by Tamryn Tamer
“Are you going to tell us what’s going on here?” Ena asked while gesturing angrily at the wall of handmaidens.
“We only wanted to greet your new wife,” Fayeth said while glancing at the women. “But they wouldn’t let us through.”
They said that we’re diseased!” Ena snapped.
“We said no such thing,” the lead handmaiden said as she walked toward him. The other women quickly filled the gap, ensuring that nobody approached Olivia. “We asked you to keep your distance.”
“Because you think we’re diseased,” Ena growled while glaring at the woman. “Or cursed! Something!”
“I just want to see if she’s cute,” Renna said cheerfully while jumping in front of the handmaiden. “Can I go take a peek?”
“Absolutely not,” the woman replied.
“See!” Ena said. “We can’t talk to her or look at her! They think we’re going to infect her or something!”
“That’s not it at all!” the handmaiden snapped. “Lady Olivia isn’t feeling well enough to receive visitors at this time!”
“Receive visitors?” Fayeth gestured at the room full of demihumans. “Where do you think you are?”
“S-she is not feeling very well,” the handmaiden repeated as her face turned red. “But she has no room to retire to yet so we have created one.”
“She can stay in my room,” Renna said while aggressively grabbing the handmaiden’s arm. “Why don’t you introduce me and I’ll happily show her to my room. It’s nice and quiet there and I have a very big bed. Although I may need to change the bedding. Last night things got a little messy.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Frost said. “Brynn offered up her room for Olivia.”
“Yeah,” Renna nodded. “Brynn’s been staying with me. We’ve been using her room to store clothing and we use Cassia’s room to store toys.”
“Toys?” the handmaiden said while giving her a confused look.
“Don’t ask,” Frost signed. “And Brynn meant her room. We also have a few other ones that aren’t being used.”
“Are you going to address the fact that your new wife thinks we shouldn’t even be allowed to look at her?”
“That’s enough Ena!” Lysandra snapped as she walked into the room from the rear of the temple. A sobbing handmaiden walked with her and Desdemona followed behind with a pile of enchanted identification cards for the handmaidens. “You are jumping to conclusions again!”
“But…”
“No buts!” Lysandra said firmly as the rest of the room watched while eating and drinking.
“You’re really so nice Lady Lysandra,” the crying woman walking beside Lysandra said. “Thank you so much for being so understanding.”
“She certainly broke her quickly,” Frost mumbled to himself. He realized that Brynn was probably right that the women weren’t entirely all there.
Frost glanced at the rest of the women and noticed that they all seemed to be doing their best to maintain their composure. Several looked like they’d been crying and a few others looked embarrassed to be there.
He knew they weren’t the most stable women from their interviews but didn’t expect Lysandra to get to them so quickly. Given, she did have decades of experience breaking down elves that survived famines, wars, and plagues so it shouldn’t have surprised him that Lysandra could break down a bunch of women pulled from the streets to be Olivia’s handmaidens.
It was no wonder Brynn didn’t want to start opening up to the elf.
“I’ll always be here for you,” Lysandra said while hugging the weeping handmaiden. “Now, remember. We’re going to start you with two thirty-minute sessions a week and we’ll go from there. Do you remember the times?”
“I wrote them down,” the woman said, nodding as she pulled a piece of paper from her blouse. “I’ll need to check with Lady Olivia but I’ll really try to make it.”
“Good,” Lysandra said, releasing the woman. “If the times don’t work just let me know. Anyway, run along. Desdemona is going to hand out your identifications and we’ll still need to find some housing for all of you.”
“Housing?” the lead handmaiden said as the crying one rushed to join the others. “We’ll be staying with Lady Olivia.”
“About that,” Lysandra said pensively. “We don’t have any residences that can comfortably fit fifty women.”
“We don’t need to be comfortable,” the handmaiden said. “As long as it’s private. But we will not leave our lady unattended.”
