yatsabel
TMF Regular
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2001
- Messages
- 295
- Points
- 18
Chapter 1
"The Wanderer"
Corina stood up from the dinner table, the air of the cozy woodland cottage thick with the scent of fresh-baked bread and roasted mushrooms.
She was a wood elf, lithe and quick, with long pointed ears that twitched with her emotions. Her fair face was dusted with freckles, and her vibrant green eyes shone with an inner fire. She wore her lush brown hair in a simple ponytail, though a few loose strands had escaped to frame her face.
A quiet hush fell over her family as she cleared her throat, a familiar gesture that announced something important was coming. She took a deep breath.
"I am off to the Mirthwood Forest," she declared, her voice ringing with a conviction she had never felt before. "I will apprentice to Sydra, the Mistress of Glee, and I will become a great sorceress."
Her words hung in the air, shattering the peaceful dinner scene. Shock, followed by a wave of cold horror, washed over her family's faces. Corina was already a standout in their quiet community, having learned all she could from the elder's basic spells. But this was different. This was a challenge to their very way of life.
Her mother, who shared Corina's green eyes and brown hair but wore hers in a tight, neat bun, was the first to speak. Her tone was sharp and critical. "The Mirthwood Forest is notorious for luring the foolish and the naive. Its sinister inhabitants turn newcomers into their laughing toys. We wood elves steer clear of its darkness for good reason."
Corina knew this, but the call to adventure burned brighter than any fear. She was willing to face any hardship. Her father, a stern elf with piercing brown eyes and dark brown hair, chimed in next, his voice low and serious. "Mistress Sydra doesn't tend to take on apprentices who prosper on their own after apprenticeship. Her students are used as tools in her relentless pursuit of magic and power. It's said the witch keeps a stable of failed apprentices to reap their magic."
"Plus," her younger sister, Karyn, a shorter girl with their father's brown eyes and cropped hair, snuck up behind Corina, her voice a mischievous whisper, "everyone knows you're the most ticklish member of our entire clan."
Before Corina could react, Karyn dug her nails into her sister's underarms. Corina's knees buckled as she burst into uncontrollable laughter, a helpless, crumpled heap of giggles. Karyn pressed her advantage, her fingers exploring Corina's sides and ribs as her sister squirmed desperately. "You're small," Karyn taunted, "and someone even smaller can reduce you to a silly, laughing mess."
When Karyn finally eased her tickling assault, Corina stood breathless, her dignity in tatters. She gathered herself, her hair disheveled but her resolve unshaken. "I am going to be a great sorceress," she repeated, her voice strained. "I won't find my path here, nor among the high elves who look down on our kind. I want to be someone, not a forgotten wood elf."
Her father's eyes blazed with anger. "If you leave, you will never be welcome here again," he boomed, standing abruptly. "You will no longer be my daughter if you leave this house on such a folly." With a final, furious push of his plate, he stormed away. The discussion, for him, was over.
Corina, humiliated and with tears welling in her eyes, ran from the cottage. She ran until she was alone in the quietest part of the forest, the familiar trees her only solace. As she wept, the leaves rustled, whispering to her in their ancient language of comfort and understanding. Each tree had a name and a personality; their rooted lives were a stark contrast to her own wanderlust. Why couldn’t she stay forever, like they did?
A while later, her mother approached. She didn't call out, for she knew exactly where her daughter would be. "Your father never left these woods," her mother began softly. "He was born here, and his father and his father before him all lived in our cottage."
Corina didn't find comfort in this.
"He took a great risk with me," her mother continued, a small smile on her face. "I was a wanderer, too. I traveled far from the Woods for more than a decade. I had grand adventures and met the kindest and most terrible people you could imagine."
Corina looked up, stunned. "You, Mother? A wanderer?"
"I may seem old and boring now," she chuckled, "but in my time, I was as impetuous as you. I was eager to see the world, and I did, despite my family's reservations. When I returned, your father took a great chance on me. I wasn't considered marriage material. The elders even debated whether I should be allowed to return at all."
She gently caressed the bark of a nearby tree. "With the years, I became more rooted, and like these trees, I am content with my place in the world." She paused, her gaze steady on Corina. "But you, my dear, need to go."
She placed a worn but sturdy travel pack next to Corina. "This was mine. Now it is yours." Corina's eyes widened as she opened it. Inside were a bedroll, fresh provisions and travel gear.
"Thank you, Mother," Corina said, a tremor in her voice. "But what about Father?"
"Your father took me in when I returned. He will forgive you."
They embraced, a silent understanding passing between them.
"Go now, go this moment," her mother said, wiping a tear from her eye. "And don't look back, daughter. I am proud of you." She kissed Corina's forehead and returned to the cottage.
Corina felt the weight of the knapsack, heavy but fitting her body perfectly. A rustling above her made her look up. Her sister, Karyn, dropped from a branch. "Be careful on your trip," she said, pulling a slender elfish dagger from inside her shirt. "This is a High Elf blade for protection. Dallion, the high elder's grandson, won't miss it. I'll just tell him it fell into a stream. I make certain he won't miss it." Karyn winked.
Corina took the dagger. It was light and sharp, etched with protective runes. "Keep it tucked in your boot so you don't look menacing," Karyn advised. "I’m going to miss you, sis."
They embraced, the two so different, yet connected by an unbreakable bond. Corina slipped the dagger into her boot and hoisted the pack onto her shoulders. She walked away, looking back once to smile at the forest she called home, then turned and didn't look back again.
For two days, Corina walked through the familiar woods. The trees she knew so well rustled differently now, their whispers warning her of the Mirthwood's sinister laughter.
