Vivian stood among the villagers that she'd rallied together. She'd done this a number of times now, rounding up anyone who could hold a weapon to stand and fight. They all bore swords, save a few men with spears. They would become fine soldiers in time, but they needed to be sharpened. Anyone could hold a sword. It took dedication to wield one.

Vivian locked eyes with one of the villagers. He was a man who appeared to be in his forties, were Vivian to guess. He didn't have a weapon of his own, and immediately seemed like he might give her the most trouble over time. She knew she would need to nip that behavior in the bud well before it began. “You– with the black hair. Is there something you'd like to say?”

He glared at her and spit on the ground. “I don't know you, and I don't care to. Far as I'm concerned this war is already lost.” Vivian had heard this before. “I don't like the idea of fighting for someone I don't know. Why don't you let us take care of ourselves and leave us alone.”

Amber was behind Vivian, taking down records of the supplies they'd been offered here. Vivian turned back to her with an eyebrow raised. Amber rolled her eyes back at her but smiled before nodding. She knew the routine. Vivian smiled at Amber before she turned back to face the villagers again.

Vivian's face turned serious as she stomped her way towards the man. The people in the crowd stepped back, making a path for her to confront him. There was fear on the man's face now, and he retreated a number of steps. He reached for a nearby rake, swinging it wildly with one hand at Vivian. She caught it with her right hand and grabbed the man's shirt with her left, continuing to advance until she had him up against a fence.

“Men like you are why we are here in the first place! Do you not care about how many other townships have fallen before Emilia? Do you truly think you could stand against an army without the help of others?” Her voice bellowed out of her, loud enough for the entire crowd to hear. She pulled him from the fence and slammed him into it again. “Ask me how many swore to lay down their lives in Lendal to ensure you would enjoy another month of peace! Do you think Emilia will not be here when they fall? Because without you, without all of you, they will.” Vivian used both hands to lift him off the ground and then drop him again.

She turned to the crowd now. “Whether you like it or not, her forces are at your doorstep. I do not need all of you to fight. But I do need all of you to be willing to help. To make a stand. Be it crafting weaponry, armor, or cooking food for our own: all of these tasks have value. But we must do it for each other. There is no other way to win.”

Vivian extended a hand to the man on the ground. “What's your name?”

He stared at her hand for a moment before looking up at Vivian. “William. William Hest.” He sighed before grasping Vivian's hand.

She pulled him back to his feet and pulled him close to her. “William, I'm sorry for making an example out of you,” Vivian whispered to him. “It was only to rally your people. I am going to need your help in the days to come, and I promise you: by the end of this, you will know me, and you will understand why we fight.”

William grunted in response, then nodded. “Fine. But don't call me as a volunteer again. Not for a while, at least.” The man stretched his arms and shoulders. “You really can fight, can't you?”

Vivian grinned. “I don't just fight, William. I win, too.”

***

I am the only friend you’ll ever need. Surrender yourself to me.

Vivian awoke in her bed once again, and once again she was naked. She hadn't been able to find Selene again after her audience with Mistress Emilia the day before, but she had made her peace with that. I probably would have only made her more upset anyway. I keep having those dreams.

She could remember the man's face. He was handsome in a way, and eventually he made a fine warrior to boot. William wasn't the first man she'd taught how to fight, but the problem recruit in every group was rewarding to see grow. But the fact that she kept dreaming about rallying troops to rise up against Mistress Emilia? It scared her. She felt as if she had two sides of her fighting inside all the time now. The part of me that feels like something is wrong. I think I have good instincts, but…

The other side of her wanted Mistress Emilia. Needed Mistress Emilia. Her empress meant everything to her. The idea that she would resist her, that it was even possible? A remotely valuable action? It felt foolish, silly. Even if she had done that at some point, she must have known that she couldn't win… right? Garnet frowned. Everything made so little sense when she thought about it.

Garnet took the initiative in standing to dress herself. There was no need to bother Selene if she could help it. She went to the wardrobe and pulled it open, being greeted by a number of those sheer dresses in many colors. Today she went for a dark blue, getting herself ready to go to the sparring grounds. Garnet couldn’t help but sigh as she put it on, wishing she had something slightly more appropriate for a day of training. She was restless, and it had been too long since she’d practiced. Or… it feels like it’s been too long. How long had she been here?

She shook her head. It doesn’t matter. It only matters that I am here now, and that I am able to serve my Mistress. That sounded right. She tied her hair back, taking a long look at herself in the vanity mirror. You exist to serve her. Garnet nodded to herself. As long as she could focus on that, everything would be okay. She wasn’t a protector of the masses. She was a bodyguard. They never appreciated you out there anyway.

