Ok, so like I said before, I have no idea what I'm doing, but I really want to do an AU story. I love the time period and the way people talked back then; but I'm finding it difficult not to put modern language in it. Let me know if I'm confusing the hell out of you.
Please review... it would help me out a lot!
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"I want to know what it is like." Maria said softly feeling Christopher's breath caress her cheek. It was moments like this that she adored the most. Just being with him, sitting along the Champion River, with nothing but the sounds of the water hitting the rocks below and their soft word to keep them company. "Show me."
Christopher let his brilliant blue eyes gently rake over Maria's round brown orbs. "Are you sure that you are not a witch, my love?" Closing his eyes against of the feeling of her hand daring to reach out and touch the top of his chest exposed by his untied tunic, he spoke in a dream like voice. "You must be a witch, because you have vexed me. I fear I can not control myself around you."
The young sword maker had loved but only one other woman in his lifetime. Gail, the unconventional exotic beauty that had traveled to McMahon in search of a better life had stolen his heart the moment he laid eyes on her. She was an Asian beauty ,that was as mysterious as her people. She had shown him things that his body could do that he was never aware of before. She fed his hunger and the more of her he had, the more he craved her.
They had kept their love hidden, for she was an outsider and their marriage would not be approved by the King. But as soon as Prince Randal laid eyes on her, he decided that he wanted her for himself. That was the day that young Christopher swore on their love that the Prince would never heart his family again.
Christopher thought that he could never love again after Gail was gone. But the young beauty sitting astride his lap had changed all of that. Her purity drew him in like a moth to a flame. Her wisdom of things that women should not be privy to made him interested in her mind more than her body. She was vision of loveliness that he would not spoil.
He brushed his lips over her cheekbone and let his other hand trail down her neck. "I can not you show yet. Your honor is too important to me." His breath hitched as her hand started to unbuckle his sword belt from around his waist. "I promise you that on the night that we wed, I will show you love like you have never dreamed of it before."
Her large brown eyes searched his face and spoke with sincerity. "So me now, so when that happy night comes, I will not disappoint you."
"You could never disappoint me. You have such love for me in your heart, that when our bodies finally become one, it will just magnify what we already feel. You are my treasure; I will relish in your innocence and feel reborn in the birth of your pleasure." His heart told him he right, but his body waged a fierce battle against it.
Taking his hands up to her bodice, she spoke in a whisper. "We may not be able to join as one, for I know that my father will have me inspected to see that I am pure. But this night, just let me know what it feels like to have your flesh on mine."
Christopher could never deny her, not with those innocent eyes begging for him to touch her. He laid her back on the grass and slowly untied the bodice.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop and Maria's eyes flew open. The only thing that kept the screams of her sisters from her ears was the memory of Christopher. It had only been a fortnight since he left and already, Arch Duke David had sent for her.
Her heart raced as the door flung open and rough hand pulled her out of the carriage. Falling to the ground, the hand gripped her arm and dragged her kicking and screaming toward the men on the horses.
"You are a beast!" She yelled as the hand let her go. Propping herself up on by her hands, she found a sitting position on the ground. She dared not meet the eyes of her captures, but the colors that adorned their horses let her know immediately where she was. A small flag fell to the ground as the head rider dismounted his steed. The black cloth, showed the symbol of Orton, a crown with four eyes, showing that he watched all sides of his country. Beside that symbol, was a dragon. That dragon was the signature of the Arch Duke.
He stood at her body on the ground and looked unimpressed. "So, you are the Maria that I have heard so much about. Do you know who I am?"
Without raising her eyes she spoke in a brave voice. "Your cruelty reveals everything. You are the Arch Duke of Northumberland, the eldest son of the House of Batista, the next in line for the thrown after your coward cousin the Prince."
David admired her honesty, and he could not help the chuckle that left his throat. "So you know a lot…then tell me, do you know why you're here?"
"Because you are an evil man."
A sharp hand crashed down on the side of her head. Immediately she saw a bright light with the impact. "Apparently, this peasant does not know her place. You will address the Arch Duke properly."
Looking up at the man who hit her, she curled her lips into a snarl. "Do you feel brave having hit a woman?"
Another hard hand fell to the side of her face, causing blood to pool in her mouth. "You will address me properly as well."
