Liliah Willowmist Ch 03

PLEASE NOTE: This story contains settings, races and other scenery elements created by BETHESDA and the brilliant artist and writers in their employ. They retain all rights to the universe they created, i am but a humble fanfic writer.

Chapter 3

Corellion stepped closer to the counter as the woman spoke to him and flashed a greasy smile, his attention drawn as he did so to a small dark haired mer kneeling on the floor beside the Dunmer, keeping her eyes trained on the floor. Staring unintentionally, he looked back up at Lady Hlaalu who seemed to be barely containing a look of delight, watching him look at the handmaiden.

Corellion cleared his throat frowning slightly and saying "Yes...it appears that i will be required to stay overnight in this...town, unless i wish to travel by moons light. I saw your establishment and figured I would at least wash off the road dust before finding an Inn for the evening" He folded his hands behind himself in a well practice posture of authority peering at the Dunmer indifferently. Korinne didn't miss a beat, giving a low nod of her head and saying in a fakely sweet tone "Of course Noble sir, we have any number of young and lithe Khajiit women whom are well trained as personal attendants. We at Hlaalu's Bath House live to serve."

Korinne gave the Altmer another graceful bow and a schmoozy smile, standing up and reaching for a silver hand bell on a shelf behind her desk, giving it a quick shake and causing it to jangle merrily, and no less than ten Khajiit women appearing from the back rooms of the bath house to present themselves. Corellion watched the Khajiit as they formed a quick line, and couldn't help but notice the collars around each of their slender necks, all dressed in skimpy harem style clothing and he cleared his throat, looking back at Lady Hlaalu and arching one sharp brow at her as he said "That will be quite unnecessary Madame, I assure you I am fully capable of bathing myself" He said bitingly. He did not like the way this Dunmer woman was smiling at him, and he found her demeanor was grating on his nerves more than a little. He glanced back down again, and noticed the little mer kneeling on the floor was wearing a collar very similar to the ones the Khajiit women wore, but seemed to be made of silver rather than iron or steel, and was attached to a thin silver chain the Dunmer woman wore around her waist.

Korinne, smiled again, the smile of a shark whose dinner was swimming away, bowing her head slightly and saying in low tones "Our girls are well trained to handle

all

of our customers'...needs" she said smoothly "And of course, discretion is guaranteed," she added slowly arching a brow at him slyly, "for a price..."

Corellion gave the Dunmer an irritated scowl "I do not know what you are going on about, why ever would I need discretion over a bath, provided the tub has a certain level of privacy, im sure that will be sufficient" He snapped shortly. As he spoke, he saw the mer on the floor look up in surprise giving him a disbelieving look, her golden eyes locking with his steely grey blue ones for less than a full second before dropping back to the floor quickly, her cheeks reddening. Liliah closer her eyes tight,

Why did i look at him, he may not have noticed me, why did i have to look up?

Glancing up had told Lili immediately why the strange fellow seemed to have no idea what sort of establishment he had walked into, He was an Altmer, which was uncommon enough here, but his clothes had an odd look to them, more lavish and decorative that even the clothing of nobles that typically passed thru the pleasures house. Liliah recalled something she had heard in passing while in the market, a conversation about the opening of the borders of Summerset Isles, and wondered if he was from there.

Corellion saw the expression on the young mer's face as she had looked up...one of surprise, and as he looked around the establishment once more, he realized his mistake, his face flushing hotly in embarrassment as he realized this Hlaalu woman was trying to sell him way more than just an opportunity to bathe. He looked again at the little dark haired mer kneeling on the floor and scowled a bit. He knew by now that some races, the Dunmers in particular were fond of enslaving lesser races, in particular, Khajiit and Argonians, but had not heard of an incident where another mer had been enslaved. He had to admit, with their shorter lifespans, the beast races

were

better suited to performing labor than pursuing knowledge or wisdom, but even still, the ones he employed at home were paid for their services and free to come and go as they wished while not performing their duties.

Lady Hlaalu tilted her head examining this odd foreigner, realizing he had likely only come in for the bathing facilities when she saw him look once more at Liliah then around the room, turning red and clearing his throat. She waited for him to make some tight assed apology and make his exit as most Altmers did after wandering in by mistake but instead was caught off guard when he asked, "What about her?" nodding his head towards the Bosmeri handmaiden.

