The Child of Destiny

[Emstar303]

The way it felt when Darian sank inside her depths was enough to make a believer out of her. It was absolute Heaven. She moaned and pulled him in, her hands squeezing his broad, muscular shoulders. It was insane how good he felt; how all-consuming the pleasure was. She almost wished it didn’t feel this good so it would be easier to move past this experience later, to get over him, but right now, Darian was everything.

“Oh...Darian...yes!!” Talia moaned louder as she felt that wonderful feeling well up inside her again. She stared into his beautiful eyes, mirroring his expression of pleasure and accelerating towards release. Her mouth fell open, her hips twitched against his. Talia came again, squeezing Darian’s thick cock inside her. She moaned uncontrollably and her body shook against his. Just as she was starting to come down from her high Darian followed her over the edge.

Darian spilled himself inside her again, his cock thrusting wildly. His cum overflowed her small elvan sheath; it spilled past the folds of her sex and dripped down her thighs. More thick strands of cum surged from her opening when Darian pulled out, like an overflowing dam. Cybene practically shrieked with delight at the results and slipped a finger in between Talia’s slick folds. Talia went to squirm away from her but the touch left as soon as it came.

Cybene grinned at the pair of them and told them things were about to get weird. Talia wondered what could possibly be weirder than this but before she could ask the witch conjured a literal bathtub around them.

The rest of the night passed in a whirlwind for Talia. Cybene made the princess and the paladin fuck over and over. They both came countless times. Talia’s flower overflowed with Darian’s nectar and before the night was through they were surrounded by a pool of Darian’s semen. At intervals, whenever she felt like it really, Cybene would cup some of Darian’s cum from the tub and bring it to Talia’s lips while he was fucking her. Each time Talia would gulp down his cum obediently, if not a little eagerly, which positively delighted Cybene.

By the time Darian finally pulled out of her and Cybene did not order him right back inside, Talia was breathing heavily, completely exhausted from all the writing and thrusting and moaning and squeezing they’d done. She could only imagine how Darian felt as he was doing most of the work. She was lying back in the tub, her entire body sticky and wet from Darian’s emissions. It actually felt strange being empty like this having been filled with Darian’s cock for the past few hours.

Cybene helped her to her feet and led her to a bed not far from the tub. Her body felt so bloated with cum. Talia was ready to collapse onto the bed but Cybene stopped her to clean off Darian’s cum she herself had splashed onto Talia’s body. She spent longer than necessary palming Talia’s breasts, her slender fingers flicking her nipples.

“You’re a witch. Don’t you have a spell for cleanup or something?” Talia mumbled though she did not move to stop her. She was too tired.

Cybene laughed, genuinely amused the princess still had some sass left in her after all that. “I do, but I find it’s more fun this way.” She tickled the underside of Talia’s breasts and crept her fingers down to her thighs like creepy spiders. Cybene did a thorough job cleaning Talia of Darian’s cum, a little too thorough actually.

When she was finally finished she let Talia lay down on the bed. Talia laid back onto the pillows gratefully. She knew she should be fighting right now, but she was just so tired. She felt a prodding at her lips. Cybene wanted her to drink something. Talia looked at her in confusion - she thought they were done. Cybene just pressed the bowl more insistently against her lips and Talia groaned but swallowed the potion. Cybene left her then and drew a circle around the bed, creating a mystical barrier between Talia and the rest of the room.

The conversation between Cybene and Darian faded outside the barrier and it was almost like they were moving in slow motion. Talia felt a little panicked, she also felt a little sick. She clutched her stomach and was shocked to discover it was protruding an extra inch or two. She gasped in shock and leaped up from the bed. Her eyes flashed back to the others, but Darian was gone and only Cybene remained. The witch returned to the bubble, stepped to Talia, and pressed her hands to Talia’s stomach. “Not to worry dear, you’ll see him again. I hate to break it to you but these next few hours are going to be far less pleasurable than your time with Darian… so I do hope you enjoyed yourself while you could!” She clapped her hands together, grinned at Talia, then left the bubble to grab some more supplies from her mystical chest or whatever; Talia was having a hard time keeping up with what was going on. She was also starting to feel nauseous, and her belly seemed to be growing larger by the second!

When she felt a kick against her insides she screamed. She stood from the bed and moved to exit the bubble after Cybene and demand an explanation, but the bubble was impassable to all but Cybene. She watched the witch move in slow motion from a distance, helpless to reach her. Talia was scared. Her body didn’t feel right. It didn’t look right.

Talia waddled, yes waddled, back to the bed to lie down. She felt light-headed. Her belly had grown so much bigger in the short time she’d stood and walked to the edge of her surreal confinement cell.

At last, Cybene rejoined her in the bubble. She was carrying a basketful of towels and an assortment of potions and creams. Talia was relieved to see her just to have a chance to understand what was going on. She hoped Cybene would not confirm her fears. “What’s happening to me?” she asked the dark elf. She gripped the bed tightly, afraid of her own body as her belly kept seeming to grow and grow right before her eyes.

Cybene conjured a stool and sat beside Talia. “Can’t you tell? Can’t you feel it?” Cybene squirted a generous amount of cream in her hands and began to rub Talia’s belly. As if on cue a tiny kick bumped against her belly. Cybene grinned, “I’ve been alluding to it all night, Talia, you must know by now…”

Talia moaned in relief as Cybene rubbed the rapidly stretching skin of her belly. It was itchy and uncomfortable. She did feel something moving. A baby. “But why?” she stared at Cybene wide-eyed. Her belly had finally seemed to stop growing. It was so big in front of her she could no longer see her feet. She was scared. She wished Darian was here. She hoped this really was all a dream even though she knew the truth in her heart.

Cybene laughed and patted Talia on the head affectionately. “I’m sorry dear but I can’t tell you that, you must understand. Anyway, don’t trouble yourself over it. Thanks for being a semi-willing participant. Now, as soon as you give birth I’ll take the child and you can go back to your normal life, and this will all just be…” She paused, searching for the right word. “an Extraordinary memory.”

