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Desperation's Summit - Part 8 (Troll x Human)

Summary: What happens when a rich human woman gets kidnapped by a troll in the mountains? The troll claims it was an accident, but is that really true?

cw: spousal death backstory

Taglist: @coolninjavoid

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Rallying herself, Cordelia's nose scrunched up and gave a prim laugh. She almost wish she hadn't as Rakash turned to face her, his eyebrows quirk questioningly. Cordelia didn't let her mask slip this time. She flashed him a sharp smile as she gave him a light push on his chest. "Since I did most of the kitchen, have fun bathing your little atrociously sticky tots."

His eyes fell to his chest, where her palm pressed against him. Half a beat passed, a subtle flare passing between the two adults. Without thinking, Cordelia quickly withdrew her hand, but Rakash's eyes followed it, before flicking to her face.

"Really now?" Rakash drawled, eyes half-lidded as he angled his head to stare at Cordelia down his nose.

Before Cordelia could issue a smart retort, Rakash scooped her up and over his shoulder. She gave a shriek, though it was a paltry mimic compared to the decibel she unleashed that first night. Just another farce, he guessed. Rakash made a circuit around the room, accumulating the triplets in his other arm. Only Kazri was fully awake, Ebra and Zalmir were just on the brink of wakefulness.

But not for long. Squirming and writhing in Rakash's grasp, Cordelia pushed at his shoulder. The only thing keeping her from kicking at his front was her own uncertainty how close the children would be to the targeted zone.

Her struggles against him were useless. Just like that first night. Cordelia only half-noticed him lugging her, and the children, toward the back of the cabin and into the mountain. The fire-heated air of the cabin gave way to a cooler - yet still oddly pleasant - chill.

While half her mind focused on wriggling from his grasp, the other part of Cordelia's brain noted the new surroundings. The hall from the cabin proper to the mountain extended further back than she realized and it widened up, with other corridors branching out. Though it was definitely cooler in temperature, it didn't have the wet musty scent she'd expect. Light cast through the hall from glowing stones, embedded in the walls. Cordelia didn't have a chance to count the doors as Rakash continued to confidently stride straight ahead.

Soon, the dry cold air of the mountain started to warm again. And, oddly, it became humid. Her ears perked, smelling the unmistakable scent of water and hearing the almost silent lapping of water against stone. Rakash was going to bathe his children, so what did he intend to do with her in a bathing area?

An immediate shock filtered through Cordelia as her whole brain returned to struggling. She doubted Rakash was going to do anything as uncouth as literally stripping her. However, that didn't mean she wanted to be dumped into water, with her clothes on. "Unhand me!"

"You're just as crusty as the children," Rakash retorted, as he lowered his children to the floor. Thankfully, his children liked - or at least tolerated - bathtime. As the triplets gathered their toys and towels, Rakash's attention returned to Cordelia.

"I beg your pardon!" A half-scandalized gasp and half-infuriated hiss left Cordelia. Her elbow managed to land hard at a spot between his shoulder blades.

Even fueled by rage, the strike hadn't hurt him. With a snort, Rakash swung Cordelia into a princess hold in his arms as he strode toward the waters. The sudden change in positioning made her squeak, staring wide-eyed and somewhat flushed up at him.

From the corner of her eye, Cordelia took note of the bathing area. It was much larger than expected. Like one of those communal bath houses she'd been to in Tritz or Deloux. What surprised her was the steam coming off the water. A hot spring? This large? Connected to his cabin?

"If that's how you beg," Rakash said, drawing Cordelia from her quiet observation of the area. Her eyes jumped to his face, wide from being caught staring around. He hunched over her a little, keeping his words low, so his children wouldn't hear, "You're going to have to do better."

Her reaction was instant. Red bled into her cheeks as she shoved at his chest and wriggled in his hold in an attempt to get him to drop her, "You wish!"

A deep part of him enjoyed the way she felt, squirming against him. Unprompted, his mind imagined the sensation in a different orientation, her beneath him somewhere other than the bathing pool. But he shoved that thought far, far away.

