Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Three - Soiled

"You scared the shit out of us." Raxe said, smiling over you.
"Here," you heard Caspian say, and felt him kneel down by your head "lift your head sweet girl."
You did as you were told, and Caspian supported your neck while he held a skein of water to your lips. You began gulping it down.
"Slowly, slowly, you'll choke..." He chuckled.
You tried to push yourself up, but were too weak. Caspian sat behind you, so you lay between his legs, and he let you prop yourself up using his body. You tried to speak, but your voice was hoarse. "Where..."
"Shhh." Caspian whispered in your ear. "Sip some more...slowly." He emphasized, handing you the skein.
Raxe knelt down in front of you, "I can't believe we found you. I can't believe you're alive."
"Abra..." You tried to speak again.
"Abra?" Raxe asked. "What is she...?"
"Do you mean your horse? He's here. He's ok." Caspian answered your question without you even having to ask it.
You let yourself relax into his body, and you felt him sigh. Your head once again resting on his chest. You just wanted to lay here and inhale him, feeling his strong chest rise and fall rhythmically, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.
"Let her rest." Raxe spoke softly, "I'll set up camp."
Once Raxe was out of the tent, Caspian wrapped his arms around you. "My Starlight," he whispered in your ear, "I thought I lost you."
You fell asleep.

When you woke, it was dark, and you were laying on the wicker mat with a blanket over you. Caspian was gone. You panicked for a quick second before realizing you could hear voices and see light outside of the tent opening. You were able to sit up, and you carefully made your way outside with the blanket wrapped around your shoulders.
Caspian and Raxe turned towards you, smiling.
"There she is." Raxe greeted you, and stood up. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." Your voice was still hoarse but you could at least talk. You looked up at Raxe. "Fox..." Your eyes began to well up and you threw your arms around him.
Caspian clenched his jaw as he stood behind Raxe.
"You know you're absolutely insane right?" He chuckled. Holding you at arms length. "What were you thinking, trading your life?"
"I guess some things never change." You smiled.
He squeezed you one more time and stood aside.
"Caspian..." You began but he didn't give you time to finish.
He grabbed you and held you. "Don't ever make another deal without my permission ever again." He scolded.
"Yes, My King." You smiled.
He let you go and shook his head, smiling too.
"I don't know about you guys but I'm starving!" Raxe spoke up. "Kex brought us a huge jackrabbit and I intend to finish it all tonight!"
Caspian wrapped his arm around you and led you over to the fireside, sitting you down on a cushion. He made you a plate and handed it to you. "Eat." He said firmly. You took the plate and for the first time in weeks, you were overwhelmed by the amount of food on it. Rabbit meat, cheese, and bread, and it all smelled so amazing. You looked up at Caspian as if to ask if there was enough for everyone. "Go on, there's plenty. Eat as much as you want." He bent down and kissed your forehead.

You never would have thought you would enjoy a night in the desert after everything you had been through. But spending it with Caspian and Raxe, the man you love, and your best friend, with plentiful food, and wine, you could have just as easily accepted that you had actually died and this was Aslan's Country.
You each finally took the opportunity to recall the last week of events from each other's perspectives. You explained the deal you made, what happened after they were both escorted from the fortress, the estate, how you came to find Abra, and your ordeal in the desert. Caspian and Raxe told the story of how they arrived at the village of freed slaves, how they had planned to break into the fortress (which you admonished them profusely for the idea), how the guards were searching for you everywhere, and how they used Kex to find you. You looked up at the brilliant bird, who was perched on the top of the tent,  "You are such a good boy!" You praised him. He puffed his feathers up in delight.

