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)

Thanks for the wonderful reviews. Keep it up. Here is the long awaited kiss. Enjoy.

"Kiss me" Ailis begged plaintively and Olethia felt her stomach hollow out as she broke out in a nervous sweat at the idea. It wasn't that she didn't want to but they were in a bed and considering she wanted Ailis with a need that had her throbbing she wasn't sure.

"Ailis" she breathed as a cool slender hand slid around the back of her neck and tried to urge her forward "I..I'm not sure...your mother..."

"Is not here" Ailis insisted, tugging harder

"She was earlier" Olethia groaned as Ailis gave up on trying to pull her closer and instead shuffled herself forward so they were chest to chest. Oh help!

"Olethia, do you not wish to kiss me?" Ailis looked at her with consternation and Olethia groaned when she thought she detected tears in those beautiful eyes.

"I do, I swear" she assured placing a hand on Ailis's waist, trembling when it caused her beloved to groan and close her eyes "I just, your mother said...and we're in bed...if she catches us" she paused when a gentle finger was pressed against her lips to hush her.

"Mother said not to do anything before a commitment. I see a betrothal as commitment, do you not?"

"Yes?" Olethia squeaked, unsure if it was a question or statement. They were betrothed, she'd asked Ailis to marry her, Ailis was going to be her wife. She was suddenly stunned by the development as it hit her.

"You should not fear my mother" Ailis smiled and then teased "Are you my Warrior or my mouse?"

Olethia groaned when she realised Ailis had caught her mad ramblings earlier while trying to work up her courage to propose. God she was acting like a fool, or the virgin that Ailis admitted she was. Remembering that suddenly had her trepidation skyrocketing again, she needed to be gentle. It was fair to say that Ailis may not have kissed anyone either.

Looking into expectant blue eyes she gave her betrothed a reassuring smile while squeezing the hand she still held. With her free hand she reached out to cup Ailis's face gently, reverently. She was so soft, so smooth to touch and she had a feeling she would become addicted to the feel of her loves creamy skin.

Ailis let out a whimper, hopefully of need and not fear as she leant closer, all the time reiterating to herself to be gentle until she captured Ailis's lips in a soft tender kiss that had them both sighing in pleasure.

So soft, so gentle, so chaste. Olethia peppered the lovely lips with several light closed mouth kisses, listening to the little mewling sounds that were erupting from the blonde's throat as if they were in the throes and depths of passion.

She had to admit that soon the chaste kisses were not enough to satisfy the burn inside of her and she gently deepened the kisses, adding more pressure and opening her mouth. At the same time her free hand caressed down over Ailis's neck, smiling at the pulse point under her fingers beat a rapid tattoo. Further she explored, along a delicate collarbone, smiling into the kiss as Ailis gave a choking gasp, effectively opening her mouth allowing Olethia to deepen the kiss further. This elicited a delightful moan from her beloved and the hand at the back of her neck ran up into her hair, fisting it almost painfully. Olethia did not care as she curved her hand down a slender back to the curve of her lover's waist and pulled their bodies in tight together.

Ailis was stunned, she did not know her body could react like this, feel like this, crave like this. What had started out as a perfect tender first kiss was turning more and more passionate and although it scared her a little her body was telling her it was not enough, she wanted more, always more.

As Olethia pulled their bodies tight together with a moan Ailis's brain shut down and she let her emotions sweep over her. Olethia's mouth on hers was so soft and warm and skilful, knowing when to press harder or pull back and tease with nibbles. When Ailis felt her tongue push into her mouth demandingly she jolted as if she had been zapped by an eel. Then she moaned as that soft yet masterful tongue explored her mouth with controlling passion before teasing her own into a dual.

She never knew you could kiss like this, use your teeth and your tongue to such pleasure that had a burning ache spreading through her body, starting at the tender place between her thighs and spreading outward like a rampaging fire.

She gave herself totally to Olethia, allowing herself to be pushed back against the mattress as Olethia rose above her, her body half covering hers but leaving a hand free to caress her side from shoulder to knee and back again in loving strokes that just stoked the fire inside of her, causing her to arch and moan beneath Olethia.

