The Sinner's Tale

Marigold: "I am most proud of thee, and I say it therefore again, Percival, I am most proud of thee. Truly."

Percival: "I thank thee, Lady. I feared for my own life, much, but thy words of wisdom encouraged me. That I might not let my hesitation destroy me."

Marigold: "Thou art wiser than thy monks could ever have known. And truthfully, I did fear terribly for thy life as well."

Percival: "Indeed, Kind Marigold, thou showed me for the first time the face of thy fear. For many months now I hath traveled with thee, and never once seen thee afraid. So terrible is thy visage in battle, I had forgotten thou felt worry."

Marigold: "Aha! Is my face so terrible when I fight thou would forget my beauty as well?"

[She smiles in her prodding way, joking with Percival. He smiles back at her, but not joking. His brush with death and newfound prowess in battle have given him confidence. Instead he is genuine, if a bit nervous.]

Percival: "I could go a lifetime among the most beautiful women of the highest of kingly courts, Lady, and never would I forget the beauty of thy face."

[There is silence. For the first time, Marigold is speechless. But only for a second.]

Marigold: "Why Percival! Thou art a poet, and a lover too perhaps. All this thou have hidden from me! Were thou to speak such from the beginning, I fear I never would have found mine trousers at bed time."

[In the contest of provoking discomfort, Marigold is unmatched, and she once again takes the upper hand. Percival blushes and cannot look in her direction.]

Percival: "I dream thou would not."

[Marigold looks into the fire, quieted again by Percival's response.]

Marigold: "Does thou lust for me, Percival?"

Percival: "Continually, lady."

Marigold: "And I for thee, Percival. What are we to make of this?"

[Percival is deeply uncomfortable now, and flat out unable to speak.]

Marigold: "May I sit next to thee?"

[Percival nods. Marigold deposits the remains of her dinner in the fire. She stands, stretches, and drops down next to him, eyeing the fire.]

Marigold: "The subject causes discomfort in thee."

Percival: "Aye."

Marigold: "'Tis understandable. Thou were raised by childish men whose greatest fear is sex.

...

..I'll say this, then, Percival. I am off to wash in the stream a stone's throw south. I'll be unclothed. Thou may join me if thou wish, or not."

[She stands to leave. The sound of her footsteps fade into the distance. Percival sits a while longer. He is nervous. He is scared. The teachings of his old mentors echo through his mind, frightening him horribly. Visions of hellfire as punishment for lust, vicious beatings at the mere sight of a woman. The cold fear of his past grips him. But he has experienced extraordinary things with Marigold. How could she be evil? How could a lust for her be evil? None of it made sense.]

Percival: "I am at thy plentiful mercy, Most High and Holy. I beg thee, speak to me as thou does thy favored servant Marigold. Are the monks of the abbey in thy truth, or is Marigold the witness of thy will?"

[There is a quietness that overtakes him as he reaches for an answer. In his mind, he sees Marigold. Her long, powerful legs. Her charming and infectious smile. He imagines her skin beneath sheer fabric. Percival becomes bothered, aroused, and hot. He lusts for her. And guilt begins to overwhelm him. A sea of fear, mistrust, and terror. He believes he is evil, and always has been, and must be cursed for his unnatural feelings. But a voice breaks the darkness.

Unknowable: "This is not the truth."

[His mind, contrary to what he had experienced, becomes calm. A familiar serenity passes over him, a peace that he had never experienced prior to meeting Marigold. He now knows the will of the Most High. He smiles confidently.

Petunia startles him with a loud snort. Percival shakes his head to clear his mind. Standing, He strips off every scrap of his clothing, and walks confidently to the river.

Percival's stride is broad and quick, and he reaches the river swiftly. Marigold is, as promised, completely nude. She is facing away from him, waist deep in water. Her golden hair is let down, coming to the small of her back. One arm is stretched to the side, the muscle obvious in the bright moonlight. With the other arm, she splashes water on herself. What he sees takes his breath, and his nerves creep back slowly. And yet, he feels better. As if the nerves he feels now are natural and healthy, and not part of some sick game of punishment. Instead, he is exhilarated. He walks to the edge of the stream and puts a foot in the water. The splash catches Marigold's attention and she turns. They look at each other. Then she explodes with speed, running through the water, splashing haphazardly up to Percival, the cool water jumping on his skin. She wraps him in a wet, slippery hug, lifting him onto the shore of the creek. The feeling of her cool, slick body against his excites him, a feeling intensified by the shock of cold.]

