hit her before, there was a bruise on her face because of it, and he had killed so many innocent people.

Confusion swept over her features and she pressed a hand to her head. Yes. Food. It had been a long while since she was permitted to eat anything and her stomach growled at the mention of it. “Please,” she said in her soft and stroking tones. “I am starving. My head is swimming…”
 
Thomas caught the blush that crept up the half-elf’s cheeks before he turned for the door and it made him smile. So she appreciated that he’d noticed her beauty. How could he not. She had been the most beautiful creature in that room but not just because of her surface beauty. No, her internal fire sparked brightly when she was brought kicking and screaming into the room by his guard and the deaths of her friends didn’t stifle that. Further evidence was clear when he’d walked in on her trying to escape. This one had a strength of will that matched his own and he had seen that instantly. That, more than her surface beauty, had caught his eye. Mind you, her surface beauty was stunning also and every time he looked upon her, he melted inside a little more. He truly had felt bad for smacking her but he needed to bend her will a little, if only to keep her from trying to escape.

A knock on the door signaled the return of the guard with food and he opened the door, taking the tray with him. It contained three different types of meats, a loaf of bread, and cubes of different cheeses. He also carried a jug of water for them to share. He set the items down on the table in the old King’s quarters and turned to the half elf. “If I untie your binds, will you promise to not try and escape? I know you are thirsty and hungry and I would like to dine with you. Being unbound would make that more pleasurable for you.” He waited for her response, eager to dine with her.
 
Gilloleth stared at the food as it was brought in. Her stomach gave a loud growl and her mouth watered a little. Damn it. She had not realized how starving she was. The half elf was ravenous. The only thing that excited her more than the food was the promise of being untied. Physically she was exhausted. If there was much fight left in her that evening, it was not making itself apparent to her.

“I am not going to do anything but eat if you untie me,” she replied. Even her voice seemed drained of energy. Some water would be nice, too. After all of that dancing, running, and fighting she felt very dry and thirsty. “And maybe stretch. My limbs still feel a little stiff.”

She turned vivid violet eyes pleadingly up at him. When she was too drained to fight, Gilloleth used her natural charms to help make things easier for her. Gently she bit the plump bottom half of her ruby lips and batted her long, thick black eyelashes.
 
Thomas saw her act for what it was, the batting of the eyelashes and biting of her lower lip, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t moved. Her violet eyes sparkled in that moment with a glow that lit up the room, at least in his eyes, and her plump lower lip, captured by her teeth, was sensually erotic in its pose. He found himself staring at her until her words snapped him out of his trance.

He looked at her calculatingly and found her words to be truth. Moving towards her, he pulled his knife from the sheath at his waist and bent down, cutting the ties to her feet first. He next removed the rope around her wrists. Gripping her hands, he pulled her to her feet and turned her around, beginning to massage her shoulders to work out their stiffness. His heart beat hard in his chest while he did this, wanting so badly for his fingers to massage much more than just her shoulders, but he resisted. After a few minutes, he stepped back. “I hope that helped a little” he whispered softly. “When you are done stretching, please give the pleasure of dining with you.”

He moved to the table and pulled out a chair, sitting down facing her. Instead of watching her though he chose to set out plates and cups, pouring water for her. He radiated trust, letting her know he believed she would not try to escape, at least this time. As he busied himself at the table he spoke. “I am sorry for hitting you earlier” he said. “But you have to understand where I was coming from. You were trying to escape, fighting me, and I needed to stop you before you did anything rash.” He nibbled on a cube of cheese he had picked up. “I am also sorry for the loss of you friends. I know you will probably not understand my actions, or condone them, but please know that I have been fighting this war for a decade and it needed to end. Force was the only way to do that.”
 
Gilloleth watched as he stared at her, a little fear bubbling to the surface. He wanted her. Instinctively she pulled her legs closer together. Not now. He could not take her now. Lucky for her he did not. With a few quick movements he had cut her binds off and pulled her to her feet. His hands had started their work again, rubbing at the tension in her shoulders from having to be strained all of that time. When he stepped away she actually gave a whimper. It had felt so nice… again she reminded herself her situation.

