An Offering for the Champion Ch. 4

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A big thanks to Cassie69a and Happyyy_ for their huge help in editing!

If you're reading for the first time, I highly recommend reading chapters 1-3 first!

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Chapter 4: Purpose

I listened silently to the gentle rise and fall of Queran's chest as he breathed. To the sound of his heart, strong and steady. To the occasional rumble from his stomach. He seemed, like me, to be perfectly content, a far cry from how twitchy he had been during our travels here. I felt strangely good as well for having been sitting in a boat for the better part of the last two days, and I was shocked how little soreness I felt after losing my virginity.

The thin gossamer nightclothes were folded neatly on the floor beside the bed we were sharing, both of us still naked beneath the cream white blankets. I curled deeper into my man. My legs wrapped around one of his and my body seemed to fit neatly into the crook of his arm.

Above us the shifting gaps between the leafy canopy revealed a sky lightening with the indigo hues of dawn. I curled up tighter under the soft blankets of Queran's bed, not wanting to surrender my sleep to the new day yet. Everything was still so cozy and comfortable that I didn't notice my lover stir.

"I could certainly get used to waking up like this."

The blankets shifted slightly as a small mountain gradually rose up from underneath.

"I'm sure you could." I teased, letting my hand venture deeper into the soft depths of sheets, searching out the source of the protrusion. Then I hesitated. Should I be so forward? It felt wrong to initiate without asking him after learning what his wife had done to him. But it also felt silly to think it would be a problem after last night's enthusiastic activities.

I had was a strange, nervous feeling. Was this what men felt like? Did they wonder like this before each advance, nervous for how their partner might respond?

Queran sensed my hesitation with a grin, noting my fingers resting on his thigh. "My lady has wandering hands." He observed coyly.

"I-I'm sorry." I stammered out. My face burned with embarrassment.

"There's nothing for you to be sorry for." He turned his head towards me, kissed my forehead, then laid back again with a slight grin and splayed his legs wider, inviting my hand closer.

I bit my lip and let my hand reach its destination. Though his cock was obscured by the blanket, it felt huge in my hand. My thumb and middle finger could just barely touch each other when I wrapped my hand around his girth. How had this monster fit itself inside me last night?

I moved my hand slowly up and down his length in time with Queran's slow, deliberate breaths. Each time my hand neared the tip, he groaned slightly in pleasure. I refocused my efforts on the tip and was rewarded with more moans and a small trickle of pre-cum. Somehow, I knew to use it to lubricate my fingers, and they began to glide over his cock gently and sensually.

Queran's hips began to shake. His breathing accelerated to shallow huffs, then stopped as he held it. His eyes were closed tightly, and I could tell he was close to spilling. A thought occurred to me.

I took my hand away, and Queran swore out loud, releasing his held breath in a rush. He looked... frustrated? Disappointed?

No. He was hungry.

Starved of his release, he shifted, beginning to rise. Before he could move any further, I put my finger to his lips, pushing his head back down to his pillow. Somehow, it just seemed like the thing to do.

He watched with bated breath as I climbed on top of him and aligned his manhood with my entrance. I looked to him for his affirmation, which he gave with a sultry nod, his eyes burning with desire. I pushed him inside me, his dick sliding into my slick folds. Inch by inch I sank down onto him, relishing the feeling of my pussy stretching to accommodate his massive girth.

I rose and fell on him slowly. Queran made no attempt to hide his pleasure. His huge hands tried to find purchase on my sides, but I grabbed his wrists and held them above his head, much the same as his vines had done to me last night. I kept riding him like that, setting my own deliberate pace, letting his manhood grind against every spot inside my until my whole being practically buzzed with pleasure.

My voice came out in a breathless gush. "You treated me so well last night. Let me return the favor for you."

Queran could only groan in response, I could tell he ached to thrust his hips, to claim his release for himself but he restrained himself.

I let my hips undulate on him and I dropped my chest onto his, feeling him burning with passion, hotter than a furnace. His breathing was erratic, and I knew the release I had narrowly denied him was nearing again. Nevertheless, he remained in perfect control of his body, letting me set the pace without thrusting himself.

I was so close to my release now as well; I let go of one of Queran's hands, reaching down to my clit to add the last touch of sensation I needed, but before I could reach that throbbing nub, Queran caught my hand, grinning madly. I whined and tried to move faster on him, but he began to buck his hips in time with my movements so that all I accomplished was lifting my pelvis.

