Marriage Is No Place For Love (rollshero and Babette)

[rollshero]

"By all the gods, she's got freakish long hair."

Ender Valerin, the self-styled High King of Maran, frowned at the bodyguard who had made the remark and squinted as he peered at the approaching column of riders. Was that his bride-to-be in the middle? He hadn't paid much attention to details about Fira Duette. This was, after all, a marriage of convenience. Valerin had said out loud that he cared not whether her skin was green, so long as taking her hand secured an alliance with King Arabis. Secretly, he hoped she would at least be pretty.

"What does it matter?" he said, feigning a lack of concern. "They have their own fashions in their own country." He turned to his captain of guards. "Have the lads look alive there." The captain turned to bark out at the honor guard lining the roadway as Valerin spurred forward to meet the approaching riders flanked only by two trusted men-at-arms. He was a spare, plain-looking man with close-cropped brown hair and piercing blue eyes. His chain mail was of the highest quality but had no adornment other than a sand-colored surcoat and his only weapon was a sheathed broadsword that had seen many years of use.

The riders halted at his approach. "Are you Fira Duette?" he called out, pointing to the woman the column he assumed was his betrothed. As always, Valerin had disregarded the normal courtesies. "Hail and well met," or "Welcome, lord and ladies, to Maran," might have been more appropriate. A low murmur of grumbling arose from the column. But Valerin looked on serenely, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

 

[Babette]

Princess Fira Duette is the daughter of King Arabis. He has arranged her marriage to Lord Ender Valerin, to form an alliance with his country. She is beautiful with waist long golden brown hair, emerald green eyes and a figure of a courtesan. She is under six foot tall by six inches. Princess Fira has been educated in the study grace, dancing, riding, fencing, archery. She was taught the fine art of cooking as well and of course she knew how to please her husband once that time arrived by the courtesan in her father’s court.

Fira Duette’s name means: fiery, two of a kind. Accepting her fate only because she has no other choice. Her father the King needs this alliance. She will be married to this man and be taken away from everything she is familiar. Especially her love. She has been meeting one of the young knights behind the King’s back for over a year. The time has come where she much leave him, her heart is torn between being the Lady Fira Duette to Lord Ender Valerin or running away with the young knight.

This morning her guards meet her at the front of the castle where she bids farewell to her father King Arabis. She kisses him goodbye and mounts her horse wearing an ocean blue dress with lace and tiny pearls cascading down the sides and front. On her back is a silver case filled with the finest quivers and a wood and silver hammered bow. It was made especially for her by her love. The young knight brought it to her in the wee hours as a remembrance of him. She held him close and cried soft tears as they too said their final farewell. The trip was long and she was about to call a rest when Lord Ender Valerin demanded to know if she was his betrothed.

“I am Princess Fira Duette, betrothed to Lord Ender Valerin, If you are he, then yes, I am your betrothed My Lord,” she said proudly sitting straight upon her horse. “I am extremely tired from the long journey, is it much further to the castle? I am in need of a walk to stretch my legs.”

 

[rollshero]

Valerin was secretly relieved and a bit surprised that he was. She was a sight to behold. In terms of looks, worthy of a High Queen. A bit of pride on her, too, standing up in the stirrups despite being tired. And she wanted to walk. She might still be boring, though.

"Not far," he said. After a moment, he added, "Your Grace." The proper address, he often forgot the proper address. He spurred into the midst of her guards and immediately had one blocking his way.

"Out of the way," he said quietly but curtly. "Now." The mounted guard hesitated, then moved his horse off. Valerin dismounted and walked over to the princess, holding a hand out so she could dismount, as if she were just any noble lady.

"It's just over a league," he said evenly. He gave her that slight smirk again. "I thought princesses rode everywhere."

 

[Babette]

Fira took an instant to look her betrothed over hopefully without being seen as checking him out. He was indeed older than she had expected though he was rugged in looks. His manners were not quite what she was used too. She tilted her head with a slight nod when he finally remembered to address her properly. She took his hand and dismounted from her horse handing the reigns to the guard on her left.

“M’lord, if I might speak freely, I ride for joy and for the freedom of the wind in my hair, to be at one with my beloved horse galloping for the sheer fun of it. I love a long walk in the forest on a beautiful day. Or when I am out hunting with my bow. Unfortunately I can only do so when I dress as a commoner and escape my guards.”

She looked over to her riders and said, “We would like some privacy. Dismount and give us twenty trees distance before walking behind us. I do hope that is agreeable with my betrothed?”

 

[rollshero]

Hmmph. 'The joy of freedom of the wind in my hair' indeed. As a general rule, Valerin frowned on sentimentality. He had more important things to worry about.

"Princess Fira, I ride into battle so I can slay people, I ride all around my realm to govern it, and I occasionally ride to hunt," he said, perhaps a little huffily. He hoped she wouldn't make too many social demands on him. He was a busy man, after all. He wondered, too, if she was any good in bed. That would be a bonus to this whole arrangement.

He nodded curtly at her request, then waved at his own escort and the honor guard to move off the roadway. "We're walking!" he yelled at his confused captain of guards. "What does it look like? Out of the way!"

