Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:23:26 +0100
From: g d <wheels-on-fire@hotmail.co.uk>
Subject: Jack and the Baron's Stalk

This is a fictional account between two men. This story contains sexual
scenes and S&M. If the content offends you, or you are not old enough to
read this in your country then stop reading now. If however you like this
sort of thing, read on. Please send your feedback to
wheels-on-fire@hotmail.co.uk to tell me what you think. This is the second
story I have written, the first being Superior Connections. Feel free to
read and enjoy this story, but I do not give you permission to distribute
it or share it with others.

Enjoy.


			Jack and The Baron's Stalk


When we are children, we are told a lot of things. Most of it lies. Some
parts truth, what is left is what we were not told. Either to protect our
innocence or to keep us in ignorance, there is a vast omission of
knowledge. You start of wondering where you came from. Your parents tell
you some strange story, commonly something about a gift from somewhere, a
stork perhaps. They decide you're not quite ready to know that after nine
months of stewing in a womb you are forced through a small space of about
ten centimetres, head first, leaving your mother with scars and a vagina
hanging open like saloon doors. Your next wonder falls around
Christmas-time. Your gifts come from Santa; a strange over-weight man who
lives in a cold climate with elves, who, if you sit on his knee and whisper
into his ear what you would like, he will provide you that gift.
Regardless of copyright and trademark protection, his elves will make that
toy for you. The list continues: tooth fairies who deposit money under your
pillow - the amount relative to your parents' income; why your hamster
looks slightly different and more active today than it did yesterday. Then
comes another significant area; the fairy story.  Read to you at night if
you're lucky, in order to get you off to sleep so your parents can get off
themselves. If not, then whilst sitting in a circle at school as your
teacher patronisingly reads out the anecdotes of Sleeping Beauty,
Goldielocks and the Three Bears.  Take note of course of the talking
animals - and if that does not mess with you enough - they will give you a
story of personified pigs, living in properties constructed of various
materials without planning permission, building regulations or health and
safety rules, only to find out that they would be better off living
together in one building to survive against an oppressive but equally
personified lupine villian who really just wants a good meal. Finally there
is Jack and the Beanstalk: this is one of those stories that was cut short
in order to preserve your innocence. Allow me to inform you what happened
after happily ever after.

To refresh your memories: Jack lived in a remote area with his mother. She
was struggling to keep them afloat. Due to the oppression of women in this
long-gone era she had no means of supporting herself other than producing
what we know today as Crafts. Jack's father had since left the scene,
either in search of a younger woman who did not complain so much, or to
look for adventure and fame in distant lands. Jack was of a good build,
used to working the small amount of land they had, and he had grown to be
lean and strong from farm labour. He was gifted with good looks; however,
this was not held in high regard in the community. One day his mother, at
her wits' end with their sole cow, having now grown too stubborn to produce
milk and menopausal before having a chance to breed, decided that she
should trade in the old cow for something better, like a leather handbag or
a pair of boots. Jack left the miserable, saggy-titted, flea-ridden, old
woman at the house whilst he led the animal to market where he exchanged
the animal for beans. Upon his return his mother disapproved of the trade
and threw the beans out of the window. That night the beans germinated and
grew to a surprising height.  Now we are at the point where the story
changed from possible truth to outright fiction. You were told Jack climbed
the beanstalk, stole a number of valuable items from a castle, and killed a
giant which thanks to what would later be known as Newton's Laws of Motion
as he fell from a great height and became a body at rest. Then Jack and his
mother lived happily ever after.  Pretty much what you remember.  Right?

I'm sure you feel that that is indeed a possible outcome, since some gay
men do choose to live with their mothers.  But happily?  You be the judge.
I personally can't stand my mother for very many days before I need time to
recover.  At least it gives me something to share with my therapist.

So I guess you're waiting to know what happens next?  Allow me to continue.

