Bethsani Lyonsbane

Bethsani left Grimmith quickly after being with him most of the day at Zen's request. Zen always treated her like a child needing protection, but Grimmith took her out for some sword practice.

She was suprised by his unexpected goodbye kiss. it was more than just a friendly goodbye. Each of the brothers had their qualities, each in their own way loved her, but her loyalties were to their friend Magmuus with whom they shared the keep, they had to be. She had no choice, and no way out. In an odd way, she did love him, but it was more from fear and duty than romantic love. It did make her happy to please him. He always made a fuss over her when she did so, and that made her feel good. But she feared the times when she did not. She always tried hard to please him. She owed that much too him for saving her life all those years before and taking her in.

Her heart raced as she hurried toward her home keep. Magmuus would be home soon and she needed to prepare the house for him. He was very particuliar that way, and would be very angry if it were not just so.

Bethsani approached the keep at early dusk. The night had begun to fall and the shadows filled the courtyard. She had a few hours to set things out and prepare herself for his return. She dropped her equipment in the battlements of the courtyard accept for the small bronze dagger that Zen had given her, which she always kept near her. The door to the kitchen creeked as she opened it to enter. The room was dark 'cept for the fading dim light from the window in the far corner of the room.

As she entered, she let out a startle. A lone figure, dressed in fine robes sat without movement in the dim light at the kitchen table. His hands were folded in front of him and on the table was a glass with water in it.

Bethsani's heart began to beat erratically and her breathing quickened in nervousness. He was home....

"Enter", he said. A simple word.. spoken quietly in his deep whispered tone. Beth took a breath, and stood shivering. She trembled, feeling something between fear.. and anticipation.

And she took a step forward....

Bethsani took a deep breath as she stepped forward to him. He never looked up at her, but starred straight ahead toward the window as he spoke quietly.

I have been waiting..., he said displeased. Bethsani dropped to her knees by his side. "I am sorry, Sire", she began to babble. "I was helping Grimmith with some household tasks and I lost all track of time". "It will not happen again".

Magmuus nodded. "I see" he retorted. He rose from his seat slowly and turned to face her.

"Bethsani...", he spoke as he grabbed her elbow tightly forcing her to raise to a standing position. Her heart raced.

Magmuus sighed. "You not only disobeyed my requests for the house, but you lie about where you have been to me".

"You have been out learning those foolish ways of the shadows again, haven't ye?" He asked in a monotonous tone.

Bethsani nodded. "Aye Sire" she replied to him stiffling herself from beginning to cry for displeasing him so.

Magmuus' eyes began to glare as he looked away from her in disgust.

"With Zen?", he asks angrily

She shook her head. No, Sire, Zen bade me tae go with Grimmith this eve", she spoke under her breath and she began to sob.

"Zen...bade ye...?

Magmuus clenched teeth as his anger seered about to explode in rage.

He took in a deep breath, closed his eyes and exhaled, taking control of his emotions once more.

"Listen to me..." he commanded in an eerie whisper. "Go upstairs, take off that bloodied tunic you are wearing, kneel in the center of the room and wait for me", Do you understand?" He asked.

She merely nodded in reply. And she went upstairs to follow his order.


Magmuus remained seated for a moment and took a long draw from his flask of wine. How had she become so bold as to tell him of her taking orders from another? " I am her master, NONE other shall take that from me" he told himself.

He was tired from his long trip that day, but he must resolve this rebelliousness within her before it got out of hand. Slowly he rose and made his way to the staircase and ascended to the room above.

As he entered she simply held her eyes to the floor, knowing what he intended, and Magmuus paused as he reached her side. Her bare skin glistened in the candlelight and he studied every pleasing inch of it before reaching down to take her by the wrist.

" We have been through this before Bethsani, and you know it pains me each time you are punished, but I am your master, and you shall take your orders from me and me alone."

" Yes master" she replied with her eyes still locked on the floor, and he felt a slight trembling escape her.