She stood from Talia’s side and sat inside between Talia’s legs.“You’ve stopped growing. It’s just a matter of time now.”

Talia’s mind was whirling a mile a minute. She didn’t want a baby. But if she was forced to have a baby, she didn’t think she’d want to give it up! Everything was happening so fast!

“I won’t let you take my baby,” Talia said. She clutched at her stomach protectively.

Cybene saw the look of anguish on her face and sighed. “Oh my dear, dear girl. You speak as if you have a choice.”

***

Several hours later and, like Darian, Talia had been returned to her bed. Her body felt weak, her flower torn. Cybene had given her magical stitches that she said would disappear within the week.

Enough time to show them to Darian to prove this really happened, if she wanted to. Cybene had suggested It may be kinder to let him think it was all a dream. Let him keep his vow to his goddess.

I can’t deceive him like that, even for his sake. I need him to know this happened. Talia thought. Perhaps it was selfish, but Talia could not go through this alone. She needed him.

She must have passed out from the trauma and pain because she couldn’t remember exactly how the birth went. She just remembered intense, horrible, incredible pain… a lot of blood, screams, and finally the sweet, perfect cries of new life. Her new life, Darian and hers. Talia had blinked weakly at the tiny baby Cybene pulled from her, but after a few moments she’d passed out again. The memories were all a mess.

She thought of finding Darian immediately, but she realized she wasn’t exactly sure where he slept, and just shifting her body sent a horrible jolt of pain through her entire body starting from her core, so she decided to stay put for now. As Talia lay in the darkness, overwhelmed with feeling, she laughed and cried herself to sleep.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Darian woke slowly and painfully. His head felt like it was in a vice, and his legs felt like he had run for miles and miles. He swung his legs off the side of the bed, pain shooting through his crotch as he did so. He stood up and pulled down his pants. His cock was red and swollen. It looked like it had been rubbed raw! He could even see some abrasions and swelling all along the shaft.

He touched it gingerly, wincing at the contact. He must’ve been rubbing it into the mattress during last night’s dream. Oh, Goddess, he said to himself at the memory. He was mortified at the sick, twisted scene his mind had conjured. He reached down to pull up his pants, letting out a groan as his sore legs bent at the hip.

There was a knock on the door, and Darian quickly fought through the pain to pull up his pants before answering. “Yes?”

“Hi, Darian, it’s Shianni. Tarilon and Aubree thought I should check on you after last night? I’m headed up to Talia’s room, too, so don’t feel too special.”

That was kind of them. What had happened last night? Everything before the dream was a bit fuzzy, which was strange. Wasn’t it usually the dreams that were fuzzy? Shaking his head, Darian quickly made sure he was decent. “You can come in.”

Shianni’s brow furrowed when she saw him. Did he look that bad?

“Hangover?”

Maybe that was it. Maybe that explained everything.

“I guess. It’s strange: I don’t remember drinking hardly anything, but I feel awful.”

She stepped toward him, and her left hand started glowing faintly white. “Just your head?”

He thought about telling her about his crotch, but decided against it. “My head, and I’m sore everywhere. Especially my legs.”

Shianni ran her hand over his entire body, on the outside of Darian’s clothes, just an inch or two away from the linen, and his head cleared. He still felt exhausted, but the pressure was gone! The ache in his legs was gone, as well!

“Thank you! I feel so mu--ah!” He had tried to step to the side, and his pants had rubbed against his still-raw dick.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

Darian blushed. “Nothing.”

Shianni pursed her lips and and narrowed her eyes. “Boarshit. That’s boarshit! You’re obviously in pain and I didn’t heal it which means you didn’t tell me about it.” Her eyes widened with a gasp. “Which means you’re embarrassed about it.” She put one slender, elven hand on his arm. “Darian Verayne, you have no idea what all I’ve healed and on who, and I’m still in training. This is part of what healers do. I won’t tell anyone, ever.”

Darian shrugged. He didn’t have to tell her about the dream. He could just say he woke up like this. It was true, even!

“It’s my crotch. I must’ve rubbed it in my sleep. It’s red and tender.”

Shianni froze for several seconds. To her credit, she didn’t let out the laugh or gasp or whatever reaction he knew she wanted to have. There was one tiny hint of a smile before she spoke.

“I’m sorry, but I think I’ll have to see it.”

Oh no. “Are you sure?”

Her face steeled into a professionally detached expression. “I have to see what I’m doing, Darian.”

That was fine. He was fine with it. It would be fine. This wasn’t Cybene, toying with his body like she had a right. This was Shianni. She was trying to heal him.

“Okay.” He gently, carefully pulled down his pants.

Shianni did a good job of not reacting, but he caught a small extra exhale from her as she saw his swollen penis. “This happened in your sleep?”

“Yes.” He felt like he was lying, even though he wasn’t.

“No wonder you couldn’t walk.” She reached toward him.

Darian flinched away. “Do you need to touch it!?”

Shianni shook her head. “No, no, no. You saw how close I got to heal the rest of you. That’s all I’m doing.”

Darian tried to relax, but it was difficult. He had to let her do what she needed to do. “Okay, I’m sorry.”

“Of course. I understand. It’s private.” Her hands glowed as they hovered over his raw, aching cock. The relief he felt was so intense a small moan escaped his lips. It took longer to heal this single organ than it had the rest of his body, but it was fascinating to see the red, bleeding skin heal before his eyes.

“Thank you. For the healing, and for not making me feel bad about it.”

Shianni smiled. “That’s what friends do, Darian. I’m sure you would save me from a giant centipede or whatever, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course!”

“Then we’re even.” Shianni stood as Darian pulled up his pants, grateful he could do so without pain.

“Shianni?”

“Yes, Darian.”

“Make sure Talia’s okay?”

She didn’t point out that she was going to do that anyway. It didn’t need to be said. “Of course.”

Darian left his room after she did, desperate for some food and water. Maybe there was some soup in the kitchen? He’d have to check.

 

[Emstar303]

That harsh rapping on her door woke Talia from her slumber. She'd had the most dreadful, wonderful dream and... oh why did everything hurt? She didn't want to admit it had been real. Sleep had been so nice. Talia dared not move.

