CHAPTER 17 : BLACK ROSE
They fought their way through Hadriana's minions. Leaving a trail of blood and death in their wake. Their way was pushed forward with each group of mages and awakened undead corpses. Demons were thrown in to the mix, they too were slaughtered by the group. They wanted their forcefully taken friend back, none more so than the former slave the slavers were trying to get back.
They came to a long hall, facing a closed door and Fenris unhesitatingly pushed it open. Inside hanging from the ceiling was a very familiar girl.
"Valerie!" Fenris shouted taking several steps into the room. The rope around her neck stopped him, as well as the other very familiar woman to him that stepped from behind her. Hadriana placed her hand on Valerie's back giving a little kick at the rickety stool she stood on.
"Hello, dear Fenris. So good of you to return..." Hadriana placed her foot on the stool lazily and watched the anger pass across Fenris' face.
"Let her go..."
The apprentice mage waggled a finger at Fenris and his companions. Forcing them to keep their distance. They heard the gagged whimper come from the blindfolded woman as Hadriana rocked the stool with her foot. Valerie tried to keep her balance on the wooden object as the rope threatened to tighten around her neck. Her bound hands and feet weren't helping matters. Neither was the blow to the head she had sustained, the blood had long since matted and dried her hair to her head.
"Under one condition, you come quietly, and send your friends away." She stood away from the chair only marginally and took her staff in hand. Several demons coming to stand at her call from the shadows.
Valerie called out hoping that her garbled noises could be understood. She didn't want them to take Fenris back, but she didn't want to die either. There was no way around it, it was either her or him. She could hear the loud clang of a heavy sword drop to the ground. And the voices of her friends all call out to Fenris not to do it, and others saying they needed to get her back at any cost.
Just like she had sacrificed a normal life to save Fenris, he was finally going to repay his debt.
"That's a good little slave..."
"I'm going quietly like you asked, now let the girl go. She's nothing to do with this."
Hadriana tapped her staff against the stone floor as she walked around Fenris, leaving two pride demons to guard over her bargaining chip. Hadriana placed her hand on Fenris' shoulder giving him a shove in the direction of the exit. A pair of mages came from the open door to bind Fenris' hands behind him with specially made restraints.
Fenris barely caught Valerie's mumble of 'don't do it!' He promised that he wouldn't go back to Danarius, but he couldn't let her die for him. It was the lesser of two evils. He would sacrifice himself, sparing her.
"Kill her." Hadriana stated with mild interest to the two demons. The mages at Fenris' sides had a hard time restraining the elf when he fought against them. Unable to free himself he saw the demons draw back their clawed hands.
"No!" He pulled against the mages as they drug him out of the room. Hadriana close behind smugly smiling to herself in triumph.
"You will not take her!" A booming voice called from the gawking group of Fenris' companions. Anders charged through in a blinding blue light, throwing several massive fireballs at the demons standing between him and Valerie. It stopped them long enough to turn their attention away from the human to the one possessed by a spirit.
From the shadows crawled several more demons, ranging from pride to rage. "Lets help him!" Varric shouted breaking the rest of the group from their stooper.
Anders nearly killed every demon all with a single massive wave of fire in his rage before he regained control over himself. He turned around to see Isabela cutting Valerie down, freeing her from the threat of the noose. He heard her gag and cough sputtering on the life giving air, but the only thing she was worried about infuriated him the most.
"Where's Fenris!" She ripped the blindfold from her eyes unable to spot him in the carnage. He wasn't the only one missing, Garrett was gone as well. "Fenris!" She choked out, trying to run from Isabela's crushing embrace. "You promised! You promised!" She sobbed.
…
To say I was a complete train wreck was a lie. I was heart broken. Fenris... was gone, just like that. Varric followed after the trail, but I hadn't seen him return. Isabela and Merrill walked me back to the Estate, practically dragging me along. The city came back into site, but what does it matter. It isn't home anymore.
The two stayed with me, trying to get me to talk, but I really don't feel like it.
