CHAPTER 24

Celia’s ascent from the depths of sleep was a slow gradual one. What few memories her dreams left behind were scattered and nonsensical, blowing away like dandelion seeds. She smiled drowsily, sitting up and stretching her arms over her head. Finally letting her eyes open she looked around her room lit by the morning light leaking in from behind the curtains.

It had been two weeks since Gella and her had their date in Wand’s Reach, and by now Cair Dwemor felt more like home than the ratty little room in New Gyr ever did. Already she was accumulating the kind of little trinkets that her limited space never allowed before. The little magic lamp on her bedside table had a book on sword techniques beside it she’d borrowed from Damian, and hanging in a frame by the door was the sketch Lauren had done of Celia while the warrior was playing artist’s model.

Slipping out from the comfortable sheets, Celia went to her little bathroom. The woman smiling back at her from the mirror was a far cry from the Celia that had come here a little more than a month ago. Her ash blonde hair felt silky soft as she tied it into a simple ponytail, and her blue eyes practically sparkled above a smile that radiated happiness.

While cleaning her teeth with the enchanted device Lauren had provided for exactly that, Celia slipped out of her nightgown and casually flipped through the multiple choices of clothes that hung in her wardrobe. That too had been filled with all manner of clothes in the intervening weeks, courtesy of both the tailors in town and Violet’s own skills.

Slipping a smooth blouse dyed in a sky blue over her bare breasts, she stepped into some white panties and pulled on a dark pair of breeches. Woolen socks and sensible leather boots finished the outfit, and she went over to her desk.

Sitting in a specially made case Gella and Daniel had devised to keep it clean from rust and sharp as a razor was Celia’s sheathed sword. Before she could belt her blade on, though, a knock on Celia’s door interrupted the morning stillness. Mulling over who would want her this early, her confusion turned to surprise when Lauren’s bright beaming smile greeted her. “Hey, good morning,” she said happily, pulling the priestess into a hug.

The pinkette had clearly already gotten ready for the day. Her long hair was ever so slightly damp, and she was dressed in a simple, ankle length blue skirt and white blouse that dipped low enough to let her amulet of Shala hang against her bare skin. After enjoying the feel of Lauren’s warmth pressed against her, Celia took a step back and gestured into her room. “Come in!”

Lauren picked up a basket Celia by her feet and stepped into the room. Turning on her heel to face the sketch she had done of Celia, Lauren grinned. “I’m so glad you hung this up,” she said happily. “I’m happy to do some more, if you want more things to decorate with?”

Celia glanced around, imagining other works from the talented priestess on her walls. “I’d be thrilled, Lauren.” The pair shared a warm quiet moment before Celia gestured at the basket. “What’s that for?”

“I was going to pick some herbs in the woods. Want to join?” She asked eagerly.

The thought of her and Lauren sharing a stroll in the cool woods sent a pleasant shiver along Celia’s body. The adorable priestess didn’t exude desire like Tabby, or tease Celia’s submissiveness like Gella. Instead, a deeper, far more soothing warmth stole over Celia whenever she was near Lauren.

Gella had claimed a spot in Celia’s heart with magic, skill, seduction, and guile, the warrior reflected inwardly. Outwardly she nodded at Lauren, and finished belting on her sword. Lauren slipped her fingers though Celia’s to intertwine their hands together, and Celia mused over the fact that all Lauren had to do was be her sweet, sensitive self to fill Celia’s belly with happy butterflies.

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The air in the woods surrounding Cair Dwemor still held the night’s chill, scented with fresh pine and new growth. Lauren and Celia were walking hand in hand through the woods. The priestess seemed to be in no hurry, and Celia was perfectly content to meander with her. “I had a dream about you last night,” Lauren volunteered softly, looking over at Celia and smiling.

A giddy happy warmth washed over Celia, and she returned the smile earnestly. “What about?”

A faint blush colored Lauren’s cheek. Turning away to continue their slow pace, Lauren giggled. “Well you know how dreams can be,” she started squeezing her fingers tightly around Celia’s for a moment.

Celia nodded along. Her own dreams had been so much less defined these past few weeks, but she knew the strange logic that could prevade them. “Come on, tell me?” She pleaded playfully.

“Well, alright,” Lauren conceded, and Celia caught the little smile on her lips. “You and I were baking a giant cake.”

“A giant cake?” Celia repeated with a surprised look. She had expected something at least a little more intimate from the blush and smile, but let it lay for now. “I don’t know how good I would be at that really, never really had much of a chance to try.”

“Oh! Tabby would be happy to teach you,” Lauren said enthusiastically. The conversation seemed to catch back up to her and the excitement mellowed into a soft smile. “That’s not all though. The cake, well, it was in the shape of a heart.” She giggled into her free hand.

“A heart?” Celia asked, frowning when she tried to picture a cake with all the right viscera. “Odd shape for a cake.”

