The Beast and The Swallow

"Master sure is late," sniffled Jessup and rubbed his hands, stretching them out closer to the fire. "His stew will get cold."

"He's likely still chatting with the Duchess," said Lucas while stuffing another spoonful into his mouth. "This pottage is pure magic! My mum would kill for the recipe."

"Sure." Furrowing his brows, Aiden tapped with his cup on the table. "Or they might be in some sort of trouble."

"Oh, come now!" Lucas rolled his eyes. "Like someone is going to attack them here."

"They were attacked in a church." Face just as grim, Dederi exchanged looks with their commander.

"Go up with Lucas and check on them." Aiden nodded. "Discretely. Jess, you're staying with me."

"You know I can fight too, right?" The squire frowned and half-pulled his dagger out of its scabbard.

"We do. But you're also the one with the best chances to sneak out and call for backup, should we need one." Dederi pulled up the disgruntled Lucas. "Come now, you glutton."

"You just don't know how to appreciate good food!"

"Any more appreciation and your breast plate will need redoing around the waist."

Continuing their banter, the two leisurely strode towards the staircase, but their hands gripped the blades on their belts tightly. The hubbub and the crowd soon hid them from ear and sight. Jessup tapped his foot on the floor, his fingers firmly locked on his dagger. His eyes darted around, searching for suspicious movement. Aiden was right; he was the weakest of the group. The worst fighter. The one without magic. But this time, whatever happened, whatever the price, he was going to protect his masters.

It felt like ages before their two comrades shoved their way back through the wall of merrily drunken patrons. Seeing their stiff expressions, the youth's heart sank.

"What happened?" he asked, taking the initiative from Aiden.

"Nothing." Dederi plopped into her seat and rubbed her neck. "But I don't think that the Duke will be dining with us."

"I'll bring him his stew then." Jessup was about to spring up, but Lucas' hand landed on his shoulder, holding him in place.

"Let it be. Stew won't be on his menu tonight." The young knight waved at one of the inn's servants. "Bring a bottle of your best wine!"

"We are on duty," reminded Aiden sternly.

"That's why we are having a single bottle, Captain. The occasion demands it."

The older man blinked at him, his frown slowly morphing into stunned realization.

"Gods, bless them!" He coughed and hid a smile in his beard. "I should tell the innkeeper that we'll be staying longer than anticipated."

"And they'll need some egg porridge tomorrow morning to restore their energy," mused Dederi. "I'll arrange with the kitchen to cook it with wine and honey."

"What are you talking about?" Jessup eyed his seniors with the look of someone witnessing a mass delusion.

"Well, my young, clueless friend," Lucas threw an arm around his shoulder while pouring him a cup of fragrant red wine, "we are doing no less than celebrating our beloved masters' first time."

"Show some respect!" grumbled Aiden and looked around. "You can't-"

"How?!" Jessup shouted before quickly slapping his mouth and continuing in a hushed, urgent tone. "How did you know?! I never told a soul that Master and Her Highness… That they didn't…"

"We aren't blind, Jess." Dederi held out her own cup. "Those two have been acting like children in love, not like true lovers."

"Sir Duncan will finally be able to relax." Aiden grabbed the bottle and poured himself a generous amount. "And so will I. The ducal line is finally secured."

"Making a baby is not a first-attempt surefire magic, you know!" Dederi nudged him playfully.

"But at least they are attempting! And I swear, I'll make sure they can keep attempting without any disturbance for as long as they want."

"Guys, guys, we should change the topic! Our innocent Jess here is going to look like a boiled crab soon."

"Fuck you, Lucas!"

"I don't think you've had the pleasure of fucking anything other than your hand, kid, so I'll pass."

While the two were squabbling, Aiden and Dederi clinked their cups.

"A fruitful night of passion to the newlyweds!" toasted the Binshi.

"Amen! They sure deserve it."

***

Thunder droned in the distance, a sound almost drowned by the wind and the crackling of the dying lanterns. Still half asleep, Noah stirred under the sheets, his slumber disrupted by the sudden feeling of loss. The gray-golden twilight didn't help much in terms of deciphering the time, but he had been out for at least a couple of hours. It took him some precious seconds of drowsy contemplation until he realized that his arms were now empty.

