Another chapter...

Tam Lin learns about what price is crime has...and Pen and Nuada have a bit of fun...beginning with a warm mug of tea.

The Tower room...

Tam Lin managed to shift back into man shape, but his ankle was fastened to a chain threaded through an iron ring. Jareth had been too cleaver not anticipate his return to his true form. He brooded, looking at the door that had been bared to him. The choice had been simple, murder his sire or the High King would find and execute his mother in his sire's place.

The sting of iron had made for a fitful sleep. Jareth had come with food and water earlier that his parents were being left alone to form their bond. He had thrown the food tray at him. The water in the bucket he'd left tasted strange, and he'd cast it aside after a few mouthfuls.

It wasn't until he began to vomit that he knew what that strange taste was; Iron and nightshade. The death he'd planned for his sire could have easily been his, that was the message. By the time more water was brought, he was very dehydrated from vomiting up his guts and the prfuse sweating. He guzzled it, easing his parched and raw throat. He had no time to register that it tasted the same as the last. He fell back onto the sweat soaked straw; his eyes focused on Jareth's boots.

"...Death comes so easily." Jareth said. "Especially when helped along, think of this, Prince Tam Lin...while your death comes close enough to show you the veil."

He was left to lay nauseous in the straw..

Nuada's chambers...

The soft knock woke Pen, she whispered that breakfast had arrived. His arms slid away as she slid from beneath the blankets and padded toward the door. She opened it, a servant with a tray stood outside. She carefully opened the door a a bit more, taking the tray. She wouldn't let anyone near Nuada after what had happened with the medicines. She closed the door and took the tray to the table. She painfully sang a few notes to insure the food and drink was not tainted.

Preforming and then singing again for healing had made her near voiceless. Her soft whispers to Nuada had further irritated her throat. She was pleased to find a pot of tea, honey and lemons among the items on the tray. She prepared a cup and headed toward the balcony to stand and look out over the labyrinth and the city. She heard the sheets rustle inside and a moment later heard him searching for her. She moved in long enough to catch his hand and guide him out to stand with her. His arms came around her, and he murmured a sleepy greeting as he nuzzled her neck.

"...I smell tea." He whispered. "Finish it and come in...I did not as you to leave my bed...Human."

She gave a small smile, sipping her tea. It was soothing, the honey was fresh. She kept the cup in one hand and turned in his arms. She pulled him down for a soft kiss.

"Honey..." He said, licking his lips. "If there is a pot of it, I could suggest some uses..."

She kissed him again, silencing any suggestion he could make. She put his hand against her cheek and shook her head

"Each need need in in time..."

Her throat was too sore to speak above a horse whisper.

"Would that I could turn back time, I would be king and we would be looking out over Bathmora..."

She ventured to speak. "Do not dwell upon the past..."

He knew her words were painful.

"...IF I could gain my eyes afresh..."

She shoo her head again, laying a finger upon his lips to silence him.

"...Come back to bed." He said, kissing the tip of her finger."

She smiled, bringing her mug to her lips, sipping more tea. She looked down, and gently placed her warm mug against his crotch. He gave a soft yelp.

"Evil human..." He said, stepping back a pace.

She gently touched his crotch with her mug again, backing him to the stone beside the doors.. He found that warmth slightly erotic A third touch of the warm cup made him gasp, and then her lips against his. He pulled her against him, letting the lust heat his blood.

He eased back against the the stone, panting. This reminded him that even as ill as he had been, lust still could flow easily as any poison. She nuzzled his chest, her hand warm from the mug was beneath his waist band, cupping something much warmer. His own hand was over hers, holding it in place.

"If you wish to see my skill with that lance..." He said, feeling her give a gentle squeeze. "Know it responds with just a touch..."

Her hand was curled around, her thumb brushed over the sheathed tip. That touch made his hips buck. Her hand pulled up, pulling him out. The cool air hitting warm flesh drew another gasp from him. She bent forward, her breath blew across. A hand went into her hair. He wanted her lips to touch, to taste. She pulled away, her fingers beginning to dance, sliding, tugging. This teasing would make make consummation all that sweeter. It took only a few moments of her touch to realize that it had been far too long since he'd been touched like this.

