Serfdom Duties

[LordLuck]

(closed for slippedhalo)

Lord Cedric was furious.

It had been three weeks since his wife had let him lay with her. Three weeks. Lady Bray was as attractive as he could hope her to be, and he considered himself lucky that his father, the late Lord Cedric, had made the pact for him. She was smart, but also moody.

She was diseased. The monks whispered of the plague. Cedric, fearing to be infected himself, decided that not laying with her would be for the best. But still, he had his own urges.

The idea had struck him as he rode about his castle's neighbouring village. The poor hamlets usually hid some precious jewels, sometimes girls that his soldiers laid with, thinking he wasn't aware at all. Cedric was tall, his trimmed beard adding to his stern features, his broad shoulders speaking of a more than capable warrior.

And there was Lord Cedric, accompanied by three of his armed soldiers, inspecting his lands, when he reached the Castle's Mill.

 

[slippedhalo]

Lucille was busy preparing yet another meal on yet any other day. As the local miller, her husband, George, was often very busy with the running of the mill and also local business but as of late he was hardly home at all, not for any reason beyond lying passed out, drunk, in a gutter. He'd not come home the night before and in the morning she had a difficult time not showing her anger as young George Jr. asked repeatedly where his father was and little James only picked sadly at his porridge. His daddy had promised him he'd take him on a ride on their mule before he and Jr would head to the mill for work.

When she was taking the dry clothes down from the washline and baking bread for lunchtime, Lyle, her husband's protegee, had stopped by and asked if George was feeling well since he'd never come to work that morning. She colored deeply and apologized, claiming he was upstairs in bed, sick.

Now, it was just close to sunset and dinner was ready. Their two children, ten and four, waited at the table and she could see by the expression on Jr's face he knew she had no idea where he was...

...Then, just as she was sending the boys off to their bed the door opened behind her and she could smell the pipe tobacco and strong alchohol scent before she even heard her husband draw a breath. Turning on the spot, Lucille's green eyes blazed with resentment. "George! It's nice of you to remember to finally come home."

"Listen, wench. The last thing a man needs in this world is lip from his woman." he slurred before he was on her, blow after blow, and she had to shield her face with her arms to keep him from bruising her face like he'd done the last time he'd come home drunk and beaten her. Too much talk in church the following morning made him more careful to hit her about the body now. But, the pain was still the same. It broke her heart more than any bones to have the man who was supposed to love and provide for her beat her and berate her. The things he said under the influence of the drink always seemed to be more truth than anything he ever said during more sober moments. He hated his life. He hated the mill. He hated not being able to wander and roam and having people who depended upon him. And, he took it out on her.

She ran off to a more secluded part of their small house in order to avoid the travel of the noises caused by George's beating of his wife to awaken their children.

"Lucy! Don't make me chase you!" he yelled, making her wince and stop on the spot just in time to be pushed to the floor for the buggering of a lifetime.

It was on one morning after such a wicked beating and rape that she was limping for two days since, that she heard the sound of horses approaching their land. George and his eldest were working at the mill and young James was napping inside. She was out, just finished with milking their cow and nearly dropped the milking bucket when she saw what looked like royalty approaching.

 

[LordLuck]

"Go, Gilles, and fetch me that bastard."

Were Cedric's only words. His bodyguard, all the three of the armed men lowered themselves into the ground, and walked about towards the Mill, arms in hands, searching around for the miller. The 'bastard', as Lord Cedric had said, had done more than rape and mangle his wife last night. Indeed, he had joined a fray between a band of drunkards that had destroyed the village's tavern. The poor keeper had plead for his lordship in order to find a way to fix the mess, and hunt down the blasted people that ruined his property himself.

And so did Lord Cedric of Rotherwood find Lucille, as a poor wench that lowered her frightened face as he approached her, mounted over a horse.

"Or better. Sergeant, subdue him, and hold him into the Mill. I'll see to you shortly."

Gilled the Sergeant only sneered as he saw where his lord was laying his eyes. Cedric turned his wizened features to the woman. He was not too older than her, but years of war and toil had taken much of his youth. His hair and bear were now the darkest shade of grey. Many even called him 'Greymane' for that.

"Woman. What is your name? Why are you limping?"

 

[slippedhalo]

Lucy turned her face up only slightly, her bowed posture remained differential to this man's higher station in society as she stammered a reply, "My Lord...my apologies for the state of things here....I had no idea we were to be visited by the Land Lord himself." She put down the milk bucket and brushed grass and dirt from the hem of her skirt with haste, dismayed that she couldn't appear more refined before the Lord who's castle looked down upon them from the top of the hill.

