Liliah Willowmist Ch. 01

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 One

"Quick! Somebody stop that thief!" Korinne Hlaalu demanded, shrieking and waving her hand insistently in the direction of a figure quickly maneuvering through the busy market street.

Without a moment of hesitation, Jo Zan'virr took off after the darkly garbed mer the distressed dark elf had pointed at, his keen Khajiit senses helping him track the small figure thru the teeming crowd of market goers, and his knowledge of the city causing him to scale one of the market stalls for a better view. Walking his large form nimbly and quickly along the tops of the stalls, then dropping on top of the unsuspecting thief and knocking him flat, Zan'virr smirked in satisfaction as the Dunmer hit the ground hard with a pained grunt, the large Cathay-raht pinning the thief's face to the dirt with one powerful clawed hand on the back of his neck.

"This one would suggest if you wish to keep your shaved skin intact, you give Khajiit what you stole jetwijijiri" Zan'virr hissed menacingly at the prone Dunmer, flexing his fingers slightly and pressing the sharp points of his claws into the skin of the mer's throat for emphasis. The Dunmer struggled beneath Zan's claws slightly, straining under the weight of the large Khajiit with a knee in his back, raggedy gasping out the word "p-please..." as his hand opened, revealing the stolen amulet. Realizing he is likely close to smothering the mer, Zan snorts, lifting his knee slightly to relieve the pressure partly, but not enough to allow the man to gain his freedom. Drawing a full breath of relief, the mer repeats the word again "Please..there is the amulet, don't kill me.."

Jo-Zan'virr snorts again, grabbing up the stolen bauble and looking at it with a smirk, then retaking his feet and looking down at the mer in the dirt with a mild look of disdain.

"This one has no interest in blooding in his claws or clothes today wafiit, only in the necklace, and more so the reward that will surely come from its pleased owner when this one returns it" Zan grinned smugly at the thought. There were few who frequented this part of Balmora who didn't know Korinne Hlaalu or her father, and the idea of being in a position where a favor was owed could be nothing but good news for Zan. He slipped the amulet carefully into his pocket heading back the direction he had come, scanning the faces of the people cluttering the street for the one he wanted.

Korinne looked up as the large Khajiit came back into sight, smiling with a rather smug and pleased look, gently nudging her handmaiden and nodding in the direction of Zan, raising a hand to gesture him over.

"That didn't take very long at all, my my..he is quite large is he not?" she said almost casually, watching her handmaiden closely for any reaction. Liliah glanced up scanning the crowded street to find the Khajiit her mistress was referring to, her eyes going a bit large as she spots him navigating his way through the mob of shoppers in the marketplace, a full head taller than the largest dark elves near him.

"Yes Mistress, I believe he is the largest Khajiit I have ever seen. .." she murmured softly, staring openly at him as he maneuvered his way through the crowd.

"Do you like him Lili?" Korinne asks, a wicked little grin crossing her red eyes as she peered at her little bosmer handmaiden, "I know you favor Khajiit men, I have seen you staring more than once you know..."

Liliah's cheeks flushed hot at the question, burning redder at being called out. Lifting her eyes briefly, she stole another glance at Zan as he approached, edging slightly behind her mistress and out of sight as Korinne began to speak to him.

"Noble sir, how brave you are, risking your life to return my heirloom to me, you must allow me to reward you.." Korinne held out her hand as she spoke, waiting expectantly for her property to be returned to her.

Jo'Zan-virr said nothing, but sized the Dunmer woman up, looking her over from head to toe, taking in her House colored garb with its deep green and gold trim, her grey skin, red eyes and straight, wispy dark hair. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the amulet, a gold chain bearing a green gem, wrapped with gold wires in the shape of the Hlaalu family crest, placing it into her outstretched hand with a slight smile and a nod as she mentioned rewarding him. The smile left somewhat as he watched the mer reach for where her coin purse ought to have been and draw her hand back with a dismayed look and a frown.

"I am quite embarrassed to confess I seem to have left home without any coin on me..." she says, turning around. As she moved to the side, Zan caught his first glimpse of Liliah, their eyes locking for only a moment before hers dropped once more to the ground, peeking up at him shyly once more as her mistress gave her instructions. Zan's mouth dropped open slightly as he watched the little bosmer hurry off in the direction of the Hlaalu mansion on a mission to fetch her mistress' coin purse, drawn from his staring by an amused giggle.

