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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

No Means No!

Why is this SO hard to understand??? Well, I'll tell you why...

I was watching a TV show called the Fosters, and in it, one of the girls was raped by a previous foster brother. She FINALLY got the courage to report this when she realized that he was doing it to someone else.

Her lawyer told her many a time that she could NOT tell the judge she was raped. If she claimed that it was consensual, the foster brother would be automatically sentenced to jail time. If she claimed that it was NOT consensual and the judge didn't believe her, then the foster brother would go free.

This is SO typical of the American legal system that I can only shake my head at the stupidity of it all. Let me break this down for you...

A girl - of ANY age - was straight up raped. She said no and he DIDN'T listen. The lawyer told her that she couldn't tell this to the judge because the judge probably wouldn't believe her because the girl was a troubled girl and HE was a model person - so far as anyone could tell. It would be his word against hers, and he would win by reputation alone.

So... No means no, but only if the girl is a better person than the guy???

Moving on, let's get to the REAL crux of the matter. The TRUE problem with this whole Scenario.
If no means no, then yes means yes!

You CANNOT have it both ways! You cannot say that no means no if yes doesn't actually mean yes! I mean is it any wonder that EVERYONE is confused on the topic of consent?!

In this scenario, had this girl decided to claim that she said yes, and then he was automatically sent to jail for Statutory Rape, then yes would not have meant yes!!! I do not care who is hopping in bed together, if BOTH of them are saying yes, then it should be legal. Don't give me that BS about one of them not being old enough to consent, because if you are in court arguing this, then the point is really moot. Or at least it should be. Did you consent, yes or no, and if no, RAPE has occurred!!!

If yes, then why the eff are they in court for this? Well I'll tell you why. It's adults that eff everything up. If a girl's parents find out that their 14 or 15 year old girl decided to go out and have a wild weekend with a 17 year old boy, rather than accept that she said yes and had fun, they want to ruin his life and send him to jail. Shame on the parents!!! You know what they have just done? They have just created a culture in which a girl is NOT ALLOWED to say yes without parental permission! (And vice versa. Girls can be sent to jail for this too.)

Here is a real life example. When I met my husband, I was 16 and he was 20. We hopped right into bed and stayed there for 4 days. By law, he should have gone to jail. WHY??? Because even though I had reached the age of consent, he was still too old for me legally. THANK ALL THE GODS that my mother was too smart for that esh! She took one look at him and knew that he was my future husband. And you know what? She was right. We got married when I was 21 and he was 25. We had broken up for a few years and got back together. We've been married for 14 years now.

Thus rather than ruin his life for a VERY stupid reason, we were given the luxury of yes meaning yes.

Do you know how to teach a teen that no means no? You give them the power to make that decision. After all, if a girl is saying: "No I can't because my parents will kill me, or kick me out, or ground me for the rest of my life," then what she is really saying is yes, and that is what the boy is hearing. But if she says: "No I don't want to," then that decision must be treated EQUALLY as important as if she said: Yes, I want to, let's do it!" It must be treated equally as important as if she said: "Yes I want to, but only a little. Let's kiss and grope each other's naked body, and maybe give mutual oral, but NOT penetration!" It must be treated equal with: "I want to kiss you for a while first while I make up my mind."

Because for no to mean no, then yes MUST mean yes, and this is the very foundation of consent. Without it, we are always going to be arguing over whether or not she really said yes.

Sigh...

Mirror of Dreams - Extras: Chapter 4

In Chapter 4, There are a LOT of things that I feel need a visual aid, lol!
To start, there's her coronation dress. It's made entirely out of red lace, but of course, there's nothing online that exactly matches what's in my head. So, I am going to post a whole ton of pics to give y'all ideas on what I'm talking about.
Here's what the lace itself might look like: (All images taken from somewhere on the web.)





Then there's the dress itself. IT has a long train that looks like this:
It might even be longer, lol!


The entire dress is made in lace though, so it's meant to be sheer, like the top front of this dress:






The shape of the dress, aside from the long train is meant to be one of these: More than likely the first :-)






So - all in all - the dress is hard to describe, lololol! 
The closest that the dresses on the internet could come to matching what I described was these:



The only real problem I have with the bottom dress is that she doesn't really look queenly in it even though it does a good job of being lacy with a long train. I know I ask the impossible, but I am telling you that one day, I will see a dress, and it will be EXACTLY what I had in mind, lol!






To go with the coronation dress is a tiara, and I have to be honest, there was practically NOTHING online that matched the image in my head, but some came close. I describe it as a delicate little gold thing with diamonds, so here are a few examples of tiaras that come close. Feel free to imagine her in any of these :-)










AND THEN: Kaitlynn gets herself a ring...
So, that doesn't have an easy to find match online either, lol! I grabbed a couple pics that came close, and I figure that y'all can either try to visualize what I describe, or you can just pick one of these, lol!









Lastly, there's a routine mentioned in the chapter, but I am going to save that for either its own post or the extras on another chapter :-D Hopefully, I've given y'all enough eye candy for today.
Have a happy day!