Marigold: "Thou art the most beautiful site I hath seen, Handsome man! Thy confidence is here and so art thou!"

[Percival is unable to speak. She is crushing the breath from him, lifting him into the air.]

Marigold: "O, Percival, I pray thou art afflicted by no guilt, no shame, no fear! Can thou promise me that? Come, let us look upon each other."

[She drops him.]

Percival: "I give thee my word, Lady. 'Tis a miracle. The Most High has laid his peace upon me."

Marigold: "Then shall we fuck? Tell me 'tis so, Lovely Percival."

[Percival feels his nervousness and hesitates. But it is the good nervousness, he reminds himself.]

Percival: "Tis so, Lady."

Marigold: "What 'tis, Percival?"

Percival: "..That we shall, lady."

[Marigold leans in closer to him, her face curled in a smirk. It is the same face Percival has seen every time she tries to make him uncomfortable.]

Marigold: "We shall what, Percival?"

[He blushes.]

Percival: "We... We shall fuck, Marigold."

[She claps her hands together, gleeful at having won her game. She stands for a second, eyeing Percival up and down. He takes the opportunity to do the same to her. Percival is quickly overwhelmed by lust for her womanly features, her perfect breasts, her wide hips, and he hesitantly thinks, her womanly parts which he cannot take his eyes off of. But more than that, he finds himself entranced by this singular view of her athletic form. Her abdomen is heavy with muscle, her quads are harshly defined. To him, she is a perfect specimen. His penis quickly hardens. She takes it in her hand confidently, stroking him.]

Marigold: "Ah! I am most excited too. Where shall we start? What interests thee the most, Percival?"

Percival: "Truthfully, Lady... I, uh, I know not where the tradition lies with bedding a woman."

Marigold: "Forsake thee thy traditions, Percival, what interests THEE the most?"

[She pokes his chest with one hand, continuing to stroke his penis with the other.]

Percival: "I shall bow to thy superior experience, lady. In earnest! I follow thy lead. That I promise."

Marigold: "If thou were an experienced lover, Percival, and thou made such a promise, I would have thee on thy back till the morn, with thy face buried between my legs. I shall not be so selfish for one such as thee. I'll sit on thy face but a little while."

[She winks, pulling him in for a kiss. He is obviously inexperienced, but she takes the lead, her tongue running over his lips and into his mouth.]

Percival: "Thou would ... sit on mine face?"

Marigold: "Is that not suitable to thee, Kind Percival?"

Percival: "Excuse me, Lady Marigold, as I am most inexperienced, as I have said, and am confused. What strange punishment would be this, that thou would sit on me?"

[Marigold laughs.]

Marigold: "Not a punishment, Kind Percival, least ways I hope it shall not be. Thou would pleasure me with thy tongue, as I rest gently on thy lips."

[Percival's eyes widen as he pictures the arrangment.]

Percival: "Lady, I had only ever imagined such things. Dost thou jest now?"

Marigold: "Nay, in this I jest not. 'Tis one of mine most beloved forms of passion. If thou rememberest, Thou did promise to fulfill my will..."

[Marigold smiles again, kissing him. She runs her hand from his penis down to his testicles, gently groping him.]

Marigold: "That was a jest, though! If thou art uncomfortable, surely some other mode of pleasure can be agreed upon."

Percival: "Nay, lady I... I keep mine promise. Pray, show me thy will and thy designs."

Slowly, Marigold pulls him close, and using her tremendous strength lays him on the ground. She breaks their kiss, grinning broadly. Eagerly, she flips around on top of him, placing one knee on either side of his head. She reaches forward, continuing to stroke his hard penis in front of her. The cool mud of the river bank chills him, but the warmth of her body over him keeps him comfortable. Her calves cover his ears, and her vagina presses gently against his lips.]

Marigold: "Let me feel thy tongue."

[He licks her, gently at first, exploring and tasting her. The feel of her vagina on his tongue, the smoothness of her thighs, and the pressure of her hand is too much for him. Within seconds, he cums. The pleasure and ecstasy overwhelms him temporarily. He feels the warmth of his cum splatter on his stomach. He stops licking, overwhelmed.]

Marigold: "Do not think thou will escape thy duty this easily. Thou hast promised to please me. I'll feel thy tongue, Percival."

[He continues to lick Marigold, running his tongue all over her lips in a very general way. His lack of experience is obvious, but Marigold doesn't seem to mind. He feels her bend down and is shocked to feel her licking his stomach, cleaning his cum with her tongue. She moans heavily.]