...What had actually grown in the garden was something Jack and his mother
could both recognise.  It was a fine hemp plant that stood before them.
His mother busied herself with the illegal production of weed, giving Jack
time to move away and discover the world for himself.

He left the village and the small communities and went to the city, looking
for employment. His best guess at finding somewhere to work was to go to
the castle. There resided a strong and powerful man. He was very tall and
carried a dominating air about him. The town's people knew of him, most
feared him and those who did not fear him, had at least learned to respect
him. The castle was large.  Built by Master craftsmen a hundred years
before, it had saved many people - yet dealt the card of death to many
besides. Currently they were living in a time of peace, and the Baron of
the castle lived without issue from his neighbours and commanded enough
authority to not be bothered by the local population's petty arguments.  He
was above them.

Jack approached the castle, progressed through the village contained within
its walls and asked about employment. Some people offered him work or
apprenticeship but there was nothing on offer for what Jack really
wanted. On the castle notice board, the Baron had posted a notice looking
for employment as his own personal assistant. He was looking for a handsome
young man, who would represent him well in business and at court. The
placement would not be paid; however, he would receive life-long care if he
completed his contract and would always have a place to live and be looked
after in the castle. The position was full time. Jack liked the sound of
this. He approached the castle keep itself and, as directed by the notice,
applied for the position. With his name inked onto a short list on
parchment, he departed and had a look around the town, and visited the
taverns to find out what he could about the Baron. He discovered that he
was a formidable man. A tall man who, unlike many of his contemporaries,was
also muscular. He was not married for he was yet to find a wife who he
could approve of, or that would accept his hand in marriage. He was a
cutthroat leader whose will and command was the law of the region. If
anyone plotted against him, they would find themselves looking at the bars
of a prison cell, and then at the gates of heaven. He had god-like
qualities, powers, and magic about him that only could come from the mouths
that spoke through breath of salted pork and ale.

Jack retired to the room in an inn which he had noted as his residence on
his application. He awoke in the morning to a persistent knocking on the
door.  A runner had been sent from the castle to inform him that he was to
have an audience with the Baron for the job of personal assistant. Jack
dressed and wiped his skin on a damp cloth before following the messenger
up to the castle. Jack felt nervous before entering the castle, and felt
even more trepidation when he was left alone to stand before the grand oak
door to the Great Hall.

"Enter!" a commanding voice called through the timber. The door opened
inwards before Jack. There were no guards inside the room: only the Baron.
Jack had been searched before he entered the castle and had had his knife
removed. The sturdy Baron could defend himself if need arose, but there
were also guards not too far off who could come if he beckoned.

Jack walked forward into the room, stopping at the first of five steps
leading towards where the Baron's high-backed chair which stood imposingly
against the far wall. It was rather theatrical: a tall man sitting in a
tall, high chair overlooking any standing man. Jack could see there was
some truth in the words of drunken men's ramblings.  He was tall and
intimidating; he was strong and powerful; he did have angled features;
however, he did not look as if he was the child of Satan; and Jack doubted
his powers to kill a man with a single glance.

Jack did not know how to act in such a situation, but he sort of bowed and
allowed the Baron to speak. "Well then" The Baron started, "You have
decided to apply for the position of personal assistant. Do you know what
that entails?"

"Only what is stated on the notice on the board outside, Sir." Jack
replied.

"Well then, so there is no confusion, I will tell you exactly what is
expected, and what is in the contract. It's important, for the contract is
binding.  The term is a decade, unless you or I die before that time, at
which point your contract will be reviewed and I will decide if another
term is to be entered into.  Failure to complete the term agreed by leaving
your post would result in ether exile, or death. So it's important, for
your sake, that you understand what is being proposed. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir" Jack said, feeling slightly unsure as to where this was going.

