Bastileborn - Dragon Fire Pt. 02

She made him sit down under the lamp so she could tend his hands. He was still shaking as she carefully worked to remove the bloody bandages.

"There we go. The water made the bleeding look worse than it was," she whispered as she gently massaged the medicinal salve over his damaged palms.

He groaned in relief and leaned against the wall to rest. Thistle chuckled at the goofy smile on his face. She was glad he was feeling better. Gavin took a deep breath and looked at Thistle as she continued to doctor his hands. He finally noticed she was wearing nothing but a thin, damp towel. Her dark hair was soaked and dripping down her neck and cleavage. The towel was barely covering her breasts. Gavin gulped as he admired her. He had never seen anything more tempting in his life. Not even his dreams could compete with the beautiful figure sitting before him. He suddenly felt warm all over, and his body responded in a predictable way.

"Um, Thistle, could you get me a towel?" he asked in embarrassment.

"Sure. Just a second. Let me tie this off. Whoa..." she gasped as she looked down at his excited body. "It got bigger!" she stammered in surprise.

"Yeah... it does that when it wants something," he mumbled in embarrassment.

His heart was pounding as he watched her eyes examine him. He couldn't keep his eyes from drifting to her blushing cleavage. He didn't have anything to hide at that point, so he let her beauty arouse him.

"It looks like the pictures in the book now," she observed.

"So do you, but you look better than the pictures in the book, even with the towel," he confessed.

They met each others' eyes and smiled in amusement. They were both overwhelmed and intrigued by each other. They also knew the situation was inappropriate, but curiosity and temptation ruled the moment.

"Do you... um, want to see me without the towel?" she offered with her heart pounding.

"Yes. I mean... no. That's really inappropriate," he stammered as he looked at his bandaged hands, trying to distract himself from the manic pounding in his chest.

"Well, I've seen you naked. It's only fair that you see me," she said as she reached up and opened her towel.

"Thistle, that's not..." he began, but speech abandoned him as her towel fell to the bench, revealing her soft, alluring skin to him.

She was a feast for the eyes, all the way down to the little patch of dark hair between her legs. She smiled at his shocked expression.

"Do I still look better than the pictures in the book?"

He gulped and nodded. Thistle watched as his eyes trailed down her stomach and over her thighs. She looked down at herself and realized she was slightly more modest than him by nature.

"That's funny. I can see all of you but you can't see all of me. I think you're more interesting. I don't have anything that sticks out and demands attention. I've never really looked at myself much before," she said as she opened her legs, revealing her most intimate area.

Gavin's whole body ached with want at the sight of her perfect pink cunt. The flesh around her opening was slightly swollen with arousal. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen after her breasts. She reached down and curiously examined herself with her fingers. She parted her lips a little, revealing the redder flesh just inside her opening. The sight made Gavin extremely hot. Every part of him wanted to indulge in what he was seeing. He would have loved to pull her into his lap and work his cock into her pussy until he exploded inside her, but he would never forgive himself for dishonoring her like that. He was convinced Thistle didn't understand how compromised they were at that moment. She was overly naive and trusting as she exposed herself to him less than two feet away from his engorged cock.

"By the gods, Thistle. Please put your towel back on before I do something stupid," he whispered as he put a bandaged hand over his eyes and turned away from her.

"Oh... sorry," she mumbled in embarrassment as she quickly covered herself again.

"Don't apologize. You trust me too much. It's flattering and extremely tempting. I've done nothing but endanger you since we met, especially now."

"What do you mean?"

"If someone found us like this, we would be executed for racial treason. You're also too special to be dishonored by me. Thank you for helping me. You're a saint, but you need to go. I'll clean up and meet you back in the room."

"Oh, of course," she said a little sadly and hurried back to her own stall.

Gavin buried his face in his aching hands as he willed his pounding heart to calm down. He was proud of himself for resisting his carnal urges. He knew he could have easily convinced Thistle to let him touch her. They both wanted to explore each others' bodies, but it was the last thing they should do in the most racist city in Bastileborn. He figured he would have to give himself a helping hand to calm himself down after that encounter. Even with the bandages and his damaged palm, he easily took care of himself after Thistle's body-provoking display. Then he dragged himself back into the shower for a few minutes, keeping his fresh bandages out of the water. The shower washed away a majority of the day's grime. He would have a proper scrubbing in a day or so. He carefully dried off, dressed, and returned to the room. Thistle and Nora were already curled up in bed. He doused his lamp and made himself comfortable on the floor.