Marigold: "Mmmm, how filthy I am! It has been a long many years ere I hath felt such lust for another. Come Percival, let us bathe in the creek. Thou will need but a short time to recover. Thou art young and strong, and I believe quite aroused."

[She stands, turning to help Percival up. He watches her, entranced by her naked body, as she walks back to the creek. Hurriedly he follows. When they reach the creek, she turns to him.]

Marigold: "May I wash thee? I'd like to feel more of thy body."

Percival: "Certainly, lady. I pray that thou hurry; I am most chilled by the water."

[Marigold approaches, running one hand over his chest, stomach, and arms. With the other, she cups his testicles and soft penis, rubbing gently. She towers over him, having to bend down to reach most of his body. Marigold feels his whole body, massaging and gently touching and caressing every inch of his skin. Within minutes, he is shivering harshly, and asks for them to return to camp.]

Marigold: "I understand if thou art cold, Percival, but art thou done with mine body? I have many more fantasies for you."

Percival: "Certainly not, lady, but I must be warm to continue. Will thou not join me at yon fire?"

Marigold: "Ah, but Petunia is there. Will we be filthy in front of our dear friend?"

Percival: "... Truthfully, I had not considered the feelings of thy beast, Lady."

Marigold: "Bite thy tongue, scoundrel! Petunia is no beast. She is a dear friend. Would thou perform depraved acts of sex in the midst of an old friend? 'Tis indecent."

[Percival is confused, and looks to the camp, where nearby the horse, Petunia, can be seen grazing. He looks back to Marigold, who is serious as the grave, and then back to the horse.]

Percival: "I'll respect thy wishes, of course, my lady, and respect thy companion. We'll have our revelry in the cold."

[Marigold nods resolutely, face still stern. Slowly, her face breaks into a grin, and then she begins to belt out a tremendous laugh. Percival blushes as Marigold gently mocks him.]

Marigold: "He'll respect mine companion, of course! What a kind, sweet man I hath found. Worried to fuck in front of a horse, what kind of daft tart dost thou think I am, Percival? Come, let's race to the fire!"

[Marigold breaks into a run, easily outpacing Percival, who sighs deeply and follows her to the fire.

Marigold stokes the fire while Percival warms up. As the fire begins to build heat, Marigold approaches him.]

Marigold: "Art thou aroused once again? If not I'll aid thy hardness."

Percival: "I am not, Lady. I apologise for my prematurity."

[Marigold leans her head down between his legs.]

Marigold: "Nonsense! Thou hath paid me a great kindness. That I would be so beautiful and alluring, thou would cum so quickly. I am flattered, Kind Percival."

[She takes his flaccid penis into her mouth, and he leans back to give her room. She sucks him gently, the entirety of his softness in her mouth. Her tongue works over the head of his penis, massaging it gently. Within a few moments, Percival is hard again, and she is nodding up and down on his penis. Her lips reach the base of his penis and she swims her tongue all along the length. She releases him to speak.]

Marigold: "Would thou enter me? I'd love to feel thee inside."

[Percival's eyes are closed, his face an expression of pure ecstasy. He almost misses that she had spoken.]

Percival: "...Nothing would honor me, more, lady."

[She stands, straddling him face to face. She rubs her clitoris with two fingers, once again eying Percival. After a second of self-pleasure, she squats, lowering herself onto him. When she is near enough, Marigold reaches below herself, taking his hard penis and guiding it into her vagina. She lowers herself the rest of the way, taking the entirety of his penis inside of her. Her cheeks touch his thighs gently as she squats on him.]

Marigold: "Mmmmm, 'Tis the deepest of pleasures, Lovely Percival. Such a tremendous feeling to have thee in me."

[Percival is speechless, staring at the point where they connect. Marigold notices.]

Marigold: "Enjoying the sight, Percival? Our skin colors make a beautiful mixture, do they not?"

[He says nothing. Marigold reaches a hand between her legs, rubbing her clitoris. She rubs slowly at first, but begins to quickly speed up.]

Marigold: "I greatly desire release, Percival. Aid me with thy tongue on my breasts."

