Rated M
M is for MATURE, people.
If I can pretend to be, then you can too!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! *sob*

NOTE: You guys are so amazing, allowing me to take all the time I need. Seriously, ever since Anthony passed, it's like writing became so unimportant... almost like making time for it seemed selfish. But it's been over a year now, and life is getting back on track... x.x slowly. My A student is working hard to return to being an A student, and adulting has gotten a tad easier. So I figured, if I could just START writing something again—ANYTHIING—then maybe I could pull myself back out of this funk. (hence the sporadic Nalu Wonderland chapters from time to time).

I think it's working...?

Anyway, I'm super excited about this chapter here, and I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did. Here's hoping the next chapter will be less than a month away. ((Goddesses, I've got to relieve my Zombie Nalu fans of that crazy cliffhanger I dropped them on... SORRY GUYS! T.T))

This chappie is dedicated to my fellow Double LSD members,
Luv, Dom, and Stormie-bae.
😘Your constant support and counseling has been astronomical!😘

Unexpected Guests

Moments before the unexpected announcement...

The Fairy King's eyebrow twitched when Aral came back to the table he floated near to deposit two more empty goblets. As he lifted his own mug of Bernia ale back to his lips his eyes followed the elf as he wandered off to continue only the Goddesses knew shenanigans. He was sure those twins were up to something, what with Lara dragging an apprehensive Arthur off to the dance floor under her brother's watchful eye. As King's beloved drink slipped down his throat, he sighed contentedly and closed his eyes. It had been such a long day... perhaps he should just let the ale lull him to sleep. Rest always helped him keep a clear head. Clarity was good.

The thought of it certainly was tempting. The more he thought over it, the idea of lifting his eyelids became less and less possible.

"BOO!"

The voice directly in his ear was, without a doubt, the love of his life. Even so, it surprised him to no end and he gagged on the ale he'd been enjoying, coughing in a futile effort to regain composure. He was, at least, able to stay afloat—albeit ungracefully—causing the Sin of Envy a laughing fit. "Di-Di-Diane!"

"Ha ha! You should see your face!" She chortled, slowly toning down her mirth into a small, closed mouth grin. With silky, brunette strands hanging down, Diane's hair framed her bosom to perfection and try as he might, King could not help but lower his gaze and stare. The Sin of Envy blushed under his eyes, and eventually retreated a step to jar him back to her face. Noticing his cheeks were much more red than hers, she giggled. "So whatcha doin' here all by yourself?"

King chewed on his tongue and began to stammer before he'd thought of anything to say. "I just figured, well I thought... but then I—er..." He managed to stop when Diane began giggling at him and cleared his throat. There was just too much to say. How odd that he couldn't come up with a single word of it. The Fairy King wanted so badly to make their relationship official... exclusive. But he feared that if he asked her to be his, and his alone, she would dismiss him as—ugh—needy.

And quite frankly, he was. But how in the world could he tell her that without coming off as greedy as Ban?

"Wow. Sooooo..." Diane side stepped next to him and placed her hands behind her back, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "Lara has some nice moves..."

"Oh! Umm... yeah..." King blushed and looked down at his tie, pretending to wipe away a smudge that wasn't there.

"...Betcha there's only a few dancers out here that could get the gawkers to stop oogling them..."

King sweatdropped. What was she talking about? Lara seemed to be thriving out there with all those eyes on her.

Why in the world would she—huh? Oh crap! Now Diane's rocking on her heels! That means she wants something! Shit! She's starting to frown at me! Wha, wha, what do I do? Did I do something wrong?

The Fairy King was starting to sweat. Over complicating things too much, it not once occurred to him that all she wanted was for him to ask her to dance. He gulped, tugged at his tie, and nearly summoned Chastifol because right about that moment... he needed its added security.

As if his throat wasn't too dry already, it practically felt like sand when a crier from a second story stairway called out, "The Lady Elaine, sister to King Harlequin and princess of all fae kind, escorted by Bandit Ban. Ladies and gentlemen, announcing tonight's special guests!"

