Mia and Annora before Lynet bear Celtic knot tattoos on certain parts of their bodies, which their Vorta lover eventually inherit mysteriously, therefore establishing the "soul mate bond". Mia bears the Dara knot (the oak tree) behind her right shoulder while Annora has the three-point Trinity (love knot) on her left pelvic area, and now Lynet has one I won't spoil, but you'll see so yourself soon enough. ;) These markings bind the women to their Vorta for eternity.
Chapter Eleven
Apple for His Eye
She was naked in front of Yelgrun.
She had wanted to scream and pick up the towel to cover herself up again, but then she felt his hand on her shoulder, and he spoke as though reading her thoughts. "There's nothing to hide from me. I won't do anything you don't want, my dear. I just want to look at you."
Lynet swallowed. No one had seen her naked except once when she was thirteen. Her body was honed by years wild in the mountains, then in training at the academy, as well as hand-to-hand combat. The memory threatened to resurface, but she did her best to shove it down. His hand was still on her shoulder, squeezing it tenderly before removing and trailing down her back, which she sensed that he went around to examine, perhaps check her out from there...
"Ah, this is interesting." His long, bony fingers brushed against her lower back, not that far above her buttocks, making her hiss. "What is this?"
Lynet realized that he must have been talking about her tattoo which she got when she was fifteen. "You don't recognize it?" she asked, cracking a naughty grin even though her back faced so he wouldn't see.
"Not really," he answered, laughing a little. "Weak eyes, remember?"
Her eyes closed out of habit. "It's a knotwork, from planet Earth, in a far away country from where I come from. Ireland, which is across the ocean, has various forms of them. This one is called the Quaternary knot, or 'four-cornered'. It's a symbol of protection, according to some legends. One Druid - one of many ancient Celtic tribes - philosophy talks about the four entities, one for each of the four corners of the world, and how this symbol represents their protection." In fact, her cousin Annora had one of her own, in a most private area than she did, of course, and eventually convinced her best friend to get one, too. Celtic symbols were prided for their mythical importance and strength given to the bearer.
Yelgrun hummed as he seemed to have been absorbed in her story. "Fascinating. I'd love to learn more." His hand was still stroking her back up and down, enjoying the feel of her skin obviously. She held her breath and kept her eyes closed. She was supposed to hate it so much, because of who and what he was...
...but his flesh was warm and smooth, if not silky, unlike the last one's calloused hands. Inviting despite - NO! She shouldn't think like that! This was wrong...wrong...WRONG!
"Stop," she burst out, gritting her teeth.
"Why? You weren't objecting before."
"I shouldn't..." She bit down her words, and he snickered, making her nerves light with fire.
"Shouldn't what? Enjoy it? Your body seems like it's enjoying it. I see every sign of it, but you're trying to resist me. Go ahead and pull your towel back on, but I promise you won't forget about this," he told her, his hand stopping down the middle of her back. "I dare you."
Oh, so he dared her now! Lynet fumed. He was torturing her, making her angry and touching her body in a way that shouldn't be -! Her train of thought was interrupted just like that when he continued his journey, this time bringing his hand around to grasp her hip, squeezing the firm curve. His other hand did the same, but then it moved north - too high, for it grasped the breast there, cupping and fondling it. Her breath hitched, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. He was touching her breasts, both of them now with that same hand while his other snaked down between her legs. His touch was uninviting yet strangely tender.
Oh, God, now she moaned.
Yelgrun's laugh was deep and triumphant, angering her further but turning him on. His body pressed against her bare back. While he went on to play with her folds, his mouth found its way to her neck, the sensitive part where her neck and shoulder bases met, the vein pulsating beneath his teeth. This was biology, the body's natural instincts, but it wasn't because she actually wanted it...yet her body burning felt the wrong kind of good. His bony but soft hands held her in place, trapping her against him while he tortured her with his lips and fingers, his deep rumbling an intimidating but sensual tune to her ears...
"I'm surprised," he said after a long moment, his fingers now just simply toying with her sex. "Why no hair?"
Lynet gasped when the sensitive nub was thumbed. Her heart began to beat so much faster that she thought it would burst like a water balloon. "Because...it's wrong," she gasped. "Doesn't feel right..." When she was twelve years old, she'd made the long ago decision to have the hair between her legs removed permanently because she simply did not like how it looked with her femininity, even though everyone had it when they got to be certain ages; if Kayley had lived, she would have laughed it off and told her little sister that she was being silly. Her old caregiver had supported the decision as there had been no secrets between them, until that day...
