Fogo - Portuguese for fire
Richard opened his eyes and blinked, the warmth at his side was endearing - all he wanted to do was stay in bed and make love to his new bride. However, as fate would have it, that was not the plan for today.
Today he and Michonne, needed to meet with her father and the court to sign a treaty of peace amongst nations to seal their new alliance. Richard dreaded it simply because it meant that he needed to be clothed and because he knew that it would be difficult for Michonne to say goodbye to her father and sister. He rolled over and stared at the sleeping beauty beside him. Her face was soft in sleep and her curves looked smooth. There were slight bruises where his hands had been - her buttocks and hips - and he kissed them fondly. Her long lashes fluttered open and Richard could see that the afterglow of her orgasm was still there.
He felt his member twitch, but he kept still. He did not want to cause a ruckus so early in the morning. "Did you sleep well?" He asked her, caressing her skin.
She sighed happily as she stretched her body, he got all the answers he needed. "Why must we be up so early on the morning of our wedding?" She whined.
He smiled, rolling out of bed in the nude. "Because we have a peace treaty ceremony to attend and it will take us a few hours to get there."
She lifted herself up to her elbows, the blanket falling from around her shoulders lazily. The two stared at each other before Richard said, "They can wait a little while longer." He mounted the bed and she covered herself up. "Never hide yourself from me. If you do, I will be forced to take you where you stand."
Michonne laughed aloud and Rick violently removed the blankets covering her naked body from him. He got on top on her and kissed her hard, their breaths intermingling. Michonne usually refused to speak to anyone before brushing her teeth but she found this moment oddly intimate and arousing.
"Take me." She said into his waiting mouth.
"I intend to." He smirked and entered her.
. . .
Michonne sat uncomfortably on her horse, she could not ease the discomfort between her thighs even with the extra padding added. She spotted Richard in front of her and rode a bit until she was next to him. Lorraine looked at her retreating figure in disgust; she was still annoyed that her sister had quickly made a home out of this cold and miserable landscape. Richard looked regal on his horse - a black stallion by the name of Fogo.
Aside from the chattering of some servants in the back, the whinnies or the horses, and the heavy breathing coming from Richard's prize hounds, they rode in silence. The sun was shining on the small group - today was going to be a good day, and then Michonne saw the fort. New Winchester was where all treaties were signed between the English and the rest of Europe. She had been there a few times before, when her grandfather had signed a treaty with Richard great-uncle to end a ten year war.
"I have been here before." She said to him. He raised an eyebrow at her and smirked. "My grandfather and your great-uncle signed a treaty here."
He smiled at her, unable to help himself. He was glad that she knew a little bit about his country. He put his hand out for Michonne to take and kissed it when she placed her hands in his. She blushed at the gentle gesture.
. . .
Richard and Olivier entered the fort first followed by Michonne and Lorraine and then Sir Michel and the servants. Michonne and Lorraine had been dismissed to the parlour room while Sir Michel was tasked to helping the servants. This angered Lorraine even more.
"He brought Papa dogs as a treaty gift. Dogs, Michonne." Lorraine scoffed.
"They are pups from his most prized hounds." She responded.
"And what are we to do with them?" She blankly stared at her older sister.
"Hunting, guarding, whatever Papa decides." Michonne said, dismissing her sister's attitude.
Lorraine rolled her eyes. "And he has Sir Michel working the stables like a servant. He is a knight in the French Guard!" She cried out. Michonne looked at her sister. She was confused as to what exactly was going on with her. She was dreading spending the entire day with her and hoped that her husband was faring better with her father.
. . .
Richard's hand clenched as he attempted to cut a piece of hard meat. "Did you have time to examine the dogs?"
"Yes," Olivier started, taking a sip of wine. "They are fine specimen. Pups you said?"
"Michonne, Lorraine, and Sir Michel will be joining us this evening - after we sign the treaty - and then, we will go our separate ways in the morning." Olivier looked down.
"Unfortunately, I do not make the decisions, they are made by the court." Richard finished
"I understand." He said.
"Michonne told me that she is planning to return to France to visit." Richard lied.
"Oh?" Olivier said, happier than he should have.
"After her coronation." He finished, taking note of the other king's attitude change. "In a year."
Olivier nodded. This was really the end – his daughter would become queen of another country and he would have to watch over her from afar. "Of course."
Richard took one last bite of his meat and a servant quickly came to remove his plate. "Shall we?" He asked the older royal; he did not have any more time to waste.
Olivier allowed a servant to take his plate as he stood. This whole affair was unprofessional, but he could not argue. The rules were as archaic and barbaric as the man standing before him. He followed the young king as they made their way down a dark hallway. He was unsure if they were going to sign a treaty or if he was going to be murdered - he had heard of the Irish and their brutalism. Richard opened a heavy door and entered. Olivier followed suit and was caught by surprise. The room - which he had assumed to be a dungeon - was actually a library. There were texts all over the place, even on tables, in different languages. Olivier did not know where to look first, but fortunately for him, Richard's voice led him directly where he needed to be.
