Paying The Forfeit

[[this post was co-written by me and John in Irc....thanks John :]

"Come on love... lets get that lazy dragon of yours to fly us off to our
pond for a little while," Turner coaxed Kellie after spending the morning
watching her mopped around their apartment. 

He knew he had to do something to bring her out of her funk and thought he
had the perfect plan. He just needed to get them away from the Warren for a
little while to pull it off.

Kellie sighed.  "Oh, Turner, I don't know...I feel guilty going out and
having a good time when the rest of the wing is out fighting..."

"I think we both could use a little time away from here."
he told her. "Staying here worrying isn't going to help them out any or
bring them home any sooner. I'm just suggesting a short trip to clear our
minds."

Kellie just didn't know what to do anymore.  She'd love nothing better than
to get away from here for awhile with Turner, but just didn't feel right
about...well, about having *fun*.  She couldn't forget all the pain and
suffering that so many here had endured, and all because of her."

"Turner, just going away for awhile isn't going to undo what's happened
because of me...maybe I should just stay here..."

"Nope." he stated grabbing her arm. He was through trying to coax her. He'd
just have to take charge and not give her a choice. she was going to forget
about things for a little while if he had to kidnap her and drag her to the
pond.

"This time we're going to do what I want to do. Later on you can yell at me,
but for now you'd better tell that lazy beast of yours to wake up... I for
one want a bath and don't want to have to stand in that tiny enclosure you
call a shower."

Kellie blinked at him.  "Turner...you *built* that shower!"

He began to pull her out onto the dragons ledge ignoring her protests, while
picking up a bag on the way out, then made her mount Varie. Then waited
until she resigned herself to going. Seconds later she huffed but the dragon
began to move and soon they were in the air above the Warren then over the
pond. He waited just long enough for Varie to land before dropping over the
side and helping her down.

 Well, she supposed it wouldn't do any harm...no one really needed her here,
when it came right down to it.  What did it matter if she stayed or left?
She sent a thought to Varie.  *Wake up, we're going off to the pond.*
Varie's response was more enthusiastic than she expected...apparently,
Kellie was alone in not really wanting to leave.

She dismounted, letting Turner put his strong arms around her as soon as she
was on the ground.  He surprised her by fastening his lips onto hers, and to
her surprise, she felt herself responding.  "So," she said, once their lips
had parted.  "What did you have in mind?"  Maybe he *could* make her forget
her problems, if only for a very short time.

"A small challenge." he grinned against her lips. "Winner takes all."

Kellie laughed softly, but even to her own ears it had a hollow ring.
"Well, I suppose I should accept.  I stand to win a lot more than you do."

"Oh you do, do you Granny?' he chuckled. "Think you're up to it?"

She smiled back at him.  "Sure, sonny.  Give me your best shot."

He dropped a hard kiss on her parted lips then stepped back and picked up
the bag he was carrying. Inside where their two swords and he saw the
question her eyes when he held hers out to her. 

"Want to give in and concede now?" he laughed.

"I thought maybe you'd ask me to arm-wrestle," she said wryly. "Do you know
how to use one of those?"

He grinned knowingly. "I guess you'll just have to find out for yourself."
he said and swung the blade in a wide arch which she parried easily.

"Is that the best you can do then this shouldn't take to long," Kellie said
smoothly, but in the next instance found herself flat on her back with his
blade held loosely against her throat.

"Want to try again?" his tone cocky as he helped her up. then he made his
first mistake.

As the smith turned around, she brought hers around and swatted him on the
rear with the flat of her blade.  "Gotcha!" she said.

She danced back out of his reach when he turned for her.

"Who taught you to do that?" she asked, wondering if Lenna had shown him a
few tricks.  She seemed to remember seeing the blonde rider doing something
similar once.

"The same person who taught me how to do this!" he lunged for her and before
she could bring up her guard, he'd slipped past it and she once again found
herself flat on her back.

"That's cheating!" she cried and tried to wiggle out from under him, but he
moved with her and kept her beneath him. 

"Yup... it is at that. But nothing was said about not being able to cheat,"
he grinned wickedly and his head came down, his tongue softly tracing over
her parted lips. "Ready to pay a forfeit granny?"

"Well...for someone who went to such trouble, I suppose it would only be
right...ok, what am I forfeiting?  Or do I need to ask?"

His leering eyes raked over her. "I think you're shirt will do for
starters," he replied and then met her eyes to see how she's take it.

"You're falling behind, sonny," she told him, pointing to his own chest. He
looked down, surprised to see that she'd already undone his shirt buttons.
"I did that while you were kissing me," she told him. "Us old people do
learn a few tricks along the way."

"Ah... but that's not how this game is played Granny," he warned her getting
back to his feet, but making no move to re-button  his shirt. "It comes off
only *after* you've earned the point. Ready to try again?"

"I'm ready," she said, and before he could bring his own blade up, he found
the tip of her sword resting squarely against the center of his chest.  "But
you weren't, were you?" she asked, grinning.  "Okay, off with them...and you
know what I'm talking about!"

"No," he winked. "Why don't you tell me what you want me to remove."

"Turner," she said, smiling sweetly as she lowered the tip of the sword so
that it was resting against his belt-buckle. "Shall I just cut your belt off
to give you a clue, or...?"

"That's okay.. I think I get the hint," he said moving his hands up to work
open the buckle. "But you might want to be a bit more careful with that
thing granny. I'd hate for you to accidentally cut something you shouldn't?"

She quickly withdrew the sword's tip.  "Good point," she agreed.  "If I did
that, my life would be pretty boring 
from now on, wouldn't it?  Ok, off with the pants...just toss them over on
top of my shirt."

This time he kept his eyes on her as he stepped out of his pants and then
felt a bit foolish as he picked up his sword to continue the game he had
started.

The next point was his and her pants followed his on the pile they had started. 

"Ok, ready," she said, once again putting her sword into guard position.
She made a feint at his left side which he quickly parried, and then once
again he surprised her...

The next point was his and her pants followed his on the pile they had
started.  "Come on granny... I win the next point and you'll have to pay a
bigger forfeit." he gloated, running his hand over her backside as he passed
by her.

"Why don't you just concede now and save yourself the humiliation of losing."

"Ahh...hell," said Kellie.  She tossed the sword down, and the next thing
Turner knew she had bowled him over and the two of them were on the ground
with Kellie industriously removing his remaining articles of clothing.  He
quickly joined in and did the same for her.

"I take it this means you're willing to pay the forfeit?" he asked, rolling
over and pinning her beneath his larger frame.

"Oh Yes," she said, running her hand over his chest.  "But there are some
things I guess I don't mind forfeiting..."  And she pulled him down on top
of her.

"Remind me of that some other time," he told her and then his lips covered
hers and their talking was at an end. Instead hands and lips took over
speaking for them. And in the end they found an answer that agreed with the
both of them.

****Submitted by: *****

Turner
Kellie & Varie (by John ....)
Cleft Warren

aka
Barb
(with John co-writing it)