Legends of Belariath

Stormbringer and naiya{SB}

The Taking of Naiya - Part Five

Naiya stirred slowly, stretching while half awake, then suddenly sat bolt upright in the bed, feeling very strange. She didn’t usually sleep much at all, yet... Her mind whirled as she tried to digest what had happened over the past couple of days, and failed. Swallowing hard she looked around, not seeing any clothing, but recognizing the comforting presence of her lute in a corner of the room. Not seeing anyone, she decided to wander out into the main room.

Stepping through the door she spied StormBringer sitting in the chair in front of her and stopped cold, eyes searching his face for something there she was not even sure of herself. Then realising he was aware of her presence and intently studying her body, she lowered her gaze, flushing a little. “Aaah... good morning.” she remarked aimlessly, looking for something to say; then belatedly added “...Master.” while the greenish flush grew stronger.

StormBringer raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. “Then you remember your agreement, slave? Very well, you may approach me.... on your knees.”

Naiya played nervously with a lock of hair in one hand, then slowly dropped to her knees and crawled gradually towards the man, her hair dragging slightly on the ground behind her and getting in her way, making her progress a bit more awkward than she liked, and somehow she felt even more flustered because of it. He waited until the dryad was close, and then gestured to the side of his large chair. “You may kneel there while I talk to you, little slave.”

The girl looked a bit uncertain, a frown line appearing between her brows as she thought this over. She'd been abused, raped, had all sorts of things done to her by the strange people around this place, but... this was truly unsettling. Trying to assert a little control and independence she asked “Am I to face you?”

StormBringer sighed slightly and rose from his chair, coming round behind Naiya and suddenly pushing down on the little dryad’s neck so her face was pressed against the floor; the girl squeaking with surprise, then howling as he smacked her hard on the bottom with the flat of his hand. “Am I to face you... Master....”

Yelping and squirming, cinnamon brown little cheeks trying to worm their way away from the man’s direct gaze and striking position, she cried into the carpet a muffled “aaaAAAAggggg... sorrth... Masthep” StormBringer relaxed the grip and pulled the tiny figure gently back up to her knees, moving Naiya around to the right position, showing her how to hold herself as a slave and then sitting back down again. “So slave, do you remember what you agreed to?”

Naiya rubbed her smarting little rump, frowning slightly, not meeting the emperor’s eyes. “I... um.... remember I...” she stopped for a minute, biting her lip, not sure why she did what she did, then continued. “I agreed to extend the... time I am to serve you. For a week. To learn. ... Master.”

”Yes, you agreed to be fully my slave for a week. But let's elaborate on that a bit...” Dropping his hand to the back of Naiya’s neck and worming through her hair, he stroked the soft skin with his fingers. “At any time you can ask to become my slave permanently and I will consider your request. Also you can refuse to do what I tell you, or refuse to accept what I do to you. But if you do that, you leave through that door forever.” The man nodded towards the small door leading though it’s portal to the woodland glade.

”Why? Why must my only option if I don't like something be to leave? ... Master.”

”Quite simply because a slave must accept anything at all, without making judgements each time as to whether she wants to obey or not. That obedience must be immediate and unconditional.”

Naiya sighed, eyes sliding back down again. “I still don't understand...” she mumbled, but not to the man, more to herself. By the tone it was not certain whether she was referring to the instructions, the concept of slavery, or why she was here at all.

”Also at the end of the week, you will either ask to become my slave forever, or you will leave forever. There will be no more 'trial periods.'

Naiya hesitated, and then just simply nods, teeth worrying on her lip while StormBringer kept up the stroking, moving his hand to brush all of the girl’s hair out of the way and caressing her shoulder, softly kneading. With a slight shiver she waited, breathing deeply. “So it's quite simple. If I tell you to stand on your head, you do it. If I tell you to have anal sex with a troll, you do it. If I cut all your hair off, you accept it. That's the first lesson of slavery, to do whatever, without questioning whether it is good for you, or right, or even if it makes sense.” Naiya squeaked at that, trembling violently at the mention horrible things being done to her bottom... and to her HAIR! She looked almost ready to cry, but nodded again in acquiescence.

StormBringer’s fingers slid slowly down the nymph’s upper chest to her breast, stroking down its outer side and under, fingers gliding softly over the smooth skin in an exploratory caress. Curving over the tit, he lifted it slightly and allowed the firm little mound to drop into place again; seemingly almost oblivious that he was toying with Naiya’s body as he talked to her. Large fingers located her nipple and rubbed over it slowly and gently “Why would you want to do those things? Or allow them to be done? Will you take a guess?”

