She stopped her approach to the throne at the base of the dias and performed a perfect curtsy. All watched in amazement, whispers springing up around the edges of the room. Then she stood and suddenly her every move was poetry in motion, a spell of seduction and subtle movements that affected all.
"My King!” Her husky and enchanting voice rang out as she resumed her approach to the throne, "My Lord! My Son and greatest gift to the world!" She knelt before me taking up my hand in the supplication of fealty. "I pledge to you my life and body so you might use them in service to your will."
It was an old and powerful form of the oath, and she said it in a calm and measured tone of voice. Her eyes conveyed to me a different meaning altogether, one I dared not dwell on. Definitely not when her low cut and strapless gown fell forward so, giving me a glance down to her pendulous perfect breasts. Grandmother seemed to catch her underlying meaning and her eyes widened as mother gave her oath then I saw jealousy flash across her face, to be replaced by a thoughtful expression as her gaze settled upon me.
"Mother," I began, my voice surprising even myself in its calm strength, "I accept your oath and I pledge that your service to your king," She bit her bottom lip at that, eyes widening in an expression I didn't recognize, "Shall be valued and spent for the betterment of our kingdom."
Mother leaned forward then and took my hand, placing a kiss upon the ruby in my signet ring. As her thick red lips touched the stone a shock ran through me, and I felt something deep within my mind released from the prison that had contained it. Logical patterns of thought learned from priestesses at a young age crystalizing with lines of magical power drawn from some source I didn’t know. Confusion ran through me, but it was swept away as I looked down and saw that the ruby of my signet ring, glowed with a faint light deep within its depths.
Mothers eyes widened when she saw the ring and tears formed in her eyes. "It's true." She whispered, "Thank the goddess, it's true!"
My confusion returned but Grandmother was there a moment later. "What a blessing this is!" She whispered fiercely, then remembering our circumstances she turned to the crowd.
“You must be exhausted Belinda. Come let me take you back to your rooms. There will be plenty of time this evening to visit with his majesty." That iron hard gaze of hers fixed upon mother and something passed between the women before mother allowed herself to be led away. As they left the throne room, whispering quietly to one another, they both looked back at me upon the throne, the High Lady Sorren now making her oaths. I saw a twin hunger in their eyes. A hunger that terrified me for it matched my own secret desires that had always caused me great shame.
I don't know what the High Lady Sorren saw in my eyes at that moment, but whatever it was unsettled her deeply and she stumbled through her oaths. Her and all the ladies of the court seemed to be affected in some way by my presence. Perhaps it was something to do with the magics that even now slowly faded from the room or perhaps it was just that people treat Kings differently than princes.
It took over an hour for every noble to swear and the merchant princes to make their own obeisance. Last of all to approach my throne was the Imperial Princess. She moved with an unearthly grace, robes flowing around her slender form in a way that was not unpleasing to the eye.
She did not climb the dais, as was only right for a foreigner, but she knelt eliciting shocked gasps from the watching nobles. A member of the imperial family bowing to a foreign king? It was an unheard of breach of imperial pride and protocol, and an honor undeserving for the fledgling king.
"Your majesty," Her voice was high and light, and it pulled at something inside me. That part of my mind so recently unlocked by my mother's touch pressed forward; all want and need, desire and lust underwritten with currents of strange magics.
"I was instructed by my father to convey his regards and hopes that the ancient friendship between our nations will continue." There was an amusing twist to her words as she said 'friendship'. How I wished I could see her face as she spoke.
Friendship? She knew as well as I that the trust between our nations had been destroyed when the Empire refused to send aid to combat the Orc invasion. Grandmother was in too tenuous a position to refuse Imperial Envoys that called to our court, but she did retaliate against the empire in trade contracts whenever she could.
"Rise your Highness." I said but the woman remained in her prostrate position. I frowned, anger creeping into my words, causing them to ring with a steel that surprised even me, "I will not trust those who hide their gaze from me, nor will I forgive it, no matter their patrimony." The watching nobles fairly hummed with interest at the spectacle before them.
