The Caged Raven

Morning came without announcement. Macnayer yawned and stretched, his hands finding the warmth of his new companion. She had not moved in hours, had hardly lifted her chest to breathe. “Good morning, beautiful,” he purred, moving his nose into her hair. He kissed down her neck slowly cupping her breast to bring her against his body and his hardness.

Raven stirred slowly, coming out of sleep deeper than it had been in many years. She gazed hazy eyed up at the man near her. “It’s morning now?” She turned towards him and burrowed her head against his chest. “It’s warm. I’ve never slept like that before.”

Macnayer lifted her chin and kissed her on the lips lightly. “And are you sore? Or would you perhaps like to do what we did last night again?”

Raven did not smile, but did not frown either. She stared at the man who held her chin so lightly. “I have never felt that way before. I think I would like to do it again.” Her lips twitched and the corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly. How long had it been since she had smiled? She could not recall.

“Good, me too. But perhaps a meal first, something to start you on the day.” He kissed her again and stood, nude still from the night before. Raven studied his movement as he sought the discarded robe from the night before. Every muscle in his body was toned, not an inch of fat, just lean muscle. Raven felt the heat rise between her legs once again and directed her gaze to a nearby wall tapestry.

The woman from the night before had been right, she was craving his body like some cheap whore. She felt her throat tighten and the threat of tears in her eyes.

“Are you all right little one?” Macnayer asked studying at the frail form still resting beneath the sheets.
Raven nodded, frightened to speak. If her voice gave way to unspeakable emotion and he was displeased then what would happen? Would he avoid her? Would he never give her the pleasure that had enveloped her the night before again? Or would he strike her? She had been stripped of her strength and feared that more than anything.

“All right then, they will be in to dress you in a moment and then you can join me for breakfast.”

Raven nodded again and watched as Macnayer left. She let out a staggering sigh and sat up in bed still naked. She stared at her body slowly moving her hands from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. She did not feel different, at least not on the outside. But the wetness between her legs and the blood still lingering on the lips of her womanhood was enough to suggest she was different. He had claimed her as his own.

Tears spilled from her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks. She had become something vile but she wanted more. She had opened her legs to her enemy and she wanted to do it again. She buried her eyes into the silk pillow and sobbed. “You bastard,” Raven uttered. “How could I enjoy being violated by someone like you? I am a warrior not a slut.” She bunched the sheets in her hands when the sound of the door opening greeted her ears.

"It's too bad; I was hoping that, you would be begging me for more." Raven’s head shot up at the voice. The same women from the night before stood nearby. “Ah but you did, didn’t you? You’re already imagining what it’s going to feel like next time he has you. Maybe he’ll bend you over and take you from behind while you squeal.”

Raven’s face turned scarlet and she turned her head. The sheets she had been using to hide herself were pulled away. “You should learn to better control yourself if you’re a so-called warrior.” The older woman said, a crooked smile on her face. “Or you could let it go. Embrace this change little one. You are not a slut but a woman of the flesh.”

Raven opened her mouth to retort but could not find the appropriate words. A woman of the flesh, what sort of title was that? She shook her head, “I want to go back to what I was.”

“And face the bitter winter on approach? Think of it my dear, for I know you enjoy the warmth that comes from being indoors and I know you enjoyed sleeping in a bed last night.” The older woman pulled her to the end of the bed and began dressing her. “Do not deny yourself for your honor. You know you want to feel him inside of you again.”

But what was there if not honor? Pleasures of the flesh perhaps, or honor in the knowledge that you were your master’s favorite fuck? Raven kept silent as they dressed her the remainder of the way, silently pondering if she could be content never holding a blade in her hand again.

The women led her from the room down the long hall. Raven’s jaw went slack when she saw the lavish décor surrounding them. The floor was covered in a plush carpet like the one in the bedroom. Tapestries hung between each doorway and there were paintings of men she knew. Men who had brought about a war, men who had fought and killed her comrades. A sorrow rose up inside of her and for a moment she felt dirty for her position.

The dining room was located just off of the main hall. Raven swallowed as she entered. It, like the other rooms was decorated lavishly, suitable for a king and his court. Macnayer and another man sat at the far end, the table in front of them covered with food and drink in colors and combinations Raven had never seen. Her stomach cried out in hunger and she felt her mouth water.

Macnayer rose to his feet as did his companion. “Are you hungry little one? There is more than enough food here; please join us.”

Raven nodded and took a seat on his left across from the other man. “So,” he said, “You must be the notorious Raven this old guff has been going on about. You are, as he said, quite beautiful, and you were a hunter from what I hear, such an odd role for such grace.”

“Thank you sir. And yes, I am a hunter.” Raven said between bites of the food. The meat on her plate glistened from the fat it was cooked in. She felt guilty again for dining with a sworn enemy but she couldn’t fight the hunger pangs that continued to rise up.

“She was a hunter. Her life belongs to me now.” Macnayer said leaning back in his chair. Raven glanced at him but said nothing. Her hands were shaking, her fork rattling each time it came close to the plate. Macnayer’s companion paid notice to this but said nothing.

“It is very rude not to introduce yourself;” Macnayer said gazing at his companion.

The man blinked and stood. “But of course, how very inhospitable of me. I Raven, I am Dares. Sorcerer if it pleases you.” He bowed deeply and for a moment Raven was concerned he would poke out an eye on the corner of the table. “If you ever need any sort of medicine of any kind than I am at your service.”

Raven did nothing in return instead she studied him. He was a lean man with eyes of gold and hair as dark as her own. His skin was as white as snow hidden behind thin spectacles, which were decorated with markings she did not understand. For a moment she found him attractive before returning to the feast before her.

“I have given Macnayer a cream which will ease the pain from last night.” Dares said taking a seat once again.

Raven felt the blush rise on her face. Her eyes darted from Macnayer to Dares furiously. How much did the sorcerer know about her? Did he know about the sounds she had made, her inexperience? Or perhaps about the bleeding and pain that had for a moment been her sanctum before becoming something else, something beyond pain and pleasure. “Th-thank you for that.”

Breakfast ended and Dares rose again. “If you will excuse me my dear friends I have matters that need attending to.” He bowed to both of them before taking Macnayer’s right hand in his own and kissing it. Raven watched him leave intently before turning back to Macnayer who was tapping his chin in the same contemplative manner from earlier that morning.

He smiled and turned to her. “He is a good man but do not trust everything he says. I am, and I always will be quite convinced that if he is given the chance he will kill me.”

“Why?” Raven could hardly find her voice.

“Because I have taken everything he knows from him. I have turned him into a slave where he was once a god. But I did not kill him, no, I could not. He was a man who had everything to offer me and to take away such a life would be an unjust. He, like you, is here and alive because one such as myself cannot always find company in my court. One must have the excitement of outside sources.”

He moved out of his chair onto his knees next to her own, pressing his nose into her shoulder and then her neck. Her scent passed over him and he sighed deeply, his tongue darting in and out to taste her. Raven remained still, quiet, her heart racing. She wanted him to continue touching her, she wanted to feel what it had felt like the evening before. But her mind flashed to the paintings in the hall and she turned away from him.

He looked into her eyes. “What pains you my love?”

She closed her eyes; “Nothing time won’t heal.”

Sun passed through the stained glass windows and Raven wept silent dry tears.

A/N:An Update! Only took X amount of months but I do apologize for that. Updates will hopefully be more frequent from here on hopefull. Thank you for any and all reviews they are very helpful!