Rejection: Do not Miriena

A/N: Okay, forget the 'T' rating she had for this. This is definitely an 'M', thanks in part to this chapter. Written: 2012. Rewritten: 2014. Found: 2018.

The festivities lasted long into the night, but she and Fiyero retired early. As the flap of their tent closed, the small fire in the center of the spacious tent was the only thing that gave off light in the darkness. She sat among the blankets, staring into the fire, lost in thought.

Had it really been six weeks since she had come to the Arjiki? Since she'd been stolen from her family on their way to a better life? Since she had last seen Glinda, still at the Scrow encampment, or her brother and sister and mother as they crawled beneath the wagon to escape the Scrow? It didn't seem possible.

Six weeks.

Her life had changed so drastically in six weeks.

She looked up, meeting her husband's gaze. Her husband. It sounded so foreign in her head, for she was only thirteen. And yet, here she was, a married woman, a princess, even. As he knelt beside her, she shook her head. Not tonight. Not with my back still sore from the tattoos. For they had consummated their marriage only two short weeks ago; it had been slow, cautionary, getting to know each other, to know the other's body and finding their own rhythm.

"C'รจ un altro modo." His voice was soft, and her interest peeked. Another way?

"Come?" Another way to engage in the pleasures of the flesh? How? She had been taught that the only way for a man and woman to lay together was- She blushed, as her thoughts turned to the Bible passages she had read as a child. A small smile tugged at her husband's lips, and he slowly crawled towards her, brushing a soft kiss to her shoulder once he reached her.

"Como un cane fa." She raised an eyebrow, watching as he slowly trailed kisses over her shoulder, being careful of her tattoos. Had she really heard him correctly? As a dog does? A dog? She had seen enough farm animals mating in her short life to know exactly what he referenced, but to actually partake-

He met her gaze again, the question in his eyes, though it clearly meant that it was up to her. She thought a moment, before slowly nodding. She had to admit, it did somewhat intrigue her; and perhaps it would be pleasant enough that while her back was healing from the tattoos, they could still partake in the pleasures of the flesh. His gaze held one simple question, and she nodded again, harder this time. He gently helped her out of her dress, being careful of the tattoos on her back.

Once both were stripped bare, he gently slid his hands down her sides, being careful of her back. She glanced at him over her shoulder, meeting his gaze in the firelight. Without warning, he leaned close, pressing a kiss to her lips and resting his forehead to hers briefly before gently grasping her hips. He pulled her closer, until her hips were aligned with his; she hissed softly as his skin brushed against her tattoos, and after a moment, he pulled away, afraid he'd hurt her. She shook her head, the meaning clear: Continue.

After making sure she was on her hands and knees, he tenderly slid his hands down the backs of her thighs, before slipping one hand between her legs. He found her folds and gently parted them, sliding a couple fingers into her as he did so. She gasped in surprise, tightening as she did so, and therefore tightened around his fingers. Though this was nothing new to her- for in the last two weeks, they often partook in pleasuring each other with mere touch, but still, it surprised her. Fiyero was silent, listening to her and waiting for her cues to continue. He gently brushed his thumb against the small bundle of nerves nestled between her folds, and listened as her breathing slowly began to speed up. She whimpered softly, and eventually, he removed his fingers.

He was full and thick as he slid in between her folds from behind, his hips pressing gently against hers as he worked on getting situated within her. She growled softly in the back of her throat, a low, guttural growl, similar to that of a wolf giving a warning. Once settled, he began rocking gently back and forth, the motion soon became something familiar, and she joined in, pushing her hips back into his as she did so, forcing him to go deeper into her.

She groaned softly, enjoying the familiar sensation of him inside her. Such activities at such young ages would be frowned upon in the civilized society she came from, but here, in the tribe, where they were husband and wife...

He leaned forward, going further into her and captured her lips in a deep kiss, digging his nails gently into her hips as he did so. She drank in the taste of him, relishing the feel of his body against hers, the familiar sensations sending shock waves through her body. She cried out in ecstasy as they eventually reached their breaking point; he was careful to shift to lying beside her among the blankets so as not to touch her back or the still fresh diamonds. They lay together, still joined, basking in the soft hum of satisfaction that filled both of them. She reached up, gently tracing her fingers over his chest, gaze moving over each diamond in turn.

"Bella. Assolutamente bello."

He chuckled, grinning softly. Absolutely beautiful, but did she not see it was true for herself as well? Just like you. He reached up, cradling her face in his hands, resting his forehead to hers with a trio of soft kisses to her lips. "Proprio come te."