Perilous Love

by J A Essen

  Faudron

  Our rest was not nearly long enough as was evident by how long it took to get Edana out of the bed and dressed. We were both presented with clean outfits; a black, knee-length tunic trimmed with gold, fresh trousers and polished boots for myself, but Edana’s… I have never seen anyone as beautiful as the creature I’m staring at right at this moment.

  Her lavender hair is piled high on her head with curly, flowing tendrils framing each side of her face. Those incredible blue eyes are sparkling, and her lips have been plumped and painted a bright crimson. The pendant her mother gave her hangs from her neck, sitting beautifully between her raised breasts that I’m having difficulty peeling my eyes away from.

  The dress, though…

  The bodice is ivory, giving a nice contrast to her pale skin, and the sleeves are only solid on the bottom, tied over the tops of her arms in four locations each. The center is cut low into a ‘V’ and laced with crimson ribbon, pulling her breasts together and pushing them up. It’s fitted to the waist where it’s tied with a wide, golden band, matching the straps on the arms. Flowing out magnificently under that is a crimson skirt that matches her lips and flows with every step she takes. She twirls around and around, the material not coming to rest for several seconds after she stops.

  Laughter. Sweet, beautiful laughter bubbles forth from Edana and makes me smile.

  “I take it you like it.”

  “Oh, yes. Very much. The handmaiden brought six different choices, but I thought this one made these,” she swirls her hand over her chest, “look the best. Wouldn’t you agree?” Edana’s smile is mischievous now as she looks up at me through thick lashes.

  “I guess,” I say nonchalantly.

  “YOU GUESS?” Her eyes are wide and hands are placed on her hips as she gives me a huff.

  Laughing, I reply, “Calm your tits. Of course, I agree. Have you not noticed my lack of eye contact?”

  “That tunic is very becoming of you, hero.” She winks as she walks up to me. “I especially like this,” she says as she runs her finger down from the base of my throat and through the coarse hair on my chest that is revealed by the cut of the outfit. Grabbing a fistful of the tunic, she pulls me down towards her face, and we kiss; her lips parting as my tongue pushes through, allowing me the freedom to tease her mouth as I see fit.

  She thinks she’s slick, running her free hand down over my abdomen and pressing against my thickening erection, rubbing to get me worked up. Removing my mouth from her, I take her earlobe in between my teeth and let it slide between them before pressing my lips to her neck. Dragging them down and biting down just hard enough to get an OW, she removes her hand from my crotch.

  “Tsk, tsk,” I say as I shake my finger at her. “The king would not be pleased if his guests were late to dinner. Shall we?” I offer her my arm and with a scowl on her face, she accepts.

  “I have every intention of finishing what I was trying to start.”

  “We shall see.” I begin to guide us through the passageway to the dining hall.

  Wallace meets us at the entrance to the Grand Hall. “Please follow me. We will be dining with the king and queen in their private hall tonight. No over-the-top spectacle, just the six of us.”

  “Six?” Edana questions.

  “Yes,” Wallace confirms. “Their son will be joining us this evening.”

  I can feel the shiver run through Edana’s body at the mention of her mother’s killer being present. I grasp her hand tightly, letting her know that I’m here for her, and we follow behind.

  Passing through the Grand Hall, we take a door to the left. A few paces down the corridor, we turn right into an intimate dining room. The table is still large enough for twelve, but only six places are set, just as Wallace had indicated. King Nathair and his wife are seated at the head of the rectangular, wooden table which looks as though it may have been carved from a single tree; the prince is to their right. The walls are light, gray stone and two chandeliers hang over the table. On the back wall behind the head of the table is a small family crest. No other ornamentation is present on the walls. Simplicity in such an overly lavish castle is quite striking.

  All three rise as we enter. “Good evening. I’m certain that you must be feeling, at best, trepidatious, with Prince Carac present, but please understand that our knowledge of who was being hunted had been kept from us.”

