Into the Darkness Below

Fran awoke as evening was falling on the wood, wincing as she raised herself from Fenris' chest. She gasped as he slid out of her. She gazed at his slumbering face with adoration, caressing his cheek with her long fingers as he slept peacefully. Fenris slowly opened his eyes to look up at her, sliding his arms around her and pulling her back down to him so he could place a tender kiss upon her lips. She smiled at him lovingly as he laid his head back down before resting her own head on his chest again.

"Do you regret leaving Eruyt?" He asked her somberly.

"No. I have not felt such peace as I do now in many a year, since before I returned to my village," she said, raising herself slightly to look into his red eyes as she answered.

"As long as you are happy," he said with a loving smile, stroking her cheek gently with his clawed fingers.

She pressed her face into his hand. She had not lied to him, this was the happiest she had felt since her time with Balthier and the others. Being with Fenris helped her to leave behind the pain she still felt from outliving her Hume companions. She sighed contentedly as she continued to lay with him under the green canopy of the Wood.

"Is it safe for us to remain out in the open like this?" She asked him, worried that more Diresaurs might appear and disturb them.

"Aye. You need not fear the beasts of the Wood while you travel with me. Most of them have learned that I am at the top of the food chain in these parts," he said with a cocky grin.

"I doubt anyone would believe our strange little tale. Imagine how their faces would look to hear a Viera had willingly run off with a predator such as yourself?" She said with a gentle laugh. Fenris chuckled beneath her before answering, the sound like music to her ears.

"Aye, I imagine they would laugh at the very idea," he said with another chuckle.

"I can hardly believe it myself," she said half-dazed.

"I never could have imagined that the White Wolf of the Wood would appear before me, nor that he would save my life or choose me as his mate," she added tendelry when she saw his look of confusion.

"Are you glad that it happened?" He asked her.

"Very much so," she said with a bright smile before kissing him tenderly.

He smiled back at her as he took her in his arms and stood, forcing Fran to wrap her legs around his waist to keep from falling. He gave her a playful smile when finished standing and she did not release her legs.

"Looking for another round?" He asked her, his voice low and husky in her ear.

Fran felt her cheeks grow hot, among other areas. She knew he could feel her reaction, excited as the thought made her. She did not know if her body could handle another round just yet, but she decided to try. She kissed him deeply as she reached down to coax him into action and line him up with her opening. She hissed as she lowered herself onto him, feeling her sore muscles stretching in protest as he slid in. She was both surprised and grateful that he was more gentle this time, having clearly understood her noise of pain as they began anew. He held her tenderly as he thrust into her slowly, covering her with kisses wherever his mouth could reach. Fran gasped in unexpected pleasure as she felt his fangs sinking into her neck. He did not bite her with enough force to draw blood, but she could still feel the sharp points of his teeth digging into her fevered flesh. She began gyrating and bouncing her hips as his grip tightened, crying out in ecstacy as she climaxed. Fenris nearly drove her mad as he gently massaged her neck with his sharp teeth while she rode the wave of her bliss. She milked him for everything she could as she felt him reach his own climax, feeling a strange but subtle shift in the fabric of the world as she was once more filled with his seed.

The following weeks continued much as their first day had, though Fran began to feel a strange stirring in her belly and Fenris noticed her scent changing in subtle ways. A short time later, Fran's belly began to swell more and more. They were both amazed and happy beyond words when they realized she was with child. It was something Fran had never heard of, as Viera were born from the bosom of the Wood, and she had never heard of a Viera bearing a child. Fenris became exceedingly protective of her as her pregnancy progressed. She surprised him one day when she was nearly to term with an idea he had not thought of, though he understood her logic.

"I believe I should return to Eruyt to birth our child. I may need help with delivering him into this world," she said.

"Of course, but I will not be made to wait outside the village while you bring this child of our union into the world. Would you be willing to have it outside Eruyt as long as your sisters will still help you? I only ask so that I may avoid causing trouble by forcing my way into the village," he replied.

