Choose Your Chains (Closed for haremfaery)

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

Cillian liked just traveling with Desire. There was a simplicity to it he enjoyed. Excepting the consistently mind-blowing sex they had, it was his favorite thing they'd done together. It was even still pleasant when there was a light rain. But when it became a full-on downpour, even the pleasure of her company wasn't enough to make it less of a slog.

"We should have stayed at the inn."

"I wish we had. Too late to turn around now."

The "Halt!" Cillian heard made his blood run colder than the rain.

"RIDE!"

Cillian waited until he was sure Desire was pushing her horse harder before he started. They weren't going to make it to the ford. Their horses were spent. Cillian began to take off his boots. It took all his agility not to fall off. He rode up beside Desire. "We won't make it to the ford with them chasing us. Take these. Get there. Cross the river. If you start to go under, click the heels together. It'll take you to the surface. Only works once a day. Don't lose them."

The oilskin bag with their supplies in to was on her horse. Cillian would have taken it if they had time.

"I'll meet you on the other side. No arguments. GO!"

With that, he turned his horse around and charged at the soldier. Then he saw there were more of them coming up the road.

"Shit!"

He was a strong swimmer. It'd be difficult to cross at the wilder parts of the river but not impossible. He just needed to give Desire time to get to the shallowest part. When he was near enough to the first soldier, he readied himself and then leapt from his horse and tackled the human to the ground. He sank his one dagger into his neck and threw the other at an oncoming soldier. There were too many of them to fight off. He just needed to piss them off enough that they'd go after him instead of Desire. He backed his way towards the river, throwing the daggers and calling them back to his hand. He felled five of them. They were no longer interested in the tiefling. They wanted the human traitor to the empire.

Cillian ran for the river, but the mud was sucking at his now bare feet. They had horses. They were gaining on him. He could see Desire's horse near the ford but couldn't see her. He shoved his daggers into the sheaths at his belt.

Please, let her make it across.

He made it to the river, whipped off his shirt, and dove in. A soldier dived in after him, grabbing his belt. He unbuckled it and let the current carry the heavily armored trooper away. His daggers were in that belt. He let them go, knowing they'd be swept downriver and be beyond the ability of the magic for him to summon them back. But he needed his hands free more than he needed the daggers.

He kicked the sodden pants off as well—without a belt to hold them up, they were just a hindrance. Besides, Desire would have a dry set of clothes waiting for him on the other side of the river. But he couldn't see her. Then he saw shredded wet fabric that looked like it was from her dress caught on the rocks.

No. No. No. No. No.

This couldn't be happening. Desire had made to the ford. It would have been tough, but she was too strong to let something like a rushing river take her. Cillian began diving into the water, looking for her. He popped his head up, called out her name, got another lungful of air, and then dove back in. Again. And again. And again. But he couldn't find her in the water.

 

[haremfaery]

Desire didn't have a chance to argue with Cillian--and she had plenty. For one, she could probably fight better than him, even with no magic. But ... she did as she was told and made for the ford. The river was narrower there, but with the rain it was deeper than it would have been. Lovely.

She quickly tucked up her skirts. She pulled off her own boots and stuffed them into the bag. Cillian's boots might be magical, but they were a bit big on her. The river was full of rocks. In high summer, horses could probably pick their way across and not even get their ankles wet. But now, they just made things more treacherous.

She sent a prayer to Tymora promising a donation to the first temple she came across. To Beshaba, she promised an act of utter chaos the first change she got. If only she and Cillian survived this.

She couldn't hear the fighting over the rush of the water. She took a breath and dived in. Seven Hells. The water was cold. She swam for the far shore but the current was strong. Her skirt came untucked and made it harder to swim. She couldn't use the boots yet--she'd be suspended in mid air over the river. That didn't solve anything. Then she was tossed against some rocks and the skirts ripped. She'd have bruises, but not having the skirt made swimming easier. She came up sputtering and got her bearings. She was farther downstream than she wanted to be. She made toward shore.

