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Conquered Rewards (DareToDream & Vivid Fizz)

A smile crossed her full lips. Yes, she was getting a lot of stares. Disbelief from the men, for they have never seen their lord take an interest in a woman past a night and jealousy from the woman, whom had wished that he would call them into his chamber. The beautiful bard walked with a limp. Her whole body was sore from how hard he had taken her the night before. Thankfully he was there so she could support her weight on him.

The more the pair walked, the more nervous the beauteous bard became. How would these men think of her? Likely they would view her as some conniving witch that turned their master’s head with her sexual tricks. A bright blush crossed her cheeks. That hardly sounded like her at all. When they came to the large wooden doors, and she heard that voice, she paled. The blush completely left her cheeks. A nervousness overcame her and she trembled as they entered the room.

Inside were men who all looked disgruntled. Apparently they did not agree with what the advisor had said. All of them eyed her as if she was the harbinger of the end of the world. The raven haired beauty felt her confidence being zapped by their unrelenting gazes. Instead of showing it she took in a deep breath and squared her shoulders. If she did not take this like a Queen then they would never see her as one.

“My lord,” a voice from the back came. It was clear and distinctly feminine. A woman came striding forward. Long strait blonde hair was pulled up in a tight bun and pale blue eyes. Everything about this woman was sharp. Like Gilloleth, it was clear that she came from elven decent. Though for this general it seemed that the elf blood was stronger. “What you have said is cause for concern. It is no wonder that we are very worried about what is going on. You never are one to change your mind.”
 
Harac stared at Thomas for a few minutes then moved his eyes to a spot above his shoulder, suddenly leaning back. Thomas stood, a smile crossing his lips, glad that his man had backed down. He did not want bloodshed here today. He wanted no more bloodshed period. He was just about to follow up his words and explain his new orders when a voice rang out from behind him. He knew that voice and, as he returned to face the woman, he groaned inwardly. Alyssandra strode across the room, the look in her eyes clearly one of trouble.

Thomas met her head on, prepared for whatever she said. Her words were as he expected, words made to sound concerning but were instead challenging. He watched her as she moved past him, taking her seat at the table. She was an Elf of noble decent, coming from a family with a long history in his country. A member of his army, and a trusted General for many years, she had tried to bed Thomas numerous times but he had always spurned her. Alyssandra was pretty but she was cold of heart and Thomas had no interest in her. He knew though, that if any of his Generals had a problem with Gilloleth, it would be her.

He looked at each General in turn, starting with Harac and ending with Alyssandra. “You are correct, it is not usually my style to change my orders, but I have and you will follow them.” He paused then continued. “I am tired of war and destruction. So very tired of it. I have decided it is time to rebuild instead, to fix what we have broken and unite the two countries into one nation. I will be our King and Gilloleth” he reached out and took her hand, drawing her up next to him “will be my Queen.” His eyes narrowed then and he leaned forward. “All of you have played a part in the success of our kingdom and I want you to play a part in our rebirth. It will be hard, giving up war to embrace peace, but we can do it. I need your help, each and every one of you but I will understand if you feel you can play no part in this. You can walk from this room a free man, with no fear of retribution on my part.” He paused, letting his words sink in, looking at each of them in turn one more time. “The time for change has come. Who will stand with me?” He sat back on his heels then, waiting for their answers.
 
The words he spoke visibly struck Alyssandra. Queen? That little guttersnipe that he had saved to become his slave was now being called the future Queen? Pale blue eyes narrowed on the bard before she shot a look of utter disbelief to Thomas. Something dangerous flashed in her eyes. The cogs in her brain were working and that normally spelled trouble for the poor unfortunate soul who she was plotting against. Alyssandra was not a general simply because she was a pretty face. The woman was sly and crafty with a will most men balked away from.

Jealousy was pumping its way through her body. It should have been her that was announced his Queen. That little girl was not suitable for the position. A sex slut, maybe. Her body was not so alluring and her eyes not captivating so it was amazing when he claimed her as an official consort.

“You are being quite hasty, milord,” she replied. Her voice was even and level. Not once did it waver. “The countries to the east are weak, having sent most of their resources to fight for this former kingdom. Taking them should not take more than three, maybe four, months. Tactically it would behoove us to acquire Teron. That country borders the sea and offers up not only trade as a viable way to make coin but fishing as well.”