As much as she loved that Olethia was still holding her hand delicately with her other she needed to hold onto Olethia tighter and pulling it free of the grasp wrapped it tightly around Olethia's strong shoulders.

She cried out in unimaginable pleasure as a strong hand slid up her side and around to cup her right breast through the cloth of her shirt. She could feel the globe swelling, feel her nipple becoming hard in pleasurable pain as Olethia flicked it gently with her thumb.

She wrenched her mouth from her betrothed's in need of oxygen as she gasped for breathes. She was barely aware of the unintelligible sounds she was making or the restlessness of her body. She felt weird, she felt foreign like she didn't know her own body. She was scared but at the same time she trusted Olethia, obviously she didn't see anything unusual in her body's reactions. For that alone she didn't try and hold back her moans of delight or her breathless pleading as Olethia left her lips to kiss her way down her throat. Oh dear Lord, she had no idea you could die from pleasure.

Olethia knew she had lost control of the situation. What she had meant to be a loving tender kiss to seal their betrothal had exploded into a white hot passion she had never felt before. Everything with Ailis was stronger, deeper, emotional, loving. She shook with it, she strong Warrior that she was, was a shaking, quivering emotional mess, brought undone by a bewitching blue eyed blonde.

If Ellard and the others were here they would tease her mercilessly. Right now she didn't care, she was too fascinated by the taste and texture of the beating pulse point at the base of Ailis's throat to care about anything else. She closed her mouth over it, suckling gently before swiping it with her tongue. She could hear Ailis begging for more, wanting to get closer as she tried to pull her on top. Olethia could no more deny her than herself and pushing up onto her arms moved to hover over Ailis while recapturing her mouth in a heated kiss.

Small, demanding hands gripped at her back trying to coax her down onto the slim frame beneath her and Olethia used a practiced knee to push open thighs that parted willingly, eagerly. Olethia groaned into their kiss as she settled into the welcoming cradle of Ailis's hips, the groan turning into a shudder as she felt Ailis instinctively, innocently roll her hips upwards in invitation.

Somewhere in the back of her mind warning bells started to clatter telling her she was on dangerous ground, that Ailis was innocent and that this was moving way too fast. She tried to pull back but Ailis clung to her like a vice, refusing to let her go and begging her in a pleading voice while rolling her hips again. Blood roared in Olethia's ears, her body shook with the effort not to give in at the same time trying to soothe Ailis in some ways with a demanding kiss that she knew would leave their lips swollen and bruised.

Both of them were so caught up in fact that they did not hear the gentle knock on the door, or the voice call out as the door opened. They were so lost in their kiss that they did not see the four pairs of eyes widen in shock or the gasps that accompanied them. It was the tall dark haired one that pulled herself together first and demanded.

"Princess Olethia, release Ailis this instant you brute"

Olethia and Ailis flew apart, turning to stare in horror through the bedroom chamber doorway to the doorway of the main chamber to find Ailis's 4 friends from the forest standing there staring at them in different stages of shock, horror and disgust. Oh boy, Olethia groaned.

"A'ishah what is the meaning of this?' Ailis demanding "You dare to come into my betrothed's chambers unannounced and then have the gall to insult her"

"Betrothed?" Stina squealed

"What?" A'ishah scowled not sure if she heard correct

"Wait, you're...?" Caci's eyes about bugged out of her face

"Oh that's so romantic" Kelifa breathed.

Ailis sighed and shivered as her body reacted to the closeness of Olethia still. Her betrothed had relaxed again, leaning back in the bed and gently giving her reassurance with a tender warm hand to her back.

She sighed and beckoned her friends in, knowing there would be no return to the nirvana she was just experiencing any time soon. This may be for the best. Now that her brain was functioning again she realised they had been heading down a fast and slippery slope into uncharted waters. Well for her at least.

"Let's try this again shall we." Ailis sighed as her friends gathered round the bed "My handsome princess was not taking advantage of me A'ishah never fear, Olethia would never do that. What you walked in on was our shared excitement in becoming betrothed"

"Right" A'ishah drawled, shooting a look at the dark haired woman who was laying back casually with a brow arched in challenge. "If she proposed there should be a ring"

"You mean like this one?" Ailis held up her hand with a smile revealing the sparkling Sapphires and diamonds to the awe of others.

