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A Book of Roses - Book 2	By : Moongirl Category: A through F > Dragonlance Views: 3932 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the book(s) that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Chapter 2 – Favored

He returned as he said he would on the fourth night, but sooner than expected. Already the knights and beasts have entered the bar, starting their drinking binge as soon as they could. The orders to move out have been delayed once again, their commanders claiming their Queen didn’t find it a favorable time as yet.
The truth, th, this was one of the poorer regimens, men not qualified for fighting but for bullying. They were the mop up crew when the real conquerors were to press on. The soldiers didn’t care, favoring the few work out routines and ale for the night. The bigger the hangover, the better the pressure on the townsfolk became.
Winding around the carousing men and hissing lizards, he made his way to the bar. Barmaids skittered away from him, looking on in awe and disgust at the same time. The men ignored him, enjoying that he pressed the girls closer to their tables so they could snatch them. If some didn’t move out of his way fast enough, he gave them a smack to the ankle with his staff to scare them off.
The barkeep saw him coming in and immediately started to panic. He feared the eyes that seemed to glow under the dark hood, the voice that seemed to hiss harsher than the draconians, and a touch that could curdle his blood. Regardless, he was glad that he seemed to find a wench for his bed, and willing to pay so handsomely for her. He didn’t know how she could stand this person, but as long as she did her job and he got the money, all was right in the world.
With a thump of his staff, he snarled at the man behind the counter. “I trust you have followed my instructions to the letter. If not, I know of some hungry dragons that don’t mind a little fat on their meat.”
“N-n-n-no, sir. She was not touched by anyone else. You can inspect her yourself, if you wish.” Sweating profusely, he produced the key to her room. “She’s on the third floor, mspacspacious and accommodating for a master like yourself.”
Snatching the key away, he said, “I want no disruptions from any of you. She is off for the rest of the night. If I deem fit, she will have tomorrow off too.”
“Would you like anything delivered?”
“No, I deserve better than what you serve the mongrels here. I wish for privacy.”
Nodding, the barkeep wiped his forehead. “She is in the last room at the end of the hall, the left side.” Without ano wor word, the mage walked up the stairs.
He could have just teleported himself up to the third floor, but they already suspected him of great power. Some had seen him training under the master mage of their regiment, and his abilities were growing more each day. His power could get him to be the leader if he so wished, but now was not the time for him to claim it. Soon, but not now. Walking slowly, he became anxious to see her, the only woman that desired him. As he approached the door, he willed his heart to calm down and his hand to steady as he unlocked the door.
The mage walked in quickly and turned suddenly so that he could lock the door with a spell. A few wards would keep sounds from coming in or out and keep anyone with a second key outside. A quiet voice questioned, “Raistlin? Is that you?”
Once he was sure the wards were set did he turn around and answer, “It is I, Shareene.” The room was much bigger than the other, the walls were a better wood and actually lacquered. The table was lit with two candles and a lantern, surrounded with chairs that had cushions on them. The bed was bigger; sheets were of a better make and the blanket looked thicker. There was now a wardrobe for her belongings and a small vanity with a silver brush and large mirror. A fireplace was roaring, lighting the room better than the lantern was. But what was before the fire made him stare more than anythinse.
se.
There was a large wooden tub, and in it was Shareene. He could see her head leaning on the edge of the tub and her arm dangling off to the side, water dripping from her fingers. The rest was obscured by the deepness of the tub. Adjusting herself a bit, she pulled one leg out and let it rest on the side, the water running down her skin, making her sparkle in the firelight.
He cleared his throat nervously as he willed the blush to come off his face. He tried to remove the look of shock as she pulled her limbs back in and sat up. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were coming over this early or I would have been ready,” she said softly, crossing her arms on the side of the tub and leaning her chin on them. “There is a scroll case on the table for you. It’s what I’ve overheard the past couple of days. It could mostly be rumors since most were drunk out of their wits, but you might be able to get something out of it.”
Raistlin nodded and walked over to the table, sat down wearily. He knew she trusted him completely, otherwise she would have taken her bath earlier. He exerted more will power than before so that she could keep trusting him. The nights before he was haunted by that vision of her half naked in the moonlight, ghostly images of seeing her spin around and descend on him like a gliding bird, only to wake up with a frustration he hadn’t felt in years. Afraid of losing his mindwomewomen like his brother had, he trained himself to seal passionate feelings away and turn it into an energy that made his casting that much stronger. Coming upon her again as a beautiful woman just destroyed all that training in one quick moment.
But he wondered to himself, could he truly love her as she deserved, or would he lose himself in his ambition instead and leave Shareene behind, just like she said? Sighing, he cleared his mind of doubts and looked at her.