Whispering Lady

Gavin was restless in spite of his exhaustion. He lay awake for an hour, listening to Nora's snoring and Thistle's soft breathing. His mind went back and forth between Plinkon's warnings, Astrum's angry words, and the arousing encounter with Thistle in the shower. Then he wondered if his parents had contacted the other kingdoms of Luria to find him yet. He was in a tremendous amount of trouble and not sure how to get out of it. He chuckled to himself. He couldn't remember a time he wasn't in trouble.

Suddenly, a soft squeak startled him as the door to his left began to open. He held his breath and listened to the soft rustle of a cloak as a dark figure entered the room. His mind quickly jumped back to what Thistle said about the whispering lady. She was there to see Thistle, and she would likely step on him in the process.

Gavin had a split second to react before he was stepped on. He sprang to his feet and grabbed the hooded figure in a bear hug, preventing her from drawing any weapons. He was about to announce that he had no violent intentions, but the hooded figure went on the defensive. Gavin saw a flash of light as the intruder slammed their head into his cheekbone. Then the heel of a boot smashed into his shin. The double hit caused him to lose his grip on her. She sprang out of his grasp, turned, and punched him in the cheek, knocking him sideways. He staggered across the dark room and crashed noisily into the closet door. There was a metallic twang and a glint of steel as she drew her sword.

Gavin was too dazed to react. He figured he was about to die, but nothing happened in the long instant it took Nora to wake up and strike a match. She lit the small oil lamp on the shelf over her bed, allowing her and Thistle to see what the noise was about. Gavin was on the floor, leaning against the closet door with blood dripping down his cheek. His startled hazel eyes were fixed on the woman standing over him. She had a delicate double-edge sword pointing at his throat. The hood of her cloak had fallen back during their struggle. Her beautiful dark hair had spilled out of it over her back.

"Whispering lady! Please don't kill him! He's my friend!" Thistle cried as she began to hurry off the bed.

"Stay where you are, girl," demanded the woman. "Who are you, boy? Why are you in the bedroom of an elderly dwarf and a high elf maiden?"

"Please, milady... this is my room too. I'm Nora's apprentice," Gavin said calmly as he studied the woman's face. One of his eyebrows was lifted like he saw something surprising.

"What idiot allowed you to bunk in the same room with a high elf maiden?" she growled incredulously.

"Pardon me, milady," Nora interrupted, "but that idiot would be me."

The woman closed her eyes and sighed in annoyance.

"I want him out of here, Nora," she grumbled.

"Yes, milady. I'll send him to bunk with Plinkon tomorrow night."

"I want him gone now," she demanded.

Gavin's brow was creased as he looked back and forth between Nora and the woman, wondering who would relent first. The few seconds of silence that followed were tense and Gavin couldn't take it anymore.

"This is ridiculous. Why do I have to leave? This is my room too. What kind of person goes around sneaking into people's rooms at night?" he grumbled as he gently touched a finger to his bleeding cheek. "I should call the night guard on you," he growled as he stood to face the mysterious woman.

She stepped back in surprise at his reaction. She had never met a slave so stupidly bold.

"Do you have any idea who you're speaking to?" she asked as she raised her sword to Gavin's Adam's apple.

"As a matter of fact, I do, Queen Ellora," he whispered with a devilish grin. "You have Thistle's nose, her chin, and her beautiful lips and hair... but she has Gregory's eyes."

The woman gasped as she backed away from Gavin like he was the devil himself.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"Wouldn't you love to know? Say hello to your mother, Thistle."

The woman gasped and twirled around with her dark hair flaring out like a beautiful skirt. She met Thistle's shocked eyes with her heart in her throat.

"My mother?" Thistle breathed as if the wind had been knocked out of her.

Ellora stared into her daughter's eyes without the mask of the hood for the first time in eighteen years. It was terrifying. Thistle stared back with tears blurring her vision. She always thought that if she found her mother, she would run to her and throw her arms around her. Now that the moment had come, she could only stare at her in hurt disbelief. The whispering lady was her mother, and everything Gavin said was true.