Princess Jasmine's head snapped up at that and I saw anger and strength of will flash through her eyes. The sight caused me to smile, in appreciation rather than triumph. And I saw her gaze roaming over my face finally alighting upon my eyes with the same hunger I had seen earlier in my mother and grandmother.
"We see now," I said using the royal ‘we’, my voice carrying easily across the room, "That the Empire sent us a treasure indeed. Please, rise lady." I motioned with my hand and this time Jasmine stood. Her every movement a perfect example of grace. "Please convey my regards to your father. And know that it eases our minds that the Empire lies just over the mountains on our southern border."
Her eyes twinkled at my words, she knew those mountains were nigh impassable for a sizeable force. The only thing that had kept the empire from conquering us as they had to so many others over the centuries. Princess Jasmine bowed her head at my words, "I shall my lord."
"Please accept our hospitality, rooms shall be set aside for you and your retinue. And I would be grateful if you would dine with me on the morrow." Grandmother would have been proud that I remembered all the protocols.
"That would please me greatly, your majesty." I could almost hear the smile on her words as she spoke, "Until the morrow then." And with that the most dangerous assassin in the world gracefully exited the throne room, a few ladies-in-waiting trailing behind.
The rest of the morning and afternoon were a blur of pomp, ceremony, feasting and dancing. Though I expected to see them any moment mother and grandmother stayed absent for the rest of the day. Some few commented on it, but the fact that mother had woken, so suddenly from her coma caused more comment. It was a blessing upon my coronation. Jasmine too stayed to her rooms. Which was probably for the best, my people are wonderful but they, like all peoples, can be given to prejudices and small mindedness. The foreign princess wasn't missed, though she drew my thoughts.
Chapter Two
“...wielding Ars Arcnu in right hand and the Emberfire Magics of legend in the left. Yet still he was no match for the darkness trapped under the ice.”
By the time the sun set the castle and town were deep into their celebrations and I found myself finally freed from the protocol officers. I was supposed to have a prayer meeting with the High Priestess but she had disappeared just after that weirdness with the bells and strange warping magic’s of my coronation. No one seemed to miss her nor her austere priestesses, during the celebrations though.
Without that meeting, I was free for the rest of the evening, so I climbed the long flight of stairs up the East Tower to mothers’ rooms, Gretchen trailing unobtrusively behind me. I had made this trek more times than I could count in the years since mother fell into her coma. I would place fresh flowers in the vase father had brought back from the burning sands.
My mind churned as I climbed, exhaustion making the thoughts sluggish. There would be so much to do in the months to come. So much I needed to learn, to lead my people well. These thoughts died away though as I stood before mothers’ door.
I froze there unsure what to do. Candle light flickered under the door frame and I could hear the quiet mumble of whispered conversation coming from inside. I turned my head and looked at Gretchen. She has a soft expression on her beautiful oval face, she seemed to understand why it was hard for me to knock,
even though I didn't. It was looking deep into her eyes, so full of love and devotion I had always known was there, but had tried desperately to ignore, that I found the strength to raise my hand and knock firmly on the door.
The conversation inside cut off at my knock and the door was pulled open by mother’s nurse Amelia. She dropped a perfect curtsy with a whispered, "Your majesty," before backing in and making way for me. The room was just as I'd remembered except now it glowed with the light of a hundred candles. Mother and Grandmother sat in the small alcove before a fire. A pile of ancient tomes and scrolls strewn about their feet.
Mothers eyes widened in pleasure as she saw me and she rose to her feet and curtsied, grandmother following right behind her unable to meet my eyes and blushing. 'Strange' I thought.
I went to bow to them both then laughed at how silly it was and rushed over grabbing my mother in a tight embrace, "I thought I'd lost you..." I whispered into her hair. She smelled of lilacs and cinnamon, the scent causing me to clutch her tighter.