"You bastard." Now it was my turn to swear, but I couldn't keep the smile from my face. I continued to move up and down, still trying to put myself over the knife's edge, but Queran's timed movements gave me just enough friction to keep my right on the precipice; never enough to indulge in my orgasm.

His lips split apart in an evil smile, revealing his bright white teeth which seemed to glow in the dim light beneath the canopy. "If you want to finish, you'll have to beg me for it."

I ached for my release. I tried in vain to find some extra stimulus. Anything at all. I tried to break my wrist free, but his grip was an iron vice. He cocked an eyebrow at me, as if asking what the matter was, but that only fueled my will to claim my own release. I peppered his chest and neck with tiny kisses, and when he was distracted, I rose up then drove my body down on his hard length.

I saw stars as my pleasure coursed through my veins. I clamped down on Queran's enormous cock, and he groaned almost mournfully and arched his back, knowing he'd lost our impromptu contest. I let out a triumphant cry. I could feel his molten essence fill me. My hips continued to move as if under a trace, subconsciously milking his cock for every ounce of his essence. My legs began to tremble from the exertion our love and the fatigue of my release, and I collapsed forward onto my lover. I was a sweating, shaking, cum-filled mess. Utterly and completely satisfied.

After several minutes of snuggling on top of my lover, his softening cock still nestled inside me, a knock at the ornate door startled me out of my reverie. A stiff, male voice came from the other side.

"If you two are finished, the lady Acera requests both of you be present for breakfast."

Queran spoke up, and I could hear his voice straight through his chest. "You may inform her that we will make ourselves ready with all haste."

I knew I should be embarrassed by the fact that our lovemaking had been overheard, but it just didn't seem very important at the moment. I could hear the faint sound of the man's boots as he departed.

"Where did you learn to do that- with your hand?" The question caught me off guard.

"What do you mean?"

His face was pure incredulity. "Your hand was better than my own. Either you've done that many times before, or you have a very strange knack for it."

I shrugged innocently, extricating myself from his embrace and moving to a small fountain that bubbled from the tree branch to wash my face. When I was finished, I countered his question.

"How did you learn to keep a woman perfectly on the edge like that?"

He gave a knowing grin, and I was torn whether to punch it or kiss it. "Practice."

Jealousy kindled inside me. It wasn't a rational thing, I knew. He was long-lived, and aside from his estranged wife, the women he'd loved before were dead. But the feeling smoldered in me all the same.

He stood behind me and draped his long arms around me possessively. "But they lacked your wit, your smile, and your fire, those things I count as your meeting gifts to me."

The ember of jealousy was engulfed by a bonfire of lust, and something in me seemed to melt.

"If you're going to keep saying things like that, we'll be late to breakfast." I managed to reply through my shaky, lusty breath.

"As much as that sounds delightful, we really oughtn't miss our summons."

He pulled away and I slid into one of the dresses he had gotten for me and admired the craftsmanship. It fit marvelously. It was a dark green, the color of pine needles. The color of his eyes in the storm of his passions. When I smoothed it out in front of me, my hands caught on pockets sewn into the fabric. I smiled delightedly at the revelation.

I spun and caught Queran admiring me in the dress, grinning. "It suits you, my lady."

He was dressed in clothes that Acera must have provided, a long robe, silky and light. A silver belt went around his waist. He leaned down to the pile of my clothes from last night and gingerly picked up my dagger, holding it out to me.

"I wouldn't dine with Acera without this if I were you."

I was taken aback at that. What could be wrong about eating with Acera? "We ate together when she stopped by, before you gave my Raanrealt."

Queran sighed. "That was in my domain. This is hers, and in this place her charms are potent and perilous to the unwary. I don't mean to frighten you; she is kind, and I doubt she has a malicious bone in her body, but she is dangerous nonetheless."

I stowed the dagger reverently. As soon as it was in my grasp I winced as the aches of days of travel caught back up with me. My poor pussy also throbbed from the exertion of our activities and my back felt scratched from when I had been held against the rough bark of the tree last night. Worse than the pain was the pangs of shame that returned. It was hard to push away the haughty voice of Queran's wife in my head calling me a slut after this morning. The wooden hilt began to feel icy cold in my hand. Colder yet was the iron of its blade, which had frost gathering around its edge. I pushed the thoughts away. Perhaps I would own the title of slut. Perhaps Queran, as infuriating as he could be, was worth that much.

