The newly weds was send to the carriage, surrounded by cheering crowds and musicians and parade. The carriage rode through out the city, where all the people rushed out to cheer for them. Cannons boomed and shattered windows and glass. Everyone tossed their caps into the air, there were so much caps that were tossed that people are having trouble to find their own hat.
But inside the carriage, the atmosphere was cold, unlike the feisty celebrations.
Raven sat next to her newly wed husband, Robin. Both of them were speechless. Raven clutched her bridal cloth tightly. Robin was staring out of the window.
Suddenly, he turned his head and stared at her. "You don't know what a bride should do to please her husband do you?" He said, smiling at her.
Raven looked at him with surprise. "We are supposed to have our honeymoon, as I was enquired." Raven replied, blushing.
"And what do you think that newly weds should do during their honeymoon?" Robin stared at his bride, smiling. Raven looked away, and stared outside. Her pale face was flushed.
Robin laughed, and wrapped his arms around her. Stunned by his behavior, she tried to struggle, but soon enough she discovered that it was no use. She sat still, allowing his hand to rest on her shoulder.
"Where are we going…, Your Highness?" She asked softly.
"We are going to the palace in Jump Estate. It is where I should live after my wedding." Robin smiled. "Don't worry; I think in comparison with the magnificent of Gotham Palace, the calmness and quietness of Jump will be more of your liking."
Raven stared at him. "How would you know?" She asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Instincts, perhaps, you are not the average princess I met before." Robin said to her.
"Oh," replied Raven. "I have learned form my brother that you enjoy hunting."
"Surely, I do." Robin looked at Raven in surprise. "Such a shame, when I was in Azarath, I enjoyed hunting with your brother."
"I was trained when I was a child; I was trained in the art of archery and falconry." Raven said. "Perhaps we could hunt together."
"My, you are most certainly different. No woman that I have known was like you. They all hated to go out into the country, not to mention hunting." Robin said, grinning. "Surely I would enjoy hunting with you." Raven smiled at him faintly. "How far is Jump Estate?"
"It is really close to Gotham City, as I will need to attend political meetings almost five times a week." Robin sighed. "Listening to those old fools, such boring meetings, but still I was forced to attend." He spat.
"Hopefully you would not be like those old fools."
Raven remained silent. What a rebellious teenager. Raven thought to herself. We may not share the same political views.
The carriage stooped. Slowly the servants helped Raven off the carriage. Few hundred people stood next to the carriage, bowing to Robin and Raven.
An old man, who wore a neat suit and a bowtie, stood up and bowed deeply. "Prince Richard," he said, "Princess Rachael, welcome to Jump Estate."
"Ah Alfred," Robin patted his shoulder. "It was nice to see you again."
Raven smiled at Alfred. "Master Alfred," she said, and reached out her hand for him to kiss.
"Please rest inside your chamber, as we unpack your luggage." He showed them into the palace.
Slowly they walked into the chamber. The walls were decorated with two kinds of totally different decorations. There were delicately beautiful paintings of scenery and animals. In contrast many hunting trophies hanged on the wall. There were two armchairs in front of the fireplace. One was covered with a whole piece of bear skin, while the other was covered with a large piece of cloth, trimmed with lace and a velvet cushion, embodied with stitches at the rim. Robin sat on the armchair which was covered by the crimson bear skin. "Take a seat," said Robin. "I should order hot mulled wine to be brought in such freezing weather."
Raven sat on the other armchair. Hot mulled wine was soon brought to their chamber. Raven took a sip of the burning liquid, immediately she felt warmer.
'Let's talk about each other." Robin suggested. Raven nodded.
"So… how was your childhood?" He asked her.
"My father, Emperor Trigon was never a kind and loving father. I never saw him more than ten times a year, even though we lived in the same palace. My mother was totally different. I had deep affection for her. My brother, Lucifer never cared about me much. Usually I spent my time with lessons with my tutors or my ladies-in-waiting." Raven replied. "And you?"
"You were luckier than me. My father treated me well, because I was not his biological son."
Raven opened his eyes wide. "I beg your pardon?"
