Chapter 5: The Forest Glen

Days slipped into weeks as Collin kept an eye on things, he had Dame Agnes and Kurlew scrambling to account for the missing funds in the ledgers. Harriett was given the keys to the extra storage rooms, where all the spices, good wines and other stores were kept, the meals improved over night. Dame Agnes ran the girls ragged, cleaning all the rooms, the old rushes were taken outside and burnt, new rushes were put down, the fireplaces were scoured and things began to look much better. In the bailey, Collin oversaw the daily training of the men, he worked them until they dropped, but at least they would know one end of a sword from the other. Jack, Drapper and Mathew hid in the stables, trying to avoid being caught up in all the activities. Drapper had never allowed the stables to become run down and dirty, so he didn't need to worry about Collins censoring eye.

During all this time, MiLady hurried here and there, overseeing everything, she hummed to herself as she helped bake bread in the kitchen, smiled as she sprinkled fresh rose petals in the linen closets. Each morning she tended to the gardens, watching as they came to life with the spring sun and rain. More and More she sought out Collin, skipping along beside him as he walked about the Keep, she loved to talk with him, listening to his advice and laughing at the stories he told, but she also just loved to hear the soothing sound of his deep voice. Often she would be seen reaching out and touching his hand or his arm, showing him something, or to get his attention. Everyone watched, wondering how it would all end, whispered words of an engagement were heard, people sat with their heads close together discussing what they thought would happen. Most of all Drapper and Jack watched and listened and worried. "He isn't leaving I tell you, he keeps saying, in a few days, in a few days, but he makes no move to go, he has that bitch Agnes firmly cowering in her place, Kurlew is afraid to fart without permission and Bruce has just up and disappeared" fussed Jack. Drapper nodded at his friend "You know he loves her, he always has, if he leaves now once again he can only watch her from the forest, here he can touch her and protect her." Jack groaned loudly "what if he decides to stay, can he become human for good? which to my way of thinking would be a terrible thing." Drapper sighed again "your the elf, you tell me, can he become human for good? would he want to? could he give up all that he has known as Virlane?" Jack shrugged his scrawny shoulders "I gotta talk to that boy, knock some sense into him. Make him see reason." Drapper laughed "that will be the day, you knocking sense into Virlane, I also seem to have noticed you've been spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen these days, you sly elf." With a wink Jack grinned "that sure do be's fine figure of a purty, Drapper, I do like them buxom and with a sense of humor, an elf could die happy smothered in those tits."

Collin stood in the study and without realizing it paced the floor, he looked out the tall windows, his hands clasped behind his back. He was finding it more and more difficult, the limitations of this body, he wanted to spread his wings into the night air and soar. He wanted to roar with the pleasure of feeling the air on his wings. The constant turmoil and bustle of the keep sometimes drove him to distraction and all he could think of was escaping to his warm quiet lair. He had seen the looks on Jacks and Drapper's faces and knew he had to make a decision soon, the spell would only last for 2 moon risings, then either he spoke the words to cancel the spell or remain as he was to live out his life as a human, with all their frailties and short comings. In his heart he was a dragon that loved a human woman, he had to make a decision, the door to the study burst open, "My Lord, My Lord, you have to hurry, MiLady has gone out to wander the forest and Kurlew followed her, the cur has been to quiet of late, he will hurt her My Lord!" Mary wept "Mathew has gone to try and stop him but he is no match for Kurlew." Buckling on his sword Collin ran out of the door, he ran to the courtyard, calling for his stallion Collin met Drapper half way across the bailey and swung up onto the huge horse, the guard seeing Collin riding almost at a full gallop, quickly swung open the gate. Jack came running out of the kitchen demanding to know what was going on, as Mary appeared, babbling about MiLady, Kurlew and Mathew, Drapper patted Mary on the back and looked around wildly for a woman to come and calm her, this was no work for an old confirmed bachelor like himself. Harriett drawn outside by all the noise, clucked at Mary and wrapping her arms around her took her back into the kitchen. Drapper started to walk back to the stables then turned and walked back to Jack, he leaned down and whispered in his ear "Your breeches are done up crooked."