"No, my love," Mom whispered back, "I was simply wandering for a time, not lost." I went to kiss her cheek as I used to as a child but she pulled back moving quickly out of my reach. Seeing the confusion and hurt on my face, her face softened, "Some things I don't have the will to resist, and everything must happen in its time. I learned that above everything else, while away." My confusion only deepened but mother just motioned me to sit down.
"Gretchen is that you lurking outside?" Mom called. Gretchen came inside, her face down cast but smiling. Mother walked over to her and took the woman's hands in her own. "Know that you have my never-ending appreciation and love for all you have done for my dear Dainen over the years. He would not be the man he is today nor can he become the great man he needs to be, without you by his side.
"Please, my lady!" Gretchen said her face bright red, "It has been the singular joy of my life to serve your son."
"I know." Mothers voice was so certain and mysterious that I was reminded that she was both a sorceress and witch. "And on this night, this night of profound destiny, you shall receive your reward for such faithful service. And my son," Her bright green eyes traveled the length of my form and that hunger I had seen earlier was in them but much stronger now, "My son shall become a man."
I felt the beginnings of a nervous energy starting in my belly and I opened my mouth to speak but grandmother spoke first.
"I'm still unsure about this Belinda." She sat back in her large chair, crossing her arms beneath her massive breasts, "It is sin you propose here. Dreadful sin." It sounded to me like she was trying to convince herself of this.
"This is no sin in the eyes of our goddess. You know what I said earlier is true. It is only a matter of time before any of us give in to the temptation." Grandmother frowned at that but didn't deny it. "And I did not spend seven years hunting across innumerable worlds for the knowledge that would guide us past the threats we face. You have seen my evidence."
"Yes... well..." Grandmother grumbled while examining the carpet.
"And it is vital that it happen or the magic will destroy him. Look at him Lydia," Grandmother slowly raised her head, eyes traveling slowly up my body until they lit upon my face. "Do you truly believe that you could resist the temptation?"
"No..." Grandmother whispered, her hands clutched at her skirts and her cheeks flushed red. "No, you are right." Then her mouth twisted with distaste, "Sharing though?"
Mother laughed a low throaty laugh, "You'll soon see the wisdom in that too." Turning to regard me, pride in her eyes, she continued in a sing-song tone like she was reciting a poem or prophecy, "And he shall bind the fairest unto himself, from all nations and all creeds. Giving to each a measure of his power and taking from each in love and lust..."
The last words hung in the air but I could contain my confusion no more.
"What in the hells are you talking about?" I exclaimed looking around at the four women in the room. But I did not see a match for my confusion, instead I saw dawning realization in Gretchen’s face and a hope filled hunger on that of mother’s healer. I stepped closer to my mom, moving to grab her arm and get some answers but she pulled back again, her breath coming hard and fast.
"Stay back Dainen," She pleaded in a trembling voice, "I have not the strength to resist your touch."
I raised my hands in frustration, "Then answer my question! What are you talking about? What is this about your coma and traveling between worlds? What was the poem you just said?" The questions would have kept tumbling out of me but mother raised her hand and Gretchen was at my side, calming me with her presence.
"I cannot explain it, instead you must experience it." With that she walked swiftly over to the large window stretching across one wall. "Macy, latch the door. We won’t be disturbed, but I wouldn't want it to swing open at an inopportune moment.
The small red headed healer leap to the door, latching it, before sitting back down. She pressed her thighs tightly together, hands pressed between them, eyes upon me strangely intent. Grandmother turned to look at me again and now I could recognize the lust boiling behind her enchanting eyes.
"And now," Mother intoned, just a hint of fear and more than a little anticipation in her voice, "Our Lord will be revealed and the purpose we have all been made for; to serve him in all ways, fulfilled." I was just about to ask what the hells that was all supposed to mean, when mother threw open the curtains.
A strong warm wind blew through the window, extinguishing every candle and bathing us all in darkness for a moment before the moons silver beams reached through, parting the darkness and settling upon me. Dimly, I could feel a new strength, a comforting power reaching down to me from the heavens. I closed my eyes drawing more and more of it in, if flowed along the carved paths in my mind, trained since birth unbeknownst to me by the priestesses of Hecate and the sorceress Shalindra.
