Mobbed
She asked for someone to bring her water to bathe. She needed to get the smell of Claudio's perfume off her. It felt like an impossible task. He clung to her. Her skin was raw within minutes.
As she scrubbed, Naishe tried to keep her mind focussed on Clarissa, but intruding memories kept resurfacing. Claudio. Hamaal. Pravus. She felt nauseous. Without any new information, she had nothing to offer Pravus in exchange for his silence. He could have Clarissa gone in a day, if Claudio didn't get there first. The Antivan had always treated her kindly, and, although he often carried salacious intent, had always behaved respectfully for Luis' servants. Naishe was hoping he would show some compassion towards Clarissa. There was no way to know.
"Fuck."
After a while, she let her head sink below the water. It was calming. The rest of the world shut out. Quiet. Peace. She thought of the mermaid that had attended her wedding with envy. How nice it would be to just dive into the sea. All the way to the bottom. Some of the seers had spoken of water spirits that lurked in the deepest oceans. Fragments of the Fade that had splintered into the sea. Something about it sounded appealing. There was a whole other world under the water, and she was stuck on land.
When Naishe surfaced, she had a plan. Not a very good one, but she didn't have many options.
Luis was due to return the next day, and had requested the presence of Pravus to discuss some financial matters.
"How do I look?" Naishe spun around in the middle of her bedroom. Long, loose dandelion yellow fabric fluttered through the air.
"Beautiful," Clarissa smiled from the bed, "as usual. I might even say edible."
Naishe stopped spinning to face the mirror, winking at Clarissa's reflection. "Hair up or down?"
She got off the bed and went over to the Rivaini. She lifted Naishe's hair off her shoulders and held it in place. "I think Luis would like something like this. He likes being able to see your neck."
"What would you prefer?"
Clarissa planted a kiss on Naishe's shoulder. "As long as I get to see you, I don't care. You could show up in a burlap sack a still look exquisite."
The Rivaini stared at her in the reflection for a second, then turned and wrapped her arms around her neck. "Flatterer."
Their kisses felt like precious moments they couldn't waste. Clarissa held Naishe close to her. She had been thinking about what had happened with Claudio. Naishe had still not explained, but now didn't seem like the right time. Naishe's lips made it easy for Clarissa to let her mind go blank.
After a while, Naishe pressed her forehead to the other woman's. "Thank you."
"For the kiss?"
"For everything. I wouldn't be able to do this without you."
Clarissa stroked Naishe's cheek with her thumb. "Believe me, the pleasure was all mine."
Naishe chuckled and kissed her again.
A thump from downstairs brought them back to reality. Luis had returned.
Naishe looked down at herself, frowning. "I hate this. Dressing up to please him. It feels so pathetic."
"Don't think of it that way," Clarissa said, trying to think of a way to cheer her up again, "Wear it for you. He doesn't have anything to do with it."
Naishe raised her gaze back to Clarissa. "Maybe I should be wearing it for you."
"You shouldn't wear anything for me."
The way Naishe smirked at her, with that mischievous glint in her eye…It made everything worth it. Hitting Claudio. Risking her position here. Clarissa felt like Naishe's dirty little secret.
"Naishe! Come down here my princess! I've missed you!"
Naishe groaned and let go of Clarissa. "That's my cue."
Clarissa watched her walk to the door, sad to see her go.
"Come here tonight, if you can."
Clarissa gave her a small slate, "Aye aye, Captain."
Naishe grinned and open the door. "I'll be sure to cut my nails…"
Clarissa couldn't wipe the beam off her face after Naishe had left. She started making the bed, her mind racing.
Falling in love. It's the falling part we sometimes forget about. You can never be sure if the person you are falling for is going to catch you. Being in love with someone like Isabela is like being at sea. If happiness is the ship, love is the tempest. It tears you apart. It leaves you hollow. If you're lucky, you drown. Love is…shit…It's as deep and mysterious as the ocean. The unlucky ones are those that come up for air. But I suppose there are some who are content to sail calmer waters.
I'll give you a warning; falling isn't something you can do gracefully, and you rarely do it without suffering some pain. Like Clarissa, I loved Isabela in all her shameless glory. I still do. And I've never recovered. Perhaps I never will.
"Daaaaaarling." Luis stretched out his hands and strode over to give Naishe a firm wet kiss.
Naishe, although slightly revolted, recovered quickly. "I…missed you," she smiled as sincerely as she could muster.
"Of course you did. I have brought you back many pretty little things I'm sure you will enjoy."
"Great..."
Luis missed her poor attempt at enthusiasm.
Naishe felt bad as she watched her husband usher over Hamaal, whose hands were laden with packages. He was giving her gifts. She hadn't done anything to earn them, and it wasn't as though she had demanded them.
"First," he handed Naishe a thick leather-bound book, "I saw you looking over my old book of maps. It's rather outdated. I had my best cartographer draw this up. I has the new additions from beyond the western fjords. Do you like it?"