  “Princess Edana, please accept my most humble apologies. I’m truly repentant for the heartache that this situation has caused you. We were led to believe that the elf we were sent to assassinate had been traitorous, but due to your laws, vengeance was not allowed. Knowing what we know now, we would never have agreed to the arrangement.”

  He bows to us and doesn’t rise until Edana speaks.

  “Thank you Carac.” I can feel the tension in her body as she leans along my side, but the fact that she hasn’t shifted and torn him to shreds is definitely something.

  “Now, may I also introduce my wife, Queen Ellyn.”

  She and Edana both curtsy to one another.

  “You look absolutely breathtaking my dear. Faudron is a very fortunate man to have you on his arm. Don’t let him ever forget it. This one,” she angles her head toward Nathair, “has to be reminded every-so-often.” She and Nathair both smile, and then he takes her hand and kisses it gently on the back.

  “But not too often,” he adds. “Shall we all sit?”

  The staff is waiting at the doorway with trays upon trays of food. Once we’ve all taken our places, Edana and me to the left of the king and queen, Wallace beside Carac, the feast is presented. Quail and rabbit, fresh baked bread, boysenberry jam, carrots, greens, mushrooms, grapes, apples; truly a meal fit for a king. Wine and water are poured, and we all begin our meal.

  After days of meager rations, this is exactly what Edana and I need.

  “Princess,” King Nathair begins, “why don’t you tell us where you’re from.”

  Wiping her mouth clean she replies, “Your highness, do you really think me that foolish as to give away our hidden location.”

  Holding his hands up, “No, no; sorry Princess, you mistook my inquiry. Let me rephrase. Would you be so kind as to tell us about your lands? Are they very much different from our own? Any magical creatures?”

  “Forgive me. I’m naturally cautious here tonight, even with as kind as you have been. Yes, I would be happy to regale you with a short story.” Pushing her empty plate back she begins. “Our kingdom isn’t that different from your own. Robor, my home, is modest in comparison to Dun Felmar, but we’re proud of it. Below the main castle lies the village of Ithoran where the main populous lives. To the south lies The Coille, a wide, dense forest and to the north of the castle is The Oaks of Lourde, my family’s sacred forest which backs up to the mountains. The Abnoba river flows from those mountains all the way through our lands.”

  Taking a drink of wine, she continues. “The animals there are no more magical than the ones found here in your lands. Sorry to disappoint. While we have powers of our own, there are no dragons or magical fairies floating through Robor.” She smiles, looking slightly more at ease in her surroundings.

  “It sounds like a wonderful kingdom, Edana.” Queen Ellyn chimes in.

  “Indeed.” King Nathair adds. “Now, if it pleases, I would like to bring up the reason that we are dining in private, with only my most trusted company; King Brennus.”

  Edana’s hand clenches into a fist on the table. “Traitor,” she mumbles under her breath.

  “In more ways than even you know, Princess,” Nathair responds.

  “Huh?” She looks up, not realizing that she was heard.

  “Yes my dear, his betrayal of you and your people was obviously the direst, but he never fulfilled his end of the bargain with me either. We were never provided with the materials we were promised for dealing with the situation he, quote, wasn’t permitted to. I want retribution for the lies of promises unfulfilled as well as the lies of omissi
on, causing the death of an undeserving individual and the emotional suffering endured by all those who loved her.”

  Edana is timid in her response. “Exactly what are you saying?”

  “King Brennus’ days are over, Princess. He must pay for his treachery and conniving. Do you not feel the same? Has he not wronged you in the most horrific way imaginable?”

  “He has,” she swallows hard, “but he’s still my father.”

  “Edana, my dear.” King Nathair rises from his seat and comes to her, taking a knee beside her chair and offering his hand. “He was an absent father at best during your raising, and he stopped being a father at all when he came to me with his plan. No loving father could ever, under any circumstances, have the mother of his child murdered. It’s unfathomable. I could never do that to my family. I would lay down my own life before I could let the emotional type of damage that Brennus has inflicted occur.”

