Kelda holds out the flyer to her, "He didn't give us his name, but he was an older looking gentleman that brandished a spear."
"We came to help, in any way we can." Lysithia adds.
Teeko emerges from Astoria's pack and starts squeaking frantically. "Sister! Sister!"
He clambers down and rushes up to Muriel, who looks down at the furry creature. She then looks at the group again. "This looks like my sister's familiar. Teeko?"
The weasel spins around. "Yes! Yes!"
Muriel calmly closes her book. "So...who are you? Really."
Kelda sighs, "We're just a small group of people that are tired of seeing our valley slowly destroyed by bits and pieces as these goblins, and whoever is helping them, just do as they please...including selling our people off to slavers. I just want to find out who's behind all this and stop them. We should have been here several days ago to help, but we kept running into things that wanted to either maim or attempt to kill us, and a few times they came pretty darn close. Still....I'm sorry that it took us so long to get here." She replies, unsure of how to answer the question.
”We encountered Teeko at The Sleepy Traveler inn on the way out from Daedran. I was able to speak with him using my natural magic. He says that his mistress, your sister…he can tell that she’s still alive, but doesn’t know exactly what happened to here, only that whatever it was made her very angry. And that you left him in the woods. He said that she was changed, but still alive. He's been traveling with us ever since.” Lysithia explains further.
Sensing that Muriel might be a little suspicious, Astoria attempts to assuage any of the woman's fears. "It's true. He came up to me because he was attracted to my magic. So, on top of dealing with goblin problem, we just wanted to get Teeko back to his master...mistress...you know what I mean."
Muriel relaxes ever so slightly. "I don't trust you just yet, but you can stay here. Give me a few minutes and I'll get you some food. It won't be as good as dinner was since it's so late."
Astoria smiles gratefully. "You'll get no complaints from us."
Kelda nods in agreement, "Yeah, we appreciate your hospitality. Anything you have will be fine."
Motioning for the others to follow her, Kelda goes back out into the other area and finds a place to sit, while Muriel gets them something to eat.
"Whatever you have to offer will be appreciated." Lysithia agrees as she follows Kelda to find a seat.
Returning to the main room, you see the old man has fallen back asleep, staving off the silence with a droning snore. Muriel enters a few minutes later with bowls of hot potato soup and bread. She points at the second floor towards the entrance to the inn. "There's a few empty rooms up there. You're welcome to them. Just leave the plates when you're done and I'll talk to you in the morning."
Astoria nods and starts shoveling spoonfuls of soup into her mouth, not even waiting for it to cool.
Kelda nods, "Okay, and thank you again."
Taking a piece of bread, she dips it in the soup to taste it. The soup is well seasoned, and the combination of warmth, and savory creamy goodness, come together to delight her taste buds.
Somehow the warm creamy soup soothed her wounded spirit, and Kelda ate the rest of the meal in quiet contemplation.
Taking a moment to breathe it in deeply, Lysithia begins eating, enjoying the wonderful medley of flavors.
After finishing her bowl, Astoria yawns. "I'm beat."
She stretches and stands from the table. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Have a good night, Astoria. See you in the morning!" Lysithia says to her friend as she turns in.
Kelda waves as Astoria heads to bed, "Night Tori." Having finished her food as well, Kelda looks over at Lysithia, "Are you ready for bed? I'm so tired love."
"As am I. I'm definitely ready to call it a day my Love." Lysithia says as she finishes her meal, taking Kelda's hand.
Having finished her meal, Kelda gives Lysithia a nod and heads up to one of the empty rooms.
Sitting down on the bed to pull off her boots, Kelda sighs, "We can't let these people give up. We just can't. I just...I don't know what to do to help them believe that all it not lost." She says, wiping a hand down her face.
"I'm sure the goblins will attack again. if we can repel them, or better yet, take them down, it'll go a long way toward giving them hope." Lysithia says quietly, hanging up their cloaks and sitting beside her love.
Kelda leans against her love, and places her head against Lysithia's shoulder. Letting out a small sigh while shrugging, "I guess so...but what if the problem goes beyond goblins? What if the goblins are just the surface of a deeper problem? I just feel like I'm missing something, and because it took us so long to get here...they just...they lost so much. We need to find the root cause of the problem and cut it out at the core. I just...I don't know how to find it." Kelda says, the regret in her voice palpable.
