I do not own "Fable 3" or any of its characters. Based on the 2010 XBOX game.
Rated M for Explicit Adult Content.
This story is based on a wonderful suggestion by Fallon-Idalia. We both want to explore the idea of a 'forced marriage' and here is one possible result in the Fable-Universe!
When the Princess begs her brother, King Logan, to spare the villagers and her childhood love, he decides to honour her request – but she must pay dearly.
Warning – a bit of Elliot-bashing. Please, no-one take it personally! This is only for the purpose of this story. :)
Love By Decree #12
"So, Logan wants to see me," Amaleigh said flatly, tossing the parchment back onto Jack's desk. "Whatever for? He made it quite plain to me that I am a bother to him and he wanted me out of his way. And now that I am gone and 'growing up' as he so eloquently put it, he suddenly decides I must go to him?"
"That is what worries me," Jack murmured, his eyes following the fluttering paper Amaleigh had casually cast aside. "Logan has a reason for everything he says and does. Besides, he also has a most disturbing knack of getting everything he wants."
She turned to him and gripped his lapels. "Jack," she said, looking intently into his eyes, "why are you worried about this? Perhaps he merely wants to see how we are getting on."
The Major covered her hands with his and gave her a small smile. "I wish I could believe that, dearest. Remember that he married you to me as a punishment to you. He wanted you out of the castle, away from everything you have ever known, and he also wanted you to be unhappy; at least for a time. I think he hoped that you would grow into the sort of woman he wanted you to be, and then..." Jack stopped and shook his head. "No, I beg your pardon; I must be addled in the head. Forgive my rambling, my dear."
"No, Jack, I certainly will not! What is it you think?"
His demeanour, which usually was confident and stoic, was now uncertain and uncomfortable. The creases around his eyes were deeper than usual and his jaw was unusually tight.
"I think he hopes that I will die here and you will be free; free to marry another of his choice. Or even free to marry... him."
Amaleigh suppressed the urge to laugh. Jack was serious and if he was serious than she knew she should not dismiss his concerns out of hand. However, she did have one question she needed to ask him.
"Jack, I can see how he may not care over-much for his soldiers. I can also see why Logan may wish to find someone else to marry me to if he thinks such a union would benefit him. But why would you think he would want to marry me himself? Such things have not been done in centuries! Royals no longer marry, and besides, Logan finds me a tolerable at best. I think he'd rather I not be anywhere near him."
"Do you really believe that, Amaleigh? You did not see his face as he was marrying you to me. I know remorse when I see it."
"If he felt remorse than it was because he had upset me so! After all, he is my brother. I'm sure he felt guilty that I was so...reluctant."
Amaleigh pulled Jack's head down and kissed him soundly. "But I am not reluctant, nor am I regretful any longer, my bonnie Major!"
His entire posture relaxed and he seated himself in the chair behind his desk. He pulled her into his lap and nuzzled his nose into her neck and hair. She giggled. He grasped her sides and rested his thumbs just beneath her breasts. She gasped and flushed.
"Say that again," he urged huskily, moving his thumbs higher.
"I am regretful no longer, Jack!"
"Ah, that is precisely what I needed to hear!" His thumbs skimmed over her nipples, hardening them at once.
Amaleigh gasped and pushed her breasts forward into his hands.
"Ah, ah!" he said teasingly, drawing back just enough to continue teasing her but not giving her a full caress. "Not until you tell me something else I need to hear."
"I dare say I'll tell you anything you want, Jack!"
"Hmm...but you must mean it, my dearest Amaleigh. I'll accept nothing but the truth. It is a truth I...need." He moved his hands down to rest upon her hips and gazed into her face, serious once more.
"I am sorry to spoil the mood, Amaleigh, but I..."
He stopped and swallowed thickly. She could see that he needed something from her, and perhaps it was more than a few simple answers. Well, it was past time, was it not? It was time for them to be honest with each other if they were to have a future together.
"Jack, stop hesitating and ask! I'll be truthful; I promise. I think I can also promise that you will not be disappointed in anything I have to say."
She was pleased to see his face relax and his mouth curve ever so slightly into a smile.
"I hope to ask all the right questions then, my dear!" he said lightly...too lightly.
It was obvious to her that he was still apprehensive.
"Go on," she replied with equal levity. "I dare you!"
Her light-hearted challenge seemed to calm him, for he relaxed even more and pulled her snugly against his chest. She loved sitting on his lap and being held like this. It was both reassuring and arousing; quite a pleasant mixture!
"Amaleigh, I have intelligence regarding your young man, Elliot. My sources have discovered where he has been lodging, and..."
"I could not care less," she retorted. She leaned forward and nuzzled the tip of his nose with hers. "Now, ask me something that we should care about!"
"How can you not care?" he blurted out in shock. "Amaleigh, he was..."
"Yes, Jack," she interjected, "he was, but he is no longer. He was my childhood friend and we were sweethearts because we knew no-one else. Ours was a adolescent infatuation. Besides," she said, looking down at his uniform and tracing a finger along the neckline of his shirt, "he must not have cared for me very much to speak to me of his previous conquests."
Jack's eyes widened and a look of pure disdain crossed his face. "He what?"
Amaleigh sighed as she remembered the night she nearly gave Elliot her virginity. "I offered myself to him once in desperation, and he said that it was right and proper that I be pure but that he need not be... or some such rot. He said that in order to please me it was necessary for him to go out and about and be with other women first."
"I cannot fathom what he was thinking to say such a thing to you," Jack said slowly, unmistakable anger underlying his tone. "It was once true that men believed such nonsense, or rather they wanted to believe it in order to do as they pleased before marriage; but to tell the woman they profess to love..."
