Her Duty, His Desire (2 of 7)
Apr. 4th, 2015 12:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sidhe_faerieChapter 2: The Woman at the Fountain
The next morning, Anna covered herself with her plain grey cloak. She slipped out past her guard and walked into the square just before sunrise. She sat on the edge of the fountain in the center of the square. She reached down and started to play in the water. She needed air and to think.
This world was so different than her own. There was water everywhere and it was much cooler. She pulled the cloak closer together to keep warm.
Retalon saw the woman at the fountain and wondered if she was his bride. He couldn’t see her face but he could tell that she was deep in thought.
The bride would come to the bonding in dragon form as she had for the betrothal. It was custom to never see the human face of the bride until after the first stage of bonding. Some men chose to not look upon their bride’s face until they were in the feasting hall and she was sitting at his feet.
Retalon wasn’t one to hold strictly to tradition. He threw a cloak around himself and pulled the hood up over his head to cover his face. He walked several flights of stairs to the courtyard. He didn’t want her to know that he was Draconian in case she was his bride. When he reached the courtyard, he went straight to the fountain.
“Greetings My Lady.” Retalon said as he walked up.
Anna looked up at at the cloaked man and smiled. “Greetings My Lord. Are you on your way to Council?”
Retalon realized he had picked up his cloak with the emblem of the Council embroidered on it. “No. I am just out for a walk, My Lady. May I sit with you a moment?
“Please.” Anna motioned to the edge of the fountain.
“As you have noticed, I am a Council member. If you are having a problem I may be able to help you.” Retalon said.
“No one can help me. I am to be married today.” Anna said sadly.
“It sounds like a joyous thing for you. Why are you so sad?” Retalon asked.
“I am Draconian. The ritual is brutal. I am drugged and forced upon by my husband: once in my dragon state and then again in my human form. He will call me ‘wife’ and never by my name. I will be a vessel for his seed and nothing else. I will be his slave. I will have no rights, no free will, and no choices. He will love his dog more than me. I will cease to exist as I am now.” Anna told him. “All this is done to preserve our race. I‘m not sure it should be preserved if this is the way one half treats the other half of its members.”
Retalon was shocked. He didn’t know what to say to her. It was not the first time he had heard these things. His two sisters had also found fault with the traditions of his race. But this wasn’t one of his sisters, it was his bride.
Retalon looked at the fountain. “You may be surprised by your husband. Not all Draconian men are so entrenched in tradition.”
Anna shook her head. The hood of the cloak slipped back and her golden curls could be seen. “You must not know any Draconian men.”
Retalon looked over at her and was taken by her beauty. He made a vow then and there that he would not be like the Draconian men she described. He would give her a better life. He would be a better husband to this woman he had just met.
The sun was starting to rise in the sky and Retalon decided he had better go before she got a better look at him.
“I must be getting on with my day.” Retalon said. “Good luck My Lady.”
“The ritual is at high noon. Will you be attending?” Anna asked as he stood up.
“I will be there. All of the Council will be in attendance.” Retalon told her.
“Do not pity me, My Lord. I was born to this fate and I will do my duty.” Anna said. “But I will not make it pleasant for my husband.”
Retalon had to laugh at that. “I will say a prayer for you both.”
“Thank you My Lord. He will need it.” Anna started to play in the water again.
Retalon walked to his chambers and found his housekeeper. “Analla, I need for you to do some things for me.”
“Yes My Lord, whatever you wish.” The middle aged human woman said as she got up from scrubbing the floor. “You are up and about very early this morn. I didn’t realize you were even awake.”
“I had trouble sleeping. I want you to go to the dressmaker and have her make several garments for my wife. I believe she is your height and a little slimmer. It doesn’t matter what the cost, I would like the richest cloth she can find. They should be fit for a Lady of any Court.” Retalon told her.
“Will she not have such things of her own?” Analla asked. She took a cloak from a hook by the door and pulled it around her. “Most brides come to their husbands with new gowns and things.”
“No she will not. She will come to me with gowns of plain cheap cloth in muted colors. They will be only fit for sleeping and nothing else. Most Draconian wives never leave the home and some never leave the bedchamber. Daughters are treated the same way for the most part. My wife will not be treated like a prisoner.” Retalon said.