Lauren nodded, then stopped when she saw the frown. “Not that kind of heart, silly,” she exclaimed with another giggle. “This kind,” Letting go of Celia’s hand, she took a stick from the ground, and drew the distinctive simplistic, almost arrowhead-like glyph of a heart.

Celia had seen the glyph before, usually related to the goddess of love and passion. It was almost always a shorthand for… her heart skipped a beat. Lauren’s blush hadn’t faded, and the pair stopped to look into each other’s eyes. Lauren’s pink-rimmed eyes shone with care and kindness, so different from Gella’s eyes.

With the mage it always felt like her eyes alone could enthrall Celia. They were deep, powerful things. Almost a sorcery in their own right. Lauren’s eyes didn’t pull Celia. They were beautiful, the ring of pink around each pupil adding an alluring touch of the exotic. Despite the lack of power emanating from them, at this moment Celia didn’t want to look anywhere else. “So… We were making that kind of heart cake together?” Celia prompted quietly.

Lauren nodded. “And, well, I confess I had another reason for taking you here, Celia.” She looked around the brush and trees for a moment before kneeling to pick a small flower with a closed bud. “We are picking herbs, but this particular one I needed to pick with you.” She reverently held the little flower between them. Seemingly in response to their breath, the little bud began to open, blooming swiftly into a brilliant red flower that strangely only had two petals.

“What kind of flower is this?” Celia asked curiously. The bloom had a subtle scent, sweet but hard to place.

“It’s called Love-Lies-Dreaming,” Lauren said before taking a deep breath of the fragrance herself. “And if it’s picked by two people before it can see the first rays of the sun, they each… I mean…" She trailed off, looking away.

A flower meant to be shared by two people with the word Love in the name. Celia smiled knowingly, and cupped Lauren’s cheek in her hand. She could feel the heat radiating from the priestess’s skin. Phantom images of their shared bed in New Gyr danced across her mind. The priestess currently nuzzling into her palm was beautiful, no doubt about it. They had shared their bodies with each other, and each enjoyed their cries of pleasure. But this was different, deeper. Not just love, but love returned. “What do these two people do with the flower?” Celia prompted.

The moment Lauren saw the smile the uncertainty vanished from her expression, leaving only a bright and happy smile. “We, er, they each take a petal and bite down. Then they wait." She declared, taking a petal for herself and holding the remaining one to Celia.

Taking the delicate bit between thumb and forefinger, Celia could feel a tiny bubble of some kind of liquid within the thin waxy petal. Following Lauren’s lead, she slipped the petal into her mouth and bit down once, spilling the liquid over her tongue.

It was watery, faintly sweet and scented with loam and earth. After swallowing the petal and liquid both, Celia felt the faint tingle of magic begin to steal over her. Compared to the spells she had felt before, this was as a glass of water to a river. With just a bit of effort she could have thrown the effect off entirely, but clearly Lauren wanted to share this with her. So she instead relaxed and let the magic flow into her mind.

Suddenly Celia’s feelings of love and devotion for the wonderful woman before her were on the tip of her tongue, begging to be spoken aloud. Knowledge flowed in, assurances that not only would Lauren accept her feelings, but that they were returned. “I love you, Lauren.” Celia said simply, wrapping her arms around Lauren’s waist and urging the pinkette closer. “Since that night in New Gyr. You’re so kind and compassionate.” Thoughts of Gella, the way the mage made Celia feel, lingered at the periphery of Celia’s mind. That was love, too – a different road to the same wonderful destination.

“I love you too, Celia,” Lauren breathed joyfully, eyes alight with emotion. “You have so much spirit and love to share and give, I knew in my heart I loved you from that moment in your old room.” Without another word, she pressed herself forward into a kiss.

It was heavy with passion, a kiss that stretched to encompass everything around the pair. The sounds and scents of the forest paled before Lauren’s delicately perfumed hair, the feather soft touch of Lauren’s hands on her own hips, and the faint lingering mintiness of her breath.

Eventually the moment faded along with the faint buzz of magic. She was left holding a beaming Lauren, the pinkette’s smile feeding the warm glow surrounding Celia’s heart. “That was wonderful,” Celia breathed in delight. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Lauren replied just as sweetly. The priestesses' hands lingered on Celia’s hips, trailing along the fabric. “We should probably get the herbs gathered. Breakfast will be soon,” she said quietly, not making any move to leave Celia’s embrace.

“That does sound like the responsible thing,” Celia agreed, tenderly holding Lauren. The warm glow blazed hotter, melting into a temptingly warm syrup. Lauren was right here, holding her sweetly, and – Lauren’s hand worked the hem of Celia’s shirt free. Questing fingers untucked it completely. “Lauren?” She asked softly.

The priestess blinked twice, then giggled again. “Sorry,” the fingers withdrew, leaving a dull pang in their absence. “But I do want to share your bed again soon, Celia,” she blurted out.