Korinne smiled saccharinely giving a slight bow of her head "Humblest apologies Sir, but I fear she would not be to your liking. She is rather... unaccommodating sadly, and with the

incident

we had" she said acidly glaring down at Liliah who sat unmoving under her gaze "I would not be able to guarantee your safety" she cooed, the greasy smile returning once more as she looked back at Corellion. Corellion glared at the woman, straightening his already ramrod straight posture even further, towering over the Dunmer woman intimidatingly and chuffing indignantly "Do not presume to tell me what is or is not to my liking Madame. And i will reiterate so there is no confusion, why do you have this mer chained to you and sitting on the floor?"

Korine giggled liltingly, the laughter only serving to deepen his dislike of the woman as she explained, "She was a gift from my father on my eighth birthday" she adds with an almost delighted tone "Her father had a large debt owed to my father for his drinking and gambling, the savage traded away his own child to slavery" she laughs at the idea, and continues, adding "Of course I'm not one for owning slaves per say other than those here" she gestures to the Khajiit girls behind her "So she's more of a pet actually, and chains are what you are

supposed

to use on animals that savagely bite paying customers" she shoots Liliah another cutting glare and gives a sharp tug on the chain causing her to fall over as the chain snaps tight, a soft grunt coming from her as she is pulled over by the collar at her neck.

Lili gritted her teeth sitting back up and rubbing her neck.

Here it comes,

she thought

The criticisms and ridicule...the laughter.

She felt a lump form in her throat, swallowing it down and blinking back tears before they could form, bracing herself.

Corellion gritted his teeth as well, in pure anger at her mocking tone, her laughter and the abuse he had just witnessed "There would be honor in making her work for your family, even in making her pay her father's debt, but you...you keep her as a...pet?" Corellion was outraged, his temper redding his face as he snarled out the words bitingly, "A bosmer girl is NOT a pet madame. She is a sentient being, with comparable intelligence and lifespan to your own, not some lesser beast race. Why humiliate her like this? Is this what the Dunmer House of Hlaalu is made of?"

Korinne outright laughs, her expression a bit confused "What is it to you? And you will note she has not been mistreated.." She reaches down with her fingers under Lili's chin, tipping her face up for inspection "No bruising, no whip lash scars on her back, she is well fed, groomed, and kept in fine clothes...She will wear that chain as it pleases me to remind her of her place... she is well treated because it pleases me that she should be so treated" Lady Hlaalu meet Corellion's steely blue eyes with a perfectly entitled look of noble arrogance. Liliah peered at him with mixed measures of curiosity and surprise, her golden eyes meeting his as her mistress pulled her face up.

Corellion huffs angrily "Apparently, she is more to me than to you. You seem to think she is nothing more than just a trained pet to be dragged around and shown off. I'll play your game, Dunmer, since coins make your eyes shine so much, tell me how many of them is the girl worth? What's more. I'll take her from you

and

the khajiiti girls." He holds up a heavy purse full of golden drakes to punctuate his words.

Lilli's eyes go wide, her mouth dropping open and she shoots an almost panicked glance up at Lady Hlaalu, her eyes dropping back to the floor as she bites her lip, but coming back up to examine Corellion's face, her expression a silent question and in her eyes a spark of...hope. Lady Hlaalu nearly salivates at the sight of the purse, the sleazy smile once more claiming her face as she says smoothly "I'm afraid i cannot part with the Khajiit, as one does not simply sell off their primary income" she says with a short tone "However...I find I

have

grown a bit tired of my pet and her reluctance, so perhaps we could still reach an acceptable compromise..Make me an offer for my lovely handmaiden" she says silkily "She has a great many useful skills" she says seductively. The words cause the hopeful look to fade from Lili's eyes a bit, replaced with one of worry.

