.

[Vagrant]

"Perhaps you'll think of that later, when you feel the urge to be disobedient. For now though, I do what I must. But I will limit the pain as much as I can."

Without saying anything further, or allowing him to be swayed by her begging, he cut the fabric of her gown and exposed her left breast to the cool air. Reaching for a bowl of very cold water, he pours it slowly over her breast, concentrating it on her nipple.

When that was empty he very quickly grabbed the needle and started to slide it through her flesh.

 

[Vagrant]

He stopped for a bit after hte needly had gone through the nipple and was balanced, with the same amount of needle on both sides. After several moments, he began again, pulling the needle all the way through and out.

Without much of a pause, he was inserting a silver ring through the hole and fastening it once it came out the other side. The ring was not too large, it would not weigh her breast down or anything like that, but it was heavy enough to feel, at least while it was still new.

"There. Of course, next time, it will be your other breast. Remember that." He fully expected that sooner or later, she would have two silver rings adorning her breasts. He doubted very much that fear alone would curb her temper.

Since she was already noticing the clothes were becoming more form fitting, he would instruct the seamstresses to focus more on the other alteration rather than that.

 

[Vagrant]

Now that was exactly the sort of personality he did not want... but he was willing to wager it was more fear than anything. "Your beauty isn't ruined Moira. It's certainly changed, but not ruined. I hope soon you will realise that."

He released the restraints and personally led her back up to her rooms, helped her to undress and laid her in bed. "Get some sleep. You'll feel better in the morning."

 

[Vagrant]

The next day, as usual, he entered her room with lunch. "Hello Moira. How are you feeling today?" He always treated her with kindess after he punished her. It was as if to say that the situation was resolved, she did something, he punished her, and now he was moving on and not dwelling on it.

"I hope you're still wearing the ring. From what I have been told, a piercing there will heal quickly and I would hate to see you go through that again."

 

[Vagrant]

He nodded. "I know it must hurt. But it is healing. Afterwards, it will feel quite normal. You might even come to like it. But then again, you might not. I honestly don't know. All I do know is, I like it. It adds character, and a bit of mystery, I think."

He was a bit worried he had taken things a bit too quickly... At least in the punishment area. He hoped he could remedy that. "Please, eat your lunch, and then we'll get you out of this room for a little while."

 

[Vagrant]

He smiled at her pleasantly. He wasn't sure if this bland personality was simply defiance, or something else. He knew he wasn't going to win her back with more punishment though, and he couldn't justify it to himself. If it was defiance, she was smart, using his own rules against him. If it was something else, punishment would simply drive her further into her own shell.

"Well, as much as I would love to see you stroll through the Keep naked, I doubt you would find it as amusing, so please, at least put a robe on."

After she did get dressed, in whatever it was she decided to wear, he led her out of the room. "I have two things I want to show you today. I think you might like them." He smiled at her warmly.

Walking through the halls, he opens a door and motions for her to go inside. Once in, she would see a very oppulent room, with burning incense, and a woman sitting on a very plush chair. In the center of the room, was something like a bed, but smaller, and higher. The woman stood and waved her in. "You must be Moira, Hello. Lord Atwater has told me you are to have a massage today. He says you have had a rough time the past few days, and this is his way of starting to repay you. If you would, please undress and lay down on the table. If the piercing hurts, we can find something ot cushion it more." Everything about this woman was welcoming. Everything about the room was as well.

 

[Vagrant]

She smiled and gave her a very soft pillow to lay on, removing almost all the discomfort from the piercing. "Now sweety? I just want you to relax, and let me do all the work, okay?" She said as she laid a towel over Moira's ass. This was simply going to be a massage, nothing sexual at all.

"Now, You're going to feel something on your back, it's just some warm oil, trust me, you'll like what comes next." The woman poured a small line of warmed massage oil down the length of Moira's spine, and then some into her own palm. Rubbing her hands together, she gets them covered in a layer of oil and then gently starts to massage Moira's back. That was what this woman did. Her only job was to provide massages to Eric, and those he allowed.

She started slowly, rubbing the tension out of her muscles... making her way up towards her shoulders. "Just relax sweety. Relax, and if you want, you can go to sleep."

 

[Vagrant]

The woman was unphased by Moira's lapse into slumber, and continued with the massage. Eric had told her to give her something very tame, and relaxing. There were quite a few different techniques she knew that would produce various results, but Eric wanted her to feel slightly spoiled.

