I'll be at a camp for three days next week, so enjoy this extra long chapter in case I don't get another up before I leave. Also to make up for the wait since the last update. Heh xD
Don't forget about the poll on my profile guys, it's very important!
At first Eragon had been wary leaving Rhonny alone in the castle to guard Saphira's eggs, perhaps more than the mother dragon herself, but Galbatorix managed to convince him. The younger rider knew he would miss the sandy haired woman more than a lesser man might admit. As they flew to Uru Baen for the first time he had held her tightly, resting his chin on her shoulder and closing his eyes. They had said goodbye the night before, and to his shame Eragon knew he would be yearning for her mind and her touch equally while he was gone. That wasn't to say he had given into the urge to bed her, but the half-elf half-dwarf had taught him a thing or two about pleasuring a woman. Practice makes perfect, she had said to him, and he submitted knowing he wouldn't have lasted much longer without breaking. That, and Eragon wanted to make her happy no matter what, even if that meant getting creative.
When they arrived, they received an overwhelming welcome. While it was only the city of Uru Baen to cheer for them from the streets that did not mean Eragon and Saphira didn't feel flattered when the people of the Empire crowded the gates of the castle and roared with excitement. Sharing a look with his dragon, Eragon allowed himself to grin. This sure beats any welcome we've gotten before, he offered to Saphira, but the blue dragon did not answer him. Shrugging, he helped Rhonny down, smiling as she protectively tucked to her chest the pack holding the two eggs. Saphira made no comment, unusually quiet as they made their way up the steps towards the main door. Shruikan thought it best not to greet them at the door as they might all get stuck on their way in, but Galbatorix himself was standing there with something akin to approval on his face.
"They like you," the king's voice rumbled, ever deep, and Eragon looked up to him. The royal was dressed in relatively plain clothes, just a well fitted tunic and clean trousers, but Rhonny was taken aback by his presence. Her reaction did not go unnoticed, for while Eragon talked to the King and looked back to Saphira, who towered behind them, Galbatorix looked in her direction and winked at her playfully. A lady might blush and look down, but Rhonny was no lady, and suddenly there was a grin on her face. She silently resolved this man she could have fun with, but not before quirking an eyebrow in his direction discreetly. Word games were fun, teasing games were even better. It saddened her that both Eragon and the king were to be gone for nearly a month. Hopefully there was someone around that Galbatorix could trust enough to allow her to talk with.
Turning and leading them down the long halls, Galbatorix explained he wanted all three dragons to make an appearance together at the front along with their riders. He also let it slip that it would give them the opportunity to get to know each other better and work together. Over the course of an hour they had Rhonny settled into a room and Saphira's eggs tucked away. Shruikan met them in a large hall and swept Eragon and Saphira away, leaving Galbatorix to escort Rhonny around the castle after Eragon kissed her goodbye once again (and certainly not for the final time). The King, standing a solid foot above her, peered down impishly. Rhonny found herself giggling at his charming words and being led around by the arm on a basic tour of the grounds.
It was only after the half dwarf was reunited with her young rider betrothed that Galbatorix allowed himself to slip away in search of the only woman he wanted to spend his day with. Rhonny was pleasant enough, and that was an understatement, but despite himself the King held a certain attachment to the young sorceress Shruikan had kidnapped for him. Shaking his head at that train of thought, Galbatorix entered the one room she spent her days in: the spell room. Trianna liked the library as well, and the bedroom of course, but she spent the majority of her time in the magicians room practicing tirelessly.
Galbatorix stood in the doorway watching her struggle with a small orb of energy between her palms, back to the door. Moving silently, he approached her smaller form only to slide his arms around hers and use the guise of helping her control the spell as an excuse to hold her. "Remember it will fight you to be free. Give it a bit of wiggle room," he advised, inching her hands apart to give the barely contained spell room to pulse and move around. Had he view of her face, he would've spotted her eyes widen and an accomplished grin appear. She wasn't too proud to accept his help, but she was determined to master it in private while he was away. As it was he had already assigned her a sequence of spells to work on during his absence.
Trianna then grinned for different reasons, forcing the energy seep back into her veins instead of letting it go. She leaned back against the King, her back of her head reaching the middle of his chest only because she was tall for a woman. "I thought you had left already," one could hear her smile in her voice, and in response Galbatorix trapped her in a cage of his arms.
