The Queen's Gambit

by: Vegeta's Mate

A/N: many THANK YOU's go out to zicke, Princess Bulma, upsy, Lady Bulma Ishtar, and onnimo for their encouraging reviews! Sorry this chapter is so late...U.U, got writer's block. Anyway Enjoy!

ONWARD!!!!!

'....' thoughts

"...." speech.

Chapter 5: Add Insult to Injury

Bulma looked around in awe at the grandeur of the palace. The outside of the palace was constructed of stone like most, yet it was made of dark stone seemingly inset into the mountain it was perched upon. The inside was even more gorgeous. Deep red carpets with gold edging stretched as far as the eye could see, the stone walls had been covered and made to look smooth by applying plaster and painted with warm honey gold hues, there were expensive paintings that lined every wall, and men were stationed at every door way.

Nappa and Radditz led Bulma down the corridor in silence, allowing her to look around and get her bearings before she had to meet with the king.

In the midst of her awe she was conscious of her lack of calm regarding the forthcoming meeting with King Vegeta. A cold trickle of dread tripped down her spine, the closer to the throne room they got the deeper the discomfort settled into her gut.

At the end of the hall was a set of large double doors, a carving of a great battle depicting large ape like creatures wreaking havoc on a village.

As the trio approached, guards moved to block the door.

"State your business." one asked in a bored tone, his staff crossed with the other guard's to bar the entrance.

Nappa answered the man, "By order of the Prince, we are to meet with the king and discuss what to do with our hostage."

Bulma snapped her eyes to Nappa's back and clenched her jaw to keep her tongue behind her teeth. 'A hostage am I! Just wait until I speak with the king, then we'll see who the hostage is!' she thought angrily.

The guards stepped back and allowed them entrance to the throne room, Bulma following behind Nappa and Radditz as they strode in and knelt before the bored looking king.

Bulma stayed standing and kept her eyes on the floor at her feet, Nappa reached back and attempted to pull her down to kneel beside him, she shrugged him off.

"So this is the onna that worships my son as a god." came an authoritative voice, Bulma hadn't heard him move yet she could see his feet as he circled her.

"Yes, sire." Nappa answered, "She refuses to tell anyone her name and rank."

Bulma could see the king's feet as they stopped before of her, his gloved hand reached out and lifted her chin forcing her to look at him.

She gasped, the king looked almost exactly like his son! He was a bit taller with reddish brown hair and a goatee but other than these small differences he looked like an exact copy of Vegeta consort to Goddess Rhiannon!

Bulma tried to kneel at his feet but he held her on her feet with a strong hand on her arm.

"Who are you, onna?" the king's deep voice rumbled.

She kept her eyes on his and answered, "Queen Bulma of Aquarnia, daughter of Queen Seika and King Akira."

The king's eyes widened in shock, "You are the queen of Aquarnia?!"

Bulma nodded, "Were it still there, yes I would be." her voice held a note of sorrow.

The king's gaze narrowed, "That is not possible, you look nothing like an Aquarniajinn. They are a tall people with dark coloring and an impressive ki, you can not be what you claim." the king turned with a snap of his cape. "Take her to genetic testing, I would know of her true origins."

"No, she is who she claims to be." came a voice that was slightly familiar to Bulma.

Nappa and Radditz, who had stood and grasped either of her arms to do the king's bidding, released her and turned to look at the new comer.

Vegeta no Ouji stalked forward, "Onna, tell him of your god." he commanded as he stepped closer, motioning for Nappa and Radditz to leave.

Nappa and Radditz bowed and made their way, regretfully, out of the throne room.

Bulma knelt at the prince's feet and began to speak, "Vegeta, consort to Goddess Rhiannon came to our world bent on destruction, only to find our people in the midst of an epic war. He watched the battle, becoming bored he chose the side that was taking the most damage and plunged into battle. We are fortunate that he destroyed the massive army that was attacking us or we would have perished." she paused to gather her wits, "Goddess Rhiannon appeared before him and rewarded him with eternal life as her Consort, for saving her chosen people." she stopped there, hoping that this would be enough of an explanation.

"Continue, Onna." the prince commanded, stepping around her kneeling form.

Bulma sighed, and kept her tongue behind her teeth, refusing to say another word even as the prince lifted her up to face him. "Finish the story, onna."

"I can't." she answered, "I am not permitted."

"And why is that?" the king asked this question, resuming his position on the throne.

Bulma looked again at her feet. "It is forbidden to speak of such matters with one's captor, as Nappa was so happy to tell the guards, and being a hostage I withhold the right to keep my secrets to myself." she answered raising her eyes to regard the king and prince with rage lurking in her cornflower gaze.

The king looked at Vegeta, "Lock her up and keep her from sight. Make sure she is in a room with a complex code." he said cryptically.

Bulma looked at the king, her rage bleeding away in favor of horror. "No!" she cried, "Do not lock me away!"

The king smirked, "So, you wish to be forced into a mating that you do not want?"

Vegeta's eyes snapped to the king, "Father, what are you saying?" his voice gruff with confusion.

The blood drained from Bulma's face as the king answered, "In two night's time we are going to have dual moons, the chiriakch, this is the time we take mates. We will be brainless barbarians in search of a desirable mate, you, my lady, would be a very 'tasty' treat and I fear you would awaken in a week mated and pregnant. I feel sure you do not wish for this to occur so you will be locked away, but it will be for your own safety." the king finished with a feral smirk.

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Ok, that's it for this chapter. . Review and let me know if you liked it or hated it. Sorry again for the long delay! JA!