Merchant's Return
A merchant comes home to give a special gift to his rabbit lover
Seven days. We had been on the road for seven days. The big ox pulling us was slow and plodding, almost as if he had been refusing to speed up out of spite. Our wagon's wheels jostled and creaked as they turned. The chests and boxes within the wagon knocked up against one another whenever there was a slight bump in the road. The sky above was pristine and clear, not a cloud in sight for miles. Onward the road stretched, twisting and turning this way and that, like a giant serpent lying upon the earth.
"Come on, pick up the pace, ya damn beast." I whipped the reigns, but to no avail. A noise of complaint came from the ox, but otherwise he paid me no mind.
No matter what I did, this dumb animal never seemed to listen. I knew I should have paid for a proper beast, like a horse. But I just had to be cheap and buy an ox, convinving myself that once the work was over, he might prove useful in other ways. What those ways were, I knew not. But, considering how aggravating he'd made himself, I was beginning to surmise he'd make for a good few weeks of meat. Certainly more useful than being a wagon puller.
While contemplating on the different meals I'd turn him into, we rounded ourselves over a collection of hills. Off in the distance, our destination was peeking out from the light morning mist. The city's protective walls were the first to catch the eye; massive stone structures circling the city proper, iron gates used for entry and exit, battlements with archers waiting above. Indeed, Folhin was a well secured city. But, beyond those slightly intimidating walls and bowmen lay a place full of wonderful people. The cruel stone barrier hid a kind heart within, and not a day went by that I wasn't glad to call it home.
The closer we got to home, the more happy I was to return. Finally, to be back in my own house, sleep in my own bed. No more camping on the roadside. No more hastily made tasteless meals. But, the last leg of this journey proved to be just as long and tiresome as the rest, thanks in no small part to the animal who outright refused to move any faster than a snail. But, regardless of that, we inched our way home, until finally we were sat before the gates. The town's guards greeted me pleasantly and waved me inside, to which I was most appreciative.
As the ox's stomping feet and the wagon's wheels entered the fair city, I was assaulted by the common noises one associates with any city. The yells of children running to and fro. The clanging of hammers as workers repair whatever they may. A chorus of merchants and others alike as they haggle and negotiate their deals. I followed the noise down the streets to the familiar building of brick and mortar I made my home.
After getting the ox and wagon put away into the small shed beside the house, I chanced a look towards the sky and noticed a bit of smoke coming from the chimney, which sent a smile onto my face at the sight. With the knowledge of what awaited me, I happily strolled up to the door and made my entrance.
The moment the door opened, a blur of black fuzz threw itself upon me, nearly knocking me to the ground. Two arms circled around me, squeezing tight in a loving embrace. A happy hum coming from the figure against me reached my ears, and I returned the hug just as enthuastically. Two long, floppy ears brushed against my cheek and neck as the two of us held one another. The smell of a roasting something or other filled my nostrils, but there was something else. An all too familiar scent, one of lavender, drifting upwards from the person in my arms. As the gentle breeze came from the open door, I realized how long we'd been standing there, and pulled back to look upon my assailant.
A small bunny lass, wrapped in black fur, most of which currently hidden underneath a robe of sorts. Knowing our past, I knew that robe wouldn't last the evening. A pinkish nose adorned the middle of her face, and it wrinkled slightly when I ran a hand down her cheek. Deep blue eyes sparkled with affection as they met mine, and the little lady let out short sigh as a hand reached up to grasp my own. She nuzzled herself against the open palm before moving around me to shut the door, refusing any and all from prying into our intimate moment.
With our privacy returned, she gave me a stern look and said, "You were gone longer than you said you'd be."
"Well, there were a few things I needed to take care of," I responded with a shrug.
"You promised me no more than two weeks."
I winced at that. I had indeed made a promise, and I was nothing if not a man of my word. But, I had a reason for the delay, which she would find out shortly. But first...
Without hesitation, I lifted the small bunny into the air, pulling her against my chest in another warm embrace. She fought against me for a moment, kicking her legs, almost hitting my most sensitive of parts, but she swiftly relented and let out a giggle.
