the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 19

“Take care of each other, protect each other as you grow.”

There were more cheers as Sable and Ash were held up, the silty water from the Grey covering their feet and striping their foreheads.  The ceremony was under the stars in the Great Hall of the Hill, the fire pits crackling and the torches waving in the slight breeze.  It was a good ceremony, though no phasma flies had shown up to flit above the crowd this time.

A barrel of ale was broken into and many people gladly took their share.  It was not going to last more than half an hour with the eager tankards at the ready, but it was a glorious half hour.

Laun accepted sips from many people’s tankards, sipping on her tea between.  She could feel the effect of the alcohol immediately and the flush on her cheeks did not go away.  It was pleasant to feel the strong brew going through her, a few body pains she had deadening for a while.

Pain was not as much of an issue as it had been.  She had been able to do more each morning, more each night.  Her hips still ached if she was still for too long, but that was not as much of a problem as it had been.

Laun looked around at the people around her.  Family.  The soldiers had blended in, even when they had on full uniforms.  The people who had been sent to her, who she had claimed as her own.  The babies who had been born and who were now blessed and named.  Her loves and lovers.

Pillar and Lucaris had volunteered to look after the twins for the evening.  The only thing that would disturb Laun would be a feeding or two, but then the shamen would then take the babies away again.  This was a celebration for the family and a celebration for Laun.  She had spent most of the time the babies had been outside of her with them and she wanted to have time for herself.

The weather had held for several days, clear and hot in the daylight, cooling breezes at night.  Lady Hellon’s Hill was set for the gathering and the half-moon above gave just enough light to let them know that they were not alone.  From the wood in the firepits to the mats in the paths, Laun had directed and worked to make this a good night for everyone.

Laun smiled as she saw the blue ribbons on several of the men’s arms that night.  She had gifted Verat and Franc a length each that morning at morning meeting, asking them to wear them at that night’s celebration.  They were being approached by men they had not known had the same tastes and Laun saw Verat blush more than once.  She had been considering lengths for Fount and Edgar, but she had not found a way to approach them about what she thought she knew.

She moved about the crowd, listening to the songs that were started and sung by many in the household until another song from another part of the gathering would come up strong and take the singers away.  She did not sing, but enjoyed what she heard.  There were musicians, not as many as there once was, but they were enthusiastic at whatever song had caught the people right then.

Caught...  Laun thought of the Admiral the morning before as Laun had talked to him in the tower room.  It had taken a few days for Laun to come with the phrasing she wanted for the message back to the King of Rosemond.  She knew that Lady Engrid was going to read the message and she put a few barbs in directed at her.

Killian had been looking at the red dress and the various things on the arming tree as they spoke after she handed the scroll to him.  His eye went to the jeweled noble assassin’s dagger that was hanging on a belt behind the sleeve of the dress with other daggers.  But, it was not the assassin’s dagger that had caught his attention, it was a horn handled knife that drew him out of his conversation with her, and had possibly brought him to their side.

“May I touch it, Laun?”

She pulled the belt off of the arming tree with the other blades.  She laid the belt on the bed and unwrapped the peace bond from it’s hilt.  It was one of the blades that had been in a chest with Lady Hellon’s other things.  Nothing remarkable to Laun, but pretty in it’s own form and worth displaying to her.

Killian put a hand on the hilt and drew it out of it’s wooden sheath.  His hand was almost too big for it, but he smiled as it sat in his hand.  He fondled the bone of the handle and looked carefully where his thumb drew across.

“I thought so.  Laun, this is amazing.  This is a find you have.”

Laun shrugged, her hands out and palms up to him.  “It was from my Lady Hellon and I do not know where she acquired it.   I do like the form but it is slightly big for my hand.”

The Admiral took a few swipes in the air with it, stopping and coloring slightly.  “Forgive, Highness.  The last time I saw a Causican carved blade, I was commanding my first ship on it’s way back from the other continent.”

Laun sat on the edge of the bed and smiled.  “That sounds like an adventure, sir.”

He nodded and leaned on the footboard of the bed.  “The Causicans are a naval nomad tribe who hunt and follow the large animals of the sea.  There was one of their leaders who had been in port with us to trade and he and I drank together several times over the month my ship was there...”

Laun smiled and laughed and looked serious at the right moments as he told of small and large adventures he was remembering from that trip.  All the Causican nomads carved and carried their own knife such as the one he was looking at in his hand.  It was supposed to be from their first hunting kill, but the Admiral said that the nomad leader made several a year just to make sure he had one if one broke or was lost while they were on the water.

He pointed out faint tracings of designs that came up as the bone warmed in his hand, showing what tribe this was from and the story of the hunt that took the beast down.

“... I was never able to meet up with him again and was told that most of his tribe were lost at sea during a storm several years later.  I enjoyed my time with him and his family and regret never being able to drink with him again.”  The Admiral became quiet as he looked at the blade almost cradled in his hand.