Seeing the look on her face, Corellion kneeled down in front of the small elf, studying her face carefully. "Listen, girl, should you come with me, I will offer you a job. You will work for me and be paid for it, and you will never be chained again, or have to sit on the floor. I won't force this fate upon you, and I

refuse

to buy you..One mer should not own another" He gave Korinne a scathing look of contempt and disgust as he added the last part. Then, slipping the heavy coin purse into her lap he reached out lightly, turning the shy girl's eyes up to meet his and continuing with a gentle expression "There's two thousand gold drakes in there. If you wish to buy your freedom, then do so, then you can decide for yourself what to do with life, but I can provide you shelter, food, and what she can not... honor."

Lilli looked up at him, listening to the words, her amber eyes wide and her chest heaving slightly as she swallowed hard turning her eyes up to her mistress with an odd look of fear mixed with sadness. She turns her eyes back to Corellion and gives a slight nod, closing one tiny shaking hand around the purse she rose to her feet stretching her legs stiffly, taking a timid step towards the desk. Korinne watched the exchange with narrow eyes and a slight smile, staring at Lili as she stood before her, then her face transformed into a look of almost delight as Liliah hesitated.

"She..won't do it" She chuckled almost gleefully "I told you she has been well treated...we were both children when she came to live as my handmaiden...we grew up together" She stepped from her desk then, wrapping her arms around the girl and stroking her head in an affectionate way as Lili's face contorted in a torn expression. She pressed her face to the Dunmer's chest and Korinne continued "She sleeps on my bed, shares my meals..occasionally when she is disobedient, she is punished" she gloated slightly continuing to pet the Bosmer's hair. Her mouth dropped open in surprise as Lili pressed the purse to her mistress' chest and stood silently, waiting. Lady Hlaalu stammered slightly "This...is outrageous...I own you and therefore anything you own is mine as well!" She growls at the girl "Buy yourself.." she snorts, "though I admit I never thought you would be so bold.."

Corellion glowered with smug satisfaction at the Dunmer. For one horrible moment, he had been afraid that the Bosmeri girl would not be willing to leave her mistress, but the woman's own bragging had seemed to be the last push the dark haired mer needed to make the decision to leave. "The girl has made her decision, she wishes to be your pet no longer. Accept my gold and set her free."

Korinne snorts softly giving Lilli a look of contempt then smiling as she squeezed the purse "Fine, have your way and do what you will with her, be it polishing the floors and furniture or polishing what must be a rather impressive cock if it matches the rest of you" She smirks, reaching to her waist and detaching the chain from around herself, causing the loop that was around her to reshape magically into a single length of chain, then dropping it on the floor at Liliah's feet. As Lili moves to take a step away from her, Lady Hlaalu reaches out once more grabbing the chain, not tugging it but holding her in place "Just remember my little Lili," she says softly "There are far worse masters than I, even if they use no chains or cages" as she released the chain, Liliah grabbed the end of it, stepping quickly over to the Altmer, her steps hesitating as she looked up at him with an apprehensive look. She dropped her gaze and gave a curtsy "Thank you sir" she said softly.

He opened the door to the Bath and Pleasures House, ushering the little Bosmer through it with a gentle hand at her elbow, following her out and guiding her a short ways down the street and away from the door before pausing and kneeling down to examine her pale face, asking in a concern filled voice "Are you hurt? Did she do something bad to you? I can only imagine what you have been through poor child. What is your name?" he shakes his head, cringing slightly in self admonition. "Where are my manners? I'm Corellion Larethlorian of Alinor, my fair lady, and I want you to know fully, I meant what I said. I have no intentions of being your new master and I am NOT your owner. You are free to go if you wish it, and if you have a home you would return to, it would be my honor to escort you there safely."

Lilli looks up at him, shaking her head slowly "No..I'm not hurt...My name Is Liliah Willowmist..." She swallowed hard looking down the streets to one side then the other in the fading light, then glancing back over her shoulder towards the bath house, swallowing again, her bottom lip quivering slightly as she said in a low voice "Korinne...i mean...Lady Hlaalu and her father have

been

my home since i was seven" she said in a voice barely above a whisper, emotion causing her voice to crack and her small frame to shake, as though the gravity of what had just occurred was still sinking in. Her face was rather pale even beneath the tan of her skin and she looked as though she may cry, and it looked to Corellion as tho she was in shock as the shaking became more noticable. He reached into his travelling bag, extracting a cloak and wrapping it gently around the girl's shoulders, nearly half of it dragging the ground.

