Title: Winds of Change
Pairing: Jane/ Maura
Rating: M
Summary: It is the second day of the tournament at Elfwood. How will Jane do and will Maura get a chance to use her healing gifts more? Again italics denotes mind speaking in body of story.
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and review. Also a big thanks to those of you who have favorited and followed. It really makes my day to receive feedback from my readers. Now on to the story. Happy Reading!
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CHAPTER 25
King Raven carried her wife all the way back to their room. They were both happy to see food had already been delivered sitting on the table in covered dishes.
"Let's eat first and then I want you to soak in a tub for a while." Maura said as Jane sat her down on the bathroom rug.
"Sounds wonderful to me. I'm starved. However, I need to clean up a bit."
The smaller woman took a moment to look over her warrior from head to toe. Jane looked sexy as hell. Her skin was slightly glistening from sweat, she was smudged with dirt, blood, and bruises, and a few strands of hair had escaped her loosening braid. Her muscles stood out from her day of exertion. Added all together Jane made a very hot picture of a conquering hero.
Jane's mouth kicked up into a smirk as she saw the lust filled gaze of her wife. "I will gladly take you up on that look after we eat. I need to build up some energy to love you properly." She pulled her wife to her taking her soft mouth in an unyielding kiss. She never hid anything from Maura in a kiss, always putting all she was feeling into it and the mental bond they shared.
After pulling apart the two quickly washed-up and dug into the large meal that had been delivered. Jane almost felt ravenous after her long day. A Lycan body needed more fuel than a humans, especially a highly powerful one who had expended great amounts of energy for many hours.
Maura watched amazed as her wife put away nine tenths of the enormous meal that had been prepared. The smaller woman wondered if she herself would eat that way when she expended a lot of energy. "Remember don't overstuff yourself."
Jane smiled as she used the last piece of some kind of dark grained bread to clean up the last of the sauces on her plate. "I will stop now the foods gone, but I feel like I could eat more. However, I will let my stomach settle first before I decide if I need to call down to the kitchen for more. I don't think I have ever eaten so much in one sitting in my life."
"I don't think I have ever seen anyone not in an eating contest eat so much at once either. I think letting your food settle is a good idea. I'm going to get a hot bath running and help you out of your warrior gear then I want you to take a quick shower to scrub off before you soak in the tub."
"Are you going to soak with me?"
"Maybe." Maura quickly kissed her wife before heading to the bathing chamber. "Set all of those empty dishes back on the trays and put them in the hall please." She tossed over her shoulder as she walked away.
Grinning the dark haired woman did as she was told. 'I am so whipped', she thought to herself once again, but was too happy to really care. She also knew when they stepped out the door of their private lives Maura took a step back and deferred to Jane in most things when it came to their public roles in Undrehiel Society, Jane had no problem not always being in control while in private. She and Maura balanced each other out well.
Opening the door to put the trays in the hall she found Ethan and Jeremy standing there along with two of the Royal bodyguards, Evie and Alexi.
"We will take those trays Laird Raven." Jeremy stepped forward to take the first one. Jane stepped back into her room for the second one handing it to Ethan. "We will return for your weapons and fighting gear and have it ready for you in your tent in the morning. Mistress Evie already has your sword for you. Ethan helped me clean and polish it up real good for you." The boy was taking his role as Page to his friend and King very seriously and Jane was proud of him.
"Thank you Jeremy. You did a good job today. I am proud to have such a fine Page. Maura will bring you my things shortly to take back to camp to take care of for me. However, I don't want you staying up too late and you better find yourself a good meal soon too. Now get that to the kitchen and when you see your sister tell her that I am proud of her as well. She did well taking care of my wife today and I thank her for it."
The boy grinned hugely before nodding and heading off with Ethan to the kitchen. The three women chuckled as the boy proudly walked off with the food tray.
Jane nodded to her friends and bodyguards. "Goodnight, ladies." She said as she took her sword from Evie.
"Goodnight Laird." The women spoke in unison.
Making her way into the bathroom she sat on a stool by the vanity and began working on her boots. "Honey, do we have a basket or sack I can put my gear in to make it easier for Jeremy to carry out to our tent?"
Drying her hands. Maura thought. "I believe I saw a laundry sack in the towel cupboard." She moved to it to look inside. "Yes, here it is." She pulled out a tan drawstring cloth sack about the size of a king size pillow case.
"That will work." As Jane finished removing one boot her wife moved to help her with her other one. They worked together removing all of her gear.
Maura paused to examine the marks on her warrior's wrist gauntlets.