"I was not Emperor Bruce's biological son. I was his best friend's son." Robin sighed and drank his goblet of hot mulled wine. "My mother was Queen Barbara's twin sister, who was married to his best friend, Lord Grayson. At the time of my birth, Queen Barbara died due to childbed fever, as she gave birth to a boy, a stillborn. My father was in war at that time, and he was killed by the army of Krostak, damn those barbarians!" He spat. "My mother was struck by the dreadful news, you see. She went into labor early, and gave birth to me. I survived, while she was dead. Emperor Bruce then adopted me, and proclaimed that I was his son, his legitimate heir." Robin said. "I had a few step mothers, my father's wives, but they all failed to be his queen. That is my story."
"I see," said Raven. "My father also had several concubines, but they never took my mother's place- My father had they all murdered, he is a sadist."
Robin looked at Raven. "My father's wives-actually they are all his whores. Queen Barbara's place was never taken by anyone else. It was simply basic desires."
"I have heard from the maids in Gotham that you had your own toys." Raven said, but she did not look angry or envious. "Your bed warmers, for your basic desires, right?"
"Well yes, I had my own bed warmers. Actually if I dislike you, I should simply made you pregnant and leave you alone, while I amuse myself with my bed warmers." He said slyly. "But, I like you, I think enjoy myself with you."
Raven's face darkened. How dare him, she thought. I am a princess, not some whore.
"I would need to change into a usual gown," Raven clapped her hand; Lady Ellis walked in, and bowed to them. Raven walked into another room, followed by Lady Ellis.
"How dare him! He treats me as his new whore!" Raven hissed.
Lady Ellis remained silent. Slowly she spoke with a patient tone. "That means he is interested in you, Your Highness. Then he will have children with you. This is the best way, and the only way to secure your position in this Empire." She tucked her dress. "Now, I think you should entertain him long enough before we have dinner."
"But Ellis…" Raven said to Lady Ellis, who hushed her and smiled. "You are always like that, Raven, since we are babies." Raven smiled at her. "So do you Ellis."
Raven walked outside to their bed chamber. Robin was waiting for her. He looked at her. "Nice gown."
"Thank you," she replied. Robin stood up and walked towards her. He hugged her from her back. "I mean," he whispered into her ear. "You look good enough to eat."
Raven struggled, but it was no use. "What do you want from me?" She demanded.
"You look delicious, and I am hungry." He smiled at her sinisterly. "Wife, bed." He picked her up from the ground. Raven slammed her fists onto his chest.
"I protest! I…" Raven shouted but Robin dropped her onto the bed gently. He kissed her forehead, and kissed her collar bone.
"Stop," murmured Raven. "Robin, stop…" But he had no intention in listening to her. "You are gorgeous," he said to her, as he removed her gown slowly.
Raven turned her head away. She blushed and closed her eyes, trying not to feel anything, his lips were on fire, as he kissed along her body's curves; she lost control and bean to moan deeply. "Robin…" she said. Robin kissed her lips. "I will be gentle." His tongue slid into her mouth and smoothly slid past her teeth and their tongues entwist together. Raven suddenly pulled Robin closer to her. "I love you," he whispered into her ear. He kissed every inch of her body. "Here, I am going inside, it might hurt a bit." She nodded slowly. Slowly he went inside her; as he went in deeper, she grabbed his forearm and moaned in both pain and pleasure. Robin thrust harder inside her, and they both reached climax. "Raven….I am going to…" Robin said softly. "Go…ahead," she uttered. He lay onto her body. "You are the best woman I have ever had," he whispered, but she was too tired to hear.
Robin was snoring lightly next to her. Raven opened her eyes. They were naked and lied together in the bed. He hugged her in his arms in his sleep. She could feel his chest moving upwards and downwards, his warm breath breathing onto her face. She shook him lightly. "Wake up now, we should have some food," she said quietly. Unwillingly, Robin opened his eyes and murmured. "Fine, I will order food to be brought into our room." Servants carried food into their chambers and placed it onto the bed. They ate quietly.
"Excuse me, I need to bathe." Raven stood up and two servants led her into a bathing chamber. Slowly she dipped herself into the water. The water was lukewarm. She let out a sigh of relief. "Madam, may I wash your hair?" One of her servants asked. "Sure, Pearl." The young girl poured a basin of warm water onto Raven's hair. After that she poured some fragrant oil into her palm and lathered her hair. Again she rinsed her hair with water. Then she bowed and left the chamber. Raven scrubbed her body with a towel dipped in aromatic oil. Servants threw rose petals into the water. She loved the scent, she closed her eyes.