She avoided answering the question about the limp, hoping he wouldn't address it again and bring up her private shame. "Sir, my name is Lucille. My...my husband, George Miller, he calls me Lucy. Would...would you perhaps be looking for him? He should be at the mill now, working with our eldest son." She sensed George was in some trouble and it made her wonder what he might have done in the near 24 hours he had been missing before his return and abuse of her the night before.

Her eyes followed another armed man who wandered the property as if appraising it's value. This made her quite nervous. The last time anyone with any authority came to do so they'd had their horses taken to pay off George's gambling debts. When he stopped at the headstones at the foot of the huge oak tree near the well and began to read the names she bit her trembling lip. The twins had been buried there.

Lucy teared up as she thought about her sweet twin boys and their death almost two years ago. All of the children had been left out to play, unbeknownst to her, while Lucille had gone into the town center to trade her eggs and buy some fabric and meat. She'd been gone less than half a day and had left a hung-over George in charge.

He'd been in a drunken stupor all morning and she doubted he hardly knew she had gone anywhere. The children had been locked outside by their father, all four of them, baby James included. The three youngest had soon after caught themselves a terrible fever as a result of the rainstorm George had slept through that morning...The finacially struggling family had only had enough emergency money left for medicine for one child. As, he was the youngest and weakest, James received the medicine. James lived.

The twin's health deteriorated more and more that following month. First, Andrew died and then his twin, Henry, just two days later. They had been six years old. Lucille still ached whenever she thought of two of her children dead and buried. It made her even more protective of the two she had left and all the more resentful of her husband and his vices and how much they were wearing down his family.

 

[LordLuck]

"Very well, Lucille."

The nobleman took his time to admire at Lucy's form and features. She was not the most gorgeous of the masked and heavily painted courtesans, but she was attractive in her own... sports. Perhaps it was her tired, sad eyes. Perhaps it was her port, the way that she tried to hide the fact that, according to many of the neighbours, including Father Paulus, the village's cleric, that her husband used to hit her.

"Do you know why I am here, Lucille?"

"Of course you don't. That ungrateful wretch that's married to you has, once again, mangled my property beyond recognition. There was a travelling merchant in the Tavern, and the Miller decides to pick on him. Long tale shortened, woman, you husband helped destroying most of the place. Poor Karl can't abide to pay for it every time. The merchant could, and already paid half his damage, leaving in shameful regret. And your husband?"

Lord Cedric finally lowered himself from horseback, his expensive, fine clothes flunging about as his discrepant old work-boots, still fine, but worn, touched the muddy ground. Slowly did he approach Lucille, and took his gloved hand to take a strand of hair away from her face. Cedric was stern, and his voice demanded attention.

"Woman. Why do you limp?"

 

[slippedhalo]

Lucille stood still as a deer in the sight of a hunter's bow when Lord Cedric approached. It was as he drew closer she could see the broadness of his shoulders and truly appreciate the fine shape of his facial features. His hand forced her face to look into his own as he brushed an errant red curl from her face and lifted her chin in wait of a response.
"Woman. Why do you limp?"

Her lip trembled as she considered her options. Was there even a believable lie good enough for a nobleman such as himself? Surely, with his grand education he would be able to tell if she was telling a fib. She couldn't bear the strain any longer and burst into tears. "Please, Sir, don't make me talk about it. You must know, everyone knows...It's so humiliating, my Lord!" and she fell to her knees, her hands hiding her face as she wept in shame. How could she say the words out loud? It was too much to bear! In her humble state all she managed was a whisper, "It was...George..."

 

[LordLuck]

Pathetic little woman. Poor creature.

She must have suffered so much at the hands of her current host, a man who did not knew the boundaries of what was acceptable as a minor fighting, too insignificant to attract a noble's attention, and what was outright disturbing.

"There are differences between discipline and brutality.", he spoke lowly, almost in a whisper, his gruff voice touched, even though his gaze did not flinch.

"Raise woman. Stead your tears.", he said, offering her his hand, "The Miller has many debts to pay up for, and I hope you can help your husband in that. Come. Take my hand, and let's get inside your... home..."

 

[slippedhalo]

Lucille took the proffered hand, sniffling as she tried to quickly stop her tears. Why was he being so kind to her? What did he mean about her being able to help pay her husband's debts? Was she to be offered a job of some sort? What sort of jobs could a poor peasant woman be able to do for a nobleman? she wondered to herself. Lucy let him into her home, the soft snores of the little one in the loft made her heart ache with love and protectiveness. "The baby's asleep upstairs." she said in a voice close to a near whisper, pointing to the ladder leading above.

