The Claim
Weeks later they were sitting on a bench in the center of one of the many gardens surrounding the castle, his head in her lap as he subtly inhaled her Heavenly scent and she explained the origin of the garden when Camille found them.
"I want my dinner served to me out here, slave. Go and get it now." Adam looked distressed as he caught the deadly look on the true prince's face. But Diva simply pushed his head off her lap and stood up to do as she was told.
"She's not a slave, Princess," Adam tried for diplomacy.
"She's whatever my mother says she is," Camille said arrogantly with a toss of her waist-length brown hair.
"Fine. Tyr, why don't you go help Daivya in the kitchens? She'll likely have her hands full."
"Oh, stop coddling her! She'll be fine. You can attend me, Tyr. I want to hear all about-"
"Ah-ah. You don't command my servants, Princess," Adam chided her charmingly, fully aware that the berserker was seconds from losing his charming demeanor. If that happened, the truth of his heritage would be revealed and Little Daivya would be lost to him. He shooed the man away before he did something he would regret. Taking the hint, Tyr went in search of his mate. He found her carefully balancing a souffle with a glass of sparkling water and a plate of several small desserts. She looked seconds from dropping everything. He grabbed the water and dessert tray from her easily. The girl looked up in shock.
"A rolling tray would solve your dilemma, Diva."
"My lady believes that only peasants are served in such a manner," the girl quoted from memory.
"Your lady and the queen seem exceptionally cruel," he said after weeks of witnessing their treatment of the woman. "Why haven't you demanded your wages as a servant and left their employ?"
"Leave?" Diva said with such a look of longing on her beautiful face that it broke his heart. Then her face fell. "The queen will never allow me to leave," Diva said sadly as she continued towards the garden. "She needs me to-"
"What about the king then? He seems amenable to you. It's been weeks since we met. You could make your place on Nylexia. That way-"
"I could never live there! My place is in Imladris-"
"Slaving away for a queen and princess dedicated to your misery?"
"Yes! I mean, no! I mean… the food is getting cold. We should hurry," she said dully, moving ahead of the man. They reached the center of the garden to find the two royals kissing passionately. Diva turned away immediately. But Tyr, his blood boiling, slammed his things down on the stone table. Camille broke apart from the prince with an annoyed huff. All the blood drained from her lovely face when she saw the look on Tyr's face. She gulped and took a step back from him and behind Adam. The man himself was looking at his lord desperately, his eyes flicking to the woman he was trying to woo. Before the berserker could get himself under control, her slender hands reached around and touched his chin. He turned towards her almost against his will, wanting to avoid having her see him in a rage. What he found when he finally faced her was a face full of tenderness and yearning. With a loud growl, he claimed her lips, causing her to drop the souffle. Never having been kissed, her eyes widened in shock before closing with a blissful sigh. He didn't let the kiss spin out too long, not wanting to embarrass his woman, but he packed all his benevolence into the contact, wanting her to come back for more. The adorably dazed look in her pretty brown eyes almost had him dipping in for another kiss, but he restrained himself.
"Clumsy fool," Camille said at last, kneeling awkwardly to pick up the souffle.
"I'm so sorry, my Lady. I'll… I'll have the kitchen staff make you another one! Yeah, that's it. I'll go get it right now!"
"No, that's okay," the princess told the servant nervously. "I-I suddenly want to eat in the castle, slave. I mean, servant. Come with me." She grabbed Diva by the hand, snatching up her sparkling water with the other, and started marching out of the garden. The men followed docilely, Tyr's head full of his first kiss. She was so sweet! For a minute in time, the world had been full of lilacs and the smell of warm summer nights. It had been overwhelming; he wanted more!
"Nicely done, your majesty," Adam whispered happily to the berserker.
"Shh," Tyr whispered back. "Little Daivya would never date royalty. Not until she realizes that she is royalty. Don't scare her away from me."
"Is everything okay, you two?" Diva asked from where she was being steered towards the castle. They looked at each other and then back at her.
"Everything's perfect, my lovely one," Tyr said warmly. She blushed at the look in his eyes and focused on making it to the castle without tripping over herself. The boys sighed simultaneously and grinned at each other.