She looked so innocent sitting there, like the girl he remembered saying goodbye to so many years ago. She smiled at him, a soft delicate look that set his heart beating faster again. Giggling a bit, she pushed away from the side, clamped her nose shut with finger and thumb, aunkeunked herself under the water. She sprang up again,ashiashing water over the sides, and then drenching the room further as she shook her hair from side to side. Leaning over the side, she was reng fng for a jar of melted soap. Her hand touched his as he went to hand it to her.
“You know you can join me if you want to,” she offered shyly as she took the jar. As he straightened up, he noticed the water was darkened with previously used soap, obscuring his view of her, which in a way he was grateful for.
He licked his lips nervously. “I…I shouldn’t. I don’t want to catch another chill because of you,” he teased.
She looked at him under dripping eyelashes. “The water is still hot, and I’m sure you know a spell or two to warm it up again. Or are you more shy about being around me without all those coverings on?”
She knows me too well, he mused. Sighing, he rolled his eyes at her. “Shareene, if you know me that well, then you already know what the answer is.”
The brunette reached up to grab his hand. “You have no need to be shy around me, Raistlin. I would never judge you, and you know me well enough to know that. Now come on, join me. It will be better than the time we went swimming.”
He could never resist her smile, no matter how hard he tried. Letting go of her hand, he dipped it into the water to test the temperature. “Mind if I heat this up a little more?” he asked. She nodded. With a few whispered words, Shareene could feel the water getting warmer, stopping at the temperature that made it feel like she was snuggled under blankets. It was enough for her neck to start sweating, but it was still comfortable.
The hard part was changing in the same room as her. Belt, cape and boots were not an issue. He hesitated lifting the robes off over his head, but after turning his back to her was he able to. Then stopped, shyness taking over severely. “You’re not going to get into here with your trousers on are you?” she teased, noticing her words making his shoulders go stiff. Slowly did he turn around, noticing her staring him in the face, then letting her eyes drift over his body. Raistlin felt too vulnerable without the components and robes weighting him down, nothing covering his frame. But then he noticed that her look was of approval, not of disgust like others would have done.
Shareene knew it might be considered rude to stare at him, but she waited a long time to see him without the soft material on. He was never really built like his brother, which was too much muscle for her. But neither was he small or thin like a pampered elf. There was muscle on him from the hard living on the road caused, enough to give him definition in the right spots. His frailty came from his ability to be sick too easily, not that he was physically weak, though if hit hard with a cold or illness he could be. His pants were tight enough that she could see enough details, but this is where his hesitancy was coming from. He’s wanted to be with a woman but never had the chance, so he’s afraid to show himself, she thought to herself. Closing her eyes, she whispered, “I promise I won’t look.”
She kept her word, and kept her eyes closed when she heard the pants fall to the floor. The water sloshed a little as he entered, sitting opposite her, his legs stretched out to her right side. Then she opened them again. The mage was sitting like a sullen child that didn’t know what to do, the red showing through the gold of his skin and just starting to creep down his neck. Giggling, she opened the jar and scooped out some of the soap. “See, it isn’t all that bad, is it?” she joked as she handed the jar to him to hold.
Not knowing what to do, he took it but kept his eyes averted from her. “I feel foolish,” he muttered.
“Nonsense,” the brunette muttered, rubbing the flowery soap into her hair. “You’re just incredibly shy. I remember it taking a few days of convincing to go to the lake with me.” After working it through, she clamped her nose again and dunked herself, her knees shooting up out of the water to make room. After a few moments she resurfaced, puffing water off her lips and wiping the water from her eyes. Blinking a few times she regained her vision, pulling the wet curls away from her forehead. “And even then you were too afraid to approach me.” Once she saw him look sullen again, she smiled and brushed her hand against his arm. “I found your shyness sweet. I would rather be with someone quiet than to be with someone that was a foolhardy braggart.”
He knew what she meant; being that she was the only girl that didn’t fall for his brother’s charms. “I know, and I appreciated it. I didn’t always show it, but I did.” He reached for her hand and held it tight. “I still do,” he whispered with a small smile.
Shareene’s heart melted every time he smiled at her. She took the jar away from him and motioned him to turn around. He wasn’t sure what she was up to, but once he could feel her soaped hands running along his back and shoulders he understood. He closed his eyes and let the feel of her cool hands move over his skin, every now and then her fingers would work a knot out of his muscles as she cleansed him. Her hands slid to the front like an embrace, pressing her chest into his back as she caressed his. He gripped the front of the tub and nearly dug his fingers into the wood, desperately trying not to give into his desires at the moment. If she was doing this on purpose, she was more of a vixen than he originally thought her as.
Now her hands unfolded around him and went to his hair. She guided him to lean back to wet his hair, and his vision was filled with her pleased face. The smallest act she did for him made her happy, and he didn’t understand why. He could feel her run her fingers through his hair, making him close his eyes and breathe a sigh. He couldn’t remember a time where someone was this kind or gentle to him except for the few clear moments his mother would have. But this felt much different than his childhood memories. It was more comforting coming from her. As she helped him back up to sitting, he actually admitted to himself that he enjoyed this kind of attention. Her fingers were still buried in his hair as she added the soap she used for herself on him. She leaned him back again to rinse his hair out, and he nearly felt his head being pillowed by her breasts. Whether that was accidental or intentional, it never showed on her face. Though she did lean over him to kiss him on the forehead before guiding him back up to a sitting position, and he sighed again.
