"Of course. I don't need you lording over me that you bathed a princess. Eye for an eye, as they say."
Elise stepped out of the tub (with red and white trim).
Gwyn's mouth was suddenly a desert. All moisture was sucked from her and expelled through her pores. If there were words to say, she couldn't find them.
"Go on then," Elise said. "You said you wanted to bathe, right?"
"I did, I just didn't expect…"
"Oh, be mature about this. I'll wash you and then we can get some rest."
Right… mature… this will be quick and nothing will happen.
"…That sounds fair." Gwyn eyed Elise dubiously as she removed her white dress that Artero said made her look like a commoner. Then she hesitated as she took off her underwear. "Can you… turn around?"
Elise's ears were a bright pink, and she did as she said.
"Oh, of course."
Gwyn stared at Elise's ass now that the opportunity presented itself.
Holy shit. I'm a pervert. Here I am, checking out my friend, and she just wants to help me.
She quickly removed her underwear and stepped into the tub.
Elise pulled up a stool and began washing Gwyn's hair.
The princess's touch was delicate. Her nails scratched at Gwyn's scalp, releasing the stress and exhaustion of the day. Elise hummed as she washed.
After some time.
"You're surprisingly good at this."
She stopped humming.
"Thank you."
The humming persisted. Soft lullabies were nearly making Gwyn fall asleep.
The melody stopped, and Elise cursed.
"Shit."
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot to wash my skin."
"Oh… yeah. I mean, we could probably—"
"Should we wash each other?"
Elise suggested—a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Together?!
Gwyn nearly exploded at the inquiry. Before she could say anything, Elise was already in the tub. The tub was spacious, certainly big enough for several people, but the last thing she expected was—
"Can you… Scoot forward?" Elise asked politely.
"R-r-r-ight."
Gwyn stuttered, holding her knees as the water drifted to her navel.
Elise then sat behind Gwyn.
"I can get your back."
Gwyn nodded. The fear and desire took a life of their own, nearly possessing Gwyn entirely.
The moment Elise's fingers touched her back with the wash, all those feelings faded away. She scrubbed her diligently, and before she knew it, she was leaning into Elise.
The princess washed Gwyn's hands.
This is nice: two friends bonding, nothing else.
Then up to her elbow.
I'm having a wonderful time, totally not—
Then to her shoulders.
The thoughts were suddenly silenced. Gwyn's heart tripled its thrumming. The anticipation was eating her alive.
Then the hands diverted and went down her sides, avoiding her chest.
Gwyn had to stop herself from huffing.
Why didn't she wash my…?
"Elise."
The elf's voice was pure seduction.
"Yes?"
"I think you've missed a spot."
Carefully, Gwyn's hand went over Elise's, gently guiding them to her breasts. She then released Elise's hands, and the elf didn't need permission. She cupped around them, the silky soap curving and tracing every edge.
"Ah… yes, my mistake."
Gwyn closed her eyes and let Elise do as she pleased.
The soft hand pinched her breast. Then traced down her navel.
Down her thigh, the fingers pressed firmly into them.
Gwyn bit her lip and moaned.
The hand was traced just a little further. Closer to the desire. Gwyn felt as though she couldn't take it any longer, but then it stopped.
The young woman opened her eyes and saw Elise cautiously get out of the tub.
"I think you're clean now."
Gwyn was convinced she did something wrong, but didn't say as much.
Elise began to dry herself, and all desire, anticipation and want were immediately expelled from the room.
"Did I?"
Gwyn stood from the tub. Her chest ached.
Elise had an almost pained expression on her face, but didn't speak.
The elf handed Gwyn a towel and used prestidigitation on her robe before putting it back on.
"Elise, wait," Gwyn called out. Elise was at the door. "What happened? Am I…"
"You are perfect, Gwynevere."
Elise's voice was far away and pained.
"Then why are you leaving?"
Elise averted her gaze.
"I'm tired. I've had a long day."
"Right… it is late."
Gwyn didn't believe in the words she said.
"I'll be in one of the rooms."
"Can you… Help me pick out what I can wear tomorrow?"
"For what?"
"I have a test tomorrow, I have to cast lesser magic."
"Already?"
Gwyn nodded.
"Oh… well. I can stay up until that."
"The clothes are downstairs. I'll go grab them quick."
Gwyn left the bathroom, towel around her.
Elise followed behind, finding herself in the master bedroom.
Elise berated herself. Wondering why she was acting like this or why she had to mess everything up.
Elise waited in the bedroom. Then waited some more. After over a minute, she grew concerned. Then, she heard Gwyn hobble up the stairs, grunting.
"Is everything okay?"
A response was a muffled jumble of words. Eventually, Gwyn came into the room with a variety of clothing for literally any occasion. She even used her mouth to hold some panties.
"Um… that's a lot of clothes."
Gwyn slammed the pile of clothes on the bed. She sighed in exasperation.
"Finally."
"Did you really have to get it all in one trip?"
She gasped between words.
"Yes… my Dad always said… 'Big G… if you can't get it in one trip… don't bother going at all.'"