"Don't worry sweetheart, they did their job. I will get better the more I train and I won't receive quit so many bruises and scrapes."
"Some of these injuries were more than scrapes." The doctor ran her finger along a faint red line of a partially healed blade cut.
"Yes, but they were all shallow and none were of a serious nature. I will always do my best to come back to you safe and sound." She kissed her lovely caring wife. "Now I will scrub up real quick and we can soak together. You can join me in the shower too. I'll scrub your back if you will scrub mine." Jane wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at her wife.
Maura slapped her flirting mate on the ass. "Get in there and clean up while I give Jeremy this sack and your double sword rig."
Laughing Jane hopped in the shower and was soon followed by her wife who did indeed help her scrub her back.
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Maura made sure she climbed into the tub first. Jane settled back against her with a sigh. They simply sat in comfortable silence for a while, the spell on the tub keeping the water from cooling. Maura began by kissing Jane's neck then her marked shoulder while her hands began caressing her wife's heavenly body settling on firm yet soft breasts. She smiled when her love groaned and pressed closer enjoying the way the soak was now going.
When Jane had shifted just right for Maura to reach her warrior's center she delved in causing her wife to raise her hips into the contact. "Lay still Jane or I'll stop. Keep your arms and hands on the sides of the tub. There will be no more exertion from you until you face opponents again tomorrow." Maura's voice was husky and firm and sent extra wetness into the hand between Jane's legs. The smaller woman grinned at how her strong wife responded when she got forceful with her.
Maura kept one hand fondling erect nipples and swollen breasts while the other stroked her wife's full core. The fight to stay still only heightened Jane's arousal. The smaller woman felt the body against her tensing in impending climax.
Jane gave her body to her mate to pleasure, relaxing as much as she could into the delightful sensations coursing through her and soon found herself washed with pleasure as she cried her wife's name to the heavens. Maura slowly continued caressing Jane until she fell limply against her. "I love you so much Maura. You may be the Queen of Lycans, but you are the Queen of my heart for all time."
Wrapping her arms around her soulmate Maura smiled. "I love you too sweetheart for all eternity."
They sat that way for long moments before Jane moved and used her strength and long arms to lift her small wife over her setting her angel down straddling her middle feeling Maura's wet sex hot against her stomach. The warrior brought their mouths together in a passionate kiss before moving down to devour full plump breasts. Maura was clutching her strong shoulders and the back of her head as Jane devoured the delicious mounds.
"Oh God you feel good, but you're not supposed to overdo." Maura panted.
"I'm not." Jane leaned away as she felt Maura beginning to rub her fiery core against her tight stomach. The dark warrior slid one hand to her lover's hip and the other between her wife's juicy folds to slide two long fingers deep into scorching heat. Maura groaned, her hips bucking. "Look at me Maura." The warrior commanded. Her mate complied, her eyes full of pleasure. "Keep looking at me. I want your hands to pleasure those lovely breasts of yours while you ride my fingers. I won't overdo. I'm going to relax and watch you ride to the peak on my fingers and in my hand." Jane beamed as her fingers and hand were coated even more. "Don't worry about falling, I've got you. I want you to simply enjoy and let go for me."
The fair haired woman was not shy with her mate and began riding long strong fingers and pleasuring her breasts all the while watching the lust and pleasure growing in her wife's eyes. That look succeeded in turning Maura on further. She wished Jane would bring her thumb up to her aching clit.
As if reading her mind Jane reached up taking Maura's right hand guiding it down to that aching button. "I want to hear you come for me."
Maura moaned louder as her fingers circled her throbbing clit and Jane slid another finger inside Maura as she lifted and lowered herself her thrusts growing more forceful as she neared completion.
Jane thought Maura was the hottest thing she had ever seen and had a naughty idea about how to get rid of the last of the energy ball that was stored within her. She knew she had to let it go before she could rest. The Laird felt how close Maura was as the thrusts became more erratic as she neared the peak. When Maura cried her name in completion Jane released that energy down through her hand as she sat up clutching her love close to her. Her thumb coming up to make contact with a very sensitive clit as the energy escaped her hand in wonderful pulsing waves that threw Maura into a spasm of repeating orgasms until she fell completely limp against her King. The Queen had actually passed out from the pleasure of what Jane had done to her.
The dark haired beauty simply caressed her wife for long moments before rinsing them both off and climbing out of the tub with her spent wife. Her own energy was flagging greatly afterwards. She dried them both off and let the water out of the tub before releasing Maura's hair from its bindings. Jane threw back the covers laying Maura down first before following close behind. She would forgo the massage for tonight. A quick shift to wolf and back in the morning would take care of any lingering aftereffects.
