ext_130516 (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
mind-of-onion.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fellowshippers2005-11-08 02:25 am
mind-of-onion.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2005-11-08 02:25 am
Love of all Times (10/?)
Title: Love Of All Times 10/?
Author: little___hobbit and Fin_Anwamane
Type: RPS
Pairing: Liv/Miranda
Rating: NC-17
Beta: Ourselves
Warning: Physical violence, abuse and rape described in later chapters not between the main pairing.
Disclaimer: This never happened. This was written in fun that's all.
Feedback: Yes please send to paddington-bear@web.de
or glorfindel@hornorfgondor.com
Archiving: Angel's Realm, Everafter Love, others please ask.
Summary: A.U. An Egyptian Princess and her slave fall for one another and overcome the threats of their environment
Italics indicate thoughts
~~~~~
They had traveled until almost sunset, staying close to the river and yet away from the main path. Nakhti had caught fish for them and now they had settled around the warm campfire the guard had built to keep warm in the cold desert night.
Miranda lay stretched out with her head resting in her love's lap as Nakhti sat across the fire from the two women. He thought they made such a nice couple and was so glad to see his Princess happy for once.
"I've never known love before, not true love such as this. Well, not that I remember anyway," Liv said as she snapped a small twig and tossed it at the fire.
Glancing down she saw Miranda looking up at her and she continued, "My mother died shortly after I was born. It was rather tragic from what I have been told." She looked over at Nakhti and he nodded. "She went to their chamber one night and found my father with another slave girl." Liv's voice trembled a little. "My mother had put up with his womanizing for a long time and could take it no longer. That night she confronted him. Things escalated out of control and in a fit of rage my father killed her with his bare hands. The only witness was the slave girl whom he had killed as well. He made his guards dispose of the bodies and he let word out that my mother had committed suicide in order not to tarnish his name." Liv could feel tears begin to well up in her eyes.
"After that he had me passed around from one of his lovers to the next to be raised. I never really had a mother figure. None of the slaves ever showed the slightest sign of compassion or love for me. I feel it was because I was royalty." She sighed deeply and stared off into the darkness, past the campfire. "And then there's my father. The bastard! Now that I have come of age and he can use me for his own gain he treats me as if I'm special." Liv's voice fell silent as she continued to stare into the darkness.
As Liv told the story of her mother, Miranda opened her eyes and looked up at her Princess' face. She noticed the distant look in Liv's eyes, and it was making her hurt inside. Miranda sat up and pulled her Princess close, gently forcing her to rest her head against her chest.
"Let me show you true love then," Miranda whispered and gently carded her hands through the long black hair, "My parents taught me the meaning of love. What it is like to love and what it is like to be loved. I only went into slavery so my father could keep his house and his boat after a bad year for fishing. He could not pay his taxes and had to borrow money from a merchant of the nearest city. When he came to collect the debt, my father still didn't have the money. So I offered myself to be taken into slavery. The merchant agreed and released my father from his debt. He even gave him gold for me in addition to the released debt. I stayed with the merchant for six years, until he died, then I was passed on from slave trader to slave trader until your father bought me."
Miranda pressed a kiss on Liv's temple as her hands ran in soothing circles over the Princess' back. "I love you, my sweet Liv. For all times," she murmured, "The only one who can rid me of my love for you is you yourself." Gently Miranda cupped her love's chin and made her look up at her as her sparkling eyes locked gazes with Liv's deep blue ones. A fond smile appeared on Miranda's face. "My beloved Liv," she whispered and leant forward to kiss Liv softly; the kiss was neither demanding, nor full of passion or desire, but simply one of deep, honest love.
Liv moaned softly into the kiss, "I love you so much," she whispered pulling back and looking at Miranda with a slight smile.
Nakhti watched the two women and smiled as they so openly showed their affection for one another. "It is getting late and we should turn in now," the guard said standing. "The two of you will sleep in the tent. I will sleep here at the entrance," he said motioning to the front of the tent.
