OH MY GOSH AN UPDATE!!! Sorry for the extremely long wait you guys. I've been terribly busy and relatively uninspired lately. I think this chapter will be a bit shorter than mine usually are, but at least I've finally updated. Remember to review when you've finished reading. : )

Tragedy

Fallon idly played with the golden hair on Salomon's chest as she watched him sleep. She had awoke only moments before, and he had looked so peaceful. The hard lines of his face had softened, and he looked young, or rather he looked his age. Despite only being 19 years old, he seemed much older than her at times. She smiled lazily as she lightly traced her finger down his cheek.

She blushed with guilty pleasure as she recalled what they had been doing before they drifted off. She had never imagined that any man could ever make her feel like that. His hands had felt so right, so wonderful on her body.

She shifted and groaned slightly. That was the downside. She was quite sore in places that she wasn't ever sure that she had. Oh well, it was worth it.

She curled up against Salomon's strong chest, prepared to go back to sleep for a few moments, but as she did Salomon's eyelids fluttered opened, and she looked up into his stunning blue orbs. He kissed her forehead gently. "How long have I been asleep?" he asked.

Fallon shrugged and put her arms around him. "I don't know. I woke up only a few moments ago, but I don't know how long I slept," she told him as she nuzzled against his chest.

Salomon tipped her face up to his and gave her a slow lingering kiss that was full of love and satisfaction. She sighed pleasantly against his mouth. When he was kissing her and touching her like this it was almost as if the world was all their's, as if there was no Gwen, no Lord Marke, no Cornwall. There was only Fallon and Salomon lying in each other's arms making love.

"I didn't hurt you too badly, did I, my love?" he asked after a moment.

Fallon shook her head and kissed his chest. "No," she replied, "I'm a little sore, but I would do it all over again."

Salomon grinned down at her with a lusty twinkle in his eyes. "Oh would you?" he asked in a throaty voice as his hand moved up to caress her breast. She shivered with pleasure. She leaned forward and lightly nibbled on his collar bone.

She was about to open her mouth and tell him just how much she wanted him to make love to her again, but the sound of footsteps on stone reached their ears. Salomon sat up just as Bragnae, torch in hand, rounded the corner. Fallon yelped in embarrassment and tried her best to cover her nakedness with Salomon's cloak. Bragnae seemed to be just as surprised.

"Fallon!" she gasped in surprise as she turned her back to them.

Fallon's cheeks burned with mortification. Why did Bragnae have to choose then to come down and interrupt them? Well, maybe then was better than if she had come earlier. Her blush deepened. Had Bragnae come when she and Salomon were making love, Fallon was sure she would have never been able to forget the embarrassment. Salomon soothingly wrapped his cloak around her and situated himself behind her so that they were both covered.

"We have been looking all over for you two!" Bragnae exclaimed heatedly, "I didn't expect you to stay down here this long!"

"How long have we been down here?" Fallon asked quietly.

"All night," the older woman replied. She began to say more but hesitated.

"Bragnae, something's wrong," Salomon said from behind her in a deep, level voice, "What is it?"

It was only then that Fallon saw how red and puffy Bragnae's eyes were. "Bragnae…?" she entreated softly, her voice filled with worry.

"Lord Marke is dead."

Salomon stiffened behind her. "No," he whispered, "He was fine… old of course, but… fine…. I was sure he had at least a few more years…." Bragnae simply shook her head and sniffed.

"It happened in his sleep," she informed them, "Peacefully. He felt no pain. I'm so sorry, Milord."

Salomon's breathing had quickened. "I…. It's just…. He…." His voice was thick with tears.

"Oh, Salomon," Fallon breathed as she turned and wrapped her arms around him. She knew that he and Lord Marke had been close. She knew how hard this must be for him. He rested his head heavily on her breast, and she could feel tears trickle from his eyes down onto her skin. Knowing the emotional pain he was in caused her own tears to brim over and fall into his flaxen hair. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

She looked up at Bragnae and motioned for her to go. Bragnae gave her a look at first, but she saw that Fallon was not going to leave Salomon in the state that he was in, and she complied. Fallon knew that she would know to let the search for Salomon go on until he was ready to show himself. They could think of an excuse as to why he had been missing since last night…. Not that anyone would challenge him really. He was king now.