"You'll not be rid of me just yet, pet," he growled, but his heart wasn't in it. He was too happy to scold her properly on her eagerness to be rid of him. She was just teasing him anyways, he was sure of it. Her soft laughter calmed him, nerves from the day's happenings slowly fading. Never had he thought a woman could have such an effect on him, the only one ever before he had lost. The thought scared him more than he cared to admit, so he distracted himself by bending down and nuzzling his face into her neck. He sought something to say to her to move the conversation along but found himself too content with their current position to ruin it with words.
Instead, it was Trianna who spoke, "If not today, then will you take your leave, your grace?" He smiled into the skin of her neck and let her leaned back fully, supporting her. This was not the first time she had pressed herself against him but his body responded all the same. Perhaps it was the thought of her rear pressed against his groin and the feel of the heat that lay there that made his manhood twitch eagerly. It was shameful she did even have to move in a tempting way for him to suddenly be ready to take her all over again. Galbatorix let loose a growl much like a dragon would and his arms lowered to wrap around her hips instead of her waist. His hands moved to trace little circles there as he thought of all the things he wanted to do to her. Of course, he'd have to respond sometime, and he'd rather not do it when they were actually busy.
"Tomorrow at dawn," he rasped, reining back his raging arousal, or trying to, at least. It seemed to be working until she shifted from one foot to the other and successfully rubbed her rear against him. The King shuddered and pulled her closer only to push her to a nearby table. Not liking the idea of not being able to kiss her as he liked too, he flipped her around and sat her down on the wooden edge, finding his place between her legs again. Trianna was laughing at his enthusiasm. She hadn't pushed him away yet, so he went for it.
Being the tease she was, Trianna did not remind him of the other business they had to tend to until he was painfully ready and he had begun to hitch her skirt up past her knees. He stilled then, growling again, and she felt his hands clench on her thighs possessively before he pulled away. To his delight, however, Galbatorix watched her rake her eyes over the tent in his pants like she still couldn't believe it was just for her. The King grinned, somewhat feral looking, and helped her hop down off the table he had lifted her onto only to trap her in his hands again. "Don't make a habit of this, pet, or I might stop following your orders," he whispered the warning into her ear, but he knew he could never hurt her in such a way. He could easily over power, but the idea did not appeal to him until she asked him to do so.
They played a game, still ongoing after a few weeks because they had yet to tire of it. She teased him, egged him on and pushed him until his control broke and that's when the real fun began. Trianna practically had the King in a collar leading him around by a leash, and nearly everyone in the castle could see it. They may have been worried if he had been anyone else, but no one could harm the King. As it was, he certainly wasn't complaining. Despite all their little game was, there was affection there as well. An inkling of love that was visible whenever they saw each other fleetingly between his meetings and when they both subconsciously brushed knuckles as they walked past each other in the halls. It was even there in times like these, when he held her for a moment longer than a King would hold his whore. She had promise as his BlackHand, yes, but Galbatorix would be a true fool if he tried to say he kept her around only for that reason.
No longer thinking with his cock, Galbatorix let go of her and led her to where they were to meet the younger two riders. Trianna had already admitted to her King that she had met Eragon before while working for the Varden, so they both spend the walk praying things went over smoothly. At first, Galbatorix had been upset (more upset than he had a right to be) at the idea of Trianna making a pass at Eragon years before. But she was his now, and Eragon had that hybrid girl, so he doubted it mattered now. He was right, as usual.
Eragon greeted Trianna with raised eyebrows but remained friendly towards her and introduced her to Rhonny. Saphira gave the young spell caster a nod of her head, and Galbatorix knew at once there were no grudges being held. "Trianna is in training to be the leader of the BlackHand," Galbatorix revealed, and Trianna beamed a giant grin. The King didn't remind the boy his mother had been a BlackHand, as that would bring up more questions than he would like to answer. He had no wish to bring the boys lineage into the spotlight, and especially not his brother's.
Speaking of the elder brother, Murtagh did not arrive until the meeting was nearly halfway over. They had already gone over the initial plan for their travels, and were busy delving into more important details when the young man walked in. Galbatorix shook his head, both at the boy's tardiness, and his mind's habit of labeling him as a boy when he obviously was not. When would he hang that practice up by the door and leave it there? Thank god Morzan had been considered a tall man by human standards or questions might be raised, the King thought as Murtagh sat down across the table from his brother. That was the last thing he needed in the middle of this war.
Hickeys could be seen on Murtagh's neck, more than one woman alone could make over one night alone. Murtagh also sat down slowly, back and arms obviously sore. Galbatorix only had to guess whatever whores he had spent the night with had taken to raking their nails down his skin, leaving gashes. The King sighed, turning his head to Thorn when the red dragon sat down behind his rider. "Thank you for reminding him, Thorn," he bowed his head in return to the "it's nothing" gesture he received from the dragon. They both knew Murtagh would have slept through this meeting had it not been for Thorn's persuasions.