He led her to the bed, where he stood behind her and firmly pushed her upper body forward onto it, leaving her naked backside exposed to him. He drew his crop from beneath his robes and touched it to her bare skin, and she began to shiver.

" I do this because i care for you my love, and if it is not done you may forget your place" he said as he lifted the crop high to the side and brought it down squarely across both side of her bare arse. Her head raised and she released a muffled cry as the sting of his whip shot through her. Again he brought it down upon her, this time slightly harder then the last.

She had felt this treatment many times before but something was different. He brought the whip down upon her again, and again, and again, and she felt a lump begin to well up in her throat. This was not like Magmuus. He was being unusually harsh and she could feel the pain searing her tender backside. He seemed driven by something more then displeasure, and she could not help but to let slip a plea to him.

" Please master" she sighed, and then gripped the bed tightly in fear that it may anger him and warrant yet another lashing from him.

Magmuus paused, and as the blows quit coming, he saw her body loosen and collapse onto the bed. What had he done? He could see the bright red welts on her skin beaming out to him telling him he had went too far. He threw the crop onto the floor and knelt beside her fragile body on the bed. Her face was buried in the fabric, but he could hear her muffled cries as she hid her face from him.

" Forgive me my love " he whispered to her as he gently ran his hands across her inflammed bottom trying to sooth some of her pain. As always, the softness of her skin was enough to bestill his breath, and he cursed himself inside for having gotten carried away. He slowly stroked the back of her head caringly, then took her wrist and lifted it to encourage her to look at him.

She slowly raised her head to face him. Tears welling up in her eyes told him she was hurt, and she said not a word, but simply gazed into his eyes in silence. Again he cursed himself beneath his breath, and pulled her naked body close to his, resting her head tight against his chest.

He always made it a point to tell her what she had done wrong in the past, but at this moment he felt words were not fitting. He would merely hold her and give her his affection until her pain had resided. With a kiss to her forehead he wrapped his arms around her hoping to comfort her, and simply held her...............


Zen had returned from his trip that morning and sent word for her to meet him in the clearing by the lake near on the outskirts of the keep.

Still sore from her punishment the night before, determined to go, Bethsani set out to meet Zen.

She did not know why she was so drawn to Zen. He had a gentle strength about him. Strong and handsome yet gentle and tender in his mannerisms. She had practically grown up with him since Magmuus had found her at deaths door so many years ago. Magmuus had taken her in and nursed her back to health. He was so much different now than he was then. He had grown maddened with is possession of her. That scared Bethsani most of all and she was torn between her love and loyalty for him, and the aches in her heart to be with Zen.

She was not sure of Zen’s feelings towards her, but she sensed he felt the same, but was as afraid as she was to reveal them to her.

She made her way through thick of the forest along the dirt path that Zen had shown her before and she saw him in the distance, practicing his defensive moves on the rocks near the edge of the water. Just seeing him move with such grace and strength gave her goosebumps.

She approached him and he seemed unusually startled to see her.

“I did not think ye would show”, Zen said as his eyes brightened at the sight of her.

“I am here., she replied.

“Well then, lets get started.”, Zen said in a serious tone.

Bethsani nodded

Meanwhile, Magmuus had followed Bethsani as she left the house. As she approached the clearing the sight of Zen in the distance made it obvious to him what she was doing. She was meeting him again against his wishes. What was his hold over her? Why does he betray their friendship? He sat back in the shadows and merely observed them.

“Have ye been working on the defensive stances that I showed ye last time”, Zen asked Beth.

“Aye, I have been working on them”, she responded.

“Very well, let me see what you have mastered”, he said as he motioned for her to take stage on the grassy clearing.

Zen turned his head to look over his shoulder as his attention drew to the forest behind him as she prepared herself. A twig snapped in the distance and his instincts caught him. But he was too distracted by her, and he soon dismissed the sound and returned his attention towards her.

Bethsani drew her daggers and assumed the first defensive position. She bent her knees, feet shoulder length apart and daggers rose at the ready.