“I see. I will do what you want. Will she need slippers?” Analla asked as she took the purse that he handed her.
“Yes and riding boots. I am going to take her to Ogham-Duir when I go. She will need a warm cloak and travel clothes.” Retalon told her.
“If I may ask My Lord, is what you are describing typical of your kind?” Analla asked.
“It is the traditional way. I will not be following tradition. This is a new world and we are not our parents.” Retalon said. “She will expect me to follow tradition but I will not.”
“Why have you waited until your wedding day to order these things?” Analla asked.
“I have just had my eyes opened by the hopeless words of my very own bride. I am ashamed that I had not come to it sooner.” Retalon said. “Go. Her father will be here shortly to sign the bonding contract. I do not want him to know what I am planning for his daughter. He will object to me not following tradition and call off the bonding.”
“Yes My Lord.” Analla quickly left to do her employer’s bidding.
Retalon had just sat down when there was a knock at the door. Lord Mordon Caldra stood in the corridor waiting for the door to open.
Retalon opened the door and motioned the older man inside. “Lord Caldra, welcome to my home.”
“I expected an estate.” The older man looked around.
“I have an estate on Ogham-Duir. I spend a great deal of time there when Council is not in session.” Retalon told him. “I believe you have the bonding contract for me to sign.”
“Yes.” Lord Caldra took a scroll from the shoulder bag he was carrying. He laid it on the table along with a violet wine bottle. “I have also brought the elixir for the bonding ritual.”
“Has your daughter taken it before to make sure she doesn’t have a negative reaction to it?” Retalon asked.
“It is perfectly safe. It has been made by the same vintner on my world for centuries. No one has ever had a negative reaction to it.” Lord Caldra told him.
Retalon looked at the bottle and sighed. He reached for the quill and ink pot as well as his seal to sign the contract. “The promised funds will be transferred to your accounts on Firestorm by the time you have returned home. Does she have a maid?”
“What for?” Lord Caldra asked. “She is a Draconian woman. She is my property until the moment she bonds with you then she becomes your property. She has no need for a maid. She is only a vessel for your seed.”
Retalon bit his tongue and signed and affixed his seal to the contract. He handed the scroll back to the man. “I will see you at high noon on the beach.”
Lord Caldra nodded. “She will be prepared for the bonding when you arrive. I trust you will find her accommodating.”
Retalon opened the door and held it as Lord Caldra walked through. He closed the door and went to the bottle on the table.
He opened the bottle and sniffed the contents. He had never liked the smell of the bitter dark elixir. He remembered his mother opening the bottle and taking a drink from it when she heard that his father was coming home. He also remembered the dazed look she would get after she took it. It was more intoxicating than any other substance known to any race and very addictive
Despite what Lord Caldra said, it was poisonous in large doses. His eldest sister nearly died from an overdose. Her husband forced her to drink nearly twice the amount she was used to when she dared to refuse to mate with him.
If it wasn’t for her husband’s manservant, she would have died. Her husband had the man killed for interfering. The next day, his sister’s husband was found dead with a dagger in his back. His sister took the veil and was never seen again.
Retalon looked up as the door opened. He put the cork back in the bottle and waited for Analla to speak.
“My Lord, the dressmaker and the cobbler are happy for your business. The dressmaker will have something delivered tomorrow morning. Are there any other errands you wish me to attend to?” Analla waited before she hung up her cloak.
“I need you to be at the bonding. I know you think it is cruel but my wife will need to be attended to after it is over. I want you to bring cloths for washing up. I will need clothes for the feast. I also need drinking water with salt mixed into it.”
“Salt in drinking water?” The maid looked perplexed.
“I want to purge the remaining elixir after the bonding is finished and I will want my bride to do the same. Salted water will cause vomiting. It is also a safe guard against an accidental overdose. I have a feeling her father will give her more than the recommended dose to render her compliant.” Retalon told her.
“That is despicable.” Analla shook her head.
“He is a traditionalist. I expect he will want her to go to through the ritual without a struggle.” Retalon looked at the bottle again.
“It’s not a ritual. It’s rape.” Analla said. “I don’t care if you sack me. That is what it is.”
“I agree.” Retalon said. He put the bottle on the table and ignored his housekeepers shocked expression. “I need to be alone for a while to prepare. Come to the beach as soon as you have what I asked.”