Queran winced apologetically as I massaged my sore abdomen. Was there some sort of fey spell that healed me that the dagger blocked? Before I could ask, Queran led the way out and towards the spiraling stairs down to the forest floor again.

He proceeded slowly down the stairs, allowing me time to catch up. I hurried to keep up, since his long stride was nearly double mine.

"There's too much for me to teach you about my kind before you share breakfast with royalty, but in general you should carry yourself respectfully. Don't speak out of turn, answer her questions honestly. She's showing you great favor by sharing a meal publicly."

I listened attentively, eager for this rare glimpse into the customs of the fey. It put me at ease. If they viewed me the same as Queran's wife did, then dining with royalty was a strange way to treat me.

He continued. "We both owe Acera a great deal for the grace she shows us. She could have refused us and been better off for it. Her decision will turn many heads."

I didn't know much about how the fey operated, but being in debt to one didn't sound like a great idea to me. "What sort of thing can I do to repay her?"

Queran gave a small laugh, the sound ringing clearly though the branches as we continued to descend. "You could put yourself at her service if you truly wished it, but I wouldn't if I were you."

"But you said-"

He cut me off. "You should show your gratitude to her. She knows you are ignorant of our customs and will allow me to take on whatever service she deems you to owe."

He seemed to make a mental tally. "Shelter, food, and clothing. Safety from my wife. Safety for my lover." He hesitated. "It will be a great deal that I am required to perform. But it is worth it for you. Otherwise I would hardly be fulfilling my obligations to you, and that would weigh on my soul all the more."

With or without a dagger to calm his charms' effect on me, he could still melt my core with his words. Flustered, I shifted the conversation to safer grounds. Grounds that were less likely to make me want to pounce on him. "What kind of powers does Acera have? You talked about her all ominously, but I've felt better than ever since coming here."

He considered the question. "That is normal. But if you want to discuss Acera's powers, it's not my place to say."

Acera had said something very similar when I asked the reason Queran wanted girls as tribute. They seemed to take each other's secrets seriously.

We descended the rest of the way quietly. I had a million questions flying around in my head, but my questions were like a hydra. Answering one would just cause two more to take its place. From the base of the huge tree we walked along the stone lined path, upon silver and golden foliage from long past autumns.

The path led us to a manor, the only structure that occupied the forest floor. Creeping vines draped along the exterior, sprouting lush green leaves periodically. Thick layers of moss and lichen occupied the stony foundation. The roof was constructed of red clay tiles; the same kind many houses back home used. I felt strangely nostalgic entering the grand building.

A slender woman, human by the look of her, escorted us though the halls to where Acera waited at the head of a long, ornately carved dining table. She looked old. Even older than when I'd seen her last. Her tight bun was fraying at the edges and her eyes had dark bags from lack of sleep. She looked the way Mary had when townsfolk needed tending through the night.

Acera gestured for us to take a seat. We sat next to each other on her left as servants brought out dishes of food served on porcelain platters.

More humans, I thought to myself. I thought about Queran's warning about how Acera was perilous. Were these people okay?

I served myself breakfast from the platters. There were warm loaves of bread, fresh fruits that were so full of juice they threatened to spray you as you tried to peel their rind. There were several varieties of cheese, all delicious in their own ways. I hardly paid attention to anything else as I gorged myself, making up for the light meals during our travels to get here.

Queran and Acera picked at their own food, but didn't display the same ravenous appetite I did. By the time I was full, they seemed ready to begin discussing something. I felt a little embarrassed at the display, but they ignored it.

Acera broke the silence, addressing me, "Was your room prepared to your satisfaction?"

"It was beautiful! I woke up feeling the best I have in some time, though I'd never thought to live in a tree before!" Though I didn't mention how I had spent most of the night in Queran's room.

She smiled. "I'm glad."

She paused awkwardly, as if trying to figure out how best to broach a sensitive topic, but Queran interjected. "I don't think I was able to properly explain the situation while begging your hospitality last night."

"Of course." Acera's awkward expression faded. "I presume you have a reason for bringing your lady to my home."

"Yuva paid us a visit two days ago. She was unkind to my lady and made clear her intention to cause harm."

Yuva. So that was his wife's name.

"She's never revealed herself to your other ladies, has she? Why now?" Acera's voice trailed off and her gaze fixed on me intensely. In that moment, she looked very little like the kindly apothecary of a quaint village. She was a perilous queen among the fey.