Monday, June 29, 2015

Mirror of Dreams - Chapter 3

3

Lord Antony and Sir Barrett weren't quite sure what to do the next morning. It was technically Sir Barrett's job to wake me – or at least be on hand to guard me when the maids woke me – but he was reluctant to do so when I was naked and held close by my lover. Lord Antony prided himself on being an excellent assistant, and so was also on hand in case I needed anything, but not even he wanted to wake me up to such a potentially awkward situation.
Maids stood by in the background, having brought a new dress from the Royal Seamstress. All in all, most people would have probably been upset to open their eyes and see so many people watching them sleep, but not me. Who can be embarrassed by a dream? Granted this was turning into an extremely long dream that I could apparently sleep during, but it had to be a dream, right?
Good morning,” I greeted them cheerfully. “Is something wrong?”
Not at all, Your Majesty,” Lord Antony assured me. “We simply didn't know the appropriate way to wake you in such a situation.”
I looked down to see that I was now laying on my side with Nathan's hand covering just one of my breasts. My back was snuggled into his front while our legs were slightly bent like spoons. My hips were just barely covered by a sheet – as were his – while the rest of us was exposed.
I was tempted to turn around and kiss him, but I didn't want to wake him. To be honest, I would have loved to simply lay there and watch him sleep for a while! Unfortunately, I was apparently needed already.
Gently lifting Nathan's arm, I slid out from under the sheet and made sure that it covered him adequately. Then I sat up in bed, shifted to the side, and stretched my arms high over my head. A huge yawn escaped me, reminding me that I could have used a bit more sleep, but otherwise, I felt wonderful. Now if only I could get rid of that infernal sizzling in my blood!
Do I have time to take a bath?” I wondered, pretty sure that they didn't have the technology for showers yet. I made a mental note to see that it was invented soon because showers were convenient when one was pressed for time.
Of course,” Sir Barrett stated with a patient smile. “You have time to do whatever you want, Your Majesty.”
Well,” Lord Antony amended softly. “Within reason. If you shirk your responsibilities, you'll create hardships for the whole Kingdom.”
Got it,” I stated dryly. “I can do whatever I want so long as I do what I'm supposed to as well. No problem!”
I'm pretty sure that I can multitask if I have to. Maybe on days when I have far too much to do, I can simply insist that Lords Antony and Gregory join me in my bath so that I can work while I relax. The thought made me giggle!
Right this way,” Sir Barrett informed me, gesturing to a door I hadn't noticed yet. Or rather, I suppose that I had noticed it, I just hadn't used it yet. “You're own private bath was prepared just in case you felt like bathing.”
I followed him into the bathroom, and then nearly fainted in shock. “This is my private bath?!?!” I demanded incredulously as I looked around.
This wasn't a mere one person tub or even an eight person hot tub like I had imagined. This was practically an olympic sized pool! Except that instead of being rectangular, it was octagonal. And – from what I could see – it wasn't very deep, maybe three to three and a half feet at the deepest. The tub seemed to be carved from white marble (roughed up so that it wasn't slippery) and was decorated with copious amounts of gold.
Yes,” Sir Barrett confirmed, amused by my incredulous expression.
Why the hell do I need such a huge tub?!” I wondered crudely.
Sir Barrett chuckled. “You probably don't but it was built during a time when the King – several generations ago – had a large harem and apparently needed a lot of space. If you look over there, you'll see another door that used to lead to the harem, but was long since converted to the “Queen's” chamber. By that, I mean the wife or consort of the true ruler, so don't worry that you're staying in the wrong room. I assure you that you are in the right room.”
He looked away and grinned. “And in fact, Lady Sophia is currently staying in the Queen's chamber. Just in case you wanted to know that...”
By this point, I was already in the tub, purring happily at how wonderfully warm and soothing it was. At this news, I perked up. “Oh? She is?”
Laughing, he explained that: “King Henry had given her permission to use that chamber and continue using the bath after she had abdicated. He himself tended to bathe very late at night, and she bathes either early in the morning or right after dinner, so there was never a conflict. However, I suppose that even if they shared the bath on occasion, neither would care. They were not attracted to each other in the slightest.”
Good to know, I guess,” I murmured. “I don't mind if she bathes in here. Could you scrub my back?”
If you'd like,” Sir Barrett replied.
I'll do that!” Nathan announced abruptly. He also hadn't bothered to cover up before coming into the bathroom. The sight of him made me want to melt into a puddle of bliss!
You're awake!” I exclaimed happily as he slipped into the tub.
Yes, well, it's hard to sleep when the maids start chattering on about how romantic it is that we are already sharing a bed,” Nathan informed me with a shy grin.
I kissed him quickly a couple of times before turning my back to him so that he could scrub it. “I'm sorry that I was so tired last night. I'll try my best to go to bed a bit earlier tonight so that I can do better.”
Nathan pulled me close so that he could whisper in my ear. “Don't say such embarrassing things where others can hear them!”
I giggled. “Why – my Lord Nathan – are you by any chance shy?”
He harrumphed but didn't answer me. Over my shoulder, I noticed Sir Barrett smirking in a way that let me know he was suppressing laughter. He was also busy pretending to be interested in a statue in the corner so that he wasn't staring at us the entire time.
If I had to guess, I'd be willing to bet that Sir Barrett probably didn't have to guard me in my bath, but that he wanted to understand me better and this was a good way to do so. After all, not too many people could resist chatting amicably while they relaxed in the bath. At least, not in my experience. My friends at school and I were always talking about this and that while we bathed.
After he finished with my back, I had Nathan wash my hair. It was fun to let him do so. He kept sweeping my hair out in the water, playing with it and marveling at how long it was. I liked it long, but it was also a bit of a pain, so I tended to keep it braided at all times. My party had been a notable exception since I had gone to a professional hairdresser to have it styled.
Once I was clean, I pounced on him. “Your turn!” Washing his hair was heavenly, and then I tickled his back and thoroughly groped his sexy buttocks.
Hey now!” He protested, blushing hotly. I followed his eyes to find Sir Barrett still examining the statue. I'm betting he was utterly bored by now.
Finding Nathan's blush both sexy and adorable, I lightly bit him on the neck, and then took pity on him.
Sir Barrett? Would you please leave us alone for a while? I think I am probably quite safe in the bath...”
Plus, I am a soldier quite capable of protecting my fiancée if necessary,” Nathan added.
Yes, Your Majesty,” Sir Barrett replied with a small bow. He quickly left.
You are?” I blurted out incredulously.
Of course!” Nathan stated with a tone that suggested he was confused by my incredulity. “All citizens of Rolandia are trained soldiers in one way or another.”
Even the women?” I wondered, finding this unusual for a world that seemed stuck in the middle ages.
Yes, but granted, they have different options. Yes, women can be regular soldiers if they want, but they are also encouraged to become medics and offered reserve status much more quickly than most men. Only those women who are truly serious about being a soldier stay in the army longer than a year. Whereas men are obligated to remain in the army for many years.”
Even now? Even during a time of peace?” I asked, not sure how that worked.
Well yes and no,” Nathan replied, tilting his head side to side. “Most have been recalled from active duty, and so it might be fair to say that they are on reserve status, but in actuality, they can be called on at any moment if our enemies attack us.”
I scratched my head in confusion. “So... They are on active reserve status?”
Nathan laughed. “You can think of it like that if you want.”
He was sitting – leaning back against the side of the tub – so that the water perfectly covered his shoulders. I decided to straddle his lap and press my body into his as I kissed him. His hands rubbed my back lightly for a few moments before holding me close. I wiggled my hips in a slow rhythm to stimulate his passion, and was rewarded for my efforts when he moaned and shifted his hands down to cup my buttocks.
Oh my! I'm so sorry, I never expected the bath to be occupied at this time of day!” Lady Sophia exclaimed in a tone that was both apologetic and utterly thrilled.
We looked over to find her standing at the edge of the tub naked. I purred in appreciation, liking what I saw, which made her smirk in pleasure and sort of sway her body side to side to show off for me. Nathan buried his face in my neck for a moment and shook his head.
Mother!” He protested in embarrassment. “Have you no shame?!”
None at all!” She assured him with a cheeky grin.
I stood up and faced her. “Feel free to use the bath any time you like, Lady Sophia. I don't mind sharing.”