It was Celia’s turn to laugh lightly at Lauren’s sudden insistence. The pinkette was usually much more interested in simple touches, but from the sounds of it, the dream had gotten her quite worked up. “After breakfast. I think your bed will be much more comfortable than the forest floor, too." She teased.

Lauren nodded gratefully before gesturing for Celia to follow. “Let’s get going then! We need some dazeweed, some willow flowers and see if you can find any little yellow mushrooms.”

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After a productive trip that saw Lauren’s basket filled with the needed herbs, Celia walked hand in hand with Lauren back up towards the manor. The Sun was well and truly up, its light warming both of them after the cool, damp shadows of the forest. Faint sounds of metal clashing – likely the Heralds at practice – mixed with the rustle of branches and the melody of birdsong.

Turning and smiling at Lauren, she nodded at the basket of herbs and mushrooms. “I’ve been meaning to ask, why do you need medicinal herbs? Can you just” – she wiggled her fingers dramatically – “use magic for the same effect?”

Lauren shook her head. “Curative magic doesn’t quite work like that. For example, mending damage is easy, the body wants to heal itself, so Shala can work with what is already there. Headaches, muscles aches, that kind of stuff is different. I would need to constantly channel Shala’s power to soothe the inflammation. Essence of willow does that without magic. Same thing with getting sick. Once a sickness has taken hold enough for you to feel it, it would take a huge amount of power to purge it from your body. It’s so much easier on the body to use medicines instead, with maybe a bit of magic here and there.”

Hearing Lauren talk about her magic brought a grin to Celia’s lips. Gella was a scholar of magic, and that flowed into how she spoke about it. To the mage, it was a chance for her to expound on her knowledge, share her insights. While Lauren was no less passionate about it, it was clear that in her mind magic was a gift from her goddess. “You’re adorable,” Celia was surprised to hear herself say, though the pleased smile she got in return was well worth it. “The way you talk about magic, I mean.”

They walked in silence for a moment longer, passing the open gate into Cair Dwemor proper. “What does it feel like, using your magic?” Celia asked curiously.

“Well, wonderful for one,” she said with a cheerful giggle. “But that’s probably not very useful for you.” She paused again as they passed the barracks training yard, where Damian was taking his forces though morning warm ups. “It’s like… like…” She moved her hands as if she was trying to shape the words from thin air. “It’s knowing for a moment that you are connected to someone infinitely stronger than yourself. Someone willing to use that strength on your behalf,” she said firmly. “Someone that knows you better than you know yourself, someone that you can open yourself wholly too.” She finished just as Gella opened the door into the manor. “Does that make sense to you, Celia?”

Gella gave a subtle pleased smile as they got closer, and it sent a wave of contentment along Celia’s body. “I think I do, yeah,” she replied, smiling back at Gella.

“Oh my, that is quite the compliment, Celia,” Gella said smoothly. “But I’m not quite arrogant enough to put myself on the level of the gods.” She turned to Lauren and cupped her cheek, the priestess melting with a happy sigh into the gentle touch. “I am quite content to share Lauren’s devotion with her Lady Shala.” She leaned in and claimed Lauren’s lips in a brief loving kiss.

Celia watched with a curious sensation. It wasn’t pure desire, though seeing Gella and Lauren’s brief kiss did let her imagination paint a lurid picture of them sharing a much more passionate one. It stung a little like jealousy, though quite jealous of what she couldn’t figure. Without an idea on how to resolve it, she turned to Gella with hopeful eyes.

The mage nodded wordlessly, turning from Lauren and cradling Celia’s cheek instead. The warrior sighed just as happily as Lauren had, shutting her eyes and pressing against Gella’s warm soft palm. “Just like I am happy to share Lauren’s love with you, Celia.” Gella’s quiet confident voice brushed across Celia’s ear. Gella’s deep gray eyes sparkled with enjoyment when Celia’s surprised gaze met them. “Oh come now, it’s not hard to figure out. You’re grinning like a girl with her first crush, Celia. In fact, I am guessing you and Lauren picked a particular flower this morning?”

Celia looked over at Lauren who grinned and nodded. “We did,” the warrior confirmed.

“Then you’ve made my Dreamgirl a very happy woman, Celia,” Gella said sincerely. “She hasn’t exactly been shy about sharing her feelings for you with me.” Looking from priestess to warrior, the mage’s smile turned knowing. “If you two need some private time, don’t let me stop you,” she all but purred.

Despite how comfortable she had become with her sexuality, the blatant innuendo still left Celia feeling speechless. Thankfully it seemed Lauren had no such limitation. “We do, Mistress. We just wanted to get some breakfast first.”

Gella’s expression soured and she heaved a little sigh. “Well,” she began in exasperation, “we may be on our own for breakfast.” When Lauren and Celia both gave her a blank look she gestured for them to follow her.