Laun nodded seriously and stood.  Without a word, she pulled the sheath from the line of sheaths on the belt and handed it to Killian.  “You appreciate it much more than I, Killian.  It is yours.”

He hesitantly held out his hand and then took the sheath.  He had a crooked smile as he matched the blade to the sheath and pushed it in.  “I don’t know what to say, Laun... Princess,” he looked up at her, “For the last few days, I have been welcomed in your household as I have not been anywhere else.  You treat me as honored enemy, which is an old custom and one that I wish our people observed sometimes.  I-”  He bowed to Laun.

Laun made a slight curtsey back and said, “I treat those around me as I would wish to be treated.  Unless it is shown to me that it needs to be otherwise.  Killian, Fleet Admiral, you have been a good guest, letting me win at Sticks after all.”  He laughed.  “If I can have a smile from you with a trinket from my hand, it is more than worth the gap in my collection.”

The Admiral went to undo his belt to slide the sheath on and stopped.  “Laun, I am sorry.”

She tilted her head and tried to look serious.  “Why?  Do you need help?”

He chortled.  He undid his belt, his tunic becoming shapeless as he put the gifted knife on it.  He fingered it before he buckled the belt back on, settling the blade at his hip on the other side of his marling spike.  “Thank you, Highness.  I have fuck-all to say-”  He colored from his collar up.

Laun laughed. “I have heard worse, Admiral.  Said worse, too.”  She held out her hand and he took it, an open palm to hers as he kissed the back of her hand.  He paused and then lifted her knuckles to his forehead, leaving it there for more time than needed to show his pledge of honor.

“I will be going back to Rosemond within a week of reporting back to the Embassy.  The duties my cousin and King have me do for him keep me traveling.  I do not know when or if I will be back to the Midlands, but if I am, I will strive to attend you again.”  He bowed to her again.

It was time for Laun to color slightly.  “I am happy to have made such an impression, Killian.  Now that the message is written and given to your hand, you must needs be on your way.  Our friend Gyrip will take you as far as the crossroads Inn where his Master resides, but I am sure you can make it to the Capitol City beyond that.”

Laun remembered the slight longing look he had given her at the barrier as the official farewell was given.  He was still enemy, though charming, and Laun had not taken him up on any of his subtle offers, playing them off with a smile.  She did not have to take everything that was offered and though tempting, his was not a Stick to be played in her field.

There was a hand on her arm that brought her back from her remembering.  One of the soldiers ran his hand down her arm to her hand and bowed to her.  She started to curtsy and realized that the musicians were playing a dance tune.  She was pulled into a dance with several other couples, cursing herself for not paying attention, but laughing outwardly as no one knew all the steps, but tromped along with the music anyway.

It felt good to be dancing.  The movement freed as the forgotten steps were replaced by whatever would allow those around her to not trip over each other.  Laun’s sandal started to slip and she reached out as she went sideways, grabbing and bringing down one of the other soldiers who had requested the tune.  She laughed loudly and stuck her foot in the air to show her askew sandal, more laughter from those around her as the thong was retied by one man and her leg held by another.

She was pulled back to her feet and a circular dance began, all arms locked as the circle of dancers moved, mostly, in step around a central person.  The woman in the middle tried to escape, as Laun caught on as she was pulled into the circle, if she kissed one of the people dancing around her.  The one kissed was pushed inside and it continued.  It was harder than it seemed as there were people dancing, moving and kicking as the person in the middle had to keep up with and kiss one of their dancing captors.

Laun smiled as she watched the others in the circle.  She danced, thwarting several attempts to kiss her just by keeping pace with others.  It was like the studded oranges, a game to soften formality, though Salam-Dir did not really need that as much as other places may.

Laun tried to duck out of the dance, but the men to either side of her would not let go.  Her sandal slipped again and she had to kick it off partially to keep it from tripping her.  It did not work for more than a few measures.  She tried to pull the men towards each other, but they caught onto what she was doing and pulled apart.

She was going to hurt herself if she continued with a flapping sandal.  Laun tried not to smirk as she stumbled and went down to her knees, bringing one of the men down with her.  She put her hand to her ankle and the dancing went around them, flowing past and enveloping more people.

“Highness!  Are you hurt?”  The soldier was a little tipsy and she could smell more than ale on his breath as he tried to be gentle in his pawing motions.

Laun nodded and sucked in her breath as if there was pain as she sat there.  “I was trying to not hurt myself.  I always seem to do this and I was hoping-”

The soldier had sat up and had pulled her to him, kissing her full on the lips.  He let her go, a look of shock on his face at his own actions.  “Princess!  Sorry!  I-Sorry!”

He tried to scramble up off the ground.  Laun reached out and held the front of his tunic, pulling him back down.  He landed more sprawled than before, his legs seeming to give out on him.  Laun punched him in the shoulder and pulled him back to her to give him a kiss.

