In The Hands Of The King

[silvertongue217]

"Your lord she is here"

"Thank you Carlyle" King Marik said looking up from his papers and nodding at him to go. The young attendent nodded and made his leave to go prepare the throne room for the kings arrival.

"Todays the day" Marik murmured reaching down to stroke the hair of the slave girl currently sucking on his cock. He pushed his chair out and at the same time his throbbing cock popped out of her mouth with a slight POP.

"That will be all" He said watching as she rose and bowed her head "You did well my dear its nothing against you but I have matters to attend to"

She nodded and after giving him a slight bow scampered off. He chuckled shaking his head and grabbing his coat as he prepared himself to leave the roaring fire and warmth of his office behind. It was winter in his lands and even though the castle had plenty of roaring fires the halls it self were chilled to the bone. The heavy cloak was a rich red with gold lining, it was sized accordingly to show off his muscular physique and his towering frame. King Marik moved to the door pausing at the mirror he kept close by to check his appearance. His hair and his bear were neatly trimmed and even though it was the dead of winter he had managed to keep the dark tan his people were known for.

Once he was sure every thing was correct and as it should be he made his way to the throne room. Along the way he made sure to greet every one from the nobles traveling with their slave girls to the slave girls and men attending to the castle. While some said the way he ran things was cruel to woman he knew if any one of them were asked they would say the opposite and praise him. He worked a long time to make sure he was loved and even though it meant keeping a constant diligence he knew in the long run it paid off.

He stepped into the throne room nodding at every one as the rose to bow to him.

"You can go now" He said waving off the few attendants and nobles that were eyeing the new comer with interest. They nodded and within seconds the throne room was clear except for the King and the Foreign Princess.

"Its a pleasure to see you Princess" King Marik said coming over and after taking her hand kissing it "what brings you to my kingdom?" He asked nodding at her to sit as he took his throne.

 

[ky_moonwillow]

The Princess Elspeth accepted the king's invitation and sat down in the chair that he offered.

"My mother has sent me in embassy to beg your assistance from your majesty. Plague and pestilence has broken out in the poorer districts of the country, and with less laborers to work the fields the harvest has been meager. We have been forced to put ourselves in debt to our neighbors and the nation to our east is threatening us with invasion. It is my mothers great wish that you should support our age old alliance, and provide us aid in our hour of need. We know that your people have superior knowledge of the medical arts, your economy is stable, and your military is feared far and wide. If you would but proclaim your support openly, and send some of your scholars to examine the ill, and perhaps make a small loan we feel confident that our kingdom will stabilize quickly, and we will be able to repay your kindness in short order."

She pushed a loose strand of pale blonde hair away from her face, relaxing now that she had successfully delivered her mother's message. She had heard all of the vile rumors about how women were treated as slaves in this country, and had never approved of her mother's alliance with King Marik, but she supposed that their trouble would be far more dyer if they did not have him to turn to. On the whole, he didn't look like a horrible man. He was in fact quite handsome, but Elle wanted nothing more than to get away from here and back to her mother as quickly as possible.

 

[silvertongue217]

"What?!" Marik said feigning shock at her words. Of course he had known about the troubles. Even though as she had said he and the Queen were old friends he made it a point of keeping spies in her court and countryside.

Just to make sure his own kingdom was safe

The news about the Queens hard times reached him a month ago. Back then he had debated reaching out a helping hand. He liked the Queen and had no reason to see her taken out of power when whoever did decide to take would surely look at him next..... No the Queen was perfectly placed where she was and being invested with him would be a benefit as well.

Of course there was one other reason why he waited

"I would love to help" The King said leaning back and stroking his beard "Truly I would your mother is a good friend of mine but..... I mean whats in it for me? If its truly as bad as you say I can offer a loan but wouldnt that put you in more debt? No I think some form of payment is needed in this matter" He said leaning back in to study her.

"Tell me princess have you had any suitors yet?" He asked raising an eyebrow watching her reaction carefully.

