Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Six - The River

Zumi let you borrow a shirt and wrap for your lower half to walk to the river, as the clothes you arrived in could no longer be considered clothing. You barely had a scrap of rag covering your lower half and your sheer top was ripped through so much you might as well have not been wearing a top at all.
Your senses were overwhelmed with new sights, sounds, and smells as you walked through the village to get to the river. Raxe was explaining everything he could to you but your attention kept jumping from one thing to the next. "Many of these people were enslaved because of their trade." He explained as you passed through the makeshift market area that had been set up. "None of us have any money, so instead we trade goods and services with each other." He nodded at a woman weaving the most beautiful rug by hand. "We steal what we need for our supplies, but we try to make do ourselves as best we can."
You stopped at a leathercrafter's stand to admire his work. Taking particular note of a black braided baldric with iron rings woven through it. "What do you have to trade, little lady?" He asked you. "Oh. I'm sorry, I don't have anything." You responded shyly. "I'm just admiring it." The craftsman smiled, thanked you for your compliment, and you moved along. You didn't notice Caspian stop behind you to talk to the man.
Raxe seemed to know everyone in the market. They kept trying to give him things for free but he would insist on not accepting them. "This lad reunited me with my wife." Said one man. "What a sweet young man, he always brings me extra oils for my skin when he returns from the city." Said an old woman. One merchant was trading some delicious smelling flat bread. "I've never seen bread like that!" You commented to Raxe. "Why doesn't it rise?"
"The way it's prepared, I think." Raxe responded, waving to the man as you passed.
The man called him over. "Raxe my lad! I heard you found your missing woman?"
Raxe laughed and motioned over to you, "Yep. This is her."
The man put his hands together and bowed to you, so you copied him.
"We are so happy you found your way to us my dear. But you poor thing, they starved you to death at that estate. Here." He handed you a loaf of his bread.
"Oh I'm sorry, I don't have anything to trade." You backed away as politely as possible.
"Please. No need. Take it. This boy has more than earned all the free naan he can eat." The merchant insisted.
You looked at Raxe, and he nodded to you, so you took it. It was warm, soft, and fluffy. It had a salty yet airy taste that was just delightful. You could have eaten an entire plateful. "Aslan, this is delicious!" You exclaimed.
"Ah. She is Narnian?" The merchant asked Raxe, and your face fell. You gave yourself away.
Raxe put his hand on your shoulder and smiled. "From the Lone Islands." He told the merchant.
"How fascinating." He replied. "I find the culture of your islands most intriguing. A unique combination of Narnian and Calormene."
You were surprised by his reaction, and apparently he could tell from your face.
"Not all Calormene dislike Narnians by default my dear." He smiled. "Some of us care more about a person's integrity and moral stature than their culture."
You thanked him again and waved goodbye as he bowed to you.
"Can you imagine peace between Narnia and Calormen?" Caspian wondered aloud. "This country has so much more to offer the world than its military. I see so many talented people and beautiful forms of art that I would love to introduce back home."
You sighed. "Maybe we can bring a bit back with us. Most of the time the reason two people don't get along is because of misunderstanding one another."
"I can only hope that some of those refugees we returned can begin to speak about Narnia in a new light." He responded.
You walked through the market, to the edge of town where you found the stone bridge Zumi described. "Zum said to enter the river from across the bridge." Raxe reminded you. "Less rocks to slip on."
There were a few people already bathing. The men seemed to stay to one side of a set of boulders spanning across the river, while the women were on the other side, offering a bit of privacy. "Alright, see you in a bit." Raxe handed you the bathing kit Zumi had put together for you, and you made your way past the men's area.
There were only a few women in the water, and a few more packing up on shore. You looked down at your clothes to take them off, and for the first time realized how burnt you really were. Though it had begun to heal already, the skin was peeling, rough and flakey. You were glad you hadn't seen yourself in a mirror since you arrived. You stripped down, a bit self consciously, but reminded yourself these women probably see each other naked all the time.
You took a few steps in. The water was cold. Especially compared to the blazing heat. You walked forward a bit, placed the basket with your supplies on a rock, and jumped in. The second you were fully submerged you swore you felt a layer of sand and dirt float off your skin. This was the best feeling in the world. You stayed underwater as long as you could hold your breath, but then eventually had to resurface.
The water was deep enough that you could stand on the bottom of the river and were still covered up to your mid shoulder. You let the water hold your weight as you relaxed into the running water. Your hair, which had been back in a braid this whole time, was a tangled mess. It was just one solid chunk of hair at this point with all the sand and mud caked into it. You worked a comb and oils through it, taking your time to make sure each strand was sand-free. Then you found a small rough stone and rubbed it gently on any flaky patches of peeling skin, watching them float downstream. You lathered your body with the soap, twice, for good measure, and began the painstaking process of going through every fold, every bend, every nook and cranny of your body to get all the sand off.