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Jane did not see Maura that night before she joined Lord Fenrir and other heavenly fighters in the arena. They didn't work with her on her strength of will. That was something they all knew she would have no problem with the following day. They did work a little with her on the physical strength part and how to use her force of will to increase that as well. It was similar to creating an energy ball inside herself, she would use her force of will to reinforce her muscles and bones and increase her physical strength. Jane wished she had known how to do it when she had taken on that ogre when they first arrived in Undrehiel. After that they dropped her into an obstacle course type scenario where she had to work her way through. They also worked with her in fighting against many opponents. Apparently she would be facing that a little during the obstacle course. Lord Fenrir privately worked with Jane on how to shift without having to get totally naked. If she was wearing all natural fibers and no additional metal besides her wedding ring and royal band she could use her magic while she shifted to hold her clothing in flux while she was in animal form. He also gave her a crash course on how to fight as a wolf and how to fight in her wolfwoman form. She could fight hand to hand with her claws and teeth in this form as well as with weapons.
"I didn't think there was any shifting in this competition because there were no events strictly for Lycans."
"There's not, but I feel that you may need these skills soon and you could use at least a little training before you went into a fight in those forms. Mostly go with your instincts and work with your wolf and you will be alright."
"Now since you have shifted here so much you will not have to worry about shifting when you wake to take care of any remaining injuries or soreness. You will appear at the competition field as fresh as you did the previous morning. Again I congratulate you on doing so well on your first tests as a warrior and I wish you luck on you next ones. I know you will do well. You are waking up now so I will say my goodbyes. We will all be watching, so do us proud."
"I'll do my best." Jane came back to her body and smiled down at the smaller woman who was wrapped around her like a boa constrictor. She was going to have to start calling her wife ginger since the hair on her head was starting to match the ginger patch that grew in her mate's most intimate area.
It took some doing, but she managed to slip out of bed without waking her wife. Jane freshened up in the bathroom before putting on a pair of shorts and a compression top and performed her morning warm-up routine like she did the day before.
Maura's eyes peaked over her wife's pillow she was now hugging instead of her sexy wife. She lay still and simply watched the beauty that was her wife in graceful motion. Jane slid through her routine like water flowing over rocks, it was a nimble, powerful, and elegant dance of skill and concentration. She could watch her love move like that all day and never get tired of it.
Maura had not seen her wife since passing out in the tub the night before. She had went directly to the library when she was drawn to the heavenly realm to train. She learned even more of the healing arts and had asked Lady Vivienne what exactly it was that Jane had done to her the night before to send her spiraling into orgasmic oblivion. The Goddess had happily explained and even taught her how she too could hold energy within like Jane did, though maybe not as much. The Goddess told her it would be a useful skill to have when she had a lot of healing to do and that she should practice it just as Jane did. Maura couldn't wait for paybacks. It felt wonderful and very intense, but she had been looking forward to rubbing her wife down all over her hot body the night before. She would get to have her fun soon she promised herself.
Coming to a close of her routine Jane sighed out a long breath and smiled as she noticed her four little purple bodyguards had returned and were sitting on the windowsill once more. She opened the window putting down a handful of seeds and berries that she had arranged to always be available in their room since the little birds had come into her life. The four little defenders bowed to her before eating. She stroked the largest bird's back. He had little black patches just behind his eyes. "I think I will call you Phantom. You come out of nowhere to defend those under your protection. I will think on it and I am sure I will come up with appropriate names for you other three as well." She gave them each a stroke along their backs before heading to the shower for a nice refreshing rinse.
Maura smiled at her soft hearted warrior. She crawled out of bed giving the birds a stroke as well before following her love into the bathroom to freshen up and begin their day.
After some gentle shower loving that really started the couple's morning off right they got dressed. Maura was at the vanity adding the finishing touches to the royal blue dress she was wearing that day when a knock sounded at the door.
Jane was already dressed in jeans, shirt, and sneakers with her sword at her side when she answered the door to let Mistress Pineheart and her helper in once again. It did not take them long to set out the hearty breakfast and the pair left with a "Good luck, Laird."
The ladies quickly ate and left for their tent for Jane to change. Soon they were once again walking down the main fairway toward the tournament field. Whereas the day before people were more cautious and reserved around the couple, now they were receiving many good mornings from those around them and Jane received many well wishes for her day ahead. A few more pictures were taken with the magic imagers.