Miranda tore her gaze off the beloved face and looked over at the guard. "Thank you, my friend," she said quietly, then she looked back at Liv. "Let us go to bed, shall we?" she whispered, "I am craving to lay with you." Miranda helped her love stand and, entwining their hands, lead her over to the small tent. "Good night, Nakhti," she said softly as she let Liv pass into the tent before she entered it herself and closed the flaps. Once that was done, she stepped up behind Liv and snaked her arms around the Princess' waist. "Oh my love," Miranda murmured and pressed a kiss on Liv's shoulder, "At last we're alone."
Liv sighed happily as Miranda wrapped her arms around her, the words about the woman's craving still running through her mind and stirring thoughts about her own craving. Grasping her love's hands as Miranda began to kiss her shoulder Liv closed her eyes and pushed back against her. "Yes my love, we are alone," she whispered.
Raining more kisses on the shoulders before her, Miranda pulled Liv down onto the ground where Nakhti had prepared a simple but soft bed for the two women, to lie in front of her. She reached for the ribbons with which Liv's gown was being held together and slowly pulled at the ends to loosen the bows. Miranda lifted a hand and pushed Liv's hair to the side over her other shoulder as she leant forward and gently nibbled at her love's nape. Inhaling deeply Liv's scent, Miranda nuzzled her love's neck and ground against her love.
Moving slightly against Miranda as she anointed her with kisses Liv began to moan softly feeling the nibbling on her neck. "Oh, my love," she whispered reaching up and caressing Miranda's hair gently as she rubbed her hand down her love's side slowly.
Miranda gasped softly as Liv's hands sent sparks of lust through her whole body. She let her own fingers trail up and down her love's sides, teasing and caressing the soft skin as she made Liv turn around to kiss her, delving her tongue deeply into her love's mouth, savoring the unique taste she found there. Miranda's hands left Liv's sides and moved inwards to the other woman's breasts, cupping and squeezing them gently as her thumbs rubbed over the quickly stiffening buds.
Liv swirled her own tongue around Miranda's as it probed her mouth making her head spin.
Bucking slightly as her love's hands found her breasts, a shiver ran through her body. Slowly Liv raked her hands up Miranda's back, letting her nails scrape over the fabric her love's dress as they moved upwards.
Miranda lost herself in the sensation of being so close to her love, to feel her skin under her fingertips as she deepened the kiss and increased the caressing of Liv's body yet more. A soft moan escaped Miranda when she felt her love's hands and fingernails on her back, arching into the craved touch. But suddenly, a sharp pain rushed through her body as Liv's nails scraped over Miranda's shoulder blade, reminding her of the past night, when Raneb had taken her so brutally and left bruises all over her body. Miranda broke the kiss, not really succeeding to bite back pained sob. "I am sorry, my Princess," she stammered and tried to move away from Liv, ashamed of her reaction.
When Miranda broke the kiss and tried to pull away, Liv grasped her gently and held her. "My love," she whispered, "You have nothing to be sorry for," Liv continued as the events that Miranda had endured the night before returned to her mind. She moved slightly allowing Miranda to lie beside her as she wrapped her arms around her. "Lay with me," she said softly.
Tears came to Miranda's eyes as the pain slowly subsided. Liv had accidentally scraped her fingernails across one of the worse bruises, though Miranda did not blame her for it at all. When Liv wrapped her arms around her, Miranda nodded. "I would love to lay with you," she whispered and snuggled up against the Princess, hiccupping slightly as silent sobs shook her. "All I could think of was you," Miranda said after a while that they'd just lain and not said anything, "That I'd be with you again once it all would be over."
As Miranda spoke Liv felt tears well up in her eyes and pulled Miranda even closer to her. "Oh God my love," Liv said in a shaky voice. She reached down and pulled the covers over the two of them. "We are away from that place. Let's try and think of happier things," she whispered as she kissed her love's forehead and softly caressed her cheek.
