Love is a Battlefield

CW: Coercion, forced marriage

Running through the forest drenched in sweat and slathered with bruises Arthur Brizendine ignored the burning in his chest. The barking of ferocious hounds continued to urge him forward. Leg cramping, he growled a pained curse but hastily limped on. Happening upon a river he glanced back, the barking rapidly growing closer and louder. Meekly diving in, he relaxed allowing the water to carry him away. Spitting a tired laughed he allowed his heavy eyelids to fall, the cool waters soothing his aching body.

“You’re finally awake, was starting to think you would never wake up.” a cheery voice said.

“w-where am I and who are you?” he groaned grimacing as a bright life seared his eyes.

“At my humble temple to Etoved and I’m Amanda Aksul the woman that found you.” She smiled the insectoid plates fluttering.

Thanking the orc with a nod he sluggishly got out of the bed grabbing his neatly folded clothes. Ignoring the twinges of pain with each movement he trudged towards the door, but he soon found himself back in bed. Blinking stupidly, he climbed out of bed again his leg suddenly buckled. Firmly slapping his thigh, he went back to the door only to find himself back in bed once again.

“You’re still hurt you need to rest.” She firmly stated, already removing his boots. Pushing hm down she smiled as he struggled to get out, “you can barely walk don’t an idiot.”

Relenting he carefully removed his clothes laying down winching as a stabbing pain appeared in his back. Fighting the urge to clutch it he glanced at the simply dressed woman who only smile upon catching his eye. Softly coughing he squeaked out a curse his lungs and chest protesting. Grumbling, he held his hand out.

“D-do you have any balms? Just something to dull the pain…” he asked gaze finding everything but the taller woman interesting at the moment.

Chuckling she picked up a jar from a nearby table gracefully approaching. With surprising ease she flipped him over yank the blankets back exposing his still bruised back. A shiver shot down his spine as the cold balm was gently spread across his broad back. Her smooth hands were only a scant for degrees warmer. The gorgeous amber carapace shimmering in the morning light. Quietly humming she meticulously rubbed in the scentless cream coaxing a small moan from the human. Giggling, she continued pulling out another from the human. Pressing a bit more firmly she chuckled, feeling him shiver. Stepping back her faceplates fluttered as the human looked at her with half lidded eyes. Gently sitting him up she sat down beside him easily and swiftly sitting him in her lap. Going bug eyed he failed to even sputter any form of protest as she begun rubbing the balm on his chest.

“T-thank you but I can do this myself. I’m not that hurt…” he nervously chuckled leaping to his feet.

“My apologies I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I try to fully embody the aspects of my god…” she softly said intensely watching Arthur.

“You have to forgive me for my ignorance of his aspects, but I appreciate the effort.” He said slightly turning away.

“Evoted is the deity of ferocity, kindness, and devotion. Valuable aspects for any good caregiver, warrior, poet, and…lover.” Her faceplates fluttered again watching him advert his gaze. “But don’t fret, ferocity isn’t always bad. It definitely has its uses…” she quietly trailed off looming over the shorter human.

Without any warming she leaned down sharp teeth lightly nipping his neck. Clutching his arms she pinned them down paying no mind to his confused protests. As her faceplates fluttered once again her proboscis like tongue darting out to lap up a few droplets of blood. Too weak to put up an actually fight he just gave up the large woman releasing him after a long moment. Upon his release he immediately whipped around and hastily back away. Lower back crashing into a nearby table he yelped a pained curse hands flying to caress both assault spots.

“Hey! What the hell are you doing? You can’t just…just do whatever the fuck that was!” he spat only for a pained groan to ooze from his lips.

“I’m claiming the husband Evoted graciously gave after all these years! Now sit back down before you hurt yourself any further!” her stern tone and hard gaze quelled any argument Arthur’s mind wanted to form.