This section was rockier. And deeper. She was battered once more and hit her head. Seven Fucking Hells. Death by drowning. She panicked. She clicked her heels and shot up to the surface. The force pushed the boots right off her feet. She could see the shore, it wasn't far at all.

She climbed into the rocks and just laid there catching her breath. She couldn't think about anything except the pounding in her head and relief at finally being out of the water. And CILLIAN!

She scrambled higher on the rocks to get a better view heedless of her bare feet. The current had moved her farther downstream. Finally she saw Cillian. She heard her name on the wind and realized that he was diving over and over looking for her.

She called out to him, but he didn't hear. She dug through the bag and found the copper wire. Her hand went immediately to her belt. Tymora's Luck! She hadn't lost the keys. She unlocked the iron collar. and sent Cillian a message.

I'm here! Down river from you on the rocks.

She stood up and waved hoping he could see her.

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

I'm here! Down river from you on the rocks.

Cillian looked up and saw her and swam for shore. His lack of clothes, dropping body temperature, or the pounding rain did not stop him from running up to Desire and smashing his lips into hers.

He broke away just long enough to say, "I thought I lost you." He kissed her again. Then the adrenaline crash started coming, and he began to shiver, but he didn't seem to care. He was trying to warm himself just by kissing her. But as much as tieflings are warm and his affection for her was great, there was no escaping the simple fact he was wet, naked, and freezing cold.

Finally, he had to give in. "We need to find some shelter, start a fire, and get dry," he said through chattering teeth and blue lips.

 

[haremfaery]

"Gods, I thought I lost you, too." She kissed him back but she could feel him shivering. she was wet as well and wasn't doing him any good.

"This side of the river is rockier. There has to be some overhang to shelter under."
She looked around, "Maybe over there?" The rocks looked like some giant's child stacked them up and then knocked them down. "There has to be some nook, or cave, or something." She put on the pack. "You need to keep moving till we find a spot. Then I promise to warm you up."

It seemed that it took longer that it really did with them both soaked to the bone and the rain still falling, but they found, not exactly a cave, but a deep enough recess among the rocks that was dry inside. Anything they could use for firewood was too wet. But Desire could solve that problem.

They collected what twigs and small limbs that they could. Then Desire had Cillian wait outside. "Just--stay back until I stop dancing." She stacked the wood as if for a fire. Then she began to dance. In a matter of seconds, fire licked around her body like she was made of flames. She stomped her feet and spun in circles, made barrel turns. Her hair whipped around, as did the tattered remnants of her skirts. Sometimes she seemed to be in two places at once.

When she stopped, the fire was blazing and the rocks had warmed enough to make the place a cozy retreat. Also, Desire and her clothes were totally dry.

"You can come in and get warm now." She grinned at him. "Next time--you run and I'll fight. Oh, and um," she looked down at her bare feet. "I lost your boots." She looked up at him. "I'm really really sorry."

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

Cillian watched, amazed as Desire did her...whatever it was. He'd never really seen her use the power the collar was suppressing, what she was giving up to keep them safe. With power like that, he should have let her handle the soldiers.

She was dry and warm as his lips found hers again.

"Fuck the boots. You're alive, and that's all that matters. I'd give up anything and everything to protect you. Desire, I love you."

As soon he said it, he froze. It just came right out. He suddenly wanted to take them back even though he meant it. Every word was true, even though they came from the lips of an expert liar.

 

[haremfaery]

"Beshaba's Tits, Cillian!" She pushed him back a little. "That was going to be my Act of Chaos, and you beat me to it. Now I have to think of something else to appease the Goddess of Chaos. Seven Hells, Cillian. I love you, too." She kissed him passionately. She thought some steam rose between them when her hot dry body pressed against his cold wet one. She rubbed her hands up and down his back then grabbed his ass and squeezed. "I can think of one hundred ways to get you warm."