Gilloleth felt a little intimidated by that woman. Never before had she seen a female so confident in her own words. It was clear how much sway and swagger this General had. None of his other troops questioned her. Out of all of them, she had continuously been the one to question the orders of the warlord. Most would not be foolish enough. A lump rose in the bard’ throat and she found herself inching her way behind Thomas’ bulk.

Then the female General stood and walked over to the pair. Her emotionless expression was particularly frightening.

“Furthermore,” she stated as she approached, “I do not support your marriage to this woman. This is not a good sign of your leadership and the people will see your choice as a weakness. What does she have to offer this land wealth wise? Performers don’t have any land or riches. Neither do they have the heritage or diplomacy a queen would need.”

“How do you know that I am not a diplomat?” Gilloleth asked quickly. Her voice raised in pitch. “What is so terrible about me?”

“If you had the fortitude of royalty, you would be more than a bard dancing for coins. A queen is more than swaying around half naked while drunken men grope at you.”
 
Thomas saw the look that came over Alyssandra’s face in that moment, how her eyes narrowed on the bard before looking at Thomas, her shock and disbelief clearly stated. He expected it that reaction but that she displayed it so openly on her face, when she normally kept her emotions hidden, bothered him greatly. Alyssandra was brilliant but she was also a schemer and back stabber. If she chose to question his decision, she would become a problem. Her leadership skills were sufficient that recruiting followers to assist her with whatever scheme she would hatch would be easy. Her next words confirmed that she would indeed push back, though just how far she would go was unclear at that point.

Turning to face her head on, his eyes drilling into hers, he let her speak her peace. To cut her off in front of the others would just invite more discussion on a matter that he now considered closed and that would not do. When she was done, he nodded, seeming to consider her words. What she said was all very accurate, and sounded very reasonable on the face of it, but it could also be achieved through other methods. “Indeed, those countries are weak, and we could take them if I wanted further blood shed. And Teron in particularly holds strategic value should I want it.” He paused here, looking at her, then at everyone else around the table, holding each of their stares for a few moments before moving to the next one, measuring each of them as he did.

Finally he focused back on Alyssandra and smiled. “What you fail to get, Alyssandra, is that I want no further bloodshed. We have lost many men and women to this war, devastating families and homes every step of the way, leveling cities like they were nothing but toy buildings. It stops now. No more. We can achieve the same results you seek through peaceful negotiations then through further bloodshed. Those countries are well aware of their weakened state. Already we receive reports that they try to shore up their defenses with any able body they can put in the field. If we offer them peace, perhaps our protection against aggressions from their neighbors, I believe we’ll win their support. And with that, their strategic locations.”

Alyssandra acted like she hadn’t heard a word he said as she stood and approached them. The words that came next actually brought a smile to his face. Before he could speak though, Gilloleth spoke first. While he words were not ones that put Alyssandra in her place, the sheer fact that she had stood her ground and commented at all caused a shiver of electricity to flow through Thomas. Though out of her element in this room, in that moment, his pretty bard chose not to back down. Yes, she had a lot to learn in the coming months, but the mettle was there, he had no doubt about that. He waited until Gilloleth had finished speaking, then turned more towards Alyssandra. “The people will judge me on my actions regarding the countries, Alyssandra, not my marriage. And if we succeed at my vision, we will be loved – all of us in this room, not just me. As for my marriage to Gilloleth, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion but let’s be clear. I don’t need your approval now, or ever, and if you’re smart, you’ll stay out of my way.” He closed the gap between them then, standing very close to her. “You’re a smart woman, aren’t you Alyssandra?” he asked in a whisper, his words just loud enough for everyone to hear in the room. He wanted it clear to everyone that he’d fight for this vision of his, and for this woman at his side, and that it would be in their best interests to side with him instead of opposing him.
 
Gilloleth smiled and stood behind Thomas. The change in her stance was amazing. A much more natural confidence air of confidence was about her now. No one would directly question the new king this early on in the game. Not after his thoughts were expressed with such conviction. Perhaps later they would but for now the Generals had been effectively silenced.

Alyssandra had a the gears in her head spinning. A sly smile crossed her face and she gave a bow towards the warlord she thought she knew. There were things that turned his head and the appearance of one little girl, no matter how lovely, was not going to change that.