Thank you, Majesty!” She purred in delight.
Kaitlynn,” I reminded her, and then pointed to a pile of soft and fluffy towels. “Could you hand me one of those? I have a feeling that your son would appreciate some cover at the moment.”
Certainly!” Lady Sophia agreed.
I took the towel from her and turned to hold it out for Nathan. He promptly used me to hide from his mother while he covered up the hardness we had created just moments ago. There was an adorable blush on his face that made me want to kiss him a thousand times!
Lady Sophia apparently had a wicked sense of humor, because she obviously delighted in teasing her son. “What's wrong, Natey? We used to bathe together all the time! Why are you so shy now?”
Mother...” Nathan growled, turning redder than ever. He knew she was just teasing him though because he didn't say anything else. Rather grumpily, he exited the tub and leaned against a wall while he waited for me to finish my bath.
Lady Sophia took the opportunity to hop in the tub and splash me playfully. I splashed her back which provoked an epic battle. The battle continued for several minutes and ended when we were both laughing too hard to continue.
Oh Your Majesty – Queen Kaitlynn,” Lady Sophia amended with a smile. “It's such a delight to have another Monarch around who knows how to play!”
Was my father a dull man then?” I asked, calling him my father out loud for the first time that I could remember. As I listened to her reply, I took the time to remove my diaphragm and wash it thoroughly.
Dull? No,” Lady Sophia replied with a soft shake of her head. “He simply didn't have time to play very often, with the war...”
I looked over at her to see if she planned to go into detail, but she was staring at my diaphragm.
What is that?” She asked curiously.
I explained it to her, which made her pout prettily.
Aww, such a shame! I was looking forward to having grandbabies soon! My darling son hasn't seemed interested in matters of love, so I was beginning to despair!” She leaned over to whisper in my ear, resting her hands on my shoulders. I felt an interesting tingling where she touched me. “He is almost a hundred years old, after all.”
He is?!?!” I blurted out in astonishment, my eyes flying to examine the man who looked like he was barely old enough to shave.
What?” He asked defensively.
Yes,” Lady Sophia confirmed almost grimly. “It's something that a young and beautiful mother is ashamed to admit...”
I could not respond and my mouth gaped open incredulously.
What?!” Nathan demanded, becoming agitated.
Lady Sophia flapped her hand at him. “She is merely trying to figure out how a mother as young as I am has a son as old as you are.”
Oh, is that all,” he stated and relaxed once more.
All?!” I asked incredulously. “I only just turned 18! And you... you're...” I couldn't say it out loud!
In my 90s?” He supplied helpfully, and then shrugged. “Age is strange in our world. People grow into full adults in their first 16-20 years, and then don't seem to age at all for a very long time. Take my mother, for example. She's already 425 years old. By rights, she should be an older woman with beautifully silver hair and lovely wrinkles –”
Don't say that!” Lady Sophia gasped in dismay, holding her hands to her face as if trying to cover up any potential wrinkles.
Nathan scoffed at her reaction, and then continued. “Instead, she still looks as young as she did when I was born.”
I had already finished washing my diaphragm, so I set it on the edge of the tub to dry, and then relaxed as I listened to this story. Something intrigued me. Well, the whole age thing intrigued me too, but something intrigued me even more.
So wait, you're saying that Lady Sophia was already in her 320s when she had you?” I asked Nathan, and then turned to Lady Sophia. “And you're worried that he hasn't started having babies yet at only 90... something?” Neither of them had specified his exact age.
Lady Sophia shrugged. “I love babies, and I miss having them! I sincerely wish that my son would provide me with a whole bunch of fat and happy grandbabies to adore.”
They would be adorable, wouldn't they?” I murmured with a grin.
That they would!” Lady Sophia agreed. Suddenly, she looked down and an intense wave of sadness emanated from her.
What's wrong?” I asked, instinctively pulling her into a comforting hug. She returned my hug freely, snuggling her face into my shoulder.
I just miss them so much,” she murmured morosely.
Miss who?” I wondered, having no idea who she was talking about.
My older children,” Lady Sophia clarified. “I had three sons and two daughters who have died in the war.”
What?” I whispered in shock. The more I heard about it, the more this war seemed like a terrible thing!
Yes,” she murmured vaguely, but didn't elaborate.
They all died in the line of duty,” Nathan stated as if this was simply the way life was. “There's no greater honor than that.”
Yes,” Lady Sophia agreed softly.
I rubbed her back, knowing that anything I wanted to say would likely just anger her or make her feel even sadder, so I kept my mouth shut. Slowly, her mood changed again. She looked at me with a mysterious expression.
Thank you, Queen Kaitlynn,” she murmured, and then kissed me. This was no mere pressing of lips either. This was a kiss designed to make my toes curl and my blood boil. I moaned in sudden longing, pressing my body into hers.
Hey now! Wait just a minute! Mother!!!” Nathan roared, pulling me out of the tub.
I'm sorry baby,” Lady Sophia purred in a tone that suggested that she wasn't sorry in the slightest. “I just couldn't help myself! She had her naked body wrapped oh so lusciously around mine!”
I chuckled softly, amused by this fascinating woman. “My luscious body! Have you looked in a mirror recently?!”
Why yes,” she replied with a naughty grin. Twisting her body side to side as if modeling a new dress for me. “You like what you see?”
Mmmhmm!” I moaned with a grin.
Kaitlynn!” Nathan burst out in shock, which actually shocked me. He was literally the first person to call me by name – without any form of title to go with it!
I looked at him curiously. “What?” I asked, finding it interesting – and a bit frustrating – that the man of my dreams would be jealous. “I'm just flirting. It means nothing.”
He scoffed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Flirting with my mother! Surely you can understand how that would make me uncomfortable!”
I opened my mouth to protest, and then opted not to say anything. Instead I closed my mouth and wondered how to change the subject.
Is everything alright in here?” Sir Barrett called out. “I hear shouting...”
Perfect!
Everything is fine, Sir Barrett. We're just coming out now,” I announced, grabbing a towel and using it to dry my hair as I walked toward my bedroom. A thought occurred to me, prompting me to backtrack for my diaphragm.
A minute later, I found myself in the middle of a quartet of maids who were ooo-ing and ahh-ing as they used other soft towels to dry me off and fluff my hair. “Your Majesty has such lovely hair!”
I'd grown up with a maid to clean my room and help me dress when I really needed it, but most of the time, I dressed myself. This was an interesting experience to say the least. All of the maids were pretty and wore adorable matching outfits in different colors. I wanted to flirt with them and reward them with kisses, but I also didn't want to upset Nathan again so soon.
Go figure, I finally have an interesting dream (most of my dreams were boring), and my dream lover had to be possessive. I really needed to teach him to share so that I could enjoy this dream to the fullest. I watched him slip into a robe and sit on my bed as he watched me be fussed and fawned over. Man! He was so handsome that I was tempted to throw all the maids off and jump back in bed with him!
A glance at Sir Barrett and Lord Antony made me wonder what they would do if I did. The thought of them gasping and trying to look away as I licked my fiancé all over made me giggle. Would they stay and patiently wait for me to finish, or would they leave and spread the word that I was taking an extra long time getting out of bed this morning?
The maids interrupted my thoughts by helping me into my new dress. This one was blue, a vibrant shade that matched the color of my left eye. I was impressed that the Royal Seamstress – who I hadn't actually met – had managed to fit the dress to me so perfectly. She also seemed to understand that I planned to wear whatever I wanted in this fantasy world of mine. I had no rules of modesty enforced by my mother, so I could wear something sheer like this and not have to apologize to anyone.
The dress hugged my chest – the lacy material playing peekaboo with my breasts – bared my shoulders and arms, and flared out at my hips. I twirled around several times to see how it moved, and was delighted to see it spin beautifully. The bottom hem – edged in black lace – tickled my calves and made me laugh.
I love it!” I pronounced giddily. “Please give my compliments to the seamstress, and also let her know that I'll gladly wear anything she cares to make me, no matter how revealing!”
The maids all bounced and clapped at this news. “That's wonderful, Majesty!”
Why do the women in the palace always seem to insist that they should wear very little?” Lord Antony asked of no one in particular.
Sir Barrett laughed and tried his best to answer. “Probably because no one dared to tell Lady Sophia no when she was Queen, and all the rest of the Ladies felt that it was only fashionable to follow suit.”
I'm ready for breakfast!” I announced as my stomach growled.
Oh, but Your Majesty!” The maids protested. “We haven't done your hair yet!”