"Come onnn, Talia!" she heard Shianni's singsong tone. "I know you like to sleep in but it's past noon!"

She hid from the knock on her door, pulled the covers up over her head. She tried to turn over, but it hurt too badly so she stopped the attempt. A sharp pained cry escaped her lips.

"Talia? Are you all right? I'm coming in," Shianni said after already having stepped through the door. She rushed over to Talia and yanked her covers off.

Shianni had never seen her best friend in such a state. Talia was a wreck. Shianni could tell from her expression alone. There wasn't even a flicker of a mischievous smile, she looked exhausted, drained, but also a little wild, angry. Her thick head of blond hair was matted and poufy around her angelic face. She had some bruises on her knees. There were some strange smells coming off her too. But most unnerving was the pool of blood between her legs. The metallic bloody smell was coupled with a deeper, ingrained salty smell coming from her skin, but Shianni didn't comment on it as she knelt on the bed beside one of her two best friends.

"Oh my gods! What happened?" she asked. She gently but urgently tugged up Talia's nightgown to examine between her legs, where the blood seemed to be coming from.

Talia started sobbing. How was she ever going to explain this? How was Shianni ever going to believe her? For once, Talia was speechless and she couldn't respond, especially when Shianni was exaiming her so closely. She had her hands thrust out over her body and was accessing her carefully

"I've got to get my mother," she said all of a sudden.

"What, Shianni no! It's not that bad."

"It's not but... Talia, you, you look wider, like, like--"

"Like someone who's just had a baby?" Talia asked. She sat up higher on the covers, wincing in pain.

Shianni hovered her hand above Talia's lower lips, met her eyes. "Well, yeah. This is way, way beyond my expertise I mean--" Shianni looked so worried. The soothing, pain reliving healing magic wavered over her core as Shianni's hands shook.

"Shianni," Talia said her name to focus her friend. "It's because I did have a baby. I know it sounds crazy. But I was kidnapped last night by that creepy dark witch, impregnated, and put in some sort of accelerated time bubble!" Saying it all out loud Talia was starting to think she might be crazy herself. She took a deep breath.

"I need to see Darian."

"Darian?" Shianni asked, confused. Then her eyes widened in limited understanding. "I saw him earlier," Shianni said. "He was... injured as well."

Talia remembered how deeply, how hard, and for how long her and Darian's bodies had been joined. She wondered what the extent of his injury had been. Did he realize it wasn't a dream then? Why hadn't he come to her?

There was silence between Talia and her friend for a moment. Shianni finished healing Talia to the best of her abilities and took her hand.

"I believe you, Talia."

Talia choked on a sob. She was so relieved.

"Of course I do!" Shianni exclaimed. "You thought I wouldn't? Not with all this evidence? And Darian... oh Talia he was in quite a state this morning! You - you want me to go get him, you said?"

"Yes, please Shianni, and don't say anything to anyone yet, okay? I don't want anyone to think I'm crazy.

"Talia..."

"There are already enough rumors about me, Shianni," Talia said with some bitterness.

That much was true. Shianni sighed. "I'll be right back."

She hurried back into the castle to find Darian, heading to the kitchen where she'd last seen him. Her heart was racing for her friend. Finding someone injured and in need of healing was one thing, she was used to that, but finding Talia like this... and with this wild revelation about their dark elf visitor... Shianni's adrenaline was pumping as she looked for Darian.

Talia pulled the blanket to cover her body up to her belly button but felt too weak to pull it any further. She groaned and closed her eyes. Shianni's magic had made most of the pain go away, but she still felt sore and there was an anger burning inside her for the dark witch unlike any anger she'd ever experienced.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Darian was terrified to be back in Cybene’s clutches, powerless as she used her skeletal hands to hold his naked body still. At least Talia was nowhere to be seen this time. He wasn’t on the terrace anymore either. How had Cybene gotten into the kitchen? Her power was terrifying.

“What do you want with me?”

“Why, to humiliate and torture you, Darian. I want you to be ashamed of how everyone knows you’re not really chaste. I’m going to show them all how you enjoyed what I made you do to Talia.”

Darian’s heart sank. This was what he’d feared all along. He hated the part of himself that had been intrigued and titillated by the things Cybene had done and made him do.

She shoved him forward into the fire, burning his face. He screamed, but no sound came out. It must have been a silence spell of some kind. The fear was rushing into his mind, now. Why was the fire so wet?

Cybene’s hands pulled him back, away from the fire, dispelling the skeletal hands. He was shocked to see her in a relatively normal looking dress as his eyes fluttered.

“Damn it, Darian!”

Her hands glowed, and she held it near his face. His burns healed, and he woke to see Shianni standing in front of him.

“How did you fall asleep in your soup, Darian?! It’s boiling!”

Darian blinked, shaking the cobwebs out of his mind. “I wanted soup.”

Shianni rolled her eyes. “Whatever, you need to come with me. Right. Now.”

Darian stumbled to his feet. He could tell she was serious, and his stomach fell. Had something happened to Talia? Why would Shianni be coming for him? Had there been some kind of attack? Had the real world version of Cybene done something? He’d gotten a bad feeling about her from the beginning, which partially explained the dream, he guessed.

Darian started running through the castle, but Shianni put a hand on his arm. “Don’t be obvious,” she whispered to him, through gritted teeth.

Darian stopped and looked at her. “What. Happened?”

The elven healer looked pointedly at his crotch and then back to his face. “You don’t...remember?”

Darian’s heart sank. Was she talking about the dream? How would she know about the dream? How would anyone know about the dream? Surely she must be talking about something else. Maybe she was just asking him for a favor, in return for healing him. He didn’t mind that at all.

“Alright. Lead the way.”

They moved silently through the beautiful, ornate castle until they arrived at an elaborately carved wooden door in the royal wing. Darian had never been here before, but he knew it was Talia’s room. He could feel it. Shianni knocked, and opened the door. Darian followed behind to see Talia lying on the bed. Her hair was matted, her face flush, her body bruised and dirty. She was beautiful. Darian’s heart clenched to see her, and then it clenched for a different reason when he saw the blood between her legs. He looked into Talia’s fearful, pained eyes. “What happened?”