The eyes looking back at Laun were drunkenly confused and a small half-smile was on his lips.  Laun put her hand around his throat and said, “The punch is for not asking first.  Come back when you aren’t drunk.”

The smile bloomed to a full smile on the soldiers face.  Laun pushed him to the ground by his throat and he let her, the smile showing her that he would not have cared about anything done to him right then.  Laun pulled off her sandal and pushed herself up using him like she would have a log for support.

Men and women around her laughed at the man she left in a heap on the ground.  Hands were offered to get her to a bench and she took them, holding her sandal in one hand and the underskirt up with the other.  There was a space and Laun sat.  One of the kitchen staff knelt and put her sandal back on for her, the touch lingering on her calf for longer than needed.  The redhead was always so forward, and Laun reached down and put her hand under the red braid at her neck.  They kissed and Laun felt a promise for time from the woman in the returned passion.

The calm in the chaos walked through and stood, waiting to catch Laun’s attention.  Deni saw the calm man and moved away from her Lady.  Pillar had the basket with the babies and Laun could hear the fussing, even over the celebrations.  There was a cry from Sable and Laun felt her breast respond, a cooling wetness on her tunic at the cry of hunger.

Laun considered moving things around under the tunic, pulling the cloth over herself for some modesty.  She shook her head at herself and pulled her tunic up and over her head, exposing her top half and the ties that kept the skirt on her.  There was a whistle, but not a lewd one, as one of the mercs still in their employ saw the leather sand filled sap strapped to her forearm.

Sable was on one breast, Ash on the other as Laun sat on the bench in the midst of the celebration.  Pillar helped to support one of Laun’s arms with his and had a gentle hand on her back.

“You are well, I see.”  Laun caught a slight hint of something in his voice that brought out humor not sarcasm.

“Because you and the other healers are keeping me together.  I still do not know what we would have done without you and your wife in the household.  Kell was a find.”  Laun turned slightly, trying not to dislodge the babies on her.  “And Disa looks the happiest I have ever seen her.”

Pillar beamed in his smile.  “She completes us.”  The shaman leaned in and kissed Laun on the cheek.  “Thank you, Laun.”

Laun smiled back, feeling both a wash of love for her maid and the healers as well as a small eddy of something akin to melancholy knowing the closeness Disa, Lucaris, and Pillar had.  His hand started to rub her back, finding painful knots that made her tense under his hand.

The babies were put in the basket, both not quite asleep after their feeding, but calm enough to not need to be entertained.  Pillar motioned and they both straddled the bench, Launs shoulders bare and available for the shaman to massage.  Her hair was loose, but it easily was twisted and put over one shoulder as Pillar readied himself.

An oil was brought from somewhere under his leather tunic and spread over her shoulders.  It warmed on her skin, giving her a slight overly warm feeling for a moment before he started to press into her skin.  He had a good touch, finding knots that had been building in her shoulders and upper back for quite some time.

Laun looked down at the babies.  Ash was still awake and had wiggled her hands free of her swaddling, again.  Sable was asleep, her lips puckered as though she was still nursing.  Laun smiled and turned her head forward when Pillar ran his hand along her neck, finding yet another knot.

Her eyes were closed as the sensations of the pain turning to smooth touches went through her.  Pillar paused, one hand leaving her back for a moment before returning, a touch more oil on her skin.  She could feel the touch of the hand change, the weight on the bench move and change.

The basket with the babies was being moved from beside her and Laun saw Pillar nodding to her as he left.  Laun was curious who had taken his place, but really didn’t care as the hands worked her muscles.  The hands went down until they were stopped by the skirt, but that did not last long as Laun felt the ties being undone and the massage continuing.

Laun leaned on the bench between her legs, supporting her as the strokes became slightly stronger, pushing at her as they went from the nape of her neck down to almost her tailbone.  She felt something in her back move, a low snapping sound that only she could hear.  There was a sigh and her head dropped at the release of tension she had not known she was carrying.

The boots she was looking at as she hung her head made her blink.  Boots.  Riding leathers.  Strong hands on her back that were used to massaging horses.  Laun looked up and saw that Fount was being pursued by several of the women on the other side of the fire, a slow chase that involved a pitcher and several mugs.

Edgar was talking with some of the men a few paces away, his back to Laun but unmistakable in his form and baring.  That conversation seemed to be going strong and no one raised their head from the huddle.

“Hunter!  You’re back?”  Laun turned and saw she was right.  She leaned back into his arms and they kissed as his oiled hands moved to her front and supported her breasts.

He smelled of dust and Thunder the charger and sweat and leather.  He tasted of the road dust but also of berries and ale and some fish.  His beard had not been shaved and he was scratchy on Laun’s cheek, but she did not care.