Opening the door to the dining room, Celia stopped dead in her tracks. The scent of lust and need hung heavy in the room, and the sounds of pleasure rang in her ears. Violet was leaning against the kitchen table, her normally stoic expression shattered by bliss. One hand was supporting herself against the table while the other groped and teased her breast through her dress. Her long skirt was hiked up and draped over Tabby’s head, while the cat-girl lavished attention between the elven woman’s legs.

“Normally they pick better spots,” Gella said casually while Celia stared at the scene.

Swallowing and unable to tear her eyes away, Celia nodded. “I… Should we interrupt them?”

“Oh but they’re having so much fun together,” Lauren insisted cheerfully. “We can let them at least finish up first, right?”

“That was my thought,” Gella agreed. “Unfortunate location aside, it’s quite gratifying to see my Treasures enjoying each other,” she continued, closing the door as delicately as she had opened it. “In any event, I was going to go into town for breakfast instead. Would you two like to join?”

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“Mmmm, thank you very much Celia,” Lauren cooed, wrapping her naked flushed body close to Celia’s own and kissing her deeply. It was a relaxed, sated kiss and happily returned by the warrior.

“Thank you too, Lauren,” Celia said back happily, wrapping an arm around Lauren while the pinkette snuggled closer, resting her head on Celia’s bare chest.

Breakfast with Gella had been lovely, but by the end both she and Lauren had been ready to race each other back to Lauren’s room. The slow build from the tender moment in the forest finally ignited between the two. It was loving, gentle and sweet. Everything she had come to thoroughly enjoy from sharing herself with Lauren.

“I probably should get some training done today,” Celia offered, but didn’t look away from Lauren’s content smile.

“Any chance I could convince you to skip the getting dressed part before you do?” Lauren asked, then squeaked and covered her mouth playfully. “Sorry! I don’t know what’s gotten into me today.”

Celia rolled her eyes, matching Lauren’s playful mood. “Too much time spent with Tabby,” she decided. “Next thing we know you’ll be wandering the manor as naked as a jaybird too.”

Celia had expected a laugh from Lauren, not the look of serious contemplation Lauren was giving her. “Hmmmm, I bet Mistress would be happy with that too,” she mused before catching Celia’s eye and winking. “Joking,” she giggled before moving out of bed with obvious reluctance. “Come on then, I want to watch you train.”

Getting dressed took longer than Celia expected. Every time Lauren bent or stretched to slip something back on, the enticing curve of her leg or hip caught Celia’s attention. It was a constant battle to keep her focus, and one that her inner flame was far more hindrance than help with. The priestess was seemingly in no hurry either, as everytime she caught Celia looking she would simply smile back in a way that made Celia’s flame flare.

After finally tucking in her blouse and tightening her breeches, Celia dared a look at Lauren. The pinkette had slipped her own blouse and skirt back on and was giving Celia a look of heated admiration. “Nope, seeing you dressed isn’t making you any less pretty,” she declared, stepping forward and pressing her lips to the warrior’s.

It was light, just a brief brush of Lauren’s lips on hers, and it still pulled a soft gasp from Celia. Her body wanted to keep Lauren’s warm body close and lose itself in her. One dainty finger moved down Celia’s arm. “We seem to not be heading down to the courtyard,” Lauren giggled contently. Celia mutely nodded, willing herself to step away from Lauren. She managed a soft sigh and a half step back. Pink-rimmed blue eyes met her own, twinkling with understanding. “Want some help?”

Celia smiled back. A small part of her, close to her flame, stood ready to act. To move away and get on with her day. But she didn’t reach for it, and didn't need to. Lauren nodded once and Celia felt a light pressure from the dainty hand on her shoulder. The warm sensual heat returned as she slowly sank to her knees in front of Lauren. “You like this, doing as you are told?” She asked knowingly.

“I do,” Celia admitted. “With Gella… With you,” she added quietly. It felt so right to say now. Little prickles of shame and doubt still brushed past her mind, tiny barbs compared to the blanket of sensual desire draping itself over Celia’s mind. “Do… Do you enjoy it too?”

Lauren’s hand moved from Celia’s shoulder to under her chin, exerting the slightest bit of pressure to tilt the warrior’s gaze up. The priestess was smiling a happy smile that tempered Celia’s rising desire with love. “I adore seeing that look on you,” she said with a nod. “When you get to be soft like this, there is a certain smile you get.” She trailed her finger along Celia’s neck and back to her shoulder, stepping behind the kneeling woman.

Celia felt Lauren gather her long ash blonde hair, shifting and letting it flow between her shoulder blades. “I love giving that to you, Celia,” Lauren said warmly. A moment later Celia heard “stand,” delivered in near the same warm affectionate tone. There was steel in it now, a core of solid command that sent needy sparks dancing between Celia’s legs. She rose smoothly, still looking ahead. A small part of her yearned to turn, to see Lauren’s smile, but she hadn’t been told to. Instead she took a deep breath and simply waited.

“I really don’t want to go head down and work up a sweat with the Heralds, Celia,” Lauren said quietly, right by Celia’s ear. An arm wrapped around Celia’s tummy, pulling a gasp from the warrior.