Miranda brought her hand to rest on Liv's stomach and rested her head against her love's shoulder, closing her eyes in exhaustion. Even though she had rested most of the journey, and had let Liv and Nakhti do most of the work, she still felt weak and tired. "I love you," she whispered, sleepily massaging Liv's stomach as she enjoyed and savored the moment of being so close to her and feeling her warm skin against her own. "I wish we never would have to return," Miranda murmured, "But this is impossible. Raneb would never stop to hunt us down," she added with a sigh.
Liv looked lovingly at Miranda's face as she closed her eyes. "I love you too," she whispered. Thinking of Miranda's words Liv knew she was right. He father would never stop hunting them. Even if she sent Miranda away he would chase after her. Liv knew it was far safer for the two to stay together. I might be some protection for her, she thought.
After a long pause Liv sighed heavily, "I know my love, I know," she said as she kissed Miranda lightly on the forehead again. "Now get some sleep. You are exhausted," she added as she continued to watch Miranda for several minutes before she closed her eyes and fell asleep holding her love in her arms.
The arms around her made Miranda feel safe; so she let herself fall to sleep almost as soon as Liv had spoken the words. But as tired and exhausted as her body was, her mind seemed still wide awake, for it was a restless sleep, and soon dreams were haunting her.
Pleasant at first, Miranda dreamt of her Princess making love to her, and she arched into the gentle touches and softly moaned Liv's name before the beautiful woman silenced her with a deep and loving kiss. Miranda snaked her arms around her love's neck and returned the kiss eagerly, but suddenly, Liv's touches changed, as her hands seemed to grow and grasped her body roughly.
Miranda gasped in fear and broke the kiss, looking up at Liv in confusion. To her horror, the beautiful face of Liv suddenly changed; the blue eyes morphed until they were of a dark brown, the gentle features roughened up, and a stubble appeared around her mouth, the lips turning thin and hard.
Miranda blinked, hoping it was just a hallucination, but there was no doubt about it that it was no longer Liv holding her but Raneb; the look on his face was one of pure evil and lust as he reached down for her legs and brutally forced them apart for him to position himself at her entrance. Miranda let out a frightened cry and tried to get away from the monarch, her hands pushing against his broad chest, and her head tossing from side to side to escape the mouth that was closing in on her to claim her lips for another kiss.
Liv woke as she heard a blood-curdling scream and felt Miranda thrashing wildly in her arms. "Miranda my love!" Liv said loudly in a hysteric tone of voice, "Are you alright?" Liv asked as she frantically shook Miranda trying to wake her from what she guessed was a horrible dream. Her heart sank as she felt there was only one thing Miranda could be dreaming of. "Nakhti!" Liv screamed as loud as she could, hoping the guard would come soon to help her sooth the fears of her love.
Raneb's face became even harder as Miranda started fighting him. "You whore!" he whispered, "Stop fighting me, this is your destiny; you cannot escape me, ever! Stop crying, slave!" Miranda whimpered as he let go of her legs and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her.
"No, my King, please, no!" she sobbed, but Raneb would not hear it and kept shaking her. "You are *mine*, your place is in *my* bed, underneath *me*" Raneb laughed cruelly, "And even your precious Princess won't be able to keep you away. You'll see..."
"NO!" Miranda screamed and snapped into a sitting position, trembling violently. She blinked and looked wildly around, finding Liv lying next to her with an expression of pure panic on her face; even then she did not yet realize that her mind had tricked her into what she'd just experienced. Nearly five minutes passed in which she sat in the farthest corner of the tent, her arms wrapped around her drawn-up legs and nervously rocking herself before Miranda finally understood that it had been a nightmare and not real at all. She sobbed and crawled over to Liv, curling herself around her love as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I am sorry, my love," Miranda whispered again and again.
Liv had sat in silence as Miranda cowered and watched her, her heart breaking more and more with every passing second but she dared not move to her. She was afraid any movement towards her love would frighten the poor woman even more.