Raanrealt's hilt grew frigid against my hip. I tried to look away, to blink, anything, but I couldn't. Acera's gaze didn't falter, but her expression slowly began to shift subtly. She turned to face Queran, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

She spoke then to Queran using words I didn't know. They were strange and alien, and their sound danced in the air and in the deep places of the mind. Queran answered in kind, his expression the same blank mask I'd seen when he was upset.

I wondered what they were saying that had to be kept secret from me. I fought to keep my temper under control, knowing it wouldn't help anything to be rude to our host. Finally Acera switched back to the common tongue.

"You have given me much to consider. You are free to return to your rooms." The abrupt dismissal caught me off guard. Had we done something offensive?

Queran rose stiffly and I joined him, leaving the hall quickly and quietly. Once we were out of earshot, I turned to him, but before I could ask anything he shook his head and put a finger to his lips.

We returned to the room in agonizing silence. I burned with questions, but it was no use. Once we were again in our rooms, he sat on the bed, contemplating.

"What did you two talk about?" Finally I wasn't cut off.

"About you, mostly. You made quite an impression on her."

That caught me by surprise. "I did? I was just scared from that way she looked at me."

"Even so, you impressed her." He paused. "We also spoke of my arrangement with your village and its purpose. And it is time that I told you about that."

"Acera hinted at it when she stopped by your cabin to check on me. She was very cryptic at the time, saying it wasn't her place to tell me, or something to that effect."

"It would have been quite scandal for her if she revealed another's secret. I would have waited longer, until you were more comfortable in your position, but it can't wait any longer, I fear. Acera required it of me to tell you."

He gestured for me to sit, and I joined him on the bed.

He steeled himself. "The purpose of the arrangement with your village is to prevent Yuva from gaining total control over my lands, lands which include your village. By the law of my people, once an heir was born to us, if I were to die, she would have dominion over all the lands under my protection."

My mind reeled with the implications. "So not only did she force you sexually, but she planned to kill you afterwards?"

He nodded. "If she had her way, I would be dead, and your town would have been destroyed long ago."

I didn't doubt it. From my limited experience, murder seemed like it would come quite naturally to her. "So she didn't manage to have your heir?"

"In that sense, our nature worked in my favor. We are as long lived as the forests we call home. If we produced children as often as humans did, we would cover the wide lands until there was no room left for us. We have children, but only rarely."

My eyes went wide for a moment. It began to fit together in my head, why he needed young women as tribute. "And if you had a child with someone else first, they would become your heir, wouldn't they?"

He nodded, "And thus, the tribute."

My breath came in sharp bursts, trying to come to terms with this revelation. It felt crazy even to consider this request. "What happens if a child is born?"

"Childbirth is the only custom in our law ingrained deeper than marriage. You would be entitled to all my rights and privileges. In all my affairs, you would usurp my wife."

I could hardly speak. Even beyond the daunting prospect of having a baby, there was so much to consider. I tried to steady my shaky voice. "You've given me much to consider. I need time to think about this."

Queran gave his best sympathetic expression. "Of course. The decision is yours to make."

I stood and excused myself back to my own room, my mind still racing. I sat weakly, trying to process everything. Sex was one thing. What Queran wanted was something else entirely. I'd been a virgin until last night after all.

I sat quickly on the edge of my bed, the sheets and blankets still pristine from lack of use. The thoughts racing around in my head faster than I could control them.

And yet the idea was turning me on. It was all I could do not to pant with lust. I checked that my dagger was still secured, that I hadn't fallen under my lover's charms, but it was still there. These feelings were my own.

I unlaced my dress, bit by bit. With every movement my sex grew more and more slick. Once I was free of the garment, I laid back on the soft mattress, my hair splaying outwards. I grabbed and pinched at my free breasts, imagining my own hands were Queran's instead. They were poor substitutes for his strong, confident fingers, but the rising tide of lust swept me away regardless. My hips bucked against an imaginary body, trying to envelop a phantom cock, but finding only three fingers instead.

I imagined our passionate union last night. I thought of how I'd goaded him into pounding me, how he'd gone seemingly feral at my words.

The words came out under my breath. "Breed me."

I shivered to think how he'd react to hearing that. Would I even be able to walk afterwards? I pushed my fingers as deep inside me as they would go, my other arm now joining the action rubbing up and down my clit.