"Enough," David smiled and raised his hand. "It appears that the Earl of Helmsley is not impressed by your tongue. If you wish to keep it, I suggest you still it now. They do not call him Lord Hunter for nothing. Lord Hunter, collects tongues, and yours shall look nice over top of his hearth."
Maria raised her head and glared into the eyes of her capture. "If the Earl of Helmsley wishes my tongue, than he shall have it this day. I have not begun to loosen it to say exactly how I feel."
David was quickly becoming unamused by Maria's wit. He knelt beside her and grabbed her cheeks squeezing them so her tongue protruded from her mouth. "Mayhaps, I shall cut out that tongue for you. For what I require, you will not need it."
Snatching her head away, Maria dropped her eyes. She had been told by the men in the village countless times that her mouth would one day be the death of her. "I am sorry, my lord."
David's words were interrupted by the approaching of horses. He looked up to see the purple banner of the Prince being waved as the party neared. Sucking back an angry breath, he stood to glare at the Prince.
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Christopher could not keep his eyes open as the pain from his wound and his cracked ribs robbed him of consciousness. Faintly in the background he heard Maria's voice. He tried to call out to her, but found he did not have the strength.
Being dragged to his feet, he walked a few steps before being thrown to the ground and then feeling a warm hand touch his face.
"It is alright my love. I am with you now." Maria's once stern voice now cracked with sobs as she wept openly over Christopher. "You fought for love, but now I must fight for you."
There was so much blood on his tunic, that it left his once tanned skin pale with death. His golden locks were covered in dirt and blood, but Maria smoothed his hair and gently picked the leaves out of it.
"I am sorry I failed you. Our love was to return me to you, not have you harmed by my arrogance." Christopher choked out a cry as he tried to breathe. "Forgive me."
Without warning, he felt himself being hoisted to his feet. And he met the vivid blue eyes of the Grand Prince.
"So, you are the last of the House of Jericho. Tell me Christopher, how does it feel to know that you have failed all of the other sons in your line?" Prince Randal's voice was sharp and he did not let his contempt go unnoticed.
Looking over at the ground, he noticed the small woman with long brown hair and striking round brown eyes staring up at him. "And who might this be?"
With every ounce of strength he could muster, Christopher grabbed the Prince's cloak. "She is not for you. You have taken one love from me; I will kill you before I let you have another."
A deep laugh escaped the Prince as he threw Christopher to the ground. Signaling with his hand, he summoned forth his greatest knight, Sir Robert of Lashley.
"Tie the traitor the back of you horse and bring the girl."
"It will be done, Your Highness." Sir Robert said as he bowed and started for Christopher.
A strong hand stopped Sir Robert from touching the young man on the ground. "I think the Prince has forgotten our deal." The Arch Duke started, "I am to get the spoils of war."
Narrowing his eyes, the Randal looked at David. "And what payment does the Arch Duke require?"
David let a smile cross his lips. He knew that the Prince could never resist a beautiful woman, even one with a wicked tongue. "I choose the girl, Your Grace."
Hatred poured out of Randal's body as he clinched his fists by his side. "We require, both Christopher and the whore. The Arch Duke may go to the village and take whatever he sees fit."
David stepped over Christopher's body and stood in front of the Prince. "And I am telling you that I require the girl. She is my prize for the capture of this rebel. If the Prince will not pay his debts, then I shall have to keep them both."
Searching the faces of the Arch Duke's men, he knew that they would not hesitate to attack him to protect their master. "Very well, cousin. You are lucky, because we are feeling generous this day. We shall take the traitor, you may have the girl. But do not get used to have her a fixture in your estate. When the mood strikes us, we may come to collect her."
David swallowed thickly and walked away from the Prince. "Has the Prince forgotten that he his not king yet? Only the Crown my talk about himself as if he is other than himself. The Prince has referred to himself as 'we' throughout our talk. I wonder how my uncle would feel knowing that his only son, has passed him for dead."
With a smile, Randal mounted his horse. "Our father's health is of no concern of yours, Grand Duke. We think it fit that you concern yourself with your own health."
One final glare at the Prince was all David allowed himself, as he bent down and scooped Maria from the ground.
With a cry and a scream, she yelled for Christopher. But before he could answer, she was already galloping away on the Duke's horse.
