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| Vale of the White Horse | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 5 Jan 2010, 13:03 (19,322 Views) | |
| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 17:46 Post #2461 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I've been neglecting you,' he said, gazing at her face. 'Let me make it up.' He ran a hand through her hair; through those soft, strangely live-like tresses of chestnut hair, and pressed a kiss on her lips again. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 17:53 Post #2462 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Neglecting? And he hadn’t felt much better seconds ago. Briallen struggled to regain her breath, but he took it from her mouth almost at once. It was intoxicating, the pain was still there but she did not mind it much. ‘Your head, though,’ she muttered. |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 17:59 Post #2463 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Feels much better,' he said hoarsely, 'thanks to you.' The thought of her hands on his shoulders and her soft lips in his neck made it almost impossible for him to keep himself from pulling off her clothes. He didn't even stop to consider the sudden change in him. It felt really quite natural to him. 'You're beautiful, Briallen.' |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 18:04 Post #2464 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘You’re hurting me,’ she objected as his hand went to her breast again. ‘A bit.’ His eyes were nearly blazing into her face. She tried to ease his hands from her body with her own, but his grip was surprisingly strong. |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 18:10 Post #2465 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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But he wanted her, after all those weeks where everyday something interposed itself between him and Briallen, and their long overdue weddingnight. His patience was starting to wear thin, now. Even if he was - no, wait, he shouldn't hurt her, it was wrong. He opened his mouth to speak, to tell her he was sorry and that he'd be gentle, but instead of the words there was only a faint gasp that came from his lips as his head suddenly felt like it exploded. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 18:13 Post #2466 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'T-Tudwrig?' He made a strange sound. 'What is going on? Is it the...beast, are you changing?' |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 18:16 Post #2467 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'No, I don't - don't think so,' Tudwrig gasped. 'It's my head.' What was Briallen looking at him like that? Had he done something, said something that had hurt her? |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 18:18 Post #2468 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She felt him pressing against her where their hips met. It was hard but she could feel it diminishing now. 'You...don't want to go on?' |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 18:22 Post #2469 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Only then did he realize exactly what he was feeling, and that it was quite rapidly disappearing. Had he..? He thanked the gods that they were still fully dressed, because he couldn't really remember what had obviously happened prior to this. Tudwrig swallowed. 'I..I don't know what came over me, I'm sorry,' he said and pulled back from her. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 18:26 Post #2470 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Sorry? She remained on her back, staring as he removed himself from her. Her lips moved. Why are you sorry? she wanted to ask, but her bewilderment robbed her of a voice. It didn’t matter that he’d been rough, or that it had hurt a little – his hands could do whatever he wanted; telling her sorry felt like he had given her a blow instead. |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 18:31 Post #2471 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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He put his hands to his face and took a few deep breaths, laying next to Briallen. It didn't do much good for his headache, though. Why must I suffer so? he demanded to know, though there was no one who could give him the answer. He really did want to make love to her, but not like this - not if he couldn't remember afterwards. Was this a new way the curse was torturing him, now? When he had proven that he could function, even in his fear, had it thought of something else? |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 18:34 Post #2472 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She rolled over, staring at his covered face. Her hand was shaking a bit when she trailed it down over his body, in between his legs. ‘But I felt it. You did want me. Why’s it gone now?’ |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 18:38 Post #2473 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Everytime I think we - I believe it's the curse. It feels like it wants to...to drive a wedge between us.' He felt his muscles tense as she touched him, and an echo of the desire he must've felt earlier. Tudwrig just didn't have the strentgh or the bravery to act upon it. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 18:41 Post #2474 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘You make it sound as if it has a conscious,’ Briallen whispered. The thought frightened her; goosebumps rose on her arms. She pulled her away but moved to touch her brow to his shoulder, putting her arm over his chest. ‘How can we bear to go on like this forever?’ |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 18:45 Post #2475 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Sometimes I think it has,' he admitted, 'when it knows just how to torture me at any particular time.' Gods, how could they bear it indeed? Tudwrig put his arm over hers and fell silent for a long time. It must be so hard on her, he thought. Perhaps even harder than it was on him. 