Chapter Text
A young woman walked quietly through the woods, methodically picking her way around fallen logs, dense brush, and small boulders. She wore a long black cloak with a hood pulled up over her head, shielding most of her pale white face from view. On her back was a rather heavy leather satchel attached to a wooden rack. Resting above the satchel was a leather box that contained many of the things she used in her work. A bedroll and small ax also hung from her makeshift holding device, and a bright green scarf had been looped around her neck. A small necklace hung from the Elf's neck, with which a small leaf charm made from silver dangled from her chest while she climbed over a particularly large fallen tree. Her gloved hands brushed along the thick moss of the log as she scooted her butt forward and landed softly on the other side. She glanced around, her movement paused, but the noise she heard was just a little brown squirrel she had rudely interrupted. Aspen smiled softly, watching as the critter gave her an indignant shriek and then scrambled up the tall oak tree, disappearing into the canopy above.
She began walking forward again, and her ears picked up a new noise. Aspen spun around, her pulse quickening, as she tried to find the source. There was silence, and then the noise happened again, this time a little louder. She took a hesitant step forward, her movement almost completely silent, and slowly peered around the tree. Aspen gasped at what she saw.
An Orc lay slumped against the base of the tree and the forest floor. His right arm hung down uselessly by his side and the white of his bone poked through his deep green skin. He wore no shirt, and there were huge slashes across his chest that oozed bright red blood down his body, soaking the Orc's breeches. He huffed, his chest heaving as he struggled to breathe, and Aspen winced when he let out another gurgled growl. The Orc appeared to be alone, and his eyes were closed. He did not see the girl standing nearby.
Aspen walked forward, pushing down her hood.
"Hey there," she murmured.
The Orc's eyes fluttered open, and he peered at her with glittering red orbs. His face twisted in pain and he growled when she drew closer.
"Go away," he snarled.
"It's okay, I'm a heal-"
"I don't want your help!"
The Orc roared and squeezed his eyes shut, resting his head back against the bark of the tree. He groaned, and Aspen paused. She stood beside him and her eyes were wide with surprise. She knew he was in pain but most people were relieved to see her.
"You're bleeding very badly, and your arm is broken. If I don't help you... you'll die."
"Let me die then."
Aspen frowned, and she quietly slipped the heavy pack off her back and lowered it gently to the ground. Then she knelt by his right side and reached out with one gloved hand to inspect the Orc's broken arm. It was a clean break. She'd have to guide the bone back into his body and secure it with a sling. Aspen had a feeling it would be easier if the Orc was less than aware of the process. He was angry about his situation, and the last thing she wanted was to get hurt in the process.
The Orc's eyes shot open as he felt something feather-soft on his arm, and he scowled at her.
"I told you to fuck off."
Aspen sighed, and she clasped her hands in her lap.
"I don't think it's a coincidence that I came across you in the middle of the woods. I won't ask what happened for you to get this hurt, but I offer to help. Are you sure you want to die?"
Aspen peered at the Orc with pale green eyes, and he struggled to look at her. He had lost a lot of blood. His face was pale and covered in a layer of perspiration. He sucked in a deep breath, and then closed his eyes.
"Do what you must."
Aspen smiled slightly, and then she turned to the leather case and opened it. Bottles of all kinds lay inside, and she carefully selected the one she needed and uncorked the small black vial. Then she turned back to the Orc, whose head had slumped back against the tree. She had to work fast.
"I'm going to give you something to take the edge off, but it's still going to be uncomfortable. Try not to move okay? I have to put the bone back in your arm."
"Hmph."
Aspen brought the vial forward to his lips.
"Open your mouth," she instructed softly, and the Orc complied.
She tipped the contents of the vial into his mouth. The Orc grimaced but swallowed, and then he let out a small growl. Within seconds his face became droopy, and his head lolled back against the tree. He was almost unconscious, but not quite. When she was sure he was disoriented, Aspen quickly rifled in her healer's case, and swiftly began pulling supplies out.
Aspen worked quickly. His injuries were something she had dealt with before, and although they were serious, she was confident he would make it. She first applied a thick paste-like substance to the slashes across the Orc's chest. It was designed to clean the torn and exposed flesh and stop the bleeding. When she was finished, Aspen took out a very thin needle and thread, which she intended to use on the larger wounds which would not close on their own. She rubbed the needle between her fingers, as her gloves worked their special magic. When the thick black thread had been passed through the eye of the needle and tied off, Aspen leaned in and began passing it through the Orc's thick green skin. She moved swiftly, her fingers deftly gliding back and forth as she sewed up the large open gash.
When she was satisfied with her work, Aspen turned her attention to the broken arm. She glanced up at his face for a moment, studying the Orc, but he was unresponsive. His chest rose and fell with each breath he took, which was less of a struggle now that she had stitched him up. Aspen gently grasped the edge of the bone and began sliding it back inside the Orc's arm. He grunted, and his head twitched, but the Orc did not try to move. Aspen breathed out a sigh of relief and quickly sewed up the torn skin. She couldn't help but notice how incredibly muscular the Orc was, and figured if it had been anything else the person would have probably succumbed to their wounds long before.
Orcs are hardy people, she mused quietly.
When Aspen was satisfied with all her needlework, she retrieved a leather skin of water and wetted a cloth, which she used to clean up as much of the blood on his body as possible. She inspected him closely, looking for any internal injuries, and noticed lots of little scars dotted across his green skin. She wondered where he had come from, and what had happened, but knew he was not particularly fond of her helping to begin with. She had to be careful with her words.
When he was cleaned up as well as she could manage, Aspen pulled out a handful of bandages that were infused with various healing oils. However, she needed him to try and sit up so she could get the wraps around his back and secure his arm in a sling.
"Hey," she spoke firmly. "I need you to sit up. Do you think you can do that?"
The Orc frowned, and his eyes remained closed. He let out a small growl.
"Of... course," he slurred angrily.
The Orc growled, and he grimaced as his torso slowly slid forward. When there was a large enough gap between his back and the rough bark of the tree, Aspen quickly wrapped the bandage around his chest, slipping it under his arms, and she secured it with a small knot. Then she hastily constructed a sling from a piece of larger cloth and firmly secured the Orc's broken limb against his side. He groaned as she wrapped the ends of the fabric around his opposite shoulder and secured it with another knot.
"Are you finished yet?"
Aspen ignored his grumbling and fished around in her case for another vial. Her fingers brushed along the smooth red class and she quickly picked up the potion and uncorked it.
"Here, this will help with the pain."
The Orc cracked his eyes open, and he struggled to look at what she was offering.
"What... is it?"
"A remedy."
"I don't need... that... fancy liquid."
"Alright," Aspen replied lightly. "Your choice."
She re-corked the bottle and slipped it into a small pouch on her waist. When she had finished packing up her supplies, the Orc was once again leaning against the tree with his eyes closed.
"Okay," Aspen started.
The Orc opened his eyes and he scowled up at her. She stood beside him with her pack on, and his frown deepened when she smiled.
"We should get going before it becomes too dark."
"What?"
Aspen sighed softly and gestured around her.
"We're not exactly in a place for you to rest safely. It'll be a week or more before the wounds on your chest are well enough, and possibly even longer for your arm-"
"Just leave me," the Orc cut in.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. I am sworn to tend to you as-"
"I said fuck off!"
The Orc's roar echoed loudly through the trees, and Aspen tensed, watching as he scowled and panted for breath. His chest felt like it was on fire, but he refused to take any more of her help. He wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
"You don't have to suffer."
He glared up at Aspen with unhindered fury. She was annoyingly persistent, and he resisted the urge to yell again but it required too much effort. He was tired, and sharp pain pounded into his skull. He'd never seen an Elf like her before. She wore a faded tan tunic with a fabric waistband laden with several pouches, and her satchel contraption was strange. But it was her faded green eyes that stood out to him, and he couldn't bring himself to look at her because of the expression they bore. Her kindness made him feel sick.
"You don't fucking know me, I wish you would leave."
"Okay, fine."
Aspen shifted the straps on her shoulders so her pack was more comfortable and then turned back towards the direction she had been heading earlier.
"I can't force you, take care then."
He watched as she began walking, her long black cloak trailing softly as she moved past the tree and became less visible the farther she walked. The sharp pain in his head, chest, and arm pulsed angrily at him. He bowed his head, struggling to think. Then, he slowly moved each leg and leaned forward, snarling as his chest constricted tightly against the bandages. He climbed unsteadily to his feet, one at a time, and leaned back against the tree with a groan. However, when he tried to walk forward his knees buckled, and he barely caught himself against another trunk. The Orc roared as his chest smashed painfully against the thick bark and he nearly tumbled down to the forest floor.
"Okay!" He snarled in defeat. "Where are you, woman!"
Aspen suddenly appeared, her expression sorrowful as she watched him slowly pull away from the tree. His body swayed as he once again struggled to remain upright. She hopped forward and slipped her body against him as he slumped against her, using all of her body weight to stop them from both falling. Her feet firmly planted into the soft ground and she wrapped her arm around his thick waist.
"I-If you can," she gasped, feeling her thighs tremble from the strain of trying to hold up a giant Orc. "Put your arm around my shoulders."
Somehow the Orc managed to get his free arm between her case and neck, and Aspen let out a small puff as she straightened up, tightly clutching his waist. It wasn't perfect, but they were still standing.
"Where are we going," the Orc grunted, letting out a deep breath.
"There's a small town not far from here, I was heading there myself. We should be there soon."
"Fine."
Aspen smiled softly, and then she took a hesitant step forward. He slowly followed suit, and they continued at a painfully sluggish pace. After some time, and Orc squeezed his eyes shut and allowed the healer to guide him through the forest towards their destination. The pain in his body was almost unbearable, and Aspen's firm, warm grip was the only thing keeping him afloat. Eventually, he caved.
"Do you have... the potion," he grunted quietly.
Aspen raised her eyebrows, but she said nothing. They paused their walking for a moment and she fished around in her pouch for the little red vial. Then she uncorked it with her teeth and lifted the glass to his lips. She noticed the small crack in his left tusk as he drank the contents of the vial and let out a loud sigh as the liquid washed down his throat.
"What is your name?" Aspen inquired when they had started walking again.
The sky was beginning to grow darker, and Aspen prayed they were close. Neither one of them had any weapons, other than the small ax she used to chop up long sticks for kindling. She knew he was in no condition to fight.
"Dreg."
"Dreg... I’m Aspen."
Dreg grunted, but his eyes were closed again. His steps were slow and heavy-footed. The front of his pants was caked in his partially dried blood, and his boots were worn and muddy. Aspen still wondered what had happened, but she was more concerned about getting him somewhere warm and safe. Thankfully, she was right, and they reached a small gravel road that led into the town just as the sun had set. A drizzle of rain began to fall, brushing lightly down on Aspen's face, but she barely noticed it.
The little town of Berrybrush was composed of eight buildings in total, including a small Inn called the Dancing Goat. It was mostly a farming community, and Aspen had visited the town a couple of times before. A few people shot them a curious look, but as soon as they saw Aspen they all smiled and greeted her.
"Do you need help dear?" An older gentleman asked. His beard was streaked with grey.
"We've almost made it. Thank you, sir."
The pair reached the front porch to the Inn and ascended three small wooden stairs before going through the door into the main dining hall. At the end of the room was a bar, and behind it, a plump little woman stood counting coin. She smiled at Aspen when she drew closer.
"Looks like you've run into some trouble," she commented, eying up Dreg.
Aspen smiled softly and asked for a room.
"I'll show you to it, this way dearies."
They were led down a small hallway towards the back of the Inn. The Innkeeper unlocked the door to their room and handed Aspen the key.
"If ye need anything dear, just ask."
"Thank you, Susan is it?"
"Ah you do remember girlie," the woman smiled.
There was no light inside the room beside a warm fire crackling from the hearth of a small stone fireplace to their left. A large double bed dominated the middle of the room with a dark blue area rug. To their right was a large bathing tub and a small circular table with three wooden chairs. Two windows flanked either side of the bed, allowing natural light to come in. Aspen slowly shuffled Dreg over to the side of the bed.
"I should probably wash you up first," she commented lightly.
Dreg grunted and began to remove his arm from her shoulders. He was almost asleep on his feet.
"No, lay me down."
"But you're-"
"I said lay me down!"
Dreg's protests were quieter this time, and he swayed slightly. Aspen sighed, and she proceeded with his request. First, she pulled the blankets back, and then she gently grasped his good arm and swiveled him around. She tried to gently lower him to the soft bed but his body weight was too great, and he slumped down rather unceremoniously to the mattress. Dreg grunted, and Aspen awkwardly slid his body so he was laying down properly, ignoring Dreg's growls and quiet swearing. When she was satisfied, Aspen tugged his boots off and tucked his legs under the blanket before pulling it up to his waist.
"Are you warm enough?"
Dreg's eyes were closed, and she thought he was asleep. Aspen turned away from him and walked over to the table. She groaned quietly as she removed her pack and rested it on one of the chairs.
"Yeah."
Dreg's quiet grunt floated over to her, and Aspen glanced towards the bed. She watched as he reached up and rubbed his dark cheek for a moment, and then he pulled the blankets up, covering his bandaged chest and sling. He sighed loudly, but Dreg felt better than he had all day. The potion worked its magic, and he was asleep within minutes.
Aspen quietly removed her cloak and placed it neatly folded over the back of the chair. She ran her fingers through her hair for a moment, tugging at the tangles. It used to be longer, but Aspen found it too hard to manage when traveling. So, she had cut her hair a month before leaving the city, and she had never been more pleased. Then she removed her gloves, and she spent several moments stretching her fingers. Aspen removed the wraps around her wrist and placed them on the table next to her gloves before removing the bright green scarf from her neck. It was a symbol of her status as a healer and was recognizable by almost anyone. Aspen finished removing her scarf and then untied the wrap around her waist containing her small pouches and added it to the pile on the table. When she was finished, she walked over to the small water basin sitting on the dresser nearby and poured some cool water into it. Then she bent her head down and splashed the cold liquid over her face and hands before drying off with a small cloth that had been provided as well.
Before leaving the room, Aspen wandered over to the bed to check on Dreg. His bandages were holding up well, and so she placed another small red vial on the table beside him and wandered out into the dining hall to get something to eat and drink. She sat at the bar, chatting with Susan while she ate, and learned that were at least a few people that would benefit greatly from her being there.
"I'll make my rounds first thing in the morning," Aspen told her.
"Of course, Dearie, you've had a long day. What happened to your Orc friend?"
"I have no idea... I don't even know him. I found him slumped against a tree, bleeding from slashes on his chest and a broken arm."
"Oh my."
"Yeah," Aspen sighed. "He was very resistant to my help."
"Typical stubborn Orc," Susan laughed, and Aspen had to agree. "I'm married to one."
"Are you?"
"Yeah, we've got three children. You'll probably see them running around outside like wild things."
"Oh yes, I remember now."
Aspen took a swig of her honey ale and continued chatting with the Innkeeper until her eyelids felt too heavy. She asked Susan for something light she could take back to Dreg for him to eat and was given a big bowl of stew and some warm bread on a tray.
When she returned to their room, the fire had died down some but gave enough light for Aspen to see. She walked over to where Dreg was laying and placed the tray of food down on the bedside table. He did not sir, and she gently touched his bandaged shoulder.
Dreg grunted, and he swiped his arm at her before cracking open his eyes. He looked up at her, and for a moment she thought he didn't know where he was. Then he yawned.
"What?"
"Are you hungry?"
Dreg was quiet for a moment. He sniffed and turned his head towards the table, where he noticed the food.
"Yeah."
Aspen retrieved a chair and sat down. She scooted closer and picked up the bowl of stew. Dreg clenched his jaw, and he was about to protest against her spoon-feeding him when Aspen piped up.
"Don't argue with me, Dreg. Just eat."
He let out a long breath through his nose, staring at Aspen with his bright red eyes. Aspen spooned some of the stew and brought it up to his mouth. The Orc growled softly, and then he opened his mouth and took the food. They continued like that until all the stew had been consumed, as well as the bread. Aspen finished him off with a long drink of water and another vial.
When they were finished, Dreg laid his head back on the pillow and groaned softly. He felt much better overall, but his body still ached from its injuries. He closed his eyes, and a moment later Aspen left the room with the tray to return it to the kitchen. When she returned, Dreg was still laying there with his eyes closed, and so she assumed he was asleep. Aspen walked over to her pack and rifled in it for a moment before pulling out a long cotton nightgown. She swiftly pulled her boots and breeches off and cast a long glance at Dreg's form, pausing. He still did not move, and so she turned her back to him and crouched near the table away from the fire and swiftly pulled her tunic off and slipped into her nightgown. Then, she wandered over to the bed and pulled the covers back before slipping under them and then she laid down. The bed was large enough to comfortably fit them both and still have plenty of room.
Dreg felt the bed move as she laid down on it, and he turned his head towards her.
"You're sleeping here?" He grunted, and Aspen nearly jumped out of her skin.
She had turned onto her side with her back facing him, and Dreg watched as she craned her head back to look at him in the near dark.
"Really?" Aspen responded, incredulous. "You can't sleep in the same bed as the healer? The person looking after you?"
Dreg scowled, and he turned his head away from her.
"I'm not taking up two rooms," Aspen continued, "when one will suffice."
"Fine."
She watched Dreg for a long moment, but he didn't say anything else. Aspen turned her head around and rested it against her hand. She was tired, and within a few minutes Dreg began to snore, and she too drifted to sleep.
Chapter Text
Dreg did not wake until very late the next morning. Aspen had left to get herself something to eat and had seen a family with their young girl who had a nasty cough. When she had finished, the healer returned to find Dreg awake and in a foul mood.
"Where have you been?" He snarled, and Aspen paused to look at him.
"Excuse me?"
"Everything hurts and I'm hungry. You're the one who dragged me here, now you can take care of me."
Aspen blinked, and she was momentarily speechless. Then she shook her head and wandered over to her leather case. She retrieved a small red vial and walked over to the bed. Once the vial was uncorked, she firmly placed it on the table. Then she silently walked away and left the room, nearly slamming the door behind her. When Aspen was gone, Dreg took the vial and downed it back, letting out a sigh of relief as the liquid worked quickly, soothing his aching body.
Around ten minutes later, Aspen returned. In her hands, she held a small wooden tray with a steaming bowl of soup, some soft cheese, and a hunk of bread. She walked over to the table, farther away from the bed and promptly placed it down on the wooden surface. She began walking towards the door, and she finally called out to him.
"If you think you can be rude to me and get away with it, think again."
Aspen reached the door, and she turned around for a moment.
"If you want to apologize, I'll feed you. If not, you can get it yourself."
Dreg was silent. He glared at her from the bed, not saying a word. Aspen waited for half a second longer, and then she opened the door and left him to his own devices. When she was gone, Dreg let out a loud sigh and tossed the covers back. He slowly slid his legs out and groaned as he started to sit up. He could feel the cuts on his chest cry out as he moved, which was hard to do with his right arm in a sling. He silently cursed the Elf healer, but his hunger won over, and after a short struggle, he was able to get into a sitting position with his feet planted on the floor.
His chest heaved as he struggled to breathe, and Dreg gripped the edge of the bedside table hard, using it to help pull himself up. He snarled as he took a step forward but somehow managed to shuffle like a hobbled old man over to the table. He sat down heavily, his butt crashing painfully to the wooden seat of the chair, and his broken arm clipped the edge of the table.
Aspen heard the roar from down the hall, where she was sitting at the counter talking with Susan. She sighed, and the Innkeeper's eyes widened.
"Was that yer Orc?"
"I think so."
"Aren't you gonna see if he's okay?"
"I will," Aspen replied quietly, and Susan raised one brow at her. "He's been incredibly rude to me from the start, so I had to enforce a little firmness."
Susan chuckled, and Aspen waited until she was finished her ale before finally walking back to her room. She slowly opened the door and poked her head in. The bed was empty, and when she stepped in further she spotted Dreg's bandaged back sitting slumped at the table. She shut the door and wandered over to him. Dreg shoveled another spoonful of soup into his mouth with his good arm and when Aspen came into his view he scowled at her.
"Nice of you to show up," he grumbled.
"I think you managed pretty well without me. But I did hear you shouting."
"S'nothing to worry your little head over," Dreg shot back.
He spooned more soup into his mouth and tore off a chunk of bread. Aspen sat in the chair across from him and clasped her leather gloves together before resting them on the table.
"I'm really tired of you giving me attitude, Dreg."
"I'm really tired of you."
"I've done nothing to deserve it. You were bleeding to death in the middle of nowhere. I stitched up your wounds, put your bone back into your body, and brought you to safety. Am I that awful, Dreg?"
Dreg was silent as he continued eating. Soup dribbled down his chin and he wiped at it with the back of his hand, growling softly.
"I haven't even asked what happened to you, though I'm curious to know."
"It's none of your fucking business," Dreg growled, and Aspen rolled her eyes before leaning back in her chair.
"I know," Aspen replied with an exasperated sigh, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "I am well aware, you've made that clear. But is there somewhere I can get you back to? Your home?"
"I don't have a home."
Aspen was a little taken aback. She quietly watched her sullen patient as he finished up his meal and then sat back in his chair with a small growl and closed his eyes. His pants were still caked in mud and blood, and Aspen knew she desperately needed to clean him up but knew it was another battle. However, she hadn't been expecting Dreg to tell her he didn't have a home to return to.
"You had to have had one at some point," she murmured. "Where did you come from?"
"A stronghold far away from here," Dreg grunted, and he rubbed at his stubbly chin. "That's all you need to know."
"But you can't go back-"
"I cannot go back!"
"Okay, okay..." Aspen sighed, and she stood up from her chair.
Dreg felt her soft hands at his arm, and he opened his eyes. Aspen helped him to his feet and walked him back to the bed where he sat down. Aspen changed his bandages and adjusted the sling and he was quiet for once, which Aspen was grateful for. Then Dreg laid down and went to sleep, while Aspen left the Inn and made some more rounds at the farms before coming back just before dinnertime. They repeated the routine, but this time Aspen fed him in bed, and then Dreg napped some more while Aspen wrote in her little journal. When she was finally tired, Aspen once again changed into her nightgown, and then she climbed into bed and drifted to sleep.
Dreg was having trouble sleeping. His eyes were closed, but his whole body was covered in sweat as images of the very recent past flashed in his dreams. He was betrayed, in more ways than one, and the despair he felt on that day cut more deeply than any physical wound. His chest heaved as he gasped for air. Beside him, Aspen snoozed on, unaware that a nightmare had seized him.
Suddenly Dreg's eyes shot open and he struggled to move but was restricted by the bandages and his broken arm. Aspen heard him moving, and she quickly sat up and turned towards the panicking Orc.
"Dreg, it was just a dream," Aspen called out, trying to calm him down.
Dreg's eyes were wide open, but it seemed like he saw right through her. Aspen placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to ease him back down on the bed, but it was no use. Dreg snarled in alarm. His thick green hand shot up and grasped Aspen's throat.
She froze, her heart racing as fear kicked in. Dreg was still in the middle of whatever had tormented his sleep, and he squeezed her slender neck with his hand while growling something in a language Aspen didn't comprehend. Her eyes watered a she felt her airway being constricted, and she struggled to get him to stop. Aspen gasped for air, and her body slumped against his.
"Dreg...you... have... to s-stop..."
Aspen reached up and cupped Dreg's face, stroking his soft green cheek. She rubbed him softly, and her fingertips brushed along his ear. Dreg shivered, and then he blinked. He suddenly came crashing back to reality, and his grip on her throat slackened.
He looked at Aspen, and he saw her for the first time. Dreg quickly let go of her neck. She lurched her body away from him and stumbled out from the bed. He watched, his hair slicked with sweat across his forehead, as Aspen coughed and spluttered. She clutched at her chest while bent over, her entire face red, and Dreg felt remorseful for once. He hadn't intended to hurt her.
Finally, Aspen stood up, and she glared at him in the dark.
"I am... I am sorry," Dreg mumbled.
"I... should hope so."
Her voice was quiet and raspy, and Dreg avoided looking directly at her. Aspen walked over to the washbasin and dipped the cloth into the cold water. She rung it out and then walked back over to where he was laying, his heart still racing in wildly in his chest. He tensed when she came over, but Aspen perched her butt on the edge of the bed and began dotting at his sweaty forehead.
"Why would you approach me when I almost killed you?"
Aspen brushed the cloth down his cheek, and she sighed.
"It's my job, Dreg. I am your healer."
"I don't get you," Dreg growled, but he let out a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"I don't get you either," Aspen whispered.
When she was finished, Aspen retrieved a small purple vial and gave it to Dreg. It was a herbal mixture that would bring him dreamless sleep, which she knew he needed right now. When he was breathing steadily again, she laid down beside him once more and pulled the covers up to her chin. Her neck ached, but not enough to take something for it. Aspen had a feeling Dreg had squeezed hard enough to leave a bruise, but she'd deal with it later. Eventually, she fell into a fitful sleep and woke up early the next morning.
Aspen was glad for her thick green scarf. When she stared at herself in the small hand mirror later the next morning, she was shocked to see just how bruised her neck was. Dreg still slumbered in the bed, unaware of the damage he had done, but Aspen didn't blame him for it. She knew all too well how bad nightmares were, and she shivered in the cold air of the room while she quickly changed into her clothes. The fire had gone out in the hearth, and so Aspen spent a few minutes coaxing a pile of fresh wood to life. When it was happily crackling and popping away, she slipped her gloves and boots on before going over to see how Dreg was doing.
He was still wearing the same disgusting, soiled pants. It bothered her greatly, and so Aspen made up her mind to do something about it later on. Dreg snored lightly, his good arm hanging down from the side of the bed. Aspen placed another small red vial on the bedside table and then wandered into the main dining hall of the Inn for breakfast. She ate a small bowl of creamed oats and drank a hot cup of herbal tea before taking back a big bowl of oats for Dreg. He was still sleeping when she returned. She placed the tray beside the bed so he could reach it and then left again.
Aspen visited another farm that morning, and she treated a young man who had lost his finger during a plowing incident. The finger had been cleanly cut, but it was not healing correctly. She tended to the wound by first clearing out the infected portion of the skin. She had given the boy a vial of medicine that had numbed his entire arm and so he felt almost nothing. Still, she worked swiftly and efficiently. When the skin had been adequately cleaned, Aspen stitched the end of the stump and rubbed some salve on before applying the oil-infused bandages. She instructed the parents on how to change the bandages, and keep an eye for any other signs of infection.
"Thank you, Aspen. A thousand times, thank you."
Aspen squeezed the mother's hands and smiled. Their smiles and words of praise were all that she ever needed when it came to payment. She never took any coin or other offers from her patrons, other than a warm bed to sleep and some food. Not that Aspen needed the coin, for the Order paid her a monthly stipend that enabled her to travel with ease.
When Aspen returned to the Inn, she found Dreg sitting up in bed. He looked considerably better than the night before, and he had polished off the food she'd left for him. He watched as Aspen shot him a small smile and then she wandered over to the table and began removing her gear.
"Why do you wear so much?"
Aspen removed her green scarf and placed it on the table before turning to him.
"I belong to an Order of healers. It's just part of my job. The scarf signifies my status. The gloves," Aspen explained as she tugged on the leather fingers, "Have certain properties that allow me to perform medicine cleanly. The wraps are so I do not come into contact with anything that can harm me."
"An Order... of healers? Sounds strange."
"I suppose it could be, but we have our reasons."
"Hmph."
"How are you feeling?"
Aspen strolled over to where Dreg was sitting, and he peered up at her with his usual scowl.
"Fine."
"You really should get cleaned up," Aspen continued, wrinkling her nose. "It would do us both good."
"I would bathe myself if I could," Dreg shot back with a frown.
Aspen was silent for a moment as she thought. Dreg wouldn't be able to submerge his upper torso in water, but she could fill it partway and help him out.
"Your bandages can't get wet, but I could fill up the tub-"
"No."
Aspen raised one thin brown eyebrow in his direction, and Dreg let out a deep breath.
"I can barely walk. You're not putting me in that tub."
"Okay... fine. Then I will have to wash you myself."
Aspen turned on her heel and disappeared outside the room. When she returned, she carried a large metal bucket that held nearly boiling water. She sauntered forward, careful not to slosh any of the liquid around. Several cloths had been slung over her shoulders as well, and Dreg watched her place the heavy bucket down on the table with a small scowl.
"Come on then, get up."
Dreg stiffened, and he did not move.
"You can't be serious," Dreg grumbled, and Aspen crossed her arms over her chest.
"I am serious. Don't make me come over there. You are completely soaked in blood and you refuse to get in the tub. The stench is driving me crazy."
"I am not going to let a woman wash me!"
"Don't be such a child, Dreg. Are you that prude? I see naked bodies all the time with my work, you're no different."
Aspen wandered over to the bed, and she stood beside him, staring down at him with her pale green eyes. He glared back at her, silently brooding.
"Don't tell me you, an Orc, are shy about undressing. That would be a first for me."
"Shut up," Dreg growled, and he swiftly threw the covers off his legs and swung them out from the bed.
"If you want to see me so bad then fine, be my guest."
Aspen stood back, ignoring his jab, and watched as Dreg gripped the edge of the bedside table. It was slow going but eventually, he pulled himself to a standing position. He grunted, and straightened up his back, causing Aspen to stare up at him this time. He towered several feet taller than her, and Aspen had to admit despite being injured, he was quite an intimidating creature.
Dreg peered down at the elf, and his eyes moved down to her neck. He did not miss the purple bruises that dashed across her creamy white skin.
"Those bruises," he asked awkwardly, "do they hurt."
"Mmm not really, but this isn't about me. Come on."
Dreg shuffled over to the table, and Aspen moved so she was standing in front of him. He watched as her fingers began tugging at the laces to his pants, and in a couple of moments, she had them undone. She slid them down his thick thighs, trying not to grimace at the smell of dried blood and body odor. Dreg leaned with his hand against the edge of the chair, gripping it firmly as he leaned his weight on it. He stepped out from his pants and Aspen picked them up. She folded the soiled breeches over the edge of another chair.
"I'll have to find new breeches for you, those are ruined."
Aspen tried as hard as she could to appear calm, but inside her heart was racing. She didn't know why. It's not like she had never seen a naked Orc before. Dreg was no different, but somehow, she felt nervous. So, Aspen busied herself with dipping a cloth into the hot water as calmly as possible. She rang out the excess water with both hands and turned back to Dreg, who was staring at her with an unreadable expression. Aspen ignored him and wandered around to his backside.
He could feel the hot cloth on his lower back as Aspen cleaned his soiled skin. Aspen liked the rich green skin tones that Orcs possessed, and she was surprised at just how vibrant it was under all the blood and dirt. She continued sliding the cloth across his skin, and Dreg was silent as she paused to dip it back in the water and ring it out before resuming her cleaning. His skin tingled lightly, and the water cooling on his backside made him shiver. Warmth spread down in his groin, and the more Aspen washed him, the warmer it grew.
She paid great attention to Dreg, making sure she was thorough. Her soft, pale hands clenched the cloth rang it out again. Aspen dragged the cloth down his firm buttocks, reaching the Orc's thick thighs, and continued down to his feet. When she was satisfied with his backside, Aspen wandered back around to face him, and her eyes widened when they landed on his huge thick cock. It rose straight up to his stomach, and Aspen averted her eyes, frowning.
"Must you be aroused?"
Dreg shrugged his uninjured shoulder.
"How would you like me to react, with you touching me like that?"
"I'm just cleaning you-"
"You're being awfully thorough."
Aspen let out a small huff, and she turned her attention toward the bucket of water. Dreg watched, anticipating her movements, and when she drew forward with the cloth he snatched it from her hands.
"What-"
"I can wash my cock, healer."
Aspen frowned, but she turned towards the table and was silent as she waited for Dreg to finish cleaning himself. When he was done, Aspen took the cloth from his hand and finished washing his legs and feet. Then, Dreg shuffled back to the bed and laid down to nap while Aspen went to dump the water and see if she could locate some clothes for him. While she was gone, Dreg took care of his bodily reaction and then tipped back a purple vial into his mouth. He was out like a light in minutes.
Chapter Text
"These won't work," Aspen said as she held Dreg's soiled pants up to another pair for comparison.
It was a warm, sunny afternoon. Aspen stood in a small room with the only woman who made clothes in the quiet little town.
"I can see that," the seamstress replied, wrinkling her nose at the smell. "I highly doubt I have anything here that size. I'll have to make something."
"He needs a tunic too, and a coat. I think his boots will be salvageable."
"It'll take me a few days."
Aspen nodded, and she turned towards the grey-haired woman with a smile.
"That's fine, take all the time you need. I really appreciate the help."
"You're welcome, dearie."
"How much will it cost?"
"Don't worry about-"
"Absolutely not," Aspen cut in firmly, holding her hand up. "A shirt is one thing, but a whole wardrobe is another. Please, give me a price Martha."
"Alright... alright."
The two women chatted for a little while longer, and then Aspen took her leave. She shut the door behind her and glided down the stairs to Martha's home. She began walking toward another home, and two children greeted her at the front steps.
"You're... you're Aspen aren't you."
They were both pale-skinned and sported full heads of bright orange hair. Aspen smiled at them and nodded.
"Is your father home, Catherine?"
"What can I do for the Healer, she need only ask."
Aspen straightened up and turned towards the source of the voice. An older gentleman stood at the top of the stairs, which he quickly walked down to greet Aspen. His hair and beard were the same fiery orange color, and he smiled at her with bright blue eyes.
"Aspen, good to see you again."
"You as well, Edward. How are you doing?"
"We're doing alright, thank you. Please, do you have time for a cup of tea?"
"Of course."
The children remained outside, content to play their games, while Aspen followed Edward into his home. It was the same as she remembered, except this time no smiling wife greeted her. It had been almost a year since Edward had lost his wife due to a sickness Aspen had been unable to heal. She had taken it very personally, for whenever Aspen came through the town of Berrybrush the family would always welcome her into their home for dinner.
Aspen was seated in a plush chair near the fire, and she watched as Edward began busying himself with preparing the kettle. She gazed at his tall form as he ladled water from a massive barrel into the kettle and then turned towards the fire. When he was finished, Edward sat down in the chair beside her, and they both exchanged smiles.
"I was glad to hear of a healer stopping by. I had a feeling it would be you."
"Yes, I know I haven't been here in a while..."
"I was beginning to think it was because of me."
Aspen's face grew warm, and she averted her gaze to the floor. The memory of all that had transpired came flooding back to her, and the emotions associated it was all too confusing. Edward seemed to sense this.
"I’m sorry, I have no right bringing up the past."
"I-It's okay, honest... I just... have a hard time letting things go."
"You did the best you could, I know it. I wish for you to move on."
"How are you doing?" Aspen inquired softly, and she peered over at him.
"Really?" Edward sighed, and he leaned back in his chair while staring at the fire.
"I've had a lot of support from everyone around here, but I will admit it's not easy raising two children alone."
"I'm sorry that you're going through that."
"The last person who should be sorry is you, Aspen."
The kettle began to scream as the water boiled, and so Edward stood up and took it off the fire. Aspen swallowed hard, feeling her pulse race, and tried to calm her nerves while Edward busied himself with making tea. When he was finished, he walked over to her and handed Aspen the small porcelain cup.
"Thank you."
Aspen waited a few moments and gently blew on the tea before taking a small sip. Edward sat back down in his chair and stared thoughtfully at the fire for a minute, and they sat in comfortable silence. After some time had passed, they began talking, mostly Aspen spoke of the places she had been recently and what patients she had treated.
"I heard you have an Orc with you," Edward commented.
Aspen hastily swallowed her tea and nodded.
"Yes, his name is Dreg. I don't know anything about him."
"What happened to Ivan?"
Aspen's brows furrowed together, and she clenched her empty teacup for a moment, thinking about how much she wanted to share.
"Ivan and I... had a falling out."
"Really?" Edward leaned forward and placed a firm hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently.
His bright blue eyes burned into hers.
"Yeah, it's um... it's been kind of rough. He left me in Klendale, so I've been on my own."
Tears pricked at Aspen's eyes, and she couldn't hold back anymore. They silently slipped down her pale cheeks and dripped onto her bright green scarf. Aspen sucked in a shaky breath and quickly wiped at her tears. She tried to smile, but it faltered. Edward opened his mouth to say something, but then the door to his cottage opened. His two children piled inside, and they paused when they saw their father's face. Aspen sat with her back to them, and she kept her head bowed, sniffling softly.
"Catherine, Stephen... please go to Martha's and ask her to feed you. Stay there until I come to get you."
"Yes father," the children echoed, and they both took off again.
"Aspen, I'm sorry that happened to you."
"I-It's okay, honest..."
Aspen rubbed the side of her jaw and then she wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to shrink into herself. Edward poured her another cup of tea, and when she finished drinking it Aspen felt a little better. She sat back in her chair and quietly stared out at nothing, lost in thought. The light outside grew darker, and eventually, she realized she should get back to Dreg.
"I... should get going."
Aspen stood up from the chair and moved towards the door. Edward followed, and he drew closer to her when they reached the door. Aspen's heart skipped a beat when he reached down and took one of her gloved hands, squeezing it gently.
"I wish I could make things better."
"Sometimes I wish that too," Aspen admitted, and her cheeks grew warm. "Even though I shouldn't."
Memories of them flashed in her mind, and suddenly she was nineteen again. He had been married, but it hadn’t stopped her feelings from growing. Aspen had tried to push him from her mind, but her young heart wanted what it shouldn't have. The memory of Edward's pale hands gripping her arms as his head dipped down towards her lips burned brightly in her mind, she knew Edward was remembering the same thing. He stared down at the healer, his expression unreadable, but the tension between them was clear.
Suddenly he pulled Aspen close, and their lips crashed together in a heated kiss that took her breath away. Aspen was stunned, but her body acted on its own accord, and she found herself wrapping her arms around his neck as she deepened the embrace. His thick beard tickled her skin but she didn't mind, and the feeling of his hands on her waist made her body flush with desire.
Edward pulled back, his chest heaving, and they looked at each other for a long moment before he took her hand and guided Aspen towards the bedroom. When they reached it, he turned around and crushed Aspen to his chest as they once again began kissing. His hands roamed down her tunic, squeezing her butt, and Aspen gasped for air against his lips as she felt like her entire body was on fire.
He made quick work of her clothes. First, Edward removed her scarf and placed it on the dresser beside them. He kissed her again, his soft pale lips trailing down Aspen's pale neck, and his fingers plucked and picked at the bottom of her tunic. He lifted it, and Aspen raised her arms. He dropped the tunic on the floor and then he stared at Aspen, his cheek's flushed bright pink.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured.
Aspen shivered when he gripped her waist and she could feel his lips dancing across her breasts.
"You haven't aged a day."
She sucked in a deep breath and ran her fingers through his hair, gasping softly when his tongue flicked across her perk nipple, sucking softly. His fingers slipped around the hem of her breeches and pushed them down. Aspen stepped back, and she finished removing her pants and shoes before starting on Edward. She lifted his tunic and dropped it on the pile of clothes on the floor. His skin was almost paler than hers and sprinkled with deep red freckles. She leaned in, softly kissing his chest and her palm lightly rubbed him through his pants. Edward's chest heaved and he moaned softly. Aspen tugged at the strings, and within a moment they were undone and in a heap on the floor.
Aspen looked at him. A trail of light orange hair started at his belly and traveled down towards his groin. She had been with him before, but it was a long time ago, and he was even older now. But his body was still perfectly toned, and his cock rose long and hard; pale white and swollen with a plump pink head. Seeing him sent an ache through her stomach, and she shivered. Edward pulled her closer, and their bodies pressed together as he kissed her deeply, running her fingers through her short hair.
"Your hair was longer," he murmured, kissing her neck. "Wasn't it?"
"Yes," Aspen whispered, shivering.
Part of her felt wrong. Even though Edward was no longer a married man, Aspen knew that she didn't deserve to be with him. They had slept together before, in secret, and the result had been catastrophic. Aspen squeezed her eyes shut, and her hands tightly gripped his waist as her body reacted to him. But a little voice in the back of her head told her she wouldn't stop it if she could, and deep down she knew it was true.
Edward pulled back, and he stared down at Aspen with his bright blue eyes. Small wrinkles formed in the corner of his eyes when he smiled at her, and he gently cupped her pale cheek.
"Are you sure about this?" He asked, searching her eyes. "I feel like I'm... taking advantage. I know I'm a widower..."
Aspen quickly shook her head, her brows furrowed together, and she ran her hand up Edward's pale chest. Her fingers grazed over his nipple, and he shivered.
"No... I think we're past the point of no return."
Edward laughed softly, and he leaned in and gently kissed her lips. Then he guided Aspen to the bed and laid her down on her back, trailing his lips across her skin. His finger slipped between her legs, stroking he wet folds, and Aspen squeezed her eyes shut. The heat between them grew, and she clutched at Edwards' arms, moaning softly as he touched her.
"It's been so long, "Edward mumbled against her breasts. "I feel like I'm no good anymore."
"Y-you're doing just fine," Aspen gasped, and she arched her back, pressing her breasts into his face.
When Edward entered her, Aspen was completely blown away. She didn't have it in her to tell Evan that it had probably been even longer since she had last been even touched by another man. Her entire body burned under his touch, and she gripped his back hard, digging her nails into his pale flesh. She squeezed her thighs around his waist and her chest heaved as Edward thrust his cock into her. His eyes were closed, and he moaned softly, mumbling her name while he thrust. Their moans and gasps echoed in the room, and Aspen's head lolled back as she felt herself rising to a swift climax.
A moment later she came, her walls crashing around Edward's long stiff cock. He grunted and thrust one last time as he came as well, emptying his seed deep inside of her. Aspen could feel his throbbing member pulsing from his orgasm, and after a few moments Edward slumped down on the bed beside her. They lay there for a while, catching their breath, and then Edward shuffled back so he was laying down properly. He pulled Aspen into his arms with a sleepy smile.
Something felt different between them. Aspen couldn't quite place her finger on it, but she felt content as she lay there in Edwards' arms, gently rubbing his chest with the palm of her hand. It was as though a chapter in her past was finally coming to an end, and she was okay with it for the first time.
"What's on your mind?" Edward mumbled softly, and she felt his fingers running through her hair.
"Too much."
"I must confess, I never thought we'd be here again."
Aspen smiled, and she turned her face to kiss his chest.
"Neither did I."
"But you won't stay, will you Aspen."
Aspen slid back and peered up at Edward in the dark. He reached up and stroked her cheek, smiling sleepily at her.
"You know I can't."
Edward brushed his fingers along her scared hip, thinking.
"I guess I shouldn't ask how you got those bruises, either."
Aspen stiffened, and then she laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"I had sought you out for a reason, and it wasn't this one."
"Oh yeah?" Edward grinned, and he pinched her cheek. "What do you need?"
"I need a sword, for Dreg."
"Dreg? Oh... your Orc friend."
"I wouldn't call him a friend," Aspen sighed, and she lifted her head to look out the window.
It was completely dark now, and Aspen knew Dreg was probably furiously hungry.
"I can make one for you, no problem."
"Thanks. Well, I hate to leave..."
"Then don't."
The look Edward gave her was almost too much. She bit her lip and looked down at him for a moment, trailing her fingers across the hard plains of his abs. She counted some of the freckles on his pale skin, and then finally gave up.
"I can't. I'm sworn to take care of the Orc, despite how crazy he is driving me. I need to tend to him, and he'll be upset that I've been gone for so long without feeding him."
"Sounds like a child," Edward joked.
"He is, in some ways, and not in others."
The image of Dreg's massive manhood flashed in her mind, but she quickly pushed it away and sat up from the bed. Edward followed her, shuffling close as Aspen paused at the end of the bed. He trailed his lips against her back and he kissed her soft shoulder. Aspen shivered, and then she stood up from the bed and retrieved her clothes. Edward watched as she got dressed, and then Aspen wandered back to the bed. He took her hand and kissed it. The gesture made her heart ache, but she forced herself to reach down and cup his face.
"I wish you the best, Edward... truly."
"You sound like you're never going to see me again."
"After I've left this town, maybe I won't. Who knows, and even if I did... it won't be the same."
"I know, you're right. Thank you, Aspen."
Aspen leaned down, and she gently kissed Edward's lips. She wanted to cry but forced herself to remain strong while still in his presence. When she pulled back, he smiled at her, and then she said goodbye and began walking towards the door.
"I'll have a sword for you by the end of the week," Edward called after her.
Aspen paused, and she shot him a warm smile.
"Thank you, Edward, I appreciate it. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Aspen."
As soon as she left Edward's home, hot tears slipped down her cheeks. She pursed her lips and wiped at her face, brushing them away while she walked. Aspen quickly made her way back to the Inn and asked Susan if she could get some food to take back for Dreg. When she was given a tray full of dinner, Aspen walked down the hallway towards their room and entered inside to find it completely dark.
"Do you always leave your patients with nothing, not even a scrap of food?"
Aspen sighed, bowing her head. Dreg was sitting up in bed with his head resting against the headboard, and he glared at Aspen with his dark red eyes.
"I am sorry Dreg, truly."
Aspen shuffled forward with the tray of food and she placed it down on the table and lit a candle. Dreg's hand shot out and he snatched up a bread roll and stuffed it in his mouth, chewing quickly.
"What were you doing that took you so fucking long?"
"I was out acquiring new clothes for you," Aspen huffed, "and a weapon, and I stopped to see an old friend."
"Hmph."
Aspen turned away from him, and she walked over to the cold hearth and knelt before it. A few minutes later a fire crackled and popped, and she watched the flames consume the kindling before placing a thick log down, and another. When that was taken care of, she walked over to the table and began taking off her work items. Dreg watched her, noticing the way her hair was disheveled, and when she had gone near him earlier, he knew she had had been intimate with someone. His sensitive nose was not fooled.
"You stink," Dreg grunted, chewing on a cube of cheese.
"Excuse me?"
"You reek of sex," Dreg continued, and he grinned when Aspen's face turned beet red.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Aspen replied curtly.
She quickly gathered up a fresh set of clothes and began making her way towards the door.
"Where are you going? Another partner already?"
"Shut up!" Aspen retorted, and she bawled her hand into a fist.
Dreg laughed, thoroughly enjoying her reaction. He knew she had fucked someone, it was painfully obvious. He laughed even harder when Aspen spun around and fled the room, slamming the door behind her. The sounds of his deep laughter echoed in her ears, and she felt nearly sick at the thought of being caught by him.
Stupid Orc, she thought with a frustrated noise. It's none of his business what I do. He can't even tell me where he came from or what happened.
Aspen stalked down the hallway towards the baths, as she preferred not to bathe in her room with Dreg mocking her. She spent a long time soaking in one of the communal pools, lost in thought. She was still angry with Dreg and felt a mixture of emotions at what had transpired between herself and Edward. He was twelve years older than her, and she had known even at nineteen there was no future with the married man. But it hadn't stopped her from falling completely in love with the ginger-haired blacksmith. When Helen had grown sick, he had sought her out specifically, requesting Aspen to tend to her. She had at first resisted but eventually caved. Despite her best efforts, Helen succumbed to her sickness and left Edward with their two young children.
Why does everything in my life have to be so tragic? Aspen sighed, trailing her fingers across the surface of the steamy water. Why can't anything ever be nice?
Eventually, she grew too tired to stay, and so Aspen pulled herself out from the pool, dried off, and got dressed into a long thick nightgown. She bundled her soiled clothes up and quietly walked back to her room. Dreg was laying down now, the tray beside the bed void of food, but he was still awake. He watched Aspen as she wandered over to the table and placed her clothes down on an empty chair with a tired expression on her face. She sat down at the table and wrote in her journal for a few minutes before tucking it back into her satchel. Then, she stood up and reached her arms up, stretching her back, and it gave a satisfying crack.
Aspen finally dragged her feet over to the bed and then blew out the candle. She sat down on her side for a moment, rubbing her neck, and she sighed softly before slipping under the covers.
"If you're gonna leave me alone all day again," Dreg piped up, and Aspen turned to scowl at him. "You can at least leave me with a pair of pants or get someone to bring me food."
"Okay... I said I was sorry Dreg. It won't happen again."
"Just a one-time thing huh?" Dreg rubbed his stubbly chin, smirking. "Didn't think you were the type."
Aspen quickly sat up in and fixed an angry gaze on him, but he wasn't the slightest bit fazed.
"It's none of your business what I do, just like it's none of mine to know anything about you."
Dreg was enjoying getting her worked up again. It had been the most entertaining thing for him since being dragged to the wretched town half alive and begging for death. Aspen sat beside him, silently glaring at him with her fists clenched. His eyes flicked down to her bruised neck, and then back up at her.
"I don't see what the big deal is, fucking is part of life."
"Must you be so vulgar, Dreg?"
"I could be worse, healer. I couldn't care less who you fuck, only that you were away instead of tending to me."
Aspen let out an exasperated noise, and she covered her face with both hands, groaning loudly.
"You're driving me insane, Dreg," she muttered. "My life does not revolve around you."
"It doesn't? Then why were you acquiring a sword for me? Better yet, I've been meaning to ask you for a while now why you were in the middle of the woods with no form of protection outside of a puny little ax.
“Dreg...”
“Are you a Mage?"
"I am not a Mage," Aspen mumbled, and she looked at him. "You know nothing outside of your Stronghold, don't you?"
"Why would I," Dreg grunted, scowling at her. "It meant nothing to me, at the time."
"That makes more sense now..."
"Explain it, then. What is this Order of yours and why do you not carry protection?"
"It's like a Guild or a group of people dedicated to the art of Healing. We have rules that we must follow, and if we do not follow them then certain... attributes that we are granted are taken away. It's a privilege to have them."
"What sorts of... attributes?"
"Powers, I suppose you could call them."
Aspen shuffled back so she was resting against the headboard, and she glanced down at Dreg. His good arm rested lightly across his chest, and he idly picked at the bandages, but he was listening to her.
"It's nothing fancy, just special skills that are imparted on us to help ease the healing processes. My gloves are one such privilege."
"If you break the rules then...?"
"Well I've never broken any rules, but we take up vows when we join. It's been so long since I've performed the ceremony, but I am sworn to try my absolute best to heal and help the sick, regardless of their gender or age. I am a Healer in every sense of the word. I can only heal, and therefore... I cannot hurt."
"What?" Dreg grunted, frowning. "What does that mean?"
"It means I cannot fight."
"Not even in self-defense?"
"To the Order, it is all the same."
"That's just stupid."
Aspen's brows furrowed together, and she glared down at Dreg.
"Well, I wouldn't expect somebody like you to understand."
"Somebody like me? An Orc, you mean."
"No, I've helped plenty of Orcs. They understand and recognize me and my Order. You are a completely foreign entity."
"Hmmph," Dreg growled, ignoring her comment. "That doesn't explain how it is you defend yourself. You don't just walk around the world without ever being in danger."
"I know that... that's why Healers have a Guardian."
"Guardian."
"Men, or women, sworn to protect Healers."
"That still sounds stupid, but what do I know."
Aspen was silent, and she covered her mouth with her hand while she yawned. Dreg did not say anymore, and so she slid back down under the covers and pulled them up to her chin. She lay on her side, facing the far wall, but sleep did not come quickly.
"What happened to your Guardian... you were alone in the woods."
Aspen stiffened, and she clenched the blanket with both hands.
"He left."
"He just... left you, without any protection. With no one to help you."
"Yes, that is the gist of it. Please, Dreg... it's not something I wish to speak about."
"Fine."
Aspen sighed softly and closed her eyes. The memory of what had transpired just a short while ago still burned inside of her. When she thought about it, Aspen could almost feel Edward's strong, calloused hands on her skin. She shivered, and pressed her face into the pillow, trying to will the feelings away. After some time, Dreg's snores reached her ears, and she eventually drifted into a fitful sleep.
Chapter Text
Three days passed with minimal arguments between the Healer and her patient. On the morning of the third day, since Aspen had seen Martha, she decided to visit the elderly seamstress to get an update on the specially made clothes. When she arrived, Martha disappeared into the back room for a moment and returned with an armful of clothes.
"Wow, these are wonderful. It's all done?"
"Yes, my granddaughter helped me sew. My eyes aren't what they used to be."
"I can't thank you two enough."
Aspen stepped forward, and the two women hugged. Aspen inspected the pile of clothes, praising Martha as she did for such excellent and sturdy stitching.
"It's all been double-stitched, "Martha explained, and Aspen nodded. "It should hold up well."
"Good. I am glad. I'm sure it will hold up just fine."
There were five articles of clothing in total. Martha had managed to scrape together two pairs of pants, one set that was leather breeches, and the other was made of cotton and much more casual. She had also sewn two tunics for Dreg; one made of a thicker material that was a dark grey with long sleeves, and another plain tunic the color of sand.
"I know you said he has boots, but I had these lying around. Here..."
Martha reached for something from behind the counter, and she pulled out a pair of sturdy leather boots with thick straps. Aspen was stunned.
"Oh wow, thank you, Martha. This is very generous."
"Well from what you've told me of the Orc, he's starting over. So, it doesn't hurt to start over with a fresh set of boots as well."
"I wish I could tell you your generosity would touch him, but unfortunately he's a rather bull-headed man. However, I am very thankful for all you've done."
Martha chuckled, and she patted Aspen's cheek affectionately. All of the items were wrapped up into a big parcel and tied with string. When payment was finished, Aspen said goodbye to Martha and her girl, and then departed the little shop and began walking back towards the Inn. She reached her room within a few minutes and found Dreg standing near the window, with his back to her.
Aspen quietly shut the door behind her, her eyes glued on his toned backside. She couldn't help herself, and she had to forcibly look away so he wouldn't catch her staring. Dreg heard her enter, and he turned towards her. He watched as she walked over to the table and dumped the items in her hand on the table. He slowly shuffled over to her, and when he reached the table he picked up one of the boots and inspected it for a moment.
"Are these for me?" He grunted.
"Yes. All of this is for you."
"Why do you give so much to me?"
Aspen frowned, and she looked across the table at Dreg, trying to ignore the fact that he was naked. She let out a small sigh and shrugged.
"I don't know. It's in my nature to help, and it's not like you have much of a choice. You can refuse these clothes and boots, but then you'd have nothing."
"Hmph."
She noticed the way Dreg scratched at his bandages, and she decided it was probably okay to remove them for good.
"Go sit down on the bed, I'll take your bandages off and check your arm."
The Orc nodded, and he padded over to the bed and sat down without a fuss. Aspen almost said something but thought against it. They had been keeping the peace, for the most part, but she knew he was like a fireball.
Easily provoked, and when he's angry he just blows up.
However, he almost too quiet, as he silently waited for Aspen to come over to him. He watched her rifle through her leather case, and she produced a small green vial as well as a teeny tiny knife. She took her scarf off and placed it on the table and then wandered over to where Dreg was sitting. Then, she knelt in front of the bed and shuffled forward, planting herself between his legs.
Dreg's brows shot up, but he kept quiet, and Aspen knelt there on her knees and began removing the wraps around his shoulder. She easily sliced through the layers with her knife and began unraveling the other cotton wraps. When the gauze underneath was exposed, Aspen gently tugged at the layers, which lightly pulled at his skin and stitches. Dreg scowled slightly, but felt instant relief when they were removed."
"Hmm," Aspen murmured to herself, and she leaned in closer to his thick chest. "Your wounds are healing very nicely."
"Orcs are strong."
"I don't doubt it. Somebody else with the same injuries probably would have died before I reached them."
"Elves are weaker creatures," Dreg continued, boasting, and Aspen rolled her eyes.
"Well, you're not out of the clear yet."
Aspen picked up the knife and began slicing at some of the stitches. It glided through the black thread like it was butter. She lightly tugged at the thread in between cutting, and it slipped out from his healing skin without a problem. She continued in the same manner for most of the slashes, except for two particularly long ones straight across his chest.
"These stitches will have to remain for a little while longer, just to be certain."
"What do you want from me?"
Aspen paused her movements, and she peered up at him. This was the closest they had been since the first day they met, and Aspen sat back on her calves, feeling uncomfortable with his red gaze.
"What... do you mean?"
"You've saved me from death. You've nursed me back to health. You've provided me with shelter, food, and clothes. What is it you want from me?"
Aspen's hand lightly rested on his knee, and she was silent for a few moments.
"I guess... I guess I was hoping you'd come with me."
"Where?"
"Not far, just to the Capitol," Aspen continued quickly, noticing his frown.
She avoided looking at his manhood and instead focused her gaze on his chest.
"I wouldn't want to bother you any further than is necessary. But, you are right. It was stupid and dangerous for my previous Guardian to leave me without any form of protection."
Aspen sighed, and she rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying not to think about it too hard.
"I don't need you to help me any more than that. But if we can get to the Capitol, you'll have a better chance of finding work, or whatever you decide to do. I will apply for a new Guardian once I get back to the Order."
"I will go."
Aspen looked up Dreg with a shocked expression, and then she laughed.
"I wasn't expecting you to agree so easily."
"Well," Dreg grunted, and he shrugged. "What other choice do I have? You're the only person I know in this cursed civilized world."
Aspen smiled, feeling amused and relieved. She sat back up and gently unraveled the bandages covering his arm. When it was free, Dreg stretched his fingers for a moment, growling softly. Aspen grasped his thick green arm, inspecting the part where his bone had broken through the skin. The cut looked good, and so she swiftly removed the stitches.
Dreg was quiet while she inspected his arm, and despite having nothing to compare Aspen to, he couldn't help but feel like she was a master of her work. He silently watched as Aspen grasped his forearm and bent her head down slightly, her eyes closed for a moment. He thought he felt something warm wash over his skin, and within seconds it was gone.
"The bone is healing nicely. You should be good to go by the end of next week."
"Hmm, are you sure? I feel good."
"You might feel good, but it's still vulnerable. I'd rather give it a little while longer, than risk having you fracture it again."
"Fine," Dreg grumbled, and he sighed.
"I know you're restless, but it'll go by quickly. We've already been here for nearly a week and a half. You're healing incredibly fast."
"What sort of sword am I getting?"
"Oh, I..." Aspen laughed and rubbed her neck. "I didn't ask. I uh can find out though."
"I need a Greatsword if one can be made."
"Greatsword. Got it."
Aspen suddenly felt a little nervous, and so she quickly finished up tending to Dreg by washing his upper torso with a warm cloth, taking care not to irritate his healing skin. When she was finished, Dreg stood up and stretched out his arms, testing them. But he didn't push it, and Aspen walked over to the table and sliced off the white string of the package containing his clothes. She picked up a tunic, and Dreg shuffled closer to look. He took the cloth from her hands and held it up, comparing the size to his body. Aspen watched as the Orc lifted it over his head, and he groaned quietly. He was so used to not having the use of his right arm that the muscles had relaxed a little too much, and it was uncomfortable to use them.
"Is it too tight?" Aspen asked quietly, and she reached up to tug on the tunic.
The feeling of her hands on his chest made Dreg feel something he couldn't quite comprehend. It caused a tightness inside of him that didn't come from his wounds. He quickly shoved her hands away, feeling his pulse quicken.
"It's fine," Dreg growled. "Where are the pants?"
Aspen blinked, confused by his sudden change in behavior. She figured she should be used to it by now but didn't understand what she'd done to annoy him. So, she turned to the table and picked up a pair of casual pants and handed them to him.
"There's also breeches, for when we're traveling."
Dreg took the pants from her grasp and began putting them on. Aspen turned away from him and left the room to go get them lunch. When she returned, he was fully dressed and lounging comfortably in one of the chairs. They ate in silence, and Aspen wasn't sure if he was still annoyed but decided she didn't care either way.
I can probably never make him happy, she thought quietly as she took a sip of water. He seems like the perpetually grumpy type.
When Aspen was finished eating, she took their dirty dishes and began walking towards the door.
"I'll go to the blacksmith's and see if I can't get the sword you want. Will you be alright now?"
"I'll be fine," Dreg mumbled, yawning.
Aspen departed the Inn and quietly made her way towards Edward's home. To the left of his house was a smaller building that was his workspace, and she could hear the clanging of metal when she rounded the corner.
Edward stood outside by his forge. Aspen watched from a distance for a few minutes, mesmerized by him. He raised his thick arm up and then deftly swung it down, crashing the tool against the red-hot metal he was trying to sculpt. His tunic was completely soaked with sweat and it glistened on his forehead while he worked, his cheeks bright red from the exertion. Finally, Aspen slid closer, and he spotted her out of the corners of his eyes.
"Aspen," he huffed breathlessly. "I was wondering when you'd be by."
"I know I'm a little early," Aspen replied.
Edward dipped the red-hot blade into a barrel of water and then grabbed a nearby cloth and wiped it across his brow as he walked towards her. Aspen tried to smile, but her heart beat wildly in her chest, and she struggled to stay composed.
"No worries, is there something else you needed?"
"I hope it's not an inconvenience. I was talking earlier with Dreg, and he expressed the type of sword he wants."
"Well if he's like any of the Orcs I have known, the bigger the better."
"Y-yeah," Aspen laughed, and she nervously rubbed her neck. "He wants a Greatsword. Is it too late to ask?"
"No... not at all."
Edward grinned, and he gestured towards his workstation.
"I am constructing one for him."
Aspen clasped her hands together, and she breathed out a sigh of relief.
"You're the best Edward, honestly."
"What is going on with you two then?" Edward inquired, and he leaned against the wooden post of his shelter with his arms crossed. "You're getting him a sword, and you're without a Guardian..."
"Oh uh, not what you think," Aspen replied hastily, holding her hands up. "I haven't asked him to be my Guardian. I'm not even sure he would even qualify. I just... well, I asked him to escort me back to the Capitol, and then we can go our separate ways."
"Hmm, alright."
Edward pushed his shoulder away from the post and stepped closer. Aspen's heart skipped a beat when he took her hand and pulled her closer towards him, and her cheeks blushed bright pink. He stared at her with his bright blue gaze, and it was then in the light of day that Aspen noticed the slight graying of his orange hair. He really was getting older.
"Just promise me one thing," Edward murmured, and he gently brushed his finger along the back of her pointed ear.
"What is it?"
Her voice was barely a whisper, and she struggled to breathe as she felt his fingers brushing through her hair.
"Be careful, okay? You barely know the guy."
Aspen let out a long sigh, and she smiled at him.
"I will be careful. Thank you, Edward, but you don't have to worry about me."
"But I do," Edward whispered, and his lips brushed against her soft forehead as he hugged her. "I have always worried."
Aspen wrapped her arms around Edwards' waist, and they stood there like that for a long while before she finally pulled back. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she swallowed them back, and Edward shot her a grin before returning to his work.
"It'll be ready soon, I promise."
"Thank you, Edward. I'll stop by in a couple of days."
When Aspen returned to the Inn sometime later, she walked into her room to find it empty. Concerned, she swiftly came back to the dining hall and went over to where Susan was standing behind the bar.
"Susan, have you seen my Orc- I mean Dreg?"
"You mean the one you walked by just a few minutes ago?"
Aspen frowned, and she followed Susan's gaze. She turned around and spotted Dreg sitting by himself at one of the tables. A couple of empty bottles of Ale rested on the table and he held the third one in his hand. Aspen felt foolish that she had walked right by him, and she shot Susan an amused scowl when the woman laughed.
"You're out and about," she greeted Dreg.
"If you call out being in the dining hall, then yes."
Aspen rolled her eyes, and she took a seat across from him. Susan waltzed by a moment later and lightly placed a bottle of ale on the table. Aspen thanked her before taking a sip.
"Who is that redhaired smith to you?"
Aspen nearly choked on her drink, and she quickly put the bottle down on the table as she coughed.
"What are you talking about?"
"I had to stretch my legs, I am growing restless. I went for a walk and saw the man embrace you."
Dreg thoroughly enjoyed seeing Aspen's face turn beet red, as she struggled to come up with a response. She scowled down at the table for a long moment while clenching her drink with both hands.
"He's... an old friend."
"Hmph," Dreg grunted, and he smirked. "The same one from the other night? Looked a little more than friendly to me."
"It's none of your business," Aspen continued quietly, and she looked up at him. "I would only tell you who he is to me if you tell me how you got hurt."
The air between them was tense. Dreg leaned forward in his chair as he stared at Aspen, who looked back at him with an angry expression. He hadn't been expecting her to challenge him, but his curiosity won over.
"Fine," Dreg growled.
He tipped the bottle of ale back and finished drinking it in one gulp before getting up from the table. He began walking back towards their room. Aspen picked up her bottle of ale and followed him. Neither one spoke until they were back in their room and sitting at the table. Dreg crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at Aspen, thinking about how much he wanted to tell her, and how much he was going to leave out. The more he thought about it, the less he wanted to say anything.
"I change my mind," Dreg started, and Aspen raised a brow in his direction. "I don't care what sordid past you and the smith have-"
"Oh, come on!"
Aspen let out a frustrated sigh and threw her hands up. A stream of words flew from her lips.
"I've been tending to you for almost two weeks, Dreg! And the least you could do is tell me what happened to you. I don’t need to know your whole life's history, damnit, but that one small detail has been burning in my head for like-"
"Fuck!" Dreg bellowed. "Stop your rambling!"
"Then tell me!"
"Alright! My brethren attacked me for a crime I didn't commit and was supposed to have been killed but my mother set me free, and then you found me!"
Aspen was stunned. She hadn't been expecting that answer to leave his lips, and she sat glued to her seat for a moment as she processed the new information. Dreg growled, and he swiftly stood up from the table, throwing the chair behind him as he walked over to the window. He stood with his back to her, but she could tell he was furious.
"Dreg..."
"No more questions!" Dreg snarled, and he turned to her with a terrifyingly angry expression. "I will not have you nosing around in my past."
"Okay, okay... I'm sorry. Please, sit down Dreg... I owe you a memory in return."
Dreg blinked, realizing Aspen was going to tell him about Edward, and he strode over to the fallen chair and picked it up. Once he was seated, he watched as Aspen quietly rested her hands in her lap and bowed her head for a moment.
"Edward was... well I was very young, mind you. He is twelve years older than me. When I first joined the Order, I began working alongside his new wife, Helen. They had only been married for less than a year, and she was with child at the time we met."
Dreg watched as she plucked at the sleeve to her shirt, and her face was pink.
"I... I fell in love with him. I know I shouldn't have, it wasn't right. Well, as Helen's pregnancy continued, she wasn't able to work as much. I used to get all of my medicinal supplies from her. Edward took over her store while she was bedridden, and I offered to help out at the time. We grew closer."
Dreg was quiet, and he couldn't help but feel a little surprised at what Aspen was telling him. He hadn't expected her to be the type to get involved with a married man. He knew very little of the Healer, but it surprised him nonetheless.
"I don't..."
Aspen sucked in a deep breath and she shot him a glance.
"I don't think I need to tell you any more than that. Our involvement was short-lived. Once we had been caught I fled the city. That's when I started traveling for work. I mostly avoided them, unless I had to come through the city for supplies, and then occasionally Berrybrush when they moved."
"What of his wife?" Dreg grunted, remembering how close they had gotten out in the yard.
"Helen grew ill a little over a year ago, and Edward begged me to help her. I came back, and despite... despite my best efforts, she didn't make it."
"Tell me one more thing then."
Aspen looked over at Dreg, and he was staring at her with a confused expression.
"If the wife is gone, why do you continue to travel? There is clearly something still there."
"It’s... it’s not that easy," Aspen mumbled, frowning. "I have taken a vow."
"Damn your vow."
Aspen's brows furrowed together, and they silently glared at each other before Dreg spoke again.
"You are scared."
Aspen quickly stood up from the table, and her hands were clenched into fists.
"How dare you! Don't pretend like you understand anything about love-"
"Why! Because I'm an Orc?"
Dreg was standing as well. They both silently glared at each other for a long moment, before Aspen turned away and took off from their room, slamming the door behind her as she left. She was gone for quite some time, and when she returned Dreg was lying in bed. However, he wasn't asleep yet, and he watched her through half-closed eyes.
Aspen stood near the table, and she lightly rubbed her aching neck, sighing quietly. She wasn't upset anymore, but she didn't know how to behave with Dreg. It bothered her, and the Healer wasn't sure if she was up for traveling with him for the next couple of weeks until they could reach the Capital. They couldn't even handle each other for two weeks stuck in an Inn, compared to another few weeks on the road.
She resolved herself to try and keep the peace. Aspen finished removing her outer clothes and then she slipped out from her breeches, leaving herself wearing nothing but the long tunic. Then, she walked over to the bed and pulled the covers back before slipping under them.
"Dreg?"
Her voice was soft, and he looked at her.
"What?"
"I'm sorry I yelled."
Aspen was met with silence. She frowned and waited for a moment before laying down on her side.
"I want to guide you to the capital, but I understand very little of your society."
Aspen sat up in bed, and she peered at Dreg in the dark.
"Are you saying you won't go then?"
"No," Dreg grunted, and she shifted his arm so it was more comfortable. "I guess what I was trying to say is... I'm sorry too."
It was almost painful for him to apologize, but Aspen was pleasantly surprised. She smiled, and then she turned around and laid back down. Beside her, Dreg closed his eyes, and they both drifted to sleep until later the next morning.
Chapter Text
Two days later, Edward came to the Inn. Aspen and Dreg were sitting in the main hall, quietly eating breakfast when he came around. He shot Aspen a toothy grin when he spotted her, and began walking towards their table. Aspen, feeling concerned about Dreg's lack of manners, gave him a weighted look, but he ignored her.
"Good morning," Edward greeted, and he squeezed Aspen's shoulder affectionately. "You must be the Orc Aspen's commissioned me to make a sword for."
Edward held his gloved hand out towards Dreg, who looked at him for a moment before shaking it a little too firmly.
"Dreg," he grunted, before returning to his porridge.
"I've come to tell you the sword is pretty much ready," Edward continued, sitting down beside Aspen. "But I'd like Dreg to get a feel for it, and if he has any problems with the weapon I can fix it before you two take off."
"Okay, we'll come around in a little bit," Aspen mumbled awkwardly, and Edward grinned at her.
His smile was contagious, and despite the sadness, she felt in her heart towards him, she found herself smiling back. Edward squeezed her shoulder one last time before he turned around and began strolling back towards the front doors to the Inn. Aspen let out the breath she had been holding in, and Dreg looked at her through narrowed eyes.
"Still not over him huh? It’s obvious."
Aspen ignored his comment, and she took a sip of her water before getting up from the table.
"I'm going to get ready, and when you're done eating we'll go see the sword."
"Fine," Dreg grumbled, and he watched as Aspen turned away from him and began walking back to their room.
Around ten minutes later Aspen resurfaced. Her hair had been brushed and was a soft floating mass of wavy brown strands around her face. She had ditched most of her healing items today since she hadn't planned on working when they went to visit Edward. She was hoping to leave by the end of the week and get a head start on their trip back to the Capital. Rumors of a storm brewing from the East had begun floating around, and Aspen hated getting caught in them. The faster they made it to the city the better.
"Are you finished?"
Dreg forced himself to look up at Aspen's pretty face. The sight of her made him feel sick to his stomach, and so he focused on the task at hand. He was looking forward to testing out his new sword. Aspen began walking towards the door to the Inn and he quietly followed suit. They exited the Inn and began walking up the gravel road towards Edward's house. When they arrived, Aspen knocked lightly on the door, and Edward opened it a moment later and stepped out.
"This way friends, you'll need a good clear path to swing it."
Dreg grumbled something, his voice too low for Aspen to comprehend. She shot him a small glare before following Edward down the stairs, and they all walked towards the smith's workstation.
A massive sword rested against Edward's anvil, and the smith smiled as he picked it up with both hands. Aspen stood back, content to just watch, as she knew next to nothing about swords. From what she could tell, it looked impressive. Edward had to hold it with two hands, as he explained the mechanics to a surprisingly intrigued Dreg. He listened intently as Edward spoke, and he was impressed by the human's skill with steel.
Edward finished explaining himself, and he turned the sword over to Dreg, who grasped the hilt with one hand. Aspen's eyes widened as she watched him straighten up with the sword in his right hand. He held it with ease, and Edward stepped back while Dreg swept his arm a few times, testing the weight and balance of it.
"There's a practice mannequin over there if you'd like."
Aspen crossed her arms and leaned against the post to the shelter of Edward's workstation. She watched with a small shiver of excitement as Dreg wandered up to the wooden practice blocks, gripping the sword tightly with one hand. He stretched his arm for a moment, and staggered his feet, preparing to strike. She watched with bated breath as he roared and swung his arm, slashing the sword across the worn wood, and part of it exploded upon impact. Dreg grinned, and he stepped back, turning around to face Aspen and Edward. Both of their mouths hung open, but Edward quickly recovered, and he clapped Dreg on the back with a grin.
"Wow, you destroyed that in one swing. Quite impressive!"
Aspen frowned as she watched Dreg, noticing the way his face contorted slightly, and he rubbed where his arm had been broken. She stepped towards him with furrowed brows.
"How is your arm?" She asked softly, and Dreg scowled down at her.
"It's fine. I have grown soft sitting inside that Inn for so long. I need to get my strength back."
"Don't push yourself, okay?"
"Do not worry about me, Healer," Dreg shot back, and he turned towards the other practice blocks. "You can go back if you want, I will stay awhile."
"Come," Edward piped up, and he touched Aspen's arm. "I will make us some tea while you wait."
"Don't hold your breath," Dreg growled, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "The sword is good. It will serve me well."
"I am always pleased to have a happy customer."
Dreg nodded, and Edward led Aspen back towards his home. The sounds of Dreg's little snarls and his sword connecting with wood echoed back at them, but once she was inside she could neither see nor hear him.
Aspen wandered over to the fire and took a seat while Edward once again busied himself with making tea. It felt all too familiar, and so Aspen quickly stood up and wandered over to the table beside Edward. She leaned against the edge of the surface, and Edward shot her a glance, smiling.
"I want to thank you for crafting a sword worthy for Dreg. I was worried he would be hard to please."
"I should be insulted you doubt my skills as a seasoned blacksmith," Edward replied warmly, "But it's not as if you know anything about the trade. Dreg couldn't find a better sword if he tried."
Aspen opened her mouth to speak, feeling embarrassed that she had been so rude, but Edward was only amused. He placed the kettle down on the table and stepped closer to Aspen. Her heart skipped a beat as Edward stood in front of her, and his body pressed into hers as he dipped his head down and softly kissed her lips.
"What are you doing," Aspen whispered breathlessly, and she tightly gripped the edge of the table.
"You're going to be gone soon. Who knows when I'll see you again. I'm going to miss you, Aspen."