"Don't think you're off the hook so easily," she warned. "I'll make you pay for this, somehow."
Planting a chaste kiss, I smiled in return. "And I do so look forward to whatever you have in mind."
After setting her down, I followed her towards the pleasant smells of the kitchen. In there, I saw a fine cut of meat being slowly cooked upon the fire, with a pot of some of the delicious stew I loved so much to accompany it. The large pot was nearly overflowing with the contents within. As the black furred maiden returned to rotate the meat, I decided to have a little fun with her.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you somehow knew I'd be home today. Why else make such a wonderful and plentiful meal?"
"Woman's intuition," she teased, sticking her tongue out at me afterwards.
"Certainly not a friend of yours living in Marton, sending word ahead?"
A mocking little hum of thought was her initial answer. "Hm, no I don't think I know anyone in Marton."
I sat down at the small dining table, and began to untie my boots. "Ah, so that pretty little kitty by name of Lys is a stranger? She seemed so sure the two of you were old friends."
Another wrinkle of her nose at the mention of her friend. "I hope a certain cat kept her paws to herself while you were around."
"She may have tried to slip her hand on me," I mused. I could see a twitch of an ear at that, so I continued. "Though, who's to say what happens in the dead of night when one's drunk?"
The rotating ceased. The twitching ear completely stopped its movements. The bunny lass was still as a mountain. And just as soon as I thought I may have taken the joke too far, she resumed her cooking.
"Prim, you know I'm not serious," I said softly. Getting up, I walked over and placed a hand on her thin shoulder. The muscles tensed slightly under my gentle touch before relaxing. "What kind of idiot would dare look at another woman when he has someone like you in his life?"
Mumbled words came out, but I could not make out what was said. I asked her to repeat herself.
Through hushed words, she spoke. "I can't believe you fell for that." A small laugh then burst out, filling my ears with the sound I fell in love with.
"You dirty sneak!" I pinched her side, earning a quick yelp of faux surprise in the process, and returned to my spot at the table.
As she removed the now fully cooked meat from the fire, her face lit up with a smile. "You're so gullible. As if you'd ever let Lys of all people get her dirty hands on you."
"Course not. After all, I know where those hands have been."
"Oh, don't say it like that." A hand waved me down like I was some misbehaving child. Pulling out a knife, she started to cut and portion our meal with careful but swift slices. With that part done, she then ladled out two helpful spoonfuls of the stew for us each. With almost a skip to her step, she then graced the table with our dinner.
~~~
All in all, the meal was as superb as ever, and when I shared that thought, my lovely Prim gave me a curtsy. In doing so, however, her robe loosened slightly, though I suspected she must have undone it at some point when I wasn't looking. Her lithe figure peeked out from within the cloth, and I could see, or for better wording did not see, what lay beneath. The enticing worked a little too well on me, as I could feel a rising in that certain maleness of mine, and in my mind its voice cried out for its mate.
As much as it pained me to hold back, I still had a surprise for my love before any nighttime festivities could take place. Knowing what I had prepared, I stood up, cleared my throat, and got to work, as it were.
"Prim. You know how much you mean to me, yes?"
She answered with a bit of a smirk. "More than anything in the world?"
"Excatly. And, I'd been thinking for some time now. Hard thinking. And I'm sure you might like to know what took me so long to get back home this time." I could see that smirk on her disappear, replaced by an almost worried look. Not the reaction I was going for, but I didn't let it stop me. "I went to meet a friend, a jewel crafter. I had him make something I want you to have, something I'd been meaning to give you for some time, actually."
Reaching into a pocket, I retrieved a white box, holding it out for her to take. The worried look vanished, replaced by a mix of confusion and bliss. With slightly shaking hands, she accepted the box, opening it up to find the prize I had for her.
She pulled out a necklace of brass, the interlocking piece crafted into a snake coiling around itself, the symbol of the goddess Nera. "Is this...?"
I nodded. "I love you, Prim. And I want you to be with me forever."
At once, she dashed into me, planting small kisses over my face, tears of happiness streaming down her own.