"Your duties, as stated in the notice outside suggest that you will be my
personal assistant. My right hand man, if you will. You are here to take
care of my needs. You will personally present me with my meals, deliver
items to me as directed. Run errands or when not doing this you will be
literally by my side unless directed otherwise." The Baron paused briefly
to allow the information to settle but not long enough for Jack to
reply. "There is no payment for this position other then the security of
knowing that you will be looked after. If the land finds itself in famine,
you will be well fed.  In drought, you will be watered, and when you
retire, you can continue to live within the walls of the castle. This is
more than the average wage could ever hope to buy, for someone of your
status."

"You will be under my control. What I say, goes. You will not be allowed to
have a relationship whilst in my service; I do not want you to have any
distractions. You will be trained in everything, so experience is not
required. You will be given a uniform to wear. You will not have free time
whilst working for me, unless I permit it. You will have your own modest
quarters, but you will be available to me at all hours, whether the sun
projects shadow upon the dial or not.  You shall address me as Sir. If you
fail in any tasks I set you, you will be reprimanded. You are not permitted
to converse unless it is required for you to complete a task. How does that
sound so far?"

Jack had a lot to take in, and he was also young and still naïve. He also
felt pressured, and under the Baron's gaze he felt like he needed to
provide an answer. "It sounds appropriate Sir" Jack replied. He felt stupid
saying it, yet he was not formal and he felt that this situation required a
high level of formality.

"Very good." The Baron continued. "There is also another criteria you are
expected to fill. As my man servant, you are to satisfy my needs outside of
the public domain. To put it frankly, you will need to service my member
when I feel that it is required. You are not permitted to say no to this,
or to anything else I order you to do. Failure to do so will result in
punishment or an early termination of the contract, with the same results
as if you were to run away.  This is because by choosing not to do
something you are disobeying me.  You would be taking control and that is
something I will not allow. Do you understand what I am saying?"

This last part was not what Jack was expecting. He wasn't all that sure
what the Baron was getting at. However, he did not disagree with anything
he said. It sounded like an ideal way of life really. A life of few
responsibilities and a life free of troubles. He had one question however.

"I do understand what you are saying Sir; however, may I ask a question to
uncover a small area I'm not too sure about please Sir?" Jack asked,

"Go on." The Baron replied, expecting there to be an issue with the
servicing of his member. This is what had stopped the other applicants. It
was why the position had not been snapped up earlier and was why the end
rewards were so valuable. That, and the general lack of freedom.

"Well, I hope I do not offend Sir, but isn't what you are looking for a
slave Sir?" Jack timidly asked the question. The Baron smiled, for the
first time breaking his harsh features.

"Not at all. A slave is taken by force, they have no free will, they could
be dangerous to have so close.  A knife hidden and then taken to bed would
easily be the end of me. No, this is not a slave position. I want someone
willing. Do you understand?"

"Yes Sir"

"Ok, do you have any more questions? Are you interested in the job?" The
Baron asked. He wanted to draw the meeting to a close. He had seen Jack and
knew that he wanted this boy. He was attractive to his eyes and was
malleable; he could be moulded to be just how he wanted him.

"Erm, I have no more questions Sir. I'm a little taken aback. I, erm."
Jack's hesitation was interrupted by the Baron.

"How about you have some time to think about it. Return to the inn, think
about it for a week and then I will call for you to come back and you can
give me a decision. And do not worry. If you do not wish to take the
position that is fine, you will not be exiled. At this stage anyway." The
Baron smiled. Jack agreed. A few quick thanks and with something not quite
graceful between a curtsy, and a bow, and falling over, Jack turned and
departed and retired back to the inn. It had only just passed midday, but
he was already tired after the stress of the day and he felt that sleep
would help him think about what had been said. The decision he was to make
would change his life forever. It was a huge decision to make. He could
make one decision for the coming ten years and have the freedom of not
thinking for himself, or he could decide not to take the job, leave now and
have a decade of situations and problems that he would have to sort out
himself. Jack fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

A week later Jack was awake, washed and dress and waiting outside for the
messenger to call him to the castle. The sun was still low in the sky and
the traders were just setting up the stalls when the sound of feet moving
quickly on the cobbles proceeded the messenger and moments later he
appeared and Jack rushed up to greet him. The runner, quickly turned on his
heel and rushed back to the castle. Again Jack was left outside the oak
doors.

