kova-killian

[kova-killian]

Lady of light episode 5

She stands outside the door waiting as all the knights inside laugh and sing, but the doors behind her open without her noticing. Her stomach flips, chills creeping over her as three priests drift past and into the dining hall.

It can't be them. . .

There have to be other priests with horns like that.

“Axelia?” Thallan gently touches her shoulder, making her jump. “Are you alright?” he furrows his brows.

“Did those priests say something to you?” Pierre asks.

Axelia shakes her head. “They came in behind me. I'm okay,” she lies.

Thallan’s jaw tightens as he stares through the crack in the door. He wraps his arm around her, his hand firmly on her waist, keeping her close to him as they walk through the doors. The priests sit along the wall away from the knights as they carry on singing and laughing amongst themselves.

“Who are those priests?” Thallan asks as they sit across from Drest.

Drest scowls. “I'm not sure.” he nudges an older guard. “have you been allowing priests in here while I’ve been away?”

“I’ve been allowing registered priests who are passing through for the knights who lost their lives during the war, but those three aren't in the book.”

Axelia turns around, glancing at the priests before looking back at the table as her heart rattles her chest, her face becoming pale..

“Do you recognize them?” Thallan whispers to her, she shakes her head trying to stop the questions, “you're lying. . . who are they?”

Axelia swallows hard. “Cordelia hired them. Right after the war started. . . I was hoping it wasn't them when they walked in earlier.” She shrinks into herself, feeling the priest's gazes burning into the back of her head.

“They're magic stealers.” Thallan glares at Drest.

Drest leans closer. “what did they do to you?” he hisses.

“Just make them leave. . .” she avoids eye contact.

Thallan, Drest, and Pierre stand from their seats and walk to the priests in the corner. Axelia twists her skirt in her hands until the entire dining hall goes quiet.

“I asked who invited you into my home!” Drest snaps.

“We need no invitation,” the priest with the largest spiraling horns scoffs.

The priest with red robes chuckles, standing from his seat. “Well, this just took a turn.” he says as he slides out from behind the table.

Thallan grabs the hilt of the large knife on his hip. “Walk any closer to her and I will end you here.”

The priests chuckle. “none of you have any idea who that little girl is over there, do you?” the one with the large horns asks.

“Enough. . .” Axelia stands, but only looks at the ground.

“You haven't told your husband a thing about you.” the large-horned priest smirks. “Allow me.”

“No!” Axelia snaps.

“Then enlighten your poor husband to the dreadful creature you are,” he growls.

“Me?” Axelia looks up finally. “You locked me in a window box like a prostitute so people could watch you slowly kill me while trying to take Chain Breaker from me. . .”

“That thing is a demon.” the priest's eye twitches.

“He is a dragon!” Axelia growls.

The priest with the large horns waves her off dismissively. “enough of this.” he says as magic chains wrap around her. “Petulant child.”

Every knight gets to their feet, their eyes trained on the priests. The priest with the largest horns flicks his wrist, the magic chains holding Axelia glowing orange.

“It's hot,” Axelia panics, trying to push the chains off of her arms. “it's hot, stop it!” she cringes as the chains turn white hot, her skin smoking underneath.

Thallan presses his knife onto the priest's neck, “take them away NOW!”

Axelia’s skin sizzles under the chains, bringing her to her knees. The knights frantically yelling at one another, trying to find someone with magic to help her. But then the chains pull her arms out to the sides, dragging her to bow as the priest with the large horns approaches her.

“You're prettier now that you're an adult,” he whispers, as Drest holds Thallan back.

“Pig. . .” she says through her teeth.

“Disgrace,” he kicks his foot under her chin forcing her to look up at him, “has that husband of yours been able to get under those layers?” he kneels down so no one can hear him, “aw, do the chains burn?” he wipes a tear from her cheek.

Axelia tugs on the chains, holding her arms out as the priest cackles. He turns away from her, stepping towards Thallan again. She tucks her feet under her, pushing up with all her strength.

“Tucker!” she screams at him, making the dining room go silent. “Here piggy piggy,” she smirks as the chains vibrate before disintegrating in front of everyone's eyes.

Tucker stumbles backward as Axelia grabs an iron goblet from the table. He tries casting another spell of chains, but a shadow creature slices through his arm.

“Chain Breaker is angry with you,” she chuckles as Tucker stares at his hand lying on the ground in front of him. “Magi is angry also.” she raises her eyebrow as glowing swirls appear on her skin.

“M-M-Magi. . .” Tucker stammer.

“Did you think my mother's gift was all I had? No, no silly piggy. The only way to control Chain Breaker is to have magic from birth.”

“Axelia. . .” Thallan stares at her. “What exactly did they do to you?”

She looks at Thallan, the glow on her skin dimming. “exorcisms. Hundreds of them and then starved me thinking Chain Breaker would leave if I was on the brink of death.”

“Will you be alright killing these men?” he sternly looks at her. She shakes her head, the shadow creature and the lights dissipating back into her skin.

Pierre swoops in, blocking Thallan from her view as the sickening sound of blades through flesh fills the dining hall and then three hard smacks to the cold stone floor.

“Come my lady, I'll have a maid bring dinner to your room.” Pierre gently pushes her towards the doors to the hallway.

“Is Thallan alright?”

“He’s fine.”

Within seconds, she's back in her room, Pierre standing guard outside until Thallan storms through the door. Axelia flinches as he slams the door shut and grabs her, pulling her into him.

“What else did they do to you while your father wasn't there to protect you?” he asks.

As if this one question is what she was waiting for, she flings her arms around him. He grabs the back of her head and wraps his other arm around her waist. She squeezes her eyes shut, trying to calm the building sadness, but Thallan squeezes her tighter as she trembles.

"When I said I was my siblings' slave, I meant it. . ." Her chest shivers as she takes a breath. "I lost everything, not just father. My room, my clothes, the books I loved. I couldn't eat when they did, I couldn't bathe until all of them had gone already and then Cordelia hired those three and the wolves after us. I'm sure she's hired others to get rid of me. Because she knows once people find out that father divorced her and married my mother, then all of their status’ will be gone and I'll take everything back."

Thallan stays quiet for a moment, only holding her as she still tries to hide her tears.

"Were you afraid because you thought she hired me too?" He asks.

"No. I knew you weren't hired by her by the way she talked to you."

He kisses her forehead. "Did I just need to show you that I wouldn't hurt you?" She nods, her cheeks and nose red, her eyes aching from holding everything back. "We can't leave for two more days. The horses need rest. But I don't want to keep you here any longer. . ." He says, his face pained seeing her so upset. "Pierre, come here."

Pierre slowly opens the door and slips inside. "yes?"

"Is there a way to acquire new horses?"

"I can get them anywhere in the city. Why?"

"Go find two. I want to be home."

Pierre sighs but nods. "You want to ride the rest of the way on your own?"

"Pierre. . . Who are you talking to here?" Thallan smiles.

"Yes, sir. I'll go find you two horses right away."

"We're leaving by ourselves?" Axelia furrows her brows.

"Pierre can handle Alrune and Frost on his own. Besides, I don't want to keep you here. Not after all of that."

"Okay. . ."

"Are you not well enough to ride?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Then what is the apprehension?"

"It's dark out. . . Don't the creatures become more venomous the closer to the ocean?"

"Yes, but I've traveled the roads past Pulet my entire life, we'll be safe." He presses his forehead against hers, "plus, my mother is waiting to meet you."

"Your mother? Why?"

"I sent a letter. . . Well, a few about you. . ." He sheepishly smiles as Axelia gently touches his cheek, "I wanted nothing more than to take you to Honeyport, to do things properly."

"Properly?"

"To court you, know you, and then marry you. . ."

"Oh. . ."

He's upset about the way our wedding happened. I wonder what traditions his family does for weddings.

A knock on the door snaps her out of her thoughts, "I brought your dinners." Drest says through the door.

"Come in, we're just talking." Thallan replies.

Drest sighs as he enters the room, "I'm sorry Axelia."

She furrows her brows. "it isn't your fault."

"I should have been more aware of who was coming into my city." He growls, placing the plates on the vanity.

Axelia nudges him and smiles, "it. Is not. Your fault." She looks him right in the eye. "they took advantage of the priests staying here for funerals. They were awful men."

"Yes, but you shouldn't have seen that, been through that. You're a Duchess for gilded sakes."

"I haven't heard someone say that in a long time." She chuckles.

“My mother was an Ironfjord goddess.” He smiles at her but her smile disappears, “how did your mother pass if I may ask.” he tilts his head.

Axelia looks at him and then to Thallan, “she. . . she never did.”

“Your mother is alive? Why did she gift the Chain Breaker to you?” Drest looks at her shocked.

