Title: Dark Warrior- The Eleventh Day of the Lusty Month of May

Author: zephiey

Rating: T

Pairing: Joseph/Clarisse
Category: AU, Supernatural

Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Princess Diaries and its characters are the property of Disney, Buena Vista, and Meg Cabot. I make no money from this work of fiction.

Summary: Queen Clarisse meets a familiar dark warrior.

Dark Warrior

The clang of metal on metal filled the night air as her guard fought against the attacking barbarians. Soon the sheer numbers of the barbarians overwhelmed her well-trained force and her men surrendered. She would have stayed inside her tent, awaiting her captors if she had not heard the order to kill her defenders. Ignoring any personal danger, she tore open the entrance to her tent and shouted, "No!" her clear voice carrying to every corner of the encampment.

Her shout stayed the arms of those intent on murder, and every eye turned to look at her. What they saw filled them with awe. She resembled Erecura, wife of the Dis Pater- the Dark One, Lord of the Underworld. The warriors were followers of Dis Pater, and sworn to protect his Lady Erecura. Swords dropped and men knelt in the presence of their Lady. Clarisse looked around, confused as to the barbarians' reaction.

Why were they kneeling? What was going on?

However, before she could vocalize her questions, a rider and horse appeared, and the kneeling men eagerly made way for the pair. Clarisse watched wide-eyed as the rider, dressed in black armour and leathers, with a great black cloak that seemed to float behind him as if buoyed by a non-existent breeze rode forward.

His face was hidden in shadow, but his muscular arms held the reigns of his huge black stallion with ease, and a gentleness that seemed in conflict with his dark façade. Clarisse stood completely still as he reigned in his huge beast just inches from where she stood. His steed was even larger up close than she had originally thought, and it's eyes seemed to reflect the fires that burned around the encampment. The rider dismounted with grace and ease, offering a token of affection to his mount before dropping the reigns and letting the stallion stand.

What surprised Clarisse at first glance of the rider was his physical stature. He was of average height and build, but he projected a physicality that lent him an aura of a man much taller and more muscular. His face was covered with a well-trimmed beard that seemed to add to his aura of danger.

The second thing which surprised her was his eyes. They were blue, but a blue that at times appeared almost grey then black. However, it was not just the colour of his eyes that intrigued her; it was the look in them. She could swear she had seen his eyes somewhere else, at some point in time. They were familiar, tickling a memory that seemed lost in the depths of a dream.

The warrior moved forward, and Clarisse found herself matching his movements with ones of her own. When he took her in his arms, his cloak wrapping around and securing them in its warm embrace, Clarisse offered no resistance. When he stared into her eyes, she felt a frisson of desire and excitement rush through her blood. Her lips tingled in sensation at the thought of kissing this dark warrior. She knew the moment she kissed him, her entire world would change but she felt no fear. She knew she had nothing to fear from this man. Regardless of his reputation, she knew, without a doubt she would never be harmed by this man.

No longer able to resist the temptation of this man, Clarisse closed the distance between their mouths and placed a soft kiss to his lips. A kiss that soon changed in depth and tempo. Clarisse surrendered to the dark sensuality of his lips. She yielded to the sensation of floating on a ribbon of velvet darkness as they kissed.

Clarisse couldn't say how long she kissed this dark warrior for time seemed to stand still as she floated on the ribbon of dark night, but when the kiss finally ended, she knew beyond a shadow of doubt that her future would be forever linked with this man.

The dark warrior looked down into the eyes of the woman who was the other part of his soul. The woman who was linked to him now and forever.

His whispered, "My Queen," was both a title and an intimate caress that fuelled Clarisse's desire. He captured her lips once more in a devastating kiss, before picking her up in his arms, and carrying her into the tent and their future.

The End