I was already in the middle of braiding it and paused to look at them. “What would you do with it? I usually prefer a simple braid.”
They sighed in disappointment. “That's a shame. We could have done something fabulous with it.”
I smiled at them warmly, finishing my braid and securing it with the cloth covered rubber band that I usually used. “I'll tell you what, you can practice doing fabulous things to it tonight for dinner, but now I'm too hungry to wait any longer.”
Yes, Majesty,” they mumbled sadly. They immediately began whispering suggestions to each other – and wondering what the stretchy thing in my hair was.
I left them chattering and led my entourage to the breakfast room now that I remembered where it was. Nathan – still wearing a robe – had gone his own way, presumably to his room to get dressed. This gave me an opportunity to ask Sir Barrett an important question.
So...” I began, grinning at him flirtatiously. “If I were to leave the castle and stay the night in an inn, you would have to guard me at all times, right?”
That's exactly right,” he confirmed with a smile.
But what if I am with my fiancé or a lover?” I wondered.
I would face the wall, but I could not abandon my duty to ensure your safety at all times,” he stated, clearly having a protocol to follow.
Hmm,” I murmured, thinking this over.
Breakfast fairly flew by, and then Lords Gregory and Antony dragged me to my office so that we could do some work. By the time we were done, I was ready to tear my hair out in frustration. There had to be a better way to do this!
The sizzling in my blood got worse and worse the longer I sat still, so the moment they said we were finished, I ran out of the office and just kept on running. I had no idea where I was going and really had no destination in mind. I just needed to move my body! Therefore, I ended up simply going outside and running around the palace several times.
Lord Barrett caught up to me fairly quickly and ran at my side. He looked perfectly comfortable jogging like this and made no comments asking me to slow down or wait for him. In fact, I think he might have been hoping that I'd speed up a bit. When I was ready to stop, he helped me stretch for a few minutes, and then handed me a basket that he had been carrying.
I brought a jar of water and a sandwich,” he informed me. “I figured that you might prefer a solitary lunch...”
Thank you!” I gushed in appreciation. The sandwich disappeared into my stomach in no time at all, making me feel like a pig, but I pretended that nothing was out of the ordinary.
Now what?” I wondered, looking around.
How are your sword skills?” Sir Barrett asked.
Uh... nonexistent...” I muttered because this was not something I ever expected to be asked.
Would you care to learn?” He wondered with a kind smile.
Sure...” I replied hesitantly, and then shrugged.
He led me to a sparring area, and then handed me a practice sword. It was made of metal, but not sharp in the slightest. I swung it around like it was a baseball bat a couple of times.
Is it supposed to be this light? I feel like it's going to go flying out of my hands at any moment.”
Really?” Sir Barrett asked, sounding intrigued. He exchanged the sword for a different one. “How's this?”
Better,” I murmured with a frown. “But it still doesn't feel quite right.”
His smile turned into a wide grin. I felt as if he knew some shocking secret but wouldn't tell me what it was. Without a word, he gave me an even bigger sword.
I swung this one around exactly like I had seen done in countless movies. This one felt almost perfect! I pretended that I was a fantasy paladin fighting off a hoard of orcs!
Take that! Ha!” I exclaimed as I defeated an imaginary bad guy. In a way, I felt like I was dancing. In my mind, an entire field of orcs was slain by my hand as I made goofy noises of triumph.
I thought you said that you knew nothing about sword fighting,” Sir Barrett remarked with a puzzled frown.
I don't,” I stated, not bothering to end my epic battle. “I'm just playing.”
Huh!” He scoffed in disbelief. “That's some playing then! You're exhibiting real skill – the kind that takes most people years, if not their entire life, to master.”
What?” I wondered, stopping completely to stare at him. “Impossible!”
He shrugged, unable to think of anything to say. Grabbing a practice sword of his own, he advanced on me slowly. I defended myself awkwardly. The really strange thing was that I knew what to do, except that I really shouldn't know what to do, so I wasn't confident in the slightest about what I was doing.
So focused was I on Sir Barrett that I didn't realize that people were slowly crowding around us. None dared to enter the sparring ring with us, so I paid them no attention, but they were watching us with interest. Only when their whispering got louder did I notice they were there. Suddenly, I was unnerved!
Sir Barrett trounced me unexpectedly, sending me flying a couple of feet before landing on my butt. “Ow,” I muttered silently, my pride wounded more than anything.
Are you alright?” Sir Barrett asked me as he held out a hand to help me up.
Yes,” I murmured. “I simply got distracted.”
In the background, I heard someone say: “The new Queen fights like a second year soldier.”
Is that her?”
No wonder Sir Barrett needs to tutor her.”
Yeah! With skills like that, she'd die in her first battle!”
The last statement offended me. Not because I thought I was better than that, but because they implied that I would allow there to be any more battles. I straightened up indignantly. Sir Barrett hastily intervened.
Her Majesty is new to our world, and hasn't ever used a sword before,” he explained. This piqued everyone's interest even higher.
She hasn't?!?!” Clearly, this boggled everyone's mind.
Sir Barrett sent those who were supposed to be training or working back to their tasks, and then basically ignored the small crowd that was left. “Let's try that again. I get the feeling that you were holding back.”
I wasn't holding back,” I assured him. “I just don't know what I'm supposed to be doing.”
So you say,” he murmured as he attacked me and I defended myself. “But clearly, you do.”
Lord Antony could be heard in the background talking to Lord Gregory. “Look, she's using his Majesty's practice sword.”
I noticed,” Lord Gregory stated dryly.
I wonder if she could use his real sword?” Lord Antony asked.
Impossible!” Lord Gregory scoffed. “The sword was magically attuned so that only he could wield it.”
But she does carry his blood,” Lord Antony pointed out.
A new voice entered the conversation. “And she said that he turned into energy and entered her,” Lady Leeza reminded them. “I think it's worth trying.”
I do too,” Lord Antony agreed before sending a pair of guards off to fetch it.
Meanwhile, I was gaining confidence fairly quickly. I blocked everything that Sir Barrett tried to hit me with, getting ever so slightly faster with each movement. The skill seemed to be a part of my body, and that sizzling in my blood felt good, for once.
I felt like I was pulled out of a reverie when the guards returned and Sir Barrett signaled an end to our match. Both of us were breathing heavier than usual, but not so heavy as to be called panting. It felt like my body was singing triumphantly!
Majesty,” the two guards murmured as they knelt before me and held up the sword.
It was beautiful! The hilt was wrapped in bright red leather and had a large gem in the very end. I would guess a ruby or a garnet. The crossbar was etched with gold swirls, and the sheath itself was made from red leather and gold wire. I think there might have been wood in there somewhere too, but it was hard to tell.
I took the sword in my hands and felt a rush of energy hit me. Holding it close for a moment, I inspected it once more. Suddenly, I felt like I had to lift it to the heavens, as if offering it to the Gods. A moment later, I drew the sword and roared as if I was a lion showing my pride who was boss.
And then I felt silly and giggled. “Where did that come from?” I asked no one in particular as I examined the naked blade of the sword. It shimmered and gleamed as if made out of pure sunshine. “Ah, beautiful,” I sighed, loving this sword even though I wasn't particularly into swords in general.
Well that answers that,” Lady Leeza stated smugly. I looked over just in time to see her smirking a bit meanly at Lord Gregory.
What?” I wondered curiously.
You can draw His Majesty's sword,” Sir Barrett informed me, as if I hadn't noticed this already.
Yeah, and?” I drawled slowly, not understanding why this was unusual.
And no one is able to draw it but him,” Sir Barrett explained. “Sheathe it and I'll show you.”
As I did so, he held up his own sword. “See, my sword is similar to but smaller than that one. I can draw it as easily as if I was breathing.” He demonstrated a couple of times, and then returned his sword to his side. Holding his hand out, he accepted my sword. Then he tried to pull the sword from its sheath, only it refused to budge. He exerted ever more pressure, but still, nothing.
Taking the sword from him, Lord Gregory did the same thing. As did Lord Antony, and then Nathan.
You see?” Sir Barrett asked as if it should be obvious. “Only King Henry could use this sword, and now you.”
That's a good thing,” Nathan explained with a nod. “The people will consider this a sign that you truly are our rightful Queen.”
A magical sword, huh? I guess this dream is turning into some sort of role-playing video game,” I murmured to myself, admiring my sword again now that Nathan had given it back.
What?” Nathan asked in confusion.
Never mind,” I stated, waving away his concern.