^.~

At some point, over the many centuries of solitude, reclusive had become a way of life for Elaine. It had happened so gradually, that she never even realized how socially awkward she'd become until right then, facing hundreds of strangers in strange garb—staring at her with... bewilderment? Usually her attentive nature would have noticed when the knight beside her snorted under his breath at being introduced simply as Bandit Ban, but not with so many eyes locked right on her. Were they really so baffled by her arrival? Why? Was there something on her face?

Was... was she not welcome?

All of a sudden it was like she was back underwater, drowning, betrayed by the very waters she was charged to protect. She couldn't breath! Without realizing it, her trembling arms clung around one of Ban's tightly and her chest heaved in a struggle for air. Elaine willed herself to fade back into the waters, but no longer possessed the ability to do so. There was no escape!

A large and familiar hand reached to rest over her hand, and it was like a rush of oxygen flooded back into her lungs. Elaine looked up to see her love, her hero, her liberator, slightly leaning over her eyeing the crowd and whispering, "This party looks kinda lame, Lamb chop. Wanna go somewhere else?"

^.~

The dance between King Arthur and Lady Guinevere paused when the king ungracefully stepped onto the elf's new human-style slipper, surprised at the unforeseen announcement. Only by Lara's overwhelming curiosity was she able to keep her yelp internal. The guy was wearing heavy golden armor! That shit hurt! Mind over matter, however, and hearing that the woman of legend, the very keeper of what had been the Fountain of Youth coming here of all places—well, her mind wasn't on her aching foot for long. Both king and lady stood there, mid dance step, frozen, staring like all the rest of the party-goers.

^.~

This was too much. The Fairy King's sacred weapon manifested deep within his arms and he hugged its fluffiness in all its glory. How could she be here? His mind swam for an answer as his body drifted involuntarily towards his sister. She looked absolutely stunning in the pink dress she wore. Its style replicated an out-dated, traditional fae dress women would wear back when the two of them were children. The knee length dress belled out to resemble a water lily and was bordered in royal purple. King's voice hitched in awe, for she was the spitting image of their mother, rest her soul.

His heart beat painfully fast, in near panic when he got a closer look at her face. Was she turning blue? At the same moment she turned up to look at Ban, King called out, "...Elaine?"

His sister's head whipped back and zeroed in on him, the crowd naturally fanning out around the Sin of Sloth. He could already hear murmurs working through the crowd whispering of how this was, perhaps, the embodiment of Lady of the Lake herself. King cared for none of it though, for he was blessed with the sight of his sister granting him a genuine smile. And that... was a sight he feared he might never see again.

Such radiance demanded reciprocation, and he gave it as best he could. The Fairy King floated higher, and barely had his arms open before his sister crashed into him in the biggest embrace he wouldn't have ever imagined he deserved. The entire kingdom gave witness to the princess returning to her king and brother, and cheered, blessedly giving Elaine the cover she needed as she cried happy tears onto his suit. Even with eyes that continued to stare blankly with astonishment, King wrapped an arm around her shoulders and cradled her head with the other in the hopes of consoling her. He couldn't imagine how she must be feeling, but at that moment, he simply thanked the powers that be for his sister's love. Even after their conversation at the lake, it was something he was sure he'd lost forever.

After holding her closely for several moments, King finally risked one simple word. "Ho-how?"

Through sniffs, and muffled by his jacket, Elaine flailed out. "He did it, Harlequin." Goddesses, but it was refreshing to hear her voice in his ears again. No longer was her voice only able to echo through the lifewater residing within his blood. "He actually did it. It was scary at first... oh goddesses, I was so scared, but he did it!"

King frowned, focusing his gaze down at the Fox Sin staring back up at the two of them. His displeased posture did not compare to the dissatisfaction that had just budded in King's heart. Whatever had scared Elaine, was no doubt due to Ban's actions.