“I got to the barricade and they said the naming ceremony was being held.  I don’t remember there being this much fun at the last one.”  He kissed her again and wrapped his arms further around her.

Laun felt a buzzing of pleasure and emotion just below her skin.  “I hope there wasn’t too much trouble on your journey.”

He shook his head and smiled.  He put his face on the top of her head and breathed her scent in.  “Everything can be said tomorrow, except this.  I Love you, Laun.”

Laun felt a part of her melt and if she had been standing her legs would have gone out from under her.  He started to kiss her on the forehead and was working his way down the side of her face when there was a whoop and an impact on Hunter’s back.

Fount had seen his brother and had come to greet him, slapping him on the back, before seeing who he was wrapped around.  He slowed slightly, but his arm was already out for a warriors grip.  Hunter took his younger brother’s arm and pulled him in towards them, slapping his shoulder.  Laun grabbed and pulled until Fount was straddling the bench in front of her, facing Hunter and herself.

“How were the roads?  Did you get caught in the last storm?  Word on Rosemond troop movements?  What about-”

Laun put her hand on Fount’s mouth and then pulled him in for a kiss.  “He will talk tomorrow about such things.  You have a naked woman in front of you and you want to know about troop movements?”

Hunter laughed and put his arms around both Laun and Fount.  It was tight between them, but it was good.  “I missed you, rat.”

“You smell like a stable!” Fount said, pulling back slightly.

Laun leaned back into Hunter’s chest and pulled one of Fount’s hands to a breast.  “A little sweat isn’t bad, Love.  I have an idea of someplace to clean up...”

Laun let the skirt fall off of her as she stood from the bench.  Some eyes that had not seen her naked before glanced her way and some stayed to take in the joyful way she dragged the two men through the gathering, a few kept eyes on her counting the scars.  They made their way to the edge of the outside Great Hall and Laun kept going.

To gather spring water for the household, they had erected a small dam in the stream that grew the watercress.  They had not had to bring the spring water into the household since the mass of people had left, but the dam was still there making a spring fed pool in the half moon light.

Laun felt the cold water between her toes as she stepped in.  It was mostly sand underfoot, a few plants here and there dislodged by her footsteps.  It was not deep, only about up to her knees in the deepest part, but it would be enough for cleansing.  Laun knelt down and felt a cold shiver go through her as the water came up to almost her breasts as she knelt.  She cupped water in her hands and let it trickle down her arms as she raised them to the moon.

Both men watched her as she started to play a little in the water, beckoning to the men to join her.  The moonlight glinted off the water, the little wet trails on Laun’s body flowing into the scars that glowed in the moonlight.  The only shadow on her was the sap strapped to her forearm, a warning of darkness against her glow.  Fount heard his older brother catch his breath and looked over and up to see a man entranced by what he saw.  Fount looked back and saw Laun lean back into the water, breasts barely above the surface.  She pulled herself out of the water, her hair part of the surface of the water at first and then wetly covering her shoulders and breasts.  Fount could see her eyes and they seemed to glow through the shadow.

Buckles started to be undone, straps and thongs pulled for their release of the suddenly restricting garments on the men.  Piles of tunics and leathers and boots and belts were left on the ground as the brothers strode to the waters edge.  They both stopped, not wanting to be first, but not wanting to be last.

The nymph of the watercress pool stood and walked forward.  She dripped as she walked, holding out her hands to the men.  She took a hand from each and pulled them into the cold water.  Fount was about to swear, but knew it would break the mood.  He breathed in and let the cold water flow around him and found it was refreshing, not shocking.

She knelt and the men knelt, too.  They were on either side of her, their hands going to her, caressing her.  Laun leaned over and scooped up some of the sand from beneath them, letting it flow through her fingers and onto Hunter’s chest.  She rubbed the grit over him and his head went back slightly.  Laun reached below the surface and took some of the sand for Fount, pouring and rubbing on his shoulder.

The men took handfuls of the sand and started to rub it along Laun’s skin.  Fount moved in close on his knees to Laun.  He reached under the water and took sand for her front and back, pressing his chest into her as he ran his hand over her above and below the water.

Hunter was not to be out done. He cupped water and splashed himself and then cupped water over Laun, the moonlit water flowing over her breasts, cleaning some of the grit from her.  Laun leaned into Fount and lightly moaned as Fount’s hands stopped scrubbing and went to her womanhood.

The men looked at each other and Hunter smiled before the younger one did.  Hunter leaned into the water, letting himself get immersed as he leaned back, wetting himself and rinsing the sand from him.  He took a wide stance on his knees and lifted Laun partway out of the water and then onto his lap.

Fount was about to object but he saw the position his brother had put Laun into.  Fount’s legs went under Laun and between his brother’s legs, locking them together.

Laun paused and put her wet hand on Hunter’s whiskered cheek.  “New rules, Love.  Spill your seed outside of me.  Understand?”

