All characters depicted are 18+ years old at the beginning of the story.
3-1
The river had been speeding up for a few hours, turning into a current that snaked fast through the rocks. They followed it until it fell into a waterfall. From up there, Ivy could see the end of the forest many miles away, a yellowish green dale that turned into smaller hills and after that, there was a plain that went on to the mountains on the horizon.
"I've never been up so high," Ivy said, kneeling to stare down at the fall.
"We were much higher when we went on that hike above the clouds, pet," Ulf said as he sat just by her side, his legs dangling from the edge. "We have come down a few hundred meters by now. Vertically, I mean. No mountains from here to the sea will be as tall as the ones we left behind."
"But there wasn't a cliff like this, so it didn't seem so."
"I guess you are right. But this is nothing compared to the cliff where we lived."
Ivy wondered if they would ever be back. The last memory of her dale came to her mind, green, gray, and blue, tiny houses in the distance. But she knew better than to ask anything related to before.
"So, that is Sirien?"
"Just after this hill."
"Is it nice?"
"Yes, in a different way. Some incredible sights are ahead of us, stretches of green and golden hills that turn lighter as they approach the horizon. The weather will be warmer and dryer, very different from what you are used to."
"Oh. I like that."
Ulf had to guide them west and then east through a long trail to avoid the dangerous cliff. When they finally reached the ground below the waterfall and around the deep crystalline pool, the sun was setting. Ivy had never seen something so beautiful as the long column of water refracting rainbow streaks in the late afternoon light and splashing into the pool in a golden mist. Ulf set up camp by the river bed since it was finally clear enough that they could sleep under the open sky. He built a fire and unrolled the furs around it. Following her role, Ivy cooked food — fish, mushrooms, and also the last of their eggs.
Lintu and Ulf ate first while she bathed in the dark waters, swimming until her lips turned blue and her fingers were wrinkled. When her husband was done, he called her out of the chilly water and welcomed her cold and damp body in his arms. He fed her with his fingers, kissed her shoulders, then put her to sleep underneath his blanket.
Ivy watched the stars as the giants talked. Since her master had forced her to beg for mercy, they had been at peace, back to their usual. They slept together, talked, hugged, shared tasks, bathed, and brushed each other. They only fucked once more after that, on their next rest day, and Lintu didn't participate in any way — to Ivy's relief. The threat remained over them, however. So she behaved. She was sweet and gentle, loving and obedient. And in return, she got her husband back, the one who swam with her, brushed her hair, smiled at her, and overwhelmed her with kisses, who moved slowly and spoke in whispers. She could keep that going, she said to herself. It only required that she degraded herself for him once in a while. Beg for his cock, say what a dirty slut she was, take his taunts and his mean words. She could live with herself at least while the trip lasted... By then she hoped he had trusted her enough to not humiliate her too harshly. Not let any other Iotun touch her again. Not shout or ever make her scared.
She closed her eyes and prayed until Ulf came to bed by her side, cold and damp after his bath. She warmed him and kissed the top of his head. The hug around her waist was loving and heavy. It made her feel safe.
On the next day, they followed the river a little while longer until it became shallow and narrow enough to be crossed to the other side. Ulf said that the river would travel east, and they had to keep going north. Water would be spare for the next week at least.
They left the dense forest just as the sun crossed the horizon and as darkness took over. Ulf and Lintu talked and decided they should push longer and travel at night since Sirien offered little to no cover. The grass went as high as their thighs, but the trees were sparse and the hills were numerous, so there would be no proper hideout and no way to see to a great distance. Ivy remembered a talk they had weeks ago about safe territory, about war.
"When I tell you to do something, you do it, Ulfin, we can't argue out there."
"Yes, Master."
While they ran, Ivy dozed off in Ulf's lap, waking up every few minutes when the wind blew too loudly, or when he rocked her body with a rougher stride. She lost herself in the sound of his breathing and his steps. Dream and reality mixed in. She imagined that they flew over a few hills. That Ulf and her talked until they both were in tears.
She woke up against a rock, beneath a fabric that protected her from the sun. It was so hot she felt sweat run down her back. She reached and felt around until she got her bag, opened her flask, and drank. The sun was high in the sky, and they were settled down, hidden by the vegetation and rock. An improvised tent using their backpacks, rope, and a leather piece kept them from the scorching sun. When Ivy's eyes were accustomed to the light, she saw that Ulf slept soundly nearby and that Lintu was awake, guarding them.
"Good morning, Ulfin," he said as he heard her move.
Ivy crawled until she was by his side. She stuck her head out, and there was an intense blue sky above and harsh yellow grassland surrounding their camp.
"Good morning. Where are we?"
"Just after the southernmost farms. We stopped after sunrise."
"Aren't you tired?"
"I slept first. Now it's my turn to watch."
"Ah, of course... So... We will stay here until Ulf is rested?"
"Until sunset. We'll only travel at night. It's safer."
"Safer from what, exactly?"
"Soldiers. Mercenaries. This part of the kingdom is under dispute, and last I knew, men are roaming the land hunting lone Iotunar."
Ivy hugged herself. "I understand. We must keep hidden and quiet."
"Yes. We'll travel when they are asleep."
Ivy held the edges of her chemise.
"Are we in a dangerous place right now? Because I need to pee."
He nodded. "Just do it right here. Dig a hole and lift your skirt."
"Can't I just go around the rock?"
"Don't risk it."
Lintu dug the dry earth in front of him with his gloved fingers to make a reasonable concave space. He called her to him, and before Ivy could negotiate her comfort, he was dragging her chemise up, and telling her to hold onto his shoulders and bend down.
"Little sweet slut is embarrassed now, is she?"
"I'm not..."
