The Princesses Heart (Closed)

[MzSeductress]

Elizabeth Kinesley was the Princess of The Kinesley kingdom passed on through her fmily for years, her Father king, her grandfather and so on from the original Family surmane Kinesley. All her life she had grown up in the castle taught to be the perfect wife and princess, what manners to use, dressed and pampered daily, fed the finest foods and given the finest customized clothes.

She was allowed only on castle grounds alone and if she wandered beyond that she needed armed guards and an escort at all time or else bandits would try robbing her or kidnapping her for randsom or gold, at first she was only allowed to play with royal children but there were never any her age so her mother ,the queen,pleaded with the king to let their children play with the staff children within the walls and Beth was more than happy with that because evn though she had it she wanted to be a normal child like everyone else.

At 3 she had made friends with a servers son and a few other children and they woukd play daily with supervison of course, she had like the boy so much she had given him her ruby braclet as a present to give to his mother for her birthday because they were poor and needed the money and she had wanted to help her friend.

A few days later she asked where he was and got scolded for it not knowing what happened being 6 years old but shenwas sad not seeing her friend anymore or other kids for that matter, she wasnt alloweed with village children again, she was only allowed to study, and princess duties.

One night, she decided to steal servant clothing and hide her hair and rub ashes on her face and skin to appear ragged and sneak into fthe village just for once unnoticed.

 

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Darkness had descended over the village an hour earlier, bringing on a comfortably balmy evening. Most of the craftsmen and women had shuttered their shops and were trudging to their abodes to lock themselves in for the evening. Indeed, most were already there, venturing out only under direst need.

Rolf was frequently chided for his nonchalance in being on the streets after dusk. It wasn't that he was foolhardy. No, he simply possessed an unnatural calmness and confidence in his ability to look after himself, whether the fear was of cutpurse, robber, brigand or otherwise.

Rolf's course hair and tall form cut an impressive silhouette in any regard. Not of bulky size, he possessed a sinewy languid toughness which manifested in his loping stride as he passed between street torches, leaving the tack and harness shop for the home he shared with his sisters.

The looming fastness of the castle dominates the village, and I glance up at it. Those years were so long ago, the memories faded and not oft-recalled, but tonight, she rre-enters my mind. My pretty little Princess, Beth. She used to love the stories I related about village life with my sisters and mother....

Mother...I gulp not for the first time, remembering her dim figure from my past. Her care, her comfort, her hard life providing us with anything resembling some level of pleasant homeliife and creature comforts, all so abruptly taken from us....

I put my hand to my brow, then bite down reflexively on my fisted hand, slightly drawing blood. Think of something else....

A figure darts across the street ahead. My ears prick up with interest...

 

[MzSeductress]

Beth was excited to be out out on her own for the first time but she was also afraid of the dangers her father had warned her about if she didnt have protection. She held the robes she wore close to her body almost as a form of protection and a torch in one hand to see her way along the dim street.

The village was everything she had imagined it would be whennshe had stories when she were younger, there were families closing uontheur small shops, a river along the side for fresh water, and the road lined with wooden carts along the side, it was a completely different look than within the castle walls, they had their own livstock, garden, bakers and farmers so anything she ate the family workers had tended to them, fresh meat and all.

She saw a little chicken running around which startled her at first and then she saw the guard patrol as well and gasped and hid behind a cart, she knew if she were caught her father would double her guard patrol and most likely keep her within castel walls forever, she felt the castle to be more of a luxury prison she couldnt spend time with people her age.

She waited till guards passed and not looking forward bumped into a solid figure she had not seen previously. She hid the ground and landed on her bottom with a hard thud and grew embarrassed ,she quickly stood dusting off her dress and glared at the man she looked up and was stunned seeing the familar pair of green eyes from her childhood .

"Rolf?" She said shocked thinking there was no way after 13 years?

 

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Rolf stalked the shadowed form with ease, a seeming preternatural ability to ease effortlessly through the night. His senses alertly keyed I to natural grace with which the cloaked figured negotiated the streets. The movements were lithe, but betrayed an uncertainty of direction.

His green eyes narrowed to slits when he saw the figure dodge to avoid a patrol. He closed with where he last observed the figure, as he approached the weaver's cart, the figure emerged and walked directly into Rolf's chest, and stumbled backward to.the ground.