“I see that you are very determined on the matter, milord,” she said. “I know that you will see this woman as your bride. If that is the case I would personally like to prepare for it. After all, what woman doesn’t enjoy a marriage ceremony?”

Of course she meant something quite different. The former’s king’s entire seraglio had been destroyed. Now there was many empty rooms and no bodies to fill them. The blonde elf gave a sly smirk. Once there were nobles and princesses from the surrounding areas in the castle, that low bread bard would be cast off to the wayside. It would also make things easier for the sly general to carve her way into Thomas’ heart. Or at least his bed.

The raven-haired beauty was apprehensive about letting that woman have a hand in her wedding. “I suppose I should take that as a sign of your goodwill…”
 
Thomas felt Gilloleth move to stand behind him and shifted a hand back, touching her on the hip briefly to let her know that he was here and that he was dealing with this threat. Alyssandra would not continue to challenge him openly in this room and live to walk out of there at the end. He protected what was his and all would understand that if they didn’t already.

He saw the sly smile spread across Alyssandra’s face and narrowed his eyes, moving into her space the tiniest fraction more, his muscles tensed for action, his other hand near the knife on his hip. A move that no one in that room, sans per Alyssandra, would miss. When the general spoke next, Thomas blinked, for her words were not what he had expected. “You wish to help prepare for the wedding ceremony?” he asked, shaking off his sudden apprehension. He could not appear weak in this matter. With those words, Alyssandra had backed down, ending the potential conflict before it started, and was now offering to help him.

He was no fool. He knew her offer of help had a deeper motive behind it. His job would be to figure out what it was. Before he could speak, Gilloleth spoke first, accepting her offer of help. Thomas glanced at her quickly, letting his eyes deliver a cautionary message before turning back to Alyssandra. “I agree. Your help would be appreciated Alyssandra. I thank you.” He bowed slightly, keeping his eyes on her, narrowed and riveting. He made it clear in that one look that he would brook no interference from her in this matter. “You may begin preparations immediately. You are dismissed” he said, straightening up and turning to the rest of the advisors. “Now, gentlemen, its time to discuss the future.”
 
Alyssandra’s smile was disconcerting to Gilloleth. It looked as if the woman had just been granted a handful of rare diamonds. The blood in the pretty elf’s system ran cold. What was going on behind those frighteningly shocking blue eyes? In a very bold display of affection considering her current position and where they were, she placed her head on his shoulder, taking his hand in his. She was expecting him to run his hand through her hair to soothe her. Already she was getting used to being treated differently than most by the warlord.

The other generals watched. Some did so in disgust, others in horror, others still in anticipation of what may happen between the two. It was clear that this was something not to be done. It was unprofessional. However, the bard didn’t care. She loved him. What did if matter if others saw that?

The full blooded elf simply rolled her eyes and bowed gracefully at Thomas before heading out the door. Oh. Many, many things were going to happen. That woman would not last longer than three days when the other, more enticing nobles were brought in from various parts of the country. Other girls with much more fetching bodies would be a good reminder for the warlord; to show him how he really was.

Meanwhile, back in that conference room, an older general cleared is throat. “Right then. How were you planning to gain the support of neighboring countries. They will likely hate us for what we did here. All of the surrounding peoples were on good terms with the former king.”
 
Thomas felt Gilloleth lean against his shoulder, her hand taking his, holding it tight. He blinked in shock, caught so off guard at first that he could do nothing but stand there, enjoying the feeling of his bard leaning against him, offering him comfort. And seeking protection from Alyssandra possibly. He knew that all eyes in the room were on them and he grinned, the feral grin of a predator about to deliver another message. He wanted to bring change to the countries, to end the war and rebuild. What better way then to start it right here, in this room, by setting a precedent for all to see. To let them know that times were changing, whether they liked it or not. He squeezed her hand in return then turned and placing a tender kiss on her forehead, then one on her lips. When he pulled back, he had a twinkle in his eye.

Alyssandra chose that moment to bow to him but not quickly enough to hide the roll of her eyes. Thomas nodded in return, ignoring the look because it was nothing more than jealousy of the worst kind. Let her act childish and jealous; it would keep her occupied and out of his hair at the very least. He knew she was scheming, that much was obvious, but he didn’t have time to figure out how just yet.

