{This is my first story submission, I hope you like it!}
{Feedback of all kinds would be welcome}
{This is the story of a young woman who is abducted by half human woodland creatures and given a potion to transform her body and mind. Her husband goes looking for her, but will he reach her in time?}
She ground the pigment using her mortar, sweat standing out on her pretty face as she leant her weight to the work. When she had a fine blue powder she added chalk and a little egg yolk to the stone basin and mixed it to a paste. She mixed the paste with water from her flask.
Picking up one of her brushes, Rowan stood and leaning in, tested a little of the colour, applying it to a patch on the wall. Pleased with the tone, she picked up more paint and began filling in blocks of sky. She would bring in clouds and play with the light once she had most of the background colour down.
Rowan was one of three artists working together on this tribute. They had been ordered to do so by the Lord Ruler himself and at his instruction, they must finish before the midsummer feast. Seeing the large blocks of sky take shape, she felt her anxiety drop back a little. Yes, they would finish this piece in time she thought.
They started and finished work early at this time of year, as the afternoon heat was fierce. Even the creatures and plants seemed to hide from it, crawling under rocks or folding up their leaves. It was not unusual for citizens to be busy at wheel or lathe, or serving grains and bread before the sun rose each day.
Rowan was working on the tribute with Annya and Ennais. The two sisters, old now, had worked this part of the Cite since they were young women. Rowan had studied with them for nearly six full cycles and had learnt a lot. This piece, dedicated to the Fawn for the annual feast, would be revered and celebrated. Rowan smiled to herself contentedly. Being a part of this final work was an honour, and now the two sisters were to take their retirement, she would carry the business forward.
"We are to leave for home now Rowan" Said Annya. "Do not stay up here alone once the Sun sinks below the mountain my girl, it is not safe"
"Yes mistress, I will finish my work in good time, do not worry" Rowan said, her eyes not leaving the wall while making careful brushstrokes.
"Farewell Rowan, may the gods protect you" said Ennais.
The two old sisters, holding their baskets against their hips, moved away down the hillside.
Rowan worked on, not noticing the time passing. When she had put the last of her paint on the wall, she wrapped her brush and washed out the basin.
"Oh my." She said, a spark of apprehension in her stomach as she finally realised the lateness of the hour. But that was silly, nobody had seen one of the Fawn in living memory. There were some who claimed to of course, but Rowan thought it more likely that these were just stories, designed to enhance the status of the storyteller. Nonetheless, she would hurry and take her tools home with her.
She moved about, tired now, gathering her things. The sun above her was at its hottest and its heat reflected off the chalk hillside making the air heavy. She mopped at her brow with the folds of her loose clothing and felt the dryness in her throat. Deciding that she would take a little water before heading down, Rowan stopped at the edge of the clearing to sit on a rocky outcrop and drink from her flask. The rock was in shade and it was cooler here. She sighed and leant against the cool stone as she satisfied her thirst.
She closed her eyes for just a moment to rest.
Finn was home already, building the fire and preparing dinner. He had always enjoyed cooking and often collected fresh produce on his way back from the Palace. As one of the Lord Rulers personal guards, he sometimes received meat and fish from the kitchen staff too. He gutted the two Bream he had bought and, stuffing them with herbs, he cleared burning embers from the Clay oven and sat the fish inside on a flat stone tile. Rowan should be back soon and they would enjoy eating together before they bathed. Maybe he would get in with her and help her to wash, he thought, with a little flash of arousal.
They were not long married and enjoyed each other often. They had met at the Palace when Rowan had been ordered to paint nude figures for the Lord Ruler in his state bathrooms. Finn had been very taken with the figures, larger than life and seductive as they lounged in suggestive poses amongst the painted vines and ripe fruits all around the walls. It was a famous piece, although none but the artists and Palace staff had seen it for themselves. He had been even more taken with the pretty apprentice working with the two old sisters. He took every opportunity to talk with her when his passage through the Palace allowed.
There was a comfortable ease and warmth in their conversation from the first moment. Finn had finally gathered his courage and asked her to join him for a walk along the river after her work was done for the day. The rest had happened quickly and they were married within one cycle.
He took the Bream from the oven and laid it to one side for rest. Taking off his thick leather gloves, he walked outside and looked up towards the cliffs and the woods beyond. Rowan was late now and he started to worry. He knew where she was working and the stories of young girls being taken by the Fawn come back to him from his childhood. Superstition maybe, but he strapped on his protective leather doublet and his sword, laced his sandals and left to look for her.
Rowan woke with a start as a sharp pain caused her to cry out. Her hands were tied behind her back and her feet were bound with a delicate hemp rope. She struggled against her bonds but could not free herself. She looked around in the failing light frantically searching for her captors. Her heart was racing as she turned her head from left to right.
"Ah, she is awake" said a low male voice from somewhere just out of view.
"Good, I will enjoy her company more that way" came a silky reply.
"There is no need for your bad humour Dreyan, she is being taking from her people and will be very afraid I think"
"Who...who are you?" said Rowan, panic in her voice. "Why have you bound me?"
"Calm yourself Girl, we will not hurt you. You are too important and despite what you have heard, we fawns are not the monsters your legends suggest"
"Oh please! you must let me go" Rowan implored them with a sob and tears in her eyes now.
"Let you go? I don't think so, girl. We are taking you back with us. You are to be honoured this night" Said the one called Dreyan as he stepped into view.
The creature was part human. It was perhaps a little bigger in build at over six feet in height, with thick shoulder length hair and fine delicate features. It had pointed ears and its eyes were larger than a man's. It walked with grace and poise and had a strong muscular upper body. It wore no clothes, but had a covering of thick fur on its legs and up across its hips to the navel. Between its legs hung an oversized organ, darker in colour to the rest of the exposed skin above. Rowan shuddered and tucked her knees up to her stomach, her body instinctively reacting to the creature and trying to protect her.
"You can carry her first Florian" Said Dreyan, "She will soften over the first few miles and I should like to benefit from her easier character"
Another, slightly taller being moved around to stand in front of her.
"Take a good look my girl. For we are beautiful and not like your paintings of us" Said Florian.
Rowan opened her eyes and even through her fear, she could see this was true. They were elegant and proud creatures with attractive features.
"But why must you take me?" she asked, still fearful but gaining some control over herself now in spite of it.