They let her sleep for a few hours, and if she didn't wake up on her own, they would wake her up. Eric was standing in front of her. "Wake up Moira. There. Now, how was that?" He smiled and moved more towards the door. "You can come back here once at day for more massages if you want. Vivian, the masseuse will accomodate you. Now, there still is one more thing I wanted to show you, but you have to be quiet. Okay?"

 

[Vagrant]

"Follow me." He said and led her up the stairs to one of the higher balconies that had a good view of the town. "Take a look. I think you should see what has become of your people." He nodded and let her look. "But be quiet, don't shout to them or any of that."

Below, life went on as it normally did. The city was recovering from the attack, and many of her own people were once again in their homes, selling their wares in the marketplace, and generally living their lives. Deep down they might be angry about the fact they were conquered, but it was hard to stay angry when the only real change was that there was a new lord, and new guards.

"You see? Just like I said, I did not come to destroy your people, or burn their lands. I have my reasons for being here, but your people did not need to suffer. And I have done what I could to hasten their return to a normal life."

 

[Vagrant]

He walked over to her and sat facing her in another chair. "You don't have to say anything. I know you have probably been wondering what sort of evil despicable things your people have been subjected to and you mind has probably assumed the very worst. I wanted to remove those fears from you. Your people are safe, and to be honest, I need them. Do you want to know the reason I came here?"

 

[Vagrant]

"I didn't come here to remove your father. In times of peace, or when an enemy truly wants to destroy your people, a man like your father would look to anyone like a good leader... No, It wasn't until I reached your shores that I knew him for the man he was..."

He paused at that. He had slandered her father so much, and it was simply not honourable to make him seem like a complete oaf, regardless of whether or not he was.

"The real reason I came is the fact that in the surrounding hills, I believe there are veins of silver, and possibly gold as well. Siezing the land that I needed was not a very wise plan because I am not all together sure of how vast the veins are. This way, I can fortify the towns and cities, and look for the best sites at leasure. This was never about the deaths of any of your people."

 

[Vagrant]

He chuckled. "I don't think you understand all of what this entails, Moira. The young man with a wife and baby on the way... do you think he will be angry because his land was invaded, and the new Lord used a sizeable portion of the wealth from the mines to make the town more secure from raiders, attract more merchants, doctors... do you think he will be angry when his son becomes ill and one of those doctors is there to tend to him, making him well again?"

"Do you think the woman who has lost a husband and a son to raider will hate me for coming here simply for silver and gold when the increased presence of the guards will mean her remaining son will be safer as he plays in the fields outside of town? Really. What good are mines if I cannot hold them, and it is much easier to hold all the land rather than small pockets of it. But, you want to return to your room. Feel free, and remember my offer to you. Simply tell the guard outside your door that you wish to see Vivian, and he will escort you."

 

[Vagrant]

He shook his head. "Not completely, no. And I won't until you begin to accept your new life. I never claimed to be a saviour, Moira. All I claimed was that I was not the devil incarnate. I told your father why I came, Moira, and the reasons why I should be the one to hold power here. He claimed I was lying, trying to trick him."

He looked at her for a moment. "He didn't tell you I sent a messenger did he. After the first message, I sent another to assure him that was not the case. He sent my messenger's head back with the horse. That was when I knew Fighting was unavoidable."

 

[Vagrant]

He followed along quietly behind her, letting her rage. He motioned for the guards to stand down. She was distraught, having built her father up on this pedestal that despite his faults, he was still worthy of in her mind... and all that had just come crumbling down.

He stood in her doorway and waited for her to calm herself. Then, he spoke in Gaelic. "I tell you these things because I feel you deserve to know the truth. I told you what I wish for you to become, I told you why I came in the first place. And you of all people deserve to know what sort of a man your father was. But there is something very important you should know. The sins of the father are not of the child. The fact you disapprove of what your father did shows me, and should show you, that you are not the same as he. That you are better. Think on that, before you condemn yourself."

 

[Vagrant]

"You are not like him because you are like you. You are still young and came make of your life what you want. You can become jaded and despise your life, or you can find some way to enjoy what is in store for you. You were never going to be in the same position your father was. And we all learn life's lessons differently. My own father was a womanizing, alcoholic buffoon. He squandered my family's good name and it has taken me quite some time to untarnish it. The fact that I could proves I am not like him, even though his blood runs through my veins."

