A/N: The War for Castilian Succession (1475 - 79) which Elsa mentions in the previous chapter, was a military conflict for the Crown of Castile, fought between the forces of Isabella I of Castile (22 April 1451 - 26 Nov 1504), and Juana la Beltraneja (21 Feb 1462 - 12 April 1530). The disputed daughter of Joan of Portugal (31 Mar 1439 - 13 June 1475) and Enrique IV of Castile (5 Jan 1425 - 11 Dec 1474), Juana was rumored to be the daughter of Beltran de la Cueva, 1st Duke of Alburquerque (1443 - 1 Nov 1492) Joan's favorite at court. Juana was not recognized as the heir by the court, and after the death of Enrique's half-brother Alfonso (17 Nov 1453 - 5 Jul 1468) who had been recognized as the heir to the Castillian throne, Isabella was then made heir presumptive to the throne of Castile. After Enrique's death, the nobles split between Isabella and Juana, leading to the four years of war for the Castillian throne. The Battle of Toro resulted in Castillian victory, and Juana was forced to give up the throne. She entered a convent where she lived the rest of her days, and signed her letters, 'la Reina' until the day she died.

The War of the White Rose and the Red as Elsa calls it, was the infamous War of the Roses (1455 - 1487), a series of civil war conflicts fought between the Houses of York (White) and Lancaster (Red), both branches of the House of Plantaganet. The conflict lasted 32 years, and England went through a number of kings and queens, including Edward IV 1and his consort Elizabeth Woodville (1437 - 8 June 1492) and Richard III (2 Oct 1452 - 22 Aug 1485) and his consort Anne Neville (11 June 1456 - 16 March 1485), as well as the disposal of the Princes of the Tower, King Edward V (2 Nov 1470 - June/July 1483) and his brother, Richard, Duke of York (17 Aug 1473 - June/July 1483) by their uncle Richard III in order to gain the throne. Eventually, the marriage of Henry VII (28 Jan 1457 - 21 April 1509) and Elizabeth of York (11 Feb 1466 - 11 Feb 1503) created the House of Tudor, effectively ending the Wars of the Roses by united Lancaster and York and bringing about the future Henry VIII- who in turn, after the death of his brother Arthur, married Isabella I of Castile's youngest daughter Catalina (Catherine) of Aragon.

Now that I've thrown all that information at you, let's get back to our story.- Licia

Early October, 1851

Halsten Castle,

Southern Isles

Something seemed to shift for the king and queen after their argument. It was as though laying bare everything that had been building up for the last ten years had washed the slate clean. The royals were not stupid, and took this opportunity to spend as much time together as a family as possible. Elsa informed her council that she was to be away in the Isles for a month to attend to matters of the latest trade agreement she had set up with the king, and that she was going to take the children with her, insisting that they get to know the country that was their ally to the south. She would keep tight correspondence with her council while away, keeping up appearances of a diplomatic visit.

In the quiet corners of the royal family's quarters, the queen reluctantly asked Lord Bismarck to accompany them, insisting that the princess needed a companion during the visit, and since she seemed to take an interest in politics, he would do fine to keep her entertained. No matter how reluctant the queen was, she was trying to follow her husband's advice.

That was how Lord Bismarck found himself by the princess's side as her constant companion; this little experiment as her brother-in-law had called it was playing out in the privacy of the royal family's home by the beach, and the pair found themselves taking quiet walks in the gardens behind Halsten or along the beach, falling into easy conversation as the days passed. It was not long after they had all arrived in the Isles and settled back in Halsten that the conversation turn to the king and queen. They were watching the royal couple return from a walk in the gardens; her hand was tucked into his arm, and they appeared to be engaged in soft conversation. Even from this distance, Anna could see the happiness both wore, and she knew this time away from both courts was very much needed.

"He controls her-"

She turned as Lord Bismarck joined her, watching the pair briefly.

"No one controls Elsa, Lord Bismarck." Anna chirped up as she left the window, making her way through the hall as he fell into step beside her. "Not even Hans. My sister is absolutely and completely uncontrollable in almost all aspects and except when controlling the country." They stopped, as the king and queen entered the hallway, having come inside, and moved past, engaged in soft conversation as they headed to the nursery, unaware of the younger couple. "He opens her up, and she opens his eyes." Anna said, watching as her brother-in-law stopped and rested a hand against her sister's cheek. Elsa covered his hand with hers, kissing his palm before rising on tiptoe. He leaned down, pecking her sweetly before the two continued, slipping into the nursery to check on the children. "They are devoted to each other. If only I can be so lucky some day to have what they have."

Bismarck watched her, feeling exactly the same. "Perhaps one day you will, Your Highness." The sweet smile she threw his way tugged at his heart in a way he hadn't anticipated.


She let out a soft moan of pleasure as he continued to work on the small bundle between her legs. With the scent of the sea drifting on the breeze as the moon watched from outside their window, they gave in. Since the argument, the pair had been unable to keep their hands or mouths from each other; something had been triggered within both- it was as though now that their deepest fears had been admitted, they could give themselves completely to each other in every way possible.

"Oh... Hans... keep going..." The king didn't need to be asked again, though he loved hearing the blatant desire in her voice. He continued to work, flicking his tongue over the bud multiple times in rapid succession before moving to suck gently from between her folds as her juices dripped out of her. "Not yet... I'm not quite there... keep going... almost..." He gently pulled away, watching her, seeing the blatant desire laid bare, before he ducked back down and proceeded to continue to drink from her. It did not take long for her to reach that peak, letting out a cry of desire that sent his desire for her skyrocketing. "I need you... oh, darling..."

At her pleading, he didn't waste time, pulling away from her and positioning himself between her legs before pushing into her slick folds. A soft moan of pleasure escaped him as he adjusted himself inside her and then began to move; they soon found that familiar rhythm, as they became Shakespeare's metaphorical two-backed beast.

At one moment, she managed to hook her leg around his, and in seconds, they had switched places; her hair tumbled over her shoulders and down her back, and she gently raked her nails down his chest as she rode him, reaching for the headboard behind him to keep her balance as they continued. His hands trailed up her back, tangling in her hair before moving to gently cradle her breasts. "Oh... Eliza..."

"... Hans... oh, darling..." She threw her head back, letting out a cry as she exploded around him, and in a matter of minutes, she was back among the pillows, screaming for him as she came again as he continued to push deeper into her. "Hans..."

Finally unable to contain himself any longer, he released inside her, her name on his lips as they came together, mouths meeting in a kiss that was more an exchanging of souls. Slowly, they broke apart, nuzzling together, her hands gently grasping his arms as he held her face in her hands. As orgasm continued to roll through them both and they lay still joined, catching their breath, hearts beating in tandem, he met her gaze. "I don't understand how a man can take a mistress when they have the heart and soul of a good woman in bed beside them."

She smiled softly, reaching up to brush the sweat-soaked curls from his forehead. "Most men are not you, they value only what they can see, and when what they see is no longer pleasing to the eye, they go in search of what is pleasing."

"Fools, all of them." He swallowed thickly, gently pulling out of her. She whimpered softly at the loss of contact, before he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her on top of him. Silence fell, as he slid his hands over her body, trailing down her back and up her sides. "No matter the number of years that pass or how many children come from your womb, you are still the most beautiful woman in all of Europe." She smiled down at him, reaching up to caress his cheek. "I love you, Eliza."

"I love you, Hans." Then, she leaned down, kissing him sweetly. Before she knew it, she was back among the blankets, her soft laughter cutting into the silence as he proceeded to cover her with kisses before they began again.