Lorelei!

Fear snapped him awake, his fingers wandering to the side of the bed where she had just lain. It was still warm. Sitting up, he frantically looked around, straining his ears to capture even the most minute of sounds. The rain continued to clatter over the roof, showing no intention to weaken. But under the rumble of the storm and the moaning of the inn's beams settling, he could discern quiet sniffles. As he peered into the shadows just under the windowsill, he could discern a darker shape.

Noah's heart spasmed painfully, fear and regret clouding his recent happiness. Wrapping a blanket around his hips, he stepped down from the bed. Under his weight, the floorboards creaked, alerting Lorelei. Her head shot up, and he saw her pale, wet face, framed by strands of tangled hair.

"N-Noah!" She rubbed her cheeks and sniffled. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?"

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"Was it so horrible?" he asked hoarsely, unable to move a muscle. All he could do was watch as her features briefly twisted in confusion. Then her eyes widened.

"No! It's not like that! It wasn't horrible at all!"

"Then why are you crying?"

The question hung between them like an invisible wall. From the vantage point of his height, Noah could see Lorelei shrinking further back, hugging her knees, her toes curling under the hem of the oversized nightgown. She looked so frail and terrified, nothing like the fiery goddess melting in his arms just some hours ago. She was terrified of him!

Guilt turned his stomach and caught his heart in an icy grip. He knelt on the floor so that their eyes could be on the same level, but still kept his distance from her.

"I'm sorry, Lorelei." His voice cracked, and he swallowed with difficulty. "I've hurt you, even though I promised not to. I–"

"There is no blood!" she blurted out, interrupting him.

Noah gaped at her, his mind unable to comprehend her words. Wriggling with her toes, Lorelei hugged her knees even tighter, and her beautiful eyes rounded in panic.

"I know. It's unusual. But you have to believe me. Master told me, and he is the best physician in the world. He had seen something like this while he worked in the harem of the Shareeban royal family. Sometimes the concubines didn't bleed after intercourse, even though they were virgins. It happens sometimes. It… It must be such a case. I swear, Noah, you are my first! I have never… I don't know why there is no blood, but you have to–"

"Stop right there!" Now it was his turn to shush her by gently placing his palm over her mouth. "You mean to tell me that you have been sitting in the cold and bawling your eyes out not because you were in pain, not because I hurt you, but because I didn't make you bleed?!"

She gave out a muffled groan and nodded, fighting to remove his hand, but he didn't budge.

"And you mean to tell me that you were so terrified by the lack of blood because you thought that I would think that you are not a virgin?"

Another groan. Another nod.

"Lorelei," he finally released her mouth and cupped her face, "you are an idiot!"

"I'm not!" she protested weakly and sniffled again. "A girl's virginity is the most precious gift she could give to the one she loves. You know what… what happened to me in the past. But I swear, I'm not tarnished! You are the only one who has ever… You are my very first l-lover! I swear, I was a virgin before tonight!"

"Indeed, you are an idiot!" Noah pressed their foreheads together. "I love you, Lorelei. You. Not your virginity. I couldn't care less if I was your first lover. What I care about is that we are together now. That you chose me."

"N-Noah!" Her hands landed on top of his palms, tenderly stroking them.

"And you know what?" He pecked her wet cheek. "I am more than happy that our first time didn't hurt you. I wanted it to be a happy, pleasant experience, not a nightmare. It seems like I succeeded."

"You sure did!" Her lips found the inside of his wrist, covering his skin with goosebumps. "Sorry, I frightened you. Really. You... You were great! It was so, so good. It was incredible!"

"I'm glad. My teachers would be proud to hear that."

"Teachers?"

Noah chuckled at the slight crease between her brows.

"Jealous, my love?"

"No." She sucked on her lower lip for a moment. "Well, maybe a bit."

"And, oh, so curious." The corner of Noah's mouth jumped up. He took a lock of her hair and started playing with it. Yet, despite his nonchalant actions, his eyes avoided hers. "It's a tradition in the imperial family started by my great-great-grandfather. It seems he and his bride had some nasty first experiences, so he decreed that any imperial offspring over the age of fourteen should have mandatory lessons in the 'fineries of the bedchamber' as they like to call it. Bastards were no exception."