Hunter nodded.  His hands went to her hips.  Her legs wrapped around his waist at the waterline.  Laun leaned back into Fount’s chest and turned her head to kiss him.  His hands went around her, grasping at her breasts.

Fount met her womanhood and thrust into her, bringing out a gasp.  Hunter felt his brother brushing against him and it was maddening.  He wanted to be in her, the cold water turning warm with their body heat but not bringing his desire down at all.  He could feel her grinding, but it was not with Hunter inside her.

Launs arms went around Hunter’s neck and she pulled herself off of Fount.  Hunter had a small amount of time to lean down to try to kiss her before the desire he had was no longer in the cooling water but the heating cunt of his lover.  He growled as she ground herself into him, pressing her breasts into his chest.  They kissed and she felt wonderful to him.

There was a gasp from her and Hunter could feel why as his brother was pressing his cock into her ass.  Hunter could feel it move as his brother was just a skin away from his own manhood.  Her fingernails bit into Hunter’s shoulders, a hiss of breath from her and a grinding of teeth from him.  He did not want to share her with anyone, but the intense feelings she brought out of him made him want to do anything to be with her.  Even share her with his little brother.

Fount’s hand went up Laun’s side and cupped her breast.  It did not stay there long as his hand went up and held onto her shoulder, pressing her down as he was thrusting up.  Fount leaned forward and found that his other hand was groping for Hunter’s, finding a warriors grip for stability.  Fount stopped moving and he felt Hunter take up the stroke, rubbing and sliding against him, frothing the water between them.

Hunter held both of them and felt his desire to have his way with her change to needing to protect her, and his brother.  Sharing her with his brother the first time had been engineered to make them talk.  Now, he saw how they fit together and it was beautiful.  The moon lit them in the clear water, the light breeze fresh and carrying their gasps and groans away.  Hunter put his other arm around Laun and held Fount by the shoulder.

Hunter stopped moving.  Fount held still.  Laun gasped and wiggled and had a frustration of having the cocks of her lovers filling her but not moving.  It felt so wonderful being held, making love to them both.  Her head went back and was on Fount’s shoulder.  He kissed her neck through the wet hair and she felt his teeth bite lightly on her skin.  She tried to move her hips but she was trapped, the sensations she had going through her making her want more.

There was a grunt.  A grunt called back and the men started to move at the same time.  Laun took in a breath but it was too shallow.  She felt as though she couldn’t breathe as they held her and thrust into her.  She felt the water splashing up her body, cool but heated by the men around her.  Things inside of her started to move and her head went forward into Hunter’s chest.

Her orgasm took her and she made low growls into Hunter’s chest as the men tried to keep a rhythm as she thrashed between them.  It was difficult and Fount found that he was too close to continue.  He stopped and felt himself pulse while still in her ass.  He wanted to be in her when he came to his peak, but she had told of her wishes to not have the men do that for now.  A flash of selfishness went through him and he thrust back up into her, but he could not hold back.  He swore and dropped his arm from his brothers to be able to wrench himself from her before he broke his word to her.

Fount fell back into the water splashing the other two as he tried to not go under the water.  He felt the cold hit his manhood and he held his breath to not bellow out as his seed went into the water.  He gasped and leaned on the sandy bottom of the pool, watching his Lady and his brother.  Hunter’s arms went around Laun and supported her as he continued to thrust into her.

The older brother changed his position and Fount watched as Hunter stood from the water.  Laun’s legs were around his waist, but Hunter had all of her supported in his arms, cradling her butt and her back, water and some of the water greens falling back into the pool.  He was still in her as he carefully strode to the edge of the pool and put her on her back at the water’s edge.

Fount idly stroked himself, cleaning off anything into the water that could have been taken from her ass, but also strangely enjoying watching his brother show his strength and then making love to his Lady.  Fount saw Laun’s back arch as Hunter thrust deep into her, the wan moonlight making shadows of them against the black night.  He saw Hunter put one hand above her shoulder, one arm around her waist, thrusting into her as she was being brought to the edge of another peak.  His brother slowed, a whine coming from Laun.

His manhood never completely went down as Fount watched the two in the moonlight.  The head was sensitive and he only had to stroke slightly to keep himself hard.  He heard a low grunt from Hunter and knew that Laun would be frustrated at the edge of her peak if he withdrew now.

Hunter had a tap on his shoulder.  He nodded and withdrew after one last deep stroke into Laun.  Fount took his place as Hunter stood from between her legs.  He felt his strength almost gone as he rubbed his shaft, bringing himself back to his knees as Hunter let loose into the dirt.  He lay in the moonlight, gasping for air, listening to the slapping of flesh on flesh beside him.  Hunter watched his younger brother as he brought their lover to another orgasm, trying to take his time but being hurried with the hips and hands of Laun insisting on the rhythm that would bring her off.

