Magic's Reluctant Bride (closed for maurader13

[AngelofDeath]

"That's all? That's all?! Len you did more than not tell me 'everything'. Not only did you go out of your way not to tell me everything, you let me think I was taking someone else to my bed. Its just as bad as letting me love this," she waved her hand, "this side of you. You let me love you and you had no plan to tell me the truth. It doesn't matter than Jeral and the other guards showed up and your cousin just happened to still be in Brask. He's probably the only reason you aren't sitting in the dungeon right now. What matter's Len is that you had no immediate plan to tell me the truth. Not the first night or the next day. How can I trust you?"

She sipped the wine slowly, "I only came because Jeral was right. My grief was eating away at me, making me less than what I am. If I am to get on with my life we had to talk. Though I am sure you know very well what I want to do. Hurting you though will not make me feel better. So I am here to see where we go from here. I can't say if there will ever be anything between us, especially trust, but there has to be a peace between our kingdom. Despite what you said that first day I do care about the people of Brask. Even if I am now the talk of the court and quite possibly some of the villages." Mel was willing to do what was needed to keep them from going to war, only to a point and pretending to be happily married to Len would not be one of them.

She hadn't expected it to be so hard to just talk to him as openly as she had before. He was the man she had fallen in love with, but at the same time a stranger as well. Mel honestly wanted to believe that it hadn't be all some lie, some trick on his part. Mel just wanted to turn back the sun, to go back when things had been so perfect. So right. That couldn't happen though, so move forward they must. Reaching into a pocket she pulled out the pendant, unable to ring herself to simply throw it away or wear it Mel had kept it with the intention of returning it to Len. "I believe this is yours." She held it out to him.

 

[marauder13]

Melisandra's reply stung, but when she went to hand him the pendant, that hurt even more.

"I believe this is yours."

He put his hand out, trembling slightly before she dropped it into his hand. He curled his hand around it, fighting back the urge to cry.

"Thank you. I seek your permission to travel back to Brask with you when you leave, as I will need to speak with His Majesty about the truce between our Kingdoms. Since we will not be marrying, there will have to be some other way of bringing it about."

Lentharian looked over at Melisandra, noting her expression at his declaration.

"You said that you would marry a person of your choosing, for love. So, the wedding as it is planned will not go ahead. What I will do, if you are agreeable, is that I will seek permission from your father to pay court to you. If I can win your affections enough, then and only then will we marry."

He drained the cup he held, looking at the bottom of the now empty vessel.

"The tent is there for you to sleep in while you stay. The area is guarded by elementals. There is no need for your guardsmen to stay, though I suspect that they would not leave even if ordered to. I'd love to have you stay here for a few days. The man you spoke to, the words he told you, that was all me. The man who was your fiance.

"How can you trust me? I can't answer that, Mel. All I can say is that you can trust me, but then you have to believe that. Right now, my word carries little weight. I know and I expect it. I never set out to make a fool of you, for you to be the centre of some jest. I wanted answers, and I found a way to get them. Then I got caught up in what was happening with you." He took a couple of deep breaths. "I have nothing more that I can say now, Mel."

 

[AngelofDeath]

She honestly did not know how to respond to that. Calling off the marriage hadn't been something she had expected of him. No despite what she knew of Len, Mel had fully expected him to follow through with things, whether she agreed or not. She could see the pain in his eyes, hear it in his voice and rather than sooth her own hurt it made it worse. Worse because she wanted nothing more than to reach out to him and comfort him.

He wanted to win her love, to court her properly. Silently that broken part of her heart jumped for joy and to tell him that it wasn't necessary. That was just it though, they had only spent a few short days getting to know each other. As much as they had seemed compatible, while on the road, they did need to get to know each other, more than they already had. Looking towards the tent, Mel sighed softly, wanting to point out she didn't need a tent, that she was more than capable of camping out under the stars. Len wasn't treating her like Mel, his road companion. No he was treating her like the princess she was. "Thank you for your generosity, Len. Though we both know I've never balked at having just the trees and the stars over head."

Mel truly didn't know what to say to him, "Len, I... I know I must seem like a spoiled child who is upset she couldn't have her way, but I honestly don't know how to deal with all this. Right now I have two men in my head and I cannot merge the two. I just want to go back to before Jeral and the other showed up. Actually no I don't because as much fun as it was, I was already preparing myself to let you go. To get used to the idea that the man I was in love with was going to marry another woman and that I would be so lucky as to find someone else who made me feel the way you did. My heart was already breaking and I didn't know it. I don't know if we can get back to that Len, but...but I am willing to give you a chance."