"Buck up pet. It isn't your fault." Isabela pat my head like she were my mother, I don't want her, I want my real mother and Fenris. She gave an 'ouch' when I slapped her hand away. Merrill didn't do anything other than hold my hands sitting at my feet looking up at me with those big eyes of hers. But all I see are his staring at me. I couldn't cry no matter how hard I tried. I guess it's shock, or nothing entirely.
I heard a knock on the door; felt Isabela shift to see who it was, and saw Merrill turn her head. I vaguely recognized a huge smile break out across her face, and her eyes danced.
She bounced around giggling uncontrollably. "Oh look look look!" What ever Merrill...
"Oh pull your knickers out of your ass." Isabela said jabbing her finger into my side.
I finally turned ready to give her a first class meeting with my fist, she ducked backwards, and my eyes landed on a lanky elf. I jumped to my feet, my knees felt like they were going to drop out from under me, and my heart felt like it had just died. My blood ran icy cold.
"Let's go." Isabela and Merrill left the room closing the door behind them, and the elf walked farther into the room. It was to good to be true.
"I'm sorry you got involved. I should have paid closer attention." It was his voice, his face, his body, his everything. I couldn't move though for fear he might disappear. "I understand if you're angry with me. I'll leave you be." I felt my jaw tremble and I can't be sure if I can actually speak.
"Don't go." I whimpered pathetically. He stopped and I shuffled my feet along to stand before him. He turned around again releasing the door. I reached out placing my shaking hands on his cheeks. "Fenris. Fenris! I thought you were gone for good!" He was here, it was him it has to be real! Please don't let me be dreaming. I threw myself into his arms feeling his latch around me just as tightly.
"You're crying? Why?" He asked sounding unsure. I have to admit it hurt a little to hear that. I pulled back just enough to see his eyes. I locked my hands behind his head and pulled his face down to mine, I've never been so bold as to incite a kiss with anyone until this moment. But never have I felt this way about a man before.
I couldn't stop kissing him, I didn't care if I needed air. I just want him right now.
I've tried to hide behind a false barrier of sarcasm and nonchalance. Ever since I came here, it only became worse, but the threat of losing Fenris forever shattered it all. The thought of never seeing him smile again, to be on a leash like a dog for the rest of his life, it was to much.
He pulled away just far enough to rest his forehead against mine, letting me sputter and cry trying to catch my breath. Anything that came out of my mouth I'm sure couldn't be understood by anyone in any world. "Everything is fine now." He said pressing his lips against mine again.
"I thought I lost you." I was to afraid to release my strangle hold on his hair or even open my eyes. This could all still be a trick of my own mind. I'd rather stay here blissfully unaware, than to return to life here alone.
I could take it if he said he didn't care for me the way I cared for him. At least he would be there. I could take feeling invisible, just another human that bothered him with trivial matters. At least then I could still see him. I had always teased and flirted with him, at first it was just us being silly, but then over the years it turned to something more.
He didn't give me the impression that was the case though.
"And I thought I lost you." My eyes finally snapped open on their own, his face was fuzzy but it was there. He didn't vanish, it really was him. The next thing I became aware of was walking backwards, and falling onto the bed with Fenris on top of me. His lips crashing down on me again, much more forcefully than before.
My fingers numbly searched along his armor for buckles, or straps anything I could get a hold of. I just had to get all that heavy and pokey metal off of him. I guess he thought the same because his fingers kept knocking mine out of the way in little mock fights as he unbuckled the heavy breastplate and gauntlets. His shin guards came off sometime later clanking to the floor loudly across the room.
He nipped at my neck lightly, I could feel his smile on his lips when he pressed them to my neck. He slipped my belt and shirt off chucking them in a random direction pressing his lips to my chest sucking above my left breast. My heart hammered against my chest making him laugh and begin kissing up my neck and finding my lips again.
His hips grind against mine while his hands gripped my waist trying to hold me down from squirming.
I pulled at the waste of his pants trying to rid him of the annoying article of clothing. He brushed my hands away placing them back on his bare shoulders. I felt his hand slide down my arm to trace light patterns on my side and then stomach.