Edward reached up and wound his fingers through her soft hair as he went in for another kiss. Aspen closed her eyes and placed her hand on his waist, squeezing him as their embrace deepened. A moment later he grabbed both sides of her thighs and lifted her, planting Aspen's butt firmly on the table while never breaking their kiss. Aspen gasped and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, feeling a warmth spread between her legs.
"W-we really... really..." Aspen whispered against his lips. "Shouldn't..."
Edward continued kissing her, and his lips trailed down her jaw and neckline. Aspen squeezed her eyes shut and ran her fingers through his bright orange hair, clutching him tightly as she felt his hand slip under her tunic and slide down the hem of her breeches. He found her soft folds, already slick with her juices, and he began to stroke her. Aspen gasped as his index finger brushed over her clit, and she moaned softly, arching her neck.
Aspen dug her fingers into his thigh, and Edward pulled back slightly. He paused for a moment to fumble with her boots and when they were off and tossed on the floor he swiftly pulled her breeches down and dropped them on the floor as well before lurching forward. Their lips crashed together and their breaths mingled as Edward kissed her with a passion that took her by surprise. Once more he sought her sweet bud, and he stroked her faster now, causing an ache to form in the pit in her stomach. She shivered, and Aspen clutched at his shoulders, and her lips grazed his ear.
"I need you," she panted, and Edward shivered.
He pulled back, his hands resting on her thighs, and he stared deep into her eyes. The fire between them was too much, and Aspen began tugging at the strings to his leather breeches. In seconds she had his member free, and she softly tugged it out from between the folds of his pants while she stroked the shaft. Edward moaned, and he dipped his head down, leaning in to kiss and nibble her neck. His hands gently spread Aspen's legs, and he guided his cock towards her slick, warm folds. He teased her for a moment, sliding the tip between her lips, and Aspen gripped his neck, pulling him towards her. She kissed him and bit his lip, causing Edward to issue a loud, throaty moan, and he quickly thrust his cock inside of her.
Outside, Dreg stood before five completely ruined practice blocks with his hands resting on his knees. His tunic was soaked with his sweat and his chest heaved as he struggled to breathe. His whole body tingled from the adrenaline that coursed through his veins. He was thrilled to be outside and fighting again, but he was still frustrated. His freshly healed arm vibrated painfully, and it was what prevented him from using his full strength. He was softer than he had initially thought. A month ago, he would have destroyed the mannequins without breaking a sweat.
When he had gotten his bearings again, Dreg wandered back towards Edward's house to find Aspen. He was tired and wanted to rest, but he knew he should at least thank the blacksmith before returning to the Inn. He slowly walked up the stairs, and when he opened the door to Edward's house and stepped inside he was presented with a shocking sight.
Aspen's legs were hooked around Edward's waist as he furiously fucked her on the kitchen table. She cried out, digging her nails into his back, and Dreg's eyes widened as they landed on the scene before him. Aspen's eyes fluttered open at the sound of the door and the light spilling in from outside.
"Oh my god!" She cried out.
Aspen quickly brought her legs from around Edward's waist and she struggled to push her tunic down. Edward let out a small noise of protest until he realized Dreg was there, and he quickly turned towards the wall and pulled his trousers up. Dreg hastily stepped back, feeling his cheeks grow warm though he wasn't sure why. Aspen knelt and began picking up her pants and shoes, but Dreg was quicker. He mumbled a half apology and quickly went back outside, shutting the door behind him with a firm click.
He sucked in a deep breath and then jogged down the stairs of Edward's home. He quickly began walking back towards the Inn with the sword tightly gripped in one hand.
Aspen groaned, and she collapsed on the floor with her head in her hands. Humiliation washed over her, and after a moment she slowly stood up from the floor and began getting dressed.
"Hey," Edward mumbled breathlessly, and he gathered her hands up, squeezing them tight. "We're all adults. He's gone now."
"The moment is over, Edward," Aspen shot back, and she pulled her hands out from his grasp. "I have to travel with that Orc knowing he's seen me... us..."
"Okay, okay." Edward sighed, and he ran his fingers through his hair, frowning. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I started it."
"It's fine," Aspen mumbled, and she finished doing up the laces of her breeches. "But I should go."
She began walking toward the front door and then paused. She didn't want to look at Edward, but she forced herself to turn around.
"I forgot about payment for the sword."
"Don't worry about-"
"No, Edward. It is not a favor, I commissioned you to forge me a sword for somebody else. Please, name your price."
"Twenty-five gold."
Aspen nodded, and she fished around in the pocket of her tunic for her coin purse. She pulled it out, and Edward stepped closer. She placed the coin purse in his hands.
"That should be good. Thank you again."
"Aspen..."
Aspen looked up at Edward, knowing she wouldn't see his face for a very long time. The chapter of their time together was finally coming to a close. Dreg's voice entered her mind as she stared at Edward, the question that Dreg had asked her but she refused to answer.
Why don't I just stay here with Edward, forever?
Edward frowned, and he clenched his fingers around the coin purse.
Because we were never meant to be, he's not the one.
Aspen smiled. She leaned in and kissed his pale, freckled cheek. When she pulled back, there was a sadness in Edward's eyes, and he knew this was it. He watched as Aspen turned around and left his house, quietly shutting the door behind her. She wandered down the steps and began walking back to the Inn. She wandered slowly, taking her time, trying to come up with what she would say to Dreg. The embarrassment of it all still burned brightly, and when she returned to the Inn Aspen couldn't bring herself to see him so soon. Instead, she took a seat at the counter and ordered a honey ale, and then a second, and a third. She wasn't much of a drinker, but tonight she needed some liquid courage.
When Aspen had finally polished off the third ale she was fairly tipsy, and tired. She finally dragged herself to her feet and began slowly walking towards her room. When she reached it, there was no candle, but a fire roared in the hearth. Dreg was sitting with his back to the door, and he held a bottle of ale in his hands. Three empty bottles rested on the table before him, and Aspen knew he had had a similar idea with the drinks. He had been falling asleep in his chair but was startled awake by the sound of Aspen attempting to take her boots off.
It was a struggle. Aspen leaned heavily against the post of the bed and she bent down, groaning softly as the floor suddenly rushed too fast towards her. Her head felt like it weighed a thousand pounds and it was difficult to untie the laces. She gave up trying to remove her boots and slumped down face forward on the bed with a sigh. Dreg stood up from the chair, which was no easy task, and shuffled over to where Aspen was laying. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't asleep yet, and she stiffened when she felt Dreg's thick hands at her feet.
He grasped her slim ankle and roughly tugged her leather boot off her foot. He dropped it on the floor and placed her leg down before reaching for the other, and he repeated the process. When he was finished, Dreg stumbled around to the other side of the bed and sat down slowly on his butt with a small growl. He kicked his boots off and slid back so he was laying on his back, and he closed his eyes. He took a deep breath.
"Thought that was the last time," he mumbled quietly.
Aspen buried her face into the pillow, groaning quietly.
"I'm sorry," came her muffled response.
"You don't have to be sorry. Just be careful."
"Careful?"
Aspen slowly picked up her head, and she looked at Dreg. He cracked one eye open and peered down at her, yawning.
"A man will say anything to get in your pants. I should know, I'm one of them."
Aspen frowned, and she laid her head back down. Her mind felt too fuzzy to fully process what he was saying, and so she closed her eyes and drifted into unconsciousness. Dreg followed suit, and they both slept until later the next day.
Light poured in through the windows, and when Aspen opened her eyes she quickly squeezed them shut again. She was painfully aware that she was in the same position she had fallen asleep. Her head was pounding, and her stomach was sore from lying on it all night. When she was finally able to conjure enough energy to at least sit up she perched on the edge of the bed with her head bowed, and she gingerly rubbed her aching temples.
Dreg woke up a little while later in a similar state. Aspen dispensed a potion to him for his headache, and also drank one herself. After they were both feeling better, they went into the dining hall to have a late lunch, and then Aspen took off from the Inn to gather last-minute supplies before they left. They had talked about their upcoming trip while eating, and so Aspen had a list of things she needed to gather before they left.
When Aspen returned a little while later, they stood at the table in their room and packed everything up. Soon, Aspen's load was lightened so she was carrying mostly her medicinal supplies. They chatted lightly, despite the fact Aspen was still feeling embarrassed about what happened the day before. Dreg tried not to think about Aspen either, her legs spread wide as the smith fucked her. The thought only made him angry, and he began thinking things he preferred to ignore. While Aspen busied herself with checking over supplies, Dreg left the room to go bathe.
When he arrived at the bathhouse, it was almost empty. Steam rose up from the natural spring pools, and Dreg squinted as the smell of salts assaulted his sensitive nose. He stripped his clothes off and waded into the hot water, growling in content as it washed over his aching muscles. He leaned back against the edge of the pool, enjoying the soothing effects the mineral water had on his body. Eventually, he dipped his head underneath the surface of the water to wash his hair, which was in a terrible state.
Dreg sat back against the edge of the pool and tugged at his hair with a small scowl. Eventually, he gave up and stepped out of the water to get dressed. Thoughts of a certain healer plagued his mind no matter how hard he tried to push her out. The longer he sat in the water the more his thoughts wandered, and so he focused on drying off and putting on a fresh tunic. Tomorrow they would depart Berrybrush for good, which Dreg couldn't be happier about.
When Dreg was finished dressing, he returned to their room to find it empty. He took the time alone to attempt another go at his hair, was had matted itself into one huge lump. After the second attempt, he was thoroughly annoyed and got up from the bed to search for a knife to cut the massive knot and be done with it. He walked over to the table where Aspen's belongings rested and began rifling through the satchels. His fingers brushed over the smooth leather of Aspen's journal, and he thought about looking at it for half a second before deciding against it.
The less I know about her, the better.
He finally found a knife and was still searching for Aspen's hand mirror when the door opened and Aspen stepped inside the room. She held an armful of her dirty clothes and her hair glittered in the light of the fire, having just returned from a bath as well. She spotted him and walked over to the table to see what Dreg was up to.
"What's the knife for?" She asked, raising one thin brow at him.
"My hair is knotted. I must cut it."
"Oh, would you like me to do it?"
Dreg peered down at Aspen, silently thinking for a moment. It was considered a huge sign of intimacy to touch and work with someone's hair in Orc culture. But Dreg wasn't in a Stronghold anymore, and Aspen was unaware. He had to put his past behind him, and so he eventually nodded, and he sat down in the chair while Aspen fished out her hand mirror. She took the knife from his grasp and began assessing the damage of his hair.
"It's knotted quite high up, I'll have to cut off a lot of the length."
"That's fine," Dreg grunted softly, and he crossed his arms. "Less hassle if it's shorter."
"Okay."
Dreg could feel her soft fingers as they swept underneath the mass of knotted hair, and it took all his strength not to shiver as they brushed along the back of his neck. He squeezed his eyes shut and willed her to do the job quickly, or he was going to lose the thin handle he had on his emotions.
Aspen gathered as much of his dark brown hair as she could with one hand and pulled it tightly without hurting him. She lifted it and brought the knife across in one fluid motion. When it was cut, she placed the knotted hair down on the table, and Dreg stared at it for a moment, suddenly feeling strange. He hadn't cut his hair in several years, and he had intended to start turning it into locks when the incident had happened. His chest constricted tightly, and he had to look away as Aspen added more hair to the pile.
"Okay," she murmured more to herself than to Dreg. "I think that's all the knots. I’m gonna brush it to be sure. Is that alright?"
"Yeah."
Aspen stepped away and rifled in her satchel for a moment, and she produced a sturdy looking white comb.
"Is that... bone?"
Aspen nodded, and she ran her fingers over the teeth of the comb, smiling softly.
"It was my grandmothers."
She stood behind Dreg again and began running the comb through his hair. Her fingers gently grazed along his hairline, and he scowled, trying once more not to get caught up in the intimacy of Aspen touching his hair. With the knots cut away, it was easy for her to comb, and she was finished within a couple of minutes. Then she picked up the knife and began trimming different strands that were uneven.
"Is there something in particular you'd like done?"
Dreg was silent, and he thought over her question. An idea popped into his head.
"Can you shave the sides?" He grunted.
"Hmm."
Aspen trailed her fingers through his hair, massaging ever so slightly. Her fingertips grazed the tip of his pointed ear and Dreg flinched as a wave of desire washed over him. Warmth spread through his groin, and his pants suddenly felt tight, though he fought against it.
Damn woman and her soft hands, Dreg thought with a small growl.
"I think I can-"
"Never mind," Dreg growled, and he quickly stood up from his chair. "It is late. We should retire."
"Oh, are you sure? I don't mind..."
Dreg ran his fingers through his hair, and Aspen held the mirror up for him to see. He glanced at himself very briefly before turning away, and he walked towards the bed.
"I am sure. It is fine."
Aspen frowned, and she watched as Dreg tugged his boots off and quickly climbed into bed. She was confused by his sudden change of mood but decided not to try and push things. They would be leaving first thing the next morning, and the last thing she needed was a quarrel. So, Aspen swept the cut hair into her hands and dumped it into the fire, watching as the flames hungrily consumed it. Then, she finished cleaning up and wandered over to the bed where Dreg was laying on his side with his back to her.
He could feel the bed move as Aspen slid underneath the covers and laid down beside him. She sighed softly, drawing the covers up to her chin, and a little while later her soft snores drifted over to Dreg's ears. He closed his eyes, but it was some time before his body settled down and he could sleep.
Chapter Text
It was early, and Dreg wasn't used to being up before the crack of dawn. He sat on the edge of the bed growling softly as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Aspen was already awake and dressed. She puttered around the room, mumbling to herself as she double and triple checked their packs. She was nervous but didn't quite know why.
"Come on Dreg," Aspen huffed.
She stood in front of the sleepy Orc with her hands on her hips. Dreg yawned, and he waved her away.
"I will move when I am ready, woman."
"And stop calling me that."
"What? Woman?" Dreg growled, and he slowly rose up from the bed. "Is that not what you are?"
Aspen frowned, and she stared up Dreg with a sour expression. He yawned again and then began moving towards the table where his clothes had been laid out for him.
"You know what I mean," Aspen grumbled, and she leaned down to pull the covers back neatly.
Dreg whipped his tunic off and dumped it on the seat of the chair. His pants followed suit, and he picked up the long pair of leather breeches, inspecting them for a moment. He was doing it on purpose, and Aspen knew it.
"Dreg," Aspen piped up again. "I swear if you don't meet me in the dining hall for breakfast in five minutes-"
"What are you gonna do?"
He turned to her, and Aspen's cheeks burned bright red as he stood before her in all his naked glory. She quickly averted her eyes, ignoring Dreg's low chuckle at her discomfort, and she moved towards the door.
"Just hurry up, we have to make good time."
"Yeah, yeah," Dreg growled. "The storm. I got it, mother."
Aspen left the room, quietly shutting the door behind her, and she let out a deep breath. She wasn't sure how long she'd make it on the road with Dreg before she'd try to strangle him. With one more sigh, Aspen began making her way towards the dining hall, which was almost empty.
Despite his reluctance to get up, Dreg's dressed form arrived promptly five minutes later. He dragged his feet, an expression of tiredness still etched on his face, but he was moving. That was good enough for Aspen, and she quietly watched him approach, her eyes glancing down his body for a moment. She hadn't seen him in his breeches yet, and she had to admit it was quite a pleasant sight. Martha's work was flawless, and the leather hugged his thick legs like a second skin. Aspen couldn't help but stare, but when he fixed his red orbs on her she hastily looked away.
"I ordered you a full breakfast. You need your energy, and it'll be quite some time before we reach another Inn."
"Hmph," Dreg grumbled, and he lowered himself down onto the chair across from her.
They both ate in silence, although Aspen had very little appetite. She pushed her porridge around with her spoon, her thoughts far away. Across from her, Dreg happily tucked into his eggs and sausage with gusto, completely oblivious. When they were finished, the pair returned to their room one last time to finish getting ready and pick up their satchels.
By the time they left the Inn, the sun had just begun to crest the top of the mountain, and Aspen squinted as the rays of light assaulted her eyes. They began walking down the gravel path back towards the forest. Dreg quietly walked a pace behind her, staring at the path with a sullen expression. The greatsword strapped to his back looked quite intimidating, but Aspen had to continually remind herself that Dreg was traveling with her and to not be so worried.
It wasn't easy traveling with a pretty much silent Orc. Aspen wished he would talk even a little bit, but she wasn't interested in his snide remarks or teasing comments, so she kept her mouth shut. They walked for several hours, not stopping until mid-day when Aspen needed to rest her legs and have something to eat. They both sat against a fallen tree, quietly eating their food rations. Dreg tore off a strip of jerky and chewed it for a moment, thinking about nothing in particular. Beside him, Aspen was silently worrying about the upcoming storm, which still hadn't shown any signs of arriving. The sky was as blue as ever, but it still made her nervous, and so she hastily consumed a handful of nuts and drank some water before getting up from the log. She stood by the road, waiting for Dreg to finish.
"What are you fretting about, the damn storm?"
Dreg groaned softly as he stood up from the log and stretched his arm across his chest for a moment, holding it there. Then he stepped towards her, and they began walking again.
"I'm not fretting," Aspen mumbled crossly. "I've just been in Berrybrush for over two weeks and it's set me back a bit. I'm anxious to get to the capitol."
"You mean I have set you back."
Aspen stopped walking, but Dreg brushed passed her and kept going.
"I didn't mean it like that, Dreg. It's my job to heal people, yourself included. It was just... unexpected."
"Yeah, whatever. Hurry up, Healer."
Dreg was several feet ahead of her, and Aspen jogged to keep up. She glanced up at the sky every so often as they continued walking until the sun was starting to set. When dusk was starting to settle in, they walked a little way off the road and began setting up camp. Aspen busied herself with preparing dinner while Dreg walked off to gather firewood. When he returned with an armful of wood he dumped it on the forest floor and began making a pit to house the fire. Aspen was glad for his help, as she was tired from the trek. Dreg might have gotten softer from being bedridden for almost two weeks, but Aspen also grew used to not traveling as well. It wasn't her favorite thing to do, but she enjoyed the opportunity to always do something different, and go somewhere new. It was a freedom she hadn't had as a child growing up, but Aspen was grateful for it now.
"Dreg," Aspen started and he glanced over at her. "How old are you?"
"Why?"
"I was just curious is all. I'm not very good at guessing."
Dreg grunted, and he knelt beside his pile of wood and began concentrating on lighting a fire. Aspen finished slicing the potatoes for her stew and dumped them into her only pot with some herbs and water. When the fire had started going Dreg finally answered her.
"Twenty-three summers."
"Really?"
"You think I'm an old man or something?" Dreg shot back, and he glared at her.
"No... I just didn't think we were so close."
"Why, how old are you?"
"I'll be twenty-three in two months."
"Hmph."
The fire was happily crackling away, and Aspen's stew was nearly finished cooking. The pair both quietly relaxed on their bedrolls, not talking. Aspen sat cross-legged with her head bowed as she quickly scrawled something in her journal with a thin piece of charcoal. Across from her, Dreg was resting on his side with his legs stretched out before him, silently staring at the fire. Aspen finished what she was writing and shut the book before tucking it back into her satchel. Then she scooted forward and stirred the contents of the pot with a wooden spoon. It smelled good, and Dreg's stomach rumbled while he waited.
When Aspen was satisfied the potatoes were soft enough, she scooped a generous portion of the stew into two wooden bowls and then she got up from the forest floor and walked around the fire to hand Dreg his dinner. He sat up and took the bowl from her hands.
"Thanks," he mumbled.
Aspen wandered back over to her side of the fire and sat down on her bedroll to eat. She blew lightly on a spoonful of potato and beef, while across from her Dreg was eating without hesitation, and was almost done his entire bowl by the time she got two bites down.
"Is there more?" He asked, and Aspen nodded.
She began to put her bowl down when Dreg stopped her.
"It's fine, I can get up you know."
Aspen sighed, and she continued eating while Dreg stood up from his bedroll and served himself some more stew. She knew he had intended it to be somewhat kind, but the Orc always had to throw something in to make his point come across rude.
He sure has a knack for that, Aspen mused quietly with a frown.
Eventually, they finished eating and tucked up in their bedrolls for the night. Aspen had put up some very basic magical barriers around their camp while Dreg had gone to retrieve wood, and she felt safer than she had in a while since being left alone by her former Guardian. Aspen quietly thanked her luck that despite how crazy Dreg drove her, she was thankful for his presence. He had survived what she could only imagine was a traumatic event in his life, and the last thing he needed to do was escort a healer. But he had offered to anyways, which Aspen appreciated it, even if Dreg never knew.
With that last thought, Aspen closed her eyes, and she drifted to sleep until early the next morning.
Three days passed, and there was no storm in sight. Dreg was beginning to wonder if Aspen was just paranoid, as he effortlessly kept up with her hurried pace. He didn't understand why she was so preoccupied with the threat of one since it wasn't a big deal.
So, there's some rain, and some thunder, Dreg thought with a small scowl as his long legs easily kept up with the swiftly moving girl. She should have tougher skin than that for a Healer.
He hadn't had to use the sword very much since leaving the little town of Berrybrush, other than to dispatch two unlucky wolves and a small black bear. They had all met a grisly end, and Aspen harvested what she could of the black bear they could eat over the next couple of days.
By the fourth day, the clouds high above their heads were beginning to grow dark. Aspen continued to glance up, her green eyes peering through the dense canopy of the forest, and she just knew the storm would be upon them. She had been hoping to be closer to an Inn, but they were still at least a couple of days off. Her stomach twisted into knots the more she thought about it, and her suspicions were confirmed by late in the afternoon. The sun suddenly disappeared behind angry looking black clouds that brooded above them. A light sprinkling of rain began to fall on the pair, and so they hurried off the road to find a shelter for the night.
"There are caves nearby..." Aspen ventured and Dreg looked at her.
"Where?"
"We'll have to climb up further towards the mountain."
"Come on then."
The rain began to fall even harder as they quickly maneuvered their way through the trees in the direction Aspen had suggested. It fell in great big drops, quickly soaking Aspen through to her skin, and her pack felt like it held rocks the longer they continued to walk. Within minutes she was thoroughly soaked, and it was hard to see in the darkness of the growing storm.
Thunder began to roll, starting quietly at first, and then it grew into big booming claps. They had reached the incline leading up to the mountain, and rivers of rainwater tumbled down the rocky surface. Aspen froze in her footsteps, and her chest constricted tightly as she struggled to breathe. Dreg realized she had stopped running, and he turned back towards her, seeing that she was in distress.
"Hey!" He shouted as the wind whipped at his face and hair. "Come on!"
Aspen squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head, willing her legs to move but she couldn't. The sounds of the storm were too much, and she thought she might faint. Old memories came flooding back to her and she was paralyzed with fear.
"Aspen!" Dreg shouted, and he ran towards her.
Aspen opened her eyes when she felt his massive hand grab hers. He wrenched on her arm, forcing her to move, and she stumbled forward for a moment before finding her footing. They ran as fast as their legs could carry them, but it was not fast enough. The clouds opened up full force as it issued a torrential downpour. Aspen gasped and choked for air as rain poured down on her, and her boots slid in the muddy ground as Dreg slowly dragged her up the hill. She scrambled to reach a tree and clung to it and Dreg moved ahead of her, also struggling to get a hold on his climbing. Lightning flashed across the sky, briefly illuminating them, and she could see him several feet ahead of her, his body pressed up against another tree.
"We're almost there, come on!" He shouted, but Aspen couldn't hear him.
Lightning cracked high above her head, striking something, and Aspen looked up to see the top half of a tree tumbling down towards her. She had nowhere to go. If she moved away from the trunk of the tree, she risked being swallowed up by the displaced earth that washed down the hill. But if she stayed, she would be crushed by the falling tree. Aspen tried her best to move towards another tree nearby, but it was futile. Her boots had no traction to navigate in the mud.
Branches and pine needles whipped against her face as the tree came crashing down on her. Aspen cried out, and she collapsed to the ground, pinned. Dreg threw himself towards her, and he picked up the fallen tree with his bare hands, roaring as his freshly healed arm strained against the weight of it. Muddy water poured down the hill like a waterfall, and Dreg knew if he didn't do something fast, they'd be killed in the flash flood. He blindly felt for the healer, and his hands found her body underneath the debris. He growled, and grasped her arms, pulling Aspen up. She spluttered and coughed, gasping for air and covered in mud from head to toe. Dreg wrapped his arm around her waist while the other strained to keep a hold of the tree trunk to steady himself. His muscles screamed in protest. Aspen clung to him, her arms clenched tightly around her neck and her whole body shook.
"Are you hurt!" Dreg bellowed, and the sounds of the storm nearly drowned out his voice.
"No!"
Dreg's heart pounded wildly in his chest as his mind scrambled to find a way out of the storm. Lightning crackled above his head again, momentarily illuminating the area, and he could barely see what looked like the entrance to a cave not far from where they were.
It's our only chance.
Dreg snarled, grimacing as his arm was nearly pushed past its limit.
"Aspen, I need you to get my sword and climb on my back!"
Aspen followed his orders with panicked movement. She clenched his shirt as she swiveled her body around and tugged at his sword until it was free from its leather scabbard. Then, she scrambled onto his back. Aspen once again wrapped her arms around her neck, and she clenched his waist with both of her legs in a death grip. Dreg groaned, but then he slowly started trying to walk forward. He threw his whole weight into his sword as it struck deep into the ground, and used it to anchor himself as he climbed. His boots struggled to grip at the rocky ground. Rain poured off his body, and the wind was like ice on his bare flesh, but he pushed through, grabbing onto whatever he could while never letting go of his sword. If he did, they could be sent down the hill and be swallowed up by the flood. He slowly ascended the hill with Aspen clinging to him for dear life. His feet slipped on more than one occasion, and every time he did Aspen clenched him harder, but somehow, they made it.
Dreg collapsed onto his knees as he let out a ragged growl. Aspen slid down off his back and fell to her knees as well. She coughed and swiped at her face, choking on the water and mud that coated her. Dreg shook his head and then scrambled to his feet. He grabbed at Aspen's tunic, pulling her up, and they both stumbled towards the cave. Once they were inside, Aspen sat down hard on the rocky ground, shivering from the fright and the cold. Several small scratches were dotted across her face from the branches and pine needles whipping her, but she was otherwise unscathed. Her whole body ached, and she wanted nothing more than a hot bath and a warm, soft bed. But that was still two days away, and she had no idea how long the storm would last.
Dreg knelt beside her, his head bowed. His chest heaved as he took deep, gasping breaths. Several scratches covered his arms and face as well but it was nothing to him. He wiped the mud from his face and looked over at Aspen. It was then that he realized their packs were gone. He watched as Aspen unwove her muddy scarf from her neck and placed it down on the floor beside her. Her eyes widened as she reached up to grasp at the straps to her pack, only to realize it was gone. She looked over at Dreg, and his shoulders were bare. His sword lay beside him on the floor to the cave.
"Your pack..."
"Is gone," Dreg growled, and he sighed. "We have nothing."
Aspen swore, and Dreg shot her a look. There was nothing they could do to make things more comfortable. The storm raged on outside of their shelter, and Dreg dragged himself over to the wall of the cave and rested his back against it. His arm ached something fierce, and after a while, Aspen slowly shuffled forward on her hands and knees.
"A-are you hurt at all?" She asked, her teeth chattering together as she shivered.
"No."
"Your arm-"
"I said I'm fine!"
Aspen winced, and then she turned away from him. She was miserably cold, and wet, and in desperate need of warmth, but there was nothing to be done about it. So, she laid down on the cold floor of the cave with her back to the entrance and squeezed her eyes shut. Sleep would be impossible with all the noise, but they needed to try and rest. Dreg sat with his head resting against the rock wall and his eyes were closed but he wasn't sleeping. After a while he opened them and looked over towards Aspen was laying with her back to him. She was covered in mud and had her arms wrapped tightly around her body, which violently shivered. Eventually, he could not stand it anymore.
"Aspen."
The healer opened her eyes, but all she saw was black.
"Y-yeah?" She whispered, trying not to let her teeth clatter together as she shivered.
"Come here."
Aspen slowly sat up from the cold ground. She slid her legs, shuffling forward until she got closer to where Dreg was sitting. She looked at him with a fearful expression as the lightning and thunder continued to boom and clap outside the cave.
"Get on top of me," Dreg instructed, and Aspen frowned.
"What..."
"Do you want to freeze? It's up to you."
"N-no," Aspen mumbled. "I don't want to freeze."
"Then come here," Dreg growled, and he tugged on her arm.
Aspen stumbled to her feet slowly walked forward. She stepped over his legs and Dreg reached up and grasped her waist, steadying her as she lowered herself down on top of him. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her small frame as Aspen rested along his thick torso. Her chest pressed into him and she laid her head down against him, sighing quietly. It was slightly awkward to be straddling Dreg, but it was worth it. She could feel his body heat radiating off of him like a furnace. She closed her eyes, reveling in Dreg's warmth as it slowly warmed her wretchedly cold body.
Aspen continued to shiver for some time as she lay on top of Dreg, breathing softly as the storm raged on through the rest of the night. Something was soothing about his massive arms wrapped around her, and even with the chaos outside the cave somehow, she drifted to sleep for a little while.
Chapter Text
When Aspen stirred, she was aware that she was on top of Dreg, and his hold on her was still firm. She blinked and groaned as she realized just how sore her body was. The mud that covered their bodies had dried, leaving a dusty coating all around them, and she coughed after inhaling some of it as she slowly sat up.
Dreg's arms slipped off from her, and he opened his eyes. He peered up at Aspen, watching as she made a disgusted face and picked at her stiff, mud-caked tunic. It clung to every inch of her, and when she sniffed the air all she could smell was damp earth.
Realizing that Dreg was awake, she made an effort to get off of him as quickly as possible, but it was hard. Her limbs screamed in agony, and she fell back down rather unceremoniously. Dreg let out a gasp as her butt fell against his groin.
"Watch it!" He snarled, and Aspen quickly threw herself off of him and scrambled to her feet.
"I'm so sorry," she replied, and Dreg sighed.
Outside, rain dripped down from the entrance to the cave, and sunlight poured in, illuminating some of the surrounding rocks in a bright yellow glow. Aspen shuffled closer to inspect their surroundings, and she was completely stunned by what she saw.
All of the trees surrounding their immediate area had been wiped clear away during last night's flood. A sea of mud containing broken pieces of the forest spread out across the hill, and she followed its destruction down into the forest as far as her eyes could see. It took her breath away, and she thought about how close they had come to getting swept up in it all.
If it hadn't been for Dreg I would have died, her mind whispered, and Aspen bowed her head.
Dreg pulled himself up from the floor, wincing as pain shot through his arm. He knew Aspen had no medicine but she still wore her gloves, which he remembered had a certain magic. He needed some relief, and so he walked over to where she was standing. His eyes briefly swept over the forest, and he had to admit Aspen had been right to worry. He hadn't been expecting to see so much destruction, but he'd also never really experienced a storm before like the one last night. He thought back to Aspen, her feet rooted to the ground in fear, and had to wonder if something hadn't happened to her before to make her so scared.
"Dreg?"
Dreg was brought out his thoughts by her soft voice, and he looked down at her.
"Are you really okay?"
He inspected her muddy face, noting the little red scratches on her skin and an angry looking purple bruise just below her left eye. She had been lucky.
"My arm hurts, but you have no supplies."
"No, but I can do something."
Aspen turned to Dreg, and she placed her gloved hand on his dirty arm. She bowed her head, and he once again felt a small warmth spread through his skin. In a moment it was gone, and he flexed his fingers, testing his arm. It felt a little better.
"It'll have to do."
"How are we going to get down?" Aspen inquired, and she turned back towards the sea of earth. "It's probably impossible to cross all that mud."
"We'll have to travel around the side of the mountain and see if we can't find another way down."
"Okay."
With nothing to eat and no clean clothes to change into, they began slowly picking their way along the side of the mountain. The small rocky plateau provided safe passage, but it was terribly narrow in some places, and Aspen slipped more than once. When her footing faltered, Dreg quickly grasped her arm and hauled her back up while muttering something about being more careful. She was glad for the sword strapped safely on his back but mourned the loss of her healing supplies and journal. However, she knew it could have been far worse.
It proved difficult to find a safe passage down to the main road. The flood had come in fast and hard, leaving destruction nearly everywhere they turned. Finally, Dreg spotted what looked like a less-dangerous area, and he guided Aspen over to it while he removed his sword from his back.
"Hold onto me," he instructed firmly. "The last thing we need is one of us getting hurt."
Aspen nodded, and she linked her arm through his, holding it tight as they began to shuffle down the hill towards the forest. He thrust his sword down as far as he could to use it as an anchor, and after much slipping and sliding and cursing they both made it down the mountainside in one piece.
The flooded earth continued for quite some time, and so Dreg tightly clenched Aspen's hand as they waded through the shin-deep mud, still using his sword to keep them steady. Finally, the ground grew more firm, and they sighed in relief when they broke out onto the solid, squishy ground. They paused to catch their breaths, and then pushed forward, not stopping until they reached the main road. Aspen's throat burned from lack of fluids and her stomach ached, but she silently suffered through it, praying that they were closer to an Inn than she thought.
When they reached the winding gravel road, they both stopped as Aspen tried to get a sense of where they were. Her heart soared when she realized they were indeed much further than she had originally thought.
"How far until an Inn?" Dreg grumbled.
"Another day at least, but we're closer than I was expecting."
"Good."
They began walking forward, both of them eager to reach the Inn for so many reasons. The dried mud irritated their skin, but they were more interested in a hot meal and having a good night's rest. At some point, Aspen led Dreg off the beaten path and down towards where she knew there was a series of small streams. When they reached it, the stream roared loudly like a river, overflowing with rainwater from the storm. They both waded into the deep water fully clothed, ridding themselves of most of the mud. Aspen drank deeply, relief washing over her as the ice-cold liquid soothed her parched throat. Her stomach rumbled loudly but she ignored it and cupped her hands again. She drank as much water as she could, not stopping until she felt full.
When they were both ready, they wandered back up to the main road and kept walking. They only stopped once dusk began to settle in again, and they found a crop of small trees that had somehow survived the storm. It sheltered them fairly well from the chill of the wind, and Aspen wished they could have made a fire.
"It's no use," Dreg growled when he returned to her.
He had wandered off to attempt to find any sort of wood that wasn't completely soaked but his efforts were futile. Last night's storm had completely flooded the entire forest, and one day was not long enough for things to begin drying. Aspen watched as Dreg shuffled over to her and sat down on the damp forest floor with a small groan. He was silent for a few moments, and then he turned towards Aspen and leaned back so he was laying on his side. She watched him stretch his legs out and he looked up at her.
"Come on then. The sooner we rest, the sooner we'll reach that Inn."
Aspen nodded, and she laid down on her side so she was facing Dreg. He reached out his arm and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her close. She shuffled forward until their limbs were pressed up against each other and her forehead rested against his warm chest.
"Aspen," Dreg grunted, and she looked up at him.
"Yeah?"
"Take off your scarf."
Aspen reached up and began unraveling her damp scarf. It was torn and in need of a replacement but was still recognizable. When she had removed it, Dreg folded it like a pillow and tucked it under both of their heads before settling back down. They closed their eyes and somehow managed to drift in and out of sleep for most of the night.
It was nearly mid-day when Aspen spotted the form of a cabin not far off the main road. Her heart soared, and she quickly tugged at Dreg's arm. He looked over at where she was pointing, and he also felt relieved that they had finally made it. His whole body ached from sleeping on first the rock floor of the cave, and then the damp and musky forest floor after the storm. Their pace quickened and they swiftly walked down the narrow dirt path towards the front doors of the Inn.
Dreg opened the door, and they both stepped inside. Warmth radiated throughout the whole room, and Aspen immediately felt a bit better. A couple of patrons milled about the small dining hall, but it was mostly empty. A woman stood near the counter at the back of the hall and she looked at the pair with an expression of understanding when she noted their haggard appearance.
"Storm got you, did it?"
"Did it ever," Aspen sighed softly, and the woman smiled.
"Yeah, that was a rough one. Took your packs?"
"Yes. I'm so sorry... we have no way of paying-"
"You're a healer?" The woman cut in, and she stared pointedly at her scarf.
Aspen nodded.
"Well, then any healer is welcome in our Inn."
The women smiled at each other, and they waited at the bar with a bottle of ale while the Innkeeper went upstairs to prepare a room for them. Aspen rubbed at her sore neck and took a sip of the honey ale, feeling better than she had in a couple of days. Beside her, Dreg had already polished his bottle off and was impatiently waiting for their room to be ready. The first thing he intended to do was have a bath. Around ten minutes later the woman returned.
"Should be good to go up," she told the pair, who began to stand.
"I drew up some hot water for you, just come get me if you need any more. Dinner will be ready shortly but there are some food and drinks for you to nibble on. It looks like you've been through hell, so relax and enjoy yourselves."
"Thank you so much, we really appreciate it."
"No worries sweetie. I'm Bea, and if you see him my husband is Ned. Stay as long as you need."
"I'm Aspen, and this is my guide, Dreg."
"Please to meet you two. Now go on, the water's getting cold."
Bea ushered the pair away, shooing them up the stairs. They entered through the first door and found a massive tub dominated the middle of the room. Steam rose up from the water Bea had drawn up for them, and a pile of clean clothes rested on a small table to their left. The bed looked just as inviting, but Aspen needed to wash up first. She turned to Dreg, who was already beginning to shove his boots off.
"I'll go have another drink while you wash up," Aspen started, and he shot her a look.
"What are you talking about? Get those clothes off."
"Excuse me?"
Dreg whipped his filthy tunic off and dumped it on the floor. He turned to her with a small shrug.
"There's plenty of room for the two of us, and I know you're dying to get in that water."
"So what if I am, I'm not going to bathe with you!"
"Why not?" Dreg growled, and he stepped closer. "Because I’m an Orc?"
"I'm tired of you accusing me of having some sort of aversion to Orcs," Aspen retorted, and she frowned.
"Well you can't be a prude now, it wouldn't be the first time you've undressed in front of me."
Aspen was stunned, and she looked up at Dreg with a bewildered expression.
"W-what in the world are you talking about..."
Dreg's smirked, and he busied himself with removing his pants for a moment.
"Remember when you thought I was sleeping, and you'd change into your nightgown in the dark-"
Aspen's eyes widened, and her face turned bright red. She balled her hands into fists.
"You didn't!"
"I did!" Dreg laughed, and he began climbing into the tub. "Any male with a working set of eyes would look. You're not exactly hard to look at, healer."
Aspen was mortified. She stood rooted to the spot, watching Dreg with a furious expression as he sank down into the hot water with a loud sigh of content. He was smirking slightly, and he trailed his fingers across the surface of the hot water as he peered up her.
"After what we've been through with the storm, I think you can handle a bath with me."
Aspen moved towards the table and she muttered something that he didn't really hear. He hadn't been expecting her to actually go through with it, but a moment later she began tugging at the laces to her boots, and she slipped them off and pulled her tunic off. Dreg openly stared, watching Aspen undress. She was aware he was staring, but she silently ignored his gaze and placed her tunic over the back of the chair, shivering as her cold, damp skin met the warm air of their room.
Dreg studied her, his eyes roaming over Aspen's pale form. He had seen her undress more than once but had never gotten a terribly good look. His eyes roamed over her back, noting a cluster of deep scars, and he frowned. It covered most of her left hip and waist, and when she finished undressing and turned towards the tub, he got a closer look. He hadn't noticed the scarring back in Berrybrush. Aspen shuffled forward and slid her pale legs over the edge of the tub, dipping them into the water. She quickly slid down until the water was up to her chin, and she sighed quietly.
"Those scars," Dreg commented, and Aspen opened her eyes. "How did you get them?"
"That is a story I am not willing to share," Aspen replied quietly.
She closed her eyes again and leaned back in the tub. Her knees were tucked up so that she didn't touch Dreg, but his long legs were stretched out before him and his feet grazed her sides. Aspen soaked for a little while, thoroughly enjoying the relief that the hot water brought to her. She knew that the fallen tree had really done a number on her body, but she pushed through it and had been more concerned about Dreg at the time.
After soaking until her hands were wrinkled, Aspen picked up the bar of soap hanging off the side of the tub and a clean washcloth. She lathered the soap over the cloth and began washing her arms and face. Dreg's arms hung over the side of the tub and his head lolled back as he nearly fell asleep, but he picked himself up when he heard Aspen moving. He waited until she was finished cleaning her body before he reached his hand out for the soap.
"Turn around."
"What?"
Aspen stared at him with narrowed eyes. She was still annoyed that Dreg had peeped on her while she changed back in Berrybrush, but in the end, she couldn’t really blame him for staring. She had taken the risk. He was male, and an Orc, and it would have been like asking a child to sit still. It just doesn’t work.
"Turn around and I'll wash your hair," Dreg growled.
He watched as Aspen thought about it for a moment, and then she handed him the soap and slowly swiveled around in the tub until she was facing away from him. Dreg slid closer, and Aspen rested her hands in her lap while Dreg cupped his hands and began pouring water over her hair. She hadn't been expecting him to make such a kind gesture. As she silently sat in the tub, feeling his hands on her hair, she couldn't help but be surprised. His touch was surprisingly soft, as he traced his fingers through her hair, massaging the soap into her scalp.
"Your ears..." Dreg started, and he continued to scrub at her wet hair. "They're not as pointed as I've seen with other Elves."
"That's cause I'm only a half-elf."
"You are?"
"Yes," Aspen chuckled. "My father was an Elf."
"Where is your father?"
Aspen was silent for a moment.
"He is dead."
"Oh."
Dreg silently cursed himself for bringing up a bad memory at this time.
"Sorry."
"It's okay. I was very young when he passed away."
Aspen's shoulders relaxed, and her head instinctively leaned back while Dreg worked. He finished washing her thick brown locks and rinsed her hair thoroughly before sitting back. Aspen turned to him, peering at him with a softer expression.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it," Dreg grunted, and he scratched at his chin.
Aspen quickly got up from the tub and whisked a towel around her body. She tucked the corners together and then wandered around the side of the tub where Dreg's head was.
"Where's the soap?"
Dreg found it, and he handed it to her.
"Sit up."
Aspen poked at his shoulder, and Dreg growled but he sat up. A moment later he felt water on his head, and he closed his eyes. He leaned his head back and Aspen cupped more water in her hands, using it to wet his hair. She lathered the soap in her hands and began massaging it into his scalp. Dreg growled softly, and he once again enjoyed the feeling of her fingers on his head. She took her time, knowing that this was the last hot bath they'd have before they reached the Capital, and so she wanted to make it a good one. Dreg shivered as her fingers brushed along his ear.
"I'll do it," he grunted.
"Do what?"
"Be your Guardian."
Aspen paused. She stared at the back of Dreg's head as his words sunk in. She didn't understand why he was offering.
"Why would you say something like that? What makes you think I want you to be my Guardian?"
Dreg laughed, and he shrugged his massive shoulders.
"What choice do you have, healer? At this point, you've got nobody."
"You said you'd escort me to the Capitol. Once we're there, I'll find a new Guardian."
Dreg twisted his head to look back at Aspen, and he was scowling.
"I know it pains you to admit you need my help, but-"
"Need your help!" Aspen laughed, and she sat back on her calves. She was completely blown away by what he was saying. "Are you kidding me?"
"I am completely serious. It pained me to take your help, but I did it."
"Yeah, you did..." Aspen replied sarcastically, letting out a frustrated noise. "And you've bitched and complained every step of the way."
"I'm still here aren't I?"
Aspen frowned, and she stared at the back of Dreg's head. He had turned back around and was now rinsing off his own hair. She was silent for a few moments as she really thought about what he was proposing.
"W-well even if you wanted to be my Guadian, which I still don't quite understand... you'd have to get through the ceremony and take up a vow."
"Okay, whatever. I'll do it."
"Fine," Aspen shot back.
She stood up from the floor and rinsed her hands off in the water before moving over to the table where there were clean clothes waiting for them.
"Fine," Dreg growled, and he got up from the tub.
Water splashed down on the floor as he padded over to where she was. She ignored him as he picked up a towel and began drying himself off. They both got dressed in somewhat uncomfortable silence and then wandered downstairs to have dinner, which was also a silent affair. When they were finished, neither one of them were able to stay up much longer, and so they retired to their bedroom for the rest of the night.
Aspen laid down with her back facing Dreg, and she winced as pain vibrated from an ache in her side. She held her breath, waiting for the pain to subside, and slowly released it as the feeling ebbed away. She knew the sooner they got to the Capital, the better. She had no way to treat herself, and so Aspen clenched her eyes shut and had a fitful sleep for most of the night.
Chapter Text
When Aspen woke up the next morning Dreg was already awake and was downstairs eating breakfast when she entered the dining hall. He barely glanced her way when she sat down, and Aspen couldn't help but say something.
"If you're to be my Guardian, you're going to have to be a little nicer."
Dreg continued eating, and he silently regarded her for a moment while he chewed.
"I am nice," he finally replied, and Aspen rolled her eyes.
"I really hope you're joking."
"Aspen?"
Bea stood to her right, and Aspen looked up at her.
"I was wondering if you might be able to help me with something..."
"Well, unfortunately, I don't have any of my supplies, but I can take a look."
Aspen stood up from the table and left Dreg to his own devices. She followed Bea to the back of the Inn and through a door. She was led downstairs into Bea's living quarters. A child and a man sat at the table, eating breakfast.
"This is Ned, my husband, and our little Peter."
Aspen smiled at Bea's family, and they greeted her before turning back their food. Bea led the healer to a bedroom for more privacy.
"I'm not sure I'll be able to help, but what is the problem?"
"It's not a physical problem... it's about my husband."
"Oh..."
Bea sighed, and she wrung her hands while she spoke.
"He has not been acting like himself lately. I don't know what I can do to make him happier..."
Bea went on to describe her husband's lack of motivation. He was sleeping more often, and repairs needed around the Inn were starting to increase but nothing was getting done. Aspen listened quietly, as she was more than used to people confiding with her. When she was finished, the Healer apologized to Bea.
"I wish there was something I could do. There are certain potions that can be brewed to help... pick one's spirit up. But I lack the necessary ingredients to make such a thing. As for the repairs... is there something important that needs to be done?"
Bea thought about it for a moment, and then she nodded.
"There's a leak in the roof from the storm. That's probably my biggest concern right now."
"Okay, well... let me talk to Dreg. Perhaps he can patch it up. When I get to the Capital I will contact a carpenter friend of mine. I’m best friends with his sister and so I'm sure he can be fair with pricing."
"Oh Aspen, thank you so much," Bea replied thickly, and she clasped Aspen's hands tightly. "It means the world to me."
"It's the least I can do," Aspen murmured, smiling. "You've provided us with warm shelter and food."
"I will see what we can dig up for you as supplies. I know you lost everything in the storm..."
Aspen thanked her, and they hugged. When she returned to the dining hall Dreg was gone, and so she wandered back up to their room. He stood by the table, and he finished shoving his boot on when Aspen entered.
"Dreg, can I speak with you a moment?"
"Yeah."
Aspen sat down in the chair across from him, and he peered up at her.
"I know that we were welcomed to stay here, free of charge. But... Bea expressed to me that there is a leak in their roof, and she was hoping we would help."
"What of her husband?"
Aspen briefly explained to him their situation.
"That is nonsense," Dreg growled. "A man does not ignore his responsibilities to his job... to his family."
"Dreg, I'm not here to argue with you about duties-"
"No, you want me to fix something for a bunch of strangers!"
"We didn't have to pay anything to stay here."
"If I remember, you didn't have to pay anything for staying at the Inn in Berrybrush as well. She let you stay here for free because you're a healer."
"Are you saying you won't patch up the hole in the roof, because of... morality?"
Dreg stood up from his chair, and he glared down at the Elf.
"You are the one who was in such a hurry to get back to the Capitol. Then you listen to one woman with a sob story about her husband and you eat it right up."
"What are you saying, Dreg," Aspen replied frostily, and she stood as well. "Please, don't hold back!"
"You're too soft," Dreg snarled, and he stepped towards her.
Aspen crossed her arms and glared up at Dreg. She stared directly into his ruby red eyes with as much determination she could muster, but inside she was shaking like a leaf. She didn't care for confrontation and fights.
"You stretch yourself thin trying to please any and everybody."
"Well sorry that I have a heart-"
"It's not about having a heart!" Dreg continued angrily, and he grasped Aspen by her shoulders. "You're a healer! You fix wounds, not families!"
"This is about you, isn't it?" Aspen whispered angrily, and she shoved his hands off of her and stepped away. "This isn't about me, but about your issues with your family-"
"Don't you dare speak about my family!"
Aspen winced as she realized she'd gone too far. Dreg slammed his fists on the table as his roar rang loudly in her ears. Then he took off from their room, slamming the door so hard behind him it shook the thin wooden walls. When he was gone, Aspen collapsed onto the chair and began sobbing. Pain throbbed in her side but she ignored it and continued crying for several minutes before she finally calmed down. She sat back in her seat and wiped at her tear-stained face with a shaky hand. She didn't want to fight with Dreg, but every time she thought they were getting somewhere it seemed like everything would just crumble in her hands and they'd be right back where they were when they first met.
He said he'd be my Guardian but I don't really think he understands what that means. How can he protect someone if he can barely stand to be around them?
Aspen waited for Dreg to return, but a couple of hours went by and he did not come back. Eventually, her hunger won over, and Aspen quietly slipped out from their room and wandered downstairs. She found Bea, who looked at her with a sad expression. She didn't doubt that everybody in the Inn had heard Dreg's shouting, and her cheeks flushed pink from embarrassment as she took a seat at the counter.
"I'm so sorry dear," Bea started, and Aspen shook her head. "It's my fault."
"No... no, please, don't apologize. We haven't exactly gotten along since we've met. You did nothing wrong."
Bea served Aspen a bowl of vegetable soup, complete with a bottle of ale and a warm dinner roll. She slowly ate, despite the fact she didn't want to but she knew she should eat. It started to grow darker outside, and Aspen began to worry that Dreg had left her and was not returning. The sun dipped behind the trees and disappeared behind the mountains. Aspen sat at the counter, waiting, and she nervously chewed her nails. Her heart sank the longer time dragged on.
Aspen had given up waiting and was about to get up from her seat when the door to the Inn suddenly opened. A small gust of wind floating into the dining hall as Dreg stepped inside. His tunic was drenched in sweat and he held a heavy metal hammer in his hand. He wandered over to where Bea was standing, completely ignoring Aspen, and handed it to the Innkeeper.
"The hole is patched, but your whole roof needs to be replaced before winter."
Bea blinked back tears as she took the hammer from his grasp.
"Thank you, dear, truly."
He mumbled something in return and then swiftly made his way up the stairs towards their room. Aspen sat in her chair, stunned, and then she quickly followed him up the stairs and inside. She closed the door behind her, watching as Dreg whipped his tunic off and wandered over to the small washbasin. He picked up a cloth and dipped it into the cold water. He stood with his hand resting against the table, and his head bowed while he dragged the cloth across his forehead and around the back of his neck. When he was finished cleaning up he turned towards the door and stopped when he found Aspen standing there.
"What are you doing?"
"Why did you repair the roof?"
Dreg growled and tried to step around her but Aspen didn't budge. He let out a sigh and crossed his arms, and he glared down at her.
"Will you move?" Dreg replied angrily. "I am hungry."
"Bea is bringing you supper, go sit down."
Dreg let out a loud huff and he stalked over to the table. He sat down, crossed his arms again and silently brooded while he waited for supper. Aspen walked around the other side of the table and took a seat as well. She stared at Dreg with her brows furrowed together, and she struggled to come up with something to say.
"Do you really think so little of me?"
Dreg's eyes flickered over to her, but he was silent. Tears pricked at Aspen's eyes and she sucked in a deep breath and leaned back in her chair, biting her lip. Her chest constricted tightly and pain throbbed in her hip but she continued to ignore it. Right now, it hurt more knowing that Dreg disliked her so much. There was no way she could accept him as a Guardian. A few small tears slipped down her cheek but she hastily wiped them away.
"Must you cry?" Dreg sighed, and he put his head down in his hands as he groaned. "I can't handle tears."
"Then answer my question," Aspen sniffled.
"I don't think so little of you, Aspen."
"Why does it feel like you do?"
Dreg picked up his head, and he looked at her with an angry expression.
"Must you make me say it?"
There was a small knock, and Bea entered with a tray laden with two plates of food. She picked up on the tension between them, and so she quickly placed the tray down on the table and took her to leave. When she was gone, Dreg growled quietly, and his shoulders sagged in defeat.
"I... don't know how to act outside of a Stronghold. All I can say is I'm an asshole but I don't think little of you. If anything, I am impressed by your ability to heal."
"How are we going to get along? We still have at least two weeks or more until we reach Castelgra."
"I don't know."
They were both silent, and Dreg slowly dragged one of the plates of food towards him. He was tired, sore, and hungry. He was also feeling something else, but he could not find relief from that certain frustration with Aspen around. So, he resided himself to fixing his other urges and began tucking into his chicken-pot pie.
"I'm sorry I brought up your family. It was very rude of me."
Dreg glanced up at her, and he nodded.
"I'm... sorry I shouted."
His apology was as good as it was going to get. Aspen accepted the apology, and then she pulled her plate off the tray and began eating as well. They talked lightly about when to leave and how long it would take them to reach the Capital. Eventually, they retired to their bed, and Aspen still slept poorly throughout most of the night. The pain in her side started to spread to her legs, which ached terribly, but she kept quiet. There was nothing to be done about it until she got back home.
It was early the next morning. Dreg was awake and dressed, but Aspen was still sleeping. Feeling slightly concerned, he walked over to where she was lying on her stomach and gently shook her shoulders.
"Aspen," he grunted, trying not to be too rough.
She groaned, then slowly picked her head up and opened her eyes.
"Yeah?"
"We should get going."
"Right."
Aspen sighed softly and laid her head back down for a moment.
Dreg left the room so she could wake up properly, and he walked downstairs to find Bea busying herself with two small leather satchels. He walked up to the counter, and she greeted him.
"It's not much, but hopefully it'll last until you reach the Castlegra."
"We appreciate it," Dreg grumbled stiffly, and he inspected the bedroll resting on the counter.
"I could only find one," Bea continued shyly, watching him.
"It's fine."
"I hope I didn't cause too much trouble between you and the girl. I really appreciate you helping us."
Dreg was painfully uncomfortable with having a discussion with Bea, and he struggled to come up with a response. Luckily, he didn't have to, as Aspen's head poked around the corner a second later. Her hair was a fluffy mass around her head and she attempted to flatten it down with her hands as she shuffled forward.
"Good morning Healer," Bea greeted.
Aspen forced herself to smile, and she greeted the Innkeeper. Her eyes landed on the satchels.
"I was just telling Dreg it's not much, but it's yours."
"Oh... thank you, Bea. I promise to replace everything we've borrowed."
"Nonsense," Bea smiled. "Don't worry about it."
The pair sat down at the counter and enjoyed their last hot meal at the Inn. When they were finished, they returned briefly to their rooms with the satchels and stuffed their spare clean clothes into their packs. In Aspen's satchel, she had a small cooking pot, several food rations, a waterskin, and a small dagger. Dreg's pack consisted of the bedroll, his spare clothes, a waterskin, and more food.
When they were ready, they both returned downstairs and said their goodbyes to Bea. Aspen promised to speak to her friend about getting her roof fixed, and Bea thanked her with a tearful hug.
"Safe travels."
"Thank you."
Dreg opened the door to the Inn and Aspen stepped outside. She sucked in a deep breath of fresh air and then grimaced as pain shot through her hip. Dreg didn't notice, for he was already halfway down the trail towards the main road, and Aspen jogged to keep up. They walked for several hours, only resting for a few minutes to drink some water and have a light bite of food. They ate sparsely, for they were both unsure of how long the food would last.
When it grew too dark to go on, they walked off the main road to make camp for the night. Dreg managed to find some wood that was only mostly dry, and he built a small fire for Aspen so she could cook up the little steaks Bea had provided them for tonight's dinner. She sliced them up into thin strips and roasted them in the pot along with some potatoes, carrots, and a pinch of spices. They sat together this time, on the single bedroll they had been given, and ate in comfortable silence. Afterward, Aspen slid under the covers and laid down while Dreg sat up for a while, quietly staring at the fire.
Eventually, his eyelids grew heavy, and so he moved to lay down. He groaned quietly when his knees cracked and Aspen opened her eyes. She had been close to falling asleep, but the constant presence of pain in her body made it difficult to snooze for very long or very deeply. When Dreg moved his body underneath the blanket she shuffled forward, yawning sleepily, to absorb the warmth that radiated off his body.
"Do you have enough blanket?" Aspen whispered quietly.
"Yeah."
Dreg grumbled quietly as he settled down on the bedroll. Their legs pressed together, and Dreg sighed as he wrapped his arm around her waist. Space was limited, and so he bore through it. But being in close proximity to Aspen was hard. He had to force certain thoughts out of his mind, for the last thing he wanted was to get excited when they were supposed to be sleeping. He tucked his other arm up under his head and closed his eyes, growling softly. Aspen rested her forehead against his chest, and her soft breathing lulled him to sleep.
Chapter Text
One week had passed since they left Bea's Inn, and their food rations were starting to grow thin. Aspen could have sworn there was another Inn close by, but without her map, she wasn't too sure, and they had probably missed it. Dreg was as silent and grumpy as ever from the lack of food, and he wanted nothing more than to eat a huge steak, fuck someone, and pass out in a warm bed. But all of those things seemed miles away, and so it left him in a terrible mood.
By day eight they were down to the last strips of jerky, some potatoes, and a small bundle of dried fruit and nuts. Dreg had managed to snare a couple of rabbits one of the nights, but he was not the swiftest hunter and had often been taunted by his Brethren in the past for being too loud and obnoxious so it left a dark feeling in his chest.
Aspen was finding it harder and harder to hide her pain, and one dreary evening she sat hunched over on their bedroll with her eyes squeezed shut. Small groans escaped her lips, and when Dreg returned with an armful of wood he dumped it on the ground and went over to her.
"What is wrong?"
"I-It's nothing," Aspen gasped, but Dreg wasn't fooled.
"You were hurt when the tree fell on you," He pressured, and Aspen sighed. "I knew it."
"There's noth... nothing I can about it anyway until we get to the Capital."
Dreg let out a frustrated sigh and began making a pit for the fire. He glanced over at Aspen every so often, his brows furrowed together. He wanted to help her, but he knew his efforts would be useless. He could only build a fire to keep her warm, which is what he did.
Later that night Aspen lay on the bedroll in Dreg's firm arms. Her eyes were closed, but her body shook slightly and her face was alarmingly pale. Dreg watched as she trembled beside him, but he didn't know what to do. Eventually, her body stilled, but she swept in and out of consciousness for the rest of the night.
By day sixteen they were both exhausted, but Aspen was certain they were close. They walked forward on the gravel road, but this time Aspen clung to him, her arm linked through his. She was deathly pale and feeling a little delirious, though she pushed through. Dreg was impressed by her stamina, but he knew she was suffering and he didn't care for it one bit.
The sun was beginning to set when they reached a new area. The cobblestoned road stretched out to their left and to their right, with a small stone wall on either side. A small wooden sign stood at the crossroad, and when they drew close Dreg could see one was named Castlegra. It was pointed east.
"We've reached... the main road," Aspen panted, and she leaned heavily against him. "M-Maybe an hour and we'll be there."
"Come here," Dreg growled, and he turned to her.
Aspen let out a small noise of protest as she felt his arms at her back and legs. He grunted as he lifted her straight up into his arms, and Aspen groaned as her body ached more fiercely than ever. She clenched her eyes shut and wrapped her arms around his neck, her breaths coming out in heavy, labored gasps.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, her voice slurred.
"Don't be."
Dreg started walking down the main road towards the Capital with Aspen in his arms. He walked as fast as he could without getting too tired. She was small, but as she slipped into unconsciousness her body grew heavier, and by the time he reached the front gates to what he assumed was Castlegra, he was completely out of breath and sweating in his tunic. He paused a moment to change his grasp on her waist, and Aspen groaned but did not stir. When he drew closer to the gate, two guards stepped in front of him, and one held up his hand.
"Halt, traveler. What brings you to the Capitol?"
Dreg scowled, but he forced himself not to pick a fight. Getting Aspen help was more important.
"My partner is sick and in need of a healer."
"Is she a citizen of Castlegra?"
"Yes," Dreg growled, remembering the ruined scarf in her pack. "She's a healer. Her green scarf was ruined in the storm."
"Green scarf..." The guards glanced at each other. "What is her name?"
He was beginning to get past his breaking point, and Dreg gritted his teeth together.
"Aspen," he replied angrily. "And she needs help. Are you blind?”
The guards nodded and hastily stepped aside to open the gates. Dreg angrily brushed past them and was about to keep going up the street when he realized he had no idea where to go. He slowly spun around and accosted the nearest guard.
"Where do I go? Do you know where she lives?"
"Oh uh, I think she lives in the healer quarters, they're up the road, that way."
Aspen groaned and her eyes opened briefly. She tried to look around but it was too much, and she quickly shut them again.
"Dreg? Where... where are we?"
"I'm in Castlegra, but I don't know where to go."
A young woman floated down the street, and Dreg spotted the familiar green scarf.
"Excuse me!" Dreg hollered, and the woman froze. "I need some help."
She rushed over to him, and when her eyes landed on Aspen she gasped and rushed forward.
"Oh, Aspen... I know Kendra has been worried sick about her. She was supposed to be home almost a month ago."
Dreg followed the woman up the street towards a series of small apartments, and when they reached one of the doors she fished around in her pocket for a key. When it was unlocked she ushered Dreg inside with Aspen still in his arms and told him to lay her down on the bed.
"I'll go grab Kendra. I'm still a novice so I'm afraid I'm not much help."
"Thanks," Dreg replied quietly, and he moved towards the bedroom.
He entered into the small room and gently laid Aspen down on the soft bed. Her face was still terribly pale and he could see the sweat on her forehead, but when his fingers brushed over her skin she was cold to the touch. He dragged a chair from the kitchen into her room and sat down, his head bowed, as he waited for Kendra to arrive.
Around five minutes later the door to Aspen's apartment opened and he picked his head up as footsteps grew closer.
"Aspen- oh!"
A pretty human girl strolled into the room, and her eyes widened when they landed on her friend lying motionless on the bed. Her gaze flicked to the Orc sitting by her side, and she was thoroughly confused.
"I'm sorry, I don't think we've met..."
"I'm Dreg," he grunted and gestured to Aspen.
"Dreg. I’m Kendra."
Kendra glided around to the other side of the bed and she knelt down. She wore the same type of clothes as Aspen, and the bright green scarf around her neck was undoubtedly recognizable to Dreg now. Her hair was long, blond, and had been tied back into a thick braid that hung down her back. She wore the same gloves as Aspen, which she slowly ran her hand over Aspen's face, feeling her softly.
"What happened?"
Dreg glanced over at the girl, and he let out a sigh. Kendra noted the dark circles under his eyes, and she could tell by his body language that he was worried about Aspen. Several questions burned on her lips but she had to focus on Aspen first.
"We uh... got caught in that storm."
"Oh no..."
"Lightning struck a tree and a part of it fell on her. She seemed alright at first but..."
Dreg growled, and he rubbed his aching neck.
"I knew she was lying."
"Of course," Kendra chuckled, and her hands glided down Aspen's body as she sensed something down in her stomach. "She's always been stubborn like that."
Dreg stared blankly down at Aspen, his thoughts dark. He didn't know how serious her injuries were, but he knew if anything were to happen to her he'd be furious. He barely knew Aspen, and all they did was fight, but he never wished for anything bad to happen to her.
"Hmm," Kendra murmured, and she closed her eyes. "I can sense something going on inside, but I think I can treat it."
"She will be alright?"
Kendra opened her eyes, and she stared across the bed at Dreg. She was dying to know how her best friend had come to join together with such a handsome, burly Orc, and he peered back at her with his bright red eyes. She knew he was worried, and he let out a deep breath when Kendra nodded.
"Yes, she will recover. You should go rest-"
"No, I am fine. Just do what you must."
Kendra chuckled internally, wondering if Aspen had met her match for a stubborn man. Her thoughts flickered back to Ivan, who she knew was currently at the guild, and had arrived around a week earlier. She has seen him in passing, which is when her concern had turned to panic when she discovered he had come back alone.
Something happened, Kendra thought quietly while she worked her healing over Aspen. Something not great. Those two were inseparable. And now she shows up with this massive, angry Orc.
When Kendra was finished, the color to Aspen's face was beginning to return. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed more easily, her eyes still closed. She slept soundly, and the pain slowly ebbed away the longer the night wore on. Kendra eventually left the apartment, promising to return first thing in the morning. Dreg grunted his thanks, and she instructed him on which vials to administer should she wake up and need something.
"Give her the clear vial, for now, it should do the trick. The red one is for you... I'm sure you need it."
"Okay."
Kendra smiled softly, and she placed a gloved hand on Dreg's shoulder. He looked up at her.
"Thank you for protecting my very dear friend, Dreg."
"It's nothing," Dreg stammered gruffly, and he hastily looked away from her.
Kendra smiled to herself as she took her leave. She glanced back at the pair one last time, thinking to herself how sweet it was that Dreg refused to leave Aspen's side, and then she left them alone for the rest of the night.
When the healer was gone, Dreg dragged his muddy boots off and downed the contents of the red vial. Relief immediately washed over him, and he walked around to the other side of the bed. He lightly pulled the covers back so he could lay down, being careful not to disturb Aspen. She snored softly, and Dreg couldn't help but brush a strand of her wavy hair away from her face before he laid down and quickly drifted to sleep.
Chapter Text
Aspen felt better than she had in over a week. She was aware that she was laying on something soft, but the details of where she was and how she got there were unclear. She slowly opened her eyes and was met by a familiar ceiling. It was her ceiling, and Aspen knew she had made it back to Castlegra.
"It's about time you woke up."
Aspen narrowed her eyes, and she shot Dreg a small glare. He was sitting beside her bed with his arms crossed, and he had been waiting impatiently for her to wake up.
"Thanks," Aspen croaked hoarsely, her throat dry. "Nice to see you too."
"I know it is, you owe me big time for carrying you the rest of the way."
Aspen wanted to laugh, but she wasn't sure if Dreg was angry or not, and so she remained quiet. Dreg realized his attempt to joke with her had not gone over well, and so he cleared his throat and busied himself with uncorking the second vial Kendra had left for her. He had given the first one to her in the middle of the night when she woke up gasping for air as she was wracked with pains. She had drunk the potion and immediately gone back to sleep.
"Here," he grunted. "You gotta drink this."
Aspen slowly pulled herself into a sitting position, groaning quietly. Dreg pushed a pillow up against the headboard as she slumped back against it and took the vial from his hand. He watched as she tipped it back and drank it in one go, and he took the empty vial back from her and handed Aspen a cup of water.
"Mm, much better," Aspen sighed after taking a sip. "How are you feeling, Dreg?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me, worry about yourself."
"Well, she's in the best of hands."
Kendra's voice floated from behind him, and she waltzed into the room.
"She's got you and the second-best healer around."
Aspen grinned, and Kendra quickly knelt down on the bed and took her hand, grasping it tightly. She leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"I was worried sick," Kendra lamented loudly.
"I know, I'm sorry to have worried you so much. I had a little...unexpected detour."
"Now that you're awake, I'm absolutely dying to hear how it is you came to be with this dear Orc, and without your Guardian. I saw Ivan just the other day and had half a mind to go up to him but I wanted to hear it from you first."
"Well..." Aspen sighed, and she glanced over at Dreg. He was watching them both with a small frown. "I-I um... really don't want to talk about it, Kendra."
"I know Aspen, but you really must tell somebody. If he broke a vow... he has to be punished."
"I'd like to know too," Dreg grumbled, and the two women looked at him.
"Please," Aspen whispered, and she clenched Kendra's hand. "Not right now... I can't tell you just yet."
Kendra sighed softly, and she stroked Aspen's arm, nodding.
"I understand. I won't bother you about it anymore. But tell me... how did you two meet?"
Her bright blue eyes glittered mischievously at Dreg, who got up from the chair and began leaving the room. He didn't need to be there to listen to them gossip, and so he wandered into the kitchen to start making something to eat. When he was gone, Kendra turned to Aspen with a gleeful expression.
"He's wonderfully moody," Kendra whispered, and she gave a dreamy sigh. "And handsome. Oh Aspen, do spill!"
Aspen laughed. She had missed Kendra and her carefree nature, but she was so far off about Dreg it was hilarious.
"It's not at all like the sunshine meeting you're thinking," she replied quietly, and she bit her lip as she thought back to the first day they met.
Aspen briefly filled Kendra in on everything that happened, and the girl listened with wide eyes. By the end, she was utterly shocked.
"I can barely believe my ears, Aspen! Why does everything exciting happen to you!"
"Maybe if you left the city once in a while something exciting would happen to you too, Kendra."
"It's far too dangerous for me," Kendra shot back, and she stood up from the bed. "You know how much of a klutz I am!"
"True... it would be a disaster for sure."
Kendra's soft laughter echoed in her ears, and she disappeared from the room for a minute to see what Dreg was up to. When she returned, she held a hot bowl of porridge in her hands.
"Did you...?"
"No, Dreg cooked. Are you sure he's not perfect?"
Aspen snorted, and resisted rolling her eyes. She tucked into the porridge with great enthusiasm, realizing how hungry she was the more she ate, and within a few minutes she had her portion completely polished off.
"How are you feeling?"
Aspen looked over at Kendra, who took the bowl from her grasp.
"Truthfully?"
"Always."
"I’m alright."
Kendra smiled, and she glanced down at the bowl for a moment before looking back and her best friend. They had known each other for a very long time, and it pained her to think that something had happened between her and Ivan that led to Aspen being abandoned in the middle of her travels. She felt a huge amount of gratitude that Dreg had agreed to come with the healer to Castlegar.
"I was wondering... what are you and Dreg going to do now?"
"Now? Oh..." Aspen gave a nervous laugh and she rubbed her arm. "Well... I'm currently without a Guardian. If he qualifies...Dreg agreed to take up the vow."
Kendra's brows shot up.
"Really?"
"Mhmm."
"Enough of your whispers," Dreg cut in as he entered the room. "You need to rest."
"I am just fine," Aspen huffed, and she crossed her arms.
"You are not fine. Even I can't heal that fast."
Kendra chuckled, thoroughly enjoying their banter, and she kissed Aspen's cheek before getting up to leave.
"He's right, you need to rest Aspen. I'll come by tomorrow. Oh, and Julien was asking about you too..."
"I need to see him as well. I have a favor to ask."
"Well give it a couple of days, and when you're feeling better we'll go out for drinks, okay?"
"Okay," Aspen grumbled, yawning. "See you later."
"Later!"
When Kendra had left, Dreg told Aspen he was drawing up hot water for her to have a bath. Aspen thanked him, feeling somewhat confused by his attentiveness. It was almost too sweet, and she wondered how long it would last. She waited patiently, lost in thought and feeling rather tired, but she wanted to get clean. Her skin felt gross and her hair was oily from being unable to bathe for well over a week. She knew she stunk, but when Dreg returned to the bedroom he strode right up to her and gently grasped her arms. He helped Aspen slowly rise to her feet, and then he walked her over to the tub. It was filled halfway with steaming hot water and looked wonderfully inviting. She opened her mouth to invite him to bathe as well before she realized there was no way it would fit both of them. Dreg seemed to pick up on that detail.
"I will bathe after you're done," he said, and Aspen nodded.
Dreg tugged at her pants, and this time he began undressing her. Aspen felt like she was in a daze as his thick hands grasped the hem off of her tunic and he lifted it off of her before undoing the strings to her trousers. Aspen shivered under his touch, and she leaned against the edge of the tub, groaning softly as Dreg slid the pants down her slim thighs and pulled them off.
"You... you really don't have to help me so much," Aspen mumbled, feeling her cheeks grow warm.
"When the healer is injured, who tends to her?"
Aspen looked up at Dreg, and he was smiling ever so slightly. But it was gone in an instant, and she slowly climbed over the lip of the tub and sank down into the hot water. She let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes, enjoying the soothing relief it brought. Dreg disappeared into the bedroom while she soaked, and when he returned, he held a thick cotton nightgown in his hands and a warm pair of knitted socks. He placed them on the nearby table and then he knelt down behind Aspen and dipped his hands into the water.
"Lean forward."
"Dreg..."
"I said lean forward you stubborn woman," Dreg growled, and Aspen slowly slid her body away from the edge of the tub.
"I'm stubborn?" Aspen retorted. "That's hilarious."
"Yes, you are."
"Hmph, "Aspen grumbled, but she was smiling.
She liked the feeling of his hands in her hair, and she closed her eyes while he massaged her scalp. Her thoughts drifted back to the first time they shared a bath together, and how strange it had been for her to bathe with an Orc she barely knew. Now, undressing in front of him didn't seem that big of a deal, and Aspen knew she was growing more comfortable with Dreg the longer they spent time together. But there was a little voice in the back of her head that taunted her, threatening to bubble up, though she pushed it back. She couldn't afford to let herself get wrapped again, emotionally. No, she had to focus on her work. She had wasted far too much time jeopardizing her job for somebody who didn't care, and Aspen was tired of it. Despite the fact she and Dreg were growing close, part of her was scared and resisted it.
She was dangerously close to falling asleep. Between the warm water and Dreg massaging her scalp, she felt her eyelids droop, and Aspen quickly snapped her head up. Dreg laughed, and he scooped a handful of water with both hands and began rinsing her hair.
"Tired?"
"Very," Aspen mumbled sleepily, and she yawned.
When her hair was rinsed completely, Dreg helped Aspen get out of the tub. She patted herself off with a towel and then Dreg slipped the nightgown over her head, resisting the urge to cup her soft, round breasts with his hands. His throat constricted tightly and he focused on walking Aspen back to her bed. When she was sitting, he slipped the warm knitted socks over her feet and she shuffled back onto the bed and laid down.
"You know," Aspen murmured softly, and she closed her eyes. "You're not that much of an asshole."
Dreg snorted, and he pulled the covers up over her body, shaking his head.
"You still don't know me very well," Dreg replied gruffly, and Aspen smiled. "Give it time."