[She continues to furiously masturbate with his penis inside her. Percival leans his head to her chest, licking her nipples. The couple are very close, and the motion of her hand bumps him several times, but neither of them stop. He continues to lick her chest until she orgasms. She leans her head back, letting out a soft moan. Her vaginal muscles tense, tightly gripping Percival's penis. Only when the rush of the orgasm subsides does Marigold begin to fuck him, raising and lowering herself on him. She pushes him back to the ground, leaning forward to kiss him deeply while she rides him. Despite his earlier ejaculation, the moment is too much to bear for Percival, and he quickly cums again. She squeezes him hard with her vagina as he finishes into her. She stops moving and the two lie still, Marigold still on top of Percival. As they lay, she kisses his face and neck, gently stroking his chest.]

Marigold: "Will an hour be a long enough wait this time, Percival, or art thou finished entirely?"

Percival: "... I fear it is no use, lady. No moment could ever eclipse this, not if I met the Most High himself."

Marigold: "Thou art a charmer, Young Percival. Surely with thy honeyed words thou art telling me to keep going."

Percival: "Nay lady, I am spent utterly. Thy energy and thy prowess is far greater than mine. I surrender to thee completely."

[She laughs, standing up off of him. His penis slides out of her and he lets out a moan. Marigold sets about the camp, readying bedrolls and preparing to bed down. By the time she is done, Percival is able to do little more than crawl into his bedding and fall asleep.]

========================================================================

[On the next morning, they set out again. They travel far together, helping many in need, saving many in danger, and doing great violence to evil people. They are guided always by Marigold, to whom the Most High speaks, directing her gently to where she is most needed. The full record of their adventures would fill many books, as they spend years together. They fight, they travel, and they have sex whenever they can. For a long time, they are happy, and Percival forgets the Abbey as much as he can.

One bright fall morning, many years into their travels, Marigold feels guidance from the Most High. Urgently, she bids Percival to follow her, and takes off at a run, forcing Petunia to trot. They crest a hill two miles off the road they had taken, and Marigold directs them to stop and be quiet.]

Marigold: "As quietly as thou can, Percival. I fear whatever we hunt may be sharp of hearing."

[Percival stoops low to the ground, following Marigold's direction. They creep through the trees, leaving Petunia behind. Slowly and carefully, they make their way over a hill, to the top of a small ridge. They overlook a field where they see a small doe grazing peacefully. Percival looks to Marigold, who stares intently at the doe. He knows better than to question her intuition, so they both watch silently.

From the left side of the field, a great beast appears. Walking upright with two hairy legs, with knees and horns like a goat. Standing nearly two stories tall, the massive monster creeps quietly into the meadow. Its eyes are beady and black, and it's face and arms are disturbingly human in contrast to the rest of its body. The skin is a splotchy, unhealthy red color. Percival feels his stomach revolt at the sight of the unnatural beast, his hairs standing on end and his muscle involuntarily tightening. He whispers a swear.]

Percival: "In God's Holy name, what is that?"

[Marigold does not answer. They watch silently as the Monster creeps, stalking the doe. The creature jumps on the deer, snapping it up with massive clawed hands. Twisting cruelly, the beast rips the helpless deer clean in half, devouring its prey messily.

Percival curls into a ball, a single hand clapped over his mouth. A stern look from Marigold reminds him to keep quiet, and through a great force of effort, he vomits as quietly as he can. The beast stands and walks with an unnatural bouncing gait through the field, making its way into the trees. After a few tense minutes, Marigold releases a gasp of air.]

Percival: "By the Most High, mine eyes hath never captured such a foul beast. I have often aided when thou hath cleaned many a felled quarry, and never hath my gut rebelled so at the sight of meat and blood."

Marigold: "Perhaps, Percival, the question be not what is that, but who. I fear the worst of all things hath come to this world. A Prince of Hell, a demon of the highest order. No doubt he has a name, or some grand title."

Percival: "A demon, Lady? How? Did yon beast cross into our world of its own fell will?"

Marigold: "Nay, Percival, such beasts are brought into our realm only by a concentrated, intentional desire of humans. Evil humans be they. No doubt innocents were sacrificed and many a life ruined in their fell rituals."

Percival: "This beast is brought by evil men? What gain could possibly be found with such a creature?"

Marigold: "None save the will of evil. These Princes are not like evil humans, Percival. They have not a spark of good nor a drop of light in them. Their thoughts are only evil all the time, forever."

Percival: "'Tis a very grim tiding."

Marigold: "'Tis the worst tidings imaginable. They are but pure evil wearing flesh. That beast is opposition to the Most High's will personified. Come. We must shadow our quarry. It must never be granted passage to a human habitation. The evil it could wreak would be untold."