Completed To tame a Dancer

[Taylani]

Timestamp : 10, Fall 513 Stalking through the throng of people, her eyes flickering with seething rage and yes some humiliation of being paraded like cattle, Taylani does not slow until the people had thinned and she could easily block out the sound of the caller on stage. She really only stopped because she caught sight of the edge of camp, of the sea of grass billowing out reminding her that she was quickly running out of choices. The only thing left to determine was if the dangers out in the wild were more dangerous then the dangers within the camp. She became aware of a sharp pain in the palms of her hands, looking down she slowly unclench her fists, seeing tiny crescent shaped wounds in the palms of her hands from her own nails gouging into her flesh. Lifting her blue eyes up she finally takes in the camp, really takes it in, and what she saw only made her feel more isolated and alone. Her red hair stood out, her pale skin prone to burning was a liability, even her simple plainly colored dress stood out amid the sea of bright colors. Then her thoughts turned to him and an unbidden snarl was emitted from her throat. He had bid on her, he had paid for her like..like one did grocery shopping. Taylani allowed the possibility that he had known, all along since that jab two days ago when their paths crossed to cross her mind. That he planned this, plotted it. She didn't know why, she didn't know how, and she didn't know what he wanted from her but she was so angry, so upset, so lonely and so afraid that her mind was twisting from one thought to the next. Unaware of what she was planning, of what she possibly could do but knowing on some unconscious level that what her next step would be...would depend on him.

[Fallan Windchaser]

There was a moment where his attention was distracted by the motion on the stage and when he looked back his new possession had taken it upon herself to head off on her own, much as though she were a free woman who could do as she willed. For a moment his eyes widened in irritation and the first stirring of anger started.

In the moment of hesitation he lost the initiative and then was reluctant to cause a scene by chasing after her. Now he looked the fool and it amused him, cancelling out the anger. Where did she think that she was going? The encampment was large but there were few indeed, if any, who would give her shelter.

Outside of the camp were of course the Grasslands but they were normally safe enough close to the camp for few predators would risk such a large group of people especially with hunters and the Watch constantly moving in and around the camp.

He followed at a distance, musing on how he should manage the situation. A slave was simple enough to handle, yet they required constant attention. Wives he had heard required even more attention and yet could be deliberately obdurate as well. Slavery seemed the easier option to him and yet there was a middle way which perhaps was the best route. All the routes though were subject to the fickleness of the female and so none were easy.

He used the time to wonder too just why he had taken the step of bidding on her. He was single, he had no plans for a family, not yet. And yet he could hardly ignore the plight of his people. He had a responsibility and he was coming to an age where that was starting to have more of an impact on him than it had when he was younger and thought only of himself. Even he however would not deny that there was more to it than that, there was something about this woman that interested him, and that interest extended beyond merely wanting to father children on her.

Now she had stopped at the edge of the grass having run out of encampment. What would she do? He didn't rule out stupidity at this point, and many would have a say if he allowed her to run out and be eaten. He closed the distance between them and steeled himself, recalling her reactions when he last met her. He wasn't expecting meek, and he wouldn't believe it if she was. He'd rather trust a grassbeak than an angry woman.

That settled things in his mind and he closed the distance down to one where he could speak without shouting, his feet soft in the grass.

So you not a slave?" The tone of his voice was amused. What punishment you think right for slave that lies?"

[Taylani]

So intent on her inner emotions, trying to curtail her temper that always seemed to get her into trouble, that Taylani had not heard him move up behind her. When he speaks she jumps just a little, but no sound escapes her. The weight of emotions has a heavy toll, both mentally and physically, Taylani knew this. But she could not let this go, she couldn't just roll over and be... whatever these barbaric people wanted her to be. To make matters worse, they had only added insult to injury, after her argument with the knighthood. She takes a long time to respond, and when she does she does so without ever turning toward him. Her back stiff, her head held high her voice soft in the open plains. "I am not a slave. That is no lie." She forces her arms to relax at her side, and he might never know how much it took to keep herself from launching herself in the illusion of freedom that would mean certain death thanks to her lack of wilderness skills. "Just because you wish to force it upon me does not make it true. Do what you want. You will kill me before you will make me a slave in my mind." There is no tone of resignation in her voice, only one of steely determination that can only come from someone who had never seen first hand what captivity no matter how gentle the captor is can do to a person.

[Fallan Windchaser]

Her words made him chuckle, for it showed that she had not lost her spirit, no matter how much of what she said might be bravado in her own mind.

