"Seeking" by VK

Re-edted this one this year (2020) I am wondering if I should add a servant to their party heading out. She would be killed during the first revenant attack, but I doubt a princess would have been sent off without a maidservant of her own. Also still debating whether they would have made love at the tree to celebrate their new status as equals. 

Liam the Ranger already has his hands full escorting a profane and alluring elven princess to her first adult ceremony but royal mismanagement, vengeful spirits, witches, and his own needs will create a fearsome brew. It will be a week neither of them will ever forget.    
     
1.

    The witchwood was fragrant with the smell of early spring as the Ranger and the Princess rode through dappled sunlight into the Suana Valley. He stifled a yawn that the warmth of the day had teased out of him and relaxed into a memory of a similar day.
     
    It was fifteen years ago, when he finished his apprenticeship and was sent to the tree. He remembered the burgeoning sense of life there. All the different animals moving around the tree, with more timid types watching from the surrounding bushes. He sat with his back to the bark and waited as he had been told to. He fell asleep, and was awakened by a large puppy--half hound and half mastiff--licking his face. The telepathic rapport was instant and the beginning of a really good run for the both of them... He shook his head as he realized that he had completely missed the Princesses last comment. He wondered what else he might be missing without a companion's extra senses to inform him.
    "Did you even hear me? You've been so scatterbrained since Mahax died."
   
 "No," he said. Not admitting to anything.  "I was ignoring you."
     
    "You should just go to the tree and get a new one." Her parents had sent her east for schooling and the bright girl he knew had come back a callous young woman. 
     
    "I thought you liked Mahax. You did spend half your childhood with him, and he adored you." 
     
    "I loved him too, but he was old and it was his time, right?"
     
  Liam grumbled to himself, and then said, “I have leave to go to the Tree after I take you to Irby."
     Unfortunately she got that glint in her eye that meant she would start teasing him again. 
    "Does this mean I’m your companion now? Because I would love to crawl around on all fours and serve you.
    "Mind your tongue, Kaela." Sure that she wouldn’t.  If only she wasn’t so damn good at it.  
    "My tongue? Are you thinking naughty thoughts about my tongue? I can think of all sorts of ways to please you with it."
    He sighed. Full grown, but a mere drop in the ocean of an Elf's life in years. Highborn, lithe and comely like all her kind, but with an extra grace that was almost feline, a deeper voice than most females, bright green eyes, and long brown and red hair framing a heart-shaped  face with dark black brows raised in nearly perpetual amusement at the discomfort she caused. 
"That's no way for the future Queen of Irby to talk and you know it." They were on the way to her very first Day of Choice, where she would be competing for a young prince's proposal with other high-born young princesses. 
     
   "Irby. There is NO more boring town. I'd rather be your companion."
     
  Beginning to wish her mother had come with them, as she had threatened to, he tried to say what she would.   "The way you talk sometimes makes me wonder, but you are not an animal, Princess Kaela. That's not a job for a highborn elf."
     
    She made sound, dismissing his comment and launched a new attack. "I dream about being taken by Orcs.....<moan> I’d beg to be left alone. I'd say 'whatever base, tawdry, acts you commit I will never submit!'  But, they give me no choice! They hold me down....tear my clothes off...They take turns, using my body. Orc cock in all my holes...”
     
    "Orcs? This is a witchwood. They control the woods all throughout the valley. There's no trouble here."
     
    "I've always wanted to meet a witch--a true witch. They're good witches, right?"
     
    "Aye, but you mustn't deal with them. They are good, but not above trickery for amusement's sake or when it suits their purposes."
     
    "They keep the Orcs away. No orcs? You should take me, yourself, then. Come on, let me hear all the dirty things you want to do to me...how will you indulge yourself with me? You know what I want you to do?"
     
    He let her ramble. Fifteen years is a long time for any hound and by the end the pains in Mahax's bones were too much--he could still feel the echo of that agony—as if all the light had left his mind--and Mahax passed on. He sighed. THAT had been a companion. This perverse child's mind was totally closed to him, but her mouth kept on going. He couldn't imagine what the cesspool of her mind would feel like. If only her words matched her intelligence. 
     
