A/N- Thank you for reviewing. Reviews always make my day. Oh by the way, there's some more racy content in this chapter, though it's not as explicit as the scene in chapter 7 I believe.

An Important Action

Two days after Lord Marke's funeral, Salomon's coronation took place. Fallon stood by Bragnae's side as he was crowned King of Cornwall. Although she didn't have to stand with the servants, she felt that she didn't belong anywhere else. Of course, if not for Gwen, she would have been standing by Salomon, but she knew she could not continue to live her life based on 'if' and 'if not.'

As she looked up at Salomon's sorrowful, weary blue eyes, Fallon thought about leaving. Even though she loved him more than life itself, how could she stay if she was causing him this much pain? He didn't need their situation weighing on him now that he had a kingdom to run.

But she didn't have the courage to do it. She thought about how bleak her life would be without him. Salomon was like her sun. He made every day worth living. If she had to wake up every morning with the knowledge that he wouldn't be there to talk to, to see, to hold, then she didn't think she would be able to make herself get out of bed every morning. Without him, she would give up.

Anger shadowed her sorrow when she watched the crown placed on Gwen's head. A wide smile spread across her pretty features as her eyes scanned the crowd. Then her light blue orbs landed on Fallon, and Fallon knew she did not mistake the triumph she saw written there.

She wished more than anything that Gwen was just a bad dream, a horrible nightmare, but she knew that wishing wouldn't get her anywhere and Gwen was true, living, breathing, flesh. She was a nightmare walking.

Finally, the coronation was over. It was wonderful to see the honor of kingship bestowed upon Salomon, but seeing the crown of queen placed on Gwen's golden hair was just a painful reminder of what Fallon would never get to be.

The days went by rather uneventfully. Each rising and setting of the sun was bleak and mundane for Fallon, for other than brief stolen kisses in deserted hallways and cold, uncomfortable dinners, she no longer got to spend time with Salomon. His kingly duties occupied his days, and Gwen occupied his nights. Not a night went by when Fallon did not curl up in her cold, lonely bed and cry herself to sleep.

Dinner that night was no different from the way dinner every night for the past week and half had been. The only sounds that filled the large room were the metallic clanging of forks and spoons against plates accompanied with the occasional scurrying of a servant. Fallon was content to stare down blandly at her meal. It was easier if she didn't look up, for then she could almost pretend that Gwen wasn't there, that it was only she and Salomon at the table. If not for the uncomfortable silence and tension that filled the air, it would have been almost convincing.

"Lord Salomon, would you like more wine?" A long pause. "Lord Salomon?"

Fallon glanced up when she heard the servant repeat the question. Salomon's eyes met hers with a fiery passion that she had only seen glimpses of in the past few weeks. They burned through her, searing her soul with the strength of his desire. Seeing those usually cold blue eyes filled with such heat for her sent a shiver of lust down her spine.

But then Gwen cleared her throat, ruining the moment.

"I'm sorry," Salomon said turning to the servant girl, "My mind was elsewhere." His eyes once again flicked to Fallon. "On an important action."

Fallon went back to resignedly eating her meal, but her heart was pounding in her chest and her mind was racing. An important action. Could that mean he wanted to be with her tonight? Or was he just fishing for words to make an excuse for ignoring the servant? She hoped against all hope that it was the former. She hated being like this, clinging to his every word, every attention. Before Salomon, what seemed like an eternity ago, she wasn't like this. She was independent. She didn't hang on the words of anyone. Still, she couldn't imagine how bleak her life would have been had she never met him.

When dinner came to a close and the three left their seats, Fallon was at a loss as to what to do. Did she go to her room and try to sleep, never knowing if Salomon had really wanted her tonight? No, that option was immediately discarded in her mind. How could she do that? Instead, she decided that she would go down to the trap door and wait for him in the abandoned hallways underneath Castle Dor where they had made love for the first time. If his words had been meant for her, then maybe he would find her down there. If not then she would retire to bed alone as she had been every night for too long.

She pulled her cloak tight about her face as she walked, hiding in corners when she heard someone approaching. She would not take that chance of being found by someone and deterred. No one knew of her intention to go down to the abandoned trapdoor, not even Bragnae, and she did not intend to alter that fact.

