Author's Note: I am so happy you guys are still liking this story. I have a lot planned, so stay tuned. This chapter is dedicated to David, it gives a little more insight to why he is how he is. I wanted it to be a part of the Harvest Moon scene, but I think it would have taken away from it.

With that, enjoy!

The Two Sides of David

Arch Duke David of McMahon lay silently next to the sleeping girl and watched as the moonlight danced over her naked flesh. It had been near two months since Maria first took sleep in his castle and yet every time he saw her, he felt like it was the first. She was an enigma, this peasant; a foolish girl with grandiose ideas of love. She was a girl that intrigued him because she spoke her mind and could not mind her tongue. She was intelligent beyond her gender and impressed him with her literacy. She knew of places outside their country, places she had never seen, but spoke of them with such affection that he wanted to take her to them. She had such simple wishes, every one he wanted to grant. To be set free was what she desired most and that was one thing he could not do.

One month had past since the last Harvest Moon, the night when they joined as one. As promised, every night he came to her chamber and taught her new lessons in how to love. David found himself smiling for the first time out of happiness, for he was supposed to be teaching her, but he became the pupil. Although the Arch Duke did not feel love toward Maria, there was a genuine fondness for her happiness. Happiness that he knew he could never complete.

As his hand trailed over the brand of his symbol burned into her back, he felt utter sadness. Why is it that a peasant could make him feel things he had not felt since he was a child. David had shown pleasure and been pleased by countless women; princesses around the world, members of harems, women considered the most beautiful in their village, yet none of them compared to the young inexperienced girl that lay at his side.

As he leaned over and pressed his lips across the mark on her skin, Maria turned her head to face him. He smiled at her wide brown eyes noting the sadness in them. "What troubles you?" He asked softly, now running his fingers through her hair.

Never lifting her head from the soft pillow, she spoke to her captor. "I am troubled because I share a bed with a man that I do not know."

David rested, turning his body to face her. "Have I not shown you pleasure?" His question received a nod from the girl. "Then what more is there to know?"

"I do not know your heart." Maria closed her eyes and thought of Christopher. She knew his heart better than he did. "It is strange to know that I am to have a child with a man that puzzles me so."

"I am solider, bread for destruction, nothing more." David let a sad smile cross his face. "I was raised to one day be king. That is all that is in my heart."

Maria shook her head and touched David's face. "There is more to the man that lay beside me, than his duty. Every night, I have shared myself with you. This night, share with me."

For reasons unknown, Maria felt the need to know about David. He would never be Christopher, but neither would Christopher. He had died a horrible death because of his plan to slay the man she lay with. But no matter how she tried to hate him still, the gentleness he showed her when he came to her chamber made it difficult.

"What would to you know?" David asked lifting his eyes to Maria's.

"What makes you happy?"

David thought about the question for a moment and realized that he had never truly been happy. The only contentment he felt was when Maria was in his arms. "The respect I get from those under me." He said with a nod as if to convince himself that was true.

Maria touched the side of his face and pulled his head to look at her. "Those under you do not respect you; they fear you. What gain is there knowing that people are only pleasing so you will show them no harm."

"Weakness loses wars, emotion causes kingdoms to shatter. McMahon can not afford a ruler that feels."

Maria propped herself to one arm and looked down at David. "Were you always so guarded?"

David sat and pulled the small girl close to his chest. He had never discussed his family with anyone, but this night he wanted her to know him. "My father was the King's brother…the Crown Prince of McMahon. My mother, a Contessa from the Grecian Isles, she was his concubine. My parents never wed, for he was married to the Princess of Jarrett, but he loved her deeply. Because I was not a child of royal union, I would not be given my father's bloodline. Instead, I was given to the House of Batista, my mother's house. That name holds power in Grecian lands. I was betrothed at birth to the Princess of my mother's home, but lived in McMahon to serve as High Lord to this thrown."

Maria listened silently feeling for David. How could a man not acknowledge his own son, when he had chosen to make his mother a courtesan? Was David to treat any heirs he would have with her the same?

"When my mother died, the Princess would not let me stay for she was jealous of my father's affections. I was sent to live with the King. I was given station by age 9 and by 13 I was a squire in the royal army. I made knight by 17 years and was Paladin by 20. All of my life, I have been trained to feel nothing; a solider can not allow himself to feel. I have killed so many, never showing fear. When I was younger, I would cry after battle…the screams echoed in my ears for so long. Now, I do not hear their screams only the cheers from those I govern."

David's life was a life of service. It was a life of pleasing the King. The King was a kind man, but his country was threatened by those who lived outside its borders. David had found at a young age that he was to protect his country at any cost…even his soul.

"And what of the Grand Prince?" Maria asked softly.

David let a small smile cross his face. "He was such a small babe. When he was born, he held wonderment with eyes the color of the Champion River. But even as a child, there was horror behind those eyes. My duty as Paladin was to protect Prince Randal. I would watch as he did things that no one could explain." David closed his eyes against the memory. "I watched as he pulled a young girl from her father's arms…the things he did to her…" His voice trailed off.

Opening his eyes, he ran his hand down Maria back and spoke in a dream-like whisper. "I have seen him take entire families and force them to watch his torments. His mind is not settled, he hears the cries and it brings him happiness. I can not be weak for it will bring destruction to the only home I know."

"Gentleness does not make one weak, it makes us human." She said resting her cheek on his chest. "Tis a strong man to be kind."