"We're getting closer to the town so cease this nonsense, or at least lower the volume of your voice."
     
    Surprising him, she listened. Sometimes she did, and he could remember her as a child. This gorgeous, profane young Elf had been a careless bustling explorer, face smudged, clothing torn, most often found following Mahax around the edge of the her Father’s  forest. And the endless questions!  She had driven him mad with them back then. And ever since her Mother had proposed this trip, she had tried in every way to drive him mad with her Drowish thoughts. "Just get her there and get her to shut up," her mother had said, "The court will dress her and her beauty will do the rest." He hoped so, sadly.  Sadly?--
     
"What's that smell?" Kaela asked suddenly and he got a whiff of it too. Foulness like an opened grave. 
   
 "Haints! Kaela, your protection spell!"  There were a good dozen of the revenants and their lizard-beasts emerging from the woods.  His horse reared as he saw her make her spell,  and he jumped off, drawing his sword and slicing a lizard open in one motion. He ducked the haint's cold grasp and then chopped off its head with his dagger of wirdmetal. He looked over to see Kaela dismounted and drawing her bow. He backed up towards her, slicing with both arms. He only had the dagger of the type that would kill haints, but his sword would do for the lizards. 

"My arrows aren't working!"

"Shoot the lizards! I'll take the haints!" Damn. He would have to get Kaela on his horse and get her away. There were just too many for him to fight off with just this dagger.   Then, there was a blur and a red-headed woman was with them.
     
 "Take, these, child!" The witch said, "They're wirdmetal!" tossed Kaela a quiver, and then calmly launched killing spells. 
He switched to defending the two women from leakers who got through their barrage.  Kaela was drawing and firing with smooth precision and with the witch's aid, the number of assailants was quickly dropping. Soon the ground was littered piles of ash and reptilian corpses.  

"Kaela, are you good!? Not bitten or feeling frozen anywhere?" He asked and she shook her head. He turned to the red-head. "Thank you, your grace," he told the witch, whose diadem marked her as royalty.  

"I'm Lady Amaranta and no thanks are necessary, Ranger. A group of about a hundred of them were forced into our woods by Garbonia. We've been fighting them for a month now at great cost and have killed a little more than half of them and their familiars. I fear I may have chased this group into you.  I do apologize. 
She turned her attention to Kaela. "You shot well, elfling. Pity your behavior is not up to the same standards. Yes, you should blush. The woods have ears."

"Sorry, your grace," Kaela said softly ,"Thank you and here's your quiver." 

"Keep it. You may have need of it again. It's self-replenishing.  It was our Ranger's"

He felt a jolt of dull pain in his stomach. "Was? Did something happen to Valeria?"  

"Valeria is dead, as are fifteen of my strongest casters." He shook his head, "Ranger Liam, the woods speak well of you. You would find a welcome with us." 

Remembering Valeria's warm laughter and the feel of her in his arms he didn't respond strongly enough. "I am pledged to the Hein wood and the Krecki's."  

"Who send you into danger without letting you seek a new companion? We would treat you as tradition expects."

"Thank you for your kind offer, your Grace, but I must decline," he said more strongly. Witch's offers had to be considered carefully no matter how trustworthy Lady Amaranta looked. 

"Think on it, Ranger," she said, "It is plain to me that you seek. But for what are you seeking? You believe it's a companion, but I think you're after change."  And then...was gone. 

"So much for the trouble-free witchwood." He turned to look at the abnormally silent Kaela. "You fought well, Princess. I think the real you comes out then."

"Is that what you like about me?"

"What do you think?"

Soon, outriders from Irby came along with the castle garrison.  He explained what had happened and what Lady Amaranta had said about the haints. They provided him with an extra horse and escorted them to the large tavern they would be staying in. Kaela had been silent throughout the removal of her luggage from her dead horse's body, and the short ride to the tavern. She brightened up when she saw the rooms. 

"Our rooms are together. Does that give you any ideas?"

