Portal to Arandor Ch. 06

We had stopped for the night in the shadows of a mountain range higher than I had ever seen in my life. For days I had seen it looming in the east. The center peaks were high -- impossibly high and capped with white. I was told that the snow never melted from the tops and only a few foolhardy souls had ever ventured there.

"The elves call it Glandias, my lady. I know not what that means however."

I turned to smile at Robert.

"It does not matter; I would never think to climb it. I may be used to mountains, but nothing so high."

He looked up the peak thoughtfully and said nothing for a while. Then: "I would get you some food now, my lady."

"Thank you, Robert," I said as I pulled my cloak about me. The clink of my chains could be heard as I tried to cover up. Always the clink of the chains. Haunting me day and night.

I had lost count of the days we had been on the road. In fact, since the moment I was imprisoned in the tower, time had a way of slipping by unnoticed. Now we were riding towards my unknown fate at the hands of Edmund, king of the lands of Arandor.

How long I spent in the tower, I wasn't sure. Days passed and my mind began to wander. There was nothing to do -- no books, no music, no one to talk to. The woman who brought my clothes and meals refused to speak to me other to ask if there was anything I needed. I begged for books but she was forbidden to bring any. So I spent the days thinking and dreaming of home. So badly did I miss home, that I even missed Dennis. Anything, anything at all that reminded me of home made my heart break with longing.

So I passed my time in thoughts of my past, but I made sure that I worked out twice a day. For if I was to get out, I needed to be in shape for the long trek home. As soon as the sun rose I was up running in circles around the tower room. Then long sets of pushups, squats and lunges followed by a calming set of yoga and finally mediation. The entire routine was repeated in the evening before bed.

High in the tower, I was unaware of activity below. People came and went, but as I soon discovered I was too high up to see faces and hear voices. Soon I lost interest in that and stayed focused on myself.

Then at last the door opened one day and it was the short man with the fat hands. I had not seen him since that day and my skin crawled at the sight of him.

"Come with us, the Lord Giles wishes to speak with you," was all he said.

I said nothing but followed him out of the room with my heart pounding away in anticipation. All I wanted was my pack with my compass intact so I could find my way home. I kept those thoughts in my head as we descended the long stairwell to the great hall where I had first generated so much commotion. When we entered, Lord Giles was alone. It was deathly quiet. I stood before him surrounded by guards.

"Lady Rebecca," he said with mock politeness. "I trust your stay has been comfortable."

I wanted to spit in his face but I had to keep my cool. My fate was hanging in the balance. "Yes, my lord." The words came out with an edge of bitterness I couldn't control.

"I am afraid your stay is at an end. Tomorrow you will be escorted by ten men under the command of Sir Bernard to the center of the realm. They will ensure that no harm comes to you."

Sir Bernard was the short man with fat hands. I thought I was going to puke.

"My lord? The center of the realm?" I asked.

"Yes. For anyone accused of magic must face the king of these lands for judgment. It is not I who can deliver that sentence." He said it which such regret that I wanted to kill him right there.

"But...Lord Giles!" I protested.

"That is all. Take her back to the tower. You leave at dawn." And with that, he turned away and I was never to see him again. I stood there with my mouth open in disbelief.

"Come on sweet thing," sneered Bernard. "Back up the stairs you go."

I walked like a person going to the electric chair, but before we hit the first step, I turned to look at the Bernard.

"How long will we be traveling?" I asked.

"The better part of a month," he said, rubbing his fat hands together. "And I will enjoy every minute of it."

The next day arrived after a long and sleepless night. I was allowed to dress in my original traveling clothes and bring additional clothes with me. It was going to be a long month, I thought as I waited to be escorted down to the courtyard below. I wondered how many times I would be molested by Bernard before I saw the king. I held back the tears at the thought and tried to be brave.

We assembled in the courtyard at dawn. Bernard was there with nine other men, horses for all, as well as spares and equipment. I was told we would be keeping off the main roads and stopping in towns only to replenish supplies.

"And," continued Bernard in his fat pig voice, "you will be in irons the entire time to ensure you don't run off on us."

I looked at him in disbelief. "Now really!" I said, exasperated. "Where would I run off to?"