Once she was done cleaning him, as far as she thought he would be comfortable with, Shareene guided him to sit next to her. She pressed her shoulder under his arm, and he lifted it so she could slip into his embrace. He could, again, feel one of her breasts pressed into his side, one arm winding around his stomach.
“Do you even have any idea what you’re doing to me right now?” he whispered harshly as he willed himself to calm down again.
“Something good I hope,” she responded.
He was amazed at how innocently she acted around him. How could she think having their bare bodies pressed together wouldn’t bring out feelings he hadn’t allowed himself to have in many years. Maybe she really didn’t know and just wanted to hold him. Either way, he tried desperately to will any excitement down.
Raistlin looked at her, with her damp hair tossed around her shoulders. Her eyes closed as if she was asleep in his arms. She braced herself up with one arm while the other was still draped around him, her hand carelessly brushing his side. He could feel parts of her pressed up against him, not in seduction but as a child would wrap around something they felt was only theirs. His hand wrapped around her shoulder, pulling some of her hair away as the other rested on her arm. He could get used to feeling like this, if only he didn’t have more pressing issues on his mind.
He could forget them for a while, have his way with her, and beg her to wait for him until he finished his mission. But he didn’t want to make her feel used like the others have. Once his goal was achieved, and he claimed what is his, then he would take her away from all of this. Then would he feel right by giving her what she’s wanted of him all this time. His heart, his mind, and his body would be hers. But not now.
Too much war was occurring. Uncertainties were everywhere, and there was no safe place for them. He couldn’t promise that when the war was over that there would be someplace safe for them. He and the people he once traveled with might be able to push it back, but he didn’t hold the belief that the danger would be over and done with.
It was silent in the room. He didn’t want to fall asleep in the tub with her so he gently nudged her. She didn’t move much, just looked up at him. “Come, let’s get you out of the water and into something warm.”
Shareene nodded. “All right, I’ll get out first.” She adjusted herself to give him time to look away. While her back was turned he almost dared to look just a little, but stopped himself from doing it. He couldn’t, he cared for her too much to do that to her. A rustle of material and then she said, “I’m dressed but I’m looking away.” Raistlin turned his head to see that she had her nightshirt on and her back to him. He stepped out, used her towel and got back into his robes to stave off a chill. Once back in the thick robes, his belt full of spell components cinched around his waist, he felt better again. He walked over to her and laid a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to face him, so close to him. In a split moment he remembered having her skin pressed against his. Never has any woman done that before. And before he lost his mind to the sensation again, he tucked away the memory for another time.
She seemed to have noticed his hesitation and tried to cover it for him. “Did you want something to eat? You must be a little hungry.”
Raistlin blinked to return to the present. “Honestly, I do not think I could eat what they serve here. I would rather have something here that was more fitting my little queen.” With that he walked her to the table and helped her sit down. With a few whispered words, dishes appeared on the table. There was a basket filled with bread, a small pot of stew, another bowl with fruits in it, and a bottle of wine. Two empty plates rested by their chairs with utensils and delicate glasses.
She stared in delight as she saw real food in front of her. “My goodness, Raistlin. This looks wonderful.” She reached over to the breadbasket and took a slice out; still warm like it was just taken out of the oven. “This is all real food?”
He smiled faintly as he sat down. “No, this isn’t an illusion. This is just a handy way of not starving among mages. We can’t show it all the time. The average person wouldn’t trust this. Some mages don’t trust food conjured by other mages because they don’t know what could be in it. Sometimes I do it for myself just so I don’t have to eat the barrack’s swill. I would rather starve than try to digest what they call edible.”
“I can understand that, I’ve smelled it off their breaths.” She started to ladle the stew into his plate. “But with all the ale they drink I’m surprised they find the room to even consider eating.”
He smirked. “Ale passes through the system quickly and keeps their hunger at bay. What they get is not enough to fill even my small appetite. So they drink. Add hunger and alcohol into an already hate torn warrior and you get the Queen’s killing machine. But since this lot is rather sorry in the fronts, they are used to just fill in and keep conquered territories in line. They are nothing but the town’s bullies I’m afraid. They are good for nothing, and I think they’re starting to realize that the more they are told they will have to stay put for another week or so.” Raistlin looked up and noticed that Shareene was eating like she was still being starved. His eyebrows furrowed at this sight. “Shareene, are they still abusing you?”
She paused for a moment, blotting her face with her fingers quickly, almost embarrassed by her behavior as she realized what she must have looked like. “I’m…I’m sorry to act like this….”