The sun shone bright on the castle grounds, and Garnet couldn’t help but smile as she felt the sun kiss her shoulders. It was a beautiful spring day. She felt at peace here, the sounds of supplies being loaded into wagons, of soldiers sparring. This was where she felt she truly belonged. She wandered just inside the castle walls, breathing fresh air, occasionally stepping in to help lift larger cargo.

An hour later, she was at the sparring grounds. There were dozens of soldiers around running various drills. Garnet stopped to watch the swordsmen, studying their movements. They felt… familiar. She knew their tactics already.

Because you used to fight them, Vivian.

Garnet put a hand to her forehead. She used to…? No.

No. Garnet was Emilia’s. She’d sworn fealty to her Empress. Their bond was unshakeable.

She walked into the armory and took one of the swords off of the wall. It was simple, but she didn’t need more than that. The jeweled weapons may have been beautiful, but beautiful weapons made for prideful men too scared to dirty their blades.

She went back outside and found a quiet corner to practice. She was whole with a blade in her hand. She swung the sword, cutting the air. Garnet steadied her breathing, intently focused on the feeling of the blade. It made a satisfying slicing sound as she moved, swinging the sword in a fluid motion, stepping forward, moving back, imagining her enemies in front of her -

“They admire you, Vivian. You know that, right? They all look up to you. They would throw down their lives for you.

“And I would too.”

Amber.

She felt sick. Panic struck, leaving her paralyzed. Where was all of this coming from? She couldn’t…

In a flash, she raised her sword, bracing herself. Another blade made contact with hers, and she pushed forward, forcing it off of her steel. There was a man with short blonde hair in front of her. He wore a look of disgust on his face, glaring at Vivian with an intense menace. “What in the fuck are you doing here, filth? I ought to strike you down where you stand.”

Vivian narrowed her eyes, welcoming the distraction. “Should I know you?” She planted her back foot and relaxed her arms. She swore she thought she saw Selene out of the corner of her eye in the nearby walkway, but there was no one there when she took a second look. “If we’ve met, I’m sorry that I don’t remember you. I don’t keep track of every amateur with a blade I see.”

With both hands, he swung his sword at her. It was exactly the reaction she was looking for. Vivian parried the blow, then kicked the man in the stomach. He fell backwards to a knee, coughing with the wind knocked out of him. “My name isn’t important. And I don’t-” he stopped to take a breath. “I don’t give a damn if you’re the Empress’ new toy. I have seen you cut down too many of my men to tolerate your presence in my camp!” The man lunged, quicker than Vivian anticipated. She attempted to step to the side, but his sword caught her dress, leaving a cut on her side.

Feeling the blood spill out of her wound, Vivian gripped her sword tight in one hand. Anger overtook her. Though he managed to cut her, he left himself wide open with his desperate swing. She kicked him in the back, forcing him to the ground on his stomach. She put all of her weight down on him, feeling him squirm beneath her. “If you want to be the next one I cut down, I’m more than happy to provide,” she hissed, slamming her sword point down into the earth next to his head. She saw him turn to look at it, then stomped on the man’s wrist that still held his sword. He screamed. “What. Is. Your. Name.”

The man grunted, unable to get up. Vivian kicked him in the ribs, and he coughed again. “Fine! Fine, get off of me,” he growled. “Nathaniel. And you’re a goddamn monster.”

Vivian picked her sword back out of the ground and took her foot off of his back, pointing the blade at Nathaniel the entire time. The man stood. “I don’t care what you think I am, and I don’t care that you supposedly lead these men. I will not hesitate to kill you, Nathaniel.”

Nathaniel grunted in response. “You goddamn bitch. You come waltzing in here like you own the damn place and you think you can just threaten my life? And then you come out here wearing something like that to fight?”

Vivian pressed the sword into his collar bone, cutting just deep enough to hurt. He barely flinched, though he clung to his right wrist with his left hand. She could see the blood begin to soak into his shirt and smiled. “Just don’t forget that you chose to attack me.” Vivian balled her other fist and swung at him, connecting with his jaw, watching him fall back against a castle wall.

“Fuck you,” Nathaniel said, eyes full of fire. Neither wound seemed to slow him down.

