Lords and Ladies (OPEN)

[monique_minx]

"You're loyal to your betrothed...even though you were painfully close to ignoring that duty....you kept yourself for him. But I do not see love in those eyes of yours Delara."

Delara nodded, "No Sir...not love...you see duty in my eyes...I fear more for myself than feel any loyalty to him...I am but a trophy to him. Something he could not wait to claim fully once he had me in his possession."

She followed his eyes to the Crowned Prince and was touched by his concern for her, she wondered if the Royals could really take her away if they wanted? Surely they would have to reimburse Lord Simons for the loss at the very least...but would He let me go? It was foolish to think she meant anything to His Lordship but at the same time he had taken the time out to buy her; for reasons still beyond her...

She remembered that Xavier could have had her also "You could have taken me for your toy Sir...and been well within your rights as well...why didn't you? Why don't you?"

Delara wondered if she secretly wanted him to for a moment, the heat still radiating within and clawing at her. It wanted her to do something she could not, she knew she could not and yet it was so damn tempting!

 

[Bsquad]

Sergeant Xavier

Xavier looked down at Delara, his attention pulled back to her as he heard the worry in her voice. His face had settled back into it's stoic masque as he watched her with a steady gaze. He wasn't sure what she was more afraid of, the Crown nobles getting their hands onto her, or Xavier deciding that he would take her, honor be damned. Desipite what she might think, he was not going to take her, and he couldn't let them take her.

"Why don't I take you? I could, as I said, you're simply a slave. Even if I raped you, there would be no punishment...and perhaps Lord Simons would present you to me as a permenant gift for loyal service. Nothing would be said, nothing could be done. And yet I don't. Perhaps you should ask yourself the question of what kind of man I am, answer that, and that will tell you why I did not." Xavier said, looking down into her eyes, his stoic face faultering for a moment.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Despite the chill of the night and the coldness of the conversation, the blonde soldier felt warm as she entered the keep again. The ride at least was somewhat stimulating, if the conversations in-between had not been pleasant at all. She dropped off her horse before it stopped, and followed the prince. Not because she feared something wrong might happen to him in the few moments before he went to bed, perhaps, but simply because she had nothing better to do. Marius would have taken good care of taking the appropriate quarters for her men.

As Lady Marotte followed the Crown Prince, she looked more in detail at the halls of the citadel. She had heard of its past importance, but not much of its glorious past seemed to remain... unless one had a keen eye for the subtle differences between noble residences (and Lady Marotte, being inclined to spend many a night under the sky, did not have such an eye).

She was just in time to hear about the messenger and see him leave. What kind of message the prince could have received, Marotte had a vague curiousity about, but she figured it might be something that she really did not want to know.

"Follow me."

Lady Marotte did not think twice about it. Whatever the message was, it might have been important enough to warrant the attentions of the prince´s authoritative side... wherever it was.

She never expected the Prince to suddenly attack her the way he did. It caught her by surprise, and he certainly proved stronger than she had given him merit for. The Lady Protector took a deep breath, and glared right at the prince, wondering what his black mind had in store. His words, which again surprised her, dissipated her doubts.

"I know that your hard core stubbornness is part of that accursed Berlionesse pride. And for this situation I apologize, know this; I am appointing you not only as my guard but as an advisor. There may be trouble afoot, and I know that you are loyal. That messenger informed me that there is raiding party in the south right now. They seem to be looking for a woman. You may talk to him yourself to see what information that you can get, then report back to me."

It was when he turned his back on her that she felt the very beginning of a snarl grow in her throat. But she held herself. Barely, but she held herself. It was not the first time Lady Marotte had had to deal with the uppity attitude of nobles who thought that a soldier could be toyed with easily. Specially the high-ranked ones who had achieved their position through good, honest work. They seemed to think that because they had not grown in the disgusting pits of the nobles´ quarrels, they were stupid.

"Prince Antar."

Her voice was as cold as a stone as she called out to him. She stood in the darkness of the corridor, with her jacket roughed up and her eyes shining dangerously despite her serene visage. She started walking close to him, with one hand rested lazily, but rather intently, on the pommel of her sword. The only sound in that part of the castle, at that moment, seemed to be the dull steps of her boots on the corridor´s rug...

 

[monique_minx]

"Why don't I take you? I could, as I said, you're simply a slave. Even if I raped you, there would be no punishment...and perhaps Lord Simons would present you to me as a permenant gift for loyal service. Nothing would be said, nothing could be done. And yet I don't. Perhaps you should ask yourself the question of what kind of man I am, answer that, and that will tell you why I did not."