“Very nice”, he said, “But you need to raise yer right arm a bit more. Here, let me show you”.

Zen came up behind her and wrapped one arm around her waist. The other he gently placed over her right hand as she grasped the dagger. Bethsani could feel him pull her towards him as he pressed his body against her back and she winced in pain.

Zen, pressed in closer to her, took in a deep breath. His mind lingered with the rose petal smell of her hair. He loved being this close to her. Taken back by her wince he pulled back form her.

“Are you all right”? he asked.

She nodded and responded “Aye, just a little sore”

His hand rose instinctively again to fix the position of her arms, when she recoiled from his touch. Alarmed that something was not right he asked her directly.

“Beth, show me your back”, he commanded in a stern and concerned voice.

Beth held her breath, cornered, but did as he asked, revealing the deep purple of the fresh bruises.

He sat there for a stuttered moment in awe of what he had seen as she turned around, embarrassed to face him.

"Did Magmuus do this to you?", he stammered

Her eyes beginning to well up with tears as she merely nodded.

Zen's anger got the best of him as he began to rant about the sanity of his mage friend.

"What is he thinking?", he exclaimed. "How could he do this to you?"

"If he does this to you again, I'll...I'll..."

Bethsani began to sob and the sight of her tears melted him. He reached for her and cuddled her into his chest as she sobbed. He reached his hand up to affectionately caress her hair.

"Shh, there, there. I'm here now, yer safe, love", he whispered. Zen began to choke back his own sorrow as he held her tight. They stood for a long moment in that tender embrace.

"I love you", excaped without thought off his lips. At hearing those words, Bethsani looked up to meet Zen's eyes.

Zen exhailed as if all the tension in his body had released. He had held that secret for so many years, unable to tell her because he did not want to hurt his best friend, Magmuus. He took her face in his hands and wiped away a lone tear as it dropped. He gently pulled her towards him and kissed her softly on the lips. It seemed so natural and they seemed free.

Right there, in the grassy clearing near the lake, they let their passion take them away from all that was past. She melted in his arms and he made love to her over and over.

Magmuus' anger and jealousy began to seeth as he sat in those shadows watching. He watched them for hours while he drew on his silver flask for feigned wisdom to his questions.

By the time he was ready to depart, he was in a drunken stooper. He watched until their love making made his blood boil and he turned to stammer off home....

How could you do this to me?" Magmuus shouted as he approached Bethsani upon her entrance." I was there and I saw you together! What have i done to deserve this?"

" I'm sorry master, I..I..I love him! He is kind and caring and he makes me feel like I am speci...." Before she could finish her thought, she was sent reeling across the room by a blow from the back of his hand.

" You have betrayed me! I have given you the world and you throw it all away because a scoundrel has professed that he loves you?" Magmuus bore down upon her as she pulled herself from the floor.

"HE IS NO SCOUNDREL!" she shouted back, and again found herself falling backwards under the weight of yet another blow. Quickly he was upon her, grabbing the front of her tunic in a clenched fist and pulling her up from the floor. She winced away as he prepared to strike her again, and she closed her eyes.

Suddenly she heard a gasp for breath and heard something hit the floor, and realized Magmuus had released his grasp from her tunic. She opened her eyes startled to see the mage down on one knee clutching at his back, Zen's shadowed figure looming behind him.

"Go now Bethsani. Gather your things quickly and wait outside. I must end this" she heard Zen speak to her in a stern voice. She paused briefly unsure how to feel, then slipped around the corner and up the stairs, afraid of what she would see if she stayed.

"You had the world at your fingertips, and you chose to abuse it and treat it as a lowly dog." came Zen's enraged voice. " Never again will you lay a hand on her" he professed, and with a quick motion Magmuus lay at his feet lifeless.

Without a sound he made his way back outside to survey the area. Bethsani soon emerged from the door and he quickly approached her, startling her with his soft voice. "We must go now. Never look back from this day forward....you are safe now!"

They disappeared together into the shadows and the night fell silent.