Wild-Roze: Hi all. As you may have noticed, this fic is as yet has no title. Something I aim to rectify.. however i have no idea what to name it, so, if you get any ideas as the story progresses, please let me know.

Also, just so you know, there is already about 10 chapters of this fic, and im greatly enjoying writing it.. however its all in note pads, as for the last three months ive been in costa rica saving animals, so it may take a little time to get it all onto the computer.

Warning: This fanfiction contains a few reasonably graphic sexual scenes (in chapters to come) so if you disapprove, please dont read.

Enjoy.

Prologue

She was fighting them as well as she could. But her hands were bound, and the punches that they drove into her stomach were hard and brutal. She moaned in pain as one dealt her a stunning backhand to the face. After another terrible blow to her midriff, the pain remained, long and hot. It felt like her abdomen was on fire, and with a sickening lurch, she felt blood flooding down her inner thighs.

'My baby!' She thought in horror. 'They've killed my baby!'

She felt herself flung onto a cold stone floor, She was back in the cells, but the three men who had brought her here, did not turn to leave. They approached her, disgusting leers etched on their faces. She knew with a deadly certainty what it was they were going to do to her. Perhaps is she could slip free one of their daggers she could cut her own throat before the inevitable violation of her body began.

Through her pain, and the soul-sapping heartache of losing her unborn child, she somehow managed to stagger to her feet. Her eyes were dark, and they blazed with defiance. She would not make it easy for them. Two lunged at her. She smashed her elbow into the nose of one, but the other punched her, his fist catching her jaw, sending her sprawling. She groaned in pain, as more cramps shot through her, more blood soaking her legs. She felt herself grabbed, and held, a man on each side of her. Evidently her gore covered thighs were no put-off to them. The third stepped forward, loosening his breeches.

"Now then lads, lets open this whore's legs, and see what pleasure can be had from a pirate!"

She felt a scream of protest rip from her throat, as a callous and rough hand forced its way under her skirts, tearing away her undergarments. Her thighs were forced apart, and panic choked her.

'Oh God!' Her mind prayed, 'Oh God please help me!'

Suddenly there was a cry of alarm from the two men who held her, they released their grip on her arms, and she collapsed, flat onto her back. Her eyes found the man before her, he was still leering down at her grossly, but his head was toppling from his shoulders…

The other two drew blades, and charged at their assailant. But they were no match. One pitched swiftly to the ground, his throat opened. The other was lanced through the heart by the shimmering silver blade. They were dead, all three of them, in the blink of an eye, but she barely took it on board. She was only aware of the man who had saved her, and he now crouched by her side, drawing her into a sitting position, deftly freeing her hands. He was about to speak, but her trembling fingers reached up, and desperately grasped the material of his Imperial Uniform.

"T-they.. they killed…" Tears poured from her eyes, which showed such profound pain. "They killed.. our.."

"Hush." He said gently. "I am just thankful I arrived when I did." His blazing eyes left hers, and she heard him call to the jailer, ordering him to summon a priest. He didn't understand! She had to tell him, he didn't know! He never had! Barely able to speak, she made a strangled sob of distress and pain, drawing his gaze to hers once more.

"They are dead," He whispered, "No more harm will come to you."

Her shoulders convulsed as her sobs left her half breathless.

"Our.. our .. baby." She moaned, "They've .. killed .. our.."

His eyes went wide with shock and confusion, and she saw him look away from her agonised face for the first time, skimming downwards, and taking note of the blood drenching her slender legs. The look of utter horror on his face caused her body to tremble against his, fresh sobs racking her uncontrollably.

"They killed it.. they killed our baby, Ramirez." She moaned into his chest.

After a moment, he managed to shake away his frozen state of disbelief, and pushed strands of bloodies hair from her eyes. She had been pregnant…

"Quiet yourself," He murmured to her, his thumb stealing the tear that had tumbled to her cheek. "Take some deep breaths." He advised.

Hurried footsteps reached them, and the fat jailer returned, followed by a Priest of the Yellow Moon, whose eyes took in the carnage, and the man and the woman huddled together in the middle of it. The man's mouth worked furiously, trying to find words, but the tall, slender Admiral in the cell silenced him.

"father, the lady and I wish to be wed. Now." The Priest's eyes, impossibly, widened further at his words.

She felt him gently pull her up, so she was standing shakily, with him as a support. The pain was incredible, and it was to him she gave her weight. Grief still racked her, she was barely aware of the words passing above her head.. her baby.

"N-now?!" Stammered the Priest, as last able to find his tongue.

"Yes!" Snapped the younger man. "Here, and now!" Then he glanced back to the grieving woman at his side. His fingers tilted her bruised, agonised face towards his own.

"You and I must marry to save both our lives." He murmured quietly, his soft words penetrating the pain which screamed in her ears. "You loss is my loss also, but dry your eyes Aika, for in this brief moment, you are a bride."

Her mind reeled, and she thought she might faint. For an instant, her mind flew back down the corridors of time, to that first day. That day when she had been tossed to the Throne Room floor, trussed up like a piece of meat. That was the day Queen Teadora had handed her, as a pleasure slave, to the handsome, platinum haired man who stood at her side now…