Mine Now

[Lovely]

Jan 21, 2010
late evening
Devhano Palace


Ariane had traveled for nearly a week by carriage with her escorts surrounding it and a handful of her ladies accompanying her. There were two wagons following her carriage piled with trunks, her belongings, those of her ladies, and gifts for her betrothed's family. Her dowery was hefty and her betrothed would also inherit her kingdom once her father passed away. Her only remaining brother had recently been killed in a terrible hunting accident which is why the date of her own departure and wedding had been moved up by a few months. Josef had not minded, his last letter to her telling her how eager he was for her arrival. She'd arrived in Devhano full of hope and joy for her future and her marriage to dear, sweet Josef. She was crushed to find out on her arrival that Josef had passed away and now her fate was left in the air. She had not unpacked a single thing and sat in the room she'd been brought to, surrounded by her ladies as she cried for the loss of her sweetheart.

It was dark news that met her arrival and a darker man who had taken the place of her betrothed to welcome her into the court. The guards that had stood with him at the gates when she arrived now stood beside her door in full armor as black as moonless night. It was not out of mourning for their lost prince, but a presentation of Devhano's valor and elegance that the finest guards attended her and met the younger prince Deacon with crossed pikes over her door. He grinned and reached to push the metal aside to gain entry. "The king permits I see her and bring her at once. Unless you fancy sporting your own heads on your weapons, I suggest you move now," he said softly, admiring the craftsmanship and giving the men a level stare that held the threat close to the surface. There was really no need for harsh words or threats, but he enjoyed them, amusing himself as the men stepped aside to clear her door. He knocked twice then pushed the door open. Deacon did not smile warmly to welcome her, but instead appeared impatient with her tearful display. "So unbecoming of a future queen. They told me you were a strong woman. You would disgrace his highness' court with sour tears? Come. Dry her off and make her presentable," he said to the closest of her ladies in waiting, pulling a dark blue cloth from his vest for her to tend the princess.

Ariane was at first hurt by the harsh words of the prince who entered her chambers and ordered her ladies to make her presentable as if there was something awful about her shedding tears for the loss of her betrothed. The anger sharpened her gaze and pulled her up from the chaise as she faced the prince, her mouth in a pout but her eyes glaring defiantly at him. "It is no disgrace to shed tears in private. It is not as if I planned to make a display of myself sobbing in the middle of the court yard or wailing through the night." She snatched the cloth from his hand herself and dabbed at her eyes with it. "Thank you."

"Very glad to hear it. Your presence before his Highness is requested now, however, and it is not my experience that genuine tears can be shut off on a wish. He was my brother and I share some level of your loss," he admitted, though the coldness of his expression did not relay that his loss was felt more heavily than the weight of her tears on his kerchief. It appeared almost as though he beamed with a sordid pleasure at the man's demise as he watched the girl.

[Lovely]

"Just because you won't see them, doesn't mean they've stopped. I shall cry only on the inside beyond the door of this room." She handed the cloth to one of her ladies and motioned to the basin of cool water so she might reduce the evidence of the tears she'd already shed. "My condolences for your loss as well." Ariane gave a slight respectful curtsey and smoothed at her dress and hair, before accepting the cloth back with it's damp corner. Her eyes raked over the man who stood before her, his stance and expression were noted, he didn't seem as if his brother's death bothered him at all. "Shall we?" She motioned toward the door and gently folded the cloth before holding it out to him. "Thank you for your consideration."

"Noted, and thank you," he replied with a nod, taking back the kerchief he held in his hand for now as he did grin a little, offering some slight warmth though his eyes still seem chiseled in ice. "Since none is what you expected of your arrival, let it at least be not what you fear. Devhano wishes to welcome you openly and eagerly, not frighten you."

Her eyebrow arched ever so slightly as an even more slight smile touched her lips, though both disappeared nearly instantly. "Then Devhano shall not be disappointed as I am not frightened nor have I been since my arrival. I certainly hope that my behavior did not give the impression that I was anything but saddened at the news I recieved."