“Oh, Gods!  How-”  Fount’s head went back and he tried to roll off of Laun as her orgasm pushed Fount to another.  She moved her hips and he was out of her, his manhood throbbing and spurting down the inside of her thigh.  She was still moving, but her own hands were bringing her the rest of what she wanted.

The three of them were on the ground, catching their breath.  Laun giggled and said, “We need to wash up from our cleaning.”  The other two laughed, hands reaching out and touching skin on whoever was there.

It took a few minutes, but they did go back into the pool, separated to keep the heat from before returning.  Laun was the quickest as she did not have clothing to get back into.  The men rinsed off and tried to carefully pick up their clothing.  Both decided that they would have to come back the next day to see if they had left anything as the moon’s light was glorious for making love, it was not enough to find one’s belt.

A shadow pulled from the trees and followed them to the edge of the torchlight in the Great Hall of Lady Hellon’s Hill.  The men dressed as best they could with the spring water still clinging to them.  Laun giggled and kissed both of them as they stood there, not sure if they wanted to go into the crowd that knew she had dragged them from.  Laun was about to lead them back in when Edgar stepped from the shadows and offered the shelter of his cape to her.

Laun blushed and smiled at Edgar.  She nodded and touched the cheeks of the other two men before being enveloped by her first sworn and slowly walking back into the night with him.

It was warm under the cape with him.  His arm was around her as they walked towards a small grove of apples.  Edgar slowed as the light was almost gone to let Laun pick her way through the sticks and stones on the ground.  He pulled his cape back and she turned, the dark not showing the smile on her face.

Laun found herself pushed against one of the trees, Edgar’s body pinning her against the rough bark.  She gasped and tried to speak, but his mouth was on hers and she was kissed and breathed with him.  He had a passion in him that Laun had not seen for a while and the suddenness was both exciting and frightening.

He pulled his mouth from hers and started to talk to her, his rumble fanning the embers of her own passion.  He had seen the three of them leave and had followed.  He had seen her enter the water, the glow of the moon making her an etherial vision as the water flowed over her.  Her lovers taking her in the water, bringing her to a peak that he could see and hear from the trees.  Being carried to the water’s edge and made love to until she came again.  Edgar’s voice dropped lower and Laun could feel it through her as he told her of what he had wanted to do, to join them, to make her come to her peak himself.

His hand had moved to his breeches, a strap between his manhood and her.  He flipped his breeches open and he only made a small show of rubbing against her before lifting her along the trunk of the tree and then thrusting into her.

The scrapes on her back were painful and Laun tried to not call out.  Edgars rapid thrusting into her as he gripped the branch by her head and a hand dug into her hip was also painful, but it was also good for her.  She had her arms around him under the cape, holding onto his tunic for support with her feet not touching the ground.

His voice turned to grunts and growls into her neck as he let his lust take him over.  Laun started to speak of the feel of the water over her and the touch of her lovers as he grunted to her.  She panted of Fount’s cock in her and how it felt, telling Edgar that she wished he had shown himself at the pool.  She felt him getting close to his peak  and grunted out that she wanted him to come inside of her, that she wanted only him to be the next father.

He bellowed and stayed in her as the rush came, but he dropped her and he popped out and spilled his seed on her stomach as he pressed his hips into her.  He gasped and felt his legs tremble as he held onto the tree behind Laun.

He sat and Laun sat next to him, being drawn under the cape with him.  He put her in his lap and wrapped the cape around them, his breath refusing to come steadily.

“My Lady, I have wanted to do that for a year.”

Laun raised her head from his shoulder and said, “We have made love more times than I can count-”

He shook his head.  “The night at the Inn.  I wanted to find a private place and fuck you, but it wasn’t the time.”

Laun settled back on his shoulder and nodded.  “I had something in me tell me it was not right, but I wanted you then, too.  I did not know what I was to do with you, but I wanted you.”

Edgar put a trembling hand on her and drew her in for a kiss.  “My Lady, do you still need me?”

Laun thought back to the night at the Inn.  He had said that he was hers until she did not need him.  A short, informal swearing to her, but it had also been him trying to tell her that he loved her, even then.  A year ago.  Such a long year.  He had waited for so long before that night as he had watched her grow, protected her.  He had loved her.

“I shall ever need you, Love.  You have always been there to protect me and I shall ever need your protection.”  She kissed him on the chin and said, “Mostly from myself.”

She could feel his smile and the low laugh that came from his chest.  He held her and they were under the apple tree for a while, talking low about little things and telling each other that they loved and were loved.

Laun had the courage to bring up Fount and what she suspected.  “Edgar...  I have a question, and you do not have to answer it if you do not wish.  I will respect anything you wish to tell me and I will not go any further-”

Edgar put his hand on her neck, his fingers in her damp hair and he pulled her in for a kiss.  “My Lady Love, what are you trying to ask me?”