He might be a village rustic, but his mother raised him right, so far as she was able to, and his sisters reinforced his manners. He reached to help the figure up, but was too late. Warily, he now suspected a ruse, when he heard his name called out to him in a voice which set off a number of vague recollections in his mind.

Looking to the figure's eyes, he couldn't quite place the features he encountered, but wagering this was a friend, he pulled the apparent young women into a nearby shop, finagling his way through the insubstantially secured door with a practiced art.

Placing his hand over hers on her torch, he held it to best scatter illumination on her face. Despite the soot and attempt at dishevelledness, a spark of recognition made suggestions to his memories....

"Who ARE you?"

 

[MzSeductress]

Beth was nervous, if this wasnt Rolf a stranger had just pulled her into shop.. alone..with no guards. She knew how to defend herself but she didnt know how long she'd be able to fight a larger opponent. She felt the rough hands on top of her holding the light near her face to observe her features her hazel eyes twinkling in the fire.

She wasnt going to reveal her identity until she knew it was him or that she could trust him, she was clever at times so she stepped back putting space between them and she told a half truth.

" Your mother baked a pie for my family a few years ago, Her name was Madge i believe... she spoke of you and your siblings all the time" she said hoping she had concealed he identity and had not given away who she was.

She heard some bells going off and she was nervous... the curfew bell.. she had half an hour to explore and get back into the castle undetected. She knew she could sneak to the stables and pretend she was playing with horses and fell to explain the soot and messy appearance.

 

[lavatrain]

Rolf's brow arched in suspicion. He wasn't born yesterday. His street wits told him this female was hedging. He noted her withdrawal physically and dawning entered his eyes that she sensed her disadvantage.

Wordlessly, he stepped back himself, pulled back his sleeves to display his corded forearms and lack of weapons concealed there. Then he slowly opened his cloak to reveal his spare, rangy frame.

"Be assured, lass, you'll come to no harm here by my hand, but you utter my mum's name in the company of half truths. You might've known me mum, but how would ye know to recognize yours truly?"

He looked on with interest as she obviously was formulating a response. When the curfew rang out in the distance and she glanced about her in consternation, he chuckled in amusement.

"Ah, dear me. Time you was getting home, m'lady?"

 

[MzSeductress]

Beth blushed seeing he wasnt buying what she was saying and was relieved he mentioned her being on her way .

" I um i think you may have come with her once to drop it off" she said " i cannot quite remember twas so long ago" she said softly and tried not to stare so boldly at the handsome man she thought was an old friend and who was also making her feel inappropriate things .

"Ah yes.. i shall be on my way you should do the same ... patrol will be out soon." She said and gripped the torch tightly brushingnpast and trying to hide her face slightly "Good evening" she said and gave a soft smile brfore rushing out of the shop and running as fast as she could back toward the castle she was 15 minutes away from.

As she approached she heard them sounding warning alarms near the castle probably not seeing her in her room and she ran to the stables lighting a torch and pulling out her horse so they could know she was at least on grounds. She switched back to her nightwear and robe and rode to the entrance where she saw at least 50 guards and her worried parents.

"Please... do not fret knights and Papa! I went to the stables.. i needed air"

Her angry father dismounted her quickly " Do not ever leave without your guard again... understood? !"

Beth nodded and said " Yes Father" before she went to her room and sighed seeing the three guards posted outside of her door.

 

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Rolf grinned wolfishly at her hasty retreat, her scent whirling about the room in her haste. Despite her obvious sooted countenance, the cloying lilac cologne and refined soap scents lit up his olfaction like the rays of a dawning sun.

Hmmm, the village perfumery did not traffic in such refined fragrance.

He gave the besmirched lovely 30 seconds of lead and then was on her trail like a hound, stalking her silently in the shadows. He was confident she never suspected she was tracked.

He gave a low growl when he saw her disappear within the royal stables.

With a sly grin, he loped off to meet his sisters and then ranged out into the night.

 

[MzSeductress]

Elisabeth was undressed and washed after her little outing, she asked for some alone time and relaxed in the tub thinking about the village and her little outing and then her mind drifted to the familar green eyes that had stared her down nit even hours ago.