"We're a kingdom at war, your grace. He'll be delighted to know that, as am I, since most of the kingdom is frightened with good reason. My impression is simply that you can be driven to tears. What I do with that information...," he paused and offered a slightly wider grin that softened him more and finally brought out an inner warmth. "Is not of any consequence. Do you like it here, Ariane? What of the palace and grounds you've seen so far?"

"I am a future queen, I have to be strong.. even in the face of war and things that would frighten others in lesser positions." Her chin tilted up slightly, showing that she was not one of those who had the freedom to show such fear. You only know I can be driven to tears because you burst into my chambers without waiting to be invited." She pointed out, though her tone was not harsh, his smile was quite a nice change from the cold expression she'd seen thus far. "Were you not a Devhano prince you wouldn't have survived long enough to do anything with that information." Her hand lifted and she took his elbow as she walked beside him, her smile playing on her lips long enough to be noticed if he was watching her. "My room is adequate, thank you. I haven't seen anything else to tell you whether I like it here. The tapestries in the hall are lovely." She commented, having been rushed in, told the news, and then shut away in her room so quickly it had made her dizzy. She'd not had a moment to admire anything inside or outside the palace.

He'd forgotten how perceptions differed amongst those who were not borne as he was. "My apologies. The tapestries are lovely, but there is much more to see," he chuckled, turning to take her down the corridor with her guards in tow. He stopped and turned to them both. "You are dismissed," he said sharply but quietly to them both, sending them on their way. He waited until they'd passed and left them alone before starting off again. "As a guest, I do not believe you have need of being under supervision, not considering the arrangements my father has been making."

"I am used to it, at home I am under constant guard, usually four of them wherever I go. Two outside my door at all times." She shrugged, smiling and taking a deep breath after he dismissed the men, a moment of freedom. What was the cost for that moment, she wondered. "I didn't consider myself under supervision here but rather being well protected." She didn't ask about the arrangements or if his father had decided what her fate would be, though she was very curious and eager for the news. She did not want to appear weak or frightened and so kept the conversation turned away from such things. "I was very eager to see Devhano, perhaps in happier times I will get the chance to experience it's beauty."

[Lovely]

"Happier times for you or for the kingdom?" He toyed with her words but didn't try to be mean. "You will get to experience a great many things that my home has to offer during your stay. That I do promise you. Do you hunt?"

"Both, I am sure your kingdom is also saddened by the loss of Josef. War weighs heavy on the people of your kingdom and then to lose a beloved prince.. the ache is surely great for all." She spoke quietly and respectfully of his brother, she'd had geniune feelings for her betrothed and would mourn him even if she could only do so in private. "It is generous of you to make such a promise and I look forward to knowing more of Devhano. I have not hunted in years, but I enjoyed it when it was allowed."

"It is very much allowed here. It is expected. Perhaps since you've not been in some time, I can take you separate from the group to sharpen your skills?" He was curious to see her skill, but he wondered if she knew the type of hunt they enjoyed here. He wondered also how much she had been told by Josef overall about their life here and what would be expected of her. His tongue poised in a word at his lip that stayed unvoiced and he shook his head. It was not time to speak of it, yet. The turn in the corridor took them to the brighter-lit hall that led to the great room and the awaiting king. "Devhano mourns, your grace, but soon it will forget. It always does," he sighed and waited a moment to ensure she felt ready to face his father.

"If it is decided that I should remain here in Devhano, I would be honored for your company and expertise to help sharpen my skills." She didn't recall Josef mentioning his brother being this friendly or warm, rather the opposite. Perhaps Deacon had been ordered to show her this kindness in order to butter her up for what his father would ask of her. "People often seek things that bring them hope and would rather focus on the small sparks of happiness in dark times. Perhaps your people will find something to celebrate to help ease thier ache." She offered her wish for the people of Devhano and gave a slight nod to him that she was ready to proceed and see the king.

"That I can promise you as well," he said again, this time smiling with a bit of sharpness of knowledge he held to himself. "Celebrations are never far off and I'm sure today is no exception."