Wrapping her arms around her love as she curled in her arms Liv squeezed her tightly to her bare chest. "Shh, shh, you will be alright, there is no need to apologize" Liv said with tears in her eyes as she sat and cradled Miranda just as Nakhti burst in the tent.
"Are you two alright?" he asked looking at the two women huddled together, "I am sorry I was not here sooner, I had heard something downstream and went to investigate."
Miranda trembled as she raised her head and stared at the man that had suddenly entered causing him to step back as he saw the terror in her eyes. Dropping to his knees Nakhti placed his hands over his heart. "I mean you no harm sweet Miranda," he said as he bowed his head.
"She had a nightmare," Liv said looking to Nakhti as she slowly rocked Miranda, paying no attention to her nakedness in the presence of the guard.
Slowly running her fingers through Miranda's hair Liv looked down at her once more. "Shh, my love," she whispered once more as she pulled Miranda's head gently back to her chest.
"Please, you have nothing to fear from me. I will protect you and our Princess with my life," Nakhti said trying to reassure the frightened woman.
Liv gave him a small nod before she pulled a blanket around Miranda and her own nude body.
Miranda nodded slowly as her friends' words registered and she recognized Nakhti at last. The memory of her nightmare was still vivid, but it did not feel like a threat any more. "Thank you, both of you," Miranda said quietly as she snuggled even closer to Liv, "I am so sorry that I should be such a burden to you as I am at the moment. I wish we could have gone on this journey under different circumstances." She smiled weakly at the two, "But I promise I will make up for all the trouble I am putting you through."
"You are no burden," Liv said as she kissed Miranda softly on the forehead and looked to Nakhti with teary eyes.
Some moments passed with the three sitting in silence, Liv still gently rocking Miranda until she fell asleep in her arms and Liv laid her down beside her.
"I will be right outside if needed," Nakhti whispered so not to wake Miranda. Standing he bowed to Liv and left the tent. When the cool night air of the desert hit him he decided to build another fire. He knew he would sleep no more this night.
Author: little___hobbit and Fin_Anwamane
Type: RPS
Pairing: Liv/Miranda
Rating: NC-17
Beta: Ourselves
Warning: Physical violence, abuse and rape described in later chapters not between the main pairing.
Disclaimer: This never happened. This was written in fun that's all.
Feedback: Yes please send to paddington-bear@web.de
or glorfindel@hornorfgondor.com
Archiving: Angel's Realm, Everafter Love, others please ask.
Summary: A.U. An Egyptian Princess and her slave fall for one another and overcome the threats of their environment
Italics indicate thoughts
~~~~~
They had traveled until almost sunset, staying close to the river and yet away from the main path. Nakhti had caught fish for them and now they had settled around the warm campfire the guard had built to keep warm in the cold desert night.
Miranda lay stretched out with her head resting in her love's lap as Nakhti sat across the fire from the two women. He thought they made such a nice couple and was so glad to see his Princess happy for once.
"I've never known love before, not true love such as this. Well, not that I remember anyway," Liv said as she snapped a small twig and tossed it at the fire.
Glancing down she saw Miranda looking up at her and she continued, "My mother died shortly after I was born. It was rather tragic from what I have been told." She looked over at Nakhti and he nodded. "She went to their chamber one night and found my father with another slave girl." Liv's voice trembled a little. "My mother had put up with his womanizing for a long time and could take it no longer. That night she confronted him. Things escalated out of control and in a fit of rage my father killed her with his bare hands. The only witness was the slave girl whom he had killed as well. He made his guards dispose of the bodies and he let word out that my mother had committed suicide in order not to tarnish his name." Liv could feel tears begin to well up in her eyes.