“To hide Magi, if people thought I just had Chain Breaker they wouldn't use me like they've worked other light dragons to death.” Axelia shakes her head, “I don’t know what's worse, what the priests did to me, or what people would do if they found out that I'm a light dragon.”

“That entire dining hall of knights knows you are one now,” Thallan says.

“My men would never do anything to her, Thallan.”

"Your guard allowed those three priests in here without checking the registration book. That is magically altered when new priests are added, might I remind you."

"Thallan. . ." Drest glares at him.

"No Dee, she is my wife! And they hurt her!"

Axelia pushes against his chest as he lunges at Drest, "I'm fine Thallan. It was an honest mistake!" She presses her forehead onto the exposed skin where his tunic untied. "don't leave like this. I'm not worth losing years of friendship over."

The sound of his heart skipping makes a lump form in her throat, "you are worth everything." He kisses the top of her head.

Drest bites his lip, lost in thought, as Thallan opens his mouth to say something, "I know you didn't mean it." He says before Thallan could utter a word. "If you get home and things go south, don't hesitate to ask for my help." He nods before walking towards the door just as Pierre returns.

"Your horses are ready. Eat before you go at least."

Axelia looks to Drest and then to Thallan before Pierre sits on the bed waiting for them to eat.

“You don't have to sit there watching us. . .” Thallan grumbles.

Pierre chuckles, “well last time you two were alone you had her pinned up into the corner on top of the vanity.”

Axelia’s face burns as she nervously looks away from Thallan. “nothing happened.” She squeaks.

“Oh please, my lady. I have walked in on Thallan many times. He has no shame and doesn't seem to know that door's lock!”

Axelia raises her eyebrow and narrows her eyes at him. “Many times?”

“I am a knight that travels,” Thallan cocks his chin up playfully.

“He tried ignoring his feelings about you and lied to himself.” Pierre screws his face up, sticking his tongue out at the back of Thallan’s head.

“No such things have happened.” Thallan crosses his arms.

Axelia smiles at their banter, “I don't care who you've been with, just don’t stray. . .”

Thallan cups her face in his hands and kisses her softly. “Never. But I do have a question.”

“What. . .” she grumbles.

“Have you been with anyone?” he asks her. She just shakes her head. “You seemed really eager earlier.” he raises his eyebrow at her.

Axelia blushes, “that's nothing to talk about around other people. . .” she huffs as Pierre cackles, “but if you must know, I would read Alanna’s. . . secret books that she would hide in the rainbow room.”

“And then what?” he pretends to not understand.

“You know exactly what!” she nudges him.

Thallan playfully pulls at the hem of her skirt, making her breath catch. “Ah, so is that how you know you glow?”

“You glow?” Pierre stifles his laughter.

“Not funny.” She crosses her arms.

“She grows glowing dragon scales,” he nuzzles his face into her neck, brushing his lips across her skin.

Axelia tries scooting away from Thallan as a glow appears again, “I don't like them, please stop.”

Thallan gently touches her hand. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.”

Axelia shakes her head before walking across the room to the door. “I was embarrassed earlier when you saw them. I never. . .”

“I truly am sorry, I was just trying to make light of the evening.” Thallan quickly stands, “please finish eating before we leave.”

Axelia sighs and retreats back to her seat next to Thallan. "the scales were a big thing father always told me to hide. They appear for different things, in different colors." She grumbles, "the pinkish color you saw is for. . . That. . . Green is when I'm excited or happy, like riding Alrune, I get green scales on my stomach. Blue along my legs when I'm cold. But they have to be sort of extreme sensations."

"I'm sorry. . ." He presses his forehead into her shoulder as she takes a bite of the stew and bread.

"I'll feel comfortable with you seeing them, eventually." She half smiles at him. "I just want to know I'm safe first."

"You're safe with me. Always." Thallan whispers as he kisses her shoulder.

They walk down the stairs to the entrance again. Thallan and Pierre quickly step in front of her. The sound of leather boots dragging on the floor makes her stomach plummet. She grabs Thallan's cloak as her head spins.

He looks down at her before holding his hand up, "let her through before you finish cleaning up."

"Yes, sir." The knights say as Thallan and Pierre whisk her outside to the waiting horses.

[kova-killian]

Lady of Light episode 4 (NSFW)

Axelia pulls her sword from her back as she watches silhouettes darting around the horizon, large silhouettes with spikes on their backs. She quickly ties her hair out of the way and dismounts Alrune with the rest of the knights.

“I’m in trouble, you know where to go.” she whispers as she strokes his face.

Alrune’s ears lay back as he looks into her eyes for a moment, trying to decide if she was serious or not. He huffs at her and then darts off up a trail to the Dwarf mine as the Ogre’s close in on them.

“Don't let them sting you!” Drest yells as the Knights shift around nervously.

Axelia looks up at Thallan, his forehead full of worry wrinkles as he scans for an opening. Then he looks down at her and smiles trying to reassure her as the first Ogre growls at them, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Axelia grips her sword and takes a deep breath as Thallan effortlessly swipes his sword, sending the Ogre crumbling to the road. Like a spark in a powder keg, more Ogres spring from the surrounding hills.

Strike after strike Axelia blocks an Ogres attack. Her wrists throb with each blow to her sword but she keeps on her guard, her eyes trained on the Ogre’s weapon until she trips over a low bush. She's in the hills. . . alone. She swings hoping to hit him where it matters but the Ogre whips around trying to sting her with the spikes on his back. She throws herself to the ground and scrambles between the Ogre’s legs before darting for the road again.

Tripping over more low dry bushes, Pierre finds her first, striking down the Ogre before pulling her back through the chaos. She ducks around spikes and swinging swords until he nearly throws her down the road.

“Get to safety!” he snaps before whipping around, “go now!” he yells as he disappears into the battle.

She hesitates, backing towards the path up the mountain but a burning pain erupts in her back.

Shit!

She whips around stabbing her sword into the darkness behind a boulder, the Ogre crumbling to the floor, one of his spikes catching her chest and tearing her tunic.

“Commander!” Pierre’s voice rises above the chaos of metal against stone.

Axelia spins around. Black tendrils inch up Thallan’s arm as the muscles in his neck tense from the pain. She sheiths her sword, trying to calm her breathing she closes her eyes. “Stop!” she growls.

She snaps her eyes open, a neon blue fog holding the Ogre’s frozen, “silence.” she hisses as all the Ogres crumble to the ground choking as the fog illuminates their insides until the fog disappears and the Ogres lay quiet.

“My lady. . .” Pierre stares at the tear in her tunic, a blue glow matching the fog coming from under it.

She blinks, the glow slowly dissipates as her fear does. The knights stand staring at her for a moment before Thallan falls to his knees.

"Run to Pulet." Pierre says to her before darting off to help Thallan.

Axelia backs away again before running down the darkened dirt road. She slows for a moment stumbling over small stones sticking out of the compacted dirt. She pants and looks at the wound on her chest soaking her tunic. Her heart sinks as black veins inch their way across her skin.

I have to get to Pulet. . .

She takes a deep breath trying to calm her aching sides but darts off down the path again. Her lungs burn and her sides ache as she reaches the fork in the road, the dim lantern light of Pulet just out of reach. Her vision blurs but someone picks her up onto a horse.

"Duchess?" A guard of Pulet asks.

"Drest. . . The old Dwarf mines" She pants as the wounds on her back and chest throb.

The guard's eyes widen when he finally notices the blood on her tunic, "They were attacked! Go help the wounded." He snaps as more horses gallop back the way she came. "Hang on my lady." he says as his horse gallops through the gates.

Winding through the city's darkened streets, Axelia drifts in and out of consciousness. Catching glimpses of the castle as the guard carries her through the halls, she cringes as her body shifts in his arms and then onto a hard stone table.

“Leave her there, I have to extract the poison before laying her on a cot.” an elderly man's voice says.

“There are more coming, I'm not sure how many were injured.”

“Go fetch more doctors then,” the doctor gently moves the fabric of her tunic away from the wound on her chest, “her running here spread the venom through her.”

“Yes sir,” the guard says before the wooden door thunks shut.

The doctor works quietly, saying nothing to her as he examines her wounds for a moment before dragging a piece of gauze through the wound on her chest sending shooting pain into her neck and shoulders.

She cringes and grabs his arm, “Allow me to work please.” he gently says.

“I’m immune to the venom. . . just—”

“My Lady, I know you're immune, I can see the healing glow through your skin. Allow me to clean the wounds so you may heal yourself.”

“Sorry. . .” she whimpers as another wave of pain washes over her.

Again the doctor works silently, but her eyes finally adjust and his face becomes clear. His brows nearly touch one another as he works, his eyes swirling like a childs festival banner in the wind. He can see someone's magic when the magicless can’t.