Her expression didn't change but her head turned just a hair so that she could better see his expression, he was either up to something or knew something.. perhaps both. She had no way to know what it was for sure but started to suspect that he knew what his father had decided and that she would not be returning home. "I shall trust your judgement on that." She smiled softly and held herself up a little taller and straighter to enter the chamber with him.

Indeed he knew a great deal more than what she'd been told. The meeting with his father was to wed her to Deacon in place of his late brother, keeping the dowry in the palace and the kingdom within reach. More, it was another thorn meant to be driven into his older brother Rhain's side, denying him further any promise of coronation perhaps for another century if Devhano felt fit enough to hold onto his meager and faltering existence out of spite. Ariane's kingdom was simply human, but wealthy with its forces and ample resources that Devhano could scarcely ignore or do without, and had now garnered by the decree of this marriage. Her kingdom was now at Devhano's mercy and awaiting the end of the reign of its short-lived mortal king. Deacon had little to say as the guard ushered them from the grand hall and followed them to the wedding chamber that had been filled with exotic flowers from the sunny Southlands and a tremendous array of foods designed to delight all of her senses. It appeared they lacked nothing and could be within this room for well on a week without anything more than a chambermaid refreshing their pots. He looked ahead, never at her until they were in the room and the door closed with guards outside.

[Lovely]

She was not completely surprised by what the Devhano King asked her to do, what he'd decided was the best course of action, or that he expected it to be done immediately. She'd agreed without protest to all of it, honoring her own kingdom and her father in accepting the marriage to Deacon in place of Josef. Her father wanted the alliance with Devhano and would want her to put aside her own sorrow to do what was best for all. The ring around her finger felt heavy as she walked beside Deacon after the quick ceremony, he did not even look at her. The guards left them in the wedding chamber which had been wonderfully prepared for them, Ariane would have appreciated it more if her groom had any feelings for her. At least with Josef, he'd courted her a few months and there was a fondness between them, Deacon was hardly more than a stranger to her as she was to him.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, beginning to shake as if he seemed to hold back a sob. Within a moment, the sound was echoing through the room. He was laughing, his head shaking as he turned to her finally. "If I'd have told you... it couldn't be risked. Now... our kingdoms are joined. Well... almost," he said, suggestively glancing toward the elegantly canopied bed. He stepped aside to pull an apple from the table and a knife to cut it with.

The sudden outburst of laughter left Ariane staring at him in surprise, her eyes slightly widened at how amused he seemed to be. She didn't understand why he was laughing like this but understood why he didn't tell her before they'd gone to see his father. "Of course you couldn't..." Her voice trailed off as he made a not so subtle hint of what the rest of her night would involve. Her gaze was drawn to the bed and it's crisp white linens beneath the heavier cover which was embroidered with the Devhano crest. Future queen she might be but she was also a young woman who'd just been wed, she had a moment of fear and anxiety about sharing that bed with Deacon. Her tongue dabbed at her lips and she swallowed back the lump in her throat, would she have been less nervous with Josef? Perhaps only a little as she'd known him more than she knew the man she was now married to. She laughed softly, surprised by the sound as it floated from her. "You knew when you came to fetch me. The questions you asked, promises you made.. it all makes such sense now.." She glanced at the trays and platters and then to him with his apple. "It seems as though they expect us to stay in here for some time."

Deacon carved out a slice of the fruit and held it out for her bite from his fingers. "I'm in no hurry to leave, are you? A fire to warm you, food and drink... the pleasure of my company which you'd already stated you didn't entirely mind, hm?"

She shook her head a little, she was in no hurry to leave but naturally nervous, as any bride would be on her wedding night, about being here with him. "I am in no hurry.." She replied softly, biting at her lower lip gently before stealing herself to come closer to him and offering him a small smile. There was so much she didn't know about Deacon and so little that she did, her mind whirled with questions from simply silly things to deeper ones about his character. She took the bite he offered, watching him as much as she could as her teeth caught the slice of fruit.

"A rare treat here. They don't grow here at all," he explained, letting her savor the sweet, crisp slice he gave her. He offered a second, slicing deeper this time and striking his thumb underneath. He didn't jump but instead looked at the cut curiously. "That's unfortunate. A cut," he said, showing her the red beads as he set the stained fruit aside. "Now I've gone and ruined it," he sighed, pulling the cut to his lip to clean off as if it stung him.

