Roslyn's heart skipped a beat as the king's arms wrapped gently around her. It was unexpected, but she loved the feeling of being so close to him. She turned around in his arms so she was facing him.
"There isn't much on my mind that would interest a king," she said and looked up at him. "But perhaps we could spend the evening looking at the stars, or bundle up and take a stroll along the country side," Rose suggested.
Adrien reveled in the feeling of her in his arms. She felt right. She fit perfect. He especially enjoyed when she turned around to face him. He could see her face and her eyes.
"When I am in your company, I will do my best to put aside my title as a king. With you I will be just Adrien. As just Adrien, I am interested in anything that Rose has on her mind that she wishes to share with me." He told her, placing a kiss on her forehead then released her from his embrace.
He strolled over to the coat rack by the door and put on his outer wear attire. Then he handled her outer wear cloak ready to assist her with putting on her own.
Roslyn smiled at the thought. When she was around, he would be hers and only hers. Most kings would not agree with Adrien though. Kings typically paid no attention to their wives, except when they were in private. But Adrien was not that kind of man and Rose was not his wife.
She slipped her arms into the sleeves of her navy blue overcoat and buttoned the two gold buttons in front. "Thank you, just Adrien."
Dressed ready to keep warm against the Autumn chill they departed from her home. The sun was starting to begin its descent into the horizon. The stars and moon would take over the sky soon. Adrien has his arm out for her to grasp in courtesy as they walked side by side.
Folks were retiring to their homes. Nobody was in village square washing clothing. The market had been closed for a few hours. A few persons made their way to the tavern. In passing they would bow or curtsy with a respectful "Your Majesty". Adrien would do a subtle nod in acknowledgement but for the most part his attention was on Rose.
There feet carried them to the western hill just outside the village boundary. It was a beautiful hill top that overlooked the village, surrounding area, perfect to watch a sunrise, sunset, or see the stars.
Rosalyn took the king's arm and together they made their way through town. As they passed the tavern, the familiar, and unwelcomed, scent of ale filled her nose. Music and drunken laughter poured into the empty street whenever the door opened.
Before long, they were standing at the top of a hill outside the village. "You can see for miles up here," she said, astounded at the sight. The sky faded into shades of red and orange and stars began to emerge.
"As a lad I dreamed of wanting adventure in the great wide somewhere. I wanted it more than I could tell. I thought once it might be grand for someone to understand, I wanted so much more than my parents had planned..." adrien spoke, revealing to her a glimpse of his musing of his past as a lad, at one point he didn't want to be a prince or a future king.
But freedom to live as he desired and go on a adventure. Somewhere outside the castle walls, the woods, or the village. Anywhere really but the place he knew best that he called home.
Rosalyn listened as he talked about his childhood. "Perhaps we could go on an adventure someday," she suggested. Maybe they could even travel outside the borders of Amoria or across the great seas. But Adrien was still a king, even when he was with her. He couldn't just leave the kingdom because he was bored.
Rose decided that when spring came, she would finally visit the flower festivals her father went to every year. She hoped the king would accompany her, but she knew he was a busy man and didn't want to burden him in any way. Chandler would surely go with her if she extended the invitation.
"I think we could, someday." Adrien remarked with a grin. Feeling hopeful at the very thought of just the two of them, embarking on a adventure through the woods and countryside, maybe even take a ship and sail across the great seas. Oh, how it would be to see new lands and new places with her by his side.
Now that he was a man again, he intended to go to the flower festival that his mother went to every spring. It had been seven years since he visited her grave and placed a flower upon it. It was time to restart the tradition once more. Perhaps he could invite Rose to such an adventure come Spring.
He removed his riding cloak and laid it down on the grass for them to sit or lay back on and watch as the stars and moon overtook the sky. "There be Ursa Major the bear constellation...and its cub Ursa minor." he pointed out as he sat down and looked up at the sky full of stars.
Rosalyn smiled and sat down next to him, looking up at the night sky. "I remember the two clearly. They were the subject in one of the letters you had sent me," she said, reminiscing in the memory. They were also some of the first constellations mentioned in every astronomy book she had ever opened, which she understood. Ursa Minor held the North Star, which most used to navigate.