^.~

Merlin stepped up beside Ban with a soft smile that would, without question, nurture his souring mood. "Now exactly which fairy tale was it, that had the princess running into the arms of her brother's, instead of her lover's?"

Slipping hands into the pockets of the red suit this mage had so kindly concocted for his girl's debut, the Fox Sin opted for silence. He sure could use one of those servants that served out drinks right about now...

"It's a simple matter of karma, really." Merlin continued, "Arthur should have had his sword days ago." The woman was egging him on, swirling the red wine within a chalice she manifested all nonchalantly.

She would have been correct to think he wouldn't stay quiet for long. "That's rich, comin' from you." Ban grimaced, finally glancing away from the fairies floating above. As the music picked back up, and the festivities continued, the Sin of Greed added, "Don't think I didn't notice that you and that bitch have beef."

"Viviane," Merlin emphasized with discontentment, "is back in her rightful place and that is all that needs concern you."

"What concerns me is why you had my Lamb chop out in the deepest parts of that damn lake in the first place." A small snarl grew with a glint of canine catching the light as Ban continued in a menacing drawl. "First you leave that damn dagger with her like she's no better than your own personal squire, then you go and send her on an errand that damn near gets her killed."

"What almost got Elaine killed was the return of an entity the world believed long dead." Merlin's voice managed to stay steady, even though what she said cut more deeply than she would ever let on. "Any idea as to why one of the goddesses finally returned to Avalon after abandoning her responsibilities so long ago?"

Not really surprised that the sorceress evaded his question by asking another, Ban just shook his head and walked down the stairs to flag down some ale. If Merlin wanted to dodge around the issue, fine. All that mattered was the breathtaking woman drifting above a sea of mortals, still speaking with her brother. Elaine was alive and well, and free at last.

^.~

Eventually, Elaine managed to collect herself enough to allow King to guide her to a table Diane had procured for them. Shooting the shrunken giantess a grateful nod for her foresight, he offered his sister a seat. The blonde fairy stared at the intricate chair for a moment before sitting down next to the brunette she was barely acquainted with. Nodding to her awkwardly she greeted her with, "Diane right?"

The Serpent Sin returned her smile with a nod, "Mmhmm!"

King raised a brow at his love's closemouthed response as he drifted to the only other chair there, across from Diane. He could tell Diane was trying to hold back a barrage of questions after seeing how upset his sister was earlier. As he lowered to his seat, he grunted in surprise to find a red clad leg already hanging over it. Right at that moment, his sister yelped as long fingers wrapped around her ankle and tugged her under the table, leaving Diane staring blankly. "What the?"

Grimace already planted firmly on his face, King grabbed Ban's leg from his chair and yanked him out from under the table, inevitably dragging Elaine with him—caught red handed with his tongue dangerously close to his sister's rosy face. He was about to give the Fox Sin an earful, but Diane beat him to it.

"Eeeeek!" She squealed, the quickly traded mortification in for fury. "What the hell were you doing under there?!"

Ban snickered, sitting up with a pop to his neck, and a very pleasant and surprised bundle of Elaine on his lap. "What are you talkin' 'bout," he slurred, never looking away from his princess. "I've been here the whole time."

Diane puffed out her cheeks, slamming her hands on the table and leaning forward to better see the rascal on the floor. "No you weren't! You wandered off!" King knew he should be cultivating a Ban shish kabob, but Diane's new fearsome stance just made the blessed cleavage she possessed entirely too easy to stare at. He was suddenly a victim of circumstance.

Ban finally looked up at Diane, with a smile so overloaded with mischief that it made her twitch. "Wandered off? Or just tipped over? Ya know, if you're gonna make a living as a knight ya really oughta be more attuned of your surroundings." The Fox Sin laughed out, obviously well past drunk.

