Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "ATLA" or "ACV." The characters just do what I asked them to :P
Author's notes: I'm trying something else here. Less dialogue can make for a more engaging experience. Like it, drop a review. Thanks for helping with snippits, CharlieBarrow.
"Raid and pillage"
Chapter two "Where wolf's ears are, wolf's teeth are near"
Ty Lee turned her face into the furs on her bed, keeping her eyes closed. Azula, her conqueror, her jarl and partner, had been gone the past few months. It had been so long without touch or lust shared. The night before Azula had left, commanded by her father's behest, she had come to her and mounted her high and low. Azula had barely gotten a wink of sleep. Ty Lee remembered saying farewell at the village gates, the rest of the villagers around her for show. The jarl had kissed her soundly, amidst the cheers of her warriors.
"Come back to me," Ty Lee managed to whisper for her jarl's ears alone. Azula's eyes were gleaming as she looked down at her.
"You needn't worry, omega," she'd said but Ty Lee caught the warmth in that gaze.
Ty Lee had stayed, waving, as the warriors marched off. And then she made it back to their chambers to collapse to sleep the rest of the day.
Ty Lee smiled remembering it. She had been coming into her heat, and while Azula's departure missed it by a morning, it had been enough to spark Azula's lust to knot her. And she had been filled enough and was rewarded for her submission. Her belly was beginning to round and show with the evidence of Azula's virility and hold on her village. She rolled on her back and sighed, laying a hand against the bump that was her jarl's pup.
A body shifted on the furs beside the bed and Mai sat up, blinking away sleep. The slender beta had been commanded to stay as her blood guard, pledged to protect her life. Mai had taken Azula's command very literally, and Ty Lee had no privacy from her. Slowly she had befriended the unsmiling warrior and didn't begrudge Mai for watching her in the bath, or while sleeping.
Mai leaned up and whispered if she needed anything. Ty Lee smiled softly, shaking her head. She made her way up to get dressed, Mai politely turning her head to the wall as she tugged her breeches on. It was a strange arrangement, but Ty Lee knew her mate trusted Mai. So she trusted Mai.
When Mai opened the door and helped Ty Lee to the great hall downstairs, Ty Lee paused on the last step. There was a fluttering inside her, echoing her love for her jarl.
With a soft "oh!" she paused, leaning against the wall. Mai surged up beside her, offering her arm in support, concern across her usually scowling face.
Ty Lee smiled softly, looking content as she assured her blood guard. "The baby. It kicked," she whispered. A somewhat soft look overtook Mai's features. She even extended a hand as if to feel for herself but stopped herself. She knew that was for her jarl to enjoy. But Mai couldn't help feeling warm from the soft looks Ty Lee gave her stomach as she was helped to the head of the trestle tables. She radiated warmth and the servants and not a few of the warriors stared. She was held in high regard by their absent jarl, mating bite on her throat and belly heavy with her child.
Azula's seat was empty, but Ty Lee took her own beside it and the servants scrambled to bring her porridge, honey and cider. Ty Lee had to pout, waiting as her taste tester sampled her meal, waiting a few moments for any possible effects of poison. Once he deemed it safe, Ty Lee ate hurriedly.
Her gaze swept to the empty chair beside her. She missed her mate, boisterous and loud as she drank to match her warriors, one leg over the arm as she errantly enjoyed her keep.
Ozai's campaigns had to finish soon for winter, wouldn't they? Then Azula could come home. Home…..Ty Lee had lived in the village her whole life. Her father still lived, but as a servant in one of Azula's warrior's homes. He had seen her belly across the village by this point. But this place was Azula's now. Her mate's warmth, touch and presence made her feel at home. She would come back.
And home would be warm again.
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Mai sipped her cider, idly watching the servants and leftover guards move about their tasks in the great hall. She was glad her jarl's mate didn't begrudge her close proximity. When Azula had been called away to raid further and further along the coast and far from the village, she had taken her aside.
"Protect her. With your life." Azula hadn't had to say it, but her concern for her mate was all over her face and gleaming in her shining golden eyes. Mai had bowed her head.
She would protect Ty Lee. She only hoped the jarl knew of her current condition. Ty Lee had happily sent letters to the region's post office, in a village three hours away. There hadn't been any response, but that wasn't abnormal. Sailing took the raiders away from most motes of civilization for many weeks and now months.
Mai remembered how she'd once been. Alone, half starved, digging through village scraps from the town nearby for anything to eat. She hadn't cared how she survived. She barely had been…. Scrounging on her knees in the dirt. Then Azula and her warriors had passed through. A commotion had come up from opposing warriors. One of the men had raised his blade behind Azula's back, going for a cheap blow. Mai had moved faster than she would have thought herself capable, leaping on his back and driving a dagger up into his throat.