She also located Draco the dragon and Orion the Hunter with ease. "I suppose I won't receive any more of those, shall I?" The king had written them as a way to communicate with her without being seen. At the time, she found some form of comfort in them. It proved that she hadn't just been a prisoner, but someone the king had been genuinely interested in.
The memory of the notes he left for her brought a smile to his face. Resuming such a task between times they were apart would help ease his heartache.
"I would not say that." He stated, as he sat next to her with a playful tone that suggested she would soon get another very soon. As much as he wanted to see here daily, come winter it would be best to not travel daily as they did so now. Winter was harder on horses and humans alike. He would not want her to catch her death from exposure to the cold.
He took a hold her hand and formed their hands in one so their first fingers pointed together. "There be Altair, the Eagle. Leo, the Lion. And Sirius the dog." He told guiding their fingers in unison over each constellation.
As the king pointed out the constellation, Rosalyn only glanced at them. Instead, her gaze focused on Adrien. The moon and starlight cast a gentle blue hue across his face, illuminating it just enough.
This was a moment she wished could last forever. They were alone, truly alone. They did not have to worry about a knock on the door or a servant coming in, even to just do their duty. The world around them was calm and quiet.
Rose turned her attention back to the sky. "And there is Perseus and Andromeda, the two lovers," she said, pointing to the constellations.
"Not just lovers. They were companions for eternity. In mythology, Andromeda was the daughter of a king and queen. Perseus, a prince, was returning from having slain the Gorgon, Medusa. He happened upon the chained Andromeda, destined to be a sacrifice for Cetus. Perseus killed the sea monster and set Andromeda free. He married her in spite of her having been previously promised to another. They traveled the seas together and had grand adventures." Adrien shared as he pointed out the Medusa constellation and Cetus.
"Years later the death of Acrisius, Perseus grandfather, came to pass. The Kingdom of Argos naturally passed on to Perseus, who thought himself unworthy of it. So he gave away the kingdom of Argos to Megapenthes, in exchange for Megapenthes' smaller kingdom of Tiryns. Perseus and his wife Andromeda happily settled in Tiryns and became the parents of seven sons and two daughters."
Such a notion was appealing to Adrien. To relocate to another kingdom. To eventually settle down somewhere where nobody knew of his past or her past. Where they could live out their life without scrutiny. He released her hand so he could use his fingertips to caress up and down her arm. "Perhaps that can be us someday. Travel the seas, see new lands, find adventure, evetually pass on my kingdom to another, and find a place to settle somewhere and be happy just the two of us...and more of should the fates align."
Rosalyn smiled. She had always wanted a family, even if it was just a small one. She had been relieved that she didn't have to start one with Gustave, but it also broke her heart. Would she even be able to have children? Was there really something wrong with her?
"That sounds wonderful," Rose said. "I don't think thatsomedaycan come quick enough though." When would someday even be? Adrien was courting her, but would they ever be married?
A king was supposed to marry a queen or a princess. Rose was neither of those. She wasn't sure if the kingdom of Amouria had alliances or not, but in many of the books she had read, marriage formed those alliances. It had been many decades since the kingdom had had hostile tensions with another. What would they do if one arose?
Rosalyn shook the thoughts from her mind and looked back towards the sky.
Adrien pulled his gaze from the stars and looked to her when she said someday could not come quick enough. Her eyes were cast upward. Her brunette hair cascading down just past her shoulders. The way the moon illuminated her face was serene.
What did that mean? Was she ready to pursue a life with him past courtship? Was he ready for that? It warmed his very soul at the idea of moving forward beyond the bounds courtship. He had fallen in love with her long before his restoration to humanity. Since she had returned to him of her own free will and fell in love with him of her own accord, he could not imagine sharing his life with any other but her.
His fingertips stopped trailing her arm and he placed his hand over hers, "Is that so? If you were given the choice, how quick would you desire for someday to come? I do not wish for you to feel you need to rush...us. You are the only person I love and wish to share my life with for ever more. I respect you, therefore I have every intention of honoring the traditions of courtship and marriage, as we be ready to do so."
He knew some wounds were invisible to the eye. He did not want to rush into marriage mostly on her behalf. She experienced so much trauma with her first marriage. He wanted to make sure she was as healed and ready as she could be before doing so again. Intuition told him no matter how much time passed their would be trauma and emotions to address when they became husband and wife. He knew not what that was going to be like, but he would do his best to make sure her needs and wants came first.