Collin pushed the stallion faster and faster up the mountain, he knew where she was going in the forest and had to cut Kurlew off before he got there. Just as he entered the forest, he heard her screaming, riding in the direction, he roared with anger as he saw Kurlew throw her to the ground and fall on her ripping her clothes and pulling at her skirts. Swinging down from the saddle Collin pulled his sword and advanced on Kurlew, Kurlew looked up and saw Collin sword drawn and leapt to his feet, Mathew came running through the tree's puffing and panting, he stopped dead when he saw Collin and leaning back against a tree, slide down to catch his breath. Kurlew pulled his own sword then thought better of it, he had seen Collin at practice, Collin didn't give him a choice, "fight or die, you coward" snarled Collin, MiLady pulled herself up and stood, clutching the front of her dress closed, edging towards Mathew as the two men fought. The forest rang with the sounds of swords clashing, fairy folk and animals fled, far back into the deepest recesses of the forest. With one swift slash of the sword, Kurlew fell to the ground, dead. Collin for a moment hung his head, breathing deeply, he had never taken a humans life in such rage and anger, he could still feel it coursing through his blood, his knuckles white on the hilt of his sword. MiLady touched his arm and whispered softly "Collin?" He looked down at her and pulling her into his arms resting his forehead on her hair. "Forgive me, Katrina for showing such violence infront of you" "Collin, there is nothing to forgive, if any man deserved such an end, it was Kurlew." She turned to Mathew and indicating Kurlew with her head, instructed him to take the body back to the Keep, "take your time Mathew, if we aren't back right away don't worry. Use My Lords horse, we will walk back."

She took Collins hand and saw a cut, bleeding slightly, "I know where there is a small brook, come with me Collin and let me wash that for you." As if leading a small child she took him deeper into the forest, to her special glen, she took her handkerchief and dipped it into the water, then gently wiped the blood off the cut. She leaned down and kissed the cut, pressing her lips to it, with a groan Collin pulled her into his arms, at first he only touched her lips with his, then as if possessed by a deep hunger, started to kiss her over and over again, his tongue pushed gently at her lips, he moaned as her lips parted and his tongue swept into her mouth. Startled for a moment she opened her eye's with a of questioning look, then touched her tongue to his, her hands slide up to wrap around his neck, his arms tightened around her waist pressing her to him. His kisses became more bold and demanding, he pulled his mouth from hers and started to kiss her neck, then down to her breasts that lay exposed by her torn dress. MiLady shivered as she felt his mouth on her breasts, she knew she should be stopping this, instead as if having a life of their own her hands slide into his hair, pressing his mouth closer to her breasts, she threw back her head and moaned as his lips closed over a nipple. Collin pulled away from her and took deep gulping breaths, trying to get himself under control, he felt as if he had run miles his breathing coming in pants. He looked down at her swollen lips and groaned, running his hands through his hair, he tried to speak coherently "forgive me lass, I lost control, it shouldn't have happened, please forgive me." MiLady leaned back against a tree and stared at Collin trying to make sense of his words, all she could hear was the pounding of her heart echoing in her ears, the only thought running through her mind was, she didn't want him to stop, ever, she wanted to feel this wild emotion again and again. She held out her arm's to him and whispered his name, Collin pulled her into his arms again "Do you know what your doing, Katrina, once begun I won't stop, I will make full and total love to you." His dark green eye's stared down into hers, MiLady looked into his eye's and begged "Please Collin, I want you to make love to me, here, now, please. Collin."

