Reaver and the world of Albion belong to Fable and Lionhead studios.
As the mansion came into view, I saw Norman pacing in the front yard; some of the servants were just finishing cleaning up the blood Remmy left behind. As we passed through the gate, he spotted us and ran over.
"Captain Reaver am I glad to see you. Are you two alright?" He reached to take me from Reaver but stopped muttering a yes sir.
"Do be a dear and prepare my bath Norman; my poor apprentice might have some trouble with the stairs. Chop chop." Norman sprinted into the mansion as I half walked and half leaned on Reaver to get to the main door. I growled out a few curses for having to take the steps one at a time. Reaver was unusually patient, letting me take my time going up the three flights of stairs, not including the few at the front door.
Once we got to the third floor, I had to stop and lean against the wall. My back popped as I stood up straight, taking in a deep breath. Reaver's eyes were watching me like a hawk, his hands slightly held out just incase I fell. I reached for his outstretched hands and managed to walk down the hallway but when I went to turn into my room, he led me to his.
"Don't fret my pet, just need to get that horrendous stench off of you before you can snuggle under the covers." I nodded; the smell of blood and wet dog was starting to get to me and I don't think my voice was capable of sound. The coughing had taken its toll on throat. Norman held open the door as Reaver brought me into the washroom. I took a quick look around; there was the large bathtub, big enough for five people not to mention one. One of the walls was a huge mirror, the rest were tiled with the same fine marble that was on the floor. Reaver sat me on a bench behind the changing screen, past the cupboard full of bathing oils. He then whispered something to Norman who bowed and left, closing the doors behind him.
I had to peel off my clothes, the blood and sweat matted it to my skin and it wasn't even my blood.
"Stupid bleeding balverines." I muttered, taking off the rest of the clothes. Catching a look at me self in the mirror, I let out a groan of discontent. My body was covered in nasty yellow and purple bruises, some still dark and fresh. Red welts accompanied the bruises on my back and chest. Reaver peaked behind the screen and I saw his face twist in rage, but when I turned to him with a small smile, he let it go.
"Come now Jessie dear, a nice bath will do you good, relax those sore muscles of yours." His arm, a little too wandering brought me over to the tub. He was still wearing his under garments but helped me ease into the tub. The heat was an instant relief, relaxing my muscles and taking the edge off the pain. The scent of oils, jasmine and lavender tickled my nose as I breathed deeply. I felt Reaver sit next to me in the tub.
"Lean your head back." His voice was low and a little husky but I did what I was told. My head came in contact with a plush towel. I could have fallen asleep if I felt safe enough. Between Reaver and the water, not that I think he would let me drown but still, I couldn't afford to let my guard completely down. For gods sake I was naked in a tub covered in cuts and bruises with the most deviant player in all of Albion. When I could finally lift my eyelids, I saw the tub had been filled with bubbles and Reaver was washing himself with a sponge. He smirked at me and offered me the sponge.
"Can you be a dear and get between my shoulders, I always have the damndest time getting my back clean." Shaking my head, I sat up resisting the urge to make a comment about being on his back and started to scrub little circles on his shoulders and back. I let me hands feel out the knots that seem to make up his entire back. Once the scrubbing was done, I started to work on his back. Reaver let out a hiss and then groaned as blood returned to the twisted muscles. It was like unraveling a huge ball of knotted twine, one strand at a time. Hell it was relaxing me, meditatively working the toned muscles back to life. He slumped over the side of the tub as I got to his lower back.
"Who ever taught you thissss, should be ah gods." He moaned and bucked as I pressed a set of muscles in his lower back, sloshing water over the side of the tub. Once I was done with his lower back, he stayed bent over the side of the tub, panting. It gave me a few minutes to scrub the grime and filth from my own body. Going under the water, I scrubbed the dried blood from my hair and rinsed off with fresh water from the faucet. I worked out a few knots of my own in my legs and shoulders before getting up and out of the tub. Reaver was still leaned over the tub, but raised his head to look at me, a wolfish and lazy grin on his face.
"Feeling better?" I asked, drying off, careful not to put pressure on my bruised sides and chest.
"Weren't you the one I had to drag back up to my bedroom?" He asked, folding his hands under his chin.
"And yet there you are, all relaxed and cheery. Am I good or what?" I wrapped the towel around me and offered one to Reaver who stretched with a sigh of relief and a moan of pleasure.
"You my dear are quite a catch." He said taking the towel and drying off. I started to head out of the wash room when he snuck up behind me, wrapping his arms around me waist, nuzzling the crook of my neck. I couldn't help but let out a growl before saying,
"Reaver, behave yourself. We both need some rest; although I would prefer a hot meal I am far too tired to eat. So go, off to bed with you." I tried to spin out of his arms but he caught my towel and I froze, not wanting to lose my only material barrier.
"But my pet, how am I to sleep with out someone to warm my bed?" His legs were a little wobbly as he brought me over to his turned down bed. The bedroom was dark, the only light source coming from one candle on the night stand. I was too tired to filter my words and instead of being patient, I replied,
"Should I get some dogs to keep your bed warm? Or maybe one of those cute servants you have running about?" He scrunched his nose in disgust at the dog comment.