Go To Chapter 4 

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Mirror of Dreams - Chapter 2

2

How are you holding up?” My best friend asked me. He was only a little taller than me with black hair and black eyes. Since he was Asian, I naturally thought he was adorable, but we were not interested in a romantic relationship. This was probably for the best since – while his family was just as wealthy as mine, maybe even more so – he did not fit the image my mother and grandmother had of a suitable husband.
I laughed bubbly. “I'm having a blast! What about you?”
I'm totally flirting with one of your school friends,” he admitted with a grin.
Good luck,” I wished him with a laugh. The truly funny thing was that he could probably sleep with all my school friends if he wanted tonight.
Despite attending a super old-fashioned school, we were not expected to be celibate. In fact, after having at least one or two girls get pregnant each year for many years, the school had finally updated its sex ed classes to one of the most progressive ones in the country. We were now taught every aspect of birth control, and also the finer points of consent. Not only had the unplanned pregnancy rate vanished, but I'd like to think that the class empowered us all to wait until we were truly ready to start having sex.
But that did not mean that we had no peer pressure. For my class, at the very least, the moment the first girl lost her virginity at 16 and bragged to us all about it non-stop, it seemed to be all any of us could think about. One by one, the girls each chose good-looking boys to have fun with.
I wasn't the first one nor was I the last. I wanted to find someone I wouldn't regret being with, and had eventually decided on Ian – my best friend. That's how we knew that we wouldn't make a good married couple, we really were too much like best friends and not enough like lovers. Although, anyone who ever saw us together assumed that we were going out.
I suppose that in a way, it could be considered true. We got together a lot because we always had fun together. His parents – who were never home – had sent him to any school he wanted (while I was at my old fashioned girls' school), and he'd learn the strangest things. Once, he learned how to spin a Cyr Wheel, and that summer, he taught me. It's now one of my favorite things to do!
In addition to that, we danced together, sang duets at karaoke, and watched movies on his huge flat screen TV while munching on popcorn dripping in butter. I spent a lot of time at his house when I wasn't away at school because he could make me laugh like no one else. We had a very fun and comfortable “friends with benefits” type of relationship.
I rather hope that you're flirting with Kaylee,” I stated with a grin. “She's that blonde with green eyes that make my toes curl when I look at them.”
Ian laughed and leaned over so that he could whisper in my ear. “Are you sure you're supposed to be drooling over girls at a party where you're going to meet your future husband?”
I smirked wryly. “Maybe not, but I'm betting that my mom doesn't want me looking all lovey dovey over here in the corner with you either.”
So... anyone catch your interest yet?” Ian asked curiously as he subtly pointed out a pretty brunette named Brittany. The way she was looking at him left no doubt that they were going to hook-up later.
Good choice,” I praised him. “She's one of the picky ones, so I am fairly sure that she thinks you're special. And to answer your question...” I shrugged. “They all seem interesting. If my mother and grandmother weren't so adamant about making the final choice, I'd be tempted to try them all out in bed and see which one has the most chemistry with me.”
Ian shook his head. “I honestly don't get you! You act like you don't care in the slightest who you marry!”
I don't,” I stated seriously. “I know that I can get along well with any man, therefore it's not the who that's important, it's the getting married and having children that's important. It's the only thing I have ever wanted in my whole life.”
Not so me!” Ian snorted derisively. “I want the fairy tale come true. I want a woman who makes my heart pound and my toes curl. I want a woman who is a Goddess in bed and simply amazing when not in bed. I want to look at her and think: Wow! That's the woman I'm married to!”
Really?” I asked curiously. “I'd rather gotten the impression that I am the only girl you have ever even considered having sex with.” Aside from flirting with my school friends – and pretty girls in general – I had never actually seen him hook-up with a girl.
He flapped his hand dismissively. “That's because I want the real deal when it comes to my future woman. With guys, I can just play around and nobody gets hurt. It means nothing.” This reminded me that he had said this before, more than once.
I suppose that's true,” I agreed with a soft chuckle. “I know that guys are usually overjoyed when they find out that I am at the dance club simply to hook-up – no strings attached.”
That was something my friends at school and I liked doing. We'd go out on weekends to a dance club that didn't serve alcohol, so we could get in and party. We'd huddle together after arriving, checking out who was cute, and then deciding who to go after for the night. We'd get pictures of the lucky guys on our cellphones, and then compare them after we'd returned to our dorm in time for curfew.
Because of this, certain guys were in demand for hook-ups and others had been advised to learn what they were doing before trying to hook-up again.
Ooo!” I blurted out in appreciation. I stood up straight and got a good look at the handsome man who had just arrived at my party. “Do you see him? The blond...”
What is it with you and blonds!” Ian asked with a laugh. “That's supposed to be my thing... But yes, I'll admit that he is darn good-looking!”
I love that messy I-can't-be-bothered-to-do-my-hair look, even though I know full well that it takes hours to get it to look just right,” I reminded my BFF, just in case he had forgotten.
I kind of like that look myself,” Ian replied with a sexy grin.
I saw him first!” I insisted, nudging him with my shoulder. “And besides, it's my party!”
So go ask him to dance,” Ian responded, literally pushing me in the direction of the handsome man. Without a word, I took his suggestion.
As I got closer to him, I noted that he was between 22-25 and had olive green eyes. His hair was a shade often called “dirty,” but his eyes were extremely smoky and dazzling. Even more than blond hair, I had a weakness for green eyes...
He saw me coming and grinned. “Ah, the birthday girl... Would you like to dance?”
Yes please,” I answered eagerly, smiling at him as my eyes roamed his body. I liked what I saw. “Do you play football?” I asked because it was a safe bet that he probably did. I rather hoped that he wouldn't take this as an invitation to drone on and on about it.
Nope, but I do play baseball from time to time. For me, it's more of an at-home hobby than a passion,” he informed me.
That sounds wonderful,” I said honestly, relieved that he wasn't bombarding me with useless baseball information. “Then what is your passion?”
Acting,” he stated with a happy grin. “I haven't landed any big roles yet, but I've had minor parts on various soap operas.”
Then I am afraid that I haven't seen you,” I stated with an apologetic shrug. “I don't watch soaps. I'm far more likely to be out dancing with a friend... or singing,” I added as an afterthought.
I think I like that about you,” handsome blond remarked. “That you don't watch soaps, I mean. Most of the girls I meet do watch them, and then they always want to talk about the scenes my character was in until I want to scream!” He chuckled nervously. “I probably shouldn't have admitted that out loud...”
I laughed warmly. “Don't worry, I understand completely.”
The song came to an end, so we drifted off to the side of the dance floor to wait until another song caught our attention. In the background, I could see my mother and paternal grandmother watching us with rapt attention. They were talking together and nodding their heads. If they had just decided on this man to be my future husband, I can honestly say that I agree with their decision!
To reinforce my point, I decided to take him by the hand and lead him to my mother. She grinned even wider when she saw us coming. She and my grandmother hastily decided to stop talking before we overheard something they didn't want us to.
Ladies,” handsome blond greeted them, affecting a slight bow. “I'm Andrew; thank you for inviting me to this lovely lady's birthday celebration.” He kissed my hand for added effect. I giggled happily.
May we be shockingly direct?” My grandmother asked.
Of course,” Andrew permitted with a fond smile.
You are the man we feel would make the best match for my granddaughter,” she stated bluntly. “Now that you have met her, do you think that she would suit you?”
Andrew smiled at me, taking in the reddish hue of my hair and my strangely colored eyes. “Yes, actually I think we would get along well together. What do you say, my dear?” He asked me, and then clarified in case I might be confused. “Would you marry me?”
My heart skipped a beat and then felt like birds were carrying it to the heavens on soft wings. “Yes!” I gasped out happily.
Oh how wonderful!” My mother cried out, tears streaming from her face. “I'm so happy for you two!” She hugged us each tight for a moment, and then stepped back to simply look at us.
Andrew slung an arm across my shoulders and I snuggled into him. It's amazing how easily everything falls into place when one makes a detailed plan. If things keep on like this, I might accomplish all my goals by this time next year!
Andrew caressed my cheek. “I knew that this party was so a suitable husband could be chosen for you, but I really didn't think it would be me, therefore I didn't bring a ring, but I promise to take you shopping tomorrow and buy you any ring you want.”
I purred happily and gave him a soft kiss. “Deal!”
We danced with mostly each other for the rest of the night. I did dance with a few others to be polite, but already, I felt like I belonged to my fiancé. By the time most of the guests were ready to leave, I was exhausted!
Ian waited until Andrew had left – with a promise to come get me mid-morning – and then pulled me aside. He hugged me, and then playfully pushed my nose in. I giggled and shook him off.
I see that things went well with your handsome blond,” Ian stated with an amused smirk.
He's taking me ring shopping tomorrow!” I blurted out excitedly.
Sounds fun,” Ian replied honestly. “I sort of wish that I could tag along, but I am sure that you don't want to have to explain our unique relationship to him just yet.”
What's to explain?” I asked with a snort. “You're my best friend, end of story. If he needs me to explain it more than that, then I feel sorry for him.”
So... I guess that this officially means no more benefits?” Ian asked, his attention actually on Brittany, who was still patiently waiting for him to take her home for the night.
Well...” I murmured diplomatically. “At least not right now. I'll have to ask him what he thinks about playing around. I sincerely pray that he is fine with playing around because I have so much fun when I go out dancing at club looking for a hook-up.”
Except that now, you can probably just hook-up with him,” Ian replied with a shrug. “I'm glad you're on the path to your happily ever after, but I'm going to leave now.” He kissed me on the cheek. “I've got a girl waiting, and even though I am pretty sure she's not the one, I like her enough to give her a chance. I'll see you later.”
Later!” I called out after him as he walked away. “And remember to come over or call me tomorrow night! Aside from finding out how things went with Brittney, I'd like to tell you about my crazy dream!”
Ian simply waved in my direction, as if saying: yeah yeah, of course!

