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The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 01

By: long_legs2u



It's been two long years since I fled the gleaming, pristine capital city of my ancestors. War had been brewing for many years but none, not even my father, the appointed ruler of our country, believed there was a risk of it's downfall. We relied too much on the kindness of our "neighbours", to honour our peace agreement that should any one border country be attacked by a country with which there is no treaty, all countries signed to said document must obey the call to arms. How naive we were.

I grew up the the eldest and youngest child of my parents, queen and king of the land of Lorrea. My father never made me feel that I was a disappointment being born a girl - for I would be the natural heir to the throne regardless of my sex - should the people choose to elect me. My mother constantly fretted that I would not attract appropriate suitors owing to the fact that I spent most of my free time climbing trees, swimming in the lakes and hunting wild boar. More often than not she'd sigh as I'd come back from a hunt mud-smeared and scratched bloody, but my father would just chuckle and return to his advisors discussing the matters of the state.

I was 22 when my world crumbled around me. I was woken in the middle of the night by my father - at once I knew something was not right. There was screaming outside the windows of the castle and an odd light danced across the horizon. I realised that I was seeing flames! The city was aflame! 

"Quickly Elena! dress in your darkest clothing, take your quiver and bow and meet your mother and I in the entrance hall in one minute."

"Father... what is happening? I don't-" i stammered before he cut me off.

"Don't argue! there is no time to explain- the Kravaolian soldiers are near the gate and our guards will not be able to hold them off for much longer, please dear, I beseech you - hurry".

I had never before heard the tone of desperation in his voice and it chilled me to my core. He left my room swiftly, leaving me to dart about, assembling things that I thought may assist me in my dark hour of need.

I descended the sweeping staircase, my footsteps muffled in the royal purple carpet. The entrance hall was eerily deserted but for the three figures huddled at the door. My mother, dressed in a bottle green velvet dress, a crown on her head and a jeweled dagger sheathed at her waist. She was conversing in urgent whispers with my father, who was decked out in full military dress and with my father's royal bodyguard, Malcolm, similarly in combat uniform but not as decorated.

"It is not safe my lord, I beg of you to reconsider!" pleaded Malcolm.

"There is no alternative captain. The back exit is engulfed in smoke and debris, this is the only way out." said the king.

"But sir, it is surely a trap, can't you see this?! you will be playing right into king Xander's hands if you do this." Malcolm said, his eyes wide and pleading.

"There is no other way. You and I both know Xander wants every one of us dead. If we do this, one of us may have a chance" he said with a great sigh, his eyes on his white-faced wife. Tears were flowing silently from her eyes. However she nodded at her husband, her hand fastening around the dagger. The king lifted his eyes to his daughter, calling her forward.

"Listen my darling Elena, we are surrounded and there is no other way out but through here. The castle is slowly burning so we can not stay inside and fight from within. We must therefore flee the grounds--- Do not interrupt me I beg of you darling!" the king raised his voice as it was obvious that Elena was about to say something. "Your mother and I will go to the right, Malcolm and you will go to the left, that way, maybe we will confuse the archers or whoever is lying in wait... but we only get one chance. Do you understand me?" he asked, looking down at his only daughter.

Tears welled in my eyes and I shook my head. My father grasped my arms and knelt down and said to me "You are the princess of Lorrea, you must honour your heritage, your country and yourself, no matter what happens..." he pulled off from around his neck a thin golden chain looped through a medallion of an intricate pattern of the family coat of arms "this is proof of your nobility - show it to our countrymen for safe passage but keep it hidden from our enemies for your own safety".

I slipped the golden chain over my head and stowed the medallion and the rest of the chain below the robes of my black velvet dress. I looked up at my father and nodded silently as words failed me. My mother hugged me tightly, more tightly than I could ever recall. She broke our hug and pressed her palm on top malcolm's breast plate and said "I entrust her safety to you captain".

"My life for hers, if it comes to that, worry not your highness" said Malcolm, with a terse bow of his head. 

My father looked at Malcolm and said in a shaking voice, "You know what will happen if she is captured captain..."

A beam of understanding shot between both military men. "I know, sir. I will not let it happen". Malcolm said tersely.

"We must leave now or else we shall all perish from this smoke" coughed the queen.

"Ready everyone?" The king asked, his hand on the large brass door handle. " Remember, for the honour of Lorrea!" he roared before ripping the door open, pulling the queen after him, Malcolm following quickly pulling Elena behind him.

It was a wild scene. The city was burning, people were screaming and the wind was whipping around Elena. Just a moment, she thought, such a strange wind, so high pitched on a warm summer's night... that's not wind.. it's arrows! Elena ducked lower into the shadows of the castle, following malcolm's quick movements away from the entrance and out of range of the raining arrows.

They had only gone a hundred meters before a scream pierced the night. Elena snapped to a stop, recognising her mother's cry of anguish. Elena was unable to move from panic- until she heard a roar.. her father roared to the night "FOR LORREA!" before silence fell. Heart pumping madly, Elena turned on the spot but before she could make a step towards her parents, strong arms wrapped around her waist.

"Let go of me..." Elena screeched, but was muffled when a large hand covered her mouth.

"Princess you must be quiet or you will get us both killed!" said Malcolm, as he loosened his grip on her midriff, but placing a viselike grip on her arm. 

"They are hurt captain! I must go back... we must try and save them" Elena sobbed, trying to pry his grip from her arm.

"The king knew what he was doing and accepted the danger. My mission is to get you to safety princess... I gave your mother my word" said the captain, as he continued to pull the distraught princess along behind him.

The task of heading off possible danger in the dark shadows and struggling with a reluctant princess was proving too much, so the captain dropped his sword and pulled Elena close, shaking her roughly. "Your mother and father are dead... I have spent many years on the battlefield and I recognise a dying mans last roar... Their last act was to provide for your safety so I beg of you, please stop fighting me and fight with me! You are quite capable with a bow, I know this." He held onto her wrists until she stopped sobbing. She took a deep shuddering breath and nodded. He released her and picked up his sword, as she pulled an arrow from her quiver and placed it against the bow.

"Stay behind me princess, keep to the shadows. We are nearing the moat... just a little further and our countrymen will hide us from those who seek to destroy you" whispered the captain.

They approached the moat and gingerly walked across the wooden planks set across it by their invaders. Elena was almost at the other side when she felt a rough hand grip her ankle so hard she thought it would break. She shrieked in surprise and looked down and saw a fithy soldier bearing the Kravaolian symbol of a circle within a triangle, hiding beneath the planks. He raised his sword in one hand as he gripped her ankle with the other and grinned at her, showing a few missing teeth, as he raised his blood stained sword.

Elena closed her eyes and waited for the blow, but all she heard was a high pitched *CLANK*. She opened her eyes and saw that Malcolm had delivered a crushing blow to the soldier's head, slicing deep beneath his helmet. Shaking, she quickly gathered her composure, silently berating herself for not using her bow, but instead acting like a cowardly girl.

"Are you alright?" asked the captain

"Ye- ye. yes... I'm alright" Elena stammered. "lets go" She said, trying to inject bravado into her voice. 

They had barely gone a few hundred meters when an arrow whizzed past Elena's head. Malcolm, in front, saw the arrow fly past too. He turned around looking for the source. He found the archer, but the soldier was already falling to the ground, Elena's arrow sticking out of his chest. He looked around and noticed two similar prone bodies. The captain was shocked at how fast she was with a bow - he knew she had skill but her speed was exceptional!

However,as talented she was with her bow, the captain decided they couldn't linger as he noticed more soldiers crossing back over the moat towards them. "Elena... run!" he shouted.

Elena noticed the swelling ranks too. She turned on the spot and set off at a fast run, the captain right beside her. They ran for 5 minutes, side by side, before Elena noticed that the captain was no longer beside her. She stopped, breathing heavily and looked around. She saw him 50 meters behind, doubled over on his hands and knees, and arrow sticking out of his back.

"Captain!" she cried running back to him. as she reached him he was able to straighten up a little, and Elena gasped, noticing that the arrow had gone right through him and was sticking out of his stomach.

"Captain, you must get up! please... you must keep moving!" she tried to pull him up, but he was like a dead weight to her.

"No.... leave me" he coughed, blood dripping down the side of his mouth. "This is a mortal wound.. there is nothing that can be done. You must flee princess, flee into the arms of our countrymen and survive for the kingdom" his said, between gasps for air.

Elena shook her head "I can't leave you here! they'll kill you captain!"

"I will fight for as long as I can, but I cannot save you if you stay with me. If you flee, my mission is not a failure, you have a chance to live. If you stay you will die here too... Remember, you made an oath to your father... honour him by living to fight another day". he said as he spat out a large amount of blood from his mouth.

Elena watched him silently for a moment, tears streaming down her face. She walked a few paces to her left and picked up his sword and gave it to the captain, he grunted in thanks and propped himself up a little taller with it. She bent down and kissed the brave man on his cheek and whispered to him "for Lorrea".

She picked up her bow and headed for the treeline. When she reached the shelter of the trees she looked back and saw the captain, sword raised and giving a hair-raising battle cry as a horde of enemy soldiers surrounded him. Elena sobbed quietly and turned away from the scene, not wishing to witness the end of such a warrior.

The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 02



After making her way cautiously through the small forest separating their castle and the city, she neared the edge of the treeline. She peered at the smoldering ruins of her beloved city, waiting for some sign of life, yet none appeared. Ten minutes of silent staring had heightened her senses so she jumped in fright when she saw a man picking his way through the forest. Elena recognized him as one of her countrymen, owing to his style of dress and fair features. She made her way over to intersect him, hoping to gather some information.

"Psssst" she hissed at the man, who froze suddenly as if bitten by a snake. He slowly looked around before spotting Elena. He didn't seem keen to approach her so she made her way over to him, but still keeping a body length between them.

"What do you want?!" he asked in a hurried voice, clearly not keen at being held up.

"Please sir, can you tell me where the townspeople are?" pleaded Elena.

"Gone" he croaked, tears welling in his eyes. "Those that were not slain were taken by the Kravaolian's as spoils of war". He looked at Elena with a little more curiosity. "how did you escape them? I was knocked unconscious and they thought I was dead, but they were more interested in the women anyway" he said in a hollow voice.

"I.. I wasn't in the town.. I was with my parents" she whispered, as she pulled the golden chain from beneath her robe, showing the man her medallion.

The man gasped "Hide that quickly! you can't go showing that to complete strangers! My goodness child, have some sense! Soon enough there'll be Kravaolian soldiers pretending to be Lorreans... they know that there are a few of us in these woods - you can't trust anyone anymore!" he said as he scanned the forest surrounding them.

"I don't know what to do... My father..." her voice faltered for a moment. "He... He said that our countrymen would help me. but if you say that they can't be trusted... I don't know what to do." Elena said, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Look, I'll give it to you straight" the man said, looking at her pityingly. "You're in a tough spot. You've got a price on your head for sure because you are a royal so you can't trust anyone... the longer this goes on the hungrier people will be - they'll trade your life for a loaf of bread, don't have any illusions otherwise. Secondly, your looks are a danger to you... blonde hair, blue eyes, fair features - you are beautiful... some people in these woods don't treat women right... especially at a time of war. And I'm not even talking about what the Kravaolian troops get up to" he added darkly, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

"What I suggest you do is lay low for a while, then try and make it for the border. Now, i'm not saying to go live in one of our neighbouring countries.. no. they are turncoats and can't be trusted. You need to go a few countries more to be safe from the Kravaolians" he said, looking around.

"I can't do that! I can't abandon my country now that i'm.. i'm.. the only...the only Lorrean ruler left" Elena added somewhat lamely.

The man shrugged "You're the one that asked. I was just telling you what the reality is." he said before moving away.

Elena sat down on a tree stump, despair was seeping in. She didn't know what to do. She replayed the last few hours in her mind seeking some kind of instruction, but none came to her. Only her oath to her father remained. She sighed. It was his last request of her... she must obey it.

She took stock of her situation. She had a quiver full of arrows, and a small knife in her boot. Other than that she had nothing. She quickly made a mental list of things she would need to survive in the woods. Yes, she had decided that her only choice was to wait out the local battle before deciding on her next move. Little did she know that the Kravaolians would not leave the vicinity for two years.

During those two years Elena hunted deer and small animals, she slept in the trees by securing herself with some rope she had fashioned out of strong vines. Occasionally she saw a Lorrean slipping through the woods, but soon they became fewer and fewer until they disappeared completely. She made no attempt to contact anyone, heeding the stranger's advice. The only interaction of hers with any other humans were when she stripped a dead body of their belongings or clothes that she may have needed at the time. As for the Kravaolians, she knew that their strength was in numbers so she only attacked when a lone soldier wandered stupidly into the forest, more often than not because they were drunk. They were hit by her arrow and never saw it coming... but after a year of stealth attacks they only ventured into the forest in pairs and Elena didn't fancy the risk of someone spotting her, so she gave up on that vendetta. Her plan was just to wait them out.

One evening, Elena was settling in to sleep, high above the ground in a large and leafy tree. As usual, she tethered herself to a limb and was just drifting off to sleep when she heard noises below her. Slowly, she peered down below and was shocked to see five Kravaolian soldiers milling about beneath her tree. She dared not move from fear of making a sound or dislodging tree bits that may drift down onto the soldiers causing them to look up. She waited with bated breath, hoping that they would move on, but groaned inwardly as she realised that they were setting up camp. Calm yourself she thought, there has to be a way out of this. She watched the soldiers put up tents, thinking that she'd escape when they all went to sleep, however she was sorely disappointed when she realised that they posted a sentry to guard them while they slept. Curses!. Elena was already exhausted from hunting all day and coming up empty handed again, as the winter time didn't allow for much game as most of the animals were hibernating out of sight. She did not have the will or strength to deal with this lot.

Elena knew that there was no way she was going to stay awake all night, cold, hungry and wet if it rained, which it seemed like it would.

Resigned to her predicament, Elena reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a length of cloth that she used for many purposes. She wrapped it around her head, pulling it tight against her mouth, effectively gagging herself. She knew that this would be the only way she wouldn't cry out if something woke her or if she had one of her bad dreams about the burning castle, from which she usually woke up crying.

Down below Elena could see a large soldier (she could only see him from above) talking to another. smaller soldier. It seemed the smaller one was being reprimanded for something. Elena strained to hear the conversation. 

"You'll guard because I say so, private" The large man barked.

"but sir, you know these woods are not safe to be alone in at night" the small man said in a low voice.

The Large man laughed, making Elena jump slightly. "Again with the Ghost of the Fallen Archer?! you men are too superstitious... all this nonsense about an archer who died in battle and seeks to avenge himself by attacking Kravaolians. Utter rubbish. It's been months since anyone has been shot. Most likely it was some Lorrean scum that somehow escaped capture" Elena's blood boiled at the term, but continued to listen to the conversation. "the reason it stopped is probably because the pathetic Lorrean died from hunger in the winter... no one could survive out here by themselves" he concluded matte-of-factually, before returning to his tent. The guard grumbled something to himself before leaning against her tree.

Elena leaned back, smiling to herself. It had been a while since she last smiled and it felt odd, but knowing that she had become a Kravaolian legend made her freezing and uncomfortable position just a little more bearable. She leaned her head back against the tree and drifted off to sleep, as the rain started to fall.

Wet night after wet night Elena had used the same vines. They never dried during the cold winter's day as they did in the summer and Elena was unaware that they were slowly rotting away. Unaware that is, until she fell out of her tree.



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 03



It happened in a flash, Elena had made some kind of movement as she slept that strained against the vines and they snapped, with the sound of a whip being cracked. The sound of the break was loud enough to wake Elena and the soldiers below her. Luckily for Elena, her reflexes were quick enough that she noticed that she was falling before it was too late. Her hands gripping the side of the wet tree limb as she prayed that she would go unnoticed. No such luck. There were shouts from below as she struggled to climb up higher but failed due to a number of factors: hunger, wetness, no grip and exhaustion. 

"Hey, you there, monkey boy!" called one of the guards, trying to jump up and catch her foot, which she pulled up out of reach. Elena wanted to answer back but all that came out was a muffled noise. 

Cursing herself, she realised she still had the gag on, and the only way to remove it would be to loosen her grip and she would fall.

"What have we here?" came the voice of the large man from the night before.

"A monkey up a tree, sir" said a soldier, half serious half laughing.

"You know boy, you will have to come down at some point, that grip of yours look quite tiresome" He called up at her.

Elena was well aware of the problem with her grip, her fingers were growing numb and her grip was slipping. At least they think i'm a boy, she thought. Not bathing unless it was pouring rain coupled with the rough clothing, malnutrition and wild hair, she wasn't surprised she was mistaken for a boy.

"We could shoot you with a bow, throw stones at you, or even burn down your tree... but I think the most amusing way for you to get down from that tree is to fall out" The big man chuckled as his soldiers laughed like sycophants.

Sweat was dripping down her face, into her eyes at the effort of holding on, she tried to get a better grip but she didn't have the strength to lift her legs above her hips. Two hours later, after enduring endless threats and vile jokes - even the odd stone hurled at her, slowly but surely, she felt herself slipping, inch by inch. Finally her fingertips lost contact with the bark and she fell.

Elena felt like she was falling forever.

She landed on her feet, pain shooting up her left ankle. However, that was the least of her worries as a net was thrown over her as soon as she hit the ground. She fought against her faceless captors but was outnumbered. Still, she didn't go without a fight. Elena sunk her nails into the nearest soldier's face, only letting go when she received a blow to the stomach, causing her to double over in pain.

She felt rope binding her wrists together behind her back as another pair of hands bound her ankles together. She writhed and thrashed about, shouting through her gag, but to no avail.

"Pull him up" Ordered the big man. Elena felt two soldiers pick her up off the floor, as if she were a piece of wood, bringing her to face the commanding officer.

"He's a puny little thing isn't he sir?" remarked one of the men. 

"Yes. Although when I see Lorreans as pathetic as this, I'm surprised that we still need to be in this neck of the woods. They're nothing compared to us physically" he sighed.

Elena struggled against her captors, her matted hair falling in her wet face. "Stop that, filthy boy, or i'll put an end to you here and now" growled one of the soldiers holding Elena. Suddenly Elena felt dizzy. She knew that her dizziness was probably because she hadn't eaten in two days and was weakened from lack of nutrition and sleep in general. However, her understanding of the symptom did not help her stop what happened next: Elena fainted.

The commander sighed as the woodland creature collapsed at his feet. "Get that bucket of water and throw it in his face. Wake him up."

"But sir, wouldn't it be kinder to kill him where he lies rather than postponing the inevitable?" asked a soldier.

"That's not your decision to make private. I'll get all the information I want from this 'thing' and then I, and not you, will decide his fate. Now where's that water?" he barked.

SPLASH. Elena coughed into her gag as water dripped down her face and up her nose. opening her eyes she realised that was she was not dreaming, it was a nightmare come true.

"Now, we'll start again, shall we?" said the commander in a cheerful voice. "Remove that rag from his mouth" he ordered over her shoulder. Elena felt the cloth being yanked painfully from her face. She moved her jaw a few times as it was quite sore. She continued to look down at her feet, scared something about her would give her away. 

"What is your name boy?" he asked in that cheerful tone.

Elena didn't know what to do, so she did nothing. No comment.

"Don't make me ask again, boy. You won't like the results" He said in a low voice that sent chills down her spine, although nothing compared to the chills that bolted down her spine as she saw him unsheath his sword and point it at her stomach.

There was no way around it. Elena cleared her throat a few times before saying "Alice."

The two men holding her dropped her in surprise and even the commander took a step back. Elena took advantage of their dumbfounded state and made a lunge for a sword within reach, but her bound ankles tripped her up. 

The two soldiers hauled her up again, both laughing at her feeble attempt at bravado. The commander too was chuckling but for a different reason.

"I should have known. You're way too tiny for a man, but I guess it was the crazy hair and dirt that threw me off!"

Elena didn't know what to respond so she said nothing.

"So, Alice, is it? what are you doing in our neck of the woods?" he asked.

"Your woods?" Elena said hoarsely. "These woods belong to the kingdom of Lorrea."

The large man stood staring at her, as he rubbed his chiseled chin. "I don't know how long you've been up that tree Alice, but there is no more Lorrea. That war was lost two years ago."

"You may have won the battle, but you haven't won the...." but what the Kravaolian's may or may not have won, the commander never heard, as Elena fainted again.

*

When Elena came to, she felt positively awful. She had never felt as sick and weak- even after eating the wrong mushrooms a year earlier in the forest she hadn't felt this bad. There was a constant thumping against her stomach and her head was bumping into something hard and soft at the same time.

She opened her eyes, only to shut them quickly, fear gripping her. The sounds of the horse galloping at full speed was nothing compared to seeing the ground so close up, only to see it flying by. Elena was strapped across the saddle, in front of the rider, her hips on the saddle, her head and legs hanging helplessly over both sides. 

Elena felt a large hand press warningly against her back, which only caused her to struggle more.

"Stop your squirming or you'll fall from this horse" said the voice Elena recognised as one of the younger soldiers.

"Let go of me- please! I feel sick... I can not stay this way..." she cried over the thundering hoofbeats.

"Too bad. You smell something awful and I won't have your Lorrean stench pressed against me." he grunted as his horse galloped on.

"So let me go!" she cried.

"I have my orders. The commander is heading home to Kravaolia and is bringing you along. I think he means to give you as a gift... or maybe as a joke.. who knows. Prince Henry is not very forthcoming with his thoughts." he stated.

Elena stopped struggling at the mention of Prince Henry. "Henry? King Alexander's son?' she asked, her mind moving painfully slow.

"The one and only. Of course in the field, we are to address him as commander so it's less likely that some loser Lorrean sniper picks him off. You" he added with a smirk, "will address him as Your Highness."

"He's no prince of mine" Elena spat.

SMACK. Elena squealed as the soldier brought his hand down hard against her bottom. "Respect is paramount in his presence. Do not anger him or you will find that you do not enjoy the result," he snapped, pressing a hand between the junction of her thighs, cupping her mound "trust me on that" he said with one last SMACK to her backside that caused Elena's eyes to water. Face crimson from the shame of being touched by a dirty Kravaolian soldier, let alone where she'd never been touched before, her tears fell thick and fast, rolling into her hair as they galloped into the cold night.

They arrived at daybreak. The soldier slowing to a trot as he made his way through small cobbled roads and gateways, until stopping abruptly outside a large stone building. Elena felt other hands pull her from the horse, and guide her roughly through the door, her feet not even touching the marble floors. She surmised from the humidity and sickly sweet smells that they had brought her to a bath house.

A large woman came through the door, eyeing Elena with a frown. 

"This is a Gedortian bathhouse - we do not tend to men here. Take your dirty little boy out of here this instant!" she ordered, snapping her fingers for good measure.

The soldiers laughed, causing Elena to cringe, as she was once again reminded that she didn't fit the bill of a woman, let alone a princess. 

"Yes, that's what Prince Henry thought too- hell, we all thought that! But beneath all that filth is a girl. She even has a name: Alice."

"Prince Henry?" Inquired the woman, "he doesn't usually return with girls in this condition. He usually sends me beautiful and exotic girls from kingdoms with names that I cannot pronounce."

"The prince was intrigued as to what lay beneath all this filth... I don't understand why, but then thats not what i'm paid for" grunt the soldier.

"I'm not a miracle worker, Private. What am I supposed to do with this" she motioned at Elena's matted tresses. The soldier shrugged and looked around, seemingly bored with the task of chaperoning a dirty prisoner. 

"Get her some sugar water... she looks dead on her feet. She looks like a fainter and i'll need her cooperation" she snapped at some unseen person out of Elena's view.

BANG. Elena jumped at the sound of the large doors of the bathhouse banging off the walls. She looked around and saw the prince, making his way towards her. In the light of day Elena could see that he had ruggedly handsome good looks for a prince, his dark twinkling eyes sweeping over her as he rubbed his palms together.

"Good, you haven't started yet." he noted with unabashed glee. "Now, may I introduce myself? I am Prince Henry of Kravaolia. You are a prisoner of mine, therefore you shall address me only as Sir, Master or My Prince. Do I make myself clear?" He said, peering into her eyes, causing Elena to shiver involuntarily

Elena made no comment. She couldn't bring herself to say any of those words. None of them befitted the man she had become acquainted with in a short few hours, in her opinion.

"Answer girl, or you'll be sorry" He added in a bone chilling tone.

Elena swallowed before saying "You are no Prince of mine," her voice gaining more confidence with each word, "I am a citizen of Lorrea and you are not my prince. There is living royalty of Lorrea." she finished, keeping her eyes glued to his.

Henry's eyebrows arched, showing him to be surprised by the impudent response. Elena saw from the corner of her eye a soldier raising his riding crop high, but Henry held up his hand and the soldier's arm dropped limply to his side.

"Insolence will not be tolerated, but now is not the time for lessons on royal etiquette. That will come later. You refer to the living Lorrean royal? You must mean the elusive princess Elena. As far as anyone knows she could be lying dead in a ditch somewhere. No one has heard or seen her in two years, so I wouldn't put much stock in your 'saviour'" he added cruelly.

A single tear rolled down Elena's cheek. His taunt of Elena not fulfilling her destiny as saviour of her people, was a most painful experience for the princess. Henry reached out to brush the tear away, causing Elena to flinch, but she held her ground. 

Henry rubbed the wetness between his fingers.... "enough of this pointless conversation. Even your tears are unclean" he showed her the dark wetness, no doubt formed from contact of the tear with her dirty skin. "Madge" he addressed the large woman, "Please start".

The woman stood in front of Elena, tipping a cup to her lips. Elena shook her head, her lips pursed tightly. "It's just sugar water, I promise". For some reason Elena felt that she was truthful and there was nothing sinister about the drink, so she parted her lips and drank from the cup - the last memory of drinking from a cup, causing her to pause before she swallowed a throatfull of emotions along with the strange, sweet liquid. 

"My Prince, I need her unbound to remove her clothes," she gestured at my hands and feet.

"No, she is unpredictable. Use a knife" He ordered.

The woman pulled out a short dagger from within her robes and started to work away at Elena's rags. Elena was trembling so much that the woman had to stop occasionally so as not to cut her. She waited patiently for the trembling to subside before continuing.

As more pieces of clothing puddled at Elena's feet, silent tears rolled down her cheeks. 'Mighty princess of Lorrea' she thought, 'look what the fates have dealt you.'

Eventually, she was standing naked before her captor and his minions. She had never in her life felt more ashamed and a blush crept up her neck as sweat broke out across her brow. Henry circled around her a few times, reminding Elena of a bird of prey. She shut her eyes to save whatever dignity she had left.

"Mmm" he murmured. "Who knew under all those rags was this beautiful body" He said, running his rough hands over her stomach. 

Elena flinched, twisting away from his touch but he just moved his hands up as if this didn't bother him. He cupped each breast, weighing them in the palm of his hands. He rubbed a thumb over each nipple, causing them to stand out against her areola. He looked at her face, her eyes closed tightly, trying to escape from the moment. He smiled cruelly as he pinched her left nipple, her eyes snapping open. "Good of you to join us," he chuckled as she gave him a tear filled withering look.

"Now, what is this?" he said, tracing the golden chain around her neck, pulling up the now blackened medallion. Over the years Elena could not bear to throw it away, so she let it get dirtier and dirtier, completely obscuring the coat of arms so that it just looked like a cheap necklace.

Henry flipped it over to look at the back but it was just as black... "don't worry, Alice, I'll let you keep your little chain. What is it anyway? Some saint or something?"

"Yes.. um... it's... uh.. Saint Anthony" she mumbled.

He let out a bark of a laugh, causing her to jump.

"I like what I see" he informed the room at large, then turned to Madge "clean her up, I have decided she is to be a gift to my men- they have not been with a woman in months. I have other business to attend to" he said nonchalantly as he made his way out the door, taking his entourage with him, all except for one soldier who stayed at the door, keeping an eye on the prisoner.

As soon as the prince left, Elena fell to her knees sobbing loudly. Madge knelt down by her side and tried to comfort her "There now, there's no need to fret. There are worse fates than this. The prince's men are not regular conscripts, they treat women rather well... just be as subservient as you can and you'll survive. One of the men may even take a fancy to you" she cooed, thinking her words reassuring.

"I can't service his soldiers... i've never even.. i've never..." she hiccoughed.

The matron's eyes widened in shock. "That can not be.. you are young, but not that young".

"I am aware of your Kravaolian customs when a girl reaches 18." Elena hiccoughed, "But i'm Lorrean and I'm 24" cried Elena.

"Shhh, darling. It'll be alright. Some men see it an honour to take a women for the first time. The prince's men are men of honour, it is possible they will be gentle with you."

The guard leaning against the door cleared his throat. The matron jumped "Of course.. yes, we must continue with your preparations... so much to do!"

She directed Elena to the bathing pool and started to scrub her with many scented soaps, attempting to remove 2 years of filth. Most of her pubic hair was removed, much to her embarrassment, yet the matron left a small tuft down under as was the Kravaolian custom.

Elena must have been in and out of that bath 20 times until the matron was able to transform her matted, dirt filled hair to soft golden waves floating around her shoulders.

As the matron dried Elena with a thick towel (owing that her bound limbs prevented her from even that small shred of dignity of drying herself) the soldier came closer to inspect her.

"Nice job.. i'll enjoy taking h-" he started before he froze as if bitten by a snake. "Stop what you are doing. NOW" commanded the soldier. Elena looked up in confusion, hoping the matron could explain what she had done wrong, but the matron looked just as perplexed.

The soldier swiftly wrapped a big white towel around her nudity and threw Elena over his shoulder, causing her to squeal in fright. Next thing Elena knew, he was walking straight out of the bathhouse and up the winding streets. 'Men of honour indeed' she mused, as the towel barely covered her. 

As the soldier did not show any sign of slowing down, Elena started to regain a little of her courage and demanded that he let her down, but it fell on deaf ears. She noticed that the soldier had made his way up through the town (in his wake, the town's people stood gawking at her) and was now entering the most sinister looking castle she had ever seen. She didn't get much time to contemplate her surroundings, as her guard was moving swiftly up the stairs and through the spacious halls. He stopped abruptly before a large wooden double door and knocked.

"Yes, enter" said a gruff voice from within.

"You would be wise to hold your tongue." the soldier said sharply to Elena, before crossing the threshold.

The man carried her into a large room that reminded Elena of her father's study back home. However the two couldn't have been more different memories for Elena, at home she felt the warmth and respect, here in the castle she felt nothing but bone chilling silence and tension as he moved further into the room.

"What is the meaning of this Private?" barked the prince, "I'm quite busy."

"Yes sir, I know sir. Something has come to my attention that I thought you should know about. Privately" he stressed, looking around at the many confused faces.

Henry paused, looking at the soldier in calculating manner."We will continue this later" the prince declared, clearing the room quickly so that only the three of them remained. As the soldier shifted her on his shoulder for a better grip, Elena's heart was beating so hard she thought that they must be able to hear it!

"What is so urgent?" inquired the prince, frowning at the private.

"Two things sir. Firstly, I have discovered that this girl is not as we expected her to be... she is a virgin sir" he stated matter of factly.

"Interesting, but surely that is not what you interrupted me for" threatened the prince in a low voice.

"No sir!" stammered the soldier, "That is not all".

"Then out with it, what is it?!" snapped the prince.

"I'll show you, sir." said the private, lowering Elena from his shoulder to a standing position. He grasped Elena's towel and pulled it off with a flourish.

The prince smiled slightly as his gaze roamed over her body, taking in her curves and beauty. He couldn't help but feel a little proud of Madge's hard work. Elena was still baffled as to what was so different about her now than a few hours ago when he last saw her naked, that had warranted the humiliating trip from the bathhouse to the castle. The Prince's gaze reached her breasts and he frowned, coming closer to her. With each echoing footstep his frown deepened, Elena looked back at him, confused at his intense preoccupation with her breasts.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 03



She looked down at where he was staring and her heart stopped. Her medallion lay in the valley between her breasts, sparkling in the light of the fireplace as brightly as the day her father gave it to her, not a fleck of dirt on it obscuring her heritage.

"The matron did not understand, but I recognised that coat of arms at once, because i'd been to the castle after it was sacked. There were a few paintings of the king and he was always wearing that necklace, not to mention that the family crest adorned a number of the rooms in the castle" the soldier narrated.

The prince reached out and lifted the medallion to look at it closely... his silence scaring the trembling Elena more than his words. 

Henry dropped the medallion, letting it swing back into place between her breasts. He looked up at her with his piercing dark eyes and said "So, we finally meet... Princess Elena".



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 04



Elena couldn't breathe. She tried to calm herself but to no avail. She was breathing so quickly yet she felt like she wasn't getting any air... her lips and fingers started to tingle as she continued to gasp for air. She started to feel dizzy...

Henry had watched her reaction, at first it caused him an odd sense of satisfaction, that his discovery of her heritage was so distressing. However, soon he started to worry as her face turned white and her breathing more laborious. 

"Private, hand me your wineskin, immediately!" ordered the prince. The soldier unbuckled it from his belt and handed it over, perplexed as to the prince's need for his wine.

The prince quickly removed the top and upended the skin, spilling out it's wine onto the floor. He pressed the opening against the Elena's mouth. "Breathe from this" he said.

Elena shook her head, looking wild eyed at the prince, as she gasped for air. He must be a cruel man she thought, to tell her to breathe from a place that has no air supply when she needed it most.

"Do it or you will suffocate! this is the only way to slow your breathing, now do it!" he growled, pressing the skin's opening hard against her lips.

Elena felt that she had no choice. To her, either option ended in her death so she did as she was told and breathed in and out of the wineskin. The Prince signaled to the soldier to remove her ties to aid in her breathing.

After a minute of breathing in and out of the wineskin, Elena noticed that her breathing had indeed slowed, and her heart was not racing as much. She became more aware of her position, lying naked at the feet of two powerful men. Blushing, she wrapped her spare arm around her chest and crossed her legs before curling into the fetal position while still pressing the wineskin to her lips.

Prince Henry lowered himself into his large leather chair, behind his broad mahogany desk. He placed his elbows on the edge of the desk and rested his chin on his fingertips, as he surveyed the naked girl before him.

"My prince" said the private, breaking Henry from his confused thoughts, "What should I do with the girl?"

"Take the Princess to the bedroom in the north tower. Arrange for appropriate gowns to be brought up, along with some food... I think she is on the verge of fainting again" he sighed.

"As you wish, sir." he threw the towel over the naked princess and heaved her over his shoulder again. This time, not a word or complaint from the princess, she didn't have the strength to protest.

"Oh, and Private" called the prince, before the former disappeared through the double doors, "I will not forget this. You have proven yourself worthy of the rank of captain".

"Thank you sir!" said the newly appointed captain, bowing his head in farewell.

The prince, now alone in the room, walked slowly towards the roaring fireplace. He gazed into it's depths hoping for the answers to his many questions, yet none appeared. He sighed and wandered over to his desk, picking up a map and yelled at the closed doors "steward - call the council back in, we shall continue".

*

The king was in the Great hall, listening to his advisors on the newly proposed taxes for the citizens of Lorrea. It was a decision he had come up with himself, as a way to punish the people for supporting their phantom leader, the Princess.

Prince Henry cut a path through the many advisors and people of the court, to approach his father. King Xander held up his hand, silencing one of his advisors mid speech.

"Henry! What a surprise! I'm glad you've returned safely from Lorrea. However you have returned earlier than expected, no?" The king asked of his heir.

"Yes father, for a good reason as fate would have it." the prince replied.

"Well then, what is it? Some intelligence information?" the king asked.

"No sir. However, I wish a private audience with you to discuss it further." said the prince, looking up at his father.

The king waved his hand and the crowd immediately left the hall. 

The prince cleared his throat, nodding his head at the concubines at the King's feet.

The king rolled his eyes at his son, but snapped his fingers, signaling for the departure of the slaves. Ever since his mother passed away, his father always seemed to have a concubine or slave hanging onto his arm or laying at his feet. Henry thought it an insult to his mother's memory, however the king declared that it demonstrated his power. Henry knew better than to argue with his father.

The doors closed behind the last of the girls, leaving a ringing silence.

"What is it son? Is something wrong?" asked the king, as he picked at a fruit platter at his side.

"On the contrary father, I think there has been a positive turn on the Lorrean front" said the prince, carefully choosing his words.

"Good. That country has caused us nothing but grief since the moment we attacked it. What has changed?" inquired the King.

"I have captured Princess Elena, father" said the prince, looking up to witness his father's reaction.

It did not disappoint. His father's jaw dropped, stunned into silence.

"Hah! Brilliant! Fantastic! Just the thing we need to bring the people to their knees" Boomed the king, as he descended the throne and approached his son. He clapped him on the back and steered him towards the doors. "You shall take me to her at once! Oh the things I've dreamt of doing to that girl! Is she beautiful as her people claim, or as ugly as her father?" asked the king, giddy as a child.

"Princess Elena is quite beautiful" the prince said slowly. "Father, I wish to make a request of you. I wish to be entrusted with her captivity - only I would have the power over her, no one else."

The king stopped short, a calculating look on his face. On one hand he thought, as king he deserved first go of the girl, on the other, his son caught her and is her royal equivalent in status. In addition it would be good for the boy's character and increase his notoriety.

"All right, son. She's all yours, but if you tire of her, send her my way" he chuckled, turning back to his throne.

"Yes father. Oh, I feel obligated to inform you that she's a virgin too, so you should not think i'm keeping her from you" murmured the prince.

"A virgin! Oh son, you tempt me so! Go before I change my mind." cried the King, feigning chest pain on the idea of a virgin princess.

"Thank you sir" said the prince, before exiting the Great hall quickly.

*

Blearily, Elena opened one eye after another, her mind working very slowly. She had no idea how long she had slept for. Her eyes cast about the circular room, taking in the many oil paintings featuring noble men and women, a fireplace with a fiercely burning fire, a loveseat and a few chairs arranged near the fire and finally, a table covered with food.

Immediately Elena slid off the large, comfortable bed and padded barefoot and naked across the thickly woven carpet and reached for a slice of melon, taking a large and heavenly bite, causing the juice to run down her chin and throat. She took five more mouthfuls of melon before she noticed a bundle of garments at the foot of the bed. Elena wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and walked over to the bed to examine the parcel. She lifted up the powder blue dress and examined the material in the firelight, watching it shimmer as if lit by a thousand candles. Elena looked but could not see any undergarments left for her. Obviously the Prince's perverted idea, she fumed. Clearly, she was meant to wear the dress and although it irked her to accept anything Kravaolian, she didn't fancy the alternative, so she slipped the dress over her head and tied it's many ribbons into place.

The material was soft against her skin, but she didn't know the name of it. It hugged her body as if tailored for her, accenting her every curve. 

Her stomach rumbled and broke the spell of her musings, so Elena turned back to the table of food. She had never seen so much food in the last two years, some of which she didn't even know the name of. Elena ate and drank until she felt full, a feeling long forgotten by her. Her unexpected feast finished, she once again felt inexplicably tired. However she did not return to bed. Instead, she crossed over to the wooden door and pressed her ear against it. Hearing nothing, she gently pulled on the brass handle but it remained closed. Not defeated, Elena pulled with all her might against the door but it wouldn't budge. She hammered on the door with her fist -"let me out!" she yelled in frustration, feeling just as trapped as she had felt when they had thrown the net on her after she had fallen from the tree.

The sound of a key in the lock caused Elena's heart to skip a beat. How foolish of her, to seek a confrontation, not knowing with whom, when she was unarmed and in such a vulnerable state. Clearly, despite having rested and eaten a little, her common sense was still tailing her compulsions. She looked around for a weapon, but clearly someone had thought she might seek one because the room was very basic and devoid of anything she could put her weight behind. Her eyes fell on the silver platter that once held the food and lifted it up. Standing behind the door, she raised her arms high above her head and waited.

The door creaked open and a soldier she didn't recognise walked in, his eyes sweeping the room for her. Elena brought the silver platter down hard on the soldier's helmet-free head, just as he turned towards her. The impact sent shocking vibrations up her arms and the noise was quite loud. The soldier groaned and clutched his head in his hands.

Elena brought her arms up again, determined to overpower this simple soldier. Just as she was about to take a swing at the man's face, a voice rang through the room. "PUT THAT DOWN, NOW!". Elena looked for the source of the voice, spotting the soldier from her earlier encounters, pointing his sword at her. She knew that a tray was no match for a sword, so she slowly lowered her arms and tossed the tray aside.

"Pick the plate up, private" ordered the captain. The soldier did as he was told, still clutching his head with his free hand.

Elena's heart pounding, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins, she stumbled back as the captains took a few deliberate steps towards her. Elena fell back against the loveseat, lifting her hands up in a gesture of submission. "Please... I'm sorry I won't-" but the rest of her sentence was cut off as the captain wrapped his hand around her throat and squeezed. Instinctively, her hands clawed at his iron clad grip, her eyes watering as she gasped for air.

The captain's brown eyes bore into hers as he lowered his face to her. "Do ... not... do... that... again" he hissed. Frantic for air, Elena nodded rapidly. The captain released her and signaled for the other soldier to leave. As he followed, he turned at the door and looked back at Elena satisfied that she was not even daring to look up at him. He crossed the threshold and closed the door after him, turning the key, the lock echoing ominously in the circular room.

Elena threw herself down on the loveseat and wept bitterly, her sobbing loud and it surely carried through the door. After a while, the cold reality of the past two years set in and she realised that no one was going to come and comfort her. She rose off the couch and slipped under the covers of the goose down blanket, pulled it up to her chin as she shook with silent agony. After an hour or so, she soothed and fell into an exhausted slumber.

* 

The Prince was sitting in one of the armchairs near the dying fire, staring at the slumbering princess. It occurred to him that he had never really watched a woman sleep before - the women he slept with knew to leave his bed shortly after their coupling ran it's course. Not so much sleep together, he mused, as much as lay together.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, just as the local lore told her to be. Her golden hair fanned out over the pillow, her soft full lips slightly parted as she breathed. No woman had ever piqued his curiosity so.

He replayed the conversation he had earlier with Damian, the newly appointed captain. He had informed the prince that there had been an incident involving the princess and one of the guards.

He remembered his anger at the thought that she had found the tenacity to try and injure, perhaps even kill a Kravaolian soldier, considering how well she has been treated so far, as a prisoner of war.

However, after the captain finished recounting the tale, something seemed amiss. "After she backed down, what did you do?" he asked of the captain.

"I... um... I told her not to do that again, sir." he replied shiftily.

"Hmmm, told her not to do that again" mirrored the Prince.

"Uhh yes, sir" added the captain in a shaky voice, clearly realising that something was not to the prince's liking.

The Prince nonchalantly unsheathed his sword, tilting it this way and that, catching the glimmer of the oil lamp on his desk. He raised his sword slowly, bringing it inches from the private's nose, as he stared into eyes.

"I'll ask you one more time. I am a very good judge of character as i'm sure you know and I can tell that you are hiding something from me Captain" he said, as he pressed the tip of the sword to the tip of his nose.

"I'm.. i'm sorry sir.. but my emotions may have gotten the better of me.. I umm" sputtered the soldier.

"Yes... and what exactly did you get carried away with?" the prince asked in his falsely cheerful voice, which at the moment was just as menacing as his roar of fury, as he steadied his hand holding the sword.

"I was angry that she tried to hurt one of the men sir, so I thought the girl, umm... needed to be... to be.. to be reminded of her place, sir." he said.

"And how did you remind the PRINCESS of her place Captain?" growled the prince.

"I just sort of, grab-- I mean - held, I held her by her neck" he said quietly. "I left no mark on her, my Prince, I swear upon your sword, she is not blemished in any way." he said quickly, trying to soothe the prince's temper.

"That was most fortunate of you captain, for if you had, I would have run you through with this sword" he growled. "Tell your men, that no one is to lay a hand on MY Princess, or they'll be meeting their maker much sooner than they would have wished." he hissed.

"Yes sir!" croaked the soldier, his eyes still on the sword, as it started to move across his face, pressing against his cheek. With a quick flick of the Prince's wrist, a small gash appeared on the captain's face, causing him to cry out in pain.

"Let that be a reminder to you Captain" he said, sheathing his sword, "and to your men too" he added as an afterthought. 

The prince waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal - the captain gave him a curt bow and walked quickly from the room.

*

Henry was confused, he did not know where his anger had come from. Slaves and other prisoners had been roughly treated in front of his eyes and occasionally at his hands, but it had never caused him to feel righteous anger before. He pushed himself out of the chair, trying to shake of the confusing emotions. She was a princess... no - a prisoner... no- his princess... his prisoner of war. Frustrated he stoked the fire with a poker, making more noise than was necessary. He jumped as he heard her cry out "Please, let me go!"... he turned around to look at her, preparing for the inevitable conversation but stopped short.

The princess was not standing defiantly or sitting up in bed, as he expected. She was lying exactly where she was a minute ago, her eyes shut tightly, her hands clutching the sheets, she whimpered softly "Captain we must help them... they are hurt" she said as her arm reached out to no one but air. Comprehension dawned on the Prince's face, she was clearly having a nightmare. He moved closer to the bed staring at her pained features as she cried out into the night "You must keep moving!".

Tears started to flow as her body shook with her silent sobbing. The prince was confused, he did not know what to do... should he wake her? from one nightmare to another (in her eyes)? He stared at her, as she wrapped her arms around herself, hugging herself in her sleep. The prince moved to the other side of the bed, slowly lowering himself onto the mattress as to not startle her awake with a sudden shift of weight. He inched closer to her quivering back, slowly pressing his body length against hers, wrapping his muscular arms around her, holding her tight. He felt her breathing slowly calm down, her whimpering subside

"I promise" she breathed in her sleep, before falling into a peaceful sleep.

The captain held her tightly in his arms, the fragrance of her hair and skin intoxicating. He cursed himself for not removing his clothes... the material of her dress was heavenly, almost as much as the soft skin of her neck, as he pressed his lips against it.

She shifted slightly in her sleep, causing her bottom to brush against Henry's hips, bringing forth a guttural noise from his throat, his member hardening within his pants, pressed up against her backside.

Henry, just as any prince, was never left unsatisfied sexually, but he was in uncharted territory, somehow he didn't think it a wise move to satisfy his urges with a virgin princess while she slept. He lay his head back and closed his eyes, drifting off into a lust-filled sleep.

*

Elena blinked. It took her a few seconds to remember where she was and the events of the previous day. In those few seconds she was at peace, albeit an unsure one, but it was heaven compared to the grief that clenched her bowels as the memories of yesterday came crashing back to her. Worse yet, she realised that there was an arm wrapped around her waist. Her heart pounding, she wracked her memory for an explanation. Satisfied that she had no lapse in memory, she concluded that the man must have come to her as she slept. She wriggled out from underneath the muscular and tanned arm, slipping to the edge of the bed, trying to put as much distance between herself and whomever the arm was attached to.

The princess was about to turn around and glimpse the man who violated her privacy, but just as she was going to, he spoke.

"Good morning Princess" said the voice. There was no need for Elena to turn around now, she knew that voice, but she was not reassured, on the contrary. To her, that voice meant danger and power. She sat frozen with indecision- should she acknowledge his presence? should she attempt to flee? Elena chose nothing. She sat perched on the edge of the bed in silence.

Elena felt the bed shift slightly, still, she ignored his presence. Suddenly, she felt his hot breath against her neck as he breathed "I said, good morning Princess", followed by the lightest of kisses against the area connecting her neck and shoulders. As light as the touch had been, to Elena it felt like a scorching brand - she jumped up from the bed and backed away from the prince, bumping into the furniture in her haste.

"Stay away from me!" she cried but at the same time taking note that the prince was fully clothed, confirming her hopes that nothing indecent, relatively, had happened last night.

"Come now, it doesn't need to be this way" purred the prince as he continued to lay across the bed, the picture of masculine virility.

Elena reached the door and pulled on it with all her might - it remained locked. She turned back around to face the prince, who was watching her with amusement in his eyes.

"Let me out" she said in an even, steady voice.

"No" he said, cocking his head to one side, as if sizing her up.

"Let me out" she repeated, anger audible in her voice this time.

The prince slowly climbed off the bed and started towards her. He looked her straight in the eye as he approached her. 




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 04



"That sounds like an order - may I remind you that you are in no position to give orders?" he growled playfully, stopping when his face was just a foot from hers. 

"I am the princess of Lorrea, I have the royal authority to command just as you do" she snapped haughtily. "And as i've said previously, I don't recognise you as MY prince." she concluded with a withering stare any lesser man would have fled from.

"Say what you wish, but it does not make it reality. You are a prisoner of war, you are at my disposal and subject to my mercy." summed up the prince, leaning in closer, causing her to back into the door, "And I shall do as I wish".

To prove his point, he grasped her left breast through her dress in his large hand, squeezing the tender flesh with more force than was necessary.

Elena winced and gasped at the discomfort. "Let go of me! You're hurting me!" she cried as she tried to pry his fingers from her bosom, but his grip was vice-like. 

"Acknowledge my authority and I will let go" hissed the prince.

"Never" she cried, as his grip tightened. Elena felt cornered - literally and figuratively. Her next move surprised even her.

SLAP!

Elena had slapped Henry across the face with as much strength as she could muster. She did not know where the courage came from. Yesterday she had let him touch her, as she stood completely naked before him, because she saw no point in resisting, being mistaken for an average Lorrean and summarily assigned the position of a whore for his men. Yet somehow today she felt different - The prince's knowledge of her heritage forced her to assume a role, the representative of her nation, and in doing such he had sparked a fire within her - pride and purpose that she had not felt in the past two years, her oath to her father echoing in her ears, almost as loudly as the slap echoed in Henry's ears.

Henry removed his hand from her breast immediately. This action however, was not brought on by the pain of the slap, which was nothing more than a slight sting, but of the audacity of the act itself. No one, other than his father many years ago, had ever laid a hand on him.

Henry glared at her, further incensed by the defiant look on her face. He grabbed a handful of her golden hair and yanked her hard, causing her to cry out in pain and stumble to her knees to alleviate the pressure on her scalp.

"You will regret that, my Princess" he said in a voice that caused the hair's on the back of her neck to stand up. He shoved her unceremoniously to the floor a few feet away, leaving his path to the door clear. He rapped smartly on the door three times before ordering "Open", which it did instantly, unlocked by a soldier who stood back to let him through. The Prince stalked through the door, without so much as a backwards glance at the princess who lay crumpled on the cold, stone floor.

*

Elena felt elated and terrified at the same time. She couldn't believe what she had done, striking a royal heir, but was delighted that it had served it's purpose. The Prince's promise of retribution caused her heart to quicken when she thought about it, but on the whole, she counted the interaction as a win. She felt it important to resist the prince on everything, she would not participate in his twisted idea of courtship or whatever he had in mind. She would honour herself and Lorrea, as she had promised.

Elena spent the rest of the day trying to converse with the servants that were waiting on her- they brought her food (and cleared away the tray immediately when she finished, clearly they had been informed of her violent tendencies), tended to the fireplace and emptied her chamberpot. However, they acted as if deaf, clearly under orders not to engage in conversation with her. Elena's spirit was not dampened - she simply resolved to continue chipping away at their indifference until one of them cracked a little.

* 

The Prince was livid. He had half a mind to march back up the winding staircase, burst back into the room and show the princess who was REALLY in charge. Yet a small part of him wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her and that same part was the one calming him slowly as he made his way across the entrance hall.

"Henry my boy!" boomed the king from the other side of the hall, his advisors and concubines in tow. 

"Father" said the prince with an inclination of his head.

"Tell me, what was it like?" the king asked as he made his way towards his son, his entourage hanging back as per his instruction.

"I'm sorry, father?" asked the prince, feigning confusion.

"You know what I mean, you dog you!" he jested as he waggled his jeweled finger in Henry's face. 

"Was she everything you thought she would be?" he asked, laughter in his cold eyes. "Where is she?" he inquired, looking around Henry, searching for a downtrodden looking princess.

"She's, uh, resting" mumbled the prince.

"Hah!" exclaimed the king as he clapped Henry on the back. "She can barely walk eh, son? Like father like son!" he laughed, clapping Henry on the back again, his words causing him to cringe inwardly.

"Father" Henry said, changing the subject- "How goes the Chopparte campaign? I have not heard from Lord Caspian in a while" he said.

"Your cousin? Oh the crazy devil is on the warpath again. Apparently one of his generals was passing information to the Choppartians... as I understand, he beheaded the man and adorned his chariot with the head until the smell of it got to him." The king said absentmindedly, straightening his crimson robes over his large, albeit wide body.

"Charming" commented Henry. Caspian and the Prince had been at odds many times over the last few years, mainly due to Caspian's jealousy of Henry's royal future. His cruel nature was not to Henry's liking and he had turned down many of his cousin's invitations to join him on a hunt, partly because he was worried that he would end the day with an arrow sticking out of him and partly because he just couldn't stand him.

"Last I heard he was heading back here for a few days rest" said the king. A smile lept to his eyes "Oh Henry, imagine the look on his face when he finds out about the Princess, you know how long her searched for her!" he chuckled.

"Hmm, yes. I believe he spent the whole of last winter terrorising the citizens of Lorrea for information about her." he said, "He'll definitely be... be...be surprised" he said, yawning loudly.