Closing her eyes for a while to rest, she opened her eyes. She saw Robin standing in front of her, looking at her. Immediately she covered herself in a towel. "Your Highness," she greeted him.
"Continue," said Robin, smiling at her. "Sorry but I have just finished." Raven squeezed a smile. Immediately she asked the maids to dress her quickly. "Well, we should check our wedding gifts shouldn't we?" Robin suggested and Raven walked towards the huge pile of gifts. Slowly Raven unwrapped one of the gifts. It was two traditional Azarath children dolls. "What is it?" Robin looked at the tiny dolls in her hand. "It is a traditional gift from a mother to a daughter in Azarath at weddings. It blesses us with children." Raven kissed the dolls in her hand. "It is hand made by my mother. I miss her."
"Well I had a gift here from Alfred. A set of new silver cutlery." Robin said. "He was my butler and guardian since my childhood. He cared about me much."
Raven said nothing and looked at the list which Alfred kindly made to let them save time from unwrapping. "Ah, your father sent us a stallion and a mare and two new set of ridding essentials. We could go out ridding." Robin smiled and kissed Raven's cheek. "Of course we could," said Robin.
Raven's life in Gotham was beyond her imaginations. Robin seemed to have deep affection of her. He indulged her with many luxurious items, during the three months she received a number of gifts from Robin, mostly the modified items from his hunting trips. One of the gifts was an ermine cape, trimmed with rabbit fur and decorated with rubies and gold chains. Raven was delighted that Robin treated her so well. She sat on a garden chair, drinking tea. Lady Ellis stood behind her, with two servants.
"So…have you met a husband of your liking, Ellis?" Raven asked slyly. Lady Ellis blushed. "Well…I…I don't know…"
Raven smiled at her friend. "I have asked Robin about a suitable husband for you last night in bed." Raven said looking at Lady Ellis, while her face seemed to grow redder. "He mentioned something about Baron Harper, whose father is a duke, and a dying one. He will soon succeed his father and become the duke of Steelington. He seemed to be a suitable husband for you. He is handsome, strong and educated, way better than that long nose Grimville. More importantly, he seemed to have feelings for you. So what do you say, Ellis?"
Raven smiled. Lady Ellis trembled. "I don't know…" and then she thought of a proper answer. "It is as Your Highness' wishes."
Raven smiled at her friend and stood up, walking back to the palace. She walked back in and was greeted by Alfred.
"My lady," he bowed at Raven.
"Where is the prince?" Raven asked him. "In the study chambers, my lady," replied Alfred, and walked away.
Raven walked slowly towards the study chamber. Robin sat on an oak wooden chair, scribbling on a piece of paper with quill and ink and handing the paper to the messenger.
"I have told Ellis about Roy." Raven said, standing next to Robin. Robin turned his head and smiled at her. "What a lovely surprise, I thought you were in the gardens." He kissed Raven. "So what does she say?" Raven shook her head and smiled. "She said 'It is as Your Highness' wishes.' Therefore, I think we should invite Baron Harper here to Jump and let the two discuss." Raven said. "And I will write to Ellis' father, Lord Metrion, and ask him for his permission."
"Okay," said Robin. "Then I will write to Roy." She kissed Robin on his lips. "See you later, your Highness."
She walked to their private chambers, and began to compose a letter to Lord Metrion, one of her father's closest advisors.
Soon after that, she finished and passed it to the messenger. As the time flows by, she was worried that Lord Metrion would not allow his daughter to choose her own husband, but to force her most treasured friend to marry a disgusting old man. Her heart was filled with worried thoughts. She could not sleep well, and she could not eat properly.
Three days later, she received a reply form Lord Metrion. In the letter, he wrote that it is as Raven's wishes, that if Ellis like Baron Harper himself, that they could get married under her approval.
She smiled and showed the letter to Robin in a jovial manner. He smiled and kissed her hand as he read the letter. "Then we should organize something for the two to get to know more about each other." He said, "Let's see…Easter is coming and supposing we would be invited to Gotham for a ball. How about…a tea party after Easter?" Raven nodded and smiled. "It is as your wishes, Your Highness."
To Be Continued.
Author's note:
Sorry for the late update! I am kind of used up in brain juices but now it is back!
The next chapter will be about the ball and the tea party!
Read and Review!
V.S.V