When she finally reached the Mirthwood Forest, she saw that the trees were indeed different—shorter, denser, and darker. They rustled with a sound like laughter, a melody she couldn't understand.
She took a deep breath, and with a slow exhale, she stepped across the threshold, into the unknown.
* * * * * * * * * *
Corina found herself adrift in the Mirthwood Forest, a green maze with no clear path. Her journey had begun with a bold declaration, but now the cold reality of her inexperience set in. She was lost, moving aimlessly away from her home, with only a rumor guiding her toward the sorceress Sydra. This was not the triumphant start she had envisioned. She needed directions, but who in this eerie wood could she trust?
Her wandering led her to a small, sun-dappled clearing where a young human man sat looking worried. He was thin and frail, with long, straight black hair and large spectacles perched on his nose. A colorful robe hung loosely on his frame. He didn't seem threatening, but she knew from every tale that in the Mirthwood Forest, appearances could be deceiving.
"Hullo," he said meekly, raising a hand in a hesitant wave.
Corina kept a cautious distance. "Greetings."
"Might you have a bit of food to share?" he asked, his voice soft. "You'd think a forest would be full of berries and fruit, but I've found nothing in this strange place."
Corina felt a pang of sympathy. "I can share," she said, drawing a little closer.
"Oooh, I'd like that very much," he replied, his face brightening.
They sat on two conveniently placed fallen trees. Corina’s wood elf rations were compact and surprisingly filling, and the stranger devoured his share with desperate hunger. "I should have packed food like that," he said between bites. "I ran out on my third day."
He extended a hand, adjusting his glasses with the other. "Drash," he introduced himself.
"Corina," she replied, taking his hand and shaking it.
"Where are you headed?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. "Perhaps we could travel together. I am a sort of magician myself."
Corina's surprise was evident. "You are? Do you know where Mistress Sydra is?"
Drash's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why are you interested in her?"
"I want to apprentice with her," Corina explained, her voice filled with hope.
"Mistress Sydra only takes one apprentice each moon," he said, his tone suddenly more serious. "And she is looking for a new one."
Corina felt a flicker of disappointment. "Oh."
"We'd be competitors," Drash said, a hint of steel in his voice.
"You know magic?" Corina asked, suddenly wary.
"Cantrips, minor illusions, charm enchantments," he counted off. "And you?"
"The same," she admitted, realizing Drash was a rival in every sense.
A long, tense silence hung between them, broken only by the rustling leaves of the Mirthwood Forest. The air crackled with unspoken tension. Without a word, they both moved, a silent acknowledgment of their rivalry passing between them. With practiced speed, they began to cast. Hand motions and incantations flew, but Drash was a heartbeat faster.
A strange, serene smile spread across Corina's face as the charm enchantment took hold. Her tense posture relaxed, her eyes softening. "We are friends, aren't we, Corina?" Drash asked, his voice now imbued with a gentle authority.
"Yes," Corina nodded, the word feeling completely true. Drash was her friend. Her very best friend.
"I need your rations to complete my journey," he said. "You can give them to me, right? You're a wood elf, you can live off the forest."
"Not really," she admitted, her smile unwavering. "But I can share."
"That can work. So, Corina, tell me all you know about Sydra and the way to her lair."
"I know she's in the forest. That's all," Corina said. For the first time, Drash looked genuinely disappointed.
"You are truly an adventurous one, plunging into the unknown like this. But who am I to talk? I've been lost here for days myself. I'll need some magic too," Drash continued, his voice still soft and persuasive.
"I can't give you that," she said, her charmed mind struggling against the request.
"You could let me take it, though," he suggested. "You're ticklish, I assume. All magicians are."
Corina nodded enthusiastically. "Extremely," she admitted. "My feet are the worst. I wouldn't last five minutes."
"A thrasher?" he asked.
She nodded. "You don't look strong," she said candidly, looking him up and down. "I might hurt you."
He frowned at her suggestion, but then realized she was probably right. An idea sparked in his mind. "I am an expert binder," he said. "I can make it comfortable for you. They say I am an expert tickler, too." He didn't elaborate as to who "they" were.
Corina, completely under his charm, shrugged and held out her arms. "Whatever I can do to help."
Drash pulled a length of silk cord from his robe. He quickly bound her wrists behind her back and had her lie on her belly.
"Taking off your boots," he remarked, tugging them off.
"It would be silly to keep them on," Corina giggled.
He pulled off her stockings, revealing her long, slender elvish feet.
"You have some splendid feet," he complimented as he tied her ankles together.
"Thank you," Corina replied, her voice muffled by the ground. "Pretty feet run in the family. Get me right in between the toes. That's a killer."
"Duly noted," he said. "Anything else I should be aware of?"
"I'll scream. I can't help it," she said.
Drash nodded. "Gag."
Corina agreed. "We wouldn't want to be too loud in a strange place."
"Quite right," he said, tying a knot in a clean cloth and placing it securely in her mouth. She nodded, her approval muffled by the gag.
With every element in place, Drash went to work with methodical zeal. He began to tickle her, starting at the center of her soles and moving to the arches. True to her word, Corina screamed into the gag, her body thrashing and kicking almost more than the bonds could handle. He moved to her toes, and her reactions intensified, her pleas muffled and desperate.
He relished the compliant, ticklish victim under his fingers. He wouldn't admit it, but he was tickled much more than he had the opportunity to tickle. Such pretty feet with soft soles and such a pleasant, muffled laughter. He was tempted to just let her go, but she was a rival and he needed her magic. He pressed on, draining her with every touch.