"You look tired my son - well, of course, you were up all night I expect" he laughed at his own joke. "Go to the kitchens and have breakfast, I must be off to a council meeting", he nodded at his son as he continued through the door to his left, which was held open by a young boy, dressed in the palace uniform.

Henry walked off to the kitchens, thinking about his plans for the princess and the look on his cousin's face when he realised that he had her. Smiling at the thought of both these prospects, he set about instructing the kitchen staff on his breakfast.

*

Elena was quickly becoming bored. The welcome interruptions of the castle staff were few and far between, leaving her to her own thoughts for many hours. In the last two years she had never felt so out of control and helpless. At least in the forest she could wander for hours, with the warm sun kissing her fair skin - her current quarters didn't even have a window. She guessed the hours of the day according to the rumbling of her stomach.

Elena had searched every inch of the room for a weapon or something that could be fashioned into a weapon, but the only thing that was not too heavy or large for her to wield, were the bedsheets, and they were not much in the way of weapons. 

Elena was dozing in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace, the scraping of a key in the lock breaking the spell on her daydreams. She scrambled to her feet, just as prince Henry entered the room.

"I'm glad you have remembered your etiquette - to rise in the presence of royalty." he said, approvingly.

"I'm not standing for your honour "she hissed at him "I was just startled that's all" she said, smoothing her dress and edging slowly away from him. "In Lorrea, a royal is chosen by the people, not as you do, the royals imposing themselves upon the people - therefore you may find my tone lacking the respect you obviously crave for - you have not earned it."

"My, you sure have a mouth on you" he chuckled. "I understand what Prince Argenton meant when he said that you were not fit to be his princess" he grinned, sitting down on the loveseat.

Elena flushed crimson. Prince Argenton was a surprise forced upon her by her well meaning mother, she had invited the prince to stay the week at their castle, needless to say he was gone within two days, his attempts at courting Elena failing miserably.

"Prince Argenton? that swine is not worthy of his title either!" Elena spat, " I told him that the only way he and I would... " she started to say, before she halted mid-sentence. Elena looked away pointedly, crossing her arms over her chest, lapsing into silence.

"The only way you and he would - what?" asked the prince, curiosity in his voice.

Elena ignored the prince's query. She squared her shoulders back, refolding her arms over her chest. "that's none of your business" she said.

Sighing, he stood slowly. As he drew near her, he said: "You are my business - your past, your future, your present - all mine."

Anger flashed across her face. "I do not belong to anyone" she growled.

"The sooner you acknowledge that you are not merely a guest here, the better off you'll be Princess" he said softly, towering over her slight frame.

Elena snorted in derision, Henry's words not worthy of a verbal response in her opinion. 

Henry stretched out a hand to push back a lock of golden hair that had fallen into her face, and tuck it behind the princess's ear. Elena quickly grasped Henry's wrist in her hand, a wrist so thick that her fist barely gripped it's circumference.

"I said, don't touch me" Elena growled.

Anticipating her reaction, Henry twisted his muscular wrist, causing her grip to slacken as he clasped her arm in return and twisted it, causing her to cry out in pain and turn her back on him in order to alleviate it. He quickly wrenched her other arm behind her and clasped both of her wrists together in one hand as he pulled on one of her many ties that secured her dress in place. The sash came loose and he wound the silky fabric around her wrists, making sure that they were secure enough that she couldn't wriggle out of it but also that it wouldn't cut off her circulation.

"Untie me at once you brute!" Elena shouted over her shoulder

"Hmm, not yet. You seem to be unable to control yourself in my presence - so I think i'll prefer it this way, at least until you learn some self control or respect - i'll take whichever one come first." he said in a silky voice as he ran his index finger down her shoulder blades, causing her to square her shoulders once again, though on this occasion it was in attempt to avoid his touch and not as an act of royal defiance.

"Your father signed the treaty of Vansarto!" she shot at him as he dragged her backwards by her wrists towards the loveseat. "You are not allowed to cause direct harm to the head of a state in order to force a nation to surrender!" she shouted at him, as she lost her balance and fell against the Prince as he pulled on her wrists again.

"I really think you must have been living up a tree for the past two years Princess... those decrees mean nothing anymore - half those nations don't even exist, so upholding it would be a little problematic at best" he scoffed, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her tighter against him.

"Unhand me you... you... you... Kravaolian slug!" she yelled, wriggling in his arms.

Henry let out a bark-like laugh that almost dislodged Elena. "Kravaolian slug?" he laughed, "Is that the best you could think of?" his deep laughter vibrating through his chest, pressed against Elena, sharing his mirth. "I know you to be pure princess, but pure at heart too? Oh this is too much " he gasped, tears of laughter in his eyes.

Elena scowled at him. Oh, if you only knew the darkness of my heart, thought Elena, you would not be laughing so.

"Tell me princess, what else do you think of me?" he purred.

"I try not to" Elena stated flatly, still squirming in his arms.

"Oh really, even if I do this?" he asked, as placed both of his hand on the sides of her face, pulling her against his moistened lips, his tongue pushing past her soft lips, pressing against her own.

Elena was momentarily stunned by his boldness, as a kiss was the last thing she thought he'd do. However, when she felt his large tongue pushing itself past her lips like a snake, she felt instantly nauseated. She tried to pull away but he held her face against his own, Elena strained against her bindings but was unable to lift a finger against him. She thought about one of his earlier comments, about her mouth- 'you sure have a mouth on you.'
Her mouth formed a smile against his lips at the irony that her defense would be of his own making.

Henry relaxed a little as he felt her smile against his lips, after initially fighting against him, she seemed to be warming to his touch. How wrong he was, as a second later he felt a searing pain- he yelped and put a hand to his bottom lip- he was bleeding! He couldn't believe it, she had actually bitten him, like an animal!

That was the second time she'd assaulted him in one day and Henry had had enough.

"You'll pay for that" he growled, as he pushed her face forwards across his lap, lifting her legs onto the opposite side of the loveseat. He wiped his bleeding lip on the back of his hand then placed his palm on the small of her back, pressing her down against his lap. He raised his other hand high and brought it down hard against her bottom - SPANK!

Elena squealed from shock more than pain - "Get off me! By the royal decree of Lorrea I order you to--" but her words were cut off by three successive spanks to her rear, causing her to gasp, rendering her speechless.

"Hurts doesn't it, my Princess?" the prince cooed as her rubbed her bottom in a circular motion. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you were saying - care to repeat it?" he goaded her.

Elena may have been humiliated, but she was not down for the count. She looked back over her shoulder at him "I said that I ordered you to cease and ---" but was once again rendered speechless as he administered six successive spanks to her rear.

Henry paused, allowing her to catch her breath. "Tell me princess, have you ever been spanked before?" he asked as he rubbed her bottom again. "Probably not... you Lorreans are a soft people, not to mention prudish" he said. "But that was just a warm up". He reached the hem of her dress and pushed it up her legs, rubbing his rough hand against her leg, then her thigh as he pulled the skirts of her dress higher and higher before lifting them over her waist, exposing her naked pink derriere. "Mmm, a lovely shade of pink to start with" he said, causing Elena to cringe.

Elena was fast losing whatever equal footing she thought she had. As she felt his hand rub it's way up her bare leg she struggled against his lap, feeling his palm increase the pressure against her back. When she felt the cool air of the room against her exposed skin she struggled even harder, sweat beading between her breasts, her face turning crimson. "Don't touch me! Don't you dare" she yelled.

"My dear Princess, by all means struggle! It is a delicious treat for the eyes, also you excite me even more when you rub your hips against my lap... surely you can feel that" he said, emphasizing the hardness within his pants by grinding back against her hip.

Elena gasped as the truth to his words were clearly evident in the form of a firm bulge against her. Elena knew very little about men, but she knew of this reaction from overhearing one of her maids discussing her husband with another maid a few years back. She froze, aware that her motion was indeed causing her tormentor increasing pleasure.

"Oh, don't stop now Princess, that felt so good" he taunted.

"Let me go Henry" she said, careful to remain still against him.

SMACK!

Tears sprung to Elena's eyes, the stinging in her cheek ten times as worse without the protection of clothing.

"Do - not - address - me - by - my - name" he grunted, spanking her with each word, seven hard spanks in all, echoing around the room.

Elena could not hold back the tears, as the pain and humiliation were too great. At least, she thought bitterly, he can not see my tears. Elena focused all her energy on keeping silent, not acknowledging his power over her. Her pride meant everything if she were to continue to fight for Lorrea, she couldn't give in, not even in the face of such torment.

"You shall address me as befitting your stature - and let me emphasize, dear PRINCESS, that you may be a princess and I may be a prince, but we are in no way equals." He stated, as he ran the palm of his hand over her, feeling the heat radiating off her buns. "Do I make myself clear?" he asked.

Elena was still taking deep shuddering breaths to counteract another wave of tears that threatened to burst forth. She lowered her head onto the cushion and remained silent. 

Not satisfied, the prince dug his fingers into one of her reddened cheeks, squeezing the tender flesh, causing the princess to gasp in pain. "I didn't hear you. What did you say?" he asked, the softness in his voice contradicting the roughness of his actions.

"Yes! yes... you are very clear" she gasped. "We are not equals" she mirrored, feeling him lesson the pressure on her bottom. She paused before continuing, bracing herself for his reaction to her next words: "from our very first encounter, it is evident that you are inferior to me."

Henry couldn't believe it! Here he was, he had the upper hand, she was a prisoner of war, tied, naked and exposed across his muscular thighs, inside her enemy's castle - and she thought herself superior to him?! His nostrils flaring in anger, he raised his hand again, prepared to imprint her servitude upon her - but stopped mid swing, understanding bypassing thought. What a fool he was! Of course she would resist him like this! Pain was not an effective punishment or medium - for it only bolstered her bravado and strengthened her cause. She was well equipped mentally to deal with pain, she had spent two years fending for herself after fleeing a bloody battle. He needed to use an area in which she was least proficient, where she had no knowledge so as to gain the upper hand. Henry lapsed into silence as his mind explored this revelation.

Meanwhile, Elena waited with baited breath for the stinging revenge that was sure to follow her sizzling answer - yet nothing happened. Elena took stock of her position: She could still feel his hardness pressed against her, his hand on her back but that was all... he just seemed to have frozen. Curiosity burned within her, but she fought the temptation to look over her shoulder and find out what was going on with him. She decided on a different tactic, one she had employed many nights alone in the forest, when faced with an overwhelming situation.

She would imagine that there was no war and she was back home with her family, her mother sitting in a chair, surrounded by her ladies in waiting, doing needlework. Her father would be standing over a miniature model of the city, making notes to his advisors, solving the latest municipal problem - Elena would observe all this from high up in her favourite tree in the grounds, the wind gently kissing her skin as it caused the leaves of the willow to dance around her. She sighed as that same relaxing sensation sunk in.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 04



The prince was still lost in thought when he felt her body relax against his. It wasn't something discernible by the naked eye - it was something he felt. As she sighed he felt the tension drain from her body, but he was oblivious to the cause of it. However, it was her sigh that brought the answer to his conundrum. As soon as he realised the answer, he laughed inwardly at his stupidity, for it should have been his first attempt at cracking her tough exterior.

His mistakes forgotten, he now knew what he needed to do in order to penetrate that wall that she had erected to keep her pride in tact - for it was her pride that was the lock to her surrender - and he had the key.



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 05



Elena's eyes were closed, but she saw in her mind's eye her home and her family. The memory was so vivid that she was able to completely disconnect from her present situation, where she lay over a Prince's lap, her lower body exposed, her hands tied behind her. Elena could smell more strongly the bark of the tree she was sitting in, than the slightly musty scent of the loveseat her face was pressed against.

The prince removed his two rings from his right hand, adding them to the ruby red ring on his left, which remained pressed against the small of her back. He gently traced his fingers from her naked thigh up to the peak of her buttocks, watching the back of her head for a reaction. When no reaction appeared he was not discouraged, but continued the wandering of his fingers of his right hand from the top of the channel between her toned cheeks, all the way down to the delta of her sex, but still, no response from the princess. Henry frowned but was not disheartened because he knew that his next effort would surely elicit a response.

Henry place his index finger at the opening of her vagina and pushed in, adding a little more pressure, inching his long lean finger half way into her.

Elena's reaction did not disappoint him. Her head snapped up so fast Henry heard a faint crack of her neck, before she whipped her head around to look at him, horror on her face.

Elena had been jerked abruptly from her daydream as she felt something rough pressing against her, pressing into her. She was horrified when she saw the grinning prince pushing something into her. 

"Stop that! Get your filthy hands off of me! I order you to stop" She cried, wriggling her hips, attempting to dislodge what was within her. She cared not about his earlier remark about how he loved to feel her squirm against him, for his violation of her was a much more pressing concern of hers.

Henry chuckled, withdrawing his finger, and showing it to her "You are right to ask that Princess, as it seems that your pussy is not very welcoming at the moment" he continued, "See? My finger is all dry."

If she were any other women he intended to bed, mused Henry, he would have added lubricant of his own, but that would be a mistake in her case, he knew that she needed to be a part of her own undoing.

Elena blushed furiously at his words- and to think, he had placed his finger inside her! However, she felt some relief that he had quickly and promptly heeded her words, stopping his perverted act.

Henry laughed a little louder, noticing the blush that had swept across her face. "Oh, my sweet innocent Princess. What is it that has caused such a delicious colour to betray your emotions - my finger or my words? I know that 'pussy' is not a word that you Lorrean's use, being so proper, but that is what it is, your pussy," he said, increasing the pressure on her back as she was struggling fiercely in his lap. "Or maybe it was my finger, touching a part of you that no one has touched before - unless, you have let your own fingers explore perhaps? On a cold wet night high in your tree?" he teased, as he traced the line of her fleshier outer lips.

"I am not as depraved as you Kravaolians are" she hissed, as she tried to shift her hips to avoid his fingers grazing her sensitive skin.

"Tsk, Tsk... it is not a bad thing to pleasure oneself, it is only natural" he said, as he moved his fingers to her inner lips. "My princess, if only you could see how your pussy lips like to be stroked - that is what they are called, your pussy lips." 

He purposely used language that he knew she would find offensive, to rile her up - another subtle stab at her fall from royal grace. Henry was greatly enjoying the waves of emotions clearly coursing through her mind and body.

Elena was starting to become uncomfortably aware of moisture gathering where his finger probed earlier. She knew what it meant, but she could not believe it of herself- she chided herself silently to get a grip on her emotions.

"And this" he said, in his softest voice yet "is your clit," tracing his fingers along her lips to their apex - her clitoris. He rubbed against the sides of her clit, before pressing it with an upward movement. 

Elena gasped, her hips jerking slightly against his touch. Henry laughed, causing her to blush even darker if it were possible. "Your body desires this princess, even if you protest that you do not" he said, as her rubbed her clit again.

"That... is a lieeeeeeee" she moaned, his ministrations catching her mid sentence.

"Hmm, we shall see about that then, shall we?" he queried, as he pressed against her pussy with his index finger again. This time, his finger slipped right in, up to his knuckle, no resistance at all, but he felt her tense up around his finger nonetheless, her breath catching in her chest.

"You see princess?" he said, as he withdrew and placed his finger in front of her wide eyed stare, her wetness gleaming off his finger in the dying light of the fire. "You want me to touch you... your body does not lie" he said, as he brushed her lower lip with her own wetness- but his finger did not linger- his bloody lip reminding him of her penchant to bite.

Elena tried to rub her wet lip against the loveseat, but Henry grabbed her hair, preventing her from lowering her head. 

"No, No, my darling Princess, your essence will not be wasted - you shall lick it from your lips" he whispered into her ear, as he pulled her head up higher, away from the cushions.

"I will do no such thing" she gasped, a heavy tone of disgust in her every word.

"Oh but you will. You see, there is a lot more of where that came from, and if you wish it, my finger can become a brush, and paint your face with a different kind of paint than you are used to" he taunted.

Elena knew he was not lying. His actions so far led her to believe that he was capable of many more depraved acts than the few that he had shown her. She weighed her options, seeing no alternative.

"Alright" she said in a hollow voice. She tried to turn her face away from the prince's gaze, but he had other ideas. "Oh no, I want to watch" he said, as he pulled her hair harder, causing her to turn her face more in his direction.

Tears welling in her eyes, she drew her tongue in a sweeping motion against her bottom lip, sweeping it clear of her wetness, before it retreated into her mouth.

"See now, that wasn't so bad, was it Princess?" he cooed, releasing her hair, letting the golden waves fall through his fingers.

Elena remained silent for a minute, fuming with anger and humiliation inside. The Prince sensed the tension but felt there was an added element to it, something that was not there before.

"What is it Princess?" he whispered, as he slipped his finger back into her pussy, pulling it out and pushing it back in again.

Elena wanted to ask him something, but the position that she was in made such an obscene image in her mind that she couldn't bring herself to say anything.

"Nothing." she whispered as she wriggled against his grip, trying to empty her mind and ignore the feelings his finger was creating.

"Come now, you can tell me... what is it that weighs upon your mind?" he asked, his finger continuing at a steady pace.

"I want to ask something of you" she said, in a small voice, barely audible over the obscene sounds of Henry's finger sliding in and out of her.

Surprised, Henry stopped his probing finger, stilling it inside her as his hand pressed flatly against her bottom. 

"Hmm... " he murmured. He wondered what she wanted to ask him, as until now she had never sought his permission for anything. He was quite intrigued. Obviously it was something of importance, that her yelling and ordering had not yet achieved. "Yes Princess, what is it?" he asked in a neutral tone, not wanting to put her off, but to encourage her subservience.

"Would it be possible for you to stop calling me Princess, and call me by my name, Elena, instead?" she asked, in that same small voice.

The prince smiled to himself, her words confirming that one part of his scheming had been effective. 

He answered slowly, as if weighing her request. "Hmmm, I think, Princess, that what you ask is a privilege and your behavior up until now, does not warrant me granting that particular request any time in the near future." he answered.

Elena's head dipped lower, her shoulders sagging slightly. Henry almost felt sorry for her, but his plan was more important at the moment, than her bruised ego.

He knew that every time he called her 'Princess', it caused her unbearable shame. A constant reminder of her position - past and present- and how she was failing her people. As much as Henry wanted to call her Elena- and he really did, it would lift a burden from her shoulders, allowing her to alleviate the guilt she felt for letting her people down, and at this moment, he felt it was his most important tool as he chipped away at her pride.

"And what exactly would be required of me, that would earn me the right's to my own name?" she asked in a flat voice, as Henry resumed the use of his finger, sliding it in and out.

"You know what I want," replied the Prince "but I know you are not ready for that quite yet." He said, as he slid in another finger, causing Elena to gasp and hunch her shoulders as her muscles squeezed the Prince's fingers in response.

"Please stop" she whimpered, her voice totally devoid of it's commanding tone and haughtiness.

"No. You know what I want to hear, so until I hear those words from your lips, I won't stop" breathed the Prince, his fingers moving faster, adding a twisting movement of his wrist that caused Elena to cry out.

Elena was feeling a tightness in her abdomen that she had never felt before. It coincided with the infuriating and tantalizing pressure that seemed to be building between her legs. As Henry pressed down against her and curled his fingers inside her, Elena cried out and bucked hard against his legs.

"Please... stop this" she begged between shuddering gasps, "this is... wrong" she whimpered as she scrunched her eyes shut in a vain attempt at keeping the rapidly pulsing feeling between her legs at bay.

"Oh my lovely, squirming Princess," he teased, as his fingers moved even faster, "This is not wrong... it is just - right" he said, the last word timed exactly to the moment when he brushed her clit again.

Elena could not hold back anymore. As his finger brushed her sensitive button once more, she moaned loudly "Nooooo," the sort of moan that comes from a place deep within someone's soul, finally unleashed after years of enslavement. That is what Henry heard as he felt her clamp down on his fingers while shock waves racked her body. Elena however, was oblivious to the Prince as she was lost in a sea of feelings, intoxicating and unknown to her before that moment.

Slowly, Henry removed his fingers when he felt her relax and her breathing become less laboured. He smiled at the ease that his fingers slipped from between her velvety lips, her wetness evident and a victory in Henry's eyes.

Henry pulled her dress back down, covering her legs in the beautiful powder blue material. He untied her hands, which she brought slowly to her face to hide her shame and tears, as he knew she would. 

Elena felt numb. How could it be that a man she despised like no other, could cause such a betrayal of her body and mind? 

In the first time in two years, she wanted to die! Shame seeping through her thoughts and feelings like never before, her father's echoing words of dignity and honour piercing her like daggers. 

Henry stayed where he was, running a hand through her golden hair, waiting for her sobs to subside.

Elena hated the way he was petting her hair, as if she were a domesticated animal. Worse yet, she hated it because she realised that it calmed her, even though she wished it not to be so.

"You may not have conceded to my demands, my dear Princess, as you have yet to address me properly. But you now know that even though you resisted me, it only took two fingers to bring your walls crumbling to the ground. I suggest you reflect upon this after I take my leave" he said slowly, as he ran his fingers through her hair. "You may rise now" he said, offering her a helping hand.

Elena pushed herself off his lap, without the helping hand. She turned her back on him immediately, he knew, to hide her tear-stricken face. She walked towards the bed, keen on putting as much distance as she could between them.

Henry remained seated on the couch for a full minute after, staring at her enticing figure, as she tried to compose herself. Sighing, he rose off the loveseat, made his way to the door, and knocked on it. As the scraping of a key was heard in the lock, Henry looked over his shoulder and said in a soft voice "It does not need to be this way, Princess" before walking out of the door, leaving Elena alone to her troubled thoughts.



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 06



The King surveyed the arrival of his nephew's chariots from the front steps of the castle. He always enjoyed Caspian's visits, his temperament much more to the king's liking than that of his son's... there was too much of his mother in him. In Xander's opinion, it made him too soft and it worried the king, that his legacy was not shaped as he wished it to be.

"Your Majesty" said Lord Caspian, bowing before his uncle, before straightening up and ascending the stairs to grasp his uncle's open hand. 

"You look too thin" said the king lifting his nephew's chin in his hand, turning his face in the flickering light of the torches.

"It is the Lorrean winter sir, it makes hunting a chore more than a sport." sighed Caspian.

"No matter, we'll fatten you up in no time! The cook is preparing a sumptuous feast in your honour tomorrow night, but meanwhile you may have whatever your heart desires from my kitchen" said the king, steering his nephew indoors.

"Thank you my lord" said Caspian, bowing his head again. "Where is Prince Henry? I have something I want to show him... I think it rather entertaining, maybe he will enjoy it too."

"Oh, he is... he has his hand's full at the moment. I daresay he'll enlighten you to the reason, soon enough" Chortled the king, watching his nephew shrug off his fur cloak. The king wanted very much to tell his nephew why his son was not present, but swallowed his pride to allow Henry the thrill of disclosing the identity of his newest captive.

"No matter. Please inform the prince, that if it pleases him I would request that he seek me out in two hours, my lord, for a most pleasant surprise ." he said, with a twisted grin.

The king nodded and snapped his fingers - a young boy in uniform nodded and scurried off down the halls.

"Now, come, you must be famished" said the king, steering his nephew by the shoulder towards the kitchen.

* There was a knock on the heavy oak door of Henry's bedchamber. "Enter" he replied gruffly, as he pulled a shirt over his head. A timid looking servant entered, bowing before the prince.

"Yes?" asked the prince, as he continued dressing.

"My Prince, Lord Caspian has just arrived and sends word, that if it pleases you, he would like for you to seek him out in two hours time, so he may show you something" said the boy in a low voice.

"Did my cousin say what he wanted to show me?" asked Henry, frowning at the thought that Caspian wanted Henry to come to him and not vice versa.

"No sir, just that it was a surprise that would be very pleasing." he answered.

Henry snorted, he doubted very much that what Caspian's idea of pleasing was the same as his. However, he looked at the boy and said "Very well, inform lord Caspian that I shall be coming." He waved his hand in dismissal and the servant closed the door behind him.

Henry rubbed his temples with both hands, not relishing the idea of being in Caspian's company. His mood lifter however when he remembered the Princess, and the look on Caspian's face when he would find out.

* Caspian was lodging in the east wing, and Henry was in no hurry to greet him. In fact, he was an hour later than when he was supposed to arrive, but that didn't bother him at all. Henry motioned for Caspian's guards to open the doors to his chamber. They knocked quickly but opened the doors without waiting for an answer. In that fashion, they respected their master yet heeded the Prince's order.

He stepped through the doors but paused after a few steps, taking in the scene before his eyes. Caspian was standing naked, his broad back to the prince. His back gleamed in perspiration as he drove his hips forward, into what Henry could only assume was a girl, judging by the screams. Oddly, there were two pairs of legs sticking out in front of his cousin, in a X -like pattern on both sides.

Henry cleared his throat loudly, causing Caspian to look over his shoulder, his smile widening as he spotted his cousin. He stepped away, allowing Henry a clear view, causing his breath catch in his chest at the sight. Two women lay on the bed, naked and tied together, front to front, with rope around their midriffs. 

"I thought you were not coming cousin, so I started by myself- I beg your forgiveness" he smirked, as he wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his hand, inclining his head to the prince.

"This is your surprise?" asked the prince, indicating to the whimpering girls. Henry was not in the least bit surprise that this is what his cousin thought a 'pleasant surprise' consisted of, even less surprised that he had started without him. Henry suspected that this is what would have greeted his eyes even if he came on time.

"Does it not please you my Prince?" he asked, his face feigning surprise, at Henry's look of disapproval. "They were hiding from us, but we found them. These maidens are being punished, sir" he said, giving the rump of the top girl a playful slap, causing her to cry out in pain.

"And what was their crime Caspian? I know you enjoy a maiden like the next man- or more than the next man actually, but have you now outlawed it?" he jested, his eyebrows arched in mock surprise.

"Funny cousin, but they really did break the law. See, they were recently married and did not present themselves to the local Lord - in their case, me. They violated the law of 'Droit du seigneur'. They sought to deceive me, had their weddings in secret, but I found out, didn't I ladies?" he laughed, slapping the lower woman's behind this time, eliciting a sharp intake of breath.

Henry's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at his cousin. "You know, most lords regard that law as a guideline and not so much as a law that needs to be upheld."

"Oh don't fret cousin. I don't do this with ALL the young maidens," he said in a pseudo dignified voice "only the pretty ones" he winked as he stroked his erect shaft.

"So, are you going to join me? I could use a break for a few minutes" he said, a devilish look in his eyes.

Henry straightened his back and looked down at his cousin. "No, I have other business to attend to" he said, in an even voice.

Caspian sighed and returned to his previous place between the outstretched jumble of legs. He entered one of the women with a forceful thrust, causing her to scream. He looked over his shoulder "If you change your mind cousin, you know where to find me" he shouted over her scream, as he continued to thrust into her forcefully.

Henry placed a hand on the brass doorknob, but paused before opening it. He turned back to his cousin, calling out to him. "Oh, Caspian, I forgot to tell you - I captured princess Elena" he said slowly and matter-of-factly, his voice steady and calm.

Caspian stopped mid-thrust and looked over his shoulder at his cousin. Henry grinned widely, he couldn't help it. The look of surprise on Caspian's face was priceless. He actually looked dumbfounded. However, it wasn't long before Caspian's face contorted into rage. He turned away from the Prince, but not before he saw the colour rise rapidly on his face.

"You caught the Princess?" he repeated, the anger in his voice thinly veiled.

"Yes" Henry confirmed.

"How?" Caspian hissed.

"Well, she basically fell into my lap- that is to say, she fell out of a tree in the forest of Lorrea" he said, a smile in his eyes.

"Lorrea," repeated the lord in a strained voice. "So this is the, uh, how did you say it? Business that you are tending to tonight?" he asked.

"Yes, in fact, I am on my way there now. I shall give her your regards - I know that you knew her before the war, if I'm not mistaken" the prince said, pulling the door open.

"Yes, we knew each other. Congratulations" growled Caspian, anger etched in every syllable.

"Thank you" the prince replied, smirking,

As he made his way through the door, he heard his cousin resume his activities, the pounding of flesh against flesh so audible that he was not surprised to hear the women screaming well after he exited the room. Henry knew that his cousin's increased vigor was out of hate and jealousy, and for once, he reveled in his cousin's hatred of him.

* Elena was curled up under the blankets, yet sleep was not something that came easily to her. She tried humming an old tune of her homeland, used as a lullaby by her people. The tune however, brought more sadness to her heart than she could bear so she lay in silence, listening to the crackling of the roaring fire. A short while earlier a young boy came in and added a few logs to the fire, sneaking furtive glances at her when he thought he could get away with it. Earlier in the day, Elena would have jumped at the opportunity of any curiosity shown by the staff, yet after her last meeting with Henry, her desire for human contact lessened a great deal.

She heard the sound of the door being unlocked and quickly closed her eyes and lay still, feigning sleep. She heard heavy footsteps enter the room.

"Princess?" Henry inquired, his voice a few decibels lower than usual. Elena realised he thought her to be sleeping. She exhaled softly, calming at that thought. She didn't stay calm for long, as she felt the bed sag as the prince sat down and inched himself closer to her still body.

"Princess?" he whispered this time, his warm breath against Elena's neck. The princess begged herself to remain calm and still even though her heart felt that it may break through her chest in fear.

Elena felt Henry lay his large hand over her left breast, yet still she feigned sleep, thinking that he would be disinterested in engaging her in whatever he had in mind, due to her current state of consciousness.

Henry chuckled. Elena felt his hot breath against her ear as he said: "I know you're not sleeping Princess, your heart is beating so quickly I can almost hear it - as I told you before, your body always betrays your wishes."

Her bluff called, Elena quickly slid out of bed, distancing herself from Henry, crossing her arms over her chest, turning her back on him. Henry sighed. "Why must you resist me so? Can't you see that our destinies are entwined?"

"I am the master of my own destiny, nothing you say or do will convince me otherwise" she said, standing a little straighter.

"Did anyone ever tell you how infuriating you are?" henry asked in a pained voice, "You are probably the most stubborn woman I know."

Elena chose not to answer, as she felt he was goading her.

"God seems to be trying my patience today, first Caspian and now you. I feel a large headache coming on" he groaned, rubbing his temples.

"Caspian?" asked Elena sharply, turning to look at the prince. "Lord Caspian?"

"The one and only" grumbled Henry. He looked up at Elena and saw something strange written on her face. It was a mixture of anger and fear, causing the prince to cease the massaging of his temples and slide across the bed, perching himself on the edge of the mattress.

"You've met his acquaintance before, yes?" Henry asked, as he looked up into her deep blue eyes. "I remember that Caspian visited your castle a few years ago, though he didn't say much about it when he returned, now that I think about it" said Henry, as he rubbed his chin in contemplation.

"Oh yes, he came to our castle" Elena said darkly, refolding her arms over her chest.

"And?" continued Henry.

"Let's just say that it was not a pleasant introduction for either of us" concluded Elena.

"Well, how very fortuitous that you are here then! Tomorrow night we shall dine with my father and Caspian, and you will have the chance of a better introduction" the prince said, as he pushed himself off the bed. He stood before Elena, noting her crumpled dress. "Why do you sleep in your dress? It makes it all wrinkled" Henry said, as he plucked at one of her crumpled sleeves. "What else am I supposed to sleep in?" Elena asked, her eyes narrowed at such frivolous questioning, jerking her arm away from him.

"Of course!" said the prince, closing his eyes in remembrance and slapping his hand to his head. "You Lorrean's sleep in clothes! I completely forgot, I beg your pardon, my Princess. The Kravaolian custom is quite the opposite, our winters are not as cold and our summers are much warmer" he explained.

"If you want, you could adopt the custom of-" he stopped mid-sentence at the look on her face. Soon after however, he was laughing loudly. "Oh Princess, if looks could kill I think you would be the mightiest warrior of all time. I shall do you this one favour and supply you with bedclothes, and remember, it is a favour" he said, stepping a little closer to Elena. "And in return you shall accompany me to dinner tomorrow evening and behave in a civil manner."

Elena snorted, "in that case, I'd rather not accept any clothing from you."

Stepping closer to her, he lifted her chin in his hand, causing her to look up into his face. "It was not a request, Princess" he said, the steely tone in his voice causing Elena to shudder.

*

Henry spent the rest of the following day catching up on matters of the state, his eyes drooping as one meeting blended into another. As the sun set, he called a halt to the sixth economic meeting of the day, dismissing his council.

As the council filed out of the his study, he stood and stretched his aching muscles. He raked his fingers through his dark hair and called out to his steward.

"Take this letter up to the Princess, do not leave until she gives you an answer- either yes or no will suffice" he instructed, as he handed over the letter that he had written during one of his seemingly endless meetings.

"Yes sir, immediately" said the young man, bowing shortly before heading off to the north tower.

Initially the prince was not looking forward to a meal with his uncouth cousin, however the expression on Elena's face when his name was mentioned intrigued the prince greatly, to such an extent that he was now looking forward to the feast and to discover what it is about his cousin that irked her so.

He strode towards the door, heading for his bedchambers for a bath, as he doubted his present odor would play favour in the eye of his princess.

* Elena was lying across the bed when she heard the door unlock. She didn't even stir, but continued to stare at the same spot on the ceiling.

'Um... excuse me, Princess" said a hesitant voice.

"Yes?" said Elena, still staring at the ceiling. "Prince Henry wished me to give you a letter, I have it here if you'd like-" he said, before Elena cut him off.

"Leave the letter on the chair and go" she said in a flat voice.

"I beg your pardon Princess, but I am under strict orders by the prince that I am only to leave once you have answered his letter" he said, his voice shaking slightly.

Elena rolled her eyes. Even when he wasn't present he was still demanding! She rose into a sitting position and held her hand out to the young man. He walked up to her timidly, handing her the note. He waited silently as Elena read the contents of the letter, her brow frowning as she read on.

Dear Princess, You are to wear the dress that was sent to you earlier in the day and use the rouge that came with it. You will accompany me to dinner and you'll behave in a civil manner at all times. If you fail to comply to these demands, you will not like the consequences. Remember yesterday. Do you agree to these terms?

Your Prince.

Elena crumpled the letter in her fist, rage seething in her every vein. She was distracted however, when the young man cleared his throat and asked her "Princess, what is your answer?"

Elena looked at the young man, weighing her options. "What is your name?" she asked, as she tore the letter into little pieces. "My name?" he asked, confused by her question and her actions. "I am Ethan, Princess" he replied.

"Alright Ethan, you can tell your prince that my answer is yes. However i'd like you to give this back to him," she handed the shredded letter back to him "and say that I said that he should remember that yesterday he said said something about me saying one thing and my actions another."

Ethan looked frightened and confused.

Elena rolled her eyes. "Fine then, just tell him that I said yes" she sighed, mentally crossing off Ethan as an accomplice in any future escape plan.

"Yes Princess" he answered, reclining his head to her before running quickly from the room.

A few minutes later the door opened again, this time a number of people came into the room: Two large men brought in a tub and poured in the contents of 10 large jugs of hot water, that were carried up the stairs by 5 young men. After they left Elena noticed that one person remained. A young girl, who introduced herself as Catherine and explained that she was to help the Princess prepare for the feast. Elena blushed, explaining that there would be no need for that, she would see to her own bathing. The girl look terrified at her refusal, citing that she would be punished if she did not perform her duties to the letter. Pitying the poor girl, Elena consented to the humiliating ordeal, allowing the girl to bathe, dress and beautify her.

* An hour later the door opened yet again, this time revealing prince Henry, clean shaven and impeccably dressed. He entered the room, his eyes seeking out his Princess. She was sitting in a chair by the fire, she looked up at him, her eyes watching him warily as he approached her.

"You look beautiful, Princess" he said, his eyes sweeping over her. Elena was dressed in plum purple robes of silk, embroidered with tiny golden roses along the hemlines. Her blonde hair was tied up elegantly in an elaborate hairstyle, which accentuated her long neck. Henry's gaze was making her uncomfortable, she crossed her arms over her chest, the neckline of her dress far more revealing than anything she would normally wear. Just like the dress she wore previously, it too accentuated every curve of her body, making it look as if a seamstress had poured the fabric over her. "Come" he said, instructing her to follow him. Loathe as she was to follow any of his commands, she gritted her teeth and followed his muscular form out the door, as her guards fell in step behind her.

"I heard that you were ill inclined to receive the help of the young maiden Catherine" Henry said, as they descended the endless spiral stairs of the north tower. Elena did not comment, she focused on the stairs beneath her feet. "I do not understand you. What is the difference if it is a Lorrean maiden or Kravaolian who helps you?" he asked. Unable to stop herself, Elena answered. "I never used the help of a maiden to bathe, it is not our custom in Lorrea. Unlike here, where you obviously glory in degrading a castle maiden, showing yourself so superior that you don't deign to bathe yourself" she hissed.

Henry laughed, shaking his head but continued walking down the stairs.

Elena felt anger ripple below the surface of her skin, itching her to wrap her hands around Henry's exposed neck. Elena pushed that fantasy aside, realising that his neck was so thick her hands would never wrap around it anyway. Elena spent the next minute imagining ways to overpower him as they descended, but just when she thought about the idea of pushing him down the stairs, she tripped on the hem of her dress. She shrieked as she fell down the hard stone stairs, spreading her hands out to break her fall. Henry, hearing her cry, spun on his heel and caught her deftly, her head an inch above the stairs.

"Easy" he said, holding Elena tightly against him, his deep voice rumbling through her chest. She wriggled out of his grip, adjusting her dress because stepping on the hem had yanked the neckline down, revealing her ample de'colletage. The grin on Henry's face and a few of the guards caused Elena to blush, she lowered her gaze quickly to the stone steps, their grinning faces burned in her retina even as she looked away.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 06



Henry looped his arm in hers, essentially supporting her down the stairs, ignoring her attempts to disentangle herself from him. He bent his head towards her ear, "You are gorgeous when you blush, do you know that? quite ravishing" he whispered, causing her to blush even deeper as she managed to suppress a shudder of revulsion.

They had reached the entrance hall, their footsteps echoing across the flagstone floor. Henry paused before the doors to the dining hall. "Now do you remember our agreement? That you keep a civil tongue?" he asked, his eyes piercing hers.

"I will if you will" she snapped. Why did she do that? Elena berated herself for her lack of filter. She really intended to say yes, even though she silently screamed no.

The Prince's eyes narrowed into slits. He thrust his hand to the junction of her sex and thighs while placing a steadying hand on her ass. Elena whimpered as he increased the pressure of his hand between her legs.

"Come again?" he growled.

"Yes! Yes! I will!" she gasped, squirming against his increasing pressure.

"Good girl" he growled. "Now, you are to enter behind me and speak only when spoken to- understood?" he asked, lifting her face by one finger under her chin.

"Yes" she mumbled, jerking her chin from his finger..

Satisfied with her answer, the prince nodded at the young boys posted outside the door. One of them pulled the doors open as the other announced their presence to the room. 

"May I present, Henry, Prince of Kravaolia and Elena, the former Princess of Lorrea" said one of the boys in a loud voice.

Elena looked up, balling her hands into fists at such an introduction. She expected to see many more people but she spotted just two, the King and Caspian, standing beside a elegantly decorated table set for four. Such strange customs, she thought. Why announce when everyone in the room knows you? Egos, she decided. Over inflated egos. Henry strode into the room, Elena following him a few feet behind.

"Henry my boy, move aside, you are hiding the girl!" the king called, laughter in his voice. Henry moved aside, allowing the king to set eyes on the daughter of his fallen enemy. The king was dressed in robes of blood red velvet, which stretched across his large stomach. As King Xander approached her, Henry placed a hand on her shoulder, increasing the pressure. Elena understood the meaning but resisted nonetheless. Henry increased the pressure suddenly, causing her to issue a sharp cry, before she sunk to her knees in a bow. Henry lessened the pressure but his hand remained on her shoulder as his father approached.

"Just as stubborn as your father, I see" the king commented, as he lifted her chin between his fat fingers. "You are a pretty one, aren't you? Playing hide and seek in the forest's trees agrees with you my dear" he said, his words making her wince.

"Where are my manners? This is my nephew, Lord Caspian" the king said, bringing him forwards.

"We've met" said Caspian, his cold blue eyes looking into hers with such intensity that she looked away.

Henry removed his hand from her shoulder, permitting her to rise, yet Elena kept her eyes downcast, terrified of catching Caspian's piercing eyes.

"Shall we eat then?" said the king, indicating that everyone should sit down. The king sat at the head of the table, his son and nephew on either side of him. One of the uniformed boys pulled out a chair beside Henry, opposite Caspian, indicating that she should sit there.

Elena sat, her stomach in knots. Her situation didn't seem real to her, how could it be that she was sitting at a dinner table with those responsible with the murder of her people, her family? Why, just a few days ago she was alone and sleeping in a tree. Now she was surrounded by murderers. She bit her lip to keep the tears at bay as a wave of emotion threatened to engulf her.

The three men were tearing into their food, drinking deeply from their goblets while talking of the war. Elena went to her safe place again, where she imagined she was up a leafy tree back home with her parents.

"Henry, why doesn't she eat anything?" asked Caspian, feigning a sudden interest in her. He had been watching Elena out of the corner of his eye ever since she had arrived. He knew she was avoiding him out of fear.

Henry looked over at Elena, recognising that familiar vacant look. He placed a hand on her thigh, squeezing it suddenly, causing her head to snap up. Immediately she caught Caspian's hard gaze and looked back down at her empty plate.

"Eat Princess" Henry commanded, as he filled her plate with whatever was in reach.

"I.. I can't" she whispered hoarsely, she felt like her stomach was full of lead.

"I know you Lorrean's are all about etiquette, so where are your manners Princess? Isn't it rude to refuse food and drink in the company of others?" Caspian asked mockingly, his eyes narrowed maliciously, as the King chortled in response.

"Eat Princess" Henry repeated, his voice losing its soft edge, as he squeezed her thigh again.

Elena picked up her fork, speared a roasted potato and nibbled on it. She felt Henry remove his hand as he resumed the conversation. When she finished the potato, she lay down the fork, hoping that they would leave her be. Henry noticed this out of the corner of his eye and pulled her wine goblet towards her, touching her elbow lightly. Elena, who didn't need anymore prodding, nodded and drank from her goblet. Her first taste of wine in many years was blissful, warming her from within, she drunk deeply, draining her first cup rather quickly, which was closely followed by another.

The feast dragged on and on, Elena grew tired and slumped in her seat, only vaguely aware of the dinner conversation.

"Princess, where were you when we attacked your castle?" asked Caspian, his gaze not leaving Elena as he swirled the wine within his goblet.

The atmosphere around the table changed instantly. Elena sat up in her chair and looked up at Caspian's sneering face. "Why don't you tell me. I'm sure you were there that day, were you not?" she said, her voice bristling in anger.

Caspian didn't answer, he looked back at the princess, his lip curling into a smile.

Henry recognised the warning signs and grabbed Elena around her waist with one arm just as she attempted to lunge across the table at Caspian. He grabbed her wrist with his other hand, causing her to drop the butter knife that she was brandishing.

The guards around the room started forward, but the king raised his hand and called them off as Elena was returned to her seat. While all this was happening, Caspian never moved, not one inch. His cold eyes staring at the princess with such ferocity that even Henry was unnerved.

"No, no, my warrior Princess. That is unacceptable behavior on your behalf, remember our agreement?" he said in a voice tinkling with laughter, yet the vice-like grip on her thigh far from amusing.

Elena leaned back in her chair, trying to calm herself as the blood rushed in her ears. Henry filled her goblet once more and indicated that she should drink, which she did. Her hand holding the cup shaking in rage, causing her to spill a little of the wine.

"Caspian, tell me how you found out about your general's treachery in the Choppartian campaign? I love a tale of double crossing and spies, especially when they are caught" said the king through a mouthful of roasted lamb. Caspian tore his gaze away from the Princess and engaged his uncle in conversation. Henry was grateful for the change of subject and listened half-heartedly to the tale. After a few minutes, he noticed that the princess's eyes were closing slowly, her head drooping lower and lower.

"Father," he said, interrupting Caspian in the middle of explaining how many swings of the blunt axe it took to behead his general, "If it pleases you, I wish to retire for the evening. It seems my Princess has had a little too much wine and is about to fall off her chair." he said, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder.

"There's no need for you to take her Henry, one of the boys can do it" the king answered, waving his goblet mid speech, signaling for a boy to come forward.

"I'm afraid I must insist father, it is not an easy climb to the north tower when you are carrying another person" he said.

"Very well, you may leave. I'll stay here with Caspian, this tale of his is certainly riveting! Scheming generals- my word, I hope i'll sleep well tonight" he laughed, clapping Caspian on the shoulder.

Henry stood and gently pulled the princess up. She stood on her feet, but swayed dangerously. Henry scooped her up in his strong arms, one hand under her knees and the other holding her back, as he clutched her tightly against his chest.

Elena's head was spinning, she was aware that she was moving but wasn't too sure how it was happening exactly. She wrapped her arms around Henry's neck at the sudden feeling of weightlessness.

Henry smirked as he felt her arms around him as he carried her out of the dining hall. "Send for Catherine" he ordered of one of the boys, who immediately set of at a run.

Higher and higher Henry climbed, holding the princess tightly against him. Most of the time she lay still, occasionally mumbling incoherently. He arrived at the top of the tower, slightly out of breath. He crossed into her room and gently laid the princess on the bed, removing her shoes and hair pins. Catherine entered the room swiftly, bowing to the prince. "Yes my Prince? You summoned me?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, go to my study and bring back a little silver box, it should be in the bottom drawer of my desk" he ordered, as he sat down on the bed next to the drowsy princess.

"Yes sir" she answered, bowing her head before exiting the room.

In Catherine's absence he teased out Elena's hair, running his long fingers through her soft tresses. When his fingertips brushed against her scalp the princess turned her head towards his hand, nuzzling her cheek in his palm sleepily. He traced the line of her soft pouting lips, her drowsy state assuring the safety of his fingertips. 

"Your lips are so soft, Elena... like small heavenly pillows" he whispered, as he leaned in, to kiss them. However, a small knock interrupted him just inches from her parted lips. Henry straightened up. "Enter" he sighed.

Catherine entered, carrying the small silver box, her face shining with perspiration from climbing the spiraling stairs twice in ten minutes.

Henry took the box from Catherine and said "You may leave, but do not go far. I will be calling on you in a few minutes time again."

"As you wish, my Prince" she wheezed, curtsying before leaving and closing the door behind her.

"I wish you would speak to me" he said as he stared longingly at her beautiful face, but Elena's only response was to sigh sleepily. He opened the lid of the box, revealing a small container with brown powder.

"Princess?" he called softly. No response. "Princess" he said a little more loudly, still no response. He placed the container beneath her nose and said "Elena".

Elena's eyelids fluttered, her nose feeling strangely sensitive. "Princess" Henry called again, but in a softer voice.

"What?" Elena groaned, her head spinning. She wished to return to that warm comfortable place she was dreaming of.

"I want to ask you a few questions" he said, his voice soft and even.

"Mmmm... so tired" she grumbled.

"Yes, three glasses of Kravaolian wine has that effect, my dear. Still, I have my questions" he said silkily.

Elena didn't understand what the disembodied voice wanted from her, she just wanted to return to the place with the puffy clouds that went on forever.

"You will you answer my questions first, then you may chase your dreams" he instructed, running a hand through her hair.

Elena did not care about the Voice, she just wanted it to stop and leave her alone. In her fuzzy mind the only way to achieve that was to answer the Voice's questions. "Questions... ask..." she mumbled.

"What happened when Lord Caspian came to visit you at your castle?" Henry asked- the question had been burning in him since the night before.

"Caspian... my parents... hunt... left" Elena said.

Frowning, Henry placed the box beneath her nose again, her eyelids snapped open, yet her gaze remained unfocused. "Again. Tell me what happened when Lord Caspian came to visit you at your castle" he instructed, closing the lid again.

Elena spoke in a voice no higher than a whisper. "Lord Caspian came to claim my hand in marriage... asked my parents... they said yes" she said sleepily.

"Then what happened?" asked Henry, surprise is his voice.

"Father said he still had to ask me... we went hunting... he killed for fun... didn't like that... didn't like him" Elena said thickly.

"And?" Henry prodded, opening the lid.

Elena wrinkled her nose. "He asked me to marry him... I said no... he asked why... bad man, I say... Caspian angry... very angry lord... tried to... pain... run..." she finished, her head falling to the side. Henry contemplated using the powder again. He wanted more answers, but knew it unwise -more than three nasal exposures could cause irreparable damage to her sense of smell. He sat by her bedside stroking her hair and watching her drift deeper into a wine induced sleep. 

After a few minutes he shook his head, stood up and walked to the door. He opened it and was unsurprised to find Catherine sitting on the stairs. She stood as he approached her

"I'd like you to change the princess into her bedclothes that I sent up earlier" he said, pointing to a folded gown at the foot of the bed. " I will return in a few minutes time" he said, and went downstairs.

*

Henry was entering the great hall just as Caspian was climbing the grand staircase, no doubt heading to his quarters.

"Cousin, a word if you please" Henry called at his cousin's back.

Caspian turned around and climbed down the stairs, looking curiously into his cousin's face. "What can I help you with, my Prince? Perhaps you would like to join me in an evening of fun? I have a few girls that we captured last week in the forest of Portath, I was planning on keeping them for myself but I could be persuaded otherwise" he said, a sly grin playing across his sharp features.

"Maybe another time," Henry said dryly. "I wanted to ask you something about Princess Elena."

"Hmm, the Princess. Yes. Maybe she would like to join us tonight? The more the merrier" said Caspian, his blue eyes twinkling.

"I don't think the Princess would enjoy that. See, she was just telling me about your proposal many years ago" Henry said.

Caspian's face darkened. "Oh she did, did she? What exactly, pray tell, did she say?" he hissed.

"That's just it. I didn't get much out of her- just that you asked her to marry her and she said no. I had to use Avkaly powder and you know how fiddly that is. I was hoping you could fill in the blanks" Henry said, leaning against the bannister.

"You said it all. I asked, she turned me down. There is nothing more to tell" said Caspian, folding his arms over his chest.

"It sounded to me like you took her denial pretty badly cousin. What happened?" Henry asked, taking a step closer to his cousin.

"I may have lost my temper, but nothing worth mentioning. Now if you'll excuse me, my Prince, I don't want to keep a lady- I mean ladies, waiting" he said tersely before heading up the stairs.

Henry watched his cousin until he disappeared from sight. He knew that Caspian was not being totally truthful. Never mind, he told himself, Elena would tell him the full story some other time.

*

Catherine removed Elena's clothes easily, but dressing her in her bedclothes proved to be a challenge as the princess was unable to assist in her current drunken state, not to mention that she was unaccustomed to dressing anyone in bedclothes. Catherine half hoped the prince would return and order someone else to assist her, seeing how she fought to dress her. She even toyed with the idea of asking one of the guards but she knew the Prince would not approve. However, by the time the Prince did return, she was already pulling the covers over the princess, having managed to finally dress her. The prince dismissed the exhausted looking Catherine and closed the door behind her, satisfied with the sound of the lock sliding into place from the other side of the door.

Henry slowly removed his clothes, draping them over the chair by the fire. He added a log to the fire, standing before it for a minute as he felt the heat wash over his naked form. He brought his hands closer to the fire, warming them just a little more, before he turned around and headed towards Elena's bed. He gazed at the sleeping beauty for a moment before slipping under the cover, pulling her body against his, groaning as he felt the cloth of her bed clothes rub against his naked skin. How he wished that she would yield to the Kravaolian custom of sleeping, sans clothes. He could only imagine the feeling of her warm flesh against his. He pressed his lips against the back of her neck, breathing in her faint flowery scent. "So soft" he whispered.

Henry place his hand on her thigh and slowly pulled up the hem of her dress. He ran his warm hand over her soft thigh and gently kneaded her firm globe- no doubt born of two years climbing trees, he mused, as his hand delved in the valley below. His fingertips brushed lightly against her pussy lips, causing the princess to shift slightly in her sleep, but remain blissfully unaware. The prince continued to kiss her neck as one finger slid into her pussy, easily, as if she were waiting for him. He added another finger, eliciting a low moan from her sleeping lips. As his stroking picked up rhythm her breathing quickened- he felt her increased wetness between his fingers, her walls clamping down on his them after he pressed his thumb against her clit. Elena moaned loudly in her sleep, her moan vibrating through to Henry's chest, causing his hardness to pulse angrily against her backside. But Henry knew better- he knew the laws of a Kravaolian Prince- his only relief must be within a woman, his seed too valuable and not to be wasted. He wanted to look into Elena's eyes when he was ready and not like this, with a sleeping, drunken maiden.

Groaning in self defeat, Henry removed his hand from between her legs and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him. He lay his head down and fell asleep, her flowery scent permeating his dreams.



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 07



Her head hurt. That was the first thought that went through Elena's mind when she woke up. The second was a slight rawness of her nasal cavity. Elena groaned as she shifted her head, which felt like it was laden with lead. She did not remember much of the previous night after her third cup of wine, she had no memory of leaving the dining hall and retiring to her bedroom.