Slowly she began to stretch. Her muscles had weakened from being in various positions for so long. Her legs shook as they tried to hold her weight. A soft groan escaped her lips. Every part of her was lacking strength. With cat like movements she moved, lifting her leg to rest it on one of the remaining bed post. With little visible effort she was able to lift it above her head. She leant into it, grunting softly. She did so with the other one.

All the time she listened to his words, feeling more bitter about what had become of her. How could he be so cavalier about it all? To him they were no one but to her, they had been friends. They had been innocents serving the king and having fun. Children were killed, too. It hurt to think about. When she was finished she walked over. Some of that spark was in her eyes but her body wasn’t able to hold on to any definite posture. Certainly not one of aggression at any rate.

“Is force the only thing you know?” she asked. The pain in her voice was evident. “Me and my troupe were simply traveling through. We had no quarrel with you; had not even known of this bitter fight. My friends are gone and my family is in an entirely different kingdom. You’ve left me alone.”

She sat down in a huff, grabbing her glass and drinking the water.

“You may have thought it was the only way but to me it just seems like senseless and irrational murder.”
 
Thomas watched the half elf go through her exercises as he spoke, taking in her sinuous movements and the suppleness of her body. He could imagine those lithe legs wrapped around his waist while he….he shook his head suddenly, clearing that image from his head. While his body hummed for her, he had long ago learned how to control it. He let his eyes wander over her for a second longer, then returned them to the food.

He looked at her as she sat. He considered her words carefully, then nodded. “Force is indeed the only thing that I know. My entire childhood was spent learning about fighting, war, and killing. My father’s kingdom has been at war for centuries, with one nation or another. When my father died, I took over my country and negotiated peace treaties with every nation we were fighting except this one. I tried with this one, trust me I did, but every attempt failed. I don’t know why the King would not sign it. When peace talks fell through, I pulled my troops back to our border, content to let it end there. That failed though, as we were assaulted in a sneak attack. Many of my countrymen, women, and children died. I knew then that winning the war was the only way to stop the fighting. And I had to do it swiftly and brutally so that any possible rebellion would be stamped out.” He paused, taking a sip of water. “I have no desire to rule this land but I also do not want war to continue. I make no apologies for my methods if it will bring peace for my country once and for all.” He paused, watching her. “I am sorry for your loss, truly I am. Had I realized they were not part of the kingdom, I would not have had them killed.”
 
Apologies did not take away the fact that she was in a foreign land with no one to take comfort in. These walls were going to be a prison to her. She tried not to cry. It was hard to take in everything in. Gilloleth did not want to know how this man felt. This was too much for her to take all in one sitting. All of this anger, sadness, and now sympathy was making her head spin. Quickly she took another mouthful of water to stop herself from sobbing again.

“That does sound truly terrible,” she said with a sigh. Her shoulders rounded and she took a piece of cheese. Instead of eating it, however, she rolled it around on the table before popping it into her mouth. The flavor was wonderful and she greedily swallowed the hunk of cheese in one bite. “All war is an atrocity though. I wish only to see beautiful things and do beautiful things… but now…” She trailed off as she popped another bit of cheese. When she as finished she continued. “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
 
Thomas considered her words and tilted his head. “Yes, all war is an atrocity. You’ll get no argument from me.” He ate some more cheese, then cut off some meat and bread and put them on his plate before speaking again. The day had been a rough one for all of them but as she spoke, an idea entered his mind. “And because its that bad, there is always a need for beautiful things afterwards. You could rebuild your troop and still perform, bringing beauty back to the lands of my kingdoms.” He was shocked at his own words for he had planned something different when he’d first laid eyes on this ravishingly beautiful woman but her sadness stole his heart though and he wished to help restore purpose to her life, even if he wasn’t willing to let her go completely.
 
Beautiful things were needed. She did agree fully with that. People could not go through such a thing without another thing to take their mind off of it. Gilloleth wanted to do something nice for those downtrodden people. Though she did not trust him yet about that. There were things men said and then there were things men actually did.