"Enter." The Baron called. Again the doors opened, Jack walked in, stood at
the bottom step and bowed, properly. He had practised his entrance. "I see
that you have turned up today. Does that mean that you would like to accept
the position? Or have come to tell me yourself that you do not wish to take
the job?"

Jack had a speech practised, he was going to thank the Baron for the
opportunity, compliment him, offer him something more, but here, in the
here and now, he felt that he could not say anything other than to answer
the question the Baron was asking. "Yes Sir, I would like to accept the
position as your personal assistant, Sir."

"Good," the Baron replied. He smiled. He was genuinely happy that Jack had
accepted. There was a moment of silence that past between them. Then the
Baron commanded "Bring in the contract!"  A moment later the doors parted
and in came two men. One was laden with a small table, the other carrying a
roll of parchment, a pot of ink and a quill. The table was set down to the
side of the Baron. The parchment unrolled onto the table and held in place
by small lead weights. The two men then stood to one side of the room, to
witness the signing and the Baron descended the five steps. He took his
position behind the table, like a shop clerk would at his counter. Jack
came forward and picked up the quill when the Baron nodded towards it.

Jack could hardly read. Maths was valued in the countryside. His father
taught him how to count because it was good for trade, but reading was not
so necessary. He glanced at the long length of scribbling and saw a space
for him to sign. He trusted the Baron and was aware he was going into a ten
year service to the Baron, so it didn't really matter what he put his name
to. With the Baron looking over him and waiting, Jack slowly scratched some
large, clumsy letters into the space. The Baron took some sand from a small
pot and scattered it over the ink and then dropped some red wax next to the
signature and pressed his ring into the wax. He stood back and nodded
towards the two men. They approached the table, checked that everything was
in order, rolled the parchment, bowed to the Baron and departed with what
they entered with. Neither Jack nor that Baron moved until the doors were
closed shut. The Baron was the first to break the silence.

"Well boy, congratulations, now you start your new job. First of we need to
get you out of these clothes and into a uniform." He walked towards the
door. Jack followed. As they approached, the doors opened and the Baron led
the Jack into the corridor. The majority of the people in the castle seemed
to be men. There were a few women, but the Baron seemed to prefer men to
ensure the castle ticked over. They moved up a spiral of stairs, through
another corridor. If they met anyone coming the other way, the others would
step to one side and bow their heads in deference. Up one more flight of
stairs and Jack and the Baron were outside the sleeping quarters. There
waiting was the man who had previously carried the table. In his arms was
some folded black clothing. He handed it to Jack and then opened the door
for the Baron and Jack to enter. The room had a large tapestry hanging
behind a large bed. Under the bed, was a large rug.  At the end of the bed
was a chest and on one side of the room was a desk with a mirror, while on
the other side was a cupboard and a screen. There didn't seem to be a place
for Jack to stand. He had never been in such a room before. Never had he
seen anything so grand.

"Alright, get changed." The Baron told Jack. Jack started to move towards
the screen. "No. Get changed over there, by the bed." Jack stopped, turned
back to where he was standing. He set the clothes back down on the bed and
stripped down to his underwear and picked up a black shirt. "No. Those
too." the Baron motioned to the underwear. Jack paused, set down the shirt,
turned his back to the Baron and took of his underwear. He quickly dragged
the black shirt over him to preserve his modesty. Before he had time to
pull on his leather tights the Baron stopped him. "Let me see how you look
in the shirt". Jack stopped and turned to face the Baron. He blushed. He
covered himself with his hand. The shirt was open at the top, Jack had not
yet properly laced it shut, the leather laces hanging loosely over his
hairless chest. "It's a bit loose. I will make sure that the tailor comes
down next week to measure you up for something better fitting.  Continue."
Jack slipped on the leather tights, and noted that there was no underwear,
just some leather shoes. He sat down on the bed, tugged them on, and laced
them up. The uniform was all black, apart from some embroidery which
carried the same emblem that was the reverse of the one Jack saw on the
Baron's ring. "That looks good." The Baron said, looking Jack up and
down. Jack felt uncomfortable with the Baron looking at him so intently.
The Baron needed to address some of the main rules and formalities to Jack
before the midday meal was brought up. He stood before Jack who was now
sitting on the chest before the bed.