Just as he did so now. The urge to kiss her swelled within him. Out here, truly alone, he desired to kiss her in such a heated manner they had yet to venture to. He valued his self control as he waited for to answer and carry on their conversation.
How quick did she want someday to come? The question echoed in her mind as she tried to form an answer. She wanted someday to come as soon as it could, but she also knew the king still had responsibilities. She did not know what had taken place at the palace while she had been away, but she had an apprehensive feeling that there was still many things he had to do.
"Right now, your majesty, I want you to put your kingdom first. There is much more to Amouria than my small village. I don't know what it is like to rule over a kingdom, but I am sure it is a rather taxing job. I want you to be able to rule these lands with ease before you...we decide to marry. There are still many whispers in the village about the 'mysterious king' and how he is untrustworthy," Rosalyn remarked.
She looked at the king, love and concern clouding her blue eyes. She wanted nothing more than to be with the man she loved, but she also wanted him to be respected by every resident in Amouria. They did not know what happened to those chosen to stay in the castle like prisoners. Gustave thought that she had been beaten and tortured by the beastly king, and certainly he was not the only one who believed such tales. The people still distrusted their ruler.
Rose gave the king a smile and gently reached up to place her hand on his cheek. "I love you, Adrien. I only want what is best for you."
His heart fluttered when she said said '...we decide to marry.' He felt trapped between his duty to his title, in repairing the damage he caused during his unfit ruling. And the desires of his heart, concerning her.
He placed his hand over her own that cupped his cheek. "I love you, Rose. My title as King and duty to my kingdom is important. But not as important as my duty to the one person I care for, above my own self. YOU are what is best for me. But truth be revealed, I strive to be worthy of you. So that one day you can feel you have what is best for you."
Rose leaned forward and placed a gently kiss on his lips. "You don't need to strive to be worthy of me. You already are, in so many ways." She gave him a reassuring smile and let her hand fall back into her lap. Her eyes moved upward to glace at the sky. "It is I who isn't worthy of you," she said.
He could see no matter what he said, she would not see herself worthy of him simply due to their status difference. Yet, for him he was unworthy of her, because he had flaws that had nothing to do with his status.
He re positioned himself so he sat behind her and wrapped his arms about her torso. With her back against his chest, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. He spoke no more on the matter. Their gazes returned to the sky and the discussion resumed to constellations and tales of mythology.
It wasn't until the night air was threatening to creep into his skin, despite having a warm cloak covered companion residing against him that he thought about escorting her back to her home and departing. There was never enough hours in the day to spend with Rosalyn. "We should go . . ."
Rosalyn leaned back into the king, relishing the warmth of his body against her. They turned their attention back to the constellations and continued telling stories of their origins. The moment was perfect, until Adrien suggested that they leave. Instead of getting to her feet to begin the journey home, Rose took the king's hands in her own and pulled his arms tighter around her stomach.
"I know I am in no position to command anything of the king, but I am not going to let you leave," she said reluctantly. She turned her head to stare up at the king, a smile playing on her lips.
Adrien's left eyebrow arched in amusement at her defiance. It was reassuring that leaving was just as hard for her as it was for him. "Is that so?" He said in manner equally playful to her own. "Now you have me curious. How do you suppose you are going to keep me here? Maybe I should attempt to leave just to find out."
He was compelled to correct her, that she was not commanding the king of Amouria to do anything. When he was with her alone, he was just a man, just Adrien. And as a man in love, it worked in her favor that she could ask him of anything and he would be compelled to make it so. Within reason of course, but still a advantage none the less.
A giggle escaped her mouth and she bit her lip. There were a couple ways she could think of to keep him here. Rose spun around in his arms to face him, resting on her knees. "I think I know how to keep you here," she said before she kissed him again. The kiss was not as gentle as the others they shared had been.
Rose had always loved the king, but now, as they sat here alone, she felt something...different. It felt like a fire had been ignited in the pit of her belly.
She certainly found a way to keep him there. There was no ounce of desire to depart when she turned around to face him. Especially when her lips met his once more. This kiss was different than their others. It wasn't as gentle. There was a heat that came with it that had nothing to do with physical body warmth. It felt like hunger, but not a hunger that would be sated by food or drink. A fiery sensation that was only embers within him that turned into flames. A flame that was eager for more.