He answered me with a slap across the face. "Do not ever talk to me like that again. I am in charge and you do what I say. Understand?" I nodded, but there was hatred in my eyes. "Now hold out your hands."

I complied as one of his men applied iron manacles to my wrists and chained them together.

"And when we are camped for the night, you wear them on your ankles as well." He motioned to his men. "Help the lady on to her horse."

A man led me over to the horse and my heart leapt when I saw that it was Brownie! At last, one bit of good luck, I thought. A friendly being in this now hostile land. A strong pair of hands hoisted me up and we were ready to go. Bernard gave the order and we walked the horses out of the gate and on to the road that would bring us south then east to the king.

We went a fairly steady, albeit slow pace. As promised, we left the main road once out of Fairfax proper and began to trek through the countryside. I rode in glum silence and hardly took notice of the beautiful surroundings. Autumn had just barely touched the fields and trees as we went past and when I finally did look around, everything was still green and lush.

Our first break of the day was at noon. We stopped in a farmer's field and made a midday meal. Bernard told me that I was allowed to use the bushes to relieve myself but one of the men must stand guard. I nodded and refused to meet his leer. I waited for one of the men to escort me and looking down at my feet to fight back the tears we walked to the bushes.

"Rebecca."

I glanced up at the voice. It couldn't be...

It was.

"Robert?" my heart soared at seeing him.

"Shh. Go in the bushes while I talk."

I darted behind a large bush and began the laborious task of removing my pants with chains on. It took forever but over time I would get the hang of it. But at that moment I was glad it took a while so I could hear Robert's voice.

"As soon as I heard what they were doing, I volunteered to escort you. Thankfully Lord Giles did not remember that it was I that found you originally."

"Oh Robert, I can't say how pleased I am that you are here," I whispered and I struggled with my clothes.

"I am more than pleased myself," he said. "But you must act as if you don't know me. And you will not get any special treatment from me. We must not let anyone know."

"I understand," I said. "But I feel hopeful to know that you are near. I am afraid of Sir Bernard...the way he looks at me."

I stood up and arranged my dress.

"I will do everything I can to protect you from him, but I am afraid I may not be able to intervene. I just hope he leaves you alone as it will be hard not to cut his throat."

I emerged from the bushes and looked at his handsome face. My body ached for his touch just then. He saw the look on my face.

"Aye, I feel the same way. Many a night I thought about us." He looked around. "But you must hide those thoughts my lady. It will do us no good now."

I sighed and followed him out of the bushes and back to the field. "I know," I whispered. "But it is a little glimmer of hope."

After the noon break, we were off again. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed Robert before but now that I did, I was happy. He tried whenever he could to ride near me and it gave me much comfort. Bernard usually stayed in front and didn't give me much notice until we stopped for a break. And then it was only to make sure I wasn't running away. I began to think that maybe he was all talk.

The first night was the hardest. As soon as I dismounted, the leg irons were on and I had to hobble around camp. It was extremely humiliating. Whenever I saw Robert, his face was a mask but I knew it was killing him inside because his fists would be clenched. A fire was built and the cooking started. The men were mostly jovial and didn't seem to mind their errand. I suppose it could have been worse for them. I kept quiet and as far away from Bernard as possible. When I ate my meal, my chains clinked.

We had brought tents but we were only to use them in bad weather. The first night was clear and rather warm so I just rolled myself into my blanket and tried to sleep. I figured Bernard wouldn't try anything out in the open and I was right. The first night passed uneventfully and eventually so did the others. We rode all day and camped in the evenings. Gradually I began to work into a rhythm and even forgot why we were on the road in the first place. Robert was able to speak to me more and more and no one seemed to notice or care. I had proved to not be threatening, magic or no magic. Even Bernard began to lose interest.

Robert returned with my plate of food and we ate while I watched the men set up tents.

"Oh, is it going to rain?" I asked.

"Aye. Look to the west."

I turned my head and saw the heavy dark clouds rolling across the plains.

"Good, I'll be glad to sleep in a tent tonight," I said as I shoveled some beans into my mouth.

Robert said nothing and after a time he left to see to his accommodations for the evening. By the time the last rays of sun were leaving the earth, I felt the first drops of rain. Men started picking up items and battening down things. I was escorted for my evening toilet then led to my tent.