She motioned to the table before them, a plain, utilitarian piece of furniture, likely nothing like the fine furnishings this man would be used to but it was all she had to offer. 'Would you like a seat? Perhaps, I could get you a cup of tea?" She knew there were still some reserves of tea left over from last year's Christmas package sent from her sister overseas. This would be a fine time for such a luxurious treat, Lucy thought, knowing from books she'd borrowed as a girl that noblemen drank tea all the time.

 

[LordLuck]

Although he did not have to, Lord Cedric accepted her offering with a nod. Even though she was surely poor and would make a big sacrifice into offering him even the slightest cup of tea, it would be a large tear in her economies. Poor creature.

"Good Lucille, my scribes tell me that the property you husband owes me is left uncared and unpaid for many, many months. I believe that you do not possess any goods and probably any services that I could make use of... but I can think of something that should pay for the Miller's indiscretions."

"Woman, I've heard from your neighbours that you... are very fertile. Are you?"

He asked her bluntly, taking a good look of her behind as she reached for the last of her tea, cautiously considering how much of it would make a cup good enough for His Lordship, but enough so she'd still have some of the expensive comodity.

 

[slippedhalo]

At the mention of fertility Lucille paused in her motion, turning to glance over her shoulder, color creeping into her cheeks, "Your Lordship, did I hear you correctly?"

She considered what this conversation might be leading to as she distracted herself making the tea. How could he possibly care about that? "Yes...I suppose I am, Sir." Lucy finally said, setting the finest teacup she had down before him and standing awkwardly beside him in case there was more she might have to fetch. "I...I've been pregnant seven times in the twelve years I've been married. I've borne five live children. One died of pneumonia at just three weeks old. My twins...they grew sick because of..."she didn't want to claim it was George's fault despite feeling so. She shook her head, "They were six years old when they died. I'm a lucky woman to have two healthy sons. I would never complain about that."

 

[LordLuck]

"You are lucky to be blessed with so many children, woman."

Suddenly, Cedric's eyes were not as stern as a few moments ago, but angry. And sad. As if he envied this woman who got hit by her husband every time he felt like giving her a sound trashing. How could her, a mere peasant, bear that bastard more heirs than his own Lady would not?

But he resumed his stern, analitical gaze jsut in time to conceal his expression from her. He should not look frail to this mangled woman.

"There's a way... to pay for your husband debts. But for that, Lucille, you will have to make a great sacrifice. I can offer you full pardon of your debts, and to remove you from this home, getting you another inside the Castle's walls, away from that violent man that you'd call husband. But for that... you'd play your part."

 

[slippedhalo]

Now her jaw dropped, agape at the suggestion that she leave her husband. "Lord Cedric, forgive my daftness but...how would leaving my husband help pay off his debts?" She indicated the two children absent from the room. "I won't leave them behind, not for anything, Sir."

 

[LordLuck]

"You shall have no need of leaving your children, woman. And your husband has done too much. I may hold my hand should you ask me, but I am inclined to have him hanged for his imprudence."

Cedric awaited for the tea to be served before continuing.

"You shall come with me, Lucille. To be my mistress. To share your nights with me. To sate my every wish. To bear me... an heir."

 

[slippedhalo]

It was done before she knew it. Her things, not very much to speak of, were packed and placed in a saddle bag. James was awakened and told he and his mother would be moving away. George Junior was to return to her new abode with the man escorting his father to the dungeon and would be meeting his mother and brother in their new residence, a much larger suite of rooms than their whole house!

As Lucy unpacked the bag and James was taken out to a courtyard they shared with the castle's kitchen staff to play with some children he'd seen out there, she found herself truly alone with Lord Cedric for the first time and nervous.

 

[LordLuck]

"This shall be your dwellings, woman. You shall work as one of the household servants in the day, while you are not servicing me. And remember why you are here. I am more important than any petty task you may be handled."

Cedric sat upon a chair that had been furnished for Lucille's room. It was a poor room, one that would be cold and damp and wet in the winter, but would be fresh and soothing in the summer. Of course, she would work. She would not be a company to Lord Cedric in his Hall, of course not, but she would be allowed some luxury more than a mere peasant.

"Come, Lucille. Let's see if I've made a good deal.", he motioned to his lap, "Come."

 

[slippedhalo]

Tentatively, Lucille moved acrossed the room to where Lord Cedric sat. He patted his lap again and she nodded shyly, sitting upon his well muscled leg but feeling foolish doing so. She looked down at her hands folded at her knees. "Your Lordship...I'm...not sure what you find pleasing. I...I'm a little afraid of disappointing you." she admitted honestly. "...I know I am not to refuse you because of the power you hold and therefore I never shall. But, please be patient with me while I learn what you want of me." she said, daring to lift her green eyes to meet his stern gaze with her appeal for understanding. So much had happened in just a short time. She felt she had barely enough time to think. Was this the right thing?