“Tell me truthfully,” he whispered seriously. “Are they still abusing you?”
She put down her spoon quietly and looked away from him. “I’m not beaten, nor was I given to anyone else. But…this is the first time I’ve ever been in this room. I know they told you that they’ve been giving me the best of everything…but honestly not much has changed. I might get a little more sleep but that’s about it.” She put her spoon down and ran a hand over her forehead. “I at least have not been forced to be in the bed of someone else.” Shareene snorted, “How could they? The men are afraid to even take their orders to me because I’m ‘mage-touched’, as they call it. They’re so superstitious that they believe I’ve been marked by you.”
Raistlin smirked. “You were.”
She looked at him out of the corner of her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Seems that the little blessing I gave you before you left was some sort of spell I casted without even knowing it. It kept you protected, for the most part….” His voice trailed off as he recalled the story she told him before. “If I had known your life would have been hurt this much, I would have created something stronger.”
“But would it still have led you to me?”
He paused for a moment. “Honestly…I do not know. Maybe you would have been so protected that even I couldn’t find you. For I’m riding the wings of danger as we speak. I do not know the outcome of this war, except that I am determined to survit.”it.”
“If…if you do not…” her voice caught for a moment as she tried to bring the words out, “I don’t know what I would do without the hope of having you with me. But I can’t ask you to stop your destiny either.”
“Whatever my destiny happens to lie in,” he muttered as an afterthought. He noticed her look confused at his answer, he waved his hand as if dismissing the words. “If something were to happen to me, you would know it.”
“I never want to have that feeling.” Shareene looked at her dish, almost losing her appetite at the thought of losing him just as she found him again.
“Nor do I wish to lose you,” Raistlin whispered softly. The brunette looked into his eyes. The eyes that reminded her of a cat, so filled with emotion right now that it hurt to look into them. Instead she reached for the hand that rested on the table and squeezed it. “I know of no one that would treat me like you do. To care as much as you do. It’s…it’s overwhelming is what it is. I just…I just don’t understand….”
“What’s there to understand?” she responded. “All you need to know is that I love you.”
“Why? Why do you? I didn’t have anything to offer you back then. And now I’ve been made into a war mage by time and circumstance. What am I to you?”
Shareene sighed. She slid off her chair to kneel in front of him, resting on her legs as she held both of his hands. “I was drawn to you the first time I laid my eyes on you. So different from the others with their toy swords and that woman teaching them to be men. I couldn’t tell you exactly what it was, whether that you were intelligent or the way you looked or your demeanor…or all of them at the same time. It’s not a matter of speculating why. I just do. Accept that.”
He looked down at her, still confused and overwhelmed over her feelings for him. He couldn’t just accept it, there is a reason for everything…and there was a part of him that didn’t care if there was one. He caressed her face, watching her eyes close in pleasure of his touch, seeing her press her cheek into his palm. How easy it would be for him to claim her. To pull her close…as he was doing…lean in and brush my lips against hers…and did…aeel eel her shudder in my hand…as she was doing…from the simplest of touches. After Raistlin realized he had just done such a thing, he noticed he was not as still as he thought he would be. He could feel a shaking in his hands, a twitch in his lips from the sheer inexperience of kissing anyone. Instead of controlling himself, both hands went to the nape of her neck to bring her back again for a longer, more lingering kiss. He pressed her mouth so tight against his he felt like he was bruising both of them, could feel her hand grab handfuls of the velvet he was wearing. Her breath was coming out hard from her nose, small moans echoing in her throaot kot knowing if it was pleasure or fear that was making her do this. It didn’t matter for some reason; all he could think of was wanting her for this one moment. Not having to think of this quest he was sent on, the war that raged around them, not having to care that he was not using hise ane and energy on the study of the Art. There only existed him and her on this whole continent…and those that did exist could go to the Abyss for as much as he cared right now.
Shareene felt a small stiffening in his frame as if he wasn’t sure of what he was doing. Instead of letting him linger with uncertainty, she let go of his robes and wrapped her arms around him, letting her lips move against his as if to show him how to move. Her hands moved across his back, caressing him as she melted farther into his embrace. She would have dreams of this, being held by him and being loved by him. She prayed that somehow her fantasies would become true, and finally she got her wish. They parted for a moment to catch their breath, she could hear the slight whistling sound from his lungs and it worried her. He almost was on the edge of a coughing fit, but for some reason it never came. She was locked in his gaze, seeing his eyes take on a darker gold from his excitement, a faint flush on his face still noticeable through the tint of his skin. She wanted to catch his parted lips in another kiss, but she longed for more. She had waited so long for him, but she knew he was all too new to this. So was she in a way.