His voice broke and he closed his eyes, plainly struggling to regain some measure of calm.
"Amaleigh, I hope you do not believe such poppycock."
"I must confess that I do not believe in his 'cock' at all, Major. I've seen it and it is not terribly impressive."
His eyes flew open and he burst out laughing and Amaleigh joined him moments later. "I suppose that I should not laugh at another man's...ah...misfortune, physical and verbal, but I cannot help it." When they both calmed down to periodic chuckles he added, "But seeing as I am the benefactor of his loss, meaning that I now have you, my dear, I cannot help but be delirious with joy."
Amaleigh's heart swelled with hope. "So...you really feel lucky to have me?"
His large warm hands cradled her face and his dark eyes filled with tenderness. "Can you doubt it? I am the luckiest man in Albion, Amaleigh."
He still hadn't said the words she longed to hear, but perhaps they would soon come! She could feel how happy he was and saw the sincerity and affection in his eyes. Surely he loved her; or if not, he soon would.
"And I am the luckiest woman, Jack Swift," she replied, not bothering to keep her tone light. She wanted him to know how much he meant to her. "Now, any more questions?"
"Aye, one for now. But please, Amaleigh, for both our sakes, be completely honest and certain of your response."
"Very well," she said. "I am not afraid and I do believe I am more than ready for any question you have."
The Major cleared his throat. "Do you think you could ever come to love me, Amaleigh? Ah... I do not expect a grand and epic sort of love from a beautiful and young woman such as yourself, but perhaps love of some measure?"
His eyes wavered and his mouth tightened. He was nervous! This man was truly nervous and fearful of her response!
"Or perhaps affection mixed with regard? I would never ask or expect anything from you that you are unwilling or unable to give, Amaleigh, and I will be happy with anything you can give me, but..."
Amaleigh seriously took each end of his moustache between her thumbs and forefingers and pulled his head gently towards hers. She kissed him soundly before releasing him and smoothing his perfectly groomed upper lip plumage back to its previous glory.
"Jack, I love you already. I have for some time, but I allowed myself time to be certain of it. I am now absolutely and completely certain. I know my mind and my heart, and they are yours." She smiled warmly as his pupils dilated and his lips parted. "As an added bonus, my body is yours, as well." She turned her face to kiss his palm. "I love you grandly and epically, my bonnie Major."
His eyes bored into hers for several long moments and all was utterly still. Amaleigh was not nervous, however, for she knew he was processing what she had revealed. She returned his gaze fearlessly and waited. He would speak when he was ready, and they had plenty of time.
At long last he cleared his throat. His hands trembled violently as they slowly cradled her face. After a few more moments he began to speak.
"Amaleigh, I have thought long and hard upon my actions toward you. I have not behaved as an honourable gentleman, although that is what I told myself. I was not protecting you from a man much older than yourself to spare you future grief. I was not being selfless in attempting to both push you away and dislike me so you could leave me and marry a younger man. In short, I have been nothing less than a complete ass."
That was not what she had expected. "But you were trying to protect me!"
He smiled wryly and shook his head. "No, I was not. I have deceived us both with that lie." He traced a thumb over her lower lip gently and his gaze softened. "Amaleigh, the difference in our ages is considerable; but if you do not mind, why should I? Oh, I can concoct any number of reasons and so can you, but in the end what do those reasons matter? Above all, you deserve a man who loves you for who you are and everything you are and could be. You deserve a man who will stand by you no matter what comes your way. You deserve nothing less than absolute love, respect, and devotion. Those are things I can offer you a thousandfold, Amaleigh. I may inhabit the frame of an ageing man with joints that stiffen in the winter, but as long as I live I will give you all of myself that I can. I swear upon my honour and my very life."
Tears welled in Amaleigh's eyes and she kissed her husband with tear-wet lips and a desperation that took them both by surprise. "I love you, Jack Swift, and don't you dare give up your life for any reason! You are mine now and I am yours. Promise me you will take care of yourself and live a very long time!"
Jack kissed her and stroked her back and her hair until her tears subsided. "I love you, Amaleigh, and I promise you that I will stay with you in this world as long as I can. But when I leave it, my dear, I shall be awaiting you in the next."
"Well," she sniffed, taking the handkerchief he offered her and dabbing away the remainder of her tears, "I suppose that will have to do."
He chuckled. "I am most pleased to be of service, my Lady."
"Speaking of," Amaleigh added, "you did promise me a full 'caress' if I answered your question."
"Ah, I am afraid I cannot do that, my dear." His full lips curved into a suggestive smile. "Seeing as how you are more irresistible than you were a few moments ago, though gods only know how that is possible, I am compelled to give you far more than a mere 'caress.'"
Amaleigh leapt from his lap and rushed to the bed. She began to work at the laces of her bodice as she turned her head and flashed him a saucy smile. "So, you are taking me up on my promise that my body is yours as well as my heart?"
"Absolutely, my dear. And this time, I promise to enjoy you much more thoroughly than I did last night." He strode to the bed and fixed his dark gaze on her nimble fingers.
"Meaning that I will be even more pleased with your incredible skills?" she teased. "Well, I doubt that! You gave me pleasures last night that I never imagined existed." Half of her laces were now undone.
"Then be prepared to discover even more, dearest Amaleigh. I have many things I desire to do to you, with you, and plenty of time for them all."
Amaleigh finished unlacing her bodice and positioned herself on the bed laying on her side. She smiled and beckoned to him.
"Come to me, Jack, and do anything you desire! I'm all yours."
Logan can damned well wait, Jack thought as he joined his wife on the small bed. Amaleigh's resulting moans and sighs were more than enough to erase any lingering guilt for keeping his wife to himself a while longer.