He turned to Shianni. “What’s happening?”

 

[Emstar303]

Though Shianni had lessened her most severe pain Talia was still sore. She barely moved on the bed, just breathed deeply and thought how she would face Darian. Selfishly, she wanted him to remember, and she just needed him here. The minutes felt like hours as she waited for Shianni to return with the man she'd lost her virginity with.

Finally, the door opened and Shianni and Darian entered. They both had worried expressions; Darian's only seemed to worsen when he looked at Talia, scanned her body, and saw the blood.

"What happened?" he asked her and Talia’s heart plummeted.

He turned to Shianni. “What’s happening?”

Talia looked at him in shock. She’d just assumed he would remember. Or was he asking about the blood specifically? Talia took a deep breath. “You don’t remember what happened with Cybene last night?” she asked. The witch's name tasted vile on her lips. "And me and you... “ she trailed off. Gallons and gallons of cum. Endless cum. Enough to bathe in.

"You... you kept saying it was a dream but I told you it wasn't..." her voice broke. "It wasn't," she said softly. She gripped the covers tight.

She’d thought having Darian here would soothe her, but if he didn’t remember what happened….

Talia didn’t think she could handle this on her own. Especially the loss. The intense and immediate bond then the loss she felt. How could she possibly explain that if he didn't remember? The aftermath of last night was proving more trying than the actual event itself.

Shianni broke through the silence, "It looks like Talia's given birth recently. Do you know anything about that?" she asked Darian. Shianni was always direct. There was no other way to be as a healer, in her opinion.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

That was real? That wasn’t a dream?

“Oh, Talia,” was all he could get out at first. If that had really happened, then the things she had been through were horrific. It also meant the Cybene that they had met last night, the evil sorceress, the gleeful witch, was real. And, she had gotten whatever she wanted from them.

Darian could see the torment on Talia’s face, and his heart broke. He went from blaming himself for dreaming such a scenario, to blaming himself for not protecting her from the real thing.

He knelt by the bed, and reached for her hand.

“That really wasn’t a dream? That really happened?”

He held her hand, and looked into her red, puffy eyes with his own hollow, sunken orbs. “I’m so sorry.”

And then Shianni spoke, and Darian looked back at Talia. He squeezed her fingers. He was going to kill that witch.

Darian’s head snapped back to Shianni as he processed her words.

“Given birth!? WHAT!?”

 

[Emstar303]

Talia almost started crying in relief when Darian took her hand and seemed to remember the events of the previous night. He was shocked it wasn't a dream, but at least he remembered. Talia squeezed his hand tightly,

She was kind of grateful Shianni had just come out and said it, because even the straightforward Talia was nervous about just coming out and saying it.

“Given birth!? WHAT!?” Darian shouted.

"I uh, guess you weren't involved in that then. Sorry..." Shianni said sheepishly. "When Talia asked for you I thought--"

"He was involved. He was directly involved, actually," Talia said. "Remember the time bubble I told you about, Shianni?"

"Oh yes, that," Shianni said, a little sarcastically as if time bubbles were a normal occurrence.

"Well after Cybene forced us to... you know," she gesticulated wildly, "mate. She sent Darian back and trapped me in some kind of time warp bubble with really powerful magic. It sped up my pregnancy so by the morning I was in labor and well... I had a baby. Our baby," she clarified, although it was unnecessary. "But as soon as I gave birth she snatched it away and sent me back here."

"I know this all sounds crazy..." Talia said. She looked at their joined hands.

"I told you I already believed you," Shianni stopped her from worrying. She reached out and grabbed Talia's other hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Darian squeezed Talia’s hand again. “Oh, Talia, I’m so sorry! And I’m so sorry that I didn’t know it was real, or wasn’t here to comfort you, or just—I’m so sorry.”

His mind was crawling this morning?

“We have a child? And our baby has been taken?”

Darian stood from the bed, and put his hand on his waist before realizing he wasn’t wearing a sword.

“Where is the witch?”

 

[Emstar303]

Darian suddenly stood from the bed, hand moving to his waist before he realized he wasn't armed. The urgency in his voice assured her he believed her, he understood, he remembered.

Talia sat up a little in the bed. "I don't know where she is," Talia said. She felt guilty for not knowing more about her parents' visitors. "She's probably gone by now..."

All of a sudden the door opened and Aubree entered, holding a breakfast plate for the princess. "The cooks told me to... what's going on?" Her eyes widened when she took in the blood. "Are you okay?" she gasped.

"Aubree, have you seen Cybene?" Talia asked.

Aubree stared, gaping for a moment before answering. "Yeah, I just saw her in the throne room. She was saying goodbye to your parents, thanking them for their hospitality," Aubree explained. "But tell me what happened!" she insisted.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Darian didn’t wait for Talia and Shianni to give Aubree the explanation. He walked out of Talia’s room. He didn’t go to the throne room, though. He went to the armory, and then outside the castle. As much as he wanted to kill the witch, he was alert enough by now to realize that he had a child. He and Talia had a child. She had given birth to his baby. He was a father. And, his child had been taken from him before he ever got a chance to meet them. Hell help the witch.

He gripped Demanudeam, his sacred blade, in his hand. The sword was lighter than it looked, but with enchantments worked into the metal it was no fragile thing. He had killed with it before, and he was prepared to do so again, but his first priority was finding his child. He started circling the castle, working his way to the throne room. If Cybene was preparing to leave, her carriage was surely around here somewhere.

 

[Emstar303]

After Darian left, Talia told Aubree what happened. She told a fuller version of the event than her overview for Shianni. Her friends were horrified at the story. While she told it Shianni healed her. The magic felt soothing against Talia's bruised flesh.

"Talia let me get my mother. Please, I want to make sure you're okay."

"Come on, Shianni I'm sure you can handle this," Talia pleaded. She wanted as little people as possible to know about this as possible, and it was bound to be awkward to have Shianni's mom examine her!

