The Conquered's Choice Pt. 02

He eventually found himself looking at her and returning her kisses with an admiring trust. Very much the same trust she had won from him once already in her letters. She returned his impressed looks with fond, captivating stares. His thankful words after each brief lesson and introduction were rewarded with a lush kiss and a warm soft squeeze, each feeling more gratifying than the last. After a while, he couldn't help but admit that all of this, with her by his side, didn't seem that crazy after all.

Finally someone he recognized, unfortunately, pushed his way to the front of the line.

Lord Ferlin blubbered in self-important indignation, "...ridiculous that I would be made to wait behind the likes of these fools. I have things to do, let me speak with them!"

Vol cringed, "Ugh, this one I've already met unfortunately."

Zarina gave him an amused smile, "Well, I'm glad to see your instincts are accurate. Lord Ferlin is definitely a scheming egotist, but do not insult the man. He unfortunately holds a lot of power. He's not an evil man per se, but one who simply only ever has his own self-interest in mind. He can still be very useful if you can convince him that doing what you want will help him as well."

Vol nodded, knowing the kind of man she meant, and gave a begrudging smile as he approached. Ferlin made a grand flourish with his hand to throw a generous vividly colourful shower of flower petals towards them.

"My King and Queen! What a night! Already legends are being made of the exciting deeds you have done!" he said with a deep bow.

"Our thanks to you Lord Ferlin," Zarina replied respectfully.

"My thanks to YOU your highnesses, for your generosity. My butcher shops roll out delicious sausages and other fine cuts for the masses and we are grateful for your covering of the costs, so even the most lowly of city's rabble can get a rare taste of finery. A most charitable start to your reign."

Vol gave a tight smile and nod.

Ferlin continued, "And rest assured, now that your siege is lifted we may bring in the choicest livestock from our house's vast pastures for many a feast to come!"

"Duelly noted my lord."

"Are you familiar with Alanari veal, king Volren? If not, I cannot wait for you to see how much sweeter and more succulent it is compared to those short hardy breeds you are stuck with in Kelvia."

"We do not suffer from our food, Ferlin, though our fish is more prized," Vol said flatly.

Ferlin gave a toothy chuckle, "Oh you will see. As you have seen that our women are far more... sweet and succulent as well."

Zarina's smile turned into an annoyed smirk, "Ferl-..."

"I am very glad to see you have proven your good sense in one regard at least, my king," Ferlin continued, "in choosing an Alanari woman as a far more suitable queen than whatever Kelvik 'woman' you had been promised to. Especially those boorish warrior maidens, I don't know how any man could possibly-..."

"Ferlin!" Zarina finally interrupted harshly, with a bitter smile and eyes that pierced in anger. "Perhaps you are too indulgent in your wine to be sputtering thinly-veiled insults at your new king and his people."

Vol was red faced and fuming, and knew he was showing it, despite his unmoving silence, as Zarina gave him a concerned glance.

Ferlin scoffed, "My dear sensitive queen I am simply-..."

"You are simply running your self-absorbed mouth without thought, when you should be simply giving your blessing and letting more grateful citizens pay their respects."

"I-..."

"Or are there more insults you wish to hurl at the land and culture of the armed warriors who stand around you?" Zarina asked with a scornful smile and a raised eyebrow.

Ferlin slowly gave an acidic smile back at her, "No. My respectful blessings to you both," and stepped away coldly.

Vol's heart was racing and he wanted to tell his warriors to arrest the man. Instead he was paralyzed by a sobering guilt, triggered by Ferlin's derogatory words. For Balia. For realizing what he was doing. The breaking of his promise to her. The dishonour he showed her.

Honour and duty pulled at him in impossibly different directions, and he felt hamstrung and hopeless. He suddenly did feel embarrassed at lying naked in the middle of the crowd with this woman. He needed to move... in some type of direction. He sat up.

Zarina looked like she was about to panic, an intensely apologetic look on her face.

"Volren... Vol please, he's the only one that has said-..."

He sighed, "Zarina-..."

"ZEA," she said grabbing his arms tightly and her eyes filling with tears. "Zea is who I really am, please Volren..."

A tear rolled down her cheek as he got up on his knees and looked around for something to tie around his waist.