The rest of the camp had taken notice of this by now. Vivian kicked away Nathaniel’s sword. I could kill him right now. It would be simple. It would be just. She weighed her options, but decided she couldn’t let the rest of these soldiers see her stand down after being attacked. She needed them to know that it would not be wise to provoke her. There was a crowd forming, soldiers yelling for her to attack him, and for Nathaniel to quit playing with her and do something.

“Go on, Nathaniel. Keep talking. I da-”

“I said fuck you.” The blonde man refused to stop. “Maybe you didn’t hear me. I hope you fucking rot here-” He left go of his injured wrist and moved to grab a knife from his belt.

He was interrupted by Vivian punching him again. His nose was clearly broken, his face beginning to swell. “Make another move, please! That’s exactly what I want.” Vivian raised her sword, looking him in the eyes. “You can join your men in my being the last thing they see.” She said, stone faced.

“Garnet! Garnet, lower your weapon.” The shout came from across the field.

Emilia.

She gripped her sword tighter, still flushed with anger. She couldn’t turn around to face Emilia. Vivian somehow knew that the moment she did, something would change in her. She could feel the blood from the cut in her side starting to drip down her leg. Her blue eyes bore into her attacker. I need to… This is an opportunity. I could accomplish something here, I-

Garnet felt soft hands on her biceps, and she started to relax. “There you go, Garnet. There you go. Stand down.” She was speaking softly, just so Garnet could hear her. Mistress Emilia had made her way to her toy from the other side of the grounds. Garnet finally turned around, her Mistress standing over her. She saw Selene standing a few yards behind the Empress. It would make sense for Selene to alert Mistress Emilia to what Garnet had been up to. She probably came to find me after I wasn’t in my quarters this morning.

The Empress looked back up and spoke. “Captain. Do you know what the punishment is for treason?”

Nathaniel’s eyes went wide, pressing himself up against the castle wall. He swallowed before answering. “I believe it’s capital punishment, Empress.”

Emilia stared down at him. She was taller than both of them by at least a few inches. “That’s correct, Captain. And I certainly hope you were not attacking my newest recruit out of some fool’s notion to enact their revenge, were you?”

“I - I just-” He sputtered, looking between Emilia and Garnet. “I just don’t trust her, Empress. I’ve seen what she’s done to our forces. I’ve watched too many good men die challenging her, and I don’t understand why we must abide by her presence here.”

“You will tolerate any and all conditions I place on you, soldier. You forget your place,” Emilia said. Garnet could hear the venom in her voice. “The cost of the repair for her dress will be coming directly out of your pay. Frankly, I should kill you now. The audacity to strike my property without my consent… That kind of behavior is not that of a knight’s captain.”

Nathaniel dropped to his knees and kneeled, lowering his head. “I’m truly sorry, my Empress. My deepest and most sincere apologies for my transgressions today,” he said.

Mistress Emilia gave him a dark grin. “Good. I assume your current injuries are enough to dissuade you from doing anything stupid in the future, won’t they?”

“Yes, my Empress.”

“Good. Now go clean yourself up and report to the medic. I’d be surprised if you didn’t have a broken wrist, and your nose is clearly broken too.” Emilia finally looked down and saw the blood from Garnet’s wound and frowned. “My poor jewel. Please walk with me dear.” Garnet nodded.

***

The two of them began a trek around the castle, with Selene trailing them. After a few minutes, Emilia finally spoke. “I did not tell you to come out here today, my jewel. What made you think to enter the barracks without either Selene or I? You can barely keep your own thoughts straight unless someone is helping you along, and even then it can be a challenge to make you understand. You don’t belong out here in the world right now.”

Garnet frowned. “But Mistress Emilia… You said yourself just yesterday that I was a warrior. What good is an unarmed bodyguard…?”

Mistress Emilia sighed, stopping. She took Garnet’s hands in her own and turned her so they were eye to eye. “This is why I cannot let you out of my sight, isn’t it? You misunderstood me. You are not a warrior, Garnet. You may have been before, but not now. You're a sword.”

Garnet blinked up at her, clearly confused. “I’m... A sword?” Every time she stared into those perfect red eyes she felt like she was going to melt. Why did every interaction with the Empress leave her feeling this way? “I… I don’t quite understand, I… It felt like the right thing to do, I guess. To keep myself ready to fight?”

Her Mistress nodded. “Yes, a sword. I said that you used to be a warrior. Obviously, I should have been more clear.” Emilia looked to the side. “Selene, do you have your channeling glove? I believe my Garnet will need treatment and I’ve already sent that fool of a knight to the medic. The last thing we need is another confrontation.”