“Ginette,” Olivia said as the other handmaidens opened a path for her. “We do not make demands. We will stay where my husband dictates.”
“Lady Olivia,” Ginette bowed politely.
Olivia stepped out from her protective barrier being led by Brynn. Olivia gripped Brynn’s hand like a frightened child being led around by an older one as she led Olivia to Frost and the others.
“She’s so pretty,” Renna said as Olivia and Brynn approached.
“She really is,” Fayeth said as Ena pinched her arm. “Ouch!”
“Don’t look at her like that,” Ena said.
“You look at Herald Frost like that,” Fayeth said smugly. “You don’t see me pinching your arm.”
“I-I-I a-polo-g-gize,” Olivia said, stuttering as she forced a polite bow. “I-I am O-Olivia Mo-Mo-Moray.”
Olivia’s entire body was shaking as she stood in front of the room and Ena’s face turned bright red as she realized that Olivia wasn’t avoiding her because she didn’t like elves but because she was completely petrified.
The rest of the room stared at Olivia while whispering to each other. Some of them were discussing how beautiful she was while others wondered if they were the ones making her uncomfortable. The Arachne in particular felt like they might be responsible for her discomfort, since they were typically the ones making people uncomfortable.
“Olivia doesn’t do well around large groups of people she doesn’t know,” Brynn said while stroking Olivia’s hand. “She’ll be happy to talk to everybody but she can only meet new people a couple at a time.”
“I apologize for Ena,” Lysandra said in a soft voice. “She has a tendency to jump to conclusions, especially when it comes to humans. I assure you that the people in this village will give you all the space you need. There are several elves in the village that get similarly anxious so I assure you that it’s nothing to be ashamed of and you’re not alone.”
“Thank you,” Olivia whispered while staring at the floor. “I’ll d-do my b-best.”
“You’re doing wonderfully,” Brynn said supportively.
“You really are,” Ginette said, encouraging her. Other handmaidens chimed in telling her how she’s doing a really fantastic job.
“Thank you all,” Olivia said, forcing a smile.
“Maybe we should get you somewhere less active,” Frost said while looking around the room. More people were funneling in and he imagined they’d be at capacity fairly soon. “Des, have you figured out where everybody could stay?”
“The only place big enough for everybody to stay in the same place is Yama’s.
“Then we can stay there,” Ginette said. “As long as we’re all in the same place.”
“Yama is an Oni,” Frost said. “She lives in a large house in the northern part of the village and sleeps on thick tarps on top of hay. I’m pretty sure that it’s not somewhere that Olivia would enjoy staying.”
“I see,” Ginette said while shaking her head. “What other options are there? We are fine sleeping on the floor as long as Lady Olivia has a bed.”
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Brynn said authoritatively. “Olivia is going to stay in my room upstairs. We have three other rooms that aren’t being used.”
“One of those rooms is Cassia’s,” Renna said.
“And you’re using it as toy storage. I’m sure they won’t mind a few of your things laying around,” Brynn said, rolling her eyes at the emerald-haired e
lf. “The rooms themselves all have beds that can easily fit three people so up to nine of you can stay here. The rest of you can stay with host families.”
“Ten if you want to share a room,”
“We need to stay at the same residence as Lady Olivia,” one of the handmaidens in the larger group said.
“No, you don’t,” Brynn said sternly. “The Moray estate is larger than this entire village. You’ll be fine staying with some elves around the village and coming to the temple in the morning. It’ll also give you the opportunity to learn how things work in the village. You’ll be our first human newcomers.”
“That’s not true!” Hestia shouted across the room while pointing at Slade. “My love has been here for months!”
“I always forget how good their hearing is,” Brynn sighed. “Slade doesn’t count Hestia! He’s basically your pet!”
“What did you just say?” Slade snapped while slamming his drink on the bar.
“You trying to act tough Snuggles?” Renna shouted while raising her arms like she was looking for a fight.