The metal pincers he had been using clink against the stone table, “stay here for a moment to let some of the venom dissipate before I move you.” He gently places a cool cloth on her forehead and walks away.

The sound of the doctor filling a basin with water helps her fall asleep but only for a moment. The doctor's frantic voice wakes her. She jolts up to a room full of knights helping Thallan onto another stone table, his body tense with a leather strap in his mouth. Another doctor swoops in and then another to assist. Axelia pushes herself off the table, her legs giving away. Pierre whips around when he hears her and pulls her to her feet.

“Get me to the cabinet,” she grabs onto his tunic for more support as he quickly helps her to the cabinet full of magic herbs.

Grabbing a bowl, she drops a slimy dark green plant into it and then pours a bright white liquid on top. She crushes it up before grabbing dark red clay and then taking a deep breath, trying to steady her hands, she breathes a bright white fog into the concoction.

She steadies herself and steps into the frenzy behind the curtain. Thallan lay covered in sweat and blood from his wounds as his entire body convulses.

“None of that is going to work,” she says quietly.

“My lady?” Pierre leans down to her. “Hey, hang on,” he stops the doctors allowing Axelia to get to Thallan.

She grabs his hand, smearing the paste onto it before wrapping it with the bandages the doctors had laid out on the table.

The doctor that helped her earlier gently touches her shoulders, “I asked you to stay there for a while.”

“I couldn’t let him die,” she says with her hand on Thallan’s arm.

She lays her head on his chest and listens to his heartbeat return to normal, his entire body relaxing again as the dark veins slowly retreat to the wound in his hand. She tries lifting her head but her exhaustion keeps her there.

Pierre gently touches her hand, “thank you,” he whispers to her. “Go and rest, he’s okay now.”

“I. . . made the venom worse again. . .” she whimpers, the weight of her body more intense than before.

Pierre shoulders her weight, helping her to a cot under a large window. She cringes as he helps her pull her legs onto the bed as the doctor comes back over to her. Pierre and the other knights slowly filter out of the room and Thallan ends up in the cot next to her. She squeezes her eyes shut as the sun rises reflecting off the sheer white curtains. She scowls and blinks feeling the foot of her cot dipped down. Thallan sits, flexing his fingers waiting for her to wake.

“How long has it been?” she asks just above a whisper.

Thallan smiles, “it's been two days. I woke up yesterday and tried on the new armor.”

“Did anyone find Alrune?”

“Yes he’s being spoiled in the stables. They found most of our horses actually.” he gently touches her leg. She tries to sit up but Thallan panics, “no, please don’t move.”

“I'm fine really,” she says sitting up wearing only the spare tunic he had with him, “did you change my clothes?” she furrows her brow.

“No, I had one of the maid's change them. I bought you something warmer to wear the rest of the way. I might have overspent if I’m being honest.”

“Overspent? Didn't you just buy me one outfit?”

His cheeks flush as he scratches the back of his head looking away from her, “not exactly, I went to a few shops.”

“He spent most of the spare gold we had on clothes for you.” Pierre grumbles from the doorway.

“Why!” She looks at him wide eyed.

“I wanted you to be comfortable the rest of the way. And Cordelia didn’t let you bring anything,” Thallan chuckles.

“You did not need to do that.” Axelia sighs, “but thank you.”

His light hazel eyes scan her face before he looks at her now scarred shoulder, “was it you that made the blue fog?” he asks.

Her heart sinks, “yes. . . everyone was overwhelmed and I was stung and how fast the venom was moving up your arm—”

“You don’t just have the Chain Breaker do you?” he interrupts her.

“N. . . no. . .” she grips the blanket pulling it up towards her face.

Thallan gently pulls the blanket away, “you never need to fear me. Please don't fear me. The way your step mother treated you because of your magic will never happen again if I have any say.”

Her eyes dart around his face, “I. . . I can feel yours too. . . your magic.” she recoils waiting for him to be angry with her.

He smiles, his face instantly softening as he nods to Pierre who closes the door, “can you feel what I am?” he asks, Axelia shakes her head. “Want me to show you then?”

Axelia’s eyebrows raise slightly as he leans in closer to her. But then water begins pouring from his skin as crystal clear wings bubble out of his back, his skin darkening and the vine tattoos glowing the same color as her fog that killed the Rock Ogres. Axelia’s heart rattles in her chest as she gently touches his face, his eyes pitch black with just a ring of opalescent color shifting around inside. He looks at her for a second before looking at the cot again.

“You're an Ocean Fae,” she presses her forehead against his.

He looks at her again, “I don't scare you like this?”

"Not at all, I just didn't know what to expect."

As if his form was holding all his fears, it instantly splashes onto the floor revealing his normal self again. He gently squeezes her thigh but shakes his head and backs away from her.

"Drest gave us a room upstairs. You can take a bath and change your clothes and then come eat," He smiles before pushing Pierre out of the room.

Did he want to kiss me but stopped because of Pierre?

She nervously gets out of the cot and tries pulling Thallan’s tunic down to cover her legs but as he’s only a little taller than she is it was all in vain. She sighs, placing her hand on the door but it swings open, a maid standing there with new sheets.

“Oh! My apologies.” She looks Axelia up and down before chuckling to herself, “Lord Faekran doesn't understand that a young lady such as you shouldnt be wandering a castle full of knights in nothing but a tunic!” she yells making Thallan go quiet from the dining hall. “I’ll take you to the room. Come with me,” she smiles, wrapping the soft white sheet around Axelia’s shoulders.

The maid quickly whisks Axelia up the steep stairs and down a hallway more decorated than the rest of the castle. Leaving Axelia at the door, she scurries around the room filling the tub up with hot water again.

“Make yourself comfortable, I'll be right back. I just need to collect some bath oils for a young lady and not a musty knight.” she smiles before closing the door behind her.

Axelia twists the sheet in her hands before dropping it to the ground and pulling the tunic over her head. Stepping into the tub she cringes as the hot water hits her still healing wound on her back.

“God damn it.” she snaps to herself but flinches as the door swings open hitting the wall.

“Are you in pain? I heard you in the hall.” Thallan asks with arms full of fabric.

“I’m nude!” she squeaks trying to hide herself as he kicks the door shut.

Thallan lays the bundle of fabric on the bed and kneels behind her, “let me see. It shouldn't hurt,” he says as she pulls away from him. He sighs and grabs her arm pulling her back towards him. “Stop it. Just let me see if you need the doctor again.”

She tries getting away, “I'm fine. Really!”

“Axelia, let me see.” his voice becomes stern.

He pulls her to sit on her knees, running his hand down the fresh scar on her back. His finger catches on something hard in her skin, making her gasp in pain. He reaches over to the vanity and grabs a letter opener. Pressing it against her skin, he pulls a sliver of a Rock Ogre spine from her scar. Her entire right side tenses up, making her cringe.

Thallan places the letter opener and spine on the ground before pressing his hand over the now open wound. His rough calloused fingers firmly rub her scar trying to calm her spasming muscles.

“Sorry, I didn't expect it to make your muscles react that way,” he cautiously moves his hand still, “is the one on your chest alright? No burning at all?”

She shakes her head and stares at her legs through the water. “They hurt when I first got in here. But they're okay right now.”

“And you? Do you feel alright? Those are deep wounds.” he tries pulling her closer to him but she pulls away.

“I feel okay, just a little tired and I'm really hungry.” she chuckles, still wriggling to get away from him.

“Do I repulse you that much?” his face drops in sadness.

Like a punch to the gut she takes a deep breath, “not at all. . .”

“Then why pull away?”

“Because. . . because I want to. . . um. . . I don't want—” she stammers and then huffs, annoyed, “I want you to be home.”

“You want me to be home?”

She groans, agitated with herself, “I want to be in your home, in your bed. . . because I know we’ll be safe there. . . and every time you get close I. . . think things I probably shouldn't.” She looks at him.

He smirks, thinking for a moment before he looks at her, “I apologize for my assumption.”

“Why do you assume I'm repulsed by you?”

“Most nobility are. I’m just a fishing peasant who got lucky.”

“But you're an ocean fae. That's not just some peasant.”

“Finish your bath and we’ll talk.”

“You don't want to join me?”

“Now my innocent lady, didn't you just say you wanted to be in my home before anything like that happens?” he smirks a cocky smirk and narrows his eyes.

“Good point. . .” she shrinks into herself.

He chuckles, “Unless you want to do something just for you.”

She furrows her brow. “like what?”

He rolls up the sleeves of his navy blue tunic and crouches down behind her. He runs his hands down her stomach and then on her thigh. She grabs his wrist as he inches closer.

He softly kisses her neck, “trust me, please.” he says between kisses.

“I've never. . .” she grabs his wrist harder.

“Yes or no.” he asks.

“Yes. . .”