 

[ky_moonwillow]

"Payment?" Elspeth was truly taken aback. She had spent a great many years studying diplomacy and politics. The benefit of an alliance, was the alliance itself, the increase of stability, and the mutual economic benefits to two nations. If her mother's reign were to end suddenly, there were any number of terrible consequences that could befall King Merik's land. She had genuinely expected that her visit was largely a formality, and that negotiations would be over the fine particulars of the alliance, but this king was talking about payment and personal gain.

"Tell me princess have you had any suitors yet?"

With this question the king suddenly began to make sense to Elspeth. He was interested in seeking a long term marriage alliance. This was something that she had her mother had anticipated... though in truth, the Queen had hoped to marry their roguish neighbor herself, there was already an expectation that the princess might be preferred, since she was young and would be deemed more likely to produce an heir. Elspeth had no personal desire to marry king Merik, but she was willing to do what was necessary in order to ensure peace for her country.

"I have had some suitors, but my hand has not yet been promised to any. My mother has authorized me to negotiate with you directly regarding a marriage alliance between our two nations. Though perhaps you might be tempted to know that The Queen would make herself a willing bride for you, one of far greater value and esteem, than her simple daughter."

 

[silvertongue217]

King Mariks eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise at the princess's words. The Queen was interested? In a way it made sense given that they had been neighbors for so long and ruled together for many a year. It was hard to believe that the Queen would not have mentioned it her self however or at least hinted at it during one of their frequent meet ups.

"The Queen is very kind to say such things" Marik finally said rising up and walking over to the pitcher of wine left for them "However and with respect to your mother I have my eyes on bigger fish"

He poured them both a glass and turned his nimble fingers plucking both off the copper table as he made his way back over to her. He set hers down and paused his eyes lingering on her for a few minutes before he turned and made his way back to his own Throne.

"Of course I am sure by now you have already guessed as much" He said turning and sliding back into his chair "Tell me princess what do you know of my people and our customs? I noted the way your nose crinkled at some of the woman in the hall before I came in so please be honest" He told her bringing the wine glass to his lips and taking a measured sip. His eyes never left hers taking her in as if he was measuring her worth as he waited for her answer.

 

[ky_moonwillow]

The princess was not certain that she could guess his meaning. He seemed to be evading, avoiding saying something that he seemed to consider obvious, but whatever it was it was not obvious to her.

"I know that the women in your country are completely without rights. They are considered property, and as such they may own no property of their own, nor do they have any influence in business or politics. We are of course willing to tolerate the customs of your country. Clearly it's not sensible to discuss a program of reform at this time, it's far more important to stabilize our own nation first."

 

[silvertongue217]

"Well I am so glad your willing to tolerate them" Marik said smirking and rising up noting her own displeasure. It was unfortunate however it would not change his mind of what he wanted.

"So here are my terms" Marik told her coming over behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders "You will have my countries aid and together we will overcome the problems currently plaguing your kingdom..... provided you agree to the following"

He came back over kneeling so he can see her

"You will marry me for starters" He said smirking "but given that you are unfortunately kind of arrogant to our ways and the peace our traditions bring to women there our other terms attached you will come and learn in my private estate it is in the mountain my harem lives there you will join them as a harem girl learning the way of serving me and of my country as you prepare for our wedding"

 

[ky_moonwillow]

Elspeth laughed nervously at the audacity of his suggestion, "Surely, you jest. You must realize that the customs in your country are completely barbaric. How could you ask a free woman from a civilized nation to submit to such backward laws?"

She felt a strong desire to stand up and walk away, but that would be a horrible breech of etiquette, and however insulting his terms may be, she could not afford to insult him back. They NEEDED this alliance.

Elspeth tried to take a gentler tone with the stubborn king, "Please be reasonable. We will make a public announcement of our betrothal before I leave, and I will return to my home until the wedding preparations are complete. When everything is prepared I will come back with my wedding party and everything I will require for my comfort here. There is no reason for me to learn arts of service. You will learn to see me as your companion and your equal. I will be a good wife to you."