Rakash simply waded further out into the waters while Cordelia continued to thrash in his arms, until the pool rose waist-high on him. Partly to punish her antics - and partly projecting his own frustration at himself onto her - Rakash rumbled, "Troublemakers get first dunk."

"What?!" Another instant reaction as Cordelia' froze, staring wide-eyed up at him.

Without further argument or prelude, Rakash simply dropped the fully-clothed Cordelia into the waters of the pool. She shrieked, the warm water splashing up around her as she scrambled to find footing. Water soaked her clothes, making them heavy. Once she managed to get upright once more, feet on solid rock beneath her, she turned on Rakash.

He's looking pleased with himself, a smug ghost of a grin minutely tilting at his lips and his hands planted on his hips as he watched her. Her hair clung to the sides of her face, the fabric of her clothes slicked to her body. A flush crawled over Cordelia's cheeks as Rakash's gaze slid over her body, as if he could peer through the cloth itself at her. It made a hot sensation graze down her back.

Which only fueled her irritation at him further. With her outrage, she swung her arm through the water, sending a splash toward the troll.

Rakash broke his stance as the water came at him, putting his arms up instinctively to brace. Her water attack only managed to get about shoulder high and wasn't nearly as satisfying as she had hoped. Still, as Rakash lowered his arms, he pinned her with a sharp look. "I think you need another dunk."

"Don't you think about it!" Cordelia backed away from him, crying out to the triplets with a theatrical point toward Rakash, "Cretins! Attack your father!"

"They don't answer to that," said after a backwards glance to his children. Ebra, Kazri, and Zalmir were too busy sending little waves of water at each other at the very edge of the water. Their shrill giggles echoed in the cavernous bathing room. "Besides, they're too busy splashing each other. Which is your doing."

When Rakash returned his gaze to Cordelia, she pressed a hand to her chest, clearly affronted by the accusation. "I did not teach them to splash!"

"Oh-ho ho, didn't you?" Cordelia flushed at Rakash's mocking fake laughter, feeling the reverberation of his deep voice shoot through her. Her glare doubled, trying to ignore the heat licking at her center. He leaned forward, hands on his hips and a cocky curl to his lips, "What did you do just now that's going to get you dunked again?"

She pressed her lips tight, her shoulders hunching as she continued to simply glare at him. Okay, so maybe, inadvertently, she encouraged a splash war. But the kids weren't doing their part, taking on their own father!

So, instead of coming up with an answer, Cordelia merely ignored the allegation. With a huff, she started to slosh back to the pool's edge. "Well, have fun bathing the hellions. I'm getting out."

There was one problem with her plan, however. Rakash was in the direction she was going. Before she got past him, his arm jutted out in front of her, halting her progress. Cordelia turend a glowering gaze up at him, but Rakash only raised his eyebrows. "Aren't you here to help me?"

"Not after you made me soaking wet!" She heard it a second too late. Her blush flared back to life across her cheeks, but she bit her tongue to keep from acknowledging it.

The innuendo wasn't lost on him, either. Rakash made a sound, as if he was going to say something but stopped himself.

With narrowed eyes, Cordelia hissed, "What?"

"Nothing." He held up his hands, palms facing toward her, as if to stop any potential verbal onslaught.

"Better be," Cordelia huffed, crossing her arms and sticking her nose in the air. Despite the act, her insides squirmed excitedly, even as her words rallied against the sensation. "You already rejected my kind offer at the wagon. So none of those thoughts."

As she passed him, Rakash rumbled, "Just try to stop me."

Those few words were like a jolt down her spine. She barely kept from snapping her wide-eyed gaze at him, predicting the smug look she'd find on his face. Unable to take the heat of the bathing area, coupled with the flush that flooded her cheeks, Cordelia rushed off. Well, as much as one can while wading through water.