Delara nodded, everything he said was true and yet he had done nothing to harm her or take her though she knew he very much wanted to. At this thought her eyes drifted down to his manhood which was once again hidden by his robes.

"You're an honourable man Sir" Delara whispered, looking up at him again.

She stepped close to him, partially because there were now people in the grounds but also because...the fire made her want to...

"Were I your wife I would think myself a lucky woman....as it is...." But Delara didn't finish what she was going to say, she let it linger and allowed him to come to his own conclusion.

Delara reached up and claimed his lips with her own, her arms around his neck squeezing tighter as the kiss deepened and his tongue slid inside her mouth to take possession of her. Her chest was pressed against his almost painfully and she was sure he could feel her heart pounding like a drum, it certainly was deafening to her own ears.

 

[Bsquad]

It was strange...almost taunting...her lips were on his again, with the same fire that he had felt before, that same yearning hunger. He didn't know if he could contain himself again. He reached around, pulling her close against his body again, the memory of what had happened minutes before, burning inside his mind as he held her again. He could feel every curve of her body through the gown, and he slowly pulled her towards one of the tower stairways.

"Delara, let us get inside...I would not wish the nobles to find you..." He whispered, pulling his lips away from hers, she pushed closer, as though she wanted to continue it. It was hard to tell wheither she wanted to have him take her once more...or if she was going to lead him on again. Xavier knew that he might not be able to restrain himself once more, but something told him that Delara would not stop, even if it was for her own good.

 

[monique_minx]

Delara was reluctant to break away but she knew she must, she stayed close to Xavier as though she feared that if the fire died she would never know this feeling again. She parted lips with Xavier and nodded in agreement, she followed him inside wondering where he would lead her.

"Do you think they would really take me? The Royals I mean..."

She wanted to tell Xavier everything, that she knew them, where she was from and just everything! It was stupid and she cursed herself for feeling such an urge that could put not only her in danger but Xavier as well.

"I fear this connection with you Xavier" Delara used his name in whispered tones for the first time "It could prove hazardous to us both and yet...I have no desire to pull away....indeed...my desires seem to pull me to you....I don't know what to make of these feelings."

Delara decided that at the very least if she couldn't tell him everything then she would tell him something honest about herself. Around every corner felt like a trap was waiting for her and Xavier was her only safe harbour, maybe she lusted after him because of his generous nature or his kindness; it didn't matter...she would figure it out eventually.

 

[Bsquad]

As Xavier walked, his hand held Delara's firmly in his grip guiding her along behind him. He started walking up the stairs, listening to Delara's words from behind him, gratelful that his face could not be seen by Delara behind him. He was worried, worried that the Nobles would take her for their play thing, but he shouldn't have been concerned.

"They would, you must have heard rumors of the Crown Prince and Princess, they enjoy toying with pretty things." He said grimly, he looked back over his shoulder at Delara.

"You are drawn to me and yet cannot be close to me? Delara you seem to be of two minds. Perhaps you should consider exactly what you want. I know just what I want and just what I am willing to do." Xavier said with a creeping concern over the honesty of the words. Delara was both a mystery and a concern. He didn't know what to say beyond that, but he didn't have to, the emerged from the servants exiting on the guest level, planning to take Delara to her charge's quarters.

"You need to stay with Lady Aveline, keep your self as concealed as possible. I do not know what the crown prince and princess would do if they found you...but if they wanted you do not think that the Lord Commander would hesitate to hand you over to them." Xavier said, knocking on the door to the guest quarters held by Lady Aveline. He called once before opening the door slightly. His green eyes peered in and saw a form lying on the bed, in the candle light looking unsual.

"Lady Aveline?" He called, wary of the situation.

 

[FaeBites]

Her dreams were dark with torment and grinning devils. Tongues of fire licked along her skin in flushes of fevered burns, her mind swirling with distorted faces and memories of dreams or were they dreams of memories? Her body twitched back in the real world, stirring and tossing on the bed as though trying to rid her body of the clasp of darkness. Her muscles lolled, fatigued with the fading toxins. She slept restlessly, haunted by creatures of the night, and the sound of a familiar laugh twisted with cold cruelty.