Within minutes Aspen had drifted off to sleep. Dreg left her to rest; he went into the other room and emptied out the water from the tub. Then he heated up more water over the fire and filled it up for himself, but he needed to take care of something before he cleaned up. Dreg whipped his tunic over his head and dropped it to the ground, and then he fumbled with the strings to his breeches before they too were off. His dark green cock rose up stiff and painfully hard, and he leaned against the edge of the tub as he grasped his manhood and began furiously stroking it. He pictured Aspen's wet, naked body writhing beneath him as they fucked, and within minutes he came, his sticky seed shooting across the plains of his abs. He gasped for air, his chest heaving, and slowly opened his eyes.
When he had finished, Dreg slipped into the tub with a loud sigh and he soaked for quite some time, absorbed in his own conflicting thoughts. He didn't know what to think about him and Aspen, as a part of him wanted to resist her, while the other didn't. It was terribly confusing, and he tried not to let it consume him but it was almost impossible. She was always there.
Every time I try to distance myself, he thought with a sigh of frustration, she does something that reels me back in. She's like a witch, and I can't say no to her.
He growled and dunked his head under the water for a moment, trying to drown out his thoughts. He quickly washed his hair and then got out from the tub and dried off before changing into a pair of loose cotton pants. He didn't bother with a shirt, and when he walked back into Aspen's bedroom he found her fast asleep. Her hair was still damp and clung to her face as she breathed softly, lying on her back. He quietly moved around to the other side of the bed and laid down on his side, facing her. Aspen mumbled something in her sleep and then she rolled onto her side, bringing her closer. He watched as her hand touched his arm, and she shuffled even closer, sighing softly as her fingers clenched his soft, scarred skin. Dreg closed his eyes and they both slept soundly until later the next day.
Chapter 11
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Can you not!" Aspen huffed, and she pushed her hair away from her eyes. "You don't have to be so rough!"
"I am not rough, you are too soft," Dreg argued, and he held up a pair of her pants.
"I can get dressed by myself!"
"Then get dressed and stop stalling!"
Aspen ripped the pants from his grasp and glared at his retreating back as Dreg blundered out from the room to wait for her. She sighed, and then shoved the pants on and tied up the strings. She plopped her butt down on the bed and slipped her feet into a brand-new pair of boots Kendra had dropped off earlier. They were getting ready to go to the guild to check in with her Masters and get her belongings replaced. She felt nervous about the other business she needed to bring up to Master Ren, particularly about asking to get Dreg qualified to be her Guardian. The more she thought about it, the more nervous she became, but Dreg's bellowing voice quickly snapped her out from her daze.
"Aspen! I will drag you there myself if I have to!"
Dreg was itching to get outside. It had been three days since arriving in Castlegar, and he wanted to see this guild of Healers. He scowled when Aspen floated out from the bedroom, and she shot him a cheeky smile before running outside. Dreg easily caught up to her, and they strode up the street towards a huge stone building that looked like something out of a dream. Dreg had never seen anything like it before, and he arched a brow up, staring down at Aspen with a quizzical expression.
"The Order is... somewhat flamboyant. Everything is very symbolic and harmonious."
"Sounds like a bunch of shit," Dreg grumbled, and Aspen lightly smacked his arm.
"Insulting the Order will get you nowhere real fast. Mind your manners... can you do that?"
"Shove it."
Aspen laughed, and she floated on ahead of him. He watched as she ascended the long winding stone steps up to a massive set of double doors made out of dark oak. Carvings of nature and flower scenes had been cut into its surface, and while Aspen found it stunningly beautiful, Dreg couldn't help but feel it was a little over the top.
"Come on," Aspen called out, and Dreg took the stairs two at a time.
They both entered into the massive building, and he was even more surprised by the inside. Lush vegetation dominated most of the room, and several bright lamps were all that were used to illuminate the room. Intricately carved fountains were spread out throughout the massive open space, and the trickling of the water slowly spewing from open mouths of fish, satyrs, and mermaids was supposed to be soothing. But Dreg stared at the hall with a mixture of confusion and disgust.
"What in the world..."
"Shh," Aspen murmured, and she quickly led him past one of the fountains. "I don't need your opinion."
"Is this a house of healing or some religious garbage?" He growled, and Aspen shot him a silent glare.
They swiftly walked across the polished floor, which shone brightly in hues of green and blue. Once they reached the other side Aspen took him through a series of smaller doors and hallways, until they reached one in particular. The door itself was bright white and carved like the door from outside. They entered into a small landing, and Dreg's eyes glanced up at the tiny winding staircase before them.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Come on, " Aspen sighed, and she grasped his hand before starting up the stairs.
It went on for what seemed like forever, and the winding made him feel sick. By the time they reached the top, he was thoroughly nauseous, and he had to pause for a minute to catch his breath.
"Does it need to be a god damn labyrinth just to see somebody?"
"Be quiet Dreg," Aspen whispered firmly.
Her voice was cold, and when he glanced up at her Aspen's expression was one of barely controlled anger. He kept his mouth shut, and she smothered her face into a neutral expression before stepping towards the door. She knocked lightly, and a voice from behind told them to enter.
An older gentleman sat behind a large wooden desk. He had not a shred of hair on his head or face, and Dreg couldn't help but feel he looked like a big, ugly child, but he said nothing. Aspen walked forward, and the man stood up from his desk and walked forward, holding his hands out. Dreg hung back, inspecting the man's strange bright robes, and he watched as Aspen dipped her head in a greeting.
"Master Ren," she whispered.
"Aspen," Ren replied softly, and he cupped her cheek for a moment, smiling. "We had grown worried."
"I know, I'm very sorry."
"No need to be sorry, child. Things don't always go according to plan."
Dreg nearly snorted. He was completely unimpressed by Aspen's master, whose soft voice and lack of hair really didn't add up to what he had been expecting. Ren turned towards him, and he smiled, cocking his head to one side.
"Who is your friend?"
"Oh right, this is Dreg," Aspen replied hastily, and she looked over at him.
"Dreg... a pleasure to meet you."
Ren stuck his hand out, and Dreg stared down at him for a moment with narrowed eyes. Aspen's heart pounded so loudly in her chest she thought it would burst, and she breathed out a small sigh of relief when he finally stepped forward, and they shook hands. Ren encouraged them to sit, and he drifted back around to his chair and sat down while they followed suit. Master Ren was silent for a moment as he peered at Aspen with his dark brown eyes.
"What has become of your scarf?"
"It was ruined. We got caught in the storm."
"Oh my. Well, no worries. I think I have a spare one in here."
Dreg watched as Ren got up from the chair and wandered over to a nearby dresser. Most of his room consisted of large plants and bookshelves covered from head to toe with books of all sizes and thickness. He had to wonder how an Order than ran off of charity managed to acquire so much wealth, and he became uncomfortable with it all the more he thought about it. However, he had to keep quiet it up if he wanted to be Aspen's Guardian, and so Dreg kept his mouth firmly shut.
Aspen could see that Dreg struggled to keep himself under control. When she glanced over at him, his jaw was firmly clenched and he silently stared out at nothing. Her brows furrowed together, but then she smoothed her face into a smile when her Master returned with a brand-new scarf in his hands. He handed the bright green material to Aspen, who thanked him.
"You'll be sure to burn the old one?"
"Of course."
"Good girl. Now, what can I do for you? I have spoken with Ivan, and he told me of his plans to change directions."
"O-Oh good, yeah..." Aspen nervously rubbed her neck, silently thanking the Gods that Ivan had not told the truth to the Masters. "I support his decision, but I wasn't ready to leave Harlan, which is why he left me."
"It was still disrespectful that he left you alone, and he has been dealt with appropriately. But that leaves the question of who your next Guardian will be."
"Actually, Master... I um was hoping that Dreg could be... be my Guardian."
Her face turned pink, and Ren's gaze turned Dreg, who stared back at him with an icy expression.
"I know it seems a bit um, unconventional but if Dreg hadn't been with me when the storm came through I probably would have died."
"Yes... I heard that you were ill when you returned home. I am sorry for your troubles."
Ren was silent as he thought over what Aspen was asking.
"Well, at is stands, you know the decision isn't truly up to me."
Aspen nodded, and Ren continued.
"We can perform the ceremony this evening to see if he is worthy, and if it is successful... you will take up the Vow?"
He was addressing Dreg now, who regarded him with his bright red eyes. He nodded.
"Excellent. Then run off for now, and meet me in the cistern at midnight."
"Yes, Master Ren, thank you."
"Of course, Aspen. I am glad you've made it back safe and sound."
The pair stood up, and Aspen paused when she reached the door.
"I forgot to mention, Master... all of my supplies were swept away in the flood."
"I heard. Breathe easy, everything will be replaced."
Dreg was oddly silent as they made their way back down to the first floor of the guild. He quietly followed Aspen as she led him across the main hall towards the front doors, when she suddenly changed directions and crashed into him.
"Hey-!"
"Shh," Aspen whispered, and she hurriedly pushed him towards a cluster of plants with massive leaves. "We can't go that way just yet."
Dreg frowned, and he peeked around one of the leaves, searching for whatever had Aspen so flustered. His eyes landed on a rather stupidly dressed man as he walked down the corridor with another Healer. His long robe was white and decorated with elaborate embroidered designs in bright colors. The man had long, dark brown hair that shone in the light of the lanterns, and it hung down past his shoulders in thick, lush waves. He scowled and turned back towards Aspen, who had her back pressed against the wall.
"You are hiding from that man?" He growled.
Aspen nodded, and she clutched her scarf to her chest, feeling her heart race.
"That's Evan?"
"It's Ivan," Aspen said angrily, and she sighed. "And yes, that's him."
"His clothes are stupid."
"That isn't saying much, you think everything is stupid."
"I should say something to him-"
"Don't you fucking dare!" Aspen whispered harshly, and she dug her nails into his arm so hard he actually winced.
"Let go of me!"
"Do not. Go. Over there."
"Fine. He's left anyway. Let's go."
Aspen waited a moment later, and then she let out a deep breath and swiftly walked back down the hallway. She jetted towards the front doors, nearly running, and burst through them to the outside. Dreg followed closely behind her, wondering where she was leading him as Aspen jogged down the street away from the Guild. She did not stop until they reached a rather shady looking Tavern called the Three Billy Goats. She wrenched the door open and rushed inside. Dreg followed suit, and his ears were assaulted with a mass of noise. The tavern was packed with laughter, chatting, clinking of cups and plates, and a small band played in the corner of the room. It was a warm atmosphere, and Dreg was surprised that somebody like Aspen frequented such a crowded place.
He spotted Aspen as she squeezed herself into a chair beside Kendra and another man. He slowly made his way through the crowd and reached them, a frown on his face. Kendra smiled at Dreg when he drew nearer, but he didn't return it.
"Dreg! Sit down, dear. It's a little squishy."
"A little," Dreg grunted, and he struggled to get his long limbs under the table and sit down.
"This is my brother, Julien," Kendra continued, nearly shouting.
The man sitting beside her flashed Dreg a smile and stuck his hand out, but he really wasn't in the mood. Julien was a handsome man for a human, with thick golden locks just like his sister and matching blue eyes. His skin was tan from working outdoors, and he was obviously well-muscled underneath his tunic, as his arms strained against the thin material. Dreg quickly caught a server girl as she waltzed by and ordered himself a pint of mead. He glanced over at Aspen, who ordered a honey ale. She looked upset, and he knew it was because of the Ivan man they had seen earlier.
"How did it go?" Kendra asked Aspen, and she shrugged her shoulders.
Aspen wrapped her scarf around her neck and she bowed her head, covering most of her face as she sighed.
"Good, I guess. Master Ren will replace all my belongings, and tonight we're to perform the ceremony and see if Dreg can be my Guardian."
"You're going to be Aspen's Guardian?" Julien piped up and he looked at him.
"Is there a problem?" Dreg growled.
"Not at all, I am just surprised."
"Well I'm glad he's letting you try," Kendra cut in, sensing the tension. "You don't know for sure until you attempt the ceremony. Julien was about to offer himself up. So, there are choices. Don't worry, Aspen."
Aspen looked over at Julien, her expression one of mild surprise, but then she quickly shook her head.
"It should be fine," she muttered, and she was quiet when her drink arrived.
Aspen silently took a few sips of her ale while Kendra did most of the talking, updating her friend on all the comings and goings of the Guild while she was gone. After a while, they all ordered dinner and drank some more, until Aspen was too tired to keep her eyes open.
"I think I'll nap before we have to go," she mumbled sleepily to Dreg as they slowly began making their way back home.
"Alright."
When they reached Aspen's apartment, she fumbled with the key for a moment and then unlocked the door and stepped inside. She kicked her shoes off and wandered off to the bedroom to lie down. When she was gone, Dreg sighed and busied himself with starting a fire in the hearth, and when it was going he sat back in one of the large chairs close to the fireplace and silently brooded, his mind full of many thoughts and questions until he eventually dozed off.
Notes:
Hey all! Thanks for reading my stuff <3
The next couple of chapters are gonna be a bit emotionally heavy...we'll be diving into Dreg & Aspen's painful pasts, just a giving a heads up!
Chapter Text
Aspen woke up first, and Dreg was nowhere in sight. She got up from the bed and stretched for a moment as she yawned. Then she walked into the main room and found him fast asleep in her chair. A fire crackled and popped in the hearth, and she smiled at the sight of him, his head lolled back against the chair and he snored quietly. She wandered over and gently shook his shoulder.
“Dreg, we have to go.”
He snorted and shook his head before opening his eyes. Dreg peered around, confused by the darkness outside, and then he remembered where he was and what he had to do.
“Ok,” he grunted.
Aspen wandered over to the door to put her boots on while Dreg stood up and stretched.
Before they left, Aspen asked Dreg if he was still ready.
“It’s not going to be easy... the ceremony. For either one of us.”
“I’m fine.”
Dreg gently pushed her shoulder towards the door. He didn’t really care to know the details of this ceremony. All he wanted to do was get it over and done with so they could go back to sleep.
“Come on.”
They quickly walked up the road back towards the Healer’s Guild, and they once again walked through the massive and complicated front hall, winding their way around fountains and stone seating areas, but this time Aspen guided him through a different door. They began climbing down a different set of stairs but it was shorter and within a few minutes they entered into a wide room. A few small lanterns hanging on the wall were the only source of light, and the smooth polished stone of the floor went on towards the back of the room where it abruptly cut off. A deceptively still pool of water lay at the end, with long thin stone stairs leading into it. In the middle of the floor was a massive symbol outlined in what looked like paint, and Master Ren stood off to the side, waiting for them.
“So, you have committed to the ceremony,” he greeted softly.
“Yes Master,” Aspen replied, and she walked Dreg into the middle of the symbol.
She instructed Dreg to get down on his knees in the center, and then she followed suit. They sat, facing each other, their knees touching. Aspen reached out and grasped his hands, and she squeezed them gently.
“You may begin when you are ready.”
Aspen nodded, and she took a deep breath.
“You need to close your eyes... good. Try and clear your mind as much as you can,” she murmured softly.
Dreg took in a deep breath through his nose as Aspen had done, and slowly let it out. He tried to empty his mind but it was difficult. So many questions ran through his mind. He wasn’t sure if he was quite prepared for what was about to happen but there was no turning back now.
“Our memories are going to be opened up for each other,” Aspen continued, her voice feathery soft. “It’s going to hurt, but you mustn’t pull away and break the connection. You must trust me to see those private parts of your life, and I must trust you as well. Don’t worry about time... we will know when it is over.”
Dreg’s brows furrowed together, but he remained silent. A moment later he felt something warm wash over his body, and it felt like he was floating. An image appeared in the far reaches of his mind, growing bigger and bigger until everything became bright. His vision was blurry at first, and then the image came into focus crystal clear. He was surprised at first, by what he saw, but he continued to study the view.
A child Aspen bawled hysterically into her blanket, which was thoroughly soaked with her tears. She was laying on a bed in a very small room that had no light. There was no other furniture save for a small, worn side table. She sobbed, nearly choking on her tears, and curled up into a little ball underneath the thin blanket. Dreg stepped forward, wishing he could do something, but this wasn’t real-time. It was a memory, and so he was helpless to do anything but watch.
The door to her room suddenly opened, and a woman stepped inside. She looked somewhat like Aspen, and he knew it was her mother. She held a short knife sharpened on one end, and she strode forward, her expression furious.
“You want to tussle around like a boy,” the woman started, and Aspen quickly scrambled to her knees, her eyes wide. “Then I’ll make you look like one of them.”
“Mo-Mother please don’t,” Aspen cried, and she began sobbing harder.
Her mother reached forward, and Aspen cried out when she roughly grabbed her thin white arm and dragged her off the bed. Aspen’s cries echoed loudly in Dreg’s ears, and he watched anger rippling through him, as Aspen’s mother repeatedly slapped Aspen in the arms, back, and head. Aspen screamed, and then the mother grabbed a hold of her long, brown hair and dragged her out from the room into the main area of the house where there was light.
“Sit still or I will cut you!” the mother hollered, and Aspen sat on the floor, tears streaming down her face.
Her whole body shook, but she bit her lip to stop herself from sobbing loudly while her mother began slicing at her hair. She cut every inch of her long brown locks off, right down to the scalp. It was a terrible job, and when she was finished she shoved Aspen down and strode away.
“Never see those boys again, or next time it will be worse.”
“Y-yes mother,” Aspen whispered, hiccupping, and she quickly ran back to her room.
The memory faded, and then another one opened up. Dreg groaned internally, wishing he didn’t have to see such wretched events, but he had no choice. A slightly older Aspen sat cowering in the kitchen, and her mother stood above her daughter. Her face was bright red from having just screamed at Aspen moments before, and Aspen cried, tears streaming down her young face.
“I-I’m so-sorry mother… I am… I-I didn’t me- “
“Sorry! I am tired of your apologies! You are a pathetic excuse for a daughter, and I can’t believe I ever thought you could amount to something other than the disgrace that you are!”
Aspen flinched as her mother’s words cut like a knife, but she wasn’t finished. Dreg bunched his hands into fists while the mother strode over to the fire. She picked up a metal poker and placed the sharp end into the fire. He watched, horrified, as it began to warm, and she waited a moment before calling out to Aspen.
“Come here right now.”
Her voice was sharp like glass, and she glared at her crying daughter with the vilest look of contempt. Aspen slowly rose to her feet, and she began to shuffle closer when she realized why her mother was by the fire. She quickly backed up, pressing herself hard against the wall, and begged for her not to do it.
“I-I promise I-I'll do better... Mother please!”
“I said, come here.”
Aspen slowly inched her way forward, her head bowed, and her cries echoed all around the room. She stopped several paced away from the fire, and her mother turned to her.
“Take off your dress.”
“P-Please mother…”
“Take off your dress! ”
Aspen slowly lifted her dress off and she clenched it with her hands, wishing she could disappear. Her mother turned towards the fire and picked up the not red-hot metal poker, and she grasped it between her hands. Several scars from previous punishments dashed along Aspen’s left hip and trailed around her side. Dreg knew this wasn’t the first time or probably the last time Aspen’s mother had tortured her. He stood, helplessly watching, as her mother grabbed Aspen by her hair and dragged her to the floor. His entire body shook with fury as he’d never felt before as Aspen’s screams vibrated right through him. The smell of burnt flesh reached his nose, and he doubled over, nearly sick.
Master Ren watched the pair with a sad expression, knowing fully what Aspen suffered through as a child. He watched their faces, looking for any sign of contact breaking, but their connection was firm. Aspen’s face contorted in pain, and her lip trembled, while Dreg's face was twisted into a scowl and he tightly clenched the Healer’s hands.
Another image appeared. Dreg knew it was Aspen although he couldn’t see the small girl's face. She wore a tattered and dirty brown robe, and she shuffled up the front steps to the Guild of Healers. She fell to her knees and tried to get up but she was too weak. Then, a man stepped out from the massive doors and jogged down the stairs towards Aspen. His robes rustled lightly when he moved, and he quickly knelt down beside Aspen and cupped her face. Her hood fell down, revealing a young adult Aspen with multiple cuts, bruises, and burns. Her hair was mostly shaved except for a few patches and she was covered in dirt and her own blood. She cried, quiet sobs escaping her lips, as the man murmured something to her.
“You’re safe my child, nothing will harm you here.”
“Thank you,” Aspen sighed, and her head lolled back as she lost consciousness.
The man slipped his arms under her small, frail body and began walking up the stairs towards the Guild. Everything faded.
Aspen stood in the hall of Healers, a grin plastered on her pretty face. Long brown hair flowed down her back, and the wounds of her past were now a distant memory. Master Ren, still hairless as ever, stood beside her with a bright green scarf in his hands. He handed it to her, and their heads bowed as he murmured something in another language. Then he handed her a small leather journal and her first pair of gloves. She clutched all of her items to her chest as a few tears spilled down her cheeks. Master Ren reached up and brushed at her cheek, smiling softly.
“You are capable of doing great things, don’t ever forget that.”
Dreg sighed, still feeling sick from what he had witnessed. the memory faded, and a new one opened up for him. He couldn’t help but wonder how much more he needed to see before the ceremony was complete, but he watched with interest as Aspen strode up towards a store and entered inside.
A beautiful older woman greeted Aspen. She wore a plain blue dress with a white apron, and her thick black hair had been swept back into a pretty bun. She turned around when Aspen entered, a book in her pale, soft hands.
"Hello dear," Helen greeted.
Aspen strode up to the counter, and she smiled back at the woman.
"H-Hi, I'm Aspen."
"You're Aspen?"
Aspen nodded, and she nervously rubbed her arm, wondering what the herb woman had heard about her.
"Oh my, you're so young! " Helen gushed, and she leaned down on the counter with a grin. "I was expecting somebody a little bit older."
"Oh! Yeah..." Aspen laughed. "I get that a lot."
The two women chatted for quite some time, and Helen shared with the Healer all she had to offer for medicinal supplies. Dreg listened, fascinated by this past Aspen. There was a light in her eyes that nearly took his breath away, and she enthusiastically spoke about herself to Helen with a passion in her voice that could have stirred even the coldest heart.
After some time had passed, and the sun was beginning to set. Aspen sat at one of the wooden stools on the other side of Helen's counter as she poured over different pots and vials of ingredients. She rubbed her chin, completely lost in thought when she heard the door open. Male voices floated inside, and she turned her head to see a ginger-haired man and his friend float by her towards the back of the store. Her eyes widened as they landed on Edward, and she hastily looked away, feeling her pulse quicken.
"Hello my lovely wife," Edward strode towards Helen and he kissed her twice on the lips before making his way towards the back with his friend.
Aspen realized that the man was Helen's husband, Edward Ruthford, and her heart sank a little. She shook her head and focused on the task at hand. Finally, she had an assortment of ingredients, which Aspen paid for with her very first coin purse from the Order.
"Congrats on getting in, I do hope you'll keep coming to me for your medicinal needs."
"I'm sure I will," Aspen replied happily, and they smiled at each.
Helen walked around the counter to see Aspen off, and that was when the girl noticed her swollen belly.
"Oh my goodness," Aspen murmured, and lightly touched Helen's belly. "Is it your first?"
"Yes, we are very excited."
"How wonderful."
The memory faded, and when a new scene appeared. Aspen was once again walking up the front steps to Helen's shop. She entered, prepared to greet the woman, and she froze when a familiar red-haired man turned to her.
"Hello," Edward greeted.
"Hi..." Aspen stammered. "Is Helen here?"
"I'm afraid she's on bedrest right now."
"Oh no..." Aspen stepped forward, her expression sad. "Is she alright?"
"She should be fine, thank you." Edward smiled. "She just needs to get some rest. So... I'm here, doing the best I can. Which isn't much."
Aspen laughed, and she rubbed at her arm, trying to calm her racing heart.
"Is there something you need in particular?"
"Oh, right..." Aspen reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out a small list.
She read it for a moment, and then glanced back at Edward, who was leaning comfortably against the counter.
"Uh... It's probably easier if I get it myself."
"You're probably right. Please, go ahead."
Aspen quickly rounded the counter and began searching through the various shelves laden with small drawers and glass pots. She occasionally picked a few up and began putting some of the dried plants into little glasses and satchels of her own. When she was finished, she walked over to where Edward was sitting at one of the stools.
"I think that's good for now. I seem to be going through a lot of roots right now, but Helen's supplies are low. I don't want to be too greedy."
Aspen placed a small coin purse on the counter, and Edward smiled at her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly walked around to the other side of the counter.
"Aspen..."
Aspen paused with her hand on the door. She forced herself to turn around and look at Edward.
"Yes?"
"You say some supplies are low. I know you're a Healer and have your own tasks but... could I bother you for some help?"
Aspen wanted to say no. She didn’t like being in such close proximity to a man she knew she had feelings for, but it could never be. He was married to Helen, and they were both expecting a child in a few months. But she couldn't say no, especially when she looked into his soft blue eyes, and she found herself nodding.
"Of course... I'm just working odd jobs right now. I can help here if you want."
Relief washed over Edward, and he clasped his hands together.
"You're a lifesaver, really. I don't know a single thing about any of this stuff."
"It's okay," Aspen laughed. "I can stop by tomorrow morning and gather a list of plants I'll need to replenish."
"Excellent. Thank you, Aspen. I really appreciate it. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
The memory faded and was replaced by another scene of her and Edward. This time, she leaned against the edge of a desk in the backroom of Helen's shop. Edward was sitting in the chair right next to her, and they were both laughing.
"You're terrible," Aspen said breathlessly.
"I am not," Edward retorted, but he was grinning. "What was I supposed to do?"
Aspen wiped at the tears that had formed in the corner of her eyes from laughing too hard, and she pushed herself off the desk and wandered over to a nearby table that held a washbasin and several shelves. She slipped her satchel off her back and opened it, revealing a mass of dirt covered roots. Dreg watched as Aspen tipped the contents of the bag onto the counter and began sorting them into their respective groups by size. Edward got up from the chair and wandered over to where Aspen was standing, a smile on his lips. He stood close to her, and he picked up one of the roots, inspecting it for a moment.
"You found a lot," he commented, and Aspen glanced up at him. "Good job."
"It's not really hard if you know what to look for. There's a similar root that people often mistake for Salanar but it doesn't have the same properties."
"Salanar," Edward echoed softly, his voice low. "Interesting."
Aspen was suddenly aware of how close Edward was, and she nervously finished sorting the roots before taking a handful with both hands. She dumped them into the deep clay bowl and poured water into it, filling the bowl until the roots were all floating on the surface. Edward wandered over, watching her with interest.
"What are you doing now?" He inquired.
"S-Soaking them. They'll need to soak for at least three days."
Aspen started to move one of the roots into the bowl when it slipped from her hand. Both of them reached for it, and Edward's hands brushed along hers as they caught it together. Aspen's face turned bright red, and she quickly retracted her hand. Edward grinned, and he leaned closer, placing the root in the bowl with the others. Aspen stood with her eyes glued to the counter, unable to do anything with Edward so close. She wanted to run, but she couldn't. She froze when Edward turned to her, and her heart pounded so loudly in her chest she was surprised he couldn't hear it. He looked at her with an expression that made her stomach ache, and Aspen tried to swallow but her throat felt like bark.
"Aspen..."
"I should um get going," Aspen stammered, and she found the will to pull away from him.
She quickly brushed past Edward, snatched her satchel off the counter and began walking towards the door.
"I'll uh..." Aspen sighed, and she paused near the doorway to the front of the shop. "I'll come by in a few days to finish the roots."
"Okay. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Dreg could sense Aspen's silent suffering, and it made him sad. He wanted to yell at her to run in the opposite direction of Helen's shop and never look back. But he knew it was too late and the damage had been done. It pained him to have to see it in person, and he frowned when yet another image of the shop appeared to him, but this time Edward and Aspen were standing dangerously close to one another.
Aspen's butt was pressed against the desk, and she sucked in a deep breath as she looked up into Edward's mesmerizing blue gaze. He brushed his hand along her thigh, and then his head dipped down towards her face, and he kissed her. Aspen's eyes squeezed shut as she kissed him back, and hands reached up to cling at his shirt as they passionately embraced for a moment. Then the image of Helen's sweet face invaded her mind, and she quickly pulled back her face bright red.
"W-we... we shouldn't... Edward..." Aspen covered her face with her hands. "You're married. "
"I know... I know but Aspen... there's something about you..."
Edward wrapped his arms around Aspen's waist, crushing their bodies together as they embraced again, and the memory faded quickly to another.
Edward and Aspen were both completely naked, and they were standing beside a bed, kissing. Dreg scowled as he watched the adulterer run his hands along Aspen's creamy white thighs, and then he gently lowered her down to the bed. He trailed his lips along her collarbone, and Aspen shivered. She gasped when she felt his hand between her thighs.
"Are you okay?" Edward murmured, panting softly.
"Y-yes but... I have to tell you...I-I've never..."
"It's okay," Edward kissed her full, pink lips.
He reached up and cupped Aspen's cheek, smiling.
Aspen cried out when he entered her, and her voice quickly melted to moans as the feeling of pleasure washed over her. Dreg wanted to turn away, but he continued to view despite the anger he felt towards Edward. Thankfully, the scene faded not long after and was replaced with another one.
Kendra slipped into Aspen's apartment and quietly shut the door.
"Who- oh, it's you."
"Aspen, we have to talk."
Aspen frowned, sensing that something was right. She placed her knife down on the chopping board and wiped her hands on a cloth before walking over to her friend.
"What is it?"
"I know it's none of my business, but I'm asking you this because I'm concerned..."
"Kendra, spit it out. You're scaring me."
Kendra sighed, and she nervously rubbed her neck for a moment. Aspen stepped closer, and she gently grasped Kendra's hand and squeezed it.
"You can ask me anything, you know that."
"Are you involved with Edward Ruthford?"
Aspen's eyes widened, and she quickly dropped Kendra's hand. A mortified expression grew on her face.
"H-How do you know," Aspen croaked, and she turned away from Kendra.
"It's true! Oh, Aspen... I was afraid of that. Somebody saw Edward kissing you the other night, and word has gotten back to Helen-"
"Are you serious?"
Kendra nodded, and Aspen sank down to the floor with a loud groan. She buried her face in her hands and her shoulders shook from the fear that coursed through her. Kendra knelt down on the floor beside her and gently rubbed her back.
"It's going to be okay, love."
"No, it's not," Aspen wailed, and she began to cry. "I can never show my face around Helen ever again. I did a terrible thing, Kendra."
"You weren't the only one... Aspen, Edward played a part too."
"I should have k-known better."
"Do you love him?"
Aspen was silent, and she let out a deep breath.
"Aspen?"
Aspen slowly picked her head up, but she could barely bring herself to look at her best friend's face. She had been feeling guilty about her involvement with Edward for a while now, but she had ignored it despite knowing it was leading nowhere. Helen was due to give birth any day now.
"I wish... I wish I didn't, but I do."
Kendra wrapped her arms around Aspen's shoulders and gently cradled her, slowly as Aspen cried into her scarf. After a while, she pulled away and tried to compose herself. She wanted to run away but didn't know where, or now.
"I have to do something."
"Like what, exactly?"
"I don't know..." Aspen sighed, and she stared down at her lap. "Maybe it's time to leave the city."
"Leave Castlegra? Are you sure? That's a big decision."
"I can't stay here anymore Kendra...I can't do it. I have to get away. Perhaps it won't be so bad if I just... disappear..."
The memory faded, and suddenly Aspen was standing in Master Ren's office.
"Good morning my child," Ren greeted warmly, and Aspen bowed her head.
"Good morning, Master."
"I have received your request, and I've decided to grant it."
Aspen's eyes widened, and she clasped her hands together.
"Really? Oh, thank you... thank you, Master. I am so happy."
"Of course, dear. I think you're more than ready to go out into the world. I'm surprised you haven't left sooner, honestly..."
Aspen strained to smile, and she nervously rubbed her arm.
"Now, there is the matter of appointing you a Guardian..."
The memory faded once more, and Dreg thought for sure that he was going to see her memory of Ivan, but he was wrong. Instead, a slightly older Aspen stood in a crowded hall. It looked like some sort of party, and she was wearing a pretty dress in the color of dark blue that had long sleeves and a high collar. It hugged her form nicely, and she stood beside Kendra, who looked stunning in her simple white gown. They both chatted lightly, and Aspen took a sip of her wine, smiling softly when Kendra said something to her.
Her eyes glanced out at the crowd, and she nearly dropped her glass when she spotted a red-haired man standing across the way. Their eyes met, and Aspen's heart almost stopped as she realized immediately who it was. She quickly turned towards Kendra and handed the girl her glass before taking off at a fast walk. Aspen strode down a corridor, not stopping until she reached the end, and she entered into a small courtyard. A few other people milled about in the dusk of night, but Aspen was mostly alone. She walked over to a stone bench and sat down, breathing hard as she struggled not to cry.
"Aspen?"
Aspen startled, and she quickly stood up from the bench when Helen appeared before her. She wore a soft grey dress that trailed down to the floor, and Aspen could tell she was pregnant again. Every fiber in her body screamed at her to turn away from Helen and run, but she was frozen to the spot. She started to hyperventilate and quickly bowed her head as hot tears streamed down her face. There was a soft rustle, and suddenly Helen was touching her arm. Aspen jumped at her touch but Helen firmly pulled her down so they were both sitting on the bench. She opened her mouth to speak but Helen held her hand up and so she clamped it shut and wiped at her face with a shaky hand.
"I need to speak with you, and I'd really appreciate it if you'd hear me out."
Aspen's lip trembled, and her brows furrowed together but she nodded. Helen sighed, and she stared down at her lap for a moment, thinking.
"I forgive you, for sleeping with my husband."
Aspen was shocked, and she really wanted to sink into the floor and disappear but she remained seated, listening.
"I know you left Castlegra because of your... affair, and I was angry at first. I had every right to be..."
Aspen bit her lip and nodded.
"But after having a child, and time went on, I grew to miss you. I've come to you because I want you to keep coming to my shop. I want us to rebuild our relationship."
"Why?" Aspen responded breathlessly, feeling like the wind was just knocked out of her.
Helen shrugged, and she smiled sadly.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I've done a lot of thinking, and that's what I wish. Everybody makes mistakes."
"Helen..."
A sob escaped her lips, and Helen reached over to grasp her hand.
"I-I'm so sorry," Aspen cried, and Helen squeezed her hand. "I k-know I-I hurt... hurt you."
"Edward and I have worked very hard to revive our marriage, and having a child can put things into perspective. I want us to get along. You'll come to me for your supplies, yes?"
Aspen was silent for a moment as she struggled to compose herself, and she let out a deep, shaking breath.
"Yes."
Once again the memory faded, and Dreg shook his head as Aspen's last word echoed in his mind. His assumptions about her had been right. Aspen would rather bend over backward for everybody in her life and suffer for it than stand up and say no. He wished she had refused Helen, for he knew that every time Aspen stepped into the shop she must have been reminded of everything that had happened. It was no way to live. He sighed and rubbed at his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he was in a house that looked a little familiar, and Dreg realized it was the Blacksmith's in Berrybrush.
Edward stood near the fire, his hand resting against the mantel and his head was bowed. Dreg wandered away from him, heading towards the bedroom, and found a deathly ill Helen lying in bed with Aspen sitting by her side. She tried to bite back tears as she helplessly watched Helen's life slipping away.
"Please... Aspen."
Aspen picked her head up, and Helen weakly smiled at her. Most of Helen's hair had fallen out, and she had lost so much weight her skin had sunken in around her face. It was frightening to look at, but Dreg forced himself to watch.
"I must... must tell you something, and I don't have much time."
"Helen... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry-"
"Aspen." Helen reached out and grasped Aspen's hand with her bony fingers. "Let me speak."
Dreg watched as the woman took a deep, rattling breath.
"I must confess something, and please... just listen."
"I never forgave you for sleeping with Edward," Helen continued, her voice quiet as a mouse. "I said I did, but I lied. I hated you so much."
Aspen's eyes widened, and she struggled to remain quiet.
"I hated that no matter what I did... I wasn't you, and I knew Edward wanted to be with you. I gave him two children... and he still... did not treat me like he treated you."
"I know he's come to love me now... in a steadfast sort of way, but you must understand... I hated you, and I wanted you to suffer."
"Helen..."
"That's why I insisted you come to my shop again. I know it's horribly... petty, but I thought... a part of me wished for you to suffer, even a little. I wanted you to see Edward and me together... and.... feel miserable that you could never have him."
Tears leaked out from Helen's eyes, and she struggled to breathe. Aspen leaned in closer, clasping the woman's hands, and she bit back a sob.
"As time went on, my hatred turned to sadness. Aspen... I'm so sorry you fell in love with a man who couldn't love you back the way you deserve."
"He-Helen no.... please, don't say that. I chose to be with him. I take full responsibility for what I did."
"Edward... was... thirty years old," Helen whispered, her voice hoarse. "He should have known better. You were so young... and so fragile."
Aspen quickly shook her head, but there was no point. Helen took a shallow, stuttering breath, and Aspen bowed her head, resting her forehead against her stomach as she cried.
"I forgive you, Aspen. I hope you can forgive yourself."
When Aspen straightened up, she gasped as her eyes landed on Helen's face. Her eyes stared blankly out at nothing, and her hand was limp when Aspen moved to check her pulse. She moved away from the bed, clutching at her tunic, and stumbled away into the front room. Dreg watched following Aspen as she walked over to where Edward was waiting.
He heard Aspen approach, and his eyes searched her face.
"I'm... I'm so sorry," Aspen gasped, and she turned away from him.
Edward's eyes widened, and he quickly rushed into the bedroom. His sobs echoed loudly back towards her, and Aspen couldn't handle it. She snatched her satchel and coat off the nearby chair and fled from his home. Dreg made to follow, but then everything went black.
Chapter Text
Aspen was both aware that Dreg was seeing everything she tried so hard to hide from everyone, and at the same time she was experiencing something new. She'd been through a Guardian ceremony before, but Ivan's memories had mostly been positive ones, and so the bonding had been relatively quick.
Master Ren patiently waited with his hands clasped together. As time dragged on, he was surprised that they were still connected. He watched as Dreg's face smoothed into a small frown, and he knew while watching Aspen's memories that she was also viewing his.
A young Orc boy ran through the tall yellow grass, and his brothers followed fast at his heels. He cried out as two of them tackled Dreg, whipping him down to the ground. Dreg snarled and roared in pain as his leg was twisted back in a painful way, but all of the boys were laughing and smiling. Eventually, they got up from roughing it on the ground, dusted themselves off, and ran back towards their home. Aspen followed them, her eyes wide with curiosity as Dreg's Stronghold came into view.
It was a large collection of mostly wooden structures surrounded by a sturdy stone wall. She followed the young Orcs through a massive wooden gate that entered into a spacious open area where several cooking pits were dotted along the way. Several paths led up to different longhouses and some tents. Aspen noted the winding stairs all around the inside of the walls. Various Orsimer men and women wandered along rope bridges between stations with weapons on their hips, but the atmosphere was mostly calm. She quickly caught up to Dreg, who had run up to a female Orc who she assumed was his mother. He threw his arms around her waist and the woman laughed. She affectionately patted his head, and then quickly shooed him off.
"To the pools, Dreg. You stink!"
The memory faded, and another came in its place. Dreg was a bit older now, and he stood with a small crowd of other Orcs his age. They waited outside a small white tent, chatting excitedly amongst themselves. It was dark out, and rain drizzled down on their bare skin but they paid no mind. Aspen noticed that Dreg was a fair bit smaller than most of his Brethren, but he seemed to be able to hold his own. One of his brothers playfully shoved him, and Dreg quickly shoved him back. They began to scrap until an elderly Orc appeared from the flap of the tent and barked at them.
"Enough! Dreg, come here."
Aspen's brows furrowed together, and she followed Dreg inside the tent. A fire burned in the pit located in the center, and the air was hazy from several cones of incense scattered through the room. Piles of thick animal pelts and pillows had been laid out on the ground, and a small table held what Aspen thought were ritual objects. She watched, slightly concerned, as two older Orcs stepped towards Dreg. He stared up at them with a firm expression, and she knew even as a child he was braver than she'd ever been.
"Are you ready to become a man, Dreg?"
"Yes."
Dreg's loincloth was removed and his body was rubbed from head to toe in oils. Then, he was laid down on the pelts, and his legs were spread. The older Orc knelt down between his legs and grasped his member with one hand while the other held a terribly sharp needle. Dreg's eyes widened, but he tried to still his breathing. The two male Orcs held him by his arms, clenching their hands tight as they held him.
The moment the needle pricked against his member Dreg roared, and his leg instinctively jerked back and kicked. His foot connected with the Crone's chest, and there was a loud crack as the force broke her fragile chest bones. She went flying backward and tumbled down onto the fire. Dreg scrambled forward; utter terror written all over his face as the others rushed past him towards the fire. The Orc's screams filled the air, and Aspen clapped her hands over her mouth as she felt Dreg's pain rip through her body.
The Orc was pulled from the fire, and her burning clothes were ripped off, but it was too late. By the time they put the fire out she lay limp in their arms. Dreg sat, his whole body shaking and he covered his face with his hands.
"Get out!" One of the Orcs roared.
Dreg scrambled to his feet and ran out from the tent completely naked. He took off from the crowd of Orcs, who eyed him curiously, and ran as fast as he could, fleeing into the forest surrounding his stronghold. Aspen made to follow him, but the memory suddenly faded.
A teenaged Dreg stood beside what Aspen assumed were important people. He was last in a long line of brothers, all of whom were taller than him by at least a head. He wore a loose tunic that hung down to his mid-thigh, and it was sleeveless to show off his blossoming arm muscles. Beside them, the Chief of his Clan, and his father watched as a small procession of Orcs from a neighboring clan wandered up towards them.
“Try not to fuck this up," his father growled, and he pointedly looked at Dreg.
Dreg frowned, and he stared down at the ground but remained silent. Members of the other clan drew closer, and his father walked forward to greet the other Chief. They clasped each other's forearms, and Dreg's father grunted a few words of welcome.
"This is my wife, Anda."
Dreg let out a small breath as the Chief went on to introduce his sons, starting with his first born and favorite, Drawl. He finally reached Dreg, and he nervously rubbed his arm as he felt many eyes on himself.
"Lastly, my son Dreg."
"Dreg..."
The other chief regarded Dreg with deep red eyes.
"He is the one?"
"Yes."
The Chief turned to his people, and he growled something to his wife. A moment later a younger girl around Dreg's age stepped forward. She was a pretty little Orc, and Aspen smiled as she watched Dreg look at her. He suddenly became flustered, and his cheeks grew dark as the girl regarded him. Her face fell, and she looked at Dreg with an expression of disgust.
"This is who I am to wed?" The girl spat out, and she laughed. "What a puny little excuse for an Orc."
Dreg scowled, and he clenched his fists. He opened his mouth to saying something but his father cut him off.
"If this displeases you, then I have other sons."
"It displeases me greatly," the other Chief spoke up. "I am offended that you would even offer such a son."
"He should be castrated," the wife snarled.
The Chiefs silently glared at each other for a moment, and then Dreg's father hastily turned to his second favorite son.
"I offer you Hob. He is my second born... does this please you?"
The girl sauntered up to Hob, who towered a couple of feet taller than his own father. He stared down at the Chieftain's daughter with a stoic expression, but he grinned when she stepped closer, trailing her thick green hand along his thigh. She cupped his manhood through his loincloth, and they both growled softly at one another.
"He will do."
Dreg's father shot his youngest son a glare. While everyone began to disperse and go to about starting preparations for a feast, he quickly pulled Dreg aside, dragging him by his arm.
"I am sick and tired of you disappointing me every time, Dreg."
Dreg stood with his back against a post, and his head was bowed.
"You must train harder. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, father."
"Now go... you can clean out the pig stalls tonight."
Aspen's heart broke for Dreg, and she watched as he walked off towards the stables, his head bowed in defeat. The memory faded, and a new one opened up to her.
She could tell just by looking at him that this memory was closer to the present. Dreg's long hair had been pulled back into a loose braid, and his muscles flexed as he swung a heavy looking mace at a wooden mannequin. His bare torso glistened with sweat, and his chest heaved as he gasped for air. Dreg gave a satisfied snarl when he hit the target, and he swung a few more times, lingering a little longer. Eventually, his mother, Anda, wandered up to him.
"Dreg... I thought I told you to get ready over half an hour ago."
"I know," Dreg huffed, and he wiped at his sweaty brow. "Just a minute longer."
"No more minutes, my son," Anda gave an exasperated sigh, and she took the mace from his grasp. "They are going to be here at any minute."
"Fine," Dreg grumbled.
Anda chuckled, and she patted his cheek.
"You shouldn't worry so much."
"Are you kidding, mother? I have every reason to worry."
"You're twice as strong as most of your brothers, Dreg. You could easily best Hob in a fight if you tried."
"It's not good enough."
"It will be good enough for your wife," Anda continued, and she linked her arm through her son's arm as they walked back towards their hut. "Trust me."
"You're the only one I trust, mother."
They reached the door to their hut, and Anda turned to Dreg. He looked so much like her that it made Aspen's chest ache knowing he could probably never see her again. She felt the tenderness between them and knew it was something special that only they shared.
"Dreg, my youngest son. I know I kept you at my breast for longer than I should have, but I couldn't help myself."
Dreg leaned in, wrapping his arms around his mother in a tight hug, and he nuzzled the crook of her neck. Anda laughed softly, and she patted his back before pushing him away.
"Go wash up, and be quick about it."
Dreg swiftly went inside and washed his body of the sweat and grime before tossing on a clean tunic. He wandered back into the open and found his mother and father waiting for him. In the distance, a small group of Orcs made their way towards them. The gate to their stronghold opened, and the air was tense. Aspen was able to overhear some mumbling from a couple of Orcs who waited nearby.
"Don't know why we bother with this lesser clan," one Orc muttered to another, and the second one grunted in agreement.
The small group of Orcs approached, and Dreg's now much older father stepped forward, greeting the Chief.
"This is my son, Dreg."
Dreg straightened up, and his muscles flexed as he tried to appear as stoic as possible. There was a murmur among the other clan, and a female Orc stepped forward. Dreg's jaw nearly hit the floor when his eyes landed on her. She wore a simple cotton dress that reached her knees, and she sported a set of full, round breasts and thick hips. She was perfect for a fertile young Orc. But it wasn't her appearance that took him by surprise, it was her smile. She turned to Dreg and grinned at him, and he found himself grinning back. She walked up to him, still smiling, and Dreg was captivated by her bright green eyes. He nearly jumped out of his skin when she trailed her hand along his thigh and cupped his manhood through his tunic. Her touch was had an immediate effect, and when she felt him respond to her she smiled even bigger.
Beside them, Dreg's mother looked pleased, and even his moody father looked a little less angry.
"It is decided then," he grunted, turning to the other Chief.
"It is decided."
The memory faded, and Aspen dreaded to learn what came next. She had felt the connection that Dreg had with the Chief's daughter, and she knew from his own confession that everything had ended in sadness. But she continued watching, forcing her eyes to view the scenes of Dreg's past as they played out before her.
Dreg and the woman were alone in a tent. The woman stood near the entrance, peering out through the flap. Aspen could hear the light pounding of drums as the music drifted from outside, and she watched as Dreg wandered over to her and he pulled her towards him.
"I never thought I'd be so pleased with an arranged marriage," Dreg growled softly. "How did I get so lucky?"
The woman laughed. She pressed her body against his and trailed her hand along his arm, causing him to growl softly.
"I can't help but feel the same way. I was terribly unhappy about it all, but there's something about you..."
Dreg dipped his head down, and their lips crashed together in a heated embrace. He wrapped his arms around her, grabbing the woman's plump butt and he squeezed it, eliciting a snarl from deep in her throat.
"My body is on fire, but you'll spoil our wedding night if you keep touching me like that."
"I can't help myself," Dreg grunted, and he grazed his tusks along her neck. "I have never wanted somebody more than I want you."
The woman tipped Dreg's chin towards her, and they stared into each other's eyes for a long moment. Then, she leaned in and softly kissed his lips, and Dreg growled when he felt her hand rub him through his tunic. He was raging hard, but he knew he must wait. The flap to the tent opened and Anda popped her head in.
"You have some self-control I see," she teased, and Dreg rolled his eyes. "Come on, the feast is ready."
The memory faded again, and when a new one appeared Aspen was still inside the tent, but there was no music playing and it was completely dark. However, she could see Dreg and his newlywed wife as they laid on the lush pile of furs. They were both naked, covered in sweat, and gasping for breath. She snuggled closer, and Dreg wrapped his arms around her, a sleepy, satisfied smile on his face. He growled quietly when she turned her face and kissed his chest, and his hold tightened.
"You're not like others," she whispered softly, trailing her fingers across his thick, scar-less chest. "I thought I was the only unwed Orc this old."
Dreg sighed, and the woman peered up at him.
"No, you're not the only one. I'm an embarrassment to my family... to my clan."
Dreg told her everything, from the incident with his coming of age ritual, to the several failed attempts at arranging a marriage with other clans. She listened intently, and when he finished, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
"I haven't exactly been the best daughter in my father's eyes either... so I guess that makes two of us."
Dreg's eyes were closed, but he was still half awake.
"Two of us," Dreg mumbled with a sleepy grin. "I like that."
Everything became blurry, and Aspen shielded her eyes as a bright red light flashed all around her. She squinted, struggling to see, and then the movement stopped. She opened her eyes fully, and Aspen stared down at the scene before her with an expression of utter terror as she clamped her hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming.
Dreg was fast asleep, with his wife still in his arms. His entire chest and the surrounding blankets were covered in her blood, and she watched, her heart aching with pain as he slowly opened his eyes. He stared up at the ceiling for a moment, smiling, and Aspen nearly looked away when he turned his head towards the woman in his arms. His eyes landed on her lifeless body. Her head was resting on the pillow beside him and cloudy white eyes stared blankly out at nothing.
Dreg roared, and his bellows of anguish filled her ears. Her throat had been cleanly cut, all the way across, and she had choked to death on her own blood. Dreg roared louder, and hot tears spilled down his cheeks as he clutched the woman to his chest, sobbing. A moment later his parents rushed into the tent, and Anda gasped when she saw her son. His father was alarmed. The murder of the Chieftan's daughter was cause for a riot.
"Anda... hurry and-"
Two Orcs from the neighboring clan pushed their way into the tent, and they shouted in surprise as their eyes landed on the chieftain's dead daughter. The rushed out from the tent, sprinting down towards their camp.
Our daughter is murdered! Came several cries, and there was a flurry of movement as several Orcs began fighting one another. They will be punished!
Aspen watched as the Chieftan strode forward from his tent, and he held an ax in his hand.
Bring me your son! I will have his head!
The memory faded, and Aspen gasped for air, completely stunned at what she had witnessed. She hoped to the gods that it was over, and she whimpered as another memory came into her vision. It was almost completely dark, and she could make out the form of an Orc slumped against a tall wooden post. His arms were tied behind him and his head was bowed. Moonlight washed over him, illuminating Dreg in its soft blue light. He was soaked, as rain poured down on him but he didn't care. There were several large gashed ripped across his chest, and Aspen could see the bone of his right arm sticking out from his dark green skin. He struggled to breathe as he sat there in the mud, gasping for air. A figure walked forward, and she knelt down in the mud beside Dreg. Anda reached up and tipped his chin up, murmuring softly to him.
"My son..."
"M-Mother," Dreg whimpered, and he grimaced as pain wracked his body. "I di... didn't kill her."
"I know, I know Dreg. Shh... Listen to me."
Anda produced a small knife, and she used it to cut Dreg's bonds. He gasped as his arm moved, sliding the broken body in an uncomfortable way.
"If you don't leave now, you'll be dismembered. I cannot bear the thought."
"Mother... I can't... what's the point? My wife is dead. "
"I know you're hurting now, but trust me, Dreg. There is more for you, out there. You must carry on."
Dreg bit his lip to keep himself from crying out as Anda slowly helped him to his feet.
"Go quickly, my son."
"W-what about you... mother they'll know you... set me free."
"Do not worry about your old ma," Anda replied firmly.
She leaned up and kissed his wet cheek, and she smiled sadly at him.
"I can die happy, knowing my favorite son has survived and continues to live."
Dreg groaned, and he clutched at his mother with his head bowed as he sobbed.
"I love you Dreg, now go. Go! "
Dreg stumbled forward, and he began to run towards the forest, nearly delirious with pain, but he forced one foot after the next. His mother's voice rang in his ears, and it was what kept him going until he could move no more.
Eventually, he collapsed against the side of a tree and slid down to the ground. He gasped for air, panting as blood seeped down his chest from the open wounds. Aspen walked around the tree, and she stared down at Dreg, watching as the memory of herself slowly approached him.
"Hey there," her soft voice floated over to the injured Orc, and he looked over at her.
"Fuck off."
The real version of Dreg stood beside Aspen's counterpart, watching the memory of the first time they met. He watched, his brows furrowed together, as Aspen ignored his rude remarks and knelt down on the forest ground beside him. He was suddenly aware of Aspen standing beside him, and Aspen felt the same thing. They both turned to each other, and when their eyes met, something stirred inside of them.
Aspen gasped, and her eyes open. She was still sitting on the cold stone floor of the cistern. Dreg's eyes shot open as well, and he looked at her with a somber expression. They were both quiet for a moment, and then slowly let go of each other's hands as Master Ren strode over to them.
"I was beginning to grow worried... most ceremonies don't last as long as yours."
"How long were we gone?" Aspen whispered.
Dreg slowly rose to his feet, groaning quietly as his knees cracked, and then he helped Aspen up.
"At least three hours.”
"Wow."
"Go into the pool now, quickly."
Aspen took Dreg's hands, and they wandered down the stone steps into the tranquil pool fully clothed. She took a deep breath and dunked her head underneath the surface of the water, and Dreg followed suit. When they resurfaced, they walked back over to Master Ren, who was waiting for them by the doors. As Dreg began stepping up the stairs, he realized his clothes weren't wet, and he glanced over at Aspen with a look of shock. He'd never experienced such magic before, and he didn't know what to think of all that had just happened. He felt like he'd been beaten physically and mentally, and his whole body ached. Too many things ran through his mind, a mixture of both his own pain and Aspen's mingled together.
Aspen felt the same way, and she just wanted to sleep. They both walked over to where Ren was waiting for them, and he smiled when they approached.
"I assume it was successful," he inquired.
"Yes."
"Good. In one month's time Dreg, you'll be able to take up the Vow. But first, you must go through some training, but it shouldn't be a hassle for you."
Dreg didn't say anything. He quietly stared down at the floor. Ren smiled sympathetically at Aspen and lightly squeezed her shoulder.
"Go and rest. You sure need it. I'm proud of you both."
"Thank you, Master."
"Goodnight."
Aspen tugged on Dreg's arm, and they slowly made their way up the winding staircase to the front hall of the Guild. They picked their way around the fountains and benches, moving slowly. There was so much Aspen wanted to say, and yet she couldn't bring herself to say it. They reached the outdoors, and both of them paused to take a deep breath. It was the dead of night, and they walked back to their apartment in complete silence.
When they entered, the fire in the hearth had grown cold, but they were too tired to bother. Aspen tugged her boots off as she stifled a yawn, and Dreg followed suit. They both wandered towards the bedroom, and Aspen went over to her dresser to retrieve a nightgown. Dreg slowly shuffled over to his side of the bed and sat down; his head bowed.
Aspen finished changing into her nightgown and turned around to find Dreg sitting motionless on the edge of the bed. Her brows furrowed together, and she quietly padded over to him and knelt down. Dreg's eyes slowly opened when he felt her hands on his knees, and he peered down into her soft green eyes. She didn't like the sadness that was now etched into his face. Aspen reached up and gently cupped Dreg's cheek, stroking it softly, and her thumb brushed along one of his thick white tusks. The Orc sighed, and he closed his eyes, leaning into her touch.
Suddenly Dreg lurched forward, and he swiftly pulled Aspen to her feet and wrapped his arms around her in a crushing hug. He clung to her, his hands gripping tightly at her nightgown with bunched fists, and Aspen wrapped her arms around his neck as a few tears slipped down her cheek. They stood there for a long time, just holding each other, and then Aspen slowly pulled away but she firmly held on to Dreg's hand.
Aspen moved towards the bed and she shoved the covers back before lying down. Then, she tugged on his hand, and Dreg slid underneath the blankets as well, his expression somber. They shuffled closer, and he clutched at her again, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Aspen gently rubbed his back, and they both drifted to sleep. They did not stir until very late the next day.
Chapter Text
Since the Ceremony was emotionally and mentally draining, Aspen and Dreg spent most of the next day resting. Aspen drifted in and out of sleep, and it wasn't until later in the evening that she finally woke up properly. Aspen yawned, and Dreg's arm tightened around her waist as he began to stir as well. She opened her eyes, and she found he was watching her.
"How are you feeling?" Aspen murmured, and she brushed a strand of her hair away from her face.
Dreg stared at her for a moment, and a lump formed in his throat. He quickly pushed his thoughts away and reached up to rub his eyes.
"Too much."
Dreg grunted and rolled away from her. He stood up from the bed and stretched.
"I wish I didn't feel so much," he growled quietly, and he shot Aspen a quick glance before walking towards the door.
Aspen rolled onto her back. She stared up at the ceiling and sighed. Part of her had been hoping that Dreg had softened a little more, now that they knew intimate details about their lives.
I should know better... Dreg is as moody as they come. It's in his blood.
Her thoughts briefly fluttered back to Dreg's memories. Aspen quickly shoved them away and got up from the bed. She wandered out into the front room to find Dreg rifling around in her food cupboard, and walked over to help.
After dinner, they spent the rest of the evening lounging comfortably by the fire. Dreg mostly stared sullenly at the flames, his thoughts far away. Aspen scribbled some things down in her new notebook, but after a while, she got up and asked Dreg if he wanted some tea. He grunted yes, and when it was ready, she handed him a mug.
They were still tired from the Ceremony, and so eventually Aspen wandered back to bed and went to sleep. Dreg sat by the fireplace a while longer, frowning as he thought about his mother. He missed her terribly, and just thinking about her sacrifice for him made Dreg feel immense pain in his chest.
Finally, he pulled himself up from the chair and walked into the bedroom. He stared down at Aspen's sleeping form, and a part of him wished he could run away. She made him feel things he not only wished he didn't feel but also didn't understand completely. It made his chest ache in a strange way, and when Dreg laid down this time, he kept his distance, refusing to touch her. He slept off and on for most of the night, haunted by the images of his past, and the Healer's as well. It was difficult for Dreg to sleep soundly, and by the next morning, he was thoroughly disgruntled.
Aspen was up earlier the next day, and she spent most of the morning baking. Delicious smells of fresh bread and honey sweets wafted into the bedroom, where Dreg was lounging. He sniffed deeply, and his mouth watered as he eventually got out from bed and wandered over to where Aspen was working.
"Hey," Aspen greeted him softly. "I didn't wake you, did I?"
"No... " Dreg sniffed and lifted up the corner of a piece of cloth that rested over a shallow clay bowl. "What are you baking?"
"Those are just some butter rolls, and I have honey oats roasting right now for a different recipe."
"Smells good."
Aspen smiled, and she gestured towards the bowl.
"You can eat them, just save a few for me."
Dreg happily snatched up one of the rolls and took a bite, impressed by how light and fluffy the bread was. It was still warm, and he savored it for a moment before taking another bite. He plucked up two more rolls and then walked over to the fire to side down. After a few minutes, Aspen's voice floated over to him.
"Hey, I'm going out soon..."
"Yeah?"
"I have to meet up with Julien in a little while."
Dreg frowned, and he twisted his head back to look at her.
"Why?"
"He's the carpenter I told Bea I'd speak to about getting some work done on the Inn. I've asked him to meet at the pub so I can talk it over and see what he thinks."
"Hmph," Dreg grunted, and he didn’t say anything else.
Aspen was now used to his mood swings, and so she ignored his grumpy reaction. She finished up with her cooking, making sure there was something for Dreg to eat for supper, and then she quickly washed up before heading back into the bedroom. Aspen had changed into a light green tunic that hung down to just above her knees and had long, fitted sleeves. Her hair had been brushed into a soft halo that framed her pretty face, and her little leaf charm hung around her neck. Dreg watched as Aspen wandered over to the door and slid her soft brown boots on and then he looked away when she glanced over at him.
"I'll see you later, okay? There's plenty to eat here but if you want to go out there's a small coin purse on the table."
Dreg didn't respond, and so Aspen spoke a little louder.
"Dreg? Did you hear me?"
"Yes."
Aspen rolled her eyes and quickly left her apartment, quietly shutting the door behind her. She was tired of always feeling like she'd done something wrong, and so Aspen brushed off his sour mood and began walking up the street towards a different pub from the other day. This one was far less rowdy, and a bard stood near the center of the room singing a sweet tale as he strummed a small lute. He shot Aspen a smile, which she returned, and then her eyes landed on Julien's golden head sitting at a small wooden table near the back of the room. He grinned when Aspen approached and quickly stood up to hug her. Aspen laughed and lightly rubbed shoulder as she hugged him back.
"It really is good to see you, I was sad when you first began leaving the city... you're rarely home now."
"Kendra says the same thing," Aspen replied as she took a seat beside Julien. "Except she lays it on more thickly."
They both laughed. A young servant girl came by. Aspen ordered a honey-ale and the special for dinner, which was roast beef with all the fixings. The pair chatted lightly while waiting for their food arrived, and Aspen felt better than she had in a few days.
"How was the ceremony?" Julien inquired curiously, and his blue eyes glittered at Aspen.
"Truthfully Julien... it was brutal."
"Brutal? How so?"
"Without getting too... personal... you know I don’t have the greatest past..." Aspen pursed her lips together for a moment.
Julien reached up and gently squeezed her shoulder.
"Uh, so it was really rough, which I was expecting. But I hadn't been expecting Dreg's memories to be so painful too, so it was extremely emotional."
"That's unfortunate. I have been wondering, though..."
The couple was briefly interrupted as a different server came by with their food, and they paused the conversation to say thanks. When the servant was gone, Julien tucked a cloth napkin down on his lap and took a deep breath before continuing.
"It just seems to me like you and Dreg are quite the opposing forces."
Aspen laughed, and Julien raised one golden brow at her, smiling.
"You're right, we're exact opposites. We have a hard time getting along."
"Then why in the world would you let him be your Guardian?"
Aspen was quiet for a moment as she struggled to come up with a response. She was aware of Julien's eyes on her, but she kept her head bowed as she idly poked at her dinner, thinking hard.
"I suppose... I guess I put up with it because, at the time, I didn't have much choice. Ivan left me and then I just happened to meet Dreg. I nursed him back to health. He drives me absolutely crazy at times but... but he did offer to be my Guardian."
"Well if you're happy, Aspen... then I support it. I just don't want you to keep sticking with terrible people because you feel obligated."
Aspen's brows furrowed together, and she finally forced herself to look at Julien. She knew he had a crush on her for as long as she had been friends with Kendra, but neither one had really tried to explore it. But this time, when she looked into Julien's warm blue eyes, there was something different. His expression made her feel strange, and she realized she needed to change the tone. It was going in a direction she didn't quite like.
"I appreciate you caring, Julien. I really do. Don't worry about me and Dreg. He's not as bad as he can appear."
"Just answer me this, then. Has he ever laid a hand on you?"
"No!" Aspen replied hastily, and she quickly shook her head. "Julien... Dreg has never been violent towards me, and if he were I would have left his sorry hide long ago!"
"Okay, okay... I just had to make sure."
Aspen reached over and patted his arm affectionately, smiling.
"Thank you, Julien. Now... eat up. Our dinner is getting cold."
They both smiled and began tucking into their roast beef with gusto. At some point, Aspen brought up the job of fixing Bea's Inn, and it piqued Julien's interest. He listened intently, nodding occasionally, and by the end, he enthusiastically agreed.
"I don't see why it won't work, I can be out there by next month at the earliest."
"Oh, wonderful!" Aspen gushed, and she grinned. "Bea will be so relieved."
They continued chatting well past sunset. It was rather late when Aspen began to yawn, and Julien offered to walk her home. He tossed some coin down on the table, and Aspen thanked him for the meal and drinks as they began leaving the Inn. Julien held the door open for her as they left, and Aspen linked her arm through his before they started walking down the street.
"It's a pleasure to just have dinner with you again. I know once Dreg takes his Vows you'll whisk him off somewhere far away."
Aspen laughed, her cheeks flushed from consuming a couple of bottles of ale, and she felt very relaxed. She failed to notice the way Julien glanced down at her with a weighted look every so often, and he grew quieter the closer they got to Aspen's home.
They had just crested the small hill leading up to the Healer's District, and Aspen could see her front door when Julien suddenly stopped walking. He clenched her arm, turning her towards him.
"Is something wrong?" Aspen asked quietly, trying to read his expression.
"Listen... Aspen, I have something to confess."
Aspen frowned, and then she quickly smiled, feeling uncomfortable with how serious the tone of his voice was.
"What is it, Julien? What's wrong?"
"N-nothing's wrong... Aspen..."
Aspen's eyes widened as Julien moved forward, dipping his head, and he quickly pressed his lips against hers in a warm kiss. Her brows furrowed together and Julien held her hand to his chest, deepening the embrace. Aspen closed her eyes, and she instinctively leaned in, before an alarm went off in her head.
Dreg only saw the kiss. He had begun to wonder when Aspen would be home as the sun had set and a long time passed. He stood near the window, looking out, and had spotted her walking back with her arm linked through Julien's. He frowned, watching as he suddenly stopped, and pulled Aspen towards him. Something was said, and then a moment later he kissed her. Anger rippled through him, and he quickly pulled himself away from the window and threw himself down into a nearby chair, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for Aspen to come inside.
When they broke apart, Aspen let out a deep breath, and she bowed her head.
"I've liked you for a long time," Julien murmured. "I suppose It's no secret."
"Why now?"
Aspen lifted her head to stare at Julien with a confused expression. She watched as he opened his mouth and he was flustered as he struggled to come up with a response.
"I-I'm not exactly the most... most confident man. Besides, when we were younger, I was very busy with my job, as were you."
"I know. But I wasn't always gone, and neither were you."
"True. I don't have an excuse, I'm afraid."
Julien chuckled, and he gently cupped Aspen's cheek, staring at her.
“Are you saying I'm too late?"
Aspen wanted to say no, she really did. She liked Julien and knew he was a good man. A perfectly good man who treated her right from the first time they met. But he had waited so long, and all Aspen could think about was the angry Orc waiting for her inside. The Orc she was almost positive didn't like her back, and they'd probably never amount to anything. But when she looked at Julien, the decision was clear, but it made her feel terribly bad.
"I'm sorry Julien," Aspen whispered, and tears sprang to her eyes. "You've been a wonderful friend to me over these years."
"Hey, no crying," Julien replied hastily, and he smiled. "It was worth a shot. I just want you to be happy, Aspen."
"You're so wonderful, but... I don't think it would work. I'm still trying to find myself in this world."
"I understand."
Aspen's bottom lip trembled, and she struggled not to cry. Julien pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. He gently rubbed her back as a few tears slipped down her cheeks. She hugged him back, and after a long moment, they finally pulled apart.
"We're still... still friends, right?"
"Of course! That's never going to change, Aspen."
"Okay, good."
Julien hugged her once more, and they both said goodnight before Aspen turned towards her apartment. She unlocked the door and quickly stepped inside. It was almost completely dark inside the main room, except for a small fire burning in the fireplace. Aspen shuffled forward, thinking that Dreg was already in bed, and she jumped when she heard his voice.
"Why did you bother coming home?"
Aspen frowned, and she turned towards where Dreg was sitting, realizing he was there. She walked over, feeling utterly annoyed that he was talking to her so rudely.
"Excuse me?" Aspen huffed, and she stared down at him as he glared at the fire.
Dreg fixed his gaze on Aspen, and his lip curled as he snarled his response.
"That was quite the kiss, you sure move on quick."
"What is your problem?" Aspen shot back, feeling her cheeks grow warm. "Why were you even watching?"
Dreg quickly stood up from the chair, forcing Aspen to look up at him. His expression was one of barely controlled anger, and his hands were clenched into fists.
"You'd been gone so long I thought something might have happened, but I should have known. I'm having a terribly hard time keeping up with all your lovers. Makes me wonder how much healing you do, with so much time spent kissing different men."
"How can you say such mean things?"
Aspen was stunned. Her arms rested stiffly at her side, and she clenched her hands into fists as well. Dreg stepped closer, anger rippling through him the more he thought about the golden-haired man kissing Aspen. He wanted to hurt her, and he knew it was wrong but he didn't care.
"I'm just being honest, Healer."
"I don't get you at all," Aspen let out a loud sigh of frustration and she turned away for a moment. "Why do you even care?"
"I don't care," Dreg snarled, following her. "But perhaps I would have reconsidered my offer to be your Guardian if I had known what a loose woman you-"
A loud crack echoed around the room as Aspen slapped Dreg's cheek. She regretted it the moment it happened, and she realized it had been the absolute wrong thing to do. Dreg's eyes widened, and then his expression became so furious that a tremor of fear coursed through Aspen. She gasped when Dreg lurched forward, ignoring the sharp sting on his cheek. He roughly shoved her up against the wall, and his hands clenched tightly around Aspen's arms so hard she whimpered. His entire body vibrated, and a loud snarl escaped his throat as Aspen struggled to apologize.
"I'm so sorry, Dreg... Dreg please, you're hurting me. I'm sorry..."
Two sides of Dreg battled inside of him. The Orc part of him; what ran through his very veins, wanted to lose control. But even as he glared at Aspen, whose hands rested on his chest; pleading with him as a hint of fear in her eyes, he knew that was not what he wanted. Desire ripped through him, canceling out every other emotion in his body, and it was too much.
Dreg lurched forward, dipping his head as he roughly pressed his lips against hers. Aspen gave a muffled gasp, and her body stiffened for a moment until she comprehended what was going on. Aspen squeezed her eyes shut and kissed him back. Her hands clenched tightly around Dreg's tunic, pulling him closer, and he wrapped his massive arms around her waist, crushing her to his chest. Sounds of their small gasps and pants filled the room as Dreg kissed her with such desperation that it took Aspen's breath away. His tusks pressed against either side of her mouth as his tongue prodded her mouth, and one of his hands trailed up to cup her neck and head, his fingers tangling themselves firmly in her hair.
She could feel his arousal firm and pulsing through his pants as they continued to embrace, and she moaned softly when his other hands roughly grasped her butt, grinding her hips into him. Aspen sucked in a deep breath as Dreg suddenly hoisted her off the floor, picking her up with both arms on her thighs, and she clenched them around his waist as he began stumbling towards the room. He never stopped kissing her, even while he walked blindly towards the bed, and Aspen gasped for air as his tusks and lips grazed down her neck and collarbone. When his legs hit the edge of the bed he quickly lowered her down onto the blankets and knelt down on top of her.
Despite the fact, her entire body was on fire, and she thought she might burst, a small fear crept into the back of Aspen's mind. She couldn't shake it. She was aware of Dreg’s hands and lips as he kissed and squeezed all over her body. He lifted her tunic up and off, tossing it down on the floor, and he hungrily attacked one of her breasts with his mouth and tongue, causing little waves of pleasure to wash over her. But the longer it went on, the more panic settled in, and Aspen's throat constricted tightly as the realization settled in, and she couldn't handle it.
"S-stop," Aspen gasped quietly, and then a little louder. "Dre-Dreg... St-stop..."
Dreg ignored her, his mind clouded over with lust as he slipped his hand between her legs. Aspen's body twitched as his fingers found her sweet spot and every fiber of her being screamed out in alarm.
"Stop it, Dreg!" Aspen nearly shouted, and she shoved his chest as hard as he could.
Dreg finally stopped, and he gasped for air as he looked at her in the eyes for the first time. He stared at her with a mixture of confusion and desire, his chest heaving as he struggled to breathe.
"What?"
"I..." Aspen gasped, and she wanted to cry. "I can't..."
"Can’t? Or won't."
Before Aspen could respond Dreg threw himself away from her and got up from the bed. He charged out of the room, and a moment later she heard the door slam. Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she lay there for a moment, naked and alone. Her sobs echoed loudly around the room, and Aspen eventually pulled the covers around herself and buried her face in a pillow. She cried for a long time, unable to calm down. She did not sleep a wink all night as waited for Dreg to return, but come morning he was still gone. It left her feeling a hollow pit in her stomach, and Aspen didn't know what to do with herself.
Chapter Text
A coin purse rattled in his pocket as Dreg ran through the empty streets of Castlegra. He had no idea where he was going, but he needed to get away from Aspen, and his body was still vibrating with desire and anger as he strode across the cobblestone road towards a pub. He quickly entered, keeping his head bowed, and he sat down at the bar and immediately barked at the Innkeeper for a drink. It was consumed within seconds, and Dreg drank a second mug, and a third, and then a fourth.
Beside him, a man sat at one of the stools, and he eyed the Orc with a curious expression. Dreg felt eyes on him, and he shot the man a small scowl as he drank his fifth mead a little more slowly.
"Rough night?"
Dreg frowned and shot him a glance through narrowed eyes.
"You could say that."
"I know a place you can go to... let off some steam."
Dreg was silent for a moment, and the stranger watched as he tipped his mug back, finishing the rest of his mead in one large gulp. He slammed the empty mug down on the table and wiped at his mouth, breathing hard, and then he finally looked over at the man.
"Where?"
The man grinned, and he leaned in close, explaining the details to Dreg. He nodded once and made to stand up from the table when he was stopped.
"Tell Madam Sharice that Lucien has sent you... she'll set you up with a real nice girl."
Dreg grunted quietly, and then he slowly walked towards the exit of the pub. He wasn't quite intoxicated, but his mind was a little fuzzier, which is exactly what he wanted.
He began walking again, in a new direction, trying to remember the instructions the stranger had given him. Dreg kept his eyes peeled for a deceptive looking building, and after a few minutes, he thought he found it. Dreg quickly ascended the small staircase and entered into the Inn, which was mostly empty except for a few patrons. He wandered up to the counter, where an older looking woman was lounging. Her hair was done up in an elaborate bun, and she had painted colors on her eyes and lips. She smiled at Dreg when he approached.
"What can I do for you, handsome?" She cooed.
Dreg wasn't in the mood for flirting, and he quietly growled at her.
"I was... sent by Lucien."
"Ahh..." Madam Sharice nodded knowingly, and she motioned to the curtain behind her. "Come this way, my dear."
Dreg was led into a back room that looked like typical storage, and then through two more doors before he reached a set of stairs leading down to a massive basement. Women of all forms and shapes were lounging around on couches and chairs. The air was hazy from burning incense, and several other male patrons milled about with small groups of women. Dreg was only interested in one thing.
"What do you desire?" Madam Sharice inquired, and she licked her lips when he looked at her.