As Diane tensed up in a low growl, Ban started laughing. He loved it when he got other members of his merry band all wound up. Elaine, however, looked up at the brunette's anger, and turned back to Ban with a rather irksome frown of her own. "Oh stop it Ban!" This caught both Diane and King's attention, diffusing their personal predicaments to whip there gaze down at her as she went on. "We all know you're not as drunk as you're making yourself out to be, so stop acting the lush!"

Both Diane and King stared blankly, perhaps even completely discombobulated when the Sin of Greed immediately silenced to look back at the tiny woman glaring at him. He hunkered down to touch noses with her and murmured lowly, "Aww come on, Lamb chop... I'm only playing with'em..."

With a fresh blush accenting her cheeks, she replied coyly, "But... Merlin said we were special guests... we should... um... try to behave ourselves..."

King's jaw was already hanging open, and Diane's followed when Ban responded after a brief silence. "Hmm. Alright Lamb chop."

The two continued to stare, unbelieving, as Ban moved out from under the tiny blonde to stand, offering her a hand up with a dashing set of canines. "Guess we're gonna have to dance then, eh Lamb chop?"

Elaine flushed anew and rested slim fingers onto the Fox Sin's large hand, increasing the curl to his lips. Diane and King continued to stare, slack-jawed, as he led the princess (floating in what seemed to be pure happiness) deeper into the ball room.

…...

….

"Did that just...?" King started.

"So Ban just—" Diane responded.

"But he never..."

"How did she—?"

King chewed on his cheek, becoming bothered for several different reasons at once. Awkwardly glancing at Diane, he began to spill out his invitation, "Maybe we should..."

Quick to turn to the fairy that was pointedly avoiding eye contact, Diane agreed. "Of course! To... to... keep an eye on them of course!"

"Of course!" King stammered back unsure about offering Diane his hand. How come Ban was able to be so suave about that? For that matter—how dare he be so savvy when it comes to his sister!

His paused in his offense, and to Diane it just appeared to be classic King hesitation. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his wrist, pulling him with her to the edge of the other dancers. Poor King was hardly able to will Chastifol away before she placed his other hand on her hip and began leading them through the dance floor. All he could do was pray that his nose stay plugged while he held on tight.

^.~

Perhaps inviting Elaine to dance should have taken more thought. What was the world coming to when a guy couldn't even get his gal to himself during a party? He should have known that getting his groove on with a dame that never even touched the ground would be a beacon for all the curious ooglers out there. First uninvited guest was the elf chick.

Too soon into their dance, before he could even sneak a kiss in, a bouncy Lara led her dance partner into their vicinity. Arthur must have felt really out of place as she called out to them every time she caught sight of Elaine's face.

"Hey!" "Elaine right?" "Is it true," "that you're the," "Lady of the Lake?"

"How come," "you're here," "with that guy?"

"Don'tcha," "know that," "there's a," "bonafide," "Kingie," "right here?"

As if what she'd already managed to say wasn't enough to have both Elaine and Arthur blushing like school girls, somehow the chick even managed to get the king to dip her. Seriously, how does a girl control when she gets dipped? Arthur must have been thinking the same thing, for he gasped in an effort to keep her off the ground as her head went down right between Ban and Elaine. With a bright smile pointed at Elaine that only soured Ban's attitude (again. This night had certainly put the Sin of Greed through an emotional roller coaster. ...HA!), she grinned, "Wanna trade? The guy your with poured mud all over the entry room after all. Can't have a princess get the sorta reputation that comes with consorting with someone like him on my conscience!"

That mischievous twinkle in Lara's eye was gonna get her killed someday...

"But... Lady Guinevere?" Arthur started, unsure of himself as he began straightening her back out. "Weren't you in cahoots with—"

"Not important, Kingie," Lara interrupted contentedly, patting his shoulder. Arthur was blushing wildly at that point, completely unable to make rhyme or reason out of the girl in his arms. As Lara seemed to emit pure joy, she concluded with a quick, "catch ya later Ban!"