Her body tenses waiting for pain, she squeezes his arm and takes in a sharp breath as his fingers enter her. But no pain comes. She leans her head back on his shoulder bobbing up and down with the movement of his hand.

"Relax." He whispers to her

She gently grabs his hair as he continues his rhythm and kisses until she feels him smile against her skin. Her heart slams into her chest and her face burns bright red as she scoots away from him embarrassed covering the glowing scale like marks inching up her hips and stomach.

"This is why I wanted to wait. . ." She looks away from him.

He simply smiles and pulls up his tunic showing his vine tattoos underneath, “you glow, I grow flowers when I want someone. Don’t be embarrassed.”

“So. . . you want me then?” she says quietly.

“In ways other than sex yes.”

“I’m going to sound naive but what do you mean?”

“Maybe we should talk after you're dressed. . .” he smiles, “I do like the freckles on your shoulders though, do you have them anywhere else?” He raises an eyebrow and playfully tries peeking at her.

“Oh go talk with Drest,” she scowls at him.

He chuckles and stands up as he rolls the sleeve of his tunic back down, “supper should be ready soon. I’ll meet you down in the dining hall.”

As Thallan leaves the room, the maid quickly enters with the bath oils and stares at the letter opener and Rock Ogre's spine confused, “I hate to ask, but did Lord Faekran hurt you?”

Axelia stares at the side of the tub absentmindedly.

“My lady?”

“Hm? Oh no, he took that out of my scar,” she shakes her head as the maid sits outside the tub on a stool.

“Mind if I wash your hair? It’s been so long since I've had a young lady to fawn over,” she smiles holding a dark purple glass bottle.

“Sure.” Axelia nods as the maid goes to work on her hair.

The maid scrubs her hair and rinses as Axelia sits thinking of nothing until the moment she and Thalan just had pops into her mind. Her cheeks burn hoping the maid can't see the slight glow from under the water. As the maid rinses the last of the oils from her hair, Axelia quickly reaches for the towel to cover herself as she stands.

“I’ll leave you to get dressed,” she says before leaving Axelia in the room again.

Axelia walks to the bed and lays all the clothes Thallan brought in for her flat on the bed but as she leans into to look at the expensive fabrics the glowing scales travel higher.

She opens the towel slightly and sighs loudly, “go away. . .” she snaps at herself.

She grumbles as she grabs the red riding dress but as she pulls the dress over her head, Thallan knocks on the door again.

“Axelia, are you clothed? I forgot something.” he slowly opens the door with an annoyed scowl on his face.

“Yes, I'm just tying the back.” She struggles with the ties on her back as he walks in and to the wardrobe in the corner.

“Want me to get the middle ones?” he asks as she curses under her breath.

“Would you? My arm is stiff and I can't reach it.”

She holds her hair out of the way as he tugs on the ties for a moment before he touches her waist, “are they supposed to go to your back?”

“Are. . . huh?” she spins around to him and then looks behind her in the vanity mirror, the glowing scales shining through her dress. “Oh no. . . I. . .” She looks at him embarrassed, “they won't go away.”

“Do you want me to leave you?” he smirks.

Her eyes dart around his face for a moment before she quickly grabs the back of his head and kisses him deeply. He picks her up, sitting her on the vanity before sliding the skirt of her dress up to her hips. He doesn't warn her this time but still gently pushes his fingers inside her. She tangles her hand in his hair and chokes back a moan as he lightly nibbles on her collarbone, his entire body heats up the longer he pleasures her.

Everything around them disappears, his body pressed against hers as he kisses her neck and chest. He kisses her in a way she's only imagined from secretly reading the romances of poets from far away lands. But then the feeling she’s only felt by herself once builds, she quiets another moan as she buries her face in the crook of his neck, her hand still tangled in his long curly black hair.

“Hey Commander,” Pierre drunkenly stumbles through the door, “you're missing dinner, where's that thing I asked you to bring down?” he finally looks up at them, his eyebrow raising as Thallan sits frozen for a second before he pulls Axelia’s skirt back down, “am I interrupting something?”

“No, nothing,” Thallan swallows hard before walking over to the wardrobe to look for the thing he started to before.

Axelia slowly lowers herself off the vanity, and checks her reflection for the scales before she pulls her boots on. She straightens her skirt and steps towards the door.

Thallan looks back at her, "I'll be right down," He smiles at her.

I can't believe that just happened.

Pierre didn't seem phased, how many times has he done that to someone?

"So, did I walk in on the beginning or the end?" Pierre's voice carries down the hall.

"Oh shut up." Thallan grumbles.

"Ah, beginning then."

Axelia flinches as the sound of a solid punch to the shoulder echoes.

"Don't mind those two." Drest meets her just before the stairs. "They act like siblings and Pierre knows too much about Thallan." He chuckles holding his elbow out for her to take.

She wraps her arm around his as they walk down the stairs, "Is Pierre. . ."

"Yes, he likes men."

"Does Thallan?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Why? Does it bother you?"

"No, I'm just trying to read their relationship a little. Pierre is protective over him and me to a degree."

"Pierre likes you my lady, it has very little to do with Thallan. He admires you greatly."

"Can I ask something?"

"Anything my lady."

"You seem to be close with Thallan also."

"Yes."

"When my father hired him, do you know what he said about me?"

"He thought you were older, maybe a year younger than himself. Especially when he heard you speak at a dinner, he's been enamored by you since then." He says as Axelia pulls away. "You coming inside my lady?" Drest tilts his head.

"I'm going to wait for Thallan." She smiles at him.

[kova-killian]

Lady of Light episode 3

Just at sunrise Thallan tries waking her. Her eyes flutter open, greeted by an understanding smile as he brushes her hair off her forehead with his armored hand, "I'm sorry, we have to keep on schedule." He holds a fresh bread pocket full of sausage and potatoes out to her.

"I didn't realize I was so tired."

"That's alright, Pierre had to wake me too. I'm ready to be home." He chuckles to himself.

"After four years away, I don't blame you." She smiles, taking the bread from him.

Thallan pulls a bag of feed over and dumps some out for Alrune before sitting in front of Axelia, "he's patient with you, he's been awake for a couple hours already." Axelia looks at him with her cheeks full of food making him laugh at her.

She swallows hard and frowns, "be quiet, I'm starving!" She wipes the corners of her mouth with her sleeve.

"I've only ever seen you at the events your family held where you never ate and always left early."

"Oh. . . That's right. You know I never saw your face before the wedding? Only the tattoos on your hand."

He narrows his eyes with a smirk, "I noticed you, often actually."

"I noticed you, but you were always turned away from me."

He smiles to himself and grabs his horse's saddle as she devours the bread pocket. Once finished, she stands up and dusts herself off as Alrune pushes himself off the ground. Axelia pats the dust from his side and hoists the saddle onto his back but one of the straps folds underneath. Thallan presses against her back as he reaches over her head. He really wasn’t much taller, he had to stand on his tiptoes to reach over her. She’s smaller than an eagles wingspan, he seems to be just about the same size as a full grown eagles wings, wearing heels would probably make them just about the same height.

She freezes, her cheeks burning as she feels the warmth of his skin from a break between the chest plate and plackart pieces of his armor against her. He flips the strap and the blanket out from under the saddle and runs his hand along her arm as he walks back to his horse.

Alrune huffs and his ears perk up at her changed demeanor, “shut up.” she grumbles at him before tightening the straps around him.

Alrune reaches around and playfully pulls her hair loose from her braid, “oh you ass.” she nuzzles her face against his.

She turns around to grab her daggers and sword but is suddenly covered by her cloak. Alrune playfully whinnies and pounds his massive hooves into the dirt. She quickly uncovers herself and whips around. “Stop it you overgrown foal,” she scrunches up her face as the knights around her chuckle.

She situates her weapons on the saddle and sticks her foot in one of the stirrups before kicking her other leg over.

“Well I guess you can mount him without him bowing,” Pierre pokes fun.

Axelia smiles as they all travel down the path. Again she rides behind Thallan with knights on all sides of her now. The only woman in a sea of noble knights who fought alongside her father. She sighs as she takes in the dense forest around them. It wasn't as eerie as it was last night but very little sun filters through the leaves.

The rest of the day was much of the same, dense trees and very little sun. Again they stop but there is no silver protecting them from the Werewolves that hunt in the dark. Drest and Thallan house the horses in an old barn and the knight's light fires to keep warm. Axelia wraps her cloak around her and curls into herself unable to get warm, even near the fire.

Thallan grabs two stones nearby and tosses them near the fire as he sits next to her. “It's only going to get colder. Hopefully when we get to Pulet in a couple days I can find something warmer for you.” his face drops when she tries hiding her shivers from him. “Come here.” he grabs her arm and pulls her into his lap.

“I’m fine.” she tries pulling away from him.

