Bonds

Chapter 2


Jill's wyvern had left the thick forests of Gallia behind it and was now gracefully soaring over the mountains, towards Gallia's royal castle. Jill enjoyed flying at this high altitude, but the way how Lethe had both her arms and tail wrapped tightly around her informed Jill that her love didn't really appreciate it much.

"We're almost there!" Jill shouted over the rushing wind.

"Good!" Lethe yelled. "Set us down now, please! We'll walk the rest of the way!"

Jill still felt a little surprised at this, but landed her wyvern on the steep mountain path all the same. Lethe gratefully jumped off.

"You're a braver women than I ever expected," she said.

Jill smiled. "This? I think it took a lot more bravery to talk to you. You know, at first."

Lethe smiled faintly. "I suppose. But... I have a request. I... I'm feeling..."

Jill walked up to Lethe and kissed her. "Say no more."

"It should be all right," said Lethe nervously. "Few people visit the castle, really."

"I would not care if this was the busiest highway of the kingdom," said Jill.

"I would," said Lethe.

Jill kissed Lethe again, then squatted down. She pushed up the hem of Lethe's short green skirt and saw the laguz glistening before her. She leaned forward ever so slightly and kissed her between the legs. Lethe purred with a delight that Jill would never tire of hearing. Jill kissed Lethe's slit a few more times, then poked up her tongue and carefully started lapping. Lethe leaned back against the rock face and Jill put her hands on the laguz' hips. She heard Lethe utter a deep, guttural groan when her tongue circled her clit, but that was nothing compared to the feline snarl that came from her when Jill snaked her tongue inside of her.

Lethe reached down and grabbed Jill's hair, her hips bucking, somehow trying to get Jill's mouth even closer to her than it already was. Jill's tongue played wonderful games inside of her, expertly setting every little nerve ending alight with pleasure. With her heightened arousal, it would take very little for Lethe to be pushed over the edge, but during long, lazy afternoons under the Crimean sun, Jill had learned everything about Lethe's body. She knew all the little places everywhere that could make the laguz purr with a mere touch. And now she expertly used her tongue to tease several of those little places.

As a professional warrior, Lethe prided herself on her awareness of everything around, but now she noticed nothing, except Jill. Technically, she was kneeling between her legs, but in reality, she was everywhere. Her whole body, her whole mind was filled with the pleasure only Jill could give her. It was not just the tongue inside of her (although that was a big part of it), it was also the hands on her hips, the hair in her hand, even the iron smell of her armour. Jill filled all her senses to overflowing, until...

Lethe's scream echoed between the mountains.

Panting, shuddering, Lethe sank to the ground. Jill caught her and held her close. Smiling, Lethe put a hand on Jill's chest and kissed her.

"I love you," she said.

"I know."

"And you're also an incredible mess," she said grinning.

"That's hardly my fault," said Jill, grinning back.

Lethe moved closer and licked Jill's face clean. Before she'd met Jill she had hardly ever tasted herself, but she strangely enjoyed those moments whenever she could.

"There," she said. "You look about as presentable as beorc can."

"Why thank you so very much," said Jill, standing up again.

Lethe stood up as well. "And now, on to the castle."

"Uhm..." said Jill.

"Yes?"

"That... scream. We're pretty close to the castle and, well, with all the echoes..."

"Yes, I'm pretty sure the people at the castle heard us."

"Oh," said Jill.

"I'm sorry if that's not the answer you wanted to hear," said Lethe, "but laguz senses are a lot stronger than those of the beorc. They could hear us and I've no doubt that pretty soon they can smell us."

Jill blushed hotly. "Oh."

"It's alright. That's just how we are. No-one will comment or even really mind."

"Even though I'm a beorc?"

Lethe was quiet for a moment. "Come on, let's go."

"Lethe..."

Lethe stopped. "I don't know," she said. "So let's go find out."

-----

Upon arriving at the gates of Castle Gallia, there were already servants waiting to take Lethe and Jill to the throne room and to take Jill's wyvern to the stables. It didn't look as if they had been expecting them, they simply had been expecting them. Jill wasn't quite sure what bothered her more. The fact that everybody knew what she had been doing mere minutes ago or the fact that absolutely nobody let on that they knew.