“I will chop out your tongue you annoying bitch,” Slade said while pointing at Renna.
“Baron Slade,” Cassia had a knife pressed against Slade’s neck before he had time to respond. “What did you just say to my beloved?”
“That’s right?” Renna asked. “Say it again! I dare…ouch! Ouch! Stop it!”
“You stop it,” Frost said while yanking on Renna’s long ear. “What have I told you about making Cassia fight your battles for you?”
“No punching down! No punching down!” Renna said as Frost continued tugging her ear. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
“Good,” Frost said, releasing Renna. “Cassia, I’ve warned you about this as well.”
“It’s not my fault,” Cassia said while sheathing her hidden dagger. “I’m not going to stand by idly as people insult the love of my life.”
“It certainly is lively here,” Olivia said while moving closer to Brynn. “Is it always like this?”
“At this time of night, pretty much,” Brynn answered.
“Sorry,” Frost said while gesturing toward the stares. “Brynn can show you to the room.”
“No handsome,” Brynn pointed toward the stairway. “It’s still your wedding day which means you need to show her to the room.”
“Whatever happened to taking it slow?” Frost whispered.
“You know that you can show a woman to her room without actually fucking her, don’t you handsome?” Brynn asked while giving him an incredulous look.
“I know that you can,” Frost sighed. “It’s just not something I’m used to doing.”
“Well get used to it,” Brynn said while shoving Olivia’s hand in his. “She’s your responsibility.”
“Dammit,” Frost grumbled under his breath.
“I-I’m sorry husband,” Olivia whispered.
“It’s not you,” Frost said reassuringly. “Come on. I’ll show you to your room.”
“I’ll come with,” Ginette said. The handmaiden started to follow them up the stairs but Brynn quickly grabbed the back of her dress and pulled her back.
“Unless you intend to polish his knob for her then you’re going to leave them be,” Brynn said strictly. “They might not have gotten a proper wedding but they can at least spend the night together.”
“The entire night?” Frost asked while glancing down at Brynn.
“Yes, the entire night,” Brynn replied.
“I’m sorry again,” Olivia said quietly as he led her up the stairs. “I understand that I am lacking…”
“You’re not lacking,” Frost sighed as they reached the top of the stairs and walked toward Brynn’s room.
The moment they turned the corner he heard Lysandra yelling at Ena for her bad attitude and Renna prodding Slade into another altercation. He figured that a nice quiet room wasn’t the worst place to be since the temple wasn’t even at capacity and arguments were already starting.
Brynn’s room was located right next to the master bedroom and was about half the size. Like most of the rooms, she had an extra-long queen size bed and a few small pieces of furniture. The room was virtually spotless outside of a few piles of clothing. Brynn only used it for changing and storage so the rest of the room was basically pristine.
“Here we are,” Frost said while guiding Olivia inside.
“Thank you, husband,” Olivia said, taking a deep breath as she entered the room.
“You really can call me Frost,” Frost said. He followed Olivia into the room and closed the door behind them. Outside of a few quiet thuds here and there, the sound from the rest of the temple completely vanished. “I don’t really worry about the formalities.”
“Hildy told me about that,” Olivia said quietly as she walked toward the bed. She sat on the edge and slipped her shoes off.
Frost stared at the black-haired woman as she sat quietly on the bed. After several seconds and looked up at him and forced a smile while patting the spot next to her.
“You don’t have to push yourself,” Frost said reassuringly.
“I suppose Hildy told you that I struggle with this part,” Olivia said, turning her attention back to the floor. “I shouldn’t be surprised. She’s always looking out for me. But I am fine with it. It’s not as though I’m a virgin.”
“It’s not that,” Frost said as he approached the bed. “We have plenty of time so there’s no reason to jump into things if you don’t want to. Things are a bit different in my village than they are in Zira.”
