The Sorcerer and the king (closed)

[silvertongue217]

King Maxuis starred at the flames watching the embers slowly devour the wood. Winter was currently laying siege to the castle blanketing the grounds and the stone castle itself with heaps of white powder. He usually loved the snow and winter in general for what it brought. The quite of the snow, the peace and slumber in the castle, and the winter festivals all put him in a festive happy mood.

Not this year however

His Queen and wife was off in some part of the castle ignoring him and drinking away. After almost a whole year of trying to conceive a child the only thing they had gotten out of it was a dead marriage not that it was very good in the first place. He married her to cement his wealth and status and she married him because her father ordered her to. To be fair they both attempted to make the marriage work but it never seemed to get off the ground and the two of them quickly gave up on that idea. Now with the pressure on for them to conceive a child and the inability to do so whatever little foundation they made was gone like dust in the wind.

A part of him cared another part of him didn’t it wasn’t like he was in love with her but he was fond of her. He also knew that most of the talk in the kingdom centered around her inability to produce an heir even though technically it could be him as well. People never blamed the king for that kind of thing however which meant the blame was falling solely on her.

He picked up the teaming mug of hot cider and sipped it finally turning his back to the flames. He walked over to his desk his red and gold robes swishing over the stone floor. He ignored his broadsword and the urge to go practice and instead took his seat at his chair. Before he could get started on the daily reports however there was a knock on the door.

“Come in” He called pushing the reports away

“Good evening my king” Linus his aide said stepping in and closing the door “I bring news”

“Oh?” Maxuis said raising an eyebrow “what news would that be? The stick finally out of your arse”

“Very funny” Linus said ignoring the jab “No she’s here”

Maxuis stopped his eyes widening “bring her in at once” He said leaning back stroking his goatee in thought.

 

[heartofcourage]

She had come a long way from her home on the coast, Emmaline decided. Standing in the palace, she was surrounded by icons of power and wonderful art, but she was there for something that was far removed from the grandeur that surrounded her. She was there for the royal family...more importantly the queen who had yet to bear her husband a child.

Emmaline was a sorceress, one of the youngest that was in the realm. She had heard from her peers that the king was searching for the one that might be able to cure his wife and many had turned down the invitation for fear that their failure might result in their deaths. She had taken the offer simply to travel from her little cabin and see the world around her.

Her violet colored eyes turned towards the door that suddenly opened and she watched as the man named Linus reappeared, bidding that she follow him. Nodding, Emmaline followed as he wished, her long red hair flowing behind her as it trailed down her back loosely from her head. She rarely bound it, never really having the opportunity to where she lived. Her green dress was simple, cinched to fit her slender frame by a wide leather belt around her waist. She was simply from a different world than the one that surrounded her at that moment.

"Your highness." She murmured in her husky voice, dipping slightly in reverence as she was shown to the king. "I'm Emmaline of DuPrey. I came as soon as I could in this weather."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Thank you for coming at all” Maxuis said rising up and taking he small hand in his large one and giving it a warm shake “I know the weather has been picking up I haven’t received any word from others like you so I was just grateful you were able to make it”

He sat down his eyes assessing her she didn’t look like much but she was pretty so h supposed that had to count for some thing. Back in the day before he got married he might have even pursued her and pursued her hard. He was a sucker for a pretty girl and face and this woman had that in spades. He felt a familiar stirring of lust inside of him and cleared his throat nodding at the servants to bring in wine.

“I have no doubt you know why I have been requesting and summoning sorcerers” Maxuis said trying not to get embarrassed “I am not getting any younger the time for having an heir and child is ripe but no one can figure out why we haven’t been able to I was hoping you and your magic could help you will be paid handsomely for it of course”

 

[heartofcourage]

"To be honest with you, your highness, the others were afraid of coming. Sorcery is something that is looked down upon and they felt that if they failed they would forfeit their lives." Emmaline said in her usual blunt manner as she was warmly welcomed by the king. "Money means very little to me. Helping others is what I aspire to do."