“We can skip-” Celia began before she caught herself. Lauren was being so temptingly sweet, and no one had told Celia she was obligated to work out everyday. But she hadn’t been told to speak, and she wanted to be a good girl for Lauren.

“I know we can,” Lauren teased, running her fingers up and down the front of Celia’s blouse. “And I know you would, if I ordered you to,” she added, pressing her lips to Celia’s shoulder briefly, nearly causing a gasp to slip out. “But,” she said softly, walking back around to grin at Celia. “I can compromise. You have a beautiful body, Celia,” she said earnestly, and Celia had to suppress the urge to preen at the compliment. “Showing it off without a stitch is too much, but…." She trailed off and went to her wardrobe.

When she returned she had an armful of metal pieces and a long red cape. Despite her attempts to maintain a still neutral appearance Celia’s confusion was plain on her face. At Lauren’s enthusiastic nod Celia took the pieces out and sighed with a roll of her eyes.

It was metal, obviously magical for both its near weightlessness and how shiny it was. To call the top part a breastplate was laughable, as it would cover her shoulders and possibly the bottom half of her breasts if the cups were anything to go on. The bottom piece was a metal pair of panties, perhaps even skimpier. A tiny circlet of metal and leather just about the size of a tiara and an overly long cape rounded out the look.

Indignation flared from her warrior’s pride. Not hot enough to be upset at Lauren of course, it was plain from the pinkette’s grin she hadn’t meant to cause offense. “You have got to be kidding, Lauren,” she said, shaking her head. “Why do you even have an outfit like that?” She paused and remembered where she was. “Right, silly question. But still, the answer is no.”

Lauren’s attempt at a heart melting pout was spoiled by the excited grin that crossed her face only a moment after. “I could convince you,” she said with a sudden confidence that made Celia’s breath catch in her throat. The banked heat flowed through her again, flushing her cheeks. “Do you want to be convinced?” Lauren asked playfully.

Celia swallowed while that tempting heat wrapped around and through her. The outfit was silly, impractical, and a little humiliating. But to be convinced to put it on, to be made to even want it… Celia met Lauren’s eyes and nodded.

“Définissez votre vérité temporaire.” Lauren's voice thrummed with power as cast the spell. Celia waited in anticipation for her perception to fog, to feel a sense of peace of relaxation wash over her. There was a sense of power that she had come to expect from magic, and a reactionary hum from the spells Gella had protecting her memories, but beyond that?he felt no different. A moment passed, then another, and she felt nothing out of the ordinary. “Lauren?" She asked, spreading her hands to indicate how nothing had changed. “I don’t feel any different.”

The priestess’s grin grew wider. “You’re not worried about that though,” she said. Her sweet voice filled the room as she spoke.

Well… Lauren is the priestess here, she would know her own magic, Celia reasoned. “I’m not worried,” Celia said happily

“I am a little confused though. You don’t normally wear clothes inside,” Lauren said, and Celia nodded while feeling a little foolish.

For the life of her, Celia could not remember why she had been so eager to get dressed again after she made love with Lauren. Normally… Normally, she waited until she was right next to the front door of the manor to cover herself. Shrugging, she moved to take her blouse off when Lauren giggled. “You can just rip them off like you usually do, Celia.”

Lauren was so considerate, indulging Celia’s comfort even if it got threads everywhere. Gripping the neckline of her blouse with both hands Celia firmly tugged. The light soft fabric only resisted for a moment before it ripped apart in her hands with an incredibly satisfying sound. Sure, it was wasteful to rip her way through her clothes like this, but Gella always made sure that Celia’s wardrobe was full. A perk of living with a mage as wealthy as her, Celia thought with a grin.

Her breeches put up a little bit more of a fight, but soon their tattered remains joined her ruined shirt. With only her panties left to reduce to scraps of fabric Lauren placed a hand on Celia’s own and shook her head. “I know you prefer to leave them on,” she said.

It was a silly thing, Celia knew. She had no trouble at all walking the manor with her breasts on full display. She even kind of enjoyed the attention, but exposing her sex still felt a step too far. Feeling much more comfortable now that she was just about, but not quite, naked Celia glanced at the parody of armor in Lauren’s hands. “I’m still not wearing that, Lauren.”

Lauren looked at the little shiny bits of metal and fabric, and then back to Celia with a deeply confused look. “But… this is your armor Celia. I know you’ve felt fantastic wearing it since you got here,” she stated hesitantly. “Don’t you remember?”

She really did, Celia reflected. Between her shield and her training it wasn’t like she was risking anything by leaving so much of her skin open. She tried for a moment to imagine wearing the suit of armor she had preferred as a mercenary and winced at how pointlessly heavy and bulky it was. A deeper thrill reminded her that Gella and Lauren got to see so much more of her body like this too. Enough to tantalize what the tiny strips of metal and leather hid away. Taking the treasured bits of enchanted metal in her hands, Celia gave Lauren a sheepish look. “I do love it,” she admitted.