Getting to her feet she began to walk for the tent, twice she almost stopped to ask him to sleep beside her and twice she kept walking until she was in the confines of the tent.The bedroll and and the pillows were of the finest quality and the bedroll was big enough for two. Removing her boots she laid down to try and sleep, though doubtful she would get any rest. Mel had left the flap open enough to watch Len beside the fire.

 

[marauder13]

Mel looked at the tent with a slight touch of disappointment.

"Thank you for your generosity, Len. Though we both know I've never balked at having just the trees and the stars over head."

"It's there if you want to use it."

He listened intently to everything Mel said, trying hard to not second guess what she was saying, going to say or what she meant. That she hadn't closed the door on them as a couple was relieving, but there was still doubts there. It was those doubts that he found the hardest to deal with.

He watched her get up and make her way to the tent, including some pauses where he thought she was going to ask him something, but she continued until she entered the tent. His thoughts were in conflict. He wanted to join her, but he would only do so if asked. He wanted her to join him under the stars, but he didn't trust himself to ask.

He sat staring at the fire for a few minutes before he stood up and walked out of the camp. He strolled over to the lake, standing at the edge of the water. He calmly removed his weapons, then his clothes before he walked into the water to relax. He could clearly remember what he saw of Mel when she was standing in that very lake. Her bare back, and the flow of her light hair shining in the moonlight. The slightest hint of the shape of her breast. It was a beautiful sight. He chuckled slightly that he managed to remain a gentleman, and not looked at her when she returned to the camp. If it was to happen now, he would not be able to take his eyes off her. He let his mind wander over the events of their traveling together, enjoying all the little things that happened. Those little things that made all the difference in the world to the young prince.

 

[AngelofDeath]

When she rolled over, Mel noticed that Len was no longer sitting by the fire. At first she didn't think anything of it though she was curious as to where he had gone off to. Looking away from the fire Mel sighed softly, the tent was comfortable, but it was big enough for two. Len would only share it with her if she asked it of him. Where was a sudden rainstorm when you needed it? As laid there Mel's mind went to her second bath and the eelsnake. The wind that can come from nowhere had been his doing. Deep down Mel had, had her suspicions, but because Len hadn't done anything else to make her thing he was capable of working magic she had simply pushed the thoughts aside while tending to him and pushing towards Kraala.

Sooner rather than later, Mel sat up and left the tent. As she expected Len was at the lake and waist deep in the water. It was wrong to spy on him, but she hung back, just watching him. After a few moment she walked in front of the tree she had been leaning against. "You know its probably a good thing this lake is Eelsnake free. I don't think your shoulder could take another run in with any more poisoned fangs. " Mel did her best to not look directly at Len, because if she looked at him all of her resolve would be broken.

 

[marauder13]

Len had spent time sitting in the water, lost in his thoughts about how to make the best of the situation. He had done all he could for now. There was nothing else he could do, but await until Mel was agreeable. There was little he would be able to do but wait. He stood up in readiness to dive into the water when he heard Mel's voice.

"You know its probably a good thing this lake is Eelsnake free. I don't think your shoulder could take another run in with any more poisoned fangs. "

He turned to look at her, seeing her clearly looking elsewhere. His chest tightened slightly with the knowledge she couldn't stand his sight.

"I have three defenders that can come to my aid if anything attacks me here, two of them will be able to aid you where you stand. Since I am a noble of Noden, I can call on my full range of powers to defend myself, and defend you too. Even if I was the mere merchant, now that I love you, I wouldn't hold anything back to protect you." He dived into the water, and swam closer to the shore. When he stood up, the water stopped at his knees. He walked back to his clothes and other gear, water running in thin rivers down his torso as he stared at Mel.

"What would you like to do, Mel?"

 

[AngelofDeath]

She bit her lip and looked away from him, it wasn't because she couldn't stand the sight of him, it was because looking at Len made it hard to stay mad. It made it hard to not just walk over to him and to kiss him, to touch him and forget all of it. Every lie, every half truth, her own pain and anger. Her feet were moving before she knew it until she was standing next to him and pulling him to look at her. "Do you know how hard it is to want to hate you right now Len. If I could hate you it would make this easier. I could just walk away from you and never look back." Mel yanked him closer and brushed her lips against his before she pushed the kiss further, her tongue finding its way to his, tasting him before she pulled back.

"I hate how you have made me feel, but I don't hate you Len. I just can't." Mel was crying and didn't even realize it. "I want you so much that I can't think, I can't sleep. You've turned me upside down and left me spinning." She lifted her hand to touch the scar at his shoulder. He had risked his life to save her, in her heart Mel knew Len loved her.