"You should listen to her, Talia, really," Aubree insisted.

Talia couldn't bring herself to look down and examine herself more closely because she was afraid of what she'd find, so she had to trust her friends.

"Fine, but take me to her, not the other way around. I don't want anything to seem suspicious."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Darian walked around half the castle, and he hadn’t found any sign of Cybene or any other Durmíndonites. If he had had time to think , he might have been overwhelmed with everything that had happened, and everything that it meant for his life and future, but he didn’t have time to think. His focus was solely on finding his child and finding the woman who stole them. The darkness he felt was a marked contrast to the vibrant green and gleaming glass, marble, and gold of Bala Faresha. He was still searching when he thought he heard a distant cry from in front of him, and he broke into a run.

 

[Emstar303]

The girls helped Talia change into something comfortable, a large, flowy dress, then set out for town. The walk through the halls of the castle was nerve-wracking. Talia was terrified she'd run into her mother and knew she'd simply start bawling and give everything away. Thankfully though they encountered only castle staff.

Shianni lived with her mother Cirine in a small cottage in the main district of town, on top of her alchemy shop. When they arrived the store was locked. "She must be out getting some ingredients at the market. I'm sure she'lll be back soon," Shianni assured Talia.

Shianni led her friends upstairs and into her home. It was modest but very colorfully decorated, with lots of plants drying on the walls and various potions stored away on shelves. Her mom kept her most rare potion ingredients close, and didn't store them at her shop.

The girls poked around for a bit. Shianni's pain numbing spell had begun to wear off so she reapplied it. Shianni was just about to go downstairs to see if her mother had returned yet when the woman in question stepped through the door, carrying a hefty bag. Like Shianni, she had bright orange hair and a carefree smile.

"Are you girls looking for naughty potion ingredients again? I've already told you Shianni, I don't mind you using the shop's ingredients but you have to keep track for invent-what happened?" She'd finally looked up after unloading the fresh ingredients she'd collected. Even though Talia's bruises and blood was covered up by her dress, a mother knew. She could sense the heightened anxiety coming from her daughter and her two friends.

"Talia has a problem, mom, and we didn't know who else to go to..." Shianni started.

And once again the story was told again. Although Talia had spared no details for her best friends, with Shianni's mom she was vague. There was no mention of cum baths or multiple orgasms. Once she got to the pregnancy part Shianni's mom insisted Talia show her everything.

There was silence in the room as Cirine examined Talia's damaged flower intently. Her expression gave away nothing. "This sorceress did a pretty good job stitching you up, but it's clear healing magic isn't her specialty. This may take a while; Aubree, feel free to go. Shianni, bring me some supplies." She listed off a litany of potion ingredients that made Talia's head spin.

"I'm staying," Aubree said. She went around to Talia's other side and took her hand as Shianni and her mother got to work. "Everything is going to be all right, Talia," she told her.

Talia held back a sob. She did not feel like everything was going to be all right, but she was glad she didn't have to deal with the aftermath alone.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Darian reached the courtyard in front of the castle just in time to see a dark carriage turn the corner around a large tree on the way into town. He broke back into a sprint, racing to the tree, only to find nothing on the other side. He turned, head on a swivel, and heard what was unmistakably an infant crying.

The back of the carriage could be seen hundreds of yards away, disappearing around a large rock by a curve in the road. It still seemed to be crawling at a snail’s pace, and yet it had gone hundreds of yards in minutes.

Darian took a deep breath, and ran after it. His lungs were burning, the lack of sleep catching up to him. He would have to thank Shianni for her healing. He made it to the rock as quickly as possible, only to find nothing there yet again. He took a moment to catch his breath. This scenario had Cybene’s magical stink all over it, but what could he do but keep running after his and Talia’s child?

 

[Emstar303]

Shianni's magic was generally effective, but Cirine's was perfected and pleasant. Talia sighed in relief as warm, comfortable energy spread into her body as Cirinie got to work healing her with Shianni's assistance.

"Here, drink this," Shianni instructed. She handed Talia a potion. Talia flashed back to Cybene for a moment, of drinking Darian's cum, but pushed the memories away.

"Now Talia, I have to put my fingers inside you for this next part, okay? I'm sorry, I know this will be uncomfortable for you, but try to relax your muscles," Cirine said.

Talia nodded and squeezed her eyes shut tight. She focused on keeping her face scrunched and her lower half loose.

Cirine slipped one finger inside Talia carefully, gently, using some medicinal ointment to make it easier. Talia felt that soothing, warm energy fill her as Cirinie healed her. Talia moaned in relief. as her body seemed to mend itself from the inside out.

Though healing was most certainly needed, Talia was getting anxious. She wondered if Darian had caught up with Cybene yet, if he had struck her down or if he'd been... she couldn't think of it.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

“Wait, Darian! Wait up!”

Darian rounded a corner into town, having seen the carriage slowly move past the building he was now standing next to only minutes before. He was exhausted, and he looked back as he paused to catch his breath, hands on his knees.

Tarilon jogged to a stop behind him, out of breath, but not nearly as out of breath as Darian. “What’s wrong? I was looking for you, uh, and I saw you, huh, run off like something was wrong.”

Darian struggled to huff out an answer, mostly because it was a lot to try to distill into a few words.

“Hoo, chasing carriage, huu, rescue from witch, uh.”

He expected the prince to have more questions, but he just pointed ahead at the black carriage turning down another street.

“That one?”

“Yes”

With a look, they were off, rushing to catch the elusive, slow-moving carriage.

 

[Emstar303]

Talia wasn't sure how much time had passed, but it felt appropriate enough to ask, "How much longer is this going to take? I want to go find Darian and our baby... Gods, that sounds weird to say."

Talia shifted on the bed to get more comfortable. Cirinie's fingers were still inside her, mending her muscles and setting her back the way she was before Cybene had sunk her claws into her.

"Why would Cybene do this?" Aubree asked, looking to Shianni's mom for guidance. "Why would she need a half-elf baby?"