The throne room was simple, but impressive. It looked as if everything, even the throne, had been carved from the very rock. A few carpets and tapestries gave the room a few warm touches, but the overall impression was still of a room designed for a king who got on with ruling and had little patience with extravagant silliness.

King Caineghis sat on the throne. Jill had seen him before, at the Crimean palace, shortly after the defeat of Ashnard. He'd looked impressive then, but here, up close, he looked intimidating. He exuded the kind of power that came not just from being a ruler, but from being able to best any man in unarmed combat without breaking a sweat. Behind the throne stood Giffca, his face impassive and unreadable. Ranulf was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"We were wondering when you'd show up," he said.

Lethe apparently ignored him. She bowed gracefully. "My king," she said.

Jill hurriedly bowed as well. "Your majesty."

"Rise, please." The king of the beast tribes smiled. "You are Crimean, Lethe. I am no longer your king."

"For as long as I live, you shall always be my king," said Lethe.

"I expected you would say that." He looked up at the servants lingering about. "You. Go tell the kitchens to start preparing a meal for my guests. The rest of you, leave. That includes you too," he added, looking at the guards near the door.

"As always, you are most efficient in clearing a room, my king," said Ranulf. "Do you want me to leave as well?"

"You may stay, if you wish," said Caineghis.

"I don't, actually," said Ranulf. "I have a feeling I know what you're going to be talking about and I wouldn't want to be here and embarrass Lethe even more. I'll be outside if you need me."

The room was silent until the door shut quietly behind Ranulf.

"Won't he be able to hear anything we say anyway?" said Jill.

"Perhaps, if he tried," said Caineghis. "But I'm sure he will be courteous. Now then, Lethe, I know why you are here and I cannot help you."

"I expected as much," said Lethe. "But is there absolutely nothing you can do?"

"No king holds power over the temple. The priestesses would not allow it. The only thing I can do is to remind them that it is their duty to help all who request it."

"Thank you, your majesty."

Caineghis smiled. "It is good to see you again, Lethe. And in such excellent company."

"Again, I thank you, your majesty."

"For what it's worth, you have my blessing."

Lethe closed her eyes and nodded.

"You must be hungry after your journey. My servants should have been able to prepare something already."

Lethe bowed. "Then we will take our leave, your majesty."

"I would like Jill to stay for a while longer, though. I wish to speak to her privately."

Lethe looked surprised for a moment. "Of course," she said and left.

Jill was left standing alone in front of the throne, feeling hopelessly nervous. She wasn't quite sure where to look or how to act. Suddenly, king Caineghis stood up and walked to the window. He looked out for a while, quiet and unseeing.

"I wish to thank you," he said.

"Your majesty?" said Jill.

Caineghis turned around and looked at Jill. He looked gentle, in so far as a large laguz with a red mane could look gentle.

"I... despaired for Lethe, not all that long ago. She is a fine warrior with a sharp mind and I was proud to have her in my service, but..." He paused. "Lethe was filled with such hatred. I am fully aware that not everyone in my court approved or indeed approves of my dream of peace between laguz and beorc, but only Lethe was so openly and violently opposed to it. Perhaps that is why I assigned her to join Ike and watch over princess Elincia. A vain hope that spending time amongst beorc would change her opinion of them. Because of you, that hope turned out to be far from vain and I thank you for that."

"I... Your majesty, I... I didn't..." Jill stopped and tried again. "If it wasn't for her, I... I might've..."

"So I hear. Perhaps Lethe saved you as well."

"She did, your majesty," said Jill. "But... may I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"From what Lethe told me, it seems that... if we somehow... you know... that it's taboo. Yet you seemed to have no problems with it. I just wonder why."

"It is said that people of such mixed blood will herald in the end of times," said Caineghis. "Personally, I do not believe it. What I believe is that great tragedies will happen if beorc and laguz remain divided and hateful towards one another."

"I see," said Jill.

"I hope that you will continue to love and support Lethe and that she will do the same for you. And I want you to know, that no matter what happens, you will always have a home in Gallia."

"You are too kind, your majesty," said Jill.

King Caineghis took place on his throne again. "Now then," he said, "I think it is high time for you to go join your wife."