The furious surprise on Azula's face as she whirled around was frightening to behold. Then Azula had moved up to dispatch the warrior charging at her and Mai herself was saved. Azula had clasped her wrist in warrior's understanding, commanding her to have a victory drink with her. And after their celebration in the town tavern, Mai had knelt and given her pledge to Azula's war party.
Azula had saved her. In more ways than just the physical. Her very soul was content to serve her, staying at her pregnant mate's side and making certain no harm befell her or her pup.
Azula deserved her obedience.
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Azula had her eyes closed, remembering the last touch and taste she'd had of her mate. Ty Lee she'd left with her mating bite, and her seed. She wondered as the weeks stretched to months if her mate was pregnant. Her heart surged thinking about it, remembering Ty Lee's warm brown eyes, her beautiful hair, her soft laugh when she'd delighted her, and her soft hands holding her in embrace. Ty Lee knew to send messages to the village three days away that held a small post office for region letters and messages. But there hadn't been any for her. She could only pray to Odin's mighty wrath that she was alright and well protected.
"Jarl, we move within the hour," one of her men said at her elbow. Azula opened her eyes, shaking herself to the present. She shouldered her axe, her furs and armor heavy in the rain.
"We will. Leave me a moment," she murmured. Leaning against the trunk of the tree she had taken shelter under, Azula went over every memory of Ty Lee's touch. The very last time they'd been joined had been the morning of her departure. At the last possible moment before a fast bath. Ty Lee was as tired as she was, both biting away yawns as they thrust against each other. Azula had smelled her delicious early heat scent and been moved to knot her. Her knot had been molded and grasped by her mate's welcoming walls, and Azula remembered shuddering through a long orgasm. Her mate had been pushed along with her and Azula half collapsed on her, mouth remarking her mating bite. Ty Lee had gasped beneath her, hands soft along her lower back. And through the passion, Azula had felt happy and safe. And in love.
Their bath had been ordered before this last joining, this knotting. Azula had stayed inside her mate as long as she possibly could. They rode out several shuddering orgasms, and Azula had smiled down at Ty Lee as she clutched her, eyes wide with warmth. Once she was soft enough to withdraw, Azula was pleased as her mate shuddered beneath her. The sight of her seed leaking from Ty Lee's cave thrilled Azula to no end. She helped Ty Lee to her feet and into the freshly poured bath waiting in the tin tub at the foot of their bed. The servants had prepared it in moments as they'd been joining and Azula was pleased her mate was only viewed by her eyes only.
They washed together, legs touching in the tub as they sat. Azula had murmured instructions for the village and Ty Lee nodded. As they climbed out, reaching for folded towels, Azula was surprised when her mate touched her jaw, pulling her down. Soft kisses she rained upon her cheek, her nose, her jaw, across her closed eyelids. Azula's heart had surged so hard she thought it would break. Happy. Ty Lee made her happy. When she opened her eyes, she was pleased to see a soft grin on her face. She made Ty Lee happy too.
"My jarl," one of her warriors murmured beside her. Azula opened her eyes, blinking through the rain falling through the tree branches above her. Her war paint stayed in place, thick and cloying on her brow and around her eyes.
"Move. Now," she growled. Azula grinned as she hefted her axe in both hands and they made their way down the hill toward the waiting village.
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Ty Lee handed her letter to an errand boy. He bowed to her and went toward the stables. It would be a ride to get to the village three hours away and he'd need to spend the night there. But her letter would be on its way. She leaned back in her desk, putting a hand to her belly. The pup was certainly Azula's get, moving and kicking at most moments. Sometimes she paused, feeling the flutters. Other times she had to move with haste to the privy. But she loved carrying the evidence of her feelings for her jarl. Azula may have commanded her allegiance, but she loved her very much. Her touches, and smiles, she hoped her jarl saw that. The village was doing well in her absence.
Today, Ty Lee had helped oversee the fall harvest. Winter was coming on and already breath frosted from one's mouth if one breathed too hard. She was bundled heavily, in a cloak that Azula had gifted her before she'd left. Ty Lee blushed, remembering the happy memory. Azula had presented it in private, flourishing the bright blue dyed cloth dramatically, tying it around her shoulders, hands lingering over her sides. Ty Lee had stood on tiptoe to kiss her in thanks. There were many moments that Ty Lee had noticed the warmth in her jarl's eyes. This was one such memory.