The talk of the Northern front continued until Eragon, Saphira and Rhonny were as informed as Murtagh was. Trianna also learned a bit more about the elven assault but she did not need to listen as intently as the others. It was her job to keep the castle running (it practically ran itself anyways) and to keep working on her spells like Galbatorix had said. Speaking of spells, Trianna thought, looking up the table to her King. She had a surprise for him when they were alone that night, but she dared not tease him with that now.
It had only taken a few instances for Trianna to learn when Galbatorix was in the mood for playfulness, and when he was not. His loving side rarely came out when there were other people around, but when they were alone he acted like a completely different person. Admittedly, she wasn't as okay with this as she made it seem. It had been a startling realization to say the least, when Trianna realized she didn't want his love in secret, she wanted him to show her off as his lover and make his feelings known to the whole castle; the whole Empire. She wanted to be more than his lover too, she knew, and that would come with time, but she still did not like having to hide her feelings for him around others. To the world she was merely his BlackHand in training. What did she mean to him personally then? Was she just another lover to be cast away when she grew too old for his tastes?
The idea made her sick, and angry. Under the pretense she was feeling ill, she excused herself and never returned. Trianna made her way through the halls; she was trying to find somewhere she would not be bothered only to remember Galbatorix could find her wherever she hid whenever he wanted to. Sighing, Trianna closed the door to bedchambers behind her and slowly stripped herself bare hoping a nap would quiet her insecurities. It worked, but not without her absence going unnoticed.
Galbatorix stood in front of her door, frowning. He had known she had been lying the minute she made an excuse and left, but he had been forced to wait to go in search of her until the meeting was over and the rest of them parted ways until the following morning. Being denied earlier raised the hope she was going back to his room and planned on surprising him, but that idea was smothered quickly when his room was found empty. Deep down he knew something else was wrong. Was she unhappy? More importantly, was it his fault? That spurred him to reach out mentally, passing over servants and slaves in the hunt for her unique mind, only to find her in the one place he had never thought to look.
To his shame, the King had never actually visited her in her own room; he had always called her to his. It felt as if he was stepping over a boundary when he unlocked the door with a quick spell and snuck in instead of waiting for her to answer his knocks. Galbatorix found her lying under a thick layer of blankets, and had to stop to think up something to say. It was his job to make her feel better, was it not? That brought up the issue of when he had developed this mindset, but he pushed it aside for later when Trianna's eyes fluttered open. Deciding to go for it, the King stepped closer to her bedside and kneeled there. He crossed his arms over his chest and rested them on the mattress next to her. "Is something wrong?"
Her eyes opened fully at his voice, and he was overjoyed to see her smile at him without any strain shown on her face. His heart kick-started a bit when she reached out from underneath the sheets and ran a hand over his cheek, fighting to stifle a yawn. "No, I'm feeling better now," Trianna stretched herself out but made no move to get out of bed and make herself presentable. "What times is it?"
As he watched her, Galbatorix kept his eyes trained onto her face. It was a bit harder than he'd like to admit, but he felt it was not the best time to trail his eyes down to where he breasts peeked out from under the sheets and remind her how quickly his body reacted to the sight hers. "Past supper, my love. You slept through the afternoon." He smiled at her catty ways but knew he should reword his original question. "Was something wrong?"
Trianna looked down to avoid his gaze and her sleepy smile died. "There was," she admitted, caught between being happy he was concern and nervous he would be mad at her for leaving with such stupid reasons. When he smiled at her sadly she couldn't help but smile back. He wanted her to tell him willingly, and didn't want to press her for information if she was uncomfortable with it. The King was polite in that way thankfully. "I don't want to be hidden from the world, your grace." His brow creased as he tried to figure out what she meant. "If you mean to keep me as a lover and nothing more, you must tell me so I can learn to live with it. I was just hoping that one day…"
"One day you would be my Queen," Galbatorix finished for her when she trailed off nervously. He stayed silent for a few minutes before catching her eyes and holding her gaze. "You are not as hidden as you think. It is my fault for leaving out certain parts of the BlackHand description, but I feared such an idea would scare you off."
"What do you mean?" Why is he going back to the BlackHand topic? Does the idea of marriage make him so uncomfortable he cannot bear it? She nearly scowled but fought the expression back when he began to explain.