Images flashed in my mind's eye. Queran towering above me, his eyes green like pine needles, with a feral expression. I saw the muscular frame he displayed shirtlessly, sculpted from fine bronze by the gods themselves. I recalled my first glimpse at his enormity. All this and more came to mind as my orgasm at last overtook me. It was long and gentle, like a warm breeze. My muscles tensed and relaxed slowly, and my eyes rolled back from the intoxicating sensation.

I laid there breathlessly, savoring the tingling aftershocks of my passion. In the aftermath of my fun, my head felt stiller and clearer. In my lucid consciousness new questions floated to the surface of my thoughts. While I didn't mind the idea of being a mother, it wasn't as simple as that. What kind of father would Queran be? What would happen to the village once he had no more need of our women? These questions swam in my head as the gentle cool breeze bore me to softly to sleep.

I can see the light streaming in from a window onto my face. I adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings. After a moment, I know where I am, though I've never been here before. I can see the town outside, the quaint village that was my whole world before everything was turned upside down. This is the mayor's house. I try to stand, but my whole body is wracked with pain. Queran lays a comforting hand on me and says something, but whatever it is that he says is a distant echo. I wonder what he's doing here of all places.

I let my body relax again and the pain fades a little. I catch a whiff of the earthy smell after a rainstorm. Outside I can see the tree that marks the center of town, a sugar maple with broad branches. It looks dead, it's leaves brown, and its branches charred

Queran gets my attention again, saying something that cannot reach my muddled ears. I look over to see a wrap of white cloth with a tiny face peeking out and in that moment my heart melts. I cannot remember what happened until now, but I am filled with a radiant joy and a hope for a brighter future. Queran's voice comes again, still distant, but despite my inability to make sense of the words, I can see the emotions writ plain on his face. Joy, awe, love.

Love.

I awoke with a start, the image of Queran's face in my dream still dancing in my mind's eye. I paused to think about the whirlwind of events that had happened since I left my little village. Saving my life. Protecting my home. He'd respected my limits, and empowered me to set them with his gifts. He'd protected me from his wife and moved away from his home to keep me safe. Always he treated me with respect. With a renewed spirit, I resolved to draw him out of his silent brooding and show him to treat me as I'd seen. With love.

I glanced over to the table where my book lay, containing my choice. It was the time for today. I opened it and looked at the stalks of circular leaves. I swallowed what might be my last, at least it would be if everything went to plan. I wandered out of my room and vaguely wondered if I could find all the things I wanted. I dressed and belted me knife again, then set out with a smile.

I spent hours wandering through the forest floor. It was eerily beautiful, the whole landscape shrouded in perpetual twilight but illuminated by faintly glowing flowers. The paths were well maintained cobblestones with pale blue moonstones in the mortar that held them together. Just off the paths the ground was obscured by a thick layer of foliage, a mix of red-orange leaves and pine needles. I beheld the landscape, sitting on a conveniently placed bench and idly fiddled with a collection of the fallen needles and tiny flowers, twisting them into a braided circle.

"I hadn't expected to see you again." Acera's voice came from behind me.

I turned with a start and began to rise, but she gestured for me to stay seated.

"I came to sit next to you. Did Queran talk to you like I asked?"

I grew suddenly embarrassed. "He did. He seemed really upset about it."

She looked down at the loop of fallen needles in my hand and gave a weary smile. "I'm sure he thinks I'm pushing things along too quickly. I'm sure you've noticed how nervous he is around you."

Was he? Had I misinterpreted his brooding looks all the way as we travelled here? He seemed so confident, though.

Acera took my silence for a no and spoke up again. "Have you decided your answer to him?"

I tucked the loop away in the pocket of my dress and flushed. "I think so, but I need an answer from him first."

She eyed my hand hiding in my pocket. She leaned in conspiratorially and whispered. "I hope you get the answer you're looking for."

Acera sat back, satisfied and I felt my face glow beet red. Did she understand what I was planning? I moved to change the subject. "What was it that you saw this morning? Queran said something impressed you."

She didn't meet my eye to answer. "I saw lots of things."

I waited for her to elaborate, but she didn't seem inclined to continue. Instead she just held out a wrinkled hand expectantly. I stared blankly, and when she looked up, she gestured to my pocket. I drew the small, braided loop and handed it over for her inspection. She felt it's weight, concentrating, then turned it between her fingers dexterously.