[Lovely]

Ariane was about to thank him for sharing the special treat with her but the cut pulled her attention in a different direction and she stepped closer to him. She pulled a cloth napkin from the table and reached for his hand, with a gentle smile and an offer to tend his cut. "It's not ruined.. well.. perhaps a little but it's not important. Are you alright?"

"Quite alright," he grinned, letting her tend the wound though in moments it would appear as only a faint line. "You're not put off by the sight of blood. Interesting," he pointed out.

She pressed the cloth around his finger and held it firmly to stop the bleeding, she imagined the knife must be quite sharp. "It's only blood.. it's part of us.. why is it interesting that I don't faint at the sight of it?" She smiled up at him, now standing quite close to him as she tenderly took care of his wound. She knew it wasn't common for a lady to be so calm at the sight of it, often a lady would act quite dramatic about such things and they could afford to, but she couldn't. Ariane would one day be queen and her husband's kingdom was at war, she'd accepted that when she'd agreed to wed Josef, just because Deacon had taken his place did not change the state of thier kingdoms.

"Only the blood of a prince," he pointed out, still grinning and clearly amused. "You may take the cloth away. It's fine, thank you. I find it more interesting that you seemed drawn towards it, not entirely by a nurse's eye. That's more valuable to know than you realize."

"Ahh yes a prince's blood.. can't leave out that detail, though more important than that.. the blood of my husband. Far more important than anyone else." She countered softly, carefully removing the cloth and dropping it down next to the apple and the knife. ".. what shall you do with that information?" She asked him with a bit of teasing in her smile as she used something of what he'd said to her earlier when she'd replied to one of his questions. Her fingers still gently grasped his hand and she reached with the other hand to run on finger over his cheekbone.

She would find his skin and his hand cool to the touch though resilient and soft. His hands bore no callouses despite years of training with blades, horses and tools, nor were there any scars to speak of. She drew her finger along the apple of his cheek as he smiled with a genuine warmth. She'd been listening and that alone was a small joy. "I intend to use it every hour of every day as if it were the very air you breathe," he muttered cryptically, much as he had before the ceremony, his eyes again shining with a knowledge he withheld.

He was cool and his skin so soft and smooth, she couldn't help exploring more with delicate caresses over his jaw and down his neck. "Well.. if it makes you smile like this, I can't protest.. as I find that I like your smile very much." It was a genuine compliment from a women who was growing more curious about him and more bold in attempting to get to know him.

[Lovely]

"Perhaps you're not looking close enough," he cautioned, challenging her to explore further. Had Josef told her about them? What did she know about him other than the palor and coolness of his skin? She certainly seemed astonished by his manner, leading him to wonder what had been told to her. He searched deeper. "He lied to you," he chuckled quietly, not certain what he would uncover, but he was certain what Josef had told her was not entirely correct, not if it was about him.

"Should I not enjoy seeing my husband smile?" She asked, her caress of his skin coming to a stop though she did not pull her hand away, letting it rest against his cool neck. Her gaze moved up from his neck to search his eyes, not knowing what 'he' Deacon meant for a moment. She realized quickly that he was speaking of Josef and she wondered what he thought or knew of what his brother had told her. "Did he? How disappointing.. I would have hoped that as my betrothed.. my future husband, king, and the one I would spend all of my life with.. that he would only be honest with me."

"You should. I'm glad you do. Despite anything you might have heard, there are many things I find pleasing... enjoyable," he said, pressing his hand over hers on his neck. She would feel nothing coursing beneath the touch that indicated his heart was warm or beat at all. "I don't enjoy my brother's delusions and misconceptions, however if it means you are delighted to find out the truth, then I'm sure I should thank him. I'll be sure to visit his bones before long and do that. Until then, I'm not planning on going out that door. Hopefully, you are of similar intention, hm?"