Elise smiled.
"Big G?"
"It's what my Dad calls me sometimes, yeah."
"That's sweet."
Gwyn nodded. Then leaned up from the pile of clothes she made her bed in.
"Was that impressive?"
"The one-trip thing? Extremely so. I don't think I've seen anyone be so stubborn in my life."
Gwyn's ridiculousness melted away Elise's anxiety.
"I'll expect my award in the mail." Gwyn started sifting through the clothing. "What do you think I should wear?"
Elise wore a devilish smile.
"Clothes."
Gwyn rolled her eyes.
"Well, of course."
Elise leaned over and helped her look for something. She pulled out a red dress with white trimmings. The white was in a leaf pattern that emphasized the breasts, waist and neck.
"How do you feel about this?"
Gwyn looked at it.
"Could be good. Is all this clothing going to be red?"
"Knowing Artero, yes. Yes, they will. It might be more concerning if something didn't contain red."
"I see."
Gwyn took the dress from Elise, then casually dropped her towel. She inspected the head and bottom, trying to figure out how to fit into this thing.
How did he figure out my measurements?
Elise was standing before Gwyn's bare body, turning her head.
"Wait… Elise. I think… I think I like it when you look at me."
Gwyn's face was probably the reddest it has ever been. She had never said anything so...
"Oh… okay."
Even though this wasn't Elise's first experience, it felt as though it was.
Gwyn contemplated the dress.
"Actually, can you help me into this thing?"
She said, confused, as this seemed to be a much tighter fit than the plain white dresses she had been wearing for a few days now.
The two women fiddled with the dress. First, starting from the bottom at Gwyn's feet. When that didn't work, they went through her head. The dress slowly shimmied down Gwyn's body. The Chosen One grunted as she messed up her hair, and her glasses got in the way.
Elise then tied the laces on the back into a little bow to ensure the dress wrapped firmly around her body.
"There we go," Gwyn said, as she stretched. The dress fit perfectly, morphing to every curve. "How do I look?"
Elise inspected her hard labor.
"I think you look gorgeous. Now we have to get out of it again."
Gwyn looked defeated, but then smiled.
"You got me, right?"
"Of course." Elise undid the lace on her back. The dress immediately fell. "Oh, that was easy."
"Wish it was that easy to put it on."
Gwyn pouted, but then smirked, going to turn to grab another piece of clothing, but so did Elise. Accidentally facing one another.
They both hesitated, staring into each other's eyes. Elise glanced down at Gwyn's naked body, and Gwyn felt a fire consume her whole.
"Elise… I—"
Gwyn tried to say something, but Elise's mouth was already on hers—a long, deep kiss.
The surprise caused Gwyn to pause for a moment, but then she let that desire overtake her completely.
Their bodies embraced, Elise feeling Gwyn's tight body against hers. They pushed the pile of clothes to the floor and lay on the bed. Elise lay over Gwyn. The young woman's chest jostled as Elise pushed her body up against Gwyn, reaching a hand between the woman's thighs.
It was wet and hot. She traced her fingers around the outside as Gwyn moaned, she begged for her to touch her heat, make her explode with pleasure.
Elise explored between Gwyn's thighs. Each stroke brought the Chosen One further and further to the edge.
Elise softly kissed Gwyn's neck, and soon she was sucking and biting the skin. Elise melted inside every time Gwyn moaned, so soft and pathetic. It made her feel as though she had power, that she had control for once. And she was going to make Gwyn feel as though she had never felt before. That was something she knew she could do.
But before Elise knew it, Gwyn was pushing her body up against her hand that was stroking her softly. The pleasure was so intense, but that's because Elise was infusing some magic in her touch, changing the sensation every few seconds.
Gwyn gasped for air.
Her head was on fire. It was so hot everywhere. Sweat soaked the surface of her skin, leaving a sticky film—a swirling through her body.
One hand was interlaced, the other between Gwyn's thighs. Gwyn moaned her soft and pathetic moan. It drove Elise mad; she wanted to hear it over and over again. The heat was excruciating between them.
"I'm… going to…"
Gwyn couldn't breathe, let alone utter a full sentence. The vials around the women's necks seemed to be tied together as they were closer than they'd ever been.
"Just a little longer."
Elise whispered into her ear before biting the soft flesh of her lobe.
There was no "little longer". With her fingers pressed firmly into Elise's hand, that fire, which was consuming her, had been released.
Elise felt a—not entirely unpleasant—pain on the back of her hand. When Gwyn had finished, there were burn marks where Gwyn's fingers were firmly pressed into her skin.
Elise was heaving, feeling Gwyn's passion on the back of her hand.
"You… you casted magic."
Disbelief in every word as she inspected her skin.
"I did…? I did!" Gwyn threw her hands around the elf. "Oh! Oh my God. I hurt you!
Gwyn grabbed the hand she had burned and inspected it. Gwyn's fingerprints left an imprint on Elise's skin.
"I'm so sorry. I—"
Elise raised the hand Gwyn burned to her face, caressing her skin.
"I would suffer far worse than this if it meant I could be with you until the end."