The Lady draped in smooth velvet crossed the Great Hall and wandered through the kitchens. It was a relatively quiet place at this hour with only a few left to clean up or prepare incidentals for guests with late night appetites. As Arianda passed through, each kitchen worker took notice of her immediately. They dropped their present chore and bowed or curtsied in place, with all decorum and respect. Some whom she'd spoken with before were brave enough to greet her, but otherwise, the kitchen came to full silent attention while she milled about casually.

Finally one brave lad stepped forward and knelt, not in her apparent path, but near it. With his head bowed and hands behind his back, his muffled voice inquired, "Anything I may do for you, Mistress?"

Lady Arianda stopped and turned to him. He could see the swirl of velvet skirts but nothing more of her. "Why, yes. In reward for your industrious, though possibly insolent, offer... you may fetch me a glass of cold milk and a small bowl of strawberries."

She stood waiting, while the boy quickly tossed her a "Yes, Mistress." then jumped to the task. There were stiffled snickers all around but Arianda let them pass seemingly unnoticed.

Young andrew, no more than sixteen, returned to kneel at her feet and offered up a chilled glass of milk as well as a small cut crystal bowl of strawberries. Arianda had to grin as she saw the flour on his hands. She took the glass of milk from him but let him hold the bowl of berries while she plucked one and then another to savor them.

His arm was starting to burn from holding the bowl up. As nonchalantly as possible, he slid his free hand up to help support it.

"Look up, boy."

He did and whatever strain had been on his face quickly vanished for he beheld the velveted curves of the Lady and her smooth creamy chest swelling at the low cut of her bodice. Her smile shone down on him from a face framed in copper, picking up the flickering light in the kitchen.

"What is your name, boy?" She sipped at her milk as he answered.

"Andrew, Mistress."

"Do you like strawberries, andrew?"

"Oh, indeed, Mistress."

Arianda plucked another berry from the bowl and let him watch her kiss it from the stem. She contained her grin at his obvious reaction. How marvelous it must be, she thought, to be so young and easily piqued.

"Would you like to have a strawberry, andrew?"

He thought about this for a minute. Was this a trick question? "Yes, Mistress... But... but only if it pleases you." He relaxed but just a little. He was sure that was a good answer.

"Very well." Arianda took the bowl from his upraised hands. "Rise, andrew." She waited for the nervous youth to get to his feet. He put his hands behind his back again, partly as trained but he also remembered the flour coating on them and wasn't sure she'd appreciate seeing that. He lowered his head again, uncertain if her permission to look still applied.

Lady Arianda stepped closer to andrew, close enough almost to touch him. Her arms were casually extended to either side of him, one still holding half a glass of milk and the other a small bowl with one large strawberry left in it.

Andrew had to step back. He couldn't help it. Yet, Arianda stepped in again and this time when the boy leaned back, he bumped into his work table. Arianda pressed closer still. Her velvet caressed his chest and thighs. He also felt the tightness in his leather pressed against her. He gulped and looked up, with or without permission. What he saw were blue sparkles in soft blue-grey eyes. She was beautiful, but also frightening for her expression of... satisfaction? He saw the gleam of a predator, having caught its prey in a corner.

Her arms lowered to either side of him. She set down the glass and the bowl on his work table. She plucked the last strawberry from the bowl and deftly released its greenery with her fingers. She placed the berry just so at the low curve of her bodice such that it graced her cleavage. When her eyes caught andrew's again, she grinned at his wide-eyed nearly drooling expression.

"You may have the last, although... I have seen the baking dust upon your hands. So, lad... you shall have to use your mouth."

He gulped again and kept looking into those glittering feral eyes and hoping that she meant what she said and that he understood it and that the thumping at his groin was not noticeable to her too! His gaze slowly drew down to the strawberry nestled between her breasts and he was absolutely sure that he did not have the nerve.

To encourage him, Arianda leaned yet closer and tilted her head to whisper in his ear. "Come, boy... I see those young sweet lips. Show me the use of them, hm?"

So, he did. He moaned as his mouth covered the strawberry and lingered there a moment to let his lips kiss her softness. She leaned back from him and there he stood, trying to hide the strawberry in his mouth and not look like a chipmunk.

Lady Arianda laughed as she picked up her glass. "Chew that before you swallow it." She continued her amused chuckle as she drifted out of the kitchens again. Almost before she was out of the room there was a whoop and several excited voices, all teasing and congratulating the fellow who was trying to remember if he ever knew how to chew or swallow.

(Click on candle to return to the Great Hall)

Hall of Innocence

Sorcerer's Apprentice
Part 1   Part 2
Strawberry Blush
Hidden Talent