"I don't believe it will be long before everyone in Hecation Province knows who we are, especially you Jane." Maura smiled, waved, and greeted people as they passed.
Jane was doing the same. "Oh I agree, except I think you will be just as popular as me. Images of Angel Snow will be quite popular, I'm sure."
"You really get off on that nickname the warriors were calling me, don't you?" The Angel smirked.
"I do, especially because that heavenly Angel they all adore is all mine." The warrior sent a mental kiss to her wife as they finally made it to the field and a path was made for them as Jane escorted her wife to the box she sat in the day before. The bodyguards stayed the same.
King Raven kissed her wife. "I wish we could spend more time together today, but they need to see you here watching the obstacle course later after we finish the will and physical strength challenges. The warriors yet to compete in the obstacle course can't watch. The rules state that a warrior must enter the course unfamiliar with what is ahead of them. I will mingle with the people of the fair a while and rest. I'll also leave more guards with you as our warriors complete the course." Jane pulled back fractionally looking into her loves eyes. "I love you and will miss you."
"I will miss you as well, but I'm glad you will have the extra time to rest between the strength events and your turn in the course. I may be needed to assist the healers. I heard that the obstacle course produces more injuries than any other event. I would like to help if I can."
"That sounds like a good idea." They kissed once more.
"I love you too, my warrior. Now go kick some ass."
The warrior left laughing. It was always so cute when Maura would cuss and depending on the venue, sexy as hell. Jane didn't let her mind wander down that path, it wasn't the time. She needed to focus on the day ahead. The King raised her hand in greeting as the crowd cheered her on as she joined her warriors on the field.
For Jane the test of wills was a cake walk and she felt sort of bad for everyone she faced. It was not really a fair completion at all, but she had to prove herself to the crowd and the other warriors. Lines were drawn twelve feet apart and each warrior stood before the line and the one to force their opponent to step backwards over the line behind them was declared the winner. Jane easily swept through all comers and was once again declared the overall winner of the event.
The strength competition was interesting. All the warriors were lined up around the field and each had an odd smooth stone laid across their shoulders with hand holds built into it. It was designed to test the strength of their whole body at once as well as their endurance. It was a last warrior standing sort of event. The stone would magically get heavier and heavier until a warrior dropped to their knees and the stone would instantly become light again.
The stone only weighed about fifty pounds which was nothing for the warriors. It wasn't until the stone reached five hundred pounds that some of the youngest and oldest of the competition started to get shaky. At six hundred pounds the first of the warriors began to drop.
Jane closed off the announcer who was calling out each increase. She didn't want to syke herself out by the large numbers. A Lycan wasn't a human and was much stronger, but she sometimes still thought as if she was still only human. The dark haired warrior closed her eyes and focused on holding the ever increasing weight on her shoulders and on building her will within to strengthen her muscles if needed.
It came down to Jane and a Fae who looked like he had a bit of ogre in him. The crowd watched in awe as the weight increased and the Fae warrior began to shake and grunt. However, the King stayed calm and steady. It was obvious her body was taxed, her muscles were flexed and prominent, but the female warrior had not wavered once. The King stood steady and strong, the epitome of a pillar of strength. Finally with a mighty roar the Fae warrior fell over as his body gave out.
Jane focused back in on the announcer when she felt the stone on her shoulders begin to gradually become lighter. A smile split across her face when she heard she had won. The crowd was cheering wildly for the Laird.
"You were great sweetheart. I am so impressed. It was like it weighed nothing at all to you even when the stone grew to such astounding weights. No wonder you can carry and toss me around so easily. I find your strength seriously hot by the way. I am so calling you when we get back to Boston every time someone blocks my car in by parking poorly or rudely, you can just pick it up and move it easy as you please."
Jane chuckled. "I am glad you like it so much, because I really like being able to carry you and I will gladly assist you with your parking problems anytime you need me love." The warrior mentally chuckled while she once again waved to the crowd as they cheered for her.
The warriors began leaving the field so it could be prepared for the final competition of the tournament, which would begin at noon. The Royal couple left the field as they went to enjoy a little over an hour together before Maura had to go back to watch the competition and assist the healers when needed. The couple visited a few different vendors trying the different foods the fair offered and interacting with the citizens a little more.
When the time came for Maura to go back to the competition Jane sent five of their six bodyguards with her since her wife would be moving on the field to help the healers. The King wanted her wife protected while she focused on healing. The warrior did not trust the jackals from the day before and would not put it past them to attempt to get back at her through her wife.