"Mother! I mean, it's an honor to receive you, your Majesty," Camille stood and bowed to the queen, forgetting her meal in her rush to acknowledge the woman. Prince Adam also bowed, along with her treacherous, secret-keeping daughter and the man who was attempting to court her. Oh yes, she could tell that the Nylexon had a thing for the stupid little chit, even if she couldn't see it for herself. What he saw in the fat, useless girl was anyone's guess, but she would have to bring his egotistical seduction to a stop soon. Otherwise, she might get other ideas in her head besides a miserable life of service. That's all that was in store for her stupid child.
"I thought you planned to eat in the garden tonight, my darling," she said in a sweet voice dripping with poison.
"Well, I was. But Daivya dropped my souffle, clumsy oaf," the spoiled child in a woman's body whined without thinking.
"Then you should have made her bring you another one. That's what servants are for, my lovely one. Daivya," she said sharply, ready to order the timid girl around.
"No, Mother! I mean… I've already eaten after all," the woman said hastily at the rapidly darkening look on Tyr's face. "I shall bear your thoughts in mind for next time, my lady," Camille said formally, bowing again to the older woman. Barbarossa and her dear Jonathan came into the room, a bevy of servants following them with food and the queen could not discipline the useless servant as she wanted to. Instead, everyone sat down to the meal, everyone except Diva and Tyr and the other servants.
"You really should visit Nylexia, your majesties," Adam interjected into the conversation about politics. "It would be exciting, a chance to see how we live. It could give your lovely daughter a chance to see our lands."
Sensing an opportunity to wed her daughter to a powerful ally, Lillian pounced on the boy's words. "We should go, Jonathan. It would be an adventure!" The king took in her encouraging expression and Camille's eager one and gave in with an indulgent laugh.
"My ladies have me outnumbered it seems, " he said. "We will, of course, travel in two days' time to Nylexia."
"You could travel with us if you'd like. I swear on my honor that you will be protected by my guards as if you were a part of my family."
"How can I refuse such an offer?" the man smiled. "Daivya?" he said gently. "When was the last time you ate?"
"Si- I- His Majesty-"
"Sit down and eat, Little one," he commanded, digging into his roast pork. "A handmaiden must always be ready to serve her lady."
"But Johnny! Surely not! Have her sent to the kitchens to-"
"We've tried that before and the girl came back looking just as hungry as when she left. I would see for myself that she's eating. It's alright, girl. Have some dinner with me." He patted the seat next to him encouragingly and smiled as if she were a frightened animal. The girl sat gingerly on the edge of her seat, casting panicked, terrified glances at the queen.
"Nevermind my wife," the king said firmly. "I command you to eat your fill tonight, little one. In fact, you shall eat your fill nightly from now on. I shall be displeased should I find you looking so starved again, am I clear?"
"But your majesty, Queen Lillian ordered me to-" The selfish queen pounded her fist against the table, causing the servant to jump.
"Do as the king commands, slave," she said in annoyance.
"We have no slaves here, Lilly," the man said forcefully. "Nor will we ever."
"Of course not, Jonathan," the woman said in a simpering tone that had him rolling his eyes. "Forgive me, I misspoke."
"See that it doesn't happen again," he said firmly, turning away and signaling for a plate to be brought to the servant, who was studiously staring at the table. Three full plates later, Jonathan laughed and pulled the plate away. "Easy little one, when was the last time you ate?"
"Si- Um…"
"Please don't embarrass the girl," Lillian said in that same simpering tone. "I was only thinking of her weight. A fat sl- servant is a lazy servant."
"With all the extra chores you pile on her, Daivya can hardly be considered lazy, my love. No matter how much she weighs."
"Yes, My Lord," she shrugged, conceding the point.
"We will travel with you, our new friends, in two days' time. Just enough time to pack."
"Yes, your majesty," Diva mumbled along with the other servants.
Seems like Tyr is getting in good with his mate. I'll see you next chapter to see what happens next. Reviews are loved ^_^