Delusions and misconceptions? Ariane wondered again what he thought Josef had told her.. and why Deacon believed that he was so wrong about things. Josef warned her about both his brothers and when it came to Deacon, had told her to avoid him as much as possible and only speak with him if she absolutely had to. Josef had known that one day she would join him here at Devhano and had tried to prepare her somewhat for that time. It seemed as though his warnings were in vain, she was now married to Deacon, avoiding him would not be possible and as her husband she was supposed to trust him. Her tongue wet her lips as she nodded lightly to Deacon's words, torn between her loyalty to Josef and what she was supposed to have toward him, now that they were wed. "What Josef told me.. whether truth or misguided belief is not what I wish to base my opinion of you on. The things he spoke and wrote to me of, were the workings of his heart and mind.. things that as his wife I would have supported and followed.. but as fate has played it I am not his wife. I am your wife and as such.. my loyalty shall be to you. We do not know each other nor have we confided in each other as Josef and I had... but I do hope that we may come to do so." She bit gently at her lower lip hoping he would understand her meaning and how difficult all of this was for her, despite how well she seemed to handle herself within the situation. To expect to be one man's wife and then find yourself married to his brother, whom he did not trust, was rather unsettling to say the least.

Deacon nodded, pulling her hand to his kiss and let go. "I shall enjoy teaching you, watching you learn as you need, not merely as you're told. That's refreshing," he said, stepping back to take the apple into his hand again to eat himself, heedless of the marks his thumb left on it since she seemed not to find it unsettling. "Dine first. I should think you're going to need your strength tonight."

He seemed to be far more kind and understanding, at least with her, than Josef had made him out to be. Ariane smiled softly as he kissed her hand and then let go to move away, he picked up the apple and didn't seem to mind the smears of his blood on it. "Were you and Josef close?" She asked quietly as she slowly circled the trays to find what different delights each had on it. She had not gotten the impression that Deacon and Josef were close at all and perhaps that is why Josef only saw him as cold, harsh, and distant. It was possible that Deacon saw things differently between them and she was curious to find out, though honestly a bit wary. Maybe that was why she found herself watching him and only nibbling at the delicious food she found on the trays.

[Lovely]

"Only as close as a rapier's point except for ceremonious occassions requiring we stand shoulder to shoulder... then, only as close as a dagger's point," he chuckled, wavering the knife he again held as if he'd slice his brother's ghost as easily as the apple. He only took a small piece, the one tainted pink, and nibbled on it, setting the blade aside again and following her around the table to see what struck her fancy most. "If you eat like a bird, you will only be able to celebrate like a bird, sleeping the night through with your wing above your head. Eat... please," he encouraged, smilingly and warm.

Ariane's eyes followed him from the motions of his knife to him coming around to follow her as she moved from tray to tray. The way he answered made her believe that perhaps Josef had been correct in how he felt about Deacon.. but should she also feel that way? Deacon had not been hostile toward her nor did he seem to harbor any ill will toward her, if anything he seemed more concerned that she was able to enjoy herself and was at ease in his company. The strange thing was that she felt just that way other than a few cautions that lingered. She turned to face Deacon, smiling softly again as she spoke. "Mmm and if I stuff myself I will not enjoy any celebrations, you'll simply have to roll me into a corner until the swelling goes down." She chuckled and gestured to the trays. "I'm having a nibble of each temptation before deciding which I'd like to indulge in most." There was a slight sparkle in her eyes as she let a piece drop from her fingers and darted in to steal a nibbling kiss from his lips, though of course he was fast enough to stop her if he chose to.

"Not all the temptation in this room lies on the table, apparently," he whispered, amused by her boldness and not allowing her to move far. Embracing her, he now insisted on more of a kiss to whet her appetite further, ensuring he was gentle with her. She might sense how he contained himself still from springing forth.

He'd find her willing to accept and return the kiss he insisted on, her own arms sliding around his shoulders to embrace him as well. With his sharp senses he'd likely know exactly how the kiss excited her, the subtle twitches and tightening of muscles, the changes in her scent, and the slightly more rapid beat of her heart that she would not even know of herself. She did know his kiss was nothing like Josef's and felt a small stab to her heart for prefering Deacon's kiss as if somehow she betrayed his brother's memory. Ariane pulled back from the kiss, only far enough to stare into Deacon's eyes, her own filled with wonder and delight. "I think this tastes much better than what's on the table." She admitted with a slight blush warming her cheeks.