Elena opened her eyes and blinked in confusion. She was wearing bed clothes that she didn't remember putting on and they were slightly damp between her legs (and with her bladder fit to burst she couldn't fathom the reason why). Elena stretched her aching muscles, bringing her arms over her head, her toes curling, taking in a deep breath. As she relaxed, she let her hands drop back onto the bed- except that one landed on something warm and solid and was punctuated with a sharp cry, making Elena jump a foot in the air. 

She looked over in shock and spotted Henry next to her on the bed, rubbing his nose. Adding to her shock was the fact that Henry was completely nude, the blanket that usually covered her, wrapped around his ankles. Elena couldn't help herself, her gaze roamed the sharp edges of his toned muscles, trailing down his abdomen to his morning erection, so unabashedly masculine.

"Do you like what you see, Princess?" Henry purred, reaching out for her arm.

"Do you mind?!" Elena spat as she inched a little out of his reach, overcompensating for the blush that radiated from her face, embarrassed at being caught ogling the naked Prince. "Would you cover yourself please?" turning her back resolutely on Henry's smirking face.

"So prim and proper, my Princess," he groaned with a laugh, "You really need to relax a little - I could teach you."

"I'm sure you could " Elena snapped sarcastically.

Elena straightened her clothes and ran her fingers through her hair. How did I get here, she wondered.

"Fine, I'm decent. OK? You can turn around now" he said.

Elena turned around and narrowed her eyes at the sight of him. Apparently he had different ideas of what was considered decent, for Henry was sitting in bed, with a single sheet bunched in his lap, covering his raging masculinity but nothing else. Henry laughed at her obvious disapproval but was not perturbed.

"So my deliciously pink Princess, what shall we do today? It is Sunday and the -" Henry began before Elena cut him off.

"I want to go outside" she said flatly.

"And I want a flying horse" answered Henry, laughing at his own joke. "The moment you step one foot outside you'll run. I know you will, don't try and deny it" he said, his dark eyes piercing hers.

"If you don't trust me," Elena said, ignoring Henry's scoffing noise, "then allow me to go to visit one of the gardens behind the castle. It is still within the castle walls so I am not really outside" she shrugged.

Henry cocked his head to one side, a smirk playing around the edges of his lips. Did she really think he was stupid enough to let her venture freely within the castle?

"If you don't believe me, why don't you escort me yourself? If I am allowed a glimpse of sunshine, your presence may be a small price to pay for it" she concluded.

He stared at her. He was somewhat amused by her gall. She has just begged him one moment and in the next was insulting him. Then an odd thought struck him and caused him to smile. "Alright, I agree. You seem to have outgrown this room anyway, I shall meet you in the courtyard later in the afternoon."

"Thank you" Elena said, before she could stop herself. Henry raised an eyebrow in surprise but didn't comment. He stood up quickly, the sheet falling to the floor. Elena looked away, her face turning bright red for the second time that morning. Henry smirked as he made his way over to the chairs by the fire and pulled on his pants and shirt from the previous evening.

"I will send for Catherine" Henry said, looking over his shoulder at the Princess, before exiting the room.

*

A few hours later, hardly believing her luck, Elena found herself standing in the sundrenched garden of the castle. She stood with her eyes closed, her skin soaking up the rare warmth of a winter's day. "Sorry I'm late," said Henry's voice, interrupting her silent contemplations, "the council meeting ran longer than expected."

Elena opened her eyes and fixed Henry with a steady gaze. She wished that he would have stayed away- she was having such a pleasant time all by herself (even though she was aware of her personal quartet of guards lurking in the shadows). However, for the first time in long time, she held her tongue and merely nodded at him.

Henry took her arm in his and walked her around the gardens, pointing out a bush or tree and reminiscing about some trivial fact that it reminded him of. At first she thought to fight his hold on her arm, yet argued against it, for it was a small price to pay for a little sunshine. Elena spent a good part of the afternoon ignoring him completely, nodding whenever she felt he expected some response from her. As the sun glared in the afternoon sky, they stood under the shade of a very large tree, the name of which Elena was not familiar with, it's branches only as thick as her neck and the height dizzying. Henry started to tell Elena of the mischief he used to get up to as a younger prince, but halfway through his tale of lighting the kitchen on fire, Ethan came to notify Henry that the King requested his presence for a small matter. Henry sighed and told Elena that he would return shortly. Her response was a shrug of the shoulders, expressing her usual haughty disdain.

Elena ran her hands over the tree trunk, feeling the crevices of the bark between her fingers, noting the ease that one could climb the tree with it's plethora of branches. She knew that climbing the tree would amount to nothing but ridicule, as there were no neighbouring trees to jump to, however it didn't stop the almost natural curiosity that was ingrained in her after two years of sleeping in the treetops. Just as she was reaching up to a low-hanging branch to test it's weight bearing capabilities, she felt a cold hand grip her shoulder. She whipped around prepared to confront whomever had touched her, but her voice died in her throat when she realised that it was Lord Caspian who had grasped her shoulder.

"Going somewhere?" he asked, the sound of his voice causing goosebumps to erupt on Elena's bare skin.

"Unhand me" she said, her voice coming out a lot weaker than she intended.

Caspian let go, but stepped closer, causing Elena to back up against the tree trunk. She looked around but her guards were nowhere to be seen, nor was Henry (as reluctant as she was to seek his help, she didn't favour the alternative). His eyes swept over her trembling figure as he stepped even closer, pressing his sharp body against hers and whispered in her ear, "I made a promise, Princess - do you remember?" he said as he pressed her harder into the tree, causing the bark to bite into the exposed skin of her back.

Elena could remember his promise as if it were yesterday:

Caspian and Elena were walking quietly through the forest of Lorrea while on a hunt, his low voice talking of his estates and his fortune that would be hers should she consent to his proposal of marriage. Elena replied sparingly to his questions, as something about him made her stomach ill at ease, however she knew not the cause. He was handsome in a lean and sharp manner, yet she found that it wasn't his looks that bothered her, nor was he uneducated, it was something else, unseen, that caused her to be apprehensive with the young lord.

The reason for her unease became apparent as they came across a deer whose front leg was snared in a crude trap. She pushed her bow back over her shoulder and knelt down to appraise the injury. Blood covered the leg below the wound, yet it was dry, indicating that the deer had been in that position for some time already. Elena noted the dryness of the animals tongue and it's apparent lack of concern or fear of the humans around it.

"Hand me your sword please, Lord Caspian" she asked, holding out her hand.

"My sword?" he asked dumbstruck. "Why do you need my sword?"

"I am going to put the poor creature out of it's misery" she answered.

"Why would you do a silly thing like that? If we leave it, perhaps a wolf will happen by and we can hunt it! That would be a fine kill" Caspian said smiling at her, excitement in his eyes.

Elena frowned at the him, as she folded her arms over her chest. "The creature has been trapped for days- it's dying, and the compassionate thing to do would be to help it as much as we can. I'm sad to say that in this instance, it means to kill it, before infection or something else does." She reached out again, awaiting his sword - yet he showed no inclination of handing it to her.

"I still think it is a waste of perfectly good bait" he said sullenly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Anger coursed through Elena at his refusal. She understood now, what trait the Lord possessed that bothered her so- his cruelty. Sighing, she unsheathed a dagger from her waist. Elena preferred the use of Caspian's sword over her small dagger, for a cleaner and instantaneous death, as opposed to the slow death from blood loss. She reached under the deer's neck and with a quick and forceful swipe of her dagger, severed the creatures main arteries. Within a minute the creature had stopped breathing and lay still upon the forest floor. Elena wiped her dagger clean on the blades of some tall, wild grass. She stood abruptly and started to walk back towards the castle.

"Wait Princess, where are you hurrying off to?" Caspian cried out, hurrying to catch up to her as she returned the dagger to it's sheath. "Where are you going? We haven't caught anything yet" he said, reaching for her hand.

Elena pulled her hand from his grasp. "I've had enough hunting for the day, thank you, Lord Caspian" she said, lengthening her strides.

"Alright," he said dejected, "lets go back up to the castle."

"I think that would be best" Elena said, walking as quickly as possible without actually running.

"Yes, I can request an audience with the King and Queen, informing them that you have accepted my hand in marriage" Caspian said as he hurried alongside Elena.

Elena stopped abruptly, looking over at Caspian in disbelief. Did he honestly think that she was going to marry him? He was a cruel and unkind man - she did not like the idea of spending the rest of her days with him, or even worse, bearing his children.

"Lord Caspian, I'm afraid you misunderstood my intentions. I did not give my consent" Elena said slowly, opting for a diplomatic approach over the one her heart was demanding, one that demanded the use of her balled up fist.

Caspian looked at her, confusion spreading across his face. "Surely Princess, you jest. You and I both know that a marriage between our families would create a great kingdom of endless wealth and power."

"Perhaps. However that is not the only consideration of importance" she stated slowly.

"What could be more important than strength or wealth?" he asked her, a bemused grin showing on his face.

"Well, Love, to name one thing" she added softly.

"Love?" he laughed. "I'll give you all the love that you can handle and then some" he said, placing a hand over his crotch and thrusting his hips forwards.

Blushing, Elena turned her face away in response to his coarseness and continued to walk towards the edge of the forest. Just before she left the tree line, she felt his hand close around her upper arm, stopping her.

"Enough of this foolishness" he rasped, his voice losing the light tone in which he had conversed with her earlier. "You will consent to marry me, Princess" he said, pulling her against him.

"Unhand me- You are forgetting your place, Lord Caspian" she said forcefully, as she attempted to wriggle out of his iron clad grasp.

"You will consent" he growled, his face an inch from hers.

"I will do no such thing. Now, release me before you do something that you will regret" she ordered, her tone even and forceful.

"You will consent," he repeated through clenched teeth, "You will consent to marry me, give me your maidenhead and bear my children - and anything else that I desire" he hissed as he wrapped his other hand in her golden hair, pulling her head back sharply, his face livid and red with rage.

"I'd rather die" she gasped, before spitting in his face.

Caspian released his grasp on her hair but backhanded her forcefully, knocking her backwards onto the forest floor, her bow and quiver pressed against her back beneath her.

Elena's head spun, she tried to shake the dizziness that plagued her, attempting to stand back up. However, before she had risen an inch off the floor, Caspian crushed her with his weight, straddling her hips. He pushed her back onto the ground as he grabbed her flailing wrists in one hand. He reached between them and pulled her dagger from it's casing and brought it to her throat, instantly causing her to still as she felt the cold steel pressed against her.

"Good. Beginning to understand who is in charge?!" he spat, running the tip of the knife over her chest, tracing the rise and fall of her breasts. He pulled his tunic out of his pants, his lust pulsing furiously at the sight of the beautiful princess beneath him.

"By the time I'm done ravishing you Princess, you really WILL wish you were dead" he whispered in her ear. Caspian hooked his feet between her thighs and wrenched them apart as he ran his rough tongue from the underside of her neck all the way up to her cheek, causing Elena to cringe and whimper in disgust.

Elena was doing some quick thinking as she struggled against his heavy form. She knew that if she screamed he would slit her throat. If she fought him further, he would slit her throat. Every plan that she could come up with ended with Caspian slitting her throat - all except one. It was a risky plan and could go wrong in many ways but Elena could think of no alternative.

"Lord- Lord C-C-Caspian," she gasped. "Please... Please... I consent" she said, looking up earnestly- albeit terrified, into his furious face.

"I am no fool Princess, I know you only seek to thwart me, to confuse me" he laughed, as he sliced the knife through the fabric of her bodice.

"No! No please, listen! I will consent" she pleaded.

"And I'm supposed to believe that?" he asked jeeringly, as he sliced through her dress from the chest, making his way south.

"Because... Because... I'll let you take me, willingly, right here on the forest floor" she answered breathlessly.

"I plan on doing that anyway... Whether you're willing or not does not matter much to me now" he spat as he pushed aside the ripped material, revealing her beautiful and ample breasts.

"No - wait! If I consent willingly, I am bound to you, for no man will take me for his wife when they find out that I'm - I'm no longer a virgin" she explained quickly, "I will have no choice - I must marry you. And if you consent, this way you will inherit the kingdom, rather than become a fugitive and bring two nations into a bloody war" she finished, looking up into his cold blue eyes.

Caspian regarded her shrewdly, weighing her offer seriously. "Alright" he said gruffly, leaning in and running his rough tongue over her pink nipple.

"Wait" Elena squeaked.

"What is it now? You said you consented" he asked, annoyance playing across his face.

"Yes, I agreed that you may take my maidenhood" she said, cringing at her own words. "However I wish that my first time be without the feeling of cold steel pressed against my skin" she said, eyeing the dagger in his hand wearily.

Laughing, Caspian shook his head. "Oh I don't think so Princess, first you learn to obey. Lets see how well you behave" he laughed, as he flicked her nipple with the tip of the dagger.

"Oh... but please, could you at least remove your broadsword? It is pressing into me and I fear that it will cut me when you... when you... take me" she finished lamely, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Alright" he replied grumpily. He was not concerned in removing his sword, because his strength coupled with a dagger in his hand more than assured his security in the face of an unarmed and frightened maiden.

Caspian stood up, his feet astride the princess as pulled his sword from his belt, watching her apprehensive eyes follow it's every move. He tossed it aside, out of her reach.

"Now shall we-" he began, but was unable to complete the rest of the sentence as agonizing pain tore through his lower body.

Elena was biding her time, she thought that her plan had failed when he refused to drop the dagger, but his agreement to drop the sword was almost as good, just slightly more dangerous because he still grasped her dagger. As soon as he threw the sword from her reach - causing it to be beyond his reach as well, she mustered all her strength and brought her leg up between his legs, which were planted on either side of her thighs, and connected painfully with his crotch. Her swift move caught him by surprise and brought him roaring, to his knees, the knife in his hand missing her head by an inch as he collapsed and curled into a fetal position, gasping obscenities and moaning wretchedly.

Elena quickly rolled away from him and stood up, swiftly reaching behind her and pulling an arrow from her quiver and lifting it against her bow, as she willed her arms to stop shaking while she aimed at his heart.

A battle raged within her: her heart called for his death but her mind told her not to harm him. Elena stood over him, her exposed breasts heaving, her arm shaking not from adrenaline anymore, but from the effort of keeping the bow arched. As Caspian's whimpering subsided Elena made up her mind and spoke to him.

"You shall leave this kingdom and never return, Lord Caspian. If you do, you shall be hanged" she said, looking into his furious eyes.

"You'll pay" he gasped, his gaze burning with hatred.

"Do not think," she continued, ignoring his words, "That I spare your life out of feminine weakness. You live only because I know that if I were to kill you, which I have every right to do- make no mistake, a war would break out and countless innocent lives would be lost. So I leave you, er- unharmed, and command you to leave the kingdom of Lorrea and never return" she finished, slowly walking backwards, but never lowering her bow, aimed at his heart.

"You will regret this day, Princess" Caspian gasped, as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. "You will remember this day and wish that you had killed me- I promise you that" He screeched his last words at her retreating shadow, before she was gone from his sight in a whirl of golden hair.

*

Elena remembered that day.

"Do you remember my promise?" he repeated, his eyes boring into hers.

"I said unhand me!" Elena cried, raising her voice slightly, intending to sound forceful, yet she sounded weak and frightened even to her own ears.

"You can scream and shout all you like Princess, the guards will not challenge me, unless they desire to spend the last few months of their lives on the Choppartian front" he stated, a cruel smile playing around his eyes.

Caspian leaned even closer to Elena, making it difficult for her to breathe deeply, causing her to take quick short breaths, her pulse racing as she felt his lips graze her ear.

"I've had many years to dwell on that wretched day in the forest" he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "I have stayed awake many nights, thinking what I would do to you when I got my hands on you. You see, I never believed what they said, that you were dead. I knew a girl like you would claw her way back to life. I knew you were biding your time somewhere in Lorrea... Oh how I searched for you" he moaned, causing Elena to shiver in fear. 




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 07



While she was in hiding in the Lorrean forest, Elena knew that he was looking for her -she overheard conversations while she was hiding high in the treetops, of the odd Kravaolian soldier grumbling about their Lord's obsession in finding her, yet she never spotted him in the forest. She was grateful for this, as she may have been tempted to take his life and forfeiting her own in return for the simple pleasure of seeking her revenge for that nightmarish day in the forest.

"And to think," he continued, "that it was my feeble cousin who found you! Such a waste" he hissed, his hand sliding over her hip and delving beneath her rear, squeezing her, causing her to yelp in fright.

"Please... let go of me - you are hurting me" Elena cried, her guards nowhere to be seen.

"Tell me Princess," he whispered against her ear, ignoring her pleas, "did you scream when Prince Henry plunged his cock into you?" he asked, his words causing Elena to tremble slightly.

"No... leave me alone!" she cried, trying to push Caspian off her, yet her arms felt like useless twigs as opposed to his solid wall of muscle.

"Tell me Princess, did you beg as he ravished you, over and over again? Or did you moan like a seasoned whore?" Caspian continued, clearly enjoying Elena's mounting anguish. "It is a shame you never experienced a real man first" he growled, as he ground his hips against hers, his hard erection clearly felt against her soft flesh.

"A real man?" Elena rasped, her tone of sarcasm lost in her plight for air, as Caspian wrapped his hand around her throat.

"Yes, one that would knock that stubborn streak right out of you" he snarled, his hand trailing down from her throat to her heaving chest, "because my little cousin sure hasn't, has he?" he asked wickedly as his hand slipped into her dress, causing her to gasp and writhe against his ice cold hand that was bruising her soft skin.

Caspian grasped her face with his other hand and ran his rough tongue up her cheek slowly, his grip preventing her from pulling away as she moaned in disgust. "I can taste your fear Princess, and it's exquisite" he hissed, before pressing his own lips against hers. Elena felt an ocean's difference between Henry's kiss and Caspian's- and although the former created instant nausea, it was soft and gentle, whereas Caspian's lips pressed hard against Elena's, bruising the delicate skin. 

Elena found herself in an impossible position. If she were to assault the nephew of the King, which she was close to doing- in the same manner as on the forest floor, she would pay dearly- she may even be hung. Elena knew that Caspian would view her attack as a public humiliation - the castle was not vacant as the woods of Lorrea and the soldiers were no doubt lurking somewhere out of sight. Alternatively, Caspian could demand that he be appointed the executor of her punishment and thus removing her from Henry's protective aura. Elena did not know which of these consequences was worse and did not care to find out, so she straightened her knee that had been slowly bending and flattened her foot against the floor, harnessing that rising impulse to inflict pain. However, she also knew that she could not remain as she was, a passive recipient of Caspian's vulgarity which seemed to escalate the longer he had her pressed up against the tree. She needed to deter him without harming him or his pride. An idea struck her, a foolhardy one at best, but it was the ONLY one that came to her, his closeness and scent hampering her rational thought process.

As Caspian broke his punishing kiss, Elena, gasping for air, looked over his shoulder and stood up a little straighter. Her features changing from hopeless to hopeful, she called out loudly "Prince Henry!"

Caspian instantly pushed himself away from her, taking a few steps back before spinning around, prepared to offer any feeble explanation that came to him regarding his inappropriately close proximity to the Princess. To Caspian's confusion however, there was no sign of Prince Henry anywhere or his entourage.

"Nice try" Caspian growled, turning around to face Elena again. His confusion returned twofold though, as Elena was nowhere to be seen.

"What the-" he started to say, before a shower of cascading bark from the tree brought his contemplation to a halt.

Caspian looked up to find Elena several meters out of reach and rising steadily, her years of tree climbing aiding her speedy ascent.

At the sound of Caspian's foul swearing, Elena chanced a look below. Caspian's upper lip curled into a snarl as he reached for the first branch of the tree, intending to follow her. Looking around her, she snapped off a dead looking, fist -sized fruit or flower with which she was unacquainted, and dropped it, watching as it missed a startled Caspian by a few inches. She snapped off two more of the strange objects from the branches, however Caspian was aware of her actions and watched her every move as he continued to climb, avoiding the heavy falling objects with ease.

Elena pushed her sweaty hair away from her face as she continued to climb, watching Caspian closing in. She knew she would soon run out of branches and he would catch her, but just as that depressing thought crossed her mind, a brilliant one pushed it aside. Elena held on to a higher branch as she jumped up and down on the one below, putting her full weight on it until she heard a satisfying CRACK. Caspian moved out of the way just in time as a lethal limb crashed into numerous branches as it fell from the tree. She repeated this with three more branches, until she was satisfied that Caspian's ascent was impeded due to lack of hand and footholds. Elena watched with apprehension as Caspian attempted to climb the barren trunk above him, his fingers scrabbling against the bark as his grip slipped, again and again. Caspian let out a roar of frustration and unsheathed his broadsword, looking up at Elena with murderous eyes. 

Elena was unsure what he thought he could accomplish by brandishing his sword at her, for even with the sword she was well out of his reach. Caspian swung at the tree trunk in frustration, dislodging a large piece of bark onto his own head.

Elena would have laughed if the situation had not been so serious. 

"You'll have to come down sometime Princess" he called up the tree, his tone full of malice.

Elena was about to answer, but before she did, she noticed Ethan walking timidly towards the tree.

"Um.. excuse me.. My Lord? Lord Caspian?" he called up the tree in a small voice. Elena could barely hear him.

"What?!" spat Caspian, looking down at the boy in annoyance.

"The King wishes you to join him immediately at the council meeting" Ethan said, looking up at Caspian in fear.

"Curses!" cried Caspian, throwing his sword out of the tree in rage, which Ethan managed to dodge luckily, as it landed exactly where he had been standing.

Caspian looked up, catching Elena's triumphant face. "This is not over, my Princess" he hissed.

"I am not yours, nor will I ever be" she replied boldly, holding his gaze.

"Not yet, but you will, I promise you that" he said, his furious dark eyes not leaving Elena's as he descended the tree.

As Caspian descended and finally walked out of sight, Elena sighed and pressed her sweaty face against the cool tree trunk she was hugging, allowing the adrenaline to subside and the analytical part of her mind to surface after being overshadowed by survival instinct. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she seemed to be in a more danger than she had initially anticipated. She had foolishly hoped that Caspian's rage would have subsided or at least abated after a few years of war, but it seemed quite the opposite.

Elena closed her eyes and enjoyed the cool air that whipped through the branches, bringing with it the scent of rain, something she had sorely missed while being locked up in the north tower. She felt the tension of the last few days drain away as the wind blew the edges of her dress up around her, the soft fabric dancing around her bare feet.

Elena sat in the tree, not moving, for hours. The guards that were lurking in the shadows while lord Caspian "conversed" with the princess, were now sitting at the foot of the tree, relaxing as they watched the sun set over the castle walls. She ignored them completely and they ignored her too, an arrangement that suited her just fine as she contemplated what her next move would be. 

After a while, a small commotion below her, broke her reverie, so she looked down to find the guards scrambling to stand at attention. The reason for this, she realised was the large figure of Prince Henry striding towards them.

"You are supposed to be guarding the Princess. Where is the Princess?!" he furiously demanded of them, as his eyes swept the surrounding area.

One of the soldiers raised a shaking hand and pointed to the tree above them. Henry's surprised face looked up and caught Elena's impassive face staring back down at him through the canopy. Henry's booming laughter caused a few birds to take flight out of fright, dislodging a few leaves that twirled in spirals before landing at Henry's feet.

"Enjoying yourself Princess?" he called up the tree.

Elena chose to ignore his teasing. She shifted a little on the branch making sure her dress wrapped around her legs, providing a little modesty.

"Alright, you can come down now Princess" he said, motioning to her with his hand.

"I'd rather stay up here actually" Elena called down.

"Don't make me ask twice, Princess" he said to her, a slight sharpness in his voice now.

Elena sighed. She knew she couldn't stay up in the tree and as much as she hated following any of Henry's orders, she couldn't see any advantage in staying up in the tree and antagonising him further.

"Alright, alright," Elena called down, "But can you and your men kindly turn around while I climb down?" she asked, aware of the view they would have from below, as Henry had yet to provide her with undergarments.

"I don't think so" Henry replied jovially. "Who would catch if you fall?" he asked, his face displaying mock concern.

"Fine" Elena snapped at him. She reached down and pulled the bottom hem of her dress forwards from between her legs, pulling it up and bunching it together in front of her. She realised that she was now exposing a fair amount of bare leg to those below, but it was the lesser of two evils. Elena gingerly made her way down the tree, using her arms only as she squeezed her legs tightly together to hold the bunched material in place. She felt absurdly like the gibbons that inhabited the trees of the Lorrean forest, swinging and slipping from branch to branch, until she felt Henry's strong hands grasp her hips and gently lift her to the ground.

Henry looked her over with amusement in his eyes. "Tsk, Tsk" he clucked his tongue as he removed a few twigs and leaves from her messy mane. "You know, it really isn't fitting for a Princess to climb trees" he said, noting her dirty fingernails and her ripped dress.

"Why did you climb up the tree in the first place? Surely you realised that it was not a very good escape route?" Henry chuckled, as he steered her with one hand at the small of her back, towards the castle.

Elena had done a lot of thinking while she sat up in the tree. She had come to the conclusion that it would be wise to keep the exchange between Caspian and herself private. She didn't think that Henry should know how much his cousin envied him or how much he lusted after her, she didn't know him well enough to anticipate his reaction.

"I just wanted to be left alone" Elena lied.

"You have been left alone too long, my Princess. Your were alone for two long years." Henry said, as they crossed the entrance hall.

Elena sighed and made her way towards the stairs of the north tower, resigned to return to her well furnished cell. Henry, however, grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the main stairwell.

"Where are we going?" She asked Henry.

"I think you could use a bedroom with a few windows in it" he answered as they reached the top of the stairwell.

Elena looked up in surprise, Henry's eyes studying her face as they turned and climbed another staircase.

"I know what you're thinking," he said to her, his eyes narrowing, "but rest assured Princess, they are not an avenue for whatever daring escape plan you are hatching right now."

Elena tried to arrange her facial expression into a puzzled one, yet she knew that he saw through it as he smiled knowingly, flashing his white teeth at her. How did he know that escape was the first thing that popped into her mind when he mentioned windows? Elena allowed Henry to steer her in the direction of a pair of heavy oak doors, already guarded by two armed guards. Henry opened the doors, sweeping his arm over the room. "I hope you find this more to your liking Princess" he said, stepping aside.

At first glance Elena was pleasantly surprised as she looked around the room. It was larger than her own bedroom in Lorrea and the vaulted ceilings added a little beauty to it. Directly opposite the door, there was a large four poster bed with red hangings, the focal point of the room and to it's left, there was a closed door. There was a large fireplace and a beautiful fur rug, but the thing that Elena liked most were three large windows, each looking out over a different part of the castle and the rolling hills, which at the moment were being threatened by storm clouds.

"I had the sense that you felt a little caged in, my little hummingbird," he murmured as he rubbed the back of her neck.

Elena shivered despite Henry's warm touch, for she realised what she had overlooked in first glance. The room seemed to have a lived-in feeling and even though it was spotless, Elena could sense that it was not one of the many guest rooms in the castle. As she took in the dark furniture and the war themed sculptures and paintings, the richness of the upholstery, she turned to Henry. 

"This is your bedroom" she said flatly. Elena did not ask, she knew.

"Yes, it is" Henry answered, "and now it is yours." Elena stood in silence for a few seconds, her mind thinking of the best way to respond. "No thank you, I'd like to return to my room now" she said, turning on her heel and heading towards the open doors, but Henry caught her deftly around the waist, turning her around and locking his hands behind her back, pulling her close.

"It was not really an offer Princess" he said as she tried to wriggle out of his arms. "For the past few nights we have slept together in the same bed. As it's something that i've rather enjoyed and become accustomed to, I prefer to at least be a mite more comfortable."

"We did not SLEEP together" Elena hissed, "you wormed your way into my bed after I fell asleep" she said, her face red with anger.

Henry merely shrugged, pulling a few more leaves out of her hair. "I'll call for Catherine- you seem to be wearing half the tree" he said, ignoring her grimace about Catherine.

"I thought you were an accomplished tree climber? What are all these scratches?" he asked, running his fingers over the scratches on her back, causing her to wince slightly, as they were still a little tender.

"I had an itch" she snapped, hoping her haughtiness would deflect from his curiosity towards the outcome of Caspian's attempt to squash her against the tree trunk.

"Well next time, call me - I can help with all those hard to reach places" he purred, running his hand over her ass.

This time Henry allowed her to wriggle free, "I'll send for some dinner" he said, before closing the door behind him, leaving Elena alone in his bedroom.

As soon as he left, Elena combed the room for some hidden weapon or something that could be used as a weapon. She couldn't find anything sharp, but there were a few little statues made of brass and ivory that with a little weight behind them, could easily crush a man's skull. Elena placed a brass statue of a naked archer, shooting a bird mid flight, back in the same position as she found it. That little piece was especially nasty, with it's many angles and embellishments- Elena was satisfied that it could definitely cause a fatal wound. In the room adjacent to the bed she discovered the most exquisite bathroom. The room was wall to wall pink marble and in it's center a large marble bathtub. Her fingers trailed over numerous soaps sitting in their little golden dishes on the edge of the bath. She picked up a strange yellow-brown ball with holes in it, tossing it between her hands, the airy ball barely weighing anything.

An hour later, a young boy brought up a tray with her dinner and asked her where she would like him to place it, she indicated a spot in front of the fire. He left quickly, leaving Elena to enjoy the strange food before her. It was a leg of lamb, encrusted in pepper, with a mint sauce. As strange as it seemed to her when she sniffed it, she was pleasantly surprised at the interesting flavours that filled her mouth as she took her first bite. Elena took a small sip of the wine from the silver goblet, but didn't drink anymore. She knew that the Kravaolian wine was too strong for her and she would need all her wits about her when Henry returned later in the evening.

Elena was feeling sleepy, the meal causing her to feel content and extremely drowsy -she barely acknowledged the young servant who removed the tray. She lay down on the fur rug, her fingers playing with the soft fur, as the flames from the fire washed waves of warmth over her skin.

The next thing Elena knew, she was being prodded awake by Catherine. She led her to the bath which had been filled with warm water brought in by a few men, while Elena dozed on the rug. For once Elena did not resist Catherine's helping hand, she even lay back and closed her eyes sleepily as Catherine's light touch washed her from head to toe.

"I'm glad to see you're enjoying yourself Princess" said a voice that was not Catherine's. Elena opened one bleary eye and saw with a jolt that Henry was leaning against the marbled wall, a huge grin on his face.

Elena sunk deeper into the water and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to save some dignity. Catherine was nowhere to be seen and neither were Elena's clothes. "Please leave" Elena said, fixing Henry with a fierce stare.

"No. You know, I can't get what you said out of my head- about scratching your itch. You really shouldn't say things like that around a man, makes him think all sorts of sinful things" Henry said, slowly approaching her.

"Anyway, I know just the thing to help. You see this?" he asked, showing her that weird brown-yellow ball with holes in it. "This is called a Sponge. It was a gift from a Lord in a faraway land and it really is heavenly on the skin" he said, stepping closer. "Here, put it in the water and see what happens" he said, extending the sponge to her.

Elena was curious, but she kept her limbs wrapped tightly around her body. "Leave me alone" she said flatly, knowing full well that the Prince had no intention of doing so.

Henry sighed and started pulling off his clothes with little regard for modesty. Elena looked away quickly, a pink blush sweeping her face. She jumped suddenly as the bathwater rose suddenly and violently, splashing over the sides. She looked up and saw that Henry had lowered himself into the bathtub. Elena was so shocked at such an intimate act that it took her a few seconds before she started struggling to get to her feet and climb out of the bath. Henry however, had other plans- he grabbed her ankle and pulled her towards him, causing her head to slip underwater momentarily.

Elena emerged spluttering from the soapy water. "Sorry about that" Henry said, the wide grin on his face a blatant contradiction to his words. She tugged her slippery foot out of his grasp and pulled her knees against her chest, wrapping her arms around them, her raging eyes staring at Henry over her knees.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 07



"Would you stop looking at me like that?" Henry laughed half heartedly. "Look," he said as he submerged the sponge in the water, squeezing it so that a thousand tiny bubbles escaped from within it. He raised the dripping sponge and placed it on her shoulder, moving slowly down her arm, then squeezing the water out of the sponge over her arm.

Elena didn't know what to make of the situation. She was confused by the sudden tenderness Henry displayed, embarrassed that a man- a Prince no less, was washing her and to top that, neither of them had a stitch of clothing on. Tears of shame began to well up in her eyes as she thought of her oath to her father, her failure to honour it coming back to haunt her as always, in moments of sheer vulnerability.

"Turn around" Henry said, his voice low and soft. Elena complied, not to please him but because she was eager to hide her tears from the Prince. She swiveled around, her arms still wrapped around her legs, resting her quivering chin on her knees. She winced as he squeezed the warm water from the sponge over her scratched back. He placed the sponge back in the water and brought it back up, rubbing her neck in a soothing rhythm. As Henry touched one of the numerous scratches on her upper back with the sponge, Elena breathed in sharply, causing Henry to pause, sponge in hand. "Sorry" he whispered, before softly kissing the scratched area with his lips. 

"Please don't do that" Elena said in a small voice.

"What? This?" he asked quietly, before kissing another scratch in the same tender way.

"Yes" she moaned, closing her eyes and laying her head on her shoulder.

Henry pressed the heavy sponge to her exposed neck, squeezing the water from it, causing it to cascade down her back and her front. He moved the sponge further down her neck to her shoulder, trailing it with soft kisses, eliciting tiny shivers from Elena. He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her back towards him, sloshing water over the sides of the bath, causing her to squeal in surprise as she felt his torso against her back, his evident hardness wedged between them. Elena clutched the side of the bathtub, trying to pull herself up, but to no avail. Henry leaned back against the edge of the bath, pulling Elena back with him, which allowed him to wrap an arm around her stomach to keep her from bolting.

"Let go of me" she said, her voice a little stronger than before. Henry's manhandling had snapped her back to the present, pushing away the feeling of impending emotional surrender that was creeping it's way into her mind.

"Shhh, my delicate Princess" he whispered over her shoulder, as his other hand picked up the submerged sponge and pressed it softly against her throat, letting the water cascade down her chest. "Just let yourself relax... there is nothing wrong with a little bath" he said, squeezing the sponge above her chest.

"I can think of many things that are wrong with this... this... bath" she said boldly, squirming against his grip but only managing to rub up against his hardness behind her.

"Hmmm... really?" he murmured, clearly not giving her words his full attention, as he traced the natural valley between her breasts with the sponge, rubbing her medallion against her skin..

"Yes" she said, her knuckles turning white as she clutched the sides of the bath. "Not to mention the fact that you are a man, bathing a woman. Even in Lorrea that is unheard of, if anyone were to find out, you would be the laughing stock of the entire kingdom" she said, satisfied that her words had some effect -she felt his hand still over her right breast which he had been washing tenderly.

"That is a good point. You're right, usually it is the servant who washes the master" he said, holding the sponge up in front of her.

Henry held the sponge out for Elena for a few more seconds before chuckling gently in her ear and returning to washing her breasts. "No... I didn't think you would" he said, rubbing her nipples gingerly, which were becoming more prominent with every touch of the sponge.

"I am not your servant and you are not my master" she growled, reaching up to pull the sponge away from her chest.

"No," he said softly, "I don't suppose that you are, are you?" he said, moving the sponge lower, over her abdomen.

Surprised by what he had just said, Elena turned her head to read Henry's expression, but Henry took advantage of her movement and kissed her exposed neck, sucking the area briefly, leaving little red marks. 

Elena was quickly losing her concentration again. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply, the light touch of his lips felt exquisite and the gentle sucking caused her head to fall back against his chest, her knees parting slightly.

Henry smiled as he felt her relaxing against him, realising the key point to her submission was that she was extra sensitive about her neck. 

Taking advantage of her emotional stupor, Henry hooked his legs between her parted knees and pulling her thighs apart, paving the way for his sponge clad hand to sweep downwards over her feminine folds.

"Oh!" Elena cried out, her eyes opening wide as her arm shot down to pull the sponge away, but she was unable to pry the sponge out of his hand. Henry's muscular legs prevented her from clamping her legs shut against his intrusion and as he managed to hold both her hands against her chest with one of his own, she was well and truly incapacitated.

Elena struggled anew when she realised how utterly exposed she was, yet all she succeeded in achieving was a great deluge of water over the sides of the bath.

"If you keep that up, there won't be any water left inside the bath" Henry chuckled as he held Elena, their limbs tightly entwined.

"Good" she snapped. That would bring this farce of a bath to an end, she thought smugly.

"Good? My Princess, I had no idea that you harboured deep within your prim and proper exterior such voyeuristic inclinations" he said.

"What do you mean?" Elena asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked back at Henry in confusion.

"Surely you realise that I would just send for more hot water? It takes, what? six or seven men to fill this tub? And they would all have quite an eyeful of you, my luscious Princess, don't you think so?" he asked, the sponge rubbing her feminine folds in a slow and tantalising way.

Elena stopped struggling instantly. She did not believe that Henry would allow his men to ogle her so, yet she was not keen to be proven wrong either.

"Good girl" he murmured, the sponge rubbing her nether region in a circular motion as he returned to kissing and sucking the soft, sensitive skin of her neck.

Elena's head dipped lower as Henry's tongue swept over the hollow basin of her collarbone, her eyelids grew heavier even though they were already closed. Her hands were pressed tightly against her chest, the chain of her medallion imbedded into her palm. As Elena breathed deeply, the medallion slipped along the chain and into her hand.

"What is it that you want from me?" she asked, her fist closing tightly on her medallion.

"I told you, you need to relax" Henry said as ran the sponge from her knee, down to her pussy and back over to the other knee, pressing firmly against the underside of her thighs as he repeated this, very slowly, over and over again.

Henry abandoned the sponge and delved two fingers into Elena's unsuspecting pussy, causing her to arch her back in surprise and attempt to squirm away from his fingers.

"Ohhh please, stop" Elena whimpered.

Henry let his fingers slip out, but not without rubbing them roughly against her clitoris, causing her to moan loudly.

"I just wanted to feel how much you enjoyed our little sponge bath" he said, his hand moving to brush a few wet strands of hair away from her face.

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I didn't" she mumbled.

"Say what you want Princess, but I've told you- your body doesn't lie" he sighed, the fingers of one hand sliding in between hers, pulling it down to her pussy. "You feel that?" he asked, not allowing her to pull her hand away, but held it steady against her feminine folds. "Your pussy lips are swollen - that's a sure sign that you enjoyed it... your body does not lie Princess."

Elena blushed as her fingers brushed against her swollen folds, ashamed that once again, Henry knew her body better than she did. Suddenly, she sneezed three times in quick succession.

"I guess the water is getting a little cold" he said, pulling her hand closer, looking it over. "Your skin is wrinkled as a prune, Princess" he chuckled softly.

As Henry rose slowly out of the water, he placed a warning hand on Elena's shoulder. She understood that she was not to move, which suited her fine. Having his limbs wrapped around her was not something she found very comfortable and was glad for their sudden absence.

Henry climbed out of the bath, wrapped a thick white towel around his waist and padded out of the bathroom. Elena leaned back against the marble bath, staring at the pink marble walls, the sound of Henry tinkering with the fireplace only slightly disturbing her solitude.

"Alright Princess, time to come out" Henry said, startling Elena, as she didn't realise that he had returned to the bathroom.

Elena stood up and crossed her arms over her chest, scanning the room for a towel. She scowled as she realised that Henry was holding up the only dry towel. Elena reached out for it, but Henry just smiled and shook his head, spreading the towel wide, his intentions clear. Fuming, her face as red as a tomato, she walked hesitantly towards Henry, allowing him to envelope her in the dry fluffy towel. He rubbed his hands over her arms a few times before guiding her out of the bathroom.

Henry brought her in front of the fireplace and pulled the towel away from her body. "Give that back" she squealed, clutching nothing but air as she reached for her towel.

"Just stand still, would you please?" he said as he bent down and rubbed the towel from her ankle to her thigh, drying her slowly. He repeated the same process with the other leg before drying her arms, chest, face and back. Elena found the intimacy of the act to be mortifying- while Henry was rubbing her dry, a single solitary tear rolled down her cheek, leaving a wet track against her now dry skin. 

Henry stood behind her and swung the towel gently forwards between her partially spread legs, catching the loose end in front of her end with his other hand. He pulled the towel upwards suddenly, pressing the material against her pussy. 

Elena yelped in shock and tried to pull the towel down, but Henry was stronger than her. He began to run the towel roughly between her legs, pulling one end higher and then the other. The seesawing motion rubbing Elena's already swollen lips, achieved the opposite effect - she was beginning to feel wet, not dry.

"Please stop!" she cried as she attempted in vain to hold the towel steady.

"Just relax Princess" he grunted as the seesawing motion picked up speed.

"Oh please, no... It burns... please stop... Ohhh Ohh" she moaned as Henry continued the frenzied 'drying', ignoring her pleas.

Henry continued, occasionally deviating from the rapid seesawing of the towel for sudden thrusts of the towel upwards against her clitoris, eliciting a scream from Elena each time he did so.

"Oh no... please no..." she moaned, her arm reaching back and grasping onto Henry in order to steady herself, as the lower half of her body started to feel heavy and numb.

Henry grinned as he pulled the towel sharply upward three successive times, causing Elena to scream and writhe before she fell sideways onto the fur rug. She lay there whimpering for a few minutes, before Henry scooped her up and carried her over to the bed. Elena was so spent, she didn't notice that when he gently laid her down on the bed, he also attached a sheepskin lined iron ankle cuff, tethering her to the bed.

Henry tossed his own towel aside and slipped in between the sheets, pulling the exhausted Princess towards him. He pulled her leg up over his own, her slick pussy rubbing against his powerful thigh. As he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her chest flush against his own, Elena tried to pull away, but the feebleness of her gesture practically went unnoticed.

"I hate you" she managed to mumble, before her head dropped sleepily against his chest.

"Shhh, my Princess" he said, lightly kissing her forehead. "You will learn to love me." 



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 08



A deep cough woke her up. Elena blearily opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings- most notably the strong muscular army wrapped possessively around her bare waist. Elena lifted his arm gently inching out from underneath it. Henry coughed again in his sleep, causing Elena to pause before slipping out from under his arm completely. She slid over to the edge of the bed and looked over her shoulder at Henry, his handsome features lit by the flickering light of the fire. Elena noted that she must not have been asleep for very long, as her hair was still slightly damp.

She looked around and spotted what she was looking for- the brass statue of the archer. She paused for a second, taking in the sounds of the crackling fire and Henry's soft breathing, before rising slowly from the bed. She had only taken a few steps before letting out a shriek as she lost her balance and fell crashing to the floor. Elena looked around her to see what had caused her to fall over and noticed the ankle cuff that tethered her to the bed.

Elena heard the bed creak as Henry rolled over to the edge, gazing down at her sleepily. 

"And where are you going?" he asked, a smirk playing across his lips even in his sleepy state.

"Untie me" she growled, realising how ridiculous she must look- on the floor, totally naked, chained to a bed.

"MMMmmm, I don't think so" he replied, rubbing his tired eyes.

"I am not an animal - you can't keep me chained to a bed" she spat, trying to pry open the ankle cuff with her bare hands, which proved unsuccessful.

"I can and for the time being, I think it a prudent precaution" he grumbled sleepily.

"Precaution? From what exactly? You said it yourself, we have slept together in the same bed almost as long as i've been here" she said, annoyance etched into her tone.

"From you, my beautiful scheming Princess. You think that I wouldn't notice that you've taken a particular fancy to one of my sculptures? The archer?" he said, his eyes alert and piercing, no longer veiled with sleep.

Elena kept her face impassive. "I don't know what you're talking about" she said with a shrug.

"Come now, I've slept in this room for many years. I happened to have noticed that that particular statue is a few inches from it's proper place" he said, as he reached out for the chain, which was stretched taught, caused by the angle that Elena lay on the floor.

"I was only looking at it, from an artistic point of view. The bow is slightly out of scale with the rest of the statue" she lied haughtily.

"I'm sure you were only interested in it for it's, er, artistic value" Henry chuckled. 

"If anything" Elena countered, "YOU are the one that should be chained to the bed, it's YOU who can't be trusted".

Henry let out a bark of a laugh. "So you want to chain me up Princess? I never thought that you had such deliciously dark thoughts. Maybe down the road we can revisit that one" he said, his tone dripping with innuendo.

Elena looked at him, her eyes narrowed. "You know very well what I meant" she said, a pink blush spreading across her face.

"Hush now, Princess" he said softly, as he pulled on the chain. "It's late and I'm exhausted - come back to bed" he said, mid yawn.

Elena snorted. "You think I'm going to willingly get into bed with you? You must still be dreaming" she said, yanking her chained foot out of his grasp.

Henry sighed and scratched his head. "Fine" he said sleepily, rolling over, a loud groan issuing from the mattress.

Elena stood up and inched towards the bed, reaching out for a pillow, but Henry pulled it out of her reach, along with the bedsheets. "Oh no, Princess" he muttered, "it's all or nothing" he said, his eyes closing slowly.

Fuming, she lay back down on the cold floor, muttering to herself as she stretched out and attempted to find a comfortable sleeping position. She was so angry with Henry that she wouldn't have been surprised if actual steam was billowing out of her ears. After many minutes of tossing and turning, she found a relatively comfortable position on her side, the only problem was that without the sheets and a mattress, she was cold. Elena pulled her knees up to her chest and tucked her hands between her thighs, warming them. She drifted off to sleep listening to Henry's light snoring, but awoke a few hours later, shivering from cold. 

The fire had died down to a collection of glowing embers and her ankle cuff denied her the possibility of stoking or fixing it. She turned fitfully for almost an hour, but failed to fall asleep due to the freezing temperature. 

Loathe as she was to slip into bed with Henry, it was the only option other than catching a death of a cold lying on the floor. Elena seriously considered just letting herself get sick, but her oath to her father steered her thinking clear of that conclusion, for if she were to gain any leverage, she would need her wits about her and not be incapacitated by fever or worse.

She got painfully to her feet, and approached the bed shivering. She hoped that Henry would have kept to one side of the bed, but he was obviously so accustomed to sleeping alone that he lay prone in the middle of the bed.

Elena gingerly sat down on the edge of the mattress and slowly lay down, trying her best not to disturb the large slumbering man beside her. As she lay on the edge of the mattress she realised that it was a little warmer than the floor, but not warm enough to cause her shivering to subside.

She reached over and gently lifted the sheet that was covering Henry and slipped under it, holding her breath for a moment as Henry's snoring ceased suddenly, but she relaxed as she didn't feel him stir. Elena inched a little closer to Henry, using the heat radiating off his naked body to warm up. The shivering continued though, despite their close proximity.

Elena slowly rubbed herself against the mattress, hoping the friction would warm her a little. She yelped suddenly, as she felt Henry's arm wrap around her stomach and yank her across the bed against him.

"My goodness, it's like hugging and icicle!" he grumbled as nuzzled sleepily against her neck.

"Let... let... let go of me" she said, her teeth chattering.

"Make me" he breathed warmly against her neck.

"As you wish" she whispered, reaching behind her and wrapping her ice cold hand around his soft shaft.

Henry gasped and pushed her and her freezing hand away from his member, swearing loudly. 

Elena lay back and burst into peals of raucous laughter, she couldn't help herself. It had been a while since she had done anything of the sort and it seemed to have opened up a dam, for she couldn't stop laughing for quite a while.

Henry propped himself up on one elbow and surveyed the giggling Princess with curiosity. Despite bearing the brunt of the joke, he smiled down upon her, her beauty much more pronounced when she was smiling and happy. He wished she would do that more often, rather than the usual haughtiness he encountered.

"I'm glad you found that amusing, but i'd appreciate it if for the rest of the evening you'd keep your hands to yourself, my ice Princess" he said as he grabbed hold of one of her wrists playfully.

"I will if you will" she hiccoughed, her laughter slowly subsiding.

"You may be interested to know Princess, that that ankle cuff has a matching pair of wrist cuffs" he said, his voice still light and non-threatening.

Elena's laughter died at once. Her eyes narrowed as she gazed at him, taking in his unblinking stare.

"That won't be necessary" she said in a low voice as she pulled her wrist from his grasp and rolled over to escape his piercing stare.

"Come now, don't be like that" he cooed to her back, "I was only joking Princess" he said, his fingertips tracing the curves of her shoulder and her neck.

Goosebumps erupted all over her skin, even though Henry's closeness provided her much needed warmth. She shivered as she felt his lips plant soft kisses on the back of her neck and shoulder.

"Please... stop" she hissed, pulling her shoulder away from his lips.

"Why should I stop?" he murmured softly as he planted more kisses between her shoulder blades.

"Because... it's wrong" she moaned, grateful that he couldn't see her face, the attention paid to her neck rendering her expression ecstatic.

"It doesn't feel wrong, though, does it?" he whispered against her ear, one of his hands moving to cup her breast gently.

"Yes it does" she answered, her voice a little stronger, her fingers prying his hand off her breast.

"Why must you be so stubborn Princess? Can't you see that this is an arrangement that could suit you well?" he moaned, exasperation in his voice.

"It does not suit me, to be chained like an animal" she said slowly, "It does not suit me, to be imprisoned - however golden the cage may be" she said, her voice growing stronger by the minute.

Henry rolled her gently onto her back, and looked down at her serious expression.

"It is only a cage if you choose to see it that way, Elena" he said softly.

Tears welled up in the corners of Elena's eyes. She couldn't control it, Henry's use of her name was melting that tough exterior she had been building just moments ago. She blinked to clear her vision, causing tears to leak out of the corners of her eyes and roll soundlessly into her hair.

Henry reached down to wipe away her tears but Elena turned her head away, his fingertips gently teasing her hair instead.

"My mother, may she rest in peace, before she die, called me into her chambers" he said, choosing his words carefully. "She had a knack for seeing the big picture that my father often missed. She always favoured a diplomatic solution over a military one, if it was possible" he said, as he continued to run his fingers through her damp hair.

Elena's gaze was fixed upon the dark night skies, but she listened curiously for she did not know much about the Queen of Kravaolia and the loving way Henry spoke of her, was a bit of a surprise.

"She said that she wanted me to be happy and that she knew that I, unlike my father, was happiest during peace times, not in the heat of battle" he continued.

"She sensed a brewing danger on the frontier, I do not know how, but she did. She had heard that your mother was inviting young men from across the land to seek your hand in marriage and she proposed that I pay you a visit" he said watching Elena's eyebrows contract in surprise from this news.

Elena turned her face back to look up at the prince, his seriousness unnerving her slightly. "I do not remember any mention of a Kravaolian suitor" she said slowly with a frown.

"Yes, that is because she died a few days later, before she could arrange it. I was too overcome with grief to think much of that request and my father would never approve of it anyway- he hated your King more than any other" he said, laying back down against his pillows.

They lay side by side, the heavy silence punctuated only by the rolling thunder outside.

Elena did not know what to think as she lay next to Henry, her fingers playing with the golden chain around her neck. Would she have consented to marry him if she had met him prior to all this mess? Elena didn't know what to think, her present knowledge of Henry obscuring the possible Henry of the past.

Elena wished to ask Henry something that had been bothering her for almost two years now, but she needed to broach it tactfully.

Elena rolled over onto her side pulling the sheet over her chest, this time facing Henry, pushing herself up slightly on one elbow so she could see his face properly.

"I want to ask you something" she said slowly, watching his face closely.

It was Henry's turn to look surprised. He turned his head to look at her, taking in her serious expression. "Ask away" he answered.

"Why did Kravaolia attack Lorrea?" she asked, her voice half query- half pleading anguish.

"Because Lorrea was going to attack Kravolia" Henry said simply.

Elena stared back, dumbfounded. "What?! Where did that come from? It's simply untrue!" she said indignantly.

"I have it on good authority Princess, that your country was indeed planning an attack" he said evenly.

"But that's absurd! My father would never have done that!" she said, shaking her head.

"I know you wish to think that my darling, but he did" he replied, in what she assumed he meant to be a soothing voice, but to her it was more condescending. 

"A king doesn't often inform his daughter of all his military decisions" he said, squeezing her hand gently.

Elena pulled her hand away. "He always included me. I knew every move he was going to make, every troop movement- everything!" she said hotly, her tone firm and forceful.

Henry frowned in confusion. "That is strange. Our intelligence report told us quite the opposite" running his fingers through his own hair.

"Where did this intelligence come from?" she asked, gripping his hand.

Henry laughed. "I don't think I can reveal that Princess, inner workings of our intelligence regiment and all" he said, squeezing her hand back gently, his soft dark eyes watching her face.

"I do not have an army any more, there is no reason that I cannot have this small piece of information" she said, the words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. "Please, I must know, for my peace of mind" she said, her eyes gazing into his as she laid her cool hand on top of his warm muscular chest. "Please" she begged him.

Henry looked over at her anguished face, considering his options. "Alright, I suppose I can give you a general hint without giving away too much" he said slowly, rubbing his thumb over the top of her hand pressed against his chest.

"Let me see... Let me see. Ah yes, I believe it came from Lord Caspian's regiment" he said, scratching the side of his head as he reminisced.

Elena's heart thudded painfully against her chest. She asked her next question, hoping to be proven wrong.

"And the one who presented the information to you or your father- it was Lord Caspian or the intelligence bearer himself?" she asked, waiting with bated breath.