About a half an hour later, in my bedroom, I undressed with a sigh. I was so unbelievably tired! If I thought I could stay awake long enough, I'd take a bath! As it was, I barely managed to strip and fall on my bed before I fell asleep.
In the morning, the sun pried my eyes open long before I actually wanted to wake up. To my delight, my mother had let me sleep in. Of course, I had to get up soon if I wanted to take a bath and get ready before Andrew arrived.
After my quick shower – I was too afraid that Andrew would show up before I was ready – I studied my reflection in the mirror. Even though I looked no different, I felt like I had become a real woman overnight. With a smirk, I kissed my reflection before I could even think to stop myself.
It's about time you came back! Oh! I'm terribly sorry, my Queen,” one of the Lords apologized with a becoming blush. He had leapt to his feet from a chair next to a table at the sight of me. “I did not realize that you'd be naked...”
I turned around to face him, a finger tapping my mouth as I tried to remember his name. “Uh... Lord Antony, right?” He was the one with whitish hair and blue eyes so pale that I thought he might be blind. I guess he must be able to see after all if he noticed that I was naked.
Yes Majesty,” he replied with a respectful bow. “Shall I send for some maids to come dress you?”
Uhhh... I suppose that depends on if there's anything here for me to wear. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I hadn't planned on coming back,” I said, and then blushed when I realized that I meant that literally, so I hastily added. “So soon, I mean. I had planned to get dressed first, but I got carried away while looking at my reflection.”
Lord Antony pointed to the bed. “Unfortunately, the room is still being cleaned of all of His Majesty Henry's things, but the Royal Seamstress did leave you one newly made dress. Based on what you were wearing before, she thinks that this might suit you.” He had lowered his gaze to the ground and continued to stare at the floor while I stood there wishing that my hair was already dry.
Lord Antony?” I asked as I stepped over to the bed and looked at the dress. “Can you tell me – um, how should I put this...? I've seen the previous Queen, and she seems rather immodest – as did Lady Leeza – so, can you tell me if modesty is expected in this Kingdom, or if it is optional?”
Modesty?” Lord Antony thought this over with a finger on his lip as he stared at the ceiling. “Actually, I guess you are right. The women in the Palace have always seemed to have a certain disregard for modesty.”
Thus,” I stated with a delighted smile. “You have not fled the room in embarrassment over my nudity because you intuitively understand that I also have no regard for modesty.”
I guess you could say that,” Lord Antony murmured. “Aside from your private Royal Bath, the rest of the residents of the palace share one large bath. It's generally mixed, but there are certain times set aside each day for men only or women only – in case someone is uncomfortable in mixed company.”
I listened to him as I looked the dress over. It was red and gorgeous. A bit flirty, but not revealing in the slightest. I loved the way the skirt flared. At calf length, it would spin beautifully if I danced.
The sizzling in my blood – which had thankfully mostly disappeared when I returned home – was back in full force. I don't really know what causes it, but at the moment, it felt a lot like lust. I smirked at Lord Antony mysteriously.
Hypothetically, if I wanted to take on a lover, would I be allowed to?”
He looked up to watch me dance with my dress. “Of course, Majesty, why wouldn't you be allowed to? You are the Queen, and as such, you can do whatever you want.”
I stepped closer to him. “And what if I wanted you?” I asked, kissing him to emphasize my question.
I would be honored, of course,” he stated with a slight bow, and then a soft smile full of admiration for my body.
Hmm...” I purred in thought, and then mentally slapped myself. I have a fiancé now! I shouldn't be hitting on the first man I see!
Then again, this is only a dream. I can't exactly be considered a cheater if I only mess around in my dreams...
Just then, the door opened. “Has she – oh!” Lady Sophia gasped at the sight of me standing naked so close to Lord Antony that I could kiss him again if I wanted. “My my! I hadn't thought you be so bold so quickly, Majesty!”
Clearly, she approved of my boldness. She shut the door behind her and walked over to me. Purring like a cat, she stroked my neck.
I'd like to be the first to tell you that I am an excellent lover!”
Mmm...” I moaned in longing, stroking her gorgeously long blonde hair. Her eyes may be blue, but they still sparkled like jewels. “Does everyone in the palace make an excellent lover?” I wondered.
Both Lord Antony and Lady Sophia shrugged. The Lady answered my question. “I suppose. I tend to focus my attention on commoners, so I wouldn't actually know.”
Whereas I have devoted myself to serving the King so entirely that I never had time for a relationship,” Lord Antony explained.
And before you ask,” Lady Sophia added with a knowing smirk. “No, King Henry wasn't into men. Nor women that I know of. I am not entirely sure if he ever had a lover.”
Aside from your mother, obviously,” Lord Antony added, bowing his head ever so slightly in my direction.
I shrugged. To tell the truth, I was not interested in his love life in the slightest. “Good to know, I guess.”
Gesturing to Lady Sophia, I indicated that I would like her help to put on this beautiful red dress. The Lady bit her lip slightly as she smoothed the dress out once it was on me. I twirled around happily, liking the way it looked.
I think your breasts are just a bit too big for that dress,” she murmured.
I disagree,” Lord Antony stated with a grin.
I examined my breasts carefully. Both were right. If I was wearing a bra, I'm sure that my breasts would fit in the dress just fine, but without my bra, the dress looked like it was straining slightly to hold my breasts in. I smirked.
I like the way it looks,” I pronounced. My mother might kill me if she knew what I was wearing, but all my friends from school would be jealous. We had a communal shower room complete with large tub we could all soak in. We'd spend hours trying on each other's clothes, often shopping as a group so that we'd be able to coordinate our outfits.
My mother thought she had sent me to a school that produced good girls, little did she know that our definition of good was vastly different than the school's! I giggled just thinking about it. Even so, I was usually more reserved than this. Something about this world made me act out of character.
The sizzling in my blood intensified, making me tempted to scratch my arms. Purely to distract myself, I turned to Lord Antony. “Is there anything I'm supposed to be doing right now?”
Actually yes,” he confirmed with a softly disappointed smile. “Lord Gregory and I would like to go over a few things with you after breakfast.”
Lead the way!” I exclaimed, gesturing for him to walk in front of me.
You are supposed to walk in front of me, my Queen,” he stated firmly.
And I will, once I have learned my way around,” I assured him, thinking that it was silly to be strict about something so minor. “But in the meantime, I need you to lead the way.”
Of course,” he murmured with a hint of disapproval, and then decided to solve the problem by offering his arm.
Nodding in understanding, I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm and let him guide me out of the room.
When we arrived at the beautiful glass room, I was interested to see that everyone was already eating and looked at me as if I had just caught them shoplifting. “Your Majesty!” They all exclaimed and practically leapt to their feet.
I frowned as it occurred to me that they had not done this for my father, so why did they do this for me? I turned to look at Lady Sophia. She smirked as if she could read my mind.
Do they have to stand when I enter the room?” I asked.
Technically yes, but I am sure that you can break them of the habit eventually,” Lady Sophia replied. She slipped one of her hands in mine and then rubbed me with the other.
I smiled at her. “Will you remind me if I forget anyone's name?”
Certainly, Majesty,” she responded, kissing me on the cheek.
Good morning, Lord Gregory, Lord Nathan, Lady Leeza, and Sir... uh, Barrett?” I fumbled, not confident that I had gotten it right.
Very good, Majesty!” Lady Sophia congratulated me, rewarding me with another kiss on the cheek.
Kaitlynn,” I reminded her, just in case she had forgotten.
Lord Antony helped me into my seat and I immediately noticed that the super gorgeous Lord Nathan was seated on my right. Lady Sophia took the seat on my left, and Lord Antony settled in the remaining chair. Maids hastily brought us food, but before I could even remember to thank them, I caught myself staring at Nathan. His green eyes studied me carefully, making me weak in the knees. Good thing I was already sitting!
Oh wow,” I muttered softly. “You're so good looking that I just want to marry you and have your babies!”
You what?!” He spluttered in astonishment.
Oh Gods!” I gushed with an embarrassed blush. “Did I say that out loud?!”
Lady Sophia giggled in delight. “Well now! Such a passionate young Queen. Of course you have an excellent eye, Majesty.”
Lord Nathan seemed at a loss for words for a moment. He looked around the table to see that everyone was watching him with interest. Looking down, he blushed, which made him absolutely adorable!
Well... I suppose that if you want, we can get married...” he replied, not able to look me in the eye.
I smiled wryly, also not able to look at him. “I guess that you can't really say no to me since I'm the Queen, huh? Please disregard my silliness, I wasn't asking you to do anything you don't want to.”