It wasn’t long before the fever and discomfort had her mind dwelling closer to consciousness. It mustn’t have been more then a few hours later when the Lady Aveline whimpered in the empty room, unwilling to rejoin reality. The sound of her name barely reached her awareness, her body just twitched and moaned softly in agony in reply. The faint light revealed the shape of her body where it lay, fallen hazardously across the blankets. The room smelt of sickness, the harsh scent of bile taking its time fading from the air. Light flickered seemingly self-consciously across the nearly naked noble woman, her under clothes clinging to her damp body. Her curls tangled like a fallen halo around her head.

“Not again… please not again” A choked voice slurred from her slumbers, responding to something that wasn’t present in the room. The memory invoked dream shuddered through her body, the shattered note in her voice like nothing that had ever been present in the face she showed the world. The horror of it all forced her away from unconsciousness, sliding into reality with a dazed fluttering of lids. The knowledge she wasn’t alone registered slowly, she tried to sit, but her muscles wouldn’t obey properly. The name floated to mind easier this time, “…Delara?” Her voice was husky as her throat still burnt, raw from her try at expelling the toxins and the fever that still tempered within her skin.

“Poison… wine… so – dizzy.” Her voice trailed off as though the effort to talk had overcome her. She felt herself fading back into nightmares and memories and shook her self visibly, infusing her body with hard earned strength. She’d never be weak again, she’d made that promise to herself a long time ago. She forced herself to sit, her body shaking with the strain, her own weakness igniting her fury over what had happened. She realised it wasn’t just Delara in the room, her cloudy gaze settling over the male as a strained version of her usual smile played over her lips.

“Well now Xavier, and here I was holding the opinion you didn’t like me.” Her mind snagged on a thought, her face paling. “It wasn’t you was it? I’d have hoped someone of your standing might have the balls to kill me face to face. I think I would have preferred a dagger to the back then this damn stealing weakness!” She spat the words, her voice becoming clearer as her anger, and her denied fear, began to clear the haze from her mind. "Well if so surely death would be preferable to this feeling." She tried to push herself to stand, not noticing the slight delirious rambling, though it was a spectacular failing. Her legs giving way beneath her till she sunk to the floor beside her bed, moaning in agony. Her head screamed its displeasure at her movements, forcing her to lower it into warm hands, trying to push away the pain.

 

[Bsquad]

Sergeant Xavier

Xavier looked at Lady Aveline, horror creeping over him. Poision was an insidious weapon, the tool of a coward or an assasin. Though the reason that someone would attack Lady Aveline was beyond him. Of course, there were rumors, but to murder a noble woman because she wouldn't ascribe to the standards of the time? No...that was extreme even for Lady Aveline's parents. But it was a dangerous accusation, but there was no denying that she had been poisoned.

"Delara, fetch water quickly, and have the apocethary hurry here as quickly as he is able! She is weak, but she is not going to pass..." Xavier said, kneeling by the bed and looking at her. Insidious weapon of a coward or not, being a bodyguard to Lord Simons required him to be rather well versed in all the ways that you can kill a man, honorable or no. He felt her forehead and frowned...Aveline would live.

"Lady Aveline, please, be still, you will live, despite the pain...who could have done this?" He called to her clearly, hoping for some insight into the attack. It had been partially his duty as commander of Lord Simon's bodyguard to protect his guests as well as the Lord Commander. As she spoke directly to him, he scowled.

“Well now Xavier, and here I was holding the opinion you didn’t like me.” Her mind snagged on a thought, her face paling. “It wasn’t you was it? I’d have hoped someone of your standing might have the balls to kill me face to face. I think I would have preferred a dagger to the back then this damn stealing weakness!”

"I am a man of honor, if I wanted you dead I would have killed you while I faced you!" He said with a hiss of anger to his words.

 

[monique_minx]

Delara instantly recognized this as a poison attempt, she however doubted Aveline had been the target; the Royals or the Lord Commander were surely meant to recieve Aveline's goblet. That they did not meant that this spy was both reckless and dangerous.

"Delara?"

She heard Aveline's weak voice and her heart ached, "I'm here My Lady." She whispered to the woman and ran her hand over her head, she was hot with fever.

"Delara, fetch water quickly, and have the apothecary hurry here as quickly as he is able! She is weak, but she is not going to pass..."

Delara nodded and hurried off to do as Xavier bid her, she grabbed a bowl of water and a rag first and brought it back to him in a rush before she headed off to find the apothecary.