“Sit still a minute.” he grumbles, pulling off his armor and setting it in a pile next to them. She does as she's asked and nervously sits watching the knights trying to avoid looking at them.

“Thallan. . . you don’t. . .” she stammers.

“You're cold. I don't want you getting sick, we aren't even half way.” he grabs the warmed rocks and pulls his cloak around both of them as she continues to shiver for a few moments, until the warmth from the rocks fills up the space under the cloak. “Are you always this cold?” he gently touches her hands.

She smiles, “my hands are always cold, yes.”

Thallan leans against a rock and pulls her to lean against him. She sits rigid until exhaustion forces her eyes closed before supper is ready. As she sleeps, the sound of running footsteps and loud crashes invade her dreams until Thallan throws himself on top of her as a large tree smashes over the rock they were laying against.

Her heart slams into her chest as Thallan whips around with his sword drawn, “what's attacking us!” he yells to the scrambling knights.

“I can't see anything!” Pierre howls from the darkness around their camp.

Shit, all my weapons are with Alrune.

A dark silhouette looms in the darkened trees, “Above you Thallan!” she yells.

“Giants!” he alerts the others.

She scrambles to her feet and runs to the old barn where all the horses anxiously stamp their feet. She freezes as the ground rumbles around her and the hand of a giant appears above the barn's roof. She quietly unclips the old stalls and opens the doors.

“Axelia!” Thallan’s voice carries down the hill.

“Make sure everyone gets to the farm, I'll go find her!” Drest yells.

Just as she gets the last stall door open and the horses run free, the giant swings his massive hand taking the roof clean off. Axelia crouches down and covers her neck as wood and hay rain down on her until Drest roughly grabs her and flings her out in front of him as all the horses sprint away towards their yelling knights.

She tries keeping up with his pace but falls behind, it's been a while since she was out like this even if she had just run away from the castle. The darkness of the forest envelops Drest right before her eyes.

I don't know where I'm going.

The sound of pounding hooves approaches from behind her, Alrune nudges her as he slows down enough for her to grab his halter. Dashing off again she throws her legs over his saddle as he gallops as fast as possible out to the clearing where Thallan anxiously paces, watching the road back into the forest.

He’s actually worried about me?

His anxiety leaves his tense shoulders as he spots her. She pulls Alrunes reins and Thallan effortlessly grabs the halter and throws himself into the saddle behind her.

“We have to ride for a while before the farm, hold tight,” he wraps one of his arms around her as the other knights group around them.

“What about all of your armor and your horse?” she asks, seeing all the knights in just their tunics and black cotton pants.

“Most of it was crushed by the giants, mine was scattered into the forest when that tree came at us,” he shakes his head. “Frost will follow, I want to make sure you get there safely.”

“Isn’t armor hard to come by?”

“We all needed new armor anyway,” he chuckles.

Late into the night, a large farm appears near the river. They all ride up to the farm house and Drest hesitantly knocks on the front door.

“Do you have any idea what time it is!” an angry man answers the door, “knights. . . the dragon slayers and the rogue killers. What are you doin’ here?”

“The giants are on the move.” Drest sighs.

“Well, the back house has plenty of space for all of you. No workers here at the moment.” The man looks around at all the knights, “don’t know if my wife would appreciate me not at least offering a room in here for the young miss.”

“It’s alright, I don't want to disturb anyone already asleep.” Axelia smiles at him.

“Are you Duchess Demonne? You gotta be!” he rushes towards her and Thallan, “you are! You’re the reason this farm isn’t abandoned.”

“I. . . think you mean my sister or step mother.”

“No you. Axelia Aruna Demonne, right?”

“Yes. . .” she furrows her brow.

“At the beginning of the war, my wife and daughters traveled to Castle Luvon because I had been in an accident. You granted us money to hire help for harvest,” he excitedly explains. “Now I insist that you and your. . . suitor? stay inside.” He smiles

“Husband,” her voice catches, “and I couldn't bother you. I’ll stay in the back house.”

“Oh bless the stars, you are far too humble for a noblewoman.” he holds his hand out to her helping her down off Alrune. “Are you traveling back to his land? Is that why you're this far from the castle?” He quickly grabs Thallan’s wrist as well as hers and begins pulling them inside.

Thallan uncomfortably looks back at Drest and the rest of the knights as they all conceal their laughter. He quickly pulls them up the stairs while he continues talking and to an empty room at the end of the hall. Axelia looks at Thallan just as confused as he is as the farmer closes the bedroom door.

“What just happened?” Thallan raises an eyebrow with wide eyes.

“I. . . didn't realize people would act like that. I didn't think I did all that much while my father was gone.” she furrows her brow.

Axelia nervously sits on the bed as Thallan leans against the wall by the door, looking at her and then at the ground. Then suddenly he walks over to her and cups her face in his hands as his eyes dart around her face. She looks at him confused for a second before he attacks her with nervous kisses. But just as quick as he started, he stopped.

“I'm sorry. . .” he breathlessly backs away from her, “I’ll sleep in the chair. Try to rest a little.”

“Wait. . .” she grabs his tunic, making him freeze. He slowly turns towards her. “I’m. . . cold.”

He softly smiles and climbs into bed behind her pulling her into him, she lays there nervously for a few minutes until his steady deep breath softly moves the hair on her neck. The next morning the sound of a lively kitchen wakes her. She squints against the sun through the green and white curtains and closes her eyes again until she realizes she is facing Thallan. She quickly scoots away from him, making him raise his eyebrow.

“You moved, why?” he slightly opens his eyes, his voice still tired.

“Everyone is awake. . .” she nervously says.

He scowls, “it's morning already. . .”

"Come on, you lump." She playfully pushes his shoulder.

"Lump!" He laughs at her, "Pulet is Drest's estate so we'll stay there a couple days before heading off to Honeyport."

"Is Pulet as big of a city as I've been told?"

"It's a large trading city in the middle of Castle Luvon, the capital and my city."

"Oh. . . I didn't realize it was the main hub."

Everything is changing so fast. . .

He smiles at her, "we better get downstairs."

"Fine." She half smiles.

"Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure. . . I just feel heavy."

Thallan furrows his brows, "You're leaving the only home you've known. Even if Cordelia and your half siblings ruined it for you, it was still your home."

"I'm more sad about leaving because it was the last place I saw father."

Thallan’s soft expression turns sad as she sits on the edge of the bed with her hands clasped in her lap.

He sits behind her, wrapping his arms around her, “your father loved you. . .”

“I know.” her cheeks burn as she fights back tears.

He quickly gets off the bed and cups her face in his hands, “please don't cry.” he kisses her forehead.

“Did he die the way the letter said?” She refuses to look at him.

“I never wrote a letter. . .” he tilts his head trying to get her to look at him, “Axelia, I never wrote a letter about your father dying. I sent a rider.”

Please be lying.

“Show me your hand writing.” She finally looks at him.

He looks at her confused for a second until he gets up and grabs a piece of parchment off the dresser and an inkpot. He scribbles something down and hands it to her.

“Cordelia. . . that conniving. . .” Axelia crumples the paper as her hands shake with rage. “Fucking conniving slimy bitch!” she snaps startling Thallan.

“So you don't know?”

“All I know is what Cordelia forged in that fake letter.”

Thallans jaw tightens, “what did it say?”

“That father died from the cold.”

“Luvon? A skilled hunter and knight killed by snow?” he looks at her stunned, “Your father died because the rogue king tried sending hired hands to kidnap you and he fought them off before they could get through the pass.”

“I. . .” Axelia clenches her fists, but then someone knocks on the door.

“Thallan you lazy ass, let's get going so we’re at least halfway to Pulet by nightfall.”

“Be quiet Pierre, we’re up,” he snaps at the door and then looks at Axelia still vibrating with rage, “you’re with me now, and you're safe from her lies.” he touches her hands.

“Have you known Pierre for a long time?” she asks, trying to calm herself down.

“Since we were young squires,” he smiles.

“May I ask how a boy from a fishing village turned knight was able to become the lord of Honeyport?”

Realizing she was trying to distract herself he humors her, “my father was mayor before the attacks but once I was knighted I went and raided monster lairs.” he says pulling on his boots.

“Ah.” she nods lacing up hers.

He furrows his brow, “Why that reaction?”

“No reason,” she smiles.

She walks out of the door before him and down the stairs to the bustling kitchen full of knights and the farmers family. The second she steps foot through the doors, the farmer's wife adorned in a sweet pink ruffly apron covered in embroidered flowers she must have let her daughters do when they were young, rushes up to her and throws her arms around her.

“Duchess Axelia, I almost didn't believe my husband when he said you were here!” she cup Axelia’s face and then pats her cheek, “you look hungry.”