Naishe's smile was perfectly genuine. She beamed from Luis to the book, and back to Luis. "It's…beautiful." She turned the pages to see more of the map drawings, careful not to smudge any of the ink. It looked like the maps had been drawn that morning.
Luis had a huge grin. "I warms my heart to see you so happy, my princess."
Naishe didn't even mind that much when he kissed her cheek. "Thank you. I love it."
"That's not all," Hamaal tiptoed forward and gave him a velvet box. "I think you would look very nice in this."
This interested Naishe a lot less. It was a heavy silver fringe necklace dripping in rubies. It spoke volumes about Luis' wealth to whomever he wanted her to wear it in front of. "It's…Yes. Very pretty. Tha-"
"Aaaand…" Luis presented a final gift. A diadem of silverite. "For my princess. Now you will look the part."
Naishe smiled politely, and let Luis kiss her again. She didn't want to seem ungrateful. She loved the book. The jewellery…it was nice. They were very generous gifts. But they weren't really her. She thought they were gaudy.
"Wear them tonight. We'll only be dining with a few of my associates but…I like to see you sparkle."
"As you wish." Naishe wondered whether associates meant Claudio.
As was customary with Luis after one of his trips, he was keen to be alone with Naishe. He asked her to pleasure herself whilst he watched. She was getting better at faking it.
Naishe had hoped to see Clarissa before their dinner guests arrived, but she was nowhere to be seen. Despite her best hopes, Pravus had not been struck down by lightning or dismembered by a witch, and dined with them. When he saw her new bangles, there was a trace of irritation in his eyes, as though he didn't believe she was worthy of such finery.
Luis spoke of his trip. The galleries he had visited and the paintings he had bartered. It sounded like he had been promising young up-and-coming artists riches for their masterpieces, and then selling them on for a handful of coppers. Naishe tuned out when he started describing the models he had hand-picked for a particular tavern scene. She silently wondered how many young women would need to visit healers in the coming weeks to rid them of the little problem Luis had undoubtedly left them with.
"…red hair all the way down past her hips. And those lips!" Luis sighed. Tact was never his strong point.
Men Naishe didn't know sniggered around the table. Pravus merely gave a curt nod.
Naishe had the unfortunate task of being left to entertain Luis' guests whilst he and Pravus talked business elsewhere. One of them, an Anders with greasy hair, laid his hand on her backside, and proceeded to tell her bad jokes about livestock. She smiled politely and laughed when expected, but in her head was thinking about how she'd systematically break each of his fingers.
"What do you call a herd of cows masturbating?"
Naishe sighed.
"Beef-strokin-off!"
Her company guffawed with laughter. Even Pravus cracked a smile.
"You don't like that darlin'? I 'eard you liked the taste o' beef."
More laughter.
Someone. Anyone. Just set fire to me now. Naishe didn't react. It was what they wanted and she didn't want to give them the satisfaction.
Luis had made many attempts for Naishe to entertain him and his guests in the past. Again Naishe had wondered why he'd chosen her to wed, when there was an abundant supply of women who could dance and play music and sing. Her talents did not befit the lady of the house, but she decided against pickpocketing Luis' friends as entertainment.
Clarissa taught her simple steps to a dance that predominantly comprised of spinning with her arms in the air and undulating her abdomen. Naishe supposed it didn't really matter what she did so long as her finer features were on display. Luis tended to give her garments of very thin silk to wear when such occasions arose. He bought her an estrangata; a Rivaini instrument made of wood, not unlike the Ferelden flute. Naishe managed a few tinny notes on it and was able to string together a short tune, but music had never been her forte.
Clarissa tried to teach her the verses to 'Tessa the Pure' but stopped her after the third line. It was very apparent that Naishe was utterly tone deaf. The servant explained this as delicately as she could to Luis, who demanded to hear Naishe sing at once. He stopped her after the second line.
At last, Luis returned to rescue her.
"Thank fucking Andraste…" Naishe muttered under her breath, extracting herself from the oaf.
"Have you been traumatising my wife?"
"Wouldn't dream of it, boss. We was just talkin' about meat. Y'know, Rivaini cuisine and that."
"Well, you know me." Luis shot a look at Naishe and smacked her buttocks. "I'm a rump man myself."
Naishe left the men to their jeers, seething. She wished Zevran were here to spar with her. She needed to hit something.
"Leaving so soon?" The unmistakeable sound of Pravus appeared behind her.
She turned to see the snake-like man. He was doing nothing to improve her mood.
"I hear there's been quite a commotion in the house today. Your husband has so much to catch up on…"
Naishe pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. This.
"Well, it seems like you want to be alone with your thoughts." He made to go, but Naishe called out to him.
"Wait. I know where Claudio is going." She crossed her arms, "and who he's meeting with."
Pravus didn't visibly react to this information. Naishe had expected another snake-like smile. "Continue."
"Ansburg. In the east."