Lord Nathan sat back in his chair – since he had already finished eating – and stroked his chin as he thought this through. “Actually, it makes sense. There are only a few men that could marry you, and practically half of them are already in this room. I'm really the only one of a similar age, and I'm sure that someone would have insisted that we get married at some point or other.”
I felt inexplicably happy to hear him say that... and also strangely upset. It was baffling. He continued.
Actually getting engaged now is better than waiting for someone else to bring it up. It'll make the whole Kingdom happy!” He turned to face me completely and took my hand in his. “So lets do it! Let's get engaged and let my mother plan out a fabulous wedding celebration like this Kingdom hasn't seen since...” he faltered, unsure of when the last big wedding was.
Since I got married to your father,” Lady Sophia stated, purring happily.
I felt like melting into a puddle at his feet and eyed his hand on mine with a shy smile. But I shouldn't get carried away too soon. Dream or not, I feel like I am being swept away on a wild ride!
Alright,” I agreed softly. “We'll get engaged right now, but only on the condition that we don't set a date to get married for at least six months.”
Why?” He wondered curiously.
I shrugged. I don't think I could explain to him that I had another fiancé in the real world who would probably agree to marry me in exactly six months, and that I probably shouldn't be marrying anyone else before that. It didn't occur to me that there was a time difference between the worlds. I decided to avoid that entire conversation.
Well, we just met. Don't you think we should get to know each other a little better before we set an official date?” This sounded plausible, although I guess I didn't really believe it myself. I'd marry Andrew tomorrow if we could plan out a decent wedding for all of our family and friends fast enough.
I am so ready to be married!
Lord Nathan nodded in agreement. “Yes, that's probably for the best.”
Oh!” Lady Sophia squealed shrilly in the exact manner that my friends and I did whenever we found something adorable. “My baby's getting married!” She leapt to her feet to glom onto him and press a thousand kisses to his cheek.
I grinned at them, knowing exactly how she felt. I rather wanted to kiss him myself. Even better, I could totally picture my mother and I jumping for joy later today when I got my ring from Andrew.
For a moment, I wondered if it was true that I could stay here for months and even years and still go home to the exact moment I left. I frowned as I realized that I couldn't really prove it unless I stayed here for a while. Yesterday, I had been here for most of a day before going home, and it was certainly true then that I had arrived just after I'd left.
Lady Sophia hugged me tightly and pressed a kiss to my cheek before returning to her seat. I got the impression that she still hoped I'd visit her bed and discover just how good a lover she really was. The idea wasn't bad at all!
To get my mind off of her, I looked over at Lord Antony. “Excuse me? How long was I gone?”
Antony looked delighted that I was paying attention to him. “About five days,” he replied.
So that part was true then,” I murmured with a sigh. It would be rather hard to fulfill my 100 years if every time I went home for the night, five days passed before I returned here in the morning. Or would that be two and a half? It was hurting my head to think about!
Lord Gregory gestured for a maid to take away his empty plate, and then cleared his throat to gain my attention. “Your Majesty, we need to discuss your coronation. It should happen as soon as possible.”
Define as soon as possible,” I stated with a polite smile.
I think we could gather all the Royal Lords and Nobles here in the palace in three days. Messengers have already been sent out to inform everyone of the death of our beloved King Henry - ”
May he rest in peace,” everyone murmured as they looked down for a moment.
So,” Gregory continued after the respectful silence. “They're all expecting a summons. Three days should also be enough time for the palace chefs to prepare a fabulous feast...”
And the maids will be able to thoroughly clean the throne room and ballroom,” Lady Sophia added. “You know,” she winked at Lord Gregory. “You're not actually suited to party planning. Why don't you leave that to me?”
Lord Gregory nodded in agreement. “I'll send messengers out as soon as possible, and I'll also send word to the Temple of our beloved God so that a Priestess can be selected to perform the ceremony.”
Although I am sure that they are well ahead of us on that account,” Sir Barrett murmured, smiling at me. “Were His Majesty's last moments pain free?”
I noticed that everyone was interested in the answer to this. I gave them all a tiny smile. “As far as I could tell, yes. He hugged me and then simply disappeared.”
Everyone exchanged a confused look. Lady Leeza leaned forward to get a slightly better look at me. “So... his body is not resting in the Temple?”
Then how do you know he died?” Sir Barrett asked, frowning in concern.
Well, I was told by him that he was going to die, and that transparent man who calls himself your God said he had died,” I replied, trying to be sensitive to their feeling since I just realized that they were all in various stages of grief. “He seemed to explode into a burst of light that zoomed into me before I could even understand what was happening.”
Oh,” they all murmured, lowering their eyes so that they weren't looking at me.
Yes, it's rare, but that is a form of death,” Lady Leeza stated. She looked up at me and then turned her attention to Lady Sophia. “I wonder why he chose to do that?”
Lady Sophia simply shrugged. It was Sir Barrett that attempted to answer her. “It was well known that he was suffering from an incurable disease. I'm sure he simply wanted his last act as King to be one that would best serve our Kingdom.”
Yes, that's pretty much what he said,” I murmured, feeling a bit bad that I wasn't more sad about his death. Even though he claimed to be my father, I really didn't know him well enough to miss him.
The conversation moved on to other matters that I needed to think about and make a decision on as the Queen. The most important was necessary repairs on a bridge that had been flooded recently. I knew nothing about the Kingdom yet, so I found this strange that they were asking me about it.
If it's important, then why not just do it?” I asked.
Because,” Lord Gregory explained a little too patiently. “Only you can authorize the spending of funds from the Royal Treasury.”
I was torn because as much as I didn't want to have to deal with such mundane details, I could see why it was important for me to authorize it. This way, the money meant to maintain Rolandia could not be frittered away behind my back. I sighed and wondered if I was going to have to approve every little thing that happened in the Kingdom.
As I gather, King Henry trusted you implicitly. Would he make you obtain authorization from him first?” I asked, wondering how the man who actually knew how to rule had handled things.
Yes,” both Lord Gregory and Lord Antony stated firmly.
Lord Antony continued. “In any matter that concerned money, King Henry always made sure to deal with the issue personally.”
Why?” I wondered curiously. “Surely if a budget was made, any expected expense could be handled by the official in charge.”
A strange look traveled around the table. “Well...” Lord Gregory began hesitantly. “In times of war, the budget could get overextended pretty easily, so the King always liked to make sure that he knew exactly how much was in the Royal Treasury at all times.”
In that moment, I just knew that I would have to go over the entire budget for the Kingdom and familiarize myself with it. Lucky for me, handling money and household accounts was actually part of my schooling. I harrumphed softly.
Let me guess, I also have to approve the budget and expenditures for the upcoming coronation,” I stated more than asked.
Of course,” Lord Gregory replied, his tone that of someone whose patience was getting thin.
Of course,” I muttered, ever so slightly mocking him.
Guessing by the fact that I was no longer eating that I was finished, Lord Antony got to his feet and bowed to me. “If you will follow me, Your Majesty, we can go to your office and take care of all this paperwork right away.”
I got to my feet and took him by the arm. He led the way with Lord Gregory following behind us. Lord Gregory towered over me, the same as Lord Antony – who was also fairly tall, but not as tall as Lord Gregory. I felt almost intimidated by them, and wondered if I should make it a point to wear platform shoes from now on.
Talk about tedious!!! By the time I could escape my office, I wanted nothing more than to take a nap! Dinner also seemed to drag out forever, but finally, I was free. I felt a headache coming on and decided to ask a maid for tea. I sunk into a chair in my spacious bedroom, and stared at the mirror as if mesmerized.
Escaping back to the real world was extremely tempting at the moment, but after going through the budget for the coronation, I couldn't risk going home and not returning in time for the ceremony. The maid arrived with my tea, banishing all thoughts of escape for the moment. With her was a handsome and welcome sight.
Sir Barrett!” I exclaimed in delight.
I hope I am not intruding,” he murmured politely. “But I thought that now might be a good time to explain some things to you.”
By all means,” I said, sweeping a hand towards a chair to invite him to sit.