But her throat was starting to hurt and had done so for a few days now. Hot spiced cider didn't seem to help, and her village's healer had already been in to see her. First to observe her belly, then the rest of her. Ty Lee wouldn't have been concerned but the cough wasn't getting better. As it was, she was tired already.
Mai found her asleep in the jarl's large bed. She was still wrapped in her blue cloak, the bed's furs tangled around her legs.
"My lady," Mai whispered. When she laid a hand to Ty Lee's brow, she was startled to feel a searing warmth. Cursing under her breath, Mai ran to fetch the healer again.
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There was nothing for it. Ty Lee needed a special tincture that required white willow bark. The kind needed would cure any hurt of the throat and stop any cough. But this special brand of bark was two villages away. A day's worth of travel at least by horseback. Mai would have gone herself, but she'd sworn to stay at Ty Lee's side. A couple of warriors offered to go in her stead.
Azula had taken the wolf's share of her warriors on her campaign, leaving a scattered few behind. Now they'd be stretched even more thin. Mai sat at Ty Lee's side, fetching her anything she asked for, even gaining her secret wish when Ty Lee had grasped her hand to feel the babe fighting and kicking inside her. Ty Lee had moaned, in what Mai hoped wasn't pain as she felt the hard flutters beneath her hand.
'Jarl, your pup is strong,' Mai had thought. She had smiled for Ty Lee to ease her torment.
The next day, a contingent of Viking warriors stood outside the village gates. Five of Azula's warriors stood on guard, ready to take battle to them. Words had been exchanged, two men shoved, and blades were drawn. Ty Lee heard the commotion and sent the two men guarding her hall to try and stop the fight. She feared for the safety of the alphas Azula had left to guard their home, but also, she didn't want the fight to spill inside.
They very well could be overtaken.
Word had been given quickly to the party's leader and he called off the fighting. At the warrior's urging of her word, they'd been escorted to her hall. Ty Lee had descended to the great hall, wrapped in her cloak regally, and stood beside Azula's great chair to await the visitors.
Azula's warriors surrounded the armed men, and their leader, a bearded man with a long braid, bowed his head toward her with respect.
"Lady Ty Lee, your beauty is unmatched," he'd begun. He announced himself as Keld, leader of an opposing warring party. Ty Lee had tried not to tremble. She desperately wanted to sit as she didn't feel well. Strong, she could imagine her jarl's gaze telling her. Be strong….. 'I will, my mate.'
"What do you want?" Ty Lee had asked. Keld smiled. He knew of her ailment and where she needed to find ingredients for her treatment. How he'd gotten that, had to be sorcery. Ty Lee didn't think word of her predicament had left the village walls. But Keld seemed to offer a hand in friendship while hiding a blade with the other hand.
He knew how lowly secure her village was. Keld merely wanted to help her warriors reach the far-off village and secure her ingredients. He'd help her get well. All he wanted in return was friendship. Friendship to keep her safe while her mate was gone.
His words were correct, but Ty Lee couldn't help a chill from going through her. What would Azula do in her place? She imagined Azula would have taken his head off with one great cleave of her axe and kicked it across the hall. Ty Lee's lips quirked in a smile at that. No, she couldn't do that. But she had to protect her village. There were women and children who needed her protection.
Ty Lee placed a hand on her large belly and Mai stood close by, letting her lean on her arm.
"If you want to help, please do," Ty Lee began. She urged Keld and his warriors to keep their village's peace, under Azula's name. Her name and Ozai's also, put fear across Keld's face. But he and his men agreed, in her father's hall, now her mate's hall.
Ty Lee took a seat in her chair at the head of the table, hoping she hadn't just made a mistake.
Lady Ty Lee had made a mistake.
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Keld was certain of it. Her mate was gone, and she may be heavy with child, but she could still be courted by his words. And his every action would tell her he was a friend she could lean on. In time, her body would betray her, and she'd want a warriors' touch. He'd take Azula's place from under her once he'd seduced Ty Lee. Even if he need wait 'til she had the pup, he could still play his cards right. He'd have her in his bed with honeyed words and promises to care for her pup.
Azula would pay for having burned his mother's village years ago. Keld smiled and ran a comb through his beard. He put on his best cloak and left his borrowed bedchamber to head downstairs for dinner.
Azula woke from her dream, panting hard. Ty Lee was pregnant in her dreams again, and she visioned this every night now. Her heart beat hard as she tried to recall the images of her dream as it faded away with the harsh crack of reality. Was it real? But she'd sent a warrior back to the region post office. There had been no letter. While that didn't seem like Ty Lee, it wasn't alarming.