He turned back to the other men when Harac spoke, his hand still holding Gilolleth’s. He studied the man, then mulled his words over in his mind. He was right of course, the now deceased king was well liked by his neighbors. But not so well liked that they sent soldiers to help him defend his country. Letting go of Gilolleth’s hand so he could lean on the table, Thomas looked at each man in return then settled on Harac. “We all know the deceased ruler of this country was well liked because he stayed away from his neighbors, letting them live in peace. The bond was nothing more than that. Had it been, we would have been facing the troops of those countries as well as this one but we didn’t. No, I think their loyalty died when this country fell and now they fear us. For my plan to work, we must banish that fear and we’ll start by sending emissaries to each of the lands, bringing a request to start peace negotiations and develop trade agreements.” He paused as an idea came to him. “A select few of you will lead teams to start that process. I don’t know who I will send yet but I will let you know as soon as I do. For now, I want you to stay and begin thinking about how we will rebuild this country. We’ll reconvene later today to go over your thoughts.” He turned then, taking Gilloleth’s hands. “Come, my dear, let me show you the castle.” With that, they walked out the door, hand in hand, leaving the men behind them in silence.
 
Alyssandra’s smile was disconcerting to Gilloleth. It looked as if the woman had just been granted a handful of rare diamonds. The blood in the pretty half elf’s system ran cold. There was something wrong with her. Something that was darker than what anyone else was seeing. She wondered if it was just jealousy. Alyssandra was a very attractive woman whom knew Thomas longer than she. Not to mention that elf wanted him. No woman would have been able miss that.

The bard wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his back. Things were already so tension filled and it was barely past the twilight of early morning. The nations that they were speaking of were good nations. They were peaceful people that preferred to drink, eat, and be merry as apposed to fighting. Gilloleth had made some good coin there. It should have been easily to form alliances if the proper tactics were employed.

“I would love to explore the castle with you,” she said, happy to be out of that situation. Though pushing it completely out of her mind would be impossible now. As the future queen she had to be involved with all of these matters. Not to mention, she wanted to be. The future and well being of this kingdom was what she had to be most concerned with.

“A light breakfast would be nice too. Some fruit, cheese and bread…” she did not eat very heavily. That combined with her very high paced workout for her dancing, her body was lean and in top shape. As she slid from his back nothing jiggled, aside from her chest. Yes. She must have been quite the site. Not very queenly but certainly worth catching a king’s eye as a plaything.
 
Thomas felt his bard against his back and her hands around his waist and he sighed softly. Her warmth fed him much needed heat after the cold reception they’d received in the stone room they’d just come from. Her actions erased the confrontation with Alyssandra from his mind as cleanly as a knife through meat and put everything back into perspective for him. He had promised her a nation that would be rebuilt in peace, harmony, and beauty and he would deliver that with his lovely bard at his side, his advisors be damned. He knew that many of them would side with him and work hard to bring this new vision to bear but he also knew others, like Alyssandra, would do everything in their power to tear that vision to shreds and, if necessary, dethrone him. That thought unsettled him a little because meant that, at some point, more fighting would be necessary but he wouldn’t go there until he had to and when he did, he hoped his lovely bard would forgive him.

As she moved out from behind him, he took her hand and drew her along side, admiring her beauty and grace as she walked next to him. When he had first seen her, he knew that he wanted her, needed her, but he had no idea how much until last night. Together, they would rebuild the two countries into vibrant, peaceful nations and he would enjoy doing it. Too much war and famine had happened under his reign. It was time to change all that. He squeezed her hand gently and looked over at her. “Why don’t we stroll through this level first, then stop off at the kitchen for a light breakfast” he said, smiling. He wanted to show her this floor first so that he could show off the music hall and the library, two areas he thought she’d thoroughly enjoy. There was also the royal gardens, untouched during the battle, with its vibrant flowers and trees, its stone lined paths and mini waterfalls and ponds, and its peaceful benches for quiet respite. Perhaps they would pick the food up from the kitchen and dine in the gardens. Yes, that sounded like a grand plan indeed. He began to whistle lightly as they walked, a fast paced little ditty to pass the time, his joy at the moment finding a home in the music.
 
As they started to walk, she encircled her arm around one of his and rested her head on his shoulder. He was so tall compared to her. That was expected. Being part elf meant that she was much more delicate looking. Together the pair must have been rather shocking to take in. Gilloleth didn’t care though. All she was interesting was spending the day with her future husband.