She captured the sound of his release with a kiss, her fingers still dancing upon him. He sagged against the stone, panting as she covered him again.

"...I..." He began as her finger touched his lips.

"No, don't..."

He pulled her against him, letting his breathing slow. Her touch had been welcome, though all too brief for his taste. She moved slowly from his embrace and pulled him inside, pausing to close the doors and pushed him toward the bed. He stumbled back, letting her guide him.

The bed hit the back of his knees, he held her against him he fell backward. His fingers were re in her hair as he heard the mug being set on the table beside the bed. He wanted her lips upon sensitive skin, her fingers roaming over his flesh.

"...Would that I..."

She put a a finger to his lips, this was not a place to bring up regret. She lay upon him, sifting to seat herself. She could feel him regaining his arousal, knowing too long had he denighed himself a woman's touch. She could feel him struggling.

"...There was no other..." She whispered to him. "You are the only one..."

His hands moved up her legs, to her hips, pulling her against him. The thin barrier of silk could not hide his pulsing need. He smiled up at her, as she lay her head on his chest.

"...I don't talk." He said stroking her hair. "...Just be here with me."

She felt him drifting off, but her soft kisses upon his chest focused his attention back upon her.

She smiled against his skin, she could almost hear him purr like a big cat. Her bringing his release on the balcony was only a step. The touch was only a brief respite. His breathing was soft as she continued to explore his exposed skin. He arched slightly into her kisses. She paused when she reached his navel, her tongue circled softly. He let out a soft gasp. She paused again when a fine dusting of short silver hairs met her lips. She knew elven males were quite different from human ones, body hair was almost non existent, but hey did have it upon the same sensitive places as their human counterparts. She paused above the tented silk, reaching to hook her thumbs and pull it away to leave him naked to her gaze. His hands caught her wrists and he shook his head, pulling her up his body.

"That has been teased to length enough this day." He whispered horsely. "The lust carries so far...."

She lay her hand on his chest, moving to lay at his side. She could feel him tremble, torn between the memory of her touch and disgust at having been aroused by a human woman. She rose, sliding from his grip.

"...Do not..." He said, tightening his grip on one wrist.

"Your disgust and hate is palatable Lord Silverlance, for lust you will allow my most intimate touch but after you turn from me as if I was something distasteful." Her voice raised barely above the whisper of before. "You tolerate my touch when lust is upon you but I offer you something else besides and you turn away."

She pulled her wrist from his grasp, stalking over to the table. Her hands trembled as she poured her tea. She heard his feet shuffle toward her, she pulled a way when he touched her. A physical echo of his own disgust made him step back.

"Very well...Since you no longer desire my bed." He said, in a tone that cut. "Sleep by the fire..."

She heard him shuffle back toward the bed, leaving her standing at the table alone.

She finished her tea, retrived her swords and left the room. She'd leave Nuada to himself for a while to understand his hate and disgust had no place when she lay beside him. She made her way to the formal garden. She drew her blades and began to move, hoping it would pull her mind off the very frustrating male she had left behind to brood. She lost herself in the blade's movement.

When she finished her Kata, she sat on a bench, looking at the ring circling her finger. He could not have noticed it, the three twisted bands gleamed in the light. How she wished for that ghost to come so she could actually talk to him.

"...He's being difficult again..."

She turned to see Jareth escorting Sara upon the path. Their child lay curled in Sara's arms.

"Yes, would that time could be turned back for us." She said. "But it is a foolish wish, neither of us would be as we are now."

Jareth rarely met any human who understood that the smallest things could change an outcome so much.

"So you remember..." Jareth said.

She nodded. "He may have changed too much from the man I spent near a lifetime with in one turning of the wheel."

"...I heard no sounds of destruction from his chamber, I think the silence is more disturbing."

"Some wounds take longer to heal...that of his hate will be one of those." She said and then wince.

"I've had the healers check on him." He said. "You shouldn't talk anymore this day. I may decide to announce another performance when Lord Silverlance has regained his health."

She let out a soft sigh, looking down at the ring about her finger.