Kicking himself for being so happy at hearing her voice again, he played along. 

"Why yes, You are to have the inner room and I the outer, so that I might protect you. But that seems awfully dangerous, so you can sleep out here and I'll be safe and sound in there."
She undulated up to him and rubbed her body against his catlike. "You could just come in with me. Show me what I need to know. Mmmm...but I'm a virgin, so....there will definitely be blood and stuff, but even so you should keep pounding me, violating me until I'm a sloppy mess and that hole of mine is...! <pause> What? Where are you going?"

"I said I needed a drink," he said as he stopped outside, shut the door firmly, and turned the key in the lock. He went downstairs to the tavern and ordered two drinks. He downed one quickly, and then nursed the other one, scanning the room.  Many houses here with their prospects and lots of guards and soldiers about. None of the girls he could see could match Kaela in looks. Only a much wealthier kingdom could trump those.  He saw no one he knew which was fine. 

He sat in a darkened corner and tried to make sense of the day. He doubted even Mahax could help him with this. He would never show it, could never show it, but she was getting to him. He did dream of her.  Dreamt of kissing her under the trees, loosening her gown and uncovering that athletic body...teaching her the ways of pleasure. And her mawkish and amateur attempts at seduction were working far better than he'd ever let on. He signed for another drink and felt an acute sadness that the whores had been run out of the Tavern for this event. Hours later, he came back to the room, mostly sober again and stared at her closed door while he prepared for bed. 

It was very late when her presence awakened him. "What d'you want?" he grumbled. 

She had her hand on his blanket. "It's cold. I want to crawl in with you."

"No. Call a servant and have your brazier lit."

"How about a goodnight kiss?" 

"No," he said. And then turned away from her and fell back asleep.

2. 

The morning came and he could hear her moving around and getting ready. But, when she finally emerged she was still in her dressing gown. She flung herself at him and feeling her scent enveloping him pushed her away. 

"No good morning kiss, either?"  She said coquettishly

"You'd better get dressed. They'll be by to get you any time now." Today, Kaela would be going through the first day of tests required by the royal family and meeting all of them to talk. The Queen's court would have her all day and keep her in their quarters.  She should be safe enough, but he was still concerned. He had meant to leave her here and visit the Tree, but common sense told him to go buy a wirdmetal sword and stick around. All her talk of kissing....a day looking at weapons would be welcome.  
 
She was dressed with everything in place when she was summoned He headed down to the see the smiths. It took most of the morning to find a sword he was comfortable with.  The metal's spirit and he would need time to become used to one another.  Back at the tavern, he found them roasting a whole brace of birds and discovered he was hungry. 

Just then a silken black furry from swirled up his body and pressed its head to his cheek.  "I know, Lithakis,  I Thank you." he told the ur- mongoose, and looked around for a familiar face. The long lean face of Devid smiled at him from across the room and raised his mug to beckon him over. 

"First Mahax, and now Valeira! Troubles besiege you!"

"Some of which came from your woods, Devid!"

"Ach," he spit. "The King decided to move on them without telling me and while we were containing a fire in the dry south. I had them settled and fairly peaceful before that in the old quarry site." He shook his head and drank more. "Think how much easier it is to be Ranger with no bloody royals interfering!"  

He had to agree but just grunted. Thinking about Kaela disordered him. "What are you doing here?"
“Tracking them down. Doing them in. 
“What, just the two of you? 
"No, I’m doing that too," The answer came from Amaranta, newly arrived. Both men rose to greet the Lady and she nodded and bade them to sit. "I have been with the court today and dearly need a drink."
 Liam got up to get her one. "At court?" He asked over his shoulder. 
"Yes and your Princess is doing well. Today is just questioning by the Sages and Docents, with some intelligence testing.  

"I didn't know Liam had a princess, Lady Amaranta. God, Liam!   Is that why haven't you been to the tree?"
Liam put her drink on the table and she took it. 
"King Leo sent me on this trip first. All the girls are at choosing days and he split the guard up among his two first-born. Kaela got me.  He turned to Lady A. "We were just discussing the excitement of working for Kings," he said. "She hasn't scared anyone off, yet?"  