"Thistle... my baby girl," Ellora whispered as she moved forward, wanting to embrace her daughter.

"No! Don't call me that! I'm Nora's baby girl!" she said as she scooted across her bed until the wall stopped her. She leaned against the cold stones, staring at her mother like a small animal trapped by a wolf.

Gavin's chest tightened with grief as he watched the horror on Thistle's pale face. Nora looked between Thistle and Ellora in growing distress. She wanted to put herself between them and protect Thistle from the terrible truth.

"Very well then, Thistle. We'll do this your way," Ellora said as a tear escaped her eye. "Would you like to ask me any questions? I'll tell you the truth now."

"Tell me exactly who you are and who my father is. I want to hear it from your mouth," Thistle said as she pointed at Ellora with a trembling hand.

"My name is Ellora Valimeer, queen of the high elves and mother of Thistle Avonstine. Your father is Gregory Avonstine, the high king of the humans of North Luria," she said calmly, but she spoke as if the words burned her tongue.

"You... you hid me all my life. I'm a treasonous abomination!" Thistle said in horror.

She was trembling as she hopped off the end of her bed and dived into Nora's outstretched arms. The old dwarf embraced her adopted daughter as she shook with sobs. Ellora watched the scene with anger on her face. Gavin feared she might scream at Thistle. But, instead, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting her expression relax. She knew how to deal with stressful situations, no matter how heartbreaking they were.

"I'm terribly sorry for all of this," she began. "The words spoken tonight can not leave this room. I love you, Thistle. Whether you decide to believe me or not is entirely up to you. Now, I need to speak with him alone," she growled as she turned her murderous gaze on Gavin.

"Um, Thistle, I hate to bother you right now, but I think your mother plans to kill me," he said nervously as he backed against the closet door.

"What? No!" Thistle cried as she pulled away from Nora and dived off the bed. She quickly put herself between Gavin and her mother.

Ellora stared at her distraught daughter in disbelief. She was determined to shield a human from her own mother. Gavin couldn't help smiling over Thistle's shoulder.

"Thistle, I need to speak with this boy alone. I fear he may be a spy," she said in an even tone, but Gavin could hear the rage underneath.

"Anything you have to say can be said right here. Gavin isn't going anywhere without me," she declared as she backed against him and fumbled for his hands.

She seized his wrists, pulled them around her waist, and held them there. Gavin smiled as he gave Thistle a thankful squeeze. She knew how to make him feel wanted. Ellora and Nora stared at them with open mouths for a moment. Thistle could feel the blush burning on her face. She could even feel Gavin's pulse racing under her fingers where she held his wrists. It was embarrassing holding a man so close to her in front of Nora and her real mother. Ellora sighed, walked over to the little table under the window, and sat down on a stool.

"Fine. We'll talk here. Tell me, boy, and don't you dare lie, who are you? How do you know about Thistle and me?"

Gavin felt Thistle squeeze his wrists.

"What's wrong?" he whispered against her ear.

"You don't have to tell her if you don't want to," she whispered as she looked over her shoulder.

"Can we trust her not to kill me?" he asked, knowing Ellora was in just as much trouble as he was.

"She has always been kind to me, but I don't know what to do."

Gavin sighed and kissed her hair before he let her go. He took her hand and walked with her over to the bed and sat on the edge.

"My name is Gavin Runesteel. I'm nineteen years old, and my father is Duke Arum Runesteel of Talfane. My aunt Selena, my dad's little sister, is married to King Gregory Avonstine. They have a son, Prince Eric, my cousin. He is Thistle's half brother. Eric told me about his father's bastard child. Gregory has Thistle's name carved on his sword. When I saw her, I was reminded of Eric and Gregory. She has their eyes. That's how I discovered who she really is," he said thoughtfully as he looked at Thistle. Her hair was mussed, and her cheeks were red.

"I don't believe it. You're a human prince? How in hell did you end up here?" Ellora asked in astonishment.

Gavin blushed and looked down in embarrassment.

"My arrogance got me captured. I attacked three high elf foot soldiers alone."

"I see... you're a troublemaker."

"I'd say yer right about that," Nora chimed in. She had finally worked up the nerve to join the conversation. "After that stunt ya pulled when ya first arrived, I knew ya would be a handful," she snorted as she shook her head at him.

