"I think you have time for a quickie with your friend," says Leona.

 

Onmund looks optimistic, but it's only a few hours since the tentacles finished with her. There's no way.

 

"Awh come on," he says. "I'll miss you."

 

"Please Onmund," she whispers still hoarse and weary from the ordeal earlier today. "Will you tell Brelyna and... Mirabelle Ervine... that I had to go? I'll try to return as soon as... as I can."

 

He looks dejected, but nods.

 

Leona, for her part, smiles. "I'm so glad you're coming. I missed you so much," she says squeezing Maer's shoulder. They both know that's a threat, not a sign of affection.

 

Later, waiting at the dock, Leona grows philosophical. "It's amazing how life can change so suddenly, isn't it? You think you've got it all figured out and then BAM! Everything changes from one moment to the next."

 

 

 

The boatman puts them ashore outside of Windhelm. As he pushes off again they are ambushed.

Leona grins as she unsheathes her sword. "Finally a bit of fun. Stand back, I'd hate for you to get killed."

 

Maer summons an Atronach and lets loose with Fire Bolts. She's pretty sure she hits with at least one. The bandits are overwhelmed in short order.

 

Afterwards, Maer thinks she sees Leona give her a look. Is it respect?

 

 

They walk the rest of the way to Windhelm and stay the night at an inn there.

 

Maer springs for another full bath, to wash away the grime battle and the sea and try to relax a bit. She examines her body, where the tentacles were. Surprisingly there's no evidence of stress or irritation on the skin. Her muscles are sore and she feels hypersensitive, but there are no marks or abrasions or bruises. Maybe the secretions had some sort of alchemical properties?

 

When she finally sleeps, she dreams of her Master and Leona and tentacles and the sea and the people at the college and whips and... it's all a big weird mess, and she's less rested than she ought to be when she awakes.

 

 

"Smells like you bathed," says Leona the next morning. "Good idea. The Thane always preferred you clean and fresh. You might want to let your hair down too.  That's his taste, as I'm sure you remember."

 

Maer ignores her.

 

The rest of the journey to Whiterun is uneventful.

 

As for they wait for the gates to open, Leona leans in and whispers "imagine if I lied to you. Imagine if there's no proposal and the Thane holds you to what he said - pay up or become his slave for life." She laughs and puts her arm around Maer.

 

Maer stifles her panic. Can she run? Could she make it back? Probably not, the guards at the gate all know Leona and her Master and will take their side. And that's assuming she could free herself of Leona's grip, which is somewhat doubtful.

 

As they walk through the gate, one of the guards call out "you found her!"

 

"I told you I would!"

 

"Who's that," asks another guard.

 

"She used to whore up at the Bannered Mare. And parade her tits and ass through the streets too."

 

"Oh I'd like to see that."

 

A few more people gather to gawk and comment. "I remember her," says one. "Nice and tight. I hope she's back at the Mare tonight."

 

They stop in front of the house.

 

"Go ahead, go on in. Whenever you're ready," says Leona. She's smiling again. "Take your time."

 

Maer stands staring at the door for quite a while. She remembers her time in Whiterun... and before. She recalls the feel of the collar around her neck. What could the proposal be... she has a lot of money with her, but not enough. Did Leona lie earlier, at the gate? Oh she hopes she didn't. Maer does not want to be here.

 

"Take your time," says Leona. "It won't change anything."

 

She's right. Maer gathers her courage and goes inside.

 

 

"You came. I'm glad you accepted my invitation."

 

"I didn't have much of a choice."
 

He grins. "There's always a choice Maer."

 

Everything is familiar to her in the house. The smells, the furniture, the knots in the planks on the floor. Everywhere she looks she recalls being fucked - up against the wall, lying on the floor, bent over the table... and it's turning her on. The mere act of walking into the place and remembering all that was done to her makes her long for it to happen again. It's an almost physical yearning.

 

No! Maer focuses. Yes her nipples are hard and her crotch is damp, but she's not going to let herself be swept along like she used to.

 

"Aren't you going to compliment my new clothes," he says, interrupting her thoughts. He's wearing sumptuous gold-embroidered robes and all sorts of expensive jewelry.

 

"You're doing well." She almost adds 'Master' out of habit, but catches herself before the words leave her lips.

"I am. The Jarl values me, and if I want to be valued more I have to look the part. But it's not cheap. You'll have to pay me what you owe...."

 

Maer doesn't have the money, of course, not all of it.

 

They talk for a while, and in the end he offers her three choices.

 

One, she can take the initial deal and become is slave, full stop. This, he argues is who she is meant to be. Maer is less convinced.