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"I know, and we will find whatever is at the source of all these attacks, and driving the goblins, but things will definitely seem clearer after a good night's rest. We're here, finally. We can take it from there tomorrow." Lysithia says, wrapping her arms around her love.
Kelda nods as she feels the weariness of the last several days settle over her, though Lysithia's arms around her help soothes her mind, as well as her heart. She knew deep down that it wasn't their fault that it took so long to get to Cooperton. "Okay Lysi, I know you're right and I'm probably just overly emotional from toll the last several days has taken on us. Muriel said she'd talk to us in the morning, so maybe she has some insights or different perspective on things that will help us figure out some more pieces to this puzzle." She says, letting her beloved comfort her the way only her soulmate could.
Kelda leans a little more into her love's warm embrace, allowing herself to finally start relaxing a little as her body just sags against Lysi.
Kelda tilts her head up and looks into her love's warm amber eyes with her own deep green ones, "I guess that means we'll have to get off this bed to get ready for sleep huh?" She says, a definite pout and tired tone to her voice. At least she didn't sound defeated like she did esrlier.
"We're here, and that's what matters most, Love." Lysithia says, holding Kel close and letting her relax into her arms, running her fingers through her hair and creating her head on her soulmates.
"Tomorrow we'll figure out what the situation is here, and come up with a course of action. It took a long time, but we made it, and managed to help some people along the way."
Kelda nods, "You're right, I'll stop thinking about it tonight, and just concentrate on what matters the most to me....you."
Grateful for her love's support, as well as her wisdom, Kelda turns slightly to face Lysithia, and stretches up to kiss her softly while gently rubbing her back, "Are you ready for sleep my beloved?"
Lysithia leans into the kiss, relaxing into her love as they hold each other. "Mmmm, definitely, my love." she says quietly, gazing into Kelda's eyes and smiling, before she kicks off her boots and stands to get undressed.
Kelda nods as she too starts to get ready for bed. She missed their more intimate time together, but the events of the past couple of days, on top of seeing the devastation at Cooperton had all but drained her emotionally, and she didn't know how to get rid of the guilt she felt for what happened to the town...even though she knew that Lysithia was right, and it was good that they were able to help people along the way, she couldn't help how she felt. It was like there was a piece of lead weighing on her heart.
Kelda tries her best to beat back the negative feelings and thoughts that are creeping into her mind and heart, not wanting to worry or upset her love, but her expressive face isn't able to hide anything. She didn't know where all these thoughts and feelings were coming from, or why she felt the need to be punished, but she would just keep pushing her feelings down for now.
Sighing as she changes into her nightie, Kelda crawls into the bed to wait on her love.
Changing into her nightie and setting her armor in the corner of the room, conjuring water to feed it, Lysithia walks over to the bed after blowing out the lights, glad that her new ability to see in total darkness allows her to still meet her love's eyes, a pang going through her as she sees the sadness and weight in them.
Getting into bed beside her she takes Kel's face in her hands, giving her a deep soft kiss. "I know how much this weighs on you my love, if there is anything I can do to make it better, I'll gladly do so." she says softly, lying beside her.
Kelda's muscles relax slightly as Lysithia softly kisses her. Giving her love a sad little smile she says, "I'm not even sure what's making me feel this way. I know things happen for a reason but....maybe it's just taking me back to what I felt when I couldn't save Sophie. I felt useless and hopeless then, just like I do now. I failed the people of this town...just like I failed Sophie. I know it's stupid to think that way, and it's stupid and pointless to blame myself....but, I think part of me always will. It doesn't make sense to me, it's just how I feel, because I was disobedient and didn't listen to my parents, I lost Sophie to those stupid green ugly head monsters." She says, with a soft but angry voice. Her eyes meet Lysithia's, and even though it's completely dark, Lysithia can see the anger, frustration, and despair that are in them, along with the tears that she refuses to shed.