While Cordelia beat a hasty retreat, Rakash returned to his children, instructing and supervising their bathtime. Though it'd be a lie if he didn't watch Cordelia leave from the corner of his gaze.

Lucky for Cordelia, there was a stack of towels on a rough hewn shelf not far, so she didn't have to look too hard for something to dry herself off with. Though she did duck quickly to her trunk to retrieve clean and less-wet clothes before quickly stripping. She chose a simple, wine red linen dress. It was something she usually layered beneath other, more intricate, pieces. But she really couldn't be assed, given the events of the day.

To her credit, Cordelia did go around the cribs and stripped the dirty sheets from the mattresses. She needed something to do, alone in the cabin. And she didn't really want to smell rotting fruit. However long it took fruit to rot.

Balling up the messed linens, she tossed them into the sink and filled it. Letting the sheets soak, she rifled about the home in search of clean ones.

She hadn't found any by the time Rakash and his children re-emerged from the recesses of the cave. The triplets were dressed in fresh pajamas, scrubbed clean, and meticulously dried. Cordelia couldn't help but notice even their father had changed his clothes.Just a pair of brown trousers and a white tunic, belted at his waist.

Although, Cordelia did note, with curiosity, the thick fur that trailed along Rakash's outer arms to the back of his palms. Faintly, glancing at his furred feet, she wondered if his legs were just as hairy. It made sense, she supposed, in the mountains.

Instead of heading toward Cordelia, the man diverted to the kitchen. Something seemed off. Following his nose to the sweet, soapy scent, Rakash made a beeline to the sink. He eyed the mucky water, a frown already dancing over his lips as he shot a look at Cordelia. "What's this?"

"Their sheets are soaking," she explained with a sigh. Crossing her arms, staving off embarrassment from her failed attempt at domestic assistance, she looked away from Rakash. "I couldn't find fresh ones."

That answer surprised Rakash. To think Cordelia would consider such a small detail. Of course, he remembered and was planning to do it, but he was a father. It's what he had to do. At least, she had gotten it started for him. "I'll get the sheets. Keep an eye on the kids."

Cordelia watched as Rakash disappeared down the mountain hallway, squinting to see exactly where he went. She didn't want to have to repeat this issue, again. Totally not watching him leave, for other reasons. Nope.

A tug at her gown drew Cordelia's attention away from Rakash's swinging tail. Looking down, she found one of the triplets at her side, blue hair still damp. "Delwi?"

"Yes, Ebra?" Her eyes had just darted down to the little trolling, before glancing back up at Rakash's speedy return. Apparently, the linens weren't stored too far away. Cordelia tried to ignore her added sense of failure, but honestly couldn't tell where he'd had the fabrics hidden.

Ebra shoved the Every Book up toward Cordelia just as she glanced back down at them. "Wead."

"Weed?" Cordelia looked back down at him, feigning ignorance. She offered the little trolling a sweet smile, before tapping the cover. "No, that's a book, Ebra."

"No, no." Ebra's little face scrunched up, their nose wrinkling. "You wead!"

Still playing ignorant, Cordelia tilted her head to the side, eyebrows raised. "I what?"

Ebra gave a little growl, looking in annoyance from Cordelia to their siblings. Zalmir gave a helpless shrug, obviously unaware what the issue was. Kazri seemed to mouth something to Ebra, but the exchange went unnoticed. Although Cordelia caught the other trolling's attempt to help.

"Do you want me to rrread?" She over-emphasized the 'rrr' sound, trying to wordlessly get her point across.

The look Ebra gave her could have curdled milk. It only served to make Cordelia's smile broadened. The little trolling pursed their lips momentarily, before slowly saying, "Delwi rrr-ead."

Cordelia inclined her head, raising her eyebrows pointedly once more.

Another frustrated look passed over Ebra's face. They glanced to the other two trollings. This time, Kazri quietly whispered, "Pwease."

"Oh!" Ebra's gaze jumped back to Cordelia, a broad smile on their face. "Delwi rrrread, pwease."