There was silence between them as David thought of her words. "I have made peace with my life. This is all I know. I have no dreams, no hopes…only this."

"I once had hopes." Maria said sadly. "I dreamed of life filled with love, marriage and children. I would have babies to teach and watch grow. I would live in a small cottage just outside the river. There would be laughter ringing throughout its every room."

"But you would be poor and still a commoner." David whispered.

"To be poor and happy is richer than to be noble and sad. I wish for a simple life, David. I do not need anything more than love."

He could feel her silent tears as they touched his skin. Lifting her chin, he looked at her confused. "Why do you cry? Have I not pleased you?"

"I cry because I still do not know who you are. Are you the Arch Duke; the man that brings fear to the hearts of many? Or are you David, the man that lays gentle hands on me, who brings warmth to my bed, who I will one day have children born to?"

Leaning down to kiss her lips he spoke into her mouth. "I am both."

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An eerie silence filled the main hall, as all those in court watched as the visitor approached. Sir Jonathan stood ready, with his hand to his sword. The Baron of Helmsley stood next to grand chair and David sat looking blankly as the large man bowed before him.

"My lord, I have for you a bargain." The Undertaker said lowering his eyes. "This is all I have. The dowry that has been kept for Maria's wedding. Her mother saved it, until her death four winters ago. It is not much, but it is my offering for my daughter's return."

David studied the man in front of him and rested his head on his hand. He could see the pain on the man's face, but it was of no matter. Just as he was to respond to the visitor's request, Maria burst forth through the door and threw herself in her father's arms.

For the first time, David had a reaction. Seeing the display of affection in front of him, he felt himself grow angry. The tears they shed to be in each others embrace hurt his heart. The Arch Duke, never felt…that was the first rule he learned with his station.

"Please my lord, she is my daughter. Let her return to her home." The Undertaker begged with tears in his eyes.

David sat up in his chair and looked over at the Baron's smile. "No. She is my property with which I shall not part."

Maria released her father and walked over to the Arch Duke. Kneeling before him, she placed her hands on his legs and stared into his eyes. "Do not do this, please. I beg you; do not keep me in this nightmare. Release me." She pleaded with his eyes as the tears ran down her face.

David's gaze hardened. "So that is what this is to you?" He was her nightmare. The others she spoke of that feared him, included her. But he had been gentle with her on purpose, as to erase all her fears. "If this is but an unpleasant dream, you shall not wake from it."

"David…you have shown me that you are not this man. Please… be more than your station right now." The sudden change in his face, made Maria's heart race. It was back, the blackness of his eyes as it was the first day she met him.

Leaning down to her face, David grabbed her chin. "You will refer to me by title or suffer the consequences. I will not stand for petulance in my manner." Roughly pushing her face away from him, he watched as she fell to the grown.

As the Undertaker approached his daughter, a swift flick of David's hand forced Sir Jonathan to unsheathe his sword. Within a blink of an eye, the Undertaker felt the vorpol sword at his throat.

"She is my property and I will not part." David said again with a stern voice looking into Maria's father's eyes. "You have served my family well, Undertaker, for this I will give an exchange for her. You will find yourself in comfort in a new home, complete with animals for you to tend and live off. That is a fine price I give you for your child."

"My lord, she is not for sale." The Undertaker spoke firmly. "By right, she is mine."

"And by the Thrown of McMahon, she is mine." David said standing feeling his anger course his veins. "Unless you like not where your head rests at your shoulders, you will take my offer and leave my house."

Knowing that he would be of no use to his daughter, the Undertaker conceded. He placed a small kiss on her hair and rose to his feet to leave. And though his heart was racked with guilt about leaving her there, the Undertaker never looked back.

"Lord Hunter, see that Lady Maria makes it to her chamber. She is to be punished for disobedience. She will not leave that chamber until I release her." David said as he sat back down.

Feeling herself being lifted off the ground, Maria fixed her eyes on the Arch Duke. "You are a liar! You are not both the solider and the gentle man you have shown me. You are nothing but a killer; a killer of hope, love and families!" Standing close enough to him, she spit at his feet. "You are as viscous as the Grand Prince. I hope the blackness of your soul consumes you."

David listened as she cursed his existence and his heart broke, but he would never let her know. Turning his head from the display he motioned for Lord Hunter to carry out his word.

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"What has she done to you, my lord?" The Baron of Helmsley asked as he returned to hall, handing David a key. Maria had been safely locked away in her room and all of the staff had been alerted that she was to receive no food or drink, unless the Arch Duke himself gave permission. "There was once a time, where that display would have found her dead before she could finish a sentence. Now you sit here and consider her words. Have you gone soft?"

With a hard glare and swift hand, David threw his oldest friend against the wall. "You think me soft because she is not dead? Her punishment is far from over." He released Hunter and stepped away. "Tell me, have her sisters made safe journey to Helmsley?"

Afraid to talk, the Baron nodded. "They are hidden in safe camp, unknown that they are captive. They shall remain until the leader of the rebel army reveals himself."

David turned to leave the room, but before he did, he addressed the Baron. "Bring the one that is not with child and not a child herself. I will show this house that I am still the Arch Duke."

With a smile and nod, the Baron left the castle for his trip to Helmsley and return with Mickie.

Standing outside of her chamber, David listened to Maria's cries and tried to ignore the pain in his heart.