“This is about my dignity as a wife,” Olivia said while patting the spot several more times. “I understand that you have many women to choose from. To be the only woman you don’t desire…”
“Desire has nothing to do with it,” Frost said, approaching the bed as the tall slender woman stared at the floor. “I definitely desire you. You are astonishingly beautiful and if you wanted, I would spend all night kissing every inch of you. But if you don’t enjoy it then there’s no point.”
“I can make you think that I enjoy it if that’s what you want,” Olivia said while reaching toward her hair. She twirled one of her long black locks several times and smiled at him. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”
“The only thing that would disappoint me is you forcing yourself to sleep with me,” Frost said.
“It’s not as if I don’t find you attractive,” Olivia said as she stood up. The elegant woman reached behind her back and undid a few buttons before turning her back toward him. “Will you assist me husband?”
“If you want,” Frost said as he began undoing the rest of the buttons. He stared at her naked back as he worked his way down, admiring her flawless skin as he undid every button holding her dress up. Once he reached the final button, Olivia let the dress drop. “Wow.”
“You can have me if you want,” she said quietly as she stepped out of the dress. Frost’s eyes immediately gravitated toward her black lace thong. He resisted the urge to squeeze her gorgeous round ass as she stood there in front of him. She looked over her shoulder. “You can touch whatever you want.”
“I know,” Frost groaned through clenched teeth as he admired the perfect woman in front of him. “And I want to.”
“Then you can,” Olivia said as she turned to face him, her hands covering her naked chest. She slowly moved them away, revealing her gorgeous pink nipples, already erect and waiting to be bitten. Olivia stepped toward him and started unbuttoning his vest. “You can touch every inch of me. I am your wife.”
“Do you want me to?” Frost asked while staring at her.
“I only want you to be happy,” Olivia answered.
“That’s not what I’m asking,” Frost said as Olivia finished undoing his vest and helped him out of it. She quickly started working on his shirt, removing it as well. She took a step back, her face turning red as she stared at his naked chest. “You know you can touch every inch of me if you like.”
“
Would you like me to?” Olivia asked while staring at his abdomen.
“I’d like you to do whatever you want,” Frost said as he stared at the woman. He glanced down between her legs, noting the small well-trimmed bush that he could see through her lace thong. “I’m your husband.”
Olivia slowly stepped forward and touched his chest. Her hands were remarkably soft and her touch was delicate as she slid her fingers down, barely grazing his abs as she moved past them. Once she reached his pants, she slowly undid his belt. Moments later, his pants were on the floor and he was stepping out of them.
“What would you like?” Olivia asked timidly while avoiding eye contact.
“I would like you to tell me what you would like,” Frost said.
“I don’t know what I would like,” Olivia said quietly.
“That’s fine,” Frost chuckled as he held his hand out toward Olivia. “Then we’ll go slow.”
Olivia silently took his hand and Frost guided her toward the bed. He lifted the blankets and Olivia slipped under the covers and quickly moved toward the other side. She gently tugged his hand, pulling him into the bed with her. He got under the covers and found himself staring at the beautiful blue-eyed woman. Beneath the covers she took both of his hands in hers.
“I think…” Olivia’s face turned red as she stared at him. “I would like you to kiss me.”
“Alright,” Frost said as he leaned toward the woman and gently kissed her, taking her lower lip in his and gently tugging it as he pulled away. “Like that?”
“Mmhm,” Olivia nodded slowly as she leaned in for another kiss.
Frost kissed Olivia dozens of times, each time waiting for her to withdraw only for the kiss to go on longer than expected. It was like the beautiful woman was testing him, trying to see if he meant it when he said he would go slow. It felt like each time they kissed that she was preparing for him to take her by force.
“Husband,” Olivia finally whispered to him. “Would you be angry if I told you that I wanted to go to sleep?”
“Angry? No,” Frost answered. “Maybe a little disappointed. But it’s like I said. I have no interest in sleeping with you unless you’re going to enjoy it.”
“It takes me some time to feel comfortable around people,” Olivia said. “I’m sorry.”