Her Duty, His Desire (4 of 7)
Apr. 4th, 2015 12:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sidhe_faerieChapter 4: A New Way
“I don’t think I should have taken the elixir. I know it is tradition for the groom to take it for the bonding but it made me more aggressive and I hurt you.” Retalon said after they had walked for a few minutes.
“I was supposed to be hurt. The ritual is meant to symbolize conquering me and becoming my master in every way.” Anna shivered as a breeze moved past them.
“Here. It will take time for you to get used to the cooler temperatures here.” Retalon stopped and took off his cloak off his shoulder. He put it on her and placed her hand back on his arm.
“Thank you.” Anna looked at him. “Retalon, what I said this morning…”
“Was the truth.” Retalon said. “I have heard my sisters say the same thing before they were bonded. I’m sure our mothers said similar things.”
“Not mine. She loved him. I don’t think she still does now. I think she’s mostly afraid of him now. He beats her. She has not given him a son just three daughters.” Anna told him.
Retalon patted her hand on his arm. “I will never beat you. Anna, I don’t want you to use the elixir. I want us both to be willing and aware when we mate.”
Anna looked at him. “It will be easier for you if I am dosed.”
“No.” Retalon shook his head then smiled. “I want your fire and even your love bites. I want us to find passion. I plan to show you the world as I see it. We will fly to Ogham-Duir. I have an estate there. We will live in comfort. There is plenty of space there to be dragons. There is a sheltered cove not far from the estate. I often visit it to sun myself and play in the surf. You will love it there. We shall picnic and watch the sun set through the two towers of Atlantis.”
Anna gave his arm a squeeze. “Your words make me happy. I hope in time your deeds will as well.”
“I hope that in time everything I do will make you happy.” Retalon said. “I am already happy that we are bonded. You are beautiful in any state. When you are a dragon, you are like fire itself. As a woman, you are like sunshine. I feel very fortunate that you are my wife.”
Anna blushed shyly. “Thank you Husband. I hope to grow fond of you as well.”
Retalon pointed to a low building off the square. “That is the feasting hall. Are you ready to make new traditions, My Lady?”
“No but I will be brave if you are alongside me.” Anna said with a hesitant smile.
“Then let us be brave.” Retalon opened the door as they reached the building he motioned for her to enter.
There were flowers and food along the tables. There were ribbons of gold and red twisted overhead. Candles of beeswax burned everywhere making the room bright and cheery.
“It’s beautiful.” Anna gasped. “Firestars? I didn’t know they grew on this world.”
“They are called day lilies here. They are quite common. Analla saw to the decorations. I just chose the colors.” Retalon admitted. “There is your father. He looks like he has been waiting for us.”
On the dais, Lord Caldra sat beside an empty chair. He looked impatient. When he saw them, he frowned.
Anna was beside her husband and not behind him as was the tradition.
Retalon turned to a porter. “Jonas, put a chair on the dais for Lady Draconis.”
“I had one there but the old Lord said to take it away. I will put it back.” Jonas told him. The boy rushed off to replace the chair.
Lord Caldra looked at Jonas when he brought the chair back to the table. “Boy! I said to take that away.”
“Lord Draconis said to replace it.” Jonas told him.
“Thank you Jonas.” Retalon said as he and Anna approached the table. He waited for Anna to sit before he sat down next to Lord Caldra.
“She should be at your feet. This display is vulgar.” Lord Caldra said in a hushed whisper. “Why are you treating her thus?”
Retalon leaned close to the old Lord and whispered. “Don’t make me throw you out in front of these good people. She is my wife and if I want her to sit in a chair, she will.”
Jonas came to the table with two goblets and a pitcher of wine.
“Excuse me. My husband and I would prefer water instead of wine.” Anna said softly. She looked at Retalon to see his reaction. He just smiled and nodded at her.
“Yes My Lady. I will fetch some water. I will bring some food as well.” Jonas smiled.
“Thank you.” Anna said. She glanced over at her father and saw that he was red faced and angry. She touched Retalon's arm. “Is there something wrong with my father?”
“He is just angry that we are not following tradition. He will just have to reconcile with it on his own time.” Retalon said. “You are my wife and we will do as we please.”
Jonas returned with a pitcher of water and a plate of food. He filled the goblets and placed the plate between the couple before he bowed and moved away.
“I don’t recognize some of this.” Anna said. She pointed to two of the fruits on the plate. “Tell me what they are.”
“This is called a starrberry.” Retalon picked up a small red berry and held it close to her lips.
Anna took a bite. She closed her eyes and smiled. “That is sweet and wonderful. What is the other one?”