"After that he had me passed around from one of his lovers to the next to be raised. I never really had a mother figure. None of the slaves ever showed the slightest sign of compassion or love for me. I feel it was because I was royalty." She sighed deeply and stared off into the darkness, past the campfire. "And then there's my father. The bastard! Now that I have come of age and he can use me for his own gain he treats me as if I'm special." Liv's voice fell silent as she continued to stare into the darkness.
As Liv told the story of her mother, Miranda opened her eyes and looked up at her Princess' face. She noticed the distant look in Liv's eyes, and it was making her hurt inside. Miranda sat up and pulled her Princess close, gently forcing her to rest her head against her chest.
"Let me show you true love then," Miranda whispered and gently carded her hands through the long black hair, "My parents taught me the meaning of love. What it is like to love and what it is like to be loved. I only went into slavery so my father could keep his house and his boat after a bad year for fishing. He could not pay his taxes and had to borrow money from a merchant of the nearest city. When he came to collect the debt, my father still didn't have the money. So I offered myself to be taken into slavery. The merchant agreed and released my father from his debt. He even gave him gold for me in addition to the released debt. I stayed with the merchant for six years, until he died, then I was passed on from slave trader to slave trader until your father bought me."
Miranda pressed a kiss on Liv's temple as her hands ran in soothing circles over the Princess' back. "I love you, my sweet Liv. For all times," she murmured, "The only one who can rid me of my love for you is you yourself." Gently Miranda cupped her love's chin and made her look up at her as her sparkling eyes locked gazes with Liv's deep blue ones. A fond smile appeared on Miranda's face. "My beloved Liv," she whispered and leant forward to kiss Liv softly; the kiss was neither demanding, nor full of passion or desire, but simply one of deep, honest love.
Liv moaned softly into the kiss, "I love you so much," she whispered pulling back and looking at Miranda with a slight smile.
Nakhti watched the two women and smiled as they so openly showed their affection for one another. "It is getting late and we should turn in now," the guard said standing. "The two of you will sleep in the tent. I will sleep here at the entrance," he said motioning to the front of the tent.
Miranda tore her gaze off the beloved face and looked over at the guard. "Thank you, my friend," she said quietly, then she looked back at Liv. "Let us go to bed, shall we?" she whispered, "I am craving to lay with you." Miranda helped her love stand and, entwining their hands, lead her over to the small tent. "Good night, Nakhti," she said softly as she let Liv pass into the tent before she entered it herself and closed the flaps. Once that was done, she stepped up behind Liv and snaked her arms around the Princess' waist. "Oh my love," Miranda murmured and pressed a kiss on Liv's shoulder, "At last we're alone."
Liv sighed happily as Miranda wrapped her arms around her, the words about the woman's craving still running through her mind and stirring thoughts about her own craving. Grasping her love's hands as Miranda began to kiss her shoulder Liv closed her eyes and pushed back against her. "Yes my love, we are alone," she whispered.
Raining more kisses on the shoulders before her, Miranda pulled Liv down onto the ground where Nakhti had prepared a simple but soft bed for the two women, to lie in front of her. She reached for the ribbons with which Liv's gown was being held together and slowly pulled at the ends to loosen the bows. Miranda lifted a hand and pushed Liv's hair to the side over her other shoulder as she leant forward and gently nibbled at her love's nape. Inhaling deeply Liv's scent, Miranda nuzzled her love's neck and ground against her love.
Moving slightly against Miranda as she anointed her with kisses Liv began to moan softly feeling the nibbling on her neck. "Oh, my love," she whispered reaching up and caressing Miranda's hair gently as she rubbed her hand down her love's side slowly.
Miranda gasped softly as Liv's hands sent sparks of lust through her whole body. She let her own fingers trail up and down her love's sides, teasing and caressing the soft skin as she made Liv turn around to kiss her, delving her tongue deeply into her love's mouth, savoring the unique taste she found there. Miranda's hands left Liv's sides and moved inwards to the other woman's breasts, cupping and squeezing them gently as her thumbs rubbed over the quickly stiffening buds.
Liv swirled her own tongue around Miranda's as it probed her mouth making her head spin.