"Zea, I need to go..."

"Don't please..."

"...take a piss," he said with a flat glare.

She shut her mouth and gulped, looking back at him doubtfully, and he couldn't help but hate seeing her upset like this.

She let out a shuddering sigh, "Promise me you'll tell me if you're going to leave? That you'll at least let me say something first. A goodbye if nothing else?"

He let out a sigh, mostly at how easily the wondrous pools of her eyes engulfed him, "Yes, Zea, I promise. I do want to be alone for a moment, but I won't run away."

She bit her lower lip in a soft vulnerable smile and nodded, letting his arms go as he stood up. He looked back as he walked away, seeing her sitting with her gorgeous legs extending out from the silk sheet that she clutched to her bosom, looking up at him with those unbelievable eyes, and the uncertainty they contained. It made him instinctively want to turn around and reassure her with a loving kiss and hold her in his arms, despite his bladder stabbing at him, having been neglected for too long.

He asked the guard for directions and insisted on simply using a soldiers latrine built in to the other side the inner courtyard wall, rather than the long trek into the palace lavatory.

Finally, alone for the first time in a long while, he stared blankly into the darkness and tried to decide what he wanted. What was right? What was honourable? What was best for the realm? For him?

Zarina's beauty shone like the sun, and he knew it had blinded him from the moment he had stepped into the palace. It was not simply her appearance though. It was her confident but caring demeanour, her sultry intelligent words, the way she looked at him with what seemed like such an honest deep devotion.

He knew she could simply be using him for her own self-serving purposes, but he was finding that more and more difficult to believe. At least she seemed to have his own good in mind as much as her own. He had felt himself truly meaning the words he had spoken when he was lost in lust, and the feeling still lingered even if it was less intense. In fact, the last while after he had awoken, with her skilled wisdom guiding him through the barrage of lords and nobles and other citizens, she had driven his desire for her to surprising new heights. She was perfect... if not for Balia.

His warrior-maiden love, that he had been so sure for so long that he was destined to be with. The girl of his dreams since that first incredible night eight years ago as a lanky awkward teenager. She hadn't returned his admiration for as long, or as openly, but he was sure she really loved him.

At least she would have before tonight. The news of his actions would likely have reached her by now. Would she refuse to take him back even if he tried? Would she use it as an excuse to avoid the queen's crown that she clearly didn't want anyway? The rock of their bond felt hopelessly cracked and crumbling. It had been forged in what now seemed like another life, after all. A life that was gone. Was she simply a remnant of that, which he was foolishly hanging on to?

He looked up at the stars, knowing no answers lay there. No answers were likely to come of him standing around in the dark, and he decided that all he could do was wait until he had a chance to have a serious talk with Balia, if she was still willing, and see what decision he even had left to make. Until then, what else could he do but remain here and allow Zarina to continue to try to prove herself to him...

His cock twitched at the thought and he sighed, wondering how much he simply wanted an excuse to stay and enjoy himself. Why not though, when the damage was already done? For tonight at least... How was he already longing to be back on the furs with her when he had barely been gone ten minutes?

He walked around the corner to the courtyard and a royal soldier gave a nervous but optimistic smile to him.

"My king," he said with a respectful nod, "It's a beautiful palace you've won is it not?" he said, noticing Vol had still been looking upwards.

Vol nodded. "It is, though it will take some getting used to. My critics are no doubt saying I belong on the battlefield more than the throne, and right now I'm almost inclined to agree."

The soldier gave a wider smile, "To us, your highness, it is a relief. We've already been saying that having a king who knows the brutality of a battle firsthand will be a nice change from one who sends us off carelessly to our deaths from the comfort of his plush throne."

"Here here," another royal soldier nearby agreed.

Vol smiled "I appreciate your words men, it means much. How have my warriors been getting along? I told them to be on their best behaviour but even their best can be a bit brutish."

The three of them laughed and gathered around, "We're not complete strangers to Kelviks my king. Many remember the royal tournament three years ago when they won, and were gracious about it in their own rough way. Everyone else was impressed and respected them.....except the king and a few snobbish nobles."

Vol nodded, "I would have been at the next one had the war not broken out."

"Will you hold another?"

"Will you compete?"