Finally, completely drained, Corina's body went limp. Drash felt a heavy and steady surge of magic flow into him during the tickling session. It was a sensation of immense power he had never experienced before.
"You didn't exaggerate," he said, looking at her sweat-drenched face and matted hair. "I have enough magic to face any future trials, and I have your provisions, too. I have you to thank for both. I can't have you as competition for Mistress Sydra, though. You do know that? You are an elf, and you have many years ahead of you. You can head home and come back another time. I need a head start. By the time you wake and get free, I'll be long gone. It's not personal. I like you very much, but this is my one shot. I'm sure you understand."
Corina, gagged and still under the charm enchantment, could not protest. She would not have anyway. He moved his hands and chanted the words of a mystical slumber incantation. As the sleepy magical mist descended upon her, she took one deep sniff and fell into a deep, long slumber.
Drash gathered his things and Corina's pack and walked away, a satisfied smile on his face, leaving Corina alone in the Mirthwood, a naive wanderer once again.
* * * * * * * * * *
Corina awoke to darkness, the chill of the forest night settling in her bones. The mystical slumber and charm enchantments were gone, replaced by the stark realization of her predicament. She was bound, gagged, alone, and without her provisions. She had been a fraction of a second too slow against Drash, a mistake that had cost her dearly.
A lesson learned, she thought grimly. Yet, a flicker of something else remained. Drash had been a rival, but he hadn't been cruel. He had even remarked that she would likely get free. Was that a taunt, or a genuine clue? Corina chose to believe the latter. He was a ruthless rival, but perhaps not a heartless one.
Working by the dim moonlight, she strained to reach her boots with her bound hands. Blindly, her fingers fumbled inside them, and at last, they closed around the hilt of the dagger Karyn had given her. A wave of relief washed over her. Drash had left it. She chose to believe it was a concession and not mere chance.
With painstaking care, she pressed the blade against the silk cord, risking a cut in the dark. Finally, after some difficulty, the cord snapped. Her hands were free, and with them, the rest of her bonds were quickly undone. She pulled on her stockings and boots, the cold air biting at her bare skin. The dagger returned to its sheath in her boot, a small comfort in the vast, hostile night.
Her situation was dire. No bedroll, no rations, no equipment. Just a dagger and the clothes on her back. A part of her yearned to turn back, to swallow her pride and return to the safety of her family. But another part, the ambitious, defiant part, refused. She had come too far.
Having slept for hours, she saw no sense in standing in one place awaiting the next stranger to come along. She decided she might as well move on.
She began to walk, but a strange resistance held her back. It was a subtle feeling at first, like wading through thick air. But it grew, becoming a tangible force that impeded her progress. She saw them then: thin, gossamer threads, almost invisible in the moonlight. She tried to shake them off, only to become more entangled. Panic seized her as she realized she was caught in an intricate web.
She thrashed, a frantic, futile struggle. Her mouth was sealed by the sticky silk, and her dagger remained tantalizingly out of reach in her boot. Small spiders descended from the web, their forms growing clearer as they approached. The closest one crawled onto her neck and bit. A warm lethargy spread through her, and her last conscious thought was the sight of the spiders weaving a final, silken veil across her face before darkness claimed her.
* * * * * * * * * *
Corina awoke in an underground cavern, the cool air a shock against her naked skin. She was suspended three feet off the ground, held in a non-sticky web. Her wrists and ankles, however, were bound tightly by a different, stronger web silk.
"Hello," she called out, her voice echoing in the chamber. She had a feeling she wasn't food, and her gut feeling was soon confirmed.
"You are not food," a voice answered her unvoiced thought.
A massive, beautiful creature entered the cavern: a woman’s torso atop a giant spider's body. Her skin was a deep purple, her heavy, voluptuous breasts a startling contrast to Corina’s own small ones. The creature's short and spiky hair was a lustrous silver.
"You do not cry out or flinch," the spider-woman said, impressed.
"I try not to judge based on appearances," Corina replied, "so I do my best to give everyone the benefit of the doubt."
"A wise policy, I must say," the creature agreed.
"My mo—"
"Your mother told you as a child. I know," she finished, her voice gentle. "I can hear your thoughts and roam through your mind."
Corina felt a shiver. "That seems invasive."
"And so it is for many. But for you, it is gentle, because you have so little to hide despite your relatively long life. Many younger humans have layers of defense and hide terrible deeds. My presence makes them uneasy, and my appearance strikes fear in their souls."
"You are beautiful," Corina said, and she meant it. "Your elvish body is lean and yet you are voluptuous and feminine. Your spider body moves gracefully, and the webs you spin are works of art."
"I am almost tempted to let you go on your way, Corina," she said.
"You know my name?"
"It happens naturally for me, as natural as seeing your face. I have neglected my own introduction. I am Sarantha, the Spider Mistress. I am a witch. Not quite like the sorceress you seek, but like her, I need magic, and I will not hesitate to take it when it appears."
"Oh, my," Corina said, the realization of her predicament finally sinking in.
Sarantha drew closer, her heavy breasts pressing gently against Corina's much smaller ones. "I see you have a bit of a mind-reader in you. You know I will take your magic. It needs to be coaxed out, you know this. But worry not, I can be gentle. It can be quite pleasurable."
Sarantha's scent was intoxicating, a mix of musk and wildflowers. She kissed Corina’s cheek, her tongue trailing a path to her upper jaw. Corina giggled, her pulse racing. Sarantha's tongue reached her long and delicate elfish ear, and a helpless, ticklish laugh escaped Corina's throat. Sarantha then nibbled on her neck, and Corina screamed and thrashed from the intense, pleasurable sensation.