What you really want just rejected you, his thoughts taunted and Dreg quickly shook his head with a small growl.
"A female Orc doesn't matter what kind," he grunted angrily, scowling. "And more to drink."
He fished around in his pocket for the coin purse Aspen had left earlier, and he placed it on the table beside Sharice, who grinned after taking a peek inside.
"Straight to the point I see. No worries Hun, we'll take care of you..."
Dreg impatiently waited as she disappeared for a moment, and when she returned Sharice motioned for him to follow her. He ducked his head underneath another curtain to find himself in a small bedroom. The only items in the room were a massive, four-post bed and two side tables. He could see a tray on one of the tables with a few mugs resting on it, and so he strode over to it and quickly downed one of the beers while waiting for his woman to arrive. A few minutes later he heard a movement behind him, and Dreg turned around to find a tall, thick Orc walk through the doorway. She paused to let the curtain fall behind her, giving them privacy. She wore a flowy dress that was almost completely see-through, and she gave Dreg a sultry smile as she slinked closer. Dreg grunted, feeling indifferent, and he ignored her for a minute while he drank another beer.
He felt hands at his groin, and Dreg looked down to see the woman tugging at the strings to his breeches. His manhood strained uncomfortably tight against his pants, and he let out a small sigh when she finally got the strings undone and she tugged his breeches down, freeing him.
"Mm," she murmured, eyeing him. "A big boy."
Dreg picked up the third beer; finally feeling the effects of the alcohol starting to set in, and he took a deep drink while the Orc dipped her head towards his cock, plunging it into her mouth. She was careful not to graze him with her short white tusks, and Dreg gave a throaty growl as he felt her tongue swirling around his throbbing head. She slurped loudly as she sucked his cock, and Dreg leaned into her, enjoying it for a few moments while he finished his drink.
But he was tired of playing games. So, when he was finished the last mug, he shoved the Orc back, abruptly removing her mouth from his cock. She slid back onto the bed and Dreg pulled at her dress, ripping it off of her. He tossed it onto the floor and then quickly whipped his tunic above his head and dropped it on the floor. His pants and boots followed a moment later, and the Orc grinned as she sat back, spreading her legs. She was a typical Orc, with huge breasts and muscly arms, but Dreg was only interested in one thing.
"Get on your hands and knees," he growled.
The woman laughed softly, and she slowly rolled onto her knees and bent down so her bright green ass was straight up in the air. She wiggled her butt, grinning as Dreg knelt down on the bed and shuffled closer. She arched her back and stroked her folds for a moment as he came closer.
"Like it rough, do you?" She teased, but Dreg ignored her.
"Enough talking."
Without wasting a second more, Dreg took a hold of her hips and thrust his massive cock inside her warm cunt in one swift thrust. She cried out as he filled her to the brim, but Dreg continued rolling his hips, refusing to let her get accustomed to it. He growled as he fucked the whore, his balls loudly slapping against the Orc as he was desperate to fuck away his feelings. She moaned and clutched at the blankets, her face pressed into the bed as Dreg roared quietly and grasped her hair. He pulled it back, and she gasped as her neck was bent backward.
"Gods!" She moaned.
Dreg growled louder, every muscle in his body straining from the effort. He had enough alcohol in his system to make things a comfortable blur. But he couldn't quite get Aspen out of his head, which only made him angrier, and so, he took it out on the Orc. Dreg thrust his hips with desperation, his fingers and nails digging into her green flesh and then he brought her arms behind her back, using them as anchors while he fucked her tight cunt. She gasped and panted for breath but Dreg did not slow down. His chest heaved, covered in sweat, and Dreg roared when he suddenly came. His body shuddered above the Orc and he slammed his hips into her a couple of times, growling as he emptied his seed deep inside her and it leaked out from between them, dripping onto the bed.
Dreg slumped over, collapsing onto the bed, and his eyes were closed. The woman's body trembled and she lay beside him for a while as she recovered from his rough treatment. When she had caught her breath, she slipped down towards his softening member and ran her tongue along his shaft, cleaning him off. He growled, now half asleep, but when she tried to lay with him he shoved her off.
"Don't touch me," Dreg snarled, and a moment later he was fast asleep.
When Dreg woke up late the next day, he momentarily forgot where he was. He groaned, feeling a pounding headache in his temples, and he was laying on his back completely naked. The Orc growled as pain shot through his joints, and he stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling for a few minutes, trying to conjure enough energy to get up. When he finally dragged himself up to a sitting position he immediately doubled over and got sick, much to the whore's displeasure. She sighed and tutted impatiently as she waited for Dreg to compose himself.
He sat back on the bed and wiped at his mouth, groaning softly. The Orc walked over to him and shoved his clothes onto his lap.
"Hurry up, I don't have all day for you to leave."
Dreg gave a halfhearted snarl, but he slowly got dressed with his eyes half-closed. Then he stumbled back up the stairs towards the main part of the store. As soon as he reached the outside, he nearly got sick right then and there when the bright light of day assaulted his eyes, and he was blinded for several moments until his vision adjusted. Dreg squinted, unsure of how to get back to the Healer's District, not that he was in a rush. He took a detour and ended up in another pub, but this time he stuck to water and was too nauseous to eat. He sat by himself, his head bowed, and despite his pounding head, he could only think of what he had done with Aspen the night before. Shame washed over him, and he struggled to accept the fact that Aspen had every right to reject his advances. Dreg had gone from being raging mad one second to trying to have sex with her the next. It pained him to admit it, and a nagging voice in the back of his mind tormented him for it.
She stopped you because she doesn't like you that way, the voice sneered, and Dreg growled softly, clenching his fists together in his lap.
You'll never be good enough...never be what she needs. After all that she's been through... just days after learning of her worst experiences... the last thing she needs is a pathetic excuse of an Orc like you.
Dreg couldn't stand sitting in the pub anymore, and he quickly stood up from the chair. It was a bad idea, and the room swam before his eyes in a disorienting blur. He quickly rushed out from the Inn and stumbled down an alley to get sick once more. When he was finished, the Orc leaned against the stone wall, breathing hard, as he tried to pull it together.
Eventually, Dreg felt well enough to slowly walk back home, and when he stepped into the apartment he found it empty. Dreg sighed in relief. He hadn't really wanted Aspen to see him in such a state, and so he took the opportunity of Aspen's absence to wash up and try to appear like he didn't just pay to fuck a whore right after their fight.
Aspen had at some point in the morning gone to the Guild. She spent some time thinking in the main hall, sitting by her favorite fountain. Then Master Ren found her, and he whisked her away to go gather some new supplies. She left the Guild a couple of hours later with a brand-new medicine chest and an armful of other items.
When she returned home, Aspen struggled to unlock the door with her arms laden with supplies. She managed to get the door open and she stepped inside, but as soon as she took a step forward she tripped over a boot and went flying towards the floor.
Dreg heard a loud crash, and Aspen's voice floated over to the bedroom where he stood half-dressed.
"Fucking boots!" Aspen hollered, and then she groaned in pain.
Dreg rushed out from the bedroom, concerned. He wore only a pair of loose cotton pants, and his hair was still wet from his bath. He shuffled forward, peering around the corner to see Aspen sitting on the floor. She hissed and clutched at her knee, surrounded by several items. A new medicine chest lay on its side with the lid open.
"Aspen?"
She nearly leaped out of her skin at Dreg's voice. Aspen scooted around on her butt and peered up at Dreg with wide eyes.
"Are you... okay?"
Aspen frowned, and she looked away from him.
"I'm fine."
Dreg quickly retreated back to the bedroom to give her space, and Aspen sat on the floor for a little while longer, sullenly glaring at the boot she had tripped over. It was Dreg's, and she had complained to him about leaving his boots laying around before.
Before... Aspen sighed as she gingerly touched her knee. It was very red and starting to swell. Everything seemed simpler before.
The memory of her and Dreg the night before washed over her, and Aspen shivered as she remembered the feeling of his mouth on her lips, her skin... her breasts.
I don't know what to do now.
Eventually, she had to get up. Aspen inspected her medicine case first, but it was intact. Then, she scooted over to the table, knowing her knee would be sore for a while. She grasped the edge of the table and pulled herself up, groaning softly. When she was standing, Aspen tested her knee, slowly putting pressure on it as she tried to step forward. But it was no use. Pain shot through her leg and hip. Aspen hissed and quickly pulled back, sighing in discomfort.
Dreg finished getting dressed and intended to start a fire in the hearth. It was nearly the middle of spring, but still cool enough out that a chill would set in if there wasn't heat after it rained. He tossed a clean tunic on and wandered back out to the main room, feeling nervous about seeing Aspen again, but he paused when he spotted her.
Aspen grumbled quietly to herself, feeling frustrated. Her items were a scattered mess on the floor and she leaned with her butt against the table and her arms crossed, allowing herself to be annoyed for a few minutes. Dreg watched her, debating on whether or not to get involved. She was clearly hurt but had also looked at him with such anger that he knew it was not good timing. But, as he watched her attempt to walk again, Aspen's knee buckled this time. She gasped and grabbed at the table, catching herself. Dreg quickly walked over to her.
"You're not alright," he grumbled quietly, avoiding eye contact.
He looked down at her knee, which looked pretty messed up.
"I don't want your help," Aspen huffed, feeling her anger levels rise. "There are a million things that I could say to you right now-"
Her voice abruptly cut off, and Aspen pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment. She took a deep breath in, willing her racing heart to calm. She suddenly felt overwhelmed by everything and needed to lay down. Dreg stood a few paces away, and he knelt down to pick up the chest, which he placed on the table beside her. She stood, stiffly leaning against the table, and silently watched Dreg as he continued to pick up the rest of her fallen items. When he was finished, he awkwardly stood nearby, wishing she would just let him carry her to the bedroom.
Aspen bit her lip, blinking back tears as her knee throbbed. She wanted Dreg to help her, but she was tired of giving in to everyone so easily. He had really hurt her, and so after a few minutes, Aspen pushed herself away from the table and began lightly hopping towards the bedroom. She twice, but eventually made it to the doorway of her bedroom. She hissed as her foot collided with the floor and more pain shot through her leg, and then hopped over to the bed and sat down with a loud huff.
Dreg watched her go with a frown on his face. He sighed and then walked over to the hearth to start lighting a fire. When he was done, Dreg avoided the bedroom, knowing Aspen wanted nothing to do with him. Instead, he sat by the fire until the early evening. Aspen did not come out from the bedroom, and he was finally feeling better and wanted to eat. So, he pulled himself up from the chair and stretched, groaning quietly as his back gave a loud crack. Then, he wandered into the kitchen and spent the next half an hour chopping vegetables and beef into cubes for a stew. He added them into the big pot located by the hearth and hung it over the fire with some water, spices, and herbs. Dreg was sure it wouldn't be anything special, but it would be food.
Aspen could hear Dreg busying himself in the kitchen, but didn't really care what he was doing. Her knee ached a little less now that she had taken a potion and had a nap, but she was still in a terrible mood. She was distraught about what happened between her and the Dreg and didn't know what to do about moving forward with Guardianship. Part of her had the inkling suspicious he wouldn't want to go through with it, and if that were the case, she'd have to search for a new one before leaving the city.
Sometime later, Aspen could smell something savory, and she knew Dreg had made something for supper. Her tummy grumbled, but she refused to have him fetch food. She silently suffered, and instead sat up in bed and started writing in her journal to distract herself from the feeling of hunger. Aspen startled when she sensed movement out of the corner of her eye, and she watched with surprise as Dreg wandered over to the bed. He held a bowl of stew in one thick, green hand. The other held one of her dinner rolls and a spoon. He silently placed everything on the side table and left as quickly as he had come.
Aspen let out the breath she realized she had been holding in, and she frowned at the food for a moment. She didn't understand him at all, and it made her want to scream. Instead, Aspen resolved to stuff her face with food, which turned out to be really good. She finished up all the stew and chewed on the bread roll while writing in her journal. When she was finished, Aspen yawned, suddenly feeling tired. After popping another vial for her sore knee, she scooted down so she was laying, and sleep quickly took her.
Dreg waited until as late as possible. His head still ached, but he had silently suffered since Aspen was his sole healer. Eventually, he dozed off in the chair for a while, but when he woke up his neck and back were incredibly sore, and so he forced himself to go to bed. When he shuffled into the bedroom it was completely dark. He walked around to the other side and quietly pulled the covers back, peering at Aspen's sleeping form. Then, he laid down, making sure he was nowhere near Aspen, and he slept with his back facing her. He drifted to sleep with troubling thoughts of her on his mind.
Chapter Text
Aspen sat in bed, staring down at a sleeping Orc. He needed to get up and go to the Guild to begin his training, but she hesitated to wake Dreg up.
He probably doesn't want to be your Guardian anymore, Aspen thought quietly as she chewed her lip. You slapped him, rejected him, and you still expect him to protect you? Fat chance.
Eventually, Aspen caved. She needed answers, and so she gently reached across the bed and shook his shoulder. Dreg grunted, and he rolled onto his back. She watched as he rubbed at his eyes and yawned before slowly opening them. He blinked a couple of times until his bright red orbs fixed themselves on her face.
"You uh... have a lesson today."
"Oh," Dreg mumbled. "Right."
Aspen silently watched as Dreg slid his body up, and he sat at the edge of the bed for a moment, trying to wake up properly. He yawned, idly scratching at his head, and then he stood up and wandered over to the dresser where Aspen had put his clothes.
"You're going?" Aspen blurted out.
Dreg turned to Aspen, regarding her for a moment. His brows furrowed together, and he looked down at the clothing in his hands.
"Yeah, I am. Unless... you don't want me to."
Aspen opened her mouth and then shut it again. Her cheeks turned red as she struggled to come up with a response. Dreg didn't wait for her to figure it out before he left the bedroom to change and a few minutes later Aspen heard him moving around in the kitchen. He was gone for a while, but when he returned, he had a bowl of porridge in his hands, and he placed it on the table with a spoon. Neither of them said anything, and the tension between them was almost unbearable. Dreg waited half a second. Aspen quietly stared at her feet with a frown and her arms crossed. Then, he quickly turned away and left the room. He shoved his boots on before leaving the apartment. He walked up the street towards the Guild and did not return until later in the afternoon.
A few days passed in the same manner. The swelling in Aspen's knee eventually went down, and the only reminder of her fall was an angry-looking bruise. She spent most of her time outside the house, hunting down supplies she needed for her new case. She had to start over new, and it would take some time. They had a couple more weeks before Dreg took up Vows, and so she took this opportunity to work on replenishing her supplies.
Dreg woke up every morning on his own, and he'd have something light to eat before walking up to the Guild for his lessons. It mainly consisted of history lectures, which he found incredibly boring, but he looked forward to the physical training in the afternoon. When he returned to the apartment, he was thoroughly exhausted from exerting himself with his sword practice, and he'd draw himself up a bath and soak for a very long time while he thought about Aspen. They still weren't talking to each other, but she seemed to be able to stay in the same room as him without getting too worked up.
By the fourth day, Dreg was heading back from the Guild with the sole intention of speaking to Aspen on his mind. He had learned some things during his lesson, particularly some rules that he was to follow if he wanted to be her Guardian, and he was tired of her silence. He knew that if he was to take his Vows seriously, they needed to be on better terms.
Dreg strode into the apartment and found Aspen sitting at the kitchen table. A huge array of plants and other various medicinal supplies had been laid out, and a small cauldron bubbled away over the fire. She was bent over the table, scribbling something down in her notebook, and she looked up when he entered the room.
"Aspen," Dreg started, and he hesitated.
"Yeah?"
"Can... can we talk?"
Aspen sucked in a deep breath in surprise. She hadn't been expecting Dreg to initiate it first and had anticipated that she would have to do all the work. She stared down at the table for a moment, and then she nodded.
"Yeah, sure."
Dreg strode over to the table, and he sat down in the chair across from her. Aspen shuffled some things around, but then she stopped moving and placed her hands in her lap. She nervously chewed the inside of her cheek, and she avoided looking directly at him.
"I’m uh... I guess I should start with an apology."
Mild shock spread across Aspen's face, and she looked at him.
"I offered to be your Guardian. I opened myself up to you, and in return, you did the same. What I did... how I... treated you, was unacceptable. My mother would be ashamed of me."
Dreg frowned, and he struggled to put his feelings into words.
"I'm really not good at this sort of thing," he continued quietly, and he nervously rubbed at his neck. "But if I'm to... to be your Guardian, I guess what I'm saying is I need to work on my... anger."
Aspen felt like the wind had been knocked out of her, and part of her wanted to cry. She had never expected Dreg to apologize, let alone say that he needed to work on himself. She was completely stunned, and the longer the silence dragged on the more Dreg wished she'd say something.
"I um..." Aspen coughed, and she took a deep breath. "I must admit, I wasn't expecting you to... apologize."
Dreg scowled, but then he tried to smooth it away. He didn't know what else to say to her, but he didn't have to speak.
"Dreg I... I know you're from an entirely different place. I want us to get along, I really do. I just feel like no matter what I do, something always goes wrong."
"So, what are you saying?" Dreg grunted, feeling his stomach drop. "Do you want to find somebody else?"
"No, no I don’t want that. I want to give you a chance. I mean give us a chance. You protected me when I needed it most, and I haven't forgotten that.”
Aspen was silent for a moment as she thought about how to word her thoughts.
“Think about it this way. You being my Guardian is like a... a contract between us, perhaps that helps to put it into perspective."
Dreg watched Aspen as she spoke, and she waved her hands lightly.
"I am a Healer, that is my duty to the people. Your duty is to protect me from harm, nothing more, nothing less. If we can get past our differences, and get on the same page... perhaps it will work."
Dreg mulled over what she said. What she was saying made sense to the logical part of his brain. He needed to stop thinking about her so emotionally, and get down to what really mattered. At the end of the day, their relationship was supposed to be a business deal.
"I think I get it," Dreg replied after a moment, and Aspen smiled ever so slightly.
"You've been through a lot, Dreg. I know it's painful to mention, but the point of the ceremony was to bring us closer together. You're supposed to be someone I can rely on for emotional support as well as physical protection. I see a lot of tragedy in my work. I need somebody I can rely on to keep me going when I feel like giving up."
Dreg nodded, and he was silent. He had a lot to consider.
"I accept your apology," Aspen continued softly. "I’m very sorry I put my hands on you. It was unacceptable. I broke a vow."
"I deserved it," Dreg grumbled, and then he stood up from the chair.
Aspen let out a small sigh of relief. She felt like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. There was still an unspoken awkwardness between them, but the tension had lessened immensely. Dreg retired to the bathroom to wash up, and then he lounged by the fire for the rest of the night while Aspen continued working on her supplies. They had a light dinner and then retired early for the night.
Dreg was in considerably better spirits over the next couple of days, and so was Aspen. Things were still a little uncomfortable between them, particularly when it came to how close they were. They stopped undressing while the other was in the room, and they now took separate baths in complete privacy. Dreg was as polite as he could muster, and Aspen remained a little distant, partially because she had so much to do. Dreg was also kept busy at the Guild, which he didn't mind.
It was a mild spring morning, and Aspen yawned as she fished around in her dresser for a clean shirt. She picked up a soft blue tunic and inspected it for a moment, thinking she saw a stain, but she must have imagined it. She began putting it over her head just as Dreg walked in.
"Oops," Dreg mumbled.
Aspen brushed her hair from her eyes and hastily pulled the tunic down over her chest, blushing.
"Sorry."
"It's okay. Need something?"
"Yeah... the tournaments start today."
"The tournaments..."
Aspen paused, and then her face lit up.
"Oh, yes! That's right, I forgot all about those."
Dreg nodded, and he rubbed his arm, feeling a shiver of excitement. The tournament was an event offered throughout the year by the Guild for all Guardians. It was a light-hearted competition, meant for sport, but Dreg was treating it as a serious event. He intended to win every fight, and he knew his skills surpassed most of the other Guardians he'd seen in the training pits. He wasn't worried but wanted to know if Aspen was going to watch.
"Are you coming?" He asked lightly, but inside his stomach twisted into knots.
Dreg wanted to win the fight for himself, but also to prove himself to his Healer. He knew she didn't know it, but he was really hoping she'd say yes. He let out the breath he'd been holding in when Aspen's painfully pretty face lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss it."
They both wandered into the kitchen, chatting lightly about the tournament. They ate breakfast together and then walked to the Guild. Aspen went her separate way for a little while to look for Master Ren but promised to come out to the pits once it was time for Dreg to fight. The Orc nodded, and he began making his way towards his designated area.
Aspen ascended the stairs up to Master Ren's office but ran into him when she was halfway there. They both stopped, and Ren's laughter echoed off the walls.
"Good morning my dear."
"Good morning, Master."
Ren stepped down the stone stairs until he reached Aspen. He linked his arm through hers and they began walking back down.
"Is there something pressing you need?"
"No... not terribly important. Where are you off to?"
"The tournaments start today, and so the Masters must be present."
"Oh, yeah. Dreg was very excited this morning."
"He should do well. I've seen some of his skills when I happened to be nearby. It's quite impressive."
Aspen beamed, and she walked with Ren towards another door. It led into a small courtyard, and then a large stone arch led into a decently sized outdoor fighting pit. Several rows of seating occupied the outside of the ring. Ren guided Aspen towards the sheltered seating area, and he offered for her to sit.
Refreshments and food were provided, and the tournaments started with a few Guardians that Aspen didn't recognize. Around noon, she spotted Dreg as he stood near the ring. He wore a set of worn steel armor and a held a blunt short sword in his hands. His eyes swept over the small crowd, searching for her, and Aspen waved when his gaze spotted her across the way. He noticed she sat beside Master Ren, and he smiled ever so slightly before stepping into the ring.
"I wonder who his opponent is," Aspen mumbled to herself.
A young, human man stepped out as well. She didn't recognize him. After one look at how he sized up to Dreg, who towered above the poor guy, Aspen knew he didn't stand a chance. Watching the fight was exhilarating. Dreg's opponent was faster, but Dreg's skill at handling himself in a one-on-one fight was breathtaking. Aspen watched, her eyes glued on Dreg, as he effortlessly stepped away from any strikes, and it was almost like watching a dance. Around ten minutes into the fight, Dreg smashed his shoulder into his opponent's chest, and it sent him flying. The Orc was upon him in seconds, and he pinned the man to the ground while his blunt sword was pointed at his neck.
"I yield!" The man shouted, his face covered in sweat and sand.
Dreg stood back, and he straightened up, a grin plastered on his face. The man slowly rose to his feet, and they shook hands before walking off.
"Very impressive, indeed," Master Ren commented.
He glanced over at Aspen, who was enthusiastically clapping.
"Aspen..."
Aspen turned to Ren with a smile, and he returned it.
"Yes, Master?"
"How are you doing?"
He spoke lightly, but there was a weight behind his words. Aspen was quiet for a moment, and she stared silently at her hands while she came up with a response. She didn't know how much she wanted Ren to know and decided to try and keep things light.
"I'm… alright, honestly."
Ren gently took her soft hand, and he grasped it tightly.
"I know you came to the Guild at a very young age, and you've been involved in medicine and healing for a very long time. I… I worry about you traveling so much."
Aspen smiled. She had come to love Master Ren very dearly, especially after all he had done when she first arrived at the Guild eight years prior. She had been damaged both inside and out. Master Ren had taken it upon himself to nurse a then fourteen-year-old Aspen back to health, and it was his kindness alone that had sparked her interest in healing.
"I know you worry, as everyone does. Before Ivan left, we were doing just fine."
"How are things with you and Dreg? I sense there is some tension."
Aspen laughed, and she rubbed at her neck, grimacing.
"I guess it's no secret, he can be really rude at times..."
Her gaze swept out over the fighting ring, and she spotted Dreg as he waited for a second opponent. He stood tall, his head raised high, and he clenched the sword with one hand as he lightly rocked on the balls of his feet.
"I will admit it's been a bit of a struggle, but after the ceremony... he's been proving to me that he can be the Guardian I need. I appreciate his efforts."
"If you're content, then I will not pester you anymore."
Aspen looked over at Ren, and she noted the fine wrinkles that formed in the corners of his eyes when he smiled. He was getting older now, but he still held the same warm glow in his eyes when they spoke. Out of all the Masters, she knew Ren was the most genuine. Aspen had come to consider him as a father figure.
"Thank you, Master... for always caring."
"Of course, my dear..."
Ren reached up and tucked a strand of Aspen's hair behind one pointed ear.
"You know we are not related by blood, but I consider you like a daughter to me. My only daughter," he chuckled, and Aspen stared at him with a warm expression. "I hope that Dreg can provide adequate protection for you... I just want you to find happiness."
Aspen nodded, and they spoke lightly for a few moments before both of their attention turned back to the tournament. A figure strode out into the pit, and Aspen's eyes widened as she realized who it was.
Ivan...
Aspen couldn't help but feel a small tingle of excitement, and she knew Dreg was almost beside himself. He regarded Ivan, who stepped forward, dramatically sweeping his arms out. He held a sword in one hand, and a shield in another, and he was wearing what looked like the flashiest and gaudiest looking armor he could find. She almost felt bad for him, but that moment was brief. Dreg grinned, and he staggered his feet, growling softly as his opponent turned towards him with a smug little grin.
The bell rang, and both of the men charged towards each other. Aspen watched with bated breath, as Dreg's sword clashed against Ivan's shield. She sat on the edge of her seat, completely fascinated. Ivan was more glamour than skills, and despite lasting longer than the first opponent he was also no match for the Orc. Dreg pummeled Ivan relentlessly, never stopping to give him breath, and by the end Ivan lay in a heap on the ground, groaning as he muttered a yield. Dreg had barely broken a sweat, and he stood up, his chest confidently puffed as the crowd cheered. He wiped at his brow with the sleeve of his tunic and then wandered off the pit. Three fights were all that he had been scheduled for today, and so, Dreg was free to leave. It had been the most pleasant surprise to see the snooty, stupidly dressed Ivan step onto the pit, and it had been a real pleasure to beat him.
Aspen said goodbye to Master Ren and quickly departed from the stands. She jogged down the stairs and walked across the lawn towards where Dreg was leaning against a ledge. He drank deeply from a waterskin and then poured some of it on his face before he used the hem of his tunic to clean his sweaty skin. He grinned when he spotted Aspen and she stepped closer.
"Congrats, Dreg! Your fights were mesmerizing."
"Thanks," Dreg replied warmly, and he pushed himself away from the ledge. "Are you finished?"
"Yep, I forgot Master Ren has to stay for the tournament, so I'll see him tomorrow."
"Okay, let's go."
Dreg was amused by Aspen's enthusiasm as she spoke about his fight with Ivan. They slowly made their way around a small path leading around the Guild, and he laughed as Aspen spoke.
"It was so satisfying," Aspen gushed. "Seeing you elbow him right in the face was a real treat."
"I'm glad you were so entertained by me beating your former Guardian," Dreg growled softly, and he shot Aspen a cheeky grin.
She'd never seen Dreg so pleased, and they continued chatting as they walked back down the street towards the Healing District. She felt like the awkwardness of the last few days had simply melted away, as they both bonded over their mutual dislike of Ivan. At some point, an idea popped into her head. She paused her walking, and Dreg walked two paces ahead of her before turning around.
"Are you hungry?"
Dreg rubbed his chin, and then he nodded.
"Why don't we go celebrate then… I know a place that serves the best chicken pies."
Dreg felt good. He hadn't felt this carefree for as long as he could remember. He stared at Aspen's smiling face for a moment, wishing he could keep this feeling forever. But he was also feeling terribly hungry, so he nodded again, and they took a shortcut down a side street and began walking in the opposite direction towards a pub. They spent the evening eating good food, drinking delicious ale, and enjoying each other's company.
Chapter Text
When Aspen and Dreg returned home later in the evening, they were still in good spirits. Dreg stifled a yawn as he wandered over to the hearth to light a fire, and Aspen washed up some of their dirty dishes and laid them on a cloth to dry. She glanced over at Dreg's form every once in a while, another thought on her mind. However, Aspen felt she needed to be careful, even though they had technically made amends. She waited as Dreg took a quick bath to clean off the grime of the tournament. He came back a little while later, freshly washed and wearing a dark short-sleeved tunic that hung loosely down to his hips. He finished tying up the strings to his pants as he wandered towards the fireplace. Aspen stood nearby, and she cleared her throat.
"Uh, Dreg?"
"Yeah?"
"I was thinking... I know you wanted your hair cut a certain way, and I'd like to do that for you."
Dreg thought about it. He had wanted it shaved originally, but when Aspen was touching his head so much at the time it was hard to concentrate. He rubbed his chin, looking thoughtful for a moment, and then agreed.
"I'd really like that."
"Okay," Aspen beamed, and she pulled out a chair from the table. "Sit down, I'll go get a knife."
Dreg sat down and waited for Aspen as she disappeared into the bedroom. When she returned, she held a small knife that was similar to the one she used on him before. Her first knife had been lost during the flood, but Master Ren had since given her a new one. She shuffled forward, standing behind the Orc as he quietly sat in the chair. He sat with his back straight, and a moment later he felt Aspen's fingers as she combed through his hair.
"So," she started, and she inspected his scalp. "You want it shaved on... one side? Both sides?"
"Both sides, if you can."
"How much do you want left?"
"You can decide."
"Okay," Aspen mumbled, and she slipped her fingers underneath his hair, parting it.
Dreg sighed and closed his eyes while she worked. Aspen first gathered up a portion of his hair and tied it back, leaving the sides free. Then she wandered around to Dreg's side and gently tipped his head to where she wanted him. A moment later he felt the blade of the knife on his scalp. She gently stroked the knife across his skin, only hard enough to remove the hair. When she was satisfied, she walked around to his other side and the soft sounds of her knife echoed in his ears. Dreg slowed his breathing, forcing himself to remain calm despite the fact her fingers touched every part of his head and part of his ears. Eventually, Aspen was finished, and she disappeared into the bedroom again to retrieve a mirror. She held it up in front of Dreg so he could inspect her handiwork.
"What do you think? I've never really shaved a head before so... don't hesitate to complain."
Dreg turned his head back and forth, staring at the shaved sides. She had left a generous portion of his hair in the middle of his head which was currently tied into a loose bun. He really liked it.
"It looks good," he grunted softly, and he peered up at Aspen with his bright red eyes. "Thank you."
"Really?"
"Yes... really. "
Aspen let out a sigh of relief, and she placed the mirror down on the table with a small smile.
"I'm glad. You've been working really hard this week with your training. I want you to know that it hasn't gone unnoticed."
"It's nothing," Dreg replied quietly, and he nervously rubbed his neck.
"Well, it means a lot to me ... for reasons I probably don't have to explain."
Dreg shook his head, and he quickly stood up from the table. Aspen got herself a drink of water while Dreg scooped his hair off the floor and dumped it in the fire. When he was finished cleaning up, they both lounged in their reading chairs by the hearth. Aspen sat with her legs hanging over the armrest, facing Dreg. She held a book in her hands, and had been reading for a while, but eventually she dozed off. Dreg glanced over at her with a small smile as Aspen's head lolled back in the chair, and she snored quietly with the book resting in her lap.
Eventually, the Orc got up and walked over to where Aspen was sitting. He gently took the book from her grasp, and Aspen murmured something.
"Hmm?"
"Come on, you've fallen asleep in the chair."
"Hmmokay," Aspen mumbled, and she slowly swung her legs down to the floor.
They both wandered into the bedroom and laid down. Aspen was asleep within moments of her head hitting the pillow, while Dreg stayed awake a little while. He laid in the bed with his head tucked under his arm. His body was tired, but his mind was racing. Finally, his eyelids grew droopy, and he slowly drifted to sleep and dreamt about a certain green-eyed Elf with soft hands.
Dreg had spent nearly three weeks attending what he considered stupid lessons. But he knew if he didn't bear through it, he wouldn't be able to become Aspen's Guardian. The Orc wasn't entirely sure he understood all the inner workings of the Healer's Guild, and he knew for sure he didn't trust a single soul outside of his Healer, but it was Aspen's life so, he respected it. It wasn't like he had anywhere else to go, not that Dreg wanted to. If he was being totally honest, Dreg was looking forward to more traveling, since he had rarely ventured outside his stronghold before the incident.
Aspen took the time that Dreg was studying and sparring to finish amassing a huge inventory of medicinal supplies. By the time she was done, she knew she had far more potions, syrups, and salves than she could ever hope to take with her on the road. But it pleased her to know that she'd be covered for at least a couple trips back.
Over the course of the last week, Aspen and Dreg had gotten along fairly well. There were times when Dreg was feeling rather grumpy, but the city allowed him the ability to get away from Aspen when he was in a foul mood. What she didn't know, was that Dreg visited the Brothel a few more times since that first night. He kept it a secret, mostly because he didn't want Aspen to think any less of him than she already did. It also kept him in check when interacting with her. The embarrassment of their near-encounter still burned in his mind, and the desire he had felt for her had been completely real.
To quell his primal needs, he returned to the Brothel when he needed to let off his sexual frustrations. Dreg felt he was better equipped to control himself around Aspen when he wasn't so pent up. He knew, from learning of his rules as a Guardian, that a romantic relationship between Healer and Guardian were forbidden. He didn't really understand most of their rules, but that one made the least amount of sense. Dreg didn't think that Aspen would even give him a second glance, and it still left him feeling a little disappointed, but he tried to push those feelings aside.
It was the night of the vow ceremony. Dreg stood inside the little bedroom, and he nervously played with the hem of his tunic. He tucked it into his pants, and then growled and untucked it. He repeated this step several times until Aspen wandered into the room, having grown impatient for waiting so long.
"What are you doing that's taking so long?" She teased.
Dreg turned around with a frown on his face, but it completely dissolved the moment his eyes landed on her.
Aspen stood by the doorway with an amused expression her own face. She wore a beautiful cotton dress that comfortably hugged her form. It was the color of deep green, almost matching his own skin tone, and part of her hair had been swept back into a small braid. The dress flowed straight down to the floor and had a high collar and long, fitted sleeves. Tiny, embroidered leaves had been decorated along the bust and arms, and Dreg was momentarily stunned as he gaped at her. Aspen's cheeks flushed, and she squirmed under his gaze.
"Dreg? Are you ready?"
"U-Uh," Dreg stammered, and he forced himself to look away, suddenly feeling extremely flustered.
He swallowed hard and glanced down at himself, sighing. Aspen smiled, and she stepped closer. She reached out and gently tugged at his tunic, straightening it.
"It looks better untucked," she murmured softly.
"Okay," Dreg grumbled thickly, feeling a lump in his throat.
He nervously ran his hand along the top of his head. He had washed properly before getting changed, and his hair had been tied back into a neat knot, thanks to Aspen. He wore a fitted dark blue tunic and brand new leather breeches that were a rich, dark brown. His look had been completed with a pair of dress boots that had been buffed until they practically shone like a beacon, and Dreg had never felt so out of sorts.
Aspen smiled up at Dreg, and he tried to look back at her but he was completely thrown off by what he was feeling, and so he avoided looking directly into her eyes. Aspen finished straightening out his tunic, and then she wandered out into the main room, with Dreg following a couple of paces behind. She moved towards the door and then paused to look back at him, her expression unreadable
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
Aspen smiled, and she opened the door and stepped outside. The pair began walking up the road towards the familiar front doors of the Healer's Guild. Dusk was just beginning to settle in, and the streets were mostly empty. Aspen glided silently beside Dreg, her dress flowing lightly as she walked. He found himself looking at her more than once, as his heart pounded wildly in his chest. He didn't understand why he felt so strange and it troubled him. Aspen seemed to sense his nervousness, and she hesitated, but then slowly slipped her arm through his arm. Dreg stiffened, and for a moment regret washed over Aspen as she thought he was going to pull away. But, after a moment the Orc relaxed, and he let out a big breath. Aspen rubbed his arm affectionately, wishing she could say or do something to make him feel a little more at ease.
"You're going to do just fine, okay? I am so proud of you, Dreg."
Her words hit Dreg like a brick to his gut, and his brows furrowed together. He stared down at the ground while walking up the stone steps towards the front doors. He wanted to get sick, but the firm presence of Aspen's hand on his arm was comforting.
They walked through the strange corridor, swiftly maneuvering around fountains and benches, and Aspen led Dreg back down to the same room they had been in for their bonding ceremony. This time, there were more lanterns present, and the room was bathed in a soft, warm glow. Master Ren was waiting for them, and he smiled when they approached. In his hands, he held a long green ribbon that was silky and soft.
"Do you remember how to do it?" He asked softly.
Aspen nodded, and then she turned towards Dreg. His pulse was racing, but he fought against it, silently struggling to stay composed. The Healer stepped forward, and she gently grasped his hand and walked Dreg to the middle of the circle. They stood, facing each other, and she clenched both of his hands with her own, squeezing them gently. Master Ren began winding the ribbon around their hands in a loose fashion, and then he stepped out from the circle and hung back where he could watch.
"Are you ready?"
She smiled up as Dreg, and he stared back at her.
"Yes," he stammered.
Aspen began whispering something, and her eyes closed for a moment. The circle below their feet began to glow faintly. Dreg's eyes widened when the green ribbon around their hands began to glow as well, soft at first, and as time went on it grew brighter. He wasn't used to magic. The bonding ceremony had been his first real experience, and Dreg couldn't really say he cared for it. But he watched, fascinated, as Aspen continued to murmur softly. Then her eyes opened, and she squeezed his hands, nodding. Dreg took a deep breath, and then he pulled one of her hands closer, placing it on his chest. His mind quickly searched his memories, trying to recall the spoken words he had been taught. The ribbon hung loosely between them, still wrapped around their hands as it glowed.
"I vow, with every breath I take, to protect you from harm."
Dreg's low, deep voice echoed around the room, and Ren silently watched the Orc take his vows with a soft expression.
"With my legs I will rush to your side when you have fallen."
"With my arms, I will shield you from anything that tries to hurt you."
"With my hands, I will carry you to safety."
Dreg bowed his head, but he tightly clenched Aspen's hand. She could feel his heart racing in his chest, but she remained composed.
"With my heart I… I promise to give my life protecting you."
The ribbon glowed even brighter, and Dreg let out a deep breath as a warmth spread through his hands, washing over him. Aspen smiled, and she gently pulled Dreg's hand towards her chest, and she held it there while she spoke.
"I vow, with every breath I take, to heal you, my Guardian."
"With my legs, I will run to you when you have fallen."
"With my arms, I will lift your body and spirit to safety."
The ribbon continued to glow and was warm on their skin.
"With my hands, I will heal your physical wounds."
"With my heart, I will forever be grateful to you, my protection... my Guardian."
Warmth washed over Aspen, and she couldn't help but feel a little emotional. The Vows were meant to be intimate, and when she spoke the words Aspen felt something inside of her that she was terrified of. However, she pushed those feelings aside and focused on Dreg. The circle below their feet glowed again, and small sparkles of light floated upwards, surrounding them in a bright glow. Then quite suddenly, the ribbon around their hands disappeared, dissolving into nothingness, but its mark was left on their hands. A small white leaf symbol appeared on the inside of Dreg's wrist, while a green one appeared on Aspen's. She had received one before, with her previous Guardian, but it had faded when their bond had been broken.
The vows were complete. Both of them let out the deep breaths they had been holding in as they came back to the present. However, the ceremony wasn't quite over yet.
Aspen turned her gaze towards the pool. Not a single ripple moved across the surface, and it blended in perfectly with the marble stairs, but she knew it was there. The Healer grasped Dreg's hand, smiling softly, and began to walk towards it. She dipped her boot into the water, and the light reflecting off the surface rippled as the stillness was broken. She didn't hesitate, for Aspen knew the magical properties of the pool would prevent her clothes from being wet for more than a few seconds. So, she waded in further, still clenching Dreg's hand, and her smile encouraged him to follow suit until there were submerged in the surprisingly warm liquid. Dreg didn't trust that it was water, for he never knew of any such water that dried the moment you left it. He shivered, despite the warmth that swirled around his legs and waist, but Aspen was still staring at him with a soft expression.
"Do you trust me?" She asked quietly.
"Yes," Dreg replied immediately, and he meant it.
"I'm going to dip you into the pool, I want you to try and remain relaxed. I promise nothing bad will happen to you. Okay, Dreg?"
"Okay."
Aspen glided around Dreg's form, long ripples flowing behind her as she moved. Then, when she was standing behind his tall form, she reached up and gently grasped his shoulders.
"Lay back, Dreg. I will hold you."
The Orc sighed, and he bent his knees as he slowly lowered himself into the warm liquid. Aspen slid forward, her arm firmly supporting his back. She lowered him further, and Dreg sucked in a deep breath as his back, chest, neck, and head started to go under. He closed his eyes, and Aspen dipped him even further until the Orc was completely submerged and floating on his back in the strange water.
Colors swirled around his vision; despite the fact his eyes were closed. Hues of purple, red, pink, and blue burst into light, and he was stunned by how beautiful it was.
Above the water, Aspen was breathing softly, her hand still under Dreg's back as she held him under the water. Her other hand tightly clenched his, and when she was sure it was enough Aspen slowly pushed on the small of his back. Dreg began to rise up from the water, and he re-emerged with a small gasp. Water poured down his face and chest, but when Aspen guided him back out from the pool they were completely dry by the time their feet reached the last step.
Master Ren stepped forward, a smile plastered on his face.
"Congrats Dreg... You are officially Aspen's Guardian."
The two men shook hands, but Dreg was dead silent. He was feeling too many things at once, and a part of him wanted to curl up in bed and sleep. Aspen and Ren spoke for a moment off to the side while Dreg waited near the stairs, and when Aspen returned to him she held a large coat in her hands. It was the same dark green color as her dress and had small amounts of white embroidery along the chest and arms. It was simple, and nowhere near the flashy clothing that Ivan favored. She held it out to Dreg with a smile.
"This is for you. All Guardians receive one, just like I receive gloves and a scarf. You aren't obligated to wear it, but it is encouraged."
Dreg took the coat from her hands, and he inspected it for a moment. It was made of very nice material.
"Thank you."
"Go and get some rest," Ren chimed in, and he kissed Aspen's cheek. "If you come by tomorrow, my child, I will have a new journey for you."
"Thank you, Master. Goodnight."
Dreg walked back to their home in a daze. Aspen held his hand all the way home, sensing that he was in distress. When they returned to the apartment, Dreg immediately walked towards the bedroom, and Aspen followed.
"Are you alright, Dreg?" She asked softly, and the Orc sat down on the edge of the bed with a sigh.
"Yeah," he grunted quietly.
"Can I say something?"
Dreg lifted his head to look up at Aspen. She had carried his jacket home, and she now neatly placed it on the dresser before turning back towards him.
"I don't want to get... super emotional since I know you're feeling overwhelmed right now..."
Aspen's voice was soft, and she shuffled closer, and she knelt down on the floor. Dreg watched as she tugged at the strings to his boots and pulled them off. He frowned, and a part of him wished he could tell her to stop, but he remained silent. Aspen knelt on the floor, her hands resting lightly on his knees, and she was smiling.
"I just needed to say thank you, for… for everything. For taking the vows, for offering to travel with me… I have been feeling so unsure with everything lately, but now… I am relieved that I can continue my work with a Guardian as fiercely protective as you."
Tears pricked at her eyes, but she quickly wiped at them and grinned.
"I-I don't think I have to explain how much it means to me. I'm so used to being disappointed by nearly everyone in my life."
"Aspen..."
"You don't have to say anything," Aspen continued firmly, and she squeezed his knees affectionately. "It's a lot for one night."
Dreg's hands shot down and he grasped her arms, pulling her towards him. He wrapped his arms around her waist in a big, firm hug. Aspen chuckled softly, and she hugged him back. It was the first time they had really been close since their incident, and Aspen was glad for it. They hugged for a long time, and Aspen gently rubbed his back with a smile on her lips. When she pulled back, she fondly patted Dreg's chest.
"Thank you, I needed that."
Aspen wandered out from the room to wash up and change. When she returned, Dreg was already lying in bed, but he was still awake. They slept closer together that night, their bodies almost touching.
Chapter Text
When Aspen woke up early the next morning, Dreg was still fast asleep. She watched him for a moment, the sounds of his snores the only noise in the room. He lay on his back with eyes closed, and his hand rested lightly on his chest, which rose and fell with each deep breath he took. She smiled to herself, still feeling grateful that he was her Guardian, and then she got up from the bed and changed into a plain tunic and simple tan breeches.
Aspen needed to go to the guild to see Master Ren, so she quietly left the apartment and began walking down the hill. She walked quickly, lost in thought, and did not notice the small group of people walking in her direction on the other side of the street. But, she heard his voice, as Ivan confidently strode forward, with a gaggle of young women hot on his tail. Her head snapped up, and she glanced over at them. Ivan spotted her as well, and their eyes met. Aspen's heart pounded loudly in her chest, and her breath hitched in her throat.
Ivan's eyes narrowed, and he regarded her with a look of disgust before he swung his arm around one of the women's shoulders and whispered something in her ear. The girl glanced over at Aspen who frowned, and she laughed. Ivan continued down the street, and Aspen was momentarily stunned. She knew that their falling out had been messy, but she hadn't expected somebody who used to be her Guardian act so cruel. She tried to shake the encounter off and walked even faster towards the Guild.
Aspen stepped into the main hall, and then swiftly made her way up to Master Ren's office. She knocked lightly, and when his soft voice called for her to enter she stepped inside.
"Ahh, Aspen. How did I know it was you?"
"I'm surprised you're not tired of me," Aspen joked, and they hugged.
"I would never grow tired of you, my dear. I will miss seeing your sweet face."
"Right… I suppose it's almost time to leave."
"You will stay for the banquet though, yes?"
Aspen pouted her lips, wanting to say no, but Ren's imploring look made her cave. She laughed, and then finally nodded.
"I suppose we'll stay... I should make Dreg suffer through one more event before we leave."
Ren laughed, and he guided Aspen over to his desk and sat down.
"How is your new Guardian? I noticed how quiet he was after taking the Vows."
"Um, he seems fine. I think it was just... taxing."
"Mmm," Ren gave a sympathetic smile and nodded. "One who isn't accustomed to the power of magical bonds can find it overwhelming."
"Exactly. He was still sleeping when I left this morning but I'm sure it'll be alright."
"Good. Now, the matter of your next journey..."
Ren pulled out a small piece of parchment, and he handed it to Aspen. Her eyes swiftly read the paper, smiling at first, but it quickly faltered once she reached the end.
"Caspire..."
"I know, I'm sorry Aspen. I wish I could send you somewhere else but the routes are not up to me."
"No," Aspen sighed, shaking her head. "It's okay, honest. I can't... can't avoid that place forever."
Aspen had only been to her hometown once since she ran away at the age of fourteen. She had avoided her mother like the plague and left the city as soon as possible. It had been her briefest stay, and Aspen had hoped to never return. But, she always knew it was a possibility.
"You do not have to stay for very long..."
"Okay, good."
Aspen folded the parchment and tucked it into her little satchel. She smiled, and then stood up from her chair.
"I should get going. I am supposed to meet Kendra to go dress shopping, she’ll be thrilled to learn I’m going."
"Enjoy your day, we'll see you at the banquet."
"Thank you, Master."
Aspen bowed her head, and then she quickly took her leave, heading back down towards the main hall. She took a quick detour towards the library to pick up a book she had been looking for. When she finally found it, she checked the book out with the clerk and then began making her way through the hall. However, before she reached the main room somebody stepped towards her from behind and grabbed her arm. She was whisked down an empty, narrow hallway that was dimly lit. Aspen gasped, and then she scowled when she realized who it was.
"Ivan... what are you doing?"
"What are you doing in the city for so long?" He asked her, and his hand painfully clenched her arms, pinning Aspen to the wall.
"How is that any of your business?"
"You said yourself we'd be far apart."
"Seriously?" Aspen scoffed, and she rolled her eyes. "I kind of had to find myself a new Guardian before I can just take off into the world. I nearly didn't make it here in one piece!"
"Who is that Orc," Ivan frowned. "Is he your lover?"
His hazel eyes bore a hole into hers, and Aspen struggled to keep her composure. It was the first time speaking to Ivan since their fight, and he had left her alone in Mayweather with no form of protection.
"He's my Guardian you idiot," Aspen growled through clenched teeth. “Not that it's any of your business. Now, let go of m-"
"He's no good for you."
"Excuse me?"
"I've seen him around the pits. He fought dirty... he's no good."
"Well luckily for you, Ivan, you have no say in-"
Her words were abruptly cut off as Ivan's lips crashed against hers in a rough kiss. He gripped her hard, and Aspen struggled against the invasion as her entire body recoiled in disgust. She finally broke free and gulped for air. Ivan clenched her arms as he kept Aspen pinned against the wall. He grasped her hair with one hand, pulling it so her neck arched back painfully.
"S-stop!" Aspen gasped. "Ivan!"
Aspen quickly brought her knee up, and it collided with Ivan's exposed crotch. She was breaking a vow, but the panic that coursed through her overrode every other sense in her body. Ivan quickly stumbled back, releasing her, and he doubled over in pain. Aspen took the opportunity to push past him, and she ran back towards the main hall. She expertly maneuvered wound her way around the fountains and continued running even after she was far away from the Guild. Tears streamed down her face, and she did not stop running until she reached her apartment and was safely inside. She shut the door with a small slam and collapsed against it, sobbing.
Dreg heard the door slam, and he could hear Aspen sobbing. Alarmed, the Orc quickly rushed out from the bedroom and went over to her.
"Aspen?"
His eyes landed on her as she stood, slumped against the door with her head in her hands. She slowly picked up her head and tried to smile at him, but it faltered, and Aspen cried harder, her shoulders shaking.
"Aspen... what's wrong?"
"I-I don't wanna say."
Dreg sighed, and he took Aspen's hand and guided her over to a nearby chair. He sat her down and then knelt on the floor close beside her. He softly squeezed her hand and rubbed it with his thumb, at a loss of how else to comfort her. Aspen's face and eyes were red, and she cried for a few more minutes before wiping her face on her sleeve. She hiccupped slightly, and finally, she looked at him.
"It's stupid. I-I don't know why I'm crying...I saw... Ivan, earlier."
"Is that what you're upset about?"
Aspen quickly shook her head, and she bit back a sob.
"No... he w-was rude, but he n-never said a word."
"Then what happened?"
"Y-You're going to be mad."
Dreg sighed, and he pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling frustrated.
"I might be, but I'll be even angrier if you don't tell me."
Aspen's brows furrowed together, and she bowed her head for a moment. When she spoke, it was little more than a whisper.
"H-He found me when I was leaving the guild and... tr-tried to talk to me. He was angry that I was in t-the city for so long when I agreed to stay away..."
Anger rippled through the Orc, but he forced himself to remain still while he listened.
"Then he... he kissed me. He wouldn't s-stop and so I kneed him in the groin and ran off..."
"I see."
Dreg swiftly stood up from the floor and began striding towards the door.
"No!" Aspen shouted, and she moved faster.
She ran in front of the door and pressed her back against it, blocking Dreg.
"Dreg you cannot do anything!"
"Like fuck I can't!" Dreg snarled, and his hands clenched into fists. "Move, Aspen."
"No..."
Aspen reached up and clenched the collar of his tunic.
"Please, Dreg. I am begging you. If you so much as hurt a hair on Ivans' head... they will punish you."
"So? I would rather suffer the consequences of beating that piece of shit to a pulp than let him get away with assaulting you. Now move!"
"Dreg... think about it. What if they take away your Guardianship? Ivan is not worth losing your job over. I couldn't handle it, please... I don't want to lose another Guardian."
Aspen's brows were furrowed together, and she stared up at the fuming mad Orc with a frantic expression. She tried desperately to get him to change his mind as she clutched the front of his tunic with both hands.
"I wish you'd just tell me what it is that happened between you two. I don't understand why... why..."
Dreg growled, and he let out a frustrated sigh.
"You continue to let him torture you after it was him that ultimately left you without protection."
"Because..." Aspen bowed her head, and she slumped back against the door.
"Because I broke a vow... we broke a vow, and he has so far kept our secret from the Masters. But it could all change..."
Aspen looked up at Dreg, as fresh tears slipped down her red cheeks.
"It will change if you attack him. I just want to finish our stay here and get the hell out of the city unscathed. Can you do that, Dreg?"
Dreg was silent as he mulled over her words. Anger burned inside of him, and he wanted nothing more than to beat Ivan's smug smile off his face. But, what Aspen said made sense. It would only create more problems. He would be risking his Guardianship with her if he lashed out. It was hard for him to admit she was right, but he eventually gave in.
"Fine... But if anything else happens I will hurt him."
"Nothing will happen, I promise. We'll be gone by the end of the week."
"End of the week?"
"Yes..." Aspen nervously rubbed her neck, sighing. "I agreed to go to the banquet."
"Banquet..."
"It's like a big dinner party for the entire city."
"Oh."
"We don't have to go for very long. Just... make an appearance, eat some food, then leave."
"We?"
Aspen gave him a sheepish smile, and the Orc growled and wandered back towards the bedroom.
"Is that a yes?" Aspen called out after him, and she laughed when Dreg shot her a scowl and disappeared through the doorway.
Aspen cleaned herself up and then got ready to see Kendra. She kept checking in on Dreg, who was still lounging in bed, to make sure he wouldn't go hunting for Ivan while she was gone.
"You swear you'll behave?"
It was the fourth time she'd asked him, and Dreg was thoroughly annoyed.
"Yes! Fucking hell, Aspen!"
Aspen flinched, but she forced herself to smile and shuffled back out of the room.
"I'll be back in a bit!"
When she was gone, Dreg got up from the bed and wandered over to where his Great Sword rested along the length of the dresser. He ran his hand across the leather scabbard, his expression dark as he struggled internally against himself. Then he forced himself to turn away, and he distracted himself by going to the brothel while Aspen was gone to take out his frustrations on something else. He asked for an Orc, as usual, and fucked the thick, curvy woman till he was completely spent. Then Dreg got dressed and made his way to a pub for something to eat. His thoughts were dark. Nothing would make him happier than putting Aspen's former Guardian six feet under the ground. But he was not in his Stronghold, and things didn't work like that. So, he silently brooded with a cool bottle of ale, sitting by himself at the bar, but he eventually grew tired of drinking as well and so he made his way back home.
Chapter Text
It was the night of the banquet, and Aspen was getting ready at Kendra's place. She sat in a chair in front of her friend's mirror, giggling as Kendra's fingers tickled the back of her neck.
"Stop moving!" Kendra whined as she attempted to braid her hair.
"I can't help it. You're tickling me, Kendra!"
The women laughed, and then Aspen finally settled down. Kendra swept two handfuls of Aspen's hair on either side of her head and began braiding them, starting small at first. Her hair had grown several inches since cutting it back in the winter, but it was still short enough not to be too bothersome. Kendra added more hair as she braided, and eventually incorporated all of Aspen's hair. When she was finished, she tied off the pretty braid with a thin piece of white ribbon and then held up a mirror for Aspen to inspect.
"Wow, you've gotten so good at braiding. Thank you!"
"You're welcome," Kendra gushed, smiling. "I'm just so glad you're finally going to the banquet. You've been skipping out for so long."
Aspen rolled her eyes, but she was smiling as well. If she was being honest, a part of her was looking forward to going for once. Perhaps it was because Dreg was going, but she tried not to linger on that thought too much.
When they were both dressed, Aspen made the quick walked back to her apartment to find Dreg, who, if he was following orders, should have been ready by now. She stepped inside to find him standing in the kitchen, chugging back a glass of water. He turned at the sound of the door, and Aspen rounded the corner and stopped dead in her tracks. She was stunned by his appearance.
Dreg stood, with a tired expression on his face, wearing the coat Aspen had gifted him. It hugged his form like a second skin, and he tugged at the high collar around his throat, feeling completely out of his element. His pants were the same dress pair from the other night, and his boots were still shiny and free of scuff marks. His dark brown hair was brushed and pulled back into a tidy knot. Dreg had also polished his tusks and shaved his face for the occasion.
He stared at Aspen, who wore a beautiful light grey dress that hung past her knees. The collar was high on either side of her neck, but this time it dipped down, revealing part of her creamy white chest. Delicate little flowers had been embroidered along the arms, chest and scattered down the dress in little dashes of color. But it was the way she was staring at Dreg, with an expression of surprise, that made him nervous.
"What is it?" He grumbled, feeling his cheeks grow warm. "Do I look that bad?"
Aspen quickly shook herself from her stupor and stepped closer, feeling her cheeks flush as she realized she had been gawking.
"No not at all, Dreg... you look great."
"Hmph, you're just saying that."
"I'm not, that coat really suits you."
She watched as the Orc smoothed looked down at himself, and then back at her.
"You... look great, too."
"Thank you. Are you ready?"
Dreg placed his cup down on the counter, and then he nodded.
"Yep."
Aspen grabbed one of her coats and slung it over her shoulders before heading outside. Dreg followed, and she linked her arm through his. He smiled ever so slightly, his thoughts still lingering on the way Aspen had stared at him for so long. They walked towards the hall, as were several other parties, and they reached the Guild within a few minutes.
"How do they have room to host a party with all those damn fountains?" Dreg teased, and Aspen dug her elbow into his side.
"They have a hall on the second floor, silly."
"Really? I didn't know."
"It's closed off when they're not using it.”
They ascended the stairs leading up to the second floor along with a small wave of other guests. Dreg felt slightly uncomfortable being in such a huge social situation, but he knew it made Aspen happy, so, he suffered through it. Eventually, they reached the top landing and entered into a massive hall. Dozens of tables with bright white tablecloths occupied most of the space, with a generously sized polished marble floor in the middle designated for dancing. Vast amounts of fabric hung down from the windows in all patterns and colors, and the walls were alight with what felt like hundreds of lanterns. It was very pretty, and Aspen was momentarily stunned by the scene. A voice called out to her, and she turned to find Kendra walking towards the pair.
"Hey, Dreg!" Kendra greeted enthusiastically, and her eyes widened in surprise. "Wow... you look amazing!"
Dreg shuffled awkwardly, feeling hot around the collar.
"You look like a proper Guardian," Kendra continued, her eyes glinting warmly at them. "I can't wait to hear all about your Shenanigans around the countryside."
"Okay, Kendra...I think you've embarrassed him enough," Aspen cut in, but she was smiling.
Dreg grunted something, but he smiled a little, before moving towards the drink section. Kendra and Aspen spent a few more minutes chatting, and Aspen got to meet her friend's current love interest. The man seemed nice enough, and was very handsome, which she knew was Kendra's tastes.
"Really though..." Kendra whispered, her cheeks flushed bright pink from the humid air. "Dreg looks incredible all dressed up like that. How can you keep your hands off of him?"
Aspen groaned, and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Kendra you're awful... You know I can't... we can't..."
"Right! I forgot, oh you poor thing."
"It's fine but please... you're killing me!"
Kendra laughed, and she patted Aspen's cheek affectionately. Dreg returned a few moments later with two glasses of red wine, and he handed one to her.
"They only have fruity drinks," he complained.
"I'm sorry... maybe you can hunt down something else later."
"Hopefully."
Most of the guests were beginning to take their seats, and so Kendra, her partner, Dreg, and Aspen all found a table together and sat down. A couple of other people occupied the rest of the chairs, but Aspen didn't recognize them. Kendra chatted with one of the girls, while Dreg quietly stared out at the hall, feeling quite bored. They didn't have to wait long, for around ten minutes later dozens of servants began walking by with plates of food. It all smelled and looked delicious, and everyone tucked into their meals with great interest.
A little while later, the orchestra grew a little louder, and the lights were dimmer. Mostly everyone had finished eating, and some guests were beginning to converge on the dancefloor. Kendra whisked her date onto the floor to dance, and the others followed suit, leaving Dreg and Aspen alone at their table. Dreg shot Aspen a glance, watching as she observed the dancefloor. She held a glass of wine in her hands and took a sip every so often, the hint of a smile on her lips.
"You don't... dance... do you?"
"Hmm?" Aspen murmured, and she glanced over at him. "Me? No, not really."
Dreg let out a sigh of relief. Aspen laughed, and she lightly patted his thigh.
"Don't worry... I think I've tortured you enough."
"It's not torture," Dreg grunted softly, and he glanced down at the table. "I just prefer your company to... all these strangers."
Aspen was touched, and for a moment she didn't know what to say. Thankfully, she didn't have to. Master Ren's smiling face appeared across the way from them, and he glided towards their table. He wore a brilliantly ruffled robe the color of deep blue, and his bald head shone so brightly it was nearly blinding.
"Aspen..." Ren greeted, and the Elf hastily stood up from her chair. "My child, you are stunning."
"Thank you, Master," Aspen mumbled quietly, blushing.
"Dreg, good to see you."
The two men shook hands, and Ren chatted with them for a few minutes before walking off to greet more guests. Aspen and Dreg wandered over near a window with their drinks, and a couple of healers Aspen knew approached her. Dreg hung back, content to just watch as she chatted with the women, a smile on her face. She glanced over at him every so often, and he thought she looked so beautiful that it made his chest hurt, and he'd hastily look somewhere else.
Aspen was aware of the small group of party goers nearby, although she tried her best to ignore it. However, as time went on, she was aware of the staring, and she knew it was directed at her. Among the group was Ivan, who seemed to be spearheading the gossip. Eventually, Dreg picked up on her discomfort, and his eyes swept around the room as he searched for the source. His face quickly turned to a scowl when he spotted Ivan, and he turned towards Aspen.
"I don't mean to rush you, but if you don't want me to do something about that shithead... it might be a good idea to leave now."
Aspen frowned, but she had to agree. She downed the rest of her wine and placed her empty glass on a nearby table.
"You're right, let's go."
They had to walk somewhat close to the group, for the exit was on the other side of where everyone had gathered and there were dancers to their left. Dreg quickly grasped Aspen's arm and tucked it under his before they began walking, all the while shooting dirty glances Ivan's way. When they drew closer, a couple of the women laughed, and Ivan's voice drifted over to them.
"Trust me, it's a miracle she ever found another Guardian..." Ivan scoffed, his voice just loud enough for them to hear. "Somebody that will put up with her endless crying and emotional garbage... A man can only handle so much."
Dreg stiffened, and he suddenly turned around and lurched towards the group. Aspen quietly hissed his name, as she scrambled to catch up, but it was no use. She watched, horrified, as he strode directly up to the man in question. Ivan pushed himself away from the table with a smirk and a jolt of panic coursed through her as the two Guardians sized each other up right there in the middle of the hall.
"Have something to say, Orc?"
"You want me to kick your sorry ass again? Cause I don't mind one bit," Dreg growled, and he glared down at Ivan with a furious expression.
"You wish," Ivan laughed, and he crossed his arms over his chest.
Aspen finally strode up to Dreg, and she tugged on his arm.
"Come on Dreg... he's not worth it."
Dreg ripped his arm from her grasp, and his hands clenched into fists. Ivan laughed, and a chorus of chuckles and giggles from his party followed.
"Go on then, Dreg... go crawl back to your little Healer."
"Dreg please!"
The Orc blinked, and he let out a deep breath and turned around. Aspen couldn't believe that he was backing down and she reached out to grasp his arm when Ivan's voice suddenly piped up.
"Although I'd hardly classify her as a healer..." Ivan sneered quietly. "With her reputation for being a whore-"
Dreg's fist promptly connected with Ivan's face, and there was an audible gasp by everyone in the immediate vicinity as Ivan was thrown back by the force. His friends quickly caught Ivan before he went crashing down to the ground, and blood began pouring down his face from his shattered nose. Aspen's eyes widened, and she quickly tugged on Dreg's arm. The commotion was quickly gathering a crowd.
"Dreg! Come on!"
Dreg straightened up, still scowling, but he turned around and Aspen began walking very quickly towards the doors. They exited the hall and rushed down the stairs, not stopping until they reached the outdoors of Castlegra. When they were safely down the stairs, Aspen spun around and angrily jabbed Dreg in the chest.
"Do you want to be punished, Dreg! Causing a scene at the fucking banquet is going to get you there really quick!"
Dreg shrugged, and he held up his hands as Aspen glared at him.
"I don't care, I will defend my actions. He had no right to speak of you like that."
"Talking isn't against the rules, Dreg..." Aspen covered her face with her hands and let out a small frustrated yell. "Punching people is totally against the rules!"
Dreg rubbed at his neck, sighing, and he bowed his head. A few minutes passed as they silently stood outside, and Aspen wondered what she should do.
"Dreg?"
The Orc turned around, and Aspen looked up to see Master Ren standing several paces back. He slowly walked down the stairs and came closer, a sad expression on his face.
"I heard the commotion... Ivan is quite hurt."
"I'm sorry, Master-”
"I won't apologize," Dreg cut in with an angry growl. "He completely deserved it."
Ren looked over at Aspen, who had wrapped her arms around herself and was nervously rocking back and forth on her feet with a worried expression. He addressed her first.
"I know that... the story you have told me about you and Ivan isn't the whole truth, my dear. I've been around you long enough to know when something troubles you. You're bad at hiding things."
Aspen made a small noise, and her brows furrowed together.
"I won't pry, as it is not my business. But, from what I gather... Ivan probably did deserve it. If it were up to me, I wouldn't be speaking to you about this."
"At any rate, that's not important. Dreg, it is against the rules to put your hands on another Guardian with violence."
"I know, but-"
"It is not up to me, but the other Masters. I did manage to quell their emotions before it got out of hand. Ivan will recover, and you two will be leaving Castlegra very shortly. In any other circumstance, you'd be punished, but since it is your first offense..."
Dreg looked at Ren, who was staring at him with a hard expression.
"You will be let off with your first and only warning."
He watched as Dreg bowed his head, and he nodded.
"Don't let it happen again."
"I won't."
"Now, Aspen. If you wouldn't mind letting me talk to Dreg in private for a moment..."
Aspen's eyes flicked up to Dreg's face, and then back at Master Ren. She nodded, and then quickly walked partway down the street and sat against a bench to wait. She nervously chewed her nails, and she glanced back at the two men every so often, worried about what they were talking about.
"I wanted to say a few things before you and Aspen take off on your journey."
"Okay..."
Dreg leaned against the low brick wall that flanked either side of the stairs leading up the Guild, and he was quiet while Ren spoke.
"I was wary about Aspen opening up to yet another Guardian, after all, that's happened to her... both with the Guild and before. I know that you come from a different place, and handle things differently than she does. Aspen is... sensitive, and it's part of what makes her such a talented healer. But it's also why I worry..."
Ren sighed and wrapped his arms in the long swooping sleeves of his robes. Dreg had never seen the guy so concerned, and he knew they shared that mutual feeling between them.
"If you have any trepidations about traveling with her, I'd rather you say it now... before you head out there, and problems arise."
Dreg was quiet for a moment as Ren's words sunk into him.
"I know I'm an ass," he grumbled with a frown. "I was worse when we first met, and if you had asked me that question a month ago I would have told you something different."
Dreg stood up from the wall and looked down the street, his eyes on Aspen's back. She anxiously shook one of her feet and played with a loose strand of her hair that escaped her braid.
"When I look at Aspen now, I know, without a doubt... I would die for her."
Ren was silent, but in his heart, he knew the Orc was telling the truth.
"I want her to be happy. Anything that I've gone through... what's happened with my Stronghold... it's my past, and I'm trying to deal with it. Two months ago I wanted to die, and now I have a reason to keep going. That reason is protecting Aspen."
"I believe you, I really do."
Ren smiled. He reached out and grasped his shoulder, clenching it gently.
"I think I just needed to hear that from you. Thank you, Dreg."
"Thank you for caring for her. I know how close you two are."
"Yes well..."
Ren glanced towards Aspen, and his expression was soft.
"I consider her like a daughter. I have none of my own. I've seen her evolve from a half-starved, terrified little girl to the strong and talented woman she is today. She is the youngest Healer to graduate from the Guild."
"Sounds about right," Dreg snorted, "She's damn near perfect."
Dreg was also staring at Aspen, who glanced over at the men, and her eyes widened when she found them both looking at her before she hastily looked away. Ren chuckled, and he took his leave.
"I should get back... try to control your temper next time. Take care, Dreg."
"You too."
Aspen stifled a yawn, still feeling rather dazed about everything that happened. She didn't hear Dreg approach, and she startled when he called her name.
"You okay?"
"Yeah sorry..." Aspen replied hastily, and she stood up.
Dreg took her hand, and they began walking back towards the Healer's District. Neither one of them spoke, but the silence was not uncomfortable. When they reached their apartment, Aspen quickly unlocked the door and they stepped inside. She wandered into the bathroom to undo her braid and wash up, and Dreg went into the bedroom and changed out from his formal clothes. He tossed on a tan tunic and his cotton pants before going back into the main room. Then, he lit a small fire in the hearth and sat down in the chair with a quiet groan. His mind was racing a mile a minute, and he was too worked up to go to sleep. Aspen drifted out from the bathroom and she hung her dress over the back of a chair before getting herself something to drink.
She idly sipped on a cup of water while staring at Dreg's back as he lounged in the chair near the fire. Aspen struggled internally with herself. There was so much she wanted to say, and so much she knew she couldn't, or shouldn't. After a while, she placed the cup down on the table and walked into the bedroom for a moment. When she returned, she held something small in her hands.
"Dreg?"
"Yeah?"
Aspen stood right beside his chair, and he turned to look at her. He ran his hand along the shaved part of his head, and his bright red eyes peered up at the Elf in the half-dark.
"I... I wanted to give you something."
Aspen opened her hand, revealing a necklace almost identical to the one she always wore. It was a small silver pendant in the shape of a fern, and it was hung on a long piece of black cord. Dreg plucked the charm up to inspect it, feeling his throat constrict tightly.
"I-I um... wanted to give it to you when you gave your vows but... I didn't commission the jeweler soon enough, and it wasn't ready until this morning."
"It's... just like the one you have."
"Oh, yeah..." Aspen laughed softly, and she tugged the identical black chord from underneath her shirt.
The charm hung down between her breasts, and Dreg glanced at hers for a moment before turning back to the one in his hand; completely speechless. Aspen suddenly had a moment of doubt, and so she quickly tried to cover it up.
"It's uh... it's kinda stupid... y-you don't have to wear it. In fact... I can take it back, honest-"
"It's not stupid," Dreg growled, and he closed his hand around the necklace and held it against his chest out of reach.
Aspen watched as he looked at it again, and then he placed it on, slipping the cord around his neck. The little charm rested against his thick chest and looked like it belonged there.
"Thank you."
Aspen's cheeks burned bright red. Something about seeing Dreg wearing the necklace she gave him caused an ache in her chest. She stammered out a goodnight and hastily retreated to the bedroom for the rest of the night. She laid in bed tossing and turning for several hours as she struggled to get to sleep.
Dreg sat by the fire for most of the night, his fingers playing with the fern charm. He stared silently at the fire, thinking over everything that Ren had said to him earlier. Eventually, tiredness took over, and he forced himself to go to sleep. He slept lightly, waking often from strange dreams.
Chapter 20
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
It was the morning of their departure. Aspen walked around the room in an anxious frenzy as she double and triple checked their belongings. Dreg sighed impatiently with his arms crossed as he stood nearby waiting for her. Her pacing was making him nervous, and he couldn’t handle it anymore.
"Would you finish already so we can get going?" He huffed, and Aspen shot him a glare.
“In a minute!"
Dreg rolled his eyes and turned away from her. He busied himself with putting on his boots, and when he straightened up Aspen was inspecting her medicinal chest. They had been gifted two horses from the Guild, which Aspen was grateful for, as she had far too many supplies for her back to handle.
"We’re not going to be gone forever..."
"Dreg, please! "
"Aspen."
Dreg grabbed her by her shoulders, forcing Aspen to look at him.
"What are you worried about?"
"I am not-"
"Yes. You are."
Aspen sighed, and she bowed her head.
"I'm just... a little nervous. This is our first trip."
"No, it's not," Dreg grumbled softly. "It's technically our second."
"The first one doesn't really count."
"It does to me. Come on... I don't think there's going to be another flood like the one we went through. We also have horses now, so faster travel."
"I know," Aspen sighed, and she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I know."
Dreg released his hold from her shoulders and walked over to the table. He finished doing up the straps on two of the satchels and then slung one of them over his shoulders. He held the other in his hand, and he picked up his sword and started heading towards the door.
"Hurry up, your friends are waiting to say goodbye."
Aspen quickly gathered the rest of their supplies and she jogged after Dreg. Once the apartment was safely locked up, they walked down the street towards the east gate. Once they passed through them, they finished walking the short distance to the stables. Julien and Kendra were already there, waiting for them. Two horses stood tied to a post, their tails flicking back and forth while they waited. One of them was brown with big white splashes across its hide, and the other was dark like night. Dreg wandered over to the black one and Aspen noticed the Orc as he ran his hands along its neck affectionately. The horse snorted, and she could have sworn she saw Dreg smile.
"Aspen, do you have to leave so soon!" Kendra wailed, and she clutched dramatically at Aspen's coat.
"I'm sorry Kendra, but we have overstepped our stay in Castlegra."
Aspen shot Dreg a weighted look, and the Orc rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. Kendra and Aspen hugged each other tightly and finished saying goodbye before Julien pulled her off to the side to speak in private.
"I'm going to miss you. It was nice having you around again."
"Thanks, Julien, I look forward to hearing about Bea's Inn. I hope everything goes well."
"I'll tell you all about it the next time we meet," Julien smiled, and reached into the pocket of his coat. "Listen..."
Aspen raised one brow, watching as he pulled out a small brown package. It was the size of her palm and neatly wrapped with brown string.
"Will you promise me you won't open this until your birthday?"
Aspen nodded, and he gently placed it in her hand.
"You didn't have to get me anything-"
"Nonsense, of course, I do. Why stop now?"
A lump formed in Aspen's throat and she felt herself getting teary-eyed, so she quickly wrapped her arms around Julien's neck and hugged him. The man laughed softly, and he gently rubbed her back.
"Take care, and stay safe."
"I'm not worried," Aspen replied lightly, and her eyes glanced over at the Orc.
Dreg was nearly finished securing their packs to the horse's saddles. A light breeze played with the hem of his tunic as he reached his arms up to tighten a strap, exposing a sliver of his toned lower back. She hastily snapped out of her staring and returned to Kendra, who hugged and kissed her one last time.
"You'll come back, right? I feel like I won't ever see you again."
"Kendra you're so silly, of course, I'll be back. Just... not anytime soon."
The women laughed, and then Aspen wandered over to where Dreg was waiting.
"Which one do you like?" He grunted.
"I think you have a thing for the black one," Aspen teased. "I'll take the painted."
