Keys to the Kingdom

by Fiona Wilde

  "So what would you like, my dear?" he asked.

  "Hmmm." Princess Luna tapped her lower lip, considering. "How about scones with fresh raspberries?" She clasped her hands together.

  "And butter," she added. "Lots and lots of butter."

  "Sounds wonderful," he said, and walked to the door. A servant was passing by and he motioned her over and gave instructions for the food the princess requested to be prepared and brought to the room.

  Prince Ivan turned back to Princess Luna.

  "Yes, I am quite pleased to find you coming around before you are forced into it," he said loftily. "It is always better to take the more reasonable route. I can only hope that your obedience will serve as an example and inspiration to your sisters, for they may not see the natural dominance in my brothers that you obviously see in me."

  Luna looked at him, wide-eyed. "Oh, indeed," she said. "Masterfulness practically shines from you, my lord prince."

  Prince Ivan tugged at his lapels and straightened up, taking advantage of his full height as he smiled smugly down at her.

  "Growing up in a castle with four other princes, one's special talents often go unnoticed," he said, taking advantage of the moment to both impress and build a legend for his beautiful mate. "Personally I never doubted my ability to lead. Unfortunately, my birth order has put me at a disadvantage where my reputation among my brothers is concerned."

  The princess walked over and gently took Prince Ivan's arm.

  "Oh, I know just how it is," she said sympathetically. "Since I was quite small I've struggled to be taken as seriously as my sisters. Like you I am the fourth-born of five, and it has been my observation that the best way for elder siblings to maintain their supposed superiority is through minimizing the talents or achievements of the younger ones. I myself have wrestled with this. I am sensible and smart, yet my sisters have branded me incorrigible and mischievous. Do I enjoy a bit of mischief? Of course. But all I've ever wanted was to be taken seriously, as I am sure you have. 'Tis unfair, which is why I hope you and I - together - can serve as shining beacons for both the other princes and princesses."

  An ally? This was even better than Prince Ivan could have imagined! He was suddenly tempted to kiss her from sheer happiness, but before he could there came a knock at the door.

  "Your food," a servant called from the other side.

  "Lovely," the princess said. "I cannot wait for you to get your first taste of our fine raspberries."

  Prince Ivan looked regrettably towards the doorway, for he'd been far more interested in tasting Princess Luna's lips.

  "Enter," he said, and the servant did as she was bid. She carried a tray with a silver dome on top, which she carried over and placed on the table. When she removed the tray cover, the room filled with the smell of fresh scones.

  "Ooo, they remembered the butter!" the princess exclaimed. "Oh, how I do love fresh cream butter!"

  She motioned to the chair by the table.

  "Join me?" she asked the prince.

  "Of course."

  They settled into the chairs and began to enjoy the scones.

  "What shall my role be once we are married?" the princess asked.

  "Why the role of a good wife, of course," Prince Ivan said, feeling more bolstered and sure of himself with each passing moment. "You shall join me in court, sit prettily and quietly by my side at social functions and bear me sons."

  Princess Luna smiled and Prince Ivan, not knowing her as well as he thought had no way of knowing it was her best fake smile Luna reserved for those times when she felt it most important to lead someone astray.

  Prince Ivan popped a few raspberries in his mouth and then took a bite of scone as across from him Princess Luna spread a small portion of butter on her own scone.

  "A helpmeet," she said, still smiling. "Splendid. That is all any good woman should aspire to. All this business of running a kingdom is better left to men."

  "Wise girl," he said. "The weaker sex need not vex themselves with decision making. Ruins their looks."

  She smiled. "Do your brothers feel the same way?" she asked. "And if so do you think they have imparted these views to my sisters?"

  "I would imagine so."

  Princess Luna's expression turned to one of concern and she sighed heavily.

  "Then I fear for them," she said. "And I fear for our future as well. My sisters are prideful women, my prince. They will bristle at such expectations, for they believe they should be in control. Since my father has dictated that all princes must be successful in earning our obedience, the failure of one marks the failure of all."