The castle was truly beautiful. The stone that it was made out of was pearly white and sturdy, shinning in the light of the sun. Blue and red carpeting adorned the floors. Detailed paintings and elaborate tapestries hung on the walls. The former king was very much into elegance and extravagance. She wondered how much of the taxes went into making sure that the castle was lavish and over the top? Well. That would change. The money that used to be spent on beautifying this place would from here on out be spent on programs to help feed the hungry and house the homeless.

When she saw the gardens, her breath was taken away. Yes. They would have to spend their meals outside when the weather permitted. The smell was wonderful, the colors and buds enchanting, and the sheer energy that came from them was simply wonderful.

“Oh, darling,” she said in a soft tone as she wandered a little ahead. “Isn’t it wonderful? Look at it! I have never seen anything so gorgeous in my entire life! Oh! Can we please eat out here? Please?”
 
As they walked, the couple drew occasional stares and their fair share of bows and curtsies from the castle occupants. Though having taken over the castle only yesterday morning, Thomas had set about putting things in motion to get it up and running immediately and all signs of that existed wherever they walked. He pointed out little things here and there that he wanted to show her, different pieces of furniture or wall hangings that had caught his eye and unique carvings that lay here and there. He admired works of beauty and grandeur but the more they toured, the more he realized the former king had poured a lot of money into his home, money that was earned by the inhabitants of the land. It made him a little uncomfortable because it was more than he was used to seeing on a daily basis. While not sparse by any means, the estate he kept in his home country was nothing compared to this castle. He suspected, by the tenseness that he felt in Gilloleth as she clung to his arm, that the wealth of the castle also made her uncomfortable. He made a mental note to talk to her about it during breakfast and see what ideas she had for using some of that wealth to benefit the people once again.

As they entered the royal gardens, the look that came over his lovely bard’s face could have melted a hundred glaciers, so bright was the smile she bestowed on the world in that moment. For the first time in two days, he knew that she felt happiness and peace and all because of the beauty and energy of this wonderful haven. As she skipped ahead, he took a moment to look around, noting the neat rows of beautiful flowers in full bloom, the soft stone trails edged with moss, the natural stone benches tucked under trees and in sunny glens. He heard the chirps and songs of birds, hidden here and there, and noted the tinkling of a little stream passing over its rocky bed. Further back in the gardens, he could hear the mini roar of a waterfall that most likely poured into a little pond. The gardens were spacious – bigger than the eye could see – and clearly served as the center point that the entire castle had been built around.

Hearing her words, he was drawn back into the moment, and he smiled. “Of course, my love” he said, turning and motioning to a servant who stood near the entrance to the gardens. Whispered instructions sent the servant away to gather food and return post haste. Moving up to stand beside Gilloleth, Thomas took her hand again and turned her around to face him. “Our binding ceremony will need to be public, so the citizens can see us, but perhaps we can have a private ceremony here afterwards, just you and I and a select few to witness. It would be our own little private moment, one that we will remember for years to come.” He leaned forward then and kissed her gently, holding it for a brief moment before pulling away. “Come, let’s walk and enjoy the beauty of this sanctuary. When our food arrives, I’d like to talk with you more about how we can use the wealth of the castle to help the citizens of this country recover and rebuild.” He began strolling then, choosing a path at random.
 
That sounded like it would be lovely. A nice, small celebration after the initial wedding would be just perfect. Then they could send others away and have that special place all to themselves. A playful smile crossed her lips. Naughty. It was too early in the morning for her to be having those thought. The truth was she was still very tender between her thighs but, oh, that craving! That craving that had started since that night they spent together.

“That would be perfect,” she agreed. “This place should be our place. I know it’s selfish but it is like a paradise and I want it to be ours.”

She bit her lip and explored the rest of the gardens. They were huge and, to her delight, there were even a few fruit trees. Even though he said that breakfast was coming, she could not resist the juicy looking peaches that hung from the branches. Laughing like a child she darted towards the closest tree and began to climb up it. She was nimble and moved from bow to bow with skill.

“Darling!” she called. “Darling! These are the largest, most delicious looking peaches I have ever seen!”