"It was Caspian who presented it to my Father" he said, shrugging. "Look, does this really matter, Princess? Princess?" he called to her, yet Elena's thoughts were so far removed that she barely heard him call her.

It was Caspian, she groaned inwardly. All this war, caused by his lies, all the death and destruction had been because he was scorned. A few months ago she would have told herself that she was being a little too self involved to believe that a war had broken out because she refused a man's hand in marriage. However, her meeting with Caspian previously confirmed her reasoning- he could not let go of his hatred, he bore her refusal as a personal front which he had turned into a crusade of sorts.

It was her fault. All her fault. This understanding crashed down upon her, each time with more force - it was all her fault.

She sat up suddenly, pulling her knees towards her and wrapping her arms around them as her body was racked with sobs.

Startled, Henry crouched beside her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, but she didn't respond.

"Princess, whatever is the matter? What has upset you so?" the concern in his voice genuine, but Elena was deaf to his concerns.

"Oh god.... it was all my fault! All my fault" she wailed. "My parents... Malcolm... all those people... their blood is on my hands! It's all my fault" she sobbed uncontrollably.

"Shhhh Princess, it wasn't your fault, don't say that" he said, pushing her hair out of her face.

"It was all my fault... my fault" she cried bitterly, her face wet with tears.

"Come here" he said, gently pulling on her arm, but she wrenched it out of his grasp.

"Please, leave me alone!" she sobbed into her knees, her body shaking violently.

"No" he replied, pulling her towards him a little more forcefully, but she was weakened from grief and had no more fight left in her. Elena allowed Henry to pull her against him, wrapping his strong arms around her heaving chest, her tear stricken face pressed against his warm torso.

Henry reached down and removed the hidden pin holding the ankle cuff in place. Elena was so consumed by her grief that the small gesture went completely unnoticed.

"It's all my fault" she cried, her tears falling thick and fast against Henry's chest, her arms clutching his back, as one would clutch a piece of driftwood in a turbulent ocean.

"Why is it your fault Princess?" Henry asked soothingly, but it Elena did not register his question at all, she continued to cry over and over "It's all my fault!"

"Shhhh...." he whispered. "Hush now my beautiful princess, it was not your fault" he said softly, as he squeezed her even tighter.

They lay like that for many hours, their limbs intertwined, the silence of the night broken only by her sobbing, which slowly faded around daybreak, as she fell into an exhausted slumber in Henry's arms.



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 09



She kept her eyes closed. Maybe it was just a nightmare. That was what Elena hoped her recollection of the previous evening had been. She prayed that she had not really asked about the cause of the war, that it wasn't all her fault.

But she knew, by the heaviness of her limbs, the tiredness of her eyes and the headache that accompanies too much crying, that it was not a dream. Her reality was in fact a real life nightmare.

Elena curled up into a ball, nuzzling into the source of warmth nearest to her. It came as no shock to her, that she was nuzzling into the naked flesh of a prince - she was beyond caring. All she wanted to do was fall asleep and escape the feeling of crushing guilt that had come rushing back as soon as the veil of sleep lifted.

"Princess," Henry's voice washed over her, soft and gentle as the rhythmic massaging of his hand on her back. "Princess," he repeated, brushing a strand of golden hair out of her eyes.

Elena moaned inarticulately in response, wishing he would just leave her be. 

"Open your eyes darling, it's almost noon," he said, lifting her chin and kissing her tenderly on her lips. Elena's eyes fluttered open and she squinted against the brightness of the afternoon glare, turning her head away from Henry's lips, as a single tear leaked out of the corner of her eye and rolled across her cheek. 

"How can you have any tears left?" He asked her quietly as he brushed the rogue tear away.

"There will never be enough tears," Elena said quietly.

"Stop that, you mustn't think like that," he said as he rolled out of bed.

"One can't hide from the truth," Elena said wretchedly, pulling the covers back over herself.

"You are tired, confused - come with me downstairs to the kitchens and have some something to eat," he said, as he started to dress himself.

"I'm not hungry," Elena said, her response muffled by the pillow she had pulled over her head. It was the truth, her stomach felt both laden with lead and at the same time as if it were writhing with snakes. Lead snakes, Elena mused.

Fully dressed now, Henry sat down on the corner of the bed and rubbed Elena's outstretched leg, his face filled with concern. "I'll bring you something to eat."

Elena didn't acknowledge his words or his leave. Her mind was not concerned with such mundane things such as sustenance and manners. Guilt filled her every thought, weighed down her muscles and joints and hung heavily in the air around her, suffocating her slowly. Gradually, she fell back asleep, her dreams punctuated with angry ghosts of her past.

When Henry returned an hour later, Elena was still sleeping, the blankets wrapped around her like a cocoon. He indicated to the young boy who had brought up a tray laden with food, to put it down on the rug. After the boy left, Henry walked over to Elena and sat down beside her, the mattress dipping from his weight. Elena stirred slightly and opened her eyes, peering at Henry with a faraway look.

"Come, I have sent for a tray of food for you. You must eat, my sleeping beauty," he said, brushing her hair out of her face.

"I'm not hungry," Elena muttered.

Henry frowned and wrapped his arms around Elena and pulled her towards him, causing her to grunt in annoyance, before he scooped her up in his strong arms, sheets and all, stood up and carried her over to the rug by the roaring fire.

Henry sunk to his knees, gently setting the princess down beside him. He pulled the platter of food towards them and snatched up a cluster of grapes, picking off a few and holding them before Elena in his massive palm.

"I told you, I'm not hungry," Elena croaked, pulling the sheets tightly around her.

"I know it feels that way, but sometimes just a few bites can get that feeling back," he said, offering up the grapes again.

Elena slapped his hand away, sending the grapes flying. "I told you, I don't want to eat. I don't deserve to eat!" she yelled at him, her voice hoarse from hours of nonstop crying.

Henry stoically remained where he was, letting her anger wash over him. He plucked a few berries from the plate and popped them into his mouth as he watched her settle down.

"I don't understand you," he said slowly. "Hours ago you were plotting to bash my skull in with one of my sculptures and now you're planning on starving yourself? How does that help Lorrea? I thought you wanted to help your people?" 

"I've done enough," Elena said bitterly.

"You can do more," he urged, grabbing both her arms, shaking her slightly.

"Why do you care? I thought that a broken Lorrean princess fell neatly into your family's plans..." Elena whispered hoarsely, pulling her arms out of his grasp.

"I don't wish to see you broken," Henry said slowly, his brow furrowed, as though her words caused him physical pain. "Quite the opposite. Last night when you were laughing, that was... it was..." He stammered, looking down at his empty hands, as if the continuation to his train of thought was held there.

"Was what?" Elena prompted quietly.

"It was everything," he said wistfully, looking straight into Elena's blue eyes, as he reached for her hand.

A frown wrinkled her forehead as his hand squeezed hers. Her emotional turmoil did not leave much space for someone else's emotions in that moment. "I don't understand."

"Don't you see, that together we could do so much good in this decrepit world?" he said to her imploringly, jumping to his feet and pacing the length of the rug over and over again, as Elena followed his pacing with trepidation. 

"We could end this pointless war! Bring peace to all our lands - Lorrea could be free!" he said, his hand movements adding flourish to his words as he paced rapidly.

"When you say TOGETHER..." Elena started to ask, looking up at Henry with genuine curiosity, his attitude and words shaking her out of her self imposed, grief stricken melancholy.

"Marry me Princess," Henry said, stopping his pacing and gazing down at her, wrapped in her cocoon of bed sheets. "Marry me Elena," he said, dropping to his knees in front of her.

Elena stared at Henry, surprise surging through every part of her body, her mouth slightly open in shock. She thought that she must have misunderstood him or else her hearing had become momentarily impaired. Henry did not just ask her what she thought he asked!

"Will you marry me, Elena Princess of Lorrea?" Henry asked, squeezing both her hands in his. "Will you do me the honour- our families the honour, of joining our houses in marriage?" 

Time seemed to move extremely slowly in Elena's eyes. The silence between them thick with uncertainty and heavy with possibility.

"What say you, Princess?" Henry asked, squeezing her hands again.

Elena looked into Henry's dark eyes. "I... I..." she started to say, before a loud knock on the door interrupted her answer.

"Not now!" Henry roared in the direction of the door.

A muffled voice called through the thick wood. "My Prince, I bear an urgent message- it is a matter of life or death."

Henry let out a roar of frustration and got to his feet, strode over to the door and wrenched it open. "WHAT?!" Henry demanded of the messenger.

Elena could not hear what was being said, but she saw Henry's angry posture change suddenly, his grip on the door handle tighten, his knuckles turning white. "Take me to him," she heard him order, before he left the room without a backwards glance in her direction.

Elena sat mystified, her emotions swirling around her as if she were in the epicenter of a tornado. Her head hurt from trying to understand Henry's motives, she didn't know what to believe. He wanted to marry her? She wasn't sure what she thought of that. The polarity of his treatment of her confused her greatly, how could she trust him?

In her mind's eye, she could see the political sense of accepting his hand in marriage. Elena would regain control of Lorrea and improve the lives of many other neighbouring countries that were conquered by the Kravaolians. 

Her heart however, was not sure at all. Henry proved he could be violent, he was callous - was this the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with? He was a handsome prince, no question about that, and he had a vulnerable side that he kept well hidden, but to give herself so completely to Henry, Prince of Kravaolia? 

Elena sat stock still for hours, as these thoughts floated in and out of her mind, she sat gazing into the fireplace, staring into the flames yet not really seeing them.

It was later in the evening, when Henry finally returned to the bedroom.

Elena was sleeping in front of the fireplace, the remaining embers casting a soft glow over her skin as she lay wrapped in her cocoon of sheets on the fur rug.

Henry bent down and gently scooped her up, carrying her back to the bed. Elena stirred sleepily and looked up at Henry's face, taking in his pale complexion.

"What is the matter?" she asked slowly, noting that his eyes were somewhat bloodshot.

Henry set her down gently on the bed and sat down beside her, his back to her.

"Henry?"

Henry leaned forwards, placed his elbows on his knees and cradled his head in his hands.

"What's wrong?" she asked of his broad back, sitting up slightly.

"My father is dead," he said in a shuddering gasp. Elena could sense that Henry was battling to keep his emotions under control.

"Oh," she said softly. "I'm so sorry."

Elena raised her hand to comfort him, but thought better of it and closed the hand that was hovering over his back, lowering it slowly.

"No you're not," he said in a low voice.

Too much sleep combined with an empty stomach was making logical thinking very difficult for Elena. "Of course I am, how can you say that?" she said softly, her tone trying to soothe his simmering anger.

"That's a lie, you hated him," he snarled, turning towards her suddenly, grabbing her wrists as he pinned her on her back, straddling her hips.

"Stop it! What are you doing?" Elena shrieked, terrified of this sudden change.

"You are happy that my father is dead, don't lie!" he said, his bloodshot eyes piercing her soft blue eyes in anger.

"I would never say such a thing! I know what it feels like to lose your father- I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!" Elena cried, trying to buck him off. 

Henry's furious expression stared at Elena for a few more seconds before changing into a look of pure agony. Suddenly, Elena felt a crushing weight- the Prince had collapsed on top of her, his muscular body shaking from what Elena imagined to be silent crying. Henry's face was buried in the hollow of her neck and shoulder, a slight dampness confirming her suspicions, that he was indeed crying.

Elena lay still for a moment, hesitating from the strangeness of her current situation. Henry, the Prince and her captor, was pinning her to the bed not by force, but by grief. She thought back to the time after she fled her family's castle, after the death of her father - what was it that she would have wanted most at the time of her father's death? She would want someone to wrap their strong arms around her and tell her that everything was going to be alright, she told herself.

Elena brought her trembling hand to the back of his neck and massaged it firmly as her other hand teased Henry's hair gently, running her fingers through his hair and petting him slowly. She wrapped her legs firmly around Henry's lower back, trying to mimic the sensation of an all encompassing hug.

"Shhh," Elena cooed softly. "It's going to be alright," she said over and over again, as she massaged his neck.

After a while, Elena noticed that Henry was no longer shaking from grief, but he was actually asleep in her embrace. She was exhausted herself, but she didn't have the heart to wake him, or the strength to move him off her, so she closed her eyes and allowed Henry's rhythmic breathing to carry her off to sleep.

*

It was early morning when Elena noticed Henry stirring. A rooster crowed somewhere within the castle walls, announcing the coming day before it had even arrived. She looked over at him from where she sat on the rug, in front of the fire.

Last night, before Henry learned of his father's death, Elena had fully intended to have a serious conversation with him about his marriage proposal. However, she now felt that Henry would be too emotional to discuss the matter with a level head, so she had decided that if he were to broach the subject, she would not decline nor agree to the proposal, instead she would ask for a few days to think it over. Truthfully, she was giving Henry a few days to get his emotions under control, for Elena had made her decision late last night, before she fell asleep.

Henry mumbled something in his sleep before rolling over and snoring loudly, jolting Elena from her thoughts. She sighed, adding another log to the already fiercely burning fire before her. She stood up and stretched her sore muscles, her neck cracking as she twisted one way and then the other. As she gazed out the window, watching the colour of the sky change from dark blues to lighter tones, she shivered, not from the cold, but from the consequences of her choices. Shaking her head, she tried to empty her mind of 'what if' -clairvoyance was not a skill that she possessed, so all the endless scenarios running through her mind about the future, were pointless. Stepping away from the window, she slipped back into bed, allowing Henry's rhythmic snoring and the occasional crowing of the rooster to wash over her, slowly silencing her own thoughts, little by little, so that eventually Elena was able to fall asleep.

* 

For Elena, the days following the King's death went by quickly. She hardly saw Henry at all, he only came to his room late in the evening and was gone before she awoke. Elena knew that he did in fact return to the room, only because she woke up one night to find Henry muttering in his sleep, about "showing him." 

She assumed that his sleep talking was what had woken her in the first place, but she couldn't make heads or tails of the meaning of his mutterings.

Henry had ordered his guards to escort Elena around the castle grounds should she wish to venture out. Elena didn't know if his absence was because he was exceedingly busy with the affairs of his father's estate and the running of Kravaolia or whether he was embarrassed to face her after the involuntary outpouring of emotions in the bedroom.

Either way, Elena was left mostly to herself, exploring the castle and it's grounds, her shadow of guards always lurking somewhere in the background. During the first few days Elena was wary of venturing outside the castle for fear of running into Lord Caspian, but the heavy mood of grief that filled every room of the castle, the mirrors covered with sheets and the staff speaking in voices only just above a whisper, drove her to brave the open air, where fortunately, Caspian was nowhere to be found.

One week after King Xander's death, Elena was sitting in the shade of the large tree, the skirts of her dress bunched around her legs as she stroked the fur of a grey kitten which sat purring contently in her lap. Today was the first day that the kitten had trusted her enough to allow her to pet it, after days of careful observation from the bushes and flower beds. 

Elena noticed one of the guards from her protective detail start to make his way towards her, she sighed, thinking that he was about to suggest that she retire inside, as the storm clouds gathering slowly on the horizon started to seem a little more imposing than they did earlier. As the soldier drew closer, the kitten bolted from between Elena's hands, scratching the skin of her palm slightly as he darted away into the safety of a nearby bush.

"Yes?" she asked the soldier.

"The King is on his way, Princess, and he wishes to speak with you," he said in a gravelly voice.

"Oh... alright," she answered, pulling at the hem of her velvet bottle-green dress, smoothing out the many folds of fabric. 

She watched as the guard turned around and rejoined his band of brothers. Elena pondered for a moment whether she ought to stand or remain seated. Her indecision made the choice for her, she remained seated as she watched Henry's tall figure emerge from within the castle and make it's way towards her. As he passed her guards, they all fell to their knees in a well coordinated bow, but Henry just walked right by them, acknowledging and dismissing them simultaneously with a wave of his hand.

Elena stared nervously at him as he approached, taking in his tired eyes and the short gait of his walk, born no doubt from lack of sleep.

Henry reached her and stood before her, towering over her. Elena's eyes roamed over his tired looking face before inclining her head slightly. "King Henry," she said in a gentle voice.

Henry looked down at her in surprise, yet he was pleased nonetheless. "Princess Elena," he retorted, as he lowered himself to the ground beside her.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the storm clouds grow in size as they moved slowly across the sky.

"I've been meaning to talk to you," he explained slowly. "But something else of a more pressing nature kept surfacing every time I tried to."

"I understand," Elena said quietly. "You've had a lot on your mind these past seven days," she said, picking up a twig and twirling it between her fingers.

"Indeed I have," he agreed. "Burying my father and being crowned King of Kravaolia within just a few hours of each other was quite unsettling," he explained. "Not to mention the constant stream of generals and politicians wanting to discuss this or that," he said with closed eyes, rubbing his temples with his fingertips.

"Such strange customs you Kravaolians have," she said softly, as she clasped her hands together in her lap. "I did not expect to see you wearing the medallion of the King so soon," she said, keeping her tone light.

Henry looked down at the golden symbol pinned just above his heart. "It is written in our laws, that when the king passes, his heir must immediately assume the throne in order to avoid conflict and assure his citizens that all is at peace," he said flatly. "It also sends a message to my enemies that the nation stands strong and undivided behind their king," he added, as he twisted a matching gold ring around his finger.

Elena bit back her sharp retort about 'the nation stands strong and undivided behind their king.' She knew that now was not the time, his emotions still raw. Instead, she nodded and said "I see."

Henry looked into her brilliant blue eyes. "I want to speak to you about the other night, that is to say, what was said a week ago."

"Yes, I imagine we need to talk about that," she said quietly, trying to discern his thoughts behind his dark eyes.

"I take it back, I apologize," he said abruptly, his ears turning pink.

"I'm sorry," Elena said, shaking her head in confusion. "I don't understand." 

Elena's body began to tense in anger. He asked her to marry him, then disappeared for a week, leaving her to her own private storm of emotions, only to rescind his proposal?!

"Yes, I shouldn't have said that to you," he said, looking down at his hands.

"Is this your idea of fun? Toying with someone's emotions as if they were nothing more than a plaything for you to discard whenever you fancy something else?" she growled, no longer bothering to keep her tone in check, her nails digging into her palms as she balled her hands into fists.

"Princess," Henry said timidly, clearly startled. "I don't understand what perturbs you so, I only thought it prudent to apologize," he said, reaching for her hand as his face searched hers in concern.

"You think an apology would suffice?" she scoffed, pulling her hand away and getting to her feet.





The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 09



"I only said it because I was upset, I didn't mean anything by it," he said softly as he too got to his feet.

"What do you mean you didn't mean anything by it? You were on your knees! You asked three times!" she shouted, her voice carrying across the grass, causing the guards to hasten over.

Henry waved the guards away, comprehension dawning on his face. "You misunderstood Princess," he said, chuckling a little.

"I understood perfectly," she hissed angrily, before turning on her heel and stalking away from him towards the entrance to the castle.

"No, wait!" he shouted after her, hurrying to catch up.

Elena ignored him, lengthening her stride.

Henry finally caught up with her and grabbed her wrist to slow her down.

"Let go of me!" she snarled.

"Not until you hear what I have to say," he said, digging in his heels.

"Do you think that I - I don't CARE what you have to say!" she roared, trying to pull her wrist free.

"Stop being so unbelievably stubborn and just listen!" he said, raising his voice, trying to drown hers out. "I was apologizing for calling you a liar, when we talked about my father - nothing else!" he shouted.

Elena stopped struggling abruptly. "So you weren't taking back your proposal?" she asked, her face turning red in embarrassment. 

"Heavens no! Why would I do that?" he asked, pulling her closer as she no longer fought to free her wrist from his grasp.

"I thought that... maybe your father's passing had caused you to change your mind," she said lamely, avoiding eye contact.

"On the contrary my dear Princess" he said, lifting her chin so he could see her brilliant blue eyes. "My father would have opposed it, but that's not really an issue anymore," he said softly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Now that I think about it," Henry continued, scratching his head, "You didn't give me an answer," he said, putting one hand on her hip and pulling her closer.

Oh the answer, she thought. It was cruel that such a simple answer - yes or no, could have such far-reaching consequences.

Elena had received many proposals over the years and the answer she had given to those ambitious young men, Caspian included, was that love was a crucial factor. That had been her belief many years ago and until Caspian, it had served her well. However, times had changed and it was time she grew up and thought of others and not only her own happiness. She couldn't afford the luxury of marrying for love any more. 

Sure, she reasoned, there were moments when she found Henry to be quite endearing and likeable, but love? She only hoped, as he had said earlier, that she may learn to love him.

"My answer," she said slowly, "is Yes - but under a few conditions," she said looking up at Henry with a deadly serious expression.

"What conditions?" Henry asked warily.

"Two conditions," she said simply. "The first," she counted, raising one finger, "is that I remain the ruler of Lorrea."

Henry frowned and rubbed his chin. "I can agree to that- to a certain extent that is. I am king of Kravaolia, therefore the ultimate ruler of any of my citizens- no wait!" he said, pressing a finger to Elena's soft lips as she started to protest. "What I can do, is name you as the sovereign of Lorrea which grants you complete authority over the area, even though in name I am still their ruler."

Elena frowned, trying to think of a better way but came up empty handed. "And you will give me free hand in Lorrea?" she asked, looking closely at his face.

"Total control - unless of course, Lorrea is planning on waging a war against Kravaolia, I cannot allow that - as I'm sure you understand," he said, placing his other hand on her hip. "What is the second condition?" he asked, pulling her closer against him.

Elena's gaze did not lift from his dark eyes. "You will acknowledge that I am not going to be the average queen. You know me by now, I am not the sort of royal who sits in a corner and knits as her husband acts as supreme ruler. I am to be privy to all military and civil meetings and decisions and I am to rank higher than any of your generals."

"Yes, I quite agree - as you are not the average princess, obviously the queen you'll be will echo that and I expect that on occasion you'll stray from common customs," He said, his eyes sweeping over her body. "I agree to your second condition," he said simply, pulling her tightly against him.

Elena ignored her inner voice that cautioned her against entering into a marriage which started out with conditions, that it echoed of the way one would enter a contract and not a merging of two souls.

"I've decided to add another condition," Elena said, placing her hands on Henry's and gently peeling his fingers from her hips.

Henry groaned. "What now?"

"I know that you have somewhat restrained yourself from... from taking me by force- but I can't pretend that you behaved in a way befitting a gentleman either."

Henry's eyebrows arched upwards in surprise but Elena continued before he could interrupt. "What I mean is," Elena said, her tone flustered, "that you left me relatively untouched, my virginity intact," Elena said, blushing furiously. 

Henry's devilishly handsome grin spread across his face. He always loved it when she squirmed in embarrassment that stemmed from her chaste upbringing.

"I ask you now to show that restraint a little bit longer- until we are married," she said, a smile of her own playing around her lips, as Henry's disappeared.

"Ohhh Princess," Henry groaned. "I don't know about that. We've practically been living as husband and wife for the past few weeks anyway," he said, his hands sliding over her hips to cup her firm buttocks.

"So what's a few more days wait?" Elena asked slyly, wriggling free of his hands. "Trust me, it will be worth it," she said, as she pressed her lips against his, trying to bring forth emotions that she was not feeling. 

Henry moaned audibly. "Alright," he muttered dejectedly.

"Good," said Elena. "You agree to all three terms?" she asked him, threading her fingers between his.

Henry squeezed her hands. "Yes."

"Then I accept your proposal, Henry, King of Kravaolia," she said, matter of factly.

Henry kissed her full on the mouth, stunning Elena temporarily, before she kissed him back. 

Henry broke their kiss, holding Elena's pink face in his hands. "Come now Elena, there is no need to be so demure... you can kiss me as a lover does. Let me show you," he said before pulling her lips to his again, this time, parting them with the tip of his tongue which darted forth to press against her own, causing a pleasurable tingling sensation.

"Henry!" she gasped, pushing him away, her face even pinker. "The guards..." she said, looking behind him to see their grinning faces.

"So proper," he chuckled, as he wrapped a strong arm around her slender waist. He bent closer to her ear and whispered "Don't worry Princess, as I know for a fact that you are not well versed in the customs of the marital bed, I shall teach you," he said, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"I am not totally ignorant," Elena snapped, trying to recover a little dignity.

"Oh my blushing Princess, I'm really going to enjoy proving you wrong- and you'll enjoy it too!" he laughed as he escorted her across the courtyard.

"When do you propose we get married?" Elena asked, changing the uncomfortable subject. If it were up to her, they would wed that evening before she lost her nerve.

"At least a week from today," he replied, taking in her look of surprise. "I know, sooner would be preferable, but I need to ride north to some neighbouring countries that Kravaolia controls, to make sure there is no question of succession and that the generals there fall in line," he said as they crossed the threshold to the entrance hall. "I don't expect any problems, so as soon as I return we can get married. In the meantime, you can begin the preparations for the wedding, I trust you completely in this matter" he said as they crossed the flagstone floor, heading for the kitchen.

"When do you leave?" Elena asked, the kitchen staff bowing as they entered, before quickly turning back to their cooking.

"As soon as possible- later this afternoon perhaps," he said, dipping a wooden ladle into a cauldron of soup and lifting the steaming ladle before Elena's lips. "Careful, it's hot." 

Elena pursed her lips and blew on the ladle, before tasting the soup. "Mmmm," Elena commented, licking her lips, "That's really good! What is it?"

"It's a family recipe," Henry said, before tasting the soup himself, smacking his lips. "It needs more salt!" he called to the head cook, who nodded and immediately bustled about adding salt.

Elena walked around the bustling kitchen, warmed by the good nature of the kitchen staff, as they kept up a continuous stream of inquiries as to her taste in food, so that they may prepare something more to her liking.

"King Henry," she called, causing him to beam back at her from the other side of the cauldron where he was talking animatedly with the cook. Calling Henry by his title felt forced and awkward, but she knew the etiquette of the royal court, that only in private could she call him Henry.

"I was just informing Sebastian, the head cook, on our coming nuptials. He'll need as much time as he can get to create the most extravagant feast," he said, wrapping his arm around her waist again.

"Really, that isn't necessary," Elena said quietly to Henry. "In Lorrea we try to keep these sort of affairs small, as the public is the one who pays the taxes which finance the royal celebration," she said, trying to keep her tone informative rather than haughty.

"That may be the custom of Lorrea, but Kravaolian's do things in grand style!" he said happily. 

Elena once again swallowed her retort. She reminded herself that once she was queen she wouldn't back down on such matters, she would bring humility and austerity to the royal court.

"I need to speak with you - in private," she said, emphasizing the last two words.

Henry looked puzzled. "Alright, come with me," he said, sweeping her from the kitchen.

They climbed the main staircase in silence, Elena using the time to arrange her thoughts and formulate what she was going to say, as the subject matter was very delicate.

Henry pushed open the heavy doors to his study, snapped his fingers at the boy adding logs to the fire, causing him to drop them in fright before making a hasty exit. Elena made a mental note to work on the way he treated his subordinates too.

As the door closed behind the boy, Elena turned towards the fire, drawing strength from its warmth.

"I've been meaning to tell you something, but I don't know where to begin," she said, wringing her hands as she paced in front of the fire.

Henry sat down in one of the chairs near the fireplace, indicating to Elena that she should sit in the chair nearest him. She shook her head and kept pacing.

"What is it my dear, that has caused you to be so unsettled?" he asked, his eyebrows arching in surprise. 

Elena needed to tell Henry about Caspian, what he was capable of, what he did to her- but she didn't know how. "I'm not sure where to begin."

"How about from the beginning?" Henry said, his curiosity growing.

"That will take too long," Elena said, dismissing the suggestion with a wave of her hand.

She turned to face Henry, her heart threatening to leap from her chest at the rate it was beating. "If you leave here tonight, I will be in danger," she said, trying to keep her emotions under control. Elena cursed silently, wishing she had chosen different wording, as it sounded to her to be melodramatic in the extreme.

"What do you mean Princess? I am planning on leaving my best guards behind to protect you - not to mention that the whole castle is full of people sworn by an oath to protect me and by extension, you," he said, rising quickly from his chair.

"That won't matter to him," she said, tears welling in her eyes even as she fought to stop them.

Henry wrapped his arms around Elena, trying to dispel her fear. "Shhh," he whispered in her ear, "Who do you think would try and harm you?" he said, stroking her golden hair.

Elena took a deep breath, glad that Henry couldn't see her face. "Lord Caspian," she said, her voice muffled by his chest.

Elena felt Henry stiffen. "I'm sorry Princess, but I don't think I heard you correctly, it sounded like you said Lord Caspian," he said, pulling her gently away so he could see her face.

Elena bit her lip and nodded, silent tears streaming down her cheeks now.

"What? I don't understand... I know he wanted you in the past, but he knows better, now that I have you," he said in a perplexed tone. 

Ignoring his remark about 'having her', she swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to explain. "It's not in the past for him. He hates me Henry, I mean he REALLY hates me- all because I turned down his proposal of marriage years ago- you don't understand, even then he tried to retaliate with violence," Elena recalled, shivering slightly. "Remember when you asked me about all those scratches on my back?" she asked delicately.

"Yes," he said, his brow contracting as he started putting two and two together. "Are you telling me, that it was Caspian that caused that?" he asked, anger bristling in every syllable, the colour rising in Henry's face, his grip on her arm becoming quite painful.

"Yes," she gasped, "Henry, please, you're hurting me," she said, trying to prize his vice-like grip from her arm.

Henry snapped out of it. "Sorry.." he muttered, releasing her and walking towards the fire, gazing into it's depths.

Minutes went by, however they both stood frozen as though time wasn't moving. "Henry?" Elena asked timidly, touching his shoulder.

"You'll have to stay here Elena." Henry turned away from the fire and gazed at her frightened face. "It would be more dangerous if you were to accompany me on the road tonight. And besides," he said, hitching a reassuring smile back on his face, "I am Caspian's King now, he wouldn't dare touch you - the whole castle knows about us now, the cook is quite the gossiper- so i'm sure he has heard the happy news by now," he laughed, trying to convey to Elena that her fears were unfounded. 

"Come now," he said, hugging her again, as she looked back at him in serious doubt. "You are the future queen, do not worry about my cousin. Look, if you're still worried- I'll speak to him before I leave and straighten this whole mess out, alright? I won't leave until i'm convinced of your safety," he said, kissing her on top of her head and giving her a reassuring hug.

"You promise you'll speak with him?" Elena asked, clutching his hand.

"YES," he said emphatically.

"Alright, but may I suggest that you wear your broadsword? He's got a terrible temper, your cousin," she said seriously, though Henry only chuckled in response.

"You worry too much Princess," he said, squeezing her hand gently. "Now, I need to prepare for my journey north, if you don't mind."

Henry rounded his desk and sat down in his heavy leather chair, implying that she should leave.

Elena was still not convinced that Henry grasped the seriousness of the Caspian situation, however she decided to wait for their little meeting before bringing it up again. She wiped away her tears and walked around the study, looking at the many volumes of golden embossed books lining the walls. Elena remembered the last time she was in this room, naked and terrified as Henry first discovered her royal lineage. Such a difference a few weeks make, she pondered, as she walked quietly around the room. Elena felt calmer now, as she studied the numerous volumes, something about the smell of the old tomes brought forth a sense of calmness. 

Henry was obviously a learned man despite his occasional rough mannerisms, Elena thought, judging by the titles and quantity of the books. That notion warmed her a little, dispelling some of the cobwebs of doubt about his character that had been on her mind ever since he had asked for her hand in marriage.

Elena rounded the desk, standing to Henry's right watching him pour over an ancient looking document. "You remember that you agreed to grant me access to such things?" she said, placing her hands on her hips.

Henry turned his chair to her, and pulled her across his lap, chuckling as she yelped in surprise. His hand snaked it's way under her dress, Elena's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist through the fabric just as his fingers tickled her feminine folds.

"I remember," he whispered, as his fingers continued to graze her hidden lips. "I distinctly remember the agreement being that I grant you access to things only AFTER you become my queen, Princess," he said, as Elena unsuccessfully tried to pull his wrist away.

"Now," he continued, "If you agree to withdraw that clause, then in extension you also agree to the withdraw the third one- allowing me access... to you," he said, before pressing his warm lips to her long neck.

Elena squirmed against Henry and gasped. "Please Henry, no- not now! Forget I asked!" she said breathlessly, pushing herself off Henry's lap.

Henry groaned audibly as she got off him. He loved the way she said his name, especially when she was all flustered and breathless.

"I'll let you get back to your preparations," Elena mumbled, her face pink with embarrassment as she straightened her dress before exiting the room quickly without turning back. She didn't need to look behind her - she felt Henry's lustful eyes following her backside all the way out of the room. 

***

Henry was sitting at his desk, his chin resting on his two index fingers, his hands clasped together as he gazed steadily into the fire. A knock on the door broke his concentration. "Yes?" Henry answered.

The young boy, Ethan, entered the room timidly. "Good evening Prince Henry- Sorry my Lord!" he squeaked, "I meant King, King Henry! Lord Caspian is here at your request, sir."

Henry tore his gaze from the dancing flames and nodded. Ethan bowed and showed Caspian into the room before closing the large doors behind him

"You called?" Caspian asked in a low voice, with just the slightest discernable bow of the head.

"Yes Cousin," Henry said, gesturing that Caspian sit opposite him, in one of the hard wooden chairs opposite his large desk.

"How may I be of service to you this evening?" he asked somewhat stiffly. Henry noted his strained tone, confirming his previous suspicions that Caspian was still struggling with the idea of Henry as his king.

"I wish to speak to you about something of great importance cousin," Henry said slowly, twisting his large golden ring, which gleamed on his long finger in the flickering light of the flames.

"Yes?" queried Caspian, eyeing Henry's royal medallion that was pinned to his chest.

"Princess Elena, as I'm sure you've heard, has consented to my proposal of marriage," he said with a small smile, watching Caspian's jaw muscles clench in response.

"Yes, I heard," he said curtly.

"Good. Now, she tells me that you and her had a rather heated - er, discussion, last week," he said, fixing Caspian with an unblinking stare.

Caspian didn't respond, but stared back unblinkingly at Henry. 

"The princess," he continued, fighting to keep his anger at bay, "said that you treated her in a way unbecoming of your title or her own," he said, watching Caspian's fists clench on the arms of the chair.

Henry pressed on, as Caspian gave no sign of interrupting. "Explain yourself, Lord Caspian!" Henry ordered, his anger rising steadily at his cousin's lack of response.

Caspian looked back at his cousin for a moment, before shifting slightly in his chair. "That was a misunderstanding," he answered slowly.





The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 09



"A misunderstanding?" Henry repeated, anger clearly audible in his voice. "I saw the scratches on her back Caspian- how dare you raise a hand against MY Princess?!" he hissed, leaning forward menacingly.

"At the time I didn't know you considered her to be more than a whor- er, plaything, my Lord. I apologize," he said slowly, his face impassive. 

"If you were any other general Caspian, you'd be swinging from the gallows this evening!" Henry growled, fully aware that Caspian had almost uttered that his future wife was a whore. "However, out of respect for my father, who loved you as if you were his own son, I shall not touch a hair on your head," he said, rising slowly from his chair.

"My lord is merciful," Caspian mumbled flatly, his voice almost devoid of any emotion.

Henry watched Caspian closely, the air was thick with tension and the only sound in the room came from the crackling fire.

"Now, as you know I'm leaving soon to reestablish our northern alliances," he said, as he rounded the large desk. "In the meantime Princess Elena is staying here, under guard, until I return. You, my dear cousin, have worn out your welcome here. You will leave here immediately and make haste to your castle, returning here only by royal summons," Henry stated, watching the colour rise slowly in Caspian's face.

"Yes, my Lord," hissed Caspian in response.

Henry stood over Caspian, surveying the proud posture of his cousin. "Lord Caspian, you seem to have forgotten your royal etiquette- one does not sit if the king is standing."

Caspian flushed crimson and got to his feet. He bowed his head slightly, avoiding Henry's eye.

"That will not do," Henry said, pointing to the ground.

Caspian's jaw tightened as he sunk to one knee before Henry, his ears bright red.

"You will do well to remember your new place in this kingdom, Lord Caspian," Henry said harshly, folding his arms across his muscular chest. "If I hear anything regarding you that displeases me, or if you even look at your future queen in the wrong way - I will personally fit the noose around your neck. Understand?" he asked menacingly. 

"Yes, King Henry," he replied, his facial expression hidden as he remained kneeling at Henry's feet. It was apparent to Henry that it came at a great personal price to Caspian's pride that he called him by his title. Satisfied by his submission, Henry motioned for Caspian to rise, which he did quickly, avoiding Henry's eye.

"You may leave now," Henry said as he rounded his desk again, dismissing Caspian with a wave of his hand. Caspian bowed once more before striding quickly away from Henry and out of the room, his footsteps echoing loudly in the hallway.

"Boy!" Henry called, a few minutes later.

"Yes King Henry?" Ethan stammered, as he walked timidly towards the desk.

"Send word to the stables to prepare my horses for the journey north. I wish to leave as soon as possible. Also, deliver this letter to Princess Elena" he said, handing over a roll of parchment sealed with red wax.

"Yes my lord, anything else?" Ethan inquired.

"No," Henry answered. Ethan scurried quickly out of sight, leaving Henry alone to his thoughts. 

Elena was right all along about Caspian, his cousin couldn't be trusted within the walls of his castle. It took all the self control Henry possessed not to run him through with his sword as Caspian knelt submissively in front of him. At least now Elena could relax- Henry knew that Caspian wouldn't dare step foot in his castle again without an invitation.

Apropo invitations, Henry wondered if he should invite Caspian to the wedding. He would love to see the look on his cousin's face- it would be a delicious revenge for the way he treated Elena. However, Henry realised that it was something that he needed to discuss with Elena first, to see what she felt about the notion of Caspian attending their wedding.

Henry chuckled aloud, his hand on the doorknob of his study. He never before thought about sparing someone else's feelings, especially if they clashed with his own on the subject. Being engaged, he mused, was changing him.

"Boy!" Henry roared. "What the devil is taking so long?! Tell the guards we are to leave this instant," he ordered, slamming the door shut behind him. 

On the other hand, maybe there is a limit as to how much a person can really change...



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 10



Two days had passed since Caspian set out in the middle of the night to secure his kingdom. During those days, Elena spent most of her time planning their wedding and exploring the castle and it's grounds. She ventured out and about without fear of running into Caspian, as Henry had explained in his letter that he was no longer allowed to reside within the castle walls without direct invitation from Henry or herself.

Elena tried to keep the wedding on a small scale, but it seemed that the staff in charge of the event would hear nothing of it, everything had to be grand and over the top. Even her wedding gown, the part that she thought that she'd have the most input, was quickly becoming the most extravagant dress she'd ever worn. Weighed down by layers upon layers of the finest hand woven lace and confined tightly within the whale-bone corset, Elena felt quite claustrophobic. 

One evening, Elena was sitting at the window of her bedroom, reading a book of poetry that she found on one of the shelves in Henry's study. After finishing a very complex verse, she looked out the window, pondering it's meaning. However, before long her thoughts drifted elsewhere, to Henry and his books. Elena wondered if he had read the book of poetry clutched in her hands, or was it merely an act, to impress those who by some chance read the spine while standing in Henry's study.

Elena sighed, the uncertainty of her pending marriage weighing deeply on her mind. She had barely eaten in the last few days, a fact that the seamstress who was making her wedding dress, had chalked up to wedding nerves. Along with the loss of appetite, there was the lack of sleep- Elena hadn't slept well since the last time she was in Henry's arms. Such conflicting emotions were driving her to feel extremely jumpy and on edge, and when Elena saw shifting, dark shadows in the castle grounds, she thought at first it was just her overactive imagination.

However, as she squinted and focused more on the dark shapes, she realised that they were actually the figures of two tall men. Elena followed their progress from her window high above them, until they came to an abrupt halt before the flickering flames of a wall mounted torch. 

One of the men removed his cloak, revealing him to be one of Henry's soldiers -the one with the scar on his face. Elena's stomach clenched as it always did when she saw him, the captain who tried to choke her. The other figure, taller than the soldier, remained hidden, as he drew out from within the folds of his cloak a leather pouch and handed it to the captain. Elena watched as the captain emptied the pouch into his hand, revealing numerous golden coins that glittered in the flickering torchlight. He returned the money to the pouch quickly and tucked it safely into the folds of his clothing before nodding curtly to the taller figure. He walked away, the other man stood as still as a statue, watching his quick departure. Elena sat on the window's edge, her skin prickling uncomfortably for reasons she could not fathom, as she stared out at the hooded figure below. The tall man lifted his gaze, and it seemed to Elena that he was looking directly at her. Even though she couldn't see his face, she felt a shiver go down her spine as he continued to stare in her direction. 

A sudden flash of lightning, illuminated the castle grounds and threw the man's face into sharp relief. Elena gasped as Caspian's cruel features were revealed briefly, before they were swallowed by the previous darkness of the night. 

The book Elena was holding clattered to the floor, her shaking hands grasped the sharps edges of the window as she peered out into the night, her hair billowing around her. Elena searched the grounds quickly, her heart pounding painfully against her chest, but she couldn't find Caspian, hooded or otherwise, anywhere below. 

Elena closed her eyes as she leaned against the cool stone wall and tried to calm herself. Maybe it wasn't Caspian, she told herself. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her- after all, it was very late and she was under an unusual amount of emotional stress. 

Elena tried in vain to dismiss what she saw, but there was no way around it. Lord Caspian, was standing just moments ago, down in the castle grounds, staring at her. Henry had promised her in his letter, that Caspian and his infatuation had been dealt with in a proper manner and Elena could rest easily, for he was no longer allowed within the grounds without their permission. Yet there he stood, defiantly, within the castle grounds.

Her heart pounding, Elena started to pace before the fireplace, trying to gather her thoughts- but it felt as though her mind was one large sieve- her thoughts slipping right through even though she tried desperately to hold them together. 

A knock on the door broke into Elena's reverie. It was around the usual time when one of Henry's men would inform her that the guards were changing, that a fresh eyed soldier would be shortly taking up the post for the remainder of the evening. She walked over to the door and opened it, thinking to alert the soldier on the other side of the of the infamous trespasser. When she did open the door however, she hastily stifled a gasp, for the soldier that stood before her was the same scar-faced man who just minutes earlier had been conversing with Caspian.

"Good evening Princess," he said silkily, his casual manner causing her hair to stand on end.

"Good - Good evening Captain," she stammered, gripping the door handle tightly for support.

"Is everything alright Princess? You seem a little pale." he said, his bright eyes sweeping her enticing figure.

"No... I mean yes, all is well. Are you to be my guard this evening?" she asked, hoping that he would contradict her.

"In a way Princess," he said with a slight chuckle. Elena could swear that she heard the slight jingling of coins as he laughed, but he quickly adopted a somber appearance, quelling the laughter that brought on the tinkling of coins within his cloak. "King Henry sent word, Princess, that you are to join him at once at the Castle of Grayveren."

Elena raised her eyebrows in surprise and held out her hand, her palm open. The captain looked from her face to her hand and back again, a confused look on his face.

"Well?" Elena asked, her hand still outstretched.

"I beg your pardon Princess, but I don't understand."

"Where is the letter? I want to read these directives myself," she said, injecting a little haughtiness into her tone for good measure.

"The King sent word by way of rider, there was no letter," he said, avoiding her gaze by feigning a respectful bow.

"I'm sorry Captain, I mean no disrespect, but I question such a directive when in fact I have received contrary instructions from the King himself about leaving the protection of this castle," Elena said, folding her arms over her chest.

A fleeting look of annoyance showed on the captain's face, however as quickly as it appeared it was gone. He stepped forward causing Elena to take a step back. "I'm sorry Princess, but I must insist. I have my orders and disobeying a direct order from the King would mean my certain death."

Elena noticed his hand travel to the sword strapped to his belt. She was sure that it was not meant to be a threat and he may not have even been aware that he had even done it, but Elena's eyes noticed the movement nonetheless and it was clear that he was not going to take 'no' for an answer.

"Alright Captain, I'll accompany you to the Castle of Grayveren, per the King's request. However you must permit me a few minutes to prepare myself for the journey."

The captain frowned but shrugged his shoulders, as long as she was cooperating- what did a few extra minutes mean? "I'll be right outside Princess. Please be ready in five minutes," he said, stepping back into the hall, allowing her to close the heavy door.

Immediately, Elena's mind went into a full blown panic. All her instincts were screaming at her that something was not right, that leaving with this man was dangerous and smelled of a trap. Henry's words echoed in her mind, that she was safer in the castle than anywhere else - he said explicitly that his journey was not safe.

She looked around the room again, thinking that maybe Henry had left a sword or something that could help her, however the only thing she saw was that sculpture of the archer. That was no match against a professional soldier wielding a sword.

A sharp knock on the door. "Princess," the captain's muffled voice called through the oak. "Is everything alright? Are you ready to leave?"

"Just a minute Captain," Elena called back, as she hurried to the closet and pulled on one of Henry's travelling cloaks, the black material was heavy, with a warm lining and a fur-lined hood. She wished that she had more practical footwear, but all she had were short leather boots, designed for fashion and not for comfort. 

"Princess," he called through the door. "I must insist that we depart at once, my orders are considered quite urgent!"

"Alright Captain, I'm coming, please have patience" she said, as she pulled the door open. He stood back, allowing her to walk in front of him, his hand on his hilt again. 

They walked at a brisk pace, their footsteps echoing loudly on the flagstone. Elena looked around, noticing the conspicuous lack of servants - she had hoped to encounter someone, anyone, that could help her. However, the castle was eerily empty - the only person who would realise that she had gone would be Catherine, when she came to help her prepare in the morning, and by then it would be too late - she would be long gone.

"Over here Princess," the captain directed her to a single horse, which was pawing the ground nervously, it's breath billowing out in steamy clouds against the cold night.

Elena stopped short. "Captain," she said haughtily. "Where is my steed? Where is the rest of the guard?" she asked, looking around.

"They left earlier to secure the road ahead Princess," he explained as he tightened the straps on the saddle. "It is safest if you ride with me."

Elena felt herself being cornered, escape plans that she envisioned dashed by the fact the she would not be in control of her own horse.

"I'm sorry Captain, but it is improper for me to ride with you. I am the king's fiancée and I am certain he would not allow this," she said, folding her arms over her chest.

"The King's order is to bring you to his side, no matter what," he said, a slight edge in his tone as he stepped towards her. "I interpret riding with me as such."

Elena couldn't see any point in further arguing with him, as she needed him to believe that she was coming willingly and that she didn't suspect him of any wrongdoing. She stepped towards the large horse and flinched as she felt the captain place his rough hands on her hip. "I'm just going to lift you Princess, do not worry," he said, as he lifted her easily and sat her side-saddle on the horse. He placed his foot in the stirrup and heaved his other foot over the horse, settling himself behind her on the saddle.

Elena blushed slightly as she felt him pressed so closely against her, his sweaty scent slightly nauseating. She repressed a shudder as he looped an arm around her waist to hold her in place as he directed the horse towards the castle gate with his other hand holding the reins.

"Ready Princess?" he asked from behind her.

"Yes," she replied, her voice strained and tense.

The captain nudged the horse sharply with his heels, causing the horse to whinny and take off like a lightning bolt, Elena gripping the captain's arm in sheer terror. It was one thing to ride at breakneck speed on a horse- she was no stranger to that, but it was another matter entirely to ride at such speeds on a muddy path at night, while sitting side-saddle!

An hour later the captain had slowed his horse to a steady canter, which in turn allowed Elena's heartbeat to slow too. They were traveling through much denser forest, ducking occasionally as a low hanging branch whipped over their heads. Elena was becoming significantly more nervous, traveling in the darkness of night with the captain as her only company.

"Captain, where are the rest of the men? It doesn't seem safe to travel like this - I'm sure the King would agree with me," Elena said.

Elena felt the captain's arm tighten around her waist, causing her heartbeat to quicken. 

"Do not worry Princess, as I said, the men are up ahead, securing our path. Try to relax, maybe even try to get some sleep? It is a long journey."

Now that the horse had slowed, she was able to think clearly - the only thoughts racing through her mind earlier were that they were both going to be knocked off the horse by a branch or that the horse would stumble by putting it's hoof in a rabbit hole - at the time she was just hoping not to be killed.

Now as she leaned back against the captain, feigning sleep, her mind was wide awake and buzzing. It had become obvious to her that he was not following any orders from Henry. They were not on one of the main paths, Elena had no idea where they were - the cloudy night obscuring the stars so that even if she wanted, she couldn't have used them to navigate. She needed to get away, to escape somehow, but she couldn't come up with a plan, running away was not an option. Elena's thoughts were interrupted when she noticed that the captain's hand that was previously on her hip was ever so slowly sliding up her stomach. Still feigning sleep, she hoped that he was just adjusting his grip or shifting slightly, but as his thumb rubbed the underside of her breast she started to panic. The captains breathing became more audible as his hand moved upward to cup her breast gently. Elena couldn't take it anymore, her heart was beating so hard she was surprised that he didn't feel it. She jerked suddenly, falling sideways, causing the captain to use both of his hands to steady her and prevent her from falling off the horse. "Whoa there, easy Princess," he said, pulling her back into position, holding her tightly against him again.

"I must have fallen asleep Captain. Please, we must stop - it is too dangerous to ride like this," she pleaded.

"I am a trained soldier Princess and have fought in many battles, this does not rank as a dangerous activity in my eyes, believe me."

As Elena felt his arm pull her tighter against him, an idea struck her. "Captain, please, we must stop - I need to relieve myself" she said, blushing slightly even though he couldn't see her face.

"We're almost there, Princess, just wait a little longer."

"I'm sorry Captain but I must insist - the combination of the horse's movements and your strong arm pressing against my stomach is more than I can stand- Please, I beg of you to stop!" Elena pleaded, her hand clutching his thigh in desperation for good measure.

The captain groaned loudly and pulled hard on the horse's reins. "Alright, but be quick about it - it's not wise to dismount a horse in the forest at night" he said, jumping down from the horse. He held out his hand, helping the princess to slide off the horse. Elena didn't know if it was on purpose, but the captain had not stepped back when he helped her off the horse, so that when she did dismount, she had to slide down against him, practically rubbing her whole front against his, before her feet reached the floor. 

"I beg your pardon Captain, but I can't do this with you standing over me like this," Elena said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I've seen worse things Princess. Besides, my orders are not to leave your side."

"Well could you at least walk a few meters in front of me and turn around? I'll just be on the other side of the horse, alright?"

"Fine, just hurry. He will begin to wonder where we are," the captain mumbled before walking forwards and turning around.

Elena walked quickly around the other side of the horse. "When you say 'he' you mean the King, yes?" she asked, running her hands over the horse's neck to calm it's twitching, it was imperative that the horse not alert the captain to her next move.

"Umm, yes of course, the King," responded the captain. 

Elena, praying with every fiber of her being not to upset the horse or make too much noise, placed her foot in the stirrup and gracefully and silently heaved herself onto the saddle. The horse tossed it's head a little, but was mercifully quiet. Elena leaned down and found what she was searching for. She upended the wineskin which had been attached to the horse's saddle, allowing the liquid to spill a little on the forest floor, the accompanying splashing sound adding the finishing touch.

"Just a few more moments Captain and I'll be finished," she said softly, as she placed the wineskin back in place and grasped the leather reins in her hands, praying for the courage to continue. She chanced a look over at the captain, who stood irresolute with his back turned, not aware at all that Elena now sat astride his horse.

Just as the captain started to turn around, Elena kicked the horse hard, crying loudly to the horse and to the night at large "Hya! Onward!" before clinging on for dear life as the muscular warhorse broke into a furious gallop that nearly unseated her.

Elena chanced a look back and saw the captain running after her, which proved absolutely futile. He was quickly swallowed by the distance and trees she put between them. Exhilarated by her successful escape, Elena urged the horse on, bending low as lethal branches flew over her head.

Soon Elena came to realise her predicament. She had escaped, but she was utterly lost- she had no idea which forest she was in and the sky was overcast so celestial navigation was out of the question. The advantage of the horse was that she was able to put a good distance between herself and the captain, but the horse was also easy to track- a long trail of broken branches and muddy hoofprints gouged into the earth.

Elena glanced up at the trees. Her old custom of tree dwelling wouldn't help her - the branches were too bare and the trunks too wet to scale. Truthfully, she couldn't bare to give up the companionship of the horse. She had spent so much time by herself in the forest of Lorrea that she couldn't bear to force such solitude on herself once more. And then it hit her.

A branch, square in the chest.

Elena had been so preoccupied with the tree crowns that she failed to notice the thick branch that her horse had ducked under. It knocked her clean off the horse, which continued it's frenzied galloping, disappearing completely from sight. Elena crashed to the ground, rolling countless times before coming to a stop, her cloak covered in mud.

Gasping, Elena pushed herself up on her hands and knees. She could barely breathe, she was completely winded. Eyes tearing in pain, she forced herself to stand up and start walking. Elena calculated that she had at least a twenty minute head start, but as soon as the captain would notice her footprints in addition to the horse hoofs, he would pick up the pace despite being weighed down by his armour. Elena started to run, but quickly slowed to a walk as her left side seared in pain with every laboured breath she took. She suspected that she may have broken a rib- if she was lucky it may only be a nasty bruise, but nonetheless it was an enormous impediment.