Naiya swallowed hard, trying not to pay attention to the hand that was running over her sensitive skin, willing herself not to respond, but it was rather obvious her body wasn't listening. Her nipples crinkled and stood up very quickly. “H...how can I guess... when... when I don't understand? ... Master.”

The emperor seemed quite taken with the nipple, casually playing with it between his fingers, rolling it around and strumming its lengthening peak while Naiya trembled, not wanting to recognize what was happening to her body. The fingers around her stiff, warm nipple felt much better than she cared to admit. . “A good question. Well, little slave; the reason is that very soon, you will allow those things because you trust me and because you want to please me.” He stopped to consider for a moment “Tell me, slave... what do you understand by slavery?”

Naiya blushed further and looked away, all too aware of her aroused peaks and choosing to answer just “To be property...” The fingers responded immediately, swiftly and strongly pinching the awakened bud.

”..... Master.....”

“NGGGaaaaaAAIII... ... to ... to be property of another... Master!”

Immediately the fingers went back to their gentle caresses, Stormbringer’s voice unchanged, and with no sign of annoyance. “Well there is that of course. But it goes rather deeper because a real slave fears little more than being set free.”

”But... but... why Master?” Naiya looked startled at the pronouncement, eyes once more seeking those of her temporary owner.

”Because to be set free is to have failed.”

”U...um... failed who? And how? ... Master”

”Failed their owner by not doing their best to be a good slave and failed themselves by an inability to submit.”

StormBringer suddenly lifted the small girl up, laying her crossways in his lap, shoulders supported by his arm, the other hand brushing her hair away to leave Naiya fully exposed. She wailed and struggled for a moment then stopped for reasons she could not quite explain to herself, even though finding her body splayed open and vulnerable across the man’s lap. In a voice that was filled with uncertainty, and almost tears she whispered “... what is submit? Master? Wh... why would a slave do this?”

A thick finger ran slowly up and down the centre of the nymph’s body, from her neck, between her upturned breasts and almost to her mound. “To submit is to give up making decisions, to allow me to do what I want to you and with you. The why.... because it feels better than to not submit... it fills some need inside you; just as it fills a need in me to have your submission.”

Naiya shook her head, not sure if she was disagreeing or not, either uncertain of what was said or not wanting to admit that she might be that way. Her whole body trembled to the touches of the man’s hands on her skin, legs flexing and pressing tightly together. Snuffling, she tried vainly to deny the excited signals that were running up and down her nerves from very stiff greenish nipples to her moist bush. “B...but.... why... why give up? Why would I exist if... if only as a... puppet or...” she stuttered to a stop, unsure of what exactly she was objecting to.

Drawing random patterns with his fingertips, Stormbringer’s hand covered much of the girl’s flesh from neck to knees as she lay across his lap. The random seeming patterns all carefully avoided any contact with breasts or sex though, feathering over the skin around those sensitive areas. “A slave is not just a puppet. A slave is a valuable tool and assistant to her owner and has much to take pride in. But a while back I asked you what it meant to be a slave and you said 'to be the possession of another'. That's true as far as it goes but you must have a mental picture of slavery. Tell me what you see.”

Naiya squirmed atop the man’s lap, unable to keep still, her mind not really on what her body was doing as she tried to think about what was said, although the attentions were making that very difficult. “S...see? I've... not ... seen anything of slaves but what little here. ...Master. That... strong people... steal freedom from weak people... make them property... make them do what they want...” The nymph was blushing darkly; skin twitching and warming under the emperor’s fingers, and her thighs kept rubbing together.

StormBringer lightly circled the periphery of each breast in a figure of eight pattern with his fingertips, almost but not quite touching the firm upturned little mounds, fascinated as always by the large nipples atop them and the way they seemed to strain upwards for attention. “No... slave... that isn't what I mean at all. Picture yourself as a slave... as my slave... think about it... what would you have to do? How would you be treated? How would you feel? Tell me what you see in your mind.”

”I... don't know. I have no... information to guess really. ...Master. I...” The little dryad squirmed harder, almost in the direction of each finger, as if wanting them to be... pressing somewhere else, completely involuntarily. Her mind resisted, not wanting to admit what she was feeling, but still she presented a picture of complete confusion, in lust, yes, but... not abjectly submitting either. Naiya stopped and thought for a moment, screwing up her face and balling her fists to still the sensations in her body. “I... well I guess I... would be treated as a... servant? Told to do this... do that... clean you... clean your things... take... your... lust when you wanted...”

”Not good enough, slave. Think about it. Since you object to being a slave so much, you must know what's so horrible about the idea. After all, there's nothing too horrible about washing someone, or cleaning a house, is there? So what do you fear?”

