Chapter 8: A Healing Time

Natalie sat picking at her dinner, while Rav told her all about Hank's first swimming lesson. she gave a small laugh as Rav described picking up Hank and tossing him into the pool, after Hank had fearfully dipped a toe in once or twice. Once Hank had realized that Rav was not going to let him drown, he relaxed and started to enjoy himself. He told her about Brand joining them and renewing the old family custom called Rav tossing, but now it was Hank tossing. The two men had stood in the water at opposite ends of the pool and would toss Hank back and forth in the water, Hank had laughed until he found out the hard way, better to keep your mouth shut when you hit the water. Seeing that Natalie was half asleep, Rav took the fork and put it on the plate, frowning at how little she had eaten. He picked her up and tucked her into bed, kissed her gently telling her he would be back later. Natalie knew that for the last few nights he had been coming to her bed, she had no idea when just that she would half wake and feel his warmth and his arms around her and she would fall back asleep. Once again Rav the dragon took to the skies, with growing frustration he searched for Jacquilt. He had been searching ever since he realized his friend had left the Keep. Rav called to his old friend over and over again with no reply, his wings beat at the night air, as he went on with his search. Up into the night sky Marluxion flew, he looked at the young dragon "he will be found when he wants to be found, he will return if he wants to return, give him some peace and yourself too." "He is my friend, Mar, he was hurt, I can't leave it be until he's forgiven us, he has to know how much we love him." raged Rav. "Love hurts and love heals, give him time." replied Marluxion. The two flew on in silence for a long time, then turned back. Smiling a big toothy grin Mar pointed down, standing on a large rock outcropping stood Marti'en. The two dropped down lightly and Mar winked at her, would you like to give the boy a tour? She grinned back at Mar and motioned Rav to follow her, down behind the outcropping was a passage just wide enough for a dragon with its wings closed. She slipped through an opening and Rav and Mar followed her. Rav looked around, they were standing in a large chamber, the ceiling all of 500' or more, there were passage ways leading in several different directions off the main chamber. There were a total of twelve rooms all of them more then large enough for a dragon or quite a few dragons for that matter. In four of the rooms small waterfalls came down the side of the wall, a small pool beneath each one. Rav took a drink and smiled the water was cold and fresh. Light filtered down over two of the waterfalls making the rooms seem more open and would be perfect for a small floating garden. Marti'en and Mar watched Rav wander from room to room and smiled at each other. Rav was thrilled he hugged the two and grinned, this was perfect for what he had in mind. "Now I understand you want to build a house." The three returned to Mar's lair and talked about the house until the small hours of the morning. Rav slipped into bed beside Natalie and smiled to himself as she turned to him in her sleep, he fell asleep thinking maybe things would be all right after all. Natalie woke up just as the sun was coming through the window, she snuggled closer to Rav, as she watched the sun shine on the frame, now with the canvas tacked down and a piece of material laying over the canvas to protect it. She felt Rav's arms tighten around her as she moved, she was getting used having him there when she woke up and found it very comforting. This morning she actually felt better, her body didn't ache and she didn't feel so terribly tired.

Natalie got up and shivered as she washed in the water left over from the night before, Rav came up behind her and slide is arms around her waist and pulled her back against him, he kissed her just under her ear and whispered "come back to bed, sweets." Natalie turned in his arms and looked up at him "but I'm feeling much better this morning." Rav kissed her and said against her lips "I noticed." A blush suddenly bloomed across Natalie's cheeks, "oh you want to, to um to." Rav grinned down at her and kissed her again rubbing her lips with his tongue, "yes I want to, to, make love with you." "but its daylight, you, we, um can't." Rav pulled her nightdress off and pulled her against his bare chest "oh believe me we can." he purred as he kissed her passionately, he took her arms and slide them around his neck, his hands stroked down her bare back, his large hands cupped the cheeks of her bottom and pulled her up tight against his erection. Natalie's eyes widened and she gasped into his mouth, "Rav, your, your, um very hard." Kissing her neck he grinned "I hope so." Then using his hands at her bottom to lift her slightly, pressing against her again, this time moving his hips. he heard her breathing come faster as his tongue licked between her breasts, picking her up he walked to the bed, then slowly slide her down his body, as he kissed her again, his tongue slipping between her lips. He fell back onto the bed pulling her with him, Natalie tried to roll off of him but he wouldn't let her, he kept kissing her as his hands slide over her hips to the back of her thighs, spreading her thighs out over his hips, slowly rocking his hips, his hands cupped