Maiden 06

In the days following Mystina’s introduction to the Valkyrie, little had changed between Lezard and Lenneth. Everyday he came to visit her, proclaiming his love and devotion to her, and everyday she rejected him, her words still as angry and as foreign as the first day he had brought her to his tower. Not a day passed by that he didn’t ask her to marry him, and everyday she shook her head no, highly distressed by his unwavering pursuit of her.

He continued to allow Mystina to visit with the Valkyrie, allowing the woman to serve as a kind of hand maiden for his love. He found Lenneth tended to be in a more agreeable mood when she had someone to talk to. Indeed she was finally eating, and half the time she restrained herself from dumping her food onto his head. And yet it wasn’t enough, he needed more from her!

And so he found himself pacing outside her bedroom door, a book held under his arm. It wasn’t a thick book, nor was it a thin book, it fell somewhere in the middle, bound in a flimsy blue cover that had a picture of a red apple on it. It was hardly the type of book Lezard was used to reading, but he knew his usual choice in reading material wouldn’t do in this situation. No, here was a simple book, a book meant for children, with plenty of picture and large print.

He knew Mystina would laugh to know he had went out and bought such a book. Indeed the shop keeper had looked startled to see his best customer visiting the children’s section of the book shop. But he was desperate, and impatient, Mystina doing little to help Lenneth overcome the barrier language presented them with. Lezard could almost swear Mystina was doing everything she could to keep them apart.

With a shake of his head, Lezard reached out with his hand, touching the handle of the door. He whispered a spell under his breath, hearing the lock click as it opened. With a tug he had the door open, hearing Lenneth call out Mystina’s name.

“Sorry to disappoint love….It’s just me…” Lezard tried not to let it show how much it bothered him to see her look so disappointed at his arrival. A line of questioning sentences came from Lenneth, the girl surely wondering where Mystina was. “She’s got classes today. An important test in alchemy.” He knew Lenneth couldn’t understand him, but he liked talking to her all the same.

“I thought you and I could spend some time alone together.” added Lezard with a grin. Since adding Mystina to the equation, he had little chance to be unchaperoned with the Valkyrie. Mystina was a constant presence in Lenneth’s life, the two becoming fast friends despite the situation.

He lifted his hand to his neck, untying his cloak, Lenneth watching him warily. He draped the purple material over the back of an overstuffed arm chair before sitting down and making himself comfortable. “I brought you something.” He held up the book, watching Lenneth cock her head to the side in curiosity. “Why don’t you come closer and see?”

Lezard gestured with his hand for her to move near him, and he saw the hesitation in her eyes. “I won’t bite.” He was quick to speak in a calming tone, trying to reassure her with the sound of his voice. “And it might just help us to better understand each other.” It took a few minutes of coaxing, but bit by bit, he managed to lure the maiden to him. When Lenneth reached out to touch the cover of the book, that is when Lezard struck, whipping his hand forward to close around her slender wrist.

“Ya!!” Lenneth cried out, trying to pull her arm back. Lezard laughed, tugging her downwards, causing her to go sprawling across his lap. She immediately tried to spring up, placing her hands on his thighs. Lezard bit back a moan to feel her touching him, instead concentrating on keeping her in his lap. He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her so that her back rested against his chest.

“Don’t struggle so.” He whispered in her ear, breath stirring up the strands of hair that had escaped her braid. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“No!!” Lenneth snapped, wiggling furiously in place, her movements only causing him to grow more excited. He nearly dropped the book, trying to hold onto her. At last she seemed to exhaust herself, slumping against him in defeat. Lezard grinned, placing a quick kiss against her hair.

“That’s a good girl.” He crooned, placing the book in her lap. He tapped a fingernail against the cover, trying to get her attention. “Do you know what this is? It’s an apple Lenneth. Can you say apple?”

She was queit, staring down at the cover. “Apple.” He repeated, touching the fruit on the cover. “Apple?”

“Ap-ple…” Lenneth said hesitantly, and Lezard smiled.

“That’s right!” He excitedly gave her a kiss on the cheek, pleased with her performance. He opened the book, flipping to the next picture. It was of an animal, a brown spotted canine. “Dog…”

“Dog…” Lenneth parroted, and again he kissed her. This went on for quite some time, Lezard teaching Lenneth the words in the book. And every time she got the pronunciation correct, he kissed down lower on her body. The kisses went from her cheek to her jaw line, and down along the side of her neck. Every time Lenneth made protesting sounds, Lezard murmured “Itsp ben vales” to her.

All too soon he had reached her shoulder, and he began tugging the silk down her arms, baring her skin to him. That proved too much for the maiden, she began thrashing about in his arms, even more wild than before, screaming out the words no and stop. Lezard felt a flash of annoyance, muttering to himself, “It figures out of all the words Mystina could have chosen to teach you, it had to be protesting ones!”

Lenneth was twisting around on his lap, the book tumbling to the floor as he grabbed onto her with both hands. She was shouting, a mix of her own language and the few words she had learned from Mystina. It forced him to raise his voice, even as he continued to tell her he loved her in Itlandic. It did little to calm her down, and the two continued to tussle with each other.