She wished that she could howl at the injustice of it all, but not only could she not draw a deep breath, any noise may even alert the captain - or anything or anyone else lurking in the forest. She shivered at that thought, realising how utterly defenseless she was. Resigned to her situation, she trudged on, slipping and sliding in the mud. After an hour of walking, a light rain started to fall, which in turn proceeded to develop into torrential downpour. Henry's travel cloak became waterlogged, slowing Elena's progress. She made the quick decision to discard the cloak and set out, battling the elements in her thin dress, but at least a few pounds lighter.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 10



As the night wore on, she began to hear the jingle of chains. Was she imagining the captain's chainmail behind her or was it just her imagination? Elena looked over her shoulder when she thought that she heard it, but saw nothing. 

Near dawn, she felt the faintest glimmer of hope, as she saw ahead of her a break in the tree-line. As she reached it, she saw a long grassy slope leading to an ancient looking castle. Elena didn't know who the castle belonged to, but she was sure that she was still on Kravaolian land so whoever was in residence must be loyal to Henry. Just as she started forwards she heard an unmistakable cough from behind her. She whipped her head around and saw to her horror, the captain, advancing on her with a murderous look in his eyes. Elena's only hope was that the captain was sensible enough that he wouldn't try and kill her within view of another nobleman's castle. She knew there was no chance of her outrunning him, especially since running was too painful for her, but she stumbled backwards nonetheless, onto the vast grassy expanse, the early morning sun bathing her in light.

Apparently she was wrong. The captain lunged for her, grabbing her by her throat, his crushing grip causing Elena to gasp for air as her hands ineffectually scrabbled against his, trying to free herself.

"You filthy whore!" the captain roared, sending some birds flying out of a nearby tree in fright. "How dare you steal my horse!?" 

"P- p-please... Please..." Elena croaked, trying to prise his grip from her throat.

The captain released his hold suddenly. Elena straightened up, gasping, her hands massaging her throat. Her reprieve was only momentary though, as the captain backhanded her so hard that he knocked her off her feet. Elena cried out in pain, but even with tears streaming her eyes, she scrambled back to her feet, refusing to let him get the better of her.

His nostrils flaring at her impudence, he raised his hand high and slapped her so hard, that when she hit the ground again, she literally saw stars. This time, Elena remained where she fell, the scent of grass filling her nostrils, her cheek burning with his handprint. Her hands gripped the wet grass, her body bracing against the captain's next blow as his shadow loomed over her. He pulled her up by her hair, causing her to cry out in pain as she got quickly to her feet in order to lessen the pressure. The captain ruthlessly pulled her head back, his foul smell invading Elena's nose as his scarred face loomed over hers.

"You're lucky he wants you alive Princess," he hissed through bared teeth. "Otherwise i'd enjoy snapping your pretty little neck right here, right now."

The captain let go of her hair and shoved her roughly forwards. "Move," he spat, pointing up at the castle with his sword.

Elena paled. Apparently the castle ahead was their destination and not her salvation. 

They made their way down the wet grassy slope, slipping and sliding as they went. On the few occasions that Elena slipped without regaining her balance, the captain would drag her along for a few meters by her hair until she was able to scramble back to her feet. No amount of pleading or crying softened his grip, his hatred towards her obviously running very deep.

As they neared the gateway the captain pulled her to an abrupt stop. He pulled out from within the folds of his wet cloak a dirty looking strip of fabric and brought his hands up to Elena's face. She flinched as he touched her, but held her ground. The captain wrapped the foul fabric around her eyes, effectively blinding her. He turned her around and wrapped a second strip around her wrists, tying them together behind her back. When finished, he grabbed her by the back of her neck and roughly pushed her forwards.

"HALT!"

Elena twisted her head, but was unable to see anything around her. The voice sounded young yet authoritative. She didn't recognise it.

"I'm Captain Damian - your Lord is expecting me, that is to say, he's expecting US," he said, thrusting Elena forwards in emphasis.

"Yes Captain, you may proceed," said the young voice.

"Move," growled the captain in Elena's ear.

Elena stumbled forwards, walking hesitantly, allowing the pressure the captain exerted on her neck to steer her in the right direction. From what Elena could tell, they were walking across a room with very high ceilings, as their footsteps echoed loudly when they walked.

Suddenly Elena tripped forwards, her foot bumping into a hard object. She cried out as she fell against something hard, which Elena realised were steps as they made contact with her already battered body.

Laughter met her ears. "You really should watch where you're going," the captain said, pulling her to her feet.

"Then take off this wretched blindfold so I can see where I'm going!" she said, twisting her face in the direction of his laughter.

"My instructions are to keep you in the dark," he said as he steered her up a winding staircase.

Elena bit her lip. She had hoped that it had been the captain's idea. Such meticulous planning and attention to details sent chills down her spine. Keeping her in the dark meant that she didn't know which way was the exit or the layout of any of the other rooms in the castle. They had been walking for at least five minutes and she had already forgotten the few directions she had tried to remember.

"And whose instructions are you following exactly? Obviously not King Henry's - who by the way, will have your head for this, i'm sure you realise that, no?" she snapped.

"Never you mind, you'll find out soon enough" he said, pushing her along a straight corridor.

Elena stopped abruptly, twisting around to the captain.

"Keep moving," he growled.

"Let me say just one thing Captain," she said, drawing herself up and standing straight-backed and proud. "This is your last chance. If you let me go I'll ask the king for clemency in your case, you will not be treated as an outcast, I promise. Just let me go." 

Elena held her breath as the air surrounding her stilled. She couldn't tell if he was considering her offer or if he was simply scratching his head.

"Please Captain," she said, her voice cracking slightly in desperation. "Don't do this."

"You may be true to your word Princess," the captain said slowly. "However, I've known King Henry for a very long time, this is not something he'd be prepared to overlook. I knew that when I took this on. Move."

Elena felt his callused hand tighten it's grip on the back of her neck. "Now, do as I say and MOVE!" 

Elena stumbled forwards, shifting her concentration to the ties binding her wrists, but there wasn't much room to move them, let alone maneuver them.

"This way," grunted the captain, steering her to her left. "Stop," he said, holding Elena by her neck.

"End of the road Princess," he cooed, pulling off the blindfold.

Elena blinked as a pair of dark, oak doors came into focus in front of her. The captain knocked three times on the door with one hand while the other grasped Elena's upper arm. "Enter," called a voice from beyond the doors.

The captain pushed open the doors and marched Elena inside the room. Golden light danced across the walls from a roaring fireplace, lighting up the bookshelves and casting eerie shadows about the numerous animal heads mounted along the walls.

A single solitary figure was standing in front of the fire, his hands clasped behind his muscular back. As he turned to face them, his cold blue eyes pierced her terrified eyes- Elena's heart leapt into her throat. She tried to back away but only encountered the solid mass of the captain, who chuckled and pushed her forwards. Losing her balance, she fell to the stone floor, landing on her already bruised hip, causing her to grunt in pain.

"So nice of you to join me, Princess," said Caspian, a triumphant smile playing across his lips.

Elena got gingerly to her feet, squaring her shoulders as much as her binds allowed. 

"Please stop pretending, Lord Caspian, that I am here willingly. We both know that the Captain here kidnapped me, so you can dispense with the false pleasantries," she said, hoping that her voice did not sound as scared as she felt.

Caspian raised his long, thin fingers to his chin and rubbed it as he serveiled Elena with amusement.

"You may go now Captain, I no longer require your services," Caspian said, his eyes still locked onto Elena's.

"I'm sorry my Lord, but there is still the issue of payment," answered the captain, pulling Elena's trembling form back against him.

"What nonsense is this? You were paid in full," Caspian spat.

"Things have change, my Lord. You see, when we made our escape, the Princess here thought it a smart idea to commandeer my horse. In her haste to escape me, she fell from the horse and it disappeared."

"So?" 

"So, she owes me a war-horse. As I don't see a purse on her body, and since she is now under your care, it is you, My lord, that owes me a horse."

"Is that so?" Caspian asked, drawing closer, dislike etched into the lines of his face.

"Yes," said the captain, as he casually wrapped his fingers around Elena's throat in a non-too subtle threat.

"Fine," said Caspian, his tone suddenly soft and calm. Elena knew that tone, she sensed something was seriously wrong.

"Captain..." she began to say, before he silenced her with a little pressure from his fingers against her windpipe.

"Let me see," murmured Caspian, searching the folds of his cloak, drawing out a small leather pouch. "Here," he tossed the pouch to the captain, who released his hold on Elena to catch it. The captain opened the pouch and thrust his hand greedily into it's depths.

"Oh, Captain, one more thing," Caspian said in that same soft tone, plunging his hand back into his cloak and drawing out a short silver dagger.

"NO!" Elena screamed.

The captain didn't stand a chance- his one hand holding the pouch as the other drew out a gold coin, he could do nothing to stop the flight of the dagger. The dagger Caspian hurled missed Elena by mere inches, piercing the captain's throat, his eyes bulging as his hand dropped the pouch, it's golden contents spilling out over the floor and rolling in all directions. He grasped the dagger, pulling it from his throat with a sickening sound, before letting it fall with a clatter to the floor. Dark blood trickled out the side of his mouth and throat, a stark contrast to the increasing paleness of his face. The captain stumbled forwards, grabbing Elena for support as the life drained from him before her very eyes. 

The captain's added weight was too much for Elena, who inevitably fell backwards. With the captain still clinging to her dress, he fell like a dead weight upon her and with her hands bound behind her, she had no way of pushing him her off her, so she lay there whimpering, feeling the captain's warm blood dampening her dress.

A faint gurgling sound issued from the captain's mouth - it seemed that he was trying to say something. Elena looked down, catching the terrified eye of the stricken man.

"I regret..." he choked, before lapsing into a dead silence, his body stilling against hers.

Elena stared transfixed, silent tears streaming down her cheeks, unable to look away from the captain's vacant gaze.

"Guards!" Caspian called.

Two soldiers came into the room and looked to their lord for instruction. "Take him away," he said with a wave of his hand. The two men lifted the body of the captain off Elena and dragged him out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Caspian advanced slowly on Elena, pausing a moment before walking around her supine figure. Trembling slightly, Elena tried to get to her feet under Caspian's predatory gaze. 

"Did I say you could rise?" Caspian said slowly, placing his boot on her shoulder and pushing her back down.

Colour rose instantly to Elena's face and neck. She held Caspian's icy gaze a moment, before trying to stand once again.

The corner of Caspian's mouth twitched into a smile, which vanished just as quickly. It was as if he had expected her to do exactly what she had done.

He walked to her and pulled her roughly to her feet. "Oh, how I'll enjoy breaking you Princess," he hissed in her ear, causing a shiver to run down her spine. "My own little stallion to break and then ride... OVER and OVER again" he whispered, running a hand over her stomach which was wet and sticky with the captain's blood.

Elena bit her lip, choosing to remain silent in the face of his taunting.

Caspian clicked his tongue softly. "Look at the state of you Princess, covered in mud and blood," he said, wiping his hand on the sleeve of her dress, leaving behind a bloody smear. "I think," he continued, "that before we take this any further, you require some form of cleansing."

"Guards!" he called again, summoning in two different men. "Take the Princess down to Brandon, tell him that he is to see to her cleanliness and wardrobe. When he is finished, I want her returned, promptly. Oh, and under no circumstances is she to leave your sight, understood?" he asked.

"Yes My Lord," the men chimed in unison.

"Good," Caspian said, clapping his hands together. 

The men grabbed Elena by her arms, each of them holding one arm and pushed her forwards.

"Wait!" called Caspian.

The guards turned Elena around, facing Caspian, who had walked to his mahogany desk and began rummaging in the drawers. He pulled out a pair of manacles, connected by an iron chain. He walked forwards and picked up the bloody dagger that lay on the floor between them. Caspian reached behind Elena and held the cloth that bound her wrists, steadying it before slicing clean through it with the dagger. As soon as Elena's hand were free, she struggled to pull her arms free of the soldiers, but their grip was unrelenting.

"To the front," he ordered the men, indicating to her hands with the bloody dagger.

The men pulled her arms in front of her, despite her feeble attempts to stop them. Caspian wrapped a manacle around each wrist and secured them in place.

"There now, much better. We can't have the Princess trussed up like some animal, can we?" he laughed, her look of indignation causing him to laugh even harder.

"You're the only animal here," Elena spat, pulling her wrists from his grasp.

Caspian surveilled her silently for a moment. Elena expected him to reply with his fists, but he simply ran his hand through his hair instead.

"As you can see men, she has something of a mouth on her. If she becomes particularly mouthy, you have my permission to gag her," he said, dismissing them with a wave of his hand.

Fuming, Elena opened her mouth to reply but was distracted on the account of being shoved roughly out the door and into the adjacent hallway.

*

The following hour was nothing short of mortifying. At least when Henry had first captured her, he had sent her to a reputable bath house where a kind woman had taken care of her. Caspian's men marched her down numerous hallways and staircases before one of the soldiers summoned a bespectacled middle-aged man from a hidden room, who joined them, bringing their little party to four participants. They continued down a few more hallways before exiting into a small courtyard, bare of anything except a large water trough it's center. 

The soldiers, taking instruction from the older man, dumped her unceremoniously into the water. As she emerged spluttering from the freezing water, one of the soldiers grabbed the chain of her manacles and attached it to a protruding hook, essentially trapping her within the water trough. The man withdrew a small knife and despite Elena's pleading, sliced through her clothing until they floated in the water around her , partially obscuring her nudity. She soon learned to obey the man, as each time Elena attempted to resist him, he would dunk her under the freezing water and hold her there until she stopped fighting him.

Elena suffered silently through the humiliation of the man washing her from head to toe, the only comfort were her tears, blissfully warm against her freezing cheeks.

Elena hadn't noticed one of the soldiers leaving, but she noticed him returning with a dress and towel. When the man dunked her for the final time, he indicated to the soldier that he unhook the chain and pull her from the trough.

Her teeth chattering, Elena could barely stand as the man added another humiliation to his repertoire- he took the towel and started to dry her roughly, ignoring her pleas and her embarrassment. The only thing Elena was grateful for was that throughout the whole experience, there was no sexual undertone- the man could just as well have been washing an animal. She wondered momentarily if that was the purpose of the water trough anyway.

The man was about to pull the dress over her, but quickly realised his predicament. He swore loudly at the soldiers. They hadn't brought a key to her manacles - how was he to dress her? He barked an order to one of the guards who scurried off, leaving them to an uncomfortable silence, punctuated only by Elena's chattering teeth.

A few minutes later, the soldier returned, bearing a large ring of keys. The old man snatched it from him, and picked through the numerous keys before finding the one he wanted. He motioned to each of the guards to hold on to an arm, before unlocking one wrist. Elena chose not to fight them, she was freezing and exhausted from the whole ordeal and just wanted it to be over with.

The man pulled the emerald green silk dress over her head, fastening it in place. He looked her over once more before declaring himself satisfied. The man issued a few more orders and the guards locked her wrist back in place, before turning her around and pushing her back into the castle.

Once again, they went down numerous hallways, but not down the same ones that they had traveled previously. It dawned on Elena that they were not worried about her learning the layout of the castle - and with good reason, the place was a maze of hallways and rooms, it would take a long time before anyone could navigate these halls confidently, Elena thought. They slowed their pace before coming to a halt in front of a small door. The man knocked once and entered the room, pulling Elena in after him. Elena looked around, not taking much interest in the Spartan room. Standing before her, other than the older man, was a tired looking woman in a shabby dress who gestured to Elena to sit in the only available chair. The man, Brandon, whom Elena had by now christened 'Glasses', nodded his approval. Resigned to her fate Elena sat down. She had decided that she needed to preserve her strength for when she would face Caspian again, and not waste it on his minions.

As soon as she sat, the woman went to work on her wet hair, brushing and styling the hair until it resembled some acceptable fashion and not a tangled blond mop. Next, she painted Elena's lips and added a few more hints of colour here and there, before Glasses interrupted her and claimed that it was enough, that they were keeping Lord Caspian waiting.

Yanked to her feet again, Elena was marched back up through countless passages and stairways, before she once again stood before the dark oak doors of Caspian's study. 

One of the soldiers knocked once on the door and waited with his hand on the door.

"Enter," came Caspian's muffled voice from within.

The soldier pushed open the door and pulled Elena in with him. Caspian was sitting at his desk, his arms folded over his chest. His eyes sparkled gleefully as he looked at Elena.

"Bring her here soldier," Caspian pointed to a spot on the floor near his desk.

"Yes sir."

He nudged Elena forwards, she walked slowly, coming to a halt as she stood near his desk.

"Kneel," said Caspian, pointing to the hard stone.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 10



Elena folded her arms, her chains clinking, and cocked her head to one side. "No."

Caspian smiled coldly and nodded to the soldier behind her.

The next moment she felt considerable pain. The guard, unbeknownst to her, had struck her legs with the hard sheath of his sword, causing her to cry out and kneel in pain. He quickly reached down and hooked her chain to a protruding iron hook at the edge of Caspian's desk.

"That'll be all," Caspian said to the guard, who turned around and left, the door shutting behind him with an ominous sound that vibrated through the air.

Caspian turned and looked down at Elena, staring into her eyes. Elena, squared her shoulders and stared resolutely back, stubbornly refusing to look away, as she knew Caspian wanted her to. When it became obvious to him after a few minutes, that she wasn't going to break his gaze, he spoke.

"So," he hissed. "How does it feel, Princess, to be chained at the feet of the most powerful man in the kingdom?"

"You are not the most powerful man in Kravaolia - King Henry is," she said with a small smile, as she knew it would incense him.

"Henry," Caspian said slowly, "Is the most feeble heir our bloodline has ever produced. Do you know what you do to the runt of the litter? You drown it. Too bad no one ever thought of that earlier," he chuckled.

"He'll come for me, you know that don't you?" Elena said evenly, looking up at Caspian. She hated the words that she used, as it implied a certain romantic overtone. For her, their union was not much more than a smart contract. Perhaps the romantic sentiment was appropriate for Henry, who was more emotionally involved in their engagement.

"What, come for his whore? I don't think he'll risk his precious neck, the coward," Caspian said maliciously.

"No, come for his queen," Elena corrected quietly.

"You flatter yourself Princess. You'll be forgotten as soon as the next woman spreads her legs before him, trust me," he said, leaning closer.

Elena looked at Caspian. "You're wrong," she said quietly.

"Wrong am I? What, do you imagine that you have some sort of magical pussy, that as soon as a man sticks his cock in you he'll be yours forever?" Caspian asked jokingly.

Elena blushed slightly and closed her eyes, attempting to block out Caspian's vulgarity.

"I'd like to see that for myself Princess, what say you?" he said, still chuckling.

Elena's eyes snapped open as she felt Caspian's cold hand reach under her dress and touch her calf. She clutched her legs closed, impeding his hand from gaining any further access.

"I say no."

Caspian's smile faltered, "You will not deny me," he hissed as he withdrew his hand and slapped her across the face. 

Elena took a deep breath before looking back up at Caspian. Truthfully, the slap barely even stung, but to Elena it was a preview of what was to come, that Caspian would escalate things very quickly - and that scared her.

"I will deny you, and continue to deny you - with every fiber of my being," Elena replied strongly, too aware of her trembling hands.

"Then you shall suffer needlessly, like the lowest of whores," he spat grabbing her chin roughly.

"Do your worst, but it doesn't change what will happen. Henry will come for me," she repeated, trying to pull her chin from his grasp.

"Really, you think so? You think Henry will save you from wicked old me? Well, let me educate you Princess," he said, letting go of her chin and taking a step back. Caspian let the cloak slip from his shoulders to the floor, his hands moving to the laces in the front of his pants.

Elena closed her eyes when Caspian thrust his hand into his pants and pulled out his cock.

"Oh no Princess, you will keep those pretty eyes open," he said in a soft voice, as he stepped painfully on her bare feet. Elena cried out, her eyes opening in pain.

He stood before her, stroking his cock, bringing it slowly from it's soft and flaccid state to a fully fledged erection. Elena, despite her intentions and better judgment, couldn't take her eyes off his cock. Even though she hadn't seen many, it seemed to her that Caspian's was quite large- or maybe it was just the circumstances that made it seem larger - no matter the reason, it scared her.

Caspian noticed her terrified gaze and chuckled. "I know you are used to Henry's mediocre cock, but it's high time you experience one of a greater caliber. Quite fitting for a Princess, if I do say so myself."

Caspian advanced on her, stroking his erect member. Elena scooted back as far a her chains would allow. "Open," he said as he stood next to her, his crotch in her face. Elena looked up at him in defiance. "Open your mouth," he ordered, pulling her hair sharply. He rubbed the tip of his swollen cock against her cheek, causing her face to turn a dark magenta colour in anger.

"No," she answered through clenched teeth.

"Open it or I will make you open it, you will not like that- I promise" he hissed, yanking her hair again.

"You can force me to open my mouth, but I warn you, anything that passes my lips... Well, let me just say this- it won't remain whole... I bite, you see," she said silkily, snapping her teeth together for good effect.

Caspian's jaw clenched and unclenched a few times before he released his grip on her hair. 

"Of course... Of course," he muttered, stroking his cock. "Where are my manners? A princess should not be tied like this, lying on the hard floor."

He walked away, pausing to manipulate his hard shaft back into his pants. Elena watched him warily, knowing with certainty that he was not finished with her.

"My apologies Princess, we shall do this properly, yes? What was I thinking, doing this here," he said mockingly. 

Elena responded with a scathing look.

"Don't worry Princess, I'll have you moaning like a whore in the comfort of a bed by tonight," he said softly, his smile spreading slowly. "Also, I am not properly equipped here for such amorous reeducation - your scandalous urge to bite will meet metal, and not flesh, you'll see, i'll cure you of that nasty habit."

There was a soft knock on the door, interrupting the staring match between Caspian's twinkling, malicious eyes, and Elena's raging, defiant gaze.

"Enter," called Caspian, looking over her head at the doors.

A young boy entered the room bearing a tray of food and drinks, which clattered noisily in his trembling hands, stilling only when he had placed it on Caspian's desk.

"Boy, tell the cook that he is to prepare food for two this evening - and it should be brought up to my quarters. We will dine there, amongst other things" he added as he looked hungrily at her, causing Elena to blush.

"Now be gone!" he said, waving his hand. The boy turned and scurried quickly from the room, closing the door sharply behind him.

Elena snorted softly. It seemed that rudeness ran in the family.

Caspian looked up from the food platter her was picking at. "Something amusing you Princess?"

Elena looked away pointedly, looking instead at the eerie stuffed animal heads mounted around the walls. Her stomach growled audibly. How long had it been since her last meal? More than a day, she realised.

Caspian tore off a large piece of bread from a loaf on the tray and held it before Elena, in the palm of his hand. Elena reached for it, but the chains made her come up a few inches short. Caspian chuckled softly, nodding at Elena in encouragement. As much as she strained her arms though, she couldn't reach the bread.

"You are not unintelligent... think," he said, taking a bite of the bread before presenting it in his palm again.

Elena looked from the half-eaten piece of bread to Caspian's smirking face, trying to fathom his meaning. She scowled at him, when it became clear to her that he intended her to eat from the palm of his hand like some animal. She was not starving, she would not yet debase herself so for a morsel of bread.

Elena shifted around, turning her back on him. She heard him laughing raucously behind her, but she just sat where she was, fuming silently.

Elena sat with her back to Caspian for over an hour, noting the passing of time by the dwindling fire, as Caspian's study had no windows. Caspian was working on something, mostly ignoring Elena, which suited her just fine. When he was feeling particularly bored, he would make some snide comment about Henry's feebleness or what he planned to do to her later that night. Elena managed to tune most of it out, which wasn't as difficult as she thought at first, for she was quite hungry and when one is hungry, one doesn't concentrate well, so her mind wandered freely as Caspian hurled abuse at her.

Elena jumped as she felt something hard nudge her foot, breaking her from her trance. She looked around and saw Caspian behind her, holding two cups. Caspian had obviously nudged her with his foot, as if she were a sleeping dog he intended to rouse. 

"What?" she asked haughtily.

"Manners Princess" he warned silkily, handing her a cup.

"What is this?" she asked, ignoring his reproach.

"Just some wine. You must be rather thirsty by now and seeing that the chef sent two cups, I thought it prudent that you have drink before you faint," he said with a smirk.

Elena lifted the cup to her lips, but paused. She sniffed it gingerly, but could detect nothing other than a strong smell of wine. She brought the cup to her lips a second time, and paused again. She looked up at Caspian's watching face, suspicious as to his interest in her drinking.

"No thank you," she said, handing the cup back to Caspian.

"You need to drink," he said firmly.

"I'd rather not be poisoned or drugged by whatever sinister potion you've concocted behind my back."

"My, my - so paranoid you are my dear," he said, taking the cup from her. "Here, i'll prove to you that it's as innocent as it looks," he said, drinking deeply from her cup. "Happy?" he asked, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. "Here, you can take mine, now that i've almost finished yours."

Elena took Caspian's cup and sipped it slowly. After pausing for a minute, she drank more deeply from the cup, draining it quickly in her thirst. Caspian took the cup back, a smile playing around his lips.

Elena didn't like the look on his face. He cocked his head to one side and looked at her in a calculating way.

"Would you like the keys to your restraints?" he asked innocently, holding the keychain within her reach.

Elena looked sceptically back at Caspian, but she wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Elena lifted her arm, but midway it dropped back into her lap. "What's going on?" she asked, her speech slurring slightly.

Elena tried to lift her other hand, but it wouldn't move at all. Panicking, Elena realised that she couldn't move her body at all. 

"What..." was all she managed to say before speech too, became impossible. She slumped against the desk, before sliding slowly to the stone floor, her arms stretched above her, the hook holding the chain keeping her at an awkward angle.

Caspian stood towering above her. Elena's terrified eyes looked up at his smug expression.

"Your instincts were right Princess, there was something sinister in the drink, Grudjark root - but it was in the other- mine. I assumed correctly that you wouldn't trust a drink that I handed you," he said with a smile. 

"Paranoid royals are so easily manipulated - you know this firsthand of course, that's how this whole war started," he said, a devious glint in his eye. "I told the paranoid King Xander of you Lorreans and your war plans - and he jumped like an animal in training," he laughed, reaching out and running a finger down her cheek.

A tear leaked out of her unblinking eye. "Calm yourself Princess, the best is yet to come," he said, a slight growl to his voice as he slid his hand under her dress, squeezing her breast. 

As Elena's vision started to blur and Caspian's voice sounded far away, she tried to fight the drug coursing through her system, but she could do nothing as it pulled her deeper and deeper into the dark oblivion.

The last thing she heard, before she was swallowed whole by the encroaching dark mist, was Caspian's voice, whispering hotly against her ear, "We are going to have such fun, you and I."



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 11



A rider galloped through the night, his cloak flying behind him as he urged his horse on. He had been riding at breakneck speed for hours, but he could not take a break, time was of the essence and a life hung in the balance.

The man removed one hand from the reins and placed it over his chest, pressing the scroll beneath his shirt against him. Confident that the scroll was still there despite the speed and jarring movements of his steed, he once more grasped the reins in both hands, encouraging his horse to ride like never before - for there never had been so much at stake - a girl, the crown, the kingdom of Kravaolia - the fate of all three lay pressed against his chest in a small, hastily-written message.

On he rode, the remnants of the day melting around him, flickering like the wick of a dying oil lamp through the bare branches of the surrounding trees. On he rode.

****

Elena woke slowly, moaning contently as her body sunk even deeper into the soft bed. She stretched - or at least that was what she tried to do, before she realised that she could barely move her arms or her legs.

Her eyes snapped open. The ceiling above her was unfamiliar, dark blue hangings originating from a circular golden sphere, flush against the ceiling. She raised her head off the pillow and looked down to see her legs spread wide, her feet tied with some sort of silky material, to both corners of a very large bed. She looked over at her wrists and found a similar arrangement: Silky restraints keeping her arms far away from each other. She had just enough slack to bend her elbows slightly, but that was all. She gathered by the pain in her shoulders that she had been laying in that position for quite a few hours. But why? Elena tried to remember the events that lead up to her current situation, but only small, short and blurry memories came to mind. She seemed to recall a drink, a desk and a tall figure...

She pulled hard on her restraints but all that accomplished was the tightening the restraints even more. She looked around but saw no one, Elena was further confused that the room itself didn't even seem familiar.

Elena raised her head off the pillow. "Hello?" she called out tentatively, her voice hoarser than usual. She cleared her throat and called out again. "Is any one here? Hello?" her voice returning to it's normal pitch, even though it was slightly high from anxiety.

When no one answered, she let out a small sob. "HELP!" she yelled, pulling on her restraints again. "Please, somebody help me!"

Elena's head dropped back onto the pillow, her eyes swimming with tears. She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the tears to leave her eyes so she could see properly. She silently berated herself for letting her emotions get the better of her - it was not the time. Think, she said to herself, figure this out rationally, leave the hysterics out of it. Elena took a deep, calming breath and looked around again.

The stone walls were decorated with paintings depicting furious battles or important looking men, sitting in their military splendor. From this Elena deduced that the owner of the room had a rich family history and a fondness for battle. Looking around, she spotted a large fireplace in which a few embers were glowing softly. Obviously the fire had been lit hours earlier and had not been tended to since.

On the opposite wall, there stood a very large, ornate mirror, tarnished in a few spots but impressive nonetheless. Beneath it lay a handsome rug, with intricate patterns - the person who owned all this was no pauper, she decided.

Elena looked down at her dress. Although Elena recognised the emerald green dress she was wearing, it felt to her like a superficial familiarity, as if it were not really hers. She managed to maneuver the silk material so that it covered her splayed legs, but was unsuccessful in covering her breasts completely - the material covered very little of her ample decolletage- it barely covered the area just north of her nipples.

Elena closed her eyes, trying to remember something, ANYTHING - but nothing came to her. She knew she was Elena, Princess of Lorrea - but other than that, it was all a blur. The only thing she was really sure of was that she had a pounding headache.

Elena's eyes snapped open as she heard the creaking of a door hinge. She looked up to see a tall figure step into the room, making it's way toward her.

As the figure drew closer, the dying fire cast a flickering light over his features. Elena's stomach clenched - she didn't recognise him, but he made her feel extremely uneasy.

"Who are you? I demand that you release me at once!" she said to him, pulling herself up as much as her restraints would allow.

"You are not in the position to make demands, Princess."

"Who are you?" Elena repeated, her eyes following his slow approach.

"You don't remember who I am?" the man asked quietly.

"NO! I don't remember anything - where am I?" she said, shifting her hips away from the man as he sat down on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight.

"Interesting... very interesting," he mumbled to himself, his fingers playing softly against the silky fabric at her thigh.

"Don't touch me!" she shouted at him, twisting in vain to avoid his touch.

"I'll do as I please," he said, flashing her an evil smile.

"By royal decree, I order you to untie me this instant!" her tone not as forceful as she'd like, but forceful enough.

"So I'm to understand that you have no idea where you are or who I am - but you remember that you're a princess?" he asked, ignoring her request, a frown forming on his face.

"Of course I know who I am - I'm Princess Elena of Lorrea. But who are YOU?!" she asked haughtily.

"I am Lord Caspian of Kravaolia."

Elena looked back at him blankly. "Never heard of you."

Caspian's eyes flashed dangerously. "This will not do, it simply will not do," he murmured to himself, running a hand through his hair. "The dose must have been too high."

He looked back at Elena. "Unfortunately, my little plan seemed to have worked too well - you were not meant to have such memory gaps, only minor ones. I suppose you'll have to take the antidote- what a waste of an afternoon."

Caspian stood up, and walked towards the doors.

"Wait!" Elena cried out, "You can't leave me here like this!" she said, yanking her restraints once more.

"This is my home Princess - I do as I please and seeing you spread and tied pleases me greatly at the moment. Now, behave yourself and I'll be back shortly with the antidote to reverse your memory lapse."

Elena gaped at him, a flush creeping across her face in response to his words.

"Don't go anywhere," he chuckled, closing the doors behind him.

*****

The rider was exhausted, his horse even more so, but still he urged it on. It was late in the evening when he caught his first glimpse of a neat circle of tents with a relatively larger one in the middle, dimly lit by small flickering torches.

He let out an audible sigh of relief as he slowed his horse to a trot, to allow the sentries enough time to notice him without being startled.

After passing the security check, he made his way quickly to the central tent. He mumbled a few words to the guards outside and waited as one of them ducked inside the tent. The guard emerged moments later, pulling the flap aside, indicating to the rider that he may enter.

A large man stood in the middle of the tent, his muscular arms folded over his breast plate.

The rider kneeled before the man, bowing his head slightly before straightening up. 

"What is so urgent Private, that you left your post at my castle?" asked the man. 

"My King, I come bearing a letter from the maiden Catherine," he said quickly, pulling the scroll from beneath his shirt with a flourish and handing it to the king.

Henry slit open the wax seal, his eyes narrowing as he read on, the colour draining from his face.

"The Princess is gone", he mouthed Catherine's words, over and over, as if reiterating them would somehow bring forth a deeper meaning or an explanation.

"Explain," he said, looking at the Captain with a furious gaze.

"Yes my king," he said, his voice a little shaky as he could feel the anger in Henry's voice. "The maiden Catherine, as part of her duties, discovered the Princess's vacant bed in the morning. At first she was not alarmed as she reasoned that the Princess must be wandering the castle as on other occasions."

The Captain took a deep breath and continued. "She became worried at noon as no one could report that they had laid eyes on her that morning - no one, my king - not the guards, the kitchen staff, no one."

"I do not understand - my orders were clear, she was to be guarded every hour of the day! Who was the last guard to see her?" he barked, making the soldier jump slightly.

"A Private, he was manning the evening watch. He reported that Captain Damian relieved him of duty for the evening. When he returned the next morning and found the guard missing, he did not worry for he assumed - as we all had, that the Captain was accompanying the Princess somewhere in the castle."

"And what does Captain Damian have to say - I would have expected him to deliver me the news of her disappearance," he said angrily.

The private swallowed and shifted his weight. "That's just it, my King. No one can find the Captain."

The King stepped closer to the soldier, his face growing red with rage. "Do you mean to tell me, that Captain Damian kidnapped MY Princess?"

"That is one explanation, sir."

"What other explanations do you have soldier?" Henry asked seriously.

"It's just that... sir..." he paused, before continuing. "There was no sign of a struggle - one of your cloaks was even missing, sir, indicating that she had enough time to prepare for her journey- wherever that may be. It is possible that she left willingly, sir."

Henry grabbed the startled soldier by the front of his robes, his angry red face an inch from young soldier. "The Princess did NOT run away - she has been kidnapped I tell you."

"Yes... Yes sir!" said the soldier quickly.

Henry released his hold on the Private. "Inform the men, we are to leave at once! Hopefully we will find their trail before it rains again. Come! We have much ground to make up!"

****

An hour after his departure, Caspian returned, bearing a goblet in one hand. Elena watched him warily as he approached the bed.

"Drink this," he said, his hand pressing the goblet to her lips as his other hand supported her neck.

"You jest - you tell me, not long ago, that you poisoned me and now you want me to drink some strange beverage?" she scoffed, twisting her head away from the foul smelling liquid.

"You will do as I say, Princess," he said, a bite of impatience in his voice. "Anyway - you couldn't really be worse off could you? You have nothing to lose," he said jeeringly.

"What am I to gain if I drink this foul potion?" she asked, looking up at his annoyed face.

"Your memory, Princess. Or would you rather not remember that last few years? I wouldn't blame you," he said wickedly, pulling the goblet away from her lips.

"Years?" Elena said hoarsely.

"Yes Princess - years." 

Elena bit her lip, her eyes moving from the goblet to Caspian's icy blue eyes. "All right," she shuddered. "I'll drink it."

Caspian brought the goblet to her lips and tipped it upwards. Elena sipped the liquid, shutting her eyes at the foul taste of it. It took a minute, but Elena drained the goblet of it's contents.

"Good," Caspian muttered, looking down to confirm that she had indeed drunk all the antidote.

"How long before it works?" Elena asked timidly.

"Not long, a few minutes actually." Caspian said, rubbing his thumb over her lips, wiping away a little residue.

Elena pulled her head away. "Don't touch me like that," she said forcefully.

"You know, I think i'll tell you a little what has happened over the past few years... you should know what you've been up to, Princess," he said, a cruel smile flickering across his face.

Elena's heart quickened, her instincts telling her that she needed to brace herself for the tale- even if she didn't remember it.

"In a nutshell, you rejected me as your suitor - quite rudely too, I might add. I promised retribution and Kravaolia went to war with Lorrea because of it. I killed your family, your country fell and you spent two years hiding in the trees before my idiot cousin Henry caught you. You've spent the past few weeks serving him, playing the part of his prized whore - until I stole you away. I told you years ago that i'd have you - and now you're here," he concluded, his blue eyes sparkling.

Elena stared back at him, her chest heaving, her mouth dry. "You LIE!" she yelled at him, tears forming in her eyes. 

Caspian chuckled, revelling in her despair. "Trust me Princess, I say nothing but the truth."

"I wouldn't... I wouldn't..." she said, a white mist clouding her senses. "I wouldn't trust... trust... you..." she said, before drifting off into the dark once more.

****

Elena awoke to the enticing aroma of roasted lamb, her stomach growling loudly. She opened her eyes and raised her head off the pillow as much as she could and spotted Caspian sitting at the foot of the bed, tucking away at a plateful of food.

Her head dropped back onto the pillow, tears starting to form as she realised where she was. Her memory was fully restored, there wasn't anything that she thought of that didn't present itself - yet a small part of her had wished that the potion had not worked and she remain blissfully ignorant of her past.

"Good evening Princess," Caspian said through a mouthful of food. 

Elena remained silent, her main focus was keeping her breathing slow and deep, preventing the panic cascade that was just around the corner.

Caspian chuckled. "I take it from your silence that you now remember who I am."

"A murderer," Elena hissed, staring stoically at the ceiling.

"I prefer the name, Man of VIsion, myself."

A minute went by as Caspian continued eating, Elena staring silently up at the ceiling.

"Why don't you just kill me?" Elena asked, her tone flat and unemotional.

Caspian put down his knife and fork and looked at Elena. "What would be the fun in that?" he asked, a grin spreading across his face before he resumed his meal.

"Henry will kill you for this."

"Princess, do you really think I fear my worthless cousin? I expect his gormless mind to eventually make the connection, and I relish the chance to finally wipe that smile off his face."

Elena lay back, her thoughts centered on Henry and his reaction. She knew his rage would be terrifying - he regarded her as a possession of his own, the thought of another man's hands on her body was probably driving him over the edge right now. Elena doubted very much that even a superb swordsman like Caspian could withstand Henry's intense passion when it came to her.

"Are you hungry? Would you like to eat?" Caspian asked, indicating to an extra plate next to him on the bed.

"No," Elena lied. Her stomach chose that precise moment to growl loudly. Caspian grinned at her, taking a rather large chunk out of his lamb.

"You're not a very good liar - did anyone ever tell you that?" he asked through a mouthful of food.

"You'd know a thing or two about lying wouldn't you?" she spat. "And considering your offer earlier, I'd rather not eat out of the palm of your hand," Elena said, pulling on her bindings.

"Oh don't you worry Princess, you'll be eating out of the palm of my hand soon enough," he chuckled softly.

"In your dreams," she hissed.

"No," he said, wiping his mouth on his sleeve and putting the platter of food on the floor. 'In the very near future."

Despite the fact that he had just eaten what appeared to be half a leg of roasted lamb, Caspian looked at Elena with a hungry look in his eyes, the meaning behind his ravenous gaze causing her to shiver involuntarily.

"I think it's time we get to the entertainment portion of this evening festivities, don't you agree Princess?" he asked, running a long finger down her arm which she tried to pull from his reach.

"Now, where were we? I think we'll continue our evening from that moment in the forest of Lorrea, so many years ago that you rudely brought to a halt. So inconsiderate of you Princess."

Caspian pulled out a small dagger from inside his sleeve. Elena tensed as he moved the blade lazily across her skin. She shut her eyes as she felt his other hand roam over her stomach and delve beneath her back.

"Oh no, Princess. You'll keep your eyes open if you know what's good for you." he said, adding a little pressure to the bare skin of her neck, making the tiniest cut.

Elena's eyes snapped open. "Good girl," he crooned.

Caspian sliced through the top part of her dress, making his way downwards. The sound of the ripping fabric tore through Elena's heart. She found herself wondering if Henry even knew she was missing.

After a while Caspian became frustrated with the slow progress of his dagger. He tossed it aside, the metal blade falling with a clatter to the floor, and grasped the already torn fabric of her dress and ripped it open. The ripping sound caused ELena's heart to beat faster, the animalism of his actions, ripping her dress to shreds with his bare hands, scared her far more than his use of the dagger. 

Within moments Elena lay bare before his eyes, her silk dress hanging off her shoulders in shreds.

Caspian looked down in triumph at her naked figure. His eyes roamed her fair skin, marred only by the recent bruises she had acquired from her journey to his home. He looked lower and grinned as he caught sight of the small patch of curls hiding her pussy from view.

Elena blushed deeply from such close scrutiny, yet she looked back at him defiantly, refusing to plead or beg as she knew he expected her to.

Caspian's smile widened when he noticed her defiant look. "Where to start, where to start," he mumbled to himself.

*

A fear like no other tore at Henry's throat as his scouts crisscrossed the nearby area. They dared not look at him directly, for fear of being called upon to give an accounting of the current situation. Henry was afraid, because the rain had washed away any hoof marks or other signs of disturbed earth. He was no closer to finding his princess than he was a few hours earlier.

A whistle sounded somewhere to his left. Henry steered his horse in the direction, coming quickly out of the dense woods and onto a narrow path. A short but stout foot soldier stood kneeling over a black mound of dirt. As Henry drew closer, he realised it was not dirt but a pile of clothing.

Henry dismounted heavily from his horse and lifted the familiar garment. With a jolt, he recognised it as one of his traveling cloaks- it was the one reported missing! His heart beating painfully, he examined the cloak closely. It wasn't torn or ripped, so it must have been voluntarily discarded- perhaps it became too heavy in the rain, he mused, holding the water-logged cloak.

Invigorated by finding a clue, however small, Henry called his men to his side. 

"The Princess was here!" he shouted to the gathered men. "Search everywhere - any field, cottage or castle - leave no stone unturned!" he ordered, before urging his horse forwards onto the path.

*

"I have an idea of where to start," Elena answered.

"Oh really?" Caspian said softly, his cold fingers circling her navel, as he sat between her open legs.

"Yes."

"And where would you like to begin?" he asked mockingly, as he grasped her hips firmly.

"How about untying me?" she said to Caspian, her gaze unfaltering.

"Hmmm," he murmured, his mouth inches from her nipple, his hot breath another reminder for Elena that things were not going the way she wished. "I think we'll save that for later, when you learn to control yourself. You see, I remember only too well what happened last time you were flat on your back and had your legs spread wide for me. It's not something I wish to repeat. In fact, I think you owe me an apology," he hissed, before taking her prominent nipple between his teeth and biting down slightly.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 11



"Ouch! Stop that!" Elena cried, trying to shift her nipple out of his mouth, but he moved with her, sucking gently on the sensitive skin.

"That was only a taster, Princess."

Caspian's hands slid over her hips and down her backside, his hands cupping her bottom, kneading the globes roughly.

Elena hissed, pulling her hips forward, attempting to arch away from his touch, but she just succeeded in thrusting her hips against the rough material covering Caspian's hips. 

A soft growl emanated from Caspian's throat, causing Elena to pull harder on her restraints. She knew he was getting too aroused, she needed to stop him but she was quite powerless to do it.

"Time to see what Henry's been keeping from me these past few weeks," he said wickedly, lowering his face so that it was eye level with her pussy.

Caspian blew gently over the area, chuckling to himself as he saw her nether lips clench in response. Elena shifted her hips but Caspian held her firmly in place with one hand as the other traced her feminine folds.

"So delicate," he said, pinching one of her lips and then the other, watching as they turned a darker shade of red. He placed his middle finger at the top of her pubic mound and traced a straight line downwards, stopping when he reached her opening. Caspian looked up and smiled cruelly as he saw that Elena was watching his every move with apprehension on her face. 

He pushed his finger in abruptly, with no warning. Elena grunted in discomfort, as she felt his calloused finger rubbing against her walls.

"You're hurting me - stop" she grunted, her muscles clamping down on the unwanted intrusion.

"God, you've got a tight pussy - no wonder Henry wouldn't share you," he said, pulling his finger out. "And dry as a bone too. What? Not happy to fuck me Princess?" he asked, twisting her nipple to elicit a response.

"Ahhh," she squealed, tears brimming in her eyes. "Please don't, I'll do anything, just don't..." she pleaded, her pride long forgotten in wake of Caspian's intentions.

Chuckling, Caspian slid off the bed and stood up. Elena felt a wave of relief, thinking that he had heeded her pleas. Her heart sunk however, when she saw his fingers start to remove his clothing. He pulled his shirt off over his head and tossed it aside, before moving south to the laces of his pants. Elena looked away, not keen on observing his undressing a second time.

"The time has long since passed when I would have considered the begging of a whore," he said blankly in response to her earlier pleas.

Elena looked back at him, a pink tinge in her cheeks. "I am no whore."

"Oh but you are. You are the Princess of whores - you sleep with a prince, to become his queen. Is that not the way of a whore?" he asked mockingly as he walked towards the bed, his erection bouncing obscenely off his stomach with every step.

Caspian straddled her hips, his pulsing erection rubbing against her stomach as he leaned forwards to steal a kiss from her lips. Elena managed to turn her head to the side, allowing Caspian access only to her cheek, which he licked with his rough tongue, causing Elena to whimper in disgust.

Caspian slid downwards, flicking her nipples with his tongue as his the tip of his cock slid down over her pubic mound and rubbed gently against her entrance. Caspian knelt between her legs, one hand on her hip, as the other guided his cock head between her pussy lips. 

Sweat beaded on Elena's forehead and between her breasts, as Caspian leaned forwards, his large cock slowly parting her lips. Caspian grunted as he pushed forwards a little more. Elena cried out in pain as the head of his cock slipped into her.

Caspian groaned. Elena glanced at him in pained confusion and was somewhat pleased to see that he seemed to be in some degree of pain too, although not nearly as much as she was in.

Cursing loudly, Caspian pulled out of her, causing a small twinge of pain before an immense feeling of relief.

Elena continued to look at Caspian, who was stroking his erect penis while seemingly lost in thought. It was costing her every ounce of pride she possessed not to divulge to him that she was a virgin. A small part of her mind thought maybe he would be more gentler if he knew, or he would go about it a different way. However, that really was only a small fraction of her thinking, for her rational mind knew that Caspian would only revel in her pain and embarrassment and use it to his advantage - nothing good would come from divulging such a secret.

"You know," Caspian said, his hand still rubbing his shaft, "this isn't quite how I imagined fucking you."

"Let me guess- you thought i'd be begging for... for... for THIS on a bended knee, right? Thought I'd just roll over and spread my legs willingly?" Elena growled at him through clenched teeth.

"Well not entirely like that," he grinned sheepishly, "but I thought you would be a bit more... what's the proper terminology? Oh yes - that you'd be more fuckable, Princess - and not as dry as the deserts of Grahhlief."

"If i'm such a disappointment, the perhaps i'll just be on my way then..." she said, tugging at her leg restraints.

"Not to worry Princess - even the driest deserts are wet if you know where and how deep to dig," he said, hitching a cruel smile back on his face as he climbed back between her legs.

Caspian wrapped a hand around his erect shaft and guided the tip of his cock over her pussy lips, up and down, without pushing past them. He reached out with his other hand and pressed firmly against her clitoris, causing her to pull her hips away sharply. Caspian chuckled but continued the ministrations of both hands.

Elena was somewhat relieved that he wasn't forcing himself on her again, but she was beyond mortified by his current dexterous activity. She closed her eyes once again, trying to shut out the scene unfolding below her, but cried out as she felt a sharp stab of pain between her legs.

"No no no Princess, eyes open," Caspian instructed, easing up on the intense pressure he had exerted on her clit just moments earlier.

Caspian silently continued stroking his cock head against Elena's pussy lips while his other hand stimulated her clit. His actions went uninterrupted for a few minutes before he spoke again.

"Now, I find myself in a dilemma - on one hand, you owe me a punishing fuck and your dry state would clearly provide the grounds for that," he said as he rubbed his cock head over her lips again.

"I owe you nothing," Elena hissed.

"On the other hand," he continued as if she had not interrupted him, "I think it would be even more humiliating for you to enjoy your own degradation. What do you think?" he asked, grinding his thumb against her clit.

Elena sucked air in sharply in response to his thumb. "You don't really expect me to answer that do you?"

"No."

"So why did you even ask?"

"Because of that look of hatred that flashed in your eyes just moment ago - that look could burn a thousand torches, and is not so far from a look of intense lust. Also, it's just fun to get you all riled up," he added with a shrug of his shoulders and a twinkle in his eye.

"See, the question is - do I want to hear your screams of pain or hear your moans of pleasure as my cock slices through you? Truthfully, they are both an attractive prospect," he murmured, his cock rubbing against her lips with a little more force.

"You'll hear neither."

"I assure you Princess that I will. I anticipate the latter, as in the short few minutes that this verbal sparring has taken place, your pussy has become exceedingly wet."

Elena looked at his grinning face, her own registering shock and surprise. "What are you talking about?"

Caspian chuckled. "You may not have noticed because your mind has been so focused on hating and defying me, that your body was actually responding to my touch. See?" he said, pushing a finger easily into her opening and bringing it before Elena's confused face, his glistening finger evidence of her body's treachery.

Elena blushed scarlet as Caspian returned his focus to her pussy. As Elena squirmed beneath his touch, she was more acutely aware of the moisture that had gathered there. She cursed her body silently, even though she knew that it wasn't her fault, but nonetheless it still felt like a betrayal.

"I think it's high time we move things along, yes? Time for some fun," he said as he pressed his cock against her opening as his other hand held onto her hip.

"WAIT!" she shrieked.

Caspian looked up at her. "For what?"

"I... I... Caspian, please, don't!" she pleaded.

Caspian's mouth curled into a smile and his eyes burned with lust at the sound of his name on her lips.

Slowly, inch by hard inch, Caspian's cock sunk into Elena. She bit her lip against the pain that grew with every inch Caspian's cock penetrated. After a few seconds Caspian's hand on her hip tightened as she felt his cock stop advancing.

Elena looked up at Caspian's face, which was hovering only a few inches above her own. The look on his face was one of complete shock.

"You're - you're - you're a VIRGIN?!" he asked hoarsely.

Elena looked away from his searching gaze, tears blurring her vision.

"A virgin," he muttered in awe. "Why didn't you say so?"

Elena ignored him, tears leaking from her eyes onto the silky sheets.

Caspian started to laugh, a deep gleeful laugh that lasted for quite some time. Secretly Elena hoped that his laughter would cause him to become dislodged from within her, but his grip on her hip prevented her from slipping away.

"Oh my Princess, you've made me so happy I can't even tell you!" he whispered hotly against the shell of her ear. "And to think, that my cousin had me believing that he was defiling you with his mediocre cock night after night. That impotent liar!"

Caspian pushed himself back up and took a firm hold of her hips with both hands. 

"Prepare yourself Princess, for the feeling of a true Kravaolian cock," he said pompously, before thrusting his entire hard length into her pussy in one, quick movement.



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 12



Elena screamed in pain, her arms and legs pulling at her restraints in vain, unable to stop or alleviate the burning pain caused by Caspian's sudden thrust.

Caspian lay still on top of her, breathing heavily as he felt the tightness of her pussy walls around his shaft.

"Shhhh," he cooed in her ear, his unmoving, crushing weight preventing Elena a single moment of respite.

Elena couldn't stand it. Caspian's essence was invading her every sense - his muscular body pinning her down, his hard shaft within her, his breath in her ear and his smell... the smell of masculine lust permeated every molecule of available air. The assault on her senses was too much for Elena. She began to writhe and pull on her restraints harder than before, a roar of frustration escaping her lips. After a minute of a fruitless battle with the silky restraints, Elena's body suddenly lost all of it's accumulated tension and sunk into the soft sheets.

Caspian chuckled softly. "Are you finished with your little tantrum Princess?"

Elena whimpered as Caspian slowly withdrew his cock until just the tip remained between her lips. The throbbing pain between her legs which she had managed to block out momentarily, returned in spades. Beads of sweat formed across her face and between her breasts as Caspian tightened his already bruising grip on her hips.

"Please," she groaned, "please stop, I pro-" but before Elena could complete the sentence, Caspian had plunged his cock into her anew. Elena bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut, the pain somewhat less than the first time, but it was still painful nonetheless. Caspian leaned forward and took a prominent, hard, pink nipple between his teeth, pulling and sucking on it as Elena gasped in pain from his newest torture.

"Do you like that Princess?" he asked as his hands reached up and squeezed her sensitive breasts.

"No," she cried, "please stop it!"

"Don't lie Princess, you enjoy a little bit of pain don't you?" he said as his teeth grazed her nipple again.

"No!" she screeched, her hands pulling fruitlessly at the restraints.