His woodsy cologne and his muscular frame, his masculine voice, how his body had made her feel when he was close. No! That couldbt have been her old friend, he had changed so much throughout the years, she had oftenn.wondered of him and his family, Magda had been her favorite castle cook.

She leaned back sighing wondering how she could sneak out again, she knew a few guards she could bribe with gold that would follow her but from a distance and she knew she could sneak off if she got far ahead of them, but she also didnt want her father cross with her, she just needed to see more, and she needed to see Rolf again,

 

[lavatrain]

Justine and Agatha were anxious when Rolf rendevoused with them on the opposite river bank under the elderly oak. He greeted each with their customary familial hug and nuzzle.

"Late, dear brother. We will have to move fast to cover ground," the elder, Agatha warned.

"Was she worth our waiting on you, big brother?" Justine teased, relishing the opportunity to needle her brother just a bit.

Eyes aslant at Justine, who he was sure was merely teasing and would not know how close to the mark she was, Rolf growled "As if I've never stood beneath this oak wondering when one or the other of you mangy bitches was going to arrive...."

The sisters threw their heads back in laughter as they reveled in the familiar jesting at each other's expense.

"Okay, enough! Let's be about the king's business!" Rolf admonished, and he trotted off to the east. The sisters fell in at his heels, and they covered the requisite ground with alacrity, mindful of reaching the opposite borders of the next parish, Isengrove, in time to make a steady and sweeping return before dawn.

Rolf found his mind wandering from his duties as they moved, his thoughts wrapped around a twinkling pair of hazel eyes and a soft smile. Oh, he'd a very firm idea of whom he'd encountered in the streets, against all odds. He unconsciously wagged his head as they loped in disapproval of the carelessness and rashness of her intrepid foray, given his surmisal of her identity was accurate.

His head movements were not lost on Justine, who was generally very keen about her brother's mannerisms. "Unsure of the way, Rolf?" she panted.

Rolf growled in irritation even as he refocused on their mission and pushed his memories of the lithe, graceful form to the edges of his mind, if only for the present.

The next day found him drowsy in the tack and harness shop, relying on his apprentices to see to the bulk of the work.

 

[MzSeductress]

Beth had managed to get an escort into the village and couldn't contain her small grin. She had torn a few gowns she owned blaming itnon rats and her handmaid and guard were to accompany her into the village to see the seamstress to get her some new ones whiilemthe castle exterminator examined the place for pests.

She wore a long blue regal dress and her hair back in a braid with flowers intertwined. She and handmaiden rode in her royal carriage and were off tonthe village shortly. She couldnt help but gaze outnof the window with curiosity and wonder if Rolf had been anywhere near but she knew it woukd be a slim chance to happen to bump into him again.

They stopped at the tailors and shenhad her measurements taken, given the style she wanted and chose the regal material they needed and given some gold thread to the seamstress for them to weave
Into her clothing.

After that she asked the guard who was hesitant if they could let her walk the village. She knew that people would recognize her and little children wanted to say hello in which she smiled and greeted everyone in a royal manner just as excited to see her subjects as they were to meet her.

She held a babe in her arms cradling her and smiled then she looked into the crowd and spotted those eyes and gasped handing the baby back. She knew she couldnt approach him in this crowd so she told her guard to approach him about being a knight.

 

[lavatrain]

Rolf looked up from a particularly complicated harness at the sound of the approaching bustle.

Fromt the door of the shop he saw the royal entourage approaching from the opposite end of the trade shops.

He slaked his thirst with a draught from his tankard of mead. "Clive, I'll be down the street for a moment."

As he passed the apothecary, he saw that it was a small party from the castle. A few men at arms and a lady.

He stopped short at the sight of the royal princess. Thirteen years brought change, but he found he could not breathe when he saw the hazel eyes, the impish glint to her mien, the grace and lithesome bearing with which she negotiated the slumly village streets, enlivening them with her grace. Take away the courtly glown, smear ashes into her cheeks, tuck those redolent tresses away, and you had a mysterious nightime visitor wandering in the village streets.

"You there..." a gruff voice catches my attention. By his insignia I take him to be some sort of corporal.