She followed him as he guided them to a seating area, telling her just why she was there. She had already been informed as to why she was helping the royal couple. It was a complicated matter that would require her utmost attention if she were to find a way to resolve it. There were so many factors that could be at play in the situation. The queen might have something wrong with her. The king might be unable to conceive a child himself. It was a sensitive subject.

"There might be no easy answer for you, my lord." Emmaline said simply with a shrug of her slender shoulders. "I might spend months doing this and not be able to give you an answer as to why. Would that outcome be satisfactory for you?"

 

[silvertongue217]

“I know better than to believe in easy fixes” The King said nodding his head “Nothing may come out of it the top physicians in the land were unable to figure out why we cant conceive all signs point to her being the problem but no one truly knows who is the problem” He said looking out at the winter storm.

“If you can help or can’t is no matter to me trust me I have no intention of chopping off your head in either situation I simply wish to try and exhaust every possibility I have for the kingdom and for my own sake” He said taking another sip of his wine.

“You have complete liberty whatever you need simply talk to my people and they will procure it for you I will subject my self to whatever you need as will the Queen we only ask that you try every thing possible”

 

[heartofcourage]

"Physicians are always quick to blame the woman. Even more so when the king is involved. They have to keep in your favor." Emmaline said as the wine was delivered and the king partook of a glass while they talked.

She glanced up as he talked about not chopping off her head if the situation turned out less than what he expected. He seemed to be a benevolent man who was simply interested in securing his throne for another generation. It was also telling that the queen was not there with them to talk about things. Perhaps their marriage had been one for convenience and politics.

"I will have to make sure that there is nothing physically wrong number one, but that you both are doing things correctly." Emmaline murmured, knowing that it was a sensitive subject.

How many times had she had this discussion with a husband and wife only to find out that they couldn't even have sex right. It was embarrassing, but it was necessary, especially if there was a dynasty at stake.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Is there a way to have sex wrong?” Maxuis asked raising an eyebrow and cutting right to the point “I mean if your wondering if we do the…. Deed correctly I can assure you I have received high praise on that front I know that you can do certain positions to help speed it along we have tried many of them”

“Do you wish to see a demonstration?” Maxuis said smiling “I have never had an audience even though it might be fun my so called Queen probably would not be interested” He said scowling a little and looking at the fire.

“And yes there could be some thing wrong with me that much is true but I did impregnate a woman years ago she lost the baby because she wasn’t strong enough that is why they seem to think its her fault and not mine I don’t know if it could have changed”

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course there's ways to do it wrong." Emmaline said as the king looked at her with first a smile and then a scowl as he talked about his wife. "You don't seem to think highly of your wife. Perhaps that stress has only added to the situation."

She shrugged her slender shoulders again, brushing back a lock of her flaming red hair as he told her that another woman had conceived his child and lost it. Perhaps all was not lost then. If there had been an opportunity in the past there was certainly a glimmer of hope for the future.

"Of course I'll have to watch and make sure. I never take a client at their word." She said simply, knowing that it would cause great embarrassment on all sides. "Either your wife wants a child or she doesn't. That is the simple answer, your highness."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Very well” Maxuis said frowning “I will tell her but it will probably be tomorrow do you wish to go and rest or I there more you need to know?” He said raising an eyebrow and sipping his wine.

“Oh you must be hungry” Maxuis said shaking his head “my poor manners here how about I have the servants bring you some dinner?” He said clearing his throat and waiting as Linus came in.

“Food please Linus” He said waiting for him to nod before leaving “do you mind having dinner with me?”

 

[heartofcourage]

"There is nothing more that I need right now." Emmaline said as she went to rise, pausing as the king mention that she must be hungry.

She was about to protest, readying to tell him that she didn't need food, but he was quicker. She slowly lowered back in her seat as the king asked if she minded having dinner with him. He was certainly an odd man, she thought to herself.

"You are asking me if I mind having dinner with you, your highness? Normally men in your position wouldn't ask, they would demand." She said in a soft voice, her head tilting to one side as she struggled to figure out what kind of game he was playing.

