Hold Me MxM - Open to female writers - literate. - [OPEN]

Father Matthew considered himself to be a fair and just man. He was a prophet to his people, and through his guidance, he would lead them all to salvation. So it is of course the will of God that he be given certain liberties his own people must stay away from to avoid falling to sin. He is not so easily corrupted. Being married and descended from him is a great honor. After all, it guaranteed them a spot next to him in heaven. Each wife was even given her own fine house in the village, second in size only to his. They were offered the finest clothes, and first choice of produce during each harvest as well, as a more immediate reward for being of service to the father.

He had started with just a small church, all those years ago. After finding those all those flaws in the bible and correcting them, he and his small group of followers slowly grew. By making these corrections, he discovered his true purpose in life. He would complete the mission given to him and lead people to salvation. They were all but ignorant children, in need of a father to raise them. Through the donations of his generous people, they were able to establish a small residence for themselves away from the filth and lies of the city. Now, the compound was almost the size of a small city, and the people knew their cause was just. God had blessed them with fertile lands, allowing them to live by their own hands instead of needing the large factories that plagued the rest of America.

Father buttons up the white shirt of his suit, near identical to almost every outfit he wears. It was important to keep himself looking presentable in front of his children after all. Tonight, he had promised to have dinner with one of his wives. It had been odd, as she had requested that he come to visit her. He wondered what would be so important that she was not able to do her womanly duties and simply come to her husband, but it wouldn’t do for him to get angry at his wife if she needed him. Women were the first sinners after all, and as such especially vulnerable to temptation. They needed his guidance more than any man. It was also why the pleasure house existed. A woman must stay pure until she is wed, and then must only give herself to her husband whenever he wishes. Those who stray from that purpose had only one way to redeem themselves. They must give themselves up to serve God. Any man who finds himself tempted could use the pleasure house without fear of dishonoring or tainting an innocent woman. It was a noble effort that could save many men from falling to temptation, and would work to redeeming women for bringing forth the original sin.

On his way out, the father spots his son walking home from the market. Michael was the spitting image of his father at his age. A young, tall, fit man with short black hair. He was smart and athletic, a hard worker, and very charismatic in his own right. Being the father’s first born son also left him with quite a lot of responsibility. Despite being the leader of these people, father Matthew knew he still had the body of a human. One day, God would see fit to take him from this world. Saving people would not end with him though. On that day, his son will take over in leading the people, becoming the father who would guide them to salvation. Matthew took great care in grooming him as such, and from a young age, Michael would follow the father around in order to understand the things that would be expected of him when he inherited the position.

The father feared for his son though, more than he did for any other person in his church. The boy had a smile that was infectious, and brought joy to those who saw it. Lately though, it had become rare to see him smiling. He seemed to become solemn and distant, taking to reading his books in silence. The father was afraid that the things he read may lead him astray. The devil would like nothing more than to hurt the father by taking his first son from him. Matthew redoubled in his efforts to keep his son on the right path. The boy had yet to make himself a man. He had taken no wife, and never even visited the pleasure house. The father feared what this could mean. If his son favored the company of men instead, then he could offer him no salvation from that great sin, and would be forced to exile him to protect his people. He calls the boy over to him. He was still obedient at least. “What is it, father?” He says politely, though there was a look of agitation on his face. The father tries to ignore this for now, hoping that his son was simply going through a phase. He explains that he would not be making it to a seat meeting tonight, leaving Michael in charge for this one. He would expect a proper report of it in the morning.

The boy walks off, promising to do his best. That was good to hear. Despite his attitude, Michael still put in the effort. Appeased for now, the father continues to his wife’s home. Stepping inside, he’s surprised to be greeted by a vision of youthful beauty. Farrah was in truth, one of his younger children. His first wife had only given him two boys. His second had yet to give him any children, and she seemed unlikely to do so. That was deserving of his pity, for he knew there was no greater shame a woman could suffer. Ella had proven very fertile though, giving him five children in as many years. Farrah had proven to be a difficult birth though, and now the two were careful to spare Ella further risk and pain. His fourth wife had given him three children already, and now his youngest, a toddler of only two, was happy and healthy.

Farrah was a troublesome child, he could just tell. Her bewitching eyes trapped men in their gaze, and her body screamed of sin. He was worried of what may happen. To have one of his own daughters end up in the pleasure house would be a horrible fate. He had caught her trying to read once before, a dangerous thing for someone susceptible to sin to do. Now she was moving around barefoot as though she were used to it. He wondered just how comfortable the young lady got when no one could see her. He nods silently as a return to his daughter’s greeting before moving inside, heading straight for the dinner table. Ella finishes preparing it and waits, knowing that it was wrong for the woman to sit before her husband. The father takes his seat, and Ella hurriedly pours him a glass of wine before putting the bottle away. Women weren’t to partake outside of communion, and special events after all.