"I would never have this child without you by my side," she said as she took his hand in his.

She gasped suddenly, fixing him with a gaze of joy and wonder. She took his hand and placed it on her swollen belly, his face mirroring hers as he felt his unborn child move within Fran's womb.

"He is strong," Fenris said in a far-off voice.

He gently lifted Fran into his arms and began the walk back to Eruyt, treading lightly to avoid jostling his precious cargo. They were surprised to find Mjrn with several warriors and healers awaiting them on the platform that led to the hidden path, though Fenris could neither smell or sense hostility from any of them.

"The Wood has been whispering to me. She says you have done as no Viera before, and as none should do hereafter. I see now what She meant, as you are clearly with the child of this beast," she said, malice entering her voice as she spoke of Fenris, causing him to growl warningly.

"Do not pretend to speak for the Wood, rabbit. You are not the only being within Her domain to hear Her whispers. Unlike you, I always hear Her voice. She fears for the safety of the child and its mother, as no Viera has ever had the courage to become my mate, for all the malicious falsehoods your ancestors wove out of ignorance and fear," Fenris replied in a warning tone. Fran could feel the heat of his anger radiating from his body like Mist, infecting her with the same rage he felt.

Fran placed her hand gently over his heart gently, causing him to look down at her.

"Let us not fight with them. If my sisters will not help me, then perhaps the Wood will," she said.

Mjrn's ears twitched at Fran's words, obviously taking insult to her sister's view of the situation. Her face flushed red with anger as two of the Viera healers behind her walked past, declaring that they would never abandon their sister in her condition.

"Where do the two of you think you are going?" Mjrn asked the pair of healers as they stood beside Fenris and their pregnant sister.

"The old stories warn of the White Wolf's rage, Mjrn. Do you not realize that refusing to help our sister, as is our duty, would incur the wrath of the one our ancestor's viewed as the Wood's male counterpart? Would turning our backs on them be any different than turning our backs on the Wood herself? If you will not allow them into the village to have their child, then we will stay with them to ensure the safety of both Fran and the child," One of them replied in response to the Viera elder's angry words.

"Then begone, the lot of you. I will not allow that savage beast into our realm!" Mjrn practically shrieked.

Fran hung her head in shame and sadness at her sister's angry words. Fenris gently tightened his embrace on her to comfort her, while one of the healers walked up beside him and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Worry not, dear sister. Mjrn's anger will eventually fade, and we will stay with you as long as you wish," the Viera said with a gentle smile.

"Thank you, sister. And thank you, Fenris," she said, craning her head up to look at her mate.

"Why are you thanking me?" He asked in confusion.

"For not tearing my sister apart when she refused to let us pass. I know how badly you wanted to," she said quietly.

"I gave you my word that I would not harm any of your sisters, though Mjrn did nearly push me to break my promise," he said, an edge of anger creeping into his voice as he spoke of the Viera leader.

Fran laid her head back on his chest, allowing herself to relax while she was surrounded by his strong scent. She was broken from her reverie when one of the healers asked Fenris a question that had not occurred to her.

"Forgive my bluntness, White Wolf, but do you have a place where Fran can have the baby? We should not bring the child into this world in a place where monsters roam," the healer had asked, stopping Fenris in his tracks as though he had walked into a wall. He looked down at Fran, who nodded to him as she looked into his eyes.

"I have a cave-dwelling in the Feywood, but it cannot be reached by the paths in Golmore," he said.

"Then how are we to reach our destination?" The other healer asked from his other side.

"We must descend to the forest floor," he said grimly.

"To the forest floor? Are you mad? There are more monsters roaming below than there are in the Feywood!" The first one exclaimed.

"The beasts below will not bother us while Fenris is with us, my sisters. He is the ultimate predator of every corner of the Wood," she said as she threw her mate a loving smile. He smiled in response before leaning to plant a kiss between her ears.