Any other new slave would not have been able to find the apothecary's quarters as easily as Delara did, Xavier must know this. She smiled at the faith the man had in her as she knocked on the doctor's door, she peered inside at the man, he wore gold robes - a telltale sign of an apothecary and she knew she had found the right door.

"Sir?" Delara asked cautiously.

The man was startled and turned from the papers on his desk, a new slave?

"Yes?"

"Please come quickly Sir, My Lady...Lady Aveline, she has been poisoned Sir."

The apothecary wasted no time in gathering his bag of medicines, Delara led the way back to the room and was breathless from running by the time she got back there. Aveline was on the floor and Xavier was trying to dull her fever with the water, Delara hurried over as the apothecary entered and set his bag on the floor next to Aveline.

 

[FaeBites]

Avelines head spun dizzyingly as she tried to focus on Xavier’s form before her, she was distracted by the calloused stroke of his hand against her skin, at the unnerving closeness of his body. Her breath shuddered in her lungs, and she found herself leaning towards him like a moth to a flame. He spoke of honor, and felt like safety. Two words that were lacking in this day an age, especially for the headstrong noble woman. She shook her head to clear it, clinging to her attitude like a wall to keep herself from being vulnerable. “Temper, Temper, Sargent. I never realised you were so easy to nettle.” Her words drawled, but the tone was ruined with the pinch of pain that distorted them. She decided not to make comment on them being left without a chaperone and her in so little clothes. While she knew it would have irritated him further (something she was becoming fond of doing all of a sudden) she didn’t have the strength.

“Hey look, now the party’s started.” She slurred as the apothecary stepped into the room, kneeling beside her. She flinched as he suddenly reached for her, gritting her teeth at her loss of control over the movement. Her mind churned with dark humour that all it took was a near lethal dosage of poison for the cracks to start showing. The man tutted under his breath, murmuring to her in what she presumed was supposed to be a comforting manner. “Tell me what happened.” He asked her quickly, his eyes distracted as they checked her eyes and felt her skin. She raised an eyebrow, “I got poisoned – does Simmons really pay you for this?” his eyes snapped to her own, evaluating her features in a way only the healing kind could.

“Yes, we all believe you’re fearless and invincible, now answer the question.”
His words were sharp, but had the desired effect; Aveline looked away after a moment and repeated her night’s events in seemingly bored voice. A few more questions and prodding, and the Apothecary tipped a few bottles into a singular vial before giving it to her. “Half now and half before you next eat. You’re going to be fine after some time to recover."
“How long before I can hold a sword and carve up the coward who did it?” Aveline immediately shot back, everything about her saying she was entirely serious. The Apothecary seemed amused, shrugging while he helped her to sit back on the bed. “You’ll recover your strength over the next few days, but I don’t think anything could stop you really, My Lady.” Curiosity seemed to darken his eyes for a moment, then he stood and straightened the golden material. Aveline wasn’t one to bring him up on the rules of heirachy he’d just crossed.

Her eyes followed him as he left, her mind unsettled with his knowing gaze and words. “I don’t like him.” She decided, her attention returned to her maid and Xavier, she forced her thoughts away and plucked at the under dress that clung to her sweat drenched form. She made a face, longing to be clean. “What I’d give for a bath? What’s the time –“ She glanced out the window, noticing the dark sky and silent place and reasoned it was well passed the time for the servants to have hot water ready. “I’ll have to wait till morning, I suppose” She sighed, not realising how rare it was for a noble to actually think enough about the servants to not disturb them at odd hours for her own needs. Well, she did realise, she just didn’t notice when she out classed her peers. She tried to stand again, though her body quivered and she found herself clutching at Xavier to keep from falling.

Her breaths dragged in her lungs and she sighed, her voice softening when she realised she needed his help. “Can you help me over to the basin please? I need to wash my face at least. It’s to hot!” Her skin still held temperature, but it was slowly fading. Her eyes refusing to rise to his own after the ask of help, instead glancing to find Delara, confused to why she was comforted by the maids presence, but comforted just the same.

 

[Bsquad]

Xavier stood in silence as the apocethary carried out his almost mystic duty and mixed herbs into phials to treat her. He was not suprised that Aveline was still alive, she was far too head-strong to allow anything so simple as a poison to weaken her. No she was determined enough to shurug off a scorpion's sting if she wanted too. He ignored her rambling and angry jibes at his expense, his face reverting to a stoic expression, wishing that he could leave and start searching for the attacker, but he could not abandon the Noblewoman, not after she had been attacked. He looked down at her lying on the bed, her night clothes clinging to her as she had been drenched in sweat...there was nothing left to the imagination. He chuckled as she tried to stand and fell into him, still incredibly weakened.