  Her blue eyes filled with tears. "I worry that without some sort of influence on our part that my sisters will thwart your brothers' plans, for from what I have seen the other princes lack the natural authority that you display, Ivan. If my sisters aren't won, then neither will I be."

  She began to weep softly then into the back of her hand.

  Prince Ivan swept over to her and knelt.

  "There, there," he said, reassuring her. "Don't fret so, my pet. I am sure if I put my mind to it then I can find some way to help my brothers."

  "If there were just some way they could see your influence on me?" she said.

  "That's it!"

  He stood. "We shall visit my brothers and your sisters. Once they see how comfortable you are under my authority, your sisters will be less afraid to yield to my brothers."

  "That's brilliant!" Princess Luna exclaimed. "And when your brothers see how your self-assuredness has influenced me, perhaps it will give them courage to follow your lead."

  "Follow my lead..." Prince Ivan liked the sound of that.

  The servant had arrived and as Princess Luna handed her the tray Prince Ivan ordered her to summon his brothers and their mates.

  "My lord prince," Luna said, "I do believe our father would have us stay on this level of the castle, so why not arrange the meeting in Lenora's room, which sits at the top of the landing.

  "Excellent plan," he said, and then hastily added, "I was going to suggest that myself." Of course, this wasn't true but he wanted her to think so.

  "Am I dressed alright?" she asked.

  Princess Luna twirled around in front of him. She was wearing the same dress she'd been wearing, a peach-colored silken frock. She was a vision.

  "Slip into something finer," he said, testing to see if she would obey.

  The girl curtseyed demurely. "Yes, my lord."

  Prince Ivan smiled, imagining his brother's looks of envy as he approached them with his demure princess at his side. Finally, he would get the respect he was due.

  When Luna emerged from the dressing room she was wearing a flowing dress of light blue silk and Prince Ivan - who had not thought she could be any lovelier - felt his breath catch in his throat.

  He walked over and offered her his arm. "Shall we?" he asked.

  "Of course."

  Together they strode from the room. At the bottom of the landing, however, Princess Luna stopped.

  "What's wrong?" he asked.

  "My slipper," she said. "It's come loose. Please, my prince. Go to the door and summon them. I will be up shortly."

  He imagined her coming up alone to greet him - a vision in blue silk taking his arm demurely as his brother's watched in awe and envy.

  "Of course," he said and walked up as she knelt there.

  Prince Ivan knocked on the door and just as he'd hoped is brothers each stepped out with their princesses in tow.

  "Prince Luna," he said, holding his hand out and she ascended, smiling prettily.

  "I've come to check on everyone's progress," he said. "And to offer my advice to any brother who may need a lesson in procuring the obedience of his princess."

  Prince Ivan's brothers looked from one to the other, irritation on their faces. For they had already tamed their princesses, and even if they had not the idea that this upstart could advise them was insulting at best.

  "Do you think we
need your guidance?" Justin asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "Of course you do," Princess Luna said. "For none of you could dare match my prince at being a complete and utter..."

  She took his arm and gave him a little nudge as she finished her sentence.

  "...dolt."

  Shocked, Ivan was unsettled by the nudge in more ways than one, for his heel met a glob of something slippery on the stairs. He did not register what it was until he'd fallen backwards and bumped most ungracefully down the few steps to end up on his bum at the bottom of the landing. When he tried to stand his feet slipped out from under him with each step. Butter. When he'd left Luna there to fix her slipper she'd been doing something else, coating the floor with the same butter she'd just dropped behind him before he'd slipped.

  "You little..."

  Prince Ivan went to stand but again he fell.

  Luna began to laugh, clapping her little hands together in glee. Delighted, she looked at her sisters in triumph. But instead of seeing solidarity as she'd expected, she only saw concern.

  Prince Kier stepped forward and took her arm as Justin and Quentin rushed down to the last step before the bottom of the landing. Leaning down they each grasped an arm of their fallen brother and helped him up.