It wasn't a perfect moment, but it was what is was. It was also not a private moment either as they were being watched. Not by Jeral or any member of the guard. No their voyeur didn't have any such notion as to make sure that they were safe or rather Mel was. Not the eyes that watched them had their own intention of plunging the two kingdoms back into the blood war they had managed to drag themselves out of. If it took her death or both hers and Len's then so be it.

 

[marauder13]

Len watched Mel move closer to him, her hand roughly turning him to look at her. He felt himself getting lost in her face, the shadows cast by the moon made her facial features even more enticing.

"Do you know how hard it is to want to hate you right now Len. If I could hate you it would make this easier. I could just walk away from you and never look back."

Len was drawn into a kiss, a lovely brushing of lips full of the promise of the joy that this woman held. Before he knew, the kiss deepened, Mel's tongue seeking out his, tasting him, delighting him with it's presence.

"I hate how you have made me feel, but I don't hate you Len. I just can't. I want you so much that I can't think, I can't sleep. You've turned me upside down and left me spinning." Tears were running down her face as she lightly touched the fresh scar marring his shoulder.

"Would you really want to walk away from this? If that is what you truly want," tears started to roll down his cheeks, lost in the water dripping from his hair, "then I will do that for you. Even though it will tear my heart in two doing it. But I want you too, Mel. I want you to share my life, to continue to help me find out more about who I am." He looked down at the ground, closing his eyes. "You've helped me to see a side of me that I never knew existed, a side of me that I don't want to loose." He looked up at Mel again. "I'm not sure that I can find him alone, and if I did, it would not be worth it if you were not there to share the discoveries with me."

He stooped to gather his clothes and gear, then took a step back towards the camp. "I've now come to know that you can't trust me. There is nothing I can say that will change that, since I have lied once before, I could be lying again.

"But know this, Mel. I am not lying when I say that I love you. And that I will do whatever I can to help make you happy again." He slowly walked back to the camp.

 

[AngelofDeath]

Mel watched him go, and once he was out of sight she sank down to the ground with a silent sob. It was all so wrong, everything and it was like she couldn't get her head above water to make it right. Her head was telling her to do one thing and her heart was saying another. She refused to cry around Len or the guards and so she stayed there for several minutes, not only to give Len time to dress himself, but also for her to finally get it all out of her system. Since her sword was back at the camp she couldn't take her frustration out on the local greenery. Once she was done, Mel cleaned her face and then headed back to camp. She was sure her eyes were red, but there was nothing to be done about it.

There was really only one way to get them back to where they were or to find out that they really weren't suited to each other. When she got back to camp, Mel walked over to where Len sat on the pillows another cup of wine in hand. Kneeling down beside him Mel licked her lips slowly. "What's done is done and there will never be any changing that. If this is going to work, if we are going to be anything more than just...gods I don't even know what we are, but if this is going to be more than it is we have to start over." Her finger drew short line int he sand, pointing to her side Mel said, "This is five days ago, when things were still good between us, built on half truths it was still wonderful and I miss that."

She pointed to his side of the line, "This is now. The side of you that I helped you find is only half of the man I was supposed to marry. You know me, but I don't know all of you Len. you want to make me happy? Then you have to show me ALL of you. Good and bad, even the part of you that I have already, if naively voiced my distaste of." They both knew she was speaking about the fact he knew magic. "I cannot promise you anything, but that I will try if you are willing to try. Not because it would make our parents happy and not for the kingdoms. They can burn themselves out fighting for all I care. I am willing to try for us and the love I still hold for you." She laid her hand on his leg, "I'm not sleeping in that tent alone, I've spent the last few days sleeping alone and don't like it. So you can either share your bedroll with me out here or you can join me in the tent."

 

[marauder13]

Len got back to his bedroll, and threw his clothing on with any care for appearance. She wanted to walk away from it. Along with the thought came a tightening of his chest. The only thing that he did for himself in his life, and he had ruined it. He stood, and poured himself another wine, sitting down again and pondering his future. To his eyes, his chances of even trying to court her were vanishing.

Mel's fragrance announced her arrival to Len, an aroma that lifted and crushed him simultaneously. He wanted to look at her, but if he did it would bring more pain, and he didn't want that.

"What's done is done and there will never be any changing that. If this is going to work, if we are going to be anything more than just...gods I don't even know what we are, but if this is going to be more than it is we have to start over." He watched her draw a short line in the sand. She pointed to her side. "This is five days ago, when things were still good between us, built on half truths it was still wonderful and I miss that."