You were finding sand in places you didn't even know existed. Cuts you didn't know you had, bruises you thought were patches of dirt this whole time. Even with your hair soaking wet you felt ten pounds lighter.
The oils Zumi had put in your kit were intended to be used on your body. He gave you a few to choose from, so you began opening the little bottles and smelling them one by one. One was way too flowery, another was nice but you thought smelled too much like laundry soap, then there was one with a delicate, sweet, yet tart smell that you found you liked. You realized though that you would have to use it when you were finished, otherwise the oils would just wash off.... So you elected to just relax in the water, the sun kissing your wet skin. You heard someone whisper your name.
You opened your eyes and looked around. The other women had gone. You were alone. But you heard your name again. You sat up in the water and looked towards the rocks that separated the two bathing areas. Raxe called you again from the other side of the rocks.
You swam over. "What?" You responded, looking through the space between the rocks.
"I'm just about done. Caspain is washing his hair...I'm gonna head back." He said, as he moved into your line of sight. He was standing up. The depth of the men's side must be more shallow, because the waterline only came to his hips. You suddenly realized he had shaved.
"Your beard!" You exclaimed. His face looked so different, so much kinder, happier.
"Oh... yea." He smiled rubbing his now smooth skin. "It was driving me crazy. They force you to have one when you're working for a noble family."
"You look more like you." You smiled. "I'm pretty much done too, do you want me to go back with you?"
"Well...The rest of the men are gone too...so I thought I'd give you two a little....privacy." He insinuated, winking at you.
You blushed. "Raxe..."
"You're not going to get much alone time." He interrupted. "You'll thank me later." He splashed some water in your direction playfully. "Have fuuun..."
You looked away as he got out of the water, your body became very warm suddenly, even though you were completely submerged in the cold water. You listened intently for any sound from the other side of the rocks. Then someone splashed, as if they rose out of the water.
"Raxe?" You heard Caspian call out.
"He went back." You called back.
"Oh." You heard Caspian swim over to the rocks. "Where are you?"
"Behind the rock in the middle, there's a gap..."
"Hi" he smiled, appearing suddenly.
"Hi..." You felt yourself turn red. The water was definitely more shallow there. Caspian was a bit taller than Raxe so the waterline was just below his hips...you could see a line of body hair running from his belly button down under the water...you imagined where it ended...
"This was a good idea." He sat down in the water so he was level with you, learning his back against the rock.
"Mhmm." You agreed.
"Huh."
"What?"
"I didn't realize the other men had gone too. I have this whole side to myself."
"Me too..."
"Yea?" Then he paused. "...It's kind of lonely actually..."
"Oh? Did...you want some company?"
"Only if it's yours." He smiled, and your heart skipped a beat.
You peeked through the rocks to make sure there was no one else on that side. "Close your eyes." You instructed him.
He laughed, and did so.
You swam to the shore, and got out of the water, fully exposed. You did a quick glance around, and you couldn't see anyone coming. No voices, nothing but the sound of the river and birds chirping.
"Where did you go?" He called out.
You giggled, he looked adorable looking around helplessly with his eyes shut.
"I'm coming. Keep them closed."
He grunted impatiently.
You snuck into the water as quietly as possible, and stayed a few yards away from him. "Keep your eyes closed, but I'm in." You smiled.
"What!? No fair." He laughed.
You giggled. "I thought that wasn't how we played..."
"Mmm..." He smiled... "Where are you? You sound far."
"If you find me you can open your eyes..." You teased.
"Oh you think I can't?"
You didn't respond.
"Ohhh I see... not going to give me any clues huh?"
You covered your mouth to stop yourself from giggling.
"Alright...but you're in trouble when I catch you..." He smiled playfully.
He swam around with arms stretched out, searching for you, once in a while he would stand to try and listen for you... That was when it was hardest for you to stay silent... The sunlight glistened off the water droplets running down his tanned, olive skin. His arm muscles flexed as he placed his hands on his hips, concentrating. The water on his toned chest reflected sunlight as he moved back and forth. Your eyes followed that thin line of body hair down his lower abdomen.  His accentuated hip furrow caught your eye, and you traced it all the way to where it dipped beneath the water. You found yourself fantasizing about what lay at the end of that line, just out of sight.