"Oh, Noah…"

"No need to feel bad about me. Honestly, this is one of the few rules of my family I fully support. We both know how suddenly one can be thrust into a marriage. And if both parties are young and unprepared… Well, anyway, in accordance with this rule, a male and a female courtesan of the highest rank were assigned to teach me the art of seduction and love-making. Ambrouse and Alantra were their names. Very nice and gentle people. And very agile. So, that's all."

Still playing with her silken lock, Noah dared a side glance. The tears on Lorelei's face had dried, and she seemed calm, her gaze somewhat dreamy. She tilted her head like a little, inquisitive sparrow, and, together with her messy hair, it made her simply adorable.

"Now I'm really curious." The playful note in her voice was unmistakable, making his heart skip a beat. "Were you an excellent student?"

"One shouldn't brag about his achievements." He grinned, relief washing over him. "But if our last session has left you with any doubts, we can repeat it at any time. As they say, repetition is the way to perfection."

"Such confidence!" Her smile became even more mischievous. "Should I look for our ribbon then?"

"No need." Noah's throat bobbed.

"Scared all of a sudden?"

"No. I know you peeked last time, so it's of no use." Seeing her flustered, he sighed and shook his head. "I still can't believe that you don't find me repulsive."

"Why should I?" She traced the line of his jaw with a finger, and he had to suppress a pleased growl. "Outer beauty is such a fleeting thing. Will you stop loving me when I become old and wrinkled?"

"Of course not! I'd love every wrinkle and every white hair."

"So why should it be different for me? Rather, I'm eager to know more about my dashing husband." Lorelei's fingers slid down his throat and stopped over the scar on his left shoulder. "Every one of these hides a story. This one I know – a crossbow bolt from a Marzbani weapon."

Her hand slowly traveled to his biceps, where several thin gashes marred his skin.

"And these are from your so-called hunting trip with the barons. What attacked you really?"

"A corpse doll." Noah felt his pulse hastening. "It's a half-dead body controlled by a shaman."

"You owe me for that lie!" Her finger poked him, but her hand quickly moved on to a small scar on his right clavicle. "And this one?"

"An assassin's arrow grazed me. I was eleven, I think."

"And this?" Her strokes moved down, reaching his right forearm. "A very large dog?"

"A very hungry mountain lion. Its head hangs in Grerash's quarters. It was our first outing with him as my page."

"So Jess didn't lie about fighting a lion with your bare hands?!"

"We did have knives."

"Reckless rascal!" Her reprimand flooded his cheeks with heat, and his whole body tingled. She slowly moved her hand up, stroking his biceps, his shoulder, and his chest before sliding down the right side of his ribs. "And these ones?"

"An unfortunate boar hunt." Her fingers flinched. "What? Feeling sorry for the boar?"

"No." She looked him in the eyes and suddenly kissed him. It was so quick that he thought he had dreamed it, but the salty taste on his lips was evidence enough. "I'm so grateful that you survived."

Before he could react, her soft palm traveled further down until it reached the jagged scar on his abdomen.

"What about this marvelous specimen?"

"Assassins. Tried to gut me shortly before I sailed to Norden for the first time." Noah's abdominal muscles tensed under her delicate strokes. "L-Lorelei. You are doing something… dangerous right now."

"Am I?" She moved her explorations to the bulge forming under the cover of the blanket. "Didn't you say you were ready to prove your prowess at any time?"

"I am!" He suddenly grabbed her palm and pressed it even harder against his erection. Slowly guiding her up and down his length, he swallowed a moan. "I really, really am. But are you ready to take me again? I don't want to find you a sobbing mess a second time."

"You won't. Be it a second… or a third time." She grabbed his neck and pulled him in for a deep kiss.

Noah's mind relinquished all control to his body. His arms wrapped around her, lifting her up as he jumped to his feet. Like two agile snakes, her legs clamped around his hips, unwilling to let go.

"Hope you are ready," he whispered through their kiss. His teeth carefully nibbled on her lip before moving to her neck. "There won't be much sleep tonight, Lady Norden."