Fallon thought about that as she made soothing sounds and ran her fingers gently through his pale blonde locks of hair. He was only 19, and already he had a kingdom of his own. She couldn't imagine the stress and pressure that would be in store for him because of that. Ever since she had met him, Fallon had always thought that he seemed much older than he really was, but that still did not change the fact that he was only 19. So much for him to bear. Her heart broke for him.

After a few moments, he pulled away from her. "I guess we had better go," he said, not looking at her.

"Salomon, I am so sorry," she said as she gently caressed his cheek, "Know that I will be here for you through this. I love you."

He smiled a shaky smile that didn't quite touch his icy blue eyes. "Thank you," he replied, "I love you too." He sighed and reached for his trousers and boots. "I wish we had had more time down here. If I could pretend the world wasn't real and stay down here with you forever, I would."

"As would I, my love," Fallon murmured as she gave him his shirt. She stood and walked to where her dress was strewn heedlessly on the floor. They dressed in silence. When Salomon was clothed, he came over to her and helped her with the stays of her dress. When he finished, he pressed his cheek to the back of her shoulder and let out a sigh. She knew that now he wasn't thinking about only his cousin's death or his kingship but about having to return to the real world. She was thinking about it too.

"This isn't the last time I'll be down here with you, I promise you that," he whispered to her with conviction, "No matter what happens now, I'll always have time for you. King or no."

"I know," she replied quietly. Still, she couldn't help but worry. As king, he would have many duties. Many duties that would take him away from her. She was being selfish. She knew she shouldn't think that way, but when it came to Salomon her heart ruled over her brains.

And he would have to spend more time with Gwen. That thought tore at her heart. Being King of Cornwall, he would have to start thinking about producing heirs. Since she was not his lawful wife, she could not be the woman to bear him those heirs. That woman would be Gwen. Fallon wondered if soon his nights would be taken away from her as well.

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Salomon watched with tear filled eyes as his cousin's funeral pyre was lit. Lord Marke of Cornwall. He had been a wonderful man and a good king. Salomon didn't think he could hope to come close to being as good a king. He would have to try. It was his duty.

Duty.

That word made him turn his head to look at the woman standing next to him. She was not the woman he wished would be standing there. How he longed to feel Fallon's warm, comforting arms around him at this time! Gwen simply stood. Mute, cold, unmoving. No doubt she had some idea of where he had been. Her recent abnormal animosity towards Fallon told him that she knew that Fallon was much more to him than he could show in public.

Fallon stood a few paces away with Bragnae, even though she was no longer obligated to remain with the servants. Salomon could tell by the look in her eyes that she wanted to be with him, to soothe him. He prayed a silent prayer that he could somehow fix the whole mess.

When the funeral ceremony was over and they were walking away, Gwen finally chose to speak. "Maybe it would be best if you tried a little harder to hide your tryst with the wench," she said, voice dripping with venom, "This morning everyone knew that you were off somewhere tumbling that whore."

Salomon clenched his hands into fists. He was nearly shaking with rage. He wanted to swing his fist around and hit her, but he restrained himself, instead fixing her with the coldest, harshest glare he could muster. "And maybe it would be best if you didn't speak of the daughter of Lord Marke's late wife as if she were common filth."

She met his furious glare for an instant more before turning away silently. Salomon turned his gaze up to where Fallon was walking with Bragnae. What would this do to her? Gwen would certainly try her best to make her life a living Hell. And her reputation-if it was not already- would be ruined. Not for the first time, he felt a stab of guilt over what he was doing. She was but 16, little more than a child, and already she was thrown into this.

But when he thought about letting her go, it felt as if someone was trying to rip out his heart.

He couldn't let her go. To live without her wouldn't really be living at all.

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A/N- I wasn't really happy with this chapter, but I've always heard that we are our own worst critics, so hopefully you guys will have liked this better than I did. Tell me what you think please, even if it's criticism. I'll try to keep the updates coming a little faster from now on. Sorry for any typos, and please REVIEW: )