Cordelia's wry smile curled at her lips, overlooking Ebra and their cohorts in crime. Between the three of them, there was the makings of a polite member of society, perhaps.

"Yes, I will read to you." Cordelia accepted the Every Book from Ebra's hands and situated herself on the floor, cross-legged. The trollings sat on the floor in front of Cordelia, facing her in a little semi-circle. They looked at her expectantly, prepared for a story.

She supposed Rakash simply told them the stories he wanted to tell, at any given time. Which meant it was imperative she gave them some control. "Is there a particular story you three would like? Or anything you want to hear about?"

Ebra, Kazri, and Zalmir exchanged looks. Tension lit through the air in a way it only can with siblings. At once, they all argued over the stories they preferred or denigrated one of their siblings' choices. Cordelia watched and listened, shrewdly.

Kazri wanted a story with princesses and adventure. Ebra howled that adventure was borning, and they wanted something funny and not-so-scary. Then Zalmir said they'd be up for anything - a fib, considering later comments - as long as there was no kissing or frogs, 'whatever those were.'

"I wan' a story with p'incesses an' fightin'!" Kazri was the first to pipe up, their little fists balled up and eyes alight with fire.

"Fightin' is boring!" Ebra howled, giving Kazri a shove. "I want somethin fun and funny! Maybe with a bear."

"As s'long as it don't haf frogs, whatever dey are," Zalmir mumbled watching Kazri and Ebra tussle, before adding with a disgusted face, "And no kissin'."

Cordelia sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, shooting Rakash a dirty look when she heard him snort. He didn't notice her look, as he bent over the sink to clean his children's clothes. Hopefully, he felt it, Cordelia hoped. She wanted it to be like nails raking down his skin. Then again, seeing how he had surprised her with growing salacious comments, maybe that would just entice him.

Although part of Cordelia enjoyed that sort of attention, the other part had to recalibrate her expectations of her stay at his home. The fact he'd seemingly backpedaled so quickly made her wonder how lonely he was. Still, their little... moments of back-and-forth excited something in her that others hadn't quite met. And that made her uncertain.

Shoving those thoughts away for later examination, Cordelia tried to focus on the trollings. Namely finding them a story they'd agree on. It took some time, but eventually the three sprats agreed on a story involving a goblin, a knight, and a dragon. Cordelia read for quite awhile, the triplets rapt or giggling or making faces at the appropriate parts.

Rakash listened from the kitchen, where he scrubbed his children's fruit-encrusted clothes in the sink. He'd heard the whole 'wead' conversation, a flicker of his annoyance and relief skirting his thoughts through the ordeal. Why couldn't she just read to them?

He knew why, though. She was making them think and, obviously, remember their pleases. At least he wasn't Cordelia's sole target of agitation, he supposed, after a moment's thought. Though he was thankful his children didn't bear a greater brunt of it. Or maybe he should be thankful Cordelia seemed to be kinder to them than she was to him.

At least, by allowing her to challenge them, he didn't have to bear his children's disdain, as well.

When the sheets were washed and hung to dry near the fireplace, he moved to sit on his cot. Which happened to be behind Cordelia. As he moved into position, he noted how her body tensed, her back straightening when he settled onto the cot.

By the time Rakash made his way over, the story was nearly at its end. Zalmir had already toddled off, pulling out a wooden box from which blocks tumbled out. Ebra and Kazri continued to listen, until the former finally caved to playtime. Which left Kazri, listening until the end. When Cordelia said the final words and closed the book, the trolling said a quick 'tank you' before going to join their siblings.

She watched them go and continued to observe the three playing. Together, they were building something. They called it a castle, but it looked more like three very tall towers ready to fall over.

The longer she watched the kids, however, the more she felt Rakash's presence at her back. Didn't he have anything else to do? Obviously not, if he sat there quietly. But his presence at her back was unnerving her. Or maybe stoking that excitement from earlier.