  Kier turned to Princess Luna. "That was very naughty, princess, very naughty indeed."

  Then he looked at his humiliated brother. "However, I trust that Ivan will restrain his temper as he punishes you for this transgression, for discipline must be just and instructive and not a punitive act of revenge."

  He raised an elegant eyebrow at his younger sibling. "Agreed?"

  Ivan shook his brother's off and adjusted his coat as he glared up at his princess, who swallowed hard in fear and trepidation.

  "Agreed," he said. "However, since my princess has chosen to publicly humiliate me in front of my brothers I think it only fitting they witness her punishment."

  "Fair enough," Kier said, and the brothers ordered the princess back to the suite as Kier escorted Luna to the bottom step where Ivan took a seat.

  He gave her no time to object as he pulled her over his lap.

  "You found my weakness, Luna," he said. "My pride. It is no secret that a man's pride is his vulnerable spot. Yours, however...."

  He flipped up her skirts as she squealed in indignation.

  "...is your tender bottom."

  And a fine bottom it was - small, pert and flawless with the same peaches and cream tone as her skin. Soon enough, though, Prince Ivan's punishing hand turned it as red as the prized raspberries that had earlier graced her plate.

  Over his knee, poor Princess Luna wailed pathetically as her suitor's determined hand smacked first one firm buttock and then another.

  "No, my prince! I beg of you!" she cried, attempting to twist off his lap as her shapely legs kicked in a futile effort to shake away the building pain. But it was to no avail. Prince Ivan concentrated his spanks on the soft under curve of her cheeks, making certain that his princess would not sit for days hence without thinking of what she had done, and how he had made her pay.

  "Are you going to remain willful and mischievous?" he asked.

  "No!" she cried.

  "Are you prepared to obey me!"

  "Yes!" she wailed. "But as a beloved partner, not as a mindless broodmare!"

  His hand stopped in mid swing.

  "Whoever said I wanted a mindless broodmare?" he asked.

  "You did!" she sobbed. "You said I only needed to be pretty and bear sons."

  Ivan rolled his eyes. "Oh," he said. "That. Well, I said that because I thought it expected of me, but I'll leave the vapid women to other men. I like a bit of spice if truth be told. But not so much that it bitters the dish."

  He raised his hand and began to spank her again. "And I prefer that dish without butter, thank you!"

  "OW! OW! OW!" she cried, and at the top of the stairs even the princes winced as new handprints bloomed on Luna's pretty bottom.

  "All right!" she sobbed. "I shall never do that again either. Please, Ivan! I beg of you! Please show mercy. I will be good and true and obedient - at least as obedient as I can be! I promise!"

  He stopped finally, his eyes surveying what his hand had wrought. Satisfied that Luna was well-spanked, he tipped her off his lap and stood, raising her up with him.

  "Do not think that should you fail me I will hesitate to do this again," he said.

  "I understand!" she cried.

  "Well done." From the top of the stairs, Kier was smiling and Ivan's brothers were looking on as well, nodding admirably.

  "A fine showing of leadership if I do say so myself," said Justin. "You should know, Ivan, that yours marks the fourth success."

  "Which leaves only..." Ivan said.

  Quentin nodded. "Just one more," he said. "One more princess to be tamed before we take over the kingdom."

  Chapter Eight

  Leo and Lark

  If the other daughters of King Elgar had been vexed by their situations, the youngest was curiously calm. For her potential husband, this presented its own problem. A raging tantrum he could handle with another spanking, but how was he to deal with a princess who sat smugly ignoring him just inches away.

  "It is time for us to discuss our marriage, and what shall be expected of you," Prince Leo said firmly.

  Princess Lark looked up from where she'd been examining a little china dog and thinking how she must ask her father to buy her another and scowled, for she did not appreciate being forced to think on anything other than acquiring more pretty things.

  "Don't be silly," she said. "I'm not marrying you."