"What stunt was that?" Ellora asked with much interest.

Gavin's eyes went wide when he realized Nora was about to rat him out.

"He used Thistle as a shield in an attempt to escape when the sentries brought him in."

"I told you I was sorry about that!" Gavin interrupted. "Thistle was the only person I knew the sentries wouldn't kill to get to me!"

"Had I known that I would have run you through!" Ellora snapped as she began to rise.

"There won't be any running through of anybody!" Thistle said angrily. "What's done is done. I want to know if you're going to rat Gavin out, mother?"

Ellora looked at Thistle in surprise for a moment. Her heart filled with joy to hear her call her mother.

"Thistle, this is a very difficult and dangerous situation. Gavin needs to be sent home immediately. If word gets out that he's captive here, it could turn the river dispute into a war with Talfane."

"Unbelievable, you're such a witch," Gavin grumbled.

At that, Ellora stood and slapped him hard across the face. Thistle and Nora gasped in alarm. They watched as Gavin slowly reached up and rubbed his cheek.

"How dare you speak to the queen of the high elves like that?" she demanded through her teeth.

Gavin looked at her with rage in his eyes, but he remained tightly composed.

"Well, queen of the elves, how dare you tell Thistle how important it is that I be sent home? You should have sent Thistle home to her father nineteen years ago!" he snapped. "She could have lived the life of a princess. She could have had a ton of beautiful dresses, a loving big brother, a beautiful bedroom in a palace that overlooks the lake named after her family. I could have courted her! I could have taken her to Mauve Pearl Village for the Fire and Wine Festival. We could have danced under the fire lanterns. You have robbed your own daughter of a beautiful life. You're a selfish witch in my eyes, and if you raise your hand to strike me again, I will break your damn fingers."

A tear fell from Ellora's eye as she listened to Gavin. It felt good and horrible to be told the ugly truth about herself. Thistle was looking between them with a painful lump in her throat. Nora had her hand over her mouth as tears dripped from her eyes as well. It broke her heart to know what kind of life Thistle could have had.

"How was I supposed to get her to Gregory?" Ellora whispered in defeat. "After I had Thistle, I was terrified they were going to take her from my arms and kill her. That's what Gazon threatened to do. I had never begged, pleaded, or groveled for anything in my life, but I made a spectacle of myself as I begged for Thistle's life. My pleading eventually moved Gazon's heart. He spared Thistle under the condition that she be hidden among the slaves. He said if the baby went missing, he would kill me and track her down too. I did what I had to do to keep us both alive."

"You were just too afraid to make the right choice. You should have done everything in your power to get her to Gregory," Gavin said, shaking his head. He was still seething.

"That would have led straight to a race war, you stupid boy. Even if I did manage to escape, Gazon would have come after us. How could I hide a beautiful half-elf child among humans? He would have easily found us. Then Gregory would have tried to defend us, and the realm would be engulfed in war. Is that what you want, you little warmonger?"

"Yes. That's exactly what I want. The racial pride of the high elves is stupid. They deserve to have their asses kicked for it. All the races of this realm would join the humans in the fight. I wonder how many innocent mixed-blood children have been slaughtered by your kind over the years. Why did you seduce Gregory if you knew it could lead to war? How stupid can you get?"

"I was trying to comfort him, you imbecile! We fell in love! You have no idea what we went through together."

"Oh... wow, I didn't really want to know that," Gavin mumbled as he watched Ellora's cheeks turn red. She looked a lot like Thistle when she blushed.

"I want to know the story, mother," Thistle said softly. Her eyes were wide with curiosity.

"Of course. You deserve to know about your father. He was and still is a wonderful man. It was a mission for peace that brought our races together nineteen years ago. The way Gregory treated other races caught my attention. He would embrace his dwarf friends and ask about their families like they were brothers. He tried to be just as friendly with the high elves, but my father-in-law treated Gregory formally. I remember feeling ashamed of how Gazon behaved. Gregory was so handsome. His eyes were humble. He possessed all the character you would expect from a young human king. I wanted him to notice me. I was regretfully engaged to Prince Fumarus by that point. He was just as cold as his father. It was nice to be away from him when Gregory was around," she admitted with a guilty smirk.