He walked into the room and sat next to her, putting his arm around her and holding her close. "It's up to you how you deal with all of this. I can't tell you what to do. But I can suggest something. rethink what you were taught. Consider if it was truly for your own good, or to keep you under his thumb."

 

[Vagrant]

He held her, rocking her gently back and forth. "I've told you what I would like you to be, and I don't intend on taking no for an answer... But beyond that, there is quite a lot to life that you have control over. I trust you enough to let you out of this room when you wish it now, to indulge in something I saw you enjoy. But your previous life is fraught with lessons learned over and over that inhibit what you feel is good... How do you know those lessons are worth keeping?"

 

[Vagrant]

The fact that she chose to stress that her father's lessons weren't worth keeping gave him a clue to what was stopping her. "Tell me, Moira... How did your parents meet? I'd be willing to guess they were betrothed after a lengthy bargaining session by their parents, and had very little choice in the matter... did they." He kept rocking her.

"It's a rather emotionless tradition, and it tends to breed... passionless marriages. And it's rather easy for a woman to go frigid if her life is without passion. Have you ever wondered who came up with the idea that having sex was somehow... immoral? The reasons behind the act may be immoral... but when two people who care about each other indulge, why is it wrong to take pleasure in it? That's something I've often wondered. Maybe you can help me understand it." It was as if he was truly asking her to explain it, but really he just wanted her to think of why it was people were taught that. And decide whether it made sense or not.

 

[Vagrant]

He frowned. "I was hoping, for your sake, that I was correct in my assumption. If your mother found him to be charming... "

He trailed off and didn't say anymore. Not unless she asked him, anyway. He simply sat there beside her and held her, letting her cry into his chest.

 

[Vagrant]

"Perhaps." He said. "Perhaps your mother had no knowledge or no part in what your father did... But maybe she did. Maybe she knew and condoned his actions... If she didn't, and she cared about her family, wouldn't she have done what she could to protect you and your siblings?"

He squeezed her gently and stood up. "I'll let you think about that for awhile. It's almost time for dinner." He smiled at her and left as the guard brought her dinner in on a tray.

 

[Vagrant]

Erics plans were working... at least somewhat. He had gotten her to doubt her father, and if she didn't already, it wouldn't take much to get her to hate him now. The problem was her mother and the puritanical beliefs her daughter had lapped up all her life. They would be a problem. Because he had no leverage for discrediting her mother... and she seemed to believe it all by herself... He thought on it for awhile.

The next day he brought in lunch for her yet again. It was a spicy dish from the far east. "Good afternoon Moira. I brought something for lunch today you probably have never had before. It's good though, you may not like it at first, but it is an acquired taste."

 

[Vagrant]

He shrugged as she complained. He understood though. "Well, burning peat might not have been the comparison I made... I said something similar when I was first served it... But trust me, it IS edible." He said and took a forkful and ate it to prove his point.

"It's a bit spicy, but other than that it's not too much different than some of the other food you've eaten here."

 

[Vagrant]

He smiled. "After awhile you probably won't mind it, since you'll know what to expect. And it's good to broaden your horizons. At least, that's what my mother told me when I complained about it... But she was right. My cooks know how to make quite a few dishes from all over the known world. I think lunchtime is the perfect time for you to expand your culinary horizons. And you never know, you just might get to like it."

 

[Vagrant]

He grinned. "Not worried about getting fat anymore? I'm just kidding. I think in a few more days, I'll be able to let you out of here more often... and for more than just a massage. Speaking of, have you been to have one yet today?"

 

[Vagrant]

He nodded. There was a bit of defiance in her, which was good. "Well, I'll instruct the cook to make you something a little bit more to your liking, and while he's doing that, why don't I escort you down to the Massage parlour?"

There was no ulterior motive. He had granted her access to the room, and wanted her to be comfortable indulging in it.

 

[Vagrant]

He would let her out, but not yet...

As she had her massage, he sent word to the cook that Moira was to be given a small snack to tide her over until dinner. When she returned to her room, a hot bowl of stew and warm bread were waiting for her.

Over the next several days, Eric would always bring her some exotic dish for lunch, and if she wanted a snack, she could have one. And if she behaved herself, he would one afternoon, bring her out into the gardens. The cobblestone pathway wound its way through the many beds of flowers and grass.