Still, there was a time and a place and he had once been told that in relationships it was necessary to start as you meant to carry on. He stepped in close behind her, but just a little off to her left and paused. For a moment he did nothing but stand there and said nothing. Whether she liked it, he owned her and so long as she produced children for the people then he could do what he liked with her. Outside of Endrykas at least, for within there were children to consider.

He raised his right hand and gently took hold of a few strands of hair, then twisted his fingers to wrap the strands around them. He paused and then rolled the hair around his hand until it started to pull tight against her scalp. A half pace to the front with his left foot and he tugged the hair tight and twisted it tightly so that she looked at him, there being not so much difference in their height.

"I asked question. What punishment?" It was his first chance to really see her up close and from here he could smell her scent. He pushed her away slightly and looked her slowly up and down, resisting the temptation to examine her teeth. Now she excited him and the temptation was greater.

[Taylani]

Sensing his movement, her body tenses feeling as if her muscles were springs tightly coiled ready to launch. His chuckle had stirred the fires, but was not enough to break her self-control, though enough to where she no longer even registered the beauty of the landscape. Her body visibly trembles, and her breathing sped slightly, her teeth grinding in her mouth. Taylani squeaks a tiny noise that really died before it became more then just a second syllable as his hand fingers the locks of red. Telling herself she would not allow him to force a reaction from her, she stays stock still even as he begins to twine the long straight strands around and around. This was when the first strands of true terror begin to weave their oily tendrils through her stomach, barely denting the anger but making its presence known. A gasp is given , and her eyes are wide when he forces her head around, twisting her slender neck slightly to the left and up. Her eyes might hold unshed tears, but they are not tears of self-pity or sorrow, that would be obvious to the very least observant person. Instead, pure rage twisted her features, and it was just a tiny thread of self-preservation that kept her from lashing out. That last thread was snapped when he so casually eyed her, making her feel almost dirtied. With a sharp cry, she flung herself toward him, never minding the tug on her scalp, her fingers hooked into claws as she flung her arms at him. Rage, terror, humiliation and yes sorrow created such a ball within her stomach that she could no long contain it. And while she was not trained at all in the arts of combat, defensive or offensive, she was trained physically. Her dancers muscles trim and firm, her balance and coordination true. She aimed for his eyes, his cheeks, anything that might be soft tissue, struggling not even realizing that she was still screaming in rage.

[Fallan Windchaser]

Her attack was telegraphed by her eyes and yet still it caught him a little by surprise, one hand still entangled in her hair and of little use in self defence. A jerk back of his head avoided the jab at his eyes by her right hand, her left as nearly entangled by the proximity of their bodies as his was by by his grip on her hair.

He felt skin tear and bruise on his left cheek even as he stepped back with his left foot and yanked down with his right hand, pulling her back and off balance. As she fell he loosened his grip on her hair and allowed it to fall free to follow her back and down to the ground.

He took a further step back and laughed with pleasure. Here was a woman worthy of the challenge! His face stung and he could feel the first trickles of blood well in the cuts. He ignored them, glad that she had failed in her rage to go for the dagger that rode in his belt.

He spoke in Pavi, his hands adding emphasis, "as beautiful and as deadly as a snarlwing." He squatted and grinned, enjoying her discomfiture, switching back to Common. "Is slave done now?"

[Taylani]

A grunt is heaved as his hand entangled in her hair pulls back, as a dancer the equilibrium shift is registered in her mind and automatically she moves her arms to counter. All too late though, and the ground rushed up to meet her, jarring her right hip that she landed upon. Her skirts slide up her leg, showing off the pale skin to above the knee, but she didn't seem to notice as she scrambles back away but still on the ground. Her breath is ripping from her chest in hard pants, her hair mussed and little debris from the ground dot the straight strands even though she shoves one hand through to try and dislodge what she could. The fight was done in her, not the will fight but simply the fight for now. She had never really intended on bantering with him physically, as outmatched and untrained as she was. It had just bubbled up, and his mockery of her, and the simple disrespect was more then she could bear at the time. As he laughs again, she laid back flat, her eyes closing as the tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. "I am not a slave." She reiterated, with a tired voice, her eyes remaining closed. "What do you want from me. What does it gain you to humiliate and torment me." Her voice remained ragged sounding, as her breathing is still heavy but becoming more controlled with every passing second. She became aware of the cool air on her legs, and she sat up to push the fabric of her now-dusty skirt down over her lower appendages, another flush raising on her face. Once done she circled her arms around her legs and looked at her captor with a hard expression.