She reached out a hand to him to caress his handsome face, and show him that she knew how to be gentle and good to him without needed any strange training.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Your not really in a position to bargain my dear" Marik said kissing her hands before letting it drop.

"You are by all accounts coming to me because your country is in need and while I am not an unreasonable man if you are to be as you put a good wife for me then you must learn the ways and the laws of my people I have never taken a wife before I do not need to I am doing it because I want you and because it pleases me"

"So those are my terms and there is no wiggle room" Marik stated simply crossing his arms and going back to his throne to sit "you either agree in which case you will write a letter detailing you have agreed to my engagement and you are staying here to prepare or you can walk out now and go to another country to ask for aid"

 

[ky_moonwillow]

Elle was horribly trapped with no possible escape.

This wasn't exactly true. As a nation, they had hardly exhausted all of their options for aid. Even the invading eastern nation had hinted that they would be willing to cease all aggression in exchange for a marriage alliance.

The thing that trapped Elspeth wasn't politics, but her own preferences. One way or another she was going to have to settle on a husband, and none of her available options were ideal. She was ashamed to admit such a thing out loud, but Merik was the only potential husband that was attractive, manly and reasonably young. Elspeth couldn't believe that she was seriously considering throwing away all of her freedom and self respect in order to have a husband that she felt physically attracted to, but she was considering it just the same. Was it better to be a slave to a great man, or an equal to a small and petty man?

She watched Merik, his smirking self-satisfied countenance, and she wondered if he knew, if he could guess just the sort of fool that she was. She had already made up her mind, hers was a fool's hope but, part of her believed that she might eventually be able to persuade him to love her for herself, and convince him to offer her the honor and respect that she deserved. It was the same fools dream that had trapped a thousand women before her and would trap countless more after she was gone, but there was no help for it.

"Alright... I'm going to stay."

 

[silvertongue217]

"I would hope so" Marik said smirking in pleasure at her words "After all you prospects arent going to be much better"

He placed the glass he was sipping down and leaned in studying her

"Make no mistakes I know about the other proposals and the agression towards your people be the east" Marik said speaking bluntly "I do believe honesty is an important virtue and while I did know about the hardships your country was facing I waited until you got here to act"

"Now that you have agreed the aid ships and troops I have had preparing will sail out tonight" Marik said rising up and going over to the door "They will be there within a week and defending your company as my relief efforts start you however will not see any of that prepare the letter to your mother and send it then afterwards meet me in the courtyard"

 

[ky_moonwillow]

Almost as soon as she agreed to the proposal she wished that she hadn't. Elspeth had been raised to rule, not to serve, and she could not believe that she had allowed her romantic foolishness to persuade her to sell herself into servitude.

She was tempted to shout out that she had changed her mind, but when King Merik began describing the aid that he had already assembled, Elle bit her tongue. She knew she should be grateful on behalf of her people, but all she felt was soul crushing sadness. She felt certain that Merik did not even comprehend what it was that he was doing to her, how could he? He saw her as a fancy kind of house pet, not a person in her own right, with her own desires, and her own ambitions.

She sat still, determined to hold back her tears until she was dismissed to write the letter to her mother. She would not give Merik the satisfaction of watching her cry.

 

[silvertongue217]

Marik was pleased

She had agreed even though he noted how hard it was for her to do so. What he asking was to be fair not easy. She was a strong woman some one who saw herself as the ruler she was meant to be. Marik had no doubt that her arrogance of his ways and his people made her think those things would be gone and he was going to enjoy breaking her and showing her the truth.

Marik saw his attendant coming over and nodded at him to move to the side. They did so and Marik quickly detailed the plans.

The official castle was not Mariks home most of the year. He came here only for meetings and when it was needed. The home he called his hearth was in the mountains more a villa than a castle. They would go there immediately with no one being the wiser.

"Bring the carriage around" Marik told him watching as he nodded and bowed. He scurried off and Marik turned waiting for his new bride to be to come out.