Cirine shook her head. "I'm not sure. The dark magicks and rituals of Durmíndon are a mystery to me."

She gently removed her fingers from Talia. "There. Good as new. Almost a born again virgin." She smiled warmly at Talia but warned, "You should rest for a few days. Just because you feel better doesn't mean you are."

"But I--"

Cirine went on as if she hadn't heard Talia's protests. "Now, let's get you to the castle and back into bed. I'll help you talk to your parents if you'd like."

"Oh gods," Talia groaned.

"They can send a whole royal party of warriors to Durmíndon after Cybene," Shianni insisted.

"I don't want this whole thing to start a war! I just want my baby back, and I want to know why... why she did this to us," Talia said. Her voice was soft and tired, still weak though her body felt much better from Cirine's healing.

"We need to tell them, Talia," Aubree urged.

"I know."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Darian and Tarilon chased the phantom carriage for some time, zigzagging through town, looping back, always one corner behind the witch. Darian swore he could hear the cries of a child coming from the horse-drawn coach. Sometimes he thought he could hear two.

The path the carriage was taking made no sense. It seemed to Darian that they were being toyed with. And since they’d been running for nearly an hour, he couldn’t deny that it had been effective.

Finally, they turned one last corner to see the carriage stopped up ahead. Darian took off, panting, and nearly ran into Aubree as she opened the door for Talia and Shianni to step into the street.

Cybene stepped from the carriage, and a huge circle of swirling purple light appeared in the middle of the gleaming city of Bala Faresha. The carriage rode through, disappearing into whatever realm Cybene had conjured a portal to. Darian’s face was down, hands on his knees. He heard the witch’s sickly sweet voice call out.

“You’ve chased long enough, Darian. Stop right there!”

 

[Emstar303]

As the elvan women headed outside, Darian nearly barreled into Aubree. She flattened herself by the door to let him pass as Tarilon came sprinting right after him. The girls didn't need an explanation. They joined the prince and paladin outside and watched as an extravagant gothic carriage disappeared into an eerily ring of purple light. Residents going about their daily errands stopped to watch in awe, rubbing their eyes to verify what they'd just seen. The purple light remained, but the carriage was gone.

"Hello again, darlings," Cybene said with a sugary sweet voice, as if encounteirng a dear friend. "I just couldn't leave without saying goodbye in the waking world, especially once I spotted you chasing after my carriage, Darian. You really don't give up do you? Well this is your one and only warning: Do not come after us, because I will kill you all." Cybene cackled manically before her expression turned deadpan. "It's just that simple."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

This was the kind of threat Darian understood. This was no magic fake dream, no conjured skeletal restraints, no promises that he would enjoy it—just a simple, honest “I’ll kill you.” Good.

“You can try, witch, but you’re in the real world now!”

The dark elf just cackled louder. “Oh, princess! Hold onto that one! He’s too perfect!”

She turned around, and turned back to them with two bundles. “Would it help if you saw them?” Darian could see Cybene’s smug grin from down the street. What was she holding, though? She pushed the blankets back, and Darian could see two tiny faces, one in each bundle. They were little pink infants, sleeping peacefully in the sorceress’s arms, with tiny points on their ears. Those were his children! They were twins! They were so close, too, only a few dozen yards away.

“No? It doesn’t help? It’s just going to torture you more? Whoopsies! I guess y—ah!”

Darian had started running before she finished speaking, pushing his exhausted legs to their limit. Cybene noticed, and turned to run through the portal.

Darian was faster, though. He gained on her, and by the time she stepped over that glowing purple line he was only feet behind her. He stretched out his hands to grab her and pull her back onto the streets of Bala Faresha.

He wasn’t fast enough. The energy sustaining the window into Dúrmindon was gone, and the portal snapped shut with a sucking sound, leaving the paladin to stumble and fall, rolling to a stop in the now empty street.

 

[Emstar303]

When Cybene turned around with not one, but two babies, taunting them with their own infants, the shock Talia felt almost brought her to her knees. She'd only had blurry memories of one tiny baby being taken from her, with tiny little toes and sparse blonde hair on an oversized head with pointed ears before she'd passed out. She could almost hear the sweetest cry. She would never forget that sound.

Their babies were not crying now, they were sleeping peacefully in the evil sorceress' arms, angelic.

Talia and Darian rushed towards Cybene at the same time. Talia didn't need to get too close to get in range, so as Darian kept running she stood back and raised her hands. She felt her rage trying desperately to manifest itself into a wall of fire, a pointy ice block, a spark, anything, but her magic still felt stunted. She panicked - she'd thought Cybene's silence spell had only been temporary!

Darian nearly had the witch, but Cybene slipped from his grasp just feet from him, stepping into the portal casually.

Talia screamed in rage. She felt heat burning at her fingertips but nothing came of it. She was beyond infuriated.

More and more townsfolk were starting to gather - this was the exact opposite of anything Talia had ever wanted. Was she certain the nightmare had truly ended? Perhaps she was still caught in Cybene's clutches.

"It's like she wants us to follow," Aubree said as the group stood in emotional agony staring at the spot where Cybene had disappeared.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Darian pulled himself off the ground with monumental effort. He had nothing left, but there was nothing left to do. He trudged down the hard-packed dirt road toward Talia. He didn’t care about their friends watching. He didn’t care about the strangers on the street. He didn’t care what Talia’s father or brother would say. He would worry about what this all meant for his service to Emmaryn later. For now, he just wanted to hold Talia.

He reached her, her arms raised in attack, and he put his arms around her. His head rested against her ear. “I’m so sorry, Talia.” A few tears made their way down his cheek as he thought about his children, children, in Cybene’s care.

Just out of earshot, in front of Shianni’s mother’s shop, Tarilon turned to the young healer. “What happened? Who were those babies?”

 

[Emstar303]

Talia was still in attack mode. She was in disbelief that Cybene had truly gotten away after showing them that the bizarre sex ritual she'd forced them to participate in had resulted in not one, but two half-elf babies!

She was so angry and confused, lost.