Selene reached wordlessly into a small bag she carried with her, her hand emerging with a white glove trimmed with gold. Emilia led the two of them into an unused room of the castle, furnished similarly to Garnet’s own. “Undress, dear.”

Garnet turned bright red. “I- But Selene is-”

Emilia glared. “Garnet, you have already disobeyed me once today. I told you to undress.”

The command hit Garnet with a near physical weight, and she meekly nodded. She managed to squeak out a quick “Yes, Mistress Emilia!” before disrobing, placing her clothing on a chair next to the bed. Emilia nodded at the bed, and Garnet layed down on top of the blankets. Selene, on the other hand, acted as if nothing out of the ordinary was taking place. Her hands were folded in front of her, waiting behind the Empress.

“Selene, if you would,” Emilia said, nodding to the other woman. Selene stepped forward, kneeling down next to the bed. The wound on Garnet’s side wasn’t bleeding much anymore, but it still needed to be cleaned.

Selene picked up Garnet’s arm and folded it across her abs. Garnet was frozen, feeling like a doll being repaired. She felt Selene’s gloved hand travel from her calf to the wound, tracing the path that the blood had dripped from it. Selene worked quietly, and Garnet felt the hand re-trace the path. This time it was warmer, the touch of healing magic against her skin. She thought she felt something else too, something less familiar. As if sensing this, the Empress sat down next to her on the bed, placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked down at her with a smile, and Garnet felt the lust building inside of her again.

“I have nothing against warriors, Garnet. They're necessary, but they’re also expendable. A warrior is just a number I review when I consider where and when to strike. A warrior makes decisions, and has to think about what they are doing on the battlefield. They're burdened with duty, with foolish pride, and with honor.

"But a sword? A sword is steel. A sword can be wielded by someone with greater purpose, someone who understands exactly the ways to hurt another. A sword does not question its orders. A sword obeys my will because it is infused with it, it is only allowed to move because I want it to. A sword is an instrument used to create beautiful music in my hands. Do you understand, Garnet? You, my dear, are my sword.” Mistress Emilia’s hand left Garnet’s shoulder, moving down to her chest. “I will sharpen you, I will clean you, and I will maintain you. But you do not make decisions on your own, and certainly not ones that I don’t want you to make.” Emilia squeezed Garnet’s breast while she whimpered. “And you will know how good it feels to obey me.”

Garnet’s breath came quickly, the arousal pulsing through her. Mistress Emilia leaned down to her ear. “You can feel it now, can’t you dear? The power I hold over you? The strings I’ve attached to you?” Garnet tried to open her mouth to speak, she tried to flex her fingers, she tried to lean into her Mistress’ hand, but found herself paralyzed. She managed a moan and nothing more, and the Empress sat back up. “I told you, Garnet. My sword will not move unless I desire it.”

She’s right. I’m completely hers, aren’t I? Garnet felt Emilia’s other hand at her hip, her fingertips moving achingly slowly to the inside of her thigh, to her knee, to her calf, down further… She gripped Garnet’s ankle and gently tugged, pulling her legs apart. Garnet couldn’t resist. She didn’t want to resist. She wanted to beg again. She wanted to feel her Mistress’ fingers on her clit. She wanted to scream out her name in pleasure. She wanted to remain in her power more than anything else on this earth.

Surrender yourself to me.

She could see Emilia looking her over head to toe. It made her need her Mistress all that much more. She would surrender every time. If she kept getting to feel like this, if she got to let everything go and serve her completely, she would surrender again and again. She felt Emilia’s hand on her thigh and she whined. Her Mistress just flashed her that predatory grin again and teased the lips of her pussy with a fingertip. She was desperate for more, but she still couldn’t move or speak. She hoped her eyes were enough to convey just how badly she wanted Mistress Emilia to take her again.

“My, my,” Emilia said softly. “It seems like my sword doesn’t know what to do with herself.” She teased Garnet’s clit with a finger. “Go on then, pet. Tell me exactly what you need and I’ll even consider giving it to you.”

She could move her mouth again; Garnet felt the dam inside her burst. “I need you, I need you inside of me, I need you to fuck me, I - Please, Mistress Emilia, I need anything you’ll give me, but please!”

Her Mistress was beaming. “That’s very good, but… I do need to hear one more thing from you.”

“I- Anything, Mistress Emilia, I’ll-” Garnet was stopped by Emilia’s hand over her mouth. It was still slick with her own wetness.