You managed to evade him several times, but finally he had you cornered against the wall of rocks. You felt your heart racing as he advanced toward you, his arm reaching out, inches from you. You couldn't help to let out a squeal as he finally grabbed you, placing his hands around your waist.
"Got you." He smiled, looking down at you.
You laughed as he lifted your weightless body, and pulled your naked body so it was pressed firmly against his. You wrapped your legs around his waist, allowing the water to hold you up, as he supported your back with one arm. Your hands wrapped around his neck, while your fingers played with his wet hair.
You allowed one hand to explore his body, moving down his neck to his collarbone, delicately running over every hill of muscle on his shoulders and upper arm. Every curve, every dip, was perfection. He didn't say a word, the only sound coming from a breathy shudder when your fingers would explore a new part of his body, his cock growing and throbbing between your legs.
You leaned in, as if to kiss him, but stopped just shy, and let your lips hover just above his. When he would reach up to you, you would pull back, smiling, tempting him to try again.  Letting your lips play the same game of cat and mouse you just acted out. He let you tease him for a while, playing along as if you were winning, but suddenly he demonstrated his control by letting out a soft growl, biting your lower lip, and squeezing it firmly in his teeth. You moaned, and felt his hard cock pulsate between your legs, pressing softly against your opening. You couldn't wait any longer.
Moving slightly, you adjusted yourself to be better positioned to take him, and you pressed down so just the very tip began to stretch you.
"Sorry" He breathed, and reached down with his free hand to adjust himself away from you.
"No..." you reached into the water and grabbed his arm, stopping him. "I need you."
He looked into your eyes softly, moved his hand out of the water, and caressed the back of your neck, pulling you into him, as you began to slowly push down onto him.

Suddenly you heard voices from the direction of the village coming closer.
"Fuck!" You whispered as you both scrambled toward the shoreline.
"Quick, on the other side." He motioned to the women's bathing side of the rocks.
You both jumped in and got behind the rocks right as the men began to cross the bridge.
You laughed silently together as the adrenaline rushed from your bodies, sitting down in a more shallow part of the river, so that the water was up to your chests, your backs resting against the rocks. 
"Fuck." He panted, then whispered. "At this rate...if I ever do get you to myself... I'm afraid I won't last more than a few seconds."
You chuckled quietly. "Don't you release any of this...pent up energy... on your own?"
"Do you?" he whispered.
"I asked first."
He shook his head smiling. "Not since we were on the Shade."
"Really?"
"Ever since that morning we spent together, and I made you wait... I promised myself I would wait too."
You blushed. "And...before then?"
His cheeks turned a slight shade of pink. "Uhm.. I think after one of our lessons."
"Oh you poor thing..." You cooed. "You know...I never got you back for that day in the desert..."
He smirked. "Oh yea... fuck you made it so hard to resist..."
Without asking, you reached out and gently ran a finger up the length of his still hard cock.
He let out an involuntary groan. "Fuck..." He whispered.
You wrapped your fingers around it. Your hand couldn't even close fully around its girth, and began to stroke up and down, slowly...gently. Even without looking at it, you could tell he would have filled you completely. You would need both hands to stack the length of it, and even then wouldn't have covered the tip.
He squirmed under your touch, and you began alternating pressure, from the head to the base, and back again, rhythmically, as his breaths got shorter.
"How are you so fucking good at this..." he hissed breathlessly.
You used your free hand to reach down, and gently squeeze his balls. Ever so slightly pulling down every few strokes, being careful not to be too rough. Then as you stroked up, you would pause, and swirl your finger around the tip, using your thumb to play with the sensitive seam on the underside.
He threw his head back, his lower abdomen flexing, a forcibly quiet "Ohhh" barely escaping his lips. Your hand moved faster with every thrust of his hips, his stomach contracting, he clenched his teeth to keep from being heard..."Fuck...fuck...you're gonna make me..."
He didn't get to finish his sentence before he shot a thick rope of cum so forcefully it came out of the water and landed on his chest. Again and again, he squirted, as you continued to stroke him. You couldn't help yourself, you needed to taste him. You leaned forward and ran your tongue over his chest, licking up his mess, his body spasming with each glide of your tongue. You slowed your hand as he relaxed into the water, licking up the last few drops off his chest.
"Shit." Was all he could muster, as his head lay against the rocks. He pulled you close to him, positioning you between his legs, as you leaned back against him, your head resting on his shoulder. His arms wrapped around your body.
You sat in silence for a while, and listened while the men on the other side packed up their things, and headed back into the village. Once you were sure you were alone again, he spoke.
"You're amazing." He leaned his head forward and kissed your cheek.
You laughed softly. "Told you I would get you back."
"I will never doubt you again..."