Darian approached her and pulled her into a hug, his lips at her ear, apologizing to her yet again. She was tired of hearing his apologies, because nothing was his fault, but his warmth did make her feel a little better. Talia cried into his chest and held him tightly as if he were going to disappear into a portal too. As they held each other Talia eventually felt the tips of her pointed ears get wet and realized Darian was crying too. That just made her cry harder so she held him even tighter.

Shianni didn't know quite what to say to Tarilon when he asked who the babies were. Logically she of course knew the answer, but it was a strange thing to explain secondhand. She would do her best though, and let Talia elaborate later. "They're--"

"Just what is going on?" a commanding but compassionate voice asked.

"Mother," Talia breathed. She twisted in Darian's arms to face the beautiful Queen.

Her mother stood beside her father, the King. Both looked concerned and stern.

"Everyone back to the castle. Now." Her father said. He turned on his heel, confident the others would follow.

He had his knights do their best to calm the townsfolk who had seen the mysterious portal and incident with the witch and led his family and friends to the throne room.

***

The conversation that followed was, naturally, extremely awkward and uncomfortable. Talia was actually glad she had Shianni's mom to help her get through the more awkward parts about birth. It was actually a pretty short story when you left out all the sex positions they'd been forced to try, sucking Cybene's magical cock, and the cum bath...

They did tell the King and Queen about the skeletal hands that orchestrated their movements like puppets and the silencing magic Cybene had utilized though. They even explained the details of the fertility potion she'd made them drink. That had been especially uncomfortable to explain. Talia felt more humiliated telling her parents what happened, even leaving out some parts, than she had at any point during the ritual itself.

"Oh Talia! My poor baby!" her mother had exclaimed at several points in the story. Talia had never seen her mother so emotional. "Oh, but I don't blame you in the slightest, Darian. If it had to be anyone I'm grateful it was you."

"Goddess help us," her father said in response to that, letting his straight expression falter a moment.

Several hours later the Bala Faresha secret assassins, the Black Arrows, had been sent out to track down Cybene, kill her, and return the babies safely. The Kingdom of Bala Faresha had no desire for war with the dark elves, especially when it was only one individual who'd harmed them. Durmíndon wasn't even marked on some maps, as it was a new kingdom on the dark elf continent, a result of infighting inside the larger kingdom of Durvane, which resulted in the off split. Apparently, a group of magical dark elves found even the loose morals of magic in Durvane too restrictive and decided to form their own secretive, elusive kingdom in some swampland. They weren't even sure where it was exactly, as many maps placed it in a different location on maps.

While her father had every faith the Black Arrows would return his grandchildren safely, Darian was not as certain. He insisted on accompanying them. Talia did too. "I can't just sit here and do nothing!" but her father only permitted Darian to go, and his son Tarilon, and Talia's friends Shianni and Aubree, even though Aubree was a novice with the bow at best...

"It would be different if you had your magic, but you don't," her father had said as if it were that simple. "You can work with Ogephon and hopefully it won't be stunted forever. Until then, you're not to set foot off castle grounds."

Her father was confident the Black Arrows would put an end to Cybene before Darian and the rest would make it, but just in case he was holding Talia back.

Talia's mom was gentler with her denial, "Talia please, for once, just listen to us. The Black Arrows will have your babies back before you know it. In fact," she turned to Darian and the rest, "You all shouldn't even be going. It's just a waste since the Black Arrows will take care of everything... but... since you insist on going meet me in the library later as I've got some things to give you." She said the last bit in a rush then took her daughter by the arm.

Talia's mother promptly escorted Talia back to her castle wing before anyone could protest. "Mother, you can't just trap me! I will find a way of here, you know that!" Talia protested.

Her mother said little until they were inside her bed-chamber alone and out of earshot.

"Talia," her mom turned to her. She grasped her shoulders tightly and looked at her seriously. "Your friends will say goodbye and be gone by tomorrow afternoon, then I'll let you out of your chambers, but until then... all I'm doing is locking the door, I'm not trapping you here."

Talia seethed about these words much later, alone in her room. Her mom's cryptic messages were always annoying. Just because she had a connection with nature didn't mean she had to act so mystical all the time. It's not like she was a psychic, and none of her riddles or hints ever made any sense.

Talia was in the middle of packing, she didn't know how she going to get out of her wing of the castle without her powers, but packing as if she were preparing for the journey the others were leaving on the next day kept her calm.

Before her mother had left she'd given her a golden tiara with a platinum circular ring with sapphire swirls entwined in the platinum as the centerpiece. The glittering circular ring lay against her forehead now. Talia was disappointed in the gift to say the least. Yes, it was beautiful, everything a princess should want, but Talia wanted something useful. It just felt demeaning knowing the others were probably getting super cool elvan artifacts her parents had never trusted her with. But more than artifacts, what Talia really wanted was her powers back.

When she finished packing she collapsed on her bed. She was exhausted, surely a nap wouldn't hurt. She needed to rest so she could come up with a way to break out here and then sneak out of here with the others. She also desperately wanted her magic abilities to come back. She felt so weak and useless without them.

Talia placed the tiara her mother had given her on the table beside her bed; stared at the glittering sapphire swirls, blinking softly as she started to fall asleep. She wondered if her mom's gift and her weird words were connected somehow.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The ride back to the castle, and the conversations with Talia’s parents had been awkward, but much less unpleasant than Darian had expected. They were such a kind family, and Darian felt badly for the king and queen that their first grandchildren were abducted before they knew they existed. At least no one was angry with anyone but Cybene. Tarilon was even joking about it within minutes.

“Darian, that’s my sister! I’m never taking it easy on you in training again!”

The royal couple’s plan was a good one. Darian had sparred with a few members of the Black Arrows. If he faced them on an open plain without their bow, he could come out on top. In any other scenario, he’d bet on the Black Arrow. Still, it made him ache to think of doing nothing himself. It made him feel better to be heading out with Tarilon and his sister’s friends. He would miss Talia dearly, but at least he would know nothing was going to happen to her in Bala Faresha.

