Disclaimer: I own nothing

Characters:-

Dolen (Don), Olethia (Olivia), Ellard (Elliot), Miron (Munch), Fatin (Fin), Ailis (Alex), A'ishah (Abbie), Stina (Serena), Caci (Casey) Zafirah (Essentially Mrs Cabot), Treton (Trevor), Lonyn (Liz), Kelifa (Kathy), Gair (George), Majida (Melinda), Jaecar (Jack).

Tanton's:-

Demophan (Dolen's), Oria (Olethia's), Eneas (Ellard's), Medus (Miron's) and Fedor (Fatin's)

Hey I am back. Thanks for the wonderful reviews while I was away. Keep it up.

Olethia and Ailis's absence from the dining table that morning did not go unnoticed by everyone else present. Many looks were shared before the King requested to speak to Tresa, Ailis's personal maid, who presented herself with a deep respectful bow in front of the King.

"Tresa, do you know where my daughter and the princess are?" he requested quietly so that others could not hear. He hoped that his daughter had not gone and done anything rash.

"Your Majesty I have not seen either this morning" she whispered back "However I heard through the servant grapevine that Princess Olethia requested the cooks prepare a picnic breakfast and that Oria was saddled with a double saddle before sunrise."

"Thank you Tresa, you can return to your duties" the King nodded dismissing her, not bothering to watch her scurry off as he speculated on what she had told him. The signs that Olethia was serious about Ailis were good. He'd never seen his daughter take such efforts to woo a woman before. He bit back a smile wondering what Olethia would think if she found out he knew exactly how many woman she had taken to bed.

He had paraded a small army of men in front of her, hoping she would trust him with her secrets and tell him she preferred the company of women. She never had though and he suspected she thought he wouldn't approve. Ultimately he did not care, as long as she was happy. He was not such an ogre that he expected her to marry for duty. Well not unless it became vital for the continuance of the Monarchy.

He was also aware that he had discussed with the Queen an alliance that involved the joining of their daughters, however if Olethia was truly against it he would not force their hand. He doubted Olethia would object too stringently to his suggestion. Of course he doubted she would be too pleased either.

He turned and located his personal servant standing behind him and to his left. He quickly caught the man's attention and he hustled forward. He advised the man to make arrangements for him to visit the Royal vaults straight after breakfast. His servant nodded respectfully then hurried away to do his bidding.

After breakfast he organised for the visiting clan to do tours of the Royal chambers that held the history of the ruling Monarchy. Everything from pictures of his ancestors, to wedding dresses worn by the Royal brides, to jewellery, to Royal Swords used by Warriors, to the history of the Tarton's relationship with the people were located there.

After arranging the tour he headed down to the vaults, led by a security team to ensure his safe passage and arrival. Once at the vaults he dismissed them to wait outside as the guards opened the heavy door and he stepped inside the cool room. The room was large, possibly five times as large as the dance hall, lined with shelves stacked with all sorts of valuables that were too precious to be on display. There were also several boxes containing large amounts of gold and gold coin, jewellery too, one piece in particular was what he sort. He blinked for a moment, adjusting his eyes, the sight of all the gold and silver was almost too bright for the naked eye.

Going to the far wall he did not falter in his destination as he reached to a top shelf and picked up a small blue box that was almost weightless in his hands. He took a deep breath and his hand shook as he gently opened the lid to reveal the beautiful sapphire and diamond ring inside. Memories assailed him and he closed his eyes as tears welled. He remembered clearly as if it was yesterday that he requested the ring be made, that he presented it to his soon to be wife and with a clenching heart he remembered it being returned to him after the ravaging disease had finally claimed his wife.

He sniffed and wiped the tears from his face as he closed the lid on the box and slid the box into his jacket pocket. He would give the ring to Olethia to give to Ailis. Hopefully they would treasure the gift and have a union as strong as he'd shared with his wife.

Clearing his throat he turned and marched determinedly from the vault, thanking the guards on the way without pausing, wincing as the slamming of the vault door reverberated through the tunnels. He did not stop until he had returned to his chambers where he could be tortured by the sudden flood of memories in peace.

Olethia and Ailis spent the rest of the morning together, whether just sitting side by side leaning up against a dozing Oria while talking or walking hand in hand along the river while trying to catch glimpses of fish or wildlife in the nearby trees.

Olethia pulled Ailis to a halt once while motioning her to be quiet. Ailis looked up at her in query and she stepped close while pointing through a clearing in the trees. Ailis's breath caught on a startled gasp, partly at the press of Olethia's taught body behind her and partly due to the beautiful sight of deer, a doe with her young, grazing contently just on the edge of the trees.

They stood still for long minutes until the doe's head shot up and around towards them, nostrils flared and ears twitched. The couple did not dare move as the deer assessed their threat level, before uttering a tiny sound that alerted her young and they bounded off into the trees.

Ailis, in her excitement, spun around and with a cry of delight hugged Olethia hard.

"That was wonderful" she stated, blue eyes alive with pleasure and Olethia had to mentally berate herself when her body came to life and the devil inside her urged her to take advantage of the situation. If it had been anyone else but Ailis she probably would have.

However it was Ailis and being a princess aside, the woman she was trying to court deserved more than that. She gave the blonde one last tender squeeze before stepping determinedly back, trying not to groan in disappointment as her body cried out in protest at the space between them. She was intrigued to see the disappointment on the face of Ailis, not to mention the sigh of frustration the younger woman made.