"The lead BlackHand is a woman of high origins who holds an incredible amount of magic in her blood. We've already discussed that and as you remember your lineage does not matter to me. But the BlackHand has many roles, including leading the group of magicians…and taking up the role of monarch." Trianna stared right back at him, fighting to find words to respond to him, but he merely smiled at her and continued talking. "Do you understand now? Everyone you have been introduced to not only knows of your training, but your role in my life as well. The whole castle knows of our relationship, along with every noble you have met and everyone I have mentioned you to. The Empire knows of a new BlackHand in training, and therefore, they know their new queen has come."
With her mouth open in shock and mind whirling, Trianna couldn't find the words to respond. Galbatorix smiled at her still, and chuckled as he reached and brushed a strand out of her face. Ashamed of herself the split second she did, Trianna said the first thing that came to mind, "what happened to you first BlackHand?" This didn't seem to strike a nerve with the King but his smile fell, his face taking on a thoughtful expression.
"She betrayed me for another and was removed from her position… But do not worry about that, pet," he stood and stooped over her to kiss her forehead before moving to whisper in her ear, "you will not betray me." The way he said left no room for argument, and Trianna whole heartedly agreed. She would not betray him. Yet even as she smiled at him, her mission lay in the back of her mind, guarded and under various locks, until the right day to execute it came along. She didn't even dare think of it should someone be in her head, and even then she could not remember her orders. They were to be activated with a specific word uttered by an unknown mouth, leaving her able to live day to day life like nothing was looming in the near future. As she thought of it, it turned hazy, like her subconscious couldn't even determine if such a thing existed or not, and at the confusion she let it go and turned her attention back to her King.
Trianna's smile grew into a grin when he set a knee on her bed and moved above her, lips finding her neck. It was then she remembered the spell she had studied the day before just for him. With a newfound hope and a heat pooling in her stomach, Trianna let go of all other thoughts and surrendered to him, pulling him down closer and preparing for the onslaught of tantalizing touches to come.
The next morning when the sun hadn't even fully risen over the horizon, Galbatorix found himself forced to leave her bed and make his way outside to the castle courtyard where Shruikan waited to be saddled. Eragon and Saphira were to one side of his dragon while Murtagh and Thorn readied themselves on the other. Galbatorix gave them all a polite nod or two, reaching up to scratch Shruikan on the chin once he stood in front of the giant dragon. Sleep well? Shruikan asked innocently, knowing his rider had been spending less time sleeping alone than before the sorceress came along. Galbatorix rolled his eyes only to look towards the giant doors that had been thrown open.
Trianna stood there with a purple dress on her hips, hair flowing down freely just the way she knew he liked it. Galbatorix grinned, knowing she had woken up a bit earlier than usual and liking the idea of her doing it just for him. She had yet to call him over, but he figured now was the perfect time to prove his point. If she wanted a public relationship, she was going to get it.
He marched his way up the steps towards that giant door, ignoring her pleasantries and her curtsey. Galbatorix bent down for a split second before he pulled her in for a kiss and swung her around, lifting her a solid foot off the ground without even trying, his hands on her waist. "Public enough?" He taunted, biting her lip wantonly before he set her back on the ground. His little display over he ducked his head down to the crook of her shoulder and nuzzled there, trying to savor the sweet smells of her perfumes and convert them to memory to endure the long journey ahead of him. It was the first time he had ever shown such a weakness in front of the others, and while Trianna was truly overjoyed she felt a split second of panic for her King. Would someone target them now that he had done this? Would there be someone after her now, threatening her life and in turn, his?
Galbatorix seemed to sense her growing fright because he chuckled and whispered in her ear much like the night before, "I will keep you safe. Just keep practicing your spells and be ready when I get back." At any other time she would have chided him for ruining such a moment with something so crude, but then all she could do was squeeze her arms around his neck and then let him go.
"They are waiting," she reminded him, and the King nodded, removing his hands from her waist. He walked away from her backwards a few steps as if he couldn't take his eyes off of her, but then he turned around and strode back down the stone steps with his long legs. Trianna waved at him one last time as he climbed into Shruikan's saddle and strapped himself in. He winked to her, hoping she saw the minute action, and Shruikan swung himself around to lead the other two dragons away from the castle.
"Prepare for three long weeks of undying boredom and saddle sores," Galbatorix laughed darkly, and Shruikan raised his great wings. They shot into the sky, twisting only to see Saphira and Thorn take off behind them, and then they were on their way.
More about Trianna and Galbatorix's relationship, a bit of info about the BlackHand, as well as a few hints to a twist if you look hard enough. These two are easily becoming my favourite pair *girly giggle* but I've got something else up my sleeve that should make you all go bug eyed. Also, I don't think I'll be diving into too much detail about their flight north. We'll see.
Next Update: It's a surprise.