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

Cillian was still shivering slightly.

"Desire, that sounds wonderful. You're gonna have to take the lead here, though. I can't feel my hands."

He slowly collapsed to the ground, trying to pull her with him. At this moment, at least, there wasn't doubt anymore. This thing, this connection between them was so very real.

"I love you." He said it again, this time not feeling like he had to reel the words back in.

He wasn't hard yet. His cock wasn't still trying to disappear into him to keep warm even though he knew there was a much hotter place to be.

 

[haremfaery]

Desire stayed standing. "I have an idea. Stay close to the fire, I'll be right back." She went outside and found a few stones the size of a loaf of bread. She danced on them until the were hot but not to hot to cause harm. She brought them back and wrapped them in their dry clothes. She had Cillian lie o his back. She put the largest one near Cillian's feet, She placed others near his sides. The two small ones she gave him to act as hand warmers. Then she stretched out on top of him. He felt so cold.

"Better?" She snuggled against him. "Cillian, my Heart. I love you and I'll not have you die of a chill."

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

"My heart." Cillian smiled as he repeated it.

The chill was starting to leave his body. "Better, but not as fun as what I was hoping for," he said with a lecherous grin, trying to pull Desire towards him. "Aren't we supposed to huddle for warmth?"

His smile shifted to a more concerned look. "I love you, but I'm a spy. Trust isn't in my nature. And I was seriously considering you might have cast a spell on me or something. It's why I've been kind of hot and cold since we left the safehouse... three days ago." He didn't sound certain that the number of days. The time they spent together seemed like they'd been together forever but also as if it were flying by. "I can't promise it won't happen again. All I can promise you is that I'll try to be less paranoid when it comes to you."

 

[haremfaery]

Desire snuggled closer and stroked his face and gave him a kiss. "We'll get to that."

"Cillian, that was ... really honest." Talking was easier now that they finally admitted how they felt about each other. At least, a little easier.

"Since we're sharing some dark secrets ... Trust isn't in my nature either. I use people. You know I'm an assassin--people don't suspect a pretty woman. I've had to do things ... You've had good reason to distrust me. I've seduced people so I could kill them. But I never tried to play you--not much anyway."

She moved and got up on her knees straddling Cillian. "Want me to make you feel warmer?"

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

"I really would, but—gods, why do I have to keep doing this to myself. Now that we're being honest..." Cillian ran his finger along the leather collar. He wasn't sure he wanted to push this, but he couldn't let his curiosity go. "...why are you still wearing this when you don't have the antimagic collar on? You don't need to pretend anymore."

Cillian flexed his fingers, there was feeling back in them, but they still felt thick and sluggish. He couldn't pick a lock with them at the moment. He would just fumble trying to finger Desire. He rested his hands on Desire's hips.

They were nearing something like honesty, and while he didn't want to push too hard, he did want to talk. But his body was already responding to the warmth emanating from between her thighs.

 

[haremfaery]

“I’m not sure.” Desire paused. “You said you got it for someone and never gave it to her. I could tell it held meaning for you. I wore it because you liked it and because I needed you to get out of the city, but deep down I thought it meant that I was yours. “

She reached down and rubbed his cock.

Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse fumble fingers.

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

"but deep down I thought it meant that I was yours. "

During their travel, Cillian tried to pass Desire off as a slave, but that wasn't what he wanted. He had to earn an honor like this from a woman. The thought he'd earned it from Desire...

Cillian let out a sound between a growl and a groan, his cock springing to life even before her deft hand wrap around it. Cillian had had many lovers; most were part of the job. But of all of them, few understood what something like this meant.

"I was hoping you'd say something like that." He looped a finger into the collar and pulled towards him for a kiss as he said, "You are mine."