I swear I felt it flipping around nearly making me sick, but strangely enough it was a good feeling. I sat my fingers against his cheek, which in turn caused him to look up with sad eyes.
"Command me to stop, and I shall." He said as his eyes widened in terror. I felt my cheeks and neck heat up. I bit down on my lip shaking my head, I didn't want him to stop. I didn't want him to ever stop. I couldn't help the silly grin that spread across my face as his own expression relaxed. My smile widened when his own cheeks began to flare up.
He removed my torn skirt adding it to the pile followed by his pants and our undergarments. I tried to hide myself under him, but he just leaned back.
"You're truly beautiful." He leaned down pressing his lips to my freckle covered cheeks. "I... need to know something, I am an elf and a fugitive. I have nothing. Am I the one you truly want?"
"I don't want to be with anyone else." I touched his cheek lightly and swallowed roughly. "I... care about you, maybe even love." I looked away feeling embarrassed, I shouldn't have said that now I just look needy and clingy! "I just want to be with you."
He looked slightly shocked, but it faded quickly replaced by a serious expression. "Then I am yours." The way he spoke made it sound as though I was his master now. And instead of holding a leash, I held him by the heart. His own way of telling me how he felt.
I didn't have time to think on that to much, because he nudged my legs apart, and placed them around his waist. They latched on automatically, instinct taking over. I gripped at his wrist and neck as I felt him intrude on my innermost part. I panted feeling him delve just barely inside several times before he came to a full stop barely inside of me.
I felt his breath hitting my neck in frantic pants, and he shuttered several times. I only listened for a few seconds before my legs decided to have a mind of their own, lock around his butt, and push him the rest of the way in. Bad idea, that one hurt.
He broke out of his trance when I gave a yelp.
"I'm fine." I tried to laugh, but just ended up sounding like a fool. The pain dulled down after a moment until there was only a slight discomfort. When I rocked my hips against his he began doing as he naturally should. And oh boy did the fireworks begin to start.
I didn't think it could feel this good.
Sure we were fumbling around like a couple drunken seals, but it was us fumbling around like drunken seals. He kept going off in this weird little trance where he would slow down and nearly stop. All it took was a peck on the lips and he would come back to reality. When he finally stopped spacing out he picked up his pace nearly knocking me senseless. I chanted his name like a weird mantra trying to grab at him, the bed, anything to try and keep this feeling. My toes curled up digging into his calves only spurring him to make the feelings even stronger.
He rested his head against mine trying to catch his breath and keep up with his own pace at the same time. My legs felt numb suddenly either from being so tense or I was at that critical point during love making. I bet on the latter. My back arched pressing me as close as I could get to him, his arm snaked under pulling me even closer.
He moaned and grunted pressing his face against the underside of my chin. I could feel myself fluttering against him, and I tried to keep that sensation going. Then I felt warm inside and out. He trembled trying not to collapse on top of me taking in deep breaths.
After a minute or two, or a few hours I haven't the foggiest, he pulled out and slumped into the bed beside me.
"Wow..." I muttered sleepily as he pulled me back to him. I leaned against his chest, snuggling into its warmth feeling tired. I went into a blissful slumber, my smile never fading as I held onto my own personal angel. He had to be a reason why I was sent here. At least that's what I would like to think, God or the Maker had to have a hand in this, it was just to perfect...
At least that's what I thought while I slept.
You were always where the sun could never go,
I never wanted you to have to be alone
But I couldn't find a way to help you grow,
Black Rose.
You never tell me how you feel and your moods - they always change
I really tried to make it real but you never had the faith
I tried to give you something good to take the pain away
I tried to make you understand - you don't have to be this way
I'm not the one who hurt you
So why are you so scared
(I couldn't save you) (You are who you are)
All that you've been put through couldn't be repaired
(I couldn't break through) (we're too far apart)
I'm not the one who hurt, I'm the only one who cares
(I couldn't save you) (You are who you are)
You'll need someone to turn to
And I will not be there
(I couldn't save you)
Everytime I held you I knew that it would hurt
Only through the pain I could find a way to learn
So wilt away couldn't bring you back to life
Black Rose -Trapt