She pointed to his side of the line, "This is now. The side of you that I helped you find is only half of the man I was supposed to marry. You know me, but I don't know all of you Len. you want to make me happy? Then you have to show me ALL of you. Good and bad, even the part of you that I have already, if naively voiced my distaste of. I cannot promise you anything, but that I will try if you are willing to try. Not because it would make our parents happy and not for the kingdoms. They can burn themselves out fighting for all I care. I am willing to try for us and the love I still hold for you. I'm not sleeping in that tent alone, I've spent the last few days sleeping alone and don't like it. So you can either share your bedroll with me out here or you can join me in the tent."

"Mel... I wanted us to start over. That's why I said I wanted to pay court to you. I wanted to approach you as Prince Lentharian Selkortaran, that you would get to see me. What you would call the real me. I am not too different to Len Taran, Mel. I openly use Magic. Len doesn't. I want to court you because I love you. I want you to be my wife, my love... my friend."

He looked up at her, his eyes as red as hers. "I will do whatever is needed, Mel. I wont just try. Not for you. Before we sleep, let me show you something. Look at the fire."

In the midst of the flames, a small lizard scrambled around a little to get more comfortable. On closer inspection, the flames were coming from the lizard itself. There was no other fuel in the pit.

"A Fire Salamander. One of the Elemental Court of Fire. This particular elemental and I have a pact. In return for his services at times like this, I leave him a special oil for him to drink each month. It may not look like it, but he is enjoying himself. The members of the Elemental Courts enjoy their time here, if they can be themselves. Fire Salamanders are typical lizards. He'll happily lie in the pit, enjoying the ambiance. Of course, he is a portable fire that consumes no fuel, and keeps a steady flame too.

"I can show you more in the morning, if you'd like. Shall we retire to the tent?" He held out his hand tentatively, hoping that she would take it.

 

[AngelofDeath]

Mel looked from the fire Salamander then back towards Len. Taking a breath she reached out and laid her hand in his and let him help her to her feet. Mel knew many of her ladies of the court who would have been up the nearest tree, screaming at the sight of the lizard. Having been left on her own much of her younger years, lizards and snakes didn't bother her, well at least not the one too small to swallow her whole, that is. "I suppose this won't be so bad after all." She wasn't going to deny it would take some time to get used to, but she was willing to be open minded. More so than she had planned on ever being originally. Once in the confines of the tent she watched him from the corner of her eyes as he let the flap, swing down, closing them off from the outside world. Running her hand through her hair, Mel began to unbutton her vest, it was warm out and sleeping in three layers of clothing was not something she planned on doing. The shirt underneath went over her head as she sat down and toed her boots off. Clad in just her bodice and pants, Mel laid down on the bedroll and looked at Len.

"How much of what happened has made it to the ears of the court gossips, in Noden? And don't say it hasn't, Len. I may have no interest in palace intrigue, but I do know how quickly things like what happened get around." She was curious to know what had happened once he had returned home, "I suppose your parents were not pleased to hear all that occurred. Father went as far the insist that I see the court physician. He has never doubted Jeral before, but I think he wanted to know for sure if we had been together or not." That was something she never wanted to go through again because it had been demeaning and because Mel had been dealing with her own emotions that she didn't need the judgment of the entire court upon her.

The couple had a few days to spend together, setting their relationship back on course, but eventually they would have leave before people began to once again wonder where they were. There was more than enough talk going on and Mel didn't want to fuel the fires. It wouldn't do the tempers of her father or his parents any good. She knew they were set on a marriage taking place and would be hard pressed to listen to their children about calling things off officially. At the moment though it was more that it was on hold. Rolling onto her side Mel found the pattern of the fabric on the bedroll highly interesting. She had missed having Len beside her at night, and everything that went along with it as well. Keeping her hands to herself would be an interesting task.

 

[marauder13]

Once inside the tent, Len removed everything except his shirt and pants. He could feel the tension in the air as he sat down near the bed roll.

"How much of what happened has made it to the ears of the court gossips, in Noden? And don't say it hasn't, Len. I may have no interest in palace intrigue, but I do know how quickly things like what happened get around."

"Oh, I'm sure that the Court of Noden knows as much as the Court of Brask. I arrived home before word had spread too far. Normally the court intrigues of other Kingdoms is not worth talking about. But by the nature of my involvement, it will be widely discussed. I also left soon after I returned. I'd rather let them not have the pleasure of spreading their poisoned words while I was around. I had far more important matters to attended to."

"I suppose your parents were not pleased to hear all that occurred. Father went as far the insist that I see the court physician. He has never doubted Jeral before, but I think he wanted to know for sure if we had been together or not."

"Your father was hoping that we hadn't by the time we had been found. At least most probably that was the reason.