For years, as the sole heir of the kingdom, Brandon had lived a sheltered life away from the public. From his infancy, to his childhood, and to his early adolescence, he had always been heavily guarded, be it from foreign to local threats. The only time he had a semblance of being alone was whenever he would ride his steed in the nearby woods, or in afternoons when spent reading books in the vast library of the castle. Yet even then, he could never shake the feeling that eyes were on him, that he wasn't alone. He never was. After all, his death would be disastrous, as the nobles, his cousins and all, would surely be at each other's throats for the position that his death would leave.

No matter how much he wanted it, there was no indication that he was going to die in the foreseeable future. He was fit, healthy as a horse as one might expect from a prince who would be king one day. As a child, he had spent most of his time learning about the manners and etiquettes he would need to succeed in court. From learning to distinguish the different usage of the cutleries and other utensils during meals, to various dances and other such things a person of high rank must know to survive in court. He took to these lessons, from his Latin lessons to his horse riding sessions, quite well, as, even as a child, he had wanted to excel.

When he was fifteen, he was engaged to a princess of a neighbouring kingdom, who was known for her fair beauty and matching wit and grace. They had met, and, in the course of the days that they had spent together, they had fallen in love. It had been a perfect match, and, it would have united the two kingdoms, and fused it into one. However, as the sickness that had taken his uncle, the former king, it had taken away his betrothed before they could ever be married, thus, making the agreement between the two countries null and void.

That had been five years ago. Brandon had been quite distraught, and, ever since then, he had refused any such idea of arranged marriages, as still, he could not forget about the princess who had stolen his heart. Of course, right now, that wasn't his biggest problem, though, talks about arranging another marriage for him had been in debate for a while now. But, as the kingdom was experiencing civil unrest, the focus shifted away from him. It all started small, with the peasants revolting against the lords who ruled their lands in the stead of the Crown, yet, it grew until it reached its peak with an usurper who had lead a mutiny against the King himself. They had been able to eliminate him in the grounds of treason, as they had been able to prove that he was just a peasant. The King had also ordered the conspirators, the ones that they had been able to catch, to death hoping that this would silent the people. It did not. It seemed as though whatever course of action he took, the people would still revolt, as they demanded for change in the system. For equality of the nobles and the common people.

Before the death of his brother, he would have been ordained into the church and lived his life peacefully as a priest. But, as he often said, needs must. They had gotten a big break when they had caught the band of thieves that had been plaguing the various lords and ladies of the land. The King and his high lords of Council had debated as to what to do, what type of action to take. After all, if they were to execute her, the people were surely going to be displeased. No matter the strength of a monarch, he was nothing without his people, and the King knew this.

After much careful debate, they had drawn up to a conclusion that seemed to be favourable to almost everyone. In such a plan, however, his son was going to be a main player.

That was what drew them all here, inside the throne room to meet the woman who was the leader of the group of bandits that had been causing quite a mess in the kingdom. The King, as well as his Queen, were seated in a raised platform under a canopy. The King's throne was noticeably far richer than any of the other's seats, as it was donned with valuable stones and other such jewels.

On the King's side, his son, Brandon, stood, his piercing aquamarine eyes focused coldly on the woman brought in. His blond hair was mussed, yet, it wasn't too untidy as to seem unkempt. His clothing were simple, and yet, with just one look, one could see that the materials that it was made of were anything but. Beneath his doublet, which was made of dark blue velvet, he wore a white linen shirt which was decorated with elaborate embroidery. His breeches were black and held up by a belt, his hose, from what can be seen from the peek of his thigh boots, were a darker shade of green, a significant difference from the other courtiers, who all wore breeches of light colours.

A snort almost escaped the prince as he heard her speak. Well, she seemed to be brash, a trait that was a rare sight in a woman. Then again, women usually did not steal from the rich to give to the poor, did they?

"You may stand. And, please, remove the shackles from her hands. We're here to talk as equals. You're right, Caitlin, in one aspect, that we are all men, and nothing compared to God. And, death is not your only option. We have a proposition to offer you. One that is far better than having your life end if you choose the guillotine." The King replied, his tone somewhat laced with amusement. His blue eyes were similar to his son, they held far more kindness than in the younger man's eyes. Immediately following their King's orders, a soldier went ahead and unlocked the shackles, while another moved over to pat her down to see if she had any weapons on her person. When he was done, he threw a dirty look her way, as though to say that one wrong move and he wasn't going to hesitate from killing her even if she was a woman.