In the palace, it's not quite as necessary, but from this moment on, you need to be aware that I am supposed to go with you everywhere you go. Even if you leave the palace to go to the Temple, I am required to be at your side. Since it is my job, I will likely stay with you most of the time in the palace too,” he explained.
Oh... right,” I murmured in understanding. “You're my personal bodyguard.” A mischievous imp settled on my shoulder just then, making me smirk. I stood up and settled myself on his lap. “Will you be sleeping with me as well?”
Uh...” he uttered, stunned by my directness. “Well, if you want me to...”
I kissed him softly. “You're far too handsome for your own good.”
I mean seriously, my mind had surrounded me with drool worthy men! This dream was jam-packed with eye candy! It was enough to make me swoon...
Your Majesty?” Sir Barrett questioned with a husky smirk.
A knock interrupted us before I could say anything. Sir Barrett groaned softly in disappointment before setting me on my feet. I promptly sat back in the seat where my tea was waiting for me.
Allow me to get that for you,” Sir Barrett offered, although I got the impression that he wouldn't have let me do it myself anyway. A moment later, he opened the door to reveal Lord Nathan.
Sorry to bother you...” he began hesitantly. It appeared to me that he was both accepting of the fact that Sir Barrett was already guarding over me, and embarrassed that he had to say whatever he came to say in front of an audience. Coming to a decision, he nodded his head just once. “May I talk with you in private?”
Of course,” I granted permission. After all, this man was my fiancé – one of two, oh boy! – So as I saw it, he had the right to talk to me in private all he wanted.
Sir Barrett bowed to me before leaving the room. Lord Nathan exhaled in relief and then smiled at me. He pulled a chair right in front of me, sat in it, and then took my hands in his.
As your official fiancé, I was wondering what you thought about, uh... sharing a bed at night,” he said with a blush. “Ever since the time of my mother as Queen, it has been acceptable for engaged couples to live together prior to marriage, so...”
I grinned at him. My look probably left no doubt that I couldn't wait to get him into my bed! “Actually, I think it's a great idea! What better way to get to know each other?”
You do?” He asked in surprise.
I tilted my head at him suspiciously. “Don't tell me that you've never had a lover before.” My tone probably sounded just a little astonished by this concept.
Well,” he grumbled with another blush. “Yes, but only rarely.” His hands trembled, making me wonder if he had just lied to me. Slowly, he leaned forward until he could kiss me.
Mmm,” I moaned, simply dying to find out what he would be like in bed. He broke off the kiss just as I was really getting into it, and then pulled away from me.
I need to get something from my room,” he blurted out, and then rushed out of the room.
I do too,” I murmured absently as Sir Barrett poked his head back into the room.
Something wrong?” He asked in concern.
No,” I assured him. “I'm just exhausted and plan to go to bed soon.”
He was smart enough to understand that I wasn't inviting him to join me just yet. “I see,” he murmured with a smile even though he was disappointed. “Then good night, Your Majesty. May you have pleasant dreams.”
I kissed him before returning his well wishes, and then watched him leave. The moment he was gone, I rushed to the mirror and kissed it. My bedroom was still empty, so I knew that no time had passed. Even so, I had to hurry before my mother came looking for me. Digging in my bedside drawer, I quickly found my diaphragm and a box of condoms. A moment later, I kissed the mirror again.
I tossed the paraphernalia onto my bed and then slumped onto it with a sigh. “As long as I was grabbing things, I should have packed a small bag with underwear and whatnot. Guess my head wasn't in the right place!”
As I waited for Lord Nathan to return, I nearly fell asleep. I even wobbled woozily until I lay down. That sizzling in my blood seemed to get hotter and hotter until I wished I would just pass out and be oblivious to it for a while.
Finally, a soft knock on the door announced the return of my fiancé. He let himself into my room before I even had a chance to say anything, which was a good thing, since I was half asleep. I opened one eye to watch him walk over to the bed.
Damn! He looked glorious!
I sat up to get a better look at him and noticed he was carrying a dog. “Aww, you brought me a puppy!”
He smiled and shook his head. “No, this is actually a stuffed animal made for me by my mother when I was young. I've always considered it to be extremely good luck, so I thought that if I am going to be sleeping in your bed from now on, I should bring him with.”
I took the dog from him reverently, touched that he had something so intimate to share with me. The dog was extraordinarily soft, and obviously well loved. I ruffled its long floppy ears as if it was a real dog, and then kissed it.
Does he have a name?” I asked, noticing that he looked very happy that I was playing with his dog like this.
Wolf,” Nathan stated with a shrug. He then looked at the items I'd tossed on my bed. “What're those?”
I smiled at him, waving one of the dog's paws at him playfully. “Well, considering the big differences between this world and my world, I didn't think you guys had any sort of protection. I mean that we are probably not quite ready for babies yet, so I popped home real quick and got my diaphragm and some condoms. I'll explain how they work and you can decide which one you'd rather use.”
He listened in fascination as I explained the merits of each form of birth control, and then examined the box of condoms closely. “That's brilliant!” He exclaimed. “We don't have anything like that here.”
I chuckled softly.
He looked at me again. “Which would you prefer?”
I like the diaphragm because once it's inside me, I can't feel it, and I am not really a big fan of condoms. I only have them so that I won't get any diseases if I – ” I opted not to tell him that I often went out to hook-up with strangers.
Diseases?” Nathan asked with a frown.
Yes,” I confirmed. “In my world, there are a few diseases that are passed on during sex, but most of the time, they can be prevented by using condoms.”
So the fact that you have these condoms means that you don't have any of these diseases?” Nathan asked, sounding both curious and upset by the prospect of me getting into such a situation.
Well,” I answered with a soft laugh. “Actually, me using protection and getting tested regularly means that I don't have any of those diseases.”
Good,” he stated with a nod of satisfaction. “We don't have any of those diseases here – that I know of – and so I do not have them either.” He tossed the box of condoms onto my bed. “Do you need help with that thing?”
Nope, I've got it,” I told him as I pulled my diaphragm out of its box and reached under my skirt to insert it in me. “Now that we've got the responsible stuff out the way, it's time to focus on the sexy stuff.” I held my hand out to him.
He took my hand and then squeaked in surprise when I tugged him into bed with me. He landed half on top of me and simply stared at me as if wondering what to do. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him, slipping my tongue in his mouth.
Tugging his clothes off, I wiggled my hips to encourage him to explore under my dress. His hands would stroke me slowly, and then stop as if he was afraid that I was going to tell him no. The moment I stripped him naked, I realized that he was literally trembling. I broke off our thoroughly deep kiss and stared at him in astonishment.
He noticed my look and blushed. “I was hoping that you wouldn't notice...” he mumbled, looking away. “I haven't actually done this before and I'm so nervous!”
Then why did you tell me you had?” I wondered in confusion.
Well, you made it sound like you had lots of experience at this, and I didn't want to sound like an idiot,” he explained, clearly embarrassed.
Oh...” I murmured in understanding. “Then you probably feel like I'm rushing you. I'm sorry! It's just that I am actually really tired, so I sort of am rushing this, and I shouldn't be.”
No, I don't feel rushed,” Nathan replied sincerely. “I just can't believe this is really happening!” True to his words, he had stopped trembling and smiled at me. Much more confidently now, he slid his hands under my dress and helped me take it off.
Knowing that this was his first time, I felt a bit awkward. I didn't know whether to lay back and let him do anything he wanted to me, or take charge and show him how it's done. He solved my dilemma by getting in position between my legs rather quickly.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him to me tightly as he slowly entered me. He started out somewhat timidly, but soon gained confidence and speed. I sighed blissfully with every thrust, feeling something indescribable that I had never felt before. The sizzling in my blood temporarily calmed down. By the time he finished, I was impressed. For a first time, he lasted a good 15 minutes.
I thought back to my super awkward first time with Ian. It had been his first too, and neither of us were sure of what we were doing. I am certain that it was over in less than five minutes, but we had tried again later on and did much better when we weren't so nervous.
A smile stretched my lips as Nathan settled himself on top of me. I held him close, feeling happier than I could remember feeling in a long time. Which was really saying something because I was a happy person in general, but this... this felt special somehow.
We drifted off to sleep snuggled up together, his stuffed dog watching us from the corner of the bed where we had tossed him earlier.

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