 

Two, she can turn around right now and walk out the gates of Whiterun. He will then go to the Jarl and declare her a delinquent debtor. She'll probably have a few hours head start before the bounty hunters set out after her. If they catch her, she will be subject to the Jarl's justice. It will probably be very unpleasant. He does not recommend that she does this, but thinks it's only fair to include it as an option.

 

Three, she can sell everything she possibly can to raise more money in the next few hours and pay down the debt. They'll then go to the Jarl to arbitrate how to settle the difference fairly.

 

"It's not much of a choice," she says again.

 

And again he says "there's always a choice."

 

She goes with option three.

 

 

 

Maer - with Leona in tow - makes the rounds, selling her things... potions, alchemical ingredients, weapons, food, soul gems... anything she can get money for.

 

The merchants all recognize her, she's sure.

 

As she goes about selling her stuff she wonders where she will stay tonight. And she wonders how she'll get off. Because, it turns out, being humiliated still turns her on and this is really really humiliating.

 

 

Maer returns to the Thane. She's just a tiny bit short of 20,000.

 

"What about your robes? They're enchanted aren't they? That should fetch a decent price."

 

"You want me to sell my clothes? What am I supposed to wear?"

 

She immediately regrets saying that, remembering how frequently he made her walk around naked.

 

"I have something for you. I think it'll suit you. Here." He hands her some rags.

 

The Thane looks her over with a critical eye. "You better sell those earrings and your other jewelry too. And the flowers in your hair - they're enchanted too aren't they?"

 

"Really? Even the amulet of Dibella?"

 

"Yes. Everything. Now hop along."

 

As she turns and goes, he gives her a short sharp slap on the ass. "Don't be too long!" She's reminded how she used to hate being spanked. Then she grew to love it, when she was his slave. And now, after months at the college, she hates it again. It's curious how a person can be shaped like that.

 

He smiles when she returns, then tallies the total. There's a little more than 20,000. Selling her most significant personal items has only made a miniscule difference, all told. Maybe the money weren't the point? The outstanding balance is still basically 10,000. 

 

"Good. Now we go before the Jarl for judgement." He turns to the others, "Lydia, Leona - we're going to Dragonsreach."

 

 

 

"Do you have any value," the Jarl asks.

 

The Thane has explained the situation to the Jarl, and the Jarl is considering.

 

"What do you mean?" Maer is confused. It still hurts her to project her voice, but she has no choice in this great hall.

 

"Do you belong to a good family? Do you have any useful or special skills? Do you have any redeeming features? I'm going to determine how you can fairly settle your debt to my Thane. What sort of person you are and what you can do all factors into it."

 

"I... uh... I have some skill with both alchemy and magic. I'm an admitted apprentice at the College in Winterhold."

 

The Jarl nods, impressed.

 

"She's whored herself out in Markath and the Bannered Mare, and all points in between," interjects the Thane.

 

"Is that true," asks the Jarl laughing.

 

Maer nods. It is.

 

"Well then... here's my judgement..." he drags it out. It feels like an eternity passing, but it can't be that long because Maer doesn't draw a single breath before the Jarl continues. "The woman Maer will serve my Thane as a debt-slave for one month. During that time he has the right to put her to any labour he deems fit, and to any value that accrues from that."

 

Debt-slave? What does that mean?

 

The Jarl continues, "furthermore, since the woman is accustomed to whoring her owner may put her to that purpose also and collect any profits he can. He has the right to dispose of the slave's body as he will. He may punish the slave as he sees fit, though he may not end her life or permanently maim her unless she transgresses against the law of the Jarl."

 

This is just slavery! Just like before, only now it's decreed by the Jarl rather than just "a mutual agreement" as her Master used to say.

 

"After a month, assuming the slave has served adequately and not somehow extended the term, the slave will be set free. This is subject to the usual conditions regarding food and drink, transferability, and so on and so forth."

 

... but at least it's just for one month, rather than forever. Out of the corner of her eye, Maer sees Lydia and Leona watching. Leona looks satisfied, Lydia bored.

 

"Do you have a collar," the Jarl asks.

 

By sheer coincidence the Thane - Maer's Master - does. The Jarl gives him a grin and an exaggerated wink - almost as if there'd been some sort of agreement.

 

Her Master puts both his hands around her neck, like he's about to strangle her. His touch is light, though. "Your neck is so delicate," he says. He squeezes just a little bit, not to hurt her but to show his power over her. "This is what it feels like with no collar. Remember that."

 

With that he slides on the iron collar.

 

* click * it locks. He puts the key away. And just like that, Maer is a slave again.