'Maybe I should go to Wayland Smithy and - I don't know, see what happens...' |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 18:52 Post #2476 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘Wayland’s Smithy.’ Suddenly, she felt awake, like she’d been half sleeping before. ‘I’m sorry,’ she muttered against his shoulder, ‘I didn’t tell you yet. We went back. Gwenllian and I. We met a….one of them. He told me that the land was sick.’ She glanced up to see his face. ‘Do you understand? I thought it was about the curse. He said if the land was healed…’ well, the creature hadn’t actually promised her a thing, had it? She licked her lips. ‘I said I’d try.’ But sweet Epona, she wanted him to hold her. To touch her breasts with his fingers and lips, have his hands run down and spread her legs. ‘There are other ways…’ Her voice fell down into an uncertain whisper. ‘I won’t get pregnant that way, but…’ |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 19:01 Post #2477 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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He blinked a couple of times. 'Sick? How is it sick?' Tudwrig tried to think of an explanation, to somehow process this information, but he was distracted by Briallen's next words. 'I'm afraid to risk it,' he said quietly, stroking the side of her face with his fingers. 'There's nothing I'd rather do, honestly, but...' His voice trailed off. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 19:05 Post #2478 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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But you’re not trying now! ‘It didn’t exactly specify the ailments,’ she responded. It sounded like a snap. ‘Like I said, I took it like the curse. It said the curse of the beast – would only grow worse. Unless I heal the land. They took my word as a binding vow. I guess I’d better do it, or they’ll curse me too. Perhaps two beasts can copulate, what do you say?’ |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 19:10 Post #2479 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I didn't mean it like that,' he said, slightly taken aback by her sudden outburst. He felt uncomfortably warm all of a sudden. Shame, because his words had caused this? Tudwrig sat up straight, his throat dry as if he hadn't drunk for days. He was such an idiot. 'I am sorry.' He got up from the bed and a wave of dizziness passed through him. 'I think I best return to my room.' His voice sounded faintly sick; just like he felt. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 19:18 Post #2480 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘Oh, Tudwrig…’ She wanted to say more, but he hurried away from her; if not physically then at least emotionally. Why had she said this? Perhaps the curse did contaminate her. He didn’t deserve this. And she didn’t deserve this. It was all such a mess. Briallen stared at the empty place he had left behind. Then she got up to take her cooled cup of mead, draining it while running a hand through her hair. This way, a cradle would never be for their child. |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 19:44 Post #2481 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Gwenllian was surprised to find that the Roman soldier who'd entered the caer didn't seem to want to talk to Briallen, but to her instead. He was supposed to deliver a message from lord Lentulus to lady Gwenllian, he said. A little bewildered, she took the tightly folded parchment from him and nodded as he saluted her and strode from the hall. The letter came from Marcus Lentulus, all right. Even his handwriting was charming and slick. He wanted to talk to her to discuss matters concerning the murder of Marcus Iulius. He also wanted her to come to him, instead of the other way round. She bit her lip, since this made it quite clear he was starting to harbour more suspicions. No one knew what he had been up to while on his trip, and she was afraid he might somehow have gotten some evidence concerning that night. Well, in that case she'd just have to smooth his feathers. For as far as she knew, no one in the caer or the settlement had seen or heard a thing (or, if they had, hadn't told Lentulus), and evidence against her or Rhywallon would be rather sparse. Before she left the caer however, she thought it'd probably be for the best to let Briallen know where she was going. Gwenllian hadn't seen her since breakfast though, and when she saw Braegne walking through the hallway with a basket of linen under her arm, she stopped the girl and asked where Briallen was. 'She's indisposed,' the maid answered. 'I wouldn't disturb her...' Gwenllian nodded. 'Then I won't, but when you see her, could you bring her a message from me?' 'Of course, lady Gwenllian. What should I tell her?' 'Tell her that I'm down in the settlement, lord Lentulus wished to have a word with me.' The girl ensured her that she would, as soon as Briallen appeared from her chambers. Gwenllian smiled at her and quickly walked out of the caer and down the hill, towards the settlement and Lentulus's silken tent. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 19:54 Post #2482 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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The Roman was back. He didn’t have to check the settlement again; Rhywallon could see the brightly coloured tent from the mound he was standing on. He thought about Morcant. Was the man truly keeping his hostage here? He hoped the girl had the sense to stay inside all day long. It wasn’t his problem. His problem was that his hands were still red from clenching. As soon as the problem with the tribune had been eliminated, he’d have no reason to linger at Caer March. But how soon would that be? This stalling was making him edgy. He’d have to press Briallen then. That, or appeal directly to the lord Tudwrig. The lady would not be able to oppose an order given directly by her lord and husband after all. He began to make his way back to the caer. If Gwenllian was free, he’d take her apart, talk to her discretely to inform her of the upcoming murder. It’d give her a chance to think of an alibi, one that included the lady Briallen perhaps. |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 20:22 Post #2483 