Chapter Text
Aeris sat in the parlor, working on an embroidery of her goddess. She felt like she was a trapped creature in a cage. But there was little she could do to change her situation. It had not been long since she had started sleeping with Ketheric again.
She had made the decision that she would love Ketheric in despite of his Sharran worship. Selune had come to her to tell her that he could be redeemed. Who would know better than a goddess about her husband’s true nature deep inside.
It was hard to know that she was essentially living in a nest of vipers, there were so many dark justiciars in Thornfield. She had started to notice, the tight control Ketheric had over the town. People did not dare do a thing that seemed like disrespect towards him.
That included how Aeris was treated. People were wary around her and it always made her feel awful. She did not want to consider herself as any different from any of the people around her, but they treated her as if she was very different from them.
So she felt even more isolated to the manor. She felt like she had no friends in the world. There was Shadowheart, but after finding out that she was a Sharran to and not just a Loviatar worshiper like she had foolishly thought, it was hard to trust her.
Suddenly, she felt a weight pressing down on the seat next to her. She looked up to see her husband sitting with her. Ketheric gave her a small smile. “You have such skilled hands.” He said and then his hands were over hers. He gently stroked her palm with his thumb. “Pretty hands too.” He muttered, bringing them to his lips to kiss.
“Ketheric…” Aeris muttered. “You’re being sweet.”
“I’m always sweet to you. You are my most precious thing. My favorite person.” Ketheric said. “I am happy you came back to me.”
“Of course. You are my husband. It is only natural that I be with you.” Aeris said.
Ketheric tutted, “No need to be so diplomatic, little moon witch.” He said. He took Aeris’ embroidery from her hands and placed it on the side table.
“I suppose not.” Aeris agreed. Then Ketheric grabbed her and pulled her into a fierce kiss. Aeris allowed herself to melt into the kiss. Why shouldn’t she? He already owned her, her submission to him was guaranteed.
“Tonight, we will go to a dance.” Ketheric said.
“In Baldur’s Gate?” Aeris asked, with
“No. Right here in town.” Ketheric said. “It’s important for town morale, with the war going on. I take care of my people. Just like I take care of you.”
Aeris hummed at that. “Tell me, are your dark justiciars going to be there?” She asked.
“There will be no Sharran rituals or sacrifices, I promise. I keep reminding you, it is not so scary as you think.” He said. “Shar is not Bhaal or Bane. She is the comfort of forgetting. The gentleness of the dark. I know it is hard for you to understand now, but one day you might.”
Aeris stroked Ketheric’s cheek and he leaned into her fingers. “Ketheric I only…” She started to speak, not sure of what she could really say. She only wanted him to be the man that she knew he could be. He could be such a good man, if he could tame this darkness in him.
“Why did you start to worship Shar?” She asked.
“Melodia died, giving birth to my third child. A little girl, Alyssa was her name. She was strangled on her own umbilical cord. Maybe if she would have survived I could have moved on, but…” Ketheric looked down, troubled. “You do not understand what it is like to lose a child and to lose your wife at the same time. I don’t want anything like that to happen to you. I want to shield you from ever experiencing that grief.”
He pulled Aeris into his arms, “I would like you to be on your best behavior tonight.”
“Do I ever misbehave?” Aeris asked, smiling shyly and looking up at him through her lashes.
“No you don’t.” Ketheric said. “You’re such a good girl for me.” Aeris looked down and askance. “And you want to be my good girl, don’t you?” He asked.
“Of course I do.” Aeris saids. “I want to please you. Even after it all. I want to please you.”
Ketheric kissed her again, with ownership and possession in his kiss. Then he was stripping her of her dress. Aeris did not resist, but she was surprised. It was always surprising to her when Ketheric was more aggressive with her body, but it never ceased to thrill her.
Ketheric’s hands were on her breasts, gently squeezing them. “My beautiful girl.” He muttered. “I live for you, I worship you.” He pressed kisses along the slopes of her breasts. He took her nipple in his mouth, suckling on it.
Aeris gasped. It was such a surprising feeling. It felt so good. She was in his lap, naked and curled up in his arms. She could feel his hardness against her leg, he desired her thoroughly. Ketheric pulled his cock out of the confines of his trousers.
“I’m going to have you right here, my dear one.” Ketheric said. “Right here in the parlor.”
He did not give her anymore warning, before he lifted her up and slid his cock inside of her. Aeris let out a gasp as he filled her. He gently grabbed her hips and squeezed them as he guided her up and down the length of his cock.
Aeris gasped and whined. She bucked her hips as her husband roughly fucked into her. She reached her arms back and rested them behind Ketheric’s head. She felt protected. Safe. As Ketheric rutted into her, she only felt that safeness intensify when he came inside of her. “Precious girl…” He muttered in her ear. “What am I going to do with you?” He asked.