Quietly, she lifted the trapdoor when she reached her destination. A soft creak echoed in the antechamber, but no one was near enough to hear it. She lit one of the torches at the top, and then began a slow descent down the old stone stairway. Her heart thumped, and she didn't know if it was for fear of being found or for anticipation of the long night ahead if Salomon chose to meet her. She shivered pleasantly as she thought about being with him again. He had been so attentive to her needs and wants. His touch had sent heat all through her body. She moaned aloud thinking of him.

"I hope you're thinking about me," came a husky voice from behind her.

She whirled around, breath coming out of her in a rush. "Salomon, you're here," she sighed.

"I couldn't stay away from you any longer," he said hoarsely, "No matter what she said." At her perplexed look, he explained, "Gwen has been threatening that if she found that I had been with you again, she would write her father. Well, gods damn Gwen and damn her father! I am King of Cornwall! And I'll be with the woman I love no matter what anyone says!" And with that he took her up in his arms and kissed her thoroughly.

His lips were insistent and rough against hers as his tongue delved deep into her mouth. With his hands pinning her wrists up against the wall and his body smashing down on hers, she was helpless and totally vulnerable to him. Not that she wanted him to stop. His kiss was one of the most sensual things she had ever experienced, all the better because it seemed like it had been an eternity since their last. She could think of nothing better than to be pressed up against a wall with Salomon's lean, hard body rubbing against hers. She wanted more.

And so did Salomon, for when they broke the kissing, panting he growled, "I have to have you. Now." His mouth crushed down on hers again in kiss that she was sure would bruise her lips, but she didn't care. As his tongue ravaged her mouth once again, his hands came up to roughly cup her breasts, eliciting a whimper of pleasure from her. "Fallon," he groaned against her mouth, "Fallon, I need you. I love you."

Before long, he was tearing at her dress. One of the shoulders was ripped heedlessly off her arm, tearing the material, but Fallon was too immersed in what Salomon was doing to her to care. He pulled the top of her dress and shift down to her waist, exposing her bare breasts to the cool damp air and his hands. Her nipples were hardened more by arousal than by the chill, and his fingers came up to tease them into even harder peaks. Her breathing became short and choppy as he rolled one of them between his index finger and thumb. Then, she almost melted into a puddle on the floor as his mouth went down to join in. Salomon nipped at her breasts with his teeth and then soothed over the red marks he caused with his warm, deft tongue. The sensations were almost too much to bear.

"Salomon," Fallon panted. He removed his mouth from her breast and looked up at her with blue eyes glazed with yearning. "Please take me now. I can't wait any longer."

With a low growl of desire Salomon gave her nipple a sucking kiss as he began hoisting her skirts up to her hips. She cried out when his fingers touched her moist and ready sex. He knew just how to touch her to take her to the brink of madness and back. He knew all the right places to caress, and he showed that skill now.

Finally when neither of them could stand it any longer, he hastily unbuttoned his trousers and plunged into her. Fallon moaned loudly at the much welcomed invasion. For many long, lonely nights, she had longed to be filled like this by him again. She had wanted it so badly she could've died.

Salomon thrust into her hard, showing none of the gentleness that he had during their first time, but that was fine with her. She didn't need gentleness tonight. She needed fast, desperate passion, and he gave it to her. She dug her nails into his firm, muscular shoulders as he moved quickly in and out of her, driving the air out of her lungs in a rush. She gasped and panted and cried his name.

It didn't take long at all for her to reach the precipice. She squeezed her eyes shut as she felt her climax approaching. The orgasm that rushed through her, shook her very soul. She trembled again and again. The rapid contractions of her tight sheath were more than Salomon could take, and he too came quickly, spilling his hot seed into her.

They stood like that for a long time, Fallon resting her head weakly on his shoulder. Then a few moments later when both had recovered their breath, Salomon stood back and buttoned his trousers, then helped her with her dress. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, gesturing to the tear in her dress, "I couldn't control myself."

"It's alright," Fallon replied just as softly, "I didn't want you too."

Salomon nodded his understanding and then took her in his arms, gently now. "Would I be an welcome guest in your bed tonight, fair lady?" he asked as he planted a tender kiss on her cheekbone, "For I would much like to make up for the time that we have lost."

"You are always welcome in my bed, my king." Fallon murmured in return.

A/N- I planned to make this chapter longer, but I decided to go ahead and get it out. I'll try to update again sometime before next week but don't hold me to that. Please, please, please review! I'm not below begging for them : )