"Take care, my lady Rebecca," said my escort that evening. "It will be strong storm but you should be safe in your tent."

I nodded and crawled inside and shut the flaps. The tent was made of oilcloth and held up with wooden poles. It wasn't badly made and there was even a cloth on the ground. I rolled myself into my blanket and settled down for a long night. I had camped in the rain before and always had trouble sleeping with the sound of it hitting the tent. As I heard it begin to come down in earnest, I realized it would be no different and instead relished my time alone and away from watchful eyes.

I always knew it would be useless to run. With the heavy leg irons and troop of expert marksmen with bows, it would be suicide. However, suicide did enter my thoughts occasionally. With every step we took away from Fairfax, the possibility of returning home faded. I didn't know what my fate would be upon arriving at the king's castle, but I didn't think it would be a good turnout. It had seemed magic had been banished from the lands and it was a severe penalty to anyone caught with it. My only hope was to plead ignorance and claim that I was from a realm too far away to be involved in such trickery.

I supposed I had drifted off because I didn't hear the footsteps until my tent flap lifted. The rain was coming down in torrents and it was pretty much impossible to hear anything or see much for that matter. I held my breath as a face peered inside.

"Rebecca," said Robert's soft voice. "Let me in and be quick about it."

I rolled over and made room for him. He slid in beside me and lowered the flap.

"Robert!" I whispered with alarm. "I hope no one saw you!"

"Nay. Everyone is down for the evening except for Alan who's watch it is. And you know Alan, he's probably drunk by now."

I giggled.

I could barely see Robert in the gloom. When he reached out to caress my face I wanted to cry.

"God above, I have missed you my love," he said. "It has been so difficult to ride next to you all day then sleep apart from you."

I had winced a bit in the dark when he said the word 'love' and was glad he couldn't see me. Although I was very fond of him, I wasn't in love with him. I was worried he had taken it too far. It wouldn't do to have him falling for me when my fate was so uncertain. I was about to tell him that when he pulled my irons.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Steady now. I have the key."

I held my breath while he unlocked my hands and my feet. Freedom.

"Only for a while. I am taking a risk being here with you like this."

"I know, and thank you," I said. My heart broke at the fact he was risking a lot to be with me.

"No more talk now," he said. "Instead let me have you again."

He pulled me towards him in a crushing embrace. In the darkness, his lips sought mine and he crushed me with a deep and soulful kiss. My body was on fire the moment he touched me. I had to have him as well. I pulled the blanket away and let his hands grope me. We both knew we had to be quick.

Robert unlaced me with deft fingers and pushed his hands under my chemise to cup my breasts. I gasped and thrust my chest out whispering for him to suckle them. I wanted him to be rough and hard and brutal. All my frustrations of the past few weeks were welling up in me and I had to have release. We were like animals.

As Robert's mouth began to suck and nip at my hardening nipples, I undid my breeches and slid them down to give him access to my throbbing pussy. I guided his hand down and spread my legs as wide as I could allowing him to stroke my clit and feel my wetness. As soon as he touched me, I moaned softly.

"I need you so bad," he whispered, leaving my breasts so that he could undo his own breeches. Soon I felt his hard cock pressing against my leg. "Guide me."

I grasped his cock and was amazed by the heat there. He moved his body so that he on top of me and with one thrust he was in. I moaned into the sleeve of my chemise. It felt so damned good.

Robert began to fuck me hard and fast. We both knew that every second was a risk and that seemed to make it more intense for us. His cock assailed my pussy and I loved every second of it. With each powerful thrust he grunted like a rutting stag and I gladly took him in. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled him in.

It seemed to go on forever when I look back, but I know it was only a matter of minutes. When I came I screamed into my blanket so that no one would hear. When he came I put my hand over his mouth. His body shook and quivered and then his cum filled my pussy. When he pulled out, I could feel his seed on my leg.

Robert collapsed on me and was quiet. No more words had to be said. The rain drummed on the tent and cascaded onto the ground below. When at last he caught his breath, he straightened out his clothes, helped me with mine and locked my chains again. I knew that last task killed him to do.

"May this not be the last time," he said. Then with a kiss he slipped out of the tent. I hoped he was right, but the next day someone appeared that would change everything.