Lynet froze instantly, the erotic tingles from Yelgrun's touches suddenly unpleasant but did not have the words to stop him.
She began to be afraid of the wedding night, when Yelgrun would eventually know she wasn't the virgin he must have thought she was.
~o~
He couldn't get enough of her body. To even feel her skin beneath his fingers, her body against his, and the flames of his need that he wasn't sure if he could wait another minute...it was too much. Her vein throbbed beneath his mouth, her breasts firm and plump beneath his hand, and the sweet soft flesh between her thighs on his fingers...
What aroused him even more was the fact that her womanhood was without the bristles that he was familiar with. And her reasons: even more so. "It doesn't feel right," she'd said, moaning. And how he agreed when he let a finger probe deeper; his thumb, actually. She felt pretty dry, but deeper, the pool was forming. He would have gone deeper if not for the fact that she suddenly went stiff beneath him, and it wasn't just the fact that he was invading the most private part of her body.
Yelgrun frowned, ceasing his fingering altogether. "What is it now?" he asked in irritation.
"Nothing."
The air was thick with sweltering heat, and it wasn't good either. Even though no one ever saw them, the Vorta were skilled with detecting whether or not the being they were dealing with were lying or telling the truth; right now, Yelgrun heard the invisible jagged lines in the single word, gritting his teeth that she'd say such a simple word that made all the difference. "Why am I having trouble believing that?" he asked dangerously, removing his hands from her body entirely. She seemed to relax now that he was away from her; keeping his eyes on her, he knelt down to pick up the towel and did the honors of wrapping it back around for her, handing her the cane afterwards.
"Are you Vorta all lie detectors?"
He sniffed though he was smiling again, if absent of actual humor. "We all can tell lies and spot them from others, yes. I'm beginning to think that you don't like me touching you not simply because you hate me so much..."
She made way for the closet, the end of the cane tapping in front of it and then pulling it away to push the button on the console to open it. "It's none of your business. Perhaps it's because I don't want to be touched until our..." She stopped there, and he knew what she was talking about.
"You're right," he agreed. "We'll wait until then." Although his loins were tight and burning, his member straining from the blood coming downwards. He watched her as she dropped the towel again, revealing herself to him once again - those breasts and that sweet spot below her waist, as well as the firm abdomen with a slight six-pack. It made him wonder if they would be able to reproduce; he never thought young ones on top of his list. To even handle screaming babies drove him insane, and he wouldn't be surprised if she didn't want any, either. This matter should be taken up with Manama very soon.
Right now was a wedding to plan. They had plenty of time before an appointment with the physician could be set up.
Three more weeks - he was not sure if he could wait that much longer, but in times like these, he always knew what to do. "Excuse me, but it's my turn to clean." With that, he departed into the bathroom and stripped, stepping in to fix the issue between his legs.
~o~
The wedding day was here, three weeks later. Her stomach was in the knots when she was helped into her dress by Kilana, whom she began to like over the course. The Vorta was extremely kind to her, treating her better than she expected to be, but it still did not erase her loathing at living within the Dominion and the fact that everyone at home believed she was dead.
She might not be in a cell, watched and followed by Jem'Hadar all the time, but she was still helpless and despised it. However long she would be here, she couldn't take it. Add in the fact she HATED dresses, but it was traditional for a bride to wear one, and she had no choice in the matter. And it was white, too, which symbolized what she was not - which was also another level of wrong, yet it was no one's business to know the reason behind it.
"I wish I had better eyes," Kilana told her as she did the honors of closing up the back, each button going through the loop without difficulty, and fitting her body enough to show what curves she had as well as to accommodate her. "But I think I mean it when I say you look...glowing."
Lynet sighed. If only she could see what she actually looked like - and if only this was all a bad dream she would wake up from. The last few weeks hadn't been that hard on her, but her old life was still ripped from her. Her hands came up to feel each part of the dress: slim satin with ruched lines to flatter, strapless but complete with a dramatic cover-up of sparkles, and short-sleeved. Her short raven hair was set with a dramatic chainlink piece set with some crystals; she felt all of this around. She was supposed to feel beautiful as she must look, but she didn't feel like it. This just...wasn't the right way to go. Marriage was supposed to be each other's consent, not his over hers.