"My parents spent a few hours berating me over many things, of which what we did was not the greatest cause of concern. No, I get berated for not turning you over to your father immediately when I knew who you were. That would have won me your eternal gratitude if I had done that. I couldn't make them see how stupid that move would have been."

Len laid down beside Mel, facing her. His eyes flicked all over her face. He reached out and caressed Mel's cheek, feeling the warmth against his palm. With only a moments pause, he brought his lips against Mel's, lightly brushing them with his. A slight tingle passed through him at the touch of their lips. With the softest of sighs, he pressed his lips harder against Mel's, seeking more from her. As they continued to kiss, he shuffled closer, his arm shifting down to her torso to hug her, hold her and show her how he cared for her.

Len knew that the time in that place would be the only time that they would definitely have together. He didn't want to loose any of that precious time that he might never have again.

 

[AngelofDeath]

That was something that hadn't occurred to Mel in all her thoughts about what had happened. Not once had Len tried to actually stop her from leaving Brask. Oh sure he wouldn't have let her get further than Kraala, but he could have won her father's gratitude, but certainly not her by marching her home. He had wanted to get to know her and why she didn't want him. It made sense considering the lies he had been told. Before he had kissed her only a few bricks had fallen from the wall she had built up around her before the trip. Once he did kiss her, pulling her against him, and pouring as much emotion as he could into that single kiss the whole damned wall came crashing down.

Trust would come with time, but she couldn't walk away from him. The last few days had been a very personal and very painful sort of hell that Mel didn't wish to revisit. She kissed him back slowly, letting her hand rest on his shoulder before it slid down into the fabric of his shirt, holding him close. Here at least nothing else mattered, not their relationship that was on the mend, not the politics of their two kingdoms, not the approval or disapproval of those around them. All that mattered was that they were together, such as it was for the moment.

When they pulled away to catch their breath Mel smiled at the look in Len's face. It made her heart and other parts of her clench in response. Touching his jaw she could see the faint bruise under his skin, the result of her uncontrolled outburst. Mel shifted her head and brushed her lips over the area. The brush slowly turned into a kiss and then a soft lick, she felt Len trembled at that and it made Mel smile against him.

 

[marauder13]

The touch of her hand and her lips and tongue brought forth a low moan from Len. He could feel his heart start to race from the feelings he had for her. But the moan reminding Len of a slight problem.

He sat up straight, looking at Mel with a boyish, cheeky grin. He placed a finger on her lips, asking her to remain silent. He slowly moved his hands about in slow, broad gestures, as if drawing something into closer to his body. He softly whispered, barely heard even by his own ears. He pulled out his pendant, placing the largest stone before his mouth. Just loud enough to be heard, he whispered "I love you, Melisandra." He leaned over close enough for the stone to be close to Mel's mouth. She looked up at him, slightly confused. He mouthed to her "I love you, Lentharian." She whispered the words, and the large stone glowed dimly. He took the pendant to the wall of the tent, touching the glowing stone to the fabric. The soft glow spread out through the entire tent.

"There, now let us check that it works, shall we. When I head outside, I will talk to you and I want you to answer me." Len scrambled out of the tent, letting the flap fall behind him. "Hopefully, Mel, you can hear me."

"Yes, Len, of course I can hear you."

Len waited about 10 seconds, the smile triumphant as he entered the tent. He dropped down beside her, kissing her deeply. When he reluctantly pulled his lips away from hers, he was smiling again.

"We can hear anything that happens outside, but no one outside will hear us as long as the flaps stay down. We can be as passionate as we desire, and not disturb anyone."

Len slowly at first, then with greater confidence, started to loosen Mel's bodice, helping her out of it. He started to kiss her, then kissing her neck, and moving to her breasts. He kissed her breasts. The feel of them on his lips seemed to be so different to the feel by his hands. The seemed to be softer, more delicate. Mel's responses made it easier for him to go on. He reached her nipple, delicately kissing the hardened flesh, before testing it with his teeth. He squeezed them gently, even scraping them slightly as he took his mouth away from her nipple. He worked his way to her other breast, doing the same there but more confidently still.

He returned to kiss Mel's lips, their tongues dancing with each other. "Mel," he whispered softly, "I love you. I want you in my life. I want to be in your life too, if you would have me there."

 

[AngelofDeath]

Mel had been apprehensive at first of what Len planned to do, but when she realized that this spell had afforded them some actual privacy she relaxed. She had forgotten for the moment that they weren't entirely alone out there in the woods as they had been originally. As must as she didn't care that the guards were around she didn't care to have them knowing every detail of what went on between them. Len's hand felt wonderful on her as he removed her bodice and then let his hands and mouth explore her flesh. She just about came undone when he used his teeth on her.