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

(Posted on behalf of haremfaery)

“Looks like you’ve warmed up.” She stroked his cock a few times. She positioned herself and guided it into her. She was aroused but it was a tight fit. She slowly lowered herself onto his shaft. Her breath hitched a few times as she did so. “Seven hells, you’re thick.”

She lifted up and down slowly a few times to adjust to his girth. She circled her hips and ground against him. “And you are mine.” She sighed.

The color had come back to Cillian’s face. That was good. She smiled and bent down to give him a long thorough kiss. “My love. My heart.” She kissed him again.

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

Desire's breath hitched as she lowered herself on to Cillian. "Seven hells, you're thick."

Cillian let out a groan, "Seven hells, you're tight." He did manage a smirk.

With the truth out there, Cillian was feeling more playful, a little less guarded. Which meant when Desire started to circle her hips, he was able to tilt his head back, close his eyes, and let out a loud moan without worrying that presenting his throat to her in such a way might end with it torn out. She was always warm, but after his cold plunge into a raging river, it felt like she was still on fire and burned so good.

"My love. My heart."

When she broke her kiss again, Cillian panted, "My love. My desire."

While she had defiantly warmed him up, Cillian was deeply content to let her ride him for her pleasure as well as his.

His hands, which had warmed up enough he could control his fingers, roamed over any part of her body he could reach. He loved the way she squirmed and ground down harder when he brushed the base of her tail.

As he was beginning to get close, he said, "Desire, I love you. Oh, gods." He let out a long moan before he started repeating, "I love you," faster and faster as he raced towards the edge.

 

[haremfaery]

Cillian was the best fuck of her life. But now. Now that they shared their feelings ... it wasn't just fucking. There was a depth to their passion that hadn't been there before. Something they had kept hidden from each other and now could fully share and enjoy.

She gasped and moaned and forgot the tricks she used with her marks that were all for show. She let herself go to please them both. She posted on his cock while they both cried out their love to each other until she collapsed, spent, on top of him.

It was easy to forget the world when Cillian was inside her. But if things should go wrong, at least the Gods had given her this brief moment of heaven.

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

They stayed out of the rain that night. Going back and forth between sleeping, cuddling, and fucking each other's brains out. But when the dawn's light finally broke through the storm clouds, it was time for them to get moving. They had to get to Ulfamel. It was a two-day hike, and it was no longer a question of if they were being pursued, but by how many traveling how swiftly.

Even with the possibility of an excruciating death in their future, Cillian felt almost giddy. Maybe it's because they were nearing something like honesty with each other mixed with the fact that Cillian's chosen profession meant excruciating death was always a possibility. They had to keep reminding each other to press on because of the constant temptation to have a tumble under a tree.

Cillian's doubts about Desire were melting, but there was this tiny seed of doubt starting to take root about if their infatuation with each other might distract them from some oncoming sign of danger. Perhaps the next time they came up for air after marathon sex, they'd be staring at the business end of a spear.

 

[haremfaery]

Given the situation they were in, Desire refused to put the iron collar back on. She couldn't pretend to be Cillian's slave any longer, she needed to be able to use her spells. And her swords. Cillian had lost his daggers as well as his boots. It was her turn to protect him.

Traveling together was fun, as crazy as it seemed given the circumstances. Maybe it was the danger that made everything better. That worried her. Would they still be this in love once they were out of danger?

The first night, they slept in a stable and they stole a pair of boots for Cillian from outside the tenant farmer's hut. They left a gold bracelet in payment.

They awoke to pleasant weather and got moving before the sun and the farmer were up. Desire sent prayers to Tymora and Beshaba. She still needed to perform an act of chaos, although one could argue that this entire journey qualified.

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

Cillian and Desire continued toward Ulfamel, hee all the better for having boots now. They came to the edge of a forest.

"Gods," Cillian said. "Have I really been away that long?"

He wasn't talking to Desire. This was a question he hadn't even realized he asked out loud.