"You're not used to relying on a man for anything, are you?" Xavier said, catching her and holding her up, he did it as easily as if she weighed nothing at all. Accepting her command, he guided her to the baisin of water resting on a side table and nodded for Delara to wash her face off. There was much that could be done considering the circumstances, but wasing a noblewoman? That was beyond even the realm of necessity.

 

[monique_minx]

Delara dipped the cloth into the water and wiped Aveline's face as tenderly as she could, the sweat coming away with the bits of dried vomit left around her mouth.

She looked at Xavier and cocked a brow "Must you taunt her Sir?"

She couldn't help the smile that appeared after her comment no more than she could stop that fire roaring in her ears everytime she looked at him. Her gaze faltered, she couldn't continue to stare at him, she didn't know what the fire might make her want next but she was sure she didn't want to do anything in front of Lady Aveline and that included revealing her new...alliance with Xavier.

"Are you feeling any better My Lady?" Delara asked sympatheticly as her eyes returned to Aveline and she rinsed the rag out again before cleaning the Lady's neck.

Her thoughts returned to the spy, she understood the work of such a person but to do something so reckless...so stupid...Delara was angry with this person whoever he or she might be, tonight they had done something so dangerous the whole household would be on alert....they could suspect me, Delara realized at last that this had grave implications for her as well as Aveline...

 

[Ausus_girl13]

Without stopping or turning Antar said evenly over his shoulder; "Threatening a person of royal blood is tantamount to treason, so kindly remove your hand from your weapon. Then we shall talk, I will see you in my chambers after I check on the Lady Aveline to make sure she made it to bed okay."

With that he walked away from the fuming Lady Marotte knowing that murder was on her mind. He walked up the stairs to the chamber that held Lady Aveline, and heard hushed voices within. Something did not feel right. So, he knocked loudly before he entered without waiting for a servant to announce him.

Inside the room, all staring at him as if he had interrupted something was a very sick frail looking Lady Aveline, another women who looked both familiar and guilty of something-from her clothing Antar guessed she was the chamber maid. And a soldier of the household.

"I came to check on the Lady, it appears that she is sick, what has happened?" he demanded of the soldier.

************************************************************
Arabelle continued playing with the fabric on Lord Simons over-shirt as she thoughtfully pondered what he had said. She then removed her hand, looked at him sharply, leaned in close and kissed him, he parted his lips after his surprise died and he moved closer to her. She delighted in the kiss, and this one was good. His tongue danced with hers, and his lips were not rough as she had expected, but his gruff beard did tickle her soft skin. She could smell the distinctly male scent of him. A few minutes later, they came up for air.

Standing up on slightly unsteady feet, Arabelle said, "Thank you, my lord. But unless you have something more to teach me, I really must retire to my bedroom."

 

[Bsquad]

Lord Simons

As the princess's lips locked onto his, Lord Simons was shocked at the rather blatant action. Though her soft lips were enough to keep him from complaining. He was about to grab hold of her, but the young woman pulled away, breaking the kiss with such sudden nature. As she turned, he looked at her walk away. Before she could finish speaking, he stood and grabbed her from behind. His left arm reached around her waist and his right crossed her chest between her breasts and cupped her chin, holding her back. His lips were close to her ear.

"You certainly wouldn't want to rember everything about your duties...I'm positive you would want a distraction for this evening princess." Lord simons whispered into her ear before he licked her ear and then bent down to nip at her neck. The princess had decided to stoke him into a fire. Although he wasn't sure she knew just what he would do.

Sergeant Xavier

As Xavier held Lady Aveline up, he looked at Delara as she cleaned her Lady's face off. His mind was working over just what might have happened this evening. He was sure that Delara wasn't the poisoner, she had been with him since before the Crown Prince and Princess arrived and they had sat for dinner with Lady Aveline. It would be auqward to explain how he knew that Delara was innocent. He was about to ask Lady Aveline again if she had any idea of who might want her dead since no-one else had been stricken...but Prince Antar burst into the room without warning.

"Crown Prince Antar." He said, bowing his head respectfully to the young noble before speaking.

"Lady Aveline was stricken by a poison of some kind, most likely adminstered during dinner. I cannot be sure what happened because I have not left since she was found. I can say that she was most likely the target of this nefarious attack. Otherwise you might have been stricken as well, the attack only sickened her, she will live. It was a veryly poorly done poisoning, as if by an amature assassin." Xavier said to the crown prince, hoping to keep the Noble's attention away from Delara.

