Helena's Dream Chapter 3

The Pier, The Sea, The Ultimatum

George on I depart from Ann’s Bakery. We turn on to Main Street. Instead of the joyous strolls of flirtatious banter I’ve been privy to is the past, I feel like I’m on a death march falling in line behind my champion. No words are exchanged. George’s only concern is our destination where every that may be.

To my relief, it’s not another alley. We follow Main Street until the sea consumes my view. The clouds seems to dances their way off in the distance, creating beautiful patterns that seem to touch the ocean. We follow Main Street as it curves north to go parallel to the docks. A large boat is moored to the second closest dock. A group of dragonborns are busy offloading its cargo while an oval looking man is checking the contents. Dragonbrons are humanoids with a head like a dragon and scaly skin. Like their name suggests, they’re descendants of dragons and probably humans which is my guess.

I’ve always like the smell of the sea and the breeze that it sweeps in. I can’t count the times that it brought me joy around here when I was young. Peter and I often played here with the other kids. We’d dared each other to see who could lean out the farthest without falling in. Peter always hated playing that one. We never would agree who won and our arguing would draw the ire of the cranky dockhand, Mr. Mc Gully (the oval looking man). He’d always chase us away with a look like smoke is about to come out of his ears.

Even nowadays, I like to walk the piers. Especially the small one that’s missing a few planks here and there. It’s no longer being used to dock ships. Its just there being lonely, waiting to be teared down.

My sight is fixated on that pier when George stops. “She’s just using you. You know that right?” He said, giving a sideways glance.

I turn to him. “Who is?” I said confused.

“The Baker.”

I can’t help but smirk at the insinuation. “Ann? I’ve known her since I was little. I used to go there when I snuck out of lessons. I would perform what I learned and she would treat me with something. ‘A song for a slice’ she’d always say. When she had her boys, I started singing to them. It was only in the past year that I really started drawing a crowd.” My tone is airy and light, hoping to reduce the tension between us.

“Is singing in front of a bakery for a slice of pie and at a crummy tavern for pittance really what you want to do with your life?” George said is a scoffing tone.

“I’m going to do some traveling soon. Now that I’ve gotten comfortable performing in front of others. I’m thinking it’s time to test my skill in other places to see if can play anything grander. I’d feel bad playing anyplace besides the Popping Corn, unless it’s at a party or festival. It would be interesting to see how far I rise on my own talent.” I said without thinking, full of pride and ambition.

“Where you can play mind games with the hearts of men without worry.” George glares at me with his cold blue eyes.

I’m shocked at his words, hurt even by them. “What no? I would never… when would I… oh? That’s not fair! You forced yourself on me! I was just protecting my virtue!” I said in a strong tone, insulted that I was manipulating him out of pleasure. “You were drunk, I said stop it!”

“What virtue, you were acting like you wanted it…that kiss.” George said it in a surprising tone as if he’s remembering the kiss in vivid detail.

I too remember that kiss. “That kiss contained all my emotion and momentum from performing.” I said, again without thinking. George gives me an angry look. “But it was for you, it was always meant for you since I knew you were coming.” I said in a straight face lie, though it looks like he believed me as he calms down. Note to self, kissing strangers on the lips as part of the performance is out. I am way too good at it.

“Okay so the kiss was, but I’m not good enough to sleep with like you have with other men?”

“What other men? I never-”

“You told me last night you had, and your eyes were pretty much begging me to take you right there and then.” George said in a firm tone.

Then it dawns on me, the words I regretted saying last night, words that a drunken man might mistake for more than harmless activity of children experimenting. “Last night I said I had some experience kissing. That’s all!” I said strewn with myself for saying in the first place.

“So you’re a virgin?” George said speckled eyed and unsure if he believes me. “Since your mother-”

I look at him right in the eyes, straight faced, unblinking and say, “Yes I’m a virgin thank you very much.” …Technically.

Okay, okay. I know it seems like I’m lying to him but hear me out. I was being courted by Christopher Gonzales for almost a year when I was younger, just blossoming. We started kissing. It slowly progressed and progressed until one warm summer night. We were fooling around out in the fields. He was ready. I was ready. He asked, like a gentlemen might I add. I was already half naked so I said yes. He then got really ready. He was about to start… when… he finished. It gets worse. It went into my eye. I panicked. I didn’t know what was going on. I was already scared to death about what he was planning on doing already. I got dressed and took off. Matters failed to improve, that time of the month came for me in the morning so it could have been worse.