Lauren gestured toward the door and Celia stepped through it with an eager excitement filling her chest. It always felt good to work her body, and the prospect of wearing her armor was giving her an extra tantalizing thrill the warrior couldn’t quite place given she had worn that armor countless times, but savored it regardless.

Padding down the hallway back toward the main staircase, they passed Tabby’s room and heard a faint but unmistakable yowl of pleasure from inside. It rose and peaked before a sudden loud bang. As excited as she was to get to training, concern for her friend beat it out. From the look on Lauren’s face the priestess shared her concern and the both moved to the cat-girl’s door.

Before they could call out the door swung in, revealing Violet. Her purple hair was mussed, her dress rumpled, and the scent of sweat and sex clung to her. Retrieving a handkerchief from one of the pockets in her apron, Violet dabbed the beads of sweat on her forehead and nodded at the warrior and priestess. “Hello Lauren, Celia.” The elven woman’s eyes lingered on Celia, openly admiring her. “You’re looking well,” she added with a small smirk.

“Thank you, Violet,” Celia replied cordially. There was a tension between Violet and her, a barrier of polite formality. Despite Gella’s insistence Celia couldn’t bring herself to feel the same comfortable relaxation that she felt with Tabby and Lauren. Peering behind Violet, Celia saw Tabby laying back in her nest slowly stroking herself between her legs. “We heard a bang,” she explained calmly, focusing intently on Violet instead of the tempting show Tabby was unintentionally providing.

“An ill advised combination of some of my sensation enhancing potions,” Violet said with a small shrug. “Tabitha wanted to experiment.”

“Is she alright?” Lauren asked with a sudden urgency, looking past Celia into Tabby’s room.

“She is,” Violet confirmed. “I think she just needs to sleep it off,” Violet said with a small fond smile. Closing the door with a near silent click, she again looked up and down Celia’s body.

Polite formality didn’t quite hide the thrill Celia felt. There was a new edge to it, something her memories of walking Cair Dwemor topless didn’t include. The appreciation in Violet’s eyes felt new, and Celia couldn’t help but shift a little to present her body better. “What was it you said that first night Violet? Something about staring like a human teenager?” She said with a bit of forced levity to cover the flicker of desire.

“Well, normally–” Violet suddenly cut off, looking past Celia’s shoulders.

When Celia turned around, she just saw Lauren’s sweetly smiling face. “You know Violet has admired your body since you got here Celia. It doesn’t bother you,” she said, confidently.

That was certainly true, Celia had to concede. Even with the distance Violet’s actions have caused, she knew the elf admired her.

“We are going out to train, Violet. Want to join us?” Lauren said. “I have Celia’s armor right here.” There was an odd emphasis on it being her armor that Celia couldn’t quite place, but nodded at Violet all the same.

“I think I would like that quite a bit,” Violet said politely, giving Celia another tiny thrill when she imagined Violet carefully watching her.

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Celia was breathing hard while her excitement raced. Across the training ground from her stood Clara. The mage had colored her hair a bright sunflower yellow today, offset by vivid emerald robes. “Get ready Celia, here comes another volley!” She called and spun the staff toward Celia before incanting “lùth a thilgeil.” Round spheres of glowing energy swiftly gathered around the head of Clara’s staff before rocketing toward Celia.

The warrior caught the first one with her shield, using its momentum to spin and slash with her practice blade, reducing the next one to a shower of sparkles. Keeping the motion flowing through her body she ducked and rolled forward under the next two. Finally she brought herself upright with her shield just in time to intercept the last. It had been less than three seconds from the first blast and aside from the sand clinging to her flushed skin Celia didn’t have a mark on her.

“Great job!” Clara said excitedly. Her infectious enthusiasm brought a smile to Celia’s lips. It had been Damian that suggested Celia train in avoidance and evasion today, looking up and down her armor with an amused shake of his head. She just chalked it up to his usual good humor, and she had to admit this was valuable training.

Walking back to her starting position, Celia readied her sword and shield to signal she was ready for another volley. “Keep on your toes, this next one won’t be so easy!” Clara spun and swept her staff in a wide arc while calling out, “ribe àite.” Several disks of energy gathered and flew toward Celia, angling to dive under the ground. They disappeared into it as if it weren’t even there, and Celia did her best to mark where they were.

Magical traps, and Celia had to reach Clara without triggering them before the mage could cast her next spell. One circle had embedded itself right by her feet, which she easily side stepped. She jumped between the next two and skidded to a stop, just as Clara lifted her hand again to prepare her next barrage of spells. Their eyes met and both women smiled confidently at each other. The mage was only a handful of paces away, and Celia took a step back to launch herself forward. Only for her foot to sink into the ground, which magically softened to the consistency of mud. Falling off balance and sinking up to her knee, the ground hardened again leaving Celia prone. An almighty heave did nothing but stress her leg, and before she could think of something else to do Clara flicked a conjured dart toward her, striking her in the forehead.