He must have lost track of time, because the next thing he knew, Mystina was standing before him, hands on her shapely hips, glaring at him aghast. “Just what do you think you are doing?!” She demanded.

“Mystina!” Lenneth cried out in relief, a quick succession of words poring out of her mouth as she explained her version of what had just happened.

“Ah Mysty….I can explain…” Lezard nervously eyed the blonde, seeing her hands clench into fists. “No need to get angry, I was merely attempting to teach dear Lenneth how to better communicate with me.”

“She communicates just fine.” Mystina hissed, and marched forward, attempting to pry Lezard’s hands off the girl. Lenneth was in a state of disarray, one sleeve of her white dress pulled down low to flash a generous amount of shoulder.

“Maybe with you.” grumbled Lezard as he released his grip on Lenneth’s waist. She immediately flew to her feet, rushing to stand behind Mystina. Angry words tumbled out of her, and she pointed at Lezard accusingly.

“I think you need to cool down…” Mystina muttered, snapping her fingers. A bucket appeared over Lezard’s head, and it over turned, spilling ice cold water onto the shocked wizard.

“MYSTINA!!” He roared, leaping to his feet, bangs sticking wetly over his eyes. Whatever he was about to say was lost to the unexpected sound of Lenneth’s giggles. She was looking at the wet wizard, and openly laughing at his wet state. Her cerulean gaze was mirthful, one of the rare times he had heard her sound happy and he found his anger dying down in the face of her joy.

Mystina was shocked to hear Lezard laugh, even as he swept back his wet bangs. “I really was trying to teach her the language..” His foot bumped against the book, toes touching the picture of the red fruit.

“Apple!” exclaimed Lenneth, pointing.

“See?” Lezard said, a tad smugly. “My methods may be extreme, but they get results.” Mystina had a sour look on her face, one that said she still didn’t believe him. “She’s only spent a few minutes with me, but she knows more words now than she got from spending days with you.”

“I get it, I get it….” grumbled Mystina. “Less girl talk, and more teaching, is that what you want to hear?”

“It’s a start.” Lezard looked at Lenneth, wet drops of water sliding down the panes of his glasses. “I really want to hear yes to my marriage proposal. Ask her again Mystina…”

“Lezard…” She drew out his name in a whine, annoyed. “We go through this everyday. She’s just going to say no.”

“It can’t hurt to ask…” Lezard said, taking a step forward. He made a grab for Lenneth’s hand, thumb caressing the pulse point in her wrist. “Lenneth, my darling….” He shocked them all by dropping to his knees. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Mystina sighed, but translated for him. Lenneth stared down at him, her hand dwarfed in his much larger one. He smiled at her, his eyes hopeful. The Valkyrie slowly blinked, making sure to look him squarely in the eyes. “No.” She said loudly and clearly in his language.

He visibly flinched, and for a second Mystina saw the upset in his eyes. “Ah no matter…” Lezard let go of her hand, slowly getting up off his knees. “I can wait…” Even Mystina could see the fake sincerity in the smile he flashed them. “Tomorrow is another day after all.” He bowed stiffly, and turned to collect his cape. “I’ll leave you two alone to your studies…”

Lezard didn’t quite run, but still he made his exit with as much haste as he could afford to show. The door swung shut behind him, and Mystina heard him cast the spell, locking her inside with the Valkyrie. She let out a sigh, and turned seeing the Valkyrie staring at the door sadly.

“Maybe you could be a little nicer to him.” Mystina told her in Itlandic. Lenneth turned, flashing her an annoyed look. “I know he’s…” She cast about for the right word. “…rough around the edges, but he means well. And he really does love you.”

Lenneth was silent, and she moved past Mystina, pausing only long enough to pick the picture book up off the floor. She stared at the cover, smoothing her hand over it’s rough surface and sighed.

“I think it’s time I teach you a few more words….” Mystina said, approaching Lenneth. “May I?” She held out her hand for the book, and Lenneth placed it in her hands. Mystina made a tsking sound as she flipped through it’s pages, looking at the pictures. “Just as I thought….nothing useful in here. He means well, but unless you get hungry for an apple you’re not going to be making any meaningful conversation with him.”

“Why would I want to talk with him?” Lenneth asked in Itlandic. “I want nothing from him except my freedom.”

“I know….but he doesn’t believe that. Maybe if you two could talk one on one, he would come to see it for himself. I don’t think he believes everything I tell him about you.” answered Mystina.

“Maybe…” Lenneth sounded doubtful.

“So what exactly were you two doing when I walked in? It hardly looked like studying to me!” Mystina laughed to see the Valkyrie blushing. “I knew Lezard couldn’t keep his hands to himself for very long!”

“He presumes too much in touching me!” Lenneth said angrily, pursing her lips together. “That is all I will say on the subject.”

“All right, all right…I won’t pry.” Mystina held up her hand in defeat. “But let’s get to work on teaching you some more words. Let’s see…how about if you touch me again, I break your balls?” From the grin on Lenneth’s face, she surely approved of the mage’s choice in phrases.