"Quite frankly, if I ever smell a wet dog again it will be too soon. Besides, those girls will just keep me up all night. It has been so long since I have had a good night sleep." He sat down on the bed and patted the seat next to him; I reluctantly sat keeping my towel wrapped firmly around me.
"See, not so scary now is it?" He said mockingly, slipping under the covers. I moved over to the other side and under the sheet, making sure my feet weren't trapped under the heavy blanket. He blew out the candle, some light from the wash room crept in through the partly closed door.
I laid on my side, facing the curtains that covered the large window when Reaver scooted under the covers closer to me. I let out a small warning growl that sounded too groggy to be a threat but Reaver was Reaver and he had his arm around me once more. Letting out a sigh of defeat, I let myself relax and fell asleep.
The morning came too early for me; the afternoon sun breaking under the thick curtains. A male's deep snoring brought me back to reality. I looked down at where Reaver's arm had me pinned last night and grinned when I didn't see it there. I risked a look over my shoulders and almost snorted with laughter. Reaver was spread out on the bed; the sheets, pillows and quilt tossed about everywhere. He had one arm over his head, the other across his stomach and his legs were wide apart; it was something out of a comic. His hair stuck up in the worse bed hair I have seen since Jareth after his hangover. Grinning, I slipped off the bed and snuck to the door; careful to step only when his snoring would deafen any sound the floor would make. He was still snoring once I got outside of the room and bumped into a shocked Emily. I lifted a finger to my mouth and she nodded. Once we were in my room she asked,
"Does Master Reaver need anything?"
"Not that I know of, unless you can sneak into the washroom and get the clothes to clean.
I don't even know if they are salvageable." She perked up at that.
"I can mend just about any piece of clothing Jessie. Leave it to me." And with that she dashed out of my room and into Reaver's.
I got dressed quickly, my stomach howling to be filled and headed down the stairs, leaving Emily with the bundle of clothes and Reaver's light snores behind me.
Only a few other servants were cleaning the hallways as I passed them by with a kind smile. I saw Norman heading out of the kitchen; his eyes bulged as I passed by him, and I hat to slap him on the back so he wouldn't choke on the roll he was eating. He followed me, asking what happened with the balverines, where Reaver was, how I was still standing, but I held up a hand to silence him as I found a basket of rolls and started to dig in. Half of the basket was gone before the old cook, Miss Casey handed me a large glass of fresh milk.
"Why don't I make you a real meal instead of filling yourself on sweet rolls?" I gave her the kindest smile as she dug in the pantry. Norman was still waiting patiently so I answered his questions.
"The balverines won't be bothering us anymore, what is left of Remmy isn't enough to feed the fishes, I got tossed like a rag doll and Reaver taught me the two most important things to survive here." Norman flushed and stood there uncomfortably. I sighed, "Rule one make sure the prey stays down and rule two is to attack from far away so they can't reach you easily. Piece of cake really; it just needed it to be knocked into me." He looked a little confused but Miss. Casey handed me a super loaded salad of all things and I started to inhale it.
"But Emily said you were in Reaver's room…Naked and there were moans coming from his room last night…" He trailed off, still red in the face and looking down at his feet. I raised an eyebrow, swallowing the mouth full of salad before replying,
"I needed a bath, Reaver needed to be put to sleep so I relaxed him until he started to snore. He wouldn't let me go to my room nor let me get dressed so I slept in a towel all night."
"But how, I mean if you two had…yah well did that then…" I let out a chuckle.
"Really Norman, you think that little of me that I would be so easy for Reaver to bag. Just because he slept with me doesn't mean he banged me for gods sake. I won't let him truth be told, I am quite happily spoken for and would sooner treat him like one of those balverines then have him use me as a play thing." Miss Casey dropped the bowl she was cleaning and reprimanded me for using such language in her kitchen which I quickly apologized for.
"So you are spoken for, then why the act?" Norman asked leaning up against a cabinet with folded arms.
"What act?" I replied, finishing off the salad.
"The hard to get act? Aren't you at least interested in him?" I blinked at that. Reaver was more of my hero in the games, even though he betrayed you twice and then never showed for the final battle in the later game. He was badass and I liked that in a game character. Yes he was physically gorgeous, a predatorily beauty, and knowing what he has done, and how corrupt he is intrigued me. If anything, he was something to be played with, nothing to be taken seriously; hell even a bit of a coward from some perspectives. The only garneted future with Reaver involved a bullet in the head.
"I am interested with what he has to teach me Norman. That is all. Until I can find my crew, I will put up with his antics but he knows better then to try and bed me." And with that I walked to the sink; Miss. Casey took my bowl even though I offered to wash it and headed out to the back yard.
The gardeners were tending the beautifully kept piece of paradise. It was surprising that there can be such a gorgeous display of nature near such a despicably corrupt area. Flowers in full bloom, trees producing fresh fruits, song birds and buzzing bugs all finding a balance. I walked out to the middle of it all and sat on the bench that was there, leaning my head back and fell into a deep mediation.