She took one and pulled it. It amazingly fit both of her hands with no problem. Wow! Was magic used to make them this amazing or was the gardener particularly brilliant? With an eager mouth she bit into it. Her eyes lit up and she nearly fell backwards out of the tree.

“Extraordinary!”
 
Thomas noted the playful smile that crept across her face and could only imagine the thoughts running through her mind in that moment. Probably the same thing he was thinking as he took in her lovely form and the privacy of the garden. One day perhaps. One day. He nodded to her words, his smile growing. “I would love that” he murmured. A place that was just for them, to enjoy and explore and relish in the beauty it brought to their world. Yes, he could live with that. He could indeed.

His eyebrows arched as she scampered away, laughing in glee, and began to climb the first fruit tree they encountered. Agile as a monkey and swift as a wolf, she scaled the tree as if it were nothing more than a set of stairs. He could only stop and stare at her antics, and admire the skill she employed, so stunned was he by this sight. He glanced quickly around, to make sure no servants were around, for it would not be good for them to see their future Queen acting in this way. He considered that thought for a moment and then shook his head. Bah! Let them see! After all, it was this very side of her that he’d fallen in love with and it was this radiantly beautiful, playful person who would stand by his side and restore both countries to their former glory. Why not have a little fun while doing it.

He moved to the base of the tree she was in, watching her with a sparkle in his eye. “They do look delicious” he called up to her, his mouth almost watering at the thought of eating one. He watched her pluck one and hold it aloft for him to see then laughed as she bit into it and crowed with glee. “Drop me down one” he called again. “Then you should climb down. Our food will be here soon and we have to talk.” He watched her some more, smiling the entire time. Life with this woman would never be boring, that much was for sure.
 
Biting down on the peach and holding it in her mouth, Gilloleth reached out for another peach and tugged on it. This one took a little more working than her peach did but it finally came free and she dropped it down towards her lover. She managed her way down, too. Getting up was always much easier than the decent. Her fear of heights only kicked in when she had to get down from them.

When her feet hit the grass she began to eat the peach normally. Sweet juices tricked down her chin. It was a sloppy thing but she did not care. Carefully she licked her lips and fingers before she took another bite. This was not something she viewed as alluring but it could be looked at that way.

“This is delicious,” she said through a mouthful. “I never had something so yummy in my entire life... what do you need to talk about?"
 
Thomas caught the peach that she tossed down to him, his hands quick and nimble. Years of war had honed his reflexes superbly though catching a piece of fruit was not something he would have imagined himself doing before today. He hefted it, amazed at its size, then watched his lovely bard shimmy down the tree, not quite as graceful as she was when she scaled it the first time.

He watched her take a bite and saw the juices trickle down her chin. Wicked thoughts entered his mind when she licked her lips and fingers followed by images of peach juice being squeezed on her lovely body and slowly licked up by his tongue. That led to more images, as equally inappropriate for the moment as the last, and he enjoyed them all the same. Her words finally snapped him out of it and he looked at her, a smile gracing his lips. Sliding his arm through hers, he continued along the path they had taken, heading back towards the center of the gardens. “Not need” he said “just want. I was thinking that this castle has far too much wealth in it, purchased at the cost of the people of this country. I thought you might have some ideas for how to give some of it back.”
 
As they walked she continued to eat and make a mess out of her chin and chest. Juice trickled down and ended up between her round breasts. She used a finger to mop it up and then sucked the juice off of it. This place was like a fantasy world! Some brightly colored butterflies fluttered past them and she went ahead to chase them, only coming back when he began to speak.

A smile crossed her face. “Well. I want to clothe and house the poor of the city. Perhaps give them jobs at the castle. The entire court isn’t around anymore so we need to fill places. Also, if there are sick, I think we need to make recovery houses where they can go to become better.”

There were other things that she could have thought of. Perhaps they could even let the commoners in to royal balls. She knew that being able to come into the castle would really perk some people’s spirits. And jobs! They could not only replace the court but they could do projects and quests to employ more people.

“I want to have a kingdom for the people. I don’t want to be focused on just ourselves."
 
Thomas couldn’t help but notice the way the peach juice rolled down her skin and between her ample breasts, his eyes following its every movement. When her finger slipped down between them, scooping up the nectar and then slipped inside her mouth to be sucked off, he felt himself twitch down below and had to stifle a groan of pleasure. His pretty little bard had no idea the fires she stirred in him in that moment and he had to work hard to keep his mind on business. There would be time to enjoy the garden in more pleasurable ways. At least he hoped there would be time for that later.