He stood in front of a high table in front of a man in a dark cloak. Olivier frowned a little bit, his face reminding Richard of Michonne's own, and approached the two men.
"Your Royal Highnesses." The cloaked man rasped and both Richard and Olivier nodded their heads in acknowledgement. "It goes without saying that you are both here to end the war between France and England, but let the record show that I mentioned it." Richard smirked at the man's joke. "There are ten terms that Your Highnesses must both agree to or the treaty will be void."
The man lead the two kings behind the stand so that they could read it alongside him. "The first – and by far the most important – is the consummation of King Richard I of Ireland and England and Princess Michonne d'Évreux's marriage and the last is the retreat of all English ships from the French sea." He paused. "Shall we begin?"
. . .
The two kings exited the salon side by side.
"I suppose I should go and speak with my daughter before we dine tonight." Olivier said.
"Of course." Richard hurriedly agreed; the man was visibly upset that he was losing his daughter to a man who terrified him and his people.
They walked together in silence for a few more minutes before Olivier said, "I am sure you know of the stories that are told about you." Richard laughed. "And if I am correct, that my daughter has accused you of being…"
"A beast." Richard said.
"Yes." Olivier blushed, embarrassed for his daughter. "Do you love her?" He hesitated.
"I like her. And I could learn to love her."
"Do you respect her."
Richard laughed. He had nothing for respect for a woman who was not afraid of speaking her mind. "Very much."
Olivier nodded. Perhaps he had prejudged the young king, but it was not his fault. He had done unspeakable things in the past in the name of England. "I see." He thought out loud.
. . .
Michonne sat in one corner of the parlour while Lorraine sat in the other. Michonne had decided that it was no use trying to reason with her little sister because she refused to be reasonable. She also refused to make sense.
Michonne sighed and turned the page of a poetry book she had found around the room. She wanted this day to be over so that she could go back to lying in bed naked with her husband. Just as she was about to do another dramatic sigh, there was a knock on the door.
Both pairs of eyes looked to the door. "Come in." Michonne answered. "Papa!" She exclaimed when their father entered the room.
"Hello, my darling." He said, kissing her forehead.
"Has everything been settled?"
"Yes."
"England is our new ally now?" She asked.
"France is your new ally now." He corrected and she looked down. Everything was confirmed now. "Do not be upset, we will see each other very soon and very often. After all, you will be Queen."
She smiled at the information. Unbeknownst to her, Lorraine fumed. "What about me?" She asked. "What will I get? What will I be?"
"You, my dear, will still hold onto your title and position in France." He answered her.
"Why can't I be Queen of France?" She asked, angry.
Olivier released Michonne and walked towards his youngest daughter whose face was full of rage. "What is the meaning of this, Lorraine." He harshly whispered, not wanting to alarm the guards and servants standing outside.
"I am the rightful heir to the throne of France not her or our cousin. I am your true heir and it should have been me who married King Richard to join both kingdoms."
Michonne could not help but be shocked at her sister's confession. "You spent all your time focusing and grooming a child you brought in from the streets that you forgot about your actual daughter."
"Enough!" He yelled, much to her irritation. "Your mother and I raised you both to our best abilities. You were given everything and more, we thought you would appreciate it, but it seems that it only made you greedy and selfish."
"I-" She started, but her father's hand dismissed her.
"Upon our return to France, the court will decide... On what to do with you." He finished as he exited the room leaving the two girls alone.
Michonne stared at her sister. Lorraine stood shell shocked that her words had backfired on her. She swallowed a few times, not wanting to make her humiliation and sadness public.
"Why do you hate me so?" Michonne asked, startling her sister. "I loved you, you were my sister." Lorraine's anger suddenly returned.
"Forgive me sister, I had forgotten where I was."
"What happened to you, Lorraine?" Michonne whispered, but stood up to leave the room before the younger woman could respond.
. . .
Richard stared at Michonne as she quietly drank her soup. The dinner was awkward to say the least and he had been told what happened through a servant. Michonne had refused to eat anything else and he could not understand why. "You must eat something." He pleaded.
"I am not hungry." She replied.
He did not want to force her, but he also did not want her to pass out of exhaustion on their journey back. "Do you want to leave tonight or tomorrow morning."
"Whatever is best."
"Michonne, I-" He stopped himself before he got irritated. He did not want to make her angrier than she already was. "We shall leave tomorrow morning then."
. . .
Richard watched as his wife aimlessly walked around the guest bedroom. It was improper for them to be in the same room while signing a treaty, but he was concerned about her wellbeing.
"Come." He commanded. She walked up to the bed and crawled to him, resting her head on his chest. "What happened between you and your sister?"
"I do not know." She honestly confessed. "She went blind with rage, telling me and Papa that she was the rightful heir to the throne of France – because she is of noble blood – and that… I do not understand." She said, wiping her tears. "She is my sister."
He held her tightly as she wept in his arms.