I felt shaking hands at my chest, undoing the buttons of my coat and shirt and I found myself to be standing in front of the open window Gretchen disrobing me. Each second her hands grew more and more frantic until they were fairly tearing the clothing from my body. For one second I felt shame for my nakedness in front of Gretchen, mother and grandmother, but that blew away in the massive rush of the moons power as it touched my naked flesh.
I opened my eyes upon a new world. One limed in the beauty of the moons grace, cast through the focus I had become. Gretchen knelt before me, looking up with worship and awe in her eyes. My mother too had fallen to her knees and wept above hands clasped together in prayer. Grandmother stared at my naked body in awe, mouth agape, one hand pressed to her belly the other still bunched in her skirts. Macy wriggled the hands clasped between her legs and repeated "Oh my Lord! My Prince!" over and over again under her breath.
I still remained ignorant to so much but I knew now, knew that the lust that had terrified me with its intensity was not the evil thing I had worried it was.
As I relaxed the firm control I'd been exercising for years, my eyes fell down to Gretchen kneeling at my feet and as our eyes met my cock swelled to iron hardness between us.
My hard cock hovered there and her gaze fell upon it, eyes widening and breath coming in short deep bursts. Reaching up with a tentative hand she laid it upon my thigh just above my knee, slowly sliding it up.
"I never dared to hope..." She paused, hand on my thigh, inches away from my cock. "My lord," she said, her tone softer than I had ever heard it before, "I have remained pure, since the day you were born. I know now, that I but awaited this moment."
Then her hand grasped me, cool fingers sliding along my shaft as I moaned in pleasure. Her breath was warm as she leaned forward and planted a soft kiss right on the tip. A jolt flowed through me with that touch, and I heard my mothers’ whispered words as Gretchen's tongue reached out to run around the crown.
"The Guardian, first among his followers. She shall protect against knives in the dark." The words released something in Gretchen and before I knew it she le
aned forward mouth opening wide and I watched mesmerized as my dick disappeared into her heavenly mouth.
I sucked in a sharp breath and couldn’t help the moan that escaped my lips. The warmth and wet embrace of her mouth coupled with the feel of her hands, sent waves of pleasure running through me. I could feel her soft lips sliding up and down my shaft, tongue swirling around inside, touching my most sensitive parts. She looked so beautiful, this woman who had been such a big part of my life. Always so sure and certain, the nanny whose full and womanly figure had inspired so many of my first fantasies, the sight of her lavishing such unrestrained devotion upon my cock, was forever burned into my memory. My first sexual experience set the tone for those early years. And I can see now that my mother was wise indeed.
Gretchen's mouth moved up and down my cock as her hand pumped my shaft, she looked up at me and I saw pleasure wash through her as she saw the ecstasy on my face. Her cheeks hollowed out as she sucked with renewed vigor, caressing her breasts over the frilly green vest. Pleasure blotted out all thought for me and I felt my orgasm about to crash over me.
“My love...” The words just slipped out, just as I started orgasming. Gretchen had felt me swell within her mouth and desperate hunger had filled her eyes, at my words though, I felt and saw her heart fill and her body respond. An orgasm began deep within her pussy, spreading out in waves as my cum began to shoot into her mouth. Her hands holding onto me
My own orgasm, after so much frustration and celibacy, shot through and out of me in wave after wave of pleasure. Gretchen struggled mightily, in spite of her own orgasm, to swallow all of my cum but still some escaped her lips, dribbling down her chin. One of her hands darted up and pushed the dribble back into her mouth, sucking and licking me clean like it was the most delicious thing in the world. And from the hungry look still on her face perhaps, to her, it was.
I took an unsteady step backwards, feeling far more drained and any normal orgasm should make a man, and sat back on my mothers bed.
Crowning of the King Page 2