It didn’t do more than sting, but Celia felt her pride take a much larger hit. Still, this was only training. This was the time for mistakes and slip ups, where the consequences were a mild tap on her forehead, and a pretty mage already coming over to free her. Clara grinned at her, undoing the spell and offering a hand to help Celia up.

“You did great Celia,” Clara said with a nod, “Ready to go again?”

“In a moment. Let me get some water, first.” She turned toward the barracks, heading for the little device that dispensed clean cool water. The sudden shock felt wonderful as she splashed her face, then took a long refreshing drink. A sudden sharp gasp drew her attention, and leaning around the side of the building Celia felt her cheeks flush.

Eiriin had Tiffany pinned against the wall of the barracks. One of the shorter woman’s hands pressed both of Tiffany’s above her head while they passionately exchanged heated kisses. Seeing the couple share a kiss, or even a more intimate touch was hardly out of the ordinary, but the display Celia found herself watching was so much more intense than was the norm. Eiriin’s free hand just slipped up inside Tiffany’s shirt before Celia was able to tear herself away.

Tabby going at Violet was easy enough to understand, but usually Damian’s Heralds had more self control than that. Or at least she thought they did. It was so easy to fall into thinking she knew how Cair Dwemor worked, when she had only been here a little more than a month

Walking back toward the sparring ring she spotted Lauren and Violet watching from the sidelines. A still dazed-looking Tabby dozed in Violet’s lap, rendered somewhat decent by a loose robe. Celia’s lips pulled into a happy smile. What a month it had been, too. Walking right over to the group of women, Lauren waved her over. “Looking great out there Celia!” She said it sincerely, and the slow sweep of her eyes up and down Celia’s body only added a delicious thrill on top.

“I agree, Celia,” Violet added with a slight nod.

Tabby looked over from her spot in Violet’s lap and gave her a dreamy smile. “Fucking…p-pretty human girl, wanna lick you alllll over, “ she slurred before dissolving into a fit of giggles.

“Come on, Celia! We’re not done yet,” Clara called out. With a wave, Celia spun on her heel to rejoin Clara.

“Here, take this,” she said, pushing a tiny bluish crystal into Celia’s hand.

“A dispelling charm?” She asked, curiously.

“Yep!” Clara agreed. “An important tool for fighting us magical types. I am going to conjure some protections and you need to find the right moment to use this.”

As Clara headed off to her spot on the other end of the field, Celia looked at the little blue gem in her palm. She remembered that first time meeting Gella, how casually the mage had beaten her. The arousal that had been tickling the back of her mind, so recently inflamed by seeing Eirinn and Tiffany together, flared again.

There had been a misstep or two in the beginning, yes, but the older mage had proven herself trustworthy and honorable to Celia. Worthy of my love, she reflected with a fond smile that only served to tickle more enticing fantasies about the silver haired woman.

“Hey Celia! Head out of the clouds!” Clara yelled from her spot, making Celia jump and quickly shift into a stance. Her shield was at the ready with the little blue gem tucked safely in her hand. Clara gave the signal for Celia to begin, the warrior charging forward a moment later. She had planned to get close and fast, overwhelming Clara before she could finish a spell.

A step away, Celia’s foot landed on the hard packed earth at an angle, pitching her forward. To compensate, Celia thrust out her shield arm for balance, right into where Clara had shifted. There was a sickening feeling of resistance against the edge of her shield, and Clara yelped in pain and surprise. Finishing her stumble, Celia watched the wide gash she had accidentally opened on Clara’s arm begin to pour blood.

All thoughts of the duel halted and Celia yelled toward the sidelines for Lauren, who was already rushing toward them. In a moment the priestess had the wounded arm in her hand and a healing spell on her lips. The fresh new skin on Clara’s arm had just set when Celia felt the little gem in her hand slip free. It seemed to fall in slow motion, but Celia’s body was even slower. She just managed to brush it with her fingers before it hit the hard ground and shattered.

The blue white pulse that radiated out from it engulfed Lauren, Clara and Celia in a prickling discharge. All at once the comforting spells Gella had so carefully woven through Celia’s mind collapsed. A creeping sense of dread swirled at the back of her mind, something dark and Red and angry awoke and snarled. Celia braced herself, ready to plead with either caster for assistance.

Then, she saw Lauren.

She was sprawled on the ground, one hand slowly reached up to touch the side of her neck. The skin there shifted slightly, an illusion melting away to reveal two distinctive puncture scars. Fang marks, Celia realized with a start. Before she or Clara could make a move toward Lauren, the pinkette wrapped her arms around herself and let out a heart wrenching sob.

Celia’s inner flame roared, as strong as she had ever felt it. It pushed back whatever dark and hungry thing lurked in her mind, fortified her and strengthened her. Lauren needed her, and Celia would be there for a woman she loved. “Clara!” Celia barked. “Can’t you do something for her?”