Even with this in mind, she was taken by surprise as he stood up and lifted her to her feet so quickly it made her head spin. He stared into her eyes as he kissed her again, holding her so tight to him like he was afraid of her leaving or disappearing. Her arms returned to rest around his waist, her hands sliding up his back only to slide down again, daring herself to roam a little farther than before. He shuddered at her touch, his hands shakily gliding down her frame in imitation of her movement. When his hands went to cup her bottom, it only pressed her hips into his and she could feel his excitement. Encouraged, she started to guide him to the bed, one small step at a time. He followed her lead and sat down heavily when the back of his knees touched the edge of the bed. She pushed him into recline as she went to lay over him, their kiss never breaking.
For a moment, Raistlin had a clear thought and was trying to pull her up. “No…not now…” he gasped as she didn’t let up.
“No, not quite now…” she said, nipping at his lower lip playfully.
His eyes were squeezed shut, trying to make his body obey his mind and finding that he couldn’t. “I won’t…I won’t claim you…like this…” he protested between gasps and her kissing.
She leaned up for a moment. “No, I know you won’t. But I intend to claim you.”
He stared at her, not knowing what she could mean. “What…what are you talking about?”
“Relax,” she whispered in his ear. “I haven’t done this before, but I think you won’t mind afterwards,” was all she said. Her hands went to the belt around his waist and undid them with shaky fingers.
“How can I when you won’t explain this?” he gasped, his panic threatening to make him wheeze.
“Please,” she said again in his ear, almost begging which sent a thrill down his spine. “Let me do this…maybe you will understand after this.” Her hands pulled up his robes to his waist and slid underneath. He gasped audibly from her touch, cool hands sliding up his stomach, slightly arching into her. “If I rush you, let me know. But I won’t stop because of a foolish war.”
He knew there was no stopping her once she had her mind set on something. It all screamed wrong to him, that it wasn’t the time. And yet he didn’t have the strength to push her away either. He couldn’t speak anymore to protest. Her hands, though she might be unskilled, didn’t seem that way to him. He felt her drag her fingers down his sides, making him arch again like a cat. He grabbed her, pulling her down to kiss her full on the mouth. Again she surprised him as he felt her lick his lips, angling her face so that she let her tongue roam over his. It was so forward, so strange in feeling, and yet it excited him in a way he couldn’t explain. His fingers tangled in her hair as he tried to copy her movement, darting his tongue between her lips and bringing out a moan in her that sent another thrill through him.
For a while, Raistlin didn’t keep track of where her hands were going. He was so lost in the feeling of sharing her mouth that he never noticed that her hands were straying to his trousers in the attempts of opening them. Shareene’s fingers stumbled in her haste, but she kept trying till she felt the material part in her hands. She tried to pull them down a bit to free him, but he wasn’t getting her signals. Instead, she slid one hand inside, her fingers teasing him to let him know where she was heading.
When he felt her touching him in a most intimate way, his eyes shot open and he lost the rhythm of his kiss. Crossed between rolling his eyes back in his head or pulling away, he stared into her eyes with a look of shock and pleasure. “What…what are you…?”
“Lift your hips, love,” was all she said, and he did so. With very little grace she was able to free him. He had his head up to watch what she was doing, but once the pants were down a bit he felt back with a gasp. He didn’t realize how tight they were becoming.
After a small moment he got up on his elbows and looked down at her. “I know you’ve worked me up to this point, but I won’t….” He was cut off by a moan escaping him when her fingers closed around his arousal and started to move slowly. He now understood what she was doing. Since the girl didn’t possess any magic, she was going to please him like he had done for her. He closed his eyes, breathing hard as she teased him with her movements. Just as he was learning her pattern of movement, he felt something warm and wet slide underneath the length of him. Opening his eyes he gasped as he saw it was her tongue doing it. “No…please…” he started to beg, his breath cut off as she licked the tip.
“Don’t be frightened…” she whispered. “I might be new to this, but I want to do it.” With that she took only the tip of his erection between her lips and softly licked and sucked on him.
He couldn’t fight her anymore. Raistlin fell back on the bed, his hands clutching to the blankets as she kept working on him. He could feel her take him in little by little, leaving him breathless and seeking a release that he wasn’t familiar with. She stopped before she entirely took him in her mouth, letting her hand grip the rest. He felt her shift to a more comfortable position and started to draw him in and out of her lips. She was slow at first and unsure about how to do it, but she found her pacing and kept a rather steady rhythm.
The faster she worked him, the less he could breathe. He couldn’t think anymore…the rest of the world and all its concerns had disappeared somehow. He could hear himself in the distance, moaning and softly calling her name, feeling a pressure rise within and his body start to sweat. It was terribly warm in there, but he couldn’t move to remove the heavy robes that were starting to cling to his form. Somewhere he noticed that his hips were trying to move in time to her rise and fall, as if sharing a dance. He had no idea how and why he was doing what he was, and then didn’t care. This pressure, the need of release, it was so similar to casting a spell that took forever to finish, welling from inside and making him see colors behind his eyelids. That feeling was very familiar to him, and likened this to what he knew. Not understanding if there was magic involved or this was just a normal reaction, he tensed up as if that would hasten the end.