"No, the prince seems fascinated and Kaela has been the essence of good breeding. I hardly recognized her at first. A real changeling, that one."

"She is quite the actress."
“Liam, we could use your help while your charge is busy at the castle. May we have it?

“Of course,” Liam said, for Devid and Lithakis at least .
"Good. You two work out a plan. I want to start in the morning, then. She picked up and drained her glass.  I needed this drink since I have to get back to the castle, Amaranta said with a heavy sigh.  I wanted more say in the kingdom, but I think I prefer hunting haints and dragons." 
The mongoose chittered in amusement. 

3,
The next day, Kaela went to the palace again, and Liam, Devid, Lithakis and Amaranta headed into the woods hunting haints. They only found a few strays but not the settlement they were looking for. 
They returned to the tavern as Kaela and the princesses returned from the Castle. Sharing a meal together, she was quiet as he told her of his day and the interesting things he’d glimpsed in the witchwood. 
“How was the palace?” He asked.
“Ugh. My head is sore. More testing, question after question.”
‘Sounds like you as a young elf girl. Endless questions you asked me. 
She made a face. “How many did I ever ask more than once?”
“You were a very fast learner and never had to be told twice.”
“Well they to repeat the same questions over and over. It’s exhausting.”
“They are choosing a queen, you know.  They have to be sure you can bear the responsibility.”
“Do you see me as a queen?”
Not, now, but you have all the qualities, and potentialities, in you I have seen and an Elf’s life to learn more in, Princess Kaela.”
“Maybe. I know this is what my mother wants, but is this what you want for me”
“Princess, you know that’s not my place! We are not the same rank, and Man interferes with Elfin matters at his peril”
“I’m asking for a man’s opinion. 
Feeling imposed on, and trapped,, Liam thought carefully before he spoke. “To see  you use your intelligence, your common sense, and your compassion in service to the people of Irby as their queen, would make me very happy”
She stood up suddenly and slammed her plate down. Then turned and fled up the stairs. 
Devid walked over and looked at Liam. “What did you say to your princess?”
“Not the right thing, Liam said. “I told her she would make a good Queen and that’s what I want for her. You have news?”
“Indeed, Amaranta thinks she knows where the brood is. We have to leave earlier tomorrow to get there while there’s light.” 


4.
Liam was up and gone before Kaela arose. The quartet rode out swiftly. The way was snaky, but the witches’ intelligence was good. It was just past noon when they found it. They split up around the perimeter of the settlement and moved in from three directions. Liam used his sword and dagger and only wished for Kaela and her bow.  It was over pretty quickly and Amaranta used her spells to burn the familiar’s bodies to dust.  Then she stood and looked at Liam.
We killed how many when you arrived?”
’12 or 13. 
Devid added, “And five on that first patrol. 
“And about twenty-five today. I keep doing the math and we still have 20 or so to root out.”
“And they’ll be looking for victims to increase their numbers,” Liam said. Amaranta nodded
Heading back into town, Amaranta rode to the castle. Liam, Devid and Lithakis were hungry and went to the tavern. 
Their food came and they ate while discussing the prospect of a celebration and he agreed. They went out and managed to stop at every place one could get a drink or gamble a bit. He came close once or twice to telling Devid about his problem... but couldn't. Times like this he truly missed Mahax. They got back to the Tavern late and he climbed the stairs to his chamber mildly tipsy and tired.



5.
He opened the door and walked into a cloud of scent and a vision. The large bath basin was in the center of his room and Kaela was in it, naked and smiling. He stopped and bowed.

 "I'm sorry, Princess. I..."

"The water's funny at the palace and I needed a bath! I guess they filled your tub by mistake."

"Don't get up...I... um..."He couldn't stop staring, and couldn't untangle his tongue. He wanted to leave...but.....couldn't 

"Don't be silly, Liam. You look like you need to sit down."  He nodded and slid down into the seat by the tub. She was looking at him in a funny way and her eyes got that impish glint again.  He tried to get up but found that his limbs were heavy. 