“This is called moonmelon. The Fae swear you can taste moonbeams in every bite.” He held up a light green piece of fruit for her.
Anna took a bite and was surprised by the taste. “It just melts into sweetness. There is nothing like these things on my world.”
“This is star fruit.” Retalon held up a star shaped slice for her to take a bite.
“That is wonderful too.” Anna said. She wiped her mouth with the napkin on the table.
Retalon leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “They are not as sweet as you are.”
Anna blushed. “Or as surprising as you.”
Retalon laughed. “Are ready to welcome our guests?”
Anna nodded.
Retalon stood and waited for the room to get quiet. ”Lords and Ladies of Atlantis. It is my hope that you will welcome my wife with kindness and friendship. I am a fortunate man to have a wife that is not just beautiful but spirited as well. Retalon put his hand on his shoulder over the bite. She will help us in our endeavors to make the new colonies of Ogham-Duir as successful as Atlantis itself. May I introduce to you my wife, Lady Anna Draconis.” Retalon held out his hand and helped Anna to stand.
There was applause in the room from everyone but Lord Caldra and Lady Vena.
“See they love you already.” Retalon whispered in her ear. “Would you like to say a few words?”
Anna looked over the room and realized that she would be a part of a new way of life for everyone that came to Atlantis and the new colonies. She looked at Retalon and nodded.
“Lords and Ladies of Atlantis, thank you for that gracious welcome.” Anna said. She gripped Retalon’s hand tighter. “My husband believes in a future that honors the best of the past and leaves behind its worst. He has already shown this to me in his words and deeds on this day of our bonding. I am fortunate to be his wife.”
Retalon kissed her cheek and whispered in his ear. “Well done My Lady. Well done.”
Retalon turned to the room and held his goblet up to toast. “To a bright future for us all.”
Goblets were raise around the room and the toast was repeated.
They sat enjoying the food in front of them while Lord Caldra fumed. The old Lord finally stood up and left the hall when he realized that Lord Retalon was not going to follow the traditional ways.
-
After their plate was empty and they had greeted all of the guests, Retalon spotted Analla in the doorway. The maid nodded at him and smiled.
Retalon looked at Anna. “I think we have done our duty here. Are you ready to go to your new home?”
“Yes. I am weary. I need rest.” Anna said.
Retalon addressed the room again. “Lords and Ladies, my bride and I are leaving but please feel free to stay and partake of this lovely feast.”
Retalon smiled when Anna put her arm around his and they walked out of the hall.
Analla met them outside the door. “My Lady’s belongings have been brought over to your chambers. There wasn’t much. I may have to go back to the seamstress with another order.”
“I trust your judgment, Analla. Your mistress must have everything that a Lady of Station needs.” Retalon said.
“I have brought all that any Draconian woman would bring. What else must I have?” Anna asked.
“You are a Lady of Station. I will not have you dressing worse than a scullery maid.” Retalon said. “You will need proper clothing and adornments.”
“I have one question. What is a scullery maid?” Anna asked.
“A scullery maid is a girl that scrubs the floors and does the hard cleaning.” Analla told her. “There is one that comes every week. Her name is Gilda.”
“Oh! We had house boys that did that sort of thing. We weren’t allowed to have contact with them. We were sent to my mother’s bedchamber when they were in the house. Father locked us in the room to make sure they didn’t see or speak to us.” Anna told them.
“I wouldn’t like that at all.” Analla said.
“It was to make sure that no man would mate with us until we were bonded to our husband.” Anna said. “The house boys were not Draconian. They were Firenas. It’s the race that lives on Firestorm. They were very small and rather dark and smelly. They were a lot like burnroak.”
Analla made a face. “What is that?”
Retalon smiled. “It’s the old Draca name for brimstone. Our chambers are on the tenth floor of the North Tower. It is a long walk up all those stairs. We could fly up to the walkway if you felt up to it.”
“I don’t think I can shift. I feel drained.” Anna said.
“Why don’t you use the lifter? We can get two of the porters to work the ropes and have you up to the tenth floor in no time.” Analla said. “My Lady looks like she’s about to drop and so do you.”
“Somehow that sounds really nice. Get some porters.” Retalon told her.
Analla rushed off to get two strong young men to assist them.
“What is a lifter?” Anna asked. “It sounds a little frightening.”
“It is a part of the floor that is moved up and down with ropes on great wheels. I usually stay away from it but Analla uses it to bring large baskets of food and goods to our chambers.” Retalon explained as the started to walk to the North Tower.
“I feel like a basket of something so it will be quite appropriate.” Anna said. She leaned against Retalon’s arm. “I could sleep for days.”