Vorta matings never were broken off like humans, she learned from Kilana. They were bound for life - and that was for the rest of their lives. Which meant no divorce possibilities, Lynet thought, nearly crumbling with despair. Sensing this, the Vorta woman helped her stand. "Now, now, don't be afraid," she said softly. "It won't be a vast affair; he likes to keep things private. It will be just us and Borath."
She felt her brows crease. "Who's Borath?"
"The Vorta scientist in charge of us all. He treats us all like we're his children. He's like none other you'd ever know," Kilana said cheerily.
Lynet made the habit of pursing her lips tight again. She wasn't sure if she really wanted to meet another Vorta. They did their Founders' bidding, toyed with you - but not Kilana. No, she was really sincere; if she had wanted to harm Lynet herself, she would have done it a long time ago. They were...not all the same as she thought they were.
She was taken on transport and brought to a private garden in the city, but she couldn't see anything, and nothing Kilana could tell would help matters either. When they finally arrived, it was barely noon. She was given her cane as soon as they all stepped out, and it wasn't long before they were greeted by a male voice who wasn't Yelgrun.
"Kilana, I thought I would see you. And this must be Lynet, if I'm not mistaken."
It took her a moment to realize he was speaking to her when her friend did not respond. "Yes, I'm Lynet. Are you...Borath?"
He laughed. "I am. It's a divine pleasure to meet you." She felt him take her hand into his as he was well aware of her condition. "I'm terribly sorry to learn about your loss." By loss he meant her optics destroyed. She almost doubled over again before she held it in. He cleared his throat. "I apologize, but we must not keep Yelgrun waiting, ladies."
By the feeling beneath her feet, she was walking on...sand. They must be on a beach somewhere, or at least near one. Flowers reached her nostrils, as well as assorted fruits and greenery. The air was calm and serene to the senses. She felt a tear fall finally, wishing she could see it. If only some memento had been captured in the event she MIGHT regain her eyesight somehow...
They stopped, informing her they were here. A pair of hands - bony and smooth, familiar - grasped both of hers and held her in place. Her cane had been taken, held at Kilana's offer as she and Borath stood by to witness. She held her breath, wishing the burning of her lungs would eventually soothe her instead of add further pain, even when another voice began; a Vorta priest had been summoned for them both.
Yelgrun's thumbs both massaged the backs of her hands as if sensing her distress, doing no real purpose to calm her fraying nerves and rapidly pounding heart as those fateful words - "I swear" in response to both sides, man and woman accepting each other and standing beside each other against all opposing - linked her to this man. This man who was involved in the attack of her ship and the deaths of her mother and the crew, her blindness - and touched her in a way not like when she was a teenager. And the sliding of the RING on her finger was the end of it. As well as -
"Then let all present here know this man and woman are now mated. Yelgrun, you may kiss the bride."
She barely had time to exclaim at that shocking word, but the moment his lips touched against hers...it was as if the sun above them had exploded in a supernova no different than a star would. Burning and consuming, deep and rough, yet also being tender enough as this was the most important day of their lives - in a funny way of speaking. Yelgrun purred against her mouth, his hands holding her into place, one against her back and the other around her waist; in spite of herself, Lynet's hands came up to caress his shoulders and eventually wove into his thick hair, which was pretty coarse on the surface, but silken beneath. An odd combination, but an interesting one at that.
When they broke apart, she could finally breathe, but her lips were still tingling from the pressure. And there were no words to say to her new husband or even decribe what had just happened. This was the first time anyone had ever done this to her.
Yelgrun leaned in and whispered to her then; behind them, the applause from the only two Vorta present seemed mixed with praise but also with doubt. "I'm looking forward to tonight." By tonight, he meant the wedding night.
It was by then that the fear returned with a vengeance. She was alone with Kilana as it was traditional for the bride to be prepared by a female friend for the consummation. Kilana was the only other Vorta allowed to see her naked as it was just the two of them, and this was customary that she had no choice. Lynet instantly felt like one of the dames of classic literature - specifically the one from Arthurian legend in her name albeit spelled differently - as she took a sonic shower and then let herself be sprayed with an interesting Vorta perfume which smelled of assorted flowers, woods and greens - fresh and earthy. Her breasts and womanly folds were treated with it, too. Lynet bit her lip once again as she tried not to think too much of how her husband would treat them very soon...
"Lynet, would you please relax?" Kilana scolded. "The last thing any first night needs is a shattered marriage."
She looked down at the ground even though she couldn't see anything. Standing here naked and the smell of perfume getting to her nostrils made her stomach queasier. What could she tell Kilana? "It's not that at all," she finally confessed. "It's something more...something I can't tell him..."