"Then by all means, you should indulge," he agreed, sensing how she faltered yet enjoyed the moments so far. "Yet you dart away. I don't believe it's fear," he whispered, watching her now but not finding the scent of fear on her as much as something that appeared to confuse her.

Was she so obvious and easy to read or was he merely that good at sensing and reading people? She found herself opening up to Deacon more quickly and easily than she had Josef, she wondered at that - especially after being warned against him. Her eyes searched Deacon's and she slowly shook her head. "It's not fear.. I don't mean to dart away from you.. I don't want to.."

[Lovely]

"It's because of him, isn't it?" The light in his eyes crystallized and shone sharply as his smile faded. He released her and stepped back, turning to the window with his hand to his mouth as if containing a scream of displeasure or merely holding in words he chose not to speak. Had Josef begun her transformation, he wondered, standing before the window, silhouetted in shadows, lacing his fingers now behind his back. "I believe you," he said over his shoulder.

Her eyes widened as she watched his and saw his smile fade, she reached for him and he'd likely hear her small gasp of despair as he turned from her. "Deacon.. please... you misunderstand.. I.. " She didn't want to speak to his back and took in a deep breath as she stepped up behind him, her hands coming to rest on his arms, gripping lightly as her voice pleaded with him. "Please don't turn away."

"If I ask you something, you will answer me honestly?" If Josef had told her about them, he might have told her not to speak of it. He relaxed slightly in her touch. It wasn't her that he turned his back to, but his brother's influence on her.

He didn't turn but at least he didn't shut her out, she sighed quietly and rested her cheek against his back, her hands moving to rest more like an embrace over his arms. "I will answer you honestly." She promised him, her eyes closed against a shimmer of tears. It pained her to think she had offended or hurt him in any way.

"Did Josef...," he paused in his question as she rested against him. He sensed from her a level of anguish. Deacon turned around to face her. "Ariane, did he ever once take your blood or give you his?"

She blinked so that she could see him without the blur of the tears and reached for his hands. "No." She replied to his question softly, shaking her head a bit with the answer as she tried to search his eyes to find out why this was so important to him. "He did speak of doing it.. after I came here to stay. He said it was a custom and that he would explain more of it once I was here and could see more of the ways of his people."

Deacon chuckled. "He said that? His people... have more than a mere custom. You'd better eat first and then I will show you several of our customs. Who knows how long.. or short... it might be before your dear father decides to pass down his throne, hm?"

Once again her head shook a little and this time her mouth was set in a gentle pout, her eyes blinking away fresh tears as he mentioned her father passing down his throne. She looked away to compose herself, taking in another deep breath and squaring her shoulders. "I don't feel like eating right now. The food will be there, I can eat later if I feel the need."

"I suppose it will be." It was her turn to draw inward, although her emotions were closer to the surface than his own, welling into her eyes. "I say it is only because it is more than a custom, but a necessity. The hunt is vital, not merely a game. Feeding is essential for strength at all times." His brow knotted slightly as he reached to dab the tears at the corner of her eyes without the cloth this time. "How old did Josef tell you he was?"

"I don't understand.. the way you speak of the hunt and feeding.. Josef never spoke of things like that." Ariane closed her eyes and let her face tilt ever so slightly into the brush of his fingers as he wiped her tears, the pout curled into a very slight smile at his gesture. "He told me he was twenty seven.. why?"

[Lovely]

Deacon grinned again, the ice melting away in his expression as he leaned to kiss her softly. "I told you he lied. He only appeared young, far younger than his true age. Same as myself... and our brother heir, Rhain."

The kiss was soft and his demeanor was nothing like Josef had often described him and the way she felt when his lips brushed hers, made her glad he was the one she'd been married to. Ari reached to hold onto Deacon, to keep him close to her and went as far as to try to lean against his chest, her eyes closing again as she said a silent apology to Josef's memory for feeling the way she did. "You're smiling again." Her own smile grew a little brighter with her soft spoken comment. "How old are you?"