I let go of everything that has happened in the short time I have been here; stopped analyzing every move I made and ignored the nagging voices in my head. When you had to unwind, nature is the best place to distribute the energy instead of holding it all in. I tried that once before and it made my mad; I was uncontrollable and it had nearly gotten everyone I love killed.
Time seemed to slip away, my breathing never changing from the calming, deep breathes I was taking; the pain never being registered. I could feel all the life thrumming around me, a song all itself. The flow of energy around me started to flow into me and I could feel the life behind the power taking away all of my aches and pains; it felt amazing. The sun had ducked behind the house before someone came over to wake me from my trance. I opened one eye to look up at a worrisome Jimmy. He had taken a seat next to me as I reeled myself back from the world.
"What's up Jimmy?" I asked, my voice a little raspy from being dry. He ran his hand through the few grey wisps of hair he had on his head before replying,
"Don't take this the wrong way lass, but I'm gonna have to look at those bruises of yours. The Captain is worried you might have damaged something serious and well…all I ask is that yah pardon an old man for doing his job." He sat there a little uncomfortable.
"No problem Jimmy, one of the healers I had growing up was a tough old bugger like you." I stood with a smile and offered him my hand which he batted away playfully. I followed him back inside and through the door in the main hall. We passed a small stair case and went down a hall way lined with doors. They looked like servant quarters and when I asked, Jimmy nodded.
"Most of the staff live here, Reaver likes to have em near by. The crew and I are normally on the boat or at the tavern. Me and some of the boys share a house near the docks, it's not the nicest piece of property but it's our home while we're stuck on land. This room here the staff put off to the side for emergencies and health reasons. Some of em have trained with healers and I showed them a thing or too." He held open the door for me and I walked in getting a quick look at the changing screen, bed, two chairs and a wash station.
"So what do you need me to do?" I asked. He gestured to the changing screen which had a tall mirror behind it.
"Well, let's get started. Reaver said you were thrown pretty hard by those mutts. Do yah feel bruised, difficulty breathing or coughing up blood?" He asked, washing his hands in the basin.
"A bit little of everything I suppose. I don't think anything is broken." Well that's what I felt like last night; I couldn't feel any of the pain now though. I took off my clean shirt and watched Jimmy blink a few times, before reaching out to check my ribs and stomach. He pushed and prodded, but it didn't hurt; a few times I actually let out a giggle. He stood in front of me, scratching his head.
"What's wrong?" I asked looking down and answering my own question. My mouth formed an O as I did; not a single scratch or bruise marked my skin.
How the hell? Those dogs tossed me like a bloody piece of meat and I was beaten up bad last night. I felt those bruises and saw them myself, how could …?
Jimmy muttered to himself, "Well, looks like Reaver was mistaken. Don't tell em I said that tho."
I used the mirror to look at my back. I couldn't think of how I healed so fast until a small giggle followed by the smell of wild flowers caught my senses off guard.
"Mother Nature you are a healing fiend." I whispered to myself with a grin. I didn't think that it would be possible to actually heal myself with the meditation; I just tried to block out the pain so moving around would be bearable.
"Looks like yah all healed up lass. I don't know how yah did it, but I can't find a single thing wrong with yah … unless yah count your taste in men." He let loose a chuckle at that as I got my clothes back on.
"Oh har har. You haven't even met my man yet, so how could you possible know my taste hmmm?" I retorted back at him. He stood there shaking his finger at me.
"The Captain is after yah, and he isn't likely to stop just because yah spoken for. He's a-" I raised my hand stopping him from continuing.
"Jimmy, Reaver will forget about me the second some harlot busting out her bodice knocks on his door. Trust me, he won't touch me, not if he knows what's good for him." My vision turned slightly red on the edges and I had to shake my head to clear it.
He nodded in agreement, "Let's hope so." And led me back out to the hallway. Norman was there standing next to his chair looking nervous with Reaver barking at him.
"I have a meeting with these charlatans tonight and NOONE told me Norman! How do you think that makes ME look when not even the help tells me my schedule?" Reaver's hand was grabbing his Dragonstomper .48, the hammer already pulled back. Norman looked like he was about to wet himself when I cleared my throat.
"Well Reaver at least you will be happy to know I have a clean bill of health. Now why don't you stop tormenting Normy and talk to me about these big meanies you're suppose to meet with tonight?" The soft playfulness in my voice shocked both of them into silence. I can play nice when I want to … it's just a lot more work. Reaver was first to recover with a shake of his head and his hands slipped away from the trigger.
"Well, that is certainly good news; wouldn't want my new apprentice to be disheveled from the first few scraps. It would reflect baldy on my part. Now why don't you go get dressed, something that you will be able to fight in if need be. I will meet you in my study in an hour to discuss how black market deals go."
"Sounds peachy. See you then oh great and might teacher." I bowed with a flourish and skipped my way to the kitchens, my stomach in need of more fuel. With a quick look back I giggled at the astounded looks on the three men.
WOOT! New chapter. I'm trying to juggle my new full time job and editing the past chapters while writing more. I realized I completely botched one of the main characters names. Jareth was supposed to be Alec so when I repost the previous chapters with the corrections, don't be confused by the name change. Thank you all for reading *hugs* Have fun swashbucklers!