Finding the floor extremely interesting he begrudgingly complied, quietly climbing back into the soft bed. It was at that moment it hit him like a ton of bricks. There was only a single bed in the room. Scanning the room, he frowned at the lack of any other form of bedding. Shaking his head he muttered a ‘nope’ jumping out of bed. Giving his savior a wide birth he snatched up his clothes darting out of the room. Entering a small modest chapel, he paid no mind to the inferno of pain slathering his legs and back. He spat a curse, his leg giving out sending him tumbling to the ground.

“My oh my, aren’t you a stubborn one! You’re perfect Arthur!” Amanda chuckled looming over the pained man.

Looking up at her he took the moment to wonder when he told her his name. Before he could ponder any further, she simply picked him up cradling him. He attempted to struggle but a bolt of pain smacked the idea from his mind. Oozing a defeated sigh, he leaned into her coaxing a far too pleased hum from her. Being laid back into bed he lazily swatted her hands away. Smiling, she strolled away only to quickly return with a neatly folded rag in her hand. Swiftly and abruptly, she pressed it firmly against his face. The sickeningly sweet smell invaded his senses before darkness conquered everything.

Yawning and stretching Arthur felt amazing and a wonderful enticing smell fluttered around him. Getting out of bed and getting dressed he followed the smell to find Amanda sitting at the table with two bowls of stew. Sitting down he grabbed a spoon pausing just as it reached his lips.

“Wait a second, you drugged me!” he growled tossed the spoon inside the bowl

“You feel better, don’t you? If you weren’t fighting so much, I wouldn’t have to do that. Now eat, we have a long day tomorrow and you need to regain your strength.” She said quietly eating her food.

Grumbling under his breath he picked up the spoon taking a tentative sip. He grumbled again the stew being the best thing he ever tasted. Narrowing his eyes at the woman across form him he rolled his eyes at her. Catching him, the left side of her faceplates fluttered. A hand reaching over to sit atop his. She grinned realizing that he didn’t pull back allowing her to run her thumb over his knuckles. Letting her have her fun, he merely continued to eat.

Releasing him her fingers lingered for a long moment causing an unfamiliar shover to run down Arthur’s spine. Scarfing down his stew, he shot up marching towards the door. He snorted a sigh feeling something rapidly wrap itself around his waist. Just as the sigh left his lips he flew back to the table roughly landing in his seat. Snapping her grimoire closed she scooped up his bowl happily refilling it.

“You aren’t going to let me go, are you?” he asked as she sat the bowl down.

“Of course not! I already told you Evoted sent you to me. You’re mine now and I’m yours. The sooner you realize that the sooner we can get you back to work, Wraith Weaver…” going quietly she gave him an extremely smug smile which only grew watching his eyes turn saucers.

Almost dropping his spoon, he softly cleared his throat taking another bite. Eyeing with both annoyance and suspension. He wasn’t sure how she knew about that since he didn’t have any of his gear. Scanning the room once again, but nothing stood out to him, everything looked simple and cozy. Shifting his gaze to the woman before him it was the same as the room. Her clothes were simple and cozy aside from the grimoire on her hip. The leather was dyed a rich purple while a white handprint sat on the covers. Wolfing downing his meal he pushed the bowl away softly glowering at the hospitable woman.

“Fine, I’ll…be your husband, but we’re going to have a long talk about you drugging me and how you know so much about me!” he angrily mumbled.

“You were being fussy so of course I had too! And as far my knowledge…well you aren’t the only one that worked for the empire!” she giggled leaning forward ‘kissing’ her husband, “love how soft humans are…” she chuckled.

Despite his frown he couldn’t ignore the fluttering in his chest. Inwardly cursing himself he held his hand. As if reading his mind, she smugly snickered getting up and retrieving a small box. Revealing a simple ring she dramatically placed it on his finger. Looking him in the eye she lightly nipped his hand, her tongue darting out to lap up the lone droplet. Quirking a brow at the sight he assumed this was an orc’s way of showing affection. Resigning himself to his new life and lover, he pulled her hand close planting a gently kiss on it.