Bucking slightly as her love's hands found her breasts, a shiver ran through her body. Slowly Liv raked her hands up Miranda's back, letting her nails scrape over the fabric her love's dress as they moved upwards.
Miranda lost herself in the sensation of being so close to her love, to feel her skin under her fingertips as she deepened the kiss and increased the caressing of Liv's body yet more. A soft moan escaped Miranda when she felt her love's hands and fingernails on her back, arching into the craved touch. But suddenly, a sharp pain rushed through her body as Liv's nails scraped over Miranda's shoulder blade, reminding her of the past night, when Raneb had taken her so brutally and left bruises all over her body. Miranda broke the kiss, not really succeeding to bite back pained sob. "I am sorry, my Princess," she stammered and tried to move away from Liv, ashamed of her reaction.
When Miranda broke the kiss and tried to pull away, Liv grasped her gently and held her. "My love," she whispered, "You have nothing to be sorry for," Liv continued as the events that Miranda had endured the night before returned to her mind. She moved slightly allowing Miranda to lie beside her as she wrapped her arms around her. "Lay with me," she said softly.
Tears came to Miranda's eyes as the pain slowly subsided. Liv had accidentally scraped her fingernails across one of the worse bruises, though Miranda did not blame her for it at all. When Liv wrapped her arms around her, Miranda nodded. "I would love to lay with you," she whispered and snuggled up against the Princess, hiccupping slightly as silent sobs shook her. "All I could think of was you," Miranda said after a while that they'd just lain and not said anything, "That I'd be with you again once it all would be over."
As Miranda spoke Liv felt tears well up in her eyes and pulled Miranda even closer to her. "Oh God my love," Liv said in a shaky voice. She reached down and pulled the covers over the two of them. "We are away from that place. Let's try and think of happier things," she whispered as she kissed her love's forehead and softly caressed her cheek.
Miranda brought her hand to rest on Liv's stomach and rested her head against her love's shoulder, closing her eyes in exhaustion. Even though she had rested most of the journey, and had let Liv and Nakhti do most of the work, she still felt weak and tired. "I love you," she whispered, sleepily massaging Liv's stomach as she enjoyed and savored the moment of being so close to her and feeling her warm skin against her own. "I wish we never would have to return," Miranda murmured, "But this is impossible. Raneb would never stop to hunt us down," she added with a sigh.
Liv looked lovingly at Miranda's face as she closed her eyes. "I love you too," she whispered. Thinking of Miranda's words Liv knew she was right. He father would never stop hunting them. Even if she sent Miranda away he would chase after her. Liv knew it was far safer for the two to stay together. I might be some protection for her, she thought.
After a long pause Liv sighed heavily, "I know my love, I know," she said as she kissed Miranda lightly on the forehead again. "Now get some sleep. You are exhausted," she added as she continued to watch Miranda for several minutes before she closed her eyes and fell asleep holding her love in her arms.
The arms around her made Miranda feel safe; so she let herself fall to sleep almost as soon as Liv had spoken the words. But as tired and exhausted as her body was, her mind seemed still wide awake, for it was a restless sleep, and soon dreams were haunting her.
Pleasant at first, Miranda dreamt of her Princess making love to her, and she arched into the gentle touches and softly moaned Liv's name before the beautiful woman silenced her with a deep and loving kiss. Miranda snaked her arms around her love's neck and returned the kiss eagerly, but suddenly, Liv's touches changed, as her hands seemed to grow and grasped her body roughly.
Miranda gasped in fear and broke the kiss, looking up at Liv in confusion. To her horror, the beautiful face of Liv suddenly changed; the blue eyes morphed until they were of a dark brown, the gentle features roughened up, and a stubble appeared around her mouth, the lips turning thin and hard.