 

[ky_moonwillow]

Elspeth did her best to stifle her tears. She pulled herself together and walked out to the carriage to undertake the journey to her new home. She anticipated that the journey would be a long one, and she worried about being close to Merik for so long with no place to flee. If she were traveling alone back to her own country she could relax and read her books, or lose herself in endless daydreams. She did not know what she could expect from this journey.

She approached Merik uncertain of how to address him or how to behave. She supposed it didn't really matter for now, he would train her to meet his expectations soon enough.

 

[silvertongue217]

"No need to look so glum" Marik said noting her displeased look. He shook his head opening the door to the carriage and nodding at her to get in before he clambered in after her.

"Your ignorant of the ways of my people" Marik told her as the carriage jostled and began traveling "you onlyt hear the bad things and no little to nothing I am sure you think your life is over and for that I'm sorry but soon you will learn the truth about what I have just given you"

 

[ky_moonwillow]

Elspeth couldn't decide if she should hold her tongue or speak out. She thought that things would go much easier for her if she did not put up too much of a fight with her new master, but she also suspected that this might be her only chance to speak her true feelings to him, and in the end she decided to speak her truth rather than submit to his control without any protest.

"If you consider slavery such a precious gift perhaps you would be willing to give over your kingdom to me, while I train you to serve at my pleasure." Elspeth laughed with bitter irony, before turning to a gentler, more persuasive tone. "A gift that cannot be refused is not a gift, it is a burden. And a man who would impose a life of idle luxury upon a woman, but would refuse to lead such a life himself is a hypocrite. You know that you value your freedom to choose above any petty luxury. It is your ignorance to assume that I would feel any differently. But then, I am speaking of gifts and we both know that my service to you is not a gift you have given me. It is a payment that I must make to you. I have made myself a whore for my country. It is a choice I've made of my own volition. So I will do whatever you require of me, but I will not now or ever look upon you with true happiness or affection. If you bid me to smile, I will smile, and if you bid me to embrace you, I will embrace you. But of my heart and soul you shall have nothing."

She fought the tears back as she ended her speech, but her eyes began to swell with moisture despite herself, until finally she could hold back no longer. She pressed her face into her hands and struggled to regain composure, but the harder she fought with herself the harder the tears came until she was sobbing uncontrollably.

 

[silvertongue217]

He waited until she was done keeping his anger in check. This was no easy feat as her words cut through him making his hands clench as he turned and stared pout the window.

"you are ignorant" he finally told her being as blunt as she had been with him " just as I suspected you know nothing of my people besides the vulgar gossip every one partakes in you know nothing of what it means to be bonded in the way we practice here and you bring shame to every woman in my kingdom with your views on them"

He pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her "I shall teach you even if I must be firm and unyielding and you will come to realize that the woman of my country choose it for the right reasons"

He turned looking out the windows watching as the trees and foreast passed by. He said nothing more on the subject instead letting her collect herself.

 

[ky_moonwillow]

Most of the rest of the journey was passed in cold uncomfortable silence, but in many ways, Elle preferred that to lively conversation.

The dramatically shifting emotional tides of that day left her drained and exhausted, and she dozed off during part of the journey. She could not be certain how long, but she woke feeling stiff in her joints and with an ache in her neck.

If she were heading home she would have a hot bath and a soft bed waiting for her. She had no idea what would await her at this current destination.

 

[silvertongue217]

They finally left the forest revealing a majestic but smaller castle cut into the rocky face of the mountain. Merik sighed in pleasure his eyes ranking in his home as they pulled into the arch way that served to keep them out of the elements.

"There are no attendants here" Merik explained opening the door for her "no one but me and you and the rest of my harem I prefer it that way as I find the castle to stuffy"

Merik got out and helped her before going to the few things she had brought "I shall carry these in" Merik explained grabbing the trunk and bringing it down "Inside I sent ahead to let the Head Mistress know you were coming and to give you a hot bath then they will dress you and we will assemble for lunch"

The wide double doors opened and a woman came out majestic in appearance. She was wearing a revealing dress and she was young but her soft green eyes carried a sort of world weary view as she came over.