The Viera healers made no further argument with Fenris as he led them to a tree that had grown at an angle over the path. Fran held on to him tightly as he leapt onto the twisted trunk.

"Do you trust me?" He asked the beautiful Viera in his arms.

She nodded and tightened her hold on him as he slid down the smooth bark of the old tree. She watched their descent, noticing the groove that marked his usual path along this route. She smiled to herself as she understood why nobody ever saw him, his movements were silent as he descended to the forest floor below. She looked over his shoulder to see that her sisters were following his path with some awkwardness, not being accustomed to traveling in such an odd fashion.

The forest floor was as dark as night when they reached the bottom. Fran knew her sisters were nervous to be there, as she could vaguely hear one of them whispering reassuringly to the other. The sound of padded feet arose from the shadows around them, causing even Fran to go tense as she saw the small glowing lights surrounding them.

"Relax," he whispered to her.

She gasped as a group of hellhounds larger than any she had seen before approached them from the shadows. They began scenting the air, wagging their tails as they caught Fenris' scent. She looked at Fenris in amazement as he started communicating with them by making sounds in his throat that sounded nearly identical to the noises the creatures made. Her sisters squeeled in fear as the massive hounds took up positions around them, apparently meaning to escort them.

"What did you say to them?" Fran asked him in a whisper.

"I told them that I have come with my mate, and that her sisters are here to ensure her safety while she brings my child into this world. They are happy to see me and know that I do not seek a fight. I beat their alpha to death a few years back, they have followed me ever since," he said with a slight smile that she heard in his voice more than she actually saw.

She gasped as one of the Hellhounds gently bumped her arm with the glowing horn on its nose, surprised when it let out a small whine and began wagging its tail.

"She wants to greet you properly. Would you mind if I set you down for a moment so you might interact with her?" He said with a slight chuckle, his tone becoming nervous as he asked his question.

"I would be honored," she replied.

Fenris gently lowered her to the ground, allowing the Hellhound to approach. Fran cautiously reached her hand out, gasping in surprise as the massive beast nuzzled against her open palm. She turned to Fenris in confusion as the Hellhound lowered itself to lie on the ground and look at her expectantly.

"She wishes to carry you," he said with a light laugh.

"Is it really alright?" She asked, unable to believe that the large wild animal beside her would offer such a thing. The Hellhound gave a short whine in response.

Fenris chuckled as he put his hands on her widening hips, lifting her up onto the Hellhound's back for her to sit between its shoulders. At a bark from the one she was sitting on, Fran watched in amazement as two more Hellhounds approached her Viera sisters and offered their backs as well. She turned to look in Fenris' direction, curious as to why he had suddenly started laughing.

"They wish for the three of you to ride so that they may run with me as a pack," he said, still laughing heartily.

The Viera healers were less reluctant to use the Hellhounds as mounts after seeing their sister do so. When Fran and the others were comfortably situated atop their mounts, Fenris let out a long howl before taking off at a break-neck pace, the Hellhounds answering in turn before following. Never before had Fran or the others been on the lowest level of the Wood. In truth, no Viera had ever been to the forest floor, for it was widely believed to be the most dangerous area. They understood now that only an intruder would have met a gruesome end, as every creature in that dark place seemed to bow and make way for Fenris as he passed. Fran urged the Hellhound beneath her to run closer to Fenris, so that she could ask him about it. The Hellhound reluctantly agreed, for she knew that her rider's place was by her master's side, even if her own place was behind him.

"Not that I disagree with them, but I am most curious as to why every living creature down here seems to look to you as their king," she said over the wind of their passage once the Hellhound carrying her had managed to reach his side.

"I am the Wood's firstborn, it is only natural that all the creatures after me would look up to me," he said nonchalantly, though she was astounded by the information.

They ran on in silence a few more minutes before reaching Fenris' cave-dwelling. Once there, Fran's Viera sisters began preparing what they would need to deliver her baby.