Jane kept General Poledio and her two little purple feathered guards with her. A few of her other warriors hung out with her as well. Jeremy, Emily, and Millie stayed as well to let the children enjoy the fair for a while. Jane enjoyed helping the children at the game booths and watching them on the rides. The King soon had a large group of children going from booth to booth and ride to ride accompanying them. Jeremy and Emily loved having all the other kids to play with.
The King led them all over to an ice cream and bakery shop to buy all the children a treat. The crowd of children grew when word spread that King Raven was buying children treats.
Warren laughed. "You are like the pied piper only with children instead of mice."
Many of the warriors and adults around heard and laughed.
"I don't mind. These kids are our future, you teach them kindness maybe they will do the same for others. Plus they are really fun to be around." Jane's ears pricked as she heard the thundering of hooves approaching. They were out of place. The area was blocked off to such traffic until after the fair. She heard people shout at the rider and turned to see a large grey and black horse cutting through the fair with a very large rider who was yelling and cursing at everyone in his way and knocking many over in the process.
From the corner of her eye she caught sight of a little red-haired girl of about three begin to dart across the street for the ice cream parlor holding the hand of a red-haired boy who looked like her twin brother. The children were smiling and excited and heedless of the danger baring down on them.
Moving before anyone else could react she darted into the street scooping up the now scared children in one arm as the other swung around grabbing the horses bridle forcing the animals head down while sending a willful push to get the animal to stop. The large man tumbled off his horse at the abrupt halt. Angrily getting back to his feet.
Jane knew the man was jackal and she inwardly groaned when she saw his features. He was most likely a son of the warrior she fought the night before. He favored his sire and was even larger than his father. It seemed none in the family were very worthy individuals.
"You damned twat. What the hell do you think you are doing? Do you have any idea who I am or who my father is? You will regret your interference. I see by your clothes you think yourself a warrior. Well that's just fine because I challenge you. A no-holds barred fight on the field of battle tonight after the final competition is over as is tradition. The only rule as always is no using our wills against one another. I am sure you saw what a mighty warrior my Alpha jackal father was yesterday. Well let me tell you I am better and the only reason I didn't compete was because I couldn't make it in time, but I am here now to cheer my father and little brother on. I am Fredrick, son of Gorum the jackal king." He stood over Jane as she held and soothed the children. With them in her arms the hostile man was unable to see the Royal band on her arm.
King Raven was pissed, the apple didn't fall to far from the tree at all in the man's family. "I accept your challenge. I am Jane Raven and I will meet you on the field of battle. I hope you fight more honorably than your father and brother." She sent the horse on its way between booths to the road behind the fair where riders were still allowed. "Now you can walk like everyone else on this main street or you can follow your horse and ride down the secondary streets to find your clan."
"You don't tell me what to do." He crowded her, but Jane didn't back down and laughed a little as the two little redheads in her arms even gave the big man mean looks.
Master Pineheart stepped in. "Fredrick your challenge has been accepted and there is no fighting here outside of direct challenge. If you try to attack this warrior now you will be either confined to your clan tent or escorted from town. The choice is yours. Now walk on down the main street or go follow your horse." Several warriors now surrounded them.
The jackal noticed and backed away from Jane. "I won't kill you tonight, but rest assured when I am done, you will wish you were dead." With that the angry man followed his horse.
Jane laughed. "He is going to be even more upset when he finds out who I am and what happened with his father and brother."
Master Pineheart smiled. "I agree."
Bouncing them a bit, Jane looked at the small ones in her arms. "Now why don't you two assure your parents you are okay and then we can go together to get a treat."
The children's parents hugged them and were surprised to find themselves soon sitting with King Raven at a small table as the great warrior held their children on her knees listening as they babbled and ate strawberry ice cream.
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Maura only sat in the Royal box for a few minutes before she moved down to the field to assist the healers when more severely wounded warriors began to be escorted or carried from the course. Throughout the course were obstacles that reminded her of that Ninja warrior show Jane, Frost, Korsak, and Jane's brothers liked to watch. However, there were also traps in the ground and the trees, bushes, and walls that now were on the field. Magic was pretty cool and it made much of the technology of the human realm seem primitive in comparison. But Maura loved the old world charm of Undrehiel and looked forward to one day seeing more of it.