"How can I be of service, soldier?" I say deferentially. In the King's undercover service, I answer to a chancellor in confidence, but this man at arms would know nothing of my clandestine connection.

"A knight? An invitation to training? What manner of blessing is this? Most extraordinary."

I break my attention from the good corporal to gaze again at the Princess. Odd bodkins, was that a wink that she threw at me?

 

[MzSeductress]

Beth had to hold back a smirk and winked when Rolf's eyes met with hers, she knew he would be stunned by the invitation to be a knight but she tried to hide the fact that it was her requesting it. She couldnt outright ask but she knew with his frame that he would be taken right away, henwas larger then some knight they had now and she would get to see him often because the knights trained not too far from her quarter, she could watch him.. watch him train.

Beth shook her head to clear her mind once she felt her heart beat quicker and her breathing hitch thinking about him , she had never had a crush this intense, shes dated princes, and archdukes but none made him feel like this.. none excited her in this way, she knew if her parents knew they would think evjl and lust had gotten to her.

Beth hugged a little boy happy to see her and chuckled before the handmaiden mentioned they needed to be back to the castle soon to meet her new suitor. Beth frowned at that idea, it hadnt interested her and she knew of Prince Ansel and his dismissive way of treating women " Griselda, you know my feelings about Ansel and so does father! Why does he contiously try courting me?" Beth said annoyed which made her handmaiden chuckle "I just dont trust him is all.." she said .

Her guard made his way back to her carriage and helped her in and she gave one last glance to Rolf wondering what he had said to the offer?

 

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Justine burst out in uproarious laughter "A KNIGHT?" Rolf rolled his eyes and patiently withstood her enjoyment of the ironic predicament he found himself in.

"Some royal trollop bestows a favorable glance at you in the market trade row, and suddenly you're to be A KNIGHT?" She cuffs me on the shoulder, her sleek diminuitive frame heartily causing me to steady myself in reaction to her amused enthusiasm.

"A knight!" sighed Agatha, sidling up to me, drawing herself on her tiptoes, hands on my shoulders, brushing dust and llint away as if to polish me for inspection. "You'd look grand in the King's livery, dear brother. I daresay they'll be shaking the lady courtiers off of you at every turn. Why, if they were to have any idea of the beast you can be...." Her hand ran down Rolf's arm and around to his rump, delivering a firm slap.

Rolf groaned half in disgust and half in appreciation of his sisters' greeting the news of his appointment to the training squadron. He had given the corporal his conditional assent to the training berth, wanting to first confer with his sisters. Their clandestine service to the king would need to be finessed to accomodate this development. The girls ultimately thought this to be a boon despite the inherent difficulties, and they drank to his health that night. It was a bit of a late night for all three.

At dawn, Rolf disentangled himself from their limbs and groped about for suitable clothes to report to the training grounds.

Wearing spare and loose clothing to facilitate physical activity, He stepped up to the sentry. "Rolf of the village, reporting as directed for training."

 

[MzSeductress]

Beth grew annoyed as she was washed and dressed and made presentable for Prince Ansel the next day. She was furious! If she married Ansel he would be an arrogant controlling king and she didnt want that for her kingdom.

" Father! I do not want that Prince! I dont care how much gold he offers to court me, ive heard stories from dutchesses!" She said and pleaded with him .

"ENOUGH ELISBETH!" Her father roared in annoyance silencing her and making small tears well in her eyes " You will go to lunch with Ansel and you will play along, matching is not all about emotion, shall you deny your kingdom an future king and royal lineage based off of rumor?

Beth nearly retched at the thought of the arrogant prince breeding with her.

" Ok father just lunch but if Ansel get out of line-"

"Then you politely put him back in line and you tell me if he ttied anything with you Elisabeth"he father said in a softer tone " I love you be well"

Beth nodded and hugged him before leaving to join Ansel downstairs in his carriage and spotting a familar figure heading toward training ground.

 

[lavatrain]

Rolf endured an hour-long harangue by the Lord overseeing the Knights training regarding rules, courtesies, behavior in the presence of royals and knights of peerage, blah blah blah blah.

His gaze was drawn askance by the passing of a noble's carriage passing near the training smithy. He found his cheeks flushing at the barest glimpse of his secret patron. He had little doubt who was responsible for this surprising turn of events.