Valerin trudged alongside the princess for a few minutes as everyone else parted from them. As he did so, he suddenly realized he didn't know what else to say to her at this moment. He didn't really do small talk with women. Most of his experience was with whores whom he bedded and then paid off.

 

[Babette]

“M’Lord, do you always have to yell like that and be so grumpy? We have been forced to be together, I know this. I know you are far from the man of my dreams and I am not your run of the mill whore …....” she looked at him biting her lower lip. “Look, we have to at least try to be civil and cordial to each other. I have promised my father I would be the kind of wife you need.”

She wasn’t sure how to proceed so she hesitated then she took his hand and ran her soft fingers over the rough skin and looked into his eyes. “It is a difficult situation we have here. I am not asking to be the love of you life, I am simply asking for freedom to do what I enjoy.”

“I will stay out of your affairs and be quiet and sullen if that is all you want of me. If we dance, we will dance alone, in each others arms. If you do not dance then so be it. I want us to talk and become friends, if you cannot love me, it is fine. I certainly do not love you. Know this M’Lord, that until we are married, you shall not bed me until you know how to treat me and only then marriage or not, I will not have you treating me like one of your whores.”

 

[rollshero]

By all the gods, would this woman never cease her prattle? Valerin had a good mind to snap at her that any one of his whores was likely better in bed than she was. For all he knew, she was a virgin. Not that it really mattered.

Still, he couldn't help but admire her strange combination of bravery and gentleness. When she looked him in the eyes he scowled silently at her. But he didn't immediately let go of her hand when she took ahold of his. Instead he stopped, sizing her up.

"You have some sense," he finally conceded quietly. "This marriage should benefit both our peoples, and there is no reason for us not to make the most of things." He gave her a grim smile, squeezed her hand, then pulled his hand away. "You will have to be patient, Your Grace," he said as he began striding forward again. "I am used to my own freedom as well."

He walked on for a few moments, not looking at her as he talked. "And while you are beautiful, it takes more than beauty to tempt me," he said, his tone half-bantering, half-arrogant. "So let us not worry about the wedding bed for now."

 

[Babette]

Fira was glad he had no want to hasten their retreat to the marriage bed. She was deeply in love with the young knight though she knew it would be highly doubtful he would ever come this way to run off with her. There marriage would be soon a marriage of convenience and nothing more. She was sure with his arrogant mannerism she would most likely be the only bride that dies a virgin.

“It is the furthest thing from my mind as being important. I am sure you have a long list of whores ready to comfort m’lord from his battles. As far as tempting you, you flatter yourself. I am only here by the King’s order. The Alliance is all that I am interested in,” she said in a tone that was soft and proper to her arranged betrothed.

Walking side by side in silence she wondered if they would be civil to each other at least. He had the most interesting eye’s that seemed to look deep into her soul. “Once we are settled and if you have nothing to do, will m’lord escort me to the various shops and let me have a look around? I would also like to have free access in your cook’s kitchen as well. If this pleases m’lord?”

Fira was sure that if she didn’t keep herself busy, life with him would not only be boring it would make her feel old and useless, which would be a terrible thing as she mourned her love, the knight back in her father's’ castle.

 

[rollshero]

Valerin nearly grinned at a memory. "Well, Your Grace, there is this one whore..." he began, before sheepishly biting back the words. No need to go down that road. They would have to get along, after all.

He cleared his throat and walked along her in silence for a few more moments. "The alliance, too, is my primary concern," he finally said, gravely and fervently. "I have no wish to go to war with your father or your country. The alliance is a benefit to both our peoples." Valerin meant this in all sincerity. He wished to be known as a capable ruler, but he did not have to make war on all the rest of the world.

When she came to the next topic he actually showed a bit of enthusiasm. Valerin enjoyed food, and his hunting and constant swordplay practice was done in part to simply ensure he kept fighting trim. "I actually quite liked some of the dishes I sampled in your country," he said, perking up. "I have a decent cook, but please, feel free to meddle in these affairs. I don't give them the thought that I should."

Perhaps some common ground? It was too soon to tell.

 

[Babette]

Fira could not help herself as soon as she received the good news of being able to have a go in the kitchen, she squealed with delight and grabbed his arm and squeezed it laying her head against his shoulder briefly.”Thank you M’lord, I promise you the best meals and desserts.” She released his arm almost as quickly as she took it.

“To tell the truth M’Lord, you can tell me anything. As your betrothed, I do hope you will confide in me over all that troubles you. I have promised myself to you, and to be a good wife, I must listen and comfort you, even in trivial matters. I will do nothing to embarrass you in front of your staff. Behind closed doors stays behind closed doors.” She stopped walking for a minute looking around her, she placed both hands on his tall shoulders.

“I was deeply troubled coming here to meet you M’lord Valerin. Please understand this is difficult for us both, I know.” She looked around again, making sure no one was within earshot of her voice, she whispered to him, “Come closer to my face M’Lord, I need to tell you a secret. When he leaned a little closer she told him the secret that her father the King’s courtesan had told her.

“To be the wife of any man the secret is to be a whore in bed with her lover at night, and during the day, a perfect lady. I will never deny you the right to have me, it is not my right to do so. If your whore is far better than I am, and you have no desire to sleep with me, at night we can sleep in separate chambers and you may have your whore.”