At least, not yet.
Ty Lee had been round, her arms reaching out for her as she waited across a field of wheat. The sun bounced crazily off the golden stems and Azula brushed through them, rushing fast to meet her mate. She remembered their last joining, that knotting. She'd spilled a great deal of seed. Was it true? Azula wanted to rush back, to the village she had started to think of as 'home.' It was where Ty Lee was. Where she shared her bed with her, her seat at the long trestle table for meals. As much as she didn't say it aloud, Azula was certain she'd fallen in love with her mate. She missed her horribly as it was not to.
Ozai had commanded she raid further and further north. They'd been at sea for months now, skimming along the coast. And she'd been away from her mate all that time. Her father's ire could be horrible to endure. But Azula was thinking of ending her campaign daily.
The next village met the fire-burned kiss of her wrath. Azula had razed this one to the ground, after ensuring the women and children were scattered to the nearby fields. This chieftain had enraged her. He'd dare spit at her feet, defying her father's orders. So every warrior that had steel in their hand had been killed to the last alpha.
That night, while her warriors had celebrated around a large bonfire on the beach beside their long boat, Azula had fallen asleep for a moment. This dream was so sharp, it had to be a vision from the gods. Her mate was laying in their bed, legs spread, her belly huge. She was screaming and calling out for her. Then there was a child's cry and Ty Lee collapsed, her strength taken. Azula woke, her heart hammering hard in her breast. She had to return home.
Dreams or not, they may have crossed over into visions.
"Send a messenger bird to my father's forces," Azula had commanded one of her men. "We're going back south."
Her warriors had cheered at that, and the ale was passed around. A few of her alphas went off into the fields to find a woman or two to seduce. With their village burned to the ground, they had stayed in that field, uncertain where to go or what to do. Azula hardened her heart.
It beat only for Ty Lee. She would fly to her and not concern herself with her physical lust until she was in her arms again.
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Keld frowned, rubbing at his sore shoulder with one hand. He had shared a pleasant afternoon with Lady Ty Lee, doting on her and her health. Her cough had long since been healed, but she was exhausted with the pains of impending motherhood. Keld had offered to rub her ankles, something he remembered his brother's mate asking for. Ty Lee had smiled prettily but refused him gently. At least she was being nicer to him.
But when he'd gone to put a friendly arm around her shoulder, she'd done….something to him. Clipped his shoulder with two stiff finger points in a fast jab and passed it off as an accident. But his arm had gone completely limp and the knowing look in her eyes told him she knew what ailed him.
"Is she a witch?" Keld wondered to himself. His men were growing restless, playing nice in this village. No fights at Lady Ty Lee's behest, and no blood spilled. Only a few staged wrestling matches between warriors to release some of their pent-up energy. It wasn't enough.
Keld felt his erection coming back thinking of Ty Lee's beautiful face and round belly. She held Freya's fertile look in her body, and he wanted to claim it. So far befriending her was taking way too long.
But the men he'd left in nearby villages had been successful. One of them was stationed near the region's post office and every letter from Ty Lee's village was stolen silently. Every one from Lady Ty Lee had been delivered into his hands. Keld scanned the letters carefully. Nothing but flowery observations and longing. Lady Ty Lee was in love with her jarl. But he would steal that love for himself.
"My jarl, I'm so round with your child. Your pup kicks so much and will be as mighty a warrior…." One letter said. Keld frowned and turned to the next. A sense of desperation was setting in the tone and he smiled.
"I won't ask you to come home early, but please think on it. I await your return with waiting arms…."
"My jarl, where are you? I've left letter after letter. I will give birth soon under the god's blessing. Please come home….."
Lady Ty Lee was cracking. Slowly. Keld was certain of it. He smiled and hid the letters in his rucksack. His plan was working.
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Azula crashed into the building of the village, frozen rain spattering her cloak. She shoved her hood back, and the post office master cringed behind his desk.
"Jarl Azula," he recognized. Azula stalked around his desk and grabbed a few letters she noticed stuffed into the wooden alcoves in the walls. She searched the shelves, grabbing rolled parchment.
"You said you had nothing for me. Are you sure?" she growled. Her warriors lined up in the building's doorway, keeping the rest of the village at bay. The man bowed down.
"I'm sorry….no! I promise!" he wheezed. Azula tugged a bedraggled roll of parchment from farthest back in an alcove. It had been folded in half and smushed in quite awhile ago. When she broke the seal with a finger and opened, Azula noticed her mate's handwriting. Her heart swelled quickly. How could her mate make her writing look so cute? She squashed the sudden smile on her face, turning to aim her axe at the cowering postmaster.