"Oh, and what is that?"
"I'm not a..." She stopped right there, throat clenching again. Kilana seemed to know what she was trying to say, and the horror and disbelief was evident.
"You mean you've..." She lowered her voice. "...been with someone before?"
Who knew if Yelgrun could be outside listening to them, with his good ears and all. Lynet nodded, finally lifting her head and bringing her hands to her damp breasts, covering them. "Yes, but it wasn't a positive form -"
"Ladies!"
Both women froze at the sound of Yelgrun's voice. He sounded impatient and waiting for his new bride, ready to get it over with. That did not make it easier for Lynet as she dreaded this night for weeks to come. "I'm coming," she called back, trying to keep the warble from her voice before lowering it. "Kilana, how am I going to tell him?"
The other woman might be shaking her head sadly. "I'm sorry, I wish I knew. You're going to have to make the decision on your own." With that, she led the young bride out of the room, naked and into the bed which she would share with her husband now. "Good luck," Kilana whispered to her, patting her hand before taking her leave.
She drew the covers up to her bare chest, shivering uncontrollably despite the warm temperature of the room. She absently turned her head to the side just as a small source of comfort. It wasn't long before she heard his voice as well as the weight on the bed as he joined her, but she could not acknowledge him. He sighed.
"Lynet, don't do this tonight."
"Do what?" she asked blankly.
"Don't shove me away."
He sounded like he was a broken man being rejected now. Even though they were still enemies, even though she didn't want this marriage, he was still a being like she was; she knew that by now, but it still didn't make THIS right. "I'm afraid," she said in spite of herself, yet a part of her did want him to know it. Didn't he possess a conscience at all to know that himself?
It was right then and there she finally felt his body against hers beneath the covers, naked as she was. She almost shrieked and jolted before his hand on her shoulder eased her back down. "Calm down, please." It was almost an order that could not be refused; that same hand removed itself so it could draw down the covers to expose them both, her to his eyes while she could not see an inch of him. That made her feel a little safer as she was worried she might be repulsed by the sight of him. Then his hand began to caress one of her thighs until it reached her stomach, caressing where she carried a womb that would eventually bring forth a little one between them - as it was the duty of a wife in these times, was it not? Like it was in medieval times - her hip coming next and then the feminine curves of her chest, fondling them again. "If it's any consolation," he said after several long moments of tense silence, bordering on masculine huskiness, that it made her skin shiver, "I really prize the sight and the feel of you. You must be proud to have this of yourself only to share it with another man."
He was speaking as though she was dignified of herself enough that she had to protect herself when he did not know what really happened. He did not know the shame she went through when she was but an innocent girl of thirteen. Which she had yet to tell him but, for a second, thought she could go through with this on their wedding night and then wait for tomorrow - but her worry broke with one last shard.
His hands were still caressing her trembling body when she finally broke. "Yelgrun, please stop." She quickly scrambled to sit up and pull the covers to her chest, squeezing her eyes shut and trying not to cry. This set him off indefinitely that she wanted to die right here and now.
"Damn it, woman!" he bellowed, angrily punching the bed before them. "Why must you keep refusing me?!"
"It's NOT my fault!" she burst, sobbing now, leaning forward and wrapping the blankets around herself so he had nothing for himself, curling up as she favored to protect herself the best she could. "You don't understand a damned thing, Yelgrun! I was proud of this body once, but how could you understand what a mere thirteen-year-old girl went through not long after losing her sister and whose parents she rarely saw?"
An echo seemed to take place to both of their ears, until her whimpering and stifling cries were the only noises heard until Yelgrun finally broke it. He sounded more curious than angry now, and...a small case of concern. This was the first time.
"What...are you talking about?"
Lynet lay on her back and "looked" up as she took a few breaths to calm herself before she told him her story.
In "The King's Damosel", the book opens with the double weddings of Lynette and Lyonesse to brothers Gaheris and Gareth. Lynette is not happy as she is in love with Gareth, but it was King Arthur's wish given she DID help Gareth rescue her sister. She was also ansty about the wedding night as her unwanted husband might as well soon find out she's not a virgin. What will happen in the upcoming chapter will explain everything, and what happens to Lynette in the book is definitely what inspired it all.
In a way, Yelgrun and Lynet's complicated relationship, beginning with the wedding night, DOES parallel to the main couple of "His Enemy's Daughter" (the book by Terri Brisbin).