When he'd last been here, you could see the gentle stream that looped through the trees. Now, the trees had grown so tall and so many that it was too dense.

"If we continue northwest, we'll find a stream. Follow it north, and we'll come to a lake. The lake is fed by a river the runs right through the middle of Ulfamel. We should be there before nightfall." The forest floor was damp. It must have rained heavily here recently. It could have been the storm that nearly drowned both of them.

"The slave story might not work as well after we reach the city. Human slavers aren't particularly well-liked her. But we could say I'm escorting you to the Freeholds for a prisoner exchange on behalf of the High Council."

When they found the stream, Cillian felt better. It was disorienting how different the land looked. Just as the lake was coming into view through the trees from somewhere behind them, a twig snapped. Cillian turned, hoping he was going to see a small woodland creature curiously following them.

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

(Posted on behalf of haremfaery)

How long had Cillian been spying in the Empire? Desire knew elves lived a long time. Half-elves not as long but far longer than humans. Tieflings pretty much followed the human lifespan, maybe a few decades longer. Her ancestors were fools when they made their demonic pact. They should have asked for longer life along with everything else.

She shook her head. She didn’t know if they'd be alive tomorrow let alone long enough for their mismatched lifespans to make a difference.

She focused on Cillian when he spoke again. “Do I have to wear the iron collar again?”

They kept it in the pack just in case. “I can’t protect us with that thrice-damned thing on. But I’ll leave on the leather collar. Will that be enough?” At least she wouldn’t have to put it on until they were closer to Ulfamel.

Desire hadn’t heard anything but Cillian had. His ears, clipped or not, were sharper than hers. She looked through the trees trying to see what or who was there. This time she heard a few more twigs snap and leaves on a low branch shivered as if someone had just passed it.

“Cillian ...,” she said quietly although they probably could hear her. “There’s four I know of— trying to surround us. I need you to move ahead and get away from me. Go to the lake. I have the spool. Now GO!”

She had been stamping her feet in a rhythmic pattern while she talked, not exactly a dance but close enough. She unsheathed her swords and did a barrel roll to her right as an arrow whizzed passed missing her.

“Come our you cowards!” She yelled trying to buy time till her body was engulfed in flames. She kept zigzagging and spinning. She was tough to hit when she was moving. It felt good to dance, to feel the power surge through her.

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

"Now, GO!"

Desire said she heard four. "My love, there are seven." She'd detected the four in plate but not the three wearing boiled leather.

There were so many he had to aid her, but he was without weapons. Since his boots were swept downriver, he relied on just his natural abilities to move silently. Luckily the leaves on the ground were wet, otherwise, they'd crunch underfoot. He found one of them wearing the boiled leather and a metal helm guarding his nose. Attempting to punch him in the face would just end hurting Cillian's hand more than it usually would. Body blows would be less effective, as well. He had one other option, but there was no way to be stealthy about it. Cillian dropped the pack, pulled out the manacles and chain.

The human had already looked up and saw Cillian the moment the first links clanked. He charged, sword held ready to strike when he closed the distance. Cillian didn't let him. The threw manacles and chain at the soldier. It was enough to allow him to get past the reach of his sword and tackle him to the ground. The blade went flying, and the soldier reached for the dagger at his belt. Cillian wrapped his limbs around the soldier's trying to stop him. If the half-elf could grab it first, it'd be a simple task of sticking it in the soldier's throat. The two fell to the ground—each man fighting for his life. Reaching for the dagger meant letting the soldier's hands get closer.

Cillian didn't particularly like this maneuver. Even done correctly, a headbutt hurt. But with no other options, Cillian drove the top of his skull into the soldier's chin with sufficient force to make his own eyes water. But it was enough. The brief second the human was dazed was enough for Cillian to grab the dagger. Now it was merely strength against strength. Cillian tried to drive the blade into his opponent's throat. This man was strong, even while still reeling from the teeth shattering blow to his chin. Cillian pushed down with all his might, slowly bringing the blade closer and closer to his target. Only after the dagger was a half an inch in did the strength finally leave the soldier's arms.