The healer looked back up at the large canvas and watched as another warrior began the course. A new warrior entered the course once the previous one hit the halfway point or was carried out. The traps got many and some were dangerous, but not totally lethal. Although some warriors landed wrong or moved in such a way that made the results worse than they should be. In some areas arrows with small balls of a sleeping potion on the ends were fired at the warriors. One warrior had drawn his sword to try and defend himself and missed ending up nearly severing his own leg when he fell sleepily to the ground. Nets fell from trees, warriors with weapons challenged the competitors. The competitors had to fight more than one warrior at a time in a few areas during the final half of the course. So far none of the low ranked warriors had made it all the way through the course. The crowd cheered as finally one of the mid ranked warriors completed the obstacle course.
Throughout the day the crowd saw even more of the great healing strength of the young Queen and Maura's reputation was growing just as that of her warrior wife's was. The Lady smiled as she heard one warrior telling about Jane having a whole passel of children following her around the fair and how the woman treated them to ice cream. Yet, no one wanted to tell her of the challenge issued or the King's acceptance. None wanted to upset their Angel of Mercy.
It was just getting dark as the final and highest ranked warriors began the course. The obstacle course was more difficult as the light faded leaving dark shadows throughout even with the lanterns and light globes used. Injuries became more severe. The healers were very grateful for the powerful Royal healer's help. No lasting injuries had resulted from the competition so far with Queen Snow's assistance.
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The only exception to the starting of warriors came when the final competitor walked onto the field. The referees had waited until all others had completed the course and the times had been posted on the scoreboard from fastest on down. They also waited until Lady Snow was free to leave the healers area and take her seat back in the Royal box.
King Raven, now the top ranked warrior of the tournament, stepped onto the field with a sword on her hip, two swords crossed on her back, she had daggers and throwing knives in each boot, and a throwing axe on her remaining hip. Jane looked dangerous. Her page walked behind her with her staff and short bow and a quiver full of arrows. The two weapons would be placed in special areas within the course for the warrior to use when she reached them.
The crowd erupted as the King stepped onto the field, but she didn't wave this time, she was totally focused on the task ahead. She did look at the scoreboard and saw that many of her warriors were in the top twenty spots and that Warren was currently second and the warrior she fought in hand-to-hand the previous day was in first. Jane needed to be faster than them and not gain penalties that added to her time.
The lady warrior stood before the gate to the wild looking course. It looked like a small forest and maze had been dropped onto the field. She waited while runners took off around the course to place her extra weapons in their proper areas. Jane did her boxer bounce and stayed warm as she waited. A hush fell over the crowd as a blue flag was raised and erupted again as it lowered and the King entered the course.
Raven was quick and agile as she climbed, jumped, swung, dodged, and ran through the obstacles. She rolled and jumped out of the way of nets and traps. Her throwing knives hit targets as they appeared, as did her axe. All watched as she fought multiple attackers to advance to further stages of the course and how the Laird avoided sleepy arrows and sent her own arrows dead center of her targets. The dark haired warrior had a few scrapes, bruises, and cuts when she reached the end, but nothing too severe.
Those watching knew it was fast, but when the time was posted at nearly fifteen minutes quicker than the top time for the day and a new record by five minutes, the whole place went wild. King Raven ran a record winning time and also managed to win all of the events. The lady King was proving she was just as strong as the legendary King before her, just as Maura was proving herself as strong a healer as her legendary predecessor.
Maura ran to her wife hugging her tight and kissing her. "I am so proud of you. You have worked so hard and showed such honor during this whole tournament and have come out on top. Congratulations sweetheart."
"I am proud of you too. I have heard about all of the warriors you have saved from lasting injuries or debilitating ones, Queen Snow, Angel of Mercy." Jane pulled from the kiss breathless. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
The Master of Ceremonies approached them. "Congratulations King Raven, you have truly been amazing. Queen Snow would you mind assisting me in the presenting of the medals to the top three warriors in each event?"
Bouncing with delight Maura eagerly agreed. "I would love to." She gave Jane another quick kiss before following the Elf in red up onto the stage to present the awards.
They held Jane on the stage after she received her first medal because it would be silly for her to keep running up and down the stairs. Laird Raven was presented with thirteen gold medals and the large trophy for best warrior of the tournament that is given to the warrior every year with the highest accumulated points from all events. She was also given a specially carved crystal statue only given out when someone won all events. It had been a very long time since anyone had won such a prize. All of the award winning warriors lined up on the stage together as the crowd cheered. Some had won more than one medal, but Jane carried all the gold medals for the tournament. The crowd was loving it as Laird Raven held up her trophy and statue as her chest gleamed with gold.