That night, physical and mental exhaustion warred against fear and anxiety within Darian. Fortunately for him, exhaustion won, and he slept like the dead. In the morning, the rescuers assembled in the armory, along with a surprise guest.

“I have some things to send with you,” said the queen, a melancholy smile gracing her lips.

She pulled out six elegant golden pendants, in the shape of a songbird in flight, and the same number of tiny glass spheres that seemed to swirl with stormclouds trapped inside.

“These are eunorans and faicrunne, and they’ll help you communicate. Sing “Geithe” to a eunoran and they will deliver your message to us. Each of you keep one of the faicrunne with you at all times, and you’ll be able to speak to each other silently, even if you get separated by several miles.”

She pulled out a simple brown leather sack. “I only have one of these to give you, but it’s very valuable. This bag is enchanted to tie it to a stasis dimension. Anything and everything you need to carry can be kept here for storage. Food won’t spoil, potions won’t age. Simply think about what you need to pull out when you reach in, and if it’s there, it will appear in your hand.”

Darian was so grateful for their support and their gifts. He hoped it would be enough. It was hard to see how this adventure would go, especially since they still didn’t know where they were going. They decided to head to Dachaig, the capital of Durvane, first, to try to learn more about Dúrmindon.

It was a solemn farewell when they left the castle, and the first day’s walk was mostly silent. Well, Darian was the only one that was mostly silent, but he also wasn’t listening much to Tarilon’s jokes, Shianni’s teases, or Aubree’s questions. They gave him space, and it wasn’t long before they were setting up camp for the evening in the woods outside Bala Faresha.

It was sitting by the fire when Darian started to come out of his own head just a bit. These were his friends, and at least Talia was safe. He would find his children—he was sure of it. They passed around the food, and tried to make the best of things. Darian made an effort to smile and laugh with them.

 

[Emstar303]

Talia awoke early the next morning. Despite tossing and turning the night before, she somehow awoke in the same position, facing the circlet. Sunlight flooded through her windows. She scolded herself for sleeping; She hoped she wasn't too late. If she wasn't able to catch her friends, there was no way she'd be able to pinpoint their exact location, at least not on her own, in order to catch up to them.

First, she yanked at the door just in case by some miracle it decided to open today. It didn't.

Talia tried to activate her magic again, but after several minutes of trying, all she was left with were burnt fingertips and a headache. She groaned in frustration; tossed the tiara across the room. It clattered across the floor. She thought on her mother's words All I'm doing is locking the door. Well, what the heck did that mean? It's not like she knew how to pick locks!

Talia picked up the tiara she'd discarded and twirled it in her hands. She pulled at the circular center pieced. It looked like it would fit perfectly around her finger. The glittering ring seemed loose, but she wasn't able to pull it free. It was taunting her; just like the door.

Talia laid back on her bed and closed her eyes, grasping the tiara in her hands. If she couldn't get her powers back, she really would be useless to Darian and the others! Control your emotions. Do not let them control you. Her trainer, Ogephon's voice flitted through her head, so did her mother and Cybene's. Control is everything.

Talia tried to channel her emotions. She breathed deeply, but let the rage and agony and guilt and sadness all build up within her. She felt her fingertips start to burn, but there was no pain even as the feeling got stronger. She focused on channeling her emotions into forceful contained magic at her fingertips instead of a raging inferno. She felt the heat radiating from her fingers gradually increase in temperature until the golden tiara she was clutching so tightly began to melt in her hands, leaving only the platinum and sapphire ring.

Talia gasped and dropped the melted gold and beautiful ring. The ring clattered across the floor. When she retrieved it she noticed her headache dulled, and she felt a great power. She could feel the ring's great energy fill her as she slid it onto her finger. She felt supercharged with magical energy. It helped her focus even greater. She let her anger build again. It was a powerful inferno, growing, raging...

A stream of white-hot fire sprayed from her fingertips at the door lock. The hefty metal lock starting to melt, turning into a thick viscous substance and dripped down onto the stone floor and rug in front of the door, causing burns to cut into the fabric.

"Yes!" Talia said, her anger was fading so she channeled her hope instead. She cooled her hands with a layer of frost and exited her chambers of the castle carefully.

***

While Darian and the others were receiving their gifts from her mom, Talia had already used her gift to escape. She didn't want anyone to see her and stop her, so she walked through the castle silently like a shadow. By some miracle, she made her way to the stables and saw the horses she presumed the others were preparing for their journey. Two were attached to a wagon filled with bags. Talia spotted Aubree's trunk immediately and dove inside. Aubree had overpacked, as usual, so Talia really had to burrow under the assortment of leather armor and underclothes before she was able to shut the chest.

The next 8+ hours or so were some of the longest in her life. She'd never been this patient. At least it was a comfy ride in Aubree's trunk. She heard snippets of chatter from her friends, but mostly their conversations were muffled.

At last, the horses stopped and the party began to set up camp for the night. Talia manipulated the air currents to float her body when Aubree pulled her chest from the wagon, so she wouldn't notice the increased weight.

Talia hadn't popped out earlier because she wanted to make sure they were far enough away it would be too much of an inconvenience and dangerous to send her back tonight. So Talia stayed hidden until she heard the crackling fire and her friends' chatter. She tried to pop out of the chest gracefully, but it was balancing precariously on some tree roots and she ended up toppling out in a heap.

"Ugh..." she groaned, grasping her head.

"Talia?!" her friends exclaimed. Aubree was the first to rush over. She helped Talia up out of the pile of pants, shirts, panties, and bras. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Talia repeated. She brushed Aubree off as she got to her feet. "What are you doing? You couldn't wait for two seconds for my magic to come back?" She said the words without thinking. To be honest she was a little bitter. Even though they had all said goodbye to her and she'd given them her blessing, it still hurt they'd left her behind.

"If we'd waited who knows how long it would have taken!" Shianni protested. She approached Talia and gave her a hug, "I'm glad you're here though."

"How did you get out?" Aubree asked.

Talia explained how her mother had given her the mysterious circlet with the magic enhancing ring embedded.

"The queen gave us some things too!" Aubree said excitedly.