Sarantha moved with a graceful, almost seamless motion over the web, her spider legs navigating the threads with expert ease as she traveled over Corina's body. She nibbled on Corina's collarbone, her perfectly groomed nails stroking the elf's vulnerable underarms. Corina shook violently, her laughter wild and unrestrained. Sarantha continued down, between Corina's small breasts, flicking her nails back and forth, making the nipples stand hard. She nibbled the nipples while tickling the space where Corina's breasts met her rib cage. Corina screamed and struggled, but to no avail.
Sarantha meandered down to Corina's small, round navel, her tongue leading the way, tasting the wood elf's flesh. The witch’s nails teased Corina's soft belly and sides. This was certainly not a warrior. Sarantha lingered there, a glint of glee in her eye. So soft, so innocent, yet so powerful. It was a treat to tickle Corina, to watch her react helplessly while feeling so much power course out of her. Sarantha knew the elf had been drained not long ago, yet she was a huge reservoir of magical energy.
Sarantha continued mercilessly down, worshiping Corina's milky and tender thighs. She did not touch her privates. Sarantha did not believe in doing anything that was not necessary. She needed to coax the magic out with tickling, and tickling alone. She moved to the knees, teasing the tops with her nails and nibbling sadistically behind them, that ever-so-vulnerable spot most found so sensitive. Corina was no exception. Everything was ticklish. Everything was energy. She was something precious.
Last but not least, Sarantha assaulted Corina's bare and sensitive feet with gluttonous abandon. She sucked the toes one by one, eliciting nervous pleasure before letting her nails trace the soles and focus on the arches. Corina's feet thrashed violently and between helpless bursts of laughter, she begged for the torture to end.
Finally, mercifully, it was over. Exhausted, Corina hung suspended in the web. Her hair was sweat-drenched, and her body had laughed and screamed far more intensely than it had with Drash.
Sarantha licked and nibbled on Corina's left foot. Her reactions were muted now, and she only groaned weakly.
"You are splendid, Corina. Simply splendid," Sarantha complimented, feeling the magic coursing through her. The wood elf, exhausted and drained, did not reply.
Sarantha released her from the web, but Corina would have fallen to the ground if not for the witch's careful attention. She caught the elf and brought her down gently, carrying her in her warm arms until Corina drifted to sleep, her last thoughts a haze of Sarantha's intoxicating scent.
* * * * * * * * * *
Corina awoke in a soft bed, still naked but covered in silken sheets. The cool air of the cavern was a pleasant shock against her skin. Sarantha was there, her expression unreadable as she watched the wood elf.
"You are magnificent," Sarantha said. "I can draw much magic from you. As your mother mentioned, there are sinister beings in this forest, both above and below. But I am not one of them."
Sarantha motioned to a silk robe on a nightstand next to the bed. It was a rich, deep purple, and the fabric was truly soft and silky to the touch. Corina nodded, taking it in her hands.
"The tickling felt sinister enough," Corina said as she put on the robe. It was a perfect fit, feeling like a second skin.
Sarantha smiled, a glint of amusement in her silver eyes. "I'll admit I can be quite... zealous. But that ability is not an innate talent; it is something that can be taught, something that can be learned. Your magic, however, is innate, and it is special. There are so many out in the world who would take advantage of you."
"Will you let me leave?" the wood elf asked plainly. Corina did not fear Sarantha. She recognized the spider mistress was far more powerful, but she was not afraid.
Sarantha pondered for a moment, her spider body shifting slightly. "I would normally never allow such a specimen to leave my side. However, I feel I cannot hold you against your will and win your heart at the same time."
"So I may leave?" Corina asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"Yes," Sarantha promised. "You have my word. I will send you on your way this very day and point you in the direction of what you seek. However, I ask you to hear my proposal for you to stay."
"I can't see how I would stay," Corina said in shock. "You'd tickle me constantly."
"I admit that would be so," Sarantha said, nodding slowly. "I would tap into your magic to power my own projects. This would drain you, but in exchange, I would teach you my art. I would teach you to break the most powerful and stoic among those who roam the Mirthwood Forest. You will learn to bend them to your will. I'll teach you web spells, sleep spells, and how to manage my spider venom. I would train your soft body into a better version of you; something harder and more tempered. When you are ready, I will send you on your way to Mistress Sydra. My teachings will give you a head start and protect you on your journey."
Corina thought for a few moments, the wisdom in Sarantha's proposal slowly sinking in. The choice was clear: a dangerous, unprepared journey or a path to power, tempered by a rigorous but thorough education. She had been bested by Drash, a magician with only minor spells. The Mirthwood Forest was a place of real peril, and her own magic, while potent, was untamed. This was her chance to not only survive but to truly become the sorceress she longed to be, to be feared instead of mocked.
"I will bind you a hundred ways," Sarantha continued, her voice growing more intense, a silken promise of pain and mastery. "Tickle every last inch of you with a score of different tools and techniques. I will teach you everything that I apply so you may in turn deliver it upon others. You will tie knots and spin webs. This place will be your home for the time you spend with me. And when you feel you have learned all there is to learn, I will release you, and you will be a terror among those who fall in your web."
The wood elf remained silent for a moment while she thought. She nodded slowly as her decision was made.
"I accept," Corina said, her voice firm, placing her hand into Sarantha's in a pact-making gesture. The witch's skin was cool and smooth, a strange contrast to the warmth of her arms. "When do we begin?"
Sarantha smiled, a wicked, devilish curve of her lips. From a hidden place, she produced a long, slender white feather and twirled it between her fingers. The tip of it danced with a faint, magical energy.
"Now, darling," she said, her laughter echoing in the cavern, a sound both beautiful and terrible. "No time better than the present!"