"She is quite lovely is she not?" Korinne said smoothly, giving Zan a shrewd look. Zan nervously cleared his throat, standing up a bit straighter "Quite," He replied sharply, lifting an eyebrow at the Dunmer, wondering what her point was.

"She has been with me since she was a child you know..."she continues cryptically "Her father accrued a gambling debt with mine and he traded her to clear his debt, she has been my personal handmaiden since I was a small child...very talented with her hands..."

Zan narrowed his eyes slightly, finally coming out directly "Your point?"

Korinne steps in a little closer speaking quietly to the large Khajiit "Perhaps you would prefer a reward of a somewhat more...personal nature? If you fancy her that is.."

Zan-viir gasped, catching onto her meaning, a scowl of outrage taking its place across his face "Is this one to understand you pay your debts with the services of one of your slaves?"

To this comment Korinne burst out laughing "Gods no! She has been with no other, and she is more closely comparable to a member of the household than some common slave...we grew up together, so believe me when I tell you that if she is mistreated in your company you will be severely punished, and there are few places you could go where you would not be eventually found and brought to justice." She smiles rather icily, giving emphasis to the words in a way that made Zan's skin crawl slightly.

"If it is all the same, this one prefers his payments in coin" he replied tersely, sniffing slightly, and causing his whiskers to twitch as he watched the Dunmer suspiciously.

To this Korinne shrugged, one hand coming up to primp her hair in a gesture of privilege, a smile touching her lips slightly "As you please sir, never let it be said I do not honor my debts and repay favors properly..." Turning her head she smiles as she spots Liliah, hurrying back through the crowds, her small frame slipping easily between bodies of people as they meander the market stalls "And here comes our little flower now." She announced cheerfully.

Zan watched her closely as the bosmer approached, taking in the details: the amber gold of her large darkly lashed eyes, and the nearly black hair twisted into a bun on the side of her head. She barely came up past his elbow, but was undeniably grown, with a voluptuous figure despite her petite stature. He watched as she lifted an arm, holding out her delicate hand offering Lady Hlaalu's coin purse to her. As she dropped the purse in her mistress' hand, she stole a glance up at Zan, feeling the weight of his gaze, and smiling nervously at him beneath the scrutiny of his eyes. In spite of himself, Zan found himself imagining her hands on him and wondering how her smooth dark skin would feel under his lips and whiskers. Returning the slight smile and breaking eye contact, he cleared his throat slightly trying to force his thoughts in other directions, looking back at Lady Hlaalu shrewdly as he internally wrestled with himself for what he was contemplating.

Korinne took the coin purse from Liliah, her sharp eyes catching the glances between her and Zan as she began counting out coins to pay him with, counting slowly as she saw Zan ponder the offer she made. Counting out 50 gold drakes into her hand and tying the purse securely to her belt, she turns again to Zan looking up at him as she offers out the coins. He looks from her outstretched hand to Liliah, then asks almost nervously "Would....your handmaiden be a willing participant in paying your debt, or would it be coerced...this one will have no part in forcing another to do anything they do not wish to.." he says, looking again at Liliah, with an almost sympathetic and gentle expression.

Liliah looked up startled as she was mentioned, flushing slightly, then looking up at Korinne questioningly. The dunmer shrugs at her offering a smile "T'is only 50 drakes Lili, it is up to you..Would you be willing to reward him with your services for an evening?" Liliah looks back up at Zan, examining his face and looking into his eyes for several moments, before finally looking at Lady Hlaalu and giving a single bowing nod "I will serve him for the evening, if it so pleases, Mistress."

As she uttered the words and looked back at him, Zan released the breath he had not realized he was holding, swallowing back a sudden feeling of anxiety, anticipation, and excitement all rolled into one. He looked at Korinne questioningly "So now what? This one has more business to attend to before the sun goes down."

Lady Hlaalu smiled at him, reminding Zan vaguely of a shark, making his skin crawl and the fur on the back of his neck stand on end.

