Crevan settled himself in what would be his usual seat, slightly below the Royal children. He saw Rhiannon "flirting" with the bard before Nuada stalked up to them. He would have thought it real if he hadn't been informed of it at breakfast. His skin had been itching almost all day, and it was hard to ignore the sensation on his skin. He looked up to where Pen sat, pretending to look annoyed at Nuada playing attention to Rhiannon. He discreetly itched a spot on his thigh. He would ask his lady to aid him with applying Camille to the itch after the second impromptu ball was over. He looked up again and decided the look was real, but not at the king's "flirting". He rose and went up to her, asking her to dance with him.
#
He whirled his lady queen around the floor, his mind off the itch. He'd even danced with Deirdre, the small girl's feet upon his. A pang of remembrance gripped him, his own daughter had done this, learning the dances. The small girl ran to her father when the king returned from his dance with Rhiannon. He returned to his seat, waiting.
#
Pen was surprised that night when Deir asked if Crevan could read the story. The sage complied, reading in the elder speech as he'd seen Pen do. Before the final good night, the little girl looked at him and asked something of her mother, he only caught the words for knot and thorn. He did not catch Pen's reply.
#
The stripping of clothes was a bit more exciting, the itch turned into heat on his skin. She had pinned him to the bed almost immediately. Her kisses following lines of the tattoo that adorned his skin, heat followed her kisses. Somehow this seemed more erotic than her touch, her nips to the skin beneath his navel turned his attention to where she was, waiting for him to give her consent. A simple nod, and her mouth traveled lower, taking gently. His hand came to the back of her head, he did not want that kiss to end. He arched into that kiss, once, twice...
#
Release came, and her kiss lingered for a short while after. She moved to lay her head on his thigh. He ran his fingers through her hair, she was doing the same to the sparse hairs. He made a noise of contentment. He lifted his arm and froze. Where he'd peeled away his skin in fits of madness was whole skin, what looked like a thorny vine twining with the line down his arm.
"...this." He said still in awe.
"My gift." She said, reaching and kissing the inside of his wrist. "So none cannot say you do not belong to my court."
He looked to her own, it did not look any less.
"Turn on your stomach,let me complete it."
He moved, rolling as she asked. Her hands slid down his back. The itch/heat followed, a form in its wake. He groaned, the warmth up his spine. He would ask her what she had chosen, after...
#
He woke stiff from laying in one position, but Pen was not there. She must have left him after she finished the gifting. He noticed the note upon the table with a simple breakfast.
Stay abed, I will come to see you tonight...
He smiled, setting to eat.
#
Pen summoned Crevan to her chamber, he came to see both Nuada and Rhiannon had come as well. It was to be a formal meeting, under the guise of a tryst. He did not expect to be stripped to the waist, be sandwiched between Pen and Rhiannon with Nuada sitting with a sketch book drawing them.
"...The sketches will be evidence..." Pen whispered, tracing the intertwined branch./thorn pattern on his skin.
He looked at the two woman, remembering when he'd told Geralt that humans had strange tastes.
"...I had no less than three of the court come to me with the concern that my queen had an Aen Elle lover..." Nuada said, correcting a line. "or that they would take over the freehold..."
Crevan shifted slightly to face Pen. "...as if just a freehold would interest Ge'els..."
She slid his pants slightly down his hip to expose more skin. He shifted so she could push down the fabric further.
"Naughty..." came Rhiannon's voice and a swat.
Crevan jumped, eliciting a grin from Nuada.
"I forgot, you bite..." Pen said.
"I've gotten no complaints..." Rhiannon said.
Pen's hand soothed over the mark, "...Have you heard any rumors other than the nine day wonder of me shagging an Aen Elle..."
Creven gave her a "I beg your pardon" look as Rhiannon gave his exposed ass another swat. He made a noise that was not quite pain.
"...Aiden said he heard that the Viceroy is planning a little visit."
"Should we put on a full show then?" Pen asked shifting so she was laying over Crevan to touch Rhiannon.
"Hold that pose," Nuada said. "...another and we will have enough to convince them."
The quick strokes on parchment.
"There..."
all three slumped into the bed, Rhi leaned on her elbow and reached down and beneath to tweek the sheathed tip, Crevan jumped in a different way.
"I would you leave that alone if you please..." He said
Pen reached under and did the same, eliciting a groan.
"Because it belongs to me..." Pen said.
Rhiannon smirked as she got up and put on her clothing, she was going to meet Aiden for dinner.
Crevan adjusted his clothing and put his tunic back on, he had some correspondence to look over as the new made lord of the Court of thorns he had duties in his lady's absence. He gave Pen a light kiss and a head tilt to Nuada before leaving.
#
Nuada soon was laying where Crevan had, though with less clothing. He traced her Tattoo, smiling.
"...You chose a beautiful pattern." He said. "An apple, the blade Zeriel and a gull feather...all of bramble."
She smiled, Reaching to trace the knot-work on his side.
"Yes, but I let the magick decide. It was as much a surprise to me."
He reached to pull her in for a kiss, umming at the hunger she expressed.
"...not enough of your fox." He said, pulling back.
"Umm...I found a few spots to nibble on." She said. "To give the spies a thrill..."
"If the reactions and rumors are an indication...it is working."
She snuggled against him.
"Tell me what you will do with him..."
"I never thought you a voyeur..."
He laughed softly. "No, I mean when you go back to your freehold..."
"Keep the illusion until the formal bonding rite." She said. "Enjoy him..."
He held her against him, sighing. She was being honest, but this was more complicated then the illusion they were giving. As she had said, there were pieces missing.
"...The council is pushing for me set you aside." He said.
"As they have for the last twenty years..." She said. "And if you must..."
"...They are using the fact that you brought your "Lover" to court."
She frowned, She did care for the sage. She did not want him hurt by this anymore than he had been.
"Double standard..." She said. "You could have a thousand, and yet I bring one..."
"True..." He said softly. "...what shall we drink when he vexes you and you come to my solar to brood."
She let out a snort of laughter. "Crab apple cider..."
He laughed, moving her to sit astride.