“Yes My Lord.” Analla hurried off to see to what he wanted.
Chapter 3
The next morning, Anna covered herself with her plain grey cloak. She slipped out past her guard and walked into the square just before sunrise. She sat on the edge of the fountain in the center of the square. She reached down and started to play in the water. She needed air and to think.
This world was so different than her own. There was water everywhere and it was much cooler. She pulled the cloak closer together to keep warm.
Retalon saw the woman at the fountain and wondered if she was his bride. He couldn’t see her face but he could tell that she was deep in thought.
The bride would come to the bonding in dragon form as she had for the betrothal. It was custom to never see the human face of the bride until after the first stage of bonding. Some men chose to not look upon their bride’s face until they were in the feasting hall and she was sitting at his feet.
Retalon wasn’t one to hold strictly to tradition. He threw a cloak around himself and pulled the hood up over his head to cover his face. He walked several flights of stairs to the courtyard. He didn’t want her to know that he was Draconian in case she was his bride. When he reached the courtyard, he went straight to the fountain.
“Greetings My Lady.” Retalon said as he walked up.
Anna looked up at at the cloaked man and smiled. “Greetings My Lord. Are you on your way to Council?”
Retalon realized he had picked up his cloak with the emblem of the Council embroidered on it. “No. I am just out for a walk, My Lady. May I sit with you a moment?
“Please.” Anna motioned to the edge of the fountain.
“As you have noticed, I am a Council member. If you are having a problem I may be able to help you.” Retalon said.
“No one can help me. I am to be married today.” Anna said sadly.
“It sounds like a joyous thing for you. Why are you so sad?” Retalon asked.
“I am Draconian. The ritual is brutal. I am drugged and forced upon by my husband: once in my dragon state and then again in my human form. He will call me ‘wife’ and never by my name. I will be a vessel for his seed and nothing else. I will be his slave. I will have no rights, no free will, and no choices. He will love his dog more than me. I will cease to exist as I am now.” Anna told him. “All this is done to preserve our race. I‘m not sure it should be preserved if this is the way one half treats the other half of its members.”
Retalon was shocked. He didn’t know what to say to her. It was not the first time he had heard these things. His two sisters had also found fault with the traditions of his race. But this wasn’t one of his sisters, it was his bride.
Retalon looked at the fountain. “You may be surprised by your husband. Not all Draconian men are so entrenched in tradition.”
Anna shook her head. The hood of the cloak slipped back and her golden curls could be seen. “You must not know any Draconian men.”
Retalon looked over at her and was taken by her beauty. He made a vow then and there that he would not be like the Draconian men she described. He would give her a better life. He would be a better husband to this woman he had just met.
The sun was starting to rise in the sky and Retalon decided he had better go before she got a better look at him.
“I must be getting on with my day.” Retalon said. “Good luck My Lady.”
“The ritual is at high noon. Will you be attending?” Anna asked as he stood up.
“I will be there. All of the Council will be in attendance.” Retalon told her.
“Do not pity me, My Lord. I was born to this fate and I will do my duty.” Anna said. “But I will not make it pleasant for my husband.”
Retalon had to laugh at that. “I will say a prayer for you both.”
“Thank you My Lord. He will need it.” Anna started to play in the water again.
Retalon walked to his chambers and found his housekeeper. “Analla, I need for you to do some things for me.”
“Yes My Lord, whatever you wish.” The middle aged human woman said as she got up from scrubbing the floor. “You are up and about very early this morn. I didn’t realize you were even awake.”
“I had trouble sleeping. I want you to go to the dressmaker and have her make several garments for my wife. I believe she is your height and a little slimmer. It doesn’t matter what the cost, I would like the richest cloth she can find. They should be fit for a Lady of any Court.” Retalon told her.
“Will she not have such things of her own?” Analla asked. She took a cloak from a hook by the door and pulled it around her. “Most brides come to their husbands with new gowns and things.”
“No she will not. She will come to me with gowns of plain cheap cloth in muted colors. They will be only fit for sleeping and nothing else. Most Draconian wives never leave the home and some never leave the bedchamber. Daughters are treated the same way for the most part. My wife will not be treated like a prisoner.” Retalon said.
“I see. I will do what you want. Will she need slippers?” Analla asked as she took the purse that he handed her.
