Chapter 2

The Robber's Camp was busier than an ant's nest in summer time. Meggie dodged past steaming roast hogs that sat upon silver platters, carried by the Strolling Players wives. Trays laden with what looked like potatoes sizzled as she ducked under the bearers. Sugared fruits and candies sent from Ombra were piled up in crates, small children lifting each other up to grab the biggest ones they could find. The delicious scents of sweet wines and bitter ales wafted about the site with pot bellied men and women chasing after them. Meggie was surprised Fenoglio wasn't with that group. Enchanted lamps were wound round each tree trunk and round most tents as well. Music and sing song voices echoed from every corner, telling tales of evil kings beaten and good years of present. It was like a giant carnival, bigger than any celebration seen back in the other world. Everything was being ferried towards a great oak table on which the Black Prince stood surveying the preparations, his bear laying loyally beneath.

The reason for this great festival was simple. The Black Prince was married that morning.

In the centre of all the multi-colour and embroidered tents a red and gold carriage stood. Out of this stepped Violante, Her Kindness, The Queen of Ombra and The Black Prince's wife.

The hustling of the camp stopped for a brief moment. This gave Meggie a chance to stumble her way through the excited crowd so she was only a few feet away from Doria. The boy had an expression of wonder on his face as did the rest of the camp.

Violante was still wearing her wedding dress, an exquisite cream one with lace that was slightly off white. The train trailed off back into her carriage where Jacopo sat clinging to the silky end a cheeky smile spread across his face. Perhaps the child enjoyed being part of the Strolling Players, especially since Dustfinger lived nearby. The sleeves of the bride's dress were long and braided together with green ribbon; her soft brown hair was mostly loose but the off white lace veil was plaited into it with some more green ribbon. As she climbed on to the table with the Prince, Meggie spotted her green shoes which shone as if they were made of some material similar to satin.

The Queen looked stunning. But the most fascinating thing about her was the dazzling smile that set her whole face glowing with beauty. Nobody had even seen Violante this happy, even in the days when Cosimo was alive.

At the same moment The Black Prince took his new wife's hand, Meggie felt work roughened fingers brush her own palm. Glancing to the culprit she grinned nervously, letting Doria's fingers lock with hers. Bending over the boy began to whisper.

'The speeches are about to begin, do you want to escape?'

Meggie looked up questioningly and on meeting his sincere gaze she nodded letting herself be pulled towards a large but plain tent.

It was the tent that Doria shared with his brother, The Strong Man. The tent itself suited the older brother perfectly; large but kind and simple. The tent was relatively tall and most of the grass that it sat upon was covered in deer and other animal hides. One side of the tent contained a large mattress and assortments of messy belongings scattered around. Doria's side consisted of a slightly smaller straw mattress and a pillow of goose feathers that Meggie had made him. Two sturdy wooden desks stood near his bed. One was covered in piles of parchment most of which were designs and plans for Doria's inventions, though some were his and Meggie's where she'd been teaching him how to spell and write correctly.

The other table was mostly clear. Only a few tools and a bit of parchment were left on it. Doria had bent over behind his bed; all Meggie could see was his lower back and well shaped buttocks. She blushed and shook her head. Bad thoughts.

She really hadn't been able to help herself recently. Every time the boy's leg brushed her own, Meggie shivered and her imagination ran wild. Whenever she felt his fingers hold her hand or accidentally touch her, the same thing happened. Occasionally she would think back to her kissing sessions with Farid, but replace the soft dark hair with blond wavy hair, and the quick charred hands with gentle clean ones. These day dreams would take her mind far away, to situations where doing those things with Doria would be so easy and where his spirited eyes could make her melt right through and release the warm tickly feeling that pooled in her lower stomach whenever her touched her.

Suddenly realising how hot her face was Meggie stopped staring heatedly at the floor and looked up. She gasped when she noticed how close the object of her dreams was to her. His eyes softened into a worried look and he reached out to stroke her cheek.

'Meggie, are you okay? You're very warm and you look really red.'

Meggie nodded frantically, 'yes, I'm fine, what did you want to show me?'

Doria's features instantly brightened and he strode over to his mattress on which now laid a strange wooden contraption, obviously what he had brought Meggie over to see. It looked like a wooden bird wing, all the joints pinned together with tiny wooden pegs and thick parchment used like skin to cover the gaps.

Meggie stroked the upper side, estimating how much time, work and money must have gone into building it. Work tanned hands joined her dainty pale ones as they both traced the complex structure of the giant wing. She felt Doria's mouth brush against her ear as he spoke.

'It's for you. I'm making another one now so you can fly just like you did back home.'

Meggie's eyes widened in shock and wonder as she replied, 'Will it work?'

His warm breath continued to brush past her face as he moved causing her skin to tingle delightedly until he settled his chin on her shoulder. Tracing the different parts of the wing he began to explain.

'It's not quite like the flying machines you told me about, it can only carry one person. Once the other wing is made I'm going to connect them both to a different invention. That one will be made out of material and will go around your legs, waist and arms. To fly you jump and move your arms and legs as if you were swimming, just arm strength wouldn't be enough. It will be like a flying suit, especially fitted for you.'

There was silence for awhile as Meggie continued to study the wing and imagine what the finished 'Flying Suit' would look like, the entire idea amazed her. Doria was amazing.

Turning to look at the inventor she frowned as she noticed he was blushing.