 

[silvertongue217]

“I don’t like to demand if I don’t have to” Maxui replied giving a slight shrug of his shoulders “I find if you throw your weight around to much people look to trim the fat… so to speak I prefer to try ruling as humanely as possible war is bitch and so is foiling political assassinations”

He nodded at the food “please eat keep an old king company my wife is out some where drinking and my royal advisors tend to be to stiff tell me about yourself or at least keep me company” He said shrugging and giving himself a plate of food. He refilled both of their glasses and leaned back regarding her and waiting for her to tuck into her own plate before he devoured his. She was quite fetching on the eyes he noticed not at all bad company for a king.

Certainly better than his wife

 

[heartofcourage]

Emmaline took her seat again, staring at the king as he served the food and refilled her drink. She would have never expected royalty to serve her nor ask her about her life. Considering the conversation for a moment, she supposed that she needed to give him what he was asking for.

"I'm a sorceress. I live alone and I enjoy a quiet life most of the time." Emmalina said softly, knowing that her life wasn't nearly as exciting as he might have thought it to be. "I help people with their problems and barely leave my cottage on the lake unless it is a very serious issue. I guess I came here because I saw it as a challenge. If there's anyone that can solve your problem, it's me, your highness."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Ah so you like a challenge then” He said grinning and eating his food in precise bites “I can respect that I know what it is like to want to rise to a challenge” He said joking slightly as he threw his arms out to regard where they were. It was no secret that most thought he didn’t have what it took to lead and it was up to him to prove them wrong.

And prove them wrong he had

“I can respect a quite life” Maxis said smiling at her “I have a small cottage up by the mountains I make it a point to get up there as much as I can to relax and unwind it isn’t much but it is all I got so to speak” He said smiling softly and continuing to eat.

“Do you have nay one special in your life? A pretty lass like you must have some one” He said

 

[heartofcourage]

"Anyone special? No." Emmaline said in a quick tone, shaking her head as she ate her food in small bites, regarding him as he told her his story and asked questions about herself. "I work too much to keep a relationship going. There aren't many men out there that would stay with a woman who puts no effort into a relationship."

 

[silvertongue217]

“I cant imagine you don’t put any effort into a relationship” He countered shaking his head and raising an eyebrow “it sounds more like you haven’t met the right person to invest your time in who admires a hard working woman” He said shaking his head “trust me the men in my kingdom aren’t the most progressive combine that with your line of work and I am sure they find it intimidating”

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've yet to find someone who hasn't tried to change me. I'm happy with my life and I don't want to change a thing about it. Until the day that I can find that someone, there's no sense in trying." Emmaline said in a firm tone, telling the king that it was a subject that she didn't really want to get into at the moment.

"I feel for you, however. Marrying someone you didn't know." She murmured as she glanced across the table to the king. "That might be part of the reason why you haven't had children yet. That stress is not good for conceiving."

 

[silvertongue217]

“I’ve often wondered if faith isn’t playing some part in it” Maxis said his face becoming troubled as he contemplated this new line of conversation “My parents had little trouble conceiving but they were in love met a handful of times before finally tying the knot I don’t know if there is any correlation but often I wonder if it isn’t some thing else that effects our abilities in the bedroom”

“Oh well faith and destiny and all that stuff correct?” Maxis said smiling softly “you must excuse me I can get melancholy some times”

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your highness, I can assure you that by the time I leave here, you will have an heir on the way." Emmaline said as she watched him turn melancholy at the thought of his wife. "My first mission is to get her to give up her drinking. It isn't good for her body. Then I will make sure that the both of you are doing things correctly. I'm sure that you are and there is no ill intent on my part. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't look over every single possibility."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Get her to give up drinking?” He said glancing at her for several long minutes before letting out a large whopping laugh “My wife wont take to kindly to that….” He waned her shaking his head slightly “Woman loves her drink more than any thing else I guess it helps her get through the other stuff” He said with a waive and a dismiss of his hand.

“Oh I am aware of your need to watch” He said feeling a bit boisterous “I wonder what it is like to see a couple committing the act?”

 

[heartofcourage]

"If you feel so strongly about your wife, why do you keep her around?" Emmaline asked bluntly, feeling a little bad for the king as he was forced to live with a woman that he very obviously didn't love. "Treaties aside, you shouldn't have to be miserable in a marriage. That will only add to the stress and any child brought into that situation is in for a bad home life."

"As the king you know that you can watch whoever you like in bed." She said softly, wondering if he really understood what his power was. "There would be few that would tell you no if you decided that you wanted to."

 

[silvertongue217]

“I think if I did that people would get mad” The king said laughing and shaking his head “Imagine that?! A king who demands his subject have sex in front of him!” He said breaking into a series of chuckles as he shook his head and gave her a wink “I like you perhaps I can offer you full time work here at the castle as a sorcerer your skills could be needed here at court”

He sighed his chuckles subsiding as a sad look crossed his eyes “I would be dealing with a potential war on my hand from her father and backlash from the community not that I haven’t thought about it…” He said trailing off and looking at the melting candles.

“But it is late and I am sure you would like some sleep” He said rising from his chair “Shall I see you tomorrow morning for breakfast?”

 

[heartofcourage]

"Tomorrow for breakfast it is then." Emmaline said as she stood from her chair and regarded the king for a moment. "Do not feel sad that this is happening. I will ensure that you have a strong heir to take your throne. You can find joy in a healthy child when everything is said and done, your highness."

She had nothing else to really say to him. It wasn't an ideal situation and she knew that he had a lot of problems in his marriage, but the one thing she could do was make sure that the child he conceived was brought into the world and would thrive.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Yes” He said getting up and reaching out he took her hand and brought it to his lip kissing it softly “I will see you in the morning there you will met my wife as well” He said giving her a small smile before crossing over and opening the door for her “I hope you have a pleasant evening and enjoy your room” he told her before making his way down the castle halls.

He reflected on her as he walked wondering if she would give him the heir the kingdom was so desperate for. His thoughts however didn’t stay on the baby or her mission long instead however they stayed on her. There was some thing about her some thing that intrigued him she was beautiful and the way she carried her self and acted almost made him think she was a princess in another life or Queen. She was very capable and possessed a sense of self that most others didn’t.

He felt some thing twitching and looked down his eyes widening as he saw his hardened cock pulsating in his robes. He hadn’t realized it but he was horny and there was only one woman he was desiring right now.

But his wife would have to do

He walked in undoing his robe, his wife would submit but she wouldn’t like it which of course meant he didn’t have to necessarily be nice about it. He stopped however when he noticed her passed out in their bed a bottle of wine hanging loosely from her hands.

“Figures” He murmured going over to the drawer and pulling out a bottle of oil “Damn woman” He said sitting down in the comfortable chair by their bed and putting some oil in his hand.

And with that the most powerful man in the kingdom stroked himself in silence not to thoughts of his wife but instead to the strange woman who had entered his life tonight.

 

[heartofcourage]

The next morning, Emmaline was up early as she always was. Her room in the palace was beautiful, but she barely stopped to dwell on her surroundings. She was there for a reason and she was going to make sure that everything that was needed was in place. She had already talked to the kitchen cook about a special diet for the king and queen. She had visited the personal guard of the royal family to ask some hard questions that she might not get an honest answer to.

She learned very quickly that the queen enjoyed her wine to excess and the king was very frustrated. There were rumors that the queen was also seeing other men, which very well might complicate things in the future. She had to stop those relationships from happening and get the woman to focus on what would be her ultimate duty.

 

[silvertongue217]

The king scowled stepping into the grand hall that they had breakfast in. His wife heard about the new sorceress very quickly and what changes she wanted to make. To say she wasn’t pleased was an understatement and he had to rush out to ignore her insults and thrown objects. She made it clear she wouldn’t be listening to her any time soon and refused to come down for breakfast.

He sighed grabbing himself a plate of food and settling in his eyes distant and troubled as he ate and tried to figure out the future of his kingdom and his linage. He had to have an heir but it seemed he wasn’t going to give him one on her own accord.