The trainees worked through the morning on a variety of physical fitness activities. The several other candidates, despite their advanced status in the training program, found it hard to keep up with Rolf's dogged and relentless energy. During the grappling exercises, more than one tried to take him down to size by unfair holds if necessary, but they frequently found themselves on their backs.

During a water break, the Chancellor who oversaw the borderlands patrols stopped by the training grounds to pretend to address a matter with the Lord Trainer. In particular he used the opportunity to draw Rolf aside and assure him that others would be employed to cover his night time duties while he worked toward possible knighthood. "Ye didn't tell me of other friends in high places, did ye, lad?"

Rolf merely shrugged, returned to training with a bow and a "Your Lordship" and prepared for quarterstaff exercises.

 

[MzSeductress]

Beth returned an hour later on horseback and Ansels carriage and horseman behind her with a furious and nervous Ansel inside hurriedly following behund her and grabbing her wrist earning himself an audible slap before Elisabeth hurried inside.

She rushed to her father to let him know after two cups of wine Ansel tried to get into her pants which infuriated the king.

"I dont ever want to see him again father! I mean it!" Elisabeth said upset by his bold actions and comforted by the queen.

" You dare try to bed the princess like a common whore?! How dare you disrespect her this way!" He father shouted angrily and she could hear him and his lead knights shouting at him.

" Let me go before your father kils him" her mother stated and she gave a small nod.

She began to undress wanting to forget the horrible date and she went to the window peeking out when she heard some training going on.

 

[lavatrain]

Cecil and Roderick were clashing at quarterstaffs in the central area and the rest of the training cadre were standing about, evaluating each opponents techique and prospects in the scrum.

Rolf had noted the unorthodox return of the Princess and the slight and ungentleemanly clash as the party drew up.

The princess,. he could see, was a spitfire when called upon.

He watched with interest as the row continued into the castlle walls, when he returned his gaze to the training battle before him at the remonstrance of the Lord Traiiner.

Glancing up at the position of the sun, he noted movement in a high window of the castle where the silken curtains blew lightly in the wind.

 

[MzSeductress]

Beth sat in the high window and observed the sparring below from the knight and chuckled remembering when she was younger she wanted to learn a few of the moves but was quickly told it was foolish and i wasn’t ladylike , so instead of joining she observed from her room, where she could watch from a distance.

She watched the sparring for a while and then her eyes landed on the familiar form that hurried her into the town shop two nights ago. She sighed in appreciation of his form and then glanced at the two knights Cecil and Roderick sparred and clashed swords, two of her fathers strongest nights, she was certain Her father would add a new guard for her, she was hoping one was Rolf as Cecil would be leaving soon for the birth of his wife’s twins.

She sat up her attending drawn to Rolf as he had been prepared to spar.

 

[lavatrain]

Roderick soon found himself flat on the ground at extreme disadvantage, Cecil's staff a hair's breadth from his Adams apple.

"I yield." Roderick grunted, and accepting the hand up from Cecil, he staggered over to the side as the Lord Trainer directed Rolf and Thur to enter the lists and try each others mettle.

Rolf coiughed, seized a sturdy oaken staff, bade Thur to lead the way onto the training arena, and courteously tapped staff against staff.

The Lord Trainer bade them "begin" and they circled each other warily.

Rolf had a long experience of clandestine nighttime encounterrs and really had no match in Thur. His opponet was well trained, strong, and an apt opponent, but Rolf was preoccupied with trying to apear rough enough in his skill to not draw attention, yet found that he could not simply alllow an opponent to win due to his admitted ego.

He engaged in feints, parries, and blocked Thur when he advanced, mentally noting the times that Thur left himself open and vulnerable. He would make suggestions to him after the bout.

Cognizant that there was a watcher at the window, Rolf at last feinted a large sweep of his staff, then caught Thurr with a leg-sweep, a quick sharp blow to his now exposed back which put Thur on the ground, and then placed his knee on Thur's chest as he lay supine and out of breath, Rolf's staff poised in to hands to crush down crosswise upon Thur's neck were this a death match.

It was not, and when Thur sagely yielded, Rolf assisted him up, gave him a hearty backslap and promised a cup of mead at the end of the day, and retired to the side of the lists.