Collin leaned down and kissed her deeply and passionately, his hands sliding her dress from her shoulders then down off her hips to pool at her feet, she fumbled with his shirt ties, their lips never parting. He pushed her undergarments off her hips and groaned as his hands brushed over her bare skin, Collin moved MiLady's hands from his shirt front and stepping back, quickly stripped off his clothes. She stared at his naked body feeling a rush of heat spread through her own body and she squeezed her thighs tight with a soft moan, he picked up her torn dress and his shirt laying them on the soft moss, turning back to her, he swept her into his arms and laid her down on the makeshift bed. He lay next to her, holding her in his arms, she reached up and slide her arms around his neck pulling him down, wanting to feel his mouth on hers, he kissed her deeply, his tongue licking her lips then thrusting into her sweet mouth. His hand cupped her breast gently stroking and squeezing, as his thumb brushed over her nipple she moaned again, her hands sliding into his hair, her body turned and twisted, pressing against his the deep ache between her thighs growing. His hand slide over her belly rubbing gently, then slipped between her thighs, her body arched and trembled as she felt his fingers brush against her nether lips, she squeezed her thighs shut around his hand, moaning, her hand reached down to push at his, grabbing his wrist, she blushed, trying to wiggle away, then moaned again as his finger slipped into her. Collin felt her wet, hot channel and almost lost all control, his fingers, rubbed and stroked, hearing her moans only adding to his need. He kissed her breasts then brushed his teeth over her hard swollen nipple, at the same time thrusting two fingers into her channel "easy, lass, its all right, I just have to make sure your ready for me" he told her as he felt her hand trying to pull his from between her thighs. Whispering hot erotic words to her, he pressed her thighs apart with his knee's, her nails dug into his shoulders as she felt his hard cock rubbing against her wet nether lips "open your eye's Katrina, I want to see your beautiful eye's as I make you mine." She opened her eye's and looked into his as he thrust into her, with a single full thrust he broke though her veil of virginity and filled her to the end of his hard throbbing cock. He didn't move as he heard her cry of pain and felt her whole body shudder at the shock of being taken, he gritted his teeth and tried not to move, giving her body a chance to adjust to his being inside her. Collin kissed the tears off her face "it's done now, you are mine, fully and completely, my sweet lass" then kissed her deeply. She hadn't been prepared for this, no one had ever told her it would hurt so much, actually no one had told her anything about the sex act, her mother having died birthing her, she had never thought to question Mary about how one went about making love.

Katrina lay trembling beneath Collin trying not to sob, she thought it would be so wonderful, she had been so sure, MiLady looked up at Collin and saw the look on his face and cried harder, its hurting him too, she thought. She whispered, "are we done with it then? Collin" he looked down at her tear stained face and whispered back in a strained voice "Not for a long, long time my sweet one, we've only just started" so saying he moved his hips and watched her eye's flair with beginning awareness. As he slowly thrust in and out of her, he slipped his fingers between them t caress the little bud above her nether lips, at his touch she moaned and her body arched up against his, pushing his cock deeper. "Wrap your legs around my waist lass, hold me tightly to you" he whispered erotic instructions, using words she could only imagine what they meant. As her body started to match the thrusting rhythm of his, the ache she had felt before started to spread through her lower body, she moaned and clutched him tightly to her, her hard swollen nipples rubbed against the hair on his chest making them even more sensitive, adding to the wild feelings coursing through her. His kisses became more urgent, his tongue thrusting into her mouth over and over again, she gasped breaking the kiss to moan out his name over and over again "Collin, please, ohhhhhh Collin, please help me" her head thrashed from side to side, as her nails raked down his back. Collin heard her calling his name and slide his hands under her bottom, pulling her up as he started to thrust harder and faster into her tight channel. He felt her tighten even more around his cock and as her orgasm rocked her body she screamed out his name, the most wonderful sound he had ever heard. At her scream he let go of his hard fought control, his cock throbbed and pulsed he threw back his head and with one final hard thrust, felt his seed pouring out into her welcoming womb. MiLady's cried out frightened by the emotions that rocked her body, she shuddered, her thighs quivering, she gasped feeling as if she had exploded into a million pieces, her eye's flew open as she heard Collin groan and then suddenly roar with his pleasure. Collin opened his eye's and looked down, smiling softly, he kissed her swollen lips resting his forehead against hers he took a deep breath, laying down on her he felt their hearts beating wildly. His hand gently caressed her face as he kissed her closed eyes, holding her tight, he rolled to lay on his side, he reached down and slide his hand behind her knee and pulled her leg over his hip as his hand slide up the back of her thigh and over her bottom to gently rub her back. "Are you all right, Katrina? I tried to be as gentle as possible" he said in a worried voice, she tenderly touched his face, then kissed his lip, "it hurt terribly at first, but then it was amazing" she blushed vividly, tucking her head under his chin Collin chuckled, he put a finger under her chin and lifted up her face for another kiss. He heard himself say "next time will be easier for you, there is only pain the first mating, then only pleasure with each new time" she saw the worried look on his face and felt like crying again. "You don't want me again? was it so bad? Collin, did I not do it right?" he heard the tears in her voice and kissed her "I shall always want you, Katrina, MiLady, Duchess of St.Clair, no matter what ever happens, take that as a pledge." She smiled at him with trembling lips "and I you, Collin, My Lord, Duke of Virlane" so I pledge.