"Ha! He shouldn't be allowed, for our own safety, after seeing what he did to Lemmik!"

"Just make him fight with a toothbrush this time!"

Ten minutes later,

Vol sipped from a fresh mead stein and shared in boisterous laughter with the group of royal soldiers around him as they shared stories. He glanced across the courtyard again at Zarina, who was standing with Crolsef and a few other Kelvik warriors seeming to hold them in a charming interested conversation. She had the blue silk sheet draped over her, covering her body other than her smooth glistening legs, but her beautiful face was still as radiant as ever in the torchlight.

Her stares, at first, had held the same uncertainty as when he left her, but now were flirtatious and amused as she watched him win the hearts of the royal soldiers. She was doing the same with his warriors, and even a few warrior-maidens as well, with whom she shared a mischievous laugh, as the men groaned at whatever joke they had made.

Eventually he decided he should go to her, and excused himself from the soldiers.

"Of course, my king, we can see where your eyes have been and where you'd rather be, and none can blame you," one said with a laugh.

"In all serious your highness, it has meant a great deal to us for you to accept her as your queen. Even tonight it has helped ensure our confidence in working with your warriors as allies, when we can see the two of you joining together yourselves."

"Here here!" they all said.

He gave them an appreciative nod, stifling the tearing feeling in his chest, that he wasn't sure was from guilt or affection, as he turned to look at Zarina's growing beautiful smile and began to walk towards her.

He now saw she was standing with Crolsef and Karndel from his chiefs, thee warriors and warrior maidens, Harxon from the Condurans and one of the Zeflander lieutenants.

Karndel raised his mug to him as he approached.

"Great King Volren! The name will never get old!" he said holding out his drink for a cheers that Vol returned with a brotherly smile.

Crolsef said, "Zarina has been impressing us with her knowledge of Kelvia. She's put Karndel here to shame in her familiarity with the details of our history."

Karndel gave a comical shrug and took another swig.

"As I said, books can only give one a certain kind of knowledge, and I can't wait to return there again, hopefully soon," Zarina said with a hopeful searching smile at Volren.

"You've been to Kelvia before?" Vol asked, in surprise.

"More than six years ago, when I was still newly married, and Delvor still cared about showing his face anywhere but the palace. Though at the time I was barely allowed to leave the carriage. He complained about the wild, allegedly inhospitable nature of it, but I thought it was such a starkly beautiful place. Honestly your city was larger and more impressive than I expected. The red towering cliffs on your coastline were one of the most amazing sights I'd ever seen." she explained.

One of the warrior-maidens beside her said, "There are waterfalls that drop over them into the ocean a half-day's boat ride from the city."

Zarina gasped, "You MUST take me when we go, I would love to see."

She laughed back, "Of course. The smaller ones are excellent for a shower after a day of pearl-diving. Especially if you can convince a warrior to come splash in them with you."

Zarina shared a naughty laugh with her as the rest chuckled, and then she looked back at Volren with a blush.

They continued their surprisingly relaxed conversation among the diverse group, and Volren found himself eagerly holding his arm around Zarina as she slowly sunk her soft, silk-covered body against him. He held her with a growing pride as she mingled effortlessly with his fellow Kelviks and the others. She lauded the way they elected their Cheifs and Arch-Chieftians, and stated outright that Alanaris and the rest of the realm could learn a thing or two from their ways.

She convinced them all to try a few spicier delicacies that had a strange gelatinous appearance. They didn't look appetizing when the tray was brought out, but their doubtful frowns turned to wide-eyed appreciation as the flavour hit them. She drew cheers at how quickly she chugged down two small mugs of mead, first the Conduran and then the Kelvik brew, to judge them. She gave Volren an apologetic shrug as she admitted she preferred the Conduran. The Kelvik's good-natured groans suddenly turned to laughter and applause as she let out a deep loud belch, that was hard to believe had come from her small delicate body.

Vol found himself laughing with the others and squeezing her against him fondly. She looked up at him with a confident smirk and he bent down to kiss her. He embellished a sour face at the taste of the belch on her lips and she squinted in a cute mock-offense, and wrinkled her nose at him, rubbing it affectionately against his.