Retalon kissed her temple. “So could I.”
Chapter 5
“I don’t think I should have taken the elixir. I know it is tradition for the groom to take it for the bonding but it made me more aggressive and I hurt you.” Retalon said after they had walked for a few minutes.
“I was supposed to be hurt. The ritual is meant to symbolize conquering me and becoming my master in every way.” Anna shivered as a breeze moved past them.
“Here. It will take time for you to get used to the cooler temperatures here.” Retalon stopped and took off his cloak off his shoulder. He put it on her and placed her hand back on his arm.
“Thank you.” Anna looked at him. “Retalon, what I said this morning…”
“Was the truth.” Retalon said. “I have heard my sisters say the same thing before they were bonded. I’m sure our mothers said similar things.”
“Not mine. She loved him. I don’t think she still does now. I think she’s mostly afraid of him now. He beats her. She has not given him a son just three daughters.” Anna told him.
Retalon patted her hand on his arm. “I will never beat you. Anna, I don’t want you to use the elixir. I want us both to be willing and aware when we mate.”
Anna looked at him. “It will be easier for you if I am dosed.”
“No.” Retalon shook his head then smiled. “I want your fire and even your love bites. I want us to find passion. I plan to show you the world as I see it. We will fly to Ogham-Duir. I have an estate there. We will live in comfort. There is plenty of space there to be dragons. There is a sheltered cove not far from the estate. I often visit it to sun myself and play in the surf. You will love it there. We shall picnic and watch the sun set through the two towers of Atlantis.”
Anna gave his arm a squeeze. “Your words make me happy. I hope in time your deeds will as well.”
“I hope that in time everything I do will make you happy.” Retalon said. “I am already happy that we are bonded. You are beautiful in any state. When you are a dragon, you are like fire itself. As a woman, you are like sunshine. I feel very fortunate that you are my wife.”
Anna blushed shyly. “Thank you Husband. I hope to grow fond of you as well.”
Retalon pointed to a low building off the square. “That is the feasting hall. Are you ready to make new traditions, My Lady?”
“No but I will be brave if you are alongside me.” Anna said with a hesitant smile.
“Then let us be brave.” Retalon opened the door as they reached the building he motioned for her to enter.
There were flowers and food along the tables. There were ribbons of gold and red twisted overhead. Candles of beeswax burned everywhere making the room bright and cheery.
“It’s beautiful.” Anna gasped. “Firestars? I didn’t know they grew on this world.”
“They are called day lilies here. They are quite common. Analla saw to the decorations. I just chose the colors.” Retalon admitted. “There is your father. He looks like he has been waiting for us.”
On the dais, Lord Caldra sat beside an empty chair. He looked impatient. When he saw them, he frowned.
Anna was beside her husband and not behind him as was the tradition.
Retalon turned to a porter. “Jonas, put a chair on the dais for Lady Draconis.”
“I had one there but the old Lord said to take it away. I will put it back.” Jonas told him. The boy rushed off to replace the chair.
Lord Caldra looked at Jonas when he brought the chair back to the table. “Boy! I said to take that away.”
“Lord Draconis said to replace it.” Jonas told him.
“Thank you Jonas.” Retalon said as he and Anna approached the table. He waited for Anna to sit before he sat down next to Lord Caldra.
“She should be at your feet. This display is vulgar.” Lord Caldra said in a hushed whisper. “Why are you treating her thus?”
Retalon leaned close to the old Lord and whispered. “Don’t make me throw you out in front of these good people. She is my wife and if I want her to sit in a chair, she will.”
Jonas came to the table with two goblets and a pitcher of wine.
“Excuse me. My husband and I would prefer water instead of wine.” Anna said softly. She looked at Retalon to see his reaction. He just smiled and nodded at her.
“Yes My Lady. I will fetch some water. I will bring some food as well.” Jonas smiled.
“Thank you.” Anna said. She glanced over at her father and saw that he was red faced and angry. She touched Retalon's arm. “Is there something wrong with my father?”
“He is just angry that we are not following tradition. He will just have to reconcile with it on his own time.” Retalon said. “You are my wife and we will do as we please.”
Jonas returned with a pitcher of water and a plate of food. He filled the goblets and placed the plate between the couple before he bowed and moved away.
“I don’t recognize some of this.” Anna said. She pointed to two of the fruits on the plate. “Tell me what they are.”
“This is called a starrberry.” Retalon picked up a small red berry and held it close to her lips.
Anna took a bite. She closed her eyes and smiled. “That is sweet and wonderful. What is the other one?”
“This is called moonmelon. The Fae swear you can taste moonbeams in every bite.” He held up a light green piece of fruit for her.