She then surprised him by smiling at him, a soft warm smile of gratitude as she slipped the cloak back off and handed it back to him shaking her head and shrugging one shoulder "You mustn't worry so, I am far too short, and your fine cloak would be ruined dragging on the ground." she said with a soft chuckle. She then wiped away the tears she had not allowed to fall, and took a steadying breath. She was still shaking slightly, and her trembling hands betrayed her, but she looked less overwhelmed and Corellion found he had growing respect for this little handmaiden.

He reached out slowly, capturing one of her tiny hands in his, bringing it gently to his lips to lightly kiss the back of her fingers, then covering her hand with his other and offering her a reassuring smile "The bad times are behind you. As of this moment, you are under my protection, and I would be honored if you would accompany me for the remainder of my journey, and then if you so choose, back to Alinor. There you would be given meaningful work, a chance to educate yourself, and you would be paid for the work you do, in gold...and you would no longer be forced to do..." his voice dropped off as he shook his head, "whatever that ghastly Dunmer woman had you doing."

Liliah looked up at him with a soft eyed trusting look at the words of reassurance nodding slightly, then shrugging one shoulder and offering him a pretty smile. "She wasn't all terrible you know," she said softly, "And she was being honest when she told you I was not poorly treated. For the most part I have never been asked to do anything objectionable, and Lord Hlaalu would not have tolerated any mistreatment of me. Making me sit in the pleasures house was a recent development. She tried to force me to service one of the higher paying customers. Unfortunately for him, I guess nobody warned him that some Bosmers bite," she said, looking down sheepishly.

Corellion reached out tipping her face up to meet his eyes "Do not feel shame for that child, I am grateful you were able to defend your honor when nobody else would do so. You should never have been put into such a compromising position." he said softly. Liliah gave him a warm smile, replying ""I hope that you are pleased with my services Sir. I shall endeavor not to disappoint you or abuse your kindness." She bowed her head dropping into a curtsy, then clasping her hands in front of herself she said,

"And may my first act as your handmaiden be to give you the name of an establishment near here with bathing tubs in the rooms...somehow Lady Hlaalu's Bath House does not strike me as offering what you were looking for"

Corellian chuckled at this, clearing his throat with an emphatic shake of his head "No, definitely not what I was looking for, but all the same, I believe I was guided to where I needed to be." Lili smiled at the words giving another bow "Right this way sir, it's just down the road from here" She turned then leading the way away from the bath house and in the direction of Inn she had mentioned, glancing back periodically as she walked to make sure he was still following. He watched several times as she nearly stepped on the end of chain hanging from the collar and scowled at the damnable object, finally reaching out and touching her should, causing her to pause and look back..

"Hold up for a moment" He said, closing the distance between them as she turned, giving him a startled look.

"Is something wrong sir?"

"Yes, very much so in fact..Might I take a look at that collar?"

Liliah tilted her head back, giving him a clearer view of her collar so he could examine it, and felt his finger graze lightly over the skin of her neck as he slipped one under it, his greyish blue eyes flashing briefly with inner power, a frown twisting his angular features and drawing his sharply arched brows together. Releasing his hold on the collar, his fingers then grasped the fine chain, using a small thread of magicka to sever the connection, detaching it from the collar with an apologetic shake of his head.

"I was hoping to remove it, but i believe it is magically 'keyed' to only answer to the one who put it on you, so I am afraid we may need to return to speak to your ex-Mistress tomorrow if you wish to have it removed."

Liliah shook her head slightly as Corellion coiled the delicate silver chain and slipped it into his pocket, informing him "She was not the one who put it on me..Lord Hlaalu put that collar on me the night before he gifted me to Korinne. I remember...it was iron before he gave it to me. And i remember being...scared, not knowing what was to happen to me, and he held it in his hand and turned it silver with magic..and etched the surface with beautiful swirls." She smiled as her fingers came up to the collar, running the tips of them over the etched swirls, and Corellion listened as she spoke falling into step beside her as she started walking again, continuing to speak of her first night of slavery.