She put her hand on his and turned her face to kiss his palm.  “Are you and Fount lovers?”

There was a physical shake in Edgar.  Laun heard his breath become shallow and rapid.  Then he cleared his throat and took in a deep breath.  “Yes.  We have been lovers.”

Laun smiled.  She kissed Edgar and ran her fingers over his lips as she said softly, “I am glad.”

“You aren’t mad?”

She let out a small chuckle.  “Why would I be upset for my Loves loving each other?  I was gone for far too long.  You both are strong but need...  Need someone to show tenderness with who will not turn it against you.”

“I didn’t want to hide it... I guess we didn’t hide it.  Did someone tell you?”  His voice started to have an edge to it.

Laun shook her head and said, “I have been seeing hints.  It is the only way Fount could have made you so angry-”

He snorted.  “The boy has some ideas about you and his brother wasn’t being too much better.  I just wanted to bash their heads together.  I could not think straight, so I left.”  His hand pulled her in for another kiss and he said into her mouth, “Every day away from you tore at me.”

“But it was useful.  Out of frustration, information.”

He sighed.  “You can always turn things like that.  I love you, My Lady.”

They kissed gently as Laun sat on Edgar’s lap under the cape.  There were night bird calls and they held still until they heard the return call from one of the protectors.  It was just checking in, but it told the two that it was past mid-nite.

Laun put a hand to a breast and felt the fullness.  She was able to ignore most aches, but she knew that this was one that called of the hunger of the babies.  Edgar’s hand went to hers, his head making the cape drop off them some as he licked at her wet nipple.  She did not want him to stop as his tongue drew circles on her skin, flicking her nipple and sending a low heat through her.  She gasped as he pulled some of her breast into his mouth with a strong breath in, the talented tongue doing things to her nipple.

Edgar wanted her again, but gentle, tender this time.  Not the rush of a push and sigh that he had held in for so long.  The cape came off and on the ground, Laun laying on it under the apple trees as Edgar took his clothing off, rolling everything together to be able to find them in the dark.

Not having the seed of other men in her, she was not used to the almost dry that her fingers found as she waited for Edgar.  His own seed was on her stomach, dry and crusting on her skin.  Laun fingered herself as she thought of what Edgar could do to and for her.  She was excited, but the wetness she was expecting was not there.

She thought of the almost mindless lovers talk she had whispered and grunted to him while he had pinned her to the tree.  She had said to all who wished to be with her that she did not want their seed in her.  She did not wish to become pregnant again.  At least that soon.  But...  Edgar.  She wanted to have his child.  It had been difficult with the twins-the three.

Laun’s eyes teared up and she stopped trying to bring out her own fluids from her womanhood.  Her hand went limp over her fur and she had a shudder go through her.

Edgar knelt, feeling in the dark for her.  He felt her body shake and asked, “Are you cold?”

Laun sobbed slightly and said, “No.  It’s the...  Please, make love to me...”

His hand went over hers and found her dryness beneath.  He thought for a moment and turned himself, laying along her body and putting his manhood within easy reach of Laun’s mouth.  His head went between her legs, licking and pressing his lips to her lower ones.  Laun reached for his manhood and found it was soft.  She stroked along the shaft and gently licked at the foreskin covering the head.  She pulled it back and tasted him.

They licked and tasted and rubbed each other for a while.  It was gentle, a lingering touch that they had not had time for in such a long while.  It was not the spark, the flame that Laun had grown used to in her lovemaking.  It was subtle, a fanning of a low fire’s embers, feeding it twig by twig until the feelings through her were fulfilling in themselves.  They sped up and slowed down, listening to the moans and flashes of heat that came to them in the dark.

Edgar sat up and put his slick fingers to Laun’s lips.  “Do you want me in you, or do you want to taste me.  You have brought me close several times...”

Laun heard herself say, “You are always thinking of my pleasure, Love.  What do you want?”  She wanted to tell him to be inside of her, to let loose everything he had, to make her his.  She knew it was difficult dealing with her, and to change what she had told her lovers in the middle of things was unfair.  But she hoped.

Laun could not see the smile on his face.  “I could continue doing this for the rest of the night, but I know you need to go and feed the babies.”

There was a sigh.  “Yes.  But I am like you, I could be here just in your arms and I would be happy.  I would not want to have your body back up though.”

Edgar laughed.  He scooted up on the cape and reached for Laun’s hands.  “Do we know each other so well that we are able to do nothing and be happy?”

Laun squeezed Edgar’s hands.  “Like a married couple.  My Lord...”  Laun kissed a knuckle of Edgar’s hand and heard an intake of breath from him.

He let out the breath and said, “Not even in jest, Laun.  You have made that one clear.”

Laun sat and put her head to Edgar’s chest.  “I would not change how I am, how I act, but if I could, you are the first I would ask to be my Lord beside me.”  She sighed and it turned to a sob.