"I love a little screaming as much as the next man," he chuckled, "but I'd rather hear you moan -it's easier on the ears Princess - not to mention it's just more ravishing," he said as he continued to mold her breasts in his large hands.

"If you stop hurting me then I'll stop screaming!" Elena cried as she pushed herself further into the mattress to escape his hands. She hated how childish her words sounded, but she was in such a state that she said the first thing that came to mind.

Caspian chuckled again, his lips pressed to the chasm between her breasts, causing her to actually feel his laugh as well as endure the sound of it. Elena let out a low hiss as she felt his tongue lick it's way up her chest and whimpered audibly as it made it's way along her neck to her ear. Caspian pulled her earlobe into his mouth and sucked on it gently as his hands threaded their way into her golden hair.

"Well, if you can't control the urge to scream, i'll need to do something about that, won't I Princess?" he said quietly against her ear.

Elena stiffened. She had not forgotten his earlier threat to muzzle her for her threats of biting him. 

Surprisingly, Caspian did not force a crude gag or any other instrument of silence between her lips. Instead, he placed his lips against hers and stuck his tongue into her mouth, startling her into silence momentarily, before thrusting a little deeper with his hips.

It wasn't as painful, but Elena still let out a muffled cry as she felt Caspian bury himself inside her, more deeper than before. He was unrelenting - his mouth locked over hers, effectively muting her as he ground his hips against hers. Elena wasn't sure what was worse -his thrusting or the feeling of him burrowing inside her like a snake in it's den.

Caspian ground his erection into Elena, his hips moving against hers in a tortuously slow, circular motion. The constant contact meant that Elena's clitoris was being stimulated by Caspian's lower abdomen, sending the odd jolt shot through her system every time his hips circled upwards.

Caspian broke his silencing kiss. "Tell me how I feel inside you Princess-Tell me how I fill your pussy like no other man has ever done," he hissed in her ear as his hips continued to gyrate against hers.

Elena shook her head. She refused to surrender her mind as well as her body.

Caspian's fingers grasped her blonde locks, preventing her from shaking her head in response.

"Tell me."

"No," Elena groaned.

"The Princess likes to play then? Alright, have it your way."

Caspian growled and thrust himself into her quite suddenly, causing her to yelp in pain and surprise.

"Tell me."

"No," she gasped, meeting Caspian's furious gaze.

Caspian's upper lip curled into a snarl. Elena knew nothing good would come from denying him what he wanted, but she couldn't help herself. The only things she had control over at that moment were her thoughts and her words and she wasn't willing to give up that control so easily.

"Perhaps a little lesson in obedience Princess?" he asked menacingly, lowering his face to within an inch of her own.

*

"Over here King Henry!" called a faceless soldier somewhere to Henry's left.

They had followed the narrow path for hours. Although it pained Henry to proceed at such an infuriatingly slow pace, he knew the virtue of a single clue - and the consequences of missing it. If they went tearing up the path, they could miss a vital clue or some tiny hint that showed the Princess leaving it.

Henry rushed over to the soldier who pointed to the ground before their feet. "You see here sir? The ground is a little disturbed and over there can you see how the grass had been bent and in places broken?"

"It looks like more than one pair of footprints," Henry said, his anxiety rising.

"Indeed sir. I'd say according to the indentation of the larger pair that it was a fairly heavy man, the smaller pair barely compacted the mud - it is not improbable that they belong to a woman - one of slight build," he said, tracing the outline of the footprints with his index finger.

"My Princess," he mumbled, his fists clenching and unclenching.

"King Henry!" shouted another soldier further up the path. "The trail picks up here, it looks like they continued down a grassy slope here, up to... to... up to... my goodness," he said, his words trailing off as King Henry reached his side.

Henry's eyes followed the path pointed out by the young soldier. He felt his inside turn to ice as he set eyes on the familiar castle before him. 

"CASPIAN!" he growled, unsheathing his sword and stepping out of the woods into the darkness of the night. As he approached the old castle that once belonged to his uncle, his men falling into step behind him, there was nothing but murder in his heart.



*

Caspian lowered his hands to her hips and grasped them tightly before beginning to thrust into her at a punishing pace. Elena opened her mouth to scream but it seemed the breath had been forced from her lungs by his thrusts, The only sound she made was a faint gasping noise with each thrust. She gripped the silk sheets for support as Caspian drove her body deeper into the mattress, grunting like an animal as he thrust his cock into her, over and over again.

As Caspian's thrusts became less frequent, Elena was able to catch her breath and sighed audibly.

"Enjoyed that Princess?" Caspian grunted with a grin, misinterpreting her sigh of relief for a sigh of satisfaction. 

"No," she answered hoarsely.

Caspian's grin slid from his face and was replaced with an angry look. "Stop lying to me, whore."

"I'm not a whore."

"You are what I say you are," Caspian growled as he started to thrust anew. 

"I'm a Princess," she answered boldly, Caspian laughed cruelly in response.

Caspian started to thrust into her quite forcefully, punctuating each word with a thrust of his hard cock.

"YOU --- ARE --- WHAT --- I --- SAY --- YOU --- ARE!" he roared.

Elena moaned in response to each thrust, causing Caspian to smile crudely. 

"You see, you do love the feeling of my hard cock," he said silkily.

Elena shook her head in response.

"I assure you Princess, you are so wet you are positively dripping- that's how much you want my cock in you."

Elena scoffed at his words, knowing that it would probably incense him further but she was past caring. His ego was so large he actually seemed to believe his own rhetoric.

"It's too bad you're behaving like a naughty little thing, if you would behave, you'd get this," he said, strumming her clit with his thumb.

Elena gasped as his calloused thumb came into contact with the sensitive flesh of her clit.

"But as I said, you've been misbehaving, so..." he said, once more wrapping one hand in her blond tresses, the other gripping her hip firmly as he started to thrust into her with more force, causing her breasts to bounce in tune with his thrusts.

"MMMmmm yes..." he growled as he pistoned her pussy so fast that Elena's grunts and moans were out of sync with his own thrusts.

Caspian's hands slid to her bouncing breasts and tweaked the nipples sharply, causing Elena to add gasping to her repertoire of grunting and moaning. The force of his thrusts caused a slapping sound of flesh against flesh, that only grew in volume as the ferocity of his thrusting increased.

"You realise, don't you," he taunted as he slowed his thrusts, "that if you had allowed me to do this years ago, when I first met you, you could have prevented countless deaths and all this pitiful suffering?" he panted, brushing a lock of golden hair away from her face.

Elena's bit her lip, trying to prevent the howl of misery threatening to engulf her.

"Oh, and I don't think you need to wear this anymore - or more correctly, I don't think you DESERVE to wear this anymore, don't you think?" he asked, as he grasped the delicate chain around her neck. Before she could utter a word, he gave an almighty wrench and ripped the necklace from around her throat.

"NO!" she screamed, her arms and legs thrashing as far as the restraints allowed them. For one moment the golden coat of arms glinted back at her, before it was tossed aside, landing out of sight.

"How could you?!" she screamed, her chest heaving as she could barely get her breath,

"Easily," he answered cockily with an exceptionally deep thrust, smirking at her distressed appearance.

Just when Elena thought it impossible that Caspian could drive into her any deeper or harder, he would. 

His hands moved down to grasp her hips tightly as he thrust into her relentlessly.

"Are you ready for my royal seed Princess?" he asked, perspiration coating his entire body as he continued to thrust into her.

Elena gasped as the meaning behind his crudeness became clear to her. She had been so focused on her pain and her attempts to defy him that she had completely forgotten about the conclusion of their coupling.

Elena started to struggle anew. "Please don't... I can't... we can't," she cried out hysterically.

Caspian laughed at her struggling as he continued to thrust into her.

"Please, Lord Caspian, don't do this!" Elena cried out.

CRASH!

Caspian twisted his head around around as the double doors to his bedroom crashed open.

Elena looked under Caspian's outstretched arm, silently thanking the person, whomever they may be, for breaking Caspian's concentration and thus his rhythm.

"HENRY!" she screamed.

Henry stood in the doorway, his bloodied broadsword raised, his face and armour covered in dirt and blood.

Henry's gaze swept the scene before him. His face reddened in rage as he spied Caspian buried deep within his petrified Princess.

"Henry please!" Elena cried as Caspian wrapped a powerful hand around her throat.

Henry advanced on Caspian, grinding his teeth in anger. He pointed the tip of his sword at Caspian's throat. 

"Take your filthy hands off my Princess," he spat at Caspian. His anger was almost palpable.

Caspian grinned, he let go of her neck and raisied his hands slowly. "As you wish Cousin," he said. "Who needs their hands to fuck a whore anyway?" he said with a quick look at Henry before thrusting into Elena again, causing her to gasp in shock.

"Get off my Princess, NOW," he growled, pressing the sword into the flesh of Caspian's, neck, drawing blood, but not deep enough to injure a major vessel.

Elena whimpered in relief as Caspian rolled off her, his cock sliding quickly from between her legs.

"Now move over there," Henry said, pointing at the old mirror with his other hand, his sword still pressed against Caspian's neck.

"Going to kill me Cousin?" Caspian asked acidly as he moved towards the antique mirror, his glistening nakedness making him shine slightly in the flickering light of the fire. "Whatever would your father think, murdering his favourite nephew - all for the sake of a whore?" he said with a sneer in Elena's direction.

"You'd be wise to hold your tongue Caspian, before I cut it out," Henry growled, his sword now pointed at his heart.

"Henry, Please!" Elena sobbed, breaking his concentration. "Please untie me!"

Henry looked over at Elena, his sword still pointing at Caspian's chest. His already red face turned a shade darker as he took in the view of his princess, splayed and naked. He scanned her battered body, his stomach clenching at her numerous bruises. Her pale face shining with tears, turned to him, her eyes pleading for help.

"If you so much as twitch Caspian, i'll split you from naval to ear," he threatened.

"Wouldn't dream of it, my King," he said with a sarcastic bow of his head.

Henry backed up a little and turned towards Elena. "Don't move," he ordered as he raised his sword and cut through her ties in four quick swoops. Elena quickly removed the remaining silk from her wrists and ankles and slid quickly from the bed. Henry turned to her, lifting her face gently with his fingers.

"Are you alright Elena?" he asked, searching her face, her eyes swimming with tears.

Elena couldn't answer as a fresh wave of tears threatened to overpower her. Instead, she leaned her head against the hard metal of his breastplate and closed her eyes, enjoying the coolness it provided. Henry's free arm pulling her tightly against him in a comforting hug.

"Shhh," he said softly, lowering his face to kiss her head. "I'm here now."

"How touching," drawled Caspian from across the room, waking the two to his presence.

Elena felt Henry bristle and pull away from her. She reached out and grabbed his wrist just as he lifted it to strike.

"No Henry," she said quietly.

Henry gazed at her in utter confusion. "Elena, Princess... You know what I must do."

"I know what your heart demands you to do Henry - and mine screams for his death right here, right now too," she said slowly, folding her arms over her nakedness. "I do not disagree with his execution - just the manner of it."

"I don't understand Princess, what difference does it make if I kill him here or somewhere else?"

"Excuse me? Are you both done wondering whether i'm going to die or not?" Caspian interjected from across the room.

"Silence!" Henry boomed at him.

Caspian's smile faltered only slightly as he leaned back against the mirror.

Henry stood with his sword still pointed in Caspian's direction, watching as Elena pulled the sheets off the bed and wrapped them around herself, covering her nudity.

Elena bent down to scoop something up, putting it inside the folds of her make-shift dress.

When Elena seemed satisfied that she was properly covered she turned to look at Henry, his blazing eyes burning bright with anger. "It matters a great deal Henry. It sends a powerful message to your enemies that their actions will be dealt with in a brutal fashion. There is no benefit in running him through with your sword in this room," she said, pausing to swallow the relatively large lump in her throat. "But if you hang him in the city, with thousands watching - you will reap the rewards of a public execution."

Caspian let out a low hiss. "I'd watch my back if I were you Cousin - this one seems like a schemer.... sleep with one eye open," he chuckled.

"SILENCE!" Henry boomed.

Caspian raised his arms in mock submission. "Alright, alright - no need to get yourself so worked up Cousin. But may I ask - can I put my pants on? I know how much my manhood threatens you," he smirked, running a hand down his now softened cock.

Henry lowered his sword and lifted Caspian's trousers off the floor with it. He flicked his wrist, causing the pants to fall into Caspian's outstretched hands, 

"Keep those hands out," Henry ordered after Caspian finished dressing. Caspian lifted an eyebrow in confusion.

"Elena, I need you to tie his wrists - I despise the very thought of you touching him again, but I can't tie him and hold my sword at the ready all at the same time - and my sword is too heavy for you to wield," he said, reaching out to grasp Elena's cool hand in his strong grip. "I'm sorry to ask this of you."

Elena's bottom lip trembled slightly, but she bit it until the trembling subsided and looked determinedly up at Henry's face, squeezing his hand in reassurance.

"Ok," she said in a small voice.

"Here," Henry said, pulling out a length of leather that was coiled tightly at his hip.

Elena unravelled the leather and approached Caspian timidly, avoiding his eye.

"Hold out your wrists," she said, her voice a little stronger.

Caspian smirked at her and pushed his wrists together. "I said hold them-" she started to say before a small glint of gold caught her eye. Elena, completely oblivious to her surroundings, turned and reached for her family's golden medallion, which lay discarded on the floor next to Caspian.

"ELENA, NO!" Henry yelled.

Too late, Elena realised her mistake. Caspian lunged for her, wrapped his arm around her throat quickly and pulled her against him. He withdrew from within a hidden pocket of his pants, a tiny knife and pressed the flat side of the blade against her cheek. Her hands scrabbled against his strong muscular arm but she couldn't remove the headlock he had her in.

"Thank you Princess, I was starting to wonder how I was going to get out of that one," He whispered in her ear.

"Get off of me!" she yelled hoarsely, his arm pressing tightly against her windpipe.

"Let go of her Caspian," Henry growled, raising his sword menacingly as his fingers tightened around the hilt.

"I'd lower that sword if I were you cousin, unless you'd like to see if her insides are as pretty as her outsides," he snarled at Henry.

Elena saw Henry's sword drop an inch. "No!" she yelled at him.

"Quiet Princess - my cousin knows that I am a man of my word, unlike him - I do not bluff."

Elena watched in misery as Henry lowered his sword slowly to the floor, his eyes burning with cold hatred.

"Kick it away," Caspian ordered.

Henry kicked the sword away from him, which made an eery scraping noise as it slid to a halt out of reach.

"Now, take that length of leather that you thought to bind me with, and tie your lover's wrist tightly - Sorry- did I say lover? Wrong choice of words Cousin," he sneered in Henry's direction. "Seeing that you never plunged into her velvety depths as you led me to believe, you're not really her lover are you? I suppose that title now belongs to me," he said, pulling her head towards him, his tongue darting across her lips.

Elena was panicking - just when she thought that she was free of him, Caspian regained the upper hand and was once again the master of her fate. The emotional rollacoaster that she had been on in the previous five minutes was just too much, and the lewdness of Caspian's tongue against her lips once more, was more than she could stand. She could no longer control her anger and took the opportunity as it presented itself.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 12



Caspian let out an angry shout, for Elena had bitten his wriggling tongue as it passed over her lips once more.

"Filthy whore!" he screeched, releasing her from the headlock. He swung his arm towards her, connecting forcefully with Elena's stomach.

Elena doubled over in pain, completely winded.

"Don't," he growled at Henry as he made to charge Caspian. Yanking her hair forcefully, Caspian managed in pulling Elena upright and pressed the blade against her throat. Henry froze mid step, unwilling to risk Elena's life.

"Now," Caspian hissed,"If you'd do as you're told, it would make things much easier. Tie him up!"

Elena looked into Henry's eyes and saw a terrified look of understanding staring back at her. She nodded to him, as she took a step away from Caspian and the small but lethal knife he held against her. She brought the trembling hand with the length of leather in front of her and reached into the folds of her makeshift dress. Caspian, standing behind her, only saw the slight movement of her elbow.

Suddenly, Elena pivoted on her heel and thrust her hand forward. Caspian, reacting quickly, reached down to grab her wrist, expecting to see nothing but the length of leather. To his immense surprise, he saw the glistening handle of his dagger that he had discarded earlier after shredding her clothes, imbedded up to the hilt in his lower abdomen.

He roared in anger and pain, wrenching the bloodied dagger out, his hands curled tightly over Elena's trembling one. He backhanded her, the knife in his hand slashing at the delicate skin of her face. Elena screamed, her hands flying to her face as she fell to the floor in agony. Elena looked above her, watching the fury filled face of Caspian advancing on her, his bloody dagger clutched tightly in his hand.

Henry, taking advantage of Caspian's momentary lapse in concentration, lunged to his left and collected his broadsword off the floor. Getting quickly to his feet, he charged at Caspian, a roar of fury in his voice, causing both Elena and Caspian to look up at him in shock.

Turning from Elena, Caspian parried Henry's blows with the small dagger with great skill-the first blow, then the second. But the ferocity of Henry's blows vibrated down his arm, causing the area around his wound to explode in pain. Henry raised his sword for a third time, plunging it past Caspian's outstretched hand, his reactions too slow for the third thrust which landed deep within his chest.

A faint gurgling noise issued from Caspian's throat, his eyes bulging in disbelief at the sight of Henry's sword protruding from his chest. Both his hands grasping the hilt, Henry placed a foot against Caspian's stomach and wrenched the sword from him, blood spurting quickly from the large wound.

Caspian fell with an almighty crash to the floor, and moved no more.

Henry moved a shaking hand to his eyes and took a deep shuddering breath. He averted his gaze from his cousin, who lay still and lifeless on the cold floor, the blood from his chest wound pooling silently beneath him.

A small sob broke him from his reverie. He turned quickly to Elena, kneeling beside her, reaching out and prying her hands away from her cheek. He winced as he saw the deep gash on her cheek, the blood still seeping from the wound.

Elena sobbed as she saw his reaction, realising the cut must have disfigured her quite badly. She brushed his hands away and applied pressure to her cheek in attempt to stem the blood flow.

Henry gently pulled her to her feet, keeping a steadying arm around her waist as he escorted her to the door. 

"Henry, wait just a moment... I can't... not like this --- Can I please have your cloak?" she asked, her bottom lip trembling as her hand gestured to her blood stained sheet.

"Of course Princess," he said, pulling off his cloak.

Elena shed the bloodstained sheet, letting it slip off her body and pool at her feet. She stepped out of it and into the cloak Henry held. She saw his face turn red as his eyes swept over her bruised body before enveloping her with his warm cloak, hiding her nakedness from view.

Silent tears leaked from her eyes, stinging her cut cheek. She wished that she could howl at the injustice of the situation - she was the one who was hurt - but why did she feel like she had failed him, that somehow this was all her fault?

Henry escorted her down the stairs, his strong arm wrapped around her waist, guiding her down the maze of halls. Elena walked silently beside Henry, her thoughts and feelings rolling inside her like waves in a storm. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know how, or what. It felt as if she couldn't find the words to describe what she was feeling, or what she wanted to say to Henry.

Henry was just as silent, walking alongside her, supporting her weight. He glanced at her occasionally but it seemed to him that Elena was in a world of her own.

They entered the entrance hall, Henry's shoes echoing loudly off the ceiling, Elena's bare feet making no sound at all. In the center, grouped together and tied by a length of rope, were the few members of Caspian's household who had not died in the battle that had taken place within the walls, unbeknownst to Elena. Henry's tired and bloodied troops turned to their King, seeking further instruction.

"Where is the healer?" he asked the room at large.

"Over here, sir," called a short soldier across the room.

"Come here, the Princess is hurt," he said, lowering Elena onto a plinth that had previously supported a suit of armour, which lay in pieces at their feet.

Elena winced as her body made contact with the hard, cold stone. The healer, a young man with shockingly blond hair, pried her hands gently from the wound so he could inspect it. Elena expected him to recoil in disgust, but he just smiled kindly down at her and pulled out a few things from a satchel that hung from his waist.

"I need to clean it Princess - it will sting slightly," he explained as he uncorked a small vial.

Elena nodded, her voice gone- she was not sure that she knew how to use it again, everything seemed so different to her.

The soldier tipped her head back a little and turned her face to the side. He poured the contents of the vial into the wound. Elena's eyes teared and she clenched her jaw in pain, but she sat still as a statue on the plinth.

"Alright, let me see... let me see," he mumbled to himself, looking closely at the wound.

"Well?" asked Henry, his voice coming from somewhere behind her, she couldn't see him.

"You see the edges here and here sir?" he asked, pointing at her face. "These are fairly shallow and will heal quite well on their own. But this," he gestured to another spot, "will need sewing - and even then my King, I cannot guarantee there will be no scarring."

"Do what you think is best, just stop the bleeding."

"Yes sir."

The healer pulled out a few more things from his satchel. He inserted some thread into a small hook and set it aside as he searched deeper in the satchel. He brought out another vial, filled with some amber looking liquid.

"You'll need to drink this Princess - it will make you sleepy, it's safer this way," he said as he uncorked it.

Elena shook her head. The last two potions she had taken did not have the best outcome for her. Besides, she reasoned, she could deal with a little pain.

The healer looked up at Henry for help. "I know you think you can handle the pain Princess," Henry's voice said from behind her. "But you could injure yourself even more if you fidget or even scream as he does it. And trust me Princess, i've been wounded enough times in battle to have experienced the sharp end of that hook, please take the drink," he said, placing a calloused hand on her shoulder, causing her to flinch.

Henry withdrew his hand quickly, causing Elena to turn red. She looked back at the healer and shook her head. He studied her face closely.

"If you were a man on the battlefield I wouldn't care about the pain -only the result -but I don't know how i'd react if it were a woman and she started screaming or crying. So please, for your own sake, take the drink," he pleaded. "If you move you could end up badly disfigured - and you are so very beautiful Princess, it would haunt me to the end of my days. Please."

Elena nodded, taking the potion from the healer. She sniffed it gingerly. Thankfully, it was odorless. She tipped the vial back and swallowed the bitter drink quickly, handing the empty vial back to the healer.

Immediately Elena started to feel lightheaded. She gripped the sides of the plinth as the scene before her started to spin. Strong hands caught her as she fell backwards, her head rolled against Henry's breastplate just moments before losing consciousness.

"That was fast," murmured Henry, wiping a strand of bloodied blond hair from the sleeping face of his princess.

"Yes," replied the healer. "She must not have eaten much lately, I suppose I should've asked her about that," he added sheepishly. "Maybe I would have given her a smaller dose."

Henry lowered Elena gently to the ground and held her head still to allow the healer to work. He winced inwardly each time her delicate skin was pierced with the sharp hook. Soon enough, the healer declared himself finished and turned to treat the rest of the bleeding troops.

An hour later the men were ready to leave. Henry lifted Elena, supporting her in his arms and headed to the door.

"King Henry - just a moment!" called a senior officer to his left.

"Yes?" Henry asked, turning in the doorway.

"What should we do with the captives sir?"

Henry looked around the room, his eyes sweeping over the terrified faces of their captives. Henry had lost four good men to Caspian's guards and these men before him surely knew Elena to be his princess. They needed to be punished - he would not allow them to go free.

"Send them to the front -they can serve the troops there. But the castle - burn it to the ground," he said, a cold hatred emanating from his eyes.

"Yes sir!"

Henry left the castle and carried Elena towards his horse. He handed her over to one of his men momentarily as he mounted his warhorse. The man lifted Elena up to Henry, who took her in his arms and placed her gently across his lap. Holding her sleeping figure tightly against him with one arm as the other held the reins, Henry started his horse at a slow trot, his men falling in line behind him.

*

They arrived back at the castle at dusk, the men dismounting silently from their horses. Henry handed Elena down to a waiting pair of arms so he was able to dismount himself. He lifted the princess from the silent soldier and held her tightly against him as he made his way forward.

As they entered the entrance hall, the staff came forward, exclaiming happily in loud voices that their new mistress and soon to be queen was found and returned to them. Their voices lost their joyfulness as the ones closest to Henry noticed Elena's sad state. A hush spread through the castle staff, which parted to allow Henry to carry her up the sweeping staircase. 

"Catherine," he called over his shoulder.

"Yes my lord?" Catherine answered in a small voice, separating herself from the crowd.

"The Princess needs to be bathed. Hurry along and call the men to fill the bath with hot water. Also, I think you should call on a few more girls for assistance."

"Yes sir," she chirped, scurrying out of sight.

Henry carried her slowly up the stairs, down the hallway towards his bedroom. A young guard pushed open the doors for him, watching Henry as he lowered Elena gently onto the bed.

Henry sat beside her, staring silently at her bruised face. He pushed her hair away from her face, the hair was a faint pink colour which felt like straw to Henry, because of the dried blood.

A moment later, six servants carried in huge jugs of hot water which they emptied unceremoniously in the large tub in his bathroom. As the men left, Catherine and two other women entered the room.

"I'll undress her here and carry her into the tub for you - she's too heavy for the three of you to lift," he explained to the women. They bowed their heads in agreement and walked into the bathroom.

Henry unfastened the cloak, pulling the sleeves off Elena slowly, trying his best not to jostle her too much. She groaned as he finally pulled the rough cloth from her body. He suspected that she groaned not from pain but from the sudden absence of warmth.

His eyes roamed her naked figure, taking in her various cuts and bruises. His fists clenched in anger as he spied hand or finger shaped bruises on her hips and thighs.

"King Henry," called Catherine, her soft voice breaking into Henry's angry thoughts. "Can I assist you in some way?"

"No need Catherine," he called as he scooped up Elena's naked body from the bed and carried her into the bathroom.

"My lord!" Catherine gasped, taking in Elena's battered state.

Henry lowered Elena slowly into the hot water, she moaned softly as her body was enveloped by the soothing water.

"Catherine, not a word is to be uttered about the Princess's state, do you understand?" he asked gruffly, looking around at the other women too.

"Yes King Henry!" she answered, the women beside her nodding as well. "But may I suggest that you wait outside sir? I imagine the princess would prefer it that way," she said gently.

"The Princess is unconscious Catherine - it is dangerous for her to be in a body of water without support. I'm going to hold her head above the water - that is all - I shall not interfere with your work."

"Yes my lord, but I think Elsa here," she indicated to the strong woman on her right, "can hold the Princess's head above the water. I assure you she is quite capable."

"Alright, alright," he murmured in agreement. "But I'll be right outside if you need me," he said, pointing to the bedroom.

"Of course King Henry."

Henry walked out of the bathroom and sat down on the edge of the bed. He ran both hands vigorously through his hair, waking himself a little and shake the veil of sleep that weighed heavily upon his mind. He lay back against the pillows and closed his eyes. He tried to rid himself of the image of Elena's battered body lying beneath Caspian's naked form and replace it with the sweet and demure woman he knew her to be, of how he had seen her just three days prior, but he failed miserably. Every time he thought of her he saw the bruises, her flesh entwined with another man that was not him. He slowly drifted off to sleep with the soft voices of the women in the bathroom, the gentle sound of water being poured - these soothing sounds faded into the harsh screams of his dreams, in which Elena pleaded with Henry, but he was powerless to help her.

*

It seemed that an hour later he was being shaken awake. Henry blinked and saw Catherine standing apprehensively over him.

Henry swung his legs over the edge of the bed, "What happened?" he asked quickly.

"Nothing my lord, calm yourself. You dozed off - I woke you so that you could lift the princess out of the bath - even though I believe that between the three of us we could get her out - but you wished otherwise, so here I am, waking you."

Henry rose slowly from the soft bed and walked into the bathroom. He looked down at Elena, her face now glistening wet and clean, her eyes remained closed. He bent down and lifted her from the water, not caring that he was getting wet.

He returned to the bedroom where Catherine had spread towels over the bed. He placed Elena on top of the towels and stood back and watched as Catherine dried her slowly and tenderly. He jumped slightly as a crackling sound came from his left - one of the women had started a roaring fire in the grate, providing much needed warmth to the room. Henry had hardly noticed how cold it was before, but now he noticed the added warmth.

"Bring the Princess bedclothes," he said to the other woman.

"Bedclothes? My lord, I don't think that is necessary- it is quite warm."

"Do as I say! Do not argue with me!" he snapped.

"Sorry my lord! I'll fetch them at once!" she stammered before hurrying out of sight.

Henry watched in silence as Catherine finished drying Elena. She turned to Henry and looked him up and down before speaking. "King Henry, there is an extra urn of hot water left - use it - have a quick wash, you look quite frightful my lord."

"My bath can wait."

"Honestly my lord - by the time Elsa is back with the bedclothes and the Princess here is sorted, you could be out of the bath. Do not worry my King, I will watch the Princess like a hawk."

Henry rubbed his eyes. "Fine. But i'll only be a minute," he said softly as he walked quickly into the bathroom, undoing his armor as he walked.

* 

Ten minutes later, Henry came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped firmly around his waist. Catherine blushed at the sight of him and looked away.

"You may leave now ladies, thank you."

The women bowed and walked quickly from the room, closing the door softly behind them.

Henry walked to his closet and pulled out a clean pair of pants and a shirt. He tossed his wet towel aside and dressed silently. When he was done, he walked over to Elena and sat down beside her on the bed. He looked down at his sleeping princess, her soft lips parted slightly as she breathed silently in her sleep. She looked just as beautiful as she had the first evening he watched her sleep, except for the small gash on her cheek and the bruising around her neck. He reached over and pushed a strand of damp hair away from her face, gently brushing the line of her jaw. Elena moaned sleepily and rubbed her cheek against his hand. 

Henry had to suppress the urge to slip into bed and hold her tightly against him, cradling her in his arms. He knew that she was quite fragile at the moment and needed to be handled ever so gently.

He groaned and stood up slowly. He stretched, his joints cracking as he made his way towards the chair by the fire. He turned the chair so that it faced the bed and sat down slowly. The chair was not a comfortable place to sleep, but Henry wasn't planning on sleeping anyway.

Henry leaned forwards, his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together. He lowered his head, his chin resting on his hands as he lost himself in thought. The events of the past few days and the future that had been so carefully planned, bled into one another and created a terrifying mess, and Henry had no idea how to fix it...



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 13



Elena awoke to the chirping of birds on the windowsill. She turned her head towards the lovely sound, her injured cheek brushing the pillow, eliciting from her a sharp intake of breath. She reached up to touch the smarting area, gently running her fingertips over the stitches. Her cheek felt tight and oddly warm in comparison with the other.

"You should try not to touch it," Henry's voice called out from across the room.

Starting slightly, Elena turned towards the source of his voice, instinctively pulling the sheets over her body as she caught sight of him. Henry extricated himself from the chair near the fire, looking extremely stiff and haggard. 

Henry sat down on the edge of the bed and smoothed out the bedcovers before him. "How do you feel?" he asked Elena, not looking her in the eye.

Elena's lip trembled and tears welled in her eyes. How did she feel? She wished she could stop feeling! So many things going through her mind, to pick even one emotion seemed an incredible task, she didn't even know what she was feeling. And why wouldn't Henry look at her? Was she that disfigured?

"I.. I.." she began to say, her voice cracking slightly. She couldn't continue, it was too much to think, let alone talk about her feelings.

Henry reached out to rub her foot through the sheets but Elena flinched at his touch and drew her knees up against her chest, wrapping her arms around them. Henry turned pink and withdrew his hand quickly. He stood up slowly, running his hand through his hair - in frustration? Bewilderment? Elena couldn't say.

"I'll send Catherine in with some breakfast - you should eat something."

Henry crossed the room quickly and was gone before Elena could blink. Was she really that disfigured? Or could Henry not look at her because of how he came upon her and Caspian? Elena lay back against the soft pillows, wondering what lay ahead - the future that seemed so clear now lay hidden behind a veil of dense fog.

*

Henry sat alone, the table before him heaped with scrolls all awaiting his attention, but his mind was elsewhere.

A soft knock on the large doors of his study broke into his thoughts. "Enter," he called, sitting up straighter.

Catherine walked in, bowing her head before the king. "We have done as you asked King Henry - all the mirrors have been removed, there is no chance that the Princess will see her injured reflection anywhere in the castle."

"Good." 

There was an uncomfortable silence. "My lord, is there anything else you wish of me?"

"No," Henry replied. "Yes - wait, I forgot to ask - has the Princess eaten anything? Has she said anything?"

"No my lord. She has left the food I left for breakfast and lunch untouched, in fact she barely acknowledges my presence at all. She has yet to say a word to me King Henry."

"Very well, you may leave now."

"Yes my King," Catherine answered, bowing once more and exiting quickly, closing the door softly behind her.

Henry stood up, his stiff joints cracking in protest. He rounded his desk and pulled a heavy leather-bound book off a nearby shelf and looked at the cover- in slightly faded golden lettering it read "The Desideratum of a Kravaolian Royal". He blew a thick layer of dust of the top of it, coughing slightly as he inhaled some of it by accident. He sat down at his desk, the heavy tomb on his lap. He opened the book, rifling through the pages until he found what he was looking for. Henry sat hunched over the pages, reading with great intensity. When he began reading, he had a slight frown, however as he continued, his eyes narrowed considerably, the colour rising in his face. Suddenly, Henry had read enough, he snapped the book shut and slammed it down on the desk with such force that the goblet of wine that was standing untouched for several hours, full to the brim, fell over and spilled it's contents everywhere.

Henry couldn't wait any longer, he needed to speak to Elena.

*

Elena had spent the whole day buried beneath the bedsheets. It was not only that she didn't want or care to get out of bed, but she was still quite sore- even a small movement caused her pain, so she just lay still, staring ahead, trying not to think of anything.

Elena lay awake, not because she couldn't fall asleep, but because she was afraid of the shadows that lurked in her dreams. The few times she did doze off, she awoke drenched in sweat and her heart pounding with some vague recollection of a domineering, violent figure. She didn't really need to see the figure's face to know who he was - in fact, she preferred that the face remain hidden.

On the few occasions that Catherine came in, usually bearing a plate of food, she feigned sleep. She couldn't stomach the thought of engaging in mindless banter just to put the young maiden at ease. So she pretended to sleep instead.

There was a soft knock on the door again. Elena sighed heavily and closed her eyes, feigning sleep once more. She heard the door close softly followed closely by the creaking of the chair by the fire. Great, Elena thought - now she's going to watch me sleep? Elena rolled over so her face was hidden from Catherine, allowing her to keep her eyes open but presenting the appearance of sleep.

"I know you're not sleeping Princess," said a deep voice.

Elena's heart pounded against her ribcage. Henry.

"Once, not so long ago, I could tell that you weren't sleeping by the lightest touch -now though, the way you breathe Princess, i'm familiar with the sound as I am with my own breathing."

Elena hugged the sheets a little closer, closing her eyes, wishing he would leave her be.

"Please, look at me." Henry asked softly.

Elena sighed and rolled back over, lifting her face slightly to meet Henry's gaze.

Henry looked at Elena's pale face, marred by the small cut on her cheek. Her eyes, full of pain and something Henry couldn't quite put his finger on, caused him to look away and lower his own head in embarrassment and shame.

Elena's lip trembled and tears pooled in her eyes. So, this is the way it was going to be between them? Henry couldn't look at her anymore?

Elena sobbed softly, pulled the bedsheets tighter around her and rolled back over.

"Elena, please - I'm sorry, I-" Henry started to stammer, but Elena cut him short.

"Please leave," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly.

"Elena-" he started to say in a soothing voice.

"Please!" she cried out.

Tears flowed freely, dampening her pillow slightly. Elena jumped as Henry slammed the door shut behind him.

Elena rolled onto her back and covered her face with her hands. She breathed in deeply a few times, slowing the flow of tears. What was she going to do? It was painfully clear to her that Henry thought of her in a different way than he used to. The look he had in his eyes when he gazed upon her- she didn't want to be looked at like that again, let alone for the rest of her life.

She sat up and held her head in her hands. Elena thought over her options, which were quite bleak. She could continue with the original agreement and remain at Henry's side. She shuddered at the thought of Henry's facial expression, the hurt in his eyes - seeing that for the rest of her life? Living with that? It was not very appealing.

Her second option, was to cause Henry to fall out of love with her. She didn't know exactly how to do it - but if he could fall in love with her he could sure fall out of love.

The third option, was to run. Would Henry follow her this time? Where would she go? back to the forrest of Lorrea? That prospect wasn't very enticing either.

Elena gave a groan of exasperation and fell back heavily against her pillows. She didn't know what to do.

*

Henry stood on the other side of the door to his bedroom, his heart hammering in his chest, the blood rushing in his ears. As he stood there, he realised that he was feeling angry - he was angry that Elena wouldn't let him near her, that she wouldn't speak to him, that she barely acknowledged his presence. In a sudden flare of ego, he spun around and grasped the large brass door handle and was about to wrench the door open and demand that she speak to him when a small part of his mind gave him pause. As Elena's tear stricken face flashed across his mind, he loosened his grip on the door handle and pressed his forehead against the strong, rough wooden doors. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, letting out a soft hissing noise.

"King Henry, are you alright?" asked one of the guards, standing a few feet behind him.

Henry's head snapped up and he turned to face the guard. "Yes," he answered curtly, pushing himself away from the door and walking past the guard without so much as a sideways glance.

*

An unnatural hush fell on the inhabitants of the castle. Not a word was uttered as to the royal couple or their pending nuptials. The castle cook tried to broach the subject delicately one morning as the King wandered into the kitchen, but the furious look on Henry's face was enough to stop any further inquiries from him and the rest of the castle staff.

The princess spent all her time in Henry's bedroom, she didn't leave it once. Elena picked at the food Catherine brought, even though it looked exquisite, as though the kitchen staff had spent much thought and time in it's preparation - however, to her it tasted bland.

Elena awoke each morning, expecting to roll over and begrudgingly find Henry in the bed next to her. Although she was relieved to find it empty, she wondered where he was spending his nights. A week had gone by and she hadn't seen him at all. Was he in the castle? Was another woman warming his bed at night? She shook her head at that thought - what did she care? Her skin felt clammy every time she thought about another man's fingers on her skin- then why did she spend a disproportionate part of her day thinking of Henry?

Another week passed since Elena's return to the castle. Although her cheek healed nicely- there was only a thin trace of a scar, Elena couldn't stop herself from running her fingertips along the shallow groove, as one would casually run their fingers through their hair.

Elena started to become a little restless - sleeping all morning and lying awake all night. She slept in shorts bursts, waking up suddenly, finding it impossible to resume her slumber.

One night, Elena awoke from a very vivid nightmare. She ran her trembling fingers through her hair, rubbing her eyes forcefully with the heel of her palm. She stood abruptly, shaking the remnants of the dream from her mind and body. Elena walked over to the windowsill, looking out over the castle grounds, the only movement coming from the beautiful old tree in the center. Suddenly, Elena felt suffocated, as if the walls of the room were closing in on her with every breath she took. She ran for the door, wrenching it open, streaking past the guards before they even registered what had happened. She ran barefoot down the stairs, across the flagstone entrance hall, out into the garden. She ran without slowing, enjoying the dampness of the wet grass between her toes, the crispness of the night air, clearing her mind of it's sleepy remnants.

Elena reached the tree out of breath, exhaling large clouds of condensation which floated around her momentarily before evaporating into thin air. She reached out, her fingers touching the rough surface of the tree, her fingertips tracing the deep grooves in the bark. She leaned against the tree, closing her eyes as she pressed her face against the old gnarled tree trunk, taking comfort in it's strength and silence.

Somewhere in the canopy above her, she heard a faint "meow" of a cat. Elena looked up, searching the branches until she spotted the kitten- the same one that had recently allowed her to pet it.

"What are you doing up there?" she asked the fluffy kitten, which was sitting on a branch out of her reach. The cat just looked at Elena and proceeded to lick it's front paw.

"I'm coming up, alright?" she asked the cat, before reaching above her for the first tree limb. Climbing the tree was much harder than the last time she had done it - mostly because she had broken most of the branches herself at one point, but also because lying in bed for two weeks does not contribute greatly to upper-body strength.

After much scrambling and one stomach clenching moment when she almost missed the branch she had leapt for- she managed to reach the same branch as the kitten. As Elena found a comfortable position, she expected the kitten to back away or jump from the branch, but it did neither. The little ball of fluff actually made it's way cautiously across the branch to nestle comfortably in Elena's lap.

"Someone else would call you a silly cat for climbing so high," she said, stroking the cat slowly. "But I know what it feels like to sit up here, just you and the tree."

The kitten's only reply was to purr contently in her lap.

"Listen to me, having conversations with a cat. You know, my mother would have called me crazy - in fact she actually did call me crazy on a few occasions when she happened on me talking to my old cat, Cornelius. My father never called me crazy though," Elena smiled sadly, scratching the cat's ears.

"Would you listen to me Kitty? Talking about a life that is long gone- people that are..." she trailed off quietly. The kitten licked the tip of her thumb, causing her to giggle suddenly.

"I'm glad to hear that you can still laugh, Princess," called a gruff voice from somewhere below her. "Honestly, I thought i'd never hear that lovely sound again."

The kitten scrambled out of her lap in fright, slipping through her fingers to climb to the limb above her.

"You scared the cat," Elena said weakly, her heart pounding in her chest.

"My apologies to the cat then," replied Henry. 

Elena pressed her face against the tree bark, drawing strength from it. She knew Henry expected her to reply, to continue in the fruitless banter, but she wasn't interested.

"To be perfectly honest though Princess, you're the one who gave me a scare."

Elena straightened up a little and frowned. "And why's that?" she asked slowly.

"Well, the guards informed me that you had left your room quite suddenly- 'Fleeing' was the way they described it," he said slowly. "I thought- I thought that maybe... maybe you had, well..." he stammered.

"You thought that I had run away?" Elena asked, completing his sentence.

"Yes," he replied, looking up at her, trying to discern from her facial expression whether he had been correct.

Elena sighed and looked away. 

"You - you were going to run away?" Henry asked, his voice betraying his feelings of hurt.

Elena closed her eyes and pressed her cheek against the tree. "I thought about it," she answered through closed eyes. "But I knew that if I ran, you would follow."

"Yes, I would."

"But why?!" she asked angrily, her eyes snapping open to stare down at Henry.

"You know why."

"No I don't," Elena said through clenched teeth, her hands gripping the tree limb tightly.

"I care for you," Henry said softly.

Elena couldn't stop the angry scoffing sound from escaping her throat. "Care for me? You can barely look at me!" she said angrily. "Am I so disfigured? Not beautiful enough for you anymore?"

"Princess, no - " Henry stammered before Elena interrupted him.

"Then why? Because I am no longer 'untouched'? Because your cousin got to me before you did?" Elena yelled down at Henry, tears blurring her vision. "You think that it's my fault? That I brought this on myself, don't you?"

"Princess, I - " Henry started to reply before Elena cut him off again.

"Just leave me alone!" Elena shouted, turning her tear-stricken face away from Henry's gaze

"No, I won't," he replied before reaching up to the closest branch and starting to climb the tree. "I will not allow you to shut me out again," he panted as he scaled the tree slowly but surely.

"My goodness," Elena cried exasperatedly. "When will this end? What is the point to all this? Are you doing this just to torture me?"

"Torture you? What are you talking about? What nonsense is this?" Henry panted, straightening up on the branch below her, his hand holding onto her branch to steady himself.

"You think i'm ignorant of your laws, but I am not stupid - I know your laws of succession, they are no different than the same laws in any other kingdom in the area," Elena spat, inching herself away from his hand.

"Listen Princess, it's not that simple-"

"Of course it's simple! The law is black and white when it comes to the archaic nature of succession," she said flatly. "In order to ascend the throne, the Princess must be a virgin - and you and I both know that your cousin took care of that," Elena said quietly, folding her arms over her chest.

"Yes, that is more or less the essence of the Kravaolian law," Henry said slowly. "But-"

Elena's strong voice interrupted his."And you dare say that I was shutting you out! It is you MY KING, that has kept me at a distance - do not deny this! I know very well the reason for this, I am no fool," Elena said, her face tinged pink in anger.

"I have honestly no idea what you're talking about Princess," Henry said, his face looking up at Elena in defiance.

"Do not insult my intelligence! I know why you have shunned me these past few weeks."

"By all means then, enlighten me Princess, for I have no idea what you are talking about! You pushed ME away everytime I tried to reach out to you."

Elena shook her head, ignoring Henry's words. "I know," she began, her tone as low as the hissing of a snake, "that the real reason you have kept me around, is to see whether I become pregnant. I know that IF Cas- er, your cousin," she hastily corrected, "left me with child, that child would be first in line for the throne of Kravaolia, seeing you have no children of your own. In essence, a direct threat to your reign."

Henry looked up at Elena, his mouth agape in shock.

"And not only that," she continued scathingly, "but that heir would have the royal lineage of a Lorrean royal - making him more entitled to the throne of Lorrea than any descendant of yours could ever hope to be."

"Your - being with child," Henry said, a grimace crossing his features as he said it, "never crossed my mind Princess, I promise you!"

"Such lies - your father taught you well," Elena sneered down at him.

Henry's face flushed red in anger. Elena could tell that he was close to grabbing her - she half wished he would try, it would be so easy just to kick him from where she sat, his balance completely off the way he was standing - most likely he'd fall from the tree and break his neck.

Henry stared up at Elena for a few moments, but slowly the rage he felt coursing through his veins lessened, his colour returning to it's previous complexion.

"You're doing it again Princess."

"And what exactly am I doing?"

"Pushing me away. It won't work."

Elena let out a bellow like a wounded animal. "What do you want from me?! The truth? Fine - if you really want to know, I'm not pregnant! I'm not carrying the bastard child of my - my rapist," she yelled, her tears clouding her vision again. "You're free to plan the rest of your reign unencumbered by the threat of an opposing heir! You can now kill me or banish me - whichever is easiest, for I'm clearly in the way of your future heir - your own laws are very clear on this matter," she cried, hot angry tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

"I will not pretend," Henry said slowly, "that I am not relieved that you are not pregnant - not because I fear such a child, but because I could not stand the agony of you bearing or raising a child whose father hurt you so."

Elena looked down at Henry, her eyes narrowed shrewdly. "I do not believe you."

Henry sighed loudly. "You are as stubborn as an ox!"




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 13



"Equating me to cattle is not going to convince me any more than you have already," Elena spat. "Just decide what you're going to do with me, now that you know I pose no threat. What is it going to be?" Elena asked matter-of-factly, "A concubine, waiting on you when you're unsatisfied with your queen? or rather you wish a monetary solution - you know that many of my neighbouring countries would pay dearly to own me as a slave," she said, her own words causing chills to course through her body.

Henry seemed to pale a little at the mental images she presented him with. "I do not want any of those things," he said quietly.

"Then just release me - what is the point to all this?!" she said angrily, slapping her palm against the tree trunk.

Henry remained silent for a few moments, thinking of how to say what was on his mind. "Granted, there is a law written about the, uh, virtue of the future queen," Henry said slowly, plucking a few leaves off the tree in absentminded discomfort.

"You see, even if - " Elena started to say, before Henry cut her off.

"Would you just let me finish Princess?! What I meant to say is yes, there is an old law on the subject - it dates back to as far as the beginning of the Kravaolian lineage. But that's just it- it's an old law!"

"Laws are not weakened by passage of time- quite the opposite," Elena stated haughtily, before Henry interrupted her again.

"That doesn't matter. Don't you understand? I am the King! No one has more authority than I - If I say the colour blue is in fact green, it shall be! Just as I can create new laws I can do away with the laws of the past too."

"You mean to say," started Elena, "that it would not matter how many men have touched the queen before the king did - it wouldn't hinder her rise to the throne?" Elena asked sarcastically.

"You're speaking in terms of volume - but that is not of which I speak Elena, I speak of being with just one more man, never mind how many times it, er, happened with said man," Henry finished awkwardly.

"Only once," Elena said softly, vocalising her thought without intending to.

"Anyway," Henry continued, his tone a tad more exuberant than before. "There is nothing to stop us now."

"What cruel joke is this?" Elena asked.

"No joke Princess, I promise you."

"You expect me to bind myself to you, for the rest of my life - when you won't even look at me?" she asked hotly.

"I look at you, what nonsense is this?" Henry said, looking up at her defiantly.

"Yes, but the shame in your eyes, don't you understand that it hurts me so? It is not enough that I have to live with the memory and even a physical reminder of a scar on my cheek," she said, trailing the thin line with her fingers. "But having to endure your look of shame - it is enough I carry it with me without having to see it reflected in your eyes!" Elena said, hot tears leaking from her eyes once more.

"Princess, I apologise - that is not my intent! The shame I feel it is not your shame, it is my own! It was I who ignored your warnings of Caspian's true nature... it was I who failed to reach you in time... Don't you see Elena, that this is all my fault?" He said, looking up at her from his branch, his face full of anguish.

Elena shut her eyes and shook her head. She didn't have room in her heart for the guilt of two people now. "Don't be ridiculous," she said.

"But it is the truth."

"The fault lies only with Cas- Caspian," she stammered. "He is - I mean was, the one who did this to me. Not you. Do not think that you bear some responsibility in this... this... happening."

Elena noticed, that as these words passed her lips, her own guilt that had been weighing so heavily on her heart, lifted suddenly. She was able to close her eyes and not fear seeing a dark shadow in her minds-eye. Absolving Henry of his imaginary guilt seemed to have removed her own self blame.

Elena breathed deeply, the cool night air seemed the best breath of fresh air she had taken in a very long time.



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 14



Elena picked at the loose bark of the tree, watching as the pieces flipped over in the air as they tumbled soundlessly to the floor below.

"Are you ready to come down now?" asked Henry, his hand gripping the tree limb she was perched on, his fingers mere inches from Elena's.

Elena sighed and rested her head against the tree trunk. "I don't know," she said through half-closed eyes.

"Please Princess? I've never told you this, or for that matter I've never told anyone this - but i'm not too fond of heights," he said, his ears turning just the slightest shade of pink.

Elena suppressed a laugh. Instead, she peered down at Henry with a frown. "It hasn't seemed to stop you from climbing up after me, has it?"

"It's not so much the climb Princess - it's the descent that, uh, well, gives me pause."

Elena sighed once more. As tempted as she was to stay up in the tree, it no longer provided her with the peace and quiet she had enjoyed just minutes before Henry's arrival.

"Fine," she said, lowering herself slowly onto the same branch as Henry.

A look of relief washed over Henry's face as he started to follow Elena's descent. Elena dropped easily from branch to branch, always a few ahead of Henry. Finally, she felt the cool, damp grass between her toes as she dropped lightly from the lowest branch. She looked up to see Henry's large muscular legs and arms straining against the forces of gravity. Once again, Elena suppressed a laugh, the absurdity of the situation not lost on her. Such a strong and powerful soldier battling with such an imposing enemy - a tree. Elena walked a few paces, putting a little distance between herself and the tree. She looked up at the moon, it's glow illuminating the castle grounds. Henry dropped heavily to the ground, having chosen to forgo the last branch altogether in order to feel the firm ground beneath his feet.

Henry followed Elena, stopping a few feet behind her.

"What now?" Elena asked, wrapping her slender arms around herself.

"I suggest that we both get some sleep, seeing how late it is."

"That's not what I meant," Elena said, shaking her head. "What I meant is, where do we go from here?"

"Well, in my eyes our arrangement still stands, so next week is a good a time as any - " 

Elena frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Things have changed since we made that arrangement," she said flatly.

"No they haven't - I see no reason for us to postpone anything," he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"You don't see any reason?" Elena repeated incredulously, turning around to face Henry. 

"No," Henry said firmly, taking a step towards Elena. "I don't really see any difference in our situation to that of a few weeks ago," he said, shrugging his shoulders again.

Elena took a step back in turn, shaking her head. She wasn't sure that Henry grasped the situation in it's entirety. "You don't really mean that, you're just being... oh, I don't know what you're thinking, but this will never work Henry. Too much has happened."

"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't care about what happened, it doesn't matter!" he said, taking another step forward and clutching Elena's arms in his hands.

"It matters to me," Elena said scathingly, wriggling free from his grasp.

Henry, realising his callousness, blushed deeply. "That's not what I meant Princess."

Elena turned her back on Henry, her previous misgivings surfacing once more. Clearly Henry couldn't understand or handle the complexities of their situation.

Henry watched Elena's back, contemplating silently the best way to handle the delicate nature of the conversation.

"I was planning on giving you this as a wedding present," he said slowly, pausing for a moment before continuing. "But seeing how you - well... I guess I may as well give it to you now," he said, pulling a small silk pouch from his pocket, loosening the drawstring around it's opening.

Despite her current state of mind, Elena's curiosity was piqued. She turned slightly towards Henry and watched as he tipped the contents of the small bag onto his large palm. Even in the moonlight, the contents sparkled. Henry lifted the chain, the small golden medallion swinging back and forth as he extended his hand towards Elena.

Elena's eyes followed the swinging of the medallion as though hypnotised. "How - Where did you find it?" she asked weakly as she reached out and accepted the necklace from him. Elena turned the necklace over in her fingers, the medallion unblemished and just as she remembered it.

"I think you were a little, um... overwhelmed, to see that I had picked it up that day. My goldsmith had to replace the chain, but other than that and perhaps a light cleaning, it is still the same."

"I don't... how..." Elena mumbled incoherently as she looked down at the medallion, a single tear leaked from her eye, she sniffed loudly.