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A large warrior pushed through those on the field to stand before the awards stage. "Well Jane Raven, now that you are done receiving your awards are you ready to face a true warrior in a real fight. The tournament is over, you accepted my challenge. It is time to see how good you really are." Fredrick bellowed for all to hear.
Maura clutched her wife's arm. "What is he talking about Jane?"
Looking into her wife's worried gaze she told her what had happened and how she came to be in her current situation. "This is something I must do and you must promise me you will stay with our guards. I don't trust this jackal clan."
"I will. Now you be careful and kick this awful man's ass hard. I am really disliking his family."
Chuckling Jane kissed her wife briefly. "I will do my best and I agree with you completely."
The King turned to her warriors. "Take care of my wife, his clan might try something."
With only a sword on her hip and dagger on her belt she jumped off the stage. The crowd of warriors spread out and formed a circle for them to fight in. The Master of Ceremonies joined them.
"There must be a magic circle placed to keep anyone else from interfering in anyway with this challenge." The Elf stated. He was raising his arms to do just that when at least ten warriors rushed the circle and at least ten more rushed towards Maura.
Maura drew her rapier pulling Jeremy behind her as her guards surrounded her fighting the attackers. Anyone who got close found out just how well the Queen fought with her weapon. She injured, but did not kill anyone. Her guards took care of that. During the fight Ethan received a major injury when he fought off a magical attack from one jackal of mixed heritage while another stabbed him in the side. Ethan killed the magic wielding jackal, but Max killed the other before he could stab Ethan again.
Down on the battle field the circle went up, but not before Fredrick's father and younger brother joined him in the circle to face King Raven alone. The spell that formed the circle would stay in place until either Jane or Fredrick lost consciousness. The warriors that helped the jackals were cut down by those warriors on the field who supported the new King. Most admired the female warrior and respected her after the honor and skill she competed with during the tournament and her easy ways among the common folk of Hecation. The jackal king and his sons did not much care what happened to their followers as long as they received their chance to end the new Lycan King before she grew any more powerful or well liked.
On stage Maura took a quick moment to heal Ethan before moving to see what was happening on the field below. There were a few more injured warriors, but the only ones who lost their lives were those assisting the jackal king. No quarter had been given to the honorless warriors. A hand went to her mouth as she saw that Jane stood alone in the middle of the circle trapped there with three very large angry warriors who wanted to kill her. She wanted to call out to her wife, but was afraid to distract her.
As the four warriors within the circle faced one another not yet moving, the field was cleared of the dead and the injured were quickly taken to the healers' tent. All eyes were on the challenge circle.
Feeling sweat running down her spine Jane's mind was filled with everything that she had went over with Lord Fenrir. He had been drilling her about fighting more than one warrior at a time and she was very glad of that at the moment. The large jackal, Fredrick, faced her with a huge sword in his hands, his younger brother, Merrick, had a giant war axe, and his father, Gorum, had two swords. They all drew their weapons.
Jane drew her sword and dagger, she had spent the time they had been standing facing each other spindling strength and energy from her core replenishing her tired body as much as possible. At least she wasn't near as tired as she had been the day before.
"Go for it son. We will stand back for now." Gorum encouraged his oldest.
Jane and Fredrick faced off. The man was powerful and his sword banged loudly with hers, but she never wavered and did her best to keep from being surrounded by the three jackals. She was caught with only a nick on her arm once with Fredrick's blade while she was able to quickly dart in and catch him across the back of his hand making him loosen his grip on his sword enough for a short moment to disarm him. However, it was then that his father and little brother joined the fray and she didn't get the chance to try and knock him out and open the circle. The battle raged on with King Raven bleeding her opponents and disarming them tossing their weapons behind her.
It wasn't long before Fredrick and Gorum both shifted into jackalman form and Merrick into a full jackal form. Merrick was nearly as large as a Lycan wolf with dark black and grey fur across his back and tan fur on his lower half. His father and older brother stood large and tall their fronts were tan fur and muscled and their backs black. They stood upright with bulging arms ending in large clawed hands both had powerful builds.
"This is now no longer a last warrior left conscious challenge. This is now a death challenge. You will die this day Raven, we do not recognize you as our King." The large jackalman form of Fredrick growled out. "Do you accept the death challenge the three of us have issued. If you do the spell will change and the only way out of this circle will be for you to kill all three of us or for us to kill you. Do you have the guts to accept a real challenge? Can you still fight when life and death is on the line, not some silly medal or trophy?"