 

[monique_minx]

Delara gave the Crown Prince the slightest of curtsies, she couldn't give more while she was taking care of Aveline and clearly concerned for her welfare.

"Your Highness" She murmured and then watched Xavier speak to the Prince.

She wasn't sure he was correct, with the Royals in the house and the Lord Commander; surely this person meant for the goblet to go to someone else. Considering that it had not killed Aveline, Delara was certain that Xavier was right about this person being an amateur and if they had screwed up with the poison then it was quite probable that they delivered the goblet to the wrong person as well.

Delara noticed Xavier's tall figure was sidestepping and trying to keep her from the Crown Prince's line of sight. Delara bowed her head and smiled, he was trying to protect her. She used Lady Aveline for a sheild as much as possible, terrified that if Antar got a good enough look; he would surely recognize her.

"There My Lady, I think that has cleaned you up some." She waved Xavier away completely and helped Lady Aveline to the bed.

As much as she wished to stay out of the Prince's sight, she knew Aveline was weakened and need to stay off her feet at the moment, she was Delara's main concern. She ran her fingers through Aveline's hair, feeling slightly guilty for not having been by her side and she let Aveline rest her head against her chest. She tried to keep her head down as much as possible but it was extremely difficult to take care of Aveline and keep her face hidden.

 

[Ausus_girl13]

Arabelle liked the little nips at her neck, the tiny nips causing a little mingling of pain and pleasure. She was pleased at the strength in Lord Simons form and a night of pleasure did indeed sound tempting.

So she gave into her pleasure, making little mewling sounds as the Lord kissed and nipped her neck and lips. Arabelle ran her fingers up the lord's back pulling him closer to her. She relished his touch, strong and insistent and made no move to stop him when he began removing her clothes.

**********************************
Antar accepted the soldier's explanation and nodded at the man. He walked to the bedside of Lady Aveline, and addressed the maid standing nearby.

"Stay with her through the rest of the evening, I want updates concerning her health every 2 hours," he paused finally looking at the woman, and did a double take. "Do I know you?" He asked. He noticed that her eyes were full of fear, perhaps that was answer he wanted without an audience. Without waiting for her reply, he added to her, "You will come with that update in 2 hours."

Antar glanced at the sleeping Lady, nodded at the soldier, turned on his heel and left the room. He headed for his chambers, knowing that the Lady Marotte might certainly already be laying in wait for him. Ha! The thought of the sweet Lady protector "laying" anywhere brought a smile to his lips.

 

[monique_minx]

"Do I know you?"

Those four words sent a shiver of fear down Delara's back unlike any she had ever felt, so he does remember me...

She nodded to the Crown Prince when he asked her to report to him in two hours time and murmured "Yes Highness..."

She looked up at Xavier, her eyes wide showing her terror to him at the prospect of having to report to the Crown Prince. She took Aveline in her arms carefully and laid her down on the bed, kissed her on the forehead and stood up.

"Rest a little My Lady, I'm here if you need anything."

Delara wandered over to Xavier and took his hand, she was shaking just a little but enough for him to feel it. She looked him in the eye, her concern obvious to him; she was afraid the Prince would know her, take her away or expose her. People would then believe she had poisoned Aveline, Xavier could do nothing to help her and her imagination had begun to run away with her at the prospect of what might happen.

"If I go to him in two hours time...I might not come back..." Her eyes teared up, the thought was more than she could bare and it wasn't just about her own safety she realized; she actually cared for Xavier!

 

[FaeBites]

Aveline threw Xavier a dirty look at his comment, but it was true she supposed. The last man she had relied on… Aveline was unable to subdue the shudder that went through her body. The last man she relied on could take partial credit for who she was today. Aveline had vowed to never be weak again. She’d been going well to, until some nim-witted coward had poisoned her wine. The freshening of the water felt wonderful, and she murmured a grateful thanks to Delara. She nodded to Delaras question as Antar burst into the room. A new dizzy spell seized her, and she was sure all the excitement was becoming just a tad too much.