"May I?" Henry asked, gently taking the necklace from Elena, stepping behind her. He undid the new clasp and placed it around her neck, his fingers touching her soft skin.

Elena shivered slightly at his touch, her trembling fingers touching the necklace that lay against her chest. Henry's hands moved from her neck in a sweeping movement down to her shoulders. 

He gently pulled her back against his chest, whispering in her ear: "I want you Elena. I always have... always will." 

Elena shivered in his arms. "I'm not the same girl that you caught in the forest Henry, not so long ago," she said softly.

"That skinny little trembling creature? No, you definitely are not- also, you smell nicer than she ever did," he said, inhaling the intoxicating smell of her hair.

Elena turned around to face Henry. She looked up at him, her face marked once more by tear tracks. "You know what I mean," she said.

Henry wiped away the remnants of her tears. "Yes, I do," he said, with a small, sad smile. "But that doesn't matter to me - I love you for who you are now too."

Elena blushed furiously at his words. Never in her life had anyone told her that they loved her and she couldn't deny how thrilling it felt - it was as if all the blood in her body had suddenly rushed to her head.

"Henry, I -" she started to say before Henry pressed his lips firmly against hers, cutting short her response. Elena broke the long kiss by pushing Henry gently away from her. "Henry, please wait - think for a moment - you are confused," she said, arching her back to prevent Henry from his renewed attempt of kissing her.

"I am not confused Elena," he murmured, tracing her bottom lip with his fingers.

"Of course you are! Henry, how can you claim to love me? You don't even know me!"

"Of course I know you- you are a beautiful, smart, passionate and kind woman. A courageous and loyal princess," Henry said as he cupped Elena's face in his hands. "I adore all of these things - even your stubbornness I find oddly endearing Elena," he said with a laugh. "And it's because I know all these things that I love you Princess," he said, kissing her passionately on the lips.

Elena stood thunderstruck, not only from the shock and intensity of his kiss - Elena had never experienced such a kiss before, but she was shocked to the core from his words. Elena broke the staggering kiss by twisting her head to the side, causing Henry to groan softly in her ear.

"You really love me?" she asked slowly, looking into Henry's eyes once more, which were ablaze with passion.

"YES," he replied emphatically, wrapping his strong arms around her waist and pulling her against him, hugging her tightly.

Elena's heart pounded in her chest, at first from the nature of his words, but the cause for the erratic beating of her heart was soon replaced by her understanding of what was coming next.

"And do you love me?" asked Henry.

"I - I... Henry, I -" she stammered before he tilted her head up, placing a finger on her lips.

"Shhh," he said, "you don't have to answer straight away, when you feel ready to, then you should tell me."

"Alright," Elena said in a small voice, grateful for the small reprieve.

Henry kissed the top of her head before wrapping his arm around her waist and steering her back towards the castle.

"Hold on just one moment Elena," Henry said, coming to a halt before the castle steps. He reached down and held her hand in his. Elena looked at Henry in confusion, for he seemed so serious. "I thought," he continued, "when I retrieved your necklace, of adding a second medallion to it -the medallion of my household. However, I find it more prudent to give you this ring," he said, pulling the golden ring, bearing the Kravaolian coat of arms and the sign of the king, off his finger. "This way, when you look down, resting above your heart- and connected to it - is your past, but when you do something productive with your hands, you will be mindful of the future, your Kravaolian future."

Elena was silent for a few moments, digesting the meaning behind his words. "I didn't know you were such a poet Henry," Elena said softly, unable to stop a smile playing around her lips.

"My mother believed in a well-rounded education, despite my father's objections," he said with a small laugh as he lifted her hand. Henry placed the ring on her finger, but it almost slipped off when Elena turned her hand. "A little too big," he said, moving the ring onto her thumb instead. "Better, but i'll get the goldsmith to change the size tomorrow, alright?"

Elena nodded silently, staring down at the heavy golden ring.

"Good, come now, let's return to bed - I have a few early morning council meetings," he said, linking his arm in hers.

***

They stood outside the bedroom.

"Goodnight Elena, sleep well," Henry said, bringing her hand to his lips, kissing it lightly.

Henry's farewell of 'Sleep well', echoed in her head. She doesn't sleep well. "Wait," she called, as Henry turned to go to his current bedroom.

"Yes?" he asked, turning back to face her.

"Where are you going?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light.

"To retire, i'm quite tired princess," he replied.

"I thought this was your bedroom," Elena said, nervously twisting a lock of golden hair between her fingers.

"Well, yes... I mean, it was," he stammered, looking at Elena in discomfort.

"Then where are you going?" she asked, her eyebrow raised in question.

"I only thought... I mean, I don't want to impose," he said, peering curiously at Elena's face.

"You're not imposing," Elena said as she pushed the doors open and walked in. Henry stood, confusion clouding his mind. 

"Henry?" Elena called from somewhere within.

Henry swallowed the large lump in his throat and walked into the room, a smile spreading across his face.

"You know," Henry said to Elena as she neared the foot of the bed, "this will soon be OUR room, not my room - that is, after we are married, of course."

Elena looked around the room. "Yes, I suppose you're right," she said in a faraway voice, as she sat down on the bed. She shook her head clear of the thoughts of their future - those thoughts could wait for tomorrow she decided, right now she just wanted to sleep.

Henry walked quickly to the other side of the bed and sat down, taking his boots off as quickly as he could. His shirt promptly followed, tossing it to the ground before his trembling, excited fingers started to untie the laces of his pants.

"Henry," she said soothingly, placing her hand over his hands, stopping the unlacing. "I'm sorry, I should have made myself clear. I'd like the pleasure of your company... any other, er - pleasure- you had in mind will have to wait until after we are married," Elena said, her cheeks glowing pink in embarrassment.

Henry grumbled and fell back heavily against the mattress. "Elena," he groaned in exasperation.

"Sorry," she whispered as she lay back against the pillows, turning her back on Henry. She could feel him twisting this way and that, grumbling to himself as he tried to get comfortable.

After a few minutes of silence, Elena spoke. "Henry?"

A grunt in response.

"Henry?"

"Yes?" came a sleepy reply behind her.

"Can you hold me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Honestly, the reason Elena had asked Henry to sleep next to her was that she was scared. She knew that when she closed her eyes, even though Caspian was dead, he was well and truly alive in her dreams - she thought that maybe, sleeping in the arms of the one who had rescued her from him, would somehow dispel the terror she felt, the terror that caused her to wake up in a cold sweat every night, her heart racing.

Henry didn't answer, he didn't need to. Elena felt the mattress dip as he moved behind her, his strong arm cradling her waist as his other hand touched her head lightly, running his long fingers through her hair, over and over again.

As her eyes drooped, she felt the light touch of Henry's lips against the back of her neck. She squirmed in his arms. "Henry..." she said warningly.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist Princess," he murmured from behind.

"Try to," Elena said, pulling his arm tighter around her waist as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

"This is going to be a really long night" he mumbled to himself. 

Elena didn't hear him, for she was deeply asleep - and for the first time in weeks, she slept and dreamt soundly -no scary, looming figure in sight.



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 15



Elena looked out the window, the crowd of noblemen and dignitaries below growing minute by minute. She saw flashes of light as the dying sun reflected off the jewelry worn by the women and from the elaborately decorated sword sheaths fastened to the men's sides. She sighed and turned away from the window, catching sight of herself in the large mirror, her elaborately painted face staring back at her amid a sea of white satin and lace. Elena looked down at her wedding dress, fighting back tears as she remembered how she once imagined her wedding day, the glaring differences like knives, cutting her everytime she breathed. For one thing, she thought to herself, the marriage she imagined was not one of convenience and secondly, her parents would be there. 

The thought of her parents caused her brave façade to crumble. Tears leaked from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, as the reality sunk in, that she was going to walk down the aisle alone.

"Princess, oh don't! Please don't cry!" Catherine called from across the bedroom. Elena turned to look at the young girl, who walked quickly towards her and began dabbing her face and eyes with a handkerchief. At first Elena was somewhat touched at Catherine's attempt to sooth her, until she realised that Catherine was more worried that Elena would ruin the soft tones and colours she had spent hours applying to Elena's face.

"Thank you Catherine, but I can do that myself," Elena said somberly, taking the handkerchief from her. "You are excused now, I'm ready," she said, dabbing her eyes.

"I'm sorry Princess, but King Henry ordered me to stay by your side until the ceremony starts."

Elena turned away from the mirror and faced Catherine. "There is no need for that, I hereby relieve you of your duties for the rest of the evening."

Catherine bit her lip, clearly undecided. "I'm sorry Princess, but I don't think I can do that, King Henry - " she started to say before Elena cut her off.

"FINE," Elena said, exasperated. "But I need a few minutes alone, please. If you wish, you may stand outside the door until I call you in or the ceremony is about to commence."

Catherine, hesitated for a few moments, but she curtsied and walked quickly from the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Elena walked back to the window, noting that the crowd was now streaming into the castle gardens, where a great number of chairs had been placed on the grass, with a long white gap separating the seats into two clusters. Looking closer, Elena saw that the whiteness was in fact a long stretch of silk that started from within the castle and ended on a raised dais. She shivered suddenly, the reality of her situation thrown into sharp relief before her very eyes. Elena's heart started to pound as she knew that soon enough there would be a sharp knock on the door, starting the chain of events that caused her throat to run dry and her heart to race.

Turning back to the mirror, Elena dug her nails into her palms, willing herself to calm down. "You lived in the forest on your own for years, you can surely survive a wedding," she said to her own reflection.

A soft knock on the door, which opened, without waiting for an invitation. "Princess," Catherine said, her face alight with excitement, "the ceremony is starting."

Elena sighed and reached out a trembling hand for the bouquet of purple flowers that lay on her bed. In her opinion, they were quite ugly, but the flower is somehow significant to the Kravaolian nation and the man assigned to the running of the whole affair said that it would offend too many guests for it to be overlooked. In the grand scheme of things, Elena thought it insignificant and backed down from her request to change the floral bouquet.

Catherine opened the door wide, stepping back as Elena passed through it. She scurried around behind her, fixing Elena's veil and fluffing out the skirts of her dress unnecessarily. As Elena walked through the hallways and down the grand staircase, she barely noticed the flowers that covered every surface or the red and golden hangings draped over many pieces of furniture. She concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other - nothing more and nothing less. 

At the doorway leading to the gardens, she was stopped by Catherine, who quickly pulled her veil over her head, adjusting it so that is sat just right. Elena was grateful for the veil, as the fabric was rather thick - preventing her from having to look to closely at her guests and vice-versa. Elena took a deep shuddering breath as another Lorrean custom came to her, the father's blessing. It was customary for the father to bless the bride and then lower the veil himself. She shook her head and clenched her jaw, which helped her get her emotions under control.

"Princess Elena?" asked an unfamiliar voice to her left.

"Yes?" Elena croaked, her throat suddenly as dry as sand.

"Good," said the voice. He cleared his throat and announced loudly to the courtyard at large, "Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, distinguished guests. I present to you, Elena, the former princess of Lorrea."

Somewhere to Elena's right, someone blew a short blast of trumpet, causing her to jump slightly.

"Go," whispered Catherine from behind her, prodding her back.

Elena's feet felt encased in lead, rather than the woven material that they were actually wrapped in.

"Just get it over with," she mumbled to herself. 

Elena stumbled forwards, her pace picking up as she swept up the aisle, looking nowhere but at her feet. In a few short seconds, she arrived at the dais, her breath coming in shallow, quick bursts. Elena covered the trembling of her hands by gripping the stems of the flowers more tightly.

Suddenly, a large strong hand cupped her elbow, essentially lifting her up to the dais. She looked up and could vaguely make out the towering shape of King Henry standing beside her.

"The veil, King Henry," said a rasping voice in front of her.

Elena saw Henry's fingers grasp the veil lightly, before he lifted the material swiftly over her head. Elena looked up slowly, to find Henry staring at her with a large smile. Elena couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the look on Henry's face - was it triumph? She couldn't tell. She didn't spend much time thinking about it though, as she was taken aback at how well groomed Henry looked - by far the most handsome she'd seen him. He wore a sharp looking shirt of sky-blue colour, over form fitting white pants which were fastened at the waist by a thick belt which held a large golden, ruby encrusted sword. Atop his dark hair sat a golden crown, sparkling in the dying light of the evening. As much as Elena hated to admit it, he really DID look quite dashing - no doubt her mother would have been thrilled with their pairing. Elena shook her head at the memory of her mother, getting a handle on the emotions that were bubbling beneath the surface - she wasn't going to cry in front of so many people.

"The bouquet," rasped the small, ancient looking man in front of her.

A hand, belonging to someone Elena had never seen before, gently tugged the flowers from her grasp.

"King Henry, take her hand in yours," instructed the frail man.

Henry covered Elena's shaking right hand with his massive left hand. The small man bent forwards and started to wind a long strip of silk around their hands, tying them together.

"King Henry," the man wheezed. "Is this the bride of your choosing?"

"Yes," he said confidently, squeezing Elena's hand in what she could only imagine he thought to be a reassuring gesture.

Elena's jaw clenched. In Lorrean weddings, the bride was asked for her consent too. However, the man whose job it was to oversee the whole wedding day, explained to her that Kravaolian law did not require the consent of the woman in question. Elena had fumed for quite some time when she realised that she would have no say in her own wedding ceremony.

"And what be her name?" asked the man, snapping Elena back to the present.

"Princess Elena," Henry replied, omitting her heritage.

"And it is your understanding that by wedding this woman, she will become Queen Elena of Kravaolia?" he rasped.

"Yes," Henry replied, looking quickly at Elena with a smile. Elena just looked straight ahead, a faint taste of bile filling her mouth.

"Then so it shall be," he wheezed, raising his feeble arms into the air. "As this fabric, woven from the silkworms of Kravaolia, binds your hands together, it shall be that your destinies are now as one, entwined from now and to eternity," he declared loudly.

A short blast of a trumpet caused Elena to jump in fright again. Henry squeezed her hand again as the crowd clapped and cheered.

The old man lifted a golden crown, matching Henry's but slightly smaller in circumference, from a purple pillow to his right. He approached Elena, lifting the crown high above her head, the crowd falling silent once more.

"From Princess to Queen, I hereby declare it so," he said, placing the crown on top of her head.

Elena felt a sudden weight fall on her head, even though she was sure that the weight of crown wasn't really the reason for it.

The old man fumbled to untie the silk fabric that bound their hands together. Once freed, Henry slipped his fingers between hers, pulling her with him to turn and face the gathered crowd.

From behind them, the small man rasped loudly: "All hail King Henry and Queen Elena of Kravaolia!"

The crowd before them bowed their heads before shouting in unison, "Hail King Henry and Queen Elena!"

"If you will follow me, King Henry and Queen Elena," rasped the little old man, stepping around them and leading the way up the aisle. 

As they followed the diminutive figure, Elena looked around at the guests seated on either side of her. Some looked at the royal couple with happiness while others with sour, calculating looks - more often from a female princess. Elena assumed that they were clearly unhappy that Henry, the most sought after royal bachelor in the land, was no longer available.

"Where are we going?" Elena asked Henry in a whisper.

"Kravaolian custom," Henry replied simply, looping an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Which custom?"

"You'll see."

The frail old man led them away from the crowd, back into the castle. They walked slowly in his wake, Elena's anxiety building with every step. Not long after they entered the castle, the old man stopped before a heavy oak door and turned to Henry. "I'll be waiting here, my King, you can show me when you're ready."

Henry nodded at the man and pulled Elena gently by the hand into the room, closing the door quickly behind them.

"Henry, I don't understand, what did-" Elena started to say before Henry pushed her up against the closed door, his hands cupping her face as his lips pressed tightly against hers. Momentarily stunned, Elena kissed Henry back, before putting her hands on his chest and gently pushing him away.

"Wait Henry, I don't understand, why are we here? What is he waiting for?" Elena asked, confusion in her eyes.

Henry took a step back, allowing Elena to get a better look at the room. It was not very large but it was decorated lavishly, a large bed in the center, a table with wine goblets and a fruit platter in one corner.

"It is Kravaolian custom, dear Elena, for a newly wed royal couple to retire after the ceremony for a little while for what is known as, well - I don't remember the exact Latin of the phrase, but it's called something like "the connection room" - it sounds better in Latin."

"Henry, what exactly is expected of us? I don't think I understand."

Henry looked away, contemplating his response. "In the past, when the queen was a virgin, she and the king perform their first marital act, here, in this room. Immediately after, the bed sheet would be shown to the man who officiated the marriage, confirming their union and the Queen's purity," Henry said quickly, in a monotonic voice.

Elena's skin prickled with anger, her hands balled into fists. "How dare you - he - I will not - " Elena spluttered in rage, before Henry cut her off quickly.

"Calm yourself, Queen Elena," Henry said soothingly. The new title caused a shiver to run down her spine. "I do not intend to do any of that! We'll just bide our time before leaving, let him think what he wants about what may or may not have transpired on that bed," he said, waving his hand at the bed behind him.

"But Henry - if you say he's expecting to see some - well, blood on a sheet, what are we going to do?" Elena said slowly.

"Do not worry my fare Queen, I have a plan," he said, walking over to the bed as he rolled up his sleeve. He pushed the material higher up his arm until his muscular bicep was revealed. Henry unsheathed his sword and grasping the hilt with a strong hand, he flicked it ever so slightly against his arm. Henry winced but otherwise made no sound, sheathed his sword and pulled back the heavy animal furs and blankets to reveal snowy white sheets. He raised his arm over the sheet, pressing the area around the incision to help the blood drip from the wound.

"See?" he said to Elena, a smile on his face. 

Elena nodded with relief, but something else troubled her. 

"Henry," she began, "I thought you said that you would change the law - wasn't that what you said?"

"Yes, I did say that," he said, looking at her kindly. "It is in the process of being changed - but after all, it is a laborious and tiring process, changing ancient laws - what i'm doing here, it's only for traditions sake - nothing more. As far as i'm concerned our union is legal - and really, I AM the law," he said smiling widely.

"There - that looks sufficient for that old badger outside," Henry said, looking down at the sheet. He pressed a finger to the wound, stemming the flow of blood. "Would you mind handing me that napkin from the table over there?" he asked her, nodding at the table with the fruit.

Elena retrieved the napkin and brought it to Henry. "Could you tie it around my arm please? I'd do it myself but it's easier if you use two hands," he said jokingly.

Elena wrapped the napkin over the wound, fastening it tightly against the cut, staunching any further bleeding. Henry inspected the wrapping, before rolling his shirtsleeve back over his arm, hiding the wound from sight. It was as if it never happened.

"There - see? All done, no problem," Henry said, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her tightly against him.

"Yes, no problem," Elena repeated quietly.

"What is it? What's the matter Elena?" Henry asked, lifting her chin gently so he could get a better look at her face.

"N - nothing," she replied, hitching a dazzling smile back on her face. "I'm just getting used to the idea of us, that's all."

"I know you, something is wrong," Henry persisted, a frown forming across his handsome features.

Deep inside, Elena was terrified. They had not discussed one of the most important aspects of the wedding day - the wedding night. Being alone with Henry so soon after the ceremony, in a room where the focal point of said room was a large bed, caused Elena to be deeply uncomfortable and nervous. She wanted to talk to Henry about it, but she just couldn't. Not yet - maybe after they attended their wedding reception, after the guests have left. After. Later. Not now.

"It's nothing, really," Elena said. She decided on a half-truth, knowing that if you are to tell a lie, it needs to sound true, so you inject a little truth to add plausibility. "I didn't want to say anything," she continued, not looking Henry in the eye, "It's just that - these crowns- they're so heavy! How can you stand it? My neck is so sore!"

Henry chuckled and pulled Elena towards him, turning her around as he spoke. "Hmm, yes, they can be quite heavy to some people - especially a delicate young queen such as yourself," he said, placing his hands on her shoulders before moving up to her neck, kneading the stiff muscles gently.

"I'm not delicate!" Elena snapped playfully, before giving into the exquisite feeling of Henry's massage.

"Mmmm, no, of course you're not," murmured Henry, his lips grazing her bare neck, sending delightful little pulses through her system. 

"I've never seen you wear a crown before," Elena said breathlessly.

"I usually only wear it for weddings and funerals - things like that. As you said, they are quite heavy."

"Henry, do you think, well, has it been long enough? Can we leave now?" Elena asked in a small voice, a blush rising in her cheeks.

Henry laughed, squeezing Elena tighter against him, his powerful arms wrapped around her stomach. "Maybe for the common man - but I am a king, so I think we need to wait just a few more minutes," he said as his lips planted small kisses along her neck.

"Henry!" Elena gasped, as she felt his hands cup her breasts gently through the dress.

"Sorry," Henry said with a laugh, his hands sliding back down to her stomach and hips.

"That's not what I mean - I mean yes, that too - but Henry, do you think he can hear us?!" Elena asked in an anxious, low voice, her eyes staring at the door as if she could imagine the tiny old man with his ear pressed against it.

Henry's lips parted contact from Elena's neck and moved to her ear. "You may be right," Henry whispered hotly against her ear. 

Elena bit her lip as a wave of - well, she wasn't sure what it was, but she felt something course through her when she felt his hot breath against her skin. "Hen- Henry," Elena managed to say weakly, her breath catching in her chest. "Won't he know then?" 

"Mmm, I do love the way your mind works Princess," Henry whispered as he turned her around to face him.

"I'm a queen now, remember?" Elena said, pulling Henry's hands back over her hips, as they had been slowly sliding downwards.

"I know, but I don't know why, it just sounds better to me for some reason - something seductive about the way it sounds... princess," Henry murmured as his fingers traced her jaw line.

"What does my mind have to do with that old man eavesdropping on us?" Elena asked sharply, intent on not allowing Henry to distract her with sweet nothings.

"You were proposing giving him - shall we say, something to listen to, no?" Henry said to Elena, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"I was proposing nothing of the sort!" Elena hissed, her hands on his chest, pushing him away roughly.

"Well, that's what it sounded like to me," Henry laughed, as Elena's face turned a brilliant shade of pink. "But I think you're right either way - he does need to hear SOMETHING," Henry said seriously, lifting his crown to scratch his head.

"Henry," Elena said, folding her arms over her chest, "I know that you and I, we will - er, I mean... that is to say... we will... consummate our marriage," she said in embarrassment. "But not like this - not with that man listening outside our door!"

"Consummate our marriage," Henry repeated with a chuckle. "Really Elena? I know your chaste upbringing has given you an extensive vocabulary, but you can say 'make love' - it's not rude, my delicious prin- I mean, queen," he said with a grin, as he sat down on the bed.

"It is not proper to speak of-" Elena said haughtily, before she was cut off by Henry's booming laugh. "Stop laughing Henry! It's not funny!"

Henry smiled, his laughter slowly dying down. "Alright, Alright, calm yourself -there's no need to get upset," he said with a hiccup, suppressing a sudden wave of laughter.

"Now, what do you propose about..." Elena asked, pointing at the door.

"Easy," Henry said, pushing himself off the bed and pulling Elena against him. "On the count of three, you'll scream and I will moan, alright? Very simple."

"I most certainly will not! I'll do nothing of the sort -thank you very much!" Elena said, her tone a few octaves higher than normal.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 15



"It's the last piece of the puzzle Elena, do this and we can rejoin our guests at the reception," he said with a yawn.

Elena blushed furiously and looked away from him. "Henry I can't!" Elena said, positively mortified.

"Yes you can - you're a wonderful actress when you need be," Henry said, his fingers tracing the line of her lips. "Why, just a few minutes ago you lied to me - I know that the weight of the crown wasn't the real reason you were uncomfortable Elena, I am not a fool."

"I can't do what you're asking of me - if you're looking at me, I just can't!" Elena whimpered in shame, shaking her head.

Henry chuckled again, turning Elena around so that his body pressed against her back. Elena could feel a hard bulge pressed against her backside. "Soon enough Elena, you will, believe me," he said, his voice dripping with lust.

"Now, are you ready?" he asked, distracting her from his sudden closeness.

"No, Henry, I can't..." she pleaded, her fingers digging into his arms wrapped around her waist.

"On the count of three," he said slowly.

"Henry wait," Elena pleaded.

"One."

"Alright, Henry wait just a moment," Elena pleaded.

"Two."

"Henry-"

"THREE!"

Henry moaned loudly, actually thrusting his hips slightly against Elena's backside, causing her to cry out softly in surprise.

"Tsk, Tsk," Henry clucked his tongue. "That will not do Elena - I could barely hear you... I doubt he heard you at all! One more time."

"Henry, please - "

"One,"

"I can't - " 

"Two,"

"HENRY!" Elena cried - half pleading, half admonishing.

"That'll work too, I suppose," Henry chuckled, spinning Elena around. When they were facing each other, Henry pulled her in for a kiss, which she successfully dodged.

."You're not angry with me, are you Princess?" Henry purred playfully in her ear.

"What do you think?!" Elena replied, squirming in his strong arms.

"The Queen is displeased? What to do, what to do..." he said, tilting her head to one side, exposing her neck.

"You can't just - " Elena started to say, before she felt Henry's lips against the sensitive skin of her neck. Her words trailed off as Henry started to pay special attention to a certain spot on her neck that made her weak in the knees.

"What were you saying, my dear?" Henry murmured hotly against her skin.

"Can't... you... away... angry," Elena mumbled incoherently.

"I'm sorry," Henry chuckled, as he came up for air after sucking gently on the delicate curve of her neck and shoulder, "Could you repeat that?"

***

"All rise, for King Henry and Queen Elena!" cried a short, yet robust man, standing in the archway leading to the great dining hall.

The crowd rose to their feet, those nearest to the entrance moving aside, allowing the royal couple to walk to the center of the room.

Henry grasped Elena's hip tightly with one hand as the other held her hand, pulling her closer to him.

"King Henry," Elena muttered under her breath while smiling at the watchful faces, "it is not proper for you to hold me so close with so many people around!"

"In Lorrea maybe," Henry chuckled, his voice just above a whisper. "But here in Kravaolia, no one will begrudge me a little indecent closeness to my own wife," he said, pulling her even closer so their bodies were as one. Henry's cheek pressed against Elena's as he squeezed her hand in his. "You know the Royal dance of Bapharg'e, I assume?" he said hotly against her ear.

"Yes," Elena replied, remembering the many hours her mother had her tutored in the various dance styles of the neighbouring countries, during which Elena had complained incessantly. She preferred to be out hunting than in uncomfortable shoes and ball gowns rehearsing ridiculous dances.

"Excellent," Henry replied, nodding over Elena's shoulder at the stout little man, who immediately signaled to the string quartet in the corner to start playing.

The music started, slow and calm at first, but grew slowly to a crescendo, during which Henry had them both spinning around the dance floor, Elena clutching Henry tightly - for once in her life she was content not to lead, but to follow.

Soon enough, the musicians had started a new tune, during which many of the guests joined the royal couple on the dance floor. Elena recognised the tune, interpreting correctly that this was a dance which required the female dancer to change partners over and over again.

"Henry," she whispered, "maybe we can sit this one out?"

"Soon," he said, kissing her gently on the lips. "But first we must play host to our guests."

As soon as Henry finished speaking he flung Elena away from him, spinning in circles until she made contact with another man. Elena looked up at the dancer, her cheeks slightly flushed, but altogether grateful that she didn't know him.

"Queen Elena," he murmured, as he held her at a respectable distance.

"Good sir," Elena replied in turn. "What is your name?"

"Elias, my Queen. Elias of the Northgarths."

Elena vaguely recalled something about the area, but nothing too substantial. "An honour to meet you sir," she replied.

"No my Queen, the honour is all mine - I knew your father, a great man."

Elena felt like she had just missed a step, her stomach clenching suddenly. "You knew my father?" Elena repeated quietly, as Elias spun her around.

"Oh yes," he said, reeling her back in. "but that was many years ago, before you were born I believe."

"Oh, how did you know - " Elena started to say, before Elias flung Elena away from him, just as Henry had done previously.

Spinning wildly, Elena craned her neck looking for Elias in the crowd, but couldn't spot him.

She continued to dance, changing partners when required by the music. After her seventh partner, a rather pimply young lord, she was once more spun across the dance floor.

Elena finally came to a halt in the arms of a large, muscular man. Looking up, Elena recognised the flaming red hair and the lopsided smile.

"You!" Elena spat, pulling away automatically. 

"Yes - me, Queen Elena," said the man, squeezing her hand in his, none too gently.

"I mean, Prince Argenton, how uh- pleasant - to see you again," Elena lied, her smile faltering slightly before she regained her composure. Argenton's muscular frame boxing her in, she found herself pressed unwillingly and nauseatingly close to him.

"So, tell me Queen Elena, how did a Kravaolian prince manage to win the Princess of Lorrea? I recall distinctly, the day that you recited all my faults as reasons that we would never marry," he said, dipping Elena, causing her to cling to his arms. "I don't know how to tell you this," he smiled down at her wickedly, eyeing her breasts which were on the verge of falling out of her bodice due to gravity, "but Henry is no better than I."

"You are wrong, Prince Argenton, just as you were wrong when we last met," Elena hissed, "Now let me up!"

"May I cut in?" said Henry's firm voice on Elena's right. 

"King Henry," said Argenton, pulling Elena upwards so quickly that she had to clutch his arms to prevent herself from toppling over. Argenton released Elena promptly and bowed his head before Henry. "Yes, by all means, we had just finished."

"Excellent," quipped Henry, before whisking Elena far away from prince Argenton.

"Thank you," Elena said, following Henry's quick footwork.

"You're welcome - I didn't like the look on his face when he was talking to you, or the way he was holding you - that's my prerogative," Henry explained, pulling her close once more as they revolved slowly on the spot, in tune with the music.

"Why was he invited? You knew he and I didn't see eye to eye."

Henry sighed, twirling Elena around once before holding her closely in his arms again. "It's a matter of royal etiquette, I have to invite all the neighbouring royals. And besides," he continued with a grin, "it's also a chance to show off my new bride - my Queen," he said, his hand slipping from her hip and brushing the most prominent part of her bottom.

"Henry!" Elena hissed, swatting his hand away with her own. "Show some restraint!"

Henry nuzzled his face in her neck. "Mmmm, I don't know why, but the way you say that word, makes the little restraint I do have, slip."

The music stopped, as the quartet convened briefly, discussing on the next song to play.

"Please Henry, can we sit the next one out? I'm feeling rather dizzy from all that spinning."

"By all means, my queen, let us retire from the dance floor and greet the guests," Henry said, pulling her gently by the hand towards a small knot of people.

"Henry, I'd much rather sit down for a little while - my head is spinning."

"In just a moment, first we must greet some of our guests - You wouldn't want to insult some royal family - kings go to war over such things!" laughed Henry, squeezing her waist with his arm as he pulled her in close.

Elena gave Henry a hurt look, which he missed entirely, as his gaze was focused on the most elaborately dressed man in the room, a man of similar build to Henry, but a few years older.

"Horace!" Henry yelled, spreading his arms wide and sweeping the gold and crimson clad royal into his embrace.

"Henry! Oh wait -sorry, KING Henry," the man added with a colourful mock-bow, whipping his feathered hat of his head with a flourish.

Henry chuckled, clapping the man on the back. "Have you met my Queen, Elena?"

"Can't say that I have, can't say that I have - my pleasure," he murmured, kissing Elena's hand lightly, as he looked her up and down quickly. 

Elena tugged her hand out of his grip and folded her arms over her chest. "I'm sorry, but the King here has forgotten his manners - I don't know who you are," she said coolly. Elena had the uncomfortable feeling that Horace was undressing her with his eyes.

"I'm starting to understand the reason you've missed so many of our social gatherings Henry," he smiled, a twinkle in his eye. "She's delightful! I can't believe YOU of all people, managed to get your hands on - I mean, convince this lovely dove here to marry you!" he said, clapping Henry on the back in turn.

"You two seem to have a lot to catch up on, so I'm just going to - " Elena started to say, stepping away from the men.

"Nonsense my Queen," Henry said, pulling her closer. "May I introduce Horace, King of the Mirthok clan," he said.

Horace bowed his head slightly, not taking his eyes off Elena. 

"King Horace," Elena repeated politely, inclining her head towards him, breaking his penetrating eye contact.

"Horace and I practically grew up together," Henry explained to Elena with a smile. "We've been through a lot together. Although when I think about it, you did almost kill me that one day in Einhearst," Henry said, with a mock-frown.

"Well you can't deny they were beautiful maidens," Horace chuckled. 

"Yes - well one should not forget that horses don't steer themselves," Henry chuckled. "This one," he explained to Elena, "was so enamoured by some village girl that he just jumped off the cart he was driving, leaving me to save his father's prized chariot from smashing into a million pieces - not to mention killing me too."

"How many times do I have to apologise Henry! If you would have joined me you would have seen what that girl could - " he started to say, before Henry cleared his throat loudly.

"Yes, perhaps I should save these stories for later?" Horace smiled, looking Elena up and down once more.

"I think it best," Henry smiled in return. "Now, if you'll excuse us we must stroke some egos larger than yours," Henry said jokingly, placing his hand on the small of Elena's back, steering her away.

"By all means. It was a pleasure Queen Elena," he called after her. Elena managed not to look over her shoulder at him, although she was sure his twinkling eyes were glued to her backside.

"Henry, are all your friends so - charming?" Elena asked, whispering in his ear as they approached another group of royals.

"You'll learn to love Horace - everyone does!"

"Did you see the way he was looking at me? I thought it quite indecent - especially if he's such a close friend as you and he claim to be."

Henry chuckled, his fingers playing across Elena's stomach lightly. "We have similar taste in women, he and I. Good taste," Henry said, cupping Elena's face in his hands and kissing her deeply. 

Elena's lips tingled pleasurably, she momentarily forgot she was surrounded by people and allowed Henry's hands to roam over her body.

A sudden stirring of music from the other side of the room brought Elena back to her senses. She quickly turned her head from Henry, his mouth kissing her cheek instead.

Henry groaned. "How about we slip away, you and I? Our guests can entertain themselves..."

"Why Henry, what happened to your royal etiquette? No, we must greet the guests," she responded slyly as Henry pulled her closer to him.

"I think they'll live," Henry growled lustfully, his hands moving down to her hips.

"But whatever will they think of their new queen Henry? Come, introduce me to that lord over there - the one in the hideous peacock feather cape," Elena chuckled, wriggling out of Henry's grasp.

Elena and Henry spent the next few hours conversing, dining and entertaining their guests, much to Henry's chagrin. Elena, for reasons unbeknownst to her, felt a small surge of vindictive pleasure from preventing Henry attaining what he so sorely wanted.  

Henry, not to be outdone, raised his wine goblet in toast so often, in hope that Elena must eventually become tipsy. Elena however, already familiar with the sway Kravaolian wine had over her, simply kept her lips pursed with each toast, giving the appearance of drinking, while not a single drop passed her lips. Henry, on the other hand, had in turn become slightly inebriated. 

It was well past midnight when that last of their guests left the castle. Henry returned from seeing off their coach to find Elena picking through a fruit platter, her hair no longer pinned neatly in place, but tumbling down around her shoulders in large locks of golden hair, framing her face.

"You tricked me," Henry said, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the archway.

Elena looked up at Henry, her cheeks flushing slightly pink as she swallowed a mouthful of juicy pear. 

"Fallen on your own sword, Henry?" Elena asked with a small smile, as Henry rubbed his eyes vigorously.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Henry said, finishing his sentence with a barely suppressed belch, as he walked slowly towards her.

Elena's heart rate increased with every step he made in her direction. She took a deep calming breath to settle her nerves.

"It's quite late, don't you agree, my queen?" Henry asked, reaching for her hand, pulling her towards him.

"I guess," Elena murmured quietly, shivering slightly as Henry's lips touched her skin, planting soft kisses along the nape of her neck.

"Let's continue this little game of yours upstairs, shall we?" Henry said, steering Elena out of the hall.

"What game?" Elena replied, her voice a little higher than usual, as she allowed Henry to pull her gently up the grand staircase.

Henry shook his head and chucked in response. As they neared Henry's bedroom - our bedroom, Elena reminded herself, she caught a fleeting smirk from one guard to the other, as they stepped back to allow the king and queen entrance.

Elena expected something different, but the room remained the same as before, just with a fresh set of sheets. She jumped slightly as Henry closed both doors with a sharp snap, providing them with their first private moment since being in the smaller bedroom a few hours ago.

Elena turned away from Henry's burning eyes, shivering slightly. 

"Cold?" Henry asked from behind her, his hard body pressed against her back.

"Y- yes," she lied, rubbing her arms, avoiding Henry's penetrating stare.

Elena felt Henry move away. She let out a long breath that she hadn't even been aware she had been holding. She watched from the corner of her eye as Henry stooped low over the fireplace, busying himself with some kindling.

A sudden wave of warmth washed over the room, the fire crackling merrily from the wall, illuminating Henry's large frame but casting his features into darkness.

Henry held his hand out to Elena, inviting her forwards. She moved towards him timidly, her fingertips slipping into his upturned palm. As she drew close she saw his expression and her heart slowed a little. His gaze was kind, his eyes gentle - not the ravenous expression that unnerved Elena so often. Henry closed his hand over hers, pulling her into him, his other arm wrapped around her back as he hugged her close.

"Is that better?" he said, his deep voice vibrating against Elena's slight figure.

"Yes," she said quietly, unsure of what he expected of her.

"Turn around," he said softly, pushing her shoulders slightly - not in force, but in more of a guiding manner.

Elena obeyed wordlessly, turning towards the fire, watching the dancing flames. As Henry's fingers pulled gently on the ribbons and ties of her dress from behind, Elena pressed the material against her thumping chest as she felt it becoming looser and looser around her. She shivered as she felt Henry's large hand touch the bare skin of her back as he parted the material of her dress from behind. Elena felt a small tug, which caused her to clutch the material even tighter.

"Let go," Henry whispered in her ear, his fingers playing lightly over the skin of her back.

Elena shook her head as tears started to pool in her eyes. She thought that she was ready for this - she thought that knowing what was expected of her would somehow make it easier. It hadn't.

Henry's hands traveled to her shoulders and from there in a sweeping motion they moved down her arms until his hands grasped Elena's gently in his.

"Let go," he repeated, slowly prising her arms away from her body.

The dress fell to the floor softly, the heap of white satin puddling at Elena's feet, immersing her in fabric up to her thighs. Immediately her hands went to cover her breasts, her thighs clenching together.

"I'm going to lift you up slightly, so you can step out of your dress," Henry said from behind her, his hands sliding over her hips.

Elena felt his grip tighten on her hips, before he lifted her out of the sea of satin and silk. His hands still on her hips, he pulled her back against him. Her skin tingled as she brushed against Henry's fully clothed body. 

She bit her lip as she felt Henry's fingers close over her own and begin to slowly pry them away from her breasts.

"Do not hide yourself from me Elena, you are beautiful," he whispered in her ear as he pulled her hands away. He guided one of her hands up to the back of his neck, pressing it firmly in place. He moved her other hand down to her stomach and held it there as he bent forwards and planted small kisses along her neck, slowly tracing the line of her neck with gentle kisses over her smooth skin.

Henry smiled as he felt the hand at his neck tighten slightly throughout his ministrations. So far Henry had not heard Elena make a sound, but he was a patient man, he could wait.

With his free hand, he reached around and gently cupped her breast, rubbing his thumb over her flat nipple. 

Elena, who had just moments earlier been enjoying the feel of Henry's lips on her neck, stiffened suddenly as she felt his hand on her breast.

"Henry - " Elena started to say, before his lips closed firmly over hers, his tongue dashing past her lips, cutting off the rest of her sentence as she looked over her shoulder at him. Her hand dropped from Henry's neck to his hand upon her breast.

Henry broke the kiss, pulling her tighter against him, wrapping his big arms around her, Elena's curvaceous body melting into him.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 15



"Do not be frightened by my words, my little hummingbird - but I want to feel you, taste you, see you... I want you Elena, all of you. I've wanted you for so very long I can barely stand," he said, his voice dripping with lust.

Henry turned her around, cupping her face and drawing her in for a long, yet tender kiss. Out of breath, Henry took a step back to admire his beautiful wife in all her glory.

Elena blushed furiously, but was able to control the urge to cover herself.

"Stunning," Henry said. "Elena, I want to ask you to return a favour. Just as I undressed you, I wish for you to undress me," he said evenly, taking her hand in his and placing it on his chest.

Elena bit her lip and looked up at Henry in uncertainty. "Go on," he said, encouraging her gently with his soft tone.

Elena's trembling fingers fumbled with the laces tying Henry's sky-blue shirt at the neck. He pressed a hand over her trembling fingers. "Slowly Elena, it will be easier if you calm your nerves."

Elena gulped loudly and let out a deep breath. Henry's hand fell to his side as Elena's trembling subsided. She managed to loosen the laces enough that the shirt could easily be pulled over his head. Next, Elena's hands traveled down Henry's chest, her fingers feeling the underlying muscle as her hands slid further down and moved to his waist. She grasped his shirt from both sides and pulled upwards, inching out the material that was still tucked into his trousers. 

"Keep going," Henry said, kneeling before Elena, raising his arms over his head.

Elena blushed anew as Henry's hot breath washed over her navel as he spoke to her. Nevertheless, she crouched slightly, grasped the bottom of his shirt and slowly pulled it off over his head.

Henry stood up, took the shirt from her hands and tossed it aside. He placed one hand on the back of her neck, pulling her up against his chest as his head dipped to taste her lips. Henry groaned and pulled her tighter against him, her breasts pressed firmly against his warm chest. When Henry broke the kiss and stepped back, he smiled as he took note of Elena's flushed complexion and her nipples, which only moments ago had been flat and smooth, now stood erect and proud against her areolas.

Elena looked down, following Henry's gaze. She gasped and turned around, wrapping her hands around her chest. Just when she thought she couldn't feel any more mortified than she already did...

"No Elena," Henry said, placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her back to face him. She refused to look at him and instead stared at her feet. Henry placed a hand under her chin and lifted her face slowly. "Do not hide," he continued. "Your body's response is most pleasing to me - it is a good thing Elena," he said, gently pulling her hands away from her breasts. "Now, please continue, my beautiful queen," he said, taking her hand and placing it on his belt buckle.

Elena's heart thudded forcefully against her chest as her fingers clumsily worked the thick leather through the metal buckle. Henry removed the belt and looped it around Elena's backside, the leather brushing against the smooth skin of her ass. Elena shivered as she felt Henry run the belt from side to side, before he pulled her towards him with a sudden yank of the belt. His lips locked onto Elena's, as he tossed the belt aside, his hands now cupping her backside instead of the belt. Elena's gasp never left her lips as Henry's lips remained firmly planted over her own. Henry kneaded her soft skin, gently at first, but proceeded to pull her against him with more force, his powerful fingers digging into the soft flesh of her ass.

Henry finally broke the kiss, looking down at Elena, amused with her flushed face and deep breathing. "Very good Elena, very good," he said with a smirk, before placing her hands on the laces of his pants.

Elena's fingers followed the lace's path, her nails scraping against the tight fabric, causing Henry to groan through his teeth. She started to undo the laces, pulling them slowly apart until they were quite loose.

"Keep going," Henry whispered in her ear, his hands guiding hers to the loose waist of his trousers.

Elena bit her lip as she hooked her fingers at the top of his pants, slowly pulling them down, revealing the tight muscle beneath. 

"I can't Henry, I can't do this," she said in a small voice, a blush spreading across her face and chest.

"Yes you can," Henry said confidently.

"No Henry, I mean - I really can't!" she said, turning even pinker in the face as she pointed to Henry's crotch. Henry looked down and let out a bark of a laugh, finally understanding what Elena meant. His obvious erection was straining the material of his trousers, something a more experienced hand would have no trouble maneuvering, but Elena was quite the novice when it came to that particular part of undressing. He kissed her softly on the lips, chuckling slightly.

"Don't worry, I'll help," he said. Henry pushed a hand beneath the material and grasped his erection while the other pulled the trousers away and underneath it. "There you go Elena, you can continue."

Elena's face burned in embarrassment as knelt before Henry to pull the rest of his trousers down. Her heart pounded, and even though she did her best not to look at it, she couldn't help herself from sneaking a glance or two at Henry's stiff member. Henry chuckled, causing Elena to think that he caught her looking, so she hurriedly finished undressing Henry, pulling off his shoes and pants as one.

Henry kicked away the remnants of his clothing and pulled Elena into a smoldering kiss, causing her to hold onto his muscular arms for support.

"Exquisite," Henry breathed, as they came up for air. "I want to feel you Elena," he said, turning her around and pulling her back against him.

"MMMmm, your skin is so soft," he whispered as he planted small kisses at the nape of her neck, causing her eyelids to droop and feel so heavy as she leaned into him. She jumped slightly, when she felt his erection pressed against her lower back, Henry only chuckled as he cupped her breasts in both hands from behind. Elena shuddered as she felt him rub his erection against her. 

She couldn't believe this was happening -she - Elena, the princess of Lorrea, naked in the arms of the King of Kravaolia, standing in his bedroom, moments away from... from - 

Elena snapped back to the present as she felt Henry's hand swoop down her front and delved between her legs. Immediately her legs clamped down on his hand, without even a conscious thought on her part.

"Tsk, tsk," Henry clucked his tongue. "Relax Elena," he whispered, pushing her leg open by hooking his own between hers, gently forcing them apart.

"Henry..." Elena whimpered quietly as she felt his fingers tickle her folds and stroke the inside of her thighs. A sharp intake of breath issued from her lips as one of Henry's fingers pressed between her folds, sliding in just a little.

"Not quite ready yet? No, I suppose not," he said, almost to himself, as his finger withdrew and he cupped her mound instead, his hand rubbing the delicate flesh in his hand.

One hand between her legs, the other playing with her nipple, Elena arched her back to feel some semblance of control.

"I want you so badly Elena it practically hurts," he moaned in her ear. "But I know that if I took you now, I would hurt you - and I don't want that..." he said, his words trailing off as his lips found her neck and started to kiss it, different areas, his teeth scraping the skin from time to time, causing Elena to quiver slightly in his arms.

"But worry not, my dear," he said, kissing her shoulder, a devilish smile spreading across his handsome face. "I know just the thing to help you out," he said, before bending down and sweeping her suddenly off her feet and into his arms.

Elena screeched as she felt her feet leave the floor, she clung to Henry as he carried her over to the bed. Henry set her down on the soft covers, his eyes sweeping her beautiful body once more before climbing onto the bed himself. He settled between her legs, sitting on his heels, as he looked down at Elena.

Elena blushed furiously as she realised the view Henry had. She couldn't close her legs, Henry had positioned himself between them, making it impossible.

Henry's eyes locked on to hers as he slowly lowered his head so he was eye level with her pussy.

"Henry," Elena began to say, "what are you -" before she gasped, as she felt Henry's tongue slide over and between her folds.

Elena sat bolt upright and placed a hand over her pussy, blocking Henry's access.

"What are you doing?!" she hissed, her face crimson. 

"Giving you a helping hand - well not so much a hand..." he said with a small chuckle.

"Well whatever it is you're doing - you can stop it this instant!" she squeaked, as Henry attempted to push her hand away.

"Why?" asked Henry, his hands tracing her sensitive inner-thighs.

"I told you before - I do know a thing or two about the marital bed and I KNOW this is not right! Absolutely improper," she said, her voice a mixture of haughtiness and panic as Henry successfully pried her hand away.

Henry laughed softly before pushing her legs further apart, grabbing hold of her hands and pressing them firmly against the mattress.

"And as I told YOU before, my delicious Princess, you have a lot to learn about marital bed," he said, lowering his head once more, his eyes on her pussy.

"Think of this, as the start of your education," he breathed hotly against her, his eyes twinkling with lust as he leaned forward, a wide grin spreading across his face...



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 16



"Think of this, as the start of your education," he breathed hotly against her, his eyes twinkling with lust as he leaned forward, a wide grin spreading across his face...

"Henry!" Elena gasped as she felt his tongue trace the delicate folds of her pussy. "What do you think you're doing?" she moaned, as the bottom half of her body twisted away from the strange sensation Henry's tongue was evoking.

Henry tightened his hold on her legs, preventing her feeble and half-hearted attempts of escaping the pleasure of his tongue. He looked up at her, smiling mischievously at her flushed face and heaving chest, "just relax Elena, you will like this..." he cooed while maintaining a firm hold on her legs.

Elena stiffened as she felt Henry's fingers part her delicate folds with one hand while his other hand continued to stop Elena's attempts in covering herself from him. She gasped loudly as she felt his warm, firm tongue push between her folds, sliding into her pussy, inch by wet inch. She let out a deep breath as she felt his tongue slide back out, but gasped anew as Henry's tongue pushed back in, deeper than before.

"Henry..." Elena moaned, her hand squeezing Henry's hand that was blocking her own.

Henry didn't respond, but hastened his lingual ministrations, adding a few fluttering and curling movements with the tip of his tongue that caused Elena to squirm in his grasp.

"Henry, please..." she whimpered, her hands moving up to cover her face. Elena didn't understand how something that was so obviously morally abhorrent, could cause her to feel so... so... she wasn't sure what exactly.

Henry laughed softly, licking his lips, breathing a little heavily. His head moved to the side, his lips making contact with the soft flesh of Elena's inner thigh as his middle finger of the hand parting her pussy lips, dipped surreptitiously between them.

A moan escaped her lips, stifled only slightly by her hands covering her face. Henry continued to kiss and suck on her soft flesh of her thigh as his finger stroked Elena slowly, in and out, over and over, gradually increasing in tempo. Elena's hips jerked suddenly as Henry's thumb pressed against her clitoris, rubbing the sensitive nub in torturous circles.

Elena's hands shot out and gripped the bed sheets, her back arching away from Henry, trying to regain some semblance of control over her traitorous body. Henry wrapped his forearm over her hips and held her firmly in place as his tongue departed from the soft skin of her thigh and returned between her folds, briefly stroking her before he pressed two of his fingers into her velvety depths.

Elena hissed through her teeth, squirming fruitlessly against Henry's grip, as her pride battled more amorous stirrings. As his fingers slowly worked their way in and out of her hot, wet pussy, Henry's tongue found her clitoris and began to lick and play with the sensitive flesh. When Henry's lips closed over her sensitive nub and sucked on it, releasing a guttural growl between his teeth - Elena couldn't help herself - her body stilled and her muscles grew suddenly stiff - lifting whatever part of her not held down, off the bed.

Henry felt Elena stiffen beneath his grip and curled his fingers within her, hastening his dexterous activity until he felt her hand on his head, knocking the heavy crown off his head, twisting and pulling his hair, trying to pull him harder against her.

Elena suddenly clamped her thighs shut, trapping Henry's head between them as an intense sensation coursed through her body. Spurred on by her reaction, Henry continued to tease and suck Elena's pussy with fervour. Elena tossed back her head, her lips parting in a silent scream as her body was wracked with overwhelming sensations.

Finally, Henry felt Elena's thighs lose their tension, allowing him to move his head and look up at her. Elena lay with one trembling hand covering her eyes, her other hand over her heart, her chest rising and falling with each deep breath. Henry's fingers slid glistening from between her folds as he leaned back on his heels, observing her in all her glory, spread before him, his beautiful queen.

Henry maneuvered himself so that he was lying down next to Elena. He was behaving contrary to all his instincts - they were screaming at him to take her, thrust into her warmth right then, right there. He closed his eyes briefly and let out a deep calming breath. When he opened his eyes Elena hadn't moved, her eyes still covered.

"Elena," Henry murmured as his fingers trailed along her arm. "Tell me Princess, did you like that?"

Elena shook her head from side to side, only to be met with Henry's bark of a laugh. 

"Ha! I felt you Elena - every moan, every twist and turn as you squirmed beneath my fingers... such telltale signs, my blushing bride," he said, gently pulling the crown off her head and setting it aside.

"I did not," answered Elena, all too aware of how petulant she sounded. Her haughtiness that had been suppressed due to her naked vulnerability, somehow was rearing its ugly head once more. She just found it impossible to admit that something that to her seemed lewd and taboo, could deep down, feel so wonderful.

"We have a saying here in Kravaolia, perhaps you've heard of it? 'If at first you don't succeed - try harder'", he said with a smile as his hand slid from between her legs.

Elena gasped, the hand covering her eyes flew to Henry's wrist, trying to stop him. "Henry, no! I can't - you can't - I'm too sore from before," she gasped as his fingers tickled her feminine folds once more, causing a whimper to escape her lips...

"Sensitive, not sore," Henry corrected her. "And that just makes this easier," he said with a grin, as he slipped two fingers inside. Elena's nails dug into his wrist.

"Henry," Elena began, before her breath caught in her chest and she spoke no more. She felt Henry curl his fingers inside her, stroking her from within. Her head fell back and she shut her eyes, her thighs clamping tightly over Henry's hand.

"Now, tell me again that you don't like this," Henry whispered hotly against her ear.

Elena didn't answer; she just bit her lip and furrowed her brow, trying to control herself.

"Or this," he continued, his thumb pressing against her clit, causing a strangled moan to escape her lips.

Henry added a slight twisting movement with his wrist- which caused Elena gasp, but what really drew out a response from her was Henry's tongue, tracing the hard, erect outline of her nipples. Elena was starting to move in tune with Henry's fingers, actually thrusting herself against them. However as soon as he started, he stopped - his hand and his tongue.