"You know what the contract is, you know now that for the next ten years
you will be here, with me, under my control. You need to know the ground
rules. I may well add to them as time moves on, as situations change, but
you need to know how to present yourself in court, around people or when
just with me. When you're in here with me, you are to wait, looking at me,
on your knees, unless I override that order and instruct you
otherwise. Always kneel close to me - if I'm at the desk you kneel by the
chair, if I'm in bed you kneel on the right hand side. Understood?"

"Yes Sir." Jack replied. The Baron did not say anything, but just looked at
the boy sitting on the chest. After several moments, Jack fidgeted under
the man's gaze, then suddenly realised that he was sitting on a chest and
was not on his knees. He panicked suddenly and quickly slipped to his knees
before the Baron.

"Good. When I give you an instruction you do it then and there. If you are
already doing something at the time, you stop and take up what I've
instructed you to do, unless I say otherwise. If I am walking about the
castle, and you are to follow me, then you walk behind me. You follow two
paces behind me. When I stop, you stand behind me to my right, if there is
space. If I am in the Great Hall, the room we were in before, then you
stand to the right of the chair, hands behind your back, head bowed and
legs a shoulder width apart. If we are eating in the hall and there is not
a place set out for you then you stand to my right, in the same
position. If you do not know where to stand and I have not given you
instruction then you stand respectfully at my right hand side. When I greet
people you are not to interact with them, unless I have specifically told
you to. As long as you stand with your head down they should not try to. If
however, I am not with you because you are on an assignment, you will only
talk to people if it is essential to getting the task done. It is of
paramount importance that you do exactly as I say. Failure to do so will
mean that you get punished. If you show me up, do not expect that I will
show you mercy. You represent me, and you need to make sure that you
present yourself to the best of your ability at all times. Understood,
boy?"

"Yes Sir." Jack replied.

"Have you any questions boy?" The Baron asked.

"Yes Sir." The Baron was expecting some sort of argument about what his job
involved. "Why do you keep calling me 'boy', Sir?" Jack asked. This was not
what the Baron was expecting.

"I will call you what I want to call you. You are younger than me, you are
only eighteen and you are in my command. Have you a problem with that,
Boy?" The Baron said this quite sharply, even though he did not intend to
sound so harsh. This tone made Jack uncomfortable, he decided that had he
better just accept that the Baron was in control. He realised that the
sooner he let this be, the better it would be for him.

"No Sir. Boy is good Sir." Now Jack sounded like he was trying to please
the Baron. The Baron liked that. He liked that the boy seemed to be trying
and he liked that he was accepting the control.

"Your sleeping quarters are with me.  You will sleep when I tell you to
sleep, but you will also wake when I tell you to rise. As with everything,
failure to do so will end in punishment. You will sleep on the right side
of the bed, unless I put you somewhere else and you will sleep naked. We
are both men, there is nothing you won't have seen before. Is that going to
be a problem, boy?" He asked.

"Not at all sir." Jack quickly replied. The Baron was pleased with how well
things were going so far. He was prepared for more refusal, but he had not
met any of that, yet. But he was only telling Jack how things were going to
be, he was yet to have to do it.

"When I bathe, you will wash me. When I dress you will help me dress. You
are here to serve me. Understood?"

"Yes Sir." Jack had said yes, but the Baron did not think that he looked
all that sure. There would only be one way to find out, but that was not
going to be right now. At that moment there was a knock at the door. Jack
look worried and attempted to stand, but a firm hand on his shoulder was
enough to tell him to stay in place.