  Tears have started to fall from Edana’s eyes as the reality of the king’s words pierce her heart.

  I cradle my arm around her shoulders as she lays her head down on the table and continues to sob quietly. King Nathair returns to his seat, and we all allow Edana her time to grieve; no one saying a word. I stroke the back of her neck gently and feel her trembles lessen; her body accustomed to the feel of my hands and the comfort it brings her.

  Slowly, she sits back up and wipes the wetness from her cheeks with a cloth napkin and dabs the corners of her eyes. She looks at me, “Faudron, I just don’t know if…” She bites her bottom lip and closes her eyes to stave off another round of tears. I hold her hands until she opens her eyes again and stares deeply into mine; questions and uncertainty are running through her mind, and I can read it from the lack of sparkle. I just nod my head in confirmation.

  Turning back to the group, she smooths the front of her dress all the way down to her lap, composing herself for probably the most difficult thing she will ever decide.

  Drawing in a deep breath, very stoically she questions, “What do we do?”

  Chapter 22

  Edana

  I don’t know why I still have any feelings of loyalty for my father after all the revelations of the past twelve hours.

  Father? Hm.

  Him. The traitor.

  Brennus.

  Straightening my dress, I turn and look first at Carac, and then King Nathair. “What do we do?”

  “Use that weasel of an elf in the dungeon. Send him back with a ransom request for the Princess and draw Brennus out.” Carac is young and ambitious, but not too bright.

  “That will never work. King Brennus will see right through that and never step within striking distance of us.” King Nathair, on the other hand, is quite observant.

  “Unfortunately, your father is correct, Carac; and I hope you were using my ransom idea in jest.”

  “Of course, Princess Edana. It would’ve been a rouse.”

  “The only way to ever get close enough will be to go to him, and that will be no small task.” I can’t believe I’m about to tell them this. “Our kingdom lies just beyond the Mountains of Dubh; rather I should say through the mountains.”

  They all look stunned by this admission.

  “That close! But how? The mountains are impassable.” King Nathair is quite perplexed.

  “The mountains are magical. Well, not the mountains themselves, but there are magical aspects to them. For one, there is a Vanyali, er, magical barrier on our side of the mountains doming over our entire land, camouflaging and protecting us from outsiders.”

  There is no way I will ever see the Great Elder now. Who is the traitor now, Edana?

  “The mountains are indeed impassable… for humans. However, there is one point of safe passage for elves; a portal. It will only respond to the touch of an elf. No other species will ever even know it exists.”

  “So how do we utilize this information?” Carac asks.

  “Before we go any further, I have stipulations.” I look directly at King Nathair as I speak the words very, very clearly.

  “Go ahead.” He nods.

  “The goal here is the downfall of Brennus. I understand that there will undoubtedly be the deaths of his personal guards as well, but that is where it stops. I want your word that there will be no unnecessary killing. My people are not to blame for the actions of their king. Agreed?”

  “Agreed, Princess.” The king is very matter-of-fact in his response. “What else?”

  “The raiding party will have to be small. No more than a handful of your men. I can get them through the portal, and there will be two guards to be subdued, but not killed. Once that is accomplished, I know trails through the Coille that will bring us up around Ithoran and to the west side of the castle where the watch is light. Again, there will be another guard to be non-lethally subdued.”

  “Once we make it to that point, things will become more difficult, but I think I may have a solution to that as well. I will hide your men while I go to the one who helped train me after my mother died, and who helped us escape.” I look at Faudron and smile. He smiles in return and knows exactly who I’m speaking of. Taranis.

  “When he learns that Brennus had my mother killed, he will help us. I have no doubt of it.”

  “So, how will you get the men close enough for an attack on Brennus?”

  “That is why I will need my friend. He has the ability to change guard routes and clear a path to where the king will be at a time of our choosing.”

  I should feel some amount of sorrow knowing that I have just signed my father’s death sentence, but surprisingly, I no longer do. His greed, uncaring, and treachery will finally catch up with him.