Elena whimpered, attempting to grind against Henry's still fingers.

"No Elena," Henry said. Elena opened her eyes and looked at Henry's blazing eyes in confusion.

"I want you to keep those beautiful eyes on me, all the time. If you close them, I stop, understand?" 

Elena whimpered and bucked her hips against his hand. Her pride wouldn't allow her to answer. She couldn't believe that she was actually enjoying his touch. Embarrassment and arousal, such conflicting emotions, were driving her insane. She couldn't take much more.

"Understand Elena?" Henry asked with a knowing smile.

Elena nodded slowly, a faint blush spreading across her face.

Henry, without wasting any time, thrust his fingers in deeper, his thumb pressing her nub hard. Elena gasped and tossed her head back, her eyes closed.

Henry's hand froze. Elena whimpered, squeezing his hand between her thighs. It took her a few moments before she realised her why Henry had stopped. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked into Henry's. He smiled at her doe -eyed expression, his fingers once more dancing wildly, demonstrating his approval.

Elena bit her lip, her fingers still clutching Henry's wrist as he slowly thrust his two fingers deeper. Elena moaned audibly at the torturous pace, her eyes wide and almost pleading for Henry to give her what she needed - even if she wasn't really sure what it was that she wanted - or her body wanted, she chided herself.

Henry smiled at the lust filled expression blooming on his new bride's face, before pressing his lips to hers, kissing her partially parted lips as she groaned softly, Henry's fingers moving faster between her sensitive folds.

"Henry," Elena pleaded breathlessly against his lips, digging her nails into his wrist. Henry's smile widened as Elena's body jerked slightly against his as he pressed his thumb against her clit. Elena whimpered and her breathing quickened as Henry curled his fingers inside her, stroking her within. Elena arched her back, bringing her prominent nipples closer to Henry. Without pause, Henry's lips closed over one of her breasts, his tongue dancing and flicking her nipple incessantly. 

"Oh God!" Elena moaned, clutching everything and anything in reach as her pleasure reached a crescendo.

"Not God," Henry whispered hotly against her ear, "just me."

Henry's thumb scraped across Elena's clit one last time before she lost herself completely in the ecstasy of her orgasm. 

"Henryyyyyyyy..." Elena moaned as blissful waves of pleasure rippled through her body. Elena's hand fell limply from Henry's wrist - her nail marks still visible. Her eyes closed slowly as her lips parted ever so slightly - a feeling of bodily bliss spread through her, her thoughts just a swirl of white mist, nothing in focus or of importance. 

"That was beautiful," Henry murmured, before he pressed his lips softly against Elena's, parting them gently as his tongue darted forth in a pleasurable dance. "You're beautiful," he said, running his fingertips across her stomach, his large masculine hand a stark contrast against her soft, fair skin.

Elena, whose post-orgasmic bliss had begun to dissipate slowly, gradually became aware once more of Henry's naked proximity. Blushing with increasing embarrassment, Elena realised that once more Henry had demonstrated his power over her body - and her weak sense of control.

"It is now time Elena," he started to say, brushing a lock of hair away from her face. "Time that we truly become husband and wife - that you really become my queen," he continued as he pushed himself up, maneuvering himself so that he hovered over Elena's flushed body, almost straddling her. 

Panic leapt into Elena's eyes as his muscular figure loomed over her. Noticing her distress, Henry kissed her gently on the lips. "Do not worry my Princess, I will be gentle," he said before leaning forwards and taking her nipple between his lips.

Elena bit her lip, trying to calm herself. She knew what was expected of her now; she could not deny her husband the right to claim her as his own on their wedding night. She was enjoying the feeling of his rough tongue against her smooth skin, but for some reason the more weight he pressed against her, the more panicked she felt.

"Henry," Elena breathed, placing a shaking hand against his chest as she felt him settle himself once more between her thighs, spreading them slowly.

Henry leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Elena's and closed his eyes. "I love to hear you say my name," he moaned, spreading her legs wider still.

"Henry, I... I... please," she stammered, placing her other hand against Henry's chest, this time pushing slightly against him.

"I have waited so long for this, my Princess," Henry moaned as he slowly lowered his muscled form over Elena's, his hard member brushing lightly against her feminine folds.

Blind panic exploded suddenly in the pit of her stomach, sending Elena's heart racing, her nails digging into Henry's chest as the lower part of her body started to squirm.

Henry's lips parted contact from the soft hollow of her neck. "Relax," he whispered hotly against her, "I promise you, i'll be gentle."

Henry's words barely registered with Elena, her arms pushing Henry away from her with all her might, her nails breaking his skin from the pressure. "NO... Henry - Please stop! I can't..." she cried, tears starting to form in her eyes.

Henry pulled himself away from her neck and looked at her face - what he saw made his heart lodge itself in his throat. Elena's eyes were wide and round with terror, tears snaking their way down her skin. He immediately pushed himself off her shaking body and crouched beside her. Elena promptly rolled onto her side, away from him, hiding her tear stricken face. Henry cursed himself under his breath for not noticing how distressed she really was, thinking lightly of her hesitancy, thinking it born of her innocence and inexperience. Swearing loudly once more, he pushed himself off the bed and turned his back on Elena to hide his anger and embarrassment.

Elena wiped away her tears and rolled back over, determined to explain to Henry what happened, but all she found was an empty bed. She looked up and saw his tall, naked, muscular figure looking out the window, his back turned on her as his fingers raked through his hair over and over again.

"Henry," she called from the bed, her voice cracking slightly.

Henry squared his shoulders, but other than that didn't move away from the window.

"Henry," she called again softly, extending her hand to him.

"Elena... I'm... I'm so sorry," he croaked, his head dropping down to his chest.

Elena slipped out of bed, wrapping the thin bedsheet around her, slowly making her way to him. "Henry, it's alright... really... I'm alright," she said softly, placing a calming hand on his back. "I'm sorry - I should have -" she started to say before Henry cut her off.

"Do not apologize, Elena, it is NOT your fault!" He said, a slight edge to his voice, his hands balled into tight fists at his sides.

"Henry," Elena murmured, pressing her lips to the taut skin between his shoulder blades. She kissed his bare back softly, over and over again until she felt the muscle beneath relax, Henry's hands unclenching slowly.

"Please look at me," Elena asked, pressing her head against Henry's back.

Henry slowly turned around, looking down at Elena. The hurt and pained look in his eyes caused her throat to constrict tightly, requiring her to clear her throat a few times before she was able to speak properly.

"Henry, I know you think-" she began to say, before being interrupted.

"Elena I -" he blurted out, but was silenced by Elena's soft fingers pressing against his lips.

"Shhh, listen to me," she said softly. "I know you want to - to take me like any other man on his wedding night, and don't think that I don't want you to... to fulfill that right," she said hastily, bypassing pink and turning a dark crimson. "But it's just that when you lay on top of me, when I felt the full weight of you against me, pinning me down like that, it brought back memories, bad memories," Elena said quietly.

Henry looked away again. "I do not wish our every interaction to cause you to relive such painful memories Elena," he said in a strained voice, his hands balled into fists once again.

Elena turned his face back to hers, her hand cupping his cheek gently. "Nor do I, but Henry, you are not listening. It was not the physical act of your touch that caused me react like I did, it was the circumstance," Elena explained slowly.

Henry looked back at Elena in confusion. "I'm not quite sure I understand."

"What I mean to say," she began slowly, "is that what frightened me was the feeling of helplessness that I felt - it reminded me of how I felt when Cas- I mean, He, when he touched me. The weight of your body - pinning me down, made me feel that way again. And it scared me."

"Oh," Henry replied simply. "You're not frightened of me? Of my touch?" he asked, running his fingers down her bare arm.

"No," she whispered, her heart racing.

Silence stretched between them for a minute, during which the only sounds were the crackling fire and Elena's slightly audible breathing.

"So what i'm saying is," Elena continued, blushing furiously - she couldn't believe what she was about to say -"is that we can still consummate our marriage, but perhaps in another way."

Henry stared at Elena before blinking once, then twice. Finally, he even chuckled slightly, to which Elena smiled in return, knowing what he was about to say, having intentionally used those words, knowing the response they would draw forth from Henry. "Consummate our marriage? Honestly Elena, how many times do I have to tell you, it's called making love," he said with a grin, before he pulled her against him in a heated kiss.

Elena broke the kiss, twisting her head away. "Yes and as you've mentioned on numerous occasions," she continued, unable to look him in the eyes, "that you could, uh, teach me a few things about the marital bed," she ignored his bark of a laugh, "- therefore I know that you could probably think of a way to -er - to - to make - make - love to me, without causing me to feel quite so... helpless," Elena stammered, her face turning bright red once more, pulling the sheet tighter around her.

Elena felt Henry's fingers tilt her chin up. She looked up at Henry, noting that the mischievous glint had returned to his eyes, no doubt his mind racing with what she had just said.

"Oh, there are many ways for me to pleasure you, for both of us to feel pleasure... and you would be far from helpless, Elena," Henry said softly, before his words trailed off as he lost himself in thought. 

"Erm - eh, good, I suppose," Elena said. She couldn't believe that she had actually just talked Henry INTO sleeping with her. What was wrong with her?! Well, nothing was really wrong with her, she chastised herself - she was just slipping too easily into the role of a wife for her own liking. Somehow her mother's teachings had left a deeper impression than she realised - despite Elena's reluctance to learn or hear about such things growing up.

Elena's mind snapped back to the present when she felt Henry's fingers thread between her own, gripping her hand in his before he pulled her gently along behind him. They came to a halt before the large bed - Henry let go of Elena's hand as he sat down on the edge of the bed. Gently, slowly and ever so eroticly, Henry pulled the sheet from her body.

Elena expected Henry to say something - anything really, but all he did was look at her with a thoughtful look on his face, before pushing himself further back on the bed, until he was lying down in the centre of the bed with his head on the pillows.

"Come here Elena," Henry beckoned, his hand open in invitation to her. Elena clumsily and self-consciously crawled onto the bed, settling down on her knees beside Henry.

"Now," Henry continued in a soft yet firm voice -Elena could tell that he was enjoying instructing her on their wedding night, his voice brimming with confidence, it was as if the last few minutes had never happened. "I want you to stand up - careful now," he said, placing a steadying hand on her ankle.

Elena got to her feet slowly, the mattress beneath them causing her to feel quite unsteady.

"Oh my beautiful queen, the view from down here - I tell you..." Henry said, his eyes smoldering with lust. Elena blushed again, for what must have been the thousandth time that evening. "I ask you now to stand over me - place one foot on the outside of my hips, yes, good - just like that, now the other one," he said, raising his head slightly off the pillow to get a better look.

Elena stood astride Henry, feeling extremely self-conscious. Henry's hand caressed her bare ankle, making its way up her smooth calf, his touch light and barely there - but it felt to Elena like a hot brand.

"What now?" Elena asked, her voice small and timid. She hated feeling like this - being told what to do, not being the most knowledgeable in the room. She cleared her throat, swallowing her pride at the same time.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 16



"Kneel down - lower yourself onto your knees Elena - that's it, here, take my hand," Henry said, grasping Elena's hand in his, helping her to kneel astride him, instead of dropping awkwardly from such a height.

Henry pushed himself up into a sitting position, his head a foot below Elena's pink face, his eyesight in line with her breasts. A sharp intake of breath passed between Elena's lips as Henry's lips closed over one of her nipples, his tongue lashing the hardened nub. Elena gripped Henry's shoulders as he pulled her nipple towards him, her torso following suit. Henry let her nipple fall from his lips, quickly moving to the other, sucking hard on the neglected flesh, drawing a ragged moan from between Elena's lips.

Henry flicked her nipple once more with his rough tongue before leaning back against the pillows, smiling at his flustered bride. "Lean back now - as if you are about to sit on your heels Elena," Henry instructed, his hands on her knees.

Elena did as Henry asked, but lurched straight back up on her knees almost immediately. As she sat back she had felt his hard member push against her wetness. Henry chuckled, watching Elena's surprised expression - he had expected no less a reaction. "Calm yourself Elena, it is only the tip of my cock," he said softly, a smile playing around the corner of his mouth. 

Elena blushed profusely again, more from his words than anything else. "Henry..." Elena said beseechingly.

"Don't fret my little hummingbird, you will like this, I promise," he said, wrapping his hand around his erect cock.

Elena bit her lip and nodded apprehensively. She once more lowered herself back down, this time a little more slowly, her heart pounding. She froze as she felt the head of Henry's cock touch her nether lips.

"That's it, good, just like that," Henry crooned, as he began to rub the tip of his cock along her lips, parting them with swift strokes. When it appeared to Henry that Elena had calmed down a little, he removed his hand from his stiffness and reached for hers.

Elena's heart skipped a beat as Henry wrapped her hand around his cock, closing his hand over hers. She could actually feel the shaft pulsing greedily in her hand. Elena looked down at Henry's face apprehensively. Henry smiled softly, "If you'd like you can twist your hand gently, or squeeze lightly- that would feel nice for me Elena."

Elena nodded and gripped Henry's cock a little tighter, feeling the hard muscle between her fingers.

Henry gasped suddenly, startling her. "Lightly Elena!" he winced, taking a deep breath, "Please, a little more gently - men are quite sensitive."

As Henry relaxed once more, Elena let out a small giggle. Such powerful men, she thought to herself, all driven by the power of their loins - only to be at the mercy of a woman's hand.

"I want you to lower yourself, Elena, let my cock slide between your pussy lips."

Elena turned beet red, but this time did not shy away. She nodded and grasped Henry's hard member once more in her hand, slowly lowering herself onto it. She grimaced slightly as she felt the pressure, Henry's hardness not sliding in as easily as his fingers.

"Here, allow me," Henry said gently, placing his hand over hers and guiding his cock at a better angle.

Elena held her breath as she felt Henry's cock slide along the slick crevice between her lips before he pressed it against her, the added pressure causing it to slip slowly into her pussy. 

"Breathe Elena, this will be more pleasurable for you if you let yourself relax."

Elena closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"There we go, Princess," Henry groaned, letting go of her hand, his own dropping to his side.

Elena bit her lip, holding her breath once more as she felt Henry's cock sliding deeper and deeper inside her, until she felt that it couldn't advance any further. She let out a relieved sigh - it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be... a little uncomfortable maybe but not altogether bad. Actually, if she was honest with herself, there was something satisfying about feeling so... full? No, that didn't seem right to her either. Elena wasn't sure what the word was for what she felt. 

"Oh my, Elena," Henry moaned as his hands gripped the sheets, showing an inordinate amount of restraint- he really wanted to grasp HER between his fingers and not the cotton sheets - but he was prepared to keep his promise.

"Am I hurting you?" Elena asked, her tone a little worried, noting the strained look on Henry's face.

"Quite the opposite... it feels, I mean - you feel... amazing."

"Eh, alright then," she said, relaxing a little. After a few more moments silence, Elena said: "Henry?

"MMmm?" he moaned.

"What now?" she asked timidly, blushing pink once more.

"Oh! My princess, my apologies - you felt so good I forgot that you don't know what - well, how to proceed from here," he said in a rush, a smile once more lighting up his features. "There are many ways for you to proceed from your current delectable position," he said, slipping back easily into the role of sexual tutoring, eyeing her up and down, his eyes twinkling in the dim firelight. "You could lean forwards, lying on top of me, before pushing yourself backwards a little. You could do that if you'd like," he said, his words sounding slightly shaky - no doubt he pictured what he said in his mind as he said it, Elena thought. "Alternatively, you could raise yourself slightly up off me, before lowering yourself once more, as you just did."

Elena bit her lip as she went over her options. "I think... the last one," she said, barely above a whisper. 

"Whatever you'd like, Princess."

Elena shifted her weight from side to side, causing Henry's breath to hitch momentarily.

"So I just rise up, like this?" she whispered, her hands on Henry's muscular lower abdomen for stability. Elena gasped softly as she felt Henry's hardness slide slowly from her pussy, rubbing her smooth walls with it's bulbous head.

"Yesss," Henry moaned. "Just be careful that you don't-" he said, a moment too late.

Elena felt it too - Henry's cock had slipped out - she was enjoying the feel of it sliding between her lips more than she would have thought possible, that she hadn't thought that about the fact that his cock was not endless, despite it's impressive length.

"Here, allow me-" Henry started to say, before Elena pushed his hand away, as she grasped the now slick cock in her hand and guided it to her pussy with ease.

"My, my - you're a quick study, Princess," he chuckled before gasping once more as he felt her warm pussy envelope his cock.

Slowly, Elena started to build a rhythm. She was surprised how easily it came to her, how natural it felt to her, despite the fact that she had never done such a thing before in her life. As her breathing quickened in time with her thrusting, she took secret pleasure in causing Henry to moan and groan beneath her. Elena found that she relished the feeling of power it gave her over him, the strong king of Kravaolia writhing beneath her in delicious torment, his fingers practically tearing the bedsheets in an attempt to control himself.

"My god!" Henry cried out, following a particularly sinfully slow descent onto his cock.

It was Elena's turn to chuckle. "Not God Henry, just me," she said with an added squeeze.

"Elena..." Henry moaned.

"Yess."

"Please Elena..."

"MMMmmm," Elena replied, her eyes closed in exquisite lust.

"I want to touch you," he moaned as she thrust down on his cock a little faster.

Elena paused mid-thrust, opening her eyes, discerning Henry's sweaty face, his lust filled eyes. Her gaze roamed over his glistening torso, every muscle straining in self-control, his chest heaving with exertion.

"Elena?" Henry asked breathlessly.

"I'm thinking Henry..." she said, her tone encased with a thin veil of lust.

"Think faster Princess!" Henry groaned as he writhed beneath her.

Elena smiled as she resumed the conversation, punctuating each word with a slow, satisfying thrust. "Well... I... don't... see... any... reason... why... not... as... long... as... you... keep... your... WORD..." she said, emphasising her last word with a relatively forceful thrust that brought a loud moan from both their lips.

Henry wasted no time - he bolted into a sitting position, pulling Elena tightly against his hard torso so quickly she yelped in surprise. He wrapped his arms around her back as his lips quickly found her breasts, his tongue flicking her hard nipples in between kissing and nibbling on her soft flesh. 

Elena groaned, her head falling back as Henry touched her in such a way that she momentarily forgot what she was doing. Henry evidently had not, his hands sliding down her back and cupping her bottom, kneading the globes softly.

"Elena," he murmured against her extended neck.

"Mmmm?" she responded.

"Do you want me to take over for you Princess?"

"Mmmm?" she replied hazily.

"It's just that you seem a little overwhelmed, my little hummingbird. Let me help you," he said, grasping her buttocks firmly, spreading them slightly as he swiftly drove his hips forwards, plunging himself forcefully into her velvety depths.

"HENRY!" Elena squealed, her hands flying to his shoulders to steady herself.

Henry growled, his satisfaction vibrating through her chest.

"Can't be trusted, can you Henry?" Elena gasped playfully. "Now, lie back down," she said, peeling his fingers from her ass and pushing him back down.

Henry fell back against the mattress with a groan, his hands clutching the sheets once more as Elena shifted her weight from side to side.

After a few moments silence when neither of them moved, Henry broke the silence. "Elena?" he asked tentatively, looking up at her beautiful, yet motionless, figure straddling him.

"Yes?"

"Is something wrong?" 

"No."

"Then, um, darling, why have you stopped?"

"Oh that," Elena answered with a slight grind of her pelvis against Henry's, causing his breath to catch in his chest. "I was just thinking, that you owe me an apology," she said, a small smile creeping across her face.

"Come again?" Henry rasped, thinking that he had misheard her.

"Well, you said that you were going to keep your hands to yourself, but you didn't, did you?" she said, once more shifting her weight, smiling widely as his jaw tightened.

"This is hardly the time nor the place to try and teach me manners, Princess."

"Mmm, perhaps not, but one must start somewhere, no?" she said, her fingertips trailing his stomach. "And I seem to remember you telling me, some time ago, that I needed to learn royal etiquette... I think the situation is reversed, don't you agree?"

Henry frowned at her words, but smiled inwardly as he remembered this situation in which he said that, he distinctly recalled her naked and bound, trembling under his stare. He shook his head, clearing his mind of the past Elena and looking up at his bride, who no longer trembled beneath him.

Henry cleared his throat. "I'm sorry," he said flatly.

"Oh you can do better than that," Elena said, smiling as she squeezed her internal muscles.

"I'm sorry!" he gasped.

"There is room for improvement, but I accept," she said slyly as she raised herself up before lowering herself sinfully slowly down Henry's hard shaft.

"Elena..." Henry rasped, clutching the sheets anew.

"Yes?" she moaned, looking at Henry through half closed eyelids as she raised herself up once more and repeated the slow slide downwards.

"What you are doing feels... amazing... but can you go... faster? I can't last long like this!" he said, a note of urgency in his strained voice.

Elena giggled. "Patience Henry, patience." Henry growled in response and clenched the bedsheets tightly in his fists, but lay still.

After rising ever so slowly, and torturing Henry with the ever-so-slowly descent, Elena started to increase the speed of her thrusts. It was not long before each thrust was followed by an audible moan from Elena and hurried words of encouragement from Henry.

"Oh yes Princess... that's it."

"Ohhh Henry..."

"Faster Elena, faster!"

"Henry... Oh!"

Elena's thrusting became more erratic, coming in short powerful bursts as opposed to her former slow and controlled thrusting.

Henry grunted with exertion, sweat beading across his forehead as he clenched handfuls of bedsheets in his fists.

"Henry!"

Elena's eyes clamped shut as she tried to fight off the building tension spreading throughout every muscle in her body. She reverted suddenly from hard thrusts to a slow grinding against Henry's hard member. Elena opened her mouth, fully intending to scream her pleasure to the heavens, yet not a single words passed her lips as she reached a level of bliss she wouldn't have thought possible.

Henry gazed at the naked beauty straddling him, her muscles clamping down hard around his cock, causing him to growl deeply with pleasure. He feasted his eyes on the once haughty princess, now convulsing lustfully around his hard shaft - an image he wasn't going to forget anytime soon.

As the waves of pleasure slowly dissipated, Elena found herself depleted of all strength and simply slumped down against Henry's muscular chest, her eyes closed as she took refuge in the hard wall of muscle beneath her.

Henry's hands wrapped around Elena, squeezing her tightly against his chest. Elena sighed deeply in response and squirmed a little before relaxing in his arms.

"Elena," Henry said softly, his fingers attempting to tease out her messy mane.

"Mmm?" Elena purred contently.

"How do you feel?" he asked, his fingers stroking through her straggly stresses.

Elena opened her eyes slowly, trying to gather a thought to put into a sentence. "I... I... Oh Henry..." she sighed. Honestly, she felt - great? amazing? Elena's extensive vocabulary was unable to help her, she was simply at a loss to explain how she felt to Henry.

Henry kissed her head softly. "I understand," he murmured as his fingers danced lightly over her back. "There's just one more thing Elena..."

"Mmmm?" Elena replied.

"You see, we are not quite finished, my delectable queen."

Elena raised her head a fraction to get a better look at Henry's face. 

Henry chuckled at her quizzical look. "Let me show you," he said, wrapping his arms around Elena, holding her firmly, before thrusting slightly against her.

Elena gasped in shock. In her post orgasmic state she had forgotten that Henry's hard cock remained nestled between her lips. However, it seemed that his hardness was dormant no more.

"Do you trust me?" Henry asked, lifting her chin slightly.

Elena's blue eyes looked down into his dark, shining eyes. "Yes," Elena whispered.

Henry pulled Elena's face to his, kissing her lips with weeks of repressed passion. Elena's lips parted, allowing his tongue to dance against her own. Henry held her tightly against his beating chest as he rolled them on to their sides, his hardness still nestled between her pussy lips.

Henry reached down and ran his hand slowly, from Elena's delicate ankle up her calf, stopping his caress as he reached her knee. As Henry grasped her leg and lifted it over his hip, Elena felt herself opening up to him, his cock slipping deeper into her warmth.

Elena broke the kiss in order to breathe, her head spinning slightly from all that was going on in that one moment.

Henry's lips moved to Elena's throat as he pulled her leg higher, draping it snugly over his hip. His lips moved from the hollow of her neck to her shoulder, kissing the tender flesh slowly.

Elena felt each kiss scorching her soft skin, his lips branding her in a most pleasurable way. She felt Henry's hand slide from her knee up her thigh, increasing the pressure before kneading the soft flesh of her ass, all while he chose to focus his lips on one point of her neck, causing her to whimper with pleasure.

Henry started to move his hips slowly, thrusting gently into her velvety depths. As he started to thrust a little faster, his grip on Elena's ass tightened, his breathing heavier, interspersed with grunts of exertion.

Elena clung to Henry, too far gone to do anything other than hold on tight and let Henry take her wherever he was heading. She whimpered as Henry's thrusts caused his pelvis to grind against her already sensitive clitoris, causing sparks to fly between her legs.

Henry pressed his forehead against Elena's, his eyes shut tightly as a guttural growl escaped his throat. 

"Henry," Elena gasped, her nails digging into his muscular back.

"So close," he groaned in her ear.

Henry pressed his lips against Elena's as he rolled onto his back, Elena rolling with him so that once more she was straddling him.

Elena broke Henry's kiss. "Henry - I can't... not again - I don't have the strength," she gasped, nuzzling against his neck.

"Don't worry," Henry said with a smile as his hands swept down her back over her buttocks, grasping a cheek in each hand. "Just hold on Princess," he whispered hotly in her ear.

Henry lifted Elena while parting her cheeks slightly, allowing him to place his feet firmly on the mattress between her own, before he started to thrust upwards, causing Elena to cry out in surprise as she experienced a new and most powerful thrusting angle.

Henry's breathing became rather ragged as his hips thrust forcefully, his cock reaching new depths within Elena's wet hot pussy. Elena blushed slightly as she heard the sounds of their flesh meeting forcefully, the slapping sound echoing around the room, heightening her growing arousal.

"OH GOD HENRY!" Elena shouted, clinging tightly to Henry's shoulders, for he had chosen that exact moment to increase the speed of his thrusting tenfold, his ass barely grazing the bed before thrusting back up.

"Kiss me Elena" he growled lustily, squeezing her soft buns as he hammered into her, the force throwing her forwards slightly. Elena shakily took Henry's face in both hands and planted a breathless kiss against his lips, before dipping below his chin and nibbling on his neck, kissing the pounding pulse that seemed to quicken beneath her lips.

Henry wrapped his arms tightly around Elena's back and waist, holding her flush against him, as he groaned deeply, thrusting with such force that every contact between their bodies produced a resounding SMACK that reverberated around the room. Elena buried her head into Henry's neck whimpering and moaning incoherently with every thrust.

Finally, Henry couldn't hold out any longer. With an almighty roar he thrust forcefully into Elena in three prolonged thrusts, emptying his royal seed deep inside her while her walls clenched possessively around his shaft.

They lay entwined in their semi-conscious state for a few minutes, but to Elena it felt like a lifetime. She barely noticed the pounding of Henry's heart beneath her slowing to a normal rhythm. She was adrift in her own sea of emotions, of which she felt no shame - for the first time in a long time. She hardly noticed Henry's softened cock slip from between her legs as he rolled her gently on to the bed, throwing the covers over the both of them, before pulling her against him and encompassing her in his strong arms.

Henry kissed her gently on the lips, to which Elena replied with a content sigh and burrowed deeper into his chest.

Henry held Elena, stroking her bare back with his fingers as she sighed sleepily in his arms.

"My queen Elena," he said softly, brushing a golden curl from Elena's slumbering face. Elena nuzzled his hand in her sleep, sighing softly against it. Henry lowered his head slowly onto a pillow, looking down at his beautiful sleeping bride, before he too fell blissfully asleep.



The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 17



Sorry for the delay dear readers, but as this is a hobby, I only write when I have the time and lately that is not very often. I know this chapter is not very long, but I think a year is too long a time, so I split the chapter in two :)

I hope you enjoy! Comment and let me know!

*****

Elena opened her eyes, but with a grunt shut them immediately. She opened them once more, squinting against the harsh glare of sunlight pouring in through the large bedroom window. Instinctively, Elena attempted to cover herself, grasping for the thin sheet, realising that it was coiled around her bare legs, leaving the rest of her body entirely exposed. Glancing quickly over at Henry, Elena was relieved to find him fast asleep, the sun pouring in through the large windows causing his sheetless body to appear to be bathed in golden light. Elena was glad that Henry was asleep, for a brilliant blush blazed in her cheeks as she glanced at the sleeping king beside her. The way the light touched him, made him appear like all those statues of ancient hunters and mythic warriors that graced the halls and buildings of Lorrea - Strong, beautiful and masculine. Elena suppressed a giggle, as she recalled a time when she was a curious teenager, tracing the curves and fissures of those marble statues, marveling at the differences between the female subjects with their soft curves and smooth figures, and the male subjects with their sharp lines and sculpted muscles. Her blush deepened as she recalled what had transpired the previous evening between her and the naked man beside her.

As Elena thought back upon her wedding night, she absentmindedly moved the medallion on it's golden chain, side to side against her chest, the golden coat of arms chinking softly against the large, royal Kravaolian ring on her finger. It seemed almost dreamlike - and she would have believed the previous night had indeed been a dream, however the large naked man slumbering next to her made that extremely unlikely. 

Elena ran a hand through her hair - a nervous habit that her mother had been determined to stamp out - she frowned when her hand became lodged in her golden locks and no amount of finger teasing helped. Elena realised that she must look quite dishevelled if she couldn't even run a hand through her hair. 

Ever so quietly, Elena slid from the bed, wrapping the sheet around her as she tiptoed to the marble bathroom, carefully closing the door behind her. Elena scanned the bathroom before finding what she was looking for. On one of the marble surfaces stood a polished wooden box, not unlike the one she had back in Lorrea, however this one seemed a little more ornate, with inlaid jewels and pretty little mother of pearl geometric patterns. Elena opened it, satisfied to find within it, among other things, a small handheld mirror and a comb. As she lowered the lid of the box, the mirror slipped from her grasp and she had to use both hands to catch it before it shattered, causing her to drop the lid of the box, which closed with a loud, echoing SNAP. 

Her heart beating a little faster, Elena pressed her ear against the door and stood stock still, straining for any sound of movement. Satisfied that Henry's sleep seemed uninterrupted, Elena looked down at the mirror in her hand, and muffled a sharp gasp, as the image reflected back at her looked nothing like a princess, not to mention a queen. The expertly and painstakingly applied rouge was smudged and the eye paint ran in haphazard tracks from the corners of her eyes down her cheeks. Elena rubbed her fingers against the dark streaks but they wouldn't budge. Elena once more scanned the bathroom, sighing in relief when she spotted a basin full of water and a clean towel next to it. She dipped her hands into the water, instantly shuddering at the thought of splashing her face with such cold water. She cupped the water in her hands and brought it to her face, holding her breath from the coldness. After a few more ice washes, she glanced in the mirror, disheartened that her face still bore the same marks. Elena took a deep breath and clutching the basin on both sides, flung her face into its icy waters. Elena yelled in shock, but only bubbles and a faint gurgling sound escaped the water's surface. Finally, when Elena couldn't take the cold anymore, she emerged, her face dripping wet and gasping for air. She quickly dipped the edge of the towel into the basin and rubbed - or more correctly - scrubbed her face vigorously, only stopping when she thought that she was soon to draw blood. She glanced once more in the mirror and smiled at her reflection. Albeit a red and blotchy one, but a dignified and clean face nonetheless. 

Next, Elena tackled her hair, managing to tame the wild strands with the small comb while still leaving some hair attached to her scalp.

After Elena relieved herself, she quietly opened the door, and peeped her head out, smiling to herself that Henry still seemed to be asleep. She tiptoed back into the room and stopped before a large closet. Elena opened the doors, one creaking inch after another, intent on clothing herself in anything really, as long as it wasn't a bedsheet or her crumpled wedding gown that she spied lying in the middle of the bedroom floor. Elena found a large maroon robe, which she slipped on, the belt wrapping twice around her slender waist. As she tied the belt, Elena made a mental note that her next order of business was to have words with that master of ceremonies, who seemed so intent on the number of petals her floral bouquet had to have and the proper lace stitching on her wedding dress, yet had not contributed an afterthought to her wardrobe as future queen.

Elena closed the closet door, sighing with relief that at least this time the creaking of the hinges was much less pronounced than earlier. Now that she was clothed, albeit in just a robe, she felt less intimidated by the slumbering, naked king sprawled across the bed. Even the puddle of silk and lace in the middle of the room didn't seem as frightening as it had just minutes earlier. "It's just a dress," Elena whispered to herself as she picked up the gown and draped it over a chair.

Straightening her robe, she walked to the large bedroom doors and gently opened the left one just a crack, peering into the hall. She spotted two guards standing outside, each as still as a statue. 

"Excuse me," Elena whispered, startling the soldier on the left nonetheless.

"Yes your Highness?"

"Would it be possible to arrange a breakfast platter to be sent up? Nothing extravagant, just a few things that Hen- The King," she corrected herself quickly, "if the cook knows what the king fancies - that would be good."

"Absolutely queen Elena, right away," the soldier answered briskly, bowing his head slightly before disappearing from view, his armour clanging somewhere out of sight.

Elena closed the door quietly, shutting out the echoing rattle of metal as the soldier descended the staircase. Stepping back, Elena let out a frightened squeak as she bumped into a solid wall of muscle that had not been there earlier. Whirling around, Elena looked up at Henry's amused face, his lips twitching, as if to hide a smile.

"Going somewhere?" He asked playfully, trapping her within his arms.

Heart pounding painfully against her chest, Elena took a deep breath, hoping it would perhaps lighten the shade of red that she felt blossoming in her cheeks.

"I was just inquiring about some breakfast," she said breathlessly.

"Oh really?" he murmured, backing her up until she felt the wooden door pressed against her backside.

"Yes, I thought that you might be hungry... I mean, that last thing that you ate was at the reception last night," she stammered. His nakedness was causing her to feel extremely self conscious of wearing only a robe and nothing else.

"You are right," he said slowly, running his hands down her sides, resting on her hips. "I am indeed hungry," he continued, the predatory glint in his eyes causing goosebumps to erupt all over her body, "but you are wrong in one respect, my queen - the banquet was not the last time some sweet nectar passed my lips."

Elena looked up into Henry's face, confusion written on her own face. What was he talking about? The last time she had seen any food was downstairs - unless Henry had left their bed for some sustenance before she woke?

As Henry watched Elena in amusement while she lost herself in thought, his hands slid over her hips and delved below her waist, gripping her robe-clad derriere suddenly, kneading the soft flesh in his large hands.

"Henry!" Elena squealed, her hands clutching his, successfully peeling them off her backside.

Henry chuckled in response, his hands returning to her hips. "I'm hungry," he said, licking his lips while pinning her against the door.

"Well, if you would stop trying to mold me into the door then perhaps the staff will be able bring in our breakfast when it's ready," she said with a roll of her eyes.

"Maybe just a taste in the meanwhile, yes?" he said softly, almost to himself.

"W- What?" Elena asked as Henry leaned into her, catching her lips between his, causing her next sentence to dissolve somewhere between her brain and her lips. 

Elena's lips parted to allow Henry's impatient tongue to dart forward against her own as one of his hands wrapped itself in her golden locks, the other cupping her breast gently, lovingly.

"Henry..." Elena moaned, her hands pressing against Henry's muscled abdomen.

The hand wrapped in her hair pulled her head gently to the side, breaking the contact of their lips. Henry kissed her softly on the cheek before pulling her earlobe between his lips, flicking it with his tongue briefly before he whispered hotly against her ear, "just a small taste, Princess."

Elena suppressed a shiver of anticipation brought on by Henry's tongue. She was quickly losing her grip on her surroundings - but really, she said to herself, why shouldn't she enjoy whatever Henry had in mind? What would be the harm? She was still thinking along the lines of 'captured princess' when truthfully, she was now Queen of the most powerful kingdom in the region. With that thought in mind, Elena relaxed in Henry's arms. 

Henry, feeling her hands revert from pushing him away to actually pulling him closer, pressed a hungry kiss against her lips as his hands make quick work of the robe, pushing it off her shoulders so it puddled soundlessly at their feet.

Henry broke their kiss, his eyes sweeping the naked queen before him. "Beautiful," He murmured, running his fingertips over her soft breasts, his lips twitching into a smile as her nipples hardened under such sensual teasing.

"Henry," Elena breathed as his fingers traveled lower. "I don't think... someone will be up shortly with some food... perhaps you... we... should wait," she whimpered as his fingers reach the junction of her thighs, "wait until after."

"The servants will not enter without my permission," he said, cupping her sex in his large hand.

Elena squirmed in his hand and pressed herself into the door for relief, whimpering when she felt him roll her pussy lips between his fingers. Elena blushed furiously when she realised the dampness that he had somehow drawn forth from her in such a short time, his fingertips slick with her arousal. Shame, mortification, embarrassment were just some of the words that came to mind...

Henry chuckled. "Elena, my dear blushing bride... it pleases me so to feel that you are so-" he slipped a finger inside- "responsive... to my touch," he purred, pressing his thumb against her clitoris, causing her to gasp and clutch his shoulders to stop herself from losing her balance.

"A little unsteady on your feet Princess?" he asked, as a second finger joined the first, eliciting a shiver and loud moan from Elena. "I have a remedy for that," he smiled as Elena eyed him nervously. 

Henry withdrew his fingers, a small whimper escaping Elena's lips. "Just relax," he instructed, as he placed his hands on her hips and lifted her up against the wall.

"Henry!" Elena squealed, her fingers once more flying to his shoulders. 

Henry's hands slid from her hips to her ass, essentially supporting her weight in the palms of his hands before swiftly moving between her legs, pushing her thighs apart with his weight, spreading her legs wide, his cock nestling at the entrance to her pussy which radiated with a glistening heat.

Elena bit her bottom lip nervously, unsure of this new position. Henry, looking into her eyes, interpreted her apprehension correctly. "Just like last night, but with no bed," he said softly, "-and you're still on top," he added with a devilish smirk.

Despite her pounding heart, Elena nodded apprehensively, a new blush spreading across her face. 

Henry pressed forward, while simultaneously lowering her onto his cock. Elena gasped as she felt Henry's cock slowly part her nether lips - she couldn't believe how she seemed to feel every inch of the firm muscle slowly and most wickedly sink deeper between her warm walls.

Elena, her body flush against Henry's, impaled to the hilt upon his turgid cock, leant her head back against the door. Her eyes closed, breath coming in deep shuddering gasps through clenched teeth, Elena lost herself to the exquisite feeling of his thickness, her walls squeezing the hard, muscular intruder, which in turn caused Henry's head to drop against her chest as a deep groan issued forth between his lips, vibrating against her skin like a drum roll.

With the hard door pressed against Elena's back, Henry began to thrust forwards, slowly at first, his strong arms supporting her slight frame as she clutched his shoulders tightly.

Elena groaned as Henry thrust into her velvety depths. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something about the way he was making love to her, the raw power of his actions, which somehow brought forth from her lips whimpering sounds, sounds Elena could not recall ever making. 

Elena was ripped suddenly from her thoughts as Henry lurched away from the wall, carrying her into the middle of the room.

"Henry!" Elena gasped, as she clung tightly to his shoulders, both their bodies slick with exertion, causing her to almost slide right off him.

"Hold on," he whispered in her ear. Elena hooked her legs around Henry, her ankles locking above his firm buttocks. Henry in turn tightened his grip on her ass, his fingers digging into the soft flesh as he lifted Elena slightly off his cock, before guiding her back down onto his hardness.

"Oh my! Henry..." Elena gasped as she felt his cock drive into her - partly due to gravity, and partly due to Henry's brute strength.

Elena buried her head in Henry's shoulder as he picked up a punishing pace, grunting in rhythm with the amorous sounds of their lovemaking. 

Suddenly, a hesitant knock cut through the air. Elena's head snapped upright, her whole body tensing as the knock was repeated, with a little more force. "Relax," Henry grunted, "I'll send them away."

"Henry don't you dare open that door like this!" Elena gasped, as Henry carried her towards the door, his cock still nestled deep within her.

Henry kissed the inside of Elena's exposed forearm she had wrapped around his neck. "You think me so crass, a philistine of our age, that I would expose you to a servant in your situation?" he asked in a whisper as he pressed her bare back against the door.

"I -" she started to say before being cut off by Henry's finger pressing against her lips, his twinkling eyes asking for her silence. Elena bit her lip and nodded.

"Yes?" Henry said loudly. Elena was impressed that she could detect only a slight strain to his voice, despite the fact that he was supporting a woman, not to mention being buried cock deep inside her.

"Breakfast, King Henry," called a voice from the other side.

Henry looked at Elena and smirked at her. The finger pressed against her lips no longer remained alone, as Henry covered her mouth with his whole hand.

"NOT," Henry called, thrusting deeply into her, making her squeal behind his hand, "...NOW!" he continued, with a second thrust of such force that Elena actually tried to push Henry away from her, the sensation driving her literally up the wall.

"As you wish king Henry," came a muffled reply from the other side of the door.

Elena wrapped her fingers in his hair, pulling his head back sharply. Where she expected a gasp of pain, came only laughter, which only incensed her further, her eyes narrowing as she took in his amused expression. "Behind your fancy clothing Henry, you indeed are a boor, a philistine of this age," she hissed, twisting his hair tighter in her fingers.

"It amuses me, that such strong and noble rhetoric comes from a woman, glistening wet with lust and want. A woman who is currently lanced on my cock," he growled playfully as his hips pushed forwards, grinding Elena into the door.

Whimpering in response to this newly exquisite feeling, Elena wrapped her legs tighter around Henry's hips, pulling him in deeper.

"You see," Henry panted, his thrusting pace increasing, "Deep down you want this... your cool exterior is cracking with all the heat that is coursing beneath your skin... you can not deny it Elena, I can feel it," he said, his tongue dancing across her collarbone.

"No," Elena whispered, as she clung to Henry's shoulders, her grip slipping just like her self control.

"Yes," Henry replied, the heat of his breath washing over Elena's neck. His thrusts becoming less controlled and more urgent, a greedy eagerness driving his hips home.

"NO," she gasped, her pussy clamping down, trapping Henry's cock deep inside her velvety depths, her face buried in the crook of his neck and shoulder.

"YES!" Henry growled, throwing his head back. The feeling of Elena squeezing him as tightly as he could ever remember, finally pushed him over the edge.

It took all the remaining strength he had to support Elena as she shuddered and trembled against him, lost in the throes of her own orgasm.

Henry held Elena in his arms for quite some time, their sweaty bodies pressed together as both their heart rates decelerated. Elena was roused slowly from her bliss by Henry's gentle kisses, his lips planting soft touches over her chest and neck. She groaned and leaned back, allowing Henry more access to her sensitive neck, his kisses leaving her skin tingling with a heavy, yet delicious feeling, of lingering lust. 

Elena was so sated, her consciousness still swimming in the aftermath of her orgasm, that she barely noticed her back parting with the wooden door, or the way Henry's muscles flexed around her as he carried her to their bed. When Henry's knees made contact with the bed, he leaned forward, lowering Elena slowly onto the bed, his softened cock slipping soundlessly from within her warm cavern, the cool air of the room unwelcome to both of them. Elena closed her legs in response, rubbing herself against the soft sheets in an attempt of chasing that delicious feeling of warmth that slowly dissipated with Henry's absence.

Henry, still bent over Elena, kissed her hip tenderly as she continued to seek the fabulous feeling of warmth, brought on by the friction of rubbing her glistening nakedness against the bedsheets. His kisses traveled higher, tiny little ones, his lips barely making contact with her skin, but just enough to cause her to moan and reach down, running her fingers through his hair.

"Henry..." Elena sighed breathlessly as she felt his teeth scrape against her nipple, before encircling the point between his lips, sucking the sensitive flesh. Grinning slightly, Henry watched as Elena arched her back, following his pull in order to alleviate the glorious tension building once more within her core.




The Last Princess of Lorrea Ch. 17



Henry released the captive nipple, following Elena who sunk back into the sheets, kissing the prominent peak before continuing north, his kisses leaving a trail of tingling sensations over her skin.

Henry's strong fingers traced the line of her jaw, Elena parted her lips, knowing Henry's lips were not far away. "Beautiful," Henry mumbled before locking his lips over hers and kissing her hotly, her hand on the back of his neck pulling him forward, deepening their kiss.

"I'll be right back," Henry whispered against her lips. Bending over, he picked up the discarded bedsheet off the floor and flicked it upwards, the sheet snapping smartly in the air before drifting slowly downwards, covering Elena's glistening nakedness. Henry cast one more appraising look over his sated bride, before picking up the maroon robe next to the door. Chuckling to himself, he wrapped the robe around his body, the fabric clinging to his sweaty body.

Henry opened the door, startling the young servant standing before him, his arms laden with an overflowing breakfast tray. Henry stood back to allow him to enter, pointing to a small table in the corner of the room. 

The boy hurried forwards, the tray rattling as much as his nerves. He quickly set up the breakfast platter, not looking the King in the eye. 

"That is good enough, you may go now," Henry barked - he spied the servant casting a quick glance at the bed, as the bulky white sheet stirred and let out a satisfied sigh. Startled, the boy made a deep bow and practically ran from the room, shutting the door loudly behind him.

Henry looked over the assortment of dishes, dipping his finger into one. Bringing it to his lips he licked the creamy confection and closed his eyes as the sugar awakened his taste buds. Henry dipped his finger once more into the dish and walked over to Elena, crouching over her semi-conscious form. "Elena," he whispered, rubbing his finger over her lips, spreading the sweet cream across her rosy lips. 

Elena opened her eyes, confused by Henry's actions, her lips parting in the beginning of a question. 

"Taste it Elena, you'll like it," Henry said, licking the remaining cream from his finger. 

"It's a Kravaolian specialty... trust me," he smiled.

Elena, feeling extremely self conscious, swiped her lip with the tip of her tongue. Henry watched with amusement as her eyes lit up suddenly, her tongue once again darting out past her lips, to collect the rest of the creamy sweetness remaining on her lips. 

Henry bent down and kissed her, his lips locking onto hers, the remaining sugar causing their kiss to tingle pleasantly even after the broke apart. 

"See, I told you that you'd like it. Now my dear, eat some breakfast - I'll join you shortly," he said, winking at her over his shoulder as he walked to the bathroom.

Elena rolled over, wrapped the sheet around her and made her way over to the table, her movements languid, as she dropped soundlessly into a vacant chair.

A loud cough, coming from the bathroom, broke Elena's reverie. She leaned forward and pulled towards her everything in within reach, suddenly finding herself ravenous.

Elena ate with gusto, the only sound coming from the scraping of cutlery or a crunching of crispy bread.

"Leave something for me Princess," Henry chuckled, making his way over.

Elena choked on her mouthful of eggs, turned beet red and lay down a roll that she had just torn in half.

"I was just joking Elena, eat -eat!" he said, as he sat down opposite her.

Elena swallowed with much difficulty, her colour lessening from a beet to a rose. She took a large gulp of water, smiling to herself, remembering how her mother always looked so mortified when she forgot her table manners when in royal company. 

"I was thinking about what we should do today," Henry said, taking a swig of juice. "I was thinking of maybe saddling a horse or two and going for a long ride in the country - what say you Elena?"

Elena, mouth full of food, nodded and said something that resembled the words 'that sounds nice Henry'.

"Good!" Henry said, tearing a chunk of bread with his teeth. "I'll make the arrangements as soon as we're done here."

Elena leaned back in her chair, eyeing Henry, who was busying himself with different dips and cold meats. 

"Henry, while I like the idea of us going for a ride in the country, don't you, well, have council meetings and such to attend to?" she asked, placing her hands soothingly over her stomach.

Henry waved his glass, causing a little juice to spill over the edge. "Nothing pressing that can't wait a day or two Elena, the cabinet won't begrudge me a little time getting to know my queen," he said, smirking slightly at the 'getting to know' part of his words. Elena blushed in return, understanding his intentions quite clearly.

Half an hour later, full and content, Henry rose slowly from his chair. 

"Right, I need to take care of a few things, I'll send Catherine in after me, alright Elena?" he asked as he stopped next to her chair.

"Yes Henry, that will be just fine." Elena said, giving him a content smile. Henry reached out and stroked her cheek. 

"You know Elena, this... us... being married, is so dreamlike to me I half expect to wake up. But when I do this," he said, leaning down and kissing her softly on the lips, "I know I'm not dreaming."

Henry smiled handsomely at Elena, tightened his robe and walked briskly out the door.

"Yes," Elena whispered, her voice barely carrying above a whisper, "not a dream."

****

Elena was waiting patiently at the foot of the stairs, outside the castle. The sun casting it's strong rays across the courtyard, illuminating her in it's glow. Elena was absentmindedly turning the royal ring on her finger, as she was unaccustomed to wearing anything on her fingers. She looked up as she heard the faint sound of horse hooves, spying Henry riding towards her with another horse in tow.

"Woah," Henry commanded his horse, it's large formidable body coming to a halt before her. 

"What, no sheet?" Henry asked Elena, eyeing her dress with a smirk.

"No, I was finally presented with my royal wardrobe," Elena said, her fingers smoothing out the folds of flowing fabric. "Which, incidentally, I would have appreciated earlier this morning," she said, walking over the the other horse, running her fingers through it's chestnut mane.

"My dear queen, your dress only enhances your beauty," he said, dismounting from his horse and walking over to Elena's. "However," he said, cupping his hands as a foothold, boosting her up onto her horse, "I'm find myself rather partial to the sheet," he said, his eyes twinkling.

"I can't imagine why," Elena snorted in reply, smoothing out her skirts around her, tucking some fabric under her knees for comfort.

"Shall we be off then?" Henry asked, turning his horse around and pointing it towards the castle gates.

"Yes," Elena replied, her horse starting forwards at a click of her tongue.

They made their way slowly through town, down winding cobblestone roads and dirt paths, Elena began to shift uncomfortably in her saddle. 

"Something wrong Princess?" Henry murmured to her as he inclined his head to a bowing peasant.

"No, it's just that i'm not used to this," she said, straightening her shoulders as they passed more bowing Kravaolians.

"Used to what?" Henry asked, throwing a few golden coins from a small pouch, into the outstretched hands of an elderly woman.

"People bowing down before me. I don't know how to say this exactly Henry - It's just that in Lorrea, my parents never rode through town, never put themselves above the people as they passed them," she said softly as her hands wrung the reins in embarrassment.

"Well, in Kravaolia this is common practice, when royalty make their way through the city."

"I see," Elena said quietly.

"But," Henry said, "If it pleases my queen, I think we should continue on foot, at least until the city limits."

Elena looked over at Henry with such adoration that he almost fell off his horse. He'd never seen such a look on her face, and he silently vowed to find some way to see her look at him like that again.

Henry quickly dismounted from is horse, walking quickly over to Elena, who was halfway off her horse already. As Henry helped her to the ground, she kissed him softly on the cheek, "Thank you," she said with a smile.

"Follow me," Henry said, holding his horse by the bridle, walking slowly in the direction of the city gates.

"Lead the way," Elena replied, pulling her horse alongside her.

The royal couple made their way through the city, Elena bowing her head humbly in response to those who bowed and curtsied before her. After some time, they found themselves in the wide open fields on the outskirts of the royal city. 

Henry, stopped walking abruptly and turned around to face Elena. "I think we have stretched our legs far enough, yes? Time to mount your horse now Princess," He said, taking the reins from her fingers.

"Yes, right you are Henry," she said, turning towards her horse. He cupped his hands as a foothold once more before boosting her up over her horse. "Thank you."

Henry passed her the reins and made his way back over to his own steed. He quickly mounted his horse, the beast tossing it's head at the sudden shift of weight on it's back.

Once they were both comfortably situated on horseback, they headed down the rode, side by side at a gentle trot. Henry looked over at Elena from time to time, noting her serenity as she looked about the countryside contently.

"What?" Elena asked, as she caught Henry staring at her on one of these occasions.

"Nothing," Henry replied with a smile. "Say, i've got an idea - how about a race? Up the road and up that mountainside," he said, pointing ahead of them.

Elena frowned. "I'm not sure that would be very fair Henry. As much as my horse is a fine specimen of equidae as they come, it doesn't stand a chance against your mammoth of a warhorse over there," she said, nodding at the solid black muscle that Henry was straddling.

Henry smiled and inclined his head. "Well, yes, that may be true, but I propose an amendment. How about a head start?"

"A what?"

"I give you, say, a five minute head start. That should be fair enough I think."

Elena looked over at Henry, her frown slowly turning into a grin. "Yes, quite fair, I agree."

"Good! Are you ready?"

"Always," Elena replied, gripping the reins tightly in her hands.

"Well then, off you go!"

Elena shot Henry a grin moments before she dug her heels into her horse's sides, the horse starting suddenly with a loud whinny before darting forth.

Henry chuckled, watching Elena's hair fly behind her, her bottom jutting out as she bent low over her horse.

Henry counted patiently: One minute, two minutes, three minutes - but the image of Elena's rump bouncing up and down on her saddle put an end to Henry's constraint. 

He kicked his horse sharply, cried "Hyah!" and was off in a scattering of dust, his horse galloping off in Elena's wake.