To be continued...
"The Wanderer"
Corina stood up from the dinner table, the air of the cozy woodland cottage thick with the scent of fresh-baked bread and roasted mushrooms.
She was a wood elf, lithe and quick, with long pointed ears that twitched with her emotions. Her fair face was dusted with freckles, and her vibrant green eyes shone with an inner fire. She wore her lush brown hair in a simple ponytail, though a few loose strands had escaped to frame her face.
A quiet hush fell over her family as she cleared her throat, a familiar gesture that announced something important was coming. She took a deep breath.
"I am off to the Mirthwood Forest," she declared, her voice ringing with a conviction she had never felt before. "I will apprentice to Sydra, the Mistress of Glee, and I will become a great sorceress."
Her words hung in the air, shattering the peaceful dinner scene. Shock, followed by a wave of cold horror, washed over her family's faces. Corina was already a standout in their quiet community, having learned all she could from the elder's basic spells. But this was different. This was a challenge to their very way of life.
Her mother, who shared Corina's green eyes and brown hair but wore hers in a tight, neat bun, was the first to speak. Her tone was sharp and critical. "The Mirthwood Forest is notorious for luring the foolish and the naive. Its sinister inhabitants turn newcomers into their laughing toys. We wood elves steer clear of its darkness for good reason."
Corina knew this, but the call to adventure burned brighter than any fear. She was willing to face any hardship. Her father, a stern elf with piercing brown eyes and dark brown hair, chimed in next, his voice low and serious. "Mistress Sydra doesn't tend to take on apprentices who prosper on their own after apprenticeship. Her students are used as tools in her relentless pursuit of magic and power. It's said the witch keeps a stable of failed apprentices to reap their magic."
"Plus," her younger sister, Karyn, a shorter girl with their father's brown eyes and cropped hair, snuck up behind Corina, her voice a mischievous whisper, "everyone knows you're the most ticklish member of our entire clan."
Before Corina could react, Karyn dug her nails into her sister's underarms. Corina's knees buckled as she burst into uncontrollable laughter, a helpless, crumpled heap of giggles. Karyn pressed her advantage, her fingers exploring Corina's sides and ribs as her sister squirmed desperately. "You're small," Karyn taunted, "and someone even smaller can reduce you to a silly, laughing mess."
When Karyn finally eased her tickling assault, Corina stood breathless, her dignity in tatters. She gathered herself, her hair disheveled but her resolve unshaken. "I am going to be a great sorceress," she repeated, her voice strained. "I won't find my path here, nor among the high elves who look down on our kind. I want to be someone, not a forgotten wood elf."
Her father's eyes blazed with anger. "If you leave, you will never be welcome here again," he boomed, standing abruptly. "You will no longer be my daughter if you leave this house on such a folly." With a final, furious push of his plate, he stormed away. The discussion, for him, was over.
Corina, humiliated and with tears welling in her eyes, ran from the cottage. She ran until she was alone in the quietest part of the forest, the familiar trees her only solace. As she wept, the leaves rustled, whispering to her in their ancient language of comfort and understanding. Each tree had a name and a personality; their rooted lives were a stark contrast to her own wanderlust. Why couldn’t she stay forever, like they did?
A while later, her mother approached. She didn't call out, for she knew exactly where her daughter would be. "Your father never left these woods," her mother began softly. "He was born here, and his father and his father before him all lived in our cottage."
Corina didn't find comfort in this.
"He took a great risk with me," her mother continued, a small smile on her face. "I was a wanderer, too. I traveled far from the Woods for more than a decade. I had grand adventures and met the kindest and most terrible people you could imagine."
Corina looked up, stunned. "You, Mother? A wanderer?"
"I may seem old and boring now," she chuckled, "but in my time, I was as impetuous as you. I was eager to see the world, and I did, despite my family's reservations. When I returned, your father took a great chance on me. I wasn't considered marriage material. The elders even debated whether I should be allowed to return at all."
She gently caressed the bark of a nearby tree. "With the years, I became more rooted, and like these trees, I am content with my place in the world." She paused, her gaze steady on Corina. "But you, my dear, need to go."
She placed a worn but sturdy travel pack next to Corina. "This was mine. Now it is yours." Corina's eyes widened as she opened it. Inside were a bedroll, fresh provisions and travel gear.
"Thank you, Mother," Corina said, a tremor in her voice. "But what about Father?"
"Your father took me in when I returned. He will forgive you."
They embraced, a silent understanding passing between them.
"Go now, go this moment," her mother said, wiping a tear from her eye. "And don't look back, daughter. I am proud of you." She kissed Corina's forehead and returned to the cottage.
Corina felt the weight of the knapsack, heavy but fitting her body perfectly. A rustling above her made her look up. Her sister, Karyn, dropped from a branch. "Be careful on your trip," she said, pulling a slender elfish dagger from inside her shirt. "This is a High Elf blade for protection. Dallion, the high elder's grandson, won't miss it. I'll just tell him it fell into a stream. I make certain he won't miss it." Karyn winked.
Corina took the dagger. It was light and sharp, etched with protective runes. "Keep it tucked in your boot so you don't look menacing," Karyn advised. "I’m going to miss you, sis."
They embraced, the two so different, yet connected by an unbreakable bond. Corina slipped the dagger into her boot and hoisted the pack onto her shoulders. She walked away, looking back once to smile at the forest she called home, then turned and didn't look back again.
For two days, Corina walked through the familiar woods. The trees she knew so well rustled differently now, their whispers warning her of the Mirthwood's sinister laughter.