"M-must've had more than I thought.

"You don't have to get up. Just sit here...and watch me bathe....in this sweetly scented water....soaping up my pert young tits....You know what I like to do in the bath?"

"Oh...damn, Kaela don't do this...not now..."

"I like to rub myself. Rub my breasts....wash my body...."

She was so beautiful...he couldn't look away....his mind told him this was wrong...this was private...but she....she was inviting him in...and he wanted her. Truly. 

"Kaela," he said, his voice furry. "Stop...talking. Don't stop rubbing, though." He moved forward

She giggled. "You like my show?" she said softly. 

"Yes," he admitted. "But I want to hear the real you." Her eyes met his and for a quick moment it felt like...like connecting with a companion. 

There was nothing to do but kiss her. Kiss her deep, kiss her with all of his pent-up passion. It would either scare her off for good or...
Warm and wet from the bath... her mouth sought his and her wet hair wreathed his face as she plunged her tongue in.  He was surprised and aroused all at once, then his brain engaged.  She stopped for breath and he touched her face. His mind came back to him a little. 

"Kaela, Princess, we can't do this...you... we shouldn't--" She put her finger to his lips to shush him. 

“We've fought together, risked a death that could seek us again and I'm here doing this pointless stupid stuff--you don't even know what goes on. I had old women poking at me yesterday. They poked all of us. At least it wasn’t all questions, but  I am a certified virgin now.   She took his head between her small hands. "The world is crazy and I just want to hold onto the good things in it."

He took one of her hands in his. He wanted to tell her that it wasn’t that dire, wasn’t that important, even thought that was a lie.  

“I don’t want to die without knowing what it feels like to be a woman.  Unless, you only like blondes or my body truly bothers you¬—” He answered her by lifting her out of the water and carrying her to the bed. The game she had been playing made him unable to resist her.  He kissed her, long and slow and running his hands down the body he had wanted for so long...made him hard as a rock.  From long experience he firmly believed that introducing a young woman to sex was a serious responsibility. There are plenty of ways to go wrong.  She had thrown caution to the wind, but was still inexperienced. 

The muscles of her lower abdomen were so toned that two definite lines pointed down to her virgin cunny. He mumbled something about map lines to paradise and began kissing his way down. She made pleased little noises as he tongued her pink nipples and kissed and slurped down.  One nice thing about having a girl straight from the bath they were all clean. So he could look forward to just tasting her. And he could tease Kaela's virgin asshole with his tongue confidently.  He started softly kissing her cunt, slowly involving his tongue in the fun. She moaned and rocked her hips as he worked his mouth and stroked her thighs. He put two exploratory fingers into her and she gasped. He found her nicely wet. He didn’t expect to find a hymen such an active girl and didn’t. Her moaning and undulating was getting stronger now and he knew she was getting close. 

It was a point of pride with him to bring a girl, particularly a virgin girl to orgasm as part of her first time. So, even if there was pain, there would be pleasure to remember too. He added a finger and began fucking her as he amped up the rhythm of his tongue work and soon she began breathing in short gasps and her hands grabbed his head and slapped on the mattress and then he felt the tremble inside her and she gave a loud, low moan and came.  He was smiling, when he began kissing up her body again, and she looked at him like he’d given her a present. She pulled his head into a kiss and they tongue wrestled as he got his hands on that hot body. His erection was straining.  

“Are you ready?” he asked her, meeting her eyes.  

She reached down and took his cock in her hand, and kissed him. “Yes, I want you inside me.” It was the sexiest thing he'd ever heard her say. 

He kissed her gently and guided his cock into her. He watched her face to see if she felt any pain and didn’t see anything but pleasure and—something else.
“Oh, wow,” she said. “That feels really good.”

He was all the way inside her and he began to stroke slowly. She was tight, but not overly so. He fucked her normally for a while, then got her to roll with him to put her on top. Her face registered delight as the whole angle and force changed, and she took over the motion. His hands stroked the fine skin of her young athletic body. She sat back for a while, then he pulled her face down to his. 