“All you can do is love me.” Aeris said softly, sweetly with a bit of reproach in her voice.
“You are loved.” Ketheric said. “That is one thing you never need to fear.”
It was true, of all the things she might have to worry on – whether or not Ketheric loved her was not up for debate. He loved her quite fiercely. And he wanted what he thought was best for her. It was just that Aeris did not always agree that that’s what it was – what was best for her. She would have liked to not be misled in the way she had been. She would have liked not to be married to
But still. She craved him in ways that she didn’t fully understand. She had fallen in love with him very quickly. She was a romantic at heart and all she wanted was someone to love her. She did not want to be embroiled in some conspiracy with Dark Justiciars at the center of it.
Ketheric pulled out of her, watching the way his cum dripped out of her. “Such a precious thing.” Ketheric muttered, sliding two fingers inside of her to force his cum back in her.
“You don’t need to breed me. I’m already pregnant.” Aeris said with a tiny sniffle.
“I don’t.” Ketheric agreed. “But I enjoy it. I enjoy the feeling you wrapped around my cock. I enjoy you being so close to me.”
Aeris smiled despite herself. “It is surprising how tender you can be.” Aeris said. “I would think a Dark Justiciar would be ruthless.”
Ketheric smiled at that. “I am ruthless. But not to you.” He said. And that much was true.
…
Aeris was dressed in a dark purple gown, low cut and lacy with embroidered jewels along the bust. She leaned against Ketheric in the carriage. “I feel like I am bursting. When will this baby be out of me?” She groaned.
Ketheric chuckled and gently squeezed her hand. “You’ve got a long way to go yet. Five months.” He said.
“Why can’t you carry it for a while?” Aeris asked, a bit of a whine in her voice.
“That’s not how it works. It’s your responsibility to protect and care for our child while she’s growing inside of you.” He said.
“She?” Aeris asked. “Are you hoping for a girl?”
“Boys can be trouble.” Ketheric said. “But I wouldn’t be mad if it was one.” He said. “Any child that was half you is bound to be wonderful. You don’t need me to tell you that, I’m sure you know how absolutely wonderful you are.”
Aeris flushed and looked down. “I do not.” She said. “Perhaps you should remind me.”
Ketheric chuckled and grabbed her chin. “I think you already know that you are lovely. A very uniquely beautiful woman. But not only that, you inspire me to try and be a better man. Such a good woman you are. I am lucky to have you in my life.”
Aeris smiled at that. Gladdened that her husband liked her so much.
They arrived at the banquet hall. Aeris nervously clung to Ketheric when they entered and he pulled her in close. “Are any of your Dark Justiciars here?” Aeris asked in a low voice. “Are they wandering the halls or just, living here?” She felt a nervousness bubble within her.
Ketheric nodded. “Many of them. I keep it a secret, the rabble doesn’t know, but there are a lot of people who Selune denied when they needed her. Of course they turn to my dark lady.” He said, “But don’t concern yourself with it. They will not hurt you.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. I just want to know.” Aeris said. And then, she turned to him. “I can handle myself in a fight, if it comes to it.” She said. “I have divine magic.”
“You don’t need it. I will protect you.” Ketheric said. “I will keep you safe from any outsiders.”
Aeris smiled at him graciously. “Fine, I’ll let you keep me safe.” She said. “But I do not need you to.”
“No, you don’t. You’re a capable woman. I would not stand for anyone else.” Ketheric said. “You’re a phenomenal woman, Aeris. I don’t want anyone, not your birth family or anyone else, to make you think you are any less than phenomenal.”
They walked inside. At the door, Ketheric’s son Thisobald greeted them. “Father, Aeris. It is nice to see you.”
“It’s nice to see you sober.” Ketheric said, smiling. “Doesn’t my wife look so pretty in her new gown? You should compliment her, that’s how a lady should be treated.”
Thisobald deflated slightly, but kept his smile up. “The night’s young.” He said. “You do look lovely, Aeris. You always do.” He dipped his head respectfully as they walked by, moving to a private area to sit.
Aeris bit her lip at that. “Why are you so hard on him?” She asked. “He looks up to you so much and you’re so cold to him.”
“He disappoints me.” Ketheric said. “I expected him to do something great with his life. And what does he do? He becomes a bartender.”
“People need bartenders.” Aeris said. “He’s doing a service to people, providing them with comfort and joy.” She explained. “I know you, you would not look down upon him if he were just another man. You’re not like that.” Ketheric was many things, she thought. But she would never call him above it all.
“But he’s not just another man. He’s my son. I had plans for him and he doesn’t…” Ketheric trailed off. “He could have been a great soldier or a leader. He’s settling. I don’t respect it.” He said.