[Fallan Windchaser]

It took a good deal of control for Fallan to merely squat and watch her, indeed it had been a factor in his choice of position, aside from getting back to eye level with her. His cheek began to sting now but still he ignored it.

In his mind he replayed the moment of struggle, of the strength of her arms and the curve of her revealed thigh. Were she just a slave then he would not now be talking to her like a free woman. Every moment he allowed her to think that she was not a slave increased her confidence and would make it harder to break her.

But she was not just a slave, she would be, willing or not, the mother of his first child, the start of his family. Her status, including whether or not she would become Drykas would depend upon how well she adapted to this situation. His own family didn't believe in breaking horses as they did in the cities, so he didn't want to do it here.

But then horses had more sense than people and he'd seen how men ran around in the cities at the whims of women. Breaking remained an option, and an attractive one.

"What I want?" His smile became less mocking, "what I want, I have. You are mother to my children." The temptation to take her, here and now, preferably by force was overwhelming. He took his mind off it, for now.

"I mock because you stupid." He waved his arm out over the grasslands. "You think this city? You think Knights come here and rescue?" He watched her expression, keeping his attention on her face. "Here we die easier than we live."

His grin came back. Soon it would be time to head for the tent. "How you come here?" Soon she would think that she had the upper hand, like all city women, then it would be time to remind her that he wasn't a city man.

[Taylani]

She does not move her gaze from him, wariness and suspicion clouding her features openly. Taylani was able to look at him and really see him now that she was trying to focus her mind on the situation. The last thirty days or so since her capture outside of her home city she had gone from one emotional extreme to the next rapidly and unpredictably. From numb, to frightened, to confusion, to anger and then all back again so often that she was beginning to feel hollowed out. She had almost been able to simply accept things and learn to survive for no one had mistreated her during her stay, other then of course the glaring fact that she had been hit over the head and dragged here. It was not as if she was truly welcomed in Syliras, but this man had killed that decision to try and make the most of it. The cold declaration that she was a slave, destroying the idea that others had tried to impress upon her -that she was more a guest and potential family member rather then a slave. Inside, as his words registered in her heart, a cold ball of ice formed in her chest. Her breathing hitched and became difficult at his casual remark of her bearing his children. If anything showed outwardly it was merely a hardening of the eyes, the blues turning flat almost rather then open and welcoming. Yes, she can admit to herself that she had been stupid. Stupid to think even for a second that any of these barbarians could be decent or kind. Stupid to think that she might have a chance at either escaping or talking someone into letting her go home. She looks past his shoulder to the tents and the other encampment and saw only sinister evil in the midst of what might very well have been a good and happy place. Just like her life, once good and promising now seems more a burden then anything else. When she speaks it is in a dull tone, and in her own way simply stating a fact rather then anything else. "If...If you desire to to.. get me with child." She falters a little, more from embarrassment at speaking of such things with a man that she does not know let alone his intentions, "It will always have to ...be by force." Her eyes slide away from his face not able to look at him and continue, the heat of a humiliated flush causing her cheeks and ears to burn. "I can not stop that. But. If you do that, and your seed takes hold. I will do all in my power to make sure that child never draws breath." Even saying the words caused her great pain in her chest, not because she would consider any child gotten onto her by rape as her child but because she knew she was not simply bluffing. She would do anything, including running into the plains to a almost certain death, that she could to prevent bearing a child like that.

[Fallan Windchaser]

Almost he came to start regretting the moment that he stepped into the auction, for now he was reminded exactly why he didn't already have a woman in his life. He could tell that he needed to choose his words carefully for his experience told him that women always remembered every word and that she would use every tool that she could against him.

The expectation was merely that she have children, he wasn't required to marry her or make her Drykas, yet his desire to have her as more than just a slave was proving more awkward to achieve than he had anticipated.

And she refused to answer his questions. The desire to beat her came more strongly. It was an unexpected bonus that she had promised she would resist him and that he would need to force her. He'd intended to avoid including the threat because it would have inevitably meant that she would have offered no resistance and where would be the enjoyment in that? But that was never for the first time, not with her who could be family.

"If child dies, you die. Always another slave can be got from city."

He allowed the threat to lie for a moment, before sitting back on the ground and relaxing

"Why you think I waste time talking to you and not simply lie with you?" His question was soft and he waited for a reply.