"So how far are we from the village?" You asked, helping yourself to more bread and wine.
"We rode for a day while you were unconscious..." Raxe thought out loud..."What do you think Cas? Another day's ride?"
Caspian nodded, "Sounds right."
Raxe noticed the firewood was low, and went to get more.
You giggled. "Cas?" You asked Caspian.
He shrugged. "It grew on me. What about 'Bunny?' " He asked with raised eyebrows.
You blushed. "Oh... it's a nickname. We used to call each other when we were kids...He was Fox, I was Bunny... It's stupid, I know."
"Hm." He thought out loud, but didn't respond.
You noted the jealousy in his tone, so you whispered in his ear, "I like 'My Starlight' better."
He smiled to himself and looked down.
Raxe returned and threw more wood on the fire. "So. What's the plan then? Get back to the village sure, but then we have to smuggle you guys out of the country."
You and Caspian looked at each other. "I have to get word to the Shade." You replied. "Everyone on the islands are in danger because of me. That is... if they even escaped... "
"I have no doubt Drinian got everyone out safely as soon as he saw our fight break out... oh that reminds me." Caspian interrupted himself and got up, walked over to a pack on the floor and pulled out your baldric and Morùnsearc in its sheath. Then walked back over to hand it to you. "You should probably keep it on you now."
"Wait... that's yours?" Raxe gaped. "I thought you just carried two swords." He looked at Caspian.
You both laughed. "It's mine." You confirmed.
"Since when do you know how to handle a blade?!? Little Bunny who sews dresses and plays with dolls... who are you?!?" He laughed.
"I'm not the same girl you once knew... " you started with a smile, but then you thought of everything you had to endure that forced you to grow up overnight. All the men who you had to allow to use your body, all the times you had to sneak Sis out of the house, if you knew how to handle a sword then... maybe things would have been different.
"I still see her." Raxe patted your leg with a smile. "She's just now weaponized." He laughed, then yawned. "You want to take the first watch?" He asked Caspian, who was noticeably quiet when Raxe put his hand on your leg.
"Alright." Caspian agreed.
"Wake me in a couple hours then." Raxe yawned again and stretched. "You coming too Bun?"
"In a bit." You smiled at him.
"Ok. G'night." He excused himself and disappeared into the tent.

You looked up at the stars, as if seeing them for the first time. For the last week you felt so alone whenever you would look up at them. But tonight...they were beautiful.
Caspian moved closer to you. "You can't imagine the fear I felt when the General first told me of your arrangement." He looked down at his feet. "And every second since we've been apart."
"I can. Because I felt it too." You replied. "The only way I got through him touching me was remembering I was doing it for you..."
Caspian clenched his fists. "What did he do to you?" He asked angrily. "Tell me."
"I'm not sure you want to know... " you began.
"I do. I want to know every disgusting thing that monster did to you, so I can be sure to give him equal reparations..."
You began to tear up. "If I didn't let him... he would have gone after you..."
Caspian grabbed your face in his hands and gently turned your face towards his. "I don't blame you, my beautiful girl," he ran his thumb over your cheek, "please... let me take some of your pain..."

You told him everything. How he roughly groped your breasts, how he forced his fingers inside you, how you had to use your mouth on his disgusting cock... you were telling Caspian specifically about the General but in your mind you were also telling him about every time you offered yourself to the Slavers. Every time they lined up and used your body over and over... you suddenly felt dirty, worn, used... like an old dishrag. Your body isn't worthy of his intimacy. This pure, noble, kind hearted man who wants nothing more than to protect you, and you're offering him a soiled vessel. You broke down.

He grabbed you aggressively and held you so tight you could barely breathe, kissing you ferociously on the top of your head while he rocked you back and forth. "My poor girl... my sweet girl..." he muttered as he held you. "How can anyone treat something as beautiful as you in such a manner... how does one see a delicate rose bloom and crush it in their bare hands..."
"I'm not... " you choked out between sobs. "Not pure...I'm..... soiled... this is... what someone like me... deserves..."
He stopped and pulled you away from him, and tried to look you in the eye but you couldn't meet his. "Look at me." He demanded firmly, and you forced your gaze into his. "You are perfect. You are a work of art in body and soul. I love every inch of you. Every flaw. Every second of your history. Because it makes you you. You are not soiled. You do not deserve anything that these men have done to you. And you will never allow yourself to be used in that way again. Do you understand me?"

You stared at him, tears streaming down your face, and fell into his chest. He held your head in his arms.
"You're mine now." He spoke softly. "You're mine... "