Olethia sat back and watched in pride as the 4 friends simply dove on her beloved in eagerness to congratulate her first. She sighed, she would have to look at putting a bolt on her chamber door for the future. Although it was just as well the friends interrupted them today she would want no such repeat once they were married.

The King looked out over the gathered crowd of high ranking officials from the villages and the Royal Guard. A contingent of retired Warriors were also in attendance and he held up his hand to tone down the murmur of speculation they was turning the room into and echoing amphitheatre.

"Quiet" he called and waited patiently for all eyes to turn to him "I've called this meeting to discuss the events of recent days and also to discuss a solution to the prevalence of substance abuse and violence in the slums."

He paused as there were murmurs of approval or understanding. Once again he held up his hand.

"Yesterday my daughter and the Royal Guards arrested a man for beating his family. Not only that but he terrorised them, abused them, half starved them and had them commit crimes for him" he paused again when shocked murmurs were uttered "Today 5 of his friends tried to attack my daughter and Princess Ailis from the forest clan down by the river"

"I hope she dealt them the punishment they deserved" one of his old Warrior friends dared to call out.

"She easily dispatched them with the help of Oria. I have sent troops to retrieve their bodies. They are to be returned to their families for burial. At the same time if those families show they have been terrorised and beaten too they will be offered the same incentives as my daughter offered the wife yesterday. A job and clean, dry place to stay"

He let that sink in with his audience, glad to see nods of approval.

"We all knew that unemployment was creating problems in the slums, I saw it every week in court, but I did not know the depths of depravity some were stooping to. I have decided it is time to clean up the slums. Unemployment is everyone's problem not just those who are unemployed. As is the fact that the slums even exist.

"I have sent for the Warriors Ellard, Fatin and Miron. Upon their return they and my daughter will lead a specialised team of handpicked Royal guards to go into the slums and clean it up. Those who have been abusing their families will be arrested, those who are unemployed and willing to work will be given jobs, those who do not won't be given any other choice."

"With all due respect your highness, what jobs do you intend to give them?" an official asked.

"What about the War? How will we fight with our best Warrior occupied?"

"We will worry about the war when and if it happens. If it does come to fruition then of course that will be the Warriors main priority. With the cold fast approaching they would be stupid to start anything now" he placated before adding,

"As for jobs I believe there is a need for more labourers in the mining and farming industry. I hope some with farming backgrounds can help with my idea to develop community crops which can help feed the poor. Sewing season will approach soon and they can start preparing land to sew. There is plenty of rich plains in the land that have not been sewn yet"

"This is a mammoth task" another official replied

"Which is why I am requesting your help" the King nodded, "It should have been done long ago before it became this epidemic and for that I blame myself. For a lot of years I was too involved with my own demons and not invested in the best interest of the land. It is time to rectify that"

He felt the stares of his friends, colleagues and the officials as he admitted his short comings and hoped it helped him see him more as a man, not just a King.

"There is so much more I wish to do. On top of everything else I want to be able to persuade families to leave their homes in the slums so we can tear them down and concentrate on making them new homes. Nothing grand but better than the shanty's or lean to they occupy now."

"An inspiring sight your honour but where do we house the families in the mean time? As you said, the cold will soon be approaching, how do we keep them warm? What incentive do we give for them to leave the only homes they know?" the outspoken official called out again and the King sighed.

"People please, I don't have all the answers which is why I called this meeting. I want you to discuss it, I want you to go away and think about it, even walk through the slums and assess the task at hand" he held up a hand frustrated when people started to call out "Silence. I want you to come back in a few days when the other Warriors return with any ideas you may have. You will then outline the ideas to Olethia, the Warriors and the Guards who will assist them"

He stood then indicating an end to the meeting, or at least his say in it. It was their turn now to come up with solutions to the seeds he had planted. Right now he felt the urge as a father to go check on his daughter, maybe spend some time with her and her intended.

Everyone else in the room hurried to stand also as he swept past them and out of the room, leaving them in disbelief and stunned silence. All were dumbfounded by the mammoth task confronting them.