Aveline was too out of it to really concern herself with such things as being near naked in front of the Sergeant and the Crown prince, but was still grateful when she was helped back onto the bed. “Thankyou, Delara.” Aveline murmured again as she sunk into the mattress, unaware of the tension and undercurrents of the room. Were she her normal self she’d have revelled in all the secrets that were bubbling under the surface. But for now, Aveline just wished to sleep. Deeply and without dreams. Delara’s touch was a welcome respite, and her tired mind was unable to withhold against the comfort, lulled gradually into sleep.

She roused slightly at the sounds of Antars commands, frowning as he left the room. “He’s a bit of a bossy boots, isn’t he?” She slurred slightly, still half claimed by the sleeping world. She smiled at the gentle brush of lips, snuggling down into her bed.

"If I go to him in two hours time...I might not come back..."

The words drifted into her dream state, but she was unable to wake and address them, though the chocked sound of tears tugged at her need to protect and comfort. She twitched restlessly, then fell into a deeper sleep and heard no more.

 

[Bsquad]

Lord Simons

The feel of Arabelle's body pressing against his with such inviting willingness was the perfect reaction. He had that perhaps the young princess would have decided to take her own intiative, to be more agressive in her advances. But he was content to drive forward. His hands shifted from holding her, instead reaching down to caress her body through the thin fabric of her gown. He laughed as she mewed in pleasure at his touch. He let out a growl of his own as he grasped the cleavage of her gown and pulled at it, the ties giving slightly to expose her breasts to the cool air. He ran a rough hand over her breasts. His other grabbing her skirts and pulling them up slowly but steadily.

"You say the weight of your lover cannot make you forget...perhaps your lover simply wasn't powerful enough for your tastes." Simons said, nipping at her ear, pressing the growing bulge of his manhood against the small of her back.

Sergeant Xavier

The flurry of activity washed around the swordsman like the water in a river. He was calm and cool, taking in everything, and trying to divorce himself from the thoughts and reactions to what he had heard. Antar wanted to see Delara, alone, and that sent a chill of fear through him that he did not like to experiance. But to blatantly ignore the command of a royal was a dangerous thing, something far too dangerous to attempt...even if he could rely on Lord Simons' support. He waited for Antar to leave before he moved from where he stood.

With Aveline lying on the bed before them, it was folly to do what he did, but something within him forced him to cross the room in a few steps and wrap his arms around Delara as she cried softly.

"I know...I know, but you must have courage. You will leave that room and return, I promise you." Xavier whispered softly to Delara as he held her close to him. He cast a wary look at Lady Aveline, and decided that perhaps escorting her would be a risk. Waiting with the Lady would be his most pressing task...but everything within him commanded him to go with her. He couldn't let her go alone...he couldn't get her out...

"I'm here Delara, I care about what happens to you...and I will do whatever I can to protect you. I...I..." He whispered, his thoughts turning towards something that he couldn't bring to words, not now, not yet.

 

[monique_minx]

Delara pressed her head against Xavier's chest, the tears flowed down her face in silence as she listened to him, feeling comforted by his embrace. She wished he could come with her but knew better than to ask, Aveline had just been poisoned and someone would have to remain by her side.

"You will have to report this to Lord Simons" Delara said suddenly, "He must be told..."

She looked up at Xavier, the worry in his eyes was evident and his concern for her touched her heart. She glanced briefly at Aveline and sighed with relief to see that she was asleep again. Her gaze returned to Xavier, she wondered what he had been about to say and could not.

"You're worried about me..." Delara wasn't questioning, she was stating a fact.

Once again the thought of the Prince discovering her came to mind and she wondered if he would take her even if he did not realize who she was. She feared being taken to Antar's bed more than she liked, he would do it too if he did not discover her identity...

"If he doesn't know who I am....if I remain undiscovered....he might still...he might..." But Delara couldn't finish the sentence, instead she leaned into Xavier's chest; clutching at his robes as fresh tears leaked from her eyes.

 

[Bsquad]

Sergeant Xavier

It was strange that for someone so trained, so experianced with a blade...such a capable warrior could be so deeply wounded by the tears of a woman. She clutched at him like a survivor clinging to the drifting wreckage of a ship for dear life. It hurt him in a way that he had never known, he couldn't protect her, he couldn't stand between danger and her...and he couldn't tell her why he wanted to do it. His blood felt heated inside his veins, his mind clouding with the thought of things that he could do to take her mind from everything that she was afraid of. He heard her whispers for a few moments, but before she could begin to cry more, he reached down, and gently lifted her face to his.

His lips found hers once again, kissing he so softly and gently...the tenderness of it so unusual, so uncharacteristic that Delara's tears halted. He pulled away from her slightly, his eyes gazing into hers saying something that he couldn't put into words, not yet.