Dreg growled, but his expression was soft. He placed his hands around Aspen's waist and hoisted her up onto the horse. She was not a seasoned rider but could do pretty well on her own. She shuffled her butt and adjusted her position until she was comfortable. She looked over at Dreg, who was sitting up on the other horse. He looked mighty comfortable, and Aspen was a little jealous. She felt rather awkward to be riding.
"Ready?"
Aspen nodded. Dreg clicked his tongue, and his horse began to move. Aspen followed suit, lightly squeezing her calves around her horse's sides. It snorted softly, and they began slowly riding down the South road towards their first destination. Halgrim was a smaller town about five days away from Castlegra, and it was the location of a small college. Other than the school, the majority of its buildings were dorms, but there were a couple of Inns and regular housing as well.
Aspen spun around in her saddle to look back at Julien and Kendra. Kendra clung onto her brother's arm, a grin plastered on her pretty face, and she enthusiastically waved at the pair as they rode down the road away from them. Aspen waved back until they were too far away, and then she urged her horse into a trot so she could catch up with Dreg. The Orc looked relaxed, and his hands rested lightly in his lap with the reins. They rode for a little while in silence, until Aspen began chatting out of boredom.
"We won't have to camp very much if we make good time."
"Hm?" Dreg grunted softly, and he looked over at her.
"This is the main road. So, if you're not too slow there's an Inn for almost every night you stop to rest."
"That's good. I don’t miss camping."
"Me neither," Aspen laughed, and she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and looked out at the road. "Inns are far more comfortable."
After a while, the pair wandered a little way off the road and dismounted from their horses. Aspen's legs ached, and she stood for a few moments trying to stretch them before she got herself a bite to eat. Dreg leaned against the bark of a tree while he chewed on some jerky, watching the Elf as she popped berries into her mouth while wandering around in a wide circle around the tree.
"You don't ride much?" He asked, curious.
"No... I'm far more used to walking, but it's taxing on my back to have to carry all my supplies. It seems like every time I go home, I come back with more than I originally started with."
"I like riding," Dreg grunted softly.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Most Orcs don't care to use them for travel, but we had a draft horse growing up."
Aspen paused her walking, and eyed Dreg with a curious expression. She hadn't expected him to share another detail of his past.
"His name was Slop, and he was a good horse. I spent a lot of time in the stables."
"I like learning new things about you."
Dreg looked at Aspen, and she was smiling at him. He pushed himself away from the tree and wandered back to his horse, feeling conflicted. Part of him was pleased by her comment, but the other half still struggled to let her get close. But he seemed helpless to stop it. He was her Guardian now, and they were closer than ever before.
Dreg ran his hand along the stallion's silky black neck, his mind far away. Eventually, Aspen finished eating and he helped her back up onto her horse before mounting his. They made their way back to the main road and rode until they reached the first Inn for the night. A small stable lay to the side of the building, and they stopped there first to deal with the horses. Once they were tucked comfortably inside their stalls with fresh hay and water, the pair made their way to the front porch of the Inn.
Aspen's legs were properly sore, and she leaned into Dreg as they walked. He guided her to the back of the main hall, where the Innkeeper greeted them. It was a spacious Inn, and several patrons were tucking into their drinks and meals at the various tables situated around the room.
"Hello, dearies... Oh, Aspen!"
Aspen smiled and stifled a yawn. She knew the Innkeeper very well. She had helped the woman twice before with medical issues.
"Nice to see you again my dear," Helen gushed.
"You as well."
"What happened to that charming companion of yours? What was his name..."
Aspen blushed, and she hastily tried to switch topics.
"Oh, Ivan. He's moved onto something else. Um... Dreg and I could use a room if you don't mind."
"Oh, of course. This way dearies…”
They followed Helen down a narrow hallway until they reached their room. She handed Aspen the key and squeezed the healer's shoulder affectionately before leaving them.
"I'll have one of the girls bring you some supper and drinks."
"Thank you, Helen."
They were both silent as they dumped their bags onto the floor beside their bed and sat down on the edge with small sighs. They tugged their boots off, and Aspen busied herself with removing her gloves, scarf, and coat. A few minutes later there was a small knock at the door, and one of Helen's daughters entered with a tray laden with delicious smelling food and drinks. She placed it on the small round table pushed up against the far wall, and they thanked her as the girl quickly took off.
Once dinner was consumed, and their drinks were finished as well, they both laid down, feeling sleepy. Aspen was asleep within minutes of her head hitting the pillow, but Dreg remained awake a little while longer, his thoughts lingering.
The next day consisted of the usual routine. Aspen and Dreg enjoyed a hot meal for breakfast, courtesy of Helen, before continuing their trek towards Halgrim. The weather was nice, and it was now terribly close to summer, but by the afternoon the sun was almost too hot as it beat down on their heads. Aspen ditched her long-sleeved tunics for shorter-sleeved ones while they rode, and she removed her scarf as well for it was too hot. Dreg hadn't worn his coat since the banquet, but mostly because he was worried about ruining the fine fabric.
It was the morning of the third day, and Aspen was in a poor mood. She silently sulked while they sat at a table eating breakfast, and picked at her food.
"What is wrong?"
Aspen sighed, and she looked up at the Orc.
"I wish it weren't my birthday."
Dreg's eyes widened. He knew Aspen had told him her birthday was coming up, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon. He had nothing to give her.
"It's… today?"
"Yes," Aspen whined softly. "I'm another year older."
Dreg couldn't help but laugh at how she was reacting to turning twenty-three.
"You're still young, silly."
"You say that now, but in another year, I'll be older... and older..."
They slowly finished up breakfast and Dreg took their bags out to the horses to get ready. Aspen lingered behind in their room while he was gone, and she held the small package from Julien in her hands. Her heart thumped in her chest, and she wasn't sure she wanted to see what it was, but she forced herself to open it. Her fingers tugged at the string, and she unraveled the thin brown packaging. Her eyes widened when she saw what was inside. It was a small wooden amulet that had been carved in the shape of a leaf. It appeared to be infused with the most beautiful glass. It seeped into the veins of the wood like it was alive and Aspen was stunned by something so precious. It felt warm in her hands and almost appeared to glow in hues of blue, pink, and purple. There was a small note inside as well, and she unfurled the parchment with shaking hands.
Dear Aspen,
I know that I haven't been the greatest man for you. I now regret being so idle, and because of my inability to do something, you've slipped through my fingers. However, I value your friendship, and I hope that this gift doesn't put you off. It was made to give it to somebody I love, and that's still the case. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, and I look forward to seeing you on your next trip home.
Your friend, always,
Julien
Aspen clutched the paper to her chest, feeling overwhelmed. Tears pricked at her eyes but she slowly sucked in a deep breath. There was no point in crying over Julien, it had been her choice alone not to be with him. She had made up her mind, and Julien had accepted her decision gracefully.
The door to the room opened, and Dreg popped his head in.
"Aspen? You ready?"
Dreg's voice brought her back to the present. Aspen slipped the note and amulet into her satchel with a small smile, and she swung it over her shoulder.
"Yep. Let's go."
Dreg was quiet for most of the day, as he struggled to come up with something he could do for Aspen's birthday. He felt like an idiot for not thinking of it sooner, and if Aspen picked up on his frantic energy she didn't say anything. She was also quiet, with too many things on her mind. Eventually, they stopped again for lunch and then continued riding until dusk began to settle in once more.
The horses nickered softly as the sky began to grow dark, and there wasn't an Inn anywhere. Aspen frowned, feeling concerned.
"I know Honeybraid Inn is around here... we didn't take any unnecessary stops..."
They rounded the next bend and suddenly a small Inn came into view. Light poured out from the small windows, and they could hear faint music. Dreg dealt with the horses while Aspen wandered into the Inn to get a room, and she was guided to a small bedroom on the second floor. She dropped her packs down on the ground and slipped her coat off as she sat down on the bed with a small groan. Some time passed, and then she left the room and went back downstairs to find Dreg. The Orc was nowhere to be found, and Aspen sat by herself and sipped on a glass of Ale for a little while, feeling confused.
More time passed, and she was growing impatient. She wondered if he had gone up to their room already and she'd missed it. So, she pushed her chair back and stood up, yawning quietly, and began climbing back up the stairs. When she opened the door, she found Dreg standing by the little wooden table with his back to her.
"Dreg? Where have you been…”
Dreg turned around, and he stepped back from the table. A small round cake rested on the table, along with two plates and cutlery. Light, fluffy white icing covered the entire cake, and she stared at it for a moment, completely stunned. Dreg rubbed his neck nervously, smiling.
"Happy Birthday."
Aspen blinked, and a warmth spread through her chest.
"I-I uh... I didn't have anything prepared for you," Dreg continued quickly, and he gestured towards the cake. "Sorry I disappeared earlier, but I went to the cook and asked him to bake me a cake. So, I can't take any credit for it."
Tears welled up in Aspen's eyes, and the Orc became alarmed.
"What... Did I mess up?" He grumbled, frowning.
"N-No!" Aspen stammered, and she hastily wiped her eyes. "I'm just... I'm touched Dreg. Thank you."
He wanted to tell her it wasn't a big deal, but Dreg refrained. Seeing Aspen overcome by the simple gesture of giving her a cake made him feel good, and he didn't want to spoil it by being sarcastic. He smiled and waved Aspen forward. He held out the knife to her.
"Go on," he encouraged.
Aspen smiled, and she cut two generous portions of the cake and placed them on the plates. They sat together, chatting lightly while eating the delicious dessert. The cake was delicious, with a hint of vanilla, and was still warm in the middle. They hadn't eaten dinner yet, but Aspen didn’t care. She felt so grateful towards Dreg, that she couldn't stop grinning and saying thank you.
"If I had known a cake would have made you this happy, I would have given you dozens of them before this one."
Aspen laughed, her voice like music to his ears, and he couldn't help but grin. There was a knock at the door, and two servant girls entered with their dinner. The pair tucked into their meals, and they spent the evening just sitting together, speaking about much of nothing. Aspen enjoyed it immensely, and she was generous with her ale consumption. As the night when on, she went on to drink five bottles in total, and at some point, Dreg had to cut her off.
"Okay, I know it's your birthday," he growled softly, watching as Aspen's eyelids fluttered shut and then she quickly opened them again. "But as your Guardian, I think I can safely say you've had enough."
Aspen grumbled a small protest, but she was smiling. She sat, slumped back in her chair, with her eyes half-closed. A few minutes went by, and Dreg thought she had fallen asleep. He moved closer, intending to get her to bed when he eyes suddenly snapped open, and she shook her head.
"Come on, it's bedtime."
"You're so good to me," Aspen mumbled, her voice slurred. "You deserve to know the truth."
Dreg paused, and he peered down at Aspen, knowing that she was incredibly drunk, and probably wasn't aware of what she was saying.
"What are you talking about?"
"About..." Aspen frowned, and she grimaced. "About what happened. You deserve to know. Even though I'm be-beyond humiliated for being so... weak."
The Orc knew she was referring to Ivan. Curiosity burned inside of him, but this was not how he wanted to learn the truth. He tugged on her arm, trying to redirect her attention, but Aspen was stubborn. She planted her butt more firmly into the chair and pulled her arm out of his grasp.
"No, listen. I w-want to tell you. I've gone unpunished for so long..."
"Aspen," Dreg sighed, and he sat back in his chair. "I wish you wouldn't tell me when you're drunk."
"Maybe this.... this is the only way I can."
Aspen was silent for a moment, and she rubbed at her cheek, sighing.
"I met Ivan through Master Ren. He had never been... a Guardian before, and I had never needed one until I was leaving the city for the first time. He was interested in finding a healer. Ivan w-was everything most people see. Handsome, wickedly uhh charming and… flamboyant. We were... complete opposites. But we somehow bonded."
Dreg listened quietly, and he couldn't help but feel bad. He knew that this was not another memory he was going to like, and it was going to make him hate the snot-faced Guardian even more.
"I learned that pretty much everything in his life had gone pretty well. He came from a wealthy family and nothing really bad ever happened to him. I thought he was a good man. I had no idea how wrong I was."
Dreg frowned, and he opened his mouth to speak but Aspen continued. Her voice was low and thick, and she blinked back tears while she spoke.
"He played me like a harp, Dreg. I was a fool, and I fell for all of his tricks. Ivan whispered sweet nothings in my ear and promised me things I know now he never intended to give. Despite the fact it was forbidden, I gave myself to him."
"It didn't take long for his true self to come through. He began skipping out for days at a time, and I would have no choice but to wait for him to return. He flirted relentlessly with any women, and it was becoming unbearable to travel with him."
Aspen sighed, and she wiped at the tear that fell down her cheek. She stared at the table with bloodshot eyes, lost in thought.
"I felt like I deserved it. I should have known better, but I gave into him time and time again. Then, one day he humiliated me one too many times, and I snapped. We had a huge fight, and he took off, leaving me alone."
"Aspen."
Aspen glanced up at Dreg, who was staring at her with a hardened expression.
"It wasn't your fault."
The Orc stood up from the table, and he tugged on Aspen's arm, pulling her up as well. He wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her close. Aspen closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace, comforted by the steady beating of his heart. When he pulled back, his expression was softer, and Aspen sniffled quietly.
"This isn't how I wanted your birthday to end," he sighed quietly.
Aspen's eyes were nearly closed, and he wasn't sure if she was listening. An idea suddenly came to him.
"Aspen?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you want to hear a story?"
Aspen's eyes opened fully, and she beamed up at Dreg. She swayed slightly, still heavily intoxicated from all the ale she consumed, but she was alert enough. Dreg swept Aspen into his arms, hoisting her off the ground. She gave a small shriek and clutched her arms around him. She pressed her face into the crook of his neck with a grin. The Orc sat down on the bed and leaned against the headboard, still holding Aspen in his lap. She sighed quietly, and her body relaxed into his.
"Tell me a story," she whispered.
"It's a child's tale. My mother used to tell me it when I was young…”
Aspen listened for much longer than he had been expecting with a smile on her soft lips. Eventually, she drifted to sleep, and Dreg didn't have the heart to move her. So, he finished the tale anyway, feeling a bit sad as the image of his mother appeared to him. But, he knew this was what she wanted, and so with that firm thought he laid his head back against the wooden headboard and fell asleep; still holding Aspen firmly in his lap.
Notes:
Thanks for reading :)
Chapter Text
It was mid-morning on the fifth day. Aspen had anticipated they'd arrive in Halgrim by sunset at the latest, but she knew there was an area nearby that yielded a certain mushroom she used in her medicine.
"If there are any that are ready, I'd like to get my hands on them."
"Okay," Dreg grunted, and he looked around the road. "Where?"
"A little further, and then we'll have to get off the road and go on foot."
Around five minutes later they guided the horses off the beaten path and tethered them loosely to a tree before continuing by foot. The forest was dense in this area, and very little sunlight penetrated the forest floor through the thick leaves of the trees. The ground was slick with mud, and so they moved very carefully, making sure neither one of them slipped.
Aspen searched the area as best she could, but after an hour she was cold, muddy and feeling annoyed. Dreg was nearby, bent down as he brushed his hands through the bushes, searching for any sign of the mushrooms Aspen had described to him. He came up with nothing.
"It's no use, "Aspen huffed angrily, and she began walking towards him. "I bet people have already come through here."
She took another step and slipped on something slick. She lost her balance and fell to the ground with a wet thud. Dreg turned around to see her laying on her back, and she gave a frustrated yell. A laugh escaped his lips. Aspen slowly sat up, and she scowled at Dreg as he chuckled.
"Shut up and help me!" She whined, and her brows furrowed together. "I'm completely covered in mud."
"I can see that," Dreg replied, and he held his hand out to her.
Aspen grasped his hand and Dreg hauled the dirty Healer to her feet, still amused.
"What am I going to do... we're still hours away from the city."
"I heard what sounds like water nearby... perhaps there is a stream or something?"
Aspen nodded, and she followed Dreg as he picked his way through the thick brush. He held branches and bushes back for her, making sure none of them whipped her in the face, and eventually, they stepped into a small clearing. Their eyes widened as they realized what Dreg had heard was a small waterfall. Mist rose up from the small pool as water rushed down the edge of the rocks, tumbling down in a thick stream.
"How lucky," Aspen gasped.
Dreg looked mighty pleased with himself, and he waited near the edge of the forest while Aspen walked up to the waterfall and stood directly underneath while completely clothed. When she was satisfied her clothes were free of mud, she peeled them off and laid them against the rocks to air out and took the opportunity to enjoy the refreshing water. It was a little on the cold side but not unbearable. She stood under the stream of water, enjoying the water that flowed over her, and Dreg occasionally sent a glance her way but otherwise remained distant. His heart skipped a beat every time he looked at her naked form, and he was reminded of the night they almost coupled. It sent a ripple of desire through him, and he knew he had to be careful.
Aspen let out a puff of air as she finally stepped away from the water and reached out for her towel. She stiffened when she saw two figures moving by the other side of the waterfall, out of Dreg's eyesight.
"What a surprise, an Elf all alone. A pretty one, at that."
Aspen's eyes narrowed, and she clenched the towel around her wet body as she regarded the intruders. They were both male, with matching leather armor that was worn and stained. It looked like blood, and she tried not to appear scared despite the cold shiver that ran up her spine.
I don't think they've seen Dreg... her thoughts whirled, as she slowly took a step back; moving into Dreg's vision. I have to let him know without screaming.
"We'll have to toss a coin to see who gets her first," the second man sneered, grinning. He was missing most of his teeth, and Aspen shuddered, knowing what they intended to do.
"I don't have any gold," Aspen spoke loudly, her heart racing. "I am a Healer, and I work for the people."
She continued creeping backward, and the men followed her. The way they looked at her made Aspen feel sick, but she just prayed that Dreg had heard her. Her pack was resting against a nearby boulder and she knew the knife was inside, but she wasn't supposed to use it. However, she'd never really been faced with something like this before, and every fiber in her body cried out to fight.
Dreg watched Aspen shuffling back, her eyes glued on something behind the curtain of water. He frowned and pushed himself away from the tree he was leaning against. He strained to listen as Aspen opened her mouth to speak, and he finally clued in that she was trying to warn him.
He swiftly unsheathed his Greatsword and clenched it tightly in one hand as he ran around to the other side of the waterfall, trying to stay hidden. Dreg quickly navigated the circumference of the pool, carefully picking his way through the trees. When he reached the two men, he was behind them, and they had no idea. Aspen saw Dreg, but she kept her mouth shut. She knew that he had it under control.
Aspen clenched her eyes shut as Dreg's bellow echoed around the rocks and he swung his sword at the first bandit's side, nearly cleaving his body in half. Bile rose up in her throat at the sounds and she quickly threw herself to the side, trying to keep out of the crossfire. The second man was quicker, and he hastily drew his sword, eyes wide with fear as he watched his partner collapse to the ground with a scream.
"You sick fuck!" Dreg snarled in Orcish, and he began advancing towards the bandit. His chest and arms were covered in crimson red.
Aspen was too distracted to notice the third figure as it quietly stepped towards her from the other side, it's gloved hands outstretched. Aspen watched Dreg as he swung his sword in a rage, and it clashed against his opponent's sword again and again until he finally wore him down. Dreg found his chance, and he slammed his sword through the man's stomach. Red liquid spurted all over the ground and his sword as the man died, choking on his blood. Suddenly a hand clamped tightly around Aspen's arm, and she cried out.
Dreg's head whipped around in her direction, and he quickly pulled his sword back as his eyes landed on the third bandit. It was a female, and she tried to grab her other arm but Aspen was faster.
Aspen wrenched her arm back, her skin still slick with water from her shower, and she was able to free herself. However, her footing faltered, and she went stumbling backward and fell off the small rock cliff towards the shallow pools below. She tried to catch herself against the rocks but failed, and she hissed as pain shot through her arm, stomach, and legs. Her naked body scraped against the hard rocks as she fell the short distance down and landed hard on the rocky bank of the spring's edge. Her head cracked against the rock and she didn’t move.
"Aspen!" Dreg shouted, his deep voice bouncing off the rocks and echoing around him.
The female bandit shot him a glance before she snatched up Aspen's pack and began running. Dreg followed her, his vision completely red as he was blinded by his rage. His anger fueled his body, burning red-hot, and he easily caught up with the woman and grabbed her by her long black hair. The bandit screamed as he threw her back, and she fell to the ground with a loud crash. He gave no mercy as Dreg let out a huge roar and plunged his sword through her back. Then he stumbled away from the corpse, his chest heaving, and he looked back towards the pool where Aspen's form lay on the rocks. Half of her body was dipped in the water. He ran as fast as he could until he reached her.
Dreg called out again as he splashed noisily into the pool and dropped to his knees. His sword crashed down on the rocks beside him and Dreg gently cupped Aspen's body as he gently rolled her onto her back.
"Aspen? " He said, his voice hoarse with fear. "Aspen wake up."
There was a deep gash on her arm that oozed red blood, and there were several scraps along her stomach and legs. What worried Dreg the most was the split on her head, and he desperately tried to rouse her.
"Please Aspen, you need to wake up."
He gently cupped her cheek, willing for her to wake up. The only person that could heal her was herself. He clutched Aspen to his chest as panic settled in, and he was at a complete loss for what to do. Suddenly he was back in his Stronghold and seeing the murdered corpse of his wife all over again.
"Dreg..." Aspen groaned, and she slowly moved her good arm.
Dreg's eyes snapped open and he peered down at her, watching as she groaned again and gingerly touched the gash on her forehead.
"Fucking hell," she murmured, gasping for air.
Dreg helped her sit up, and after her vision stopped spinning she was able to inspect her wounds properly.
"I-I'm too... too confused right now..."
"How far until we reach the city?"
"Um, not... far... I think."
Dreg swept Aspen into his arms and picked up his sword. He effortlessly carried her and began making his way through the forest towards the main road. Aspen hissed as the bushes brushed against her bare skin, but she suffered through it. She wanted to pass out but knew that since she had hit her head, sleeping was not a good option right now.
Eventually, they reached their horses, and Dreg hoisted Aspen onto her horse and rifled around in her satchel until he found a nightgown. Then he tossed it over her bruised and bleeding body, watching as her head bobbed up and down as she struggled to stay awake.
"Should I wrap your arm? You've lost a lot of blood."
"Mm," Aspen mumbled sleepily. "su... suppose... so."
He had no idea what he was doing, but Dreg managed to retrieve some bandages and he hastily wrapped it around her wounded arm, securing it as tightly as he comfortably could. Aspen was barely aware of what was going on, as she swam in and out of consciousness. When Dreg was satisfied, he leaped up onto his horse and clicked his tongue at both of them. Aspen's horse followed easily, and they began trotting towards the road.
"T-Talk to me, please," Aspen mumbled at some point. "I can't... fall asleep yet."
"Okay," Dreg grumbled, his heart still thumping hard in his chest. "I will tell you a story, do you hear me?"
"Yeah," Aspen murmured, her eyes fluttering.
Dreg spoke to Aspen constantly, his voice tight with worry as he always asked her a question after each sentence to make sure she was still awake. It didn't matter that she understood him, but it was more important that she responded. Dusk was beginning to settle in, but the horses made good time, and by nightfall, they arrived outside the skirts of Halgrim.
It was a smaller city, as Aspen had explained before. A large building rose up at the other side, which Dreg assumed was the college. But he was more interested in finding an Inn, and so he quickly trotted the horses to the stables just outside the gates and focused on getting Aspen to a warm, safe room.
"Hey there," a guard greeted when Dreg grew close. "Got into some trouble?"
"Yes," Dreg grunted. "She's a Healer, and I need an Inn."
"Is she? Alright, this way then..."
Dreg growled softly, and he shuffled Aspen's body so he was holding her better as he started to follow the guard. He was led a short way up the street and a few minutes later they arrived at the doors to an Inn.
"Thanks."
"No worries. Hope she's alright."
Dreg nodded as the guard opened the door for him and he swept inside. The Innkeeper spotted him before he reached the counter and gestured for the Orc to follow.
"I recognize that pretty face," he spoke softly, and he guided Dreg up to the second floor. "Aspen is a good Healer. I'm glad she's back."
"Yeah well, she's gotta take care of herself first," Dreg replied angrily.
He was tired, worried, and hungry. But none of it mattered. Dreg only cared about Aspen's wellbeing.
"Of course... here. It's yours, for as long as you need."
Dreg brushed past the short, plump man and entered into the room. A small fireplace happily crackled away with a warm fire, but Dreg focused on getting Aspen's wounds tended to her. He first placed her down on the bed and then slung their packs off his shoulders, including the case he knew she'd need.
"Mmm," Aspen winced, and she sighed. "Thank you."
"What do you need me to do?"
"Um..." Aspen groaned as her arm throbbed. "I n-need some vials, first."
"What color?"
"Get me... um... two red ones, a short yellow one, and uh... a brown jar of salve."
Dreg quickly followed instructions, as he opened up the case and began looking for the items she wanted. He handed her the vials, which Aspen quickly uncorked and tossed back. By the time he found the jar of salve she wanted Aspen's eyes were fully open now, and she looked a little more alert. She was still terribly pale, and her entire body ached.
"Some bandage... a needle and thread... my gloves. That should be good, th-thank you."
Dreg finished getting the supplies and laid them out on the bed beside Aspen, who gave him a weak smile.
"You look weary, Dreg. I can take it from here if you need a drink or something."
Dreg frowned, but he hesitated to leave her.
"I will be just fine, honest."
"I will go and have a drink, but I won't be too long."
"Alright"
Aspen reached up and patted his arm.
"That's fine."
Dreg shot her one last look before he left the room and immediately sought out a big mug of beer. He sat down at the counter and sighed, knowing he was covered in blood and probably stunk, but he didn't care. The Innkeeper smiled at him with a sympathetic expression but did not try to talk. Dreg kept his head bowed, and his hands clenched his mug as his thoughts were consumed of Aspen's form. The image of her falling, and then laying still on the rocks haunted him.
Upstairs, Aspen finished slipping her gloves on, and she inspected her body for any broken bones. She gently felt her ribs, wincing, but nothing was broken.
Mostly just bruised to shit, Aspen thought with a sigh. It's gonna be a while before I'm back to normal.
Once her inspection was finished she peeled the bandages off her arm and winced as it tugged at her open slash. She poured some water down her arm, cleaning out the wound, and then picked up the needle and thread. She hated stitching herself, but it was necessary, and so she sucked it up and pushed through it. It stung slightly, and she clenched her jaw as she guided the needle through her skin and pulled the thread tight, closing the wound. When she was finished, she tied a small knot and cut the end with her knife before applying a layer of the salve and then she wrapped it back up again.
The rest of her body was either bruised or scraped, but there wasn't much to do about that. The split on her head wasn't too bad, and Aspen didn't feel like it needed stitches. She stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, groaning, for she knew she looked like hell. But she was alive, and that was what mattered. Once again, Dreg had saved her life.
A few minutes later the door opened, and Dreg found Aspen tossing back the second red vial into her mouth. She swallowed the contents and sighed, feeling a little more relieved.
"You're alright?"
Aspen looked up at Dreg as he walked over to her, and she smiled sleepily.
"Yes, I'm alive... thanks to you, Dreg."
Dreg frowned, and he rubbed his sore neck, shrugging.
"It's my job."
"Yes, I suppose it is now. But I am still very grateful."
Dreg nodded, feeling uncomfortable. His eyes glanced down at her battered body, and then he looked at the tub in the corner of the room.
"You should have a bath."
Aspen rubbed her eyes, yawning. She was very tired, but the idea of a bath did sound nice. She felt gross, despite having showered in the waterfall earlier.
"You're right."
She quietly sat on the bed, her body still aching, but it was dampened by the potions this time. Dreg hunted down a servant girl to fetch him hot water, and when the tub was full he walked back over to where Aspen was waiting. He grasped her hand, pulling her up to her feet. She swayed for a moment and then straightened up, smiling softly. He clenched her hands and slowly walked Aspen over to the tub of steaming water.
Dreg watched as she tightly gripped the sides of the tub and climbed into the water, sinking with a loud sigh of content. She was careful to keep her arm out of the water, and it idly hung down from the tub. She slid down into the water until it was up to her chin, and Dreg turned away from her. He walked over to the nearby table and sat down, waiting. Aspen opened her eyes, and her gaze washed over the Orc. He looked dead tired, and he was covered nearly from head to toe in blood. She shivered, her thoughts drifting back to the fight. She had to admit seeing Dreg kill someone was terrifying, but she knew it was killed or be killed. There was no other way around it, the bandits had intended to harm her. She felt bad that he was sitting, just waiting for Aspen to bathe, and she chewed her lip for a moment as she hesitated to speak. Eventually, she called out.
"Dreg?"
"Yeah?"
Dreg picked his head up, and he stared at Aspen with a weary expression.
"Please... please bathe with me. I know you're exhausted, and covered in all that blood."
Aspen watched as he glanced down at himself, and she could see he was thinking hard. Then he nodded and stood up from the chair. He whisked his tunic off and dumped it on the floor, and then the blood-soaked breeches and boots followed afterward. He slowly walked over to the tub and got in, sinking into the water with a quiet sigh.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Aspen asked, and Dreg shook his head.
"No. I'm just fine."
Aspen stretched her legs out in the soapy water and she rested them against Dreg's thighs. He stiffened for a moment, and then he sighed and sank back, resting his head against the lip of the tub.
"I was... really worried."
"Were you?" Aspen murmured. "I’m sorry."
"No... don't be. I wasn't expecting that third bandit. I'm just glad you got away."
"Me too," Aspen chuckled, and rubbed her neck. "She couldn't keep a hold on me cause my skin was wet."
Their eyes met, and Aspen couldn't resist laughing. She didn't know why it was so funny, and her laughter grew louder the more she thought about it; her shoulders shaking from the effort. After a long moment, Dreg laughed as well, amused by her reaction, and they both felt the stress of their encounter melting away.
"If I hadn't slipped in that damn mud," Aspen gasped breathlessly, and she wiped her eyes. "None of that would have happened."
"True," Dreg growled. "You have such bad luck."
The laughter died down, but they were still in good spirits. Aspen was told to spin around, and Dreg washed her hair for her as he had done once before. She thought back fondly to that memory and appreciated that no matter how angry Dreg became, he still cared enough to wash her hair. When he was finished, Aspen did the same for Dreg, and he growled softly as her fingers gently massaged his scalp.
Dreg helped Aspen up from the tub and she dried herself off before changing into one of Dreg's oversized tunics. Aspen had only brought one nightgown and it was soiled so she couldn't wear it, but she didn't mind. They sat together at the table and had a bite to eat before Dreg helped Aspen to their bed. She laid down, wincing as she struggled to get comfortable.
No matter which way she was lying, her body ached. After a while, she settled down, half on her side, and closed her eyes. Dreg laid down beside her and he glanced over at Aspen once more before closing her eyes.
"Dreg?"
"Yeah?"
Aspen's eyes were still closed, and she reached out for him in the dark. Her fingers found his hand and she slipped them through his. The fear that she had experienced earlier was still fresh in her mind.
"Goodnight."
Dreg clenched her hand, squeezing lightly. He knew she had been shaken up over what had happened, and so he kept a hold on her hand as they drifted to sleep.
"Goodnight, Aspen."
Chapter Text
When Aspen woke up later the next morning, everything hurt. She groaned and tried to move her arm but pain shot through her nerves and she gasped. Beside her, Dreg's eyes snapped open and he looked down at Aspen as she rolled onto her back, clutching her aching arm. The wound throbbed, but it was nothing she couldn't take care of.
"Your arm?" Dreg asked quietly.
"Yeah," Aspen hissed, as she slowly pulled herself up. "I just need a vial..."
Before she could get up, Dreg whipped the blanket back and stood up from the bed. He wore only a loose pair of cotton pants, and Aspen watched as he strode over to the table and began rifling in her case. Aspen allowed herself to admire his sculpted back for a moment, feeling a different sort of ache. His hair hung loosely down his face in a sort of cute, moody way that Aspen found incredibly attractive. She realized she was getting into dangerous thoughts, and she quickly shook her head. A moment later his deep voice drifted over to her.
"Red?"
"Uh, yes please."
Dreg snatched up one of the red vials and uncorked it while walking over to her. He handed Aspen the vial, who thanked him and then tipped the contents back into her mouth. Relief immediately washed over her, and within a few minutes, she was able to get up from the bed and shuffle over to where their packs lay. She began pulling out articles of clothing, and she folded them nicely and placed them in a nearby dresser.
"You're not planning on doing anything today, are you?"
Dreg watched Aspen as she shuffled around. There were bruises and scratches on her arms and calves, and he had to admit seeing her wearing his tunic made him feel something he didn't quite understand. He tried to focus on something else.
"I would be if I weren't feeling so shitty."
"You need to rest," Dreg grumbled as he tossed a shirt over his head. "At least a couple of days."
"Oh really?" Aspen asked softly, and she shot Dreg an amused smile. "Are you my healer?"
"No, but I'm your Guardian so that's pretty damn close."
Aspen laughed, and she finished placing her tunics in the drawer and then shut it with a small thud.
"Alright then, Guardian. I will rest for a couple of days. Then I must get to work. Deal?"
"Deal."
Aspen smiled, and then her stomach grumbled rather loudly. Her cheeks flushed, but Dreg was understanding.
"You didn't eat much last night."
"No..." Aspen rubbed her neck, and she peered at Dreg with her soft green eyes. "Will you please get me breakfast? I don't feel like getting dressed."
"Sure."
Aspen finished putting most of her belongings away while Dreg was gone. She knew they'd be staying in Halgrim for at least a week, if not more. She always ended up staying somewhere longer than most other Healers, but she had a thirst for helping people that never seemed to end.
Dreg will probably have to drag me away from each place, she mused quietly, smiling. He'll lecture me on spreading myself too thin again.
The door opened, and Dreg walked in with a tray in his hands containing two hot bowls of porridge sprinkled with blueberries and brown sugar. He placed it down on the table and they both sat down to eat.
"How exactly do you go about working?" Dreg asked thoughtfully.
Aspen finished chewing her mouthful of porridge, and she looked up at him.
"Oh I... usually start at the Inn, and then I go to the college. That place usually takes up most of my stay, and by the time I've finished making my rounds there... word has gotten out that I'm in the area and then people start approaching me for specific things."
"Hmm."
"I tend to stay in places far longer than most healers. I enjoy getting to know my patients on a deeper level than just a familiar face."
"I know you do," Dreg grumbled, but his expression wasn't unkind. "You're far too nice."
"Perhaps," Aspen shrugged. "If that's what it takes, why rush?"
"You'll end up staying forever in one place, and people start to take advantage."
Aspen frowned, and she poked at a blueberry with her spoon, thinking.
"But," Dreg continued, not wanting to start a fight. "It's your decision. I'm just here for the ride."
Aspen pursed her lips together, and then she quickly smiled and nodded. They continued eating breakfast in comfortable silence, and then Aspen went and laid down to nap. Dreg took the opportunity to go for a walk, to get and know the city a bit. When he returned, Aspen was still sleeping, and he laid down beside her and took a nap as well.
Two days passed in the same manner. Dreg would get breakfast and they'd eat together before he'd take off on another walk around the city. Aspen preferred to stay back at the Inn since her body was still incredibly sore from her fall. She'd soak in a bath for a long time, then either nap or get some reading done. However, by the third day, she was thoroughly tired of resting and itching to go outside.
It was the morning of the third day and Aspen was up early. She swept her hair into a loose braid and got dressed while making sure she wasn't too loud. Dreg lay, sprawled on his stomach on the bed, and his snores filled the room.
Aspen lit a small candle and brought it with her as she walked over to the dresser and began searching for something to wear. She settled on a long black tunic and fitted breeches, which she hastily put on, shivering in the cool air of the morning. Then, she slipped her gloves, boots, and scarf on before glancing over at the sleeping Orc one last time. She grabbed her medicinal case and then quietly left the room.
When Dreg woke up sometime later, he yawned and rolled onto his side. His body tensed and then relaxed as he realized Aspen was not in bed. He picked his head up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he looked around the room. She was nowhere to be seen, and so he took care of a little business of his own before going downstairs for breakfast.
Dreg hadn't been able to find a brothel, which he had tried looking for when he went out. He knew that they were generally frowned upon in this country, and so he was either bad at finding them or it didn't exist in Halgrim. So, he resided to taking care of it himself, and since he was alone there was no better time.
He swiftly tugged at the strings to his pants, already tingling with desire as blood rushed down to his member. When the strings were undone he pulled his cock free, and he leaned back with one hand on the bed while he started stroking himself. He worked quickly, his eyes squeezed shut, and he quietly panted for air. He couldn't help but think about Aspen, and what had almost happened. He longed to feel her soft skin under his hands again, and just the thought of sucking her breasts was enough to drive it home. Within minutes he came hard, a small moan escaped his lips as his body shuddered from the force of his orgasm. He came into his hand, which dripped with his warm seed. When he was able to compose himself, Dreg finished cleaning up and then got dressed. Then, made his way downstairs to get something to eat.
When Dreg entered the main hall, he found Aspen perched on a stool at the counter, happily chatting away with the make Innkeeper. He was a short, balding man with a thick black beard and a round belly, and he smiled at Aspen with a kind expression. When the Orc drew closer, Aspen turned her attention to him.
"Good afternoon Dreg," Aspen greeted softly. "I was wondering when you'd get up."
"Your healer is quite the busy lady," Harold piped up, and Aspen blushed. "Already helped half the Inn before noon."
"She is the best," Dreg growled passionately.
"I would have to agree with you on that. Of all the other healers that come through, lass, yer the kindest and the most thorough."
Aspen squirmed uncomfortably, unable to handle so many compliments at once. Her cheeks burned, and she bowed her head.
"Do you need sumin to eat? My names Harold, by the way."
Harold extended his hand towards Dreg, and he shook it.
"Dreg. I wouldn't mind something, please."
"Coming right up. So, are you Aspen's Guardian?"
Dreg took a seat at the bar beside Aspen, who was silent as she finished up her bowl of soup. She shot the Orc a small smile, which he returned.
"Yep. I'm the new guy."
"I never much cared for that other fellow..." Harold mused, and he placed a cold bottle of ale on the table for Dreg. "He seemed a bit... flowery."
"Flowery?" Aspen laughed, and she wrinkled her nose. "I guess that's one way to describe him."
"He's a piece of shit," Dreg growled, scowling.
"Aye, I agree with you again, Dreg."
Harold turned to Aspen with a broad smile, and he gave her a small wink.
"I like this one..." He whispered loudly, not trying to hide it. "I haven't seen him fight but I bet he's good."
Aspen was once again flustered, and so she rolled her eyes, and Dreg gave a small chuckle.
"I wish Harold had been there for the tournaments, he would have loved to see me beat Ivan in a fight."
"Did you?"
Harold's fuzzy black brows shot up in surprise, and he leaned in closer.
"I did."
"Tell me more…”
Aspen finished the last few mouthfuls of her soup and stood up from the bar. She was amused by Harold's enthusiasm, and she liked that Dreg was being pleasant. She patted his arm affectionately, and Dreg looked down at her.
"I'm going to get back to work now, try to stay out of trouble."
"I am not a troublemaker," Dreg argued, but he couldn't keep a straight face.
"Mhm... sure. I'll see you two later."
Aspen could hear Dreg's voice as he began describing the fight with Ivan blow by blow. Harold hung onto his every word, and she couldn't help but chuckle as she walked back upstairs to one of the rooms. She tended to a younger girl, who had cut her arm on loose nail while riding in her parent's carriage and it had grown infected. When she was finished, she continued making her rounds, knocking lightly on patron's doors. It was nearly nightfall before Aspen finally finished up with her last patient for the night. It was an older gentleman who had a high fever and was drenched in cold sweats.
"Take it easy, okay? This potion should help."
"Th-thank you, ma'am."
"No need to thank me," Aspen smiled.
She turned to the man's elderly wife and instructed her on how best to tend to her husband for the rest of the night. Aspen explained each thing simply, and in a way that was easy to understand without sounding like she was condescending.
"I will return in the morning," she murmured, and the woman clenched her hands.
"Thank you, Miss."
"And if anything worsens, please... come get me right away. No matter what time."
The woman nodded, and Aspen smiled again while she tidied up her belongings. She snapped the lid down on her case, exited the couple's room, and then made her way back to her room, yawning quietly. Dreg was inside, lying in bed with his arms tucked under his head.
"Hey," Aspen greeted sleepily.
"Hey."
Dreg watched as Aspen shuffled over to the table and placed her leather case on the table, and then she sat down on a chair with a small groan. Then, she slowly unraveled her scarf and placed it on the table before easing her tunic off. Dreg swallowed hard as his pulse quickened at the sight of her naked torso and he hastily looked away while Aspen began unwrapping the bandage around her arm. She inspected the stitching, searching for any sign of infection, but it looked good.
She gingerly rubbed some more salve into the wound, wincing slightly, and then wrapped fresh bandages around her arm. Then, Aspen tipped back another red vial and let out a soft sigh, feeling better.
"Are you hungry?"
Dreg was standing near the door, and Aspen turned around in her chair to look at him.
"Kind of, yeah."
"Okay."
She noticed the way Dreg avoided looking directly at her, and she wondered quietly to herself if she should have avoided removing her shirt while he was in the room. The last thing she wanted was to make him uncomfortable. So, while Dreg was gone she hurried out from her clothes and changed into the now clean nightgown from the other day and slipped on a pair of thick, wool socks. When Dreg returned, he had two plates laden with a generous supper. He placed it down on the table and then took a seat. They both tucked into their meals with enthusiasm.
"How was your day?" Aspen asked, curious. "Harold sure has taken a liking to you."
"He's a funny man," Dreg grumbled and took a swig of his ale. "He could talk your ear off."
"I didn't see you struggling to keep up," Aspen teased.
"No, I suppose I didn't. My day was alright. Mostly wandered around."
"I guess I should have given you a coin purse..."
Aspen put her fork down and leaned away from the table. She rifled inside one of the satchels for a moment, and when she straightened up she held a small leather coin purse.
"You're not paid much by the Guild, and so we rely heavily on the charity of the people. But... it's yours to use as you please."
"Okay."
Dreg tucked the purse into his pocket, and they began to eat again.
"What are you doing tomorrow? Are you still at the Inn?"
"I will be, for the morning anyways. I might be able to head up to the college in the afternoon."
Aspen's face lit up as she mentioned the college, and Dreg arched one thick brow in her direction.
"I always like going to the college. I have a few... I guess you could say friends, there. They always force me to go to at least one of their parties, which... how they have time to study and party so often, I'll never know."
Dreg grunted, and he stabbed at a potato with his fork.
"But they're a nice group. It's been almost a year since I've been in Halgrim, so I look forward to seeing them."
"That's a long time."
"It is," Aspen sighed, and she covered her mouth with her hand as she yawned. "I avoided coming here with Ivan... I begged Master Ren to only send us to quieter towns and tiny villages."
"Makes sense."
When supper was finished, Dreg took the tray back down to the kitchen and when he returned Aspen was sitting on the bed. Her eyes were closed, and she sucked in a deep breath as she tried to rub out the ache in her neck.
"Are you okay?"
Aspen opened her eyes and found Dreg standing a couple of paces in front of her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just sore."
"Your neck?"
"Mhmm."
Dreg was silent for a moment, and she could tell he wanted to say something but he hesitated. He watched as Aspen arched and rolled her neck for a moment, and she groaned.
"I can... rub it if you want."
Aspen's heart skipped a beat as her thoughts immediately went back to Dreg massaging and sucking her breasts, and her cheeks flushed bright pink. She pushed the image away and considered declining his offer but she was sore.
"Please."
Dreg sat down on the bed and shuffled backward, tucking one leg up. Aspen shifted her body so her back was facing him, and a moment later Dreg's thick hands lightly touched her neck. She closed her eyes, enjoying the massage as the Orc lightly rubbed his thumbs along the back of her neck; hard enough to work out the tension but not so hard that it hurt. Aspen leaned into his touch, lulled by his soft movements as relief washed over her. She closed her eyes, and her hands rested lightly in her lap. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but suddenly Aspen was laying backward against something hard, and she realized it was Dreg's chest. He still sat on the bed, breathing quietly, as he allowed Aspen to snooze against him. She quickly sat up, feeling embarrassed that she had fallen asleep.
"S-sorry," Aspen stammered nervously.
"It's okay."
"Thank you... Dreg. My neck feels much better."
"No problem," he grunted.
Aspen felt there was a slight awkwardness between them as Dreg got up from the bed and wandered around to the other side. She quietly slipped under the covers and laid down, careful not to put pressure on her bruises or bad arm. When she finally found a comfortable position, Dreg had tugged his boots off and was laying down as well. He sat up for half a second to blow out the candle on the table beside him and they were both clothed in darkness. A few minutes later his soft snores drifted to Aspen's ears, and she went to sleep as well.
Chapter Text
Aspen had not anticipated spending another day at the Inn, but that's just what happened. It was late in the afternoon when she stepped out from another bedroom and went downstairs to the main hall for something to eat. Neither Harold nor Dreg were anywhere to be found, so she had a small bowl of soup before going back up to her room. Aspen didn't feel like settling in for the night, and so she decided to drop her stuff off and head to the college, hoping she'd find a particular Elf.
Aspen quietly left the room and walked down to the main hall. Her eyes swept over the room once, and when she didn't spot Dreg, she continued outside and up the cobblestone street towards the massive building residing the entire North side of Halgrim. It was an old, drafty place that was in a state of disrepair in many places, but it was well used. Aspen hadn't spent too much time in the college but knew her way well enough. She walked through the black iron gates, her boots crunching lightly over the gravel as she wandered up a small path towards the main entrance. Then, she quickly ascended the small set of stairs and pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped inside.
She blinked, squinting in the dim light of the room, and glanced around. A few students lingered in the hallway, chatting about various things. Aspen quickly made her way to a hallway situated to her left and she entered into a larger, circular shaped room. A desk occupied the middle of the space, surrounded by several corridors leading off into other parts of the building. An older woman sat behind the desk, and she picked her head up when she heard approaching footsteps.
"Ahh, Aspen."
"Hello, Lydia."
"I was beginning to think we'd never see you again..."
Aspen leaned against the tall desk and she smiled sadly.
"I know., I'm terribly sorry. I had some troubles with my... my former Guardian."
"Got rid of him, did you?"
"Mhm. We parted ways. I have a new one now."
"Is he any good?"
Aspen laughed, and she gestured to the gash on her forehead.
"Very good. He has saved my life more than once."
"Good," Lydia smiled, and then she coughed.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Aspen inquired, concerned.
"Just a small cough, I'm afraid it comes with the territory. I'm not getting any younger."
"Perhaps, but I know of a tea that you can brew to help-"
"Do my eyes deceive me?"
A low, sultry voice floated over to the women, and a grin spread to Aspen's face as she turned around.
"You have finally decided to grace us all with your presence," Glanduil continued as he glided into the room.
Glanduil was the very Elf Aspen had been hoping to find, and she felt her heart racing as he drew nearer, a broad smile on his thin, pale lips. He was incredibly beautiful, with a tall, lean figure and flowing white hair that reached past his thighs. His bright blue eyes glittered mischievously at Aspen, and he wore a stunning set of red robes that swished lightly as he walked. Glanduil glided forward, and he swept Aspen into a tight hug.
"Aspen, my sweet. I have missed you dearly."
Aspen's hands rested on his slim shoulders, and she peered up at him with red cheeks.
"I have missed you too, Glanduil. I was actually just looking for you..."
"Me? I am touched."
Glanduil slung his arm around her shoulders and they bid Lydia goodbye before he whisked Aspen down a different corridor.
"How long are you in Halgrim?" Glanduil asked, and he peered down at her with a soft expression.
Aspen never grew tired of looking at Glanduil. He had sharp, angular features that only added to his personality. Despite coming from a very privileged family, the young scholar never acted like it, and he was always incredibly gracious and kind to everyone he interacted with. Glanduil would be the first person to give the robe off his back to help somebody, and it was a quality that Aspen both admired and appreciated.
"Probably a week or two, maybe longer."
"How lucky, I was worried you'd never come back."
Aspen sighed, and she felt bad. Everyone so far seemed to think she had abandoned them entirely.
"I know... I'm sorry. Things were... difficult."
"Are they better now?"
Aspen was silent, as she mulled over her response. Glanduil stopped walking, and he peered down at the Healer with a curious expression. He lightly squeezed her hand and Aspen let out a deep breath.
"Yes. Much better."
"I am glad..."
Glanduil reached up and brushed a strand of Aspen's hair out of her face and lightly tucked it behind her ear. Aspen's heart fluttered wildly in her chest though she tried to appear calm. Glanduil smiled, and they continued walking.
"You must come to our next dinner since you're here for a while. I won't take no for an answer."
"You're still partying, are you?" Aspen laughed, and Glanduil pinched her arm.
She hissed as pain shot up her arm, and Glanduil quickly apologized.
"I’m sorry Aspen, did I hurt you?"
"I-It's okay, honest. I just have a wound on this arm..."
"Wound? You, hurt? That seems surprising."
"Yeah well, it does happen once in a while."
"I am curious to see your new Guardian. Will you bring him?"
Aspen frowned, and she was genuinely unsure.
"He might go. Dreg's not the social type but I can probably convince him to make an appearance."
"Excellent."
The two Elves chatted lightly for a few moments as they walked around the gardens of the college. Eventually, Glanduil bid her goodbye, for he had to get going to class.
"I'm a professor now," he murmured, and Aspen's eyes widened.
"Really? That's wonderful."
"I enjoy it. But... I can't be late now. So, as much as I'd love to keep walking with you, I must be going."
Aspen's breath hitched in her throat when Glanduil took her hand and brought it up to his lips. He lightly kissed her knuckles, a smile on his face, and then he began to walk towards one of the archways leading back into the college.
"Tomorrow night, Aspen. I expect to see your pretty face."
"Okay. Bye…”
Aspen slowly picked her way back to the front of the college. She stopped back by Lydia's desk and wrote down the tea recipe for her before leaving the college to head back to the Inn. When she reached the main hall, she found Harold and Dreg by the bar. The Orc turned to her when Aspen drew closer. He reached up to touch her neck, and Aspen tensed for a moment, but Dreg simply brushed his fingers along her soft hair.
"You had a leaf..." He grumbled softly, and his brows furrowed together. "Where were you?"
"Oh," Aspen blushed, feeling embarrassed she had tensed when he touched her. "I finished rather late here, so I went to the college to see a friend. We were walking around the gardens."
"I see."
"How was your day?" Aspen continued, and she hopped onto the empty stool beside him.
Harold handed her a bottle of ale, and she thanked him before taking a sip.
"Good. I helped Harold with some repairs."
"Did you?"
"He did," Harold commended proudly, smiling. "He's a good man, your Guardian."
"It was nothing," Dreg mumbled.
"It was still very nice of you."
"Hmph."
The three of them talked for several minutes while Dreg and Aspen waited for their meals to arrive. They tucked into a generous helping of beef pie and homemade bread courtesy of Harold's wife, and Aspen polished off her ale and a second one before she was finished for the night.
"Mm," she murmured sleepily. "Delicious food, as always."
Aspen stifled a yawn, and so the pair said goodnight to Harold and wandered back up to their room for the rest of the night. They were quiet as they changed out from their day clothes, neither one wanting to talk, but when they laid down Aspen brought up the dinner party for the following night.
"It's just a little get together," she explained casually.
Dreg laid on his side, facing Aspen, and his eyes closed.
"When?"
"Tomorrow night."
"You want me to go?"
Dreg cracked his eyes open, and he was met by Aspen's soft green gaze.
"Of course, I do. I enjoy your company, and... well, everybody will be pestering me about my new Guardian. It would save me a lot of trouble having to describe you."
The Orc closed his eyes again, and he let out a breath through his nose.
"Okay."
"You'll go?"
"Yes."
Aspen smiled, and then she shuffled back under the blankets and laid down. It took her some time to fall asleep since she was excited about the upcoming party.
The sun had set about an hour earlier, and Aspen had just finished getting dressed for the dinner. She wore her nicest dress, which was the dark green flowy one she'd worn for Dreg's bonding ceremony. She chose it for the high collar and long sleeves, which kept most of the bumps and scrapes from view. There was nothing she could do about the one on her forehead. Aspen had no fringe to hide it from view, so she accepted it, and just hoped people didn't pester her too much about how it came to be.
Dreg was ready as well. He wore the fitted Guardian jacket and a pair of casual leather breeches, looking just as nice as ever. He patiently waited for Aspen down in the main hall, and he straightened up when she rounded the corner and began walking towards him. She smiled, and Dreg struggled to return it. A lump rose in his throat as he looked at her. She never failed to take his breath away, and so Dreg focused on making it through yet another party in one piece. Harold watched the young pair leave with a smile on his lips. He had always been fond of Aspen and had taken a great liking to the Orc as well.
Aspen linked her arm through Dreg's as they began walking down the street. She took him away from the college, and towards a series of rather grand looking homes.
"It's not at the college?" Dreg asked, frowning as they approached the front steps to a manor.
"No... Glanduil is hosting it. His family is quite... wealthy."
"Hmph."
"What is it?"
"Nothing," Dreg sighed, and Aspen squeezed his arm.
"Tell me."
"You just seem to find a lot of wealthy men."
Aspen frowned, and Dreg hastily tried to smooth things over.
"I don't mean it in a bad way."
"Okay..."
There was an air of awkwardness between them, and so they both kept quiet and continued walking up the front steps to the manor. When they stepped inside, Dreg glanced around, noticing how luxurious and expensive everything looked. A servant greeted them, and they were guided into a parlor room on the right. Several other guests were already there, and a couple of the students from the college greeted Aspen when they spotted her. She let go of Dreg's arm and walked over to the group of students. Dreg hung back, feeling uncomfortable, and silently watched as everyone took turns hugging Aspen, with smiles and laughter.
"You must be Aspen's Guardian."
Dreg turned around and was greeted by a tall, beautiful Elf. For a moment he thought it was a woman who addressed him, and he was confused.
"I am Glanduil," the Elf continued warmly.
They all look the same, Elves , Dreg thought quietly as he shook Glanduil's pale, slender hand.
Glanduil smiled, showing off a perfect set of straight, white teeth.
"You are… Dreg?"
"Yep."
"I've heard good things about you," Glanduil continued softly, and his gaze swept around the room.
His eyes landed on Aspen, and they widened slightly as he drank in her form. Aspen tucked a strand of her hair behind her pointed ear and glanced back at Dreg. Her brows shot up when she realized Glanduil was with him, sporting a silky set of robes the color of midnight. It contrasted beautifully with his snow-white hair, and he smiled when Aspen approached.
"You made it," he greeted warmly, and Glanduil leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"W-Well it only seemed fair, since I've been gone for so long," Aspen stammered, and her cheeks burned bright red. "I see you've met my Guardian."
"I have. I wasn't expecting such a stoic man, Aspen. I wonder what curious circumstances brought you together."
Dreg frowned, confused by his statement.
"It's a long story," Aspen responded hastily.
"Perhaps you'll tell me later."
Glanduil's bright blue eyes glittered mischievously at Aspen, and then he quickly turned his attention to the rest of the room.
"Please, enjoy yourselves. There are food and drink for everyone..."
Dreg waited until the Elf was gone before he spoke.
"Are rich men always so strange?" He grunted.
Aspen poked his side, and he frowned down at the Healer.
"Don’t lump Glanduil in with people like Ivan," she muttered. "They are nothing alike."
"If you say so."
The air between them was a little tense. Aspen let out a sigh and walked off to find the drinks. When she returned, Dreg was standing near the back of the room, away from the crowd. He didn't look happy, but he grunted thanks when she handed him a glass of red wine.
"You can go back, you know."
Dreg took a sip of the wine, and he silently eyed Aspen with his bright red eyes.
"Can I?"
"Of course. I don't mind. I'm sorry I dragged you here."
Glanduil's laughter floated over to them, and Dreg eyed the host of the party with a suspicious expression. He wasn't quite ready to leave yet.
"I'm fine, for now."
"Okay..."
A woman approached Aspen, and she was once again whisked away to go speak to some more friends. Dreg leaned against the cool stone wall, clenching the now empty glass in his hand as he watched the Healer making her way around the room. A servant came by to collect empty glasses, and he was handed another red wine. He took a deep sip, content to just survey the room. At some point, Aspen brought over a few college scholars, and she introduced them to Dreg. He tried to appear as polite as possible, despite his discomfort. He was glad that they didn't linger, and he let out a deep sigh of relief as Aspen steered their attention elsewhere.
A while later he spotted Aspen, as she stood off to the side with Glanduil. He leaned down, murmuring something softly in her ear, and Dreg frowned as he watched Aspen's eyes widened in shock. A smile spread across her face, and she blushed when Glanduil pulled back and stroked her soft brown hair for a moment.
So that's what he is to her, Dreg thought glumly, and he suddenly didn't want to be there. Just another one of her lovers.
Aspen glanced around the room while Glanduil was dragged away from her for a moment, and she couldn't see Dreg anywhere. She frowned, thinking that Dreg would have said something before he left, but it wasn't a big deal.
"I think your Guardian had his share of socializing," Glanduil piped up, an amused expression on his handsome face.
"Probably, it's not his favorite pastime."
"You're not going, are you?" Glanduil pouted.
He gently grasped Aspen's hand.
"It's too soon... you don't know how happy I am to see you again."
Aspen found herself getting lost in the Elf's bright blue gaze, and she hastily shook her head.
"No... of course not. I don't have to leave when he does."
"Good, I want to speak with you more, when everyone has left..."
The party went on for a couple more hours, but Aspen was completely fine. She enjoyed solitude, but also, occasionally enjoyed a small dinner party with people she liked. The banquet was too big of an event, and so she avoided those sorts of things. But Glanduil's parties were always humble affairs, and so she found herself forgetting about Dreg and his grumpy behavior for the time being.
When the last of the guests trickled away, Glanduil stood by the door saying goodbye. Aspen walked over to him, and he shot her a smile as he guided the last guest out the door.
"Farewell, friend. See you next week."
Glanduil shut the heavy iron door with a dull thud, and then he let out a sigh and yawned as he turned back to Aspen. She stood a few paces back, leaning against the doorframe. She was tired but knew Glanduil had wanted to speak to her after the party. She smiled when he drew closer and he began walking her towards a plush fabric couch.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" He asked softly, his voice smooth like silk.
"Yes, I did. Thank you for inviting me."
Glanduil gently guided Aspen down onto the chair, and he knelt on the floor in front of her. Aspen's brows furrowed together, and she watched as he rested his hands lightly on her knee and sucked in a deep breath.
"I have to admit, seeing you again... I was so pleased. I missed seeing your beautiful face."
Aspen felt herself growing hot around her collar, and she nervously picked at the sleeve to her dress, unsure of what to say.
"I had wanted to tell you this sooner... but you disappeared last time before I had a chance."
Aspen was once again mesmerized by his gaze.
"What is it?" She whispered.
Glanduil leaned in close, his eyes flickering to her lips. He gently grasped the back of Aspen's neck as he brought her face towards him and he kissed her. His lips were softer than Aspen had imagined. She was stunned, but she swiftly closed her eyes and kissed Glanduil back, clenching her hands around his thick black robes.
Suddenly an alarm went off in her head, and she quickly pulled back. Glanduil's eyes fluttered open, and he searched her face for a moment. Then, he let out a small chuckle, and Aspen frowned.
"I get it now," he murmured, and he sunk back down on his calves.
Aspen stared down at the Elf, completely confused.
"Get... what?"
"Your heart belongs to someone else."
"What?" Aspen blurted out, and Glanduil rubbed her knee.
"I am very fond of you, Aspen. I wish I hadn't told you this too late..."
"Glanduil speak plainly, I don't understand what you're saying."
Glanduil smiled, and he came to another realization.
"Oh, I see..."
His voice was barely a whisper.
"Either you don’t know it yet... or you do and you're refusing to acknowledge it."
"Acknowledge what!"
"That you're in love with Dreg."
It was like the wind had been knocked out from Aspen, and she was stunned into silence. Her thoughts raced, but she couldn't quite comprehend what was going on. Glanduil continued to rub her knee, and he peered up at her with a sympathetic expression.
"Perhaps love was too strong of a word... but you care deeply for him, don't you?"
Aspen opened and closed her mouth, unable to come up with a response.
"E-Even..." She gasped, feeling faint. "Even if... if that were true... he doesn't care for me that way."
"Seriously?" Glanduil gave a dreamy sigh, and he bowed his head for a moment, resting it against her knee. "Both of you are blind."
"Explain yourself."
Glanduil picked his head up, and he rested his chin on his arm, smiling.
"It doesn’t take a genius to see that Dreg is obsessed with you. I saw the way he stared from across the room. He always knew where you were, was tuned in to what you were doing and how you were feeling."
"I h-hardly think that's the case of... of..." Aspen couldn't even say the word love. Her throat constricted tightly and she stared down at her hands. "He's my Guardian. It's his job."
"Perhaps I'm wrong," Glanduil replied, and he reached up to cup her soft, pale cheek. "But I don't think I am. There's something between you two that I noticed the moment I walked into the room."
He watched as Aspen's brows furrowed together, and she nervously chewed her lip.
"It's impossible to act on... on anything, anyways. We're forbidden to get involved like that."
"When has forbidding something ever stopped anyone?"
The moment Glanduil said those words, something inside her stirred. Aspen blinked, and she stared at Glanduil with an expression of shock. He was right. The moment she finally admitted what she had been denying for so long a flood of emotions rushed over her. Images of when she and Dreg first met rushed back to her. Sleeping on him to keep warm while the flood raged on outside the cold, wet cave. The first time they took a bath together and Aspen learned Dreg would unabashedly watch her undress. Dreg's strong, steady presence always there beside her when she went to bed each night. The fire that ripped through her body as Dreg's mouth hungrily kissed her lips with a passion that took her breath away like no other. Dreg's rage, burning brighter than anything, when he learned Ivan had tried to force himself upon Aspen. The sheepish grin he gave Aspen when she discovered he had gotten the cook to bake a cake for her on her birthday. Dreg's handsome form, standing tall in his Guardian's coat as he waited for Aspen to come downstairs. She cared deeply for Dreg, and just how much she cared frightened her.
It was too much at once. Aspen covered her face with her hands and she started to hyperventilate.
Glanduil realized he had opened a floodgate. He stood up from the floor and sat down beside Aspen. He wrapped his slender arm around her shoulders, and rubbed her arm, smiling softly. He had been in love before and knew how overwhelming it could be.
"I'm sorry to be the one to break the news to you," he whispered.
"It's... it's f-fine."
Aspen lifted her head, and she sucked in a deep breath. She looked up at Glanduil, and he gently stroked her cheek as he smiled at her.
"What do I do, Glanduil?"
"What do you do? Only you can answer that question, my sweet."
Her brows furrowed together, and she looked back towards the front door. She knew what to do.
"I... have to go."
Aspen wrapped her arms around Glanduil's neck in a tight hug, which he warmly returned.
"I am envious of your Guardian, he's a lucky Orc."
"I'm sorry-"
"Don't ever apologize, Aspen," Glanduil replied firmly, and he pulled back to look at her. "You owe me nothing."
He gently kissed her one last time, and then he took her hand and walked Aspen to the door.
"Good luck, and goodnight."
"Goodnight Glanduil. I’m sure I'll see you around the college."
"Don't be a stranger," he teased, and he watched Aspen's form as she walked away and disappeared around a corner.
Aspen's heartbeat pounded so loudly in her ears it hurt, and she nervous wrung her hands together as she swiftly made her way back to the Inn. A very light drizzle of rain fell on her, and it was welcomed. Her skin flushed with the knowledge of what she was about to do, and Aspen was honestly terrified.
What if Glanduil is wrong, her thoughts screamed as she bounded up the stairs to the Inn. What if Dreg doesn't feel the same way, and he's only close with you because he's your Guardian...
There's only one way to find out.
Aspen paused, her hand tightly clenching the latch to their door. She sucked in a shaky breath, and her entire body trembled as she struggled to keep it together.
Don't be so weak, Aspen!
Aspen pushed the door open and strode in. She opened her mouth to call out to Dreg when her eyes landed on him. Her voice instantly died in her throat.
A woman that Aspen didn't recognize was kneeling on the floor in front of Dreg, who had grasped a handful of her dirty blonde hair and was moaning. His eyes squeezed shut while the woman noisily sucked his cock. He growled, his chest panting as he enjoyed the cheap pleasure the stranger brought him.
The woman's eyes shot open just in time to see Aspen slowly backing away, trying to be quiet. She hastily pulled her head back, and Dreg's eyes shot open. He frowned and opened his mouth to ask the woman why she stopped when he realized she was looking at something, and he jumped when he turned his head and saw Aspen shuffling back towards the door. The was a flurry of movement as Dreg's cheeks burned and he hastily turned his body away from Aspen while the woman covered her face with her hands.
"I'm so sorry!" Aspen gasped, and she turned around and fled from the room, slamming the door behind her.
Dreg groaned, and he let out a frustrated noise and stood up from the bed. The woman looked up at him.
"Get out," he growled, as he stuffed his member back into his pants.
"She's gone now-"
"Get out!"
The woman looked at Dreg with a look of disgust, and then she quickly cleaned herself up and left the room. Dreg covered his face with his hands as he groaned some more. He hadn't expected Aspen to back until much later and had truthfully not planned for her to walk in on the event. He felt like an ass and didn't know what to do about it.
When Aspen did not return, he resolved himself to going to bed. He lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. He wished the Healer would return so he could apologize, but even three hours later she did not show up. He wasn't sure if he should be worried but hoped that wherever she Aspen was, she was safe, even if it meant being with that Elf. Eventually, he drifted into a restless sleep.
Chapter Text
Aspen ran outside, her mind plagued with the image of Dreg. When she had seen him getting his cock sucked by a woman she could only assume was a stranger to him; something had pained her deep inside. She ran, ignoring Harold's quizzical calls, and quickly left the Inn. She somehow ended up in a small garden, though how she got there, Aspen wasn't sure. Her chest hurt, and she had slumped down on a bench and cried harder than she ever had before. The voice in her head had been right.
Glanduil couldn't have been more wrong , her inner voice taunted as she sobbed, tears streaming down her pale cheeks and staining the front of her dress.
He only cares about protecting me from harm, we're bonded by vows. You're a fucking idiot for thinking otherwise and you were right to never allow those feelings.
The more she thought about it, the more she reaffirmed herself that she had been right. If Dreg had cared about her romantically, he wouldn't go around having sex with other women. Aspen had to wonder if that was his first time, or if there times before when she had been out from the house and Dreg had occupied his free time in other ways.
Aspen covered her face with her hands and let out a low, frustrated scream. She couldn't handle it anymore and slowly dragged her feet away from the gardens. She began heading towards a pub, and when she entered there were barely any other patrons around. Her heart ached, but she needed to forget her humiliation. She had almost confessed her feelings for an Orc that clearly didn't care for her like that and it stung.
"Can I get an ale, please?" Aspen muttered when she reached the bar.
The woman standing behind the counter eyed Aspen suspiciously, and she knew she looked like crap. But she was beyond caring, and she tossed a couple of gold coins down on the wooden surface once she received her drink and she tossed it back, drinking quickly.
"Bad night, huh?"
Aspen wiped at her mouth, and she frowned as she turned towards the voice. A figure sat down at the bar beside her and pushed his thick, black hood back, revealing a pale face with pointed ears. He was an Elf, with long black hair curtaining most of his face. He pushed his hair back, eying Aspen curiously with bright green eyes.
"I suppose," Aspen replied coldly, and she turned back to her drink.
"If you want to talk-"
"I don't."
The man laughed softly, and he spoke to the other woman for a moment. She left to get his drink, and while she was gone he turned back to Aspen with a little smirk.
"We don't... have to talk."
Aspen nearly choked on her ale, and she hastily placed the bottle down on the table and coughed. She shot the Elf a sharp glance, and she opened her mouth to tell him to fuck off when a thought crept into her mind.
Dreg doesn't care who you sleep with... so why should you?
Aspen frowned, and she stared down at the table for a long moment. The woman returned with the stranger's drink, and he took a sip while watching Aspen out of the corner of his eye. He could see she was struggling internally with something, but he was a patient man. After a while spent in silence, he finished his drink, tossed a couple of coin on the counter and then stood up from his stool. He wore a set of fitted black leather, with a long black cloak and matching black boots. He looked rather mysterious, and Aspen tensed as he leaned in close. His breath tickled her ear and she shivered when he spoke.
"Galloway Inn... Room twelve."
Aspen frowned, but before she could say anything the Elf strode off, and he left the pub. The woman behind the counter eyed Aspen, a look of disdain on her face. Aspen rolled her eyes, feeling angry that the woman was judging her so harshly. She tipped her bottle of ale back and finished the last of the sweet liquid. Then, she got up from the stool and walked towards the door. She stepped into the cool night, shivering softly. Aspen didn't have a coat, but when she glanced across the road at Galloway Inn, she didn't have very far to walk. She took a deep breath and made the short trek up to the front door.
It was well past midnight, and most patrons were asleep. Aspen glanced around the main hall, feeling nervous, but there was nobody in sight. So, she slipped around the corner and walked upstairs, her eyes searching for the room labeled twelve. When she spotted it, Aspen strode towards the door and paused just outside the room. Her heart thudded in her chest, and part of her wanted to turn around and go back home. But home was where Dreg was, and the last person she wanted to see right now was him.
Aspen sucked in a deep breath and knocked lightly on the door. A moment later it opened, and the Elf grinned down at her. He wore no shirt, and his toned torso practically shone in the dim light of the room. He stood back, and Aspen shuffled inside, a frown on her face.
"I had my doubts, but I'm glad you could ma-"
The Elf's eyes widened as Aspen shut the door behind her and pushed him against the wall. She grasped his neck with one hand and pressed her body against his while their lips crushed together in an embrace. He smiled against her soft lips, and dipped his head, deepening the kiss. Suddenly Aspen pulled back, and her cheeks were flushed bright pink as she regarded him with an expression that made him shiver with excitement.
"I told you I don't want to talk," she whispered firmly.
"Fine... okay. Sorry."
Their lips crashed together again, and the Elf began tugging at her dress. Aspen stood back, and she grabbed onto the thin cotton material and lifted it. When she was undressed, he stepped closer, admiring her form. A small frown appeared on his handsome face when he noticed all the scratches, bruises, and scars. He lightly touched the bandage around her arm.
"What in the world happened to you?"
"You talk too much," Aspen growled, and she began tugging at the strings to his breeches. "I wish you'd shut up."
An ache formed in the pit of his stomach at her words, and he gently squeezed her scarred waist while Aspen continued pulling at the strings. When they were undone, the Elf finished removing his pants and he straightened up, revealing his slim, pale cock to her. It rose up, hard and plump with a bright pink head. They drew closer, and he wrapped his arms around her, his member pressing into her stomach as they kissed again. He prodded her mouth open with her tongue and kissed her deeper as his hands gently roamed over her body, careful not to be too rough.
"I-I really would like... to know... your name," he moaned softly, and Aspen dragged her nails along his smooth back.
"Aspen," she gasped.
"Aspen," the Elf murmured, as he trailed his lips down her neck. "I'm Dain."
"Okay, Dain... let's see how good you are at making me forget."
Dain grinned, and he promptly lifted Aspen off the floor and walked over to the bed. He gently laid her down as his lips trailed down her neck and collarbone. Aspen shivered, and she squeezed her eyes shut as his lips sought her breasts.
"I-I don't mean to be... rude... but I'd prefer it if you got straight to the point."
"You're an impatient woman," Dain laughed, and he peered up at her with bright green eyes through a curtain of his silky black hair. "I wonder who you're trying to forget."
"Shut up," Aspen groaned, frowning. "Just fuck me."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Dain's long, muscular limbs spread out on top of Aspen, and he parted her legs with one hand while he kissed her firmly on the lips. Aspen's hands clenched at the bed when she felt his fingers stroking her for a moment.
"Gods... you're so wet."
"Mm," Aspen moaned softly, arching her back.
Dain shuffled closer, and he swiftly plunged his throbbing member into her warm cunt, moaning as he entered her. He bowed his head and began thrusting. However, no matter how hard she tried, Aspen couldn't enjoy herself. She tried, pretending that what Dain was doing was extremely pleasurable, as ragged moans escaped her throat, but it was no use. Dain came inside her, his body shuddering as he emptied his seed deep inside Aspen, and she pretended to do the same. She clenched her walls around his member and scraped her nails along his shoulder as she moaned, and a few moments later Dain collapsed onto the bed beside her. He smiled, feeling completely satisfied, while Aspen huffed quietly as she stared up at the ceiling. She didn't regret sleeping with the mysterious Elf, but she knew it hadn't solved a single thing.
"Mm," Dain murmured sleepily, and his fingers lazily drew circles around her soft, pink nipple. "Are you staying the night?"
"No," Aspen blurted out, surprising herself.
Suddenly she could think of nowhere she'd rather be than back in her room. Dain frowned slightly as she swiftly got up from the bed and began cleaning up.
"I'm sorry if you were hoping I would," she continued while wiping herself up.
"It's no big deal," Dain replied sleepily, and he slid to the edge of the bed and sat up.
When Aspen was finished dressing she turned to him, and Dain grasped her hand, pulling her closer.
"I'm sorry you're having a rough time."
"Thanks," Aspen replied thickly, frowning.
"I hope it all works out... and, Aspen?"
"Yeah?"
She peered down at the elf with a stormy expression, and he raised her hand to his lips. Her brows furrowed together when he softly kissed her knuckles.
"Thank you."
"I've never had such a polite suitor," Aspen joked, feeling suddenly nervous.
"Well... I needed that tonight, and you were such a gracious host."
Dain winked at Aspen, and then he slid back onto the bed and laid down, watching as she walked over to the door.
"Goodbye, Aspen."
"Goodbye."
Dreg heard Aspen when she laid down on the bed with a small sigh, and when he took a deep breath he smelt something familiar. She reeked of sex, and he stayed where he was with his back to her, listening as Aspen slid under the covers and laid down.
"Aspen?"
They both had their backs to each other, and Aspen nearly leaped out of her skin when his deep voice broke the silence.
"Y-Yes?"
"You aren't... upset with me, are you?"
He wanted to feel something else, but he stubbornly shoved those feelings deep down and ignored it. The harsh voice in his head thrived on his misery.
She doesn't like you that way, you already know that. You're a free man... you can fuck whoever you want, whenever.
Aspen sucked in a deep breath, her eyes closed.
"No."
She forced the word out and bit her lip to stop herself from sobbing.
"I-I'm just... sorry I interrupted."