"I sense regret in you. You're not disappointed that he was older, are you?" He smiled a little more, seeming to play with the information he needed to tell her. He whispered at her shoulder, "Likely to have known your father when he was a boy, perhaps a little older."

"You can sense my regret..?" She slipped her arms around his waist, trying to find the words to explain while her mind reeled at how old he claimed to be. "It has nothing to do with his age or yours.. though I will have questions in regard to that.." She bit at her lip and snuggled herself more against him. "I came here to wed Josef, I can't say that I was deeply in love with him.. but I did care for him. We'd become close during our courtship.. enough to make my heart heavy for his loss.. for me to shed tears over it... now I find myself wed to you and.. I feel as if I disrespect him by... " She faltered, not wanting him to misunderstand what she meant. ".. by prefering you. At the same time I feel as if I am doing the same to you by worrying over such things and that upsets me."

"Never lose hold of that feeling," he muttered. He did understand the feeling of her loss even though it was not shared. "One day you might lose sight of it in your position, but remember this day and embrace what you feel. You do not disrespect him by remembering or by changing your course. You honor him."

She nodded, her head still against his shoulder at that moment, though it lifted in the next so she could look into his eyes. Her hand rose to brush his cheek and then rest tenderly against it as her gaze searched his. "And you? I do not wish to offend you with the memory of him.."

"You won't. He's a memory," he smirked, truly appearing glad now if it had been disguised before. He took a deep breath, the sound hollow and thin. "You will only offend me if you choose to follow him too soon. I intend to do everything in my power to keep you beside me now."

"If I were to follow him.. it would not be by my own choice. I have no desire to end my life or act recklessly to endanger it. I chose to accept your father's offer to marry you in place of Josef.. and with you is where I wish to be. What took months to develop between your brother and I, has been doubled in an hour with you."

Again Deacon nodded, deeply pleased by what she revealed. "Unexpected but welcomed, thank you. Expect it to double again," he promised with a tilt in his grin that showed a bit more of the sharpness he kept so well hidden.

[Lovely]

"Quite unexpected for me as well.." She let her fingers trace over his cheek and jaw, her thumb brushing his lower lip as she admired his grin. Josef had told her he was dangerous and yet she was drawn to him like she had never been with his brother. She thought of what Deacon had said about moving on and instead of letting herself feel any guilt for what was brewing between herself and Deacon, she leaned to kiss him again.

The slight rusty taste would be light at first. He'd only cut his tongue enough for a drop, but a drop was a start enough hidden within the passion which sweetened the kiss he delivered in return. He would claim her slowly, explain the details away as they occurred and let her ask her questions. This beautiful creature would always remain so and she belonged now to him and him only, not her father or her kingdom. Deacon spun her slowly away from the treats upon the table, intending to reach their canopied cushions.

Ariane happily tangled around him as he returned the kiss with a passion that seemed to flow through her and wake her entire being. Something was different in the taste of this kiss and it had her reaching for more, she knew they were moving but didn't question his direction. She'd known eventually they'd end up in the white sheets, which would serve as the proof of the consumation of thier marriage and her purity at it's start. What she hadn't expected was to be so eager for him or returning the passion of his kiss.

He stopped them at the edge of the large bed, allowing her to rest back, reaching behind to pull the coverings down from the pillows. "Expect to be here a long while, so get comfortable," he suggested in a whisper over her ear.

Her cheeks warmed with a blush and her eyes lowered a little but she smiled, looking shy yet excited for them to join as one. She slipped her shoes off as her head nodded and she slowly reached to loosen the laces of his tunic so she could pull it off. "I may need your help in getting comfortable." She whispered back to him, softly kissing his ear and neck.

He looked down at her fingers undoing his laces. "I believe you're doing quite well already," he teased, grasping her fingers to stop her for the moment. "I insist on sharing a drink, first."

"I hope so.." She wiggled her fingers beneath his hand as he stopped her from undoing his laces, her smile soft as she looked up to his eyes. "Alright.. a drink.." She agreed but wondered why he'd want to wait when she was so willing to keep going forward with him.