When she finally reached the Mirthwood Forest, she saw that the trees were indeed different—shorter, denser, and darker. They rustled with a sound like laughter, a melody she couldn't understand.
She took a deep breath, and with a slow exhale, she stepped across the threshold, into the unknown.
* * * * * * * * * *
Corina found herself adrift in the Mirthwood Forest, a green maze with no clear path. Her journey had begun with a bold declaration, but now the cold reality of her inexperience set in. She was lost, moving aimlessly away from her home, with only a rumor guiding her toward the sorceress Sydra. This was not the triumphant start she had envisioned. She needed directions, but who in this eerie wood could she trust?
Her wandering led her to a small, sun-dappled clearing where a young human man sat looking worried. He was thin and frail, with long, straight black hair and large spectacles perched on his nose. A colorful robe hung loosely on his frame. He didn't seem threatening, but she knew from every tale that in the Mirthwood Forest, appearances could be deceiving.
"Hullo," he said meekly, raising a hand in a hesitant wave.
Corina kept a cautious distance. "Greetings."
"Might you have a bit of food to share?" he asked, his voice soft. "You'd think a forest would be full of berries and fruit, but I've found nothing in this strange place."
Corina felt a pang of sympathy. "I can share," she said, drawing a little closer.
"Oooh, I'd like that very much," he replied, his face brightening.
They sat on two conveniently placed fallen trees. Corina’s wood elf rations were compact and surprisingly filling, and the stranger devoured his share with desperate hunger. "I should have packed food like that," he said between bites. "I ran out on my third day."
He extended a hand, adjusting his glasses with the other. "Drash," he introduced himself.
"Corina," she replied, taking his hand and shaking it.
"Where are you headed?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. "Perhaps we could travel together. I am a sort of magician myself."
Corina's surprise was evident. "You are? Do you know where Mistress Sydra is?"
Drash's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why are you interested in her?"
"I want to apprentice with her," Corina explained, her voice filled with hope.
"Mistress Sydra only takes one apprentice each moon," he said, his tone suddenly more serious. "And she is looking for a new one."
Corina felt a flicker of disappointment. "Oh."
"We'd be competitors," Drash said, a hint of steel in his voice.
"You know magic?" Corina asked, suddenly wary.
"Cantrips, minor illusions, charm enchantments," he counted off. "And you?"
"The same," she admitted, realizing Drash was a rival in every sense.
A long, tense silence hung between them, broken only by the rustling leaves of the Mirthwood Forest. The air crackled with unspoken tension. Without a word, they both moved, a silent acknowledgment of their rivalry passing between them. With practiced speed, they began to cast. Hand motions and incantations flew, but Drash was a heartbeat faster.
A strange, serene smile spread across Corina's face as the charm enchantment took hold. Her tense posture relaxed, her eyes softening. "We are friends, aren't we, Corina?" Drash asked, his voice now imbued with a gentle authority.
"Yes," Corina nodded, the word feeling completely true. Drash was her friend. Her very best friend.
"I need your rations to complete my journey," he said. "You can give them to me, right? You're a wood elf, you can live off the forest."
"Not really," she admitted, her smile unwavering. "But I can share."
"That can work. So, Corina, tell me all you know about Sydra and the way to her lair."
"I know she's in the forest. That's all," Corina said. For the first time, Drash looked genuinely disappointed.
"You are truly an adventurous one, plunging into the unknown like this. But who am I to talk? I've been lost here for days myself. I'll need some magic too," Drash continued, his voice still soft and persuasive.
"I can't give you that," she said, her charmed mind struggling against the request.
"You could let me take it, though," he suggested. "You're ticklish, I assume. All magicians are."
Corina nodded enthusiastically. "Extremely," she admitted. "My feet are the worst. I wouldn't last five minutes."
"A thrasher?" he asked.
She nodded. "You don't look strong," she said candidly, looking him up and down. "I might hurt you."
He frowned at her suggestion, but then realized she was probably right. An idea sparked in his mind. "I am an expert binder," he said. "I can make it comfortable for you. They say I am an expert tickler, too." He didn't elaborate as to who "they" were.
Corina, completely under his charm, shrugged and held out her arms. "Whatever I can do to help."
Drash pulled a length of silk cord from his robe. He quickly bound her wrists behind her back and had her lie on her belly.
"Taking off your boots," he remarked, tugging them off.
"It would be silly to keep them on," Corina giggled.
He pulled off her stockings, revealing her long, slender elvish feet.
"You have some splendid feet," he complimented as he tied her ankles together.
"Thank you," Corina replied, her voice muffled by the ground. "Pretty feet run in the family. Get me right in between the toes. That's a killer."
"Duly noted," he said. "Anything else I should be aware of?"
"I'll scream. I can't help it," she said.
Drash nodded. "Gag."
Corina agreed. "We wouldn't want to be too loud in a strange place."
"Quite right," he said, tying a knot in a clean cloth and placing it securely in her mouth. She nodded, her approval muffled by the gag.
With every element in place, Drash went to work with methodical zeal. He began to tickle her, starting at the center of her soles and moving to the arches. True to her word, Corina screamed into the gag, her body thrashing and kicking almost more than the bonds could handle. He moved to her toes, and her reactions intensified, her pleas muffled and desperate.
He relished the compliant, ticklish victim under his fingers. He wouldn't admit it, but he was tickled much more than he had the opportunity to tickle. Such pretty feet with soft soles and such a pleasant, muffled laughter. He was tempted to just let her go, but she was a rival and he needed her magic. He pressed on, draining her with every touch.
Finally, completely drained, Corina's body went limp. Drash felt a heavy and steady surge of magic flow into him during the tickling session. It was a sensation of immense power he had never experienced before.