"You. You will give us all your food stores immediately. Let your family suffer for disobeying me," Azula snarled. The man scrambled to obey, running out the back door to his home. Azula stuffed the parchment into her tunic front. Her hand closed over the crumpled paper through her tunic, and she heaved a huge sigh.
Ty Lee had written. Something had gone horribly wrong. The memory of her dream about a birth weighed heavily on her mind. Azula led her men back to the long ships, a few alphas running back to ensure the postmaster was following her commands.
One of the men in the village's crowd winced as he noticed Azula stride through the village square, surrounded by her warriors. He'd done his part for Jarl Keld, stealing each letter that had come from Lady Ty Lee's village. Did he miss anything? No, he had every single one. He was sure of it.
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Azula stood at the prow of her long ship, not caring about the freezing rain soaking her cloak and pelting her hair to her brow. Ty Lee…..she had to reach home. She hadn't gotten word from her father about leaving the campaign to the north suddenly and she didn't care. She felt endowed with Odin's rage; if her father crossed her, she would take the confrontation to him. And she was certain she would win.
Now, now she had to get home. Ty Lee's letter was in her tunic front and her hand closed over it, hearing the parchment crumple. It was tucked in well enough not to get wet, but she feared damp would smear her mate's looping handwriting. Her words had been sweet but erratic and it startled her.
"Our home is empty without your rule. My love, please come home. I tremble and wait for you. I love you. Our son needs to see your face, know your strength….." Son? It was true? Any happiness over this news was arrested with anticipation. And Azula hated the bite of fear that swept through her. She wasn't afraid for herself, but for her mate and pup.
Her warriors rowed hard, letting the sails out as much as they dared to catch the searing freezing wind. Spring was long in coming but at least the snows had turned to rain. Waiting was something a warrior did not like to do. Thoughts spun in Azula's head.
Many months ago, Azula had taken Ty Lee with her to a nearby village. They'd had to wait for a wedding ceremony to finish to talk to the village chieftain. The bride and groom had been very happy, and Azula was suddenly aware of how big and shining Ty Lee's eyes had been when they'd observed the ceremony. Did she want to be married to her? She'd taken her as a Viking conqueror does but had bestowed gifts and home and hearth on her. She kept her well. But did she want more baubles and a vow in front of everyone?
She had marked her mate with her bite. And while it wasn't customary as her father said to have a consort bite her back, Azula had allowed it. Right before leaving. She touched her throat through her clothes, feeling the searing mark. Almost two years later, it felt as raw as the night she'd given it at Azula's request. Ty Lee had gladly bitten her, shuddering in her arms. Ty Lee was thinking of her. She knew it. Azula scowled into the rainy sky as the lightning crashed in an arch above them. Thor echoed with his rumbling thunder and the long ship cleaved through the water as quickly as it could.
Azula wasn't afraid; not for herself. Each battle she sauntered into knowing she'd be the victor. She had suffered injury before, but nothing alittle ale and a tousle couldn't soothe. She would swear to all and the gods that she wanted Ty Lee. Azula feared no one living or godly, but her family she would fight to the death for. She muttered the words aloud under her breath into the steaming cold air.
They were going home.
"My love….I'm coming."
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Ty Lee was woken from a sound sleep by her pup's cries. It had been weeks since his birth and Ty Lee was of course happy to have a piece of her jarl. The boy looked like her, black hair and golden gleaming eyes. Mai pushed up from her furs, but Ty Lee whispered to her to lay down and picked up her pup. Her baby's eyes gleamed recognizing her and she settled him at her breast.
Mai still knelt up, to watch the boy feed. Her lips were quirked in a gentle smile. Ty Lee smiled at her. "He's always hungry. Like his sire."
"He's strong. Like his sire," Mai agreed. She wanted to ask if Ty Lee hurt. Did feeding there hurt? Did she hurt anywhere? Ty Lee was strong. If she hurt anywhere, it was her heart. Mai had seen the bite mark at the woman's throat. She bore Azula's mark and felt her absence keenly.
"What will you name him?" Mai murmured. Ty Lee smiled sweetly, her finger clasped by the pup's grasping hand.
"My jarl will name him," she whispered. "It is her place."
Mai agreed. But they had to rid themselves of these unwelcome guests. Even now, Keld was outside the master's door, knocking and asking if she needed anything. Mai growled and answered the door, hand openly on the hilt of her dagger.
She would take care of the lady's needs. Her glare and weapon said it all.
End for now
End notes: DRAMA! Did you like it? Please review.
Sincerely, pen 4/29/2021