”What's... horrible is it's not... free! I can't... do what I want to do. You would... well, you do... own me. And that's wrong... isn't it? I have a meaning... a purpose... my forest... my Tree... none of which have anything to do with you! And you... say such horrible things... make me... be with ogres or ... something... why would you want to do that to me?”

StormBringer's fingers spiraled very lightly up a breast and then suddenly pinched the nipple hard before resuming the aimless wandering over the small body. “My name is Master, girl. Use it...”

Naiya yelped and jumped at the pinch and arched away from the abuse to her fat nipple, thighs scissoring slightly as she almost spit out the words “...sorry... Master...” without sounding as though she meant them. Visions of the abuse she had suffered since coming there, and most of all the fact that she wasn't sure she was still the same 'she' inside were foremost in her mind, no matter what her traitorous body was doing.

”So why are you here?”

The girl collapsed in on herself, exhaling a long low breath. “I... don't know. You... did... no, you do something to me. You say you have something to teach me... and... and I need to know what it is. ...Master.” Naiya chewed on her lip, bringing her arms up to cover her breasts with their almost painfully erect nipples as she stared up at the man. “I... you did me a favour. Several favours. And I thank you. I pay debts. But... there's something else...” she said, sounding as though she was trying to be bold, but still very unsure even to herself of what she was saying.

”Yet every attempt to make you confront what is missing from your life just leads you to the same place.... It's not right.... get away from that for a moment. Look inside yourself. There is a need you cannot fulfil in the forest and you are here because you believe I may be able to fill that for you.”

Naiya looked away, blushing even harder, arms rigidly protective over her breasts. “...I... there is something... not...” she stopped in confusion, not sure she really wanted to admit even to herself.

”Go on, say it. Be honest with yourself and with me.”

”T...there is something... missing.” she barely whispered... as if she was ashamed to admit it. Then she started crying in earnest, silent sobs wracking her little form without affecting the words that started pouring out of her mouth. “I... I'm a guardian... I had a forest to protect... I failed... I serve... I exist TO serve... and I couldn't... I didn't....I... couldn't protect... couldn't serve my forest. You can... Master. So... I... must serve you. Learn from you. Do... what you need... “, almost spitting the words now, “what you desire if it helps my forest... Master.”

”Become my slave for your forest? Or for yourself too?”

”W...what do you mean? I... I was created for my forest... I serve it... I protect it... it loves me... if... if you can do it better than me... then... then of course I need to serve you if you'll help me... yes? ... Master?”

”Is that what you really think? Then if that's true, all you need is for me to give you the power to protect your forest and you can leave happily. Yes?”

Naiya started beating her small fists ineffectually against his chest. “I don't know! You tell me! You said you had things to tell me... to teach me! Can you teach me that? Can you give me what I need?”

StormBringer tried to keep my face straight, not wanting to seem to laugh at the almost-humorously bedraggled and naked little figure on his lap. “Lessons are not always spoon fed. Sometimes they are no more than a way for you to be forced to look inside for answers. What is there inside you that makes you stay here? Until you face up to that, the lessons will just be repetition. So you say you are here so I protect your scrap of forest? OK, it's protected. No one will ever threaten it again. Now you can go and feel safe in your tree.”

A heavy silence hung in the air for a long period as Naiya just sat there, nibbling on her lip. Finally it was StormBringer who broke the quiet. “Very well, you've been entertaining and in return I'll make sure your forest is protected. It's little enough to do. The door is where it was before.”

Naiya inhaled deeply, a shudder rippling through her tiny body, and she turned back to face the man, eyes filled with a trace of her rebelliousness; anger that she was required to leap into the abyss without knowing even a glimmering of what waited. But she said with a quiet force that belied her bedraggled, tearstained appearance. “I live to serve. And... and you appear to be the one whom I need to... to give that service to... to both learn from... to achieve what I've lived for up to now... but....” after a short pause “... to go further and farther now.” She drew a deep breath, shuddering as if it was from the very centre of her small body and she added, for the first time sounding as if it actually meant something, “... Master.”

StormBringer cocked his head a little to one side, looking at the dryad solemnly. “Now we are getting somewhere. You recognize that you need to serve me.... to submit to my will and my demands... yes?”

”Yes dammit. I... I don't know exactly why..... or why you... but I... I need to serve you Master.” Naiya looked up, unafraid, but yet angry, confused, and pleading all at once... everything she understood about herself and her life in shreds now.

StormBringer sighed a little at the way the dryad avoided admitting the truth but sensed a crucial moment had arrived and that by dragging it out he would only encourage the girl to hide behind words in much the same way as she hid behind her hair. “Well, let's reduce it to very simple terms. These 'trial' slavery pretenses have passed their usefulness. I am considering offering you the chance to be my slave and to learn what real freedom is. If you trust me enough and need it enough, kneel and submit and ask for my collar. If you don't then there is no more I can do except to wish you well because only by giving yourself fully can you find the answers.”