Axelia can't help but smile as the farmer's wife scurries off to get her a plate of breakfast.

“My lady, come sit here.” Drest stands from his seat at the table.

The farmer’s wife places a plate piled high and then scowls out the window, “there goes that Clydesdale again.” she grumbles, “he’s been agitated all morning.”

“Alrune is a bit protective of our lady here,” Drest chuckles.

“He’s yours?” the wife turns around shocked.

Axelia sheepishly smiles with a mouth full of a biscuit smothered in honey butter, “yeah. . . he’s a bit of a pain but I love him and he protects me.”

The farmer scoffs, “I told ya he was her’s.”

“Oh shut up.” the wife waves him off.

Axelia smiles and then Thallan catches her eyes as he enters the kitchen.

Will our relationship ever be like that? Or did he do this just for father?

Thallan grabs a biscuit and a patty of sausage before heading outside to get away from the noise. Axelia furrows her brow and looks at her plate piled high.

“Don't worry about him, he does this when we’re all confined to a small area.” Pierre smiles at her.

“Does he not like being around his brother knights?” She tilts her head.

“He’s a bit of a. . . what's the word?”

“An ass, that's what.” Drest chimes in cackling.

“No, he just likes his time alone.” Pierre says as Axelia looks out towards the front door again.

She picks up her plate and slides between all the knights before finally getting to the front hallway and then the porch where Thallan sits petting one of the barn kittens.

Axelia places the plate of food next to him and dangles her feet over the side, “I know for damn sure that biscuit did not fill you up.”

“I feel guilty is all.” he half smiles not looking at her.

“Over me not knowing what happened to father?” she nudges him, “it's not your fault, you sent a rider like you were supposed to. It's Cordelia’s fault I didn't know.”

“When you didn't come to the battlefield to collect him I should have sent another until you knew.”

“Oh stop it. I know now. No need to feel guilty over something that happened four years ago.” Axelia sighs. Picking up the plate again she places it in his lap, “we’ll share.” she smiles.

He smiles at her and hands her something to eat every few bites he takes before the rest of the knights come outside, ready to head off.

“I have new armor being made for all of us in Pulet, we need to ride quickly before some sort of creature attacks us.” Drest nods at them before heading towards the barn.

“That fast?” Axelia furrows her brows.

“He sent a falcon the second we stopped.” Thallan stands up and hands the plate back to the farmer's wife before helping Axelia to her feet.

“Thank you for allowing us to stay here,” Axelia smiles at the farmer and his family as Thallan disappears to the barn.

“So humble for a noble lady,” he winks at her.

The wife elbows the farmer and then smiles at axelia, “It was no trouble my lady, anything for you. You kept us afloat when we needed it.”

Axelia sighs, "I'm sorry my step mother is in charge now. I wish it were me. . .I know she won't help many people."

"We'll come all the way to Faekran Manor if we need you my lady."

Thallan stands below the porch with Alrune and his own horse, "Come on, we need to ride before it gets too late," He smiles.

Axelia thanks the farmer again and situates herself in Alrune’s saddle before they head off down the road. The trees become scarce, only low lying shrubs and small rolling hills line the road now.

"So boring!" A young knight squirms in his saddle a few hours down the road.

"Quiet down, there's rock ogres out here," Pierre snaps.

"Yes sir. . ." He mumbles.

As the sun sets and the shadows of the mountains wash over the hills, Thallan backs from the front of the group to ride next to Axelia, but says nothing.

"Thallan?" She furrows her brow at him.

"There's more than just rock ogres out here." He whispers and places a finger to his lips telling her to be quiet.

"What's out here?" She asks.

"I'm not sure but I feel it." He glances at her and then to the hills behind her.

They ride through the hills at the base of the claw tooth mountains in silence listening for anything. The caravan moves even more silently than before as the echoes of rocks falling wash over them.

“How much longer. . .” the young knight from before grumbles.

“We have to get out of the hills,” Thallan hisses.

“That's going to take all night.”

The sound of stone against stone charges towards them. The rock Ogres are awake.

[kova-killian]

Lady of Light episode 2

Alrune keeps pace with Thallan and the silhouette of Linden comes over the horizon cast in a golden haze as the fog begins to roll in and the sun starts to dip down.

Thallan reaches the city gates before the rest of them, "open quickly! There's wolves behind us!" He yells up to the guards standing atop the wooden wall.

The gates open just enough for the horse's to fit through and slam shut behind them as the growling of the wolves on the path grow closer. Axelia gently pats the agitated, panting Alrune as they make their way to the inn. The red roofs of the town cast a strange red glow onto the streets below. Thallan goes inside the inn for a moment but tosses his cloak behind him, annoyed.

"There are no rooms available anywhere in town." He scowls, "we have to get moving, maybe we can reach the Glen before the sun completely sets." He looks at Axelia worried.

"Is the Glen safe from the wolves?" She asks.

"It's surrounded by silver ore, they can't cross the threshold." Pierre smiles at her.

"Let's move." Thallan snaps as he gets back in his saddle, "I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything warmer, it's going to get colder the closer we get to home." He tilts his head at her as they make their way through town to the other gates by the church.

"It's fine, I have my wool cloak." Axelia nods at him.

Out of the gates again, Axelia keeps her ears trained on the sounds of the forest. The darkness starts to set in and the crystals on her daggers glow.

Axelia quickly looks down and then at Thallan, "magic crystals?" He asks.

"It tells me what kind of danger is near. White means we're safe, moss is an Ogre, red is wolves, pink is Pixies."

"Well we're worried about wolves so keep an eye on her daggers lads." Thallan calls back.

"Yes sir." They all say together.

The eerie air around them keeps Axelia’s nerves on edge as not even the moon's glow touches them in these deep woods. Every small animal scurrying in the fallen leaves makes her flinch.

"Not out much Duchess?" One of the knights chuckles.

"I was hunted while I was trying to run away for the last five days. Pretty sure it was those wolves." Axelia gives him a snarky smile before listening to the forest again.

"She's on edge Vax, shut up. Duke Luvon was a skilled hunter and he taught her, she knows what she's doing." Pierre punches the young knight's shoulder.

"Quiet." Thallan hisses.

"Yes, sir." They whisper.

Axelia’s eyes widen as she listens, but all she hears are happy voices up ahead and a soft silver glow lighting the path.

Paying attention to the voices, none of them notice her daggers glowing red. Out of the darkness of the forest, six Werewolves attack, sending Alrune bucking, knocking Axelia to the ground and unbuckling her weapon from the saddle. She curls into herself and guards her neck as all the horses react violently, before running off towards the soft silver light.

Thallan grabs Axelia and pulls her to her feet before whipping her towards the silver glowing light, “Run!” he snaps as he pulls his sword from his hip.

That's a fairy glen blade. . .

How does he have a fairy glen blade?

She darts for the soft glow of the Glen but stumbles back towards Thallan as one of the wolves pounces onto the path in front of her. She takes a deep breath and pulls her claymore from her back. Planting her feet, the wolf charges at her. She clenches her jaw and squeezes her eyes shut readying herself for the inevitable impact. But it doesn’t come, only the sickening sound of hardened limp flesh smacking the compacted path. And then Thallan’s calloused hand swiftly grabbing her jaw as his gloves and sword clatter to the ground next to her.

Her eyes snap open, his eyes searching her for wounds. He gently takes her sword from her hands and hands it to the equally panicked knights behind him. As if he had been holding his breath he lets out a long sigh and as his stern worried expression softens.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she stammers. “I’ve never fought a werewolf before.”

Thallan smiles, “you don't have to explain. They caught us off guard.”

“Take her to the Glen, we’ll search for the horses.” Pierre hands her sword back to Thallan.

Thallan reaches down for his bloodied sword without taking a hand off of Axelia. Without hesitation he pulls her towards the voices in the silver glow of the Glen.

"Wait, we don't know who's there." She resists his pulling.

He smiles at her concern, "they are brother knights, they fought the dragon while my men and I went for the fortress."

"The Opal dragon?"

"Yes, their leader took him down."

Great. . . dragon slayers.

He realizes Chain Breaker is a dragon right?

She gives in and follows next to him, "if you trust them. . ." She sighs.

The sound of a soft stream fills the silence as they step inside the circle of silver ore. All the voices go quiet as the tired eyed knights turn towards them.

"Lord Thallan! I thought you would have been in your little fishing village by now!" A man taller than Thallan with blue black hair and onyx eyes smirks as he stands from the roaring fire.

"Just picking up a certain Duchess of castle Luvon, Drest." He smiles looking down at Axelia.

Drest finally notices her, "Oh! Well my apologies Lady Axelia! Go sit, I insist." He furrows his brow at Thallan as she walks away but still within earshot. "Was Luvon serious?"