There was an announcement that a group of dancers and fire-jugglers wished to perform for them. As they left the others, Vol was amazed at the heart-felt blessings and genuine smiles the Kelviks gave to Zarina, evidently ignoring or forgetting about Balia in the same way he had. His nagging doubts swelled again as she flashed through his mind, only to be pushed down even further as the two of them returned to their bed of furs within the ring of torches.

They sat down and she immediately wrapped him in her silk sheet. The incredible feeling of her warm naked body touching him underneath it made his arms slide naturally around her, and his lips reach out for hers. They shared a wet, loving kiss and they almost certainly would have taken each other again in that moment if not for the announcer speaking up loudly and distracting them.

"For the honour of our new King Volren and Queen Zarina, the famed Alanari fire-dancers will now perform for you, on this, your glorious night of flames!"

Zarina sunk into him with a satisfied sigh as the drums and lutes started into a fast lively song and the dancers leapt through the air briskly spinning torches above their heads. Vol was impressed, but his mind was elsewhere.

"Zea, why are they calling this our night of flames?" he asked.

She gave a very different sigh and looked up at him hesitantly.

"Traditionally, a night such as this, with two lovers being together in their courtyard for everyone to watch and pay their blessings, especially the king in the palace courtyard, is called a night of flames," she explained.

"...but usually it's on their wedding night, AFTER they've been married..." he clarified.

"Not always," she said. "It can happen before the marriage, most commonly after an engagement, usually if the wedding is happening shortly thereafter, with lovers that are... in a rush."

He looked at her doubtfully, "Did you tell them that..."

She shook her head, "Well no, YOU did Volren."

He frowned in confusion.

"Everyone has been watching, and listening," she explained. "I didn't say or insist on anything while you were sleeping. They all simply assumed from our words while we were making love. I didn't deny it either I suppose, but... can you blame them?"

He shut his mouth in annoyance and sighed, then said, "No I suppose I can't blame them."

She looked up at him and squeezed him affectionately, "Can you blame me?"

Then her gaze became more confident and flirtatious as she pulled him against her pillowy breasts and dug her nails into his arm, "...can you blame yourself?"

His frown softened despite himself, and he let her give him a delicious kiss and a smile.

"I can see you're not quite there yet Vol," she said with a matter-of-fact smirk, "but would it really be so bad to let them have their celebration, and let me try to convince you, just for tonight?"

He looked at her alluring raised eyebrow and gave a sigh as his hands instinctively enjoyed the feel of her ass, as she embraced against him.

"I suppose not," he replied, as his cock twitched in approval.

She gave him a satisfied smile.

"If it makes you feel any better, you already know me far better than Delvor did on our night of flames, and it's already a far happier night, for everyone involved," she said. "Except for him of course."

He looked at her amazing eyes with a searching gaze. "Why did you marry him?" he asked honestly.

She looked away thoughtfully, "One does not easily reject an offer of marriage from the king."

"So he simply picked you from a crowd? They say you had a... modest upbringing?" he asked.

Zarina rolled her eyes, "Just say 'lowborn' as the stories do. They were spread with the intent to disparage me, but it seemed to make me more of a hero to the common people, so I let it be. In truth, I was the daughter of a wealthy travelling merchant. We weren't nobles by title, which would make me lowborn to some, but we were invited and attended most of the balls and soirees whenever we were in the city. It was at one of these that I was introduced to Delvor, a few months before the silent coup that made him king. Apparently I had made an impression on him, and he sought me out after he had the crown."

"Was he different when you first met him?" Vol asked.

Zarina smirked, "Only a little. He was not quite as wicked or embittered, but he was never a good man, or handsome. I never loved him."

She pulled herself closer to Vol and looked more intently to make sure he listened and understood.

"So yes, I married him opportunistically, but not as you might think." she said. "My family was already wealthy, and I wasn't after riches and fame. It was because my life felt... useless. I was well-educated, more than almost any other woman I knew. My father sold books among countless other things, and I read every single one. Tomes on history, and politics, and philosophy and whatever I could get my hands on. Honestly the promise of access to the palace library might have been enough on it's own for me to accept Delvor's marriage proposal, but it was an opportunity to BE someone, to DO something. I saw a chance that I might actually put the otherwise useless knowledge in my head to do some good, for the realm, for the people, to actually affect the world."