Take your time... the Fox Sin rolled his eyes, already baking up a fresh way to relieve his love's mind from whatever stresses Lara probably burdened her with. He was very disgruntled that even as Arthur and Lara whirled away, Elaine's eyes still watched them with the innocence of a wide eyed child.

May as well just wing it, hmm?

Snaking a hand down her back, pausing right where the delicious lower slopes began, he drawled into her ear. "Lamb chop... getting a little lonely over here," Stingy to a fault. There was simply no other way to successfully enjoy life.

Finally turning back to the knight's smoldering gaze, Elaine was about to apologize for ignoring him—at least until she swallowed said speech upon noticing the winning smirk on his face. His undead heart slacked when she giggled, rolling her eyes in good humor. Her arms were slung tightly around his neck, and with the new position of one of his paws, the thought of him being lonely was utterly preposterous. "Oh Ban..." She couldn't help it. A tear leaked past her eye as she began to stammer, "I'm, I'm just so happy..."

"Just you wait til later..." The Fox Sin purred, stroking her cheek with the back of his finger. Keeping their bodies firmly flushed, he slowly licked her tear away and hummed his delight. The greedy man then tilted his lips to hers for a taste of fresher waters.

^.~

King was in trouble. He couldn't focus on anything while Diane had him focusing on everything! Goddesses but she felt so warm!

No!

He'd spent too many centuries skipping out of being the dutiful elder brother. He must persevere!

Diane, on the other hand, desperate for a distraction, watched over his sister like a hawk. She'd known King since... since forever and she knew exactly how heavy his heart was from the guilt he suffered, unable to have been there when Elaine needed of him most. Besides. What better way to help her now than to save her from herself? Elaine and her were like sisters after all, it was her duty!

Suddenly she stopped dead, mid-pivot. Her face felt hotter than one of Ban's ghost peppers.

What. The. Fuck?! Like sisters? Like—King and I are...

Diane's abrupt time-out was King's yelp, bumming directly into the shrunken giantess' flushed face.

"Ack!" They both cried together.

A nervous twitch consumed the fairy as they stared wide-eyed at each other. This was it! Should he kiss her now for all to see? Would that finally make them exclusive and allow him to skip right over the talk? His nose started to leak as he thought of the other things she might let him do if such a half baked scheme actually worked.

The sight of King bleeding pulled Diane out of her stupor, concerned for him. "King? Is it hot in here? Should we get you some fresh—" Her gaze suddenly shifted from him to over his shoulder. "Oh hell no! Not my sister!"

Those words would register in the fairy king later. King's gaze followed Diane's to the terrible sight of Ban being way too indecent with his sister. Hell, they weren't even dancing anymore! That dirty bandit was trying to seduce his sister right here in the middle of the party? Who does that?

Nuh uh. Not on King's watch.

She'd wanted to go back to being his little sister, right? Weeeellll, he'd be the best damn brother in the realm—no—the world! Then, as if by some telepathic connection, Diane growled into his ear, "I'll take the oaf, you get Elaine."

Goddesses how could this beautiful Sin be any more perfect?

^.~

War tactics of a dried up old man continued deep into the night and the prince of drows had grown weary of it long ago. His father wanted none of his input and he'd been sure to make that perfectly clear from the very start. All he desired of Hendrickson was to stand there as their people's champion and remain there.

So he stood. Watching his father's generals study a floor enchanted with a bird's eye view of the known realms. At least while he was here, he could listen in and be better prepared to plan around the mess of things his father kept making for him. One of the elder elves was pointing out a valley where they might surprise the young woman preemptively dubbed 'Battle Queen' while other old prunes argued about such a valley being a trap laid out on a silver platter.

How dull.

These men had zero ambition. They just kept repeating the same war games their fathers before them played, furthering a useless cycle. Drows begrudged the woods for their precious forests and sought to take it from them. Not even one of them had the capacity to comprehend that he'd already had their ultimate mission all wrapped up in a neat little bow... before they ruined his meticulously crafted plans by pointlessly attacking the capitol.