"This is Head Mistress Julien" Merik explained smiling as she came over to kiss him "Julian this is princess Elspeth"

"It is an honor to meet you princess" Julien said bowing to her and smiling "shall we go in? There is a bath waiting for you"

 

[ky_moonwillow]

"Thank you for your hospitality," Elspeth responded, offering a small curtsy in return. Julien had a look of kindness about her that made Elle think of the maidens who had attended her back home. Only one of them had come with her on this voyage, and she would be halfway home by now, baring the letter to the Queen which would explain her daughter's absence, without really explaining anything at all.

The princess was glad to hear that she would be received in comfort, but what she really wanted now was a friend. She wondered if she would be able to become friends with Julien. Would it matter to Julien that Elspeth was meant to marry the king? Would it matter to Elspeth that Julien had most certainly slept with the king, and would likely continue to do so, even though he would be Elspeth's husband? Elspeth didn't have the energy or the impulse to be jealous in earnest, but she wondered if she was expected to be, if the other women would be.

Elspeth allowed herself to be led into the castle.

 

[silvertongue217]

Merik went in with them to a grand foyer devoid of people and servants.

"The others have given you some time to get settled" Julien explained leading her in "It has no doubt been two long journeys for you and so you shall see and meet them during dinner"

"I shall let you go ahead and relax as well" Merik said coming up behind them and nodding "Ladies I shall be in the study if you need me"

Merik and Julien shared one more kiss and then he was gone disappearing down one of the hallways. Once he was Julien turned leading her up the steps and down a long hallway.

"This will be your room" Julien explained opening the door at the end of the hall and revealing a luxurious room over looking the lush valley.

"The bath has been drawn and clothes laid out for you" She explained coming in "I can give you some privacy if you would like or I can stay and answer any questions you may or may not have"

 

[ky_moonwillow]

Elle didn't want to be rude to Julien, but more than anything she really wanted a moment to herself.

"I think for now I would like some privacy, but I would be most grateful for your advice and friendship as I begin to learn my way around."

Once Julien had taken her leave Elle settled into the warm bath, washing her aching muscles and her pale hair.

She found everything that she needed close at hand. It was strange being so completely alone, attendants had been a part of her daily life for as long as she could remember. She was very content on her own, right up until it was time to dress. She had never gotten dressed on her own before, and the clothing that had been left for her was unlike anything she had worn before. By reflex she looked for a bell to ring to summon an attendant, before she realized there would not be one. She instantly regretted letting Julien go.

Unsure what else to do Elspeth put on the shift from the dress she had worn from home and sat down on the bed to wait in the hopes that someone would come. She could not dare venture out of her room without being properly dressed.

 

[silvertongue217]

"There you are" Julien said coming in and closing the door behind her.

"I figured you had not traveled without an attendant" Julien remarked coming over to her and helping her up and off the bed "I will teach you to dress your self some other time but I will also act as your attendant for as long as you wish"

Julien began to dress her with practiced ease.

"Now did you have any thing you wanted to ask me why we are alone?" Julien asked tying up her corset "Speak now or forever hold your peace" she joked happily.

 

[ky_moonwillow]

"I sent my attendant home. It didn't seem fair to keep her here considering..." She trailed off realizing that her reasons for sending her attendant home might be offensive to Julien and the other women who seemed to embrace their servitude.

Julien had so many questions and yet she struggled to think of a single one that she actually felt brave enough to ask. "I... I don't know. Do you have any advice for me? I've never lived... someplace like this. I don't know what to expect at all."

 

[silvertongue217]

Julien laughed a bell like laugh that warmed her to the bones.

"I could give you a lot of advice come of it needed and some of it that would shock you to your core" She said having finished dressing her and moving to her hair "but honestly I sense your hesitance and I think the best advice I can give you is to relax and be open"

"This is the seat of power" Julien told her coming over and helping her up "from here we decide how the country goes we wield more power given our kings unique situation and we use it to guide and to help keep an open mind and see what this place has to offer you"