  Her tone was so casual and certain that the youngest son of Randor was instantly irritated.

  "And how do you know this to be so?" he asked.

  "Because my father will not force me to do something I do not want," she said. "Especially marry a silly young man who is without means. I am used to fine things, and will only marry a man who can provide me what my heart desires."

  Prince Leo stood there, considering the slight.

  "I will not be without means," he said defensively. "When my brothers and I are married to you and your sisters, we shall inherit the kingdom. And there are riches here enough to keep you neck deep in gifts."

  She rolled her eyes, and then fixed him with a look one might give a child slow to understanding.

  "Riches enough perhaps," she said. "But a wealthy husband would only add more to my father's wealth, and assure me even more fine things than my father's money alone can buy. A prince from another, exotic land could give me gifts I've yet to even discover I want?" Can a young, poor prince such as you do that? I think not, sir."

  Prince Leo felt his face redden. As the youngest he'd long sought to establish himself, to be taken seriously by siblings who sometimes still treated him as a lad, even though he was a tall, strapping young man. And now this woman was reminding him not only of his youth, but that anything he ever hoped to have he would only acquire through marriage to her.

  Part of him wanted to pull her across his lap, lift her fine skirt and spank her pretty round bottom again. It had not been an unpleasant experience; not at all. And the girl deserved it. But intuition told him otherwise. Lark was spoiled, and while she needed to be taught that she could not have everything she wanted, the best way to win her heart until he could train her would be to offer her something that she truly wanted - something only he could give.

  He went and sat down beside her on the window seat.

  "Come now, Princess Lark," he said. "What is it you could possibly want? You've got more fine dresses than any princess I've ever seen, jewels and baubles, a stable full of fine ponies...What is it that you do not have?"

  She rolled her eyes. "How will I know until I find a prince from an exotic clime who can show me treasures I have never laid eyes on."

  "So there is nothing close to home that you pine for?"

  Lark put down her little china dog and crossed her arm
s as she stared thoughtfully out the window. Her pretty brow furrowed, for she was not used to thinking of what she might want. Usually all she had to do was see something and demand it and it was hers.

  Then she brightened.

  "There is something!" she said, her voice excited. Her face lit up, making it more beautiful.

  "But you probably could not get it for me..." Her smile faded. She was still beautiful just the same.

  "My beautiful Lark, I would give you anything you wanted to prove what a devoted and loving husband I would be. I am sworn to give you your heart's desire if you will only be my wife. Tell me - what is it you want?"

  She sighed. "It is the only thing my father has ever denied me, but not because he wanted to. It is a bird, a bird that sings every morning on the castle grounds. It is elusive. We hear it often but I have only seen it a handful of times when I was small. It is the most beautiful of all birds! It is sapphire blue, with a tail that is all the colors of the rainbow. It has a jaunty white circle around its little black eye that makes it look perpetually surprised! Its beak and feet are the most amazing shade of yellow."

  She clapped her hand together at the memory. "If I could just have that bird in a cage in my room, I could enjoy its song each and every day and it would be the finest thing!"

  "A bird? That is all it would take?" Prince Leo could not believe his good fortune. "That should be easy enough."

  "Oh, it is not, I assure you. If it were easy then my father would have already captured it for me long ago," Lark said with a sad sigh. "No, this bird is crafty and elusive. As soon as the morning sun is full across the grounds, this bird takes to the woods and has proven impossible to catch, for it goes deep into the darkest part of the forest where the average men dare to follow."

  Prince Leo stood and puffed his chest out proudly. "I am no average man, Princess Lark. I am Prince Leo of Randor, son of the late King Salazar. I shall fetch you this bird you desire, my dear. And when I do please accept it a symbol of my promise to build upon the wealth my father bestows upon us all when we marry."

  Princess Lark stood, clapping her little hands together again.

  "Don't be too hasty in thinking you have my hand," she said. "But you are closer. If you get this bird for me then I will indeed consider that you are true, and I will marry you then!"