Ears ringing, Cillian pulled himself to his feet. He grabbed the sword from the forest floor and turned around, ready to rush back and help Desire fight off the rest.

 

[haremfaery]

"My love, there are seven."

He called me "my love." She grinned like a schoolgirl. A few more arrows zinged past her and missed. "Cowards AND incompetents." She taunted.

The four soldiers in plate advanced. Her swords were ablaze now, flaming licking up the sides. She ran and leaped landing in front of one slashing at his face with one sword, then going for the knee joint in the plate with the other. She connected and he went down on his now bad knee. She danced around him hoping his comrades would come closer. Now her body was engulphed in flames. She leaped and kicked catching him in the chest with all of her weight. He fell backwards flailing trying to slash back at her. She stabbed him in the eye and killed him. "One down."

An arrow whizzed past and grazed her shoulder. Without thinking she shot a fire bolt at him and heard a satisfying yell. Now that she knew where he was she shot another at him.

She charged at the three in plate and attacked the one a bit closer. Each time she hit him, splashes of fire hit the soldier on his left.

"What the fuck is she?" The one she was fighting demanded. "Some sort of elemental?"

"I'm Heart's Desire." She answered and slashed at him again. She was a whirlwind, a dervish, dancing devil. She took two out in time to see two men in leather--the bowmen no doubt, likely rangers, approaching.

"I really don't have time for this." She shot a succession of fire bolts at them and they dropped, smoke rising from their bodies.

Just the one in plate left. She gestured for him to come closer, then ran at him slashing and stabbing until he was dead at her feet.

She did a quick count. "Seven Hells! Where's the seventh?" She continued to move rhythmically. She wanted to stay ready in case he appeared. She'd be much more vulnerable if she stopped. They couldn't afford to have one escape and report back. She was no tracker.

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

When Cillian turned around, expecting to see Desire still fighting off multiple soldiers, she was instead standing in the middle of six dead humans. He walked up.

"I...uh. I got the other one." Cillian, ears still ringing, laughed. "I gonna leave the ass-kicking to you, and I can just pick off the stragglers. Holy shit, Desire! You... you're amazing."

He began searching among the corpses until he had two decent daggers and a short sword. "Maybe I can be a bit more help next time."

He looked at her again, a goofy kind of smile on his face. "Wow. Is it disturbing that I really want to fuck you right now?"

To be fair, there usually wasn't a context in which he didn't want to be buried inside her as far as he could go.

 

[haremfaery]

"I told you I could fight if I had that thrice-damned collar off." She huffed. "I usually go for more a stealthy approach, but this required going all in. I hate water, but I love fire. Good thing it rained last night."

"They knew I could use magic, some basic wizard spells, but not about the dancing. Everyone who sees me dance like that doesn't live to tell the tale--Well, almost everyone." She gave him a kiss.

"Wow. Is it disturbing that I really want to fuck you right now?"

"You want to fuck me all the time, why should this be different?" She gave him a shove. "And next time when I tell you to go, You go. I mean it. I would want you to get caught in the backsplash of one of my spells. What if I used a fireball? I could have killed you!"

 

[HeyYoureThatGuy]

"I am man enough to admit I was wrong. I will happily fuck off next time we are attacked. That's a lie. I'll be worried, even though I've seen just how capable you are."

When Ulfamel came into view, Cillian grabbed Desire's hand.

"You want to be my wife?" There was a beat. "Instead of my slave or prisoner." Cillian began speaking very fast. "As our story. It would mean you wouldn't have to wear the collar anymore. I'd need to get you a ring. We'd get some looks, but we wouldn't have to pretend you're a prisoner that I'm not fucking? It'd be an easier story to sell. It's not like we don't—"

STOP TALKING!