Ice and Forge

Moving to your northern companions you take a moment to assess them then decide to get the biggest emotional hurdle out of the way first. “Illenwyn, I think we should hear you out next.” “Yes my lord, I am Illenwyn Queen of the northern forest. I believe most of you hbe at least heard of me?” She looks around and most of the others nod. As a monarch in her own right it’s not really all that surprising. “As I imagine most of you already know my people have been cursed by a deamon and our new lord in granting my wish have freed us.” As she states her gratitude for you granting her wish you realize she didn’t know just how badly the deamon had screwed her people over.

“Illenwyn, when I lifted the curse I wasn’t able to fix everything.” The elf queen whips around to stair at you. “My lord?” “I lifted the sterility curse but I imagine that before the curse your people were having issues with conception and childbirth. Further, I would guess that any magic other than ice is extremely difficult for your people to perform if not impossible?”

You watch as Illenwyn filters through her long memory and then the light comes on. “His gift, what he said would make it so we could thrive in the northern lands. It was a trap!” “I am just guessing but I imagine as an inherently magical people elves use some level of nature and life magic during reproduction. When the deamon granted your request, he probably stole most of the capacities for other magic and replaced it with ice-based magic. I imagine as a deamon of cold he was resistant if not immune to his element and the stolen potential probably made it a bitch to kill him.”

By the time you finish Illenwyn is just about to set the air on fire with her cursing. You let her get the anger out of her system as the other harem members watch on with varying degrees of empathy and compassion. As her cursing turns to sobs you feel Meile move of your forearms and down your body. This frees you to gently scoop Illenwyn out of her chair and bring her into your embrace. There is nothing sexual this time just you giving comfort and silent support. Though you are mostly focused on you ice queen you pick up bits and pieces of what the others are talking about. Most of it seems to be comparing notes of what they know or have heard about the ice elves and how this puts things in a new light. From what you can gather the reputation of the ice elves is… well it’s bad really bad. Your plan for the ritual better work or you are going to have one hell of an uphill battle to get people to accept you elven subjects at all.

As Illenwyn finally cry’s the last of her stress and pain out you continue to gently hold and rock her. Fortunately, the fur on your chest is very soft and apparently makes an excellent security blanket. With the last of her shuddering sobs expended you feel her grip on you slacken slightly and carefully pul your head back so you can look down to her. When your eyes meet the fire and anger behind her iron resolve have been banked not extinguished. “I’m sorry my lord I must look an absolute mess.” She sniffs as delicately as possible and tries to while the tears and mucus from her face. You conjure a square of fabric. “Here” you hand her the handkerchief and she takes a moment to clean herself.

Looking over to the rest of your companions you nod to all your casters you will want as much help as possible for what you plan. Illenwyn will need to be a part of this as she is effectively a spiritual focus of her people so she can be a channel for the magic.

“Ok, so getting the deamons ice transformation undone and the elves magic returned to them is a priority I’ll need the bound deamon brought here as this hall seems to be a magical nexus of this castle. However, we can start working on that tomorrow.”

With Illenwyn now ensconced in your arms and you enjoying the feeling of having another of your women snuggled into your grasp. You now look for your next aqward conversation. Ah yes, a certain Dwarven short-stack.

Brynhilder is clearly uncomfortable being the only female of her kind in this gathering and not that interested in socializing with Ignar. She was also living up to the stereotype of dwarves being stoic keeping as tight a set of reins on her expression. However, she has he shield placed in front of her legs and is gripping her hammer tightly.

“Brynhilder” she jerks at her name in your voice.

“Yes me lord?” Her voice has a distinct burr to it.

“When you made your wish to me you were intoxicated, yes?”

“Ie, to me shame. I was showing again I couldn’t hold my drink.”

You can hear the irritation in her voice.

“I see. Where my soul comes from, a contract or bargain made when one party is not in full control of their faculties can not be held as legally binding.” Her eyes harden as you speak. Your forepaw snaps up before she can speak, you need to get this out. “As such, while I can not reclaim what I gave you my honor demands something. I make this vow.

I shall make no claim on your heart, loyalty, or freedom until you feel I have earned them. Further, in recompense I will ensure that you have food, safety, and shelter here in this plain as long as you have need of them.”

Her hard look morphs to surprise then shock. “You’d do that, you would offer me better than a clan lord? Hospitality better than I could expect from my own kind.”

Her eyes are locked on yours as she speaks clearly trying to detect any hint of a lye. But, you can’t find what is not there.

“Lord dragon you offer me this because you say your honor demands it?”

A nod of confirmation.

“Well I made me bed.” Phrasing you hear Melissa snickering again. She is really enjoying this. “My ancestors and clan would be ashamed of me to let my fear stop my honor. You had no reason to grant a drunk dwarfs wish to be able to hold her liquor and all you asked in return was what amounts to a mairage contract. I get the feeling you’ll shower your wives in attention and wealth. How did you put it? A dragon can’t be comfortable without some of his hoard in his grasp? My aunt had a dirty book or two about women who are claimed by dragons and she swore she knew one who claimed to be part of a dragons harem, said she was always bow legged and glowing when they ran into each other.”

“So no my lord you don’t get to ignore your deal with me. You will keep me and treat me as one of your wives, you will be the patriarch of our clan, you will keep me dressed in the best you can and when I’m ready you’ll screw me through the mattress until I don’t know my own name.”

By the time she finishes she is blushing red as beet and can’t meet anyones eyes.

You can barely keep from laughing at the young dwarf woman’s demands. She completely flipped the script. “Very well. When you are ready I will ensure all your demands are met.” “Oh yes you will, and I’m going to love this!” Your nympho wife crows and you gently press your tail below the blade against her mouth. “Hush you, don’t scare the companions with your nymphomania.” You shift to English to chastise Melissa lovingly, you did always have to be the voice of reason when the two of you were out and about to keep her from trying to get every attractive woman the two of you met into your bed.