Dreg frowned, and he clenched the blanket around his chest, feeling conflicted. Part of him wanted to bring up the fact he knew she'd fucked someone, and he wondered if it was the white-haired Elf from earlier. Dreg had seen the way he acted with her, and he honestly wouldn't be surprised if it had been. But it wasn't worth starting a fight.
"Okay. I'm... I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Dreg. Please, you're... allowed to do whatever you want."
Silent tears slipped down her cheeks but she forced herself to remain calm.
"Maybe just... give me a warning next time."
"Of course," Dreg replied hastily.
"Thank you."
Her voice was barely a whisper. Dreg closed his eyes, and eventually, they drifted to sleep, but neither one of them slept very well and woke frequently. When they got up the next morning things were still slightly awkward, and Aspen hurriedly got dressed and took off to the College. She stayed out for the whole day and didn't return until later that evening.
Chapter Text
The rest of their stay in Halgrim went by fairly quickly, but Aspen couldn't help but feel nothing was the same. Dreg eventually moved past getting caught by her, and seemed to act like everything was normal, and Aspen did try to do the same. However, deep down inside she knew it wasn't possible to go back to before she knew how she felt. A part of her cursed Glanduil's beautiful hide for opening the now unstoppable wave of emotions and feelings that poured out from her. Dreg was none the wiser, and if he suspected anything had changed between them, he had a good way of hiding it.
By the end of their second week in the city, Aspen was itching to move on. She had pretty much visited as many people as she thought was necessary, and so they began making preparations to leave. The horses were given a check-up, food rations were replenished, and Aspen checked over her medicinal supplies as well.
They'd be traveling for only a few days, maybe four at the most. Their next location was a small town to the east of Halgrim, called Langdale. It was home to the vineyards of Vintage Langdale wine; a popular brand used throughout the country that was known for its sweet, white wines. There were only two Inns in Langdale, and Aspen preferred to stay at one and not the other if she could get away with it. The owner of Dancing Parrot's Tavern and Inn was a spiteful older woman who had never forgiven Aspen for her supposed inability to cure any of her made-up illnesses.
Aspen explained the situation to Dreg as their horses drew closer to an Inn on the night of the third day that Harriet was in fact, a chronic liar.
"She's utterly convinced that she has every known disease under the sun," Aspen sighed. "She's wasted a lot of my time and resources in the past until I grew wiser. Now, I avoid the woman entirely."
"Sounds strange."
"It is. I don't know what makes people think like that. But I really can't help her."
"You have to be careful with those sorts of people."
Aspen glanced over at Dreg. He was staring down at the gravel road leading to the small Inn. He rubbed his horse's neck, who nickered softly and shook his head.
"I know..."
Aspen resisted the urge to sigh. The longer time passed, the more she felt like a burden to her Guardian. She didn't know how to feel, or what to do, so she mostly kept quiet.
The pair reached the stables on the far side of the Inn and Aspen wandered inside with their packs while Dreg spent time rubbing down the horses. When they were happily tucked away in their stalls, he stifled a yawn and began walking towards the Inn.
Inside, it was a rather busy little place. Many of the tables were taken up by several patrons, and soft music floated from the lute of an Elven Bard standing near the back of the room. Dreg's eyes swept across the room, searching for the Healer, and he spotted her as she began sitting down at a small round table.
His eyes didn't skip a beat, and he watched as the man sitting beside her reached out a wrinkled, tan hand as she sat down. His hand brushed along the curve of her butt, and he gave it a little squeeze. Aspen jumped away from his touch, and she pressed herself against the table while she glared down at the dirty old man.
"Excuse me!" Aspen started, her voice laced with vinegar.
Dreg strode forward, easily maneuvering around the tables, and in an instant, he reached the man and grabbed him by his collar. He yanked him to his feet and swept him against the wall, pinning the old man with a snarl.
"Don't you ever lay a hand on her... or anyone... without permission ever again."
The man's eyes widened, and he struggled to respond.
"Dreg. Let him go... Dreg."
Aspen placed her hand on his arm, concerned. The man was older and barely more than a bag of skin and bones with wispy grey hair. She knew Dreg could crush the guy with one hand, but she figured he'd made his point across just fine.
A few other patrons gave them a curious glance, and Aspen began to grow embarrassed under their scrutiny.
"Please, Dreg."
Dreg growled, and then he slackened his grip on the man's shirt. Suddenly a voice thundered from behind them.
"What are you doing to my father?"
Aspen spun around, and she was met with probably the burliest of men she'd ever seen. He was almost as tall as Dreg, and nearly twice as thick. He glared at the pair with a set of deep brown eyes beneath a bushy brow. His chest was nearly bursting out from his shirt, and Aspen gawked up at him with a shocked expression, which quickly turned to concern as she noticed Dreg sizing him up. The two men strode towards one another, and Aspen flinched as the man swung his fist towards Dreg's face.
Patrons screamed and some of them scrambled out of the way as Dreg easily avoided the hulking man's swing. He wasn't particularly fast, but what he lacked in smarts he made up for in strength. Aspen pressed herself against the far wall, watching the fight through her fingers. Dreg danced around the man, a grin on his face.
"Come on ya big dummy," He growled, and he ducked as the man roared and swung his arm. "Is that all you've got?"
Dreg was a half a second too slow, the man doubled back and knocked his shoulder into Dreg's chest, and it sent him flying into a nearby table. It broke upon impact, and Dreg crash-landed on the floor with a growl. He quickly picked himself up and staggered his feet. He clenched his fists, now thoroughly pissed off, when a woman's voice shrieked from near the bar.
" No fighting in my fucking Inn !"
A few male patrons grabbed at Dreg's arms, pinning him back.
" Get out! " The woman shrieked, and she pointed a finger at Aspen as well. " I never want to see your faces around here ever again! "
Aspen hastily swept up their satchels and began making her way to the door, her face burning from the embarrassment of Dreg's behavior. Dreg himself was dragged by a few of the men and shoved outside the door, which closed behind them with a firm slam. Aspen sighed, and she began stomping back towards the stables, utterly horrified by how he had acted.
Dreg groaned quietly, his back sore. When he looked around, he spotted Aspen stalking towards the stables, and he sheepishly followed. As soon as he drew closer, and they were by their horses she spun around and pummeled in the chest three times.
"I can't believe you did that Dreg!" She shouted, furious.
Dreg blinked, and he stared down at her, feeling confused.
"You cannot go around picking fights in the Inn!"
"But... that man..."
Aspen let out a frustrated noise and turned back towards the horses.
"That old man grabbed my ass, so what. All it takes is a stern look and maybe a fuck off for good measure. You do not pin them to a wall!"
"I'm so annoyed," Aspen continued as she began strapping her satchel down on her saddle. "Now we can never come back this Inn, and anybody with half a brain is going to remember you... and me!"
Dreg was silent. He stood, with his hands clenched, frowning at the ground. Aspen shot him a glare, and then she scrambled up onto her horse, which wasn't easy for her to do alone.
"Come on!"
Dreg looked up at her, and his brows furrowed together. He didn't really understand what he had done wrong.
"We'll have to make camp somewhere else for the night," Aspen muttered, clicking her tongue. "Hurry up."
She didn't wait for Dreg to get on his horse before setting off at a brisk trot towards the man road. Dreg mounted his horse and grabbed the reins, urging his horse into a trot as well. Eventually, he caught up with Aspen, who was too angry to speak to him anymore. She sat on her horse, silently glaring at the road while they rode a short distance away from the Inn. It was almost too dark to see, and after riding for around half an hour she suddenly jetted off the road towards the bushes, with Dreg close behind. They entered into a little copse of bushes that did well to hide them from view from the main road, and provided shelter for the horses as well.
Aspen stumbled down from her horse and tethered it to a nearby tree. Dreg clambered down from his steed and followed suit, a frown still on his face. He walked off to get wood for a fire while Aspen busied herself with setting up a bedroll. When she was finished, she walked over to Dreg's horse, searching for his bedroll, and a little jolt of panic coursed through her as she realized it wasn't there.
"Oh my god," she groaned, bowing her head against the horse.
It nickered softly, and Dreg stood nearby with an armful of branches.
"What's wrong?" He grunted.
Aspen scowled at him, and she flung her arms up with an exasperated sigh.
"Oh, you know, in my haste to get out of that Inn before the mob turned on us... I forgot one of our fucking satchels with your bedroll attached to it!"
Aspen stomped over to her bedroll and sat down on it with a loud sigh. She wasn't hungry, she didn't care about the fire. She just wanted to get to Langdale in one piece. Dreg silently built the fire, trying to understand why Aspen was so angry. He thought he had been doing the right thing. But, the more he thought about it, the more Dreg knew he had overreacted.
When he was finished, he sat back on the forest floor, sighing softly. He rested his arms on his knees and stared sullenly at the fire, unsure of how to fix things. Aspen sat to his left, her head still in her hands, but eventually she lifted her head and looked over at him.
"What are you doing?" She blurted out.
Dreg frowned at her from across the fire, his red eyes gleaming brightly from the light of the flames.
"Huh?"
"You're not going to sleep on the ground, are you?"
"I... think I should."
"Why?"
"I don’t know..." Dreg sighed. "So you don't hit me in my sleep?"
"I could hit you anyways," Aspen retorted. "All I have to do is get up and walk over there."
"Look, I'm sorry Aspen. I overreacted."
"Overreacted, ha!" Aspen laughed, but there was no amusement in her voice. "You could say that."
"What do you want from me? I saw somebody touching you without permission... I... I can't handle it when that happens."
"Why?"
Aspen's voice was a shade softer, but she was still frowning.
"Because... do I have to explain it? I'm an Orc, and I am your Guardian. I'm sworn to protect you..."
"Yeah okay, that's the formal explanation. What else you got?"
Dreg rubbed at his neck, feeling strange. He wanted to say something more, but he pushed those thoughts away.
"I wouldn't be sitting here with you if I didn't care," Dreg finally grumbled.
"Hmph."
Aspen pulled the covers back to her bedroll and began laying down.
"Are you hungry?" Dreg asked, staring at her.
"No, I just want to sleep."
"Okay."
Dreg went back to staring at the fire while Aspen laid down with her back facing him. She waited for several minutes before she glanced back at the Orc.
"Dreg."
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
"Well come on then... I’m cold."
Dreg slowly stood up from the ground and shuffled around to the other side of the bedroll.
"Are you done punishing me?"
"Perhaps," Aspen mumbled, yawning. "Just lay down already."
Dreg kicked his boots off and laid his Greatsword just underneath the mat, out of sight but still within reach. He then knelt and slid underneath the covers, groaning softly as he tried to get comfortable. Aspen shuffled towards him, and grasped his arm, bringing it around her body. Dreg stiffened, but when Aspen looked up at him she wasn't scowling anymore.
"I don't understand how you're always so hot."
"It's just an Orc thing."
"It's strange."
Dreg sighed, and he tightened his hold around her waist. Aspen closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his chest, breathing softly.
"Dreg?" She murmured.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for... defending me, as over the top as it was."
"Hmph," Dreg grunted.
He didn’t say anything more but his body relaxed against hers, and within a few minutes, they both drifted to sleep.
At some point during the night, Aspen began to dream. She started to move a little in her sleep, but it didn't bother Dreg. Her breathing quickened but her eyes remained shut as she dreamt of a certain green-skinned Orc with a firm, round butt and a thick, stiff cock. Warmth flooded through her body, and suddenly her hands began to roam without any conscious thought.
Dreg's eyes shot open and he stiffened when he felt something rubbing against his groin, and he realized with a small jolt that it was Aspen. He peered down at the sleeping Healer with wide eyes, watching as she began to make little noises, her breath coming out in small pants as she rubbed him through his breeches. He was used to her being restless once in a while but this was different. He was at a loss for what to do, and so he laid there, desire coursing through him as Aspen rubbed his member to life. It strained uncomfortably tight against the constraints of his beeches, and he gasped Aspen arched her neck, pressing her chest into his. Her mouth opened slightly and she whimpered something so softly he almost didn't hear it.
"D-Dreg... I need it..."
Dreg wrenched himself away from her hand and rolled off the bedroll. Aspen's eyes opened, and she blinked, completely confused. Dreg scrambled to his feet and began making a beeline for the bushes.
"Dreg?" She called out, her voice sleepy.
"I'll be right back," he grumbled. "I gotta piss."
Dreg slumped against a tree, out of sight from the camp. Aspen laid her head back down and sighed, totally unaware of what she had been doing. She closed her eyes and began drifting back to sleep, while the Orc furiously stroked his now throbbing hard cock. Her touch had been like molten lava, stirring deep and aching desire that had consumed him for the last three months. No amount of fucking other women seemed to quench it. He knew that what he wanted was Aspen, and he couldn't have her.
Dreg clenched his eyes shut and bowed his head, his breath coming out in short grunts as pleasured himself to a swift orgasm. He came hard, his body shuddering as he pictured Aspen's creamy thighs wrapped around his waist as he fucked her with wild abandonment. When he was finished, he slowly made his way back to where Aspen was fast asleep on her bedroll. He laid down, trying to keep his distance, and barely slept a wink for the rest of the night.
Chapter Text
Aspen woke up early the next morning. Her stomach grumbled, and she slowly opened her eyes. Dreg's thick chest was all she could see, and the black cord of the necklace she had gifted him hung down from his neck. She smiled slightly, yawning.
We might not be romantically involved, Aspen thought quietly, as she watched Dreg sleep. But knowing he wears my necklace is oddly sweet.
Aspen's stomach grumbled again, this time louder, and the Orc opened his eyes. He rubbed at them while he yawned, and Aspen slowly rolled away from him. She sat up and stretched her arms above her head. Then, she got up and wandered off to relieve herself, and by the time Aspen returned, Dreg had started rekindling the fire.
"You shouldn't bother...the pack I left behind held most of the food we had..."
Aspen sighed, feeling upset.
"I think there's another pack, but I'm not sure..."
Dreg stood up, and he began walking towards the horses. He spotted Aspen's disgruntled face as she stared down at the ground. He paused and reached up to tip Aspen's chin towards him.
"Don't worry about it," he growled softly.
Aspen swallowed hard, her heartbeat fluttering in her chest. Dreg seemed to realize what he had done, touching her like that, and he hastily turned away. Her skin tingled where his thumb had touched her.
"It's my fault we lost the pack anyways."
"W-well then... we should get going."
"Okay."
Despite the fact her stomach rumbled angrily, Aspen pushed her hunger aside and rolled up her bedding in silence. When they were ready, Dreg helped Aspen up onto her horse and then he mounted his own and they began picking their way through the trees. Within a couple of minutes, the main road came into view, and they rode at a steady pace for the rest of the day. Aspen was still annoyed about Dreg's behavior at the Inn, but for the most part, she had gotten over it. A part of her didn't understand why he had reacted so strongly, and Aspen struggled not to read too much into it. Instead, she tried to focus on the scenery around her, which was beautiful and vibrant.
The side of the road was dotted with tiny little wildflowers, and it was a mild, sunny day. Aspen sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, smiling as the warm rays of the sun reached her face. It was almost too warm to be wearing her cloak, and soon Aspen would be ditching it for a smaller cowl made of thin cotton material. She had to wear her gloves and wraps when working, but when she wasn't Aspen preferred to take them off when traveling during the summer months.
For most of the day, Dreg was content to just silently sit upon his horse, soaking in the warmth of the sun. His thoughts were far away, which the Orc felt was always the case now. He'd never felt such a flurry of emotions before over one single person. The Elf perched on her horse next to him drove Dreg wild, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to leave. The fact that Aspen had been dreaming about him in a sexual nature the night before didn't help his mind one bit, but he refused to think too deeply on it. So, for most of the day, Dreg tried to just enjoy the ride. Soon it would be summertime, and he hoped he got to see some more of the country that wasn't small, boring villages and sleepy cities.
By the time night rolled around, and they reached another Inn, both Dreg and Aspen were dying to eat. They quickly walked their horses into the nearby stables and this time Aspen helped Dreg brush down the horses and feed them so that it went quicker. When they were finished, the pair wandered into the Inn, and Dreg found a table for them to sit at while Aspen spoke quietly with the Innkeeper about a room. A few words were exchanged, and the two women smiled warmly at one another.
"Good to see you again, Aspen."
"Thank you, and thank you for the room."
The woman shooed her away with a wave of her hand, and Aspen skipped over to where Dreg was sitting and took a seat in one of the chairs beside him. She yawned quietly and then thanked the young servant boy that brought by two bottles of ale. Her stomach rumbled loudly, and Dreg felt the twang of hunger in the pit of his stomach as well. He could smell delicious food wafting from the back, and it made his mouth water.
Five painfully long minutes later, another girl arrived with two steaming plates of dinner. Tonight, it was roast lamb with mashed potatoes, gravy, roasted vegetables, and warm cornbread.
"Mmm," Aspen sighed happily as she chewed on a mouthful of lamb. "Either I'm beyond hungry or this is divine. Or both."
Dreg chuckled but he was silent as he shoveled a mouthful of mashed potatoes in his mouth. He watched as Aspen ate quickly, more quickly than he'd ever seen her before, and it was almost comical. She smiled to herself while she ate, completely content, but after a few minutes, she glanced over at the Orc. When she found him peering over at her, Aspen froze.
"What?" Aspen mumbled, and she took a swig of her ale.
"I've never seen you eat so fast."
Aspen's ears turned red, but she shot him a cheeky grin before she stabbed a carrot with her fork and popped it in her mouth.
"I gotta eat too," she responded lightly. "Not just big, muscly Orcs."
Dreg flexed his arm, growling softly, but he was smiling. Aspen laughed, and the sound was music to his ears. He was glad she wasn't mad at her anymore, and they could enjoy each other's company again.
"How many more days until we reach Langdale?"
Aspen was sitting back in her chair with her hand resting lightly on her tummy and her eyes were closed. She was happily stuffed to the brim with food and ready for a good night's sleep in a warm bed. She cracked one eye open and fixed it on Dreg's face.
"Maybe a full day at the most."
Aspen closed her eyes, and after a moment her head nodded once and she quickly opened them again and hastily stood up.
"I'm more tired than I thought."
Dreg stood up as well, and he followed Aspen as she began making her way down the hall. They reached a worn wooden door, and she fumbled with the lock for a moment before flinging the door open. The air was warm and cozy, but the bed that lay inside was even more inviting. They dumped their packs on the floor and Aspen made quick work of her gloves, cloak, and wraps. When she was finished she climbed under the covers and pulled the blanket up to her chin. She watched as Dreg kicked his boots off and sat down on the bed with a small sigh. He rubbed his neck for a moment, growling softly, and then laid down on his side. He didn't always feel a need for a blanket, and tonight he slept without it, feeling perfectly comfortable. They both drifted to sleep and did not stir until the next morning.
Sunlight filtered in through the curtains of the window above Aspen's head. Aspen laid on her side, facing a sleeping Dreg. She slowly opened her eyes and rubbed at them for a moment as her vision adjusted to the bright light that spilled into the room.
Beside her, Dreg was laying on his back fast asleep. His long legs lay sprawled out on the bed, and his mouth was slightly opened as he snored. Aspen watched him for a moment, her thoughts lingering on certain memories. She still felt the painful sting of events that occurred in Halgrim. She had been ten seconds away from confessing her feelings to her brand-new Guardian, and guilt washed over her whenever Aspen thought about it. She partially blamed the pretty Glanduil, for putting such notions in her head. Before that night, she had been perfectly fine pretending those feelings didn't exist. Now that they were out in the open, Aspen struggled to keep them inside, to the point it was almost physically painful.
Aspen resisted the urge to touch Dreg, as she loved the rich green tone of his skin. She wanted to run her hand along his arm but fought hard against it, and was content to simply watch him sleep. Her eyes roamed over the planes of his face, and she openly studied his features without the fear of being caught. She noted the strong angles of his nose, chin, jaw, and the slender curve of his ear as it ended in a sharp point. The small crack in his tusk was still there, and upon her studying, Aspen found two small scars right beside his mouth, which were barely noticeable unless you were looking closely.
Dreg let out a deep breath and moved his arm so it rested on his chest. He frowned and made a small grumbling sound. Aspen stiffened, prepared to move away from him, but the Orc continued to snooze. Her eyes drifted down, and she noticed the tightness in his groin area. He still wore a pair of light brown breeches he had worn all day, and as Dreg laid on the bed it did little to hide his erection. Aspen swallowed hard as a warmth spread between her legs. Her eyes were glued on the outline of his manhood as it strained against his breeches, but Dreg slept on, unaware of his morning wood.
Finally, Aspen forced herself to look away, and she hastily got up from the bed and knelt by her satchel. She quietly rifled in it for a moment, searching for clean clothes. When she retrieved them, the Elf swiftly left the room to find the bathing pool, and she quietly shut the door behind her.
A few minutes after she left, Dreg began to stir. He grunted softly and rubbed at his eyes for a moment while he came to. Suddenly his body stiffened, and he quickly glanced to his right, and let out a deep sigh when he realized he was alone. The Orc swiftly tugged at the strings to his breeches and freed his throbbing cock, which rose up stiff and hard. Dreg made quick work, stroking as quickly as he could before Aspen returned. When he came, Dreg's legs stiffened and he panted loudly, his eyes squeezed shut.
After finishing up, Dreg got up from the bed and went downstairs to find something to eat for breakfast, unaware that Aspen was taking care of her tension down in the bathing house. She sat submerged in the steamy water up to her chin, her head lolled back against the edge of the pool. Her hands were below the water and she swiftly rubbed her clit, the image of Dreg's manhood glued in her mind. She fantasized about the Orc more times than she cared to admit, and within a few minutes, she came. Her neck stiffened and Aspen bit her lip to prevent herself from moaning, thankful that she was the only one occupying the pool. When she was finished, Aspen dunked her head under the water and finished washing up before she got dressed and wandered down to the dining hall to get something to eat.
When Aspen entered the hall, she found Dreg sitting at a small wooden table near the bar. She stifled a yawn and sat down across from the Orc, who looked up.
"Morning," he grunted.
"Morning," Aspen responded lightly, trying to still her thoughts.
"I ordered your breakfast."
"Yeah?"
"Porridge with berries... right?"
"Yes, that's right. Thank you."
The air between them felt a little awkward. So, Aspen retrieved a local paper from a nearby table and began browsing it while they waited for their food. Across the hall, Dreg couldn't help but notice a young Orc man, as he kept sending glances their way. He frowned, realizing he was looking at Aspen every time he shot a glance, and he wondered if the man knew her. However, he never approached them, and eventually, Dreg forgot about him.
When they were finished eating, Dreg went outside to start getting the horses ready while Aspen returned to their room to retrieve their bags. She spent a moment saying goodbye to the Innkeeper and then left the Inn and began making her way towards the stables. A deep voice made her pause, and she turned around to find a smiling Orc. He stood several feet taller than her and wore a worn looking set of leather armor. A long sword hung down from his hip, and he had long black hair that had been braided into a thick plait that hung down his back.
"You probably don't remember me," The Orc started, and he stepped closer.
"Hmm," Aspen replied softly, thinking. "I'm afraid not. I've seen a lot of faces."
Aspen stood with her back to the stables. Dreg had heard her voice, and he crouched near the wooden wall, straining to listen.
"It's alright, I know I'll never forget yours. You saved my little brother back in Langdale."
Aspen frowned, and her eyes darted between the Orc's bright blue pupils. She struggled to conjure up the memory, but she knew he looked familiar.
"His name is Asran. He was ten at the time. He'd fallen ill and nobody knew how to help but you."
"Asran..." Aspen's eyes widened, and she grinned. "I remember! Your brother was such a sweet little boy... so polite, and so strong. I know his illness brought him great pain."
"Yes, that's him. He's twelve now. He still talks about you once in a while, wonders how the pretty healer is doing."
Aspen laughed. The Orc grinned and nervously rubbed his neck.
"I'm sorry, I seem to have forgotten your name."
"Oh, mine's Nox. I wasn't in Langdale when you first arrived, but I showed up once I got wind Asran was sick."
"Yes... yes, that's right."
Dreg turned back to the horses with a scowl, and he silently tightened the straps to the saddle as he waited for Aspen to finish visiting.
"Are you heading to Langdale?"
"I am... I think my Guardian is around here somewhere..."
"I'm heading home as well, perhaps I will accompany you two."
"Oh, sure."
Their voices floated even closer, and a moment later Aspen's head poked around the corner. She was still smiling, but Dreg was silent as she drew closer, and he swiftly took the packs from her grasp. Aspen blinked, and then shook her head, deciding she didn't care what he was grumpy about today. She continued chatting with Nox while the Orc began readying his horse. It was a beautiful black draft horse with dusty grey fur and thick, sturdy legs. It nickered softly when Nox approached, and impatiently stamped its feet.
"Yes, yes. We're going Graymane. Patience."
Aspen wandered over to Dreg, who stood by her horse. He silently grasped her waist and helped Aspen up before mounting his horse. Aspen eyed him curiously, picking up on his mood, but said nothing. A moment later Nox was up on Graymane and the trio began making their way to the main road.
"I guess I should introduce you..." Aspen smiled at Nox, and she nodded her head towards Dreg. "This is my Guardian, Dreg. Dreg... this is Nox. I met him a couple of years ago when I treated his younger brother for an illness."
"Nice to meet you," Nox rumbled, smiling.
"Hmph."
Aspen shot Dreg a glare, but he ignored her and stared down at the road ahead of them as they began riding at a steady pace.
"How is Asran doing? I suppose I should visit your family while I'm in Langdale."
"Please do," Nox responded passionately. "My mother adores you, and Asran would be beyond happy to see you again."
"Okay, I will."
"You'll have to come for dinner, I'm sure my mother wouldn't have it any other way. You, and Dreg of course."
Dreg was silent as he sat upon his horse, and a small frown appeared on his face but he said nothing. Aspen let out a small sigh, but decided to ignore his brooding, and focused on enjoying her conversation with the other Orc.
"I remember she made a very yummy tea... I think it had ginger in it..."
Dreg resisted the urge to take off ahead of the pair, and instead, he silently suffered through their light chatter for most of the day. By the afternoon the road began to make a slight decline, and the forest opened up into a wide opening. The little town of Langdale appeared before them. Several houses and building were dotted along a wide-open field, separate by various crops and farms. Smoke billowed up from the chimneys of several homes, and they could see people milling around as they went about their business. A larger home located near the far side of the town Aspen knew belonged to the mayor, and if it was the same as before she was a very pleasant woman.
"Welcome back," Nox piped up.
Aspen looked over the young Orc, and he shot her a cheeky grin. Dreg was already halfway down the gravel path towards one of the Inns, and Aspen clicked her tongue, urging her horse to follow. Within a few minutes, they reached the stables located just to the side of a large tavern and Inn, named after the town.
"You're staying at this one?" Nox inquired curiously, watching as the pair began dismounting from their horses.
"Yes. I think we'll get settled in for the night."
"Okay. I'll head home. I won't tell anyone you're here yet, Asran will be so surprised..."
Aspen laughed, and she stretched her arms above her head, groaning softly.
"Sounds good. I'll try to come around tomorrow."
"Have a good night."
"Goodnight."
Dreg stood with his back to Aspen, and he walked with both of the horses towards the stalls. Aspen hung back, wanting to say something about his rude behavior, but she decided to wait and instead went inside the Inn to get a room. A smiling woman greeted her at the counter.
"Aspen! It's been too long."
"I know Ella, I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay dear, you're a busy girl... how long are you here for?"
"Well, I'm here for the Guild. So, probably a couple of weeks.
Ella leaned forward, resting her thick forearms on the counter. She had thick black hair that had been pulled back into a sloppy bun and she smiled at Aspen with thin, pale lips.
"Glad to hear it. Where's your Guardian?"
"Oh," Aspen gestured to the door. "He's outside, tending to the horses."
"Horses?"
"Yes," Aspen blushed, realizing just how many people knew about her, and very well it seemed. "It's not my preferred mode of transportation but the Guild gifted us two horses."
"Well that's very nice," Ella mused softly, her eyes twinkling.
"Yes, it is."
"Just the one room then, or two?"
"One will do just fine, thank you."
Aspen took a seat at the bar and was given a cold mug of ale, which she gladly accepted. It quenched her parched throat, and she chatted lightly with Ella for a few minutes while waiting for Dreg. A few minutes later the door to the Inn opened, and the grumpy Orc himself strode inside. Two packs were slung over his back, and he seemed to be wearing a permanent frown today. He spotted Aspen from across the room and walked over to her.
"Key," Dreg grunted, holding his hand out.
Aspen sighed, and she reached into her pocket for the key Ella had handed her several minutes before. She placed it firmly in his hand with a small scowl.
"Seven."
Ella curiously watched as he turned away from Aspen and began making his way up the stairs to the second floor. When he was gone, she turned to Aspen with a confused expression on her face.
"Is that... your Guardian?"
"Yes," Aspen sighed, and she trailed her finger down the side of her bottle. "He's not the most social of Orcs."
Ella laughed. Aspen glanced up at the woman with a raised eyebrow.
"I'd say he's loads better than that other one you had."
"I keep hearing that..." Aspen frowned. "I didn't know so few people liked Ivan."
"It's not like I knew him very well dear, he just seemed... full of himself."
"Well, you're not wrong."
Ella chuckled as she began cleaning some of the glasses. Aspen finished up her drink and requested two bottles of ale before going up to her room. She held a bottle in each hand as she wandered up the stairs, unsure if she wanted to deal with Dreg's temper. She had no idea what she'd done to piss him off, but something told her it was the young Orc who had traveled with them.
If he's jealous that I'm speaking to another Orc then he can just get over it, Aspen thought with a sour expression. He has no right to be mad about it, it's not like we're together.
Aspen reached the door labeled seven, and she struggled with the latch for a moment. Finally, she got it, and she lightly pushed the door open with the tip of her boot. Dreg stood butt naked with his back to her, and he was just beginning to climb into the tub when Aspen entered. He glanced back at her and then sunk into the steaming water with a small growl. Aspen wandered over to him, and she wordlessly held out the bottle of ale. Dreg blinked, and then he reached up as took the offer from her hand.
"Thanks," he grunted.
"I don't want to start a fight," Aspen responded quietly, her brows furrowed together. "But if I did something to piss you off today... then I'm sorry."
Dreg's eyes widened slightly, and then he frowned and looked down at the water. He clenched the bottle tightly in his hand, and then he sighed.
"You didn't piss me off."
"If you say so."
Aspen wasn't fooled, but the last thing she wanted was another screaming match. So, she turned away from the Orc and walked over to the nearby table and sat down. She began rifling in one of the packs for a moment and pulled out one of her journals. Dreg quietly watched as she took a sip of her second ale and then flipped open her notebook. She began writing in it with a thin piece of charcoal, and after a few minutes, Dreg leaned back in the tub and took a sip of his drink, his thoughts far away.
The rest of the evening passed by in the same manner. When Dreg was finished bathing, dinner was brought up to them and the pair ate together in silence before retiring for the night. Neither one of them slept very well.
Chapter Text
Aspen was awake at the crack of dawn, and by the time Dreg woke up she was already gone. He lay in bed for a while, his thoughts lingered on her, which only lead to him eventually pleasuring himself before getting ready for the day. When he was finished, Dreg wandered downstairs to get something to eat, and he was met by the warm smile of the Innkeeper.
"Sit down dearie, I'll get you some breakfast."
"Thanks," Dreg grumbled, and he took a seat at the bar.
"My name's Ella, feel free to just give a shout when you need anything. Anybody who is a friend of Aspen's is a friend of mine."
"Dreg."
"Dreg. Where are you from, Hun?"
Ella swept a plate down on the counter in front of Dreg. It was laden with several eggs, sausages, and a generous slab of toasted bread with butter. He began quietly tucking into it and paused only when he realized Ella was watching him.
"Uh," he mumbled thickly, still chewing. "A stronghold... rather not talk about it."
"Stronghold huh? I knew a Lass from an Orc Stronghold. She was a feisty little thing."
"Hmph."
"Not one for chit chat huh?" Ella continued softly, smiling.
"Not really."
"Well that's alright, I can do more than my fair share," Ella joked. "I must say I'm not surprised you're Aspen's new Guardian. I didn't care for that other man she was with."
"You didn't?"
Dreg continued eating while Ella talked to him, but he was interested.
"No... he was quite... well, to speak plainly... he was a lousy piece of shit. Not at first, mind you. But after some time, I began to notice how unhappy Aspen was. He made things difficult for her."
"Difficult... how?"
"She never told you?"
Dreg finished swallowing his food, and he shrugged.
"She told me some, but I know it's not easy to talk about it."
"Well, he was always getting piss drunk and trying to get into bed with what seemed like anybody with two legs and tits. It was irritating for me to deal with, and I'm sure Aspen as well."
"Hmph. Sounds like him."
"Did you know Ivan?"
"No," Dreg grunted, and his eyes flicked up to Ella's face. "Just well enough to break his nose."
"Oh good, I'm glad somebody gave it to him. Well, it's no matter now," Ella laughed, and she waved her hand. "You've replaced him. I know you Orcs are all moody bastards but I've never met one that wasn't fiercely protective of their mates."
"Mate?" Dreg spluttered, nearly choking on his drink. "You mistake us, we're not mates."
"Really? Could have fooled me."
"We're not mates," Dreg repeated firmly, frowning. "It is forbidden by the Guild."
"So what we're saying is that because some fairy healer's Guild has forbidden it you two just... follow the rules?"
"What do you mean?" Dreg looked at the Innkeeper, feeling confused.
"Perhaps I've... overstepped," Ella replied hastily, holding her hands up. "I just thought you two were a couple, from the way Aspen spoke of you."
"Spoke of me how?"
"Well, she was here earlier, for a bite to eat before she took off for the day. She just told me uh little things, since I was curious. She mostly said you were the most protective man she'd ever met, and that she.... she really cares about you."
Dreg was silent, and he stared down at his almost empty plate for a moment, his thoughts far away.
"I just assumed from the one-bedroom... and the way she spoke..." Ella was flustered now, and she nervously wrung her hands in the pocket of her apron. "I'm sorry if I put my nose in where it don't belong."
"It’s okay," Dreg shook his head, and he shoved a piece of sausage into his mouth. "We're not a couple, but I can understand why you'd think that."
Dreg finished up his breakfast while Ella busied herself with something in the back. She apologized once more when he got up to leave, but the Orc simply waved her off.
"It's fine. Do you know where she went?"
"Aspen? I uh... I'm not sure."
The door to the Inn opened, and the woman in question stepped inside. Aspen plucked her gloves off and began walking towards the counter where Dreg was standing, a small smile on her lips. A lump rose in his throat, but he forced himself to stand and wait for her to come over.
"Morning sleepyhead," Aspen greeted softly, and her eyes darted over to Ella. "You're just having breakfast now?"
"No," Dreg grunted, shaking his head. "I finished already."
"Oh, okay. What do you want to do today?"
"Aren't you visiting some family?"
"Yes," Aspen perched herself on one of the chairs and smiled at Ella. "I am, but not until tomorrow, and you're going with me remember."
"Oh, right."
"Can I have some tea, Ella?"
"Sure thing Dearie... coming right up."
"Thank you."
Aspen placed her gloves down on the table and turned towards Dreg, who awkwardly stood beside her.
“You had breakfast?”
“Yup.”
"So, your day is pretty much free."
"Guess so."
"If you're looking for something to do, I might have something," Ella piped up.
She had returned with a small white teapot and a blue porcelain mug. She placed them on the counter and began pouring hot water into the mug. Then she produced a small box which contained several small sachets of loose-leaf tea. She handed the box to Aspen, who inspected them for a moment, sniffing each one. She settled on peppermint.
"What is it?"
"Well it's just me running the Inn now, so I have some repairs I could have done. If you don't mind."
Dreg shook his head, and he followed Ella to the back room so she could explain the tasks to him. While he was gone, Aspen happily sipped away at her tea, feeling proud that Dreg was so willing to help. She thought back to the time they had their first major fight. No matter how angry he seemed to get, Dreg always helped anyways. It was a quality of his that she found endearing.
When they returned, Aspen was nearly finished her tea and was ready to continue making her rounds.
"I've got some work to do, so I guess I'll see you later."
Aspen looked up at Dreg, and she peered into his bright red eyes.
"Unless you need me for anything…”
"Nope, I'm good. I'll try to come back around dinner-time."
"Okay."
Aspen watched as Dreg disappeared to the back again, a small smile on her lips. She tipped the contents of her mug back, swallowing the last few drops of her tea. Then she shoved her gloves back on and began making her way to the door. She continued visiting homes and families for most of the day and did not return to the Inn until later in the evening.
A content Aspen wandered back into the Inn. She had seen three different families today, and they had all been rather simple fixes. Aspen wandered up to the counter, where Ella greeted her, and she stifled a yawn.
"Don't work yourself too hard now, dear," Ella chided.
"I'm not, honest. Where's Dreg?"
"He's still working. I was just in the basement and he was starting to fix a beam."
"Oh, okay. Perhaps I'll sneak in a nap before we have dinner."
"Sure thing Hun, I'll send him up when he's finished."
"Okay, thanks, Ella."
Aspen slowly wandered up the stairs and went into their room. It was dark, and so she spent a few minutes lighting some candles. She wanted to take the chance for some alone time to do something, but after sitting down with her notebook for a few minutes a new thought crossed her mind. Ditching the journal, Aspen decided to take care of a little business and then have a bath.
Well, Ella did say he had just started repairing a beam so... Aspen shimmied out from her breeches and sat down on the edge of the bed. He should be a couple of hours at least. I can be pretty quick.
Aspen swung her legs up onto the bed and laid down. She squeezed her eyes shut and slipped her hand between her legs, feeling a warmth spread through her as she thought about Dreg. The image of his firm, round butt, and thick thighs sent a shiver up her spine, Aspen squeezed her legs around her hand while her fingers lightly teased her slick folds. Her breath came out in short little pants as she continued to fantasize about Dreg, who was incredibly well-endowed. She knew it was common for Orcs to have large manhoods but she'd never slept with one before and even the thought of Dreg's massive cock slowly easing into Aspen made her heart race. She moaned softly, arching her back as she began stroking herself, which sent tremors of pleasure coursing through her.
Back downstairs, Dreg was speaking with Ella. He wiped at the sweat that had formed on his brow while he spoke. He was feeling hungry and tired.
"I'm going to have to replace it completely, but I don't know where to get a large enough piece of wood."
"Oh really?" Ella pursed her lips together, thinking. "Well, I'll speak to Harvard. If he can get it, will you put it up for me? I'll pay you for everything, of course."
"It's no bother," Dreg grunted, yawning. "I have nothing better to do. Let me know if you can get it."
"Okay. Thank you, Dear."
Dreg glanced out the windows, noting it was nearly dark, and he turned back to Ella.
"Do you know whether Aspen came back yet?"
"Oh, yes," Ella smiled. "She should be upstairs. I think she was going to take a nap before dinner."
"Okay, thanks."
Dreg began walking up towards their room, but he paused just outside the door. He debated quietly with himself for a moment, unsure if he wanted to disturb Aspen if she was sleeping. However, he decided he'd try to be as quiet as possible, and just grab a fresh set of clothes so he could take a bath in the common pool. So, Dreg unlatched the door and stepped inside.
Aspen lay on the bed, her bare legs spread wide as she stroked herself with one hand. Her head nearly slipped off the edge of the bed and her eyes were squeezed shut as she softly moaned. She panted for air and her body writhed as she felt herself reaching a climax.
Dreg stood rooted to the spot; his eyes glued on Aspen's form as he unabashedly watched the Healer pleasure herself. A thousand thoughts rushed through his mind, but none of them was the right thing. He wanted to rip her tunic off and make love to her right then and there, but he resisted. Dreg continued to battle with himself, even as he felt a warmth spread through his groin.
You think she doesn't want you, but what about the other night? She was thinking about you, there's no denying it... she said your name.
"Mmm," Aspen whimpered, and her chest heaved. She began stroking herself even faster as she moaned. Her other hand tightly clenched into a fist around the blanket. "D-Dreg... f-fuck... mmm..."
Dreg's eyes widened, and his willpower instantly dissolved. He strode forward, reaching the bed within seconds.
"Aspen.”
Aspen's eyes shot open, and when they met his she gasped and threw herself away from him. She quickly rolled to her feet and began scrambling for her breeches.
"Wait," Dreg continued hastily, and he went over to her. "Aspen, wait."
Aspen's entire face was redder than a tomato. She was beyond mortified and couldn't bring herself to look at him. She struggled to pick her breeches up but Dreg was quicker, and he snatched them from her hands and tossed them away from her.
"Look at me, Aspen."
"No," Aspen huffed, clutching at her chest. It felt like her heart might explode from her chest.
Dreg stepped forward, and she shuffled back, her head still bowed. She kept moving backwards until her back hit something hard, and there was nowhere else to go. She was cornered against the wall and Dreg lightly grasped her arms.
"Aspen please... will you listen to me?"
"What is it?" Aspen snapped, and tears pricked at her eyes. "If you're just going to humiliate me even further, I think I'll pass."
"Humiliate? Aspen come on, I don't want to humiliate you. I want to talk."
"Talk? About what?" Aspen whispered, and she sucked in a shaky breath as she blinked back her tears.
Don’t you dare fucking cry, she chastised herself silently.
"About us. You said my name."
"So?" Aspen spat back, and she picked her head up.
She stared at Dreg with a furious expression, and he was slightly taken aback. "What do you want from me?"
"I... Okay, okay," Dreg sighed. "I don't see why we can't... can't..."
"Can't fuck?"
"Well, if you want to put it that wa-"
"You already know why we can't! I can't have this discussion with you!"
Dreg clenched Aspen's arms, and the expression on his face made Aspen's heart ache. She wanted to look away, but she forced herself to look at him. Her entire body shook, and she wanted nothing more than to run away from the situation.
"Why not? We're adults. We're… clearly attracted to each other."
"Clearly? Oh please, do explain. I don't remember hearing you say my name, ever."
Dreg let out a frustrated growl, and he continued to keep Aspen trapped against the wall, his gaze unwavering.
"You think that after that night I just forgot about you? That's not how it works, Aspen!"
"What's your point? You've just pointed out the obvious, but did you forget our vows? Did you forget what happened between me and my last Guardian? I... I can't..."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and a couple of them slipped down her red cheeks. She bit her trembling lip and tried not to sob.
"I'm not Ivan, Aspen. I think I've more than proven that. I… I care about you. I want to protect you. But this isn't natural! I am in close quarters with you all the time and it's driving me insane!"
Dreg reached up and brushed a few strands of Aspen's hair out of her face, and he also brushed her tears with his thumb; his brows furrowed together.
"I'm an Orc, I have simple needs. You have simple needs as well. It doesn't have to be complicated."
“You’re absolutely ridiculous,” Aspen blurted back with a small bark of laughter that held no humor. “You know that sounds insane right?”
“Aspen… you’ve seen every single horrible memory that I have. Would I lie to you?”
Aspen’s eyes flickered up to Dreg’s face but she couldn’t look at him for more than a second. The intensity of the look in his eyes made her flush with heat and feel way too many things.
“Dreg…”
Dreg suddenly leaned in, dipping his head towards Aspen, and his hand gently clenched the side of her neck. Aspen shivered, and she squeezed her eyes shut. But before he could kiss her, she shook her head and pulled away from him. With a quick jolt, she wrenched her arms from his grasp, ducked her head under his arm and hurried away.
"Aspen."
Glanduil's words echoed loudly in her ears. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to silence it but it was no use.
When has forbidding something ever stopped anyone?
Aspen paused. She clutched at her tunic with her head bowed, and her back was turned to him.
You love him, don't you? When has forbidding something ever stopped anyone?
"I- I," Aspen whispered, pursing her lips. "I just..."
"I want you, Aspen."
Suddenly Aspen turned around and lurched towards Dreg with her arms outstretched. In an instant she had him pinned against the wall and desperately grasped at his thick neck, pulling him down towards her. Their mouths crashed together in a heated kiss, and Dreg growled against her lips, clutching at Aspen with both hands as she pressed her body into his. A fire erupted inside of them both, and Dreg easily hoisted Aspen up and shuffled towards the bed with their lips still locked together. He kissed her roughly, and then softly, his tusks eagerly pressing against the sides of her mouth. Aspen gasped for air as he lowered her down onto the bed, and she could feel his erection pressed against her thigh.
In a moment Dreg had her tunic off and he tossed it onto the ground. This time he paused, his head pulled back, and he stared down at Aspen with an unreadable expression. Aspen panted for air, her hands nervously clenching his tunic. Her eyes darted between his, and her heart was pounding wildly in her chest. She shivered when Dreg gently ran his hand across her scarred hip and cupped her breast. He dipped his head down and grazed his lips along one of her erect nipples.
Aspen moaned and her hand trailed up to grasp his hair, pulling it slightly. Memories of the first time Dreg touched her like that flooded through her. But she was in too deep and had zero desire to make him stop this time.
After showering her chest with kisses for several moments, Dreg pulled his head up, and he once again looked at Aspen.
"Are you sure?" He mumbled hoarsely, his voice thick with emotion. Every fiber of his being was filled with desire.
"I'm sure."
Aspen meant it, and Dreg knew she was being truthful. He quickly dipped his head and kissed her again, before pulling back. Aspen shuffled backwards on her elbows so she was more comfortable, and she sat up while Dreg began taking off his clothes. He whipped his shirt up and tossed it on the floor before fumbling with the strings to his breeches. Aspen leaned forward, and she shooed his hands away and finished untying them herself. Dreg didn't understand why he suddenly felt nervous, but he had only been with his former wife once, and nameless whores throughout the last few months. He felt pressure to perform well and the feeling left butterflies in his stomach. The last thing he wanted was to disappoint somebody as experienced as Aspen.
When the strings were loosened Aspen hooked her fingers around the hem of his pants and slid them down, freeing his member from its leather confines. Dreg stood back, and he hastily kicked his boots off and tossed his breeches down onto the floor. Aspen stared at him for a moment. She was used to seeing him naked by now, but this time it was different. Her stomach trembled and she reached up with a shaking hand to stroke the hard plains of his abs, feeling the texture of scars etched into his rich green skin.
Dreg shivered, and his brows furrowed together when her fingers trailed downwards. She brushed her fingers along his plump red head, which peeked out between his foreskin. She stared up at him, her bright green eyes boring into his, and her expression made him ache.
"I want to be patient," Dreg growled as Aspen gently grasped his firm, thick shaft. "But I've wanted you for so long."
Dreg squeezed his eyes shut, and his chest heaved as pleasure rippled through him from Aspen's touch. Suddenly her hand pulled back, and when he opened his eyes she was lying back on the bed, and she spread her legs for him.
"I've wanted you too, Dreg."
Seeing Aspen's plump, glistening womanhood nearly tipped him over the edge. Aspen gasped as the Orc snarled and threw himself down on top of her. His lips once again hungrily sought hers, and he grasped at her body a little harder now, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. Aspen moaned softly, and she clenched her hands around his thick arms, panting for air as Dreg's lips trailed down her neck and collarbone, nipping softly. Her eyes shot open when she felt the tip of his cock pressing lightly against her entrance, and she swallowed hard, feeling nervous about his size. Dreg sensed her hesitance, and he quickly picked his head up to look at her.
"I've never been with an Elf."
“I've never been with an Orc," Aspen mumbled breathlessly, and Dreg reached up to cup her cheek.
"If it hurts, you'll tell me?"
"Yes," Aspen nodded, and she sucked in a deep breath.
Dreg grasped her thigh with one hand and spread her further, allowing him full access to her womanhood. He growled softly, his eyes closed, and he slowly pressed himself further. He nearly cried out as Aspen's cunt enveloped his cock like a vice, drawing him in. Aspen's head shot back as she felt him stretch her out, and she dug her nails into his arm. A whimper escaped her lips, and Dreg looked at her in alarm.
"Did that hurt?" He gasped.
"No... n-no..." Aspen's thighs trembled and she clutched at Dreg harder, arching her hips. “Keep going..."
Dreg slowly thrust his hip, sending him further, and suddenly all thoughts escaped him. He bowed his head and swept his arms around Aspen, pulling her close as he began to fuck her. Aspen's muffled moans echoed in his ears as she pressed her face into the crook of his neck while he thrust. She tightly wrapped her arms around him as their ragged breaths echoed in the room. She was delirious with pleasure as Dreg's thrust inside her, filling Aspen more than anyone ever had before. It felt like she was drowning in the feeling of him and the pure bliss she felt was indescribable.
It didn't take long for Dreg to reach an orgasm. He was completely overwhelmed with lust, and within minutes he felt a climax rising. He continued to thrust, his chest pressed against Aspen's and he snarled like a rabid animal as he felt himself unraveling.
"Aspen," Dreg growled.
Aspen dug her nails into his back as Dreg cried out. His body suddenly went stiff as he came. A huge load of his seed shot so deeply into Aspen that took her by surprise and a moment later she came as well. Their mingled juices oozed out from them as Dreg weakly thrust his hips, his thighs trembling from the effort. He didn't realize his mouth had latched down hard around Aspen's neck, piercing her skin with his teeth. Aspen was completely unaware, as she instinctively tightened her thighs around Dreg’s waist as she trembled from her orgasm. Her walls clenched around his cock, milking him dry, and she whimpered his name in his ear.
They both collapsed on the bed, and Dreg was still inside of her as he struggled to breathe. His scarred chest was covered in his sweat, and his eyes were closed as his body pressed against Aspen. She laid her head down on the pillow, her chest heaving, but a smile was on her face. She was completely satisfied, and her entire body tingled.
She affectionately rubbed his arm while he rested. After a few minutes, Dreg was able to slide out from her. He slowly shifted onto his side and opened his eyes. His mouth dropped open when he realized what he did.
"What is it?" Aspen asked, alarmed by his expression.
"It's just… shit," Dreg murmured, and he reached up to brush her hair back. "I’m sorry."
"Huh?"
"I marked you."
"Marked me..."
Aspen strained to look down at her neck, and it was then that she realized she was bleeding very lightly. Her neck stung, but it hadn't hurt when he bit her.
"Oh, I didn't feel a thing."
"No, but... I should have.... controlled myself."
"Marking is an Orc thing, right?"
"Yeah."
Dreg shuffled closer, and he clenched Aspen's waist with his thick green hand.
"I've seen a few marks before on women I've treated. A few on men, too."
"It's easy to lose control when uh, really enjoying it."
"I see."
Aspen didn't know what to feel, as she felt too much all at once. They both lay on the bed for a while, and Aspen stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought while Dreg lightly snoozed. There was no turning back. She had resisted for so long, and it had all come to this.
"Do you regret it?"
Aspen blinked, and she looked down to find Dreg watching her. He scratched his cheek and then let out a small breath.
"Do you?"
"No."
His reply had been instant. Aspen stared into his eyes, almost wishing she could see if he was lying, but she knew he wasn't.
"I feel like I should," Aspen whispered, and she frowned when Dreg reached up brushed her hair back. "But I don't."
"Good. I'm hungry, do you want to eat?"
Aspen rolled her eyes with a small smile as Dreg suddenly rolled away from her and stood up from the bed. He stretched his arms above his head for a moment, and Aspen watched him, openly enjoying his backside. He swiftly shoved his breeches on and tossed his crumpled tunic back over his head.
"I should bathe, but I'm starving."
He was unaware of Aspen as she slid to the edge of the bed and sat up, watching as Dreg began tugging on his boots. When he was finished getting dressed Dreg picked up Aspen's tunic and tossed it at her.
"Are you coming?"
"Mm?" Aspen mumbled, and she nodded. "Yeah."
Dreg quietly waited for Aspen as she began to get dressed. When she was finished, Aspen wandered over to wash basin and picked up a clean cloth. She poured some of the cool water into the basin and dipped the cloth in. She stared at herself in the small, round mirror hanging on the wall while she lightly dabbed at the bite mark on her neck. When she was ready, Aspen wandered over to the door. They began to leave, and Dreg lightly slapped her butt when she walked by him.
"Hey!" Aspen hissed, and she rubbed her butt where he had slapped her.
Dreg grinned and reached up to fix his hair, smoothing it back into a loose bun. Aspen patted down her frizzy waves, ensuring it efficiently covered her fresh bite as they both left their room and made their way downstairs to the bar. Ella was nowhere to be seen, but after a few minutes spent sipping on a bottle of ale, she appeared from the back with a grin on her face. Aspen stiffened, thinking that the Innkeeper knew their secret, and she let out a sigh of relief when Ella turned to Dreg.
"I can get a beam to replace the rotting one."
"Yeah? When?"
"Three days he said. You'll still be here, right?"
"Mhm," Dreg growled sleepily, and he stifled a yawn. "I'll do it."
"Wonderful. Did you have a good nap, Aspen?"
Aspen's cheeks turned pink.
"Uh yes, thank you."
"Good, good. Need some grub?"
"Please."
"Coming right up."
Aspen silently stared down at the counter, still feeling a little dazed. She nervously chewed her lip, wishing the feeling would go away. When she glanced over at Dreg, he simply raised one eyebrow at her questioningly, but there was nothing she wanted to say to him in public. Instead, she focused on her chicken-pot pie, but Aspen wasn't nearly as hungry as Dreg was. He eagerly tucked into his dinner, unaware that Aspen was feeling conflicted about everything that had happened. Her thoughts were a confusing swirl.
I don't regret sleeping with him, Aspen thought quietly as she lazily poked at her food. It was wonderful, truly. Better than I imagined.
Aspen glanced over at Dreg, who was done eating. He took a sip of his ale and answered a question Ella asked him about the repairs.
But how long will this affair last? I keep involving myself with men that aren't as interested in me as I am in them. Not to mention if anybody finds out at the Guild…
"You're overthinking."
Aspen jumped, and she looked up to find Dreg watching her.
"No, I'm just tired."
"Are you sure?"
When she looked at Dreg, he was staring at her with an expression that made her breath hitch in her throat. Aspen forced herself to smile, and she nodded.
"Yes."
"Okay. I'm gonna wash up."
"Okay."
Aspen wasn't sure if the air between them was strange, as she watched Dreg walk back up the stairs to their room, leaving Aspen alone at the bar. Ella leaned against the counter, and she observed Aspen with a wry smile. She could feel eyes on her, and she glanced over at the Innkeeper, cocking one slender brow at her.
"What?"
"Oh nothing," Ella replied hastily, and she continued wiping at the polished wooden counter with a cloth.
"I know you're hiding something," Aspen pressured.
"Me? No, my dear. I think it is you that is hiding something."
"What do you mean?"
Ella laughed, and she reached forward to pat Aspen's hand.
"Nothing serious, sweetheart. But I'll say this... you're allowed to be happy, you know. You worry too much about what other people would think."
Aspen stared at Ella for a long moment as she processed what the Innkeeper had said. Then, she quickly shook her head and stood up from the bar. She began heading towards the staircase, and Ella's voice floated over to her.
"Goodnight dearie, sleep well."
"Goodnight Ella."
When Aspen returned to the room Dreg was just beginning to dry himself off. He glanced up when she walked in, but neither one of them said anything. Aspen wandered over to the bed while Dreg finished rubbing at his hair with a towel, and he watched as she sat down on the edge of the bed with a small sigh.
"How's your neck?"
"Hm?" Aspen mumbled. "Oh, it's fine."
"Good."
Dreg wandered past her to the other side of the bed. He wore no clothes; he didn't feel a need to now that they had been intimate. He pulled the covers back and laid down, leaving the other side open for her. Aspen leaned down and tugged her boots of before slipping under the covers. She reached forward to snuff out the candle resting on the bedside table before laying down with her back to him.
Dreg frowned, wondering if she was upset. He decided to test his luck, and so he slid forward. He slipped his arm around her slim waist and snuggled closer. Aspen tensed for a moment, and then she sighed and closed her eyes. Part of her enjoyed the fact that Dreg's arm was around her, but it still left her feeling conflicted. Dreg growled softly, his eyes closed, and he was asleep within minutes. Aspen lay awake for a little while, and she was eventually lulled to sleep by the sound of his quiet snoring and the firm pressure of his arm wrapped around her.
Chapter Text
It wasn't until nearly mid-morning before Aspen finally woke up. She yawned quietly and rubbed at her eyes before she shot up in bed. Dreg's arm abruptly slumped into her lap. The Orc grunted, and he rolled onto his back as he opened his eyes.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," Aspen murmured, and she threw the covers back. "It's just late and I need to bathe."
"Hmph."
Dreg growled softly and stood up from the bed. He stretched for a moment, and then rubbed his face while he struggled to wake up properly.
"You don’t have to get up."
"I have other things to do for Ella."
"Oh."
Aspen busied herself with finding a servant girl, and within ten minutes the tub was filled with steaming hot water. Dreg watched as she stripped off her clothes and sank into the tub with a small sigh. He wandered downstairs to get breakfast while she Aspen was soaking, and when he returned sometime later with a tray laden with food Aspen was sitting on the edge of the bed with her head bowed.
"Aspen?"
Dreg placed the tray down on the table and walked over to where she was sitting. Aspen ignored him, and she continued staring down at her hands. He knelt on the floor in front of her and tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him.
"What’s wrong?"
"Nothing," Aspen whispered, and she frowned.
"You're a shit liar."
Aspen pulled her chin out from his grasp and abruptly stood up, forcing Dreg backward. He caught himself and stood up, but he refused to leave Aspen alone. He followed her as she walked over to the table and sat down. She plucked up one of the warm blueberry muffins and popped a piece of it in her mouth.
"Don't bullshit me, Aspen. I don't like being in the dark."
"Must you always speak like that?" Aspen shot back, and then she sighed. "I just… I have a lot on my mind."
"Be more specific."
Dreg took a seat beside Aspen at the table and pulled the plate of breakfast towards himself. He took a bite of eggs and chewed quietly while waiting for Aspen to speak. She rolled her eyes and then pursed her lips, realizing that the Orc wasn't going to let up.
"I’m just not sure about… us."
"Oh, come on" Dreg growled, and he crossed his arms. "You can't back out on me now."
It was Dreg's turn to start ranting as Aspen had done in the past. Once he started, the words just flowed out like a waterfall. Aspen gawked at him with her mouth slightly open.
"I don't think you understand just how hard it is for a man... no, not even that... an Orc to resist somebody they want. We sleep in the same bed, bathe together… It physically pains me, Aspen. You're thinking too much with your head.”
“Dreg…”
“I am well aware that it is forbidden to be in a relationship with you,” Dreg continued, ignoring her. “But technically they never specified what kind. This is purely sex, and you can't tell me you didn't enjoy it last night. I still have your claw marks on my back, Aspe-"
"Alright, alright!" Aspen cut in, holding her hands up. "Gods Dreg, I get it. You want to keep sleeping with me."
"Am I wrong? If I am, tell me."
The confession was on the tip of her tongue, but she quickly swallowed it and shook her head. There was no way that she could bring herself to say it.
No, she told herself firmly. Keep it simple. Simple needs.
"No, you're not wrong."
"Then we're fine?"
Aspen stared down at her muffin with a sullen expression, and then she forced herself to look at Dreg. He stared back at her with that same expression as the night before, and Aspen couldn't say no to him. Truthfully, she didn't want to.
"Yes."
"Excellent."
Dreg grinned and began tucking into his breakfast with gusto. Aspen didn't think she'd ever seen him so pleased, and when she thought about what he'd said to her about claw marks it made her blush. They continued eating in comfortable silence, and then Aspen got ready to head out on her rounds.
When she was ready, Dreg opened the bedroom door for her, and Aspen began walking forward. He once again squeezed her ass, and this time Aspen spun around to confront him.
"Hey!" She hissed angrily, stepping forward.
Dreg held his hands up in surrender as she advanced, a cheeky grin on his face.
"What?"
Aspen closed the bedroom door and poked Dreg in the chest with a frown.
"If we're going to... to be involved. You need to learn to keep your hands to yourself unless we're in complete privacy. Word travels, understood? Can you do that?"
"Of course," Dreg growled softly, amused by Aspen's little outburst.
"Good."
Aspen gave him one last poke for good measure, but it only made Dreg laugh. He followed her into the hall and they walked downstairs to the main hall.
"Good morning my dearies," Ella greeted them, and she accepted the tray Aspen handed her.
"Good morning Ella."
"Off to do some more healing this morning?"
"Yep. I'll see you two later. Don't forget Dreg... we're going to dinner tonight."
"Oh, right."
Aspen shot Dreg a small glance and then began walking towards the door.
"Bye dearie."
"Bye Ella."
"Now, I have a few small things for you to do, Dreg..."
"Okay."
Dreg followed Ella around for most of the day, performing small duties on various things around the Inn. It was in fairly good shape, but Dreg knew he was making improvements to the Inn, and the Orc didn't mind. It kept him occupied, and his thoughts were occupied as well. Still, he found himself thinking about Aspen, and whenever they lingered on images of the night before it sent a shiver up his spine and he had to force himself to stop.
It was nearly evening time when Aspen returned to the Inn. She found Ella serving a few patrons some drinks, and she patiently waited for her to be finished before inquiring about Dreg.
"Dreg? He should be upstairs. He went up there a while ago to wash up."
"Oh okay, thanks."
She began unwinding the wraps around her arms as she walked up the stairs. When she reached their room, Aspen unlocked the latch and stepped inside to find her Guardian doing up the ties to his good breeches. He wore no shirt, and he turned towards Aspen when she walked in.
"I wasn't expecting you to be ready before me," Aspen teased as she tossed her wraps down on the table.
"Hmph," Dreg grunted. "You don't give me very much credit."
"I suppose I don't."
"Do I have to go, though? I'm really not interested in watching that Orc fawn over you."
"What?" Aspen blurted out, and she turned to Dreg with a frown.
He had thrown on a clean tunic and was now shoving his arms through the sleeves of his Guardian coat.
"Nix. Or Nox. Whatever his name is. He clearly fancies you."
"So, Orcs that are friendly always fancy me?" Aspen asked with a roll of her eyes.
"Not always, but I'm an Orc. I can tell the difference."
"Hmph."
Aspen ignored his teasing and quickly changed into a light blue cotton dress that reached just to her knees. When they were ready, the pair wandered back downstairs and said goodbye to Ella before making their way into the streets of Langdale. Aspen guided Dreg up the street towards one of the farms, and within a few minutes, they arrived at the front steps to a homely looking cabin. The door opened before Aspen could reach up and knock, and they were greeted by a grinning young Orc. He was almost taller than Aspen at only twelve years old, and he shouted as soon as he realized who she was.
"Aspen!" Asran hollered, and he rushed forward. "You're back!"
Aspen gasped as the young Orc threw his arms around her waist and squeezed her in a tight hug. She laughed and patted Asran's back while she struggled to breathe.
"Good... to see you, Asran. I can't believe how much you've grown!"
"I haven't been sick since you were here last- well... I had a cold last winter, but that was it!"
Asran pulled back, and Aspen squeezed his arm with a big smile. At twelve years old Asran was a tall, lean Orc with already prominent muscled beginning to form. He wore a long black tunic secured with a leather belt and thick black boots that were scuffed and marked in several places. He stared curiously up at Dreg with dark brown eyes, and Dreg silently eyed him back.
"Is that... your Guardian?"
"Come on Asran, you're not a very good host... let them in!"
Nox's face popped around the doorframe, and he quickly ushered everyone in. An older Orc couple stood nearby, and the woman quickly rushed forward to hug Aspen. She wore her shiny black hair down in two thick braids, and only the wrinkles around her eyes and mouth gave away her age.
"Aspen, we are so happy to see you."
"Thank you, Moira. It is a pleasure to see you all again."
Dreg hung back, but the Orc standing beside Moira studied him with great interest. Dreg squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze, unsure of how to act around a family of Orcs that weren't clan members.
"Who is your friend?"
Aspen turned towards Dreg, and she waved him closer.
"This is Dreg, my Guardian."
"A new Guardian? I remember your last one... wasn't he human?"
"Oh, yes," Aspen nodded, and she nervously rubbed her arm. "Ivan and I parted ways. Dreg has been with me for about... four months now."
"Don't be a stranger Dreg," Moira smiled at the sullen Orc. "Are you a clan Orc?"
"Yes," Dreg replied stiffly and resisted the urge to scowl.
"Ahh, that explains it. Well, we don't bite."
Moira laughed, and Aspen smiled, but Dreg's face remained stoic. He followed the group as they moved into the main room. Their dining table had been set up for what looked like a feast, and Aspen's eyes widened at all the delicious looking food.
"Please, Sit."
Dreg sat down on Aspen's left and Asran on her right. The Orc grinned, unable to contain his excitement at seeing the Healer again. He couldn't help but look at her often and felt his cheeks burn whenever she looked his way. When everyone was seated, Moira encouraged people to tuck in, and Aspen happily obliged. It smelled wonderful, and the food tasted even better. They all chatted amongst themselves, leading to a relaxed and cheery evening.
"Are you in school, Asran?" Aspen inquired, and she took a sip of red wine she had been given.
"Yeah! I like it."
"What's your favorite subject?"
"Hmm," Asran was quiet as he mulled it over. "I think I like... history the most."
"History is a good subject. It was one of my favorites too."
Across the table, Nox watched the pair with a small smile. He was glad that Aspen had agreed to come for dinner, even if it was only to amuse his younger brother. Beside her, Dreg was quiet as he ate, but he didn't look as miserable as the other day out on the road.
"What did you do before becoming a Guardian, Dreg?"
Dreg blinked, and he glanced up at the sound of his name. Moira's husband, Urag, was looking at him. He glanced over at Aspen and struggled to form a response.
"I uh... I lived in my Stronghold."
Aspen nervously bit her lip, knowing that Dreg was incredibly uncomfortable. Nox noticed her nervousness, and so he quickly changed the subject. The chatter moved away from Dreg, who looked visibly relieved, and he quietly resumed eating his dinner.
After dinner was consumed, everyone migrated near the fire, except Nox. He asked to speak with Aspen in private. Dreg watched them go from where he was seated, and his hand clenched tightly around the bottle of ale in his hands. Across from him, Urag watched Dreg, a small frown on his weathered face. One of his tusks had been broken at the tip, and he had a small red scar on his cheek that disappeared beneath his greying beard.
Aspen followed Nox outside and they sat down on a small wooden bench. She nervously rubbed her arm as she remembered what Dreg had said about the Orc earlier.
"I wanted to speak with you in private..." Nox started, and he rubbed his neck with a small laugh. "To be honest, Aspen... I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."
She resisted the urge to groan, and instead quietly stared down at her lap.
Why does this keep happening? Her thoughts whirled. First Edward, then Julien, now him.. . Is it because Ivan is gone? I don’t get it… Why can’t it be the guy I actually fancy…
Nox struggled to speak his feelings, and the longer he went on the more unbearable it became.
"I-I know we barely know each other but... there's just something about you. And it's not just because of my little brother..."
Nox laughed and glanced over at Aspen. She tried to laugh but she couldn't. Aspen tried to form a response in her head, one that was soft, but it only made her throat constrict tightly. Nox sighed, and he reached up to brush her hair back so he could see her face. He stiffened when his eyes landed on the fresh mark on her neck, and he quickly retracted his hand. Aspen glanced up, and when she saw Nox's expression she hastily pushed her hair back around her neck.
"I'm... I'm sorry," Nox mumbled, and he looked away. "I didn't know you were with Dreg."
"Dreg?" Aspen stammered, and she quickly shook her head. "I-I'm not... I'm not with Dreg. He's my Guardian."
"Oh."
Nox frowned, and he stared down at his hands. The air between them was awkward, and Aspen didn't know how to rectify it. So, she took a deep breath and just told him the truth.
"Listen... Nox, this isn't easy for me to say. I feel terrible that you like me so much."
"What?"
Nox looked up at Aspen, and her smile was sad.
"You're so sweet, and your family has been nothing but amazingly kind to me. I just wish you didn't like me... I don't deserve it."
"Why do you say that? You're a wonderful healer, and from what little I've seen of you... everyone likes you. Even when you're gone, people still speak fondly of you."
"I know, and I wish the circumstances were different. I'm not... I'm not looking for a relationship, with anybody."
Nox couldn't help but think about the mark on her neck, and he knew it was fresh. He was burning with curiosity and had a feeling Aspen wasn't quite telling the truth. But he knew it was none of his business, and so he didn't pry.
"I get it."
Aspen forced herself to look at Nox. She could admit he was a handsome Orc, but she felt like she was with back in Castlegra, rejecting Julien all over again. Nox peered at her with bright green eyes, and despite being rejected by the healer he was smiling.
"Like I said, I don't really know anything about you. I figured it was worth a shot."
Aspen's brows furrowed together, and she stared at Nox with soft green eyes.
"You're a gentleman, Nox. Truly."
"Eh, It's probably better this way. I'm pretty sure Asran is utterly in love with you. Poor kid..."
Inside, Asran had been shooed away into the kitchen to help his mother clean up. Dreg quietly sat by Urag, and he stared down at the fire, lost in thought.
"What Clan are you from?"
Dreg stiffened, and he frowned, his eyes still on the fire.
"Does it matter?" Dreg grunted quietly, and he took a sip of ale. "I'm not with a clan anymore."
"Most Orcs don't leave their Strongholds."
"Well I did," Dreg growled, and his expression grew dark. "What would you know of Strongholds?"
Urag calmly stared back at Dreg, who was glaring at him from his seat. The Older Orc sighed, and he took a long drink from his mug.
"I was born in one. You need to control your temper."
Dreg quickly stood up from the chair and placed the empty bottle down on the table.
"Don't act like you know me, Grabra'nag, you don't know a single thing about me."
Urag stood up from his chair after placing his mug down again, and he stepped closer, squaring Dreg up. They were roughly the same height, and Moira silently ushered Asran up the stairs as she realized what was going on. Nox and Aspen came wandering back into the room and they both stopped talking when they saw Dreg and Urag.
"You would dare to challenge me?" Dreg growled, and he straightened his back. His arms hung down by his sides but his hands were clenched into fists.
"Did you leave your Stronghold with pride, or did you run away like a coward?"
"Okay, uh..." Aspen stepped closer.
She could see Dreg was barely controlling his anger, and his body nearly shook from the restraint.
"I'm not done with you either," Urag growled, and he looked over at the Healer.
Aspen's eyes widened, and she glanced over at Moira, who was silent.
"Maybe he won't tell me, but would you lie to me, Aspen? Tell me, is Dreg a coward?"
Aspen glanced at Dreg, and then back at Urag. She didn't claim to understand Orc customs, and she felt terribly confused.
"I don't... I don't understand."
"I was sent from my Stronghold with best wishes and smiles, as it should be. You bring an Orc into my home, Healer, one that I feel didn't leave his Stronghold in the same manner."
"You see, it is an act of disrespect... so I'll ask again. Is he a coward, Aspen?"
The air was tense, and Aspen was momentarily stunned. The two Orcs continued to stare at one another, and neither one moved.
"He's... he's not a coward, Urag."
Urag's eyes darted between Dreg's, and after a painfully long moment, he stepped backward and walked out of the room. Moira let out a sigh, and she shot Aspen an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry dear... perhaps it's best to call it a night."
Dreg growled when Aspen touched his arm, and he quickly moved away from her and left through the front door. He strode back to the Inn in the dark with a scowl on his face and ignored a curious Ella as she greeted him. Aspen quietly said goodnight to Nox and Moira before quickly taking her leave as well. She slowly walked back to the Inn, feeling completely confused by everything that had happened. When she reached the main hall, Ella stood by the stairs with her arms crossed.
"Did something happen dear? Do I need to go up and kick his ass?"
"No," Aspen grimaced, and she shook her head. "No... nothing between us. I'd rather not talk about it. I don't know very much about the customs of Orcs."
"Oh... I see. Well, hopefully, it's alright."
"Me too. Goodnight, Ella."
"Night Dearie."
When Aspen entered their room, it was completely dark. Dreg was sitting on the edge of the bed, and he was completely naked. He rubbed his neck with a tired sigh and glanced over at Aspen when she blindly felt her way towards the bed. She didn't realize he was there until she practically walked right into him.
"Oops," Aspen mumbled softly, and she quickly backed up. "Sorry."
"Aspen?"
"Hm?"
"Do you think I'm a coward?"
Aspen shuffled sideways, and she sat down on the edge of the bed beside Dreg.
"It's not that I don't think it, Dreg. I know you're not a coward."
"How do you know?"
Aspen smiled, and she reached for his hand. Her fingers brushed along his arm until she found his hand and she squeezed it tightly.
"Dreg. I think I know you pretty well. Better than most."
"But I ran... I ran from my clan, and abandoned my mother."
"Dreg... listen to me."
Dreg was silent. Moonlight poured in through the windows, and as Aspen's eyes were able to adjust to the dim light she was able to see him better. She reached up and affectionately rubbed his shoulder for a moment. Dreg sighed, and he leaned into her touch.
"As a mother, it was her right to protect her child. I know you feel like you have abandoned her, but try to put yourself in her position for a moment. She couldn't bear the thought of letting you die Dreg… framed for a murder you didn't commit.”
Dreg sighed but didn’t say anything while Aspen spoke. He felt a tightness in his chest he didn’t quite like as he listened.
“Your mother did what she felt was right."
"I don't know what Urag's problem was," Aspen continued hastily, not wanting to linger on the night's events. "I don't need to understand, but you're not a coward, Dreg. I want you to remember that. No matter how much you drive me crazy... no matter how much of an ass you can be... you're not a coward."
Dreg suddenly turned towards Aspen, and his hands grasped at her tunic. He pulled it up and off of her, and quickly whipped the blankets back. Then, he slid back under the covers and pulled Aspen down with him so they were lying side by side. Their bodies were pressed together, but it was not like the night before.
Dreg wrapped his arms around Aspen's waist and buried his face against her chest. His breath tickled her bare skin, and Aspen gently rubbed his back, knowing he was comforted by the intimate contact. Dre's eyes were closed, and he was lulled to sleep by the steady sound of Aspen's heartbeat and the soft, soothing motions on his back.
Chapter Text
It was sometime in the middle of the night, and Aspen had rolled away from Dreg. She lay half on her side and half on her stomach while Dreg's arm was slumped around her waist. The Orc grunted softly as he abruptly woke up. He blindly felt at Aspen's body, and his hands roamed across her breasts and waist. His cock rose up throbbing hard between his legs and he growled quietly as longing coursed through him like liquid fire.
"Aspen," Dreg murmured, and he lightly squeezed her thighs.
"Mm?" Aspen cracked open her eyes, and she glanced back at Dreg with a tired expression.
"I need you," Dreg growled, and he squeezed her breasts.
"W-What?"