His hands found their way to her waist, pulling gently to bring them closer. As close as they could get considering the many of layers of material that still were between them. Their mouths stayed closed but lips were together in movements of equal opportunity. Neither one dominating over the other. A balance of give and take.
An unfamiliar emotion of exploration filled his being, causing him to flick the tip of his tongue out and contact her lips for but a moment during their heated encounter. Adrien did not even realize the motion had been consciously done until the subtle taste of strawberry lingered on the very tip of his tongue as it retreated from whence it came. His eyes opened a moment, a silent attempt to read her reaction.
Rosalyn pulled away, a look of shock covering her face. She blinked quickly a couple times before smiling. She had been kissed in such ways before, but much to her displeasure. This kiss though... It sent butterflies fluttering about in her stomach and made her head spin in a whirlwind of emotion.
"I love you, Adrien, so much," she whispered, as if her voice would break the moment if it were too loud. Before he had a chance to answer, Rose kissed him again, with just as much passion as before. She pushed against him until his back was pressed against the grass, her body resting carefully against his chest.
A smile flashed across his lips when he saw her own, after what felt like an eternity of waiting those precious moments. She spoke in a hushed whisper then her lips met with this once more. With just as much passion as before, maybe even more. The world around them faded. All he could feel was the passion between them as their lips moved together in vigor and exploration. He cared not when he felt her push against him, he reclined in response. His body lay upon the grass while she carefully lay upon him.
For a woman to lay on top of a man during any form of intimacy was considered unorthodox. Many of those steadfast in tradition or religion proclaimed such to be demeaning to that of a man and his status.
Adrien was far too distracted in the tumult of pleasant emotions, movements, and newfound desire to ponder on such notions. Instinct and intuition guided them. When he began to have feelings of resentment against the clothing they wore that hindered experiencing their full movements and contact of flesh, he dug deep into his self control to break his contact with her lips.
"Rose . . . I love you." he said in hushed whisper, as if the air around them would shatter like porcelain dropped onto a floor if he spoke too loud. His heart pounding in his chest. His breath quick and shallow. Making an effort to slow it, he attempted deep, slow breaths to bring it back to a normal rate.
He placed a hand against the back of her head to guide her carefully, so he could lean his forehead enough to contact her own. Only when his breath and heart returned to normal speed did he relax and let his arms drop to his side and lay his head back down to the grass. A smile ever present on his face. He had never felt like this before. It was intoxicating.
"I love you too," she answered. Her heart beat vigorously in her chest. It felt as if it might burst. Rose rolled off of the king and laid next to him, her head resting on his chest.
She looked up at the stars, trying to catch her breath and calm her racing heart. Exhaustion crashed over her like a wave. "Are you sure you still want to leave?" She questioned, looking towards him.
A deep chuckle came from his chest and broke through the barrier of silence that had previously made them whisper before. He turned his gaze toward her as her head rested on his chest, comfortably.
"I never said Iwantedto leave. Only that weshouldleave. We have not the proper attire to sleep out under the stars and Autumn chill. Nor would it be proper to do so, until after we are wed. I respect you, as such it be best if we avoid any appearances that would tarnish your virtue and become gossip whispers of the village."
He stroked her hair affectionately, "Five more minutes will do no harm."
"I am afraid I am already the subject of many rumors already," Rosalyn muttered. "The worst we could do is make them facts instead of rumors." She played with the fabric of his shirt, running the soft fabric through her fingers.
Five more minutes was not nearly long enough. Five more hours wouldn't either. But she understood the king's reasons for departing. He respected her, and that is much more than she could say about her first husband. She respected him as well, and not just as her king, but as her companion. "Can we make a deal for six more minutes?" she teased.
Such rumors about her had unintentionally been caused by him. Her time spent in his castle as his 'guest'. Her need to be rescued from the castle. Her hand promised in marriage to someone she did not love and her late husbands untimely demise. With soon followed her fathers. Not even his power as a king could stop the people from whispering about if Miss Beaumont and their superstitions.
"You have a deal." he agreed, and for the next six minutes they laid on the grass enjoying the company of one another, forgetting the world around them. For those six minutes it was nothing but them, the moon, and the stars in the sky.