She turned unbelieving violet orbs towards him, tilting her head as she did so. This one was hard to figure out. All she wanted to do was figure this all out. To grieve. To learn to be happy again. The half elf sighed and then ate more cheese before cutting off a piece of meat.

“Maybe I will,” she said. “I need to let these wounds heal right now. So much has passed and I have seen so many things.”

Slowly she ate, wondering how he would reply to her.
 
Thomas watched the half elf turn her beautiful violet eyes on him and he could tell that she didn’t believe him. Not yet at least. He was not surprised by that, not in the least. If he were in her shoes, he knew he’d feel the same way. He ate his food in peace for a few moments, just watching her and thinking about all that had happened so far. What he told her was true – war was not what he had wanted but it had happened and he had won. It was now time to think about rebuilding both kingdoms, merging them into one larger, stronger, land.
He chewed thoughtfully on his food as he considered her next words. “Please do think about it” he said, swallowing. “I know nothing can replace the loss of your friends but if you were able to rebuild your troupe, you could play a large role in the recovery of both lands and help me make them stronger. Together, we can make great things happen.” He paused, thinking about how quickly life had changed for him in the span of one day. When he first saw her in the throne room, all he could think about was having her, prepared to use force to get what he wanted. Now, after only a short time with her, he was offering her a chance to help him rebuild. He smiled inwardly at that thought; his poor father would roll over in his grave if he knew how much his son had strayed from his warlike training.

Thomas put down his drink after taking a sip and inclined his head towards her slightly. “I feel bad for the loss of your friends and am sympathetic towards your pain. I cannot return what I have taken, but I can lay your friends to rest in a ceremony appropriate for one such as them. If it pleases you, I’d like to do that.”

He waited now, hoping she appreciated his gesture. He had never before performed a ceremonial burial as the art of work left no time for such luxuries, but this woman, he would do it.
 
The thought of a proper service brought a small smile to her lips. Yes. Her friends deserved more than to be burned in a pile of rotting corpses. Tears fell down her face as she thought of her comrades being slain so brutally. Quickly she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Showing weakness now was not wise. The dancer could not let him get to her like this. But she was cracking. The day had been taxing mentally, emotionally, and physically. Her eyes closed and she held her head in her hands.

“Please,” she whispered. “Please do that for me. It would mean the world to know that their souls are properly put to rest.”

Gilloleth felt a pain in her heart. There was a hole there now. It needed to be filled. She needed to know peace. All at once she broke down and began to sob once more. Anatole, Michal, Lyssa… all of them were dead. Never again would she hear the sweet harp, the smooth whistles, and the vibrant rhythm that her friends were able to weave.

“I want them to be happy,” she bawled. “Could you please? I just want them to move on smoothly to the next life.”
 
Thomas saw the tears slide down the half elf’s face and his heart broke a little inside. He had caused these tears. The fall of the knife might have been the action of his men but they did it on his order. He was responsible for the death of her friends and for these tears. He watched her wipe them away quickly with the back of her hand and had to squash a smile. Even in the face of such raw emotion, his chosen tried to be strong. He realized then that it wasn’t whether she was worthy of him but whether he was worthy of her. To feel emotions such as this AND be strong in them was a work of wonder. One he could not have reproduced in himself if he had tried.

When she began to bawl, her head in her hands, he flinched. Great swords of pain sliced through his body, tearing at his heart, his skin, his brain, and his eyes. Never had such raw pain bothered him so and he knew it was because he had caused it that made it more personal. The great and mighty warlord was, in that moment, reduced to a shell of a man who saw a woman grieving and wanted nothing more than to console her.

He left his chair swiftly and knelt down next to her, reaching out and pulling her against him. He wrapped his massive arms around her then, the feel of her delicate and slender body against his a bit unnerving. “I will do that for you” he whispered to her, thoughts of domination swept away in a surge of guilt. “I will make sure their souls are laid to rest and a memorial is raised in their honor. I give you my word.” He held her then, wrapped in the safety of her arms, and felt each tremble and shiver that wracked her body as her tears flowed freely. He said nothing more as his hands stroked her hair, her back, offering comfort and peace, and a silent pillar to lean against.
 
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