'What's wrong,' she asked, carefully shifting on the bed so she was facing him.

'I sort of need to take your measurements to make the suit. That's why I brought you back here. Your dress, it isn't the right shape. The suit is tight and streamline.'

Meggie's mouth fell open in astonishment. Polite, innocent Doria was asking her to strip and then let him touch her all over with a measuring tape. But then, he was innocent, so what was wrong with that. Wasn't she dreaming only minutes ago of that sort of treatment.

Licking and biting her lip nervously she began murmuring.

'I don't mind, I mean you're the only one here and you need them to make the flying suit right?'

Doria straightened up, his whole body radiating embarrassment, 'only if you don't mind.'

Meggie smiled reassuringly, 'of course I don't mind. I want to see the finished flying suit just as much as you do!'

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Eight Minutes Later

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Meggie shivered behind the screen. Doria had used a large sheet that his brother used to sleep under to make a split in the tent so she had a little more privacy to undress and re-dress. It had been about a minute since she had taken off her long skirted brown and yellow dress and she was now standing nervously in some cotton underwear and a cotton bra that she had been wearing when she first came into Inkworld. It was good that it had been far too big for her then because her breasts had grown since travelling here so they were beginning to stretch the old piece of material.

Peering round the sheet Meggie watched Doria. He was pacing round the tent and wringing the measuring tape in his hands, his gaze fixed firmly on his skittish feet. Taking a deep breath she called out, 'Doria, are you ready?'

A mumbled 'yes' was her reply. Trying to dispel the butterfly's causing havoc in her stomach she stepped out from behind the sheet.

The young man's eyes roamed her ravenously as his face burnt crimson. Meggie felt her own cheeks flare up and tried to ignore the reflex to cover herself from the hungry gaze. Noticing her embarrassment, Doria blinked and stared at the floor again before lifting up the measuring tape.

She nodded once more and stepped forwards, even more aware of the soft furs that stroked her feet and the coolness of the night air across her bare stomach and shoulders. The tent was thinner than she thought, but the embarrassment and slight thrill at being so naked with consent in front of a boy set her skin on fire.

Doria advanced slowly, aware that this was a big thing for both of them. He had never seen a girl older than seven so exposed and he tried to hold back his arousal.

When they reached each other he began measuring her shoulders, both boy and girl desperate not to make eye contact, but still trying to look at each other to guess the others thoughts.

As his rough fingers darted lightly across her neck and shoulders Meggie closed her eyes sinking into the warm comfortable feeling. She could feel his heated breath as he bent down every now and then to take down her measurements, each time he did that every hair on her body stuck up on end and she had to stifle a moan. His gentle motions across her skin made the girl feel as if she were in heaven. His thumb and index fingers spanned her waist perfectly as her moved lower, still taking down notes. Meggie bit her tongue holding back another moan as he brushed past her inner thighs. It was as if Doria's fingertips were aflame, heating her skin and sizzling her senses until she was almost as the point of collapsing.

She opened her eyes as the burning fingers left her highly sensitive body. She wanted to grab those hands back and make them touch her all over again, and to return the favour.

Her hands trembled as she watched him scribble down her last measurement titled 'Hip to Shoulder'.

She watched him slowly lift the measuring tape to her hip, his hands trembling as he pressed it to her blazing skin. He slowly rose, rolling out the tape as he went, quivering as he came close to her breasts. Meggie knew his eyes were following the trail made by his hesitant hands. Finally reaching her collar bone he paused and breathed, '9.7 inches.'

His hands were still resting on her shoulders as Doria's eyes meet hers. The girl's eyes widened in surprise as she saw the overwhelming lust that the blue orbs enclosed, and she knew her own eyes were mirrors of his.

Hand's tightened on shoulders and chests met, leg intertwined and fingers twisted into hair. Noses brushed and both boy and girl stared at each other waiting for the other to make the final move.

Their heated breath warmed and moistened their lips and Meggie licked the taste off hers. His breath tasted like the woods, fresh and tangy. She couldn't take it anymore.

Jolting forwards she forced her lips to meet his, finally feeling flushed sensitive softness that was Doria. She felt his strong arms lift her up and pull her closer so every nerve could feel him against her. Their lips moved and separated, only to come together again with more power than before. Meggie had never kissed anyone like this before. It was like every happy and lustful emotion she had was pulsing into her partner.

They paused for a moment and took a few breaths; eyes still set solidly on each other before Doria placed a few light kisses on her cheeks and lips and loosened his grip slightly.

Stroking her hair out of her face her panted, 'you have no idea how long I have waited to do this.'

'What? Strip me then ravish me?'

He laughed softly and continued stroking her hair, 'No silly, to tell you that I...'

Doria frowned and hesitated. That was when Meggie noticed The Strong Man giggling silently just inside the entrance to the tent. Both teenagers blushed violently and Meggie squeaked, quickly hiding behind Doria.

Doria growled furiously, 'how long have you been here!'

The older brother smirked and began to leave the tent.

'Don't you worry, not long at all. Glad you noticed me though.'

The Strong Man began laughing again and Meggie crept back behind the sheet, 'just came to tell you the feasting and dancing has begun, though I suppose what you were about to do would be much more fun than that.'

The tent entrance fell back as he left, but the laughing could still be heard. Doria sighed in annoyance and turned back to the sheet where Meggie was hastily re-dressing. Talk about bad timing and annoying siblings.