Anna took a bite and was surprised by the taste. “It just melts into sweetness. There is nothing like these things on my world.”
“This is star fruit.” Retalon held up a star shaped slice for her to take a bite.
“That is wonderful too.” Anna said. She wiped her mouth with the napkin on the table.
Retalon leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “They are not as sweet as you are.”
Anna blushed. “Or as surprising as you.”
Retalon laughed. “Are ready to welcome our guests?”
Anna nodded.
Retalon stood and waited for the room to get quiet. ”Lords and Ladies of Atlantis. It is my hope that you will welcome my wife with kindness and friendship. I am a fortunate man to have a wife that is not just beautiful but spirited as well. Retalon put his hand on his shoulder over the bite. She will help us in our endeavors to make the new colonies of Ogham-Duir as successful as Atlantis itself. May I introduce to you my wife, Lady Anna Draconis.” Retalon held out his hand and helped Anna to stand.
There was applause in the room from everyone but Lord Caldra and Lady Vena.
“See they love you already.” Retalon whispered in her ear. “Would you like to say a few words?”
Anna looked over the room and realized that she would be a part of a new way of life for everyone that came to Atlantis and the new colonies. She looked at Retalon and nodded.
“Lords and Ladies of Atlantis, thank you for that gracious welcome.” Anna said. She gripped Retalon’s hand tighter. “My husband believes in a future that honors the best of the past and leaves behind its worst. He has already shown this to me in his words and deeds on this day of our bonding. I am fortunate to be his wife.”
Retalon kissed her cheek and whispered in his ear. “Well done My Lady. Well done.”
Retalon turned to the room and held his goblet up to toast. “To a bright future for us all.”
Goblets were raise around the room and the toast was repeated.
They sat enjoying the food in front of them while Lord Caldra fumed. The old Lord finally stood up and left the hall when he realized that Lord Retalon was not going to follow the traditional ways.
-
After their plate was empty and they had greeted all of the guests, Retalon spotted Analla in the doorway. The maid nodded at him and smiled.
Retalon looked at Anna. “I think we have done our duty here. Are you ready to go to your new home?”
“Yes. I am weary. I need rest.” Anna said.
Retalon addressed the room again. “Lords and Ladies, my bride and I are leaving but please feel free to stay and partake of this lovely feast.”
Retalon smiled when Anna put her arm around his and they walked out of the hall.
Analla met them outside the door. “My Lady’s belongings have been brought over to your chambers. There wasn’t much. I may have to go back to the seamstress with another order.”
“I trust your judgment, Analla. Your mistress must have everything that a Lady of Station needs.” Retalon said.
“I have brought all that any Draconian woman would bring. What else must I have?” Anna asked.
“You are a Lady of Station. I will not have you dressing worse than a scullery maid.” Retalon said. “You will need proper clothing and adornments.”
“I have one question. What is a scullery maid?” Anna asked.
“A scullery maid is a girl that scrubs the floors and does the hard cleaning.” Analla told her. “There is one that comes every week. Her name is Gilda.”
“Oh! We had house boys that did that sort of thing. We weren’t allowed to have contact with them. We were sent to my mother’s bedchamber when they were in the house. Father locked us in the room to make sure they didn’t see or speak to us.” Anna told them.
“I wouldn’t like that at all.” Analla said.
“It was to make sure that no man would mate with us until we were bonded to our husband.” Anna said. “The house boys were not Draconian. They were Firenas. It’s the race that lives on Firestorm. They were very small and rather dark and smelly. They were a lot like burnroak.”
Analla made a face. “What is that?”
Retalon smiled. “It’s the old Draca name for brimstone. Our chambers are on the tenth floor of the North Tower. It is a long walk up all those stairs. We could fly up to the walkway if you felt up to it.”
“I don’t think I can shift. I feel drained.” Anna said.
“Why don’t you use the lifter? We can get two of the porters to work the ropes and have you up to the tenth floor in no time.” Analla said. “My Lady looks like she’s about to drop and so do you.”
“Somehow that sounds really nice. Get some porters.” Retalon told her.
Analla rushed off to get two strong young men to assist them.
“What is a lifter?” Anna asked. “It sounds a little frightening.”
“It is a part of the floor that is moved up and down with ropes on great wheels. I usually stay away from it but Analla uses it to bring large baskets of food and goods to our chambers.” Retalon explained as the started to walk to the North Tower.
“I feel like a basket of something so it will be quite appropriate.” Anna said. She leaned against Retalon’s arm. “I could sleep for days.”
Retalon kissed her temple. “So could I.”
Chapter 5