Naiya was shocked into silence, her cinnamon skin paling to a rather sickly green hue as she stared mutely up, tears pouring down her face.

”Unfair! I dealt with you in good faith! I... I... told you I wanted to learn... I've told you things I've never said to a living soul... I'm here... I've... debased myself before you to learn... yet... yet YOU TELL ME NOTHING! And you keep changing the terms! Is there no... no obligation in reverse? I... said I need to give... give me to you... isn't there something... anything for me?”

”Yes, I do don't I? But what you fail to recognize is that I have already answered all your questions though you fail to understand. Now we can waste a week in my playing with your body or we can resolve things here, one way or the other. If you offer yourself and if .... if I accept, then it will be to take you as a precious possession and a charge and a responsibility. Mine will be the job of helping you realize your potential and mine will be the responsibility of making you into a complete person, happy with themselves and content with their place.... not a broken toy but a proud slave.”

”Proud slave.... I've never seen a proud slave... all either seem to be brain damaged suffering things or... or... misguided marriages.” Naiya swallowed very hard, and was silent for several heartbeats. “And you said... 'if I accept'... I... can throw... all caution away... scare myself silly... strip away my pride and beg you to... to... change me... to accept me... to... take me... and still you could say... no? ...Master?”

“I have to hear your voice when you ask before I can agree to take you as my slave.”

Naiya slowly, staring Stormbringer straight in the eye, a very firm set to her small, mobile mouth, climbed out of his lap and stood regarding him, fists on her tiny hips. Then in one swift, graceful movement she swept up all of her hair into a bundle atop her head, baring her neck, and fell with an incredible agility to her knees beside the man. “You have much to teach me. I need to learn. And more than that.... I need.... I must serve... give... submit to you. If you will have me, I give my all to you... but... I must be honest and say... it's not easy for me to say or do this... .... .... Master.”

”I guess that's about as near to a plea as I can expect from a confused raggle-tailed dryad. Very well....” A collar appeared in Stormbringer’s hand, dark green leather about an inch wide, with his name picked out in mithril, the clasp and the four rings hanging from it also made out of that metal, one of the few that would not irritate a dryad’s skin. “Come closer.”

Naiya bit her lip, suddenly taken aback, now that it appeared she was getting what she had asked for. Was it what she truly wanted? Was this the answer to the raging fire that she had never quite understood? A moment of hesitation... then she knee-walked forward and bent her neck towards the man who would become her new owner.

StormBringer bent forward, placing the collar around the slender neck with both hands and fastening it behind, then sitting back. “By taking this collar, you have freely agreed to become my slave and my property, to use as I wish. And by giving you that collar, I have agreed to become your Master... your owner... with a responsibility to care for you, protect you and guide you to being the best you can be. Look at me, slave.”

The little nymph sniffled, wiping her eyes with the backside of one hand, the other tugging at the renewed feeling of a collar around her neck, unsure if she liked it this time or not... and slowly raised her eyes, not saying a word. Using his fingers StormBringer wiped the tears from her cheeks and held her chin up to look at the girl. “There. Now it's done, just as was inevitable from the moment you didn't leave when you could have. I'm very pleased with you, little slave.”

Naiya sighed, not looking unhappy, but still very, very confused. “I... still won't get answers will I? ... Master? You won't tell me until... I figure from myself?”

”The answers are never in words and you probably won't even realize when you have them. All I can tell you is that if I do it right, and if I looked inside you right, you will gradually find that which you have always lacked. But by finding it you will probably forget the questions.”

”If... Master?”

”Do I look unsure of myself? I can't be certain until we learn together, but I do believe.... and I will never leave you worse than you are now”

”I don't know anything anymore... Master. But I chose. I made my decision... I guess... I trust you Master.”

”That’s the biggest part... making a start. Too late for regrets now in any case, you belong to me and it's up to me to make the best of you. Now go and clean up, then return here.”

Naiya sniffled mightily, shaking her head and letting her hair fly where it may, and then slowly got up from her knees to head back towards the bathroom. Finally she reappeared, hair damp and slicked back from her face, skin scrubbed to a dark brown in an attempt to remove tear-streaks, and her eyes still very red from the emotional catharsis. Moving slowly, unsure, she decided the best idea was to return to Stormbringer’s side and kneel, head back slightly, the still unfamiliar collar presented towards her new master.

The man looked at her quietly. “Now I have a use for your body”

Naiya bit her lip, but then replied quietly “What is that... Master?”

”Get up and clean the apartment.”

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