"It's a lovely thing, don't you think?" she asked, handing it back. My hand flinched at the unfamiliar weight of it. Only a moment away and it felt ten times as heavy. I looked at it closer and saw the dancing lights of the canopy reflecting off shimmering gold.

My eyes went wide, but Acera waved me off, her own eyes twinkling, all traces of her intensity at breakfast were faded. "I have little need of gold, and I'd rather see you and Queran happy."

I couldn't disguise the nervousness on my face. It was clear Acera knew what I was planning. "I didn't think it was your custom..."

She waved a hand dismissively. "It's unusual for us to take a second partner, but not entirely unheard of. Besides, If you humans lived to be my age, you'd be dreadfully bored of customs too. I may live my life in comfort, but I won't stand monotony. Someone needs to be a source of excitement every once in a while."

I fingered the gold loop, still nervous and tried to hand it back. I remembered what Queran had taught me concerning favors. "I don't think I can repay this."

"If I was concerned that you couldn't, I wouldn't have done it. You can repay me by giving some measure of comfort to your lover."

I brought my hand back and cupped the golden ring protectively, then flung myself around Acera. "Thank you."

She returned the hug warmly, and I thought back to our first meeting when she had comforted me. When I disentangled myself, I smiled giddily to her and began the trek back to my room.

By the time I made it to my room, I could tell Queran had returned as well. I knocked quietly on the door, then opened it, giddy with excitement. He stood in the center of the room, pulling a shirt of bronze rings over his head. His leaf bladed staff rested on his bed, gleaming coldly. My excitement vanished in an instant, replaced with cold dread. Queran was leaving to fight again.

He turned and saw me, and his face was grave. Were people still attacking the village? He strode toward me and held me close. "I must fulfill my obligations once again. My wife has come to your village in person."

My breath caught in my throat. "Can you stop her?"

He didn't answer, but his silence told all.

"She's never attacked so directly before. I don't know what's changed, but I believe she suspects that you may succeed in my cause and would rather kill me and my lands than suffer them to fall to you."

Tears now began to threaten, and I held the ring I'd made with Acera's help. "My love, I will bear you child." My voice nearly faltered, coming out as a peep. "Carry this as a token of my love, and as a promise of marriage."

I pressed the ring into one of the huge hands that held me tightly. He inspected the golden ring, and his eyes went wide with wonder and reverence.

"I- Why?" he managed to stammer out. Had I ever seen him so flustered?

"Because I want to be married to the father of my children. Because you've put my well-being ahead of your own." I made a show of holding Raanrealt for him to see. "Because I love you."

Queran's eyes grew damp at the edges. I sheathed my dagger again and walked to him. "Will you have me for your wife?"

His unspoken thoughts danced on his beautiful face for me to see. Affection dueled with regret and shame and a myriad of other emotions.

"I will," came the reply at last. He seemed to shake with effort as he said it, as if a great weight had come onto him.

There was a gust of wind through the canopy, and the swaying branches let down a ray of light on the two of us. He seemed to glow with otherworldly light, illuminated in our rooms of twilight, and in that illumination, he held out a hand and caught a strand of sunlight between his fingers. He held it aloft and bent the light into a loop, narrowing it, fitting it to my hand.

I stood breathless. This was real magic on display, inexplicable and wonderous. Queran compared the glowing, tangible light against me, and looking satisfied, slid it onto my finger. I seemed flicker and dance like a bound flame. I couldn't help but admire the way the ring of sunlight shone on my hand; some small comfort against the dread of my lover's leaving.

His face shone with an inner fire now and he kissed me deeply. "And I will return for you. I must go now before it's too late, but I will return."

I wanted to beg him to stay, but I knew he was bound to do this. For all his promises, I still couldn't help but think about the dreadful danger he was walking into. I stayed beside him down the spiraling stairs to the forest floor, trying to forestall our inevitable parting.

"Look to my return." He said as that parting came. He kissed me one final time. "This is goodbye but not farewell."

Words failed me as he left down the winding path, and the tears that had wetted the corners of my eyes now fell in earnest. I felt somehow empty and alone, and the world seemed less than it had when he was close. I looked to my knife and recalled how blissful the place had seemed without it to block the soothing magic. I unbelted Raanrealt and lay down in the grass and stared at the sky in an unfeeling stupor. Clouds now dimmed the light that filtered through the canopy. Rain fell, but I didn't care to move.