Giving herself a moment to calm, Kelda's voice becomes almost a hoarse whisper of raw emotion, "You know...I never even got in trouble for disobeying my folks? Even though because of my blatant disregard for their rules, someone we all cared deeply about lost their life...while mine just went on, like nothing even happened...and I hate myself for it. I hate that she died and I didn't....I just left her there...to die, and I just don't know how to let that go. How do you let something like that go?" She finishes, all of her muscles tightening as she physically forces herself to hold back the tears and feelings that threatened to overwhelm her.
Kelda is quiet for a moment as she gives herself some time to reel in her feelings.
After a few moments she curls up closer to Lysithia and lays her head on her love's chest, "What helps you when you're feeling this way? I'm not used to feeling like this, and honestly I thought I had put what happened to Sophie behind me...but maybe it affected me more deeply than I thought."
"Maybe part of letting it go is finding a way to forgive yourself. I know that's harder to do than it sounds, especially if you feel like you haven't had any ...consequences." she says softly as she holds her love.
"And you have, your loss, and the way you feel is your consequence, but sometimes it feels like we need some sort of punishment before the guilt eases a bit...feelings don't always make sense...sometimes you need something to be...I don't know...an outlet, to let it out and feel like you've atoned."
"Do you think that would help?"
Kelda is quiet for a moment as she considers her love's words. Tilting her face up slightly as if looking up at Lysithia. Nodding slightly, her voice comes out soft and a little shake, "Maybe? All I know is I can't go on feeling this way. It could cloud my judgment at the wrong time, and that wouldn't be good...for any of us, and then I really never would forgive myself if something happened to you as well." Lysithia can see the pain and guilt etched into her young (for a Dwarf) face, a single tear manages to escape, and she quickly swipes it away with the back of her hand.
After a minute or so she asks, "So....did you have anything particular in mind?" She had an idea of what it might be, but she wanted to hear Lysithia's thoughts on the matter. She knew her love always had her best interests at heart.
She considers her words carefully, thinking about what she feels Kel might want, or even need, without knowing it. What might, help her, both to overcome her guilt, and to let go, accepting that sometimes things were out of her control.
"Maybe being...punished...in a controlled, loving setting could help you let go? To surrender to not being in control, and let the way you feel out. Do you think...that would help?"
Not trusting herself to speak, lest her emotions get the better of her, Kelda holds onto Lysithia a little more tightly and nods. Lysithia can feel how tense all of Kelda's muscles are, as she clings to Lysithia as if she were a life line, the only thing keeping her from completely breaking down. It's easy to tell that Kelda has spent a very long time carefully locking away all of her feelings, and keeping herself under tight control.
If it had not been for the devastation of Cooperton taking her back to her biggest moment of loss, there's no telling how long she would have tried to keep these things bottled up inside of her.
Feeling the tension, and the near overflow of tightly held emotion in Kelda as she nods, Lysithia understands what her love needs. Holding her close she whispers in druidic, casting her remaining prepared spells, healing ones, to restore them both fully, the healing energy aiding to calm and soothe her love before they began.
"There, now all the physical parts of the day are gone. That's all outside now. There's only us here, you're safe, and I will take care of you. Do you understand, love?" she says gently, giving Kel another moment to process her feelings and her needs.
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As Lysithia's warm, loving, and healing touch envelopes her, Kelda's body starts to relax in her love's arms. Listening to her beloved as she speaks soft words of love, comfort, and support, Kelda realizes she is in the safest place possible, the arms of the one that loves her unconditionally, and enough to help her get past the emotional trauma and guilt she had piled on herself after Sophie's death.
Knowing that her love meant every word she said, helps Kelda to calm slightly.
Taking a deep steadying breath she nods against Lysithia's chest, "Yes ma'am, you love me and I trust you. You only want...what's best for me and you want...me to be able to let go of the pain from my past, so I can move on and stop blaming myself....for everything that goes wrong. Right?" She replies in a soft voice, it breaking in places as she fully realizes the depth of Lysithia's love for her.
Lysithia takes a deep breath, feeling the calm settle upon her love, a hint of a smile curling her lip as Kelda takes a respectful tone. "That's right my love, I only want what's best for you, and this will help you to let go." she says lovingly.