Useless.

The new wood queen would never complete the marriage treaty now. The thought brought the same glower to the prince's face that it always did. None of these so-called wisemen believed in the Tay'daishar, but—to be fair—they did not have the sort of contacts he had. No. while these old men continued their chain of failures again and again, Hendrickson had made real discoveries. Humans, Fae, Woods... they thought themselves so special. The true paladins of light with their seals capable of withering the Demon King to dust. How could they not see that it was all just paving the way for his ultimate glory? All the pieces were at last put together now that Viviane was free (a detail he felt no need to divulge to his father's war council). All he needed now was the key.

His eyes lowered to the floor and focused on an owl soaring across the human king's castle, lit bright in celebration of their valiant victory. That Dragon Sin must be feeling pretty good about his ragtag team of misfits right about now. Humph. Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. How droll. If what the writs claim is true true, and the Goddesses really did create all life, then humanity must have been their greatest failure. Just a hive of creatures frittering away their short, meaningless lives... just bothersome parasites plaguing his world.

Mild curiosity struck him when the continuous drawl of his father's voice stopped short in a mangled gasp. Raising his gaze, his lips curled in the barest hint of a smile meant for his father alone. Murmurs rose to calls of distress, quickly silenced by the appearance of a magnificent woman behind the king. Her manifestation was marvelous. No smoke, no flash, not even a sound. This benevolent specimen was above such theatrics. Just a few blinks, and she was there. By just simply holding a delicate hand raised, she willed the Drow King's neck to collapse in on itself. Soon he would stop grasping for that last, pitiful breath. Nothing but a harsh whisper was required after snatching everyone's voice. "I have had enough of this man. You fools should have deposed him the moment his son rose to champion. This kingdom has fallen far in my absence."

I know it's been FOREVER ago, but I'm pretty sure most of ure lickins were thru pm's. I'm going to continue to try a more, hehe, personal approach. 💕

So much love! Here's the extra dialogue such love inspired!

*Hawk waits while Aral fills glasses for himself, Lara, and Arthur from dessert table*

*The group of four deadpan (right along side of everyone else) as their gazes follow King crying out something incoherent, swooping up Elaine and flying right out balcony—never looking back*

*group grows varying sizes of sweatdrops as they lower their eyes to see Diane pointing at Ban, stringing out profanities and challenging him to a fight*

*group still watching as Ban scratches head, wondering, what the hell man? Never once paying Diane any mind as he stares out balcony King just flew*

Arthur: *winces when Diane yells in frustration, tackling Ban from behind*

*Crash, bang, screech, shuffle*

Lara: *gives Aral a sidelong glance while the two sins begin waging all out war in Arthur's ballroom* I thought you were keeping her filled up with anger management...

Arthur: *looks to Aral*

Aral: *takes offense* I thought you were doing that!

Arthur: *looks to Lara*

Lara: Me? No! Remember? I was on king patrol!

Arthur: "Looks to Aral*

Aral: *sarcastic* Well great job! You just let the guy just fly out the window!

Arthur: *looks to Lara*

Lara: *scoffs* Not King! Kingie!

Arthur: Uh... it's Arthur...?

Aral: Damnit Sis! I was talking about King! *sighs, folding arms* Welp, I guess we all know who's fault this is...

Lara: *annoyed tick* No way is this my fault!

Aral: It is! How were we not on the same page? Diane was with King, and you were supposed to be feeding King! Ergo, you should have been feeding Diane too!

Arthur: *sweatdrop*

Hawk: How come nobody was feeding me? All this talk is making me hungry...

Aral: *ducks to avoid chair flinging through air*

Arthur: *Hangs head down* Merlin warned me about parties and Sins...

All for you, my lovelies
Be awesome to each other

Seriphia
aka
Lick

*~.😛.~*