 

"There you go, slave. Everything is as it should be."

 

He thanks the Jarl.

 

Afterwards, the Thane - Maer's Master, again - says "excellent. Let's celebrate. My Jarl, would you like her to suck your cock? She's quite good at it."

 

The Jarl would.

 

 

As soon as they leave the Thane grabs Maer by the hair. He pulls out her hair-tie. He is not gentle.

 

"Slave, you will wear your hair down."

 

He is forcing her to bend her neck in an awkward backwards angle, controlling her head by the roots of her hair.

 

She whispers "yes master."

 

"What was that, I couldn't hear you?"

 

She clears her throat. She still hasn't recovered her voice. Maer winces from discomfort as she forces herself to speak louder and more clearly. "Yes Master. I will wear my hair down."

 

They walk a bit further when her Master says "Slave, bend over and grab you ankles. Show us your ass."

 

It takes Maer a few moments to process. What did he want? Should she do it? There's no choice really, she knows that, so after a moment's hesitation she obeys.

 

Leona laughs, "she's gotten slow! Do you want me to whip her ass, Thane? Just look at her wiggling."

 

"Nah," he laughs, "I know you'd like to, but I'm feeling forgiving right now. She allowed herself to think she was somebody for a while. Let's give her a bit of time to adjust."

 

Maer shrugs it off. She can summon beings of pure flame to fight for her. She can heal wounds. She can shoot fire and ice to kill her enemies. She is somebody, they can't take that away from her even if she must let them humiliate her.

 

They walk a bit further. Her Master snaps his fingers and gestures. What does he mean? There was something like two dozen combinations of snaps, waves, and whistles her Master had trained her to obey immediately (like a dog), but it's been a while. Which was which?

 

He repeats himself. Slowly, firmly, emphatically.

 

Right! She remembers now! Get on your knees, arms behind your back. She gets down.

 

"You're too slow," says her Master matter-of-factly. "You better start putting your mind to it."

 

"Yes Master," she whispers.

 

"Now open your mouth. Good. And stick your tongue out."

 

She obeys, of course.

 

"Good. Is there anything you will not lick with that tongue, if I tell you to," he asks.

 

She knows the answer she's supposed to give. She shakes her head "Nnhh, musdh. Ahyellk nnnthhhh uhhhsuh!" She's trying to say "no Master, I'll lick anything you say," but he didn't tell her to retract her tongue so, just to be sure, she talks like an idiot with her tongue out.

 

"I know. You'll take anything in that mouth of yours. Just filthy."

 

"Look at her," says Leona. "You can tell from her little frown and the way she moves that she doesn't want to do anything you tell her."

 

It's true.

 

"But look at how glassy her eyes are. Look at the wet spot down there. Her snatch is leaking so much you'd think she's pissing herself. She's horny as a bitch in heat. Just look at her. She's loving it."

 

That is also, unfortunately, true

 

The walk back to the house is all like that.

 

 

He snaps his fingers to make her undress. She does, but not as fast as last time she was... what was the phrase he used... "broken in."

 

Then he gestures to say "on your hands and knees, knees apart." That's what he used to do when he wanted to fuck her from behind. Despite herself, Maer is anticipating the fuck. She's been frustratingly horny since walking into the house hours ago. No matter anything else, it'll be a relief to get release.

 

Her Master takes his sweet time, though. He caresses her inner thighs and dripping pussy. He drags his firm fingers across different parts of her body - her buttocks, her thighs, her neck, her sides. The anticipation just builds and builds.

 

"It's incredible. I know how much you've been fucked. How many men have been inside you. And still you look and feel as tender and innocent as the day I took your virginity."

 

Maer is quivering, trying not to moan. He starts caressing the area around her clit with one hand while tugging at her nipples with the other. "Do you miss the piercings?"

 

"Unnnhhhhhh," she answers. He slips a finger inside her then retracts it. "That's probably enough for now don't you think?"

 

"Mmmnnhhhh... please! Please Master, fuck me." She's begging. She's horny. She knows he is going to fuck her and degrade her and fuck with her in so many ways, but right now she just wants him to fuck her. "Please Master."

 

He lets her beg a little longer, but then he fucks her. He's not gentle. And it feels so so good. She hasn't had a climax like this since she left. Even the tentacles were different - the climaxes were longer and more exhausting, sure, and they  were almost never ending - but this one... this one does something inside her brain. She hasn't found anything else that makes her feel like this. It's messed up.

 

Afterwards, she has to service Lydia and Leona. It's just like old times.

 

At least it's only a month. It'll be miserable, but it'll also feel good. She just has to make sure she doesn't lose herself.