She felt the clutching of his muscles and wasn’t sure what this was caused by. She knew that if he fought this he would never reach his climax. Not letting up her ministrations, her other hand went to caress his stomach, as if to tell him to relax and not fight. It seemed to work as she felt the clenching there ease up. She could feel him shifting on the bed now and then, his bucking into her hand was a good sign that she was doing it right, or so she was told. She moved faster, as much as she could and heard him start to growl. It won’t be much longer now, she thought to herself.
Raistlin felt like he was flying out of his mind as he came closer and closer to the finish. He tensed, a final roar and arch into her grip as he felt the searing climax take over, the expelling of fluid into her mouth as he snarled her name in release. As the spasms slowed and stopped, he collapsed back down onto the bed, his breath torn and ragged as he recovered. He felt her letting him slip out; the grip easing around him and faintly heard her coughing. He could barely hear anything with the roar of his pulse echoing in his ears. She was gone from his presence for only a moment, then felt her crawl into the bed with him, her head resting on his chest and her arms wrapped around him.
It took him a long time before he was able to speak again, to open his eyes and try to focus on the ceiling above him. He regretted that as the curse made the wood look like it was rotting at an alarming rate. He shut them again, the vision threatening to make a wonderful experience sour. But now he understood what he never had, and what his friends did. Why they sought it so much, even more than the ability to handle cold steel in their hands. It was the closest thing they would ever have to knowing magic. How it felt to draw energy through your body and expel it into a form of blessing or curse. How similar it was, and yet different as the act made you stop thinking and true casting was all about thought. But after this, he would not seek another for such an experience, nor would he demand it of her constantly. Just like magic, this was something to be treasured, to be done in the right circumstances. Not like his sister who used her body not just for war and money. You don’t squander casting on foolishness, nor should this act be done for any other reason but love.
Love. That was something he thought he would never have. And here it was, and just partaken in…and he wanted it more so than ever.
Raistlin tried again to open his eyes, willing the curse to leave him alone for a while. So far his will held for this moment. He tried to lick his lips and found his mouth was dry, as if he ran through the Plains of Dust just now. She must have felt him stir or recover, for she propped herself up and looked into his eyes. He slowly locked his eyes with her, and was at a loss of words. He was so amazed by her that he didn’t have any way to convey how he felt about her. Words weren’t needed as Shareene leaned over him and delicately kissed him. He tasted a bit of the wine and some other foreign substance he wasn’t familiar with on her lips, and then realized it was himself he detected…and didn’t care. She parted from him and got up out of the bed. She came back with the glass of wine and a small piece of bread for him. Weak as he was, he managed to sit up and take the offered items after he pulled his robes back down. Looking back he thought it was a bit silly to all of a sudden have modesty, but sometimes the shyness was overwhelming.
He took a sip of the wine before he went to have a bite, but he kept looking at her in awe and adoration. She blushed as she realized he didn’t know what to say to her now. “I take it that you liked it,” she said with a small laugh.
“I can’t believe you did that,” he whispered, his voice nearly gone. “It was…it was…just amazing…. I just…don’t know what to say.”
Shareene took the glass away and set it on the floor. “I guess there isn’t any words to say now.”
“No,” he agreed. “There isn’t any.” cuppcupped her cheek in his hand and gave her a soft kiss. “Thank you….”
She smiled. “I love you, Raistlin. Do you believe me now?”
He nodded.
“No more whys?”
“They will still remain. But they’re not as important now.”
“Good, that will do.” She stifled a yawn, knowing that they were both tired. “Make yourself comfortable, I think we should get a little sleep right now.”
He nodded, as he started to feel his eyes fog and ready to close. Standing up, he slid the trousers off but left the robes on, regardless of how damp they were. But after a moment he thought he wouldn’t be very comfortable and took them off. It took a second for him to realize what he had done and blushed.
She sat in the bed with her eyes wide open, shocked to see him totally unclothed for the first time. And in that moment she wanted to be taken by him, even though he would balk at the idea. Instead of staring at him, Shareene closed her eyes and slipped off her nightshirt and sat in front of him just as sky clad as he was.
Even though the lighting was poor, Raistlin could still see some of the bruises left on her body, some newer than others. Instead of focusing on her hurts, his eyes trailed over her form, and he was very close to losing his mind again to the roar in his ears if it wasn’t for how tired he was. He blinked and sighed, appreciating the beauty that he was about to sleep next to. Without a word, he pulled the blankets back and slipped under them. She did likewise, and he reached out for her. He pulled her next to himself, feeling the warmth of her torso against his sweat cooled skin, and sighed.
She rested against him, her eyes drifting shut as she heard the words, “I love you, Shareene,” as she fell asleep.