Aeris sighed. “I suppose you have your reasons for what you do.” She said. “I do not agree though. I will not sit by while you treat him poorly.”
“Will you coddle our child as much?” Ketheric asked, his hand moving to her belly.
“I’ll coddle them more.” Aeris said with a shrug. “The world is cruel enough, children should be coddled.” She added, very firmly. They moved to sit down at a table and Ketheric ushered a serving girl over to pour them each a cup of wine.
Aeris drank of hers greedily. She was in the need of some liquid courage. Ketheric chuckled at her as she drank. “You don’t handle your liquor well. I worry that you’re going to make a mess of yourself.”
“You’d like it if I made a mess of myself.” Aeris accused, her voice soft and suspicious.
“I would, yes, I would like it very much. But not here. I don’t want anyone to think you foolish.” Ketheric said, sliding his hand over hers. “You are very precious to me. If someone said something bad about you I might gut them.” He said, very seriously.
“You don’t need to do that.” Aeris said softly.
“Oh. I do. I need to protect you, sweet one. If I don’t, who will?” He asked.
Aeris looked down at her hands. “I don’t know. Then again, who protects me from you?” She asked.
Ketheric chuckled, not taking offense. “I protect you from me too.” He said. He looked down then. “I would like to get out of here.” He admitted. “I know its unwise, but I would like to be at home with you, more than I would like to be here.”
Aeris smiled. “I would like to dance, before we leave. If that’s okay.” She requested. “With you.”
Ketheric smiled and stood up. He took his wife’s hand. “Alright, my love. Let’s have a dance.” He said. And Ketheric danced her around the room until she was tired and satisfied with what they had done together.
…
Aeris stood in what she had deemed the punishment room, naked with her thighs spread wide and her hands tied above her head. She had been here a handful of times. Always when
her cunt was drooling, leaking down her thighs.
///
Ketheric smiled at her, his pretty wife. He had given her something to make her a little more pliant, a relaxing potion alongside her dinner, she had obediently drank what he gave her. He called it medicine for her nerves. It eased every part of her, relaxing her anxiety. It also had the intended side effect of making her more aroused.
Aeris was tied with her hands above her head. Her thighs were spread wide and bound with silk ties.
“Are you ready for me, sweet girl?” He asked, stroking down the length of her stomach to rest at her pubic mound.
“Y-yes. I’m ready, Ketheric.” Aeris said, “Please, I-” She stopped. She didn’t know how to express her need for him.
“I love the way my name sounds on your lips.” Ketheric said. His fingers slid between her lower lips. Then he smacked her pussy, feeling her wetness against his hand. He slapped her repeatedly between her legs, taking in every one of Aeris’ cries with pleasure at her submission to him.
He slapped and spanked her pussy until it was wet and raw and red. Aeris whimpered and tugged at her binds. Then he was kissing her, holding her in place and making her melt in submission. “Look at me, Aeris. Watch as I take you.” He said.
Aeris moaned before his cock was even in her, just the thought of what they were doing was making her wet and needy. He slid inside of her, feeling her wet walls clench down on him as he thrust into her. He fucked her slow and languidly. He wasn’t rough, even if he liked to dominate her he didn’t need to be rough to do that.
Aeris had wittingly allowed herself to be tied up and dominated. She liked it, she liked the way he took control of her. Ketheric fucked her with a sureness about him. He knew exactly how to control her. How to dominate her, but also how to protect her and keep her safe.
Aeris felt herself slipping as he fucked her, falling down into some silly headspace where all she could do was submit and relax against him. She came with very little effort on anyones part. She was ready to be taken and devoured.
Ketheric came inside of her, his cum dripping out of her swollen red cunt. Ketheric did not stumble or need a break before he undid her binds and gently lift her into his arms. “I wasn’t too rough with you, was I?” He asked. He stroked her hair with tenderness and love in his touch. “I was excited. We have not had time together in a bit.”
He had been busy. Busy with peace talks and various battles. Aeris worried about him. She worried he would come back from battle ill and hurt. She did not know what she could have done to help him in that situation other than to take care of him.
“No, no. I liked it.” Aeris said softly. “It’s…. I missed you too.” She said, voice soft and halting. She did not know if she should tell him that she missed him. Maybe she was giving up too much, telling him that she still cared for him even knowing what he was.
Ketheric smiled at her. Then he pulled her into a carry. “We will have dinner.” He decided. “You must be hungry.”
Aeris nodded. He picked her up, wrapping her in a sheet before he carried her to their bedroom. He would have just eaten in the kitchen, but he feared she needed to rest. He ordered the cooks to bring them a spread of food and they spent the rest of the evening in each other’s company.