"Where are you staying sir Khajiit?" she asked liltingly.

"At the Eight Plates, in the backmost room" He answered, drawing a smile from Korinne as she nodded to the bosmer. Liliah dropped into a low curtsy saying nothing, then turning and repeating the gesture for Zan before heading in the direction of the tavern. "She will wait in your room until you have attended to your business" Korinne says brightly, adding "So...I trust we are square, and my appreciation has been properly expressed?"

Zan watched Liliah as she wove her way through the busy street, the rich crimson, satiny material of her wrapped around skirt clinging to her as it rode low on the swell of her hips. Jo'Zan-virr swallowed against the sudden dryness in his mouth, nodding at the dunmer and stating "We are square." while attempting to silence the twinge of guilt he was feeling for what he had agreed to take as payment

Korinne gave a slight nod of her head and a pleased expression "Excellent, I will be round to collect her in the morning, thank you for your services."

****

Liliah glanced towards the large window to the gathering darkness outside, shifting slightly where she was kneeling on the floor at the foot of the bed. She was nervous and had no idea what to expect from the unknown Khajiit she had agreed to serve for the evening, and had been struggling against the growing knot of apprehension in her stomach as the sun had slipped lower on the horizon. Her mistress had given her the chance to refuse, what had she been thinking? A creaking of the floor boards and the sound of voices down the hall drew her from her silent reverie, her eyes darting to the doorway. The voices stopped further down the hall, a male voice and a giggling female voice. Liliah took a deep breath, attempting to slow the hammering of her heart. She felt like she had been waiting there for hours. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to recall his face, with it's dark fur and golden yellow feline eyes. Drawing another breath, she let it out, slower this time, relaxing somewhat. His eyes had been kind, his face gentle...perhaps it wouldn't be so terrible...

Zan found himself hesitating as he reached the door of the Eight Plates, his stomach tightening nervously as his mind once more recalled the image of the little mer that was likely waiting in his room for him, Drawing a breath and gathering his courage he pushed to door open and made his way to the back of the building, to his room...and..her...

He stopped as he reached the doorway, his breath catching oddly as he saw her there, kneeling on the floor with her head bowed and her hands folded in her lap. Channeling a small thread of magicka into fire, he ignited the wick of a nearby lantern bathing the room in warmly flickering firelight, drawing a startled gasp from her as she rose quickly to her feet, stammering "S-sorry Sir, I d-did not hear you come in.."

He held up his hands in a non threatening way, slowly entering the room as she stood with her hands folded and gaze averted towards the floor, speaking in soft tones to her

"It is this one whom should apologize for startling you little one, Zan has been told many times he moves very lightly on his feet for being roughly the size of a mammoth."

Liliah looked up slightly surprised, and cracking a grin in spite of her nervousness, and was met with a kind smile when she met Zan's eyes. She dropped her gaze again suddenly and asked in a rather professional tone "What would you have me do sir?"

Zan paused as she asked the question, unsure exactly what the appropriate response would be, instead finally asking in return after several awkward moments of silence,

"What services do you generally provide to Lady Hlaalu?"

Liliah smiled as he asked the question, and almost seemed to Zan-virr to expel a small sigh of what sounded to be relief as she responded, "Many things...draw her bath, lay out her clothing, brush her hair, help dress her for bed...She has also told me I am a gifted masseuse.."she added a slight tone of pride in her voice. Zan nodded as he listened to her list the normal chores she did for lady Hlaalu, feeling a twinge of both pity and curiosity for the lovely creature.

He took a seat on a nearby stool, his head only slightly lower than hers, even seated, asking as she finished "And..you enjoy serving your mistress, is she kind to you?"

Lili looked up at him curiously, seemingly confused by the question" Sir?"

Zan tilts his head slightly, looking her over again, searching for signs of mistreatment, peering into the mer's eyes searchingly as he rephrased his question "Are you happy there in your gilded cage, do you never wish for your freedom?"

Liliah's breath seemed to catch slightly in her throat, an odd look crossing her eyes before her gaze dropped once more to the floor and she answered softly "I do as I am told and I am well care for, lavishly dressed and well fed... For the most part, I have everything I could hope or wish for and want for nothing..."she trailed off, an unspoken 'but' hanging heavy in the air.