Dreg grazed his tusk along her neck and kissed her soft skin. She was tired, but a shiver of pleasure course through her body as Dreg's fingers slipped between her legs.
"Please," Dreg panted, and he slid closer.
Aspen could feel his cock as it pressed against her back.
"Okay," Aspen whispered, and before she could move Dreg hoisted her leg up and slid himself forward so his body was flush against her.
He rested Aspen's leg by on his thick thigh and a moment later she felt the tip of his cock as it pressed between her folds. Aspen clenched the edge of the bed with her hands, gasping quietly as Dreg began to ease himself inside of her. His fingers dug into her waist and he began thrusting. His torso swiftly bounced against her soft round ass and he brought one arm around Aspen's front. He reached up and gently grasped her neck, pulling Aspen even closer as he thrust deep into her tight cunt. Aspen moaned softly, her eyes squeezed shut while Dreg hastily fucked her from behind. His breath came out in short gasps and he growled, his thrusts becoming more hurried as he rose to a climax. Aspen could feel his lips on her neck as he kissed and nibbled her soft flesh. She clenched the side of the bed harder, and panted loudly, finding herself incredibly turned on by this position.
Aspen came first. She whimpered Dreg's name as her body spasmed with his. Her legs trembled as her walls came crashing around Dreg's throbbing cock, and a moment later Dreg snarled as he came as well. He weakly thrust as he pumped his seed deep inside of Aspen, and when he was completely empty his head slumped back down on the pillow. Aspen's thighs trembled, and Dreg's grasp on her neck loosened as he began to fall asleep. His cock, which was becoming soft, was still inside of Aspen, and she gently rested her leg against his and closed her eyes with a sigh of content. Within a few minutes, she too drifted back to sleep, and they did not wake until later the next morning.
Dreg woke up first, he realized he had fallen asleep with his cock still between Aspen’s legs. Her eyes were still closed, and she lightly clenched his arm while she slept. Dreg slowly slid his hips back, and her eyes fluttered open as she felt him moving. Aspen glanced back at Dreg, and their eyes met. She looked at him with an unreadable expression, watching as Dreg slowly sat up and rubbed at his eyes for a moment, sighing.
"Sleep well?" Aspen mumbled sleepily, and she yawned.
"I don't know... what came over me," Dreg confessed.
"It's not a big deal."
Aspen slid into a sitting position as well, and she inspected the damage between her legs. A mixture of both of their juices was smeared across the inside of her thighs and she could still feel his seed. She sighed, and slowly stood up from the bed, feeling a little ache.
"Must you be so messy?" She whined softly, and Dreg laughed.
"You're asking an Orc to do the impossible."
"Hmph."
He watched as Aspen stood up, and she grimaced slightly. She was achingly sore.
"I'm not sure how often I'll be able to... accommodate you," Aspen groaned, but Dreg was not concerned.
"You'll get used to it," he replied smugly.
Aspen rolled her eyes and retrieved a cloth from the dresser. She wiped at herself as best as she could and then she slung a long tunic on and went to find a servant girl. Dreg tossed on a pair of pants while the girl was in their room, and within ten minutes a steaming tub of water awaited them. When the girl was gone, they both stripped their clothes off and sank into the tub with happy sighs. Aspen leaned her back against the tub and stretched her legs out, resting them against Dreg's thick thighs. The Orc smiled slightly, but he lounged back in the tub with his arms resting on the sides. He dipped his hands into the hot water, splashing it a little, and he peered at Aspen with a curious expression.
"What?"
"Something's on your mind."
"When is there not something on my mind?" Aspen sighed, and she pursed her lips together for a moment. "I was just thinking about last night."
"What about it?"
"Well, I'm a little uncomfortable now. I'm not sure I want to spend much longer here in Langdale. I feel like It's my fault."
"It's not your fault," Dreg responded firmly, and he frowned. "You did not disrespect that family. Urag's son invited you there, invited us."
"Are you sure?" Aspen whispered, and she chewed her lip.
"I am sure. But if you want to leave sooner then we can. I just have to put the new beam up for Ella."
"Oh, that's right. Alright well, that works anyways, she said three days. So, we can probably leave by the end of the week."
"Where is our next town?"
Aspen was quiet for a moment.
"I think it's one of the towns I'm not super familiar with. I've only been there once."
The pair continued chatting for a while longer, and then they washed each other's hair and got dressed. They both walked downstairs to find Ella at her usual spot behind the bar. A few patrons milled about, but it was later in the morning than Aspen was used to waking up. She took a seat beside Dreg at the bar and Ella slid a hot mug of tea towards her.
"Thank you."
"Breakfast is coming up. You're late to rise," Ella said, her voice cheerful, but her expression was mischievous.
"Well, I don't have very many people to see," Aspen replied hastily, feeling her cheeks grow warm. "We're going to leave by the end of the week."
"Really? That's unfortunate. I feel like you just got here."
"I know, but I can only stay so long as people need me."
Ella disappeared to the kitchen for a moment, and when she returned she held two bowls of hot porridge. She idly cleaned some mugs while the pair ate, and when Aspen was finished she took her leave and returned to her room to get her supplies. When she returned downstairs Dreg was waiting for her.
"Going now?"
"Yep."
"Okay, I'll see you later."
Dreg looked like he wanted to say something more, but he thought against it and turned away. Aspen shot him a curious glance as she watched him retreat to the back room to once again help Ella with some tasks. While Aspen was gone, he fixed all the rickety tables and chairs out in the dining hall and replaced a latch on one of the doors upstairs. In the afternoon Ella fed him again, and she chatted away to him while Dreg tucked into a hearty beef stew.
"I hope you know you're not fooling me."
Dreg looked up at Ella, who was leaning against the counter with a small grin on her aging face. His brows shot up, but he pretended not to understand.
"No idea what you're talking about," Dreg grunted, and he took a bite of the bread roll he had dipped into the liquid of the stew.
"Oh, come on, I see the way you look at her, and how Aspen looks at you. I may be old but I'm not blind."
Dreg frowned, and he continued eating.
"I know it's supposed to be a secret. Don't worry, it's safe with me."
He rolled his eyes and Ella laughed before disappearing to the back while Dreg finished eating. He stared down at his food with a sullen expression, suddenly less interested in eating than he was just moments before. He silently cursed Ella for her meddling and quickly finished his stew before heading back into the main hall to finish fixing tables.
A couple of days passed in relative peace. Dreg had tried his best to let Aspen recover from his rough lovemaking, but he could only wait so long. It was the morning of the fourth day since Ella had gone to Harvard for a new beam, and it was expected to arrive before mid-day. He took the opportunity to tend to his needs, and as soon as Aspen woke up he was on her.
"Dreg please," Aspen whined as his lips trailed down her neck. "Can't I wake up first?"
"Your eyes are open, aren't they?" Dreg shot back, and he pulled Aspen closer to him.
Dreg wasted no time in taking Aspen's clothes off, and within a minute he was on top of her, his cock hard and throbbing as he began kissing Aspen. She sighed against his lips but when he slipped his fingers between her legs she responded instantly, and Dreg growled as she dug her nails into his arm.
"I'm half-asleep still," Aspen mumbled quietly, and she arched her neck as Dreg grazed his tusks along her soft skin.
"Half-asleep and soaking wet."
Aspen shivered as his lips found her breast and she rocked her hips while he sucked her soft nipple. She moaned softly as she felt the shaft of his manhood slide between her slick lips, coating him in her juices. She parted her legs further, giving Dreg full access.
When he entered her, it still took Aspen's breath away to feel him stretch her out with his massive member. She gasped as he began thrusting his hips, sending ripples of pleasure through her body. Aspen wrapped her arms around his neck and Dreg pulled her closer, his breath coming out in ragged gasps while he worked. He growled softly, nipping at Aspen's shoulder. Aspen's head lolled back and she whimpered in small, short gasps.
"Fuck... ho-holy fuck...."
Her moans only urged Dreg on, and he grasped Aspen's creamy white thighs, using her as support to drive him even deeper. His hips slapped against her thighs and his fingers dug into her skin. Aspen grasped a handful of his hair and pulled hard. It tipped Dreg over the edge. His body shuddered as he came, and a huge snarl escaped his lips. He clung to Aspen as his cock throbbed inside of her, emptying his load deep inside of her. Aspen could feel his cum filling her beyond capacity, and it dripped down on the bed and smeared across her thighs and Dreg's lower belly as he weakly thrust, riding out his orgasm.
"Hmm," Dreg growled softly, and he lowered his head, resting it in the crook of Aspen's neck.
Aspen's chest heaved, and her thighs trembled. She reveled in the feeling of being filled by Dreg yet again. She let out a deep breath and rubbed at her eyes while Dreg sat back on his calves and stared down at her. His chest glistened with sweat, and he rubbed her thighs with a small grin. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"What?"
"What?" Dreg shot back, and he reached up to pinch her nipple. "I can't be in a good mood?"
Aspen slapped his hand away and sat up on her elbows. She fixed a suspicious gaze on him.
"You can... but I know you better than that."
Dreg ignored her stare and ran his hand down her soft stomach, massaging gently. His fingers reached her folds, and he gently rubbed his thumb along her soft womanhood, enjoying how her plump lips hugged his swollen cock. Aspen frowned, but she patiently waited for Dreg to speak.
"I just… I like pleasuring you."
Aspen was taken aback by his comment, and she didn't know what to say.
"You already know I don't have much experience," Dreg grumbled quietly. "I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to please you."
"Well, you do."
"Good."
Aspen smiled, and Dreg returned it. He leaned down and planted a firm kiss on her lips before pulling away. Then he slid his hips back, freeing his now soft member from her, and the emptiness left an ache in the pit of her stomach. She watched as Dreg got up from the bed and stretched his arms for a moment. Then he wandered over to the dresser and retrieved a cloth, which he used to clean himself up. When he was finished, he brought a cloth over to Aspen and tossed it down for her.
"I should go see if the beam has arrived."
"It's coming today?"
"Yeah," Dreg replied, and he began pulling a pair of breeches on. "Are you going out today?"
"Yes. I have a couple more patients to visit, but we should be able to leave the day after tomorrow. Will it take you very long to put in the new beam?"
"No, I can probably be done before the day is over."
Aspen wandered over to where Dreg was standing, now fully dressed. He reached up and cupped her breast, squeezing it affectionately, and she laughed.
"I just have to say... I appreciate you helping Ella out. I know it hasn't been easy for her since Jacob passed away a few years ago. She's taken a liking to you, which is saying a lot. She hated Ivan with a passion."
"It's nothing," Dreg shrugged. "Better than being bored."
"I know but... I just had to say it. You leave an impression every bit as much as I do in a town. People remember kindness, and they never forget selfishness."
"I know."
Dreg patted Aspen's rump and stepped away. He finished tying up the strings to his breeches and slipped his leather boots on before exiting the room. Aspen took a quick bath and then got dressed and went downstairs as well, but by the time she got down there, Dreg was nowhere to be seen. Ella was absent as well. So, she skipped breakfast and exited into the street. Aspen began walking towards her first home, and she stayed out until later in the afternoon.
Chapter Text
It was almost evening by the time Aspen returned to Ella's Inn. She lightly tugged her gloves off and stuffed them into the small satchel slung over her shoulder and stepped inside. Ella stood by her counter near the back, and she smiled when Aspen approached.
"Dreg's in the cellar. Last I checked, he was just finishing up."
"Hmm okay, maybe I'll go see this new beam of yours."
"Go right ahead," Ella smiled, and she gestured behind her to the back room. "Just head down the stairs on your left."
Aspen wandered to the back room where she'd seen Ella and Dreg go so many times before. It was a long room filled with many shelves, and several doors led off to different sections of the Inn, including a kitchen and Ella's living quarters. Aspen walked towards the left side of the room and found a small set of stone steps leading down into the cellar. When she finished descending the stairs Aspen was standing in a small room that was lined with many shelves filled with dry food items. Dreg was nowhere to be seen, but she could hear quiet noises coming from the room to the right.
"Dreg?"
A moment later Dreg's form appeared. His shirt was soaked with his sweat and he wiped at his brow with a small grunt.
"Oh, it's you. Is it dinner time already?"
"Almost," Aspen smiled, and she walked over to him. "I came back a little early. I wanted to see your handiwork."
"Oh."
Dreg turned around and led Aspen into the other room.
It was also filled with more food and other various supplies. Barrels of mead and bags of grain were stacked along the far wall. Several tools lay on a small wooden table, and Dreg pointed up to the ceiling. Aspen looked up, and she stared at the new beam.
"The other beams are fine. I think there was a leak from the kitchen that caused it to rot, but it should be fixed now."
Aspen was impressed.
"You put that up by yourself?"
Dreg's chest swelled, and he nodded.
"Of course. I'm more than just a handsome Guardian, you know."
Aspen laughed. She turned towards the Orc and drew closer, smiling.
"I know you are, it just looks like a big job."
"Nothing I couldn't handle," Dreg growled softly, and he grasped Aspen's arm, bridging the gap between them.
Dreg dipped his head down and grazed his tusks alone the curve of Aspen's jaw. She shivered, and clenched her hand around his waist, sucking in a deep breath.
"We really... shouldn't..."
"Shouldn't what? No one will bother us."
Dreg's hand shifted downwards, and he grabbed Aspen's ass, grinding her hips into him. Aspen bit her lip and placed her hands on his chest. She light shoved him backward, pushing Dreg against the shelf behind him. He growled and quickly grasped her face, bringing their lips together in a heated kiss. Aspen closed her eyes and kissed him back, and she moaned softly when his tongue prodded her lips and he deepened the embrace. Her hand slipped between their squished bodies and she began to rub him through the material of his breeches. Dreg huffed and clenched her waist, and Aspen reached up with her free hand to grasp a handful of his hair. She tugged on his knot, pulling Dreg's head back so his neck was exposed to her, and Aspen hungrily trailed her lips down his jaw. She grazed her teeth along his thick neck and Dreg panted as his entire body flushed with heat. She continued to tease him through his breeches and it was almost too much. His whole body felt like it was on fire.
"Aspen," he whimpered, and his fingers dug into her sides.
"Oops!"
Ella's surprised voice floated over to them, and Aspen hastily let go of Dreg's hair and buried her face in her hands. She couldn’t bring herself to turn around, and so she shuffled away from Dreg and pressed herself up against the shelf. Dreg coughed, and he nervously tugged at his tunic with a shaky breath, his cheeks flushed dark with embarrassment. Ella simply laughed, but it did not make Aspen feel any better.
"Terribly sorry to interrupt," Ella continued softly, smiling. "I just need a couple of bottles of wine."
"Uh, t-these ones?" Dreg stammered, and he glanced back at the shelf behind him.
"Please. Two will do."
Dreg nodded, and he slid the bottles off the shelf and handed them to Ella. She gave him a weighted look, but the Orc avoided eye contact and nervously rubbed his arm.
"The beam looks wonderful, thank you again. Dinner's almost ready."
Before Dreg could stammer out another response Ella turned around and strolled away, leaving the pair alone again. Aspen groaned and stood back with a sigh.
"That was awful.”
"I dunno," Dreg shrugged, still feeling worked up. "I don't think we have to worry about Ella saying anything."
"I know she wouldn't," Aspen whined quietly. "But how can I look at her in the eyes after what she saw?"
Dreg chuckled, and he tipped Aspen's chin up so he could look at her.
"I'm the one who could be saying that. You were bewitching me, healer."
Aspen's cheeks flushed, and she gave him a small scowl before pulling away. She began to walk away from him, but Dreg quickly caught her arm and stopped her.
"Where are you going?"
"Upstairs. Didn't you hear her?"
"You can't be serious," Dreg growled. "You can't touch me like that and then stop."
"Yes, I can," Aspen huffed, and she pulled her arm away. "I am hungry, and we're not going to keep fooling around in Ella's cellar after she just caught us red-handed!"
Dreg crossed his arms with a small growl, and he pouted. Aspen blinked, barely able to believe her eyes.
"Don't look at me like that!"
"You're awful," Dreg growled loudly. "The worst tease."
Aspen sighed, and pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment with her eyes closed. Then she turned back towards Dreg and stepped closer. She tugged on Dreg's arms, forcing him to uncross them and she clenched his hands.
"Don't make me kiss that look off your face," Aspen murmured. "Can you suck it up and go eat dinner? It's been a long day."
"Hmph."
"Fine. If you go to dinner and behave I'll... give you a treat, afterward."
Dreg's brows shot up, and he stared down at the Healer with wide eyes. Aspen smiled and swirled her fingertip around the string on the collar of his tunic.
"Can you do that?"
"Of course," Dreg growled, and an ache grew in the pit of his stomach at the idea of what Aspen meant by a treat.
"You're lucky my tunic is long," Dreg continued as he glanced down, and Aspen laughed.
Then Dreg swiftly tugged her arm and began walking towards the stairs, practically dragging Aspen behind him.
"Hurry up!"
"Slow down, Dreg!"
"I'm hungry."
"Yeah, that's it..." Aspen rolled her eyes as she stumbled back up the stairs. "Hungry."
They quickly reached the top of the stairs and Dreg let go of her hand when they reached the main hall. Ella was standing by the bar, and she shot them a smile when they approached. She finished up with another patron and handed the traveler a key before sending him upstairs. They took a seat at the bar, and Ella fixed her mischievous gaze on them.
"So, are you eating here, or do I need to send dinner up to your room?"
"Here is fine," Aspen replied quickly, and she nervously played with a strand of her hair.
"You can relax, Dearie. It's nothing to get so worked up over."
Aspen chewed her lip, and she continued staring down at the counter while waiting for her dinner. Dreg was silent as well, and he wordlessly thanked Ella for the ale when she handed him a bottle. Ella slid a bottle in front of Aspen as well.
"Thank you."
Ella opened her mouth to say something, and then quickly changed her mind. She smiled at Dreg, who simply shrugged and took a sip of his ale. A few minutes later Ella brought out two steaming plates of a roast beef dinner, and Dreg happily tucked into his meal with enthusiasm. He realized that despite his excitement for whatever Aspen had in store for him later on, he was incredibly tired from working for several hours by himself putting up a new beam for Ella. It was a good tired but mixed with a hot meal and two bottles of ale led Dreg to feeling quite sleepy, though he pushed through it. Beside him, Aspen had barely touched her food, and when he was finished eating she placed her fork down.
"You gotta eat," Dreg grumbled quietly.
"I'm fine."
Dreg sighed, but he didn't push her any further.
"Are you done?"
Aspen looked up at Dreg, who nodded. They said goodnight to Ella, and Aspen avoided her gaze as she turned towards the stairs and began walking back to their room. Dreg decided that he wasn't going to pressure Aspen since she seemed genuinely glum about Ella walking in on them. So, he wandered over to the bed and sat down. He shoved his boots off and then rubbed his aching neck for a moment, his eyes closed. Aspen lit one of the candles beside the bed and she slipped her boots off as well before walking around to where Dreg was sitting.
He opened his eyes when he heard her approach. Dreg looked up, and Aspen peered at him in the darkness with an expression he couldn't quite read. Without saying a word, Aspen silently grasped his hands and tugged the Orc to his feet. Dreg stood up, unsure of what to do, but he didn't have to lead. Aspen pulled his tunic up, indicating she wanted it off and so Dreg removed it and dropped it to the floor. Her fingers began to deftly tug at the strings to his breeches and when she was finished untying them she hooked her fingers around the hem and shoved them down. Dreg stepped out from the pants and he let out a small growl when Aspen suddenly placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back down onto the bed.
Aspen knelt, and she rested her hands on his knees for a moment as she stared up at him. Dreg stared back, feeling his temperature rising, and his cock was already achingly hard. He watched, a shiver of thrill creeping up his spine as Aspen shuffled forward, parting his legs with her soft hands. She sat up on her knees and grasped his neck, pulling him down into a firm kiss. Then her lips trailed downwards, and her hands lightly massaged his thick thighs as she kissed and nipped at his chest. Dreg panted for air and growled softly when her teeth grazed his nipple, and he reached up to run his fingers through her hair.
Aspen dipped her head further, and her lips roamed over the plains of Dreg's firm abs. She could taste his sweat but she didn't mind, and she could feel the warmth of his body radiating from him. His pulse quickened the lower she traveled.
Aspen sat back on her calves and grasped the thick shaft of Dreg's cock with both hands. She liked the firm and sturdy feeling of his manhood and she studied him for a moment while she lightly stroked him, thoroughly enjoying the pleasure she brought to the Orc. Dreg leaned back on one hand while the other tightly clenched her shoulder and he squeezed his eyes shut and rolled his head back. She'd given plenty of head to men before, both Edward and Ivan included, but their manhood didn't compare to the sheer size and girth of Dreg.
Aspen was nervous about taking him in her mouth, but she knew she wanted to try, and so she leaned in closer. Dreg could feel her warm breath on his skin and a ragged growl escaped his lips as Aspen's tongue flicked over his plump, redhead. He tasted different, but it wasn't unpleasant, and Aspen continued to stroke him with both hands. She loved the feeling of his thick veins as her palms roamed over the shaft of his manhood. She lightly pulled his foreskin back and wrapped her lips around his swollen head. One of her hands briefly traveled lower and she gently massaged one of his soft, round balls. Dreg nearly leaped out of his skin as he felt Aspen’s fingers touching him there.
" Fuck !" Dreg cried out in Orcish.
Dreg's body shivered hard and his hand shot up to grasp her hair. His heart pounded wildly in his chest and he gasped for air as waves of pleasure washed over him. He felt like he was drunk on the feeling of Aspen's lips as they slowly pulled him into her hot, wet mouth. Her tongue swirled around his head and her mouth was stretched as far as it could go but she pushed on; breathing heavily through her nose. Dreg squirmed and lightly pulled on her hair as he felt his cock sliding down her throat.
The feeling nearly tipped him over the edge. A stream of Orcish escaped his lips and his head lolled back as his chest heaved. Aspen began sliding her head up and down in rhythm with her hands and she noisily slurped his throbbing cock, pulling back every so often to take a deep breath. Dreg's whimpers brought a flush of warmth between her legs. She had always enjoyed pleasuring her partners, but something about the way Dreg writhed beneath her touch was more satisfying than any other time she's given head before.
"I'm gonna cum..." Dreg moaned, and his brows furrowed together. "A-Aspen..."
"Look at me," Aspen murmured thickly.
Dreg's eyes shot open and he watched in pure delight as Aspen dragged her tongue along his head, lapping up the seed that leaked from his cock. His body shuddered, but he resisted the urge to close his eyes and continued watching Aspen. She wrapped her lips around him once more and plunged her head down, pushing herself. Her throat gurgled as she struggled to take him, and she finally gave up and pulled back with a small gasp.
Dreg's body stiffened, and Aspen hastily put her mouth around him again, preparing herself for his climax. A moment later Dreg cried out as he came. His cock throbbed and pulsed inside her mouth as load after load of his hot seed spurted into the back of Aspen's throat. She eagerly swallowed it all, smiling as Dreg watched her with widened eyes. His entire body shook from the force of his orgasm, and even after he was done he still trembled for several minutes afterward.
"Holy fuck Aspen," Dreg growled, and he brushed his fingers along her cheek with a shaky breath.
Aspen's smile widened and affectionately rubbed his thigh.
"Was I that good?" She replied silkily, grinning.
"Good? I think I blacked out for a second."
Aspen laughed, and she slowly stood up from the floor. Her knees cracked, and she knew her jaw would be sore but it was worth it. She lightly patted Dreg's sweaty cheek and went to retrieve a cloth. When she returned, she lightly grasped his member and began cleaning him up with a smile still on her lips.
"Have you not had your cock sucked properly before?"
Dreg's cheeks flushed and struggled to come up with a response. He was too ashamed to tell Aspen that'd been in brothels before, and that the female Orcs would usually try to suck him off, but he never let them go very far. He was always more interested in getting straight to fucking. What Aspen had done for him had completely blown his mind.
"No... not like that. I never had...." Dreg coughed. "I never had the patience."
"Well, have you changed your mind about it?"
"Yes," Dreg growled, and he pulled Aspen down on top of him.
Aspen giggled as his tusks grazed her neck and she ruffled his hair.
"Good. There's a lot more to do than just the usual fucking."
"Do you have to be so vulgar?" Dreg teased, and he squeezed her butt.
Aspen pried herself away from the Orc and finished getting ready for bed. Dreg threw the covers back and laid down, feeling completely satisfied. He laid his head down on the pillow with a sigh of content and closed his eyes. He was asleep before Aspen even finished getting changed into her nightgown.
His loud snores drifted over to her while she sat at the table for a few minutes, writing in her journal. When she was finished, Aspen tucked the leather book back into her satchel and shuffled over to the bed. She snuffed the candle out and laid down beside Dreg, who was laying on his back and taking up most of the room. She frowned and shoved his arm away before laying down on her side.
"Come here."
Aspen opened her eyes, and she found Dreg staring at her with half-closed eyes. He tugged on her arm, and Aspen shuffled forward. She rested her head on his bare chest and Dreg wrapped his arms around her, squeezing gently.
"Thank you for... the treat."
Aspen smiled, and she kissed his chest before settling down.
"You're welcome."
Chapter Text
Two days later, Aspen and Dreg stood by the front counter of Ella's Inn with their packs slung over their shoulders. Dreg carried his sword in one hand, and he impatiently shuffled his feet while they waited for Ella to return from the back.
"What's taking her so long?" He growled quietly, and Aspen shot him a look.
"Relax. She's only been gone for a few minutes."
Ella appeared a few minutes later with a leather satchel in her hands and a bedroll tucked under her arm.
"You needed another one of these, right?"
Aspen took the offered bedroll.
"We do. Thank you, Ella."
"This is full of food, be careful not to crush it. There are two loaves of bread I baked just this morning."
"Ella, you didn't have to-"
"Nonsense," Ella cut in, and she shoved the pack into Dreg's hand.
She smiled at Aspen and reached up to pat her pale cheek.
"It's the least I can do for all the work Dreg's done around the Inn. You've helped me out a great deal, Dearie... I won't forget it."
"S'nothing," Dreg mumbled thickly, feeling uncomfortable.
"Now, now. It wasn't nothing... come here you big brute."
Ella refused to let Dreg leave without giving him a tight hug, which he complied with a small groan. When she pulled back, Ella patted his green cheek as well, which was a bit of a reach, and her expression was sad.
"I'm going to miss you two."
Dreg shuffled towards the door, wishing they would leave. He wasn't good at saying goodbye. Aspen hugged Ella for a long moment, and when she pulled back the Innkeeper kept a firm grip on her arms and peered up at Aspen with eyes the color of warm honey. The wrinkles around her eyes deepened as she smiled, and Aspen couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness.
"Now, you listen to me for a moment," Ella started quietly. "I know what it's like to care for a man, and at your age."
Aspen's brows furrowed together, but she forced herself to listen.
"I know it can be utterly terrifying, but trust me Aspen... if you care about him, it'll be worth it. He'll drive you even crazier before the day is through, but in the end, your bond will be stronger. I see some qualities of my late husband in Dreg... stubborn, hot-headed, but... never skips a beat when it comes to helping others."
"Why are you saying this?" Aspen whispered thickly, and tears formed in the corner of her eyes. "You think I don't know?"
Dreg had wandered outside to finish getting the horses ready for their departure. It wasn't quite dawn yet. Aspen and Ella were the only two people standing in the dining hall.
"You think... I don't know how much I love that damn Orc?" Aspen continued quietly, and her chest began to ache as she took a sharp breath. "You don't know what happened between us... you don't know everything."
"If you love him, Dear... then why don't you just tell him?"
"It's not that simple," Aspen argued, and she quickly brushed at her eyes and stepped away from Ella's grasp.
"I think it might be-"
"I'm sorry Ella, but please... I know you mean well. I can't talk about this."
"Okay, okay," Ella murmured and she pulled Aspen into another hug. "I am sorry dearie... I just like you both so much."
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, my dear."
Ella kissed Aspen's rosy cheek, and then hastily shooed her out the door.
"Go on then, before I start crying."
The door softly shut behind her and Aspen sucked in a shaky breath as she tried to compose herself. When she was ready, Aspen walked around the side of the Inn and reached the stables, where Dreg was waiting with the horses. He frowned when she drew closer.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Aspen stammered, and she stared down at the ground. "It's just hard to leave people like Ella."
Dreg reached up and cupped Aspen's cheek. He stroked his thumb along her smooth, pale skin, and once again the confession was on the tip of her tongue, but she forced it back.
"I know you like her. We'll be back."
"Someday," Aspen sighed.
She stepped closer, and Dreg firmly grasped her waist and helped Aspen onto her horse. When she was settled, Dreg swiftly mounted his steed and they both began at a light canter back towards the main road.
"What's the town name?" Dreg asked after a while.
"Um, Teragol."
"Teragol. You said you've only been once, right?"
"Yeah. It was a long time ago."
They continued riding for most of the day in relative silence, which Aspen was used to by now. Dreg wasn't a chatterbox, and she had grown to like the silence when it wasn't uncomfortable. By mid-day, they stopped just off the road near a small stream so the horses could rest and drink. They consumed a bit of fresh bread, as well as some dried fruit, ripe cheese, and a generous helping of water from their skins. The sun was high up in the sky and it was terribly warm. Aspen slipped her coat and scarf off and folded them up nicely before putting them away in her bag. When they were ready, Dreg helped Aspen back onto her horse and then they made their way back to the main road and continued riding until the evening.
The sun had dipped behind the mountain and they still hadn't reached an Inn yet. Aspen frowned, feeling confused, and a few minutes later a strange scene came into view.
Several lanterns illuminated what looked like the rubbled structure of a building, and Aspen realized with a surprise that it was a former Inn. The charred remains were almost unrecognizable, and she wondered what had happened that had created a fire so great it had consumed the entire Inn and surrounding trees. Several men were beginning to pack up for the night, and piles of long wooden boards rested in the field nearby. A couple of men spotted the horses, and they gave a friendly wave as they approached.
"Hey there," a black-bearded man greeted, and he wiped at his sweaty brow. "I'm sure you were expecting a warm bed to sleep in right about here."
Dreg and Aspen dismounted from their horses, and they walked closer. The man stuck out his hand and Dreg shook it. He shot Aspen a warm smile, which she returned.
"What happened?" Aspen inquired sadly.
"We're not exactly sure, but we think it started in one of the bedrooms."
"That's unfortunate, was anyone hurt?"
"As far as I know, everyone got out."
"That's good."
"Will you join us 'round the fire then? We're roasting a big fat pig at the camp."
Aspen shot Dreg a look, and his stomach nearly rumbled at the mention of a roast pig. He nodded, and so they followed the group of workers as they began making their way towards a series of tents and campfires.
"Your horses can go with the others, we've got feed. Just a moment…”
The man called out to a young boy, who raced over to them with a broad smile.
"Yes, father?"
"Take these horses and get them settled in for the night."
"Yes, sir."
They quickly retrieved two of their satchels from the saddles before giving over the horses. Aspen thanked the boy as she handed him the reigns, and he simply grinned and began walking away with the horses towards a makeshift stable that had been set up. When he was gone, the man ushered Aspen and Dreg towards a campfire with a smile.
"I’m Ned. That was one of my sons, Charlie."
"I'm Aspen, and this is Dreg."
"Pleasure to meet you two. There's something familiar about you, Aspen... I can't quite figure it out."
"Oh," Aspen laughed, and she tucked a strand of her hair behind her pointed ear with a small smile. "Well... usually I have a green scarf on."
"You're a healer!"
"Mhm, yes."
"That must be it then, you travel around a lot?"
"Quite a bit, for a few years now."
"Do you ever stop in Halgrim?"
"Oh, yes. We were there just before Langdale."
"That's it then... I think I've seen you around."
Ned cracked open two bottles of ale and handed them over. They both thanked him and everyone was quiet for a moment as they all drank. The conversation was light, and eventually, plates of food were handed around. Aspen thanked the man who handed her a plate, and she began to tuck into her meal with enthusiasm, realizing she was hungrier than she thought. The roast pig was delicious, and by the time she finished eating Aspen was thoroughly stuffed.
Aspen sat back against a log and sighed softly. A young girl came by and collected their plates. Dreg had finished eating and reclined as well. He yawned, and Aspen followed suit.
"We should probably head to bed," Aspen murmured sleepily and he grunted in response.
"Tired?" Ned asked, and he smiled at them from across the fire. "We've got some empty tents around here somewhere, let me find one for you."
"Oh, thank you. That's very kind of you."
Ned stood up from the ground and stretched for a moment. He shot Aspen a grin before walking away. When he returned, he gestured for the pair to follow him, and he led them around a series of other tents until they reached the other side. A few tents were set up near the forest, and he pointed to the one closest to them.
"It's not exactly a bed at the Inn, but it'll do for the night."
"Thank you, Ned."
"No problem, have a good sleep."
"Goodnight."
Dreg ducked inside the tent, and Aspen followed suit. Inside, a generous bedspread had been set up on the floor of the tent, complete with several blankets, and pillows.
"I guess this is the temporary Inn service," Aspen joked, and she set her satchel on the ground.
"Guess so."
"Is something wrong?"
Dreg turned to Aspen with a small frown.
"No?"
"Okay, you've just been quiet."
"I think I got too much sun," Dreg grumbled, and he pinched her butt.
"If you're sure..."
"I am sure."
Aspen looked like she wanted to say more, and Dreg searched her face for a moment before she turned away. They began to get ready for bed when nature suddenly called to Aspen.
"Um," Aspen started quietly. "I have to pee."
Dreg stopped tugging on his boot, and he looked over at the Healer.
"Okay?"
"Well... I-I can't see very well in the dark and... the... the forest kind of scares me at night."
Dreg chuckled at her bashful behavior. He snatched up Aspen's hand and ducked through the flap of the tent. He began leading her towards the privacy of the forest, and Aspen quietly followed, her cheeks rosy pink from embarrassment. She hated to ask, but the forest did intimidate her at night.
Within a few minutes, the reached a private area, and Dreg waited for Aspen to finish relieving herself. However, when she returned, Dreg quickly pulled her back behind a tree and began kissing her in earnest. Her back was pressed against the rough bark and Aspen was surprised by the sudden embrace, but she kissed him back.
"You know..." She mumbled against his lips, "we have a ten... a tent..."
"So? Maybe I want to take you here against this tree," Dreg growled, his voice deep.
A shiver ran up Aspen's spine and but she nervously glanced to the left, where the camp lay in the field.
"Nobody will see us, I'll be quick," Dreg continued, and he began sliding Aspen's tunic up past her waist.
His hard body pressed against hers as they embraced, and Aspen could feel the heat radiating off his skin. Dreg growled softly as he fondled Aspen’s breasts through her tunic, and she raked her nails along the back of his neck. Dreg fumbled with his breeches for a moment and when his cock was free he eagerly grasped one of Aspen's creamy legs and brought it up to his waist. He teased her lips with the tip of his swollen cock, which was rock hard and begging to enter her. Aspen moaned softly, and she gripped the rough bark of the tree with one hand while the other clutched his neck and she clenched her leg around his waist, drawing the Orc closer.
Dreg wasted no time, and with three short thrusts he plunged himself deep inside of her and a growl escaped his lips. Aspen squeezed her eyes shut, feeling a shiver of excitement to be fucking out in the open, where anyone could suddenly stumble upon them. She'd never done anything like that before, and Dreg's rough thrusts only turned her on even more.
"Fuck... D-Dreg," Aspen whimpered, and she dragged her fingers through the Orcs hair, pulling it tightly. "H-harder..."
Dreg snarled and quickly snatched Aspen's other leg. He hoisted her effortlessly so she was completely supported against the tree by his weight. Aspen gasped as her butt was slammed into the tree and Dreg fucked her harder, his breath coming out in short ragged gasps. He thrust his cock deep inside of her and continued to let out his growly moans as he felt his climax rising. The wet slapping sounds of their fucking echoed around them, but neither one of them cared. Aspen was gripped with a mixture of pain and pleasure, and her eyes rolled back in her head as she came. Her walls crashed around his member and she spasmed against the tree. Her thighs clenched his waist hard, and Dreg came a moment later.
Dreg roared as he came, and he collapsed against the tree, pinning Aspen against it. His mouth clamped down hard on her shoulder as he marked her, and his legs trembled from the force of his orgasm as he emptied his seed deep inside of her. It oozed out from between her lips and dripped down onto the forest floor. Aspen gasped for air, and her entire body trembled as she slowly unclenched her thighs and Dreg lowered her to the ground with shaking hands.
Dreg blinked several times and wiped at his sweaty face, feeling like he was in a daze. Aspen pushed herself away from the tree while shoving her tunic down and she tried to walk forward but her knees gave out. She toppled forward, but Dreg caught her with his strong arms and hoisted her up.
"Geeze," Dreg growled. "Did I do that to you?"
"Do what?"
"Fuck you so hard you can't even walk."
Aspen's laugh echoed in his hears, and she pushed sweaty strands of her hair away from her face with her hand.
"Well... I did ask for it."
Aspen suddenly winced and looked down at her shoulder. Her eyes widened when she saw the blood, and she hastily pulled the collar of her tunic up.
"Dreg," she mumbled angrily, but he simply shrugged and picked her up.
He slowly picked his way around the trees and began walking back towards the camp. Aspen sleepily nuzzled his neck, feeling utterly exhausted by their frantic coupling. Her womanhood ached, but not nearly as much as her backside. Upon returning to their tent, she took her tunic off and discovered her lower back and butt had been rubbed raw by Dreg pounding her into the side of the tree. Aspen gingerly felt her tender skin while Dreg whipped his clothes and boots off. He glanced back at her, and his eyes widened when he spotted her.
"Shit... Aspen, I'm sorry."
Aspen laughed, and she glanced over at him.
"It's fine. But will you rub some salve on it for me? It should clear up by the morning.
"Of course."
Aspen picked out a jar of salve from her satchel and wandered over to the pile of blankets. She laid down on her stomach with a yawn. Dreg knelt beside her and popped the lid off the jar of salve. He began dabbing the mixture along the angry looking red marks on her butt, still feeling bad that he had marked her up so much. Aspen smiled softly, and her eyes were closed as she patiently waited for Dreg to finish. When he was done, he fished out a cloth from one of their bags and dumped some water on from one of the water pouches. Then, he knelt back down beside aspen and began dabbing at her right shoulder. Aspen's eyes fluttered open, and she looked at him.
"Thanks."
"It's my fault."
"I suppose so. Two bites in two weeks... is that considered good, or bad?"
Dreg gave a deep, rumbling laugh.
"It's usually a good sign. The more marks, the better... for Orcs."
"Hmm. Could you perhaps... try harder to refrain yourself? I'll run out of skin for you to mark up at this rate."
"No promises."
Aspen was quiet while Dreg finished cleaning her bite. She couldn't help but feel incredibly happy that they were getting along so well. Part of her wanted to enjoy it to the fullest but knew she could easily slip up and say something she didn't want to admit. She also couldn't help but wonder how long this relationship was going to last, which made her feel bad for even thinking it in the first place.
Dreg tossed the cloth aside and finished removing his pants. When he was done, he walked back to where Aspen was laying, nearly asleep, and he stepped over her to the other side of the pile of blankets and laid down. He stared up at the ceiling of the tent for a few minutes, and he glanced over at Aspen more than once. His thoughts were filled with her, but he forced himself to push certain confusing feelings away that he didn't want to deal with. He just couldn’t bring himself to think too deeply about their relationship despite the fact it would only create more problems down the road.
Not now, he thought to himself with a small sigh as he closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep.
Chapter Text
When Aspen woke up the next morning, too many parts of her body ached. Her backside, butt, and groin were all sore, and she slept on her stomach all night which now ached as well. Aspen groaned loudly, and she slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position. Beside her, Dreg was still fast asleep, but he began to stir when he heard Aspen groan.
"You okay?" He grunted sleepily.
"Ahh..." Aspen mumbled, and she gingerly rubbed her tummy. "Not really."
"What's wrong?"
"I’m just... sore... all over."
"Do you need a potion?"
"Please."
Dreg swiftly got up from the pile of blankets and retrieved Aspen's pack for her. She thanked him and began rifling through it until she produced a small red vial. She drank the contents of the vial in one go, and almost immediately felt better. Aspen drank a yellow vial for good measure, and within ten minutes she was feeling pretty good. Upon inspecting the rash on her behind, Aspen found the salve had done a decent job, and Dreg wiped away what was left of the ointment with a damp cloth before helping Aspen get dressed.
When they were both ready, the pair wandered out into the bright light of a sunrise. It illuminated the field in hues orange and pink, and for a moment Aspen simply took a few deep breaths of fresh air. Then, her tummy rumbled.
"Come on," Dreg growled, and he tugged on her arm. "Let's find something to eat."
They wandered back towards the main cluster of tents, and within a few minutes, they found Ned tending to a nearby fire. He grinned when he spotted Aspen, and then waved them over.
"Goodmorning you two, hope you slept well."
"We did, thank you," Aspen replied, and she tried not to think about what had happened in the forest.
"Are you in a hurry? Breakfast should be ready soon."
"No... no, we can stay."
"Great, pull up a log dear."
Dreg and Aspen took a seat on the ground across from Ned while they waited for a group of women to finish preparing breakfast. Dreg was content to quietly listen to his Healer as she happily chatted with Ned. Her stomach rumbled lightly, and she glanced over at Dreg every so often. He thought back fondly on last night's coupling, and part of him wanted to do it again, but Dreg knew he couldn't keep marking her so often.
She's a strong woman, but physically she's weaker than what I'm used to. I have to be more careful.
Dreg liked the way she had begged him to go harder and just thinking about Aspen pulling on his hair and digging her nails into his back sent a small shiver up his spine. Luckily, his thoughts were interrupted by someone pushing a plate of food into his hands. He grunted his thanks and began tucking into his breakfast with a content growl. Everybody ate as well, and Aspen was silent as she spooned a mouthful of fried eggs into her mouth. They ate quickly, and within a few minutes, they were finished and decided it was time to get going.
"I'll show you to your horses."
Ned handed his plate off to his son and stood up from the ground. He began to walk up the field towards the makeshift stable and they quickly hurried after him. Aspen's horse gave a small snort when she approached and she fondly rubbed her velvet-soft nose for a moment. Dreg rubbed his horse's neck and then finished securing their packs on the saddles before helping Aspen up onto her horse.
"Take care, Aspen… Dreg."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Ned. We appreciate it."
"Anytime. Hopefully the next time you stop by here there will be a real Inn. Safe travels."
Ned gave them both a friendly smile and waved them off. He watched for a few moments as the pair began to trot towards the main road, and eventually disappeared behind a bend.
As soon as they were a comfortable length away from the camp, Aspen huddled over her saddle and let out a loud groan. Dreg shot her a curious glance, but he knew it was because of him.
"I've never desired a soft bed more than I do now," Aspen whined.
"I said I was sorry," Dreg grumbled quietly, and the healer glanced over at him with a half-hearted glare.
"I know, but I'm allowed to rub it in a little bit."
Dreg rolled his eyes, and then he gripped the reins tighter and clicked his tongue, urging his horse into a light gallop. Aspen hastily squeezed her horse's sides as well, and within a few moments she had caught up to Dreg's pace. They continued to ride at a reasonable pace until it was time to stop for lunch, and the rest of the day continued in the same light manner. Aspen's whines became fewer and farther between, and by the time they reached their next destination, all that remained were memories of their lovemaking burning fresh in her mind and the usual ache in her womanhood that still lingered.
Thinking about it only made her want the Orc more, though she kept her mouth firmly shut as they reached their next Inn late in the evening. The last thing she needed was to egg a healthy male Orc on while in a busy pub. The bruise on her backside was a testament to his enthusiasm.
She could feel his eyes on the back of her head as she focused on asking for a room. It was hard to even hear herself think over the loud noise within the Inn, but eventually, she worked out a price for one room with a spacious bed and private bath tub. While it was all being prepared they sat down to have a quick meal.
But Dreg wasn’t even thinking about trying to initiate something with Aspen tonight, not after what he’d done to her back in the woods. He felt awful that he’d marked her up so much even though she had encouraged him, and very enthusiastically. Even if he was filled to the brim with unbridled desire for her Dreg didn’t want to cause her unnecessary discomfort. She was a woman and not a tool to be used whenever he pleased.
Even my pea-sized brain can understand I gotta slow the fuck down, he thought to himself with a small sigh as he followed Aspen down the hall towards their room a little while later after they’d finished eating.
Aspen entered first. She lowered her packs down onto the floor and started unwinding her scarf as she glanced around the room. Dreg couldn’t care less what the room looked like as he ducked his head under the too short doorway and went straight for the table. He dumped his pack beside him as he took a seat in one of the chairs and let out a small growl.
They were silent while a servant girl came inside the room to fill the tub. She glanced between Aspen and Dreg with a curious expression but said nothing and left just as quietly as she had come. As soon as the door closed behind her they both started stripping off their clothes with hurried hands as they were eager to get into the bath.
“Think it’ll fit us both?” Dreg grunted, and he shot Aspen a glance.
“Hmm, most likely.”
It was worth a shot. Once they were both undressed Dreg got in first so Aspen had an idea of how much room there’d be leftover. She decided her chances looked good so she slipped her legs over the edge and sunk into the hot water, nestled between Dreg’s massive thighs. His arms were slung over the edge of the tub and his eyes were closed while he soaked.
Aspen couldn’t help but study him while he was unaware of her observations. He was still the same Orc she had met all those months ago. The scars across his chest were all but gone since they had healed a long time ago. She liked to run her fingers across them but it made her think back to how he had gotten them. They’d never really talked about what they’d seen in each other’s memories. Aspen hadn’t expected to see such a horrific event but in retrospect now she understood why he had been so incredibly furious to her when she tried to help. He had wanted to die that day but his mother was what kept him going at the time.
Now all he has is me, Aspen thought quietly as she stretched her legs out so they were resting against his thighs.
Dreg grunted but only moved his one arm to reach down and rub her calf beneath the water. She smiled at the gentle touch and then also closed her eyes and leaned back against the edge of the tub with her arms floating in the water.
Am I enough? Am I what he needs? What if I’m not… what if I have to let him go someday…
That thought filled Aspen with indescribable fear and panic. She desperately tried to push those thoughts away and quickly lurched forward as she pulled her legs up to her chest. The movement startled Dreg and his eyes shot open to stare at her with a confused expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Aspen replied hastily, and she slowly spun around so her back was to him. “I’m tired, so will you please wash my hair now.”
“You’re a shit liar,” Dreg argued but he complied with Aspen’s wishes.
Aspen squeezed her eyes closed and a moment later she felt warm water trickling down her head as Dreg had snatched up the little wooden bowl resting on a tiny wooden table beside the tub and started to wet her hair. When it was soaked enough he lathered up the bar of soap between his hands and then started working the soapy suds into her thick hair.
“It’s getting longer,” Dreg commented as Aspen leaned into his touch. “Your hair.”
“I know, it’s alright for now.”
While Dreg was washing her hair Aspen ran a washcloth across her body and when they were both finished she rinsed off entirely and got out from the tub. As usual, she dried herself off and then knelt on the floor behind Dreg’s thick back and she reached up to poke him lightly.
“What’re you in a rush for?” Dreg grumbled quietly, but he slowly slid his body forward.
“I’m just tired.”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No,” Aspen sighed as she picked up the little wooden bowl and scooped some water into it. “I’m fine.”
“Hmph.”
Dreg did enjoy the way Aspen massaged his head when she washed his hair. It felt so good after a long day spent traveling from place to place. He had been prepared to rough it out in the woods when they left Castlegra and had been pleasantly surprised when he found out that they could stay at Inns almost every night. Of course, they had to camp a couple of times but they were few and far between and so he was used to getting to bathe every night if he wished and enjoy a hot meal.
The life of a healer, Dreg mused while Aspen rinsed his hair. Is much nicer than I expected…
Dreg understood why Aspen chose to work for the guild, he really did. He could see that it was a secure place for her and after everything she had been through that was just what Aspen needed. Safety and protection were his number one concern when they were traveling and he could only imagine what it was like to be without either of those things for other travelers who went at it alone.
“Dreg, did you hear me?”
Dreg’s eyes snapped open and he picked up the cloth that had been slung over his shoulder. Aspen chuckled and slowly rose up from the floor; groaning quietly as her joints popped. She wandered over to where her pack was lying while Dreg finished washing and let the towel slip from her body so she could get dressed. It still felt a bit surreal that they were intimate now but Aspen pushed certain thoughts aside as she focused on finding her long tunic. As she put it on Dreg noisily clambered out from the tub, splashing water across the floor as he strode over to the table and snatched up a clean towel.
“You’re so messy,” Aspen sighed as she danced across the puddles of water to avoid stepping in them and went over to the bed.
She tossed the covers back and slid down with another small sigh and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Dreg came over a few minutes later after he was dry as well and he hadn’t bothered putting any clothes on as he plopped down on the soft bed with a sleepy growl.
Aspen shuffled forward before she could stop herself and reached out for him. Dreg was a bit confused by her behavior as she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest but he didn’t try to move her. Usually, she wasn’t quite so cuddly, and he understood why.
“Something’s bothering you.”
“I just want you to hold me for a while, is that not alright?”
“Of course it’s alright,” Dreg sighed, and he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. “I thought I was supposed to… to be someone you can confide in.”
“You are, but I am not upset. I promise.”
But as Aspen closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep she wasn’t sure how much longer her and Dreg could keep on pretending like everything was alright. Even the steady beat of his heart echoing in her ear and loud snores did little to comfort her that night.
Chapter Text
When Dreg woke up the next morning he was not surprised to find Aspen still sleeping against him; her wavy brown hair sprawled across his bare chest while she quietly snored. She had one leg slung across his thick thigh and she mumbled something incoherent before pressing her body closer against him but did not stir.
As he stared up at the ceiling of their bedroom Dreg couldn’t help but feel rather strange. He knew he had deep feelings for Aspen but was too afraid to voice them. He couldn’t help but think back to his wedding night and how horrified he had been the next morning to find his wife dead. Dreg knew that it would never happen to Aspen but he couldn’t help but feel irrationally frightened and unsure of everything.
But as Aspen started to wake up and she slowly slid her cheek against his scarred chest while reaching up to rub her eye Dreg felt increasingly worse. Without caring if he upset her Dreg suddenly sat up and bolted out of bed so fast Aspen was completely taken by surprise.
“D-Dreg!” Aspen called out, and she moved to push her hair out of her face. “What in the world…”
Dreg didn’t say anything but rushed over to his pack and hastily began searching through it until he found a pair of trousers and shoved them on.
“I’ll be back,” was the only explanation he had as he rushed out of the room without another word.
Aspen watched Dreg run off like he was on fire and after the door shut behind him she laid back down and let out a deep sigh.
No matter how close I think we’re getting he always finds a way to pull away…
She could tell it was more than just needing to relieve himself. The tension in his body was clear as day as he frantically searched for his pants and shoved them on so fast that he nearly tripped over himself. Whatever he was thinking or feeling she hoped he dealt with it by the time he got back.
But when Dreg returned around fifteen minutes later looking a little more relaxed he was still in a quiet mood and so they both got ready to leave in complete silence. Aspen was used to his mood swings and so she didn’t try to ask him what was wrong. She quietly got dressed and packed her things before wrapping her thick green scarf around her neck with a small yawn.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” Aspen replied briskly.
Dreg shouldered his pack and they both exited their room and started walking down the hall. Aspen wasn’t in the mood to eat this morning and Dreg didn’t seem bothered by it either so they left the Inn entirely and went to retrieve their well-rested horses. After everything was strapped down and Aspen was comfortably sitting astride her ride Dreg swung up into his saddle and they both clicked their tongues and urged their horses down the path towards the main road.
It was a nice clear day, free of rain. Despite how distance Dreg was acting towards Aspen this morning it didn’t dampen her mood and she enjoyed the beautiful view while they rode closer and closer to their next town.
Aspen thought that Dreg would continue with his sullen mood for at least the rest of the day but she was pleasantly surprised when he started to come around later in the afternoon. He wasn’t cheerful but they were able to have a few small conversations and by the time they stopped at an Inn they were both feeling considerably better. That night Aspen initiated the coupling and after they both found release sleep came swiftly and soundly.
The next few days passed in relative peace with no major problems aside from a few pesky wolves that Dreg dispatched without even breaking a sweat. This was a well-traveled and protected road so bandits and brigands were far and few between. Aspen was grateful that her trip had taken them down such a road, she had been anxious when she received her new tasks because she didn’t fancy struggling in the wilderness with Dreg.
But so far things were a breeze and the days went by quick. Before Aspen knew it they had arrived in the little town of Teragol. It was located in a pretty little valley down at the base of a mountain and tonight the warm light that spilled through the windows of the little stone homes and shops was warm and inviting. They urged their horses into a trot and quickly made their way down the hill towards where Aspen could see the Inn conveniently located at the edge of town. A few people still milled around at this time of the night and they sent the riders curious glances before going about their business. A young stable boy greeted them as they drew closer and reached out to grab the reins.
“Nice horses you got there,” he commented as he rubbed his hand along Dreg’s horse’s neck.
“Thanks,” Aspen replied as she slowly slung her leg off the saddle and landed hard on the ground.
Aspen waited while Dreg grabbed the majority of their bags and then they wandered around the side of the Inn and ascended the worn wooden stairs before heading inside. It was busy but not too crowded and the soft maple walls and beams gave off a deep warmth as a huge fire burning in the middle of the room washed everything in its orange glow.
Dreg was silent while Aspen walked up to the front counter and greeted the owner.
“Aspen, I wondered when you’d be back.”
“Yes, everyone seems to say that these days,” Aspen replied with a small smile. “I’m beginning to question the other Healers friendliness if you’re all so happy to see me.”
“The rest of the lot are nice enough,” Anfor chuckled as he reached down to grab a room key. “But not as nice as you.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Here you go, I’m assuming you’ll be here for a while?”
“As long as I’m needed,” Aspen nodded as she picked the key up.
“Is that Orc with you?” Anfor inquired curiously.
“Oh, Dreg? Yes… he’s my new guardian.”
“Alright, good to know. Enjoy your stay.”
Aspen thanked Anfor and then wandered over to where Dreg was standing with their packs. He glanced down at her for a moment with a strange look in his eyes before he started following her down the hall.
“You’ve been here before?” He grunted as he lowered the packs down onto the floor in their room.
“Yes, twice.”
“How long do you usually stay?”
“I tend to stay for around a week but it depends on what the people need.”
There was no tub inside this room, which Dreg noticed as he glanced around. Aspen seemed to pick up on his confusion as she glanced up at him as she rifled through one of her satchels.
“They have bathing pools in the back,” she explained quietly as she fished out a bar of soap. “Men's and Women's.”
“Oh.”
Only a few inns had bathing pools and Dreg wasn’t particularly fond of them but he would suck it up and go anyways. He’d prefer to take a bath in private with Aspen but she didn’t seem too bothered by this fact as she pulled out a clean set of clothes and a towel.
“I’ll go now and when we’re both done do you want to eat in the hall?”
“Sure.”
Aspen smiled and turned to leave when she felt Dreg grab her arm.
“What is i-”
Before she could finish her sentence Dreg leaned in and pressed his lips against hers in a firm kiss. When he pulled away Aspen was frozen in her spot for a moment before she blinked and let out the breath she had been holding it.
“What was that for?”
“Sorry for being a grump,” Dreg growled quietly, and then he turned around and busied himself with gathering his stuff.
Aspen stared at the back of his head for a moment while he crouched down on the floor. She was surprised by his apology but decided not to dwell too long on it.
I’ll take it, Aspen laughed internally as she exited their room and started walking down the long stone hallway towards the back of the Inn.
I know his apologies are a rare commodity… I didn’t think his little outburst the other day warranted an apology but I’m not complaining…
Aspen headed to the women’s bathing pool to wash up and continue musing over Dreg. She spent more time thinking about him than she cared to admit. Loving someone like Dreg was almost unbearable but she couldn’t bring himself not to care. She couldn’t detach her feelings from him and Aspen wasn’t sure she wanted to even though their relationship was so rocky and unpredictable.
After soaking for a long while Aspen finished washing up and quickly got dressed. She found her stomach was grumbling lightly by the time she headed back down the hall and so she looked forward to dinner. By the time she returned to her room Dreg was back as well looking visibly relaxed. They headed back down the hall and took a seat at one of the unoccupied tables and ordered themselves drinks and food. The energy between them was nice and calm and it lasted for the rest of the week.
Ivan wasn’t particularly a fan of the little town of Teragol. Truthfully, he found most of the places he traveled to with his healer a big bore. But, working for the Guild provided him everything the young man needed; money, security, and the ability to travel with ease and spread his handsome charm and sexual prowess as far and wide as possible. It was all he cared about and it was exactly what he had been up to as he exited one of the rooms at the Inn.
Ivan was a tad sweaty and a bit out of breath as he shut the door behind him and adjusted his tunic while he glanced around. It was busy at this part of the day and nobody paid any attention to him as he strolled down the long, narrow hall. His boots echoed lightly, the sound bouncing off the stone walls and floor. He intended to return to his room and take a nap since there was nothing better to do but his plans were abruptly interrupted when Ivan rounded a corner and spotted something down the hall that took him completely by surprise.
Ivan quickly slipped into the shadow of a little alcove nearby before he could get caught and peeked around the corner to take another look. Dreg and Aspen were standing outside their room and Dreg had pulled the healer into his arms and kissed her deeply. His huge hands wandered down her backside; squeezing her butt with a small growl.
Oh my… what an interesting development, Ivan thought with a smug grin. Surprise surprise, Aspen’s fucking her guardian.
“Dreg,” Aspen whispered against his lips, and Ivan had to strain to listen. “Why do you always like to play with fire?”
“Relax,” Dreg laughed, and he gripped her thigh, pulling Aspen closer against his body. “Nobody is even around.”
“Our room is right there…”
“Then come on, what are you waiting for?”
Ivan lurched backward so he was hidden out of sight and his heart raced as he processed what he had just seen. He heard a small giggle and then the door slammed shut and he knew that in a few minutes they’d be rolling around together naked. He was filled with wicked glee as he once again continued making his way back to his room while whistling a small tune as an idea was already formulating in his head.
Inside the room, Aspen’s clothes were off and she was lying on the bed with her legs spread as Dreg knelt on top of her and teased her womanhood with two thick fingers. She moaned softly and writhed under his touch as she ground her hips into his hand.
“You’re so wet,” Dreg growled as he trailed his lips down the soft curve of her neck. “I want to tease you.”
“T-That’s not nice,” Aspen huffed breathlessly as Dreg’s thumb lightly grazed her clit and her pulse skipped a beat.
“I never said I was nice.”
“Take your clothes off,” Aspen shot back, and she pushed on his arm. “I’d rather have your cock inside me.”
“Alright,” Dreg replied in a slightly surprised tone of voice, and his stomach trembled at her words. “As you wish.”
Dreg stood up from the bed and whipped his tunic off while Aspen watched. He had a small smirk on his deep green lips as he continued stripping off his clothes.
“Like what you see?” He teased.
“I’d have to be dead not to,” Aspen replied with a small roll of her eyes, but she was smiling.
Dreg laughed and started shoving his breeches down while Aspen lightly touched herself with her eyes glued to his face. Her body tingled with desire and she lightly stroked her slick folds with her lips parted open. It was a sight Dreg was delighted to see and he was raging hard as he kicked his boots off and leaped down onto the bed. Aspen laughed as he scooped her into his arms and within seconds he entered her.
Aspen sucked in a deep breath and clutched her arms around his thick neck as she felt Dreg fill her. She still wasn’t used to such a magnificent cock and the feeling of him inside of her still made her tummy tremble and her legs feel weak.
“Fuck me Dreg,” she moaned quietly into his ear.
Dreg growled and thrust his hips, pushing himself deeper until she’d taken his entire length. He gasped for air as he lost himself in the feeling of being inside Aspen. It was a feeling that never failed to blow him away and turn his brain to mush. Dreg took a moment to collect himself and wrapped his arms around Aspen as he started thrusting faster; his movement rhythmic and steady.
It didn’t take long for either of them to climax. Dreg cried out as his legs stiffened and he emptied himself entirely inside of Aspen. The feeling of being filled like that pushed Aspen over the edge and she dug her nails into his shoulders as she came as well. Within moments Dreg had collapsed on the bed beside her and they were a tangled pair of sweaty limbs for a few minutes as they glowed in the aftermath of their orgasms.
Aspen was the first to rise. She stared down at herself, still slightly annoyed that Dreg was such a messy lover. But she liked being filled by him and so she dealt with it anyways. Dreg was laying on his stomach with his eyes closed and he didn’t move even after Aspen had gotten up, cleaned herself up and dressed.
“Are you going to wash up?”
“Not yet,” Dreg grunted sleepily.
“Okay,” Aspen replied as she picked up a towel from the dresser nearby. “I’m going to go wash up.”
“Kay.”
Aspen sighed quietly as she left the bedroom and started walking down the hall towards the bathing pools. She was still slightly jittery from coupling so passionately with Dreg that her legs felt a bit weak and she paused to catch her breath before she headed inside to the pools. But as Aspen started to take another step forward she heard a familiar voice that sent a cold chill down her spine.
“Fancy seeing you here, healer.”
“Ivan,” Aspen replied through gritted teeth. “What do you want.”
“Well, that would depend on what you can offer me…”
“I’m not in the mood Iva-”
“I’m pretty sure you’re going to want to listen to what I have to say,” Ivan cut in as he drew closer with a smug smile on his lips.
“What is it?”
Aspen was uncomfortable with Ivan being so close as he leaned in. She held her breath as he peered down at her with such a wicked expression in his eyes that she just knew he was up to no good. It was hard to see him again and with every second that dragged on the more nervous Aspen grew.
“I’m curious to know why you’ve made it a habit of sleeping with your guardians.”
Anger flashed in Aspen’s eyes for a half a second and then it was gone as she looked away and clenched her towel against her chest.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“Oh, are you sure? Dreg sure likes grabbing your ass for no reason then I guess.”
Panic exploded inside of Aspen’s chest as she snapped her head back up to stare at Ivan in shock.
“W-What…”
“Listen, I’m an easy man to please. It’s easy to buy my silence, Aspen.”
“You’re disgusting,” Aspen hissed, and she nervously glanced around the hall but they were alone.
“I couldn’t care less what you think about me, sweetheart.”
“What do you want then?” Aspen spat back and she took a step back from Ivan with her brows furrowed. “What the hell do you want from me?”
“You know what I want,” Ivan replied silkily as he reached up to touch her arm. “Sleep with me and all of this will go away.”
“You’re fucking joking.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Ivan snapped, and the furious expression that crossed his handsome face for the briefest second made Aspen’s blood run cold.
“That’s all I want from you. If you’re not willing to give it then… I’ll have no choice but to go to the Guild.”
“You always have a choice,” Aspen argued, and for a moment she considered pleading with him but it was no use. “You choose to do this.”
“Alright, then I choose to go to the Head Master if you don't take me up on my offer.”
Aspen silently cursed herself for letting Dreg touch her out in public like that. It had been innocent enough at the time but now Ivan had caught them red-handed and was going to use it to his utter advantage. She felt like she’d been physically slapped in the face and for a while, she was completely at a loss for words.
“I know you’re thinking hard about it,” Ivan continued with a smirk. “I’ll leave you be… I’ve rented a room at the tavern across the road tonight. Come to room number five if you want to take me up on my offer.”
Aspen held her breath as she waited for Ivan to walk away. She glared at the back of his golden head until he was gone and let out a deep sigh. She didn’t realize she was shaking until she turned and walked towards the door. She reached up to push it open with a trembling hand and it was almost too heavy to move. Aspen didn’t have a clue what to do. But she knew if she told Dreg even a hint of what Ivan had up his sleeve there’d be a fight and that was the last thing she wanted.
You’ve slept with him before, she argued to herself as she quickly undressed and slipped into the steaming pool. Nobody else was around and so she was free to stew in her thoughts alone and uninterrupted.
You used to think you loved that man at some point… gods, how did I ever lay a single finger on him, let alone gave him my entire body?
But the more Aspen thought it over, the more her stomach twisted painfully into knots. Every choice she considered left her feeling hopeless and stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Chapter 34
Notes:
This chapter could be considered sensitive material to some readers, please your own discretion
Chapter Text
Aspen started getting ready with her heartbeat racing wildly in her chest. Dreg had napped all afternoon even after she had returned to their room but now he lay on his back and silently rubbed his eyes. He glanced across the room and stared at the back of Aspen’s head as she hastily wrapped her scarf around her neck and shot him a glance.
“It’s kind of late isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Aspen replied quietly, and she bit her lip for a moment. “I have to… go check in on a sick child.”
“Do you want me to come?” Dreg grunted as he swung his legs down from the bed and sat up.
He glanced up at the window above his head and was surprised to see it was past sunset.
“No!” Aspen replied quickly, and she shook her head. “No… thank you though. I’ll be fine.”
Aspen couldn’t bring herself to look Dreg in the eyes. She knew if she did he’d be able to see right through her. She was sick to her stomach but she felt helpless to try and stop what she was about to go do. If Dreg knew that Ivan had blackmailed her he’d surely kill him, and Aspen couldn’t bear the thought of that happening. It would destroy Dreg’s life and Aspen would be beside herself. Ivan deserved to pay for his wickedness but she didn’t think he needed to die.
Dreg was silent as he watched Aspen nervously flit about getting ready. He chalked it up to the fact that she must be concerned about the child and stood up with a loud yawn.
“I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
Aspen paused near the door with her back to him. Tears sprang in the corners of her eyes as she struggled to remain composed. It was always there; her confession right on the tip of her tongue every minute of every day. But she bit a sob back and reached for the door with her gloved hand.
“Thanks. Um, don’t stay up… I’ll probably be back late.”
“Okay,” Dreg replied as he shoved his boots on. “Bye.”
“Bye…”
Aspen quickly left the room and shut the door behind her. A part of her wanted to rush back inside; back into Dreg’s arms and have him make everything better. But Ivan was her problem, a person from her past and hers alone. It had nothing to do with Dreg. She couldn’t rely on him to fight all of her fights.
As Aspen quickly made her way out of the Inn and started walking straight across the street to a small Tavern that only contained a few rooms available for rent Aspen’s chest felt tight and it was difficult to breathe. She tried to tell herself it was alright, it was just sex and it didn’t matter. But the closer she got to the room Ivan had told her he’d be staying in for the night the more guilty she felt. Dreg had believed her lie so easily. If he knew what she was really up to he’d be furious.
Aspen paused just outside the door marked number five. Her heart hammered loudly in her chest and her hand trembled as she tested the latch to see if it was unlocked. It was, and so Aspen strode inside and her breath hitched in her throat as her eyes landed on Ivan’s reclined form. He grinned with a look in his eyes that made Aspen feel sick as she firmly closed the door behind her and waited for him to say something. Bile rose in her throat as he gracefully rose from the bed wearing nothing but a pair of fitted leather breeches and strolled up to her.
“Well, I must say I’m a bit surprised you came,” Ivan greeted with a small chuckle.
“Seriously? I want you to leave me alone… to leave us alone.”
“Do you love him?”
Aspen’s breath hitched in her throat and she paused for half a second before she continued removing her scarf. It was a long enough pause for Ivan to get his answer.
“I see… so, he doesn’t know you’re here then.”
“Of course not,” Aspen snapped, and she started to lift the hem of her long tunic. “If he knew what we were up to he’d kill you.”
“Are you sure? He seems like the kind that’s… all bark and no bite,” Ivan replied smugly as he moved so he was standing behind Aspen.
“Right, as if he didn’t punch you back in Castlegar... idiot.”
Aspen rolled her eyes as she lifted her tunic off and dropped the garment on the floor. She squeezed her eyes shut when she felt Ivan’s cold hand graze along her waist and grip her tightly. She stood, her back completely straight as she struggled to resist the desire to flee from the room entirely.
“You could try and pretend to enjoy yourself,” Ivan whined as he trailed his lips across her pale shoulder. “You used to like fucking me.”
Aspen shuddered and pulled out from his grasp to finish undressing without his interruption.
“Well that was before wasn’t it?” She snapped angrily. “I don’t even recognize you anymore.”
“It’s fine, you won’t have to deal with me after this.”
“Why do I feel like that’s a lie?” Aspen mumbled to herself as she finished removing her clothes and walked over to the bed.
“Excuse me? What about my clothes?”
Aspen scowled and turned back around. Ivan stood with his hands on his hips. His arousal, although nowhere near as well endowed as Dreg was obvious as it strained against its soft leather confines.
“Are you a cripple?” Aspen shot back, and she crossed her arms. “I said I’d have sex with you, we’re not going to drag this out.”
“But this is what I want,” Ivan replied smoothly, and he gestured with one finger for her to come closer. “If I don’t get to enjoy myself then what was the point of giving you this gracious opportunity?”
Aspen rolled her eyes and stalked over to where Ivan was standing. She snatched up the ties to his breeches and started tugging on them without a single drop of gentleness.
“Hey… Hey, I’m not an Orc,” Ivan whined as he grabbed onto her wrists. “You can be rough with Dreg but I like things a little… softer.”
Aspen knew Ivan was only doing this to get a rise out of her. Aspen let out a long breath through her nose as she glared up at him. She wanted to smack the smug grin off his face but she forced herself to go more slowly as she continued tugging on the strings until the pants were loose enough to come off. She still felt sick and wanted nothing more but to let him fuck her quickly so she could leave.
I should have known he’d make this more difficult, Aspen groaned internally as she hooked her fingers around the belt loops and started to tug the leather down his lean thighs. She had thought Ivan was attractive at some point in time but despite how athletically built his physique was it did nothing to stir her arousal.
After a few painful minutes spent letting Ivan kiss her as she stroked his hard member as lightly as she could muster, he finally stepped back and walked over to the bed. He laid down and gestured for Aspen to come closer as she wiped at her mouth with a disgusted expression.
“Come on then, I want to see you bounce on my cock.”
Being with Ivan again in such a way made Aspen physically ill. But she felt that it was her fault and was helpless to think of another way to get him to leave her and Dreg alone. Aspen tried to put on a brave face and straddled him with a grim expression. She’d entertain him by being on top but there was no way he’d get a peep out of her. Ivan was completely pleased with himself but at some point, he grew tired of staring up at her stoic face so he switched their position so Aspen’s face was pressed into the bed and he fucked her roughly from behind. It took much longer than Aspen wanted but finally, he thrust one last time as he came and before he could even catch his breath she shoved him to the side and stood up from the bed.
“You’re not very fun, Aspen,” Ivan sighed as he flopped down on the bed with a content expression.
Aspen ignored his comments and focused on getting cleaned up. No matter how much she wiped herself of his seed she could still feel him inside of her and she shuddered as she tossed the cloth down and started putting her clothes back on.
As she reached the door Ivan called out again and Aspen paused with her hand on the latch. She glanced back over her shoulder and glared at Ivan with a furious expression.
“I hate you,” she snarled through gritted teeth, and then she flung the door open and slammed it behind her.
Even though things were finally over with Ivan it was hard to breathe. Aspen quickly rushed through the tavern and burst out through the door onto the street with a quiet sob. Tears pricked at her eyes but she pushed through it and kept going; desperate to be back in her room. She felt dizzy and nauseous but more importantly, she just wanted to lie down and cry herself to sleep.
But before that, she needed to get completely clean. She’d made a mistake in the past, not knowing how well Dreg’s sense of smell was. So, before she returned to her room she took a quick trip to the bathing pool to wash, and Aspen ended up soaking for much longer than she anticipated.
I hate myself. How could I have done that… how… do I really have such little self-worth?
A sob escaped her lips, and Aspen leaned against the stone ridge of the pool as she started crying, her small hiccups echoing around the room. She was alone, and even knowing Dreg was back in their room, waiting for her, wanting to be with her, it wasn’t what she wanted.
After a while Aspen found the strength to get out of the pool and get dressed.
But as she reached the door leading into her bedroom Aspen paused as tears once again pricked at her eyes.
Gods… get it together, she told herself firmly as she sucked in a shaky breath. Please be asleep…
Luck was not on Aspen’s side tonight. As she entered into the bedroom Dreg turned to her as he paused the process of removing his pants. Aspen tried to be as calm as possible as she quickly ran over to the dresser and started unwinding her scarf but it was too difficult.
“Aspen?”
“What?” Aspen stammered, and then the floodgates suddenly opened up and hot tears started slipping down her cheeks.
Her shoulders trembled as she placed her scarf down on the dresser with shaking hands and bit back a sob but it was no use. Dreg had heard her and he immediately went over with a concerned expression on his tired face.
“Aspen, what is wrong?”
Aspen shook her head and then buried her hands in her face and started outright crying. Feeling alarmed, Dreg grasped one of her shoulders and forced her to face him. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug and he could feel Aspen clinging to his tunic as she cried even harder; her breath coming out in short, loud sobs.
“Was it the child?”
Aspen squeezed her eyes shut; trying to block out the image of Ivan’s smug face as he roughly squeezed her breasts.
“Yes,” Aspen gasped, and she pressed her face against Dreg.
Dreg’s brows furrowed together and he squeezed her tighter. It pained him to see Aspen so upset and he knew she must be tearing herself apart over the child’s death. He tried to comfort her as best she could but he didn’t know what to say and so instead he focused on getting Aspen into bed.
When her shoes had been removed and she was snugly tucked under the warm covers he slid into bed beside her and pulled her into his arms again.
“You did everything you could,” he mumbled as softly as possible. “You can’t save everyone.”
Aspen let out a deep shuddering breath and sniffled as she nuzzled her face into the crook of Dreg’s neck. She didn’t say anything more and for a long time, she continued to quietly cry. He could feel her tears slipping down his neck but he ignored it and slowly rubbed her back in small circular motions. Eventually, Aspen slipped into a restless sleep and was awake early the next morning. She was gone before Dreg even had a chance to wake up properly and try to speak to her and she did not return until later in the evening.
Chapter Text
Several days passed without any problems. Eventually, Aspen returned to her normal self the longer time went by and she never saw a glimpse of Ivan again. Or so it appeared. Although she was still shaken by what she had done and felt disgusted with herself she didn’t want to alarm Dreg further after lying to him about where she had been.
So, by the fifth day, when Dreg had wanted to couple she relented so that he’d stop thinking something was wrong. It wasn’t as if Aspen didn’t want to be with Dreg. She did enjoy it when the eager Orc would run his hands down her thighs and hungrily kiss down her chest. But trying to be silent was beginning to take its toll on her, and Aspen was at a total loss for what to do. The answer seemed simple enough but Dreg was not a simple guy. She knew him like no one else, and this presented a huge dilemma.