Miranda blinked, hoping it was just a hallucination, but there was no doubt about it that it was no longer Liv holding her but Raneb; the look on his face was one of pure evil and lust as he reached down for her legs and brutally forced them apart for him to position himself at her entrance. Miranda let out a frightened cry and tried to get away from the monarch, her hands pushing against his broad chest, and her head tossing from side to side to escape the mouth that was closing in on her to claim her lips for another kiss.
Liv woke as she heard a blood-curdling scream and felt Miranda thrashing wildly in her arms. "Miranda my love!" Liv said loudly in a hysteric tone of voice, "Are you alright?" Liv asked as she frantically shook Miranda trying to wake her from what she guessed was a horrible dream. Her heart sank as she felt there was only one thing Miranda could be dreaming of. "Nakhti!" Liv screamed as loud as she could, hoping the guard would come soon to help her sooth the fears of her love.
Raneb's face became even harder as Miranda started fighting him. "You whore!" he whispered, "Stop fighting me, this is your destiny; you cannot escape me, ever! Stop crying, slave!" Miranda whimpered as he let go of her legs and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her.
"No, my King, please, no!" she sobbed, but Raneb would not hear it and kept shaking her. "You are *mine*, your place is in *my* bed, underneath *me*" Raneb laughed cruelly, "And even your precious Princess won't be able to keep you away. You'll see..."
"NO!" Miranda screamed and snapped into a sitting position, trembling violently. She blinked and looked wildly around, finding Liv lying next to her with an expression of pure panic on her face; even then she did not yet realize that her mind had tricked her into what she'd just experienced. Nearly five minutes passed in which she sat in the farthest corner of the tent, her arms wrapped around her drawn-up legs and nervously rocking herself before Miranda finally understood that it had been a nightmare and not real at all. She sobbed and crawled over to Liv, curling herself around her love as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I am sorry, my love," Miranda whispered again and again.
Liv had sat in silence as Miranda cowered and watched her, her heart breaking more and more with every passing second but she dared not move to her. She was afraid any movement towards her love would frighten the poor woman even more.
Wrapping her arms around her love as she curled in her arms Liv squeezed her tightly to her bare chest. "Shh, shh, you will be alright, there is no need to apologize" Liv said with tears in her eyes as she sat and cradled Miranda just as Nakhti burst in the tent.
"Are you two alright?" he asked looking at the two women huddled together, "I am sorry I was not here sooner, I had heard something downstream and went to investigate."
Miranda trembled as she raised her head and stared at the man that had suddenly entered causing him to step back as he saw the terror in her eyes. Dropping to his knees Nakhti placed his hands over his heart. "I mean you no harm sweet Miranda," he said as he bowed his head.
"She had a nightmare," Liv said looking to Nakhti as she slowly rocked Miranda, paying no attention to her nakedness in the presence of the guard.
Slowly running her fingers through Miranda's hair Liv looked down at her once more. "Shh, my love," she whispered once more as she pulled Miranda's head gently back to her chest.
"Please, you have nothing to fear from me. I will protect you and our Princess with my life," Nakhti said trying to reassure the frightened woman.
Liv gave him a small nod before she pulled a blanket around Miranda and her own nude body.
Miranda nodded slowly as her friends' words registered and she recognized Nakhti at last. The memory of her nightmare was still vivid, but it did not feel like a threat any more. "Thank you, both of you," Miranda said quietly as she snuggled even closer to Liv, "I am so sorry that I should be such a burden to you as I am at the moment. I wish we could have gone on this journey under different circumstances." She smiled weakly at the two, "But I promise I will make up for all the trouble I am putting you through."
"You are no burden," Liv said as she kissed Miranda softly on the forehead and looked to Nakhti with teary eyes.
Some moments passed with the three sitting in silence, Liv still gently rocking Miranda until she fell asleep in her arms and Liv laid her down beside her.
"I will be right outside if needed," Nakhti whispered so not to wake Miranda. Standing he bowed to Liv and left the tent. When the cool night air of the desert hit him he decided to build another fire. He knew he would sleep no more this night.