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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The sky was a murky grey; covered in clouds from horizon to horizon with only a faint bright spot to indicate the position of the sun. Gwenllian pulled her cloak a little tighter around her shoulders, but it didn't do much to ward off the chilly breeze that blew. All in all, it was a rather depressing sort of day. Luckily the settlement wasn't all that far away, and she'd be out of the wind soon. The big tent that belonged to Marcus Lentulus lay beyond the settlement and she decided to walk around the wall instead of going through the streets of the settlement itself. She still didn't feel quite at ease with the idea of walking around there. When she was about halfway, a faint, tingling sense suddenly spread across her skin from the back of her neck down her spine, all the way to her fingers. She recognized the feeling and shuddered. It was ridiculous, she thought, and probably imaginery. Her fantasy sometimes had the tendency to run wild: look at what happened when that woman on the market had told her men had been asking after her. There had been no real danger, and there could be no threat here either. Still, she wished she'd asked Rhywallon to come along. Gwenllian rounded another corner. From this point, she thought, no one could see her. Not from Lentulus's tent, and not from the caer either. It was a rather disconcerting thought, and she quickly pushed it from her mind since nothing was going to happen. But as she was doing just that, her hair suddenly snagged behind something, pulling her back. 'Hello, Gwenllian,' a hated voice said in her ear, and suddenly a boot connected with the back of her knees. The wind got knocked out of her as she smashed into the ground. The hand that had gotten a hold of her hair pushed her further down. 'You really hurt me by running away like that.' 'Higueid,' she panted as a terrible dread paralized her. 'How did you..?' 'That's not important,' he said in a deadly quiet voice and pulled her back up again, turning her around and pushing her against the settlement wall. His face was close to hers, his mouth twisted in a snarl. 'The important thing is that I got you now.' Then he landed his fist in her stomach and she didn't even have the breath left to cry for help. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 20:39 Post #2484 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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He’d looked in the hall, across the courtyard and in the granary and kitchen. Gwenllian was not there. He could only conclude then that she was with lady Briallen in some private space. The weather certainly did not invite to going out. Besides, her horse was still in the stables. He passed a corridor. It would be very unbecoming of him to knock on lady Briallen’s door. Rhywallon pressed his lips together. He had never been such a becoming man since the accident. A girl walked his way. He thought he knew her hair, that was like honey and braided up into a crown. Stepping from the corner, he halted her. ‘You’re the lady’s maid, aren’t you – Braegne?’ The girl nearly dropped two empty cups. One was particularly fine, he noticed as he glanced down. It must be the lord’s own goblet. ‘Don’t startle. I’m Rhywallon, working for lord Tudwrig.’ A bit of an untruth. He lifted his one good corner of his mouth. ‘But I’m looking for lady Briallen right now. Is she available?’ Braegne, gathering herself though he could see her eyes sticking on his horrible face, shook her head. ‘She’s resting. I don’t think she’ll see anyone unless it is absolutely necessary.’ ‘Forgive me.’ He looked past the girl to the closed door of a bed chamber. That would be Briallen’s room. ‘Then the lady Gwenllian is not with her either?’ ‘Not at all, no,’ Braegne said. ‘Only lord Tudwrig was a while ago.’ She smiled. ‘But lady Gwenllian did look for the lady as well. She asked me to tell her that lord Lentulus had summoned her down in the settlement.’ His face, feeling a bit lighter at her own smile, tightened as his jaws locked together. ‘The Roman?’ ‘Yes…the tribune. He sent her a message. She went down a while ago, I think.’ ‘Now why would he do that?’ Rhywallon growled. He expected no answer and received none, as he was already striding away from the maid. Why indeed? The Roman loved to parade around the caer – didn’t they all? She knew of his reputation. Hadn’t he been clear? A wolf he had said! Why had she gone down without consulting him? His legs went faster, carrying him over the courtyard in what was nearly a run. |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 21:01 Post #2485 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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It was as though she hadn't left Cavern Hill at all, as if it was still that dreadfull day she'd decided to run away. Gwenllian raised her arms to ward off the blows accompanied by a stream of curses and expletives. It just couldn't be, she must be having a nightmare, Higueid simply could not know that she was here, much less have figured out that she'd pass this way - therefore he had to be a figment of her imagination. The thing was that his fists seemed real enough. 'Stop it,' she breathed between hits, 'Higueid, stop...' But he answered by knocking her down by hitting her in the face so hard she felt the skin break. He grabbed her by the throat and sat down on her, just like he had done in her nightmares. Just like that day. 'Not even if you beg me,' he growled. Gwenllian tried to swallow, but she couldn't with his hands around her neck like that. If he wasn't going to stop no matter what she said, then what chance did she have? Unless by some miracle a Roman soldier or maybe even lord Lentulus himself would show up to see what was keeping her... Higueid knew of no stopping, but she started trying to avoid his blows. She was all on her own now, and if she didn't do anything she wouldn't see the sun set. Then an idea came to her, and she wildly flailed her arms about. Higueid snarled something, but she didn't register the words. When he was too occupied with trying to catch her wrists, she lifted her knee in a quick movement. It had the desired effect, and with a grunt of pain he rolled off of her. Gwenllian didn't try to get up, but threw herself the other way. The hard, lumpy soil sent spears of white hot pain through her body wherever it connected with the battered and bruised skin. The dagger, she thought feverishly, Rhywallon's dagger. The next time I tell you to use it, use it. She had to kill Higueid before he killed her, it was the only solution..., right? 