Raistlin could hear the roar of fire… of dragons…before he could see. He found himself standing before a ring of fire, a doorway leading into a valley of red sand. The flames that licked the darkness took forms of dragon heads, screeching through the fire in the praise of the goddess they glorified. He could feel the heat of the plains, the ring, and the magic that caused this moment to happen.
He realized there was someone standing next to his side, a wisp of white silk fluttering nearby. He turned his head to see Shareene standing by him, her chin up as if she was unafraid of the vision in front of them, but he could still feel her body tremble. She was clad in white silk, a platinum disk hanging from her neck shining blood red from the fire. He could see her chest rise and fall from her labored breathing. She was afraid, but she wouldn’t let it show on her face.
Smiling, he took her hand and raised it as if he was going to escort her down an aisle. Her eyes connect with his, and she nods to signal she was ready. They turned to the gate and slowly walked inside…into the valley of the Abyss.
Demons from nowhere charged them, and she stood in front of him and dispelled them with flashes from her hands. They would march forward, be attacked, and she would take the brunt of it. He did nothing to defend her, and he could see the robes becoming torn and stained red from her blood. Yet they continued on, even with her steps faltering and her gasps of pain. He let her be hurt, damaged, and yet she always had a bit more strength to push the demons away and continue on.
Once he stopped before the great five-headed dragon, Shareene finally dropped. Her face was towards him, and he could see that she had gone blind somewhere along the way. She reached out for him, almost pleading for someone, anyone, to help her. Instead of offering his hand, he stepped over her and faced the dragon.
In the middle of the circle of dragon heads does dark eyes with unfathomable depths appear. Feminine laughter mixes with the cries of the beast, mocking him.
Am I worth so much, mortal mage, that you would sacrifice the only person that will ever love you? Look! Watch what your ambition will cause!
He turned back and saw that Shareene was already gone, dead and still at his feet. His brother Caramon hovered over her, looked up and hissed, “You killed her.”
Raistlin was horrified for a moment, but he said instead, “The Goddess killed her. Now I kill the Goddess.” He turned back to the beast.
You are a bigger fool than I thought, boomed the female voice. Are you prepared to fight? To face the fate that is worse than death itself?
“I am ready…to take your place.”

With a gasp, Raistlin woke up. He sits up and covered his eyes with his hands, willing the vision to leave his mind. No, he screams in his mind, I won’t do that to her. How could you make me see that? I would never…never think of….
He looked down and saw the brunette still sleeping peacefully, shifting every now and then as if she was reacting to whatever dream she was having. A tear fell down his cheek at the thought of him willing her destruction. He would never ask that of her. He would fall first before she did.
How can you be so sure of that? was the answer that came back in his mind.
He ran his hand through his white hair, frustrated that he would doubt his love of her. She who waited forever for him, spent time with him when others wouldn’t, loved him without conditions. He was so angry with himself for this questioning of his loyalty. It angered him so he was nearly brought to tears. Only a few fell, which he wiped away quickly, as if to dismiss what they meant.
No, he wouldn’t sacrifice her. He wouldn’t let harm come to her. Raistlin decided this firmly in his mind and pushed the doubt to the back of his mind. She meant everything to him.
A reminder hissed in his head. No, the magic is everything. She plays a part in your rise to power.
He nearly hissed aloud to make the voice shut up for once. If only he didn’t have to make that pact…not live this way. To be the puppet of another. But the decision was made, and there was no turning back now. He had to find a way to deal with the horrible reminder of the price he paid for his success.
Giving up, he laid back down next to Shareene, careful not to wake her. Her back was turned to him now, so he draped an arm around her waist and held her to his chest. My woman, he thought to himself before he fell asleep again.

Shareene woke up slowly, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against her, his breath on the back of her neck. She wished that this moment would last forever, that the dawn wouldn’t come so quickly. For she knew he would have to part from her again, and she didn’t want him to leave. She turned around in his embrace, wrapping an arm around him and gently kissed him.
Raistlin took a deep breath, her kiss waking him slowly. His senses woke up with his mind, feeling every part of her pressed against him. He marveled of how soft she felt in his hands, delicate yet solid and real. His hands squeezed here and there, memorizing the curves and contours of her frame. Letting them slide to the front and latching onto her breasts, making her gasp against his mouth. That small sound she made threatened to wake up more than just his mind. He caressed them, finding out that just touching her like that excited him. He could feel the nipples hardening under his palms, and he closed thumb and finger around them, pinching and twisting just a little and she made that delightful sound again. It excited him further, his arousal now obvious and growing painful.
She was becoming wet with his exploration, her mouth moving on his. She felt him harden against her hip, and she reached down and wrapped her hand around him, slowly stroking him. Now he gasped at her touch, his hips moving in time with her hand. He let one of his hands slide down and find the juncture of her thighs, his fingers moving delicately to find her center that he heard about. Through the fog of pleasure she was giving him, he did manage to find it and let the tip of his finger move over it. He smiled when she bucked into him and moaned. He caught her mouth in a passionate kiss, his finger stroked her center and kept up the same pace as she did on him.