As she scampered back to him and began to talk, he found he was better able to focus and listened to her words intently, nodding occasionally. Her ideas were good ones and already she was beginning to think like a Queen, concerned more for her citizens than for herself. His feelings for her peaked even more in that moment but for entirely different reasons.

“Those are wonderful ideas” he said when she was done. “It will go a long way to repairing the damage my army caused in our quest to win the kingdom and busy citizens mean happy citizens. Perhaps we can even start an apprenticeship program, giving the youth of the country avenues for improving their skills. We should talk about your ideas further once we’ve eaten, so we can get the ball rolling on some of them.” As if on cue, a servant stepped into the garden with a platter of food in his hands, followed by two more, one carrying a small table and another carrying to chairs. Thomas motioned for them to set them down in a small glen surrounded by flowers, which they did. As soon as they left, he held out a chair for Gilloleth. “After you, my love” he murmured.
 
The bard sat down and looked out across the garden. Easily she imagined sitting out here every morning discussing the matters of the kingdom, looking out across the vibrant flowers, and truly enjoying life. An audible, airy sigh emitted from her lips. The servants gave her awkward looks before heading back into the castle. A stain of embarrassment crossed her cheeks. That girlish sigh was not very queenly. It probably made her look like some ditzy dancer.

That would change.

Quickly her mind shifted towards the breakfast before her. It was well made and the smell was driving her absolutely insane.

“Thank you,” she said as she looked up at Thomas. A smile was on her face. “I can’t wait to dig in.”

When he sat down she began to prod at the food. She was a little full from the peach but that did not stop her from starting right away on her toast and sausage.
 
Thomas looked at her when he heard her sigh, a small smile gracing his lips. He loved her awkwardness, the mannerisms that were wholly her own, like that airy sigh. A glance revealed odd looks by the servants, which almost made him laugh out loud. She was definitely going to take some getting used to by everyone else in the castle and he knew she’d adjust just fine.

“You’re welcome” he said, smiling. Glancing back at the door, which the servants had disappeared through, he continued. “Don’t let them bother you. They are not used to seeing a woman in my company so any behavior you display will seem odd to them. They will get used to you in time, and you them. Just be yourself and you’ll be fine.”

He joined her at the table then, taking in the spread of food they had brought out. A vague notion tickled his mind that he should have had the food tested before she ate it, but when she didn’t keel over after the first few bites, he knew they had escaped danger this time. He would make sure the food was tested with every meal from here on out. He did not trust Alyssandra in the least and assumed there would be others who would dislike this new direction his leadership had taken. He began to eat too, enjoying the taste of the food. While they ate, he slowly let his foot drift under the table and brush up against her leg, sending a tingle up his.
 
Gilloleth would have never imagined that anyone would want to poison her food. At that time she still felt as no one of importance. She simply felt like someone’s friend and lover, enjoying her time in the garden of a beautiful. There was nothing that could ruin this breakfast.

She took another bite of bread and then some cheese. The flavor was amazing and she happily kicked her feet over it, brushing her legs against his, traveling her foot up her leg. “I am sure I will adjust,” she replied softly. “This will take some getting used to, that’s for sure. I have never been considered anything but a dancer.”

After a long draft of the sweet berry water. Delicious! The food was something that she could get used to really quickly. Again more cheese and bread went into her mouth and she swallowed before continuing. “Do you think that your people will really accept me as more than your consort. Do you think that they could see me as a queen? All of your generals are pretty against the idea…”
 
Thomas focused on the food for a moment, feeding his starvation that he hadn’t realized he’d felt until the delicious aromas tickled his nose. Their intimate actions of last night, combined with the charged meeting that morning, had burned away what little sustenance he had in his belly at the time. The brush of her legs against his, innocent in their actions though they were, sent little tremors throughout his body, his nerves singing a chorus of pleasure.

He smiled and nodded. “Yes, you’ll adjust to your new role in time. I have faith in your ability to adapt to the situation. Think of it as a political dance instead of an artistic one. All the creative skills you employ in your dance routines can, and should be employed, in your life as a Queen. You’ll just be doing it on a bigger platform. Life is nothing but a performance in many ways and the life of a ruler is no different.”