"You didn't exaggerate," he said, looking at her sweat-drenched face and matted hair. "I have enough magic to face any future trials, and I have your provisions, too. I have you to thank for both. I can't have you as competition for Mistress Sydra, though. You do know that? You are an elf, and you have many years ahead of you. You can head home and come back another time. I need a head start. By the time you wake and get free, I'll be long gone. It's not personal. I like you very much, but this is my one shot. I'm sure you understand."
Corina, gagged and still under the charm enchantment, could not protest. She would not have anyway. He moved his hands and chanted the words of a mystical slumber incantation. As the sleepy magical mist descended upon her, she took one deep sniff and fell into a deep, long slumber.
Drash gathered his things and Corina's pack and walked away, a satisfied smile on his face, leaving Corina alone in the Mirthwood, a naive wanderer once again.
* * * * * * * * * *
Corina awoke to darkness, the chill of the forest night settling in her bones. The mystical slumber and charm enchantments were gone, replaced by the stark realization of her predicament. She was bound, gagged, alone, and without her provisions. She had been a fraction of a second too slow against Drash, a mistake that had cost her dearly.
A lesson learned, she thought grimly. Yet, a flicker of something else remained. Drash had been a rival, but he hadn't been cruel. He had even remarked that she would likely get free. Was that a taunt, or a genuine clue? Corina chose to believe the latter. He was a ruthless rival, but perhaps not a heartless one.
Working by the dim moonlight, she strained to reach her boots with her bound hands. Blindly, her fingers fumbled inside them, and at last, they closed around the hilt of the dagger Karyn had given her. A wave of relief washed over her. Drash had left it. She chose to believe it was a concession and not mere chance.
With painstaking care, she pressed the blade against the silk cord, risking a cut in the dark. Finally, after some difficulty, the cord snapped. Her hands were free, and with them, the rest of her bonds were quickly undone. She pulled on her stockings and boots, the cold air biting at her bare skin. The dagger returned to its sheath in her boot, a small comfort in the vast, hostile night.
Her situation was dire. No bedroll, no rations, no equipment. Just a dagger and the clothes on her back. A part of her yearned to turn back, to swallow her pride and return to the safety of her family. But another part, the ambitious, defiant part, refused. She had come too far.
Having slept for hours, she saw no sense in standing in one place awaiting the next stranger to come along. She decided she might as well move on.
She began to walk, but a strange resistance held her back. It was a subtle feeling at first, like wading through thick air. But it grew, becoming a tangible force that impeded her progress. She saw them then: thin, gossamer threads, almost invisible in the moonlight. She tried to shake them off, only to become more entangled. Panic seized her as she realized she was caught in an intricate web.
She thrashed, a frantic, futile struggle. Her mouth was sealed by the sticky silk, and her dagger remained tantalizingly out of reach in her boot. Small spiders descended from the web, their forms growing clearer as they approached. The closest one crawled onto her neck and bit. A warm lethargy spread through her, and her last conscious thought was the sight of the spiders weaving a final, silken veil across her face before darkness claimed her.
* * * * * * * * * *
Corina awoke in an underground cavern, the cool air a shock against her naked skin. She was suspended three feet off the ground, held in a non-sticky web. Her wrists and ankles, however, were bound tightly by a different, stronger web silk.
"Hello," she called out, her voice echoing in the chamber. She had a feeling she wasn't food, and her gut feeling was soon confirmed.
"You are not food," a voice answered her unvoiced thought.
A massive, beautiful creature entered the cavern: a woman’s torso atop a giant spider's body. Her skin was a deep purple, her heavy, voluptuous breasts a startling contrast to Corina’s own small ones. The creature's short and spiky hair was a lustrous silver.
"You do not cry out or flinch," the spider-woman said, impressed.
"I try not to judge based on appearances," Corina replied, "so I do my best to give everyone the benefit of the doubt."
"A wise policy, I must say," the creature agreed.
"My mo—"
"Your mother told you as a child. I know," she finished, her voice gentle. "I can hear your thoughts and roam through your mind."
Corina felt a shiver. "That seems invasive."
"And so it is for many. But for you, it is gentle, because you have so little to hide despite your relatively long life. Many younger humans have layers of defense and hide terrible deeds. My presence makes them uneasy, and my appearance strikes fear in their souls."
"You are beautiful," Corina said, and she meant it. "Your elvish body is lean and yet you are voluptuous and feminine. Your spider body moves gracefully, and the webs you spin are works of art."
"I am almost tempted to let you go on your way, Corina," she said.
"You know my name?"
"It happens naturally for me, as natural as seeing your face. I have neglected my own introduction. I am Sarantha, the Spider Mistress. I am a witch. Not quite like the sorceress you seek, but like her, I need magic, and I will not hesitate to take it when it appears."
"Oh, my," Corina said, the realization of her predicament finally sinking in.
Sarantha drew closer, her heavy breasts pressing gently against Corina's much smaller ones. "I see you have a bit of a mind-reader in you. You know I will take your magic. It needs to be coaxed out, you know this. But worry not, I can be gentle. It can be quite pleasurable."
Sarantha's scent was intoxicating, a mix of musk and wildflowers. She kissed Corina’s cheek, her tongue trailing a path to her upper jaw. Corina giggled, her pulse racing. Sarantha's tongue reached her long and delicate elfish ear, and a helpless, ticklish laugh escaped Corina's throat. Sarantha then nibbled on her neck, and Corina screamed and thrashed from the intense, pleasurable sensation.