her breasts and he smiled as he heard the sweet little noises she was making. Natalie gasped as his mouth closed over her breast, she tried to remember the things Bitsy had told her but she couldn't seem to think straight, she felt his hard shaft rubbing against her and knew her face flushed hotly, she squirmed against him, then stopped as she felt herself getting wet, her whole lower body throbbing. Rav pulled her mouth down to his and kissed her deeply then whispered against her lips, that she was supposed to be hot and wet and aching from him, her breath coming in little gasps she didn't know what to say back to him, she just couldn't get out any words right now. Rav put his hands around her waist and lifted her up, then his hips thrust up as his hands pushed her down along his shaft. Natalie's fingers dug into Rav's shoulders as she let out a startled half moan half gasp, Rav's hands cupped Natalie's breasts gently pushing her upright, her palms pressed flat against his chest, he started to move his hips again, moving his hands back down to her bottom he showed her how to move with him, whispering erotic instructions to her. He watched her panting above him, her hips moving erratically, her nails digging into his chest, he thrust up harder and faster, Natalie arched her back and moaned deeply, for a second startled, hearing herself moaning. Rav groaned as he felt her tighten around him, his hands went to her waist and helped her push down harder and faster on his shaft. He saw her open her mouth and quickly pulled her down and kissed her, she screamed her release into his mouth, for just a second he had visions of Hank charging into the room dagger and all. Then lost himself in his own release, moaning into her mouth as his shaft pumped his seed deep inside her. Breaking the kiss with a gasp, Natalie breasts heaving from her fast breathing, licked her dry lips then lay down on Rav's chest, she could hear his heart beating rapidly and feel his own harsh breathing. Rolling over Rav lay on top of Natalie, resting on his elbows he grinned down at her. "yes I'm done for a moment or two." Natalie blushed then started to giggle. Rav smiled, that giggle was just as sweet as her little sexy love noises. Rav was about to show Natalie the he wasn't done yet, when there was a banging on the door and Trink saying breakfast was ready and what was this swimming business, they couldn't teach his boyo how to swim without him. Rav groaned as he felt Natalie stiffen beneath him and start pushing at him, whispering for him to get off someone might come in. Rav yelled at the door "Your toast Trink, burnt toast." Trink wandered down the stairs with a big grin on his face and muttering about why was he the only one what got toasted. Collin hearing Trink's last mutter laughed, "what have you done now that will get you toasted?" Trink looked at Collin, his eyes wide, then he turned and looked at Kat with a hurt look, "Now why is it yea always think I did somethin that would get me toasted?" Kat laughed "because we know you to well, Trink, so what have you done this time?" Trink with a sheepish look on his face replied "welllll now, I just might of banged on a certain bedchamber door a might to soon, if yea get me drift." Kat and Collin looked at each other and grinned then started to laugh. "Your toast." grinned Collin. Hank came in for breakfast and the conversation turned to swimming and Hank tossing. He still wore the dagger and the sword but didn't seem as angry as he had before, which pleased everyone at the table. As they all talked Collin watched Hank, there seemed to an awareness about him, a maturity that hadn't been there before. Rav walked into the room and glared at Trink, Trink grinned and winked at Rav, which only got him another glare. Hank looked around, "Natalie still isn't well enough to come down to breakfast?" Rav looked at Hank and could feel the anger rising in the boy again. "She wanted to sleep late, she will be down for dinner, she also wants to sit in the garden for awhile this afternoon when it warms up, she is much better Hank, a few more days and she will be fine again." Rav asked Mary to take a breakfast tray up to Natalie, Mary nodded not saying anything. She looked towards Hank expecting to see that dagger come flying at her. Hank looked at Mary "trust lost, needs to be regained with tender care." he said quietly and went on eating his breakfast. Collin asked "Hank, why did you say that?" Hank looked at Collin and simply replied "because its true." and started to eat again. Trink mentioned he had heard that Rav had found himself a lair, Rav sighed "You hear too much Trink." Hank finished with his breakfast stood up, telling Rav he would be out front shortly to go for his swimming lesson, half way to the door Hank turned "Have you ever told Natalie she is married to a man who can become a dragon?" Seeing the look on Rav's face and his shake of the head, Hank walked out saying "she should know the measure of the man she wed." leaving everyone speechless behind him. Kat went with Mary when she took the breakfast tray up to Natalie. Natalie had just finished dressing, and was sitting in the chair by the window. She covered the canvas when she heard the knock on the door. Mary set the tray on the table for Natalie and nervously wrung her hands apologizing for what she and Harriett had done, that if Jacquilt ever came back she would apologize to him also.