"Her bitchy step mother forced me to marry her before allowing her to leave." Thallan grumbles as a knight with soft grey eyes hands Axelia a warm bowl of stew.

"Lady Cordelia?"

"She's horrid. The way Luvon talked about Axelia I expected her to be this proper noble woman. She tried taking on a wolf just now." Thallan looks over at her.

"Is that what I heard?"

"Yeah." He lets out a frustrated sigh, "the four men that came with me are looking for the horse's that were startled. You didn't happen to see a jet black Clydesdale run through here did you?"

Drest furrows his brow, "I think it ran down to the river, I'll go check. Go sit and eat supper with your pretty new wife." He pokes fun.

"Oh fuck off." Thallan punches Drest's arm as he laughs before joining Axelia.

They sit around the fire with the dragon slayers. She tries to be meek about her hunger but it takes over and she devours two large potatoes, the bowl of stew and a few pieces of bread before Drest, Pierre, and the three other knights that were looking for the horses return. The Glen becomes more lively when everyone's stomach is content. The knights get rowdy, singing pub songs about the dragons they killed and the rogue king. Thallan even joins in the fun as they toss around a piece of broken dragon horn. Axelia watches him closely. He wasn't beastly like Cordelia and her sisters had said, only a man with a playful side from a fishing village.

She covers her mouth as she yawns and Alrune lays down for the night after eating grain with the other horses.

So tired. . .

Axelia quietly slips away from the fire and over to Alrune. She lays against him and gently places her wool cloak over herself.

“Where’d Axelia go?” Thallan breathlessly asks just before she drifts off.

[kova-killian]

Lady of Light episode 1

Axelia usually loves the sunlight filtering through the stained glass windows, but today, the intricate iron work between the panes feel like the bars of a prison cell. The servants restrain her as her late father's estranged wife sits locked in the rainbow room yelling at the famed knight, Thallan Faekran, now hailed a hero for the Rogue king's death. Her father promised him her hand in marriage if he returned from the campaign.

It only took Thallan four years and her father's death to return. She had only heard about Thallan from her five sisters and their only brother. How beastly and low class he is. But she saw him close once. Only once. She never saw his face, but the delicate vines wrapping around his dark fingers as he picked her earring off the floor forever burned itself into her memory.

“You need to marry her before you leave my castle! I will not allow her to leave here before she belongs to you!” Cordelia snaps.

“With all due respect, Duchess, she's a human being and belongs to no one.” Thallan’s stern, deep voice carries out into the hallway.

“She will not leave until you marry her and there is virgin blood on the bridal chamber bed.”

“I will not force her to do this!” he raises his voice.

“Then I will, she will be prepared for the wedding and either you join us or you flee.”

Cordelia storms out of the study and straight up to Axelia with Thallan freezing at the doors as she strikes Axelia so hard she crumbles to the floor. “You marry him and get out of my home, do you hear me? I'm tired of you running away. You can be his problem. Maybe the monsters around his estate will kill you and then no one will have to deal with you.” she hisses, “take her to the bridal chambers and get her ready.” She snaps at the servants helping Axelia back to her feet, Cordelia then whips around to Thallan still standing in the doorway, “you have one hour to decide, Lord Faekran.”

Cordelia then storms down the hall to the chapel, as Axelia anxiously looks at Thallan, stoney faced, as the servants pull her down towards the bridal chambers.

I don't want to do this!

He doesn't want to do this!

Axelia sits solemnly at the vanity as the servants tug at her long strawberry blond hair and clean the dirt from her skin before they force her into a corset and pull a twenty-pound wedding dress over her. Exactly one hour after Cordelia made her demands, the servants force Axelia into the chapel where all of her siblings sit in front of the altar. Thallan is nowhere to be found. Axelia’s heart sinks as she stands under the bare arch that should be woven with flowers and silk fabric. But no one could be bothered.

Axelia was nothing but a slave to them. That's how all magic users were seen, the only good they were was to serve, or be sold for sex.

Please show up. . .

Free me.

“Five more minutes.” Cordelia nods at the priest, waiting impatiently.

Suddenly, the double doors to the chapel swing open and Thallan storms up to the altar. Axelia looks at him as the priest starts the ceremony. His light hazel green eyes stare angrily out the window behind her, his high cheekbones and dark skin illuminated perfectly by the light. But he wasn't happy.

I wonder what he would look like if he were to smile.

“Do you take her to be your wife?” the priest says.

Thallan cliches his jaw and scowls. “I do.”

“And do you take him to be your husband?” the priest glares at Axelia, which makes Thallan ever more tense.

“I. . . I do. . .” her voice trembles.

“Kiss your bride.” the priest growls as he quickly leaves.

Thallan looks at the terrified Axelia and his face softens. He kisses her cheek.

“I'm sorry,” he whispers to her, his once stern and angry face with a mask of sadness.

Cordelia claps her hands twice, “get her ready!” she snaps at the servants, “I’ll have a servant come and fetch you when she is ready. In the meantime, you and your knights can go have a drink.”

Axelia is quickly whisked back up to the bridal chamber. The servants roughly remove her clothes and place a white gauze dress over her that ties on the shoulders before they force feed her bone broth. She trembles as they shove her to sit on the bed and leave the room. She looks around, trying to busy herself with something until the door quietly opens and Thallan comes through. He angrily undoes the leather straps holding his armor together and tosses the pieces in a heap by the door. He glares at her as she nervously holds her hands up by her chest, trying to protect herself.

“Why do you look at me like that?” he snaps.

Axelia flinches, “you’re angry. . .” she says, trying to hide her trembles.

“I'm not angry at you,” he sighs and walks over to her.

He gently pulls one of her curls over her shoulder but then shakes his head, her knees buckling as she backs into the bed again, “can we not?” Axelia’s voice shakes.

“We have to, if I'm to get you out of here.”

Thallan presses his knee between her legs forcing them apart. He isn’t that much taller than her, but enough that she had to look up at him. He stands over her and unties the neck of his tunic.

“Please. . .” she tries reaching for his hand but he seemingly crumbles.

He backs away from her and sits on the stool next to the vanity with his head in his hands, “I want to get you away from them.”

“You. . . what?” She sits rigid, afraid to move.

“Just, let me so I can get you out of here tomorrow.” he pleads as her body trembles violently again, “I promise I won't hurt you, but it won't feel comfortable.” he runs his hand up to the hem of her dress and slides it up to her hips.

“Th. . .Thallan wait.” she whimpers, grabbing his hands, trying to pull them away.

He looks at her, his eyes full of sadness, “please don't make this harder than it already is.”

He undoes the ties on her shoulders, her hand instinctively grabbing the fabric falling off of her. He kisses her neck, trying to make her feel something other than fear.

If it were under different circumstances, she would have let him. But at the moment, she's terrified. Afraid of her siblings and their horrid mother and what will happen if she makes this wall of a man angry. He pushes her flat on her back, still trying to calm her down with his kisses. His hand carefully trances up her thigh but she can feel his heart slamming into his chest just like hers.

“Please wait!” she pulls his hand away from her inner thigh, her light brown eyes searching his face, hoping he wasn't angry with her.

He looms over her resting his head on her chest, "God damn it. . ." His body vibrates in anger as Axelia lays under him, afraid to move. "Fucking bitch. . . I never wanted it to be this way." He looks at her. "I never wanted you to look at me like this." He pushes himself off of her and sits against the post on the bed. "You were the only reason I made it through the war. . ." He rubs his face and unties his hair frustrated with the entire situation.

"What do you mean?" She sits up still trembling.

"Please stop looking at me like I'm a monster." He closes his eyes and looks away from her.

"You thought about—Me?" She furrows her brow.

"Almost constantly. . ."

"Is there some other way? Do we have to. . ."

“Do I repulse you that much?” Thallan clenches his jaw for a moment, until his eyes light up. “I have an idea. That bitch will have the servants search you, but they won't bother with me.”

“Okay?”

“If I cut my hand and put some of the blood on the bed and your. . .” his eyes drift to the hem of her dress, “. . . thighs maybe it will appease them and we can leave in the morning.”

Axelia looks at him backlit by the fire, his long black hair cascading over his shoulder, “okay, if it gets me out of here in the morning.”

Thallan quickly pricks his hand and smears the blood around, “I can just drip some in your hand if it would make you more comfortable.” he says after letting drops fall onto the sheet.

“If it's on my hands they’ll know something is off.”

Thallan nervously looks at her and then let's some blood drip, “rub them together.” he quickly says before getting off the bed.

“My legs?” She raises an eyebrow.

“Yes, it has to look smudged.” he smiles at her confusion. “I’ll sleep in the chair by the fireplace.”

The next morning Thallan gets up before her and leaves the room after dressing. Cordelia's servants quickly run in and roughly pull out of bed. Throwing the blanket to the ground, the small sprinkle of blood Thallan placed there illuminated by the sun coming through the large window.