Holding her hand gently, he turned her palm to his kiss, kissing again on her wrist. Beneath the kiss was a sharp nip, quick and light, though he held tight to keep her from flinching away. "Only a sip to start," he said, turning with his grin now tinted pink as the apple had been.

If he hadn't been holding her hand it would have jerked away in surprise at the sudden pain from the nip. It was quick and sharp as if he'd bitten her, which she realized was exactly what he'd done as he turned and showed off the pink in his smile. "You.." Her mouth was open as she stared at him, it closed as she turned her gaze to her wrist. "This is what you meant? A drink of me?" She seemed more surprised at the suddeness and that she'd expected him to fetch wine, not bite her. Deacon would see no fear in her eyes and there would be none in her scent, only a little confusion. "Am I supposed to bite you?"

[Lovely]

"No," he said, neither scolding or teasing now as he shook his head, returning to the mark to soften the sting and keep the wound from flowing and seeping away her precious drops. She had been warned, insufficiently by Josef, of their custom as it had been put, but it was enough for her to understand and be more curious than frightened, making her wine sweeter still. A pass or two of his tongue and another soft kiss to the small bite would soothe it to a slightly sore scratch that would fade in moments. Instead of having her bite him, he did it himself. The mark was a small puncture that no pulse coursed out, though it still welled darkly. "You're not ready to, yet. It may only seem soft, but you would need a very sharp knife to cut me and your teeth cannot... yet. A small sip, that is all and it is part of our joining, becoming one heart." He offered the punture on his wrist for her to taste, hopeful that she was truthful earlier about her tolerance for the liquid, though he was certain she'd not ever tasted another's on purpose.

She gasped softly at the sensation of his tongue over her wrist where he'd bitten her, it not only soothed the wound but also woke her up in other ways, surprising her quite a bit. He'd see the questions in her eyes that she held back for the moment, searching his gaze for only a moment before turning to take his wrist. She held his arm and brought her mouth to the wound, her tongue gently reaching to dab at the well of blood and then coming back for another taste of him. She kept her mouth on his wrist until she'd had what she felt was equivilant to a sip and then slowly pulled away, her tongue now licking at her lips as she pulled the lower one in slightly to suckle the drops off of it. "Is that.. right?" Josef hadn't told her anything about how this would happen and she was actually a little angry with him for that.

"Very much so," he smiled, reaching to brush her hair from her face before bringing his wound to his mouth to seal it as he had her wrist. "It is as important a part of our union as what you are familiar with. It starts first with a sip, then another. You do not find it unpleasant," he observed, confirming what she'd said.

Her smile shone softly out at him as he let her know she'd done well and brushed her hair from her face, he'd just endeared himself more to her. "Why is it.. important?.. and how do you.." She turned her wrist to look at the mark that he'd healed, her head shook slightly and her gaze shifted to meet his, full of awe and curiosity. "So many questions, I don't know where to start or how to ask them all.. Josef spent so much time telling me of.. how he felt about you and Rhain and your father.. but next to nothing about this.. and this is important! I don't understand.. I thought he.." She shook her head and pulled her gaze away to blink back angry tears. ".. and to think he said I should not trust you.. that I should.. avoid you at all cost.. and he is the one who lied to me!"

"He told you not to trust me and to avoid me because I would tell you the truth. He turned his back on Rhain and my father, wanting to continue the war and fight Onmadia forever until all their bones are dust. I don't believe the same as my brother. I don't entirely agree with my father, either, but I am not opposed to the proposition of peace. He felt I would poison you with reason. I'd rather fill your heart and mind...," he paused and chuckled again, this time almost a playful giggle as he reached up to lay her back.

For an instant there was a very strong thought and feeling within her that perhaps he would pick up on from the taste he'd had and shared with her. The thought being that she was glad Josef was dead, it was only a moment, a flash of anger for how he'd decieved her.. and how she'd fallen for it. Her blue eyes were sharp and hard in that moment and her hands clenched to fists, but at Deacon's touch she softened and fell back gently to the cushions, reaching to embrace him and keep him close. "I'd rather have you fill me as well.."