  “I think this sounds quite reasonable. My only regret will be that I’m not there to see him get his due. I can have my men ready to go in the morning. Will that be acceptable?”

  “We should leave at midday and travel, putting us to the portal near nightfall. We can use the cover of darkness to our advantage once inside.” Faudron answers for me.

  “I agree with Faudron. That will definitely make the task more manageable. The men will need a full day worth of rations each at a minimum. I shouldn’t have any trouble getting to my friend, but safety is always best.”

  “Then it’s agreed. My best men will meet the two of you at the front city gates at midday. May the gods watch over you and your party and bring an end to the treacherous reign of King Brennus.” We all raise our glasses in a toast, and then I take a long, slow drink of the wine, unsure if what I have just agreed to do is the right thing or not.

  The king motions to the servant waiting in the wings and dessert is brought in; strawberry tarts and my favorite, rice pudding. At least the meal will end on a positive note.

  When the dishes have all been removed, Faudron and I excuse ourselves and head back to our room. I know my palm is sweaty in his hand as we stroll through the corridor, but he doesn’t seem to care. Opening the door, he stands aside and lets me enter first.

  “A hero and a gentleman. How did I get so lucky?”

  Faudron just smirks at me. “You might not think the latter of me still here in a minute.”

  He walks up to me and tilting my head back with his fingers under my chin, begins to lean in slowly, his musky scent invades my senses, sending chills up my back. I close my eyes and wait for his tender lips to slant across mine; his talented tongue to push its way through and dance with my own.

  I wait. And wait. The anticipation building and trickling down to my pulsing core as his fingers trail down my neck. And then suddenly I feel cold metal against my chest. I pop my eyes open just in time to see the dagger he has slid in behind the laces holding the dress top closed, ripped away, slicing through them and freeing my breasts.

  “I’ve been waiting all night to do that,” he says as he lets the dagger fall to the ground and buries his face in between my breasts. His rough beard is just the right combination of pleasure and pain as he rubs his face from one to the other, nipping a
t my hardened nipples. Two can play that game.

  “Kiss me,” I command of him. He obliges and as he moves his lips across mine, I grab ahold of his cock which is barely restrained by his pants at this point, and whisper into his mouth, “I told you, I will finish what I started earlier.” The visceral moan he emits into my mouth in return sends signals racing to my core and I can feel the thrumming pulse between my legs.

  I take control and thrust my tongue into his mouth, catching him off guard. I grab fistfuls of his hair with both hands and pull him into me. Picking me up, he carries us to the bed and lays down with me on top. Spreading my legs, I place one knee on either side of him. “Take this off,” I command. I raise my arms over my head and continue to be the one giving the orders. Once it’s removed, I push him off of me as he tries to pull me into him. Shaking my finger, I tsk at him.

  His tunic is laced up the entire length. I start at the top, slowly untying it and then pulling the laces out of the holes two at a time, tracing the available skin underneath with my other hand as I go. Once they have all been removed, I lay open his top and nuzzle my face into his chest, much like he did mine, breathing in his heavenly scent and feeling the chest hair as it tickles my nose. In true return fashion, I nip both of his nipples, getting a less than appreciative growl.

  Grabbing at his cock again, I coyly smart off, “He doesn’t seem to mind one bit,” and bite my teeth together at him.

  “Edana, I’m going to…”

  I put my hand across his mouth and shake my head, “Uh-uh. It’s my turn.”

  I nip his chin and then drag my tongue down across his throat and can feel his hard swallow, not knowing where this is leading. Gliding down his tightly muscled torso, I can feel the fever building just below the surface of his skin under my fingertips. When I reach his trousers, I grab the knotted string at the top with my teeth and forcefully rip the tied section off, watching as the head of his erection straightens itself and protrudes from the top. I roll my tongue over the top from side to side and then over the sensitive bundle of nerves, just on the underside of the head.