Without letting her change, they grab her wrist and toss her into the hallway where Thallan stands waiting.

“Wait! I can't leave in this!” Axelia snaps as she nearly drops the untied dress from the night before.

“There is virgin blood Lady Cordelia,” the servants bow as Cordelia storms down the hall.

“Good, now leave.” she spits as Thallan covers Axelia with his deep blue cloak.

“My things?” Axelia snaps.

“They belong to us, remember?”

Axelia stares at Cordelia with eyes full of rage, “none of them fit in my clothes, what could you possibly use them for?” Thallan holds onto her.

“Rags.” Cordelia smirks, “what else would those horrid pieces of fabric be used for?”

“you want me to leave like this and ruin your family name more?"

Cordelia’s eye twitches as she grabs Axelia by the jaw, "You low bred wretch, you can leave in that.”

Thallan tries pulling her towards the doors outside, “I can buy you something in Linden.” he whispers.

“You are an illegitimate stain on the Demonne name already.” Cordelia growls, “And now you're an illegitimate stain on the Faekran name.” she chuckles pleased with herself.

Axelia laughs to hide her pain and anger, “what about those younger children of yours? They aren't stains on the name?” Axelia snaps.

“You are the only one!” Cordelia stops herself, “you're the only one with that disgusting trait of yours.”

“Cordelia. . .” Axelia snaps.

Cordelia narrows her eyes, “he’ll find out eventually and you’ll be in the same situation you're in now.”

Axelia’s eyes snap up to Thallan as he stands there looking confused before gently pulling her down the grand stairs in the entrance and out into the garden where a carriage sits with four knights sitting in wait for them. She scowls at the carriage, but just as she turns to walk to the stables, the stable master comes up the road with her absurdly large black Clydesdale and her riding clothes.

“Lady Axelia,” he nods as he drops the lead into Thallan’s hand and hands her the clothes.

“Thank you, Mr. Porter.” She smiles, “how did you know?”

“What do you mean, how did I know? Lightning bug, did you forget that my wife was your nursemaid?”

Axelia chuckles to herself, “No, I will never forget that.”

“Then she told me what was going on before they even woke you.”

“Thank you.” She sighs, before climbing into the carriage to change.

Quickly closing the curtains, she crumples the white dress she was forced into the night before and pulls on her rich green cotton tunic and her thick black pants before tying up her boots and stepping out of the carriage as she braids her hair out of the way.

“Anything else you need, ma’am?” Mr. Porter asks as Axelia pulls on her black leather gloves with Thallan’s cloak over her shoulder.

“Do you know where my friends are?” she smiles.

“Of course.” He smirks at Thallan as he quickly scurries back to the stables.

“This carriage isn’t yours, is it?” She takes the lead from Thallan as he stands there, speechless.

He blinks a few times in shock before staring at her. “no, we leased it from town.”

“I’ll have Mr. Porter send it back. It’ll slow us down.” she adjusts her sleeves and fixes the saddle on her horse. “And I'm sure you all want to be home, plus the less time we’re on the red ladies' road the better, right?”

A knight with light brown hair and surprisingly bright blue eyes chuckles. “Careful commander, she seems like a feisty one.”

“Shut it, Pierre,” Thallan laughs. “What is your horse's name?”

She strokes the horse's face. “his name is Alrune.”

“Can you mount him? He towers over you.” Thallan pats Alrune’s side.

“I manage fine,” she says.

She makes a clicking noise, sending Alrune into a kneeling position. She kicks her leg over and pats Alrune’s neck before he stands.

“Well that makes it easy. Can you mount him in a hurry?” Pierre narrows his eyes.

“You doubt me?” Axelia raises an eyebrow as Mr. Porter returns with the items she asked for.

“Don’t underestimate Lady Axelia.” Mr. Porter chuckles as he stands by Axelia’s foot. “The whip.” He hands her a long black staff with buttons on either side. “The twins.” he hands her two large daggers that she tucks into the black belt cinching her waist. “And their older sister.” he hands her a claymore smelt to fit her size.

Clipping ‘The Whip’ behind her on the saddle behind her and sliding the claymore’s sheath strap over her shoulder, she looks around to all the knights staring at her in shock.

“Did. . . did you think my father left me defenseless?” she furrows her brow. “Well, this should be a fun ride if you think I'm going to sit and be a damsel in distress.”

“We just aren't used to women with your title not acting like your older sister.” a handsome blond knight says as he gets situated into his horse's saddle.

“My title? What title? The second my father died in the war, I was no longer the duchess of this castle but a mere slave to my half siblings.” Axelia glares at him.

“My apologies.” the knight sympathetically smiles as he takes his place behind Axelia with another knight.

Axelia rides behind Thallan with two knights on either side of her as they make their way up the switchback mountain road. When they reach the crest of the mountain, Axelia stops a moment as she looks down on the castle she called home for all of her twenty-two years.

“It was such a pretty castle. . .” Axelia sighs, admiring the stained glass ceiling over the rainbow room.

“What was your favorite room?” Thallan asks.

“The room Cordelia had you backed into a corner.” Axelia chuckles.

Thallans eyebrows raise, “the one with the stained glass ceiling?”

“Yeah. . . father had that room built for me after a trip to the port. I combed the beach, finding sea glass while he talked about trades. I stacked it in my windows and made chimes out of the smaller pieces.” Axelia sighs, “Cordelia never let me back into my bedroom after she and her brats took over. I'm not even sure the glass I collected is still there.”

“My estate is on the beach, if you would like to search for some.” Thallan tilts his head with a soft look on his face.

“What's that look for?” She narrows her eyes and smiles at him as the other knights' horses constantly move back and forth.

Thallan shrugs, “you don't seem as afraid today.”

“To be honest, I had run away and was gone for five days. I barely remember yesterday at all. Cordelia kinda took the wind out of my sails when she forced it. Everything, the hunger and the exhaustion hit me all at once,” she sheepishly smiles.

Thallan’s eyebrows drop to concern, “Do you need something to eat? I don't remember seeing you eat anything at all yesterday between the ceremony and the chambers.”

“No, I'm alright. They force fed me before you came in last night.”

Thallan rummages in a leather bag hanging from his saddle and pulls a small burlap sack out, “It's dried fruit and some nuts,” he holds it out to her, his hands covered in cold armored gloves.

“Really, I'm fine.”

“Keep it if you do get hungry then, we haven't had breakfast. I was hoping we would be in Linden by now, but Cordelia had her silly rules before you were able to leave.”

“I'm sorry. . .”

“It wasn't your fault, you don't need to apologize.” he smiles at her, “shall we continue? We won't reach Linden until supper now.”

Axelia rides behind him for a little while until she breaks away from the four knights surrounding her and rides next to Thallan.

“So. . . husband. . . where were you born?” she smiles.

“Honeyport.”

“Honeyport?”

“It was a port that was attacked by the Rogue King. I was the last child to be born there. My Estate is the remains of the stronghold that weren’t destroyed.”

“I’ve never heard of it. . .”

“Well, my innocent lady, I'm almost thirty so it was destroyed quite a bit before you were born.” he chuckles, “what about you?”

“Ironfjord.”

“The dwarf stronghold? That Ironfjord?” he looks at her confused.

Axelia takes a deep breath. “it wasn't a dwarf stronghold until ten years ago”

“Yes, I know,” he says.

“It used to be filled with beautiful strong women with magic of varying degrees.”

“And what was your mother's power?”

“Does the name Lady Brigguite ring any bells?”

“The Chain Breaker. . .” Thallan furrows his brow.

Axelia smirks to herself, “she gave him to me, on top of my own magic. . . when she lost her magic, the dwarfs took over and now sell the women that lived there.”

“Is that what Cordelia meant?”

Axelia nods, her chest tightening, waiting for the knights around her to lose their respect for her. But none of them bat an eye. Thallan taps his chin, lost in thought for a moment as Axelia finally examines him without fear. His dark skin and long jet black curly hair make his light hazel-green eyes stand out, but the delicate vine tattoos that dance up his neck capture her attention.

“Where did you learn to use those weapons?” He finally asks her.

Axelia blinks back to their conversation, “oh. . . father taught me.”

“He talked about you all the time.” Thallan chuckles.

Axelia smiles, “I'm sure.”

“Can I be honest?”

“Have you not been?”

“Let me rephrase, can I express something to you?”

“Of course.”

“I. . .”

“Commander! Listen!” Pierre snaps as everyone goes quiet.

Axelia gently pats Alrune and listens closely. Her heart sinks the second a branch snaps.

"Werewolves." Her eyes shoot to Thallan.

"We're almost to Linden! Ride quickly!" He snaps at the four other knights before sending his horse to a gallop.