“Yes and riding boots. I am going to take her to Ogham-Duir when I go. She will need a warm cloak and travel clothes.” Retalon told her.
“If I may ask My Lord, is what you are describing typical of your kind?” Analla asked.
“It is the traditional way. I will not be following tradition. This is a new world and we are not our parents.” Retalon said. “She will expect me to follow tradition but I will not.”
“Why have you waited until your wedding day to order these things?” Analla asked.
“I have just had my eyes opened by the hopeless words of my very own bride. I am ashamed that I had not come to it sooner.” Retalon said. “Go. Her father will be here shortly to sign the bonding contract. I do not want him to know what I am planning for his daughter. He will object to me not following tradition and call off the bonding.”
“Yes My Lord.” Analla quickly left to do her employer’s bidding.
Retalon had just sat down when there was a knock at the door. Lord Mordon Caldra stood in the corridor waiting for the door to open.
Retalon opened the door and motioned the older man inside. “Lord Caldra, welcome to my home.”
“I expected an estate.” The older man looked around.
“I have an estate on Ogham-Duir. I spend a great deal of time there when Council is not in session.” Retalon told him. “I believe you have the bonding contract for me to sign.”
“Yes.” Lord Caldra took a scroll from the shoulder bag he was carrying. He laid it on the table along with a violet wine bottle. “I have also brought the elixir for the bonding ritual.”
“Has your daughter taken it before to make sure she doesn’t have a negative reaction to it?” Retalon asked.
“It is perfectly safe. It has been made by the same vintner on my world for centuries. No one has ever had a negative reaction to it.” Lord Caldra told him.
Retalon looked at the bottle and sighed. He reached for the quill and ink pot as well as his seal to sign the contract. “The promised funds will be transferred to your accounts on Firestorm by the time you have returned home. Does she have a maid?”
“What for?” Lord Caldra asked. “She is a Draconian woman. She is my property until the moment she bonds with you then she becomes your property. She has no need for a maid. She is only a vessel for your seed.”
Retalon bit his tongue and signed and affixed his seal to the contract. He handed the scroll back to the man. “I will see you at high noon on the beach.”
Lord Caldra nodded. “She will be prepared for the bonding when you arrive. I trust you will find her accommodating.”
Retalon opened the door and held it as Lord Caldra walked through. He closed the door and went to the bottle on the table.
He opened the bottle and sniffed the contents. He had never liked the smell of the bitter dark elixir. He remembered his mother opening the bottle and taking a drink from it when she heard that his father was coming home. He also remembered the dazed look she would get after she took it. It was more intoxicating than any other substance known to any race and very addictive
Despite what Lord Caldra said, it was poisonous in large doses. His eldest sister nearly died from an overdose. Her husband forced her to drink nearly twice the amount she was used to when she dared to refuse to mate with him.
If it wasn’t for her husband’s manservant, she would have died. Her husband had the man killed for interfering. The next day, his sister’s husband was found dead with a dagger in his back. His sister took the veil and was never seen again.
Retalon looked up as the door opened. He put the cork back in the bottle and waited for Analla to speak.
“My Lord, the dressmaker and the cobbler are happy for your business. The dressmaker will have something delivered tomorrow morning. Are there any other errands you wish me to attend to?” Analla waited before she hung up her cloak.
“I need you to be at the bonding. I know you think it is cruel but my wife will need to be attended to after it is over. I want you to bring cloths for washing up. I will need clothes for the feast. I also need drinking water with salt mixed into it.”
“Salt in drinking water?” The maid looked perplexed.
“I want to purge the remaining elixir after the bonding is finished and I will want my bride to do the same. Salted water will cause vomiting. It is also a safe guard against an accidental overdose. I have a feeling her father will give her more than the recommended dose to render her compliant.” Retalon told her.
“That is despicable.” Analla shook her head.
“He is a traditionalist. I expect he will want her to go to through the ritual without a struggle.” Retalon looked at the bottle again.
“It’s not a ritual. It’s rape.” Analla said. “I don’t care if you sack me. That is what it is.”
“I agree.” Retalon said. He put the bottle on the table and ignored his housekeepers shocked expression. “I need to be alone for a while to prepare. Come to the beach as soon as you have what I asked.”
“Yes My Lord.” Analla hurried off to see to what he wanted.
Chapter 3