 

[LordLuck]

"What I want from you is simple enough, woman.", he coughed, a smile at his lips. It was an emotionless smile. But deep into his eyes, Lucy could see that Cedric had great hopes upon her. Great hopes.

"I want you to keep me warm through the nights. I want you to be happy and smiling. I want you to allow me to mount you wherever I wish. I want a male heir."

He said, his hands wandering Lucille's form with great care, exploring her bust with curiosity rather than pure lust. Taking his mustached face towards hers, he finally laid one kiss over Lucy's face, a long, calm one, like if he had planned every step leading up to now.

"I want you, Lucille."

 

[slippedhalo]

The kiss was soft. Not insistent or lewd, it seemed like a pleasant enough introduction into her new life as the Lord's mistress. She hoped her new duty to this powerful and frighteningly intriguing man would not end up breaking her heart.

As she relaxed against his body more his hands explored further, dipping into the bodice of her blouse to remove a breast from her corset and massage as his kiss deepened, his tongue beginning to taste the insides of the lips they pried open, his breath mingling with her's as they learned each other slowly. Lucille felt this might not be so bad after all and unconsciously sighed, letting her body find enjoyment instead of shame at the feel of this hand upon her.

 

[LordLuck]

She was quite... satisfactory. Cedric knew that she would be afraid of letting him down, but for the Heaven's sake, she was a woman! There were plenty of ways for her to please him!

And that way, he kissed far more vigorously this time, pulling her closer with his hand at her neck, while the other still caressed her thighs, sliding into them and lifting her simple, plain dress. His tongue darted far into her mouth, licking and mingling with hers.

 

[slippedhalo]

Lucy relaxed yet more within his embrace. His kiss was unlike no other. He was a very engaging kisser and his touch was starting to do things to her body which made her blush to contimplate. She felt dirty and wanton and yet attractive and sexy, almost beautiful in this man's hands. It made her more bold and she began to explore him with her hands a little as well beginning with his well muscled chest between shirt buttons she was soon opening for him. His hand skirting up her thigh was a gentle relief in comparison to George's rough grip. When his fingers brushed against her whisper of auburn nether hair she sucked in a breath, his tongue came with the rush of air and their kiss deepened further even as she tried not to tense up with the fingers exploring her quickly moistening sex.

 

[LordLuck]

Of course, soon enough Lucy could feel her Lordship's arousal as well, is throbbing hardness poking against her in his lap. Still, for now, Cedric allowed her some pleasure, still caressing her with his fingers, probing into her womanhood, getting her ready to his coupling. He would not be so gentle when mounting her, after all.

"Lucille... it's time."

 

[slippedhalo]

She sighed against him, dizzy from the blood racing through her veins and the power of that lust-filled kiss. A nod was all she managed before he lifted her from his lap and pushed her toward the bedroom.

As she crossed the threshold between rooms large hands came from behind her and pulled her dress off unceremoniously. Lucy gasped and turned to face her new lover, helping him to finish undressing her, the hardness of his erection strained against his breeches and she watched as it seemed to jump toward her of it's own accord when her milky-white breasts made contact with the cool air of the room, visible now, her rosebud nipples puckered in the changed atmosphere.

 

[LordLuck]

Without another word, Lord Cedric took Lucille forcefully towards her bed - a wooden mattress, covered with a lot o hay, covered by a sheet of rough fabric - not so rough as to be poorly, but not as the one that covered Cedric's own bed. Taking Lucille to the bed, Cedric quickly and savagely started to strip himself, lowering his breeches and linen shirt, discarding them at the simple, wooden floor.

"Strip, woman."

 

[slippedhalo]

Lucy didn't waste time, her eyes growing huge as they take in the nude form of this man descending upon her. She took her undergarments off as quickly as possible, bare and vulnerable as he pushed her down onto the matress, his thickmember bobbing against her stomach as he crawled atop her. She wasn't scared. She wasn't as humilated as she thought she'd be...she was strangely curious. Would it be very different to have sex with a new man?

 

[LordLuck]

Curiously, Cedric laid over Lucille's body, but even though he was hard and smelling of a powerful, strong virile arousal, he did not move in to invade her womanhood yet. Instead, the Lord approached Lucy's face in order to kiss her once more, another fierce and long kiss, forcing his head around in order to have her accompany his movements.

Taking one of his hands to caress at her breasts, cupping one of them and playfully squeezing it kindly, his hardness rubbing itself against the peasant's waistline;