When he pulled away to speak again she didn't doubt any of his words. Sinking both of her hands into his hair, Mel stared up at him, "I want you Len, in all ways." Pulling him back down for another kiss, her legs wedged themselves against his side, holding him against her as they slowly began to get reacquainted with one another. She should have been ashamed for the way her body reacted to him, to the sudden ache that was quickly building inside of her, no the ache growing inside of her. It had been there from the moment she had ran from him at the castle.

The kiss grew deeper, more frenzied as the control they both seemed to be trying to hold onto went up in flames. It was hard to tell her moans from his as their hands moved, slowly stripping the remained of the clothes from one another, until they laid naked against one another. She shivered as his hands palmed her full breasts while she trailed her mouth of his scared shoulder. His cock was already full and hard against her, ready for her. Mel was almost torn between her desire to run her hands all over him, to take her time and the need to have Len inside of her making her think of nothing, but him.

"Len," his name fell from her lips in a soft sigh as she turned her face into his neck, trembling and panting softly. When he shifted against her, her nipples dragged against his chest, making her cry out softly and lift her hips into him.

 

[marauder13]

The way Mel kissed him, and received his kisses told him that she wanted him, maybe needed him too. He remembered something he had be shown by a noble of one of the Lower Valleys. Len started kissing his way down Mel's body. He could tell she thought he was going for her breasts again but his kisses went past them, heading lower down her body. He kisses led to between her legs. He slowly put out his tongue, licking her sex all over to start with.

The scent of her so close was strong, but he found it to be a scent that appealed to him. It tasted like nothing he had encountered before either. He knew that people used their tongue there, but to do what exactly, he had no real idea. So, he explored, listening to Mel's reactions to what he did and where. What surprised him the most was the enjoyment he was getting from the exploration. That was due to Mel's enjoyment from his exploration. But he did discover a couple of places that got Mel reacting very favourably. Both of which he spent a fair amount of time at. So much so, he brought her to her peak.

 

[AngelofDeath]

When Len's kisses had trailed lower than her breasts, Mel got curious of course before she could clear her head enough to ask what he was doing or rather planned on doing, the first brush of his tongue against her mound made Mel moan and go still. She didn't have to encourage him as he set about exploring every inch of her mound and the wet inner flesh beyond the lips of her sex. His hands trailed down her thighs as her hips lifted to meet every swipe of his tongue. Mel nearly melted when his tongue and lips found that swollen mound of flesh. "Gods...." One hands found its way into his hair, the other clutching at the bedroll as Len continued to lick, nibble and taste her until the soft whimper he was coaxing from her grew into a loud rolling moaning scream of pleasure.

Mel's sudden and sharp climax left her panting and shivering, her eye half closed, but open enough to see Len, raising his head as he licked his lips. Turning her head some she could see his cock, stiff and pulsing rising away from his body. When she shifted her leg brushed his shaft, making Len groan and rock against her smooth flesh.

 

[marauder13]

Len climbed up to kiss Mel again. He was starting to know what Mel liked with the kiss, and he made sure that he was giving her what she liked. He caught her reaction a little at the taste of herself on his lips, but at that time he didn't think of how she would react to that.

As the kiss continued, he got himself into position. His lips separated from hers as he looked into her eyes. While gazing into them, he slowly entered Mel until he was as deep as he could go. He paused, enchanted by the play of expressions crossing Mel's face before he lost control of himself. Instead of the slow, gentle affair that he had planned, it was hard, fast, full of passion and excitement. He claimed her lips with his, pressing her tightly to the ground as he loved her. His mind, body and soul were awash with the glorious sensations of loving Mel.

He could feel Mel's body starting to change in it's rhythm and reactions, which spurred him on. To his incredible pleasure, they hit their peaks at the same time. The feel of her body drawing tighter around him sent him into higher planes of bliss. Their voices mixed as one. Len looked at Mel, his eyes wide drinking in her beauty in the height of her passion.

Their bodies returned to something akin to normality. Len lowered himself enough to kiss Mel tenderly, tasting the sweat on her skin near her lips. "Mel, I want you to be with me.For no other reason than I love you."

 

[AngelofDeath]

Mel threw her arms around Len and pulled him down fully, savoring the kiss they shared. She could still taste herself on him, but couldn't bring herself to care. Before it had caught her off guard, but his ardent kiss and the passion that he stirred when they joined, pushed it from her mind. The ease and gentleness of the moment had lasted only a few moments, before the both of them were caught in the coming storm.