Zan tilted his head slightly peering at the mer and prodding gently "...But?"

Liliah drew a slow breath, looking up at him, searching his eyes as if trying to determine how much she should say, how much she should trust him, then finally let out the breath in a slow sigh, saying softly "It's just that...now that we are older, I see Mistress with her various gentleman callers and I am left alone while she entertains them, there are times when i am nearly crushed with loneliness knowing I do not have the freedom to...well, I will never have....its just...." she trailed off leaving the thought incomplete, her gaze dropping to the floor.

Zan reached out, his fingers gentle under her chin as he turned her face back up to meet his gaze "You are not free to find love..." he said knowingly, tracing her cheek softly with the pad of his thumb.

She met his gaze swallowing hard, then shaking her head slightly, the silence hanging awkwardly in the air for a moment before she suddenly smiled brightly, saying "But this is not what I am here for, not much of a reward to hear your servant speak of her life in such a way, what would you have me do Sir?'

As if suddenly remembering where he was, Zan coughed softly, and cleared his throat "Yes of course...if you would please, assist this one in removing his armor....Apologies... this one is unaccustomed to having servants, and he is feeling a bit nervous, perhaps, it would help if Khajiit knew what he should call you?"

She smiled politely, dropping into a curtsy and saying "I am Liliah Willowmist, but you may call me simply Lili if you prefer" she added meeting his gaze with her large amber eyes.

Zan nodded as she gave her name, reciprocating "And this one is Jo'Zan-virr, but his friends call him Zan.

Liliah smiled at him, and odd sort of smile like two friends sharing a secret as she murmured softly "It is pleasure to meet you Zan," the sound of his name in her sultry voice causing his stomach to suddenly flip flop a little, his face returning her grin almost of its own accord.

She moved around him, her fingers deftly unfastening the clasps of his pauldrons and removing them, setting them out of the way at the foot of the bed, next removing the half gauntlets he wore to protect his forearms and setting them next to them. He watched her curiously as she worked, and she glanced up occasionally smiling kindly at him as each piece came off, finally moving in front of him, stepping between his thighs to be able to reach and release the clasps holding his chest armor in place. She gave him an awkward sort of nervous smile as she leaned close, and Zan leaned towards her slightly to accommodate her task, catching the scent of her as he leaned forward: Honeysuckle and Jasmine... Unable to help himself, he drew a slow breath through his nose drawing the scent of her in deeply before remembering himself, stealing a quick guilty glance at her as if worried his thoughts may have been overheard. He cringed inwardly as he looked up to find her staring awkwardly at him as though waiting. She flushed, her tan skin pinkening prettily on her cheeks and her lips parting as she drew a sudden unsteady breath, her voice coming out low and uncertain

"Humblest apologies, Sir...I do not believe I have strength enough to lift your chest plate...." she swallowed hard peering at him almost fearfully. He felt his face warm slightly, realizing the metal plate armor likely weighed more than she did, and chuckled softly in embarrassment, standing up long enough to remove it and set it next to the other armor, leaning it against the foot of the bed. She stepped back as he rose, her eyes trailing over him as he lifted his arms and removed the heavy metal plate, the muscles of his arms and shoulders rippling visibly under the weight, even through the linen shirt he wore under his armor. She mentally scolded herself that her mistress had taught her better and would be angry if the Khajiit were displeased with her services, and forced herself to lower her gaze as she had been trained.

As he took his place on the stool again, Liliah moved to kneel in front of him, ridding him of first one boot then the other, grinning as he flexed each foot and voiced a soft groan of pleasure as the boots came off. She ran her finger tips firmly over the arch of each of them massaging the balls of his feet firmly with her thumbs drawing another low sound of appreciation from him "Your Mistress did not exaggerate your skills with your hands this one thinks" Zan said with a chuckle and a happy sigh.

Liliah grinned at him, the same confidante smile she had given him when they had shared names. "I like to think not" she said, shrugging one shoulder modestly, her hands moving up the sides of his leg unfastening the last of the plate armor covering his thighs. as the last clasp was undone, she stood again, folding her hands in front of her and asking politely "Would you like me to draw you a bath sir?"