Around a week went by and Aspen steadily made her rounds in the little town of Teragol. She visited many people and treated a plethora of different illnesses and injuries. She worked for as long as possible; waking up early in the morning and usually didn’t return until late in the afternoon. She was often offered a meal around midday at whoever’s home she happened to be visiting and Aspen was grateful for everyone’s hospitality.
While Aspen worked Dreg mainly lurked around the Inn. He got to know the owner well enough and soon after they had arrived in Teragol he was offered random little side jobs that mostly consisted of small repairs around the little businesses and cottages. Dreg didn’t particularly care for the jobs but he liked staying busy and so he took up most of the offers without much fuss. It kept him out of trouble which he knew Aspen would appreciate and in the evening they’d eat dinner together, bathe and then usually wound up coupling before bed. Dreg was fairly pleased with this arrangement as it allowed himself to find release with Aspen, who he enjoyed being with. However, as this arrangement continued to go on it also became increasingly difficult for Dreg to ignore his deeper feelings. It didn’t stop him from stubbornly trying anyways.
Dreg had been doing splendidly well during their stay. That was until late in the evening on the tenth day. He had just finished bathing and was walking back to their room when he spotted a familiar face down the hall. A scowl crossed his face as Ivan spun around at the sound of his footsteps and he shot Dreg a smug grin.
“Thought I heard your ugly hide stomping down the hall.”
“You’ve got some gall talking to me like that after I busted your nose,” Dreg snarled as he sized Ivan up.
Ivan glared up at Dreg with the smug little grin that refused to fade. Just seeing the brute was enough to get him going, and he couldn’t help himself.
“You’ve got it good, huh?”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“A nice secure job, free accommodations, and food… a warm cunt to fuck every night.”
Dreg’s anger bristled over him as he regarded Ivan with unmasked fury.
“What did you just say?” He growled through gritted teeth.
“You heard me,” Ivan replied smartly, although he took a step back. “Aspen must be really desperate if she’s willing to bed your beastly ass.”
In an instant Dreg was upon Ivan and he had Ivan pinned against the stone wall by his neck. Ivan laughed, but it was quickly cut off as Dreg squeezed his hand tighter.
“I-I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Ivan sneered, his voice coming out in short gasps. “Then A-Aspen’s attempts to silence me will have been… for nothing.”
Dreg blinked, and he stared at Ivan with a mixture of confusion and anger.
“Speak plainly!” He snapped. “I’m giving you five seconds before I beat you into this stone slab.”
“You’re pathetic,” Ivan laughed breathlessly. “And stupid. I fucked Aspen just the other night. It was a gracious offer, and if you even think about hurting m-”
Ivan abruptly stopped talking as Dreg’s fist smashed into the solid stone wall just inches away from his head. It was an involuntary reaction and his knuckles screamed in agony as they shattered but Dreg couldn’t even comprehend what he was doing. All he could see was red as he grabbed Ivan by the collar of his robe with trembling hands and threw him as hard as he could down the hall. Ivan stumbled and fell onto his knees but hastily scrambled back up and spun around.
“You better learn to control your anger before you get into trouble.”
Dreg wasn’t even listening. He had already started stalking back down the hall towards his bedroom. He ignored the shooting pain that ran up his arm and wrenched the door open with a loud bang.
Aspen jumped at the loud noise and stood up from her reading chair in alarm. She hastily shut the book she had been reading and regarded him with confusion as Dreg slammed the door shut and strode up to her. Her eyes widened slightly as she craned her neck to look up at him but firmly held his gaze. She could practically feel the anger rolling off of him and the look in his eyes made her pulse race.
“Dreg?”
“Why did you fuck Ivan?” Dreg demanded, his voice low and full of barely contained fury.
“What?” Aspen blurted, and she clutched her book to her chest with furrowed brows. “I-I didn’t…”
“Don’t fucking lie to me!”
Aspen flinched as he roared and she took a step back. She let out a small sigh and turned away briefly to put her book down on the table.
I should have seen this coming…
“Dreg, I will talk to you. But not when you’re this angry.”
“Fuck that,” Dreg spat back, and he closed the gap between them. “I can’t believe you. Every time someone asks you to roll over you do it!”
“That’s not true!” Aspen argued, and annoyance flashed in her eyes. “I’m not having this discussion with you right now. Do you hear yourself?”
“You’re unbelievable Aspen-”
“I’m unbelievable? Are you kidding me?”
“No, do enlighten me!” Drag snarled. “I know you think my stupid Orc brain couldn’t possibly comprehend the reasoning behind sleeping with such a disgusting piece of shit like Ivan but give it a shot!”
“You’re impossible,” Aspen scoffed. “You’re such an asshole, you know that right?”
“Of course I fucking know, you always make it a habit to remind me. What about the fact you’re a fucking liar, huh Aspen? There was no child, was there!”
“When you say shit like that,” Aspen replied, her voice laced with vinegar even though she felt like her heart was breaking. “Then is it that much of a surprise when I don’t want to tell you anything? Really?”
“If you’d just fucking tell me to begin with then we wouldn’t have this problem!”
“It’s not that easy!” Aspen shouted back, and she threw her arms up with a small frustrated scream. “Gods, you’re driving me insane!”
“Am I? Is that what I am then? Just a huge fucking inconvenience. You think it’s okay to fuck Ivan behind my back and I should just roll over and take i-”
“It’s not like we’re together!” Aspen spat back angrily, and she jabbed Dreg in the chest without even really thinking. “Why the fuck do you care!”
“I don’t care!”
“I’m so sick and tired of this, Dreg. I’m done fighting with you all the time. I want to tear my hair out and scream… I try so hard to get along with you and it always ends up with a shouting match.”
“Don’t try to change the subject,” Dreg growled as he shoved her arm aside. “Do you think so low of yourself that you’d degrade your body like that?”
“Don’t you dare try to lecture me! You’re the one with intimacy issues, Dreg. You think I don’t know you fucked whores behind my back?”
“What does that have to do with you!” Dreg howled and he grabbed Aspen by the shoulders. “You just can’t say no to anyone, Aspen! When will you grow up a-”
“Fuck off,” Aspen cut in and she wrenched her shoulders out from his grasp. “You’re such an ass. I’d rather be alone in the woods than stuck inside this room with you for another minute!”
Aspen regretted the words the moment they left her mouth but he had touched on too many nerves. Tears sprung to her eyes as Dreg took a step back and wordlessly spun around. He strode over to one of his packs and snatched it up before going over to the door.
“Fuck you too, Aspen,” he shot back as he wrenched the door open. “Maybe you and Ivan are perfect for each other.”
Before Aspen could even think of a response Dreg took off from the room, once again slamming the door behind him. The moment he was gone Aspen burst into tears and collapsed against the side of the bed onto the floor. She sobbed loudly, her cries echoing around the now quiet room as she clung to the blanket. Her heart ached so painfully it was unlike anything she’d felt before. Dreg’s words rang in her head over and over, and she silently berated herself for reacting so childishly.
Dreg blindly stumbled down the hall and burst into the dining hall; startling several nearby patrons enjoying a few drinks. His eyes quickly scanned the hall, searching for the sellsword he had seen earlier in the week. When he spotted the Orc sitting across the way he ran over to his table. He slammed his satchel down and the Orc blinked in calm surprise as he looked up at him. They both stared at one another and then Dreg rifled through his pack for one of the coin purses he hardly ever used. His broken hand screamed out in protest but he grimaced and ignored it.
“Dreg, you look upset.”
“You know the human who’s staying here that wears that stupid fucking armor?” Dreg grunted, ignoring his comment.
“Yes… I know who you’re talking about. He’s staying with a healer.”
Dreg finally grabbed the leather coin purse and he tossed it down onto the table before swinging the satchel back over his shoulder.
“Don’t kill him,” Dreg quietly, his voice low so that no one would overhear. “But make him wish he was dead.”
The Orc simply nodded once and in a flash, the coin purse was snatched up and safely tucked away. They exchanged one last weighted glance and then Dreg booked it out from the Inn. He ran across the road to the nearby tavern and ordered a pint of mead the moment he sat down. He drank it within seconds and hastily ordered another one and another one. He drank until he could hardly walk straight and then stumbled out of the tavern late in the middle of the night. Instead of returning to the Inn Dreg slowly made his way to the stables and barely managed to pull himself up on his horse. He slumped down over his saddle before taking off from Teragol without a single glance back.
Aspen was awoken early the next morning by a blood-curdling scream from somewhere in the Inn. She quickly shot up from the bed and almost fell flat on her face as her legs got tangled in the sheets when she tried to stand. After recovering from her near fall Aspen ran towards her door and wrenched it open. A couple of other patrons had opened their doors as well and everyone exchanged looks of concern as they searched for the direction of the scream. Aspen’s head snapped towards the dining hall as she heard another quiet cry and a small group of people ran down the hall to see what the commotion was.
Aspen hadn’t been prepared for what it was. Her mouth dropped open and she stared down in utter shock as her eyes landed on the bloodied and broken form of Ivan lying unconscious on the floor in the middle of the dining hall with a young servant girl trembling nearby. He was almost completely unrecognizable. Her heart lurched in her chest and she instantly thought of Dreg as she realized he hadn’t returned to the Inn at all during the night.
But all thoughts evaded her as she stumbled forward and collapsed onto her knees. She reached out with shaking hands to try and feel for a pulse. It was hard to do; Ivan had been beaten so badly she almost didn’t know who he was if it weren’t for his hair. It was obvious that all of his limbs were broken and almost every inch of his skin was covered in bruises and bloody cuts. His face had been beaten so badly he didn’t even look human.
“Ivan,” Aspen sobbed as she slipped her fingers against his neck. She was terrified; his skin was like ice.
But he was still alive. Ivan’s pulse was faint but it was there and she hastily called out for someone to help her. But before Aspen could even begin tending to Ivan his healer suddenly appeared and she cried out when she saw him.
“Oh, gods!” She wailed as she rushed forward. “Ivan!”
“Do you need my help?” Aspen stammered quietly as she hastily moved out of the way.
But the woman ignored her completely and started barking out orders to whoever was lingering nearby wanting to help. It pained Aspen to step back but she forced herself to turn around and return to her room. He would be in good hands and Aspen couldn’t bring herself to get involved. But guilt gnawed at her stomach as she numbly walked back down the hall, her bare feet making no noise against the stone floor. She shivered as she realized she’d run out in just her nightgown on and so she quickly ran back to her room and slipped inside. Tears once again pricked at her eyes but for too many reasons. She didn’t understand why things had happened the way they did. This was what she had been trying to avoid. She was surprised that Dreg hadn’t killed him outright and dumped his body in a ditch somewhere outside of town.
Did he do this to get back at me? Her thoughts whirled, and suddenly she wasn’t sure she knew Dreg as well as she thought.
But It didn’t seem like something he’d do. He was an Orc filled with pain and anger but to commit an act so horrifically cruel? Nothing made sense.
Aspen groaned and walked back over to the bed where she collapsed down onto the soft mattress. She had spent most of the night crying in between fitful bouts out sleep that left her tossing and turning. She was exhausted but no matter how much she closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep it didn’t work. The image of Ivan’s bashed and bloodied body was burned into her mind and as she started to cry once more bile rose up in her throat and she lurched off the bed to get sick; just barely reaching the nearby bucket in time.
Why… why has this happened? Aspen groaned as she slumped back against the side of the bed as she wiped at her mouth.
Where is Dreg? What if he doesn’t come back? Maybe it’s time to stop traveling… I keep getting torn apart by my guardians…
Thinking only made things worse and so Aspen forced herself to get up. She quickly washed up and got dressed while in a daze. Her thoughts were filled with too many things and breakfast was completely out of the question after having just emptied her stomach minutes ago. Instead, she slung her bright green scarf around her neck, snatched up her healer’s chest and took off from the Inn. As she passed the place where Ivan had been lying on the floor she felt another wave of nauseous and had to force herself to look away from the already cleaned spot. She headed out onto the street and started making her way up to a home in the hopes that her work would hopefully distract her until Dreg returned.
Chapter 36
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Dreg let out an enraged groan as he tried to lift his head but his entire body felt like it had been beaten to a bloody pulp. He was laying on his back in a small ditch on the side of the road and his horse nickered softly as Dreg snarled again while trying to sit up. It flicked its tail back and forth while munching on some grass and watched as the Orc flailed around in the cavern of the ditch.
Somehow he managed to pull himself up onto his knees. As Dreg slowly opened his eyes he grimaced and looked down at himself. He was covered in his puke and pain radiated through his skull as he was wracked by a splitting headache. He quickly squeezed his eyes shut again as a wave of nausea washed over him and he doubled over to get sick yet again.
He had no idea where he was. He vaguely recollected that he had ridden off after getting stupid drunk at one of the pubs but what happened after that had been a blur. Dreg just assumed he’d ridden until he’d fallen off his horse and rolled down into the ditch without a care in the world. But the physical pain that coursed through his body didn’t even come close to how much pain he felt when he remembered with disturbing clarity what had happened the night before.
Aspen… I need to get back to her…
Somehow Dreg managed to climb unsteadily to his feet, but his vision swam and so he lurched back onto his hands and knees. He had to crawl slowly up the ditch towards the road where his horse was patiently waiting for him. Dreg reached out to grasp the reins and he snarled as pain shot up his arm. He immediately dropped his arm and groaned as he remembered with a low growl that he’d shattered his knuckles the day before when he’d confronted Ivan.
Ivan. He wanted to bury that sick fuck ten feet under the ground. He hoped that the Orc he’d hired had done a good job beating him to near death. Dreg felt zero regret for what he’d done and anger rippled through him as his words floated through his muddy head. Thinking about what Aspen had subjected herself to in an attempt to protect them made him feel sick and he once again doubled over as he emptied his stomach.
The horse nickered again as Dreg straightened back up and leaned heavily against its side. It took every ounce of energy to haul himself up into the saddle. More than once he’d fallen back and landed painfully on his ass with an angry snarl. He had to make several attempts before he succeeded in mounting his horse and by the time he did Dreg was thoroughly annoyed and fatigued. His vision swam and he weakly clutched at the reins with his good hand and squeezed his thighs with a small click of his tongue. Even in his sickly state, he knew he needed to get back to Aspen before she thought he had abandoned her. Despite being completely fed up with a lot of things she did, the last thing Dreg wanted to do was make her feel like she’d been tossed aside by yet another guardian. He knew he had acted badly and had every intention to sober up and grovel before her until he was forgiven. So, he urged his horse into a gallop and raced back down the road towards town.
Back in Teragol, Aspen was preparing to leave with shaking hands. She was tired of waiting to see if Dreg would return and blinked back tears as she tightened the strap on her healer’s case before turning to the rest of her things. She wanted to get as far away from Ivan as possible, and silently prayed he would be alright. She hated Ivan, that much was obvious, but she didn’t wish him dead. Aspen had a hard time accepting that Dreg had been behind the attack, even though she knew her current Guardian hated her former lover with every fiber of his being.
Perhaps he did, she thought glumly as she shoved her tunics inside the leather satchel. Maybe I don’t know Dreg as well as I thought…
It was too much to think about everything too deeply, and so Aspen wiped the few tears that slipped down her cheeks and sucked in a deep breath. She wanted to cry, but she was tired of crying so much. So, she finished getting ready as quickly as possible and exited the Inn. When she reached the stables Aspen was not surprised to find Dreg’s horse was gone. It only made her feel worse as she waited for the stable boy to secure her packs. When he was finished, she pressed a gold coin into his hand and thanked him quietly before struggling to get up on the saddle by herself. She glanced around for a moment as if a part of her hoped and even expected to see Dreg’s scowling face suddenly appear but he was nowhere to be found. Aspen sighed and clicked her tongue, urging her horse into a steady walk as she continued making her way down the main road towards her next destination.
Traveling with a mostly silent Orc had been frustrating, but traveling alone again gripped Aspen with intense fear. She jumped at every sound and movement that caught her eye and avoided making any eye contact if a wagon or rider passed by. She kept her eyes firmly glued forward, and her chest ached as she the day dragged on and she was still alone. It was unbearable and at some point, Aspen couldn’t help but cry yet again. Her bottom lip trembled and she tried valiantly to keep the tears at bay but they spilled down her pale cheeks against her will. She buried her face into her soft green scarf and sobbed until she was able to calm down a little and was reduced to small sniffles. Her horse snorted softly and picked up the pace a little as if sensing the urgency to get away. Aspen was grateful for such an obedient beast as she mainly stared out at the road with her thoughts whirling and hardly paid attention to what was going on.
She didn’t want to accept that things were over with Dreg and the thought that she might never see him again after their terrible argument made her feel indescribably hurt. She chastised herself over and over for getting so angry and saying such mean things. In the end, Dreg had had her best intentions at heart even if he was terrible at conveying things in a nice way. He had been right to be furious. What she had done with Ivan was despicable and she hated herself for it. Dreg had been justified in confronting her the way he did and although Aspen wished his method hadn’t been quite so harsh she couldn't really fault him. He was an Orc, after all, anger was in his blood.
Aspen didn’t bother to stop and eat. She had no appetite and so after pausing briefly to let her horse graze on some tall grass and she consumed a little water; she continued riding well into the afternoon. The further Aspen got from Teragol the more a sense dread grew deep inside of her. She had no idea what she was going to do anymore and even contemplated her future with the guild.
I can’t keep going on like this, she thought with a small sigh as she rapidly blinked up at the clear blue sky to try and prevent herself from crying again. It’s one thing to be in love with Dreg. I refuse to go through this all over again with yet another guardian…
Dreg streaked through the streets of Teragol and startled the stable boy as he raced towards him far too quickly. The young man jumped out of the way as Dreg came to an abrupt halt and flung himself off the saddle. He tumbled down and almost lost his footing but somehow managed to stay upright. He groaned as pain coursed through his head and arm but ignored it and glared down at the worker as he clutched his horse’s reins with a frightened expression. Dreg ignored him and stomped back towards the inn. He flung open the door; the quick movement scaring several young women sitting at a table nearby. They shot him dirty glances as they eyed him with looks of disgust and whispered behind their hands as he strode past them. Dreg knew he looked like shit and stunk but he didn’t care and quickly started walking back to his room when he was stopped by the owner.
“What do you think you’re doing?” the older man barked at him, and he grimaced as the stench of vomit reached his nose.
“Going to my room,” Dreg snarled as he whipped his arm back from the innkeeper’s grasp.
He winced as his broken hand accidentally grazed his thigh and had to bite his lip to stop from roaring in pain.
“You don’t have a room,” the man argued, and he pointed towards the exit. “Your Healer is gone.”
“What?”
Dreg’s eyes widened in surprise. He knew he had fucked up with Aspen but he hadn’t expected her to up and leave without him.
“You heard me. She left early this morning. You’ve caused quite a disturbance, boy. You need need to leave.”
“Where are my things?” Dreg snapped, and he glared down at the man with a furious expression.
“The girls recovered one pack from the room and a sword, take it if you want and get out!”
Dreg followed the Innkeeper back towards the counter and snatched his belongings from his hands the moment they were offered to him. He stomped towards the exit and fled back onto the street, narrowing his eyes against the bright light that assaulted his pupils. He ran back towards the stables and bellowed at the poor stable hand to prepare his horse, who had just been rubbed down with a brush and given a bucket of oats. The horse snorted and stomped his foot but allowed himself to be saddled up and within ten minutes Dreg was racing back down the street in the opposite direction this time.
He had no idea where Aspen was going but he assumed it was the right direction and he thought of nothing but getting back to her as he rode as hard as his horse would carry him. Guilt ripped through his body along with the physical pain and it was almost blinding but he pushed through it. Not only was Aspen alone but she was without protection and if anything happened to her he’d never forgive himself. He just prayed that he found her before anyone else did and they could make amends.
Mother… Dreg groaned internally as another wave of nausea washed over him from the movement of his horse.
I know I fucked up. I wish I could hear your advice during times like this. I feel like I’m falling apart and I don’t know what to do…
The sound of Aspen’s horse clip-clopping down the road echoed in her ears. She let out a shaky breath and glanced up at the sky. It was beginning to grow dark out, and she hoped there was an Inn somewhere close she could spend the night. Aspen didn’t want to rough it out in the wilderness on her own but if she had to, she would.
A light breeze played with the soft strands of Aspen’s hair and she nervously chewed on her bottom lip as certain emotions constantly threatened to spill over. She blinked and gazed back down at her horse. She was at a complete loss for what to do and as she remembered where her next destination was Aspen was filled with a pang of great sadness. She loved Dreg with all of her heart but she felt like she needed to let him go. He had run off anyways, so she didn’t have a choice in that matter. But the things he often said to her rang through her head with intense persistence.
Why do I keep working for the guild? Why can’t I ever say no to anyone? Why… why do I stretch myself so thin…
Nothing seemed to be going right in her life. The more Aspen thought about it the more she realized that other than her two close friends and Master Ren, everyone in her life had brought her frustration or sadness in one way or another. Her mother had abused her for so long Aspen still had night terrors about it. Edward and Ivan had ended in heartbreak and now so had Dreg. Something about the Orc made it hurt that much more and Aspen didn’t know why. But she was tired of having no control over her happiness. Something had to change.
Aspen was completely lost in her thoughts when the sounds of another horse approaching rang in her ears. She blinked and looked up, startled by the urgency of the hoofbeats. Panic rose inside of her and without thinking she urged her horse off the road to hide among the trees until the rider had passed. She hastily took shelter beneath the shadows of the branches and peered out at the road with bated breath. She listened to the thundering hoofbeats as they grew louder and louder.
A black stallion streaked by in a hurry. Aspen’s eyes widened as she spotted the rider, and her stomach dropped as she realized who it was. She waited as she watched Dreg race down the road and when he had passed Aspen quickly urged her horse out from under the trees. She sat upon her horse and stared at his shrinking form with her mouth hung open in surprise and her heart pounded in her chest.
Where is he going? Her thoughts whirled, and she waited until he had disappeared around a bend in the road before she started moving again. Is he… looking for me?
She didn’t know what to make of it. Too many emotions swirled within her so much that it made it hard to breathe. Aspen couldn’t bring herself to make her horse go any quicker than a light canter. She needed time to think, to figure out what she was going to do. If Dreg was looking for her, she wasn’t sure if they could ever get back together. Even if he apologized, Aspen knew it would never be the same.
Gods, Aspen thought glumly and reached up to wipe at the few tears that slipped down her cheeks. What am I going to do…
The sun had set by the time Dreg spotted an Inn. He had no idea if Aspen would be there but he hadn’t spotted her or her horse anywhere along the road the entire day. He’d raced as fast as he could and so he didn’t think she could be much further than him. As he guided his horse towards the stables he felt sick to his stomach. He hadn’t eaten or drank anything all day, his stomach twisted painfully into knots and pain still radiated up his arm and he hissed as he slid off the saddle and landed heavily on his feet. Nausea washed over him but Dreg bit it back and hastily recovered his satchel and sword before wordlessly pushing the reins into the stable boy’s hands. Aspen’s horse was nowhere in sight.
Dreg was still covered in his vomit and he was desperate for a bath. He fished around in his satchel for a few moments until he found a coin purse and then wandered up the steps to the Inn. He didn’t know what else to do but wait and hope that Aspen ended up in the same place. Worry gnawed on his gut but he pushed forward and strode up to the front counter. The woman standing behind it eyed him with one cocked brow as he approached.
“Rough day?” she greeted.
“I need a room,” Dreg growled, ignoring her question.
“Alright, and a bath it seems. Ten gold and it’s yours for the night.”
Dreg impatiently tugged on the little strings of the coin purse and counted out the appropriate coin. The woman handed him a key and then called out to a servant girl to fetch him hot water. He stood near one of the two hallways leading to the bedrooms and waited with his head bowed. A few minutes later a young girl came by and quietly told him everything was ready. Dreg nodded and quickly made his way to the bedroom, ignoring all of the curious glances the servants sent his way.
He dumped his pack on the ground and immediately began stripping off his soiled clothes. When he was completely naked Dreg noisily splashed into the too small wooden tub and sank with a quiet snarl as he made sure he didn’t bump his injured hand. He had to sit with his legs and arms hanging over the edge of the tub but he didn’t care as he leaned back and closed his eyes.
He felt like utter shit but mostly because he was so worried about Aspen. A million scenarios ran through his mind and none of them were good. It didn’t help that images of finding his former wife murdered in her sleep also plagued him no matter how hard he tried to keep them at bay and it made him feel worse. He stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes while he soaked in the hot water and then tried to was himself up as best he could with only one working hand.
Dreg knew he had done a shit job of getting clean but it was better than nothing and when he was finished he pulled himself up from the tub with a loud groan and stumbled over to the dresser where a stack of clean towels was waiting. He snatched one up and sloppily rubbed it across his body before he struggled to get a pair of clean trousers and tunic on. Dreg was desperately hungry but didn’t know if he could stomach anything as he shoved his foot into one boot and then the other. He rubbed the towel across his damp hair and didn’t bother trying to tie it back. As he ran the soft material across the shaved sides of his head a lump formed in his throat as he remembered when Aspen had shaved it for him.
What if she never forgives me? What am I going to do?
It was nightfall by the time Aspen guided her horse towards the stables of the Inn. She swallowed hard as she spotted Dreg’s horse safely tucked inside one of the stalls. The horses whinnied at each other and her horse bobbed her head up and down with a small snort as they drew closer. She greeted the stable hand that stood nearby and he rushed forward to help her down.
“Good evening, Miss.”
“Good evening,” Aspen said, her voice little more than a whisper.
“It looks like it’s going to rain so it would be best to go inside.”
“Thank you,” Aspen sighed as the man handed over her satchel and healer’s case. “I’ll do just that.”
Her stomach twisted so painfully into knots Aspen felt sick as she wandered towards the Inn. She knew Dreg was inside but she had no idea what was going to happen or what she’d say to him. She decided to just focus on getting a room and try to take care of herself first. She was beginning to feel hungry but desired a bath more than anything.
Aspen opened the door to the Inn with shaking hands and quietly stepped inside. She glanced around the room for half a second but didn’t see Dreg’s tall form anywhere so she quickly made her way to the counter. She returned the warm greeting by the innkeeper with a tired voice and requested a room and bath. Once it was established she was a healer from the guild she was given a key and the innkeeper called out for a servant girl to fetch hot water. Aspen stood near the far hallway with her shoulders hunched as she waited.
Just as the girl walked back to her and informed her everything was ready she spotted Dreg as he appeared from the other hall and glanced around with a haggard look in his eyes.
Aspen’s breath hitched in her throat as their eyes met. Her heartbeat roared in her ears as she watched Dreg’s eyes widen in surprise and they were both frozen to the spot for a moment. Tears welled up in her eyes and suddenly she couldn’t bear to even look at him.
Dreg lurched forward just as Aspen turned around and fled down the first hall as fast as her legs would carry her. Dreg was taller and faster and he easily caught up with her but Aspen wouldn’t stop.
“Aspen!” He called again as he rushed towards her.
Aspen let out a quiet sob as she fumbled with the key in the lock. As soon as she heard the small click she flung the door open and rushed inside; closing the door behind her and right in Dreg’s face.
“Aspen,” Dreg groaned, and he rested his head against the wooden door with a loud sigh.
“Please let me in.”
Inside, Aspen had dumped her things unceremoniously on the floor and had covered her mouth with both hands as she started to cry. Her shoulders shook from the force and Dreg’s chest ached as the sound of her crying reached his ears from the other side of the door. He tested the latch and sighed again when he found it locked. He couldn’t handle how he was feeling. He had been so terribly relieved to see Aspen alive and safe that he wanted so desperately to be close to her again.
“Aspen,” Dreg called out, his voice loud and firm. “Aspen let me in.”
Aspen jumped as she heard a loud knock at the door but she didn’t move from where she was standing.
“Aspen,” Dreg persisted. “Aspen, please.”
“Go a-away!” Aspen finally shouted, and she nearly choked on her sobs as she started crying harder.
“No Aspen! I’m not going away.”
Aspen squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face into her scarf. Outside the room, Dreg continued to bang on the door, and he was drawing some attention. He shot the servants an angry scowl and they immediately scattered.
“Aspen, I’m not going anywhere,” he almost hollered. “I’ll stand out here all night and bother every single person in this Inn until you let m-”
Dreg almost fell forward as the door suddenly opened. Aspen grabbed him by the tunic and tugged him inside before slamming the door shut. She stumbled away and turned her back towards him as she wiped at her tear-stained cheeks while hiccuping quietly.
“Aspen,” Dreg started, his voice thick with emotion as he stared at the back of her head.
“What a-are you even doing here? I thought you’d left me.”
“What? No… no, Aspen,” Dreg replied quickly, and he stepped forward. “I didn’t leave you.”
“Then where were you!” Aspen snapped, and she spun around to glare at him. “I was all alone!”
Her eyes widened as Dreg suddenly dropped to his knees before her. She was speechless as he bowed his head at her feet and for a moment too stunned to even form a coherent thought as she stared down at him.
“Aspen I’m sorry,” Dreg groveled, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t leave you. I got piss drunk and woke up in a ditch outside of town.”
“What…”
“As soon as I woke up I came back but you were already gone. I rode as hard as I could to find you.”
Aspen clutched at her scarf as she stared down at the back of Dreg’s head with furrowed brows. She didn’t know what to think or say and so she remained silent as he continued to apologize.
“I hate myself for how angry I get. I wish I could speak to you better when I get upset and I’m a piece of shit for treating you so terribly.”
Dreg went on like that for quite some time as he continued to kneel before her. After a while, Aspen couldn’t handle it anymore and she told him to stop.
“Dreg, get up,” she cut in abruptly.
Dreg slowly picked his head up and looked up at her. Aspen couldn’t quite meet his gaze and she gestured for him to stand up properly.
“I said get up,” she said more firmly.
Dreg slid one leg forward and pushed himself up so he was towering over her now. Aspen rubbed her scarf across her face for a moment as she took a few shaking breaths. When she felt a bit calmer she forced herself to look up at him, and the sadness in her eyes made Dreg’s chest ache.
“Dreg I… I’m completely at a loss for what to do.”
“I promise I’ll be good, Asp-”
“We’ve been down this road before,” Aspen continued, and she let out a small sigh. “How many more chances must I give you before I say enough is enough? Should I not take your advice?”
Dreg knew Aspen was right. She had every reason to refuse him, and he would respect her wishes if she did. But she was the only person he could trust in this foreign world and knowing he could lose her forever gripped him with the most horrible fear.
Aspen watched as a flurry of emotions crossed Dreg’s face while he let her words sink in and she couldn’t help but feel a tremor of deep panic. She didn’t want to leave Dreg. She really, really didn’t want him to stop being her Guardian.
All of his points have been right, she thought while trying to form her next sentence. He just doesn’t know how to say things nicely or control his temper. But that can change… I am positive this part of him can be improved...
“Dreg,” Aspen started, and their eyes met again.
“What must I do Aspen?”
Tears welled up in her eyes once more as the decision came to her.
“Dreg,” Aspen repeated, and her voice was firm as she regarded him with furrowed brows. “Never leave me again, understood? If you leave me out of anger for even a minute then we’re through.”
Dreg blinked in surprise as Aspen’s words washed over him. Then he let out the biggest sigh and nodded. He had hardly believed his ears but Aspen had chosen to forgive him and he’d never felt so relieved in his entire life.
“I won’t, I swear Aspen… I won’t ever leave you again.”
Aspen took a step back from him and wiped at her cheeks as she let out a shaky breath and then she nodded.
“I’ll hold you to your word,” she whispered, and Dreg could tell she was utterly exhausted as she swayed slightly where she stood.
“I promise, I won’t.”
“Okay,” Aspen said, and she turned away from him. “Do you have a room?”
“Yes,” Dreg replied as he rubbed his neck with a small growl.
“Go back to your room, I’ll see you in the morning.”
That was it. Dreg nodded and bade her goodnight before turning around. He was distracted by his thoughts as he reached up to grab the latch and he hissed in pain as he stupidly used the wrong hand.
“What’s wrong?” Aspen called out sharply, and she turned to him.
“Nothing,” Dreg replied, but in an instant Aspen was beside him.
“Dreg,” Aspen gasped as she gently picked up his arm by his wrist. “Oh gods, Dreg! Your hand!”
Aspen let out an exasperated sigh and forced Dreg to go sit down while she recovered her healer’s case. Dreg shuffled over to the small wooden table and plopped down in the chair with his head bowed as he waited for her to patch him up.
“What in the world did you do?” Aspen said as she opened her case and started rifling around for a potion. “Gods… is this from beating Ivan?”
Dreg’s head snapped up and he was silent for a moment as their eyes met.
“I didn’t touch him,” he growled, but he knew Aspen wasn’t fooled as her eyes narrowed.
“Dreg, do you think I’m stupid?”
“No, of course not.”
“Who did you pay then? It had to have been someone,” Aspen insisted angrily as she pulled out a clean bandage.
“Don’t worry about it,” Dreg grumbled and he looked back down at his hand. “It’s done. I regret nothing. This is from uh… punching a stone wall.”
“What?”
“It was better than punching him in the face, was it not?”
Aspen rolled her eyes and took a seat in the chair across from him. She scooted closer and then gently took his hand. Even with the most delicate of touch pain still radiated up his arm and he growled through clenched teeth as Aspen started dabbing at the torn flesh on his knuckles with a medicine soaked cloth.
“I can’t believe you did that. You didn’t see him, did you? Ivan was… unrecognizable.”
“Aspen, I’m not sorry for what I did.”
“I know you’re not,” Aspen sighed as she uncorked a small vial and pressed it into his good hand. “Drink up.”
“He didn’t die, did he?”
“Not that I know of, but it was pretty damn close. It’ll be months before he’ll even walk again, Dreg.”
“He’ll walk, that’s good enough for me.”
“He might walk, you don’t know…”
Aspen shook her head and snatched up the bandage from beside her. She gently wrapped it around his wounds and tied it with a small knot. Dreg was feeling much better after having drunk the contents of the vial and he was looking forward to going to sleep on a proper bed after his night spent in the ditch. He wanted to tell Aspen the only reason he had refrained from killing Ivan outright was because of her, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Dreg knew if he had done it, he’d lose her forever.
Despite the awkward air between them, Aspen was also looking forward to getting some rest. She knew there was no way they could continue being intimate anymore, and she was saddened by the realization. But she knew that if they continued down their path as Healer and Guardian then they had to be more professional. It was something she was willing to accept for the time being, although she still struggled with her feelings towards Dreg.
“There, just take it easy. Your bones are broken but I’m sure they’ll heal quickly. I’ll change the wrappings in the morning.”
“Okay,” Dreg yawned as he stood up. “Thanks. I’ll… see you tomorrow.”
Dreg wanted to reach out and touch Aspen’s face but he refrained and walked back towards the door. Aspen leaned back in her seat and stared at his retreating form with a heavy ache in her chest.
“Sleep well, Aspen.”
“Goodnight Dreg.”
Notes:
Dreg's a good boi ❤︎
Chapter Text
When Aspen woke up late the next morning, she groaned and rolled onto her back. She had fallen asleep on her stomach and now it ached as she slowly pulled herself up into a sitting position. She sighed and rubbed her eyes and then reached for the little yellow vial resting on the nightstand. She uncorked it and downed the liquid in one gulp, sighing as relief washed over her. Aspen knew it was later than she would have liked, but she needed her rest after the last few days. She assumed Dreg was also appreciating some extra sleep after drinking so heavily the other night and she instinctively glanced over at the space beside her.
Dreg. She still felt a tinge of sadness in her chest as she thought back to last night. But Aspen was tired of dwelling on sad memories. She had enough to worry about traveling to the next town. So, she let out a small yawn as she stood up from the bed and stretched her arms above her head for a moment until her joints gave a satisfying crack.
You could have told him how you feel, her thoughts whirled, invading her. You’re such a coward. He was on his knees begging for you to take him back…
Aspen sighed and idly ran her fingers through her hair as she gently fingered the tangles free. It was getting longer; usually, she’d get it cut by now. But with everything that had been going on she’d completely forgotten about it. Even without Dreg being there with her she couldn’t help but think about him constantly. How he’d commented on the length of her hair as he ran his thick fingers through it. The soft way he handled her as he lathered soap into her hair. A tiny smile graced her lips but it was gone in an instant as Aspen hastily straightened up and focused on getting dressed. Within minutes she was ready and hurried out from the room to seek out Dreg. The state of his hand had been concerning to her and she wanted to check in on him.
Aspen hesitated when she reached Dreg’s room. She thought about knocking but decided against it as she quietly tugged on the latch and swung the door open. They might have had their worst fight yet but she didn’t think it was necessary to move backwards quite so much.
Oh Dreg, Aspen thought to herself as she shuffled into the dark room.
Dreg was fast asleep, laying on his stomach and he snored loudly. His clothes were strewn across the floor and she could smell the lingering odor of alcohol radiating off the clothes he had been wearing the other day.
After throwing the curtains open so she could see, Aspen held her breath as she gingerly gathered up his clothes and sought out a poor servant girl to clean them. Then she returned to the room. Dreg was still sleeping even after all the noise she had made and so Aspen wandered over to the bed and lightly poked him in the shoulder.
“Hmm?” Dreg grunted, his voice groggy as he weakly lifted his head for a moment.
“It’s just me.”
“Oh,” Dreg grumbled, and he slowly rolled onto his side with a loud groan.
“How’s your hand?”
“Dunno, can’t feel much.”
Aspen sighed as she watched Dreg rub at his eyes for a moment with his free hand. She stared down at the wraps around his other hand with furrowed brows, wishing she could go back in time and make a different choice regarding Ivan.
She still felt terrible about what had happened to her former guardian, but she tried to accept the fact he was a shitty guy and had chosen to mess with Dreg since the very start.
They’re both grown men, I don’t control their actions. I just wish it didn’t have to involve me…
Aspen startled when Dreg suddenly sat up and she took a few steps back. Dreg noticed her behavior and he felt a tinge of guilt as he stood and waited for her instructions with hunched shoulders. He wanted to touch her, to make sure that she was there and not a figment of his imagination.
I was so close to losing her… too close.
Dreg wouldn’t dwell on why losing Aspen would have been a terrible thing. Instead, he shuffled over to the table and sat down as she told him too and patiently waited for her to inspect his hand.
As Aspen slowly unraveled the wrapping she was relieved to see that his skin was starting to heal up nicely. Upon gentle inspection, she could tell Dreg’s bones were still fractured but knowing how fast he had healed in the past she had no fear that his hand wouldn’t fully recover.
“I guess we’ll have to stay put for a while,” Aspen murmured as she gently stroked her gloves across his knuckles.
“No, we don’t have to,” Dreg grunted. “It’s not my sword hand. We can keep going.”
“It’s not like we have a set schedule…”
“I’ll be fine.”
Aspen sighed quietly as she gingerly applied more salve to Dreg’s torn skin and wrapped his hand with fresh bandages. When she was finished she gathered up her belongings and stood up. She finally met his gaze, although it was a little difficult this time.
“If you’re sure…”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay, then meet me in the hall for breakfast once you’re ready.”
“Okay.”
It was unmistakable. The awkwardness between them was obvious and there was no denying it. Aspen paused for half a second longer and then quickly left his bedroom to go finish getting ready. She wanted to say more to Dreg, but he was already feeling down with what had happened. She could see it in his eyes when he gazed up at her.
He’s probably berating himself enough without me adding more complications, Aspen thought to herself as she slung her green scarf around her neck.
Will we ever go back to normal? But then again, what is normal for us?
Aspen had other things to worry about, and everything plagued her mind as she slung her satchel on, picked up her healer’s case and made her way down the hall back towards the dining room. When she entered, she found Dreg sitting at one of the tables. His long sword was leaning against the chair beside him and he deeply drank a cup of water. They had both skipped out on dinner the night before and were eager to have a hot meal before taking off.
“Did you order?” Aspen asked as she took a seat across from him.
“I wasn’t sure what you’d want,” Dreg replied after hastily gulping down his water. “Sometimes you don’t want porridge.”
“Porridge is fine,” Aspen replied lightly, and she gave him a small smile. “I’d never be mad if you ordered it for me.”
Dreg nodded and used his uninjured hand to pour her a glass of water from the silver pitcher and then another for himself. Aspen drank deeply as well, and when the servant girl came by she ordered their usual breakfast. While they waited, neither Dreg nor Aspen had much to say, and so they both focused on anything else but how tense things were between them.
Aspen leaned back in her chair as she gazed out of the window. It looked like a gloomy morning, she wondered if it might rain. She thought back to the horrible storm that she and Dreg had gotten caught in, and how she’d almost been swept away. Tears pricked at her eyes at a sudden wave of emotions rose up inside of her.
“Here we go,” the girl sang as she suddenly appeared with their food. “Enjoy.”
“Thank you,” Aspen mumbled, and she sucked in a shaky breath as she turned her attention back to the table.
Breakfast was a quiet affair. All too soon they were both finished their meals and Aspen wandered outside first to get their horses ready. Dreg remained at the table a while longer, drinking far more water than he normally would. His head ached slightly and he debated on asking Aspen for a potion but decided he deserved to suffer a little more. The way she had looked at him earlier was almost too much.
She’s so strong, even when she’s broken down, she remains strong. This was all my fault…
“Dreg?”
Dreg’s eyes snapped up at the sound of his name being called. Aspen stood in the doorway of the Inn, staring at him. He hastily placed his cup down and stood up with a small groan before snatching up his pack and sword. He winced as his injured hand brushed along the back of the chair when he strode towards Aspen but he ignored it and hurriedly followed behind her.
“I don’t like the look of those clouds,” Aspen mumbled loud enough for him to hear. “I’d like to be at our next stop before a storm hits, if possible.”
The temperature outside was quite warm, but the gloominess of the sky only added to the traveler's gloomy mood as they swiftly mounted their horses and took off at a brisk canter down the main road. Dreg lightly grasped the reigns with his good hand while the other lay uselessly in his lap and he mostly stared out at nothing; his eyes and ears alert for any sign of danger.
Aspen was silent as she rode beside him, her eyes mostly fixed downwards as she was consumed with too many thoughts. She was dreading her return to Caspire but refused to tell Dreg why until they were there. He was too explosive and the last thing she wanted was more tension. So, she worried in silence, the feelings of dread gnawing angrily on her stomach.
When they stopped to rest the horses at midday, she was unable to eat very much and mostly just drank from her waterskin.
Dreg noticed Aspen’s lack of appetite, but he chalked it up to the fact they had just fought and tried not to pressure her too much. He stared up at the dark clouds with a small sigh as they both stood on the side of the road stretching their legs while the horses grazed beside them.
“Aspen?”
“Yeah?” Aspen replied distractedly, and she turned her head to look up at him.
“How much further to the next town?”
“Oh, a week maybe? I don’t know… I haven’t been to Caspire in years.”
Aspen’s voice was barely a whisper. Dreg silently watched as she tucked her waterskin back into the outside pouch of her bag and wandered over to where her horse was standing. The wind was starting to pick up as well and played with the long strands of her hair but she ignored it as she re-buckled her satchel to the saddle and called out softly to her horse.
“Good girl, shall we get going?” she murmured as she ran her hand along her smooth neck.
Dreg hovered close by, waiting to help Aspen up. It wasn’t easy when he only had the use of one hand but he did it anyway. Once Aspen was secure on her horse he mounted his steed and they nodded at each other before continuing their trek in silence for the rest of the afternoon.
They encountered very little trouble along the road, and as the afternoon light began to fade it also started to rain lightly. Aspen shivered and reached around in her saddle to search for her coat, but was unable to find it without stopping.
It must be in the bottom, Aspen sighed as she turned back around and blinked against the drizzle of rain that fell on them. It’s been such a nice summer I haven’t had to use it.
Beside her, Dreg silently rode on, completely unfazed by the rain as he stared out at the road before them. In the distance, he could make out the shape of a building and he glanced over at Aspen as she tugged her scarf closer around her face.
“I see the Inn,” he called out, and Aspen startled at the sound of his voice. “Let’s hurry.”
“Okay,” Aspen called back.
The travelers urged their horses into a gallop. Their hoofbeats echoed around them as they quickly closed the gap between themselves and warm shelter. Within a few minutes they arrived outside the stables and an older gentleman came out to tend to their horses. Aspen thanked him as he held a hand out for her and helped her down.
“Best to get inside before it really starts to pour.”
“Yes, we’ll do that. Thank you,” Aspen smiled and she turned to unbuckle the strap that was holding down her pack.
Within a few minutes, Aspen and Dreg quickly strolled up the front steps of the Inn and headed inside. It was a little crowded tonight due to the weather but when they reached the front counter there were still plenty of rooms available.
“How many?” The older woman standing behind the counter asked.
“Oh,” Aspen replied, and she paused to think for a moment.
She was acutely aware that Dreg was watching her, waiting for her response. One part of her wanted to cave and let things return to normal, whatever that may be. But another part was too scared of what might happen if they keep playing the same old game over and over.
“Two rooms, please.”
“Aye, ten gold for the two of yous.”
“Thank you,” Aspen murmured, her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she dealt out the appropriate coin.
She could feel Dreg’s eyes burning a hole in the back of her head but when she turned around to give him his key his expression was rather soft. He looked more tired than anything and Aspen wondered if he was in pain.
He hasn’t asked for a potion all day…
“Are you eating out here, or in your room?”
Aspen blinked and looked back up at Dreg as he stared at her.
“Oh, um. Out here is fine.”
“Okay, I wanna wash up first.”
“Sure, Dreg… are you alright?”
Dreg was about to go down the hall when Aspen’s question made him pause. He turned back around to look at her and a twinge of sadness blossomed in his chest. He wanted to bathe with her, and sleep in the same bed but knew he had fucked up one too many times.
“I’m a bit sore.”
“Yeah? Then hold on a moment.”
Aspen lowered her leather case down on the floor and opened the front flap. She rifled through it for a moment until she found the vial she was looking for.
“Here, drink up. You should tell me when you’re in pain.”
“It’s fine,” Dreg mumbled as he took the vial from her outstretched hand. “I’ll find you later.”
The awkwardness was almost too much to bear as Dreg turned around and left Aspen to find his room. Aspen tried not to let her emotions overwhelm her as she picked her case back up and quickly hurried to her room. She struggled with the key for a moment and then flung the door open before rushing inside. A few tears slipped down her cheeks but she hastily brushed them away after unloading her thing onto the wooden floor.
Just take a bath and… and have something to eat, and get some sleep. You’ll be fine.
But even Aspen’s inner monologue didn’t sound convinced as she tried to focus on doing all of those things. She went to bed feeling even more confused than ever before and hardly slept a wink the entire night.
As the days dragged on, the weather became more miserable. It started to rain in earnest but Aspen and Dreg continued to make their way to Caspire, determined to make it there before the weather worsened. They could handle some rain, and at night it was nice to be able to have a nice hot bath to warm up and not be stuck huddle under a tent shivering and cold for the entire night.
Despite how uncomfortable both Guardian and Healer were feeling, they managed to make it through the week it took to reach Caspire without any problems. Dreg was more mellow than Aspen had ever seen him and a part of her was worried. His hand was healing nicely but he remained quiet and distant. But Aspen couldn’t blame him, she was acting the same way. Dreg couldn’t tell what she was thinking anymore and a part of him was frightened by it. There were no more stolen glances, warm kisses or gentle hand squeezes, and it took losing all of those things for both of them to realize just how much they needed them.
It was a dreary afternoon. The rain had just started to lighten up when Aspen turned her head towards Dreg. He was staring off into space but he looked at her when he sensed she was staring.
“Dreg, we’re almost at Caspire.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes, and well…” Aspen paused to stop her horse’s movement. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?” Dreg asked, his voice tight as he drew his horse closer to her.
The look in her eyes worried him. She glanced down at the road for a moment, struggling to find the words, and then forced herself to look back at him.
“Listen, there’s uh, a reason why I’m hesitant to be here.”
“Okay…”
“It’s where I was born.”
“Oh.”
Dreg frowned, and he reached up to scratch his chin. He wasn’t sure he understood what she was trying to say.
“We have to go there?”
“Yes, and that’s not it. Dreg…”
The silence dragged on as Aspen’s throat constricted tightly. She clenched the reigns hard, her knuckles almost white as she struggled not to break into a panic.
“What is it, Aspen?”
Dreg’s brows furrowed together, and he reached out to touch her arm. Aspen almost leaped out of her skin and she let out a shaky breath. Her voice was barely a whisper as she finally told him.
“My mother is still living here.”
Chapter Text
Caspire was a small town nestled in the heart of the Napaline Forest. It was fairly nondescript in appearance, but the buildings were made of a mixture of wood and stone and the entire town was surrounded by a tall brick wall to try and deter unwanted wildlife. It was in this small, sleepy town that Aspen was born, raised, and was returning for a second time since running away several years ago.
As the stone archway came into view when they rounded the bend, Aspen’s breath hitched in her throat and she almost turned her horse around and bolted in the other direction. Beside her, Dreg glanced at her often as he struggled to keep his anger in check. It was hard, and it bubbled up white-hot inside of him like a fire. He wanted to seek the woman out who was responsible for Aspen’s suffering as a child. Nothing would make him happier than putting her six feet under the ground. But it wasn’t about him.
The guards who flanked either side of the gate leading into Caspire eyed the travelers with interest.
“Good evening… Aspen?”
The Guard’s partner heard him say her name and came over to see as well.
“Oh, hello Karl, Peter.”
“You’re with that Guild?” Peter inquired as he leaned against his tall wooden spear, and his expression was kind enough but Aspen wanted to melt into the ground and disappear.
“Yes.”
Dreg let out a deep breath through his nose but it was obvious he was annoyed as he impatiently waited to keep going.
“Well, welcome home.”
“Thanks,” Aspen replied quietly, her voice tight. “I’ll see you around.”
The men nodded and watched as Aspen hurried through the gate, eager to be away. It was difficult to breathe but she tried to focus on getting their horses stabled before they found a place to stay. She could feel a heaviness in her chest and Aspen refused to look down the road, where she knew her childhood home resided at the west side of town. She wanted to avoid it, if possible, and so she chose the Inn closest to the East Gate.
“Come on,” Dreg mumbled as he snatched up her case.
It was starting to rain again and his voice startled Aspen out from her daze. She glanced up at him with a blank look and silently followed him up the stairs. Inside, the atmosphere of the Inn was warm and inviting but it did nothing to improve their mood. Dreg wordlessly strode up to the counter.
“Can I help ya?”
“Two rooms,” Dreg grunted as he struggled to reach for his coin purse.
“Please,” Aspen added as she reached the counter, and she forced herself to smile. “Nice to see you, Annabelle.”
“Holy Maiden, Aspen! What a delight to see you here,” Anna exclaimed.
“Thanks.”
“Are you staying long?”
“As long as I’m needed,” Aspen replied as she accepted the keys.
“Oh,” Anna continued, and she noticed the green scarf around her neck. “You’re with that Guild still.”
“Yep, I am.”
“Excellent, I know a few patrons here who could use your help…”
“Later,” Dreg cut in, and he sent Aspen a sharp glance.
“I’ll come see you in the morning okay? We’re a little tired.”
“Yes, of course, hun. I’ll have the girls draw up baths and bring you some grub.”
“Thank you, Anna.”
Aspen knew Dreg was almost boiling over and so she hastily followed after him down the hall towards their rooms. They happened to be side by side this time and instead of heading into his room Dreg followed Aspen into hers.
“Dreg?”
“What are you going to do?” Dreg growled as he lowered her case to the floor.
“What do you mean?”
“About your Mother,” Dreg insisted, and Aspen could see he was bristling like an enraged hound from where he was standing. He started to pace, and his movement made her feel dizzy.
This is the most emotion I’ve seen from him in over a week, she thought to herself as she nervously fiddled with her scarf for a moment.
“I’m not going to do anything,” she finally said, and Dreg’s head snapped up.
“What?”
“I’d like to try and leave this place undetected, but it’s hard when so many people know me. I’m sure she’ll find out I’m here. I just want to help people and move on.”
“Aspen,” Dreg started, his voice full of fury. “You can’t be serious.”
“Dreg please, I need some space… and a bath.”
The air between them was so tense it was almost electric. Dreg struggled to keep his temper in check as he debated on whether or not it was worth arguing. He had tried earlier when Aspen had first revealed to him the secret about Caspire. The anger had burst out of him like a firework, but one pained look from Aspen was enough to keep him in check.
But now, being in Caspire, and so close to her Mother was difficult for Dreg.
“Fine. I’ll be in my room.”
“Thank you,” Aspen whispered, and she let out a sigh of relief as she watched Dreg spin around and leave her room, firmly closing the door behind him.
Aspen was sick to her stomach and so she sought a potion from her case that would help calm her tummy down as she waited for one of Anna’s young daughter’s to finish filling her tub with hot water. When the girl was done, another daughter entered with a couple of drinks and some fresh bread.
“I’ll bring you dinner in a bit, okay?”
“Sounds good,” Aspen replied quietly as she rubbed her neck. “Thank you, Grace.”
“It’s good to see you again, Aspen.”
Aspen tried to return the smile but wasn’t sure if she was too convincing. When she was alone, she sighed to herself as she started removing her clothes and eagerly sank into the steaming water. As usual, she couldn’t help but think about Dreg and what he was doing in the next room. But as hard as she tried not to think about the most pressing matter, thoughts of her Mother invaded her.
Mother. I don’t even know why I still call her that. She never loved my Father… I never saw her grieve for a single moment when he died.
Aspen’s heart ached as she was reminded of her father. She knew if he had been around, none of the abuse would have happened. He was the most gentle father, and she never understood why he ever loved a woman like Carmelia. It was Vestan who bestowed Aspen her Elvish heritage. If she had any other family members, they lived far away in another Province and she’d never met them.
Carmelia is all I have, but that means nothing to me, Aspen thought glumly as she trailed her fingers across the surface of the water. Master Ren, Kendra… even Dreg. They’ve been more of a family to me than she ever was.
Aspen waited longer than normal as if she was expecting Dreg to wash her hair. With a small jolt, she realized she was alone and tiredly reached for the bar of soap as tears pricked at her eyes. She prayed he could behave himself and was wracked with worry as she started to lather the soap into her hair.
In the next room, Dreg let out a loud sigh as he slammed his third bottle of ale down on the table and finally started to get undressed. He wanted to drink more, but he knew that if he got too drunk he’d lose all control. It was hard enough controlling his anger sober, and so Dreg focused on washing up instead, which did little to calm him down.
He wanted to be with Aspen; sitting in the tub squished together. He wanted her to wash his hair but Dreg was almost positive that would never happen again and so he silently suffered through his solo bath and got dressed into a fresh set of clothes.
Dreg quickly ate dinner when another girl brought it by a little while later and he washed it all down with a fourth drink. Then he quickly rubbed one out in an attempt to find some relief. It didn’t improve his mood. So, wishing he was going to sleep with Aspen, he went to bed feeling both lonely and frustrated.
When Dreg went over to Aspen’s room early the next morning he found her already awake. She was sitting at the small wooden table writing in her journal and she looked up as she heard the door open.
“Good morning,” she greeted quietly as she looked back down at her page and finished the sentence she had been writing.
“Is it?” Dreg replied grumpily as he plopped down in the chair across from her.
“You’re not making this any easier, Dreg.”
“I can’t believe you’re not more angry, Aspen.”
“What do you mean?”
Aspen placed her quill down and clasped her hands in her lap as she stared at her partner with furrowed brows.
“The guild knows exactly what they’re doing when they send you to this place, of all places.”
“It’s not about my mother, it’s about helping the people.”
“You can help other people,” Dreg argued heatedly with his hands clenched into fists. “You’re not the only healer around.”
“I really can’t handle an argument this early in the morning,” Aspen sighed, and she started to close her journal. “I’m going to start my round.”
“You should eat something first.”
“How can I eat now?” Aspen shot back as she started to stand up.
“You know I mean well, right?”
The air was tense as Aspen silently peered down at Dreg for a long moment. She wanted to reach across the table and kiss him. Underneath his prickly exterior, he was someone who cared about her, and Aspen knew it.
But their past fights had gone too far and so she finally tore her gaze away from his face and finished putting her things away before she slipped her gloves on. Dreg was silent as he watched her wind her scarf around her neck and slip her boots on. But as she walked by him as he still sat at the table, she reached up and squeezed his firm shoulder before leaving.
“I know you do, I appreciate it.”
“Aspen…”
“I’ll come back for lunch okay? Stay out of trouble.”
Aspen quickly left the room before Dreg could try and talk to her more. She let out a deep breath as she gently closed the door behind her and tried to gather her wits before she started making her way around the Inn.
It was around noon when Aspen stepped out from one of the bedrooms and started making her way downstairs to the man dining hall. She was surprised to find Dreg seated at the bar and wondered if he’d stayed inside the Inn for the entire morning as she wandered up to him.
“Hey,” he grunted when he spotted her.
“Hey, you hungry?”
“Always,” Dreg grumbled with the tiniest smile.
“Go on and sit down,” Anna called out from behind the counter, and she waved them off. “Laura will bring you some lunch.”
“Thanks, Anna,” Aspen replied warmly, and she nodded for Dreg to follow her.
The couple took a seat at an unoccupied table. Dreg stared at Aspen, studying her face as he tried to gauge how she was feeling.
“What did you do this morning?” Aspen asked after taking a sip of water.
“Nothing walked around.”
“Oh.”
“Were you busy?” Dreg asked as he poured a second glass of water.
“A bit. I’ll probably be finished by the evening and then I can make my way around town.”
Dreg nodded, but he said nothing. There was still that undeniable air of awkwardness between them as they patiently waited for lunch. A few minutes later a young woman came by with two steaming plates of food and a basket of warm bread rolls. They thanked the servant and began tucking into their lunch without saying much. Aspen wasn’t hungry still but she knew she needed to keep her energy up and the last thing she wanted was another argument with Dreg.
Truthfully, Dreg had tried to go snooping but had given up halfway through the morning. He didn’t know anything about Aspen’s Mother; what she looked like, if she worked or where she lived. So, he had wandered aimlessly, eventually reaching a small cemetery at the far side of town. It was there that he had found the grave belonging to Aspen’s Father. He remembered his name from long ago when she talked about him briefly one evening.
It was a somber experience for him, and he couldn’t help but think about his Ma and lament the fact he had no idea if she was alive or dead. He had returned to the Inn early in a sour mood but managed to fool Aspen into believing everything was alright. She was completely unaware of what had transpired as she sat across from him idly picking at her porkchop.
“Alright well, I think I’ll get going,” Aspen said around ten minutes later, and she placed her fork down.
“You hardly touched your food.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Yeah okay,” Dreg scoffed, and he rolled his eyes.
Aspen couldn’t help but smile at his dramatic response, and she once again squeezed his shoulder as she walked by.
“I’ll see you later.”
“Okay,” Dreg grumbled quietly, and he scowled down at the table for a while, lost in thought.
It was much later when Aspen returned to her room. Dreg was hot on her heels, and they appeared to be arguing as he followed her down the hall.
“Dreg, please stop,” Aspen whispered, and she gave an exasperated sigh as she struggled with the latch of the door.
“You need to eat, Aspen!”
“Your obsession with making me eat is quite unsettling.”
“I know why you’re not eating, that’s why,” Dreg shot back, and he grabbed her by the arm before she could go inside.
“Dreg…”
Both of them paused when a female voice suddenly called out.
“Aspen?”
Chapter 39
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Dreg looked over at the two women who were standing nearby with a deep scowl as alarm blossomed in his chest. Aspen stood beside him, rooted to the ground as she stared at her door with wide eyes, unable to look over.
“Aspen?”
The woman with long dark hair that was starting to gray at the roots called out a second time, and she nervously played with the hem of her sleeve. They both wore simple-looking dresses that were a bit fancier than most but Dreg was unable to tell which one was Aspen’s mother as he looked down at her and gently squeezed her arm.
“Aspen,” he mumbled. “Do I need to make them leave?”
“Aspen please,” the second woman said, and she took a step forward.
“What is it?” Aspen finally spoke, her voice cracking.
She finally lifted her head and forced herself to look at Gertie and Jane. They both smiled at her, but Aspen refused to return the sentiment as she waited for them to speak.
“Can we talk? Perhaps somewhere… more suitable?”
Dreg was almost trembling with annoyance as he watched the women interact. He was confused and he had to bite his tongue to stop himself from telling the strangers to fuck off.
“Alright,” Aspen sighed, and she swung her door open before striding inside the room.
Dreg remained outside the hall. He stared at the two women with open hostility as they hurried inside the room before following them inside and shutting the door. He strode over to where Aspen was standing near the bed as she gestured for Gertie and Jane to sit down.
“This is… your Guardian?” Jane ventured as she took a hesitant seat.
“Yes,” Aspen replied stiffly. “Dreg.”
“Pleasure,” Gertie smiled, but she looked nervous as she gazed up at them.
“Why are you here, Gertie?
“Well, we know it’s… difficult for you, to be back here.”
Aspen’s eyes narrowed slightly but she remained silent as she waited for the woman to spit it out. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she felt dizzy.
“Aspen, it’s your Mother,” Jane continued and looked at Aspen with a pleading expression. “She’s ill.”
“She’s ill?” Aspen blurted back, and her blood ran cold when both Gertie and Jane nodded.
“Not just any silly little sickness, mind you. We wouldn’t be bothering you if that were the case. She’s ill, Aspen. Two other Healers have come through here and were unable to help her.”
“What makes you think I would help her?”
Dreg was unnaturally quiet as he stood close behind Aspen, but she could feel his anger radiating off of him in waves. Nothing mattered; she could barely comprehend what the women were saying as she felt the bile rise in her throat.
“Aspen?”
“I u-uh,” Aspen stammered, and she sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll think about it.”
“Please do,” Gertie pleaded. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“Okay.”
Aspen couldn’t say anything more. Dreg didn’t wait for her as he swept by her and stomped over to the door. He flung it open, and everyone jumped when he suddenly spoke.
“Get out.”
Gertie and Jane turned around in their chairs to look at him with expressions of shock.
“Excuse me?”
“Are you deaf?” Dreg growled. “I said get out. Leave us alone.”
Aspen didn’t care that Dreg was being rude. She quietly clutched at the scarf around her neck as she struggled to breathe. Both women exchanged a silent glance with one another and then at Aspen before they finally stood up and left the room. Dreg slammed the door behind them and walked back over to Aspen with a frustrated sigh.
But she wasn’t paying attention. Dreg’s heart lurched as he watched her suddenly crumble before him. He leaped forward, catching Aspen before she could fall. Her throat constricted so tightly she struggled to take even a small breath.
“Aspen!” Dreg gasped, his voice filled with worry as she weakly clutched at him.
He slowly guided Aspen over to the bed, but even sitting down she was unable to compose herself. Aspen stared down at their laps, her breath coming out in short, sharp gasps as she started to hyperventilate.
“Aspen, you gotta breathe,” Dreg begged, and he lightly rubbed her back. “Come on, Sweetheart…”
It felt like Dreg’s heart was breaking as he watched Aspen suffering before him. He knew coming to Caspire was a bad idea and he wanted nothing more than to whisk her away. But it wasn’t his choice to make.
After some time, Aspen started to calm down a little and she took a few shuddering breaths as she finally looked up at him. Her fingers dug into his arm and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.
“Dreg, what… w-what do I do?”
“Must I say it? You know what I think.”
“But it’s m-my sworn duty to help… everyone,” Aspen mumbled, and she bit her trembling lip for a moment.
“This isn’t about the Guild anymore! Think about it, Aspen. This is so much more than silly rules. I haven’t forgotten your past and neither have you.”
Dreg reached up and grabbed her scarf. In an instant, he unwound the soft material from around her neck and tossed it aside. Then he removed her gloves from her shaking hands and pulled her into his lap.
Aspen sniffled as she wrapped her arms around him and for a long time they simply sat there, not saying anything as Aspen was consumed with conflicting emotions. But after thinking about it, and letting Dreg’s words sink in, she came to a decision. It wouldn’t be easy, but she knew it was the right choice.
Dreg lightly rubbed her back in small circular motions as he held Aspen. When she pulled away, he gazed at her with a tender look in his eyes. It took Aspen’s breath away. She knew he was right like he usually was.
“I know what I want.”
“You do?”
“Yes,” Aspen replied, her voice firm. “I know what I will do.”
Aspen stood in front of the door leading into her childhood home. She stared at the worn wood, which had long since been painted white in her absence. A clay pot rested on the small stone step to her right and the flowers that had been planted in it had long since shriveled and dried up.
Behind her, Dreg held her case under one arm and he patiently waited for her to go inside. But as the moment dragged on, and they still stood outside the door he grew concerned.
“Aspen?”
“Oh,” Aspen startled, and she let out the breath she had been holding in. “Right, in we go.”
“Are you sure…”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
Aspen hadn’t stepped foot inside this house since running away all those years ago. She had snuck out through the door she was now standing in front of. Truthfully, it was a surreal feeling as she reached up to open it again, and she was more than glad to have Dreg by her side as she tugged on the latch and slowly walked inside.
They entered into a large open room, and Aspen’s eyes swept around the space for a moment before she had to look away. It was exactly how she remembered it, and seeing the fireplace again with its large iron poker resting in its stand mere meters away from her was almost too much. The room started to spin a little and she lightly rested one hand against the wall as she took a deep, shuddering breath.
Dreg noticed the poker as well, and he quickly blocked it from Aspen’s view by moving beside her. She let out a small sigh and looked up at him.
“Are you still sure?” Dreg grumbled quietly, his eyes searching hers.
“Yes, she should be upstairs.”
“Alright,” Dreg replied and he glanced up at the stairs.
Aspen slipped her hand into his free one and he could feel that she was trembling as she started to walk towards the wooden staircase. He squeezed it lightly, and they quickly ascended the stairs, eager to get things over and done with so they could leave for good.
They walked down a long, dark hallway until they reached the main bedroom. Aspen thought about knocking but decided it didn’t matter if she did anyways and after a moment’s hesitation, she opened the door and entered.
“Gertie? Oh.”
Carmelia was a small-statured woman with long brown hair that had been braided into one plait, dull green eyes, and pale white skin. It wasn’t hard to tell that she was related to Aspen, but Dreg felt like she was a horribly ugly woman compared to her beautiful half-Elf daughter. It was a true test of control for Dreg. He silently stood behind Aspen, clenching her case with both hands as he silently waited for her to say something first.
“It’s you,” Carmelia sighed, and she raised a bony hand to brush at the flyaway hairs around her face.
“Yes, it’s me,” Aspen replied stiffly, and she slowly strode forward. “You’re awfully unhappy to see me.”
“Jane said they had found another Healer but I wasn’t expecting it to be you.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
Aspen gestured to Dreg and he shuffled forward to place her case down on the dresser. Carmelia narrowed her eyes at him, and Dreg resisted the urge to say something snarky to her as he moved back towards the door and stood with his arms crossed.
“Who is that Orc? I don’t want him here.”
“That Orc,” Aspen replied, her voice filled with vinegar. “Is my Guardian. Dreg isn’t going anywhere.”
Aspen grabbed one of the nearby chairs and dragged it closer to the bed. She took a seat and clasped her hands together. It was difficult to look Carmelia in the eyes but she could tell even from a small glance that she was without a doubt very sick, and it truly looked like she was dying.
“You look awful,” Aspen started.
“Excuse me? Is that any way to speak to your Mother,” Carmelia sneered.
“It is, it’s the truth. You look like death. I can practically see it hanging over you.”
“Why are you even here then? Is this a joke to you?”
“A joke?” Aspen echoed, and shook her head. “No, not at all. This is a very serious matter.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
“Well you see Carmelia, you’re in a very compromising position. I don’t think you have any right to be speaking to me so rudely.”
“How dar-”
“I have thought very hard about what to do with you,” Aspen continued, her voice surprisingly strong although she was shaking like a leaf inside. “It is my sworn duty to help everyone who needs healing, regardless of who they are.”
Aspen paused, and she leaned in a little closer. Seeing Carmelia again, and being met with the same hostile and disgusted expressions she grew up with once more was almost unbearable. Almost.
I thought this would be harder, but I… I need to get this out.
“Gertie and Jane told me that two Healers have come and go and you’re still sick. What makes you think you can be cured?”
“I don’t know,” Carmelia spat back, and she glared at her from where she was sitting. “You’re the professional, daughter. ”
“I am. And while I have a duty to uphold, you’re my Mother. To the normal person that would hold a lot of meaning and love, but there is no love between us.”
“What are you getting at, Aspen,” Carmelia hissed, and Aspen knew she was getting frustrated. “Speak plainly.”
“Well to put it simply, I’m not going to help you.”
“What?” Carmelia spluttered. “You’re speaking nonsense.”
“Am I? I will bear the scars of your abuse for the rest of my life!” Aspen shot back, and she bawled her hands into fists, feeling suddenly enraged.
“I-”
“You tortured me, Carmelia, and you deserve everything that’s coming to you.”
“You little witch,” Carmelia huffed, her cheeks flushed red as she struggled to stay composed. “You’re absolutely wicked. You dare to sit here and tell your dying Mother that you’d rather I die?”
“Are you that dim-witted?” Aspen replied, and she let out an exasperated sigh. “You never cared about me, so why would I care about you?”
Dreg watched with silent surprise as Aspen stood up to her mother over and over. His chest swelled with pride at how firm she was being, but he knew that it was breaking her heart to have to do it.
“You can’t do this,” Carmelia argued, and she pointed at Aspen with a wrinkled scowl. “I’ll… I’ll report you to your Guild.”
“Go ahead, they won’t take your word over mine,” Aspen replied with a small shrug as she stood up.
“I’ll tell everyone! My daughter is trying to kill me.”
“You can say that, but no one will believe you.”
Aspen reached inside her case and pulled out several small white vials. She walked back over to the bed and placed them down on the nightstand before turned towards an infuriated Carmelia.
“You see, this sickness is very advanced. Your mind is starting to go, and I’ll tell them so. You’re delusional and paranoid. It is inevitable.”
“W-What… you can’t…”
“These aren’t even potions,” Aspen continued, ignoring her Mother’s reaction. “They’re tea, but I made them bitter so they’re quite unpleasant to drink. I doubt they’ll help you, but I’ll make sure to tell Gertie and Jane that you need to drink one every day.”
“You’re despicable.”
“This doesn’t come close to what you’ve done to me, Carmelia. Don’t even pretend otherwise.”
Carmelia was shocked into silence, and Aspen never thought that would ever be possible as they stared at one another for one long uncomfortable moment.
“What are you standing there for? Get out.”
“Gladly,” Aspen replied, and she turned towards Dreg. “Goodbye.”
Dreg picked up her case and tucked it under his arm before following Aspen towards the door. He paused just before they left to look at Carmelia, who was scowling at them with the most venomous expression he’d ever seen.
“I hope your death is painful you wretched bitch,” he growled, and then he wrenched the door open and ushered Aspen out from the room.
Aspen needed no encouragement as she practically ran down the hall and descended the stairs. Dreg hurried behind her, easily keeping up as Aspen rushed past the fireplace and exited the house for good. She didn’t stop there and kept racing down the street until she reached the front porch of the Inn. She was out of breath, but she quickly wrenched the door open and went inside.
It was evening, and most of the patrons were having dinner. Aspen ignored Anna’s inquiring gaze as she rushed by with Dreg a moment behind her. They rushed down the hall and within minutes of leaving her childhood home they were back inside her room.
Dreg strode over to the table and placed her case down. Then he turned towards Aspen, the praises for her on the tip of his tongue as he opened his mouth to speak.
“Aspen, that was incredi-”
Dreg didn’t have a chance to get his praise out when Aspen was suddenly upon him. Her slender arms reached for him, grasping his neck with surprising strength as she pulled him into a heated kiss. Dreg growled against her lips and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer as they embraced. He could sense her desperation, and it both confused and delighted him.
“A-Aspen,” Dreg mumbled in between kisses, feeling slightly concerned.
“Make me forget,” Aspen whispered thickly, and she pulled back for half a second to gaze into his eyes. The sorrow was plain on her face but she made her intentions clear as she pressed her body against his, her hands winding themselves into his hair as she tugged him closer.
“Please Dreg, make me forget everything.”
“Okay,” Dreg growled, and he quickly swept Aspen into a long, deep kiss.
Dreg easily lifted her and stumbled towards the bed. He gently lowered her down, all the while their lips never left each other as he showered Aspen with kisses. There was a gentleness in his touches that she’d never felt before and as he slowly undressed her she was filled with a longing for Dreg like no other. She needed him, wanted to drown in the feeling of him, and he was there to deliver.
When they climaxed, they clutched at each other, fingers digging into each other’s flesh as their cries mingled together. Dreg succeeded in making Aspen forget as she could think of nothing else but the peak of ecstasy as she dug her nails into his back while moaning his name. Dreg’s body trembled above her as he let out a guttural growl, his thick arms clenching around her small frame, engulfing her in their lovemaking.
Aspen gasped for air as Dreg weakly rolled his hips back and slid onto his side. She stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes, her chest heaving as she reveled in the aftermath of her orgasm. Once Dreg had recovered enough he pulled on her arms, drawing her closer.
“Thank you,” Aspen mumbled sleepily as she laid her head down on his bare chest.
“I didn’t do anything,” Dreg grumbled softly as he squeezed her thigh. “I’m so proud of you Aspen, more than proud. You blew me away today.”
Aspen smiled to herself and she gently traced his scars with her finger. But the more she thought about it, the more she felt conflicted.
“Dreg?”
“Mmyes?” Dreg mumbled, and he cracked his eyes open.
“Did I do the right thing?”
“I’m not the best judgment of morals,” he teased.
“Dreg,” Aspen whispered, and she craned her neck to look at him in the dark. “Please.”
“Aspen, I think you did the right thing. You did more than I would have, she didn’t deserve to ever see you again.”
Aspen shifted closer, pressing her face into the crook of Dreg’s neck. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he felt her hot tears drip onto his skin. But Aspen was exhausted from lack of sleep and the passion of their coupling had worn her out. Within minutes her crying had subsided and she drifted into a deep sleep.
Notes:
Hey everyone, I really appreciate all the wonderful feedback. My health has taken a bit of a turn and so updates will be slow for a while. I wrote the majority of this story last year and I've sadly run out of chapters to post, so there won't be any more until I can feel better enough to write.
In the meantime I hope you'll enjoy some of my other works C:
Thanks for the patience ❤︎
06/14/20
Thank you guys for the patience and the support! I am slowly trying to get back into writing, in the meantime if you'd like to see some art of my OCs (Aspen & Dreg included) please head to my twitter (@suilaid) ❤︎
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