"What is it?" she asked the beautiful blonde and had to bite back a chuckle as her intended flushed and ducked her head.

"I'm sorry, I keep forgetting that we are not back in the forest and things are different here" Ailis murmured, taking a keen interest in her toes and the stone she was kicking with her boot.

"I'm not sure what you mean" Olethia asked genuinely confused while offering her arm to the blonde, smiling when she accepted it, and they continued to stroll.

"It doesn't matter, forget I mentioned it" Ailis waved away her curiosity and Olethia struggled internally for a few moments whether to press the Princess or not. Finally she decided that if it was important enough for the princess to mention then she should continue her line of questioning.

"On the contrary Ailis, I believe it does matter" Olethia brought them to a stop and looked deep into sky blue eyes "Talk to me"

Ailis sighed and looked out over the crystal blue water of the river running near them. How could she tell Olethia that her old fashioned courting was foreign to her, that her clan while not exactly promiscuous didn't waste time on long courtships.

That she had made it to the ripe old age of 25 and was still a virgin was extremely rare. However being Royalty she didn't want to get into any dalliances with the men in her village as they would expect more. She also didn't want to get impregnated by a man, she was nowhere ready to be a mother. Dalliances with women hadn't ever really occurred to her as she didn't want to lose any friendships, she'd been happy on her own until she had met Olethia and been blown away by her.

"Ailis?" Olethia questioned, pulling her out of her revelry. She sighed.

"It is nothing Olethia, seriously. I merely find your slow ways of courtship extremely charming" she smiled at Olethia's still perplexed expression "If not a little frustrating. In my clan if you like someone, well it expressed very quickly, physically and hopefully ... pleasurably" she flushed as Olethia blinked at her as realisation hit and a smirk crossed handsome features.

"Is that so?" Olethia applied gentle pressure to get Ailis to walk with her again "And have you liked many in your clan?"

Ailis laughed at the not so subtle way Olethia was asking if she had been with any lovers. Shaking her head she replied

"That is the thing Olethia, I have never been tempted by the hungers of the flesh, until now" she admitted shyly then had to catch Olethia as she stumbled over her feet and turned to her in shock. Ailis flushed under her incredulous stare, then rose her chin in defiance "Is that a problem Olethia? It may be abnormal to you but I am proud of my status and.."

"No" Olethia assured shaking her head and placing a gentle hand against a pale cheek, smiling when Ailis sucked in a harsh breath and her eyelashes fluttered before closing "Ailis to be your first would be a wonderful gift. I am torn between wishing I could return the wonderful gift and glad that I have experience, hopefully I can make your first time very special"

"Very sure of yourself aren't you Princess?" Ailis raised a challenging eyebrow and Olethia had the good grace to blush herself.

"I beg your pardon Ailis, this courting business is new to me also" she moved to step away but Ailis caught her and being bold dared to step closer until barely an inch separated them. Olethia bit back a groan as her body responded to the closeness of the beautiful blonde "Ailis" she groaned.

"Please Olethia, just a small kiss" Ailis would have been mortified by her begging if she wasn't so desperate for a small token of affection from her intended. Olethia shook with the effort it took to keep herself in check. She shouldn't be contemplating this, she was supposed to be courting Ailis in the traditional way which would show her father and their people that Ailis was her intended bride.

She wasn't sure if she could control herself if she had a taste of the heaven she was sure to find in Ailis's arms and lips. Yet those blue eyes begged her and she found herself unable to say no as she slowly lowered her head. Their lips were just inches apart when they were startled by a crash behind them in the trees. Olethia immediately spun around, placing herself between the noise and Ailis protectively while letting out a sharp whistle to alert Oria to danger, relieved to receive the answering roar.

Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as five drunken men staggered out from the trees towards them. All were large men, over 6 feet and all looked at them like they would their last supper.

"Well well well if it aint the Princess and her latest whore" one man spat out and Olethia could feel Ailis tense behind her. She shifted her stance defensively and gently pushed Ailis backwards. The men were moving around them in an attempt to circle them, she couldn't allow that to happen, she had to protect Ailis.

"I suggest you keep on your way gentleman" she informed them and ground her teeth as the men had the audacity to laugh.

"Now why would we do that your highness?" another man laughed "We have two ladies to entertain us here"

"Besides which, we need to extract a little revenge for our friend" another sneered and Olethia rose a casual brow stalling to allow Oria time to get there "The one you arrested yesterday"

Oh, him. She growled low in her throat, these were friends of the scum that had beaten his wife and kids. She was even more determined to teach them a lesson now. Pushing Ailis gently back she wished she had brought her sword, their only protection now was her hand to hand combat skills as she waited for the first move.

A large man with an even larger beer gut was the first to try his luck, drawing a wicked looking knife and stepping towards her.

"Olethia!" Ailis gasped but Olethia didn't take her eyes off the man and knife. The man suddenly lunged, thrusting with the knife. Olethia stepped to the side while blocking away the thrust. The block turned into a tight grip on the wrist holding the knife and with a quick move she had disarmed the man, shoving him away and holding up his knife. At least she was armed now.

"We're going to teach you a lesson Princess" one sneered "Once we are finished with you we're going to show your whore there what real men are"

"I'd hardly call you a real man" Ailis replied haughtily and Olethia groaned as they went red in fury and charged as a group. Ailis screamed.