His arms went around her and he held her, his hand holding her to his chest as she started to cry in earnest.  His lips pressed to her forehead and he breathed her scent in, a clean smell with nothing of the musk of others on her.  He did not know why she was upset, but he held her, protected her from the night’s chill and supported her as she needed it.

There was a close bird call, making Laun jump in Edgars' embrace.  There were footsteps and a returned call a ways away.  A night lamp was swinging close and would have passed if it had not caught some of the exposed skin of the lovers.

“Hoy?  Who’s there?”

Laun sighed.  She sat up and rubbed the tears from her face before saying in a clear, quiet voice, “Laun.”

“Highness!  Sorry to have found you like this and...  Edgar.  Sir, forgive me for this.”

Edgar spoke louder and said, “You are doing your duty, Linat.  Don’t apologize for that.  How is the night?”

The night lamps’ sliver of light was turned from them as it was set on the ground.  The Protector leaned on his staff as he started in on a good listing of what those who would need to know would need to hear.

“Several of the soldiers had to be taken back to their mess tent.  Someone has been making a mash brew and half of them were drinking both that and the ale tonight.  Looks like the deer migration has started.  There was at least one doe out by the old house and someone heard scraping further to the south fields.  Most of the household is down for the night and the fires have been banked in the ‘out Hall.  Though, Lady, the shamen did put word out that, um...”

Laun nodded in the dark.  “The babies need to be attended to.”

“Exactly right.  And except for you two, my walk has been uneventful since I went on at two bells.”

Edgar looked up through the branches of the trees and swore.  “Hel’s gate.  Crap.  Love, I didn’t know it was so late.  I was supposed to be at the barricade to relieve-”

“Ah,” the Protector coughed.  “We couldn’t find you so Fount and his brother went in your stead.  They seemed to be talking close and volunteered for the shift.”

“I was certain you had tired them out-”  Laun pinched Edgar and he jumped, but laughed.  “It may be time to find clothes and go back.”

Laun sighed and nodded in the dark again.  “It was good.”  She kissed him on the chin and started to stand.  Linat held out a hand, his arm going through the light of the night lamp or else Laun never would have seen it.  He steadied her as Edgar stood and shook out the cape.

The night lamp was used to help Edgar dress, though Laun was feeling the chill of the early morning without her own tunic on.  The cape went around her as the three of them made their way back to where she had last seen her clothing.

Sleepers were bundled around the outside Great Hall.  Under tables, by the fire, in twos and threes.  Some stirred as the lamp went across them, but no one truly woke as Laun searched for at least the tunic.  She could not find the one she had come to the gathering in, but found one that would do until she was in the keep.

“Linat, where are the shamen?”

“Great Hall, Lady.  Do you need escort?”

Laun looked to Edgar in the low light from the sputtering torches and banked fire.  “Are you going off to the barricade?”

Edgar did not hesitate to draw her into him and kissed her, strongly and long.  “I should.  I’ll have to give myself a talking to in the morning for missing my shift.”

“I think your Lady will excuse you this one time.”  She pushed her lips into his and raised herself of tip-toe to try to put as much force behind it as she could.

Edgar released her and sighed.  “I set the schedule.  I let myself get distracted and completely forgot.  I have need to go, my Love.”

Laun nodded and stepped back.  “I know.  The duty of the household.  Just think of me...?”

“Always.”

They parted, Linet taking Laun’s arm and escorting her through the Salam-Dir lands beck to the keep.  Laun had not been tired while with Edgar, but felt waves of sleepiness and exhaustion come to her as she finally sat on a chair by the low fire in the Great Hall.  She smiled at Linet and thanked him for his escort before he made a small bow and went back into the night.

Lucaris had Ash in her arms, the baby not quite asleep.  “Nan and Fira nursemaided for you when we could not find you.  But Ash is always hungry.”  The baby was in Laun’s arms and more awake when she saw who it was.

The tunic came off and Laun nursed Ash for a while, mostly to connect with her.  Laun’s breasts were full, almost painfully so, and even just the little bit Ash brought out helped with the too-full feeling.  Laun talked to Ash, telling her about things a child should not know about her father.  The sound of Laun’s voice pleased the child and lulled her to sleep.

Lucaris listened to Laun’s low voice as she sat near.  She took the child and leaned down to Laun.  “Cleansing in the moonlight in a clear spring is good for cleansing things from one’s soul.  Making love like that blesses all there.”  There was a welcome but unexpected kiss from the shaman before she went away with the child.

Laun leaned back in the chair and put her head against the wood.  It had been a good night.  It looked like not just for her.  She could hear some soft snores in the large room, the rhythm easy to listen to.  Laun closed her eyes and felt the heat from the fire beside her and the chill of the dark play over her skin.  She felt as though she was floating in the water at the springs pool again and fell asleep.

Onto the next morning in Chapter 21