Natalie thanked Mary for her apology and said she hoped that they could start over and hopefully one day be friends. Mary left feeling very relieved. After the door closed behind Mary, Natalie looked at Kat, "what did Jacquilt have to do with all this? and where has he gone?" Kat pulled the table over by Natalie, encouraging her to eat, while she explained exactly why Mary and Harriett had done what they had. Natalie looked down at her tea cup and said sadly "they judged me before they even knew me, how unfair, but even more unfair to a man like Jacquilt who has only been kind and caring." Kat looked out the window and sighed softly "he was more hurt by the thought that I believed what Mary had said, but he never gave me the chance to explain that it wasn't that I thought he had done something adulterous with you, but that I was a mother concerned because her son was unhappy." Natalie drank her tea, not letting Kat see the tears in her eyes, Natalie had known things had been difficult between she and Rav, filled with misunderstandings, but she hadn't realized that he was so unhappy that his parents were concerned. Quietly Natalie told Kat, she was sorry she had brought so much unhappiness to her son, that if she could she would have undone everything. Natalie went on to say, she was sorry she had caused pain and conflict within the Keep and the people living there. Kat with concern looked at Natalie, "things got off to a rough start, but we can work that out, just like you and Rav can work out your problems." Kat gave Natalie a hug, then went to the door, "when your ready to go down to the garden, just let someone know and either Rav or Collin will help you." Natalie asked Kat to wait a moment, then handed her a packet, asking if it was all right to have it posted. Kat smiled and assured Natalie it would go out as soon as possible. Natalie spent the rest of the morning working on the canvas, she totally forgot about lunch until Mary knocked on the door. Natalie covered the canvas and went back to her sewing as Mary came in asking if Natalie was coming down to lunch. Natalie nodded and said she would be down in a minute. It seemed to take forever to get down the stairs, several time she had to sit down and rest. Rav coming out of the study, looked up and frowned, he strode up the stairs and picked Natalie up in his arms, "You should of called for me, Sweets," then he kissed her flushed face. "I just needed to rest for a minute, I'm fine, Rav, you don't need to carry me around like I'm a baby." Natalie insisted. Rav grinned at her and winked "I like carrying you around." Then he whispered in her ear and winked at her again as her cheeks turned bright pink. Hank watched Rav carry Natalie in and set her down next to him, she smiled at him, he was pleased to see it was a real smile not one of her hide behind cold smiles. Rav sat down with some papers in his hand, he grinned at Natalie and Hank, "the land is ours, we can start building the house right away." Hank immediately started to talk about the bathing pools and they had better teach Natalie how to swim soon. Rav looked at Natalie asking her what she would like to see added to the house. Natalie said after thinking for a few minutes, I would like to see good stables, a riding arena and a solarium for myself, nothing fancy, just perhaps one wall with lots of windows that open, where I can sit and sew, maybe with a large fireplace. Rav looked at Natalie "and? what is it you would like that you aren't mentioning?" Natalie smiled at Rav "a waterfall like Bitsy's" Rav nodded then started to laugh as Trink came in, his beard was all fluffy, his hair sticking up in tufts. Trink sat down muttering that this swimming business was enough to make an elf gray. Kat pointed out to Trink that he was already gray. Trink muttered "details, details." and sat down to eat. After lunch, Rav carried Natalie out to the gardens, he wrapped a blanket around her, even in the sun the air was cold. He set her down under the tree, she indicated, then sat next to her. She looked at him seeing the frowning, thoughtful look on his face. Rav brushed the tendrils of hair that had blown over her face back, his hand gentle as it stroked her hair. "Natalie, sometimes things aren't always as they seem, sometimes a man can be a man but be much more or much less, depending on the man." Rav took a deep breath, Natalie smiled at him, "are you trying to tell me your also a big fierce black dragon, that eats people for dinner and picks his fangs with their bones?" Rav stared at her, "You know?" Natalie chuckled "I've known, since the morning that Lord Barkley came to the house rambling at Aunt Patricia that he had to get out of town or be eaten by dragons, which just confirmed what Hank had mumbled several times in his sleep about you being a dragon." "You still married me though." Natalie smiled "only because you promised to kiss me again." Rav pulled her into his arms and kissed her several times, feeling as if a great weight had just been lifted from his shoulders. Natalie blinked several times and looked around, she was in a huge cavern, she took a step back as she saw the huge black dragon standing looking at her, "Rav?" The dragon walked forward and took her hand it its large paw, bowing the dragon kissed the back of her hand. "The dragon Ravlyr at your service, my lady," tucking her arm in his, Rav grinned "let me show you the beginnings of our lair." He showed Natalie through the lair, especially pleased at the look of delight on her face when she saw the one waterfall with the light shining through the water and the small pond at the bottom.