Sitting up a bit, she looks into Kelda's eyes. ”Now. I’m going to sit at the edge on the bed, and you are going to lay across my lap. You will not struggle, and you will be a good girl and accept the punishment that you need.” she says, her tone still loving, but now carrying a sternness to it. ”Now lay across my lap, and lift the back of your nightie.”
Kelda takes a deep breath and hesitates slightly before finally nodding, "Okay, I'll try to be good." She says quietly as she positions herself across Lysithia's lap, pulling the back of her nightie up above her waist, "Like...like that?" She asks, her voice carrying a note of nervousness.
"Yes, just like that." Lysithia says, gently resting one hand on the small of Kelda's back comfortingly, settling her other hand on her firm, panty-covered bottom. "This will hurt, but let the pain take away the guilt. Let yourself surrender those feelings, that tell you you don't deserve good, because you do. And remember that I love you, and that you're safe and loved with me."
She can feel the mixture of tension, fear, nervousness, surrender, and need in her love, mingling with her own anticipation, and desire to do this for her.
Feeling emotion fill her at the sight of the tear, and the dam of emotions in desperate need of breaking, Lysithia raises her hand, hesitating for just a moment to let her love mentally prepare, before bringing it down in a sharp, strong smack on her bottom. Before there is time for it to register fully, she repeats the action, delivering a strong swat to the other cheek. Working into a rhythm, she starts slowly, picking up her pace slightly as she alternates from cheek to cheek, bringing her open palm down with even, stinging swats, peppering her beloved’s ample bottom to distribute the impact.
After a while, she stops, the hand on Kel’s back keeping her in place, providing a steady, loving contact, as her other hand switches to gently rubbing her wonderful love's bottom, feeling the heat of her ministrations through the soft fabric, as she checks to see how her love is doing.
” Are you okay sweetheart? You’re doing such a good job accepting your punishment. Are you okay to go on?” Her voice, while still carrying the sternness of discipline, is also filled with a deep, encompassing, almost indescribable warmth.
Knowing that other people are nearby and trying to sleep, Kelda tries to keep the noise to a minimum, grunting with every swat as it comes down on her quickly warming flesh. Only another one or two tears escape though during the first portion of her spanking and Lysithia can still feel how tight and bunched up the muscles in her back are throughout the first part of the spanking, it's as if she's still trying to hold everything inside.
Once Lysithia stops the spanking, Kelda takes a few moments to breath and gather herself. Lysithia's hand is softer than her Pa's, but that doesn't diminish the stinging smack of her swats in the slightest. Nodding her head, "I'm okay. My bottom is feeling....a little warm, but I'm okay...to continue." She replies between sniffles, though Lysithia knows that this is merely a scratch on the surface of what her love is feeling, as if she's resisting and still trying to control her emotions.
Sitting up a bit straighter, she gently pulls Kelda's panties down slowly, allowing her fo feel the sensation of the material against her stinging flesh, settling her other hand lovingly on te small of her back, before beginning again, bringing her hand forcefully down on bare flesh as she alternates from one cheek to the other over the course of the next ten minutes, bringing a reddish flush, and heat to her bottom.
She stops, her hand gently rubbing her sore flesh as she checks in on her love.
As Lysithia begins bringing her hand down in strong stinging smacks against her already warmed up bottom, it doesn't take Kelda long to start feeling the stinging burn ad her love's strong swats seem to ignite a slow burning fire in her bottom.
Kelda tries closing her eyes, but it only seems to intensify the sensations of the spanking. After just a few minutes, she can't seem to keep still as she lies across Lysithia's lap. She kicks a little more, and starts to move one of her hands around behind her to try and shield her poor bottom, before her love catches it and holds it gently out of the way.
Five minutes into the spanking, Kelda can no longer hold onto everything inside of her. Her grunts turn into cries as tears start falling down her face. Her back shuddering with each sob as she buries her face in the covers on the bed to try and muffle the sound of her crying. Near the end of the spanking, she is a quivering mess of tears.
"I'm sorry....so so sorry. I didn't mean it....I didn't....I'm sorry....so very sorry." Kelda manages to get out between her sobbing.
After Lysithia stops spanking her, Kelda just lays limply over her lap and continues to cry.