“Oh, that’s good, that’s…” she said, “You’re fucking me so good.”

“You’re amazing,” he told her. 

“I wanna make you cum,” she said. And something about this profane girl saying this with her true voice made him fill her with semen right then. 

“There should be some sort of ceremony,” she said as they lolled in the bedclothes, softly touching and kissing.  

“You don’t think what we just did qualifies?”

“Maybe,” she said kissing him lightly.

“You did enjoy it, didn’t you?”

“You know I did.”

"There will be consequences, Kay...we have to decide what to say and what not to--"  That's when the screaming started. 


They dressed as fast as they could, gathered weapons and stepped into the hall. The main hall of the tavern was in chaos. Haints--it looked like all who were left, were killing left and right. "They have to increase their numbers somehow. They're here for victims." Their eyes met and they moved as a unit into the hallway.  Only a few here and Kaela quickly dispatched two. He cleaved a haint from head to crotch and they headed down stairs. 

The new sword didn't feel so strange anymore now that he had fed it. There were twice as many attackers as last time and the Tavern's close quarters made it necessary to check sword swings, take time aiming, and watch one's feet. Nearly all of the princesses and their house guards were also present.  He had tried to get at least half of them to obtain arms that would work on the haint's, but hadn't convinced enough and now...they were dying for it. Kaela was her mechanically deadly self. None of the other princesses did anything but scream and get underfoot.  They tried to move near Devid and Lithakis. But it was just too crowded. 

Witches began swooping in and that changed the game. "Kaela, let's get the princesses out of here."  He said, kicking out a window. The Haints saw it and converged. He saw Lithakis tearing into dragons with savage glee. He felt a berserker rage build in him and he let it. Sword and dagger blended into a whirling silver scythe and he kept Kaela in the corner of his eye.  That's when it happened. Kaela had gotten most of the princess out the window, but one had tripped and when she bent to assist---he lunged for the haint but couldn't get there in time.  She fell and witches swooped in to carry her off. The roar of triumph he heard behind him told him they had turned the tide, but all he felt was panic, dread, shame and losss, all at once.  Amaranta grabbed his arm and led him out after the last few surviving Haints. 

"She lives. We are tending her." she told him. He tried not to let it worry him as he, Devid and Amaranta chased the last three haints to the edge of the forest. And with three silent blows, the battle was over.  He looked down as the bodies decayed into drifting ash. His rage has passed and with it came some clarity.  I'm an idiot, he thought. She's the second of twin daughters born to a minor house.  Kaela's only hope was to convince this coddled child-prince to take her as his queen. To continue the beautiful, exciting, dangerous stuff that made him feel so good...was wrong. Not honorable at all. 

"Come," Amaranta said. They walked back to the Tavern as riders from the castle arrived. Bodies of men and lizards were being moved outside.  The dead were burned before they could turn. Lithakis sat on the front porch and cleaned his claws.  

"You four saved many," she said. “It will be remembered.”

"How badly was Kaela injured? Touch or bite?"

"Just a weak touch. She is strong and our healing magic is very, very good." 

He suddenly realized that he had been holding his breath. 

"Liam," she said outside the door. "Try not to upset her."  


6.

The air in the room was still heavy with perfume and their exertions. She was in her room in bed. His resolve weakened. She looked pale but still so damn beautiful. 

"How are you doing?" He said, tenderly. 

"I'm alright. Truly. The witches took good care of me. Are you well, my Ranger?"

"Not a scratch on me, this time." He wanted to tell her...what? That he’d lied.  What? He didn't even know anymore. He paused momentarily unsure. "Look, I can't stay for your choosing. The haint's are gone, the witches are watching over you. Do I have your leave to go to the Tree before we return, princess? 
"You should go and you've certainly earned it.  And...I am not going to be chosen here. "

"Thank you," he bowed. "And, I disagree. You fought for them today. They saw it, will remember it, and you could provide the strength he lacks. And there isn't anyone with your beauty."