Clara’s eyes went wide, looking from Lauren to Celia and back. “I… I…” She stammered and found her footing. “Mental magic like that is Gella’s specialty!” She looked panicked around, spotting Damian already running toward her with Joshua on his heels.

The pale priest with the deep red hair only managed to take a cursory glance at Lauren before Violet eased past him. “I’ve already sent a mind-to-mind message, Celia. My Lady will be here shortly,” Violet said firmly. The warrior’s fire still burned, desperate for a way to do something for Lauren. Distantly, she noted that the ridiculous play armor she was wearing no longer felt even remotely like her armor. She shoved that thought aside and unclasped the cloak, wrapping it around Lauren.

Padding footsteps and the brush of a tail along Celia’s back announced Tabby’s presence. She turned to nod at the cat-girl, to assure her everything needed to take care of her fellow Treasure was well underway. “Poor Lauren,” Tabby drawled, clearly still quite out of it. “We should cheer her up, and I know just the way.”

Celia watched in mute horror as Tabby pawed drunkenly at Lauren, making the priestess flinch and curl up into an even tighter ball.

“Tabby!” Celia roared. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!" She shouted, feeling the flame crash inside her. Surely that had to be the effects of whatever concoction Tabby had dosed herself with, surely the cat-girl couldn’t be so crass as to suggest what Lauren needed right now was a casual grope, right?

With a warp of the air around them Gella appeared, looking calm and collected. Before Celia could start Gella shook her head. “Come on, let’s get her in the living room.” Celia’s flame surged, eager to obey. Stooping to scoop Lauren in her arms, Celia glanced at her friend and love’s face. Tears flowed from eyes that lacked the bright glow of pink around each pupil. Something about her frightened and tearful expression pulled on the mass of snarled Red threatening to crash over Celia, but with only a single deep breath the warrior forced the recollections back. She focused on each single moment, holding Lauren to her chest and leading the group of Treasures back to the Manor.

“Lay her on the couch,” Gella commanded Celia. Turning to face Violet, there was a single wordless nod and the elven woman dashed off.

Depositing Lauren as gently as she could, Celia found something like awareness in Lauren’s eyes. “Thank you, Celia,” she said through her tears.

Tabby appeared as silently as ever, reaching for Lauren’s face. “Tabby,” Celia growled warningly. “Just… back off!”

Tabby’s expression froze, and she looked at Lauren as if seeing the debilitated pinkete for the first time. “I… Yeah. Fuck. Yeah, I’ll just be over here.” She shuffled away, taking a seat on the opposite couch and hugging her legs to her chest

“My pretty Dreamgirl,” Gella interjected, stepping beside Celia to look down at the stricken priestess. “No more tears now. I’ll take care of everything.” The mage placed her finger on Lauren’s forehead, eliciting a single happy sigh and brief smile from the prone woman. “Cadal,” Gella incanted.

Despite the burning, painful tension building in Celia’s mind, a small part of her instantly felt relief when Lauren’s eyes slipped shut, and a look of peaceful tranquility washed over her face. Gella had things well in hand now, whatever personal hell Lauren had been suffering from, the silver-haired mage had deftly delivered her from it.

Violet reappeared a moment later with a few journals, each sprouting dozens of bookmarks. After setting them down by Lauren’s couch, the elf joined Tabby. The cat-girl shifted into Violet’s embrace while the taller woman began petting carefully along Tabby’s back.

“I need to work on your mind too, Celia,” Gella said softly, pinning Celia with that searching gaze of hers. The tingle of desire and submissive pleasure was immediately lost in another stab of force from the dark angry Red battering at her inner flame. “Let me take care of you, my wonderful Knight.”

Fueled by worry, Celia broke free of the near mesmerizing force Gella projected to look at Lauren. “Take care of her first,” Celia said firmly, pressing deep into her reserves of inner stretch to hold at bay the monster snarling from behind the Door. “I can handle it,”

“Celia. Look at me.” Gella’s tone was firm and unyielding as steel, and Celia snapped to obey. The mage’s commanding gaze pinned Celia in place, her beautiful gray eyes near magical in their own right. Even the clash between her determination and the shadowed rescesses of her past stilled before Gella’s determined look. “You have done well Celia, I am incredibly proud of you.” Absent the distracting pull on her senses, the warm stroke of delight was crisp and clear along Celia’s nerves. “Now, let me take care of you.” The warrior nodded in silent agreement. Gella’s stern look shifted a warmer smile while she raised her finger to Celia’s forehead. “Cadal,”

The magic swam through Celia’s mind, bringing the heavy pall of drowsiness she had come to anticipate. Strength melted away from her limbs, and it was only for Gella’s sudden guiding hand on her arm that she was able to tumble into the easy chair, rather than collapse where she stood. Her eyes slipped gratefully shut, surrendering entirely to the spell with a content smile on her lips.