'Oh no you don't, slut!' Higueid was on his feet again, looking livid with rage. She dug in her right boot and pulled out the dagger, clutching it tightly. 'Don't,' she gasped, 'I'll use it.' 'You couldn't even handle a knitting needle properly, what makes you think you could use a knife,' he said, his voice thick with contempt. Gwenllian's heart was racing as she managed to get to her knees, holding the dagger in both her hands as if that somehow made it easier to use. He was right, what did she know of killing and violence? He was the expert at that... Higueid jumped at her like a big cat and she gave a shriek, pushing the weapon upwards. When she met resistance and when her husband started cursing even worse, she couldn't believe at first. It was only when she saw red blood staining her hands and her dress - blood that wasn't her own - that she realized that she'd wounded Higueid. But she hadn't killed him, and when he threw himself on her and wrested the dagger from her hands, she thought it was all over and that he'd plunge it into her heart then and there. Desperate, she drew Rhywallon's face before her mind's eye, not wanting the last thing to see before she passed through the veil to be the sneering face of a man she hated more than anything. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 21:17 Post #2486 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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He heard it before seeing it: the whimpering sounds of a creature in pain. It was weakened, tugging at his heart, which started to thumb in his throat. Rhywallon dashed the other way. What he saw nearly made him sick. What had Rufus done to her? This wasn’t a Roman, he could see that even from behind. ‘I wish you the pox,’ he hissed, though he wished much worse than that. Rhywallon crossed the distance within less than a heartbeat. He could barely see Gwenllian, but he did see blood. Something red began to dart before his eyes. With two hands he grabbed the tunic of the man. It ripped, but he hooked his arms through the other arms and hauled him back so hard that they both smashed to the ground. ‘That,’ he panted, rolling over to press his own naked blade against the man’s throat, but indicating at all the blood over his tunic, ‘had better – not – be hers. |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 21:27 Post #2487 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Was that..? Gwenllian blinked the sweat and tears from her eyes when Higueid's weight was suddenly lifted off of her. Oh, sweet merciful gods, it was Rhywallon! She tried to drag herself to her feet, but fell down again and resolved to crawl around on all fours to look for her dagger. A terrible thought entered her mind: what if Higueid was able to - no, that was impossible. She'd felt Rhywallon's arms around her and knew that he were twice as strong as Higueid could ever hope to be. The wind was knocked out of him as someone pulled him off the brat and pressed a dagger against his throat. A terrible face loomed over him, disfigured and maimed, and tight with such a rage he shrank back from it. 'Who in the name of Arawn -' he started and lifted his hands to push the dagger away, determined not to let even as terrifying a demon as this keep him from making that little bitch pay for everything she'd done. The wound in his side stung, but it was only fuel to his fury. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 21:33 Post #2488 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘Rhywallon,’ he growled, bringing his face closer and curling his upper lip. ‘And I suspect you’re Higueid. Get up!’ He rolled off, hauling the man along with him. Positioning himself behind the fellow, he locked both his arms into his own. ‘I really don’t like you,’ he whispered, bowing close to his left ear. ‘Are you going to beg for mercy?’ |
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| Sonja | 11 May 2010, 21:41 Post #2489 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Like hell,' Higueid snarled at this Rhywallon, trying to pull his arms away. But the man was strong. Gods damnit. 'Get your filthy paws off of me - I'm the chieftain of Cavern Hill, you cannot kill me! Gwenllian,' he snapped, 'tell him!' Her fingers closed around the hilt of the little dagger and she slowly, carefully came to her feet. Her whole body hurt, and she felt something trickling down her cheeks though she couldn't figure out whether it was blood or tears. 'I don't know,' she said slowly, softly. 'Rhywallon doesn't look like it will stop him.' She was trembling from head to toe - but from anger and pain now. More from anger. Gwenllian was fervently wishing Rhywallon would beat the living daylight out of Higueid before killing him, just to give her husband a taste of his own medicin. |
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| Marieke | 11 May 2010, 21:48 Post #2490 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘Your wife no longer pays me for my services,’ he went on, squeezing the man to his own body hard. ‘Which means she has very little influence on my actions now. And I really,’ he thrust one fist into his stomach, ‘want you dead.’ The next moments where a bit of a blur of clothes and more blood. His hands hardened into fists and found all the places on the man’s body that were sensitive. His dagger, too, dug into all sorts of places, easing its way through clothes, skin and softer tissue, returning with more of the filthy substance that allowed this man to live at all. Finally he passed a hand over his own face, wiping away the sweat. He kicked the man down on his knees, kneeling beside him with the dagger pressed at his bared throat. His other hand wrenched into his hair. ‘How about begging for forgiveness now?’ |
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