"I know where Ansburg is. Who is he meeting?"
"A mage. Anita…Anita Hardwood." It was the name of a woman who'd inspired certain drawings in the book Clarissa had given her. If the drawings were accurate, she was very flexible.
Ideas already seemed to be forming in Pravus' mind. "Interesting…A mage…But why would he-?" Pravus' eyes fell on something behind Naishe, and he fell silent.
A familiar scent stung Naishe's nostrils. Perfume. Her heart sunk and she turned to see Claudio. He was dressed as elegantly as ever, and he walked with his usual strut, but a think white bandage was wrapped around his head. The flesh around his right eye was purple and swollen. Clarissa had done a real number on him.
Pravus' eyes bulged at the sight of him but he remained quiet.
Claudio didn't even meet Naishe's furtive gaze. "Pravus."
"Ser Valisti." Both Pravus and Naishe watched Claudio walk into the room where Luis and he cronies were.
Naishe's mouth was suddenly very dry.
After a moment, a rough wheezing noise came from Pravus' mouth. He was laughing. "How hard did you hit him?" he snorted, "Were you trying to wipe his memory?"
Naishe shrugged, "You have what you wanted."
"For the moment." Pravus wetted his lips.
"I'll leave you to your scheming."
"And I'll try to keep my lips sealed." Pravus watched her start climbing the stairs, then returned to Luis.
"Piece of shit…" Naishe muttered.
She was in a foul mood when she reached her bedroom and opened the door. To her surprise, she found her room filled with blooming flowers. Everywhere from the doorway to the window. Naishe was amazed.
"Do you like them?" Clarissa seemed to be exactly where Naishe had left her on the bed.
"You…How?" Naishe looked around in awe.
"Hamaal. I told him you liked lilies."
Naishe raised an eyebrow, "Where did he get them from? I thought they didn't grow in Antiva."
Clarissa smiled. "They don't. They're not really there." She got off the bed and went to plant a kiss on Naishe's cheek. "I hope that doesn't make the gesture less romantic.
Naishe replied with a look of confusion.
The Free Marcher grinned. "It's an illusion. Hamaal's good at those.
Naishe still said nothing.
"Magic."
"Hamaal's a mage?" Naishe's stare at her with wide eyes. She'd never seen magic like this. There were witches in Rivain who could turn a few tricks and hex unsuspecting Qunari, and she'd met a shapeshifter on her trips with her mother, but nothing like this. It was beautiful. And the fact that Hamaal was responsible…She wondered why Luis hadn't mentioned anything. Why the elf hadn't used his magic to defend himself when Luis was so angry, and save himself from those horrible scars.
She was going to voice these thoughts, but stopped herself. Hamaal might not have told Clarissa. Naishe didn't want to spill the information if he was keeping it private.
Clarissa chuckled, "Yeah. You didn't know?"
"Would I look this surprised if I did?"
"Point taken." She made to kiss Naishe on the lips, but she was still entranced by the flowers.
"They're beautiful."
"I hope so. That was the idea."
Naishe sighed. They looked so real. It made her sad in a way. She wanted to see real lilies. To touch them. Smell them. She couldn't do that here.
Clarissa saw her smile drooping. "Is everything alright?"
Naishe looked back at her and nodded. "Yes. I'm just…they're amazing."
"Good," Clarissa moved a hand casually up Naishe's arm. "Because I was kind of hoping this would win me sexual favours…"
Naishe laughed and let the other woman take her in her arms. "I think I can think of some way to thank you…"
Clarissa leaned forward to kiss her, but Naishe pressed her fingers to her lips.
"Not so fast."
She dragged her lips down Clarissa's neck slowly. She could feel her heartbeat racing. Naishe pulled the skirts of Clarissa's dress up her body so she could feel her thighs and slip her fingers between them.
The Free Marcher groaned. The hot breath against her skin. Naishe's whispers. Her wandering hands. Clarissa could already feel how wet she was.
Naishe shoved her back against the wall. Clarissa's hisses of pain were soon quelled by sighs when she felt Naishe's teeth graze her neck. The Rivaini sucked at her skin lightly. She wanted to leave marks on Clarissa, so she couldn't forget. She could feel Clarissa's arousal. Her fingers were already wet. She was about to go further when they heard a voice.
"Clarissa!"
They both stopped. Clarissa had to fight hard to slow her breathing.
"Clarissaaaa!"
Luis. Naishe felt a knot in her throat. She looked at Clarissa.
The servant girl gave her a shrug and reluctantly peeled herself away from Naishe. "Probably wants more wine."
Naishe didn't know how to voice the worry in her mind. She didn't have enough time to warn her.
"CLARISSAAA!"
She straightened her dress and patted her hair down so it sat flatter on her head. Her cheeks however were still flushed. "I'll be back soon." She squeezed Naishe's hand, gave her one last kiss, and exited the room, where the flowers had begun to wilt.
"I'm counting on it…"