Sarantha moved with a graceful, almost seamless motion over the web, her spider legs navigating the threads with expert ease as she traveled over Corina's body. She nibbled on Corina's collarbone, her perfectly groomed nails stroking the elf's vulnerable underarms. Corina shook violently, her laughter wild and unrestrained. Sarantha continued down, between Corina's small breasts, flicking her nails back and forth, making the nipples stand hard. She nibbled the nipples while tickling the space where Corina's breasts met her rib cage. Corina screamed and struggled, but to no avail.
Sarantha meandered down to Corina's small, round navel, her tongue leading the way, tasting the wood elf's flesh. The witch’s nails teased Corina's soft belly and sides. This was certainly not a warrior. Sarantha lingered there, a glint of glee in her eye. So soft, so innocent, yet so powerful. It was a treat to tickle Corina, to watch her react helplessly while feeling so much power course out of her. Sarantha knew the elf had been drained not long ago, yet she was a huge reservoir of magical energy.
Sarantha continued mercilessly down, worshiping Corina's milky and tender thighs. She did not touch her privates. Sarantha did not believe in doing anything that was not necessary. She needed to coax the magic out with tickling, and tickling alone. She moved to the knees, teasing the tops with her nails and nibbling sadistically behind them, that ever-so-vulnerable spot most found so sensitive. Corina was no exception. Everything was ticklish. Everything was energy. She was something precious.
Last but not least, Sarantha assaulted Corina's bare and sensitive feet with gluttonous abandon. She sucked the toes one by one, eliciting nervous pleasure before letting her nails trace the soles and focus on the arches. Corina's feet thrashed violently and between helpless bursts of laughter, she begged for the torture to end.
Finally, mercifully, it was over. Exhausted, Corina hung suspended in the web. Her hair was sweat-drenched, and her body had laughed and screamed far more intensely than it had with Drash.
Sarantha licked and nibbled on Corina's left foot. Her reactions were muted now, and she only groaned weakly.
"You are splendid, Corina. Simply splendid," Sarantha complimented, feeling the magic coursing through her. The wood elf, exhausted and drained, did not reply.
Sarantha released her from the web, but Corina would have fallen to the ground if not for the witch's careful attention. She caught the elf and brought her down gently, carrying her in her warm arms until Corina drifted to sleep, her last thoughts a haze of Sarantha's intoxicating scent.
* * * * * * * * * *
Corina awoke in a soft bed, still naked but covered in silken sheets. The cool air of the cavern was a pleasant shock against her skin. Sarantha was there, her expression unreadable as she watched the wood elf.
"You are magnificent," Sarantha said. "I can draw much magic from you. As your mother mentioned, there are sinister beings in this forest, both above and below. But I am not one of them."
Sarantha motioned to a silk robe on a nightstand next to the bed. It was a rich, deep purple, and the fabric was truly soft and silky to the touch. Corina nodded, taking it in her hands.
"The tickling felt sinister enough," Corina said as she put on the robe. It was a perfect fit, feeling like a second skin.
Sarantha smiled, a glint of amusement in her silver eyes. "I'll admit I can be quite... zealous. But that ability is not an innate talent; it is something that can be taught, something that can be learned. Your magic, however, is innate, and it is special. There are so many out in the world who would take advantage of you."
"Will you let me leave?" the wood elf asked plainly. Corina did not fear Sarantha. She recognized the spider mistress was far more powerful, but she was not afraid.
Sarantha pondered for a moment, her spider body shifting slightly. "I would normally never allow such a specimen to leave my side. However, I feel I cannot hold you against your will and win your heart at the same time."
"So I may leave?" Corina asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"Yes," Sarantha promised. "You have my word. I will send you on your way this very day and point you in the direction of what you seek. However, I ask you to hear my proposal for you to stay."
"I can't see how I would stay," Corina said in shock. "You'd tickle me constantly."
"I admit that would be so," Sarantha said, nodding slowly. "I would tap into your magic to power my own projects. This would drain you, but in exchange, I would teach you my art. I would teach you to break the most powerful and stoic among those who roam the Mirthwood Forest. You will learn to bend them to your will. I'll teach you web spells, sleep spells, and how to manage my spider venom. I would train your soft body into a better version of you; something harder and more tempered. When you are ready, I will send you on your way to Mistress Sydra. My teachings will give you a head start and protect you on your journey."
Corina thought for a few moments, the wisdom in Sarantha's proposal slowly sinking in. The choice was clear: a dangerous, unprepared journey or a path to power, tempered by a rigorous but thorough education. She had been bested by Drash, a magician with only minor spells. The Mirthwood Forest was a place of real peril, and her own magic, while potent, was untamed. This was her chance to not only survive but to truly become the sorceress she longed to be, to be feared instead of mocked.
"I will bind you a hundred ways," Sarantha continued, her voice growing more intense, a silken promise of pain and mastery. "Tickle every last inch of you with a score of different tools and techniques. I will teach you everything that I apply so you may in turn deliver it upon others. You will tie knots and spin webs. This place will be your home for the time you spend with me. And when you feel you have learned all there is to learn, I will release you, and you will be a terror among those who fall in your web."
The wood elf remained silent for a moment while she thought. She nodded slowly as her decision was made.
"I accept," Corina said, her voice firm, placing her hand into Sarantha's in a pact-making gesture. The witch's skin was cool and smooth, a strange contrast to the warmth of her arms. "When do we begin?"
Sarantha smiled, a wicked, devilish curve of her lips. From a hidden place, she produced a long, slender white feather and twirled it between her fingers. The tip of it danced with a faint, magical energy.
"Now, darling," she said, her laughter echoing in the cavern, a sound both beautiful and terrible. "No time better than the present!"
To be continued...
Last edited:
