Authors: Jordan Silver
Are we at war?
That was my first thought when I heard the clashing of steel in the dead of night; but no, it couldn't be, the watchman’s warning would’ve awakened me. Lying there for the first few seconds, I tried to get my bearings about me. I'd just spent the most pleasant night making sweet passionate love to Rhiannon. She'd sapped my energies for sure to the point I didn't remember falling asleep.
Reaching my hand out my blood ran cold when I realized she wasn't in bed next to me. I jumped from the confines of my bed and was hurrying into my clothes just as my door was thrust open and young Jason came stumbling in.
"Hurry Shane." Those were his only words, which did nothing to lessen the anxiety creeping up my neck.
"What's going on Jason where's your sister?"
"Just hurry you'll see."
We made it out into the courtyard in time to see a shrouded figure wielding a sword against...Tamar Stefano?
What... All that could be heard was the ringing of steel as a dozen or so of my men stood around as if on guard. I approached my first in command who I had yet to take to task for sending the Stefano wench to impart the news of my renouncement to my wife. That will have to come later however as I needed to know what in the living hell was going on here. Somehow I knew it was she wielding the sword.
My heart had already stopped beating, as there was no way for me to interfere. If I called out it might cause her to falter and that could prove fatal. The Stefanos were known for their swordsmanship and as far as I know Rhiannon's prowess consisted of bouts with Jason. I’ve never felt such helplessness in my life as I did in those first few moments when realization hit.
"Marcus, what goes here?" If he noticed the threat of death in my tone he didn't let on.
"My queen sought retribution for a wrong I did her, that day I had no sense that the she witch would use my ignorance to cause more harm. I just found the task unpalatable and sought to escape it, for that I am sorely sorry your majesty."
"We'll deal with your cowardice later right now can you please tell me why I shouldn't run you thorough with my sword for allowing this?"
"She asked it of me, I could do no less...."
"I am your king, and once your friend...."
"It was for my king and my friend that I did this, she needed to do this and I needed to make up for my part in her hurt. You can't tell me you haven't been on the same path my friend."
"That's entirely different, I would not have put her in danger."
"Look you at her, does she seem in any danger, I think not, I think the Stefano witch should prepare to meet her maker."
I turned my attention to the fighting where Rhiannon's head covering had come undone and her glorious hair blew in the wind as she swung...my sword...? but the damn thing was too heavy for her. My fear was renewed at the knowledge. It was then I noticed that my men were taking bets, which didn't seem to be going too well since they all wanted to bet on their queen, this was madness.
"If she's hurt in any way, I will take it out of all your hides." That seemed to cool their ardor for a second at least until they turned back to the fighting and the haggling started up again.
I watched from the sidelines deciding the best course of action if things became dire. I sought an opening that would allow me to get to her without getting her killed, I had no doubt that the Stefano wench would use any distraction to strike, there was no honor in that one. Rhiannon showed great swordsmanship in the way she handled herself and I felt my angst ease slightly as the Stefano wench hurled insults and raged each time she missed her mark. My queen was well poised even in battle and concentrated only on defeating her enemy.
"What think you Jason?" He'd been at my side throughout.
"She's good but Rhian is better, she will win have no fear."
"And you're certain of this?"
"Did I tell you that her father the king saw her trained by the best; they came from all over for the honor. What you've seen of her sparring with me is but child's play, I daresay she'd give you a run for your money." He had the nerve to laugh at his absurdity. "If she gets herself hurt I'll kill her."
"That makes perfect sense to me." He grinned and sidestepped as I cuffed his ear playfully.
I held my breath as I watched the two women go at each other in the makeshift circle. Rhiannon was shorter and thinner yes, but I saw some of what Jason spoke of in her skill. The way she wielded her weapon with precision and concentration, she seemed determined as she aimed time and again...It was then a sudden realization hit and almost brought me to my knees.
"Marcus, tell me, is my wife, your queen in a fight to the death?" My bowels weakened before he answered as I saw the truth of my words in his reaction.
"I didn't know that's what she intended until it was too late, that's why we're all here, to see that she doesn't die."
"How will you prevent it you fool?" I started forward intent on bringing the bout to an end one way or the other but his hand withheld me once again.
"Look there." He pointed to the wall a little ways away where a lone figure could be seen, bow and arrow at the ready.
"Does my wife know he's there?"
"No, she thinks that we'll accept the outcome whatever that is."
"His orders?"
"If it looks like the Stefano witch is going in for the kill shoot her through her black heart."
"I repeat; why shouldn't I just kill you now and be done with it?"
"Because you know it's the only way, this way your wife gets the satisfaction she seeks, her people get to learn of her honor in defending her good name, and she gets to exact vengeance on her enemy."
"All good points but I'm still going to take you to task for allowing your queen to put herself in danger."
"As you wish." The clashing of swords never abated as we held this discourse, both women seemed equally determined to end the other and when my wife was thrown to the ground I moved forward intent on interfering after all. She used her feet against her opponent's chest to push her back as she stood once more. I saw the intent as she took her stance, legs braced apart, sword held above her head and no expression on her beautiful face and I knew. The worry went away as if by magical hands, instead I couldn't wait for the fighting to be over so I could take her back to my bed.
There was a collective holding of breaths as Stefano screamed her frustration and charged.
Rhiannon did not make a sound, neither did she move; the other woman couldn't check her momentum in time and so was not able to stop the blow to her chest that sent her to her knees.
Her head flew through the air and landed feet away as the men took up a cheer. Somehow the villagers had been alerted as they could be heard coming up the hill some of them already reaching the scene. There were whispers of 'it's our queen' being passed around as I sought to get my legs to move so I could go to her. When I finally reached her side I looked into her eyes before lifting her into the protection of my arms.
"That was well done my queen but if you should ever put what's mine in danger again I will tan your arse."
Her sweet laughter rang out as the crowd cheered.
Chapter 16
Things were in an uproar after the queen's beheading of her nemesis. The council thought to question her but I forestalled that, I'm no figurehead. The kingdom is mine, the council serves a purpose yes but I have the final say let them govern something else. I'm well aware of their displeasure with this stance and that's why I've chosen to dismantle them, get rid of the old guard and let the people choose who they trusted to look our for their best interests.
There had been another shake up after I uncovered the identities of the ones who’d given my whereabouts to the Torcs and had dispatched them. The other Stefano wench’s life had been spared since it appeared she had been nothing more than a dupe as her brother proclaimed, but still she’d been banished from court and sent to live in a cottage on one of my other holdings. There was peace across the land finally and my days were settling into some semblance of order except when my wife decided to cause chaos, as she was fond of doing. The new Rhiannon was a spirited girl with a will of steel who gave me fits at every turn, I wouldn’t have her any other way.
Marcus has been trying his best to make up for his foolery and since Rhiannon has forgiven his slip of common sense I'm learning to as well. This time around things are completely different; when I'm not tending to the affairs of my kingdom or training with my men I can be found in my wife's solarium where after shooing her ladies in waiting away I usually violate her on the soft silk cushions strewn about the floor. At least that's what she called it; I chose to look at it as part of my campaign to breed my queen.
"What's the matter love?"
"I don't know, I feel...." I checked her temperature with a cool hand to her forehead, she was cool to the touch so no fever but she did look a little green. "Was I too rough just then?" Bollocks, sometimes early in the morning when I had my first taste of her for the day I got just a little carried away. Who could blame me though she was so...everything? With some of her anger gone though she'd yet to forgive me fully, she was relaxed and open and so fucking sweet it was hard not to tumble her every chance I got. "No you weren't too rough, I'm just sore from all that riding yesterday."
"Me or the horse?" I grinned down at her. I'd held true to my word and taken her atop my horse. I had been coming from the training filed where I'd been teaching young Jason a new trick to offset any enemy who sought to prey on his weakness. Sweaty and worn I'd thought to freshen up in the stream since the day was so warm before searching her out maybe for a quiet afternoon spent relaxing with a good read.
The sight of her crossing the yard in her tight fitting gown of blue silk had stirred my manhood, which was no surprise, I stayed hard around her these days. I'd ridden right up to her, lifted her screaming form before me atop my mount and taken off across the drawbridge, past the guard and out into the open fields. My hands were on her beautiful breasts before we were well out of sight of the castle walls.
"Shane what are you doing?" I didn't miss the laughter in her voice.
"Hold the reigns my queen less we both topple over."
She grabbed the reigns as I tore her bodice open exposing her magnificent tits to the elements. With my hands full of her I nibbled her neck while kneading her flesh in my callused hands.
"I'm going to fuck you on my horse." Her body trembled at my words; it was a delight to me how much she loved fucking, no shrinking violet my girl, she got into the act with full gusto. When last the priest had given a sermon on a woman's place in the marriage bed and the fact that she was not supposed to enjoy the sins of the flesh, my wife had rolled her eyes at me making it almost impossible for me not to laugh out loud. Later, well actually ten minutes after the sermon had come to a close she'd cornered me in our rooms and ridden me like a demon out of hell. She'd laughed as she'd slid off of my poor sated body and said 'take that.' I guess she'd been referring to the priest.
Then yesterday weeks later atop my horse, I'd let one of my hands slide down her body to her heat, even through the silk of her gown I could feel her wetness. "Where's your underclothing wench?"
"It's too hot." She tilted her neck back and thrust her nipples into my palms. The thought of her so scandalously clad almost had me spilling my seed then and there but I had enough control to lift her slightly, release my cock and sit her down on me. I kicked the horse into motion with my heels, the cadence pushing me deeper up into her body. Her sweet cries rang out through the air as I marked her neck and mauled her sweet tits. It hadn't been enough to fuck her with just the motion of the horse so I'd taken her to the ground and in the midst of the windflowers and sweet grass with her legs up to her ears I'd plowed her until we were both crying to the skies above.
Now we're about to roll out of bed to start the day after yet another morning spent in sweet surcease. I'd eaten her sweet cunny until she'd begged and pleaded with me to give her my cock. Those lewd words on her sweet tongue never ceased to drive me over the brink and that's how we ended up with her bent over before me, her hair wrapped tightly around my wrist as I fucked her hard and thoroughly. Ergo the question of had I been too rough.
"Both." She stretched a little and winced before dashing from the bed and heading for the chamber pot. It was only after she'd emptied the contents of her stomach that I realized what was going on. Looks like I'd bred the queen.
Epilogue
It was too much, she’d been laboring for hours and her pitiful screams were more than I could bear. “No son you can’t go in there.” I shrugged off my mother’s suggestion as she tried to block my path. She’d just left the birthing room where Rhiannon was laboring to bring forth our child, with the news that there was no change. The castle was full of guests who’d travelled here for this joyous occasion but after twelve hours there was a tinge of solemnness over the festivities.
I had underestimated what the sight of her ripening with my seed would do to me. It was the strangest thing but somehow she’d never been more beautiful to me than then. We’d spent the last months preparing for the babe
I made my way into the darkened room where the women went into a tizzy at my intrusion. “Your majesty you…” I held up my hand to silence the woman before she could finish her asinine statement. No, men weren’t allowed in such places but I was king, I could go wherever I will.
She was on her hands and knees in the middle of the bed. Her body and the sheets beneath her were drenched with sweat as she cried and writhed in pain. “Open the bloody drapes and bank the fire.” It was hot as hades in the room and there was no need for it. Outside was a clear early spring day.