I was too afraid to talk to Chris for over a month. Then it was only to find out that he was marrying Lorene Greenfield who he’d been courting at the same time. And she knew about me. They were married in a month and a month later both their families sent out word that Lorene was blessed on her wedding night. They gloss over that the child come a few months early of course. I was kind of relieved that it did not happen to me. It would have put a hamper on my life. I have a lot to do before I settle down and have a family. I have a good chunk of life to go it with my elven blood. So yes I am a virgin. Chris will never admit what almost happened. The only person I told was Alyssa who knows better than to say anything. I then took an oath to be at least be betrothed before I do the deed. I want to make sure that I have my child with my husband who wants to settle down with me than be begrudging to take up the job.

Now that that’s settled, George’s stare is long and concerning like he doesn’t believe me even though it’s the truth. I stand my ground, any words for reassurance will only make me look guilty. He breaks his stare with a confident grin. “We’ll just have to find out won’t we?” He said and before I can process his meaning, he grabs my rear, reels me in, and lock lips.

The kiss is not as well executed as when I kissed him during my performance, but I’m still reminded how much I hunger for it. I let loose my restraint and wrap my arms around him, securing the embrace. I dig deeper into the passion, the desire, the lust. The lewd side of me says YES give him what he wants! Only when his hand move towards other places again that my mind finally kicks in. That means he wants SEX! With that, all my passion is halted.

I push away to break the lock. I let out a heavy breath. “Find out what?” I said in a skeptical tone.

George grabs my rear again and his fierce blue eyes pierce my own, eyes that are used to getting what he wants. “Come back to my place and prove your virtue to me.” He already sees the hesitation in my eyes. “And to make up for controlling my mind. I want you to express how much you love me.” He again moves in close his lips closer to mine. “I promise, it will be worth it.” He goes in for another round, but this time passion is the last thing on my mind. I again push away.

“I can’t-I-ah-” He looks at me annoyed and steps away, discourage. I feel that the man of my dreams is slipping away from me. I don’t know what I should to or how to fix it. Champions are hard to come by in Galam. We don’t have a royal hierarchy so there are no knights. George had to go all the way to Lost Vega to win his sash so finding another is out. Not only that, he’s trim and muscular with charming good looks. He has a quick wit and a great sense of humor. He’s perfect. He’ll be mine or would have been if I haven’t messed this up. I’m not ready to go back with him, but I need to figure out how to win him over without giving in so soon. I’ll lose my self-respect if I do. “I have to go get ready for a dinner party tonight. Father is bring one of his colleagues with him, a well-respected mage. Mother will be cross with me for being late as it is.

“I bet this is just some ruse so you can go gallivanting with some other man. One you are willing to put out for.” George said while letting go and walking to the edge of the pier.

“It’s the truth. I swear.” I walk up and grab his hands. He turns around and I stare into those hurt blue eyes that only strengthens my resolve. “There is no other man besides you. I promise.”

George’s eyes turn aggressive. “Then prove it.”

This again. I’m not sleeping with you today. You are just going to have to deal with that. If you love me, you will respect my wishes to wait. It’s the words I should be using. The words I should be saying to take back control of the situation, to prove I’m a woman of value and worth. I instead say nothing.

George’s eyes light up and a bemusing grin forms that makes me nervous. “All wizards carry magical trinkets on them don’t they?” He said in an inquisitive tone.

“I believe so?” I said with a knot in my stomach despite being unsure where this is going.

“If you bring me one of those trinkets, I will forgive you.” George said, ending with a devilish smile. With me being so nervous, I take it as being sincere.

I absorb what he asks of me. With my pretty silver eyes I could convince any wizard to part with one of his belonging as long as it isn’t a really important one. I soon beam with confidence. “That should not be a problem.”

His smile doesn’t fade and now I pick up the hint of darker intension. “No mind tricks. I doubt even a powerful archmage could resist your charm. You have to take it without the mage knowing about it.”

I take what he said with a large gulp. I never stolen a thing in my life. There was never a need. I am from a wealthy family and taught the value of giving to others and not taking more than what is needed. I stare into his strong blue eyes again. Eyes I don’t want to see for the last time, but the alternative is to go home with him. That’s not what I want. “Okay I will do what you ask.”