"I...thank you. You're sweet, but you're wrong, she said sleepily. "Besides this, I really loved today."

"I...you...I'll see you a few days."  


7.
It was a good ride, and it was a distinct pleasure to camp in the forest again. He spent nights looking at the stars, but kept replaying their lovemaking in his head. He couldn't stop seeing it, actually, which made him wonder what she had put in the bath soap. He still couldn't see a way to continue without ruining her chances for a good life, but it didn't hurt so much. He just had to hope that Irby chose her and be done with it.  As sad as that made him. 
He didn’t know much of the witchwood, but the path to Valeria’s cabin was a clear way he remembered. They had an easy kind of relationship. They planned nothing, but if they ended up meeting, they made love for hours together. The cabin had been emptied and her possessions had been sent along to her uncle. Her scent was still present and it made him remember her again. That quirky smile, that earth-mother body. She was half-witch and dirty talked in spells when they made love. Spells that made colored lights appear in the room.  With a dull lump in his stomach, he lit the brazier and made himself some dinner in her home. 

8. 
He stayed longer at Valeria’s than he meant to, and it took him away from the tree. So it was most of the day to get back to it.  As he entered the glen, the green got deeper, more vivid and the fragrant loamy smell teased his senses.  He was at peace, he realized. He knew what he wanted. He just couldn’t have it.
He left his horse outside the circle, and walked forward relieved, hopeful, and nervous. Whatever bag of snakes they had opened up, he wouldn't be facing it alone anymore. A ranger needed a companion..  The Tree was the same as he remembered it and all new at the same time. The variety of animals was always widening and today it looked like they were all there.  He settled in, back against the bark, and just let himself feel this corner of the forest. He fell asleep again...and still dreamed of Kaela. 

9.
When he awoke, it was light, again, and a large brown and black stippled cat lay in his lap, purring loudly. He began stroking the soft warm fur. Who are you? His mind reached out---and touched the mind he had wondered about and despaired of never knowing. "You," he whispered. "How?" She showed him the wound on her arm...getting greyer and greyer...the worried counsel and then Amaranta's offer. Changelings were immune to haint magic.

It was a tough spell and she risked death trying it but it saved her. Suddenly he had a naked girl in his arms. "I wanted to live for you," she said, kissing him. "To love you." 

"I love you," he told her what he had been denying to himself.

"I know." 

"Looks like you know what you are doing."

"I'm getting there. I should have had clothes when I changed just now."

"What happened at the choosing? He asked. She just shook her head. 

"He didn't choose you?"

"He did not."

"What...what IS wrong with him?"

"Lack of courage? Well, maybe I....did something."

"Kaela. Not the burping thing?

"No, no I...I transformed in front of everybody."

"Uh huh."

"He did not take it well at all.. Threw up and ran away."

"The cat spooked him?"

"That's not what I changed into. Watch!"  There was a flash and a neat melding of cat and girl stood before him.  "I can do three forms. The cat, the girl and...cat-girl. This form should be good in a fight," she said flashing her claws. I’m way stronger too.”

"This is pretty cute too."

"I didn't want to be choosed by him anyway."

"Your mother is going to kill me."

"It was my choice."

"And I was only one man, but she will still blame me. We can tell them the truth--well some of it. Hell, your stunt at the choosing will be all over the kingdoms by next week. But, your family isn't strong enough to go against the witches and this was a bargain you made, wasn't it?"

"Amaranta’s going to talk to my family, and get out stuff from there."

“And why should she do all that?”

“Um…”

"Spit it out"

"We just have to take over ranging in the Witchwoods.

He smiled and shook his head. Amaranta. Took a child's wish and made it real to bind him to her cause. Well played Amaranta. 

"Well, my sweet. We probably can't go home, so that's fine with me. Though you will have to be a true changeling to take on all the roles here: Companion, Apprentice, Lover, can you handle it all?"

"Pretty sure I can do all that," Kaela said. "Can you handle me?"

"Let's find out, pretty kitty. Let's find out."

END

6/20/2020 c. VK