She had been surprised at first by just the volume of her cries, but Len had been just as vocal as they both rushed towards that must needed peak. "I love you too, Lentharian." It was the first time she had said his name, his full name without anger in her voice a the same time. With a soft groan, Mel let her head fall back amongst the pillows as his hands continued to roam her skin. Hers did the same from time to time through the night as they continued to burn up the moonlight making love.

Looking up at him, her thighs spread wide and one of his arms curled under the left one, Mel realized something. All that really mattered in the end was how they felt about each other. They could be miserable for the sake of making others happy or they could be happy for the sake of making themselves happy and being better rulers for it. The thoughts faded under the crash of her orgasm when he lowered his head to draw her breast into his mouth. Mel's hips bucked sharply against his, hard as her body spasmed around his, drawing him deep into her body. Her own cry was answered by his as Len's seed, once again surged into her welcoming depths.

She welcomed the heavy press of his body atop of hers, the pair of them falling asleep, wrapped around each other. Mel turned her head and buried in the crease of Len's neck. Morning and the outside world could wait, for now he was hers and she was his. And that was enough.

 

[marauder13]

Through the night, Melisandra and Lentharian made love, with pauses to exchange soft kisses and caresses, to retain that physical contact they both seemed to crave. The lulls only served to stoke the embers within them into roaring blazes of passion that saw them love each other once again.

It was well after dawn when they finally could not resist sleep's persistent calling. As he started to fall asleep, the fact that Melisandra spoke his full name, without any anger finally registered. That thought was the last one he had before he drifted into a contented sleep.


It was mid afternoon when Lentharian finally woke, feeling better than he had since Kraala. They were themselves now, and learning what is was like to be with the real person. It was easier for him, but not so for Melisandra. He kissed her softly before he managed to untangle their limbs so Mel didn't wake up. He dressed himself enough to be decent before leaving the tent to finish dressing fully.

He smiled at the obvious footprints of someone else who checked the camp during the day, wondering what thoughts had gone through the mind of the visitor during their time in the camp. He wandered over to the fire, the Salamander still happily curled up in the pit. He started cooking them some breakfast, or maybe dinner, depending on how one viewed meals. His stomach reacted loudly to the aromas that wafted from the pan.

Laughing slightly, Len called for his guardian to gently blow the smell of breakfast towards the tent, to entice his sleepy fiance to come out and join him for breakfast. While that happened, he thought of something else that they could do, something to show Mel how much Len thought of her.

 

[AngelofDeath]

When Len had left the bedroll, Mel had rolled over into the warmth left behind with a sigh and continued to sleep. She would have slept for longer had the smell of food cooking not come wafting into the tent. Slowly she got up with a yawn and stretched even more slowly, her body tender from the night before. As she dressed Mel peaked outside of the tent to see Len before the fire. Anyone else might have been surprised to see a noble cooking, but Mel found it sweet as well as impressive. She had felt that way beforehand. Too many nobles depended so heavily n their servants the very idea of them being out in the woods fending for themselves was almost laughable.

Once she had her shirt on and tucked into her pants Mel strode outside, her hair looking as if she had just run her fingers through the thick locks. Which is what she had done. "Good morning Len, or rather good afternoon I suppose," She added after looking around. Jeral or one of the other guards had been by at some point, but hadn't tried to wake them. And unless they had been bold enough to look inside the tent, they wouldn't know all that had gone on the night before.

Making herself comfortable on the mound of pillows, the princess continued to watch him cook. As she sat there a question slowly formed in her mind, "Len why did you come back here? I know Jeral said you had told him you would be here for a week, but why so long? Why here?" The voice in the back of her head said that it was because here is where it all had started for them more or less.

It was a warm afternoon and the trees were filled with birds and naught a cloud could be seen in the sky. It was all in all a perfect day or as close as one could get to such a thing.

 

[marauder13]

Len heard the flap of the tent move, and he cast a glance over to see Mel coming out. The sight of her made him happy and relaxed. Watching her run her fingers through her hair made him wish to do the same.

"Good morning Len, or rather good afternoon I suppose."

"Either way, it is indeed good for me." He watched her get settled near the fire, enjoying the way she moved. He saw her face change, the smile being replaced with a look of concentration.

"Len why did you come back here? I know Jeral said you had told him you would be here for a week, but why so long? Why here?"

"Firstly, why stay here for a week? To give you time to decide if you wanted to speak to me again. To give you time to calm down and make a calm decision about us. To allow you, as the most grieved party, it was proper to let you decide to see me or not.

"As for here. There were a few reasons. To get away from courtiers who have no need to know what we are discussing. This is a place that you would find easily, and remember well. Most importantly, it is a very special place."