Regardless, she didn't want either feeling to take root. Twisting in her spot, Cordelia glanced over her shoulder, straining to look up at him. "By the way, where should I rest?"

"You can have my cot, I'll use my room at night." Rakash was honestly looking forward to sleeping in his own bed again. After so many months sleeping near his children, the twinge in his back had been an ever present companion. Besides, it seemed perfectly reasonable to shove the duty off onto the quasi-nanny.

He nodded toward the hall. "During the night, if my kids need anything you can't do for whatever reason, come get me. My door is the teal one when you enter the mountain, on the far right."

"Wait! I don't even get my own room?" Cordelia balked, turning fully to face Rakash. She settled back on her heels, crossing her arms and glaring up at him.

Those warm, squirmy sensations jolted through her stomach as Rakash obviously looked over toward his children. She could see him judging if they were far enough away. Apparently they were, since he braced his elbows on his knees, leaning down to mutter at her, "You can get one, when you learn to beg better."

"You're wretched," Cordelia hissed, her eyes narrowed and her puckered lips twisting into a pout. The added sight of her kneeling at his knee played havoc in Rakash's imagination. She, too, was very much aware of how she must look. Which only served to make her cheeks pink once more. It was only sheer stubbornness that kept her from altering her pose or expression, though.

Although, as Rakash leaned closer to her, her obstinacy almost broke. Speaking in a low voice that sent shivers down Cordelia's back, Rakash nodded to the book still in her lap, "Why not use your little book to find the correct definition of 'beg?'"

Her reaction was immediate. Cordelia was distracted by the embarrassment eating across her cheeks, before she realized her body was in action. Before she could think, she swatted her book into Rakash's face.

The sound the troll gave was a strangled yelp, caught with something Cordelia almost could believe was a laugh. Before she could verify, however, Zalmir cried out from across the room, "Delwi! Why'd you do dat?"

She was still holding the book out, posed in her swing toward Rakash, who had leaned away. The two adults shared a look. Instantly, his demeanor shifted into one that clearly read 'don't you dare.' But that only made a broad grin tilt at Cordelia's lips.

"Oh, Ebra, Kazri, Zalmir!" She threw herself backward, onto the carpet theatrically. Pressing the back of her palm to her forehead, Cordelia drenched her words with melodramatic woe, "Your Da threatened to eat me again!"

Rakash immediately sat straight, his livid gaze on Cordelia before it bled into desperation as he looked to his children. "I did no such thing!"

"Da!" The chorus of the triplets made fatherly shame creep up Rakash's skin. To disappoint one's children, even if the accusation was false. A flash of mortification arced through Rakash, as his own children tisked his alleged actions.

It worsened as the children abandoned their blocks. Kazri went to Cordelia, comforting her in her obvious hour of need as she amped up her farce of obviously fake boo-hooing. They patted her on the shoulder, consoling her with quiet words.

Ebra and Zalmir approached their father. Zalmir with a serious look on their face and arms crossed. Ebra with their hands on their hips. Intimidating was the last thing the two were, in the face of their troll father, but they were certainly trying their best as they glared up at him.

"Da, don' tw'eten... t'renten," Ebra gave up saying 'threaten' with a sigh, before doubling back over their statement. "Don' say you et Delwi. Delwi fun."

"Yeah!" Zalmir added, intent on not only backing up their sibling but also having Cordelia's back.

Over his kids' heads, Rakash shot Cordelia a dirty look. She only returned it by sticking her tongue playfully out at him, Kazri unable to see the exchange with their face buried in Cordelia's shoulder for a hug.

That is how their little arrangement went for a week and a half for Cordelia and Rakash. Shenanigans and arguments and occasional heated exchanges that had nothing to do with anger. Neither went much further than taunting or teasing. A burn stoked and simmered in both of them, though.

All of that changed, however, when Ebra got sick.

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(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Want early access to chapters, art, or access to my WIPs? Join my Patreon!

Or you can “buy me a coffee” on ko-fi. ❤

Comments, reblogs, and replies are also super appreciated!