Emilia got on the bed, straddling Garnet, never taking her hand off of Garnet’s mouth. She leaned forward, forcing Garnet to stare into her red eyes again. “I want to hear you tell me that you’re my property. And I want you to truly mean it, Garnet. I’ll know if you don’t.” I know everything, Garnet. “Look me in the eyes and surrender yourself to me completely. Tell me what we both already know, and I’ll give you everything you’ve ever wanted.” Emilia pulled her dress back, revealing her hard cock beneath. She hadn’t been wearing anything under the dress. Had she been planning this?

It didn’t matter. None of it mattered. She was the only thing that mattered. Emilia removed her hand from Garnet’s mouth, letting the words finally spill out of her. “Mistress Emilia please, I’m your property, I’ve been your property, your sword, please!” she begged. If she hadn’t already given up she would have hated how pathetic she sounded, but now it was only fitting. She would do anything for Mistress Emilia.

She nearly howled as her Mistress entered her, immediately putting her hands on Garnet’s hips, repositioning her. Emilia still hadn’t freed her from whatever paralysis she’d inflicted her with, but she didn’t care. If anything, it only made every sensation stronger; Garnet felt like a toy Emilia was using to please herself. It drove her wild. She couldn’t think of a time where she’d ever considered such a thing, but being completely reduced to nothing under her Mistress’ touch made her as mad with lust as she’d ever been.

You’re a mindless slut who craves defeat.

The second she heard the words echoing in her head again, she came. They became more true every day. Emilia didn’t stop. Garnet silently prayed that she never would. Time slowed to a crawl. She could swear that Emilia was speaking, she could see her mouth moving, and she could very nearly make out the words… but it didn’t matter. The pleasure was too much. Her skin tingled, as if every thrust was making her that much more sensitive.

Garnet felt her thoughts leaving her. The heaviness in her limbs was slowly becoming a heaviness in her eyelids, but she found they wouldn’t close. She didn’t need to think when Mistress Emilia was here. She didn’t need to think when it felt this good to be at her mercy. She didn’t need to focus on anything other than the sensation of her Mistress’ perfect cock fucking her, driving her wild. It filled her so perfectly, and the heaviness slowly taking her mind reminded her that her Mistress’ pleasure gave her more pleasure than anything else.

Emilia leaned forward, slowing her pace some. Garnet whined involuntarily- there was so little left of her mind to beg, but it spilled out of her anyway. It had only taken a few days to make Garnet’s body respond to her exactly the way she wanted to. She took Garnet’s head in her hands and tilted it forward off of the pillow. Garnet couldn’t lay it back down. Emilia delighted in posing her. “You need to watch, Garnet. I want your beautiful eyes watching exactly what makes you feel so good.”

Garnet could see it, the way her Mistress’ cock entered her. She felt every inch, and saw exactly how wet she was when her Mistress pulled herself out. Emilia grabbed Garnet’s wrists in each hand and slammed them down onto the bed, pinning her there as if she wasn’t already trapped. The feeling of her Mistress’ fingers wrapped around her wrists made it even better. Whatever was happening to Garnet, whatever this sensation overtaking her was, it felt more incredible the more she felt her Mistress’ skin on hers.

The Empress began fucking her even harder, and Garnet heard her voice screaming Mistress’ Emilia’s name. No one had ever made her feel like this before. She was becoming addicted to the feeling. She would happily beg for this every day if that’s what it took. She would kneel at her throne, she would suffer any indignity for the opportunity to feel this again. Every day. As often as she could. Her vision clouded, everything but her Mistress becoming hazy. Her eyes were confirming for her what she already knew: nothing else in this room would ever matter nearly as much as her Empress did.

She came again, and soon after she felt Mistress Emilia cum inside of her. The sensation was pure bliss. Knowing that she had been used to make her Mistress cum was euphoric. She felt whatever the paralysis it was she had been under fade, her head falling back onto the pillow. She was completely overwhelmed. The Empress leaned forward again and kissed her, caressing her cheek. “You’re going to be mine forever. I won’t let anyone take you.”

Garnet whimpered happily in response. Speaking was too difficult.

Emilia stood. “Selene, repair her dress and see her back to her quarters when she’s ready. I don’t think we’ll have any more problems with her for now.” Garnet had completely forgotten Selene was still in the room. “I assume her wound has been healed?” A beat of silence. “Good. I appreciate your assistance today. Your reward will await you once you’ve finished these last few tasks.”

“Thank you, my Empress.” The first words she’d heard from the other girl all day.

“You’re welcome.” Garnet felt Emilia’s eyes on her again. “Garnet, sleep for now.”

She did.