Melisandra smiled, knowing that they camped here together for the first time, and his 'lesson' that failed badly.

"Melisandra, it is not special for the reasons you think. Here, let me show you why this place is so special." He took breakfast off the flame. He stood up, and took Melisandra by the hand, helping her to rise. Still holding her hand, he led her to the edge of the pool where she first bathed.

He closed his eyes, bringing the image of the place in the High Valley when he made the trek from.

"Mother Earth. We have need to travel from this place to another. Please allow us the honour to ride the flow of your life bringing blood so we can reach that place of your blessing." He opened his mind to the place about him, feeling his request being answered. The scenery around them started to become indistinct, then blurring before everything turned a deep brown in colour before the blurring returned, and a new environment slowly became more clear. They found themselves standing in the centre of a circle of smooth, dark stone.

"Thank you, Mother Earth."

He felt Melisandra's hand clench his tightly as they traveled. He looked over at his love, kissing her gently on her cheek.

"Welcome to the High Valley of Noden." He turned Mel around so both of them faced south. "See, the City of Noden. My home. Hopefully, one day it will be your home too, if we do marry that is.

"There is no one else in Noden that can do what I have just done. No one else is 'taran', blessed, like I am. That is why I wanted to go to that place where we made camp. It is a place of power, just like here. And I can travel between them if I have been there before."

Len looked around the Valley. "What do you think of my home?"

 

[AngelofDeath]

Listening to his answer she nodded slowly, he was glad he had given her the time to come to terms with everything and to make up her mind one way or another. She didn't blame him for wanting to get away from all the whispers and the stares. It would be awhile before they became yesterday's news. Hopefully some courtier would fall pregnant with some noble's child or some such other bit of drama that would make what had happened with them seem tame.

Mel hadn't known what to expect when Len had taken her to the water's edge or when he began to speak, but when the scenery of the forest faded away her heart began to race. It wasn't until Len kissed her once they arrived that she realized just how tightly she had been holding his hand. The last place she had expected him to take them was his home.

The High Valley was deep, but also very lovely. The only reason Noden was the smaller of the high kingdoms was because of its location. Being contained to the valley, meant Noden had been unable to spread as quickly as Brask had over to the lowlands.

It had its own sort of beauty and she could possibly see herself living there. She did love Len, but by no means was her mind made up about them yet. No there was still much she had to learn about the man who held her heart and Mel would not rush it.

"Its lovely. Thank you for bringing me here." In the back of her head Mel knew that if Jeral or the other were to come looking for them they would probably begin to worry when they couldn't find Len or herself in the camp or the surrounding area.

Still holding his hand Mel looked over the valley, taking in all that they were to see from their location, but also thinking about what Len had also told her. "I'm surprised your parents didn't have every noble in the kingdom offering their daughter to you then. I mean at the chance to be tied to the royal family as well as the possibility of seeing such a gift passed on to their line."

 

[marauder13]

Len continued to hold Mel's hand, the simple contact filling him with joy. He watched her face out of the corner of his eye, trying to gauge her reaction to what she was seeing.

"Its lovely. Thank you for bringing me here."

"You're welcome. I have seen your homelands, I wanted to show you mine."

"I'm surprised your parents didn't have every noble in the kingdom offering their daughter to you then. I mean at the chance to be tied to the royal family as well as the possibility of seeing such a gift passed on to their line."

"Well, if they did, I heard nothing of it. You were the first woman that was mentioned as a potential wife to me, and that was after the arrangements had been made. When I haven't been sleeping, I have very much been trained in sword work, commanding armies, using magic, statecraft, languages and generally learning more about my mystical abilities.

"No one has been able to do what I can in at least 500 years. I have had to teach myself how to do it. Which is exciting at times. This first time I traveled like we did, I almost panicked enough to loose concentration part way through. I almost buried myself alive.

"But I can do it safely now. Let's return to the camp before Jeral gets more gray on his head." Len took them back to the glade. On their arrival, they heard the calls of the Brask guardsmen calling for Mel, and cursing Len.

 

[AngelofDeath]

Mel didn't know whether to be flattered or not that his parents had wanted the two of them to be married over any other woman that might have been presented for such a match. Then again considering the story they had been told she didn't blame them. Taking Len's hand she let him take them back to camp, to find of course that the fact that they had been missing hadn't gone unnoticed.

Trying not to laugh as they headed back to camp, Mel spotted Jeral standing by the camp fire, the look on his face of worry but also frustration as well. When he saw them and their joined hands, Jeral tossed his hands in the air and walked off, muttering about 'young lovers'

"I think we managed to take a year or two off his life." She let go of Len's hand to see what he had cooked for their breakfast.