"Enter." The Baron raised his voice and the door was opened and the smell
of soup, bread and meat came into the room, followed by a small procession
of food. Three men brought in food and set down two plates, two goblets and
a jug of watered wine. They bowed and left. Jack was still kneeling. The
Baron moved to the desk of food and placed his own food in a bowl. In the
other bowl he placed a little less soup and bread, but did not include any
meat. He sat down to his own food. Beside him and to his right appeared
Jack, on his knees, looking at the food on the Baron's spoon. The Baron
paused, and placed the meatless bowl of food on the floor in front of Jack,
combined with the command "Eat it." There was nothing for him to eat it
with so he looked back up at the Baron. He seemed to be a mind reader for
he said "on your knees, on the floor, eat it, and try not to get it all
over the floor." Jack looked surprised. He wasn't going to argue. He had
been told several times that there would be punishment for disobeying but
his did not know what punishments there were, other than exile and
death. He didn't think he would be condemned to that for not eating like he
was being told to eat, but he decided that he was not going to test the
Baron just yet. He leaned over the bowl of hot soup and soaked bread and
started to eat. It was no easy task. The bowl shifted, his chin went in the
orange liquid, the bread would fall apart and splash him and there did not
seem to be a technique with which to do it successfully. When he was done
he looked as if he had spent the morning in the stocks, with rotten
vegetables thrown at him. He sat up saw the Baron looking down at him. He
handed the boy another slice of bread, to use as a napkin and to mop up
what was left in the bowl. When that had also been consumed, the bowl was
half filled with the watered wine. He slurped at the liquid and when most
had gone, he had finished his first of many meals under the control of the
Baron.

The afternoon was spent with one of the rare audiences granted to the
public in the interview room. Jack stood to the right side of the chair,
head bowed respectively, arms behind his back, legs spread shoulder width
whilst a debate between two men was heard by the Baron. Jack quietly
listened to the petty conflict. Apparently one man, a farmer, felt that the
other man, a trader, had been selling his stock of chickens on the market.
He was sure that they were his own birds for his had gone missing from his
farm. The merchant insisted that they were his own chickens that he was
selling, and that he had every right to sell them and considered that the
farmers' chickens had gone missing due to foxes and the like. There were
several witnesses brought in. The farmer had his son to confirm that
chickens had gone missing, and his wife to say that she thought she
recognised the chickens the trader was selling.  The trader brought his
wife who claimed that she had brought up the chickens herself for her
husband to sell. At one point the trader insulted the farmers' wife. Before
it could all get too complicated the Baron drew his verdict, decided that
because the farmer could not actually prove the chickens were his own to
start with then he would not be compensated for the chickens he seemed to
lose.  However, the trader was to provide a chicken to the farmer's wife
for insulting her. They were both told that if such a debate was brought to
him again by them, he would fine them both and take all of their
chickens. This left the atmosphere rather tense and neither party feeling
particular happy.

In the evening a meal was eaten in the great hall. Jack was welcomed into
the castle work force. Ale was readily drank and spirits where high. Around
midnight the Baron decided that it was time to depart. The party
momentarily stopped as Jack followed the Baron out and up to the bed
chamber. When the Baron's footsteps had long since dissapeared the party
started up again. Both men were drunk. Both men were tired. The Baron
stripped naked and slid into bed. The boy stripped quickly before getting
into bed too. The candle was blown out and Jack had curled up lose to the
edge. He felt a hands brush against his side, a hand wrap around his waist
and quickly pull him into the Baron's chest. The Baron held him firmly, and
then fell to sleep. The Boy fell to sleep soon after.



Now, I hope you will note that there is not a happily ever after here. This
is because there will be a second chapter to this story. Give me your
feedback to wheels-on-fire@hotmail.co.uk. You need to write to me if you
want to read more.