The Lover's Strait

The Good Ship Barrish was not built for comfort, you found out quickly. Even more quickly did you discover that it had not been built for privacy. Those are rare privileges, as both mean added size, which increases weight, which means less speed, if the ship is even seaworthy. Your ascetic life accustomed you to the discomfort, but being in such cramped confines was a different story. You found yourself on deck as much as you could. Although the wind was chilling, even at mid-day, it was a preferable location, especially as it allowed you to view the land; places you'd never thought you would see not too long ago.

At least you and the other travelers on board weren't expected to work. The deckhands made that clear; they didn't trust you or any of the others to not mess things up, and your presence on deck was usually met with a scowl or a warning of getting in the way. They weren't all bad, you found, and even better, found that not all of them were men. Sopharli, a Dwarf from Beren, had taken an interest in you. She helped you forget about Glenn, and reminded you of a simple fact; in both body and mind, women tended to be more flexible than men. She had started by chatting with you late one night, as you stared at the stars. Although her advance on you, kissing you with her tongue before departing, was unannounced, it wasn't unwelcomed either. Over the ensuing days, things had been escalating little by little, until now. She'd led you down in the powder room and offered herself to you. Standing on one crate of powder and leaning into a larger stack of them, her wet pussy was irresistible. The first one you'd had seen since Sister Rosita and the start to this whole adventure, you found it a refreshing change, and a way to finally wipe the feeling and memory of that duplicitous cultist bitch from your mind. Perhaps that's why you were slamming so hard into your lover, who was straining to handle your cock inside her smaller frame.

"You're going to break me in half Demetria! Fuck!" Her scream broke you out of your lustful haze, although it felt too good to stop now. You slowed your pacing down, giving you both a chance to catch your breath.

"You're going to get us caught if you keep shouting like that!" You angrily whisper at her.

"What's the matter?" She joked oddly "afraid of a little whip?" Uncertain how serious she was being at this point, you thought it best to wrap this up before it got too weird, or you were discovered. Though less furious than before, your pace quickened, and your hands squeezed her strong, muscular frame at the hips. It was a comfortable feeling, holding onto a body built so well as hers. You made no attempt to delay your orgasm, only to hold back the groan as you poured your seed into her. Pulling out of such a tight, full space was an event in of itself, moaning as loudly as you did when you came. No sooner as you started to put yourself back together did the boatswain's whistle blow.

"What's going on?" You asked "we're not stopping, are we?"

"We must be halfway coming up on the Strait, and the statues. Tradition for all hands to go on deck as we pass. I'll be right behind you."

So as to avoid suspicion, you hurried up to the decks first. Even with the gathering crowd, it was easy to locate your mother. Her gentle smile caught you off guard.

"What?" You asked, fearing she knew what you had been up to.

"Nothing. Just, happy to see you." She motioned for you to get closer, and you pushed through the crowd to stand side by side. As you did, you looked out as you saw the Lovers Statues, one of the greatest works in all of T'sara.

"Mom, I'd heard about them, but I don't really know anything about them. What can you tell me?"

"They were built early in the First Age" She began "It's said that the land either statue were built on is the closest point between the continents, and was built shortly after the Sundering, when people could still remember when the land was one."

As she began speaking, you look at the two statues. They were immense, built of layers and layers of shaped stone; taller than any building you've yet seen in your life. The figures were distinct enough to know one was male and the other female, with arms outstretched towards one another, but there was no sign of any species or ethnic of those species.

"Cygia prides itself on maintaining it's cultural identity, to the point of being backwards at times if I'm honest, but this has remained one of the greatest achievements are made by any group of souls alive. It was a representation of the inescapable loss, the physical and emotional separation that now affected the whole world." She motioned towards the deckhands, who stood with their esteemed Elvish captain "Sailors have claimed the statues in a way, as few understand that loss and separation more than them."

"Here here" you hear a few bystanders speak up, alarming you slightly that there had been eavesdroppers, and the whole rest of the ship had gone quiet.

"It's also only from the sea that it is possible for someone to see both of the Lovers, as well as see both continents."

The ship grew silent once more, save the creaking of the wood, as the ship passed directly between the two statues. The crew and passengers dipped their heads in respect and reverence. Feeling a strange feeling wash over you, you speak up, loudly for all to hear

"Sisters, please hear our prayer. We seek guidance and peace, as we stand here aboard this ship, between two worlds. We stand as one family Sisters, as you always intended us to, and stand under these immense statues, as a reminder of the love and unity that once spread through every corner of T'sara. We ask for Varissa's wisdom, that we may learn again to accept each other. Hjanda, we ask for your blessing, that we may again come together as one global family. Vrishka and Quargh, we ask that you may work together with magic and stone to rejoin the world torn asunder by the Fey. Draenysis, we ask for your luck and charm as we travel the sea, in a land without your heavenly roads, that we may arrive in Linthalia safely. Most of all, we pray and ask for Phoenicia's blessing, that we may all be forgiven of our past errors, and that we may possess your divine strength to find the mercy enough to forgive those who have errored against us, and that we may all work towards a new start for this world. We humbly ask for this now and always, almighty Sisters, as your humble children and servants."

The crowd rose their heads as you finished your impromptu prayer, with a few pats of quiet recognition and thanks. As you looked to your mother, you found Gilzra with small tears in her eyes.

"Mother, what is it?"

She pracically beamed "Oh, don't you worry about me. Just, so damned proud of you that some of it must have leaked out is all."

Your red skin hid an embarassed blush "Really, it was nothing."

"Oh please Demetria. You spoke more eloquently and clearly at your age than most people ever do. Doolyn's clearly influenced you more than you realized."

"Ya, I guess so" You smiled back as she reached in for a gentle hug. You turned back to look at the statues again, still nearly overhead and smiled before looking turning to the bow of the ship. The crew returned to their work, and you smiled quietly to yourself, filled with more hope of the future than you'd felt in some time.