"I'll protect you Delara." He whispered, before he kissed her again, as much passion within it as he could muster.

 

[monique_minx]

Delara melted into Xavier's kiss, she almost felt as though if she let go of him she would fall. Her lips hungrily attended to his, asking him to claim her mouth and with it; the fire inside. All the fear and danger was expelled with that kiss and Delara yearned to never remember it again but as they broke off she realized all good things...

"I believe you Xavier..." Delara didn't smile, she didn't flinch as she spoke with certainty and confidence in the man before her.

Delara pulled him close again "But just in case...I want to make sure you don't forget me..."

With that Delara pulled him into a deep kiss, she wrapped her arms around him and let him lift her, she wrapped her legs around his waist tightly and their lips parted and his tongue slid inside her mouth again. She accepted his claim on her and her tongue met his with fierce passion, nothing else mattered...nothing else existed...

The fire reignited inside her belly, her juices began to flow as her chest pressed against Xavier as tight as she could manage without cutting off her air supply. Delara wished that she could have Xavier, let him have her in every way but knew that the danger was too much, the risk to her was too high and if Antar didn't take her to his bed she might risk it all for nothing...

But just to have Xavier was tempting beyond belief, she had never felt such need for someone and it might have been the risky situation but she didn't think on it, didn't care and only pressed herself tighter to him. Her whole body straining to be free of it's bindings, straining to be Xavier's, straining for something she could not let it have...

 

[Bsquad]

Xavier felt Delara cling to him again, her lips on his once more...he couldn't stand it. She had such faith in him, such longing for his protection. Yet protection was the one thing that he was not sure he could provide her with. Her kiss, her touch, the furous grip of her arms and legs upon him sent him back to a moment that was so recent, the feeling of her body, the sight of her laying before him. He picked her up roughly, turned where he stood and then pressed her up against the stone wall. He broke the kiss, and bent to bite her neck, his hands grasped at her body again, the familarity of the moment almost enough to make him forget that just behind them Lady Aveline lay on the bed in restless slumber.

He ignored the noblewoman.

Xaviers hands again pulled at Delara's dress, and once again his manhood was respondign to her warm body and lythe form, pressing against her...were it not for their clothes, he would have been inside her already.

"Delara...you call to me in ways I have never known..." He whispered, worried that his voice would wake the Noblewoman from her slumber.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Lady Marotte´s boots would surely be worn down by morning if she paced around in the Crown Prince´s chambers just a little faster.

She was fuming, her arms crossed over her red jacket, murder written in her eyes and the sound of her sword in its sheath calling out to her like a siren´s song. Everywhere she looked within the Prince´s chambers she saw something hateful. The fact that she had slept for a good few months in the open fields accentuated that. While the royal brats had had everything easy, she had been killing and bleeding for the Empire. What had they done? Bedded enough nobles to secure ties?

Of course, Lady Marotte was smarter than to have those thoughts normally, but she currently was a bit agitated by the Prince´s arrogance. One thing was the insufferable princess´ words, and another entirely to be manhandled by the prince. It was all the more mortifying because she had not reacted. Even with her hands and legs immobilized, there were tricks the prince did not know but she had learned... and applied. These dark thoughts were accompanied by the heavy thuds of her boots on the floor which sounded like war drums before a battle. When the Lady Protector stopped in front of the window, the sudden silence made her fluster with embarrassment. She realized suddenly the folly of her uncontrolled outrage.

Of course it was natural for the prince to be an ass, but not for her. Not a Berlionesse.

She opened the double window, as wide as it was, and let fresh air come into the room, flowing gently right by her visage. That cooled her down where her reason struggled, and the sight of the dark woods outside returned her to the matter of the raiding party. The messenger had told her of a small group, no more than a dozen, maybe a dozen and a half men. Raiders indeed, no heavy armour, no lances. It was a strange group, and the messenger told her they were looking for a girl.

Not a girl and a boy. And certainly not a noble girl or a noble boy.

Lady Marotte felt relieved that the raiders did not seem interested in the princes, but then... who? Was it somebody else in the citadel? Not the princes?

When she heard the steps in the corridor, she turned, her hand already resting on her sword, relaxed like her visage, again the expression of a depressed mouse. Unlike the muscles of her arm, already pumping warm blood. Prince or not, a good hilting to the head calmed down many a bothersome fool.