 

[MzSeductress]

Beth stood at the window impressed with Rolf’s sparring skills and heard a knock at the door and quickly moved to her vanity so no one knew she was spying. She brushed her hair softly and nodded as the handmaiden brought her some wine and fruit and she thanked her.

She heard from the handmaiden they had chosen the knew knights and were having a huge ceremony and dinner to celebrate the new warriors. Beth of course was elated but she hid her emotion from the maiden. “ Thank you Emma, That will be all” she said to dismiss the maidens waiting on her command.

She slid into a simple dress and to the meeting hall to see if it were true and indeed preparation was being arranged. She was always happy for a royal party, she grabbed some flowers and spinner delighted dancing alone to unheard music and almost as if she knew she was there she saw Rolf with a group of new knights being led to his quarters and stopped dancing to save herself embarrassment.

 

[lavatrain]

Shaking out his sinewy muscles and joints after a grueling day of training, Rolf worked with the other Knights in training to police up the training and sparring gear and leave everything presentable for the coming day.

He noted the position of the waning sun, and thought of his sisters and how they would be preparing to rove the Kingdom's frontier again this eve, but without him. They were capable, but he had understandable misgivings now that his training responsibilities intervened.

As the training cadre failed into the castle to be shown their quarters, he observed that the Lord Trainer was making good on his word that they would be feted as new Knights that eve with a celebration and pomp of Royal worth. His thoughts drifted to supposition that the princess would likely at least make an appearance, and he drifted with thoughts of how she would be adorned, a fresh and beguiling feminine form in redolent garb worthy of her status....

As they passed the grand hall, he saw her figure swaying and twirling amidst the preparations, noting her natural grace and balance, and the way her surprisingly simple dress did nothing to mask the allure of her feminine form. When she stopped abruptly, he flushed slightly as if he'd caught her in an act of intimacy, and he averted his gaze. Still as they passed into the hallway to the baths and their quarters, he betrayed his self-discipline with a glance backward searching out her eyes, recalling her mischievous grin as a very young child.

Reaching the baths, he and the others began scrubbing, rinsing, and seeing to their attire for the ceremony.

 

[MzSeductress]

Beths eyes caught his and her body was flush for a moment, he was sweaty ,dirty for the sparring, and his form stills stood high and strong as he moved with the group. She watched as the rounded the corner and she was tempted to go take a peek knowing where it had led, to the knights quarters and baths.

She was brought out of her thoughts when her older handmaiden called her and told her it was time she get dressed for the ceremony and she nodded off to be prepared.While she was given her bath , she couldnt help but think about Rolf, the warm water ran along her skin and she was washed with fine franganced soap and latyered with expensive oils to keep her skin smooth and oiled for the day.

She knew a few single knight that had a crush on her but there was only one man that had interested Elisbeth and she knew her father would not allow her with him until he proved himself in battle.

 

[lavatrain]

Rolf bristled at the exteme attention to detail demanded by the Lord Trainer in their garb for the ceremony.

Full battle dress? Wouldn't it be enough to wear military tunic and carry a blade? He and the rest of the cadre stood ready, waiting impatiently to get on with it. Every piece of metal shined like blazes. All leather fittings were oiled and buffed. Chain cuirass slinked subtly beneath the King's livery.

She would be there. She most certainly would be there. Bathed, coifed, groomed, perfumed, wearing fine adornment (and finer adornment under that, he fancied).

His stomach growled within him. Rolf growled back at it, urging self-discipline. Rolf's private parts hinted of a certain other hunger, less easily sated. He bristled again. She was unreachable, untouchable.

Now they were assembled in the antechamber to the great hall, awaiting the cue to enter and be recognized.

 

[MzSeductress]

Elisabeth was dressed , cinched, hair done, skin moisturized and all ready for the ceremony in one of her many gowns with flowers sewn into the garment.

Beth knew she woud get a chance to dance with knights and royals tonight, it was a celebration, and everyone knew to be in control of themselves and bodies and respect the royal family, but her quim quivered thinking of being that close to Rolf, she didnt knownhownshe could control her bodys reaction to him, she needed to be alone with him, just for a moment, she knew she could sneak away during ceremonies like this, everyone was busy with the event and enjoying themselves.