Every breath she took ended in a moan from her throat. She gripped him tighter, stroked him faster as she felt him take her with his hand. Then gasped aloud when she felt one of those delicate fingers slide into her. She almost lost her rhythm on him as she was overwhelmed by his touch. Her hand recovered and moved faster on him, wanting to hear him when he reached his climax. His hand moved in response, sliding another finger into her and plunging them in again and again. They were now both shifting their hips in time to each other’s attention, their kisses becoming more heated and brazen. She gasped his name as she came on his hand, her eyes open and locked with his as he watched the pleasure on her face. He could feel her walls tightening on his fingers, hearing his name whispered in praise drove him over and came with a soft growl of her name, splashing her hip in his rush.
They lay there for a moment, lost in their release as they kissed lazily, slowly removing their hands from each other and just embracing each other. Recovering enough, she whispered, “Thank you for that.”
He smiled against her lips, nuzzling her face slightly. “It is I who should be thanking you,” he responded. He felt so good right now, he didn’t want to get out of the bed and face another day without her there. Praying tatevatever god would find him worthy for the moment, he hoped that he could take her away from the horrid situation she was in soon. Raistlin didn’t want to leave her in this place, where he didn’t know what was happening to her and had to find out after the fact. He thought up something that would allow him to do so, and decided as soon as he left here he would head straight away into creating it.
“Come,” he whispered. “We should clean up and I’ll get some food into you before I leave.” She nodded and let him help her out of the bed.
With a quick spell, the water was cleaned and heated again. They both gently soaped each other up without the excitement. They played a little in the water, a small kiss here and there, and talked a bit about nothing at all. He was the first to get up and out of the tub, his shyness forgotten after last night. He held out his hand to her and helped her out. She grabbed the towel and started to rub him down first, not wanting him to catch a chill in the cool morning. He then did the same for her, smiling as she purred from his touch. They dressed quickly and he magicked the old dishes away and brought forth new ones. They ate, talking about the war and what was going to happen soon.
Once they had their full, he whisked the plates away and silently prepared to leave for the day. She was sad but didn’t want it to show. Instead, when his back was to her, she came up and held him, her cheek pressed against his back, inhaling his scent so that it would keep her company in the lonely days ahead. He just stood with his head lowered, his hands twining with hers as he took in her love, absorbing it to give him strength. They both knew it was time for him to part, and she silently draped his cape over his shoulders.
Raistlin fastened it and drew his hood up as he turned to face her. She smiled quietly at him, though he knew the sadness in her eyes. He took her chin in his fingers and kissed her softly. “I will be back in four nights. I promise to bring you a gift….”
“No, Raistlin, you shouldn’t….”
“Shh,” he silenced her with a brush of his lips. “This will help you in the long run. I want you to have this when I can’t be around.”
Shareene sighed and slowly closed her eyes. “Just return to me as soon as you can. And for the gods’ sake finish this war already,” she joked.
He smiled and kissed her for one final time. He reached for his staff as he whispered, “Until then, my love.” It hurt like nothing he ever known to turn away from her and walk out the door. But he did somehow, the grip on his staff so tight his knuckles were pale. He slowly made his way down the stairs and went to the barroom.
The man paled as the mage walked forward, obviously something was wrong from last night. “Sir Mage,” he stumbled out. “Was she not to your satisfaction? I will make sure to correct….” He never got a chance to finish his words as his air was cut off. One golden hand made the motion as if he held the barkeep’s throat there, his eyes glittering dangerously.
“I thought I had told you the girl was not to be harmed,” he whispered harshly. “She was covered with bruises. She was starved and tired. This was probably the first time she had a bath since she’s been here. Seems that my wishes mean nothing to you, unlike my coin.” The man tried to speak and shake his head no, but Raistlin snarled at him into standing still. “You will follow my words to the letter next time, or I won’t be as merciful.” As soon as the man’s eyes were about to roll backwards, he released the spell and watched him fall to the floor coughing and gasping. “Remember to do as I say.” He pulled out another purse of money and tossed it on the counter. “Feed her, keep her clean and warm, and she is to stay in that room. I want one of the wenches to clean up that room and tend to her needs. I want her respected as much as I demand it from my own troops. I will be back again in a fortnight. Is that clear now?” He watched as the man nod quickly and didn’t scoop up the money as fast as he did before. With that he turned and started to walk out the door.
Raistlin hoped that he did enough to protect her this time. He knew the plan of his gift would keep him in touch with her, and would know exactly what was going on with her when he couldn’t be there. It will take the four nights just to have it ready, but he was adamant in creating it.
He now has almost everything he wanted out of his life, he wasn’t about to lose any part of his success to failure on his part.

To be continued…
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A Book of Roses - Book 2