He took a sip of his drink and ate some more food then smiled again. “I think the people could definitely see you as their Queen, particularly if we implement some of the ideas you have and let it be known that they were yours. Perhaps even have you lead a few of the efforts directly.” He paused, gathering his next thoughts. “My generals….well, they are another story. I believe we have the support of more than half of them but its those 2 or 3 that worry me. Alyssandra is among that group. We’ll have to be very careful in the coming days and months to ensure that they don’t attempt anything.”
 
Gilloleth’s brow furrowed. Why would they want to hurt her? There were other ways that they could think of to get rid of her. Spells could be used to lessen his attraction to her. They could keep him busy until he lost interest in the little bard. It was strange how many things she could think of that could take his attention away from her. A pulse of fear went through her and she stopped eating. How easy it was to tear them apart! Their love was so new and, no matter how strongly they felt for one another, it was still frail. Anything could puncture it.

“I will be more careful,” she said in a whisper. Her mind lingered on the subject for a while longer. However she forced it from her mind.

“I want to be a good Queen,” she began once more. A small but sad smile crossed her lips. “My friends would want me to take this kingdom and make it into a truly beautiful place. I want all of the citizens to know that we care about them. Even the poorer towns will experience prosperity with us on the throne. I swear on their deaths.”

Tears streaked down her face and her smile faded. What a dream! The beautiful woman held her head in her hands and gave a shuddering sigh. Grieving was a natural process and she missed them the more she spoke of her hopes. When she traveled with them, the group had done more than dance. Whenever they did not have a gig they would help the sick and share their food with the poor.

“Oh, Thomas,” she cried softly. “This is painful. Make me forget again. Please? I can’t deal with it right now.”

Eventually she would be able to deal with the agony. Now… now she had a lover to lose herself in. And she would.
 
Thomas watched her carefully, seeing the emotions that played across her face as she realized that she was in danger. He had hoped to shield her from that side of politics, from the gruesome details of plotting and conniving that always occurred in a royal court but he knew he wouldn’t be able to do that so it was best to get it out in the open now, so she could deal with it mentally and physically. He nodded when she said she would be more careful. “Please do my love” he murmured. “I do not want to lose you, now or ever.” Perhaps bodyguards would be necessary when they could not be together. He’d have to give that some thought.

The mention of her friends, now dead at his hands, caused his heart to flutter inside his chest as shame slid in to wrap around it. He would always regret that decision that day, made in the heat of battle, but he would learn to come to grips with it in time. As her tears flowed, his heart almost broke into pieces but he stilled those thoughts and instead reached across the table and smoothed her tears away, his fingers gliding across her cheeks softly. The caress sent fire pouring through his veins, melting his soul as surely as if he’d been tossed on a bonfire and he moaned softly. “We will honor them every day that we live, my love” he said.

Her pleas for him to make her forget sent more tingling throughout his body and he slowly stood. He glanced around the garden, recalling the places they’d seen as they walked, and smiled. Bending down, he quickly removed plates of food from the table, shifting them around so that he could take the table cloth off that the servants had provided. Once that was done, he held out his hand. “Come my love, I know just the perfect spot.” He took her hand then and led her down the path, making his way towards the small pond and waterfall near the back of the gardens, where there was a nice grassy area next to the water.
 
Gilloleth stood easily. When he embraced her the pain of losing her closest friends melted away. The idea of him taking her again made the horrible ache dull. As they moved excitement coursed through her. Where was he going to lay her down? How she wanted to be beneath him, feeling him move inside of her, and being brought to an amazing climax by his demanding thrust.

She shoot him an excited glance as they stopped before pressing herself against his body. It was strong. It would protect her from all harm and agony. Soft lips pressed against his. Her heart beat quickened as she pressed her tongue eagerly past his lips. Already her body was getting hot.

The bard pulled away from the kiss and began to nibble on his neck. “Please,” she whispered in his ear before she bit down on the lobe, giving it a tug. “I know you want this body of mine. I need yours so badly.” The sound of the waterfall was driving her on. She stepped back a little more. Slowly she began tug at her own clothes, letting them fall around her feet.

The beautiful woman stepped from the pile of silks and began to head towards the collection of water beneath the waterfall. She smirked and gingerly put her foot in it.
 
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