Jane opened herself up to their minds and saw that even Merrick wanted to kill her, she hadn't been sure about him. She thought maybe he was being forced into things by his family, but no, he was just as awful as his big brother and father. They left her no choice, but to kill them. If she didn't she would be seen as weak and more challenges would be issued. It was one of the major differences between who she had been and who she currently was. The Alpha within her could not let a challenge like that go, it put her people and supporters in danger if she did. Ending the three would help protect many of her clan. She would still be challenged, but not near as much once she dispatched the three jackals. "I accept the challenge to a fight to the death." Jane was very glad Maura was not invading her mind, her entire concentration had to be on the fight at hand.
Everyone outside the healer's tent was now focused on the fight taking place in the circle. Gasps and exclamation went around the field when the death challenge was issued and accepted. Many worried that the young King might not come out of the circle alive. They all watched as the three shifted jackals attacked in unison. Laird Raven got a few blows in with her sword before the now much larger creatures tackled her and she was lost from sight beneath the black, grey, and tan jackals. It wasn't long before the youngest jackal in full form was tossed from the pile to slam against the magical barrier of the circle and the two jackalmen were pushed aside as a large black wolfwoman rose up towering a good head taller than either creature. She had bite and claw marks on her body, but stood as if unaffected amongst her enemies. The crowd roared. It was the first time any, but maybe a few of the extremely ancient, had seen a fully black wolf. The King looked very dangerous and scary, certainly not someone most would want to be trapped in a battle circle with.
The black wolfwoman scooped up her sword just as the trio rushed her again, she loped off the head of the youngest jackal before the father bit into her wrist and she lost her grip on her sword. Her free arm came around slamming into the snout of the oldest son sending him back to trip over his brother's head to fall to the ground. The King took the opportunity to grab the old jackal around his muzzle and pull his mouth open enough to free her wrist from his jaws. She placed her body behind his with one arm around his neck while the other continued to pull up on his muzzle growling the whole time. The old jackal was scrambling for purchase and managed to press the wolf into the barrier, but Raven never gave in until she heard the loud crack and the jackal howls ceased instantly only to be replaced by those of his remaining son. The remaining jackal slammed into the wolf as she released the dead body sending them both into a fighting tangle across the grass.
The two Lycans fought and rolled over and over in the circle through blood and over bodies until everyone heard the loud pained howl of the last jackal as King Raven's clawed hand slammed into his thick chest wall. The wolf's legs came up catapulting the jackal away from her. The black clawed fist made a sucking sound as it was pulled from the powerful chest. The last jackal hit the barrier hard before falling lifeless to the ground. The black wolf stood covered in bites, claw marks, blood, and dirt holding the heart of Frederick in her hand.
Silence fell across the arena until the Lycan King held up the heart and howled loudly in victory. Many howls, growls, and roars followed along with cheering from the non Lycans. The wolfwoman tossed the heart down next to the body before shifting fully into wolf and then back to human in a few short moments. She shifted like that to help close some of the many wounds she had.
Maura had tears running down her face as she approached her wife, the Queen totally ignored all the blood and filth covering her warrior and clung to her mate. The smaller woman had never been as scared in her entire life as when the three jackals had attacked together and Jane disappeared under them. It was even worse than seeing Jane get shot. "You deserve a spanking for scaring me like that."
"Kinky, I may just like it." Jane held her shaking wife tight. "I told you I would always do my best to come back to you and I meant it. I honestly didn't think I would face death challenges so soon, but I did what I had to do."
"I know Jane and your enemies deserved what they got. I just hate to see you hurt or have to do those things." Maura pulled back looking over her wife with her healer's eyes. "You have closed your wounds, but you still have many injuries that need a healers touch and you seriously need a bath."
Jane chuckled. "So do you after hugging me so close." She turned to the warriors around her. "I would like to thank all of you who helped to protect my wife and fought to make sure I didn't face any more than three jackals in that circle. You have done me and my Queen a great service this day." Her voice was picked up for all to hear since they stood so close to the stage and the crowd cheered for the warriors who fought for the King and Queen.
"Come my King, let me get you back to our suite so I can get you cleaned up and take care of your wounds." Maura stated as she moved to walk beside her King still clinging to the tall warrior.
The crowd parted bowing as the couple walked by. The Lycan King and Queen had fully returned and soon all in Hecation would know of it and it wouldn't be too long before the whole of Undrehiel would know as well.
R&I R&I R&I R&I R&I
I hope you all liked this one okay. Thanks to all of you for reading, and more thanks to those of you who have faved, followed, or sent kudos and a special thanks to all of you who have reviewed. Until Next Time…Holly